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35% of computers run at least one illegal program

IT security and control firm Sophos is warning businesses of the security and productivity risks of allowing counterfeit software programs to run on their company networks. The warning follows research from the Business Software Alliance (BSA) that revealed that more than a third of PCs worldwide are running pirated software.

According to the research, 35% of computers run at least one illegal program, with computer users in China and Russia the worst offenders (with over 80% of computers running pirated software). Sophos experts note that pirated software can leave business networks open to attack as cybercriminals are provided with an additional route to infection.

"Putting aside the obvious legal issues, piracy can have a real impact on a company in terms of security," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos. "It's not enough to make sure that all PCs are running legitimate copies of Word, businesses must also control what programs their employees are downloading, installing and running. Patching against software vulnerabilities is key to any good IT security policy, but with pirated software this becomes near impossible. Pirated software downloaded from dodgy websites or bought from a man in an alleyway will not come with technical support, and may even be virus infected."

Software piracy rate by region


Software piracy rate by region. Source: BSA.

According to Sophos, running pirated software on corporate networks can also have severe repercussions on the network infrastructure, hogging valuable bandwidth and network resources.

"Businesses simply cannot afford to ignore piracy," continued Cluley. "The corporate network is the backbone of any company and if you allow users to run anything they like on it, whether illegal or not, you shouldn't be surprised when it breaks."

Read more about BSA's research into software piracy around the globe

Sophos recommends companies protect their desktops, servers and gateways with a consolidated solution to thwart the threats of viruses, spyware, phishing, hackers and spam, as well as controlling which applications are authorized to run on the network.

Source: http://www.sophos.com/pressoffice/news/articles/2007/05/piracy.html
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Using a watermark on photos that you plan to email or display on your Web site will help identify them as yours. It also discourages people from copying them or claiming them as their own. Here's a simple and easy way to add an editable text watermark in Adobe® Photoshop®.

To Add a Watermark in Photoshop

1. Open the photo.

2. From the Tools palette, select the type tool and type any text you want to use for a watermark. (For example, your name or your company’s name)

3. Before you close the type tool dialog box, select the color swatch, and set the color to 50% gray. (RGB values 128-128-128).

4. Click OK.

5. Resize and position your text to display the way you want it.

6. From the Layers palette, select the text layer.

7. From the Layers drop-down menu, select Layer Style, then Bevel and Emboss.

8. Adjust the setting to your liking. (Recommendation: Inner Bevel and the Technique: Smooth)

9. Click OK.

10. In the Layers palette, use the drop-down list tochange the blend mode for the layer type from Normal to Hard Light.

11. You can also adjust the Opacity of the watermark.

Tips:

• Use a color other than gray for your text.
• Import a logo or symbol to use as a watermark instead of text.
• If you plan to use the same watermark often, save it to a file that you can drop into an image. Remember, it's always editable!

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Microsoft has to think outside the box

By Theo Valich: Thursday 10 May 2007, 09:24

IN AN INTERVIEW with the San Jose Mercury News Peter Moore, corporate VP of Microsoft's entertainment business unit admitted that Microsoft was somewhat caught out by Sony's PS3 Folding@Home client. He said even Bill Gates had a conversation about "applying philanthropic processing power to big problems".

But he souldn't resist a jab at Sony's endeavour. "I’m not quite sure yet whether we’re seeing real tangible results from the PlayStation 3 Folding@Home initiative," he suggested.

Microsoft knows all the deficiencies of IBM's sluggish in-order triple-core PowerPC that is built inside its own console, and does not want to get soundly beaten by IBM's Cell. However, it is unclear whether the Vole of Redmond is aware that it has something far more powerful inside its own boxes.

The Geforce 7900 inside the PS3 is no match for Xenos in the Xbox. Even the Sony Cell would probably end beaten by 48 vec4+scalar units hidden inside Xbox's 360 graphics chip. Folding@Home is Stream Computing at its finest, and six/seven/eight SPE units can flourish in the CPU. But when compared to the GPU, the Xbox 360 GPU would probably run in circles around Cell CPU.

And then Microsoft's marketing machine might get interested in touting Folding@Home for the Xbox 360 console, since it would no longer be a race between a snail and a rabbit, as far as protein folding performance is concerned.

The next question would then be, could Brook get set up running on a Xbox 360 GPU with all the limitations that Microsoft environment is using?

Source: http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=39508
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By Tony Stockill

THE PROBLEM

You landed after a rough flight, got the last rental car, battled the snowstorm, and finally arrived at the Holly Inn. It's nice and warm in there, you can relax, ready for the conference tomorrow.

Out of the elevator, of course your room is at the far end of the corridor. No matter, the heating is turned up and you are looking forward to a good night's rest. You make it to the room door feeling very sleepy. You reach out for the door handle when...Zap! It gets you every time!

THE CAUSE

Static electricity. Everyone knows about it, harmless really, happens when you get out of the car as well. Synthetics are particularly good for generating a good one, along with a dry atmosphere.

Thousands of volts - harmless? just a little shock? To you, maybe, to an electronic circuit static discharge is - death. Not necessarily instant, more likely a weakening effect, causing intermittent failures, the most difficult to catch, until the final solid fault.

THE EFFECT

The problem for an electronic circuit is that they work on 2 or 3 volts at low currents, so when a kilovolt charge turns up, the current which flows is many times more than it is designed for. The effect can be like a fuse, a connection to a microcircuit melts, or is badly damaged. For us there is millions of times less current than would be required to damage any tissue.

The voltage doesn't need to be enough to cause a zap, an electronic circuit can be damaged by just handling it, touching metal parts. The potential for damage has been growing since transistors, and, particularly integrated circuits were introduced. Vacuum tube circuits used much higher voltages, such that the circuit was more likely to zap the careless technician than the other way round!

THE SOLUTION

We have mentioned, in the history of the computer series, the importance of power supplies and air conditioning controls. These are largely there to make sure the electronics can work in its designed range. When the engineer works on these circuits he must take precautions to ensure this range is not exceeded because of static build-up.

In the workshop, all work must be performed in a static free environment, components are to be stored in anti-static bags or containers, and anyone working on the equipment must ensure he does not allow static discharge through it.

Similarly, when working on the system in the computer room, perhaps removing or replacing a circuit board, or adjusting a circuit, the correct procedures must be followed.

THE EQUIPMENT

This has become more and more complicated as the potential for damage has grown, with the reduction in size and therefore concentration of circuitry. The replacement cost of a pcb can be several hundred thousand dollars!

The front line of defence is the Wrist Strap. This consists of a means of connection to the frame of the machine being worked on, linked to some form of bracelet or band which makes contact with the worker's skin.

The link is not a normal piece of wire, but has a resistance of 1 Megohm. This high resistance is to reduce the current when connecting to the frame, so as not to cause problems.

The wrist strap itself is usually of some stretch material, with a metal connector for the wire link, and to connect to the wrist. Alternatively, some types have an expanding metal strap, similar to a watch strap.

The connector to the frame may be a metal clip, or a plug to fit a receptacle on the machine, for this purpose.

In the workshop, all work is carried out on an anti-static mat, made of metalised rubber, so that it is conductive. This mat is grounded, and connected to the frame of the equipment being worked on. Anyone working on the equipment must first connect his wrist strap to the mat via the connectors provided.

Another anti-static mat, also grounded, is placed on the floor at the workstation to stand on.

In the computer room, a portable workbench, is provided with an anti-static mat, connected to the machine frame, to place components removed or to be installed on. Bags or containers made from conductive material are on hand, and can also be connected to the mat.

A mat is placed on the floor where work is being carried out, connected to the frame. The people working on the equipment wear anti-static coats made of conductive material. They also have ankle/heel straps. These fit around the ankle, making contact with the skin, and under the heel of the shoe, to make contact with the mat.

Components which have been replaced for suspect problems are returned to the factory for failure analysis. The failed circuit is examined through a microscope to observe the failing area, and to determine if this is a potential problem for other similar circuits. Failures due to electrostatic discharge can also be determined.

THE HOME USER

Now you know the precautions the professionals take, you can understand the necessity for care to be taken when adding memory, or opening your computer for any other reason. If you have a wrist strap, use it. If not at least touch the frame of the computer before reaching inside. And don't think you don't need to because it works OK when you close it up again. You could be getting the results of your efforts down the track!

Tony is an experienced computer engineer. He is currently webmaster and contributor to http://www.what-why-wisdom.com A set of diagrams accompanying these articles may be seen at http://www.what-why-wisdom.com/history-of-the-computer-0.html RSS feed also available - use http://www.what-why-wisdom.com/Educational.xml

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tony_Stockill
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Greenhouse Effect Cited in Mass Decline 250 Million Years Ago

By Guy Gugliotta

Washington Post Staff Writer

Scientists call it "the Great Dying," a 250 million-year-old catastrophe that wiped out 90 percent of ocean species and 70 percent of land species in the biggest mass extinction in Earth's geologic history.

The cause of this cataclysm is a matter of great dispute among paleontologists, but research released yesterday offers new evidence that global warming caused by massive and prolonged volcanic activity may have been the chief culprit.

Huge amounts of carbon dioxide were released into the air from open volcanic fissures known to geologists as the "Siberian Traps," researchers said, triggering a greenhouse effect that warmed the earth and depleted oxygen from the atmosphere, causing environmental deterioration and finally collapse.

A second set of findings suggested that the warming also crippled the oceans' ability to refresh their oxygen supply, causing the seas to go sterile, destroying marine life and allowing anaerobic bacteria (which do not require oxygen) to release poisonous hydrogen sulfide "swamp" gas into the air.

The two reports, prepared independently, both cast doubt on another theory -- that the Great Dying was caused by the impact of an asteroid or comet such as the one that triggered the extinction of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. Both studies were published yesterday by Science Express, the online version of the journal Science.

"This is not a world that is happy and then goes 'Bang!' " said University of Washington paleontologist Peter D. Ward, leader of one of the two new studies. "This is a world that's in trouble for a long time, and then it gets in even worse trouble."

Ward led a team of scientists in a seven-year project to chronicle 126 fossil skulls in a 1,000-foot-thick deposit of sedimentary rock in southeastern South Africa's Karoo Basin. He said in a telephone interview that the samples included reptiles and some amphibians, ranging from dog-size animals to predatory gorgonopsians, which he described as "a hideous cross between a lion and a particularly nasty lizard."

Ward said the team's excavations showed a steady decline in the number of species over 10 million years, followed by a sudden plunge 250 million years ago at the boundary between the Permian and Triassic periods of geologic time. The interval corresponds to a period of prolonged volcanic activity over one-third of modern-day Siberia.

Temperatures climbed globally as carbon dioxide poured into the atmosphere and oxygen levels fell, forcing gasping animals to gather at sea level, he said. "And the plants are not dealing well with the heat" either, he added. "Eventually the imbalance reaches a critical point, and everything dies."

The warming also meant that polar oceans were not cooled as much as they are today, and the convection cycle that circulates cold, oxygen- and nutrient-rich water between the poles and the tropics was slowed and even stopped, according to the second paper by a team of researchers led by Kliti Grice of the Curtin University of Technology in Perth, Australia.

"This has devastating effects on the marine organisms that rely on oxygen and nutrients to survive," the team said in an e-mail. "In the worst-case . . . a major part of the water column above the sea floor is devoid of oxygen."

Analyzing sulfur and carbon isotopes from core samples taken from the ocean bed off the coast of northwestern Australia, the team detected molecular traces from green sulfur bacteria, known as Chlorobiaceae, at the time of the Great Dying.

"The beauty of these [bacteria] is that they require sunlight and an anoxic [oxygen-free] environment," said team member Steven Turgeon, an Oak Ridge National Laboratory geochemist. "Because they live so close to the surface, we're pretty sure that what's beneath is anoxic."

This combination of factors, which has also been detected in waters off southern China, indicates that large swatches of ocean below a depth of 300 feet -- the deepest that significant light can penetrate -- became sterile, and that the entire ocean may have been oxygen-free.

Just as important, the bacteria derive energy from sulfate compounds in seawater and vent poisonous hydrogen sulfide gas into the air, Turgeon noted in a telephone interview.

The Grice team did not address the cause of the lethal warming, but Ward said his team found no evidence of the residue that would have fallen after a comet or asteroid impact threw tons of dust into the air to trigger a sudden and catastrophic greenhouse effect.

Still, University of Rochester earth scientist Robert Poreda, a proponent of the impact theory, noted that the "absence of evidence" at Karoo Basin "does not constitute evidence of absence."

"We propose there was preexisting volcanism" that became much worse because of the seismic energy released by the asteroid or comet impact, he said. "Some people have thought it feasible, while others have been adamantly opposed."
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The climate is crashing, and global warming is to blame

Time.com -- No one can say exactly what it looks like when a planet takes ill, but it probably looks a lot like Earth.

Never mind what you've heard about global warming as a slow-motion emergency that would take decades to play out. Suddenly and unexpectedly, the crisis is upon us.

From heat waves to storms to floods to fires to massive glacial melts, the global climate seems to be crashing around us.

The problem -- as scientists suspected but few others appreciated -- is that global climate systems are booby-trapped with tipping points and feedback loops, thresholds past which the slow creep of environmental decay gives way to sudden and self-perpetuating collapse. That's just what's happening now.

It's at the north and south poles -- where ice cover is crumbling to slush -- that the crisis is being felt the most acutely.

Late last year, for example, researchers analyzed data from Canadian and European satellites and found that the Greenland ice sheet is not only melting, but doing so faster and faster, with 53 cubic miles draining away into the sea last year alone, compared to 23 cubic miles in 1996.

One of the reasons the loss of the planet's ice cover is accelerating is that as the poles' bright white surface disappears it changes the relationship of the Earth and the sun. Polar ice is so reflective that 90 percent of the sunlight that strikes it simply bounces back into space, taking its energy with it. Ocean water does just the opposite, absorbing 90 percent of the light and heat it receives, meaning that each mile of ice that melts vanishes faster than the mile that preceded it.

This is what scientists call a feedback loop, and a similar one is also melting the frozen land called permafrost, much of which has been frozen -- since the end of last ice age in fact, or at least 8,000 years ago.

Sealed inside that cryonic time capsule are layers of decaying organic matter, thick with carbon, which itself can transform into CO2. In places like the southern boundary of Alaska the soil is now melting and softening.

As fast as global warming is changing the oceans and ice caps, it's having an even more immediate effect on land. Droughts are increasingly common as higher temperatures also bake moisture out of soil faster, causing dry regions that live at the margins to tip into full-blown crisis.

Wildfires in such sensitive regions as Indonesia, the western U.S. and even inland Alaska have been occurring with increased frequency as timberlands grow more parched. Those forests that don't succumb to fire can simply die from thirst.

With habitats crashing, the animals that call them home are succumbing too. In Alaska, salmon populations are faltering as melting permafrost pours mud into rivers, burying the gravel the fish need for spawning. Small animals such as bushy tailed rats, chipmunks and pinion mice are being chased upslope by rising temperatures, until they at last have no place to run.

And with sea ice vanishing, polar bears are starting to turn up drowned. "There will be no polar ice by 2060," says Larry Schweiger, president of the National Wildlife Federation. "Somewhere along that path, the polar bear drops out."

So much environmental collapse has at last awakened much of the world, particularly the 141 nations that have ratified the Kyoto treaty to reduce emissions. The Bush administration, however, has shown no willingness to address the warming crisis in a serious way and Congress has not been much more encouraging.

Sens. John McCain and Joe Lieberman have twice been unable to get even mild measures to limit carbon emissions through a recalcitrant Senate.

A 10-member House delegation did recently travel to Antarctica, Australia and New Zealand to meet with scientists studying climate change. "Of the 10 of us, only three were believers to begin with," says Rep. Sherman Boehlert of New York. "Every one of the others said this opened their eyes."

But lawmakers who still applaud themselves for recognizing global warming are hardly the same as lawmakers with the courage to reverse it, and increasingly, state and local governments are stepping forward.

The mayors of more than 200 cities have signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, pledging, among other things, that they will meet the Kyoto goal of reducing greenhouse emissions in their own cities to 1990 levels by 2012. Nine northeastern states have established the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative for the purpose of developing a program to cap greenhouse gasses.

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Rice is the staple food in much of the world

Researchers have genetically engineered a more nutritious type of rice which could help alleviate the serious problem of vitamin A deficiency.

It is estimated 124 million children worldwide lack vitamin A, putting them at risk of permanent blindness and other serious ailments.

The scientists, based at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, inserted three genes into rice that make the plant produce beta-carotene.

This is the substance all mammals, including humans, must take into their bodies to make vitamin A.

Beta-carotene, or provitamin A as it is known, gives the new rice a golden colour.

The team, whose research is reported in the journal Science, says breeding lines of the plant are now being established and the seeds will be made freely available to farmers in developing countries.

This will please aid organisations who have expressed concern that the new plant technologies will be priced beyond the reach of the world's poorest farmers.

Biochemical pathway

Commentators say the science represents a "technical tour de force" as it is the first time a plant has been engineered with a complete biochemical pathway - that is to say, all the different steps an organism must complete to make a particular product.

Professor Ingo Potrykus, one of the rice researchers, told the BBC many scientists did not believe it would be possible when work began on the project eight years ago.

He said: "When we started the project, and throughout the progress of this project, the scientific community was convinced that it could not work because nobody previously had been able to engineer a complete biochemical pathway."

The technology is being given to a number of rice institutes around the world, where traditional breeding methods will be used to integrate the beta-carotene genes into local varieties.

Professor Potrykus said: "We are already starting to do the same with wheat. We are close to doing the same with cassava.

"We will probably also introduce it to barley. We have initiated collaborations to put the same genes into banana and sweet potato. The number of important core plants which don't have enough or any provitamin A can be engineered now to achieve the same."

Iron-rich

The team has also managed to insert two genes into rice which make it iron-rich, something that could have serious impact on tackling anaemia around the world.

But this has not been as successful as the beta-carotene project as rice naturally prevents iron absorption in the gut.

Dr Manju Sharma, secretary of the Indian Government's Department of Biotechnolgy, told the BBC the new rice could have very important implications.

He said: "Rice is a strategic crop. A very large population of India is dependent on rice.

"We would like to improve the nutritional quality of rice so as to combat a number of deficiencies like the vitamin A deficiency, which causes blindness to millions of children."

Roughly half of the world's population, including virtually all of East and Southeast Asia, is wholly dependent upon rice as a staple food.

This compounds health problems because the edible part of rice grains, the endosperm, lacks several essential nutrients.
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The answer to this question is "yes". The answer is also "no"! The full answer is that, like all human beings, babies do need to take in water in order to survive.

But they don't actually need to drink water in fact, pediatricians advise against giving your baby plain or distilled water until he or she is six months old. Babies get their water needs met by drinking breastmilk or formula, both of which are mostly water.

The reason your doctor will tell you not to feed your baby plain water is that it's easy to fill up an infant's stomach; a few little ounces will do the job. Babies should be filling up on nourishment getting the nutrients they need from each feeding. Once your baby has been teething, he or she will need fluoride to support the new teeth, so giving drinking water is a good way to meet that need. But until then, let your baby get water in his or her usual feedings of mother's milk or formula.

If your baby is running a temperature, your pediatrician may advise you to give him or her more liquids. Usually, your doctor will suggest a liquid like Pedialyte, which contains nutrients to restore the balance of your child's electrolytes. Again, don't give your infant water instead of other liquids unless the doctor advises it.
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WHG FTP Backup is a utility for Cpanel and Linux server owners to make a backup of Cpanels daily backup files to a remote FTP server for safe keeping. It can be scheduled to run how often you like via a Cron job.

Requirements
Linux Cpanel Web Server with backup option enabled to second drive.

Why Don't I use Cpanel's Built in FTP?
I made this script because I found the Cpanel backup script is flawed for Remote FTP backup - it checks the local servers backup directory for existing -- not the remote server.

Also with our backup script you can do both, remote and local backups. Plus you can schedule the local and remote backups at different times.
EG: Backup local daily
Backup remote FTP every 3 days.

The script is lightweight and very simple to setup!

Current Version: 1.0
Cost: Free - donations appreciated

Download the current release of WHG FTP Backup
http://www.webhostgear.com/projects/ftpbackup.tar.gz

We would like your feedback on this please:
http://www.webhostgear.com/forums/showthread.php?t=200

Source: http://www.webhostgear.com/174.html
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by Steve Gold
May 21st, 2007

Reports from Thailand over the weekend suggest that a major scam involving pre-pay GSM SIM cards has been busted.

Newswire reports say that Taweesap Lalitsasiwimol, aged 34, was arrested late last week in connection with the alleged hacking of mobile phone company AIS’ computer systems.

Taweesap is alleged to have master-minded the sale of forged prepay mobile phone cards worth almost 50 million baht (around £770,000 in UK quidlets -Ed).

During the raid, police say they seized a couple of laptops, a portable hard drive and a copy of a book - Plon Yiab Mek (High-Profile Robberies) - in which Taweesap was ranked the third biggest crim.

Allegedly.

News reports suggest that records on the AIS database initially led investigators to a number of Internet cafes, but examination of CCTV footage revealed this to be a false clue trial.

Taweesap was caught, however, when police realised the AIS scam has a similar MO to a fraud involving another mobile carrier, TA Orange, back in 2005.

An arrest warrant was then issued for Taweesap, who was on bail for allegedly hacking into the TA Orange computer system and increasing the value of its phone cards, leading to losses of 105 million baht.

That case is, apparently, pending prosecution.

Police claim that Taweesap has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Ramkhamhaeng University and can hack into any computer system in less than 10 minutes.

Kevin Mitnick eat your heart out…

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How many times have we all done the sending off an email with no attachment trick? Too many times, I tell you. Well, Tricks of the Trade has a practical way to get past this once and for all:

If you are sending an email with an attachment, add the attachment first, then compose the message, and then add email addresses to the send line. Now there's no chance you'll have to send the ever-popular "whoops, forgot to attach the file" follow-up.

I actually started doing this a while back after then 842nd time I left the attachment off; I'm a fast learner, you see. What are some ways you've managed to dodge the always awkward "forgot attachment!" follow-up email? Thoughts in the comments. — Wendy Boswell

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By Matt Brooks

In the realm of car audio, the possibilities are endless. There are hundreds of brands and thousands of products out there. Majestic Modifications would like to help restore some order to the chaos of building your system. Lets look at some of the components that make up a car audio system.

The Head Unit

The Head Unit is the brains of the operation. Without this component, your car audio system can't and won't work. The head unit is the central processing device in the system. The head unit controls all the functions in your car audio system. Music too loud? Turn down the volume. Too soft? Turn it up. Want more bass? Add bass input. In addition to volume, bass, etc., the head unit may contain other systems within its casing. These include: tuner, cassette, equalizer, CD or amplifier.

You see, in a home music system, where you have much more room, many stereo setups will include a separate box for each one of these components -- CD, cassette, etc. You may have a home system like that yourself. In a car, with its space limitations, these components are often crammed into one box -- the head unit. This depends upon a number of factors, such as heat, space, cosmetic design and other concerns, and every car is different.

The Amplifier

All car audio systems have an amplifier, even if it's a small one. Occasionally the amplifier will be attached to the rear of the head unit; however, in most systems it is hidden elsewhere in the car to better dissipate heat. Signal amplification is actually a two-stage process, handled by two separate components. These are the preamplifier and the power amplifier.

The preamplifier (preamp, for short) is a very tiny signal coming directly from the head unit. Whether it's reproducing a cassette signal, a CD signal, or an FM broadcast, the preamp puts out a signal that the amplifier can use. This is where the power amplifier takes over. It's the power amp's job to take the signal from the preamp and boost it into the audible range. We'll cover this in more depth in our Amplifier column in this series. Again, because of heat, most amplifiers are located away from the head unit.

The Speakers

The speakers take the boosted signal from the power amp and create sound waves. Essentially, speakers transform electrical energy (the amplified signal) into mechanical energy (the motion of the speaker cone). For now, know that all sound is vibration, which is a chain of frequencies in the air that eventually vibrate the membranes in your eardrums. Sound energy is measured in wavelengths, known as hertz, with the audible range falling between 20 to 20,000 cycles. A cycle is the distance from the top of one wavelength to the top of the next.

There are three types of speakers that produce sounds across the audible spectrum: woofers, tweeters and midrange drivers. As the name implies, the woofer reproduces the lower frequencies. The tweeter, also aptly named, replicates the highest register. The midrange handles the frequencies in between.

Auxiliary Input Devices

Components such as CD changers and equalizers, not to mention cell phones, navigation systems, MP3 players and many of the newer technologies, interface with the head unit for amplification and signal processing.

With a little knowledge of car audio components, it's time to start searching for your own car audio system!
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So far this is the best lemon bar recipe that we have come across. A lemon meringue pie in the form of a cookie would be an adequate description.

Ingredients:

Crust:
1 stick (1/2 cup) salted butter, softened
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour

Cream Cheese Filling:
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 large egg 1 teaspoon lemon extract

Lemon Curd Layer:
4 large egg yolks
1 tablespoon cornstarch
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup water
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons salted butter, softened

Topping:
Powder sugar

Hardware:
Whisk
Spatula
Medium bowl
Medium sauce pan
8x8 inch baking pan
Mixer

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

Prepare the Crust:
Step 1: Cream butter and sugar in medium bowl with electric mixer set on high.
Step 2: Add vanilla and mix until combined.
Step 3: Add flour and mix at low speed until fully incorporated.
Step 4: Press dough evenly into bottom of an 8x8 inch baking pan. Refrigerate until firm, approximately 30 minutes. Prick crust with fork and bake 30 minutes or until golden brown.
Step 5: Cool on rack to room temperature.

Prepare Cream Cheese Filling
Step 1: Beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth in a medium bowl with electric mixer on high.
Step 2: Add egg and lemon extract and beat on medium speed until smooth. Cover bowl and refrigerate.

Prepare Lemon Layer:
Step 1: Blend the egg yolks with the cornstarch and sugar in a medium nonstick sauce pan.
Step 2: Place over low heat and slowly whisk in water and lemon juice.
Step 3: Increase heat to medium-low and cook, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
Step 4: Remove from heat. Add lemon zest and butter and cool for 10 minutes.

Assemble the Bars:
Step 1: Spread chilled cream cheese filling evenly over cooled crust with spatula.
Step 2: Spread lemon layer evenly over cream cheese layer.
Step 3: Place in center of oven and bake for 30-40 minutes or until edges begin to turn golden brown.
Step 4: Cool at room temperature, then place in refrigerator for 1 hour before cutting.
Step 5: Dust bars with powdered sugar.

This lemon bar recipe makes about 16 bars.

Source: http://www.kicked-up-cookie-recipes.com/lemon-bar-recipe.html
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Podcast is nothing but a means that can be used to publish audio files on the web for broadcasting purposes. So for cricket fans this is a wonderful opportunity through which they can come to know all information about the events that are taking place in a tournament that is being played. Well anyone who loves to follow a game is very particular to know about what all things are happening on the field. Whenever a tournament is underway at any place in the world, the only thing that is uppermost in the minds of the fans is to gather as much information as they can about the matches that are being played in the tournament. Often it is not possible to catch up with the live matches on the field or on televisions and here cricket podcast is what can let them know all about the tournament.

Cricket podcast about various important tournaments can be easily found on websites that work dedicatedly towards providing all information about cricket to fans. Now that the world cup is over and Australia has won the title there are many fans of the Australian cricket team who would love listening to podcast about the progress of their team in the entire tournament. The Aussies were the only team in the world cup that was uneaten during the entire tournament. In fact they had come to the tournament after losing five games in a row to England and New Zealand. They did not have their best bowler Bret Lee in the team and the entire team was not in its peak form, yet they went on to win the title without coming across any real challenge put up by any team.

The podcast available on these online sites are a wonderful source through which one can actually relive those wonderful moments when their favorite players or teams had performed exceptionally well and gone on to win a major title or tournament. Cricket podcast mostly has discussions about a tournament where in all the aspects of the event are discussed thoroughly by some experts. The podcast can include discussion about the controversies that may happen in tournament. When there was the Oval test fiasco this was one topic that was discussed at great lengths by all the experts.

In some cricket websites, you have to get registered to the site to be eligible to listen to the podcasts. But in some sites you do not need to get registered, you can just listen to the podcast without any worries. You just need to have access to a computer that is internet enabled and listen to as many podcast as you wish. Fans throng to these sites whenever a tournament is underway to stay informed about all the latest which is happening on the field. Cricket podcast provided by cricket sites has in fact come as a blessing in disguise for all those cricket fans that are crazy about the game.

Ella Wilson is a cricket fanatic. She simply loves the game and tries to catch live action no matter where she is.At Stickiewicket she works on Online cricket score,live cricket score, worldcup schedule and cricket podcast among other things.You can see her works at www.stickiewicket.com

Source: http://www.articleworld.net/articles/16358/1/Cricket-Podcast-Covers-All-Aspects-Of-A-Cricket-Event
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The 'ransomware' wants $10.99 sent via Western Union

April 27, 2006 (IDG News Service) -- A new kind of malware circulating on the Internet freezes a computer and then asks for a ransom paid through Western Union Holdings Inc.'s money-transfer service.

A sample of the Trojan horse virus was sent yesterday to Sophos PLC, said Graham Cluley, a senior technology consultant at the U.K.-based security vendor. The malware, which Sophos named Troj/Ransom-A, is one of only a few viruses so far that have asked for a ransom in exchange for releasing control of a computer, Cluley said.

The new Trojan falls into a class of viruses described as "ransomware." The schemes had been seen in Russia, but the first one appeared in English just last month.

"It is a new kind of malware with a particularly nasty payload," Cluley said.

It's unclear how the Trojan is being spread, although Sophos is investigating, Cluley said. Viruses can be spread in several ways, including through spam or a so-called drive-by download that exploits a browser vulnerability when a user visits a malicious Web site.

Once run, the Trojan freezes the computer, displaying a message saying files are being deleted every 30 minutes. It then gives instructions on how to send $10.99 via Western Union to free the computer.

Hitting the Control, Alt and Delete keys will not affect the bug, the virus writer warns. Sophos provides further details online.

The virus writer even offers tech support, Cluley said. If the method of unlocking the computer doesn't work after the money is sent, the virus writer promises to research the problem and includes an e-mail address.

Last month, a Trojan horse emerged that encrypts a user's documents and then leaves a file demanding $300 in exchange for the password to access the information. Victims were instructed to send money to one of 99 accounts run by e-gold Ltd., a company that runs a money-transfer site.

The password, however, was contained on the infected computer. Sophos cracked it and publicly released it.

Source: http://www.computerworld.com/securitytopics/security/story/0,10801,110923,00.html
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It's because phones interfere with airplane electronics, right? Wrong.

April 06, 2007 (Computerworld) -- How many times have you heard this?

"At this time, all electronic devices, including cell phones and two-way pagers, must be turned off and put away. After takeoff, I'll let you know when you may use approved electronic portable devices."

Of course, those "approved electronic portable devices" won't include your cell phone, not until after you land.

The reason is that cell phones interfere with the airplane's electronics, right?

Well, no, actually. The risk posed by cell phones to airplane equipment is unknown, and will remain unknown for as long as possible.

Phones are banned for two official reasons:

1. Cell phones "might" interfere with the avionics (aviation electronics) of some airplanes.
2. Cell phones aloft "might" cause problems with cell tower systems on the ground.

Both of these risks are easily tested, yet somehow neither the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) nor the Federal Communications Commission has been able to get a definitive answer in the past 20 years as to whether phone calls in flight cause these suspected problems. (The FAA is responsible for the flight safety portion of all this, and the FCC is responsible for the cell tower part.)

The government's dirty little secret is that it cultivates uncertainty about the effects of phones in airplanes as a way to maintain the existing ban without having to confront the expense and inconvenience to airlines and wireless carriers of allowing them.

Why airlines want the ban

The airlines fear "crowd control" problems if cell phones are allowed in flights. They believe cell phone calls might promote rude behavior and conflict between passengers, which flight attendants would have to deal with. The airlines also benefit in general from passengers remaining ignorant about what's happening on the ground during flights, including personal problems, terrorist attacks, plane crashes and other information that might upset passengers.

One way to deal with callers bothering noncallers would be to designate sections of each flight where calling is allowed -- like a "smoking section." But the ban is easier.

Also: If real testing were done, and the nature of the problem fully understood, it would become obvious that airplanes could be designed or retrofitted with shielding and communications systems that would enable safe calling through all phases of flight. But that would cost money. The ban is cheaper.

However, the airlines know that some kind of plane-to-ground communication is coming, and they want to profit from it. Simply allowing passengers to use their own cell phones in flight would leave the airlines out of the profit-taking. Airlines would prefer that phones be banned while they come up with new ways to charge for communication, such as the coming wave of Wi-Fi access. Meanwhile, the ban is potentially more profitable.

Why carriers want the ban

Cell phone and tower designs are based on the assumption that at any given time, only a few cell towers will be close to any specific phone. So any given tower will use different channels than those used by other towers closest to it, but will use the same channels as towers farther away. However, when a phone is used in an airplane, it might have roughly equal access to two or more towers that use the same channels, which confuses the carriers' computer systems. This situation might result in interrupted calls, reduced system capacity and other problems.

Of course, this could be fixed in any number of ways, including an overhaul of the software used to manage calls between towers, but the fix would cost money. The ban is cheaper.

Why the government wants the ban

Cell phones and other electronics vary in how much they could interfere with avionics. If it's determined that some devices do cause problems, all gadgets would have to do extra certification testing, which the government doesn't want to spend the money to do. The ban is cheaper.

Also: No FCC or FAA chairman wants to sign off a change in the rules because if a cell phone does cause either an airplane crash or a cell tower computer system crash, they don't want to be blamed. Keeping the ban is the safe decision for the politically ambitious. The ban is easier.

What are the facts?

DVD players, laptops, portable game machines, CD players, MP3 players all radiate energy, and theoretically could cause interferences with GPS systems, communications equipment and the airplane's interaction with distant navigational systems.

U.S. airlines alone carry on average some 2 million passengers per day. If just 1% of these passengers accidentally or deliberately leaves their cell phones on, that means some 20,000 cell phones remain on during flights every single day. Despite this, no crash has ever been definitively attributed to cell phone or gadget interference.

Many headsets used by private pilots come with jacks for using them with cell phones. The manufacturers say they're for use on the ground only. But many private pilots use them in the air without incident.

Cell phones are used in airplanes every day, and no crash has ever been definitively attributed to cell phone or gadget interference.

The TV show MythBusters "busted" as a myth the conventional wisdom that phones interfere with avionics.

However, a Carnegie Mellon University study conducted some four years ago found that portable electronics interfere with airplane systems -- especially GPS -- even more than previously feared.

The Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (RTCA), a nonprofit corporation that advises the FAA, studying the effect of phones on avionics. The RTCA is also looking at technologies that would minimize any disruption, including the use of ultrawideband frequencies and extremely low-power cellular phone systems. They're predicting a definitive answer to all this, but don't hold your breath.

Just this week, the FCC officially dropped its inquiry into lifting an existing ban on using cell phones during commercial flights. The FCC said after the ruling that "given the lack of technical information in the record upon which we may base a decision, we have determined at this time that this proceeding should be terminated."

So the ban remains in place because the government can't seem to come up with definitive answers.

But does that even matter? Interference problems could be overcome with well-understood techniques of shielding, reprogramming and other technology designed to facilitate safe calls.

(When I say "we," I mean we Americans. In Europe, they're working on both legalizing and facilitating calls on airplanes.)

What's wrong with the ban?

The government's reasoning for banning cell phones in airplanes is weak, lame and evasive.

Don't buy the government's bull about electronic interference. The truth is that the ban is cheaper and easier for airlines, carriers and the government than mustering the political will and leadership to make in-flight cell calls a reality.

Here's another problem with the government's abdication of responsibility on this question: Either phones and other gadgets can crash airplanes or they can't. If they can, then we've got a serious problem on our hands, and airplanes need to be upgraded to protect the public safety.

What's to stop terrorists from testing various gadgets, finding the ones with the highest levels of interferences, then turning on dozens of them at some crucial phase of flight, such as during a landing in bad weather?

If gadgets can't crash planes, then the ban is costing billions of hours per year of lost productivity by business people who want to work in flight.

For the government to avoid knowing the answer is incredibly irresponsible.

Clearly, using cell phones is a public benefit, not to mention a business benefit. Shouldn't the airlines and the regulatory agencies figure out how to make that happen?

We can put a man on the moon -- and let him chat with his friends in Houston for the whole trip. Surely, we can solve the problems associated with in-flight cell calls.

Mike Elgan is a technology writer and former editor of Windows Magazine. He can be reached at mike.elgan@elgan.com or his blog: http://therawfeed.com.

Source: http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9015839
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One of the most common, but most overlooked problems with the Windows operating system are shut down problems. People tend to place a low priority of fixing Windows shutdown problems, but these problems can be symptoms of something more serious. In this article, I will explain how to diagnose a Windows shutdown issue.

Have you ever tried to shut down Windows, only to have the shutdown sequence hang, or to have the computer reboot instead of shutting down? Shut down problems are one of the most common types of problems with the Windows operating system. At the same time though, they are also one of the problems that is most seldom resolved because shut down problems tend to take a back seat to more serious issues. Troubleshooting operating system shut down problems is easier than you might think though. In this article, I will share some techniques with you that you can use to resolve shut down problems on machines in your office.

Before I Begin

Before I get started, I want to point out that the techniques in this article are intended for use primarily on Windows XP. You can probably get away with using most of these techniques on Windows 2000 and Windows 2003 systems as well, but these techniques will not work on Windows 95, 98, or ME. If you need to troubleshoot shut down problems on an older version of Windows then I recommend consulting the Microsoft Knowledge Base at http://support.microsoft.com

Rebooting Rather Than Shutting Down

By far the most common shut down problem is that the system will reboot rather than shutting down. In most cases, the reboot is triggered because Windows XP is designed to reboot after a critical failure. To put it simply, if something were to go wrong during the shut down sequence, Windows may interpret the problem as a crash, and reboot the system as a result.

If you just want to band-aid the problem, you can disable the restart on system failure setting. To do so, right click on My Computer and select the Properties command from the resulting shortcut menu. When you do, you will see the System Properties sheet. Click the Advanced tab and click the Settings button found in the Startup and Recovery section. Finally, deselect the Automatically Restart check box, shown in Figure A, and click OK.


Figure A: The Automatically Restart check box allows Windows to automatically reboot after a failure

The technique that I have just shown you will prevent the system from rebooting itself, but it still doesn’t get rid of the root cause of the problem. There are several known causes of Windows shutdown problems.

Roxio Easy CD Creator

One of the most common causes of Windows shut down problems is a bug in Roxio’s Easy CD Creator (particularly version 5). Roxio does have a patch available at http://www.roxio.com/en/support/ecdc/software_updatesv5_2.jhtml Keep in mind though that the patch has been known to disable Roxio’s Take Two backup software that came with Easy CD Creator 5 Platinum. You should also keep in mind that version 5 is an old version that Roxio no longer supports. The current version is Easy Media Creator 7. If you suspect that Easy CD Creator may be causing your problem, then I recommend upgrading to a newer version rather than patching an old version.

Wake On

Another common cause of system restarts is the Wake On setting. The Wake On setting allows a computer to be automatically booted if it receives LAN packets intended for it, or if the modem line rings. Typically, the Wake on LAN settings would be adjusted through your computer’s BIOS setting. If you have checked the BIOS though and the Wake On LAN setting is disabled, it is possible that Windows might be responsible for waking the system up. To find out, open the Device Manager and locate your system’s network card. Right click on the card and select the Properties command from the resulting shortcut menu. When you do, you will see the network card’s properties sheet. Now, select the Power Management tab and verify that the Allow This Device To Bring The Computer Out Of Standby option is deselected, as shown in Figure B.


Figure B: Certain types of network traffic can wake a computer up

Hardware Issues

Another common cause of reboots during shutdown are minor hardware incompatibilities. Microsoft maintains a hardware compatibility list for Windows XP. Only hardware appearing on the list is guaranteed to be 100% compatible with Windows XP. Even so, most people don’t pay any attention to the hardware compatibility list. Most of the time, minor hardware issues go unnoticed, but they can manifest themselves in the form of reboots during shutdown.

Unfortunately, I can’t possibly tell you every piece of hardware out there that’s known to cauyse reboot problems. What I can tell you though is that pariphrial devices are especially notorious for causing the problems. This is especially true of high end keyboards and mice with lots of extra features, and of various USB devices. I have even heard of cases in which USB devices would cause the reboot problem if they were plugged directly into the system’s USB port, but the problem would go away if the devices were plugged into a USB hub instead.

Unfortunately there is no quick fix to minor hardware compatibility issues. If you think that your system’s hardware may be to blame then you will have to use trial and error to locate the offending device (or devices).

I recommend starting by unplugging any external devices. If you have a high end keyboard or mouse, then temporarily replace your keyboard and mouse with a generic set. Now boot the computer up and try to shut it down. If the system shuts down properly, then one of the devices that you disconnected was causing the problem. If the system does not shut down properly, then I recommend leaving those devices disconnected during the rest of the testing for the purpose of simplifying the system’s configuration.

The next thing that I recommend doing is to open the device manager and make note of the make and model of your system’s major hardware components. Specifically, you should pay attention to things like network cards, video cards, sound cards, and modems. After you have documented the make and model of each device, then turn off and unplug your computer. At this point, you should remove the computer’s case and verify that the hardware listed in the device manager is what’s actually in your system. Windows XP is notorious for misidentifying hardware devices. For example, I recently helped a friend install Windows onto a new computer. Windows identified his system as having a D-Link network card. When I couldn’t get the card to function, I removed the case and realized that his system actually had a Net Gear card instead.

After you have verified that the hardware listed in the device manager is what’s actually in your system, then I recommend putting your computer back together and going online. I recommend visiting each hardware manufacturer’s Web site and downloading the latest driver for the corresponding hardware device. Hardware manufacturers frequently revise drivers when bugs are discovered. While you are at it, try visiting the Web site for your system’s motherboard manufacturer. It could be that an updated BIOS is available.

Extremely Slow Shutdown

Probably the second most common shut down problem for Windows XP is that the shut down takes an excessive amount of time to complete. To understand why this happens, you must remember that the Windows operating system is not a single program, but rather a collection of individual services. Each of these services must be stopped during shut down. Therefore, a glitch related to any one of the services may prolong the shut down process or cause the shut down process to fail completely.

Many people have claimed that the Nvidia Driver Helper Service (used with Nvidia video cards) causes extremely slow shut downs. However, this is one of those cases in which an updated video driver usually solves the problem. Other people have mentioned that disabling the terminal services greatly expedites the shut down process. The Terminal Services are used for remote assistance, remote desktop, and fast user switching. If you do not use any of these features, then the Terminal Services can be safely disabled. You can access the services console by entering the SERVICES.MSC command at the Run prompt.

Another potential cause of slow system shut downs is that Windows contains an option to erase the system’s virtual memory and system hibernation cache at shut down. These security features are disabled by default because they take a long time to complete, and cause the system shutdown to look like it has frozen. Although these features are disabled by default, some privacy software will enable it.

To determine whether or not these features are enabled on your PC, enter the GPEDIT.MSC command at the Run prompt to load the Group Policy Editor. Now, navigate through the console tree to Computer Configuration | Windows Settings | Security Settings | Local Policies | Security Options. At this point, locate the Shutdown: Clear Virtual Memory Pagefile option in the column to the right and verify that it is disabled, as shown in Figure C. If this option is enabled, you can disable it by double clicking on the setting and choosing the Disabled option.


Figure C: Clearing the virtual memory file during shut down takes a lot of time.

Conclusion

In this article, I have explained that the two most common types of shut down problems are shut down reboots and shutdowns that take a long time to complete. I then went on to demonstrate various troubleshooting methods.

Source: http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles_tutorials/Troubleshooting-Windows-Shutdown.html
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Is nothing safe?

Iain Thomson, vnunet.com 22 May 2007

A new variant of the Russian Gozi Trojan has been discovered that is capable of stealing data during secure socket layer (SSL) transactions.

The Trojan is one of the most sophisticated yet found and has a variety of features designed to make it difficult to locate. When it detects an SSL transaction it activates and begins key-logging the infected computer to steal account details.

In addition the Trojan makes itself difficult to detect by constantly changing its coding so that signature-based systems will not detect it.

It also has its own compression software and will compress and extract portions of its code to further disguise itself.

"It is bad enough that this new version of Gozi can encrypt and rotate its program code to bypass conventional signature detection," said Geoff Sweeney, chief technical officer at security analysis software company Tier-3.

"But the fact that it can switch a key-logging function on and off when the infected PC reaches an e-banking web page makes it almost undetectable using conventional IT security technology.

"My understanding of this new version is that behavioural analysis technology is the only way of preventing an infected PC user's e-banking data from being logged and compromised."

The Trojan was discovered by Don Jackson, a researcher at SecureWorks in the US, who found that even with a malware signature, not all antivirus packages could detect the Trojan, although a few identified it as a suspicious file.

Jackson back-traced the IP address of the server to which it was sending the information and found that the details of over 5,200 home PC users, with 10,000 account records, had been compromised.

Account and log-in information for applications offered by over 300 organisations had been stolen through these infected home PCs.

"The information contained everything from bank, retail and payment services account numbers, as well as social security numbers and other personal information," said Jackson.

"The records retrieved included account numbers and passwords from clients of many of the top global banks and financial services companies (over 30 banks and credit unions were represented), the top US retailers, and the leading online retailers.

"The stolen data also contained numerous user accounts and passwords for employees working for federal, state and local government agencies, as well national and local law enforcement agencies."

Source: http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2190402/malware-steals-ssl-streams
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Windows XP starts a lot of different services, as engine of the whole Windows system. However, some of them won't be of any use for you! By quitting those unused services, you can realize higher system performances. At the page MSCONFIG, I already mentioned the possibilities to turn off services on the tab Services, as shown below.

This is not the proper way to turn off services, especially not the Microsoft services: please use the Services Management Tool for this purpose. The Services Management Tool (Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Services or SERVICES.MSC if you would like to make a shortcut) shows all the available active and inactive services, including a information about what they are maent for:

As you can see, for each services there is a lot of information (this information is not always clear, but gives you an idea whether you probably need it or not...). Here you can change the services start-up type to automatic, manual or disabled. Some services depend on other services to work properly (that's the reason not to turn off services in MSConfig) and others are normally disabled. Right click on a service and pick Properties to make changes to the startup type (first check the tab Dependencies!). Switching a service from automatic to manual makes the service available when needed but disables it on startup by default. To monitor the effect of a service, stop the running service by right clicking on it and choose Stop.

Services which can be disabled safely

There are many Windows services. Most of them you will need for a good functioning Windows system, but some can be turned off safely. Here are services mentioned, which can be switched (almost) safely to manual or even disabled. Read the information carefully and make sure you understand what the service does and/or does not! Keep in mind that possible problems in the future start here (so you will have to fix them here as well). If you are not sure about a service, then don't make any change to the startup type! Don't change them all at a time, if you are not sure what they are for. Don't turn off services which are depended on by other services!

Alerter: Most times this service is not used. It takes care of administrative alerts over a network for administrative purposes.

Automatic Updates: Downloading and installing Windows updates. If you think you don't need this service, you can disable it. Remember that the Windows update website doesn't work anymore without this service, since the introduction of Windows XP SP2. I advise to keep it unchanged. To work properly, the Automatic Updates service also needs Background Intelligent Transfer Service, Event Log and the Cryptographics Services.

Computer Browser: This services lists all computers in a network and gives this information to other computers in the netwerk, when asked for. This makes browsing on the network faster. There is no need for this service, and especially not if you don't have a network situation. With this function disabled, you are still able to browse your network!

Distributed Link Tracking Client: This service is only applicable when you make use of the NTFS file system. If you don't use this file system, you can switch off this service. This services makes sure that linked files on different volumes (possibly somewhere on the network) stay connected. If a file has been moved to another location, the link will be updated by this service. There is probably no need at all to for this services on your computer, so disable it.

Error Reporting Service: Enables the option to report system errors to Microsoft. There is no need to do this, enough reason to disable this service.

Event Log: This services logs issues in the log files, which can be viewed with the Event Viewer (Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Event Viewer). Although you might think it's not useful, do not disable this service but keep it automatic.

Fast User Switching Compatibility: If you don't need the fast switching between user accounts, disable this function. Fast switching of user accounts makes it possible to leave your application open without saving your data. If not needed, don't use this function, it doesn't always work properly.

Help and Support: Without this service, the Windows Help and Support center will not be available. If you don't need this help, switch this service to manual.

IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service: This function is used to able to burn CD-ROM's with the Windows Explorer (copy-paste files to your CD burner). If you don't have a CD-burner, you can disable this service (or switch to manual). It is possible that this service causes troubles in combination with other burning software.

Indexing Service: With this indexing service, you are able to search faster on your computer. The faster searching comes at a cost: the indexing of the content, which slows down your computer. This services is not needed, I advise to disable it for better overall performance.

IPSEC-services: Manages IP security policy, possibly not needed for your system.

Messenger: The Messenger service makes it possible sending messages over the network (it has nothing to do with Live Messenger). This function works by the following command: NET SEND 127.0.0.1 Hello (Start, Run,..), a new message Window should appear if this service is enabled. This service is also available from the internet, which makes it possible to receive strange messages: reason enough to disable this service.

NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing: This service provides the possibility to invite others to access your computer as a remote desktop. There is no need for this service. For security issues, you better disable this option.

Performance Logs and Alerts: The making off performance logs will probably lower your systems performance: reason enough to disable it, especially if you never read the log files.

Portable Media Serial Number Service: Needed to reed the serial number of any portable media player. If this function is disabled, there is a chance not to open (downloaded) protected content. You probably can disable this service without any noticeable consequences.

Print Spooler: Necessary for printing. If you don't want to have the option to print, you can disable it.

Protected Storage: This service provides the possibility to safe passwords (email, websites, dial up,..). Remember that passwords can be easily retrieved with freeware software (see the item Forgotten passwords). Although this issue, I prefer to keep this option on automatic.

QoS RSVP: QoS is probably not needed for your network traffic, so you can disable this service.

Remote Access Auto Connection Manager: If you are getting troubles with your internet connection, leave this service on automatic. If you are using a router: disable this service.

Remote Desktop Help Session Manager: If you don't need remote assistance (the other person controls your computer by your invitation), disable this function.

Routing and Remote Access: If there is no need to dial in by others into your computer, disable this service.

Security Center (SP2): Service Pack 2 provided Windows with the Security Center. The Security Center monitors the proper functioning of your system security (Windows updates, firewall and virus scan). If something is not working properly, you will be informed continuously. I can't imagine why you can't do it yourself, reason enough to disable it.

Server: For sharing local files and printers with other computers on your network. If there is no need to share, disable this service.

Shell Hardware Detection: Essential for automatic playing of connected devices (memory cards, CD/DVD).

Smart Card: No reason to run this service when you don't have a smart card.

System Event Notification: Almost never used. Leave the service on automatic if you have a network or a portable PC, else disable it.

System Restore Service: This service makes it possible to restore your system to an earlier date if something did go seriously wrong. This service consumes a lot of your system performances while the System Restore doesn't always function properly (and you can loose data!). Disabling this service is a relief for the system performances!

Task Scheduler: This service enables automatic scheduled tasks (like regularly downloading of virus definitions). Many applications need this service. If you prefer to do everything yourself, you can disable this service. I prefer automatic.

Theme's: If you don't need the XP look, disable this function. I prefer automatic.

Windows Audio: needed for playing sounds, up to you.....

Windows Firewall (ICF) / Internet Connection Sharing (ICS): This services provides your computer with a software firewall for your internet connection. You can disable the firewall service if you use a third party firewall (do NOT go online without a firewall!). Besides the firewall function, the service provides you with the possibility to share the internet connection with other computers, which is not needed when your network is provided with a router.

Windows Image Acquisition (WIA): This service is used for transferring images from your camera/web cam or scanner. Leave this service on manual if you have one of those devices, else disable the service.

Windows Installer: Needed for installing MSI setup files. Do not disable this option, else windows updates won't be installed.

Windows Time: If you prefer to keep you system clock up to date manually (if needed.....), there is no need for an automatic update: disable it as you wish.

Wireless Zero Configuration-service: Needed for automatic configuration of your wireless network connection. If you don't have any wireless network adapter, disable this service.

WMI Performance Adapter: No need for performance information, only the performances? Disable this service.

Source: http://www.optimizingpc.com/optimize/windowsservices.html

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Chances are, you’ve probably heard about Windows: the boxes and windows and mouse pointer that greet you whenever you turn on your computer. In fact, millions of people all over the world are puzzling over it as you read this article. Almost every new computer sold today comes with a copy of Windows preinstalled — cheerfully greeting you when first turned on. This article helps you understand why Windows lives inside your computer and introduces Microsoft’s latest Windows version, called Windows Vista. It explains how Windows Vista differs from previous Windows versions, whether you should upgrade to Vista, and how well your faithful old PC will weather the upgrade. What Is Windows Vista, and Why Are You Using It? Created and sold by a company called Microsoft, Windows isn’t like your usual software that lets you write term papers or send angry e-mails to mailorder companies. No, Windows is an operating system, meaning it controls the way you work with your computer. It’s been around for more than 20 years, and the latest whiz-bang version is called Windows Vista.

Windows gets its name from all the cute little windows it places on your monitor. Each window shows information, such as a picture, a program that you’re running, or a baffling technical reprimand. You can put several windows on-screen at the same time and jump from window to window, visiting different programs. You can also enlarge a window to fill the entire screen. Like the mother with the whistle in the lunch court, Windows controls every window and each part of your computer. When you turn on your computer, Windows jumps onto the screen and supervises any running programs. Throughout all this action, Windows keeps things running smoothly, even if the programs start throwing food at each other. In addition to controlling your computer and bossing around your programs, Windows Vista comes with a bunch of free programs. Although your computer can run without these programs, they’re nice to have. These programs let you do different things, like write and print letters, browse the Internet, play music, and even whittle down your camcorder’s vacation footage into a three-minute short — automatically. And why are you using Windows Vista? If you’re like most people, you didn’t have much choice. Nearly every computer sold since early 2007 comes with Windows Vista preinstalled. A few people escaped Windows by buying Apple computers (those nicer-looking computers that cost more). But chances are, you, your neighbors, your boss, your kids at school, and millions of other people around the world are using Windows.

• Microsoft took pains (and several years of work) to make Windows Vista the most secure version of Windows yet. (Just ask people who upgraded from previous versions.)
• Windows makes it easy for several people to share a single computer. Each person receives his or her own user account. When users click their name at the Windows opening screen, they see their own work — just the way they left it. Vista adds new controls for parents to limit how their kids use the PC, as well as how much of the Internet they can view.
• A new, automated version of Backup makes it easier to do what you should have been doing all along: Make copies of your important files every night. (Vista Home includes the Backup program, but it’s not automatic: You must remember to run the program each night.)

Finally, Vista’s powerful new search program means that you can forget about where you stored your files. Just click the Start menu and type what that file contained: a few words in a document, the name of the band singing the song, or even the date you took that picture of Kelly at the office party. Yes, Microsoft is sneaky Microsoft may tout Windows as your helpful computing companion, always keeping your best interests in mind, but that’s not really true. Windows always keeps Microsoft’s interests in mind. You’ll find that out as soon as you call Microsoft for help on making Windows work right. Your first two questions are free if you pick up the long distance charges to Redmond, Washington. The third call (and all the rest) cost $35 a piece, but prices may change at any time. Microsoft also uses Windows to plug its own products and services. Sometimes you click a menu item that touts something helpful, but Windows simply leads you to a Web site where you can purchase additional items from Microsoft or its business partners. For example, the Start menu, normally your launch pad for programs, sports an entry for Windows Marketplace. The Order Prints option in Windows Photo Gallery doesn’t let you enter your own favorite print shop; it just lists printers who’ve partnered with Microsoft. Simply put, Windows not only controls your computer, but also serves as a huge Microsoft advertising vehicle. Take Microsoft’s advertising flyers with the traditional grain of salt. Should I Bother Switching to Windows Vista? Microsoft releases a new version of Windows every few years. If you bought your PC between 2001 and 2006, you’ve probably grown accustomed to the mechanics of Windows XP. That leaves the nagging question, why bother upgrading to Windows Vista when Windows XP works just fine? Actually, if Windows XP’s running just fine, then you probably won’t need Windows Vista. But Microsoft hopes the following improvements in Vista will push your hand toward your credit card. Improved security Windows Vista’s tougher new exterior helps make it more difficult for evil programs to louse up your PC. For example, Vista’s built-in Windows Defender program constantly searches your PC for any spyware — small programs that spy on your activities, often showing you pop-up ads and slowing down your PC in the process. Microsoft constantly trains Windows The other parts of Vista’s security regime aren’t as simple, unfortunately. See, PCs recognize programs as mere strings of numbers, and they can’t tell a good string — a word processor, for example — from a bad string, such as a virus. To solve the identification problem, Vista simply dumps the decision onto your shoulders: Whenever a particularly powerful program tries to run on your PC, Vista states, “Windows needs your permission to run this program.” Then it leaves you with two choices: Allow or Cancel. And although Windows Defender keeps you covered from spyware, Vista doesn’t include a free antivirus program. Instead, Microsoft invites you to subscribe to its new Live OneCare antivirus program (http://www.windowsonecare.com/) for $49 dollars a year. New Internet Explorer version Vista’s new Internet Explorer 7 lets you surf the Web more easily and securely with the following new features:

• Tabbed browsing: In the past, keeping two Web sites open on-screen meant running two copies of Internet Explorer. With Vista, Internet Explorer displays several Web sites simultaneously, each running in a separate page with a clickable tab at the top for easy switching. That tab makes it easier to compare prices from several different shopping sites, for example, or read one Web site while others load in the background. You can even save a group of Web sites as your home page: Whenever you load Internet Explorer, your favorite sites will already be waiting for you, each living in its own tab.
• Phishing filter: An evil new industry called phishing sends e-mails that pretend to be from finance-related companies, such as banks, PayPal, eBay, and others. The realistic-looking e-mails pretend to alert you to some security problem as they try to trick you into entering your name and precious password. Internet Explorer’s new Phishing Filter, sniffs out the phishing Web sites before you enter your information, keeping your name and password safe.
• Built-in Search box: Tired of racing off to Google to find a Web site? The top of Internet Explorer 7 sports a tiny Search box for on-the-fly searches. Although it’s programmed to search on Microsoft’s own MSN search.
• RSS feeds: Short for Really Simple Syndication, this feature lets you see headlines from your favorite Web sites in a short drop-down box. By ogling the RSS box, you can catch up on the latest news headlines, for example, without stopping to visit your favorite news site. RSS feeds also let you know if your favorite sites have any new articles, sparing you a wasted visit. RSS feeds speed up your browsing and, conveniently, leave out the ads. New Media Player and Media Center Vista’s new version of Media Player sports streamlined, easier-to-use controls. The big star, however, is Vista’s Media Center, which not only plays DVDs and music but lets you watch TV on your PC and even record shows onto your hard drive for later viewing. Recording TV shows requires two important things, however: a TV tuner in your PC and the proper version of Vista. (Vista comes in a startling five versions, all described at this article’s end.) Installing a TV tuner can be as simple as plugging a box into your PC’s USB port or sliding a card inside your PC. I describe both tasks in one of my other articles, Upgrading and Fixing PCs For Dummies, published by Wiley Publishing, Inc. DVD burning More than five years after DVD burners hit the market, Windows can finally take advantage of them without third-party software. Windows Vista lets you copy files and movies to DVDs as well as CDs. In fact, Vista’s updated version of Movie Maker lets you turn your camcorder footage into DVDs that play back on a normal DVD player and TV. Mail them to your friends and prepare for a deluge of incoming vacation DVDs, as well. Calendar For the first time, Windows now sports a calendar, for keeping track of your appointments. You can even publish your calendar to other PCs or Web sites, keeping your appointments synchronized with the calendars of your friends and coworkers. Easier searching for files Windows XP really drags its feet when searching for files. Searching for a filename takes several minutes on a crowded hard drive, and if you’re searching your files for a particular word or phrase, you’re in for a long weekend. Vista, by contrast, spends its idle time fine-tuning an index of every word on your hard drive. remembers your files’ locations. For example, search for every document mentioning “Celery,” and Vista instantly lists those files’ names, ready for opening with a double-click. Whenever you create new documents mentioning “Celery,” Vista automatically remembers their locations, too, making for quick and easy retrieval. Vista places a Search box on the Start menu, atop every folder, in the Help and Support window, and in a few other key spots. The handy Search box and Vista’s up-to-date index make it faster than ever to find the files and programs you want. Vista even updates its index with words on Web sites you’ve visited recently, letting you quickly reread that headline you scrolled through last week.

Vista looks prettier Microsoft spent some time decorating Vista with a three-dimensional look, a treat available only to PCs with powerful graphics capabilities. When you can’t find an open window, for example, press the Windows and Tab keys: All the windows appear on your PC in a Flip 3D view. Can My PC Still Run Vista? If your PC already runs Windows XP well, it will probably run Vista, but not at its best. However, upgrading your PC with a few things will help Vista run better, a job I tackle in Upgrading and Fixing PCs For Dummies, 7th edition. Here’s the shopping list:

• Video: Vista requires powerful graphics for its fanciest 3D features, such as Flip 3D. Upgraded video cards can cost more than $100, and they’re not available for laptops. But if your PC’s video lacks the muscle and your wallet lacks the cash, don’t despair. Vista simply slips into more casual clothes, letting your PC run without the 3D views.
• Memory: Vista loves memory. For best results, your PC should have 1GB of memory or more. Memory’s easy to install and relatively cheap, so don’t skimp here.
• DVD drive: Unlike Windows XP, which comes on a CD, Windows Vista comes on a DVD. That means your PC needs a working DVD drive to install it. That probably won’t rule out many PCs these days, but it may rule out some older laptops. Windows Vista should be able to run most of your current programs without problems. Some, however, won’t work, including most security-based programs, such as antivirus, firewall, and security programs. You’ll need to contact the program’s manufacturer to see whether it’ll give you a free upgrade. Shopping for a new PC to run Vista? Visit any store, and you’ll find plenty of PCs running Vista. To see how well a particular PC handles Vista, click the Start button, choose Control Panel, and open the System and Maintenance category. There, select Performance Information and Tools. Vista displays that particular PC’s Windows Experience Index, which ranges from 1 (dismal) to 5 (excellent). Not sure what version of Windows your PC has? Right-click Computer from the Start menu and choose Properties. That screen states your Windows version. Can I Make Windows Vista Look and Feel Like Windows XP? Some people crave Vista’s new interface; others feel like they’re looking at a rental car’s unfamiliar dashboard. Follow these steps to make Vista look almost like Windows XP:

1. Start by changing the Start menu: Right-click the Start button, choose Properties, select Classic Start Menu, and click OK.
2. Next, bring back the desktop: Right-click a blank part of the desktop and choose Personalize. Choose Theme and then choose Windows Classic from the Theme pull-down menu. Click OK.
3. Finally, put the menus back on top of each folder: Open your Documents folder from the Start menu. Then click the Organize button, choose Folder and Search Options, and choose Use Windows Classic Folders. Click OK.

These steps not only bring back the look of previous Windows versions, but speed up an older PC that’s struggling to keep up with Vista’s fancy layers of graphics. The Five Flavors of Vista Windows XP came in two easy-to-understand versions: One for home, and one for business. Microsoft confuses things in Vista by splitting it into five different versions, each with a different price tag. Luckily, only three versions are aimed at consumers, and most people will probably choose Windows Vista Home Premium. Although five versions may seem complicated, choosing the one you need isn’t that difficult. And because Microsoft stuffed all the versions on your Vista DVD, you can upgrade at any time simply by whipping out the credit card and unlocking the features in a different version. Here are some guidelines for choosing the version you need:

• If your PC can’t display or record TV shows, and you don’t want to make DVDs from your camcorder footage, then save a few bucks by sticking with Windows Vista Home. It’s fine for word processing, e-mail, and the Internet.
• If you want to burn DVDs and/or record TV shows on your PC, then pony up the cash for Windows Vista Premium.
• People who run Web servers on their PCs — and you’ll know if you’re doing it — will want Windows Vista Business.
• Dedicated gamers and computer industry professionals will want Windows Vista Ultimate because it includes everything found in the other versions.
• Computer techies who work for businesses will argue with their bosses over whether they need Windows Business or Windows Enterprise versions. They’ll make their decision based on whether they’re a small company (Windows Business) or a large company (Windows Enterprise). That inexpensive Vista Starter version you may have heard about isn’t sold in the United States. It’s sold at reduced prices in developing nations like Malaysia. (It’s not really a goodwill gesture as much as it’s an attempt to reduce software piracy.)

Source: http://www.web-articles.info/e/a/title/What-Is-Windows-Vista,-Features/

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Dave Johnson

You've got a digital photo. How big should you print it?

In the old days, making prints was pretty easy. You'd take a roll of film to the corner store, and in an hour you'd get a bunch of 4-by-6-inch prints. If you especially liked one of them, you could order a 5-by-7 or an 8-by-10. That was pretty much all there was to it.

These days, it's not so simple. There's really no standard print size for digital photos--you can print at any size you want as long as you can fit the paper into your printer. And if you're using an online service like Shutterfly or Snapfish, the sky is the limit, with posters as large as 20 by 30 inches a real possibility. But how do you know what size to choose? What dimensions will work well with the images that come out of your digital camera? Keep reading to find out.

It's All in the Megapixels

The answer is surprisingly simple. The more pixels you have, the larger your print can be. For most home inkjet printers, you should assume that you'll get the best results when you print about 300 dots per inch, so just take the dimensions of your photos and divide them by 300 along both the horizontal and the vertical. Whatever you get is the largest size that you should consider printing.

Consider this example: You have a photo that's 2240 by 1680 pixels. Do the math, and you get an image size of 7.5 by 5.6 inches; in other words, with a little rounding, you can safely make 5-by-7-inch prints. Or how about a 3872-by-2592-pixel image? That's 12.9 by 8.6 inches, or, in terms we more commonly use, a standard 8 by 10.

Another way to think about this problem is by referring to the number of megapixels. The 3872-by-2592-pixel image I discussed earlier is from a Nikon D200, which makes 10-megapixel photos.

Here's a list that correlates megapixels to print size:

• 2 megapixels = 1200 by 1600 pixels = 4 by 5 inches
• 3 megapixels = 1536 by 2048 pixels = 5 by 7 inches
• 6 megapixels = 2400 by 3000 pixels = 6.5 by 10 inches
• 10 megapixels = 2592 by 3872 pixels = 8.5 by 13 inches
• 12 megapixels = 4368 by 2912 pixels = 9.7 by 14.5 inches

Okay, It's not That Simple

Now that I've given you a handy-dandy reference, let me add that it may not as simple as I've led you to believe.

For starters, the list assumes that you're printing at 300 dpi--and if you do, you'll generally get great results. But the reality is that you can print at lower resolutions and still get fantastic prints. This is especially true of larger prints that you'll hang on the wall. If you're making a 20-by-30-inch poster, most people will stand back and look at it from several feet away. And the farther away you view a photo, the lower the resolution needs to be to give you great results. Think of your digital photo like a television screen--the closer you sit to it, the more obvious the imperfections are. From across the room, almost any TV looks great.

The lesson here is that you shouldn't be afraid to experiment. Try printing your photos at sizes larger than what I've suggested, and see if you like the results.

In addition, techno-purists will argue that there's more to print size than pixels alone--and they're right.

Your camera's sensor size, for example, affects picture quality. A small point-and-shoot might take the same 8-megapixel images as a more costly digital SLR, but the SLR probably relies on a physically bigger sensor. That adds up to a higher quality image, and the resulting prints will be better. As a result, you might have better results printing your point-and-shoot photos a tad smaller.

Your camera's exposure settings can have an effect on print quality as well. Remember that a high ISO will add digital noise to the final print. An ISO 800 photo will look better printed at 5 by 7 inches than at 8 by 10, even if you use a 10-megapixel camera.

Source: http://www.ecoustics.com/pcw/howto/128982

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How can you know if your web site is a good website, or what is a good website?

A good website is a website that works, if you have created your website to sell some products, you can say that your website is a good website if it does sell products.

• But are you selling as many products as a good website sells, or you are only selling a few products now and then?
• Are your sales pages good enouth to consider your website a good website?
• Do you have enough visitors to your website to consider it a good website?
• Do you have enough return traffic or all your visitors are first time visitors?
• Do your visitors stay enough time to consider your website a good website?
• How can you know for sure if your website is a good website?
• What kind of questions should you be making to yourself to know if your webite is a good website

ASK YOURSELF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS TO KNOW IF YOUR WEBSITE IS A GOOD WEBSITE

• Who cares?
• What are you looking for?
• What kind of visitors do you have?
• Which is your priority?
• How should you mesure your success?

WHO CARES?

If the website belongs to a company, then the web pages don´t belong to a single person, there´s not only one person that can say if you have a good website, so you will have to round up the people that are vitally interested

You will find the techno-geeks, the sales people, the public relations people, etc. etc. and everyone of them will have their own idea of what is a good website.

But once again as the website belongs to ALL the company, the people on your company who care enough to judge the website, should be asked to join the team and take some responsability about the design of the website.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

Every one of the people who cares about the website will have their own idea of what they want out of a good website. Many of them will just be talking on behalf of their own departments, but you must force them to think on behalf of the company.

Every department can have their own objetives, goals and aspirations, every one has his own idea about what is a good website, but they need to think as a company, and the conclusion must satisfy most of them, and if you can, your must create a good webpage for all of them.

WHAT KIND OF VISITORS DO YOU HAVE?

Every website has first time visitors, returning visitors, curious, buyers, people that arrived by mistake, people that spend a short time at the website, people that spend a long time at the website, etc.

What kind of visitors do you want, the ones that show more often, the ones that read the most pages, buys more stuff, buys more frequently or spend the most money?

Which are the most important visitors for your company, to think that you have a good website?

Once you get them you can be satisfied that your site is a good website

WHICH IS YOUR PRIORITY?

Once you know what everybody wants, you will have to prioritize everybody´s goals.

Will you go after increasing visits, selling more products per visit, provide more information about the company and it´s products, improving customer satisfaction.

After a discussion that will depend on how many people is giving their own opinion about what cares most, you´ll end up with your own list of priorities, and the ones that will not be satisfied with their request, at leas will know why.

HOW SHOULD YOU MESURE YOUR SUCCESS?

How can you be sure that the numbers that you are getting are telling you that your site is a good website, It depends...

• If your main priority is to get visitors, then www.Alexa.com and it´s ranking can help you on that, but you can also use some javacript and or cookies.
• If your main goal is revenue then the sales will have the leading voice.
• If you are going after customer satisfaction then you must agree with the other members of your company how will you gather satisfaction data and how will you weigh it.

All the information that you gather must help you take business decisions. It´s not a matter of getting as much information as you can, because too much information can be as bad as not enough information.

Make sure that you keep on measuring your success, make it part of a constant improvement process, because the web changes month after month.

Then you´ll really be able to tell if your website is a good website

Written by Dr. Roberto A. Bonomi

Dr. Roberto Bonomi is a successful e-book writer that shares his home business experience at: http://www.easy-home-business.com and he allows you to post free your own articles, or find free articles for your web site or ezine at http://articles.drbonomi.com

Source: http://www.selfseo.com/story-12679.php
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By: Stan Mann

Born to Win

You were born to win. Your creator has given you everything you need to be happy and successful. You can change your life. You can change from being average or above-average to a winner. You can achieve ultimate happiness and success. A total winner enjoys success with work and love. A total winner is someone who is having a great time achieving vocational goals and personal and family goals. A total winner achieves ultimate happiness and success.

Your Internal Messages

Do you remember your parents and other important people saying personal things about you? I vividly recall my beloved aunt Julie looking straight at me with her vivid blue eyes and saying, "You can be anything you want." I know that has been a strong positive influence throughout my life.

I also remember my stepfather telling me many times, "Don't get too big for your britches." This also has influenced my life, but in a negative way. Negative messages like this are called injunctions.

Some injunctions are less direct. Families may say something like, "Our family has always been members of the working poor," "Women belong in the home," or "Business people are just money grabbers."

You also tend to treat yourself like your parents treated you. If they were kind, encouraging and supportive, even when you made mistakes, you will treat yourself the same way and feel good about yourself. On the other hand, if your parents were harsh, critical and demeaning, you will tend to do the same thing to yourself and feel badly about yourself.

Feeling badly about yourself hurts your self-esteem. In my previous newsletters, I explained how high self-esteem correlates with high achievement. Do you feel like you are still being influenced by negative messages from your family? Your negative messages create self-defeating thinking and beliefs. They will stand in your way of achieving ultimate happiness and success. To overcome their influence, you first have to become aware of them and replace them with positive messages. This is not an easy task without the help of others -- a professional trained in this area.

Freeing yourself from the influence of negative messages is essential if you want to have a positive self concept that empowers you to be a winner.

Summary

You were born to win, but negative messages from parental figures can block you from your birthright-ultimate happiness and success. You need to become aware of these messages and take steps to replace them with positive messages.

Article Source: http://www.wellnessarticles.net

www.stanmann.com

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The numbers are starting to come in for final numbers for 2006. As we discuss billions, it becomes difficult to put it all into context. Let me try to give some perspective to these enormous numbers.

THE CAR AT 800 M

The car. Worldwide there are about 800 million registered automobiles. About a hundred years old, this innovation (the gasoline powered car is a vast improvement over its predecessor the steam-powered car) has literally altered landscapes, the way we work and live, and introduced countless huge support industries from the tyre manufacturers to petrol stations to the motel industry to service and repair garages etc.

Movies and TV have idolized the car from muscle cars anywhere from Bullitt to Starsky and Hutch and James Bond's Astons to the cheap cars such as Herbie the Luv Bug (the Beetle) and the Italian Job (Mini). For several generations a car was the ultimate aspirational gadget, what young adults would use to define their identity. It is very rare for a given person to have two or more cars (in active use) - with Hollywood and the ultrarich being the obvious exceptions. Yes, families can have more than one car, but then typically one is the father's car, the other is mother's car, etc. Note that the car also has a lot of vanity features and customization to reflect each personality starting with the vanity license plates.

TELEPHONE 1.3 B

The telephone. And I'm now only talking about the fixed landline, traditional phone. The first home phone connections were sold as serious alert services, such as fire alarms for the wealthy. The original concept of the phone never included an idea that people would use that device for idle chat. Today there are 1.3 billion fixed landline phones in the world. The telephone touched all parts of life, changing just about all of it, from teenagers flirting on the phone, to families connecting to relatives far away, to businesses employing secretaries for busy bosses, to answer their phones.

Gradually phones became customer service tools, so whole traditional commercial areas were drastically altered - going to the bank, now you call them up. Or buying airline tickets, now you call a calling centre. Need to rent a hotel room, car, call up the toll-free phone number. All these were activites we used to have to do in person, in the nearby bank office, or travel agent, etc.

TV 1.5 B

The TV. Invented before the war, but introduced to the mass market in the 1950s, today there are about 1.5 billion TV sets in use in the world. TV changed our home. The living room of today is set around the TV set, and comfortable TV chairs - or suitable reclining parts to couches/sofas are the norm in many a home. The TV transformed the mass media industries soon taking the lead of it, today dominating the media landscape, perhaps nowhere as clearly as the advent of MTV and music video was to music on radio. New industries were born from TV production houses to video rental firms to the whole 35 billion dollar videogaming industry. Old industries transformed like the advertising industry which today is almost driven by the ad spend of given TV campaigns, with the other media almost as optional extras, at least for major acounts.

TV brought aspirations as well, older generations hoped to become TV announcers or presenters at game shows etc. Young generations of today hope to become famous by being on a reality TV show. Originally TVs were intended as family devices, but today it is quite common for a young single person to have two TV sets or more (eg one in the living room, another in the bedroom), so in the industrialized world there are a growing part of the population where TV ownership exceeds given segments of the human population; I believe that shortly (if it hasn't happened already) the USA will become the first country where the absolute count of TV sets in use exceeds the per-capita population.

Televisions at 1.5 billion. Thats a big number. What we also need to understand, is that TV is often shared, especially in Asia where families are also large. So you might easily have 6 or even 10 watching the same TV show. The reach of TV is much beyond the 1.5 billion sets in use.

CREDIT CARDS 1.4 B

Credit cards came along in mostly in the 1970s. Today 1.4 billion people carry at least one card. A dramatic innovation in the use of money, there now are many forecasters in the financial world who suggest there will come a time when traditional cash will disappear totally. Credit cards changed human consumption. Now we don't have to wait to our paycheck on Friday to spend - or have to save several months to be able to afford a new plasma screen TV. We can charge it, and pay it off in installments on our credit card. Plastic money has changed so much of commercial transactions that many businesses now require it. Try renting a car or booking a hotel room with cash only.

There are some aspirational dimensions to the credit card, as for the young it is a kind of right of passage - most countries it is illegal for under 18 year olds to have credit cards - and American Express (with its Gold and Platinum etc cards) has pushed these aspirations further. There are then the affinity cards from Manchester United and NY Yankees onto the World Wildlife Foundation. Typical users of credit cards tend to have a few, so if you get one (and use it), very soon you apply for another one and may have Visa, MasterCard and American Express all, plus maybe a couple of specialist cards like one for the petrol station or your favourite department store, etc.

PC 850 M

The personal computer turned from a garage geek's gadget into a mass market device with Apple, about 1980. A lot of computers have been sold, but they also become obsolete very fast - the typical replacement cycle is now three and a half years. So the actual installed base of personal computers in use is well under the famous "billion users of the internet", at about 850 million PCs (because some of the billion internet users access via mobile phone, PDA, or via a cybercafe or campus computer at the university etc). Perhaps surprisingly to many reading our blog, the majority of those are still desktop PCs, it was only last year that worldwide more laptops were sold than desktop PCs worldwide. Still, 850 million PCs. A big number, sure, just passing past the amount of automobiles last year, but still far from say fixed landline telephones.

With the desktop PC while there is the ability for a lot of customization, there is not much identification or affinity to it; with laptops its the opposite. Not perhaps much we can really do to customize the internal (hardware) configuration of the laptop, but often - especially for younger users - the covers of the laptop get plastered with stickers etc. Ferrari even has some laptops authorized to its red colour schemes etc. Very many PC users have more than one PC, but that is because the older ones are obsolete, we tend to use only one, unless one is a work (employer) computer and the other is our personal home computer.

INTERNET 1.1 B

And while the Arpanet was developed by the US military for decades, the internet emerged into the mainstream in 1994 when it was on the covers of Business Week and Time. Very rapid growth resulted and today 1.1 billion people around the world access the internet. The internet "changed everything" according to the mantra, and truly its reach is enormous from investment banking to retail to travel to education to farms and forestry management (forest managers in Finland track every individual tree for example).

You might be tempted to think those access via a personal computer, yet already in China, Japan and South Korea the majority of internet access is via mobile phone. In total over 750 million people access internet content via a mobile phone today - most of those also have a personal computer, obviously - and yes, still today, most of these people put more of their traffic to the web via their PC than their phone, although this is changing fast. And still today, slightly more, about the total PC population or about 850 million people, access the web via a computer.

During 2007 the first cross-over will happen, with more users accessing via phone than PC. Fascinating data coming on that usage as well, the Japanese regulator reports that those who access the web via mobile phone do so more frequently than those who access via a PC. Similar data now coming from several converged (broadband and mobile phone) web services like Flirtomatic in the UK. Its no wonder Google's new CEO Eric Schmidt, says the future of the internet is mobile.

THE MINNOWS, PDA, PS2, iPOD, TiVo, DIGICAM

Then lets mention the minnows. There is a wide range of recent gadgets that are very popular with the press, but are actually minnows in the big pond of life. I am talking about the PDA, Playstation and other gaming consoles, the iPod, the TiVo box (PVR ie Sky+ box), the digital camera, and the camcorder. Adding all of these populations together will not reach a billion, so these really are small potatoes. Yes, these are fascinating, but they are trivial to the big picture in life. They do not support whole industries and while their users can be fanatical about them (the uncle who videotapes everything, or the gaming teenager).

Lets understand their scale. The total shipped PDA population is about 85 million, most which are replacements. iPod is reaching 85 million shipped (and many, probably not the majority) going as replacements so the installed base is smaller. PVRs are now appearing on many high-end DVD recorders and in digital TV boxes, but still total PVR shipments don't break 100 million. The same is true of camcorders, under 100 million total shipped (many as replacements). Gaming consoles have shipped near 200 million units, out of which 150 million are second generation (PS2/Xbox) or newer. The (stand-alone) digital camera has achieved shipments of near 300 million, quite impressive but not in the billion unit (or near) volumes of the big technologies in this blog and yes, those too, in many cases are replacements of earlier digital cameras so the total user population is much less than 300 million.

THE GOLIATH, MOBILE PHONES 2.7 B

Now we have context. 800 million cars, 850 million personal computers, 1.3 B fixed landline phones, 1.4 billion credit cards, 1.5 billion TV sets. How many mobile phones in use today? In use today, yes, 2.7 billion (technically 2.7 billion in January, not December). They sold 950 million phones last year and the total worldwide mobile subscriber base grew from 2.1 billion to 2.7 billion. Three times as many mobile phones as automobiles or personal computers. About twice as many mobile phone owners as those of fixed landline phones or credit cards. And almost twice as many mobile phones in use as TV sets.

Phones are very aspirational. We project our personalities via the interchangeable covers, various decorations, stickers, and the massive industry of ringing tones. We customize our phone services further with ringback (waiting) tones, welcoming tones and background tones. Young people assign the same kinds of value to their emerging personality, their own perceived coolness etc, through their mobile phone, like older generations did with their first car.

Phones are replaced every 18 months (and this is still shrinking). America, USA and Canada are dead last in the industrialized world, with much of the developing world passing them in phone penetration, yet even USA reached 75% penetration. That is per capita, not per household penetration as used for fixed landlines and TV sets for example. And yes, per capita means counting all babies and deaf great-grandparents, not only the adult population. The Western European average per capita penetration is already 110%, leading countries like Italy, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Israel have penetration rates at about 140% (yes this is per capita). And yes, over 100% penetration rate means that some in the population have more than one phone (and are charged for using both/all)

In the industrialized world, everybody who can talk and knows numbers, and can still hear and remember numbers - has a mobile phone. A recent story from Los Angeles tells us that a homeless person was accidentially dumped into a garbage truck, and faced being crushed. He used his cellphone - I kid you not - to call the emergency number and was rescued. When the homeless carry this technology, everybody has it.

And the non-industrialized world? Catching up really fast. China adds 6 million phones every month, India adds 7 million phones every month. Bear in mind that the total phone population in countries like Finland, Norway, Denmark and Portugal - each countries with 120% or more penetration rates - is less than 6 million units total. China and India both add that amount every month.

Africa is in a hurry to increase phone penetration after the OECD study found that increasing mobile phone penetration results in the greatest benefit to the GDP of an emerging country. Better benefit than providing computers, electricity, roads etc. You don't need a literate population to have benefits from phones, but you do need literacy for personal computers. You can use phones without electricity as the many hand-cranked battery rechargers in use in Afghanistan for example will testify.

CONTRAST THEM TO THE PHONE

But wait. The phone can't actually transport us like a car can (although all car owners around the world now have a phone in the car with them as they drive) but consider all of the other technologies mentioned. Computers? The phone is a small computer. Nokia has started to call its top-end N-Series smartphones as mobile computers, not mobile phones. In fact a typical high-end smartphone can match the performance of mid-range laptop computer only five years ago.

Internet. I already mentioned that already three countries have seen the tipping point, more people now access the web via mobile phone than via PC in China, Japan and South Korea - and obviously all internet content in those countries is formated for the small screen rather than the PC screen. This is an inevitable trend and the future of the web is definitely on mobile.

MESSAGING IS BIGGEST DATA APP ON PLANET

Consider the biggest application, messaging. On the internet there are about 1.5 billion e-mail boxes, maintained by about 800 million people. But two thirds of mobile phone users are active users of SMS text messaging. Thats 1.8 billion people texting. More than twice as many people are active users of SMS as are active users of e-mail. Even Americans are catching this - proven to be addictive - service. Last year over 42% of Americans were active in SMS already. Meanwhile a British survey found that SMS is preferred over voice calls. Not among the youth, among the whole population.

Think about that for a moment, and then re-evaluate your plans to communicate via e-mail, whether you do it for commercial reasons, advertising reasons, personal communications or business contacts. E-mail is opened in 24 hours and replied to in 48 hours. SMS is read within 15 minutes on average and responded within 60 minutes. 65% of e-mail is spam, less than 10% of SMS is spam. E-mail is so last year (or last decade actually). If this seems wild to you, remember something our bosses used to swear by, called fax? Nobody communicates by fax anymore. Soon e-mail will face the same fate, an outmoded form of slow and tedious communication that reaches so few. Voicemail? Stop using it and get with the times. The Finnish Prime Minister for example has a voicemail greeting saying he doesn't listen to voicemail, send him a text message instead.

Credit cards? Many mobile operators offer full branded credit card functionality on their phones from South Korea to Norway; in South Korea five separate credit card services are available on the three mobile networks. The biggest advantage that mobile banking and credit on phones have over credit cards, is that there is no age limit to having a phone. So a youngster may be ineligible for an actual credit card, but will usually be allowed to sign up to a pay-monthly (postpay) phone account. This functions as short-term credit, if you can pay for example at McDonald's by mobile phone as you can at all McDonald's restaurants in Slovenia for example. Eat your burger today, pay for it next month when the phone bill comes in. With credit transfers between subscribers (sending money to your phone) as invented in the Philippines six years ago, young people today have their first access to consumer credit and digital money via their mobile phone.

Imagine the near future. It exists in South Korea of course. Visa in South Korea will ask its Korean customers do they want the optional free plastic card mailed to them as well; this in case the Korean credit card user expects to travel abroad where they might need the old-fashioned plastic card for credit. In South Korea almost 100% of credit card based point-of-purchase sites accept payment via mobile phone credit (and charge) cards. Thus the locals no longer carry the plastic. Oh, and your phone can replace your keys as well, in Japan they're already building apartment buildings where door locks are operated by mobile phone.

TV? Last year was the big launch of various TV broadcast services direct to mobile phones. Yes we've had streaming and video clip download TV services for mobile for five years, but the true cable TV digital set-top boxes, inbuilt into the mobile phone - as well as video quality recording (in-built TiVo or Sky+) - into the mobile phone were introduced. Again South Korea leads. Two years from launch almost 10% of South Korean phone users watch digital broadcast TV on their phones. Meanwhile TV broadcasters and producers are discovering the mobile phone and interactivity. While Pop Idol (American Idol etc) formats have typically been the top-watched TV shows from Australia to Norway, and thus commanded top dollar in advertising revenues, the Pop Idol formats have earned a windfall of over 700 million dollars out of text messaging votes.

2.7 billion users. Every one of those can be reached via SMS text messaging. Imagine the reach of your blogsite or website. You can reach a maximum of 1.1 billion people if you use the web. But using SMS, you can reach two and a half times more people. Not to mention that SMS reaches them immediately, while they might not access the web until next week.

Oh, lets not forget the minnows. PDA? All smartphones have at least basic PDA functionalities while top smartphones like the Communicator are the most expensive PDAs on the market totally thrashing lesser PDAs in their range of full ability. Gaming consoles are converging to mobile units, from the playstation side PSP and from the phone makers starting with the now-discontinued Nokia N-Gage. The world's most played videogame? Snake. iPod? Last year sold under 45 million iPods. But last year sold over 300 million musicphones. I will return to this topic when Apple release its final numbers for the Christmas season, in about a week, but yes, that battle is totally over, with musicphones outselling iPods at more than 7 to one. And yes, many many surveys find that people are using their musicphones to listen to MP3 songs and to buy music directly to their musicphones. But yes, more of that in a separate blog soon.

The TiVo box ie PVR/DVR/HDD (Personal Video Recorder/Digital Video Recorder/Hard Disk Drive videorecorder) like Sky+. First phones appeared last year in South Korea with built-in PVR functionality and now are becoming a standard feature on TV-phones. The digicam? My new Nokia N-93 has Carl Zeiss optics and optical zoom, better than many mid-range snapshot stand-alone digital cameras. In 2005 already half of all phones sold were cameraphones so cameraphones outsell digital cameras by more than 4 to 1 and for the vast majority of the planet, not their primary digital camera, not their primary camera of any type, but their only camera is their new cameraphone. Mainstream top end cameraphones now feature 3 megapixel resolutions while the top-end Samsung has a 10 megapixel resolution. And for the video camera. The amateour mass-market digicam is now the cameraphone. We see it daily, just now with Saddam Hussein's hanging, something is caught on video. Not by videocam, but on a cameraphone. For the minnows, the big shark gobbling them all up without much even trying, is the mobile phone.

WHAT OF RADIO

Tomi you skipped radio. Yes I did. There are more radios in use than there are mobile phones, although that time will come around 2008-2009 when this last champion will be also crushed. I've seen recent radio stats of anywhere from 3.2 Billion to 3.8 Billion. The problem with radios is that they "cluster" with a few users, particularly Americans and Europeans. We have dozens of radios. There is one in the HiFi at home, another in the boom box. A third in the car. A fourth in the kitchen clock. A fifth in the bedroom clock-radio. Some of our phones, walkmans, TVs etc have built-in radios. They now sell digital radios for us, many have smaller portables and many variants of still functional older versions of all of the above.

But outside of the industrialized world, radios are rare, barely more prevalent than TV sets. So in terms of the number of users, worldwide, there are less than 2 billion people who have a radio. But out of those, the 700 million Americans and Europeans then have something like three radios each on average. Very many of the radios go unused. Many of us don't listen to radio (voluntarily, so ignoring the radio that may play in the taxi cab for example). And while we may switch from the kitchen radio in the morning to the car radio on our way to work, etc., we don't listen to more than one radio at any one time (typically). And for the young, this has all but been replaced by MTV and other music video sources.

Oh, PS, yes, many phones today ship with built-in FM radios, digital radio is coming next to a phone near you. And you can access hundreds of streaming web-radio services on your mobile phone.

And if anyone mentioned the wristwatch? You must be an old fogie. 73% of the population now uses the mobile phone as their portable clock. Not all of those have abandoned their wristwatch, but look at the under 30 year olds around you, more than not, they don't have watches anymore. That is why Seiko and Casio are rushing SMS-alert watches to recapture this segment of a market slipping away.

SO HERE IS THE BIG PICTURE

2.7 Billion phones in active use. There is a subscription for 40% of the planet's population. Maybe 10% of those are multiple subscriptions (in Europe and Industrialized Asia mostly) so perhaps 2.4 Billion people or 36% of the planet's population actually carry at least one phone.

During 2006 they sold about 950 million mobile phones. More phones sold last year than the total installed base of personal computers in use. Out of the 950 phones sold last year, two in three had built-in cameras, 30% had MP3 players. Four out of five had colour screens. All 950 million could access the web (at least via WAP), and all 950 million could send and receive SMS text messages. Over two in three were high speed (at least GPRS/EDGE/CDMA2000 1xRTT); while one in five phones sold last year was a 3G phone.

WHERE IS THE MONEY

The mobile telecoms industry earned 725 Billion dollars last year. 135 Billion of that was mobile data revenues (the majority of which is SMS text messaging but over 45 billion dollars was mobile content revenues). The mobile data industry is rapidly cannibalizing other industries - global music industry earns 16% of its revenues from mobile phones (mostly ringing tones); videogaming earns 14% of its global revenues from mobile.

By far the biggest business opportunity of our lifetimes, the mobile telecoms industry grew by 16.8% last year - many times the rate of global GDP growth, but the sheer economics of these numbers mask enormous success. The growth in dollar terms, from 2005 to 2006, was 105 billion dollars. Yes you read it right. The growth alone last year made new money for the industry worth 105 billion. Why were you not in, sharing in that enormous growth pie? This is not hype-money of investor hopes. This is real revenues, billed to customers, faitfully paid. Honest dollars. A 725 Billion dollar industry which grew by over 100 Billion. Before the decade is over, mobile telecoms will be bigger than the global automobile industry, or the global armaments industry, or the worldwide airplane manufacturing business. And yes, mobile telecoms service business, not counting handsets sold or networks, is already twice as big as the global IT (computer-side, not counting telecoms) industry.

Data service revenues in mobile (so if we ignore the phone as a voice device, and only consider the data services side of this gadget), at 135 billion dollars in 2006, are as big as - the total internet content industry, plus the internet advertising revenues, plus the global videogaming revenues, plus hollywood box office revenues worldwide, plus the global music industry, combined.

Remember the car? Before the car there was no Motel 6, no Exxon/Esso. Think of how much the fixed landline phone and TV changed the way we work and play, and how many new industries they spawned or changed. Think of the credit card, PC and the internet, how radically our world today changed. And how much money could be made from anyone from the guy manufacturing leather wallets (credit card slots were not in wallets in the 1960s) to the coffee shop manager (witness Starbucks and laptop users).

The phone is bigger in its reach than the car, TV or internet. It will make bigger changes in the next decade than any of these did. The phone adds the combined utility of the fixed telephone, internet, computer, credit card, and TV. The phone will impact your life in more ways than we can imagine, because of its multi-functionality aspect, and its reach. And because it will cannibalize some or all out of every other pretender on this list except the car. But even for the car, how many unnecessary trips have been cancelled, or the driver re-routed when we were able to reach the driver on the cellphone in the car. Honey, could you stop by and pick up Mary on your way...

Whatever your business or interest, going mobile now will give you a competitive advantage. But going mobile next year will be a desperation move to stay in the game.

Don't miss out on this. Mobile is the biggest opportunity going. Where is your business? Where is your mobile strategy? Talk to Alan or me if you'd like some assistance in finding your place, opportunity or market space (oh, and you can get a rapid start by reading our book).

UPDATE 4 - We now have official verification in April 2007 of this finding (the 2.7B number) by the trusted source of telecoms subscriber data, Informa. Please see this posting 2.7 Billion now verified by Informa

UPDATE 3 - I've added now my latest thoughts on how powerful Mobile will become as the 7th Mass Media. Not the dumb little brother of the internet, but rather mobile to the internet is as superior as TV is to radio. Read it at Mobile as the 7th Mass Media

UPDATE 2 - I have developed my thinking about how content migrates from the lecacy (fixed PC based) internet to the mobile internet. The latest installment of that thinking is here: As Web Content Migrates to the Mobile Internet

UPDATE 1 - Since I wrote this blog entry, Apple released its iPhone. If you'd like to read a handicapping of how that "new entrant" will fare in this cut-throat market, please read the blog, Handicapping the Race: iPhone markets and rivals.

Source: http://communities-dominate.blogs.com/brands/2007/01/putting_27_bill.html

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By Alex Zaharov-Reutt

If you thought only Apple was able to generate mass hysteria with the pre-launch of the as-yet unavailable iPhone, think again – Google’s rumored Phone could herald yet another mobile phone revolution.

Is there anything Google can’t do? It seems nothing is impossible, and impossible is nothing for the world’s dominant search engine company, who now want to expand into the world of mobile computing, Internet access and telephony with their own branded phone.

Said to look similar-ish to the iPhone, with a big widescreen and few buttons, Google wants to bring their software, search, advertising, IM, VoIP and Web 2.0-style apps to a stylish handheld device that plugs you right into everything Google, bringing Google to those even without a computer.

Rumors abound on all aspects of the Phone, but one thought is that it will cost much less than the iPhone, which starts at US $500. But one thing that isn’t a rumor is the confirmation, according to the Wall Street Journal, that a ‘top Google executive in Europe confirmed the existence of a phone project’.

They also reported that venture capitalist Simeon Simeonov credited an ‘inside source’ also said Google had a phone project, although the specific blog entry that the WSJ refers to seems to have ‘disappeared’ and now returns a 404 error message, and a search of the site only has older Google Phone speculation, leading us to wonder if the artfully named Simeon Simeonov had a phone call (or email) from Google.

Thankfully, the WSJ article points us to a Tiny URL link which points to a Google cache of the original post, letting those who want to read what Simeonov had to say able to do so. Thanks, Google cache!

There’s also the report that Spanish site ‘Noticias.com’ also has reported Google chief for Spain and Portugal has confirmed an ‘investigation’ to develop a mobile phone.

Google is also reportedly working with the developer of the Danger HipTop, known in the US as the Sidekick, to develop the Google Phone, adding more juicy speculation into the mix. A Nokia spokesperson is also said to have expressed some doubt that Google has the carrier relationships necessary to make any potential Google Phone a success, but if Google couldn’t easily develop those relationships, who could?

So, what is the official word from Google themselves?

Despite all of that, there is no actual official confirmation from Google HQ, which would give us all a definite answer on whether or not Google’s phone will have a nice set of ringtones, or not, or whether the whole project is real, or just a fantasy.

Indeed, the only official word comes via Reuters, who quoted Google spokeswoman Erin Fors as saying that: “Mobile is an important area for Google and we remain focused on creating applications and establishing and growing partnerships with industry leaders to develop innovative services for users world-wide. However, we have nothing further to announce.”

Google’s phone is supposed to be running a version of Linux, uses a touch screen, has Google Talk built-in for instant messaging and VoIP calls, and would have to come with a powerful web browser and mobile versions of Google Apps and other Google software, such as Google Maps, Gmail, Google Calendar and more.

Built-in Wi-Fi would seem to be a given, although whether or not the phone will be 2.5G (GPRS), 2.75G (EDGE), 3G (UMTS) or 3.5G (HSDPA) is unclear. Bluetooth would be another obvious addition, as would some kind of camera, or even two cameras if video calling will be available. Mp3 and video playback capabilities would also seem to be natural features for Google to include.

The Observer kicked off a lot of Google Phone speculation back in December 2006 with a report that one could well be in the works, while Eric Schmidt told Reuters in November 2006 that in the future, cell phones could well be free as they would be supported by advertising – although whether this means having to listen to an ad before, during or after placing calls, or all three, is unknown. Confusingly, he then told Reuters that phones may never be free after all, and that Google had no plans to give away phones themselves.

In October 2006, research company IDG reported that nearly one sixth of the world’s population, or nearly 1 billion people, use mobile phones, with users always keen to upgrade to the latest models offering music and video playback, along with seamless access to email.

One thing is for sure: if Google wants to release their own phone, they have the power to do so, the ability to create the right software environment and the technological know-how required to make the Google Phone a reality.

Gee – the choice may well be tough in the future. G-Phone? iPhone? Nokia ‘multimedia computer’ phone? Walkman phone? Windows Mobile 6 phone? Some other phone?

Whatever happens, and whichever way you decide to go, all of the latest phones are more desirable and feature packed than ever, and they’ll all be trying to call your number!

Source taken from: http://www.itwire.com.au/content/view/10570/1103/1/0/
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Social bookmarking sites are a fairly new phenomenon on the internet. The idea of social bookmarking is that you can add a webpage that you found interesting, this makes the page public to all others using the site and they can then add this page to their favorites.

There are many advantages to using social bookmark sites over using your favorites or bookmarks in Internet Explorer or Firefox but at this point I myself only use them some and they are far from replacing my favorites on my PC or laptop so they will still take a little getting used to. The advantages of these bookmarks is access, you save these websites from your local computer and then no matter where you go, what browser you use and what operating system you have you can still get to these sites with any internet connection.

As a marketer you can put up information on the internet that is very interesting to you and your customers and then bookmark the page and let others see if they find it interesting or not. If others do find this interesting then you can potentially get an avalanche of traffic to your site. The most important thing at this time is to have a good subject and some kind of technological bent to your article to make it interesting to all of us geeks out there.

One extension of this concept is the new Web 2.0 style news sites such as Digg, Reddit, and Shoutwire and these post may be picked up by newsvine or tailrank, just add a .com to the end of these names to reach the site. With these new news sites you can post the address and maybe some info about your page and then the whole group of people will recommend up or down the page and this can send you traffic instantly over a few hours or not if people do not like the content.

I need to be very clear as I write this that there is no way that you can abuse the concept of content with this new style of social bookmarking sites as your article will be banned and people will immediately moderate your post down so that it is never seen. The most important thing on these sites is quality of content. Another thing to know about these social bookmarking sites is that the people that frequent these sites can be a very fickle crowd. In the past I have put up high quality and not so high quality articles about many different subjects and sometimes people visit in droves while with other articles you can sometimes be completely ignored.

Be assured that if you need a good web host using these programs as things move very quickly and can bring you great traffic but if you do not have a good host then you can easily be taken down by a storm of traffic. With my best articles I have had 6,000 to 10,000 visitors in a single day.

These are my top tips to get people interested in reading your article

1. Make a list like a top 7 or top 10 or top 20 type list. People like lists and this system goes a long way to getting people interested in taking the time to click the link.
2. Make your title interesting to readers. How does this benefit them? Will this information make them feel better, smarter or soothe their ego? Is this an article that may change their lives? It is critical to make sure the title is good as on a site like Reddit this is all people have to see to decide to visit.
3. If you can have a description like with Digg then make sure you make the most out of two or three sentences. You may be able to use more space but remember people at this site are scanning through 50 or so stories and will just glaze over after they read the first sentence.

Now you would probably like to check these sites out for yourself and you will find that with almost all of these sites you can sign up and start to use them instantly and have to give them only a username, password and an email address. To start with you can try the following popular sites. For purely bookmarking services you can try delicious and delirious and for news type sites my favorites are Digg, Reddit and Shoutwire.

Bill Nadraszky is a Systems Analyst and runs several websites. For more information you can visit internet marketing articles. For Realtor Marketing you can visit the best Realtor marketing weblog

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bill_Nadraszky

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By MP Dunleavey

The phrase "debt consolidation" has always had a magical ring to me.

As if somehow, someone would have the power to mush my debt into one neat little package, which by some incredible financial alchemy would also then shrink the debt itself -- and I'd only owe a hundred bucks or so.

I know I'm not the only idiot who's had this fantasy, because an entire industry has sprung up to support it: The Debt Consolidation Industry and Covert Sting Operation. Every day, I get at least one piece of regular mail offering me low-interest balance-transfer deals for credit-card debt, or arm-twisting e-mail from unknown credit organizations that scream things like:

• "DEBT RELIEF IS JUST A CLICK AWAY!"
• "CUT YOUR MINIMUM MONTHLY PAYMENTS BY 50% OR MORE!"
• "SLASH YOUR INTEREST RATES DOWN TO ZERO!"

These promises are incredibly alluring to anyone who is caught in the quicksand of having too much consumer debt, and who will believe anything, do anything -- click her ruby slippers (bought on sale for just $400!) three times -- to make it go away. But before you start skipping down some financial yellow brick road to see the Wizard of Debt Consolidation, remember this: Watch out for those flying monkeys.

Three bad debt-consolidation moves:

1) The Hard-Money Loan
"The biggest myth about debt-consolidation loans is that they're easy to get," says Scott Kays, president of Kays Financial Advisory Corp. and author of "Achieving Your Financial Potential." If you really need a loan, it's probably because you've already missed a few payments and your credit history has more dings in it than a '74 Ford Pinto.

And that's the problem. Kays says that if you are a credit risk, the consolidator may entice you with promises of an easy-does-it loan, and end up charging you higher interest rates than you're paying now -- as high as 21% or 22%. "Your monthly payment may be lower" with one of these loans, "but you'll end up paying more," says Kays.

2) Debt Consolidators Who Promise to Take Care of Everything
This is the fairy godmother fantasy. This Nice Big Debt Consolidation company comes along and swears they'll make your life soooo much easier. They'll negotiate lower interest rates, reduce your monthly payments -- and all you have to do is make "one EZ payment."

In reality, many debt consolidators build in a fee as part of the monthly payment you make to them. It's usually about 10% of the payment (i.e. about $40 on a $400 monthly payment). They pass along your payments to the creditor -- some debit directly from your checking account -- and get back a 10% to 15% slice that the relieved creditor is only too happy to rebate to the consolidator.

Is it worth paying someone else to do what you can do on your own, i.e. negotiate lower interest rates and stretch out your repayment schedule and pay off the highest-interest debts first?

To desperate ears, this might sound like an ideal solution, especially when you talk to these people and they scare the bejeezus out of you. I interviewed two, Cambridge Credit and Counseling Services and Integrated Credit Solutions. Each offered similar services, and I don't recommend either of them. The senior credit counselor I spoke to at Integrated told me, in grave tones, that it would take me 379 months -- or 32 years -- to pay off my debt. With their services, however, they would "save me 27 years," and I could pay off my debt in just 53 months, or about 4 1/2 years.

Thats funny, because when I plugged my debt into the MSN Money Debt Consolidator -- a less biased source, since they ain't getting no fee from me -- they said I could pay off my debt in 41 months, providing I make slightly higher minimum payments to each card: a total of just $60 extra per card.

Here's another risk with consolidators you should know about: they have been known, in some cases, to make late payments or even miss payments, thus worsening your plight (and your credit record).

After I got off the phone with Integrated, I had to ask myself: Is it worth paying someone else to do what you can do on your own? That is, negotiate lower interest rates and stretch out your repayment schedule and pay off the highest-interest debts first? I don't think so.

3) The Balance Transfer Trap
Low-interest balance-transfer cards are a dime a dozen these days, but remember that those rates only last a few months -- and then you have to switch cards again. The danger is that at some point all this activity begins to show up on your credit report, and you start to look like a bad risk. Then if you get turned down, "you could be left holding the high-interest card you were hoping to dump," says Kays.

If you think you can swing from the balance-transfer vines for a few months, just make sure you formally close all your accounts yourself, and then notify the credit-card company to mark the account "closed at customer's request." "Otherwise, on your credit report, it will look like the creditor closed your account," says David Mooney, PR director of Equifax, one of the biggest credit reporting agencies. Thus making you look like an even worse risk, even when you're doing your best not to be.

Your best debt-consolidation moves
If you own a home and have some equity in it, you have a couple of options that are relatively low in cost. These are pretty straightforward:

Take out a home equity loan. A home equity loan has the advantage of carrying a fairly low interest rate, currently in the high single digits, and what interest you do pay is tax-deductible, Kays points out. Most fixed-rate loans carry a 15-year term and require that borrowers pay an origination fee of $75 to several hundred dollars, plus the cost of an appraisal and title insurance.

Do a "cash-out" refinancing. Another option for those with home equity is refinancing your property for greater than the amount you owe and using the extra cash to pay off debt. You get very low interest rates this way, but you're stretching payments out over 15 or 30 years. The total interest cost over three decades can wind up being pretty huge, so think of this as a one-time-only (if ever) option.

Refinance your car. "Most people don't think of it, but it is a secured loan and you can borrow against it," Kays says. The danger there is that you may run out of car before you run out of debt. It's tough to buy a new car when you owe more than it's worth.

Get a personal loan. If you have reasonably undamaged credit, you may qualify for an unsecured loan. Credit unions (see link to the left) typically offer lower rates than banks, but even there you can expect a rate of 11% or more. Still, that may be a whole lot less than the 20%-plus you're now paying to the credit-card company.

Negotiate better terms. You can do this for yourself easily. Just call your credit-card company and ask them to do it (many customer service people are authorized to reduce rates right there on the phone).

Another alternative. Or you can get help from an organization like National Foundation for Credit Counseling (see link to left). NFCC has branches throughout the country; they are a non-profit, community organization that provides free and confidential debt management advice to anyone who needs it. You can even consult with them over the phone, like I did (see below).

Like other debt consolidators, NFCC gets paid by creditors, so it's in their best interest to work out a repayment plan rather than advise you to declare bankruptcy. Not that you want to be advised to declare bankruptcy, but in certain cases it may be your best option.

NFCC makes no outlandish promises beyond the prospect of a saner financial life, and the possibility of qualifying for their low-rate mortgage program. They also offer low-cost financial planning -- a resource I'm definitely going to look into for a future column. Once I have some finances again, I will need someone to tell me what to do with them!

So whatever happened to
Since writing about my struggles with debt, Ive become religious about paying as much money as I could every month. (Thing was: I still carried my credit cards in my wallet. So my new get-out-of-debt tip would be: Take the cards out of the wallet. Otherwise, you will use them.)

Then those big payments started to have an impact. But I was on a mission. I wanted my debt gone. I turned to debt calculators, talked with friends, and ultimately came up with a two-pronged plan of merciless debt destruction. Operation Enduring Freedom from Debt. First, I took on some extra freelance work that, eventually, would pay me a little bit more than my debt in four big chunks. While I was waiting and working, I decided to consolidate my debt and turned to NFCC as my resource.

Here's the best part of NFCC: 1) They give you a one-hour consultation, by phone or in person, to help you decide if you need a Debt Management Plan. 2) In order to do the consultation, they make you fill out a form that details all your expenses.

Writing down my daily expenses is Personal Finance 101, and I've always found it mildly useful. NFCC advisor Nina Reiss, on the other hand, walked me through an entire year of expenditures. Now THAT was eye-opening. She asked me what I paid per month for things I'd forgotten even were expenses: subscriptions, holiday gifts, underwear, new socks, groceries, birthday gifts, movies (even rentals), my yoga classes, banking fees -- you'd be amazed what you pay just to live a semi-civilized life.

Ultimately, Reiss felt that I was living about $100 a month beyond my means, but that I was paying as much as I could toward the debt on my own. We did the numbers and figured that even with their interest-rate reductions, I could still pay off my debt without their help -- as long as I cut back my expenses so that I was living within my means. So in the end, dear reader, getting out debt boils down to one thing and one thing only (which you and I already knew): elbow grease, peanut butter lunches and living like a more reasonable human being.

Source taken from: http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/Savinganddebt/Managedebt/P36230.asp

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The new style BMW 5 series car was restyled as of January 2007, and despite some mixed reviews, is generally considered one of the finest BMW models on the market. The executive saloon car is luxurious, spacious, classy and refined, yet some critics feel the mean and aggressive front styling has been lost, replaced by a more demure and softer look. It is longer and wider, with boot space and rear passenger leg room greatly increased.

The technology has been improved inside too, with the introduction of active steering, a system which reduces steering motion at low speeds, and makes handling much more direct when travelling faster. Put simply, it helps the driver steer more smoothly, and is considered to be such a step forward that its arrival has been greeted comparably with that of


ABS man years ago. The xDrive technology means this BMW can also perform well in wintery conditions, snow and ice are no longer such a problem due to the new all wheel drive element which works hand in hand with other features to achieve a secure grip to the road. Also BMW have integrated an improved and less complicated iDrive system, which is used to control the in-car entertainment, navigation, communication and climate options, and is linked to a dash mounted display. Cruise control is another function to have been updated, with a Stop-Start function for use when moving in slow traffic. The new head up display option, which projects information onto the windscreen in the driver’s line of sight, adds a superior touch to the updated models. Another new and innovative feature is the Night Vision thermal imaging camera on board, which can pick out pedestrians/animals clearly in the dark, to avoid any possible collisions/accidents. The new radio system brings near digital quality to radio broadcast, meaning a much clearer listening experience.

Insuring the BWM 5 series depends on the model, but can go from a just above average group 15, to the most expensive possible of group 20.

The BMW 5 has all the comfort, style, features and technology you would expect from a luxury executive saloon, and also the character of smaller sports cars, such as speed, power and handling, which makes it a benchmark for the rest of the industry.

About the Author
Mike Cain is a freelance webmaster writing, covering topics such as Automotive Articles.

Article from: http://www.articleconnection.com/autos/the-new-style-bmw-5-series.html
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Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll (born February 2, 1977), known simply as Shakira, is a two-time Grammy Award-winning and eight-time Latin Grammy Award-winning Colombian singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, record producer, dancer and occasional actress who has been a major figure in the pop music scene of Latin America since the mid-1990s.

In 2001, she broke through into the English-speaking market with the release of her first album in that language, Laundry Service, which has sold over fifteen million copies worldwide. Shakira is the highest-selling Colombian artist of all time, having sold around fifty million albums worldwide. She is also the only artist from South America to reach the number-one spot on the Billboard Hot 100, the Australian ARIA chart and the UK Singles Chart. Shakira is also known for her intelligence, having an IQ of 140; and for her ability to speak five languages.

After achieving superstardom throughout Latin America, Colombian-born Shakira became Latin pop's biggest female crossover artist since Jennifer Lopez broke down the doors to English-language success. Noted for her aggressive, rock-influenced approach, Shakira maintained an extraordinary degree of creative control over her music, especially for a female artist; she wrote or co-wrote nearly all of her own material, and in the process gained a reputation as one of Latin music's most ambitiously poetic lyricists. When she released her first English material in late 2001, she became an instant pop sensation, thanks to her quirky poetic sense and a sexy video image built on her hip-shaking belly dance moves.

When Shakira returned to recording in 1995, she asserted more control over the direction of her music, and worked more rock & roll rhythms -- as well as occasional Arabic tinges -- into her Latin pop material. The first results were Pies Descalzos (Bare Feet), which was initially released in 1995; a slow seller at first, the album gradually caught on thanks to "Estoy Aqui," which became a hit all over Latin America, as well as Spain. After that breakthrough, Pies Descalzos just kept spinning off singles: "Dónde Estás Corazón?," "Antología," "Pienso en Ti," "Un Poco de Amor," "Se Quiere, Se Mata." The album hit number one in eight different countries and eventually went platinum in the U.S. as well; Shakira toured for nearly two years promoting it (she finally left El Oasis in 1997).

Seeking to build on her success, Shakira signed Emilio Estefan -- Gloria's husband and a highly successful music-biz insider -- as her manager and producer. The move paid off when her follow-up album, 1998's Dónde Están los Ladrones? (Where Are the Thieves?), became an even bigger worldwide hit than its predecessor. What was more, it cracked the lucrative U.S. market wide open, spending 11 weeks at number one on Billboard's Latin album chart and producing two U.S. number ones (on the Latin chart) with "Ciega, Sordomuda" and "Tu." The album's signature track, however, was the worldwide hit "Ojos Así," her most explicit nod yet to the Arabic music she'd picked up from her father (not to mention its latent belly dancing connotations). Dónde Están los Ladrones? was also the most effective presentation yet of Shakira's strong-willed persona; her self-analysis made her even more popular among female fans, while her anger over love gone wrong drew comparisons to Alanis Morissette.

When Gloria Estefan offered to translate "Ojos Así" into English, the prospect of a crossover suddenly seemed tangible, and Shakira decided that the most effective way to maintain control over her material was to learn English well enough to write in it herself. In the meantime, she set the stage for her crossover bid with a performance on MTV Unplugged, the channel's first Spanish-language broadcast. MTV Unplugged was released as an album in early 2000, and topped the Latin charts for two weeks on its way to becoming her third straight platinum album; it also won a Grammy for Best Latin Pop Album. At the inaugural Latin Grammy Awards ceremony in 2000, Shakira delivered a much-discussed, show-stopping performance of "Ojos Así" and took home Unplugged-related trophies for Best Female Pop Vocal ("Ojos Así") and Best Female Rock Vocal ("Octavo Dia").

Mainstream pop stardom beckoned. Shakira dyed her long brown hair blonde, romanced Antonio de la Rua (son of the former president of Argentina), and went to work on her first (mostly) English-language album, Laundry Service. The single/video "Whenever, Wherever" was released in advance of the album in late 2001, and made her a star in the English-speaking world almost overnight. Laundry Service entered the American pop charts at number three, and "Whenever, Wherever" climbed into the Top Ten of the singles chart, peaking at number six. The follow-up, "Underneath Your Clothes," also hit the Top Ten, halting at number nine; less than a year after its release, Laundry Service had gone triple platinum. Reviews of Laundry Service were divided as to the effectiveness of Shakira's English lyrics, but nearly all agreed on her unique poetic imagery.

Extensive touring to support Laundry Service led to a long break for the singer, so a remix collection (2002's Laundry Service: Washed and Dried) and a live album (2004's Live & Off the Record) appeared in lieu of a new album. Revitalized, Shakira began the writing process for her next release and soon had 60 songs ready to go, some in English, some in Spanish. Twenty of the songs were selected and divided up by language to make two different albums. Both appeared in 2005 and both hit the Top Ten, with the Spanish-language album Fijacion Oral, Vol. 1 leading the way in June with a number four placing and the English-language album, Oral Fixation, Vol. 2, following in November at number five. As sales of Oral Fixation began to slow in early 2006, Epic reissued the album in March with a bonus track, "Hip Don't Lie." The newly recorded song went on to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart in June, becoming one of the summer's biggest hits and reviving sales of Oral Fixation as well as Shakira's entire back catalog.

More information about Shakira can be found at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakira
http://www.answers.com/topic/shakira
http://www.netglimse.com/celebs/pages/shakira/index.shtml
http://www.shakiraisabel.com/html/bio.html
http://www.8notes.com/biographies/shakira.asp
http://www.shakiraheaven.com/biography.html
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Intel’s Core microarchitecture is a new foundation for today’s Intel architecture-based application from desktop to mainstream multi-core processors for servers. While Intel hails for its energy-efficient performance, enthusiasts and overclockers found their secret weapon with the Core microarchitecture. Desktop overclocking basically took off into another level when Intel unleashed their Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Extreme desktop processors. At the time of launch, there wasn’t much motherboard to choose from and a few offered the ingredients that overclockers dreamt of. To help boost support for Core 2 processors, Intel also launched the P965 Express Chipset that supports Core 2 processors right out of the box. The P965 chipset was quite an overclocker especially when you have motherboards like Asus P5B series, Biostar TForce 965 series and even Gigabyte DS3 range. Most of these motherboards were overclocker’s dream as the P965 chipset made overclocking over 500MHz FSB possible, without spending a fortune. The P965 chipset isn’t really a Performance Desktop Chipset, which helps manufacturer sell their motherboards cheaper.

Meanwhile, the compatibility for Core 2 processors became better when motherboard manufacturers tweaked and released their 975X Express chipset. The 975X is a true Performance Desktop Chipset as it offers some impressive memory performance when compared to the P965. The 975X features Intel Memory Pipeline Technology which improves memory pipelining for higher utilization of each memory channel which greatly improves system performance. In short, the 975X chipset is superior to the P965 chipset, in terms of performance, but the 975X doesn’t overclock well. Overclockers expect the 975X motherboards to do 400MHz FSB easily, as they would have done it with the P965 based motherboards. However, this was not possible due to NB strap limitation on the 975X chipset, not until recently.

After a few months into the Core 2 revelation, things started to heat up as 975X overclocking-motherboards started appearing in the market. Among the few top overclocking 975X based motherboards includes the recently reviewed Asus P5W64 WS Professional, DFI Infinity 975X/G and Universal abit AW9D-MAX. While the P5W64 WS PRO was a top class motherboard with quad graphics card expansion and all, we haven’t had a chance to try out the Infinity 975X/G which is said to be quite an overclocker especially when DFI recently unleashed their tsunami BIOS. So, this leaves us with the AW9D-MAX. Being the most pimped out motherboard in the MAX series, the AW9D-MAX is targeted towards gamers, enthusiasts, overclockers and case modders. Without further ado, let us jump right into the review and check out if the AW9D-MAX lives up to our expectations.

Specifications

CPU
* Support Intel® Core 2 Quad, Core 2 Duo Extreme, Core 2 Duo, Pentium® D and Pentium® 4 processors with1066/800MHz FSB
* Support Intel® 2006FMB Conroe CPU

Chipset
*Intel® 975X / Intel® ICH7R Express Chipset

Memory
* 4 X 240-pin DIMM sockets support max. memory capacity 8GB
* Supports Dual channel DDR2 800/667 Un-buffered / Non-ECC memory

Graphics
* Supports Dual PCI-Express X16 slots (dual ATI® CrossFire™ Graphics)

LAN
* On-board Dual PCI-E Gigabit LAN controller supports 10/100/ 1000M Ethernet

Audio
* abit AudioMAX™ HD 7.1 CH
* Supports Jack Sensing and S/PDIF In/Out
* Dolby® Master Studio Certificated

Expansion Slots
* 2xPCI-EX16,2xPCI-EX1,1 xPCI, 1x AudioMAX™

Internal I/O Connectors
* 1 x Floppy port, 1 x UDMA 100/66/33 connector,
* 7 x SATA 3Gb/s connectors
* 2 x USB 2.0 headers, 2 x IEEE1394 headers
* 1 x FP-Audio header, 1 x CD-IN

Back Panel I/O
* 1 x PS/2 Keyboard, 1 x PS/2 Mouse
* 4 x USB 2.0, 2 x RJ-45 LAN,
* 1 x eSATA

Serial ATA
* ICH7R: 4 x SATA 3Gb/s supports Intel® Matrix Storage SATA RAID 0/1/0+1/5
* ICH7R: Support SATA AHCI, providing native command queuing and native hot plug & play
* Silicon Image:3132: 4 x SATA 3Gb/s, two SATA connectors of the same area can support SATA RAID 0/1

IEEE 1394
* 2 ports IEEE1394a at 400 Mb/s transfer rate

RoHS
* RoHS Compliancy

Form Factor
* ATX form factor 305 x 245mm
* PCB Color: Black & Blue

abit Engineered
* abit µGuru™ Technology
* abit AudioMAX™ HD 7.1 CH
* abit Silent OTES™ 2 Technology
* Quick Power & Reset Buttons
* Back-light Blue LED's
* Low ESR and high ripple conductive polymer aluminum solid capacitors


Intel 975X Express Chipset Features



Source taken from: http://www.pcmoddingmy.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.407
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While Forex trading is becoming more popular in the United States, the vast majority of investors still do not understand the massive advantages offered in the foreign currency market when compared to equities or fixed income trading. When you fully grasp the following concepts, you'll understand why you might want to reconsider your current investment strategies.

1. Currency prices are not heavily influenced by institutional investors.

In stock trading, there is a limited amount of volume on a daily basis. Each stock has a specific number of shares on the open market and trade prices are governed by the number of people attempting to buy or sell shares at a specific point in time. This makes the market vulnerable to price swings when a large investor is attempting to buy up or unload large amounts of shares. For example, if some pension fund owns 10% of a company and suddenly decides to liquidate their position, the market is now flooded with sell orders. Since the amount of shares attempting to be sold will outnumber the amount of buy orders, the price of the stock will start to drop as the number of buyers days up. This creates losses for the remaining shareholders. On the other hand, the forex market is so massive and has so many investors that no single investor can possibly have a major impact on pricing. There are too many units of Euros, Dollars, Yen, etc for any single institution to hold even close to a controlling interest in any currency.

2. Margin requirements are significantly lower in forex trading than equity trading.

While the exact amount of margin allowed is determined by each broker, the restrictions are usually much less stringent when trading forex. Margin allows the investor to "play with house money." In essence, you're borrowing money from the broker to invest in your own account. While this can be risky, it can also be insanely profitable. For example, let's say you have $10,000 of your own money to invest. If you open up a margin account at an equity broker, you can usually margin up to 50% of the value of stock. So if you buy $10,000 in Microsoft stock, you can borrow another $5,000 to own a total of $15,000 in value. With your forex account, the margin requirement is often as low as 1%. Which means that if you buy $10,000 in Euros, you can use your broker's money to buy another $1,000,000. So you now own over $1 million in Euros. Now lets say that the value of each investment increases 10%. Your $15,000 in Microsoft stock is now worth $16,500. You sell it, pay back the $5,000 you borrowed, and you pocket $1,500 in profit (minus any fees or interest). Your return on investment is 15%. If your Euros went up 10%, your $1 million is now worth $1.1 million. After selling and repaying your broker, you profit $100,000 before any interest. That's a return on investment of over 1,000%. Of course, you need to be extra careful when trading on margin. Imagine if the transaction went the other way. You'd be in a much bigger hole in the forex scenario. But the potential for enormous gain is there and is one of the major reasons why forex trading is so attractive to serious investors.

3. Forex trading is open 24 hours a day.

Unlike the U.S. stock markets, you can trade forex any time of day from Monday through Friday. If a major news story breaks when you're holding stock, and it's after hours, you're stuck holding onto your position until the market opens the next day. By the time this happens, everyone else knows the news and there's thousands of buy/sell orders waiting when the opening bell rings. This will dramatically influence your trade price and negate any advantage you might have had by being one of the first to react. Keep in mind that many corporations withhold major news such as earnings reports and personnel moves until after the market closes. They do this to minimize emotional trading, which is smart for them to do but also hurts savvy investors. Since Forex trading is open 24 hours, you can place your trade order whenever major events occur.

4. The foreign exchange market is more liquid than the equity market.

Forex is the largest market in the world. Every day, an average of $1.4 trillion dollars is traded, and the amount of securities (foreign currencies) is minuscule when compared to the number of companies traded in the equities market. This means that there are always buyers to be matched with sellers, which means that you'll have a much better chance to get a fair and accurate price on your trade than if you were trading a low volume stock where the bid and ask spreads can be very large.

5. Forex trading offers the advantage of limited risk.

This is one of the large advantages over the futures market. When you buy a futures contract, you are obligated to buy or sell a specific amount of a specific commodity at a specific time for a specific price. Which means that if disaster hits, you're out of luck. For example, lets say you buy a futures contract to sell corn. If news breaks that reports an outbreak of deaths caused by a pesticide used in corn crops, the price on your contracts will drop through the floor, limits will drop, and you could be stuck in your position and end up taking massive losses. This would not happen in the forex market since you can leave your position at any time.

About the author:

This article is just a small piece of the free Forex Trading Course at forexgameplan.com. Go learn about this incredible market and sign up today while the 30 day course is still free.
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There are at least three ways to backup your MySQL Database:

1. Execute a database backup query from PHP file.
2. Run mysqldump using system() function.
3. Use phpMyAdmin to do the backup.

Execute a database backup query from PHP file

Below is an example of using SELECT INTO OUTFILE query for creating table backup:

<?php
include 'config.php';
include 'opendb.php';

$tableName = 'mypet';
$backupFile = 'backup/mypet.sql';
$query = "SELECT * INTO OUTFILE '$backupFile' FROM $tableName";
$result = mysql_query($query);

include 'closedb.php';

?>

To restore the backup you just need to run LOAD DATA INFILE query like this:

<?php

include 'config.php';

include 'opendb.php';

$tableName = 'mypet';

$backupFile = 'mypet.sql';

$query = "LOAD DATA INFILE 'backupFile'
INTO TABLE $tableName";

$result = mysql_query($query);

include 'closedb.php';

?>

It's a good idea to name the backup file as tablename.sql so you'll know from which table the backup file is

Run mysqldump using system() function

The system() function is used to execute an external program. Because MySQL already have built in tool for creating MySQL database backup (mysqldump) let's use it from our PHP script

<?php

include 'config.php';

include 'opendb.php';

$backupFile = $dbname . date("Y-m-d-H-i-s")
. '.gz';

$command = "mysqldump --opt -h $dbhost -u $dbuser -p $dbpass $dbname | gzip > $backupFile";

system($command);

include 'closedb.php';

?>

Use phpMyAdmin to do the backup

This option as you may guessed doesn't involve any programming on your part. However I think i mention it anyway so you know more options to backup your database.

To backup your MySQL database using phpMyAdmin click on the "export" link on phpMyAdmin main page. Choose the database you wish to backup, check the appropriate SQL options and enter the name for the backup file.

Source taken from: http://www.php-mysql-tutorial.com/perform-mysql-backup-php.php

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Optimize High-Traffic Servers
Focus: Linux, Apache 1.3+, [PHP], [MySQL] Notes: Use at your own risk. If this has any errors, please let me know and I will correct them.

Summary
If you are reaching the limits of your server running Apache serving a lot of dynamic content, you can either spend thousands on new equipment or reduce bloat to increase your server capacity by anywhere from 2 to 10 times. This article concentrates on important and poorly-documented ways of increasing capacity without additional hardware.

Problems
There are a few common things that can cause server load problems, and a thousand uncommon. Let's focus on the common:

• Drive Swapping - too many processes (or runaway processes) using too much RAM
• CPU - poorly optimized DB queries, poorly optimized code, runaway processesNetwork - hardware limits, moron attacks

Solutions: The Obvious
Briefly, and for completeness, here are the most obvious solutions:

• Use "TOP" and "PS axu" to check for processes that are using too much CPU or RAM.
• Use "netstat -anp sort -u" to check for network problems.

Solutions: Apache's RAM Usage
First and most obvious, Apache processes use a ton a RAM. This minor issue becomes a major issue when you realize that after each process has done its job, the bloated process sits and spoon-feed data to the client, instead of moving on to bigger and better things. This is further compounded by a bit of essential info that should really be more common knowledge:

• If you serve 100% static files with Apache, each httpd process will use around 2-3 megs of RAM.
• If you serve 99% static files & 1% dynamic files with Apache, each httpd process will use from 3-20 megs of RAM (depending on your MOST complex dynamic page).

This occurs because a process grows to accommodate whatever it is serving, and NEVER decreases again unless that process happens to die. Quickly, unless you have very few dynamic pages and major traffic fluctuation, most of your httpd processes will take up an amount of RAM equal to the largest dynamic script on your system. A smart web server would deal with this automatically. As it is, you have a few options to manually improve RAM usage.

Reduce wasted processes by tweaking KeepAlive
This is a tradeoff. KeepAliveTimeout is the amount of time a process sits around doing nothing but taking up space. Those seconds add up in a HUGE way. But using KeepAlive can increase speed for both you and the client - disable KeepAlive and the serving of static files like images can be a lot slower. I think it's best to have KeepAlive on, and KeepAliveTimeout very low (like 1-2 seconds).

Limit total processes with MaxClients
If you use Apache to serve dynamic content, your simultaneous connections are severely limited. Exceed a certain number, and your system begins cannibalistic swapping, getting slower and slower until it dies. IMHO, a web server should automatically take steps to prevent this, but instead they seem to assume you have unlimited resources. Use trial & error to figure out how many Apache processes your server can handle, and set this value in MaxClients. Note: the Apache docs on this are misleading - if this limit is reached, clients are not "locked out", they are simply queued, and their access slows. Based on the value of MaxClients, you can estimate the values you need for StartServers, MinSpareServers, & MaxSpareServers.

Force processes to reset with MaxRequestsPerChild
Forcing your processes to die after a while makes them start over with low RAM usage, and this can reduce total memory usage in many situations. The less dynamic content you have, the more useful this will be. This is a game of catch-up, with your dynamic files constantly increasing total RAM usage, and restarting processes constantly reducing it. Experiment with MaxRequestsPerChild - even values as low as 20 may work well. But don't set it too low, because creating new processes does have overhead. You can figure out the best settings under load by examining "ps axu --sort:rss". A word of warning, using this is a bit like using heroin. The results can be impressive, but are NOT consistent - if the only way you can keep your server running is by tweaking this, you will eventually run into trouble. That being said, by tweaking MaxRequestsPerChild you may be able to increase MaxClients as much as 50%.

Apache Further Tweaking
For mixed purpose sites (say image galleries, download sites, etc.), you can often improve performance by running two different apache daemons on the same server. For example, we recently compiled apache to just serve up images (gifs,jpegs,png etc). This way for a site that has thousands of stock photos. We put both the main apache and the image apache on the same server and noticed a drop in load and ram usage. Consider a page had about 20-50 image calls -- the were all off-loaded to the stripped down apache, which could run 3x more servers with the same ram usage than the regular apache on the server.

Finally, think outside the box: replace or supplement Apache

Use a 2nd server
You can use a tiny, lightning fast server to handle static documents & images, and pass any more complicated requests on to Apache on the same machine. This way Apache won't tie up its multi-megabyte processes serving simple streams of bytes. You can have Apache only get used, for example, when a php script needs to be executed. Good options for this are:

• TUX / "Red Hat Content Accelerator" - http://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/tux/
• kHTTPd - http://www.fenrus.demon.nl/
• thttpd - http://www.acme.com/software/thttpd/

Try lingerd
Lingerd takes over the job of feeding bytes to the client after Apache has fetched the document, but requires kernel modification. Sounds pretty good, haven't tried it. lingerd - http://www.iagora.com/about/software/lingerd/

Use a proxy cache
A proxy cache can keep a duplicate copy of everything it gets from Apache, and serve the copy instead of bothering Apache with it. This has the benefit of also being able to cache dynamically generated pages, but it does add a bit of bloat.

Replace Apache completely
If you don't need all the features of Apache, simply replace it with something more scalable. Currently, the best options appear to be servers that use a non-blocking I/O technology and connect to all clients with the same process. That's right - only ONE process. The best include:

• thttpd - http://www.acme.com/software/thttpd/
• Caudium - http://caudium.net/index.html
• Roxen - http://www.roxen.com/products/webserver/
• Zeus ($$) - http://www.zeus.co.uk

Solutions: PHP's CPU & RAM Usage
Compiling PHP scripts is usually more expensive than running them. So why not use a simple tool that keeps them precompiled? I highly recommend Turck MMCache. Alternatives include PHP Accelerator, APC, & Zend Accelerator. You will see a speed increase of 2x-10x, simple as that. I have no stats on the RAM improvement at this time.

Solutions: Optimize Database Queries
This is covered in detail everywhere, so just keep in mind a few important notes: One bad query statement running often can bring your site to its knees. Two or three bad query statements don't perform much different than one. In other words, if you optimize one query you may not see any server-wide speed improvement. If you find & optimize ALL your bad queries you may suddenly see a 5x server speed improvement. The log-slow-queries feature of MySQL can be very helpful.

How to log slow queries:

# vi /etc/rc.d/init.d/mysqld

Find this line:
SAFE_MYSQLD_OPTIONS="--defaults-file=/etc/my.cnf"

change it to:
SAFE_MYSQLD_OPTIONS="--defaults-file=/etc/my.cnf --log-slow-queries=/var/log/slow-queries.log"

As you can see, we added the option of logging all slow queries to /var/log/slow-queries.log
Close and save mysqld. Shift + Z + Z

touch /var/log/slow-queries.log
chmod 644 /var/log/slow-queries.log

restart mysql
service myslqd restart
mysqld will log all slow queries to this file.

References
These sites contain additional, more well known methods for optimization.

• Tuning Apache and PHP for Speed on Unix - http://php.weblogs.com/tuning_apache_unix
• Getting maximum performance from MySQL - http://www.f3n.de/doku/mysql/manual_10.html
• System Tuning Info for Linux Servers - http://people.redhat.com/alikins/system_tuning.html
• mod_perl Performance Tuning (applies outside perl) - http://perl.apache.org/docs/1.0/guide/performance.html

Once again, if this has any errors or important omissions, please let me know and I will correct them.

If you experience a capacity increase on your server after trying the optimizations, let me know!
Article written by spagmoid additions by: albo,huck on the ev1 forums.

Source taken from: http://www.webhostgear.com/49.html
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My favourite FTP client is WS_FTP LE, which is free for certain groups of users - so is well worth checking out if you like free programs or you are short on cash at the moment. Even though the instructions on this page will be specific to this version of WS_FTP, the ideas should be applicable to all FTP clients.

Before you can FTP to a server there are three things that you need to know, otherwise the server is unlikely to let you in or edit any files. You will need to know...

• The name of the server you are connecting to - this usually starts with "ftp" but could be anything resembling a domain name or IP number.


• Your user ID - this allows the server to check you have permission to use it


• Your password - to confirm you are who you say you are

Logging in to a Server
Above is an example of an FTP log-in interface with my own details filled in that allow me to connect to my file store and access, modify and delete all the files that make up the site.

As you can see from this example, the server I connect to is ftp.tiggys.co.uk and my User ID is tiggynco. Usually your User ID is the name of your folder on the server, but can sometimes be your domain name or something totally different depending on your server settings. Your host will either let you choose your User ID and password at signup or assign them to you, providing you with all the details you need either on the thank you page or in your welcome email.

You may have also noticed the other fields on the form above, while you will have to fill in those that are completed in the example - they are not as important as the server name itself. The profile name is only an account identifier and can be anything you like, as it is only to help you find your saved settings easily if you have more than one FTP account. I tend to name my FTP accounts with either the site name, the host name or some combination of both.

The host type is another drop down menu that lists all-sorts of various server types, and if you know the machine that your site is hosted on then you should be able to select it here. If you don't have any idea, then don't worry - WS_FTP LE can be set up to automatically detect the operating system of your host, just select the "Automatic Detect" option in this drop down menu.

Anyway - once you have filled out your details, click the apply button (to save them) then click on OK and WS_FTP LE will attempt to connect to the server. Providing you have the correct details and the permission to use the server, you will see a split screen with files and folders on your computer showing up on the left, and the files and folders that are in your personal web space on the right. If you've gotten this far, you will be able to upload and download from your site.

The Remote Server
So, you've successfully logged into your web space - now what? Well, exactly what you do next will depend on the configuration for the server you are logging into. Uploading your files into the wrong directory could mean that people can't see your page, so if the first time you log in you can see a number of different folders, the chances are that not all of them will be accessible from the web. If you don't see any other folders on the right hand side of your screen when you first log into your accounts then the chances are you can upload directly into that directory and have all the files and folders you upload accessible from the web.

Here are a few of the more common folders that you may see in your web space, along with a very quick explanation of what usually goes in there. Some of the folders are server specific, so you should not expect to see them all in there.

• htdocs or www - this is where your web accessible files should go. Any folders you create in here will also be accessible from your site.
• anonftp - if you have a lot of downloads on your site you might want to make them available through the use of anonymous FTP, which allows visitors to restricted access to your FTP server without the need to log in anonymously. Access is usually limited to this folder if available.
• mail or special - sometimes you can see the folders used to store your emails or site settings, it is not usually a good idea to work in these folders.
• db, dbase, database, private or similar - usually kept outside of the web accessible folder, this is the best place to store files that you don't want people visiting your site to see. Useful for storing the databases for your web applications (so that the only way that a user can look at the data in the database is through the script) - however this will depend on the configuration of the server.
• cgi-bin - for scripts and other CGI applications. How you use this folder depends on how the server is set up, for example, you may only be allowed to upload Perl files in there and have to upload your images and HTML files for a script somewhere else. On a windows system you may be able to upload your CGI files anywhere and still have them work, but you should find out more about the use of this folder in particular reference to your host if you intend to use your own CGI programs.

Transferring Files between Computers
Once you have found out where to put the files you have created you are ready to upload your files. Luckily most of the FTP clients available have adopted a drag and drop interface, you have one section (or sometimes even a whole window) for your computer, and another for the remote and you just search for your files in the normal way and then drag and drop. This will work both ways, so if you want to upload a file, you drag it from your files and drop it into the remote servers files - and vice versa. Some FTP clients also have buttons that you can use to transfer highlighted files from one place to another, in the case of WS_FTP LE there are to arrow buttons in between the two file windows. You may find it easier to highlight all the files you want uploaded/downloaded and use these buttons rather than dragging and dropping each individual file.

When transferring files from one computer to another in this way it would be worth noting that you are not moving the files as such, but rather making a copy of them on the other computer. If you want to delete or rename files on either side of the connection, then you should be able to do this using your FTP client.

File Types
The mode you use to upload your files is not such an important issue when you are just wanting to host a site consisting of just plain old HTML pages. However when you start uploading your own versions of CGI scripts, you will soon realise that the mode you chose to upload your Perl files in makes a big difference. One of the most common errors made by people when installing their scripts is that they uploaded their Perl files in binary mode. As a general rule of thumb files ending in .txt, .cgi or .pl should be transferred in ASCII mode - everything else should be using binary.

Server Time-outs
If the server you are FTPing to is busy, then there may be limits to the number of people logging in at any one time or the amount of time you are allowed to stay logged on without doing any file transfers. This varies widely from server to server, and so you may have to log in again if your server times out on you while you are distracted. Some servers have a very low time-out (approx 2 or 3 mins), while others may have very large or even no time-out set.

If you are using your FTP program to make minor changes to your site while it is online, you may want to take into account the server time-out if it is set, because you can find it very difficult to make changes to your online documents if your on a server with a time-out of about 2 or 3 minutes. In such cases you may want to do all changes to the page on your computer and then upload them rather than risking corrupting the page and losing your online changes.

Source taken from: http://websiteowner.info/tutorials/server/ftp.asp
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