Archive for May, 2007
Big Google is watching you
Not content with using mundane methods like tracking-cookies to create profiles of its users, Google is now investigating psychological methods. According to Search Engine Watch:
Google has submitted a patent for psychological profiling of users. The patent outlines the ability to profile game users by their chat conversations and other text based interaction with the games.
“The [...]
Staples becomes a recycle center
An article at CNET reports that beginning next week Staples will start taking back old consumer electronics for recycling:
Starting Monday, the office-supply chain will accept any brand of used desktop and notebook computers, monitors, printers, fax machines and all-in-one devices with a fee of $10. Smaller items like keyboards, mice and speakers are free to [...]
Rating anti-virus programs
PC World has done a new study of anti-virus programs. The top-rated program is from Kapersky, closely followed by Norton. Both are rather pricey programs. The study includes a system-slowdown statistic and both Kapersky and Norton are said to cause a 10% hit to system speed. The low-cost AVG program is rated a little lower [...]
How to make a sub-folder open in a new window
Very often Windows is configured so that when you have a folder already open and want to open a sub-folder, the sub-folder opens in the same window. Generally, I think this is the most convenient arrangement; otherwise you often end up with a lot of windows in a confusing array. However, sometimes you want the [...]
Hard drive guide
Is your hard drive getting cramped with all those photos and MP3 files? Maybe it’s time to buy a new one. Hard drives are bigger and faster than ever and you can get a raft of information on how to select one with the spring hard drive guide at Tom’s Hardware.
Judge doesn’t know what a “Web site” is
A trial is going on in Britain concerning Internet terrorism. The judge in the trial says he doesn’t understand what a Web site is. Reuters reports:
A British judge admitted on Wednesday he was struggling to cope with basic terms like “Web site” in the trial of three men accused of inciting terrorism via the Internet.
Judge [...]
More about taxes on eBay
A previous post noted that efforts were afoot for the IRS to tax Internet transactions on sites like eBay. Some more details about the IRS plans are at Ars Technica:
Changes are contained in the President’s 2008 budget proposal. Instead of targeting only Internet auction sites, the current proposal actually expands the definition of a “broker” [...]
Google’s new universal search
As posted earlier, Google has changed its search method. At Search Day, Eric Enge is asking the question, “Will Universal Search Mean Universal Domination?” He says that Google is a data company, not a search company and he concludes:
In my opinion, this innovation will be hard for others to follow, as it involves some major [...]
Vista UAC from the inside
Mark Russinovich, who is now Technical Fellow at Microsoft, has long been considered to be one of the world’s leading experts on the inner workings of Windows. If you don’t mind reading rather technical stuff, he has an article at Microsoft Tech Net that explains in detail how User Account Control (UAC) works in Vista. [...]
Watch those bills from anti-virus companies
In a time gone by and forgotten, anti-virus programs were a one-time purchase with free updates. Now the big commercial packages are all subscription services with annual fees. What many do not realize is that purchase of a security program from some big names automatically enrolls you for these annual payments. The companies are not [...]