The lowdown on multifunction drives
<b>What are they?</b> As the name implies, multifunction drives perform more than one function, such as read, write and rewrite, so rewritable DVD drives, CD-R/RW drives and CD-RW/DVDs are multifunction drives.
Drive time
Rewritable DVD drives are on their way to becoming indispensable tools for PC users. It won't be long until they replace rewritable CD drives.
The lowdown on tablet PC
<b>What is it?</b> A tablet PC is a combination of an ultraportable notebook PC and pen-based tablet computer'with or without a keyboard'running Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition and supporting wireless connections.
Write on
You've probably heard about tablet PCs, but you might not have seen one yet.
There is one benefit to the tech slowdown: fewer glitches
Microsoft Corp. recently established yet another trend by declaring a hiatus on future software production while the company concentrates on fixing all the bugs in its current assortment of programs.
GAO blasts agencies for profiting on interagency contracts
Agencies using governmentwide acquisition contracts'especially those that buy goods or services through the General Services Administration's schedule contracts'often get taken to the cleaners on fees, the General Accounting Office reported yesterday.
Commerce OKs new hashing standard for message authentication
The Commerce Department has approved a new secure hashing standard that adds three algorithms to produce longer hashes'or message digests'for digital signatures and message authentication.
Suit calls PTO systems flawed
Charging that the Patent and Trademark Office's databases are riddled with errors, the National Intellectual Property Researchers Association yesterday filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia to stop the phasing out of paper patent and trademark records.
GAO sides with Navy in dispute over networked warships buy
The General Accounting Office has upheld a Navy decision to award Northrop Grumman Corp. a $2.9 billion contract to design smart destroyers.
Air Force's chief of staff urges integration
The Air Force's chief today told his systems underlings to stop acting like members of a tribe and more like members of an integrated team.
Defense, NASA and NOAA award $4.5 billion satellite pact
A trio of agencies last Friday awarded a $4.5 billion contract to TRW Inc. to build a satellite system that will combine defense and environmental missions.
OMB revises geospatial-systems circular
The Office of Management and Budget last week released a revised OMB Circular A-16 that sets new guidelines for agencies that collect spatial data.
The week's top stories forAug. 19 through Aug. 23
<p><a href="http://www.gcn.com/vol1_no1/daily-updates/19792-1.html">War college calls a digital Pearl Harbor doable</a><p><a href="http://www.gcn.com/vol1_no1/daily-updates/19754-1.html">IBM to build wireless safety network for Washington area</a><p><a href="http://www.gcn.com/vol1_no1/daily-updates/19730-1.html">GSA awards $36 million contract for online procurement system</a><p><a href="http://www.gcn.com/vol1_no1/daily-updates/19712-1.html">Homeland security chiefs outline IT requirements</a><p><a href="http://www.gcn.com/vol1_no1/daily-updates/19710-1.html">IBM's AIX wins DII COE certification</a><p>
Packet Rat: The Rat's boss prepares to take aim
As he arrived in San Francisco for LinuxWorld Expo via government-approved live freight, the Rat sensed enthusiasm waning all around him.
'Did you hear...'
<b>Moon trees are missing.</b> NASA's Apollo 14 astronauts carried hundreds of tree seeds in their spacesuits when they visited the lunar surface in 1971. The seeds came back to Earth for Forest Service planting. NASA is trying to find locations of the 26-year-old Douglas fir, loblolly pine, redwood, sweet gum and sycamore seedlings. E-mail <a href= "mailto:dwilliam@nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov">dwilliam@nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov</a>. See known sites at <a href= "http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/moon_tree.html">nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/moon_tree.html</a>.
LCD-like wall display accepts mouse clicks from markers
An $11,825, 60-inch electronic Wall Display from 3M Co. plugs into a notebook or desktop PC and acts as a giant monitor on which users can create or edit documents, presentations and spreadsheets. They write directly on the glass with colored dry-erase markers or tap the screen with a blank marker to pull down menus and select items.
IT pros link up for charity
The pros on the links at Westwood Country Club in Vienna, Va., this month'IT pros, that is'aren't going to challenge Tiger Woods or Karrie Webb, but they made their shots count at Women in Technology's Third Annual Golf Tournament.
People on the Move
<b>Don L. Durham</b>, who has received many awards during 31 years of government service, is retiring as deputy technical director of the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command.He will become chief executive officer of Innovative Strategic Advanced Systems of New Orleans.
Thrift postpones online system start
The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board has again delayed the rollout of the Thrift Savings Plan's record-keeping system.
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