Despite the fact that Microsoft has spared no expense in promoting its Vista operating system, Windows XP refuses to go away. Computer retailers are finding new and creative ways to continue selling the XP operating system beyond its June 30 deadline.
Dell and Hewlett-Packard are two of the major PC retailers that will continue to sell Windows XP beyond Microsoft’s June deadline. The companies have found ways to exploit loopholes in Microsoft’s licensing agreement to sell XP preloaded in new computers.
The reason why the “big box” distributors want to continue offering XP is simple: money. Windows Vista has received a lukewarm response from the market, and many individuals and companies are insisting upon continuing to use Windows XP when purchasing new computers.
The big PC retailers are taking advantage of a loophole clause in the Windows Vista terms of service which allows distributors to sell XP under what is known as a “downgrade license.” In practical terms, this means that Dell or Hewlett-Packard (to name two examples) will be allowed to legally install XP on some of their computers, most notably, models sold to business customers.
Hewlett-Packard has announced that they will continue selling XP through the 30th of July, 2009, though one has to believe they will extend this deadline too–if there is significant demand for XP beyond this date. Lenovo is also continuing to sell XP, but they are taking a different tact; the company will sell new computers preloaded with Microsoft Vista, but will include a Windows XP “recovery disk,” so that purchasers can elect to “roll back” their operating system if they desire.
The BBC is reporting that even Microsoft honcho Steve Ballmer admits that Windows XP could potentially be around a few more years if there is significant customer demand. Already, Microsoft has caved in to consumer pressure by extending the life span of Windows XP Home through 2010. The move is meant to apply to smaller computers and laptops which may have trouble running the more processor-hungry Vista.
With many consumers and businesses wary of upgrading to Vista, it appears that Windows XP could be with us for some time to come. On the one hand, this is a clear slap in the face to Vista, which is perceived by many as an unnecessary upgrade. But on the other hand, it is also a tribute to the elegance and stability of Windows XP, which has been around long enough now to firmly establish itself as a reliable operating system — some say the most reliable ever produced by the Microsoft camp.
Apple’s iMac personal computer has been a huge success so far for the company. By incorporating Intel processors, and having the capability to run Windows operating system, Apple has achieved a near perfect blend of functionality, versatility and let’s not forget, high style (after all, it is still an Apple).
PC Magazine is reporting that Apple is about to update the popular line, rolling out several new versions of the iMac featuring Intel Core 2 Duo processors, and standard 2 GB onboard memory. The new iMacs will also feature the most advanced graphics card available so far in the line, with NVIDEA GeForce 8800 GS graphics, which will be available on some models.
With a beginning price around $1200, the new iMacs boast a 24 inch high-definition screen, and a variety of innovative features including built-in WiFi, Bluetooth and Ethernet support. In addition, the new iMacs will include USB 2.0 support, both FireWire 400 and 800 ports, and the built-in Apple iSight video camera.
The all-in-one design of the iMac has been incredibly popular. As well as taking up less space at home or in the office, the sleek aluminum and glass design of the iMac is as beautiful as it is functional. The minimalist, Scandinavian-like design of the iMac also makes it easy to move around.
Moving a Windows PC from your home office into the living room can be a cumbersome affair, with lots of chords to detach and reattach, and extra peripherals to move and plug-in. But moving an iMac from one room to another is a simple as unplugging it — carrying it to its new location — and simply plugging it back in.
This simplicity is one of the most attractive features of the iMac, and it is helping Apple win over new users at an astonishing rate. And there is also the widespread perception that Apple computers are more reliable than Windows PCs, and that Macs are not nearly as likely to be vulnerable to computer viruses, spyware and other malicious software.
Theoretically, Macs — including the iMac — can be infected with computer viruses and other malware. In reality though, it is extremely rare for a Mac user to experience this issue, as there are very few computer viruses designed to infect the Mac operating system. The same is true of Trojans, spyware and other Web “nasties.” It’s not that a Mac computer is impervious to these things — but simply that there aren’t very many of them that target the Mac operating system.
All of these benefits, combined with Apple’s ongoing research and development, suggest that the company will continue to gain market share over Microsoft. The new and more powerful iMacs are definitely a step in the right direction, and are sure to help Apple to keep the pressure on Microsoft.
DVD copying is not as easy as duplicating CDs, where you can drag and drop files to the CD drive containing the blank disk and just wait for the computer to do the copying. Of course, copying CDs is frowned upon in the copyright laws in many countries but for some purposes, it is perfectly legal to duplicate copyrighted works. The same applies to DVD copying: you may make copies for some specific purposes. Aside from possible copyright law violation, you also need to consider other issues in DVD duplication: encryption, encoding options, software to use and recording media.
Let’s first take a brief look on the legality of DVD copying. If you only want to make back-up copies of your entire movie collection, that is fine. But if you make copies which you intend to sell or even give away, you will be violating copyright laws. This is because in order to duplicate a DVD, you would have to circumvent protection technology incorporated in the disk and circumventing such protection is against the law.
DVD movie disks are protected with the Content Scrambling System (CSS) developed and adopted by the Hollywood studios. The protection encrypts the data on a DVD and requires a special key for decryption. Software developers of DVD player manufacturers receive the decryption key from the studios so their software can read the information. But the protection has proven to be vulnerable and easy to overcome. Defeating this protection scheme, an act called ripping, means removing the CSS protection and getting the movies to play, say on a PC hard drive. There are numerous software available that can remove the protection and let you rip DVDs, but you must keep in mind that it may be against the law in your country to do so.
The second thing you must consider is the size of the DVD files. Movies usually exceed the maximum capacity of available DVD recordable media: DVD 9 movies can contain up to 9 gigabytes of data but recordable disks are DVD 5, which means that it can only contain up to 5 gigabytes data (or much less actually). Thus, you will have to decide what to do with the file: remove non-essential data, compress the file or split it into several DVDs. There are software available that let you select which parts of the movie to copy, shrink the file to a much smaller size with hardly noticeable difference, or split it into several disks. The last option is not commonly done because it means changing disks and hence, interruptions in movie viewing. You may choose one or combine any of these options to be able to duplicate a DVD.
The third thing is selecting the software application for the DVD ripping. As earlier stated, there are numerous programs available that offers varied features and options to copy DVD files. Some applications just allow you to select what parts of the movies to copy and others offer different compression technologies to shrink the movie file while others just let you split them up. If you will purchase an application, choose one that provides a combination of the techniques to give you more flexibility and power to get what you wanted.
After ripping the movie file, you may want to burn this into another DVD disk. Most of the ripping applications usually include DVD-burning capabilities so you won’t need another program for this. However, you need to select what type of media will you burn the movie into: plain recordable DVDs or rewriteable DVDs. This is important because some DVD players won’t be able to read DVD-RW disks, so you must check the compatibility of your player to the media you will use.
The internet has many resources that provide guides and advice on the best applications for DVD ripping and burning. You must look at these and choose for yourself which one to purchase keeping in mind the important factors listed above.
Several petitions are going around online for Microsoft to continue selling and supporting Windows XP. One petition, hosted at InfoWorld.com, reportedly has more than 10,000 signatures so far, and there are many others located on blogs and sites all across the Web.
Windows users claim that XP is the most stable operating system ever developed by Microsoft, and even though XP is now six years old, many PC users cannot bring themselves to “upgrade” to Windows Vista. The problem is, Microsoft is planning to pull Windows XP off store shelves in June of this year. Microsoft boasts that Windows Vista is a superior operating system, and the time is right for all Windows users to begin upgrading.
Unfortunately for Microsoft, most windows XP users don’t agree with this sentiment. Microsoft’s Vista operating system received only lukewarm — or in some cases, downright hostile — reviews, and is generally regarded as being less intuitive, slower and with more bothersome security pop-ups then Windows XP.
There is also the question of incompatibility with certain programs and hardware devices. Vista is still not compatible with as many printers, for example, as Windows XP. For all of these reasons and more, many businesses have refused to upgrade to Vista, citing lack of cost efficiency and compatibility problems with existing hardware.
Although Microsoft is aware of the petitions going around to extend the Windows XP deadline, so far the company is refusing to budge. A Microsoft statement quoted by the Associated Press indicated the company would continue to listen to customer feedback, but offered no further promise of extending XP.
As an operating system, Windows XP has now been around for over six years, which is practically a lifetime in the computer technology arena. But the problem with introducing a new operating system every two or three years is simply this: operating systems take time to mature, develop and become stable.
In this sense, computer operating systems are a lot like people. When they are young, they are flashy and new, but as they age they become more stable and compatible, with fewer nasty surprises. Windows XP, at six years old, has reached this maturity, and is now a relatively stable operating system, which gets the job done and offers few surprises in the form of compatibility problems or unknown bugs.
For these reasons, the computer industry probably needs to change its paradigm which says that “newer is always better.” When it comes to hardware, newer may indeed be better. But where software operating systems are concerned, that is not always the case. The lesson to be learned from Windows XP’s continued popularity is that a mature and stable operating system will beat out a flashy newcomer every single time.
Adobe is well-known as a success story in the world of software, so any new products by the company tend to be taken very seriously by IT experts. Having said that, the company has recently launched its new Adobe Media Player that works in conjunction with their new free online video site, Adobe TV, and so far the experts are less than impressed.
The Adobe Media Player version 1.0 is a cross-platform application compatible with Windows, Mac and Lenox operating systems, and is designed to be a user-friendly method of interacting with Adobe Flash content online. The software was originally announced last year, and expected to be available in the fourth quarter of 2007, but development delays pushed back the launch until now.
As far as functionality, Adobe claims the new Media Player will be similar to QuickTime or Windows Media Player, allowing users to watch video content stored on their computer, and supporting a variety of file types. Unfortunately, when compared to Apple’s QuickTime, or Windows Media Player, the new Adobe software doesn’t exactly cut the mustard.
In reality, the initial launch of the media player will only handle MPEG-4 files or the ubiquitous Adobe Flash Video format. And even though the player will allow you to import various other file types, once imported the player will simply inform you that there is a problem playing the video — with no further explanation. So much for the user-friendliness.
Adobe’s player does have its merits though. For example, as well as being able to play video files from your desktop, it can also play streaming media, providing separate channels for different types of content. Thankfully, several networks have made video content available for the Adobe Media Player, including Comedy Central, MTV, CBS and Nickelodeon, so there are some interesting short clips and even a few full episodes to watch.
For the time being though, video content is quite limited, though this situation may improve if Adobe can convince more networks and users to adopt its media player format.
Another bothersome aspect of the Adobe Media Player is that it will handle a variety of video resolutions, but playback results can be erratic, so depending on which network the content comes from you could have beautiful full-screen resolution, or a lame 1990s low resolution “video in a box.”
The media player currently does not offer any way to share videos with friends, even if they also have the Adobe Media Player installed. This is a fairly annoying quirk in the age of Web 2.0 social networking standards, and something Adobe could have easily designed into the software.
On a positive note, playback of streaming video is generally smooth, with few if any “buffering” pauses, even in full-screen mode. With time (and a few updates) the Adobe media player may eventually be a force to be reckoned with. For now though, it offers no threat whatsoever to Windows Media Player or QuickTime.
Before we start the tutorial, we assume you know a little bit about java, like what Java classes are, and how to create methods etc.
Prerequesites:
- You need a MySQL database that you can connect to.
- JDBC driver for java that can be found here: http://dev.mysql.com/usingmysql/java/
- Java SDK (1.5+) and a compiler.
- Include the JDBC driver in your project.
Required file(s):
- the database where this tutorial is based on (run the sql below to create one)
- Java class: MainTest.java (attached blow)
- Java class: ConnectToDatabase.java (attached below)
Recommended tools: Eclipse IDE, Java 1.5 or higher
So how do we make a connection to the MySQL database using Java?
To connect to a MySQL database (or any if that matters) you need to supply a username and password, so in ConnectToDatabase class, we created a method that takes 4 parameters such as a userName, userPassword, the database url and the sql query you want to execute.
This is the code in the method in the ConnectToDatabase class that will execute your queries:
public void connect(String userName, String userPassword,
String databaseUrl, String userQuery)
{
try {
* Class.forName ("com.mysql.jdbc.Driver").newInstance ();
* Connection conn = DriverManager.getConnection (databaseUrl,
* userName, userPassword);
*
* Statement stat = conn.createStatement();
* String query = userQuery;
* ResultSet result = stat.executeQuery(query);
System.out.println("Result(s): ");
# while(result.next()){
# System.out.println("Name:t" + result.getString("userName"));
# System.out.println("Hobby:t" + result.getString("userHobby"));
# System.out.println("");
# }
conn.close();
}catch (SQLException e) {}
catch (InstantiationException e) {}
catch (IllegalAccessException e) {}
catch (ClassNotFoundException e) {}
}
Basically what this does is making the actual connection to the database and shows the result(s) on the screen.
(*) this part of the code creates the new “com.mysql.jdbc.Driver” instance and executes the query.
(#) in this loop the result(s) will be shown. If there are no results nothing will be displayed.
So how does my ConnectToDatabase class know where to connect and what query to perform? Well, the answer is simple. There is another class (MainTest class) that handles that. So now I’ll explain what the MainTest class does.
The code in the main class from the class “MainTest” looks like this:
ConnectToDatabase CTD = new ConnectToDatabase();
CTD.connect(userName, userPassword, databaseUrl, userQuery);
The first line is to make an instance of the ConnectToDatabase class created especially for this tutorial. Then in the second line, we call the connect method from ConnectToDatabase and pass the arguments we have in the main class to the public variables.
Let’s say we try to login with something like this:
static String userName = "root";
static String userPassword = "";
static String databaseUrl =
"jdbc:mysql://localhost:3306/EngineeringserverDotComTest";
static String userQuery = "select * from info";
Compile the MainTest and ConnectToDatabase classes and make sure your settings are correct. If everything is correct you should see some result(s). That’s it, I hope you enjoyed this tutorial.
Download the sample codes:
I don’t think it’s any great exaggeration to say that Adobe Photoshop is one of the most successful software products of all time. In fact, not only has Photoshop been a big seller for Adobe, in its own way it has also changed the way we think about digital images and videos. When we see an expertly re-touched and perfected photo or portrait, most of us immediately think “Photoshop.”
The software has become synonymous with what it does — cleaning up, editing, and perfecting digital images, whether they are intended for print, the Web, or even your home photo album. Photoshop is one of those rare software programs with incredible depth and a logical well-organized layout, both of which contribute to its ease of use. It is without doubt the single most important tool for modern web designers and photo and/or video editors.
Photoshop has spawned many imitators, and there are now even free image editing suites that imitate many of the most useful features from the program, but none of these competitors have ever come close to the breadth of capability and features that Photoshop offers.
It’s a bit surprising then, that Adobe is now preparing to launch a free online version of their flagship software, which will only require a user registration, but no fees whatsoever. The new version, called Photoshop Express, will be available via any Web browser (Mac PC or Linux), and will provide users with a generous 2 GB of free storage for their digital images and related files.
The new Photoshop Express will also have close ties with Facebook and other social networking sites, to enable users to quickly re-touch and edit photos on their profile pages. The free online version of Photoshop utilizes Flash 9 technology, and a simple, uncluttered interface, focusing on the most commonly used image editing tools.
Of course the free version of Photoshop won’t offer the advanced features available in their standalone product, but it does include many handy editing features. One big limitation is that, for the time being, Photoshop Express only works with JPEG’s. Adobe has hinted, however, that more premium features may be available in the online version later on.
The company is suggesting that printing services, greater file storage, support for other image file types, including PNG and GIF, and even audio and video support could be made available for a fee as the online Photoshop comes into its own.
The new Photoshop Express won’t replace your standalone version, but it does offer a lot of functionality available from any Web browser. That means that you can perform basic image editing even when you’re on the road. All you need is a half decent internet connection and any Mac, PC or Linux computer.
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Notebook computer manufacturers can’t seem to make up their minds which way the market is going. Apple has recently introduced the MacBook “Air” light-weight and wafer-thin laptop — a computer so small it will fit inside a standard A4 envelope. But over on the PC side of things, some manufacturers are going to the other extreme, creating the computer equivalent of rugged four-wheel-drive vehicles.
Dell has just introduced the Latitude XFR D630, a thick and rugged “all-terrain” notebook computer, built to withstand moisture, extreme temperatures, and even accidental falls from desk height. The newest Latitude, the XFR D630 is surrounded by what Dell calls “full body armor,” and made to withstand the rigors of life on the road.
While there have been “tough book” computers around for years, Dell is aiming to produce a tougher, more resilient notebook at a lower price point. The closest competition at the moment is the Panasonic CF-30, which is priced slightly higher than the $3,899 starting point for the new Dell XFR.
Dell’s profits have taken a hit lately, and recent earning reports indicate the company has been in something of a slump over the past year. They’re hoping that the new rugged notebook computers — along with a new marketing strategy — can improve the company’s bottom line in 2008.
Rather than trying to compete in the “thinner, lighter and more chic” marketplace, Dell is attempting to carve out the niche for themselves with a new “laptop on steroids” marketing strategy, which is designed to appeal to road warriors and larger businesses looking for more reliable notebook computer solutions.
In particular, Dell is going for the “IT department” market, by providing a tough and road-worthy laptop that is simplified in many aspects, easy to upgrade, and uses standard batteries, software and power adapters. The idea is to create a sturdy and solid laptop that is simplicity itself to operate and upgrade, and bypasses the usual bells and whistles found in modern multimedia notebook computers, in favor of a rugged, work-anywhere aesthetic.
While critics may argue that the new XFR is boring, and doesn’t include the kind of entertainment-oriented extras the public has come to expect from laptop computers, that isn’t really the point. The new line is aimed squarely at business users (you’re not likely to see many college students carrying around a thick, heavy, no-frills XFR notebook).
Whether this new strategy can bring life to Dell’s lackluster earnings reports remains to be seen, but at least the company has carved out a specific niche for themselves, and is throwing the full weight of their research and development team toward creating a “tougher toughbook.”
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Getting your computer secured from hackers and intruders is more important than ever, now that hackers, intruders and malwares are unsuspectingly hiding in seemingly friendly software. Here are some of the programs you can install for free that will protect your computers from different types of harm.
Secunia Personal Software Inspector – This free software is one of the smartest out there. After installation, immediately run this software to your computer. Secunia will scan all files in your computer. It has a special talent in scanning not only files but also programs. Secunia will take a look at individual programs to see if there are doubtful files attached to them. They do this by comparing the files in your programs with those from their server. If something is missing in a given software, especially the latest security update, Secunia will direct you to the site where you can update your software.
Active Virus Shield – Built by AOL, this free software doesn’t only get daily but hourly updates on viruses and security measures. Built only for Windows users, you might want to have a faster internet connection and a stronger computer. Other than that, AOL’s Active Virus Shiled is highly efficient in scanning EVERYTHING downloaded and installed in your computer, especially e-mails.
HauteSecure.com – If you like to push your web experience to something dangerous so that it borders visiting dangerous sites, you might want to have HauteSecure.com with you at all times. This software is a plug-in to the Internet Explorer (no Firefox for now) and it scans the website before it allows you to see them. If anything that violates their security policy is detected, you’ll receive a pop-up from HauteSecure.com informing you about the website. If you’re a Firefox user, Link Scanner Lite is for you. Built by Exploit Prevention Labs, it works basically the same with HauteSecure.com.
GMER Anti-Rootkit – Anti-rootkit is a software that checks the background of your computer – driver installations, keys and processors. Before any attacks to any of your driver, GMER will prevent them by scanning the hard drive for any updates from your computer. This is important since the most dangerous viruses out there are those that can practically hook up with your driver and registry. Viruses may disable every driver you have and you end up with a very bad computer that can only be repaired by totally reformatting the computer.
CCleaner – Get the clutter out of your computer with this easy to use software. Most of the time, we forgot to delete the temporary files in our computer that could possible be a virus or will just slow down the system. CCleaner practically deletes everything in the temporary files folder and destroys them completely. Temporary files and cookies from different browsers will also be stored temporarily in CCleaner, but it could be vanished without a trace in your computer.
For everything from personal files to software and web navigation, there are a suite of security tools that you can try. You can never be too sure and it always helps to be prepared for the worst.
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Microsoft’s troubles with its new Vista operating system just got a bit worse. Yahoo news is reporting that the British agency in charge of educational technology (known as Becta) has banned the use of both Microsoft Vista and Office 2007 from UK schools and universities, citing compatibility issues and poor performance.
The agency was also troubled by the fact that Microsoft refuses to support the Open Document Format, which is now internationally recognized as the standardized format for educational institutions. Instead, Microsoft has developed their own open format called Office Open XML, though it has failed to receive significant support by educational institutions to date.
The UK educational agency commissioned a study to examine the practical benefits of upgrading British schools from Windows XP to Vista and Office 2007. The results of the study recommended against “upgrading” to either of the Microsoft products. The primary concerns were a poor cost-per-benefit ratio, and continuing compatibility issues between Vista and certain hardware and peripherals already in widespread use at British schools and universities.
The study concluded that the “benefits remain unclear,” according to director Stephen Lucy of the Becta agency, and that “upgrading existing ICT systems to Microsoft Vista or Office 2007 is not recommended.”
The British educational agengy’s ousting of Vista from the classroom mirrors similar bans now in effect in the United States. The US Department of Transportation, for example, has banned the use of Vista, Office 2007, and Internet Explorer 7, citing similar cost per benefit concerns and ongoing compatibility issues.
More and more, government and educational organizations are moving toward open source software, such as the Open Document Format, which has been embraced by schools and universities around the world as a standardized format for exchanging and editing text files.
The failure of Microsoft to support the Open Document Format has been a continued source of frustration for government agencies and educational institutions around the world. And with the British educational system being highly influential worldwide, it is likely that other countries may follow their move to reject Vista/Office 2007, depriving Microsoft of tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars in worldwide revenue.
The British agency is leaning toward open source products such as the Linux operating system, and other “small footprint” open source software products. And although Microsoft has refused to officially comment on the British Vista ban so far, it is clearly a major blow to their continued international dominance within educational and governmental agencies.
The British report not only discourages the use of Vista and Office 2007 in schools, it even encourages schools and colleges to make students aware of free or low-cost open source operating systems, productivity suites and other software– something which could be far more devistating to Microsoft’s profitability in the long run.
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