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2/11/2003 |
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Our readers do a little Soulseeking this week, but it's not exactly what you think. Plus, price cuts on Palms and Macs send readers shopping for the latest bargains. |
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Soulseek
With that name, you might think Soulseek is a new Zen movement that sends you wandering the wilderness until you find your true self. Actually, it's a software download that lets you wander its peer-to-peer network looking for files to download. Not quite the same, but it could help some of us attain file-sharing Nirvana. Judging from the large numbers who came searching for Soulseek, I'd say a lot of you are grasping for a new level of P2P enlightenment, especially in light of the legal wranglings over other file-sharing networks such as KaZaa and the RIAA's battle to get the names of file sharers from ISPs. But how good is Soulseek? It's a fairly new addition to the P2P arena, but so far, users seem to like what they're getting. |
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Tungsten
Apparently, now is the time to get a handheld--considering that this last week saw big price cuts from both Palm and Sony. Could a 20 percent cut for Palm's Tungsten T send you readers to CNET looking for more info on this high-end handheld? Maybe. But is it worth the trouble? Definitely, according to our editors' review. But you could also be looking for the highest-end Palm Tungsten W, which is set for release early this year. Look for our review in the coming weeks. |
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Backup
What are the virtues of backup, dear reader? Let me enumerate them. A million things could happen to your hard disk, from a malicious virus unleashed on your system to a software installation gone awry to a simple brain fart on your part, and suddenly all your precious data, documents, and--gasp--MP3, video, and photo files are gone forever. Seems like some of you have gotten the gospel and are seeking out the tools you need to back up your data. As tedious a task as it may seem, it's really the only way to safeguard anything stored on your machine. Our editors recommend these top-rated backup applications, or you can check out other apps featured on CNET's Download.com if you're looking for more variety. Plus, our editors are planning a huge roundup of the latest backup apps, coming in early March. |
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Spybot
No, Spybot isn't some kind of space-age surveillance robot. It's a disk-cleaning utility that searches your hard disk and Registry looking for adware, spyware, and other similar threats to security and privacy. This app is not a newcomer to the Buzz, nor is its popular alternative Ad-aware. Look for reviews of the newest versions of these cleaning apps to come from our editors in the next few weeks; the review for Spybot will be up by the end of this week. |
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Columbia
Definitely, one of the biggest news stories of last week was the explosion of the space shuttle Columbia over Texas, which killed the seven astronauts on board. Readers were searching CNET's News.com for the latest on the disaster. Tragedy, as you could guess, brings out the best and the worst in folks, and the Internet reflected that in spades. Within hours of the explosion, pieces of shuttle debris were showing up on the Internet auction site eBay. But at the same time the Web was being used for such a ghastly purpose, it was also put to good use as NASA put out a call for homemade films and photos of the disaster to help in the investigation. Submissions could be sent in via a designated Web site. As the investigation continues, News.com will keep you updated on the findings. |
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iMac
You've seen the Apple TV ads with folks trying to give you more good reasons to switch from PC to Mac. This week, Apple finally caught on to the one sales tactic PC users are likely to pay attention to: lower prices. For years, Macs have been notoriously pricier than their Windows-running counterparts, but now, the newest G4 and iMac desktops have gotten a hefty price cut. Why? It's all part of a smart Apple strategy, a plan the company is hoping will lift its sagging sales numbers. Outside of pricing, should you switch? Weigh the pros and cons, then decide. |
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Sony Ericsson P800
You've been searching for the P800 for ages, and even more so lately. Why? After our months of waiting for Sony Ericsson's tiny, very sexy camera/phone/PDA, the P800, the company finally announced a date and price for this do-it-all device: it will be available in the United States via the Sony Ericsson Web site on Valentine's Day, February 14, for a whopping $695. But does it live up to the hype? The P800 gave our editors an overall positive first impression, according to our First Take. But you should hold off on committing to this mighty mite until you've read our full review, due in the next few weeks. |
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Canon i950
Photo printers are regulars on the Buzz Report, which is no surprise considering the popularity of digital cameras all over CNET. But the latest, hottest photo printer is Canon's just-released i950, which boasts ultrafine (with resolution of up to 4,800x1,200dpi), ultrafast printing. Plus, with its six individual ink tanks and ink-management system, Canon claims you'll save money on cartridges by replacing only the color that runs out rather than the entire cartridge. Sounds pretty appealing, but it's just company hype until we get it into our Labs. We'll be publishing a review of the Canon i950 by the end of February, so look for it soon. In the meantime, check out reviews of other fine color photo inkjets. |
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Nokia
Until now, gameplay on cell phones has been pretty unimpressive. But Nokia intends to blow the lid off of that idea with the N-Gage, a combination phone and gaming device that looks a lot like Nintendo's ultrapopular Game Boy Advance. Nokia, which just unveiled the device formally last week, said it will also publish games for the device; they'll be stored on wafer-sized memory cards. Sega is also getting into the act, bringing its familiar Sonic the Hedgehog character to N-Gage. What does Nintendo think of all the new action in handheld games? The company claims not to be threatened by newcomers, especially after showing off its newest Game Boy Advance SP at CES. Move over, console wars; here come the handheld gaming wars. |
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CNET Radio
Many of you have been searching for CNET Radio, but CNET Radio as you once knew it is no longer on the air. The good news is that it's evolving into CNET Radio Direct, which we think will be just as interesting to you users. This new service delivers essential tech news straight to your desktop, laptop, or palmtop twice a day. Sign up here to be preregistered for our new digital audio report. |
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