Archive for August, 2007
Microsoft WGA bombs again
The Windows anti-piracy measures struck the innocent again. A large number of legitimate Windows XP and Vista users were accused of piracy yesterday and today. The Vista victims weren’t just accused; their systems were partially disabled. Greg Keizer reports:
Microsoft Corp. has blamed an unspecified server problem for a 16-hour stretch during which paying users of [...]
Retrieve data from scratched CDs
Did you ever have a CD or DVD that your computer refused to read because the disk was scratched or damaged in some way? Lifehacker has a post about some freeware called CD Recovery Toolbox that is supposed to help your computer read damaged CDs. I haven’t tried the program but it sounds like it [...]
Google sanitizes Street View
After receiving flak from privacy proponents, Google has decided to remove human faces and auto license plate numbers from Street View. No longer will you be able to see guys entering strip clubs or breaking into apartments. Looks like one way to get a chance at world fame and immortality is gone. Oh well, there’s [...]
Are your kids ratting on you?
Parents have always faced the possible embarrassment of a child blurting out family secrets to outsiders but the Internet has created even greater hazards. SmartMoney relates some examples where online revelations by kids have had serious consequences. The article begins:
Ever wonder what your child says about you when you’re not around? Does he spill the [...]
Program shortcuts and macros
Would you like to be able to open your favorite application with a keystroke or two? There are a variety of ways to access software quickly and David Pogue’ s column in today’s New York Times discusses a number of commercial programs for creating macros. Personally, I think these programs are a little pricey [...]
Will geeks save the world?
I don’t know how many of you consider yourself a “geek” but here’s an article that says geeks are going to save the world. Clive Thompson points out the well-known contradictory facet of human psychology that means we will go to considerable lengths to help individuals but turn away from dealing with massive problems involving [...]
The newest baby gift
It’s not a big trend yet but who knows how it might develop? Some proud new parents are registering an Internet domain name for their newborn. That works if your name hasn’t already been taken but poor little Mary Smith may be out of luck. (Marysmith.com is taken, I looked. So is marysmith.org)
Actually, this [...]
Google sky
Things are looking up at Google Earth. Today, a new service was announced called “Sky in Google Earth”:
Today, I’m excited to announce we are launching Sky in Google Earth. You can now explore the universe from the comfort of your chair. Zoom in to distant galaxies hundreds of millions of light years away, explore the [...]
Searching video
Video presents a complex problem for search engines since it is obviously more difficult to index and categorize the content of a video than it is for a text-based site or a single image. Even mighty Google has so far limited itself primarily to YouTube, which it owns. Some specialized search engines have taken up [...]
Vista deserters and Vista defenders
It is now nearly seven months since Windows Vista was released for consumer use and a chorus of complaints about the new system has arisen. Service Pack 1 is coming and as time goes on Microsoft may fix some of Vista’s problems and hardware vendors may get more drivers written. But in the meantime there [...]