It's almost that time of year. Its only about a week away.
No, I am not talking about the Rose Bowl, Super Bowl, or any other bowl, for that matter. No, I am talking about the biggest event in consumer technology...the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. The 2006 show will be held on January 5-8 in several locations including the huge Las Vegas Convention Center. Over 130,000 people are expected.
As I have written before, the merger of entertainment and consumer devices with the world of computers has made CES the biggest show of its kind, supplanting Comdex, and for that matter, putting the Comdex folks out of business. Over the years, I attended several Comdex shows in Las Vegas and always looked forward to it. But, I have never been to CES and wish I could do so.
We will have more info about the new products that will be shown this year when the show gets underway. But if you would like to have a preview of some of the expected products, head over to the PC Magazine web site and check out some of the neat new products (or as my wife calls it, "boys with their toys"). There are some great new goodies coming our way.
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Inside Windows Vista
The latest test version of the next Windows operating system, called "Vista" is now being installed and used by a large group of Windows beta testers around the world. Microsoft's goal is to release the final version of Vista sometime in the second half of 2006.
PC Magazine has put together a visual slide show of some of the software's newest features. If you would like to see some of the new features, head on over to their website. It is worth the trip.
PC Magazine has put together a visual slide show of some of the software's newest features. If you would like to see some of the new features, head on over to their website. It is worth the trip.
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
When Must You Buy a Digital TV?
Many thanks to one of my faithful readers for writing me a very timely and pertinent question recently about television. Specifically, he wanted to know how long does he have before he must go out and purchase a digital TV because his old analog set will be rendered obsolete by order of Congress?
A good question, I thought at the time, as the date has been moved back several times. So, I found the answer and shared it with him. But the question and answer are important enough that I thought I would share it with you all. But first, a little background.
In 1997, Congress passed a law that stipulated that analog television signals would have be cut off on Dec. 31, 2006, or when 85 percent of households are capable of receiving digital signals, whichever arrived sooner. Obviously, we are not yet near that figure and will probably not be one year from now. The government wants to deploy part of the band that currently carry analog signals to police, fire and other emergency communications...And also for wireless communications.
Analog TV signals currently use the 700MHz frequency band, meaning that by nature, they travel farther than those on bands used by the wireless and electronics industries today. Reusing that spectrum could mean easier and cheaper deployment of broadband networks, and translate to more affordable, widespread high-speed Internet access for consumers.
Digital transmission of TV signals also means a better quality TV signal, especially when tied in with high definition TV. But, again all of this means purchasing a new digital-ready TV set. But, you ask, what is the current date that we must all have one of the these new-fangled TV's in our homes.
The answer to that question is now February 18, 2009 (or will shortly be, anyway). The new date is part of a larger bill covering Medicaid and drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge that has been OK'd by the Senate and will move over for President Bush's signature after final approval by the House.
But before you go putting that date on your calendar, you should know that this date only effects people who get their TV signals over the airwaves. It does not affect the majority of us folks who get our TV via cable or satellite. Households that already rely solely on cable or satellite broadcasting should not have to make any changes. Satellite services, such as DirectTV, are already capable of converting signals, and most cable companies intend a seamless transition, such as re-engineering their signals at the source, so that no extra home hardware is necessary.
FCC rules require all television sets and other TV receivers on the market to contain digital tuners by March 1, 2007. Short of buying a new digital-ready television, consumers who get their TV over-the-air can opt for a digital-to-analog converter box, which manufacturers estimate will cost about $50 by 2009.
A good question, I thought at the time, as the date has been moved back several times. So, I found the answer and shared it with him. But the question and answer are important enough that I thought I would share it with you all. But first, a little background.
In 1997, Congress passed a law that stipulated that analog television signals would have be cut off on Dec. 31, 2006, or when 85 percent of households are capable of receiving digital signals, whichever arrived sooner. Obviously, we are not yet near that figure and will probably not be one year from now. The government wants to deploy part of the band that currently carry analog signals to police, fire and other emergency communications...And also for wireless communications.
Analog TV signals currently use the 700MHz frequency band, meaning that by nature, they travel farther than those on bands used by the wireless and electronics industries today. Reusing that spectrum could mean easier and cheaper deployment of broadband networks, and translate to more affordable, widespread high-speed Internet access for consumers.
Digital transmission of TV signals also means a better quality TV signal, especially when tied in with high definition TV. But, again all of this means purchasing a new digital-ready TV set. But, you ask, what is the current date that we must all have one of the these new-fangled TV's in our homes.
The answer to that question is now February 18, 2009 (or will shortly be, anyway). The new date is part of a larger bill covering Medicaid and drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge that has been OK'd by the Senate and will move over for President Bush's signature after final approval by the House.
But before you go putting that date on your calendar, you should know that this date only effects people who get their TV signals over the airwaves. It does not affect the majority of us folks who get our TV via cable or satellite. Households that already rely solely on cable or satellite broadcasting should not have to make any changes. Satellite services, such as DirectTV, are already capable of converting signals, and most cable companies intend a seamless transition, such as re-engineering their signals at the source, so that no extra home hardware is necessary.
FCC rules require all television sets and other TV receivers on the market to contain digital tuners by March 1, 2007. Short of buying a new digital-ready television, consumers who get their TV over-the-air can opt for a digital-to-analog converter box, which manufacturers estimate will cost about $50 by 2009.
The approved Senate package would also dispense up to $1.5 billion in government subsidies to households, which may request up to two $40 vouchers to use toward purchasing set-top boxes.
The bottom line is that for most of us, it looks like we don't have to run right out and buy a new TV for quite some time, although it sure is tempting when I see a football game being shown on a high definition TV.
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Friday, December 23, 2005
France About to Legalize Downloading Copyrighted Materials
Have you ever noticed how the French like to snub their noses at people and things? Usually it is at the United States and Americans, especially those Americans visiting their country. Now, it seems the French are about to snub their collective noses at a new, more specific target...the entertainment world.
France is about to become the first country to pass a law broadly permitting free downloads of copyright content from the Internet for private use. In a move that could thwart the entertainment industry's attempts to seek legal sanctions for copyright violations, French Parliament members voted 30 to 28 this week to accept an amendment proposing such a move.
The amendment is attached to a broader copyright law proposal. It reads, "Authors cannot forbid the reproductions of works that are made on any format from an online communication service when they are intended to be used privately and when they do not imply commercial means directly or indirectly."
In short, that language could open the way to the legalization of “peer-to-peer” downloading of copyright music and movies in the nation of about 8 million Net users. Under French copyright law, there's a concept called private copy, which permits people to make copies of content for themselves or their friends. Lately, there is a huge debate whether or not “private copy” includes downloaded content on the Internet. This new bill and its attached amendment, if passed, will clear this up.
The music and film industries in America and around the world are up in arms about this already and are marshalling all their forces to defeat the bill, and if necessary, tie it up for years in the French legal system.
More when it happens.
PS - If you are signed up to get this blog via e-mail and you haven't been getting them in the last few days, there may be a problem with our Googlegroups delivery system. If you get this one, be sure and go online to see any that you might have missed.
http://jcorkrum.blogspot.com
France is about to become the first country to pass a law broadly permitting free downloads of copyright content from the Internet for private use. In a move that could thwart the entertainment industry's attempts to seek legal sanctions for copyright violations, French Parliament members voted 30 to 28 this week to accept an amendment proposing such a move.
The amendment is attached to a broader copyright law proposal. It reads, "Authors cannot forbid the reproductions of works that are made on any format from an online communication service when they are intended to be used privately and when they do not imply commercial means directly or indirectly."
In short, that language could open the way to the legalization of “peer-to-peer” downloading of copyright music and movies in the nation of about 8 million Net users. Under French copyright law, there's a concept called private copy, which permits people to make copies of content for themselves or their friends. Lately, there is a huge debate whether or not “private copy” includes downloaded content on the Internet. This new bill and its attached amendment, if passed, will clear this up.
The music and film industries in America and around the world are up in arms about this already and are marshalling all their forces to defeat the bill, and if necessary, tie it up for years in the French legal system.
More when it happens.
PS - If you are signed up to get this blog via e-mail and you haven't been getting them in the last few days, there may be a problem with our Googlegroups delivery system. If you get this one, be sure and go online to see any that you might have missed.
http://jcorkrum.blogspot.com
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Christmas Brings New Security Threats
If you use instant messaging on your computer, specifically instant messaging from AOL, MSN, Windows Messenger, ICQ or Yahoo, you need to be aware of a new, Christmas-themed worm attack that is now underway. And, as we have been warning, it is in the form of a rootkit attack.
The worm, identified as IM.GiftCom.All, attempts to trick users into clicking on a malicious URL. The link lures the target into visiting a harmless Santa Claus Web site, but actually installs a rootkit payload to the victim's machine. The rootkit payload is often named gift.com and when executed, hides itself on the user's system, attempts to shutdown desktop anti-virus software and starts collecting the infected user's information for broadcast over the Internet. Once a machine becomes infected, the worm takes control of the user's buddy list and broadcasts itself to all available recipients.
Using Christmas themes as a lure for scams, worms, viruses and phishing scams is not new. In fact, researchers warn that Christmas 2005 will be the worst year ever. Last year there were 8,829 different phishing campaigns in December. Look for much more this year. The real problem with phishing e-mail is that they look like e-mail that you would expect to receive during this time of year.
In one example this year, scammers crafted an e-mail that looks like it came from eBay. The mail announces, "Christmas is coming!" and encourages recipients to click on a link to "www.ebaychristmas.net" for advice on "seasonal selling." Though they appear legitimate, the e-mail message and the Web site are fraudulent.
Security experts have also warned of malicious software that can pose as an electronic Christmas card, like last year's Zafi pest. They advise consumers not to open e-mail attachments and to send friends Christmas greetings in plain text or via traditional mail.
You have been warned!
The worm, identified as IM.GiftCom.All, attempts to trick users into clicking on a malicious URL. The link lures the target into visiting a harmless Santa Claus Web site, but actually installs a rootkit payload to the victim's machine. The rootkit payload is often named gift.com and when executed, hides itself on the user's system, attempts to shutdown desktop anti-virus software and starts collecting the infected user's information for broadcast over the Internet. Once a machine becomes infected, the worm takes control of the user's buddy list and broadcasts itself to all available recipients.
Using Christmas themes as a lure for scams, worms, viruses and phishing scams is not new. In fact, researchers warn that Christmas 2005 will be the worst year ever. Last year there were 8,829 different phishing campaigns in December. Look for much more this year. The real problem with phishing e-mail is that they look like e-mail that you would expect to receive during this time of year.
In one example this year, scammers crafted an e-mail that looks like it came from eBay. The mail announces, "Christmas is coming!" and encourages recipients to click on a link to "www.ebaychristmas.net" for advice on "seasonal selling." Though they appear legitimate, the e-mail message and the Web site are fraudulent.
Security experts have also warned of malicious software that can pose as an electronic Christmas card, like last year's Zafi pest. They advise consumers not to open e-mail attachments and to send friends Christmas greetings in plain text or via traditional mail.
You have been warned!
Monday, December 19, 2005
Winter and Holiday Photography Tips
I am still suffering with a real nasty winter cold, so again today I am going to let others do most of the talking. I came across a couple of interesting articles on the cameraworld.com web site that may help you take better holiday pictures and tips on handling your camera in cold weather.
The first article is about taking pictures of holiday lights. I found it informative and it may give you some tips for shooting your Christmas tree and the lights on your house (or your neighbors). It is worth a read.
The second article is about the special precautions you should use to handle your camera when shooting outside during winter. The only thing it didn't really cover was photographing snow scenes. Because snow is so bright, it can fool the camera's automatic exposure meter so that snow pictures have a more grayish cast than white. Here are two examples I shot just the other day that exhibit this point.
The first picture shows a winter scene using automatic exposure. The second picture was shot by changing from automatic exposure to a special a special setting on my camera for snow. Neither picture was touched up, except for sharpening.
Many digital cameras have special settings to cover different kinds of photography conditions. You should check and see if your camera has a special setting for snow, then use it when you have to. On my camera, the snow setting increases the exposure by 1/3 of a stop and sets the white balance to 6000K.
As for shooting Christmas lights, my camera also has a special setting for shooting night scenes. But, I also experimented with automatic and manual settings and found that I could pretty much get the same shots without the special setting. If you would like to see a few examples of some of my night Christmas light photos taken around town, check out my web site.
Of course, they were all taken with my camera mounted on a tripod. If you don't have a tripod, you can set your camera on a small bean-bag to give it stability. Low light night time shots always require a shutter speed that is too slow to hand-hold.
The first article is about taking pictures of holiday lights. I found it informative and it may give you some tips for shooting your Christmas tree and the lights on your house (or your neighbors). It is worth a read.
The second article is about the special precautions you should use to handle your camera when shooting outside during winter. The only thing it didn't really cover was photographing snow scenes. Because snow is so bright, it can fool the camera's automatic exposure meter so that snow pictures have a more grayish cast than white. Here are two examples I shot just the other day that exhibit this point.
The first picture shows a winter scene using automatic exposure. The second picture was shot by changing from automatic exposure to a special a special setting on my camera for snow. Neither picture was touched up, except for sharpening.
Many digital cameras have special settings to cover different kinds of photography conditions. You should check and see if your camera has a special setting for snow, then use it when you have to. On my camera, the snow setting increases the exposure by 1/3 of a stop and sets the white balance to 6000K.
As for shooting Christmas lights, my camera also has a special setting for shooting night scenes. But, I also experimented with automatic and manual settings and found that I could pretty much get the same shots without the special setting. If you would like to see a few examples of some of my night Christmas light photos taken around town, check out my web site.
Of course, they were all taken with my camera mounted on a tripod. If you don't have a tripod, you can set your camera on a small bean-bag to give it stability. Low light night time shots always require a shutter speed that is too slow to hand-hold.
Sunday, December 18, 2005
More on Rootkits
As I am feeling under the weather this weekend, I am going to let someone else do my talking for me. The subject, which have talked about before here, is rootkits. This type of malicious software designed to run undetected in your computer, is on this rise. In fact, Microsoft says that 20% of all the problems they deal with are caused by rootkits.
Here is the definition of rootkit from Wikepedia:
A rootkit is a type of malicious software that is activated each time your system boots up. Rootkits are difficult to detect because they are activated before your system's Operating System has completely booted up. A rootkit often allows the installation of hidden files, processes, hidden user accounts, and more in the systems.
The use of rootkits by hackers and spyware vendor is only going to get worse. Many of the spyware detector software programs are beginning to add rootkit detection technology to their products.
A well informed technical expert by the name of Suzi Turner has been writing a blog about spyware and rootkits for sometime now. I suggest you read one of her latest blogs entitled "Rootkits Rising," then if you find the subject matter of value, click on some of her latest blog entries. You will find her interesting and passionate about the subject.
Here is the definition of rootkit from Wikepedia:
A rootkit is a type of malicious software that is activated each time your system boots up. Rootkits are difficult to detect because they are activated before your system's Operating System has completely booted up. A rootkit often allows the installation of hidden files, processes, hidden user accounts, and more in the systems.
The use of rootkits by hackers and spyware vendor is only going to get worse. Many of the spyware detector software programs are beginning to add rootkit detection technology to their products.
A well informed technical expert by the name of Suzi Turner has been writing a blog about spyware and rootkits for sometime now. I suggest you read one of her latest blogs entitled "Rootkits Rising," then if you find the subject matter of value, click on some of her latest blog entries. You will find her interesting and passionate about the subject.
Friday, December 16, 2005
Understanding Battery Types
Not to long ago, I did some research into batteries as I was about to purchase a flash unit for my digital camera. My flash unit takes four AA batteries and I was looking to find out whether I should consider buying rechargeable batteries or just use high quality alkaline batteries that are disposed of after use. I thought I would share some of my research with you.
Disposable Batteries
Alkaline - They last the longest and you can usually find them on sale someplace. Personally, I have had the best luck with the Duracell brand as they seem to last much longer than other brands. There is also the Duracell Ultra, which is more expensive, but, in my experience, does last longer than the regular Duracell alkaline. But, if you are using something like a photo flash on a regular basis, using disposable batteries may get too expensive and may not be the best solution (see below).
Lithium - These batteries are the most powerful batteries you can get, but they are expensive, and they are toxic so you can't just throw them in the trash. (You're supposed to take them to your community's hazardous waste facility.) They're great for devices that use the 9Volt size, since they'll last a long time (10 years in smoke detectors). Don't confuse these with Lithium Ion batteries that are used in cell phones and laptops.
Heavy Duty - Also known as General Purpose batteries. These are Carbon Zinc & Zinc Chloride batteries. They're misnamed as they don't last very long and Carbon Zincs are very susceptible to leaking. Avoid these.
Recharageable Batteries
Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) - Bottom line: these are the best all around rechargeable batteries that you can buy today. Don't confuse these batteries with the Nickel-Cadmium (NiCad) type (which I did at first). NiMH replaced NiCad in the rechargeable battery world. NiMH's have much higher capacity than NiCd's and don't suffer from memory effect (see below) . NiMH's are excellent all-around batteries but they have a high self-discharge rate (great for digital cameras, flashes, and portable radios), but they go dead after a few months even if you don't use them, so they're not good for things like emergency flashlights or smoke detectors.
Nickel-Cadmium (NiCad) - As mentioned above, these are now obsolete and suffer from memory loss if you recharge them before fully discharging the battery. Memory loss means that a full charge will not last as long as it once did.
Lithium Ion - As already mentioned, these are excellent, long life batteries that used in cell phones and laptop computers. They do not come in regular sizes such AA, AAA, C, D, and ( Volt radio batteries.
Rechargeable Alkaline - These batteries can't be recharged nearly as many times as NiMH or even NiCad. They also can't be used in high-drain devices like digital cameras, and their capacity drops every time they're charged. But they're fine if you need a rechargeable that puts out more voltage than an NiMH.
Price Considerations
In my case, I chose to go with NiMH rechargeable batteries, based on cost and from reading what other photographers had to say about my particular flash unit. Not only would these batteries last a long time, they will bring my flash unit back to full charge in only one second...Much faster than regular alkaline batteries. When I found out that I could buy 4 rechargeable AA batteries for $2.50 each, that clinched it for me.
After reading other reviews of different batteries brands, I chose the PowerEx 2500 MAh battery made by Maha, the best and longest life battery they make. Of course, I had to buy a charger for the batteries which is a little more expensive. Again, after some research I chose the Powerex C-204W charger. I purchased a package deal with 8 batteries and a charger for $44.95 from Thomas Distributing. The charger not only charges batteries, but reconditions older batteries.
So far, my new batteries are still running strong in my flash unit. With 8 fully charge batteries, I should have no worries about running out of flash power when photographing weddings. I plan to buy more for other appliances that use AA batteries.
I hope my experiences and research can be of some benefit to you.
Disposable Batteries
Alkaline - They last the longest and you can usually find them on sale someplace. Personally, I have had the best luck with the Duracell brand as they seem to last much longer than other brands. There is also the Duracell Ultra, which is more expensive, but, in my experience, does last longer than the regular Duracell alkaline. But, if you are using something like a photo flash on a regular basis, using disposable batteries may get too expensive and may not be the best solution (see below).
Lithium - These batteries are the most powerful batteries you can get, but they are expensive, and they are toxic so you can't just throw them in the trash. (You're supposed to take them to your community's hazardous waste facility.) They're great for devices that use the 9Volt size, since they'll last a long time (10 years in smoke detectors). Don't confuse these with Lithium Ion batteries that are used in cell phones and laptops.
Heavy Duty - Also known as General Purpose batteries. These are Carbon Zinc & Zinc Chloride batteries. They're misnamed as they don't last very long and Carbon Zincs are very susceptible to leaking. Avoid these.
Recharageable Batteries
Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) - Bottom line: these are the best all around rechargeable batteries that you can buy today. Don't confuse these batteries with the Nickel-Cadmium (NiCad) type (which I did at first). NiMH replaced NiCad in the rechargeable battery world. NiMH's have much higher capacity than NiCd's and don't suffer from memory effect (see below) . NiMH's are excellent all-around batteries but they have a high self-discharge rate (great for digital cameras, flashes, and portable radios), but they go dead after a few months even if you don't use them, so they're not good for things like emergency flashlights or smoke detectors.
Nickel-Cadmium (NiCad) - As mentioned above, these are now obsolete and suffer from memory loss if you recharge them before fully discharging the battery. Memory loss means that a full charge will not last as long as it once did.
Lithium Ion - As already mentioned, these are excellent, long life batteries that used in cell phones and laptop computers. They do not come in regular sizes such AA, AAA, C, D, and ( Volt radio batteries.
Rechargeable Alkaline - These batteries can't be recharged nearly as many times as NiMH or even NiCad. They also can't be used in high-drain devices like digital cameras, and their capacity drops every time they're charged. But they're fine if you need a rechargeable that puts out more voltage than an NiMH.
Price Considerations
In my case, I chose to go with NiMH rechargeable batteries, based on cost and from reading what other photographers had to say about my particular flash unit. Not only would these batteries last a long time, they will bring my flash unit back to full charge in only one second...Much faster than regular alkaline batteries. When I found out that I could buy 4 rechargeable AA batteries for $2.50 each, that clinched it for me.
After reading other reviews of different batteries brands, I chose the PowerEx 2500 MAh battery made by Maha, the best and longest life battery they make. Of course, I had to buy a charger for the batteries which is a little more expensive. Again, after some research I chose the Powerex C-204W charger. I purchased a package deal with 8 batteries and a charger for $44.95 from Thomas Distributing. The charger not only charges batteries, but reconditions older batteries.
So far, my new batteries are still running strong in my flash unit. With 8 fully charge batteries, I should have no worries about running out of flash power when photographing weddings. I plan to buy more for other appliances that use AA batteries.
I hope my experiences and research can be of some benefit to you.
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Update on DHL Blog
Since I told you most of the story about my shipping experiences with DHL, I thought I better finish the story.
My package finally arrived on Monday afternoon, a full seven days after it was shipped. It took four days to get to Washington State (Chehalis) and another three days to get from there to my "local" DHL office in Spokane. From there, DHL gave it to a contract delivery person (a nice guy driving a mini van) on Monday morning and he made it to my house that afternoon.
What was also interesting that this same person, who also contracts out to other shippers, also delivered another package that was shipped via Airborne Standard Service that was shipped from Georgia two days later than the DHL package which was sent via DHL Two Day Express .
The company that shipped my product via DHL has now refunded my credit card the amount between standard shipping and two day express. They handled the matter quickly and efficiently after I reported that the DHL package had finally arrived.
There you have it...The rest of the story. (Apologies to Paul Harvey)
My package finally arrived on Monday afternoon, a full seven days after it was shipped. It took four days to get to Washington State (Chehalis) and another three days to get from there to my "local" DHL office in Spokane. From there, DHL gave it to a contract delivery person (a nice guy driving a mini van) on Monday morning and he made it to my house that afternoon.
What was also interesting that this same person, who also contracts out to other shippers, also delivered another package that was shipped via Airborne Standard Service that was shipped from Georgia two days later than the DHL package which was sent via DHL Two Day Express .
The company that shipped my product via DHL has now refunded my credit card the amount between standard shipping and two day express. They handled the matter quickly and efficiently after I reported that the DHL package had finally arrived.
There you have it...The rest of the story. (Apologies to Paul Harvey)
Firefox News and Updates
On 11/30/05, I wrote a blog about the new version Firefox, Ver. 1.5; and a few days later, I wrote another blog about some of the dangers in using Internet Explorer and why we should all think about permanently changing our browsers.
Well, I took my advise to heart and have changed my browser-of-choice over to the new Firefox. I did this at first to force myself to use it full time for a few weeks to see if I liked it and could get used to it. While I won't say this is a permanent switch just yet, it is getting awfully close because I do really like this browser...much more than I did when I first wrote about it on 11/30. Maybe I have just gotten used to it, but I think it is more than that.
First and foremost it is having no problems displaying web pages. So many web pages only work well in IE because they were written using Microsoft Front Page and use Microsoft extensions. And, as we all know, Microsoft loves making things proprietary so only their products work well. But so far, I am having no problems reading all the web pages I have tried, including those that don't do well in other browsers. Perhaps because Firefox is gaining so much marketshare, web designers have stopped using Microsoft extensions in favor of less proprietary solutions.
I once wrote that I had trouble writing this blog in anything but IE. Now, I am writing it flawlessly in Firefox, and it actually works better than IE. When I do a spell check, Firefox actually shows me the word in context with its sentence. IE doesn't do that.
I am still learning more and more about setting up my preferences in Firefox, but I am really liking this software a great deal. I thought for sure when I installed it that I would dump it and go back to Maxthon. But that may not happen. I only wish Maxthon wasn't vulnerable to some of Microsoft's security issues.
Recently there has been news about security vulnerabilities in Firefox. These are old vulnerabilities from the days of Version 1. They were fixed in Version 1.0.5, so if you are running Firefox, make sure it is Version 1.0.5 or Version 1.5 as they are not vulnerable. If you do have an older version, I would definitely upgrade to 1.5.
Another thing to remember about Version 1.5 is that the older Firefox extensions (enhancements from third party developers) that you may have downloaded in Version 1, do not work in Version 1.5. You will have to reinstall new extensions when you upgrade, which is extremely simple in Version 1.5.
With that in mind, CNet recently came out with a list of their favorite 10 extensions on their website. There are some really good ones listed here, some of which I have tried.
Some of my favorites include "Google Preview," which shows you a preview of each web page listed in the Google search results; "Dictionary Tooltip," that lets you double click on any word on a web page and then immediately pulls up its definition and thesaurus suggestions; "Session Saver," that will bring up the exact same web pages that were on your screen when you closed Firefox (very handy when doing research); "Forecast Fox," which gives you a local weather toolbar at the bottom of your Firefox browser (it also pops up severe weather warnings automatically); and "Tabbrowser Preferences," that gives you additional options for your tabbed webpages.
Remember, these extensions are only for Version 1.5 of Firefox. Anyway, consider giving the new Firefox a look and please let me know what you think.
Well, I took my advise to heart and have changed my browser-of-choice over to the new Firefox. I did this at first to force myself to use it full time for a few weeks to see if I liked it and could get used to it. While I won't say this is a permanent switch just yet, it is getting awfully close because I do really like this browser...much more than I did when I first wrote about it on 11/30. Maybe I have just gotten used to it, but I think it is more than that.
First and foremost it is having no problems displaying web pages. So many web pages only work well in IE because they were written using Microsoft Front Page and use Microsoft extensions. And, as we all know, Microsoft loves making things proprietary so only their products work well. But so far, I am having no problems reading all the web pages I have tried, including those that don't do well in other browsers. Perhaps because Firefox is gaining so much marketshare, web designers have stopped using Microsoft extensions in favor of less proprietary solutions.
I once wrote that I had trouble writing this blog in anything but IE. Now, I am writing it flawlessly in Firefox, and it actually works better than IE. When I do a spell check, Firefox actually shows me the word in context with its sentence. IE doesn't do that.
I am still learning more and more about setting up my preferences in Firefox, but I am really liking this software a great deal. I thought for sure when I installed it that I would dump it and go back to Maxthon. But that may not happen. I only wish Maxthon wasn't vulnerable to some of Microsoft's security issues.
Recently there has been news about security vulnerabilities in Firefox. These are old vulnerabilities from the days of Version 1. They were fixed in Version 1.0.5, so if you are running Firefox, make sure it is Version 1.0.5 or Version 1.5 as they are not vulnerable. If you do have an older version, I would definitely upgrade to 1.5.
Another thing to remember about Version 1.5 is that the older Firefox extensions (enhancements from third party developers) that you may have downloaded in Version 1, do not work in Version 1.5. You will have to reinstall new extensions when you upgrade, which is extremely simple in Version 1.5.
With that in mind, CNet recently came out with a list of their favorite 10 extensions on their website. There are some really good ones listed here, some of which I have tried.
Some of my favorites include "Google Preview," which shows you a preview of each web page listed in the Google search results; "Dictionary Tooltip," that lets you double click on any word on a web page and then immediately pulls up its definition and thesaurus suggestions; "Session Saver," that will bring up the exact same web pages that were on your screen when you closed Firefox (very handy when doing research); "Forecast Fox," which gives you a local weather toolbar at the bottom of your Firefox browser (it also pops up severe weather warnings automatically); and "Tabbrowser Preferences," that gives you additional options for your tabbed webpages.
Remember, these extensions are only for Version 1.5 of Firefox. Anyway, consider giving the new Firefox a look and please let me know what you think.
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Download New Windows Fixes Now!
If you run Windows XP and have it set for automatic updates from Microsoft, you may have noticed the little symbol that appeared yesterday on your screen down by the clock. It is a small yellow shield with an exclamation point on it. That means Microsoft has some new Windows fixes ready for downloading and installation.
If you don't have automatic updates enabled, I strongly suggest you hop on over to the Microsoft website and check for critical updates. It will tell you what you need to download, then do it for you.
This newest monthly update from Microsoft fixes four critical flaws for Internet Explorer that I described in my blog on 12/3/05. If you use IE as your web browser of choice, it is very important that you download these updates ASAP! If not, you are vulnerable to someone planting malicious code on your computer to take it over and download personal information from your system and even use it as part of a denial-of-service attack. They will have complete control of your computer without you knowing it.
Microsoft has warned that the hole is actively being exploited to download malicious code to vulnerable systems. Security-monitoring company Secunia deems the problem "extremely critical," its rarely given highest rating.
The browser security update also tackles part of the fallout from Sony BMG Music Entertainment's rootkit debacle (see my blogs of 11/4/05 and 4/11/05). The browser security update will make it impossible to run older versions of an ActiveX control released by the record label. The software was designed to defuse the issues with an antipiracy tool, but was found to have security problems of its own.
So, even if you use some other browser besides IE, such as Firefox, Maxthon or Opera, you still need to get these updates because all of us still have to use IE sometimes. For Maxthon users it is even more critical as Maxthon uses the IE engine to operate. Firefox and Opera are not vulnerable to the IE flaws described here, but all of us, no matter what computer we use, are vulnerable to the Sony Rootkit attack.
If you use an older Microsoft Windows system, such as Windows 2000 or Windows 3.1, you need to check if you can get updates for your browser. I doubt that there are fixes as Microsoft no longer supports these operating systems. In that case, I suggest you get Firefox or Opera immediately.
If you don't have automatic updates enabled, I strongly suggest you hop on over to the Microsoft website and check for critical updates. It will tell you what you need to download, then do it for you.
This newest monthly update from Microsoft fixes four critical flaws for Internet Explorer that I described in my blog on 12/3/05. If you use IE as your web browser of choice, it is very important that you download these updates ASAP! If not, you are vulnerable to someone planting malicious code on your computer to take it over and download personal information from your system and even use it as part of a denial-of-service attack. They will have complete control of your computer without you knowing it.
Microsoft has warned that the hole is actively being exploited to download malicious code to vulnerable systems. Security-monitoring company Secunia deems the problem "extremely critical," its rarely given highest rating.
The browser security update also tackles part of the fallout from Sony BMG Music Entertainment's rootkit debacle (see my blogs of 11/4/05 and 4/11/05). The browser security update will make it impossible to run older versions of an ActiveX control released by the record label. The software was designed to defuse the issues with an antipiracy tool, but was found to have security problems of its own.
So, even if you use some other browser besides IE, such as Firefox, Maxthon or Opera, you still need to get these updates because all of us still have to use IE sometimes. For Maxthon users it is even more critical as Maxthon uses the IE engine to operate. Firefox and Opera are not vulnerable to the IE flaws described here, but all of us, no matter what computer we use, are vulnerable to the Sony Rootkit attack.
If you use an older Microsoft Windows system, such as Windows 2000 or Windows 3.1, you need to check if you can get updates for your browser. I doubt that there are fixes as Microsoft no longer supports these operating systems. In that case, I suggest you get Firefox or Opera immediately.
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
New CNN Service
The uncrowned leader of the news reporting world, CNN, has finally recognized that a great many of its users (and readers) have abandoned dial-up Internet connections in favor of broadband connections such as DSL, cable, and fiber optics. So they created a new premium service that makes use of these broadband connections.
Called "CNN Pipeline," the new service has actually been in development for over a year. It went on-line last week and has signed up plenty of subscribers, at least according to their own press release. The technology for Pipeline is four live video streams, which offer mostly unedited looks at news events throughout the world. These streams, or "pipes," can be played in a special video player and chosen by Pipeline's editors in Atlanta.
Last Thursday night, Pipeline offered video streams from CNN International, a memorial service for slain Beatle John Lennon in Central Park, the House of Representatives and a traffic cam on a snowy Chicago night. When news broke out from Chicago's Midway Airport that a Southwest Airlines jet slid off a runway, the third stream became live video from the scene at the airport.
Live coverage isn't the only aspect of CNN Pipeline. The video player offers users the ability to see the top stories in video, get other news on demand and even browse CNN's vast archives. But what you won't see is whole programs. CNN doesn't believe it is a good thing, despite what others in the news industry are doing on their web sites.
Pipeline costs $2.95 per month or $24.95 for a year's subscription. You can also sign up for a 14 day free trial. You can read more about it on CNN's web site and even see a demo of how it works.
Called "CNN Pipeline," the new service has actually been in development for over a year. It went on-line last week and has signed up plenty of subscribers, at least according to their own press release. The technology for Pipeline is four live video streams, which offer mostly unedited looks at news events throughout the world. These streams, or "pipes," can be played in a special video player and chosen by Pipeline's editors in Atlanta.
Last Thursday night, Pipeline offered video streams from CNN International, a memorial service for slain Beatle John Lennon in Central Park, the House of Representatives and a traffic cam on a snowy Chicago night. When news broke out from Chicago's Midway Airport that a Southwest Airlines jet slid off a runway, the third stream became live video from the scene at the airport.
Live coverage isn't the only aspect of CNN Pipeline. The video player offers users the ability to see the top stories in video, get other news on demand and even browse CNN's vast archives. But what you won't see is whole programs. CNN doesn't believe it is a good thing, despite what others in the news industry are doing on their web sites.
Pipeline costs $2.95 per month or $24.95 for a year's subscription. You can also sign up for a 14 day free trial. You can read more about it on CNN's web site and even see a demo of how it works.
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Never, Ever Ship Anything via DHL
Right now, I am so angry that it is hard for me to even contain myself, so I thought I would write about it. Last weekend, I ordered an expensive accessory item for my digital camera from a reputable on-line firm in Brooklyn, NY. I did my homework and found this company to have the best price, and having purchased from them in the past and read what other users had to say about them, I knew they were a trusted source.
In order to expedite the delivery, I paid extra for two day express delivery. The company now uses DHL as their delivery company of choice. On Monday, the 5th of December, I was notified that DHL had picked up my package in Brooklyn and it was on its way. They gave me a tracking number, which I duly used. Tracking showed that it was picked up in the afternoon and departed DHL's facility late in the evening. It also said that I was scheduled for delivery on the Thursday, the 8th. Now, my math says this is three days, not two, but I was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.
Thursday comes and goes and no package is delivered. As I am required by the company I bought it from to sign for the package, I had to stay home all day so not to miss the DHL driver. At the end of the day, I scan the tracking info on their website and found no new information. So I called their customer service number and was told that they don't guarantee two day delivery in my area (we are a so-called "rural area"), but that I would get the package on Friday.
Friday comes and goes, and guess what? No package. Early on Friday, I see on their web site that my package has passed through their facility in Chehalis, WA early in the morning, so I figured I had a good chance to get it. No such luck and another day stuck around the house. My math shows that the package took four days just to get to Washington State. So I have to guess that all of Washington State must be a "rural area" to DHL.
I didn't call them again on Friday night, but decided to call on Saturday morning. In the meantime, I checked their web site for a definition of "rural area", and could not find a thing. Here is what I did find:
DHL Second Day: Guaranteed delivery by 5:00 pm on the second business day throughout the US.
In order to expedite the delivery, I paid extra for two day express delivery. The company now uses DHL as their delivery company of choice. On Monday, the 5th of December, I was notified that DHL had picked up my package in Brooklyn and it was on its way. They gave me a tracking number, which I duly used. Tracking showed that it was picked up in the afternoon and departed DHL's facility late in the evening. It also said that I was scheduled for delivery on the Thursday, the 8th. Now, my math says this is three days, not two, but I was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.
Thursday comes and goes and no package is delivered. As I am required by the company I bought it from to sign for the package, I had to stay home all day so not to miss the DHL driver. At the end of the day, I scan the tracking info on their website and found no new information. So I called their customer service number and was told that they don't guarantee two day delivery in my area (we are a so-called "rural area"), but that I would get the package on Friday.
Friday comes and goes, and guess what? No package. Early on Friday, I see on their web site that my package has passed through their facility in Chehalis, WA early in the morning, so I figured I had a good chance to get it. No such luck and another day stuck around the house. My math shows that the package took four days just to get to Washington State. So I have to guess that all of Washington State must be a "rural area" to DHL.
I didn't call them again on Friday night, but decided to call on Saturday morning. In the meantime, I checked their web site for a definition of "rural area", and could not find a thing. Here is what I did find:
DHL Second Day: Guaranteed delivery by 5:00 pm on the second business day throughout the US.
No mention of "rural areas." But that is almost beside the point as it took four days just to get to my state.
So, on Saturday morning, I called again and was told all about the "rural area." When I mentioned what their web site said, I was met with silence. The agent suggested I could go to my local station and pick up the package, instead of waiting for delivery. When I asked where it was, I was told Spokane. The agent then checked and said my package had not yet made it to Spokane from Chehalis.
What??? This means that I will not see my package until Monday at the earliest, maybe even Tuesday. When I voiced my concerns, I was met by silence. Talk about bad service...
The tracking on their web site clearly indicates that it was two day service and that I was scheduled for delivery on Thursday. Apparently all their guarantees mean nothing to them.
I would suggest that you never use DHL and if you are buying something on the web and the company wants to ship it to you via DHL, that you go somewhere else to buy it. It has been a long time since I have run into any service that it so bad as DHL's. Remember this when you see their ads on TV.
Next time I am using the pony express.
Friday, December 09, 2005
The Power of Four
A few days ago, I wrote a blog about the new dual core processors from Intel and AMD. Specifically I described the new chips as being two processors built into one shell (and how the AMD and Intel matched up against each other in a head-to-head performance contest).
But of course, processor manufacturers are not standing still with their new triumphs. They are moving ahead with even bolder and faster chips for our computing future. Now, both companies are working on quad-core chips...that is, four processors housed inside of one. AMD is discussing plans to begin offering a family of four-core chips early in 2007, while Intel, so far, has only broadly hinted about offering a four- core server chip the same year.
And while the chip makers once battled over clock speed, in one form or another, the coming years will bring a new battleground. Intel and AMD will trade barbs over who can offer chips with more processor cores sooner with better performance per watt, or how much power each chip consumes versus the amount of performance it offers customers. AMD is already bragging about how its dual-core processor uses less power that its Intel rival thus running cooler and saving more money on electricity.
With a new awareness in the cost of electricity in computers (see my blog of 11/24/05), this may prove to be an interesting story sooner than later. For instance, in a recent press release, AMD says that a company running 500 servers could save over $50,000 per year in electrical costs by using their dual-core processors over Intel's. That's a lot of bucks!
In a related story, Intel appears headed toward offering the first dual-core notebook chip in Yonah, a new version of its Pentium M that is expected in January.
But of course, processor manufacturers are not standing still with their new triumphs. They are moving ahead with even bolder and faster chips for our computing future. Now, both companies are working on quad-core chips...that is, four processors housed inside of one. AMD is discussing plans to begin offering a family of four-core chips early in 2007, while Intel, so far, has only broadly hinted about offering a four- core server chip the same year.
And while the chip makers once battled over clock speed, in one form or another, the coming years will bring a new battleground. Intel and AMD will trade barbs over who can offer chips with more processor cores sooner with better performance per watt, or how much power each chip consumes versus the amount of performance it offers customers. AMD is already bragging about how its dual-core processor uses less power that its Intel rival thus running cooler and saving more money on electricity.
With a new awareness in the cost of electricity in computers (see my blog of 11/24/05), this may prove to be an interesting story sooner than later. For instance, in a recent press release, AMD says that a company running 500 servers could save over $50,000 per year in electrical costs by using their dual-core processors over Intel's. That's a lot of bucks!
In a related story, Intel appears headed toward offering the first dual-core notebook chip in Yonah, a new version of its Pentium M that is expected in January.
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
TV A-La-Carte
The times are a-changinÂ’ for television. Recent news shows that the way we receive our television programming may be changing for the better. And, no, I am not talking about Sony Tivo or other Tivo-like products now available. That has changed the way many people watch TV. But the recent news is more about how TV programs are delivered to us.
First, the FCC is about to recommend that people be allowed to get only the TV channels they want rather than having to subscribe to whole packages of TV and cable channels that they never watch. In other words, TV a la carte.
For a long time, consumers have been complaining there still isn't enough flexibility in the programming packages offered by cable and satellite providers. Last week, FCC chairman Kevin Martin told a forum sponsored by the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee, that consumers could have more choice in what they view for cheaper prices if operators would sell content a la carte. According to a new report from the FCC that has yet to be made public, a la carte pricing could actually reduce monthly cable bills for many consumers while also providing more control over what channels they watch at home.
News of the FCC report comes just as many large cable operators across the country announced that they are raising rates again for their service. At the same time, according to the FCC, consumers, especially those with children, are becoming increasingly agitated by the amount of violence and sexual content that comes into their homes on channels they'd rather not receive as part of their subscription package.
But content providers and most of the cable industry say that offering programming piecemeal will result in even higher prices and less choice for consumers. They also claim that an a la carte pricing model would increase overall subscription rates and reduce diversity of programming, because many of the niche or special interest channels today are bundled with more popular channels. If these less-popular channels are sold independently, they will become too expensive to offer and may disappear altogether.
Having put together cable programming for a living, I know that what the industry saying may be true. But, the way they structure their contracts to cable companies make it impossible to offer any sort of a-la-carte programming today. But, the fact that the FCC is now starting to put pressure on the cable industry means things may slowly start to change.
If you would like to read an in-depth article on the subject, please head over to the news.com website to read more.
Meanwhile, Apple iTunes is now offering individual TV programs themselves on an a-la-carte basis. The iTunes store will offer 11 shows from NBC, USA Network and the Sci Fi Channel that range from oldies such as the 1950s cop show "Dragnet" to current shows such as "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." Apple is charging $1.99 per episode for the television downloads, as well as for music videos and short films. The newly produced shows will be available for download a day after they air on TV.
In October, the Walt Disney Company's television network, ABC, and Disney's cable network began offering five television shows for download via iTunes. Apple said this week that it has now sold more than 3 million videos from its iTunes store since launching the feature in early October, indicating that customer demand extended beyond simple one-time curiosity.
If Apple continues to sell video at this rate, other TV and cable companies will take notice and begin making their programs available for download. The changes we talked about here are only a trickle now, but the floodgates may begin to open soon.
First, the FCC is about to recommend that people be allowed to get only the TV channels they want rather than having to subscribe to whole packages of TV and cable channels that they never watch. In other words, TV a la carte.
For a long time, consumers have been complaining there still isn't enough flexibility in the programming packages offered by cable and satellite providers. Last week, FCC chairman Kevin Martin told a forum sponsored by the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee, that consumers could have more choice in what they view for cheaper prices if operators would sell content a la carte. According to a new report from the FCC that has yet to be made public, a la carte pricing could actually reduce monthly cable bills for many consumers while also providing more control over what channels they watch at home.
News of the FCC report comes just as many large cable operators across the country announced that they are raising rates again for their service. At the same time, according to the FCC, consumers, especially those with children, are becoming increasingly agitated by the amount of violence and sexual content that comes into their homes on channels they'd rather not receive as part of their subscription package.
But content providers and most of the cable industry say that offering programming piecemeal will result in even higher prices and less choice for consumers. They also claim that an a la carte pricing model would increase overall subscription rates and reduce diversity of programming, because many of the niche or special interest channels today are bundled with more popular channels. If these less-popular channels are sold independently, they will become too expensive to offer and may disappear altogether.
Having put together cable programming for a living, I know that what the industry saying may be true. But, the way they structure their contracts to cable companies make it impossible to offer any sort of a-la-carte programming today. But, the fact that the FCC is now starting to put pressure on the cable industry means things may slowly start to change.
If you would like to read an in-depth article on the subject, please head over to the news.com website to read more.
Meanwhile, Apple iTunes is now offering individual TV programs themselves on an a-la-carte basis. The iTunes store will offer 11 shows from NBC, USA Network and the Sci Fi Channel that range from oldies such as the 1950s cop show "Dragnet" to current shows such as "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." Apple is charging $1.99 per episode for the television downloads, as well as for music videos and short films. The newly produced shows will be available for download a day after they air on TV.
In October, the Walt Disney Company's television network, ABC, and Disney's cable network began offering five television shows for download via iTunes. Apple said this week that it has now sold more than 3 million videos from its iTunes store since launching the feature in early October, indicating that customer demand extended beyond simple one-time curiosity.
If Apple continues to sell video at this rate, other TV and cable companies will take notice and begin making their programs available for download. The changes we talked about here are only a trickle now, but the floodgates may begin to open soon.
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Three New Sketches
I thought I would take a day off from technology (well partly anyway) and share with you three new artworks I recently completed.
I have had a life-long love of sketches and have built up a small collection of them over the years. It is only natural, then, that I should do a few sketches of my own now and then. Sketches come in various forms...pen and ink, pencil, colored pencils, chalk, and pastel chalk, just to name a few. My sketches, done digitally from my original photographs, combine some of these media (digitized) together to form a new style of sketch.
The three images presented here can be classified as sketches because of their appearance. The first one is of a small office located in Cannon Beach Oregon. The colors of all the pictures elements make this a rich image, and the US flag brings all the elements together. Here is the link:
http://www.corkrum.com/jim/office_cannon_beach.htm
The second image is of an outdoor stairway going up a hill to a small hotel overlooking the beach. Like the first image, it is located in Cannon Beach. The light and shadows give this image a sense of line and depth. Your eye naturally follows the stairway up towards the sky. The image is located at:
http://www.corkrum.com/jim/stairway.htm
The final picture is of St. Marks Church in Venice. It is one of the most famous churches in the western world and contains some of the worlds most magnificent treasures. But, the outside is less than colorful, especially on a rainy day when I took the original photograph. So, I left it mostly in black and white, with only a hint of color to give it a sense of greater depth. I like this image a lot. To see it, go to:
http://www.corkrum.com/jim/san_marco_sketch.htm
I hope you enjoy these sketches. I will have more for you in the near future.
I have had a life-long love of sketches and have built up a small collection of them over the years. It is only natural, then, that I should do a few sketches of my own now and then. Sketches come in various forms...pen and ink, pencil, colored pencils, chalk, and pastel chalk, just to name a few. My sketches, done digitally from my original photographs, combine some of these media (digitized) together to form a new style of sketch.
The three images presented here can be classified as sketches because of their appearance. The first one is of a small office located in Cannon Beach Oregon. The colors of all the pictures elements make this a rich image, and the US flag brings all the elements together. Here is the link:
http://www.corkrum.com/jim/office_cannon_beach.htm
The second image is of an outdoor stairway going up a hill to a small hotel overlooking the beach. Like the first image, it is located in Cannon Beach. The light and shadows give this image a sense of line and depth. Your eye naturally follows the stairway up towards the sky. The image is located at:
http://www.corkrum.com/jim/stairway.htm
The final picture is of St. Marks Church in Venice. It is one of the most famous churches in the western world and contains some of the worlds most magnificent treasures. But, the outside is less than colorful, especially on a rainy day when I took the original photograph. So, I left it mostly in black and white, with only a hint of color to give it a sense of greater depth. I like this image a lot. To see it, go to:
http://www.corkrum.com/jim/san_marco_sketch.htm
I hope you enjoy these sketches. I will have more for you in the near future.
Monday, December 05, 2005
VoIP Phone Companies in a State of Confusion
The world of VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) telephony is in a bit of a muddle right now, thanks to a federal government mandate regarding E911 service. You see, a little over 4 months ago, the FCC told VoIP providers that they had 120 days to connect all their users to E911 emergency services or face a shutdown of their telephone services. And those 120 days are now up!
A little background before we go any further. For those who don’t know, VoIP telephone services use the Internet to connect phone-to-phone rather than regular phone wires, thereby passing up regular phone companies like Qwest and Verizon. It requires that the user have a high speed Internet connection (like fiber, cable modem, or DSL). It works just like a regular phone as each VoIP user has a regular phone number and uses the regular telephones in your home. No special equipment is required, except for a small router that is added to your Internet wires inside the house.
As I have written before here, we have VoIP services in our home using a company called Packet8. We no longer use a regular phone company. We pay a flat fee of $20 per month for unlimited phone calls throughout the US and Canada, so it is obviously much cheaper than regular phone service. And it works just fine. We chose Packet8 over the better-known VoIP phone company Vonage as Packet8 could provide a local phone number for our area, something Vonage still can’t do.
The big fuss over E911 comes from the fact that most VoIP companies didn’t offer it at first, so users didn’t have a way of calling 9-1-1 in case of emergency. Packet8 quietly began offering genuine E911 service for $2.00 a month extra as an option. But the real problem came when Vonage began advertising that they had E911 service. In fact, they didn’t have true emergency service. If a Vonage customer called 9-1-1, the phone call was directed to the business office of the local emergency services instead of the emergency desk, which could be a major problem if someone called with an emergency after business hours.
This happened in Texas several months ago when a young girl called 9-1-1 to report that her parents had been shot by an intruder. The home was equipped with Vonage service and the call came in the evening when the 9-1-1-business office was closed. Both parents died. The story garnered national media attention and eventually the federal government became involved. Hence, the recent FCC mandates.
The problem is, of course, implementing such a major technological change in such a short time. None of the VoIP phone companies have completely finished the project. Vonage and Packet8 are well along the way (we have been notified that we are now connected), but not yet complete. Vonage says they won’t have complete E911 service to all their customers until mid-2006. Packet8 says that all their users should be connected soon, but they have set up interim measures to insure that all users will have some sort of 911 by using a national call desk. How will the FCC react?
At this point no one really knows. Officials at the FCC say they're still reviewing documents that were filed by VoIP providers before the deadline. That means it's impossible to say for certain how many VoIP companies are in compliance with the mandate. Some experts believe that the FCC will not strictly enforce the mandate, so long as VoIP companies are making progress.
The FCC did modify their original mandate to say the if a company does not comply, they don’t have to shut down their services, but they cannot offer any services to new customers.
Both Vonage and Packet8 say they plan to continue marketing to prospective customers and signing them up for their service, but in doing so the companies risk racking up heavy fines.
"I don't know what the next step is," said Bryan Martin, president and CEO of Packet8. "This is the final filing since the FCC issued its mandate 120 days ago. We had a collective sigh of relief the other day after we filed, but now we don't know what comes next or how the FCC will react to our filing."
Other companies have done next-to-nothing about compliance. There have been complaints that some tradition local phone companies are dragging their feet to help VoIP companies connect to E911, as their help is necessary. Some companies also complain that their industry is being singled out by this mandate by pointing out that cell phone companies have not been forced to connect and that only half of all cell phone users nationwide have E911 connections.
It will be interesting to see what happens over the next few weeks.
A little background before we go any further. For those who don’t know, VoIP telephone services use the Internet to connect phone-to-phone rather than regular phone wires, thereby passing up regular phone companies like Qwest and Verizon. It requires that the user have a high speed Internet connection (like fiber, cable modem, or DSL). It works just like a regular phone as each VoIP user has a regular phone number and uses the regular telephones in your home. No special equipment is required, except for a small router that is added to your Internet wires inside the house.
As I have written before here, we have VoIP services in our home using a company called Packet8. We no longer use a regular phone company. We pay a flat fee of $20 per month for unlimited phone calls throughout the US and Canada, so it is obviously much cheaper than regular phone service. And it works just fine. We chose Packet8 over the better-known VoIP phone company Vonage as Packet8 could provide a local phone number for our area, something Vonage still can’t do.
The big fuss over E911 comes from the fact that most VoIP companies didn’t offer it at first, so users didn’t have a way of calling 9-1-1 in case of emergency. Packet8 quietly began offering genuine E911 service for $2.00 a month extra as an option. But the real problem came when Vonage began advertising that they had E911 service. In fact, they didn’t have true emergency service. If a Vonage customer called 9-1-1, the phone call was directed to the business office of the local emergency services instead of the emergency desk, which could be a major problem if someone called with an emergency after business hours.
This happened in Texas several months ago when a young girl called 9-1-1 to report that her parents had been shot by an intruder. The home was equipped with Vonage service and the call came in the evening when the 9-1-1-business office was closed. Both parents died. The story garnered national media attention and eventually the federal government became involved. Hence, the recent FCC mandates.
The problem is, of course, implementing such a major technological change in such a short time. None of the VoIP phone companies have completely finished the project. Vonage and Packet8 are well along the way (we have been notified that we are now connected), but not yet complete. Vonage says they won’t have complete E911 service to all their customers until mid-2006. Packet8 says that all their users should be connected soon, but they have set up interim measures to insure that all users will have some sort of 911 by using a national call desk. How will the FCC react?
At this point no one really knows. Officials at the FCC say they're still reviewing documents that were filed by VoIP providers before the deadline. That means it's impossible to say for certain how many VoIP companies are in compliance with the mandate. Some experts believe that the FCC will not strictly enforce the mandate, so long as VoIP companies are making progress.
The FCC did modify their original mandate to say the if a company does not comply, they don’t have to shut down their services, but they cannot offer any services to new customers.
Both Vonage and Packet8 say they plan to continue marketing to prospective customers and signing them up for their service, but in doing so the companies risk racking up heavy fines.
"I don't know what the next step is," said Bryan Martin, president and CEO of Packet8. "This is the final filing since the FCC issued its mandate 120 days ago. We had a collective sigh of relief the other day after we filed, but now we don't know what comes next or how the FCC will react to our filing."
Other companies have done next-to-nothing about compliance. There have been complaints that some tradition local phone companies are dragging their feet to help VoIP companies connect to E911, as their help is necessary. Some companies also complain that their industry is being singled out by this mandate by pointing out that cell phone companies have not been forced to connect and that only half of all cell phone users nationwide have E911 connections.
It will be interesting to see what happens over the next few weeks.
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Security Flaws In Internet Explorer Raising Alarms
This week, there has been a deluge of security warnings concerning the use of Microsoft's built-in web browser, Internet Explorer (IE). Not that this is anything new. Every week, there is at least one new vulnerability discovered. It has become so commonplace that I don't even write about them anymore. Its just a daily fact-of-life. But, enough new issues were raised this week that I thought I had better revisit the subject again.
One of the new flaws discovered involves the use of the Google Tool Bar with Internet Explorer. It seems there is a vulnerability that would allow a hacker to get inside someone's computer at will and steal all their information. According to security researchers, the fault is not with the Google software, but with IE. To exploit the flaw, an attacker has to lure a victim to a malicious Web page that contains the hidden attack code.
Other similar vulnerabilities were also discovered in the last few days that are in a Javascript component of IE used for loading Web pages onto a computer. Again, if a user visits an infected web site, the code is loaded into a users computer and they are wide open for some very malicious attacks.
One of the new flaws discovered involves the use of the Google Tool Bar with Internet Explorer. It seems there is a vulnerability that would allow a hacker to get inside someone's computer at will and steal all their information. According to security researchers, the fault is not with the Google software, but with IE. To exploit the flaw, an attacker has to lure a victim to a malicious Web page that contains the hidden attack code.
Other similar vulnerabilities were also discovered in the last few days that are in a Javascript component of IE used for loading Web pages onto a computer. Again, if a user visits an infected web site, the code is loaded into a users computer and they are wide open for some very malicious attacks.
Microsoft has not released a patch for the hole exploited by the code. People can attempt to work around the problem by either shutting off Javascript or using another type of browser, security companies advise. Sources say the MSRC (Microsoft Security Response Center) is aggressively aiming to release an emergency IE fix ahead of the scheduled December 13 Patch release.
The situation has become bad enough that one credit union has issued a security alert to its customers on their login page. L&N Federal Credit Union has placed the following on their home page:
"A new flaw was discovered in Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser, and this flaw can have serious ramifications for all Internet users who use this browser. The flaw allows the owner of a website to create a page that will download and run programs on the user's computer. The user does not have to do anything but visit the website and unknowingly view the malicious page.
This means the owner of the website could install malicious software that would take control of the user's computer and steal personal information that could lead to identity theft. Microsoft does not have a fix or patch to correct this flaw.
We recommend that all concerned individuals ensure that they have up-to-date anti-virus and anti-spyware installed on their computers for personal protection. Currently, the only work-around is to temporarily discontinue the use of Microsoft Internet Explorer and use another browser, such as Firefox (www.mozilla.com) until Microsoft can issue a patch." (Emphasis mine)
According to Sunbelt Software (makers of Counterspy), Microsoft admitted on their own web site that they have known about some of these issues since March, but have yet to fix them. According to Microsoft, "There are many factors that impact the length of time between the discovery of a vulnerability and the release of a security update, and every vulnerability presents its own unique challenges."
Maybe it is time we all strongly consider moving to a non-Microsoft browser such as Opera or Firefox for our own protection. They apparently are not vulnerable to any of the issues listed here.
I have been using the new Firefox for the last few days and am getting used to it. It is a much better product than Version 1. But I also continue to use Opera and like it also. In case you are wondering about my favorite browser, Maxthon, that I have mentioned here in the past, its biggest problem is that is uses the IE engine for its operation, thus making it vulnerable to some of the issues listed here.
Friday, December 02, 2005
Head-to-Head Comparison - Dual Core Processors
As was mentioned some time ago in one of these blogs, processor manufacturers Intel and AMD have pretty much reached the limits of speed and performance in current processor design. For most of us, the speed of the current processors are just fine...at least for now. Of course that will change over time as has already happened so many times.
As new high speed processors are built, folks like Microsoft create software to take advantage of the new chips, so that eventually the new fast chips don't seem so fast after a while. That's the way it has been and the way it will always be.
But, how will processor manufacturers keep pushing the edge of faster and better performance? The answer is by creating chips that are actually two processors built inside one body, otherwise known as dual-core processors. By dividing the workload using two processors instead of one, it actually appears as if you are running faster, especially if you are doing a lot of multi-tasking.
Dual processors are not new. For a few years now, they have been building computers that use two separate processors. For the most part, these dual chips have been used in large network servers. But these required special motherboards that supported two processors actually affixed to the motherboard plus other chips that divided the workload between the two chips.
Several months ago, both AMD and Intel announced that they were making a single chip that was actually two processors in one and also included the hardware to divide the workload. Those chips are now out in the marketplace and for sale as part of computers systems. As you may have guessed, these new computers are fairly expensive, but history also shows that they will eventually drop drastically in price. In the not-to-distant future, dual processor will become the norm rather than the exception.
That means most of us will eventually buy one of these processors as part of a new computer system. Because of all the reasons mentioned so far, CNET decided to run a head-to-head contest between the two manufacturers to see whose chip(s) might be best.
Instead of just running tests to see who was the fastest, they ran a series of everyday simulations using six different criteria that an actual computer user might use, plus a seventh category that compares price to performance. Here are the seven criteria used in the test:
The AMD dual processors blew the doors off of the Intel processors! AMD won in all seven categories. In fact, it really wasn't close. And, for the most part, the AMD chips are cheaper.
I personally have always preferred AMD over Intel. In fact, the computer that I am using to write this blog is running on an AMD chip. Looks like my beliefs have been validated again. Such a relief.
Anyway, keep these new test results in mind when you are looking for your next computer.
As new high speed processors are built, folks like Microsoft create software to take advantage of the new chips, so that eventually the new fast chips don't seem so fast after a while. That's the way it has been and the way it will always be.
But, how will processor manufacturers keep pushing the edge of faster and better performance? The answer is by creating chips that are actually two processors built inside one body, otherwise known as dual-core processors. By dividing the workload using two processors instead of one, it actually appears as if you are running faster, especially if you are doing a lot of multi-tasking.
Dual processors are not new. For a few years now, they have been building computers that use two separate processors. For the most part, these dual chips have been used in large network servers. But these required special motherboards that supported two processors actually affixed to the motherboard plus other chips that divided the workload between the two chips.
Several months ago, both AMD and Intel announced that they were making a single chip that was actually two processors in one and also included the hardware to divide the workload. Those chips are now out in the marketplace and for sale as part of computers systems. As you may have guessed, these new computers are fairly expensive, but history also shows that they will eventually drop drastically in price. In the not-to-distant future, dual processor will become the norm rather than the exception.
That means most of us will eventually buy one of these processors as part of a new computer system. Because of all the reasons mentioned so far, CNET decided to run a head-to-head contest between the two manufacturers to see whose chip(s) might be best.
Instead of just running tests to see who was the fastest, they ran a series of everyday simulations using six different criteria that an actual computer user might use, plus a seventh category that compares price to performance. Here are the seven criteria used in the test:
- Day-to-day computing
- Gaming
- Multitasking
- Photo Editing
- MP3 Encoding
- Video Encoding
- Price vs Performance
The AMD dual processors blew the doors off of the Intel processors! AMD won in all seven categories. In fact, it really wasn't close. And, for the most part, the AMD chips are cheaper.
I personally have always preferred AMD over Intel. In fact, the computer that I am using to write this blog is running on an AMD chip. Looks like my beliefs have been validated again. Such a relief.
Anyway, keep these new test results in mind when you are looking for your next computer.
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