Free Search Bar Also Blocks Pop-Ups

YP.Com, a yellow pages Web site, has released a free Internet Explorer toolbar that performs searches across several engines and effectively blocks pop-ups.

The YP.Com Toolbar enables you to search with the same criteria through Google, eBay, Amazon, and other sites. The toolbar is available for download or from yp.com. It runs with Microsoft Windows XP and 2000.



When YP announced its toolbar, the company emphasized that it "is not spyware." But we at PC World knew we had to check it out.

I installed the toolbar and ran it with ZoneAlarm ready to report all suspicious Internet activity. I scanned my hard drive with freshly updated versions of Ad-aware and Spybot Search & Destroy. I examined how the installation program altered the Registry, and showed those changes to people more knowledgeable than me. I could find nothing suspicious.

Well, almost nothing. One disturbing fact: neither the program nor the company's Web site have a privacy statement. YP.Com Chief Technologist John Raven promises to post one, and offers this quick, verbal policy: "We implement no spyware and no cookie. We retain no information" on individual users. The company does save search information in aggregate (how many users search for this type of information, how many for that type, and so on).



So if YP.Com isn't charging for the toolbar or collecting personal information, and it blocks rather than displays advertising, what's in it for the company? The answer is promotion and name recognition. "We hope to attract traffic," Raven says.

And sure enough, the toolbar tries to direct you to YP.Com's own yellow pages site. Its first and most colorful button brings you right there. The Search button also takes you to YP.com. If you enter a word into the toolbar's search field and then click one of these two buttons, it will go to YP.com and insert that word into the page's Find field.

Other buttons and menu options bring similar results. If you select Google from the Search menu, for instance, you'll get the results of a Google search on your entered criteria. The eBay option will bring you auction items. Other options will search through various sites for books, photos, songs, or dictionary definitions.

Oddly enough, this search integration doesn't work for News. Click the News button, and you get the front page of USA Today, without reference to whatever you've put in the search field. That applies to all other sites on the News menu, such as CNN, BBC, and the Weather Channel.

If you prefer the New York Times to USA Today, you won't be getting your news through YP.Com; the menus aren't user-configurable. According to Raven, the sites listed are the ones users visit the most--and with names like Google and Amazon.com, it certainly is a who's who of Web success stories. But he also acknowledges that some of these sites are YP.Com business partners.



The best thing about the YP.Com Toolbar is the Pop-up Blocker. After all, we'd all prefer to search the site or sites of our choice without having our findings blocked by ads.

No blocker stops every type of pop-up, but this one proves surprisingly effective. (It even blocks the ads on PCWorld.com).

However, this only applies to users of Windows XP and 2000--in fact, the toolbar's installation rendered my Windows 98 test system thoroughly unusable. Raven confirms the program is compatible only with Windows 2000 and XP, but this is not mentioned on the Web site or in the installation routine.

On the other hand, uninstalling the YP.Com Toolbar is thorough--both with Windows XP and Windows 98. Removing it from the Windows 98 system completely solved the problem--a pleasant surprise. It's rare that uninstalling a program actually fixes the serious damage done by installing it.

AMD has produced processors capable

But around the end of the year, users can use a voltage to the processor. and comprehensive transition to 65nm probably need to wait until mid-2007. Just a few days ago, AMD in Dresden factory for Toralf Gueldner mail interview that AMD has produced processors capable of using 65nm process technology. But he hopes that xbitlabs Inquirer and the website can clarify, AMD output voltage products at the end of 2006 will be fully transferred to the medium-term to 2007. AMD 65nm process earlier than it has been tardy evolution, there is a strange phenomenon. Alt before the transition to 90nm and 90nm technology is the first to use mobile-class products. followed by desktop, and finally against the server processor. But this time AMD first output voltage Opteron dual core processor. Does this mean that AMD's 65nm process have confidence in ourselves?

AMD 65nm process confusing! Hao Lung end output

Intel Pentium D 9 series and the latest cool Rui two 65nm process technology have been adopted. AMD when many people are very concerned about the transition to 65nm technology. AMD senior at different occasions earlier, In October this year the company will formally output voltage processors. and the first batch of products Opteron processor series, but things seem to have changed recently. AMD 65nm processor samples has occurred (1) AMD recently general manager Dr Middle East region. Gaith Kadir, said in an interview in T-break website. AMD Opteron processor has already begun to 65nm technology transfer. and the Athlon 64 series will be in a few months later to follow up.

New low-end confrontation AMD TURION Merom T5200 release

Intel plans to introduce a low-end next month Merom mobile processor, Core 2 Duo T5200 models. AMD is the entry-level confrontation Turion 64 X2 processor. Retail started four Merom processor Intel T5200 has never appeared in the road map, but only to OEM manufacturers, not retail. Earlier in July, Intel launched the two have similar processors, Core Duo T2250/T2050 models, which also targets low-end mobile market. T5200 Intel 945 chipset to be available to replace the T2250/T2050. did not disclose their specifications, it is estimated that around 1.3-1.4GHz frequency, 667MHz front bus. 2MB L2 Cache. Core 2 Duo T5600 and T5500 prices of $ 241 and $ 209. it certainly will not be higher than $ 200 T5200.

AMD will introduce a new Socket AM3

New DDR3 512MB to 32GB memory density of the design, has already begun preliminary certification plans to start testing early next year, 2008 is fully commissioned. Intel plans to release in the third quarter of next year, codenamed Bearlake G + X and the two have Bearlake chipset. DDR3-1333 memory to provide support. AMD will introduce a new Socket AM3 interface to DDR3 issued unknown.

DDR3 SO-DIMM Federation

He dreams up earlier releases DDR3 SO-DIMM Federation of the electronic components industry (JEDEC), under the guidance of SimpleTech AMD and cooperation, common development, and identify DDR3 SDRAM RDIMM memory specifications to replace the current DDR2, AMD is responsible for the definition of technical specifications, in SimpleTech components, application support. According to the two new design Register PLL circuit chips and will be integrated in the same equipment, thereby reducing The overall memory consumption, the new mechanism will be fully applied communication signals.

AMD pushed to join the new AM3 DDR3 memory interface standard!

SimpleTech Inc. and AMD. Jointly announced that the two sides will cooperate in establishing DDR3 SDRAM memory module standards. SimpTech headquarters in California, is engaged in DRAM. SRAM and Flash memory business, such as listed companies, is the most comprehensive global supply flash memory products manufacturers, known in the industry.

CompoTech Gigabit NIC but have enjoyed ActiveAromr technology

This heat MOSFET switching circuits on the PCB can quickly spread to the Motherboard was quickly removed, the heat is designed to enhance the power supply circuit for a more stable. Although Qicaihong C.NF4X7-DS Pro-end positioning, However, the majority of gamers are concerned with the under-frequency is still full of effort, So you do not have to worry about the potential Unadvisable nowhere release of the 2500 +. A low-end 754 platform as the principal, people are looking forward to not only support the SLI technology. 8-channel high-fidelity sound effects, these exciting technology S-ATA II, Another DEBUG lights, solid capacitance, switching from the jumper sealed, strengthening - frequency design, etc. These subtle Qicaihong Department show that the high cost-style!

CPU power supply module is a meticulously designed to enhance the three

Each phase were separate modules for high-speed MOSFET Driver driven to the CPU to provide a stable, the purity of current ensure that the Motherboard on the use of high frequency CPU or CPU-frequency when the stable operation. Watch carefully for Fujitsu solid yellow capacitor capacitance. the use of high-temperature solid-state high-frequency capacitance can greatly enhance the system's stability, as well as improving - frequency capabilities, as is the current trend of high-end of the Motherboard.

CPU socket back backplane installation of a piece of high-strength, heat dissipation even use exaggeration equipment need not worry Motherboard Bending will be left behind. In addition, you may have noticed that a lot of CPU power supply design of the back part of the heat of the tin.

Jumper C.NF4X7-DS Pro using the sealed-free interconnection

Qicaihong the same two-card switching C.RD480-MVP Crossfire Motherboard, the Motherboard with a special piece of PCB, when customers use a single card, PCB will be inserted at the side of this deputy DA x16 vertical cell, the Motherboard can operate in standard single x16 PCI card; When using the two-chip, as long as there are two PCI x16 vertical cell inserted with a chip, the Motherboard x8+x8 mode will automatically switch to SLI mode. This design, saving the user the trouble Jumper, switching mode switching cards are more convenient than the traditional horizontal intelligent, and does not require special design switching circuit to control costs. 754 CPU does not support dual-channel memory interface. it is only natural for the two C.NF4X7-DS Pro memory vertical cell, the biggest support to 2G DDR400 memory. 1GB of memory alone now abound, so do not have to worry about two issues of expansion of the system memory limit.

But Qicaihong C.NF4X7-DS Pro Motherboard not only has the ability to form sealed

But the integration of high-end Motherboard have a Gigabit NIC, 8-channel high-fidelity audio chip, a mere 599 yuan at some incredible people, then to see this on the Motherboard in the end? Socket 754 interface, promised big piece of the Motherboard. The most striking about the two PCIE X16 is provided to support the SLI technology alluring. PCIE X16 chip vertical cell separated by only a two PCIE 1X location, although smaller spacing. But like chip components like this 6600GT,6800XT sealed or no problem, 6800U. SLI 7800GTX such heavyweight contestants who will not use it on the top 754 bars.

2500 + fresh fighting! Motherboard-frequency measured 754 SLI

Although two-card SLI CompoTech's Internet technology has gained. But there is still a long distance away from universal, which is the main reason for the price! Mid-and low-end users with the largest group, and 939 SLI platform users a high price limits the purchase enthusiasm. AMD currently the most popular CPU-Sempron 2500 + ones. With the ability to have an outstanding Unadvisable core Sempron 2500 + E6 frequentness the constant breakthroughs Its performance has been close to some of the classic 939 processor, the continuous price CompoTech six series chip, 754 platforms have sealed everything is ready except the Motherboard. But the 754 SLI Motherboard has issued price is very expensive. Cost high platform beyond the 754 line.