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Issue 272 - January 01, 2004
ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2004
==== 2172 Subscribers in 62 Countries ====
Welcome to the 272nd 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
This was supposed to be the last newsletter you received in 2003, but I forgot
to send it out last night when I got home from work, so now it's your first
newsletter (or one of them, anyway) in 2004. Happy New Year!
Graham editor@pcin.net and
Chris chris@pcin.net
The NEWS
Where the Net Is Heading in 2004
"O.K., your guess is probably as good as mine, but I have a column
to write -- and at this time of year that means one thing: Predictions
Making forecasts about the Internet is always a dangerous business. The Web
has stubbornly defied conventional wisdom in all manner of areas. Clothes
and other high-touch goods would never sell online? Wrong. Everyone would
have broadband by 2005? Wrong again. Every kind of communication and entertainment
would rapidly converge on the PC? Well, that may yet happen but certainly
not for several more years.
So with little fanfare (and don't hold me to them), I'm going to walk the
highwire with some predictions for 2004 and hope I don't fall off it too
quickly. Deep breath, steady now...here goes:"
For more info:
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/dec2003/tc20031223_1093_tc047.htm
Online music's winners and losers
"Since May 2003, when Apple Computer's online music service iTunes
opened its digital doors, the drums announcing other online music services--new
enterprises as well as existing music services spruced up and recharged--have
been steadily beating.
MusicMatch. BuyMusic. Rhapsody. Listen.com. Emusic.com. MusicNet.com. A new
Napster, legitimized by Roxio, a vendor of multimedia programs. Wal-Mart.
Even, it has been said, Microsoft and Virgin Entertainment Group.
Indications are strong that the companies behind the services have reason
to think that profits can be made in online music. iTunes sold 20 million
tracks in its first seven months of operation. Rhapsody's 250,000 subscribers
paid to listen to 28 million songs in October, up from 11 million in June.
Between June and November, music lovers bought 7.7 million songs online,
but only 4 million single-song CDs at stores."
For more info:
http://news.com.com/2030-1027_3-5133561.html
The best and worst in the business of technology
"If anything, 2003 will be remembered as the year the technology empire
struck back. Sort of. The weather-beaten industry began to stabilize and
- dare we say - show signs of a recovery.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq, rose 47.7 percent this year, even fluttering briefly
over 2,000 (still far below its all-time high of 5,048.62 on March 10, 2000).
And local public technology companies began reporting financial results that
included the elusive "p" word.
For more info:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2001824980_techyearend29.html
Researchers Outline Microsoft's Top 10 Challenges For 2004
"Even giants have problems--and gigantic software maker Microsoft has
at least 10 of them.
In an end-of-the-year compilation, research firm Directions on Microsoft
has put a spotlight on the top 10 challenges that it thinks Microsoft faces
in the coming year.
At the top of the list is an overarching call for Microsoft to act like a
more mature company in a more mature market, said Michael Cherry, a lead
analyst who covers operating systems for Directions. This need for maturity,
he said, has an impact on everything from how Microsoft handles litigation
such as the recent lawsuit filed by RealNetworks to how it manages revenue
growth."
For more info:
http://www.crn.com/sections/BreakingNews/breakingnews.asp?ArticleID=46873
POLL of the WEEK
Last Week's Poll
Do you have a blog (a web log)?
| Yes, I host it myself |
 |
3.53 % (3) |
| Yes, I use a blog host (Blogger, LiveJournal, etc) |
|
5.88 % (5) |
| No, people aren't interested in what I say |
|
56.47 % (48) |
| What's a blog? |
|
34.12 % (29) |
| Total votes: 85 |
This Week's Poll
You can also vote online at http://PCIN.net/polls/
PCIN.net FREEHELP
FORUM
Visit the PCIN.net FreeHelp Forum at http://PCIN.net/help/forum/ to
post your questions or answer others.
Question
I have saved a pile of my Outlook Express folder files (*.dbx) onto CD-ROM,
but I can't find out how to open them now.
Outlook Express doesn't even seem to see them although they are displayed
in their proper places when I use Explorer.
Just can't open them.
Response
DBX files can't be opened directly.
To use you DBX files you need to use the Import function in OE.
File > Import > Messages, from file, Select Outlook Express 6 Store
file and choose the location.
Note: You may have to copy them first to the hard drive and turn off the "Read-only" attribute
on the files to import them successfully.
To post a response, visit the General Software Help forum at http://PCIN.net/help/forum/index.php?board=3 and
click on the "Reading *.dbx files" topic.
Visit http://PCIN.net/help/forum/ to
post a question of your own.
PCIN.net UPDATE
Check out these new or updated pages on the PCIN.net site:
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
Sunbelt Software iHateSpam Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/ihatespam.php
THE TIPS and OTHER
STUFF
Make Your Own Snowflake
Christmas and New Years are over now, but in the NOrthern Hemisphere, Winter
is here for another few months. Stop by http://snowflakes.lookandfeel.com/ and
cut up a snowflake. This flash presentation is a pair of scissors with paper
so you can cut folder paper into a snowflake.
Global Positioning System drawing project
"Large scale GPS Drawings made over water, on land and in the air."
" Large-scale digital mark making using GPS satellite navigation technology.
In essence GPS Drawing is about recording lines using ones journey as a mark
making medium. The GPS receiver automatically records your journey like a geodesic
pencil."
Neat! Check it out at http://www.gpsdrawing.com/
Microsoft Outlook Journal
Until recently I had no use for the Journal folder in Outlook. By default
it keeps track of every Office document that you work on, which seems useless.
But a few weeks ago I was trying to figure out a way to track when I have
done things. These weren't things that needed to be kept in the tasks folder
as they weren't planned, and they don't recur on a regular basis. For instance,
I wanted to record that I had purchased a new ink cartridge, so I can determine
how long they last for. It occurred to me that I could use the Journal folder
in Outlook to record these sorts of things. I record the subject, the entry
type, and the date, then in the body of the entry I can put any notes. So
if you're like me and have always ignored the Journal, perhaps you'll have
a use for it, too.
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:
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.
- If any of the links are too long to fit on one line, you may have to cut
and paste.
- You can only win one contest every 30 days.
- To subscribe another address or unsubscribe, please visit http://PCIN.net/ and
follow the appropriate links.
- Recommend PCIN to others at http://PCIN.net/recommend.php and
be entered in a monthly draw.
- There are only 3 ways to get on the subscriber list. You have either been
subscribed by filling out a subscription form on any of the pages on my site,
you have requested FreeHelp from me in the past, or you have registered with
the FreeHelp Forum.
- 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.
- Support PCIN by visiting http://PCIN.net/donate.php
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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.
Support PCIN by visiting http://PCIN.net/donate.php
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