Issue 312 - October 06, 2004
ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2004
==== 1986 Subscribers in 58 Countries ====
Welcome to the 312th 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.php
CONTENTS
Opening Thoughts
I've recently had my first experience with wireless networking. I have a Dell
Axim that comes with wi-fi and bluetooth. The wi-fi has worked great. As I've
walked or driven around, networks pop up everywhere, and I've been able to
connect to a substantial number of them. It's cool having Internet access on
a PDA. But it also shows how many people haven't setup their network properly
in the first place. Someone who wants to do something illegal could easily
drive around until they found an open connection and then do their illegal
ctivity as if it were that home user.
I've also played around with Bluetooth a bit trying to connect to a printer,
but haven't had much success.
I'm still gathering information on why some people are getting errors when
they try to vote in the Poll of the Week If you are getting
errors when voting and haven't emailed me about it, please do so this week.
Lastly, I have completed a review for Remote Task Manager by SmartLine Inc.
This is software that lets you control various aspects of your own and remote
system. You can read a blurb from the review in the Tips and
Other Stuff and the fulr eview on the web site.
Graham editor@pcin.net and
Chris chris@pcin.net
The NEWS
Microsoft hears jingle of cash register software
"Microsoft thinks it can ring up more sales of its operating system
by creating a custom version of Windows XP Embedded aimed at high-tech cash
registers.
The company announced plans Monday to release Windows Embedded for Point
of Service, although the software won't ship until the first half of next
year."
For more info:
http://news.com.com/2100-1016_3-5395512.html
Is Network Outage Information a Terror Threat?
"Before negotiating telecommunications contracts for clients out West,
Bill Harris made a habit of reviewing network outage reports filed with the
Federal Communications Commission, scanning for clues that carriers had laid
fiber on open ground in areas prone to wildfires.
By knowing where carriers had experienced problems, Harris said he was better
prepared to discuss SLAs (service-level agreements) and to procure redundant
services where necessary. But he's now lost that advantage. After more than
a decade of making such carrier outage reports available to the public, the
FCC in August ruled that the information will be kept secret, lest it fall
into the hands of terrorists."
For more info:
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1666011,00.asp
Ballmer calls security a never-ending battle
"Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer says the task of trying to stay one step
ahead of virus writers and hackers is a never-ending battle.
Speaking at a gathering of U.K. press, Ballmer said Microsoft's 'trustworthy
computing' effort is far more than just a one-off initiative.
'We will be working on 'trustworthy computing' for the rest of my days at
Microsoft, which I hope are many. There are bad people out there in cyberspace,
and they are not going to go away. We are going to have to be vigilant. That's
going to last for the duration,' he said."
For more info:
http://techrepublic.com.com/5100-22_11-5394797.html
POLL of the WEEK
Last Week's Poll
How do you feel about giving your personal information out on the Internet?
More secure than I felt a year ago |
|
13 % (13) |
About the same as I felt a year ago |
|
42 % (42) |
Less secure than I felt a year ago |
|
25 % (25) |
I don't give personal information out |
|
20 % (20) |
Total votes: 100 |
This Week's Poll
You can also vote online at http://PCIN.net/polls/
PCIN.net UPDATE
Check out these new or updated pages on the PCIN.net site:
Remote Task Manager by SmartLine Inc. Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/remotetaskmanager.php
Flash File Recover by PanteraSoft Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/flashfilerecovery.php
Email Saver Xe 2.0 by WinGuides Software Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/emailsaverxe2.php
Newsgator 2.0 by Newsgator Technologies Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/newsgator2.php
CDBF for Windows by WhiteTown Software Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/cdbf.php
THE TIPS and OTHER
STUFF
Remote Task Manager Software Review
"It used to be that software that let you control remote systems were
for large networks only. Now that Windows XP (a Windows NT-based operating system) is universally
in use, and many homes have more than 1 computer, remote management tools
are
not just for the Network Administrator anymore. Windows XP comes
with a variety of tools that lets you control what services run, view logs, and
other system information of the local and remote workstations. Unfortunately
there
isn't a single tool that does everything. This is where Remote
Task Manager by SmartLine
Inc. comes in handy. Remote
Task Manager provides a straight-forward interface that lets you control
services, shares, security patches, running processes, etc from a single window."
Check out the full review at http://pcin.net/help/software/remotetaskmanager.php
Askthebuilder.com
Askthebuilder.com is a website of home renovation tips and techniques by
newspaper columnist Tim Carter. It features many sections on just about every
aspect of home renovation (and building) you can think of, from floor to
ceiling, wall to wall and exteriors as well.
Check it out at http://www.askthebuilder.com/
MyWay.com
I've only mentioned MyWay.com once before in the newsletter, and it was almost
2 years ago. I mention it again because a subsriber I've been corresponding
with has a MyWal.com email account, and it reminded me that I had an email
account there. After reactivating my account, I noticed that they have
far more features available now. They have a very nice customizable home
page, where you can choose content similar to MSN (horoscopes, headlines,
scores, weather, etc). You can aslo change the colours, logo, and background
of the page. And of course don't forget the free email. You get 125 MB
of storage and can send/receive files up to 10MB. You can also check POP
accounts (which GMail doesn't do yet). If you haven't checked MyWay.com
out before, or haven't for a while, then check it out at http://MyWay.com/
PCIN.net AFFILIATED
SITES
Both of us have other sites other than PCIN.net. These are all sites that
we are actively involved in (they aren't client sites). Don't forget to check
them out from time to time for updates:
DISCLAIMER
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.
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Graham Wing can be reached at editor@pcin.net
Chris Empey can be reached at chris@pcin.net
Copyright 1998-2004, 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.
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