Adware articles

The ROX Desktop is a Unix desktop environment based on the ROX-Filer file manager. Files are loaded by dragging them to an application from the filer, and saved by dragging back to the filer. Applications are executable directories, and are thus also installed (copied), uninstalled (deleted), and run through the filer interface. More recently, ROX has started using its application directories in combination with Zero Install, a caching network filesystem, to make software installation completely automatic.

It is inspired by the user interface of RISC OS (not to be confused with RISC/os). The name “ROX” comes from “RISC OS on X”.

The desktop uses the [[GTK+]] toolkit, like the GNOME and Xfce desktops. The design focuses on small, simple programs using drag-and-drop to move data between them. For example, a user might load a compressed file into a spreadsheet from the web by dragging the data from the web browser to the archiver, and from there into the spreadsheet. A program would be installed in the same way, by
dragging the archive from the web to the archiver, and from there to the applications directory in the filer.

The screenshot shows how the filer is used to manage both data files (such as the video clips) and to access applications. The applications shown are being run via Zero Install. Drag-and-drop saving allows the user to save the text file to any directory they please, or directly to another application, such as the archiver on the panel.

External links

• ROX home page

• Spyware / Adware Learn how to keep yourself protected from spyware.

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Management Information Format (MIF) is a format used to describe a hardware or software component. MIF files are used by DMI to report system configuration information. Although MIF is a system-independent format, it is used primarily by Windows systems. To install a new device in a Windows 95 system, you need the corresponding MIF file.

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Stealware refers to a type of software that effectively transfers money owed to a website owner to a third party.

Specifically, stealware uses an HTTP cookie to redirect the commission ordinarily earned by the site for referring users to another site.

External links

• Definition

• Kirkville - iTunes: Apple's New Spyware and Adware Application? Apple has overstepped its limits, and this spyware (because it sends information to a server) and adware (because it displays information to attempt to sell

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A fansite or fan site is a website created and maintained by a fan(s) or devotee(s) interested in a celebrity, thing, or a particular cultural phenomenon. The phenomenon can be a book, television show, movie, comic, band, game or similar.

Fansites may offer specialized information on the subject (e.g., episode listings, biographies), pictures taken from various sources, media downloads, links to other, similar fansites, and the chance to talk to other fans.

The majority of fan websites feature things such as discussion boards, polls, and news. Television show fan sites usually have features such as storyline plots as well.

Some fansites are official, but mainly they are unofficial. To state that they are unofficial, many fan webmasters put a disclaimer on a visible place of the website, which sometimes also includes the copyright of the site.

Many fan websites also contain downloads from a band. For example, they may have rare demos or concerts.

A typical navigation menu on a fansite contains the pages “main”, “info”, “media”, “online/www” and “site/domain”. These are mostly placed in the header image or in the left/right bar.

See also

• Fan art
• Fan fiction
• Fanlisting
• Fanposter

• Adware - Spyware - Beware Remember the city of Troy and that cool wooden horse they got for free — It is becomming more and more common for unwanted and sometimes unkown strings to

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For Napster, LLC (formerly Roxio), and the paid Napster music service see Napster (pay service).

Napster was a file sharing service that paved the way for decentralized P2P file-sharing programs such as Kazaa, Limewire, iMesh, Morpheus, and BearShare, which are now used for many of the same reasons and can download music, pictures, and other files. The popularity and repercussions of the first Napster have made it a legendary icon in the computer and entertainment fields.

Napster’s brand and logo continue to be used by a pay service, having been acquired by Roxio.

Origins

While Shawn Fanning was attending Northeastern University in Boston, he wanted an easier method of finding music than by searching IRC or Lycos. John Fanning of Hull, Massachusetts, who is Shawn’s uncle, struck an agreement which gave Shawn 30% control of the company, with the rest going to his uncle. Napster began to build an office and executive team in San Mateo, California, in September of 1999. Napster was the first of the massively popular peer-to-peer file sharing systems, although it was not fully peer-to-peer since it used central servers to maintain lists of connected systems and the files they provided—directories, effectively—while actual transactions were conducted directly between machines. Although there were already media which facilitated the sharing of files across the Internet, such as IRC, Hotline, and USENET, Napster specialized exclusively in music in the form of MP3 files and presented a user-friendly interface. The result was a system whose popularity generated an enormous selection of music to download.

With the files obtained through Napster, people frequently made their own compilation albums on recordable CDs, without paying any royalties to the copyright holder. As a partial solution to this issue, Napster was used as a test case for the Abilene Network, the educational Internet backbone.

Legal challenges

Heavy metal band Metallica discovered that a demo of their song ‘I Disappear’ had been circulating across the Napster network, even before it was released. This eventually led to the song being played on several radio stations across America and brought to Metallica’s attention that their entire back catalogue of studio material was also available. The band responded in 2000 by filing a lawsuit against the service offered by Napster. A month later, rapper Dr. Dre shared a litigator and legal firm with Metallica, and filed a similar lawsuit after Napster wouldn’t remove his works from their service, even after he issued a written request. Separately, both Metallica and Dr. Dre later delivered thousands of usernames to Napster who they believed were pirating their songs. Metallica asked their group of users to be banned from the service, while Dr. Dre again asked for his songs to be removed from the service. All users who were on the list of either artist were banned, but a file began circulating soon after the ban took effect that edited the Windows registry and reversed the changes implemented by the ban. Napster complied with Metallica’s request, but not Dr. Dre’s, and both the suits continued. A whole year had passed since the lawsuits began, Napster settled them both, but this came after being shut down by the Ninth Circuit Court in a separate lawsuit from several major record labels (see below).
Also in 2000, Madonna, who had previously met with Napster executives to discuss a possible partnership, became irate when her single “Music” leaked out on to the web and Napster prior to its commercial release, causing widespread media coverage. Verified Napster use peaked with 26.4 million users worldwide in February 2001.Jupiter Media Metrix (July 20, 2001). Global Napster Usage Plummets, But New File-Sharing Alternatives Gaining Ground. Press Release.

Also, in 2001, A&M Records was granted a preliminary injunction against Napster for engaging in, or facilitating others in copying, downloading, uploading, transmitting, or distributing plaintiffs’ copyrighted musical compositions and sound recordings. Napster appealed this ruling by the district court on the grounds of fair use. The appellate court found that the district court did not budge in denying the fair use defense, but the appellate court found that there was an error in how the court said Napster should police access to its system. The court’s opinion had the result of making the plaintiff notify Napster of potential copyright infringement on their system before Napster had a duty to remove the material.

Promotional power

Along with the accusations that Napster was hurting the sales of the record industry, there were those who felt just the opposite, that file trading on Napster actually stimulated, rather than hurt, sales. Proof may have come in July 2000 when tracks from English rock band Radiohead’s album Kid A found their way to Napster three months before the CD’s release. Unlike Madonna, Dr. Dre or Metallica, Radiohead had never hit the top 20 in the US. Furthermore, Kid A was an experimental album without any singles, and received relatively little radio airplay. By the time of the record’s release, the album was estimated to have been downloaded for free by millions of people worldwide, and in October 2000 Kid A captured the number one spot on the Billboard 200 sales chart in its debut week. According to Richard Menta of MP3 Newswire, the effect of Napster in this instance was isolated from other elements that could be credited for driving sales, and the album’s unexpected success was proof that Napster was a good promotional tool for music.

Since 2000, many musical artists, particularly those not signed to major labels and without access to traditional mass media outlets such as radio and television, have said that Napster and successive Internet file-sharing networks have helped get their music heard, spread word of mouth, and may have improved their sales in the long term. Although some underground musicians and independent labels have expressed support for Napster and the p2p model it popularized, others have criticized the unregulated and extra-legal nature of these networks, and some seek to implement models of Internet promotion in which they can control the distribution of their own music, such as providing free tracks for download or streaming from their official websites, or co-operating with pay services such as Insound, Rhapsody and Apple’s iTunes Store.

Shutdown

Napster’s facilitation of transfer of copyrighted material raised the ire of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), which almost immediately — in December 1999 — filed a lawsuit against the popular service.A & M Records, Inc. v. Napster, Inc., 114 F. Supp. 2d 896 (N.D. Cal. 2000), aff’d in part, rev’d in part, 239 F.3d 1004 (9th Cir. 2001) The service would only get bigger as the trial, meant to shut down Napster, also gave it a great deal of publicity. Soon millions of users, many of them college students, flocked to it.

After a failed appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court, an injunction was issued on March 5, 2001 ordering Napster to prevent the trading of copyrighted music on its network.2001 US Dist. LEXIS 2186 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 5, 2001), aff’d, 284 F. 3d 1091 (9th Cir. 2002). In July 2001, Napster shut down its entire network in order to comply with the injunction. On September 24, 2001, the case was partially settled. Napster agreed to pay music creators and copyright owners a $26 million settlement for past, unauthorized uses of music, as well as an advance against future licensing royalties of $10 million. In order to pay those fees, Napster attempted to convert their free service to a subscription system. A prototype solution was tested in the spring of 2002: the Napster 3.0 Alpha, using audio fingerprinting technology licensed from Relatable. Napster 3.0 was, according to many former Napster employees, ready to deploy, but it had significant trouble obtaining licenses to distribute major-label music.

On May 17,2002, Napster announced that its assets would be acquired by German media firm Bertelsmann for $85 million. Pursuant to terms of that agreement, on June 3 Napster filed for Chapter 11 protection under United States bankruptcy laws. On September 3, 2002, an American bankruptcy judge blocked the sale to Bertelsmann and forced Napster to liquidate its assets according to Chapter 7 of the U.S. bankruptcy laws.

Current status

After a $2.43 million takeover offer by the Private Media Group, an adult entertainment company, Napster’s brand and logos were acquired at bankruptcy auction by the company Roxio, Inc. which used them to rebrand the pressplay music service as Napster 2.0.

Although the central servers used by Napster made it a convenient legal target, the record industry failed to capitalize on the power vacuum left in its wake. The years between Napster’s demise and the emergence of the iTunes Music Store as the first popular pay-service were squandered as the five major labels failed to agree on a single service or standard for online distribution, launching several mutually incompatible subscription services such as pressplay and MusicNet.Dube, Ric. (February 2002). MusicNet, PressPlay Fall Short. Ice Magazine, (179).

In the meantime, the peer-to-peer filesharing trend Napster started soon resumed, with new programs and networks picking up the torch. Unofficial Napster servers proliferated, aided by a program known as “Napigator”, and a second generation of P2P protocols (including FastTrack and Gnutella) were quickly developed. Designed as decentralized networks, these have been much more challenging for copyright owners to pursue in the courts (see MGM v. Grokster).

The ever-widening availability of broadband has made file sharing even more prevalent, since increasing download speeds mean the distribution of entire movies and other large files is possible. In addition, as early as 2000 public sentiment seemed to support the file sharing phenomenon. Thus, it is little wonder that some experts believe that the trend of for-profit file sharing will continue. An emerging and cryptographically strong third generation of P2P protocols will be nearly impossible to interdict.

Napster in popular culture

In the 2003 remake of The Italian Job, a flashback depicts Shawn Fanning (playing himself) stealing the program from a computer expert played by Seth Green while the latter is napping, providing a humorous folk etymology for the name.

The suffix “-ster” has become a popular component of the brand names of many Internet products, suggesting a peer-to-peer model, such as Grokster, Aimster (later Madster), and Blubster. This has also been extended to Friendster, a site which vaguely recalls Napster’s community-building features.^,Abrams, Jonathan. SXSW Interactive Keynote Speech. South by Southwest festival. Austin, TX. March 16, 2004.

An episode of animated television series Futurama, I Dated a Robot, centres on the illegal distribution of robotic celebrity clones over the Internet. The organization responsible for this was thought to be named “Nappster,” a reference to Napster. It was later revealed, however, that the full name was “Kidnappster” with a piece of tapestry covering “Kid” from the logo.

In the South Park episode Christian Rock Hard, Stan, Kyle, and Kenny illegally download music from Napster for inspiration for their band ‘Moop.’ They are then caught by police and shown the horrors music pirating does to musicians. After seeing this, they start a strike and famous musicians/bands join them, among them are Rancid, Master P, Ozzy Osbourne, Meat Loaf (all four also playing in Chef Aid), Blink-182, Horny Toad, Metallica, Britney Spears, Missy Elliott, Alanis Morissette and The Lords of the Underworld (minus Timmy).

In a 2001 episode of the animated Disney series, The Proud Family, Penny becomes addicted to a site named EZ Jackster, a parody of Napster that allows music to be downloaded illegally.

A tribute song to file sharing “Napster and Gnutella” was written to the tune of “Puff the Magic Dragon” and distributed via OpenNap servers during the lawsuit.

See also

• Kazaa
• LimeWire
• Morpheus (computer program)
• WinMX
• Napster Bad!
• Emule
• Gnutella
• FastTrack
• TV Links

References

• Carlsson, Bengt and Gustavsson, Rune. 2001. “The Rise and Fall of Napster - An Evolutionary Approach.” Proceedings of the 6th International Computer Science Conference on Active Media Technology.
• Geisler, Markus and Pohlmann, Mali. 2003. “The Social Form of Napster: Cultivating the Paradox of Consumer Emancipation.” Advances in Consumer Research.
• Geisler, Markus and Pohlmann, Mali. 2003. “The Anthropology of File Sharing: Consuming Napster as a Gift.” Advances in Consumer Research.
• Green, Matthew. 2002. “Napster Opens Pandora’s Box: Examining How File-Sharing Services Threaten the Enforcement of Copyright on the Internet.” Ohio State Law Journal. 63: 799.
• InsightExpress. 2000. Napster and its Users Not violating Copyright Infringement Laws, According to a Survey of the Online Community.
• Ku, Raymond Shih Ray, “The Creative Destruction of Copyright: Napster and the New Economics of Digital Technology” . University of Chicago Law Review, Forthcoming Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=266964. or DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.266964
• McCourt, Tom and Burkart, Patrick. 2003. “When Creators, Corporations and Consumers Collide: Napster and the Development of On-line Music Distribution.” Media, Culture, & Society. 25 (3): 333-350.</div>

Notes

External links

• Napster, Inc. Website - Formerly Roxio, Inc.
• The Napster Experience - netnographic research on file-sharing as a form of gift giving
• Judge criticises both parties in Napster case
• Music Downloads: Pirates- or Customers?

• KaZaA Lite free download KaZaA Lite is a new FastTrack Client This is cleaned version of Kazaa Media Desktop. The main difference is that KaZaA Lite has been modified so that it does not have any of the spyware,

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Management Information Format (MIF) is a format used to describe a hardware or software component. MIF files are used by DMI to report system configuration information. Although MIF is a system-independent format, it is used primarily by Windows systems. To install a new device in a Windows 95 system, you need the corresponding MIF file.

• How Affiliate Programs Fund Spyware Enforcement cannot merely examine on affiliates' names or stated practices: Affiliates' names will not generally match the names of known "adware" vendors,

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Software Update is a software tool by Apple Inc. that installs the latest version of Apple software on computers running Mac OS X. It was originally introduced to Mac users in Mac OS 9. A Windows version has been available since the introduction of iTunes 7, under the name “Apple Software Update”. Software Update automatically informs users of new updates. It is part of the CoreServices in OS X, found at :System:Library:CoreServices:Software Update.app. Software update can be set to check for updates daily, weekly, monthly, or not at all; in addition, it can download and store the associated .pkg file (the same type used by Installer) to be installed at a later date and maintains a history of installed updates.

It is recommended that all users fully update their software as new versions become available. Software Updates consist of incremental updates of the Mac OS and its applications, Security Updates, device drivers and firmware updates. All software updates require a password, as with all consequential system changes. Some updates require a system restart.

Command line

All of Software Update’s features are available through the command-line program softwareupdate.

As of 10.4, the command line usage for softwareupdate is:

usage: softwareupdate <mode> [<args> ...]

        -l | --list             List all appropriate updates
        -d | --download         Download Only
        -i | --install          Install
                <label> ...     specific updates
                -a | --all              all appropriate updates
                -r | --recommended      only recommended updates
                -u | --url <url> ...    from signed package URLs

        Per-user preferences:
        --ignore <label> ...    Ignore specific updates
        --reset-ignored         Clear all ignored updates
        --schedule (on | off)   Set automatic checking

        -h | --help     Print this help

Using this tool, it is fairly straightforward for lab administrators to automatically install incoming updates by adding a cron job:
softwareupdate –install –all
(or just –recommended to be more cautious). You may want to set the job to run only every few days to give yourself a chance to jump in with an –ignore if a particular update is reported to have issues by early adopters. If running as a cron job, it is probably also a good idea to avoid running the update while a user is logged in, especially since some updates require reboot to take effect. (softwareupdate does not reboot automatically, it merely displays a warning on its stdout if a reboot is necessary.) Remote administrators may also be interested in also using the cURL and installer command line utilities to set up their own software update system.

• IE Hijacker suspected, need removal help! - Tech Support Guy Forums Exclamation IE Hijacker suspected, need removal help! It may or may not be a legitimat spyware removal program but it has taken over the homepage for

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Enter Suicidal Angels is the second EP by the Swedish melodic death metal band Dark Tranquillity. It was recorded during the sessions for The Mind’s I.http://www.metal-archives.com/release.php?id=4018 The song “Archetype” is strongly influenced by electronica and techno.

Track listing

1. “Zodijackyl Light” – 3:59
2. “Razorfever” – 3:16
3. “Shadowlit Facade” – 3:25
4. “Archetype” − 4:29

Credits

• Mikael Stanne − Vocals
• Niklas Sundin − Guitar
• Fredrick Johansson − Guitar
• Martin Henrikson − Guitar, Bass guitar
• Anders Jivarp − Drums

References

• Publications by Niklas Andersson in the Interaction-Design.org Andersson, Niklas (2002): Helping the helpers: cameo — an information appliance for home care service. In: Proceedings of the Second Nordic Conference on

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Daniel Dugas (born in 1959 Montréal, Canada) is an experimental artist, who engages with new media, sound art, performance and installation. He currently lives in Calgary, Alberta.

His art practice has evolved around themes of Economy, and issues of Power. Boom or bust economies, mechanisms of exchange, the rise and the collapse of opportunities, all are elements that he has used to explore the nature of wealth.

Dugas is a founding member of IMAGO, an artist run print shop in New Brunswick; the TRUNK© gallery, an alternative exhibition space and; the EMMAX Club in Calgary, a Max/MSP Jitter software based club hosted by EMMEDIA. Dugas is a published poet, his fifth book of poetry: Même un Détour serait correct, 2006, was published by Les Éditions Prise de Parole. He is currently teaching in the Media Arts and Digital Technology Department at the Alberta College of Art and Design.

He has exhibited the interactive network installation: do_wild_loops; do_wild_jumps; (big ceo’s talking to small bugs) throughout Canada.

External links

• Official Site

• IMAGO

• EMMAX

• mozdev.org - composite: installation Installation. Install the Composite editor. A hopefully fixed xpi 03.23.03: 0.0.5 xpi. Install 0.0.4 for now. To use the editor, hit ctrl-e in a textarea.

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A sealed server is a server which is designed to run without users logging in. This setup has several potential benefits over a traditional server:

• Stronger security. Since users do not log in, it is possible for a sealed server to use stronger authentication than a password mechanism.
• Transparency. Since files are not accessed directly, a sealed server can store its payload in any format, without the clients needing any information about this.
• Less opportunity for user error. Since a user does not have full control over the files on the server, there is less opportunity for them to, for example, change the mode of a private file to be world-readable.

A sealed server is primarily useful for data-centric mechanisms such as email, and is unsuited to file-centric protocols such as FTP.

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Traitor tracing is a copy prevention and leak detection system. The method is that the distributor adds a unique value to each copy given out. When a copy of it is leaked to the public, the distributor can check the value on it and trace it back to the “leaker”.

Primary Methods

Activation Controls

The practice of traitor tracing is most often implemented with computer software, and evolved from the previous method of activation codes. In this model, software ships with a sticker or label printed on the outside of the software, but inside the package. This number is an encoded serial number, expanded to a usually large number or string of numbers, digits, and hyphens. When the software is being installed, or the first time it is run, the user is prompted to type in the license code. This code is then decoded back to its base serial number. This process reduces the number in complexity, and the additional information removed by this process is used to verify the authenticity of the serial number. If the user mistypes a single character in what is sometimes a very long code, the software will refuse to install and require them to retype the number until they get it right.

This activation code is generated during the packaging phase of manufacture, so that every user is receiving the same software but a different activation code. If a user performs a “casual copy” of the software for a friend, that friend must have the license code as well as the software to install it on their system. Since the software cannot determine that it is a copy, this is a way to beat this basic system.

With the expansion of computer networking, two additional levels of software protection have evolved, “network registration” and “online registration”.

Network Registration

Software that employs this additional security keeps a copy of the actual serial number being used in the license code. When it is active, it is broadcasting this number on a clandestine channel on the local network. If the software has been installed on another computer on that same network, using the same license code, when the second copy is run it will detect its serial number in use on the network and typically will refuse to run. It may also cause the other copy of itself already in use to close. This prevents a small business from buying one copy of expensive software and installing it on several of the computers at their location, provided they are networked.

On-line Registration

The process is very similar to activation codes, but adds an additional step. Most modern companies are now not only internally networked, but are also connected to the internet. This allows the software manufacturers to add an additional check to their system during the installation process. When the user enters a valid license code, the software does not immediately install. Instead, it uses the active internet connection to contact a server being operated by the software manufacturer. The license code is transmitted to the server, and it waits for the server to tell it whether it’s ok to install or not. The server maintains a database of all the serial numbers that have been used to install their software. If a single serial number is used on a number of machines (5 is a typical limit) then the server tells the software that it is likely a copy and to abort the installation. The user is usually presented with a dialog instructing them to contact the manufacturer.

Other Methods

Some software that implements online registration extends this with a process commonly known as “phoning home”. In this case, the software, either each time it is used or at some preset interval such as monthly, makes another connection back to the registration server. It does this to check in with the server to see if the serial number it is using has been determined to be one that is being used to install in many places. Serial numbers that have been identified as “pirated” (illegally distributed) are added to a blacklist on the server, a process referred to as being “burned”. Burned serial numbers cannot be used to install or activate the product. Serial number lists are available on the internet that include a large number of valid registration codes for many software titles. It’s common for software manufacturers to seek out these lists and burn the serial numbers for their product that appear on these lists. This discourages individuals from giving out their registration codes for fear that their software will phone home and find the number has been burned, which will disable the software.

Some of the more expensive software requires the user to send personal information to the software vendor before receiving the activation code. The activation code is usually a large sequence of numbers and letters, and encodes information including the license serial number, information to ensure the code is valid, and also includes the ability to verify the personal information the user sent to the software vendor. In this way, his/her name or business name must be entered along with the registration code. The registration code will not be accepted by the software unless the user types in his/her business name exactly as submitted to the software vendor. The business name is usually displayed by the software on its opening banner whenever the software is used. If the customer gives away his activation code it will be useless without his business name, and anyone that uses the activation code must enter it in during the activation process, leaving the original buyer’s business name on the banner of the software. This makes it very easy to “trace the traitor” and find the customer that originally gave out their activation code. Since giving away the registration code is a violation of the license agreement, the software vendor may burn the user’s serial number (disabling his/her software in the process) and may take legal action against him/her as well. This does raise privacy concerns in some areas.

• ITP BestPractices: Software Tools Quick PEP is a tool that can help the user quickly diagnose the energy situation at . Also, there will be no harm in simply re-installing the program,

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Openwares.org is a public Open Source and Freeware software development web site, providing free publishing, packaging, hosting, and marketing services to individual developers. The mission of Openwares.org is to enrich the global internet community by providing software developers who lack the time, money or knowledge a centralized place to publish, control and market their creations at no cost. To fulfill this mission goal, Openwares.org offer a variety of services to hosted projects and only request that all projects are provided freely and without any attachments to the general public.

Malware Issues
Openwares.org is known for hosting software that are bundled with malware, viruses, spyware and adware and the website has been added to the restricted zones on IE-spyad and also added to several block host files. One of the most noted malware is the “NSIS Media Extension Trojan” which is related to the Foxie Browser. The site’s most popular download (according to their own statistics) has two different forms of adware bundled in it. Yet the site clearly states: “We do not accept software that installs third party advertising or tracking components of any kind, regardless of disclosure or not!”.

• NSIS Malware & Trojan Removal Guide
• McAfee Site Advisor

See also

• Software
• Open Source

External links

• www.openwares.org

• Corel digital media software bundled with Pioneer's new Blu-ray Read the latest news about Corel digital media software bundled with Pioneer's new Blu-ray combo drive (Press Release) at CDFreaks.com - Worlds largest

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Computers and Writing is the name of a sub-field of college English studies whose members are dedicated to the academic study of how computers, as well as other, related digital technologies, affect literacy and the writing process. The range of inquiry in this field is quite broad and can include studies as diverse as works of videogame theory to a quantitative study of first-year college students using Microsoft Word. Some frequently addressed topics include hypertext theory, visual rhetoric, multimedia authoring, distance learning, digital rhetoric or eRhetoric, usability studies, the formation and lifecycles of online communities, and how various media change reading and writing practices, textual conventions, and genres. Other topics examine social or critical issues in computer technology and literacy, such as the issues of “the digital divide,” equitable access to computer-writing resources, and critical technological literacies.

The field, which (in the United States, at least) has grown out of rhetoric and composition studies, is inter-disciplinary, and members also do scholarly work and teaching in such allied and diverse areas as technical and professional communication, linguistics, sociology, and law. The most important journals supporting this field are Computers & Composition, Computers & Composition Online, and Kairos: A Journal of Rhetoric, Technology, and Pedagogy. Though there is no single professional organization covering this field, an information resource portal exists at http://computersandwriting.org. In addition, the field sponsors an annual Computers and Writing conference.

• —+ 1000BiT +— We are talking about 8 bit computer, but also about everything that is personal computer's history. So here you can find also information about your

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Homepage hijack is a term describing one’s homepage being changed without one’s will and resists attempts to enlarge it; it remains some strange abomination.

This is a common problem for many Internet users who are not careful when using their computer. For example, looking at porn sites, playing at gambling sites or game sites, as well as P2P music downloads, file attachments, file downloads, and file transfers. These are high risk behaviors that can bring you higher possibility of viruses.

Another sign that a users homepage has been hijacked by a spyware, is the automatic change of the default search engine of the internet web browser. Any search entered in the address bar will redirect the URL to a spyware site (i.e. coolwebsearch.com, gator.com, etc.) In the case of a heavy spyware infestation, opening Internet Explorer automatically triggers a “mousetrapping” advertisement or dozens that cover the desktop.

There are some tools that can solve this problem. Tools like “Hijackthis.exe”, Microsoft Antispyware, Ad-Aware, or Spybot Search & Destroy. These programs allows an infected user to remove a homepage hijack on their system, along with a number of other potentially harmful software including adware, malware etc.,

These tools/software are the most effective when used in safe mode. Safe mode in Microsoft Windows is accessed by repeatedly pressing the “F8″ key as the operating system boots (Microsoft’s official website for Windows XP simply advises users to press “F8″ once,[1] but in practice the exact moment at which to press the key can vary from computer to computer, so it is better to repeatedly press the key at one second intervals). Also, in a multi-boot environment with multiple versions of Windows installed side by side, one can press F8 at the OS selector prompt to get to Safe mode.

External links

• Hijackthis homepage

• What is adware? - A Word Definition From the Webopedia Computer This page describes the term adware and lists other pages on the Web where you can find additional information.

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In telecommunication, a called-party camp-on is a communication system service feature that enables the system to complete an access attempt in spite of issuance of a user blocking signal.

Systems that provide this feature monitor the busy user until the user blocking signal ends, and then proceed to complete the requested access. This feature permits holding an incoming call until the called party is free.

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Tencent QQ, generally referred to as QQ, is the most popular free instant messaging computer program in China, and the world’s third most popular IM service http://infotech.indiatimes.com/Meet_Chinas_Google_trouncer/articleshow/1568771.cms. The program is maintained by Tencent Holdings Limited (), owned in part by Naspers.http://www.naspers.com/english/inter.asp#qq Since its entrance into Chinese households QQ quickly emerged as a modern cultural phenomenon, now being portrayed in popular culture. Aside from the chat program, QQ has also developed many subfeatures including games, pets, ringtone downloads, etc.

Naming

The original name of QQ was OICQ (believed to have meant either Open ICQ or Oh, I seek you). However, because of the possible trademark infringement with another popular instant messenger (ICQ), and also the fact that neither the program nor the protocol is considered “open”, it was changed to QQ.

Usage

It is estimated that there are over 160 million QQ users in China. As of 5 March 2005, there is an average of 9 million people online at any one time on the Mainland China server.

Outside of China, QQ usage is extremely limited, except in South Africa, where it has been used for at least two or three years and has inspired a song by local band The Finkelsteins called “QQ Me”. QQ is used by people who want to communicate with people inside those countries. Examples include expatriates, international students and people studying Chinese.

After the 2006 Hengchun earthquake, trans-Pacific undersea cables were damaged, and many Chinese switched to QQ due to the inavailablity of other options. http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/?id=305882&type=Business

History

Tencent was founded in Shenzhen, China in November, 1998. Tencent’s instant messaging service platform, “QQ,” was formally launched in Feb 1999. After years of strong business growth, on July 16, 2004, Tencent Holdings Limited (SEHK 700) went public on the main board of Hong Kong Stock Exchange. On October 3rd, 2007 Tencent launched its first expansion into the American market with QQ Games.

Development

QQ was initially developed by Tencent Inc. in February 1999. It was first released as a “Network Paging” instant messenger. Then other features were successively added such as chatrooms, games, personal avatars (similar to “Meego” in MSN), internet storage, and internet dating services. Most of these features were free. Its variety of features and easy-to-use interface made it very popular, especially among teenage users. In a few short years it was the most popular instant messenger in China.

The current version of QQ is QQ2007. Tencent periodically releases special versions of QQ to coincide with events such as the Olympics or Chinese New Year.

The official client runs only on Microsoft Windows, but Linux users can talk to friends on the QQ network by installing Pidgin (previously Gaim) which comes installed with a plugin for QQ. Several third-party clients also exist for the Mac OS X platform. The web version, which makes use of Ajax, is currently in Betahttp://webqq.qq.com.

In response to competition with Windows Live Messenger, Tencent released Tencent Messenger, which is targeted to business people. It also provides, in limited form, features that are only available to premium members in normal QQ.

Membership

QQ currently allows free registration for membership. In 2002, Tencent had stopped its free membership registration, requiring all new members to pay a fee. However, free registration was reopened in 2003 due to pressure from other instant messengers such as Windows Live Messenger and Sina UC.
Tencent currently offers a premium membership scheme, which offers features such as mobile QQ, ringtone downloads and SMS sending/receiving, but most users are unwilling to pay the price of 100 Yuan (in Taiwanese currency), which is about $1.30 USD per month.

Merchandise

Tencent have grasped the halo effect of the QQ brand, and have set up many Q-Gen stores selling QQ branded merchandise such as bags, watches and clothing.

Controversies and criticisms

QQ has faced many criticisms and controversies.

Adware classification

Because of QQ’s extensive use of advertisements and processes related to ads, it has been branded as malicious adware by many anti-virus and anti-spyware vendors. http://www.tenebril.com/src/info.php?id=441301950 http://www.ca.com/us/securityadvisor/pest/pest.aspx?id=453083549 http://www.securemost.com/articles/rm_tencent_qq.htm

Keyword filtering

On August 2004, QQ Games began filtering keywords such as “钓鱼岛” (Diaoyu Islands) and “保钓” (Movement to protect the Diaoyu Islands). This act caused much controversy and Tencent has since lifted the filter.http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=15581

QQ real group name scheme

On July 21 2005, Tencent announced its intention to follow orders set by Shenzhen Police and enforce the requirement of real names for all the administrators and founders of QQ Groups. This caused much controversy on whether it can prevent the spread of pornographic and other indecent messages, or whether it intrudes on one’s privacy. However, the difficulty of enforcement made the real name registration optional. http://tech.sina.com.cn/i/2006-10-19/09321191967.shtml

Plagiarism

Like most IM clients, Tencent QQ has been known to copy its competitors’ features. The interface of early version of Tencent messenger was almost identical to ICQ, but as it developed, it started to look more like Windows Live Messenger. The interface of QQ is Luna themed. In addition to interfaces, QQ has also been known to copy code and text from its competitors. For example, one release contained Skype’s EULA, allegedly as an April Fools’ Day joke.http://www.pcpchina.com/news/list.asp?ID=7811&reply=on

Resource usage

The resources required to run QQ have increased substantially since it was first released, which has caused some people to turn to third party “lite” versions.

QQ Coin

The QQ coin is a virtual currency used by QQ users to “purchase” QQ related items for their avatar and blog. QQ Coins are obtained either by purchase, one coin for one RMB, or for using the mobile phone service. Due to the popularity of QQ in Chinese young population, QQ coins are now accepted by gradually more and more online stores and gaming sites in exchange for “real” merchandise such as small gifts, and raised the concern of replacing (and thus “inflating”) real currency in these transactions. The People’s Bank of China, China’s central bank, says it is investigating the possibility of cracking down on QQ coin, due to people using QQ Coins in exchange for real world goods.http://english.people.com.cn/200701/12/eng20070112_340681.html Tencent claims the QQ coin was merely a regular commodity, and thus not a currency. Virtual currency requires tough new regulations

See also

• Comparison of instant messaging clients

References

External links

• Official Website (in Chinese)
• Welcome to QQ.co.za (in English)
• Learning Chinese Using QQ (in English)
• English preview for QQ (In English)
• Tencent’s first offering in the US (in English)
• Looking for Thai QQ Using Sanook!QQ (in Thai)

• Kirkville - iTunes: Apple's New Spyware and Adware Application? Apple has overstepped its limits, and this spyware (because it sends information to a server) and adware (because it displays information to attempt to sell

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Hymns is an album by Beth Nielsen Chapman.

Tracks

1. “Ave Vernum Corpus” (Mozart, Traditional)
2. “Veni Veni Emmanuel” (Traditional)
3. “Tantum Erego” (Traditional)
4. “O Salutaris Hostia” (Duget, Traditional)
5. “Adoramus Te” (Théodore Dubois|Dubois, Traditional)
6. “O Sanctissima” (Traditional)
7. “Panis Angelicus” (Lambiotte, Traditional)
8. “Salve Regina” (Traditional)
   
9. “Hymn to Mary” (Chapman)
10. “Oh God of Loveliness” (Liguri, Traditional)
11. “Dona Nobis Pachem” (Traditional)
12. “Ave Maria” (Franz Schubert, Traditional)

• BBC - h2g2 - A Short Introduction to the Traditional Archery Bow Among the Europeans, the English are usually credited with producing the finest traditional bows, often referred to as Longbows. While these bows couldn't

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A WebAssistant is a computer-supported function on the web that extends the possibilities of a user.

Usually it involves an interactive application, through which the user can perform a certain task. Examples of such tasks include:

• the creation of template-based webpages
• the creation of online slideshows
• personal or collective information processing

WebAssistants can also be a reaction to the growing complexity of the web and aim to assist the user in making things easier for him. Such WebAssistants enable users to

• browse offline
• contextualize pieces of information into various webbased products such as WebDatabases, WebDesks, WebPresentations, WebWorkspaces etc.

See also Personal knowledge management

• IO::Prompt - Interactively prompt for user input - search.cpan.org By default, this module exports a single function prompt . It prompts the user to enter some input, and returns an object that represents the user input.

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Rockford Lhotka is an author and columnist who writes on topics concerning Microsoft-centric programming with an emphasis on object oriented design strategies. He is a Microsoft regional director, a Microsoft MVP, ASPInsider, and an INETA speaker. He also writes for MSDN Online. Lhotka is the principal technology evangelist for Magenic Technologies, a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner.

A major contribution of Lhotka’s is his Component-based Scalable Logical Architecture (CSLA) and its Microsoft .NET equivalent CSLA.NET. CSLA is an object oriented software framework that provides a standard way to create robust object oriented programs using so called business object. Though the framework is targeted toward Microsoft programming languages, most of its features can be used in other object oriented programming languages.

External links

• http://www.lhotka.net/
• Magenic Technologies
• Csla forums

• MS downgrades Claria adware detection | The Register Microsoft has downgraded detection of the Claria adware application by its anti-spyware software days after reports began circulating that Redmond might buy

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