Open Source Software

Open Source Software is defined as free computer software for which the source code is made available under a copyright license

FlowCharts

Barack Obama as President

Barack Obama is ushering in a new era as the nation's first African-American president and the first president to use to the internet to influence voters. Youtube users alone spent 14.5 million hours watching official Barack Obama campaign videos. Barck Obama is starting a social network on YouTube, FaceBook, Twitter.

Read the following Article for more information on the new Obama era.

Windows 7

Windows is providing a new operating sytem called "Windows 7". When microsoft unvieled Windows 7 it seemed like it was just an improvement on windows Vista rather than a big step forward. Windows 7 is a tighter, faster version of Vista with an assortment of worthwhile feature enhancements.

For more information read the Article or watch the Presentation.

Flat-Screen NF3 emissions.

The making of Flat-Screen TVs is realeasing startling amounts of a gas NF3 into the atmosphere which is now realized is 17,000 times more effective at warming the atmosphere than an equal mass of carbon dioxide. The Kyoto protocol which regulates CO2 does not rewulate NF3 becuase it was not a problem in 1997. NF3 is having a harmful effect on the environment and should be added to the greenhouse gases that should be regulated by the Kyoto protocol.

For more information read the article on NF3 emissions.

The Internet in the Developing World

The internet is making its way around the world and now into developing nations. It says "61 percent of the world's 2.7 billion mobile phone users are in developing countries, compared to 10 percent of the world’s 1 billion Internet users." They say that this will also impact fundraising and will "personalize" giving.

For more information on the Internet in the Developing World read this article.

Mac OSX 10.6 "Snow Leopard"

Snow Leopard will streamline Mac OS X, enhance its performance, and set new standards for quality. Snow Leopard will focus on performance, stability, and resource efficiency, rather than features. Open Computing Language (Open CL) is a new technology in Snow Leopard designed to make it easier to make use of GPU processing power. Apple explains "With GPUs approaching processing speeds of a trillion operations per second, they're capable of considerably more than just drawing pictures."

For more Information go to the Apple website or read this Article.

T-Mobile Android SmartPhone

TheT-Mobile G1 is the first smart phone using the Google Android mobile operating system. This is a good phone and would be recommended to get soon but the new android SmartPhone still has many bugs and idiosyncrasies. The G1 measures 4.60 by 2.16 by 0.62 inches and weighs a moderate 5.6 ounces. The G1 has a slight bend near the bottom of the phone.The G! uses the Google Android mobile operating system. It will offer a plan with unlimited Web, e-mail and GoogleTalk Instant Messages plus T-Mobile HotSpot access and 400 messages or unlimited messaging in a different plan.

Daily Defragmentation

Pretty much you need to know that the increased number of files on computers nowadays requires larger storage requirements. Files are created and deleted and unused space gets fragmented with pieces of free space that get spread through the disk. The fragmented unused spaces encourage new files to be created in places where they can’t grow. Fragmentation issues also incluse the increase in file size. Word and PowerPoint documenta are bigger than ever. Video and graphic files have grown to massive proportions. Bigger files have an obvious connection to increased file fragmentation. Bigger files equal more fragmentation problems.

For information on Defragmentation go to White Page.

Moore's Law

Moore's Law describes a trend in computer's history that was first observed by Intel co-founder Gordon E. Moore. It was figured that the number of transistors that can be placed inexpensively on an integrated circuit has increased exponetially, doubling every two years. The trend has continued for almost half a century.

Go here for more information on Moore's Law

3-D Television

A small group of 10 scientists have been working on advancing hologram technology since 1910 and has finally made a breakthrough that they think will speed the process up and put an itme like this out on the market in the next 5-10 years. They broke the barrier by making the very first updatable three-dimensional dispalys with memory. Some people are not so optimistic and think it will take much longer to have this ready for mass marketing. Devolpers are hoping to push development and have such technology available by the year 2020.

For more information read this article on 3-D television.

iGoogle

Google's newly revamped iGoogle is the attempt to make a more personalized search engine. iGoogle is more graphically rich and has google gadgets which can be enlarged and used full window. All of google's gadgets and other gadgets from pages such as wikipedia and youtube can all be accessed from your personalized iGoogle page. iGoogle already has over 21 million users and are about to add the open social feature which may turn google into a new social network. All you need is a Google account to personalize your very own iGoogle webpage.

For more information about iGoogle read this article or visit iGoogle.com

Micron Technology and Nand Flash Memory

Micron technologys is one of the largest memory manufacturers in the world. Micron technologys is shutting down its Nand flash memory production factory. Micron technologysis reacting to the drop in the price of memory. The prices for DRAM and NAND flash memory are continuing to fall. DRAM and NAND memory manufacturers are constantly losing money.
NAND gate flash uses tunnel injection and tunnel release for writing and erasing respectively. NAND forms the core of USB flash drives, most memory card formats available today, and the Nintendo DS storage cards.

For more info on Micron technlogy read this Article
Read this Article for more information on Nand Flash Memory.

Laptop Killers?

The generations to come will probably prefer PDA's over Laptops. This new transition might occur because SmartPhone's are capable of almost all of the features of a Laptop but they are improved because they have more battery life and are only a fraction of the weight of a laptop. GM wants to provide intelligence and reporting on smartphones, including apps that show vehicle sales information, financial performance, manufacturing metrics, and project management status.

Read this Article for more information on SmartPhones.

BlackBerry Storm

The BlackBerry Storm may be another "iPhone killer". It is a Touch-Screen SmartPhone which will give the iPhone a legitimate rival.The keyboard will be a full QWERTY layout. The Storm is also capable of sending picture messages, has built-in instant messengers, and it will be preloaded with facebook for BlackBerry app. It has a 3.2-megapixel camera capable of recording video which outclasses the iPhone. It comes with a high resolution screen, 3G connectivity, and GPS.
The BlackBerry Storm will quickly become a very close competitor with the iPhone.

For more information read this article.

"Clickjacking"

"ClickJacking" allows a computer user to "attack" another computer user anywhere at anytime. One computer user can see through someone elses WebCam or hear through someone elses Mic. This can be done by putting a button only noticable for a split second that can be clicked. If someone purposly or accidentally clicks it it gives someone else access to their WebCam and Mic.

iPhone Killer

There is a new phone coming out called the Nokia 5800, or the "Tube". It is a Touch-Screen SmartPhone. The Nokia 5800 uses Symbian S60 OS and has advanced consumer-oriented features like Nokia's "Comes with music".

iNotes web application

IBM Lotus released a new web application for the iPhone called iNotes ultralite. This new application is for people who own an iPhone and are a subscriber to Lotus notes. The new application is fast, easy, and has the same look and feel of the iPhone user interface. The iPhone is quickly becoming enterprise application provider and the coporate enterprise device because it is providing many applications and uses for Business workers and/or owners.
For more info go to:
http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Messaging-and-Collaboration/IBM-Lotus-Embraces-Apples-iPhone-With-Free-INotes-Web-Application/?kc=EWKNLBOE10032008STR3

About Mac

Apple has published a new application called iWork08 and it has the capabilities of seamlessly writing and designing word documents. The new iWork 08 is said to rival microsoft windows 04 but has a long way to go to be the best.
For more info go to:
http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Apple/Apples-Pages-08-is-All-Grown-Up
The new iWork 08 includes Pages 08, Keynote 08, and Numbers 08. Pages 08 is the Word Processor for the Mac. Keynote 08 allows you to create cinema-quality presentatons easily. Numbers 08 which allows you to create amazing spreadsheets easier than ever before.
For more info go to:
http://www.apple.com/iwork
The Mac. It is able to run on microsoft windows and microsoft office. The Mac will instantly recognize all compatible devices and open the appropriate window. It is also Wi-Fi compatible. The Mac is super reliable because the computer and the hardware were made for each other by apple. It is also very secure. The Mac comes with plenty of applications that make the price difference between the Mac and PC insignificant. If you bring in your old Mac or PC all your files can be moved to your new Mac.
for more info go to:
http://www.apple.com/getamac/faq

MAC VS. PC

It was discovered that microsoft's Seinfeld ad campaign, which shows people using windows-based PCs was created on a Mac.
This is not very suprising because the Mac is a computer that is aimed towards the creative side of things. The big message that the PC wanted to convey is that all kinds of people use PC for all kinds of things. And they did. The Mac and the PC are both good computers whicha re best used and/or suited to certain people.
For more information go to:
http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2008/09/im_a_pc_made_on.html?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_ALL?cid=nl_IWK_daily_T

Robotics

I know that robotics are beginning to become very advanced. Nissan has introduced a Robot that is self run and self-governing named Nismo. Also scientists have been able to create robotics which can function for themselves because they are connected to sensors so they can respond to the environment. They are hooked up to rat brains which can be used to process the information input from the censors.
I would be very interested in taking a robotics or programming course if it was offered because i find it very interesting.

7-period school day

The 7-period school day will mean people can not take as many classes as before. This does not affect me because i'm a senior and will be graduating.

Sarah Palin get hacked

Sarah palin's e-mail was hacked incredibly easily because all of the information the hacker needed could be found easily on the internet. This would never happen to me because alot of my personal or private information is not released on the internet.

iPhone campaign

The iPhone sells on its online store a 99 cent application that is to keep people updated on what is going on around them in politics. It is a good idea to put the election news and informations on the phone for people who dont have time to catch the election news on the T.V. It offers the presidential blog and polls online for all of the younger demographic because it is phone-based.

For more information:
http://www.informationweek.com/news/personal_tech/iphone/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=210602749

The world around us.

People can stay more connected with the world around us is to try to watch the news, visit current websites, or read the newspaper to see and stay in touch with what is going on around us and how it affects us and others.

CERN is Hacked

When CERN was about to test the collider, a underground particle accelarator, a group of hackers who call themselves the "Greek Security Team" hacked into a CERN web page and defaced the webpage with a message in greek which translates to "We're pulling your pants down because we don't want to see you running around naked looking to hide yourselves when the panic comes". This was only done to show CERN its security weakness. The defaced web page was removed.
A big name asscociated with CERN is Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web. He is a member of the W3C. He is one of the most involved members of the internet and he was one of the people who was affected by the hacker.

Google Docs

Google Docs is a free, online area where you can make or organize all of your folders, documents, spreadsheets, powerpoints, faxes, pictures, or anything you need for your friends and/or business. You can also take this information and publish it as a webpage and edit or unpublish at any time. You can share your work with others and they can help you check it in real time and make suggestions with the chat box.

Google added to google docs by adding features that let you use the dictionary/thesaurus to look up defintions and synonyms/antonyms of a word. You can also linktot the Brittanica site to look at more detailed descriptions. You can Look up pictures of a selected word. Last you can create a table of contents as your first page.

Chapter 3 Review questions

Matching

1) C
2) D
3) C
4) A
5) A
6) A
7) E
8) B
9) D
10) C

Fill in the blank

1) Darwin, Aqua, and classic
2) System preferences
3) Icon View, List View, and Panel View
4) Key Caps Utility
5) CD

High capacity compact flashcard

SanDisk introduced its 32 GB CompactFlash card. The New disk is not the fastest but is aimed at users who need more memory space. It is aimed at people who use High-Definition camcorders. The card provides high quality images and can operate in extreme temperatures. This is a new and better version of RAM( random access memory) not ROM( read-only memory). It is RAm not Rom because you can edit and access the memory at any time in any order.

Bill Gates commercial

Microsoft unvieled a commercial in its $300 million multimedia campaign in which Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfield are in a family home in which they are "connecting" with real families. They are trying to get back in touch with the needs of everyday computer users. In the end Bill Gates does the robot

For more info on this commercial:
http://www.informationweek.com/news/windows/operatingsystems/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=210601357

Smart Garment

A Smart Garment is electronic sensors that nike and apple are working on and improving upon which can be used to get feedback from your clothing. A runner could get information from the sensors in his shoes which let him know how many calories he burned or elevation gain. These electronic sensors could also tell the runner how to improve upon the run or alert you when the shoes get worn down before they impair your running.

For more information go to:http://www.informationweek.com/news/personal_tech/ipod/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=210601369

Open source Software and Linux

Linux is a good Open source software because of its ability to be changed and improved upon since the source codes initial release in 1991. It has grown from a few small c files to 290 megabytes of source. New versions of the Linux kernel are relesed every few years and are maintained by different people.

For more information on Linux go to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Linux#The_creation_of_Linux

Open Source Software

Open source software is free software that can be changed by the user because the source code is available by a copyright license. users can change, use, and improve software.

For more information go to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_source_software

Mainframe VS. PC

Early mainframes were housed in enormous metal boxes or frames. Many mainframes were manufactured from the late 1950s through the 1970s. They used to be common computers used to solve problems and do work for everyone but ever since the PC less mainframes are used and are now only used by large organizations for critical applications, Bulk data processing, industry statistics, ERP, and financial transaction processing. The CPU speed of a mainframe can run from 26 millions of instructions per second(MIPS) to 30,657 MIPS. Technology can join 32 of these computers together and make them behave as a single computer performing at 981,024 MIPS.

For information on mainframes go to:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mainframe_computer#History0

PC stands for personal computer. Its price, size, and capabilities make it useful for the individual user. This type of computer runs faster for single people who interests in doing things like going on the internet and using microsoft office. These computers can alsop be better for gamers or Djs. Everything about the PC is mad efor it to be personal. The PC is very affordable, effective and portable, especially if you use a laptop or tablet computer.

For more information on PCs go to:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PC

RAM, ROM, Virtual Memory and Caching

All four are types of memory but they differ as to what they can do or store.
RAM(Random Access Memory) is a form of computer memory. You can access any memory cell if you know the row and column that intersect at that cell. RAM causes your computer to feel faster to a point and it eliminates the need to "Swap" out programs. RAM will be lost every time the computer shuts down.
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/ram.htm
ROM(Read-Only Memory) is a circuit with preprogrammed data on it. They are used in most electronics. ROM can not be edited, if a mistake is made you must start all over with ROM.
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/rom.htm
Caching is a memory system. It is used to access the memory of the main memory faster that normal. An L2 cache access' the main memory 2x faster than normal and an L1 cache access' the main memory 3.5x faster than the L2 cache. Caches are used between subsystems of the computer to improve performance. This is also used to cache a slow medium like the internet.
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/cache3.htm
Virtual Memory is part of tha RAM which looks for unused memory and copies applications onto the hard disk which frees up space on the RAM to load a new application. The copying of the applications happens automatically and makes the computer feel like it has more memory than it really does. This is also an economic benefit because hard disk space is cheaper than RAM chips.
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/virtual-memory.htm

What is the difference between Application software and Operating Systems?

Application Software is software that allows you to accomplish one or more ,specific, non-computer related tasks.
For information on Application software go to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Application_software

Operating Systems are responsible for the management of activities and resource sharing. The operating system handles detail and operation of the hardware.
For information on Operating Systems go to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operating_systems

Computer Time Line

1939- Hewlett-Packer was founded and made HP 200A audio oscillator.
1950- Engineering Research Associates of Minneapolis build the ERA 1101, the very first commercially produced computer.
1955- The very first meeting of SHARE, the IBM users group is convened.
1960- AT&T design the Dataphone, the first commercial modem
1963- The Rancho arm is designed. It is among one of the first artificial robotic arms to be controlled by a computer.
1967- The first standard metal oxide semiconductor product for data processing applications is built by Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corp.
1970- Southern National Bank in Valdosta, Ga., installed the country´s first automatic teller machine.
1980- Seagate Technology created the first hard disk drive for microcomputers.
1986- Pixar is founded.
1993- The computer game “Doom” is released.

To get more info. on the history of computers go to:
http://www.computerhistory.org/

Contextual Clue

The word is Multitasking. The clues that i saw was ". . it must share its attention in small portions among all the active tasks." This lets me know that multitasking involves doing many things at once.

My Second Assignment

What is Nanotube technology?
Carbon Nanotubes are allotropes of carbon that can be used in applications such as nanotechnology, electronics, optics, and in other fields of material science.

What does it look like?
Carbon Nanotubes are hair-sized tubes made of rolled-up carbon hexagons

What might it mean for future technology?
Nanotechnologycan be used by companies to boost the performance of future microprocessors and computer memory. Technology will be shrunk to even smaller sizes than before to sizes almost a fraction of the width of a human hair.

Learn more about Nanotubes and Nanotechnologies:
http://www.eweek.com/c/a/IT-Infrastructure/IBM-Claims-Breakthrough-in-Carbon-Nanotube-Research/?kc=EWKNLINF08272008STR1
All about Carbon Nanotubes
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_nanotube

My First Assignment

The first assignment for my Technical Journal is about technology.
I'm going to compare laptops versus desktops and what are the advantages and disadvantages for each?

First I want to start with the desktop computer. Desktop advantages are that it is very standard and therefore more affordable and available. Desktops have several expansion slots and most laptops only have one. Desktops can be upgraded more and better than most laptops. Desktop disassembly is also much easier. Because desktops run by cord they energy consumption and battery life is not a factor. But there is the problem of the fact that if the power goes out you would lose all progress since last save. Desktops are also not portable. Because of arrangement of some desktop certain health problems can develop such as posture problems, strain injuries, and certain eyestrain problems.

Link for more information on desktops: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desktop_computer#Comparison_with_laptops

Next I will discuss laptops compared desktops. The laptops largest advantage and probably best aspect is its portability which allows it to go anywhere and be acessable to more places. Another advantage is the fact that it runs on battery life which lets you move away from wall outlets and you can keep progress through power outages. A big disadvantage of the Laptop is it's durability. Because of its small and closely built design it cannot take alot of physical damage. Components of the Laptop such as the Batteries, Hinges, power jacks, and power cords may deteriote with use over time. These components are typically expensive to replace. Spills on a laptop can be extremely damaging to a laptop while virtually harmless to a desktop. Also you might drop the laptop which can result in damage repair costs worth more than the actual value of the laptop.

link for more information on laptops:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laptop#Advantages

These are some of the biggest differences between laptops and desktops whicha re also some of the biggest advantages and disadvantages for each and both should be thought about and looked at before you make a decision to make either one.

My Technical Journal

Hi my name is Patrick T. and this is my blog for Operating Systems.
Its just. . . . whatever.
Whats goin' on?
This is the introduction blog. The first blog of many to come. Each blog will be about whatever i'm supposed to do for the class. . . .yeah. . . so this is the start of my Technical Journal For Operating Systems.