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.
Recommend PCIN at http://PCIN.net/recommend.php
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
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
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:
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
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.
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.
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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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