Peter Vatistas

Owning a business can be difficult, especially when it comes to technology implementations and expenses. I always try to find the best possible solution for my specific needs at the lowest possible price available. I’ve had a lot of experience with VOIP devices and servers like Cisco and Altigen but I really didn’t like spending thousands or tens of thousands when I can spend nothing.

Trixbox CE is the most flexible PBX system available today and best of all its FREE. Trixbox CE is an open telephony platform that combines the best of the open source telephony tools into one easy-to-install package. Based on an enhanced LAAMP (an open source bundle of Linux^®, Apache™, Asterisk^®, mySQL^®, and PHP), the Trixbox^® dashboard provides easy to use, Web-based interfaces to setup, manage, maintain, and support a complete IP-PBX system.

Trixbox CE 2.4 comes stocked with hundreds of features including:

• Unlimited Extensions
• TDM/SIP/IAX Trunks
• Remote Extensions
• Voicemail
• Fax Support
• Voicemail to Email
• IVR Menu System
• Ring Groups
• Call Queues
• Conference Rooms
• Follow-Me
• Time-Based Routing
• Music On Hold
• Paging and Intercom
• Web Access to Voicemail
• Admin Status Screen
• Package Manager (for easy updates)
• Phone Provisioning Tool
• Network Settings Tool
• Enhanced CDR Reports
• Echo Cancellation - OSLEC (Open Source Line Echo Cancelation)

Trixbox CE 2.4 is based off of:

• CentOS 5.1 kernel
• Asterisk 1.4
• FreePBX 2.3
• Web MeetMe 3

Best part about Trixbox CE is many Aastra, Polycom and Cisco VOIP phones are compatible! Here are some screenshots of the Trixbox CE 2.4 administrative interface:

Trixbox Links:

Trixbox Certified IP Phones

Trixbox Certified Servers and Interface Cards

Click here to download Trixbox CE

I use a great application called WebCEO to track and manage various parts of my SEO/SEM efforts. As much as I would like to get into how awesome their software and support is I would rather talk about the people behind WebCEO.

A couple days before Christmas I received an envelope from Kherson, Ukraine. I wasn’t sure why I had received a letter from the Ukraine considering I don’t know anyone from there, I thought it was some sort of mistake or just a marketing piece. I opened the envelope and pulled out a very rich and shiny holiday card with a little WebCEO logo at the bottom. I figured it was just a holiday promotion printed in the masses - I was wrong.

I opened the card and found a long, had written letter addressed to me - wishing me a safe and happy holiday season. The letter was well written and by the looks of it not rushed at all. In addition the letter never once mentioned anything about business, their products, money, or a holiday deal - just a letter hoping and wishing I have a wonderful holiday.  WOW.

Now this is what I call great marketing, you see they didn’t have to mention what they are about or what they are selling - not even a holiday coupon or discount - just a hand written personal letter directed to me. It made me feel great! I was very impressed with what I saw and very happy to be a customer of theirs. More importantly (for them) it made me think about WebCEO and their products.

In my opinion this is the kind of thing that separates companies apart; even though there aren’t many comparable applications to WebCEO available today I would stick with WebCEO regardless. Something like this shows me (the customer) that I am important to them and they care about me and my business (which they do).
Take note of this guys, a great marketing campaign with little cost and a bigger impact than you could imagine. Thank you WebCEO - Happy Holidays!

I get a lot of emails from people whom want to know which applications I prefer in Windows. Although this is both a loaded question and a very broad one, I will try to answer this the best I can and will definitely update it from time to time.

Favorite FTP Application: WinSCP

Favorite Telnet & SSH Application: PuTTY

Favorite Internet Browser: Firefox 2 & Safari

Favorite Imaging Software: Adobe Photoshop CS3 - Open Source: Gimp

Favorite Instant Messanger: Application: Trillian - Web Based: Meebo

Favorite Text Editor (HTML, CSS, etc): Edit Plus 2

Favorite CD/DVD & ISO Software: MagicISO

Favorite Office Suite: Microsoft Office 2007 - Open Source: Open Office & Star Office

Favorite Compression & Encryption Software: WinRAR

Favorite Blogging Software: Windows Live Writer

Favorite AntiVirus/Malware Software: Eset NOD32

Favorite Email Client: Microsoft Outlook 2007 (for exchange) - Open Source: Mozilla Thunderbird 2

Favorite BitTorrent Application: Azureus

This list is way from a complete one and to be honest I have been moving away from Windows all together and replacing them with Mac’s. Sorry Microsoft guys - I have been bit by the Apple bug. I also have a laptop running Fedora 8 and I’ll make sure I write a favorite’s list for both Apple and Linux soon.

I just got turned on to this neat little application and I am hooked!

Music Rescue is an application that allows you to copy your (or anyone else’s) tracks to any computer you choose. If you’re not allowed to install iTunes (like at school or work), simply install Music Rescue onto your iPod at home and it’ll be available wherever you go - Mac or PC.

I installed Music Rescue on my Mac and all I had to do was plug in my iPhone and it transfered everything over, in MP3 format!! I grabbed my buddies video iPod and downloaded his entire library - all 22,000 MP3’s (which I quickly deleted because that is considered illegal… LOL). I now have a little over 44,000 MP3’s and growing! I totally recommend this application for any of you who have been burned by iTunes (I have lost hundreds of songs in the past and I can’t re-download them) or for the guys who just want to build their library like mad!!

KennettNet’s Music Rescue

It’s official, I have made the decision to migrate all my desktops and laptops to Apple after 15 years with Windows. The really funny thing about my situation is there are tons of people doing the same and I found that by going to Craigslist. Try this, go to your local Craigslist page and search computers for sale, you’ll notice a lot of people willing to trade for Mac’s and Macbooks.I have an extremely powerful and fast desktop computer by Dell, and a couple laptops by Compaq. I am replacing all of them with the following:1. Mac Pro (Desktop) - Dual Quad Core Intel Processors, 4GB Ram, 2TB Sata’s, 4 nVidia Graphics Cards, and 2 30″ LCD’s.2. Macbook Pro (Laptop) - 15″ 2.6GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4GB Ram, 200GB.3. Macbook (Laptop) - 13″ - Black, 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2GB Ram, 250GB.I’ve already made the switch at my office and have been using my Mac Pro for months on a Windows 2003 Domain. I recently upgraded to Leopard OS X and am in heaven, goodbye Windows!!In addition to the computers I have already replaced my phone and my wife’s phone with Apple’s iPhone. We’re adding the Apple TV to the family room as well. We’re hooked!!Have you made the switch? Are you thinking about making the leap into the world of Apple computers and electronics? I am really interested to here your story.

Chris Pirillo recently blogged about his choice on home inventory software solutions. As much as I agree with Chris that StuffSafe is a good alternative to installed software on your computer (redundancy, ability to use anywhere), I do have some concerns with security (or lack there of) and who is behind StuffSafe.com.

As a registered user of StuffSafe I am asked (not required) to enter personal information including my home address and insurance information. Now let’s say you load your online home inventory database with all your furniture, jewelry, electronics, and other personal effects. You provide StuffSafe with your home address and even your insurance information; would you give this information to a complete stranger? Well that’s what your doing.

StuffSafe is not secured by any security risk assessment companies like HackerSafe and from what I can see they have no privacy policy verified or approved by company like Information Shield or Trust-e. What stops them (StuffSafe) or hackers from accessing and using this information against you? Who’s to say that StuffSafe is not a couple of thieves that came up with an Oceans 14 type grand scheme (which is such a freaking good idea, LOL)?

I know your probably thinking that I am totally overreacting but I think I do have a valid point. I wouldn’t use their services for the lack of security and also because I wouldn’t give this information out to anyone outside of my attorney. I would take the time to read a little bit deeper into online services like StuffSafe before signing up and giving them all of your information, you never know how your information will be stored and who will see it.

StuffSafe’s Privacy Policy regarding security (10/12/2007 @ 12:50am):

“SECURITY
StuffSafe operates secure data networks protected by industry standard firewall and password protection systems. Our security and privacy policies are periodically reviewed and enhanced as necessary and only authorized individuals have access to the information provided by our customers.”

That doesn’t leave a warm and fuzzy feeling in my stomach… ” yes but there is no guarantee on the box!“

Much like the root “super user” of Unix, Microsoft’s Windows Vista has a secret “master” administrator account which is disabled by default. The “master” administrator account in Vista gives all rights/permissions or total control over your OS; this is great for a Systems Administrator but not for the normal user or power user.

Just like in Unix, it is highly recommended that you run applications, services, and general interactions with Unix as a regular user. When your interactions within Unix require a raised level of authority you can run the command: #sudo su followed by your password. Vista has followed this almost exactly and I am sure you’ve seen this several times like when you install an application, run certain programs, or change system settings windows will display a UAC popup requiring you to accept your actions before you can continue. This “master” administrator account is the equivilant root or super user of Unix.

To unlock the secret administrator account in Windows Vista, follow these steps:

Start> type cmd in the search box> right-click on cmd.exe> select Run as Administrator> type: Net user administrator /active:yes then press enter. Now the next time you log in you will see the ”master” administrator account, which BTW is unprotected so I strongly suggest you set a password (click here for a great password generator). Now if you want to disable the administrator account just follow the same steps above but change the active:yes to active:no (Net user administrator /active:no).

I was very excited to get my copy of the Cerulean Studios Trillian Astra (Alpha release) today and so far I am impressed! Trillian Astra is graphic intense and so far has played very well with Microsoft’s Windows Vista Ultimate operating system. The loading time for Astra is notecibally faster using the Vista Aero theme filled with all my network connections (AIM, ICQ, Google Talk, Myspace, Windows Live, and Yahoo) and windows load on the fly, without a hitch (or glitch).

 A very nice feature of Astra is that you now have one username for all your network connections and accounts. No matter what computer you’re on, when you install Astra all you need to do is login with your Astra credentials and your all set! All your contacts and groups populate and you’re ready to go, just like you were on you other computers!! Another thing I really like is how I can have all of this, exactly how I have it on all my computers, on my iPhone - BIG PLUS!! The mobile edition is something I have yet to be able to test but if it is anything like this Alpha test release I will be a happy customer.

So far I am 100% impressed and I will continue to rip into this Alpha test and let you know what I find. Get excited for Astra’s widgets BTW, looks very slick - let’s hope they add RSS feed support!!

Here is a great tool I use a lot to find passwords on my computer and passwords across the network on all computers. SpotAuditor can scan your network’s IP Range using any credentials you give it (Admin rights preferably) and it will spit out passwords typed in or stored from every computer it see’s. Spot Auditor can also reveal visited URL’s, installed programs, and passwords under asteriks (i.e. ******).

Download it for free with the link I provide below and see how helpful SpotAuditor really is! If you’re a network Administrator I would make sure these aren’t sitting on employee computers, big problem!

SpotAuditor Password Recovery Software - Compatible with Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista