Adobe has just patched two bugs in Acrobat reader that could allow a malicious type to take over your computer. You could be affected just be getting a PDF in an email, or by following a link in an email to a PDF file online.

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While taking a wander around the Firefox extensions site, I came across a new one I just had to try. It is called “FireFTP” and it is a fully featured FTP client that runs from within Firefox, it has a similar layout to all stand alone FTP clients in that you have a pane on the left displaying files local to your PC, and a pane on the right displaying files on the remote server, so anyone familiar with any FTP client will have no problem using this one.

My old suggestion for a free FTP client was SmartFTP, but after using this for a while, its simplicity and the fact that it’s a tiny download (only 55kb) makes it the most compelling free FTP client I have seen thus far.

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The only open and fully transparent TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) study I know of that compares Linux to Windows has come to a fairly predictable result. Linux is cheaper then Windows. Of course Microsoft would beg to differ, and has done on many occasions, but never has a TCO report been issued that has really provided the full depth of their methodology such that anyone who wants to can recreate the study themselves. Until now. The study is based on the needs of a 250 user company over 3 years. The long and short of it is that Linux turns out to be up to 36% cheaper over the 3 years then Windows. Now put your hand up if this surprises you. (MCSE’s and MS employees need not bother, instead you should go and read some more of Microsoft’s sponsored studies, their results are more predictable and calming for you.)

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The EU after finding out that they don’t have the majority vote on approving the software patent directives have found a new way to try and push it though without giving it the scrutiny it deserves. They are apparently going to put it to an EU meeting of Fishery experts.

It really makes you wonder who is funding this from the shadows as this is not the first time they have tried it and I can’t imagine they would be this devious in getting it pushed through if they were not getting something in return. As we all know, the really big software companies love software patents as it gives them a means to drag smaller competitors though the courts for years and drain them of cash.

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In a move to stay ahead of rivals, Google has just started the process of spidering and indexing several US university libraries, as well as the New York city public library. The indexed content can then be used in combination with normal Internet content to answer searchers queries. This is fantastic news for pretty much all Google users as there are huge amounts of data that only currently exists in hard copy.

Franki

Web designers and graphic designers in general constantly need a stream of new ideas and creative input to keep their work fresh and lively. The good ones also learn to be highly efficient in their work because clients and a regular paycheck demand it.

I’m always on the lookout for little tools and tricks to make my life as a web designer easier. Below you’ll find a smattering of some that make my work go faster and creativity come more easily to me:

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The Inquirer has just done a review of the Mozilla Thunderbird E-mail client and they only have good things to say. That’s great to hear because that was pretty much my opinion after using it for the last year.

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