Archive for February, 2010

Technology Patents

February 23rd, 2010

I read a couple of news stories today that got the topic of technology patents re-stuck in my craw:

Amazon Ponies Up to Microsoft for Linux Rights (Click to read the story at TechNewsWorld.com)

In summary, Microsoft and Amazon are involved in some cross-patent action.  They’re patenting the technology by which the Kindle grabs content from Linux-based servers, and Amazon pays Microsoft for the privilege.  Microsoft has asserted in the past that Linux infringes on their patents, so this patent carries some troubling connotations.

Xerox sues Google, Yahoo over search patents (Click to read the story at CNET News)

So Xerox is seeking an injunction against Google, because they thought up the idea for a “System for Automatically Generating Queries” and a “Method and Apparatus for the Integration of Information and Knowledge.”

The article references the two patents that Xerox is waving around.  I took a minute to scan them, and I’ll give the fine folks at Xerox credit for commiting to the creation of such a long document.  I further praise their ability to wax rhetorical, at length, about not much at all.

In 2001, they came up with a theoretical framework for a search engine. Though it made references to the use of technologies like HTML and XML, neither mentioned the use of PHP, which is really the backbone of the Google search engine (which, for those counting at home, was launched in 1997).

The long-and-short of it, if you believe the assertions of all involved, is that Xerox came up with an idea and sat on it for 10 years, whereas Google delivered a product, from which the entire world has benefitted, that was fundamentally similar to Xerox’ idea.

My Two Cents

I’m going to propose a radical new concept, which I would characterize as both idealistic and pragmatic.  In the name of the forward progress of technology, I call upon the technology community to unite and deliver this message unto the corporate mega-giants: Screw Your Patent.

By getting a rubber stamp on a vague idea, and then using your “ownership” of that idea to hinder the efforts of people who take action and create products, you become the wrench in the gears; and while everyone involved could be directing their efforts toward further innovation, you’d rather they all stop and pay atention to you, while you insist on receiving money that you’ve done nothing to earn.

I say we do away with patents.  Having a good idea is fine and all, but if you produce nothing beneficial from that idea, it’s worthless in a practical sense.  Open source is the way and the light — let’s all start announcing our ideas to the world, and see what happens.  We can still take credit for the things that we produce, and make mad profits — but ideas are worthless without execution.

(My apologies to the person or entity who first thought of doing away with patents and rewarding actual progress — please don’t sue me, I promise it’s not worth your time.)

Office 2008 for Mac: Office did not install correctly

February 22nd, 2010

I don’t do a lot of work with Macs, but I just went through an ordeal in getting MS Office 2008 installed on a Macbook Air running Snow Leopard (10.6.2).  No matter how many times I uninstalled/reinstalled, it gave me an error:

Microsoft Office did not install correctly.

That sentence was the bane of my existence for the better part of my Saturday morning; but after a little bit of reading on Google and some general know-how, I made it work.  If you’re running into this problem, do the following steps:

  1. Uninstall Office: Go to Applications/Microsoft Office 2008/Additional Tools/Remove Office and run the uninstaller.
  2. Delete the preferences file: Go to Users/username/Library/Preferences/Microsoft/Office 2008 folder and delete the Microsoft Office 2008 settings.plist file.  Note: This was a step that I found on Google; while it’s apparently been successful for others, I had to delete the Office 2008 folder that contained the .plist file before I was able to get it to work. The installer will re-create this folder, so don’t be afraid to try this step!
  3. Empty the Trash: The OS may still try to access files from the Trash, especially when the installer is searching for previous versions.  This is just a precaution.
  4. Reinstall Office: Run the installer from the CD.  You’ll know it worked if it asks you for your CD key during the installation steps.

During my research, I found that people have experienced a variety of results with this procedure.  Some have been able to install without uninstalling the trial, and some had more problems than I did.  As with any troubleshooting, your results may vary, and you may have to make some things up as you go.  Good luck!

Applications/Microsoft Office 2008/Additional Tools/Remove Office

IP Addressing: The Basics

February 19th, 2010

This article covers the basics of IP addressing.  If you’ve got a home router and you want to learn just enough to be dangerous, you’re in the right place.

What is an IP Address?

An IP address is a number that networks use to identify your computer.  When you open your web browser and type in the address for a website, the network needs to know how to send the page back to you, and it uses your IP address to identify your computer.

On some networks, the administrator might assign you a static IP address — this means you always use the same address, which is specified in your computer’s settings.

Most networks, however, will assign you a dynamic IP address.  This means that when you connect to the network, it gives you an address that will usually be yours until you disconnect from the network.  Most home routers and WiFi access points that you can buy are automatically set up to use this method, using a protocol called DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol).

(It’s not important to know anything else about DHCP… I only mention it because it may be referenced in your settings.  Just keep in mind that if your connection says that it’s Using DHCP, it is set to receive a dynamic IP address from the network.).

Note: while not exactly the same, the terms “IP Address” and “DHCP Lease” are largely interchangeable.  This isn’t very important, just a term that you might hear your tech support guy throwing around.

What’s My IP Address?

Depending on what OS (operating system) you’re using, you can find your IP address in different places:

Windows XP: Click on your Start button, then go to Control Panel and then Network Connections.  Double-click on your connection, click on the Support tab, and you’ll see your IP address.

Windows Vista: Click on your Start button, go to Control Panel, then to the Network and Sharing Center.  Click on Manage Network Connections on the left.  Double-click on your connection, click on the Details button, and look for your IPv4 address.

Windows 7: Click on your Start button, go to Control Panel, click the Network and Internet heading, then to the Network and Sharing Center. Click on Change Adapter Settings on the left. Double-click on your connection, click on the Details button, and look for your IPv4 address.

Mac OS 10.5 & 10.6: Click on your Apple menu and go to System Preferences.  Click on Network, and select the connection you’re using on the left.  Click on the Advanced button and then the TCP/IP tab to see your IPv4 and IPv6 addresses.

IPv4 vs. IPv6

IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4) is the protocol that most of the world is currently using to obtain IP addresses.  In the near future, it will become obsolete; however, right now, it’s the only IP address that you need to worry about.

IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) is a new standard that allows for a much larger number of IP addresses to be concurrently active.  It is currently being used in China — the rest of the world can feel free to turn it off for now.

What Can My IP Address Tell Me?

Your IP address is made up of four octets divided by dots, such as 10.59.22.12.  If one tech was reciting that address to another, he’d say “ten dot fifty-nine dot twenty-two dot twelve.”

Maybe that’s useful knowledge… maybe not.

Here are a few tips on “reading” IP addresses:

192.168.x.x: This is the most common DHCP range handed out by commercial routers.  If you go to Best Buy and pick up a Linksys, Netgear or Belkin router, plug it into your modem and connect to it, chances are you’ll get an IP address that starts with 192.168.  If your address is in this range and the last octet isn’t a 1, you’re probably okay.

169.254.x.x: IP addresses that start with 169.254 are commonly referred to as self-assigned or auto-configuration IP addresses.  You’ll get one of these if your computer expects to receive an IP address from the network, but doesn’t.  If you’re a Windows user, you might get an error that says you have “limited or no connectivity” — any of these indicators simply means that you didn’t get an IP address from the network.

Different operating systems give you different means of rectifying this problem.  In Windows (depending on which version), you should be able to Diagnose or Repair the connection to try to get a good IP address.  If options like these fail, try unplugging your router for about 30 seconds — this is called power-cycling the router, and may help resolve mysterious problems that you can’t quite put your finger on.

x.x.x.1: In almost all cases, when the last octet in an IP address is 1, it is a gateway address.  This means it’s the address of the device on the network that gives IP addresses to everybody else.  If your computer’s address ends with 1 and you can’t get online, you most likely have a static IP address that you need to get rid of.  More on gateway addresses further down…

How Do I Change My IP Address?

This is not something you want to do unless you’re sure your IP address is causing you a problem.  If you’re currently reading this online, for example, do not change your IP address.

On the other hand, if you can’t get online, use the directions above to find your IP address.  If you think it needs to be changed, read on:

Windows XP: Click on your Start button, then go to Control Panel and then Network Connections.  Right-click on your connection and go to Properties.  Double-click on Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).

Windows Vista: Click on your Start button, go to Control Panel, then to the Network and Sharing Center.  Click on Manage Network Connections on the left.  Right-click on your connection and go to Properties.  Double-click on Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).

Windows 7: Click on your Start button, go to Control Panel, click on the Network and Internet heading, then to the Network and Sharing Center.  Click on Change Adapter Settings on the left.  Right-click on your connection and go to Properties.  Double-click on Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).

This is the place in all Windows operating systems where you can specify an address (if one has been given to you by the person who runs your network); however, in most cases, you’ll want to make sure you can get one from the network by selecting the radio buttons next to Obtain an IP address automatically and Obtain a DNS server address automatically.

Mac OS 10.5 & 10.6: Click on your Apple menu and go to System Preferences.  Click on Network, and select the connection you’re using on the left.  Click the Advanced button and go to the TCP/IP tab.  Next to Configure IPv4, you can set the connection to Using DHCP to automatically obtain an IP address from the network; only change this if you’re sure you should.

What’s a Gateway Address?

It can be referred to as the gateway, the default gateway, the router, or a host of other names — it’s the address of the router that gave your computer its IP address, and it almost always has a fourth octet of “1″.

Fun trick! If you type your gateway address into your web browser, you’ll probably get a login page where you can put in a username and password and configure your router!

If you’ve just plugged in a brand new router, the username and password are probably both “admin”.  I’d recommend logging into it and changing the password, if nothing else.  If you don’t do this on a wireless router, and your neighbors are bigger nerds than you, you can easily find your router hijacked for their sinister purposes.

What’s a Subnet Mask?

Pretend you never saw it.  Unless you really know what you’re doing, it’s never something that you should try to alter — and it’s definitely beyond the scope of this article.

Check back for more articles on basic networking!

BBC Article: US Department of Justice objects to Google book plan

February 5th, 2010

US Department of Justice objects to Google book plan (click to read the story at BBC news)

In brief, with regard to their plan to open shop as an ebook publisher, the USDoJ feels that Google is taking a bull-in-the-china-shop approach with regard to copyright law.  They’re probably right… negotiations continue.

Going further, Amazon.com feels that Google’s plan might give them a monopoly on the ebook market.  Amazon is currently duking it out with publishers over pricing plans, refuting publishers’ claims that $9.99 is too low a price for their products.  Their primary argument is that it devalues their publications, and will hurt sales of physical copies of books.

Most of the avid readers that I know prefer books to ebook readers — I don’t think that physical books are going anywhere; however, in our modern age of resource-consciousness and ravenous techno-consumerism, one of the incentives for making the switch to an ebook reader is being able to forgo the ink and paper of traditional media.  Publishers win because they have literally NO overhead in the sale — no costs for printing, boxing or shipping.

Their $14.99 price point is based on the Apple model.  Apple has long been the highest-priced option in the industry, and Steve Jobs’ smug and insular world view should hardly be considered a model to follow.

Publishers’ assertions that they should rake in the same numbers on book and ebook sales are tantamount to greed and opportunism.  The world is changing the way it reads, and publishers need to adapt to the interests of their customers.

Wired.com article: FCC Backs Net Neutrality

February 2nd, 2010

FCC Backs Net Neutrality — And Then Some (click to read the story at Wired.com)

Thankfully, the federal government has decided to step in on the side of Net Neutrality.  According to FCC chairman Julius Genachowski, the fundamental principles of Net Neutrality should be expanded to cover all broadband connections, including 3G smartphone services.  I’m usually not in favor of new federal legislation, but it’s becoming our only line of defense against the corporations.  The enemy of my enemy, I suppose…

The ISPs maintain that content providers are getting a free ride on their infrastructure, which is laughable.  Don’t they realize that without content, no one would have a reason to use their infrastructure?

What is Net Neutrality?

February 2nd, 2010

I know a lot of people have heard the term Net Neutrality, but are still a bit in the dark regarding what it actually means. The best short answer to define Net Neutrality that I’ve seen comes from Save The Internet, one of the most forefront activist sites on the topic:

“Net Neutrality means that Internet service providers may not discriminate between different kinds of content and applications online. It guarantees a level playing field for all Web sites and Internet technologies.

Net Neutrality is the reason the Internet has driven economic innovation, democratic participation and free speech online. It protects the consumer’s right to use any equipment, content, application or service without interference from the network provider. With Net Neutrality, the network’s only job is to move data — not to choose which data to privilege with higher quality service.”

I could rant endlessly, but the essential aim of the Net Neutrality movement is to prevent the Internet Service Providers (ISPs) from severely limiting our access to the internet, and making a bundle in the process. Another quote from Save The Internet:

“The nation’s largest telephone and cable companies — including AT&T, Verizon, Comcast and Time Warner Cable — want to be Internet gatekeepers, deciding which Web sites go fast or slow and which won’t load at all.

They want to tax content providers to guarantee speedy delivery of their data. And they want to discriminate in favor of their own search engines, Internet phone services and streaming video — while slowing down or blocking services offered by their competitors.”

For more general information on the benefits of Net Neutrality, check out the FAQ on Save The Internet.

Relaunched!

February 1st, 2010

Since I got comfortable with HTML and CSS, I decided to push my know-how a bit further and start working with WordPress as a back-end CMS. So far, I’m thoroughly impressed, and extremely satisfied with the results that I’ve been able to get from it. On the down side, it’s made me painfully aware of just how little I know about PHP, but I’m starting to get my feet wet with it, and I’m having a great time.

I’m also excited to finally have a blog up and running! I’ve got a lot of topics on which I’m poised to rant, from Net Neutrality to the upcoming HTML standard, as well as tricks that I’ve learned and solutions that I can recommend. I don’t really have time to get started right away, but look for new articles very soon!