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Issue 467 - September 26, 2007
ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2007
==== 1430 Subscribers in 46 Countries ====
Welcome to the 467th 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
Lisa is now officially past her due date, and still no baby. She has been
having some pretty painful contractions, but they stop and nothing happens.
She had to be induced with both of the boys, but this pregnancy has been so
different, she really thought she'd have it before the due date. Oh well...
it'll be here soon no matter what.
Graham editor@pcin.net and
Chris chris@pcin.net
News Highlights
Let the Facebook bidding war begin
Should we start calling Facebook, the popular social networking site, Microbook
or Facesoft?
The Wall Street Journal reported on its Web site Monday afternoon that Microsoft
is considering investing $300 million to $500 million for a 5 percent stake
in Facebook. The high end of that range would value Facebook as a whole at
$10 billion. A spokesperson for Facebook told CNN that it had no comment
about the speculation and a representative from Microsoft said the software
developer had no comment as well.
But the WSJ indicated that talks are just in preliminary stages and that
Google, the search industry leader, is also interested in making an investment
in Facebook, which has seen its popularity explode since the company developed
an open platform for applications developers earlier this year. The site
has gone from being one that was more of a niche social networking site popular
on college campuses to a legitimate challenger to News Corp.'s MySpace.
Read the CNN Money
article...
Leave a comment...
Investigators: Homeland Security computers hacked
Hackers compromised dozens of Department of Homeland Security computers,
moving sensitive information to Chinese-language Web sites, congressional
investigators said Monday.
Investigators pointed a finger at a government contractor, saying the firm
hired to protect DHS computers tried to hide the incidents from the department.
The FBI is investigating the incidents, a congressional staffer said, and
two members of Congress have asked the department's inspector general to
also launch an investigation.
"The results of our [committee] investigation suggest that the department
is the victim not only of cyber attacks initiated by foreign entities, but of
incompetent and possibly illegal activity by the contractor charged with maintaining
security on its networks," Democratic Reps. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi
and James Langevin of Rhode Island said in a written statement.
Read the CNN article...
Leave a comment...
Google eyes discreet Street View for Canada
Canada's privacy commissioner told Google in August that the feature--which
offers a series of panoramic, 360-degree images of nine U.S. cities--could
violate Canadian laws if it were introduced without alterations.
Some of the pictures feature people who can clearly be identified, which
contravenes Canadian legislation on privacy.
"We are thinking about launching it outside the United States, including
Canada, and we're looking at how it would have to be different in Canada compared
to its U.S. version," said Peter Fleischer, Google's global privacy counsel.
"We would launch Street View in Canada in keeping with the principles and
requirements of Canadian law ... that means we know we'll have to focus on finding
ways to make sure that individual's faces are not identifiable in pictures taken
in Canada and that license plate numbers are not identifiable in Canada," he
told Reuters in an interview.
Read the Reuters
(via ZDNet News) article...
Leave a comment...
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Digital Photography
Tip of the Week
Do You Need A New Camera - Digital Photography Tip Of the Week
Digital photography or more specifically digital camera have become disposable
items. New models are released at regular intervals and previous models do
not hold high resale value. New models incorporate new technology, usually
resulting in higher megapixel ratings, new features, and better quality images.
But do you need one?
There seems to be a community of people, not just in photography but in many
technology related goods, that absolutely must have the latest and greatest.
That can become quite expensive and may not necessarily lead to better images.
Before upgrading, you should consider whether or not the new features are really
justified for the type of photography you do. Have you already identified a
need for a new camera? Do the new models fill in voids you have with your current
model? The camera manufacturers push megapixels, but often without significant
increases in performance or features. If the megapixel count of a new camera
is the driving factor for you and you do not make large images, the upgrade
may not prove to be worthwhile. However, if you have been limited with your
current camera, either by the size of the enlargements you wish to make, the
speed or responsiveness of your current camera, or if the image quality from
your current camera does not meet your expectations, than an upgrade may be
worth considering?
Other factors that may warrant a new camera may include more manual controls
as your photography skills improve or the ability to use different accessories.
Of course, with today's technology, there are plenty of features that may warrant
a new camera. Reviewing your current camera's shortcomings can help determine
an actual need for a new one.
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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Tips and Other Stuff
The 10 Funniest Sites on the Internet
From PC World:
Along with sex and shopping, comedy is one of the biggest drivers of traffic
on the Web. Especially now that a lot of regular people know how to post
their homemade video and audio to the Web (along with clips from TV or
radio), there's an awful lot of funny stuff online. After months of exhaustive
research, including lie-detector tests performed on laboratory rats, we've
gathered a list of the funniest sites on the Web. Visit these sites and
try not to laugh.
Leave a comment...
Adobe Releases Photoshop Elements 6 and Premier Elements 4
I received this press release in my inbox today:
Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced two major upgrades
to its digital photo and video software for consumers: Adobe® Photoshop® Elements
6 for Windows® & Adobe Premiere® Elements 4 for Windows. Tight
integration and a shared Organizer, with a common database accessible from
either application, allow users to do more with their photos and videos.
Available separately or together in a single retail package, Photoshop
Elements& Adobe Premiere Elements software give photo and video enthusiasts
more creative ways to organize, edit, create and share digital photos and
home movies.
Leave a comment...
AntiRootkit.com
Most people are aware of viruses and the damage they can cause. Although
rootkits have been around for a long time, it is only now becoming something
that the average consumer is aware of. The site AntiRootkit.com aims
to help people understand what rootkits are, highlight news regarding rootkits,
and provide information on software to protect against rootkits.
Antirootkit.com aims to help ordinary computer users gain an understanding
of Rootkits, what they can do and steps to remove them. This site aims
to provide information on all aspects of Rootkit Information, Prevention,
Detection, Identification and Removal.
Leave a comment...
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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
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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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