My Windows forgets how to show folders.

I have a problem with my Windows XP SP2 system. I like to view files in List view, but ever since I reinstalled Windows after a hard disk failure, it doesn't work. I haven't upgrade to service Pack 3 because it crashed my computer when I tried it. To set the view, I opened Explorer and chose the Tools Menu, Folder Options, View, Remember each folder's view settings. I then opened each folder and selected the List view. I applied these changes to the folders on the computer's D: drive, which holds my data files, and on every removable USB drive I own.

Unfortunately, although Windows remembers to use the List View on the D: drive, it doesn't do so with the removable drives.

Hacker cracks web padlock

I felt extremely mad this morning as I opened my Friendster account. I tried to type my username and password again and again but still it didn't activate. I surely know that I was not mistaken of my account because I even wrote them (username and password) on my notebook. Someone probably hacked my account. I really felt extremely, overly mad.

To thoroughly know what's often the "underground" business of these hackers, I read some articles which talks more about them.

One of the article I've read form The Computer Shopper, May 2009 series on page 11 reveals that a hacker has developed a tool that can steal information by tricking victims into believing they are visiting a secure encrypted website.

When a website displays a padlock in the address bar of the web browser, it indicated that the connection is encrypted, which in turn means that is is secure form eavesdropping criminals. The system is called Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), and it's the only way regular Internet users can be sure that their online transactions are safe.

An independent hacker, going by the name of Moxie Marlinspike, has demonstrated a software tool called SSLstrip, which fooled both the website owner and the visitor into believing that a secure connection exists between then. It displays a green address bar in the browser, along with the security padlock and a secure https web address. In fact, the website is using an unencrypted http web address instead.

"Marlinspike's larger message is one that a lot people have been talking about for a few years now. This SSL thing is not working very well," said Dan Kaminsky, director of penetration testing at security firm IOActive.

There is currently no fix for the problem, but users can reduce the risks by avoiding public wireless services and other Internet connections that may be used by other, unknown parties.

Printer ink prices rocket.

A report from Computer Shopper Magazine which was disseminated through the public on its March 2009 release (page 11) stated that the price of ink cartridges for printers has risen to unprecedented heights although this trend has gone unnoticed by many consumers.

Since June 2007, the price of ink has shot up by more than 50%. What may seem to be just an extra 2p or 3p per printout soon adds up. There was a marked increase in the cost of printing between December 2007 and January 2008 which Computer Shopper gathered these figures from printers reviewed over the past 18 months, and they always choose the cheapest possible prices.

It's not clear if this situation is due to global increases in the price of the oil needed to manufacture ink cartridges or printer manufacturers seeking extra profits. However, the hidden cost of the printer is likely to have increases significantly over the past 18 months.

People who print out only a handful of pages in a year are not necessarily immune from the rising price of ink cartridges. They may find they have to replace cartridges that have lain id;e because the ink has solidified and clogged up the print heads.

Thus, when buying a new printer, remember that multifunction peripherals (MFPs) are often more expensive to run than regular printers. In all cases, they advise buying high-yield ink cartridges to save costs. Where available, there are the cartridges they use to calculate the print costs.

Customers should also be aware that cartridges for budget MFPs often cost more than those of their more expensive counterparts. Take note of the price-per-page calculations in their reviews when looking for a printer to buy. This way, customers can find the real bargains and not end up making a buying decision they will regret.

Universal phone charger to cut waste

Having been read this information about the cause of phone chargers to universally work together, I found it beneficial to share to everyone.

Leading mobile operators and manufacturers have announced that they'll work together to create a universal charger for all mobile phones. The group includes Nokia, T-Mobile, Sony Ericsson, Vodafone and 3.

Many households contain a mess of different proprietary phone chargers. As well as making like simpler for users, the universal charger is an attempt by mobile phone manufacturer to reduce waste.

The companies hope to create an energy-efficient device that will cut standby energy consumption bu half. As the new chargers will work with any handset, is task to supply. Between 50 and 80% of the 1.2 billion handsets sold in 2008 were replacement handsets, shipped with a new charger. Getting rid of the need for these duplicates would cut production of chargers by at least 51,000 tonnes annually, reducing waste significantly.

Compact audio cassettes are but obsolete.

I was born in the year 1982. After 6 years, I was in line in music. I sing songs which are famous of those times. In fact, compact audio cassettes are what I find precious because these are my tools as I practice to sing songs from my favorites artists.

Now, that I am 27 years old, I never find stores selling audio cassettes. They are mostly selling CDs.

Over the past decade, I have seen the DVD format replace VHS tape, but new digital formats are already on the market. HD-DVD and Blu-ray players are available, although the HD-DVD format has already become obsolete, and its highly like that DVD will be replaced by something else in the longer time.

New file formats appear for a number of reasons. Sometimes an exciting new consumer device introduced a new format, or an influential company such as Microsoft makes a decision and most other people follow. For example, its Office 2007 suite of programs uses a new file format called Open XML. It's not compatible with older versions of Office, but Microsoft claims that in the long run will benefit from smaller file sizes, an increased likelihood that data can be recovered when files are damaged and the ability to share data which other systems, such as business databases. The Open XML file format are available for free, so no-one has to pay Microsoft royalties to use it.

Not all such decisions have gone well, though. In 1986, the BBC published a disc containing content generated by more than a million people. It contained writings, photos and videos of their daily lives to give a future society an insight into how we lived. The disc was created using laser disc technology and required a BBC Acorn computer to work. Within 15 years, the BBC realised the disc drives capable of reading the format had become rare. It had to convert the project to the Digital Betacam format to preserve it for the future.

Therefore, when choosing the type of file format for storing your audio and video content, you'll usually have a choice between one that stores a very accurate copy (but takes up lots of disk space) and one that compresses the file into a smaller file (but has a slightly lower quality). Unless you're really stuck for disk space, opt for the higher quality format.

This is the transition of today's generation into a more progressive and instant access of technology's advancement which I, myself enjoyed a lot.

Samsung says new campaign seen to affect long-term sales

Korean consumer electronics manufacturer Samsung expects its two-week facturer marketng camapign directed to youth market to impact on sales in the long term.

"We don't expect it to boost revenue yet of this year, but we expect the campaign to genereate more brand awareness. If that spells into sales, well and good, but not in the short term," Samsung Electronics Philippines Corp. executive Glenn Martin T. Glinoga said.

Glinoga spoke to the Business Mirror at the sideling of the company's Monday press launch of its "Imagine "marketing campaing targeting young people in Metro Manila from 15 to 25 years old. According to Glinoga, the campaign is an original initiative of the company to ramp up brand relationship with the market.

He notes that while the company has maintained a lead market share in the liquid-crystal display (LCD) television category, "we eant to consolidate that lead and give a good showing in other consumer categories."

Aside from LCD TV, the companu also inports and sells in thelocal market mobile phones, LCD camera, printer, video disc players and computer monitors, among others.

The campaign, launched on Ocotober 15, invite young people to send text messages about what they imagine. Messages that get theo most vote from other users, according to Glinoga, would win a cash prize, consumer electronic products and gift certificated from retailer Folded and Hung. "We're encouraging yourn Filipinos to speak uo and voice out their opinions, thoughts, feelings and ideas," he said, adding that the campaign is in no way connected with politics or the electoral exercise next year.

Called "shout-out," the messages are entered through a micro-site of the company's main address in the Internet.

Mobile phones with Internet access can also be used to get into the campaign website.

According to the firm's press material, the shout-outs can be in English or Filipino but must fall under one of three categories: talk, play and love.

Only one slogan can be accepted for each category. Submission will be accepted until November 30, and the winners will be announced after this date.

Glinoga said he's optimistic that even without this campaign, the company willmeet its revenue target for this year. He, however, declined to cite figures.

Likewise, he added that despite the year nearly ending, the company will release new products.

However, he said, "Samsung has yet to see major attractions to justify putting up a manufacturing plant here."

"As of now, our imports and distribution model of business is working so we don't see that plan coming into view."

New PLDT service offers mobile payment system

The Philippine Long Distance Co. (PLDT) has now made it easy for vendors and clients to carry out payment transactions. By using a single wireless card terminal, merchants can now merchants to seipw all ATM debit and credit card brands.

Called Shops Work Unplugged (SWUP), this new service is a groundbreaking innovation done through strategic partnerships with major acquirer banks. "SWUP operated on a portable payment system that takes advantage of wireless data technology to process sales from practically anywhere," said PLDT customer sales and marketing group head Eric Alberto in a statement.

The PLDT executive said SWUP makes wireless card transactions easy for both vendors and clients, especially in remote areas where there are scant or no banks to withdraw cash from. This is because SWUP runs on the same wireless network that powers Smart Communication Inc.

PLDT corporate business group head Nerissa Ramos said SWUP now accepts major card brands such as Visa, MaterCard, JBC, American Express and Diners Club International as well as Visa Electron, MaterCard Electronic, Megalink and Express Payment System.

SWUP also boasts of security features that make it better than wired credit and debit card point-of-sale terminals which rely solely on the host bank's security system.

PLDT corporate business solutions head Vic Tria said the service to use a private and secure technology called the multiprotocol label switching as its transaction medium rather than the public Internet which is prone to viruses and hackers.