PCIN, The PC Improvement News logo

Issue 349 - June 22, 2005

ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2005
==== 2069 Subscribers in 59 Countries ====

Welcome to the 349th 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

Summer is here! June 21 is the official start of summer here. It also happens to be my parent's anniversary. They have been married 37 years!

We were at the Toronto Zoo on Saturday with Lisa's family to celebrate her mother's birthday. We had a great time. One of these days I'll get around to posting pictures.

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

The NEWS

Apple's iPod player gets a Royal nod

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II has reportedly joined the high-tech revolution and purchased the world's hottest new gadget - an Apple iPod.
According to the United Kingdom's biggest-selling daily newspaper, The Sun, the 79-year-old British monarch is now the owner of a 6GB silver iPod Mini, purchased by a staffer for £169 ($309). While The Sun reported that the Royal iPod could hold up to 10,000 songs, Apple lists the capacity for the 6GB model at a more common 1,500 songs.

For more info:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8255511/
Leave a comment:
http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/06/21/apple_s_ipod_player_gets_a_royal_nod

When You're Sick, Mammahealth.com Is There

Even as adults, we sometimes go to our mammas for help. Now Mamma.com Inc., a company that provides meta-search-engine and Internet-retrieval services, is hoping that consumers will look to it for health information, one of the most common uses of the Web by the public.
Mamma this week launched a "deep" Web and meta-search service for health information. The new Mammahealth.com site is the first of several specific search sites Mamma plans to unveil this year, company CEO Guy Fauré says. One such site will focus on travel, he says.

For more info:
http://www.informationweek.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=164901823

Clock's ticking on phone virus outbreak, experts say

Companies will not have to worry about a large-scale virus outbreak targeting their "smart" cell phones for another 18 months, security experts predicted.
However, after that, even antivirus software is unlikely to help, Gartner analysts John Pescatore and John Girard wrote in a research paper published earlier this month. The paper looks at how enterprises should prepare for the growing threat from malicious software for mobile phones and PDAs. According to the authors, a fast-spreading phone virus or worm is unlikely to appear before the end of 2007.

For more info:
http://techrepublic.com.com/2100-1009_11-5756428.html
Leave a comment:
http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/06/22/clock_s_ticking_on_phone_virus_outbreak_

Taiwan Teen Killed Over Online Game Dispute

The killing of a Taiwanese teenager in a brutal knife attack at an Internet cafe over a dispute involving the Blade&Sword Online computer game has raised concerns over violence on the normally tranquil Pacific island.
" (The assailant) didn't know the difference between reality and fantasy," lamented the Apple Daily, which splashed a graphic depiction of the assault across its front page Tuesday.

For more info:
http://www.pcworld.com/resource/article/0,aid,121552,pg,1,RSS,RSS,00.asp
Leave a comment:
http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/06/22/taiwan_teen_killed_over_online_game_disp

Return to the top Recommend PCIN Poll of the Week

POLL of the WEEK

Last Week's Poll

How many megapixels does your digital camera have?

1 megapixel 5 % (5)
2 megapixels 11 % (11)
3 megapixels 22 % (21)
4 megapixels 19 % (18)
5 megapixels 14 % (13)
6 megapixels 8 % (8)
7 megapixels 1 % (1)
8 megapixels 4 % (4)
> 8 megapixels 2 % (2)
I don't have a digital camera 14 % (13)
Total votes: 96

This Week's Poll

What is the most you've ever spent online to purchase something?

Less than $10
Between $10 and $40
Between $40 and $70
Between $70 and $100
Between $100 and $200
Between $200 and $1000
More than $1000

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

Free Fonts

I can't remember what newsletter or blog I saw this in, but if you want to download some new (and free) fonts, then visit DaFONT. There are almost 900 different fonts which can be downloaded for either a PC or MAC. There is a default preview provided, or you can type in your own word or phrase to preview. Check it out at http://www.dafont.com/ (French) or http://www.dafont.com/en/ (English)

Pocket PC Freeware

If you are looking for some good utilities or other applications for your Pocket PC device, then check out http://www.pocketpccanada.com/download/download.asp. Almost all of the software is freeware, and is divided into Themes, Productivity, Utilities, , Internet, File Management, Task Management, Multimedia, System and Games.

Installer-less software

I love utilities that I can just run without having to install. For some reason it feels "safer". You don't have to worry about anything getting messed up in the registry, or problems with DLL conflicts. I have a folder on one of my hard drives called "Simple Programs" that I can copy to any computer and they just run. Well, you can visit http://www.portablefreeware.com/ and find a whole collection of these sorts of programs.
"This site is dedicated to the collection and cataloging of freeware that can be extracted to any directory and run independently without prior installation. These can be carried around on a memory stick / USB flash drive, or copied / migrated from PC to PC via simple copying of files. Hence the term portable freeware."

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.

  1. If any of the links are too long to fit on one line, you may have to cut and paste.
  2. To subscribe another address or unsubscribe, please visit http://PCIN.net/ and follow the appropriate links.
  3. Recommend PCIN to others at http://PCIN.net/recommend.php and be entered in a monthly draw.
  4. The only way to become a subscriber is by asking. You have either filled out the subscription form or asked me directly.
  5. If you have a web site or run your own newsletter, please email me at editor@pcin.net and I will add it to the subscriber web pages that I have on my site.
  6. Support PCIN by visiting http://PCIN.net/donate.php or by clicking on the PayPal link below:

Return to the top

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

PC Improvement News Home Page

PC Improvement News Archive