PCIN, The PC Improvement News logo

Issue 289 - April 28, 2004

ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2004
==== 1924 Subscribers in 59 Countries ====

Welcome to the 289th 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 received a comment from a friend/co-worker/subscriber, Tracey Norton, last week that my opening thoughts about the weather are pretty lame. All I can say is that there isn't much happening these days, and I'm not getting much help from the subscribers. Send me information... let me know what is exciting with computers... help me not be so lame :-)

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

The NEWS

Robotic traffic cones swarm onto highways

"Herds of robotic traffic cones could soon be swarming onto a highway, closing down lanes and slowing the traffic.
The new road markers have been developed by Shane Farritor, a roboticist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, in a bid to help reduce the $100 billion per year that the Department of Transportation estimates is lost to the US economy through accidents and delays caused by highway lane closures.
The self-propelled markers take the form of robotic three-wheeled bases for the brightly coloured barrels that are set out to demarcate road repair zones. Farritor says they can open and close traffic lanes faster and more safely than humans."

For more info:
http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99994932

Google founders wary

"Google Inc.'s looming initial public stock offering is stirring tremendous excitement, but it shouldn't be surprising if its biggest beneficiaries have some reservations.
Some sobering changes are in store at the company, whose breathtaking rise has had a distinctly funhouse flavour.
Any IPO creates major distractions and business culture transformations, and Google's competitive edge could be dulled if iconoclastic co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin are forced to march to Wall Street's prosaic beat.
An IPO 'can create more accountability, but it doesn't necessarily foster long-term value,' said Peter Thiel, who took his Internet startup, PayPal, public in 2002 before selling the company to eBay for $1.3-billion. '(It) changes the emphasis from building a great business to trying to meet the quarterly (earnings) numbers.'"

For more info:
http://www.globetechnology.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040427.wgoogle0427/BNStory/Business/

Missouri tracks scofflaws via pizza-delivery databases

"It's dinnertime, and you're hungry and tired, so you pick up the phone and order your favorite pizza. But you might have just landed yourself a lot more than pepperoni and cheese.
If you owe fines or fees to the courts, that phone call may have provided the link the state needed to track you down and make you pay.
That's one of the strategies of firms such as a company being hired by the Missouri Office of State Courts Administrator to handle its fine and debt collections.
David Coplen, the state office's budget director, said he discovered that pizza delivery lists are one of the best sources such companies use to locate people."

For more info:
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/internetprivacy/2004-04-27-pizza-no-privacy_x.htm

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POLL of the WEEK

Last Week's Poll

Are you or have you ever been a member of an online dating service?

I am currently a member 5.50 % (6)
I was previously a member, but not anymore 11.93 % (13)
I plan to join a service soon 0.92 % (1)
Never 81.65 % (89)
Total votes: 109

This Week's Poll

Which chat client software do you use?

AOL
Yahoo Messenger
MSN Messenger
ICQ
Trillian
Other
I don't chat

You can also vote online at http://PCIN.net/polls/

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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

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THE TIPS and OTHER STUFF

Free Antivirus Software

I still can't believe it when I come across computers that don't have antivirus software installed. It is something that you just have to have. If you are one of those who aren't protected, you can get free software from either Panda or McAfee by visiting the following links:
http://www.pandasecurity.com/survey/
http://www.my-etrust.com/microsoft/index.cfm

Microsoft Product Suggestions

Provide feedback on Microsoft products:
"Let us know how we can improve our products.
Product enhancement suggestions can include:
Improvements on existing products, Suggestions for additional features, Ways to make our products easier to use"
Fill out the form at http://register.microsoft.com/mswish/suggestion.asp

Play Games Online

I know there are thousands of sites online where you can play games, but if you haven't played the games at http://www.popcap.com/ then you are missing out. I'm particularly addicted to BookWorm and Bejeweled. You can play online, or download versions for your Palm device or your PC.

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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 1998-2004, 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.

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