Canadians to pay tax on downloaded tunes

Hey Harper -- Get out of our pockets! The music business might be in trouble -- adding extra taxes ontop of the existing costs hardly seems like a wise move when you consider that bands are giving their material out in hopes of higher concert and merchandising revenue. I don't buy music anymore... don't get me wrong - I don't pirate it either. I follow a good set of podcasts that help me feed my mind with information... Sorry guys - you lost me on paying for music when Napster came on the scene and now you've alienated me from coming back.

Canadians to pay tax on downloaded tunes

-ZB

Brewery offers lifetime supply of beer in return for stolen laptop

This was too funny not to post... Makes me want to go out and steal a laptop...

Brewery offers lifetime supply of beer in return for stolen laptop

-ZB

Linux: What's New in the Other 'Buntus

Ubuntu gets all the attention but there are other " 'Buntus" out there... Lightweight, KDE-based and Education-centric

Linux: What's New in the Other 'Buntus

-ZB

BetaNews | RIAA Finally Takes Aim at Newsgroups

OH OH -- RIAA targeting USENET. Where to hide next? :-)

BetaNews | RIAA Finally Takes Aim at Newsgroups

-ZB

Hasselblad H3DII-39MS - PhotographyBLOG

Like Photography? Got an extra 44K hanging around? Maybe you should look at this 39MP camera :-)

Hasselblad H3DII-39MS - PhotographyBLOG

-ZB

Ubuntu Home Page | Ubuntu

WOOHOOO Ubuntu 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon is RTM!!! I'm downloading it now :-)

Ubuntu Home Page | Ubuntu

My HDD is purring just waiting for it!

-ZB

FolderShare.com - sync files, sync folders, transfer files, share files, web download, access files anywhere

FolderShare.com - sync files, sync folders, transfer files, share files, web download, access files anywhere:

"Keep important files at your fingertips - anywhere. All file changes are automatically synchronized between linked computers, so you are always accessing the latest documents, photos, and files."

-ZB

Excel 2007 Web Data Add-In (beta)

I'm a geek for all things Excel. I've not installed this add-in yet but it sounds a lot like the intrinsic external data importer... I suspect there is more natural goodness in this add-in.

Excel 2007 Web Data Add-In (beta)

-ZB

» What’s really broken with Windows Update - Trust | Hardware 2.0 | ZDNet.com

The string of stealth updates to WindowsUpdate have really got people peeved. This is a good OpEd type of article that talks about the main issue -- an emerging (some would argue steady growth in) lack of trust in Microsoft and its intentions.

What’s really broken with Windows Update - Trust | Hardware 2.0 | ZDNet.com

-ZB

Download Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Beta

I wouldn't recommend you do this on your production system but if you want to join the beta team -- totally unofficially -- then you can fake out "WindowsUpdate" to allow you to pull down the bits. Then you can hack it to take the nag watermark off your desktop :-)

Download Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Beta

-ZB

PC World - Mozilla Working on New Mobile Browser

This may work in nicely with the speculation on Google's gPhone (GOOG to 750$ anyone? ;))

PC World - Mozilla Working on New Mobile Browser

-ZB

Photojojo » 12 Fantastic Fall Photo Tips — Our Extra-Crunchy Guide to Leaf Peeping

Interesting tips for Fall photography -- heat up your DSLRs and get snappin'. Fall is the most beautiful season (IMHO).

Photojojo » 12 Fantastic Fall Photo Tips — Our Extra-Crunchy Guide to Leaf Peeping

-ZB

Screenshot Tour: A Look at Ubuntu 7.10 "Gutsy Gibbon" RC1

Looks sweet -- take a peek :-)

Screenshot Tour: A Look at Ubuntu 7.10 "Gutsy Gibbon" RC1

-ZB

FileForum | TortoiseCVS

A new Release Candiate for Tortoise -- the ultimate subversion (free code management tool) client for Windows.

FileForum | TortoiseCVS

Great for all of you dev folks out there :-)

-ZB

New Scientist Invention Blog: Microsoft mind reading

You've undoubtedly seen the Bill Gates Borg image on Slashdot at some point :-) This looks like the next logical step...

New Scientist Invention Blog: Microsoft mind reading

-ZB

Windows Home Server in depth: the Ars Technica review: Page 1

This is a VERY comprehensive review of the Windows Home Server product by the team at Ars Technica. I was a Beta tester for this technology and I was quite impressed by the overall polish and functionality offered in this product. There are plenty of free alternatives in the Linux space -- I know... But for the average person, this would be a great addition to any home.

Windows Home Server in depth: the Ars Technica review: Page 1

-ZB

LXer: The LXer Interview: John Hull of Dell

Good interview talking about Dell's venture into offering Ubuntu on their hardware. All indications are they they are meeting targets and looking to expand to other countries.

LXer: The LXer Interview: John Hull of Dell

-ZB

Codec Guide: K-Lite Codec Pack and other useful stuff

Codec Guide: K-Lite Codec Pack and other useful stuff

Downloading a large media file and not being able to play it is a large thorn in one's side... I always install the K-Lite Codec Pack on all my Windows-based systems... Install it and be done with un-playable media forever (well, at least until the next version comes out :-)).

-ZB

World Food Day USA

World Food Day USA

"World Food Day, October 16th, is a worldwide event designed to increase awareness, understanding and informed, year-around action to alleviate hunger."

-ZB

Encrypted Ubuntu 7.10 - Step-by-step installation tutorial with screenshots! - Softpedia

Good play by play to have a fully encrypted disk when installing Ubuntu 7.10.

Encrypted Ubuntu 7.10 - Step-by-step installation tutorial with screenshots! - Softpedia

-ZB

Figuring the size of your emergency fund | Wise Bread

We all know we should have a reserve of funds in case bad things happen with our jobs, our house, our health etc... but how much is enough? This article provides some guidance:

Figuring the size of your emergency fund | Wise Bread

-ZB

Unusual Business Ideas That Work: Profiting From Visas And Passports

LOL - Bill Gates was prevented from getting a visa to visit Nigeria :-) At least temporarily...

Unusual Business Ideas That Work: Profiting From Visas And Passports:

"When Bill Gates applied for a visa for a recent trip to Nigeria, his paperwork hit a snag. The Nigerian government required proof that the billionaire chairman of Microsoft would not stay in the country and become a drain on Nigeria's social services."

-ZB

OpenOffice 3.0 Wants to Compete with Outlook - CyberNet News

Pretty good highlights on the expected new features of OpenOffice 3.0. I'm anxious to see this update (still a ways away {Sept 2008}.

OpenOffice 3.0 Wants to Compete with Outlook - CyberNet News

-ZB

iTWire - Getting grubby: Demystifying the Linux start-up processes

Good article on the Linux boot process... good background to understand how your PC boots (not just Linux really).

iTWire - Getting grubby: Demystifying the Linux start-up processes

-ZB

UK to look for ever-elusive link between WiFi and health problems

Now this could be a scary thought... There have been rumors of cell phone links to cancer for a long time now. This might be yet another...

UK to look for ever-elusive link between WiFi and health problems

-ZB

Consumer protection org warns: resist Vista, "back to the future" with XP

Consumer protection org warns: resist Vista, "back to the future" with XP:

"In yet another blow to the reputation of Windows Vista, the Dutch Consumers' Association (Consumentenbond) has recommended that customers who purchase new PCs insist on obtaining Windows XP over Vista."

-ZB

Trademark dispute could further delay Apple iPhone in Canada

Trademark dispute could further delay Apple iPhone in Canada

-ZB

Dell: Microsoft warnings haven't hurt Linux uptake - ZDNet UK

Dell: Microsoft warnings haven't hurt Linux uptake - ZDNet UK:

"Claims made by Microsoft that Linux violates its software patent have not affected sales of Linux-based hardware, according to Michael Dell."

-ZB

openSUSE 10.3 in review: A solid Linux desktop | tuxmachines.org

As previously stated, I used to use OpenSuSE at home -- I've seen migrated over to Ubuntu (7.04 for now). I still like to keep a pulse on SuSE -- here's a review of their latest version (10.3). It seems that they are continuously improving :-)

openSUSE 10.3 in review: A solid Linux desktop | tuxmachines.org

-ZB

Microsoft SharePoint Products and Technologies Team Blog : SharePoint End User Training Kit now available!

Sharepoint looks good but it's a bit unnatural to manage (IMHO). Microsoft has finally made a Sharepoint Learning Kit that can be used to learn to wield the beast.

Microsoft SharePoint Products and Technologies Team Blog : SharePoint End User Training Kit now available!

-ZB

Windows Users Fume Over Another Automatic Update Glitch - Software - IT Channel News by CRN and VARBusiness

Windows Users Fume Over Another Automatic Update Glitch - Software - IT Channel News by CRN and VARBusiness:

"For the second time in two weeks, Microsoft is feeling the heat from users who claim the Windows Update service has been downloading and installing updates without their knowledge."

Git 'yer doll-laden paws off of my PC Micro$oft!

-ZB

Microsoft Watch - Business Applications - Microsoft's Big Mac Sales

Wow -- this is pretty amazing... I knew there were some good synergies between MSFT and Apple in the Office productivity space but these numbers are HIGH! I wonder if the numbers will go down now that the iWork is out???

Microsoft Watch - Business Applications - Microsoft's Big Mac Sales

Here's a big number: 20 percent of Microsoft Office's U.S retail sales are the Mac version, according to NPD. Here's another: Mac users account for 10 percent of retail Windows Vista Business and Ultimate sales.

-ZB