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LangaList 2001-04-26 Please visit our sponsors and help keep the LangaList S.E. free!
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1) Internet Explorer Patch PatchNo, that's not a typo: A security patch for a problem in Microsoft's IE turned out not to go far enough: the patched version still contained a secondary security problem, which has now been corrected with a new patch. (sigh.) This problem affects Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 and 5.5; and Windows Script Host 5.1 and 5.5. Under specific and (fortunately) not common circumstances, a problem in the way content is cached could allow an attacker to do basically whatever he/she wants on your system. Because the cache is local--- on your own PC--- content there can be treated as part of your "Local Security Zone," which usually has the least-restrictive security settings. A clever and malicious hacker thus could theoretically use the cache to do an end-run on your Internet security settings. A full explanation and patch is here: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS01-015.asp Depending on what exact version of IE or the Scripting Host you have, and depending on whether you're running specific kind of Telnet services, you may need additional patches too. Click to
email this item to a friend 2) Last Chance: Grab The Final Byte "Monitor" ColumnHave you seen the amazing videos of "Asimo," built by the Honda car company? It's a robot(!) with what's probably the most natural, human-seeming gait of any walking robot. ( http://www.honda.co.jp/ASIMO/movie/ ) Or how about a robot that can ski as well as many humans? ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/tw/items/010328_skirobot.shtml ) Or how about "telepresence robots" that let a person have a simulated physical presence at a remote location? One particularly touching application is a telepresence robot that lets sick children participate in classroom activities from their sickbeds or even from a hospital. ( http://www.telbotics.com/PebblesMain.html ) All these, plus many other examples of ultra-serious to ultra-silly for-real robotics applications, are discussed in the final Byte Monitor column, live now at http://www.byte.com/column/BYT20010420S0002 . Click on over and check it out! Click to
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the above is an advertisement )-------------- 3) DSL vs CableReader John Schuster asked:
DSL providers vary widely in their ability to properly set up (or "provision") their subscriber lines, but in theory, the speed between your PC and your DSL provider's office should be consistently at whatever level of service you're paying for. (Many DSL providers let you specify how fast a line you want, and charge accordingly.) But note that bottlenecks can occur at any number of places between you and any given web site. Your DSL provider is only accountable for the sustained throughput speed of that first hop, between your system and their central office; that speed should be what's specified in your contract or user agreement. Cable modem speed *is* less stable and assured than DSL speed; throughput does vary according to the number of users on each "loop" or segment of the cable network: The loop as a whole has a finite total bandwidth, and it's simply divvied up among however many users are online at once. The more total users, the less bandwidth available per user. However, the total bandwidth available is usually very, very high, and the cable companies usually do an OK job in sizing the loops: Normally, the total bandwidth remains more or less adequate on a per-user basis--- although below the levels users may experience when they're alone on a loop. (And that drop from unshared to shared speeds is the cause of some complaints: Some users want the whole loop for themselves, all the time. <g>) And with cable, too, many other factors affect your experience of the web at large. Bottlenecks can occur at any number of places between you and any given web site. The site at http://www.dslreports.com is a gold mine of information for seeing how good (or not) various DSL and Cable vendors are. As you explore the site, you'll see that problems are not at all uncommon. In particular, the page at http://www.dslreports.com/gbu shows you user-ratings of various ISPs, xDSL and cable vendors, side by side. The range of perceived quality and value is astonishing! The site also has a wealth of tuning tips and tweaks that can help ensure that whatever bottlenecks occur are not within your own PC. <g> Generally, if you have a decent vendor in your area, and if you attend to tuning your own system, you should get acceptable performance from *either* DSL or cable. Click to
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the above is an advertisement )-------------- 4) IE6 Beta Woes ContinueAlthough many readers are getting good results from the beta of IE6, I'm getting more and more complaints from those who are having trouble such as poor Cookie-handling, munged email settings, and--- well, listen to what reader Renate Bates says:
Thanks, Renate. Click to
email this item to a friend 5) Powerful, Free Editing ToolJust before the WinMag site went
dark, reader Mike Lansdaal responded to an item about "Cool Windows
Tools" we had discussed there. His note contains two handy pointers that
are useful even without access to the original article.(Although as of this
writing, you can still access the "Cool Tools" article from the Google
cache at
Thanks, Mike! CREdit looks very slick: Check out the link above, and click on "Features." Wow! Click to
email this item to a friend 6) Last Week To Enter April's FREE Book DrawingOn April 30, I'll choose another monthly winner of a no-strings $30 Gift Certificate for any item at Amazon.Com--- books, software, hardware, kitchenware, toys... To have a shot at winning, just use the following link to recommend the LangaList to a friend. Your friend just may find a new source of useful information; I just may gain a new subscriber; and you just may win a $30 shopping spree! (Full details also available via this link): http://www.langa.com/recommend.htm#2 The more times you make a recommendation, the greater your chances are of winning! Or, if you'd like to try to win
$10,000(!), try this link (full details also available here): Either way, thank you, and good luck! Click to
email this item to a friend 7) Free XXcopyI've previously mentioned the DOS command, Xcopy--- and the freeware DOS extension XXcopy (see http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2000/2000-06-15.htm#5 ) Basically, Xcopy is a more powerful "copy" command that can move entire directory trees in your hard drive all at once. XXcopy is even more powerful, with more built-in features. If you're a power user, the free XXcopy can be a very handy tool. The current version is 2.44.4; if you're using an older version or are new to this powerful utility, check out: http://www.xxcopy.com/xxcopy/index.html Click to
email this item to a friend 8) Where Are The Code-Loaders?Don't worry! They're coming. <g> But I wanted to complete the impending site move of Langa.Com before I further added to the database of readers sites there. I expect to be able to resume bringing you NEW readers sites in the next issue. But meanwhile, there
are over 1,000 readers sites you can still review and explore available at http://www.langa.com/readersites.htm
or via the "reader site roulette" at Click to
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LangaList grows by thousands of new readers every month! <a href="http://www.langa.com/ratecard.htm">AOL Users: Click here!</a> --------------( the above is an advertisement )-------------- 9) Secret Speedup TipAaron Moody writes:
Aaron's referring to an interesting tweak that can significantly speed the loading of complex web pages made up of many separate elements. But the downside is that the tweak makes IE non-compliant with the HTTP1.1 spec. If you employ this tweak, you'll be making your browser nonstandard. You can read about the pros and cons--- and see how to make the tweaks--- at http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2000/2000-03-20.htm#5 Click to
email this item to a friend 10) Just For GrinsEach week, a few readers somehow miss the fact that "Just For Grins" is a humor section. So let me be clear: Nothing in JFG is ever meant to be taken literally. *Ever.* Last week, for example, some polite and earnest biblical literalists took offense at the spoof item that used pseudo-science to "prove" that heaven is hotter than hell. ( http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2001/2001-04-23.htm#10 ) Well, at the risk of again offending the humor-impaired (guys: it's just a joke, OK?), here's a clever follow-on item that actually was sent in by a number of readers, Kevin Davidson being the first.
Click to
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the above is an advertisement )-------------- 11) "White Lists/Black Lists," Easy Ways To Find A New ISP, Free Security Tests...Today's LangaList Plus! Edition contains all ten items above, plus about 30% more content including information "White Lists/Black List" tools that allow or disallow access to specific sites; easy ways to find a new ISP for almost any location anywhere in the world; and free security tests that show you what your browser is telling sites that know how to ask... Plus! Edition info: http://www.langa.com/plus.htm Click to
email this item to a friend See you next issue!
Best, Please recommend the LangaList to a friend! (And maybe win $10,000!I) An easier-to read formatted HTML version is available in the "Current Issue" section of http://www.langa.com. (The HTML version of each issue normally is available by 9AM EST [UT-5] of the issue date.) All past LangaList issues are also available at the Langa.Com site. Why are you getting this newsletter? This is a 100% OPT-IN newsletter: There are only three ways to get on the list--- signup via direct email request from you, or signup via the WinMag newsletter page or signup via BrowserTune's email-notification service. If you're getting this newsletter; your name came to me through one of those signup channels. At signup, you also received a confirmation email from my list software---no one is signed up secretly or against their will. SUBSCRIBE (it's free!): Create and send a new email address it to subscribe-langalist@lyris.dundee.net For even more content, downloads and special services, check out the LangaList Plus! Edition: http://www.langa.com/plus.htm UNSUBSCRIBE: From the same address you used to sign up with (it's shown on the first line in the body of each email issue you receive), create and send a new email address to unsubscribe-langalist@lyris.dundee.net . CHANGE ADDRESS? LIST TROUBLE? HAVE QUESTIONS? NEED HELP? See http://www.langa.com/help.htm About the advertisers: Langa Consulting LLC will never knowingly accept advertising for a fraudulent product, company or service. However, Langa Consulting LLC makes no implied or explicit warranty, recommendation or endorsement of or for the products, companies or services mentioned in the ads. Disclaimer: (Please see full disclaimer here: http://www.langa.com/legal.htm.) Abbreviated version: The tips and other information given in the newsletter are researched and are believed to be accurate, but we cannot and do not guarantee that all the information here will work on all systems, for all users, all the time. All information herein is offered as-is and without warranty of any kind. Neither Langa Consulting LLC, nor its employees nor contributors are responsible for any loss, injury, or damage, direct or consequential, resulting from application of any information presented here. This newsletter is a service of Langa Consulting LLC and is Copyright © 1997-2005Langa Consulting LLC. All rights reserved. LangaList: ISSN 1533-1156 |
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