|
Home Page | Main Article Index | FREE XP Newsletter | XP Registry Tweaks
February 2004 - Windows Update XP Newsletter Subscriber List: 12,901 ----------------------------------------------------------- Making Windows XP a little easier... ----------------------------------------------------------- PLEASE note that this is an "opt-in" newsletter. The ONLY way to receive it is to complete the online form and reply to the verification email I send out. Therefore you are receiving this email because you asked to... If you no longer wish too, please use the subscription management tools at the end of this newsletter. If your email client has trouble reading this issue please read the ONLINE version at: http://www.updatexp.com/february2004.html ATTENTION AOL USERS: Please add us to your address book so you have no trouble receiving future issues! ----------------------------------------------------------- This Newsletter's Contents: Introduction... 1. Site Makeover 2. Windows XP Registry eBook Delay 3. Magic Tweak Review - Safe XP Tweaking! 4. Microsoft MVP 2004 Summit 5. Windows XP Service Pack 2 (Beta Review) 6. Video Screen Saver Power Toy 7. Turn Windows Media Player into an MP3 CD Ripper! 8. Playing DVD's in Windows Media Player 9. XP's DNS Cache (Power Users Only!) 10. Karen's Power Tool - Printer Logger 11. What Codec's Are On My PC...? 12. Recording Music From The Net? 13. MS Tweak UI Power Toy - Mini Guide 14. Case Study By My Web Host... Related Sites... In The News... Parting words... ----------------------------------------------------------- Introduction... --------------- Well here is the February 2004 newsletter - just! The articles below are mainly based on requests for information I have received via the contact page on my website. I hope you find them both useful and informative! Happy reading... ----------------------------------------------------------- 1. Site Makeover ---------------- For those of you who stop by the site on a regular basis, you will have noticed a new "look and Feel" to the site! Last month I got a Graphic Artist to make me a new site template, to replace the one I had been using for 12 months. And I love it.... If you have a site and need some work done by a professional, Brian Terry is the guy: ----------------------------------------------------------- 2. Windows XP eBook Delay ------------------------- The Windows XP Registry Guide - eBook is delayed. As you may know I work Full Time in the IT field and have been writing this eBook in my spare time (and days off I have taken specifically for the project.) However when my wife Sarah suffered an accident, that meant a long stay in hospital, the project got behind. I had hoped to make up the time but Sarah has only just gone back to work part time after 2 months off recuperating... Now she is well enough to not need so much of my time in caring for her, I am back up to full speed on the eBook (and supporting videos)! The eBook was due to be released TODAY but I think it will take a further 3 to 4 weeks to complete. To those of you who pre-ordered the eBook at the special "half-price" offer. I shall put together a "special" bonus to reward your patience with me, whilst I complete this project :-) To those who have emailed me already to enquire about the release date, thank you for your kind comments and understanding! ---------------------------------------------------------- 3. Magic Tweak Review - Safe XP Tweaking! ---------------------------------------- This software allows new users & beginners etc.. to SAFELY tweak their PC's! Tweaking Windows XP is a something I get a lot of email on. To most new users I recommend using a tried and tested application like this one. Read the review now at: http://www.updatexp.com/registry-tweaks.html ----------------------------------------------------------- 4. Microsoft MVP 2004 Summit ---------------------------- Well on 3rd April I am attending the "Microsoft MVP 2004 Summit" in Seattle, USA. Last year over 700 MVP's attended and this year will be even larger! Over 4 days we get to hear from Microsoft about future plans etc... But it is NOT just one way... Microsoft want to have our input too... AND that is where YOU can help! As an MVP in "Digital Media" I have the opportunity to talk with members of the Microsoft Media team. If you have a burning issue with any Windows Media application.. LET ME KNOW!!! I will collect all the comments/suggestions I receive and talk them over with Microsoft Media staff. Here is YOUR opportunity to have a say! Please send your emails to: mvp2004@updatexp.com What is a Microsoft MVP? http://mvp.support.microsoft.com ----------------------------------------------------------- 5. Windows XP Service Pack 2 (Beta Review) ----------------------------------------- Many of you have been asking for information on the Windows XP Service pack 2, due out later this year.. So I grabbed a copy of the BETA edition currently out and put it through some testing. My verdict? Find Out here in this article: http://www.updatexp.com/windows-xp-service-pack-2.html NB - It is a long article so the page may take a few moments to load... ----------------------------------------------------------- 6. Video Screen Saver Power Toy ------------------------------- This FREE utility will have you creating Screen Savers from your Home Movie footage! http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsXP/experiences/downloads/create_powertoy.asp ----------------------------------------------------------- 7. Turn Windows Media Player into an MP3 CD Ripper! --------------------------------------------------- Install this Microsoft approved plug-in and create (rip) MP3 files using Windows Media Player.. http://www.updatexp.com/mp3-cd-ripper.html ----------------------------------------------------------- 8. Playing DVD's in Windows Media Player ------------------------------------------ Install this Microsoft approved plug-in and watch DVD's in Windows Media Player.. http://www.updatexp.com/dvd-windows-media-player.html ----------------------------------------------------------- 9. XP's DNS Cache (Power Users Only!) ------------------------------------- Windows XP uses a local DNS Cache to speed up lookups. However this can lead to issues at times. This article shows you how to prevent some common DNS issues on Windows XP. http://www.updatexp.com/dns-windows-xp.html ----------------------------------------------------------- 10. Karen's Power Tool - Printer Logger ------------------------------- Karen's website is a great collection of applications she has built over the years. Just recently she has updated her "Print Logger" software... This is a nifty little package, why not check it out at: http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptprnlog.asp ----------------------------------------------------------- 11. What Codec's Are On My PC...? ------------------------------- Do you know the Audio and Video codec's installed on your PC? Do you know how to disable a particular codec? Find out more in this informative article: http://www.updatexp.com/windows-xp-codecs.html NB - This page has a few graphics on it so may load more slowly! ----------------------------------------------------------- 12. Recording Music From The Net? -------------------------------- "Audio Record Wizard" is a real-time sound recorder, offering professional recording features with full MP3 support. The sound recorder program is designed to work directly with your sound card, so can record almost all audio from your sound card at near-perfect quality. You can record sound from a microphone, line-in, and just about any other programs (such as Winamp, Realplay, Windows Media Player and others). NB - Please respect the audio copyright holder when using this powerful software! ----------------------------------------------------------- 13. MS Tweak UI Power Toy - Mini Guide -------------------------------------- Microsoft have made available a great little application called Tweak UI. It allows you to apply some cool tweaks to your installation of Windows XP and it is FREE! Here is my mini guide for Tweak UI: http://www.updatexp.com/support-files/tweakui.pdf ----------------------------------------------------------- 14. Case Study By My Web Host... ------------------------------- My webhost for www.updatxp.com asked me to write an article on why I just use their software/system/hosting to build and host mine and client websites... That article has now been published along with other case studies at: http://case-studies.sitesell.com/pdf.html (Mine is at the end.) If you do read the article PLEASE forgive the photo of me! It was taken a few years ago :-) BUT on a serious note, the "Site Build It" system has allowed me to build a website that pulls in over 6,000 visits DAILY. I only work on this site a few hours a week so it is great to have "Site Build It" promoting my site 24 hours a day to all the major search engines, run my ezine subscriptions, analyse my pages, find broken links etc... EVEN while I sleep! And as this site grows, it is also good to know I get UNLIMITED "data transfer" and "hosting" - NOT something you will find at many webhosts... There are MANY others who have used this software too, to build websites that rank very highly at www.alexa.com. Many of these site owners do NOT even know anything about HTML!!! Take a look at some of the sites at: http://results.sitesell.com/pdf.html YES I know this is a bit of a shameless plug for my host, BUT they are so good and I have achieved so much with them, that I am pleased to give this mention at the end of my newsletter... ----------------------------------------------------------- Related Sites... ------------------------------ # The Microsoft Windows XP Expert Zone Article: Galan Bridgeman's excellent article on using Windows Movie Maker to burn a movie onto DVD..
http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsXP/expertzone/columns/bridgman/burndvd.asp --- # The Microsoft Windows XP Newsgroups: Got a question about a Windows XP product? Then ask it here in the Windows XP Newsgroups.. http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/newsgroups/reader.mspx --- # Focus On - Digital Photography and Windows XP: LOTS of information on getting the most out of Windows XP and your Digital Camera... http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsXP/expertzone/focuson/focuson_photo.mspx --- # MSN Puzzle games: If you like playing puzzle games then this site is for you..! http://zone.msn.com/en/root/puzzle.htm ----------------------------------------------------------- In The News... ------------------------------ # A judge recently ruled that backing up your own DVD's is illegal and that 321 Studios should stop selling their DVD Ripping software... More at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3512825.stm # The Debate continues at Microsoft on possible solutions for preventing spam.. More at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3492354.stm # Top ten viruses and hoaxes reported to Sophos in February 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------- Parting Words... ------------------------------ Well that's it for this issue :-) I hope YOU found the articles helpful... As a subscriber this is YOUR newsletter! If you have a Windows XP problem, you can guarantee that MANY others on this list are having the same issue too. Don't forget to tell your friends about us! Until next time! Kind Regards
Marc Liron
Sign Up For This FREE XP Newsletter Here! NB - I am currently changing to a "new look" for this website, some pages may still be in the old style
The views on this website are
my own and
NOT that of Microsoft! ---------------------------------------------
Windows Tasks - Find Out What's http://www.updatexp.com/WinTasks --------------------------------------------- This page was last updated 24th February 2004 Home Page | Privacy Policy | Windows XP Tips | About Me | Contact Me
|
