ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2005
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Welcome to the 341st 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
Not much to say this week. We've been getting a lot of rain. It doesn't make for enjoyable walks at lunch, but it does make the grass beautifully green.
I know I've been plugging this a lot lately, but I've added even more features to the AccessNiagara.com web site. I'm still working on it, but I've added an image gallery of all the various attractions I've been to along with some great pictures of the Falls and along the parkway. Currently there are over 650 images in over 50 categories. You can rate images, leave comments, and send e-cards. Check it out!
Graham editor@pcin.net and Chris chris@pcin.net
Emails more damaging than cannabis
"Researchers at the University of London Institute of Psychiatry have found that the constant distractions of email and texting are more harmful to performance than cannabis.
Those distracted by incoming email, phone calls and text messages saw a 10-point fall in their IQ, more than twice that found in studies of the impact of smoking cannabis, according to the researchers."For more info:
http://www.vnunet.com/news/1162648
Comment on this article:
http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/04/23/emails_more_damaging_than_cannabis
Microsoft: 'Trusted Windows' still coming, trust us
"After nearly a decade, Microsoft's vision for how to protect especially sensitive information within Windows remains largely that--a vision.
For years, the software giant has promised to deliver a secure way to shuttle around key bits of information. Once known as Palladium and more recently dubbed the Next Generation Secure Computing Base, or NGSCB, the approach was once a key part of Longhorn, the next version of Windows. Although the first piece of that is arriving in Longhorn, it's only a thin sliver of what Microsoft has been working toward since describing its idea of "trusted Windows" a decade ago."For more info:
http://techrepublic.com.com/2100-10590_11-5681603.html
Comment on this article:
http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/04/25/microsoft_trusted_windows_still_coming_t
From Offshore to Ship-to-Shore
"Roger Green and David Cook seem like your run-of-the-mill high tech execs -- well dressed, well spoken, bright guys. That is, until they tell you their business plan. (I heard it at a party last night here at the Gartner conference, then did a quick interview with them.) And then you have to wonder, are these guys whacked?
Here's their basic idea:
Take a used cruise ship, plant it in international waters three miles off the coast of El Segundo, near Los Angeles, people it with 600 of the brightest software engineers they can find around the world (both men and women), and run a 24-hour-a-day programming shop, thereby avoiding H-1B visa hassles while still exploiting offshore labor cost arbitrage and completing development projects in half the time they'd take onshore or offshore."For more info:
http://www.sourcingmag.com/blog/blogdefault.aspx?view=plink&id=383
Comment on this article:
http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/04/26/from_offshore_to_ship_to_shore
Online dating background checks?
"Looking for love in all the wrong places?
A few states could soon help save the lovelorn from heartbreak. According to Monday's Los Angeles Times, a handful of state legislatures around the country are mulling legislation that would require online dating sites such as Match.com and Yahoo Personals to conduct background checks on all members, or prominently warn users that they do not."For more info:
http://money.cnn.com/2005/04/25/technology/dating_online/index.htm
Return to the top | Recommend PCIN Poll of the Week |
Do you check your email while away on vacation?
Yes 57 % (47) No 43 % (35) Total votes: 82
This Week's Poll
You can also vote online at http://PCIN.net/polls/
Return to the top | Recommend PCIN Poll of the Week |
Check out these new or updated pages on the PCIN.net site:
VMware Inc. VMware Workstation 4.5 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/vmware45.phpPCIN.net Update Blog
http://PCIN.net/update/Sunbelt Software iHateSpam 4.0 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/ihatespam4.phpMicro Solutions RoadStor Hardware Review
http://PCIN.net/help/hardware/roadstor.phpAlbum Creator by FirmTools Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/albumcreator.php
Return to the top | Recommend PCIN Poll of the Week |
Panorama Stitching Software Alternative
I recently posted about the amazing Autostitch software that is available for free. Well, here is another one. The Panorama Factory is a commercial product that also has an earlier freeware version. I haven't tried it myself, but you can read about it and download it at http://www.panoramafactory.com/download.html#freeware
Comment on this tip:
http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/04/27/panorama_stitching_software_alternative
Superman on the Web
From Entertainment Weekly:
"It's been 22 years since Superman first flew onto the big screen, but he's as popular as ever online, where fans have collected enough stories and photos about the ''Super'' flicks to fill a Sunday edition of the Daily Planet. At Superman Cinema, scene-by-scene analyses of all four film installments plus ''Supergirl'' point out inconsistencies and flubs, while articles and interviews provide eyebrow-raising insight into the turmoil that often plagued the productions."
There is also a site where you can get more information Superman. They used to have a freely available re-edit of Superman II, but Warner Bros made them take it down. Check out the site at http://www.supermancinema.co.uk/
Comment on this tip:
http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/04/23/superman_on_the_web
ProcessLibrary.com: Free Process Information
"In the recesses of your computer, 20-30 invisible processes run silently in the background. Some hog system resources, turning your PC into a sluggish computer. Worse yet, other useless processes harbour spyware and Trojans - violating your privacy and giving hackers free reign on your computer. ProcessLibrary.com is an invaluable resource for anyone who wants to know the exact purpose of every single process."
Check it out at http://www.processlibrary.com/
Comment on this tip:
http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/04/21/processlibrary_com_free_process_informat
Return to the top | Recommend PCIN Poll of the Week |
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:
Return to the top | Recommend PCIN Poll of the Week |
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 1998-2005, 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://PCIN.net/donate.php