No need to use 3D Editing programs to make perfect 3d spheres. You can use just photoshop. Also, no need to use that nasty bevel/emboss tool. =)

If you can’t distinguish what I am clicking on the video, watch it directly on YouTube.  You can set it in HD.

Download Original PSD Document Here

Want to share this post with others?

Hide Sites

Apache is probably the number 1 web service hosting software ever created.  With that said I get a lot of people always asking how to install it or some variation of.  Here’s an easy tutorial on it using CentOS 5.4 Linux using a Rackspace Cloud Server…

1.    SSH into your Server

2.    Make sure you are root user.

3.    Update Yum with command : # yum update

4.    Download and install Apache with command : #  yum install httpd

5.    Set chkconfig run levels to ensure that apache starts up even if the system is rebooted with command : # chkconfig –levels 2345 httpd on

6.    Start Apache or httpd service with command : #  service httpd start.

7.    Flush your IP Tables and add port 22 for SSH (unless you changed it’s port) and also allow port 80 for apache/http connections.  I have also deleted the “RH-Firewall-1-INPUT” chain and set the default INPUT policy to “DROP”.

#  iptables -X RH-Firewall-1-INPUT

#  iptables -F

#  iptables -I INPUT -p tcp –dport 22 -j ACCEPT

#  iptables -I INPUT -p tcp –dport 80 -j ACCEPT

#  iptables -P INPUT DROP

#  service iptables save

8.  Congrats, you now have a basic apache install.

Notes : Apache’s configuration file is /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf and the default place to put all of your websites files are in /var/www/html/

Want to share this post with others?

Hide Sites

At my current job, there is a never ending stream of customers that come in with PC problems that can be easily avoided.  PC running slow, taking forever to restart, various forms of virus’s and malware, etc etc.  This list can go on forever.

Here are some tips and some software you can use to avoid a lot of these problems.

1.  MSConfig

To start “msconfig”, click Start and then click Run.  If you don’t see it, hold your Windows Key and press “R”.  This should bring up the run box.  Now type “msconfig” and hit enter.  You now have your “System Configuration” window open.  At the top, Navigate to the “startup” tab.  This list of software are the programs that will run when you turn your computer on.  Disable anything you don’t need and be wary of suspicious looking programs.

2.  CCleaner

Formally called “Crap Cleaner”, CCleaner is another cleanup utility many people use.  It can scan your computer for junk files that you don’t need that will be taking up space, tell you how much space it is all taking up, and then you can clean it all up.  Think of it as the “Disk Cleanup Wizard” from Windows, but better (in all ways possible).  CCleaner also has a registry cleaner which I have noticed works quite well.  Caution : Never forget to make a backup of your registry before making changes to it!

CCleaner (Download from FileHippo)

3.  Hard Drive Defragging

De-fragmenting (aka defrag) is a special process where windows can re-arrange the Physical location of files on the hard drive.  Imagine this; you walk into a library looking for a particular book but everything is out of order.  How long do you think it will take you to find the book you are looking for? Same thing with a hard drive.  It will take longer and put more of a strain on your hardware having to go searching for everything instead of it being clean and orderly.  Recommendations for defragging software?  You can use one that comes with windows; or you can use “Defraggler”; created by the same company as CCleaner (See above).  Only defrag about once a month as over-doing it can put more of a strain on your hard drive.

4.  Make regular scans for malware.

This is one of two musts.  There’s billions of spyware, scareware, and almost-anything-else-you-can-think-of-ware.  There’s plenty of software you can use for this although most of us techies will use multiple ones.  Suggestions?

MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (Download Here) – I have always had good luck with this program.  Can find almost anything I throw at it.

Spybot Search and Destroy (Download Here) – Have seen it find problems that Malwarebytes has missed, but at the same time I’ve seen it the other way around (This is why we use more than 1 program).  It has a really nifty “Immunization” feature where I noticed it will also add a MASSIVE list of known malware sites to your hosts file (127.0.0.1   <malware>) so that if you DO try to load it, it will just time out because you are trying to connect to yourself.

Super Anti-Spyware (Download Here) – Another one used at the office; but personally I haven’t used it.  From what I hear from all my co-workers it works really and no one has reported it causing any problems.

5.  Make regular Antivirus Scans.

This is another must.  There are plenty of antivirus programs out there, most are subscription based on a yearly renewal but there are also a lot of very good and free alternatives.  Most of us at the office use Avast! free edition, others use a subscription based AV from Computer Associates.

…but if you are “browsing naked” as it’s called (not using any antivirus), then you can still run normal scans with ESET Online Scanner (which is another popular one; requires IE and ActiveX).

ALL of these methods can help keep you protected (to an extent) and keep your computer running at optimal speeds.  When I have a client that has problems with their computer going slow, etc.  This is the extact list I use and go down with.  Msconfig, CClean it, Malware and Spybot scan it, then ESET Online scan.  Reboot and hope for the best.

Want to share this post with others?

Hide Sites

Everyone loves slideshows; especially when they use the “Ken Burns” effect (Watch demo here).  They fit nearly every occasion.

Funerals, High School Graduations, Proms…okay maybe not Funerals so much but you get the point.  You want to make a slideshow with the tons and tons of photos you and your friends have taken to remember the “good ‘ol days”.

Free software for Linux and Windows can help you do it extremely easily.  It’s called “PhotoFilmStrip“.

“PhotoFilmStrip creates movies out of your pictures in just 3 steps.  First select your photos, customize the motion path and render the video.  There are several output possibilities for VCD, SVCD, DVD up to Full HD.”

Download PhotoFilmStrip here.

Want to share this post with others?

Hide Sites

There’s a simple trick someone taught me about a year ago that I never knew.

If you go to a friends apartment and they didn’t tell you about the gate and the code to open the gate, just press…

4444

That’s right.  Just press “4″, four times and the gate should open.

Why is this in place?  No idea.  Someone mentioned maybe it was for the drunks that get home at 3am and can’t remember how to get in but I have trouble believing that as well.

Next time you’re at a gate, try it.

Special note : This has worked on every gate i’ve tried; including, I guess you could say, “high security” apartment complexes.  Of course, I don’t recommend trying this if there is a posted guard 24/7 although I don’t think they would have a gate and code if they had the guard.

Want to share this post with others?

Hide Sites