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Issue 376 - December 28, 2005

ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2005
==== 2078 Subscribers in 59 Countries ====

Welcome to the 376th 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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CONTENTS

Opening Thoughts

We hope everyone had a Merry Christmas! I've been busy playing with my new camera and Chris has been busy reviewing the Microsoft Digital Image 2006 Suite. We've only got a few news stories this week, but expect to be back to regular content next week.

Happy New Year!

Graham editor@pcin.net and Chris chris@pcin.net

The NEWS

Best Tech Moments of 2005

In the tech world, 2005 was a period of bold ideas and exciting breakthroughs -- shadowed, at times, by devastating reversals.
New software apps changed the way we looked at the world, while hardware got smaller, faster and more fun. On the net, blogs provided many of the most dramatic moments, sometimes courting lawsuits, other times taking us places we could not otherwise go: New Orleans, Iraq, even inside the twisted mind of an accused killer.
As we begin what's certain to be an exciting new year of Yahoo acquisitions and rising Google stock, it's perhaps a good time to stop and reflect on the highs and lows of the year that was. Here are our picks for the 10 best tech moments of 2005.

Read the Wired News article...
Leave a comment...

Googleites Gripe About Sloppy Service

Michele Neylon was once very happy with Urchin Software Corp., which provides a service to analyze Web site traffic.
But ever since search giant Google Inc. bought Urchin in March, he's changed his tune. His problem is with Google's customer service.
"If you choose to deal with Urchin in the Google era, you will not get any personal attention and will have no indication of who you are actually dealing with. For all I know, all my e-mails could be answered by a computer," said the managing director of Blacknight Internet Solutions Ltd., a Web hosting and domain registrar.
"Everybody loves Google. Google can do no wrong. I would disagree."
Since its launch in 1995, Google Inc. has built up a 400 million-plus customer following that arguably has the same level of endearment as the infamously-smitten Apple Computer devotees.
But the honeymoon is clearly now ending. An uncharacteristically high level of frustration about Google, and more specifically its customer service, has been boiling away for months, according to online rants, Google customer surveys and several recent interviews with Google users.

Read the eWeek article...
Leave a comment...

Fiddling With Format While DVD's Burn

The war for control of the next-generation DVD is approaching a critical juncture: next week in Las Vegas at the Consumer Electronics Show, companies championing the two competing high-definition DVD standards - Blu-ray and HD-DVD - will unveil their lineups of new players and movie titles.

There are growing signs, though, that the battle for supremacy in this multibillion-dollar market may yield a hollow victory. As electronics makers, technology companies and Hollywood studios haggle over the fine points of their formats, consumers are quickly finding alternatives to buying and renting packaged DVD's, high definition or otherwise.

Read the New York Times Article...
Leave a comment...

Grandma, let me play that video game!

A 69-year-old grandmother has become the heroine of young video-game fans and the star of a Web log created by her grandson.
Barbara St. Hilaire plays video games 10 hours a day and spends a good part of her Social Security check on games.
St. Hilaire thinks the blog and media attention she's gotten is funny but doesn't quite understand it. However, she appreciates the free games showered on her by video game makers who want to share in the reflected glare of publicity.

Read the CNN article...
http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/12/28/grandma_let_me_play_that_video_game

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PCIN.net UPDATE

Check out these new or updated pages on the PCIN.net site:

Omega One Software Battery Pack Pro 2.1 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/bpp2.php

Makayama Interactive DVD to Pocket PC 3.0 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/dvd2ppc3.php

Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/elements40.php

Norris Family Industry ActiveEarth 2.0 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/activeearth2.php

Paragon Partition Manager 7 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/ppm7.php

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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:

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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 1998-2005, Graham Wing. All rights reserved.

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