Dave "Bytes"

Please remember to use your thinker, before you tinker!

August 9, 2006

A Periodic Newsletter for the Members of the Sarasota PC User Group and the World!!

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It may have taken 8 months but ...

I'm Baaaaaack !!!

Let's Start With A Windows Tip

The Difference Between a Shortcut and an Icon

An icon for a file, folder, or program looks pretty much like a shortcut, except that the shortcut has an arrow wedged in its lower reaches. And double-clicking on a shortcut does pretty much the same thing as double-clicking on an icon: starts a program or loads a file or folder.

But a shortcut is only a servant of sorts. After you double-click on the shortcut, it runs over to the program, file, or folder that the shortcut represents and kickstarts that program, file, or folder into action.

You could do the same thing yourself by rummaging through your computer's folders, finding the program, file, or folder you're after, and personally double-clicking on its icon to bring it to life. But creating a shortcut so that you don't have to rummage so much is often more convenient.

If you delete a shortcut -- the icon with the little arrow -- you're not doing any real harm. You're just firing the servant that fetched things for you, probably creating more work for yourself in the process.
If you accidentally delete a shortcut, you can pull it out of the Recycle Bin, just like anything else that's deleted in Windows

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5 Tips For Getting Quality Prints Of Your Digital Photos

1. Check your ink levels before you start printing. There’s nothing worse than one of the inks running out halfway through! I always buy a spare printer cartridge in case one runs out, but beware, they only have a few years’ lifespan and even less if you’ve removed them from their packaging.

2. When printing important photos, run a print test first. Most printers have an option to print a test page. Make sure there are no streaks or missing lines and that all the colors are present.

3. Check that the paper is clean before you start. Examine it thoroughly for dust, scratches, raw edges, rough corners. Never store the paper in the tray, always keep it sealed in its original packaging and away from light.

4. Make sure the paper goes into the printer straight. When I print photos I never print a pile of them, because often when the paper doesn’t go in straight the printer pulls in more than one sheet, or the photos don’t get long enough to dry before another photo lands on top of it!

5. Never put a photo in a frame the same day you print it. The ink will bubble up against the glass. Also leave the ink to dry overnight before placing prints in a photo album.

The "Bytes" Beg, Bargain & Barter Basement

Got something "computer related" to sell? Looking for that rare peripheral? If it's computer related you can submit a short classified ad for exposure in Dave "Bytes". Be sure to include your name and e-mail address in the ad. You can also include a picture of the item. Now some would suggest that there be a charge for this feature but alas, since my bookkeeping skills leave much to be desired I've determined that this will be a free service to all SPCUG members in good standing. "Bytes" is currently sent to almost 1500 homes in the area. Ad requests will be included as soon as possible. I assume absolutely no responsibility as to the accuracy or completeness of supplied info. All transactions are between consulting adults which leaves me entirely off the hook.

Please let me know by clicking HERE when your merchandise is sold so that I can remove it from the listing.

Click Here To Submit Your Ad

Here's A Windows Tip

You've probably seen the End key on your keyboard, but have you ever used it? Have you strayed away from it because you don't really know what it does? Well, I'm sure you're not the only one if you have, so no worries here!
The End key can actually do different things, depending on the program you're using it with. Its main use though is to help you get from the top of a page to the
bottom quickly. For example, let's say you're browsing the Internet for some FAQs on a specific topic. You find a great Web site that will help you out, but your
question is answered clear at the bottom of the page.
Do you sit there and scroll all the way to the bottom?
Well, you shouldn't! Instead, use the End key.
Hit it once and you'll be whisked away to the bottom of any Web page, any document, any file, etc. Also, if you're working with some shorter text, the End key
sometimes takes you the end of a line, which is also helpful and a much faster way of doing things.
The End key is located in the little section of keys to the left of the number pad on your keyboard. It's right under the Home key and right in between the Delete key and the Page Down key. It can be found on any PC keyboard and on some Macintosh extended keyboards.
It really is a great use of a key, so go try it out!

And You Thought UPS Is A Shipping Company

from the Counterspy Cookbook

UPS or Uninterrupted or Uninterruptible Power Supply is rapidly becoming more than just a safeguard to your computer. With recent brownouts, blackouts and power outages in general having one of these devices can protect your data, software and hardware. I am not an alarmist but this summer we have seen some massive heat waves and the resulting problems with electrical supply.

Our electrical grid (especially in the U.S.) is under ever increasing strain predominantly during the summer (air conditioning use is at its highest and so is demand). Electric companies conduct load shedding to prevent blackouts. Load shedding is in effect a rolling blackout to keep some balance in the electrical distribution. It reduces the amount of power being distributed. This drop in voltage is also sometimes called voltage sag or a brownout. A UPS will protect equipment from a brownout by correcting the drop in voltage.

A UPS maintains a continuous supply of electricity to your computer by supplying power from a separate source when utility power is not available. It is inserted between your electrical power outlet and your computer. Should there be a power failure or drop, the UPS will effectively switch from utility power to its own power source almost instantaneously.

UPS units come in sizes ranging from units which will backup a single computer without monitor to units which will power your home network and of course larger for commercial enterprises. They used to be quite expensive but prices have come down for home users substantially but be prepared to pay between $75 to $100. APC is one of the most respected brands but there are others including Belkin that make fine units.

Engadget has a great article on how to install a UPS in your home network. If your computer is connected to the port, and the software is properly set up, the UPS can tell your computer to safely shut down before the battery runs out.
http://www.counterspynews.com/LUO5DU/060808-UPS

While Wandering The Web

(click the logo to visit)

AOL Draws Fire After Releasing User Search Data

AOL on Monday apologized for releasing information on about 20 million keyword searches in a move that ignited a firestorm of criticism about privacy rights on the Internet.

AOL, the online unit of media conglomerate Time Warner Inc., said it launched an internal investigation into how a research division of the company mistakenly released the data on its Web site about 10 days ago.

AOL released search information on about 20 million searches done from its software by about 658,000 anonymous AOL users over a three-month period, representing about one-third-of-1-percent of searches conducted over that time.

The disclosure, which AOL said was not cleared through official channels, came months after Google Inc. won kudos from privacy pundits for refusing to comply with U.S. government requests for search data on its users.

"This was a screw up, and we're angry and upset about it," said Andrew Weinstein, an AOL spokesman. "It was an innocent-enough attempt to reach out to the academic community with new research tools, but it was obviously not appropriately vetted, and if it had been, it would have been stopped in an instant."

Although user information was not disclosed, keyword searches have included users who search their own names.

The data escaped notice until this weekend, when blogs began linking to the study. Techcrunch (http://www.techcrunch.com/) was among the first blogs to report the data's release.

According to these blogs, which were able to download the file, searches among some AOL users included one who conducted a series of searches on "how to kill your wife," "murder photo" and "www.murderdpeople.com" (sic).

Techcrunch said the most serious problem with the disclosure was that many people search their own names.

"Combine these ego searches with porn queries and you have a serious embarrassment. Combine them with "buy ecstasy" and you have evidence of a crime. Combine it with an address, social security number, etc., and you have an identity theft waiting to happen," said Techcrunch blogger Michael Arrington in a posting. "The possibilities are endless."

One legal expert said the disclosure probably did not violate the company's own privacy policy as the data did not include personally identifiable information.

"This is more of a business snafu than anything else," Jason Epstein, head of the business and technology group at law firm Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz PC said.

The link to the actual file, containing searches done by users whose personal IDs are replaced with random numbers, is no longer available on AOL's Web site.

"Although there was no personally identifiable data linked to these accounts, we're absolutely not defending this. It was a mistake, and we apologize," AOL's Weinstein said. "We've launched an internal investigation into what happened, and we are taking steps to ensure that this type of thing never happens again."