Issue 400 - June 07, 2006
ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2006
==== 1609 Subscribers in 51 Countries ====
Welcome to the 400th 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
Wow! I've hit issue # 400. I can't believe that I've been doing this for almost
8 years now. I've had a lot of fun and gotten some decent software out of it
as well. But I can't believe that after 8 years I'm only at 1600 subscribers.
That's pretty easy math... an average of 4 subscribers a week. I guess I'm
not a very good marketer as this should be dozens if not hundreds a week. Oh
well, I'll keep plowing ahead and see what the future brings.
Graham editor@pcin.net and
Chris chris@pcin.net
The NEWS
Backdoors, Bots Biggest Threats To Windows
Backdoor Trojans are a clear and present danger to Windows machines, Microsoft
said Monday as it released the first-ever analysis of data collected by the
15-month run of its Malicious Software Removal Tool, a utility that seeks
out and destroys over five-dozen malware families.
According to Microsoft's anti-malware engineering team, Trojans that, once
installed, give an attacker access and control of a PC, are a "significant
and tangible threat to Windows users."
Of the 5.7 million unique PCs from which the Malicious Software Removal Tool
(MSRT) has deleted malware, 3.5 million of them - 62 percent - had at least
one backdoor Trojan.
Read the TechWeb article...
Leave a comment...
Time to crack down on tech at work?
There is no doubt that new technological means of communicating and entertaining
are invading the workplace.
The question thus arises: Should employers take steps to potentially control
employee blogging, instant messaging and their use of iPods and camera phones?
Read the TechRepublic
article...
Leave a comment...
How We Use the Web Today
Just how do Americans get their news and entertainment over the Web? And
how does the Web stack up against TV, newspapers, and other media when it
comes to media consumption? Those are questions that advertisers have long
wrestled to answer, with mixed results. Sure, you can give people a survey.
But that doesn't always yield truthful responses. Ball State University's
Center for Media Design came up with an approach they're hoping will provide
a more accurate picture. They followed subjects for an entire day to find
out for themselves.
The study, they say, gives one of the clearest glimpses of the Internet's
media influence, especially during the working day. More than 60% of participants
use the Web during the day, vs. 40% for newspapers, and about 30% for magazines,
according to the study, commissioned by the Online Publishers Assn., of which
BusinessWeek.com is a member. And at work, the Web dominates media consumption,
the researchers say.
Read the BusinessWeek
article...
Leave a comment...
Flash drives herald end of the hard disk
Several manufacturers are showing large capacity hard drives based on Flash
memory technology at the Computex trade show in Taipei.
The drives are lighter, less power-hungry and far more durable than traditional
hard disk drives based on a rotating magnetic platter.
The largest on display were PQI's 64GB drives, and another company has a
32GB drive.
Read the Vnunet.com
article...
Leave a comment...
Digital Photography
Tip of the Week
An Environmental Portrait
This week's tip is a little misleading as I am not talking about shooting
what is around you, but shooting your subject in their environment. A portrait
should be more than simply a photo of a person, it should tell a story about
them. While a studio shot may look very nice, they are quite static. That is,
they don't say much. Shoot your subject in their element, in an environment
they are happy and comfortable with.
For example, if you were to photograph a photographer, give him a camera to
hold. Put someone who plays piano for a hobby sitting at one. Maybe they are
involved in model trains, gardening or work in a lab. Each of those can be
incorporated into your portrait to help tell the story about your subject.
As always, if you have any comments or questions about any of the tips here,
or if you have a photography question of your own, please feel free to send
them to chris@pcin.net.
Leave a comment about
this week's Digital Photography Tip of the Week...
The digital photography tip of the week
is written by the PCIN Assistant Editor, Chris Empey. Chris is a long
time photographer and is currently the President of the Niagara Falls
Camera Club. You can see more of his photography at his Photo
of the Day website.
If you have a tip to send Chris, or a question about digital photography
he can address in the newsletter, send it to chris@pcin.net.
PCIN.net UPDATE
Check out these new or updated pages on the PCIN.net site:
Update PCIN.net home page with "Top 10 Most Popular..." features
http://PCIN.net/
Microsoft Digital Image Suite Plus Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/msdimagesuiteplus.php
Omega One Software Battery Pack Pro 2.1 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/bpp2.php
Makayama Interactive DVD to Pocket PC 3.0 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/dvd2ppc3.php
Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/elements40.php
THE TIPS and OTHER
STUFF
Animator vs. Animation
I normally don't pass along stuff like this, but this
is simply amazing. Someone has made a flash animation of a cursor drawing
a stick figure in an image editing program. The stick figure comes to live
and fights the cursor. It's very well done! I won't give away who wins.
Check out Animator vs. Animation for
yourself!
Leave a comment...
RssReader
I've been having problems with Newsgator lately. Once I've had it running
for a few hours, it seems to stop retrieving posts. There are some posts
that I can't subscribe to as well, even though I know others who can and
they use Newsgator. So I decided to look for an alternative. The one and
only one I've tried so far has been RssReader.
As you can see, you can group feeds by folders, and preview them in the
pane on the right. You can also easily check for new headlines. The software
can sit minimized in your system tray and notify you when new headlines arrive.
It's all quite good.
Leave a comment...
DeathForecast.com
I read about this at CNet. Deathforecast.com has
a several questions you need to answer and it then tells you when you will
die:
Find out when you will die. Our death forecast estimates your date of
death based on questions that we ask you.
I tried it and it says I will live until I'm 76. Not bad, but I'd like to
live longer than that. You can read my personal death forecast here.
Leave a comment...
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 1998-2006, Graham Wing. All rights reserved.
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