Site for Computer Science jobs in Pakistan
www.geoonweb.com
Free to post/view jobs in IT companies.
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
IT Update1
The BPO industry itself is a roughly 600 billion dollar market. One of the main reasons why call centers have become so successful in countries such as India and Pakistan are because of the cheap skilled labor along with a foreign Engli sh accent. The government has a great deal of interest in supporting the Call Center industry in Pakistan because of the high number of job creation as well as the amount of foreign exchange that comes in because of it. With a population of 160 million and a land area almost twice the size of California , Pakistan is a smaller and more unified country than most of its neighbors, with promising scope for Call Centers!
IT Update 2
Did you know that there are 900 registered companies with the Pakistan Software Export Board of which 70 are ISO certified, 1 CM level 5 certified and one CMM level 4 certified company. There are 55 foreign IT and Telecom companies working in Pakistan . The percentage growth in exports of the industry fair at 45% with an annual software industry turn over of 70-80 million dollars.Pakistan has 5,500 IT graduates each year, and 45 universities offer IT and CS programs. There are between 6000 to 8000 IT professionals working in the area of software for Export and about 75,000 IT professionals presently employed across the country. The total IT spending in the last fiscal year was about 300 million dollars; 600,000 square feet of space utilized in the various software technology parks, $2000 per month spent on an E-1 connection and 700,000 units of PCs sold annually across the country! Who says the IT industry in Pakistan is small??
IT Update 3
Even with tremendous growth in the information technology sector over the past five years with the internet reaching almost 2000 towns and villages and the international bandwidth rates dropping by almost 90 overall ICT usage and penetration in Pakistan is still below international averages and sh ows a significant room for improvement. According to various market surveys and estimates carried out in Pakistan , Pakistan had approximately 2.5 million Internet users by the end of June 2004.
IT Update 4
The Wireless Local Loop or WLL technology is fast revolutionizing the way we communicate with each other in Pakistan . Free of any wires, it is now possible to have a phone connection where no line could go before. As far as Sheikhupura or as remote as Gharo, a WLL service allows you to have a phone service regardless of your geographical location. The WLL services that are being launched in Pakistan generate a total license fees of more than 13.73 billion rupees!
IT Update 5
Growth in the Call Center sector of Pakistan segment is rapid, however there are only 2500 people employed in this industry servicing international clients, and another 2500 providing call center services to domestic customers. Growth is expected to be as high as 60% per annum for the next two years.
IT Update 6
Pakistan has a handful of local brands that are presently being marketed and sold. These companies bring components into the country, assemble the machines and then sell them. The Pakistan Government levies a 5% tax on importing complete machines to encourage companies to set up assembling units and promote local brands. Therefore PC sales, local and international, are over 700,000 units per year, generating revenues of US $ 280 million annually.
IT Update 7
Talking about Pakistan's Software Exports, the numbers that were stagnant for several years have sh own good results during the past year when exports went upto US $ 32.88 million from US $ 22.62 million during fiscal year 2002-2003. This was a 50% increase from the previous year and has been made possible due to the efforts of the private sector and the general upturn in the international marketplace.
IT Update 9
There are several Software Technology Parks across Pakistan that have been set up by the Pakistan Software Export Board to house IT and Telecom companies. At present, the buildings across the three main cities of the country span 337,568 square feet in total and the PSEB has had another 4 acres of land allocated for building in Lahore and 15 acres of land in Islamabad to construct Software Technology Parks. Who says there aren't a lot of IT and Telecom companies here!??!
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Aurelon Photopro Phototools V1.0.2 For Adobe Photoshop
The Aurelon PhotoPro PhotoTools is a set of post photographic tools neatly packed into one Photoshop plug-in. Directly aimed at the Photoshop professional seeking an easy to use solution with all important tools directly available from one interface. It consists of 5 components that work independently as well as in combination with the other plug-in components. Biggest advantage is the versatile preview pane and the variations pane; a single click guides the user to the results wanted.
YAHOO MULTI MESSENGER
This application will allow you to run multiple instances of Yahoo! Messenger instead of only having one open. This is perfect for those who run under several names. There are others out like this...but have an "update prompt", this does NOT have that! This is intended for the newest build ...
winamp pro 5.1"REGISTERED VERSION
Winamp Pro 5.1-------------------
Here's what you get when you buy Pro: Unrestricted CD Burning — Winamp Pro enables you to burn your favorite music compilations at your computer's full potential. Once registered, Winamp Pro will allow you to burn your CDs at speeds up to 48x, 9 times the speed of Winamp 5! (Actual speeds may differ, depending on your computer's specifications.) MP3 Encoding — With Winamp Pro, you can rip all your favorite music CDs into the industry leading MP3 format. When all your songs are encoded in MP3, it provides you the freedom to play them in all MP3 capable hardware and software media players. Unrestricted CD Ripping — Buying Winamp Pro enables you to convert all of your favorite music CDs into digital files at your computer's maximum potential. Once registered, Winamp Pro can rip your CDs at speeds up to 48x, 9 times the speed of Winamp 5! (Actual speeds may differ, depending on your computer's specifications.)
MP3 Encoding — With Winamp Pro, you can rip all your favorite music CDs into the industry leading MP3 format. When all your songs are encoded in MP3, it provides you the freedom to play them in all MP3 capable hardware and software media players.
Unrestricted CD Ripping — Buying Winamp Pro enables you to convert all of your favorite music CDs into digital files at you computers maximum potential. Once registered, Winamp Pro can rip your CDs at speeds up to 48x, 9 times the speed of Winamp 5! (Actual speeds may differ, depending on your computers specifications.)
REGISTRATION KEY: "TRY THESE"1: Name: Registered User s/n: XKN60-TJUWJ-4WYCQ-ERU5V2: Name: vasanthalayam S/N: 68Q27-D30T3-SEDFF-D7DN5 3: Name: REVENGE S2KS/N: D11W2-WFADE-5TR35-F4M9Z4: Name: The Society Of Sharing 2005 Serial: MNJAX-DK6QW-FDFVD-SW7C4
Here's what you get when you buy Pro: Unrestricted CD Burning — Winamp Pro enables you to burn your favorite music compilations at your computer's full potential. Once registered, Winamp Pro will allow you to burn your CDs at speeds up to 48x, 9 times the speed of Winamp 5! (Actual speeds may differ, depending on your computer's specifications.) MP3 Encoding — With Winamp Pro, you can rip all your favorite music CDs into the industry leading MP3 format. When all your songs are encoded in MP3, it provides you the freedom to play them in all MP3 capable hardware and software media players. Unrestricted CD Ripping — Buying Winamp Pro enables you to convert all of your favorite music CDs into digital files at your computer's maximum potential. Once registered, Winamp Pro can rip your CDs at speeds up to 48x, 9 times the speed of Winamp 5! (Actual speeds may differ, depending on your computer's specifications.)
MP3 Encoding — With Winamp Pro, you can rip all your favorite music CDs into the industry leading MP3 format. When all your songs are encoded in MP3, it provides you the freedom to play them in all MP3 capable hardware and software media players.
Unrestricted CD Ripping — Buying Winamp Pro enables you to convert all of your favorite music CDs into digital files at you computers maximum potential. Once registered, Winamp Pro can rip your CDs at speeds up to 48x, 9 times the speed of Winamp 5! (Actual speeds may differ, depending on your computers specifications.)
REGISTRATION KEY: "TRY THESE"1: Name: Registered User s/n: XKN60-TJUWJ-4WYCQ-ERU5V2: Name: vasanthalayam S/N: 68Q27-D30T3-SEDFF-D7DN5 3: Name: REVENGE S2KS/N: D11W2-WFADE-5TR35-F4M9Z4: Name: The Society Of Sharing 2005 Serial: MNJAX-DK6QW-FDFVD-SW7C4
Ulead Cool 360 v1.2, English/Multilanguage
Ulead COOL 360 1.2 English - FullIn new packaging from www.ulead.comPhoto Panoramas Made EasyUlead® COOL 360 is photo panorama software that combines ease-of-use, power and flexibility to allow even novice digital imaging enthusiasts to move beyond traditional photos into immersive imaging.Download the Full Version:
Code:
http://rapidshare.de/files/6352158/UleadCOOL360_FULL.exe.htmlFile Size: 10 Mb Approx
Code:
http://rapidshare.de/files/6352158/UleadCOOL360_FULL.exe.htmlFile Size: 10 Mb Approx
Microsoft Imagine Cup 2006
With pleasure and excitement, Microsoft Pakistan Developer & Platform Evangelism (DPE) Group is formally announcing the participation in Microsoft World Wide Student Competition: Imagine Cup 2006!
Imagine Cup 2005 was a great success. We had more than 100 students from about 12 Universities participating in the competition with a team reaching the semi finals of this prestigious global competition.
IC2006 Theme: \n \nIC2006 Categories:\n\nSoftware Design \nAlgorithm \nIT \nShort Film \nVisual Gaming: Project Hoshimi
(Programming Battle) \nInterface Designer \n \n \nMake sure you promote this in your university and ensure registrations starting from November 1st\n using theSpoke site: http://www.theSpoke.net \n \n",1]
);
//-->"Imagine a world where technology enables us to live healthier lives."
IC2006 Categories:
Software Design
Algorithm
IT
Short Film
Visual Gaming: Project Hoshimi (Programming Battle)
Interface Designer
Make sure you promote this in your university and ensure registrations starting from November 1st using theSpoke site: http://www.theSpoke.net
\n\n\nNovember 1, 2005 – Registration Opens for all categories \n\nNovember 1, 2005 – Competitions starts for Visual Gaming \n\nAll other categories will begin competition on February 6, 2006. \n\n\nAll other competitions follow very similar deadlines and round schedules; please refer to attached document "Contest Guidelines" for details on each invitational.\n \nMay 5, 2006 – All competitions will be over and the process of choosing the WW Finalist will be underway \n\nMay 22, 2006 – All WW finalists will be announced. \n\nWW Finals - Mid to late July (Exact Date To Be Confirmed!) \n",1]
);
//-->Key Dates:
November 1, 2005 – Registration Opens for all categories
November 1, 2005 – Competitions starts for Visual Gaming
All other categories will begin competition on February 6, 2006.
All other competitions follow very similar deadlines and round schedules; please refer to attached document "Contest Guidelines" for details on each invitational.
May 5, 2006 – All competitions will be over and the process of choosing the WW Finalist will be underway
May 22, 2006 – All WW finalists will be announced.
WW Finals - Mid to late July (Exact Date To Be Confirmed!)
Imagine Cup 2005 was a great success. We had more than 100 students from about 12 Universities participating in the competition with a team reaching the semi finals of this prestigious global competition.
IC2006 Theme: \n \nIC2006 Categories:\n\nSoftware Design \nAlgorithm \nIT \nShort Film \nVisual Gaming: Project Hoshimi
(Programming Battle) \nInterface Designer \n \n \nMake sure you promote this in your university and ensure registrations starting from November 1st\n using theSpoke site: http://www.theSpoke.net \n \n",1]
);
//-->"Imagine a world where technology enables us to live healthier lives."
IC2006 Categories:
Software Design
Algorithm
IT
Short Film
Visual Gaming: Project Hoshimi (Programming Battle)
Interface Designer
Make sure you promote this in your university and ensure registrations starting from November 1st using theSpoke site: http://www.theSpoke.net
\n\n\nNovember 1, 2005 – Registration Opens for all categories \n\nNovember 1, 2005 – Competitions starts for Visual Gaming \n\nAll other categories will begin competition on February 6, 2006. \n\n\nAll other competitions follow very similar deadlines and round schedules; please refer to attached document "Contest Guidelines" for details on each invitational.\n \nMay 5, 2006 – All competitions will be over and the process of choosing the WW Finalist will be underway \n\nMay 22, 2006 – All WW finalists will be announced. \n\nWW Finals - Mid to late July (Exact Date To Be Confirmed!) \n",1]
);
//-->Key Dates:
November 1, 2005 – Registration Opens for all categories
November 1, 2005 – Competitions starts for Visual Gaming
All other categories will begin competition on February 6, 2006.
All other competitions follow very similar deadlines and round schedules; please refer to attached document "Contest Guidelines" for details on each invitational.
May 5, 2006 – All competitions will be over and the process of choosing the WW Finalist will be underway
May 22, 2006 – All WW finalists will be announced.
WW Finals - Mid to late July (Exact Date To Be Confirmed!)
Keepalive Pro 4.7e
KeepAlive has been designed to be the application watchdog for all 32-bit applications. Network alert has been added. Restart or just be alerted when a program is in a 'Non Responding' state or if it has just failed. KeepAlive Pro differs from other copycats because it can distinguish between a non-responding program and a failed one. Based on this fact, once KeepAlive Pro detects a 'Non responding' program, it will start to use smart logic and analyze the program status before stopping it and restarting it.
Screen Capture To Animation Gif
Screen Capture to Animation GIF records the action from your Windows screen and saves it as a standard, easily edited, GIF animation file. It use high compression rate arithmetic to reduce output size. It can can be playbacked anywhere, such as IE, NS, Acdsee, Photoshop etc...
Why Animation GIF ?
Very small file size, one minute 1024x768 screen save to 1-2MB only.
Open everywhere, compatible IE, NS, Acdess, Photoshop etc ...
High quality, no loss any pels
Edit again easily
Insert into HTML easily
Features:
System-wide hot keys to start, stop recording
Easy precision visual screen area or window selection
Insert Message Box
Delete captured frames
Change Addition Delay for every frames
Built-in preview to quickly review
HTML output
Minimum Requirements:
CPU: Pentium 133 MMX
RAM: 256MB
OS: Windows95/98/ME/NT4.0/2000/XP
Why Animation GIF ?
Very small file size, one minute 1024x768 screen save to 1-2MB only.
Open everywhere, compatible IE, NS, Acdess, Photoshop etc ...
High quality, no loss any pels
Edit again easily
Insert into HTML easily
Features:
System-wide hot keys to start, stop recording
Easy precision visual screen area or window selection
Insert Message Box
Delete captured frames
Change Addition Delay for every frames
Built-in preview to quickly review
HTML output
Minimum Requirements:
CPU: Pentium 133 MMX
RAM: 256MB
OS: Windows95/98/ME/NT4.0/2000/XP
Sunday, October 23, 2005
Google Web Accelerator
Google Web Accelerator is...
• Designed for Broadband – Web pages load even more quickly on DSL and cable connections
• Easy to use – Simply install and enjoy faster web browsing in seconds
System Requirements
Operating System: Win XP or Win 2000 SP3+
Browser: IE 5.5+ or Firefox 1.0+
Availability: For users in North America and Europe (during beta testing phase)
• Designed for Broadband – Web pages load even more quickly on DSL and cable connections
• Easy to use – Simply install and enjoy faster web browsing in seconds
System Requirements
Operating System: Win XP or Win 2000 SP3+
Browser: IE 5.5+ or Firefox 1.0+
Availability: For users in North America and Europe (during beta testing phase)
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
'Star Wars' Actor Becomes U.S. Citizen
ARLINGTON, Texas Oct 17, 2005 — Best known as the furry Chewbacca in the "Star Wars" films, 7-foot-3 British actor Peter Mayhew is now a U.S. citizen. Mayhew softly recited the oath to become a naturalized American Monday, with his raised right hand trembling slightly.
He was among more than 450 people from 56 countries who became naturalized Americans in a ceremony in Arlington.
"I'll have a British passport, an American passport and a Wookiee passport," joked the 60-year-old Mayhew, alluding to the interplanetary traveler from Kashyyyk he played. He first starred as Chewbacca in 1977's "Star Wars Mayhew autographed dozens of fabric U.S. flags and citizenship packets before the ceremony and posed with immigration officials afterward.
The former English hospital worker said he decided to seek American citizenship when he got married "to a Texan lady." Mayhew and his wife wed six years ago. His wife, Angelique, was beside him, with a drawing depicting Chewbacca, a background of the American flag and Union Jack and the words "Citizen Wookiee."
"Well it was a natural thing being married to a Texan," said Mayhew, wearing black slacks and jacket. "I wanted to become an American because Texas is an integral part of America, its lifestyle."
In most cases, an immigrant must be a legal permanent resident for five years before becoming a citizen. The wait is three years if the person marries a U.S. citizen. Candidates also must pass history, English and civics exams.
"You have to do obviously some research, but the questions are easy enough if you think about them," Mayhew said of his citizenship test, adding that he picked up much of his knowledge of American history and culture over more than a decade of living in the U.S.
Mayhew was born in Barnes, England, and now lives in Granbury, Texas, southwest of Fort Worth. He makes appearances at science fiction conventions around the country.
His film career was launched in 1977 when he played the role of the Minotaur in "Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger." He had been working as an orderly at London's King's College Hospital when he was featured in a newspaper article about men with large feet, which caught the eye of the movie's producers.
He was among more than 450 people from 56 countries who became naturalized Americans in a ceremony in Arlington.
"I'll have a British passport, an American passport and a Wookiee passport," joked the 60-year-old Mayhew, alluding to the interplanetary traveler from Kashyyyk he played. He first starred as Chewbacca in 1977's "Star Wars Mayhew autographed dozens of fabric U.S. flags and citizenship packets before the ceremony and posed with immigration officials afterward.
The former English hospital worker said he decided to seek American citizenship when he got married "to a Texan lady." Mayhew and his wife wed six years ago. His wife, Angelique, was beside him, with a drawing depicting Chewbacca, a background of the American flag and Union Jack and the words "Citizen Wookiee."
"Well it was a natural thing being married to a Texan," said Mayhew, wearing black slacks and jacket. "I wanted to become an American because Texas is an integral part of America, its lifestyle."
In most cases, an immigrant must be a legal permanent resident for five years before becoming a citizen. The wait is three years if the person marries a U.S. citizen. Candidates also must pass history, English and civics exams.
"You have to do obviously some research, but the questions are easy enough if you think about them," Mayhew said of his citizenship test, adding that he picked up much of his knowledge of American history and culture over more than a decade of living in the U.S.
Mayhew was born in Barnes, England, and now lives in Granbury, Texas, southwest of Fort Worth. He makes appearances at science fiction conventions around the country.
His film career was launched in 1977 when he played the role of the Minotaur in "Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger." He had been working as an orderly at London's King's College Hospital when he was featured in a newspaper article about men with large feet, which caught the eye of the movie's producers.
Biggest prize in lottery history
Lottery fever: how to take the cash?
Big-ticket lottery payouts like the recent $294 million offer intriguing financial choices.July 9, 2004: 4:09 PM EDT By Gordon T. Anderson, CNN/Money staff writer
NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - When a 68-year-old cleaning woman won last week's $294 million Mega Millions jackpot, she joined a select group of people: multi-millionaire lottery players.
The ticket picked by Geraldine Williams of Lowell, Mass., will earn her one of the biggest payouts in U.S. lottery history.
It is also further evidence of the super-sizing trend in lotteries. Prizes have grown so gargantuan that anything less than $100 million looks like chump change. "Jackpots have definitely increased tremendously," said Jimmy White, a spokesman for the Maryland Lottery. The reason: The emergence over the last decade of the multi-state game.
"When each state had only its own jackpot game, the biggest prizes were in the range of $5 [million] or $10 million," White notes. "Then along came games in which jackpots are fueled by the sales of tickets in many states."
Sadly, though, there's a yin to the big-money yang. While payouts have expanded, the chances of winning have shrunk. According to White, the odds on a big, single-state sweepstakes are about 6 million to 1.
To win Mega Millions, Williams overcame odds of about 135 million to 1. In Powerball, the odds are 120 million to 1.
Jackpot fatigue
As any gambler knows, the house is always the biggest winner. So it's no surprise that state governments have taken to lotteries like white on rice. About 51 percent of Americans buy at least one lottery ticket every year, according to the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries. What's more, the big payouts are drawing new players.
"People who would never buy otherwise decide they might as well get in the game," White said.
In fact, Jack Whittaker -- the West Virginia man whose $315 million win in 2002 is still the biggest in history -- acknowledged that he only started playing the game after its take crossed the $100 million threshold.
These are heady days for the two consortia running multi-state games. Powerball, based in Iowa, was formed in 1988 and is played in 24 states, plus Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Mega Millions, launched in 1995 as the Big Game, has 11 states in its consortium.
Who plays lotteries? Click here for state rankings
Both multi-state games offer a minimum prize of $10 million, and both pay out approximately 50 percent of their revenue to winners. As each consortium grows, obviously, revenue and payout potential rise commensurately.
Up until now, state lottery commissions have had to choose one or the other. Powerball states tend to be smaller. Mega Millions boasts more populous states, including New York, Illinois and Massachusetts. Last year, Mega Millions signed up Texas, after a heated competition with the Powerball people. For its part, Powerball added Vermont to its consortium.
"Vermont opens an interesting new border," said Joe Mahoney, a spokesman for the Multi-state Lottery Association, which runs the game. "People are coming in from Canada, especially Montreal, to buy tickets."
Take the cash
Mega Millions winner Williams has the choice to receive a lump sum payout of $168 million (about $117 million after taxes), or an annuity payment of a pre-tax $11 million a year, paid out in 26 annual increments.
A mother of three and grandmother of 8, Williams has not yet announced which she'll choose. But the lump-sum seems likely.
"Almost everyone takes the up-front payment," says the MSLA's Mahoney.
It's the same with Mega Millions. "The vast majority go for the cash," White said.
Mahoney argued that the annuity is a better choice, at least in the hypothetical."If you were to win $100 million, the cash option might be about $59 million," he estimates. "Taxes get taken out right away, so you start with just over $40 million. There's no way you're going to get a high enough annual return every year to build that up to $100 million over the life of the annuity."
For his part, though, White understands why someone would choose the lump sum payment.
"We never tell people what to do," he says, noting that his business is doling out money, not financial advice. "But most winners would say it's a no-brainer to go for the cash."
Big-ticket lottery payouts like the recent $294 million offer intriguing financial choices.July 9, 2004: 4:09 PM EDT By Gordon T. Anderson, CNN/Money staff writer
NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - When a 68-year-old cleaning woman won last week's $294 million Mega Millions jackpot, she joined a select group of people: multi-millionaire lottery players.
The ticket picked by Geraldine Williams of Lowell, Mass., will earn her one of the biggest payouts in U.S. lottery history.
It is also further evidence of the super-sizing trend in lotteries. Prizes have grown so gargantuan that anything less than $100 million looks like chump change. "Jackpots have definitely increased tremendously," said Jimmy White, a spokesman for the Maryland Lottery. The reason: The emergence over the last decade of the multi-state game.
"When each state had only its own jackpot game, the biggest prizes were in the range of $5 [million] or $10 million," White notes. "Then along came games in which jackpots are fueled by the sales of tickets in many states."
Sadly, though, there's a yin to the big-money yang. While payouts have expanded, the chances of winning have shrunk. According to White, the odds on a big, single-state sweepstakes are about 6 million to 1.
To win Mega Millions, Williams overcame odds of about 135 million to 1. In Powerball, the odds are 120 million to 1.
Jackpot fatigue
As any gambler knows, the house is always the biggest winner. So it's no surprise that state governments have taken to lotteries like white on rice. About 51 percent of Americans buy at least one lottery ticket every year, according to the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries. What's more, the big payouts are drawing new players.
"People who would never buy otherwise decide they might as well get in the game," White said.
In fact, Jack Whittaker -- the West Virginia man whose $315 million win in 2002 is still the biggest in history -- acknowledged that he only started playing the game after its take crossed the $100 million threshold.
These are heady days for the two consortia running multi-state games. Powerball, based in Iowa, was formed in 1988 and is played in 24 states, plus Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Mega Millions, launched in 1995 as the Big Game, has 11 states in its consortium.
Who plays lotteries? Click here for state rankings
Both multi-state games offer a minimum prize of $10 million, and both pay out approximately 50 percent of their revenue to winners. As each consortium grows, obviously, revenue and payout potential rise commensurately.
Up until now, state lottery commissions have had to choose one or the other. Powerball states tend to be smaller. Mega Millions boasts more populous states, including New York, Illinois and Massachusetts. Last year, Mega Millions signed up Texas, after a heated competition with the Powerball people. For its part, Powerball added Vermont to its consortium.
"Vermont opens an interesting new border," said Joe Mahoney, a spokesman for the Multi-state Lottery Association, which runs the game. "People are coming in from Canada, especially Montreal, to buy tickets."
Take the cash
Mega Millions winner Williams has the choice to receive a lump sum payout of $168 million (about $117 million after taxes), or an annuity payment of a pre-tax $11 million a year, paid out in 26 annual increments.
A mother of three and grandmother of 8, Williams has not yet announced which she'll choose. But the lump-sum seems likely.
"Almost everyone takes the up-front payment," says the MSLA's Mahoney.
It's the same with Mega Millions. "The vast majority go for the cash," White said.
Mahoney argued that the annuity is a better choice, at least in the hypothetical."If you were to win $100 million, the cash option might be about $59 million," he estimates. "Taxes get taken out right away, so you start with just over $40 million. There's no way you're going to get a high enough annual return every year to build that up to $100 million over the life of the annuity."
For his part, though, White understands why someone would choose the lump sum payment.
"We never tell people what to do," he says, noting that his business is doling out money, not financial advice. "But most winners would say it's a no-brainer to go for the cash."
Sunday, October 16, 2005
ZoneAlarm pro6.0
ZoneAlarm Pro6.0
ALL IN ONETriple Defense Firewall™ Anti-Spyware Antivirus ID & Privacy Protection Email Security Web Content Filtering Anti-Phishing Protection Spam BlockerGet easy-to-use, comprehensive protection against hackers, spyware, worms, identity thieves, spam, and much more. Goes beyond traditional PC firewalls to protect your entire PC from hackers, spyware, and other Internet threats.Blocks hackers from gaining access to your computer Automatically makes your computer invisible to anyone on the Internet Prevents spyware from sending your personal information across the Internet Protects your programs and operating system from malware See how it works Updates, scans, and removes spyware, viruses, and worms in a single, powerful operation.Automatically removes the most dangerous and useless spyware and viruses for you "Clears" legitimate monitoring software (such as cookies for Web sites you use frequently) so it doesn't get picked up in every spyware scan See how it works Provides your PC with real-time security updates and new attack protection capabilities.SmartDefense™ Advisor automatically distributes new spyware and virus signatures to your PC for up-to-date protection DefenseNet keeps your PC security updated from the latest spyware and malware using information supplied by our ZoneAlarm user community Protects you from identity theft and online profiling.Prevents your personal data from leaving your computer without your approval Automatically stops pop-up ads so you can surf in peace Quarantines suspicious attachments to help defend against unknown viruses; automatically halts outbound messages to keep you from accidentally infecting others.Automatically blocks phishing and junk emails from entering your inbox, protecting you from dangerous scams and annoying spam.Protects your instant messages—even those sent between different services—so they can't be monitored.Automatically detects wireless networks and secures your PC from hackers and other Internet threats wherever you're connected—at home or on the road.System Requirements:Windows 98SE/ME/2000 Pro/XP. Pentium III 450 MHz or higher. 50MB of available hard disk space. Internet access. Minimum system RAM: 48MB (98SE/ME), 64MB (2000 Pro), 128MB (XP).
REGISTRATION KEY:k4ftp-h86j2-39m9v-7dhm7r-w8b900
ALL IN ONETriple Defense Firewall™ Anti-Spyware Antivirus ID & Privacy Protection Email Security Web Content Filtering Anti-Phishing Protection Spam BlockerGet easy-to-use, comprehensive protection against hackers, spyware, worms, identity thieves, spam, and much more. Goes beyond traditional PC firewalls to protect your entire PC from hackers, spyware, and other Internet threats.Blocks hackers from gaining access to your computer Automatically makes your computer invisible to anyone on the Internet Prevents spyware from sending your personal information across the Internet Protects your programs and operating system from malware See how it works Updates, scans, and removes spyware, viruses, and worms in a single, powerful operation.Automatically removes the most dangerous and useless spyware and viruses for you "Clears" legitimate monitoring software (such as cookies for Web sites you use frequently) so it doesn't get picked up in every spyware scan See how it works Provides your PC with real-time security updates and new attack protection capabilities.SmartDefense™ Advisor automatically distributes new spyware and virus signatures to your PC for up-to-date protection DefenseNet keeps your PC security updated from the latest spyware and malware using information supplied by our ZoneAlarm user community Protects you from identity theft and online profiling.Prevents your personal data from leaving your computer without your approval Automatically stops pop-up ads so you can surf in peace Quarantines suspicious attachments to help defend against unknown viruses; automatically halts outbound messages to keep you from accidentally infecting others.Automatically blocks phishing and junk emails from entering your inbox, protecting you from dangerous scams and annoying spam.Protects your instant messages—even those sent between different services—so they can't be monitored.Automatically detects wireless networks and secures your PC from hackers and other Internet threats wherever you're connected—at home or on the road.System Requirements:Windows 98SE/ME/2000 Pro/XP. Pentium III 450 MHz or higher. 50MB of available hard disk space. Internet access. Minimum system RAM: 48MB (98SE/ME), 64MB (2000 Pro), 128MB (XP).
REGISTRATION KEY:k4ftp-h86j2-39m9v-7dhm7r-w8b900
Saturday, October 15, 2005
An introduction to the Windows Registry
For most of us the Registry is like the head gasket in our cars: we know it's there, that it's very important and that it's not something to be played with. Just as a car with a faulty gasket doesn't go very far, a corrupted Registry can stop Windows from even starting. But if you know what you're doing, the Registry can be a valuable ally in the cause of effective computing.
This guide will show you what you can safely edit to customise your computer. That said, be aware that the Registry is not a Windows element to be trifled with. Making the wrong changes can damage a PC so don't attempt any modifications until you have read this entire guide.
Even if you aren't confident enough to make any changes for now, we suggest that you read on, as understanding how the Registry controls your PC will further your all-round computer knowledge and could help you fix problems in the future.
Not all change is goodBefore we proceed, let's expand on our warning about making Registry changes. Most of the information contained in the Registry is essential to the smooth running of Windows, and changing or deleting values can stop your computer from running altogether.
The other important thing to remember is that any changes you make to the Registry happen as soon as you enter them. The Registry is not like a Word document where you have to select Save, and there is no Undo feature either. This is not the place for idle tinkering but there is an insurance policy that's easy to take out. As with other kinds of data, Registry information can be backed up, creating a copy that can be restored if problems arise.
In fact, the Registry is so important that Windows automatically makes a backup every time it starts. Windows can automatically fix some problems using this backup but most changes you make will need to be fixed by you.
The easiest way to protect yourself before making changes is to create a System Restore point, which will make a single, unchanging record of the Registry at a certain point that you can return to if you need to.
You might also want to record any changes you make to the Registry using a pen and paper. You may wish to reverse some adjustments even if the computer hasn't stopped working altogether, and it is far easier to do so by simply referring to a quick note than having to restore the whole Registry.
What is the Registry's job?With all these warnings you're probably wondering what the Registry actually does and why anyone would want to tinker with it. It's a central record of all the settings and information relating to Windows and the software and hardware you have installed on your computer. Before Windows 95, this information was kept in lots of different text files. They were easy to edit but you had to find them first and this often created problems when programs tried to interact.
One benefit of the Registry is the Add or Remove Programs feature, which is part of Control Panel under the Start menu. When you install software it makes a record in the Registry so that it appears in Add or Remove Programs as part of a single list.
What does the Registry look like?The Registry is stored on your hard disk in several files but the only way to look at it and make changes is to use the Regedit program. To access this, click on the Start Button and then on the Run option. Type regedit into the box that appears and press Enter. This will launch Regedit and you will now have your first sight of the Registry.
The Registry is organised much like the files on a disk and will look familiar if you have ever used the Folders view in Windows Explorer. In the Registry, however, these folders are called keys. To open a key, simply click on the small plus (+) symbol next to it. You will then see that each key contains either more keys - called subkeys - or values.
The keys are organised logically but there are thousands of them, which can be daunting the first time you sneak a peek at the Registry. To simplify things, be aware that there are five root keys and these are the basic building blocks of the Registry.
Values refer to the individual settings in the various keys and are therefore customisable. Displayed by name in the left-hand side of the Regedit window, they also show the kind of data they contain and the data itself. Don't worry about what kind of data is being used as this will be obvious from the data itself or will be explained during the editing process.
Making changes to the RegistryYou will have already made changes to the Registry but only by proxy using Control Panel or installing other software. Third-party software can also do this but you should only ever use software you trust. Letting an unknown application edit your Registry can leave the door wide open to spyware.
Some of the available software offers settings that you will not find anywhere else. One such program is Registry Mechanic. Other utilities, such as Norton SystemWorks, can scan the Registry for values that are no longer needed and remove them. The bigger the Registry the slower your computer will become, so SystemWorks can be very useful.
Spyware often installs values in the Registry to make sure that it's launched to monitor your computer when Windows starts up. When looking for advice on how to remove these programs you may be told to edit the Registry. Always make sure that the advice is coming from a trustworthy source such as Registry Guide for Windows or Systweak.com.
Sometimes the spyware also installs a small program to monitor the Registry and replace keys that you delete, so you should use software such as Spybot Search and Destroy to clean your computer entirely.
What you can do with the RegistryIf you know the basic workings of the Registry you can quickly tweak the way your computer works to suit your individual needs. You can also set Favorites in Regedit just as in Internet Explorer. If you are changing a setting that may need tweaking, such as the thumbnail example below, you can use this feature to quickly return to the value you changed.
To set a Favorite, click on the key, then on the Favorites menu and select Add Favorite. Give the Favorite a name and click on OK. To return to the key, you can now simply select the Favorite from the Favorites menu.
Notice the difference between decimal and hexadecimal values, as the same figures in each will produce different results. All the examples here use decimal values.
Take control of thumbnailsWindows can display images as thumbnails in the Windows Explorer window. If you find that the size or quality of these thumbnails is not to your liking, you can use the Registry to change this. First make a backup by creating a System Restore point. Now open Regedit using the process outlined earlier and open the following key by clicking on the '+' symbol next to it.
Now right-click on the Explorer icon, select New and then click on DWORD value. Enter the text ThumbnailQuality where NewValue1 appears. You should be able to just type over the original name; if not, click on the new key and press F2 to edit the name. Right-click on ThumbnailQuality and select Modify. In the window that appears, type a number between 50 and 100 to specify the quality of the thumbnail. The default is 90. The smaller the number, the faster the picture will appear but the lower its quality will be. Click on the option labelled Decimal and click on OK.
To change the size of the thumbnails, right-click on the Explorer icon, select New and then click on DWORD value. Name the new value ThumbnailSize, right-click on it and select Modify. Enter a number to set the number of pixels across you wish each thumbnail to be. The default measure is 96. Click on the option labelled Decimal and click on OK. You may need to restart your computer for both of these changes to take effect.
Clear websites from History in Internet ExplorerAlthough you can delete the History list of the websites that you have visited from Internet Explorer, it will still save them and automatically enter them when you start typing similar names in the address bar. This list is held in the Registry and you can delete it if you want to.
Click on the Start button, then on Run, type regedit in the window and press Enter. Now find the key: 'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\TypedURLs'. In the right-hand pane you will see a list of all the websites that you have visited. To remove websites from this list, click on each entry and press the Del key. Click on Yes and the entry will duly be removed.
Block Task ManagerThe Task Manager is very useful for dealing with software that has crashed, but sometimes you will want to prevent people from using it to keep them from stopping an essential program, such as a virus scanner you may be running. Be aware, though, that because you can stop any program that is running, it is very easy to crash Windows inadvertently. You can stop people from accessing the Task Manager by changing the Registry in the following way:
Click on the Start button, then on Run. Now type regedit in the window that appears and press Enter. Go to the key: 'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ CurrentVersion\Policies\System'. You may need to create the System key. To do this, right-click on Policies, select New and then click on Key. Give the key the name System.
Right-click on the System key, select New and then click on DWORD value. Give the value the name DisableTaskMgr. If you cannot enter the name, left-click on the new value and press F2 before typing the new name. Right-click on it and select modify. Enter 1 in the value data box in the window, select the decimal option and click on OK.
Now if someone tries to start the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Del, they will get a message telling them that it has been disabled. If you have more than one user account on the computer, you will have to repeat this procedure while logged into each account.
Carefully does itWe've shown just a few examples of what you can do with the Registry. As you learn more, you may find that knowing about how your computer interacts with its Registry is a valuable tool that will boost your confidence in the long term.
We hope you will be able to gain a further insight in to your computer by following this guide. Just remember to always treat the Registry with the utmost respect and be very careful when changing things. Always make a backup first and only change or add values when you know exactly what they are and what they do.
Find out moreThere are plenty of websites with advice on how to edit the Registry and what can be changed with it. If you're unsure about a particular change, you can check with other users on internet forums such as the Computeractive forums here.
For lots of examples of changes you can make to the Registry, check out WinGuides Network for Windows. Each tip has a screenshot of the keys and values you need to change and what they should look like. You can also download the WinGuides Tweak Manager from this website, which will apply all of these changes without needing to use Regedit.
If you're feeling more confident, take a look at The Elder Geek on Windows XP. This site has plenty of suggestions and, even if you are not looking for specific Registry edits, you may find changes you wanted to make but didn't know how to.
This guide will show you what you can safely edit to customise your computer. That said, be aware that the Registry is not a Windows element to be trifled with. Making the wrong changes can damage a PC so don't attempt any modifications until you have read this entire guide.
Even if you aren't confident enough to make any changes for now, we suggest that you read on, as understanding how the Registry controls your PC will further your all-round computer knowledge and could help you fix problems in the future.
Not all change is goodBefore we proceed, let's expand on our warning about making Registry changes. Most of the information contained in the Registry is essential to the smooth running of Windows, and changing or deleting values can stop your computer from running altogether.
The other important thing to remember is that any changes you make to the Registry happen as soon as you enter them. The Registry is not like a Word document where you have to select Save, and there is no Undo feature either. This is not the place for idle tinkering but there is an insurance policy that's easy to take out. As with other kinds of data, Registry information can be backed up, creating a copy that can be restored if problems arise.
In fact, the Registry is so important that Windows automatically makes a backup every time it starts. Windows can automatically fix some problems using this backup but most changes you make will need to be fixed by you.
The easiest way to protect yourself before making changes is to create a System Restore point, which will make a single, unchanging record of the Registry at a certain point that you can return to if you need to.
You might also want to record any changes you make to the Registry using a pen and paper. You may wish to reverse some adjustments even if the computer hasn't stopped working altogether, and it is far easier to do so by simply referring to a quick note than having to restore the whole Registry.
What is the Registry's job?With all these warnings you're probably wondering what the Registry actually does and why anyone would want to tinker with it. It's a central record of all the settings and information relating to Windows and the software and hardware you have installed on your computer. Before Windows 95, this information was kept in lots of different text files. They were easy to edit but you had to find them first and this often created problems when programs tried to interact.
One benefit of the Registry is the Add or Remove Programs feature, which is part of Control Panel under the Start menu. When you install software it makes a record in the Registry so that it appears in Add or Remove Programs as part of a single list.
What does the Registry look like?The Registry is stored on your hard disk in several files but the only way to look at it and make changes is to use the Regedit program. To access this, click on the Start Button and then on the Run option. Type regedit into the box that appears and press Enter. This will launch Regedit and you will now have your first sight of the Registry.
The Registry is organised much like the files on a disk and will look familiar if you have ever used the Folders view in Windows Explorer. In the Registry, however, these folders are called keys. To open a key, simply click on the small plus (+) symbol next to it. You will then see that each key contains either more keys - called subkeys - or values.
The keys are organised logically but there are thousands of them, which can be daunting the first time you sneak a peek at the Registry. To simplify things, be aware that there are five root keys and these are the basic building blocks of the Registry.
Values refer to the individual settings in the various keys and are therefore customisable. Displayed by name in the left-hand side of the Regedit window, they also show the kind of data they contain and the data itself. Don't worry about what kind of data is being used as this will be obvious from the data itself or will be explained during the editing process.
Making changes to the RegistryYou will have already made changes to the Registry but only by proxy using Control Panel or installing other software. Third-party software can also do this but you should only ever use software you trust. Letting an unknown application edit your Registry can leave the door wide open to spyware.
Some of the available software offers settings that you will not find anywhere else. One such program is Registry Mechanic. Other utilities, such as Norton SystemWorks, can scan the Registry for values that are no longer needed and remove them. The bigger the Registry the slower your computer will become, so SystemWorks can be very useful.
Spyware often installs values in the Registry to make sure that it's launched to monitor your computer when Windows starts up. When looking for advice on how to remove these programs you may be told to edit the Registry. Always make sure that the advice is coming from a trustworthy source such as Registry Guide for Windows or Systweak.com.
Sometimes the spyware also installs a small program to monitor the Registry and replace keys that you delete, so you should use software such as Spybot Search and Destroy to clean your computer entirely.
What you can do with the RegistryIf you know the basic workings of the Registry you can quickly tweak the way your computer works to suit your individual needs. You can also set Favorites in Regedit just as in Internet Explorer. If you are changing a setting that may need tweaking, such as the thumbnail example below, you can use this feature to quickly return to the value you changed.
To set a Favorite, click on the key, then on the Favorites menu and select Add Favorite. Give the Favorite a name and click on OK. To return to the key, you can now simply select the Favorite from the Favorites menu.
Notice the difference between decimal and hexadecimal values, as the same figures in each will produce different results. All the examples here use decimal values.
Take control of thumbnailsWindows can display images as thumbnails in the Windows Explorer window. If you find that the size or quality of these thumbnails is not to your liking, you can use the Registry to change this. First make a backup by creating a System Restore point. Now open Regedit using the process outlined earlier and open the following key by clicking on the '+' symbol next to it.
Now right-click on the Explorer icon, select New and then click on DWORD value. Enter the text ThumbnailQuality where NewValue1 appears. You should be able to just type over the original name; if not, click on the new key and press F2 to edit the name. Right-click on ThumbnailQuality and select Modify. In the window that appears, type a number between 50 and 100 to specify the quality of the thumbnail. The default is 90. The smaller the number, the faster the picture will appear but the lower its quality will be. Click on the option labelled Decimal and click on OK.
To change the size of the thumbnails, right-click on the Explorer icon, select New and then click on DWORD value. Name the new value ThumbnailSize, right-click on it and select Modify. Enter a number to set the number of pixels across you wish each thumbnail to be. The default measure is 96. Click on the option labelled Decimal and click on OK. You may need to restart your computer for both of these changes to take effect.
Clear websites from History in Internet ExplorerAlthough you can delete the History list of the websites that you have visited from Internet Explorer, it will still save them and automatically enter them when you start typing similar names in the address bar. This list is held in the Registry and you can delete it if you want to.
Click on the Start button, then on Run, type regedit in the window and press Enter. Now find the key: 'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\TypedURLs'. In the right-hand pane you will see a list of all the websites that you have visited. To remove websites from this list, click on each entry and press the Del key. Click on Yes and the entry will duly be removed.
Block Task ManagerThe Task Manager is very useful for dealing with software that has crashed, but sometimes you will want to prevent people from using it to keep them from stopping an essential program, such as a virus scanner you may be running. Be aware, though, that because you can stop any program that is running, it is very easy to crash Windows inadvertently. You can stop people from accessing the Task Manager by changing the Registry in the following way:
Click on the Start button, then on Run. Now type regedit in the window that appears and press Enter. Go to the key: 'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ CurrentVersion\Policies\System'. You may need to create the System key. To do this, right-click on Policies, select New and then click on Key. Give the key the name System.
Right-click on the System key, select New and then click on DWORD value. Give the value the name DisableTaskMgr. If you cannot enter the name, left-click on the new value and press F2 before typing the new name. Right-click on it and select modify. Enter 1 in the value data box in the window, select the decimal option and click on OK.
Now if someone tries to start the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Del, they will get a message telling them that it has been disabled. If you have more than one user account on the computer, you will have to repeat this procedure while logged into each account.
Carefully does itWe've shown just a few examples of what you can do with the Registry. As you learn more, you may find that knowing about how your computer interacts with its Registry is a valuable tool that will boost your confidence in the long term.
We hope you will be able to gain a further insight in to your computer by following this guide. Just remember to always treat the Registry with the utmost respect and be very careful when changing things. Always make a backup first and only change or add values when you know exactly what they are and what they do.
Find out moreThere are plenty of websites with advice on how to edit the Registry and what can be changed with it. If you're unsure about a particular change, you can check with other users on internet forums such as the Computeractive forums here.
For lots of examples of changes you can make to the Registry, check out WinGuides Network for Windows. Each tip has a screenshot of the keys and values you need to change and what they should look like. You can also download the WinGuides Tweak Manager from this website, which will apply all of these changes without needing to use Regedit.
If you're feeling more confident, take a look at The Elder Geek on Windows XP. This site has plenty of suggestions and, even if you are not looking for specific Registry edits, you may find changes you wanted to make but didn't know how to.
Common PC problems
Computers are highly complex and things can easily go wrong. We look at 50 of the most common problems and provide the answers
With computers, as with most things in life, knowledge is power. Arm yourself with a comprehensive knowledge of the workings of your PC and peripherals and you should be able to solve most common computer conundrums and fix frequently encountered PC ailments without a problem.
Following on from the troubleshooting guide we ran in June, we've put together a guide to solving 50 more problems you may well encounter with your PC. So if your computer is misbehaving and the solution wasn't included in our first guide, don't panic: you may well find the answer you need in this feature.
It's funny how much easier computer problems are to solve when you have all of the answers. If you find you have a problem that is not covered here, don't forget you can use the internet to search for answers either by looking on manufacturers' websites or making a general search using a search engine such as Google. And there's an army of your fellow readers on hand to help out at the Computeractive Readers to the Rescue forum.
WINDOWS
Every time I start my computer, AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) prompts me to connect to the internet. How can I stop this from happening?Press F3 to open the Preferences window in AIM. Click on Sign On/Off on the left-hand side of the Window and click in the box labelled Start AIM when Windows starts, then click on OK.
The Taskbar has moved to one side of the screen. How can I move it back?Click on an empty part of the taskbar and drag it to the bottom of the screen.
I am planning to upgrade my computer soon. How can I copy Desktop files and settings to my new PC?Run the File and Settings Transfer Wizard on the new computer to save a special file and settings transfer program onto a blank disc. To run the wizard, click on the Start button, then All Programs, Accessories and then File and Settings Transfer Wizard. Run this program on your old PC to save your files and settings.
Due to poor eyesight I have difficulty reading onscreen. Is there anything I can do to make it easier to use my computer?Click on Start, All Programs, Accessories, Accessibility and then Accessibility Wizard. This will help you change the settings on your computer to display larger fonts or set the Magnifier tool to magnify the area of the screen around the cursor.
What program should I use to open a file with the file extension .rar?RAR files are compressed files similar to the more common ZIP files. Use the free program 7-Zip to reverse the compression process. You can download it here.
I need to update my copy of Windows XP but only have a dial-up internet connection. Can I download updates to a friend's computer and copy them to my PC?Go to Windows Update on your computer and note down the numbers of the updates you need. Use a computer with a broadband internet connection to visit Windows Update and select Administrator Options. Click on Find updates for Microsoft Windows operating systems. Select your version of Windows from the list and click on search. You can now select the relevant updates, download them and save them to a CD to be transferred to your own computer.
Can I move the My Documents folder to make it easier to back up?You can change the location of My Documents in Windows XP. Right-click on the My Documents icon and select Properties from the menu. Click on the Target tab then click on the Move button and select a new location. Windows will copy all of your files to the new location.
SECURITY
I have Automatic Updates turned on for Windows XP but do I need to lookfor updates for the other applications that are loaded on my computer?Most software developers release updates to their products if they discover security problems and you should check regularly for updates for any programs that connect to the internet. For Microsoft Office, for example, click on the Help menu and select Check for updates. Office will open Internet Explorer at the Office Update page. Follow the instructions to find and install updates.
I can't find a way of deleting emails without their contents appearing in the preview pane of Outlook Express 6 first. I'm worried that this might pose a security threat. What can I do?To turn the Preview pane off, double-click on it and then click on the View menu and select Layout. Uncheck the Show preview pane box under Preview Pane options to remove the tick and click on OK.
How can I stop other users of my computer from reading my emails in Outlook Express, as we use a single set of login details for Windows XP?You can set up multiple users within Outlook Express called Identities, which can be password-protected. Click on the File menu, Identities and then Manage Identities. Click on the Add Identity button to create a new user and set a password for it.
Is there any way I can stop the other people who use my shared computer from reading my documents?You can scramble the contents of files so that they can only be read with a password. Try using Axcrypt for this, which can be downloaded here.
When I updated to the latest version of AVG Anti-virus my computer started rebooting. It prompts me to return to the last known good configuration or Safe Mode. How can I use Windows again?This problem occurs if you are using Roxio CD Burner as well as the AVG software. There is an update for the Roxio program here.
APPLICATIONS
When I edit photos in Paint Shop Pro they always look great on screen but the colours never seem the same when I print them? What am I doing wrong?Colours appear slightly different on screen than they do on paper but all good photo-editing programs should adjust your pictures to take account of this. In Paint Shop Pro, click on the Enhance Photo button and select One Step Photo fix.
I write a monthly newsletter for a local association and would like to personalise it to include people's names at the top. How can I do this?Create a table in Word or Excel containing all the information you need to personalise your letters with and then write your newsletter as normal. Then click on the Tools menu, Letters and mailings and select Mail Merge and follow the instructions in the onscreen wizard.
I have some symptoms of RSI in my wrists and would like to reduce the amount of typing I have to do. What software do I need to use speech recognition with Microsoft Office?If you have a version of Office later than Office XP the software you need is already on your computer. In Word, click on the Tools menu and select Speech. The Language bar will appear at the top of the screen. You can switch between dictation and Voice commands by clicking on the buttons. You could buy a dedicated voice recognition program such as Dragon Naturally Speaking 8.
I have a number of classic DOS games that I would like to be able to play on my new computer. I have tried the Compatibility mode but that has not worked. What can I do?If Compatibility mode does not work you could try running a software emulator, a program that fools the game into thinking it is running in DOS. Try DOSBox from Sourceforge.net.
Why can't I play my music files on a friend's computer?If you are using Windows Media Player to create files from your own CDs, it may be using copyright protection so the music can only be played on one PC. To turn copy protection off, click on Tools, Options and then on the Rip Music tab. Uncheck the Copy protect music box. If you have downloaded the tracks from a paid-for service, they will play on your PC only.
MODEMS AND THE INTERNET
Sometimes there are blank spaces in websites, often where I think ads are supposed to be. I also get errors when I try to play games on web pages.Download the Flash or Shockwave plug-ins for your browser.
I have made the move away from Internet Explorer to Opera but now I cannot access some websites. What can I do?Some websites will only work with a particular browser, most often Internet Explorer. To set Opera to impersonate Internet Explorer, click on the Tools menu, select Quick Preferences and then click on Identify as Internet Explorer.
I added my email address to a mailing list by mistake. Is there any way I can automatically delete these emails with Outlook Express?You can add the sender to the Blocked senders list and Outlook will automatically delete these emails. Click on the email to select it, click on the Messages menu and select Block Sender. To review the list click on the Tools menu, Message rules and then Blocked senders list.
I have downloaded Mozilla Thunderbird email software to take advantage of the spam filter included but I am worried that some of my important emails may get deleted. What can I do?Click on the Tools menu and select Junk Mail Controls. Click on the option 'Do not mark messages as junk mail if the sender is in my address book' and make sure that Personal Address Book is selected underneath.
I have created my own website but am having trouble saving it to the hosting company. Apparently I need an FTP program. What is it and where can I get one?FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a way of moving files around on the internet. Filezilla is easy to use and free to download.
PRINTING
I have an old laser printer, which is very economical to run but connects to a computer with a parallel socket. My new PC does not have one of these. Is there any way that I can still use this printer?Yes, but you'll need a USB-to-parallel adaptor. Belkin makes one, which you can buy from http://www.dabs.com/ for about £20.
I often have to print out large documents but I would like to reduce the amount of paper that I use in doing so. I cannot change the size of the text in the documents. Is there any other way I can fit more on a page?Most printers can print what is called N-Up, where pages are shrunk to fit several onto one sheet of paper. Click on the File menu and then Print and in the Print dialogue box click on the Properties button. You should find the settings for N-Up printing here.
I have a large collection of photograph negatives, which I want to scan onto my computer. Do I need a special scanner and how do I convert the colours back to normal?You can buy special scanners to scan negatives and film, such as the Plustek OpticFilm 7200. The software supplied with the scanner will convert negative images back into normal colours.
When I start a scan the software asks me what resolution I want to use. What should I do?Images for use on the web will be fine at 100 dots per inch (dpi). If you want to print the picture out you should use a minimum of 300dpi but there is no point scanning at a resolution higher than the maximum resolution of your printer.
My scanning software gives me the choice between JPG and BMP files for my scans. What is the difference?JPG images take up much less disk space than BMP but they manage this by compressing the picture so that some quality is lost. Every time you save a JPG image more image quality is lost so, if you are going to edit the image, you should save it as a BMP.
With computers, as with most things in life, knowledge is power. Arm yourself with a comprehensive knowledge of the workings of your PC and peripherals and you should be able to solve most common computer conundrums and fix frequently encountered PC ailments without a problem.
Following on from the troubleshooting guide we ran in June, we've put together a guide to solving 50 more problems you may well encounter with your PC. So if your computer is misbehaving and the solution wasn't included in our first guide, don't panic: you may well find the answer you need in this feature.
It's funny how much easier computer problems are to solve when you have all of the answers. If you find you have a problem that is not covered here, don't forget you can use the internet to search for answers either by looking on manufacturers' websites or making a general search using a search engine such as Google. And there's an army of your fellow readers on hand to help out at the Computeractive Readers to the Rescue forum.
WINDOWS
Every time I start my computer, AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) prompts me to connect to the internet. How can I stop this from happening?Press F3 to open the Preferences window in AIM. Click on Sign On/Off on the left-hand side of the Window and click in the box labelled Start AIM when Windows starts, then click on OK.
The Taskbar has moved to one side of the screen. How can I move it back?Click on an empty part of the taskbar and drag it to the bottom of the screen.
I am planning to upgrade my computer soon. How can I copy Desktop files and settings to my new PC?Run the File and Settings Transfer Wizard on the new computer to save a special file and settings transfer program onto a blank disc. To run the wizard, click on the Start button, then All Programs, Accessories and then File and Settings Transfer Wizard. Run this program on your old PC to save your files and settings.
Due to poor eyesight I have difficulty reading onscreen. Is there anything I can do to make it easier to use my computer?Click on Start, All Programs, Accessories, Accessibility and then Accessibility Wizard. This will help you change the settings on your computer to display larger fonts or set the Magnifier tool to magnify the area of the screen around the cursor.
What program should I use to open a file with the file extension .rar?RAR files are compressed files similar to the more common ZIP files. Use the free program 7-Zip to reverse the compression process. You can download it here.
I need to update my copy of Windows XP but only have a dial-up internet connection. Can I download updates to a friend's computer and copy them to my PC?Go to Windows Update on your computer and note down the numbers of the updates you need. Use a computer with a broadband internet connection to visit Windows Update and select Administrator Options. Click on Find updates for Microsoft Windows operating systems. Select your version of Windows from the list and click on search. You can now select the relevant updates, download them and save them to a CD to be transferred to your own computer.
Can I move the My Documents folder to make it easier to back up?You can change the location of My Documents in Windows XP. Right-click on the My Documents icon and select Properties from the menu. Click on the Target tab then click on the Move button and select a new location. Windows will copy all of your files to the new location.
SECURITY
I have Automatic Updates turned on for Windows XP but do I need to lookfor updates for the other applications that are loaded on my computer?Most software developers release updates to their products if they discover security problems and you should check regularly for updates for any programs that connect to the internet. For Microsoft Office, for example, click on the Help menu and select Check for updates. Office will open Internet Explorer at the Office Update page. Follow the instructions to find and install updates.
I can't find a way of deleting emails without their contents appearing in the preview pane of Outlook Express 6 first. I'm worried that this might pose a security threat. What can I do?To turn the Preview pane off, double-click on it and then click on the View menu and select Layout. Uncheck the Show preview pane box under Preview Pane options to remove the tick and click on OK.
How can I stop other users of my computer from reading my emails in Outlook Express, as we use a single set of login details for Windows XP?You can set up multiple users within Outlook Express called Identities, which can be password-protected. Click on the File menu, Identities and then Manage Identities. Click on the Add Identity button to create a new user and set a password for it.
Is there any way I can stop the other people who use my shared computer from reading my documents?You can scramble the contents of files so that they can only be read with a password. Try using Axcrypt for this, which can be downloaded here.
When I updated to the latest version of AVG Anti-virus my computer started rebooting. It prompts me to return to the last known good configuration or Safe Mode. How can I use Windows again?This problem occurs if you are using Roxio CD Burner as well as the AVG software. There is an update for the Roxio program here.
APPLICATIONS
When I edit photos in Paint Shop Pro they always look great on screen but the colours never seem the same when I print them? What am I doing wrong?Colours appear slightly different on screen than they do on paper but all good photo-editing programs should adjust your pictures to take account of this. In Paint Shop Pro, click on the Enhance Photo button and select One Step Photo fix.
I write a monthly newsletter for a local association and would like to personalise it to include people's names at the top. How can I do this?Create a table in Word or Excel containing all the information you need to personalise your letters with and then write your newsletter as normal. Then click on the Tools menu, Letters and mailings and select Mail Merge and follow the instructions in the onscreen wizard.
I have some symptoms of RSI in my wrists and would like to reduce the amount of typing I have to do. What software do I need to use speech recognition with Microsoft Office?If you have a version of Office later than Office XP the software you need is already on your computer. In Word, click on the Tools menu and select Speech. The Language bar will appear at the top of the screen. You can switch between dictation and Voice commands by clicking on the buttons. You could buy a dedicated voice recognition program such as Dragon Naturally Speaking 8.
I have a number of classic DOS games that I would like to be able to play on my new computer. I have tried the Compatibility mode but that has not worked. What can I do?If Compatibility mode does not work you could try running a software emulator, a program that fools the game into thinking it is running in DOS. Try DOSBox from Sourceforge.net.
Why can't I play my music files on a friend's computer?If you are using Windows Media Player to create files from your own CDs, it may be using copyright protection so the music can only be played on one PC. To turn copy protection off, click on Tools, Options and then on the Rip Music tab. Uncheck the Copy protect music box. If you have downloaded the tracks from a paid-for service, they will play on your PC only.
MODEMS AND THE INTERNET
Sometimes there are blank spaces in websites, often where I think ads are supposed to be. I also get errors when I try to play games on web pages.Download the Flash or Shockwave plug-ins for your browser.
I have made the move away from Internet Explorer to Opera but now I cannot access some websites. What can I do?Some websites will only work with a particular browser, most often Internet Explorer. To set Opera to impersonate Internet Explorer, click on the Tools menu, select Quick Preferences and then click on Identify as Internet Explorer.
I added my email address to a mailing list by mistake. Is there any way I can automatically delete these emails with Outlook Express?You can add the sender to the Blocked senders list and Outlook will automatically delete these emails. Click on the email to select it, click on the Messages menu and select Block Sender. To review the list click on the Tools menu, Message rules and then Blocked senders list.
I have downloaded Mozilla Thunderbird email software to take advantage of the spam filter included but I am worried that some of my important emails may get deleted. What can I do?Click on the Tools menu and select Junk Mail Controls. Click on the option 'Do not mark messages as junk mail if the sender is in my address book' and make sure that Personal Address Book is selected underneath.
I have created my own website but am having trouble saving it to the hosting company. Apparently I need an FTP program. What is it and where can I get one?FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a way of moving files around on the internet. Filezilla is easy to use and free to download.
PRINTING
I have an old laser printer, which is very economical to run but connects to a computer with a parallel socket. My new PC does not have one of these. Is there any way that I can still use this printer?Yes, but you'll need a USB-to-parallel adaptor. Belkin makes one, which you can buy from http://www.dabs.com/ for about £20.
I often have to print out large documents but I would like to reduce the amount of paper that I use in doing so. I cannot change the size of the text in the documents. Is there any other way I can fit more on a page?Most printers can print what is called N-Up, where pages are shrunk to fit several onto one sheet of paper. Click on the File menu and then Print and in the Print dialogue box click on the Properties button. You should find the settings for N-Up printing here.
I have a large collection of photograph negatives, which I want to scan onto my computer. Do I need a special scanner and how do I convert the colours back to normal?You can buy special scanners to scan negatives and film, such as the Plustek OpticFilm 7200. The software supplied with the scanner will convert negative images back into normal colours.
When I start a scan the software asks me what resolution I want to use. What should I do?Images for use on the web will be fine at 100 dots per inch (dpi). If you want to print the picture out you should use a minimum of 300dpi but there is no point scanning at a resolution higher than the maximum resolution of your printer.
My scanning software gives me the choice between JPG and BMP files for my scans. What is the difference?JPG images take up much less disk space than BMP but they manage this by compressing the picture so that some quality is lost. Every time you save a JPG image more image quality is lost so, if you are going to edit the image, you should save it as a BMP.
50 Windows XP tips
50 Windows XP tips
We show you 50 ways to make using Windows a breeze
Computers are supposed to make life easier but all too often you find yourself waiting for Windows to complete a simple task or getting frustrated because things aren't working as they should. Wouldn't it be better if the home PC danced to your tune? Well, the good news is that you can.
There are lots of settings in Windows XP that can be tweaked and altered to improve the way the operating system works, speed up the computer and generally make it easier to use. And the best news of all is that we are going to share 50 of these tips with you now, with step-by-step explanations to make things ever clearer.
The tips cover the general use of Windows, the internet and email and the PC's hardware settings. All the tweaks and tips included here will help to make your PC work smarter so you don't have to work harder.
Some of the tips we'll look at refer to specific control panels. These can all be accessed through the Windows Control Panel which, in turn, can be accessed by clicking on the Start button at the bottom-left of the screen and clicking Control Panel. Then simply double-click on the icon of the settings you want to tinker with.
To make things easier, we suggest you switch to Classic View mode. You can do this in the main Control Panel window. Just look for the Switch to Classic View option in the left-hand panel. If you can't see it, the computer is already operating in Classic View mode.
Appearance
1. Say goodbye to the paperclip and animated guides The animated helpers in Microsoft Office can be useful but they can also annoy. To remove them, go to the Control Panel and double-click on Add or Remove Programs. Click on Microsoft Office in the list and click on Change, then Add or Remove Features and OK. Tick the box marked Choose advanced customisation or applications, then click on Next. Check the box next to Office Shared Features, then click on the disk icon next to Office Assistant and select Not Available from the drop-down menu. Then click on Update and follow the prompts.
2. Change the way icons are displayed within folders In any Windows Explorer window, click the View menu and select an option from the second section. The Icons option is the standard view, List shows smaller icons, Display shows file properties and Thumbnails can be used in picture and video folders to preview files.
3. Resize icons Make icons bigger if they are hard to see by opening the Display Control Panel and clicking on the Appearance tab. Click on the Effects button. In the dialogue box check the 'Use large icons' box, click on OK and OK again, then close the Control Panel.
4. Change Desktop wallpaper To smarten up the Desktop, open the Display Control Panel in the main Control Panel window and click on the Desktop tab. Choose from the list of wallpapers displayed in the menu here by clicking on one, or click on Browse to select your own digital photograph from the computer's hard disk. For a small performance boost, opt for no wallpaper at all by selecting None from the top of the list. Then click on Apply and OK to confirm your selection.
5. Desktop clean-up wizard Remove useless short cuts with a wizard by opening the Display Control Panel and clicking on the Desktop tab, then clicking on Customize Desktop. Click on Clean Desktop Now and follow the prompts.
6. Lock the Taskbar You can fix the Taskbar (the bar at the bottom of the Windows Desktop) in place by right-clicking it and selecting Lock Taskbar. This stops it from being moved accidentally.
7. Lose the fonts Many programs have their own fonts but these often aren't that useful. To prune the fonts stored on a PC open the Fonts Control Panel. Double-click on any font icon in the folder to see what it looks like, or right-click once and select Delete to get rid of any you don't need. Be sure to only delete fonts that aren't being used and do not delete any that look like they contain odd symbols or shapes as they are probably being used by Windows itself.
8. Pointers Having fancy mouse pointers can be fun but can slow sluggish PCs down further. To change the pointer style, open the Mouse Control Panel and click on the Pointers tab. Choose a scheme from the drop-down list and click on Apply and OK. Select None to revert to the standard style.
9. Quick launch For fast access to favourite programs, drag their icons to the Quick Launch toolbar, to the right of the Start button on the Taskbar. If you can't see it, right-click the background of the Taskbar, click Toolbars and make sure Quick Launch is ticked. You can then drag any short-cut icon here and launch the program in future with a single click.
10. Group taskbar buttons Running many programs at once can lead to the Taskbar becoming cluttered. To simplify things, group all the Word documents or instant messaging windows you have open together by right-clicking the Taskbar and selecting Properties. Then tick 'Group similar taskbar buttons' and click on OK.
We show you 50 ways to make using Windows a breeze
Computers are supposed to make life easier but all too often you find yourself waiting for Windows to complete a simple task or getting frustrated because things aren't working as they should. Wouldn't it be better if the home PC danced to your tune? Well, the good news is that you can.
There are lots of settings in Windows XP that can be tweaked and altered to improve the way the operating system works, speed up the computer and generally make it easier to use. And the best news of all is that we are going to share 50 of these tips with you now, with step-by-step explanations to make things ever clearer.
The tips cover the general use of Windows, the internet and email and the PC's hardware settings. All the tweaks and tips included here will help to make your PC work smarter so you don't have to work harder.
Some of the tips we'll look at refer to specific control panels. These can all be accessed through the Windows Control Panel which, in turn, can be accessed by clicking on the Start button at the bottom-left of the screen and clicking Control Panel. Then simply double-click on the icon of the settings you want to tinker with.
To make things easier, we suggest you switch to Classic View mode. You can do this in the main Control Panel window. Just look for the Switch to Classic View option in the left-hand panel. If you can't see it, the computer is already operating in Classic View mode.
Appearance
1. Say goodbye to the paperclip and animated guides The animated helpers in Microsoft Office can be useful but they can also annoy. To remove them, go to the Control Panel and double-click on Add or Remove Programs. Click on Microsoft Office in the list and click on Change, then Add or Remove Features and OK. Tick the box marked Choose advanced customisation or applications, then click on Next. Check the box next to Office Shared Features, then click on the disk icon next to Office Assistant and select Not Available from the drop-down menu. Then click on Update and follow the prompts.
2. Change the way icons are displayed within folders In any Windows Explorer window, click the View menu and select an option from the second section. The Icons option is the standard view, List shows smaller icons, Display shows file properties and Thumbnails can be used in picture and video folders to preview files.
3. Resize icons Make icons bigger if they are hard to see by opening the Display Control Panel and clicking on the Appearance tab. Click on the Effects button. In the dialogue box check the 'Use large icons' box, click on OK and OK again, then close the Control Panel.
4. Change Desktop wallpaper To smarten up the Desktop, open the Display Control Panel in the main Control Panel window and click on the Desktop tab. Choose from the list of wallpapers displayed in the menu here by clicking on one, or click on Browse to select your own digital photograph from the computer's hard disk. For a small performance boost, opt for no wallpaper at all by selecting None from the top of the list. Then click on Apply and OK to confirm your selection.
5. Desktop clean-up wizard Remove useless short cuts with a wizard by opening the Display Control Panel and clicking on the Desktop tab, then clicking on Customize Desktop. Click on Clean Desktop Now and follow the prompts.
6. Lock the Taskbar You can fix the Taskbar (the bar at the bottom of the Windows Desktop) in place by right-clicking it and selecting Lock Taskbar. This stops it from being moved accidentally.
7. Lose the fonts Many programs have their own fonts but these often aren't that useful. To prune the fonts stored on a PC open the Fonts Control Panel. Double-click on any font icon in the folder to see what it looks like, or right-click once and select Delete to get rid of any you don't need. Be sure to only delete fonts that aren't being used and do not delete any that look like they contain odd symbols or shapes as they are probably being used by Windows itself.
8. Pointers Having fancy mouse pointers can be fun but can slow sluggish PCs down further. To change the pointer style, open the Mouse Control Panel and click on the Pointers tab. Choose a scheme from the drop-down list and click on Apply and OK. Select None to revert to the standard style.
9. Quick launch For fast access to favourite programs, drag their icons to the Quick Launch toolbar, to the right of the Start button on the Taskbar. If you can't see it, right-click the background of the Taskbar, click Toolbars and make sure Quick Launch is ticked. You can then drag any short-cut icon here and launch the program in future with a single click.
10. Group taskbar buttons Running many programs at once can lead to the Taskbar becoming cluttered. To simplify things, group all the Word documents or instant messaging windows you have open together by right-clicking the Taskbar and selecting Properties. Then tick 'Group similar taskbar buttons' and click on OK.
Phones will soon tell by way a user walks if it's fine to talk
MOBILE phones will soon be able to recognise their owners by the way they walk, say scientists who unveiled a security sensor which responds to a person's movements.
The technology, developed by Finnish researchers, would disable equipment if it sensed the person using it was not the owner, helping to cut crime by preventing unauthorised use of portable devices such as laptops and mobile phones.
The inventors say the system could also be adapted for credit cards in the future so it could verify a user's identity based on their physical movements before approval of payment transactions.
Heikki Ailisto, a professor at VTT, the Technical Research Centre of Finland, said the principal advantage was that it provided an effective identification method but did not require the user to perform a specific task like entering a password.
"It is better in the sense it is unobtrusive and implicit - people are lazy about using passwords, fingerprint sensors, anything which requires explicit action."
The system has to be found to recognise the legitimate user in about 90 per cent of cases. Its creators admit that its effectiveness can be hampered by factors such as a change from high heels to trainers or a leg injury, but a pass-code system is included as back-up.
"The performance is not as good as fingerprint, but about equal with real-world speaker recognition systems," said Mr Ailisto.
Costing less than 60p per unit, the device has an acceleration sensor which automatically records an individual's "movement signal" the first time the phone is used.
The technology, developed by Finnish researchers, would disable equipment if it sensed the person using it was not the owner, helping to cut crime by preventing unauthorised use of portable devices such as laptops and mobile phones.
The inventors say the system could also be adapted for credit cards in the future so it could verify a user's identity based on their physical movements before approval of payment transactions.
Heikki Ailisto, a professor at VTT, the Technical Research Centre of Finland, said the principal advantage was that it provided an effective identification method but did not require the user to perform a specific task like entering a password.
"It is better in the sense it is unobtrusive and implicit - people are lazy about using passwords, fingerprint sensors, anything which requires explicit action."
The system has to be found to recognise the legitimate user in about 90 per cent of cases. Its creators admit that its effectiveness can be hampered by factors such as a change from high heels to trainers or a leg injury, but a pass-code system is included as back-up.
"The performance is not as good as fingerprint, but about equal with real-world speaker recognition systems," said Mr Ailisto.
Costing less than 60p per unit, the device has an acceleration sensor which automatically records an individual's "movement signal" the first time the phone is used.
Friday, October 14, 2005
Yahoo and Microsoft are planning to tear down the walls between their IM applications that currently prevent users from communicating with each other. Full interoperability is scheduled for the second quarter of 2006.
By combining forces, the pair create what they claim is the world's largest IM community of 275 million accounts.
However, according to analyst firm The Radicati Group, AOL has 56 per cent of the IM market worldwide. Microsoft and Yahoo combined have around 40 per cent.
IM applications offer a communications platform, and let users know when a friend or colleague is online.
None of the leading platforms currently offers interoperability, forcing users to maintain accounts for multiple services if they want to stay in touch with all their contacts.
The lack of interoperability has given rise to so-called unified messengers, such as Trillian for the PC and Fire for the Mac. Such applications manage multiple user accounts, preventing the user from having to run a separate application for each messaging network.
The ability to communicate with other IM platforms is one of the most requested features by users, according to Microsoft and Yahoo.
"IM interoperability is the right thing for our customers, our businesses and the industry as a whole, and Microsoft is delighted to help lead these efforts with Yahoo," said Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer.
Google recently criticised AOL, MSN and Yahoo for locking out other networks when Google launched a beta of its Google Talk IM application.
"We plan to partner with other willing service providers to enable federation of our services," Google stated in August.
"This means that a user on one service can communicate with users on another service without needing to sign up for, or sign in with, each service."
By combining forces, the pair create what they claim is the world's largest IM community of 275 million accounts.
However, according to analyst firm The Radicati Group, AOL has 56 per cent of the IM market worldwide. Microsoft and Yahoo combined have around 40 per cent.
IM applications offer a communications platform, and let users know when a friend or colleague is online.
None of the leading platforms currently offers interoperability, forcing users to maintain accounts for multiple services if they want to stay in touch with all their contacts.
The lack of interoperability has given rise to so-called unified messengers, such as Trillian for the PC and Fire for the Mac. Such applications manage multiple user accounts, preventing the user from having to run a separate application for each messaging network.
The ability to communicate with other IM platforms is one of the most requested features by users, according to Microsoft and Yahoo.
"IM interoperability is the right thing for our customers, our businesses and the industry as a whole, and Microsoft is delighted to help lead these efforts with Yahoo," said Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer.
Google recently criticised AOL, MSN and Yahoo for locking out other networks when Google launched a beta of its Google Talk IM application.
"We plan to partner with other willing service providers to enable federation of our services," Google stated in August.
"This means that a user on one service can communicate with users on another service without needing to sign up for, or sign in with, each service."
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