CyberCoyote -- September, 2005

NEWS

Windows "Vista" -- the replacement for Windows XP -- is scheduled for release "in time for the holidays" in 2006. You may want to wait another year before buying that spiffy new computer for yourself for Christmas.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/default.mspx

NOTES and NOTICES

The new "Mr-Modem!" column for September is now online.
http://cybercoyote.org/articles/modem.shtml [not a permanent page]

 New HTCC web feed
You can now subscribe to CyberCoyote as part of a new web feed instead of an email newsletter. It's a good way to make life simpler if you already read other blogs and web feeds. The HTCC feed will also keep you up to date on "breaking news" and other current subjects.
http://cybercoyote.org/articles/feeds.shtml -- Web feeds explained
http://cybercoyote.org/news/rss.shtml -- subscribe to CyberCoyote
as a Web feed instead What's this?

TIPS and TOPICS

Google Guide (not a Google site) has comprehensive, yet clear and concise tutorials on using Google -- one for novices, and one for experienced users.
http://www.googleguide.com/ -- unofficial Google guide
http://www.google.com/help/cheatsheet.html -- official Google cheat sheet

From the Google Guide site: "Google 'cheat sheet': the secret to finding exactly what you want, and other amazing feats. As with any good cheat sheet, it's all there, but if you don't already have some knowledge the only way to be able to use it is to try -- at least the first few -- lines one at a time. Eventually it can serve as a convenient reminder. Bookmark (favorites) it against the next time you're Googling for that elusive factoid. I like the power of the "Google ~Guide" operator, for example."
http://www.googleguide.com/advanced_operators_reference.html

COMPUTING

The origin of Ctrl-Alt-Delete: David Bradley describes how he invented CTRL-ALT-DEL, then tries to back pedal after he inadvertently slams Bill Gates for making it famous. During a discussion that included Dan Bricklin (co-creator of VisiCalc -- the ground-breaking spreadsheet program) and Bill Gates.
http://www.milkandcookies.com/links/28888/ -- short video
http://www.bricklin.com/default.htm -- Briklin's website

From TechWeb: "Microsoft has released a beta version of a new folder and file synchronization tool [SyncToy] it says is easier to use and more reliable than the often-ignored Briefcase that's included with Windows XP." (I've been using it and it works great!)
http://www.desktoppipeline.com/167600264?cid=RSSfeed

Many computer companies use a shabby trick to save a couple of bucks. Dell and HP are two of them, as most (all?) other big ones. They put your recovery backup files on your hard drive, usually in a hidden partition. This short-changes you by 5 - 10 GB of space. Worse than that -- what happens if the hard drive itself fails? They don't provide any recovery CDs, so now what do you do? (Dell will sell you the CDs for $10 when you buy the computer.)

Many manufacturers do not provide any way to clone recovery CDs from the hard drive either. You could spend money for drive imaging software, but that's not a convenient or bullet proof solution. Finally, the hidden partitions do not give you really have coming from Microsoft. Well, maybe that's all changing.
http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000957052940/ -- article
http://www.computersettlement.com/ -- the legal stuff
http://cybercoyote.org/url/126.html -- the key exhibit
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/archives/000894.html -- learn why

DIGITAL PHOTOS

Gmail now works with Picasa, Google's free photo organizer. Log in to Gmail directly from Picasa and send the photos from your Gmail account. [Use "Tools" > "Options..." > "Email" to change to your own email program.] Picasa automatically re sizes your photos for email so they're easier to download and open.
http://picasa.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=15697&topic=-1
http://picasa.google.com/ -- get Picasa
http://cybercoyote.org/internet/gmail.shtml -- set up a Gmail account

Interestingness: Flikr (a photo sharing site) has worked out a way to pick a few interesting photos from the river of photos that are uploaded every day. They're all interesting, some of them are exceptional.
http://flickr.com/explore/ -- explore
http://flickr.com/explore/interesting/ -- interesting
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/ -- tags

INTERNET

Scientists have learned that your brain doesn't work like a computer, but it does work like the Internet. :-)
http://www.livescience.com/humanbiology/050104_brain_internet.html

No doubt you have "Googled", but have you looked behind the simple Google interface? Google offers many services and tools that really work well. Here's an example of what you'll find if you drill down a little ways.
http://www.google.com/help/features.html

"Even ardent Firefox fans can experience problems with their favorite browser. What are these bugs, and what can you do about them?"
http://www.internetweek.com/164301407 -- "Fix Those Bugs!"
http://cybercoyote.org/articles/extensions.shtml -- more about extensions

DIVERSION

Sadly, we all know there are plenty of clue less parents out there, but I think this one 'takes the cake'. :-)
http://cybercoyote.org/url/128.html

This bird seems a little smarter:
http://www.koreus.com/files/200502/smart-bird.html

Why don't the Italians -- not that there's anything wrong with Italians -- have satellites in space. A: They don't have a long enough extension cord. Now NASA is dreaming about just that sort of thing.
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2000/ast07sep_1.htm

Mobile traveling in style:
http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/houses.htm#

Last modified 11/03/06