It's been a very long time since my last post.
Four months is definitely a long time. I've been very busy in that span of time since work has been unusually hectic and there just hasn't been time for posting.
At any rate, I'm back and with something new to say: STREAMING TV.
Steve Jobs, at his MacWorld Expo speech, introduced the world to AppleTV which promises to stream video into your living room TV. That's not what I want to talk about. I'm here to talk about the availability of TV episodes streamed over the internet directly to your computer monitor (LCD or otherwise). Now, you people might not think this is such a big thing. Imagine, though, all the TV episodes you ever wanted to see available right away on a single site.
This is the promise being fulfilled by YourTVLinks. This site is an aggregator of streaming video from such sites as YouTube or DailyMotion which show episodes of TV shows airing in the United States (or elsewhere). Currently, the site is fairly sparse and unattractive however the variety of available shows more than makes up for this.
Check it out, people. If you don't want to go to the hassle of downloading shows and watching them later or waiting for cable TV to air the shows you want, this could be exactly what the doctor ordered.
Till next time, gentle readers.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Pinoy Piracy
This blog will never endorse software piracy.
Piracy is, of course, a fairly tough word to define. Pinoy Technology Review (PTR) defines piracy as the unauthorized use of copyrighted material in a manner that violates the original copyright owner's rights, such as the right to reproduce or perform the copyrighted work, or to make derivative works that build upon it. Under this definition, and using my (grossly) underutilized legal skills, TV shows which air on public TV would not qualify. If, for example, I wanted to see episodes of the TV show Grey's Anatomy, which airs on Studio23 (free TV) anyway, I'd be well within my rights to get it online for private viewing only.
Of course, the guys at ABC would almost certainly disagree with me.
At any rate, I would never endorse the illegal downloading of movies, software, or music. Of course, I do borrow these things from good friends. That's not considered illegal, I believe. Does it really matter if these good friends live in other countries very far away? Or if I only see them online? Friendship, I believe, has no boundaries, actual or virtual.
What does the average Pinoy need to know about software piracy? It's always been my policy to know the enemy. That way, you will know best how to combat it.
Cheers!
Piracy is, of course, a fairly tough word to define. Pinoy Technology Review (PTR) defines piracy as the unauthorized use of copyrighted material in a manner that violates the original copyright owner's rights, such as the right to reproduce or perform the copyrighted work, or to make derivative works that build upon it. Under this definition, and using my (grossly) underutilized legal skills, TV shows which air on public TV would not qualify. If, for example, I wanted to see episodes of the TV show Grey's Anatomy, which airs on Studio23 (free TV) anyway, I'd be well within my rights to get it online for private viewing only.
Of course, the guys at ABC would almost certainly disagree with me.
At any rate, I would never endorse the illegal downloading of movies, software, or music. Of course, I do borrow these things from good friends. That's not considered illegal, I believe. Does it really matter if these good friends live in other countries very far away? Or if I only see them online? Friendship, I believe, has no boundaries, actual or virtual.
What does the average Pinoy need to know about software piracy? It's always been my policy to know the enemy. That way, you will know best how to combat it.
- Bandwidth - Defined as the amount of information downloadable from any webserver over a prescribed period of time, it defines how quickly your download will complete. This is governed by the capacity of the downloader as well as the source. Broadband ISP's normally quote differences in rates according to the bandwidth of the plan. Higher bandwidth = Greater speed = Higher price.
- P2P Network - Expanded as peer-to-peer network, it is defined as a network that relies primarily on the computing power and bandwidth of the participants in the network rather than concentrating it in a relatively low number of servers. In simple terms, you're connected to a huge network with no single central node. Think Friendster, but real online connections, not pages.
- P2P Client - Typically a piece of software that provides connectivity to a specific P2P network. The most popular of these is Limewire, which allows the exchange of almost any piece of digital content as long as a member of the network provides this same content to another member willingly.
- Seeder - This online slang term refers to the various sources of the files available for download. Potentially, anyone with a copy of the content can be a seeder; all it takes is a willingness to leave your computer and internet connection on for very long periods of time. Seeders (or seeds, for short) are also critical in evaluating how quickly a particular piece of content will download. The greater the number of seeds, the faster your download will complete.
- Leecher - This derogatory term refers to the people who basically grab content without giving anything back to the community. This term is usually tagged on people who don't share content (if on a P2P network) or don't share bandwidth (if on a Bittorrent network, see below). Remember that the internet is a community and becoming an outcast of this community is VERY BAD.
- Peers - This is a slightly less derogatory term more commonly used in the world of bittorrent (see below). This refers to, basically, leechers who also act as seeders. Peers are cool as long as they become seeders when the time is right. Peers who become leechers have basically gone over to the dark side.
- Bittorrent - The new buzzword of the downloading community and the bane of entertainment companies worldwide, this innovative variant of the standard P2P network allows the exchange of large files or sets of files (scale can be in gigabytes, not megabytes) by breaking them down into manageable bits. These bits are then sourced from different peers within the network. As soon as a particular bit is downloaded, the user becomes a fellow peer who acts as a source of that bit to another downloader. This ever-expanding tree enables downloads to reach almost 1 megabyte per second in speed. The mainline software, as originally developed & updated by Bram Cohen, for this is available here.
- Bittorrent Client - Similar to a P2P client, this software enables access to, and use of, the bittorrent technology. Popular bittorrent clients include Azureus, BitLord, and Bittornado.
- Bittorrent Sites - These are websites which provide the bittorrent addresses for downloading of specific files. Although many of them have been shut down (suprnova was the most famous one), many continue to defy the law and domicile themselves in countries where the law is murky at best. A quick Google search will turn any number of these sites up. Remember, you are responsible for which files you download so be careful.
Cheers!
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Essential Applications for PC Users
One of the most important things about a computer is software.
These are the programs that you use on a daily basis. Without them, your computer is simply a massive paperweight that takes up too much desk space. Here are some software essentials that you would do well to seek out online to make your digital life more fulfilling, not to mention safe.
1. Zone Alarm - This will likely be one of the most important pieces of software you could have in your computer. Zone Alarm is easily downloadable from here and is FREE. It's also one of the most widely used firewall programs in the market today. Simple and straightforward, this is computing at its safest.
2. Yahoo Toolbar - Spyware is one of the biggest headaches you could have in surfing the net. These ubiquitous little programs attach themselves to your PC like leeches and gradually suck away at your PC's resources. Keep them at arm's length with the easily overlooked anti-spyware facility within the Yahoo toolbar. You may not need all the other stuff that the toolbar provides so install it for your Internet Explorer browser. You can use another browser for your usual browsing anyway, which I'll get to in a bit. You can download this very useful little program here.
3. AVG Antivirus - With the wealth of viruses, trojan horses, and keylogging programs out there, it's plain suicide for anyone to be surfing the net without one of these essential programs to protect your PC and your identity. AVG antivirus is the premier antivirus program that remains free to use. There are, of course, other antivirus programs out there which are just as good, if not better. Unfortunately, they also cost a lot and for the budget-conscious pinoy, they are simply out of reach. You can download the free version of this valuable piece of software here.
4. Mozilla Firefox - Your browser is your window into the huge online world out there. Your Windows PC will, of course, come bundled with the Internet Explorer browser which, although fairly ok in terms of browsing experience, does lack certain features that make browsing more enjoyable. The Firefox browser, developed using open-source technology by the Mozilla Foundation, is the most feature-packed browser available today. Packing top-of-the-line security features with a built-in popup blocker, this little baby also provides users with the convenience of tabbed browsing which saves on valuable screen space. Download this with confidence right here.
5. iTunes - Using your computer as a multimedia station is nothing new. Microsoft already thought of this by including the Windows Media Player in nearly all versions of Windows. Apple takes it to a whole new level, however, with iTunes. Designed with the audiophile in mind, this program is good to have even if you don't have an iPod. It's probably the best mp3 manager software available and, yes, it's also free. The slick interface so characteristic of Apple is retained in the PC version of iTunes and you could ask for nothing more. Grab this great piece of software here.
Well, this list should give all you prospective responsible netizens something to chew on for the next couple of days. It's also handy to save the install programs on a thumb drive in case of hard disk failure (something that happens all too often, I'm afraid). Till next time, gentle readers.
These are the programs that you use on a daily basis. Without them, your computer is simply a massive paperweight that takes up too much desk space. Here are some software essentials that you would do well to seek out online to make your digital life more fulfilling, not to mention safe.
1. Zone Alarm - This will likely be one of the most important pieces of software you could have in your computer. Zone Alarm is easily downloadable from here and is FREE. It's also one of the most widely used firewall programs in the market today. Simple and straightforward, this is computing at its safest.
2. Yahoo Toolbar - Spyware is one of the biggest headaches you could have in surfing the net. These ubiquitous little programs attach themselves to your PC like leeches and gradually suck away at your PC's resources. Keep them at arm's length with the easily overlooked anti-spyware facility within the Yahoo toolbar. You may not need all the other stuff that the toolbar provides so install it for your Internet Explorer browser. You can use another browser for your usual browsing anyway, which I'll get to in a bit. You can download this very useful little program here.
3. AVG Antivirus - With the wealth of viruses, trojan horses, and keylogging programs out there, it's plain suicide for anyone to be surfing the net without one of these essential programs to protect your PC and your identity. AVG antivirus is the premier antivirus program that remains free to use. There are, of course, other antivirus programs out there which are just as good, if not better. Unfortunately, they also cost a lot and for the budget-conscious pinoy, they are simply out of reach. You can download the free version of this valuable piece of software here.
4. Mozilla Firefox - Your browser is your window into the huge online world out there. Your Windows PC will, of course, come bundled with the Internet Explorer browser which, although fairly ok in terms of browsing experience, does lack certain features that make browsing more enjoyable. The Firefox browser, developed using open-source technology by the Mozilla Foundation, is the most feature-packed browser available today. Packing top-of-the-line security features with a built-in popup blocker, this little baby also provides users with the convenience of tabbed browsing which saves on valuable screen space. Download this with confidence right here.
5. iTunes - Using your computer as a multimedia station is nothing new. Microsoft already thought of this by including the Windows Media Player in nearly all versions of Windows. Apple takes it to a whole new level, however, with iTunes. Designed with the audiophile in mind, this program is good to have even if you don't have an iPod. It's probably the best mp3 manager software available and, yes, it's also free. The slick interface so characteristic of Apple is retained in the PC version of iTunes and you could ask for nothing more. Grab this great piece of software here.
Well, this list should give all you prospective responsible netizens something to chew on for the next couple of days. It's also handy to save the install programs on a thumb drive in case of hard disk failure (something that happens all too often, I'm afraid). Till next time, gentle readers.
Monday, August 28, 2006
Pinoy Digital Life
Embarking on a digital lifestyle in the Philippines can be a daunting task.
The very first thing you need is, of course, your own computer. Now, a PC can be as simple as the lightest laptop or notebook (I'll refer to these as mobile) computer you can find or as complex as the most powerful desktop server replacement available. There's a whole range of choices available to the average Pinoy consumer however here are some tips that could point you in the right direction.
1. Think about connectivity. Your PC is nothing nowadays without the internet. An unconnected PC is nothing but a glorified typewriter and calculator and any PC's full potential can only be used once it's linked to the internet. How you're going to be linked will determine what type of PC you'll be getting. If you've got a broadband connection at home (either via PLDT myDSL or GlobeQUEST DSL) then your best bet will likely be a desktop PC since you likely won't be moving around much. Mobility options would waste the monthly fee you're paying these telcos to maintain your internet connection. If you've got a dial-up connection at home (either via i-Manila or Pacific Internet or some such) then you'll want the flexibility afforded by a mobile PC. This way, you can take advantage of available wi-fi networks outside the home while using your home dial-up when you're home. If you're not living at home (dorm, rental condo, etc), then a mobile PC is your best bet since you never know when you'll be moving.
2. Think about requirement. The power in your PC defines how much you can do with it. Of course, we'd all like a massive amount of power "under the hood", so to speak. Unfortunately, this power comes at a cost and not all of us are willing to pay for it. Thus, we come back to requirement. If, after thinking about connectivity, you've decided that you need a desktop PC, then your power choices are more diverse. Desktop PC's run the gamut from low-powered versions that a notebook PC could beat with one cooling fan shut off to high-powered behemoths that could pitch in as servers if the need arose. My personal feel is that if you're getting a desktop anyway, go for the high-end processors. These will give you the greatest functionality while lasting longer (i.e. not being left behind by new technology and applications). The usual Pentium 4 2.0 GHz would be a minimum in this case. If you've decided on a mobile PC, then the choice comes down to light and portable (notebook PC) vs heavy and powerful (desktop replacement PC). Gamers will of course want the most powerful desktop replacement PC available since games use tons of computing resources. The same goes for graphic designers and architects who use these monsters for work. If you're not sure, think of what you value more: mobility or flexibility (they're not the same). Mobility refers to how important is it that your computer can go wherever you go. If you do lots of traveling, then your chief concern could be mobility, in which case you can't really be a stickler for power options. Flexibility refers to how much stuff you can do on your machine. If you want to use it for surfing, doing your taxes, typing out letters and papers, making presentations, doing a bit of gaming here and there, then you'll want flexibility which means lugging your machine around will be that much harder. Final result: make your choice and stick to it.
3. Think about peripherals. Remember that your computer is not limited to just the processor. One of the most important things that new PC buyers neglect is RAM (random access memory) which is basically your computer's erasable scratch pad. The bigger your RAM, the faster your computer can make calculations and perform actions that you want it to do. Rule of thumb for RAM is get the most RAM that you can afford, then add more once you can afford more. There is no upper limit as far as RAM is concerned except for the capacity of your motherboard. In today's terms, 1GB of RAM would be minimum for running your computer efficiently. 2GB of RAM would be preferred.
USB ports are the gateways to your system. Basically, if you're anticipating using lots of gadgets with your computer (i.e. mp3 player, PDA, mobile phone, thumb drive, etc), you're going to need as many USB ports as you can get your hands on. 4 USB ports would be ideal. Most PC's provide 2-3 ports. All's not lost, however, as you can purchase a USB hub that turns a single port into 3 ports.
What optical drive will you be needing? Nowadays, the standard CD-R/W drive is just not enough. The minimum would be a DVD-ROM drive that could burn CDs and read DVDs. The limitation, of course, is that your drive won't be able to burn DVDs. Even then, new formats of DVDs are coming out in the market (i.e. Blu-Ray, HD-DVD) however, as the preferred format has not yet been determined, I'd hold off on making that high-end new format purchase. If you're going to use your PC for multimedia, a DVD-R/W drive is a definite must since you'll be burning DVDs till the wee hours of the morning anyway.
4. Think about software. There was a time when this wasn't really something that needed any thought at all. Windows dominated the scene and Macs couldn't run Windows programs so the obvious choice for software (at least in terms of volume and flexibility) would be Windows. The field has now changed with Apple coming out with Boot Camp. This nifty piece of software allows a Mac to boot in Windows XP which allows the Mac to run Windows programs without any noticeable differences. Neat, huh? Suddenly, you've got Macs that can run both Mac OS X and Windows XP, the ultimate in computer software flexibility because, let's face it, Mac software is pretty darn good. I won't go into the whole Apple vs Microsoft thing right now. Instead, I'll leave this point for another post.
Well, this turned out to be a pretty long post but hopefully it'll give you some idea on what kind of PC to buy which will make your online searches more productive.
The very first thing you need is, of course, your own computer. Now, a PC can be as simple as the lightest laptop or notebook (I'll refer to these as mobile) computer you can find or as complex as the most powerful desktop server replacement available. There's a whole range of choices available to the average Pinoy consumer however here are some tips that could point you in the right direction.
1. Think about connectivity. Your PC is nothing nowadays without the internet. An unconnected PC is nothing but a glorified typewriter and calculator and any PC's full potential can only be used once it's linked to the internet. How you're going to be linked will determine what type of PC you'll be getting. If you've got a broadband connection at home (either via PLDT myDSL or GlobeQUEST DSL) then your best bet will likely be a desktop PC since you likely won't be moving around much. Mobility options would waste the monthly fee you're paying these telcos to maintain your internet connection. If you've got a dial-up connection at home (either via i-Manila or Pacific Internet or some such) then you'll want the flexibility afforded by a mobile PC. This way, you can take advantage of available wi-fi networks outside the home while using your home dial-up when you're home. If you're not living at home (dorm, rental condo, etc), then a mobile PC is your best bet since you never know when you'll be moving.
2. Think about requirement. The power in your PC defines how much you can do with it. Of course, we'd all like a massive amount of power "under the hood", so to speak. Unfortunately, this power comes at a cost and not all of us are willing to pay for it. Thus, we come back to requirement. If, after thinking about connectivity, you've decided that you need a desktop PC, then your power choices are more diverse. Desktop PC's run the gamut from low-powered versions that a notebook PC could beat with one cooling fan shut off to high-powered behemoths that could pitch in as servers if the need arose. My personal feel is that if you're getting a desktop anyway, go for the high-end processors. These will give you the greatest functionality while lasting longer (i.e. not being left behind by new technology and applications). The usual Pentium 4 2.0 GHz would be a minimum in this case. If you've decided on a mobile PC, then the choice comes down to light and portable (notebook PC) vs heavy and powerful (desktop replacement PC). Gamers will of course want the most powerful desktop replacement PC available since games use tons of computing resources. The same goes for graphic designers and architects who use these monsters for work. If you're not sure, think of what you value more: mobility or flexibility (they're not the same). Mobility refers to how important is it that your computer can go wherever you go. If you do lots of traveling, then your chief concern could be mobility, in which case you can't really be a stickler for power options. Flexibility refers to how much stuff you can do on your machine. If you want to use it for surfing, doing your taxes, typing out letters and papers, making presentations, doing a bit of gaming here and there, then you'll want flexibility which means lugging your machine around will be that much harder. Final result: make your choice and stick to it.
3. Think about peripherals. Remember that your computer is not limited to just the processor. One of the most important things that new PC buyers neglect is RAM (random access memory) which is basically your computer's erasable scratch pad. The bigger your RAM, the faster your computer can make calculations and perform actions that you want it to do. Rule of thumb for RAM is get the most RAM that you can afford, then add more once you can afford more. There is no upper limit as far as RAM is concerned except for the capacity of your motherboard. In today's terms, 1GB of RAM would be minimum for running your computer efficiently. 2GB of RAM would be preferred.
USB ports are the gateways to your system. Basically, if you're anticipating using lots of gadgets with your computer (i.e. mp3 player, PDA, mobile phone, thumb drive, etc), you're going to need as many USB ports as you can get your hands on. 4 USB ports would be ideal. Most PC's provide 2-3 ports. All's not lost, however, as you can purchase a USB hub that turns a single port into 3 ports.
What optical drive will you be needing? Nowadays, the standard CD-R/W drive is just not enough. The minimum would be a DVD-ROM drive that could burn CDs and read DVDs. The limitation, of course, is that your drive won't be able to burn DVDs. Even then, new formats of DVDs are coming out in the market (i.e. Blu-Ray, HD-DVD) however, as the preferred format has not yet been determined, I'd hold off on making that high-end new format purchase. If you're going to use your PC for multimedia, a DVD-R/W drive is a definite must since you'll be burning DVDs till the wee hours of the morning anyway.
4. Think about software. There was a time when this wasn't really something that needed any thought at all. Windows dominated the scene and Macs couldn't run Windows programs so the obvious choice for software (at least in terms of volume and flexibility) would be Windows. The field has now changed with Apple coming out with Boot Camp. This nifty piece of software allows a Mac to boot in Windows XP which allows the Mac to run Windows programs without any noticeable differences. Neat, huh? Suddenly, you've got Macs that can run both Mac OS X and Windows XP, the ultimate in computer software flexibility because, let's face it, Mac software is pretty darn good. I won't go into the whole Apple vs Microsoft thing right now. Instead, I'll leave this point for another post.
Well, this turned out to be a pretty long post but hopefully it'll give you some idea on what kind of PC to buy which will make your online searches more productive.
Technology for the Networked Pinoy
I hate technology.
My loathing for technology is rooted in its very nature: always in flux, always changing, always in motion. Many people would say that it is this very quality of technology that makes it so appealing and worthy of time. After all, without technology, I wouldn't be able to write this blog.
The problem with technology is that we always have to get the latest stuff, the newest stuff, the most powerful stuff. "Just get what's appropriate for your needs," my friends would tell me whenever I'm contemplating another tech purchase. Let's face it. If I was just going to buy stuff I needed, I'd end up with very little stuff. And none of it would be very cool, either.
And all that cool stuff comes at a price, you know. The best stuff is usually very expensive. I can honestly say that sometimes I work just to support this addiction.
Yes. I'm a tech addict.
My loathing for technology is rooted in its very nature: always in flux, always changing, always in motion. Many people would say that it is this very quality of technology that makes it so appealing and worthy of time. After all, without technology, I wouldn't be able to write this blog.
The problem with technology is that we always have to get the latest stuff, the newest stuff, the most powerful stuff. "Just get what's appropriate for your needs," my friends would tell me whenever I'm contemplating another tech purchase. Let's face it. If I was just going to buy stuff I needed, I'd end up with very little stuff. And none of it would be very cool, either.
And all that cool stuff comes at a price, you know. The best stuff is usually very expensive. I can honestly say that sometimes I work just to support this addiction.
Yes. I'm a tech addict.
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