Quick How-To: Check an MD5 Hash

MD5 hashes are popular in today's computing, but many still don't understand what purpose they serve, or how to generate one. Well, in simple terms, an MD5 hash can serve multiple purposes, such as the storing of passwords or checking the integrity of a newly downloaded file. This is very popular in the Linux world, but Windows and Mac OS X users alike can take full advantage of this extremely simple, but useful tool.

For those interested in finding out the few steps it takes to check the integrity of a file based on an MD5 Hash, you should check out a forum post I made last night, which puts everything into pretty simple terms. In this quick how-to, you can learn how to properly implement an MD5 checker in your Windows, and then proceed to generate a hash or compare one from a DIGEST file.

So if you think comparing an MD5 is difficult, check out the thread. It's argued that GUI MD5 checkers are easier to use than the command-line application, but really, if you can type, it doesn't get much easier than "md5sum filename".

Source: How-To: Check an MD5 Hash

Evidence of 3G iPhone Overwhelming, "iPhone Black" a Potential New Model

Is it possible to go a day without seeing some piece of iPhone-related news? No, not at all. The most enforced news lately has been with the potential 3G model, although 'potential' is probably not a good word to use. Given all of the evidence that's been floating around, including screenshots and new signed deals, it's unlikely at this point if we didn't see a 3G model by the end of the month, or June at the latest.

Apple Insider reports that Apple's market for the iPhone will soon be growing, upwards of 3x of what's possible now. Recent deals with Vodafone, Rogers Wireless, Telecom Italia and America Movil will give a huge boost to sales. Well, at least to those who don't feel like importing an unlocked version. As it stands with their current market, Apple has 150 million potential customers, but these new deals will bring that number to around 470 million.

For those who like things dark, there seems to also be evidence that there will be an "iPhone Black" model, although there is not too much information to go on. AT&T have listed it on their site, but it could also be some joker having some fun. It does seem reasonable enough to happen, however.

The change reflects expectations that Apple will ship approximately 11 million iPhones in 2008, or about one million more than the company stated that it hoped to sell over the course of the year. For 2009, the analyst is now expecting the Cupertino-based firm to ship 17 million units, up from his previous estimate of 10 million.

Source: Apple Insider

Some Site Updates! Search and Social Networking Bookmarks Added

Our huge survey contest ended way back in March, but until now I haven't updated you guys much in way of what will come from our new found globs of information. Well, the reason behind that is that it took a while to convert all the results into something we could read and comprehend, but that's now done. So, we will be spending a lot of time analyzing the data and deciding what to do with it... starting now!

One popular recommendation was for something we should have added a long time ago: a search. Well, one is now in place, courtesy of the big Goo', and it should fulfill all your searching needs. This can be accessed in our left menu or to the right-side of the site at all times. Due to a technical implementation, we are unable to deliver results that automatically omit results from our forums. If that's your desire, you can filter those by adding " -forums.techgage.com ", without quotes, to the end of your query.

Also added are more social network bookmarking links at both the top and bottom of each article page. These include Digg, Facebook, Mixx, del.icio.us and StumbleUpon. Don't be afraid to use 'em!

These features are only the first two of what should be many updates to come. My initial look at the results from the survey surprised me quite a bit, especially with regards to requests, so it will be our goal to implement all the features requested that are either feasible or appropriate for the site at this point in time. Stay tuned as there will be lots more to come.

EA, BioWare Backtrack on Asinine Copy Protection Scheme

Last week, I posted somewhat of a small large rant to do with BioWare and EA's adding of some asinine copy protection to Mass Effect and Spore, respectively. Well, I was clearly not the only person annoyed, as not one, but both companies came forth on Friday to announce that they've decided against a routine 10-day re-activation scheme.

The new scheme is far from perfect, but it's better. Instead of required re-activation every ten days, the game will require it on initial install and also during game updates, eg: regular game patches. But while this is a far better scheme, but far from perfect. For those who have an Internet connection, it's fine, but those without still have to deal with the hassle of bringing their computer to another house or coming up with another solution.

And while it's easy to dismiss the fact that "few" people still have no Internet, many are in a situation where they can't get fast Internet, due to location. So with that, I still think this scheme could use some work, because in reality, those who have Internet wouldn't be that bothered by the 10-day reactivation scheme to begin with.

The publisher further noted that the protection will still only allow users to authenticate each game on up to three computers. Approval of further authorizations will be handled by EA customer support on a case-by-case basis. Neither game will require players to have the disc in their computer in order to play or validate them.

Source: Shacknews

Data Recovered from Shuttle Columbia Hard Drive

I have no doubts that every single person reading this has at some point lost data that should have been kept. Curses the Recycle Bin for making it so easy, I say. Happily though, the data is often recoverable with relatively inexpensive programs (such as R-Studio which I've found to be fantastic in the past), but that's only possible if it's a software issue. Once it's a hardware issue, it's much, much more difficult to recover.

We've all heard impressive stories about recovery, but nothing can match this. When the disastrous Columbia shuttle exploded close to landing in 2003, debris scattered all over. By some estimates, debris pieces could have totaled 20,000, and most appeared in more than one US state. So what's the chance of a hard drive dropping 60KM from the sky after such an ordeal and still survive?

Well in some sort of miracle, such a drive did manage to survive, and 99% of the data was recovered by Ontrack. This is made even more impressive because some parts of the drive were dented, but all of the data was recorded in the good areas. Even more impressive is the fact that the drive ran DOS, but that's the reason so much data was recoverable. Unlike NTFS, which scatters data all over the place, FAT stores it sequentially, which is the prime reason for the 99% figure.

Edwards had reason for pessimism. Not only were the drive's metal and plastic elements scorched, but the seal on the side that keeps out dirt and dust also had melted. That made the drive vulnerable to particles that can scratch the tiny materials embedded inside, destroying their ability to retain data in endless 0s or 1s, depending on their magnetic charge.

Source: Yahoo! News

May 12th Tech Roundup

Motherboards & Processors
• abit IX38 QuadGT - 3D Gameman
• GIGABYTE X48T-DQ6 - Bjorn3D
• MSI X48C Platinum - t-break

Displays & Video Cards
• ASUS EAH3850X2 - Neoseeker
• Diamond Radeon HD3650 1GB - Motherboards.org

Memory & Storage
• Aeneon XTUNE DIMM DDR3 PC-12800 - Hardware OC
• Kingston HyperX KHX14400D3K2/2GN DDR3-1800 - i4u
• Patriot Viper DDR3-1866 2GB - TweakTown

Peripherals & Gadgets
• LapLogic G800 & W800 Aerogel Extreme LapDesks - DragonSteelMods
• Razer Lycosa Gaming Keyboard - OCModShop

Cooling
• Cooler Master Aquagate Mini R80 Watercooling CPU Heatsink - FrostyTech
• Noctua NH-U9B CPU Cooler - Red and Blackness
• NZXT Cryo LX Notebook Cooler - Think Computers
• Scythe Zipang 139MM CPU Cooler - Overclockers Club

Chassis & Power Supplies
• FSP 500 Watt Blue Storm II Power Supply - Hardware Logic
• IN-WIN B2 Stealth Bomber Mid-Tower - Hardware Canucks
• Lian Li Armorsuit PC-P80R Spider Edition - techPowerUp!
• NZXT Tempest Mid-Tower - Metku
• SilverStone Decathlon DA700 Power Supply - OCIA
• SilverStone Kublai Series KL03 - Madshrimps
• Vantec NexStar Hard Drive Dock - OCIA

Competitions, Complete Systems & Et cetera
• Gateway C-141x Convertable Tablet Notebook - i4u