Issue 328 - January 26, 2005
ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2005
==== 2024 Subscribers in 60 Countries ====
Welcome to the 328th 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 know some people don't like me talking about the weather (ahem... Tracey...)
but how can I not? We've received an incredible amount of snow over the last
5 days or so. In particular, it started to snow mid-morning on Saturday, and
it snowed for pretty much 24 hours straight. Church was even closed on Sunday!
I went out briefly on Saturday night to get us some snacks, and the roads were
the worst I've ever driven on. It then snowed some more Sunday, and again yesterday,
and now again today. No wonder people think Canadians live in igloos.
Chris and I have recently received some software to review, so we'll be adding
a new section to our reviews. We've done a few hardware
reviews and lots of software
reviews, and soon will have a Windows
Mobile section.
Graham editor@pcin.net and
Chris chris@pcin.net
The NEWS
Microsoft Shareholder Payout Raised US Incomes, Worsened US Deficit
"When Microsoft issued an unprecedented $32.6 billion stock dividend
payout to its shareholders in December, the company had a huge effect on
the US economy, the US Department of Commerce said this week. According to
the agency, the payout raised the average income of US citizens and will
likely worsen the nation's deficit. Overall, the US economy will 'become
more negative' because of the payout because so many of the company's shareholders
live overseas."
For more info:
http://www.windowsitpro.com/Articles/Index.cfm?ArticleID=45159
2 Many Txt Msgs Bad 4 Yr Health, Italian Docs Say
"Excessive text messaging may be bad for you, or at least for your
fingers.
That's what some Italian doctors think. They are telling people, particularly
the young, that furious typing on mobile phones could lead to acute tendonitis."
For more info:
http://au.news.yahoo.com/050124/15/sq64.html
Google switches on TV search beta
"Google has launched a service designed to search TV content from US
broadcasters including PBS, NBA, Fox News and C-SPAN.
The Google Video beta enables users to search across the closed captioning
content of a growing number of TV programmes that the firm began indexing
in December 2004.
Entering a query will return a list of relevant programmes with still images
and text excerpts from the exact point in the programme where the search
word or phrase was spoken, the search giant claimed."
For more info:
http://www.vnunet.com/news/1160775
Internet Explorer Use Keeps Falling
"Internet Explorer is continuing to lose share to the open-source Firefox
Web browser.
In the past month, use of Microsoft Corp.'s dominant browser fell another
1.5 percentage points to 90.3 percent. Meanwhile, the Mozilla Foundation's
Firefox browser rose 0.9 percentage points to reach 5 percent, Web analytics
provider WebSideStory Inc. confirmed Thursday.
The numbers reflect shifts that occurred between Dec. 3 and Jan. 14. WebSideStory
samples more than 30 million daily Internet users from more than 200 countries
to determine the browser-usage shares.
The percentage of users browsing with IE has steadily fallen since June,
while Firefox and some other competing browser have shown gains. Over that
time, IE use has dropped a total of about 5 percent from its perch at 95.5
percent."
For more info:
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1753221,00.asp
POLL of the WEEK
Last Week's Poll
What do you use catalog your digital images?
I use free software I downloaded from the web |
|
10 % (7) |
I use the software that came with my camera |
|
13 % (9) |
I use software that came with my photo editor |
|
1 % (1) |
I have a dedicated software package I purchased |
|
3 % (2) |
I catalog manually using folder or file names |
|
54 % (36) |
I don't catalog my digital images |
|
12 % (8) |
I do not have a digital camera |
|
6 % (4) |
Total votes: 67 |
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:
VMware Inc. VMware Workstation 4.5 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/vmware45.php
PCIN.net Update Blog
http://PCIN.net/update/
Sunbelt Software iHateSpam 4.0 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/ihatespam4.php
Micro Solutions RoadStor Hardware Review
http://PCIN.net/help/hardware/roadstor.php
Album Creator by FirmTools Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/albumcreator.php
THE TIPS and OTHER
STUFF
YETISPORTS: Updated with New Games
A while
back we mentioned Yetisports.org,
a site featuring online flash games featuring Yeti, an abominable snowman.
The site was relaunched yesterday with a few new games, a multiuser game
and tournament featuring the first 5 games. They also have the games available
for purchase for use on your mobile phone.
WebTechGeek.com
"Welcome to WebTechGeek.com Home Page! ~ The Latest Tech News, Reviews,
Free software and Pc fix tips!"
Check it out at http://www.webtechgeek.com/
Outlook Tips
"Learn how to be an Outlook power user using the tips and how to's
found on Outlook-tips"
Check it out at http://www.outlook-tips.net/ and
be sure to check out their Tips
Archive which currently has over 200 Outlook tips.
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 1998-2005, Graham Wing. All rights reserved.
This publication may be reproduced in whole, or in part, as long as the author
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