Issue 289 - April 28, 2004
ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2004
==== 1924 Subscribers in 59 Countries ====
Welcome to the 289th 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 received a comment from a friend/co-worker/subscriber, Tracey
Norton, last week that my opening thoughts about the weather are
pretty lame.
All I can say is that there isn't much happening these days, and I'm not
getting much help from the subscribers. Send me information... let me know
what is exciting with computers... help me not be so lame :-)
Graham editor@pcin.net and
Chris chris@pcin.net
The NEWS
Robotic traffic cones swarm onto highways
"Herds of robotic traffic cones could soon be swarming onto a highway,
closing down lanes and slowing the traffic.
The new road markers have been developed by Shane Farritor, a roboticist
at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, in a bid to help reduce the $100 billion
per year that the Department of Transportation estimates is lost to the US
economy through accidents and delays caused by highway lane closures.
The self-propelled markers take the form of robotic three-wheeled bases for
the brightly coloured barrels that are set out to demarcate road repair zones.
Farritor says they can open and close traffic lanes faster and more safely
than humans."
For more info:
http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99994932
Google founders wary
"Google Inc.'s looming initial public stock offering is stirring tremendous
excitement, but it shouldn't be surprising if its biggest beneficiaries have
some reservations.
Some sobering changes are in store at the company, whose breathtaking rise
has had a distinctly funhouse flavour.
Any IPO creates major distractions and business culture transformations,
and Google's competitive edge could be dulled if iconoclastic co-founders
Larry Page and Sergey Brin are forced to march to Wall Street's prosaic beat.
An IPO 'can create more accountability, but it doesn't necessarily foster
long-term value,' said Peter Thiel, who took his Internet startup, PayPal,
public in 2002 before selling the company to eBay for $1.3-billion. '(It)
changes the emphasis from building a great business to trying to meet the
quarterly (earnings) numbers.'"
For more info:
http://www.globetechnology.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040427.wgoogle0427/BNStory/Business/
Missouri tracks scofflaws via pizza-delivery databases
"It's dinnertime, and you're hungry and tired, so you pick up the phone
and order your favorite pizza. But you might have just landed yourself a
lot more than pepperoni and cheese.
If you owe fines or fees to the courts, that phone call may have provided
the link the state needed to track you down and make you pay.
That's one of the strategies of firms such as a company being hired by the
Missouri Office of State Courts Administrator to handle its fine and debt
collections.
David Coplen, the state office's budget director, said he discovered that
pizza delivery lists are one of the best sources such companies use to locate
people."
For more info:
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/internetprivacy/2004-04-27-pizza-no-privacy_x.htm
POLL of the WEEK
Last Week's Poll
Are you or have you ever been a member of an online dating service?
I am currently a member |
|
5.50 % (6) |
I was previously a member, but not anymore |
|
11.93 % (13) |
I plan to join a service soon |
|
0.92 % (1) |
Never |
|
81.65 % (89) |
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
Free Antivirus Software
I still can't believe it when I come across computers that don't have antivirus
software installed. It is something that you just have to have. If you are
one of those who aren't protected, you can get free software from either
Panda or McAfee by visiting the following links:
http://www.pandasecurity.com/survey/
http://www.my-etrust.com/microsoft/index.cfm
Microsoft Product Suggestions
Provide feedback on Microsoft products:
"Let us know how we can improve our products.
Product enhancement suggestions can include:
Improvements on existing products, Suggestions for additional features, Ways
to make our products easier to use"
Fill out the form at http://register.microsoft.com/mswish/suggestion.asp
Play Games Online
I know there are thousands of sites online where you can play games, but
if you haven't played the games at http://www.popcap.com/ then
you are missing out. I'm particularly addicted to BookWorm and Bejeweled.
You can play online, or download versions for your Palm device or your PC.
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.
- 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.
- The only way to become a subscriber is by asking. You have either filled
out the subscription form or asked me directly.
- 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
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