May 2008

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"If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant's life,
she will choose to save the infant's life without even considering if there is a man on base."
Dave Barry

Internet Junk --top

We are seeing and hearing about a few machines each week that have become infected with malware/adware.  The symptoms are "System Alert: Your computer is infected..." or some similar message and/or popup windows going nowhere and/or popup windows going to porn sites.

It does not seem to matter what antivirus application is installed, whether or not Windows Defender is loaded, whether or not there is a third party Anti-Spyware application or much else, this thing is getting into computers.

Very likely it is being installed from websites, but we have found little information indicating where or how it gets in.  Here is a site that addresses the Smitfraud and similar infections, but unfortunately that is only one of many variants. 

The majority of machines we see require drive formatting, so with little else to offer at this point, be careful what installations you allow from the Internet!

Digital TV --top

In March, we discussed the Digital TV changeover and the potential need for a converter box.  This article suggests you may want to delay getting the coupon, at least for a while.  The coupon available from the government is only good for three months and there is a possibility converter prices will drop later this year.

Remember, this Digital change affects only those using antennas, i.e., cable, satellite and digital sources are already converted.  Again, here is an article on what will happen, what needs to be done (if anything) and what to expect at next year's changeover...

Hold on to your wallet! 

Apparently Cablevision outright lied to their customers trying to sell them converters and cables.  Actually it is better than that, they want to rent those (unnecessary) items to their customers month after month after month...  But why the deceit?  Apparently to use the upcoming mandated change to rearrange their levels of service.  The Consumerist site has an interesting article and an apparent copy of the letter from Cablevision.

Free Internet?

The upcoming change in television broadcast may also open a door for free nationwide Internet access.  It has been proposed to sell off the available bandwidth to any company that will offer free access nationwide.  Apparently this was proposed a few years ago but was shot down by the FCC.  The article.

Windows Service Pack --top

Windows XP SP3 is about to be released.  Along with various security updates and bug fixes, this release will include a fix for wireless connection issues.  More information here or simply watch for the Updates Available icon... 

Garmin vs. TomTom --top

Something a little different... Recently we had the opportunity to work with two GPS units: Garmin nüvi 760 TomTom One XL.

Our side-by-side testing was limited to a couple of short trips and our other comparisons are somewhat cursory, i.e., either unit may have worthwhile features we did not discover. 
With color we have indicated features we really liked or really do not like.

When purchasing, selecting a TomTom unit is fairly easy, but Garmin offers a ridiculous number of units making a selection very difficult.  The two particular units we tested are closely matched in features and screen size.  The manufacturer's list price is $299 for the TomTom and $649 for the Garmin, but much better deals are available for the Garmin.

Immediately noticeable was the power switch.  The TomTom unit has a button that must be held for a moment to turn on and off, while the Garmin is a slide switch responding quickly.

Both units have a zoom feature via touching the plus or minus icons on screen.  Zooming out with the TomTom maintains the 3D look, but after just a moment, the unit automatically returns to the original zoom level.  Zooming out with the Garmin eventually changes the view to a 2D look, but then maintains the level set. 

Touching any part of the Garmin's map switches to the 2D mode.  Touching the TomTom's map opens the main menu.  To view 2D on the TomTom, it is necessary to access the menu system.

The TomTom offered the option to collect information, e.g., actual trip time between locations and then obtain that collected information when the unit is connected to the Internet.  TomTom also has the option to correct the maps then submit those corrections online.  The purpose would be to make the maps and information more accurate. 

While planning a trip with the Garmin, there is an option to avoid certain things like traffic, toll roads, highways, etc.  The traffic avoidance is free for a trial period then has an annual fee.

The top bar of the Garmin shows the next street when driving or next turn information when on a route and touching that bar changes from a map to a turn-by-turn list.

The Garmin seems to give more advanced notice when to turn and repeats the information (sometimes to excess).  TomTom sometimes speak the road information too quickly, resulting in information hard to understand.

When entering a route, the TomTom assumes the current city while the Garmin made us start from scratch.  The TomTom was also a bit easier to specify a "Co Rd" address, whereas the Garmin made us spell out County Road.  Both units are intelligent in that they begin to assume what is typed, e.g., "Anna" results in Annandale.

The Garmin has a handy "Where am I?" feature that shows the current location on the map and in that screen, has buttons to the nearest cross street, address, Police and fuel station.

Both units allow route planning to a restaurant, golf course, casino, motel, etc., but the TomTom has the option to show all available "points of interest" on the map as you drive.

Both units have night maps making the unit less intrusive at dark, but the Garmin changes between day and night automatically.

TomTom was off about one-quarter mile when we tried finding a Cty Rd address. 

The Garmin's dash mount is a bit easier to use, i.e. remove from the car.

We like the Garmin features and operation slightly over the TomTom, but like TomTom's pricing...

Internet Explorer Update

Recently Microsoft released a security update (KB947864) for the Internet Explorer, which broke the Internet connection on some machines.  Removing that update via Add/Remove Programs will resolve the Internet connection issues, but that does not solve the problem. 

According to Microsoft that update changed the Explorer file making the local security application block access.  Apparently configuring the security software and (re) approving the Internet Explorer will resolve the issue.

Depending on your security software and version, that could be accomplished by configuring the security software's firewall settings > allowed programs.  There you may have to adjust, approve or even remove then add iexplorer.exe again.

Patent Pains --top

When is a Patent not enforceable? 

Apparently whenever the government decides... 

Congress would like to exempt the banking industry from paying for a patent covering the way checks are digitally scanned, stored and transmitted (article).   Enforcing the patent in question could cost banks and the government billions, but rather than seeing the system repaired, Congress will take the easy way out...

Patent may affect your auto insurance

Yet another patent that could have major implications is one in which you could incur auto insurance surcharges based on how and where you use your car...  The article.

Copyright everything...

On a similarly ridiculous note, should college lectures be copyrightable?  The article.

And finally, yet another state (Oregon) wants to copyright public information. The article.

Quick Links...  --top

Golf warning

Hack your way into a power company in three easy steps.

Leaving you with these...

Reverend Ole was the pastor of the local Norwegian Lutheran Church, and Pastor Sven was the minister of the Swedish Covenant Church across the road. One day they were seen pounding a sign into the ground, that said:

"DA END ISS NEAR! TURN YERSELF AROUND NOW BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE"

As a car sped past them, the driver leaned out his window and yelled, "Leave us alone, you religious nuts!"

From the curve they heard screeching tires and a big splash... Rev. Ole turns to Pastor Sven and asks, "Do ya tink maybe da sign should yust say Bridge Out?"  

Thanks, Darryl

and from Al Lowe

Finally the good-natured boss had to call Fisk into his office. "Fisk, every time there's a home football game, you have to take your aunt to the doctor." "You know, you're right, sir," replied Fisk. "I didn't realize that. Do you think she's faking it?"