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2/25/2003 |
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With tech ghoulies such as pop-ups, spyware, and spam haunting the Buzz Report this week, we offer up some exorcism tips from and for you readers. Plus, we have a thing or two to say about the best burning software and high-end handhelds. |
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Super Ad Blocker
The trials and tribulations of tech-savvy CNET readers never cease. First, you're plagued by adware--this week's tech demon: pop-up ads. The days of X10 may be behind us, but the pop-up devil is far from dead. What's the best tool to fight it? Many of you are checking out Pop Up Blocker, a small download that's configurable to your needs. But our editors' favorite is Super Ad Blocker. This fine pop-up blocker won us over with its effective performance and unexpected extra features. Since Super Ad Blocker sits in your system tray and can be added to your Internet Explorer toolbar, it's convenient to access no matter what you're doing. Download it here to see if you agree with our editors' opinion. |
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Roxio
I can hear you all singing while your CD- or DVD-burning drive whizzes along: "Burn, baby, burn..." Not a disco fan? OK, but you're obviously burning fiends--so many of you have been searching for our latest review of Roxio's Easy Media Creator 8. Our editors found Roxio's latest release the easiest burning tool out there. The verdict: Easy CD Creator 7.0 users should upgrade. Alternaively, you can give give Pinnacle Expression a try. For the more experienced burner who wants a comprehensive package, look into Nero 9. |
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Spyware
All right, spyware is clearly still on your minds, and rightfully so. CNET's News just reported that incidences of spyware spiked this year. Luckily, you all are onto the top tools for fighting this pesky problem, as seen in the many searches for Spybot Search & Destroy and Ad-aware. As reported in last week's Buzz Report, our editors' recent head-to-head of these two packages put Spybot on top as our Editors' Choice simply because it does for free all of the duties of $40 Ad-aware Standard 6.0. Want more advice on how to win the adware battle? Read up on more tips from CNET's Download.com. |
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Tungsten W
From what I can see, you handheld fans are extremists. It's either the very inexpensive or the very high-end handhelds that seem to get the most action, and this week's searches fall right in line with that trend. On February 28, Palm will launch its second high-end handheld, the Tungsten W. And you guys are really champing at the bit for more info on this PDA. What's so special? The W goes whole hog on features: a color screen with 320x320-pixel resolution, an SD expansion slot, and wireless access via GSM/GPRS networks. Plus, it has a built-in keyboard and an earpiece for making cellular calls. Strangely, it runs Palm OS version 4.1--not the new OS 5.0--and has just a 33MHz DragonBall processor (less processing power than the older Tungsten T). So is this upscale PDA worth its hype? Find out later this week when we post our review at launch. |
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MailWasher Pro
Spyware, pop-up ads, and now spam: it's a veritable tech horror show on the Buzz Report this week. I am definitely sensing some suffering from you readers and in the words of Bill Clinton, I feel your pain. Spam is a tricky enemy, since spammers are becoming even more clever at getting around blocking tools. But the tool you've been looking for most, MailWasher Pro, sounds pretty fantastic. MailWasher not only lets you delete spam, it also allows you to bounce that e-mail back to the originator. The sender will get an e-mail message saying the address was unknown. Since many spammers will respam only live addresses, you can feel fairly safe that you won't hear from that spammer again. Pretty sneaky, Sis. |
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Lindows
By being as ballsy as possible, Lindows has gotten a lot of attention. The company first caught the eye of consumers by selling a $200 desktop via Walmart.com. Then, these guys took on Microsoft both in court in a trademark case and later in the underground when the CEO offered up $200,000 in an Xbox hacking contest. Lindows is also selling an alternative to the Windows Media Center PC--the Lindows Media Computer--for as low as $330 without a monitor. Now, the company has just announced a $799 lightweight notebook, which includes a 12.1-inch screen and a 933MHz Via Technologies C3 processor. But that price doesn't seem as dazzling as the $200 desktop, considering that there's plenty of low-cost notebook competition out there. |
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DVD recorders
Bored with DVD players and VCRs? Who can blame you, with new DVD recorders hitting the market and coming down in price. As this field thickens with new competitors, we'll be reviewing more of these products in the coming months. Most recently, we sized up the Panasonic DMR-HS2, a DVD player that records video to hard disk or DVD and throws in FireWire input for camcorder connection. But at $800, it's pretty darn pricey. If you're an early adopter looking for a lower-cost option, check out the Panasonic DMR-E30S, which also scored high marks from our editors but sells for about half the price. |
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Adobe Photoshop Album
Even if you're new to the digital photography thing, you've probably heard of Adobe Photoshop. But heaven help you if you're a novice trying to wade your way through the expert-level tools available in that high-end package. If you're really a newbie, Adobe Photoshop Album might be more your speed. The buzz on this has been that it's Photoshop for novices. But our verdict is that it's mainly a photo-organizing tool that features some basic editing tools such as red-eye removal and cropping. If you want a bit more than what Album is offering, check out Microsoft Picture It Digital Image Pro or Adobe Photoshop Elements. |
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Connectix
Perhaps you should cue up the Darth Vader theme from Star Wars to play in the background as you read this item. Many of you came searching CNET's News.com for info about Connectix, the latest Microsoft acquisition. Haven't heard of Connectix? It's best known for Virtual PC, which lets you run Windows apps on Macs. But the company has also been working on an unreleased server program and software that permits Windows to run on a Macintosh. I think we can see where this is going: the deal gives Microsoft a powerful new weapon in its battle with rivals such as Sun and Oracle. OK, you can stop the Vader music now. |
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Google
Google is always on everyone's minds. I mean, folks are starting to use Google as a verb--as in "I googled her last night" (even though some would say it's illegal). So why are you so interested in this all-powerful search engine this week? I'm guessing it has to do with Google's big acquisition of Pyra Labs, creator of Blogger.com. It's still unclear why Google made the buy, but Pyra's Chief Executive Evan Williams made clear in his own blog why he's excited about the deal. He described joining Google as a "dream scenario," giving him access to "not just money, but servers, and bandwidth and traffic and the index, but (also) incredible brains." |
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