McAfee Internet Security 2009 3-User

Protect yourself, your computer, your identity and your family with McAfee Internet Security 2009. With the daily emergence of new and more sophisticated Internet threats that could disrupt your digital life, you need more than a simple anti-virus program. You need McAfee Internet Security 2009 - a comprehensive, feature-rich, and simple-to-use security software.
Identity Protection?Shop, bank, and trade online safely 2-way Firewall Protection SiteAdvisor?Warns about unsafe web sites SecurityCenter?A security status screen with fully customizable options SystemGuards?Warns when your computer shows specific behaviors that may signal virus, spyware, or hacker activity Stealth Mode?Makes your computer invisible to intruders online Shredder?Removes any trace of confidential files from your computer Parental Controls Data Backup Protection without Interference?Watch movies or play games uninterrupted as McAfee security service intelligently defers tasks, updates, and alerts when you're in full-screen mode Minimum System Requirements Microsoft Windows 2000 (32-bit) with Service Pack 4 (SP4) or higher, XP (32-Bit) with Service Pack 1 (SP1) or higher, Vista (32 or 64-bit) 256 MB RAM or higher 800 X 600 or higher resolution 150 MB of available free drive space Internet connection Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 or later Optional - Mozilla Firefox 1.5 or later For up to 3 users.

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Blockbuster On Demand comes to TiVo—a few years too late?

Blockbuster has hopped on the TiVo bandwagon to bring Blockbuster's digital movie library directly to the popular media center. The companies announced Wednesday that Blockbuster's OnDemand service would be integrated into TiVo Series 2, Series 3, HD, and HD XL units in order to offer content for rental and purchase. To balance out the deal, TiVo DVRs will be sold at Blockbuster stores throughout the US and on Blockbuster's website.

Blockbuster CEO Jim Keys elaborated on the companies' joint plans for the future. "Ultimately, our vision is to work with TiVo so that their subscribers can access movies not only through our OnDemand service but also from our stores and through our by-mail service as well," Keyes said in a statement. "Regardless of a film’s availability—through VOD or on DVD—we want to work with TiVo to provide their subscribers unprecedented access to movie content."

The deal is part of Blockbuster's latest strategy to try and get its services onto every device possible. In November of 2008, the company delivered a set-top box called MediaPoint, which is meant to stream movies from Blockbuster's online library. Then, in January of 2009, BlockBuster announced that it would begin slapping its logo on CinemaNow's online movie service, allowing Blockbuster to deliver content over the Internet to a "wide assortment of home and mobile electronic devices."

The problem for Blockbuster is that it has taken so long to break out of its brick-and-mortar rental business that it's now playing desperate catch-up. The deal with TiVo would have been great a few years ago, before other, more popular content providers hopped on board. With Amazon's Video on Demand service available on the TiVo, Blockbuster isn't breaking any new ground; it's just late to the party.

Unfortunately, TiVo has become just another DVR choice for many cable subscribers. Consumers are increasingly content with the DVRs supplied by cable providers and DirecTV hasn't offered TiVos in some time (although a new HD TiVo will become available to DirecTV subscribers in the second half of 2009). 

A few years ago, this announcement would have been huge, as it would have combined the top movie rental company and the top DVR maker. Now? It's a couple of companies trying to play catch-up (in the case of Blockbuster) and fighting to remain relevant in a sea of generic competitors (TiVo). 

That said, it's finally a great time to be a TiVo user. With the addition of Blockbuster, we will soon have even more choices for our viewing pleasure.

The companies said that they expect to have Blockbuster's OnDemand service integrated into TiVo devices sometime in the second half of 2009.

Oracle offers scaled-down version of Database Machine

Says customers want extreme performance on smaller system

By Chris Kanaracus
Citing customer demand, Oracle Corp. has unveiled a half-size version of the HP Oracle Database Machine, its competitor to high-end data warehousing products such as that sold by Teradata.

The HP Oracle Database Machine was co-developed by Oracle and Hewlett-Packard Co. and is part of Oracle's Exadata product line, launched to great fanfare at the OpenWorld conference last year.

It initially was available as a rack filled with eight HP DL360 database servers, four InfiniBand switches, a storage server grid with 14 servers and various software products, according to a post made Thursday to Oracle's Data Warehouse Insider blog.

But now, "due to popular demand, addressing smaller entry points with the same extreme performance on the same technology basis, Oracle is introducing a smaller system," the blog states. The scaled-down version has four HP DL360 database servers, two switches and seven storage servers, and "will provide similar scalability and performance characteristics as the full rack."

"We at Oracle, and our customers, are very excited about this new offering, as it provides a slightly lower entry point for an HP Oracle Database Machine, while still delivering extreme performance," the blog adds.

CEO Larry Ellison dubbed the Exadata line the company's most exciting product family "in many, many years," during an earnings conference call this week, and claimed that the system's performance has been trouncing competitors' products.

But while Oracle President Charles Phillips described the Exadata sales pipeline as "the largest [he's] ever seen in terms of a new product," neither he nor Ellison provided any definitive numbers.

While Exadata promises high-end performance, it has a considerable price tag as well. Oracle's official price list states that the half-size machine's hardware costs $350,000, compared to $650,000 for the full version.

But analyst Curt Monash has calculated that once software licenses and likely database options are added to the equation, the list price of a fully loaded, full-size Database Machine is more than $5.5 million.

Despite that price tag, it's hard to draw conclusions about the product's success so far, Monash said.

While Exadata "is not winning many competitive deals yet," he said, "whether they are making sales into the Oracle loyalist base is a different matter."

Oracle's decision to release a half-size version is an acknowledgment that in the data warehousing market today, "there's much more unit demand at lower database sizes," Monash said.

The full database machine has either 20TB or 45TB of storage, depending on the type of drives used, according to Oracle's blog post.

Meanwhile, "most specialized analytic DBMS installations run databases under 10TB in size," Monash said.

"Big enterprise data-warehouse integration projects are in some cases being deferred for economic reasons," he added. "Smaller, more tactical projects with rapid payback are less affected."

Oracle is hardly abandoning the type of enterprise that would need the full Database Machine, according to Monash.

"Their most important customers are the biggest and highest-end ones," he said. "For years, Teradata was the only vendor who routinely clobbered Oracle at the high end of the database market. Now Netezza and others are also threats. Exadata is Oracle's reaction. The last thing Oracle wants to do is sacrifice share at the top of the DBMS market. All other objectives are secondary."

New IE8 still the slowest browser

Microsoft's final code comes in dead last in JavaScript benchmark tests

By Gregg Keizermay be talking up the performance boost it gave to its just-launched Internet Explorer 8, but the new browser remains the slowest of the top five on the market, benchmark tests show.

According to JavaScript rendering tests run by Computerworld, the final version of IE8 is only slightly faster than the browser's Release Candidate 1, which Microsoft delivered in January.

Computerworld ran the SunSpider benchmark tests in Windows XP three times for each browser, then averaged the scores.

Google Inc.'s Chrome led all browsers in the SunSpider tests, making it more than four times faster than IE8. Coming in second was Mozilla Corp.'s Firefox 3.0.7, followed by Apple Inc.'s Safari 3.2.2 for Windows and Opera Software's Opera 9.63.

Firefox proved to be 59% faster than IE8, while Safari was 47% faster. Opera, the slowest non-Microsoft production browser, was still 38% faster than IE8.

Microsoft, however, has continued to downplay benchmarks such as SunSpider, and instead has promoted page-load time trials that pit browsers against each other in rendering the Web's top 25 destinations. Last week, Microsoft claimed that IE8 loaded more sites faster than either Chrome or Firefox.

At the time, Microsoft's James Pratt, a senior program manager for IE, conceded that the differences were slight. But in an interview yesterday, Pratt called IE8 "highly competitive" with other browsers, and dubbed it "the fastest version of IE that we have ever released."

But he also acknowledged that speed is important to users. "We know that speed is critical to people who are using browsers today," Pratt said, "and we recognize that users have a choice when it comes to browser."

IE8 launch bumps browser's market share by 30%

Analyst takes Microsoft to task for low-key release

By Gregg Keizer
Microsoft Corp.'s Internet Explorer 8 (IE8) received a small bump in market share yesterday as the company launched the final version midday, according to Web measurement company Net Applications Inc.

IE8's market share averaged 1.63% for the day Thursday from noon Eastern time onward -- when Microsoft posted the new browser for download -- a 21% increase over March's daily average of 1.35% through Wednesday. Net Applications has posted hourly market share numbers for IE8 on its Web site.

The browser's share climbed again today, to an hourly average of 1.75% through 11:00 a.m. Eastern time, bringing IE8's total increase to 30% over the month's daily average.

Even with that kind of increase, Vince Vizzaccaro, Net Applications' executive vice president of marketing, was critical of Microsoft's low-key launch. "I was a little surprised that there wasn't any advanced warning," said Vizzaccaro, "and no marketing push from Microsoft about IE8. At the minimum, there should have been something for IE users that popped up and said 'there's an upgraded browser available ... download it.'"

IE8's market share climbed above the 1% mark for the first time last month, when it accounted for 1.2% of all browsers used. That boost had been fueled by the last January launch of the browser's release candidate.

By comparison, Google Inc.'s Chrome, which debuted last September, had a 1.15% market share during February, while Mozilla Corp.'s Firefox -- IE's biggest rival -- owned 21.77% of the business.

"Chrome got off to a fast start," said Vizzaccaro, "but it really hasn't moved much since then. And they had a low-key approach when they launched it, too. On the other hand, Mozilla made lots of noise about Firefox 3.0, with a special download day, and they got millions to download it.

"Microsoft is doing the same thing that they've done with browsers in the past, but that didn't work for Chrome," Vizzaccaro said. "If I were Microsoft, I would do something more on the Mozilla model. I'd be a lot more optimistic [about IE8's chances] if there was a large public announcement that it was available."

Microsoft released the final edition of IE8 for Windows XP, Vista, Server 2003 and Server 2008 Thursday, upgrading the browser for first time in two and a half years.

Overall, Internet Explorer controls 67.5% of the browser market, according to Net Applications' numbers, which are collected from the systems that surf to some 40,000 sites that the company tracks for clients. Almost three out of every four IE users run 2006's IE7, while nearly all of the remainder run the even older IE6.

Currently, IE8 is available only as a manual download from Microsoft's main download center and the IE8 page. The company will begin automatically installing the new browser on machines now running IE6 or IE7 at some unspecified future date, at which point its market share will undoubtedly climb.

Dear netbook, thank you for Windows 7

When a new market of small-factor computers became very popular last year, Microsoft wasn't feeling too hot. Linux and Windows XP were being used, and the consumers buying these PCs were not able to take advantage of all the hard work that had gone into Vista. It didn't matter that with Vista SP1, the operating system was running better than its XP on higher-end machines. New computers don't necessarily mean better, faster, stronger anymore. Netbooks mean smaller, cheaper, lighter, and many consumers are quite happy to use XP, the operating system they had gotten used to during Vista's unusually long development. Microsoft simply did not foresee this new trend occurring when it was working on Vista; the demand for the inexpensive netbooks began to skyrocket even before the economic downturn.

Windows 7 further takes advantages of the improvements in Vista, adds a few features here and there, and also focuses a ton on performance. For the first time ever, Microsoft has promised it would aim to keep the same hardware requirements of a future operating system the same as its predecessor. Hardware leaps will still continue, but Windows 7 is already outperforming XP and Vista on current hardware.

If it wasn't for the netbook, that would have never happened; Microsoft is very much aware that it's not going to make much money offering XP on netbooks forever. So it's really no surprise that when Microsoft announced the Windows 7 editions last month, it promised that all editions would run on netbooks. To achieve this goal, the company has been tweaking like no tomorrow. It's never bothered doing that with a new Windows release, at least not to the extent that it is doing with Windows 7.

Vista SP2 is almost ready for prime time, and while the second service pack improves performance yet again, most people really just want Windows 7, whether that's for checking e-mail on their netbook, or for gaming on the latest hardware. If you plan on adopting Windows 7, you have the netbook to be thankful for, because Vista's successor would be a very different beast if Microsoft had less motivation to pursue performance.

Internet Explorer 8 released

The final build of Internet Explorer 8 has been released in 25 languages. You can also grab the download directly from these links: Windows XP 32-bit (16.1 MB), Windows XP 64-bit (32.3 MB), Windows Server 2003 32-bit (16.0 MB), Windows Server 2003 64-bit (32.3 MB), Windows Vista 32-bit (13.2 MB), Windows Vista 64-bit (24.3 MB), Windows Server 2008 32-bit (13.2 MB), and Windows Server 2008 64-bit (24.3 MB). The final build number is 8.0.6001.18702.

The public Windows 7 beta is not being updated, and although Microsoft released an update for IE8 for Windows 7 in February, the next update is not likely to arrive until the Windows 7 Release Candidate next month. For everyone else, in the coming weeks Microsoft will put IE8 out as an optional download on Windows Update and then later roll it out to users via Automatic Updates. A quick note to all the IT administrators out there reading this post: the IE8 blocker toolkit is already available, so make sure you get acquainted with it if you're planning on avoiding IE8 when it's released via Microsoft's update channels.

Transcend 8 GB SDHC Class 6 Flash Memory Card TS8GSDHC6

Transcend high capacity SD card series is specifically designed to meet the High Capacity, High Definition Audio and Video requirement for the latest digital cameras, DV recorders, mobile phones, etc. The defined Speed Class enables the host to support AV applications to perform real time recording to the SD memory card

Store More Photos
With most point and shoot digital cameras quickly climbing the megapixel ladder, 6,8, and even 10 megapixel ratings are beginning to be commonplace. With Transcend SDHC cards, you can keep up with the larger files these high resolution cameras produce. With 4 GB, 8 GB, and 16 GB capacities, you can store more photos without having to delete old photos on the card before you have the chance to save them to a PC or print them out.

Store More of Everything
The larger capacities of SDHC cards make them more versatile than ever. Use them in all your mobile devices that support the SDHC standard. All that is required is an SDHC compatible slot or reader. SDHC is an extension of the original SD standard that enables capacities greater than 2 GB. It uses the same physical form factor as SD, but SDHC cards only work in SDHC compatible devices. Standard SD cards work in both SD and SDHC devices (backward compatible).

Enjoy Faster Transfer Speeds
Basic SD cards transfer data up to six times (6x) the data rate of the standard CD-ROM speed (900 kB/s). Transcend SDHC class 6 cards offer a minimum of 6 MB/s write speeds under the most demanding storage conditions. Some cameras require a high speed card to be able to record video smoothly or capture multiple still photographs in rapid succession. Check your device for maximum compatibility for your intended usage patterns.

Features

• Fully compatible with SD 2.0 Standards
• SDHC Class 6 compliant
• Compatible with all SDHC-labeled host devices (not compatible with standard SD)
• Easy to use, plug-and-play operation
• Built-in Error Correcting Code (ECC) to detect and correct transfer errors
• Complies with Secure Digital Music Initiative (SDMI) portable device requirements
• Supports Content Protection for Recordable Media (CPRM)
• Allows In System Programming (ISP) for updating firmware
• Supports auto-standby, power-off and sleep modes
• Mechanical write-protection switch
• RoHS compliant
• Lifetime Warranty

Get it

9 free antivirus programs for Windows

Keeping your Windows computer virus-free doesn't have to cost you a lot of money. Heck, it doesn't need to cost you any money. There are plenty of good options available for those of you on the hunt for free antivirus software.




Wait - free? Don't companies like Norton make a good business out of selling antivirus protection? Why would someone give it away? Developers of free antivirus solutions like Avast and AVG are counting on a couple of things. First, that you'll like the free offering enough to want to buy an upgraded version of their product. Second, that if enough home users talk about how much they love it that their "computer guy" at work might want to use it on the company's systems.




The free options listed after the break offer the same kind of protection as the boxed software you can buy at the store.




Two things to keep in mind:




First, as with other free software, some of the developers ask for support in the form of a toolbar install. They're all optional, so make sure to un-tick the checkboxes during the install if you don't want the toolbar.




Second, a number of the developers offer a non-free version on the free version's download page via a service called TrialPay. The totally free version is normally on the left, the TrialPay offer on the right - make sure you're clicking the link you actually want.

Avast Home Free

I see Avast's little blue sphere in a lot of system trays, and with good reason: it's one of the most recommended free Windows antivirus options. One nice thing about Avast is that the installer only installs the antivirus program - there's no toolbar or anything else to dodge. Definitions update automatically, scans can be scheduled, and the boot-time scan tool does a good job at uprooting even stubborn infections.

You do need to register for a product key, though Avast will never email you anything other than the confirmation message.

Get it from: Avast | FileHippo | Softpedia

AVG Free

AVG has been a popular free antivirus option for Windows users for a number of years. It provides solid protection against viruses and other malware, and there's no registration required. Virus definition updates are automatic, and scheduled scanning is supported. Version 8 ships with the optional AVG Security Toolbar, which may be a good idea for some users. It provides security ratings for known websites and provides a little added protection in your browser - a place some users desperately need it.

Be sure to watch for the toolbar install and opt out if you don't want it. Also pay attention on the download page: free link on the left, TrialPay on the right.

Get it from: Download.com | FileHippo | Softpedia

Avira AntiVir

Avira's offering is third on the list alphabetically and that's where it falls popularity wise on Download.com, just behind AVG and Avast. It's rated highly for fast and accurate scanning, and is easy on system resources. AntiVir's simple interface and solid protection make it a good choice for novice users.

One bothersome aspect is the nag screen that appears periodically to remind you about Avira's paid product. Also, on Avira's download page look on the left side for the completely free link - the right side is a TrialPay offer.

Get it from: Avira | FileHippo | Softpedia

BitDefender

Another lesser-known (but solid) option is BitDefender. In addition to virus and malware defense, BitDefender also includes a privacy protection feature that monitors web traffic and outbound mail for possible breaches. Its scanning engine is fairly speedy and detection rates are on par with more well-known software.

The download page is a bit like Avira's, so make sure you don't use the TrialPay offer on the right unless you really want to. The free download is on the left side.

Get it from: BitDefender | FileHippo | Softpedia

ClamWin

Unlike other programs on this list, Clam is not a realtime virus scanner, meaning it won't notify you the instant an infected file gets saved to your hard drive. Because of this shortcoming, ClamWin is probably not a good choice for novice users. It does, however, support scheduled scans and integrates with Windows Explorer so you can manually right-click and scan files. It also integrates with Microsoft Outlook and can remove infected attachments automatically.

You can get on-access protection with ClamWin by integrating it with WinPatrol or Spyware Terminator.

Get it from: ClamWin | FileHippo | Snapfiles

Comodo Internet Security

Comodo's free antivirus application comes as part of their Internet Security suite. Comodo's firewall software has always been very well-respected, but you can choose to only install the antivirus during the install if you prefer. It's a solid performer, with good scanning speed and detection rates, and few false positives.

Like AVG, Comodo packages a toolbar (called safe surf). It'll also prompt you to change your homepage, so just make sure to uncheck the boxes if you want to opt out.

Get it from: Comodo | Download.com | Softpedia

PC Tools Antivirus

PC Tools are the same people that produce Spyware Doctor, one of the most popular anti-spyware applications around (though not my personal choice). Its interface is simple and easy to understand for novice users, though advanced users are likely to be frustrated by the lack of more sophisticated options that are available in other free programs. Scheduled scanning is supported, as are automatic definition updates.

Get it from: PC Tools

Rising Antivirus

Even with the regal lion face logo, Rising hasn't garnered a lot of respect yet. Still, those who do use it seem very pleased with the protection it provides and also report that it's easy on system resources. A complete scan with Rising is a bit more sluggish than with more popular options, but most of you probably run scheduled scans when you're AFK anyway - so it's not a big downside.

It's regarded as a good choice for non-technical users.

Get it from: Rising AV | Snapfiles | Softpedia

Spyware Terminator

Spyware Terminator isn't an antivirus program on its own, but you can choose to integrate ClamWin during the setup process. Unlike installing Clam on its own, pairing the two applications provides realtime virus protection. It's regarded as a very good anti-spyware application, though reviews are mixed on its ability to handle antivirus duties.

As with AVG and Comodo, a toolbar install will be offered during the setup process.

Get it from: Spyware Terminator | FileHippo | Softpedia

If you're not sold on the idea of free antivirus and are looking to test drive some paid options, there are plenty available for download. Just about every major developer of antivirus software offers at least a 30 day trial of their product. Here are three solid choices you can take for a test drive.

Eset NOD32

NOD32 is the choice of a number of Download Squad crew members. It's very well-respected by system admins and technicians and one of the best programs available to protect your PC from infection. Downloading the current version gets you 30 days to try it out.

If you're so inclined, you can download beta versions or release candidates as well - and you'll get up to 6 months of free protection.

Kaspersky

Another option held in high regard by experienced users, the Kaspersky scanning engine is licensed by a number of other companies that provide antivirus software. Trial versions last 30 days.

Trend Micro

Trend has been a truster choice in coporate environments for a long time, though their PC Cillin software for consumers isn't as popular as some other tites. It's still a solid choice and provides good protection. Again, 30 days to try it out.