Issue 285 - March 31, 2004
ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2004
==== 2172 Subscribers in 60 Countries ====
Welcome to the 285th 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
I've been working on a review for the latest version of iHateSpam,
and I'm not impressed. I've filtered 30,000 messages, and it still seems to
be only classifying 60% of my mail. I'm working with Sunbelt Software to figure
out what the problem is. But as of now, I still highly recommend Inboxer
by Audiotrieve for your anti-spam solution.
Since the new baby is coming in a few months, I had to move my office area
down into the basement (it's cold down here!) and Lisa's been busy fixing up
the old office to become Andrew's room. It is going to have 2 blue walls, 1
yellow wall, and 1 red wall (the primary colours). She is almost done and it
looks great!
Graham editor@pcin.net and
Chris chris@pcin.net
The NEWS
File sharing legal in Canada
"Sharing copyrighted works on peer-to-peer networks is legal in Canada,
a federal judge ruled on Wednesday, handing the record industry a sharp setback
in its international fight against file swappers.
Canadian record labels had asked the court for authorization to identify
29 alleged file swappers in that country, in preparation for suing them for
copyright infringement, much as the Recording Industry Association of America
(RIAA) has sued more than 1500 people in America.
But the judge denied that request. In a far-ranging decision, the court further
found that both downloading music and putting it in a shared folder available
to other people online appeared to be legal in Canada."
For more info:
http://news.com.com/2100-1027_3-5182641.html
Spyware at center of wiretap case
"Los Angeles-area man was indicted today for allegedly installing a
tiny, almost imperceptible hardware device to spy on his boss's every keystroke,
in a case that shines a spotlight on the ease with which spy technologies
now can be purchased and used by consumers.
The $49.95 device, called a Key Katcher, is barely the size of a child's
pinkie, but it has 46-year-old Larry Lee Ropp in a heap of trouble. Ropp,
who says he was acting as a whistleblower, was indicted by a federal grand
jury for illegally intercepting electronic communications and now faces up
to five years in jail."
For more info:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4595662/
Gates Weighs In On Spyware Issue
"'We are going to help users be in control,' Bill Gates declared Friday
at MSN's Strategic Account Summit, speaking out against spyware to an audience
of advertisers and marketers -- exactly the type of people interested in
the kind of data such programs, at least the legitimate ones, harvest.
'So-called spyware is turning the Internet into a billboard. We are going
to help users be in control and know what [spyware] is on their system and
if they don't want it they can get it off their system,' said Gates. The
chairman of Microsoft spoke before an audience of about 500 near the end
of the two-day conference for clients and partners.
Gates' remarks, which appear to advocate a technical solution to the spyware
issue, come on the heels of a flurry of legislative action, some of which
is thought to have potentially negative consequences for software and Internet
firms."
For more info:
http://www.internetnews.com/ent-news/article.php/3332341
Bush calls for broadband for all by 2007
U.S. President George W. Bush called for universal and affordable access
to broadband Internet service by 2007, saying that the technology would speed
the flow of information and spark innovation.
'It's important that we stay on the cutting edge of technological change,
and one way to do so is to have a bold plan for broadband,' Bush said at
the Expo New Mexico in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Friday according to official
White House transcripts.
Bush made a call to keep broadband prices low and added that 'Congress must
not tax access to broadband technology if we want to spread it around.'"
For more info:
http://www.infoworld.com/article/04/03/29/HNbushbroadband_1.html
Internet is popular portal for dieters
"Like most yo-yo dieters, Jacqueline Foss struggled with different
fad diets only to watch the pounds creep back. Left with little choice, she
turned to an unlikely source to help her slim down - the Internet.
Ms. Foss enrolled in an on-line diet program where she recorded her weight,
noted every meal in her food diary and chatted with support groups. She reached
her goal of a sleek 125 pounds after six months - losing 28 pounds from her
5-foot-5-inch frame - and even managed to keep the weight off nearly a year
later."
For more info:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4595662/
POLL of the WEEK
Last Week's Poll
Do you every click on ads on the Internet?
Yes, any kind |
|
1.67 % (2) |
Only text ads |
|
0.83 % (1) |
Only banner (graphical) ads |
|
1.67 % (2) |
Only on specific sites |
|
8.33 % (10) |
Rarely |
|
45.00 % (54) |
Never |
|
42.50 % (51) |
Total votes: 120 |
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
Beyond Google
"The Web is so full of useful info that no search engine can find
it all. But a multitude of specialty sites deliver shopping advice, reference
databases, leisure-time ideas, and more--fast."
Check out this PC World magazine article at http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid,114725,00.asp
More Google
The previous tip notwithstanding... Google has introduced several more tools.
You can find there list of options at http://www.google.com/options/ and
can check out their new Personalized Web Search and the new Web Alerts feature
at http://labs.google.com/
Calendar Updates
"Now you can conveniently add holidays and sport team schedules directly
to your Microsoft Outlook calendar.
Once downloaded to your computer, you will have every game or event for an
entire season added to your calendar.
You'll never miss another game! And you won't waste an entire Saturday afternoon
entering the entire schedule yourself."
Check it out at http://www.calendar-updates.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.
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and paste.
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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
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