Google Chrome Security Update

If you’re using Google’s Chrome browser, be sure to update it to the latest version (version 1.0.154.48 as of today). A critical security flaw has been found which is fixed in the latest version.

Google Chrome is a great browser for limited applications, especially Google’s own applications like GMail, Google Documents, etc. Chrome has been optimized for Javascript and runs Javascript noticeably faster than Firefox or IE.

I use Chrome for GMail, Google Calendar, and Google Documents, primarily. I use Firefox for everything else because of the rich set of plugins available. It’s a bit of a pain switching back and forth, but the additional speed in GMail is well worth it, IMO.

John The Geek

WordPress Automatic Update Plugin Updated

A few days ago I reported that the WordPress Automatic Update plugin (WPAU) was no longer working in WordPress 2.7. I’m happy to report that the author has updated the plugin so that it now works with WordPress 2.7.

As I reported at the time, WordPress added its own “automatic” upgrade function to version 2.7. So you may well ask “Why do I need the WPAU plugin any more?”

The big advantage of the WPAU plugin is that it provides for very easy backups of your files and database before actually upgrading WordPress. WordPress’ automatic upgrade warns you to back up the files and database, but gives you no way to do that as part of the process.

There is actually no way to backup the fiiles short of manually copying them to another location via ftp or a script of some kind. The database can be backed up via CPanel or other means, but again, it’s a manual process.

The WPAU plugin’s first two steps are to prepare your files and database for backup, giving you download links so you can copy them off to your machine for safekeeping before proceeding with the upgrade. Except for clicking the download links, it’s automatic!

For complete instructions for downloading, installing, and using the WPAU plugin, see my free ebook:

How to Upgrade Your WordPress Blog

John The Geek

WordPress Automatic Upgrade Update

Many of you downloaded my free ebook on using the WordPress Automatic Upgrade plugin to make upgrading WP as easy as it gets. I wanted to give you a heads up that some things have changed that impact the instructions in that ebook.

With version 2.7, WordPress began including their own automatic upgrade function. As of this writing, the WordPress Automatic Upgrade plugin is incompatible with WP 2.7!

If you are still on a version of WordPress prior to 2.7, the ebook instructions work fine. If, however, you have already upgraded to version 2.7 and you have the WordPress Automatic Upgrade plugin activated, be sure to deactivate it before using WordPress’ built in automatic upgrade. If you don’t, you will get an error message and the upgrade will fail.

I would suggest leaving the WordPress Automatic Upgrade plugin on your blog site for the moment. The author may update it to work with 2.7. I sincerely hope he does as backing up the blog code files is now a manual operation. The built in WP upgrade warns you to backup your files and database, but gives you no way to do that automatically.

At the moment, I don’t have a suggestion for backing up your blog files, however, for backing up your database, I highly recommend the WordPress Database Backup plugin. This plugin provides a way to schedule backups of your database at regular intervals and also lets you backup your database on demand. One of the options is to have the backup emailed to you, which I find very handy.

The WordPress 2.7 built in automatic upgrade works like a charm. I’ve upgraded a number of blogs to 2.7.1 using it and had no problems. The key is to remember to deactivate the WordPress Automatic Upgrade plugin first, if you have it activated in your blog.

Be sure to backup your blog files first using whatever method works for you. Use the WordPress Database Backup plugin to backup your database. Once you’re backed up, get your blog updated to the latest version (2.7.1 as of this writing).

John The Geek

Gizmo’s Vista Kool-Aid

The latest paid version of the Windows Secrets newsletter contains an article by editor Gizmo Richards touting the superiority of Windows Vista over Windows XP. Sorry, gang, but I couldn’t resist. Below is the email I just sent to the Windows Secrets crew:

Hi, guys,

First, let me say that I have the utmost respect for Gizmo Richards and have been a subscriber to his TechSupportAlert newsletter for some time. In general, his reviews are helpful and accurate.

So, after reading the latest column under Gizmo’s byline regarding the alleged superiority of Vista over XP, I’ve gotta ask: who is that guy and what’s he done with Gizmo?

I’ve owned a Vista laptop for almost a year and been through the initial version as well as SP1. While I will admit there are a few things about the Vista interface that are actually improvements, in general, I’ll take XP over Vista any time. The big reason: it actually works! Things do what they’re supposed to do, even if they don’t look quite as cool.

Vista’s Wi-Fi management is terrible. XP’s Wi-Fi management is simple and straightforward. Vista wants to connect to whatever network it can find despite being told innumerable times to remove offending networks from its list. Sometimes it actually connects to my own network on the occasions when the random-order generator puts it at the head of the list. In these days when virtually every Internet user has a Wi-Fi network broadcasting all over the neighborhood, the list of networks Vista finds gets pretty long and there’s no way I can find to tell it to ignore all but mine and any others I’ve approved. At least XP only connects automatically to those networks to which I’ve specifically connected in the past AND in the order I specified.

Vista’s Windows Explorer apparently has a random view generator, as well. When I create a new directory, it’s a real adventure to see which view configuration it will decide is appropriate. The defaults have the file name…period. No date/time stamp, no size, no file type, all the things XP users take for granted. I carefully set the directory view the way I want it, go into the Tools | Folder Options menu and tell it to set that view for All Folders and the little folder gnomes inside must bust a gut laughing. The next time I go into a directory it’s decided to Group things!

What genius decided that it’s necessary to group my file listings by 0-9, A-H, etc? Alphabetical order is sufficient, thankyouverymuch.

Exploring in Vista is more exciting than ever because I can attempt to access certain directories and be told that I don’t have access to them. Excuse me? This is my machine and I’m the administrator thereof. By definition I have access to whatever I want access to!

Before you ask, of course I’ve turned off UAC, another stroke of genius by the Microsofties. Apparently, there were numerous meetings of the design team to find ways to make Vista as annoying as possible for users who have a clue. If I want a machine that insulates itself from me, I’ll buy a Mac.

I could go on, but suffice to say that I beg to differ with Gizmo on this one. The only reason I haven’t downgraded my laptop to XP Pro is a lack of the required time to do so. The real improvements in Vista are so few and so far outweighed by its stupidities as to be meaningless.

All the above notwithstanding, thanks for Windows Secrets and the work you guys do.

John The Geek

SitePoint Supports Australian Fire Relief

The folks at SitePoint.com have put together a sale which benefits both the buyer and the Australian fire relief effort. The devastation down under is extreme and here’s a way to lend a hand while scoring some awesome web design resources.

I have several of SitePoint’s books on CSS, HTML and Javascript and they are excellent. The PDF format books are normally US$29.95 each and well worth the price.

For this sale, SitePoint is offering any five of their PDF format books for a total of US$29.95, essentially an 80% discount. What’s more, they are donating the proceeds from the sale to the Australian fire relief effort. In short, you pay $29.95 and get 5 books and the fire relief fund gets the whole $29.95.

If you have any interest in web development technology, I highly recommend jumping on this deal.

John The Geek