ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2007
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Welcome to the 457th issue of the PC Improvement News. PCIN consists mainly of news highlights 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.
Support PCIN at http://PCIN.net/donate.php
Lisa and the boys have gone away for a few days to visit her parents. They took the train to see them. It's nice that they can get away, but it's weird when they're not around. I pick them up at the train station on Saturday.
There is a wirewalker (a tight-rope walker) who is trying to get permission to walk above the Falls. I think he should be able to do it and have signed a petition to support him. I just saw him today, and even though al he is doing is walking, I could keep my eyes off of him. It's quite impressive watching him.
Graham editor@pcin.net and Chris chris@pcin.net
Doctor warns against using iPods in a lightning storm
Listen to an iPod during a storm and you may get more than electrifying tunes.
A Canadian jogger suffered wishbone-shaped chest and neck burns, ruptured eardrums, and a broken jaw when lightning traveled through his music player's wires. Last summer, a Colorado teen was hurt when lightning struck nearby as he was listening to his iPod while mowing the lawn.
Emergency physicians report treating other patients with burns from freak accidents while using personal electronic devices such as beepers, Walkman players, and laptop computers outdoors during storms.
Microsoft's 'Cloud OS' takes shape
Microsoft is in the early stages of a plan that will see virtually its entire lineup of underlying Internet services opened up to developers, the software maker made clear this week.
In addition to making available its existing services, such as mail and instant messaging, Microsoft also will create core infrastructure services, such as storage and alerts, that developers can build on top of. It's a set of capabilities that have been referred to as a "Cloud OS," though it's not a term Microsoft likes to use publicly.
AOL Settles Case Over Tactics to Keep Customers
Averting a court battle over how it has handled the exodus from its Internet dial-up service, AOL has agreed to make it easier for its remaining customers to leave as part of a $3 million settlement with 48 states and the District of Columbia.
The resolution, announced Wednesday, was driven by a deluge of complaints from AOL customers who said they had tried to close their accounts, only to be thwarted in their attempts or discover they were still being billed for services they thought had been canceled.
The outcry led to a multistate investigation that would have culminated in a lawsuit if AOL, based in Dulles, Va., had not agreed to a settlement, said David M. Tiede, a deputy attorney general in California.
Check out these new or updated pages on the PCIN.net site:
Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0 and Adobe Premier Elements 3.0 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/photoshopEL5_Premiere3.phpExpoDisc White Balance Filter Review
http://PCIN.net/help/hardware/expodisc.phpParagon Software Group Partition Manager 8.0 Professional Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/ppm8.phpUpdate 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
DEC - Glimpse of the Future, 1994
Someone posted a great video on YouTube that is a promotional video created for Digital Equipment (DEC). One of the creators said that DEC "distributed thousands of copies of this video, using it to help spread the word about the business potential of the Web, which, at that time, many business people found difficult to imagine." It's amazing to see the old web pages and how there were almost no images. People were still using very slow modems back then. The Internet has changed a lot in the last 13 years.
Repair Manuals Online
If you are into tinkering or fixing things, and are looking for a copy of a repair manual, a great place to start is RepairManual.com:
Find repair manuals, owners manuals, parts books and a growing line of tools and shop supplies to help you repair your ATV, motorcycle, car, truck or tractor. RepairManual.com - the repair manual specialists.
Monk-e-mail
I'm sure many of you have seen this before, but CareerBuilder has a page on their site with a funny little flash tool called Monk-e-mail. The tool lets you send a message to someone and have it spoken in a browser by a monkey (get it? ... monkey email). You can customize the monkey, its clothes and accessory, and voice. You can also choose a pre-recorded message, use text to speech (you type in your own message), record yourself online, or call a telephone number to record your message. It's definitely a fun time-waster!
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:
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.
Graham Wing can be reached at editor@pcin.net
Chris Empey can be reached at chris@pcin.net
Copyright 1998-2007, 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