Hot Computers & Programming Posts

How To: Install WAMP and create a MySQL database

This tutorial covers installing the WAMP (that is, Windows-Apache-MySQL-PHP) all-in-one package and creating a MySQL database using the import function of phpMyAdmin. For step-by-step instructions on the WAMP installation process, or to get started installing your own WAMP serve, take a look.

How To: Creating a custom class in Flex 3

In this programming tutorial, Mike Lively of Northern Kentucky University explains the six parts of a Flex 3 class. He demonstrates how to create and extend a class using Flex 3, and how to bring that class into a Flex project using xmlns name space. Learn how to work with custom classes in this beginners Adobe Flex Builder 3 tutorial.

How To: Chage the Adobe Flex 3 preloading screen

Altering the preloading screen in Flex 3 sure can be complicated, to say the least. Wouldn't it be awesome if the whole process was easier? Maybe if someone made, I don't know, a tutorial that walked you through the steps so that even a beginner could understand the procedure. Wouldn't that be fantastic? We thought so too... so here it is. Watch and learn how to change the Flex preloading screen in this programming tutorial.

How To: Install Cairngorm in Adobe Flex 3 and use MVC

In this tutorial, Mike Lively of Northern Kentucky University discusses the MVC (Model Viewer Controller) architecture, installs Cairngorm into Adobe Flex 3, and discusses one of David Tucker's examples. The MVC model is comprised of a Model (encapsulates information from the d base (XML file), View (presentation layer that the user interacts with, and Controller (processes and responds to events and invokes changes to the model and viewer). See how to use the MVC model and install Cairngorm ...

How To: Install a serial ATA hard drive in a G5 Power Mac

If your Power Mac is running out of disk space, you might consider installing a second hard drive. In this video tutorial, you'll find instructions for installing a second serial ATA drive into a Power Mac G5 system. For more on the hard drive installation process, watch this how-to and, remember: take proper anti-static precautions when working on any computer.

How To: Backup your photos in Apple iPhoto

Backing up your digital photos with Apple iPhoto while running Mac OS X can give you peace of mind of knowing that you will not accidentally lose your precious photos. In this video tutorial, you'll learn how. For more, or to get started backing up your own photos in Apple iPhoto, watch this how-to.

How To: Set up a network tarpit or teergrube

A network Tarpit, sometimes know by the German word Teergrube, is a service or set of hosts that deliberately try to slow malicious network connections down to a crawl. The idea is to put up unused hosts or services on the network that respond to an attacker, but do things to waste their time and greatly slow their scanning (or spreading in the case of Worms). To follow along with this video tutorial, you'll need a package called LaBrea by Tom Liston and an unused IP address to tarpit. Set up...

How To: Use Flex Photo Viewer on Google Code

This is a simple Adobe Flex Photo Viewer. It uses a number of techniques that are not found in any one place in the literature - data shorting, tile repeater, xml http services, inline mxml actionscripting, click on double functions, use of CDATA Tags, tooltip, glow and fade effects - all done in less than 100 lines of code (once you take out the blank lines). This was created by Mike Lively Director of Instructional Design at Northern Kentucky University for the Over The Rhine project.

How To: Compile and configure dhcpd from source in Fedora 9

Devil2005 has created a video on compiling and configuring dhcp daemon, or dhcpd, from source. He's using the Fedora 9 distribution of Linux for the video, but the lessons learned should be applicable to other distros. For that matter, even if you are not interested in installing dhcp in this way it's still a good lesson on how to download and compile various applications from source. Compile and configure dhcpd from source in Fedora 9.

How To: Use the Nmap security tool

This hour-long hacking tutorial looks at the Nmap security scanner. In particular, this Nmap tutorial looks at port scanning concepts, TCP three way handshake, stealth scans, idle scans, bounce scans, version detection, OS detection, NSE/LUA scripting and firewall logs. To get started using Nmap, watch this video tutorial. Use the Nmap security tool.

How To: Set up and use parental controls in Mac OS X Leopard

Parental controls let you manage, monitor, and control how much time your kids spend on their Mac, the websites they visit, and the people they email and chat with. Parental controls are set up and managed in system preferences. Before setting up your parental controls, you'll need to create an account for your child. In this video tutorial, you'll learn how to configure and use the parental controls that are built into the Leopard operating system. Watch this video tutorial for more.

How To: Open multiple tabs with one click in Apple Safari

Find yourself going to the same websites or blogs every morning? In this video tutorial, you'll learn how to open them all using a single click. First, view all of your bookmarks. Then, create a new bookmark folder in your bookmarks bar. Add the desired books and check the autoclick box. Whenever you click on the bookmark folder in your bookmarks toolbar, your Safari client will launch all of the websites in separate tabs. For more, watch this OS X video tutorial from Apple.

How To: Delete files securely in Mac OS X Leopard

Have sensitive data that you want to make sure you securely delete? Or maybe you're getting an external drive ready to recycle or to give to a colleague. In this video tutorial, you'll find instructions for securely emptying your trash and also securely delete the contents of an external hard drive. For more, and to learn how to remove data from your Mac computer securely, watch this video tutorial from Apple.

How To: Access symbols & accent characters on Mac keyboard

When creating business documents or communicating with colleagues in other countries with your Apple computer, it's often necessary to use certain typographic symbols. In this video, you'll learn how you can use quick key combinations to access certain characters. For more on accessing symbols and accent characters on your keyboard in Mac OS X, watch this video tutorial from Apple.

How To: Use groups in Apple Address Book

If you're like most people running Mac OS X, you've got quite a large number of entries in your Apple Address Book. In this how-to, you'll find instructions for organizing your addresses into groups for easy access in Address Book, other applications, and even sync devices such as other Macs, iPods and iPhones. For more on using groups in Apple Address Book for Mac OS X, watch this video tutorial.

How To: Managing Browser Tabs

Safari makes it easy to browse multiple web sites in the same browser window using tabs. In the latest version of Safari in Leopard, you'll find even greater flexibility in the way you deal with tabs. For a survey of the new features available to users of Apple Safarin in the Mac OS X Leopard operating system, watch this video tutorial.

How To: Use advanced features in Mac OS X Spotlight

The Apple Spotlight application in Mac OS X can do more than just searches for documents. Throughout your day, you may need to perform a calculation or look up a definition for a word. You can now do that directly from Spotlight. To acccess Spotlight, you can either click on the magnifying glass icon at the top right of your screen or hit command spacebar to bring up the search field. To learn more about using advanced features in OS X Spotlight, watch this video tutorial.