Posted by The Blogging Desk on Mon, Jan 17, 2011
- by Chad, "The Dream", Weaver
If you are someone who uses a computer, an event taking place throughout the internet this coming summer is something you might want to pay attention too. That is of course “IPv6 Day”. I know those scary letters can make most people shutter; not me, of course, I love this stuff. First off let’s touch on what IPv6 is and what it has to do with connecting to your favorite website such as Facebook. For some time now the IP addresses you are used to seeing-or maybe not but you are using them no matter what-are small sets of 4 three digit decimal numbers. They are usually displayed like 192.168.1.1 and, as a side note, each 3 digit numbers cannot exceed 255. This has to do with the binary number, but that’s a topic for another day. You can see us IT support guys really love this stuff but I am sure to be boring some readers already. The current system is called IPv4, and because of its limitations we are expecting it to run flat out some time this year. IPv6 is the replacement system providing exponentially more IP addresses. This time around, even your dog can have their own unique IP address.
So what’s the whole point of this if we’re just going to switch over in the near future? The problem is no one in the world wants to go first. Many sites out there have found issues when running what is called “dual stack” on their web servers. While it’s a small percentage of home users, it prevents them from connecting at all. (IPv6 isn’t new by the way it has been around for years now.) Now a group called the Internet Society is promoting an IPv6 day this year on June 8th 2011. The purpose is for major players on the internet such as Facebook (we can debate the importance of them later), Google, and Yahoo signing on already, to switch over to the new numbering system for a day. The good news is this is a great real world test on the new system; the bad news is things might not work perfectly.
What does this have to do with you, you might ask? Isn’t this the problem of networking junkies like me to think about? For the most part you shouldn’t worry. Just be aware that there may be some oddness when trying to update your status for the day, perhaps. The good news is that for a long time now software and networking devices have been updating to handle the new system. Even good old Microsoft has been using dual stack in their OS for years now Vista and 7 are pretty much good to go. The bad news is not all equipment specifically items used in home networks are going to be happy that day. This numbering system is not even remotely similar to the older guy it is replacing. While I picture no one at all noticing anything occurring this day, I was so excited to hear about it I started to think about all the awesome things that are possible under the new system and even wrote a blog about it, wait that’s what you are reading now. Anyway, this is a huge step in to the future, and a necessary one most of you might not even be aware of. To me and all the rest of us doing networking and IT support it’s an exciting one. Perhaps it should be promoted to ‘holiday’ status maybe even a day off. Well, perhaps not.
If you're curious about your business being ready for IPv6 Day, don't hesitate to contact Trigon. We're willing and able to make the transition buttery smooth.
Posted by The Blogging Desk on Tue, Oct 12, 2010
Yahoo via iTunes:
Connect with your IM friends using video and voice with the newest Yahoo! Messenger app for your iPhone. Make free voice and video calls to your Messenger friends, low cost calls to land line or mobile phones, video calls—plus get new features like multitasking, instant notifications and free SMS.
Let's be honest, who knew Yahoo was still a thing in 2010?
Aside from presumed posthumous app releases, Yahoo has really stepped it up here. Skype hasn't even added in video calling over Wi-Fi, let alone 3G. Of course, on top of needing friends, you'd also need those friends to have the Yahoo Messenger app. Friends are a tough thing to come by. I'm writing this from the inside of a cheezy poofs bag. Friends forever, bag!
I have only use the FaceTime app a few times, once with my wife from the first floor while she was in my office. I think we'll be using it more once my son bursts onto the scene. I'm the sentimental type, ok?
Outside of personal use, I can see video calling really taking off in the enterprise scene. Video meetings can be a bit more personable when you can't be on-site, and if you have a WiFi connection there, even better. As a top-notch IT Support company serving the Philadelphia area, we'd be ready to support some that kind of slick forward thinking. One would think Cisco would come out with an iOS video-calling app. Though, I would think that would work a bit better when the next iPad adds a front facing camera. That's just assumed, right?
I need more cheezy-poofs.
Posted by Jon Pentecost on Wed, Sep 16, 2009
Have you "Binged" yet? Microsoft has come out with its own search engine in order to compete with the top search engines, Google and Yahoo. Microsoft, however, does not call Bing a search engine. According to the website (
http://www.microsoft.com/video/en/us/channels/bing), it is a "decision engine". This means that it helps you search more effectively and find exactly what you want, rather than sifting through what Google and Yahoo think you are looking for.
In order to enhance the experience, you can install Microsoft's Silverlight, which makes the website more aesthetically pleasing, while also providing videos that you cannot view without Silverlight. Silverlight smooths out the fonts and provides better graphics for the website.
Just released is also a new beta portion of the decision engine. It is called Visual Search. You can search by images, rather than text. Right now there are limited items that you can visually search through, but the content will be expanding and the website will always be improving once more searches are completed. In order to view the images you currently can search upon, go to http://www.bing.com/visualsearch.
If you have not checked out the site yet, I recommend visiting http://www.bing.com/ and performing a few searches. See how quickly you can find the information you are looking for, rather than using Google or Yahoo.
Posted by Solutions Center on Tue, Aug 11, 2009
Wow, we weren't kidding in earlier blogs when we alluded to letting the search wars begin. Well, now that Microsoft has upped the ante by not only launching an extremly successful "decision engine" Bing, and teaming up with Yahoo!, Google got a little pissed off. Microsoft just woke a sleeping giant. Google wants its market share back and they are ready for war.
What exactly does Google have in store for us? How about a better Google. What - is that even possible you ask? Well, unbeknownst to many, Google just announced it has been working on a better, faster, more robust search engine. Basically, it's the newest version of Google and for right now it is still under construction. Here is what Google has to say about it's newest updated search engine:
"For the last several months, a large team of Googlers has been working on a secret project: a next-generation architecture for Google's web search. It's the first step in a process that will let us push the envelope on size, indexing speed, accuracy, comprehensiveness and other dimensions. The new infrastructure sits "under the hood" of Google's search engine, which means that most users won't notice a difference in search results. But web developers and power searchers might notice a few differences, so we're opening up a web developer preview to collect feedback."
What does all of that mean to the average user? It means they are specifically working on improving indexing speed, the accuracy of your searches, and the size and scope of your searches. I apologize that this didn't bare all of the juicy details, but we will keep you posted as they are revealed! Check it out here: New Google Search. Stay tuned, this could get exciting.
Posted by Solutions Center on Fri, Jul 31, 2009
DISCLAIMER: This Post Does Not in Any Way Mention Apple.
Recently I created a Gmail account to act as a secondary email for myself. For the sake of conversation, let's call it iheartstevejobs@gmail.com. I was going to use it just in case I needed my password reset for various websites and also as a poor mans auto-archive of my main email. Boy what a mistake that could be.
Gmail, Hotmail and Yahoo shut off inactive email accounts after 6-9 months of in-activity, meaning that my secondary email could be deactivated if I don't log in often. So one day a greasy haired nerdlinger who dreamed of getting iheartstevejobs@gmail.com would be inundated with glee to find it was finally available. Imagine his surprise when he started getting banking and password information into his inbox. What he would want to do with my Twitter account is beyond me, but rest assured I want to be the only one alerting the world that I just had breakfast!
So the morale of this story is that you shouldn't forget to log into your email early and often and also to eat your vitamins. For the record, C is my favorite.
Posted by Solutions Center on Thu, Jul 30, 2009
A better GoodSearch? Should somebody check my English here? Well, while the rest of this blog may not be totally grammatically correct, the title is fine. GoodSearch, if you are unaware, is a search engine that allows you to support that charity of your choice by searching the internet. Yes, that's right, that's all it takes to make a small donation to the charity of your choice. While the actual numbers aren't huge for each search - a combined effort can snowball into large amounts of money for great causes. Just think of how many times you Google something everyday - I know I alone search at least 20 times a day.
The other really cool functionality of GoodSearch is that if you purchase goods from one of the suggested retailers, a portion of the proceeds are given to the charity of your choice. Even cooler - last night I purchased some tickets to the World Champion Phillies (sorry I'm still excited almost 10 months later), and four percent of the proceeds are being donated to the cause of my choice - the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Again, you pick the charity of your choice, you search, they get money. There are 81 THOUSAND charities signed up. From what I can tell, the biggest winner is the ASPCA, who has earned $27,000!
So what the heck does this have to do with the Microsoft and Yahoo deal? Well, GoodSearch is currently powered by the number two search engine, Yahoo. Now that the two giants are teaming up, this surely only means that GoodSearch's searching functionality will only get better. While, my personal preference has always been the Google search engine - I can only assume that adding the new Bing platform to Yahoo's search functionality will only allow GoodSearch to become an even better resource for finding what you need. So what's your excuse for not being a do-gooder? Add it to your favorites, download their wonderful search toolbar, and start giving back by doing what you do anyway!
Posted by Matt Kolowski on Wed, Jul 29, 2009
And they plan to meet Google at SummerSlam!
Today Microsoft and Yahoo! announced a 10 year partnership. What does that mean to my tablet-toting Grandmom? Well, not too much because she won't notice many changes on either site. Bing will be powering Yahoo search results from now on. Yahoo will stick around to become the exclusive worldwide relationship sales force for both companies' advertisers. But I don't think Gammy cares much about that.
If anything, this shows that Microsoft will do anything to compete with Google, even if it means teaming up with their closest competitors. (Yahoo was the #2 search engine, while Bing was #3) Alot of people seem to like Bing and the way it takes them through their search results, but for people that use Yahoo for that kind of thing...well, hopefully they weren't too attached to how Yahoo did things. Yahoo will be using Bing algorithms for searching. But don't be too upset, because Microsoft now has access to the Yahoo blueprints on how they've been doing things, so you could be getting the best of both worlds.
I was a big fan of hotbot.com back in the day for seaching, my 56K Modem and I were cock of the walk. What about YOU? Did you use Yahoo for searching?
Or have you already turned to the Bing side of things?
Posted by Chad Weaver on Thu, Jul 23, 2009
Talk about on again off again relationships; it appears that both Microsoft and Yahoo are at it again! The two are talking out some sort of deal over Yahoo's search business. It seems this time though, that they are more serious in coming to an agreement. In the past Microsoft offered $47.5 billion to purchase Yahoo. The current CEO of Yahoo turned down the deal and Microsoft walked away. There has been much speculation of these two companies joining forces for some time now, and rumors have been growing recently over some kind of deal in the works. Recently, Microsoft re-launched its own search engine and has been making small gains in the search war in a short amount of time . Alas for Microsoft, the small success still falls very short of the giant it's chasing, Google. A deal of some sort between Yahoo and Microsoft will allow the two much greater chances of putting a dent in the advertising market that seems to be dominated by Google. We will have to wait and see if some sort of two headed monster, "Microhoo" "Yahcrosft" or something like that, is formed to take on the giant. The final bit of stats in the Search wars holds Google at 65 % of the market Yahoo at 20 % and Microsoft in a distant third with about 8 %. The combination of the second and third places would put them in a much better spot to make a move.