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Issue 369 - November 09, 2005

ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2005
==== 2077 Subscribers in 59 Countries ====

Welcome to the 369th 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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Support PCIN at http://PCIN.net/donate.php

CONTENTS

Opening Thoughts

On Monday I finally got around to updating the Wing Family web site and adding some new image galleries. There are still some more I have to post, but I'm almost caught up. If you're interested, you can see the following: Andrew and Matthew playing with sprinkler, Mom and My Birthday (I was born on her birthday), and our Trip to Toronto Zoo.

We should have a couple of reviews done over the next few weeks. I'm working on a review of Paragon Partition Manager 7 (I'm very impressed) and ActiveEarth (an update to one of the first reviews I ever did) and Chris is working on Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.

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

The NEWS

Beware Your Trail of Digital Fingerprints

It hardly ranks in the annals of "gotcha!" but right-wing blogs were buzzing for at least a few days last week when an unsigned Microsoft Word document was circulated by the Democratic National Committee. The memo referred to the "anti-civil rights and anti-immigrant rulings" of Samuel A. Alito Jr., a federal appeals court judge who has been nominated to the Supreme Court by President Bush.
The stern criticisms of Judge Alito rubbed some commentators the wrong way (Chris Matthews of MSNBC called it "disgusting" last Monday). But whatever the memo's rhetorical pitch, right-leaning bloggers revealed that it contained a much more universal, if unintended, message: It pays to mind your metadata.

Read the New York Times article...
Leave a comment...

Student gets $117,500 in website free speech case

A New Jersey school district will pay $117,500 to a student who was punished for creating a website that included critical statements about his middle school.
The settlement of the lawsuit brought nearly two years ago follows a decision by a federal judge ruling that Oceanport school administrators violated Ryan Dwyer's free speech rights.
The settlement was announced Sunday by the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey.
"While my parents and I are happy the case is resolved, most importantly, I'm hopeful this will help ensure that free speech rights of students aren't trampled on again in the future," said Dwyer, who is now in 11th grade.

Read the USA Today article...
Leave a comment...

Just Googling It Is Striking Fear Into Companies

Wal-Mart, the nation's largest retailer, often intimidates its competitors and suppliers. Makers of goods from diapers to DVD's must cater to its whims. But there is one company that even Wal-Mart eyes warily these days: Google, a seven-year-old business in a seemingly distant industry.
"We watch Google very closely at Wal-Mart," said Jim Breyer, a member of Wal-Mart's board.
In Google, Wal-Mart sees both a technology pioneer and the seed of a threat, said Mr. Breyer, who is also a partner in a venture capital firm. The worry is that by making information available everywhere, Google might soon be able to tell Wal-Mart shoppers if better bargains are available nearby.

Read the New York Times article...
Leave a comment...

Linspire offers to license all Korean PCs for $5M

Following a warning from Microsoft that it may stop selling Windows in South Korea, Linspire President and Chief Executive Officer Kevin Carmony has offered to license his company's distribution of Linux and basic office productivity software for use on every computer in the country for $5 million.
Carmony said he wrote to South Korea's President Roh Moo-hyun offering to demonstrate the software to the president or his representatives. He told of the offer in a letter entitled "How Korea Can Protect National Security and Save $200+ Million," posted on Linspire's Web site on Thursday.

Read the InfoWorld article...
Leave a comment...

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PCIN.net UPDATE

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

DiFolders Software BlogJet 1.5 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/blogjet15.php

VMware Inc. VMware Workstation 4.5 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/vmware45.php

PCIN.net Update Blog
http://PCIN.net/update/

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

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Digital Photography Tip of the Week

Aperture and Shutter Speed Priority

Last week I talked about the relationship between aperture, shutter speed and film speed and in previous weeks, some of the reasons why you would want to adjust any of those settings. This week I will build on that by telling you how you can optimize your shooting by using some of your camera's features.

Digital SLRs and Prosumer cameras have the ability to use a couple of semi-automatic modes that allow you to make an adjustment to aperture (or shutter speed) and will automatically pick the correct value for the shutter speed (or aperture) as do some consumer digital cameras. It may be through a dial on the camera or a menu item in the camera setup. Many cameras have it marked as A or AV for aperture priority or T or TV for shutter speed priority. Your manual can tell you if your camera supports either of these modes and how to access them. These are considered semi-automatic because when you use one of the priority modes, you pick adjust one setting and the camera makes the necessary adjustments to the other. When you set the aperture in aperture priority mode, the camera automatically selects the correct shutter speed. When you select the shutter speed in shutter priority mode, the camera automatically selects the correct aperture.

Using the information I have given you in the past few weeks, you should now be able to make some good decisions about how to set your camera to record what you envision your photo to be without too much though over technical details. Remember, setting your camera to use a small aperture (large number on your f-stop scale) will increase depth of field, and a large aperture (small number) will give you shallow depth of field which is useful for isolating your subject. A short shutter speed will stop motion, while a long shutter speed will show motion in your photograph.

Next week I briefly discuss the how flash placement affects your photos.

Comment on this week's Digital Photography Tip of the Week at http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/11/09/digital_photography_tip_of_the_week_aper

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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THE TIPS and OTHER STUFF

How to use the Application Recovery tool in Office 2002 and in Office 2003

Microsoft Knowledgebase article 294933 explains how to use the Microsoft Office Application Recovery.

This tool provides you with a way to potentially recover data from an Office program that stops responding (hangs). If an Office program stops responding during your work session, you are no longer forced to terminate the program in Windows Task Manager and therefore lose any unsaved data.

When you start the program, it shows you a list of Office applications that are running. You can then choose to "recover" the application.

I had never heard of this until today, and haven't tried it, but it sound interesting...

Leave a comment...

Microsoft Search Engine

Today there is a search engine that focuses on Microsoft technology! We cover Microsoft Server applications, .NET and programming, Operating Systems, Microsoft desktop and Office applications, and gaming. Now you have an easy to navigate site designed for the senior Microsoft administrators, developers, decision makers and end-users.

Check it out at http://www.microsoftsearchengine.com/

Leave a comment...

Free Arkanoid Game

The Sharpie company has a site now where you can play an Arkanoid-type game called Bust Out. If you complete the 4th level, you get a free Sharpie Mini. Since I'm in Canada, I'm not eligible for the free Sharpie Mini, but the game is still fun.

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 1998-2005, Graham Wing. All rights reserved.

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