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| Headlight
Software GetRight |
GetRight by Headlight Software is an
award-winning application that extends the ability of your web browser's built-in
downloading by supporting graceful error recovery, download resuming and more.
GetRight is designed to allow people to resume downloads easily if they are disconnected
while providing powerful features for advanced users. For example, if you've
downloaded 95 percent of a file and are disconnected, GetRight can resume the download
later and get only the remaining 5 percent and save hours of time. GetRight can
resume from a variety of errors that occur when downloading, including turning off the
computer, picking up a telephone extension, or whenever you just want to stop and finish
later. GetRight's advanced features include being able to build a list of all the
files you want to download so you can download them later. It can download them all
at once or one after the other. GetRight can also turn off the computer when it is done.
GetRight can calculate and track alternate addresses for a file, and it will automatically
find and download from the one that offers the best performance. You can customize
GetRight to support Proxy Servers, to save different kinds of files to your hard drive, to
set "speed limits" so you can keep browsing during downloading, to retry busy
servers and much more. This is a handy little utility and although some sites don't
allow for all of the features to be supported, it can save time and frustration.
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| Internet Protocol v6 |
In 1983 TCP/IP became the standard Internet protocol with an estimated one thousand
hosts. In 1992 there were one million hosts on the Internet that needed IP
addresses. In 1996 that number increased to ten million. At this pace, most
industry experts expect IPv4 and it's short comings to hit hard times, in addition to a
wall on addresses fairly soon. Enter IPv6 or IPng as it may be referred. Internet
Protocol v6 has been in the works for for years, even bypassing v5 (never released).
The much need IPv6 has many enhancements over IPv4 including; 128 bit addresses providing
greatly increased address space, built in encryption, built in QoS, built in Remote Desktop Protocol, the
use of MAC addresses for TCP/IP address configuration and headers for future expansion.
Start planning. Estimates are that by the year 2010 the Internet will be 100%
IPv6 compliant. The bulk of the work in the conversion will rest on the developers
and engineers. If, however, you are planning to purchase new networking gear, start
putting IPv6 on your checklist. In addition, start your education process and be
informed.
For more information, review the InfoWorld article titled "IPv6 cuts
address chaos" by Brooks Talley or go to the IPv6
web site.
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| Small
Business Assistance |
Need help building a web site? Finding a web hosting
company? Need to inform the search engines? How about
computing, tax assistance, human resources or business
opportunities? Check out Microsoft's
new
Small Business Centre. An excellent
source for a diverse collection of information for business.
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Web-Based
Enterprise Management (WBEM) |
Web-Based Enterprise Management (WBEM) is a set of
management and Internet standard technologies developed to unify the
management of enterprise computing environments. WBEM provides
the ability for the industry to deliver a well-integrated set of
standard-based management tools leveraging the emerging Web
technologies. The DMTF
(Distributed Management Taskforce, Inc.) has developed a core set of
standards that make up WBEM, which includes a data model, the
Common
Information Model (CIM) standard; an encoding specification,
xmlCIM Encoding Specification; and a transport mechanism, CIM
Operations over HTTP.
The CIM specification is the language and
methodology for describing management data. The CIM schema includes
models for Systems, Applications, Networks (LAN) and Devices. The CIM
schema will enable applications from different developers on different
platforms to describe management data in a standard format so that it
can be shared among a variety of management applications. The xmlCIM
Encoding Specification defines XML elements, written in Document Type
Definition (DTD), which can be used to represent CIM classes and
instances. The CIM Operations over HTTP specification defines a
mapping of CIM operations onto HTTP that allows implementations of CIM
to interoperate in an open, standardized manner and completes the
technologies that support WBEM.
Look for most vendors, including Microsoft
Corporation with
Windows (NT, W2K, XP, .NET) to include WBEM into the core of their products.
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| Microsoft
XBox |
The Xbox is a next-generation video game console made by Microsoft
Corporation. It's like the Sony PlayStation or Nintendo
GameCube, just a heck of a lot more powerful. Most consider it
the most powerful game console ever built.
The Xbox was released to great enthusiasm in
the fall of 2001. The
price just dropped to a very competitive $199. The looks are killer and the games
are awesome. Most every major game console software maker is
developing games for the Xbox.
What will you get your kids for the greatest
game play? Xbox!
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| Microsoft
.NET |
Microsoft Corporation is creating an advanced new generation of software that will drive the Next Generation Internet.
Microsoft calls this initiative Microsoft .NET, and its purpose is to make information available any time, any place, on any device.
The driving force behind Microsoft .NET is a shift in focus from individual Web sites or devices to new constellations of computers, devices, and services that work together to deliver broader, richer solutions. People will have control over how, when, and what information is delivered to them. Computers, devices, and services will be able to collaborate directly with each other, and businesses will be able to offer their products and services in a way that lets customers embed them in their own electronic fabric.
For developers Microsoft .NET will enable programs that transcend device boundaries and fully harness the connectivity of the Internet.
For Information Technology professionals who use .NET Enterprise Servers, IT professionals can take advantage of the same technologies on which the .NET platform is being built.
For business, the .NET platform will fundamentally change the way that companies interact with their customers and partners over the Internet.
The transition to .NET technology will be developed in
stages. Microsoft Windows 2000 and the Windows 2000 series of
technology provide a beginning foundation, and with the introduction
of Microsoft Office XP and Microsoft Windows XP (The next
version of Windows 2000 and the merging of the consumer and commercial
operating system base), the pieces will begin to mature.
To learn more about Microsoft .NET, please visit www.microsoft.com/net.
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|
Wireless Networks |
Home and business networkers looking to buy wireless local area
network (WLAN) gear face an array of choices. Many products conform to
the 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, or 802.11n wireless standards
collectively known as Wi-Fi technologies. Additionally,
Bluetooth and various other non Wi-Fi technologies also exist, each also
designed for specific networking applications.
The bottom-line is that wireless technology is getting better, faster,
more secure and more reliable everyday, but remember, you still need to
be smart and connect safe.
802.11 - In 1997, the Institute of
Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) created the first WLAN
standard. They called it 802.11 after the name of the group formed to
oversee its development. Unfortunately, 802.11 only supported a maximum
network bandwidth of 2 Mbps - too slow for most applications. For this
reason, ordinary 802.11 wireless products are no longer manufactured.
802.11b - IEEE expanded on the original
802.11 standard in July 1999, creating the 802.11b specification.
802.11b supports bandwidth up to 11 Mbps, comparable to traditional
Ethernet.
802.11b uses the same unregulated radio signaling frequency (2.4 GHz) as
the original 802.11 standard. Vendors often prefer using these
frequencies to lower their production costs. Being unregulated, 802.11b
gear can incur interference from microwave ovens, cordless phones, and
other appliances using the same 2.4 GHz range. However, by installing
802.11b gear a reasonable distance from other appliances, interference
can easily be avoided. The pros of
802.11b include the lowest cost
and signal range is good and not easily obstructed,
but the cons of 802.11b are that is has the
slowest maximum speed and home appliances may
interfere on the unregulated frequency band.
802.11a - While 802.11b was in
development, IEEE created a second extension to the original 802.11
standard called 802.11a. Because 802.11b gained in popularity much
faster than did 802.11a, some folks believe that 802.11a was created
after 802.11b. In fact, 802.11a was created at the same time. Due to its
higher cost, 802.11a is usually found on business networks whereas
802.11b better serves the home market.
802.11a supports bandwidth up to 54 Mbps and signals in a regulated
frequency spectrum around 5 GHz. This higher frequency compared to
802.11b shortens the range of 802.11a networks. The higher frequency
also means 802.11a signals have more difficulty penetrating walls and
other obstructions. Because 802.11a and
802.11b utilize different frequencies, the two technologies are
incompatible with each other. Some vendors offer hybrid 802.11a/b
network gear, but these products merely implement the two standards side
by side (each connected devices must use one or the other).
The pros of 802.11a is fast maximum
speed and regulated frequencies prevent signal
interference from other devices, but the cons
of 802.11a are that is has higher
cost and shorter range signal that is
more easily obstructed.
802.11g - In 2002 and 2003, WLAN
products supporting a newer standard called 802.11g emerged on the
market. 802.11g attempts to combine the best of both 802.11a and
802.11b. 802.11g supports bandwidth up to 54 Mbps, and it uses the 2.4
Ghz frequency for greater range. 802.11g is backwards compatible with
802.11b, meaning that 802.11g access points will work with 802.11b
wireless network adapters and vice versa. The pos
of 802.11g -arefast maximum speed
and signal range is good and not easily obstructed,
but the cons 802.11g are that is costs
more than 802.11b and appliances may interfere
on the unregulated signal frequency.
802.11n - The newest IEEE standard in
the Wi-Fi category is 802.11n. It was designed to improve on 802.11g in
the amount of bandwidth supported by utilizing multiple wireless signals
and antennas (called MIMO technology) instead of one.
When this standard is finalized, 802.11n connections should
support data rates of over 100 Mbps. 802.11n also offers somewhat better
range over earlier Wi-Fi standards due to its increased signal
intensity. 802.11n equipment will be backward compatible with 802.11g
gear. The pros of 802.11n
include the fastest maximum speed and best
signal range and more resistant to signal
interference from outside sources, but he cons
of 802.11n are that the standard is not yet
finalized, it costs more than 802.11g
and the use of multiple signals may greatly interfere with nearby
802.11b/g based networks.
Bluetooth is an alternative wireless network technology that
followed a different development path than the 802.11 family. Bluetooth
supports a very short range (approximately 10 meters) and relatively low
bandwidth (1-3 Mbps in practice) designed for low-power network devices
like handhelds. The low manufacturing cost of Bluetooth hardware also
appeals to industry vendors. You can readily find Bluetooth in the
networking of PDAs or cell phones with PCs, but it is rarely used for
general-purpose WLAN networking due to the range and speed
considerations.
WiMax also was developed separately from Wi-Fi. WiMax is designed
for long-range networking (spanning miles or kilometers) as opposed to
local area wireless networking.
The following IEEE 802.11 standards exist or are in development to
support the creation of technologies for wireless local area networking:
802.11a - 54 Mbps standard, 5 GHz signaling (ratified 1999)
802.11b - 11 Mbps standard, 2.4 GHz signaling (1999)
802.11c - operation of bridge connections (moved to 802.1D)
802.11d - worldwide compliance with regulations for use of wireless
signal spectrum (2001)
802.11e - Quality of Service (QoS) support (not yet ratified)
802.11F - Inter-Access Point Protocol recommendation for communication
between access points to support roaming clients (2003)
802.11g - 54 Mbps standard, 2.4 GHz signaling (2003)
802.11h - enhanced version of 802.11a to support European regulatory
requirements (2003)
802.11i - security improvements for the 802.11 family (2004)
802.11j - enhancements to 5 GHz signaling to support Japan regulatory
requirements (2004)
802.11k - WLAN system management (in progress)
802.11l - Skipped to avoid confusion with
802.11i
802.11m - maintenance of 802.11 family documentation
802.11n - 100+ Mbps standard improvements over 802.11g (in progress)
802.11o - skipped
802.11p - Wireless Access for the Vehicular Environment
802.11q - Skipped
802.11r - fast roaming support via Basic Service Set transitions
802.11s - ESS mesh networking for access points
802.11T - Wireless Performance Prediction - recommendation for testing
standards and metrics
802.11u - internetworking with 3G / cellular and other forms of external
networks
802.11v - wireless network management / device configuration
802.11w - Protected Management Frames security enhancement
802.11x - skipped (generic name for the 802.11 family)
802.11y - Contention Based Protocol for interference avoidance
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