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Issue 447 - May 09, 2007
ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2007
==== 1501 Subscribers in 50 Countries ====
Welcome to the 447th 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
For some reason this was a really slow news week. I get all sorts of newsletters,
and didn't really find much of interest to share on the blog or in the newsletter.
I also didn't get any tips posted. I have some ready to post later this week,
so next week's newsletter should be back to normal.
Well, I guess it's about time I made the official announcement... there's
going to be another baby in our family! Lisa is pregnant and we found out on
Monday it is going to be a girl (visit the Wing Family Happenings blog to see pictures
of the ultrasound). She reached the 20-week mark on Tuesday, and is due
September 25. As you can imagine, we're very excited!
Graham editor@pcin.net and
Chris chris@pcin.net
News Highlights
U.S. schools may join inexpensive-laptop project
The nonprofit One Laptop per Child project said on Thursday it might sell
versions of its kid-friendly laptops in the United States, reversing its
previous position of distributing them to only the poorest nations.
"We can't ignore the United States. ... We are looking at it very seriously," Nicholas
Negroponte, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology academic who founded the
project, told analysts and reporters.
Read the TechRepublic
article...
Leave a comment...
Nintendo on the latest 'technical divide'
Great work is being done to narrow the gap between the technical haves and
the have-nots across the planet. At MIT, Professor Nicholas Negroponte seeks
to equip every child in the developing world with a laptop. In Kenya, the
government is supporting assembly of inexpensive PCs as part of university
curricula, ultimately designating those computers for distribution throughout
the African continent.
At the same time, on the most granular level, I wonder if a similar technical
divide exists inside your own home. One person is probably expected to provide
solutions when it's time to install the wireless network, redirect the satellite
dish, or retrieve a lost document. The have-nots sit and wait.
Read the TechRepublic
article...
Leave a comment...
Internet encyclopedia to list all 1.8 mln species
From apples to zebras, all 1.8 million known plant and animal species will
be listed in an Internet-based "Encyclopedia of Life" under a $100
million project, scientists said on Tuesday.
The 10-year scheme, launched with initial grants of $12.5 million from two
U.S.-based foundations, could aid everyone from children with biology homework
to governments planning how to protect endangered species.
"The Encyclopedia of Life plans to create an entry for every named species," James
Edwards, executive director of the project which is backed by many leading research
institutions, told Reuters. "At the moment that's 1.8 million."
Read the Reuters
article...
Leave a comment...
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Digital Photography
Tip of the Week
Photographing Flowers - Digital Photography Tip of the Week
The old saying is April showers bring May flowers. Today I offer a couple
tips to help you capture the beauty in those flowers.
1. Try to avoid full sun. Shooting in full, midday sunlight will produce high
contrast photos with distracting shadows. If you have to shoot in these conditions,
try to use a diffuser on your flower.
2. Use the Macro mode of your camera. Using Macro mode on your camera (or
a dedicated macro lens) will let you get in close to capture some of the finer
details of the flower. (example)
3. Change your f-stop. Adjusting your f-stop can make the difference between
a single bloom in focus (example) with
a small f-stop (large lens opening) to capturing a large variety of flowers
in focus (example) with
a large f-stop (small lens opening)
4. Get down low. Photographing your flowers at their height will present more
pleasing images than shooting down on to them.
5. Get down really low. If you are shooting taller flowers, try to get down
below the bloom and shoot up into the sky. This will frame your flower on a
nice blue background, assuming your have a cloudless day. (example,
shot with the camera almost on the ground)
As with all things photography, most importantly, have fun.
Until next time, Happy Shooting.
Leave a comment on
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.
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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
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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:
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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.
- The only way to become a subscriber is by asking. You have either filled
out the subscription form or asked me directly.
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I will add it to the subscriber web pages that I have on my site.
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by clicking on the PayPal link below:
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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
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