http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBcQww5z8Uk

It’s got to be tongue-in-cheek, because it is painful to think anyone would take this seriously as a way to pick up women. But that certainly doesn’t stop it from being ridiculously offensive to women. We don’t disagree that “the Treehugger is one of nature’s greatest treasures,” but if you want to pick one up in a bar, you might want to try being someone who wouldn’t have this on your iPhone.

Blushing because you kinda wanted to know how to score with a Treehugger but didn’t want to be a complete ass and download the app? Don’t worry, we’ve got your back on this. See the links below.

(Via Mashable)

via Treehugger

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNhVu2oeInc

Google Maps is constantly improving with little things that make getting around in a green way quite a bit easier. It was over a year ago that they added the “walk there” directions feature, and in January they added a great public transit layer. This new editing feature, especially when it comes to adding in information making cities and green spaces easier to get to and navigate, is a big bonus.

via Treehuger

A new app allows you to back-up all of the content on your Facebook page, including comments and information that’s posted on your wall.

SocialSafe was launched in the summer and is a piece of software that helps protect the information posted on your Facebook page.

This service has now been updated with a Facebook Wall Back-up app – a Ronseal-esque function that allows you to collate all the content on your Facebook wall.

This is also complimented with a new Time Capsule feature, which allows you to chart the history of your Facebook pages.

Key moments captured forever

Speaking about the the new features, Julian Ranger from SocialSafe explains: “It’s important for users to have complete access to their own data whenever they want it. Often people don’t think about how long data remains available to them when stored within social media sites such as Facebook.

“As we all share more personal details within social media sites, knowing that those key moments in time are captured forever provides an essential safeguard.”

SocialSafe is available now, on both PC and Mac, with all-new Wall Back-up and Time Capsule functionality for the introductory price of £1.99.

Got to www.socialsafe.net for more details.

via TR

Essentially this means you will be able to get the software for an extremely low price of £30.

Student discount

The offer is on until 3 January 2010. After this you will have to pay the normal price for Windows 7.

To be eligible for the offer, all you need to do is log on to www.microsoft.com/uk/windows/studentoffer/default.aspx, enter your a valid .EDU email address (an email address given by the college or university, eg name@leeds.ac.uk) and away you go.

£30 is a bit of a bargain for an OS which is compatible with touch screen technology. Other features of Windows 7 include remote media streaming, improved gaming experience, enhanced security and integration of Windows Media Centre for more central and convenient management of music, movies and photos.

To find out more about the software, point your browser to www.microsoft.com/windows. Windows 7 official release date is 22 October.

UPDATE

Microsoft has informed us that the student deal is live right now.

In a statement the company has said: “The offer gives students the chance to purchase either Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade OR Windows 7 Professional Upgrade from a special website (http://www.ultimatesteal.co.uk) with both versions available for the discounted price of £30 each.

“For those students requiring the full packaged product (FPP) they can opt to receive a boxed version, by post, for an additional cost of £9.”

It almost makes you want to return to student life again. Almost.

via Techradar

This morning Google announced Google SketchUp 7.1. This new version will be a  free upgrade for existing Pro users, and has emphasis on three important aspects of this easy-to-use (yet powerful and extensible) software: performance, an improved version of LayOut (2.1) and collaboration.

As for performance, the engine has been improved and you will notice that orbiting, zooming and drawing can be quicker and smoother in 7.1, for both PC and Mac editions.

LayOut 2.1, the SU componente that enables you to create presentation boards and design documents straight from your model, has now the ability to apply dimensions to scaled SU models and vector graphics. Based on my personal experience, LayOut is very good to deliver quick construction documents and has helped me a lot working with furniture manufacturers. The new dimension tool is something I was waiting for.

LayOut 2.1 also includes snap to the model, an improveed Freehand tool, lists (bullet or numbered, very useful) in the text area, improved grids and improved copy/paste, making it easier to work with other design softwares. You can see more on the video and images below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1Jcgc6luhM

Site Plan dimensioned in LayOut 2.1

(those are not my designs)

As for collaboration, the new features are both in export/import and online capabilities. For example, you can now Import and Export in the COLLADA (COLLAborative Design Activity) format, a 3D file format based on open standards that allows you to easily work exchange information across different 3D softwares (Maya, Poser, 3DS Max, LightWave, Cinema 4D, Softimage XSI, Houdini, Blender, Modo, Strata 3D  and more). With SketchUp Pro 7, you can import and export files in a number of 2D and 3D formats, including DXF, DWG, 3DS, OBJ, XSI, EPS, PDF and more.

Upload component context menu shown for one building among many being modeled

You can now upload components straight from SketchUp to Google’s 3D Warehouse. Previously, you needed to put the component isolated on a new file to upload it. For example, you can now split large city models into buildings, preserve Dynamic Component functionality and more.

And this urban approach gets more and more exciting, as it is now possible to import and export the now popular KMZ format, extending geo-location usage. You can even browse nearby models from inside SketchUp.

And probably one of the most exciting features is the integration with Google Streeview, which allows you to take textures directly from actual views of the city (where available). Imagine how fast and accurate you can model a city or your project’s context with this tools. And if you add collaboration with your teamwork (or other users) with components and nearby models… it becomes a powerful tool.

For more information, download a SU Pro trial version or the Free edition, just go to the Google SketchUp website.

as seen on Archdaily

By Stephen H. Wildstrom

Microsoft (MSFT) thinks everyone who runs Windows should be using antivirus software. I can just hear the cynics saying: “They ought to know—it’s their buggy software the hackers are exploiting.” In fact, over the past five years, Microsoft has made huge strides in protecting its systems against attacks. Now it’s moving to the next level.

Microsoft works hard to make sure its programmers write secure code. But the company’s executives know that even with the most diligent process, there will always be flaws that provide openings for the bad guys. They also know that an unprotected system is a peril not only to its owner, who risks the loss of user names, passwords, and other vital information, but also to the community. A large percentage of the malicious programs out there are designed to capture PCs so they can be used to spew spam or launch attacks.

A few years ago, Microsoft tried, unsuccessfully, to get into the paid security business with a service called OneCare. Now management has decided that if they can’t sell it, they will give it away. Microsoft Security Essentials is a basic antivirus program­ that scans your system for malware, checks files that you bring into your computer through downloads or media such as flash drives, and tries to block sneak downloads from hostile Web sites. It works with Windows 7, Vista, and XP and is available for download now as a test version. The final product is due before yearend.

Giving away antivirus programs is nothing new; AVG , Avast!, and others have long provided free programs. But Microsoft throwing its weight and marketing might behind such software could make a big difference.

I tried Security Essentials on several systems and found that it installed easily and worked flawlessly without noticeably slowing performance. The German lab AV-Test ran its standard tests on Security Essentials and declared it to be “very good” compared with competing products.

At the same time, I don’t think Security Essentials is about to drive paid offerings from the likes of Symantec (SYMC) and McAfee (MFE) off the market. These companies sell a variety of security products and services ranging from around $40 to $80 a year for up to three computers, and all are far more comprehensive than Security Essentials. The for-pay offerings include firewalls, anti-­phishing defenses, parental controls, and in some cases data backup services.

Still, I have grown disenchanted with these heavyweight packages. Many of the features duplicate what is already built into operating systems and browsers. Vista and Windows 7, for example, have solid parental controls, and Internet Explorer 8 and Firefox 3.5 have defenses against both phishing attacks and “drive-by downloads” of malware from Web sites.

While the firewalls included in the paid products offer much more detailed control than the built-in Windows firewall that Security Essentials relies on, the overwhelming majority of users never touch these settings. And Symantec’s Norton Internet Security, which I use on my home Windows systems, has recently developed the annoying habit of demanding that I reboot my system to install updates a couple times a week.

Unfortunately, I don’t expect computer makers will install Security Essentials on new PCs. Antivirus software makers pay to have trial versions of their programs loaded. With margins tight, manufacturers want that revenue. Trouble is, many customers never renew after the 30- to 90-day trial period runs out and are thus left unprotected. Microsoft’s “good enough” offering is exactly that, and it marks important progress in the fight to keep computers safe.

source : Businessweek