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Issue 284 - March 24, 2004

ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2004
==== 2167 Subscribers in 60 Countries ====

Welcome to the 283rd 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.

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Support PCIN at http://PCIN.net/donate.php

CONTENTS

Opening Thoughts

We've got a couple of updates to the site this week. Be sure to check out the Tips and Other Stuff section for the review of MySlideShow 2.3 by Anix Software as well as the updated Registry Tips files.

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

The NEWS

Setting the tone for vending machines

"A cell phone ring tone vending machine introduced here Monday is the latest example of how major entertainment companies are selling versions of their products directly to America's 156 million cell phone subscribers, rather than partnering with service providers.
The vending machines, which dispense ring tones that work with most cell phones, will debut at Best Buy, RadioShack and convenience stores in the next three months, said Robert Pons, chief executive of Smart Serve, a wireless e-mail specialist that's teaming with touch screen maker Merit Industries to introduce the vending machines. They use touch screens to guide users through the purchase process."

For more info:
http://news.com.com/2100-1039_3-5176642.html

Web Access at 75 Percent

"Nearly three of four people in the United States have Internet access at home, Nielsen/NetRatings said on Thursday.
In a February telephone survey, an estimated 204.3 million people, or 74.9 percent of the population above the age of 2 and living in households equipped with a fixed-line phone, had Internet access, up from 66 percent in February 2003."

For more info:
http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,62712,00.html

Senators Struggle to Define Computer 'Spyware'

"Computer "spyware" is noxious and harmful and must be stopped as soon as people can figure out exactly what it is, members of a Senate subcommittee said on Tuesday.
Programs that secretly track computer users' activities are becoming an online scourge rivaling 'spam' e-mail and should be outlawed before they prompt consumers to abandon the Internet, members of the Senate communications subcommittee said.
But a bill sponsored by committee members will need to define the problem precisely to avoid outlawing pop-up ads and other annoying but essentially harmless technologies, consumer and business advocates said."

For more info:
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=technologyNews&storyID=4638795

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POLL of the WEEK

Last Week's Poll

How often do you clean/disinfect your computer and area around it?

Never 28.44 % (31)
Daily 1.83 % (2)
Weekly 11.93 % (13)
Monthly 9.17 % (10)
Whenever I notice it's dirty 48.62 % (53)
Total votes: 109

This Week's Poll

Do you every click on ads on the Internet?

Yes, any kind
Only text ads
Only banner (graphical) ads
Only on specific sites
Rarely
Never

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

MySlideShow 2.3 by Anix Software Software Software Review

"As digital cameras become more popular, people are looking for more creative ways to share their photos.
MySlideShow 2.3 by Anix Software is a small program that will output a selection of images in a variety of ways. Creating a computer slideshow, screen saver or movie is very simple with the easy to use software."
Read the full review at http://PCIN.net/help/software/myslideshow.php

Updated Windows Registry Tips and Tweaks Article

"I have compiled all of the Windows Registry tips and tweaks that I have into a one document. There are now 220 different tips (making up 33 printed pages)."
Check them out at http://PCIN.net/help/articles/registry_tips.php

Rename mapped drives in XP

If you have ever worked with a network and needed to map a drive, you know that the drive names can be quite long. If you map the share FILES on server MAINFS to drive F:, the drive would show up in Windows as FILES on 'MAINFS' (P:). With Windows XP and Windows 2003 you can rename the mapping. With the drive mapping highlighted, press F2 and type a new name. If you ever want to revert back to the default name, just press F2 and delete the existing name and press Enter. It will revert back to the default.

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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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