Google Inc. has launched a new software package that allows you to see satellite images on your desktop.

Google Earth lets you search for locations anywhere on earth and display 3D aerial images of major cities and tourist attractions. Google Earth is in development, but a free beta version is available for home users. Locations can be searched by address, intersections, cities, zip codes or countries and the images can be zoomed in close enough to see streets and buildings.

The images generated are 3D - you can rotate the view to see different sides of an object. You can navigate using a mouse or the keyboard, and view selectable layers to display information about local features such as roads, terrain, schools or golf courses.

Images of 38 US cities can be viewed from “the ground up” allowing you to see 3D representations of buildings and terrain. Measurement functions include distances between two locations, perimeters, radius and area.

Search results can be saved, printed and emailed. Driving directions can be automatically generated and you can trace the route using the “Play” button located underneath the directions tab.

Google Earth is based on technology from Keyhole Corp., a digital mapping company acquired by Google in 2004. The database that drives Google Earth is based on images from satellite and airplane photographs. The database is said to be “multi-terabytes” in size.

Google Earth is available in several versions. The free version is for personal use. Google Earth Plus costs $20 and integrates data from your GPS device. Google Earth Pro costs $400 and is designed for businesses who need a research and collaboration tool. Finally, there is Google Earth Enterprise Solutions for on-site deployment of Google Earth.

The technology behind Google Earth is not new, and smaller companies such as GlobeXplorer LLC have been offering 3D aerial views for several years. Google has the marketing clout, however, to bring the technology to the consumer level and integrate it into its advertising programs.

Users can search for local businesses and receive a viewpoint of 10 search results within a specified area. Clicking on a business listing brings up its address, phone number and driving directions.

Copyright 2005 by Ross MacIver

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Spyware is a kind of software that monitors the different activities of a user, without his consent or knowledge. Spyware is a major threat and menace to your productivity as well as privacy. Many PC’s are affected with spyware and it greatly hampers their performance.

Spyware can spy on your personal information, the software installed in your computer and the web pages that you visit. Sometimes spyware can even hack your username and password. Spyware is a big menace for computer users but can be controlled with the use of spyware removal techniques.

Spyware can be present in any form of harmless program or software. The spyware is capable of sending information to the creators of the software or program without your consent.

Imagine the amount of damage that can be caused to you due to this unauthorized leakage of your personal information. A resent consumer study has found that around 80% of PC’s in the United States of America are infected with some kinds of spyware.

Another study has indicted that the IT managers rate spyware as the number one threat for networks.It is likely to happen that you yourself have infected your computer with spyware.

The free smileys and the cursor that you download from websites are most likely to contain spyware. Be very cautious about whatever you download from the online sites. Most free programs and downloads have spyware attached to them. It is highly unlikely that people read the contents of the different pop-ups appearing on their computer screens during downloads. Spyware distributors take into consideration this aspect and embed the spyware in such program.

Spyware puts your privacy at risk. Spyware has become a leading threat to personal computers and online privacy. Spyware interferes with normal functioning of your computer and send information about your online activities to spyware manufacturing companies.

Installation of spyware in our computer without your consent amounts to bad netiquette. It is netiquette to seek permission to use personal information of any kind for any purpose. Incorrect use of your personal information online can land you in trouble.

You can follow some common and simple steps to avoid spyware installation in your system. The basic rule for avoiding spyware is to practice safe surfing. Safe surfing ensures that you are not lured into doing anything, which you do not wish to do. Be very cautious while you are downloading any thing, as it is very difficult to tell what program contains sypware and what program does not. Many legitimate free download programs come with spyware embedded with them.

Install a good anti spyware software, such as XoftSpy, with advanced features in your computer. Do not forget to run your spyware protection every day. It is extremely important for you to read the license agreement terms and conditions very carefully, before you download anything. This can help you in preventing spyware installation in your computer. Spyware threat can greatly hamper your work and other activities.

Matt Garrett, www.XoftSpy.co.uk www.Internet-Privacy-Systems.com

Microsoft Word is one of the most powerful desktop publishing tools available on the planet and is incredibly feature rich yet because of its complexity, many features are often unused by Microsoft Word operators. One of the features that I do see under utilised is the AutoText function. The basic overview of AutoText is this, it allows you to recreate or insert common paragraphs into your documents by associating the paragraph to a key word. When you need to insert the paragraph into a document, you simply type in the keyword and then press the Enter key and it inserts the paragraph for you.

So why would this be important?

Well it is quite simple - it is going to save you time! If you work in the Financial Planning Industry, Legal Fraternity, the Banking Industry or any industry where you are required to enter key paragraphs into your documents on a regular basis that don’t change regularly then this tool will save you time and money.

For example, in Australia, Financial Planners are required to include in their letters of recommendation for investments certain disclaimers. These disclaimers are pretty much stock standard and really don’t change all that often. To overcome having to constantly rewrite these disclaimers, you could simply type them out once, then add them to the AutoText Store so that in the future, to add a disclaimer you simply type the name of the disclaimer and hit enter and it would be inserted into your letter. Using this method will ensure one of two advantages.

The first advantage of using this method is that you will ensure the disclaimers used are consistent with all the other letters you have written. The second advantage is that you can cut down on all that laborious typing.

The really cool part about the AutoText Function is that when you create your AutoText entries you don’t just insert the paragraph of text. You also include all the formatting that has been applied to the paragraph as well. So, if you have parts of the paragraph in italics or in a different color, then this formatting will be applied.

The AutoText function is a tool that will save you lots of time and money. It should be one of the tools that you are using regularly and incorporate into your templates.

Chris Le Roy is the Managing Director and Head Trainer of One-on-One Personal Computer Training which trains students from all over Australia and Overseas in utilising Microsoft Office, MYOB and QUICKBOOKS. If you would like to learn more about AutoText it is covered in his training manual Microsoft Word 2003 Level 2 which you can purchase at http://www.1-on-1.biz.

Microsoft Business Solutions Navision serves both European and American megamarkets. It was originally written by Denmark-based Navision Software in its own proprietary language C/SIDE (Client/Server Integrated Development Environment). Currently Navision is supported on two platforms - Navision native (C/SIDE) database and on Microsoft SQL Server. In this small article we would like to give you the clue on Navision integration with Microsoft Retail Management System - Microsoft RMS.

Legendary Strength of C/SIDE database - the history of Navision design reveals the primary goals to have its own proprietary database with the built-in features of database transaction integrity. As far as database is proprietary - Navision can manipulate its and tune it to serve its application. You can have users use the system heavily and suddenly shut down the power - when power is back on - Navision will be in the same good shap. The second goal was to provide robust graphical interface.

Microsoft RMS is SQL based application - this means that even C/ODBC is limited - Microsoft RMS is using alien database platform and we do not recommend you to use MS SQL linked server to address Navision native database. The good news is - you can deploy our custom integration tool, which imports transactions from MS RMS to native Navision Database.

If you use MS SQL Server as Navision platform? - then you are open for all Microsoft SQL Server tools, such as linked server and distributed query. You can deploy your own programmers to move data from RMS to Navision via Transact SQL scripts/stored procs

Additional things t consider:

Do you plan on Crystal Reports? - you can always deploy C/ODBC to enable your C/SIDE database for Crystal Report

Do you need OLAP/Datawarehousing? - if you use MS SQL Server - you are positioned better. It has built in Analytical Server with OLAP cube creation and Excel data pivoting

Do you plan to expose Navision data to other applications? - Navision has tools to expose the data from C/SIDE database (C/ODBC, C/FRONT), but in the case of SQL Server you certainly have standard Microsoft technologies in your disposition

Good luck in integration and if you have issues or concerns - we are here to help! If you want us to do the job - give us a call 1-866-528-0577! help@albaspectrum.com

About The Author

Andrew Karasev is Chief Technology Officer in Microsoft Business Solutions Partner: Alba Spectrum Technologies - USA nationwide Navision, Great Plains, Microsoft CRM customization company, based in Chicago, California, Arizona, Texas, Florida, New York, Georgia, Washington, Colorado, Canada, UK, Australia and having locations in multiple states and internationally (www.albaspectrum.com). You can contact Robert: welcome@albaspectrum.com.

akarasev@albaspectrum.com

Simply put, fleet maintenance allows companies to monitor and maintain their fleets of commercial vehicles more efficiently.

Fleet maintenance requires a great deal of organization and management skills. Thousands upon thousands of commercial vehicles travel U.S. roadways each day. Most of the companies that use vehicles for commercial purposes need a way to track and manage the various aspects of their usage. Managing maintenance and repairs, creating fueling budgets and monitoring other costs related to vehicle usage are a few of the responsibilities that rest upon the Fleet Maintenance Manager. Fortunately, fleet maintenance software can help.

Companies such as UPS and FedEx have hundreds of vans on route for delivery at all times of the day. Police departments need a way to manage and maintain their vehicles. County and city governments need to keep track of the whereabouts of their fleets at all times. In the past, especially during ‘pre-computer’ years, the task may have been slightly more complicated than it is today. With the many options for fleet management software available in today’s market, the duties of the fleet manager can be entered, tracked and maintained through high-tech software.

Fleet maintenance software is widely available to companies that need assistance with record keeping of their vehicles. Many of the products available are very user friendly and can certainly make the task of managing fleets less daunting. Most of the companies supplying fleet management software also understand that not everyone is a technical genius. For those who are less experienced with computer programs, many companies offer world-class customer support and are only a phone call away if assistance is needed. From maintaining parts inventory to organizing fleets in various locations, many managers are turning to fleet management software instead of the paper files and scribbled notes of the past.

Fleet Maintenance Software Info provides comprehensive information on fleet maintenance software, reviews and programs for commercial vehicles. Fleet Maintenance Software Info is the sister site of Preventive Maintenance Software Web.