Plan a project or map an idea with Exploratree, a free online library of “thinking guides” you can either print out or use online. Templates include the Futures Wheel pictured above, thinking boxes, compare and contrast, and a lot more. Each template is customizable; you can also use them to collaborate on projects with other people.
Microsoft apologizes for Windows Update snafus
Microsoft has been having all sorts of problems with automatic Windows updates lately. First, it was reports of users who had turned off automatic update installations finding that their computers had installed and rebooted anyway without their consent, then some enterprise Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) users found out that Windows Desktop Search (WDS) had been installed without administrator approval. Microsoft acknowledged the first problem but denied the second, then relented and issued an apology via WSUS product manager Bobbie Harder’s blog.
The explanation of the WSUS issue is a tad confusing, but it revolves around a WDS update from February that was an optional update that only applied to people who already had WDS installed. So far, so good. Then last Tuesday, Microsoft revised that same update package to be applicable (but still optional) for all XP SP2 and Windows Server 2003 SP1+ systems. Unfortunately, WSUS users who did not have WDS installed found that they got this “optional” update automatically, because WSUS is set by default to automatically approve update revisions. Confused yet? I sure am.
Harder apologized for the error and posted instructions on how to remove WDS, which adds fast hard drive searching to the Windows desktop at the cost of RAM and CPU resources. For the time being, the distribution of WDS through WSUS has been suspended completely, so the only way to get it is by going to the Microsoft Download Center and installing it manually. Harder added that Microsoft is “working on improving our internal publishing processes to ensure this does not happen again in the future.”
As for the desktop users who experienced unexpected reboots when they thought they had set Windows Update to install manually, the culprit may have been Microsoft’s own OneCare. According to the product team, Microsoft OneCare automatically changes the Automatic Update settings to automatically download and install. This behavior is briefly alluded to in the first dialog box of the OneCare installation screen, but many customers were unaware that installing OneCare would change these settings.
Can you say “OPPS’ i wonder how many of them decided to go to another platform!!
Display the Date on the Menubar
Mac OS X only: If you don’t want to install a whole other piece of software to see today’s date in your menubar, you can add it manually in System Preferences. It’s not an obvious checkbox or dropdown, so bear with me. After the jump, the step by step.
- In System Preferences, open International and go to the Formats tab.
- Next to Dates, click the Customize button. Arrange your date in the format you want to appear on your menubar. Use the down arrows on each element to choose between formats (January, Jan, 01, 1, etc.) I chose [Oct 29], as shown.
- Now, select the entire date format and copy it to your clipboard (Cmd+A, Cmd+C). Hit OK.
- Hit the Customize button next to Times. Choose the “Medium” format.
- Paste the date format on your clipboard next to the time format, and hit OK. You’re done!
Note that the day of the week (like “Mon”) will appear next to your date and time by default. To turn that off, in System Preferences, go to Date and Time, and uncheck “Show the day of the week.” Thanks, Snowmoon!
More Color Scheme Control with Agave
Linux only: Webapps like colr.org are great for exploring color theme ideas, but some users might require a little more fine-tuning. Enter Agave, a program for GNOME-based Linux systems that gives you more than enough color information to plan your web site, desktop theme or design projects. Choose from standard palettes, use a Photoshop-like selection tool to grab any color on your screen or manually set color, saturation and brightness levels to save in a list of favorites. Agave is a free download for Linux systems only, available as a source download and in many standard repositories.
Instantly free your iPhone
If you’re looking to update your 1.1.1 iPhone to install 3rd party apps all you need to do is visit jailbreakme.com – once there you’ll get the installer.app and can start loading applications right away (check out more detailed instructions @ TUAW).
Yes that’s right now you can add your third party apps back on the IPHONE or IPOD!!
