Recycle Ink cartridges and Cellphones

Today is Earth Day. ...And, among so many things that we can do for our beloved earth and its environment, we can at least start with some small steps first.

Please care to recycle your old cell phones and empty printing cartridges and help in keeping thousands of tons of potentially hazardous plastics and metal out of landfills and incinerators per year. You may find the following facts interesting:

o 78% of homes have inkjet printers.
o Only 5% of inkjet cartridges are recycled.
o 300,000 cartridges end up in a landfill each year.
o 5000 tons of plastic and metal goes into landfills each month from ink cartridges and cell phones.
o It takes 1000 years for industrial grade plastic to decompose.
o There are approximately 200 million cell phone users in USA.
o 18 months is the average life of a cell phone.
o 140 million cell phones were disposed of last year.

You may earn cash or make a fund-raiser campaign, while recycling ink cartridges or cell phones by using the service of freerecycling.com or fundingfactory.com among others. Office product chains like 'Office Depot' or 'Staples' also give you $3 coupon in exchange of a cartridge. To get more comprehensive information about recycling various potentially hazardous products, visit the non-profit organization, Earth911.org.

Standby Energy Wastage

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, about 10% to 15% of the energy load of a state is consumed by standby power. This wastage takes place through many electronic devices in your home that are always on, even when you think they're off. These "miscellaneous" devices include computers, digital video recorders, power tools and chargers for cellphones--which drain even when not charging. Some of these adapters can draw as much as 5 to 20 times more energy in standby mode that is actually stored in the battery. Most stay plugged 24 hours 7 days for their entire lifetime.

For example, computers are a huge standby drain. Traditional computers average 35.5 watts in standby, while laptops average 16.5 watts. Screen savers actually make things worse, using 28% more power than normal. Other large standby drainers include ink jet printers, which can use from three to 20 watts, and mini-stereos, which can consume from one to 25 watts.

In June 2001 President Bush required the government to purchase appliances, and chargers, that used the least standby power. At the time, the White House estimated the U.S. could save from $1 billion to 2 billion in energy bills if standby settings used one watt or less. The EPA estimates that there are 1 billion chargers in the U.S. and predicts that number will grow. In January, Energy Star began a major campaign to make chargers at least 35% more efficient. By doing this, the EPA believes it can save more than 1 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions, equal to that generated by 150,000 cars.

New Security Patches from Microsoft

Today Microsoft Corp. released its February set of security updates, including critical fixes for bugs in Office and the scanning engine used by the company's security products.

In total, 6 of Microsoft's 12 updates are rated as "critical," the other 6 have the less-serious rating of "important." Among the patches is a widely anticipated update for Microsoft Word, which fixes 6 bugs in Microsoft's word processing software. Hackers had been exploiting a number of these bugs in very targeted attacks over the past few months. The updates fix 20 bugs in total, including all 4 of the Word flaws that hackers had been exploiting. Other critical patches fix bugs in the ActiveX HTML Help control and Microsoft Data Access Components, both used by Windows, as well as flaws in Office (including Excel, PowerPoint) and Internet Explorer. Versions of these programs used on Windows 2000 and XP could have these loopholes.

The security software flaw is of particular concern because it could, in theory, be very easily exploited by an attacker to run unauthorized software on a victim's PC. "An attacker could exploit the vulnerability by constructing a specially crafted PDF File that could potentially allow remote code execution when the target computer system receives, and the Microsoft Malware Protection Engine scans, the PDF file," Microsoft said in its bulletin on the patch. Symantec rated this scanning engine flaw the most critical of the vulnerabilities patched on Tuesday.

Customers can download all the patches for free on Microsoft's security Web site www.microsoft.com/security and also can sign up to have them automatically delivered to their computers.

Discount Coupon for Windows Vista

People who buy certain Windows personal computers this holiday season will be offered free or heavily discounted coupons to upgrade to Microsoft's new operating system, Windows Vista. Vista is currently scheduled to be released to consumers sometime in January. The cost to upgrade or buy a new version of Vista at full retail price will range from $99.95 to $399, depending on the version.

The coupon program begins tomorrow and runs through mid-March. Particulars of the deal will vary depending on the computer maker and retailer:

(i) Hewlett-Packard Co. released a statement saying that people in North America who buy certain HP Pavilion, Compaq Presario and HP Digital Entertainment Center computers equipped with Windows XP, Microsoft's current version, can upgrade to Vista for free. There may be shipping and handling fees, depending on the retailer.

(ii) Dell Inc. also released a statement saying that buyers of Vista-capable Dell computers running Windows XP Home Edition will be able to buy Windows Vista Home Basic at the discounted price of $45, plus shipping and handling charges. Buyers of computers running Windows XP Media Center or Windows XP Professional will only have to pay shipping and handling to get a comparable Vista version.

(iii) Gateway Inc. will offer free upgrades for people who buy Vista-capable computers directly from the company. However, shipping charges or duplication fees may be charged to people who buy Gateway computers through other retailers.

Microsoft said it also is backing a similar program for people who buy computers that come pre-loaded with the current version of its business software, Office 2003, and would want to upgrade to the new version of the software suite, Office 2007 which is due out in January as well.

Microsoft Releases Internet Explorer 7

Microsoft has released Internet Explorer 7 (IE 7) for Windows XP, which comes with significant security enhancements, making everyday tasks easier.

IE 7 delivers a new look and enhanced capabilities which were already present in browsers like Firefox. Tabbed browsing is one such feature. With tabs, users are able to view multiple sites in a single browser window, and switch from one site to another. IE 7 also sports 'Quick Tabs' that provide an "at a glance" snapshot of all open tabs on a single screen, enabling easier and faster site selection and navigation.

To tackle the changing nature of online security threats, IE 7 provides protection against malicious software and phising attacks. It helps reduce exposure to these attacks by fortifying the browser itself, and providing the user with better information and assisting him/her in making more informed decisions.

Windows IE 7 is available for free download at www.microsoft.com/ie . Microsoft will begin distributing IE 7 as a high-priority update via automatic updates in November 2006.

Apply Microsoft's New Security Patches

As part of its monthly patch distribution, Microsoft has issued a series of new security updates for Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office products (such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint). Several of the vulnerabilities addressed by the patches are categorized as critical. If left unpatched the vulnerabilities could allow hackers to remotely execute code (such as a worm) on vulnerable PCs. Businesses and home users have been urged to patch their PCs as soon as possible.

Microsoft Corp. released six patches to fix critical software flaws that carry its highest threat rating, including three for defects that attackers were already trying to exploit. The company said yesterday that the six critical flaws could allow an attacker to obtain some access to a user's computer. The software maker also released four other patches to fix vulnerabilities that the company deemed less severe.

Customers can download all the patches for free on Microsoft's security Web site www.microsoft.com/security and also can sign up to have them automatically delivered to their computers. The automatic update system had some problem yesterday but currently it is working fine.

Apple's Battery Recall

After last week's recall of 4.1 million Sony-made lithium-ion batteries by Dell (see our past report), it's now Apple's turn to do the same. Today Apple announced a voluntary recall of 1.8 million lithium-ion batteries.

About 1.1 million laptops sold within the U.S. are affected, with an additional 700,000 units sold abroad or online. The laptops containing the recalled batteries were sold in October 2003 through August 2006, Apple said.

The affected notebooks include the 12-inch iBook G4, the 12-inch PowerBook G4, and the 15-inch PowerBook G4. The model number of the iBook is A1061, with battery serial numbers including ZZ338 through ZZ427, 3K429 through 3K611, and 6C510 through 6C626. For the 12-inch PowerBook G4, the model number is A1079, with the affected battery numbers listed as ZZ411 through ZZ427 and 3K428 through 3K611. For the 15-inch PowerBook G4, the affected models are the A1078 and the A1148l, with the battery numbers listed as 3K425 through 3K601, 6N530 through 6N551, and 6N601.

Affected Mac-users should stop using the recalled batteries immediately and contact Apple to arrange for a replacement battery, free of charge. After removing the recalled battery from their iBook or PowerBook, they should plug in the AC adapter to power the computer until a replacement battery arrives.

For answer to more questions, call Apple at 800-275-2273.

Dell's Battery Recall

Dell, the world's largest personal computer maker said it would recall 4.1 million notebook computer batteries because they could overheat and catch fire. This will be the largest safety recall in the history of the consumer electronics industry, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said. The recalled batteries were used in 2.7 million computers sold in the United States and 1.4 million sold overseas. The total is about 18% of Dell's notebook production during the period in question. Dell has reported six instances since December in which notebooks overheated or erupted in flames. There were property damage, but no injuries or death. Dell said the problems were a result of a manufacturing defect in batteries made by Sony.

Potentially affected batteries were sold with the following models of Dell notebook computers or separately as secondary batteries (batteries were shipped to customers between April 1, 2004 and July 18, 2006):
Latitude: D410, D500, D505, D510, D520, D600, D610, D620, D800, D810
Inspiron: 500M, 510M, 600M, 700M, 710M, 6000, 6400, 8500, 8600, 9100, 9200, 9300, 9400, E1505, E1705
Precision: M20, M60, M70, M90
XPS: XPS, XPS Gen2, XPS M170, XPS M1710

Dell has specifically directed customers having recalled batteries not to use the battery "...while awaiting a replacement battery pack from Dell. You may continue to use your notebook computer using the AC adapter power cord originally provided with your notebook". To know more details and procedure of recall, visit Dell's Battery Recall Information Page.

MYLO: Sony's New Wireless Device

Sony Electronics has unveiled a wireless-enabled device aimed primarily at people who like to send text messages and make free calls over the Internet. The new Mylo personal communicator is designed to operate on all 802.11b wireless networks. It will be priced at US$350 and be available in September (just in time for school!) at Sony’s retail stores and online shop at sonystyle.com.

Mylo stands for "my life online". It will compete with a range of hybrid communication devices, including phones with cellular and Wi-Fi capabilities and a number of messaging and entertainment features. The device weighs 5 ounces and is 4 1/2 inches long and features a 2.4-inch color liquid crystal display with a slide-out Qwerty keyboard for quick thumb typing. It's targeted to 18- to 22-year-olds who keep in touch with their friends through instant messaging (IM) and so it comes embedded with IM applications from several companies, including Google, Yahoo and Skype but not AOL's AIM.

An Internet browser is also embedded, with Web mail service available through Google and Yahoo but sites that use flash technology won't be accessible. Also included is voice-over-IP software from Skype. Mylo is equipped with 1GB of flash memory to store music, photos and video clips, and contains a directory listing of more than 20,000 hot spots in the United States.

Update Windows & Office

Software giant Microsoft Corp. released a dozen security bulletins today as part of its monthly security update cycle, 9 of them labeled as the company's highest severity rating. The alerts gave details of 20 flaws in its Windows operating system and 3 in Office suite, all of which have been fixed now. The bundle of updates also covers bugs that Microsoft discovered itself, the company said.

An ominous warning from Microsoft advises users to implement the updates immediately because apparently hackers just can't wait to catch slow coaches out once they know where to look for holes to exploit.

Computer Security Alert!

Windows and Word:
Yesterday Microsoft released 12 individual security patches addressing several critical problems in Windows along with other less serious issues. The "critical" designation remains the highest maximum severity rating for Windows bulletins issued by Microsoft. The software maker also distributed a fix for the so-called zero-day flaw present in Microsoft Word and a critical glitch in Internet Explorer that relates to the manner in which the Web browser handles ActiveX controls. The vulnerability in Word has already been exploited in targeted attacks launched from China and Taiwan. So, get your updates now and install as soon as possible.

Yahoo Mail:
A new worm, dubbed the "Yamanner worm" has exploited a Javascript vulnerability in Yahoo! Mail. According to a statement from Yahoo a very small fraction of its base of over 200 million accounts (which ranks as the world's highest) is infected by the worm. While security firms such as Trend Micro and McAfee rated the virus as having a low threat level, Symantec called it an "elevated threat". According to Symantec the Yamanner worm targets all versions of Yahoo email accounts except the latest beta version and users might be able to protect themselves by upgrading to the latest test version of Yahoo! Mail. Yesterday, in another statement, Yahoo Inc. said it could contain the malicious program and no further threat exists for the time being.

Online Storage of Data

Web-based storage option is certainly getting popular day by day. You may need it if you have too much of data to handle in your business. There are several service providers for that and this list includes big names too.

Amazon introduced its newest service, Amazon S3, several weeks ago. Internet users can store gigabytes of data here on the cheap -- $0.15 per gigabyte of storage used per month, plus $0.20 per gigabyte of data transferred.

Other online storage providers charge higher: New providers like Box.net ($1 per GB per month) and XDrive ($2 per GB per month) and older providers like Novastor ($12.95 per GB per month) and Quicken Online Backup ($24.95 per month for up to 10 GB).

One important point about S3: While anyone can use S3, Amazon built it mainly for Web developers -- which means there's no simple interface for uploading data to the service. In fact, there's no Web-based interface at all.

So, there appears a new breed of third-party service-providers who are offering easy access to S3 for a small (or non-existent) fee. Most of these services use a downloadable client program that runs on your local PC. This software can often be programmed to begin backups at specified times, and to compress and encrypt data for upload. Here are a few of them:
Altexa -- $1 per GB per month up to 10 GB, if you pay for 12 months' service up front.
ElephantDrive -- Free during the company's beta-testing period.
Filicio.us -- Free, but you must sign up for an Amazon S3 account and pay the usual $0.15 per GB for storage and $0.20 per GB for transfers.
Jungle Disk -- Free aside from Amazon S3's charges, as with Filicio.us.

Rumor is that Google -- which practically invented low-cost online storage in April, 2004, with its free 1-GB Gmail accounts (now 2GB or more) -- may roll out its long-rumored "GDrive" service. Also, Microsoft may offer a low-cost backup storage service as an optional part of Vista (the new upcoming operating system).

Using Windows 98?

If you are still using one of those old operating systems like Windows 98, Windows 98 SE, and Windows Millennium, this is a wake up call for you. Microsoft has begun reminding users that it will cut off all support for these aging operating systems in July.

After July 11 (the scheduled release date for that month's security bulletins) Microsoft will no longer provide security updates for these systems. One may still receive online self-help support and that too is guaranteed only until July 11, 2007.

Although Windows 98 may be found on numerous aged consumer machines, it's little-used in corporations. In case you wish to upgrade to Windows XP, it might cost about $100 but a better decision would be to purchase a new computer box from a store like Fry's where some good bargains for even under $300 are sometimes available. That'll give you not only a better operating system but also much better hardware with good memory and faster processor -- a much better option than upgrading your operating system in an aging computer which may not be fit for the internet-based entertainment and other useful applications.