Browsers’ Change & Rise

Hello everyone.  This is my fifth blog of my techy entry, here in Tech Today.  Today’s blog topic is about how web browsers (like Internet Explorer, Firefox, etc.) change and rise from past to present.  Browsers have changed significantly throughout the years to improve their features and liability to give people what they need to surf the web.  From security to multitasking, browsers can make differences to make your Internet surfing easy to use.  When I first experienced the web, this was back in the year 2000.  Even though the Internet was out since 1998, I have never test drove it until two years later when my high school offered every student the code and access to the Internet.  I was quite excited to surf the Internet at my school because I learned the basic (1-2-3) steps on how to use the address bar; bookmarking my favorite sites; purpose of Internet usage and having fun.

I was a newbie of using the Internet during my time.  I didn’t have my own personal computer during that time.  I was a junior and I didn’t have any hardware to type and/or print.  The first browser I surfed the Internet on was Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.  Yep, it was an old version of the browser that ran on the school’s Windows 2000 machine.  Well, actually, I did using this similar browser at my friend’s house, which he had problems with his computer.  His computer was running a Windows Me OS.  Windows Me is a living nightmare.  I have experienced the crashes; bugs and malfunctions on my friend’s computer.  Back on topic, it was the only browser that I used when I was in school.  Another browser that I didn’t know was Netscape Navigator, which is proprietary of Warner/AOL.  It is kind of similar to Internet Explorer, but has a little more features offered to make surfing easier by its side bar panel and customization.  Internet Explorer did not offer customization.  It only offered simple features (which is great, but not enough).

I was a little bummed that I didn’t have a personal computer at home.  In order to do my report and/or homework by using Microsoft Word and researching on the Internet, I had to go to the library every single time.  I take that back.  I had to go to the library mostly everyday.  During my senior, my classes now offered to do reports and such through Word processing.  No more pen and paper required.  Since I had to research by web, no more checking out books required either.  My parents felt bad (a bit) that I had to go to the library to use the computer for my homework requirements.  They know how hard I had to work by typing my priorities.  So few months later, when my birthday arrived, so did my first computer as well.  I was extremely that I received my first machine (Windows XP).  I hooked everything up in minutes and turned it on.  It was beautiful and I couldn’t take my hands off the computer.  Back on topic again, when I surfed the web through my computer, Internet Explorer was completely different.  It was the sixth version and it looked easier than the previous version.  Although the connection was a letdown since it was a 56K dial-up.  There is one or few browsers that are horrible (including its customer service).  The browser I had to use mostly was AOL (since I have one year free with my computer).  The browser looked neat, but the program was terrible.  It is annoying when some pop-ups appear when you are working on homework and/or looking at pictures.  I cancelled the service and they tried to beg me to stay with them.  I denied their plead and took AOL out from my computer.

During the years passing by, browsers like Opera and Mozilla rose up from the ashes.  I have never heard of these browsers until when I was at college.  Opera is sort of like Firefox of right now, but I believe (if not) I heard that Opera do charge you for the use of the browser.  When I downloaded and tried it out at my home computer, there’s no charge for such thing.  Mozilla had a browser under the same name (before it was Firefox).  It was great because their internet speed is reliably fast.  Faster than the Internet Explorer.  Three months later, Mozilla announced Firefox and provided faster Internet speed, download speed and built-in Pop-Up Blocker than what Internet Explorer offer.  They are right about that.  They did offer everything that I can’t get from IE.  Plus, their tabbing feature is unbelievably great.  No more opening separate windows to surf one website to another.  That is when IE gets into competition when Microsoft released IE 7, which offer tabbing feature and other like Firefox.

Browsers change from time-to-time.  What we have seen in the past is still with us in the present, but with great features and security that we need.  Throughout our time, there will be newer versions of each browser and one day, there will be new browsers coming from above to give us their offering and positive guarantee to make our Internet the easiest place without complications.  This has been a tech blog entry.  I’ll see you next time here in Tech Today.

Alonso V

Are We Safe in the Internet World?

Hello everyone.  This is my fourth blog entry for Tech Today, your tech blog source.  Today’s blog topic is regarding of safety in cyberspace.  Are we really safe on the Internet?  Are we 100% secure from being watched and/or attacked by an unknown hacker at a moment of time?  We may never know.  But there are few advice on how to protect your PC and your life out of dangerous paths.  There have been many identity theft incidents by minutes in the process in our country.  We are all victims of stolen information by unknown thieves around the Web.  It harness the Internet, waiting for the right victim to come upon and snatch by cracking codes and numbers to access authorized personnel info.  This is how hackers get its way as if a thief robbed a bank out of the blue.  Hackers can disguised themselves as adware or spyware to sneak into your PC and grab any information it can to fulfill its destiny (if it has any).  This is mainly why people goes out and buy security software to avoid any hacking activity from the outside world.  Even if one think the software might stop them, hackers still can sneak in passed detection and firewall.  They have been down the road before and they will do anything to steal your information to accusation.

For example (true story); my friend was a victim of identity theft two months ago.  He has received many calls from his credit card company, letting him know that he owes this amount of money due to purchases that supposedly he committ.  He never made or committ those purchases.  He has never been to locations that the credit card company told him he has been.  He had to deal with the whole situation by checking accounts online and calling each company about his issue.  It took him days to get things straightened up.  Hopefully, he hopes that everything returns back to normal by this month or the next.  Identity theft (or unauthorized access information) is even worse than robbing money from a bank or the liquor market down a street.  FBI can lock-on hackers’ locations via their computer info station in Washington D.C.  One beep on their whereabouts, times up for the hacker’s stealing spree.

Another thing about being safe is cyberpredators.  Many kids do have experienced this years ago.  They would meet with each other on an IM-based chat room and/or social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook.  One person (which another don’t know who it is) never reveals its age, appeareance nor gender which is preying for victims.  For example; I remember back in 2002, one girl was talking to an unknown person on an instant-messaging program one day.  The person told her that he is a young boy at the age of 19 and claims to look like a high school football player.  The unknown person also told her to meet him at a nearby mall the next day to get to know each other.  She accepted the request.  The next day, she went to the mall to meet the person.  The person she met didn’t describe as what he said on the IM program.  He was a 45 year-old man.  He dragged her out of the mall and took her in the back of his van.  After few hours later, she was pronounced dead.  The investigators reported that the girl was sexually assaulted and beat up.  Seriously people; what is this world coming to?  It feels like young teens are not safe on the Internet than being safe out in the streets.  Parents should really look out for their kids so they won’t become the next victim to cyberpredators.

Finally, hacker attacks is the biggest issue around the world.  Hacker tend to send out its viruses and/or trojans to random computer systems for fun or purpose.  I was the victim of the hacker attack (once), but then I protected myself of the use of a software that my friend gave me years ago to keep hacker attacks away from my computer.  Viruses and/or trojans may sneak up on your computer via email attachment; going to unsafe websites and/or download unheard software.  Even downloading music via programs like Limewire or any program may cause this too.  It is helpful with anti-virus programs to finish the job and making your PC 100% virus-free.  But most times, virus won’t go away.  It stays hidden until when PC is shut off or ticking like a time bomb to spread and corrupt your system files and so on.

The question is: who is protecting us?  We can’t protect ourselves.  The government agency should do something about these issues that I have went over.  It’s like if they are telling us to have self-defense to someone that has a concealed weapon and ready to start a murdering spree.  We may have programs that will defeat these purposes, but it is really not enough.  We need more strength and protection for our Internet, our PC and our lives.  We’ll see what will happen in the near future.  I hope we get enough protection to save our skins.  This has been my tech blog and I’ll see you next time.

Alonso V

Touch Screen Devices for the Future

Hello everyone.  This is my third blog entry for Tech Today, my personal techy blog.  Today’s blog topic is regarding about touch screen devices that may revolutionize our future in the computer industry.  There are many devices, now these days, that carry the touch screen feature.  Touch screen (or finger sensor) is the next big thing to bring computers and mobile devices to an advanced state of production.  Actually, the Apple iPhone wasn’t the first touch screen device to rise up.  First of all, there were PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) like Blackberry, Palm and other PDA developers.

The Palm Pilots were the first to bring the first-gen touch screen, but only used with the stylus pen type.  It was being used by many business enthusiasts for work purposes.  For example; my Business professor (back at Riverside Community College 3 years ago) always showed me what features do the PDAs maintain and what purpose does it have.  He owns a Palm LifeDrive, which carries the Palm OS and many programs for your business needs.  I was thinking of getting one, but I wasn’t ready for it because I have to wait for the right time into fiddling around with one in the future.

Although the years passed by and technology went to a whole new level.  The Apple iPhone revolutionized the touch screen device era.  I remember Apple announced this great device in 2007.  This is the first PDA like device to have a phone call capability, a built-in camera and great programs pre-installed.  The first day the iPhone was released worldwide, everyone purchased their very own device.  Although the downside is that many have to sign up for AT&T’s wireless carrier service to fully function the use of the iPhone.  Many people went on and switched their cell phone carrier to get the phone while others denied their decision on this purchase nor the service.  The iPhone has the next-gen touch screen feature where we can use our fingers instead of the use of stylus pen.  This made technology easier.

Within this year and the following, there will be new technology that will make the use of touch screen sensitive.  For example; Apple released the iPod Touch in 2007, an iPod with the touch screen feature similar to the iPhone (without phone capability nor camera).  Also Blackberry is ready to unleash their new touch screen smartphone called the “Storm” exclusively from Verizon Wireless.  Many touch screen phones from various phone makers are trying to go on top to beat the iPhone.  Most phones do succeed, but most don’t.

HP announced earlier (also available in commercial on TV) that they released their first touch screen desktop PC, which is pretty neat to have.  Technology have changed over the years and this one is definitely showing its revolution.  What’s next to go along with this?  I hope we see a feature where the screen can detect our fingers (biometrics I may say).  Once the touch screen technology reads our fingers, it will identify who we are.  Think of them as robots, giving us access to our personal space.  This technology can bring business and personal use to a new whole for our future in the world.

Technology is changing by year and many great features are must-have for previous hardware.  Music players, digital cameras and other hardware are in a treat for touch screen implantation.  Touch screen devices are the future technology to live from today to beyond.  This has been my tech blog for today.  See you next time.

Alonso V

User Control Panel. Good but Annoying.

Hello everyone.  This is my second blog of Tech Today.  My blog topic for today has to do with the user control panel that people (including myself) were always talking about in Windows Vista.  When Microsoft released the Vista OS the first day in store shelves, people were proud to purchase and install in their PCs to experience new features and look to offer.  But when it comes to installing programs and/or adding new hardware to your Vista-based PC, what do people see for the first time on their monitor screens?  Yep, that’s correct.  The user control panel.  This feature helps prevents unauthorized installations and/or changes while the owner (or administrator of the PC) is not present.  Pretty good to start off with.  It does help pretty much from anything.  For example; it helps me because I am not at home all day (since I attend CSUSB) and people who try to install programs on my PC, the control panel window pops up, asking them for my password.  Since they don’t know my password, they can’t install programs and/or do anything alterations that I have customized the first time I set up.

Although there’s one thing that is making Vista look bad.  The authorized user control panel keeps popping up every time I install new programs and/or hardware.  Even if I am an administrator of my own PC, this affects me.  Whenever I read reviews regarding about this issue, people are complaining about the annoying user pop-up.  If I made an operating system software like Vista, I would have commanded the user control panel to only limited setting account users, not to administrating accounts.  The bad part about the user control panel is the chaos that it causes to peoples’ computers.  For example; two weeks ago, I purchased the Adobe Creative Suite 4 pack for both Windows and Mac.  I popped in the CS4 DVD into my computer’s DVD drive.  It read the DVD and was ready to install.  But then the DVD drive suddenly stopped reading the DVD and Windows popped up an error saying, “You are not the authorized user of this computer nor account.  Pleae contact computer administrator for issue notice.”  It was strange because I am the administrator and why do I need to contact myself.  I entered my password and it went through, but nothing happened.  Suddenly, Vista brought up that error again and it really ticked me off.  I entered my password again and then the computer shut down automatically.  I was kind of scared that I thought my PC died.  When I booted up, it was running perfectly.  I gave the Adobe installation a try again, but it did the same thing.  So which one do I blame for this issue?  I am pretty sure that Adobe is not responsible for this.  My finger is pointed to Vista.  What I had to do is return the Windows copy to the store for my refund.  I kept the Mac version since I never had any problem with it.

People who have Vista right now might be experiencing the same issue right now.  If not, they are still annoyed by the user control panel popping every time.  This is why the Vista went down to a low, which is why I also clean out my hard drive and installed XP back on.  I might as well wait for the new Windows 7 that is making its debut next year.  I just hope the new version will fix or take this annoying feature away.  If Microsoft can succeed with the Windows 7, this solves all of our problems.  Well, not all of them, but we need to make sure that it is stable, reliable and have much security from viruses and other dangerous harms.  This has been my second blog.  See you next time.

Alonso V

Windows or Mac?

Hello ladies & gentlemen.  Welcome to Tech Today, my personal tech blog to keep you up-to-date on the latest technology from across the globe.  As you know, this is my first blog to ever post.  No need to be excited; I am here to give you the tips and advice whether a technology, you have been looking forward to, is worth the money and use.

The blog topic for today is about two operating systems that people are in need of a decision to go for.  We have Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac.  Which system to go for?  Let’s take a look into what I have to say about both PC and Mac.

Let us talk about Windows as the first starter of the blog.  In today’s society, many people are switching from XP to Vista due to its awesome graphical interface and sleek look.  On the other hand, mostly everyone are sticking to XP because Vista has encountered many problems and people can’t take it anymore.  For example; many experienced administrative security problems when it comes to the point of installing programs to your PC.  Not only that, there are few programs and/or hardware that don’t support Vista.  Why?  I have no idea.  Maybe it has something to do with the Vista programming being different than the XP or the previous Windows version.  Although a few (or many) people never experienced any problems with Vista.  That’s a good sign for them.  Although it may not be for long a good sign.  When Service Pack 1 came out for Vista (to fix problems), it still persists out of existence.  However, buying a PC and/or laptop are inexpensive.  They are affordable to own (during sales and/or advertisements) to get peoples’ attention.  People are looking for a decent machine for their kids and/or themselves without having to shell out too much money.  Unless if you’re a PC gamer, then that’s when the big bucks goes out the door.

Let us change directions now to the Mac.  The Mac is an advanced operating system that never failed by any problems.  Apple is known to create hardware and software.  Apple is getting smart by keeping surveillance on any issue(s) people experience.  Whether you have a hardware failure or any unknown experience with your Mac OS, Apple has you covered.  The recent Mac OS released was the Leopard (known as 10.5).  The Leopard is great by its new features and dock look.  But the problem is the slow performance when using the 3D look of the dock and stacks.  I have experienced its slowness, but I can’t tell from this.  It looks as if it was running at its normal operation.  People have switched to the Tiger OS (10.4) since it had fast performance.  However, the performance and architecture will change by Mac’s newest OS coming out by next year, Snow Leopard.  It’s not an upgraded OS; it is an enhancement of the Leopard that people are looking forward to.  Many people don’t want the Mac due to limited programs and hardware.  In my opinion, every hardware is compatible with both Windows and Mac.  Limited software can be true, but Apple is getting the love and support from many software makers to work.  The Macs are expensive to purchase (which it is also another reason), but many people will often buy one due to reliability and safety from harm’s way.  Apple do carry a hefty price tag, but it’s worth the purchase.

Coming to the big part, are each OS worth to have for the business world and society?  Well, it all depends.  Whether you are an artists, graphic designer, or any career in the art and design industry, the Mac will likely be the choice.  For example; Adobe (the leading graphic and web design publisher) has full support for Macs due to its color calibration and graphical user interface.  They have been on Apple’s side for years since the release of Photoshop 7.0.  For artistic and/or design, it will work wonders with Windows, but Macs are preferrable by many companies.  For business companies (computer, finance, etc.), both OS are dependable.  Many companies might use Windows due to using Office programs and other financing programs suitable for their needs.  Other companies might use the Mac since there’s a Office version for the Mac (that is supposed to be better than Windows version) and has many graphical use for presentations and spreadsheets.  Many might use both (one or the other).  It all depends on your taste and use of an OS.  Whether you are Windows literate, Mac literate or both, any OS will help you with your career and future.

That’s all I have for today’s post.  If you want to learn more about each operating systems and/or which one is right for you, please visit the links.

http://www.apple.com
http://www.microsoft.com
http://www.adobe.com

See you next time.

Alonso V