I've been using the beta version of EverNote for a couple of weeks now. EverNote is a notebook-like application that makes it easy to capture information from many sources in any environment using all kinds of devices and platforms and then make that information easily accessible and searchable.

If you are familiar with Google Notebook or Zoho Notebook then you will have some idea of how to use EverNote. But the "cool factor" with EverNote is that is has a client application that syncs up to the web to make your notes and clippings available offline as well as when you are online.

I was listening to Security Now episode # 124. Steve Gibson mentions the ability to perform offline updates and the DIY Service Pack software from Heise Security. I had to check it out!

This software is simple and solves the age old problem of getting a fresh install of Microsoft Windows up-to-date quickly, without risking it on the internet. When it runs it presents a dialog where you simply check the operating system you want, the languages you need and weather you want an ISO for CD or DVD. It then goes online and downloads all the security updates available and packs them into an ISO you can use to update a new system.

A couple of weeks ago, Scott Wilder, Donald Burr and I played around with recording a podcast using Apple's iChat and Garage Band. Scott recorded a few minutes and then I recorded a few minutes. Everything seemed fine. Scott and I decided we would try an record an entire episode of the What Would Jesus Podcast.

One of the cool features of using this combination is that Garage Band captures each iChat participant into a seperate track. Allowing for a great deal of editing control and adjusting of individual's audio.