The Internet Tourbus (turn on images to view this message)
If your software garbles this newsletter, read this issue at InternetTourbus.com
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The Internet Tourbus (turn on images to view this message)
If your software garbles this newsletter, read this issue at InternetTourbus.com
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
Many of you have written to say that you enjoy the Geekly Update, my weekly summary of interesting tech news. In the last two editions, I've covered malware outbreaks, exploding DVD players, voice activated printers, a camera that automatically captures all the fun at parties, and the story of the man who accidentally found out incoming cell phone calls turned on his broiler. 
A reader asks: "I'm currently running Vista on my home computer, but I've heard that Windows 7 is faster. Should I upgrade my Vista system to Windows 7, or leave well enough alone?" That's a good question for people who have finally gotten comfortable with Windows Vista, but now they see Windows 7 on the horizon. Does it make sense to upgrade or is it better to stick with Vista, for better or worse? 
Are you one of the millions who decided to skip over Vista? XP users who want to upgrade to Win7 may have a bumpy road. Unfortunately, you can't directly upgrade an existing Windows XP installation to Windows 7. That privilege is reserved for people who have an existing Windows Vista installation, and Microsoft is NOT providing an "in-place" upgrade option for the XP customers. 
General Motors, struggling back from Chapter 11 bankruptcy, has announced plans to launch an electro-hybrid car in 2011. The Chevrolet Volt will feature lithium-ion batteries – the same kind found in laptops, cell phones, and other portable devices. These batteries can be recharged from standard 120/240v household current, or from the internal combustion engine that is present only to recharge the batteries of the electric motor. 
MiFi is a relatively new technology that lets create your own mobile WiFi hotspot. If you want to surf the Web with your wireless device, you no longer need to be near a fixed WiFi access point, like your local library or Starbucks. The key advantages of cellular Internet access are coverage and mobility. MiFi lets you get on the Net from any location where you have a cellular signal: the park bench, a beach, high in the mountains, or even while traveling. It sounds perfect for rock stars who need to Tweet and do Facebook from the tourbus. 
