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The DVD Forum gives preliminary approval to make Windows Media 9 video compression a mandatory element in HD-DVD. This will be the format to replace the technology of MPEG-2 in today's DVDs. I am sure that Apple would have preferred to be the technology of choice. This decision is subject to review and is not final. Read more...
"Caller ID" is what Microsoft is calling the technology for e-mail sender authentication plan. Some experts agree that it looks promising, but question Microsoft's claim to ownership of patents around "Caller ID". They are claiming it is a power grab by Microsoft. Now isn't that hard to believe? Microsoft making a power grab. I thought they tried to prove in court they don't do such things. Read more...
Virgin Digital has announced that it is going to use the Windows Media standard for its music store. This is in connection with MusicNet, its per song/album selling service and its subscription service called Virgin Music Club. They believe that WMA will eventually supplant Apple's AAC format because other companies besides Apple are using it in their MP3 players. Read more...
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I came across this in an advertisement in a consumer electronics trade journal. The product is called World Vibrations. It provides a PC that is configures especially for creating broadcasts over the Internet or over 10 Watt stations, including software for handling a call-in format. They do recommend that this PC not be used for anything else. Sounds interesting, but at over $2K, it should be able to be used for instant messaging and other activities while "on the air." At least in my mind. But this device may make it to easy to become a broadcast station. (Note: 10 Watt stations do still need a license.) Read more...
It is that time of year again. I used a free e-filing service last year both for my own taxes and to help my son's family do theirs. A government web site has a news story about the services. I recommend using them, but there definitely is a problem with delay between screens. So plan on spending time on line. The software purchase may other wise be recommended. See the story at: http://www.firstgov.gov or of course, you can go direct toIRS dot GOV
If you are using AirPort Extreme, an AirPort in able computer and/or an Extreme Base Station, then you should get this update from Apple. Read about the modifications at:Computer World
PayPal was recently fined because they had promised buyer's protection and then didn't deliver.Read more...
I have mentioned SnapMail a number of times in this column. It is a terrific e-mail program for the small to medium sized office. Now it works cross platform and provides "ease of use and Ôadministration free', messaging."
It now runs on Windows 98, 2000 and XP as well as on Apple's Macintosh OS X, and OS 8.6-9. This software limits the e-mail to in-house messages. So no spam. Get more details on SnapMail's web site at:Glass Bead dot com
Ever loose the manual for your dishwasher, refrigerator, washer, etc. Well, here is a web site dedicated to helping with problems with appliances. As a new home owner, I am sure I will need some of these. Appliance 411
Filemaker, Inc. has announced the new relational Filemaker 7.0 database. InfoWorld has a story on it at:InfoWorld
Of course, we are familiar with the Main and Henrico, Virginia iBook programs. But not all notebook programs have done as well. Partially because of funding and partially because of planning. But then, the fact that the one talked about in this article that had problems had HPs, maybe that had something to with the acceptance. Read more...
MIT Technology Review quotes the Applied Physics Letters publication and says that IBM Research has demonstrated an inexpensive way to write data to a hard disk that will enable 27 terabit per square inch. That is the equivalent of 27 DVDs in the space of a dime. It could record data at gigahertz speeds. These drives should start showing up sometime around 2010. Technology Review
If you ever find yourself locked in one of those seemingly endless debates over which computer platform is best, just refer the unknowning to John Droz, jr.'s site. John has built, and now renovated, his site which features the most comprehensive Mac vs PC research ever done by anyone. Don't take our word for it, listen to the thousands of online readers who support it and who have linked to it.Site: Mac vs. PC
Read the latest review of Phonebook, by Don Howell, in the pages of the "The First Coast Mac," the North Florida Mac User's Group (NFMUG) newsletter. While you're there, download the entire issue! there also. Don W. Howell is Vice President and Program Coordinator for the North Florida Mac User's Group (NFMUG) and reviews software routinely for them. Thanks to NFMUG member James Lee for sending this link:NFMUG
Cate Defrise from Mac Games and More reviews the new kids' game called "Ignazio The Frog," a Pac Man Clone featuring an Italian frog and his animal friends -- for all Mac home users, parents and children. Read it at:Mac Games and More
The User Group Network salutes the OnlyMacintosh User Group for West Central Wisconsin! Welcome OMMUG! Based in Chippewa Falls, WI, OMMUG helps Mac OS X users in the West Central Wisconsin area with Mac forums, News, info, help, email, and web hosting under the leadership of Beckie Pack. Visit them at: OnlyMacintosh User Group
The User Group Network also welcomes CVMU this week! Victorian Macintosh Users Inc. is a Community user group established in 1994 for all Apple Macintosh users in the Castlemaine, Victoria, areas of Australia. President Bruce Carruthers directs monthly meetings in an informal format that includes troubleshooting Q&A sessions and demonstrations and invites all ages and levels of expertise to share their benefits. Visit them at:cvmu.net
Deke McClelland is back, this time under the O'Reilly banner with an all new hands-on Photoshop book called "Adobe Photoshop CS One-on-One" -- this is the first in a new series from McClelland and includes two full hours of video instruction! Could be better than the Bible series.Adobe Photoshop CS One-on-One
looking for some laughs? Stick Software announced version 3.1 of Eyeballs, the popular "desktop critter" for Mac OS X. Eyeballs is a fun little app that gives you a set of eyeballs in your menu bar or on your desktop. The eyes watch the cursor move around as you work, and you can configure their appearance and behavior in lots of different ways. They are even skinnable with a new skin, Pirate Blue, by Kevin Husted of Swizcore Studio. It's shareware, free to try. $10 to buy. (Direct Download: http://downloads.sticksoftware.com/Eyeballs.dmg.gz) Eyeballs' home page:The "desktop critter"
MaMug's Dan East takes a new look at hosting companies, their offerings and the potential problems of growth beyond their means.Read more...
PC-Mac-Net FileShare v3.2, is a product which allows users to share files easily and securely between all varieties of Windows and Macintosh computers over a Local Area NetworkRead more...
If you have important business to conduct -- important data and information to protect, you should give a good look at the latest version of CipherDisk from SubRosaSoft.Read more...
Easy Beat is the MIDI sequencer software for anyone who doesn't want to spend big money, nor take the time to climb the steep learning curve of other, huge and complicated sequencer tools.Read more...
"Vision without action is only a dream...
Action without vision only passes time. Vision with action can change the world."
- Joe Arthur Barker
"I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world."
- Albert Einstein
Have a great week...
*From ResearchBuzz.com
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