windows 7 pre-order offer

Today and tomorrow - July 10 and 11 are your last days to pre-order Windows 7 at Microsoft's special price of $49 for Home Premium Upgrade and $99 for Professional Upgrade. You order today or tomorrow but don't pay until the operating system is shipped on October 22.

• Microsoft Windows 7 pre-order

You can find even better prices from some of the participating retailers like Costco.

Microsoft is also offering free upgrades to Windows 7 from Windows Vista for any new PC you buy from now until October.

• Windows 7 Upgrade

You'll probably still be able to get cheaper licenses from Tech Soup for your library computers after Windows 7 is shipped. But this is a good opportunity to upgrade your home computers. I bought a copy for my Acer netbook.

The system requirements are not as high as for Windows Vista. It reportedly runs great on netbooks. But you still might want to run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor to make sure your PC will be able to run the new OS.

• Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor

And if you prefer to try before you buy, Microsoft is offering Windows 7 Release Candidate free for download until the end of July 2009. You can use it until June 2010 before it expires and you have to buy a copy.

• Windows 7 Release Candidate

I've heard that the Release Candidate is very stable but you're generally advised not to try on your only PC and/or on any computer that is absolutely vital to your operations. And for library use, it's a pretty good idea to wait a bit on new software and operating systems and let someone else work the bugs out for you.

Public PC Restrictions - Part Two

So this is really part 2 of what I had described in an earlier blog. You should read the first part or this won’t really make much sense. It's called "Public PC Restrictions without Steady State".

OK, well there is one thing you do NOT do, and that is to enable the restriction called "Prevent access to Microsoft Management Console utilities". Remember that the Administrator account is what you use to make changes to your policies with the Group Policy Editor. The Exec account can’t make those changes because it does not have read access to the “User” folder that has the policy. The Group Policy Editor is one of the Microsoft Management Console utilities, so if you enable that restriction, you can no longer change your restrictions. This would be an unfortunate series of events indeed.

I list the policies I have used on a set of PCs running XP in a Workgroup and that have Deep Freeze installed on them. This list is just what I am using and in no way means it is just right for you. But you might usefully use this as a good starting point. I consider these restrictions to be mild to medium. Good luck and please let me know if you found this useful or not. Thanks.
This is the list of enabled policies.


General Settings
Set Internet Homepage (to whatever)
Prevent Access to Drives from My Computer - Restrict C drive only


Start Menu Restrictions
Allow only the Classic Start menu
Remove the Control Panel, Printer and Network Settings from the Classic Start menu
Remove the My Documents icon
Remove the My Recent Documents icon
Remove the My Pictures icon
Remove the My Music icon
Remove the My Network Places icon
Remove the Control Panel icon
Remove the Set Program Access and Defaults icon
Remove the Network Connections (Connect To) icon
Remove the Printers and Faxes icon
Remove the Run icon
Remove the Frequently Used Programs list

General Windows Restrictions (In this section DO !NOT! prevent access to the MMC)
Prevent right-click in Windows Explorer
Prevent Autoplay on CD, DVD, and USB drives
Prevent users from saving files to the desktop
Prevent access to Windows Explorer features: Folder Options, Customize Toolbar, and the notification Area
Prevent access to the command prompt
Prevent access to the registry editor
Prevent access to Task Manager
Prevent users from adding or removing printers
Prevent users from locking the computer
Prevent password changes (also requires the Control Panel icon to be removed)

Internet Explorer restrictions
Disable Autocomplete
Empty the Temporary Internet Files folder when Internet Explorer is closed
Prevent access to some Internet Explorer menu choices
Security Tab
Programs Tab
Privacy Tab
Advanced Tab
Connections Tab

Microsoft Office restrictions
Disable Add-Ins (both check boxes)

Additional Start Menu Restrictions
Prevent programs in the All Users folder from appearing

Additional General Windows Restrictions
Remove the Shared documents folder from My Computer

Additional Internet Explorer Restrictions
None

Conficker April First Non-Event

It's only early morning here in Montana on Apriil First 2009 but parts of the world have already moved on to April 2 and the Conficker worm has not shown a dramatic turn for the more destructive. No news is good news on this front.

If you would like to find out more about the Conficker worm, have a look at
www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/viruses/worms/conficker.mspx. If you need tools or information to help you rid yourself of this scourge, have a look at www.dshield.org/conficker.

Remember it can also spread by using a memory stick. Those of you that use a memory stick that is occassionally plugged into a PC in a school network should be particularly careful. I only mention schools because they are often filled with uninhibited surfers, but so are many other places as well. Public libraries come to mind.

Enjoy your April 1st. May all your jokes be clever and all your victims be of good humor.

Public PC Restrictions Without SteadyState

I have come to dislike Windows SteadyState.  The version I was running on some XP boxes was not compatible with Windows Service Pack 3 for Windows XP and the only way to remove SteadyState was to format the hard drive and reinstall.  But I still need to apply restrictions on public stations that are part of a Workgroup instead of a Domain.  A Domain enables you to use the powerful Group Policy environment.  I love it.  But there are places I cannot put a server, so what to do?  Do this.  It’s a somewhat complicated process, so you should be pretty familiar with Windows XP to set this up.

This is on a new install of a fully updated post-SP3 Windows XP Professional box.  I have a public user named “pub”.  I have a workstation management user called “exec”.  And I also use the built-in Administrator account.  Both “exec” and “administrator” are members of the Administrator’s Local Group.  The user “pub” is a member of the Users Group.  As you’ll see, we need all three accounts.

There are a number of Group Policy settings included with the XP Pro install.  To these we need to add the restrictions found in Windows SteadyState.  All SteadyState restrictions are on the User side, not the Computer side.  You’ll soon see what that means.  Keep in mind that what we are doing with this step is making these restrictions available for configuration.  We are not here turning them on or off.

First, we need to get the Administrative Template included with Windows SteadyState.  The most obvious technique is to install SteadyState on a box and grab the file.  The file you are looking for is c:\program Files\Windows Sdeadystate\ADM\SCTsettings.adm.  A much cleaner solution is to extract the file “SCTsettings.adm” right from the Steadystate msi installation file.  Search on “msiexec” to find how to use a tool to avoid having to install to get the file.

Next we want to put this file where it belongs.  On the PC we are going to lock down, put SCTsettings.adm in the c:\windows\system32\grouppolicy\adm folder.  Open the admfiles.ini file for editing.  Add a line for the SCTsettings.adm file ending in 1 like the other lines.

Reboot.  Logon as Administrator.  Run gpedit.msc at the Run line.  In the left pane, note that there is a folder following  the path “User Configuration – Administrative templates – All Windows SteadyState Restrictions”.  In this folder are all the same restrictions you find in Windows SteadyState and you don’t have to worry about pulling all your hair out dealing with a SteadyState problem sometime down the road.

But we’re not finished yet.  How are we going to apply these restrictions to only one specific user on this PC?  Not being the brightest crayon in the box, I didn’t know.  So I googled it.  To solve that problem, I will simply point you to www.theeldergeek.com/gp07.htm.  He solves it using permissions.  I have made one change from his description.  I modify permissions on the “User” folder in the “GroupPolicy” folder rather than the “GroupPolicy” folder itself.  All SteadyState restrictions are User restrictions, so as long as you are making only SteadyState restrictions, you only need deny access to the “User” folder.

There is one last clue.  If you don’t find the Security tab where you expect it, as per the elder geek’s instructions, turn off “Simple File Sharing”.  Open Windows Explorer, go to Tools – Folder Options – View, scroll to the bottom of the list and you’ll see the checkbox.

Now here is how my procedure works.  I set “pub” to logon automatically.  The restrictions are applied and the user is restricted.  When I want to change a restriction, I logon as “Administrator” and make changes using gpedit.msc.  If the administrator is blocked from accessing that tool, then the only option is to use the technique described at the end of the elder geek’s description.  For all administration that doesn’t involve changing these restrictions, I use the “exec” logon.

OK, so that is how you would apply and manage restrictions on a public workgroup XP station.  What restrictions should you apply?  I’ll talk about that in the next blog.

keeping track of social networks

Do you belong to several social networking sites?

• Twitter
• Flickr
• Facebook
• Delicious
• Google Reader
• Others

If so, you probably have friends on a number of these sites as well. So, how do you keep track of all of this activity without making yourself crazy (okay, crazier, in my case)?

One solution is FriendFeed. Here's a FriendFeed widget with my recent activity:



You can subscribe to FriendFeed and add your friends. Of course, there's another step that can take some time. Facebook also has a FriendFeed application you can add. It will automatically add your Facebook friends to your FriendFeed as they sign up without your having to go through another step.

I find FriendFeed particularly useful professionally in regard to seeing what web sites my library colleagues are bookmarking in Delicious. And that's really what social networking is about - learning from your peers.

Video - Can you say it in 12 seconds?

There are some tools out there that make videocasting really easy. All you need is 12 seconds of your time, a webcam, microphone and a willing or perhaps not so willing co-star:



sreymer on 12seconds.tv

So you want to be a podcaster?

One of the questions that inevitably comes out of Web 2.0 workshops is how can I produce my own podcasts?

I have to admit my initial response is a rather skeptical, REALLY?

Why am I so skeptical? Let's look at what a podcast really is. Let's look at the definition from Wikipedia:

"A podcast is a series of audio or video digital-media files which is distributed over the Internet by syndicated download, through Web feeds, to portable media players and personal computers. Though the same content may also be made available by direct download or streaming, a podcast is distinguished from other digital-media formats by its ability to be syndicated, subscribed to, and downloaded automatically when new content is added. Like the term broadcast, podcast can refer either to the series of content itself or to the method by which it is syndicated; the latter is also called podcasting. The host or author of a podcast is often called a podcaster.

"The term is a portmanteau of the words "iPod" and "broadcast", the Apple iPod being the brand of portable media player for which the first podcasting scripts were developed (see history of podcasting). Such scripts allow podcasts to be automatically transferred from a personal computer to a mobile device after they are downloaded. As more devices other than iPods became able to synchronize with podcast feeds, the term was redefined by some parties as a backronym for "Personal On Demand broadCASTING"."

Okay, so when I hear a librarian say s/he wants to do a podcast, I interpret it to mean that s/he wants to offer an on-going audio/video program for syndication over the internet. Frequently, that's not what s/he means at all, instead s/he is using podcast to cover any audio or video program. Perhaps s/he just wants to take a video of the end of summer reading. If that's what you mean, there will be another blog post just for you. And the good news is that producing an occasional audio/video program is SO much easier than producing a podcast.

I think the first task of anyone starting a new project is to see what others are doing so you can get a good idea of what works and what doesn't. So, if you haven't done so already, by all means download iTunes, Juice, Ziepod or one of the numerous other podcast aggregators out there. Then subscribe to some library-related podcasts. Unfortunately, many seem to have been brief experiments and are no longer being updated. The only current ones in my iTunes library are podcasts of author/speaker events at some of the larger public libraries: Seattle, Philadelphia, Los Angeles. But do look around and see what you find. I also recommend an archived presentation from the SirsiDynix Institute: A Beginner's Guide to Podcasting: Part 2 - A Creator's Guide. It's over 2 years old already but provides a good overview.

So what do you need to be a podcaster?

1) Passion. This can be a lot of work and thus tough to maintain over the long run. So pick a topic area you really feel passionate about. This advice comes from some of the big name podcasters who've been doing it for years.

2) Set some reasonable timetables and goals. IMO, a real podcast should have new programs at least once a month. You want to reward your subscribers with a regular product. So, let's say you decide to create a podcast highlighting your library's programs for the upcoming month. That means next month's program needs to be available for download by the end of the current month. In the meantime, you need to decide how long the finished product will be - say 1/2 hour; who you'll need to interview - story time readers - what are their themes, potential books?; other children's/teens'/adult program leaders. Next come up with some scripts so you'll know what to ask them. The key is to keep it brief but to come up with something interesting and compelling to bring people into the library for the programs you're promoting. Set aside some time for editing. Chances are not all the interview content will be what you want so you'll want to cut extra, off topic stuff and perhaps hems and haws, coughs, sneezes, dog barking and other extraneous noises. Then you add information about the program to your feed and upload it to your server.

3) Equipment

There are some hardware/software needs.

The easiest way to take care of a lot of your equipment software needs for creating audio and video content is to get a Mac. They all come with built in web cams and microphones and with audio and video editing software. While the quality is not professional grade, it would suffice for most beginners. And the learning curve is not steep.

• Microphones/speakers - many Windows laptops also come with built in microphones and speakers. But while the speakers on newer laptops are tolerable, I've never been able to get the built in microphones to work to my satisfaction. There are a number of reasonably priced headsets on the market which will take care of both headphones and microphones. MSL bought headsets from Plantronics. They work pretty well but you do get some popping noises when you speak. I was looking for a portable microphone/recording unit to use to record family oral histories. I recently bought a Zoom H2 from Amazon. It's small and very portable but the instruction manual is so daunting that I have yet to really try it out.
• There's a lot of audio editing software out there. The most commonly recommended free option is Audacity. It's open source with all the positive and negative connotations therein. I've used it a couple of times with no significant loss of hair from pulling it out in frustration. But I can't say I feel like I know how to use it. And of course, there are a number of software products you can buy from fairly reasonable to very expensive. And, do keep in mind that audio editing and video editing in particular require a fast processor.
• Feed creator software - you can create your own XML feeds but it's much easier to buy software to do it for you. That way you just fill in the blanks. I've never gone so far to create any podcasts myself so I haven't used any of the feed creators enough to recommend one. But some of those referred to the most are FeedForAll and JitBit.
• Web space and bandwidth - this is potentially the most costly on-going expense. Audio and video files in particular are much larger than the average library web page. So they require more web space for storage. An NPR technology highlights program which runs 25 minutes is 11.5 MB. If you have 100 MB of web space available, you won't be able to keep more than 8 programs - not a big deal if this is a monthly event update but something to consider if you're recording local oral histories. And most service providers will charge you extra for what they consider excessive bandwidth usage. If your podcast has 10 subscribers who each download your program once a month, that's 115 MB of bandwidth used. You may need to buy additional space and bandwidth. So, you'll definitely want to ask questions of your service providers as to what's available and what are the costs. Also, when you're deciding whether or not to create podcasts, you may want to take into consideration the bandwidth available to your most likely subscribers. Even a relatively small program of 11.5 MB takes hours to download on a dial-up connection.
  

For video podcasts add:

• a video camera
• video editing software
• a fairly new computer with fast processor
• a web server with even more space and greater available bandwidth for downloads
  

You'll also need to make some decisions about video format. While audio podcasts generally use a standard .MP3 format, there are more choices available for video including high definintion. The potential expense for a video podcast is much higher than for audio. If you are contemplating creating video content, I suggest you look at some other alternatives, including YouTube. We can come back to video podcasts and talk about them in greater detail at some time in the future if there's an interest.

Two more points for consideration are copyright and privacy issues. One of the possible uses I've heard mentioned frequently for podcasts is recording story time. You can work out for yourselves whether or not you think it would have an appeal in an audio format but regardless of whether you use audio or video, keep in mind that most of your story time books are under copyright restrictions. Making the text available over the internet in an audio format and/or showing the illustrations in a video format would most certainly be viewed as copyright violations without the permission of the author/publisher. Regarding privacy, I'd be very cautious about including people, especially minors, in any internet video in particular without consent.

My final suggestion is to share the load. Put together a podcast team from among staff, board members, friends, etc. I think that will make it more likely that this will be an on-going library project than if one or a few overworked individuals try to add it to existing workloads. Small libraries may want to join together with others in their area/federation to create joint podcasts. You can share equipment, expenses and expertise.