ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2006
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Welcome to the 386th 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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I don't know where my head has been at the last couple of weeks. For a couple of weeks I left the same Digital Photography Tip of the Week in the newsletter, and then last week I didn't change the Opening Thoughts from the week before. Hmmm... I guess that means I didn't have any new thoughts.
The days are getting longer and it is getting warmer. Finally there's hope that the cold long winter is over! Actually, overall this winter was quite mild, but since I'm not a winter person, any snow is bad news.
I think I have a problem... I have Silly Songs from the VeggieTales stuck in my head. Andrew loves them. He's always watching the movies, and he loves singing the songs, so we sing them together. Even Matthew tries to make some noises along with the songs. But now I can't get them out of my head! And now here I am typing up this, and I've chosen to listen to the songs (The Hairbrush Song) when Andrew is in bed. Oh well, I guess it's all worth it for my sons. It sure is fun :-)
Graham editor@pcin.net and Chris chris@pcin.net
Famed "computer terrorist" teaches anti-hacking
He can find George Bush senior's social security number and Leonardo DiCaprio's mother's maiden name in under 15 seconds, and led the FBI on a three-year manhunt as he hacked his way into the world's biggest firms.
"Computer terrorist" Kevin Mitnick is one of the world's most famous computer hackers and became a cause celebre after breaking into networks and stealing software at companies including Sun Microsystems and Motorola.
Now Mitnick, from the United States, travels the world teaching companies how to guard against people just like him.Read the Reuters (via Yahoo! News) article...
Leave a comment...
Microsoft: Our engine to be better than Google soon
Microsoft will introduce a search engine better than Google in six months in the United States and Britain followed by Europe, its European president said on Wednesday.
"What we're saying is that in six months' time we'll be more relevant in the U.S. market place than Google," said Neil Holloway, Microsoft president for Europe, Middle East and Africa.
Wikipedia racks up 1 million articles
The English-language version of Wikipedia has racked up its millionth article.
Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit behind the online encyclopedia written by its readers, said late Wednesday that an article about the Jordanhill railway station in Scotland became its millionth one.
Wikipedia was created in January 2001. At present, it is growing by about 1,700 articles every day.
Last year, the popular site faced accusations that it couldn't adequately deal with inaccuracy. Wikipedia acknowledged Wednesday that it faced criticism in 2005 but pointed to a study published in Nature that found it was about as trustworthy as the Encyclopedia Britannica.
Microsoft: Vista won't get a backdoor
Windows Vista won't have a backdoor that could be used by police forces to get into encrypted files, Microsoft has stressed.
In February, a BBC News story suggested that the British government was in discussions with Microsoft over backdoor access to the operating system. A backdoor is a method of bypassing normal authentication to gain access to a computer without to the PC user knowing.
But Microsoft has now quelled the suggestion that law enforcement might get such access.
"Microsoft has not and will not put 'backdoors' into Windows," a company representative said in a statement sent via e-mail.
Other News postings from the PCIN.net Update blog
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Check out these new or updated pages on the PCIN.net site:
Update PCIN.net home page with "Top 10 Most Popular..." features
http://PCIN.net/Microsoft Digital Image Suite Plus Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/msdimagesuiteplus.phpOmega One Software Battery Pack Pro 2.1 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/bpp2.phpMakayama Interactive DVD to Pocket PC 3.0 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/dvd2ppc3.phpAdobe Photoshop Elements 4.0 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/elements40.php
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How to hold your digital camera
I hope that everyone is now shooting with straight horizons and buildings that are not falling over! If not, have a look at last week's tip on keeping straight lines straight. Today, a tip on how to hold your camera for better photos.
The LCD screen on today's digital cameras provides some great advantages over film cameras; review of composition, exposure and focus. But for those people who are using the LCD screen to compose their shots, it may be hampering their ability to get sharp photos.
Many people now hold their camera at arm's length to look at the LCD screen when they are taking photos. This is not a cause for a concern when there is a lot of light as shutter speeds will be sufficiently high enough that camera shake will not be a problem. However, when the light drops a little, holding your camera like that is bound to introduce some shake. This is because when you hold your camera at arms length, it is unsupported. No matter how light your camera is, you are likely to have a little movement.
To help ensure sharp photos, use the viewfinder on your camera, not the LCD. Hold the camera with both hands and with the camera up to your eye, tuck your elbows into your sides. You have now become your own camera support. With your arms locked against your body you have stabilized your camera and reduced the possibility of camera shake while increasing the likelihood of sharp photos. If you camera does not have an viewfinder, then you have no choice but to use the LCD for composition. In this case, be sure to hold the camera with both hands, and try to keep the camera as close to your body as you can. It may still be possible for you to keep your elbows tucked into your sides while still holding the camera far enough from your eyes to properly see your screen.
Following this tip can help reduce camera shake and may improve your photography.
The digital photography tip of the week is written by the PCIN Assistant Editor, Chris Empey. Chris is a long time photographer and is currently the vice-president 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 Chris, or a question about digital photography he can address in the newsletter, send it to chris@pcin.net.
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Making Windows XP Start Faster
From PC Magazine:
Whenever you start your computer, you are faced with a few moments of thumb twiddling while Windows XP boots and prompts you to log on. Although you should expect to wait for a few moments, sometimes Windows XP seems to boot rather slowly. In fact, you may notice that over a period of time the PC that used to roar to life seems a bit sluggish instead. Fortunately, you can perform several techniques that help Windows XP get the bootup speed you want. This chapter explores how to put these techniques to work.
Thanks to Irving of Irving's Info Page for sending me the link!
101 Free Games
I heard about this at RedFlagDeals.com. They link to 1Up.com:
You don't care how you get your fix. You just want to play a new game right now and you don't want to pay a lot for the privilege. Thank God for the Internet, where everything (and its mom) is available for free. So, taking a break from downloading patches and porn, we set upon a journey to gaming-freebie Mecca.
Changing the text size on screen
Reader Alec Thompson sent me this. It was a tip he received from Dot Martin:
Great keyboard trick! [If you have a mouse with a wheel] Try this - It really works! I just found out about this. Thought I'd pass this on. It's very useful when trying to read small e-mail print (especially in the early hours). If you hold down the Ctrl key on your key board and turn the small wheel in the middle of your mouse, the print size will change - it will either get larger or smaller - depending on which way you turn the wheel.
Other Tips and Other Stuff postings from the PCIN.net Update blog
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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 1998-2006, 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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