BATMAN

Dell will now be selling computers with Google Desktop and Toolbar preinstalled on the system.  This will also have a new co-branded homepage set as the default.  I really do not understand the point of this, except google may get more publicity, but they don’t really need publicity.  If people want Google Desktop and Toolbar, they can just go download it from the site.  Its that easy.

The best thing about Senior week is that we are finally going to graduate.  We also get to laugh at all the other people who have to go to school for an extra week or two.  I just think it will be a fun and exciting week for us.

ICANN rejected the .xxx domain mainly because of opposition from right-wing radio personalities and conservative personalities who believe it would make pornography a legitimate business.  The problem with this is that internet pornography is already a legitimate organization.  The ruling means no .xxx sites will go in to service anytime soon.  Pornographic sites will stick with their existing domain names.  I think this really isn’t a good or a bad thing for the internet as a whole.  The idea of the .xxx domain is good, but it would not work.  Porn sites would keep their original domain names and also use the .xxx domains, thus the filtering abilities thought to be created because of .xxx would not exist.  The main reason for creating it would not work well so the idea was pretty much doomed to fail.

This new laptop is Intel’s answer to the $100 laptop introduced by MIT.  The notebook PC is designed for teachers and students throughout the world.  There is a plan to provide the Mexican government with 300,000 of the computers distributed to teachers.  The new computer will allow a teacher can make presentations, control what a student has access to, and interact individually with each student in giving tests or providing feedback.  It also allows tasks such as note-taking and handwriting with wireless pen attachments.  I think it will be a good deal as people are already ordering them.  This computer may do better than its counterpart due to the popularity of the name.

It is a phone that allows users to place calls from one Skype user to another Skype user without the use of a computer.  The phone can be used at any wireless hotspot and allows free service to all Skype users.  It is different from other VoIP because it is not done through a computer, but through a cell phone.  There is also no need to login to a network when using the phone.  This would work well if the phone wasn’t so expensive.  $250 is alot for a cell phone that only has the ability to reach other users of the network.  If enough people had Skype, then it would be much more valuable.  I personally have no need for it as I rarely make long distance calls, but for families over seas it would work very well. 

A rootkit is a set of programs after an intruder gains access to a computer.  This software conceals running processes so the hacker may maintain access to the system without the user of the system being aware of it. 

Stealthware, or malware, is software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system, without the owner’s consent. Ex: virus, trojan. 

McAfee says the open source environment, along with online collaboration sites and blogs, are to blame for the increased proliferation and complexity of rootkits.

The best way to protect your self is to not download anything from an untrusted source, have a secure browser like Opera or Firefox, have a strong personal firewall, and have a good anti-virus program.  Spyware removers like Ad-aware can also be effective.

Nintendo Revolution is the next generation of gaming for Nintendo.  It is the system that will replace the Gamecube at the top of the Nintendo food chain.  The new controller looks something like a TV remote controller rather than a game controller.  It is done this way to hopefully attract older audiences to the simplicity of the gaming system.  It is not a system just for younger people, but for all people.  In my opinion, this idea will not work.  Most people who buy video games like the controllers that are already made.  People like the controllers the way they are and people do not want a TV remote to play video games on. 

This site allows the buying and selling of property by protecting both parties from fraud.  The money goes through the website so that neither party has the upper hand when buying and selling property. It works this way:  escrow takes the money from the buyer and does not give the money to the seller until the product arrives.  This is to make certain that someone who buys something online will recieve their product.  This is a good thing for both the buyer and the seller because it is alot harder to commit fraud.  Nobody can get away with cheating someone out of money or property. 

Critics are saying that the display cannot be made cheaply enough to keep the price of the laptop down.  They are also saying the laptop is useless without broadband which many countries don’t have.  The head believes that the laptop does not need a super nice screen nor be blazing fast in order to be useful.  I think they will be shipped and will help many kids in developing countries around the world.  I think its a very good program because it will help poorer countries to learn more about the technological world we live in.  Hopefully if we can educate the youth, then the countries will not live in the poverty they live in today. 

TLD = Top Level Domain: extension of a domain name. (.com, .org., .etc)

Domain Names are leased… not sold.

Registrars = entities that handle domain registration and deletion.

Name Server= turns domain name into IP address.

WHOIS = utility offered by registrars to gain info about domain

Admin Contact = can make any change to the domain info.

Tech Contact = can only make technical changes to the domain record.

All registrars play under ICANN.  godaddy.com, networksolutions.com

Parked Domain = registered name w/o a website.