John's Technology Site

SOPA/PIPA are not dead

2012-01-17T22:34:00.004-05:00

If you have not heard of SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) PIPA is the Senate version is making it's way though Congress. The proposed new law is coming from the MPAA (Motion Picture Association) and RIAA (Recording Industry Association) to fine anyone that they deemed to have gone to a site that has pirated copyright material. In principle I am fine that a company protects it's intellectual property. The issue is that these companies can fine you and you have to defend yourself. In other words, a company can find you guilty for going to a site that they deem to have pirated material. On top of that these companies want to put filters on the DNS (Domain Name Services) which will basically break the internet. If you haven't figured it out, a few companies and Congress really don't care about our constitution. The real kicker there is a law in place right now that protects these companies from copyright infringement. The law DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) enacted in the late 1990's. I think these industries are having a hard time figuring out how to cope with the ever changing technology landscape.

Call your lawmakers and tell them you are against these horrible bills. Calling carries more weight than writing.
One last thing, the Internet, certain websites will be offline in protest of SOPA/PIPA tomorrow, January 18.

Here are a few other articles about the blackout click here and here.

--john

A Long Time!

2012-01-07T12:56:00.000-05:00

First, happy New Year! It has been a while as the second half of 2011 has been rough. Here is to a better 2012!

SanDisk to Release Updated SSDs

2011-07-27T10:00:00.005-04:00

I have talked about SSD (Solid State Disk) and the benefits. I had a SSD back around March and it failed to work. I still have interest in a SSD and now SanDisk will be releasing updated hardware. My biggest concern is how fast the SSD will drain the battery in a laptop. I will need to look into the SanDisk version. The Samsung was great at .25 watts during usage. This means the battery life will improve by some, not a lot. The disk I/O is around 280 per second. Of course this is under the SATA II specification. These solid state devices help in all sort of applications, boot time and less heat. I will be looking out for one of these to update my old laptop.

--john

How to Protect Your Android Phone

2011-07-26T09:00:00.001-04:00

Actually this works probably for all smartphones. Remember your smartphone is a tiny portable computer. One can get malware and viruses just as easily as your desktop or laptop. Check the article out for some fairly good tips on how to protect yourself.

--john

AT&T Customers Files Against The Merger

2011-07-25T10:00:00.000-04:00

This is something I did not know. Under the Antitrust laws here in the States, individuals can file against a merger. There are several AT&T customers that have filed under the Clayton Antitrust laws. I do not think this will go very far, and one can try. AT&T prevents a class action suit against them if you are a customer. The law firm will have individuals file and AT&T will have to settle through arbitration. We will see if this tacit will work. Meanwhile, Senator Kohl has requested the government agencies to block the deal. As I have stated before Washington DC works on contributions and AT&T has contributed the most since 1990. That is why I do not think the opposition will be able to stop the merger.

--john

Are PCs Dead

2011-07-24T10:00:00.000-04:00

This article wants us, the buying public, to think that the PC market is about dead. If you do not have the latest gadgets than you will be left behind (got to love marketing people). I have to take exception to this thought. I worked with an iPad and found it nice to surf the Internet. However, the built-in keyboard made it hard to type.
If you are typing a lot, need a big screen or additional devices connected to your computer, the PC will always have a spot. Is the desktop dead? I have thought the desktops have been dated for some time now. Again, desktops do have their place. I have transitioned my desktop to home server. That way I can save all the digital media and files in one area. Plus with my Windows smartphone I can access the files from just about anywhere. Smartphones and other gadgets will have there place along side the old trust worthy PC.
Are the new smartphones going to completely replace a laptop pc? I do not think anytime soon. I would tend to think the laptop and tablet will co-exist for many consumers. During the next few years we will find what the trend will be like. Here is another thought... If Apple is still making laptops in a few years from now, what do you think the chances laptops are dead? Corporations are heavily entrenched with Microsoft, so do not expect any changes quickly, which means about 4-5 years from now.

--john

Kindle vs. Nook

2011-07-23T09:00:00.007-04:00

Are you trying to decide if you want a Amazon Kindle or Barnes and Noble Nook? Over at CNET there is a "prize fight video" which basically compares the two readers on ergonomics, interface, screen, performance, and price. I do not think Amazon has a color Kindle, yet. So, the comparison is for the black and white units.The outcome basically shocked me. Check the video out, it is about 2 minutes in length. Hint, the outcome is really close.

--john

Microsoft's Linux Video

2011-07-22T22:00:00.000-04:00

It has been 20 years since Linux came to market. Wow, time has flown by. Microsoft fought really hard in the early days to fight off Linux. After all these years Microsoft is calling a truce, I think. The video is 1 minute in length.

--john

To Cap or not to Cap

2011-07-22T10:48:00.000-04:00

An editorial at the New York Times has it exactly right, that caps on a wired Internet connection screws the consumer. Bottom line in the editorial is that putting a cap is anti-competitive. If you have AT&T U-Verse there is no cap on your "cable" access. However, if you have Netflix that counts against your Internet cap. Yes, AT&T has caps in place on your Internet connection. So far, Verizon and Time Warner do not. You might want to check with your provider if there are any caps in place. It is understandable that wireless has caps, it does not make sense for a wired connection. I suspect that caps on a wired connection will be in place with most ISPs within the next few years unless the government steps in, and do not hold your breath on that happening anytime soon.This is a quick read and makes some really good points.

--john

At Least One Senator Has it Right for the AT&T and T-Mobile Merger

2011-07-21T09:00:00.003-04:00

One Senator has concluded that the AT&T and T-Mobile merger is NOT in the best interest for consumers and competition. Gee, didn't AT&T pay this Senator to look the other way? Sorry, contribute to his PAC. At least Senator Kohl, Wisconsin, determine this merger is anti-competitive. So far he is the only Senator that is against this merger, that I have heard. The other Senators are "Pro" business, meaning they approve the merger even though this goes against the antitrust laws. Washington DC politicians only care about being re-elected so the people who are suppose to represent us really do not care. They need money to run their elections, so if a bad law is passed, so be it. Like the PROTECT IP and AT&T/T-Mobile merger. Money talks everything else walks. The problem is the merger only needs approval from the DOJ and the FCC. The Senator sent a letter to both agencies against the merger. The other issue that AT&T has contributed a lot of cash to the FCC. We will see if the DOJ has the guts to say no to this merger? The FCC will approve this merger. After this merger is completed, next up will be AT&T and Verizon merging. Probably will be several years away, AND it will happen someday. So, if you think your cell bill is high now, just wait.

--john

More on PROTECT IP Legislation

2011-07-20T09:00:00.001-04:00

The MPAA is about to break the Internet if the bill "PROTECT IP" is passed. Most politicians do not even understand what will happen if this bill is passed. The MPAA response is let the geeks fix the problem if we break it. Well, what happens if the problem caused by poor legislation breaks the Internet? The links talk about what will happen and it will not be good. When the politicians pass this bill expect more crime as this bill will weaken security. When this is passed I will have to go back to old fashion banking and buying products. Buyer be aware!

--john

The History of Ethernet

2011-07-19T10:00:00.000-04:00

This was a walk down memory lane. The Internet and just about all networks use Ethernet. Ever wonder about how it got started? Check this article out. This reminded me of 10Base5 or the thick AUI cables. In order to get the cable tap there was a "Vampire Tap" kit and you prayed that it worked. Plus the taps had to be about 3 feet apart, which had markings on the AUI cable. A lot of downsides to having an AUI cable like if the cable disconnected from the computer, the computer crashed. The next evolution was 10Base2 or thinnet. Better, but still not that good. The biggest jump came in a collapse backbone which is how we operate today. Great article if you want the history of Ethernet. Check it out.

--john

Which Browser Do You Use AND Why This is Important

2011-07-18T09:10:00.000-04:00

I have been using Firefox for some time now. However, a new study has shown that Internet Explorer 9 leaves all other browsers in the dust when it comes to malware issues. This means it beats out Firefox, Chrome, Safari 5 and Opera. IE 9 blocks some 92 percent of the malware using its URL-based filtering and 100 percent using application base filtering. IE 8 came in second at 90 percent while the rest of the browsers came in around 15 percent. It looks like that I will move back to IE 9 until Firefox can catch up. One other point is to move your DNS (router fix) to point to OpenDNS servers. That will help filter out a bunch of the malware problems. If you don't know how to do this simply fix, consult a professional. The fix takes less than 5 minutes and makes a world of difference. I have talked about OpenDNS before as you can see to the right of the page.
--john

Does Cell Phone Radiation Cause Cancer

2011-07-17T09:00:00.003-04:00

This is a tough question to answer. Apparently the data shows that it does not now. Of course, the data can always be manipulated as it depends who pays for the study. I think this is a long term study that will take a long time to determine. When I worked for a really, really big cellular company they told us that cell phone radiation does not cause any problems. Again, a corporation telling its employees what is right and wrong. My thoughts at that time it is too soon to determine the outcome. Since there is a lot on the line here, and we all hope that it does not cause any problems, I tend to use a wired headset to keep the phone away from my head. Why take a chance, even if the evidence shows that no problems come from a cell phone. This is a long term research and we are just beginning to understand the outcome from a cell phone. I equate this to the cigarette industry. Why not be on the safe said, use a wired headset.

-john

5 Year Ban on New Taxes for Cellular Phones

2011-07-16T10:00:00.003-04:00

Is this a good idea, a 5 year ban on additional tax for cell phones? I am not certain at this point. Congress is getting ready to pass a bill that the States and locals can't keep raising taxes on your cell phone. Short term it is fine. What will happen when the ban ends? That is my concern. We could really get gouged. I would think there should be a cap period. Based on your bill they can't keep raising your taxes. Just like if you buy something at $100 and the tax rate is 6%, you pay $6 in taxes. I understand there are local, state and federal and all them need to work together to share that amount. If the bill passes this will provide temporary relief and long term it could mean real pain for the consumer. We will see if this makes it way to the Senate and signed off by the President.

--john

A New Look

2011-07-15T12:00:00.001-04:00

It is that time for a new look or refresh. About every 6 months or so I make a template change. This looks pretty good to me.

New Top Level Domain Names

2011-07-15T10:42:00.000-04:00

Will the .com go away like www did? Well, starting January 2012 we will find out. The first round has some 500 companies signing up. Instead of Microsoft. com it would be more like Windows8.microsoft. If you are thinking about parking on one of these domains, you need to pony up $185,000. This new TLD (Top Level Domain) naming is interesting and not certain how well it will work. The new names will probably work for large corporations who have large budgets. As with smaller companies I am not certain yet how this will play out. We will see.

Broadband still unfilled for consumers

2011-07-06T20:47:00.000-04:00

Do not expect a lot from our broadband providers. In one key metric, Fiber To The Home (FTTH) is at just over 7 million users. That is a fraction of the total population here in the States. The other key metric is that 70% of the population has a wireline broadband connection. That is good news. There are other metrics in the report to give an idea how well these companies are performing.

--john

Budget Tablets on the cheap

2011-06-28T15:08:00.000-04:00

I have the Barnes and Noble Nook and as a tablet, it does ok. The problem, the screen is only 7 inches. Kind of smallish for me. I would prefer around 10 or 12 inch screen. However, the Nook is a book reader and functions well for that application. At $250 for the BN Nook, it is well worth it for a lightweight tablet. Light weight in that no real major applications have been developed for the Nook, yet. I hope that developers will join the cause and produce some interesting software. If you need a web browser and book reader this tablet will do well to help in when traveling or in a pinch. Check it out.

--john

AT&T on Track to Gobble up T-Mobile by March 2012

2011-06-24T10:39:00.001-04:00

Yes, there is no stopping AT&T&T from become reality. US Government regulators are owned by AT&T and now look for the rubber-stamping to finish this merger. Why am I so negative? Simple, this merger goes against what we believe this country stands for... competition. With the cellular industry quickly dwindling, down to three national carriers, one could draw the conclusion that AT&T&T will merge with Verizon and putting back together AT&T after the 1984 decree to break them up. Now, this will not happen anytime soon. I would think maybe within the next decade. You do not think it will happen. Think again. AT&T has spent the most on lobbying Congress since 1990. With Corporate Personhood now legal (thank you Supreme Court) AT&T is free to spend as much as the want on Congress. Oh btw, look for Verizon to continue to lobby heavily. Therefore, within the next decade the US will be down to one carrier. Is that competition or capitalism at its best? None of these mergers does anything for the consumer except raise prices. Of course, they will tell us (AT&T) has spectrum problems. Huh? The largest telecommunications company in this country does not have enough spectrum. That is a crook of BS. This merger is simply an elimination of the competition so expect to see prices go up, not down.

PCIe at 32Gbps

2011-06-23T10:38:00.000-04:00

With Thunderbolt and USB 3.0, high-speed connectivity is just round the corner, probably later this year for Thunderbolt. Some computers have already started putting in USB 3.0. Thunderbolt is supposed to hit a limit of 10Gbps. Now, PCIe just released the new specifications and it will be fast at 32Gbps. Alternatively, about three times faster than Thunderbolt. Compared to USB 3.0 it will be about six times faster. If you are not familiar with PCIe, the bus is in desktop machines and servers. The downside to PCIe at 32Gbps, it will not be available until sometime around 2013.

--john

Early Look at Windows 8

2011-06-02T23:24:00.001-04:00

Windows 8 preview has been released. Microsoft is using Windows Phone 7 tiles for the user interface in Windows 8. Of course the tiles look a little more advanced from what I could determine. The upcoming interface will make it even easier for the non-technical person to interact with your computer. Also, Microsoft is talking about integrating the cloud into Windows 8. A lot of changes will be coming to the user interface with this next release. Microsoft is pushing into the cloud as that seems to be the future. Windows 8 looks to be making huge changes in the user interface. The release date is sometime later in 2012. I would think the beta program will start later this fall.

--john

Hopefully I am back

2011-06-01T11:21:00.000-04:00

I just finished a contract and will start to focus on the blog. First up, the AT&T - T-Mobile merger or as I have seen it as AT&T&T. As expected the merger is moving forward as the FCC has sent AT&T 50 questions. Question like prove that you don't have enough spectrum for the next generation of technology called LTE. AT&T has been in front of Congress and stated this only helps the consumer and competition. The day before AT&T said the exact same thing to the FCC. Anyway you slice it, expect the merger to go through. The dog and pony show in Washington DC is just beginning. I would be shocked if the merger was declined. Check out some of the latest articles here, and here.
Yes, I am against the merger because this is anti-capitalism. AT&T is simply eliminating competition with this merger. AT&T does not need the spectrum as they have been warehousing for "future use." This much I can predict that when the merger goes through expect higher prices, less services and poor customer service. AT&T and Verizon will hold nearly 80% market share. How does this benefit the consumer? Here is my future prediction, AT&T and Verizon will merge within a decade. Yes, the death star will be back someday. Meaning the 1984 decree will be null and void probably some 40 years later. Even though the 1996 communication bill killed the 1984 decree. Got it? How? Really simple, AT&T and Verizon keep buying/lobby Congress. Watch, this will happen someday. And, the reason for that merger, it is all about the consumer and competition. We are close to a duopoly with a monopoly in a short period of time.

--john

IPv6 about 1% total of Internet traffic

2011-04-26T12:25:00.001-04:00

One would figure that this number would be way off. Either it should be higher, reason being Asia is out of IPv4 addressing or 0% and nobody is using the protocol. The protocol is relatively new, about 15 year old now, compared to IPv4. I would expect this to change in the next year or two. Testing of IPv6 between ISPs will be on June 8. At that point, if the new protocol is working expect IPv6 to start rolling out within 24 months. Of course, this will be between ISPs. It will be a lot longer before it makes its way into the home. That could be 5 years away. There are a few ISPs testing IPv6 directly to the home and this is early testing. There is equipment that needs to be changed out so do not expect ISPs to make the change all of sudden. We will diffidently know more sometime in June.

--john

50 years ago today

2011-04-26T09:30:00.000-04:00

What where you doing 50 years ago today, April 25, 1961? The first patent on the Integrated Circuit (IC) was granted. The inventor Robert Noyce who went on to found Intel Corporation with Gordon Moore. You know, Moore's law that he stated ICs will double about every 18 months. Seems to be holding true still to this day. So, happy birthday to the IC!

--john

Barnes and Noble updates Nook Color

2011-04-25T19:24:00.000-04:00

Yes, I do have a Barnes and Noble Nook Color tablet. I have had it for a few months now and find it quit enjoyable. Being the tech geek that I am it is a great device to house all the books and magazines. The collection remains small and will grow over time. Anyway, Barnes and Noble have released an update for the Nook that includes an app store, email (limited), video, and enhancements for browsing. Some nice updates as I did start to look at a few of the updates. I did test the app store and did not find anything, yet. I did set up my Gmail account and it was synchronizing when I put the Nook down. Still need to test the web browser and video. The Nook could play music, and I have spent a little time on it and seem to work well. The video will be interesting and probably will be low on my testing. I could get to it by late May or early June when I need to make a family trip. Looking for the update, check your email as the link is included on how to get the newest update.

--john

New Tablets on the horizon

2011-04-25T09:30:00.002-04:00

It has been a few weeks already and time does fly by when one is working. The schedule will be a little better starting this week, so hopefully I can get back to some tech stuff.
First, I noticed that tablets have been a rage the past few weeks. Dell has planned a few for this upcoming year. Two that sport a 10 inch screen running Windows 7 and Android. The 13 inch will have Windows 7 which looks really interesting. Why? Simply because it has 64-bit CPU which can support 4GBs of memory. 13 inch screen is amazing, the question begs... how is the battery life. The tablet is due in July so we will have to wait. I have noticed that Acer has released the W500 tablet, click here for the specs. It looks really good on the surface. They have just been released. The cost is reasonable compared to other tablets. I am waiting for some reviews on the Acer tablet. It does have a 10 inch screen running Windows 7 and the CPU is 32-bit. Why Windows tablets, simple I can run regular Windows apps from my PC on these devices.

--john

A Few Items

2011-04-08T08:49:00.000-04:00

This is more of test than anything else. I am on the road right now and sitting in the Detroit airport. Typing on my WM7 is a bit tedious, oh well.
Secondly, I was working on the newly received Samsung ssd. One word of advise if you thinking about getting this brand; don't! The reason is because the firmware update methodology is horrendous. I have 3-4 hours into trying to update the firmware and nothing to show.
Well that is all for now. Maybe blogging from my phone isn't all that bad. Maybe I should. wakeup!

--john

Flash back

2011-04-06T09:30:00.000-04:00

Wow, 30 years ago the Osborne 1 was released! Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you want to look at it, I remember this luggable came out. When it came out it had a 4 MHz (yes, that is correct) Z80A processor. A company called Zilog made Z80A. 64k of RAM and two single sided floppy drives (no mistyping here). That would be 360k total storage. They did have dual sided floppies for 720KB. In addition, the Seagate ST-506 was available or 5MB hard drive. Of course, the memory was extremely expensive back in those days, something like $500 for 32k and the hard drive setup ran thousands. I really do not have anything to complain about these days. When I was in college, the professor had a Compaq version of the Osborne 1 and it was heavy and expensive. These lug gables weighted in around 25lbs. So, what is there to complain about these days when a tablet weights a mere 2lbs or less. Laptops around 5-7lbs and netbooks around 2.5-3.5lbs? Probably makes you a product of the times. I even remember the first laptop, which had an 80386-processor and dual floppies and a built in modem. That ran a few thousand dollars and the company I worked at had two for use. Yes, a lot has changed in the past 30 years. Then again, when you look back 30 years from now (2041) we will laugh at the 2lb tablet.

--john

100GB DVD on it's way

2011-04-05T09:32:00.000-04:00

That is no mistype, 100GB on a DVD. Panasonic is ready to launch the new DVD here shortly. One probably that I can see, the price, $118 per DVD. Oh wait, did I mention that a new blue-ray player would be needed. These DVDs are triple layer, which will require that new burner. Actually, it is a good method to back up critical files. Although, one could get a 500GB hard drive (2.5 inch flavor) for less and probably have a few backups. To me, the price does not make a compelling decision in doing the backups. Hard drives are still probably the better way to go at this point. Even though hard drives can fail, the MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures) is huge. In addition, even though I have two that are failing right now, those drives get bang on every day. Performing backups will be less use and less chance of failure. When the new DVD comes down in price, say around $10-$15 bucks I will be interested, until that time hard drives, thank you.

--john

IPv6 Greatness about to come

2011-04-04T09:23:00.001-04:00

Okay, so I am now blowing hot and cold with my blogging. I started a new contract and have been busy rebuilding multiple PCs. Still not done with rebuilding them as new SSDs are on their way to replace old failing hard drives. I hope that these new SSDs will be fast like what I have read many times in the reviews. Once the SSDs are in place and have been running them for a short period, I will give you thoughts. Look for review here in a few weeks.
Anyway, here is a good article about IPv6 and how the ISPs are planning to migrate. The article has three methods of migration. One expensive, which is running dual stack, both IPv4 and IPv6. The next is dual stack lite, which has a NAT translator between IPv4 and IPv6. The third method is 6RD (IPv6 Rapid Deployment) where IPv4 is encapsulated. It will be interesting to see what method each ISP will taking as cost tend to drive these implementations. If it were I, betting on "Dual Lite” would most likely be the direction most ISPs would take. Just to note again, that June 8, 2011 is IPv6 test day between the ISPs. Do not expect any changes to your network that day. Also, I just got a book about IPv6 (I know boring) and want to understand the scheme a little better. IPv6 is entirely different than IPv4 so I want to know more about it and be prepared for the switch some day.

--john

Who's 4G is the faster

2011-03-31T20:24:00.000-04:00

Okay, I am busy with a new contract and now my blogging seems to be taking the brunt of my slacking off. I meant to post this the other day. The article talks about who has the fastest 4G service. Note, the ITU has yet to classify specifications to 4G. 4G is nothing more than marketing hype for now. Expect the ITU to come up with the specifications hopefully soon. Anyway, some 4G services are actually slower than 3G services, so check the article out if you are moving into the 4G world really soon.

--john

This seems to be true

2011-03-26T12:56:00.001-04:00

Why does Microsoft fail in the tablet market and Apple fail in the server market? This is interesting take, and do not forget that Microsoft introduced the tablet over 10 years ago. The gist is Microsoft moves executives around to new products when Apple hires executive who understand their target market. Microsoft could have easily introduced a tablet using Windows Phone 7 O/S. Instead it looks like Microsoft wants Windows 7 on the tablet which has not been successful to this point.
And to tell you the truth I did not even know that Apple was in the server market until last summer. Apparently, Apple has been in that market for around 10 years. This is Microsoft cash cow.
As for Zune vs. iPod, Zune was much better. The problem was Microsoft was late to the party and Zune never gain traction. Zune is quickly moving to software and the hardware will probably be cooked here shortly.
As for the phones Microsoft had a huge market share prior to Apple. The problem was Microsoft let anyone write code for Windows Mobile. If crap code was produce, which it was, caused all kinds of problems. Unfortunately, instead of removing the crap code, everyone blamed Microsoft for a poor operating system. In order to rectify the problem, Apple and now Microsoft have gone to a closed (controlled) environment which produces a more stable platform. Personally the close systems suck. When Windows Mobile was around and I found an app that was crap I pulled it off. That rectified the problem and I never had problems. Users tend to get emotional over a product instead of thinking how to fix it.
Anyway, it is an interesting thought about how two companies operate.

--john

A high tech mirror

2011-03-21T13:12:00.000-04:00

GM is bringing out this summer a mirror that has OnStar and bluetooth connectivity for your cell phone for any car manufacturer. Of course, OnStar is a monthly subscription or a yearly fee making this somewhat expensive. What I do not know if the OnStar will function if you get into an accident? There is an installation charge, so what and what it cannot do is unknown at this point. This may work if there are some sensors in case the car gets into a crash and calls for help, through OnStar. This is not a bad idea, and for the masses maybe a little too expensive at this point. The only question that comes to mind; what price do you put on your safety and or life?

--john

AT&T buying T-Mobile

2011-03-20T20:32:00.001-04:00

In a word, this sucks! AT&T is very expensive for their mobile broadband plans compared to T-Mobile and there is nothing to be gained except for an iPhone Oh well, time to investigate if it is time to move to one of the other carriers. This merger will take 1 year to close. I hope that the government will nix this merger. Since AT&T owns our government that will not happen. Click on the title to get what I found as the best write-up found to this point.

Click here for dslreports.com write-up. The reason this sucks is the points given out by AT&T in the merger statement did not make me feel like this is a great deal for T-Mobile customers.

--john

The next generation of mouse

2011-03-20T09:09:00.001-04:00

Although this is not a new idea, it looks like it is working. The device connects through bluetooth and you use your fingers to move the cursor around. There is a video on the website that demonstrates the "new" mouse and how it works. If you are interested in the next generation this is worth a look.

--john

All wired network

2011-03-20T08:17:00.012-04:00

Should one consider doing all wired and move away from wireless networking? The article provides a method for doing just that, an all wired network. From a safety (security), no one can connect to your network. That would make for one less possible vulnerability to the network. From a reliability point, interference no longer becomes an issue. From a convenience point wired becomes a royal pain. You will have to buy wires and they cost, plus determining the length of the cable. Currently, if one goes all wired, speeds of 1Gbps can be achieved. Going wireless the best is around 300Mbps (N standard), if nothing interferes with the signal. Start sharing the wireless signal will degrade the performance. Being all wired has more advantages than wireless doesn't it! So, the question begs, why does everyone love wireless? Simply, no one wants to be tied down. If you are at home, does it really matter? The article has several tips that can make you completely wired. Check it out!

--john

500Mbps for broadband over powerline

2011-03-19T07:30:00.004-04:00

With the specification done, broadband over power line (110V) the speed rated at 500Mbps. The IEEE committee sets the specifications for broadband over power lines. Currently the standard is 100Mbps and some manufacturers are offering 200Mbps (full duplex). BPL, which extends the network over power lines, is an easy way to run cables around the house very easily. I have BPL in the office because Wi-Fi does not reach. Realistically look for consistent speeds to be around 100-150Mbps. That is not bad throughput compared to the 100Mbps or about 30Mbps consistently.
Wired network connectivity is a very safe and reliable connection compared to Wi-Fi only. I use a combination of wired and wireless. Only a few of my devices actually use the wireless network. The vast majority of my network is wired. Tomorrow a blog discussing wireless and wired and how to mesh both technologies together.

--john

1.5Gbps to your home

2011-03-18T10:01:00.000-04:00

According to this article Cisco has been able to get speeds down of 1.5Gbps using a cable system (DOCSIS 3.0). Of course, I would like to see 100Mbps at a nice price, say $40/per month. We are probably a decade away from obtaining those speeds. I hope that during that time ISPs will not impose caps on the usage. I do think the companies will take their sweet time getting to those speeds. Once you hit 1.5Gbps, the hardware will need to have an Ultra-Gigabit port (10Gbps). Just getting to a Gigabit speed is just coming about from router manufacturers. In addition, the routers seem to be only Fast Ethernet (100Mbps) on the WAN connection (from the ISP into the router). It is great to see speeds like this possible without the ISPs not having to upgrade their equipment. That really drives the cost down. An article stated ISPs in Hong Kong plan on deploying 1Gbps Internet connectivity and for a mere $26 /per month. Now if we could do that here in the US life would be great.

--john

Could this be true

2011-03-17T08:11:00.003-04:00

The person writing this article thinks Microsoft could face extinction, however, that should be in the consumer market, i.e. tablets and phones. Total extinction? No. The reason is simply that Microsoft is too big in the corporate world to fail. The article brings up some good points, like if Microsoft brings out the next version of Windows, sometime around 2012/2013, it could be far ahead in the small form factor. That would cause Apple to try to push down OS/X to the tablet and iPhone. Until that time, Apple will continue to dominate the tablet space. Unless Android devices come down to compete and that looks like it is going to take time. So, most of the vendors have missed the tablet market even though Microsoft brought a tablet device to the market a decade ago. Is this a blunder by Microsoft? Maybe, however, I think Microsoft deliberately put it off since they are coming off the DOJ anti-trust lawsuit from a decade ago. I think several missteps are simply because of this situation. People are saying they are too big. That is not the case as Microsoft is trying to avoid facing the DOJ. Why not let Apple or someone else be a leader and take any heat from the government? In addition, if Microsoft (if is the key word) takes over the market they can say others had the market share. Only question would remain is the old strong-arm tactic that was levied against Microsoft. They learned their lesson, I think, so it will be interesting to see how the tablet market plays out over the next several years. So, to me this article has some merits and outright failure/extinction for Microsoft, not true.

--john

And now FireFox 4 RC

2011-03-16T13:28:00.001-04:00

Microsoft brought out IE9 Monday evening. Now Firefox 4 RC (Release Candidate) is out. I have upgraded both browsers and can say they are faster. However, that is without all the add-ins. As it stands, Firefox 4 RC does not permit the add-ins. Hopefully Firefox 4 RC will just become Firefox 4 very soon. Check the new browsers out as the look and feel are different from previous versions.

--john

128GB SD card is available now

2011-03-16T07:28:00.000-04:00

That is right; 128GBs of flash memory is now available for $330. This is the highest capacity for the SDXC format. The current limitation for SDXC is 2TBs. It will be a couple years before we hit that ceiling. Looking for large capacity, this is for you. Lexar also announced a 64GB SDXC card for $200. The write speed is 133x or about 20MBs per second. If you are looking to get one of these cards, make sure the slot to your device supports the SDXC format.

--john

T-Mobile has 10GB data plan

2011-03-15T09:24:00.000-04:00

In addition, it is very expensive at $85 per month and $68 if on a voice plan. Still very expensive as their service is not the best. If you live in a major metropolitan service is typically excellent, however, buildings can affect the signal. Move outside that area and their service becomes iffy. Verizon charges less at $80 per month and that is backed by a network that has better coverage. Time for T-Mo to start adding towers that increases coverage. That is not going to happen, as far as I can determine, because the push is for 4G.

--john

Windows IE9 to lunch at 9PM PST Midnight on the east cost

2011-03-14T21:22:00.000-04:00

I use Firefox and version 4 is around the corner. That said Microsoft is on the eve of launching IE9. This is much revamped web browser. I ran it in the early beta testing and found it to be okay. According to the article, IE9 is supposed to be fast and even faster by tweaking. It will be interesting to see how fast this new browser gets pushed out in Windows 7 updates. With Firefox version 4, both browsers seemed to be the same. Under the hood, it is very different. The browser wars are heating up again as Apple, Google, Mozilla, and Microsoft are battling again for usage. When IE9 hits with an update, it will be time to try it out.

--john

It was just a matter of time

2011-03-14T06:49:00.000-04:00

I really did not think this was going to happen as fast as it did! BBR is reporting that AT&T is imposing caps on their DSL service of 150GBs and 250GBs for U-Verse customers. Additionally, AT&T is charging $10 for each 50GBs for going over the limit. We will keep our fingers crossed that this will not trigger the industry to switch. Right now, the caps seem reasonable, and figure those numbers will go down over time as customers accept the caps. AT&T claims that their customers use an average of 18GBs per month. I really cannot argue with that number if you are surfing, doing email, and occasionally stream a movie, not HD though. One question I have is how many customers are going to flee to another ISP that does not implement a cap for Internet usage? AT&T will probably not publish those numbers, as the caps will start May 2. I like their cable system, well laid out and fast. However, DSL has been a major disappointment. Why? Simple, because of distance limitations brought on by using copper instead of fiber. I was thinking moving back to AT&T U-Verse; however, WoW is looking better to me now.

Also, check here for Engadget's article.

--john

iPhone can not tell time

2011-03-13T21:02:00.001-04:00

The well-known iPhone has been out for 4 years now and the newest problem is the clock. This is the first negative article I have seen (I can remember) slamming the iPhone because of the clock. The iPhone failed to spring forward today and instead fell back, now your clock is 2 hours off. Is this a software issue? Yes, funny how this makes a headline because someone could not make it to church this morning. As with any device, computer, or any programmable device, errors will occur. Remember, humans write the code for them and after all are we perfect? USAToday is nothing but pro Apple, which I found strange to see this reported. If you need your Apple news filled, check out USAToday tech section. They do a great job in selling Apple. Do I hate Apple, no? However, I find it a little nauseating that Apple does nothing wrong and this makes a news headline in a major paper.

--john

WP7 hits 10,000 apps

2011-03-11T23:33:00.000-05:00

It was just last week that Windows Phone 7 (WP7) hit 9,000 apps. Well, this past week it past 10,000 apps. Momentum is quickly gaining for the new platform from Microsoft. Good to see this is happening for this platform. This is translating to about 1,000 apps per week added to the marketplace.

--john

This I did not know

2011-03-10T11:46:00.002-05:00

It has been 25 years since the first virus was discovered on a PC. It was called Brain. In addition, of all places, it came from Pakistan. The virus was not destructive like we see today; it just caused some minor issues. What it is interesting the people who wrote the virus had their name, address and phone number embedded in the code. The virus was spread through 5.25 floppy drives (man does that bring back memories).and it made it around the world. My question is how long it took, because there was no Internet to speak of at that time. The Internet was limited to government, military, and universities. Anyway, there is a 10-minute video of the person who found the virus and he talks to the people who wrote it, Brain. Check it out!

--john

Oh this is good, trust me

2011-03-09T14:00:00.001-05:00

This is funny or maybe not, a blocker for all those who are tired of hearing about Charlie Sheen. There is add-in for Firefox and Safari that blocks out anything related to Charlie Sheen. Of course, I really get a kick out of Two and Half Men sitcom, so it really does not bother me. However, I can see where many people could not stand him anymore. As the saying goes, to each their own.

--john
.

Does or did this happen to you

2011-03-09T11:06:00.000-05:00

Have you ever gone over on your data cellular plan? The industry is now trying to spin it that overages are good for us, the consumer. All I can say is WOW! Paying more for the same service, and that is good for whom? Fortunately, my carriers do not have overages, instead they will throttle your speed back (when hitting the cap) until the next billing period starts. I have a data plan on my phone and have a MiFi with Virgin Mobile (VM). Unfortunately, VM decided against having a truly unlimited data plan starting on February 15. Now it is 5GBs (grandfathered) for customers who had that plan. For customers just signing up it is now 2.5GBs and the monthly fee went up. Personally, I prefer (as best as I can allow it) throttling versus paying a fee for going over the limit. According to the article, the most the FCC saw in one month was a $68,000 bill. For one month, hopefully that customer was a billionaire and did not care. For me that would be impossible to pay back. Even a bill for $1,000 would be extremely hard to pay back. The EU is implementing some warnings so that the cellular providers to their customers that they are about to exceed the monthly cap. That is fair and the cellular providers should implement in the US. Except the cellular providers (AT&T and Verizon) are fighting this so-called regulation. Simply because the cellular providers want the additional revenue. Of course, the cellular providers use the scare tactic that there is not enough bandwidth for all their customers traffic, or it is not fair that a power user takes more bandwidth than your grandma does. All of which are poor arguments, and that is the best the cellular providers have right now. I do not expect much for our government to tell the cellular providers to provide some kind of notification before going over the limit, but we will find out in due time.
Tip: Most smartphones have an app that will monitor your data traffic. I have one on a smartphone from a company called SPB (click here) and it will warn when going over a daily threshold. Check it out; it could save you from a major headache someday.

.

--john

Windows Phone 7 update

2011-03-08T09:26:00.000-05:00

Codename Mango, due out who knows when, will bring multitasking, IE9 and Twitter updates has been up for debate when it will launch. The computer industry has names to the projects they work on and somehow the public seems to get a hold of it. To me, what better way to confuse the followers (tech community) so they cannot accurately predict when the software will be released. All that really matters is that it comes out, sooner rather than later. Multitasking already exists in WP7 along with IE8 and Twitter is not a concern of mine. Therefore, I do not think this is going to be a huge jump, probably above minor and diffidently below major. In other words, nice upgrade. The first issue is that Microsoft needs to get the updates working. They have had issues just pushing an update to fix the updater. Knowing Microsoft, they will get the job done.

--john