Wireless VoIP

What is the heck is 'wireless VoIP'? It is a new type of phone that connects to wireless networks for computers and uses the 'Voice over Internet Protocal' to send your phone call over the internet. Read the linked article. The world moves faster every day.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8907101/

Emachine shop

Great web site for anyone interested in creating custom parts. You design your dream part with their free CAD software and then transmit to them to be built. If nothing else, the free software is very nice and easy to use.
http://www.emachineshop.com/

Google email

Gmail, Google's free web based email is the best web based email IMHO (In My Humble Opinion).

As with all free web based email systems (Hotmail, Yahoo Mail, etc.), you can access your email from any Internet connected computer in the world. You don't have to carry a laptop with you. Use a friends' computer, a company computer, kiosk computer, etc and if it is connected to the Internet you can send and receive your email; either to your Gmail account or forward/receive email from your regular email account.

Gmail offers two Gigabytes of free storage, a nice set of features and I find it easier to use than other web based email systems. It has a number of built-in features like uploading your Outlook Contact's, etc. There is also a growing list of enhancements by independant programmers.

Being Google based means Gmail has extensive search capabilities but no folders. Just takes a little getting used to.

In order to create a Gmail account, you have to be invited by an existing Gmail user. That's me. Send me an email request at the.toyman@gmail.com if you would like an invite.

More Windows security problems

Tuesday (8/9/2005) Microsoft announced fixes for several security 'holes' in Windows. People that have the Automatic Updates control panel applet set to automatically download and install are fine. Other users should install updates when prompted by Windows. Sunday (8/14/2005) a new virus (ZoTob) was found that takes advantage of one of the announced 'holes'. Windows users that installed the patches are protected against this virus as are all Windows SP2 users.
http://www.f-secure.com/v-descs/zotob_a.shtml

Another major problem is the Srv.SSA-KeyLogger. This piece of spyware waits for you enter user names and passwords which it then forwards to a public web site which anyone can view.
http://research.sunbelt-software.com/Advisory.cfm

Re-cycling

Excelllent site describing how and where to recycle most everything.
http://www.hevanet.com/alexwest/essays/reuse2.html

For computers/electronics in the Portland Oregon area:
http://www.freegeek.org/

And for stuff that you want to get rid of but you don't want to throw in the garbage:
Our mission is to encourage members to pass along still-usable, tangible items rather than throwing those items away. We work to alleviate pressure on our nation's landfills, cut back on wasteful consumerism and promote stewardship of our planet. Our rules are easy: Items must be FREE, Legal, and Appropriate for all ages
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/freecycleportland/

Zone Alarm v6.0 upgrade woes

From Zone Alarms user's forum web page:

Zone Labs knows that some of our customers are having issues with the upgrade to ZoneAlarm 6.0, and is working hard to fix the situation.The cause appears to be related to the upgrade process, not the application itself. Therefore, we recommend users experiencing difficulties uninstall any prior version of ZoneAlarm (v.2.x - v.5.x) residing on their computer system and do a clean installation of their new ZoneAlarm 6.0 product.

Windows monthly updates

Microsoft releases updates to Windows XP (and a few for 98/ME/2000) the second Tuesday of each month. There were 8 updates waiting for me when I sat down at my computer this morning. I highly recommend you install these updates.

Listening to music over the the Internet

Many ways to use the Internet as a super AM/FM radio. Listen to the type of music you prefer 24 hours a day. Download/install a free player like Winamp (I use Winamp Lite) and the go to Shoutcast (or other site) to select your type of music. I am listening to old time (1920', 1930's) country music from Sugar in the Gourd as I type this.

Shoutcast - select type of music and/or download Winamp.
http://www.shoutcast.com/

Sugar in the Gourd - old time music
http://sugarinthegourd.com/

Real Player alternative

Need to listen to Real Player music but tired of all of the junk Real Player installs on your computer? Download and install Real Alternative from:

http://www.k-litecodecpack.com/

Microsoft File/folder sync tool

Increasingly, computer users are using different folders, drives, and even different computers (such as a laptop and a desktop) to store and retrieve files. There are new sources of files coming from every direction: digital cameras, e-mail, cell phones, portable media players, camcorders, PDAs, and laptops. Yet managing hundreds or thousands of files is still largely a manual operation. In some cases it is necessary to move files from one place to another; in other cases there is a need to keep two storage locations exactly in sync. Some users manage files manually, dragging and dropping from one place to another and keeping a mental card catalog in their heads. Others use one or more applications of one sort or another to provide this functionality for them.

Now there is an easier way. SyncToy is a free PowerToy for Microsoft Windows XP that provides is an easy to use, highly customizable program that helps users to do the heavy lifting involved with the copying, moving, and synchronization of different directories. Most common operations can be performed with just a few clicks of the mouse, and additional customization is available without adding complexity. SyncToy can manage multiple sets of directories at the same time; it can combine files from two folders in one case, and mimic renames and deletes in another. Unlike other applications, SyncToy keeps track of renames to files and will make sure those changes get carried over to the synchronized folder.
http://www.microsoft.com/prophoto.