CyberCoyote -- December 1, 2005

NEWS

If you're signed up for the Windows Registry Class, don't forget that it starts next Monday, the 5th.

A new class, "Building a Personal Website" is scheduled for Dec. 12,14,16,19 & 21 at 1:00 - 3:00 PM in the Computer Room. Sign up at the next meeting ($10) and get ready for online fame or fortune. :-)

NOTES and NOTICES

Mark Haley of MyPCTalks demonstrated a program that teaches you languages by hearing them. Six buttons and six languages makes it very easy to operate. He also gave us some good tips on making DVDs with a camcorder. Did you know that many digital camcorders have an input for VHS output? Converting from your old tapes can be very easy.
http://www.mypctalks.com

There'll be a presentation on GPS after our business meeting next week, and Gail King will give a presentation about WiFi at the meeting on the 22nd.

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

Subscriptions to CyberCoyote have been coming in at a record pace -- a few dozen in a month or so. :-) It's interesting that this is the first season it has happened. I can't identify you all as club members, but the "promotion" by Carol at our meetings must have something to do with it. :-) Welcome to all of you who recently signed up. I hope you find CyberCoyote to be worth the room in your inbox.

DOWNLOADS

Microsoft recommends a free download manager that works well with Internet Explorer as well as Firefox and other browsers. Personally, I am thrilled with the way FlashGet works with Firefox in conjunction with the FlashGot extension for Firefox. Firefox and FlashGot would probably work well with this free downloader as well.
http://windowsmarketplace.com/prices.aspx?itemId=20983 -- Microsoft
http://freedownloadmanager.org/ -- source of the downloader
http://www.flashgot.net/ -- FlashGot
http://www.amazesoft.com/index.htm -- FlashGet

You'll find over 5000 (well organized) programs at Microsoft's Free Downloads Center. Lots of games there, but many other programs as well.
http://www.windowsmarketplace.com/content.aspx?ctid=119

If you're interested in new games to put on your computer you might find the new Windows Games Advisor useful. If you're not into murder and mayhem, you might want to start with the "Family Entertainment" category (left hand column). You will also find some nice free games at MSN.
http://cybercoyote.org/url/131.html -- requires Internet Explorer
http://zone.msn.com/en/root/freeonline.htm -- free online games

INTERNET

If you find yourself mystified by abbreviations like "TAFN", "IANAL" or "CUL8ER" you can probably find out what they mean at SearchWebServices.com
http://cybercoyote.org/url/136.html

The sleeping giant (Microsoft) is waking (again). They see themselves falling behind Yahoo!, Google, Ebay and a gaggle of other Web 2.0 innovators. It's deja vu all over again.

Microsoft woke up late to Web 1.0, represented by Netscape, the first big browser. They recovered by smashing Netscape (which rose from the ashes as Firefox). This time the stakes are even larger.
http://money.cnn.com/2005/11/09/technology/microsoft_fortune/ -- the view from 50,000 feet
http://cybercoyote.org/url/145.html -- leaked memo
http://cybercoyote.org/url/146.html -- announcement
http://cybercoyote.org/internet/version2.shtml -- more on Web 2.0

DIVERSION

Whatever you do, don't click the big red button if you go to this site. ;-)
http://www.wimp.com/press/

Computer Dating
http://vote.comicalert.com/herman/144651

Echos in space:
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap051127.html