ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2002
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Welcome to the 188th issue of the PC Improvement News. PCIN consists mainly of news and tips. There is something for everyone, and if this is your first issue, I'm sure there will be something for you. If you give me two or three issues, I know that you will come back for more!
You can reach me at editor@pcin.net with any suggestions or comments.
Recommend PCIN at http://PCIN.net/recommend.php
Support PCIN at http://PCIN.net/donate.shtml
Many of you have noticed that I updated the PCIN.net FreeHelp Forums a couple of weeks ago. It is the same basic script, but instead of using Perl/CGI, it uses PHP and a mySQL database. This means it is a lot faster. It also has some extra features from an administration point of view which helps me identify problems earlier. If you haven't visited the forums for a while, check it out at http://PCIN.net/help/forum One other note... in both version of the forum, you have the option to stay logged in all the time. But when you revisit the forum, it appears that you have to login again. I don't know why this is. If you click on the login link, the forum immediately recognizes whether or not you should be logged in or not. I guess it refreshes the login cookie when you click on that link.
Graham editor@pcin.net and Chris chris@pcin.net
Cracking CDs with magic markers
"Technology buffs have cracked music publishing giant Sony Music's elaborate disc copy-protection technology with a decidedly low-tech method: scribbling around the rim of a disk with a felt-tip marker.
Internet newsgroups have been circulating news of the discovery for the past week, and in typical newsgroup style, users have pilloried Sony for using "high-tech" copy protection that can be defeated by paying a visit to a stationery store.
'I wonder what type of copy protection will come next?' one posting on alt.music.prince read. 'Maybe they'll ban markers.'"For more info:
http://news.com.com/2100-1023-918273.html
http://www.usatoday.com/life/cyber/tech/2002/05/20/copyproof-cd.htm
Google, Dilbert Team Up for a Logo Redesign
Those looking for a little humor in the normally starchy world of information technology (IT) need look no further than Google Inc. as Dilbert, an internationally-known cartoon office worker, appears this week on the home page of the search engine as part of a redesign quest.
Beginning Monday, Mountain View, Calif.'s Google features cast members Dilbert, The Boss and Alice of the Dilbert cartoon. The Boss asks this question of knowledge searchers: 'We need a new logo by Friday. Any suggestions?'
Of all cartoon characters, why Dilbert?"For more info:
http://www.internetnews.com/ent-news/article/0,,7_1141261,00.html
World Cup Sets Stage for Mobile Phone Showdown
"The soccer teams of World Cup co-hosts South Korea and Japan may never meet on the playing field, but the one-month tournament will be a golden opportunity to showcase their prowess in advanced mobile technology.
The race to create a mobile World Cup has hotted up between mobile operators in South Korea and Japan, with both countries offering an array of services to allow visitors keep in touch with home."For more info:
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/technology/tech-telecoms-korea-worldcupfeaturepictur.html
Poll: Nearly 60 Pct of Web Surfers Plan to Quit AOL
"Nearly 60 percent of Web surfers polled by ChangeWave, an investment and research firm whose clients include hedge funds, said Tuesday they planned to leave America Online for another Internet service.
'The findings of this survey point to a serious and ongoing hemorrhaging of AOL's Internet subscriber base. Among members using AOL as their Internet Service Provider, two out of five rate it unsatisfactory -- by far the highest negative rating of any major ISP specified in the survey,' the report said."For more info:
http://www.reuters.com/news_article.jhtml?type=internetnews&StoryID=990073
Return to the top | Recommend PCIN News |
Here are the responses from the last poll:
Are you more or less interested in computers than you were a year ago?"
More 56.58 % (43)
Less 13.16 % (10)
About the same 30.26 % (23)Total votes: 76
Visit http://pcin.net/polls/ to participate in the new poll this week:
How satisfied are you with your Internet Service Provider (ISP)?
Return to the top | Recommend PCIN Poll of the Week |
Visit the new and improved PCIN FreeHelp Forum at http://www.pcin.net/help/forum/index.php to post your questions or answer others.
Question
When I click on file>save as, to save a webpage in my documents and then try to open the webpage from my documents, all I get is a file with a bunch of jpegs, how can I save something like one of these forum topics?
Answer
Some web browsers don't handle dynamic pages very well (pages that aren't generated until you request them). These forums are setup so that they load the page based on your login and what you want to see.
I would suggest clicking on the Print button when you are viewing topics. This will generate a plain page with all of the responses to a topic. You should be able to save that.
To post a different suggestion, visit the How-To... forum at http://www.pcin.net/help/forum/index.php?board=6 and click on the "save webpage to my documents" subject.
Visit http://www.pcin.net/help/forum/index.php to post a question of your own.
Return to the top | Recommend PCIN FreeHelp Forum |
Check out these new or updated pages on the PCIN.net site:
Updated PCIN.net FreeHelp Forum
http://PCIN.net/help/forum/Updated Registry Tips (now 131)
http://PCIN.net/help/articles/registry_tips.shtmlNew and Improved PCIN.net Links section
http://PCIN.net/links/pdf995 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/pdf995.php
Return to the top | Recommend PCIN.net Update |
Recipes
Chris Empey is the PCIN Assistant Editor. He also likes to cook. He subscribes to a daily recipe email list, and has put many of the recipes online. You can check them out at http://forcedbeat.com/recipes/
Even More Google.com Features
In Issue 180 of PCIN (you can view the issue at http://pcin.net/archive/2002/20020327.shtml) I mentioned many of the special features that Google has. Well, they've added to it. They now have a "beta" area of their site where you can try out technologies that they are developing. Visit http://labs.google.com/ to try out the following:
Google Glossary
Find definitions for words, phrases and acronyms
Google Sets
Automatically create sets of items from a few examples
Voice Search
Search on Google by voice with a simple telephone call
Keyboard Shortcuts
Navigate search results without using your mouse
Get Windows XP Help
Visit http://www.wxperience.com/index.php to find out about updated drivers and software for Windows XP. There are also news headlines, as well as other useful articles.
Return to the top | Recommend PCIN Tips and Other Stuff |
PCIN is brought to you by Graham Wing. The opinions expressed are those of the Editor, Graham Wing and the Assistant Editor, Chris Empey. Graham Wing and Chris Empey accept no responsibility for the results obtained from trying the tips in this newsletter.
Graham Wing can be reached at editor@pcin.net
Chris Empey can be reached at chris@pcin.net
Copyright 1998-2002, Graham Wing. All rights reserved.
This publication may be reproduced in whole, or in part, as long as the author is notified and the newsletter is presented as is.
Support PCIN by visiting http://www.pcin.net/donate.shtml