Issue 335 - March 16, 2005
ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2005
==== 2037 Subscribers in 59 Countries ====
Welcome to the 335th 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
It's March Break time here in Ontario, so everything seems to be much busier.
The sun has been shining, and the snow is slowly melting. There is hope in
sight!
I've added several new galleries to the family web site.
Speaking of family stuff... Lisa and I will celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary
on Monday.
We're not sure what we're going to be doing yet. Monday night is usually Family
Home Evening night with the family, my sister Julia,
and Holly. We'll either
get Julia and Holly to babysit while we go out, or we'll still do FHE and go
out another night. We'll see...
Lastly, I messed up on the poll last week. I created a new poll on the site
but didn't put it in the newsletter. I've corrected it this week, and have
left last week's poll the same so more people will vote.
Graham editor@pcin.net and
Chris chris@pcin.net
The NEWS
How the iPod Ran Circles Around the Walkman
"At first glance, digital music is the field in which Sony's considerable
assets seem best suited, with a little rearrangement, for a comeback. On
one side, Sony has 50 years of experience in producing portable music players,
beginning with transistor radios in the 1950's and extended by its Walkman
franchise that has sold more than 340 million players. On the other, it owns
one of the world's largest music labels to supply content. Yet in the iPod
era, Sony's headstart counts for nothing. It's as if the company were the
Sony Graphophone and Wax Record Company."
For more info:
http://tinyurl.com/6l7k5
Deadline sought for end of analog TV
"House Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton said Tuesday he plans
in the coming weeks to introduce legislation to complete the transition to
digital television by the end of 2006.
Current law requires television broadcasters to give up their old analog
airwaves by the end of 2006, or when 85 percent of the country can see the
new, higher quality signals, whichever comes later.
U.S. communications regulators expect it could take a decade for the transition
to be completed under that scenario and they, along with some lawmakers,
have been pushing to set a final deadline.
For more info:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7202440/
Kids' Rooms Becoming Multimedia Centers
"It wasn't too long ago that a kid with a stereo and television in
his room might have been the coolest on the block. Now, that just makes him
one of the crowd.
In the past five years, many children's rooms have evolved into multimedia
centers, with cable or satellite hookups, computers and video game consoles."
http://tinyurl.com/6rps5
Space venture has West Texas county abuzz
"Even skeptical locals, who've become wary over the years of city slickers
with big ideas for their town, perked up when Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos
made his pitch -- a spaceport for commercial travel into the beyond.
Bezos flew into this West Texas town a few weeks ago to tell key leaders
how he planned to use his newly acquired 165,000 acres of desolate ranch
land. He also gave his only interview so far on the spaceport to the Van
Horn Advocate, the weekly newspaper Larry Simpson runs from the back of his
Radio Shack store."
For more info:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/space/03/15/bezos.spaceport.ap/index.html
POLL of the WEEK
Last Week's Poll
Should Microsoft charge a fee for its security products?
Yes |
|
2 % (2) |
No |
|
61 % (59) |
They shouldn't have to have additional security |
|
33 % (32) |
I don't know |
|
3 % (3) |
Total votes: 96 |
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
Spell Check OE and Forms
Subscriber Hillary
Hinkle sent me this:
"I use Outlook Express and I love having spell-check for my emails.
I am quite good at spelling but I tend to type with letters transposed and
make frequent typos.
Unfortunately spell-check is only installed into Outlook Express when you
purchase MS Office. My husband didn't have Office installed on his new comp
and wasn't happy about not having a spellchecker. I found a handy little
FREEWARE program that works in email and it also works in forms and online
forums. http://www.iespell.com/.
It so nice that people spend time writing good programs and are willing to
share them."
GoogleX
Google Labs has a new way to search. GoogleX pays tribute to Mac OS X by
using a similar interface to their programs bar. I have never used one, but
have always liked it when I saw it. Many Google options in one place.
Check it out at http://labs.google.com/googlex/
The 2005 Bloggies
"Where can you find the most interesting weblogs? Which blogs have
made their mark this year? Who will do anything for a nomination? Those questions
will be answered in the one and only...
fifth annual weblog awards
the 2005 bloggies"
Check it out at http://2005.bloggies.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 1998-2005, Graham Wing. All rights reserved.
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