Issue 295 - June 09, 2004
ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2004
==== 1931 Subscribers in 58 Countries ====
Welcome to the 295th 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
Wow! It sure has been hot the last couple of days. We've had almost a month
of 20° C weather, and we've been at 30 the last two days. It has been particularly
hard for Lisa. Only 16 days left!
Graham editor@pcin.net and
Chris chris@pcin.net
The NEWS
Is the dust on your computer toxic?
"According to new research into chemical residue found in the dust
collecting on computers and other electronics devices, the PC that you're
using to read this story could pose a long-term threat to your health."
For more info:
http://news.com.com/2100-1041_3-5225799.html
Striking Back at Spyware
Here's good news for surfers stressing over spyware that surreptitiously
slips onto their PCs to track their whereabouts and serve up advertising:
A legal noose is starting to tighten around its purveyors.
Utah has made installing programs on a PC without the user's approval a $10,000
offense. California, Iowa, and New York are considering similar laws, and
Congress is weighing federal legislation.
'Using underhanded tactics, these companies are not only invading your privacy
but hurting legitimate online companies,' says Utah state representative
Steve Urquhart, sponsor of that state's Spyware Control Act."
For more info:
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,116356,00.asp
Domain name registration again in vogue
"Domain name buying is back in fashion once again--with registrations
reaching levels last seen in 2000.
While domain name carpetbagging became a sport during the dot-com boom, as
entrepreneurs snapped up URLs they hoped to sell for thousands of dollars,
today's buyers are generally legitimate and simply want a Web address in
order to publish a Web site.
More than 4.7 million new registrants joined the list of owners in the first
three months of this year--an all-time high, according to VeriSign's latest
domain name report."
For more info:
http://news.com.com/2100-1038_3-5229494.html
The Free & The Unfree
"The notion that ideas can be protected, like land or gold, from bandits
predates Gutenberg's printing press. But only in the digital age has the
concept of intellectual property set off an international free-for-all.On
the one side are the intellectual property holders, predominantly citizens
of Western nations. They're squaring off against IP outlaws, who tend to
live in developing countries. The propertied class loudly asserts its ownership
and control. The insurgents cry for openness and exploit technological loopholes
with abandon."
For more info:
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/12.06/free.html
Attack of Comcast's Internet zombies
"Comcast's high-speed Internet subscribers have long been rumored to
be an unusually persistent source of junk e-mail.
Now someone from Comcast is confirming it. 'We're the biggest spammer on
the Internet,' network engineer Sean Lutner said at a meeting of an antispam
working group in Washington, D.C., last week.
Lutner said Comcast users send out about 800 million messages a day, but
a mere 100 million flow through the company's official servers. Almost all
of the remaining 700 million represent spam erupting from so-called zombie
computers--a breathtaking figure that adds up to six or seven spam-o-grams
for each American family every day."
For more info:
http://news.com.com/2010-1034_3-5218178.html
POLL of the WEEK
Last Week's Poll
How old is your current main computer?
It's brand new |
|
9.45 % (12) |
Less than a year old |
|
16.54 % (21) |
1 year |
|
14.96 % (19) |
2 years |
|
27.56 % (35) |
3 years |
|
11.02 % (14) |
4 years |
|
7.09 % (9) |
5 years |
|
4.72 % (6) |
> 5 years |
|
8.66 % (11) |
I don't have a computer at home |
|
0.00 % (0) |
Total votes: 127 |
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:
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
THE TIPS and OTHER
STUFF
The Oxymoron List
"The largest list of oxymorons ever collected online."
And the #1 oxymoron? Microsoft Works
Check it out at http://www.oxymoronlist.com/
Beginners Guides: 99 Performance Tips for Windows XP
"From faster boot times, to speeding up your current hardware, PCstats
has 99 Tips to make your computer run quicker, better, and more efficiently."
Check it out at http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=1590
Google Blog
Google is the number one search engine on the Internet, and many people
make a lot of money consulting to firms on how to rank higher in the Google
listings. This Google Blog provides an insight into the people working at
Google, and their thoughts on Google and some of it's products.
Recently the guy who makes the Google logo changes on special occasions (Google
Doodles) posted some comments. You can view the Google Doodles Post at http://www.google.com/googleblog/2004/06/oodles-of-doodles.html
View the Google Site Feed at http://www.google.com/googleblog/atom.xml
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.
- If any of the links are too long to fit on one line, you may have to cut
and paste.
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follow the appropriate links.
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be entered in a monthly draw.
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out the subscription form or asked me directly.
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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.
This publication may be reproduced in whole, or in part, as long as the author
is notified and the newsletter is presented as is.
Support PCIN by visiting http://PCIN.net/donate.php
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