WHAT'S NEWS.. Read on for the latest "must know" information..
April 2006
To view the contents of a prior What's News segment see our Newsletter archives. If you have a topic suggestion send an email to vpprograms@dacs.org. Please keep in mind that it should be related to computers or electronics in general and include a brief description along with a URL that provides further details.
Description:
Bart’s Preinstalled Environment (BartPE)
A bootable Windows CD or DVD
Made from the original Windows XP installation/setup CD
A complete Win32 environment with network support, a graphical user interface (800x600) and FAT/NTFS/CDFS file system support.
Very handy for burn-in testing systems with no OS, rescuing files to a network share, virus scans and so on.
This will replace any DOS boot disk in no time!
Nu2
http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/
Description:
Do you want to know what a (your) house is worth?
Or find homes for sale?
Or services in a given neighborhood?
See a detailed aerial view?
Zillow
http://www.zillow.com/
Homepages
http://www.homepages.com/
Description:
Charging for email or Internet traffic
Phone companies are pushing to charge for bandwidth usage
So are AOL and Yahoo
Paid traffic would get priority and certain guarantees
Technology Review
http://www.technologyreview.com/TR/wtr_16428,323,p1.html
The Register
http://www.redherring.com/Article.aspx?a=15603&hed=AOL%2C+Yahoo+to+Charge+for+Email
Description:
Want to know some services that can be turned off?
It can help performance and risk of exploit
But read the warning first
Pretty detailed instructions
JasonN’s Blog
http://www.jasonn.com/turning_off_unnecessary_services_on_windows_xp
Description:
Identify unknown files quickly
- Identify MD-5 Hashes
- Identify SHA-1 Hashes
- Identify Files by Name
Download the Free FileAdvisor Utility (Requires registration)
Identifies product and owner of file plus other information
Bit9
http://fileadvisor.bit9.com/services/search.aspx
Description:
Writely - The Web word processor
- A web based word processor now owned by Google
- Sign up currently restricted
Zoho Writer – a better Writely
- Also offers other web based office products free/fee
Both are in beta and free
Writely
http://www2.writely.com/info/WritelyOverflowWelcome.htm
Zoho Writer
http://www.zoho.com/
Description:
Want to know what Microsoft security alerts have been issued
Want to know what fixes will be available on Patch Tuesday
Want to see them online
Want to receive an email or use an RSS feed
Want other Microsoft Newsletters
Microsoft Security Alerts - requires a free Passport account
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/update/bulletins/default.mspx
Or Microsoft Profile Center – requires a free Passport account
https://profile.microsoft.com/RegSysProfileCenter/default.aspx?lcid=1033
Description:
Want to try Linux?
Don’t want to install it on your system
Use a stand alone Linux CD
Can be used for certain system problems or just education
Site lists 40+ available distributions
DistroWatch
http://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=cd
Description:
Do you have, use, or are thinking of a wireless network?
What should you do to make it secure?
Read some of the following:
About.com
http://compnetworking.about.com/od/wirelesssecurity/tp/wifisecurity.htm
Microsoft
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/online/homewireless.mspx
Description:
Microsoft buys FolderShare
Share files, photos, and home videos
Share files up to 2 GB in size
Unlimited file transfers - no limits on quantity or size of files transferred
Any file type - files are synced and transferred in their original format
Now in beta
Free to use
Microsoft FolderShare
https://www.foldershare.com/
Description:
U3: Portable Programs on a USB Drive
Lets you run apps on any PC without leaving data on machine
Data, and personal settings all reside on the portable drive
Applications must be U3-compliant (many available)
Requires Windows 2000 or XP system
U3
http://www.u3.com/
PCWorld
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,123266,00.asp
Description:
Nissan Develops Gas Pedal Safety Feature
Uses radar and computer to judge speed and distance
Senses head on collision and gas pedal raises against foot
Break kicks in when foot raises
A buzzer also sounds
Tentatively called the “Magic Bumper”
Forbes
http://www.forbes.com/entrepreneurs/feeds/ap/2006/03/14/ap2595022.html
Description:
Two good to pass up
One interactive cat
http://www.broenink-art.nl/maukie2.swf
And if Microsoft designed packaging for Ipod
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=36099539665548298&q=microsoft+ipod |
