Thursday, October 22, 2009

traffic shaping

traffic shaping: "

The CRTC recently announced regulations around traffic shaping. The way I (and many others) read the announcement, this is a significant restriction imposed on the carriers by the CRTC; they must give customers 30-60 days notice, they must actually prove that traffic shaping is the only option available, and they cannot slow traffic so much that they are effectively blocking the service (which is what Rogers used to do with BitTorrent, although I haven’t checked lately to see if that’s changed).



Anyway, while it’s not the net-neutrality that some people wanted, I think this is actually a victory for consumers. As Michael Geist puts it :




The CRTC’s net neutrality (aka traffic management) decision is out and though it does not go as far as some advocates might hope, it unquestionably advances the ball forward on several important fronts. When considering the decision, it is important to remember that 12 months ago, there was virtually no ISP disclosure of traffic management practices and even an unwillingness to acknowledge that there was an issue. Today’s CRTC decision signifies that traffic management is not a free-for-all and the days of ISPs arguing that they can do whatever they please on their networks is over.




So, the headline in the Globe and Mail today reads:




Big Internet carriers win right to manage traffic




Now I would never accuse a newspaper of being biased (cough, cough), but if you follow the Globe and Mail’s ownership chain upwards, this headline is … disturbing … :)

"

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Add Apple's free Backup.app to your backup toolbox

Add Apple's free Backup.app to your backup toolbox: "

Filed under: , ,

When most people think about Apple and backups they probably think about Time Machine or perhaps even Time Capsule. But Apple has a lesser-known application which you might consider using.


The app, simply named Backup, was originally available only to .Mac users, but is now openly available on Apple's website. It lists 'MobileMe account' as one of its requirements. If you do not have a MobileMe account, each backup is limited to 100 MB. The good news is that for what I am suggesting, 100 MB will be completely sufficient for most people. Follow along as I use Backup to create a complete and scheduled backup of personal data and settings on my Mac.


First, install and launch the application. Choose Plan > New Plan from the menu.


If you have a MobileMe account, choose the "Personal Data & Settings" option (second from the top), click the "Choose Plan" button, and then skip the next paragraph.

Continue reading Add Apple's free Backup.app to your backup toolbox

TUAWAdd Apple's free Backup.app to your backup toolbox originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tuesday, October 6, 2009

VMware Fusion 3 The Best Way to Run Windows on the Mac Coming October 27th

VMware Fusion 3 The Best Way to Run Windows on the Mac Coming October 27th: "

We are pleased to announce that VMware Fusion 3, the best way to run Windows on the Mac, will be available worldwide on October 27 and is available for pre-order today.

The team has been working hard for almost a year to bring VMware Fusion 3 to you. VMware Fusion 3 makes it easier and faster than ever to run Mac and Windows applications side-by-side without rebooting.

VMware Fusion 3 has over 50 new features and enhancements including:

  • Optimized for Snow Leopard. VMware Fusion 3 leverages Mac OS X Snow Leopard’s advanced architecture with a new 64-bit core engine and native support for the 64-bit kernel to deliver an even better Windows on Mac experience.

64-bit Native Engine 2

CPU usage running Windows Live Writer on Windows 7 x64 while writing this blog post

  • Ultimate Windows 7 Experience. VMware Fusion 3 is the FIRST virtualization product for the Mac to provide the full Windows 7 experience, side-by-side with your Mac, complete with Windows Aero and Flip 3D. Run 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 7 -- it is your choice.

3) Aero with Flip 3D Effect

Only VMware Fusion 3 Supports Windows Aero with Flip 3D

  • Switching Made Easy. VMware Fusion 3 makes it easy for users to bring their entire PC to their Mac in a few easy steps – wirelessly or with a simple Ethernet cable – allowing customers to protect investments in existing Windows software, and to keep using the programs they still need all for the same low price!

Migration Assistant on Mac Security Code PC MigrationAgent Security Code

Leverage Apple’s Bonjour for the most Mac like way to migrate your PC to the Mac

  • Best-in-Class 3D Graphics. VMware was the first to provide virtual 3D graphics and is the first to support Windows Aero in a virtual machine on the Mac. VMware Fusion 3 is also first to support DirectX 9 Shader Model 3.0 3D graphics and now adds support for OpenGL 2.1 for Windows virtual machines to enable more Windows applications and games.

Left 4 Dead b

Playing Left 4 Dead in a Windows 7 VM!

  • Run Windows Apps, The Mac Way. VMware Fusion has been designed from the beginning to make it easy to run Windows apps like Mac apps. VMware Fusion 3 makes it even better with the “Always On” Applications Menu that banishes the Windows Start menu from your Mac and let’s you find and launch Windows apps like Mac apps, even when VMware Fusion is not running. Cycle through open Windows apps with “ command ` ”, quit individual Windows applications with “command q”, and use Dock Exposé with Windows apps.

Unity 3 - Windows and Mac Together

Kick the Windows Start Menu to the curb with the new “Always On” Application Menu

  • Maximum Performance. Finely Tuned. Building on the proven reliability and performance of VMware Fusion 2, the new 64-bit native core engine and 4-way multi-core SMP make VMware Fusion 3 perform even better. In addition, many smaller refinements increase overall performance from better disk and graphics performance on Snow Leopard, improved 2D interactive performance, faster scrolling in Windows applications, faster to enter Unity view, improved application launch times and much more. VMware Fusion 3 is finely tuned to make Windows run even better than before on the Mac.

Sounds great, what does it cost and when can I get it?

VMware Fusion 3 is available in one, all-inclusive edition that includes everything you need to switch to a Mac for just $79.99.

VMware Fusion 3 will be available at all authorized retailers worldwide and from the VMware Online Store on Tuesday, October 27th.

Starting today, VMware Fusion 3 is available for pre-order at the VMware Online Store, the Apple Online Store® (apple.com), and Amazon.com. Buy today and your order will ship by Tuesday, October 27th.

What does the upgrade cost and when can I get it?

We want to make it inexpensive and simple for users to take advantage of more than 50 new features and enhancements in VMware Fusion 3. Upgrades from previous versions of VMware Fusion to VMware Fusion 3 will cost only $39.99 and will be available starting Tuesday, October 27 from the VMware Online Store.

What if I just bought VMware Fusion 2?

Customers who purchase VMware Fusion 2 from October 1, 2009 through end of November qualify for a free downloadable upgrade to VMware Fusion 3. In order to qualify for this free upgrade, customers will need to fill out an online form and provide related proof of purchase. The free upgrade redemption website will be available beginning October 27th at www.vmware.com/fusion. Free upgrades will take up 4 weeks to deliver.

Stay Tuned for More Details…

We look forward to sharing more details about VMware Fusion 3 here on the Team Fusion blog over the next few weeks.

We are excited to bring VMware Fusion 3 to you and we hope you enjoy it as much as we did in creating it for you.

"

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Crying Tiger before I get my hands on it

Crying Tiger before I get my hands on it

Cowboys & Broncos need this!

Cowboys & Broncos need this!

Fireman Fred enjoys play time