Windows 7 Tips

Tips on Computer Management in Windows 7

Computer Management is a Microsoft Management Console (MMC)-based tool that combines a number of administrative utilities into a single UI. It debuted in Windows 2000 and has soldiered on in ever version of Windows since. But in Windows 2000 and XP, the only simple way to access this tool was by right-clicking My Computer and choosing Manage, so many users simply didn't even know it existed. Now, in Windows 7, you can run it more easily via Start Menu Search. But again, you have to even know it exists to do so.

Get help from the Windows Reliability Monitor

Windows abounds with special-purpose tools that can help in the care and feeding of the beast — if you can just figure out where to find them. Today, I'd like to introduce you to the Reliability Monitor, one of my favorite ways to identify and exorcise the demons that lurk within.

Microsoft Readies 8 Windows, Office Patches

Microsoft will ship two security updates on Tuesday to patch eight vulnerabilities in Windows and Office.

Buzz backfire: How Google pushed me to Facebook

I use and enjoy Google Buzz. But here's the funny thing: because of it, I've begun using Facebook more. Buzz backfired for me for one simple reason. I wanted a mechanism for social networking with my personal contacts, but Facebook is where those ties are active. Although I have plenty of close contacts in my Gmail address book, not all of them use Gmail and therefore Buzz. Buzz has a good framework but the wrong faces.

Free Legal Information on the Web

The best single website for legal site links in the United States is www.findlaw.com. I can't comment about sites in other countries because I don't know much about them, but I'd be glad for tips about this or any other topic that would improve this essay.

Friday Tech Follies

iPad to hit the U.S. on April 3

Starting March 12, consumers can pre-order both the Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 3G models from Apple's online store or reserve a Wi-Fi version to pick up on April 3 at any Apple store.

Charging fees for Hulu comes with its own problems

Hulu's most viable alternative — charging for access to some videos — could turn off viewers and crimp the site's explosive growth. Ultimately, the remedy to Hulu's current troubles could leave the site even worse off, a poor shadow of its former self.

Buy Office 2007 Before Sept. 30, Get Free Office 2010 Upgrade

Microsoft kicked off its "Technology Guarantee" program for Office 2010 on Friday, meaning that anyone who buys and activates Office 2007 between now and Sept. 30 will get to upgrade to Office 2010 for free when it's available.

How to Buy an External Hard Drive

With the amount of data users need (or want) to cart around with them these days, it makes sense to invest in an external hard drive. We tell you what to consider when choosing the right one for you.

Score Free AudioBooks at BooksShouldBeFree

You can find quite a few free audiobooks online but they're frequently scattered all over. Save yourself the run around by checking out the thousands of free audiobooks cataloged at BookShouldBeFree. BooksShouldBeFree houses thousands of books in the public domain, available as both MP3s and as iTunes format audiobooks. Each entry for a book includes links to the full text, supplemental text, and reviews.

Earthquakes and Social Media

Tech-Savvy Chile Embraces Social Media

Since Saturday's quake, traditional media here have focused on hard news -- death tolls, rescue efforts, government announcements and images of lootings -- while social-networking tools such as Twitter, Facebook and some Google applications have been at the forefront of transmitting highly localized information

What enterprise still uses IE 6? Try Intel

Internet Explorer 6 is a relic, but corporations continue to cling to it. At this point, IE 6 in the enterprise is common, but it’s nonetheless surprising when Intel—Microsoft’s long-time partner—is still using the ancient browser.

Security expert: U.S. would lose cyber war

The U.S. government, if confronted in a cyber war today, would not come out on top, a former U.S. director of national intelligence said Tuesday. "If the nation went to war today, in a cyber war, we would lose," Mike McConnell told a U.S. Senate committee. "We're the most vulnerable. We're the most connected. We have the most to lose."

Confessions of a Windows 7 pirate

In the interest of research, I’ve been digging into message boards and forums run by unabashed Windows enthusiasts who are intent on breaking Microsoft’s activation technology.

Hubble Ultra Deep Field 3D

What happens when you point the Hubble Space Telescope to a seemingly blank patch of sky? A view that takes you to the edge of the universe! Fantastic video...don't miss it. I recently went to a lecture that talks about the different types of galaxies in this video.

Confessions of a Kindle User Part 2

Yesterday, we looked at the features and functionality of Amazon’s Kindle. Today, we look at how to acquire books for reading on the Kindle.

Shopping for books on Amazon is easy. You can do it from your PC or from your Kindle. The Kindle is equipped with a wireless connection from AT&T that allows you to shop from your Kindle and have the book delivered wirelessly. This connection costs you nothing. You can also buy a book on your PC and it will be wirelessly delivered the next time you turn your Kindle on. As a side note, turn off the wireless when not using it and you will extend the life of the battery.

Not sure whether or not you want a particular book? Amazon lets you download a sample of that book for free. Usually it is the first chapter or two. Then, if you like it, you can download the entire book as described above.

As for book costs, well let me tell you, for all the books that are on my Kindle, including those that I have erased after reading them, I have spent about $20. There are literally thousands and thousand of books available for free, even new books.

Amazon themselves offer about 80 free current books at any one time…sometimes they last for about a month, other times for only a few hours. But, there are many other sites that offer free books of all kinds. My favorite place to search is manybooks.net and inkmesh.com…the latter also has a link that connects you to Kindle’s latest free books that is updated hourly.

There are two other items, both free, I recommend you download to make your Kindle experience even better. First is “Kindle for the PC.” It is a software program for your computer that is a Kindle reader. You will often need it to download books from non-Amazon sources. It is quite easy to transfer your books from the PC Kindle software directly into your Kindle.

And, here is a sneaky trick for folks that don’t use a Kindle or any other reader for that matter. First, download the Kindle for PC application, then download a sample of a book you are thinking about purchasing. If you like what you see, you can get the dead tree edition of the book and be assured it is what you want. Just a thought.

The other item to get is a wonderful program that you can use to organize your book collection AND convert different types of e-books into other types…in my case, the Kindle. The program is called “Calibre” and is free. It does a fabulous job of converting other formats to Kindle. But it will also do the same thing for most other eBook formats. So if you have a Barnes and Noble Nook or Sony Reader, Calibre will work for you also.

The Kindle uses a format called “Mobi” that is exclusive for the Kindle. But there are many, many books published in the ePub and PDF formats. While Kindle will read a PDF document, it doesn’t do it well. It is much better to convert the PDF (or Word, or HTML document) to the Kindle format. Calibre is not the only eBook converter, but it is the best by far.

Conversion is a simple process. After converting a book, Calibre will load it into your Kindle if your are connected via USB. Calibre is a very useful utility and highly recommended for any eBook reader.

Well those are my thoughts on the Kindle and eBook readers in general. As I said earlier, I love reading and storing books this way. Although you can’t try out a Kindle without ordering it, you can head over to your nearest Barnes and Noble store and try out their “Nook” to see if you like using an eBook reader. You might be surprised.

Confessions of a Kindle User Part 1

Well, this is not really a confession, more like experiences. The word “confessions” is just more interesting in a headline. Anyway, it is now just over two months since my son and daughter-in-law gave me a Kindle eBook reader for Christmas. Of course, I knew it was coming as I helped pick out the best one as his wife received one also. I did a fair amount of investigating before I chose the Kindle. My other two major choices were the Barnes and Noble “Nook” and the Sony eReader.

The bottom line of this report is I love my Kindle and take it with me almost everywhere. I spend more time reading everyday than I have in a long time…and loving it. The reason is simply that my Kindle is with me most of the time and previous downtime. such as waiting for lectures and concerts to begin is now used for reading.

The Kindle is lightweight and compact, slightly larger than a paperback book (but lighter and thinner). It holds over 1,000 or more books at any one time. Right now I have just over 40 books on mine. I usually read two or three at time…whatever strikes my fancy.

Reading is easy as it is almost precisely like reading a book, at least to my eyes. It uses a 6” e-ink screen…they are not backlit so they are easy on the eyes. I can change the font size to make it easier to read and I can read it vertically or horizontally. Page turning is a breeze as there is a forward and backward page buttons. Takes about one second for a page to change.

Since it is not backlit, you do need a light source of any type for reading. If you want to read at night in bed in the dark so not disturb your spouse, you will need a small light that fits on Kindle itself. And reading in direct sunlight is not a problem. I also recommend a cover to protect it.

Battery life is excellent…Amazon says that it will last up to two weeks without a recharge. That is assuming you leave the wireless connection off when not using it (more about that feature later). You can recharge it by plugging into the wall or using a USB port on your computer.

As you may notice from the photo, there is a miniature keyboard at the bottom of the device. You can use this for email, typing in searches, or making notes about what you are reading. Each note you write is automatically attached to the page where you started making the note. Granted, the keyboard is more like a cell phone keyboard, but it works well enough.

Another feature that is a God-send is the built-in dictionary. If you find a word that you don’t understand, you can click over to it and the definition will automatically display at the bottom. I recently read some British detective novels from the early 20th century and having the dictionary really helped with some unusual words…and it found every one of them…even told me that no one used those words much anymore.

Still yet another interesting feature is you can switch it from reading to having a voice read the book to you. I admit I have not used it all that much, but it does work surprisingly well. You can have a male or female voice do the reading. It is not as good as an audio book, but still it is better than the average mechanical voice.

While the device has limited Internet capability, you can go to Wikipedia to look up additional information. There are additional features, but I won’t go into them here.

The Kindle is available at Amazon for $259.

Next time, I will discuss more about books, how to buy them, where to buy them and how to get thousands of them for free. Stay tuned.

Taxes, Taxes, Taxes

Taxes 2009: TurboTax vs. H&R Block vs. TaxAct

We know, tax time is the pits, but if it makes you feel better, we did ours six times while researching the pros and cons of TurboTax (Windows|Mac|Online), Tax Act (Windows|Online), and H&R Block At Home (Windows|Mac|Online), formerly called H&R Block Tax Cut. So we know a thing or three about taxes.

FCC previews National Broadband Plan details

The report, which was mandated as part of last year's economic stimulus bill, will provide a blueprint for policy makers and lawmakers to provide ubiquitous high-speed Internet access to every American. It will be presented to Congress on March 17. The plan, which is expected to be hundreds of pages long, will include recommendations for new rules, such as reforms to the $7 billion Universal Service Fund. And it will also include policy recommendations for expanding network coverage, increasing broadband speeds, and encouraging competition.

'Internet addiction' could appear on the official list of mental illnesses

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) are working on the fifth revision of the book at the moment, and Internet Addiction might be included to the ever-growing list of disorders.

Discovering Planets Beyond - How Do Planets Form?

This Web site is part of the Hubblesite and offers a look at how planets outside our solar system are being discovered and even photographed. There is also an interesting video on the site and lots of good information about exo-planetary systems. Fascinating stuff.

Anti-Rootkit - Free Rootkit Removal

For all Windows users (including Windows 7), Sophos offers an easy and very effective choice in rootkit removal, that is suitable even for beginners.

High School Uses Laptops to Spy on Students at Home

Shut down Webcam use, judge tells school district

A Philadelphia High School gave its students free laptops. Then, the school used the built-in web cam in those laptops to spy on some students at home. The school never told students or parents that they had installed spy software on the laptops. This has opened a firestorm of protests, not to mention lawsuits. And, it turns out, this high school may not be the only one doing this. This is an important story that we will be following.

Italian Court Convicts Google Execs for Uploaded Video

Another amazing court decision: An Italian court has convicted three Google executives of privacy invasion, holding them liable for a 2006 video uploaded by a user. Chief Legal Officer David Drummond and two others were sentenced to six-month suspended terms. Google plans to appeal the rulings that fly in the face of a long-standing doctrine about immunity against user content.

Six Labs features now standard for Gmail users

Google has released six technologies tested in its Gmail Labs for use in the mainstream product, including a forgotten attachment detector, previews of YouTube videos, and an autoresponder to send automatic replies while on vacation

Windows shortcuts can boost your efficiency

Constantly moving your hands between the keyboard and mouse is not the most efficient way to interact with our computers, but most of us doggedly stick to it. But if you take a little time to learn (or relearn) a few basic keyboard and mouse shortcuts, you can blaze through your windows faster and more easily — and possibly put less stress on your overworked hands as well.

Dropbox - Online backup, file sync and sharing made easy.

This incredible free program is what you want if you have 2 or more computers that you want to keep in sync. It is the only program that has ever been able to keep my Outlook file in sync across three computers. I also use it to keep my OneNote, Word, and Excel files in sync as well as my blog drafts. No matter where I am, my computers are always in sync. Data is stored in the cloud until you turn on linked computers, then it is downloaded automatically.

Apple and Censorship

Apple Insists Complaints Led To Ban on Sexy Apps

Apple, Inc.'s Philip Schiller insists the ban on racy apps in Apple's App Store is a result of complaints from women and parents. But Apple still allows apps from Playboy and Sports Illustrated, indicating that branded content is acceptable. Apple's ambiguity on its App Store allows flexibility in what apps get banned or restored.

iTunes Store Still Has Plenty of Porn

Apple reportedly took recent action to remove a bunch of boobie and bikini apps from the iTunes store. The reason, ostensibly, is that kids found them and that offended their parents. As we've demonstrated in our story "5 Sexy Apps Still In The iTunes Store," Apple's policy seems arbitrary and incomplete. And that's just its apps policy.

How Can I Ditch Cable and Watch My TV Shows and Movies Online?

I'd love to get rid of cable and stream all my favorite TV shows right from the internet. What do I need to know before I take the plunge?

DocStoc opens up its store to (almost) anyone

Online document host DocStoc launched its DocStore online marketplace a little less than a year ago, and since then it's grown to more than 1 million downloads a month. However, up until now it's only allowed a handful of hand-picked providers to sell their wares on its site. That's changing with a new service that will let just about anyone with what the company deems to be a "professional document" sell their stuff.

The Most Accurate, Highest Resolution Earth View to Date - NASA

This is the most accurate, highest resolution true color image of planet Earth to date. And at 2048 x 2048 pixels, you should put it in your desktop background now.

Lock Your Computer with a USB Drive

Buzz's Latest Tweaks Make for Some Awkward Social Interactions

Google has attempted to soothe user outrage over the privacy holes in its Buzz social service. However, the new adjustments it's made apparently open new doors for creepy behavior, like secretly following someone who's tried to block you. The changes could also allow others to secretly follow you.

Twitter, Facebook use up 82 percent

The average social-networking user around the world spent more than five and a half hours on sites like Facebook and Twitter in December, according to data released Monday by Nielsen. That marked an 82 percent jump from December 2008 when Tweeters and Facebookers surfed their favorite sites for around three hours the entire month.

Mozilla patches critical Firefox bugs

Mozilla has released fixes for five security holes in older versions of Firefox, while a security company has warned of a zero-day flaw in the latest version of the popular browser.

Nuance Launches Free PDF Reader to Compete with Adobe

Nuance Communications, Inc. has just announced the launch of new free Windows-based PDF Reader software that, Nuance says, "includes features typically found in premium products" and "takes up less disk space, is more secure than Adobe® Reader®, and works with virtually any PDF file."

Predator Freeware lock your computer with a USB flash drive

Predator enables you to lock and unlock your PC by simply removing or inserting a USB flash drive. You can use any USB stick, the program will generate a security code and place it on the device to identify it as the key. It will then check every X seconds if the drive is still inserted and if it is not, the program will lock your computer.  Cool idea.

Free Giant 2010 Baseball Book

Critical Census Software Plagued by Glitches

The 2010 Census has already begun in remote areas, but the Census software system is nowhere near ready to handle paperwork and payroll data for the expected 500,000 Census takers. A government watchdog group says that if changes are not made to critical software systems, the Census risks ballooning costs, delays and inaccuracies.

Reports: Internet Attacks Traced to Chinese Schools

Computer security experts investigating Internet attacks on Google and other U.S. companies say computers at Chinese educational institutions may have been involved.

Three Ways to Manage Your Attention with Facebook

First, tune out Inane Updates: While games are huge on Facebook, I really don't care about my friends' gaming activity. I am not alone. "I don't care about your farm, or your fish, or your park, or your mafia" has attracted over five million fans. Thankfully, the New York Times today details how you can tune out say Farmville updates from friends...

Booking a Flight the Frugal Way

Booking a flight is a total mess. Travelocity and Expedia have been joined by Bing and Orbitz and Dohop and Vayama and CheapTickets and CheapOair and Kayak and SideStep and Mobissimo and and and … I could go on and list every single Web site out there, but I won’t. There are just too many. Instead, I’ll lead you through the steps I make when I’m booking a flight myself.

Free Book: Emerald Guide to Baseball 2010

Baseball season is rapidly approaching. If you are a fan, the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) is pleased to to offer the Emerald Guide to Baseball 2010 as a free PDF to the world baseball community. I've downloaded it myself and it is fantastic. I will be printing out a page or two for every Spring Training game I attend here in Tucson. The book is $25 in print.

I’m Dumping Buzz: Here is Why and How

Google makes it easier to disable Buzz

Last week we took you through a laborious step-by-step process to disable Buzz, Google's new social network. Google's engineers made some quick changes as a result of the backlash, including fixing a security flaw affecting mobile Buzz users, tweaking a setup process that has you manually accepting followers, and providing an easier way to disable Buzz if you want to give it the heave-ho.

What Google needs to learn from Buzz backlash

Ask almost any technology company what products and services they use within their own organizations, and most will enthusiastically admit to "dog-fooding" their own products. It's both a show of support for their own technology and an opportunity to test those products for flaws that won't make the light of day before they are fixed. Google is no different. But something went wrong with the dog-fooding process for Google Buzz, forcing company engineers to scramble over a holiday weekend to calm the outcry over privacy violations with tweaks to the settings and set-up process.

Quick cures for the worst Windows 7 annoyances

In its seemingly never-ending quest for a better Windows, Microsoft simply can't resist tinkering with — and sometimes completely removing — features that many of us loved. If you find yourself tripping over new Windows 7 features or missing favorite old ones, I've got some tips that will come to your rescue.

Hands On with Windows Phone 7 Series

Microsoft on Monday launched its Windows Phone 7 Series, the most radical change that Microsoft smartphones have ever seen. WP7 – there's no "Windows Mobile" any more – uses a bold array of tiles and pivoting panels to let users easily access their personal information, Zune music and Xbox Live gamer card.

Back4Sure Makes Quick Work of Backing Up Files to a USB Drive

Windows: Nothing beats a full-on system backup for making sure you've got duplicates of all your important stuff. Free utility Back4Sure is a simple but powerful tool for quickly, incrementally backing up important files to external drives from anywhere.

A Good Look at USB 3

USB 3.0 Boosts Speeds and Bandwidth

Computer users are eagerly awaiting USB 3.0, or SuperSpeed USB. SuperSpeed USB will offer transfer rates 10 times faster than USB 2.0, and USB 3.0 cables should still be compatible with USB 2.0 connections. External hard drives will be the first devices to come out with USB 3.0 connections. Unfortunately, few devices currently support USB 3.0, but they are coming soon.

Google Apologizes for Buzz Fuss, Stops Automation

Google's Todd Jackson has apologized for the Google Buzz fiasco in which Gmail users contacts were made public without notice. In response to user complaints, Google has further tweaked Google Buzz so matchups and sharing are no longer automatic. A security lab reported that in just two days, a Google Buzz spammer had linked to 237 people.

7 reasons to stick with Windows XP

Are you having an internal debate about upgrading to Windows 7? I think that is a good choice for many folks. But, here are 7 reasons to stick with Windows XP that might make help you justify staying where you are.

User Reviews: How to Use Them, And How Not To

These days, online reviews have evolved to take advantage of the medium's strengths, and they've expanded to fill the extra space. Retailers like Amazon love user reviews, and have made them an integral part of the sales cycle: “Do your research right here, on this page, before you buy!” they seem to say, passing off user reviews as a complete replacement for professional reviews.

Webcams Go High-Def—Sort of

Today's webcams have made significant inroads in both audio and video performance. They still don't rival even low-end digital cameras and camcorders, but 2-megapixel sensors, Carl Zeiss optics, and 720p video recording are now commonplace. That's plenty for sharp-looking Skype calls and Web chats, throwaway snapshots, or even an impromptu YouTube performance at your desk.

A Look at SUPERAntiSpyware

The Gizmo Web site calls this program the best free anti-spyware program out there. And after using it for a little while, I agree.

SUPERAntiSpyware comes in two versions, a free version and the Pro version for $29.95. Daily updates for both are free. SUPERAntiSpyware Professional includes real-time blocking of threats, scheduled scanning, and free unlimited Customer Service via e-mail.  The free version requires you to initiate a scan, but then when it finishes, it will wipe out the threats.

Now, there is some misconception about anti-spyware programs and anti-virus programs. The majority of folks think you can only have one anti-malware program running at a time. That is only half true. You can only have one antivirus program running, otherwise the two programs will conflict with each other and start rendering fall positives. Anti virus programs include AVG, Avast, Norton, Microsoft Security Essentials (my personal recommendation) and several others.

But you may one or more anti-spyware programs on your system. Best not to run more than one at a time, but you can use more than one to double check your system.

The two best are SUPERAntiSpyware and MalwareBytes.  I use both, but find SUPERAntiSpware catching more threats. Gizmo agrees with me. Give it a try and see what it finds.

The New Windows 7 Phone

Windows Phone 7 Series Preview

Microsoft drops some shock and awe on the smart phone industry with a surprisingly strong Windows Phone 7 Series announcement. This could be the big one, folks.

Ballmer banks on Windows Phone 7 for the future

Steve Ballmer hopes "7" will be Microsoft's lucky number as the company restarts its mobile business with the release of Windows Phone 7. On Monday, the CEO of Microsoft and his team of Microsoft executives took the wraps off the latest version of the Windows Mobile operating system at a press conference here at the Mobile World Congress. The new Windows Phone 7 is a fresh start for the company in mobile.

Adobe warns of new Reader, Flash holes

Will it never end? Adobe Systems on Thursday warned of new critical holes in Reader and Flash Player, released a security update for the Flash hole, and said a patch for Reader would come next week. My advise...don't wait for Adobe to update, change to Foxit Reader.

The 10 coolest experiments from Google Labs

When you've got thousands of the world's most brilliant engineers spending 20 percent of their time on whatever takes their fancy, cool software is the result.

USB Safeguard 1.1.0 (Windows) Free

It's a freeware file encryption utility, small, portable and easy to use. Simply drag and drop files and folders to quickly protect your sensitive documents, and then enter an password to encrypt and decrypt the files that you want to protect from prying eyes.

More Buzz about BUZZ

Buzz features compared: Just the important stuff

Buzz is, in many ways, highly derivative of existing, and quite popular services. The three biggest ones that come to mind are Twitter, Facebook, and FriendFeed, with the latter two being the same company. Though to Google's credit, it has done something none of these companies has managed to do in integrating it deeply into a popular e-mail service.

Google may remove Buzz from Gmail

Google has now released a statement that they will not be removing Buzz from Gmail, but rather are considering building a standalone version of Buzz that doesn't require Gmail. The main gripe with BUZZ has been privacy issues.

Twitpics from Space

For the past few weeks, Japanese astronaut Souichi Noguchi, traveling in orbit 200 miles above the Earth at around 17,000 mph, has been on board the International Space Station tweeting images of his view from space. The images, which were taken with digital cameras on board the International Space Station, have been posted to Twitter via Twitpic, a Web site that allows users to easily post pictures.

Microsoft Releases Windows Experience Pack for Windows XP/Vista/7

Microsoft has been releasing freebies for Windows 7 users fairly regularly. However, that doesn’t mean that Microsoft has completely forgotten about users of older versions of Windows. The Windows team has released a new set of goodies for Windows Live, which are available not only for Windows 7 but also for Windows XP and Vista.

Antenna: Tune in Radio from Around the World

Radio stations around the world are also broadcasting on the Web, so even if you're far away from a place you like to visit, or you're away from home and want to hear the local news from your neighborhood, you can probably find and stream what you're looking for at any time. The trouble is finding the station you want. With Antenna, the process is a little easier.

Fine Tuning Your Computer and On-Line Experiences

How to fix your Facebook News Feed so it's chronological

Whenever Facebook launches a new design, things get misplaced. If your favorite way to browse Facebook is to browse your News Feed chronologically, here’s how to fix it:

Fine tuning Windows 7 on your netbook

A good article for adjusting Windows to run more efficiently on a netbook. Most suggestions also work very well for a regular notebook.

Freeware outdoes Windows' built-in system tools

Most standard Windows maintenance tasks can be accomplished using the utilities included with the OS itself — but that doesn't mean those tools are your best option. Whether you're looking for an easier way to browse the image files in a folder, create a restore point, revert to XP's Classic Start Menu, or customize your file associations, there's a (free) app for that.

Burning Question: Where’s My à la Carte TV?

Imagine this sweet deal: Instead of paying big bucks for dozens of channels you don’t watch, you get to pick only the content you want: ESPN. Dexter. Every film Jessica Alba was ever in. OK, now forget it. Ain’t gonna happen. At least, not in the near future.

Backup and Restore Personal Folders in Outlook

The Microsoft Office Online site offers a Personal Folders Backup Tool as a free download. To use this tool, be sure to download the appropri¬ate version for your version of Outlook and then exit Outlook before installing the tool. After you download and install the backup tool, you can back up a user’s personal folders

More About Google’s New “Buzz”

Editor’s Note: Yesterday, Google announced its new Buzz program, an add-on for Gmail. Today I got an invitation to connect, and I did. I am not 100% sure I fully understand it, but am going to try and figure it all out. So far, I am following just two people, myself and one other person that Buzz picked up from my Google Reader account.  I seem to be getting both their Tweets and Friendfeeds. I will keep playing and see if its worth it. If you have a Gmail account and get an invite, why not join me and let me know what you think. JRC

Social Networking: Google Buzzes Social Networking Scene

Social networking is Gmail's next logical step, right? Early reactions are divided. Google Buzz "is just mission creep," argues consultant Simon Sinek. On the other hand, if Google does what it does best with this new networking tool -- organizing information -- it might create a competitive differentiator, says First Page Sage founder Evan Bailyn.

Rafe and Josh debate Google's Buzz

Google on Tuesday released Buzz (news), its Twitter competitor. Or is it a swipe at FriendFeed? The new platform has elements of both. It joins other Google communication tools inside the Gmail service, so you can't miss it if you're a Gmail user (if you haven't gotten the notice yet that your account is Buzz-enabled, just wait a few days). Should you use it? That depends on whether your network of friends is on board.

Google to test ultrafast broadband to the home

Google, never satisfied with the pace of change, plans a test that will provide 50,000 to 500,000 people with fiber-optic broadband Internet access with a network speed of a gigabit per second starting as soon as this year.

Malware hits all-time high in January

The amount of unique malware tracked by security vendor Fortinet, reached an all-time high in January. Its distinct malware volume soared to over 9,000 last month, more than twice that in December, the company said.

FotoSketcher 1.95 (Windows)

FotoSketcher turns digital photos into beautiful pencil sketches or paintings in seconds. Free

Good Times for Netflix

Netflix will add 1080p, 5.1-channel surround sound

Netflix’s on-demand video streaming service, a.k.a. Netflix Watch Instantly, is jumping on the 1080p HD bandwagon later this year, with a corresponding bump in audio to 5.1-channel surround sound.

Netflix has Blockbuster on the ropes

The traditional video-store business model appears doomed. At this point, Blockbuster appears headed for the same fate as Movie Gallery. At one time, Movie Gallery was one of Blockbuster's biggest brick-and-mortar competitors, but last week it filed for bankruptcy protection for the second time since 2007.

Macmillan Books Return To Amazon.com

Amazon had limited the availability of Macmillan titles due to an e-book dispute, where Macmillan had insisted on a new e-book pricing system that in effect did away with Amazon's $9.99 Kindle e-book rate. Under Macmillan's model, known as the "agency model," e-books will be priced from $12.99 to $14.99 when first released.

Google Brings Buzz Social Networking to Gmail, Mobile

You've got to hand it to Google: when they take on a project, they don't do things by halves. On Tuesday, in an event at the company's Mountain View campus the company announced Google Buzz, its newest entry into the social-networking

Faster downloads, skins, and caps in uTorrent 2.0

uTorrent 2.0 went gold a few days ago, and the latest stable version of the incredibly popular torrent client introduces several useful new features for those who haven't been playing around with the beta.

Watch out For Haiti Relief Scams

FBI Braces for Haiti-Relief Scam Onslaught

The FBI and at least five state attorneys general have issued alerts on Haiti relief scams, warning Americans eager to support earthquake relief to avoid in-person scams, where door-to-door solicitors ask for money; e-mail and texting scams, which aim to steal money and personal data; and social-networking scams that represent bogus charities.

Nook back on sale

Barnes & Noble's Nook e-reader, which sold out over the winter holidays, is available online once again, the company said Monday. The Nook is also expected to show up in most B&N stores by midweek.

Will Fans Still Love Hulu if It's Not Free?

Hulu's recent billion-video milestone validates the idea that people will actually watch long-form programming online. Now, Hulu says it will explore a tiered pricing structure, and many are betting that Hulu will soon be brought to web-connected devices such as TVs and Blu-ray players. But will its fans still love Hulu if it's not free?

Top 5 Super Bowl Ads

It's Super Bowl Monday, the morning after the big game, and that means it's time to break down the highlights and look back at the best commercials shown during this year's broadcast.

iCatchall: 27 apps for free--Monday only

What's better than 27 apps for 99 cents? Why, 27 apps for zero cents, of course. That's what you get from iCatchall, which, like last week's App Genie, delivers more than two dozen tools under one app roof. Normally it's 99 cents, but in conjunction with previously mentioned Free App a Day, iCatchall is free today (and only today).

FBI Wants Better Snooping

FBI wants records kept of Web sites visited

The FBI is pressing Internet service providers to record which Web sites customers visit and retain those logs for two years, a requirement that law enforcement believes could help it in investigations of child pornography and other serious crimes.

Facebook Engineers Hit Redesign Button Once Again

Facebook has once again redesigned the social-networking site and is rolling out the changes to some users. Facebook says the redesign will make navigation easier, but at least one user says the change has ruined her organization of friends. Facebook has added dashboards for applications and games, and said it is providing privacy settings.

Microsoft's challenge: Innovation, innovation, innovation

Former Softies are weighing in publicly about Microsoft’s culture of innovation — or lack thereof — in the past couple of days. What they aren’t doing is offering any real suggestions about how Microsoft can make a company of 90,000 or so employees more agile, less insular and more innovative.

How to Buy a Netbook

If you're not thinking about buying a netbook, you should be—they're powerful, portable, and even more inexpensive than a year ago. Here's what you need to know before you buy.

Audacity 1.2 - Free - Full Review

Want to record some audio you hear on the Internet? Edit a quick podcast sound file? Mix some tracks together? Clean out background noise? Open source Audacity is your ticket for all these audio tasks, and it doesn't require you to pay for professional sound-editing software.

Great Photos of Pluto (Not the Dog)

MS Patch Tuesday heads-up: 13 bulletins, 26 vulnerabilities

Microsoft’s February batch of security patches will be a biggie — 13 bulletins with fixes for a whopping 26 vulnerabilities.

Windows 7 Release Candidate to Begin Expiration Process

Microsoft this week began warning users of the Release Candidate (RC) version of Windows 7 that the free preview version of its latest OS will begin winding down soon. As part of this process, the Windows 7 RC will begin alerting users of the expiration in about two weeks, on February 15. Then, starting March 1, the Windows 7 RC will begin automatically shutting down once every two hours. The RC formally expires June 1, 2010.

Wired Chinese Yawn in the Face of Google Exit

Google's threat to pull out of China has caused worldwide media attention and scrutiny -- but the wired Chinese population couldn't care less. Chinese Internet users' indifference highlights the challenges Google and other companies have infiltrating the world's most populous Internet market, and how tightly the government controls information.

Most-detailed images of Pluto revealed

A set of photos taken by the Hubble space telescope in 2002 and 2003 show the most detailed look at the former planet Pluto. The photos show an icy and dark molasses colored surface that changes with the seasons.

25 great games you can play on a Netbook

So you finally broke down and purchased a Netbook. After all, these low-cost, low-power laptops are great for tossing in your bag, working at the coffee shop, or taking to class. You knew all along that these systems were not made for gaming, and obviously you planned to spend all your time doing Netbook-like things, such as Web surfing and working on office documents. Still, somewhere along the way, the thought crept in: maybe I can find some games that will run on an Intel Atom processor and integrated graphics.

Oh Dear! Better run a Malware Scan!

Report: 48% of 22 million scanned computers infected with malware

According to the report, the overall number of infected computers (page 10) used in the sample decreased compared to previous quarters, however, 48.35% of the 22,754,847 scanned computers remain infected with malware. And despite that the crimeware/banking trojans infections slightly decreased from Q2, over a million and a half computers were infected.

Initial Sales of Apple's iPad Are Likely To Be Modest

Analyst Charlie Wolf of Needham & Company released a research report Wednesday that projects modest sales of just two million units this year. Sales are expected to reach six million in 2011, but Wolf wrote that it will take a catalyst to propel sales to the eight million mark in 2012.

Amazon agrees to higher prices in e-book dispute

Amazon said Sunday that, while it still believes a $14.99 price tag for e-books is "needlessly high," it will have to give in to Macmillan's demands to sell electronic versions of its books at a higher rate than Amazon's usual $9.99.

Firefox sync doesn't stink

The Weave extension is Mozilla's in-house effort to store your bookmarks, tabs, history, passwords, and preferences on Mozilla's server--the end goal being to snap open Firefox on any computer (or even mobile phone) and get to your content without having to configure your settings or open pages anew.

Best Free Rootkit Scanner/Remover

When your computer gets a virus, that virus tries to spread, and eventually it will damage the host making it much easier to detect. A rootkit on the other hand is designed to hide certain elements such as files, processes, registry entries, or network connections, from the user and other programs thus making it very difficult to detect.

The iPad: My 2 Cents

First, let me say I am a confirmed Windows computer user and don’t feel the need to move over to the Apple computing system, even though I think very highly of their products.  That being said, I do have an 80Gb Apple iPod that I use with iTunes…and I love them both.  They work extremely well for me. Apple puts out many great products…so I am not in any way anti-Apple.

It also just so happens I am looking to buy a new netbook soon. I have a laptop that works fine, but it is just too heavy to lug around the places I like to go and work…like the University of Arizona campus that takes 30 minutes to cross. I want something lightweight that has a long battery life so I don’t need a charger with me and is big enough to comfortably type on.

Now that you know where I am coming from, be aware that I was excited to hear about the new Apple iPad on Wednesday and really liked it at first glance…and was blown away by the price. After watching the introduction by Steve Jobs, the iPad was now under strong consideration.

But, on Thursday, as I did some digging and I began looking at its strengths and weaknesses and how it would apply to my needs…and I can’t make that point strong enough, this review is about my needs.  Your needs may be different and so the iPad may be just perfect for you.

Strengths – It has a long battery life; a beautiful large back-lit screen; the ability to use free Wi-Fi and not be married to AT&T; its lighter than a Netbook; you can watch movies; and it has lots of other good features too numerous to name here that make it fun and useful to use. 

Weaknesses – For me, there are several…

First, the keyboard is in the screen, which makes it difficult for a writer as compared to a regular keyboard (one expert who says he can write 80 words per minute on a keyboard is slowed down to 15 word per minute on an iPad), not to mention greasy fingerprints. Just as important, one has to look down to see the screen when you write. That means you must use it on your lap…or if you use a table you have to strain you neck to see what you are writing. With a netbook, laptop, or regular computer, you stare straight ahead at your screen. Because I write so much, that is a deal killer for me…and I don’t feel like dragging the optional keyboard with stand along with me. 

But wait, there is more...

The screen is backlit, making reading a book a little harder on the eyes than my Kindle…which also means it can’t be read easily outside. I can read my Kindle anywhere where there is light, as it is just like reading a paper book.  So having the iPad as a portable e-reader may not work for me either.

For Web browsing, it looks good, until you figure out that it cannot use Adobe Flash. Being that a large majority of Websites (including mine) use Flash on their pages, that makes it much more difficult to browse (if you use Facebook and play their games, forget it).

Other problems: It has no camera so I can’t videoconference or use Skype (that is not a deal killer for me)…it has no USB ports so I can’t upload my photos in the field…I can’t store more than 64GB of files (the most basic Netbook has 160GB drive)…can’t download programs via a CD drive and can only add content from the Apple Store…there is no multitasking so you can only do one thing at a time…you can use a Bluetooth keyboard, but not a Bluetooth mouse, and it is twice as heavy as a Kindle 2.

The bottom line for me is the iPad is made mostly for content consumption whereas most of my needs are for content creation.

So, for me, the iPad currently does not work, so I will continue in my hunt to find the best netbook.  As much as I might enjoy owning one, it would just be another device that would not replace either my netbook or my Kindle, or anything else for that matter. But, I look forward to seeing the next version of the iPad as I think Apple is on the right track.

Again, I cannot emphasis enough that my review applies only to me and my needs. If the iPad fits your needs, then it is for you, although I still advise caution in buying it now as the best of the iPad is yet to come.   

Special TV Program Alert:

PBS documentary questions tech and our future

“Like Douglas Rushkoff, I've been an enthusiastic supporter of digital technology for more than 20 years and, also like Rushkoff, I've had some second thoughts as to whether--at least for some people--immersion in technology is doing more harm than good.

Rushkoff is the co-host and co-writer of TV movie "Digital Nation: Life on the Virtual Frontier," which premiers on PBS Frontline Tuesday at 9:00 p.m. The show was produced, co-written and co-hosted by Rachel Dretzin, who also produced "Growing Up Online," a show that aired on Frontline in 2007.

The new program explores the use of technology at home, school, work, and in the military, examining the pros and cons of multitasking, immersion in virtual worlds and even remote warfare.”

Excerpt from article by Larry Magid

Google Says Bye-Bye to Internet Explorer 6

Google phasing out support for IE6

Google has clearly had enough with Internet Explorer 6. As of March 1, Google will no longer support IE6 on its Google Docs and Google Sites services.

Is eBay facing seller revolt?

eBay's latest move, some of the auction site's devotees say, is straight out of the Ministry of Truth's playbook. The company made an announcement on Tuesday announcement about lowering the listing fees for items--even though, in many cases, final value fees will be raised. The company's discussion forums simmered with outrage over the executive decision

Debating the merits of Apple's iPad

There's been no shortage of opinions on the iPad, for sure. Some think it's just a big iPhone that can't make phone calls, while others see it as the tablet of the future. To get into some of these points, CNET's Ina Fried and Josh Lowensohn weigh in on some of the issues.

10 things Netbooks still do better than an iPad

While the iPad might win out on some particular functions--video playback quality, in particular--the truth is there are a great many things Netbooks can do that an iPad just can't. Right now, at least. And while that may not make a Netbook better than a laptop, in some instances a Netbook certainly seems better than an iPad.

ProtectStar Data Shredder - Free

The new ProtectStar Data Shredder 2.1 ushers in an intelligent generation of solutions for secure deletion of sensitive data. This compact and user friendly software handles the needs of both business and private users, and allows all data to be deleted in such a way that it is completely beyond recovery, even for experts and government agencies.

More Fallout From the iPad

Apple iPad vs netbooks: fight not over yet

Apple CEO Steve Jobs was rather dismissive of the netbook at the iPad's launch last night. He needed to be: he was trying to win over journalists and analysts who've spent the last 18 months or so asking when his company will release just such a product - and telling readers why it really should.

Is the iPad good for Amazon?

Now that the dawn of the iPad is upon us, the inevitable comparisons between Apple's wundertablet and the Kindle--and what it all means for Amazon--have begun in earnest.

Report shows cyberattacks rampant; execs concerned

Critical infrastructure networks around the world are subject to repeated cyberattacks from foreign governments and other high-level adversaries that can be damaging and costly, according to a report McAfee released Thursday.

The long wait for 64-bit PC software continues

Even though 64-bit PCs have been available for seven years, the promise of 64-bit computing has been delayed by a dearth of 64-bit software. The situation is improving — slowly — but many major PC applications remain 32-bit affairs.

Defraggler - Free Disk Defrager

Piriform Defraggler will remove those pesky, tailed, Muppets from the your hard drive once and for...oh wait. Well, it won't do that, but it will defragment your hard drive, and it offers some features that the free defragmentation utility including in Windows does not.

Special Edition – Apple Launches the iPad

Apple Launches iPad Tablet, iBooks Bookstore

A fairly complete description of what is included with the New Apple iPad.

Live from the Apple 'latest creation' event

Here are lots of photos and blog comments from Engadget, all done during the event.

Apple's iPad: What you need to know | Apple - CNET News

Apple on Wednesday finally unveiled its tablet computer, called the iPad, at an invite-only event at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in downtown San Francisco. The device, which looks like a larger version of Apple's iPod Touch will be available in two to three months, and starts at $499. Read on to get a quick overview of everything that was announced, and why it matters.

Hands-on, first impressions, and Photo gallery of Apple iPad

The press was given a few moments with one of the new Apple iPads and we tried to put it through as many paces as we could in the limited amount of time we were given. What follows are the photos we were able to take and a quick list of facts we know about the device from our session.

8 Things That Suck About the iPad - Gizmodo

The other side of the coin - This blogger is underwhelmed by the iPad. This is as inessential a product as he's ever seen. Maybe you should read this before spending $500.

New Info on New Products

New Chrome Browser Has Extensions, Bookmark Sync

Google has released version 4 of its Chrome browser with extensions and bookmark sync, two most-requested features. Chrome 4 users can try out 1,500 extensions that Google said take seconds to install and uninstall. Bookmark sync lets Chrome 4 users have the same bookmarks on multiple computers. Chrome usage has been growing.

Microsoft Office 2010: What's in It for You?

When Microsoft Relevant Products/Services releases Office 2010 later this year, will it be an upgrade worth pursuing, or will it, like Office 2007, be one that you can easily let pass? That's a question that's no doubt on the minds of many existing Office users -- as well as more than a few executives at Microsoft.

Facebook's 'Dashboard' will clean up apps soon

What will the dashboard, part of a newly organized Facebook home page, bring to ordinary users? For the most part, it cleans up the Facebook app experience for users who may have installed dozens of third-party applications, and separates games--many of the platform's biggest sensations--into their own tab.

USB 3.0: Changing the Storage Game

From my perspective, one of the most important and most overlooked trends at CES was the emergence of name-brand external drives that support the USB 3.0 or "Superspeed" specification. Effectively, this is a connection protocol that looks just like the USB 2.0 connections we're all familiar with, but it should let you transfer data to and from external drives three times faster than you can with USB 2.0 drives.

Seesmic makes Twitter pretty, with Look

Look is a new product designed for the Twitter watcher much more than the Twitter contributor or participant. The app lets you scan the feeds of popular Twitter celebrities, or show feeds for specific topics, like the NFL or Wall Street business. It can display tweets as they come in, or it can go into "playback" mode to let you catch up on what you missed.

My Kindle – First Impressions

My son and daughter-in-law gave me a wonderful Christmas gift this past December, an Amazon Kindle 2 e-reader tablet with a 6” screen. My son was smart enough to ask me before Christmas if it was something I wanted since it costs $259. I thought I might like it, but I asked him to let me do a little research before he plunked down his hard-earned dollars.

I did my research and settled upon the Kindle as the one I wanted instead of the Barnes and Noble Nook, or the Sony E-reader. At one point, I was fortunate enough to see a Kindle side-by-side with the Nook to make comparisons.  For me, it was an easy choice and went with the Kindle.

But, of course, the big question was…would I use it and like it enough to warrant that kind of investment. After using it now for a month, I can answer an emphatic YES!  I love the Kindle and use it daily. I still have paper books to read, but I find myself downloading more and more Kindle-based books all the time. It is small enough to carry it with me wherever I go and have it loaded with different kinds of books so I can read whatever I want, wherever I am.

But here was the unexpected bonus…almost all the books I download are free! There are thousands of books available whose copyrights are long since passed or whose authors or heirs have chosen to give them away.  Check out manybooks.net, just one site that offers free books.  Many of them go back a century or more, some are early to mid 20th century. I have always had a passion for British murder mysteries and have discovered a treasure trove of them from long-forgotten British authors. Not all are good, but most are gems that keep me more than entertained with memorable on-going characters.     

Many other types of books are also available from some well-known authors like Edgar Allen Poe, Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, and Thoreau, to name a few.  Also, Amazon puts up some 70-80 free books every month by current authors. Some good, some bad, but all easily erasable from my Kindle if I don’t like them. And before you order a book that costs money, you can download the first chapter for free from Amazon to try before you buy.

But as for the using the Kindle itself, I find it as easy to read as a regular book (otherwise known as a “dead tree edition”). The screen is crystal clear and can be read indoors or out in bright sun (its in black and white, no color). It is as easy on the eyes as reading a regular book. The screen is not backlit, so you cannot read in a dark room. You need some light, but there are specially-made portable lights you can attach on to it if you need it. I strongly recommend a case also.

You can change the type size so it is easier to read.  Pages are turned by pushing a button, either forward or back. You can go to the table of contents or other locations in the book. When you turn your Kindle off, it remembers where you where and goes right back to that place. In fact, it knows the current location of every book you are reading.  There is also a built in dictionary that will look up any word you highlight. This has really helped me out with some of the British authors who use long-discarded words in their text (I have found all of them in the dictionary).

Another fun thing about the Kindle that it has a wireless connection so you can go on-line to Amazon and shop for books, then download them direct to your Kindle. There is no additional charge for this. You can also go to Wikipedia to do additional research and make notes on any book using the built-in keyboard. They are automatically saved and linked to the paragraph in the book you are reading. And, you can set the Kindle to read to you with it’s built-in voice.  There are many more features too numerous to name here.

So, if you like to read a lot, I heartily recommend the Kindle. Do your research first to learn more about e-readers as there is a ton of good information available about this kind of product. Drop by a Barnes and Noble store and look at the Nook to see if you like reading from it. Drop me a note if you have any questions.

The Day of the Browser

Patch arrives for IE hole targeted by Chinese

Microsoft has released an update that fixes the Internet Explorer vulnerability behind the recent, highly publicized cyberattacks on Google and other major corporations. The sophisticated "Aurora" exploit is delivered through common file attachments or links — typically in e-mail or other messages that appear to come from trusted sources — but proven security measures and a little common sense can negate all such threats.

Should I dump Internet Explorer?

OK, should you dump Internet Explorer? Well, if you are using an old version (IE6, IE7) then you really should. These are old, outdated browsers that you should make the break from. If you are running IE6 then you really need to do that as a matter of urgency. Just download IE8, right now. What are you waiting for?

Microsoft confirms 17-year-old Windows vulnerability

One day after a Google security researcher released code to expose a flaw that affects every release of the Windows NT kernel — from Windows NT 3.1 (1993) up to and including Windows 7 (2009) — Microsoft dropped a security advisory to acknowledge the issue and warn of the risk of privilege escalation attacks.

How to Really Browse Without Leaving a Trace

Think that your browser's private mode keeps your browsing completely private? Not so! More often than not, you're still leaving traces of your browsing session behind, and today we'll tell you how to get rid of them for truly private browsing.

FlashCookiesView Shows Exactly How Web Sites are Tracking You

We've already explained how to clean up Flash cookies in our guide to browsing without leaving a trace (see item above), but FlashCookiesView makes viewing and deleting the cookies extremely simple no matter what browser you're using

Product Updates and Fixes

Firefox 3.6 Launches on Thursday

The exact time for the Firefox 3.6 release will be on Thursday, Jan. 20, at 9:30 AM Pacific time, according to a note on the Firefox 3.6 "coming soon" page.

Critical out-of-band IE patch coming tomorrow (Jan 21)

This is just a quick heads-up that the emergency security patch for Microsoft’s Internet Explorer will be released tomorrow (January 21, 2009). The update, rated critical for all versions of IE, will cover a remote code execution flaw that has already been used in targeted attacks against U.S. companies, including Google and Adobe.

Avast 5 gets a new look, finally

Freeware antivirus Avast 5 debuts today with several new features, but longtime fans are most likely to notice that the old interface has gone to wherever interfaces go when they die. Along with the new interface, Avast Free, Avast Professional, and the new Avast Internet Security introduce an overhauled feature set that keeps the suite highly competitive. Arguably, the free version provides the most complete free antivirus on the market.

Sneak Preview: Five things to expect at Apple's next event

One week from today Apple is hosting what has easily become its most anticipated event since the original iPhone.

Free File Recovery 1.1 (Windows)

Restore files that have been accidentally deleted from your computer. This includes files emptied from the Recycle bin as well as images and other files that have been deleted from digital camera memory cards or MP3 players.

More Fallout from China/Google/IE Wars

Google China insiders may have helped with attack

Google is looking into whether employees in its China office were involved in the attacks on its network that led to theft of intellectual property, according to CNET sources.

Microsoft readies emergency IE patch to counter public exploits

Microsoft has started dropping broad hints that an emergency patch for Internet Explorer will be released very soon to counter targeted attacks and the publication of exploit code for a “browse and you’re owned” vulnerability in its flagship Web browser. It looks like IE was used in executing the China attacks.

BBC News - France joins Germany warning against Internet Explorer

France has echoed calls by the German government for web users to find an alternative to Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE) to protect security. Certa, a government agency that oversees cyber threats, warned against using all versions of the web browser.

Netbook Discounts Thanks to Launch of Intel Atom N450 Processor

With the launch of a number of new netbooks this last week thanks to the new Intel Atom N450 processor being launched, this has meant there are a number of discounts on older netbooks that run the previous Atom processors.

ClickGone - Free software

This tiny app quickly closes frozen programs, but clicking too fast or in the wrong spot could cause problems. ClickGone doesn't have a standard interface, as it simply turns your mouse pointer into a bull's-eye. Click anywhere on the frozen application's interface to quickly eliminate it from your screen and memory.

More on Chinese Attacks on America

Google and China: the attacks and their aftermath

Google's dramatic decision to call out Chinese hackers and its decision to stop censoring search results has prompted an extraordinary worldwide reaction. Here's what we learned.

McAfee: China attacks a 'watershed moment'

"What really makes this is a watershed moment in cybersecurity is the targeted and coordinated nature of the attack with the main goal appearing to be to steal core intellectual property." Exploit code for a zero-day hole in Microsoft's Internet Explorer, which has been linked to the attacks, has been released on the Internet. Microsoft said Thursday it is working on a patch and warned that IE 6, 7, and 8 on all the modern versions of Windows, including Windows 7, are affected by vulnerability. Bottom line, don't use Internet Explorer.

CNET's 3D TV FAQ

The recent flood of news about new 3D TVs, itself spurred by the hype surrounding the 3D release of Avatar, has raised a few questions. It is still early days yet in this market, but here are some of the answers you might want to know.

Finally! Comment on Facebook through e-mail

A small but notable development at Facebook means that if you're replying to a comment posted on your profile, you can now do so through regular e-mail.

bookTome - personal book management system

bookTome is a free personal book management system that allows you to maintain a digital library of all the books you own and/or are planning to buy. You can add books manually or import details from an integrated Amazon search, including cover image, publisher information, release date, ISBN number, a book description and more.

Your Privacy May Be at Risk on Facebook

Facebook puts your privacy on parade

If you have a Facebook account, you better double check your privacy settings. All your information may be wide open for all the world to see. I know I did and was shocked how much info of mine was now available for public consumption

Behind the China attacks on Google (FAQ)

Google shocked the security community on Tuesday by disclosing that it and other companies had been hit by attacks that originated in China, with some targeting Gmail users who were human rights activists. As a result, the search giant said it would stop censoring its Web results in China and could end up exiting that market altogether.

Attention Windows XP users: Update Flash Player now

The Adobe Flash Player 6 that ships by default in Windows XP is vulnerable to multiple code execution vulnerabilities that could lead to PC takeover attacks, according to the advisory.

Netbook Discounts Thanks to Launch of Intel Atom N450 Processor

With the launch of a number of new netbooks this last week thanks to the new Intel Atom N450 processor being launched, this has meant there are a number of discounts on older netbooks that run the previous Atom processors.

94 more secret Windows shortcuts

There’s another, much larger class of well-hidden Windows shortcuts that are useful to everyone, not just techies. I dug through my notes for Windows 7 Inside Out and found a treasure trove of information about these shortcuts.

End of Google in China? and Best Password Manager Ever

Google to end censorship in China, may pull out

Google no longer intends to censor search results in China, and if the Chinese government balks, it may take its servers and go home.

Hot Gadgets Featured at CES 2010

While 3-D television, electronic readers and little laptops captured much of the attention at CES, there were plenty of other interesting ideas on display, too, from 3-D printing to a wireless cell phone tether. Here are some of the gadgets most worth keeping an eye out for this year.

CES 2010: Top 10 new e-book readers

E-book readers exploded in popularity on the show floor at this year's Consumer Electronics Show, in an array of colors, shapes, sizes and capabilities. Here are the top 10 e-readers I saw at this year's show.

What Microsoft has in store for Windows 7 Service Pack 1

Although Windows 7 is in good shape, many users won't adopt it until SP1 arrives. Here's what appears to be on deck for SP1.

LastPass: Best Password Manager

LastPass is a free application with many options making password management super easy. In addition to LastPass as just a software application, you can also use the LastPass Firefox extension if you prefer. There are some unique features in LastPass making it the best password manager.

CES Roundup and Your Own Radio Station

CES Coverage - The Top Stories

The annual Consumer Electronic Show for 2010 is over. Here is a roundup of some of the most interesting new gadgets coming soon to a store near you.

Tablet PC Mania Shakes Up Computer Industry

Hot new tablet computers are shaking up the stodgy computer industry -- possibly giving consumers reason to buy yet another PC. Dell Relevant Products/Services, Lenovo and Hewlett-Packard Relevant Products/Services each unveiled tablet PC models at [the] Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Each features a touch-screen that eliminates or reduces the need for a keyboard. Apple is expected to come out with its own tablet later this month. Apple declined to comment.

CES 2010: The Best And Worst Laptops

HP and Lenovo made the biggest splash in terms of notebooks during this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Lenovo, makers of the ThinkPad line of business notebooks, are determined to grab a larger market share among consumers this year.

Researcher exposes Google spyware connections

A prominent anti-spyware researcher is calling on Google to sever its ties with an advertising partner that covers popular sites with pop-up PPC advertisements promoting those same sites.

Pandora Radio - Listen to Free Internet Radio, Find New Music

Create your own radio stations with the music you choose. Just enter an artist you really like and Pandora will create a whole radio station featuring your artist and other similar artists. Works fantastic and sounds very good. FREE!

More New Tech Toys from CES

Ford rolls out 'tweets' for the connected car

Ford is going to let you listen to your "tweets" and Internet music and news stations while behind the wheel, as the number two US automaker expands what it calls "in-car connectivity." The new Internet services, which require a mobile phone with a Bluetooth connection, are a Twitter application built by developer OpenBeak, Pandora music radio and Stitcher. Note: My son has Sync in his new Ford and it is absolutely amazing!!

Lenovo U1 Hybrid and Skylight: What You Need To Know

the U1 Hybrid can be used as a laptop, with a keyboard, then be undocked and used as a slate, and the design decision to build in two processors and two operating systems has been simply unheard of until now.  Saw a demo of it today and it is pretty cool.

Ballmer Dents Apple's Thunder with Windows Tablet

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer moved to steal thunder from Apple, Inc. by introducing a Windows tablet computer at the Consumer Electronics Show. The tablet will be made by Hewlett-Packard, and Ballmer called it a "slate" after Apple registered the name iSlate. Ballmer said the HP tablet will be "as powerful as a PC running Windows 7."

E-reader boom kindles a variety of new options

A cascade of e-readers will hit the market this year, taking the devices far beyond gray-scale screens with features like touch navigation and video chatting — and probably lowering prices, too.

Free YoWindow Screensaver Serves as Your Window on the Weather

YoWindow (free) offers a chance to see the weather in your local area without actually having to find a window and look outside. This cunning screen saver gets local weather information and then draws a pretty picture of rain, snow, or sunshine, as appropriate. What could be simpler?

The Big Show in Vegas Starts Now

CES 2010 - Latest CES news & launch coverage

The giant Consumer Electronics Show is underway in Las Vegas. Catch a glimpse of all the new products coming out this year. If you love tech, this is the show you want to follow.

Firefox 3.5.7 fix could 'goose' browser upgrades

Mozilla has released Firefox 3.5.7 and 3.0.17 Tuesday to fix a common crash problem and an issue in which people weren't getting much of a suggestion that they should upgrade.

HP Puts USB 3.0 Ports in New Laptops

Hewlett-Packard on Wednesday said it has added USB 3.0 ports to its latest laptops that could boost data transfers between computers and devices such as storage drives and digital cameras.

Uncovering Windows 7's 'GodMode'

Although its name suggests perhaps even grander capabilities, Windows enthusiasts are excited over the discovery of a hidden "GodMode" feature that lets users access all of the operating system's control panels from within a single folder.

Use Custom Libraries in Windows 7 to Ensure You Backup All your Data

Do you store important data files outside your user profile? Custom libraries can help you ensure that those files are always backed up.

Got a New Computer for Christmas?

Make the Most of Your New PC

Did you receive a pristine, mint Windows 7 (or even Vista) computer this holiday season? Great, but right out of the box, every computer is far from perfect. Unlike most electronic devices, which you can plug in and use instantly, PCs—particularly those with Windows—need some adjustment before they're ready for everyday use.

Windows 7 in a Box Gives You Dozens of Tweaks in One App

If you just landed a new computer for the holidays, you're probably just now getting it set up and getting your hands dirty with Windows 7, and if you're coming from Windows XP you may find yourself looking high and low for tweaks and customization options that you know are there but can't find. Enter Windows 7 in a Box, a free app that bundles many of Windows 7's most popular configuration options and some additional tweaks into a single interface.

Benchmarks: Windows 7 versus Vista, XP

Now that the final version of Windows 7 has been released to manufacturing, it’s time to find out how much of an improvement or not it will make over its predecessors, Windows XP and Windows Vista.

Microsoft exposes Firefox users to drive-by malware downloads

Remember that Microsoft .NET Framework Assistant add-on that Microsoft sneaked into Firefox without explicit permission from end users? Well, the code in that add-on has a serious code execution vulnerability that exposes Firefox users to the “browse and you’re owned” attacks that are typically used in drive-by malware downloads.

Great Firefox Add-on: InvisibleHand

Do you shop on-line? InvisibleHand shows a discreet notification when the product you're browsing can be bought for a lower price elsewhere. It gives you a link directly to the product page at the competing retailer. Works great!