scattered technology news

Video: Install Chrome OS In VirtualBox 17

Google Chrome was announced yesterday. As a geek, the first thing I naturally wanted to do was install it. Since I don’t have an extra machine lying around, the easiest way to do so is to run it virtually on my existing machine. So I decided to make a quick screen cast on how to install Google Chrome OS in VirtualBox. (Credit for the idea goes to UbuntuForums) It’s actually quite easy, even if you’re computer illiterate. To get started, just watch the video below:

Things Needed:

• Download & Install VirtualBox (Free)
• Download & Unzip the Chrome OS image (via GDGT.com)

Update: Looks like GDGT posted a image for VirtualBox as well. However it doesn’t seem to work. Just stick to the VMWare .vmdk file for use with VirtualBox as I did. Otherwise it just loads a black screen.

That’s pretty much it. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask below!

Links: Watch This in HD on Vimeo.com

Windows 7 Dual Monitor Snap Tip 0

I recently wrote about setting up Dual Monitors in Windows 7 and today I’ve got a tip to alleviate some issues many of those users face. Although Windows 7 handles multiple monitors better than Windows Vista, it’s still faces a few issues. The new window Snap feature is a great addition and works seamlessly with a single display, however it faces a major issue when using two or more displays. The “half-screen” snap will only work on the far left and right ends of your display. Windows 7 won’t snap programs to the halves to the left and right of the center divider. There’s no telling why Microsoft decided to leave this feature out, but it definitely causes a major drop in productivity.

• Snap Right: WIN Key + Right
• Snap Left: WIN Key + Left

Fortunately after digging through the “internets,” I found a solution workaround. To move an active window to the left or right half of the center divider, just hit the WIN Key + Right or WIN Key + Left. Repeatedly pressing through either combo continually moves the window to all the possible snap positions. You can also add the SHIFT key as another modifier to have it jump to the same position on the next display. I’m definitely not a fan of having to do this and would have definitely preferred a visual method, but it’s the best option at the moment. It’s a lot better than manually resizing windows…

Microsoft, if you’re listening, please make a small tweak or two for Service Pack 1.

Do You Still Set Your Clocks? 0

This year’s Daylight Savings ends on tomorrow on November 1st, 2009 for those who live in countries that observe it. At 2AM clocks will need to be turned back an hour. And to remember which way the clock gets turned when, just remember the phrase “Spring Forward, Fall Back.”

However it’s 2009 and we live in a digital world. I realized I haven’t had to manually set a clock back or ahead for at least a year or two now. Everything I use from my computers to mobile phones all get their time from a centralized source. They all adjust themselves automatically. Even cheap standalone alarm clocks that are available that cost under $15 now sync up with the atomic clock in Colorado.

So my question to guys: “Do you still have clocks that need to be adjusted?”
Let us know by voting in our Twitter Poll and by leaving a comment below!

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Video: Install Movable Type In 3 Steps 3

Last week we posted a quick video tutorial entitled, “Installing WordPress In 40 Seconds.” A few of you folks emailed in asking if there was something similar for Movable Type, so I decided to make one. With this script, you can have the latest version of Movable Type installed on your server in just 3 steps.

Things you’ll need:

• SSH Server Access
• SSH Client

If you need an SSH Client, on Windows machines I recommend PuTTY. It’s less than 1MB and doesn’t even need installation. If you are on Linux or Macintosh, you are fortunate enough to have a Terminal built right in. Now connect to your web server and login. Then browse to the folder of the domain you wish to install Movable Type. For the rest, just watch the video below!

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Setup Dual Monitors In Windows 7 23

After my tutorial on setting up Multiple Monitors on Windows Vista last year, a couple of you have written in asking for help with Windows 7. For the most part, it’s just as simple and more options are now available as well. My setup currently consists of a Dell XPS M1530 laptop connected to a Samsung SyncMaster 206BW. I’ve got a dual display setup, so I can drag windows between the two displays and utilize all the screen space. It’s quite easy and you can have it setup in minutes.

Hardware + Software Requirements:

• Laptop with a VGA, HDMI, or DisplayPort output
• A Monitor with a VGA, HDMI, or DisplayPort input
• One cable to connect them together
• Running Windows 7, with proper drivers

Getting Setup:

1. Connect the monitor to your laptop
2. Right Click on the desktop and select Screen Resolution
3. Choose “Extend these displays” found under “Multiple Displays”

For most, that should be about it. Just hit Apply and everything should be setup. But for instance say you have physically positioned your laptop and monitor above or below each other. You’ll have to make a few changes. Click Identify to figure out which monitor is which. Then drag the display icons into the proper position as they are located physically on your desk. If you would like the start menu to be located on a different display, click on the display you want and check the “Make this my main display” box. Hit Apply again and all should be working! Give it a shot, just try dragging a window from one display to another.

If you have any questions or just want to say thanks, feel free to leave a comment!

Related: Setup Multiple Monitors in Vista

Video: Install WordPress In 40 Seconds 2

I happen to be someone who constantly installs and re-installs WordPress for this blog, to test plugins, and for clients. I found that the critically acclaimed “Famous 5-Minute Install” took just a bit too long for me. The process eats up quite a bit of time, especially if find yourself installing WordPress constantly. So to speed things up, I wrote a quick shell script that does just about all the work in just a few commands.

Things you’ll need:

• SSH Server Access
• SSH Client

If you need an SSH Client, on Windows machines I recommend PuTTY. It’s less than 1MB and doesn’t even need to be installed. If you are on Linux or Macintosh, you are fortunate enough to have a Terminal built right in. Now connect to your web server, login, and watch the video for the rest!

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Wallpapers: Windows 7 & Snow Leopard 2

2009 is the year for the launch of two new next generation operating systems: Apple’s OS X Snow Leopard and Microsoft’s Windows 7. Just as with every prior version of both those operating systems, they come with a set new stunning backgrounds. If you aren’t willing to spend the cash to upgrade or can’t afford to do so in these difficult times, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be able to enjoy these new wallpapers. So as a treat, our readers can download the entire set of backdrops included with both Windows 7 and Snow Leopard in full high resolution glory!

The download includes 31 Windows 7 Backgrounds plus two bonus ones we’ve thrown in all at a 1920×1200 resolution. And it also includes 35 Snow Leopard Backgrounds, all at a whopping 2560×1600 resolution. So what are you waiting for? Download a copy and let us know which set you like best!

Download:
next-gen-wallpapers.zip (~79.8 MB)
Note: Download only contains JPG images, we never distribute spyware/malware/adware.

Pre-Order: Snow Leopard | Windows 7

Replace Vista’s Ugly Shortcut Icon 6

If you use Windows Vista, you might also hate the large and ugly shortcut icon overlays the operating system uses. They seem to cover up almost a fourth of the area of each icon on your desktop. I had found some solutions on some forums, however changing the icon easily and safely without additional applications wasn’t an option. To make things easier I have included a tiny REG file for Windows Vista users which will allow them to change their shortcut icon quickly.

Modifying Vista’s Shortcut Icon Overlay:

1. Download ‘shortcut-icon-changer.zip‘ and Extract it
2. Close all unnecessary applications except this page
3. Copy ‘Arrow.ico’ into the ‘C:\Windows\’ folder
4. Double-click on ’shortcut-icon-changer.reg’
5. Say ‘Yes’ to accept the changes being made

The setup is now complete, to see the new icon in action you can either reboot your machine or end and restart the “explorer.exe” process in the Windows Task Manager. If you wish to use another ‘.ico’ icon overlay instead of the one provided, just rename it to Arrow.ico and place it in the ‘C:\Windows\’ folder.

Download: shortcut-icon-changer.zip

Notice: Keep in mind that we only provide tweaks that are safe. If something provided here was to result in damaging your machine, we are not responsible. If you need help or have any questions, just leave us a comment below. We’d be glad to help!

Dual Screen Wallpaper In Vista 6

Last month I posted a tutorial describing how to setup an extended display in Windows Vista for laptops. I received an email asking exactly how I setup a background which extended over from one display onto another. So setting up dual screen wallpapers in Vista is what I’ll be going over in this quick tutorial.

Before picking a background to use, you’ll need to know the total resolution of your two displays. So for example if you have two 1280×800 displays and they are sitting besides each other, the total resolution would be 2560 x 800. You would then have to find an image of that resolution to make it fit correctly. If you’ve already got an image, skip to the setup procedure. If not, a great place to look for large backgrounds is InterfaceLift. This website offers tons of free high resolution wallpapers for just about every setup. Since we are looking for wallpapers for dual displays, head on over to the dual monitors section and select the resolution of your setup to filter the results. Browse through the gallery, pick some wallpapers you like, and save them to your computer.

Setup Dual Screen Walpaper:

1. Right-click on desktop & click Personalize
2. Open the Desktop Background settings
3. Browse to & select the background you want
4. Choose ‘Tile’ under positioning settings

If all goes well, your dual screen wallpaper should span across your first display onto the second!

Some problems you may encounter are if you have different sized resolutions on each of your displays. One solution for that would be to pick an image larger in height and width than the larger of your two displays. Doing so should ensure that the image stretches across your entire viewing area. There are also some applications which will allow further customizations, for example choosing different images for each display. This tutorial covers the simplest method to getting this done without any extra software. We welcome all tips and suggestions so please let us know if you have any other cools tweaks or tips. And as always if you have any problems please leave a comment and someone will assist you!

Setup Multiple Monitors In Vista 59

If you are running Windows Vista on a Laptop and wish to utilize dual displays, this is just the article for you. Instead of replicating the content on your laptop screen on to your external display, you’ll be able to extended your desktop across both. By doing so you’ll gain extra screen real estate meaning more space to work in. Once you have a successfully functioning dual display setup, windows can be dragged across from one screen to another and you can have two fully maximized applications visible at once!

Some Small Requirements:

• Decent Laptop with VGA or HDMI output
• A monitor with VGA or HDMI input
• A VGA or HDMI cable to connect both together

Getting To The Settings:

1. Connect your laptop to your external monitor
2. Right Click on your desktop and select Personalize
3. Open the Display settings window (at the bottom)

Next arrange the two monitors to the setup you have. Monitor 1 would be your laptop’s display and Monitor 2 is your additional display. So, for example, if your laptop is on the left and the monitor is on the right, drag the two boxes around so that Monitor 1 is on the left and Monitor 2 is on the right.

Extending The Display:

1. Select Monitor 2 in the visual or from the drop-down menu
2. Check the box besides “Extend the desktop onto this monitor”
3. Just hit Apply. The screen should flash and you are done!

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