PCIN, The PC Improvement News logo

Issue 435 - February 14, 2007

ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2007
==== 1514 Subscribers in 49 Countries ====

Welcome to the 435th 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

Contents

Opening Thoughts

Wow! We got hit hard by the big snow storm. I don't know for sure how much we've gotten, but it must be around a foot (30 cm). I tried to open my garage door this morning to put out the garbage and there was a snow drift 3 feet high in front of it. Andrew had a snow day today, so Lisa and him and Matthew outside playing in the snow. They all had a lot of fun.

There is no Digital Photography Tip of the Week. It has been a busy week, and since today is Valentine's Day, we should be away from the computer and with those we love. That's where I'm headed. The tip will return next week.

 

Graham editor@pcin.net and Chris chris@pcin.net

News Highlights

Internet Hit by Significant Hack Attack

Hackers briefly overwhelmed at least three of the 13 computers that help manage global computer traffic Tuesday in one of the most significant attacks against the Internet since 2002.
Experts said the unusually powerful attacks lasted as long as 12 hours but passed largely unnoticed by most computer users, a testament to the resiliency of the Internet. Behind the scenes, computer scientists worldwide raced to cope with enormous volumes of data that threatened to saturate some of the Internet's most vital pipelines.
The motive for the attacks was unclear, said Duane Wessels, a researcher at the Cooperative Association for Internet Data Analysis at the San Diego Supercomputing Center. "Maybe to show off or just be disruptive; it doesn't seem to be extortion or anything like that," Wessels said.

Read the NewsFactor article...
Leave a comment...

Jobs Calls for End to Music Copy Protection

Steven P. Jobs, Apple's chief executive, jolted the record industry on Tuesday by calling on its largest companies to allow online music sales unfettered by antipiracy software.
The move is a gamble for Apple. Its iPod players and iTunes Store have defined the online music market, and they have much at stake in the current copy-protection system.
Under terms reached with the major record labels, online music stores embed software code into the digital song files they sell to restrict the ability to copy them. Because Apple uses its own system, the songs it sells can be played only on the iPod. That limitation has drawn increasing scrutiny from European governments, pressure that Apple has recently begun to acknowledge.

Read the New York Times article...
Leave a comment...

Tech experts plot to catch identity thieves

The topic of data protection stole the show at the RSA Conference on computer security here this week. Identity theft and corporate espionage were dominant themes among the 15,000 attendees.
And with good reason. Data are the new currency of the Internet age for legitimate - and illegitimate - businesses, says Howard Schmidt, former chief information security officer of eBay who now is a consultant. Data have never been shared as quickly, and in such vast amounts.
But as millions of Americans use personal data to shop and bank online, and as more companies store data electronically, they remain targets for online fraudsters, Schmidt and others said.
Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, security experts, politicians and other analysts offered their takes on the problems, and suggestions to fix them.

Read the USA Today article...
Leave a comment...

Cracking Down on Video Piracy

The pressure on Google to institute more aggressive copyright protections and policies is mounting. The latest heat emanates from social-networking site MySpace, which announced Feb. 12 that it is expanding the use of audio screening technology to block the uploading of unlicensed videos to its site. The company already uses "fingerprinting" technology licensed from content management company Audible Magic to filter out music owned by major labels.
In a statement, MySpace Chief Executive and co-founder Chris DeWolfe said the company's action was intended to show its users, many of whom are musicians, that it respects their work and ownership rights.

Read the BusinessWeek article...
Leave a comment...

Return to the top

Digital Photography Tip of the Week

... will return next week...

Until next time, Happy Shooting.

NFRCC Convention banner

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.

Return to the top

PCIN.net Site Update

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.php

ExpoDisc White Balance Filter Review
http://PCIN.net/help/hardware/expodisc.php

Paragon Software Group Partition Manager 8.0 Professional Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/ppm8.php

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

Return to the top

Tips and Other Stuff

Create your own word puzzle (Wheel of Fortune style)

Create your own Wheel of Fortune style word puzzle at Atom Smasher:

20070208_wheel_of_fortune.jpg

I read about this on Google Blogoscoped.

Leave a comment...

The Best Free Software

From PC Magazine:

Most software is expensive and bloated. Yet free software typically does one task and does it with precision and elegance. Among the thousands of free apps available on the Web, how do you find the best, most reliable ones for your needs?

To produce this story, we asked PC Magazine staffers to share their best-loved free software and were inundated with responses.

Leave a comment...

Need to convert a file?

Regular reader Pat sent along a link to some file conversion utilities:

Ever get that need to convert a file and you don't have the software to do the job? There are two sites that I have been using, and are quite handy. One is Pixer.us, and the other one is Zamzar.com. Pixer.us let's you upload images, which you then can resize, crop, and save to the appropriate format instantly. Zamzar's online conversion tool will convert any file and email it to you for free. File sizes are limited to 100mb, so don't expect to convert any large format movies.

I've mentioned Zamzar before, but hadn't heard of Pixer. They're both worth checking out!

Leave a comment...

Trivial Pursuit - Original Genus Edition Updates and Corrections

trivial_pursuit_logo.gif

I read on Ken Jennings' Blog about a site that reviews Trivial Pursuit questions and summarizes their accuracy.

That final percentage in the lower-left corner of this table tells the amazing story... over 95% of Trivial Pursuit's original questions are still accurate 25 years later! Impressive.

If you are into trivia, you should definitely check it out!

Leave a comment...

Return to the top

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:

Return to the top

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.

  1. If any of the links are too long to fit on one line, you may have to cut and paste.
  2. To subscribe another address or unsubscribe, please visit http://PCIN.net/ and follow the appropriate links.
  3. The only way to become a subscriber is by asking. You have either filled out the subscription form or asked me directly.
  4. 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.
  5. Support PCIN by visiting http://PCIN.net/donate.php or by clicking on the PayPal link below:

Return to the top

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

PC Improvement News Home Page

PC Improvement News Archive