This week we learned how to recover specific files from a Windows system image, create custom charts for better Excel spreadsheets, become familiar with the basic menus in Photoshop, refresh the thumbnails on Google Chrome’s new tab page, get started with beginning photo editing in Photoshop, and more.

Photo by Regonold.

Weekly Feature

If you are looking for the ultimate in classic Google themes then your search is over. This mockup of an old “antique-style” paper search form from Google will add the perfect bit of old school charm to your Chromium-based browser.

Photo by my-chrome.ru.

Google Classic Theme

Random Geek Links

Photo by seanaes.

• Privacy concerns dog location-based services
  It sounds like a sweet deal: report your location to a social network and get a coupon for discounts and prizes. The price? The possibility that advertisers and other third parties will know where you are and where you’ve been.
• Facebook brand pages hit by malicious links
  The latest security fiasco on Facebook’s application platform may involve business pages rather than personal accounts.
• Web sites can launch iPhone applications without prompting
  Specially crafted web sites can launch iPhone and iPod Touch apps without the Safari browser asking the user for permission when certain URL protocol handlers (URL schemes) are called.
• Android holes allow secret installation of apps
  Security researchers have demonstrated two vulnerabilities that allow attackers to install apps on Android and its vendor-specific implementations without a user’s permission.
• Exploit kit inclusion could make IE 0-day a big headache
  Microsoft last week published a security advisory alerting users to a flaw in Internet Explorer 6, 7, and 8 that was seeing limited exploitation in targeted attacks. That situation could now change with reports that exploits of the security flaw have been incorporated into an exploit kit.
• Firesheep cookie-jacking tool triggers arms race
  The response to the Firesheep  plug-in for Firefox continues to be huge because the tool is so easy to operate, and because numerous services and users are still vulnerable.
• PGP warns of Mac OS X 10.6.5 update
  Data encryption specialist PGP Corporation has warned Apple Mac users of updating to Mac OS X version 10.6.5. Apparently, systems with PGP Whole Disk Encryption (WDE) no longer boot once the update has been installed.
• Apache Foundation to vote down Java 7, protesting Oracle abuses
  The non-profit ASF intends to fight back by using its seat in the Java Community Process (JCP) Executive Committee to vote against the approval of Java 7, the next major version of the programming language.
• Why you’re a pawn in Facebook vs. Google
  Long headed for a collision, Google and Facebook are currently exchanging blows over which company is a better steward of personal information stored on the Web.
• Microsoft surrenders on Linux Kinect hack
  In a statement to Gamespot, Microsoft has backed down from its legal threats against the Kinect Linux “hack” of Hector Martin.

Geek Video of the Week

Video game bosses go undercover to examine the inner workings of their organizations. Will things change after they have walked a mile in someone else’s turtle shell? Watch to find out!

Photo by CollegeHumor.

Undercover Videogame Boss

Random TinyHacker Links

• Web Designers vs Web Developers
  A humorous infographic comparing the differences between web designers and web developers.
• How a Browser Works
  A fun look at just how a browser works.
• When Mustaches Make A Difference
  An interesting view of what some of our favorite characters and celebrities look like with & without their mustaches.

Super User Questions

See the great answers to these hot questions from Super User.

• How does one connect three monitors to one computer?
• Why won’t windows exe’s work on Linux?
• How to install minimal linux and which distribution?
• How to keep a Processor Cool, without adding a new cooling device?
• Steps when installing a new processor

Latest Reviews at How-To Geek

See what is new in our reviews section this week.

• Quickoffice Connect Mobile Suite for iPhone
  Do you need to do more with Office files than just view them with the built-in viewer on your iPhone or iPod Touch? Quickoffice Connect Mobile Suite is a popular mobile app for all the major mobile OSes, including Symbian, Android, Blackberry, and HP webOS.
• MobileNoter | OneNote on iPhone
  Do you use OneNote as your primary note-taking tool on your PC? If so, you’ve likely wanted to take your notes on the go with your iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad. MobileNoter is an app that lets you do just that.
• Documents To Go Premium for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad
  Are you looking for the perfect Office app for your iOS device? Documents To Go apps have been popular on mobile devices for years, even before the iPhone came out.

How-To Geek Weekly Article Recap

In case you missed them, here are our hottest articles from this past week.

• Stupid Geek Tricks: Make Your Own Fake Virus with Notepad
• BitTorrent for Beginners: Making the Most of Your Internet Connection
• Manually Restore System Files from Your Windows Installation Media
• How To Enable Macbook-Style Two Finger Scrolling on Windows Laptops
• Ask the Readers: Will You Use (or Completely Switch to) Chrome OS When It is Released?

One Year Ago on How-To Geek

Sit back and relax while enjoying our latest group of articles from one year ago.

• Install Aero-Enabled Operating Systems in VMware Player
• How To Run Chrome OS in VirtualBox
• How To Delete a VHD in Windows 7
• What is mDNSResponder.exe / Bonjour and How Can I Uninstall or Remove It?
• What Are the $INPLACE.~TR and $WINDOWS.~Q Folders and Can I Delete Them?

The Geek Note

That finishes things up for this week, so take some time to work on a fun project if you can before weekend is over! Remember to keep those great tips coming in to us at tips@howtogeek.com.

Photo by airgap.