By Dennis O’Reilly Adding Ian “Gizmo” Richards to the top of the Windows Secrets roster puts the Web’s best software reviews, tips, and Windows news in a single spot. Whether you subscribe for free or for pay, this is the place to look each week for the information you need to keep your PC humming.

Ramping up the software reviews

Since the late 1990s, Ian “Gizmo” Richards has been dispensing Windows news, tech tips, and software reviews in his Support Alert Newsletter. Beginning next week, that publication will be combined with Windows Secrets to create one of the most widely read Windows resources anywhere.



Gizmo’s popularity is due to more than simply the great information he has published in his newsletters. He connects with readers in a unique way, as evidenced in the missive we received from J.D. Hamilton.

• “Mr. Richards, I stumbled upon a link to your newsletter a couple years ago. As an old (amateur) DOS hand (that had to be dragged, kicking and screaming, into the Windows environment), I have learned quite a lot from your newsletter and have found many of the utilities you’ve reviewed to be extremely helpful.
  
  “I have had several friends ask me for help with their systems, and thanks to you, I’ve been able to be of assistance. So much so that those I’ve helped often want to give me money! I figure that I’ve been given around $100 so far. So I will be mailing you a check for $100 toward a lifetime subscription.
  
  “Thanks again, and BRAVO! to the editor(s) of Windows Secrets. I’m looking forward to reading your half of the newsletter. If Gizmo is associating with you, you must be good. I can’t wait to see your half of the publication!”
  

While Gizmo’s software reviews will appear only in alternate issues of the new combined newsletter, his influence will be felt elsewhere in the publication as we jack up the number of hands-on evaluations of software and services.

In addition, the Windows Secrets site will soon add all the reviews, tips, and other articles from past Support Alert Newsletters.

What you get for free, what you get for a fee

Like Windows Secrets, the Support Alert Newsletter has always offered some articles for free and made other content available only for a fee. But as Bill Todd points out, it’s not always clear which Windows Secrets articles are available to everyone, and which are restricted.

• “It’s really annoying to follow a link only to find out that it’s paid rather than free content. Gizmo always made it clear which was which beforehand — you should, too.”
  

Our library pages, which show a summary of previously posted articles, indicate the titles of paid content with symbol of a gold circle. (On that page, click the plus sign to the left of “Summaries” to see which articles are free content and which are paid.) The image looks as follows:

When you use our site’s search engine to look for particular articles, such as a search on xp sp3, the golden symbol also shows the distinction.

We added the indicator just this week to the permalinks at the bottom of recently posted articles, such as the July 10 lead story on TechSpot and Google. Thanks for pointing out that this needed to be fixed!

Cleaning up after Microsoft’s latest update fiasco

Last week was a Patch Tuesday that many ZoneAlarm users will remember for quite some time. That’s because a Windows security update caused people using Check Point’s firewall program to lose their Internet connection. As Jim Penrose found out, the fix was anything but straightforward.

• “The article in today’s Windows Secrets about the new MSoft patch mucking up ZoneAlarm just earned every penny I paid for my sub. Thank you. This problem hit me yesterday and really had me P.O.’d.
  
  “You offer one of the most content-rich newsletters I get, and it’s always one of the first things I read when it hits my inbox. Once again, thank you for saving me hours of work trying to solve this problem.”
  

Google alternative keeps your searches private

Finally, Ken Sommers alerts us to a more secure way to search the Web.

• “My favorite search engine, ixquick, has just been awarded the first privacy certification issued by the EU. Ixquick is a metasearch engine that provides a small number of focused hits.
  
  “The home page has long had a link to their privacy policy, which states that they do not save searchers’ information. The recently issued certificate backs up that claim.”
  

It’s good to be reminded now and then that there’s more than one way to search the Web.

Readers J.D., Jim, Bill, and Ken will each receive a gift certificate for a book, CD, or DVD of their choice for sending tips we printed. Send us your tips via the Windows Secrets contact page.

The Known Issues column brings you readers’ comments on our recent articles. Dennis O’Reilly is technical editor of WindowsSecrets.com.

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