UGN Info Manager
UGN Info Manager
We've gotten some negative feed back on my use of the preview version of TinyURL. In these pages of InfoManager, Fred and I don't post any references that cannot be trusted. At least, if it's a spam site, we'll tell you so.
Some of our readers are telling us that their systems, ISPs or network managers have BLOCKED TinyURL because potentially damaging URLs can be hidden in TinyURL, and allowed to slip through the filters. This is true particularly in school systems and corporations -- where a majority of our readers read InfoManager.
So Fred and I have agreed, that it isn't necessary to use the Preview version of TinyURL. Of course, if you disagree with that conclusion let us know. We won't use TinyURL in the TEXT version of the email newsletter unless it's so long it could get truncated by your email program -- and that we will keep the full links live on the InfoManager web page. So if your system blocks TinyURL, then go to the LIVE web page, always listed at the bottom of the Table of Contents.
Meanwhile, we always welcome your feedback... remember if you subscribe to this list, you can POST to it and begin discussions. If you want to contact Fred or I off-list, just use the InfoManager post page
People often ask what they should do with old computers, software and computer memorabilia. If you've got computers, diskettes, CDs, books, software, manuals and 20 years of Macworld t-shirts to get rid of -- keep reading as This Old Mouse gives you a hand.
According to Computer World, gammers are unhappy that they have to pay $150 to $200 more for Blu-ray capability on their PlayStation 3s even though they have no interest in it.
However, later in the same article, the author credits the Playstation as being THE reason that Blu-ray will beat out HD-DVD. Of course, another article in the same issue says that Blu-ray will win the platform war because of the fact that adult movie producers are picking that format. Full story at: www.computerworld.com
Meanwhile, Hewlett-Packard Co. has dropped its exclusive support for the Blu-ray high-definition DVD recording standard, pledging to support both Blu-ray. They claim that the Blu-ray Disc Association declined to support a home networking technology that HP wanted. Therefore, HP has now also joined the HD-DVD Promotions Group. The Blue-ray group had refused to support the iHD, technology. HP said. The iHD technology improves the interactive qualities of future DVDs and simplifies the movement of video around a home network according to HP.
Blu-ray is backed by Sony Corp. and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. (Panasonic) while HD-DVD, is backed by Toshiba Corp., NEC Corp. and Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd. Intel Corp. and Microsoft Corp. recently pledged their support for HD- DVD. Microsoft plans to support iHD in the upcoming release of Windows Vista, according to HP. Dell Inc. plans to support Blu-ray products, as does Apple Computer Inc. See the full story...
This article reports that some analysts are stating that because of management changes at Sony, there will be no PlayStation 4, that Sony will concentrate on developing games for the PlayStation 3 and other consoles. But then they quote Sony executives as saying that it is too early to make any judgements on the next PlayStation. Isn't it nice that everyone knows so much? See it at: www.xbitlabs.com
All us Mac users have become accustomed to disk images. (A.K.A. DMG files) We see them pop open with background images and don't think a whole lot about how it is done. Until we decide we want to distribute files. On this blog, the author has placed a video that show not only how to place the image, but how to make the disk image fit its contents. See it at: murphymac.com
I know that there are some of the PC users who would say that all Mac software is useless, but here is a web site that has 21 applications that the developer claims are 159% useless. These include: Smell-O- Mints, Solscape, Cosmic Debris, LunaMenu, Electric Chicken, and one that doesn't sound so useless to me: AAPLStockDock. See and download them at: www.jschilling.net
According to an article with the above title, a technology added to Office 2003 called "Information Rights Management," (IRM) combined with copyright law and Windows Vista, give Microsoft the tools to hold users' data hostage in Office. That is, ONLY Office applications would be able to legally open those documents. According to the article, this is the same law that makes it illegal to make a competitive product to the iPod that plays music with Apple's digital rights management software.
This is a direct result of the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act. This really sounds like something that could back fire on Microsoft. It is bad enough that they are going to keep Mac users from using VBA in future versions of Office for Mac. Corporations will not like the idea of having Microsoft tell them how they can use the documents that they created. Since this requires the "Trusted Computing Module" of Vista to activate the module on the motherboard, it could even delay adoption of Vista. Full article at: www.informationweek.com
J.H. a Mac and PC user in Ithaca NY writes:
"Enjoyed your article on phishing - Were you aware of the antiphishing site phishtank.com? It's a clearinghouse for user-supplied reports of phish emails, with vote-based validation of each phish, resulting in a database available to security software developers and other interested users."
UGN: Yes, we've published that link before, and they are doing a good job getting the word out there. However the best way to thwart phishing is to us a SpamCop account. SpamCop reports spam to the offending systems operator, but also reports specific phishing to the bank, Paypal, eBay, Amazon or whoever the phisher is spoofing. That's the best way to get those sites shut down. www.phishtank.com
We received this submission to the contact form, and I thought it would be appropriate to share it...
"Thank you so much for trying to get the warnings out about the dangers of Myspace.com. My daughter also got raped, she is only 12, by this myspace.com user [withheld]. I wrote to [them] many times to delete her account but [they] didn't care. I blocked it, but it still happened. My 2 teens who live with their father are also on Myspace. I am so furious and surviving a minute is torture for my baby and me. There are 445 known sex offenders on Myspace. Thank you again for your good work in cyberspace."
UGN Safenet is reaching out... unfortunately too late in some cases. www.user-groups.net/safenet/
Family Fun magazine has kid tested the latest toys to see what kids really like. They come up with 42 winners and 21 grand prize winners. The top ten of 2006 included: Top 10 Toys of 2006
1. Biggest Littlest Pet Shop
2. Diego's Talking Rescue Center
3. Deal or No Deal Electronic Game
4. Spy Video Car
5. Baby Alive
6. Lil' Luvables Fluffy Factory
7. Bead Blast
8. Speed Stacks StackPack
9. Star Wars Transformers: Millennium Falcon
10. Bratz Cyber Style Laptop
While these are not broken down by age groups, they do that and you can see that at their web site: familyfun.go.com
This is the first Skype phone that can use a subscription based network. It sells for $179 and can still use the free hot spots, but Boingo has over 60,000 hot spots accessible via subscription. Full article (requires registration): www.twice.com
where is your web site and server? In the dark. Unless you're using solar power to supply power to server and web sites -- when the power goes out, these sites stay online... (Read More)
Thirteen essays on landscape photography by master photographer Alain Briot covers practical, technical, and aesthetic aspects of photography -- helps build and refine your skills (Read More)
InPreflight, a comprehensive quality control solution - Zevrix Solutions - quickly and easily locate potential problems and produce error-free documents See the full story...
Disco is the missing solution for disc burning on your Mac - jam packed with tools designed to appeal to average and pro users alike... so hot it even smokes (on your screen!) See the full story...
In this article, Claire J Rottenberg explains some of the factors you should consider before buying a new Macintosh computer, including RAM, storage, external peripherals, and aesthetics. homepage.mac.com/cjrtools/
"We should seize every opportunity to give encouragement. Encouragement is oxygen to the soul. The days are always dark enough. There is no need for us to emphasize the fact by spreading further gloom."
- George M. Adam
"He is a man of sense who does not grieve for what he has not, but rejoices in what he has."
- Epictetus
"Ideas are great arrows, but there has to be a bow."
- Bill Moyers
Have a great week... (See last week)
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