Monthly Archive for July, 2006

Keeping track of your money

Published
by
Graham
on July 8, 2006
in Recommended Web Sites
. 0 Comments

No, I’m not talking about budgeting. I’m talking about tracking where your money goes. Literally, where has it travelled. This site has been around for 7-8 years now, but I just learned about it the other day. If you visit Where’s George, you can enter the details of your money, and see if it is in their system. I entered information on a $1 and I found it had been in Ohio and Indiana. You can also leave a comment about how or where you got the bill.

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It’s kind of neat. But I would think that if you have time to enter all of your bills, then you have too much time on your hands!

Microsoft Student with Encarta Premium 2007

Published
by
Chris
on July 6, 2006
in Computer News and Software Tips
. 1 Comment

I received the following press release today:

Microsoft Releases Student With Encarta Premium 2007; Teachers, Parents and Students Give Software an A+
New homework software helps eighth-grader earn best report card ever.

Mississauga , ON — July 6, 2006 — Nine out of 10 teachers agree that students who turn to technology for homework help perform better than those who do not, according to a recent independent survey commissioned by Microsoft Corp. However, 71 percent of teachers worry that students are not finding what they need on the Internet, and 85 percent wish there were more technology-based resources available. 1

Today Microsoft released Microsoft ® Student with Encarta ® Premium 2007, a software package of integrated tools and trusted information that empowers middle-school through entry-level college students to create and complete accurate assignments that can lead to better grades and academic confidence.

A great education is a student’s right, and technology is a critical piece of that equation,” said Chris Di Lullo, product manager for Microsoft Student with Encarta Premium 2007. “Our goal with Microsoft Student with Encarta Premium 2007 is to provide a robust and easy to use homework resource that helps students quickly get to the heart of the assignment and produce high-quality work in key academic subjects.”

Microsoft Student with Encarta Premium 2007 includes new features and enhancements to help students achieve the following:

End the math struggle
· New! Microsoft Math puts the power of a personal math tutor at students’ fingertips with tools and tutorials in one central location to help them tackle challenging problems in math and science
· New! Step-by-Step Equation Solver, a groundbreaking math tool, helps students learn and understand complex mathematical problems. Rather than revealing the answer, the equation solver offers complete step-by-step instruction for most math equations, so students learn how to arrive at a solution
· Enhanced! Online Math Homework Help allows students to look up a specific problem from their textbook for further assistance
· Enhanced! Graphing Calculator helps students visualize and solve difficult math and science problems by enabling them to view, rotate and animate 2-D and 3-D color graphs
Move beyond the blank page
· Enhanced! Learning Essentials for Students transforms Microsoft Office into a student-oriented application with templates, tutorials and toolbars for students’ homework assignments. 2 Designed with the expertise of leading textbook publishers that include the Great Source division of Houghton Mifflin, Pearson Prentice Hall and SchoolKiT, Learning Essentials for Students helps with a variety of subjects and assignments such as English essays, chemistry lab reports and foreign-language papers
· Enhanced! Foreign Language Help equips students with translation dictionaries, verb conjugations and links to Web sites that help with a variety of languages, including French, German and Spanish
Find the facts
· Enhanced! Trusted content from Microsoft Encarta Premium 2007 offers students up-to-date reference information from a reliable source. The encyclopaedia contains an extensive collection of articles, photos and multimedia content along with an easily accessible dictionary, thesaurus and interactive world atlas
· The Web Companion provides trusted links to Microsoft Student material alongside search results from popular search engines when a student conducts research on the Internet.
An Equation for Success
Seventy-seven percent of teachers confirm that math is the most difficult homework subject for their students. 1 Although calculus, algebra and trigonometry can be confusing, finding the right resources shouldn’t be. Microsoft Student with Encarta Premium 2007 contains an extensive collection of powerful math tools that help students understand the difficult concepts presented by advanced math and science courses. The intuitive and visually appealing math tools in Microsoft Student help students overcome common barriers while empowering them to experience the excitement of mathematics.
A Semester of Success
Teachers believe students need more help at home, but worry that parents are not always available or able to lend a hand. Many teens are not always sure where to find the right information and parents find it increasingly difficult to provide their child with the appropriate level of assistance. The combination of resources in Microsoft Student is a recipe for success; students now have assistance for all their subjects from social studies to math including valuable tools for reports, school projects and homework.
Availability
Microsoft Student with Encarta Premium 2007 DVD 3 is scheduled for availability in July 2006 for an estimated retail price of $69.95. 4
Microsoft Student with Encarta Premium 2007 is also available in a variety of Microsoft Academic Volume Licensing programs for educational institutions.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
1 “Homework Study With Teachers,” MSI International, April 2006
2 Works with all editions of Microsoft Office XP and Office 2003 or later
3 CD available through volume licensing programs.
4 Actual retail price may vary.
Microsoft and Encarta are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass on Microsoft’s corporate information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.mspx.
About Microsoft Canada
Established in 1985, Microsoft Canada Co. is the Canadian subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq “MSFT”) the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential. Microsoft Canada provides nationwide sales, marketing, consulting and local support services in both French and English. Headquartered in Mississauga, Microsoft Canada has 10 regional offices across the country dedicated to empowering people through great software - any time, any place and on any device. For more information on Microsoft Canada, please visit www.microsoft.ca

Watch for Distracting Elements - Digital Photography Tip of the Week

Published
by
Chris
on July 5, 2006
in Digital Photography Tips & Info
. 0 Comments

Last week I talked about the quality of light and how it is affected by the size of your light source. I hope that you have since tried to compare similiar photos in different types of lighting. Until you practice and experience it, it can be a hard concept to utilize in your photography.

One small thing you can do to improve your images is to look for distracting elements in your photos before you take them. One phrase commonly used in photography is if an element doesn’t add to the photo, it takes away. I touched on this briefly in a previous tip about scanning the edges of your frame. Unfortunately, distracting elements may not necessarily be only on the edge of your view finder. Look around your subject; all four sides as well as behind and in front of them. Sometimes, a minor adjustment in camera angle or position can place an unwanted element behind your subject, or out of the frame.

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.

CD format gets a “reboot” from Universal Music

Published
by
Graham
on July 5, 2006
in Computer News
. 0 Comments

From Reuters:

The world’s biggest record company is not ready to give the compact disc up for dead just yet, and is giving the venerable music format a revamp.

Universal Music Group, home to artists such as U2 and Mariah Carey, is rolling out three new tiers of CD packaging in Europe, ranging from lush deluxe editions down to bare-bones cardboard sleeves that are designed to compete with albums sold online.

Despite the hype about online music stores like iTunes, the huge majority of music is still sold on CDs, usually inside the “jewel boxes” that have been around for decades.

Writely - The Web Word Processor

Published
by
Graham
on July 5, 2006
in Internet Tips, Recommended Web Sites and Software Tips
. 0 Comments

Back in March Google purchased Writely, an web-based word processor. When I first heard about it I went to the website and filled out the form to be notified when I could register. I still haven’t heard anything yet. But Chris learned that if you have a Writely account and then add someone as a collaborator, then they automatically get an account. Chris got an account from someone, and then added me as a collaborator, so now I have an account. I don’t know how much I’ll use it, but it looks interesting:

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If you are interested in a Writely account, email us and we’ll add you as a collaborator so you can sign up.

BreakTheChain.org - Stop Junk E-Mail and Misinformation

Published
by
Graham
on July 5, 2006
in Recommended Web Sites
. 0 Comments

Found on the Office Tips and Hints Blog…

I’ve mentioned the Museum of Hoaxes before, and most people are familiar with Snopes.com (the Urban Legends Reference Pages). I just learned about a similar site that specifically tries to debunk chain letters:

BreakTheChain.org is your source for common-sense evaluations of e-mail chain letters, helpful tips and advice.

There are dozens of chain letters that are explained on the site. You can view the What’s New page (it doesn’t seem to be updated that often) as well as the forums.

Modern media meets Colonial Williamsburg

Published
by
Graham
on July 5, 2006
in Computer News
. 0 Comments

From CNN:

Thomas Jefferson isn’t about to start listening to an iPod, with telltale earbud wires dangling from beneath his three-cornered hat as he walks the streets of Colonial Williamsburg.

But people far from the restored 18th-century capital of Virginia can use their portable audio players to hear costumed interpreter Bill Barker talk about portraying Jefferson or, in honor of the Fourth of July holiday, read the Declaration of Independence.

The world’s largest living history museum long has used modern media to share its stories with audiences far beyond its 301-acre Historic Area, dating back to before World War II when it produced an educational film for schools.

Today, it has an extensive Web site with photo slideshows, online exhibits and interactive tours, and it offers “electronic field trips” for schools using live television broadcasts and the Internet.

It’s also using something that didn’t even exist a couple years ago: podcasts.

AOL Said, ‘If You Leave Me I’ll Do Something Crazy’

Published
by
Graham
on July 5, 2006
in Computer News
. 1 Comment

From the New York Times:

“You’re going to listen to me.”

This was the taunting command of an AOL customer service representative who sounded like a jailer twirling his keychain. The customer on the phone wanted to complete his business, but the person on the other end of the phone did not share a sense of urgency.

It is fitting that the customer service representative’s wish to be heard has been fulfilled on a scale he never anticipated.

When Vincent Ferrari, 30, of the Bronx, called AOL to cancel his membership last month, it took him a total of 21 minutes, including the time spent on an automated sequence at the beginning and some initial waiting in a queue. He recorded the five minutes of interaction with the AOL customer service representative and, a week later, posted the audio file on his blog, Insignificant Thoughts (insignificantthoughts.com/2006/06/13/cancelling-aol/).

Shortly thereafter, those five minutes became the online equivalent of a top-of-the-charts single.