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Issue 328 - January 26, 2005

ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2005
==== 2024 Subscribers in 60 Countries ====

Welcome to the 328th 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 know some people don't like me talking about the weather (ahem... Tracey...) but how can I not? We've received an incredible amount of snow over the last 5 days or so. In particular, it started to snow mid-morning on Saturday, and it snowed for pretty much 24 hours straight. Church was even closed on Sunday! I went out briefly on Saturday night to get us some snacks, and the roads were the worst I've ever driven on. It then snowed some more Sunday, and again yesterday, and now again today. No wonder people think Canadians live in igloos.

Chris and I have recently received some software to review, so we'll be adding a new section to our reviews. We've done a few hardware reviews and lots of software reviews, and soon will have a Windows Mobile section.

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

The NEWS

Microsoft Shareholder Payout Raised US Incomes, Worsened US Deficit

"When Microsoft issued an unprecedented $32.6 billion stock dividend payout to its shareholders in December, the company had a huge effect on the US economy, the US Department of Commerce said this week. According to the agency, the payout raised the average income of US citizens and will likely worsen the nation's deficit. Overall, the US economy will 'become more negative' because of the payout because so many of the company's shareholders live overseas."

For more info:
http://www.windowsitpro.com/Articles/Index.cfm?ArticleID=45159

2 Many Txt Msgs Bad 4 Yr Health, Italian Docs Say

"Excessive text messaging may be bad for you, or at least for your fingers.
That's what some Italian doctors think. They are telling people, particularly the young, that furious typing on mobile phones could lead to acute tendonitis."

For more info:
http://au.news.yahoo.com/050124/15/sq64.html

Google switches on TV search beta

"Google has launched a service designed to search TV content from US broadcasters including PBS, NBA, Fox News and C-SPAN.
The Google Video beta enables users to search across the closed captioning content of a growing number of TV programmes that the firm began indexing in December 2004.
Entering a query will return a list of relevant programmes with still images and text excerpts from the exact point in the programme where the search word or phrase was spoken, the search giant claimed."

For more info:
http://www.vnunet.com/news/1160775

Internet Explorer Use Keeps Falling

"Internet Explorer is continuing to lose share to the open-source Firefox Web browser.
In the past month, use of Microsoft Corp.'s dominant browser fell another 1.5 percentage points to 90.3 percent. Meanwhile, the Mozilla Foundation's Firefox browser rose 0.9 percentage points to reach 5 percent, Web analytics provider WebSideStory Inc. confirmed Thursday.
The numbers reflect shifts that occurred between Dec. 3 and Jan. 14. WebSideStory samples more than 30 million daily Internet users from more than 200 countries to determine the browser-usage shares.
The percentage of users browsing with IE has steadily fallen since June, while Firefox and some other competing browser have shown gains. Over that time, IE use has dropped a total of about 5 percent from its perch at 95.5 percent."

For more info:
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1753221,00.asp

Return to the top Recommend PCIN Poll of the Week

POLL of the WEEK

Last Week's Poll

What do you use catalog your digital images?

I use free software I downloaded from the web 10 % (7)
I use the software that came with my camera 13 % (9)
I use software that came with my photo editor 1 % (1)
I have a dedicated software package I purchased 3 % (2)
I catalog manually using folder or file names 54 % (36)
I don't catalog my digital images 12 % (8)
I do not have a digital camera 6 % (4)
Total votes: 67

This Week's Poll

Do you have anti-spyware software running and monitoring your system constantly?

Yes
No, but I run manually scans when needed
No, I don't do anything
What is spyware?

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:

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

Album Creator by FirmTools Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/albumcreator.php

Return to the top Recommend PCIN Poll of the Week

THE TIPS and OTHER STUFF

YETISPORTS: Updated with New Games

A while back we mentioned Yetisports.org, a site featuring online flash games featuring Yeti, an abominable snowman. The site was relaunched yesterday with a few new games, a multiuser game and tournament featuring the first 5 games. They also have the games available for purchase for use on your mobile phone.

WebTechGeek.com

"Welcome to WebTechGeek.com Home Page! ~ The Latest Tech News, Reviews, Free software and Pc fix tips!"
Check it out at http://www.webtechgeek.com/

Outlook Tips

"Learn how to be an Outlook power user using the tips and how to's found on Outlook-tips"
Check it out at http://www.outlook-tips.net/ and be sure to check out their Tips Archive which currently has over 200 Outlook tips.

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 1998-2005, Graham Wing. All rights reserved.

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