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Sep 29

Want to get rid of your old Dell Computer? Dell will help you do it — for free.

The world’s largest computer maker is launching a free recycling program in the US.

All you have to do is go to the company’s Web site, enter product information numbers of used Dell computers and printers, print a prepaid shipping label and schedule free home pickup.

This service does not require you to purchase new Dell equipment.

Dell has similar programs in Europe and Canada, and already offers free recycling of any brand of computer or printer when you buy new Dell hardware.

Sep 26

A new product called MojoPac lets iPod users take control of any desktop computer running Microsoft Corp.’s Windows XP operating system.

And major flash memory makers like SanDisk Corp. and Lexar Media Inc. have begun making “smart” thumb drives that let the user carry favorite software programs on the keyring-size devices. When plugged into any Windows-based computer, the smart drive lets the user work on a stranger’s computer exactly as if it were his own, with all the same software and settings.

“By the end of 2008, people will install software on their smart drive, and not on their hard drive,” said Kate Purnal, chief executive of U3 LLC in Redwood City, Calif., which markets one of the new smart drives.

If the new technology catches on, companies would have greater flexibility in assigning computers to employees.

Each machine could contain only an operating system, such as Windows software. All other programs would be loaded onto a smart drive, which the worker would keep at all times and use on any computer in the office.

The smart drive can be equipped with data encryption and password protection, to protect sensitive data in case it is lost.

Read More

Sep 23

As we have stated before, it appears there is another laptop manufacturer having laptop battery issues.

As we stated previously, even if you do not have one of the laptop’s affected by the recent recall of Toshiba, Apple, and Dell, you would be safer to contact your manufacturer and ask if there has been any reports of battery problems by your laptop model.

IBM appears to be the latest company. You can read more at Engadget.

Sep 21

Online privacy continues to be an important issue for many Internet citizens, as awareness of spyware threats and the danger of identity theft increases. Personal privacy is also a growing concern.

Well now there are two new web browsers that claim to make your web surfing more secure.

Browzar - Those who wish to surf the web with a bit more privacy have another option to add to their tool bag, with the recently released (in beta form) web browser, whimsically named “Browzar.” Browzar is the brainchild of Ajaz Ahmed, who some years ago founded the Freeserve ISP in the UK.

Browzar’s primary selling point is that it is designed to leave no user footprints on the host computer. Any cookies that Browzar accepts are deleted at the end of the session. No cache files are kept, there is no browser history to scan, and the application has no form autocomplete feature. In short, Browzar is about as feature-free a browser as you are likely to come across. Also Browzar is based on Internet Explorer.

Torpark - A new web browser based on Firefox called Torpark aims to go even farther by integrating an anonymous proxy into the package.

Torpark has been released by a group called Hacktivismo, an organization whose aims are “to further the goals of human rights through technology.” The browser is a modified form of Portable Firefox, and as such can be run directly from a USB thumb drive, or any form of portable storage media (the browser comes in at a lightweight 7 MB), without having to go through an installation routine. When the user exits the browser, all personal data from that session is automatically deleted.

I cannot yet recommend either one, but have downloaded them both and will be testing them over the next week. Watch for further information soon.

Sep 21

A new computer game has been unveiled by the Australian Defence Force in a bid to entice young people into a navy career.

The interactive computer game, called Extreme Battleships, was inspired by the success of the US game America’s Army.

Forty per cent of US Army recruits admitted they’d played the game before signing up.

“The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) similarly expects Extreme Battleships will stimulate interest in navy careers,” defence said in a statement.

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