Stability Systems

Widgets for the Web and Desktop

When the Internet was new, web pages were pretty basic. They consisted of text, maybe a picture or two, and some links. Now, web pages are interactive and allow visitors to see and do many different things. Many of these activities are done through the use of widgets.

Widgets are little applications that can be installed and executed while the user is on the web page. The first widgets were very basic and included things such as visitor counters, clocks, and certain link share advertising banners. Now widgets can do many different things on a web page. The most common types of widgets today are flash and javascript based.

Widgets are very popular today, in much the same way that apps (applications) are on smart phones. They allow the user to tailor their browsing experience to fit their needs. The social networking sites and blogs have really embraced the concept of widgets. For example, if you are a blog owner, you may add widgets to your blog that update anyone who reads of the sports scores of your favorite team or the weather in your town. The ability to offer personalized content such as this is very appealing to many website and blog owners.

Another type of widget that is available is a desktop widget. These are similar to those you use on the internet, but instead they are small programs that are downloaded and stay on your desktop for easy use. Many of these are organizational in nature and may include things such as a to-do list, timer, address utility, and other similar products. These products are downloaded and used directly from the computer so they do not affect what any other web user sees on their end. Apple has a proprietary format of desktop widgets that are only able to be accessed by Macintosh computers

Filed Under: Operating Systems, Software Tagged With: Apple, Web page, Widget engine

Choosing Hardware for Linux

Linux is the hottest operating system out there. True, it may not be as wide spread as Windows, but Linux holds the major advantage of being free.

Before you jump into getting a computer and running Linux to your heart’s content, you may want to consider some important tips. Linux is fairly flexible on most computers. There are some hardware aspects to be aware of, though.

It’s best to get a MicroATX and have at least 250 watts when it comes to Case/Power supply. You also want the best processor you can afford. The recommended minimum would be a Pentium II which has 400 Mhz. Remember though, you don’t need so much processing power if you are using the computer for other purposes, such as a server rather than your primary computer source.

The motherboard is one of the most essential items to consider since it’s going to have great influence on your operating system. First of all, get one that has newer and better chipsets. It won’t do you any good to be running old, outdated chipsets. It is recommended that you check with the community and Kernel support for best feedback regarding Motherboards. Another resource is also manufacturers of hardware, although they may not have as much information regarding Linux. When it comes to RAM, the minimum needed is 128 Mb, but it is better to have a higher RAM, such as one with 192 Mb. Memory is an important component to the system, especially if you are going to use your computer as a server. Linux is not preferential in what type of RAM you use, but for a top performance consider RDRAM when using Intel for best results.

If you take some of these tips into consideration, you can build a great computer from the start that can run Linux to its optimum capacity. Don’t be afraid to try Linux on your existing computer, though. You will be pleasantly surprised by how much you like it.

Filed Under: Hardware, Operating Systems Tagged With: Linux, Motherboard, Operating system

The Functioning of an Operating System

An operating system is the software section of a computer system responsible for the coordination and management of activities and the sharing of resources within a computer. The operating system, also known as OS, serves as a host for a variety of application programs which run on the computer. One of the purposes of the operating system, as it serves as a host, is to manage the details of the hardware operations. This process relieves the application programs from having to handle these details and this makes application writing easier. Most computers include supercomputers, desktop computers, modern video game consoles and hand-held computers. All of these use some type of operating system

The operating system offers a variety of services to users and application programs. Application programming interfaces, also known as application programming interfaces or system calls, allow applications access to these services. When these interfaces are invoked, a request can be made by an application from pass parameters, operating systems and where results of the operation are received. By using graphical user interface, also known as GUI or by typing in commands, users are able to network with the operating system. The GUI is typically employed for large multi-user systems as application programs that run on the outside of the OS.

Modern types of OS supply the capabilities of programs of multiple applications simultaneously, which is known as multiprogramming. Within the OS, every program that runs is characterized by a process. An executive environment is provided within this system for each process by use of hardware resource sharing to ensure that each application has no need to be made aware of other processes executions. The central processing unit, known as the CPU, provides sections of the computer to be utilized by one program at a time. The CPU can be shared by the operating system among processes by something called slicing.

Filed Under: Operating Systems Tagged With: Android, Operating system, Programming

4 Password Managers to Choose From

If you are like a lot of people, you have so many different passwords that you have trouble remembering all of them. But the good news is that there are things that you can use to help with password creation and management. Here are a few that you can use to get started.

Keepass – This great password manager is open source, free, and can be used on all of the platforms. The only thing that you have to remember is a single password to master all of the others. It also is available for use with your mobile phone.
Roboform – This is a password manager for Windows that is also useful filling in web forms easily. It also has an extension for Firefox and Internet Explorer and it has a portable version. There is a free version that has some limited features, but the pro version is available and costs about $30.
Firefox – There’s a password manager that is built into Firefox that will help you with managing the passwords for the Internet. It also offers an option for master password creation. Doing this will add another security layer.
LastPass – This application added some new features recently and it could be on its way to becoming to password manager that most people use. It helps in creating strong passwords, allows you to manage them anywhere you go, and it also fills in your web forms. It’s a browser add-on and it has the ability to import the passwords from other managers. It’s also useable on public computers as well.

Passwords are sometimes hard to remember but when you have a good password manager, it makes it a lot easier. With a lot of password managers to choose from, you have plenty of different options for your Windows or Mac OS.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: Firefox, LastPass, Password manager

Hard Drive Damages

The last thing you want to hear while you are using your computer is a clicking sound coming from your hard drive. This generally means that your hard drive is having issues, and we all know that is not a good thing. Some hard drives will send a message to accompany these sounds, but there are many different things that can cause hard drive failures and here’s a look at a few:

The drive head is smashed. Data is stored on magnet plates in the hard drive and the hard drive head provides the data reading and writing ability. If this head encounters scratches or dents on the magnets, that clicking sound is produced. You should take care of this problem immediately to eliminate the chance of additional damage. Turn off your computer and call data recovery professionals.

Hard disk bad sectors are situations where those magnetic plates become corrupt for any number of reasons. When the head hits one of the corrupt sectors, it cannot read the data, and again produces that bad clicking sound. This sound indicates either damage or sector failure. You can scan the disk for the bad sectors, and via this process, you can identify corrupt sectors as well as stopping the disk from writing to those damaged sectors.

Another possible problem is a failure of a component inside the disk. These situations include incorrect head placement, internal circuitry that has become disconnected, or a loose hard drive head. You should take your hard drive to a professional to prevent any further damage.

A hard drive can experience problems if the hard drive space is close to maximum capacity. The drive has to work harder to access data because so much data is stored on it and it becomes “tired.” You can eliminated this problem by freeing up space on the disk.

Filed Under: Hardware Tagged With: Data recovery, Hard disk drive, Universal Serial Bus

What Are Widgets?

: Image via Wikipedia

Widgets are a convenient form of code re-use, and they make use of a range of programming languages from DHTML or flash (for web widgets) to Python for a desktop widget in Linux. They are bits of stand-alone software that do something extra and handy and are embedded after the fact into the existing code, typically in a web page or on a desktop. On a desktop they’re likely to do things like retrieve weather information for you from the web; on a web page, a widget could be anything from a game to an annoying advertisement.

Widgets can be very useful and very fun – but they have a downside as well. Like any code you install on your page, there’s always the chance that a widget could be malware, attempting to convince people to open their computers to adware or worse. Additionally, before installing widgets on your web page you should be aware that they can impact your site performance. They can also affect search engine optimization.

What widgets interest you will vary depending on what you’re trying to get done. Weather gathering and news feeds are a classic choice, especially for desktops. A lot of bloggers or small business sites will use a widget that tracks traffic to their page, one of the earliest forms of web widgets, enabling them to easily gather some demographic information. A Paypal widget enables sites to take donations; a Google translation widget can make the page more internationally accessible. Other people use widgets to connect their website to mainstream social networking sites, like Facebook, Twitter, or Google Buzz. Games are another very popular web widget, which makes sense since typically, web widgets are an attempt to engage site users to a higher degree. Another excellent choice for improving interactivity on some types of pages is a widget where site users can write reviews.

Filed Under: Software Tagged With: Facebook, Linux, Web widget

Windows Alternative is Better Than Ever

People who have had it with computers crashing and having to reboot before completing simple tasks finally have a true alternative to Windows. The Microsoft operating system, which has been forced on most PC users, is being replaced by a growing number of people with Linux.

One of the best reasons to take the leap to Linux is that it is an open source software, which means that the codes are shared with software developers all over the world. This has helped refine the program to the point where it truly represents the latest technology in the industry. Linux is used by Google and is the operating system in the world’s ten most powerful super computers.

While Linux has been around for years, the most recent upgrades have come in running desktop systems. For years, Linux was thought of primarily as a way to control computer servers but has now branched out to include PC’s, tablets, mobile phones and satellite receivers. Developers gravitate to Linux because computers operating on it seldom crash, eliminating the need to reboot.

Another reason that Linux is a great alternative to Windows is that the system is less susceptible to computer viruses. Writing a program that could do harm to a PC is very difficult with Linux because the user will end up damaging their own system. Linux also is more safe because all of the primary distributors of Linux based software offer free security updates online to address any threats as soon as they are detected.

If you are afraid to switch because you fear you will not be able to link up with PC’s running Windows, that concern has been addressed. There are software programs like Samba which make the interface very simple and programs to do the same if your network includes computers running Apple or Novell.

Filed Under: Operating Systems, Software Tagged With: Linux, Microsoft, Microsoft Windows

Tips and Tricks to Save you Money on Computer Purchases

Let’s face it; buying a new computer puts a big pinch on the pocketbook, especially during trying economic times. With a little effort, using your shopping skills and buying at the right time, you can ultimately save hundreds of dollars on this most important purchase.
Tips and Tricks to save you money.

§ Buy at the right time – The Holidays are the best time to buy electronic as retailers offer huge discounts to move merchandise during this most busy of seasons. So we’ve just passed the Holidays, now what? Spring is also a great time to purchase computers. Many computer providers show their new and upcoming products at shows across the country in January, and those products start showing up in the spring, hence April is a great month to purchase a new computer.

§ Try doing you shopping online – This tip is a doozy! Try putting something in your online shopping cart but don’t check out. In some instances, retailers will offer you a discount after a few days to try and entice you to buy.

§ Try finding academic or work-related discounts – Students stand up and pay attention. If you go to school, even on a part-time basis you may qualify for computer discounts. Others, who don’t go to school, yet work for established companies can buy their computer hardware by going through their company. Retailers often offer discounts to companies they’ve done business with.

§ Pay attention to Social Media – Many retailers now have their information on Twitter or Facebook. By paying attention to these Social Media avenues, you may find yourself staring down at a one-day sale or huge discounts on certain products.

§ Go with Open Source Software – After saving money on the actual computer consider using open source software which is free to download. A friend who runs a video business told me about how he uses free video codecs provided by Xvid software to watch video. Then he also uses Virtual Dub for all his editing and finally converts his video with Handbrake. All of those programs are free and work as well as software you would normally pay for.

It’s no secret that buying a new computer can kill most people’s income stream. By using some of the above tips and tricks you may be able to find huge discounts on your new purchases.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: Facebook, Open Source, Social media

Using Widgets and Plug-Ins

Widgets and plug-ins are excellent items that can be used on websites, blogs and pages so that your site gets more exposure and draws more people to it. They can range and vary so much that it is hard to focus on just one but a good example is a pop up advertisement you may see on a site. Those are there with a widget. Let’s say you want to display your local weather on your site because you run a hotel or RV camp. The weather that is displayed on the site is done with a plug-in or widget. These are typically third party items that can be used by anyone with a little HTML know how and a website or blog.

One thing to consider in choosing a widget or plug-in is what you are trying to show to your readers or clients. You don’t want to overwhelm your readers with a ton of widgets showing random things but you do want to utilize them to your advantage. Think about what you are trying to share and use that to decide what type of widget to use. Another good example is if you had a clock store. You may want a widget on your site that displays the time in every country. If you have a movie website you might like to show your customers a plug-in that displays different movie trailers or even the times that the movie will be showing; automatically updating as the times change.

Regardless of what kind of site you own, you can benefit from having a widget or plug-in as long as it helps your customers stay on your site a little longer. A customer that stays longer has more opportunity to purchase your product or service and if they are enjoying themselves then they are more apt to return.

Filed Under: Applications, Software Tagged With: plug-in, Web widget, Website

Kinect Hackers Hit the Mark

Score one for Microsoft, kids; except, really, Microsoft did nothing, nor should they receive any specific credit besides the initial creation of what is called the “Kinect,” the latest sensation for the Xbox 360. Who knew they created such a flexible piece of equipment? I don’t think they even knew.

Flexible, you ask? In a basic kilobyte-filled digital nutshell, hackers have discovered a way to reconfigure the Kinect to work with other operating systems—such as Linux and Mac OS X. The hardware no longer fits solely with Microsoft’s Xbox 360. Now gamers can use the Kinect with these other systems—and with ease, too.

DIY electronics kit maker Adafruit had announced the winner of the “Open Kinect Bounty.” The word “open” suggests its usability through other operating systems. The winner was a hacker based out of Spain named Hector Martin Cantero, known online as “marcan.” The best part was his process for making it work: “easy” was the word. It had only taken him a few hours to reconfigure the Kinect after its European release into the gaming public. Posting a YouTube video on how he did it with his Linux-based laptop stirred the whole gaming world into a frenzy, most notably Microsoft, and Adafruit awarded “marcan” $3,000 for winning the Open Kinect Bounty. Pretty sweet nibbles there.

Since then, other hackers have tried their tests on reconfiguration, using “marcan’s” theoretical and instructional process. The Mac OS X was the second operating system to work with the Kinect. And you know what’s funny? Very soon there will be a corporation that will also launch its own motion sensor technology hardware for PCs! The gaming field is getting gritty out there.

The question on everyone’s mind now, however, is simply this: how is Microsoft taking this new development? Are they ticked off? Or are they riding with it? We’ll wait to get to level 2 on this game; just stay sharp, and watch for those Halo bullets.

Filed Under: Applications, Operating Systems Tagged With: Kinect, Mac OS, Microsoft