ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2005
==== 2037 Subscribers in 59 Countries ====
Welcome to the 335th 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
It's March Break time here in Ontario, so everything seems to be much busier. The sun has been shining, and the snow is slowly melting. There is hope in sight!
I've added several new galleries to the family web site.
Speaking of family stuff... Lisa and I will celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary on Monday. We're not sure what we're going to be doing yet. Monday night is usually Family Home Evening night with the family, my sister Julia, and Holly. We'll either get Julia and Holly to babysit while we go out, or we'll still do FHE and go out another night. We'll see...
Lastly, I messed up on the poll last week. I created a new poll on the site but didn't put it in the newsletter. I've corrected it this week, and have left last week's poll the same so more people will vote.
Graham editor@pcin.net and Chris chris@pcin.net
How the iPod Ran Circles Around the Walkman
"At first glance, digital music is the field in which Sony's considerable assets seem best suited, with a little rearrangement, for a comeback. On one side, Sony has 50 years of experience in producing portable music players, beginning with transistor radios in the 1950's and extended by its Walkman franchise that has sold more than 340 million players. On the other, it owns one of the world's largest music labels to supply content. Yet in the iPod era, Sony's headstart counts for nothing. It's as if the company were the Sony Graphophone and Wax Record Company."
For more info:
http://tinyurl.com/6l7k5
Deadline sought for end of analog TV
"House Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton said Tuesday he plans in the coming weeks to introduce legislation to complete the transition to digital television by the end of 2006.
Current law requires television broadcasters to give up their old analog airwaves by the end of 2006, or when 85 percent of the country can see the new, higher quality signals, whichever comes later.
U.S. communications regulators expect it could take a decade for the transition to be completed under that scenario and they, along with some lawmakers, have been pushing to set a final deadline.For more info:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7202440/
Kids' Rooms Becoming Multimedia Centers
"It wasn't too long ago that a kid with a stereo and television in his room might have been the coolest on the block. Now, that just makes him one of the crowd.
In the past five years, many children's rooms have evolved into multimedia centers, with cable or satellite hookups, computers and video game consoles."
Space venture has West Texas county abuzz
"Even skeptical locals, who've become wary over the years of city slickers with big ideas for their town, perked up when Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos made his pitch -- a spaceport for commercial travel into the beyond.
Bezos flew into this West Texas town a few weeks ago to tell key leaders how he planned to use his newly acquired 165,000 acres of desolate ranch land. He also gave his only interview so far on the spaceport to the Van Horn Advocate, the weekly newspaper Larry Simpson runs from the back of his Radio Shack store."For more info:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/space/03/15/bezos.spaceport.ap/index.html
Return to the top | Recommend PCIN Poll of the Week |
Should Microsoft charge a fee for its security products?
Yes 2 % (2) No 61 % (59) They shouldn't have to have additional security 33 % (32) I don't know 3 % (3) Total votes: 96
This Week's Poll
You can also vote online at http://PCIN.net/polls/
Return to the top | Recommend PCIN Poll of the Week |
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.phpPCIN.net Update Blog
http://PCIN.net/update/Sunbelt Software iHateSpam 4.0 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/ihatespam4.phpMicro Solutions RoadStor Hardware Review
http://PCIN.net/help/hardware/roadstor.phpAlbum Creator by FirmTools Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/albumcreator.php
Return to the top | Recommend PCIN Poll of the Week |
Spell Check OE and Forms
Subscriber Hillary Hinkle sent me this:
"I use Outlook Express and I love having spell-check for my emails. I am quite good at spelling but I tend to type with letters transposed and make frequent typos.
Unfortunately spell-check is only installed into Outlook Express when you purchase MS Office. My husband didn't have Office installed on his new comp and wasn't happy about not having a spellchecker. I found a handy little FREEWARE program that works in email and it also works in forms and online forums. http://www.iespell.com/. It so nice that people spend time writing good programs and are willing to share them."
GoogleX
Google Labs has a new way to search. GoogleX pays tribute to Mac OS X by using a similar interface to their programs bar. I have never used one, but have always liked it when I saw it. Many Google options in one place.
Check it out at http://labs.google.com/googlex/
The 2005 Bloggies
"Where can you find the most interesting weblogs? Which blogs have made their mark this year? Who will do anything for a nomination? Those questions will be answered in the one and only...
fifth annual weblog awards
the 2005 bloggies"
Check it out at http://2005.bloggies.com/
Return to the top | Recommend PCIN Poll of the Week |
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 |
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.
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.
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