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Issue 321 - December 08, 2004

ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2004
==== 2022 Subscribers in 58 Countries ====

Welcome to the 321st 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 keep saying this every week, but we think that our provider has solved the problem of the newsletter not making it out to everyone. It would reach the first 200 people on the subscriber list, but then there was a setting that had been changed that was stopping the rest. This has been adjusted, so we're keeping our fingers crossed that this goes out right the first time! Assuming this works, next week we'll highlight some of the things that we've included in previous newsletters in case you missed them.

As many of you know Chris is also a photographer. He competes in the Niagara Falls Camera Club, and has shot weddings, engagements, and other events. On Friday night he came over to our house and took pictures of Andrew and Matthew. They look fabulous. It was hard to get them both looking perfect in the same picture, but we did get a few good ones. And then there are lots of pictures that look good of them individually. You can check it out at http://wingfamily.ca/lisagraham/20041203/

Lastly, we're please to announce the grand opening of the PCIN Updates blog. Chris and I will be posting news, tips, and other links each day as we find them. We'll also post changes to the PCIN.net site there as well. The blog is currently run by Blogger (which may change as the blog grows) and we've enabled comments. By all means comment on the news stories, tips, etc and let us know what you think. We'll also add posts about our subscribers. For instance, Alex Walcer was on the radio in Toronto with his brother-in-law, so we posted about our (Almost) Famous PCIN Subscriber. You can check out the blog online at http://pcin.net/update/ and subscribe to the feed using any of the Syndication links on that page.

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

The NEWS

Net File-Sharing Doesn't Hurt Most Artists - Survey

"Most musicians and artists say the Internet has helped them make more money from their work despite online file-trading services that allow users to copy songs and other material for free, according to a study released on Sunday."

For more info:
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?storyID=6997352

Two thirds of all PCs infected with spyware

"The global spyware plague has reached epidemic proportions, with the cost to global PC users set to rocket by 2,400 per cent over the next four years.
According to newly published research from IDC, the need to identify and eradicate these parasitic programs will drive anti-spyware software revenues from $12m in 2003 to $305m in 2008.
The analyst firm reported that spyware infects millions of computers with the purpose of stealing personal information, enabling identity theft, tracking online activity, and selling information back to anyone willing to pay."

For more info:
http://www.vnunet.com/news/1159778

Unprotected PCs can be hijacked in minutes

Surfing the Web has never been more risky. Simply connecting to the Internet - and doing nothing else - exposes your PC to non-stop, automated break-in attempts by intruders looking to take control of your machine surreptitiously.

For more info:
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/technology/2004-11-29-honeypot_x.htm

At Museums, Computers Get Creative

"At the Exploratorium, the hands-on science museum here, there is an exhibit called 'Energy From Death' that staff members refer to as 'the rotting carcass.' In a small terrarium hundreds of dermestid beetles eat the flesh and bones of a dead baby mouse over several days.
Next to the live beetles is a touch screen showing a video of the entire process, recorded with a different mouse carcass. A button can be used to speed it up, slow it down or pause it.
Visitors who stop to view the exhibit are as entranced by the video as they are by the live necrophagous frenzy. Families gather around the screen to start the video, then stop it. Often they go back and forth between the live exhibit and the video, trying to stop the recording at the same stage as the deconstruction of the carcass in the case.
'People love it,' said Adrian Van Allen, a multimedia exhibit specialist at the museum.
Interactive exhibits have been a mainstay in museums for more than three decades, seen as a way of improving learning by increasing visitor involvement. And at many museums over the years, interactive exhibits have employed computers."

For more info:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/02/technology/circuits/02muse.html?ex=1259643600&en=a4eacb00c8930fde&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland

Return to the top Recommend PCIN Poll of the Week

POLL of the WEEK

Last Week's Poll

Do you prefer to receive email or read RSS/XML feeds?

I still prefer to receive email 66 % (56)
I prefer to read feeds 2 % (2)
Either/Or 4 % (3)
What is RSS/XML? 28 % (24)
Total votes: 85

This Week's Poll

How do you feel about all-in-one devices?

I own one, and love it
I own one, but wish I didn't
I would like to get one to save the space
I prefer higher-quality individual devices
What's an all-in-one device

You can also vote online at http://PCIN.net/polls/

Return to the top Recommend PCIN Poll of the Week

PCIN.net UPDATE

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

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

Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Administrator's Pocket Consultant, Second Edition Book Review
http://PCIN.net/help/books/w2kapcse.php

Remote Task Manager by SmartLine Inc. Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/remotetaskmanager.php

Return to the top Recommend PCIN Poll of the Week

THE TIPS and OTHER STUFF

Audio and Video Codecs

http://www.fourcc.org/codecs.php
"Definitions of raw and compressed pixel formats used in Windows video programming."
If you've ever downloaded a video, you probably come across ones that you cannot play because your system needs a decoder. Windows Media Player will play AVIs, MPGs, and many other standard formats, but not every one. Check out the above site for a huge listing of codecs, with lots of links to the company that owns the codec, and links to other info.

Freeware Music Player/Converter

dbpowerAMP is a collection of software that lets you play and/or convert music as well as burn CDs. The music player and the music converter are 100% free. The CD burning software is fully functional for 30 days. Check it out at http://www.dbpoweramp.com/. And speaking of Codecs (the item above), dbpowerAMP also has codecs available at http://www.dbpoweramp.com/codec-central-wma.htm

eBaum's World

We thought we'd mentioned this site before, but can't find any reference to it. They have fun games, funny jokes, video clips, etc with most of them being clean (of course I haven't seen them all). Chris pointed out a new game they have called Squares. It's a very simple concept, but very addicting. You can view the main eBaum's World site at http://www.ebaumsworld.com/ and the Squares game at http://www.ebaumsworld.com/squares.html

Free PC-cillin for Wireless

Trend Micro is currently offering their PC-cillin product for Palm and Pocket PC for free. You can download it at http://www.trendmicro.com/download/product.asp?productid=2

Return to the top Recommend PCIN Poll of the Week

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:

Return to the top Recommend PCIN Poll of the Week

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 1998-2004, Graham Wing. All rights reserved.

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