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When I was in Redmond, I had the opportunity to buy the latest Encarta DVD at a super price. Since I hadn't touched disc-based information resources since the days of the 486, I figured it was about time I gave 'em another spin. Initial thoughts are leaning towards the positive end of the scale. I'm a little put off by the not-so-instant menu responsiveness (you can't turn off the animations), controls and layout could be a little more intuitive, and right-clicking doesn't seem to do anything over anything but text. Still, the interface is generally clean, the information is fresh (with instant updates), and you can load the whole database onto the hard drive. I believe a family would appreciate this more than a geek, but it's nice to have an extensive dictionary / thesaurus at my fingertips (without having to wade through the Web). If only printed encyclopedia volumes were this easy to navigate. If only I had this when I was a kid! It's a sure bet for the loved ones on your list this year, but only if they have a DVD-ROM in their system. I couldn't imagine anybody wanting to own the CD set.

Oh yeah, before I forget, The Internet EYE magazine is having their 4th annual Grand Christmas Giveaway. On December 30th, they'll draw two names for two bundles of software / hardware. The drawing is world-wide (except US trade embargoed countries) and there are no strings attached! So, what can you win? Adobe Premiere 6.5, Photoshop Elements 2.0 (a definite must-have), Adobe Acrobat 5.0, Eovia Carrara Studio 2 with the new VectorStyle plug-in, Alien Skin Software - Eye Candy 4000, Xenofex, Splat!, and the recently-reviewed Image Doctor, 2 Copies of Xara Graphics Studio (each contains Xara X, Xara 3D 5, and Xara Webstyle 3), Right Hemisphere Deep Paint 3D and Deep UV bundle, 2 Lexmark Z42 Inkjet Printers, and a handful of other things your computer would love. Sure, you'd love 'em too - but at the end of the day, your hard drive will rest easier with better software on it. Not to say that Microsoft Paint is a dog, but... c'mon. I have six of these titles already installed on Storm Shadow. Shouldn't that say something? I sure hope not. Because I don't like it when my software talks back without Speech enabled.

Yours Digitally,              
Chris Pirillo       

GnomeDOWNLOADS

WinVorbis v1.40 [881k] W9x/2k/XP FREE

http://winvorbis.stationplaylist.com/

{Make OGG files} We reviewed an audio compressor not that long ago that caused us quite a bit of e-mail. It seems that although the compression scheme we reviewed was good, there is one better. The people have spoken, and I am proud to present you with WinVorbis! This application empowers you to take advantage of the popular Ogg Vorbis media compression format. I explained before that true audiophiles would rather listen to a WAV file then an MP3 file. That isn't a problem... until you start running out of hard drive space. The Ogg Vorbis media compression scheme leaves you with a small OGG file that has the quality of a WAV file. The great part is that media players like Winamp come with built-in support for OGG media files. WinVorbis will allow you to take and encode any directory of WAV, RAW, and AIF files. WinVorbis also has a built-in tag editor, but the really important part is being able to encode OGG media files. If you are an audiophile who is in need of recovering some precious hard drive space, then maybe you should look at converting your audio collection with WinVorbis. After all, you only have hard drive space to gain and nothing to lose! [Brian]

SRE|copy v1.0 [1.6M] W9x/2k/XP FREE

http://www.mywebattack.com/gnomeapp.php?id=105595

SRE|copy is a file transfer tool that enables you to do local and network transfer with resume support. If you have ever copied large amounts of data from one machine to another, you know that it can be time-consuming, and it often slows down computer performance. With SRE|copy, you have the option to pause and resume your file transfers at any time. The program does not replace the standard Windows copy function, but rather appears as an additional option after dragging/dropping a folder or drive, and only jumps into action when you select it. [MWA]

System Shield v2.0 [662k] W9x/2k/XP US$39.95

http://www.gnomedownloads.com/Utilities/SecurityApplications/sysshield.html

System Shield is an excellent piece of software that provides military-strength defense against unauthorized attempts at recovering private or confidential information on your computer. In all likelihood, there are literally thousands of [supposedly] deleted files on your PC containing personal information that can compromise your privacy if they fall into the wrong hands. The frightening thing is how EASY it is for this to happen! System Shield uses methods approved by the US Department of Defense (DoD 5220.22) to ensure that ALL files that have been deleted are permanently disposed of, beyond ALL possible techniques of recovery. It works by proactively finding files that have been deleted (which still remain on your system) and eliminating the data that was once held within them, as well as permanently erasing all evidence that they ever existed on your system in the first place. System Shield can be scheduled to run its cleaning operations on a regular, unattended basis. Therefore, you never need to worry about remembering to clean up your system. It is completely safe: No standard files are affected, and no harmful mechanisms are introduced to your system. System Shield is compatible with all Windows versions (95, 98, Me, 2000, XP, etc.) and all Windows file formats (FAT16, FAT32, NTFS). If you're looking to permanently erase confidential information on your PC, look no further than System Shield. [GD]

Submit a Resource | Recommend It!

GnomeCLICKS

GnomeSYSTEM

iProtectYou v3.01 [2.5M] W9x/2k/XP FREE

http://www.softforyou.com/

{Protect your child} I think my mother was quite lucky with me, because I never really tried to get to inappropriate Web sites when I was a child living in her house. I can't say as much for my younger brother who, because of a big age difference, still lives at home. I once found some suspicious content on his computer, so my mother had me put a filter on his system. I suspect he has probably found a way around that simple fix, so I am now going to install a new protection program I found called iProtectYou. This application looks great! First of all it's free, which is always a bonus, but on top of that, it is loaded with features. The first time you open the iProtectYou program you are prompted to create an Administrator password. After you have created the Administrator password, you will be prompted for that password whenever you try to open iProtectYou, which resides in the System Tray. Once inside, you can do so much that I just don't even have enough space in this newsletter to explain it all. You have the option of blocking certain Web sites or a pattern of Web sites (such as Web sites containing violence), but you have the option to "trust" Web sites that you know are safe for a child. You can also edit the dictionary of appropriate words for your child and block the sometimes-naughty pop-up ads. If that wasn't enough, you can also get more advanced by blocking or allowing specific ports or IP addresses. Probably most important is the collection of log files and graphs that let you know see where you child has been because let's face it... a system like this is great, but it's nothing if the parent doesn't spend the time to review it. So if you are a parent who believes in protecting your child online, then iProtectYou is the program for you. [Brian]

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GnomeFAVORITE

laavenue.com

http://www.laavenue.com/

When I was a kid, my family moved to a place in California called Dana Point. About six months later, we moved to Los Angeles to a house that was on the line between Glendale and Burbank. If I was in the kitchen then I was in Glendale, and if I was in the backyard then I was in Burbank. Yeah, it got a little bit confusing when filling out forms that asked for a city. Some of my greatest memories come from my time in Los Angeles and I must say a part of my heart will always stay there. Laavenue.com is a Web site that highlights life in Los Angeles. A man by the name of Nick runs the Web site and what he has done is mounted a Web cam in his truck. Armed with a wireless Internet connection, Nick captures images from all around Los Angeles and surrounding cities. The Web cam is live most of the time, but if you don't see anything too appealing, then you can drop into the image archive. Who knows... you may even see a celebrity! If you have never been to Los Angeles or California and you are planning a trip there, then laavenue.com is the perfect online stop to get prepared. There is a section devoted to visitors that includes weather reports, a listing of local parks, and even some helpful tips. For those of us that have lived in Los Angeles and were forced to move away, then this Web site is a great way to soak in the sights and bring back fond memories. If you live in Los Angeles or just need an excuse to visit, then laavenue.com is the perfect place to learn about unknown hot spots and up-and-coming locations that deserve some attention. [Brian]

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GnomeTIPS

Question: Is there a device that can be plugged into a USB port that can accept or has RCA inputs?

Answer: There are several devices that do this, such as those made by Dazzle. Some people may refer to these types of devices as a "DV Bridge," but I don't know if I would call it a true DV Bridge if connects through USB. Although there are tons of great USB-enabled DV Bridges that you can buy from your local computer retailer for $175 and below, what I really want to know is why you want one. I ask this, because I recently had a friend who wanted to do the same thing to hook up his video camera. I know this sounds like a great idea, but my friend had a digital video camera, which means if you use one of these external USB DV Bridges then you are sacrificing quality and time. Most digital video cameras have a FireWire/iLink connector, which is a high-speed connector that would allow you to import digital video directly into your computer without any conversions to analog video (this is where you would have lost quality). In fact, I haven't seen a single digital video camera that DOESN'T have a FireWire connector. FireWire cards are very cheap and easy to install on your computer, but the real benefit is in the quality of your video and the speed of importing that video. If you have an older video camera or a VCR feed that you are trying to import, then a DV Bridge is what you need. Keep in mind that they do make DV Bridges that are USB 2.0 or FireWire compatible. That being said, it still may not be a bad idea to pick up one of these upgrade kits for a faster connection. Since you still have to convert to analog, you will still lose a little video quality. But, at least your importing should be faster and your machine will be better prepared for current and future external upgrades, such as a high-speed external hard drive.

As a side note, for anyone who is confused about the speed of FireWire, a FireWire connection is about 400MB/sec. This is compared to USB that is only around 11MB/sec. I know USB 2.0 is out and is supposed to be faster than FireWire, but the truth is that the tests just haven't proven that, and FireWire is known for sustaining speeds that are perfect for receiving live video. So I would recommend that if you are serious about video editing then you want to look at adding a FireWire card to your computer if it doesn't already have one. [Brian]

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And now, take a trip into the brief past and watch Chris and Gretchen pack up their belongings and... get a little carried away. Sprocket hasn't been the same ever since.