Forty Hours

Backing up Facebook and Twitter accounts

2011-03-17T11:22:00.003+08:00

For many of us, Facebook and Twitter have become such an integral part of our lives that losing the digital memories posted on these two social media sites can be devastating.
To back up your photos, status updates, wall posts and profile information on Facebook, you can use an online service like Backupify (www.backupify.com).

Another good tool that can help you back up your Facebook data is the desktop program SocialSafe (www.socialsafe.net).

SocialSafe requires Adobe Air, a free program that you can download from get.adobe.com/air. After you have installed SocialSafe, grant it access to your Facebook and Twitter accounts.

The free version of SocialSafe backs up your Facebook photos, profile information, status updates and friend lists. Once your Facebook data has been archived, you will be able to browse your social history.

If you want to back up your Twitter data, you can upgrade to SocialSafe Pro, which costs US$6.99 (S$8.90). This version also lets you back up your Facebook wall posts and photos posted by your friends in which you have been tagged.

A free Twitter backup option to consider is Tweetbackup (tweetbackup.com), an online tool from the Backupify folks. To use the freebie, you are required to follow @tweetbackup and post a tweet to promote the service. You have to be patient when using this tool as it could take a while to archive your tweets. Also note that because Twitter allows you access to only your latest 3,200 tweets, you may not be able to back up every tweet, especially if you are a compulsive Twitter user.

Tweet Scan Backup (www.tweetscan.com/data.php) is another free service to try. It downloads your last 1,000 tweets and combines them with its database to improve the completeness of your backup. The service trawls the Twittersphere on its own to build up a vast database.

It will then generate an archive that comprises a CSV file and a report presented in the TiddlyWiki format.

Besides tweets, the archive includes data about your replies, friends, followers and direct messages.

For now, restoring data to Twitter from backup data is not possible, due to limitations in the software interface used by programmers to access Twitter data through third-party applications.

Android App Saves You Taxi Booking Fees

2011-03-02T10:58:00.004+08:00

Android app just one of many developed by Temasek Polytechnic students. OO GIN LEE reports

-- PHOTOS: TEMASEK POLYTECHNIC

Five Temasek Polytechnic students have created a smartphone app that lets commuters get a cab without having to pay the usual booking fees.

Running on Android devices, this passenger-to-cab matching app lets users hunt for cabs in the vicinity and allows cabbies to find them as well.

Called Virtual Hailing, it overlays the location information of both caller and cab over Google Maps. Passengers and taxi drivers have slightly different versions of the app, which can be customised.

Passengers and cabbies looking for a match simply press an icon on the app to broadcast their respective locations on the shared Google Maps interface. Cab drivers can then view the exact locations of each passenger on Google Maps as an icon and vice versa. Either party can initiate a connection by simply tapping on an icon.

If the passenger initiates the link, then the cabbie has to tap to accept. Once accepted, both parties will see a line on the map which tracks the movement of the cab as it reaches the passenger. This way, a passenger gets a real-time view of the exact location of his hailed cab until it arrives.

There is also a feature in the app which tells cabbies which are the top five locations where the most passengers have initiated a virtual hail in the past week.

Group leader of the Virtual Hailing app team Benson Poh, 21, said: 'This helps cab drivers decide where to drive to if they want the best chance of getting passengers.' He added that there is a community rating system to blacklist the pranksters and errant cab drivers who do not show up.

Virtual Hailing is the final year project for Mr Poh and his friends, who are pursuing the Diploma in Business Information Technology full-time. Mr Poh said the idea for the app came about because his team mates were often late for group meetings.

'I would call them and they would always say they could not find a cab and they did not want to pay the booking fee,' he said.

'So we decided to solve the problem ourselves and get marks for it too.'

The students will be graduating later this year and hope to commercialise their app after that.

ginlee@sph.com.sg

Input Chinese for iPhone

2011-02-17T11:38:00.004+08:00

A few simple steps to prepare your iPhone for Chinese character input. Users who need to use the iphone for Chinese characters will find this useful.

THE STEPS.
1. Go to the General Tab under Settings.
2. Tap Keyboard, International Keyboards
3. Then Add New Keyboard.
4. Choose either "Chinese-Simplified, Pinyin' or 'Chinese-Simplified, Handwriting'.

Go to an App, like Notes, that can allows you to text input.
Choose the keyboard you want by tapping on the globe button on the keyboard.
In Pinyin mode, you type in the hanyu pinyin of the Chinese character you want. In Handwriting mode, a small window will appear for you to write in.
In both cases, you will see a selection of characters that match your input. Pick the correct one and move on to the next character.
When you are done, you can send out your text snippet directly using SMS or e-mail, or cut and paste the characters into other documents.
Remember to tap the globe button to return to the English keyboard when you are done.

What Details You Should Know Before Buying a LED TV

2011-02-09T12:21:00.004+08:00

Dear Readers,
Know your LED terms before buying; write up by SHERWIN LOH from Digital Life. I would like to share it in this blog.

Are you shopping for a new TV and eyeing the latest LED models that are the centrepieces of electronics stores around Singapore?
If you are, be prepared to be bombarded by a raft of terms that can confuse even geeks. Terms like full array, edge-lit, local dimming, refresh rate and Connected TV.
In this guide to LED TVs, Digital Life helps you make sense of the jargon and also rounds up the latest LED TVs to give you a low-down of their features.

1. Backlit and edge-lit
Both terms refer to the two main types of LED lighting technology available. LED-backlit refers to an arrangement where the LED lights are spread out across the back panel of the LCD screen.
Edge-lit, as its name suggests, means the LED lights are placed at the perimeter of the screen and projected inwards. TV makers use this scheme to create thinner TV sets, but this lighting method may not be as uniform and colours not as intense compared to the backlit method.

2. Local dimming
Local dimming refers to the ability to dim portions of the screen, to enhance the darker - as well as brighter - sequences of the content.
An example is the end credit sequence of a movie, where the text can be made to show up more against a black background.
One drawback of this is 'blooming' - an effect in which a brighter area bleeds into a darker one, creating a halo-like effect on parts of the image.
When testing out the TV you have been eyeing at the shop, make sure to ask the sales person to play snippets with brightly lit scenes as well as night-time shots, so that you can see the difference for yourself.
Also, now that most TV sets support content played via a USB drive, why not bring your own along and plug it in to see how your favourite show would look like on the TV?

3. Refresh rate
The refresh rate refers to the number of times an image is shown per second. A higher refresh rate produces less of a flickering image on screen.
Most TVs today offer 100Hz, while 3-D TVs require at least a 120Hz refresh rate. Several TV models already offer 200Hz.

4. Connected TV
This refers to the new wave of smart TVs that not only let you to connect to the Internet to watch online content, but also to install apps and use your favourite social networking tools.
However, some of the services offered by TV makers, like Hulu and NetFlix, are only available in the United States and will not work in Singapore.

Smart guards

2010-07-07T20:17:00.000+08:00

Smart guards

How To Access Your Folders From Your Taskbar

2009-12-18T11:25:00.003+08:00

How To Access Your Folders From Your Taskbar

This is an easy way to get to the folders on your system without having to open a Windows Explorer Window every time you want to access files. I find it very useful to have this feature as it allows me to access my Folders and Drives immediately and saves me a lot of time.

This works in Windows XP:

1. Right Click an empty spot on your Taskbar (Between your Start Button and your System Tray).

2. Click Toolbars.

3. Click New Toolbar.

4. A Small Window will Open that allows you to pick the folder you wish to make a Toolbar.If you want to access your Desktop Without having to minimize all your windows. Just Pick Desktop. If you want to access ONLY your My Documents Folder, Select that. Any folder will work for this..

5. Click OK.The New Tool bar will appear at the bottom of your screen next to your System Tray..

If you find this to be not useful, Repeat Steps 1 and 2 and then check click the Toolbar you created that has a check mark next to it. And it will disappear..

10 Reasons Why a PC Crash

2009-11-21T10:46:00.003+08:00

10 reasons why PCs crash U must Know

Fatal error: the system has become unstable or is busy," it says. "Enter to return to Windows or press Control-Alt-Delete to restart your computer. If you do this you will lose any unsaved information in all open applications."

You have just been struck by the Blue Screen of Death. Anyone who uses Mcft Windows will be familiar with this. What can you do? More importantly, how can you prevent it happening?

1 Hardware conflict
The number one reason why Windows crashes is hardware conflict. Each hardware device communicates to other devices through an interrupt request channel (IRQ). These are supposed to be unique for each device.

For example, a printer usually connects internally on IRQ 7. The keyboard usually uses IRQ 1 and the floppy disk drive IRQ 6. Each device will try to hog a single IRQ for itself.

If there are a lot of devices, or if they are not installed properly, two of them may end up sharing the same IRQ number. When the user tries to use both devices at the same time, a crash can happen. The way to check if your computer has a hardware conflict is through the following route:

* Start-Settings-Control Panel-System-Device Manager.

Often if a device has a problem a yellow '!' appears next to its description in the Device Manager. Highlight Computer (in the Device Manager) and press Properties to see the IRQ numbers used by your computer. If the IRQ number appears twice, two devices may be using it.

Sometimes a device might share an IRQ with something described as 'IRQ holder for PCI steering'. This can be ignored. The best way to fix this problem is to remove the problem device and reinstall it.

Sometimes you may have to find more recent drivers on the internet to make the device function properly. A good resource is www.driverguide.com. If the device is a soundcard, or a modem, it can often be fixed by moving it to a different slot on the motherboard (be careful about opening your computer, as you may void the warranty).

When working inside a computer you should switch it off, unplug the mains lead and touch an unpainted metal surface to discharge any static electricity.

To be fair to Mcft, the problem with IRQ numbers is not of its making. It is a legacy problem going back to the first PC designs using the IBM 8086 chip. Initially there were only eight IRQs. Today there are 16 IRQs in a PC. It is easy to run out of them. There are plans to increase the number of IRQs in future designs.

2 Bad Ram
Ram (random-access memory) problems might bring on the blue screen of death with a message saying Fatal Exception Error. A fatal error indicates a serious hardware problem. Sometimes it may mean a part is damaged and will need replacing.

But a fatal error caused by Ram might be caused by a mismatch of chips. For example, mixing 70-nanosecond (70ns) Ram with 60ns Ram will usually force the computer to run all the Ram at the slower speed. This will often crash the machine if the Ram is overworked.

One way around this problem is to enter the BIOS settings and increase the wait state of the Ram. This can make it more stable. Another way to troubleshoot a suspected Ram problem is to rearrange the Ram chips on the motherboard, or take some of them out. Then try to repeat the circumstances that caused the crash. When handling Ram try not to touch the gold connections, as they can be easily damaged.

Parity error messages also refer to Ram. Modern Ram chips are either parity (ECC) or non parity (non-ECC). It is best not to mix the two types, as this can be a cause of trouble.

EMM386 error messages refer to memory problems but may not be connected to bad Ram. This may be due to free memory problems often linked to old Dos-based programmes.

3 BIOS settings
Every motherboard is supplied with a range of chipset settings that are decided in the factory. A common way to access these settings is to press the F2 or delete button during the first few seconds of a boot-up.

Once inside the BIOS, great care should be taken. It is a good idea to write down on a piece of paper all the settings that appear on the screen. That way, if you change something and the computer becomes more unstable, you will know what settings to revert to.

A common BIOS error concerns the CAS latency. This refers to the Ram. Older EDO (extended data out) Ram has a CAS latency of 3. Newer SDRam has a CAS latency of 2. Setting the wrong figure can cause the Ram to lock up and freeze the computer's display.

Mcft Windows is better at allocating IRQ numbers than any BIOS. If possible set the IRQ numbers to Auto in the BIOS. This will allow Windows to allocate the IRQ numbers (make sure the BIOS setting for Plug and Play OS is switched to 'yes' to allow Windows to do this.).

4. Hard disk drives
After a few weeks, the information on a hard disk drive starts to become piecemeal or fragmented. It is a good idea to defragment the hard disk every week or so, to prevent the disk from causing a screen freeze. Go to
* Start-Programs-Accessories-System Tools-Disk Defragmenter
This will start the procedure. You will be unable to write data to the hard drive (to save it) while the disk is defragmenting, so it is a good idea to schedule the procedure for a period of inactivity using the Task Scheduler.

The Task Scheduler should be one of the small icons on the bottom right of the Windows opening page (the desktop).

Some lockups and screen freezes caused by hard disk problems can be solved by reducing the read-ahead optimisation. This can be adjusted by going to

* Start-Settings-Control Panel-System Icon-Performance-File System-Hard Disk.

Hard disks will slow down and crash if they are too full. Do some housekeeping on your hard drive every few months and free some space on it. Open the Windows folder on the C drive and find the Temporary Internet Files folder. Deleting the contents (not the folder) can free a lot of space.

Empty the Recycle Bin every week to free more space. Hard disk drives should be scanned every week for errors or bad sectors. Go to

* Start-Programs-Accessories-System Tools-ScanDisk

Otherwise assign the Task Scheduler to perform this operation at night when the computer is not in use.

5 Fatal OE exceptions and VXD errors
Fatal OE exception errors and VXD errors are often caused by video card problems.

These can often be resolved easily by reducing the resolution of the video display. Go to

* Start-Settings-Control Panel-Display-Settings

Here you should slide the screen area bar to the left. Take a look at the colour settings on the left of that window. For most desktops, high colour 16-bit depth is adequate.

If the screen freezes or you experience system lockups it might be due to the video card. Make sure it does not have a hardware conflict. Go to

* Start-Settings-Control Panel-System-Device Manager

Here, select the + beside Display Adapter. A line of text describing your video card should appear. Select it (make it blue) and press properties. Then select Resources and select each line in the window. Look for a message that says No Conflicts.

If you have video card hardware conflict, you will see it here. Be careful at this point and make a note of everything you do in case you make things worse.

The way to resolve a hardware conflict is to uncheck the Use Automatic Settings box and hit the Change Settings button. You are searching for a setting that will display a No Conflicts message.

Another useful way to resolve video problems is to go to

* Start-Settings-Control Panel-System-Performance-Graphics

Here you should move the Hardware Acceleration slider to the left. As ever, the most common cause of problems relating to graphics cards is old or faulty drivers (a driver is a small piece of software used by a computer to communicate with a device).

Look up your video card's manufacturer on the internet and search for the most recent drivers for it.

6 Viruses
Often the first sign of a virus infection is instability. Some viruses erase the boot sector of a hard drive, making it impossible to start. This is why it is a good idea to create a Windows start-up disk. Go to

* Start-Settings-Control Panel-Add/Remove Programs

Here, look for the Start Up Disk tab. Virus protection requires constant vigilance.

A virus scanner requires a list of virus signatures in order to be able to identify viruses. These signatures are stored in a DAT file. DAT files should be updated weekly from the website of your antivirus software manufacturer.

An excellent antivirus programme is McAfee VirusScan by Network Associates ( www.nai.com). Another is Norton AntiVirus 2000, made by Symantec ( www.symantec.com).

7 Printers
The action of sending a document to print creates a bigger file, often called a postscript file.

Printers have only a small amount of memory, called a buffer. This can be easily overloaded. Printing a document also uses a considerable amount of CPU power. This will also slow down the computer's performance.

If the printer is trying to print unusual characters, these might not be recognised, and can crash the computer. Sometimes printers will not recover from a crash because of confusion in the buffer. A good way to clear the buffer is to unplug the printer for ten seconds. Booting up from a powerless state, also called a cold boot, will restore the printer's default settings and you may be able to carry on.

8 Software
A common cause of computer crash is faulty or badly-installed software. Often the problem can be cured by uninstalling the software and then reinstalling it. Use Norton Uninstall or Uninstall Shield to remove an application from your system properly. This will also remove references to the programme in the System Registry and leaves the way clear for a completely fresh copy.

The System Registry can be corrupted by old references to obsolete software that you thought was uninstalled. Use Reg Cleaner by Jouni Vuorio to clean up the System Registry and remove obsolete entries. It works on Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 98 SE (Second Edition), Windows Millennium Edition (ME), NT4 and Windows 2000.

Read the instructions and use it carefully so you don't do permanent damage to the Registry. If the Registry is damaged you will have to reinstall your operating system. Reg Cleaner can be obtained from www.jv16.org

Often a Windows problem can be resolved by entering Safe Mode. This can be done during start-up. When you see the message "Starting Windows" press F4. This should take you into Safe Mode.

Safe Mode Loads a minimum of drivers. It allows you to find and fix problems that prevent Windows from loading properly.

Sometimes installing Windows is difficult because of unsuitable BIOS settings. If you keep getting SUWIN error messages (Windows setup) during the Windows installation, then try entering the BIOS and disabling the CPU internal cache. Try to disable the Level 2 (L2) cache if that doesn't work.

Remember to restore all the BIOS settings back to their former settings following installation.

9 Overheating
Central processing units (CPUs) are usually equipped with fans to keep them cool. If the fan fails or if the CPU gets old it may start to overheat and generate a particular kind of error called a kernel error. This is a common problem in chips that have been overclocked to operate at higher speeds than they are supposed to.

One remedy is to get a bigger better fan and install it on top of the CPU. Specialist cooling fans/heatsinks are available from www.computernerd.com or www.coolit.com

CPU problems can often be fixed by disabling the CPU internal cache in the BIOS. This will make the machine run more slowly, but it should also be more stable.

10 Power supply problems
With all the new construction going on around the country the steady supply of electricity has become disrupted. A power surge or spike can crash a computer as easily as a power cut.

If this has become a nuisance for you then consider buying a uninterrupted power supply (UPS). This will give you a clean power supply when there is electricity, and it will give you a few minutes to perform a controlled shutdown in case of a power cut.

It is a good investment if your data are critical, because a power cut will cause any unsaved data to be lost.

癸

Lengthy Boot-up

2009-09-23T12:03:00.003+08:00

If you take more than 5 minutes or longer to boot up your, it is time that you try out the below recommended method to accelerte the boot-up process.

The long boot-up time is more likely due to too many start-up applications. The start-up applications are probably spyware, viruses or malicious software. The quick way to see if this is the problem is to turn off all the start-up applications using MSCONFIG.

Open MSCONFIG by pressing the Windows key plus R to activate the RUN command. In the input box, type MSCONFIG and select OK. When MSCONFIG opens, select "Diagnostic startup", then "Apply" and restart your system.

If your system restarts faster than before, you have identified the problem. The greater effort is now identifying and approving the auto-start applications individually. This is not for the faint-hearted and you may wish to seek professional help.

Lastly, you should ensure your system has an up-to-date anti-virus and anti-spyware application to perform a full system scan.

E-Book Reader

2009-09-16T20:18:00.002+08:00

Electronic Book
Hi,in today Digital Life, there is an article mentioned about ebook reader.

I cut out a short paragraph for you to read:
Convenience is a big factor why the book lover uses an electronic reader. He can add hundreds of e-books to the reader without upping the weight of the device by a gram.

Plus reading on it is easy.

'I don't feel the strain of reading an e-book that I experience on a physical book,' says Jeffery.

I was impressed by it, and find a video from youtube that might interest you.

Pocket Book

2009-09-11T09:17:00.002+08:00

NOKIA'S Booklet 3G is a looker, with its stylish curves and beautiful finish.

It will appeal to mobile professionals, students and women who want to be connected to the Web on-the-go.

At only 1.2kg and 20cm thin, it is light enough not to weigh down a tote. A screen size of 10.1-inch and a keyboard 20 per cent smaller than that of a regular laptop also make it handy and compact.

Price-wise though, the Booklet is not small.

Tagged at 575 euros (S$1,183), it is more expensive than competing netbooks which start at about $700. It is not known how much it will be priced here.

Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, Nokia's chief executive officer, who unveiled the Booklet 3G at the Nokia World event, gave broad hints that with telco subsidies, the Booklet 3G could cost nothing.

Available in white, black or blue, it connects to the Internet via Wi-Fi or a built-in 3G card. It is powered by an Intel Atom 1.6Ghz chip and has 1GB RAM and a 120GB hard disk.

Three USB ports provide extra media capacity and a HDMI-out port lets users view video clips on a HDTV. Its screen has a 1,280 x 720 pixel resolution which is good for viewing high-definition images and videos.

The Booklet 3G calls to mind Apple's feather-light 1.3kg, 13.3-inch laptop, the MacBook Air. But the similarity ends there.

Its heart beats with Microsoft's latest operating system software, Windows 7.

Every Booklet 3G will have access to Nokia's online music, game and applications store.

Nokia claims the battery will run for 12 hours but the demonstrator at the Booklet 3G booth at Nokia World said he had to recharge it after using it for about nine hours straight.

Snow Leopard versus Windows 7

2009-09-03T10:39:00.002+08:00

FOR computer observers, it is an exciting period for operating systems. With the launch of Snow Leopard, Apple's latest incarnation of its Mac OS X last Friday and Microsoft's Windows 7 (rumoured to be released on Oct22), there is bound to be a head-to-head comparison between the two.

Upon closer evaluation, however, these two versions and the strategies behind their releases are as different as Fann Wong and Fiona Xie.

Snow Leopard has little to show in terms of looks and lacks newfangled enhancements but offers major refinements and maturity under the hood.

Windows 7, on the other hand, offers a snazzier user interface and loads of performance benefits.

We group the differences between the two operating systems under three categories: ease of upgrade, technology enhancements and compatibility with existing software.

Snow Leopard
Mac OS X v 10.6

Ease of upgrade
With just a press of a button, Snow Leopard installs onto your Mac with alarming ease. There are no product ID numbers needed or software activations to reckon with.

After about an hour, you have a highly refined turbo-charged system. Tiger (Mac OS X v10.4) users are not left out. They have to pay slightly more but the upgrade is just as easy.

Technology enhancements
No major visible enhancements in the user interface. The subtle refinements surface when doing everyday tasks like starting the computer, searching for files and applications in the hard disk and looking for opened windows. All these are now much faster.

More importantly, Snow Leopard lays the groundwork for the future by upgrading all its applications from 32-bit to 64-bit. This allows for more optimised and faster processing.

Software compatibility
The core kernel in Snow Leopard boots up in 32-bit to ensure compatibility with older applications and device drivers while maintaining performance.

However, it can be forced to boot completely in 64-bit by holding on to the '6' and '4' keys when booting. To date, there are only about 50 applications that are not compatible.

Microsoft Windows 7
Ease of upgrade
There is a plethora of options to choose from. For example, you can choose to upgrade from Windows XP or Vista to 34-bit or 64-bit versions of Windows 7.

Be careful which one you select as every upgrade comes with a fee.

Generally, upgrading from a 32-bit version of Window Vista to a 32-bit Windows 7 is a smooth process.

Problems arise when you want to upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7 or upgrading from a 32-bit Windows Vista to a 64-bit Windows 7.

Technology enhancements
There are many enhancements to help a user navigate the computer and to get to the applications that he wants.

There is an improved Taskbar, with the ability to identify where applications are located. Gadgets like clock, calculator and weather calculator are dropped to the desktop for easier access.

Resizing and arranging open application windows are also much more intuitive. Overall, all these improvements should translate to an increase in productivity.

Less powerful computers with at least 1GB of RAM will also experience speed gains. Boot-up and shut-down are instantaneous and everything from opening applications to Web browsing with Internet Explorer 8 are faster.

Software compatibility
As Windows 7 is still not officially released, it is difficult to ascertain the level of software compatibility. Limited testing with this RTM (Release to Manufacturing ) version of Windows 7 shows a high level of compatibility with popular software such as Microsoft Office 2007 and Adobe Creative Suite 4.

Conclusion
Whether you are a Mac or a PC user, the new operating systems let you undertake computing tasks much faster.

Compliments:Digital Life

Smart Use of Google Search - Show Options

2009-08-30T15:51:00.003+08:00

Refine your Google searches

Compliments from Digital Life, By Grace Chng

Google searches can be refined to give you the items that you need.

Use Show Options, which is prominently displayed at the top of the page where the search results appear.

It is a great tool for students or writers who want to cut out the clutter and find specific information.

To start, click on Show Options.

On the left pane of the window, a list of parameters appears.

You can define your search according to the past 24 hours, week or year or you can sort by date.

You can also search for discussions held on online forums.

Let us say you want to look for all the video clips of the 2004 tsunami which appeared between Dec 26, 2004, and Jan 25, 2005.

Type in the dates under the Custom Data Range and hit Search.

The final list is only 23 videos, compared with the 2.39 million if you had used the search terms 'tsunami 2004 videos'.

You can drill down further.

For example, you are looking for tsunami videos in Khao Lak.

Click on Wonder Wheel which shows a graphic of all the possible links you may be interested in.

Khao Lak is one of the links and there are other links which lead you to other places affected by the tsunami.

Clicking on Khao Lak will throw up a list of videos from that area.

Protect your computer

2009-08-20T20:28:00.003+08:00

Protect your computer
TAN CHONG YAW offers some useful tips on fending off unwanted attention on your PC. PC.
Compliments to Digital Life.
HERE are a few things you can do to make your computer a little less vulnerable to hackers, snoopers and thieves.

Protect your files with a password

Threat: Some people keep their passwords, bank account details and other personal information in a Microsoft Word document. They then tuck it in an innocent-looking folder - like Backup - in the hard disk. What if their laptops were stolen?
Solution: Lock that Word document with a password. Go to File, then Save As, click Tools and choose Security Options.
Click on Advanced and choose Microsoft Enhanced Cryptographic Provider. Click on OK.
Now enter your password into the 'Password to open' box and click on OK. You will be asked to type in your password again. Click on Save.
Your file is now encrypted but do not forget that password.

Secure your Gmail messages

Threat: Google advises users that if they access Gmail, a Web-based e-mail service, on a wireless or non-encrypted public network, their Google accounts 'may be more vulnerable to hijacking'.
Solution: Make Gmail more secure by just a change in the settings.
Go to Settings near the top right-hand side of the Gmail window. Look for the Browser connection section at the bottom of the General tab.
Click on 'Always use https' and then Save Changes. That is it - you have now enabled Gmail's built-in encryption.
Accessing your e-mail messages may be a little slower but it will be tougher for hackers to snoop on them.

Stop sharing your wireless network

Threat: Out of the box, wireless routers are set up to shout out into cyberspace the name of your wireless network. Everyone within the range of your router, depending on what its specifications are, will be able to see your network and leech off the bandwidth in your connection.
Solution: Get your router to shut the door to your network.
Get the specifics, such as the router address and default user name, from the router manual.
Fire up your browser and enter your router's address, for instance, http://192.168.1.1, and hit the Enter key.
Type your user name (usually 'admin') and password (either not set or again 'admin').
Select the Wireless Menu and look for SSID broadcast, then select Disable or Off.
Now, your network will no longer be detectable by any laptop even if the machine is right beside your router. The approach is the same for all routers.

Lock your PC automatically

Threat: Office computers are usually kept secure with log-on restrictions like password protection. However, your PC is also vulnerable during the brief periods when you step away from it.
Solution: Enable the password on your screensaver.
Go to Start, choose Control Panel and click on Display. Choose the Screen Saver tab and then click on 'On resume, password protect'. Your screensaver password is the same as your log-on one.
Good for forgetful people, this simple tweak will deter the casual snooper.

Lock your laptop at the hotel

Threat: The very thing that makes a laptop convenient - its portability - is what makes it easy prey for thieves, especially when you are travelling.
Solution: There are times during your holiday that you do not want to lug your laptop around with you.
The hotel safe is the obvious place to keep it in. However, the safes in some budget joints may be too small to stuff the machine in.
Your laptop will have a Kensington slot - a small, metal-reinforced hole for inserting a cable lock. Buy one and use it to attach the laptop to something heavy like a bed when you need to leave your laptop in your hotel room.

New Use on Your Thumb

2009-05-28T16:32:00.003+08:00

Power on your thumb.

by Irene Tham

FIRE up your desktop directly from your USB drive when you are at a terminal in an Internet cafe and want the familiar look and feel of your PC at home.

Applications that can run directly off the USB drive include the OpenOffice.org desktop productivity suite, the Gaim instant messenger and the Thunderbird e-mail client.

Your travel-with-you gizmo can encrypt files on the fly too. The Kingston DataTraveler Elite, for instance, secures files with 256-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) encryption. Just drag and drop the file into the portable drive and voila, the work is saved - and safe.

SanDisk's newly launched Ultra Backup USB Flash Drive, boosting capacities of up to 64GB for US$199.99 (S$292), is another safe travel-mate. The drive can be password protected for added safety.

However, these devices are not cheap. It is not just the hardware you are paying for, but the software as well.

One of the biggest uses of the modest USB drive is reviving your spyware-infected PC.

Load one of these gizmos with a bunch of emergency security tools and you are ready to go. This is especially useful if your PC is not connected to the Internet and has no access to software downloads.

A budget emergency security toolkit includes free anti-virus program Avira AntiVir Personal, which runs directly from your USB drive, and spyware scanning program Ad-Aware Free. The latter cannot run from the USB drive but the installer file will get going quickly on a PC.

A wiper program that runs from the USB drive will also come in handy if your PC hard disk cannot be cleaned up and needs to be overwritten to protect sensitive data. Heidi Computers' free Eraser program will do the job just fine.

Instead of using USB drives only with the PC or laptop, they can be slotted into some DVD players. So you play movies directly off them without having to copy the movies onto a blank DVD.

USB drives are hardy devices. They have been thrown into washing machines and dunked in coffee by mistake and reportedly emerged unscathed.

Still, depending on how much you paid for them, you may want to keep them dry and free from abuse.

Digital Life

Boost performance with your USB drive

2009-02-11T20:48:00.003+08:00

Boost performance with your USB drive

The bigger a computer's RAM, the faster it will be at performing tasks. Yet, adding RAM may not always be feasible.

Boosting your computer's system memory usually requires you to open up the casing and mess with the innards. However, if you are using a Windows Vista computer, you can do it without the hassle - by adding virtual memory instead.

All Vista systems come with ReadyBoost, a feature that lets your computer use flash memory devices - such as USB drives and SD cards - as extra cache memory. This is a form of virtual memory where the computer stores the data it needs to use frequently.

So increasing it will help the computer access data faster and also free the RAM up for other tasks. The overall effect: it boosts your computer's performance but the boost will not be as powerful as if you physically added more RAM.

With Vista computers, there is an easy way to do this. All you need is a USB 2.0 drive with at least 256MB of free space.

Here's how:

1 Plug in the drive. If you have turned on Autoplay, your computer should automatically open up a dialogue box. Under General Options, click on Speed Up My System. This will open the Properties dialogue box.

If you have not turned on Autoplay, go to My Computer to find the USB drive. It should be listed as 'Removable Disk'. Right click on the icon, then select Properties from the pop-up menu.

2 Under the Properties menu, click on the ReadyBoost tab and select 'Use This Device'.

3 Use the slider to choose how much of the USB drive you want to use for boosting memory cache. For optimum performance, Microsoft recommends using one to three times the amount of RAM installed in your computer. So say you have 1GB RAM, you should designate from 1GB to 3GB of the USB drive for ReadyBoost.

4 Lastly, click OK and reboot your computer.

By Tham Yuen-C

Compliment from StraitsTimes, Digital Life

Forwarding Email In a Correct and Appropriate Way

2008-12-31T15:08:00.002+08:00

HOW TO FORWARD E-MAIL APPROPRIATELY

A friend who is a computer expert received the following directly from a system administrator for a corporate system. It is an excellent message that ABSOLUTELY applies to ALL of us who send e-mails. Please read the short letter below, even if you're sure you already follow proper procedures..

Do you really know how to forward e-mails? 50% of us do; 50% DO NOT.

Do you wonder why you get viruses or junk mail? Do you hate it?

Every time you forward an e-mail there is information left over from the people who got the message before you, namely their e-mail addresses & names. As the messages get forwarded along, the list of addresses builds, and builds, and builds, and all it takes is for some poor sap to get a virus, and his or her computer can send that virus to every e-mail address that has come across his computer. Or, someone can take all of those addresses and sell them or send junk mail to them in the hopes that you will go to the site and he will make five cents for each hit. That's right, all of that inconvenience over a nickel!

How do you stop it? Well, there are several easy steps:

(1) When you forward an e-mail, DELETE all of the other addresses that appear in the body of the message (at the top ). That's right, DELETE them. Highlight them and delete them, backspace them, cut them,wwhatever it is you know how to do. It only takes a second You MUST click the "Forward" button first and then you will have full editing capabilities against the body and headers of the message. If you don't click on "Forward" first, you won't be able to edit the message at all.

(2) Whenever you send an e-mail to more than one person, do NOT use the To: or Cc: fields for adding e-mail addresses. Always use the BCC: (blind carbon copy) field for listing the e-mail addresses. This is the way the people you send to will only see their own e-mail address. If you don't see your BCC: option click on where it says To: and your address list will appear. Highlight the address and choose BCC: and that's it, it's that easy. When you send to BCC: your mess! Age will automatically say "Undisclosed Recipients" in the "TO:" field of the people who receive it.

(3) Remove any "FW :" in the subject line. You can re-name the subject if you wish or even fix spelling.

(4) ALWAYS hit your Forward button from the actual e-mail you are reading. Ever get those e-mails that you have to open 10 pages to read the one page with the information on it? By Forwarding from the actual page you wish someone to View, you stop them from having to open many e-mails just to see what you sent.

(5) Have you ever gotten an email that is a petition? It states a position and asks you to add your name and address and to forward it to 10 or 15 people or your entire address book. The email can be forwarded on and on and can collect thousands of names and email addresses. A FACT: The completed petition is actually worth a couple of bucks to a professional spammer because of the wealth of valid names and email addresses contained therein. If you want to support the petition, send it as your own personal letter to the intended recipient. Your position may carry more weight as a personal letter than a laundry list of names and email address on a petition. (Actually, if you think about it, who's supposed to send the petition in to whatever cause it supports? And don 't believe the ones that say that the email is being traced, it just ain't so!)

(7) Before you forward an Amber Alert, or a Virus Alert, or some of the other ones floating around nowadays, check them out before you forward d them.

Its really easy to find out if it's real or not. If it's not, please don't pass it on.

So please, in the future, let's stop the junk mail and the viruses.

Finally, here's an idea!!! Let's send this to everyone we know (but strip my address off first, please). This is something that SHOULD be forwarded.

Sony Ericsson MBW-200 Evening Classic watch

2008-12-06T09:35:00.000+08:00

Sony Ericsson MBW-200 Evening Classic watch
Sin$498 (black leather or brushed metal strap) and $588 (crystal-studded face with white leather strap), from all Sony Ericsson and SonyStyle stores and authorised resellers

IF THE Bluetooth earpiece is the king of driver aids, Sony Ericsson's Bluetooth watch must be the queen.
The elegant timepiece displays a caller ID and rumbles on your wrist when a call comes to your Sony Ericsson cellphone.
The caller's contact saved in your phone shows up on the watch's light-emitting diode (LED) display.
Press the top right button on its side - once to mute and twice to reject the call.
It is a nifty gadget for geek gals. No more rummaging through the contents of your handbag to mute a ringing cellphone or wondering who is calling when you are driving.
If you want to answer the call, simply use your Bluetooth earpiece.
You will not miss an SMS alert either. The watch vibrates to alert you and the SMS envelope icon appears on its LED display.
The watch functions as a music controller too, so you no longer have to keep referring to your phone when you want to listen to your music.
To display a track's title, all you need to do is press the top right button three times.
Press the left middle button to play or stop a music track. Press and hold the top left button to forward a track. Press and hold the bottom left key to go back to the previous track.
Unfortunately, you cannot control the volume of the music with the watch - a handy feature which Sony Ericsson might want to consider for future models.
Also, I find the LED screen a tad too small for comfortable viewing.
The watch itself, however, should not be made any bigger. Already, it is a little too big for my narrow wrist.
By Irene Tham
Final say
The gadget's price can buy you two sports watches. So it may not be worth it if you are not tech savvy to begin with. For geek gals, though, it is a perfect fit.

Improve your Web connection speed

2008-09-28T08:41:00.000+08:00

How you can tweak a few settings for zippier Internet speeds?

Here's how you can tweak a few settings for zippier Internet speeds.
1 Say no to reserve bandwidth

By default, a Windows XP computer sets aside 20 per cent of your bandwidth for the operating system (OS).

To undo the setting, go to Start and click on Run. Type 'gpedit.msc' in the Run box. This will show the Group Policy Editor.

Click on Computer Configuration, followed by Administrative Templates and then Network on the left navigation bar. Then select QOS Packet Scheduler. Right click on Limit reservable bandwidth and select properties.

The message 'not configured' pops up but this doesn't mean that no bandwidth is reserved.

The default setting is hidden. To undo it, manually set reserve bandwidth to 0 per cent. You can do this by clicking enabled and then setting the bandwidth limit to 0. Then click OK to exit.

2 Optimise TCP/IP settings

Download a nifty piece of freeware called SG TCP Optimizer. This sets up the best way your PC sends and receives data packets for improved connection speeds.

You don't need to install the software. To run the program, just double-click on the icon at: www.speedguide.net/ downloads.php

A window will pop up. Under the General Settings tab, drag the slider to match your connection's download speed. Then select the Optimal Settings radio button and click Apply Changes.

Another window will pop up. Make sure the Backup box is ticked and then click OK. You'll be asked to reboot your system for the changes to take effect.

By Irene Tham

Slow in Start Up

2008-09-06T09:56:00.000+08:00

Slow in start-up your PC?

You may experienced that your PC might take a long time to boot-up. What causes the crawl is because of the useless programs which run automatically when your computer is turned on.

To remove them, go to Start Menu, Run, and in the command prompt type 'msconfig'. Click the Startup tab which displays the list of programs (above) that run when your computer is turned on. Uncheck the ones that you don't need running at boot up. Then restart your computer. Programs like those you do not use at all may go.

Acer Aspire One

2008-07-19T16:56:00.000+08:00

New Product
Computer
Big aspirations
Acer Aspire One

Available at Funan DigitaLife Mall and Sim Lim Square. Comes in five colours, Sin$699

THE way people gush over tech stuff today, the addition of a little notebook PC might herald as much excitement as a human bundle of joy.

The Acer Aspire One is a compact notebook PC just 24cm x 17cm and less than 1kg.

Like other basic systems, it features a simple graphical Linux-based interface with icons categorised under connect, works, fun and files.

The computer, which runs on the Intel Atom processor, comes with 1GB RAM and 8GB of internal memory and can be boosted with two SD cards. Once the cards are plugged in, the Smart File Manager software merges all storage space together, so you see only one combined drive.

There are also two wireless slots so you can choose 802.11b/g Wi-Fi and either 3G or Wi-Max for connecting to the Internet.

Yahoo addresses e-mail concerns with new domains

2008-06-20T20:10:00.000+08:00

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE,AP Business Writer AP - Friday, June 20

SAN FRANCISCO - Yahoo Inc. is offering free e-mail accounts under two new designations in an effort to attract Web surfers unhappy with their current addresses.

The Sunnyvale-based company expects to begin registering new addresses under the domains of "ymail" and "rocketmail" around noon PDT Thursday at http://mail.yahoo.com.

It will be the first time that Yahoo has offered e-mail accounts under umbrellas other than its own company name since it became a correspondence conduit in 1997.

Yahoo began offering free e-mail shortly after its $80 million acquisition of Four11 Corp., which included the rocketmail domain. Rocketmail users at the time of the acquisition were allowed to keep their existing accounts, but Yahoo hadn't accepted any new addresses under that name until now.

The diversification into new e-mail designations is being driven by the difficulty that people are having as they try to find an appealing e-mail handle under the Yahoo domain.

Most people prefer an e-mail address that's easy to remember _ like the first letter of their first name in front of their last name _ or reflective of a personal interest, like a hobby or favorite sports team.

But the popularity of Yahoo e-mail had narrowed the range of choices, forcing users to perform too many mental gymnastics to come up with an e-mail handle that hadn't already been taken.

"We realized we needed to expand the universe of Yahoo mail," said John Kremer, a vice president in charge of Yahoo's e-mail.

Yahoo is hoping the additional options created with the ymail and rocketmail will help boost its e-mail growth. Although it's given away, e-mail is considered an important product because it fosters user loyalty and spurs frequent visits that create advertising opportunities.

With 266 million worldwide users in April, Yahoo is the e-mail market leader, according to the latest data from research firm comScore Inc. Microsoft Corp., which unsuccessfully tried to buy Yahoo for $47.5 billion, is a close second at 264 million users.

But e-mail accounts at both Yahoo and Microsoft have been growing at a slower pace than Google Inc.'s Gmail, which has added more than 30 million users in the past year. About 101 million people used the Internet search leader's Gmail in April, comScore said.

E-mail under the ymail and rocketmail designations will offer all the same features as the Yahoo domain, including an unlimited amount of storage capacity.

When it entered the e-mail market, Yahoo provided just 3 megabytes of free storage per account. But Google changed the competitive landscape in 2004 when it introduced gmail with 1 gigabyte of free storage under its Gmail service. Gmail now offers more than 6 gigabytes of free storage.

HP 2133 MINI-NOTE PC

2008-06-01T09:51:00.000+08:00

HP New Product

WHEN you first set your eyes on the HP 2133 Mini-Note PC, you'll probably gasp a little: The aluminium finish looks posh while the laptop keys look so shiny they seem to be begging you to slide your fingers across them.

Measuring 9 inches and tilting the scales at just 1kg, your arms won't ache when you carry it around.

It also has all the right connections. Integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth let you connect to the Net and send files at the snap of your fingers.

And just in case the klutz in you drops the gizmo down a flight of stairs, the laptop promises to guard against knocks and bumps. Thanks to its motion sensor, the laptop detects any sudden movement and sends a command to temporarily park the hard drive.

Facebook

2008-05-19T10:29:00.000+08:00

Facebook to protect young users

THE social network Facebook has reached an agreement with 49 state attorneys general to institute a broad set of principles intended to protect young users from online predators and inappropriate material.

The company will require users under 18 to confirm they have read Facebook's safety tips when they sign up. The site will also display a prominent 'report abuse' icon devised by the New Jersey attorney general.

Facebook will also no longer let people significantly change their ages without review and has agreed to take down within 24 hours any material flagged as inappropriate.

To obtain proof that people are as old as they say they are on the service, the company is developing behavioural technology to weed out fibbers, said Chris Kelly who work on privacy matters for Facebook.

Such technology could, for example, identify when someone is friends with people of a significantly different age - an indication that perhaps an older person is trying to contact young people.

MySpace announced a similar settlement with state officials in January and joined a new Internet safety technical task force to develop age and identity verification tools for social networking sites. Facebook will now join that task force as well.

The North Carolina attorney general, Roy Cooper, and the Connecticut attorney general, Richard Blumenthal, led discussions over the last year.

Richard said in an interview that there were a smaller number of problems with privacy on Facebook than with the more open and widely used MySpace, but that Facebook might have more work to do.

'We envision this as an ongoing process. We purposely built into this agreement the opportunity to raise and address new issues,' Richard said. 'If we see a problem, they'll hear from us.'

The New York Times

Freeware - Digital Imaging

2008-04-28T20:19:00.000+08:00

Why spend more? Use freeware

Free software, or freeware, is getting better and better while remaining free of charge. LIM YEE HUNG shows you the top picks to save you time and money.

The cost of software from commercial vendors can be hefty. YOU wonder, sometimes, what drives people to create computer programs without price tags. A passion for programming? Or a great desire to spite the likes of Microsoft?

I don't know, but who cares when you can have the Gimp Image Editor, a program that gives Adobe Photoshop a run for its money, without a single cent.

And while most commercial programs have the upper hand in terms of features, that advantage is usually not big enough to justify the difference in price. Sometimes, the free alternative can even be better.

With the global economy looking wobbly, there is no better time to be more adventurous - and cheap. No apologies about it. Here we go.

# Digital imaging

IN THE age of Facebook, the need for photo editors is greater than ever, particularly among the image-conscious. Adobe Photoshop is the industry leader but it comes with a big price tag.

Gimp, dubbed the 'free Photoshop', is a full-featured digital photo editor with transformation, selection, layer and masking tools.

However, it is not designed to be a Photoshop clone, so it's incompatible with most of the plug-ins designed for Photoshop.

Google-owned Picasa comes with far fewer features than Gimp and is targeted at normal users who need only slight alterations to their photographs, such as photo cropping and red-eye reduction.

However, it makes up for its no-frills limitations with an in-built photo uploader which streamlines the process of getting your photos off your camera and onto the Web.

For the artistically inclined, Paint.NET is an easy-to-use and effective digital imaging program. Originally intended as a free replacement for Microsoft Paint, it features an intuitive user interface with special effects, support for layers and other nifty tools, making it perfect for budding digital artists.

And did I mention Adobe's just-launched Beta of its Web-based Adobe Photoshop Express? Yes, even Adobe knows the words 'free' and 'online'.

# GIMP: gimp-win.sourceforge.net
# Picasa: picasa.google.com
# Paint.NET: www.getpaint.net
# Adobe Photoshop Express: www.photoshop.com/express

Some Ways to Fire Up Your PC!

2008-04-20T17:02:00.001+08:00

Fire up your PC!

Thanks to Digital Life and Chester Chen, a PC enthusiast and freelance writer for writing this article which is a great helps to many of the PC users

Don't chuck your PC just yet. Here are some sure-fire ways to boost its performance. YOU don't want to change your PC system - it's less than three years old. But you do want to put on some computing muscle, so you can do some 27 things at once without everything slowing down to a crawl.

Three areas can be boosted - CPU, graphics video card and RAM - with varying effects on the overall performance.

CPU

MULTI-CORE processors are now the rage. If you are still using an old single-core processor, this can be a major boost in performance, especially for multimedia applications, 3D modelling and super complex maths calculations.

There are two players in this market space - Intel and AMD. The manufacturer you go with depends on your current motherboard.

Intel offers dual-core and quad-core processor, but in order to use these you need to have a compatible LGA775 (Socket-T) processor socket. Without it, you will need to upgrade both the processor and motherboard. Also, insist on the Core 2 Duo, not the older Core Duo or Pentium D systems.

AMD's product offerings are dual-core, triplecore and quad-core systems and use a Socket-AM2.

A CPU upgrade will set you back from $110 to a whopping $1,699. The price is tagged to the clock speed of the CPU, the total number of cores (engines) and the on-board RAM cache. More core processors mean better multi-tasking.

VIDEO GRAPHICS CARD

VIDEO cards transform the digital bits into a display pixel (picture element) on your monitor. Simple video graphics systems are built into the motherboard. Most of these systems with built-in graphics usually have upgrade capabilities for a stand-alone card. If you have an older system, it may use an AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) or the newer standard PCI-E (PCI Express) slot. The latter is the better of the two and the current standard. Note: The slots are not interchangeable.

The graphics card has a CPU and memory of its own that do all the mathematical computing for 3D graphics. This eases the computing burden on the main CPU and translates to better performance. Prices start at $150 for a low-end nVidia 8600 or ATI HD3650, to $500 for a high-end nVidia 9800 or ATI HD3870.

RAM

SYSTEM memory affects the overall performance. So, souping up this component will bring about faster start-ups, faster loading times for applications and less hard drive accessing.

Today, DDR2 (Double Data Rate Two) is the standard. And you should have 1GB for Windows XP systems and 2GB for Windows Vista. Going beyond 3GB will not yield better results because the area above 3GB is reserved for other system devices like video cards and sound cards.

With RAM price at an all-time low, you should be able to find a 1GB DDR2 memory module for as low as $30.

System performance can also be improved by using a ReadyBoost-enabled flash memory USB stick with Windows Vista. The memory stick is a non-moving part file store and will be faster to access than the hard drive. It acts as a cache for recent or frequently accessed files. A ReadyBoost-enabled 4GB flash memory USB stick can be had for as little as $30.

Ed's note: If your performance boosting exercise requires changing more than one component, it may be wiser to wait a while longer and do a system overhaul. Components become obsolete quickly and once a new standard is in place, the older less prolific technology parts become less costly. Alternatively, get a new PC.

FREE PERFORMANCE BOOST

A LITTLE housekeeping can also go a long way.

# Delete all the temporary files that are not properly flushed out of the system because of a misbehaving application or software bugs. Open the Command Prompt and type 'CD %temp%'. Press ENTER. Use the DOS command, DEL, to remove the files.

# Delete all the temporary Internet files created by Internet Explorer. In the browser, access the Tools menu where you will find an option to delete Temporary files.

# Use the built-in defragmenting program to optimise the files so they are contiguous, and clear the free space. Press Windows Key-R and type in DFRG.MSC and press OK. Follow the on-screen instructions.

# Remove any of the extra applications sitting in the Windows System Tray. Use the Add/Remove programs in the Windows Control Panel to do it.

By Chester Chen, a PC enthusiast and freelance writer

GPS for your Phone

2008-04-05T16:33:00.000+08:00

YOU'VE probably heard a lot about mobile phones with GPS (Global Positioning System) capabilities. But alas, the phone that you bought just a few months back doesn't have GPS, and your subscription contract doesn't allow you to trade your phone in just yet.

As an alternative, you can try the Nokia Bluetooth GPS module LD-4W. It's a GPS receiver that can be used with compatible Bluetooth phones, Nokia or otherwise. Just make sure your phone supports Bluetooth v2.0 with EDR, Serial Port Profile, and NMEA 0183 v3.01 protocol

The LD-4W is a simple gadget. On the device, there're only a power button, charging port, and three LED indicators for power, Bluetooth and GPS status. I liked its clean and slim design, which looks very much like the original iPod Nano, except that it's slightly shorter.

There are a couple of useful accessories included in the box. For one, car drivers can stick the module to their vehicle windscreen with a suction cup. If you're on foot, use the belt clip or keyring. It's even splash proof, but not waterproof, so don't go jumping into the pool with it.

Unfortunately, only a car charger, not a conventional wall charger, was bundled with the device.

I tested the device with a Nokia N81 and a HTC Touch. On the N81, which already had Nokia Maps preinstalled, it was a pretty straightforward affair. I just had to pair it like I would with any other Bluetooth device.

For a list of compatible Nokia phones, check Nokia's website. Maps are free for download, but you'll have to pay for the optional Voice Navigation feature.

Getting it to work with the HTC (which was installed with Windows Mobile 6 Professional) involved a few more steps. I had to download and install MapKing (most navigation software should work though) and set the Com port manually.

Next, I stuck the GPS module to my car windscreen and I was ready to go. I used a car holder to hold the phone - Nokia has a couple of these available, but a generic one will do.

The module typically took about three minutes or so to latch on to a GPS signal from a cold start - similar to other GPS devices that I have tested. Although I would lose the GPS signal whenever I entered the CTE underground tunnel, it managed to re-lock on quickly when my car emerged from the tunnel. And to my surprise, it even worked when I slipped it into my trousers pocket while on foot.

FINAL SAY

If you've been hankering for a GPS gadget, the LD-4W is probably one of the best solutions if you have a compatible phone.

By Melvin Seah

Dual Phones or Dual Sim Cards Phone

2008-03-17T20:16:00.000+08:00

I would like to thanks Tham Yuen-C and Digital Life for this article. I think this article clear many questions on the mind of how a dual phones or dual simcards phones work or function

Dual-SIM handsets from China and Taiwan are being sold in Sim Lim Square and cost from $200 to $300. Most carry unfamiliar brand names such as CECT, Anycool or Fashion (above). -- ST PHOTOS: LIM CHIN PING

Dual phones: Your queries answered

Got a burning question about these phones that work twice as hard? THAM YUEN-C has the answers

How are dual-SIM phones different from those that hold two SIM cards?
Dual-SIM phones are also known as dual-standby phones because they allow both SIM cards to be 'live' at the same time.
These phones have two SIM card slots in the back cover, both of which link to an antenna.
There are phones which hold two SIM cards, but can use only one card at a time. For these phones, users will choose which SIM card they want live when they turn on their phones. They will also not receive calls or text messages for the SIM card that is not live until they switch to use that SIM card.

Can I choose which line I want to use for making calls or sending text messages with dual-SIM phones?
Yes. Some of these phones depend on software that allows users to choose from their phone menu which line they want to make a call with, and which one they want to send text messages with.
Others depend on hardware buttons to do this. The Samsung SGH-880 has one button at the side that lets you switch between the SIM cards. Some of the China-made phones sold in Sim Lim Square have two Send buttons, one for each of the SIM cards.

How will I know which line a caller is calling me on?
When calls come in, the phone displays which line it is for. For text messages, a little icon beside the messages indicate whether it was sent to SIM card 1 or SIM card 2.

What about my contact lists?
All the phone numbers will displayed in the contact list. But next to each contact will be an icon indicating which SIM card the phone number is saved in.

What happens when I'm on the phone and a call comes in for the other line?
Although these phones allow both lines to be live at the same time, when one line is in use, callers who call the other line will hear an engaged tone.
Call waiting will still be available for the individual lines you have, but not between the two lines.

Twin features - twice as good?
- Dual-SIM phones have both SIM cards 'live' at the same time. There are phones which hold two SIM cards, but can use only one card at a time.
- For Dual-SIM phones, when calls come in, the phone displays which line it is for.
- For text messages, a little icon beside the messages indicate which SIM card it was sent to.
- When one line is in use, callers who call the other line will hear an engaged tone.

Privacy on Facebook

2008-02-29T20:01:00.000+08:00

This article is publish by Digital Life on 26 Feb 2008

Face up to privacy on Facebook

So you have been uploading wild photos on Facebook - until you realise everyone, including your boss, has seen them. LIM YEE HUNG shows you how to keep your private life private

UBER-POPULAR social networking site Facebook has long struggled to find the right balance between improving the site and safeguarding the privacy of its users.

Recently, the launch of its Beacon advertising platform in September was pummelled by severe criticism from users worried about privacy violations. This, after a security researcher revealed that it tracks user activities on external sites, captures data on what users do and buy on them, and sends it back to Facebook.

Currently, Facebook automatically assumes that you wish to share all your personal information with everyone on the Web.

The onus is on you, the user, to tweak the privacy settings in Facebook, and avoid any embarrassing situations.

Click on Privacy at the top-right hand corner of the screen. You will then be directed to the Privacy page of your account.

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to limit the sharing of your personal information.

Prevent your profile from being found by outsiders
Don't want your Facebook profile to be 'Googled'?
- Click Edit Settings under the Search heading on the Privacy page.
- Select 'Only my friends' in the drop-down menu so that only the friends whom you have added on Facebook will be able to find you using the Search function in Facebook.
- Uncheck the box beside this box - 'Create a public search listing for me' - and submit it for search engine indexing. This will stop your profile from showing up on Google when your name is searched.

-Stop Facebook from sharing information about your activities on other websites
The default setting allows external websites to send information about your actions on their site, such as the purchase of a DVD disc, to Facebook, where it will be displayed in your News Feed.
- Click Edit Settings under the External Websites heading.
- Check the box next to 'Don't allow any websites to send stories to my profile'.

-Hide sensitive portions of your Profile page
You may wish to hide certain portions of your Profile page, such as your contact information or the videos you upload.
- Click 'Edit Settings' under the Profile heading. You will then be able to customise the settings for different parts of your profile. You can also choose to limit the viewing of your entire profile to just your friends.
- For example, to prevent outsiders from viewing your photos, select 'Only my friends' or 'Only me' in the relevant drop-down menu.

- Prevent applications from sharing your data
If, like most Facebook users, you have added Facebook applications to your account, you can limit the information available to them.
- Under the Other Applications tab, choose which data - such as the groups you belong to and your relationship status - will be available to these applications by checking the boxes next to them.
- For maximum security, check the box next to 'Do not share any information about me'. Take note that you won't be able to select this if you have downloaded applications that are built on the Facebook platform - you will have to uninstall them first before you can check the box.

-Block specific people from accessing your Facebook profile
Are you the unfortunate victim of 'Facebook stalking'? People flooding you with unwanted and inappropriate messages? Put an end to the never-ending messages and comments on your photos by blocking the user directly.
- Under the Block People section at the bottom of the Privacy page, enter the person's name in the search box and then click 'Block Person'. He or she will now be unable to search for you, see your profile, or contact you on Facebook. Whew!

Tech Giants' Battleground

2008-02-10T10:32:00.000+08:00

Round 1: Microsoft challenges Google's dominance by bidding for Yahoo Round 2: Parties slug it out for ultimate control of mobile phones By Alfred Siew, Technology Correspondent

Cellphone war

The fight will continue on the small screen of cellphones, as faster wireless networks let people share pictures and watch videos on the go. All three (Google, Microsoft and Yahoo) are geared for this new market.

Online battle

77 per cent of online searches go through Google today, with Yahoo getting 16 per cent and Microsoft, only 4 per cent, according to a Net measurement firm. And so, at its wits' end, Microsoft sought to buy Yahoo, for US$44.6b.

Cellphones Competition Hot-Up

2008-02-02T17:47:00.000+08:00

Yahoo and Google take aim at mobile eyeballs

Google's Android and Yahoo's Go version 3 want to get into your cellphones. By OO GIN LEE

THE war of the mobiles is on. The two behemoths of online advertising, Google and Yahoo, are now taking their battle to the mobile phone.

Google fired the first salvo when it announced the launch of its Android 'open' mobile platform last November.

Then, just two months later in January, Yahoo responded with its 'open' Yahoo Go version 3 suite of mobile applications which now also works with applications developed by third-party developers.

Online advertising is big business, but so far has been limited to the PC Web.

But with twice more mobile phones than PCs in the market and growing, the mobile Web is one huge advertising platform that both Google and Yahoo cannot ignore for future growth.

In essence, Google is building a whole new blueprint for mobile phones, which, fortunately or unfortunately, has not been dominated by one main operating system called Microsoft Windows.

While that means more room for competition, it has also made it harder for developers to create applications which can work across all the different mobile phones.

New system

With Android, Google has the chance to build a whole new system from the ground up, and perhaps one that offers a much better experience for mobile users which is closer to the PC Web that we have all grown used to.

It won't be easy for Google, because in the phone market, the mobile operators and handset makers still call the shots.

Can Google break the impasse?

To succeed, it needs to bring the application developers together and it is pumping US$10 million (US$14.2 million) to fuel software creation for the Android.

Yahoo, however, takes a different approach.

It wants to maximise the eyeballs on Yahoo's products like Search, Mail and the personalised Web portal called my Yahoo.

It wants to be the 'starting point' for consumers when they go online, both on the PC and the mobile Web.

So its new Yahoo Go 3 mobile application suite also doubles as a platform where users can add third-party applications called widgets and therefore garner even more eyeballs.

More eyeballs, more ads

More eyeballs translates to more opportunities for online ads.

As its widget platform is Web-based, it should work across all the different operating systems, whether it is Windows Mobile, Nokia Series 60 or the upcoming Google Android.

It's still too early to say who will win the war, but in the meantime, what is clear is that mobile users are now getting a lot closer to the PC Web experience.

Combine that with faster mobile broadband speeds through 3.5G, and it looks like the mobile Web business is finally ready to rock and roll.

10 tips to maximise your Firefox experience

2008-01-18T20:31:00.000+08:00

Two issue ago, I posted something on Explorer 7. It seem that many of them are searching for firefox. Be it firefox 3, firefox plugins, firefox addins, firefox extensions, firefox themes, firefox 3 beta, firefox add on, firefox.com or firefox for mac, I would like to post this from Straits Times - Digital Life."10 tips to maximise your firefox experience"

Want more? 10 tips to maximise your Firefox experience

HERE are 10 ways to get the most out of your new browser.

# 1. If you've been an Internet Explorer 6 faithful, you will enjoy the tabbed browsing feature in Firefox. Instead of opening a separate window for each website you want to surf, you can organise them into a single window for less clutter.
Use Ctrl-T to open a new tab and Ctrl-Tab to cycle through the tabs. Shift and click on a link to open it in a new tab in the background or press Shift, Ctrl and click to bring the new tab into the foreground.

# 2. Been typing whole domain names with the 'www.' prefix and '.com' suffix into the address bar? You can save some keystrokes.
Type just the bits in-between, for instance, enter 'yahoo', then hit Ctrl + Enter.
The complete 'www.yahoo.com' address will be formed and loaded automatically. For www.(domain name).net, hit Shift+Enter.

# 3. Instead of clicking on the Forward or Back buttons, hold Shift and turn the scroll wheel of your mouse forward or backward to navigate through the web pages.

# 4. You can assign keywords to your bookmarked sites - right-click on the bookmark and click properties. You can then load the keyworded bookmark quickly by entering the keyword in the address bar.

# 5. Back up your bookmarks by going to Bookmarks: Organise Bookmarks. Click File:Export. Give the file a name and click Save.

# 6. To quickly change the text size on a web page, use Ctrl and the + (plus) key to make text bigger, and Ctrl and - (minus) to make text smaller. To revert to the default text size, press Ctrl and 0 (zero). You can also change the text size by pressing Ctrl and moving the scroll wheel up or down.

# 7. The usual way to go about searching for text on a web page is via Ctrl-F, the find command. Skip to this shortcut: Under Firefox's Tools: Options, select Advanced: General, then check 'Search for text when I start typing'. Type a string of text and Firefox automatically looks for it on-the-fly.

# 8. Configure Firefox to automatically purge your private data. Under Tools: Options, select Privacy, then check 'Always clear my private data when I close Firefox'. Just underneath this setting, you can also configure Firefox to prompt you before clearing the private data by checking 'Ask me before clearing private data'.

# 9. If you let your browser remember passwords, make them safer by configuring a master password. Select Tools: Options, then Security. Under the Passwords section, check 'Use a master password'. Be sure to use a password that cannot be easily guessed by other people.

# 10. You can configure Smart Keywords, which lets you search websites from the address bar. For instance, if you regularly query Amazon.com to search for books, navigate to the homepage, enter the keyword and click Go. This can be simplified.

Go to the webpage with the search field, right-click the search field, then choose 'Add a Keyword for this Search'.

The Add Bookmark dialog will pop up. Give the bookmark a name, for instance, 'Amazon Search', and a keyword, for example 'am' and save the bookmark.

The next time you want to search for a book, just enter 'am (name of book)' into the address bar and hit Enter.

By Mike Lee

Blu Ray vs HD

2008-01-11T15:38:00.000+08:00

Blu Ray is better than HD DVD ?

Watch the video on how to choose Blur Ray or HD DVD.

Internet Explorer 7.0

2008-01-01T17:48:00.000+08:00

Tip: Internet Explorer 7

IF You are still clicking on the blue E ico on your taskbar whenever you want to open a second or thired browser window, then you haven't discovered the wonders of tabbed browsing.

With IE 7, simply click on the tab right below your address bar to open a new tab instead of new window. It saves you loads and loads of time.

Another great feature of IE7 is its Zoom function, which lets you enlarge the website if it has small fonts or if your screen size is too small.

To do this, go to the Page tab at the top right hand side, and choose Zoom. You can quickly zoom from 50 to 400 per cent, an instant boost to easy reading for tired eyes.

And if you can't seem to find that Refresh button anymore, it's actually that green up and down arrow right at the top.

Compiled by Oo Gin Lee

Nokia 6500

2007-12-18T18:11:00.000+08:00

Slim Nokia 6500 Classic's worth the wait

AFTER lagging behind the likes of Samsung and Motorola in the slim phone market, Nokia is finally in the thick of the action with the 6500 Classic. At 9.5mm thin, the 6500 Classic would be one of the thinnest Nokia phones ever, and Nokia has really done a good job at it.

My first impressions - simply classy and elegant with nice clean lines and curves. Apart from the micro USB port at the top, there are no side buttons to disrupt its minimalist aesthetics. Its sleek look is achieved with polished anodized aluminium and black glossy plastic with touches of chrome.

The anodised aluminium on its top half gives it a solid feel and heft, while keeping it lightweight at the same time.

The glossy plastic lower half, however, is a fingerprint magnet.

The 6500 Classic's beauty extends to its display as well. Nokia has outfitted it with a 240 x 320 pixel display that is excellent, with razor-sharp text. Even the smallest font size is easily readable. Pity it's just a 2-inch display; another half-inch would have been

perfect. The phone's standard numeric keypad layout has keys that are a little too small and flat.

Even though the keys have raised bottom edges, they are still rather hard to press even for ladies. I had to resort to fingernails for best results. It comes with 3G and 1 GB internal memory, but no expansion slot.

One final minor shortcoming is the micro USB connector. As it's also a charging, data synchronising and audio connector, you can't listen to music when you're charging the phone.

FINAL SAY

A definite head-turner, the Nokia 6500 Classic is excellent if you want a chic-looking phone that does its job well. It's also a splendid choice as a weekend phone.

By Tony Lim, who works in the IT industry.

Stream videos from your laptop to your TV

2007-12-11T19:48:00.000+08:00

Live Stream Video

All you need is a media extender. PETER KENNY and JULIAN WONG show you how to do it

Turn your TV into a media centre wirelessly by plugging in a media extender, then stream content from a laptop or PC within Wi-Fi range. -- ST PHOTO: MUGILAN RAJASEGERAN

IT'S GREAT to watch your downloaded movies and home-made videos on the laptop.

But it's so much better to watch them on the big TV screen telly with the whole family lounging in the living room.

The old way was to pull a cable from your laptop to the VGA port of your TV, but in today's wireless world, this is so uncool.

The good news is that you can easily Wi-Fi-enable your TV. Turn it into a media centre wirelessly by plugging in a device called a media extender into it. You can then stream content from any laptop within the Wi-Fi range to your goggle box.

If you have multiple TV sets, simply add additional media extenders to each TV and suddenly you have a movie warehouse in your laptop that can stream to multiple terminals.

There's no shortage of media extenders in the market. We took three of them - the Pinnacle ShowCenter 200, NetGear Digital Entertainer HD and the Apple TV for a spin.

How to set up
To set up the media centres, locate the audio and video output cables accompanying the units and connect them to the correct input ports on the TV or flat screen panel.

For HDMI, the newest cable for speedy image transfers, you just need one wire to connect both the video and audio signals.

Next, you need to install and run the software on to your PC.

Finally, point the software to the folders in which you store your audio, video and photo files.

The Pinnacle ShowCenter 200 showed signs of its age - it does not support Windows Vista and had only component video outputs instead of the de-facto HDMI, necessary for Full HD full-screen monitors and for better image quality.

The Netgear Digital Entertainer HD media centre, on the other hand, supports Windows Vista and comes fully equipped with an HDMI connector. The on-screen user interface is also way friendlier and navigation is a marked improvement over the Pinnacle ShowCenter 200.

The third product, the AppleTV, is slightly different in that it has a hard disk inside the box. And the reason for this became apparent in our tests.

When it comes to streaming music and photos wirelessly from the laptop or desktop to these media centre devices, all the products performed as claimed.

However, when we tried streaming HD-quality videos over the 802.11g network, the fastest network of current genres available, the Pinnacle stuttered badly and the Netgear played everything in slow motion. (Note: There was no stuttering on standard videos, though.)

Not so for the AppleTV: The only way of accessing this media centre is via iTunes.

This ensures that all the video files are encoded into the right format and then sent to the hard disk before it is able to play, avoiding video stutter.

As for Pinnacle and Netgear, it was obvious that their wireless networks did not have enough bandwidth to stream HD media.

Peter Kenny and Julian Wong are from the Republic Polytechnic's School of IT

Ubuntu Linux

2007-12-04T19:39:00.000+08:00

Ubuntu Linux - Carry the Ubuntu OS in your hand

Install it in a portable flash drive, and boot into your own system on any PC, says LIM YEE HUNG

This article is compliment from Straits Times Digital Life and Mr Lim Yee Hung

TIRED of having to familiarise yourself with new settings each time you use a different computer?

Load the entire Ubuntu operating system (OS) into a flash drive. It's do-able because the OS takes up just 2GB of space compared to Windows Vista's 20GB.

Then, simply plug in the Ubuntu-installed flash drive into any computer and, like Agent Smith in the Matrix, you will be able to 'clone' your own computer settings onto the new PC.

What you need:
*Internet connection

*USB portable flash drive of at least 2GB. (Make sure that the flash drive is empty as any data on it will be erased once you install the OS.)

<>*Ubuntu Live CD - order it for free from www.ubuntu.com or create one (download from the website and burn it onto a CD).

What to do
THE following instructions will make use of the command line interface, somewhat like the MS-DOS application. In Ubuntu, it is called Terminal.

In it, you will be required to type in computer commands, as opposed to just clicking on a few buttons with your mouse. Take note that all commands are case-sensitive.

Step 1
FIRST, boot your computer into Ubuntu. If you don't have the OS installed, use the Live CD to boot up Ubuntu instead. Make sure that both the CD-ROM and the flash drive are plugged into the computer. Then, run the Terminal application (Applications >Accessories >Terminal).

Step 2
TYPE 'sudo su' and enter your administrator password to give yourself full access privileges.

Type 'fdisk -l' to list all the drives and partitions in your computer. You should see your flash drive listed under '/dev/sdx', where x is the letter assigned by your computer to the drive. So, if your flash drive is listed under '/dev/sdb', replace x with b for the following instructions.

Type 'umount /dev/sdx1' to unmount the flash drive, allowing you to configure it.

Type 'fdisk /dev/sdx'.

Type 'p'. You will see all existing partitions on the drive. Press 'd' to delete them.

Type 'p' again to check if all partitions have been deleted; if not, repeat the delete command.

Once that's done, type 'n' to make a new partition.

Type 'p' to create a primary partition.

Type '1' to make this the very first partition.

Press the 'Enter' key to use the default cylinder.

You will then be prompted to set your partition size. Set it to 750MB by typing '+750M'.

Type 'a' to make the partition active.

You will now need to set the file system of this partition, so type '1' to select the partition.

Type 't' and then '6' to set the filesystem to the FAT16 filesystem.

Create a second primary partition by typing 'n', followed by 'p', then '2'.

Press the 'Enter' key twice to use the default cylinder and the default last cylinder.

Type 'w' to edit your partition table.

Unmount the first partition by typing 'umount /dev/sdx1'.

Format the partition by typing 'mkfs.vfat -F 16 -n ubuntu710 /dev/sdx1'.

Then, format the second partition by typing 'umount /dev/sdx2', and then 'mkfs.ext2 -b 4096 -L casper-rw /dev/sdx2'.

Step 3
NOW remove your flash drive and plug it in again.

Type 'apt-get update' in the Terminal window. You should see a long stream of text as Ubuntu looks up the latest updates for your system.

Step 4
YOU will need to install the Syslinux and mtools applications, so type 'apt-get install syslinux mtools'.

Enter 'y' for 'yes' when prompted whether you wish to install the application.

Type 'syslinux -sf /dev/sdx1'.

Step 5
NOW you will need to use the files on the CD-ROM.

Type 'cd /cdrom' to access the CD-ROM directory.

Type 'cp -rf casper disctree dists install pics pool preseed .disk isolinux/* md5sum.txt README.diskdefines ubuntu.ico casper/vmlinuz casper /initrd.gz media/ubuntu710', to copy the files from the CD-ROM to your flash drive.

You may see errors stating that the system 'cannot create symbolic link'. Ignore them.

Step 6
TYPE 'cd' to return to the previous directory. Next, download a zip file from the Internet.

Type 'wget pendrivelinux.com /downloads/u710fix.zip' to download the file.

Type 'unzip -o -d /media/ubuntu710/ u710fix.zip' to extract all of the files in the zip file to your flash drive.

Step 7
NOW you are all set! Remove your CD and reboot the computer (leave the flash drive plugged in). You should now see the Ubuntu bootup menu.

Choose the 'Run in persistent mode - USB' option each time so that all settings will be saved for every boot.

Got trouble? Look here
IF YOU have trouble booting into Ubuntu on your flash drive after following the instructions, check for these two reasons:

Your computer is not set up to boot up from USB drives. Reboot your computer, and at the startup screen go to the BIOS Menu (press the F2 key). Make sure that the computer's boot menu includes USB drives, and put them on the top of the priority list. Save your changes and restart the PC.

If you still encounter problems, your flash drive's Master Boot Record (MBR) may be corrupted. Repair it by booting into Ubuntu normally and typing 'apt-get install lilo' in the Terminal application. Then enter 'y' if prompted for permission to install the program. Once it is installed, type 'lilo -M /dev/sdx' to repair the MBR.

Lim Yee Hung is a PC enthusiast studying in Britain

Three things you need to know

2007-11-27T20:43:00.000+08:00

Coming to a cellphone near you - better video quality. -- ST FILE PHOTO

Finds: The new Mozilla Firefox
THE best way to protect your computer against Trojans is to use Mozilla Firefox. No, it is not because Firefox burns away the worms, but most hackers go for Internet Explorer 7 simply because there are more users on this browser.

So for those who just cannot wait to try out Firefox 3, it is here at www. mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/all-beta.html.

Some cool new features include anti-virus integration in the download manager, full page zoom and smarter bookmarking.

Try it out and give your feedback on the new enhancements to the browser to mozilla.com. A word of warning: many of your plug-ins will not work since this is a beta release.

Words: Copyleft
IT IS a play on the word copyright.

While it does not have a legal meaning, copyleft refers to a software licensing scheme, where the original copyright owner can give everyone the right to adapt his work so long as the resulting copies or adaptations are also bound by the same copyleft principle.

Most open source software come under the GNU general public license rules, which is a classic copyleft scheme. You can use the open source software, but you must give back your contributions to the open source community.

It is usually used to modify copyrights for works such as computer software, documents, music and art.

Watch: Mobile TV
EVERYONE knows about 3G and now 3.5G: it lets you surf the Internet on your mobile phone and even watch video clips. So when the word mobile TV starts floating around, it is easy to get confused.

Mobile TV refers to watching TV on your cellphone. Usually, it refers to the use of a digital broadcast technology instead of cellular technologies like 3G.

The main standard used in Singapore is Digital Video Broadcast Handheld (DVB-H) technology. The phone needs to have a receiver chip to receive the TV broadcasts. Several broadcasters here have been testing DVB-H broadcasts and are now applying for licenses. When such broadcasts go commercial, anyone with a phone which has the DVB-H chip will be able to get the mobile TV service.

As DVB makes use of broadcast instead of streaming technologies like 3G, video quality is better and less jerky. The cost is also lower since you do not pay for every kilobyte used.

While DVB-H is for small devices like mobile phones, its cousin DVB-Terrestial (DVB-T) is for viewing on larger screens like the TV Mobile channel on buses. Mediacorp has also launched trials of Channel 5, 8 and Channel News Asia on DVB-T. What this means is that you can actually buy DVB-T USB adapters and stick one into your laptop to watch these channels for free. However, because it is still in beta, you may not get coverage in your area.

Compiled by Oo Gin Lee

Four fun things to do on Linux

2007-11-20T20:44:00.000+08:00

My own Ubuntu desktop, which was put together in less than an hour from a fresh installation of Ubuntu.

In the last instalment of the three-part series, LIM YEE HUNG shows you how to get the most out of Ubuntu

If you are a basic user, you already have all that you need after installing Ubuntu: it comes bundled with software such as OpenOffice, the free alternative to Microsoft Office, and the Mozilla Firefox Web browser, so you can start editing your documents and surfing the web.

But Ubuntu offers much more than that, including thousands of free programs and support for all kinds of media formats such as MP3s, videos, and the like.

Before you proceed on, be warned: fiddling with your Ubuntu system can be highly addictive.

1 Update Ubuntu
To ensure that all the programs in your system stay up to date, go to System, Administration, Update Manager. Click the Check button to check for the newest stuff, and then click Install Updates if there are any. Unfortunately, you can't schedule automatic fixes, but if you try to update weekly, you'll stay abreast with the latest in Linux.

2 Add extra repositories
Repositories are software archives that contain thousands of free downloadable programs, built specifically for Ubuntu.

Because Ubuntu comes with only some of the available repositories enabled by default, you will have to manually add the rest. Go to: System, Administration, Software Sources, and then click all the checkboxes under Ubuntu Software.

3 Go window shopping
Now that you have added all available repositories, it is time for the fun part of using Ubuntu - window-shopping for new, exciting programs from productivity tools to games.

Instead of finding and downloading programs one by one, Ubuntu uses package managers to search, download and install programs from the repositories, streamlining the entire process.

Most package managers, such as the Synaptic Package Manager, have a user-friendly graphical user interface (GUI), so you can get the latest programs in a mouse click.

4 Make your Ubuntu look cool
It's a myth that Ubuntu is found wanting when it comes to looks. While the basic configuration does look threadbare, a few smart modifications will get Ubuntu looking as spiffy as Windows and Mac systems. To toggle better visual effects in Ubuntu, such as 'vanishing' windows when minimising and transparency effects, go to: System, Preferences, Appearance. Then, toggle the options from None to Normal or Extra. There are also downloadable programs from the Web that allow you to beautify your Ubuntu desktop, such as the Avant Window Navigator, a snazzy 3-D navigation bar that works like the dock used in the Mac OS. Download it from wiki.awn-project.org, together with instructions on installation.

Miss the Windows Sidebar that Vista provides? Get gDesklets, using the Add/Remove application, by searching for 'gdesklets' in the Accessories category. You can then add widgets to your desktop, such as calendar and clock widgets (Nica'ad as widgets).

You can also explore the myriad options available to modify the appearance of your desktop, such as setting the transparency factor of your taskbar. Because of the flexibility of Ubuntu, you can personalise your desktop to a greater extent than that of Windows or Mac. Have fun!

Lim Yee Hung is a PC enthusiast studying in Britain.

PDF files may contain malicious code

2007-11-15T20:51:00.000+08:00

Malicious Code - PDF Files may contain Malicious code.

Pause...before you open that pdf attachment, because now, even pdf or portable document format files can contain malicious code.

IT security firm F-Secure last week issued a warning that it has recently seen tens of thousands of such malicious pdf files being spammed via mass e-mail messages.

When such pdf files are viewed on vulnerable machines, those PCs get infected.

According to F-Secure, the malicious file exploits a recently discovered frailty in Adobe Acrobat and Internet Explorer 7 and downloads more vicious programs (malware) from a server in Malaysia.

The aim seems to be to create a network of infected machines to be used as zombie machines to snare other PCs.

The evil e-mail contains subject lines like 'Your credit report' and 'Personal financial statement' and has no content in the main body except for the report.pdf attachment. F-Secure's chief research officer Mikko Hypponen said: 'We are worried about this case, as pdf attachments are typically not filtered at e-mail gateways.

'Executable files are now stripped almost everywhere, but pdf is stripped almost nowhere.'

This vulnerability was made public by a researcher called Petko D. Petko in September in his blog. Adobe acknowledged the chink in the armour as a critical vulnerability via a security bulletin released last month.

This issue affects only users running Adobe Reader or Acrobat versions 8.1 or earlier on a Windows XP or Windows 2003 machine with Internet Explorer 7 installed. Adobe added that the problem can be fixed if users update to Adobe Reader 8.1.1 or Acrobat 8.1.1.

Another IT security firm Fortinet said it saw high activity with this exploit on Oct 27, but added it has recently subsided.

'Since this is a new exploit, there will certainly be more activity on this front, and it is something users should be aware of,' said researcher Derek Manky from Fortinet's Global Threat Research Team.

7 simple ways to safeguard your PC

2007-11-07T09:54:00.000+08:00

How to safeguard your PC ? Here are 7 simple way to safeguard your PC.

1. Beware false security
A study by McAfee and the National Cyber Security Alliance in the US found that, in theory, nearly everyone knows they must keep their computer safe.

Practice tells a different story: a large percentage had expired anti-virus software and disabled firewalls. Less than half had anti-spyware software, and less than half of those who had anti-phishing software had installed it.

2. Watch out for phishing
Phishing scams use fraudulent e-mail messages and websites masquerading as legitimate businesses to lure unsuspecting users into revealing private account or login information.

3. Click carefully
Don't download files sent by strangers or click on hyperlinks from strangers.

4. Buy multi-layered security software
That means get anti-virus, firewall and anti-spyware at the very least.

5. Surf safely
Use free tools like the McAfee SiteAdvisor (www.siteadvisor.com) and TrustedSource toolbar (www.trustedsource.org).

Siteadvisor monitors over 10 million websites, which together represent 95 per cent of Internet traffic.

If it senses a risky website, you will be warned before you click to that site.

TrustedSource toolbar checks your Inbox and gives a safety rating on the sender of the e-mail. If you think it is spam, click on a button to report it.

6. Monitor kids online
Social networking sites can be a hotbed for social engineering attacks.

There have been phishing attacks linked to Web 2.0 sites and malicious code has surfaced. Because these sites are rather young, most of them don't have measures to protect their users.

7. Apply common sense
Don't give out your home address and phone number when you register at such sites. Don't re-use an existing one, especially your e-mail password.

Sources: McAfee, Secure Computing

By Oo Gin Lee

Five ways to live with Windows Vista

2007-10-31T16:57:00.000+08:00

So you just got a new PC with Microsoft's Windows Vista, or upgraded your old machine with the new operating system...and everything is different. Here are a few quick tips to become familiar with Microsoft's Windows Vista fast.

1 Add a Gadget to your Sidebar
Tired of the boring Gadgets, like the standard CPU meter, sitting on the right side of your screen? Just download new ones.
Surf to gallery.microsoft.com/sidebar/vista.as px for a list of the most popular Gadgets to add to your desktop. These include App Launcher, which gives you instant access to your favourite programs like that Battlefield 2142 game.

2 Search for a programme
The Start menu in Windows Vista is slightly different from Windows XP in that icons are so tightly packed together as to seem rather messy.
It could be that Microsoft is forcing users to go about firing up programs the new way - by using Vista's fast search feature. This means you type 'Photoshop', instead of scrolling through the menus for the photo-editing program. Takes a little getting used to, but the new way is actually faster.

3 Using Google as default search engine
Instead of using the Microsoft-prescribed search engine in Internet Explorer (MSN), you can specify Google or Yahoo.
In the browser window, click on the search toolbar and select 'More providers'. This lets you select Google and Yahoo as the default search engine.

4 Sort pictures by tags
You can cope with the hundreds or thousands of pictures on your computer by tagging them with meaningful data in Vista. For example, you can tag a group of pictures of that Bali holiday under 'Bali' and quickly retrieve them with a search for the term 'Bali'. Or search by date.

5 Move songs and picturesinto another disk
If you have two hard disks, you can keep your songs and pictures on the second hard disk.
To do this, drag the default Pictures and Music folders onto your second hard disk. When prompted, agree to copy the files over. You can also right click on the designated folders and select Location. Choose a folder on the second hard disk.

- By Alfred Siew

9 new cellphones from Motorola

2007-10-16T20:50:00.000+08:00

Motorola New Cellphones

The Razr2 V8 with its snakeskin design, is a potential holiday gift.

Motorola, badly in need of hit products to spark a turnaround, announced nine new cellphone handsets last week to be available this quarter.

Among them is a luxury version of the Razr2, the latest successor to its once top-selling model.

The Razr2 V8 is being touted as a potential holiday gift with gold plated accents, snakeskin texture, ultra-slim design and storage of up to 1,000 songs among other features. It costs US$250 (S$367) to US$300.

The company said four of the seven new W-series phones - the W160, W180, W213 and W377 - feature FM radio which requires headphones. Six of the handsets contains Motorola's proprietry CyrstalTalk technology, which automatically adjusts audio for clear calls in noisy environments.

'These devices are designed for consumers who are purchasing their first mobile, for those who simply want to talk and message on an easy to use phone or for those who are looking to upgrade to a simple phone,' said Mr Stu Reed, president of Motorola Mobile Devices.

The company also introduced the Moto U9 a lightweight phone and music player with a clamsheel design and stereo Bluetooth wireless technology, a two-megapixel camera with 8x zoom and text messaging capabilities.

Know your new buzzwords

2007-10-16T20:30:00.000+08:00

Here are some broadband terms you will see more of

FTTH

This stands for Fibre-to-the-home. Unlike current broadband technologies that rely on copper cables - like phone lines - in the final stretch or 'last mile' of the connection, FTTH calls for a fibre-optic cable to be run right into homes.

The downside, though, is cost. Despite falling prices for fibre optics, it is costly to hire skilled workers to lay cables into each individual apartment.

For users, there is also the added cost (of a few hundred dollars) of a modem-like device called a termination module.

GPON

Pronounced 'G-Pon', or short for Gigabit Passive Orbital Network, the term refers to a fibre-optic network that uses unpowered optical splitters. These 'split' a single optical line into several lines to serve multiple apartments.

This reduces the amount of fibre-optic cables used and is likely to be the technology that telcos will deploy for FTTH.

Metro-E

Short for Metro Ethernet, this is a technology that involves hooking up users with (copper) Ethernet cables - the network cables that are common in offices and homes now.

Broadband service providers offering Metro-E broadband usually install a network point - similar to what you get in the office - in the wall. From there, you can connect to your PC's Ethernet port at speeds of up to 1Gbps without using a modem.

But these speeds are achievable if the cables do not run more than 100m. To overcome this, network switches have to be installed in telecom rooms in each building. And these switches require fans to cool, adding to the cost.

Security for your PC

2007-10-09T21:47:00.000+08:00

F-Secure Internet Security keeps your PC safe from cyber attacks.

Internet security is vital if you surf the Web, but if you are not IT-savvy, how do you keep your PC safe? F-Secure Internet Security 2008 suite has all the necessary tools to help users defend themselves from unsavoury elements while surfing the wild wild Net.

The program comes with various tools such as virus and spyware scanners, rootkit scanners, anti-Spam for e-mail messages, anti-phishing and firewalls - essential tools for protecting the PC.

A pleasant surprise was the option to scan the computer without installing the software: the option quickly presented itself when I inserted the installation disk into the PC.

The program also gets itself up and running without much trouble, and scans and quarantines viruses and spyware without too much fuss. And it continually scans all files and e-mail messages while you work or surf, so you have peace of mind.

The other notable feature is the Parental Control tool. The tool can categorise PC users under parents, children and teenagers, allowing parents to limit access to certain webpages on the Internet for each category. Parents can apply time limits on PC usage.

Because it is password-protected, children cannot access the application and change the settings. As a similar parental control feature can be found in Windows Vista, Windows XP home users will find this product useful.

However, the program requires the user to uninstall pre-existing security tools that reside in the PC before it can be installed. This is somewhat limiting, I feel, because I prefer 'the more the merrier' approach, which gives me more options and protection on how to tackle the slew of spyware and viruses.

Also, updating F-Secure virus and spyware definitions (database of virus and spyware) is really a pain as I had to try for nearly two days to get a response from the server via the program. And when I did get a response, it took a long time for the file to be downloaded. Totally unacceptable.

- By Wilson Wong, a freelancer and gadget enthusiast.

FINAL SAY

An all-in-one product that will be welcomed by those who want hassle-free protection from malicious Internet activities. The Parental Control feature is a bonus.

Computer Peripherals

2007-10-02T20:16:00.000+08:00

The G15 has six programmable macro keys, where you can dedicate specific instructions to individual keyboard keys.

More often than not, a fully customisable mouse stays merely on the wishlist of hardcore gamers. But this dream may be a reality with Logitech's G9 Laser Mouse.

The nifty gadget takes customisation to a whole new level, with features that allow you to modify practically every part of it, giving the best personal form and feel. One of the G9's as-you-like-it features is its interchangeable grips which deliver long-lasting comfort and precise fingertip control, to give that winning edge when gaming.

Even its weight can be altered. You can choose from hundreds of weight settings and manually add up to 28g in the mouse. Gamers can also create different profiles via a range of settings including its specified keyboard macros and dots per inch (dpi) settings.

# The G9 is out at all authorised dealers for $169.

IBM takes on Microsoft with free software

2007-09-25T20:37:00.000+08:00

IBM's Lotus Symphony software is a free alternative to Microsoft's Office software such as the Word, Excel and PowerPoint programs. -- PHOTO: AP

Big Blue is challenging the dominance of Microsoft by offering free office utility software. By STEVE LOHR

IBM plans to mount its most ambitious challenge in years to Microsoft's dominance of personal computer software, by offering free programs for word processing, spreadsheets and presentations.

The company announced the desktop software, called IBM Lotus Symphony, at an event last week in New York. The programs will be available as free downloads from the IBM website.

IBM's Lotus-branded proprietary programs already compete with Microsoft products for e-mail, messaging and work group collaboration.

But the Symphony software is a free alternative to Microsoft's mainstay Office programs - Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

The Office business is huge and lucrative for Microsoft, second only to its Windows operating system as a profit maker.

In the 1990s, IBM failed in an effort to compete head-on with Microsoft in personal computer software with its OS/2 operating system and its SmartSuite office productivity programs.

But IBM is taking a different approach this time.

Its offerings are versions of open-source software developed in a consortium called OpenOffice.org.

The original code traces its origins to a German company, Star Division, which Sun Microsystems bought in 1999.

Sun later made the desktop software, now called StarOffice, an open-source project, in which work and code are freely shared.

IBM's engineers have been working with OpenOffice technology for some time. But two weeks ago, IBM declared that it was formally joining the open-source group, had dedicated 35 full-time programmers to the project and would contribute code to the initiative.

Free office productivity software has long been available from OpenOffice. org, and the open-source alternative has not yet made much progress against Microsoft's Office.

But IBM, analysts note, has such reach and stature with corporate customers that its endorsement could be significant.

'IBM is jumping in with products that are backed by IBM, with the IBM brand and IBM service,' said Ms Melissa Webster, an analyst for IDC, a research firm. 'This is a major boost for open source on the desktop.'

IBM executives compare this move with the push it gave Linux, the open-source operating system, into corporate data centres.

In 2000, IBM declared that it would forcefully back Linux with its engineers, its marketing and its dollars. The support from IBM helped make Linux a mainstream technology in corporations, where it competes with Microsoft's Windows server software.

IBM is also joining forces with Google, which offers the open-source desktop productivity programs as part of its Google Pack of software.

Google supports the same document formats in its online word processor and spreadsheet service.

IBM views its Symphony desktop offerings as part of a broader technology trend that will open the door to faster, more automated movement of information within and between organisations.

A crucial technical ingredient, they say, is the document format used in the open-source desktop software, called the OpenDocument Format.

It makes digital information independent of the program, like a word processor or spreadsheet, that is used to create and edit a document.

OpenDocument Format is based on an Internet-era protocol called XML, short for Extensible Markup Language, which enables automated machine-to-machine communication.

For example, an individual investor might create a spreadsheet with automated links to market information, and prices at which he or she wants to buy or sell shares in particular stocks. The person would get an alert by e-mail or cellphone message of price swings, and could create the document for a buy or sell order with a keystroke.

Or, in a doctor's office, patient records could be linked to hospital, clinic and other databases and updated automatically.

Microsoft has the same vision of software automation, but it champions its own document format, called Office Open XML. Earlier this month, Microsoft failed in its initial effort to have Office Open XML ratified as a global technical standard by the International Organization for Standardization in Geneva. The OpenDocument Format, backed by IBM, Google, Sun and others, was approved by the standards organisation last year.

IBM clearly regards its open-source desktop offerings as a strategic move in the document format battle.

'There is nothing that advances a standard like a product that uses it,' said Mr Steven A. Mills, senior vice-president of IBM's software group.

The Lotus Symphony products will support the Microsoft Office formats as well as the OpenDocument Format.

But analysts note that technical translators are not entirely foolproof; Symphony software may easily translate the words from a Microsoft Word document, but some of the fonts and formatting may be lost. For many users, that may not matter, they say, but for others it might.

Ms Betsy Frost, a general manager in Microsoft's Office business, said users valued 'full compatibility' with previous versions of their Office documents as well as the ease of use and familiarity of Microsoft products. And she noted that there are 500 million Office users worldwide.

Any inroads IBM and its allies make against Microsoft, analysts say, will not come easily. 'Three major players - IBM, Google and Sun - are now solidly behind a potential competing standard to Office,' said Mr Rob Koplowitz, an analyst at Forrester Research. 'But it's a tough road. Office is very entrenched.'

- The New York Times

Blackberry Curve

2007-09-18T21:07:00.000+08:00

Blackberry curves it to them

# Blackberry Curve
SingTel: $798 (w/o contract)
# StarHub: $968 (w/o contract)
# Get it at StarHub and SingTel mobile phone retailers

Blackberry made a name for itself as the quintessential communications tool for businessmen. But its new offering, the Blackberry Curve, marks its ambition to conquer the consumer market as well.

The usual enterprise applications are still there - like the powerful e-mail functions with support for Microsoft Exchange, IBM Lotus Domino and Novell GroupWise to push out corporate e-mail in real-time.

But the big difference this time is that the applications are housed in a sleek and elegant chassis (left) that won't look out of place outside the meeting room. Yes, the Curve does indeed have some sexy curves.

Despite its petite size and lightness, the quad-band smartphone manages to house a full Qwerty keyboard for easy and quick typing. The buttons are easy to use and provide good tactile feedback when pressed, and there are several in-built shortcuts to further simplify usage.

The Curve also comes with an array of media capabilities and consumer applications so consumers don't feel out of place using the phone. There is a 2.0-megapixel camera with flash, a music and video player, and you can download games off the web as well. It also uses a 3.5mm earphone jack so you can plug in your own set of earphones instead of those provided, which are not half bad either.

But one thing that greatly cripples the phone's usefulness is its limited connectivity. There is neither 3G nor Wi-Fi support, so you have to depend solely on the somewhat slower GPRS connectivity to go online.

Another gripe: The menu interface was an eyesore, with row upon row of icons cluttering the screen. But strangely, it was still easy to navigate.

Overall, the phone performed admirably, with almost no delay when opening and running applications, something which the Windows Mobile and Symbian interface used in other smartphones suffer from. And I had several applications running in the background on the Curve to boot.

Battery life was also decent: The phone lasted five days with moderate usage, including taking calls and web surfing.

FINAL SAY
The Blackberry Curve is a great phone for people who demand both form and function of a gadget. However, the price is steep for a 2.5G version. Then again, look at the iPhone.

- By Lim Yee Hung, a freelance writer

Get on the push-mail bandwagon

2007-09-11T20:35:00.000+08:00

Push-mail,push mail,e mail push,mail push yahoo,mail push service,configuring mail push qtek9100 and direct mail push service....after all, we are talking about the same term call Push Mail.

It's not just SMS messages you can get on your phone; you can get electronic mail from your e-mail accounts - and easily too. MK WONG shows the way forward

With the Internet, the popularity of e-mail messages grew in leaps and bounds. Research house IDC reported that in 2003, 31 billion e-mail messages were sent and it had expected this number to double in three years' time.

No figures are available today on how big this number has ballooned to.

Even in the early days of the Internet some 12 years ago, everybody who was anybody had an e-mail account and users configured their personal computer to dial up and check their in-boxes regularly.

They had to take care to disconnect after use as the rates were then charged either by the amount time online or by the number of megabytes transmitted or received.

Then, almost overnight, the connected world moved from slow, flaky dial-ups to the 'always connected' and unlimited access of low-cost broadband service. Users found that they no longer had to click on the Send/Receive button every time they wanted to check for any new messages in their e-mail server.

By simply setting the mail reader software (like Microsoft Outlook or Mozilla Thunderbird) to automatically check and 'pull in' new mail every so often, they were always assured of getting the latest e-mail messages.

In fact, if the time interval was set to send and receive e-mail every one minute or less, they were able to receive their messages almost instantly.

Then, everything took a wickedly clever twist.

Somebody came up with a novel way of sending down the e-mail messages right into the cellphone without incurring too much traffic - and cost. Business executives embraced the BlackBerry solution like wildfire and soon, even the quiet romantic candlelight dinner could be disrupted by the boss demanding an immediate amendment to some sales plan or other.

As of June this year, Research In Motion (Rim), the company behind the BlackBerry, reported that there are more than nine million subscriber accounts worldwide.

In an almost identical replay of the situation with the personal computer, this time with 3G and 3.5G - also known as HSDPA (high speed downlink packet access), at very affordable prices - users are now looking seriously into implementing push-mail services on the cellphone.

Mobile phone manufacturers such as Sony Ericsson and Nokia have been quick to embrace this technology by providing BlackBerry-compatible solutions on their mobile phones. Microsoft finally perfected its own implementation of the Push-Mail technology in its latest version of Windows Mobile 6 operating system.

Ready? Just follow these steps

Here's how to get on the push-mail system:

# Get the right equipment.

The easiest way is to get hold of a BlackBerry phone. Models include the BlackBerry 7130G, 8700 and 8100.

With the installation of an additional piece of software called BlackBerry Connect, selected smartphones can be used as well.

These include the Dopod C730/C720W/ 838Pro, Sony Ericsson M600i/P910i/P990i, Palm Treo 650 and Nokia E61/E65/9300/9500.

Other compatible devices include PDA phones with the Windows Mobile operating system. Check with the respective vendors for the latest models.

# Next, subscribe to the BlackBerry plan with your service provider.

For SingTel and StarHub users, there is a $10.70 one-time registration charge and a monthly charge of $63.13 for unlimited data usage. (See next page for a rough guide on GPRS charges.)

Just to be clear about the data access charges, with the plan, users of BlackBerry phones need not pay any additional charges when surfing the web on their devices.

BlackBerry Connect users, on the other hand, are not that fortunate. The plan covers only e-mail traffic and users incur additional data charges when browsing the web using the normal GPRS service via 3G or 3.5G.

# Finally, set up the BlackBerry account via the Internet.

Have your BlackBerry unit ready as you have to key in the personal identification number (Pin) and the ESN/Imei (Electronic Serial Number/International Mobile Equipment Identification) number.

Choose a unique login ID for the broadband Internet service, a friendly name (one that will appear in the From field of your e-mail messages, your password and a secret question and answer in case you forget the password and need to reset it.

You are able to set up to 10 different e-mail accounts for the broadband service to monitor and push messages down to you the minute they are received.

PC Security

2007-09-06T20:23:00.000+08:00

Make sure your PC is secure (PC Security)
Lock your PC down so malicious programs cannot get in
So you have your shiny new computer fresh out of the box, and are ready to take it online.

Stop right there.

The average computer will survive no longer than a matter of minutes online before being infected by a virus.
Here are some things you should do before connecting your computer to the Internet. Check that your firewall is on
Windows comes with a built-in firewall to protect you from intruders. So make sure you use it.

In Windows XP with Service Pack 2, click Start, then Run. Type in 'firewall.cpl' without the quotes and hit Ok.
You can turn on the built-in Windows firewall from there. In Windows Vista, click Start, then Control Panel, then double-click Windows Firewall. The firewall panel will pop up and you can check if it is on.

Install security software
Many computer manufacturers offer bundled deals with their systems - you can get a discount on anti-virus and firewall software if you buy it together with your computer.

At the very minimum, your computer should have anti-virus, firewall and malware protection installed before it has to deal with the Internet.

Check that the computer is exactly what you ordered

With so many computers sold at the show, there is a small chance that your manufacturer may have made a mistake in configuring the parts of your system.
Click Start, then Run, then type in 'dxdiag' without the quotes. A diagnostic tool that tells you the specifications of your system will pop up. On the System tab, check your processor speed and RAM under the Processor and Memory entries.

The Display tab will indicate any graphics cards if you have them.

Make sure your browser is configured correctly

If you opt to use Internet Explorer, which comes with Windows, make sure its security options are configured to keep you safe.Click Tools and select Internet Options. Then, set your browser to remember less of your browsing history, protecting your privacy.
You should also turn off the feature to save your Web passwords - always key in your password yourself. The same rules apply if you choose to use an alternative browser, such as Mozilla Firefox (www.firefox.com) or Opera (www.opera.com).

- By Daryl Lim

New Motorola Phone

2007-08-23T18:21:00.000+08:00

Review of New Motorola Phone, Motorola Razr2 V8.
This new motorola phone; Ultra slim and ultra cool

The Razr2 V8 has a 2-megapixel camera, and 512MB of storage space.

Motorola's Razr2 V8 already looks very slim for a clamshell design, but it becomes even slimmer when flipped open.

Though it felt sturdy for something so svelte - just 11.3mm thin - that also hampered usage: the phone can't be flipped open with one hand easily because it is so thin.

The Razr2 V8 blends the best functions of different phone types to produce an excellent package. While as pancake flat as other ultra-slim phones like the Samsung Ultra Edition series, Motorola has designed all the essential tools - from button sizes to display screens - bigger.

The phone interface takes a little getting used to because of a few new buttons on the keypad like the music icon on the left and the delete button on the right.
For instance, I accidentally sent an incomplete message when I was trying to delete a typo error because the Send button was located directly above the delete button. On most phones, the Send button is synonymous with the OK button on the top left of the keypad.

A feature that surprised me was the external display which was touch-sensitive: a tap of my finger on the screen allowed me to control my MP3 tunes nestled away inside the 512MB of internal storage space, while the phone blared out the music clearly even amid the noisy bustle of a crowded shop.

The external display also serves as a means of reading incoming SMS messages, and can also display images taken by the 2-megapixel camera when the phone is shut.
In fact, it doubles as a mirror and is a handy means of taking an accurate self-portrait picture minus the trial-and-error shots of having to 'guesstimate' where your face is in the camera frame.

Of course, the camera works best when the phone is flipped open, allowing for up to 8x zoom. The internal storage space allows for about an hour's worth of videos.
My main gripe about this phone is that it is unexpandable - there is no slot for external memory cards, leaving me in a quandary over whether to load more MP3s for my listening pleasure or reserve the space for pictures and videos.

- By Eugene Loh, a freelance writer.

FINAL SAY
The Motorola Razr2 V8 will suit your needs if you are looking for some class and sophistication in a well-rounded phone.

Guide to Tcp Ip

2007-08-04T11:08:00.000+08:00

This is a very good illustration of how the TCP/IP layer work

Part 1

Part II

Hope you enjoy this video. Forward to your friends who you think also need to understand how the TCP/IP works. Thanks!

LG Phone Prada

2007-07-28T15:35:00.000+08:00

Slim, sophisticated and very user-friendly, the Prada KE 850 is also completely touch-sensitive, removing the need for a key pad. However, this gem is a little slow on the uptake when it comes to texting.

Prada on the outside, LG on the inside

* LG Prada KE 850 phone
*$1,288
*Get it from all authorised LG dealers

Polished. That's the new LG Prada KE 850 phone. It's shiny, stylish and looks more like an expensive Italian accessory for the haute couture set, than a Korean phone for the office girls.

Polished also because you need to give it a shine all the time to get those fingerprint smudges off. Definitely not for those with sweaty palms.

But not to worry. Your package comes with a cloth - Prada, no less - to wipe away the marks.

The first thing you notice about the packaging is that it looks like a Prada box. In fact, if I were to give it to my wife, she would probably think there was a Prada wallet or a watch inside.

The LG brand is so understated that you would be hard pressed to see it right off. The front of the phone and the supplied leather case carry only the Prada brand. The LG logo is found only at the back of the phone. But open up the battery cover and LG is everywhere. Think of it this way - it's Prada on the outside but LG on the inside.

This featherweight (85g) is so svelte, it is slightly slimmer than a small pack of Virginia Slims. It fits snugly into the topless leather hard case that covers about 90 per cent of the length of the phone. When it comes to design, you can definitely tell that Prada was in charge.

There is no key pad on this phone so everything is controlled through the generous-sized touch screen, which covers almost the entire length of its front panel. The default black and white theme is exceptionally cool and you will see an analogue clock right in the centre of the screen. Touch the clock and the alarm menu flashes before your eyes. Neat.

The user interface is also well-designed, making it easy to get to where you want and to find what you need. For instance, it's easy to manage your calls and SMS logs, search for a contact, and turn on Bluetooth.

The phone comes with nice extras like MP3 player, 2-megapixel camera for stills and video, a voice recorder and an FM Radio. There is GPRS but 3G and Wi-Fi are lacking.

My one gripe is that texting just takes too long because there seems to be a slight pause between every letter entry made on the touch screen.

- By Oo Gin Lee

FINAL SAY

Overall, this is a great phone for the ladies who aspire to be head turners, and who have $1,288to spare. For the guys, try somethinga little more masculine.

Backup File

2007-07-23T21:09:00.000+08:00

File Backup

A Little Trick to Backing Up Your Files Free

As with the majority of computer users, you have probably experienced some sort of computer failure. Whether it was a virus, hard drive crash, or a spilled drink, it probably caused some grief and disappointment.

If you have looked at file backup services, the prices may have turned you away. Luckily it is possible to backup your files online totally free... if you know where to look!

File Backup Secret #1: Gmail

With almost 3 GB of storage, Google's Gmail is a file storage service in disguise!

Once you have a Gmail account, it's simple to store your files. Simply email your files to yourself at your new Gmail address. That's it, the files are right there. (You might need an invite to get a Gmail account, but there are lots of people out there now that can invite you in.)

It works great especially for storing your digital photos. (And if you ever need to send a photo to someone, just forward them the message. No need to search your computer and attach a file all over again.)

This is a quick and dirty file storage option, but it does work. However, it's not the greatest idea to store extremely sensitive or private data this way. It is not meant to be a secure file storage option so do not treat it as one.

File Backup Secret #2: Webshots

Another option for photos is to use a service such as Webshots where you upload your photos for public display. If you ever lose the photos from your computer, simply go to your webshots page and download them from there.

One problem with these solutions is the limit on file size. If you have files that are over 10 MB, it might not work. There are also restrictions on certain file types.

So if you are flat broke and need to backup your files somewhere, Gmail is a viable option. But if you are looking for totally secure, automatic, unlimited backup, you need to find something else. Most likely you will have to pay, but there are some very low-cost yet high-quality services out there.

Sony Ericsson Bluetooth Watch

2007-07-10T09:48:00.000+08:00

The Sony Ericsson Bluetooth watch vibrates when you get an incoming call or text message on your phone.

Partners in time

Afraid of getting scratches on your new Sony Ericsson cellphone?
With a Sony Ericsson Bluetooth watch, you can leave your cellphone safely in your pocket - and control it from your wristwatch instead.
When an incoming call or text message arives, the watch vibrates gently on your wrist, and the caller ID is displayed.
If you are the kind of person who leaves his phone lying around, the watch will remind you with a vibrating signal when it is out of range of your cellphone.
The best thing is the watch itself doesn't need to be pampered.
It is made of stainless steel and comes with a mineral crystal scratch-resistant face.

# Price and other details not available.

OSI Model

2007-07-08T15:53:00.000+08:00

Virtually all networks in use today are based in some fashion on the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) standard. OSI was developed in 1984 by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), a global federation of national standards organizations representing approximately 130 countries.

The core of this standard is the OSI Reference Model, a set of seven layers that define the different stages that data must go through to travel from one device to another over a network. In this article, you'll find out all about the OSI standard.

How OSI Model Work,

with video illustration:

Binary Translator - CCNA 1

2007-07-05T20:47:00.000+08:00

Some of us; myself and some colleague attend the first of CCNA1 lesson. In the first module, we learnt about basic networking. One of the topic is about Binary, Decimal,hexdecimal (hope that I am correct).It is all about conversion and so on. Not wrong though to use the scientific calculator to do it, but the understanding of it may be not that easy.

Below are two video in Part 1 and Part 2, about teaching hex/binary/octal/radix

Part 1:

Part II:

Apple's iPhone: The next style icon?

2007-06-25T20:55:00.000+08:00

The US$499 iPhone has innovative functions such as a multi-touch screen and visual voicemail.

The trendy new cellphone will be available in stores in the United States next Friday. By GRACE CHNG

Apple executives practise 'omerta', the mafia code for keeping silent. No information is released before a new product hits the stores.

So when Apple chief Steve Jobs demonstrated the iPhone on Jan 9 during this year's Macworld event in San Francisco, he was breaking new ground.

Since then, Apple has said nothing except for a short statement last month that the iPhone will launch on June 29.

Already, one million inquiries have been received by Apple's telco partner, AT&T.

But both Apple and AT&T are not taking orders for the US$499 (S$768) for the 4MB model and US$599 for the 8MB version.

Queues are expected at Apple and AT&T retail stores when the product rolls into the stores in the United States in 10 days' time.

The iPhone is a GSM-based smartphone. It can do Web browsing, send and receive e-mail notes and do text messaging. Of course, it is an iPod too.

Plus, it has a multi-touch screen and visual voicemail.

Digital Life had the opportunity to do a snap review of the iPhone - all of 10 minutes - at this year's MacWorld.

The phone is sleek, and weighs a mere 136g, much like other cellphones. It fits snugly in the palm and feels good.

No conventional keys grace the device except a button that, when pressed, returns the user to the main menu.

The 3.5-inch screen is large with a resolution of 160ppi.

Three wow things

There are many features in this gizmo but three wow factors stood out.

First, the multi-touch screen is breathtaking. It works on the touch of bare skin. No stylus needed.

Scrolling involves a touch-drag-lift motion. Scroll quickly down, lift your finger up and the list continues 'spinning' before coming to a stop.

To zoom in and out of a photo, use a pinching motion of the thumb and the index finger.

Impressive too is the visual voicemail, which allows you to go directly to the messages most important to you without your having to listen to the ones earlier in the queue. A useful feature which Apple claims is an industry first.

Lastly, there is the user interface. If you tilt the phone to landscape mode, the display follows suit. Bring the phone up to your ear to receive a call, the touch screen switches off so that you do not accidentally hit a call button.

Attention to details like these - a hallmark of Apple's design process - hits the sweet spot of simplicity.

However, the onboard 'soft' qwerty keyboard makes text messaging difficult. Although it has predictive text, that takes getting used to.

The phone is not 3G-enabled, which would put off the geeks, although Apple said at MacWorld that it is planning such a version.

Who will buy it? Certainly, die-hard Mac fans. And also people who are frustrated with the more difficult-to-use smartphones of today.

While the iPhone's features were industry-leading in January, there are already a bunch of devices today like the Nokia N95 and the HTC Touch which have closed the gap in design and ease of use.

These models are now available here while Apple's iPhone will be sold in Asia only next year.

It is a good bet that the iPhone that finally hits the region will be an advanced model of the current one. Perhaps one with 3.5G.

GPS: What are the limitations?

2007-06-23T11:38:00.000+08:00

The maps on the small screen of a phone may take some getting used to, but you can zoom in and out to look at locations in greater detail. -- PHOTO: NOKIA

IF YOUR GPS software is not very sophisticated, it may take you to the precise spot you want to go, but where there is no access.
For instance, you may end up on a highway next to a building, say Gateway West, but not to the carpark or main entrance that you wanted.
Also, the GPS system will not work inside tunnels, so there will be a temporary loss of reception.

What if I miss a turn?

THE GPS SOFTWARE will recalculate an alternative route and prompt you accordingly in a matter of seconds.

Is my screen too small?

IT TAKES A bit of getting used to initially, but the program allows you to zoom in and out, so you are able to see the whole map on the display and then zero in on the area that you want.
Some software packages allow you to switch between 2-D and 3-D views.
The 3D view is great when driving as the elevated viewpoint lets anticipate the road conditions.

How do I get started?

A good place to get started is at www.malsingmaps.com. Navigate to the Help/FAQ/Wiki section and start from there.
There are also forums there, and after you get more familiar, you can post questions to the members who are more than ready to help.
Other places to visit: MapKing queries (www.eastgear.com) and Agis (www.asiagis.com).

- By M.K. Wong

750 Palm Treo V

2007-06-12T19:43:00.000+08:00

Smartphone 750 palm treo with useable qwerty keyboard

Hooray for the Palm Treo 750: it has a qwerty keyboard instead of the normal cellphone keypad.

The keyboard is small enough to be considered compact, yet it is easy enough to use for larger and pudgier fingers like mine to thumb out messages.

Speaking on the phone does take a bit of getting used to, though. When I answered calls, my ear - pressed against the screen - accidentally started up applications that I had no intention of using. Butthis problem can be solved during an active call by choosing an option to deactivate the screen.

Audio wise, the Palm Treo 750 could do better: although the sound clarity was loud and crisp for calls, I could hardly hear the default ring tones and alarms when walking about in the city area, even at the loudest volume setting. The ability to quickly swap to silent mode with a switch at the top of the phone is pretty nifty, though.

The camera function seems to have been added in as an afterthought. The 1.3-megapixel camera may be sufficient for taking good quality still pictures, but for some reason, when it attempts to take video, the resulting footage ends up a little grainy.

Compared to the BlackBerry series, or the more mainstream Nokia phones, both of which have similar offerings, the main draw and strength of the Palm Treo 750 is the Windows Mobile 5.0 platform.

It allows it easy synchronisation with my computer via Microsoft Activesync 4.0 using the provided USB cable. Applications like Microsoft Office and Windows Media Player are installed on the smartphone as default, so there is no need to convert files to a compatible format whether it is being moved to or from the smartphone to the computer.

- By Eugene Loh, a freelance writer.

FINAL SAY

The Palm Treo 750 is obviously targeted at the working professional as its functions are most suited to those who need access to the Internet and work files on the go. Those who use such functions only occasionally, and those on a tight budget should skip it.

LCD PC MONITOR

2007-06-05T19:58:00.000+08:00

"Input Signal Out of Range" appeared on the LCD Monitor.

CRT monitor is fast phasing out, many LCD TVs and LCD Monitor can be easily found in the market place.

Lately, one of my friend purchased a LCD Monitor to replace his CRT Monitor. After fixed it, and power 'on', he found that there is no signal or screen is blank, but with a warning phrase read, 'Input Signal Out of Range'.

How to Rectify Such Problem

It is very easy, in a few steps you could rectify such problem.

1. Reconnect back the CRT monitor to the PC.
2. After booting up the window, proceed to the control panel and click on the displace option.
3. Change the resolution to a more generic and accepted resolution like 800 by 600 pixels. This should get you the picture when you hook up the LCD Monitor.
4. After you get your picture in the LCD, you can go back to the displace properties to adjust the resolution the match the LCD Monitor specification.

This type of problem is usually due to the frequency and resolution settings configured for your graphic card and CRT monitor were outside the range of the LCD can handle.

e61 Nokia

2007-05-15T15:06:00.000+08:00

e61 Nokia Review

The E6li stands out from other Nokia phones with its fresh new look and super slim profile.

After years of churning out functional but mostly chunky and staid-looking cellphones, the designers at Nokia have finally caught on to the trend of going super slim with their latest smartphone - the E61i.

The E6li joins the likes of Samsung's i600 and the BlackBerry 8800 with its trim profile, landscape screen and qwerty keyboard, but it is easily the best looker among the lot: a mocha-cum-stainless steel casing spells chic.

Measuring 13.9mm at the top and just 11.5mm at its slimmest end, the E61i looks way better than its boring-looking predecessor launched over a year ago, the all-silver E61. But don't expect major improvements in features - the two phones are mostly similar, except for the addition of a 2-megapixel camera in the E6li.

The E6li is also mostly similar to its competitors when it comes to other features, such as 3G and Wi-Fi capabilities, a 2.8-inch landscape QVGA screen, a built-in memory of 60MB and microSD memory card support of up to 2GB.

What's missing, though, is 3.5G connectivity, which some phones, such as the Samsung i600, already offer.

Like the Samsung i600, the E61i's screen isn't a touch-sensitive one. Fortunately, I had no problems with navigation, as the four-way button is easy to use.

The qwerty keyboard is of a decent enough size, but I found the keys lacking in tactile response. I liked the large 2.8-inch screen, but the onscreen icons are unnecessarily small, given the generous amount of real estate available.

The E6li runs on the proprietary S60 Platform 3rd Edition operating system, and I'm happy to report that this version is much more responsive compared to previous Symbian-based models.

What matters most to people who purchase smartphones is probably the suite of business features, and the E61i does not disappoint. For e-mail, the phone supports e-mail protocols such as POP/Imap and SMTP, Nokia Intellisync Wireless Email 8.0 and a variety of third-party e-mail clients like BlackBerry Connect v2.1.

For browsing, the Nokia Web browser comes with a mini-map feature that shows you which part of the webpage you are at.

There's also Quickword for editing Word documents, Quicksheet for editing Excel spreadsheets, Quickpoint for viewing PowerPoint presentations and Adobe Reader for PDF files.

Look out, too, for a fancy application that reads aloud your SMS messages in a rather robotic voice.

The MP3 player holds its own against any standalone MP3 player in playback quality.

Photos taken on the E61i were barely passable, though. Make sure you have good lighting conditions when using the camera, and even so, use it strictly for impromptu or urgent situations.

Voice quality does not disappoint, and the speakerphone is one of the loudest I've tested.

As for battery life, it is decent. With minimal multimedia and Wi-Fi usage, the E61i lasted just over two days before I had to recharge it. That's slightly better than other smartphones that I've tested recently.

- By Melvin Seah, who works in the IT industry.

FINAL SAY
Highly recommended. The E6li is not only a good looker, it has substance, and is relatively affordable.

Wi Fi Services

2007-05-05T19:58:00.000+08:00

The below article enlighten us on wi fi services, it addresses what is Wi Fi or Wi-Fi and its security

Wi-Fi, short for wireless fidelity refers to a set of wireless networking echnologies more specifically referred to as any type of 802.11 network, 802.11b and 802.11a, dual band.

The word Wi-Fi was built by an organization called the Wi-Fi Alliance. They overlook tests that confirm the production.

A product that undergoes the alliance analyses is given the name “Wi-Fi certified”. In earlier times, the term “Wi-Fi” was used only in place of the 2.4 GHz 802.11b.standard. It rapidly gained in fame with access points across the Unites States.

These standards are generally in used around the world, and allow users that have Wifi capable device, like a laptop or PDA to connect anywhere there is available Wi-Fi access point.

There are three standards referred to signify the speed of connection. Both the 802.11a and 802.11b are the ones capable of 54 MBPS with 802.11a additional capabilities.

802.11b are the most common of the three standards because it can transmit at 11 Megabits per Second even though the faster WI-Fi standards are quickly changing it. However, all these Wi-Fi standards are fast enough to generally allow a broadband connection.

Wireless Fidelity is an appearing technology that will probably be as common as electric outlets and phone lines in a few years. It adds great levels of convenience and high level of production for workers whose offices have a Wi-Fi access.

It is intentionally planned to be use for wireless devices but is now often used for Internet access. You can connect computers anywhere, in or out your home or office without needing wires.

They are just connected to the network that uses radio signals. Even travelers can progressively equip Wi-Fi in airports, coffee shops, Internet cafes, malls, and hotels around the world.

How does W-Fi work?

Wi-Fi is the wireless way to handle networking. Wi-Fi allocates a worldwide Internet connection to be transmitted through radio waves. Radio waves are the ones that make Wi-Fi run and exist.

They permit Wi-Fi networking occurs between many people. These waves are transmitted from antennae and Wi-Fi receivers are picking them up. The moment a device receives signal within the range of a Wi-Fi network, an internet connection is produced without a chord and with the use of a Wi-Fi card that reads the signal. The user will be incited with login screen and password if needed once the connection is established between the user and the network.

How secure is Wi-Fi?

Wi-Fi maintains and continues to have numerous security issues. Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) is used in the physical and data link layers. It was planned to provide wireless security by protecting the data while it travels from one point to the other. Contrasting with the wired LANs, their networks are usually inside the building.

Even if it is protected by wireless LANs, they are more exposed due to the fact that the data travels over radio waves which are much easier to capture. One of the reasons why WEP is vulnerable, some other corporations do not even change their shared keys for a long time. The keys are too long to be used. With that much time, the key can get into other hands and use it in a wrong motive, which could be disastrous for the corporation.

Article Source:www.tips.com.my

sony cybershot digital camera

2007-04-25T21:43:00.000+08:00

sony digital camera review - Cyber-shot DSC G1

Share wirelessly

Sony's latest addition to its popular Cyber-shot line is a strong contender both within and without.

On the outside, look to the generous 3.5-inch screen to help you frame your shots, and the Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens for those stunning images.

Inside, however, is where the real beast lies. The G1 comes with a whopping 2GB of internal memory - you can shoot hundreds of pictures right out of the box, without having to buy a memory card.

Better still, the G1 supports Wi-Fi sharing with DLNA-compatible (Digital Living Network Alliance) devices, so you don't even need a USB cable to transfer your photos to your computer.

There's certainly more to this 6-megapixel beauty than meets the eye.

# The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G1 is available at all authorised dealers, and retails at S$999.

8800 BlackBerry Mobile t

2007-04-11T20:53:00.000+08:00

This is a Mini Review of this new blackberry phone, 8800 BlackBerry Mobile t by the Digital Life

About 1 month ago, I purchased a backberry phone 8707.It is a used phone. Just to try out the feeling of blackberry phone. I found that it is a nice phone to use. Lately, there is this blackberry pearl, and then the 8800 blackberry mobile t. I purchased the 8800 blackberry mobile t about a week ago. It is wonderful with push mail. Below is the extract from Digital life write up about this blackberry phone.

Even before users could get enough of the beautiful Pearl, yet another BlackBerry has hit town. The 8800 retains many of the drool-worthy design elements found in the Pearl, such as its sleek black suit accented by chrome bits and the distinctive pearl-like trackball.

But even so, the 8800 does not look all that similar to the Pearl. What makes the 8800 stand out is its Qwerty keyboard design, which is more 'spacious' compared with the Pearl's tiny Suretype keypad. As such, the 8800 is also much wider than the Pearl, bringing its size closer to traditional BlackBerry models. and somewhat making the phone awkward to hold during calls.

But the 8800 compensates by being slimmer at 14mm, compared with the Pearl's 14.5mm. In fact, this is the slimmest BlackBerry to date.

The 8800 completes its look on the front of the phone with a bright and vibrant screen. Yet another thoughtful feature found on the 8800 is an inte- grated global positioning (GPS) chip with preloaded BlackBerry Maps to help you navigate your way around.

However, the quad-band GSM/GPRS and Edge-enabled 8800 lacks 3G/3.5G and Wi-Fi support. So, surfing speeds felt unbearably slow, especially since I have grown accustomed to 3.5G speeds.

The 8800 also does not come with a camera, but has 64MB worth of built-in memory and a microSD slot.

As with other BlackBerry models, the 8800 comes with BlackBerry Internet Service and Enterprise Server support for real time e-mail delivery.

I found the 8800's large keyboard user-friendly. The keys are contoured at the top so that helps in typing. The four-way trackball is also easy to use.

Its GPS receiver picked up signals quickly most of the time, but map details were lacklustre when compared against other brands like MapKing as buildings were not shown on the map.

The 'Directions' feature, which is supposed to guide you to your destination, did not work. Research In Motion (RIM), BlackBerry's manufacturer, says that it is working to add this feature and will provide a service upgrade.

The MP3 player supports a host of audio formats, including the common MP3 and AAC files and plays MPEG-4 and H263 videos too.

Voice quality was generally good. Music sounded good over the speaker, but voice calls came across slightly muffled.

- By Melvin Seah

FINAL SAY

This stylish BlackBerry will keep the road warrior happy and make him look good too.

Sony Cybershot

2007-04-09T11:17:00.000+08:00

Memory card crash course

2007-03-24T10:14:00.000+08:00

Memory Card

SD, CF, MMC, xD...there is a confusing mix of memory cards out there. DARYL LIM makes sense of the alphabet soup

MMC (MultiMediaCard)

Invented by: Siemens AG and SanDisk in 1997.

Used in: Although the Secure Digital (SD) card has taken over in popularity, the MMC is still used by many devices from all areas of electronics, such as mobile phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs).
This may be because MMC cards can be used in many devices that use the SD card.

miniSD and microSD

Invented by: SanDisk; the miniSD in 2003 and microSD in 2005.

Used in: Various mobile phones and small electronic devices that prize a small size over storage space. Motorola's Razr series, for example, uses the microSD format (right).

Memory Stick and Memory Stick Duo

Invented by: Sony in 1998.

Used in: Sony's initial foray into flash memory is today found only on legacy Sony products such as the first generation of Clie PDAs. Superseded by newer Memory Stick versions.

Memory Stick Pro and Memory Stick Pro Duo

Invented by: Sony and SanDisk in 2003.
Used in: The Pro is used in older Sony electronics such as the Clie line of PDAs, but has been largely superseded by the PRO Duo.
The Pro Duo (right) is used in current Sony gizmos, such as the Cybershot digital cameras and PlayStation Portable (PSP).
It can also be found in some Sony Ericsson mobile phones.

SD (Secure Digital)

Invented by: Matsushita, SanDisk and Toshiba in 2000.
Used in: Almost every imaginable aspect of consumer electronics, largely due to its affordability - you can get a 1GB card for $30 or less.
SD cards are used in everything from digital cameras to music players.

Memory Stick Micro

Invented by: Sony and SanDisk in 2006.
Used in: Small gadgets such as Sony Ericsson mobile phones, where space
is at a premium but storage capacity is necessary. Also known as the M2.

xD (xD-Picture Card)

Invented by: Olympus and Fujifilm in 2002.
Used in: Just like Sony Memory Sticks, xD is a proprietary format used only in products from Olympus and Fujifilm. These include digital cameras and Olympus digital voice recorders.
The xD also comes in Type M and Type H versions. Type M cards featured increased space over the original xD cards at the expense of speed, while Type H cards focus on higher data rates.

CF (CompactFlash

Invented by: SanDisk in 1994.
Used in: Certain digital cameras, especially professional- or prosumer-level digital cameras, as CF cards are known for their industrial-strength reliability. There is also the CF2, or CompactFlash Type II, card. Examples of applications involving CF2 cards include microdrives from IBM, which fit a miniature hard drive into the card.

How to video-call with Skype

2007-03-11T16:22:00.000+08:00

Skype allows you to make video calls over the Internet for free. DARYL LIM shows you how to set Skype up on your computer

The written letter may not be dead just yet. But these days, Internet video calls are the new way to communicate - especially among the young. High-speed broadband links to homes have made it easy to stay connected with loved ones. And you can now talk face to face despite being thousands of miles apart. To log on, you will need:

· The free Skype software. It supports Windows, Mac OS X and even Linux. Download from www.skype.com
· A webcam and microphone. You can get a webcam for under $40. Microphones cost less than $20 and are available from any computer hardware store.

Step 1: Install your webcam

If your computer or laptop came with a webcam built in, you can skip this step. Otherwise, most external webcams connect using an USB port. Plug it in and follow the steps detailed in your camera's manual to get your camera up and running on your computer.

Step 2: Install your microphone

Microphones require no special software drivers to work. On the front or rear of your computer, there should be a microphone port. It typically carries an icon of an arrow pointing either into a circle or a set of round brackets. Plug your microphone in.

Step 3: Download and install Skype

Once you have downloaded Skype, run the installer. Select your language, tick the checkbox numbered 2 and click Install. Skype will also offer to install an extension for your browser, which allows you to dial phone numbers directly from websites. Be aware that calling to an actual land line or mobile phone number instead of a computer incurs a charge. Finally, click Start Skype and you are up and running.

Step 4: Configure your account

To call with Skype, you will need a Skype account. When you first run Skype, the software will offer to set up an account for you. The Full Name field is optional - you can choose not to fill it in. In the Choose Skype Name field, enter a preferred username for all your future logins. Then fill in the password fields, tick the box and hit Next. The next screen will prompt you to enter your e-mail address. You may want to uncheck the box for the Skype news and special offers if you don't want to receive e-mail from Skype. The Country and City fields are, again, optional - leave them blank if you want to. Now, click Sign In. Congratulations, you're done with the setup. Step 5: Add your loved ones You are now at the main screen of Skype itself. Click the Add Contact button. Now, enter the e-mail address or Skype Name of the person you want to add, and click Find. A list of names will come up if you did not enter the exact Skype Name. Choose the right person and click Add Skype Contact. Your friend will have to approve the process before you can see him online. On the next screen, leave a message saying who you are and click Ok.

Step 6: Call, call, call

Now for the big payoff. Your contact is online and it's time to chat. Select his name and hit the big green button at the bottom of the screen. Skype will automatically recognise your webcam if it is plugged in. Now, chat for free!

Get Skype-savvy

· Skype is free to use for computer-to- computer calls. The software can also dial to land lines and certain mobile phones. But it costs 0.034 cents a minute to the United States, for example.

· If you choose to make a computer- to-computer call, your contact on the other end will also need a Skype account to receive your calls.
· Always protect your privacy online. Only add people you know and trust to your contact list. If you don't want others to use your account, disable auto-login. The option is available on the first screen whenever you run Skype.

VoIP , ATA, IP Phones and Computer to Computer

2007-03-04T11:55:00.000+08:00

What is VoIP, ATA IP Phones & Computer to Computer

VoIP

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is also called, IP Telephony, Internet telephony, Broadband telephony, Broadband Phone and Voice over Broadband. It is very simply, a method for taking ordinary analogue audio signals and turning them into digital signals that can be sent over the Internet. Some equipment for your to do this include:

ATA (Analogue Telephone Adaptor)

The most common way of using VoIP. This adaptor allows you to hook up the phone that is already in your house, to your computer, and then your Internet connection. It turns the analogue signals your phone sends out into digital signals that can be sent over the Internet

IP Phones

This looks just like a normal phone, but instead of a normal wall jack connector, it has an Ethernet connector which gets plugged directly into your router. This means that you will not have to install any software on your computer, because its all built in to the handset.

Computer-to-Computer

This is the simplest and cheapest way to use VoIP. These calls are entirely free (except for your internet plan). The only thing you need is the software which can be found for free on the internet, a good internet connection, a microphone, speakers, and a sound card.

Ccna Academy and Certification Ccna

2007-02-24T21:08:00.000+08:00

What Difference Between Ccna Academy and Certification Ccna

Author: Sorawut Buddeewong

Firstly, I have to say that CCNA Academy and Certificate CCNA is totally different. Many people still do not know about it such as what is the CCNA and why they should take this course. The Academy course is for students, designed by Cisco. The provided lessons are the fundamental, and the students have to take for about 1-2 years to complete the course. The course divided in to 4 parts, which are CCNA I, CCNA II, CCNA III, and CCNA IV and detail of each part is quite generic and not difficult to learn and complete the course.

The Certification CCNA is the course that has objective to assess knowledge of employees, which assess about ability to configure and assemble parts of machines as well as use it effectively and trouble shooting. For the Certification CCNA the people who actually work with computer network or the work that directly involve with the computer network will gain advantage.

If we compare to each other, we found that the CCNA Academy will take longer time to complete the course but gain a lot of knowledge. However, there are plenty of knowledge that unnecessary for students and this may not be very useful for their work, for example, the knowledge about specification and function of old model router that may be no longer used or no longer available.

However, there still be advantage of taking Academy CCNA course, which is students who take the course will gain a lot of knowledge and be able to learn all element of the course. But, again, this will take very long to complete and gain all of knowledge provided by the course. The Certification CCNA also has advantage, that is, it is the tool to assess qualification and effectiveness of a person who take the course, but if they fail to complete the course, which provided by Cisco, they may feel lose confidence and affect to their work.

There are also many questions such as how to prepare for the Certificate CCNA and what they should know before taking the course or are there any tips to pass the assessment.

I therefore have summarized the fundamental qualification of people who want to take the assessment in order for you to prepare yourself for the assessment.

1.The assessment exam is multiple choice form

2.When you complete one exam and go to the new one, you can not go back

3.You have 2 hours to complete the whole assessment

4.you will get a sheet for take note during the lab exam

5.You must register for the assessment 2-3 days in advance

6.If you failed the first assessment, you can re-apply after 2 weeks

7.The exam consists of 55-56 exams, do not hurry and read the instruction carefully before start the exam.

Knowledge you must have in order to pass the exam

1. Knowledge about network media

2. Basic router configuration by using Cisco IOS commands

3. LAN, WAN network setup and configuration

4. Knowledge on how to configure routable protocols (IP, IPX, etc.)

5. Knowledge on how to configure routable protocols (RIP, IGRP, EIGRP, etc.)

6. Network security

Source: ArticlesBase.com

Network Security 101

2007-02-04T10:50:00.000+08:00

Network Security

By Robert Flanglin

As more people are logging onto the Internet everyday, Network Security becomes a larger issue. In the United States, identity theft and computer fraud are among the fastest rising crimes. It is important to protect your network and ensure the safety of all computers and users in that network.

What is a Network?

In order to fully understand network security, one must first understand what exactly a network is. A network is a group of computers that are connected. Computers can be connected in a variety of ways. Some of these ways include a USB port, phone line connection, Ethernet connection, or a wireless connection. The Internet is basically a network of networks. An Internet Service Provider (ISP) is also a network. When a computer connects to the internet, it joins the ISP’s network which is joined with a variety of other networks, which are joined with even more networks, and so on. These networks all encompass the Internet. The vast amount of computers on the Internet, and the number of ISPs and large networks makes network security a must.

Common Network Security Breeches

Hackers often try to hack into vulnerable networks. Hackers use a variety of different attacks to cripple a network. Whether you have a home network or a LAN, it is important to know how hackers will attack a network.

One common way for a hacker to wreak havoc is to achieve access to things that ordinary users shouldn’t have access to. In any network, administrators have the ability to make certain parts of the network “unauthorized access.” If a hacker is able to gain access to a protected area of the network, he or she can possibly affect all of the computers on the network. Some hackers attempt to break into certain networks and release viruses that affect all of the computers in the network. Some hackers can also view information that they are not supposed to see.

Destructive Attacks

There are two major categories for destructive attacks to a network. Data Diddling is the first attack. It usually is not immediately apparent that something is wrong with your computer when it has been subjected to a data diddler. Data diddlers will generally change numbers or files slightly, and the damage becomes apparent much later. Once a problem is discovered, it can be very difficult to trust any of your previous data because the culprit could have potentially fooled with many different documents.

The second type of data destruction is outright deletion. Some hackers will simply hack into a computer and delete essential files. This inevitably causes major problems for any business and can even lead to a computer being deemed useless. Hackers can rip operating systems apart and cause terrible problems to a network or a computer.

The Importance of Network Security

Knowing how destructive hackers can be shows you the importance of Network Security. Most networks have firewalls enabled that block hackers and viruses. Having anti-virus software on all computers in a network is a must. In a network, all of the computers are connected, so that if one computer gets a virus, all of the other computers can be adversely affected by this same virus. Any network administrator should have all of the essential files on back up disks. If a file is deleted by a hacker, but you have it on back up, then there is no issue. When files are lost forever, major problems ensue. Network security is an important thing for a business, or a home. Hackers try to make people’s lives difficult, but if you are ready for them, your network will be safe.

Wireless and Security

2007-01-28T11:35:00.000+08:00

Security is vital to Wireless Network

Wireless computing gives us freedom of getting online without any restriction in time and space. Now you can take your laptop and get connection to the Internet wherever is offered wireless service. It can be a library, café or even beach. You can also purchase a wireless base station, called a router, for your home so you can get online anywhere in the house or in the immediate vicinity outdoors. But from information security awareness side, you need to do some thing to employ these options safe.What is Wireless network and how it’s work?Wireless (Wi-Fi) or 802.11 networks is a method of connecting a computer to other computers or to the Internet without linking them by cables. This network uses radio waves, just like cell phones and radios do. This communication, across wireless network, is similar two-way radio communication. 1. Routers collect the signal and decode, and then send information to the Internet using a physical, wired Ethernet connection. 2. Wireless adapter on your laptop translate data into radio signal and transmit it using antenna.3. And vice versa… (http://www.howstuffworks.com) Why this kind connection is so unsafe?Because these transmissions occur in one frequency and mostly they don’t have protection against unauthorized access. So, that’s means that anyone in range can pick up the signal or transmit on the same time. From what wireless network are at risk?

* From peoples who listening transmitted information – eavesdroppers.
* From anyone in the range who can connect to your network – hackers.
* From unauthorized users who use your broadband internet connection without your permission.

What can protect your wireless connection?
* Encryption – use encryption to scramble over the network. Better use Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA), than Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP), because it is stronger.
* Anti-virus and anti-spyware software and a firewall – these things should be on every computer independent wireless network using or not.
* Caution - turn off your wireless network when you know you won't use it and also turn off identifier broadcasting on your wireless router. So your computer won’t send a signal to any device in the vicinity announcing its presence.
Limitation – allow only specific computers to access your wireless network and modify your router’s pre-set password for administration to something only you know.

Article Source:infosecuritylab

The Five IP Address Classes

2007-01-19T21:37:00.000+08:00

CompTIA Network+ Certification Exam Tutorial
by: Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933

Passing the CompTIA Network+ certification exam and going on to become a subnetting expert is mastering the basics of IP addressing, and that means knowing the different classes, their default masks, and what these masks mean. Let’s get started!

Part of every IP address indicates the network the host is part of, and the other part identifies that particular host. You need to be able to look at an IP address and determine the network and host portions, and you do that by determining the class of the address.

Many books list only three network classes, but there are five. Since you shouldn't assign an address from the last two classes to a host, you better know what they are!

Class A networks have a beginning octet of 1 - 126.

Class B networks have a beginning octet of 128-191.

Class C networks have a beginning octet of 192 - 223.

Notice a number missing? 127 is the reserved first octet for loopback addresses, such as the 127.0.0.1 address assigned to a PC.

Class D networks are reserved for multicasting. Class D addresses begin with an octet in the 224 - 239 range.

Class E networks are reserved for "experimental use", and the first octet of these addresses is 240 - 255. Those addresses are reserved by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). Neither Class D nor Class E networks should be assigned to host devices. For exam and real-world purposes, the entire address range 224.0.0.0 - 255.255.255.255 are unacceptable for assignment to network hosts, as is any address beginning with 127.

Now, what does all this have to do with identifying the network and host portions of an address? Classes A, B, and C all have different default network masks, and it's that mask that tells you which part of an address is the network portion and which part is the host portion.

Class A's default mask is 255.0.0.0, or /8
Class B's default mask is 255.255.0.0, or /16
Class C's default mask is 255.255.255.0, or /24.

Even if you were already familiar with these default masks, you may be wondering what that "/8" business is. This is another way to express a network mask. It's called prefix notation, and it's much less complicated than it sounds. The number behind the slash is simply the number of consecutive ones at the beginning of the mask when it's expressed in binary.

255.0.0.0 in binary is 11111111 00000000 00000000 00000000.
255.255.0.0 in binary is 11111111 11111111 00000000 00000000.
255.255.255.0 in binary is 11111111 11111111 11111111 00000000.

When you see all the values in an octet set to 1, the value of the octet is 255. If you see an IP address with an octet set higher than 255, it's invalid. ("256.1.1.1" literally cannot happen, so it's an invalid address.)

Prefix notation is the preferred way of expressing subnet masks. A mask of /8 is pronounced "slash eight", which is a lot better than saying "two-fifty-five zero zero zero". It also has less numbers to type, which I still believe is the real reason we use it! You might not see prefix notation on your Network+ exam, but since it’s so commonly used in network documentation, you need to know it.

Now, about those network and host portions.....
The Class A network mask 255.0.0.0 means the first octet of the address is the network portion, and the final three octets are the host portion.

The Class B network mask 255.255.0.0 means the first two octets of the address are the network portion, and the final two octets are the host portion.

The Class C network mask 255.255.255.0 means the first three octets of the address are the network portion, and the final octet is the host portion.

Identifying the network or host portion of a given IP address is a two-step process:
1. Determine the address class by examining the first octet
2. Use the network mask to determine the network and host portions

Let's get a little practice with this. What is the network portion of the address 23.14.189.200?

1. The first octet falls into the Class A range
2. The network mask for Class A is 255.0.0.0, meaning that the first octet of the address is the network portion and the remaining three octets are the host portion

That's really all there is to it. The first octet, "23", is the network portion. The remaining octets, "14.189.200", comprise the host portion.

It’s just that simple to identify the network and host portions of an IP address. But what happens when we run out of IP addresses for our hosts? Find out in my next CompTIA Network Plus exam tutorial!

About The Author, Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage (http://www.thebryantadvantage.com).
For his FREE seven-part course, “How To Pass The CCNA”, visit the website and sign up today! Daily free CCNA, CCNP, Network+, Security+, and A+ certification questions, too!

WiFi Skype Phone

2007-01-12T21:55:00.000+08:00

Panasonic KX-WPA102 WiFi Skype phone reviewed

Donald Melanson wrote:

Panasonic's new KX-WPA102 WiFi Skype phone doesn't seem to have made much of a blip on the Internets just yet, but the folks at Phicons managed to get their hands on one, chatting it up for a full review. Right out of the box, the phone's sleek and shiny design especially impressed them -- certainly standing out from some of Panasonic's other

Skype-compatible offerings -- as did the phone's well-balanced weight, which they found "just right." They also dug the phone's included WiFi basestation, although you can simply toss it in the closet and use your existing basestation if you prefer. On the downside, they found the Panny's sound quality to be somewhat lacking, describing it as good in general but mentioning that they encountered some occasional crackling during a call, though they add that the problem could simply be due to network conditions. That said, they still wound up giving the phone their full recommendation, though it's not clear when you'll actually be able to get your hands on one or how much it'll cost.

How The Internet Began

2007-01-02T14:56:00.000+08:00

How the Internet began

The Internet as we know it today owes its origins to the United States army

It was the Cold War and the Americans feared that if there was a nuclear attack, communications would break down. So was born the germ of an idea for the Internet. The first working model was set up in 1969 when four computers in separate locations were connected together. Researchers at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Stanford Research Institute (SRI), University of California Santa Barbara and University of Utah collaborated to make this happen. The concept came from the Advanced Research Projects Agency (Arpa) at the United States Department of Defense which was looking at a new type of computer network to link computers on different networks. The army specified that when one segment of the network was down, traffic should be diverted to a different route. In this sense, the network never really 'dies' - it just finds an alternative way to get information through. It is useful to visualise the Internet as a honeycomb of network connections. If one path goes down, the network attempts another path, and so on, until eventually information finds its way to its intended destination. From its original four-computer network, the Arpanet grew to 213 computers by 1971. Research into the way data would be passed along the network (packet switching) and open architecture standards for communication (TCP/IP) led to its evolution into the Internet. By 1985, the Internet had blossomed into a community of researchers and developers. With the arrival of electronic mail, more people began to use it for daily communications. When the World Wide Web and HTTP (hypertext transfer protocol) were developed, they allowed people to easily publish and share information. The result: the Internet's popularity took off. - By Leslie Goh (from the Straits Times Interactive)

Free Networking Tool

2006-11-22T21:23:00.000+08:00

Click on the title to get the Networking Tool

Kiwi CatTools is a freeware application that provides automated device configuration management on routers, switches and firewalls. Some of the many tasks Kiwi CatTools performs to make your life easier are: Perform configuration backups and have any differences instantly e-mailed to you. Issue commands via Telnet or SSH to many devices at once. Change the configuration at scheduled times. Change all your network device passwords in one go. This configuration management tool has a built-in TFTP server, supports SSH, Telnet and more.

STATIC ROUTE CONFIGURATION (Cisco)

2006-11-12T17:32:00.000+08:00

Default Route

A default route is often called the 'route of last resort'. It is the last route tried when all other routes fail because it has the fewest number of network bits matching and is therefore less specific. A default route is configured on a Cisco router with the following command: CISCO 'ip route' command: ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0

Static Null Route

A null route routes traffic to a non-existent interface, what is often called a 'bit bucket'. This traffic is effectively dropped as soon as it is received. A null route is useful for removing packets that cannot make it out of the network or to their destination, and decreases congestion caused by packets with no functional destination. During a denial of service attack, a Null route can temporarilly be used near the destination to drop all traffic generated by the attack. CISCO 'null route' command: ip route null0

Preferred Routes

The route which has the greatest number of network bits matching the destination address is the preferred route to a destination. This is referred to as 'longest prefix match'. CISCO 'null route' command: ip route 202.148.224.0 255.255.255.128 e0 ip route 202.148.224.128 255.255.255.128 e1

Backup Routes

In cases where redundancy is required, a second route can be placed on another physical path so that if the first route fails, the second route over the less preferred path(s) will be used. By using a second pair of routes. This method can help compensate for network failures. CISCO router commands: SPECIFIC ROUTES (used unless down) ip route 202.148.224.0 255.255.255.128 e0 ip route 202.148.224.128 255.255.255.128 e1 BACKUP ROUTES (used when one of the specifics are down) ip route 202.148.224.0 255.255.255.0 e0 ip route 202.148.224.0 255.255.255.0 e1

Static Load Balancing

You can create load balancing without using a dynamic routing protocol. Most routers will perform load balancing automatically if several equal cost paths to a destination exist on multiple interfaces. To configure this using static routing, you need only create multiple static routes for more than one interface. This creates more than one equal cost path which will balance the load. CISCO router commands: ip route 202.148.224.0 255.255.255.0 e0 ip route 202.148.224.0 255.255.255.0 e1

Static Routing

2006-11-11T20:55:00.000+08:00

INTRODUCTION TO STATIC ROUTING

Static routing is the term used to refer to the manual method used to setup routing. An administrator enters routes into the router using configuration commands. This method has the advatage of being predictable, and simple to set up. It is easy to manage in small networks but does not scale well.

ADVANTAGES

* Simple to configure * Easy to predict and understand in small networks

DISADVANTAGES

# Requires extensive planning and has a high management overhead # Does not dynamically adapt to network topology changes or equipment failures. # Does not scale well in large networks.

RIP Timers

2006-11-02T18:43:00.000+08:00

RIP uses numerous timers to regulate its performance. These include a routing-update timer, a route-timeout timer, and a route-flush timer. The routing-update timer clocks the interval between periodic routing updates. Generally, it is set to 30 seconds, with a small random amount of time added whenever the timer is reset. This is done to help prevent congestion, which could result from all routers simultaneously attempting to update their neighbors. has a route-timeout timer associated with it. When the route-timeout timer expires, the route is marked invalid but is retained in the table until the route-flush timer expires.

Router Information Protocol

2006-10-24T22:41:00.000+08:00

RIP Stability Features RIP prevents routing loops from continuing indefinitely by implementing a limit on the number of hops allowed in a path from the source to a destination. The maximum number of hops in a path is 15. If a router receives a routing update that contains a new or changed entry, and if increasing the metric value by 1 causes the metric to be infinity (that is, 16), the network destination is considered unreachable. The downside of this stability feature is that it limits the maximum diameter of a RIP network to less than 16 hops. RIP includes a number of other stability features that are common to many routing protocols. These features are designed to provide stability despite potentially rapid changes in a network's topology. For example, RIP implements the split horizon and holddown mechanisms to prevent incorrect routing information from being propagated.

Routing Updates

2006-10-22T13:11:00.000+08:00

How Routing Portocol Sends Routing-Update

RIP sends routing-update messages at regular intervals and when the network topology changes. When a router receives a routing update that includes changes to an entry, it updates its routing table to reflect the new route. The metric value for the path is increased by 1, and the sender is indicated as the next hop. RIP routers maintain only the best route (the route with the lowest metric value) to a destination. After updating its routing table, the router immediately begins transmitting routing updates to inform other network routers of the change. These updates are sent independently of the regularly scheduled updates that RIP routers send.

Background of Routing Information Protocol

2006-10-21T18:07:00.000+08:00

Routing Information Protocol (RIP)

The Routing Information Protocol, or RIP, as it is more commonly called, is one of the most enduring of all routing protocols. RIP is also one of the more easily confused protocols because a variety of RIP-like routing protocols proliferated, some of which even used the same name! RIP and the myriad RIP-like protocols were based on the same set of algorithms that use distance vectors to mathematically compare routes to identify the best path to any given destination address. These algorithms emerged from academic research that dates back to 1957.

Today's open standard version of RIP, sometimes referred to as IP RIP, is formally defined in two documents: Request For Comments (RFC) 1058 and Internet Standard (STD) 56. As IP-based networks became both more numerous and greater in size, it became apparent to the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) that RIP needed to be updated. Consequently, the IETF released RFC 1388 in January 1993, which was then superceded in November 1994 by RFC 1723, which describes RIP 2 (the second version of RIP). These RFCs described an extension of RIP's capabilities but did not attempt to obsolete the previous version of RIP. RIP 2 enabled RIP messages to carry more information, which permitted the use of a simple authentication mechanism to secure table updates. More importantly, RIP 2 supported subnet masks, a critical feature that was not available in RIP.

Hyper Terminal Setup in Window

2006-10-20T14:57:00.000+08:00

HYPER TERMINAL

From windows

1). Click on programs

2). Click on Accessories

3). Select hyper terminal if available. If it does not appear on the list of accessory programs, then go to How to install Hyper terminal.

HOW TO SET UP WINDOWS HYPER TERMINAL

1) In hyper terminal create a "new connection" this can be done by clicking the Hypertrm.exe icon or via the menu within HyperTerminal "File:NewConnection".

2) Type in a name for the connection (for example, cyq504).

3) Under "connect using" select "Direct to Com 2" if your available com port is com 2 otherwise select the appropriate com port. (Modems are relentlessly selfish about interrupts. So if a modem is present then avoid the modem port and it's cousin. That is, if the modem is on com 1 then avoid both com 1 and 3. Com 1 and 3 share an interrupt while com 2 and 4 share a different interrupt; in this case avoid 2 and 4)

4) Set "Bits per second" to 9600.

5) Set "Data Bits" to 8.

6) Set "Stop Bits" to 1.

7) Set "Flow control" to None.

8) Click OK - the hyper terminal screen should appear.

9). Select properties from the menu bar.

10) Click on "settings", use default: autodetect and back scroll 500 lines.

11) For "ASCII setup" use

a). Sending - check: "echo typed characters locally" box. This lets you see the commands you type in.

b). Receiving - check: "append line feeds" and "wrap long lines". The CyQ module emits a carriage return (CR), but no line feed. This keeps data from being overwritten on the screen.

11) Under "File" menu select "Save As" and save the configuration file to a convenient folder.

You can create a shortcut to the configuration file and put it on the desktop, this makes life a bit simpler. The configuration files have a naming convention of *.ht where star is the name you chose when setting up the new connection. For example, "cyq504.ht".

Cisco Router Configuration Commands

2006-10-18T20:44:00.000+08:00

Cisco Router Configuration Commands

Configuration of router is a routine when setting-up networkng. During our lab practice we are give the command, but in reality, if you need to set-up a network, it involved router. Configuration of router is a must, understanding of some basic commands will be an advantage.

Here is a link to read more of the Cisco router configurating commands :

Cisco Router Commands

Learn to Subnet

2006-10-15T16:07:00.000+08:00

Video Tutorial on IP Addressing and Subnetting

Subnetting is a very basic requirement for setting up networking. You may have to take some time to understand the whole issue of ip addressing and subnetting. Learn from Video tutorial.

IP Packet Header

2006-10-13T22:46:00.000+08:00

The Internet Protocol (IP) uses a Datagram service to transfer packets of data between end systems using routers. The IP packet header consists of 20 bytes of data. An option exists within the header that allows further optional bytes to be added, but this is not normally used (with the occasional exception of something called "Router Alert"). The full header is shown below: The header fields are discussed below: Version (always set to the value 4, which is the current version of IP) IP Header Length (number of 32 -bit words forming the header, usually five) Type of Service (ToS), now known as Differentiated Services Code Point (DSCP) (usually set to 0, but may indicate particular Quality of Service needs from the network, the DSCP defines the way routers should queue packets while they are waiting to be forwarded). Size of Datagram (in bytes, this is the combined length of the header and the data) Identification ( 16-bit number which together with the source address uniquely identifies this packet - used during reassembly of fragmented datagrams) Flags (a sequence of three flags (one of the 4 bits is unused) used to control whether routers are allowed to fragment a packet (i.e. the Don't Fragment, DF, flag), and to indicate the parts of a packet to the receiver) Fragmentation Offset (a byte count from the start of the original sent packet, set by any router which performs IP router fragmentation) Time To Live (Number of hops /links which the packet may be routed over, decremented by most routers - used to prevent accidental routing loops) Protocol (Service Access Point (SAP) which indicates the type of transport packet being carried (e.g. 1 = ICMP; 2= IGMP; 6 = TCP; 17= UDP). Header Checksum (A 1's complement checksum inserted by the sender and updated whenever the packet header is modified by a router - Used to detect processing errors introduced into the packet inside a router or bridge where the packet is not protected by a link layer cyclic redundancy check. Packets with an invalid checksum are discarded by all nodes in an IP network) Visit My Other blog on Creating a Blog Body Care Kits Acknowledge Your Spouse

What is an IP address?

2006-10-11T21:45:00.000+08:00

Every machine on the Internet has a unique identifying number, called an IP Address. A typical IP address looks like this:

216.27.61.137 To make it easier for us humans to remember, IP addresses are normally expressed in decimal format as a "dotted decimal number" like the one above. But computers communicate in binary form. Look at the same IP address in binary:

11011000.00011011.00111101.10001001 The four numbers in an IP address are called octets, because they each have eight positions when viewed in binary form. If you add all the positions together, you get 32, which is why IP addresses are considered 32-bit numbers. Since each of the eight positions can have two different states (1 or 0) the total number of possible combinations per octet is 28 or 256. So each octet can contain any value between 0 and 255. Combine the four octets and you get 232 or a possible 4,294,967,296 unique values!

Out of the almost 4.3 billion possible combinations, certain values are restricted from use as typical IP addresses. For example, the IP address 0.0.0.0 is reserved for the default network and the address 255.255.255.255 is used for broadcasts.

The octets serve a purpose other than simply separating the numbers. They are used to create classes of IP addresses that can be assigned to a particular business, government or other entity based on size and need. The octets are split into two sections: Net and Host. The Net section always contains the first octet. It is used to identify the network that a computer belongs to. Host (sometimes referred to as Node) identifies the actual computer on the network. The Host section always contains the last octet. There are five IP classes plus certain special addresses:

Default Network - The IP address of 0.0.0.0 is used for the default network.

Class A - This class is for very large networks, such as a major international company might have. IP addresses with a first octet from 1 to 126 are part of this class. The other three octets are used to identify each host. This means that there are 126 Class A networks each with 16,777,214 (224 -2) possible hosts for a total of 2,147,483,648 (231) unique IP addresses. Class A networks account for half of the total available IP addresses. In Class A networks, the high order bit value (the very first binary number) in the first octet is always 0. Net Host or Node 115. 24.53.107

Loopback - The IP address 127.0.0.1 is used as the loopback address. This means that it is used by the host computer to send a message back to itself. It is commonly used for troubleshooting and network testing.

Class B - Class B is used for medium-sized networks. A good example is a large college campus. IP addresses with a first octet from 128 to 191 are part of this class. Class B addresses also include the second octet as part of the Net identifier. The other two octets are used to identify each host. This means that there are 16,384 (214) Class B networks each with 65,534 (216 -2) possible hosts for a total of 1,073,741,824 (230) unique IP addresses. Class B networks make up a quarter of the total available IP addresses. Class B networks have a first bit value of 1 and a second bit value of 0 in the first octet. Net Host or Node 145.24. 53.107

Class C - Class C addresses are commonly used for small to mid-size businesses. IP addresses with a first octet from 192 to 223 are part of this class. Class C addresses also include the second and third octets as part of the Net identifier. The last octet is used to identify each host. This means that there are 2,097,152 (221) Class C networks each with 254 (28 -2) possible hosts for a total of 536,870,912 (229) unique IP addresses. Class C networks make up an eighth of the total available IP addresses. Class C networks have a first bit value of 1, second bit value of 1 and a third bit value of 0 in the first octet. Net Host or Node 195.24.53. 107

Class D - Used for multicasts, Class D is slightly different from the first three classes. It has a first bit value of 1, second bit value of 1, third bit value of 1 and fourth bit value of 0. The other 28 bits are used to identify the group of computers the multicast message is intended for. Class D accounts for 1/16th (268,435,456 or 228) of the available IP addresses. Net Host or Node 224. 24.53.107

Class E - Class E is used for experimental purposes only. Like Class D, it is different from the first three classes. It has a first bit value of 1, second bit value of 1, third bit value of 1 and fourth bit value of 1. The other 28 bits are used to identify the group of computers the multicast message is intended for. Class E accounts for 1/16th (268,435,456 or 228) of the available IP addresses. Net Host or Node 240. 24.53.107

Broadcast - Messages that are intended for all computers on a network are sent as broadcasts. These messages always use the IP address 255.255.255.255.

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Basic Network Design

2006-10-09T20:04:00.000+08:00

The most common form of network is Ethernet. This is a bus-like network that uses Carrier-Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection (CMSA-CD). Interpreting this we have a network where stations apply a voltage to the bus when they wish to send data, by sensng the bus for this voltage we can determine if the bus is in use; multiple access implies many hosts may be on this bus; collision detect is used to detect multiple hosts sending data at the same time. Initially, it would seem unnecessary to need collision detection, after all, a station on sends data on the bus when there is no one else sending. Due to the propagation delay of electrical signals we can have to stations decide to send data at the same time, when each station looks at the bus it is clear, however before the data they send reaches it's destination they will collide and the result will be garbage. The collision detection circuitry monitors the line to verify there were no collisions and the data does not need to be resent. Understanding the CMSA-CD concept is fundamental to understanding how ethernet works. All limitations found on the design of ethernet networks are there do to issues surrounding CMSA-CD. The biggest design limitation is that reading data on an ethernet is a passive operation, the sending stations has no way to "sense" when this has happened. However, the sending station must perform collision detection until it knows the receiving station has gotten the packet! To do, lenght restrictions must be developed so that a sending station knows that within a finite time the receiving stations must have gotten the packet. This time limit controls most aspects of network design. A basic way of calculating this time limit is to look at how long a machine must monitor the network is to look at the underlying physics. By it's definition ethernet operates at a speed of 10 Mhz (10 million bits/sec). The maximum packet size is 1500 bytes (12,000 bits). Presently ethernet has a maximum lenght of 500 meters. The time required to transmit 1500 bytes over 500 meters is: Time to transmit a packet is 12000 bits/10,000,000 bits/sec is .0012 seconds Time to transmit a bit 500 meters is defined by the speed that electrical signals travel, which is the speed of light. This figure turns out to be : 500 meters / 60000 meters/sec which equaks .0008333 seconds Other characteristics that define ethernet deal with the waveform that a ethernet signal assumes. The waveform on a thick ethernet segment is 2.5 meters in lenght, that is why stations are seperated by 2.5 meters. Ethernet HardwareEthernet has evolved over time. Ethernet version 2 released in 1982 was originally developed by Xerox-Intel-Dec. In 1985 the IEEE released a new standard for ethernet. This standard is named IEEE 802.2. In general, these two versions of ethernet can inter-operate, however there are a few minor differences. The first difference is that in the ethernet packet header Version 2 defined a two byte Type field while IEEE created a 2 byte length field in that location. Luckily, values for type cannot conflict with valid length values and most systems can determine the Ethernet Frame type by examining this field. A second difference was that the Ethernet version 2 spec required that a transciever send a heartbeat signal each second. The IEEE 802.2 spec removed this. This has resulted in most vendors offerring transcievers that have a switch to enable or disable hearbeat. It should be off unless connected to a piece of equipment using the ethernet version 2 spec. Luckily, all new devices are built to conformto the 802.2 spec; however there are occasionally devices found that were installed years ago that still need this. In either specification, ethernet uses a 48 bit identifier to uniquely identify each source and destination device.A range of addresses is assigned to each manufactuer of ethernet equipment. There are basically two categories of ethernet components, one type that passes the signal onto other devices, generally these are known as repeaters. A secondtype of device which takes the signal and regenerates the signal onto a new network, these types of devices are generally known as bridges or routers. Repeaters are useful for propagating a network signal, a signal comes in on an input port is often output to many ports.However since they add some delay to the transmittal of packets they reduce the maximum size a segment can be. However, repeaters can simplify the design of a network. Devices such as bridges and routers, which regenerate the signal, allow you to build larger networks. Since the signal is regenerated, it becomes the responsibility of the bridge or router to gaurentee the packets arrival at the destination (or the next router or bridge). Bridges and routers work at different levels of the network. Bridges work at the ethernet frame level while routers work at the protocol level. In both cases, the bridge or router, has the property of filtering traffic and only transmitting the signal onto networks where it makes sense. Thus, in each case they have the effect of reducing unnecessary traffic.

Software Componets of TCP/IP

2006-10-08T16:18:00.000+08:00

Application Layer

Some of the applications we will cover are SMTP (mail), Telnet, FTP, Rlogin, NFS, NIS, and LPD

Transport Layer

The transport uses two protocols, UDP and TCP. UDP which stands for User Datagram Protocol does not gaurentee packet delivery and applications which use this must provide their own means of verifying delivery. TCP does gaurentee delivery of packets to the applications which use it.

Network Layer

The network layer is concerned with packet routing and used low level protocols such as ICMP, IP, and IGMP.In addition, routing protocols such as RIP, OSPF, and EGP will be discussed.

Link Layer

The link layer is concerned with the actual transmittal of packets as well as IP to ethernet address translation.This layer is concerned with Arp, the device driver, and Rarp. Over the next few months we will be examining these components as we work our way up from the bottom. First, we need to get a basic upderstanding of how networks are designed and how the basic hardware used to interconnect them.

INTRODUCTION TO TCP/IP

2006-10-07T21:46:00.000+08:00

TCP/IP is made up of two acronyms, TCP, for Transmission Control Protocol, and IP, for Internet Protocol. TCP handles packet flow between systems and IP handles the routing of packets. However, that is a simplistic answer that we will expound on further. All modern networks are now designed using a layered approach. Each layer presents a predefined interface to the layer above it. By doing so, a modular design can be developed so as to minimize problems in the development of new applications or in adding new interfaces. The ISO/OSI protocol with seven layers is the usual reference model. SInce TCP/IP was designed before the ISO model was developed it has four layers; however the differences between the two are mostly minor. Below, is a comparison of the TCP/IP and OSI protocol stacks: OSI Protocol Stack 7. Application -- End user services such as email. 6. Presentation -- Data problems and data compression 5. Session -- Authenication and authorization 4. Transport -- Gaurentee end-to-end delivery of packets 3. Network -- Packet routing 2. Data Link -- Transmit and receive packets 1. Physical -- The cable or physical connection itself. TCP/IP Protocol Stack. 5. Application -- Authenication, compression, and end user services. 4. Transport -- Handles the flow of data between systems and provides access to the network for applications via the (BSD socket library) 3. Network -- Packet routing 2. Link -- Kernel OS/device driver interface to the network interface on the computer. Below are the major difference between the OSI and TCP/IP: The application layer in TCP/IP handles the responsibilities of layers 5,6, and 7 in the OSI model. The transport layer in TCP/IP does not always gaurentee reliable delivery of packets as the transport layer in the OSI model does. TCP/IP offers an option called UDP that does not gaurentee reliable packet delivery.

SUBNETTING

2006-10-06T21:03:00.000+08:00

TCP/IP - Subnetting

I can recalled during my reprofiling days, we do came across subnetting. Back to current, in day 1, AM session, Mr Foo touch on the subnetting, I really can't catch how he derive the number of subnetting give the number of subnetting that are needed for a network.At home, I spent one hour of self study on the note given, and I managed to grasp a little. Not till the next morning (Day 2) before going to class, I managed to fully understand how to derive subnetting. What Is Subnetting Subnetting is the process of allocating bits from the host portion as a network portion. For example, giving the class A network 10.0.0.0 a subnet mask of 255.255.0.0 would break it down into 256 sub-networks (10.0.0.0 to 10.0.255.0), and indicates that the first octet of the IP address shows the network address, the second one shows the subnet number and the last two show the host part. A bitwise AND operation of the host address with the subnet mask extracts the complete subnetwork address (see example below). Subnet masks are not limited to whole octets, either. For example 255.254.0.0 (or /15) is also a valid mask. Applied to a class A address this would create 128 subnetworks in intervals of two (1.2.0.1 - 1.3.255.254, 1.4.0.1 - 1.5.255.254, etc).

Continue Our 40 Hrs of Learning

2006-10-04T21:43:00.000+08:00

Hi Colleauge, Today we just finished part of the 40 hours clocking. What we learned for the past 3 days are very technical stuff which some of us have no experience at all. But nevermind, we have to continue our learning process and to better understand the past 3 days lesson, I purposely created this blog to exchange our experience and secret weapons learnt from those 3 days. This can also act as part of revision, those stuff that we went through have to keep it somewhere and practice it. I hope that these blog can encourage all of us to exchange what we learnt during our 40 hours.

Table of Contents

Enterprise Network Design and Implementation

Chapter Course Outline Day

1 TCP/IP Concepts Introduction to TCP/IP protocol IP Header IP Addressing and Subnetting IP Address Allocation Exercisese: Fixed and Variable Length Subnetting(Ex 1) Hyperterminal Setup and Cisco Router Access (Lab1) Introduction to CISCO Router Command Line Interface (Lab2) One

2 Routing Protocol Objective of Routing Types of routing protocols Static and dynamic routing Distance-Vector vs Link-State Link-State routing protocol Static route implementation Implementation of RIP-based routing(Lab4) Implementation of IGRP routing(Lab5) Configuration OSPF routing process (Lab6) Two

3 Enhancement to IP Services Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) DHCP across various segments Private addresses and Network Address Translation(NAT) Implementation of Router-based DHCP Service(Lab7) NAT Implementations(lab8) Three

Chapter	Course Outline	Day
1	TCP/IP Concepts Introduction to TCP/IP protocol IP Header IP Addressing and Subnetting IP Address Allocation Exercisese: Fixed and Variable Length Subnetting(Ex 1) Hyperterminal Setup and Cisco Router Access (Lab1) Introduction to CISCO Router Command Line Interface (Lab2)	One
2	Routing Protocol Objective of Routing Types of routing protocols Static and dynamic routing Distance-Vector vs Link-State Link-State routing protocol Static route implementation Implementation of RIP-based routing(Lab4) Implementation of IGRP routing(Lab5) Configuration OSPF routing process (Lab6)	Two
3	Enhancement to IP Services Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) DHCP across various segments Private addresses and Network Address Translation(NAT) Implementation of Router-based DHCP Service(Lab7) NAT Implementations(lab8)	Three

Forty Hours

Backing up Facebook and Twitter accounts

Android App Saves You Taxi Booking Fees

Android app just one of many developed by Temasek Polytechnic students. OO GIN LEE reports

Input Chinese for iPhone

A few simple steps to prepare your iPhone for Chinese character input. Users who need to use the iphone for Chinese characters will find this useful.

What Details You Should Know Before Buying a LED TV

Dear Readers,Know your LED terms before buying; write up by SHERWIN LOH from Digital Life. I would like to share it in this blog.

Smart guards

How To Access Your Folders From Your Taskbar

How To Access Your Folders From Your Taskbar

10 Reasons Why a PC Crash

10 reasons why PCs crash U must Know

Lengthy Boot-up

If you take more than 5 minutes or longer to boot up your, it is time that you try out the below recommended method to accelerte the boot-up process.

E-Book Reader

Electronic BookHi,in today Digital Life, there is an article mentioned about ebook reader.

Pocket Book

NOKIA'S Booklet 3G is a looker, with its stylish curves and beautiful finish.

Snow Leopard versus Windows 7

Smart Use of Google Search - Show Options

Refine your Google searches

Protect your computer

Protect your computer TAN CHONG YAW offers some useful tips on fending off unwanted attention on your PC. PC.Compliments to Digital Life.HERE are a few things you can do to make your computer a little less vulnerable to hackers, snoopers and thieves.

New Use on Your Thumb

Power on your thumb.

Boost performance with your USB drive

Boost performance with your USB drive

Forwarding Email In a Correct and Appropriate Way

HOW TO FORWARD E-MAIL APPROPRIATELY

Sony Ericsson MBW-200 Evening Classic watch

Sony Ericsson MBW-200 Evening Classic watchSin$498 (black leather or brushed metal strap) and $588 (crystal-studded face with white leather strap), from all Sony Ericsson and SonyStyle stores and authorised resellers

Improve your Web connection speed

How you can tweak a few settings for zippier Internet speeds?

Here's how you can tweak a few settings for zippier Internet speeds.1 Say no to reserve bandwidth

2 Optimise TCP/IP settings

Slow in Start Up

Slow in start-up your PC?

You may experienced that your PC might take a long time to boot-up. What causes the crawl is because of the useless programs which run automatically when your computer is turned on.

Acer Aspire One

New ProductComputerBig aspirationsAcer Aspire One

Yahoo addresses e-mail concerns with new domains

SAN FRANCISCO - Yahoo Inc. is offering free e-mail accounts under two new designations in an effort to attract Web surfers unhappy with their current addresses.

HP 2133 MINI-NOTE PC

HP New Product

Facebook

Facebook to protect young users

Freeware - Digital Imaging

Why spend more? Use freeware

Some Ways to Fire Up Your PC!

Fire up your PC!

Thanks to Digital Life and Chester Chen, a PC enthusiast and freelance writer for writing this article which is a great helps to many of the PC users

CPU

VIDEO GRAPHICS CARD

RAM

FREE PERFORMANCE BOOST

A LITTLE housekeeping can also go a long way.

GPS for your Phone

YOU'VE probably heard a lot about mobile phones with GPS (Global Positioning System) capabilities. But alas, the phone that you bought just a few months back doesn't have GPS, and your subscription contract doesn't allow you to trade your phone in just yet.

As an alternative, you can try the Nokia Bluetooth GPS module LD-4W. It's a GPS receiver that can be used with compatible Bluetooth phones, Nokia or otherwise. Just make sure your phone supports Bluetooth v2.0 with EDR, Serial Port Profile, and NMEA 0183 v3.01 protocol

Dual Phones or Dual Sim Cards Phone

I would like to thanks Tham Yuen-C and Digital Life for this article. I think this article clear many questions on the mind of how a dual phones or dual simcards phones work or function

Dual phones: Your queries answered

Privacy on Facebook

Face up to privacy on Facebook

So you have been uploading wild photos on Facebook - until you realise everyone, including your boss, has seen them. LIM YEE HUNG shows you how to keep your private life private

Tech Giants' Battleground

Round 1: Microsoft challenges Google's dominance by bidding for Yahoo Round 2: Parties slug it out for ultimate control of mobile phones By Alfred Siew, Technology Correspondent

The fight will continue on the small screen of cellphones, as faster wireless networks let people share pictures and watch videos on the go. All three (Google, Microsoft and Yahoo) are geared for this new market.

77 per cent of online searches go through Google today, with Yahoo getting 16 per cent and Microsoft, only 4 per cent, according to a Net measurement firm. And so, at its wits' end, Microsoft sought to buy Yahoo, for US$44.6b.

Cellphones Competition Hot-Up

Yahoo and Google take aim at mobile eyeballs

Google's Android and Yahoo's Go version 3 want to get into your cellphones. By OO GIN LEE

10 tips to maximise your Firefox experience

Want more? 10 tips to maximise your Firefox experience

Blu Ray vs HD

Blu Ray is better than HD DVD ?

Internet Explorer 7.0

Tip: Internet Explorer 7

Nokia 6500

Dear Readers,
Know your LED terms before buying; write up by SHERWIN LOH from Digital Life. I would like to share it in this blog.

Electronic Book
Hi,in today Digital Life, there is an article mentioned about ebook reader.

Protect your computer
TAN CHONG YAW offers some useful tips on fending off unwanted attention on your PC. PC.
Compliments to Digital Life.
HERE are a few things you can do to make your computer a little less vulnerable to hackers, snoopers and thieves.

Sony Ericsson MBW-200 Evening Classic watch
Sin$498 (black leather or brushed metal strap) and $588 (crystal-studded face with white leather strap), from all Sony Ericsson and SonyStyle stores and authorised resellers

Here's how you can tweak a few settings for zippier Internet speeds.
1 Say no to reserve bandwidth

New Product
Computer
Big aspirations
Acer Aspire One

Make sure your PC is secure (PC Security)
Lock your PC down so malicious programs cannot get in
So you have your shiny new computer fresh out of the box, and are ready to take it online.

Review of New Motorola Phone, Motorola Razr2 V8.
This new motorola phone; Ultra slim and ultra cool