Archive for November, 2005
Confrontation over international Internet control avoided
The attempt by some countries to have the UN take control of administering the Internet has resulted in a postponement. I previously suggested that the way to deal with international proposals that you don’t like is to propose a committee to study the issue. After a lot of posturing and blanket refusals to consider the [...]
Troubleshoot your cable modem
If your connection to the Internet is through a cable modem, you have probably experienced the fairly common event of losing the Internet connection. Very often all that has to be done is to remove power from the modem for a few seconds and then turn it back on. If your modem does not have [...]
The difference between Outlook and Outlook Express
Sometimes there is confusion about the two quite different Windows applications Outlook and Outlook Express. Outlook Express is bundled with the operating system and is the default email and newsgroup client. Many PC users use Outlook Express without even being aware of the name of the program since most ISPs use it in their setup. [...]
Real-Time Flight Tracking
The holiday season is coming and many of us will be either traveling or expecting visitors. If you would like to know if Aunt Matilda’s flight is going to be on time, the Internet can help out. Search Engine Watch has a useful article on using the Internet for real-time flight tracking.
Want to [...]
Some useful references
Here are several references to useful resources gleaned from a recent issue of the LangaList.
Internet Public Library
This is a collection put together by the University of Michigan. It is described as, “An annotated collection of high quality Internet resources, selected by IPL staff for their usefulness in providing accurate, factual information on a particular topic [...]
Alternatives to expensive software
PC World has a recent article reviewing some free or low cost alternatives to some well-known but expensive software.
You don’t have to break the bank to get high-quality software. Instead of paying a premium for that name-brand package, try these free and low-cost challengers for office tasks, graphics, finances, and more.
Reviews of OpenOffice.org 2.0 Office Suite
As I previously noted the free open-source suite OpenOffice 2.0 is now available. Here are some of the reviews that have come out.
The Desktop Pipeline concludes:
When all is said and done, this is a great package with an impressive array of programs and features. The filters are improved, although they still appear to need some [...]
Sony suspends rootkit technology
Story posted at Bink.nu
Music company Sony BMG Music Entertainment has succumbed to mounting criticism, announcing plans to stop production of music CDs that use a controversial digital rights management technology called XCP.
The company said Friday that it is temporarily suspending manufacture of CDs with XCP, which security experts said used malicious “rootkit” techniques to evade [...]
New Color Control Applet for Windows XP
Microsoft has a new applet for the Windows XP Control Panel. Here is the description:
The Microsoft Color Control Panel Applet adds a new ‘Color’ item to the Windows control panel, providing a single place to view and edit color management settings in Windows XP. Using it, you can install and uninstall color profiles, change color [...]
What to do when you PC locks up
The PCDoctor has put up a list of things to do and not do when your computer crashes or freezes. One that he mentions is a procedure most users might not think of but which I recommend
Restart, shutdown and restart
I find that I get the best possible boot up if, after a crash, I shut [...]