Linux Alliance

Archive for the ‘Internet’ Category

Whether you’re getting a computer for the first time, or you’re getting one as an upgrade for your existing machine, new electronics are generally exciting. You get to choose the hardware and software that you like the best, and there are all kinds of options to pick from, budget permitting. If you’re going to be using the Internet a lot to interact with others, don’t forget to check into e-mail hosting. You may even want to have a blog or Website just to get your thoughts and ideas out there to the world – or maybe you’ll start up a business and sell something online.

No matter what you’re going to be doing online, be sure that the computer you’re getting is the right one for you. If you don’t pay close attention to the hardware and software configuration that you’re getting, you might find that the computer really isn’t adequate for your needs. That can be very unfortunate, and can stop you from fully enjoying your new electronics. Before you buy, have a good idea of the kinds of things that you like to do. Talk to the salesperson and make sure that the computer will meet your needs.

If you’re not sure if the computer you’re looking at is right for you, don’t hesitate to re-consider and get a second opinion. You might want to bring a knowledgeable friend or family member to look at the computer. You can also go to a different store and see what it has to offer. Both are great ways to take your time and be sure that you’re buying the right computer at the right price – and one that you’ll be able to get a lot of use out of for a long period of time. It’s a big purchase, so make it wisely.

Like many businesses that use the Internet to connect with customers, auto insurance companies want to have professional-looking websites that attract the attention of potential clients. You probably start your evaluation of the company as soon as its web page begins to load. But your Internet speed may hinder your first impression. In order to be competitive, auto insurance providers may use digital media or high-quality graphics. The slower your Internet connection, the longer it will take for a page to load onto your computer.

In some cases, you may see images stagger onto your page before finally loading. If you have a really slow Internet connection, you may get a loading signal that remains on your screen for several minutes. When the graphics and media to begin to appear, your connection speed may separate them into pixels rather than a smooth finished product.

Upgrading to a high-speed Internet connection may benefit your auto insurance shopping in more than one way. First, it will allow web pages to load quickly, which can allow you to make a true evaluation of the company rather than one offset by your computer’s ability to load the page. Second, it will increase how quickly you can gather information from a company. In some cases, it may allow you to get up-to-date quotes rather than old information.

Once you increase your connection speed, you may find you enjoy shopping online more than you did when it took forever for a page to load. Once you finish comparing auto insurance quotes, why not test your high-speed connection? Try watching a streaming video online and see what it looks like when the connection doesn’t make the screen glitch. Load a jigsaw puzzle and enjoy playing it. Once you upgrade to a high-speed connection, you may wonder what took you so long to do it.

The Internet has certainly changed the way we distribute and access information. With all of the world’s greatest libraries, periodicals, museums and other sources of information available online, it’s hard to imagine a world where information isn’t just a click away. And while the way we transmit and receive information has changed in the last two decades, thanks to the Internet, perhaps what is equally significant is the way we interact socially.

Like all technology, the Internet has evolved over the years, and while its primary function remains as a means of finding information, the prevalence of online social networking, how it’s changed our society and the way we communicate has left an indelible imprint on who we are and the role the Internet has played in our lives.

Thanks to the Internet, we are now able to interact virtually with people from all over the globe. We can chat socially via instant message, send e-mails and make posts on blogs and websites. We can share photographs, videos and sound clips and truly open our lives up to the virtual world in ways that would have never been possible. Wherever you are, whatever your time zone, you can always reach out to a new friend online, or reconnect with an old friend.

Since the early 2000’s we have enjoyed all of the benefits of establishing online relationships and sharing our lives via social networking sites. Similar to getting information, adding a new friend to your roster is as simple as clicking a mouse. From there you can learn through words and pictures about the person’s family, their educational background, their hobbies, where they’ve been on vacation and so much more. Beyond establishing friendships, there are sites devoted to meeting significant others in order to spark romantic relationships and sites devoted to linking professionals to one another for purposes of business networking.

We can meet informally or formally online, conduct Web conferences and even draw up major business deals without ever leaving our computers. And as technology continues to evolve, it’s likely that the Internet will adapt to support future communication needs.

The days of waking up early on Saturday to hit yard sales are over. Thanks to the Internet and the virtual marketplace, more people are turning to Websites when it comes to selling those old skis, doilies and the loads of unwanted baby clothes that have amassed, among all of the other unused items taking up space in your closets, attic, basement and garage.

Let’s face it, we all have items that we want to purge, and while regularly donating items is a great and charitable way of de-cluttering while giving, there are just some items that you would prefer to sell than donate. Consider that camera that’s in great condition, but was set aside because you received an upgrade, or that expensive dress that your daughter only wore once, then grew out of. Sure, you could try taking them to a consignment shop, but why not try your luck at being an online merchant and peddling them on the Web?

Sure, there are a few steps involved, but selling items online is a fairly painless process. If you’re heading in that direction, be prepared to provide a description, price and a photo for each item that you’re planning to sell. Also, you need to consider whether you want to sell your items outright, or whether you would rather sell them via an online auction. Oh, and of course you’ll have to establish how items will be shipped and paid for, but adding those features to an online marketplace is simple and requires just a few steps.

All things considered, it sure beats setting up loads of tables, tagging each item and parking yourself in the sun all day while you wait for shoppers to drive by. Plus, you get to expand your customer base by allowing people from all over the world to peruse the merchandise. According to a recent poll, the Internet attracts more than 132 million shoppers a year, and that’s just in the U.S. That’s a lot more exposure than a few homemade signs on a telephone post and an ad in the local paper could do.

Although it’s sort of a cliche, many people envisioned the twenty-first century as something from a Ray Bradbury novel where people were half robot, cars were spaceships and our cities looked more or less like something from the Jetson’s cartoon. And while we’re not quite there yet, the last two decades have brought some amazing technology.

Take for instance, the Internet. Who would have thought 30 years ago that a global system of interconnected computer networks would come together to form a system that is now dubbed the “information super highway,” a virtual encyclopedia that could be accessible from any computer with a connection?

And although it’s been around for a few decades, can you ever imagine a world where information wasn’t instantly accessible via the Web? Where answers to just about every question weren’t just a click away?

The Internet has truly revolutionized the way we do everything. Want to find a great recipe for eggplant Parmesan or learn how to refinish your kitchen cabinets? Perhaps you’re driving cross-country and you need directions or want to book a hotel. Rest assured, somewhere on the Internet is the answer. Beyond quick bits of information, the Internet houses loads of educational information, including reference materials from many of the world’s best libraries, along with media and artwork from some of the most renowned museums. Add a warehouse of video and audio files and the Internet is a one-stop source for education and entertainment. Oh, and there’s also endless shopping possibilities, as most retailers know the one way to stay financially viable is to have a store online.

And not only does the Internet serve as an educational tool, entertainment source, shopping mecca and general all around solutions giver, it’s a social connector, a sort of a human relations tool that facilitates relationships and allows us to electronically expand our network of friends in ways we could never imagine. We can chat via social networking sites, e-mail, video conferencing, forums and blogs. Whatever our preferred method, the Internet makes it possible for people from all over the world to chat, connect and do business.

Smartphones appear to be the wave of future computing, communicating, and portable devices. As prices drop and more people can afford to purchase a smartphone, older phones with simple communication functionality will probably cease to exist. This makes one wonder about the extent to which cellular communication will change. Will cell phones die out as social status symbols, being replaced by miniature computers with global networking and information access? Information and its availability already played a significant part in defining the twenty-first century, so what impact will the smartphone have?

While smartphone comparison has become exponentially more complex, some juicy tidbits can be gleaned from a basic review of device specifications—for example, actual vocal communication appears to be taking a sideline to other features. The focus has shifted to media such as music, video, and storage capacity. The new smartphones even have GPS software for mapping capabilities and routing. Mechanisms have also been installed to make the phones sensitive to physical shifts, which is applicable for gaming.

Speaking of gaming, the new smartphones have high-resolution screens and fast processors. It is apparent that the manufacturers are aiming for younger audiences that are hooked on media and gaming. With a number of these phones reasonably priced at $99, parents may opt to buy a smartphone for their child instead of a new bicycle. The parents can feel secure in the knowledge that they can reach their children wherever they may be, and with the built-in GPS, should an emergency situation arise, the parent will be able to find the children quickly.

The recently released iPad is not technically a phone, and it lacks a camera, but it might as well be considered a phone. As smartphones are redefining what a phone is, the iPad differs only in scale. By simply adding an ear attachment, it can in fact be used for communication.

It’s no secret that people spend big bucks on software. Whether it’s for business or pleasure, consumers aren’t shy about popping open their wallets for something they want. So, why would a software developer spend months creating a piece of important software, only to give it away for free?

It takes time to develop quality software. A program like Filezilla, for example, is a useful tool. It is extremely sophisticated, and can perform most activities that a paid peer software can do. Yet Filezilla is completely free. The person who developed this software is no ordinary programmer. If he or she had used the time spent developing Filezilla to make money, that would translate into a lot of money. Also, frankly speaking, Filezilla is so good that regular users would not balk at having to pay a few dollars for it. Yet, it is completely free.

What might be the reason for this bounty?

Conspiracy theories abound. Some say that these developers insert trojans and viruses meant to steal data from your system. They argue that these free computer programs are developed by companies that are out to destroy their competition. These conjectures are untrue.

Some talented programmers actually develop software to help people. These programmers are so good that they can make a great product in very little time. Often, they develop a product for their own use, and then let people share it for free, thus creating freeware.

Sometimes this software is developed with a marketing concept in mind; usually, there will be an upgraded version of the free package available for a fee. If people find the free version useful, the hope is that they will gladly pay for more features.

Sometimes, free software is made to advertise a website and get some paid advertisements. This is a good way to make money for someone who is a smart programmer.

While open source operating systems and software hasn’t revolutionized computing as much as some users had believed, such as unseating Mac and Windows, it significantly has and will continue to leave an impact. Its combination with various other technologies has allowed users to do things never thought of before like making these technologies work for them how they see fit. And while it may be easy to overlook its advances, it is becoming harder and harder not to use them.

A digital world where users have begun to expect free access to their desired applications is assuredly making obsolete the idea of paying for an operating system, plus the burden of licensing fees. This idea is epitomized by the business model of Microsoft. In retrospect, does it make much sense to pay for an operating system just to be able to get online and use certain software? Open source software on the other hand is free and very elastic. It can generally be used on any platform emphasizing the freedom of online applications changing users expectations.

The advantage of open source software’s flexibility is also reaching into the hardware of computing. As the demand for smart phones and tablets continue to skyrocket, the design of smaller, faster chips that use dramatically less power has flourished. These same chips are increasingly making their way inside of laptops and desktops because of their burgeoning efficiency. Some software, however, won’t run on high-performance chips like ARM. It then becomes necessary for manufacturers of these smaller computing devices to have an operating system that can operate with their components. This is what open source can do.

But to find the greatest example of open source’s impact on computing one not need go far. In fact, people researching open source software are most likely using it right now: Google. With its search engine running on Linux, as well as its Android operating system, Google has been an open source company from the very beginning. Not only does it fit its image of freedom, it accommodates their drive of opening up new frontiers. People can definitely say they use open source everyday.

Linux

Linux fans are surely familiar with the technical advantages of the Linux desktop over the mainstream proprietary systems. But if you look beyond its sheer efficiency you will find it supports a great deal of open source applications that offer interaction, fun and entertainment just like well known proprietary programs. Following are five stimulating apps that can really measure up to the usual proprietary suspects.

Ekiga
Besides email and social media apps, one of the most popular forms of interacting online is the video conferencing program Skype. While Skype’s popularity is hard to match, the Linux friendly version Ekiga is comparable in ability. Encompassing SIP calling, LAN chatting choices and the previously mentioned video conferencing, it is arguably the top open source program of its kind.

GIMP
For the design professionals and creative types, the photo editor of choice has been the proprietary application Photoshop. Understandably, it can be difficult to make a change from a program you’re comfortable with. GIMP, however, is worth a shot. Already known among most Linux users, GIMP is easy to use and very similar to Photoshop in its ability to create and manipulate images.

Scribus
Although it might take a little learning, Scribus is a desktop publishing application that has advantages over its proprietary kin like Pagemaker and InDesign. Files made in Scribus use open standards and work created in it can easily be imported and exported across different platforms. And why not put together newsletters and other publications for free?

OpenShot
Video editing software has now become a standard app for a lot of proprietary operating systems, and its no different with Linux. In fact, there are a lot of Linux video editors out there, but many are inefficient. OpenShot on the other hand is easy to use and comes with more advanced editing capabilities from audio and video effects to video transitions and clippings. A novice or expert will find a happy medium.

VLC Media Player
But if you would rather watch a video rather make one, VLC Media Player would be an excellent choice. This video viewing app can smoothly play just about any video format and stream video, as well as re-encode video.

It’s a revolution — the perfect tangle of athletes and their statistics, the thrill of a game and the certainty of a screen. Online sports betting is a new force in the world of gambling, with its popularity growing quickly throughout all continents. And the reasons leave no doubt as to why.

1. Convenience: Choosing teams, events and wagers is no longer reliant on outside sources. Instead, individuals can place all bets from their computer, allowing for instant access and instant excitement.

2. Analysis: The Internet is privy to many things, including the most up to date examinations of players and their skills. No longer rely on the slow unfolding of television results or the always late ink. The results are current and immediate; which allows all bets to be made prudently. There will be no assumptions.

3. Service: The appeal of online betting may be in its lack of forced interactions, but none should forget the always present technical support. Offering guidance through wages (whether for site complications, process concerns or money transactions), this becomes the most efficient way to answer your questions. The result is speed and ease.

It must be mentioned, though, that the legality of online sports betting is still unresolved. Many states declare it to be against the law while others maintain that it should be allowed. An individual is responsible for assessing his own situation and determining what the possible consequences may be. Do not assume this can be done, even from the anonymity of a computer. You are instead urged to verify it. All betting sites should offer their own explanation as well, clarifying where they rest on the line between good fun and criminal activity. Research thoroughly before agreeing to anything.

None can deny the ease of online sports betting, but some may still deny the lawfulness of it. Be cautious in your choices. Only then can you reap the rewards.