Microsoft Secretly Updates Firefox
6-Jun, 2009
From the WTF? department: the Washington Post recently reported that in true “bury-the-details-in-the-EULA-because-nobody-ever-reads-it” form, Microsoft has installed a Firefox add-on during its last update cycle. Not cool. Windows users who don’t want Microsoft’s .NET Framework Assistant running in their beloved Mozilla web browser can hack the registry [always fun] to disable the add-on.
Why is this a big deal? It’s akin to Wells Fargo adding a new feature to the Bank of America website, because Wells Fargo assumed Bank of America members wanted to have that feature…without anyone knowing about it. Oh, and it’s possible that the new feature makes using Bank of America services less secure.
<sarcasm>Microsoft installing software without your knowledge? Is this even possible?</sarcasm> Reason not to use Windows #437.
Then, a few days later, Microsoft responded to all of the pissed-off users by issuing a patch that allows the nasty add-on to be uninstalled. All is right with the world.
Yahoo! Mail Fluid Icon
8-May, 2009
Todd Ditchendorf’s SSB creation, called Fluid (Mac only) is a wonderful way to bring many websites and online applications to your desktop if you’re not into the whole 236-open-tabs-in-your-browser thang. Using an SSB for banking sites, for example, may also help minimize privacy and security risks, as it’s the only website you’re ever likely to visit with the SSB. I digress.
The flickr, Fluid app icon group is a great place to get icons for your favorite SSB creation. My latest addition to the Fluid love is a Yahoo! Mail icon. Click on the previous link or the thumbnail above to get the 512×512 transparent PNG hotness. Apple Mail PSD template by chekkz. Envelope by Prestige.
Block Ads on Your iPhone’s Mobile Safari
4-May, 2009
For those Mac users out there who also happen to have one of those iPhone things, you may want to checkout GlimmerBlocker. This little app does not monkey with Safari or WebKit per se, but acts as an HTTP proxy for Safari and Camino on the Mac.
“Move along. There’s nothing to see here,” you might say. GlimmerBlocker has a little secret, however. You can easily enable the app as a proxy to block ads on your iPhone while on your own network. Now, why not jailbreak your phone and have ad-blocking enabled 24/7? As tempting as that sounds, I prefer not to deal with all the BS baggage that comes with busting your phone out of the proverbial Apple clink. Simply put, I want my phone to work like a phone when I want it to work like a phone. Got that? There are other alternatives, but we all know what can happen when one downloads/installs sketchy software, don’t we?
