This week we learned how to watch Netflix instant streaming content through Zinc TV, test drive webOS without buying a phone, make iTunes for Windows run faster, import OneNote 2010 notebooks into Evernote, get started with GeekTool for OS X, and more. Time to pull up your favorite comfy chair and enjoy this week’s batch of geeky goodness.

Photo by parl.

Weekly Feature

If you are a Final Fantasy fan, then you will definitely want this theme for your system. The theme pack includes 10+ HD Final Fantasy XIII wallpapers, custom Final Fantasy XIII icons and select sounds from the game.

Photo by Asian Angel.

Windows 7 Themes : Final Fantasy XIII Theme For Windows

Random Geek Links

Photo by The H Security.

• When hackers hack hackers
  Phishing kit creators are siphoning off the majority of collected login data from hackers using the kit (without their knowledge).
• Cybercrooks expected to step up Win XP SP2 attacks
  Cybercrooks are expected to step up attacks on Windows XP SP2 now that it has reached end-of-support status.
• New Malware Exploiting Windows Shortcut (.LNK) 0-Day
  Vobfus and Chymine now join Stuxnet in targeting Windows shortcut (.lnk) 0-Day vulnerability.
• Expert: Critical system flaws a ‘ticking time bomb’
  SCADA systems (used in power companies and utilities) vulnerable to latest malware created to target them.
• GNOME 3.0 Delayed Until March 2011
  Quality concerns have delayed the release date of GNOME 3.0 until at least March 2011.
• Internet Explorer 9 (IE9) Beta Drops in September 2010
  The first beta of Internet Explorer 9 is scheduled for availability in September.
• Mobile apps phone home
  Numerous applications for Android and iPhone are sending more sensitive data to third parties than users probably realize.
• ATMs badly secured
  Researcher Barnaby Jack demonstrated ATM hacking at this year’s Black Hat Conference.
• Billington opens new DMCA loopholes
  New legal allowances are made for lawful, non-infringing circumvention of copyright measures (i.e. jailbreaking iPhones or ripping DVDs).
• Students trust high Google search rankings too much
  Some students are placing too much trust in highly ranked search results when doing research for schoolwork.

Geek Video of the Week

Johnny Cage has a bad day when Goro is placed in charge of the tournament schedule. Will he be victorious or become a fatality?

Photo by CollegeHumor.

Mortal Kombat Is Not A Tournament

Productive Geek Tips

• Set Up Your Google Homepage as a Feed Reader
  Set up your Google homepage as a customizable, and more visually appealing feed reader.
• Scheduling vs Over-Scheduling: How to Find a Balance
  Learn how to structure your day without setting too many time constraints or activity restrictions.
• Transform your Ubuntu Box into a Karaoke Machine
  Use OSD Lyrics to turn your Linux system into a karaoke machine.

Sysadmin Geek Tips

• Batch Script to Auto Update Sysinternals Tools
  Use this handy batch script to automatically update the Sysinternals tools you have on your system.
• How to Resize a Microsoft Virtual Hard Drive (VHD) File
  Learn how to resize a Microsoft VHD file using VHD Resizer.
• How to Install PHP on IIS 6 for Windows Server 2003
  See how to deploy PHP applications via IIS 6 on your Windows Server 2003 system.
• How to Install PHP on IIS 7 for Windows Server 2008
  See how to deploy PHP applications via IIS 7 on your Windows Server 2008 system.
• Restoring a SQL Database Backup Using SQL Server Management Studio
  If you are restoring a backup created on a different SQL installation or simply prefer a point and click interface, SQL Server Management Studio (or the Express edition) makes it an easy task.

The Geek on Lifehacker

It’s no secret that we’re huge fans of the simple but powerful AutoHotkey scripting language, and we use it religiously to automate Windows tasks and save time. Here’s a handful of useful scripts and tricks to help you become an AutoHotkey expert.

The Best Time-Saving AutoHotkey Tricks You Should Be Using

Random TinyHacker Links

• Block or Unblock attachments in Outlook (beta)
  Tiny app Outlook Security Configurator painlessly allows you to block/unblock attachments in Outlook 2002-2010.
• What to Look for in a Web Host
  The guys from netuts+ recently published a very useful article about web hosts and the things you should look at before choosing one.
• Share Files between Mac OS X & Windows 7 computers
  For those of you having a home network with both Mac OS X and Windows 7 computers, these guides will be truly useful.
• Perform a Search from the Firefox Toolbar
  With a little bit of tweaking, you can perform Google searches from the Firefox toolbar.
• Spell check whole pages (Firefox)
  Spell Checker highlights spelling errors on whole pages, not just text boxes. A simple click on a the Spell Check icon will reveal any mistakes found on a page.

Super User Questions

Here is the latest batch of hot questions from Super User this week.

• Safely opening a suspect USB Drive
• How did my computer get compromised?
• I have some sort of adware that isn’t being detected by anything. What should I do?
• how to properly (or alternatively?) shutdown linux from terminal?
• Is using Ubuntu Live CD safe for online financial transactions?

Latest Reviews at How-To Geek

Check out our latest software reviews.

• Gladinet Cloud Desktop Professional 2.3
  Gladinet is a tool for Windows that lets you access many different online storage services directly in Windows Explorer.
• ASUS WebStorage 2.2.6 for Windows Home Server
  The Asus WebStorage service for WHS lets you backup and sync your shared folders off-site. The service also offers ways to backup your PC, Android device, and WHS Shared Folders off-site.

One Year Ago on How-To Geek

Here are some more terrific articles from one year ago.

• Give Your Desktop Artistic Flair with FotoSketcher
• How to Drag Files to the Taskbar to Open Them in Windows 7
• Burn Any Video File Type To Play on A DVD Player
• Work-Arounds for Failed Extension & Theme Installs in Firefox
• Manage Devices the Easy Way with Device Stage in Windows 7

The Geek Note

That is all for this week. Make certain to check out our new monthly top ten articles feature and keep those great tips coming to us at tips@howtogeek.com.

Photo by Helico.