Electronics Now articles from August 1998

Electronics Now archives from August 1998

I object. (antitrust lawsuits against Microsoft for bundling its Internet Explorer in Windows 98)(Editorial)
August 1, 1998... Before I start, let me make one thing clear: I am not a real big fan of Microsoft. So, you can imagine how surprised I am to find myself defending them in this space. Then again, since I am defending them against the government, well... Our...

Olympus P-300 Personal Photo Printer.
August 1, 1998... Getting quality photographic prints from your digital camera has never been easier, or less expensive. Until recently, digital photography has always been a promising technology, but one that was full of compromises. For one thing, the...

XML update, C++ builder, and more. (Extensible Markup Language)(Computer Connections)
August 1, 1998... I gave a pretty tight overview of XML last month, and didn't provide any references for further study. I'll try to correct that deficiency now; in addition, I've since run across a few more resources that can help flesh out the details. The...

The National Lightning Detection Network(Prototype: A Look at Tomorrow's Technology)
August 1, 1998... Whether it involves building new electric-power distribution lines, forecasting weather, planning military-training exercises, or establishing responsibility for damage, detailed information on lightning-strike activity can be important. That...

Common CD-player/CD-ROM problems and cures.
August 1, 1998... Last time, we did some general maintenance tasks such as cleaning and lubrication. In many cases, that might be enough to restore your player or drive to normal operation. This month, we'll turn our attention to what to do when such general...

Build a super-sensitive heat detector.
August 1, 1998... Measuring and sensing temperature has resulted in many different methods and devices. While some of the solutions developed meet certain requirements such as temperature range and accuracy, most have some sort of characteristic that makes them...

Build a telephone-usage monitor and controller.
August 1, 1998... Keep a running record of every telephone call placed or received, or even control other devices with a simple telephone call! Perhaps you have a small business in your house. If so, you probably need to keep a log of your telephone expenses....

Make your own shunts! (shunt resistor)
August 1, 1998... While they might not be as accurate as the commercial units, these easy-to-make shunts are more than sufficient for many uses, and cost far less. Using a modern multimeter to measure current can sometimes be difficult. Many of these meters...

What's new in solar power.
August 1, 1998... "Building-Integrated Photovoltaic" Systems and the "Million Solar-Roof Initiative" are two reasons why your next home might be powered by the Sun. Many homeowners have thought about going to solar power, but up to now might have been turned...

Alternate power sources for cars, one-chip line-powered supplies, and more.
August 1, 1998... Let's start this month with a quick question: which is more efficient - a heat engine or a fuel cell? Before you answer, note that the folks at popper engineering magazine report that the latest power plants are approaching a stunning 60%...