LightScribe DVD/CD Burner(s)

Has anyone had a chance to play around with a LightScribe enabled CD/DVD burner? Do they create monochrome and/or color images?

Thanks!

CyberiaPC Linked by PCWorld

I came across a link back to CyberiaPC while reading an article on PCWorld.com.

Nice going Ali!

http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,a...950,pg,4,00.asp

It's #26 - Original Gameboy

Help Reduce Your Risk of Malware / Virus Infection

Reducing privileges on a per application basis

DropMyRights.exe (DMR) is an executable developed by Michael Howard of Microsoft Security Engineering. This program was released on 15 November 2004 in the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) and is available as a Microsoft Installer (.msi) package from http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default....ure11152004.asp. DMR functions to constrain the privileges of any secondary program it is linked to. For instance, linking DMR to Internet Explorer can lower Internet Explorer's system privileges from administrative to constrained.

If you are like most computer users, especially those running the Microsoft Windows XP Home/Professional Operating Systems, the user account you are logged into most likely has total access to (almost) any file on your computer. Subsequently, any application that you open during this session will have the same level of access. Given the current security nightmare that the Internet poses to even the average user, giving any Internet-facing application unrestricted system access can be catastrophic.

According to tests run by SecurityFocus, DMR use dropped the chance of virus infection to zero percent. It should be noted that the chances of downloading a virus can never be reduced to zero however that discussion is out of the scope of this document. An in depth look at why you should not work in an administrative account can be found at http://blogs.msdn.com/aaron_margosis/archi.../17/157962.aspx. To install DMR, complete the following steps:

1. Download DropMyRights.msi from http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default....ure11152004.asp.
2. Create a new folder on your primary drive in the root directory. For instance, if you main drive were labeled 'C:\', create a folder entitled 'C:\DropMyRights\'.
3. Install DropMyRights by double-clicking the DropMyRights.msi file that was downloaded in step one. After you have completed the installation a new window should open and display to you a list of files including one named 'DropMyRights.exe'.
4. Move the contents of the window in step three to the folder created in step two.
5. Right-click on the desktop and click New -> Shortcut.
6. In the dialog box labeled 'Type the location of the item:' enter 'C:\DropMyRights\DropMyRights.exe "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe" C'.
7. Click Next and in the dialog box labeled 'Type a name for this shortcut:' enter 'Internet Explorer (non-admin)' and click Finish.
8. Next, right-click on the newly created shortcut, change the 'Run:' drop down box to 'Minimized', and click OK.

To ensure that you have successfully installed DMR and linked its execution to Internet Explorer, complete the following steps:

1A. Open Internet Explorer (non-admin) using the shortcut created in step seven above and navigate to http://www.pcpitstop.com/testax.asp. If you are not prompted to install an ActiveX script and do not see the current time and date displayed on the site, proceed to step 2A. If you are prompted to install an ActiveX script ensure that you have correctly completed steps one through eight.
2A. Navigate to http://www.popuptest.com/popuptest1.html. If you receive no popups then your installation was successful. Otherwise, ensure that you have correctly completed steps one through eight.

DMR can be linked to any program on your computer. You may want to consider linking it to any application that relies on a connection the internet to function (e.g. instant messaging clients etc.). Do not discontinue use of your antivirus and spyware software but rather use DMR in conjunction with your other tools. For further information on DropMyRights please see http://www.securityfocus.com/infocus/1848 or http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default....ure11152004.asp

-If you have any questions feel free to contact me using the information provided in my profile.

Company Claims Development of First True AI System

GTX Global develops the first true artificial intelligence

"GTX Global Corporation (GTXC), a leading provider of innovative IP multimedia technologies that enable profitable IP communications today announced that GTX Global Corporation has developed the first true artificial intelligence, so named Cognitive Robotics, or more particularly, a human-like information management and delivery system.

In today’s economic market, companies are seeking ways to streamline their work force operations. However, studies have shown that it is advantageous to have a live salesperson or customer serviceperson introduce a product, close the sale and provide customer service. Accordingly, there is a need for an information management and delivery system that is able to mimic the characteristics of a human, and in particular, a human sales or customer service person.

GTX Global Cognitive Robotics is an integrated software solution that mimics human behavior including a dialogue oriented knowledge database that contains static and dynamic data relating to human scenarios. The knowledge further includes translation, processing and analysis components that are responsible for processing of vocal and/or textual and/or video input, extracts emotional characteristics of the input and produces instructions on how to respond to the customer with the appropriate substantive response and emotion based on relevant information found in the knowledge base.

"GTX Global Cognitive Robotics product schedule includes interactive banner advertising utilizing Automated Intelligence Agents for website sales and customer service; entertainment education for tutoring; providing the intelligence for smart home automation systems; and later branching into traditional robotics by providing automated intelligence for robotic hardware," said Curtis Garth, President and CEO, GTX Global Corporation.

"Our computer scientists have been working on this project for over three years," said Garth. "We are excited that we are now able to demonstrate Cognitive Robotics™ and begin applying this advanced technology to a multitude of applications.""

URL: http://www.gtxc.org/Resources/GTXC_News_Release_AI.pdf

Nissan to release self-healing car paint

Scratches no match for Nissan's new car paint

"Nissan Motor said Friday it had created a paint that repairs scratches on its own, restoring a car's surface to normal within a week.

The Japanese automaker said the paint contains a newly developed resin that can stop scratches from marking the car's outer layer.

Wear and tear due to everything from fingernails to roadside objects will disappear in one day to one week depending on the temperature and the seriousness of the scratch, Nissan said in a statement.

The "Scratch Guard Coat" paint, which protects for three years, will debut on a sports-utility vehicle which is set for a makeover, Nissan said.

The paint also helps prevent scratches in the first place. Nissan said a vehicle with the paint suffers only one-fifth of the usual abrasions caused by car-washing machines -- the main culprit for scratches."

URL: http://www.physorg.com/news8675.html