BRUCEB NEWS
Pixel 4 And Why We Can’t Have Nice Things
Google has two new phones, the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL. They're quite nice. If you had one, you'd like it. They might not tempt iPhone users to leave the Apple world, but anyone with an Android phone should consider a Pixel 4, now available through all the carriers....
MUSIC INDUSTRY FOLLOWUP
Here's a good article that explains all the issues about file formats and pricing for downloadable music from the record labels - and concludes that they stand a good chance of...
RECORDING INDUSTRY GREED
Here's a glimpse of the future according to the recording industry. Like the announcement with RealNetworks a couple of days ago and MSN yesterday, MTV and VH1 are rolling out a...
MICROSOFT TO CHANGE PASSPORT PRIVACY POLICY
Microsoft is hustling to revise its privacy policy for Passport and Hotmail, after a torrent of criticism from privacy advocates. (See my item on March 30.) Microsoft says it's a...
MUSICNET DETAILS
RealNetworks and three of the five biggest music companies announced a new Net music service yesterday. Notably absent was Universal - the biggest catalog, but also the most...
MICROSOFT OUTLOOK UNABLE TO SPREAD FOOT-AND-MOUTH
Scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Symantec's AntiVirus Research Center today confirmed that foot-and-mouth disease cannot be spread by Microsoft's Outlook email...
TIME IS NOT ON YOUR COMPUTER’S SIDE
Your computer will probably automatically adjust the time when Daylight Savings Time returns tomorrow morning. But that may be the only thing it gets right about the time. Here's...
MICROSOFT AND CONFIDENTIALITY
Microsoft has new initiatives on the way that are meant to move programs and data online, relieving companies and users from some of the burden of maintaining it all....
WORDPERFECT DEATH WATCH
Corel's quarterly results showed a trivially small profit, but sales have completely collapsed for the WordPerfect suite. "Word processing and productivity sales plummeted from...
NORTHPOINT DSL NETWORK DIES
Last night 100,000 DSL subscribers were shut off after negotiations broke down between bankrupt Northpoint Communications and a dozen ISPs. My line is down. Here's some more info.
DIRECPC SATELLITE ACCESS
I just went and checked the status of satellite Internet connections, since my DSL line may go dead any day now. I've got lots of clients growing old waiting for DSL and cable in...
SUPER MINI OPTICAL MOUSE
Notebook computer users that are frustrated with their touchpad or pointing stick might want to check out the Super Mini Optical Mouse. Two and a half inches long, an inch wide -...
ADOBE PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS
Adobe Photoshop is legendary. Graphics professionals can do magic with it, and they turn up their nose at anything else. I've tried to learn it repeatedly, and I remain firmly...
NORTHPOINT DSL SUBSCRIBERS BEING DUMPED
Personally, I blame Pacific Bell. A year ago business was thriving for Northpoint and Covad, who acted as wholesalers and contracted with ISPs to set up and maintain DSL...
WINDOWS 2000 & GAMES
Windows 2000 is so stable that it's easy to forget to keep it up to date. If you're running Windows 2000, visit Microsoft Windows Update and check for critical updates. (If you...
UNDERSTANDING AND GUARDING AGAINST INTERNET-BASED ATTACKS
Another Symantec bulletin uses plain English to describe how hackers look for a computer to attack over the Internet, what might make you a target, and steps you can take to...