Terry's Computer Tips - Newsletter
February 18, 2007
Terry's Computer Tips Newsletter
http://www.terryscomputertips.com
A computer tips newsletter for users of PC's.
Volume 2, Number 36 — Sunday, February 18, 2007
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
IN THIS WEEK'S ON-LINE ISSUE:
1. Cingular 8525 Smartphone Gets the Heave-Ho
2. Updates Last Week
3. Digital Video Recorder or Home Theater PC?
4. Travel Access to a Home Theater PC?
5. More on SATA Hard Drives
6. My Computer Security Software Recommendations
7. More on the CounterSpy 2 Update
8. Recommend my Terry's Computer Tips Newsletter to Your Friends
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1. Cingular 8525 Smartphone Gets the Heave-Ho
My choice for AntiSpyware / AntiAdware
terryscomputertips.com/CounterSpy2
NOD32 Anti-virus
My choice for Anti-Virus Protection
terryscomputertips.com/NOD32
I wrote in my online Terry’s Computer Tips newsletter last week that I had bought a new Cingular 8525 smartphone. The high-speed cellular Internet access plus Bluetooth plus WiFi 802.11b sounded like it would be a great convergence device — combining PDA and cellphone into one.
After searching the web to see what was available, I was seriously considering the Samsung Blackjack — until I saw it and realized that it didn’t have a touchscreen. So, the Cingular 8525 (Cingular’s name for the HTC HERM-100) looked like the best bet.
Well, it went back on Day 3 — the last day where I could get everything including my activation fee refunded.
What went wrong?
First, the Internet access wasn’t too reliable. Despite having the high-speed access 400Mb/sec-700Mb/sec (that’s megabit, not megabyte), the speed doesn’t help if you have to reboot the phone each day in order to access the Internet.
Strike 1.
The slideout keyboard was a nice size and the auto-switching to landscape mode was great. But, every time I picked up the phone, the keyboard slid partway out.
Strike 2.
No one ever mentions that the Internet access is designed for WAP/WML and websites are filtered through a WAP server. This meant that graphics and text were sometimes overlapped, CSS (cascading style sheets for page formatting) were ignored and JavaScript didn’t work.
Strike 3.
Microsoft ActiveSync first wouldn’t install properly. Then, when I finally got it to install, it worked for one day. It then decided that it should crash whenever I connected the phone to the computer. Great, no PDA syncing. Even better, I haven’t figured out how to uninstall ActiveSync yet, since it crashes whenever I try to uninstall it.
Strike 4
And, one more strike, too. One of my “killer apps” that had to work — which was designed for Windows Mobile including Windows Mobile 5 (used by the 8525) didn’t work properly. Apparently one of the keys on the phone was either defective or, at least, didn’t put out the proper signal to Windows Media 5 — so I could not edit records in my database.
So, for now, I’m back to my old cellphone and my PalmOS pda…
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2. Updates Last Week
Microsoft (operating systems, email, web browser, office suites):
There were a LOT of updates last week. Microsoft releases almost all updates once per month, on the second Tuesday.
Microsoft Windows XP
Security Update for Windows XP (KB928255)
A security issue has been identified that could allow an attacker to compromise your Windows-based system and gain control over it. You can help protect your computer by installing this update from Microsoft. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.
Security Update for Windows XP (KB928843)
A security issue has been identified that could allow an attacker to compromise your Windows-based system and gain control over it. You can help protect your computer by installing this update from Microsoft. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.
>
Security Update for Windows XP (KB927802)
A security issue has been identified that could allow an attacker to compromise your Windows-based system and gain control over it. You can help protect your computer by installing this update from Microsoft. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.
Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer 7 for Windows XP (KB928090)
Security issues have been identified that could allow an attacker to compromise a system running Internet Explorer and gain control over it. You can help protect your system by installing this update from Microsoft. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.
Security Update for Windows XP (KB924667)
A security issue has been identified that could allow an attacker to compromise your Windows-based system and gain control over it. You can help protect your computer by installing this update from Microsoft. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.
Security Update for Windows XP (KB927779)
A security issue has been identified in Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC) that could allow an attacker to compromise your Windows-based system and gain control over it. You can help protect your computer by installing this update from Microsoft. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.
Security Update for Windows XP (KB918118)
A security issue has been identified that could allow an attacker to compromise your Windows-based system and gain control over it. You can help protect your computer by installing this update from Microsoft. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.
Security Update for Windows XP (KB926436)
A security issue has been identified that could allow an attacker to compromise your Windows-based system and gain control over it. You can help protect your computer by installing this update from Microsoft. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.
Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer 6 for Windows XP (KB928090)
Security issues have been identified that could allow an attacker to compromise a system running Internet Explorer and gain control over it. You can help protect your system by installing this update from Microsoft. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.
Update for Windows XP (KB931836)
Installing this update enables your computer to automatically adjust the computer clock on the correct date in 2007 due to revised Daylight Saving Time laws in many countries. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.
Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool - February 2007 (KB890830)
After the download, this tool runs once to check your computer for infection by specific, prevalent malicious software (including Blaster, Sasser, and Mydoom) and helps to remove any infection found. If an infection is found, the tool will display a status report the next time you start your computer. A new version of the tool will be offered every month. If you want to manually run the tool on your computer, you can download a copy from the Microsoft Download Center or run an online version from microsoft.com. This tool is not a replacement for an anti-virus product. To help protect your computer, you should use an anti-virus product.
Microsoft Office 2003
Security Update for Office 2003 (KB920813)
Microsoft has released a security update for Microsoft Office 2003. This update addresses a vulnerability that could enable malicious code execution. Additionally, other fixes may be included in the update.
Security Update for Office 2003 (KB929064)
A security vulnerability exists in Microsoft Office 2003 that could allow arbitrary code to run when a maliciously modified file is opened. This update resolves that vulnerability.
Security Update for Word 2003 (KB929057)
A security vulnerability exists in Microsoft Office Word 2003 that could allow arbitrary code to run when a maliciously modified file is opened. This update resolves that vulnerability.
Update for Excel 2003 (KB929058)
Microsoft has released an update for Microsoft Office Excel 2003. When you edit a Microsoft Office Excel 2007 workbook that is saved on a SharePoint Portal Server site or on a Windows SharePoint Services site, the changes are not saved.
Update for Office 2003 (KB925251)
Microsoft has released an update for Microsoft Office 2003. This update addresses the change from the Slovenian national currency to the euro.
Update for Outlook 2003 Junk Email Filter (KB924885)
This update provides the Junk E-mail Filter in Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 with a more current definition of which e-mail messages should be considered junk e-mail. This update was released in February 2007.
Update for PowerPoint 2003 (KB929060)
Microsoft has released an update for Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003. When you edit a Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007 presentation that is saved on a SharePoint Portal Server site or on a Windows SharePoint Services site, the changes are not saved.
Microsoft Office 2002/XP
Security Update for Office XP (KB920816)
Microsoft has released a security update for Microsoft Office XP. This update addresses a vulnerability that could enable malicious code execution. Additionally, other fixes may be included in the update.
Security Update for Office XP (KB929063)
A security vulnerability exists in Microsoft Office XP that could allow arbitrary code to run when a maliciously modified file is opened. This update resolves that vulnerability.
Security Update for Word 2002 (KB929061)
A security vulnerability exists in Microsoft Word 2002 that could allow arbitrary code to run when a maliciously modified file is opened. This update resolves that vulnerability.
Firefox (web browser, http://www.mozilla.com, free):
Versions 2.0.0.1 and 1.5.0.9 were released on December 19th. These are security fixes.. Current version 2.0.0.1. Latest v1.5 version is 1.5.0.9 -- Mozilla.org urges all users to upgrade to Firefox 2.
Opera (web browser, http://www.opera.com, free):
New version! Version 9.10 was released December 18th. This release of Opera introduces "Fraud Protection" as well as user-interface and stability changes. Read the details.
Netscape (web browser, http://browser.netscape.com, free):
No update this week. Version 8.1.2 was released during the week ending September 30.
US-CERT issued a press-release on November 8th that recommended that Netscape users turn off JavaScript. (Mozilla Firefox, SeaMonkey and Thunderbird were subject to the same issues, but new versions were released on November 8th to solve the problem.) AOL has not updated Netscape to the new version of the underlying "Gecko" browser.
SeaMonkey (web browser, email, HTML editor, newsreader; http://www.mozilla.org/projects/seamonkey; free): Version 1.1 was released on January 18, 2007. What's new in SeaMonkey v1.1
Eudora (email, http://www.eudora.com, options: paid, sponsored or free/lite):
No update last week. Version 7.1.0.9 was released October 11, 2006. This was announced as to be the last commercial version before Eudora becomes open-source in the first half of 2007.
If you're running "Sponsored Mode" in a version before 7.1.0.9, you should update now to the current version. Sponsored mode in the earlier versions will expire on March 31st — and will revert to the less-functional "Lite" mode.
Mozilla Thunderbird (email, http://www.mozilla.com/thunderbird, free):
Thunderbird version 1.5.0.9 was released December 19th.
OpenOffice (office suite — spreadsheet, word processor, presentations, graphics, web design; http://www.openoffice.org; free):
Version 2.1 was released during the week ending December 24th.
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
Volume 2, Number 36 — Sunday, February 18, 2007
Copyright © 2007 Terry A. Stockdale. All rights reserved.
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