SAN FRANCISCO - Online search engine leader Google Inc. is wedding its instant messaging and e-mail services in the same Web browser, hoping the convenience will lure users from the larger communications networks operated by its chief rivals.

SAN FRANCISCO - Family advocacy groups lauded Yahoo Inc. on Thursday for closing its chat rooms to clean up areas that allegedly were used to prey on children.

June 25, 2004

June 4, 2004

May 21, 2004

May 14, 2004

NEW YORK - Yahoo Inc. said Wednesday it will bar chat rooms that promote sex between minors and adults and restrict all chat rooms to users 18 and older.

SEATTLE - Microsoft Corp. is shutting down Internet chat services in most of its markets around the world and limiting the service in the United States to help reduce criminal solicitations of children through online discussions.

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Apple Computer Inc. released a new version of its iChat software Thursday so Macintosh users can now do video chats with America Online subscribers who have Windows-based PCs.

Q. How can I request a return receipt for email I send using Outlook Express?

Q. Is there any way to stop a document from printing once it starts? Sometimes I accidentally click the Print button by mistake and waste a lot of paper in the process.

Q. Even when I'm not using it, the light on my CD drive blinks every few seconds. Any idea what's going on?

Q. Sometimes when one Web site is taking forever to display, I'd like to be checking out another Web site. Is there a way to do that or can I only visit one site at a time? Robin, Phoenix.

October 12, 2004

Q. The little speaker icon disappeared from the bottom of my screen. How can I get that back?

Q. I know I can create filters for email to keep out x-rated and other inappropriate material, but is there such a thing as a filtered Internet service provider (ISP)? Crystal, Phoenix.

Amidst a gloomy batch of nominees – addressing themes such as lost love, sacrifice and coping with death – “Curfew” springs forth as a welcome jolt of energy to the live action shorts. The premise is fairly simple: a dejected young man gets a call from his estranged sister, asking that he look after his 9-year-old niece for a couple hours. What transpires is a droll, heartfelt and often tender story that explores forgiveness and discovering a renewed sense of purpose in one’s life.

Created by Arizona native Timothy Reckart, “Head Over Heels” puts an imaginative, whimsical twist on the tale of a married couple grown apart – he lives on the floor while she lives on the ceiling.

Q. I'm not very good using the mouse. Is there a way to use the keyboard instead of trying to click the little pictures on my computer to start programs?

Q. I've guarded my email address carefully, but somehow I still get spam. How the heck are spammers getting my email address?

Q. Once and for all, will you please explain the difference between RAM space and hard drive space?

Q. I'm having trouble printing Web pages. To try to track down the problem, I hooked my printer up to an old computer and everything printed okay, so I don't think the problem is with my printer. But when I try printing Web pages with my new computer, I just get partial pages or sometimes blank pages. Any idea what's going on? I'm using Internet Explorer and Windows 98.

Q. What should I do when I'm confronted with an "Illegal Operation" message?

Q. When I send email, I'd like to have my email address displayed along with just my first name, instead of my full name. How can I do that?