Issue 276 - January 28, 2004

ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2004
==== 2189 Subscribers in 62 Countries ====

Welcome to the 276th 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

We've had some of the worst weather here over the last week or two. It seems like it is snowing everyday. I get home from work and Andrew and I go out and clear the driveway. Of course he doesn't really help move the snow, but he sure looks cute :-)

The first in a long line of reviews is done. It is a piece of software that most of you haven't heard of. But if you are into collecting icons and need to extract them and save them, then check out the Tips and Other Stuff section for the review of Icon Catcher 4.

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

The NEWS

Clinton's Gift to Internet Age - Only 2 E-Mails

"The archives of the Bill Clinton presidential library will contain 39,999,998 e-mails by the former president's staff and two by the man himself.
'The only two he sent,' Skip Rutherford, president of the Clinton Presidential Foundation, which is raising money for the library, said Monday.
One of them may not actually qualify for electronic communication because it was a test to see if the commander in chief knew how to push the button on an e-mail."

For more info:
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?storyID=4211601

Bill Gates to Be Knighted by Queen Elizabeth

"Microsoft co-founder and chairman Bill Gates will be awarded an honorary knighthood by Britain's Queen Elizabeth for an outstanding contribution to enterprise, officials said on Monday.
Gates, the world's wealthiest man, will receive the award from the queen at Buckingham Palace, but no date has been set.
'(Gates) is one of the most important business leaders of his age,' British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said in a statement."

For more info:
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?storyID=4202944

The Mac Turns 20

"It was insanely great, the computer for the rest of us, and out to change the world. The Apple Macintosh marks its twentieth birthday this week, and--hubris and hype aside--the Mac has made an acknowledged impact on personal computing."

For more info:
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,114418,00.asp

'Code that can't be cracked'

"Want to win a million bucks and a high-paying job for life?
That's what Mississauga-based Certicom Corp. is offering anyone who can crack the code to its products and patents surrounding Elliptic Curve Cryptology (ECC) - a combination of algebra and algorithms that ensure everything from cellphone chatter to wireless e-mail sent and received on an Internet-enabled phone or a Blackberry PDA can't be hacked."

For more info:
http://www.thestar.ca/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_PrintFriendly
& c=Article&cid=1074467408185&call_pageid=971794782442

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POLL of the WEEK

Last Week's Poll

What is the primary purpose of your home computer?

Entertainment (music, movies, chatting, etc.) 42.06 % (45)
Gaming 4.67 % (5)
Work 21.50 % (23)
Banking 1.87 % (2)
Other 28.97 % (31)
I don't use my home computer 0.00 % (0)
I don't have a computer 0.93 % (1)
Total votes: 107

This Week's Poll

Do you believe that spam can be eliminated by 2006, as has been recently predicted?

Yes
No
I sure hope so!

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:

Helexis Software Icon Catcher 4 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/iconcatcher4.php

Updated PCIN.net Search
http://PCIN.net/search/

Moon Software Password Agent Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/passwordagent.php

NewsGator Technologies NewsGator Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/newsgator.php

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THE TIPS and OTHER STUFF

Helexis Software Icon Catcher 4 Software Review

Whether you like the "bubbly" look or not, Windows XP certainly brought a lot of changes to the Windows gui (graphical user interface). As the computer becomes more of an entertainment device, it is important that we have the best sound and picture. Microsoft tried to address this with new features such as a new Start Menu as well as 32-bit icons. There are 3rd party products that let you change the entire look of Windows.
Windows has always had the ability to change icons, but with limited colour support, I never felt it worth doing. Now with 32-bit icons, the variety and quality of available icons are amazing. This is where Icon Catcher 4 by Helexis Software comes in. It lets you extract and save icons as well as work with icon library files.
Read the full review at http://PCIN.net/help/software/iconcatcher4.php

Microsoft Product Support Centres

Microsoft has areas of their support site dedicated to specific programs. If you visit http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=faqs you will find a listing of the various programs that have dedicated pages. These pages will then show you top issues, instructions and how-to articles, and downloads/updates. For instance, if you need help with MSN or Windows Messenger, then visit http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=WinMsgr

Hallmark Reminders

If you're anything like me, you send e-cards to people. In fact, today is my sister Andrea's birthday. I sent her a Hallmark ecard. If you sign up for a free account with Hallmark, you get an online address book along with a calendar. You can create reminders for special occasions and they will email me in advance to remind you. Very handy!
Check it out at http://www.hallmark.com/

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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.

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