SnapIt

Dear Blogger friends,

I would like to recommend you a software called SnapIt. Having trouble snapping pictures and diagrams from webpages, desktops? Now, you don't have to worry. SnapIt can capture anything you see on your PC. When I say anything, it is ANYTHING - pictures, diagrams, texts, etc


It is a convenient tool for graphic designers (you can snap and edit in photoshop), bloggers who capture and crop images, tech writers who need to describe menus and interfaces of application on YouTube, web designers and other who needs to snap and crop. This software can capture and auto save image with one click. Now...what is autosave? Okay, autosave is when your saved location is saved on a certain folder. This means if you first save on a folder, the other snapped and cropped pics will be automatically saved in that folder. Cool right? You don't have to press "save as" all the time!


This software also supports hotkeys and clipboard. It can save file in various image formats -you name it - BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG, TIFF. Also, you don't need to have Windows7's Snipping Tool or use Microsoft Word 2010's ScreenShot. SnapIt will be available for you! Do you want to know how to make this software free and non-restricted for you? I have got a way


Let me draw the curtains....you just have to create a review on this software-SnapIt on a  blog, forum, twitter post or facebook post. Just write an email (Melissa.Garcia@digeus.com)  to Melissa Garcia, executive of Digeus.com, which manages SnapIt. When writing the email, include the link "http://www.digeus.com/products/snapit/snapit_screen_capture_3_5.html". She will tell you what to write in your review and you will obtain a registration code. After that, the software will be 100% free for you. It happened to me and i am enjoying the software as I write this blog. 




Thanks,
Mandeepal

Input/Output Devices

Why do we need input and output devices? What is input and what is output? A computer illiterate might ask you this.

You might answer:

Monitor, Mouse, Keyboard

Well, hmmm. I don't know.

I know! Input is sending information to the computer to perform a task.

Output is when you want the computer to send you a feedback.

For example, if you want to key in a letter (let's say "m") into the computer, you use a keyboard. The computer will then convert the letter into binary signals for it to understand. This is input.

After that, the letter "m" is displayed on the monitor. That's output.

Speaker

Then? What are devices involved in input and output.

For input, the users use:

-keyboard (key in letters, numbers and symbols)
-microphone (input voice)
-stylus (insert handwriting or click something on a PDA)
-camera (input image or moving images (video) into the computer)
-mouse/touchpad (insert commands for computer)
-scanner (input scanned images)

Scanner

Joystick

For output, we use:

-speaker (to listen to sounds, music, videos)
-monitor (to display content of an operating system, software, application)
-MP3 Player/iPod Touch (listen to songs)
-Printer (print softcopy files, convert softcopy into hardcopy)

Application of IT: DNA Sequencer

Personal Genomic Machine

Founder - Dr. Rothberg

Information Technology does not span only to making computers, mobile devices, cameras and etc.

IT can now cover MOLECULAR BIOLOGY. A new device called "personal genomic machine" is on the loose now.

As the picture indicates, the machine functions to test a sample genome and then provide the sequence of the genome in just two hours. The Ion PGM (personal genomic machine) was developed by Ion Torrent, a business unit of Life Technologies Corporation.

Life Technologies Corporation is common among molecular biologists and geneticists as it provides cloning techniques of Invitrogen and provider of innovative life science solutions.

According to Founder of Ion Torrent, Dr. Jonathan M. Rothberg (see picture above), the Ion PGM uses semiconductor technology just like digital cameras and CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) imager. Hence, Ion PGM is affordable (means you can buy it too) and it is fast (time-saving). However, the Ion PGM is only for research use and not for human/animal therapeutic use.

Finally, information from the Ion PGM can be saved on an iPhone or iPod touch (docked to the PGM).

Networks - How Many Are They?

Network

Why do we need network? Why is it so important? People use network every single minute and second to communicate with other people (facebook) and share resources (using the internet). 

There are three main types of networks - local area network (LAN), metropolitan area network (MAN) and wide area network (WAN). However, when defining a network (or computer network), you must also consider number of nodes (size) and geographical scope of the network.

Client Server Network

Firstly, in LAN, this type of network is connected within a premise (let's say an office) and uses high-speed internet connections. Network within an office can be referred to as a local area network.

In MAN, the network covers a metropolitan (that's why it's called metropolitan area network) and uses either low or high speed connections.

In WAN, the network covers a large geographical area (country or continent). An InterNet (International Network) is a good example as this network covers network of the whole world. The Internet uses low-speed communication link to transfer data.

There are other forms of network like personal area network (PAN) and global area network (GAN). PAN covers a network around a single person and uses Bluetooth Technology. GAN is a network that encompasses a global network and uses different combination of technologies (satellite communication). 

Another network called workgroup network, is a network that connect several PCs (personal computers) and does not create more weight on a single PC. Client-server networks involves a server network that has specific authority on client network computers. Usually, this computer network will provide services (like storage services, printing services and internet services) to other client networks upon request. 

Internetworking is another form of network which links computer nodes within a single business organization. There are two types of internetworking - intranet and extranet.

Intranet is an internetwork that covers networks among employees within a company and connect to network of remote branch.

Extranet is an internetwork that connects internal computers to the outside network. For example: ATM network. Usually, when a business wants to offer services to an outside source, the business will use extranet. 

History of Internet - to understand internet, we need to know its history! Compulsory!

ARPANET Map

The Internet basically started in 1969 with ARPANET. ARPANET or Advanced Research Projects Agency Network was the first network that started in 1969. This network used packet switching technology and the technology was new at the present time. Two computers at Stanford and UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) were the first computers to have connected using the ARPANET.  The message sent was "Login" but both colleges crashed on the letter "g" (Six Revisions). 

TCP/IP

Then, in 1970, ARPANET established a network between Harvard, MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and BBN (Bolt, Beranek and Newman Technologies). In 1971, Ray Tomlinson came up with the "@" symbol to separate the user name from the computer name (which later became known as the domain name).

"@"

In the same year, the eBook was born. The person responsible for it was Michael Hart, who felt that the internet was still not the source of storage and retrieval of information (which the library was!). So, he founded the "Project Gutenberg". 


In 1974, TCP/IP (transmission control protocol/internet protocol) was created to link ARPA-like networks into an "inter-network" which will not have central control. 

DNS

After 1974, in 1977, the first PC (personal computer) modem was build. The modem was developed by Dennis Hayes and Dale Heatherington, and was initially sold to computer hobbyists. Then, in 1984, the Domain Name System (DNS) was created with the first Domain Name Servers. The creation of DNS help made internet addresses more "human/user friendly" because people do not have to memorize IP addresses anymore. The DNS server will help convert the DNS into IP addresses for the computer. 

PC Modem

In 1993, the browser, Mosaic was created. Although Mosaic was not the 1st web browser, it was a browser for "non-techies". In the next year, 1994, Netscape Navigator browser was released, which was Mosaic's competitor. 

Mosaic

In 1996, the first webmail service was launched (at least we know which mail came first :>). Hotmail was the 1st webmail service launched. The word "HoTMaiL"  came from the word "HTML" (look at the block letters!). And, of course, Google came about in 1998 changing ways how people can look up info on the internet (searching info was a lot easier after Google came). 

Netscape Navigator

Well, who can live without wikipedia (not even me though I must avoid it at times!). Wikipedia was launched in 2001. In 2003, Myspace was launched and became most popular social networking site (though I find Myspace better than Facebook). 

Google

In 2004, Facebook was launced though it was called "Thefacebook" and was only open to Harvard students. The old url still works : http://www.thefacebook.com. It will lead you back to facebook of course. 

thefacebook

Lastly, in 2008, "Internet election" took place. Hilary Clinton basically used YouTube to broadcast her campaign videos. Ron Paul fundraised up to USD (United States of America Dollar) 4.3 million in one day and USD 4.4 million in one day too (weeks later). 

Ron Paul

Browsers - why do we keep changing browser?

Browsers

Browsers? What are they? I observe some people (my brother is one of them) keeping more than one browser in one computer. Really a waste to the RAM (random access memory), right?

For me, it's just choosing one browser - one suitable browser. For me, Google Chrome suited my interest. It's user-friendly, interactive, fun and cool. Talking about my bro, he keeps Internet Explorer (IE), Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox on his desktop computer. He must have wasted his RAM and his computer is utilizing more of his virtual memory.

There are many browsers around now ->

-Internet Explorer

-Google Chrome

-Mozilla Firefox

-Opera

-Opera Mini (for handphones and smartphones)

-Netscape

-Seamonkey

-Safari

Basically, a browser, according to the Webopedia (did not know it existed), is an application software that locate and display webpages. Today browsers have graphics, sound and video (but you would require additional plug-ins to display the sound and video). 

In the year 2010, the browsers Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer were the most frequent used browsers on the World Wide Web. Quite shocking for me! I thought Chrome would score the highest. No matter, aiya !

The table below shows the browser statistics for the year 2010:

2010	Internet Explorer	Firefox	Chrome	Safari	Opera
December	27.5 %	43.5%	22.4%	3.8%	2.2%
November	28.6 %	44.0%	20.5%	4.0%	2.3%
October	29.7 %	44.1%	19.2%	3.9%	2.2%
September	31.1 %	45.1%	17.3%	3.7%	2.2%
August	30.7 %	45.8%	17.0%	3.5%	2.3%
July	30.4 %	46.4%	16.7%	3.4%	2.3%
June	31.0 %	46.6%	15.9%	3.6%	2.1%
May	32.2 %	46.9%	14.5%	3.5%	2.2%
April	33.4 %	46.4%	13.6%	3.7%	2.2%
March	34.9 %	46.2%	12.3%	3.7%	2.2%
February	35.3 %	46.5%	11.6%	3.8%	2.1%
January	36.2 %	46.3%	10.8%	3.7%	2.2%

(Table adapted from w3schools.com)

As for my favourite browser - Google Chrome, this browser is different from other browsers. Why? Not satisfied?

In my defence, I would say, Google Chrome runs its tabs distinct from other tabs. The tabs are more secure and when tabs are closed, the memory of tabs are eliminated.


In addition, Chrome uses a JavaScript engine called V8 which makes larger applications perform better. The start page of this browser contains eight most visited web pages, a list of recently visited websites and favourite search engines. 


Finally, Google Chrome is an open-source project-based browser, which is open to changes and developers can edit the project suiting to their needs. 


Hence, now you know that Google Chrome is more awesome and cooler than other browsers! Yess! ;>

The New Social Networking Site - Facebook

Facebook Founder

People used to think of Friendster all the time when it comes to social networking, sharing pictures, and chatting. Now, Friendster is sort of forgottenn.....Why?Why?

Because Facebook came in. One day, my brother asked me - "Why is there no "legbook"? Anyways, my brother is not a fan and member of facebook. He hates it!

Facebook existence threw Friendster out of the spotlight. Millions of people I know including parents, relatives, uncles, aunts, cousins, neighbours, and all sorts of people joined this giant social networking site called "Facebook".

Where did this "face-book" come from? Facebook was launched in February 2004 and was founded by Mark Zuckerberg alongside his computer science friends - Saverin, Moskovitz and Hughes.

Facebook Homepage

Basically, Facebook include "tagging" your friends' names on a photo, writing on your friends' walls, chatting with your friends on a chat window, playing Facebook games (which is quite boring because it's a "Hit and Win" game).

The word "Facebook" came from a book's name in the US (United States of America) at the onset of academic years in universities with the intention students get to know each other. Before Facebook came up, Facemash was written and founded by Zuckerberg while he was second year student at Harvard University. He practically hacked Harvard's computer network and copied the dormitory ID images.

Facebook Login Page

 After that, Zuckerberg faced expulsion and was seriously charged (the charges were later dropped) by the Harvard University Administration. He then founded Thefacebook. After Thefacebook, he founded Facebook with Saverin (in charge of business), Moskovitz (in charge of programming), McCollum (in charge of graphics) and Hughes (in charge of publicity and promotion).

However, Zuckerberg claimed the movie "The Social Network" was "an inaccurate" description of Facebook. That's all about Facebook that I can write.

Types of Computers

Mainframe Computer

Wearable Computer

Computers do not only restrict to only dekstops, laptops or Macbooks. There are many other types of computers not known to most of us, except perhaps IT students.

There are hybrid computers, analog computers, mainframe computers, microcomputers, desktops, laptops, PDAs, minicomputers, supercomputers and wearable computers.

In hybrid computers, these computers are combination of analog and digital computers and converts analog signal to digital signal. In analog computer, this computer perform mathematical calculation (several) at the same time. However, this computer is nearly "pupus" today. This computer also uses continuous variables for mathematical operations and uses mechanical or electrical energy.

Supercomputer

Furthermore, mainframe computers are used by large organizations and used to process large volumes of data. Mainframes are capable of substituting for several servers, multiple operating systems and operate as a number of virtual machines.

A higher specification of mainframes are supercomputers. These supercomputers are capable of processing very large volumes of data, high-calculation intensive tasks, parallel processing, memory heirarchy, and applied in fields of quantum physics, mechanics, molecular theory and weather forecasting. Not a computer fOR YOU & ME, YAY.

Personal Computer (desktop)

Minicomputers are computers in the middle of mainframes and supercomputers. These computers functions as midrange system (workstations) and began surfacing in 1960s. At that time, these computers were referred to as smaller 3rd gen computers. These computers took a lot of space, perhaps space for a refrigerator and used a transistor and core memory technologies. The 12-bit-PDP-8 minicomputer was the first minicomputer successfully build.

Microcomputers are computers that needs a microprocessor and CPU (central processing unit) to function and do not require a lot of space like mainframes. Microcomputers, when added with keyboards and mouse are called personal computers (PCs). Microcomputers can easily fit on a desk and easily fit a task which requires only one user.

PDA

Similar to a microcomputers, personal computers comprise laptops and dekstops. Desktops as the name implies, can be placed on a desk. A desktop computer uses less power consumption and its spare parts can be obtained easily. A desktop computer is equipped with a keyboard and mouse. A screen of a computer is from a CRT (cathode ray tube). However, CRTs have been obsolete and have been replaced by a flat panel monitors which use LCD (liquid crystal display).

Laptops are similar to desktops but a laptop is placed on a lap and is portable. A laptop can be carried anywhere and everywhere, unlike the desktop computer. A laptop is equipped with a touchpad for a mouse, a built-in keyboard and an LCD for a flat panel monitor or CRT. A laptop comes with a rechargeable battery adapter, which can be troublesome to carry around.

Microcomputer

Since then, people have opted to buy netbooks (or subnotebooks), which don't come with a CD drive or floppy disk drive since it is so small. However, a laptop is different from a notebook because a notebook is not equipped with a floppy disk drive or a CD drive, is smaller and has smaller screen compared to laptop.

Generally, a laptop is bigger and has more specification than a notebook.


Moreover, a PDA or personal digital assistant is another type of computer that can be handheld and kept on a palm, of which it is sometimes called palmtops.  A PDA can be also called a smartphone and has a touchscreen. A PDA has a memory card to store information and can be used as a portable audio player and web browser. A person can use Wi-Fi or Bluetooth internet on a PDA.

Minicomputer

In addition, a wearable computer is a device that is wearable on a body part. Wearable computers are often utilized in the study of human health and behaviour modelling. A wearable computer is one computer that operates all the time without switching on or off. Military and health professionals are people who uses wearable computers in their daily life.

Embedded Computer

Analog Computer

Finally, the last type of computer is embedded computer.  Though you may think it never exists, but embedded "comps" do exist. They are computer that are built in most of our electronic devices like cameras, keyboards, medical devices, engine control modules, thermostats and manyyyyyyy moreeeee....:>

Hybrid Computer