Houston Chronicle Computing Column.

Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Mar. 26 -- MICROSOFT'S BROWSER TAKES A LEAP FORWARD: Boy, am I fickle when it comes to Web browsers.

Last November, I went gaga over Netscape Communications' latest Web-surfing software, Communicator 4.5. While it was an incremental upgrade, it was enough of a leap to push it past Internet Explorer 4.0.

But now I've found a new love.

For the past couple of weeks, I've been playing with the Windows 98

version of Internet Explorer 5.0, and I'm sold. While this may not be the greatest thing since sliced bread, it's definitely the best browser since well, Communicator 4.5.

Microsoft has focused on making a product that's easy for novices to use, but still powerful enough to delight savvy Web surfers. It's faster, friendlier and more stable than its competition.

Say what you will about Microsoft, this is a great piece of software. My initial reaction upon installing it was: "Oh my gawd. Netscape is toast!"

And if that's the case, then Internet Explorer 5 is the toaster, and it won't be because of Microsoft's allegedly underhanded business practices or bullying tactics. It will be because this browser is much better than anything else out there. Period.

Well, at least until Netscape Communicator 5 is released, supposedly this summer.

Those who go through the arduous process of downloading Internet Explorer 5 -- Microsoft has not made downloading any easier, unfortunately -- initially will see a browser that looks almost identical to version 4.01, the product that ships with Windows 98.

Once you begin using it, however, its differences become clear.

Try clicking on the Search button on the toolbar. A pane opens on the left with a list of choices -- find a Web page, someone's address, a business. Enter a search, and you'll get results from the Lycos search engine.

But wait -- what if you prefer AltaVista, InfoSeek, Excite or even the Microsoft Network? No problem. Click the Customize button and you can change which search engine the browser queries first, and preferentially order which of eight engines are checked next. If you don't like the results from the first one, clicking the Next button checks the next search engine in the list -- you don't have to re-enter your data each time.

This left-side pane also lets you search your history -- the list of sites you've visited in the past -- as well as your favorites.

Users of modern browsers are familiar with the feature that fills in a Web address as it's being typed in the location field. Microsoft has extended that capability into the forms you fill out on Web pages themselves.

For example, if you visit Web Site A and it requires a password, Internet Explorer 5 will remember both your log-in name and password. The next time you visit, the browser offers to fill in the information for you.

Like Communicator 4.5, Microsoft's new browser lets you enter a simple word instead of a confusing URL, or Universal Resource Locator, the familiar-but-maddening "http://www" address. For example, if you enter Coca-Cola, you'll go to the Coke Web site.

Internet Explorer 5 behaves differently from Communicator, though, when it can't immediately link the keyword to a Web site. With Communicator, a search is run through Netscape's Netcenter portal. But with Internet Explorer, the keyword is checked against whatever search engine you've listed as tops in the left-hand search pane.

There are other nifty bells and whistles. Internet Explorer 5 includes a toolbar that lets you connect to Net-based radio sites, almost like punching radio buttons in your car. It has a built-in control panel for managing multiple dial-up networking settings, something's that been long overdue. And it can download whole Web sites for off-line viewing.

As enthusiastic as I am about this new version of Internet Explorer, there are still some deficiencies. I still think Communicator's method of storing favorite sites -- creating a single Web page of bookmarked links -- is much easier to work with than the individual shortcut icons Internet Explorer dumps into the Favorites folder.

And Communicator's links bar, a toolbar full of favorite sites, is more versatile and easier to configure than Internet Explorer's.

Finally, the list of search engines from which you can choose is limited by Microsoft's choices. It would be nice if you could add your own preferred search sites.

You can download it for free from www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/.

Send e-mail to dwight.silverman@chron.com, or call 713-220-2000, access code 1001. See Dwight on Eyewitness News Sunday Extra at 7:30 a.m. Sundays on Channel 13.

Visit Houston Chronicle Interactive on the World Wide Web at http://www.HoustonChronicle.com

MP urges people to take part in survey.

<p>HIGH PEAK MP Andrew Bingham is urging local people to fill in a survey sent to him by NHS Derbyshire County about the future of Buxtonas Corbar Birth Centre.</p><p>Andrew has placed the survey on his website and is encouraging High Peak residents to make sure they have their say on the proposals to close Corbar for births.</p><p>Andrew said: aI have written back to PCT chief executive David Sharp regarding the survey to seek clarification on the process. I was told by him and the Chairman, Mark Todd, that the first stage was an engagement with key stakeholders to decide on the way the subsequent consultation would work.</p><p>aWhilst I welcome this survey and will be responding, following a request from me, they have said it is in order for me to publish it so that members of the public can comment. This is good in that people can have their say early, but I have asked for reassurance that this is in no way an attempt to downgrade the subsequent public consultation!</p><p>aI would urge as many people as possible to go to my website www.andrewbingham.org, download the survey, fill it out and send it in. There are over 1,300 people on the Facebook page supporting Corbar. If all filled it in then we would have a great start.</p><p>aIf anyone does not have internet access, then please call my office in Buxton on 01298 26698 and we will send one out. Alternatively call in to my office at 20 Broad Walk to collect a copy. </p><p>aWe must show Messrs, Sharp and Todd just how strong the feeling is and just what a vital facility Corbar is.a</p>

Government spokesman presents information online.

Author:

Poly Pantelides

GOVERNMENT spokesman Stefanos Stefanou yesterday presented six Press and Information Office (PIO) websites which aim to internationally promote Cyprus and make the task of searching for information a bit less daunting.

"There are possibilities and choices for keeping updated and PIO's websites are one of the most reliable and informed," said Stefanou.

He added that the PIO is in the process of digitising its archives. "This saves money and is also environmentally friendly."

The website www.piopressreleases.com.cy is in essence a search engine for the government's archives between 1962 and 1980 in either English or Greek.

The archives include announcements, newspaper articles, film and photography.

It was set up in December 2009.

Archive material is also available at PIO's website, www.moi.gov.cy/pio, updated daily in Greek and English and offering also the opportunity to peruse official transcripts and track post-2001 developments on the Cyprus problem.

"It's good to visit the past," Stefanou said.

Visit www.aspectsofcyprus.com if you are one of those who like to absorb information, or at least have it readily available.

Greek speakers should visit its counterpart at www.peri-kyprou.com.

Learn more about the island's geography, history and culture, or perhaps its diplomatic missions, political system and its defence security, among others.

A photo gallery accompanies each category.

The first picture available for Cyprus' political system is suitably, that of the proclamation of the independent Republic.

Film buffs should be kept happy at www.cyprusfilm.com with a selection of 41 short films produced by the PIO and other government services.

The website is available in Greek, English and French covering material from 2007 onwards, which marks the time that state internet television started broadcasting, Stefanou said.

Those who are still confused on what they are meant to do for Sunday's parliamentary elections can visit www.elections2011.gov.cy, which explains the voting system, gives information on candidates and provides background information on previous elections.

This has been part of the government's policy for the past ten years, to provide information for elections whether parliamentary or presidential for about 40 days before ballots open for voting, Stefanou explained.

The website is in Greek only.

English speakers looking to find out where to vote should visit wtv.elections.moi.gov.cy and type in your ID number and date of birth, although this is not one of the websites Stefanou was promoting.

There is still a conspicuous lack of information available in Turkish, something which Stefanou acknowledged but "it's a priority" he said.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2011

Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company

Osama Passed By.

George Bush wished for that moment, when he would appear before the American people and the world to announce that America had killed the man who had killed the Twin Towers. Bush was able to kill the Taliban regime, which had refused to surrender a costly visitor called Osama Bin Laden. He also was able, without any convincing pretext, to kill Saddam Hussein's regime and observe his swaying corpse [after his execution]. He used to dream of the third big killing. Indeed, like individuals, empires need revenge to wash away their wounds. But he had neither luck nor time by his side. This appearance was the lot of Barack Obama, the different president with the different approach. Who knows, perhaps the coming days will show that Obama is more dangerous than both Bush and Bin Laden combined because of his ability to kill regimes and governments.

A decade ago, Osama Bin Laden rocked the world when he moved war to US soil. He targeted the symbols of the US success and stature in New York and Washington, and the world was stunned by the "invasions". The empire came out wounded from that day. It launched its great military machine and showed an unprecedented ability to strike blows, and make mistakes.

America needs to achieve victory against an enemy with a known address. Bin Laden depleted it, as he was an obstinate enemy with no address. He could be in any cave, any house, and there was nothing that could lead to him. He dealt neither with phones nor with the internet. How difficult it is to fight a ghost. Every time you try to get closer, you find nothing. Meanwhile, the man was costly. Huge amounts were spent on improving security in airports, ports, and embassies in the United States, the West, and their allies. He was also costly to the world from which he came and against which he had vowed to lift the injustice.

Before he was killed, Bin Laden lost his battle. He lost it in Saudi Arabia, which he had attempted to destabilize. The full-fledged confrontation approach with its security, intellectual, and religious dimensions reduced the man's popularity and isolated the thought stemming from despair, gloom, and extremism. He also lost his battle in Pakistan, whose location and nature of regime he dreamt to change, and got nothing but indifference from its intelligence services.

Osama Bin Laden suffered in the past months a great loss that revealed al-Qaeda's isolation. The protesters in Tunisia did not raise his pictures, and his portrait did not appear on Tahrir Square in Cairo. The protesters in Yemen or Libya did not try to affiliate themselves with him. The revolutions and protests came from another dictionary, and demanded pluralism, the transfer of power, transparency, the respect of the other's opinion, belonging to today's world, and taking part in building it. This dictionary is in complete contradiction to his own one. Osama Bin Laden tried to ignite the demarcation lines between the Muslims and the West. He achieved success, particularly among some communities. However, the winds of the past months showed the wish of Arabs and Muslims to enjoy freedom, dignity, and progress, and to belong to the present era rather than excluding themselves from it.

The killing of ben Laden does not imply the end of al-Qaeda or the end of terrorism. It can be considered an important event in the battle of symbols and the confirmation of the rule of punishing the perpetrator, whoever he is. The battle against terrorism will remain open. Bringing it to an end requires fighting injustice, poverty, marginalization, and occupation. It needs freedom, open horizons, development, reform, and participation. Perhaps this is why Obama may be more violent than Bush and more dangerous than Bin Laden.

Osama Bin Laden has come and gone. He was suicidal in his line of thought, approach, and discourse. He ignited fire in this or that capital, and yesterday he was its victim. His companions might avenge him, but this does not mean that he is a page that has been turned. Osama passed by.

2011 Media Communications Group

Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company

Peugeot Launches Hyper-Local Advertising Campaign with NAVTEQ LocationPoint(TM).

First European Automotive Brand to Leverage NAVTEQ's fast-growing LocationPoint Ad Network

PARIS, April 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- NAVTEQ, the leading global provider of maps, traffic and location data enabling navigation, location-based services and mobile advertising around the world, has announced that Peugeot is running a first-of-its kind campaign on NAVTEQ LocationPoint, one of the fastest growing hyperlocal mobile ad networks in the world. NAVTEQ LocationPoint delivers ads and offers to on-the-go mobile phone users as they approach local retailers. Ads feature built-in calls to action such as "click to map" to guide users step by step to the retailer's location.

The Peugeot campaign is unique in that it is the first time a major automotive brand is leveraging LocationPoint to connect with potential customers. The ads invite mobile users to detour to their local Peugeot dealer to test drive the sleek, compact Peugeot RCZ-enticing them with a special lease deal of 299 Euros per month. The campaign targets users as they approach one of 428 Peugeot dealers across France.

"The choice of medium reflects the technological spirit of the brand and the campaign complements the overall communication plan for the RCZ," explained Marc Giulioli, Marketing Director Peugeot France. "The ability of NAVTEQ LocationPoint to generate traffic into the dealerships by targeting and engaging people on-the-go as they near points of purchase is a very powerful marketing tool."

NAVTEQ is a leading aggregator of top quality ad inventory that spans devices, apps, and global regions. Ads are delivered with built-in features such as: "click to map", "click to route", "click to call", which make it easy for consumers to go, shop, buy, or save coupons for later use. LocationPoint ads resonate with consumers, deliver a stronger return on investment for advertisers and offer greater opportunity for publishers to monetize high value content.

"Peugeot now joins a growing number of global brands from a diverse range of industries which are taking advantage of this compelling and effective advertising medium," added Bruno Bourguet, senior vice president, EMEA Sales, NAVTEQ. "Our aggressive expansion programme has paved the way for the NAVTEQ LocationPoint Advertising network to provide brand advertisers with large-scale audience reach. It is a great step forward for a leading name such as Peugeot to recognise the exciting new dimension which location brings to mobile advertising."

About NAVTEQ

NAVTEQ is the leading global provider of location content in the form of maps, traffic and places data that enables navigation, location-based services and mobile advertising around the world. NAVTEQ supplies precise, comprehensive location content to power automotive navigation systems, portable and wireless devices, Internet-based mapping applications and government and business solutions. The Chicago-based company was founded in 1985 and has more than 5,400 employees located in 214 offices in 49 countries.

For more information on NAVTEQ Media Solutions, please visit www.navteqmedia.com or follow us on Twitter at @NAVTEQMedia.

NAVTEQ and LocationPoint are trademarks in the U.S. and other countries. All rights reserved. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

About Peugeot

Present in 160 countries with 10,000 contact points, Peugeot combines rigorous standards and exciting ideas all over the world. In 2010, its bicentenary year, Peugeot consolidated its position as the leading French car maker worldwide and moved up a place in the global league table of car makes (9th) selling 2,142,000 cars. Peugeot is the only make to deploy an overall mobility offer with passenger and utility vehicles, scooters, bicycles and a wide range of services including its "Mu by Peugeot" free choice mobility service.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20060313/NAVTEQLOGO)

SOURCE NAVTEQ

SAFETY ON HILLS.

EDINBURGH, United Kingdom -- The following information was released by the Scottish Government:

As winter begins to take hold across Scotland the nation's climbers and hillwalkers are being urged to take care.

Minister for Public Health and Sport Shona Robison today delivered the annual Winter Safety Message aimed at making sure people planning a trip into Scotland's mountains and countryside are well prepared before they set out.

Anyone heading out into the hills this season is being advised to:

Check the weather forecast before you set off and remember that conditions can change quickly. Localised forecasts are available on the Mountain Weather Information Service and the sportscotland Avalanche Information Service

Make sure you know your limits and don't tackle anything that is too ambitious. Winter in the mountains can be challenging and a route that at any other time of the year is easy, can take longer and be more physically demanding

Whether going for a relaxing walk or for a challenging climb, be properly equipped and ready to cope with changing ground and weather conditions

Consider joining a hillwalking or mountaineering club where advice and access to experience and knowledge is available

Take a map and compass and know how to use them. Do not rely solely on technology such as GPS or an electronic compass

Winter conditions can be serious so carry an ice axe and crampons, know how to use them and practice on less serious terrain

Tell someone where you are going, what your route is and how long you expect to be on the hill

Ms Robison said:

"Scotland offers some of the world's most beautiful hills and mountains and I want people to be able to enjoy all of the spectacular scenery this country has to offer.

"However our countryside can present many hazards to climbers and hillwalkers, particularly those who are not suitably prepared.

"It's a sad fact that every year climbers lose their lives and it's extremely important that those wanting to enjoy the outdoors take the time to plan ahead, check the weather and have the correct safety equipment before heading for the hills."

The Minister made the announcement during a trip to the Cairngorm Mountains where she met with the Mountaineering Council of Scotland's Winter Safety Officer Heather Morning and her search and rescue dog Milly.

The sportscotland Avalanche Information Service (SAIS) gives winter hill-goers, daily forecasts at five key locations in Scotland. The service, which runs from December to April, receives [pounds sterling]121,700 of Scottish Government funding through sportscotland. SAIS also operates a text service allowing subscribers to receive daily text alerts of forecast avalanche hazards in their chosen area.

The Mountain Weather Information Service (MWIS) produces forecasts for eight UK mountain areas. The MWIS receives [pounds sterling]42,300 annual government funding through sportscotland, and covers Scotland's five main upland areas. MWIS forecasts are also available on internet enabled mobile phones.

Lycos names Director of Electronic Commerce.

FRAMINGHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 29, 1997--

Top Internet navigation center launches new initiative to

facilitate -- and participate in -- Web-based commerce

Leading Internet navigational center Lycos, Inc. (NASDAQ: LCOS), today announced the appointment of F. David Chesnik as Director of Electronic Commerce.

As Retail Marketing Manager at Valvoline, a division of Ashland Oil, Inc., Chesnik was responsible for sales, marketing, promotional, and product aspects of three of the top-ten national account customers of the company. Chesnik has extensive experience in selling through multiple distribution channels including direct, national account, and distributor sales, in addition to major experience implementing EDI-based systems.

"According to major market analysts, the Internet commerce market is estimated to reach $8-10 billion by the year 2000," said Business Development Director Jeff Crown, who will also take a leading role in developing Lycos' commerce strategy. "Lycos has unique competencies in understanding user behavior and Internet navigation, and these strengths will factor strongly into our ability to partner with major players to drive aggressive commerce and online retailing initiatives."

Crown will continue to manage strategic business development accounts and will also apply experience in developing strategy and creating powerful business alliances as he initiates new commerce opportunities for Lycos. Chesnik will contribute extensive research, analysis and business planning skills to the process, leveraging his knowledge of consumer shopping habits to facilitate transactional opportunities on lycos.com .

"We are very pleased to bring on board a professional like Dave," added Jan Horsfall, VP of Marketing at Lycos. "His background in consumer marketing and in facilitating the buyer-seller relationship will stimulate Lycos' ability to implement a highly advanced strategy, in both the short- and long-terms. The strategic platform he and Jeff Crown bring us will serve as the foundation for our future transactional steps. This third revenue stream will extend our already positive trends in advertising sales and in licensing our content and technology."

Lycos, Inc. (NASDAQ: LCOS) is an ever-expanding global Internet navigation center excelling in finding and managing relevant information on the Internet and World Wide Web. Besides the world-renowned Lycos search and spidering technology covering over 70 million URLs, Lycos offers 18 Lycos WebGuides -- Internet activity centers within the Lycos service where users can choose from an exciting range of information resources. Other Lycos navigational-assistance services include Lycos Top 5%, award-winning reviews of popular web sites voted #1 by Internet World Magazine; Lycos StockFind, Lycos PeopleFind, Lycos International City Guides, Lycos Road Maps, GTE Yellow Pages, Lycos/Dun & Bradstreet CompaniesOnline -- and other ease-of-life information tools. Lycos can be found on the Web at http://www.lycos.com/. Headquartered in Framingham, Massachusetts, Lycos has U.S. offices in New York City, Pittsburgh, San Francisco and an international office in Munich, Germany.

CMG Information Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: CMGI) is a majority shareholder in Lycos, Inc. through its strategic investment and development business unit, CMG@Ventures. CMGI is a leading provider of direct marketing services investing in and integrating advanced Internet, interactive media and database management technologies. -0-

Lycos (c). All rights reserved. Lycos is a registered trademark of Carnegie Mellon University. All other product or service marks mentioned therein are those of respective owners.

CONTACT: Lycos, Inc.

Sarah Garnsey

508-424-0400

sgarnsey@lycos.com

or

Mullen Public Relations

Erin Flynn

508-468-1155

eflynn@mullen.com

or

Lycos, Inc.

Jeff Crown

508-424-0400

jcrown@lycos.com

or

F. David Chesnik

508-424-0400

dchesnik@lycos.com

Identity theft on the campaign trail.(FEATURE)

Jay Foley recently fielded calls in his office at the Identity Theft Resource Center from two campaign donors who were worried about how their credit card information would be handled. One donor had given money to a congressional campaign, the other to a mayoral race.

So Foley called both campaigns to find out what steps they were taking to shield donors and was relieved to learn that the issue was being addressed. In the mayoral race, the campaign manager sympathized because he'd been a victim himself.

Identity theft covers a range of financial crimes. A common example involves using a stolen Social Security number to open new accounts in someone else's name. It also includes credit card fraud, when someone steals and uses another person's credit card.

Foley hasn't heard of identity theft striking a campaign. But, given the potential, he questions how many campaigns are truly focusing on identity theft, given the other demands on staff members' attention.

"They're focused on the issues of the campaign. They're focused on the campaign schedule. They're focused on their opponents. They're not focused on the details of the data they're collecting," Foley said in a telephone interview from the center in San Diego.

Two million people contributed money to campaigns online in 2000, a figure that doubled in 2004, according to the Pew Internet & American Life Project in Washington, D.C. One million gave online in the off-year election of 2002. Campaign donors tend to be wealthier than average citizens, said Lee Rainie, the project's director, potentially making them appealing targets for identity thieves.

"It's not the elite client list of a major bank," Rainie said. "But it's a pretty elite number of folks in this country who go out of their way to make campaign contributions."

Compared with banks, utilities and retailers that collect millions of names and account numbers, political campaigns aren't the most tempting targets for identity thieves. Still, campaigns run the same risks and therefore should make efforts to reduce or eliminate the potential for mischief, particularly as the Internet becomes more accepted as a fund-raising tool. Key steps include encrypting data, restricting access to donors' information and keeping account numbers no longer than necessary.

Campaigns have a strong incentive to protect donors from harm, particularly if officials hope to ask for money more than once or avoid embarrassment before an election, said Foley and other observers.

Third-party vendors who handle fund-raising details have a similar motive for being careful, said Carol Darr, executive director of George Washington University's Institute for Politics, Democracy and the Internet in Washington, D.C.

"It would be a real good way to lose your consulting business if word got out," she said.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

The number of victims appears to be declining, according to research by the Council of Better Business Bureaus and Javelin Strategy & Research, a financial-industry firm. Researchers estimated the number of adult victims was 8.9 million in 2005, down from 10.1 million in 2003 and 9.3 million in 2004.

Complaints are rising, despite the decline in victims, because people are more aware they can call the FTC, said Rubina Johannes, a research analyst with Javelin Strategy in Pleasanton, Calif. "It's not necessarily that there are more cases," she said.

At the same time, the average amount of money lost in each case has grown from $5,249 in 2003 to $5,885 in 2004 and to an estimated $6,883 in 2005, researchers found. And, they said, 90 percent of all cases do not originate with online transactions. Lost or stolen wallets, checkbooks and credit cards are the primary source of identity theft.

Vulnerability to identity theft lies less in the technology than in the people who use it, said Gary Gordon, executive director of the Center for Identity Management and Information Protection at Utica College in New York. "You always have the human element. That's part of the issue here that you have to deal with. You can have very secure systems. But, people tend to figure out ways around them, if just for convenience," he added.

People also can be duped. A common scam known as "phishing" has afflicted banks, credit unions and even the Internal Revenue Service. Crooks set up Web sites designed to look like the real thing and then send out e-mails convincing people to feed the site with Social Security numbers or other personal information. In theory, a crook could set up a fake site designed to look like a campaign's donation page and direct traffic to it, Gordon said.

Organizations that take credit card donations often farm out the task to companies that have experience in handling sensitive information. The National Republican Congressional Committee taps a company called VeriSign Inc. to encrypt contributors' data as it comes in and goes out, said Ed Patru, a spokesman for the committee. The re-election campaign of Pennsylvania's Democratic Governor Ed Rendell entrusts its online fund raising and related security to a company called Blue State Digital, in Washington, D.C., said Samantha Tubman, a spokesperson for the campaign.

Campaigns can also set themselves up with the necessary technology for accepting credit cards and safeguarding account numbers. "It is not a difficult process anymore," said Nathaniel Pearlman, president of NGP Software in Washington, D.C. The company's products include software that enables the receipt of credit-card donations.

The risk for campaigns seems minimal to Larry Hayes, owner of Synetech Group in Charlottesville, Va., in part because even a large congressional campaign might have only 20,000 names in the database. Synetech processes campaign contributions and offers other back-office services.

Workers can encrypt any credit card information they store and refrain from keeping numbers longer than they're needed, he said. For numbers that come in through the mail or by telephone, workers should enter and encrypt the numbers on a computer and then destroy the paper version.

In his experience, the technology experts working on campaigns are aware of the issues, and he has seen more campaigns asking questions, Hayes said.

"People can be completely careless. But, most people who are doing this are just professional," he said.

Joel Berg is a freelance writer in York, Pa., who specializes in financial services.