PCIN, The PC Improvement News logo

Issue 296 - June 16, 2004

ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2004
==== 1933 Subscribers in 58 Countries ====

Welcome to the 296th 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

Still no baby :-( Only 9 more days till the due date, and 6 more days until Lisa gets her cast off.

As I've mentioned before, both Chris and I have Google Mail (GMail) accounts. Recently we were both given a few invitations to send to others so they can sign up for an account. We decided to do a bit of a giveaway here in the newsletter. If you are interested in obtaining a GMail account, let us know and send 3 tips along. We'll pick 5 people to each receive a GMail invitation.

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

The NEWS

Mapping the New Internet

"Imagine a day when your doctor retrieves your information not from a paper file, but on an encrypted smart card. Or when an instant message alerts you that your laundry is done. Or--unbelievably--a day when you get not a single piece of spam.
That's the future of the Internet described in a keynote address at the IAPP Truste Symposium here this week. John Patrick, former vice president of Internet technology at IBM and now president of the consulting organization Attitude LLC, shared his vision and told how the next steps of Internet evolution will come about.
Many of his expected changes are already arriving, but can't surface until there are some sweeping changes to the Internet's framework, and--more importantly--to people's attitudes, Patrick said."

For more info:
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,116478,00.asp

Survey: 2 million bank accounts robbed

"Nearly 2 million Americans have had their checking accounts raided by criminals in the past 12 months, according to a soon-to-be released survey by market research group Gartner. Consumers reported an average loss per incident of $1,200, pushing total losses higher than $2 billion for the year.
Gartner researcher Avivah Litan blamed online banking for most of the problem.
'There has been a big increase in the abuse of existing checking accounts,' Litan said. 'What's really scary about it is right now there are no back-end fraud detection solutions for it.'"

For more info:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5184077/

FCC: Broadband Internet use up 42% in 2003

"High-speed Internet use grew 42% last year as some 8.3 million homes and businesses signed up for broadband service, the Federal Communications Commission said Tuesday.
Driven largely by new residential and small-business customers, broadband use grew to 28.2 million lines by the end of 2003. The growth rate increased slightly in the second half of the year, from 18% to 20%, the FCC said."

For more info:
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2004-06-08-Broadband_x.htm

Google stirs controversy with Froogle

"Google has staked its reputation as the Internet's premier search engine on delivering rapid, relevant search results -- untouched by human hands -- that it says are based on complex mathematical formulas and sophisticated technology.
But with Father's Day approaching, Google Inc. is experimenting by promoting its own shopping site ahead of other online search results and ads. That has prompted criticism from some industry experts who say that the giant search engine company appears to be compromising the unusually high standards that it has set for itself just as it prepares to sell stock to the public.

For more info:
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5167812/

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POLL of the WEEK

Last Week's Poll

Have you tried Windows XP SP2?

Yes, I love it 2.11 % (2)
Yes, but it doesn't seem any different 6.32 % (6)
Yes, I hate it 1.05 % (1)
No, I won't try beta software 42.11 % (40)
No, I don't need it 7.37 % (7)
No, I didn't know there was an SP2 18.95 % (18)
I don't have Windows XP 22.11 % (21)
Total votes: 95

This Week's Poll

Do you subscribe to any RSS/ATOM feeds?

Yes, I use standalone software
Yes, I use software that integrates with my email client
Yes, I use a web-based service to retrieve my feeds
No, I prefer newsletters
No, but I'd like to move in that direction
What are RSS/ATOM feeds?

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

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PCIN.net UPDATE

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

Updated Windows Registry Tips and Tweaks Article
http://PCIN.net/help/articles/registry_tips.php

MySlideShow 2.3 by Anix Software Software Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/myslideshow.php

Anyplace Control by Anyplace Control Software Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/anyplacecontrol.php

Inboxer 1.1 by Audiotrieve, LLC Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/inboxer.php

Microsoft Outlook Add-Ins by MAPILab Ltd. Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/mapilab.php

Return to the top Recommend PCIN.net Update

THE TIPS and OTHER STUFF

DirectX Diagnostics

DirectX is a Microsoft technology used for multimedia and gaming. If you have a computer with Windows 95 or higher on it, you almost certainly have DirectX. Sometimes you may experience problems playing games or with multimedia playback. If you do, do a search for a file called dxdiag.exe on your system. This is the DirectX Diagnostic Tool and it shows you all sorts of system information, and allows you to test certain systems.

Zero Assumption Digital Image Recovery

I first learned about this software in a recent issue of the LangaList.
"Zero Assumption Digital Image Recovery is a freeware data recovery tool, specifically designed to work with digital images. It allows you to recover digital photos accidentally deleted from digital camera memory.
There exists a vast variety of digital camera and associated media types on the market, so it is virtually impossible to test the program with each and every hardware combination. Generally, program should work with any media type (e.g. CompactFlash, MemoryStick, SmartMedia and so on) accessible by means of operating system. You need the use your camera or the appropriate card reader you normally use to transfer images from camera to PC."
Check it out at http://www.z-a-recovery.com/digital_image_recovery.htm

Windows Users Groups Network (WUGNET)

"Your Complete Resource Center for 'The Best' in Shareware, Computing Tips and Support, Windows Industry News... and much more!"
WUGNET has been around along time and is well know for their software reviews. There are also newsletters and RSS feeds. You can visit the main page at http://www.wugnet.com/ but be sure to check out their Computing Tips section.

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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 1998-2004, Graham Wing. All rights reserved.

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