Just about everyone has heard about the Y2K problem by now. While many understand that very big and very old computing systems might be in trouble, many are unaware that even your relatively new hardware, operating system, software applications and data files can be affected. We take a look at how your PC may very likely have its own compliance problems to deal with in the year 2000. [Episode #1703, First broadcast: 10/5/1999] PCfix 2000 Mike Johnston from the About Time Group, helps us understand the hardware side of the Year 2000 problem. From the CMOS on your mother board, to the BIOS in the operation system, he shows us what these chips look like and where they are in the computer. Mike also introduces us to PCFix 2000, a program that will run a check to see if your CMOS and BIOS (both must be problem free) are 100% Y2K ready. Symantec Dana Prussoff demonstrates Symantec's Norton 2000 product. This software is particularly helpful in determining what Y2K problems you might have with your software applications and data files. Microsoft Don Jones, with Y2K Readiness at Microsoft, gives us the perspective of the world's leading PC operating system and software vendor. Don shows us an example of a problem with Windows 98 and where to find the fix at the MS Web site. He also talks about fixes for MS application software (also available at the MS Web site). Windows Magazine Mike Elgan, Editor of Windows Magazine, shows us what resources are available on the Web for anyone concerned about the Y2K problem. He points out what Windows Magazine has been saying and what its readers have been saying in their Y2K discussion area. He also shows us what information the US Government is offering (also for the general consumer) and the information available at a general interest Y2K Web site. Finally he takes us to a "survivalist" Web site, one that assumes the coming of the millennium is going to cause worldwide havoc. Y2K in the Wider World Come January 1

Computer games are not only fun but they, perhaps more than any other application, push the edge of computing power. We take a look at the latest in computer games and dedicated game consoles. [Episode #1704, First broadcast: 10/12/1999] Sega Dreamcast Christian Svensson, Editor in Chief for MCV, a strategy guide for PC and video game retailers, demonstrates the Sega Dreamcast. The Dreamcast is a video game console that's Internet-ready with a 56k modem, 19 initial games, and optional keyboard. Baldur's Gate Every year has it's hot new computer game, the must-have title for your PC. This year's runaway hit is Baldur's Gate from Interplay. Chris Parker demonstrates this current Dungeons & Dragons type game that has gotten just about everybody's vote for best role playing game of the year. Ryan MacDonald Ryan MacDonald, writer for Gamespot.com and Videogames.com, demonstrates three soon to be released hot games: Resident Evil 3 Nemesis for Sony PlayStation, WCW Mayhem and Rainbow Six for Nintendo 64. Reality Fusion Chad Kinzelberg CEO of Reality Fusion, demonstrates the GameCam. The GameCam itself is a Quick Cam from Logitech; Reality Fusion makes interactive gaming technology (called FreeAction) which lets you see yourself on the monitor as you interact with PC-generated opponents and objects like basketballs or volleyballs. http://archive.org/details/Gaming1999

New computers are coming out with DVD drives built in. Do you need a DVD drive? We'll show you why this new format is great and how you can upgrade your old PC to use this new technology. [Episode #1705, First broadcast: 10/19/1999] Sony Bob DeMoulin, Marketing Manager with Sony, shows us the Vaio Digital Studio PC with built in DVD-ROM drive and a Sony external DVD-ROM drive that can be added to an existing PC. Panasonic, Computer Components Group Jeff Saake shows us Panasonic's DVD-RAM drive. The product has received high reviews from numberous PC magazines. It's low cost per megabyte and fast transfer speeds make it a must-have if you depend on high capacity storage. How Computers Work Author, Ron White, gives us a basic explanation of how DVD works and the vast power of its memory capabilities. Ron also demonstrates Microsoft's Encarta and the archive of National Geographic Magazine as products best utilizing the DVD capabilities Enterprise DVD Ron Michaels, better known as "DVD Bob" because he claims to have authored the first-ever DVD-ROM disk, demonstrates three hot DVD products. First is Civilization, a cutting edge music video and what he thinks is the future of DVD products. Next Bob shows us an I-MAX film that has been modified for home viewing with a web component and ROM game. And last, a new 3D game not yet released. http://archive.org/details/DVD1011999

Will the TV and PC ever become one appliance in your living room? The convergence has begun. There are TV tuner cards for your PC, computer appliances that can be used to record television programs, and net surfing boxes for your TV. We'll review the latest products and developments. [Episode #1706, First broadcast: 10/26/1999] Intertainer Intertainer is a video-on-demand service currently in a few small trials of service. In the future, Intertainer plans to offer some 700 hours of movies, music, games, and other content that can be accessed for a fee from a PC or TV that is linked to a high speed network. The Pseudo Online Network Pseudo Programs is the premier provider of online Net-Television entertainment. Each week, Pseudo produces and netcasts over forty different interactive Net-TV shows, representing almost 200 original programming hours per month. Pseudo shows attract devoted audiences who are seeking alternatives to the offerings of mainstream media. MGI Software MGI's Pure Diva is a one-of-a-kind, Digital Interactive Video and Audio software suite that turns a PC into a digital VCRTM and DVD-based home entertainment center. It is designed to work with keyboard controls for the den or office as well as in the family room with an optional programmable remote control and an infrared receiver that can easily be attached to the PC. Liberate Technologies Liberate is one of the leaders in devoloping the "information appliance"; devices such as televisions, cell phones, game consoles, and others enhanced by an Internet connection. Liberate's goal is to expand outlets for the Internet, as well as act as the standard-bearer in the movement to create and support information appliances with a platform based on open standards. https://archive.org/details/TVMeetsP2001

Is your PC safe from crime? Whether it's a computer virus via email, hackers breaking into your web site, or you using your credit card to buy something online, you are not safe from crime just because you're at home. We'll show you the latest ways to protect your computer and yourself in the digital world. [Episode #1707, First broadcast: 11/2/1999] Inter@ctive Week Silicon Bureau Chief for Inter@ctive Week, Connie Guglielmo, regularly covers consumer issues such as privacy online, spam and companies building databases that may be used in ways that could hurt the consumer in the future. Connie also takes us to BizRate.com which ranks consumer product websites by those who have previously shopped there. California Department of Corporations Andrew Holmes is part of a small state agency, the California Department of Corporations, combating securities fraud on the Internet. California is one of about two dozen states that has special teams dedicated to rooting out Internet securities scams, such as companies selling bonds over the Internet to supposedly finance research. Andrew clicks us through the California Department of Corporations site which features guidelines for investors and links to related sites such as the National Fraud Center and the SEC, that helps potential online investors do their homework before they give anyone their money. SRI International Donn B. Parker has spent 30 years as a cybercrime fighter, working as a computer security expert for SRI International. He is also the author of the 1998 book, Fighting Computer Crime. With help from colleagues, a network penetration demonstration shows us how one can take control of someone else's web server and alter a web site that captures private logging-in information. McAfee.com McAfee.com is the next generation of internet services for updating, upgrading and managing PCs and provides downloadable virus checkers that will prevent some viruses from getting on your computer. McAfee Gen

Can you produce the next generation of "The Blair Witch Project" at home on your computer. We'll show you some of the tricks of personal computers these days that you can use to turn your ideas into real movies as well as just how to add some production value to your home videos. [Episode #1708, First broadcast: 11/9/1999] Digital Video for Dummies Multimedia author, Martin Doucette, shows us the differences between low, medium, and high-end digital video cameras. Martin uses the Canon Elura, GL1 and XL1 cameras to demonstrate "good", "better", and "best" levels of cameras consumers can choose from, and discusses the features that are important in each. Matrox G400-TV The G400-TV, is an all-in-one 3D graphics, video capture, and video editing card, providing full-resolution, full frame rate capture and playback with hardware-MJPEG compression/decompression. The advantage to installing the G400-TV into your PC is that since this is a hardware editing solution instead of just software, you are not limited by the speed of your PC processor. Apple's iMac iMovie We take a look at the iMacDV Special Edition, featuring a software called iMovie which is bundled on the DV models. iMovie software is meant for the first-time "filmmakers" to capture, edit, and create digital movies. Apple's G4 & Final Cut Pro Andrew Baum, with Apple Computer, demonstrates a beta version of Final Cut Pro 1.2 on a new Mac G4. He demonstrates the basic features of Final Cut Pro as he edits a short video piece. With the basic "drag and drop" technique, Andrew shows how easy Final Cut Pro makes editing, transitions, compositing, special effects, titling, and other ways of manipulating media. http://archive.org/details/DigitalH1999

Robots are used to deactivate bombs, to do work in outer space, to work on assembly lines, and just for fun. We'll learn how to build a robot at home and discuss the future of robotics. [Episode #1709, First broadcast: 11/16/1999] LEGO MindStorms The LEGO MindStorms Robotic Invention System enables kids 12 and up to design and program real robots that move, act, and think on their own using RCX, an autonomous LEGO microcomputer that can be programmed using a PC. Kids (and adults) can create everything from a light-sensitive intruder to a robotic rover that can follow a trail, move around obstacles, and even duck into dark corners. Woodside High School's "Terminator" "Terminator" is the product of Woodside High's Robotics Team and an entry in the National Robotics Competition, held yearly since 1995. The Robotics Competition is a national engineering contest immersing high school students in the world of engineering by giving them six weeks, to work with engineers to brainstorm, design, construct, and test a working robot. Along with winning the 1999 Western Regional, "Terminator" was named the most defensive robot in the competition for its remarkable ability to grab onto a 130-pound puck, push it to the opponents' side, then rear up and climb on top of the puck. Sony's AIBO An entertainment robot, AIBO looks like a mechanical dog, has its own emotions and instincts, and walks on four legs like man's best friend. AIBO learns by living and interacting with you, developing its own unique personality unlike that of any other AIBO! Probotic's Cye Cye is a new domestic robot that uses wireless technology to place itself at the beck and call of its owners. Cye is controlled by a graphical user interface called Map-N-Zap that loads onto a PC. With the software, users acquaint the robot with its surroundings by dragging an icon around on the screen. Thus, in turn, Cye is dragged around the room. SRI International SRI International's Artificial Intelli

Our annual round-up of the latest and greatest software, hardware, websites, and gadgets, reviewed by a panel of journalists and analysts. Just in time for holiday buying ideas for your favorite techie... or yourself. [Episode #1710, First broadcast: 11/23/1999] Paul E. Schindler Jr. Senior Editor, Winmag.com and BYTE.com with CMP Media. Paul's Picks: The new Compaq Aero 1500 Ultra-thin Palm-size PC is the thinnest Palm-size PC running Windows CE currently available. The Lexmark Z51 Color Jetprinter claims to have the highest inkjet resolution on the planet! X10's DVD Anywhere wireless remote lets you control everything on your PC including it's DVD Player. Tim Bajarin President of Creative Strategies. Tim's Picks: Handspring's Visor Handheld is a palmtop that has small add-on hardware products that expand the functionality of the Visor via the product's "Springboard" expansion slot. Polaroid PhotoMAX PDC 640 Digital Camera makes digital photography easy and affordable while delivering outstanding image quality. With the simple-to-use iMovie digital video editing software, Apple's iMac DV lets you create home movies, along with easy connection to the Internet. Possibly the iMac of PCs, the AMD Internet PC focuses on making PCs easier to set up, easier to use, and easier to upgrade. The IBM ThinkPad 240Z is ultra-thin, lightweight, and has loads of processing power and storage space. The lowest cost Armada solution, the Compaq Armada V300 Ultra Sub-Notebook, comes with an Intel Mobile Celeron processor, a mainstream hard drive capacity, and graphics/multimedia capability. The Psion Revo PDA offers agenda, contacts manager, email on the move, jotter, PC sync and lots more, all made to fit in your pocket. The PocketMail Backflip offers an integrated mobile e-mail solution for Palm connected organizers. Plus some hot products: With a 56K modem, an ethernet port, Mac OS 8.6 and all the right software already installed Apple's iBook is as Int

The European Technology Roundtable Exposition, (ETRE), a gathering of the most prominent computer CEO's and analysts, was hosted by Dasar and held in Monaco recently. Computer Chronicles goes on location to meet the leaders of high-tech, to talk about Internet's influence, and the general future of e-commerce. [Episode #1711, First broadcast: 11/30/1999] Inktomi A company seldom few would recognize, Inktomi's software is the engine underneath the searches you do on most web sites, such as AOL and Yahoo! Next Card One solution to consumers uneasiness of using their credit card online is the first Internet credit card, called Next Card. With Next Card, you can apply for and get approved all online usually within a matter of seconds. Next Card also will send your monthly statement via the Internet, where you can pay your bill through electronic banking. Consumers can also use the card to shop in traditional settings. Vertical Net The Wall Street darling of the business to business world with a market capitalization over two billion dollars, Vertical Net builds meaningful e-commerce communities aiding in drastically cutting the costs of sales. Cycore Cycore is a Swedish company trying to redefine traditional advertising models for the Internet. It has developed a three-dimensional engine, called Cult 3D, used for putting virtual products on the Web that you look at, play with, and "almost" touch. Y-Not Starting out as an animated greeting card site, Y-Not applied their animation technology to hyping MP3 artists. And by using the viral marketing power of the web, Y-Not makes it easy for you to send along music promos to a friend. Invention Machine Corporation Founded by Russian software engineers, IMC aims to move past search engines to what they call "reading" engines with their product CoBrain. CoBrain doesn't only find information on the Web, it reads it, summarizes it and points you to the exact information you're looking for. KeeBoo A

This week, Computer Chronicles concludes its coverage of the 1999 European Technology Roundtable Exposition, (ETRE), from Monte Carlo with an in-depth interview of Bill Gates of Microsoft. [Episode #1712, First broadcast: 12/7/1999] Microsoft Most of Microsoft's competitors have stopped their gang-up on the software giant. Part of the reason may be because Microsoft's traditional attackers, Sun and Oracle, have their own problems. Sun Sun's Java has been very successful, but among JAVA developers attending the conference, the feeling was that Sun has mis-stepped with JAVA, as much as Microsoft has gone overboard with Windows. Oracle Microsoft's other nemesis, Oracle, has been struggling with its own repositioning to take advantage of the Internet. Expedia Despite the temptations of the Internet with success of sites like Expedia, Microsoft will stay focused on its core competency which is of course, software. Business at the Speed of Thought Bill Gates calls for a "digital nervous system for business" - a final thrust toward the paperless office in this book. Iris Iris' new Optical Character Recognition software not only recognizes words, it can carry through fonts, type sizes, and printing styles into an electronic document. The Iris software does context sensitive recognition in 55 different languages, even handling Asian and Cyrillic fonts. The software also recognizes tables and spreadsheets, sending full functionality back to Excel. StorEdge StorEdge from Exegetics, takes optical character-recongized documents one step further. Once you scan in a document and run it through the Storedge software, a searchable database for all your documents is automatically created so that you never have to touch paper again. You can even do electronic highlighting and annotating. Teledesic A start-up Bill Gates has invested in, Teledesic is an immensely ambitious project to ring the globe with some sixty low-earth orbiting satellites to creat

We have scouted the floor of the world's biggest computer trade show, COMDEX, in Las Vegas. We've invited the best of the best to come into our studio to give you an in-depth demonstration of the latest innovations in personal computing. [Episode #1713, First broadcast: 12/14/1999] Compaq iPaq and the Vestel Internet Terminal Analyst Tim Bajarin of Creative Strategies takes a look at the emerging Internet appliance market featured at COMDEX. The iPaq is a device designed for companies moving toward an Internet-based computing model. Also featured at COMDEX was the Vestel Internet Terminal which will also be known as the MSN Web Companion under an OEM alliance. MP3, The Definitive Guide Author, Scot Hacker, discusses the emergence of MP3 technology and demonstrates the following products that made waves at COMDEX: i2Go eGo Sony Vaio Music Clip Personal Network Player Creative Labs Nomad Sonic Foundry's Siren Jukebox Napster 2.0 Byte.com Alexander Pournelle discusses the importance of Linux at COMDEX '99. Byte.com gave two awards to Linux at COMDEX, one of them being the "Best of Show" to the Linux Pavillion. Alex also shows us a NetWinder demonstrating Corel's WordPerfect for Linux. Blue Tooth Simon Ellis of Intel gives us a technology demonstration of Blue Tooth. Blue Tooth is not a product but a new technology backed by Intel, IBM, and Nokia. Blue Tooth's purpose is to improve existing wireless technologies by moving data and images among all sorts of household workplaces, and mobile devices (as far as 30 feet away), via radio waves. https://archive.org/details/BestofCO1999

The Internet has created a place where it is easy to find information and art to share. But what about copyright issues? Is everything free for the asking online? We'll show you software to protect your own site from being copied without your permission as well as discuss the latest issues involving newspapers and magazines re-printing their own articles online. [Episode #1716, First broadcast: 1/04/2000] David Kramer Copyright Lawyer David Kramer helps sort out some of the major copyright issues surrounding owning your own website. San Francisco Chronicle Higher Education Reporter Tanya Schevitz demonstrates a number of sites that offer university class notes online. Tanya shows us sites like Versity.com and StudentU.com and compares what they offer with the notes she took herself in the same classes. She also shows us Plagarism.org, a web service that is able to spot whether students have plagiarized online material for their essays. Adobe Photoshop Karen Gauthier, from Adobe, shows us how you can protect an image that you have created with a digital watermark in Adobe Photoshop. Karen explains why you might want a watermark, how you put a watermark in an image, how it changes (or doesn't change) the image and how you can use Photoshop to read the watermarks of images that you find online, allowing you to contact the copyright owner of the image if you want to use it yourself. MP3 for Dummies Author Andy Rathbone's latest Dummies book is all about MP3, so he's an ideal guide to take us through the copyright issues that are dogging this popular new audio format. He points us to popular MP3 web sites such as Winamp.com, Rollingstone.com, and MP3.com. Andy also explains how the music industry is fighting back by trying to introduce a new version of MP3 with some copy protections. http://archive.org/details/Copyrigh2000

As you buy faster PCs, you may be keeping your old PC for someone else in the family. But rather than buy a separate modem or printer, you can easily network your home PCs to share these peripherals. We'll look at home network options including devices that let you share your peripherals just by using your existing electrical outlets. [Episode #1717, First broadcast: 1/16/2001] NetGear Most homes have phone wiring, probably making it one of the least expensive ways to set up a home network. We'll demonstrate the latest NetGear products using your phone lines to network your PCs. Vega Technologies Computers are typically underutilized. Vega Technologies' Buddy Systems lets a second user share your CPU to work independently. All you need to buy is an extra monitor, mouse, and keyboard and you have two computers. Apple's AirPort Instead of using traditional cabling to create a network, AirPort is an 11 megabit per second wireless local area network. AirPort allows computers to communicate with one another up to 150 feet away, even through walls. The AirPort uses 2.4 GHz radio frequencies for communication. 2Wire 2Wire is building a residential gateway to deliver broadband services to the home. The residential gateway is basically a box that sits inside your home and allows you to route content around your house to various computers and appliances. You're able to share Internet access, printers, listen to music on-demand, and add extra phone lines without any additional wiring. http://archive.org/details/HomeNetw2001

This week, on the Computer Chronicles, we take you to Monte Carlo for the conclusion of a special three-part series on the 10th anniversary of the ETRE conference, the European Technology Roundtable and Exhibition. [Episode #1718, First broadcast: 1/18/2000] Linux Seen as a low-cost alternative to Windows, Linux is fueling tremendous growth in inexpensive servers and new Internet appliances. "Portal To Go" Many are seeing the world of the next decade as being one in which a variety of appliances take the place of today's general purpose PC. Oracle is moving in that direction with its new "Portal, To Go". NetZero ISP's may also offer free service because as your gateway to the Internet, they have lots of power. One example of such a ISP is Net Zero. MyWay.com MyWay.com is a new site that is pioneering a whole new level of intelligent customization. ICast.com ICast.com is one of a dozen startups positioning itself to become the first successful entertainment channel on the Web. GoTo.com One of the more innovative new web search engines is GoTo.com. The results you get don't depend on matches to key words or phrases, but on how much the various web sites have paid GoTo to get top ranking in your search results. http://archive.org/details/ETREEuro2000

Most home PC users use their telephone line to connect to the Internet. But there are other options. We'll look at cable, DSL, and satellite connections as well as the latest high-speed telephone modems to help you find a faster way to get online. [Episode #1719, First broadcast: 1/25/2000] http://archive.org/details/FasterNe2000

Most home PC users use their telephone line to connect to the Internet. But there are other options. We'll look at cable, DSL, and satellite connections as well as the latest high-speed telephone modems to help you find a faster way to get online. [Episode #1740, First broadcast: 1/25/2000] Internet Bible Author Brian Underdahl shows us what we can do to speed up our web access even if we don't have a high speed connection. He shows tweaks that can be done within the browser software that can speed up searching, caching or downloading files. And finally, Brian shows us Opera which is a smaller and far faster browser than either Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator. Telocity One option for a high speed connection is DSL which uses existing phone lines. Telocity offers a solution for easy DSL connections by its design as a 'plug-and play' solution. You just self-install the Telocity Expressway modem box, then their installation software configures your PC automatically. @Home Eric Elia of Excite@Home tells us about broadband cable service which is a high speed connection via cable. Though not yet available in all areas, @Home delivers the Internet at speeds up to 100 times faster than a 28.8 modem. DirecPC Another way of getting broadband access is by satellite. And the best solution for the general consumer right now is DirectPC from Hughes Network Systems. DirecPC offers nationwide access to the Internet at speeds of up to 400 kbps today, which is three times faster than ISDN and 14 times faster than a standard 28.8 modem. https://archive.org/details/FasterNe2000

Whether you wish to learn to play an instrument, compose a song, download MP3 files, or just find out fun facts about your favorite musician, there's software, hardware, and many Internet sites for you. [Episode #1720 First broadcast: 2/1/2000] Adaptec - Easy CD Creator Mary Eaves of Adaptec shows us their Easy CD Creator. She explains CD-R and CD-RW technology as she demonstrates how you can use the software to make compilation CDs of your favorite music. If you are recording from old vinyl LPs, the software has a neat program called Spin Doctor that helps get rid of scratches, pops and hisses. You can also use the program to record and store any other kind of data from your PC. Beatnik Tony De Young from Beatnik shows us their cool web plug-in. He shows us several web sites such as sonicopia.com, Promotion.Yahoo.com, and a Pokemon site that have Beatnik installed, pointing out how they are different from other sites with audio. Tony also shows how you can add Beatnik to your own site. And finally he demonstrates their GrooveGrams concept where you can mix your own song online and post it. ACID Music 2.0 R. J. Holmberg shows us ACID MUSIC, a cool loop-based music creator. You can use it to create a song with almost no musical skill. You can easily add tracks and mix them together. If you have some musical ability, you can record your own tracks to add to those provided by the program. When you have created your song, you can export it as MP3, to a CD or upload it to share with others at the ACIDplanet web site. Van Koevring Interactive Piano Sean O’Shea demonstrates the upright version of the Van Koevering Interactive Piano. He shows us how its impressive range of instrument sounds. You can even use different parts of the keyboard to play different instruments. The main appeal of the piano, though, is that it incorporates a Windows 98 CPU, touchscreen and CD player, which together allow you to run music teaching software of your choice. You can

Whether you wish to learn to play an instrument, compose a song, download MP3 files, or just find out fun facts about your favorite musician, there's software, hardware, and many Internet sites for you. [Episode #1741, First broadcast: 2/1/2000] Adaptec - Easy CD Creator Mary Eaves of Adaptec shows us their Easy CD Creator. She explains CD-R and CD-RW technology as she demonstrates how you can use the software to make compilation CDs of your favorite music. If you are recording from old vinyl LPs, the software has a neat program called Spin Doctor that helps get rid of scratches, pops and hisses. You can also use the program to record and store any other kind of data from your PC. Beatnik Tony De Young from Beatnik shows us their cool web plug-in. He shows us several web sites such as sonicopia.com, Promotion.Yahoo.com, and a Pokemon site that have Beatnik installed, pointing out how they are different from other sites with audio. Tony also shows how you can add Beatnik to your own site. And finally he demonstrates their GrooveGrams concept where you can mix your own song online and post it. ACID Music 2.0 R. J. Holmberg shows us ACID MUSIC, a cool loop-based music creator. You can use it to create a song with almost no musical skill. You can easily add tracks and mix them together. If you have some musical ability, you can record your own tracks to add to those provided by the program. When you have created your song, you can export it as MP3, to a CD or upload it to share with others at the ACIDplanet web site. Van Koevring Interactive Piano Sean O’Shea demonstrates the upright version of the Van Koevering Interactive Piano. He shows us how its impressive range of instrument sounds. You can even use different parts of the keyboard to play different instruments. The main appeal of the piano, though, is that it incorporates a Windows 98 CPU, touchscreen and CD player, which together allow you to run music teaching software of your choice. You ca

We'll be taking a look at the latest developments that allow you to talk to your computer and your computer to talk back. [Episode #1721, First broadcast: 2/8/2000] Dragon Naturally Speaking 4.0 Author Dan Newman introduces us to Dragon Systems' Naturally Speaking 4.0. He shows us how it has the intelligence to anticipate what you will be wanting to write and how you can use it to browse the web. He then shows us Dragon Mobile Organizer which allows you not only to dictate messages but to automatically turn them into memos or emails when you connect the device to your PC. Clarion AutoPC George Giles from Clarion shows off the AutoPC, a leader in the rapidly developing area of auto-based computing. The Auto PC looks and works like a conventional car CD/stereo, but it is voice activated. George also demonstrates how it will allow you to make hands-free phone calls, get messages about traffic, news or personal email and give you directions to anywhere you want to go. BeVocal Mikael Berner from BeVocal shows us how you can use your telephone, whether you're at home or on a cell phone, to connect to their service to get traffic updates for your specific location, directions, or to manage your email. GamePro Magazine Dan Amrich is an editor with the popular gaming magazine GamePro. Dan gives us an overview of the latest and coolest ways of interacting with your game software without using a keyboard. He’ll brings along his picks for the best gaming mouse, joystick, wheel and hybrids thereof, as well as some special items like a fishing rod and a light blaster gun. http://archive.org/details/Computer2000

Computer Chronicles visited Palm Springs, California to bring you Upside's "Internet Showcase". The conference provided a look at lots of exciting new Internet products and services as well as plenty of fresh ideas for how to use the Internet. [Episode #1722, First broadcast: 2/15/2000] Information Appliances: Expert City A "tech support mart" where you can shop for experts, review their ratings and their cost, Expert City allows you to hook up with a live person who will solve your computer problem in real time. The site's technology allows the expert to actually take remote control of your computer, so they don't just tell you how to fix the problem...they really do fix it. Image ID Image ID can come up with a clever approach to marketing photos with their Smart Picture Technology which essentially bar codes you with an image ID sticker. So that when you go to a theme park, you get a color wheel which uniquely identifies you and your family. As you move about the park, employees photograph you on various rides. Supersig Supersig's software lets you create mini web pages in the form of banners in an email. The supersigs act just like web pages and can hold dynamically created content and links. Aladn Aladn from Sage Systems lets you use the Web to control appliance in your house. From any web browser, you can turn the lights on, or off, read utility meters, or eventually, program your VCR. Zone Labs With always-on Internet connections becoming more common, Zone Alarm offers a way to protect your privacy. The software lets you build a virtual firewall to keep hackers from getting information off your computer. V-You A clever site that lets you protect intellectual property on your web site so that people can't steal your words, your graphics, or your pictures. Smart Pen It has Gyro Electronics inside which measure the pressure, force and acceleration when you sign your name. Once you've written your signature, no one else can forge it

Computer Chronicles visited Palm Springs, California to bring you Upside's "Showcase". Part two of our “sneak preview” of what you’ll be seeing in the next year. [Episode #1723, First broadcast: 2/22/2000] Internet News: ABC News.com Sam Donaldson, network television journalist for more than thirty years, says he is a firm believer in the Internet as the future medium for all news. He now hosts a regular fifteen minute web cast show called Sam Donaldson at ABC News.com. New York Times Another well know news heavyweight moving aggressiblley into Internet news is the New York Times. Internet Business: @Backup @Backup is a simple way to back up your files on a web site. Just click on the files you want to back up, and they automatically get sent to your virtual back up drive in cyberspace. X-Drive Another online storage service offering up to 100 megabytes of storage space for free. What’s cool about X-drive is that it appears like just another drive on your Windows desktop. You have your ‘C drive’, ‘D drive’ and now your ‘X Drive. You can choose to download at another time and it's incredibly fast – a three megabyte song move over to the X-drive can happen in twenty seconds. i-drive i-drive makes it easy to save web sites. Just grab the information you want, and transfer it to your i-drive. It collects all the HTML and metadata and it works much faster than a bookmark when it comes to retrieving that data. Zoomerang Zoomerang lets you add surveys to your web site so you can get organized feedback from your customers, your business associates or your friends. Voice Recognition: Firetalk Firetalk takes net telephony to the next phase. All you need is the plug-in, and you can talk to any one. You can even carry on a conference call with several people at once. Firetalk also automatically alerts you to other Firetalk users who are logged on to that same site so that you can also chat with other people who happen to be

There are software programs and online resources to allow you to cook like an expert chef, learn about food, and show you how to have a more nutritious meal. Since cooking shows on PBS are so popular, we'd thought we'd bring you an episode on cooking with your PC! [Episode #1724, First broadcast: 2/29/2000] http://archive.org/details/Cookingw2000

There are software programs and online resources to allow you to cook like an expert chef, learn about food, and show you how to have a more nutritious meal. Since cooking shows on PBS are so popular, we'd thought we'd bring you an episode on cooking with your PC! [Episode #1747, First broadcast: 2/29/2000] Webvan One of the more recent and heavy-backed entrants into the home-delivered online grocery store, the Webvan site provides more than just a place to shop. It also provides menus, articles and recipes. Sierra’s MasterCook Kelly Stanmore, from Sierra demonstrates MasterCook. The software takes you through the first to last steps of preparing an entrée. You can search for a recipe in the MasterCook library, easily change the quantities, substitute ingredients or add your own notes to the recipe. She also demonstrates MasterCook’s video tips that will help you prepare the meal and show how you can search for the perfect wine to accompany it. Cyberdiet.com Timi Gustafson, co-founder of Cyberdiet.com and a registered dietitian, helps us find a healthy recipe for dessert. She also shows us how you can use the site to create a healthy daily meal plan, as well as a plan for 12 weeks of dieting for either health reasons or weight loss. We also take a look at the fast-food comparison engine, the community areas and the health and exercise information and links. Sun Microsystems Sun Microsystems’ .Com Home Initiative shows us the first step in wiring the kitchen into your home information network: the Wireless Webpad. The Webpad can be use to find recipes or to make a shopping list. You can also connect a scanner to add items on your list or so you can keep track of what items you have to cook with. The device can be used with home delivery services. The Webpad can even control the production of your coffee maker (if it is networked)!

Can you make a fortune through online investing? Everybody seems to be trading stocks and bonds online these days. We'll show you how you make a trade, how to integrate your investments into your personal finance software and some websites that can help you make wise investment choices. And we'll check out a new financial information service with enough power to satisfy even the most active day trader. [Episode #1727, First broadcast: 3/21/2000] http://archive.org/details/OnlineIn2000

Can you make a fortune through online investing? Everybody seems to be trading stocks and bonds online these days. We'll show you how you make a trade, how to integrate your investments into your personal finance software and some websites that can help you make wise investment choices. And we'll check out a new financial information service with enough power to satisfy even the most active day trader. [Episode #1748, First broadcast: 3/21/2000] DLJDirect.com Bob Flowers of DLJDirect.com explains how to sign up to trade online and how to make a trade. Dob also demonstrates the free MarketSpeed software you get with DLJ. He shows off the real-time market data you get, how you can set up a streaming ticker for any selection of stocks, funds or bonds and how you can monitor your portfolio’s overall standing in real time. Quicken Theresa McGuinness, product manager of Quicken2000 shows us how you can import new information on your stocks and bonds into your personal finance software. She demonstrates how you can use the in-built connections between Quicken and Quicken.com to update your overall financial profile, alert you to changes in, or news about, your investments, and keep track of how you are meeting your investment goals. MSN Money Central Jon Markman, Pulitzer Prize winner and managing editor at MSN’s Money Central shows us some essential (and mostly free) places you can go online to get professional quality financial information. He takes us to Yahoo Finance, MSN Investor, ClearStation.com, FreeEdgar.com and Briefing.com. He also gives us some tips on pitfalls to avoid (like trusting what people say in online finance chatrooms). WindowOnWallStreet.com Mitch Ackles shows us WindowOnWallStreet.com, a news, charts and quotes site for the high-end trader. WindowOnWallStreet used to be a software product but has been turned into a web-only monthly fee service. The best thing it offers is access to what’s called Nasdaq Level II. That means y

A review of the use of personal computers and the Internet in political campaigns, including a comparison of candidate web sites, a look inside a Senatorial campaign, and the prospects of on-line voting. Produced during the 2000 elections campaign season. http://archive.org/details/Computer2000_2

As the presidential campaigns are sweeping the country, we bring you an update on how you can become a more educated voter through the latest online sources. [Episode #1749, First broadcast: of 3/28/2000] Aristotle Publishing Aristotle Publishing is the leading company offering high-tech solutions to political campaigns. They are heavily involved in helping campaigns get the most from their use of computers and the Internet. One are Aristotle focuses are their rich media banners where web information can be combined with voter databases to make for more effectively targeted campaign ads. Campbell for Senate We look at how computers are changing campaigns from an inside perspective. Joshua Ross takes us through the newly revamped Campbell for Senate site and points out what it offers in terms of fund raising, how it works as a resources site, and how it allows the campaign to work with other computer databases and with emai lto find supporters and then keep in touch with them throughout the campaign. Lindsey Arent of Wired News Staff-writer with Wired News, Lindsay Arent has been following the online efforts of the candidates for the 2000 Presidential election and offers us her opinion about which of them "get" the Web and which don't. San Mateo County We take a look at the future of voting and whether voting itself will be going online. One of the leading California proponents of online voting is San Mateo County Clerk Warren Slocum. Warren explains what you can do already online (register to vote) and what is impeding getting voting online. He also previews how voting might work on websites and a mobile digital ballot box. https://archive.org/details/Computer2000_2

Computer Chronicles goes on the road to Dayton, Ohio to cover one of the country's largest User Group Conventions. [Episode #1750, First broadcast: 4/4/2000] https://archive.org/details/UsersGro2000

Computer Chronicles goes on the road to Dayton, Ohio to cover one of the country's largest User Group Conventions. [Episode #1750, First broadcast: 4/4/2000] Dayton Microcomputer Association The Dayton Microcomputer Association put on their first Computerfest in 1976 and it's been growing ever since. Despite the growing sophistication in personal computer technology, the DMA believes there is still a need for users groups. What's unusual about this Computerfest is that it is a nonprofit endeavor and that the entire show is put on by volunteers. Ohio Technology Access Project The Dayton, Ohio community runs one of the nation's leading computer recycling programs. Volunteers check out the old machines, clean off the hard drives, install a new operating system, and then turn them over to people who can't afford to buy a computer. NCR NCR has become the world's leading vendor of ATM's and it is working now to push that technology in several new directions such as a new Web enabled ATM that will let you do Web surfing while you do your banking transactions. NCR is working on new web terminals that would go into kitchen appliances like refrigerators or microwave ovens. NCR thinks the kitchen is the ultimate location for Internet home appliances and NCR is working is on an automated check-out station at supermarkets. Another NCR innovation is new technology to do away with PIN numbers at ATM's by scanning the iris of your eye to identify you. Lexis Nexis Dayton, Ohio is also the home of Lexis Nexis, the world's largest online publisher. Lexis Nexis started the online research business more than 30 years ago. They are now evolving into a web based product, currently running 70 different URL's. Indeed Lexis Nexis sees itself as the original e-commerce company. Mendelson's If you are a tinkerer or inventor, Mendelson's is Mecca! They have over 400,000 items in their inventory, from computer peripherals to every kind of electronic component you

What will day-to-day life be like when our homes are wired, when we all have broadband pipes, and when everything that surrounds us has been transformed from the world of atoms to the world of bits? We take a look at the digital future in Computer Chronicle's coverage of the Digital Living Room Conference from Laguna Niguel, California. [Episode #1744, First broadcast: 7/25/2000] AOL TV Powered by an interactive software engine from Liberate, the main difference between AOL TV and Microsoft's Web TV, is that a current AOL subscriber maintains the same online identity on AOL TV. Web TV Not to be outdone by AOL TV, Web TV has just announced its own new twist to the convergence of the TV and the PC, a new version of Web TV which lets you use it like a TIVO or Replay Personal VCR. ReplayTV ShowStopper The Panasonic ShowStopper with ReplayTV Service is moving toward the next generation of interactive TV by finding new ways to use storage and connectivity to provide a customized television viewing experience. TV on the Web Veon Veon is trying to move beyond AOL TV and Web TV to a new model, where interactivity is video based with TV style content on the Web that you can control. Esynch Esynch has com out with a multi-platform player that can play back video in any standard format and automatically synch the video to a web site. The player is called Choicecaster and its a free download. ON24 ON24 has introduced something called PersonalCast that lets you essentially create a personalized CNBC service for your investor console. You select the stocks you want to follow, the sources and experts you want to hear from, and particular stories you want to read about. Anteye.com One site that is focusing on new entertainment content on the Internet. PSMG The Play Streaming Media Group has introduced the GlobeCaster which is essentially a computer peripheral that turns your PC into a complete video production studio. Digital Music Soundbreak.

What will day-to-day life be like when our homes are wired, when we all have broadband pipes, and when everything that surrounds us has been transformed from the world of atoms to the world of bits? We conclude our look at the digital future in Computer Chronicle's coverage of the Digital Living Room Conference from Laguna Niguel, California. [Episode #1746, First broadcast: 8/1/2000] Connexion by Boeing Soon traveling by air won't keep you out of touch with news, email, or accessing the Net. Boeing's new inflight Internet service is due to launch late next year. It will cost somewhere between ten and twenty-five dollars and hour. Mobile Commerce (M-Commerce) Xenote iTag A new personal Internet device, the Xenote iTag, creates direct connections between the things that interest us in our daily lives, and online information. By "bookmarking the radio", listeners can "tag" songs and ads then connect to relevent information via the Web. Bluetooth One technology that may drive the new world of intelligent wireless devices is Bluetooth. Microsoft Pocket PC Microsoft has finally released Pocket PC, the next version of its Windows CE operating system. Voice Portal Quack.com A provider of voice-to-Web solutions, has developed technology that can quickly speech-enable existing websites and Internet information making its content available anywhere by phone. BeVocal With BeVocal, callers using a toll-free number and simple spoken commands, can access point-to-point driving directions, travel information, real-time traffic reports, weather, business locations and stock quotes. Tellme Tell Me provides a free service you call to reach the people, businesses, and information you need every day. New Information Appliances ReplayTV The Panasonic ShowStopper with ReplayTV Service is moving toward the next generation of interactive TV by finding new ways to use storage and connectivity to provide a customized television viewing experience. Cei