Houstonist Tech Buzz - 042207

Local tech news in a compact, digital format.

HelpLine: Outlook Freak Out
Jay Lee over at The Chronicle's HelpLine helps a reader who's Outlook email app is opening mulitple windows. Click here for the solution to this wacky reader debacle.

Ugliest Building in the World?
Someone placed a story on Digg about The Ugliest Building in the World. Yup, that's the Federal Reserve Bank Building on Allen Parkway. Ugly? Maybe, but Houstonist is just glad that they finally removed "Dallas" from the name on the front of the building.

Business/Personal Email
Small Business Q&A tells you what they think about personal emails on company time. Two big factors they consider are conveying the risks to employess and the possibility of intrusions to the company's network. Two legitimate concerns.

Memo to the City of Houston
Dwight Silverman has a message to Houston's Wi-Fi builders, beware censorware. This is due in part to Boston's wi-fi woes where an internet stalwart, BoingBoing had been blocked from their public wi-fi because their censorware said it contained, "material that does not comply" with Boston's Public Wifi ToS.

Computer Classes & Meetings
HAL-PC has upcoming classes. Web Surfing for Cowards on 4/23 and Word:Creative Writing on 4/26.
HAAUG - Welcome to the Tech Buzz Houston Area Apple Users Group, we'll catch up with you next month as we missed your EyeTV meeting yesterday.
HLUG has an upcoming regular meeting on the 28th of this month.
WordPress Meetup - The Houston WordPress Meetup has its monthly meeting on the 28th, 2pm at The Mucky Duck. If you are a WP user, come on out and say hello.

Closing Quick Tip: When using your laptop on public wifi connections be sure to turn your computers firewall on. This will help discourage "packet sniffers" and other unwanted wifi snoops. Also ensure that when entering credit card and other sensitive information the website you are using is secure and there is a locked padlock icon at the bottom right corner of your browser window.

That's it for the Houstonist Tech Buzz. Surf safe and surf smart, Houston. Remember if you have an item you'd like covered, drop us an email or leave a comment.