As usual TechCrunch, specifically a Jason Kincaid authored post led me to a new startup named Cucku recently launched that promises a P2P-like system for backing up your local files to a remote location. The system works by pairing you with a ‘buddy’ to which your files are backed up, encrypted and then stored in case you need to restore later.
“Cucku backs up your data locally and then sends a secure copy to a trusted friend or family member of your choice. It’s easy, trustworthy, and free!”
Now, I wonder if you need to have a friend or can the service pair you with someone random. Doesn’t it make sense to have the system automatically determine the closest/fastest partner and establish the pairing?
“You only need to set up Cucku Backup once. Cucku backs up automatically when you’re not using your computer. Remote backup sends new or changed files to your backup partner. It’s local and online backup combined — keeping you protected at all times.”
If they do *require* a friend, it might be a slick viral tool, in that each new member has to invite someone they know as a partner (potential for good growth rates).
Lastly their branding (logo) looks very Mozilla-ish, almost begging the question was this startup formed and molded with the idea of a Google/Mozilla buyout? Their website is strong though, if not a little heavy on the generic stock photography. Tip: If you don’t have good stock photo choices, use informative graphics instead, we don’t need the shiny happy people (unless their good).
February 9, 2008 at 11:58 am · Filed under Technology
If you’ve ever messed with Linux and found yourself in a jam that X just cannot solve. You’re going to need to use the command line to hack your way out of trouble. Lucky for you, Scott Klarr put up some nicely formated PDF Linux (and more) printable cheat sheets with all the handy commands you will need to be a true *nix h4ck3r.
February 7, 2008 at 10:17 am · Filed under Business Tech
A big ol’ Google Train is coming down the tracks. SugarCRM … you might be next.
Some people will debate this, however I believe this is just the X step towards Google dominating the online app world and pushing consolidation of the smaller players.
Google has released a new version of Google Apps called “Team Edition” that, on first blush, doesn’t offer much that’s new. The same document, spreadsheet, instant messaging, calendaring, and start page functionality that we’ve come to expect from Google Apps is here. But now it’s easier for groups within established organizations (businesses, universities, etc.) to collaborate using Google Apps without getting their entire organization to buy into Google Apps (quite literally) first.
I stumbled across the ALARMd.com Internet Alarm Clock a few months back, possibly via del.icio.us or Stumble Upon. I think the idea is great, and very well executed. With a large red font, and all black backdrop, the Internet Alarm clock is the perfect web based clock application I have found. The “Naken” mode makes it even better, eliminating the already minimal options and titles. For people that live with their computer, and try to eliminate all other necessities (like a cheap alarm clock) this clock is perfect.
The coolest feature I saw was the Alarm sound customization (pick an alarm), which allows you to open Pandora in a new window, which for most people with stored cookies should start playing your favorite music right away.
November 17, 2007 at 8:22 pm · Filed under Software
If you’re like me and you still have a few machines running good ol’ reliable and trustworthy (I keed, I keed) Windows XP than registry tweaks and optimization guides for XP are a very handy thing. Sure Vista is the new hotness, and to be really cutting edge I could publish information on how to tweak the registry of Microsoft’s newest OS. But I’ll play it safe and show you some tips on eeking every last bit of performance out of that old XP machine of yours. Kellys-Korner dot com has one of the best write ups for the Windows registry and it’s many tweaks I’ve seen in a long time. Totalling 399, you’re sure to find something useful in this guide.
November 6, 2007 at 11:50 am · Filed under Technology
I have recently added all of my blogs and websites into Google Analytics marketing resource online. If you want to keep track of how many people visit your blog or website daily, weekly, monthly and yearly than you should sign up for Google Analytics. This service is FREE and it is a great tool to use when you want to track your readers and to know how popular your website and or blog is. I have already gotten great stats for my blogs that I was unsure of how popular they were and they are getting more visits than I had thought. You can sign up for Google Analytics here.
Desktop two dot com is another application in a long list of online OS replacements competing to get a piece of this new market. The idea is that instead of your native OS like Windows Vista, Mac OSX or Linux, you’d run Desktoptwo, which is a purely online operating system that runs using Flash and Java.
The pros to this setup are a truly mobile and modular operating environment. Accessible from any web connected PC. The downsides or cons to online operating systems are the fact that they currently depend on an Internet connection (something that isn’t quite everyone yet) and also that it requires an existing operating system to run.
I’m going to repeat that last con so it sets in a little, “you need an existing operating system to run the online operating system”. This is a big con, and until PC’s can be built and deployed with a bios/light OS, online operating systems will remain a niche product reserved for uber geeks and specific users who require an online OS.
Do the owners of test.com check the email sent to test@test.com? If they do what do they do with the possible thousands of test messages being sent everyday? Is the volume substantial or moderate?
I develop Rich Internet Applications for a living and over the years (7 of them) I’ve used test@test.com countless times in development and also to bypass lame email checks/registration requirements.
Does anyone out there in the blogosphere know the owners of test.com?
From their “About” page:
Test.com has a successful twelve year track record providing hosted testing software to leading organizations.
Test.com’s flagship product is a web base testing software product called Test.com. The software lets organizations author and administer their own Training Content, Tests and Certification Programs online.
Test.com has numerous international Patents and innovations. These innovations and our expertise make our products easy to use.
Test.com has grown to be the largest and most customer centric provider of hosted testing averaging over 2.5 million transactions on its network a day.
Test.com customers include some of the largest international corporations, departments of large companies and many smaller organizations.
Test.com has proven its strength in the world of building software for online testing and certification programs.
Visit Test.com for organizations to learn more about Test.com’s flagship product, or contact us if you would like to learn more about Test.com and how you can request a free no obligation trial of our software.
Here’s a small collection (only 2) of Texas Chainsaw Massacre videos I pulled from GooTube. As you can see from these videos there are two cool videos that have come out and they are movies that are scary and you should see them if you have not yet, especially with Halloween just around the corner. I love watching scray movies and these are some of my faves.
From their “About” page: