Google: Define Words & Phrases

October 19, 2005

[lifehacker.com] Google’s “define” operator allows you to look up the meanings of words and phrases without having to jump to an online dictionary. Just enter define followed by a colon followed by a word or phrase. For example, define:giggle or define:”hat trick”.

Adobe Reader 7.0.5 update

October 17, 2005

Adobe released an update to its popular Adobe Reader for Windows application. The Adobe Reader 7.0.5 update (9.1MB) is a cumulative patch that includes all the fixes in versions 7.0.1, 7.0.2 and 7.0.3. This update provides features such as expanded browser support, improvement in dynamic forms performance among others.

Read more at Adobe

Mice & Flash Drives @ CD-R King

This afternoon, my family and I went to the mall. I stopped by the CD-R King shop to get some blank CDs for data backups, and browsed some of their “other” products. Here’s what caught my eye:

Optical mice: - The shop has its own mouse line (cd-r king brand), and prices range from PhP 180 to PhP 300. - I decided to purchase the “Chrome” model, which comes with a USB interface, optical sensor, metal-top style buttons (similar to the MSI mouse style) and an attractive price: PhP 240. I immediately tested it on my PC when I got home and so far, I am happy with my new and affordable pointing device. And BTW, the warranty is for 6 months (according to the sales lady).

USB thumb drives: - Available brands are AData and PQI. - The cheapest was the 128MB AData (PhP 600), and the next was the translucent black 128MB PQI (PhP 680). - The 256MB PQI Cool drive (PhP 1,058 ) had a blue color (from afar, looks anodized?). - I did not have an urgent need for a thumb drive at that moment, since I currently use a “flash card/reader combo” (I use my multi-card reader with my least used SD cards as an “emergency USB drive”), so no sale from me on these stuff (for the moment).

It is interesting to note that we can indeed find great bargains, if we just stop and pay attention to “other” things.

Also, remember to backup your data regularly. Your PC may crash anytime, and the difference between “down time” and “panic time” is just a simple data backup.

Windows PC Software Updates

October 15, 2005

MS Windows XP/2000 Updates:

For the month of October, 2005, Microsoft has released six (6) security updates for Windows XP and Windows 2000, and two (2) cumulative security update for Internet Explorer 6.

I suggest that we check our Windows PCs and make sure that downloading of updates is enabled.

Other Software Updates:

Sun Java J2SE Runtime Environment 1.5.0 Update 5 - environment for Java applications

Memtest86+ 1.65 - memory failure detection tool

NVIDIA Forceware (2K-XP) 81.84 WHQL

Realtek AC’97 Drivers 3.77 WHQL - audio driver update (check your mobo’s manufacturer’s site first, to be sure)

Maxthon Standard 1.5.0 Build 95 - IE based browser that implements multi-tabs

VIA HyperionPro 4in1 Driver 504a WHQL - Drivers that provide enhanced VIA chipset support under Windows

Quicktime 7.0.3.25 - Apple’s audio/video player

New PDAs from Palm

Last Wednesday, Palm officially announced two new PDAs: the Z22 and the TX.

The Z22 (USD 99) is the first $99 color handheld from Palm. It is most likely aimed for the mass market of first time PDA users, and probably for monochrome PDA (i.e. Zire, Zire 21, m500) users who wish to upgrade their handhelds with color. Zire 31 users, take note! The Z22 does NOT have an SDIO slot.

The TX (USD 299), on the other hand, has a large bright display, integrated Wi-Fi & Bluetooth, and powerful document management. Its built-in wireless capabilities and not-so-expensive price could probably be two good enough reasons for present and future handheld users to get this PDA.

I believe that the official launch date for these handhelds here in the Philippines would be on October 20, 2005. It would be interesting to see how these PDAs would be priced locally.

And Santa, if you are reading my blog, I prefer to receive the TX.