1. Installer musicStart > Run > "C:\Windows\system32\oobe\images\title.wma" > Ok
2. HibernateStart > Turn Off Computer... > press Shift key to change the "Stand By" button to "Hibernate"
3. Hidden DevicesControl Panel > System > Hardware > Device Manager > select "View" and Show hidden devices
4. Character MapStart > Run > "charmap.exe" > Ok
5. Clipboard ViewerStart > Run > "clipbrd.exe" > Ok
6. Dr WatsonStart > Run > "drwtsn32.exe" > Ok
7. IExpress WizardStart > Run > "iexpress.exe" > Ok
8. Old Windows Media Player 5.1Start > Run > "mplay32.exe" > Ok
9. ODBC Data Source AdministratorStart > Run > "odbcad32.exe" > Ok
10. Object PackagerStart > Run > "packager.exe" > Ok
11. System MonitorStart > Run > "perfmon.exe" > Ok
12. Network shared folder wizardStart > Run > "shrpubw.exe" > Ok
13. File siganture verification toolStart > Run > "sigverif.exe" > Ok
14. System Configuration EditorStart > Run > "sysedit.exe" > Ok
15. Driver Verifier ManagerStart > Run > "verifier.exe" > Ok
16. Windows for Workgroups ChatStart > Run > "winchat.exe" > OkFollow up : 17 ways to save your time when using Windows
Need MORE stuff?
http://is-it-true.org/nt/hottips.shtml
http://pcbuyersguide.com/software/system/W...P-MoreTips.html http://windows.about.com/cs/registrytips/ http://windows2000.about.com/cs/systemtips/index_2.htm http://windowsnt.miningco.com/library/tips.../bltiparc03.htm http://windowsxp.devx.com/articles/perfen/default.asp
http://www.activewin.com/tips/
http://www.activewin.com/winxp/tips/shutdown/1.shtml http://www.anandtech.com/IT/showdoc.html
http://www.aumha.org/a/shtdwnxp.htm
http://www.blkviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm
http://www.cnet.com/software/0-6688749-8-7...-7248268-4.html http://www.computerbits.com/archive/2002/0...0/bair0102.html
http://www.dag-konsult.com/nt4.asp
http://www.govital.net/~soz/lists/Windows_XP.htm http://www.hal-pc.org/~jamesl/win95tt.html
http://www.idg.net/english/crd_xp_784171.html http://www.jwarfcomputers.com/tips_&_tricks.htm http://www.lmross.com/html/xp_tricks.html
http://www.magportal.com/c/comp/win/ http://www.microsoft.com/hwdev/driver/XP_kernel.asp http://www.ntcompatible.com/faq3.shtml
http://www.ntfaq.com/index.cfm
http://www.nthelp.com/
http://www.onecomputerguy.com/windowsxp_tips.htm http://www.pcbuyersguide.com/software/syst...WinXP-tips.html http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid...id,73848,00.asp http://www.pureperformance.com/ http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/info/xpsrctree.shtml http://www.techtv.com/screensavers/superge...3338109,00.html
http://www.timos-welt.de/cubase/xp_tips_e.htm http://www.tipsdr.com/
http://www.tweakxp.com/ http://www.winsupersite.com/faq/whistler.asp http://xptheme.iceq.co.uk/articles.cfm
Bonus : Windows 1.0.3 video (first Windows version)
Friday, December 01, 2006
Victims Still Falling Prey to Nigerian E-Mail Scam
Most people with e-mail accounts have seen the messages in their inbox.
The subject line reads “Urgent Business Request,” and in the body of the message a seemingly desperate person asks the recipient to help transfer money out of Nigeria and into the U.S. The message, in broken English, is sprinkled with words like “top secret,” “trapped funds,” “utterly confidential,” and promises a cut of the funds in return
Most people who get these messages know it’s a common scam referred to as the “Nigerian e-mail scam” — officially called the “419 scam” and also called the Advance Fee Fraud — and they delete them.
But others are falling for the 90-year-old trick, and it's costing them hundreds — even thousands — of dollars.
Mary Winkler, the woman accused of killing her pastor husband in Tennessee, was said to have been duped by the scam, causing tension in her relationship with her husband. Her family members just this week claims she was abused by her spouse.
(Story continues below)
The subject line reads “Urgent Business Request,” and in the body of the message a seemingly desperate person asks the recipient to help transfer money out of Nigeria and into the U.S. The message, in broken English, is sprinkled with words like “top secret,” “trapped funds,” “utterly confidential,” and promises a cut of the funds in return
Most people who get these messages know it’s a common scam referred to as the “Nigerian e-mail scam” — officially called the “419 scam” and also called the Advance Fee Fraud — and they delete them.
But others are falling for the 90-year-old trick, and it's costing them hundreds — even thousands — of dollars.
Mary Winkler, the woman accused of killing her pastor husband in Tennessee, was said to have been duped by the scam, causing tension in her relationship with her husband. Her family members just this week claims she was abused by her spouse.
(Story continues below)
A 76-year-old woman in Port Charlotte, Fla., recently reportedly lost $42,000 to the scam; she wired $30,000 to a person in New York and $12,000 to alleged employees of the Central Bank of Nigeria, a local paper in Florida reported.
The number of people falling for the scam is steadily increasing, with 55,419 lodging complaints in 2005 of at least receiving an e-mail that appeared to be a scam, according to the Federal Trade Commission. That's almost three times the amount received in 2002, which was 21,616.
Because the scam takes so many forms and affects so many industries, it’s impossible to nail down exactly how much money is lost to the fraud, according to Patricia Armstrong of the Postal Service Inspection.
But Audri Lanford, co-director of Scambusters.org, a service that helps fight Internet fraud, estimates that $200 million a year is lost to the Nigerian e-mail scam or variations of it.
There are three types of people who fall for Nigerian e-mail scams, according to Lanford, who says she has heard from hundreds of victims. Many who fall for it are typically under extreme financial difficulties.
"They're at the end of their rope," Lanford said. “They look at this as a potential saving thing for them."
The next group of victims typically expects something for nothing, she continued.
"They haven’t heard of it before, which at this point is surprising, and they're excited that they can get this money for nothing — and they don't wonder why someone's going to give them millions of dollars."
Lastly, she said, people affiliated with religious groups tend to fall victim to the scam. Frauds often target ministries, Lanford explained, because they are hoping to give large amounts of money to charity. "It isn't for personal gain," Lanford said.
Church leaders will receive an e-mail saying that the sender's deceased spouse wanted their estate to go to a good cause, and the sender has picked this particular parish after praying to God. Then the minister or church leader is asked to send money to cover wire transfer costs and other incidentals.
Kim Bruce, spokeswoman for the U.S. Secret Service — the agency charged with investigating the fraud — said it's nearly impossible to prosecute the scammers because they live in other countries.
“It’s very prevalent,” Bruce said. “It’s out there, because we get word of it all the time. There aren’t a lot of arrests because it’s in other countries.”
The Secret Service once kept a branch office in Lagos, Nigeria, to help investigate financial fraud stemming from that African country, according to the FTC.
The Nigerian government says the country is a hotbed for scammers because of mass unemployment among an educated population and large extended families for whom people have to provide for, according to an advisory issued by the Secret Service.
One of the reasons people are still getting swindled, Bruce said, is because there are several new twists to the same old scam.
Last month, an e-mail circulated posing to be from FBI Direct Robert Mueller, telling recipients they've inherited a large sum of money, and in order to retrieve it, they must obtain a special FBI-approved certificate. Of course, responders must send money in order to get the certificate.
In another scam, instead of claiming to have inherited a large sum of money, some potential swindlers will pose as soldiers from Iraq needing to transfer money to a U.S. bank account. Then, just like the traditional scam, they will ask victims to wire them money to cover endless transfer fees, promising a cut of the final amount. Of course, there is no final amount. If a check is ever sent, it’s sure to be counterfeit.
Another new trend, Bruce said, comes with the rise in popularity of auction Web sites.
“It’s very prevalent on Ebay, and people selling things online,” Bruce said.
Scammers will bid on an item for sale and tell the seller the check is in the mail. The seller ships off whatever he is selling — a $1,500 laptop computer, in the case of one trusting New Yorker, as reported by the New York Daily News — before receiving money for the purchase. Or the victim may do receive a check, but it bounces when cashed.
“The person will send the item, and then find out the check is counterfeit,” Bruce said.
Another trend involves classified ads. Scammers will post fake job ads, and interested parties are asked to fill out an application, complete with personal information that includes date of birth and Social Security number — everything the scammer needs to swindle the victim.
In the Iraq scam, the swindler poses as soldier needing to transfer money into a U.S. account. The victim then is asked to send money to cover the transfer fees.
The Army Criminal Investigation Command recently issued a press release warning people stationed overseas against e-mail scams. But Christopher Grey, chief of public affairs for the command, said the warning was only precautionary, and that soldiers aren’t being targeted by the scam.
“It is intended to assist our Army families. We just wanted to make sure we protect our force,” Grey said, adding that there are “very few, less than a handful” of reported cases of fraud in the Army.
The number of people falling for the scam is steadily increasing, with 55,419 lodging complaints in 2005 of at least receiving an e-mail that appeared to be a scam, according to the Federal Trade Commission. That's almost three times the amount received in 2002, which was 21,616.
Because the scam takes so many forms and affects so many industries, it’s impossible to nail down exactly how much money is lost to the fraud, according to Patricia Armstrong of the Postal Service Inspection.
But Audri Lanford, co-director of Scambusters.org, a service that helps fight Internet fraud, estimates that $200 million a year is lost to the Nigerian e-mail scam or variations of it.
There are three types of people who fall for Nigerian e-mail scams, according to Lanford, who says she has heard from hundreds of victims. Many who fall for it are typically under extreme financial difficulties.
"They're at the end of their rope," Lanford said. “They look at this as a potential saving thing for them."
The next group of victims typically expects something for nothing, she continued.
"They haven’t heard of it before, which at this point is surprising, and they're excited that they can get this money for nothing — and they don't wonder why someone's going to give them millions of dollars."
Lastly, she said, people affiliated with religious groups tend to fall victim to the scam. Frauds often target ministries, Lanford explained, because they are hoping to give large amounts of money to charity. "It isn't for personal gain," Lanford said.
Church leaders will receive an e-mail saying that the sender's deceased spouse wanted their estate to go to a good cause, and the sender has picked this particular parish after praying to God. Then the minister or church leader is asked to send money to cover wire transfer costs and other incidentals.
Kim Bruce, spokeswoman for the U.S. Secret Service — the agency charged with investigating the fraud — said it's nearly impossible to prosecute the scammers because they live in other countries.
“It’s very prevalent,” Bruce said. “It’s out there, because we get word of it all the time. There aren’t a lot of arrests because it’s in other countries.”
The Secret Service once kept a branch office in Lagos, Nigeria, to help investigate financial fraud stemming from that African country, according to the FTC.
The Nigerian government says the country is a hotbed for scammers because of mass unemployment among an educated population and large extended families for whom people have to provide for, according to an advisory issued by the Secret Service.
One of the reasons people are still getting swindled, Bruce said, is because there are several new twists to the same old scam.
Last month, an e-mail circulated posing to be from FBI Direct Robert Mueller, telling recipients they've inherited a large sum of money, and in order to retrieve it, they must obtain a special FBI-approved certificate. Of course, responders must send money in order to get the certificate.
In another scam, instead of claiming to have inherited a large sum of money, some potential swindlers will pose as soldiers from Iraq needing to transfer money to a U.S. bank account. Then, just like the traditional scam, they will ask victims to wire them money to cover endless transfer fees, promising a cut of the final amount. Of course, there is no final amount. If a check is ever sent, it’s sure to be counterfeit.
Another new trend, Bruce said, comes with the rise in popularity of auction Web sites.
“It’s very prevalent on Ebay, and people selling things online,” Bruce said.
Scammers will bid on an item for sale and tell the seller the check is in the mail. The seller ships off whatever he is selling — a $1,500 laptop computer, in the case of one trusting New Yorker, as reported by the New York Daily News — before receiving money for the purchase. Or the victim may do receive a check, but it bounces when cashed.
“The person will send the item, and then find out the check is counterfeit,” Bruce said.
Another trend involves classified ads. Scammers will post fake job ads, and interested parties are asked to fill out an application, complete with personal information that includes date of birth and Social Security number — everything the scammer needs to swindle the victim.
In the Iraq scam, the swindler poses as soldier needing to transfer money into a U.S. account. The victim then is asked to send money to cover the transfer fees.
The Army Criminal Investigation Command recently issued a press release warning people stationed overseas against e-mail scams. But Christopher Grey, chief of public affairs for the command, said the warning was only precautionary, and that soldiers aren’t being targeted by the scam.
“It is intended to assist our Army families. We just wanted to make sure we protect our force,” Grey said, adding that there are “very few, less than a handful” of reported cases of fraud in the Army.
iPod Getting Podcasts Menu
Apple has filed a new patent application for a method of browsing podcasts. It’s patent 20060265637, Utilization Of Podcasts on Portable Media Devices.
ZDNet has a bunch of pictures of arrows and squiggly lines if you want to go check them out for yourself.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Nintendo's Incomparable Wii Console Launches Nov. 19; MSRP $249.99
30 New Games, 30 Retro Titles, User-Friendly 'Channels' Make it the Affordable System for Gamers, Newcomers and Families
NEW YORK, Sept. 14, 2006 – Nintendo will reshape the home entertainment and video game landscape with the launch of its heralded Wii™ home video game console. The Americas will lead the worldwide launch on Nov. 19. Wii will be sold as an affordable, mass-consumer product at an MSRP of just $249.99. The price includes one wireless Wii Remote controller, one Nunchuk™ controller and the groundbreaking collection of five different Wii Sports games on one disc, which anyone can play using simple movements, experienced or not. Every Wii console includes another distinctive feature: a series of on-screen “channels” that make up the Wii Channel Menu, which makes the console approachable and customizable for everyone, from the most avid gamer to people who have never played before. The Wii Channel Menu is the starting point for all of the console’s functions. The “channels” offer a gateway to a rich variety of entertainment options. When connected to a TV, the Wii Channel Menu offers a simple interface, letting users pick games to play, get news or weather, view and send photos or even create playable caricatures of themselves to use in actual games. Additional functions allow users to redeem Wii Points and download classic games to Wii’s Virtual Console™. The variety of options available through the Wii Channel Menu motivates both gamers and non-gamers to turn on Wii’s power every day. Wii is creating worldwide excitement with its unique control system, an inventive, first-of-its-kind controller whose position can be detected in a 3-D space. The new controller allows users to pinpoint targets in games or move through the Wii Channel Menu with precision and ease. This intuitive control system will be understood immediately by everyone, regardless of their previous experience with video games. With this one small controller, Wii makes games both easier and more intense than anything previously experienced. For example, in the Wii Sports tennis game, players swing the Wii Remote like a racket to hit the ball, as in real life. They can add topspin or slice the ball just by angling their hands and wrist like they would in a real match. “Wii reinvents games for the devoted player,” says Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. “But more importantly, Wii breaks the wall separating players from non-players by delivering the best game experiences for the most affordable price. We believe the next leap is games for the masses – young and old, gamer or non, alone, with a friend or with the whole family.” Fils-Aime made his remarks in New York, shortly after Nintendo executives in Japan announced Wii will launch there on Dec. 2. Between launch day and Dec. 31, Wii owners will enjoy a robust lineup of 30 software titles, with selections for everyone from video game veterans to newcomers. Some top Nintendo launch titles include Wii Sports, a compilation of tennis, baseball, golf, bowling and boxing; The Legend of Zelda®: Twilight Princess; and EXCITE TRUCK™. While publishers are free to set their own prices for games, first-party Nintendo titles will have an MSRP of $49.99. Wii’s self-loading media bay also can play the entire library of more than 530 Nintendo GameCube™ titles from day one. Third-party developers around the world have lined up to provide unprecedented support for Wii. “I believe the Wii will attract new and casual gamers to the world of interactive entertainment,” says Larry Probst, Chairman and CEO, Electronic Arts. “It’s a fun, easy and economical system that will become a bridge to gaming for mainstream audiences. At EA, we are putting more support behind the Wii than any Nintendo hardware launch since the Super NES.” “The Wii is changing audience interaction, opening up whole new experiences that have never been possible in video games,” says Robert Kotick, Chairman and CEO, Activision, Inc. “With the instinctual control of the Wii Remote, Nintendo is advancing the gaming experience to the broadest audience of gamers. Activision is excited about the launch of the Wii and the opportunity it offers. So much so, we plan to have five titles available at launch – our strongest lineup ever for a new console. We have more development resources devoted to the Wii than to any previous Nintendo platform. The Wii is likely to have a profound impact on the size, growth and overall opportunities for the video game market.” “The Wii control scheme opens up unexplored areas for our talented teams to innovate when creating games,” says Laurent DeToc, President of Ubisoft North America. “It’s invigorating for us. We believe that it will help create a new level of interest in video games and engage more players around the world.” Additional information about the list of Virtual Console games and the pricing structure will be revealed in the coming weeks. For the latest details, please visit the official website at Wii.com.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
What a Respect ?
This is Google's respect shown to The India's 59Independence Day.....
By putting up this logo on there india's Search
Monday, August 14, 2006
The 100 Oldest Currently Registered .COM Domains
03/15/1985 SYMBOLICS.COM
04/24/1985 BBN.COM
05/24/1985 THINK.COM
07/11/1985 MCC.COM
09/30/1985 DEC.COM11/07/1985 NORTHROP.COM
01/09/1986 XEROX.COM
01/17/1986 SRI.COM
03/03/1986 HP.COM
03/05/1986 BELLCORE.COM
03/19/1986 IBM.COM
03/19/1986 SUN.COM
03/25/1986 INTEL.COM
03/25/1986 TI.COM
04/25/1986 ATT.COM
05/08/1986 GMR.COM
05/08/1986 TEK.COM
07/10/1986 FMC.COM
07/10/1986 UB.COM
08/05/1986 BELL-ATL.COM
08/05/1986 GE.COM
08/05/1986 GREBYN.COM
08/05/1986 ISC.COM
08/05/1986 NSC.COM
08/05/1986 STARGATE.COM
09/02/1986 BOEING.COM
09/18/1986 ITCORP.COM
09/29/1986 SIEMENS.COM
10/18/1986 PYRAMID.COM
10/27/1986 ALPHACDC.COM
10/27/1986 BDM.COM
10/27/1986 FLUKE.COM
10/27/1986 INMET.COM
10/27/1986 KESMAI.COM
10/27/1986 MENTOR.COM
10/27/1986 NEC.COM
10/27/1986 RAY.COM
10/27/1986 ROSEMOUNT.COM
10/27/1986 VORTEX.COM
11/05/1986 ALCOA.COM
11/05/1986 GTE.COM
11/17/1986 ADOBE.COM
11/17/1986 AMD.COM
11/17/1986 DAS.COM
11/17/1986 DATA-IO.COM
11/17/1986 OCTOPUS.COM
11/17/1986 PORTAL.COM
11/17/1986 TELTONE.COM
12/11/1986 3COM.COM
12/11/1986 AMDAHL.COM
12/11/1986 CCUR.COM
12/11/1986 CI.COM
12/11/1986 CONVERGENT.COM
12/11/1986 DG.COM
12/11/1986 PEREGRINE.COM
12/11/1986 QUAD.COM
12/11/1986 SQ.COM
12/11/1986 TANDY.COM
12/11/1986 TTI.COM
12/11/1986 UNISYS.COM
01/19/1987 CGI.COM
01/19/1987 CTS.COM
01/19/1987 SPDCC.COM
02/19/1987 APPLE.COM
03/04/1987 NMA.COM
03/04/1987 PRIME.COM
04/04/1987 PHILIPS.COM
04/23/1987 DATACUBE.COM
04/23/1987 KAI.COM
04/23/1987 TIC.COM
04/23/1987 VINE.COM
04/30/1987 NCR.COM
05/14/1987 CISCO.COM
05/14/1987 RDL.COM
05/20/1987 SLB.COM
05/27/1987 PARCPLACE.COM
05/27/1987 UTC.COM
06/26/1987 IDE.COM
07/09/1987 TRW.COM
07/13/1987 UNIPRESS.COM
07/27/1987 DUPONT.COM
07/27/1987 LOCKHEED.COM
07/28/1987 ROSETTA.COM
08/18/1987 TOAD.COM
08/31/1987 QUICK.COM
09/03/1987 ALLIED.COM
09/03/1987 DSC.COM
09/03/1987 SCO.COM
09/22/1987 GENE.COM
09/22/1987 KCCS.COM
09/22/1987 SPECTRA.COM
09/22/1987 WLK.COM
09/30/1987 MENTAT.COM
10/14/1987 WYSE.COM
11/02/1987 CFG.COM
11/09/1987 MARBLE.COM
11/16/1987 CAYMAN.COM
11/16/1987 ENTITY.COM
11/24/1987 KSR.COM
11/30/1987 NYNEXST.COM
03/07/2006 ADHISHSHARMA.COM ;-)
04/24/1985 BBN.COM
05/24/1985 THINK.COM
07/11/1985 MCC.COM
09/30/1985 DEC.COM11/07/1985 NORTHROP.COM
01/09/1986 XEROX.COM
01/17/1986 SRI.COM
03/03/1986 HP.COM
03/05/1986 BELLCORE.COM
03/19/1986 IBM.COM
03/19/1986 SUN.COM
03/25/1986 INTEL.COM
03/25/1986 TI.COM
04/25/1986 ATT.COM
05/08/1986 GMR.COM
05/08/1986 TEK.COM
07/10/1986 FMC.COM
07/10/1986 UB.COM
08/05/1986 BELL-ATL.COM
08/05/1986 GE.COM
08/05/1986 GREBYN.COM
08/05/1986 ISC.COM
08/05/1986 NSC.COM
08/05/1986 STARGATE.COM
09/02/1986 BOEING.COM
09/18/1986 ITCORP.COM
09/29/1986 SIEMENS.COM
10/18/1986 PYRAMID.COM
10/27/1986 ALPHACDC.COM
10/27/1986 BDM.COM
10/27/1986 FLUKE.COM
10/27/1986 INMET.COM
10/27/1986 KESMAI.COM
10/27/1986 MENTOR.COM
10/27/1986 NEC.COM
10/27/1986 RAY.COM
10/27/1986 ROSEMOUNT.COM
10/27/1986 VORTEX.COM
11/05/1986 ALCOA.COM
11/05/1986 GTE.COM
11/17/1986 ADOBE.COM
11/17/1986 AMD.COM
11/17/1986 DAS.COM
11/17/1986 DATA-IO.COM
11/17/1986 OCTOPUS.COM
11/17/1986 PORTAL.COM
11/17/1986 TELTONE.COM
12/11/1986 3COM.COM
12/11/1986 AMDAHL.COM
12/11/1986 CCUR.COM
12/11/1986 CI.COM
12/11/1986 CONVERGENT.COM
12/11/1986 DG.COM
12/11/1986 PEREGRINE.COM
12/11/1986 QUAD.COM
12/11/1986 SQ.COM
12/11/1986 TANDY.COM
12/11/1986 TTI.COM
12/11/1986 UNISYS.COM
01/19/1987 CGI.COM
01/19/1987 CTS.COM
01/19/1987 SPDCC.COM
02/19/1987 APPLE.COM
03/04/1987 NMA.COM
03/04/1987 PRIME.COM
04/04/1987 PHILIPS.COM
04/23/1987 DATACUBE.COM
04/23/1987 KAI.COM
04/23/1987 TIC.COM
04/23/1987 VINE.COM
04/30/1987 NCR.COM
05/14/1987 CISCO.COM
05/14/1987 RDL.COM
05/20/1987 SLB.COM
05/27/1987 PARCPLACE.COM
05/27/1987 UTC.COM
06/26/1987 IDE.COM
07/09/1987 TRW.COM
07/13/1987 UNIPRESS.COM
07/27/1987 DUPONT.COM
07/27/1987 LOCKHEED.COM
07/28/1987 ROSETTA.COM
08/18/1987 TOAD.COM
08/31/1987 QUICK.COM
09/03/1987 ALLIED.COM
09/03/1987 DSC.COM
09/03/1987 SCO.COM
09/22/1987 GENE.COM
09/22/1987 KCCS.COM
09/22/1987 SPECTRA.COM
09/22/1987 WLK.COM
09/30/1987 MENTAT.COM
10/14/1987 WYSE.COM
11/02/1987 CFG.COM
11/09/1987 MARBLE.COM
11/16/1987 CAYMAN.COM
11/16/1987 ENTITY.COM
11/24/1987 KSR.COM
11/30/1987 NYNEXST.COM
03/07/2006 ADHISHSHARMA.COM ;-)
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Microsoft to charge for Office 2007 Beta software downloads
How much money does Microsoft need? As much as possible would appear to be the answer, considering that it has announced a $1.50 fee to download the Office 2007 Beta as from August 2nd. Claiming a requirement to cover server costs as a result of the 3 million people that have already participated in the trial in just a couple of months.This is, according to Microsoft, 500 percent more than was expected and hence the need for “a cost recovery measure” for future downloads although the online test drive version will remain free. Well whoopee doo on the generosity front there.If I understand the situation correctly, Microsoft would appear to wants to have its cake and eat it. There is no denying that, Windows OS apart, Office is the big Microsoft money spinner. Equally there is no denying that by letting users download, install and use the Beta version of the suite free of charge for a few months it can get its hooks into a lucrative upgrade revenue stream. Three million downloads would suggest quite an interest, and certainly provide generous return on the server bandwidth investment if even just 25% took the paid upgrade path. Which leaves me thinking that either Microsoft is feeling the financial pinch (unlikely) or are acting like mercenary, money grabbing buffoons (more likely.) It is never morally right that the consumer should be expected to pay for Beta software, nor even the online mechanism to deliver it. This is all part and parcel of the development and marketing budget, surely? Unless someone has got their sums drastically wrong, in which case take it out on them and not us. The whole thing is, frankly, a farce. Why not just come clean Microsoft, and admit that far too many Beta copies are in use and you goofed? Why not admit that the download charge is to limit further Beta distribution without losing face and pulling it altogether? Why not admit that the online test drive amounts to exactly the same thing?In Australia this is exactly what seems to be happening as there Microsoft is withdrawing the Beta download service and claiming the program is “full.”
Microsoft's Ultimate Office 2007
Microsoft has announced that Office 2007 Ultimate Edition will now be added to its list of Office 2007 packages. The new edition will include all the applications of Office 2007. According to Microsoft, the Ultimate Edition is created on the basis of customer feedback, and is targeted at users who do not want to choose specific components from Office. These are typically people working from home, who need access to the full line-up of Microsoft Office 2007 applications, so that they can create, find, manage, and share information across boundaries with the help of familiar tools in Office. The Office 2007 Ultimate Edition will include core applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher, InfoPath, OneNote, Access, and the new Groove collaboration suite viz a version of Office 2007 Enterprise. The latest edition will also have other integrated functions such as content management, electronic forms, and rights management. Office Ultimate 2007 was not included in the original Office 2007 line-up announced in February. Microsoft will begin offering the new version through its volume licensing program at the end of 2006. Office 2007 Ultimate will also be made available on retail shelves, along with consumer versions of Office beginning January 2007. Microsoft has already announced Windows Vista Ultimate Edition that is a set of all features and functions included in the Home Premium and Enterprise editions. Some of the main features of the Vista Ultimate Edition include Windows Media Center, Tablet PC support, integrated search, BitLocker disk encryption, Virtual PC, multi-language user interface support, and services for UNIX. While the Office 2007 Ultimate Edition will be available at a price of approximately $679, Windows Vista Ultimate will retail for around $450.
Windows Live Messenger is out!
Microsoft Corp today announced the release of Windows Live Messenger, the next generation of MSN Messenger that promises to go beyond traditional instant messaging (IM) to help connect people with voice, video, and more. According to Microsoft, Windows Live Messenger will act as a window to the Internet, connecting people to their e-mail, blogs, searches, and other Windows Live services with just one click of the mouse. Prior to the release, Windows Live Messenger was under close and open beta testing. Microsoft says its new service is one of the first, among over 20 new Windows Live services to be launched globally in the course of 2006. The distinguishing features of Windows Live Messenger include: video call wherein customers can talk to, and view their friends through PCs in full-screen video; sharing folders whereby customers can easily share files and photos on their Messenger Contact List using the intuitive new user interface; Windows Live Contacts by which contact information is always kept current and updated; and integration with other Windows Live services such as Windows Live Search, Windows Live Local, Windows Live Mail, and MSN Spaces. Additionally, the new series of Web cams announced by Microsoft Hardware and the Windows Live Services Group named Life Cams, are optimized for use with Windows Live Messenger, so as to simplify people's communications experiences. Alex Stewart, director - Windows Live and MSN business, Microsoft (Asia Pacific), said, "Windows Live is all about giving consumers the tools and services they need to be in control, as they stay connected to the people they care about, on top of the information that is important to them, and protected across all of their online activities, "The launch of Windows Live Messenger is an important milestone for the business, as we work towards realizing the Windows Live vision. This vision is based around putting people at the center of their digital life, and creating a seamless experience across their PC, devices, applications, and the Web," Stewart said. Windows Live Messenger, according to Microsoft, will be available in over 60 markets including India, Australia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, etc. The minimum requirements for Windows Live Messenger as prescribed by Microsoft's Web site are: Pentium Processor 233 MHz, Microsoft Windows XP, 128 MB RAM, and around 50 MB of hard disk space for installation
An Opensource Dreamweaver Alternative.
Recently a man was at work and he needed to do some css stuff and he did most of it in notepad because the current machine on which he was didnt have dreamweaver(and yes it isnt necessary) and so rather than wait for someone to find a copy of dreamweaver and its license he looked around on the web and found this. http://www.aptana.com/. It is an opensource web IDE that in my opinion is as good if not better than dreamweaver.Lets start with the obvious one. ITS FREE!! also because it is an opensource anyone could configure it to meet their needs. Lets say you only work with php or something like that and you dont need all the css features if you knew java you could just open up the source code and tailor it to your coding needs. Dreamweaver on the other hand cost a lot of money for a text editor that colors different text elements.Another cool feature is its browser support feature. Usually when coding a web page you would have to check to make sure all your different elements and attributes are supported in at least 2 web browsers. Well in Aptana it will display a drop down menu and tell you which browsers have support for what your typing. Currently it includes IE, Firefox, Netscape, Opera, and Safari.The preview display is also a lot better. In an app like dreamweaver you can look in the design display to get a rough idea of what your page is gonna look like. Or you could save it and launch it in your web browser. Well for the most part that is not a worry in Aptana the preview display is very accurate (not sure but I think it is built off IE).The last feature I would like to mention about Aptana is the Outline view. This is a view that lets you expand and collapse code elements, but not only that by double clicking an element it will bring you to that section of the page.So I would recommend heavily that you try this out. This is perfect for someone who is a freelance coder/designer and doesnt have the budget to spend on software like dreamweaver or a small company that needs to save money and doesnt want to pay for multi license software. I also think it is a great improvement on some of the web IDE software available for linux (dreamweaver is not) like nvu or. screem
Monday, July 10, 2006
Italy hold their nerve to claim fourth crown
ITALY
THE FINAL DAY REPLAYED
Fabio Cannavaro, a player who has belied his diminutive stature with some giant performances this past month, fittingly closed the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ by holding the biggest prize in football aloft. Fireworks proclaiming a fourth FIFA World Cup for Italy exploded into the black skies above the Olympiastadion as the Azzurri party began, leaving France – and a disconsolate Zinedine Zidane – to their own thoughts.
What an occasion the 18th Final produced with excitement at the start and incredible drama at the end as Zidane, on his farewell to the game he has dignified for so long with his graceful skill, was shown the red card. On it went to a penalty showdown and five unerring Italian spot-kicks delivered them the title of world champions, with David Trezeguet the luckless player to miss. With Fabio Grosso converting, his country edged one Trophy behind Brazil in the pantheon of FIFA World Cup winners.
Zidane will remember this night for as long as he lives. France had promised to repeat their success of 1998 for their retiring captain and only he will know what possessed him when he thrust his forehead into the chest of Marco Materazzi. Zidane had to go, accompanied down the tunnel by the glare of thousands and thousands of flash bulbs and the tears of the legions of French supporters.
“Allez les Blues” they had chorused again and again. The Blues came through all right but it was the blue of Italy that held sway. France were wearing white but what colour they added to the occasion with their stirring comeback after Marcello Lippi’s side had threatened to put a stranglehold on the game.
What an occasion the 18th Final produced with excitement at the start and incredible drama at the end as Zidane, on his farewell to the game he has dignified for so long with his graceful skill, was shown the red card. On it went to a penalty showdown and five unerring Italian spot-kicks delivered them the title of world champions, with David Trezeguet the luckless player to miss. With Fabio Grosso converting, his country edged one Trophy behind Brazil in the pantheon of FIFA World Cup winners.
Zidane will remember this night for as long as he lives. France had promised to repeat their success of 1998 for their retiring captain and only he will know what possessed him when he thrust his forehead into the chest of Marco Materazzi. Zidane had to go, accompanied down the tunnel by the glare of thousands and thousands of flash bulbs and the tears of the legions of French supporters.
“Allez les Blues” they had chorused again and again. The Blues came through all right but it was the blue of Italy that held sway. France were wearing white but what colour they added to the occasion with their stirring comeback after Marcello Lippi’s side had threatened to put a stranglehold on the game.
Moment of the Day
There was irony in the failure of Trezeguet whose penalty – France's second - crashed against the crossbar and refused to cross the line. It was Trezeguet who struck the Golden Goal when the sides met in the final of UEFA EURO 2000 and left a scar that Italy had waited six long years to heal.
Trezeguet's pain now mirrored that of the famed Italians, Franco Baresi and Roberto Baggio, who had missed in 1994 and handed the FIFA World Cup to Brazil in the first, and hitherto only, penalty shoot-out in the Final. At the end his Juventus team-mate Mauro Camoranesi went to him and hugged him in sympathy.
What a start we had with Thierry Henry’s first touch resulting in a heavy collision with Cannavaro. As he lay prostrate France wondered if their hopes were about to be stilled as well. The stretcher was called but their three-goal marksman was able to continue.
Henry’s next involvement was to head on Fabien Barthez’s long kick, prompting Florent Malouda to accelerate into the heart of the Italian rearguard where Materazzi brought him down. Zidane’s seventh-minute penalty was nonchalant, a featherweight chip coming down off the underside bar and only just over the line.
At a stroke Zidane joined the list of players to have scored in more than one FIFA World Cup Final - a list that also includes Pele, Vava and Paul Breitner.
Player of the Day
S
It caused barely a ripple in Italy’s assured stride. Their passes were sticking, their tackles hitting home. Andrea Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso had established command of midfield while down the right Gianluca Zambrotta and Camoranesi combined impressively.
It was Camoranesi’s persistence and tight control near the touchline that forced the corner that yielded the 19th-minute equaliser. Pirlo’s delivery was inch-perfect and Materazzi powered his header home.
Just at that moment the sun had reappeared from behind a cloud to throw light on Italy’s spirited recovery and stoke up the temperatures inside the arena. Henry began to emerge as a key performer, seemingly impossible to shrug off the ball, and that also brought the best out of the dynamic newcomer Frank Ribery.
France came close on several occasions and in extra time Zidane would have scored with a header had Buffon not denied him. The night was soon to take an even more devastating turn for Zizou, a moment of madness ensuring that his retirement began at least nine minutes earlier than it should have done.
Goal of the Day
Trezeguet’s miss meant that as Grosso stepped up for the long walk from the half-way line the world was in his hands. A no-nonsense left-foot strike into the right-hand corner of the net underlined the contribution the Palermo defender has made to the Italian cause this past month. After a gap of 24 years they were world champions once more.
Monday, February 06, 2006
Acronyms: What they really mean
PCMCIA People Can't Memorize Computer Industry Acronyms
ISDN It Still Does Nothing
ISDN It Still Does Nothing
APPLE Arrogance Produces Profit-Losing Entity
SCSI System Can't See It
DOS Defective Operating System
DOS Defective Operating System
BASIC Bill's Attempt to Seize Industry Control
IBM I Blame Microsoft
DEC Do Expect Cuts
CD-ROM Consumer Device, Rendered Obsolete in Months
OS/2 Obsolete Soon, Too.
WWW World Wide Wait
MACINTOSH Most Applications Crash; If Not, The Operating System Hangs
PENTIUM Produces Erroneous Numbers Through Correct Understanding of Mathematics
COBOL Completely Obsolete Business Oriented Language
AMIGA A Merely Insignificant Game Addiction
LISP Lots of Infuriating & Silly Parenthesis
MIPS Meaningless Indication of Processor Speed
WINDOWS Will Install Needless Data On Whole System
GIRO Garbage In Rubbish Out
MICROSOFT Most Intelligent Customers Realize Our Software Only FoolsTeenagers
Source: www.ankitsblog.co.nr
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