Understanding Battery Types

Not to long ago, I did some research into batteries as I was about to purchase a flash unit for my digital camera. My flash unit takes four AA batteries and I was looking to find out whether I should consider buying rechargeable batteries or just use high quality alkaline batteries that are disposed of after use. I thought I would share some of my research with you.

Disposable Batteries

Alkaline - They last the longest and you can usually find them on sale someplace. Personally, I have had the best luck with the Duracell brand as they seem to last much longer than other brands. There is also the Duracell Ultra, which is more expensive, but, in my experience, does last longer than the regular Duracell alkaline. But, if you are using something like a photo flash on a regular basis, using disposable batteries may get too expensive and may not be the best solution (see below).

Lithium - These batteries are the most powerful batteries you can get, but they are expensive, and they are toxic so you can't just throw them in the trash. (You're supposed to take them to your community's hazardous waste facility.) They're great for devices that use the 9Volt size, since they'll last a long time (10 years in smoke detectors). Don't confuse these with Lithium Ion batteries that are used in cell phones and laptops.

Heavy Duty - Also known as General Purpose batteries. These are Carbon Zinc & Zinc Chloride batteries. They're misnamed as they don't last very long and Carbon Zincs are very susceptible to leaking. Avoid these.

Recharageable Batteries

Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) - Bottom line: these are the best all around rechargeable batteries that you can buy today. Don't confuse these batteries with the Nickel-Cadmium (NiCad) type (which I did at first). NiMH replaced NiCad in the rechargeable battery world. NiMH's have much higher capacity than NiCd's and don't suffer from memory effect (see below) . NiMH's are excellent all-around batteries but they have a high self-discharge rate (great for digital cameras, flashes, and portable radios), but they go dead after a few months even if you don't use them, so they're not good for things like emergency flashlights or smoke detectors.

Nickel-Cadmium (NiCad) - As mentioned above, these are now obsolete and suffer from memory loss if you recharge them before fully discharging the battery. Memory loss means that a full charge will not last as long as it once did.

Lithium Ion - As already mentioned, these are excellent, long life batteries that used in cell phones and laptop computers. They do not come in regular sizes such AA, AAA, C, D, and ( Volt radio batteries.

Rechargeable Alkaline - These batteries can't be recharged nearly as many times as NiMH or even NiCad. They also can't be used in high-drain devices like digital cameras, and their capacity drops every time they're charged. But they're fine if you need a rechargeable that puts out more voltage than an NiMH.

Price Considerations

In my case, I chose to go with NiMH rechargeable batteries, based on cost and from reading what other photographers had to say about my particular flash unit. Not only would these batteries last a long time, they will bring my flash unit back to full charge in only one second...Much faster than regular alkaline batteries. When I found out that I could buy 4 rechargeable AA batteries for $2.50 each, that clinched it for me.

After reading other reviews of different batteries brands, I chose the PowerEx 2500 MAh battery made by Maha, the best and longest life battery they make. Of course, I had to buy a charger for the batteries which is a little more expensive. Again, after some research I chose the Powerex C-204W charger. I purchased a package deal with 8 batteries and a charger for $44.95 from Thomas Distributing. The charger not only charges batteries, but reconditions older batteries.

So far, my new batteries are still running strong in my flash unit. With 8 fully charge batteries, I should have no worries about running out of flash power when photographing weddings. I plan to buy more for other appliances that use AA batteries.

I hope my experiences and research can be of some benefit to you.

Update on DHL Blog

Since I told you most of the story about my shipping experiences with DHL, I thought I better finish the story.

My package finally arrived on Monday afternoon, a full seven days after it was shipped. It took four days to get to Washington State (Chehalis) and another three days to get from there to my "local" DHL office in Spokane. From there, DHL gave it to a contract delivery person (a nice guy driving a mini van) on Monday morning and he made it to my house that afternoon.

What was also interesting that this same person, who also contracts out to other shippers, also delivered another package that was shipped via Airborne Standard Service that was shipped from Georgia two days later than the DHL package which was sent via DHL Two Day Express .

The company that shipped my product via DHL has now refunded my credit card the amount between standard shipping and two day express. They handled the matter quickly and efficiently after I reported that the DHL package had finally arrived.

There you have it...The rest of the story. (Apologies to Paul Harvey)

Firefox News and Updates

On 11/30/05, I wrote a blog about the new version Firefox, Ver. 1.5; and a few days later, I wrote another blog about some of the dangers in using Internet Explorer and why we should all think about permanently changing our browsers.

Well, I took my advise to heart and have changed my browser-of-choice over to the new Firefox. I did this at first to force myself to use it full time for a few weeks to see if I liked it and could get used to it. While I won't say this is a permanent switch just yet, it is getting awfully close because I do really like this browser...much more than I did when I first wrote about it on 11/30. Maybe I have just gotten used to it, but I think it is more than that.

First and foremost it is having no problems displaying web pages. So many web pages only work well in IE because they were written using Microsoft Front Page and use Microsoft extensions. And, as we all know, Microsoft loves making things proprietary so only their products work well. But so far, I am having no problems reading all the web pages I have tried, including those that don't do well in other browsers. Perhaps because Firefox is gaining so much marketshare, web designers have stopped using Microsoft extensions in favor of less proprietary solutions.

I once wrote that I had trouble writing this blog in anything but IE. Now, I am writing it flawlessly in Firefox, and it actually works better than IE. When I do a spell check, Firefox actually shows me the word in context with its sentence. IE doesn't do that.

I am still learning more and more about setting up my preferences in Firefox, but I am really liking this software a great deal. I thought for sure when I installed it that I would dump it and go back to Maxthon. But that may not happen. I only wish Maxthon wasn't vulnerable to some of Microsoft's security issues.

Recently there has been news about security vulnerabilities in Firefox. These are old vulnerabilities from the days of Version 1. They were fixed in Version 1.0.5, so if you are running Firefox, make sure it is Version 1.0.5 or Version 1.5 as they are not vulnerable. If you do have an older version, I would definitely upgrade to 1.5.

Another thing to remember about Version 1.5 is that the older Firefox extensions (enhancements from third party developers) that you may have downloaded in Version 1, do not work in Version 1.5. You will have to reinstall new extensions when you upgrade, which is extremely simple in Version 1.5.

With that in mind, CNet recently came out with a list of their favorite 10 extensions on their website. There are some really good ones listed here, some of which I have tried.

Some of my favorites include "Google Preview," which shows you a preview of each web page listed in the Google search results; "Dictionary Tooltip," that lets you double click on any word on a web page and then immediately pulls up its definition and thesaurus suggestions; "Session Saver," that will bring up the exact same web pages that were on your screen when you closed Firefox (very handy when doing research); "Forecast Fox," which gives you a local weather toolbar at the bottom of your Firefox browser (it also pops up severe weather warnings automatically); and "Tabbrowser Preferences," that gives you additional options for your tabbed webpages.

Remember, these extensions are only for Version 1.5 of Firefox. Anyway, consider giving the new Firefox a look and please let me know what you think.

Download New Windows Fixes Now!

If you run Windows XP and have it set for automatic updates from Microsoft, you may have noticed the little symbol that appeared yesterday on your screen down by the clock. It is a small yellow shield with an exclamation point on it. That means Microsoft has some new Windows fixes ready for downloading and installation.

If you don't have automatic updates enabled, I strongly suggest you hop on over to the Microsoft website and check for critical updates. It will tell you what you need to download, then do it for you.

This newest monthly update from Microsoft fixes four critical flaws for Internet Explorer that I described in my blog on 12/3/05. If you use IE as your web browser of choice, it is very important that you download these updates ASAP! If not, you are vulnerable to someone planting malicious code on your computer to take it over and download personal information from your system and even use it as part of a denial-of-service attack. They will have complete control of your computer without you knowing it.

Microsoft has warned that the hole is actively being exploited to download malicious code to vulnerable systems. Security-monitoring company Secunia deems the problem "extremely critical," its rarely given highest rating.

The browser security update also tackles part of the fallout from Sony BMG Music Entertainment's rootkit debacle (see my blogs of 11/4/05 and 4/11/05). The browser security update will make it impossible to run older versions of an ActiveX control released by the record label. The software was designed to defuse the issues with an antipiracy tool, but was found to have security problems of its own.

So, even if you use some other browser besides IE, such as Firefox, Maxthon or Opera, you still need to get these updates because all of us still have to use IE sometimes. For Maxthon users it is even more critical as Maxthon uses the IE engine to operate. Firefox and Opera are not vulnerable to the IE flaws described here, but all of us, no matter what computer we use, are vulnerable to the Sony Rootkit attack.

If you use an older Microsoft Windows system, such as Windows 2000 or Windows 3.1, you need to check if you can get updates for your browser. I doubt that there are fixes as Microsoft no longer supports these operating systems. In that case, I suggest you get Firefox or Opera immediately.

New CNN Service

The uncrowned leader of the news reporting world, CNN, has finally recognized that a great many of its users (and readers) have abandoned dial-up Internet connections in favor of broadband connections such as DSL, cable, and fiber optics. So they created a new premium service that makes use of these broadband connections.

Called "CNN Pipeline," the new service has actually been in development for over a year. It went on-line last week and has signed up plenty of subscribers, at least according to their own press release. The technology for Pipeline is four live video streams, which offer mostly unedited looks at news events throughout the world. These streams, or "pipes," can be played in a special video player and chosen by Pipeline's editors in Atlanta.

Last Thursday night, Pipeline offered video streams from CNN International, a memorial service for slain Beatle John Lennon in Central Park, the House of Representatives and a traffic cam on a snowy Chicago night. When news broke out from Chicago's Midway Airport that a Southwest Airlines jet slid off a runway, the third stream became live video from the scene at the airport.

Live coverage isn't the only aspect of CNN Pipeline. The video player offers users the ability to see the top stories in video, get other news on demand and even browse CNN's vast archives. But what you won't see is whole programs. CNN doesn't believe it is a good thing, despite what others in the news industry are doing on their web sites.

Pipeline costs $2.95 per month or $24.95 for a year's subscription. You can also sign up for a 14 day free trial. You can read more about it on CNN's web site and even see a demo of how it works.

Never, Ever Ship Anything via DHL

Right now, I am so angry that it is hard for me to even contain myself, so I thought I would write about it. Last weekend, I ordered an expensive accessory item for my digital camera from a reputable on-line firm in Brooklyn, NY. I did my homework and found this company to have the best price, and having purchased from them in the past and read what other users had to say about them, I knew they were a trusted source.

In order to expedite the delivery, I paid extra for two day express delivery. The company now uses DHL as their delivery company of choice. On Monday, the 5th of December, I was notified that DHL had picked up my package in Brooklyn and it was on its way. They gave me a tracking number, which I duly used. Tracking showed that it was picked up in the afternoon and departed DHL's facility late in the evening. It also said that I was scheduled for delivery on the Thursday, the 8th. Now, my math says this is three days, not two, but I was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.

Thursday comes and goes and no package is delivered. As I am required by the company I bought it from to sign for the package, I had to stay home all day so not to miss the DHL driver. At the end of the day, I scan the tracking info on their website and found no new information. So I called their customer service number and was told that they don't guarantee two day delivery in my area (we are a so-called "rural area"), but that I would get the package on Friday.

Friday comes and goes, and guess what? No package. Early on Friday, I see on their web site that my package has passed through their facility in Chehalis, WA early in the morning, so I figured I had a good chance to get it. No such luck and another day stuck around the house. My math shows that the package took four days just to get to Washington State. So I have to guess that all of Washington State must be a "rural area" to DHL.

I didn't call them again on Friday night, but decided to call on Saturday morning. In the meantime, I checked their web site for a definition of "rural area", and could not find a thing. Here is what I did find:

DHL Second Day: Guaranteed delivery by 5:00 pm on the second business day throughout the US.

No mention of "rural areas." But that is almost beside the point as it took four days just to get to my state.

So, on Saturday morning, I called again and was told all about the "rural area." When I mentioned what their web site said, I was met with silence. The agent suggested I could go to my local station and pick up the package, instead of waiting for delivery. When I asked where it was, I was told Spokane. The agent then checked and said my package had not yet made it to Spokane from Chehalis.

What??? This means that I will not see my package until Monday at the earliest, maybe even Tuesday. When I voiced my concerns, I was met by silence. Talk about bad service...

The tracking on their web site clearly indicates that it was two day service and that I was scheduled for delivery on Thursday. Apparently all their guarantees mean nothing to them.

I would suggest that you never use DHL and if you are buying something on the web and the company wants to ship it to you via DHL, that you go somewhere else to buy it. It has been a long time since I have run into any service that it so bad as DHL's. Remember this when you see their ads on TV.

Next time I am using the pony express.

The Power of Four

A few days ago, I wrote a blog about the new dual core processors from Intel and AMD. Specifically I described the new chips as being two processors built into one shell (and how the AMD and Intel matched up against each other in a head-to-head performance contest).

But of course, processor manufacturers are not standing still with their new triumphs. They are moving ahead with even bolder and faster chips for our computing future. Now, both companies are working on quad-core chips...that is, four processors housed inside of one. AMD is discussing plans to begin offering a family of four-core chips early in 2007, while Intel, so far, has only broadly hinted about offering a four- core server chip the same year.

And while the chip makers once battled over clock speed, in one form or another, the coming years will bring a new battleground. Intel and AMD will trade barbs over who can offer chips with more processor cores sooner with better performance per watt, or how much power each chip consumes versus the amount of performance it offers customers. AMD is already bragging about how its dual-core processor uses less power that its Intel rival thus running cooler and saving more money on electricity.

With a new awareness in the cost of electricity in computers (see my blog of 11/24/05), this may prove to be an interesting story sooner than later. For instance, in a recent press release, AMD says that a company running 500 servers could save over $50,000 per year in electrical costs by using their dual-core processors over Intel's. That's a lot of bucks!

In a related story, Intel appears headed toward offering the first dual-core notebook chip in Yonah, a new version of its Pentium M that is expected in January.

TV A-La-Carte

The times are a-changinÂ’ for television. Recent news shows that the way we receive our television programming may be changing for the better. And, no, I am not talking about Sony Tivo or other Tivo-like products now available. That has changed the way many people watch TV. But the recent news is more about how TV programs are delivered to us.

First, the FCC is about to recommend that people be allowed to get only the TV channels they want rather than having to subscribe to whole packages of TV and cable channels that they never watch. In other words, TV a la carte.

For a long time, consumers have been complaining there still isn't enough flexibility in the programming packages offered by cable and satellite providers. Last week, FCC chairman Kevin Martin told a forum sponsored by the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee, that consumers could have more choice in what they view for cheaper prices if operators would sell content a la carte. According to a new report from the FCC that has yet to be made public, a la carte pricing could actually reduce monthly cable bills for many consumers while also providing more control over what channels they watch at home.

News of the FCC report comes just as many large cable operators across the country announced that they are raising rates again for their service. At the same time, according to the FCC, consumers, especially those with children, are becoming increasingly agitated by the amount of violence and sexual content that comes into their homes on channels they'd rather not receive as part of their subscription package.

But content providers and most of the cable industry say that offering programming piecemeal will result in even higher prices and less choice for consumers. They also claim that an a la carte pricing model would increase overall subscription rates and reduce diversity of programming, because many of the niche or special interest channels today are bundled with more popular channels. If these less-popular channels are sold independently, they will become too expensive to offer and may disappear altogether.

Having put together cable programming for a living, I know that what the industry saying may be true. But, the way they structure their contracts to cable companies make it impossible to offer any sort of a-la-carte programming today. But, the fact that the FCC is now starting to put pressure on the cable industry means things may slowly start to change.

If you would like to read an in-depth article on the subject, please head over to the news.com website to read more.

Meanwhile, Apple iTunes is now offering individual TV programs themselves on an a-la-carte basis. The iTunes store will offer 11 shows from NBC, USA Network and the Sci Fi Channel that range from oldies such as the 1950s cop show "Dragnet" to current shows such as "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." Apple is charging $1.99 per episode for the television downloads, as well as for music videos and short films. The newly produced shows will be available for download a day after they air on TV.

In October, the Walt Disney Company's television network, ABC, and Disney's cable network began offering five television shows for download via iTunes. Apple said this week that it has now sold more than 3 million videos from its iTunes store since launching the feature in early October, indicating that customer demand extended beyond simple one-time curiosity.

If Apple continues to sell video at this rate, other TV and cable companies will take notice and begin making their programs available for download. The changes we talked about here are only a trickle now, but the floodgates may begin to open soon.

Three New Sketches

I thought I would take a day off from technology (well partly anyway) and share with you three new artworks I recently completed.

I have had a life-long love of sketches and have built up a small collection of them over the years. It is only natural, then, that I should do a few sketches of my own now and then. Sketches come in various forms...pen and ink, pencil, colored pencils, chalk, and pastel chalk, just to name a few. My sketches, done digitally from my original photographs, combine some of these media (digitized) together to form a new style of sketch.

The three images presented here can be classified as sketches because of their appearance. The first one is of a small office located in Cannon Beach Oregon. The colors of all the pictures elements make this a rich image, and the US flag brings all the elements together. Here is the link:

http://www.corkrum.com/jim/office_cannon_beach.htm

The second image is of an outdoor stairway going up a hill to a small hotel overlooking the beach. Like the first image, it is located in Cannon Beach. The light and shadows give this image a sense of line and depth. Your eye naturally follows the stairway up towards the sky. The image is located at:

http://www.corkrum.com/jim/stairway.htm

The final picture is of St. Marks Church in Venice. It is one of the most famous churches in the western world and contains some of the worlds most magnificent treasures. But, the outside is less than colorful, especially on a rainy day when I took the original photograph. So, I left it mostly in black and white, with only a hint of color to give it a sense of greater depth. I like this image a lot. To see it, go to:

http://www.corkrum.com/jim/san_marco_sketch.htm

I hope you enjoy these sketches. I will have more for you in the near future.

VoIP Phone Companies in a State of Confusion

The world of VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) telephony is in a bit of a muddle right now, thanks to a federal government mandate regarding E911 service. You see, a little over 4 months ago, the FCC told VoIP providers that they had 120 days to connect all their users to E911 emergency services or face a shutdown of their telephone services. And those 120 days are now up!

A little background before we go any further. For those who don’t know, VoIP telephone services use the Internet to connect phone-to-phone rather than regular phone wires, thereby passing up regular phone companies like Qwest and Verizon. It requires that the user have a high speed Internet connection (like fiber, cable modem, or DSL). It works just like a regular phone as each VoIP user has a regular phone number and uses the regular telephones in your home. No special equipment is required, except for a small router that is added to your Internet wires inside the house.

As I have written before here, we have VoIP services in our home using a company called Packet8. We no longer use a regular phone company. We pay a flat fee of $20 per month for unlimited phone calls throughout the US and Canada, so it is obviously much cheaper than regular phone service. And it works just fine. We chose Packet8 over the better-known VoIP phone company Vonage as Packet8 could provide a local phone number for our area, something Vonage still can’t do.

The big fuss over E911 comes from the fact that most VoIP companies didn’t offer it at first, so users didn’t have a way of calling 9-1-1 in case of emergency. Packet8 quietly began offering genuine E911 service for $2.00 a month extra as an option. But the real problem came when Vonage began advertising that they had E911 service. In fact, they didn’t have true emergency service. If a Vonage customer called 9-1-1, the phone call was directed to the business office of the local emergency services instead of the emergency desk, which could be a major problem if someone called with an emergency after business hours.

This happened in Texas several months ago when a young girl called 9-1-1 to report that her parents had been shot by an intruder. The home was equipped with Vonage service and the call came in the evening when the 9-1-1-business office was closed. Both parents died. The story garnered national media attention and eventually the federal government became involved. Hence, the recent FCC mandates.

The problem is, of course, implementing such a major technological change in such a short time. None of the VoIP phone companies have completely finished the project. Vonage and Packet8 are well along the way (we have been notified that we are now connected), but not yet complete. Vonage says they won’t have complete E911 service to all their customers until mid-2006. Packet8 says that all their users should be connected soon, but they have set up interim measures to insure that all users will have some sort of 911 by using a national call desk. How will the FCC react?

At this point no one really knows. Officials at the FCC say they're still reviewing documents that were filed by VoIP providers before the deadline. That means it's impossible to say for certain how many VoIP companies are in compliance with the mandate. Some experts believe that the FCC will not strictly enforce the mandate, so long as VoIP companies are making progress.

The FCC did modify their original mandate to say the if a company does not comply, they don’t have to shut down their services, but they cannot offer any services to new customers.

Both Vonage and Packet8 say they plan to continue marketing to prospective customers and signing them up for their service, but in doing so the companies risk racking up heavy fines.

"I don't know what the next step is," said Bryan Martin, president and CEO of Packet8. "This is the final filing since the FCC issued its mandate 120 days ago. We had a collective sigh of relief the other day after we filed, but now we don't know what comes next or how the FCC will react to our filing."

Other companies have done next-to-nothing about compliance. There have been complaints that some tradition local phone companies are dragging their feet to help VoIP companies connect to E911, as their help is necessary. Some companies also complain that their industry is being singled out by this mandate by pointing out that cell phone companies have not been forced to connect and that only half of all cell phone users nationwide have E911 connections.

It will be interesting to see what happens over the next few weeks.

Security Flaws In Internet Explorer Raising Alarms

This week, there has been a deluge of security warnings concerning the use of Microsoft's built-in web browser, Internet Explorer (IE). Not that this is anything new. Every week, there is at least one new vulnerability discovered. It has become so commonplace that I don't even write about them anymore. Its just a daily fact-of-life. But, enough new issues were raised this week that I thought I had better revisit the subject again.

One of the new flaws discovered involves the use of the Google Tool Bar with Internet Explorer. It seems there is a vulnerability that would allow a hacker to get inside someone's computer at will and steal all their information. According to security researchers, the fault is not with the Google software, but with IE. To exploit the flaw, an attacker has to lure a victim to a malicious Web page that contains the hidden attack code.

Other similar vulnerabilities were also discovered in the last few days that are in a Javascript component of IE used for loading Web pages onto a computer. Again, if a user visits an infected web site, the code is loaded into a users computer and they are wide open for some very malicious attacks.

Microsoft has not released a patch for the hole exploited by the code. People can attempt to work around the problem by either shutting off Javascript or using another type of browser, security companies advise. Sources say the MSRC (Microsoft Security Response Center) is aggressively aiming to release an emergency IE fix ahead of the scheduled December 13 Patch release.

The situation has become bad enough that one credit union has issued a security alert to its customers on their login page. L&N Federal Credit Union has placed the following on their home page:

"A new flaw was discovered in Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser, and this flaw can have serious ramifications for all Internet users who use this browser. The flaw allows the owner of a website to create a page that will download and run programs on the user's computer. The user does not have to do anything but visit the website and unknowingly view the malicious page.

This means the owner of the website could install malicious software that would take control of the user's computer and steal personal information that could lead to identity theft. Microsoft does not have a fix or patch to correct this flaw.

We recommend that all concerned individuals ensure that they have up-to-date anti-virus and anti-spyware installed on their computers for personal protection. Currently, the only work-around is to temporarily discontinue the use of Microsoft Internet Explorer and use another browser, such as Firefox (www.mozilla.com) until Microsoft can issue a patch." (Emphasis mine)

According to Sunbelt Software (makers of Counterspy), Microsoft admitted on their own web site that they have known about some of these issues since March, but have yet to fix them. According to Microsoft, "There are many factors that impact the length of time between the discovery of a vulnerability and the release of a security update, and every vulnerability presents its own unique challenges."

Maybe it is time we all strongly consider moving to a non-Microsoft browser such as Opera or Firefox for our own protection. They apparently are not vulnerable to any of the issues listed here.

I have been using the new Firefox for the last few days and am getting used to it. It is a much better product than Version 1. But I also continue to use Opera and like it also. In case you are wondering about my favorite browser, Maxthon, that I have mentioned here in the past, its biggest problem is that is uses the IE engine for its operation, thus making it vulnerable to some of the issues listed here.

Head-to-Head Comparison - Dual Core Processors

As was mentioned some time ago in one of these blogs, processor manufacturers Intel and AMD have pretty much reached the limits of speed and performance in current processor design. For most of us, the speed of the current processors are just fine...at least for now. Of course that will change over time as has already happened so many times.

As new high speed processors are built, folks like Microsoft create software to take advantage of the new chips, so that eventually the new fast chips don't seem so fast after a while. That's the way it has been and the way it will always be.

But, how will processor manufacturers keep pushing the edge of faster and better performance? The answer is by creating chips that are actually two processors built inside one body, otherwise known as dual-core processors. By dividing the workload using two processors instead of one, it actually appears as if you are running faster, especially if you are doing a lot of multi-tasking.

Dual processors are not new. For a few years now, they have been building computers that use two separate processors. For the most part, these dual chips have been used in large network servers. But these required special motherboards that supported two processors actually affixed to the motherboard plus other chips that divided the workload between the two chips.

Several months ago, both AMD and Intel announced that they were making a single chip that was actually two processors in one and also included the hardware to divide the workload. Those chips are now out in the marketplace and for sale as part of computers systems. As you may have guessed, these new computers are fairly expensive, but history also shows that they will eventually drop drastically in price. In the not-to-distant future, dual processor will become the norm rather than the exception.

That means most of us will eventually buy one of these processors as part of a new computer system. Because of all the reasons mentioned so far, CNET decided to run a head-to-head contest between the two manufacturers to see whose chip(s) might be best.

Instead of just running tests to see who was the fastest, they ran a series of everyday simulations using six different criteria that an actual computer user might use, plus a seventh category that compares price to performance. Here are the seven criteria used in the test:

1. Day-to-day computing
2. Gaming
3. Multitasking
4. Photo Editing
5. MP3 Encoding
6. Video Encoding
7. Price vs Performance

You can read examine the results of each of the tests and the conclusions by going to the CNET web site. If you don't want to read it, here is the bottom line:

The AMD dual processors blew the doors off of the Intel processors! AMD won in all seven categories. In fact, it really wasn't close. And, for the most part, the AMD chips are cheaper.

I personally have always preferred AMD over Intel. In fact, the computer that I am using to write this blog is running on an AMD chip. Looks like my beliefs have been validated again. Such a relief.

Anyway, keep these new test results in mind when you are looking for your next computer.

New Firefox V1.5 Now Available

If you are a Firefox user, or you have been thinking of trying it, be aware Mozilla has released a new version (Version 1.5) of its popular web browser and it is available for free on its website. Understand that this is an all-new version of the software. In fact, it is the first version to be released since Version 1.0 came out a year ago. All the other releases this year were just updates to the first version.

In the year since its initial release, Firefox has become the number two browser behind Microsoft’s Internet Explorer. Firefox currently has about 45 million users worldwide (roughly 9% of the market).

The new Version 1.5 offers performance gains, usability enhancements and support for new Web graphics standards through a beefier version of the Gecko layout engine. On the security front, the update offers a new "safe mode" for enhanced protection against potential threats and daily, automated checks for security updates. These security updates are now automatically uploaded in the background instead of having to be manually updated by the user.

It also has improved its extensions so that add-ons to the program (and there are lots of them) can be downloaded easier and faster than Version 1. Of course, it still has the tabbed browsing feature, and now you can reorder your tabs by “drag and drop.”

If you would like to see PC Magazine’s review of the updated browser, click here. You should find it very informative.

I just downloaded it today and have been playing with it. It is a good browser, although I will have to get used to the way it handles RSS feeds as compared to Maxthon. I have found the documentation to be less-than-helpful. For instance, there is absolutely no reference to “RSS.” I eventually found out they refer to it as “Live Bookmarks.” But I will play some more and see if I will like it better over time. I suspect that there are some useful extensions that can be downloaded to make it better.

To read more about it and to download it, go to:
http://www.mozilla.com/

An Idea Whose Time Has Come

You may have missed this story (I know I almost did), but it is definitely one that is worth knowing about. Last week, online privacy advocate TRUSTe announced the beginning of the Trusted Download Program. TRUSTe is leading the efforts to get the program adopted, but it is also being backed by a number of large tech companies, including CNET, Yahoo, America-on-Line, Verizon, Computer Associates and others.

The program's goal is to certify computer downloads to insure they conform to a strict set of guidelines and practices. While any kind of program can earn certification, the main focus of the Trusted Download Program is to reign in adware vendors by providing them with incentives to make their programs behave in a responsible and noninvasive manner.

Here are some of its most important points. First, any company wishing to obtain certification must allow users to opt out all third-party bundles upon installation. Second, every time a user sees an advertisement, he or she must also see a notice clearly stating what company is delivering the ad, along with instructions for uninstalling the ad-serving product.

It's also worth noting that adware vendors will be responsible for policing all their affiliates and that screening will be conducted on an ongoing basis. The former policy should help cut down on the amount of shady, non-disclosed installations, while the latter will ensure that a company can't just temporarily clean up its act to earn certification. (For more information, visit the official Trusted Download Program's Web site or read Peter Butler's latest Spyware Hunt blog entry.) As you might expect, the Trusted Download Program has its share of critics, most of whom believe that separating the "good" adware vendors from the bad ones will in effect increase the distribution of the bad type of software.

It will be interesting to see how many adware vendors will actually take every step necessary to achieve certification. And even if they do, is it too late in the game to salvage their unsavory reputations after years of doing things the wrong way? (For instance, 180solutions, which has already announced it will apply for certification next year will likely have a very tough time convincing folks that it's now on the up and up.)

As the title of this blog suggests, this is an idea whose time has come, and, in fact, may be long overdue. Unsuspecting users need to be protected from companies who want to put adware and spyware on their computers without their permission.

Vote for the Best Search Engine

There always seems to be an on-going argument about which is the best search engine on the Web. Over the years, I have settled on Google as my search engine of choice, so that would be my vote. But I must admit I don't use other search engines that often. Now, there is a project underway where everyone can vote to for the search engine they determine is best.

But rather than just vote on your favorite, this one is a "blind taste test" that provides an objective rating system. When you click on their web site, you search on any subject you wish (hopefully something that you know about). You then are shown the top three results from three search engines, identified only as Brand X, Y, and Z. You then click a button to register your vote. After you vote, you are told the results.

You may be quite surprised with your selection. With more than 12,000 testers so far, the figures are Google 42%, Yahoo 32%, and MSN Search 26%. The project just started on Nov. 21 and the results are fairly close, with the lead changing hands several times in the early days. They need more testers and only your first vote counts, so make it good.

I have done it twice...the first time my blind vote was Google. The second time I did it, my choice turned out to be Yahoo. I will say that in both votes, it was very close as to which one I eventually picked. All three engines gave good results. But, you only get the top three results of your search, which I think is far too few to determine the best results.

But it was still fun to do. Give it a try. Click here to play.

Energy Hogs in your Home

Happy Thanksgiving from beautiful downtown Ephrata! Susan and I hope your Thanksgiving is a special one.

Because of the holiday, I will keep this entry short, but sweet. I came across an interesting article on CNET about how much electricity our electronic gadgets really use. As we enter the season when home electric bills start going up (especially here in Ephrata as we use electric heaters), I thought this article was very timely.

For instance, did you know that our TV's account for 4% of our nation's residential electrical usage? And that the new plasma TV's are huge power hogs! And did you know that most electric adapters that recharge our cell phones and laptops are incredibly inefficient, wasting as much or more electricity than they actually use?

Those are just a few of the interesting tidbits I found in this article. To read it, head over to the CNET web site.

Worm Uses Fake FBI E-mail to Spread

Computer Security Company Trend Micro has raised the threat level of a virus/worm known as WORM_SOBER.AG as it is spreading rapidly throughout North America and parts of Europe. Like the phishing scam I wrote about last week, it uses fear to get users to open the infected attachments.

WORM_SOBER.AG spammed e-mails are written in both German and English languages. It checks the user's system for the version of the Microsoft OS that's running ... if it detects GMX as the domain, it installs one of the German versions; otherwise, it installs one of the English versions.

The worm propagates via email messages that are spammed to recipients. However, once a system is infected, it spreads by itself. The worm has no automated capabilities and must therefore be inadvertently executed by the user to install. To entice the user to do this, the author utilizes classic social engineering techniques, such as promising pictures of celebrities, or alerting the user to illicit behavior.

At least two of the English versions of WORM_SOBER.AG spoof the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), alerting the user that the agency has found evidence of the user visiting "more than 30 illegal Websites", and asks them to complete the attached "questionnaire". Launching the attachment activates the worm. Similarly, one of the German versions spoofs Bundeskriminalamt, and threatens legal action against the users' illicit downloads of films, software, and MP3s. The email promises more details of the case in the attached file.

Another version promises a free download of "video clips, pictures and more" of Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie, stars of "The Simple Life" reality television series in the U.S. Attachments are disguised as zipped files.

WORM_SOBER.AG can download and run executable files from certain Web sites that it points to. However, this worm does not seem to have any backdoor capabilities.

The FBI has also issued warnings not to believe any e-mail that says it is from the FBI.

XBox 360 Debuts Tomorrow

If you are into games, tomorrow is a really big day for you...that is if you have around $300. Microsoft is releasing its newest game machine, the Xbox 360.

Thousands of video game enthusiasts around the country will be breathlessly waiting for stores to open so they he can get their hands on an Xbox 360. The Microsoft game console will finally, after months of hype, go on sale just after midnight Tuesday.

Many retailers say they are expecting walk-up interest to exceed the number of Xboxes for sale on Tuesday. But not all retailers say they expect a problem. Microsoft says they have plenty of boxes in reserve to cover all the demand over the next few weeks. However, some stores will inevitably run out on Tuesday and eager buyers may have to wait a few extra days to get their hands on one.

Lat Friday, retailer Circuit City began taking orders on its web site and and by the afternoon, their Web site was hobbled by a deluge of traffic. A representative for the online counterpart to electronics retailer Circuit City said the company's site saw a "tremendous" traffic spike at 2 p.m. ET, when the company began taking Internet orders for the eagerly awaited Xbox.

Microsoft expects to sell up to 3 million of its new Xbox 360 game consoles in the first three months that the device is on the market

Initially, Microsoft says there are 18 games designed for the Xbox 360, ready to go for tomorrow. Among them are many of the latest iterations in proven franchises, including Electronic Arts' Madden NFL '06, NBA LIVE '06 and Need for Speed Most Wanted, as well as Activision's Call of Duty 2 and Tony Hawk's American Wasteland.

If you would like to read a review of the new gaming box, CNET has posted one in its web site, so you should read it before you spend your hard earned cash. Have fun, gamers!!

Photography Odds and Ends

I thought I would post a short list of some good reading material to help with your photographic endeavors, especially with the holiday season now upon us. Most of this material is relevant whether you use a digital camera or a film camera. I hope it helps.

Photographing Thanksgiving
This very nice article was posted on the cameraworld.com website. Although they are primarily an online camera store, they do have some interesting articles from time-to-time to help improve your photography. This article is titled, How to Capture Thanksgiving With Your Camera, is short and gives you some good suggestions to make better pictures at your family get-together.

Free Photo Classes
CNET has put together a series of free photography and video classes to help you improve your photographic skills. Their first classes are all centered around the holidays and will teach you not only the basics about taking pictures, but how to enhance them with post processing software and share them with friends and family around the world. Enrolling is easy and free.

Tips from the Top Floor
I know I have mentioned this podcast before, but I think it is worth mentioning again if you are interested in photography. Late last night I drove home from Seattle and my only companion was pre-recorded episodes of Tips from the Top Floor on my MP3 player. It kept me awake and interested all the way (after the Seattle radio stations petered out in the mountains).

Chris Marquardt lives in Southern Germany and records these podcasts three times a week. They are ususally 10-15 minutes in length and most contain some excellent information on digital photography basics. He also has some very interesting interviews from time-to-time with professional photographers. Definitely worth listening to, especially on long, lonely drives. His web site augments the podcasts.

Apogee Photo - a Free Photography Magazine
For a few years now, I have subscribed to a free on-line photography magazine called Apogee Photo. When I say subscribed, I mean that I signed up to have all new editions e-mailed to me. All of their past issues are on their website. Its a good one.

Vivid Light Photography
Here's another free on-line magazine called Vivid Light Photography. I've only just discovered it recently, but it is a good one that apparently has been around a few years. Like Apogee Photo, they will e-mail each edition as it is completed.

Photo.net - The Best Photography Website on the Net
It has been a few years since I mentioned this website, so it's time to do it again. Photo.net has been around for years and it is an in-depth photographic website covering just about every aspect of photography. If nothing else, you should get on to see some of the top-rated photographs submitted by amateur photographers around the world.

BetterPhoto.com
Another fine website that features lots of interesting articles on all aspects of photography, including both film and digital shooting.

That's all for today. I hope you find something that helps you.

Google's eBay Killer

After months of rumors, speculation, and guesswork, search giant Google has unveiled Google Base, its much-rumored listings service that many people believe is meant to compete against auction and listings sites like eBay or Craigslist.

Google Base is based on submissions from Google users, which Google then organizes and opens up for searching, for free. In a Weblog posting Wednesday, Google said it expects content from individuals and small Web site owners plus larger organizations uploading lots of listings.

With each incremental tip of its hand, it's becoming increasingly clear that Google is creating a service meant to mirror that of any retail Web site, where it could generate revenues by placing advertisements at various stages of the process. Analysts repeatedly say Google's user base, which is in the hundreds of millions of users, would be an instant challenge to eBay, the auction pioneer, or more community-focused sites like Craigslist that pioneered the user-generated listings service that Google Base, in a way, is a mirror copy.

Screen shots of "Google Base," now available on the Google Base website explain that the service-to-be is a database consisting of "your content" that's free to contribute. Items in the database include a party invite or a "listing of your used car for sale." There is also a tie-in mentioned to Google's comparison shopping site Froogle, and Google Local, the combination Google mapping and localized search results.

There is still much that is unclear about it, but if it's listings are free (compared to eBay which is not free), then they have the possibility of being a major success. If much of what I have written seems a little vague, it is because it is so new and I am just learning about it myself. If you would like to know more I suggest you head over to base.google.com and see for yourself. I may do something with Google Base myself and I will let you know what happens.

New Phishing Ploy

After my first cup of coffee this morning, I checked my overnight e-mail's, as I usually do. One of them caught my eye immediately.

It was an e-mail, purportedly from Amazon.com, saying they were suspicious of a purchase I supposedly had just made and wanted to check if I had really ordered it. According to the e-mail, it was a $3,900 purchase for aPanasonic HDTV, apparently done through TigerDirect. They wanted me to verify if I had really ordered this product.

Of course, I did not order a TV and this immediately raised a warning flag that someone had obtained my credit card information and was using it for a purchase. In the past, I have ordered from both TigerDirect and Amazon, so it appeared legitimate, at least at first. But, of course my next thought was that this may be a scam to get my personal data.

So I started closely examining the e-mail. It looked legitimate, with all the proper colors and logos that Amazon uses. But, the language of the e-mail made me very suspicious. It appeared to be written in English that was less than perfect, almost obtuse. So I decided to immediately check the link they wanted me to log into to verify my purchase. That is always the dead giveaway for a phony phishing e-mail.

The link look legitimate and was spelled out exactly on the screen, using something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/security/fraudcheck/ect........

But, I learned a long time ago to point at the link with my mouse (not clicking it, of course), then look down at the lower left corner of my e-mail program to see the actual link address. In this case, the real link was not Amazon.com, but some other unsecured website, probably in some foreign country. Now, I knew...this was a phishing scam.

In the past, I have received several phishing scam e-mail's. Most appear to be from banks (including two that I do bank with), asking me to verify my account information. They were obviously frauds. But it appears that phishers have learned to use one of the most motivating factors to up their connect rate...fear.

Who among us is not afraid to have their credit card data stolen? I think most of the phising scams we will receive in the future will use fear as their hook. Just remember, before you panic, use the above trick I mentioned to see if the e-mail is legitimate. If the link doesn't match, you know you have a phishing scam e-mail.

Interestingly, I went to the Amazon.com web site to report this scam. I tried to e-mail them a copy of the e-mail, following their on-screen instructions, but neither time would the e-mail go through, so I just gave up. I suspect they have so much e-mail about phishing scams that they are not accepting any more. Whatever...I tried to be helpful.

More Odds and Ends

In my searches for interesting bits to write about in this blog, I always seem to come across some interesting items that deserve mentioning, but are too short for me to write about...or someone else has already written a great article about it and there is no need for me to reinvent the wheel. Hence, these "Odds and Ends" columns that I occasionally write. Here are today's offerings:

More on Free Software

In the last edition, I wrote about some of the places on the Web where you can get free software. In September, PC Magazine wrote an in-depth review of some of the best free software available to you. It is written by categories and is definitely worth a look.

Congress About to Pass a Very Weak ID Theft Bill

As they usually do, our Congress has taken a good idea to protect consumers and let it be weakened by special interests. It has happened again, this time in their attempt to combat identity theft in the United States. Congress is preparing to pass a sweeping, but very weak ID theft law that's a boon for identity thieves, beloved by big business, and an additional burden for you and me. At the same time, a bipartisan bill in the Senate that is modeled on California's tough and successful legislation, seems all but stalled. You need to read Jason Vamosi's hard hitting article on how Congress is about to screw us again.

Microsoft Will Issue Fix for Sony Rootkit

Microsoft will shortly update its security tools to detect and remove part of the copy protection tools installed on PCs when some music CDs are played. The software maker has determined that the "rootkit" piece of the XCP software on some Sony BMG Music Entertainment CDs can pose a security risk to Windows PCs.

To protect Windows users, Microsoft plans to update Windows AntiSpyware and the Malicious Software Removal Tool as well as the online scanner on Windows Live Safety Center to detect and remove the Sony BMG software. Microsoft provides weekly updates for Windows AntiSpyware (soon to be renamed Windows Defender). The Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool is updated monthly and is part of Microsoft's monthly patch releases.

New CNET Service for Your Products

Did you loose a manual for a tech product that you own and need to find it? Or do you want to create a wish list for products you wish to own in the future and learn more about them? CNET has started a new feature called "My Products, " where you can enter a list of products that you now own...or a list of products you may want to buy. The most intriguing part of this concept is that they have manuals on-line for the products you now own, just in case you might have lost them and need to access it.

Weird eBay Auction Items

Hard to believe, but there is a website dedicated to searching out and posting the strangest items up for sale on eBay. And it is updated every day. Go to http://www.bizarrebids.com/

Cheatsheet for Word

If you use Microsoft's Word for your word processing, you might find this little cheatsheet handy. It is available from OfficeLetter.com and is available as (what else), a word document that you can print out. Go to: http://www.officeletter.com/samples/v04/n52wordshortcuts.doc

Odds and Ends

I thought I would put a few items of interest today in one blog. I hope you find something of use.

Worst Products:

CNET recently put together a list of some of the worst computer products of all time. I had a few of my own to add to the list, but I have long ago put them out of my mind and cannot remember their names (getting older, you know). Anyway, click here to see their list.

Web Sites for Free Software:

Here is a list of some of the best web sites where you can get some great free software and good shareware. But, you know me, I love the free stuff.

• NoNags - This web site features nothing but free software. Shareware is not allowed here. The term "NoNags" comes from the fact that they accept no software that nags you to buy their product every time you start it.
• SoftPedia.com - Another great web site with free and shareware software, with news, recommendations and more. Its a fun site to explore and look for products that might be of use to you.
• DownloadSquad.com - Similar to Softpedia but with a whole different looks. Lots of recommendations and blogs about software. Free and shareware software.
• Download.com - The most popular software download location on the net. Recently redesigned to give it a great look. Probably more shareware than freeware, but still a good site to explore.

Want to Simplify Your Life?

That is something that Susan and I are trying to do as we get older. We found a great website that helps with our efforts. It is called Flylady.net. Sign up for the Flylady's free email newsletter so you can take the clutter-free challenge, start a control journal, and take part in the 27-fling boogie (throw out all those things you don't need).

An Outlook Replacement

As you may remember from a past blog, I cannot make Outlook 2000 work properly with my desktop computer. And while I have found that Mozilla's Thunderbird is more than an adequate replacement for e-mail, I still miss some some of the other organizational features that Outlook offered such as to-do lists, calendaring, and notes.

I have now found a replacement program that is even better than Outlook and offers most of the same features, only better executed. It is called EssentialPim and it comes in both a free version and a Pro version that sells for $29.95. This program is so much better than Outlook, in my opinion, and in just a few days of use has become almost invaluable. I like it so much I am going to buy the Pro version and also install it on my laptop as it allows multiple users to access the data. Check out their website for more information.

Update on Sony's RootKit Software

The furor and problems caused by Sony’s hidden rootkit installations on unsuspecting user’s computers (see my blog on 11/4/05) continues to grow. As you may recall, the Sony software is installed automatically (without asking or telling) when a user puts one of their recently recorded music CD’s in his or her computer to play. It hides itself on hard drives using a powerful programming tool called a "rootkit." Sony did it to prevent music from being copied. But the tool leaves a “back door” open behind it, allowing other software, including viruses, to be deeply hidden behind the rootkit cloak.

Now, the first wave of malicious software written to piggyback on Sony BMG Music Entertainment CD copy protection tools has been spotted online, according to computer security companies. The first version of a Trojan horse spotted yesterday, aims to give an attacker complete remote control over an infected computer, but didn’t work well. But over the course of the day, several others emerged that apparently fixed the early flaws.

As one security analyst put it, "This is no longer about digital rights management or content protection, this is about people having their PCs taken over."

Sony's use of the rootkit software has sparked a firestorm of criticism online and off over the company's techniques, highlighting concerns that remain over record labels' increasingly ambitious attempts to control the ways consumers can use purchased music.

Last week, a legal firm in Los Angeles filed a class action suit against Sony BMG in Los Angeles federal court, asserting that the company had violated state and federal statues on unauthorized computer tampering. The company's actions also constituted fraud, trespass and false advertising, the suit contends. Similar suits are also being contemplated both nationally and internationally.

Meanwhile, several antivirus companies are releasing tools to identify, and in some cases remove, copy protection software contained on recent Sony BMG Music Entertainment CDs. Symantec said its antivirus software update will identify the Sony software, but would not remove it. Instead, it will point to Sony's own Web site, where users can get instructions for uninstalling the software or download a patch that will expose the hidden components.

However, Computer Associates, which has a security division, said it had found further security risks in the Sony software and was releasing a tool to uninstall it directly.

In other related news, The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a cyber-rights group, said it has identified 19 Sony CDs containing a rootkit application that disguises the company's invasive copy-restriction technology. They also said there may be more.

If you would like to learn more about how rootkits works, here is some selected reading:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rootkit
http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid14_gci547279,00.html
http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2144149/rootkits-turn-professional

Update:

Minutes before I sent this blog to be published, Sony BMG Music Entertainment announced that it will suspend production of CDs with copy-protection technology that has been exploited by virus writers to try to hide their malicious code on PCs as outlined above. The company also said it is not halting production of discs that contain other additional copy-protection technologies.

Backup Strategies - Part Two

In my last blog, I talked about backups and how I do mine. This time, I am going to give you some additional ideas, backup strategies from other sources, and software suggestions to help you along.

One of my readers wrote me and said he has a huge hard drive and wanted to know if he could back up his data to an unused portion of his drive. The answer is, of course, no. The reason is that if your hard drive stops working (and they all will, sooner or later), he would loose both his original data and his backup. You must use a separate storage entity, such as a separate hard drive, a CD-RW, a DVD-RW, a ZIP drive, or a tape backup. Which one you use depends on how much data you have to backup.

As I suggested in the last blog, you need to move your all your data to a separate area...like a separate hard drive, or, if you have only one drive, a separate folder such as c:\data and the appropriate folder listings below that. Or under the My Documents section in Windows. Having all your data in one location makes backups so much easier.

Obviously, with all my data, I prefer to back up using a separate hard drive. I have seen external 250 Gb hard drives with a USB2 connection for as low as $125 (Make sure it is USB2 (or Firewire) as USB 1.1 is way too slow). Many of these backup drives include all the backup software you need. You also might want to look for the so-called “One Touch” external backup hard drives as they are made specifically for this purpose.

If you have all the hardware you need, but are looking for some good backup software, I can help you. One of the better software packages you can get is Cobian Backup. And, it is free. It is as complete a backup software program as those you pay a lot of money for. It is heartily recommended by me and the folks at the “Call for Help” TV program. The author of the program is apparently quite wealthy and does it for fun.

As I mentioned yesterday, another free program that I use to sync up the data for my two computers is Syncback from 2BrightSparks. You can use this program for either synchronization or backups. Please be aware that there is a paid version and a freeware version. I, of course, use the freeware version and it works just great for me.

Here is a short list of additional readings to help you formulate your own backup strategy:

• Personal Backup Strategies on the ExtremeTech web site


• Personal Backup Strategies on the Free-Backup.info web site


• Backup Strategies for the Road on the PC-World web site


• Windows Backup Strategies on the Geek-Girls web site


• PC Backup is a Must


• How to back up and recover Outlook Express data


• Easy Backup Strategies for your Data


• Essential Computer Backup Strategies

These articles should get you started in the right direction. I hope you will consider a personal backup strategy soon if you don’t have one already.

Backup Strategies - Part One

Backing up your personal and business data is something everyone should think about. If you don't believe me, sit back and think about what would happen right now if your computer's hard drive stopped working right now. How much data that is really important to you would be gone forever if it wasn't backed up and how would it affect your life?

In my case, it would be a disaster of epic proportions. All of my art and photographs that I created over the years would be gone forever. I couldn't make any prints of my best selling works. Lots of work that I do for clients would be gone and how do I explain that? Moreover, all my financial data would be gone forever, not to mention important spread sheets and letters. Just the thought of this makes me shiver.

So, with that in mind, I thought I would share with you some possible backup strategies and suggest some additional reading material and some quality backup software.

In today's blog, I will tell you about my personal strategies that are working pretty well.

Inside my computer are two hard drives (one for programs, the other for data), one CD player, and one CD/DVD burner. Outside the computer are a 200 GB Western Digital external hard drive connected by USB2; and an additional CD/DVD burner, also connected by USB2.

All the software that run my programs are on drive C:. I do not backup this drive as I have all the original program CD's. If this hard drive crashed, I would just install a new hard drive and reinstall all the software from scratch. Having done this a couple of times, I know there is a better way.

If you have a little extra cash lying about, you could get an external hard drive of the same size, attach it via USB2 to your computer, and make an exact replica of your C: drive using a program like Norton's Ghost. When done, you turn off the external drive, disconnect it from the system, and store it away in case of emergency. You should update this drive every so often since you will probably add some additional software from time-to-time.

The second drive inside my computer is used almost exclusively for storing data that I create, such as accounting and other business data, photographs, final artworks, art works in progress, my web site data, and much more. I make sure that all my programs point to this data drive when creating files.

Every morning, around 2:00 AM, all the data on this drive is automatically transferred over to the external Western Digital hard drive. I use a program called, "Retrospect" that came with the external hard drive when I bought it. I simply programmed the software to do a backup of the data hard drive every night. In actuality, Retrospect doesn't copy the same files over and over. Rather, it checks for new files and only copies them over to the external drive. Much faster that way.

While I use Retropect for this one function, I don't recommend going out and buying a copy of it as it is expensive and really meant for tape backups. I have tried it for other backups and found it wanting, at least for the way I do my backups.

As for my original photos and art works, I use some additional back up routines. As I create new works, I back them up on CD's, usually make two separate copies of the CD's. One stays here at the house, while the other copy is stored offsite in case of fire or burglary. I use only the highest quality CD's as some cheap CD's will break down in a few years and lose all the data that was on them. For these backups I use CD-R's.

For my RAW-based original photos, I back them up on DVD's, again using only the highest quality DVD-R, such as TDK DVD-R or Tayo Yuden DVD-R. Again, 2 copies are made. So, for my artwork and photos, I may have as many as four copies of the same picture, just to be on the safe side.

Before I purchased my external hard drives and got into digital photography, I used to make all my backups on CD-RW disks. I would buy a box of 5 CD-RW's then use them in rotation for my data backups. The CD-RW are erasable and rewritable, so something like this might work for you. Most CD burning software like Nero can help you do these backups.

I do most of my work on my home computer, but as I am on the road continuously for six months out of the year, I take my laptop along and use it quite heavily in the field. At a show, I usually record my sales in a database and do other types of data that I want to save. I also want to have much of this data put on my home machine so I can work on it there.

For that, I use a backup/synchronization software program called Syncback. As I have all my computers networked, I can do this quite easily and painlessly. Before I leave the house, I "sync up" the data between my main computer and my laptop so that both have the exact same, up-to-date data. When I get back, I do this again so that both machines again are in sync. It works very well for me.

In the next installment, I will talk about some of the software available to help you backup your data and suggest some additional reading materials on the web that will help you formulate your own backup strategy.

Digital Camera Storage Choices

As I mentioned in an earlier blog, I have moved to digital photography after many, many years of using film. It is a big change in so many ways and I am still learning the fine points.

One of the most important things about digital photography is the image types that are available to you. Using a film camera, I had to first choose between black and white film, color negative film, or color slide film. When I chose one of the three, I had to choose among many choices for each type of film; i.e. Kodak Ektachrome, Fuji Sensia, Fuji Provia, etc. (these being a few of the choices in color slide film). Each had their specific qualities and idiosyncrasies.

In digital photography, you don’t choose film type. Rather, you choose the image type you wish to use to store your images (there are other choices you must make like ISO speed, but we will talk about that in the future). In digital photography, your basic three choices of image types are: JPEG (JPG), TIFF (TIF), and RAW.

In lesser expensive digital cameras, you don’t have a choice: there is only JPG. As you move up in price and quality, one or both of the other two types will also become available in the camera. Each has their advantages and disadvantages. Here is a quick, down-and-dirty look at each type.

JPEG – The biggest advantage of JPEG is that it is a very small file sizes, therefore you can store more images inside the camera. And most cameras give you a choice as to what size of an image you wish to shoot (i.e. 640x480, 1024x768, 2560x1920, etc.).

JPEG is also the default type used on the Internet, making it much easier to share photos among friends and family.

The disadvantages of JPEG are many. Primarily, in order to make the file size so small, much of the information contained in an image is discarded and the remaining data is compressed. While it may not be obvious in most pictures that pixel data is missing, you will become aware of it if you do post-processing of a JPEG image in software such as Photoshop, Elements, Paint Shop Pro, PhotoImpact, or any other image processing software.

You see, if you make any kind of changes to an image and save it, the software will try to recompress the JPEG image again, throwing out more image information. So the more times you save it, the more of the image is lost each time. So, if you must work on your images to make them better, do all the work before saving it so that you do only one additional save.

TIFF – This is probably the best way to save an image. Unlike JPEG, you can save a TIFF many times and never loose a pixel. I do almost all my post-processing work in TIFF. When I scan my slides into the computer, I always saved them as a TIFF. It is arguably the best way to save images when doing post-processing.

The disadvantage of TIFF is that it is probably the largest size of all image types. For instance, using my 8-megapixel camera as an example, setting it for the largest, highest quality, lowest compression JPEG image file, the file size would be 6.1 Mb. Using TIFF, the same size image would be 23.3 Mb, almost four times larger. If you decrease the size of your JPG image, the size difference will become even greater. This file size affects how many images you can store in your camera’s memory card before it becomes full.

So, while TIFF may be the best quality image-of-choice, you shouldn’t use it unless you have a huge capacity memory card in your camera, or you use it only on selected pictures at the time you take them.

RAW – This is the most interesting of the three file types. A RAW image isn’t so much an image type as it is a way to store original, unprocessed data. Even more interesting (and maybe confusing) is that RAW differs between each camera manufacturer. An Olympus RAW file is totally different than a Nikon RAW file or a Canon RAW file, unlike JPEG or TIFF, which is the same for all cameras.

The best way to understand RAW is to compare it to a piece of film that hasn’t been developed yet. The first thing I must do when processing the RAW image in Photoshop is “develop” the image. If I like the original exposure, I may develop it exactly as-is. If it is slightly underexposed or overexposed, I can play with it until I achieve the right exposure. Then I can adjust the white balance, sharpness, saturation, contrast, brightness, shadow detail, and more. In other words, I can make the “perfect picture” long after I have taken it with the camera.

After adjusting all these details, I then develop and save the image as a TIFF or any file type I choose in my computer and continue with post-processing. For a professional or serious amateur photographer, using RAW only makes good sense. And RAW is definitely my image type of choice, since I post-process all of my photos, usually in Photoshop.

The disadvantage of RAW is that it requires more work on your part and the file size is still fairly large. But it is a lot smaller than TIFF. Using the same example I gave above, a TIFF in my camera is 23.3 Mb., while the same size RAW image in only 13.3 Mb. As I use mostly a 1Gb memory card, I can store 72 RAW images in my camera before having to change cards. That is a lot, compares to the number of images I could get on a roll of film.

One other choice that I have with my camera is that I can also set it to take a RAW image and a JPEG image at the same time. I also have the choice of which size JPEG I want to shoot with the RAW image. If I am shooting a wedding for instance, I will set the camera take both a RAW image and a 640x480 JPEG image at the same time. I will use the smaller JPEG images for proofs for the customer, then process the RAW image for high quality larger prints for the images they eventually choose.

I hope this not-so-short explanation of image types has been of help, whether you have a digital camera already or are contemplating buying one in the future. If you have questions, just drop me an e-mail and I will do my best to answer you.

Sony Caught Installing Hidden Software on Computers

Did you know that if you have played a new Sony music CD in your computer within the last year, your computer is probably infected with a malicious software program that allows Sony to change the way you use your computer? All to true, as we have been finding out this week.

Sony, in its attempt to enforce it digital rights management system (DRM), has put a software program on its music CD's that installs itself into your computer, whether you want it or not and without asking your permission. It is written in the form of a rootkit, a malicious code that is nearly impossible to detect and can sometimes give its creator a "backdoor" into your computer whenever he wants. (I will be writing more about rootkits and their threat in an upcoming blog.)
Sony's digital rights management technology, now shipping on CD's by Sony Corp. and BMG Music, employs stealthy, rootkit-style techniques to hide from users, according to security experts. The new technology, which Sony has dubbed "sterile burning," manipulates the Windows core processing center, or "kernel," to make the DRM almost totally undetectable on Windows systems. It can also prevent you from burning music on your CD's or computer's hard drive.

These kind of files are almost impossible to remove without fouling Windows systems and could be used by malicious hackers to hide their own programs. The security expert who discovered the hidden Sony software found that if he removed it, it wrecked his Windows software and prevented him from accessing his CD player completely.

Sony BMG has acknowledged that the rootkit-style features are part of DRM technology that began shippCD's with CDs in 2005. The company claims that it is issuing a fix, so the software can be neutralized. However, early reports from users who have run the software say it does not remove the rootkit software; it only changes it so it is not hidden.

Despite Sony's assertions to the contrary (Sony says, "This component is not malicious and does not compromise security"), analysis from two Windows expert authorities show clearly that any other attacker could take advantage of the rootkit functionality to hide their own files and registry entries, and that techniques used by the software run the risk of making the system unusable.

Rather than go on and on about this, I strongly recommend you read this excellent editorial by Molly Wood of CNET. She explains how it happened, what it can do to your computer, how it changes the way you can use your computer, and how outraged we should all feel.

Links to Information on Bird Flu

As we hear more and more about the fears of a major outbreak of Bird Flu, (also known as Avian Influenza) in this country, I thought I should give you Web links to various sites to help you understand the situation.

President Bush really helped raise the level of awareness this week with his appeal to Congress for over $7 billion dollars for more research on this and other highly dangerous viruses. His concern has been raised by expert’s fears that an epidemic (or global pandemic, as some are calling it) of bird flu could easily result in the deaths of millions of people.

If you would like a simple overview of what the bird flu story is all about, I suggest you read this very interesting and easily understood article published by CNET news.

Here are some other in-depth web sites where you can learn more:

• Center for Disease Control and Prevention


• World Health Organization


• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases


• Federal Government’s New Web Site

More on the WebWatch Survey

Yesterday, I shared with you some of the findings of a recently completed survey by Consumer Reports WebWatch that indicated many Internet users are spending less time on the net because of all the security threats. Today, I want to tell you about some of the other interesting results in this 1,500-person survey.

Among the other findings of the study was indication that Americans are increasingly turning to the Web to get their news, with the percentage of adults reporting that they get the bulk their coverage from the Internet doubling to 11 percent, compared to only 5 percent in 2002. Some 69 percent of those surveyed said that sites that maintain a clear distinction between advertising and news content are more reliable, with 31 percent agreeing that it is very important for news sites to reveal the financial relationships they maintain with other businesses.

While Weblogs, or blogs, have caused a major upheaval in the news business as companies look at ways to keep up with citizen reporters, those surveyed by WebWatch were clearly less enthralled with the movement, with 57 percent distrusting blog-generated news, 21 percent saying that blogs are usually incorrect, and only 12 percent expressing a belief that the online journals are accurate most of the time. Roughly 27 percent of those interviewed said they had visited a blog in the past several months.

(Personally, I distrust most citizen-based news blogs as they can basically say anything they want and pass it off as fact. Most blogs should be clearly identified as opinions based on facts such as this blog.)

While 48 percent of respondents said that knowing exactly who owns a Web site is an important factor in their usage, and 76 percent said it was vital to be able to identify where the information on a site is coming from.

Regarding pictures or images, many Americans are also increasingly skeptical regarding images they find on the Web, with 47 percent reporting that they have viewed what they believed to be manipulated pictures online. Despite that trend, 67 percent said they trust online news sites to use genuine photographs.

In relation to children's Web usage, opinions remain largely negative, with 86 percent of those surveyed identifying adults' continued pursuit of kids in chat rooms as a serious problem on the Internet today, with 61 percent labeling violent online games as a major issue. Some 82 percent believe it is too easy for minors to view sexually explicit content.

Among the few bright spots revealed by the research was growing trust in auction and financial services sites, despite the growth of online phishing schemes, which have largely spoofed such pages in the name of committing identity theft.

WebWatch also reported that 61 percent of its respondents feel auction sites are safe, with 68 percent confident in their use of online banking sites, and 55 percent comfortable enough to use online bill payment systems.

What do you think of this survey? I found it very interesting, to say the least.