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Fax Servers and the Internet

Thu, 21 May 2009 10:45:42 -0700

The old tradition of sending a fax over the phone required that the message be sent by the fax machine, then through the telephone line then back to the fax machine. Once another fax machine receives the information, it is then turned into images which are then printed on paper. Of course this method had to have phone lines in order to accomplish these steps.

Furthermore, with the traditional method of faxing, only one fax at a time could be sent or received. At this time we didn't much know about fax servers. Technology continues to upgrade our ability to send and receive faxes.

After the traditional fax machine we used the internet fax. This process reduced the cost of communication by not charging to send messages via telephone. The process was a bit different in that hard copies were converted in and sent to and email in a different format. It is imperative that the receiving end of the fax or the recipient has a compatible internet fax. At this time, internet faxes did no require dedicated servers in order to make use of the office mail server.

Going forward, faxing has become even more unique through the use of computer-based faxing. Modems became popular with the increase of people using personal computers. Faxes are sent directly through the computers. Printing a hard copy was no longer necessary. The process of sending a fax went from the computer, then to the telephone line and back to the fax machine. Receiving the fax using fax servers apparently were not widely used at this time. Sending this type of fax required the exact opposite process. This method also had its problems. Furthermore, this process had a tiny glitch in it. The computer had to be turned on in order to send or receive faxes.

Nowadays there is a method of sending a fax called fax to mail or mail to fax. On the receiving end a fax would go through the phone line, then to a server or gateway, to the email via internet and on to the email account. This process takes place using a Public Switched Telephone Networks (PSTN) which goes to the fax servers. Once the fax is received the user can change the document to a particular format. Once this takes place, the fax is transmitted and posted into the web interface on the subscribers account. Sending the fax requires the user to convert the document into PDF format and from that point the fax is sent by the web servers to the fax servers. The process has a few steps in between which can be learned through some in-depth research and previous knowledge of computer technology terms.

What is Internet Protocol?

Thu, 21 May 2009 09:14:39 -0700

The Internet Protocol is a set of rules for processing packets of information sent between computers on the Internet. Each computer that uses the Internet Protocol has at least one IP address which is like a telephone number for talking to that computer.

This set of rules is like a language, but in Computer science they call it protocol. A board of engineers has defined some of those protocols, which sit on top of each other (that's called layered architecture). On top of the Internet protocol there is the Transport Control Protocol and the User Datagram Protocol (and some others). Below it, there are protocols of the Network layer, like Ethernet.

At the moment there are two versions of the Internet Protocol. One is called IP Version 4 (IPv4), the other one is called IP Version 6 (IPv6).

IP address An IP address is a number given to each computer on the internet. It is like a postal address or telephone number, but for the computer. Internet protocol (IP) defines how communication from one address to another work.

Some computers have the same IP address for a very long time. These IP addresses are called "static IP addresses". Some computers change their IP from time to time. These IP addresses are called "dynamic IP addresses".

IP Version 4 With IPv4, each address consists of four octets. An octet is a number, that is coded on 8 bits. There are 256 different such numbers. They go from 0 to 255. To make an IP address, one takes 4 such numbers. To translate between an IP address and the name of the computer, a system called Domain Name System is used. It can translate between the name and the IP Address.

With IPv4, some addresses are special, for example 127.0.0.1 (which maps to 'localhost'). This is the local computer. Also, there are special meanings associated with two different ending numbers. In general, a last number of 0 stands for the network (called base address), and a last number of 255 stands for all hosts on that network (called broadcast address). Computers that are on the same local network share 3 of the 4 numbers. A computer can be one more than one network. It can also have several names.

How To Give Your Notebook A New Look?

Tue, 19 May 2009 12:53:15 -0700

If want to give your laptop a whole new look that is unique from the others, laptop skins are the perfect deal for you. With this, you can instantly change the appearance of your laptop without much hassle.

Laptop skins are adhesive vinyl stickers that stick to your computer laptop and add some color to an otherwise dull gray cover. There's no reason you have to settle for boring. A laptop skin can be customized with any photo or graphic you choose.

There are wide array of designs to choose from when it comes to laptop skins. You can have something like a picture of your favorite celebrity, sports icon, and rock band. One can also choose a theme like nature, abstract or industrial.

Laptop skin is a good way of promoting your business or company. It's like your own billboard of some sort. All you need to do is to include your company logo or website in the design and people will definitely see it. Notebooks with laptop skins will definitely be head turners. Laptops skins are really a good way to advertise.

A lot of people have concerns about laptop skins being permanent. A laptop skin is easily removed and leaves no residue. Installation is easy, only taking a minute, and your laptop will have a cool new look to it.

The life of your laptop skin would greatly depend on how often you bring your laptop with you each time you go out. Normally, a laptop skin can last up to 6 months and can last longer if you keep your laptop safe inside its case and not between your armpits. Careful handling of your laptop can strengthen the life of your laptop skin.

You might be wondering what kind of computers laptop skins can work with. You can apply them to any really, from dell and hp to mac. It's not an issue of the brand, the only really concern is the actual laptop size. And since laptop skins can be made for up to a 17" screen, it's easy to scale down or trim where needed.

Laptop skins will add a new layer to the housing of your laptop, which means added protection to your precious gadget. It is like armor for your laptop. And if you don't like the design anymore you can easily remove it so your laptop will have its original look out of the box. Again this is a hassle free procedure.

So what are you waiting for? Customize your notebook with laptop skins today!

Internet security

Tue, 19 May 2009 10:48:47 -0700

When a computer connects to a network and begins communicating with others, it is taking a risk. Internet security involves the protection of a computer's internet account and files from intrusion of an unknown user.[1] Basic security measures involve protection by well selected passwords, change of file permissions and back up of computer's data.

Security concerns are in some ways peripheral to normal business working, but serve to highlight just how important it is that business users feel confident when using IT systems. Security will probably always be high on the IT agenda simply because cyber criminals know that a successful attack is very profitable. This means they will always strive to find new ways to circumvent IT security, and users will consequently need to be continually vigilant. Whenever decisions need to be made about how to enhance a system, security will need to be held uppermost among its requirements.

Internet security professionals should be fluent in the four major aspects:

* Penetration testing * Intrusion Detection * Incidence Response * Legal / Audit Compliance Anti-virus For more details on this topic, see Malware.

Programs can be made to help your computer, but some users can also create programs with intentions of destroying the computers data by being deceptive. Such programs are known as Trojan horses, worms, viruses and spyware.

* Trojan horses are programs which pretend to do one thing, but in reality snoop out your personal data or damage it. These types conceal their identity or true intentions and are usually quite hard to detect. * Worms are programs which are able to replicate themselves over a computer network and in turn perform malicious actions. As a result it has the ability to affect other programs on the computer. * Viruses are programs which are able to log into the personal files on a computer it has affected and as a result, can end up removing all of them. It can have serious side effects on a computers system. * Malware can be classified as trojans with a limited payload and are often not detected by most antivirus software. They may require the use of other software designed to detect other classes of malware, including spyware.

Software programs such as antivirus software are the most useful in protecting your computer from harmful viruses. These programs are used to detect and eliminate viruses. Anti-virus software can be purchased from any software vendor or downloaded off the internet. Care should be taken in the selection of anti-virus software, as some programs are not very effective in finding and eliminating viruses or malware. Also, when downloading anti-virus software from the Internet, one should be cautioned that some websites say they are providing protection from viruses with their software, but they are really trying to install malware on your computer by disguising it as something else.

Anti-spyware For more details on this topic, see Malware.

There are two major kinds of threats in relation to spyware:

Spyware collects and relays data from the compromised computer to a third-party.

Adware automatically plays, displays, or downloads advertisements. Some types of adware are also spyware and can be classified as privacy-invasive software. Adware often are integrated with other software.

Email Security An significant part of the Internet, E-mail encryption is an important subset of this topic.

Browser choice Almost 70% of the browser market is occupied by Internet Explorer[1]. As a result, malware writers often exploit Internet Explorer. Often malware exploit ActiveX vulnerabilities. Internet Explorer market share is continuously dropping (as of 2009; see list of web browsers for statistics) as users switch to other browsers, most notably Firefox, Opera and Google Chrome.

Buffer overflow attacks For more details on this topic, see Buffer overflow. A buffer overflow is a attack that could be used by a hacker to get full system access through various methods. It is similar to "Brute Forcing" a computer in that it sends an immense attack to the victim computer until it cracks. Most internet security solutions today lack sufficient protection against these types of attacks.

Basic FTP Know-How

Tue, 19 May 2009 10:16:21 -0700

FTP is an abbreviation for "File Transfer Protocol". It is used to upload and download files to an online server.

Even if you're not aware of it, probably you utilize FTP consistently. An additional typical application of FTP is downloading online files. You are probably using FTP when you download large video or music files. Also, people who design web pages will find the FTP capacity to transmit files vital.

An FTP address resembles a Website address with the exception that it usually has an "ftp:" rather than an "http:". A server might be created to be dedicated solely to connect via FTP.

Servers are sometimes dedicated for receipt of FTP hookups. This is called an FTP server or FTP site since it only receives FTP connections; this is similar to a web server which is a computer that's purpose is to host web pages.

An FTP Client (FTP Software)

This is an elaborate title for software that is created to move files back and forth through a network. In reality, the Internet is a very large "wide area" network (WAN).

Extra features of the FTP Client consist of: many simultaneous file transfers, being able to make folders on a another server, being able to use CHMOD (Changing permissions); giving files a different name, removing files and other operations.

Where can I get FTP software from?

1. If you have to send many files, use an excellent Professional FTP system such as WS-FTP Pro.

2. While Windows Explorer is suitable for FTP, it is often difficult for people to use.

3. One effective and complimentary FTP client is Filezilla.

4. If you only want to upload a few files, or if you just want to try the program out, normally it is possible to obtain a free trial version of some FTP clients.

Prior to uploading files with FTP, you will need:

1. The FTP Host (Server), usually ftp.somewebsite.tld, or simply an IP address

2. The FTP Username

3. The FTP Password

4. Use Passive FTP? (Typically "Yes")

5. Apply Secure (SFTP)? (Typically "No")

6. The port for the FTP (Typically 21)

7. The majority of the time you will not upload directly to the first folder you land in, should you be uploading to a website. Typically, online content is contained in a folder labeled /public_html or /www or /httpdocs based on the type of operating system. This is something you must be aware of in order to publish a website. In addition, it is necessary to be familiar with the primary page's title. On most websites, the main page will be called index.htm (or index.html) or home.htm (or home.html).

Entry Level SLR: Canon Rebel XT, XTi, XSi, XS, T1i

Tue, 19 May 2009 09:05:45 -0700

So, you've had your Canon Digital Rebel XT for a while, and you're starting to get a little camera envy. Nikon, Canon and the competition keep releasing new models with more bells and whistles. Which of course leads you to thinking about how much better your photos could be with the latest technology.

More bells and whistles, or better pictures? Personally, if I'm going to upgrade it's going to be something substantial. Something that allows me to take better photographs, and improve my skills as a photographer. Allow me to illuminate.

All the Canon Digital Rebels are really just entry level digital SLR cameras. That includes the XT, XTi, and XSi. Don't get me wrong, they're really great cameras, and provide an excellent bridge for those wanting to move from the no-brainer simple world of point and shoot photography to the beautifully rendered near-pro quality of SLR photography. Arguably Canon has done a better job of filling that gap.

Being one of the best selling models in the Canon line, a major overhaul would have been crazy on Canons part, both from a sales number perspective, and a user experience perspective. They have however added several smart new features. Not the least of which being Live View.

By skipping up a model line in the Canon chain of command, you get a few extra advantages. Moving up to a 30D or 40D gives you a full metal camera body. Metal bodies are far more shock resistant, and durable than the molded plastic found on the Digital Rebel lineup.

I've heard from several photographers that like to have vastly different cameras for different situations. If you share this diverse thinking, then the Canon 5D is likely the better choice.

Of course, its hard to have a camera upgrade discussion without the subject of price coming up. The Canon 5D is a little less than twice the price of the EOS 40D. You have to wonder if maybe it's better to go for the cheaper 40D, and dump the rest of your budget into some nice glass (photo geek speak for lenses).

Given the perpetual affliction of "upgradeitis" that many cameras geeks find themselves in, that could save a whack of money on the next upgrade. Of course you don't necessarily need to save that money, you could always just sink it into a really nice new lens to go with that upgraded camera ;)

If your one of those lucky few with unlimited funds, go ahead and buy one of each. You can't go wrong that way. Of course if you have slightly more realistic budget restraints and are on the lookout for some fantastic camera deals, keep on looking. The more cameras you see and the more you learn, and the happier you'll be with your final decision.

IT Consulting - Finding the Right One

Tue, 19 May 2009 07:39:50 -0700

If you are starting up a new business in Australia, choosing the firm that will perform IT consulting for you may be one of your hardest tasks. Some new business owners are not 100% sure on what exactly their company will need in terms of information technology. The task becomes even more daunting if your own expertise in the technical world is very limited. This article will provide five tips for choosing IT consulting and the contact information for one such company at the end.

Have Your Requirements Ready! Before you hire IT consultants, find out your IT requirements first. Begin by jotting down current business problems and what you think would be the best solutions to getting rid of them. By knowing what your current business issues are, an IT consultant will be better able to suggest the necessary solutions to them. You should also consider where you want your company to be in the next 1-5 years. This gives IT professionals the chance to ensure they can meet the needs of your growing company.

Allot Time for a Reply Once you figure out which technical services your business requires, you can start looking for IT companies that can best solve your technical problems. The best recourse to take is to put forward your list of technical problems and then give them some time to propose their IT solutions. Such information will enable you to pick the company that's most suited to your needs. Most providers of IT consulting will know about this process and as such can easily offer a summary of their proposed solutions.

What About Support? Another crucial thing to check when scouting for managed IT services is the level of technical support they provide. Your technology may be well suited to your company's needs, but this advantage may be offset by a lot of downtime. Ask the IT support provider about response times to problems and then ask that this reply be put in writing. This will see to it that your systems run smoothly and should there ever be trouble, somebody will be there to fix it. Decent providers of IT consulting should furnish you with their response time policies despite the fact that you have not enlisted their services yet.

Periodic Maintenance As your business expands, IT support provided by the firm should constantly evaluate if the systems they provided are still good enough to cater to your company's needs. As your business develops, you may not be so sure anymore about the suitability of your IT system. A good IT group will understand that your needs as a company change, and will thus give you regular maintenance checkups to see how the system can be improved to keep up with you. When you sign up for your IT service, this policy should appear in writing.

You need your business to succeed and choosing the right IT consulting will allow your company to function efficiently. If you follow the tips and get the best company that fit your own profile, then you can be sure that your business will work efficiently as well. Use these tips when you look for firms and you will get the best company for your requirements.

Blu Ray Disk Drives

Tue, 19 May 2009 04:55:55 -0700

The optical disk technology has by far reached its potential in today's world. An optical disk is a medium used for data storage and an optical drive is what's used to read these disks and also to write on them. The Blue ray disk is very much different from a normal DVD and consists of a ferromagnetic material that is sealed with a plastic coating. There are different kinds of optical disk drives in the market but the most recent one's to have captured the consumer electronic market are the Blue ray drives.

A single-layer Blue ray disk can store around 25GB and a dual-layer disk can store 50GB. This storage space is way higher than a normal DVD. Blue ray drives are needed to read and write data on to a Blue ray disk.

The way the Blue ray drives work is quite fascinating. The Blue ray drives actually have a laser inside that helps the reading and writing of data more understandable for the computer. During the whole disk reading process, a laser beam is projected on the disk. This reflects a light. The light changes according to the different effects of the magneto-optical Kerr.

The BDA, also known as the Blue ray Disk Association consist of some of the well known consumer electronic giants. According to them almost all Blue ray drives should be capable of reading the traditional type of DVD's and CD's. This is known as backward compatibility.

Although many consumers still use the standard DVD's and CD's to watch movies and listen to songs, the Blue ray disk format has gained more popularity over time. Blue ray disks come with more storage space and higher quality than a normal DVD, making it more useful for people who want to get a cinematic experience right at their home.

During the early days there were a few manufacturers used to make products such as Blue ray DVD players and Blue ray drives that played only DVD's and not CD's. But today, many companies have rectified this problem by improving the quality of their products. These days you will be able to purchase Blue ray drives and players that can read DVD's as well as CD's.

Having a high storage space compared to other disks is one of the biggest advantages the Blue ray disk has. Due to the increase of sales, manufacturers of desktop computers and laptops have incorporated Blue ray drives into them. Many computer systems are now being shipped with the Blue ray drives installed in them. The Sony Playstation-3 was one of the first to use the Blue ray technology.

For manufacturers of traditional DVD's and CD's, the Blue ray disk has come up as a major competitor, enveloping most of its customers. After all who would want a DVD with low storage space when a Blue ray disk can be purchased with higher storage space and more features?

When To Buy A Refurbished Laptop

Tue, 19 May 2009 04:26:16 -0700

You don't always have to buy a brand new laptop. If you are getting a lap top for a child, you might be worried that they will not take care of it properly. They might drop them and not be as careful with it as they should and thus you don't really want to spend a whole lot. Going the route of getting a refurbished laptop is the way to alleviate your fears as you will be spending less and still getting a quality laptop that will get the job done.

Are refurbished laptops too much of a risk to buy? Many people have that questions when they don't want to pay for a brand new laptop. The word "refurbished" brings with it a lot of confusion as to what exactly it means and this prevents many people from ever buying one.

Refurbished means that the laptop has most likely been returned for any number of reasons. Once a computer is returned by a purchaser, the store then sends it back to the manufacturer who will see what is wrong and fix it. Many times the problem is a real minor one such as something being wrong with the screen. After it is repaired the laptop is shipped back to the store where it is then sold as "refurbished". What this means is that a refurbished laptop is not new but can very well be in "like new" condition. You can often get good deals on these computers which are practically new.

Generally, if you buy a refurbished laptop, you want to make sure it comes with a full warranty in case something goes wrong. You never know what went wrong the first time to make it refurbished and it could be as little as a scratch on the case. But if you do buy anything that is refurbished you need to get that warranty.

You can be confident that refurbished computers have been tested and gone over by the manufacturer. They have no reason and will lose more money if they send it back out without being fixed. Your school aged child doesn't need the most expensive laptop but just something to help with the schoolwork. For this type of use, refurbished laptops are a great choice and the risk is minimal. To find refurbished laptops, you can go online to a site like Ebay where you will find hundreds of them and all from the top companies. This is where many companies sell their laptops to the highest bidders and it is where you might be able to get a great deal.

The Latest Version of The Sims PC Game - Sims 3!

Sun, 17 May 2009 23:18:16 -0700

Most of you who are familiar with PC games have heard of "The Sims." Made by Electronic Arts, these games allow you to control a "Sim" (a simulated person) and program their likes and dislikes, careers, free time, and anything else you can think of. These games are a lot of fun, and more captivating than they may sound at first.

Well, now EA has spilled the beans about the newest game in the franchise, The Sims 3 PC game. It has many of the elements of the first two games, each of which were great successes. However, it also has new features which improve upon the game considerably. They've given an overhaul to the Sims creation system which allows for increased customization. Additionally, you can now, at long last, create your own unique items by playing around with the patterns and the colors of items like furniture and wallpaper.

The biggest change, though, and the one which makes The Sims 3 PC game so much better than its predecessors, is the fact that your Sims can now leave their houses. This was definitely the biggest drawback of the first two games, so it's great to know your Sim can now go out into the world at large and interact beyond the confines of their own four walls. Parks, bistros, pristine beaches and dreary graveyards are just some of the new locations available.

With the new features in Sims 3, this is a perfect time for those new to the Sims universe to get on board. You'll be able to create your own Sim, and as their creator, you will decide everything about their life - their job, their personality, and where they go. You will literally create your own unique character!

Even more fun is taking your Sim out and about to meet other Sims, and have unique experiences with them. They can even fall in love, get married and have kids! The game balances realism and lighthearted fun, and you can really get caught up in their world. Give The Sims 3 PC game a try.