May 18, 2013

Posts Comments

You are here: Home / Archives for Computer

Streaming or Downloading? Which one is Better?

January 24, 2012 By

Image via Flickr

Most computers come with adequate software to play basic digital files, but the ever-evolving media clips with multiple layers of music, text or graphics often need the latest versions to play fully. Downloading may become a problem, so a computer (which is more basic) may handle music streaming better. The Internet host server actually houses the software to be used, and your computer only needs to access the music streaming.

Files open through software programs that are installed on your computer. Files viewed often make the most sense for download. But there are instances when you can download a file and not be able to open it.

If no software is available, then use streaming since everything comes housed on the server. Media files take up space on a computer’s hard drive. Streaming from a host site leaves your computer memory free for other things.

Image via Flickr

Providers have more advantages with streaming. The product being streamed quickly becomes updated since their servers house the program. The digital codes for the media clips are only transmitted and they never leave the provider’s server, so distribution becomes controllable.

My Music: To Stream or To Download

The battle between Music Streaming vs. Music Downloading has intensified. Find out how:

Music downloading services successfully brought the purchasing of music media to an all time high. Music is created and is sold more, faster and easier than ever. Companies such as iTunes, Napster, or Amazon mp3 offer individual song downloads to your heart’s content at 99 cents.

As long as you have the money and enough computer space, you can download and organize music from sunrise till twilight.

Music streaming, on the other hand, broadens the array of songs available. Subscription services such as Spotify, Turntable, and Mog expose a member to innovative, indie, and alternative options. Media clips are no longer filtered by a corporation or business, but comes direct to the consumer.

So which one’s better? You pick. After all, it’s your choice, your music, your way.

Filed Under: Computer Tagged With: , ,

How to Secure Your Business on the Internet

July 22, 2011 By

 

Sample American Express-type credit card featu...

Image via Wikipedia

When you run a business from your home office on the Internet, security should be one of your major priorities. This not helps to protect your private information, but also those of your customer.

The best place to start is by installing antivirus and online security software made specifically for a business. This is a wise investment, as this software regularly scans your computer and quarantines threats that can harm your system. The software you purchase should automatically update at regular intervals to keep current on the new threats that are on the web. It also should have options to do a full computer and a quick scan,depending on what you need.

When you set up an online store, you need to make sure that your site will protect your customers’ information. Your hosting company can give you an SSL certificate, showing that your site carries a higher level of security. This is imperative if you will be accepting credit cards, which are often a target for identity theft. There are other programs that can raise your level of protection, such as Verisign, which make it hard for others to get to personal information.

You should also check to see that your email provider has a secure connection when you are communicating with your customers. This is another area where spam, viruses and other threats can pop up often. The more secure your provider is, the better service that you can offer your customers. This will give them peace of mind when they shop with you.

Filed Under: Computer, Internet, Office, Security Tagged With: , ,

Three Electronic Ideas to Remove Clutter

June 20, 2011 By
Two tall metal file cabinets for work or home use 

Image via Wikipedia

Does your office look like your filing cabinet just exploded? Do you ever clean your office and it still doesn’t feel clean afterwards? Here’s some tips to use electronic media to de-clutter your office.

Filing

Decide what papers are most important to keep, such as insurance policies, wills, titles, birth certificates, and so forth. Some of this probably needs the hard copy to be stored in a fire safe which isn’t always easily accessible, and others are really just for reference where the hard copy serves no real importance. Some of these documents may already be available online such as your bank statements, and for those that aren’t, you can scan them in and store and organize on your hard drive backing up to an online backup service (which is usually cheaper than a storage unit).

Books

If your bookshelves are full of books you do not read, many of which may be used as a reference, consider e-books and place all those books into electronic memory. Some hard copies are nice to keep around for quick reference; however, most of those books might be better served at your local library. Many e-book readers offer search tools for quick access to referenced material.

Movies

DVD’s and VHS tapes take up space. Many movies are now available for instant download online, usually for a cheaper fee than purchasing or renting a movie, and can be watched on your computer monitor or television set through various gaming systems such as Xbox 360 (internet access required).

Take a look around your office and see what’s clunking up your space that can be stored electronically.

Filed Under: Computer, Internet Tagged With: , ,

Work At Home Online

June 16, 2011 By

Home BusinessDreams of working at home online are often lost in the internet scams, and most online jobs are not the best paying positions. Some people, however, are making money that equates a normal pay check. The trick is usually combining different online experiences and long hours. Two of the top online jobs are the following:

Illustrators and Graphic Design

Many companies are looking for paid company positions and free-lance work online from illustrating books to web design. One can also submit artwork and photography to many stock image sites, on-demand printing such as Cafepress, and fonts for individual sale receiving a percentage of the sale.  Training for this type of position usually includes college coursework on the computer software (such as Adobe products), though it is not usually required to land an online job.

Writing

The internet has become a new medium for writers, and is the perfect location for beginner writers to get their foot in the door and obtain published experience. Some companies contract writers for their web based clients to write online copy and content, from Search Engine Optimization to quality articles. Some writers have found social websites and blogs to be a great platform to gain fans and experience which have led many to a local, paid position, sometimes in the area of their content’s specialties. Many blogs and articles exist to improve writing skills, but most people look for good grammar and usable content.

Many other types of online careers exist from bookkeeping to customer service, and online jobs often make the best supplemental income.

Filed Under: Computer, Internet Tagged With: , ,

North Korea Manufactures It’s Own Computers

May 12, 2011 By

What types of technological advances occur on the other side of North Korea’s iron curtain? Very few individuals have personal computers; those that do can’t access the Internet. But it seems that North Korea has started producing some of its own computers.

North Korean Computers

According to North Korean officials, they now manufacture small computers that work very much like those enjoyed by the rest of the world. They don’t have Windows or Apple operating systems, of course, but they do have a version of Linux called “Red Star” that was developed within North Korea. The computers can supposedly process multimedia applications, allow users to create and edit text documents, and access dictionaries. In other words, they work, but you could buy a more powerful machine made in the United States over decade ago.

What Does This Mean for the Rest of the World?

It’s not particularly surprising that North Korea has started making its own computers. After all, most countries don’t have anything to do with the tightly run country. One should anticipate that North Koreans have the ability to create technology that is similar to those used around the world. It doesn’t exactly give North Korea any kind of advantage.

Unfortunately, the government maintains such strict control that technology is unlikely to lead to the types of regime changes that have been seen lately in the Middle East. Without access to the Internet, North Korean citizens will continue to live under the rule of a strict government that tells them what they can and cannot do.

Filed Under: Computer Tagged With: , ,

Computers in the Military – The Automated Battlefield

March 28, 2011 By

In 1969, General William Westmorland, then Commander-in-Chief of U.S. forces in Vietnam predicted that the use of computers for military applications would create an entirely different Army on the ground and an “automated battlefield.” Over 40 years later, Westmorland’s vision is becoming a reality.

The U.S. military makes extensive use of computers in every environment – land, sea and air. More importantly, wireless technology allows computer systems to be linked together to give field commanders a complete picture of what is happening, down to the squad level. While many of these systems are fixed-function – embedded in equipment to perform a specific task – these systems, combined, provide real-time information that is vital in on the spot decision making at all levels.

Military computers, by design, are capable of taking more punishment and working in the field. Enclosures are sealed and components in the computer are and installed to, corrosives, wind and even Em/RFI radiation without being damaged.

The Global Positioning System (GPS) has played a large role in making it possible for unmanned aircraft to be flown by wire from thousands of miles away, conduct missions and return to its home base safely. In he future, the same technology will be applies to tanks as well.

Ships now have the capability of launching missiles from ships sitting hundreds of miles off the coast of a country and hit a target deep inside the interior with incredible accuracy.

The greatest vulnerability to the military use of computers is the demonstrated ability for another country to hack into our computer systems and either steal data or wreak havoc. That is the next obstacle for the military to overcome.

Filed Under: Computer, Security Tagged With: , ,

The Computer’s Capabilities and Potential

March 24, 2011 By

Computers continue to dazzle and amaze users with the growing number of applications that can be run. While early computers appeared to be limited to word processing and other office functions, later computer designs and processors were more powerful and capable of performing a greater number of applications quickly and in tandem. Greater power also meant that computers could perform more complex operations in a growing number of fields.

The computer’s versatility clearly depends on its ability of run multiple programs and processes at the same time. In order to meet that criteria, a computer must have the most current operating system, hardware and peripherals. With this basic definition of computer versatility met, its capabilities and potential are limitless as long as users remember one fact – a computer can only do what it is told to do within the boundaries of the software’s programming. That said, the more powerful and diverse the software, the more a computer can do.

Computers are at the heart of endeavors in every profession. Education is making improvements in the way teaching is done by introducing computer driven LCD projectors into the classroom. The visual impact of actually seeingwhat is being taught re enforces learning and makes it interesting at the same time.

Science has benefited tremendously from the computer’s ability to transform complex material into understandable and logical information. Computer models are helping scientists gain a better understanding of scientific inquiries from the atom to zoology. Medical doctors and researchers are learning more about the human body and the diseases that affect it and at the same time, astronomers and physicists are learning more about the origins of the universe and the possibility of other life forms.

Filed Under: Computer Tagged With: , ,

Computer Advancements in the 21st Century

March 9, 2011 By

The first basic computer was turned on in 1937a nd for several years there was a stady advance in computer science and technology. Beginning in the late 1970s and into the 1980s the pace of discoveries in the technology began to accelerate. The advances began to come in expotential proportions during the 1990s and in the first decade of the 21st century, the advances have been staggering.

First and foremost, the Internet has become quicker thanks to high speed broadband. This improvement has brought more people online, increased e-commerce and led to more innovations in communications. The iPad, smart phones, Google, YouTube and social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter can be traced directly back to the increased speed and power of the Internet during the past ten years.

Microsoft Windows has become the most dominant computer operating system platform in the world over the course of this decade. Each version, in spite of initial glitches, has made computing more intuitive and sophisticated. Microsoft Office is considered by many to be the standard package for word processing, spreadsheet and presentation development and management.

Apple has continued to surprise and delight its followers with an array of new computer related product. The iphone was introduced in 2007 as the first of a generation of smart phones that continues to improve. Apple’s introduction of the iPad in 2010 has attracted an entire new audience of users and shows great promise in several areas, notably the classroom.

Over the decade there have been several other milestones. In 2000 Nielsen reported that half of American households had Internet access. The introduction of high speed Internet access allowed quicker access, downloads and an increased appetite for information. Coupled with the increased speed of computer processors and simplified software, the Internet has become an innovative adn fl business tool, entertainer and educator.

Filed Under: Computer, Internet Tagged With: , ,

The Growing Role of Computers in International Politics

March 7, 2011 By

International politics and relations were once the sole domain of conuntries’ leaders and diplomats. It was unsual and rare for an ordinary citizen to have any influence in the affairs of a country or how a country was perceived by the rest of the world. Computers are changing the rules that govern how countries deal with each other.

The Wikileaks scandal, regardless of the matter of legality, showed how easily diplomatic correspondence could be obtained and made public. While there was little damaging information from the correspondence, the diplomatic community will undoubtedly be more cautious about internal communications in the future. The long term effect on international relations, particularly with the United States, remains to be seen.

The day to day events that lead to the overthrow of Egypt’s President Mubarak were reported to the world first hand by Egyptian citizens through the Internet, Facebook and Twitter. The Internet also played a role in communications among th groups pushing for governmental change in Egypt. In addition to a political revolution, this was a communications revolution because it demonstrated the power of the computer in effecting change.

As Lybia attempts to ovethrow the government of strongman Moammar Gadhafi, the Internet is providing daily coverage of the struggle. Much of the first hand information is coming through Facebook and Twitter.

The darker and less publicized role of computers in government politics is the growing presence of cyber attacks on American civilian and government computers by other countries, notably China. In 2007 China mounted attack on Department of Defense computers.  In 2008, China and other European hackers staged a coordinated attack on 2,500 American corporate and government computers.  Most reecntly, Chinese hackers broke into the Canadian Finance and Trade Board in February 2011. Cyber war plays a growing role in the state of diplomatic relations between countries and makes rela.

Filed Under: Computer, Office Tagged With: , ,
« Older Posts