BRUCEB NEWS
How To Make Windows Less Annoying
This is a collection of default settings in Windows that I change to make computers less annoying. It reduces the number of ads for Microsoft disguised as "tips" and "suggestions," and it softens some of Windows' rough edges. There are tips below in these categories:...
GO TO JAIL. GO DIRECTLY TO JAIL.
The RIAA and the government are collaborating against you, you pirate low-life swine. Yes, you - and you, and you. Look, they've tried to make it clear that this situation does...
DIZZYING ARRAY OF PRINTERS
I recently saw a study about the dilemma facing manufacturers of products sold in grocery stores - they don't want their product lineup to get stale, but consumers can be...
YAHOO MESSENGER
Yahoo released a new version of its instant messenger program today - same functions, but more cute smiley faces and cute games and not-so-cute advertising and screen clutter....
MORE APPLE-BASHING
It's well-known that Gateway has been struggling to stay alive. Gateway has lost money in 13 of the last 14 quarters, it has closed all its retail stores, it has cut its...
APPLE’S FUTURE IN MULTIMEDIA (CONTINUED)
A year ago I speculated that Apple would start to shift its emphasis away from the computer business and into consumer electronics. (Click here and scroll down to May 17, 2003.)...
MUSIC FROM RUSSIA
A new music downloading service is attracting attention. AllOfMP3.com is hosted in Moscow and offers music downloads at dirt-cheap prices by the megabyte, in a variety of...
MOVING LARGE FILES
The rule of thumb is: never attempt to e-mail a file larger than 2Mb! Large file attachments frequently don't make it to the other end and at worst can clog the recipient's...
802.11b R.I.P.
The standard for wireless products has been 802.11b, capable of reliable but relatively slow network speeds. Shortly after the 802.11b standard was finalized, products flooded...
TAKE HOME A CONCERT IN YOUR POCKET
Hey, old-timers - remember The Jetsons? Disneyland's House of the Future? We're here. It's the future. Watch it happen, right before your eyes. A club in New Jersey is installing...
DRUG PRICE INFORMATION ONLINE
The government has revamped www.medicare.gov. Among other things, it now has comprehensive information about prices on a variety of prescription drugs in thousands of pharmacies,...
SECURITY AND CHOCOLATE
The New York Times has an article today reporting on a British survey that underscored another gaping security hole in our computer lives - namely, that most people don't think...
GOOGLE GMAIL OPENS TO BLOGGER USERS
If you use Blogger (as I do for this news page), you're invited to test Google's new Gmail service. Visit blogger.com for details.
OUTLOOK SEARCHES
There's a new utility being developed that might be your new best friend. X1 indexes Outlook e-mail and contacts, as well as all your files, and does lightning-fast searches for...
A9.COM SEARCH
Amazon.com has unveiled its own search engine, www.a9.com. Search results are drawn from Google as well as Amazon, and include search results from inside books indexed by Amazon....
MEDIA CENTER 10
Media Center 10 is the new version of the program formerly known as Media Jukebox - software for playing and organizing your music files. It is a long-time favorite among power...