*CyberCoyote - January 3, 2008*

NEWS, NOTES and NOTICES

*Next Week*
Kelly Grant, representing Creative Scrapbooking, will show us how to use special software to make "coffee-table scrapbooks" using photos, scanned items, clip art, etc. Open to non-members too.
http://www.creativescrapbooking.com/

*Smart Computing*
Jamie Link showed us how to get the most out of a subscription to Smart Computing -- their website, knowledge base, free tech support, etc. If you missed any details, or want to subscribe, here's their URL.
http://www.smartcomputing.com/

*Tiny URLs*
You've may have seen "TinyURL.com" links -- http://tinyurl.com/2wddyx -- before. I used my own homemade equivalents for a long time, but I've switched to TinyURL links. The reason is that TinyURL.com now has a preview function, which enhances security, that you might want to use.

Try the TinyURL links in the "Mobile Home" item below to see the difference. You can also turn the TinyURL preview on/off manually at the link directly below. It's a good idea to leave it on.
http://tinyurl.com/preview.php -- on/off

*Mobile Home*
Watch a 300 ton house move 450 feet in less than 2 minutes.
http://tinyurl.com/2ls3rc -- the move without link preview
http://preview.tinyurl.com/2ls3rc -- move with preview
http://tinyurl.com/2shpky -- the story without link preview
http://preview.tinyurl.com/2shpky -- move with preview

TIPS, TOPICS and TWEAKS

*More pixels may reduce sharpness*
Many newer digital cameras take poorer pictures than earlier models. It's simple. Blame it on the pixel race. Compact cameras with more pixels produce images with more "noise". The photos they produce are grainy.

They could increase the size of the sensor. But a bigger sensor requires a bigger lens, and it would no longer be a compact camera. ;-) Don't fall into the pixel trap. Six megapixels is about the limit for compact camera sensors at this point.
http://6mpixel.org/en/ -- the whole story
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/mpmyth.htm -- more depth

*Removing USB storage devices
You're not supposed to just unplug USB devices like WiFi adapters, USB flash drives (thumb drives) and external hard drives. (You did know that didn't you?). You're supposed to click the "Safely Remove Hardware" icon in the System Tray area of the Taskbar, and click The device description that pops up. When you do you'll often get the message "The device 'Generic volume' cannot be stopped right now." Now what? It can be hard to track down the reason, but Leo has a slick way to do it.
http://cybercoyote.org/links/140.html

*Mysterious bounced email*
"Your message could not be delivered. A copy is attached." Do you get email like that, but know for sure that you never sent that message? Brian Krebs at the Washington Post has one reason that happens. It could also be a trick message designed to get you to give away your private information. In either case, just delete it and get on with your life. :-)
http://tinyurl.com/ysgsrp

WEB PICKS

*How to buy a hybrid car*
If you're thinking of buying a hybrid, or you're just curious, this online "class" should be interesting. It covers how a hybrid works, hybrid options, will it save you money, hybrid SUVs and pickups, ... No obligation to buy. :-)
http://hybrid-car-guide.classes.cnet.com/

*Top Google Apps in 2007*
Web-based innovation is out pacing innovation based directly on PCs. Google is a leader in this new trend. They have added many useful services in 2007, and this is a guide.
http://tinyurl.com/3bhfvg

ODDS and ENDS

*How to survive CES 2008 without getting off the couch*
CES is the Consumer Electronics Show next week in Las Vegas.
http://tinyurl.com/2d2g2q

*Wait, don't buy that HDTV yet! :-) *
I'm guessing there'll be a 10 million Yen ($90,00) price tag though.
http://cybercoyote.org/links/141.html

*The 2007 Internet Crash*
It was scary while it lasted, but everything seems to be OK again.
http://www.sunlightfoundation.com/friday_youtube_fun

*That's all, folks.*

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