ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2005
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Welcome to the 358th 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.
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So did people like the Digital Photography Tip of the Week? We have no idea! Chris didn't get a single email asking any questions, commenting on the new section, or even acknowledging that the section was there. Remember, email Chris your thoughts/comments/questions, and he'll do what he can to answer them.
I've been getting a number of hits to my Corrupted PC's Find New Home in the Dumpster post. It seemed hard to believe when I originall read the article, and as I've talked with people, they all seem to feel the same way. I spoke to one person the other day who works for a computer services company and they have been paid good money to dispose of (destroy) a skid full of P4 computers. There are still so many people out there without computers, or with underpowered computers, I can't understand why people or companies are throwing them out. I know there are privacy concerns, but there must be a better way.
Graham editor@pcin.net and Chris chris@pcin.net
7-Eleven stocks up on tech savvy
Standing in front of a refrigerated case at the 7-Eleven store in Rockwall, Texas, on a Friday morning, store manager Sherry Neal considered a seemingly mundane, but in fact important, decision: how many chicken salad sandwiches to order for the next day.
To aid her decision, Neal held a new lightweight wireless tablet with a colorful screen chock-full of information. She noted that she had two sandwiches that were due to expire that day and six the next. Using the gadget's built-in keyboard, she recorded the inventory information into an electronic form.
On the same screen, she saw that the National Weather Service was forecasting seasonably warm and fair weather for the next five days. Having observed customer behavior as an employee of 7-Eleven since 1979, Neal knew good weather was likely to mean good business over the upcoming weekend. Another part of the screen told her how many chicken salad sandwiches her store had sold on each of the last four Saturdays.For more info:
http://news.com.com/2100-1022_3-5841919.html
Leave a comment:
http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/08/24/7_eleven_stocks_up_on_tech_savvy
The Retro Technology of Tomorrow
Last year, someone took a bulky old-style phone and made a cell-phone headset out of it. It was at once the dorkiest and coolest headset around and understandably a big hit online. This is not an isolated case. At Radio Shack, you can now buy modern phones that look so old-fashioned you'll feel like you're in the middle of "His Girl Friday." Revamped Beetles and Mini-Coopers are all over our roadways. Even Atari games are back in vogue. It seems that we all like our technology to be a little retro. Here then are some suggestions for the future of retro technology.
USB Typewriters -- I know there are many who miss typewriters. While I can't imagine writing something from scratch on one of those monstrosities, I have to admit that there is something cool about the clickety-clack of an old typewriter. Soon, I predict that someone will build a USB typewriter.For more info:
http://www.ccnmag.com/story.php?id=363
Leave a comment:
http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/08/24/the_retro_technology_of_tomorrow
Crimeware epidemic spreading fast
Phishers are rapidly becoming more sophisticated with the development of malicious crimeware software that can bypass conventional IT security systems and steal identity information for financial crime, the Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG) warned today.
In July 2005, APWG researchers found that phishers are designing systems specifically to neutralise the counter-phishing technologies being deployed by financial institutions and ecommerce sites.
"The technological contest between phisher and counter-phisher is well and truly underway," said APWG chairman David Jevans. "It is a contest of escalation."For more info:
http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2141436/crimeware-epidemic-takes-hold
Leave a comment:
http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/08/24/crimeware_epidemic_spreading_fast
Over-35s drive eBay UK web hits
Nearly half of the UK's net users go to eBay monthly, and most of them are older surfers, according to net monitoring firm Nielsen/Netratings.
About a fifth are considered heavy users, browsing on the online auction site for two hours or more per month.
The site seems to appeal most of all to those 35 and over, the figures showed. They make up 58% of the site's traffic.
The results show that eBay's popularity continues to rise, beating Google in the growth of visitors to the site.For more info:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4177644.stm
Leave a comment:
http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/08/24/over_35s_drive_ebay_uk_web_hits
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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
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Backup Your Images
As I mentioned last week, people have a tendency to take a lot more photographs with a digital camera than they had with traditional film cameras. In the past, you could keep your negatives in the same envelope as your prints. But now most of your photos are kept on the computer, how do you save those for the future? It is important to make backup copies of your photos. You have a few options for doing this.
Create a CD/DVD archive of your photos periodically. I actually like to make two copies. One that I keep in the house so I have quick access to all of my images, and a second that I like to keep off property (another family member's house, a safety deposit box, etc). Having a second copy off site provides a safety net for your images in the event there is ever catastrophic event in your house, such as a fire, that destroys your computer and all the CD's you have beside your computer.
Many local photofinishers can now output your photos to a CD for you. This avoids the hassle of creating the CD yourself, and depending on the lab, you may get an index print with the CD to show you what photo's are on them.
As with any digital media, hard drives and CD/DVD media can fail. And even though manufacturers of recordable CD's claim longevity of anywhere from 25 to 200 years for their products, they often fail much sooner than that, so it is a good idea to make additional copies of your CD's every couple of years to ensure you do not lose those precious memories.
Next week, using software to help organize your images.
The digital photography tip of the week is a new feature of PCIN news and is written by our Assistant Editor, Chris Empey. Chris is a long time photographer and member of the Niagara Falls Camera Club. You can see more of his photography at his Photo of the Day website.
If you have a tip to send us, or a question about digital photography we can address in the newsletter, send it to chris@pcin.net.
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Microsoft Online Crash Analysis
The latest issue of Windows IT Pro magazine has an informative article about Windows Error Reporting. Have you ever noticed that when a program crashes on a recent Microsoft operating system, that a little window pops up asking if you want to send an error report? Well, that is the Windows Error Reporting. If you send a report, it gets submitted to Microsoft. Occasionally, it will tell you right away that they have fixed the problem. Recently after an Excel crash, I was informed there were some Office updates available to be installed that may fix the problem. Also, I had a crash on a laptop one night, and OCA told me it was a known problem with my D-Link wireless card. So if you usually click "Don't Send", I'd suggest you rethink that and click "Send".
OCA/WER Resources
Online Crash Analysis Website
http://oca.microsoft.com/
Why should I send an error report to Microsoft?
http://oca.microsoft.com/en/duf20general.asp
Windows Error Reporting: Elementary, My Dear Watson
http://www.windowsitpro.com/Articles/ArticleID/46982/46982.html
Google search for OCA help
"online crash analysis"
Google search for WER help
"windows error reporting"Leave a comment at http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/08/24/microsoft_online_crash_analysis
Folder Size Explorer Extension
One thing that has always been missing from Windows Explorer is the ability to see how large a folder is. How many files are in a folder and sub-folder would be nice, but seeing the total space taken would be best. Well, the Folder Size Explorer Extension tries to do the latter:
Folder Size Explorer Extension adds a new column to the Details view in Windows Explorer. The new column shows not only the size of files, but also the size of folders. It keeps track of which folders you view, and scans them in the background so you can see complete size of all files within the folder. It's very useful for cleaning up your disk. Once you get used to having that information available, a directory listing simply looks incomplete without it!
I've installed it on my XP system and it seems to run well. Not surprisingly, in my Porgram Files folder, the Office 2003 folder is the largest.
Check it out at http://foldersize.sourceforge.net/Leave a comment at http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/08/23/folder_size_explorer_extension
isnoop.net's fridge 3.0
When you were a kid, did you play with magnetic letters of the alphabet on your fridge? Well, isnoop.net's fridge 3.0 let's you play with words on a fridge background. This is very cool. Without refreshing the page, you can drag the words around, create sentences, and leave a message for others. Try it at http://isnoop.net/toys/magwords.php
Leave a comment at http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/08/19/isnoop_net_s_fridge_3_0
Converting characters to usable code
How do you get a music note on a web page? ♫ (this is text, not an image file) There are lots of ways to do it, but probably the easiest way is to copy it from another page, and paste it onto the Wide character to entity encoder page at http://minutillo.com/steve/convert/. It will then convert it to code that you can use in a web page. Try these:
Leave a comment at http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/08/19/converting_characters_to_usable_code♪ ☼ ◄ ☺ ☻ ♂
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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:
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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.
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