Google OS in 2010

This is Google’s area of expertise: a simple, easy to use interface, accessible to all levels of users. Though there is no indication that anything like this is in the works, one can easily imagine a streamlined Google OS on its own hard disk partition, separated from the entertainment, gaming, and media production environments. In addition to Google’s signature services a high-powered internet, media, and local disk search engine in it would likely consist of an office suite, a lean web browser, and various other applications and utilities. Consider the technology already at Google’s disposal. Start with the world’s best search engine with access to the largest body of searchable information and media. Add Gmail: a clean, javascript-based application, stored on a server, accessed via the internet, from which a user can not only compose, read, organize, and search their email, but also quickly access Google’s search and other services. Now, look at Google News: a world of online news sources, which can be customized to an individual users preferences. Throw in Google’s desktop search, the Picasa photo software, and Firefox (Mozilla and Google have significant overlap in their employed workforces) with live bookmarks, and cool research extensions such as dictionary and thesaurus lookup, linky, launchy, and the like. Extend all of this technology to typical desktop applications like office software, then combine them all into one interface and bundle the OS. Simple, powerful, and totally Google.

Let’s take it one step further. Imagine that all of this software like the Google search engine, Gmail, etc. is stored on Google’s notoriously well-backed-up servers and operates at relatively high speed with any internet connection, thanks to its simplicity and javascript code base. Supported by unobtrusive (sometimes even helpful) ads, and hosted on a distant server, this is free, convenient, and accessible from ANY computer, anywhere, anytime. Additionally, you have the world’s best IT department working on your behalf to protect your software, its accessibility, and its security. No viruses, no worms, no corrupted disks.

Now for the fun. Right now, open source programs like Firefox boast some killer extensions that make browsing a lot more fun and a lot more productive. Imagine the kinds of plug-ins and extensions one could write for this Google OS, were it based on open standards (this past week, Google released much of its code as open source, and posted some key APIs at code.google.com). Perhaps you mouse over a URL, and a preview of the page pops up in the corner. A couple mouse clicks or a keyboard shortcut puts a graphic or media clip from the web right into your slide presentation. When working on a research project, you can bookmark sites of interest right into the outline of your paper. Or imagine a database of freely-downloadable music, from top artists, television shows, news videos, etc., paid for by inconspicuous Google text ads.

This article is copied from OSnews.com

Google OS in 2010

Take a tour Latika, a Microsoft engineer, guides your interactive tour of Windows 7.	See what makes it different Find out how Windows 7 compares to your current operating system.
Explore the features From HomeGroup to Jump Lists, Windows 7 is packed with features. Check them out.	Watch the videos These short videos give you a sneak peek at some Windows 7 highlights.

see http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/ for more information

Google OS in 2010

In theory, people who try to breach computer security should be called crackers rather than hackers. But the popular press has lost the distinction between the two, and I’m not going to make life difficult by trying to resurrect it.
So, hackers, as popularly defined, are computer experts who spend enormous amounts of time trying to breach the security of networks, Web servers and email servers. Usually they use a selection of specialist software to identify weaknesses, which are then exploited.

The majority do it for fun and as a challenge. They’re not interested in attacking private individuals. It’s the big companies and authorities they go for.
There are just two aspects of hacking that you have to worry about as a private individual. One is that your details are on various company databases, and when these are cracked, information about you can be stolen.

There’s not a lot you can do about this, and it definitely happens from time to time. The good news is that you won’t finish up with any financial liability if your credit card details are discovered. Your credit card company and the company that was cracked will sort it out between themselves. It’s unlikely that you’ll even know it happened.
The second problem is that serious hackers need to protect their anonymity. This means they can’t mount their attacks on organizations like the FBI directly through their own computers and telephone lines. They need first to create an intermediary, like a kind of base camp for a mountain expedition.

To get their intermediate base they use purpose built programs called trojans and backdoors. A trojan is a program that looks innocent but carries a dangerous payload, like the Trojan Horse of Greek mythology. It may be disguised as a game or some other kind of executable program, in the same way that viruses are often disguised.
The payload it carries is a backdoor program (or maybe just a few lines of code that create a security hole so a backdoor program to be installed later). A backdoor program allows the hacker access to your computer whenever it’s on the Internet. It’s a remote control, and usually a very thorough one with full access to every facility and file on your computer.

Again, in the popular press the distinction between a trojan and a backdoor (or more specifically the client element of a backdoor program) has been lost and the two are often used interchangeably.
It’s obviously important to avoid getting a backdoor program inside your computer. The best way is to use a competent virus protection program. Most of these will stop trojans and backdoors getting through.
Don’t rely on secure procedures as a method of stopping hackers. They sometimes fire programs over the Internet at a random IP addresses to see if they stick. You could be happily surfing Disneyland, and from nowhere (certainly not the Web site server) a hacking program can turn up at your machine trying to get in.

Once it’s inside, it will send a message back to the hacker to say it’s colonized your computer. It may also send a message each time you log on to the Internet, because it’s likely you’ll be given a different IP address by your ISP each time you log on.

If your machine behaves strangely and you think you’ve got a parasitic backdoor (it’s a bit like somebody else having a remote keyboard for the same computer) manually unplug the phone line to break the connection and get yourself a top virus protection program. Don’t reconnect that machine to the Internet (not even to collect email) until you’re sure it’s clean.

Don’t worry unnecessarily about hacking programs. They’re quite rare on personal computers. It’s network managers who lose sleep over them.
The exception is if you run a permanent (always-on) Internet connection, especially a broadband cable connection or DSL. Hackers just love to colonise these connections because they’re so useful. If you’ve got one of these you must install extra security. Your service provider will be aware of the risk and should offer you advice on what kind of security you need.

A good start is to install a firewall. There’s a free one that’s easy to use called ZoneAlarm, available from ZDNet. It’s also recommended for users of regular modems who want to improve their security.

Google OS in 2010

Hostgator, founded in 2002 is one of top shared hosting companies, ranking consistently among the best by most of the review sites. What makes hostgator stand out from the crowd is their excellent support and customer friendliness. If you are not satisfied with the support, you could even get hostgator president Brent Oxley to personally take a look at your problem.

Recently hostgator went green, probably making them the first main stream host to do so. They purchase renewable energy credits up to 130% of their total power consumption.

HostGator (HostGator.com) has become one of the better known web hosts in the industry by being themselves. Though nothing they do is completely spectacular or unbelievable, they do what they should do. That is, HostGator actually answers their phones, replies to their emails, responds to live chat requests, doesn’t rip you off, and provides quality hosting. It’s actually quite sad that most hosts can’t seem to get these things right, but it’s great for HostGator as they’ve banked on it and it’s translated into success.

At first glance, HostGator is not too impressive. They have a fairly generic web site, a logo with a fairly lame slogan – “we eat up the competition” (the alligator in the logo is eating the “H”) (sorry HostGator), ordinary copy on their text, an apparent lack of updates on their site, a pretty standard ModernBill setup, cPanel, and basically everything an average web host has.

However, that’s the beauty of HostGator. They don’t have too many bells and whistles, marketing ploys, or anything of the sort. What you see is what you get and it’s that simple. HostGator’s terms of service is pretty standard, as is their order process. Marketing isn’t shoved down your throat at every page and billing is simple. The order process takes about 5 minutes and HostGator accepts both credit cards and PayPal (which is always nice), as well as debit cards.

Hostgator offers linux hosting only(even though they are expected to start windows hosting in the near future). All their packages come with all the features needed for a serious website. Baby and Swamp packages allow unlimited domains(add on), which makes a lot of sense if you have multiple websites. They use cPanel, which is the best control panel around. You get Fantastico script installer which will install most of the popular open source scripts with few clicks.

They support PHP4 & 5, SSH, Cron jobs, Python, Ruby On Rails etc. Also, all the packages include enough POP3 accounts(20 for Hatchling and unlimited for others).

Hostgator Coupon

Hostgator has a promotion running at the moment. The coupon code BEACH offers 20% discount on initial order amount. That means the users who select yearly billing get a much better discount compared to those who opt for a monthly billing.

If you prefer monthly billing, coupon code hgc25 might work better as it makes the first month bill just $0.01.

All other coupon codes available on the net does exactly one of the above. So choose one of the codes above depending on your billing amount.