All You Want to Know

Universal File System Driver Creates Two-Way Communication Channel Between Mac OS X and Windows, Includes New MacBrowser for Dual-Boot Capabilities

Paragon's NTFS for Mac OS X 7.0 is based on Paragon's own unique technology -- the Universal File System Driver (UFSD). UFSD was specially developed to provide full access (read/write, format, etc.) to volumes of the most popular file systems (NTFS, FAT, Ext2/3FS, etc.) under various platforms (DOS, Windows, Linux, and Mac) when these file systems are not supported. The product is simple to install on a Mac system through user-friendly wizards, with no additional configuration required after installation. It is also simple to use, as every attached Windows NTFS partition works like a native Mac HFS partition after installation. By mounting any NTFS partition like a native Mac partition, the need to perform special commands to obtain access is eliminated. NTFS for Mac OS X 7.0 provides improved write performance enabling the same transfer rate for NTFS volumes as the native Mac OS file system.

Paragon's new MacBrowser is a unique tool that allows fast, easy and transparent read/write access to Mac HFS partitions from within Windows. After the user has installed the software on a Windows operating system, a special unmapped folder under 'My Computer' can be used to browse content, read and modify files, copy, create, open, and delete files and folders on Mac partitions from Windows. To modify a file from a Mac volume, the user would copy it to a Windows partition, make the desired changes and copy it back to Mac after the modifications are completed.

Source : http://www.msnbc.msn.com

The Globe tested four monitors, including a tiny 7-inch USB monitor and three wide-screen monitors.

We tested the 25.5-inch Asus VW266H for $399, the 25.5-inch Hewlett-Packard w2558hc for $549.99, and we were given an exclusive first look at one of Dell's new "green monitors," the 24-inch G2410 G-Series at $349. We also tested the Mimo UM-710 7-inch USB monitor, which costs $129.99.

We found that all four monitors had strengths. The Asus is big, uncomplicated, and inexpensive. The HP has lots of plugs, ports, and goodies like digital camera card readers and a webcam. Dell claims its offering uses less energy than competitors and is made from recycled materials - bonuses for people conscious about their carbon footprint.

The Mimo monitor, while small, was a fun solution for people who want to use a second monitor. It plugs into any available USB port, so it will work on nearly any modern computer. Its size also allows you to have two monitors without two big monitors taking up your whole desk.

Andy Trask, the co-owner of Geek Housecalls Inc. of Burlington, selected the HP as the best overall monitor because of the glossy finish to the display and HP's positive reputation.

"In my experience with HP monitors, they tend to be of a higher quality," Trask said.

We liked the HP monitor a lot, but were most enamored with the Asus monitor. While it didn't have all the bells, whistles, and ports of the HP monitor, we were impressed with its quality and even more so with its price.

Both the HP and Asus monitors had traditional VGA and DVI (digital visual interface) ports for your computer, but they also had HDMI ports (one on the Asus and two on the HP), which let you plug in your Blu-ray player, HDTV cable box, or video game system to the monitor instead of using a television.

"A lot of people are looking for a way to put together as much technology as they can without having to repeat steps," Trask said. "As a simple solution, this really makes it easy to put the computer and the TV together in the same box with high quality and high resolution."

As far as shopping tips, Trask says to look for the biggest monitor you can find for your budget. He also recommends going to your local electronics store to view the monitors in person, just as you would with a TV - instead of just checking them out online.

Computer-virus infections don't cause your machine to crash anymore.

Nowadays, the criminals behind the infections usually want your computer operating in top form so you don't know something's wrong. That way, they can log your keystrokes and steal any passwords or credit-card numbers you enter at Web sites, or they can link your infected computer with others to send out spam.

Here are some signs your computer is infected, tapped to serve as part of "botnet" armies run by criminals:

_ You experience new, prolonged slowdowns. This can be a sign that a malicious program is running in the background.

_ You continually get pop-up ads that you can't make go away. This is a sure sign you have "adware," and possibly more, on your machine.

_ You're being directed to sites you didn't intend to visit, or your search results are coming back funky. This is another sign that hackers have gotten to your machine.

So what do you do?

_ Having anti-virus software here is hugely helpful. For one, it can identify known malicious programs and disable them. If the virus that has infected your machine isn't detected, many anti-virus vendors offer a service in which they can remotely take over your computer and delete the malware for a fee.

_ Some anti-virus vendors also offer free, online virus-scanning services.

_ You may have to reinstall your operating system if your computer is still experiencing problems. It's a good idea even if you believe you've cleaned up the mess because malware can still be hidden on your machine. You will need to back up your files before you do this.

How do I know what information has been taken?

_ It's very hard to tell what's been taken. Not every infection steals your data. Some just serve unwanted ads. Others poison your search result or steer you to Web sites you don't want to see. Others log your every keystroke. The anti-virus vendors have extensive databases about what the known infections do and don't do. Comparing the results from your virus scans to those entries will give you a good idea about what criminals may have snatched up.

Source : http://www.google.com

• A banker responds

A University of Otago business student is celebrating the end of a year in which the banks provided him with $500 of free money.

The student, who prefers to remain anonymous, employed a system known as "stoozing", which works in a similar way to the international "carry trade" - where money is borrowed at a low rate in one country and invested at a high rate in another.

The student realised banks trying to attract students as customers had created a similar, legal, opportunity for free money within New Zealand.

"Stoozing" is a slang term to describe an activity where money is borrowed at 0% interest and invested elsewhere. Eventually, the borrowed money is repaid but the interest it has earned remains with the "stoozer".

Most major banks offer low-cost overdrafts for students in the hope of encouraging them to become regular customers.

At the beginning of last year, the student visited four banks and set up bank accounts with 0% overdrafts. He then withdrew all the money - amounting to $6000 - and invested it for one year in a safe term deposit at a rate of 9.25%.

The idea came to him while he was taking advantage of a bank promotion offering students $40 to open an account - "an easy way to make some fast beer money".

While he was filling out forms for an account with a $2000 overdraft, he noted the "very small" bank charges if the account was in overdraft - $2 a month.

"It was virtually the same as giving me $2000 for free for 20 months."

The student then opened similar accounts at other banks.

Because two of the banks required the account to show activity during the year, he also set up automatic transfers.

He asked the bank where he held his usual bank account to make an automatic $150 payment each Tuesday to one of the overdraft accounts.

"I then went to the bank where the $150 would be going and asked them to transfer that same amount of money to the overdraft account at another bank.

"I then went to the third bank and got them to transfer the money back to my spending account (where it had been on Tuesday) and the $150 showed up in my account on Friday. This happened every week for a year."

Bank staff did not realise what he was doing and the scheme had not been hard to co-ordinate.

"It only took a couple of minutes talking to the tellers, telling them what I wanted, and checking to make sure they had got it right."

He chose to invest the overdraft money at Kiwibank because it was one of the few banks where he did not have an account.

"I didn't really want to go into [one of the other banks] and try to set up a $6000 term deposit when I had a $2000 debit on my other account."

People he had told about the scheme had considered the rewards too small, and even smaller now that interest rates had gone down.

It was only after he had set up the scheme that he realised it had a name.

Wikipedia suggests stoozing was named after an internet discussion board contributor, Stooz, who was a prolific stoozer.

"Stoozing isn't exactly a way to get rich," the student said. "That's why I just took one afternoon to go around and do it - because the profit isn't that much."

The most important aspect of the scheme was to ensure the borrowed money remained intact - invested safely and repaid by the due date.

"Mostly, I just did it because it seemed like a way to make some money and figure out some of the systems banks have in place. It is sort of my chosen field of study."

Source : http://www.odt.co.nz

Money-market mutual funds hold about $3.9 trillion in assets, and have become increasingly popular places to park cash amid the beating that stocks and even bonds have taken lately. Here are tips from experts on how to find the best money funds:

1. FIND THE RIGHT FIT: While their yields are pretty low across the board, different types of money funds invest in different types of debt. So pick the right type to balance how much safety you're willing to give up for a slightly higher yield.

Many funds buy super-safe government debt such as Treasury bills, and generally carry the lowest yields — currently averaging a minuscule 0.1 percent or so. So-called prime funds seek slightly higher yields but accept marginal risk by venturing into some forms of corporate bonds, which carry the risk of default.

Money-market funds can also invest large sums in bank certificates of deposit, and command higher interest rates than you could get on your own. So-called tax-free money funds can invest in debt issued by state or local governments, which can offer tax advantages.

2. RESIST THE CHASE FOR YIELD: If you're comparing money fund yields, resist the temptation to buy a fund just based on a higher yield. Be sure to research the fund. Try to determine what risks the fund may be taking to generate the higher return — such as a soured investment in Lehman Brothers bonds, that led one money fund to expose investors to losses last fall.

3. CHECK EXPENSES: Fund expenses are a big consideration because a small difference in the amount you pay can offset the relatively modest yield of a money fund. Generally, look for expense ratios below 0.5 percent.

4. MONITOR FEES: With money fund yields at historic lows, fund companies are finding they can barely meet fund expenses and make a profit. That pressures the companies to pass on higher fees. Monitor disclosures about such fee increases.

Source: http://www.google.com

SIPPED: Bordeaux past
In a blast from what seems a distant past, a new investment fund for wine is opens this month with allegedly 15 to 20 million pounds of assets. Investors will need to meet the 500,000 pound minimum for the closed-end fund. Send checks to Richmond Park partners Steven Berger and Pascal Maeter who will manage the Lunzer Wine Investments Institutional Fund. [Bloomberg]

SIPPED: industrial waste over Givry
The Burgundy village of Givry has to contend with plans for a new industrial waste treatment plant on the outskirts of town. Last year’s mayoral campaign was fought largely around this issue with an anti-plant activist winning town hall. But the regional authorities later approved the plant, winemakers sued, and now a tribunal has suspended the approval. Score one for the winemakers! Check out the story at washingtonpost.com.

SPIT: excise tax
California’s legislature approved a new budget without increasing the excise tax on wine.

SIPPED and SPIT: wine blogs
The wine blog award winners have been announced. Alas, this blog is not among them. But thank you for your clicks of support! And hearty congratulations to the winners! [Fermentation]

SIPPED: insurance!
A “Master of Coffee” (not Mister Coffee) in England has insured his tongue for £10 million ($13.95 million) via Lloyd’s of London (not to be confused with the newly nationalized Lloyds Banking Group, ahem). Take that Robert Parker–his policy is 14 times bigger than your policy! [BBC via sdelong]

Source: http://www.drvino.com