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Issue 404 - July 12, 2006

ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2006
==== 1583 Subscribers in 51 Countries ====

Welcome to the 404th 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.

Support PCIN at http://PCIN.net/donate.php

CONTENTS

Opening Thoughts

Lisa's birthday is this coming Friday. She's older than I am (only by a few weeks), so I always have a brief window where I can tease her about how much older she is.

I think I mentioned awhile ago that my sister Andrea works at Best Buy. She has always been crazy for electronic gadgets, but even more so since she started working there. Well, my sister Julia is following in her footsteps. I recently mentioned about the nice MP3 player she got. Well, she just bought a beautiful Canon digital camera. She already has 2 cell phones and a handheld device. I'm not sure what her next gadget will be, but I'm sure she'll think of something. For some reason I'm not really into gadgets. I haven't really purchased anything new for my computer in ages. The only thing I'm craving is a laptop (Andrea already has one) so that I don't have to sit at my desk to do this sort of thing. Some day... some day... (I can dream, can't I?)

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

The NEWS

'Digital Dirt' Derailing Job Seekers

More than one-third of employers have eliminated a candidate after digging up "digital dirt," according to ExecuNet.
In a recent survey of 100 executive recruiters, 35 percent said they dropped a job candidate because of information uncovered online. That is up from 26 percent just one year ago, according to ExecuNet, an executive job search and recruiting network.
Seventy-seven percent of respondents said they use search engines to learn more about prospective employees.

Read the TechWeb article...
Leave a comment...

EU knocks Microsoft with $357 million fine

European regulators hit Microsoft with a $357.3 million fine Wednesday, citing the software giant's continued noncompliance with its landmark 2004 antitrust ruling.
The European Commission issued the 280.5 million euro fine for the period between Dec. 16 and June 20. That figure amounts to a daily fine of 1.5 million euros, which the Commission is prepared to increase to up to 3 million euros per day if the software giant does not come into full compliance beginning July 31.
"I don't buy Microsoft's line that they didn't know what was being asked of them because the March 2004 order is absolutely crystal clear," Neelie Kroes, who heads the Commission's antitrust bureau as its competition commissioner, said Wednesday at a press conference in Brussels. "And in order to increase the incentive for Microsoft to comply, the Commission has decided the ceiling for potential fines will be raised."

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

Microsoft puts end to Windows 98 support

From Tuesday, Microsoft will no longer issue security updates or provide support for Windows 98 and Windows ME, which are still being used by more than 50 million people.
Eight years after launching Windows 98, Microsoft is finally washing its hands of updating and plugging security gaps in the aging operating system.
The software giant originally planned to pull the plug in January 2004, but decided to extend support because of the increasing competition from Linux.
This time round, Microsoft is hoping that the remaining users of Windows 98 and Windows Millennium Edition will upgrade to Windows XP, according to Peter Watson, chief security advisor, Microsoft Australia.

Read the TechRepublic article...
Leave a comment...

High-tech prosthetics: Out on a limb

Advances such as telemedicine and the use of wireless devices in hospitals have become an accepted part of medical technology, but the notion of replacing limbs with computer-powered devices seems more like something out of "RoboCop" or "The $6 Million Man."
Since as far back as the Civil War, prosthetic limbs have consisted of unwieldy lumps of wood, plastic or metal. While some advances in materials have improved comfort for amputees, prosthetics still lack the responsiveness and feel of actual limbs.
Icelandic prosthetic maker Ossur is trying to change that with its Rheo Knee. Billed as the first knee with artificial intelligence, it combines up to 15 sensors, a processor, software and a memory chip to analyze the motion of the prosthetic and learn how to move accordingly. More recently, Ossur introduced the Power Knee, which houses a motor and more sensors. The motor helps replicate some of the action of muscles that have been lost along with the limb.

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

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Digital Photography Tip of the Week

Remote Shutter Release - Digital Photography Tip of the Week

More and more digital cameras are coming with very long zoom lenses. While 3x or 4x optical zooms used to be common, we are now seeing 6x, 8x, 10x and even some 12x zooms, equivalent to a 28mm - 336mm lens in 35mm film. While these super zooms are great at magnifying your subjects, they also magnify any camera shake you may experience.

I have talked many times about using a tripod and camera release in my photography. A tripod is an invaluable tool to the photographer for steadying the camera, composing and taking multiple shots of the same composition at different settings. However, even on a tripod, the small vibrations you produce when pressing the shutter button are magnified when using super zooms. That is where the use of a remote shutter release comes in. They come in various forms, from the traditional wire cable releases and bulb releases that were both mechanical in nature, to today's electronic shutter releases and even infrared releases. The use of a remote shutter release can minimize or eliminate camera shake due to shutter press altogether.

Remote releases typically either screw or snap onto a socket on the camera or have an eye for viewing the infrared beam on a wireless release. Most wireless releases are directional and only work when the remote is pointed at the camera from the front. If this is the type you have then you may have to put your remote in front of the camera off to the side of the lens in order for it to work. Many simply trigger the shutter when the button on the remote is press, but some are configurable to immediately trigger the shutter or two wait a short period of time before firing. This is to allow the vibrations from the mirror flipping out of the way of the sensor on an SLR to dissipate. Others are even more advanced with options for time delays and timers to set extended exposure lengths. If you camera does not have an available remote release, another option is to use the self timer. The self timer will give the camera 10 seconds or so to stop vibrating after you to press the shutter button.

With very long focal lengths, their magnified views, and magnified camera shake, such as those in the 10x and 12x range, the use of a remote release can be the difference between a sharp photo and one that could have been sharp.

Leave a comment about this week's Digital Photography Tip of the Week...

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 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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PCIN.net UPDATE

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.php

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

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THE TIPS and OTHER STUFF

Keeping track of your money

No, I'm not talking about budgeting. I'm talking about tracking where your money goes. Literally, where has it traveled. This site has been around for 7-8 years now, but I just learned about it the other day. If you visit Where's George, you can enter the details of your money, and see if it is in their system. I entered information on a $1 and I found it had been in Ohio and Indiana. You can also leave a comment about how or where you got the bill.

20060708_wheres_george.jpg

It's kind of neat. But I would think that if you have time to enter all of your bills, then you have too much time on your hands!

Leave a comment...

Microsoft Student with Encarta Premium 2007

I received the following press release today:

Nine out of 10 teachers agree that students who turn to technology for homework help perform better than those who do not, according to a recent independent survey commissioned by Microsoft Corp. However, 71 percent of teachers worry that students are not finding what they need on the Internet, and 85 percent wish there were more technology-based resources available. 1

Today Microsoft released Microsoft ® Student with Encarta ® Premium 2007, a software package of integrated tools and trusted information that empowers middle-school through entry-level college students to create and complete accurate assignments that can lead to better grades and academic confidence.

Read the rest of the press release and leave a comment...

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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 1998-2006, Graham Wing. All rights reserved.

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