Google | Technology and Computer IP Address Database

The Beauty of GoogleDocs

Google has outdone itself with this addition to gmail. Not only is it a favorite with editors and collaborators, but many companies have made it a staple to their system as well. Here are several reasons why Google Docs is an incredible feature.

You can read any Word file. If you have not upgraded to the newest version of Microsoft Office Word and are experiencing difficulty viewing files sent from others, Google Docs allows you to view these files.

You can download the file. Not only can you view newer files, but you can download them to your computer in a format that is compatible with your computer. That means that you can take a file from a newer version of Microsoft Office Word, and download it as either a pdf, keeping any formatting the same, or you can download it as a Microsoft Office file that you can edit.

You can print without changing your format. By clicking “print,” the file is automatically put into a pdf, you do not have to worry about changing margins or tabs when you are transferring the file for printing. The document will print the same as it was when it was emailed.

You can edit online with similar features of Microsoft Office Word. While you can view and print online, you can also convert files for editing. This means you can receive a file and not bother downloading and saving it to your computer to make changes. Any changes you make will be saved as you go.

You can save files online. There is no longer a need to have a My Documents folder on your computer full of files. You can keep your files online. The files are easy to organize as well, with the ability to organize by folders, as well as to share files with other gmail users for concurrent editing.

Filed Under: Internet, Search Engine Tagged With: Computer file, Google, Google Doc, Google Docs

Internet IPv4 Address Are Almost Gone

: Image by INHumanities via Flickr

Of the 4.3 billion Internet addresses available with the current technologies, about 95% are gone.

The Number Resource Organization (NRO) stated the addresses available with IPv4 technology will be used up by early 2011. According to the current usage rates, the last five blocks of IPv4 addresses will be distributed to nonprofit companies — called Regional Internet Registries – that administer and register the IP address space in early 2011.

Currently, the text-based Internet addresses are the front for the numeric addresses that do the real behind-the-scenes work of the Internet. With Internet Protocol version 4 or IPv4, the numeric addresses are running out. The leaders of the NRO and others have suggested that Internet stakeholders should work towards adaptation of Internet Protocol version 6 or IPv6 soon.

One IPv4 numeric address can be shared with multiple computers through network address administration. But even this technology has its limits which increases the number of IPv4 addresses being used. The next generation Internet protocol IPv6 will expand the frontier and get rid of the limitations of the IPv4 system.

The Regional Internet Registries will allocate over 2000 IPv6 address blocks in 2010 which shows some interest in moving to the new technology.
Some companies such as Comcast, Google, and Facebook are already moving towards an adoption of IPv6 but smaller companies have not started the process. There is concern that the adaptation to IPv6 is not moving fast enough which might lead to increased Internet costs and instability of the worldwide Internet network as companies rush to try to adapt IPv6 at the last minute. Companies that do not move to IPv6 technology and remain with IPv4 technology will not be able to expand into the IPv6 realm; however, IPv4 will continue to work.

Filed Under: IP Address Database, Technology Tagged With: Comcast, Facebook, Google, Internet Protocol, IP address, IPv4, IPv6, Regional Internet registry

Microsoft Releases Office 365

: Image via Wikipedia

Microsoft has just released an online version of the Office suite of applications to compete with Google and other companies.

This service is called Microsoft Office 365 — an always up-to-date cloud service that contains Office Professional Plus, Exchange Online, Lync Online and SharePoint Online in one platform. This combination allows users to access and use any of the programs from any device – computer, Mac or smart phone. It will also be available for users through multiple browsers like Explorer, Firefox and Safari.

The benefits of Office 365 include access to e-mail, contacts, calendars, and documents from any device; business-class features with IT phone support; and simple collaboration with colleagues and partners. There are a variety of solutions available to improve desktop productivity, extranets, video and teleconferencing, web conferencing and email communications. There is a 99.9% guaranteed up-time with the service as well. The pricing options are flexible with pay-as-you go options.

There are also Office 365 plans set up for small businesses. The options for small businesses include an easy-to-use set of online tools to email and document access on any device; large mailboxes with the ability to send large attachments; and anti-virus and anti-spam programs. Many of the benefits of Office 365 are available for the independent consultant or small firm through this service.

Another option, Office 365 Enterprise, is a service for government agencies and other large business organizations. These include the 99.9% up-time guarantee and include the same security services that are included with the other plans. The Enterprise plans allow the specific agency to select only the services that might be useful for the organization through the pay-as-you go payment options.

Microsoft 365 is starting out as a limited release program in 13 countries and by the year 2011, the service will be available in 40 countries.

Filed Under: IP Address Database, Technology Tagged With: Business, Cloud computing, Google, Microsoft, Microsoft SharePoint, microsoftoffice, Safari, Small business

The Big 3 Networks Block Google TV

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The 3 US broadcast networks have banned their web programming from being shown on Google TV. This is another battle in the war for relevancy that the big 3 broadcast networks – CBS, ABC and NBC – are continually waging against all of the other forces in entertainment that has taken over much of their market share. The reasoning for the ban is not fully understood. Some feel that the networks requested assurances that Google would prevent piracy of the content and did not like the responses that they received. Others suggest that there is a fear that Google will interfere with current revenue streams of the networks.

Google is still in discussions with the companies. Fox Networks has not fully determined whether to block its content from Google TV at this time. However, all channels are not as wary. HBO has already signed up for the service and Turner Broadcasting – home of TBS, TNT and others – has already optimized some of its websites and content for the project. Hulu is currently blocking the service as well but Google and Hulu are in talks for a possible pay-Hulu version.

Google TV is a technology that searches through all of your TV content through a search bar on your TV. If you watch programming through multiple platforms such as Netflix, cable, and online websites, Google TV will search through all of the available services and present your TV options.

The question is will the block really make much difference? Another Google technology, Youtube Leanback service, has just been integrated into Google TV which allows TV to be delivered over the Internet. Anything that is uploaded can be shown and people at the Networks are going to have to actively look for shows and clips to pull down.

The final chapter in Google TV and available content is still unknown.

Filed Under: IP Address Database, Technology Tagged With: ABC, American Broadcasting Company, CBS, Google, Google TV, HBO, Hulu, NBC

What is SEO?

: Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Algorithms connote a need for mathematic proficiency. But when it comes to modern day internet searches, the need relies on speciality knowledge of what information and rhetoric will reach a target audience. When we all seek out information from the internet, we simple type in key words. Those are the words that we hope will lead us to an arsenal of information that will allow us to bypass the need for a car catalogue or other database that does more than alphabetize the options of resources we wish to collect in order to do our research.

Long gone are the days when we get in our cars or make the walk to our local libraries to enrich our knowledge because the internet provides the information we need. But how reliable are the sites we consult? The SEO process exposes the sites that include the most narrowly focused information that we seek. Our searches may not be the most constructive in terms of leading us to where we want to go, but SEO sites, research, and strategy do the work for us.

Website that use SEO initiatives want to serve its visitors by considering the relevance and marketablibilty of certain content. The sites of companies who wish to tailor their content to remain visible to their target audience often hire consultants who conduct research to promote their client’s agendas to securely appeal to their audience. Exposure to this population optimizes their chances of viewership, readership, and consumership, respective to the industry and mission.

Understanding the nature of a the mind’s of those that will promote or endorse the activity of a website’s mission is at the heart of creating a website initially. SEO maintenance prolongs the productivity of entities that choose to advertise online and rely on the exposure maintained by website marketing, advertising, and presence.

Filed Under: IP Address Database, Technology Tagged With: Business, Google, Internet marketing, keyword, Marketing, Search Engine Optimization, Web search engine, Website

Internet Voice-mail

: Image via Wikipedia

Internet telephony has given a great service called the voicemail service. Voicemail is nothing but leaving a message for a person, if that person is not available to pick your internet call. Just like you have voicemail services over telephone networks, the same has come into the IP telephony space. Unlike wired or wireless network voicemails, internet telephony voicemails can be delivered right into your inbox. Fantastic feature this, considering that some people might prefer an alert in the email rather than opening up a voicemail box.

You can set internet voicemail services according to your preferences. Cutting down on the annoyance factor, this kind of voicemail is like your silent servant. You won’t get beeps or incessant alerts. All you need to do is some configuration to route your voicemails to your Smartphone or personal computer.

Voicemail service providers let you have a lot of features for a low monthly charge. You can configure an auto responder to attend your calls in your absence, and parrot your lines. If you want your voicemails in your email inbox, you can set that as well. Internet voicemail can also be converted into text for reading it rather than listening to it. Voicemail alerts can be configured to fly in to your mobile phone message inbox. So there’s a lot of things that internet voicemail gives you.

Some well known internet voicemail service providers are Google, Skype, and laser voicemail. Google voicemail services have a feature that converts your voicemail audio into text. Although Skype is a free internet telephony service provider program, the internet voicemail isn’t. You got to subscribe for it. The rates are not alarmingly high, but manageable.

One interesting voicemail technology described above, the one that converts voicemail audio into text, is called visual voicemail. Visual voice mail works on the Internet Message Access Protocol. Voice recognition software from the vendor servers’ transcribe audio messages and convert them into text. Internet voicemail service providers will provide a visual interface, from which these text messages can be viewed. The user interface can be used to manage visual voicemail messages.

Filed Under: Computers, Internet, IP Address Database, Search Engine, Technology Tagged With: Google, Internet Message Access Protocol, Mobile phone, Skype, Speech recognition, Telecommunications, Voice over IP, Voicemail

How Google Map Maker App Helped Capture the Haiti Devastation Pictures

: Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Google worked with satellite imaging organization GeoEye to take pictures of the devastation that happened recently in Haiti. After this feat by Google Earth, it seems that the world has woken up to this kind of technology. Satellite imagery has always seen with circumspection. More to do with the lack of know-how on how this technology works, than the receptiveness to it, satellite imaging has now become a strong tool that governments can use to aid their military.

Emergency situations create havoc. Helicopters and paramilitary aid don’t reach the place on time. For example, in a scenario where an oil tanker has burst, the whole area will be consumed in flames. It is difficult for helicopters and aerial reconnaissance aircraft to completely image the destruction that has happened. This is where satellite imagery comes into the picture. Governments realize that it is time that they empower this technology. Although, companies like Google have strong technology with them for this, security concerns have always taken predominance.

Software giants like Microsoft, and other IT companies expressed their solidarity by donating money and offering technical support to help, and assist in the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake. Google used its Map Maker app to get a precise picture of the earthquake scene. Map Maker is a web service. It was started by Google in 2008. Given the difficulty associated with getting information on locations and addresses in some countries, Google opened up the service for open collaboration. Just like what Wikipedia is for online knowledge-content; Google Map Maker is for online map-content.

When users sign up as collaborators, they can get to describe maps. For example, if a user is on a site that displays a hilly region, and the user identifies it as a particular hill, then this region can be labeled by the user. Contributors can also add more maps, and more details. Now the question arises, as to how to ascertain the veracity of the labels. Along with normal users, map-experts are also on the job. All map-markings and labels are signed off by them.

Filed Under: Computers, Internet, IP Address Database, Search Engine, Technology Tagged With: 2010 Haiti earthquake, Earth, GeoEye, Google, Google Earth, Google Map Maker, Haiti, Satellite imagery

Search Engines and Which to Choose

Most everyone knows about Google and most recently, Bing. Many people however, may not know that there are specific search engines that can be used to perform certain types of searches.

For searches where you may need an expert on a certain topic there are ipl2, Virtual LRC and Google Scholar. There are also sites where one can get personal help from an expert and those are Sources and Experts, Ask a Librarian and AllExperts.

For area specific searches where there is a discipline that requires a more fine tuned search you can choose USA.gov, DirectGov, ForeignGov and Govt. Publications and Maps for government related searches and FindLaw, LOUiS and Intute for Law searches. To obtain information on Engineering, Science and Technology you can search using Scirus, Natl. Science Digital Lib. and Intute. Intute is also an excellent resource for searches related to health and life sciences. For arts and humanities try Intute or Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

There are also time line specific searches that include ancient history, recent, historical and today. These search engines include Google News, NewsNow, 10×10, Yahoo News, World News Network, American Memory, ipl2, Digital History, and Ancient History Sourcebook.

For facts on people, places or companies you can use Biography.com, Who2, CIA World Factbook, Country Studies, Stately Knowledge, ASK.com, NYPL: Searching for Company Information, Yahoo, or Columbia Encyclopedia.

You can even search sites that are specific to media, opinions, special results or if you are a child, you can look for sites on age appropriate search engines.

So the next time you plan to do a search, know that you have more options than a generic search engine and may be able to find out more information by using a search engine that caters to the specific type of search you need to perform. There are more options out there than you may know.

Filed Under: Internet, Search Engine, Tips Tagged With: Google, search, Web search engine