Gawkwire: Web Hosting and Internet News Resource

Ch-ch-ch-changes: A visual history of Firefox

2009-06-30T09:11:00-04:00

(cnet) For the sake of simplicity we're keeping it limited to just the Windows and Mac versions. And for certain features where there is little, if any, difference between the platforms--we're sticking to the Windows version.

The four things we're comparing are navigation, tabs, bookmarks, and the settings menu:...Go to source

http://www.gawkwire.com/technology/ch-ch-ch-changes_a_visual_history_of_firefox.html

Lenovo IdeaPad Y450 Review

2009-06-30T09:06:00-04:00

(cnet) The recent IdeaPad line reflects the change most starkly: we looked at the 16-inch IdeaPad Y650 a while ago, and were impressed by the thin, sturdy feel and bolder touches, including texture-patterned lids and glossy materials used in the interior.

While the IdeaPads retain Lenovo's comfortable keyboard and some of the same custom software, the prices are also more reasonable, making them, by some measures, budget-friendly notebooks bearing better-than-average design.

The $799 Y450 is a smaller-screened relative of the Y650, with extremely similar design on the inside and out. While the 14-incher is also thicker than its 16-inch big brother, the overall feel and performance of the Y450 make it a worthwhile alternative for those who want a little more portability. ...Go to source http://www.gawkwire.com/reviews/lenovo_ideapad_y450_review.html

Apple sued over iTunes gift cards

2009-06-29T09:32:00-04:00

(cnet) The suit, filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in southern Illinois and obtained by CNET, shows that the couple is seeking monetary damages for Apple's "wrongful, illegal, improper and fraudulent acts."

The Owens claim that Apple markets the gift cards as selling individual songs on iTunes for 99 cents each. The couple argues that not all songs in the iTunes Store are that cheap--some actually cost $1.29. They contend that they have been "denied the benefit of their bargain to purchase any song" from iTunes for 99 cents. ...Go to source

http://www.gawkwire.com/business/apple_sued_over_itunes_gift_cards.html

Remembering Michael Jackson's video game legacy

2009-06-26T09:31:00-04:00

(cnet) Back when Jackson was merely a semi-eccentric star, Sega created a video game property for him, named Michael Jackson's Moonwalker (actually separate games for the arcade and Sega Genesis/Master System consoles). Moonwalker was notable for being an early example of real-life celebrities appearing in video games, and for using digitized versions of some of Jacko's songs.

The game is also unintentionally hilarious because Jackson is tasked with rescuing helpless children from a crime boss named Mr. Big (although in hindsight, perhaps it was Mr. Big who was doing the rescuing). ...Go to source

http://www.gawkwire.com/video_tv/remembering_michael_jackson_s_video_game_legacy.html

Dedicated Hosting is Dead

2009-06-25T00:36:00-04:00

(WebHost Blog) For years, Dedicated Hosting meant you lease a box in a datacenter and you deal with it. After the initial software install, you had to handle the administration of it; from software to the kernel it was your problem. The only thing the host really had to do was hardware support. Your hard drive crashed? Alright we will replace it, be about 20 mins.

And then someone said well let’s look at this logically. We could just take out the old drive and put a new one in and say alright customer its all you, but that might not be good service wise. We could offer to reinstall the software on there (this was about 10+ years ago). So we had hardware replacement and basic software recovery.

Then they thought well data backups is quite a good thing to have. We could expect our customers to backup data on their own but what if they don’t? If their hard drive crashes we will get blamed so howabout we add backup as an add-on. Then if the drive crashes we can rebuild it using the backup. In order to be more competitive maybe we should even make it standard.

By now you can imagine where I am going with this. Hardware replacement begot software reinstalls, which begot OS and hardware restarts and data backup which begot add-on service features which begot standard features and then we get to the meat of it. Support. Technical support for more than just the hardware. Some places offer it a la carte like FastServers and some include support like Superb Internet’s dedicated hosing.

And like that we now have managed hosting. I am pretty sure the name Dedicated Hosting will be around for a while, its a good name (you have a dedicated box for you and only you), but the dedicated hosting of today is not the dedicated hosting of a decade ago, by any stretch of the imagination. As more dedicated hosts add technical support to their solutions such that instead of a la carte, or having a limited amount of troubleshooting calls they have well dedicated support staff, then dedicated and managed will merge. For all practical purposes they already have.

About David Dunlap
Over the past ten years David has been a prolific author of hundreds of blogs, commentaries and reviews found here on WebHostBlog.com , as well as WebHostMagazine.com and other sites around the Internet. David manages the daily operations at both WebHostBlog and Web Host Magazine & Buyer's Guide, and as the head editor, David uses his unique analytical skills to ensure that both sites maintain their integrity and tough, but fair minded, reputations. Prior to his active career analyzing the Web Host industry, David specialized in networking and communications for the U.S. government. David's expertise in traditional marketing and Search Engine Marketing (SEM) has helped boost companies both inside and outside of the Web Host industry.

http://www.gawkwire.com/web_hosting/dedicated_hosting_is_dead.html

Cybersquatters,taking over the Internet?

2009-06-25T09:34:00-04:00

(Domain News) There are major differences between 2007 and 2008 when we look at the number of complaints filed.Therefore,in 2008,there were filed about 2230 complaints,8% more than in 2007.79% of these concerned .com domains,and only 13 % concerned ccTLD. ...Go to source http://www.gawkwire.com/domains/cybersquatters_taking_over_the_internet.html

Report: FTC to go after blogger freebies

2009-06-23T08:19:00-04:00

(cnet) This would, for the first time, bring bloggers under FTC guidelines that ban deceptive or unfair business practices.

"New guidelines, expected to be approved late this summer with possible modifications, would clarify that the agency can go after bloggers--as well as the companies that compensate them--for any false claims or failure to disclose conflicts of interest," the article explained. ...Go to source http://www.gawkwire.com/business/report_ftc_to_go_after_blogger_freebies.html

Iomega eGo Portable Mac Edition (250GB, USB 2.0, FireWire, white)

2009-06-23T08:16:00-04:00

(cnet) The drive is available in three glossy colors in three capacities up to 500GB ($150), but remains a low-cost solution for storage expansion. Although there isn't much going on in terms of cutting edge design, the Iomega eGo Portable Mac Edition deserves our Editors' Choice recognition for its quick throughput speeds, a rugged design that can stand four-foot drops, and a worry-free three-year warranty.

Product summary

The good: Triple interface connection; drop protection durability; fast transfer speeds (especially with FireWire 800), three-year warranty.

The bad: Power cord not included; exposed ports susceptible to dirt.

The bottom line: Mac and PC users alike will appreciate the Iomega eGo Portable's triple interface connectivity that lets you choose from USB 2.0, FireWire 400, and FireWire 800. Combined with a rugged enclosure, free data protection software, and a robust three-year warranty, this drive is a great example of well-rounded hardware. We thoroughly recommend it both for average consumer as well as data-hounds on a budget.

Specifications: Hard drive size: 250 GB ; Interface type: IEEE 1394b (FireWire 800) / IEEE1394 (FireWire) / Hi-Speed USB See full specs

Price range: $99.99 ...Go to source http://www.gawkwire.com/reviews/iomega_ego_portable_mac_edition_250gb_usb_2_0_firewire_white.html

Domain Roundtable 2009 Auction Catalogue Posted

2009-06-16T09:28:00-04:00

(Domain News) Be the first to bid on a catalogue of high-quality premium domains before the LIVE auction on June 16th.

The auction will feature many sought after domains including:

    * HighDefinition.com
    * MultiVitamin.com
    * WeightTraining.com
    * CustomBoots.com
    * 3GPhones.com

Early bidding will continue until the LIVE auction event at 4:00 EDT (U.S. time) on June 16. You won't want to miss this opportunity to bid on quality domains at reasonable price points. ...Go to source http://www.gawkwire.com/domains/domain_roundtable_2009_auction_catalogue_posted.html

Apple's Safari 4 tops 11 million downloads in 3 days

2009-06-15T10:37:00-04:00

(cnet) And more than 6 million of the downloads came from Windows users.

Since Safari 4's public beta release in February, Apple has touted the browser as the fastest in the world, when compared with other popular browsers like Firefox and Internet Explorer 8. ...Go to source http://www.gawkwire.com/technology/apple_s_safari_4_tops_11_million_downloads_in_3_days.html

Video: How To Do More With Pandora

2009-06-15T10:33:00-04:00

View video here: http://cnettv.cnet.com/how-do-more-pandora/9742-1_53-50073005.html?tag=TOCmoreStories.0 http://www.gawkwire.com/video_tv/video_how_to_do_more_with_pandora.html

Apple unveils iPhone 3G S

2009-06-10T15:42:00-04:00

(cnet) Check out the video by clicking here http://www.gawkwire.com/technology/apple_unveils_iphone_3g_s.html

New Firefox hangs in limbo between beta and RC

2009-06-10T11:06:00-04:00

(cnet) Within the next 24 hours, the Firefox 3.5 beta 4 will auto-update to what Mozilla is calling a "preview" version. Users can also force the update by going to the Help menu, then Check for Updates. At the time of writing, it doesn't appear that users can download the 3.5 Preview version directly.

In a press release, Mozilla said that Firefox 3.5 Preview will leverage the more than 800,000 users of the 3.5 beta to further test changes made to the browser, indicating that it feels the browser is fine for daily use but might still contain significant problems. ...Go to source

http://www.gawkwire.com/technology/new_firefox_hangs_in_limbo_between_beta_and_rc.html

Apple: Next Mac OS X unlocks chip power

2009-06-09T00:32:00-04:00

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (cnet) At its Apple Worldwide Developer Conference here, Bertrand Serlet, senior vice president of software engineering, shed light on technology called Grand Central Dispatch that's designed to make Mac OS X 10.6, called Snow Leopard, take better advantage of multicore processors and graphics processors.

Computer chips for years improved in performance through faster clock speeds, but processor engineers ran into problems with chips consuming inordinate amounts of power and producing inordinate amounts of heat. In addition, the faster clock speeds sometimes meant chips just idled faster because memory access speeds couldn't keep up.

The new direction: multicore processors that put multiple processing engines on the same chip. The problem with the approach, though, is that PC software typically had been written to run with one thread of instructions at a time. Multicore processors work best when software does many things at the same time, which is much harder to program. ...Go to source

http://www.gawkwire.com/technology/apple_next_mac_os_x_unlocks_chip_power.html

Netcraft Lists Most Reliable Web Hosts

2009-06-08T09:28:00-04:00

(WebHost Blog) Netcraft uses a series of monitoring servers from separate points around the Internet to log performance measurements made at fifteen minute intervals for a broad list of web hosting providers. The averages are calculated over the immediately preceding 24 hour period and then aggregated for the entire month. Detailed information on uptime and reliability for the web hosts are logged and displayed at the Netcraft site.

While the methodology has a number of limitations, the Netcraft results generally do yield factual data on outages and uptime.

For the month of May the following companies were determined to be the most reliable web hosts according to Netcraft.

New York Internet

pair Networks

INetU

Swishmail

Verio

Virtual Internet

Server Intellect

ReliableServers.com

Kattare Internet Services

www.westhost.com

The Netcraft uptime data is collected from specific data center locations: London/DXI Networks, New York/New York Internet, Pennsylvania/INetU-2, Virginia/Rackspace, San Jose/Datapipe, Phoenix/GoDaddy and Italy/Aruba. The companies that maintain a collection point have an advantage over the other companies, as each of them have a collector in their own datacenter. Also companies located in the U.S. have an advantage over companies in the rest of the world as more of the collectors are located there, and companies in the Far East are at a disadvantage as we do not currently have a performance collector in the region.

The most reliable UK hosting provider according to Netcraft is UK website hosting company 34SP.com. The company is also a new-comer to the list having only recently been added.

To view the complete information on the Netcraft data please visit, http://news.netcraft.com/archives/2009/06/02/most_reliable_hosting_company_sites_in_may_2009.html.

The uptime data that is being collected in real-time can be viewed here: http://uptime.netcraft.com/perf/reports/Hosters.

About Derek Vaughan
Derek Vaughan is a web hosting industry veteran, marketing consultant and writer. Mr. Vaughan has architected the marketing growth of several prominent web hosting success stories leading to acquisition including Affinity Internet, Inc., Aplus.Net and HostMySite.com. Prior to his entry into the web hosting industry, Mr. Vaughan was responsible for online marketing at The Walt Disney Company where he marketed ecommerce for the ESPN.com and NASCAR.com brands. Mr. Vaughan received his M.B.A. from Vanderbilt University and currently serves on the HostingCon Advisory Board.

http://www.gawkwire.com/web_hosting/netcraft_lists_most_reliable_web_hosts.html

Cool-er e-book reader (ruby red)

2009-06-08T09:26:00-04:00

(cnet) The good:
Lightweight; comes in eight color choices; 1GB of internal memory with an SD card expansion slot that allows you to add up to 4GB of additional memory; battery is removable and replaceable; decent battery life; accepts JPEG, PDF, EPUB, TXT, and MP3 file formats.

The bad:
Feels a bit too much like a "budget" e-reader; drag-and-drop e-book loading less convenient than Kindle's instant downloads; buttons are stiff and aren't intuitively labeled; interface lacks polish; navigation is a bit cumbersome; slow screen refresh when flipping pages; nonstandard 2.5mm headphone jack.

The bottom line:
The Cool-er e-book reader has some nice pluses and costs $110 less than the Kindle, but it's not as big a bargain as we hoped it would be. ...Go to source

http://www.gawkwire.com/reviews/cool-er_e-book_reader_ruby_red.html

Report: Steve Jobs on track for June return

2009-06-06T05:00:00-04:00

(cnet) Jobs announced in January that he would be stepping down temporarily from the chief executive post while recuperating from a hormone imbalance, and a return to the company this month could coincide with an appearance at the Worldwide Developers Conference, which opens Monday in San Francisco. The centerpiece of the conference is expected to be the App Store and the new features of the iPhone OS 3.0, but there has also been speculation that Apple will unveil a new iPhone as well. ...Go to source http://www.gawkwire.com/business/report_steve_jobs_on_track_for_june_return.html

Top 10 Tips for Keeping Staff Happy and Business Booming in a Recession

2009-06-05T15:50:00-04:00

Chicago, IL (Gawkwire.com) Before the recession and looming threat of job loss became a factor in the life of the American employee, many people were already spending more time at work than at home. Today that pattern has become cemented in the American workplace. In the midst of a struggling economy, for employers, keeping your staff happy is not only an investment in your relationship with them, it is an investment in your business. You cannot expect more from your workers, knowing that they are grateful to have a job and won't complain. Retaining talented staff takes work. A happy employee is a productive employee. They are the only way to keep your business alive, or even growing, in this economy.

At the Law of Offices of Jeffrey Kroll, http://www.kroll-lawfirm.com, Jeff's staff, many of whom have worked with him for over 10 years, feel lucky to be in such a supportive environment. Kroll takes his entire office to lunch three times a week, allows for ample flexibility, and creates a very congenial environment. The majority of Jeff's office left a prominent law firm in Chicago that has longevity and higher salaries- to work for him. His office has a friendly, warm, yet professional vibe - opposite of most law firms.
Here are a few tips Jeff Kroll has learned:

1. Enable employees to balance work and personal life. Allow flexible starting and finishing times.
2. Consider telecommuting when personal issues arise. As long as their work is getting done, trust them, don't micromanage.
3. Allow for casual attire when clients are not on site, particularly in the summer when it can be uncomfortable to wear formal business attire.
4. Make the workplace a pleasant place to work with music, water bubblers, coffee/tea facilities, and complimentary snacks from time to time.
5. Involve staff, whenever possible, in decisions that affect their jobs and the overall direction of the business or department. Keep them in the loop.
6. Reward hard work, even small goals: there's no point in waiting until the year-end bonus, it won't keep anyone going for an entire year. People need short term rewards.
7. Offer to help your staff when they feel overwhelmed. If you cannot help, just acknowledging their workload can go a long way.
8. When you give constructive criticism, ask for it in return.
9. Schedule weekly meetings that are held consistently in person. Allow for open dialogue and privacy to allow the employee to speak openly.
10. Have offsite meals at least once a month for team building and to show appreciation.

Jeff feels lucky to have such a great staff, "Employers need to remember that a little bit goes a long way. My staff is like family to me. It was not too long ago that I had to answer to a boss, and I remember clearly what motivated me and what it felt like to be on the other side of the desk. Our office is a productive and upbeat place. We like to work together. I think our clients sense that and it puts them at ease. Of course great results don't hurt either!"

"I actually look forward to coming to the office everyday," said associate Jessica Bloodgood. "The fact that Jeff respects our lives outside the office, not only makes me feel respected as an employee, but also as an individual. It helps me focus on the task at hand, and focus on the client."

Associate Heather Begley agrees, "I know Jeff values my work and appreciates the results I get. It is encouraging to receive praise and recognition, especially when you put in long hours. I find myself working that much harder in return because I am so appreciative of the flexibility that he offers."

http://www.gawkwire.com/business/top_10_tips_for_keeping_staff_happy_and_business_booming_in_a_re.html

Take A First Look At Google Wave

2009-06-05T09:51:00-04:00

Video can be viewed by clicking the video link below:
http://cnettv.cnet.com/google-wave/9742-1_53-50072681.html?tag=TOCmoreStories.0 http://www.gawkwire.com/video_tv/take_a_first_look_at_google_wave.html

UnmeteredServers Launches Low-Cost, Unlimited-Usage Dedicated Servers

2009-06-04T15:48:00-04:00

SAYREVILLE, NJ (Press Advance)UnmeteredServers.com today launched its flagship assortment of low-cost, unlimited-usage dedicated servers, starting at just $99 per month for Dell® hardware and enterprise-grade infrastructure.

Backed by ReliableServers, a high-end provider of dedicated servers and colocation solutions, UnmeteredServers.com enables clients to purchase only what they need and subsequently keep costs low. Server management is not included as standard and is available as needed through an on-demand basis. Clients also choose their desired port speed, ranging from 10 to 1000 megabits per second. Each port offers unmetered usage and high quality bandwidth (all transit is dedicated and not oversubscribed).

All servers utilize the same base hardware configuration, a Dell® Dual Intel® Xeon® system with 4GB RAM and 2x 500GB SATA2 hard drives. From the base configuration, clients can upgrade RAM, hard drive configuration, and software (including operating system and control panel). Pricing starts at only $99 per month and extends beyond $2999 per month, depending on upgrade choices and port speed.

“This type of offering is a response to the overwhelming economic pressures. Clients today want flexibility and the ability to pay for what they need and skip the frills. UnmeteredServers.com leverages our ability to deliver streamlined services without sacrificing performance,” said David Hindman, vice president of sales for ReliableServers. “Backed by a Tier-1 network and enterprise-level support team, we can offer servers at this pricing level and actually stand behind our promises. Our competitors simply cannot say the same.”

As unmetered servers, billing is fixed each month, so clients avoid paying any overage charges related to data transfer usage.

Parent company ReliableServers has earned a broad reputation for its high quality network. In March, Netcraft reported ReliableServers.com as the most reliable hosting site among a broad index of companies. The company’s 200 gigabit network is powered by transit from Level3, Tiscali, Nlayer, Deutsche Telekom, and extensive private peering arrangements. 24/7 on-site technicians also maintain network stability and performance.

To learn more about dedicated server options from UnmeteredServers.com, please visit http://www.unmeteredservers.com/dedicated.php.

http://www.gawkwire.com/web_hosting/unmeteredservers_launches_low-cost_unlimited-usage_dedicated_ser.html

GeoDomain Names: Big opportunities in Domain Name Investing

2009-06-04T15:46:00-04:00

(Domain News) These are great domain names that get a lot of traffic from people searching for places. Although a lot of places have been registered with the suffix (.COM), there are still a lot of opportunities in developing countries for geodomaining. These are some of the reasons why I believe geodomain names are a big opportunity: Traffic ...Go to source http://www.gawkwire.com/domains/geodomain_names_big_opportunities_in_domain_name_investing.html

User Time Spent On Facebook Increases 700%

2009-06-03T16:45:00-04:00

(Gawkwire.com) Nielsen reported Tuesday that total time spent on the social networking site rose from 1.7 billion minutes in April 2008 to 13.9 billion minutes in April 2009, making it the top social network in terms of the amount of time users spend on the site.

"We have seen some very exciting growth in Facebook during the past year, and a subsequent decline in MySpace," Jon Gibs, VP of media and agency insights for Nielsen Online, said in a prepared statement. "Twitter has come on the scene in an explosive way, perhaps changing the outlook for the entire space."

However, he warned that social networking sites can fall out of favor quickly with consumers, regardless of how fast they are growing or how big they are. As proof, Gibs pointed out that Friendster and MySpace were rising stars and appeared to be unbeatable.

"Neither Facebook nor Twitter are immune," he said. "Consumers have shown that they are willing to pick up their networks and move them to another platform, seemingly at a moment's notice."

Nevertheless, April marked the fourth consecutive month that Facebook ranked first for its number of unique visitors and time spent.

MySpace, however, retains the lead in one respect: online video. The site has 120.8 million video streams, and its visitors spent 384 million minutes watching video on the site, according to Nielsen. That's about 38.8 minutes for each viewer. Facebook visitors spend just 113.5 million minutes viewing video on the site in April, with just 11.2 minutes per viewer. Those figures draw attention to the importance of who visits the sites and what engenders their loyalty, according to Nielsen.

Nielsen found that Facebook seems to hold more appeal to people between the ages of 25 and 34 and 35 to 49, respectively, while MySpace draws users from ages 18 to 24 and 12 to 17. http://www.gawkwire.com/technology/user_time_spent_on_facebook_increases_700.html

Google releases Google Wave demonstration video

2009-06-01T14:13:00-04:00

(cnet) Google has released video of Thursday's keynote speech at Google I/O in San Francisco, where the company publicly demonstrated Google Wave for the first time before about 4,000 developers. Google Wave is an ambitious, if incomplete, attempt to reinvent e-mail and Internet communication in general.

Developers are just starting to get their hands on Google Wave to try it out for themselves, but the public is not expected to get the same chance for several months. We hope to post a hands-on review ourselves in the coming days, but for now, check out the video if you'd like to see Google Wave in action. Be forewarned, it's long (90 minutes). ...Go to source

http://www.gawkwire.com/video_tv/google_releases_google_wave_demonstration_video.html