|
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
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
You can also vote online at http://PCIN.net/polls/
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
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/
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
Return to the top
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
PC Improvement News Home Page
PC Improvement News Archive
|
