Monthly Archive for January, 2006

SearchTHIS: Google and Privacy

Published
by
Graham
on January 25, 2006
in Computer News
. 0 Comments

From iMedia Connection:

There is a giant rock screaming toward earth and we have only eight days to stop it. It’s what the movie “Armageddon” called a global killer. Who will help us? Just like in the movie, the federal government has broken into the patent office to steal the plans for the world’s biggest and best drill. We’ll fly up to the asteroid, drill a hole in it and blow that sucker sky high from the inside out.

Phew! Another crisis averted.

Of course, the government’s smartest scientists couldn’t get the drill right, so the guy who made it had to fly to the asteroid and do it himself. Patents might not apply to outer space, but what about cyberspace? In times of crisis can the government just break in and take what they want? Who determines the level of desperation needed for an all access pass?

Just when you thought your most private of thoughts were safe, the Justice Department has issued subpoena’s to Microsoft, AOL, Yahoo! and Google to support yet another serious crisis.

Do Web filters protect your child?

Published
by
Graham
on January 25, 2006
in Computer News
. 0 Comments

From TechRepublic:

Millions of parents around the country rely on Web filtering software to shield their children from the nasty side of the Internet–porn, predators and other unseemly phenomena.

But according to the U.S. Justice Department, Web filters are not enough to protect minors. The agency voiced its concern about the technology last week as it geared up to defend an antiporn law that’s under attack from civil liberties advocates.

The case, which deals with the 1998 Child Online Protection Act, grabbed attention Thursday after the department subpoenaed Internet search companies, including Google and Yahoo, for millions of search records.

InterActual Update: NEW version 2.6 now available

Published
by
Graham
on January 25, 2006
in Digital Entertainment
. 8 Comments

A good portion of the DVDs that are sold come with software on them to let you watch it on a PC. One of the most common ones is the InterActual player. It is owned by Sonic/Roxio, and has several versions. The latest version was just released:

InterActual 2.6 FREE Upgrade
* Cool new look!
* Great new features
* Even easier to use
* Expanded support for bonus content

You can download the latest version from the InterActual site.

Irving’s Info Page

Published
by
Graham
on January 25, 2006
in Recommended Web Sites
. 3 Comments

Subscriber Irving Stein emailed me about his web site.

U might be interested in sharing my web-site (my hobby….wanting to help people) with your readers.

The site has the following description:

This site was started by Irving Stein in July 2000. The reason for creating and maintaining this site is to help computer users (”newbies” and intermediates)….learn how to keep their computers in top running condition; take advantage of the free links offered; download and install useful utilities; keep U out of trouble, and to enjoy your computing experience.

There seems to be lots of good tips and links. Be sure to check out Irving’s Info Page.

Paragon Disk Wiper 7.0 Professional released

Published
by
Graham
on January 25, 2006
in Software Tips
. 0 Comments

From a Paragon press release:

Being our valued customer you are the first to know about new Disk Wiper 7.0 Professional release.

When you’re retiring or upgrading computers/servers it’s critical to protect sensitive company information they contain. But simply erasing or reformatting your used disks isn’t enough to prevent financial records, passwords, employee data, and other confidential documents from falling into the wrong hands. Paragon Disk Wiper Professional provides skilled resources and comprehensive wiping tools to help you pass over this important but often overlooked security risk.

Disk Wiper Professional supports major government and military security standards and guarantees secure and easy erasure of any confidential data so as it cannot be recovered with any existing technology.

Visit DiskWiper.com for more info.

FREE Software Tools for Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP

Published
by
Graham
on January 23, 2006
in Software Tips
. 4 Comments

The following table contains a select group of Programs or Registry files which solve Windows System problems or functional deficits, or significantly help you to get better use of your computer. ( Unless otherwise noted, the files here are for ALL Windows™ OSs. They should function normally on Win NT/2000/XP, but we would be interested in any feedback from users of these versions. There are a few compatibility notes listed under specific applications below.)

Check out the list…

EBCD - Emergency Boot CD

Published
by
Graham
on January 23, 2006
in Software Tips
. 0 Comments

EBCD is a bootable CD, intended for system recovery in the case of software or hardware faults. It is able to create backup copies of normally working system and restore system to saved state. It contains the best system software ever created, properly compiled and configured for the maximum efficient use.

I haven’t tried it, but it sounds interesting. You can download an ISO of it and then burn that to CD.

Masters of their Domains

Published
by
Graham
on January 23, 2006
in Computer News
. 1 Comment

From CNN/Business 2.0:

On a balmy night in late October, hundreds of partiers, most sporting red or blue Hawaiian shirts, pack the Delux nightclub in Delray Beach, Fla. It’s a swank place–outdoor decks, two bars, plush, bed-size sofas scattered throughout–and the crowd arrives in chartered buses and stretch Hummers. Many head straight for the guy rolling cigars and toss back shots as if it were 1999. Which, to them, it might as well be.

They call themselves domainers. They make their living buying and selling domain names and turning their Web traffic into cash–lots of it. They have gathered in Delray Beach for a trade show called Traffic that this year boasts 300 paying attendees, more than twice the number that came for the first show, in ‘04.

Google tops Apple in 2005 brand poll

Published
by
Graham
on January 23, 2006
in Computer News
. 0 Comments

From TechRepublic:

Internet search engine Google has retaken first place in the 2005 global poll of the world’s most influential brands, while the eBay-owned Web phone service Skype makes its debut at No. 3.

The annual survey compiled by online branding magazine brandchannel.com often throws up controversial results, such as in 2004, when Arabic TV station Al Jazeera was voted the world’s fifth most influential brand (down to 25th place this year).

Like This? You’ll Hate That. (Not All Web Recommendations Are Welcome.)

Published
by
Graham
on January 23, 2006
in Computer News
. 0 Comments

From the New York Times:

On Amazon.com, a customer interested in buying the novel “The Life of Pi” is also shown “The Kite Runner” because other Amazon customers - presumably with similar tastes - also purchased that book. That’s just one approach among many in the science of recommendation software.

Web technology capable of compiling vast amounts of customer data now makes it possible for online stores to recommend items tailored to a specific shopper’s interests. Companies are finding that getting those personalized recommendations right - or even close - can mean significantly higher sales.