Ebookee is a website that centers around sharings PDFs. The content
is mainly to do with programming languages in the form of tutorials,
and other vast topics like health, finance, etc. However, using a
singular website often may not provide that much variety, which is why
this Buzzle post will list out some similar websites to ebookee.
Quite
interestingly, Bob Brown had predicted the coming up of a feature like
e-book, way back in 1929 - 1930, after he realized that books were
replaced by movies. He first invented the 'readies', for the purpose of
reading text without the manual book. Sooner or later, e-books did
arrive.
E-books are a form of digital compilation of the thick
books that, at times, are cumbersome to read. They grant us the
flexibility to get access to the world of knowledge with the help of
devices such as a personal computer, iPad, smartphones, etc. All you
need to take care of is that you have to get the right format for the
software you would be using to read the e-books.
Though there are
differing opinions regarding the acceptance, and use of e-books, the
number of websites providing e-books is certainly on the rise. Thus, the
need for such websites is far from diminishing. There are various
websites coming up for a single demand, and the choice is so vast that
it becomes tough to choose the website from where you want to read the
books. One common site is the ebookee. Let's take a look at other
similar websites for the same purpose.
Bookyards This website
has a plethora of books such as art, business, computers, and IT,
children, and the like. The speed is not exceptional, but it can be fine
to work with the speed it has. It has good traffic, and has been ranked
well by many other review websites. You can get the books free of cost.
Find books on: Bookyards
IT eBooks
This
is a free website for downloading books on IT. You can actually catch
hold of books for free on subjects like web designing, Java, computer
language, Android, and mobile technology. The website is simple, and the
process of finding what you want is very basic. So you don't have to
waste your time to get what you want. The loading time is also good
enough. There are separate sections for the last and latest updates.
Find books on: IT eBooks
ManyBooks.net This
website has a huge collection of books, which are available for free.
The reader can also request for titles and procure the books of their
choice. They have divided the categories of books into genres. These
being numerous, some of these are computers, science, and science
fiction. Visit the website to get books of your choice.
Find books on: ManyBooks.net
Bookfi.org This
is a Switzerland-based website. It is a popular site to work on. You
just sign up for free with this website, and you get an easy access to a
whole range of books. This website is ranking highly as an electronic
library. The loading time on the mobile is quite fast.
Find books on: Bookfi.org
Free-eBooks.net Just
by signing up for free, you will be introduced to a huge world of
online library. The website provides easy navigation, and you can, for
yourself, browse through the endless categories and topics they have to
offer. The loading time is good. With a good Internet connection, you
can search for what you want in minimum time.
Find books on: Free-eBooks.net
ebook3000.com This
is perhaps a website you would like to visit more often, because of the
ease with which you can get to what you are searching for. The website
is divided into various sections like the categories, direct download,
and torrent download, granting the user with more options. The
categories of the books are varied. Engineering, science, web
development, etc., and several others grab your attention.
Find books on: ebook3000.com
netbks.com This
website is comprehensive, though there are no sections showing the
latest updated books and the various categories it caters to. But these
are in all five sections showing different options, with which you can
read the books online or download them. On the top-right section, there
is the search section for more specific searching.
Find books on: netbks.com
bookboon.com This
website is very vibrant and easy to explore. You can find so many
different categories of books, sooner than you realize. There are also
different sections entitled popular books, new titles, editor's picks,
and highest rated. These features come of help when one wants to read
anything worthwhile just at random.
Find books on: bookboon.com
obooko The
catchline of the website, which says, "every book you see is free",
takes the reader to a higher level of motivation. As the website is so
rich in the list of categories it has, any person would have an
inclination to read books from one of those categories.
Find books on: obooko
WOW! eBook The
website is just like a storehouse of several books for those belonging
to the computer and IT domain. The cover pages are right on the display,
with additional information on book details, book description, and the
free download link on the right side.
Find books on: WOW! eBook
edom.com The
website is very simplistic and allows the user to search for the
desired books easily. The search option is right on the top and
absolutely visible. The types of books available are divided into three
sections; a click on the link will guide the user to a more specific
search, allowing him to select the category.
Find books on: edom.com
getfreeebooks This
website provides the search section, where the reader can search the
books. There is an archive, wherein the readers can get access to the
variety of books that are stored. There is yet another section called
the request book, where the reader can post the required title, and can
get it subsequently.
Find books on: getfreeebooks
Fox eBook This
is a comprehensive website to find books for free. The website has
highlighted the books and their reviews right in the center. It has
listed the categories on the right, with a search section on the top.
Find books on: Fox eBook
E-Books Directory The
site may not be catchy, and may leave you disappointed for a while due
to the bleak design it has been showing up. But, as soon as you begin
looking up for books from the elaborate list, you would have an urge to
come back time and again to find books of your choice.
Find books on: E-Books Directory
bookos.org
This
website has been running for the past two years and has good traffic.
They have a huge collection of books on different subjects. The website
is user-friendly, and it makes searching easy. You can get all that you
want in no time! The loading time of the website is also less.
Find books on: bookos.org
The
list above is a compilation of the websites that are common in terms of
features with the ebooke. Therefore, you can log on to any one, or even
more, to explore the books of your choice and requirement. Happy
reading, and happy learning!
Ever wish you could turn your computer on remotely so it boots up
while you’re on your commute home? Or set up a schedule so that all the
computers in your office switch themselves on and off so that they’re as energy-friendly as possible? You can do all that and more with software that takes advantage of a featured called Wake On LAN.
Wake On LAN (WoL) is a protocol that goes by a host of
different names; Power On LAN (PoL), Remote Wake-Up, Resume by LAN. Its
actual usage is straightforward: it’s a means of turning on or awakening
a computer remotely via a Local Area Network.
The protocol works by sending a packet of information
around your desired network that contains the unique MAC address of the
computer that you want to wake up. If a device is Wake On LAN
compatible, it’ll be able to receive this packet even when the machine
is in low-power mode — once it gets the message, your computer will burst into life.
This is where the interesting part begins; many developers have taken
this basic functionality and spun it into very useful programs — here
are a few of the best on offer.
Straightforward software to use while you get to grips with Wake On LAN.
If you’re looking for some basic Wake On LAN software to get started
with, this AquilaTech package will likely offer just what you’re looking
for. You’ll be able to control Windows machines remotely, waking them up and shutting them down — even scheduling these processes for a time in the future.
Aquila Tech’s Wake on LAN allows you to fine tune how and when your
computer wakes up. It offers smart features like staggered start-ups to
prevent power spikes on large networks. It’s a straightforward,
no-nonsense way of testing out whether Wake On LAN can be a useful tool
for your network — and it’s free.
WakeOnLan Tool 2
A more advanced tool for experienced users.
Once you have an idea of what you can do with Wake On LAN, you’ll
likely be looking for a program with a broad range of options so you can
configure your network in a way that suits your needs. WakeOnLan Tool 2
by Marko Oette can do just that, and it does so with a clean interface
that’s free from any needless clutter.
However, while a novice user could probably get up to speed with this
software quite quickly, it’s clear that it has been designed
with advanced and expert users in mind. This is a program for people who
want to go beyond simply switching their machine on and off from afar.
To that end, remote desktop software like VNC and terminal utilities like MSTSC and PuTTY can be set up and controlled from within the program.
An intuitive program that can help save power as you download.
Looking for more practical applications of Wake On LAN technology? Here is a tool to automatically power off your computer when it completes a download.
With AMP WiinOFF can set up a protocol that identifies when download activity on your network ceases — meaning that your download has finished
— and instruct your machine to power off automatically. Even better,
you can combine this with other conditions; for instance, should you
only want this to occur at the end of the day, you can stipulate that
the rule is only in effect between certain hours.
Comprehensive software well-suited for use in a working environment.
For a Wake On LAN program that can really claim to be an all-in-one package, you’d be hard pushed to find anything quite as capable as TeamViewer.
All the basic functionality that you would expect is here — turning
computers on and off, controlling your desktop remotely — but it’s
backed up by features that really put you in full control of your network. You can transfer files, print remotely, and even host online presentations and meetings.
This might sound like an overwhelming amount of control, but the way
that it’s presented to you ensures that you never feel swamped. That’s
part of the appeal of this particular package; it’s all assembled in a
way that’s very clear and accessible. Team Viewer is ideal for an office environment,
because it gives you the control that’s required to look after a large
quantity of machines, but presents it in a manner that anyone can
quickly become familiar with.
VoiceWake Lite
Powerful Wake On LAN tool for your Windows Phone.
Wake On LAN has plenty of applications in a working environment, but
it can be just as handy as a means of controlling your own personal
computer as it is when you’re looking after every machine in the office —
especially when you can use your phone to do so. VoiceWake does just
that, allowing you to start up your computer remotely via a slick
smartphone interface.
You’ll need to be running Windows Phone 8.1 to take advantage of this, because one of the major features of VoiceWake is its Cortana integration.
Simply set up Wake On LAN on the desired computer and make sure you
have forwarded the points on your router as the software stipulates,
then it’s as easy as verbally telling your phone to shut down your
machine — and it’s off. It’s simple stuff, but it puts you in control no
matter how far from your rig you happen to be.
What uses for Wake On LAN have you found particularly
beneficial? Are there any programs or pieces of software that we have
omitted? Let us know in the comments section below.
Are you looking for the best web hosting services for your needs?
Whether you need a place to host your small personal blog, or a major
corporate website, the following list will help you identify the best
host for your needs.
Finding the best web hosting service isn’t quite as straightforward
as just searching for a service in Google and choosing the one with the
lowest price. There are a lot of issues to consider, and those all have
to do with why you need the service, and how you intend to use it.
Once you have a handle on your actual needs, you can purchase the web
hosting plan that is right for you. Choose one that’s undersized, and
you’ll end up with lots of website outages and performance issues.
Choose one that’s oversized, and you’ll be throwing away money that you
could instead use to improve the quality of your website itself.
Defining Your Web Hosting Needs
Before choosing your web host, you’ll need to do a little bit of
homework about your requirements. Consider the following concerns, and
decide the importance of each item on a scale of 0 to 10 — with 0 being
not at all important, and 10 being critically important.
Speed – How responsive do you need your site to be?
It may not matter if your personal site takes a few moments to load,
but if you have a sales website, those few seconds can lead to lost
customers.
Bandwidth – How much data do you need to transfer
from your site to the Internet? This is usually tied to how many
visitors you expect to have on your website at any given time. The
real-time section of Google Analytics can help you figure this out.
Storage Space – How many pages are on your website?
Are you hosting a lot of large images or videos? Before you say “a
lot”, consider whether you could use free image hosting services, or more efficiently resize your images for your site.
Technical Support – How tech savvy are you? Are you
frequently struggling to figure out how to make changes to your site,
or do you only need help when the server is down?
Once you have a clear picture of each of these needs, you can work
your way through the following list and identify which is the best web
hosting service for you.
Shared/Budget Web Hosting
The following web hosting services are ideal if you have a personal
blog or a small website where bandwidth and performance are not quite as
important as storage and cost. This is because most affordable web
hosts offer plenty of storage for small website owners, while also
offering low cost plans and great deals for new customers.
Want reliable web hosting at rock-bottom cost? BlueHost offers it at $15 and under. The basic starter package is a mere $3.95 a month, and for that you get 100 GB of storage for your site, email storage and up to 25 sub-domains.
For a few dollars more, you get unlimited storage, unlimited domains
and subdomains, and unlimited bandwidth. Like most web hosts, Bluehost
offers cPanel for management, a simple site deployment, and e-commerce
support (shared SSL, shopping carts, etc.). Keep in mind that — also
like most web hosts — the front-page deals are limited to new customers.
Subsequent renewals start at $7.49 for a starter plan, up to $22.99 for the Pro account.
Also keep in mind that “unlimited bandwidth” has limitations. If your
site starts bringing in tens of thousands of visitors all at once,
it’ll likely freeze up or take down the server, and you’ll be forced to
upgrade to a Virtual Private Server (VPN) or a Dedicated Hosting
account. So keep future expansion in mind when choosing any web hosting
service.
Justin reviewed BlueHost in great detail if you want to know more.
Media Temple promises to alleviate those short-term traffic-spike concerns by offering a product called “Media Temple GRID”.
It’s a little more expensive — plans start at $20
— but the peace of mind it offers can’t be understated. The service has
its own control panel (not cPanel), so may not be ideal for seasoned
users who are used to cPanel — but for anyone who is new to web hosting,
it’s easy to understand and simple to use.
For $20/mo, you get 100 GB of storage, 1TB of bandwidth that will
conveniently scale for those short-term demands, supports 100 websites,
and comes pre-installed with the software you need to run a
highly-functional website, including PHP, Perl, and Python. It comes
with CloudFlare, 1-click app installations and better hardware. Use our
exclusive code and receive 20% off new hosting sign-ups: makeuseof20
See the full review of Media Temple James wrote, to learn more.
Voted as the Best Shared Web Host of 2013
by Review Signal, mostly due to its price, uptime performance. and
stellar customer support. Low-traffic sites benefit from their Tiny ($35/year) plan: 500 MB storage, 5 GB bandwidth.
The popular Medium plan offers 15 GB of storage and 150 GB of bandwidth for $10/month or $100/year.
The bonus with Small Orange is that you get raided SSD disks for a
fast, high-performance website — something not usually offered to shared
hosting customers! Use promo code ‘makeuseof15‘ to get a 15% discount.
If you’re looking for the lowest cost solution for web hosting, SiteGround is a good option. Start off as a new customer at $3.95/mo
for the StartUp plan, and you get 10 GB of storage and enough bandwidth
to handle up to 10,000 visitors a month. You get a free domain name,
unlimited emails, cPanel and SSH access and even access to free
CloudFlare CDN. If you get around 25,000 visits a month, you’ll want to
go with the GrowBig plan at $7.95 a month for 20 GB storage. This includes 1 year free SSL certificate, better speed with SuperCacher, and “priority” technical support.
Of course, if you have a booming site with roughly 100,000 visits a month, your best bet is the GoGeek plan for $14.95/mo.
This includes 30 GB of space, all of the essential and premium features
of the other plans, plus “geeky advanced features” including fewer
shared accounts on the server and advanced hardware for better
performance. Remember: These prices are available to new customers only. Your renewal the following year will roughly double in price.
Make sure to check out Jackson’s review of SiteGround for more info.
If the one thing you’re looking for in a web host is ease of use,
then Web Hosting Hub is a good option. This host promises one-click
installs of popular applications like WordPress, Joomla, and over 300
other applications.
The plans are given unique names like “Spark”, “Nitro” and “Dynamo”,
but don’t let that fool you. These are three levels of shared hosting
where the cheapest plan (Spark) offers 2 websites and 25 subdomains, and
a free domain. Nitro offers an unlimited number of websites and
subdomains, and Dynamo offers the same but with twice as many free
website transfers. Plans start at $4.99/mo for the first year, or $3.99/mo if you sign up for 3 years.
All plans come with unlimited space and bandwidth, and includes cPanel and reportedly excellent tech support.
Check out Tim Brookes review of Web Hosting Hub for more information about this web hosting service.
Sometimes, when you’re just getting started with a website, all you
want is simplicity. Forget trying to figure out what size storage you
need to thinking about limited bandwidth — Hostmonster offers unlimited
space, bandwidth, domain hosting and email accounts.
Domain registration is free, and you also get the cPanel and
one-click application installers (like WordPress), even at the
Plus price of $6.95/mo for a 12 month plan. If you want to save a little bit of cash, you might opt for the $4.95/mo
Starter plan, which does limit your space to 100 GB and 100 email
accounts, but you still get unlimited bandwidth (within reason).
Remember, “unlimited” for any of these cheap services is a misnomer.
You may be covered for short term traffic spikes, but if your website
grows and gets a constant level of high traffic, you’ll be asked to
upgrade to either the Business Pro plan at the normal rate of $19.99/mo, or you may be forced to move your site to a virtual private server or dedicated hosting (see those sections below).
If you’re running a local business, or you want to serve your local
community with your website, then Site5 is the shared hosting service
for you. Like other hosting plans, Site5 offers unlimited disk space and
bandwidth starting at a decent price of $4.95/mo.
However, on top of that, the service lets you choose a server location
that is geographically located closest to you or your visitors.
You’ll find servers located all throughout the U.S., India, and even
in China, Brazil and Romania. With the Internet being a global entity,
you would be very surprised to see just how much better performance your
visitors experience when the web server hosting the page is located
nearby.
With nightly server backups, and a custom control panel based on
cPanel, you won’t be disappointed if you opt for using this service for
your hosting needs.
You’ll see InMotion Hosting crop up under just about every hosting
category listed in this article, and for good reason — InMotion offers
excellent plans all throughout the hosting spectrum. Shared hosting is
no exception.
At InMotion, you’ll find the standard shared web hosting offerings,
such as unlimited disk space and domain transfers, and a complimentary
data backup and website transfer — all starting at an affordable $4.89/mo. You get access to cPanel loaded with tools and apps for websites that will help you maintain your site easily, including an embedded web-based file browser.
If you need a bit more “power” for your site, then you might consider the Power option for $6.29/mo, which allows for up to 6 websites on one account, unlimited disk space and up to 100 sub domains. The Pro plan at $10.49/mo offers all that, plus an unlimited number of mySQL databases, and unlimited websites on one server.
Virtual Private Server Web Hosting
When your site starts to get a lot more daily visitors — heading into
the upper tens of thousands a day — it’s time to consider upgrading to a
virtual private server. If you’re not sure whether you need to upgrade,
make sure to check out Kev’s explanation of why you may need a VPS.
A VPS is a virtual machine where the hosting company runs your site.
It is essentially like having your very own web server all to yourself,
except you’re still sharing the CPU power of the physical machine that
the site is running on.
With a VPS you have the OS all to yourself and there are no other
websites on “your” virtual server and you enjoy more privacy. It also
gives you the ability to customize server applications, and your server
can be restarted at any time without affecting other users on the same
physical server. You also get a dedicated portion of overall RAM, so no
one else on the server can consume those resources — it’s all yours.
VPS hosting at A Small Orange is called “cloud VPS”, because it uses
Kernel Virtual Machine (KVM) virtualization technology that allows for a
web hosting experience that the company says will “behave like a true
dedicated server with a near complete isolation of processes and user
accounts with predictable, dedicated, performance.”
When you are ready to give VPS hosting a try, just go to the VPS page
on the site and slide it to your desired storage, bandwidth (and price)
needs.
Their cloud VPS hosting starts from $20/month
($240/year) with 20 GB of storage and 500 GB bandwidth. Or, if you need
much more power and throughput, you could go with the maximum 8 core
virtual server with 150 GB storage, and 5 TB bandwidth for $150/mo,
or $1,800 a year. As far as hardware, this company uses SSDs in
RAID-10 for maximum performance. Offers cPanel and free on-demand
backups. Use promo code ‘makeuseof15‘ to get a 15% discount.
One thing that should be noted about A Small Orange is that, unlike
almost every other hosting company out there, the prices listed on the
site are not intro prices. Most other companies play a bait-and-switch
game where your hosting prices actually double when you renew the next
year. Not at A Small Orange! The price you sign up at is the price you
get every year — very honest and impressive!
Never to be outdone, InMotion Hosting also offers free SSDs as part
of their VPS hosting offerings. There aren’t quite as many customized
choices here — you can choose between three VPS packages — but what you
do get is pretty impressive.
The VPS-1000S package offers an impressive 60 GB of storage space and 2 TB of bandwidth. This is available for only $29.99 (for new customers only of course). VPS-2000S offers 130 GB disk space and 3 TB of bandwidth at $49.99/mo. Finally the top VPS-3000S plan gives you a whopping 200 GB of disk space and 4 TB of bandwidth for $74.99.
While performance and pricing is comparable to most other plans, what
you get at InMotion Hosting is amazing customer service, and a cPanel
that is just chock-full of useful tools and utilities that’ll help you
keep your site running at optimal performance.
It doesn’t take very long being an InMotion Hosting customer to see
just why people prefer them. Uptime is excellent, and response time when
you report issues to 24/7 tech support is lightning fast. However, once
you remain a long-term customer, you will typically pay almost double
the price you originally signed up for — so keep that in mind when
choosing and pricing out your preferred VPS hosting plan.
Media temple is a crowd favorite among website owners, and that is
particularly because of the Dedicated Virtual (DV) offerings. Offering
SSD hard drives like most other VPS hosting providers these days, Media
Temple goes a step further by giving expert users the flexibility of
either purchasing a self-managed Linux-based VPS for only $30/mo, or a managed and fully managed VPS solution ranging from $55 to $249/mo.
When you choose one of those plans — say the managed VPS hosting
option, you can then choose from 6 levels of hosting with a wide array
of options.
Level 1 is the base $55/m0, 30 GB of storage and 2 TB of bandwidth. The most popular option is 50 GB of storage and 3 TB of bandwidth for $100/mo.
The price sounds like a lot, but Media Temple is another one of those
web hosting companies that have adopted the honest, up-front pricing
option — so the price you sign up at today will be the same price you
can renew the following year — no bad surprises. However, you can get a
pretty good up-front deal if you use our exclusive code and receive 20%
off new hosting sign-ups: makeuseof20
Linode may not be a hosting company you’ve heard of before, but it
should be a part of your plans now. It’s a cloud-based hosting solution
that lets you not only immediately deploy a customized Linux virtual
server in under a minute, but it lets you geographically position that
server anywhere in the world.
It’s a unique service meant for people who love using Linux
— complete with your choice of distributions like Ubuntu, CentOS,
openSUSE and more. You get kernel and root access, a dedicated IP
address, easy configuration or disk cloning, two-factor authentication
and other cool features you’re sure to love if you’re a Linux user.
Plans range from $10/mo for the low-end plan, Linode
1GB, with 24 GB of SSD storage and 2 TB bandwidth. Or go with 48 GB
storage and 3 TB transfers for $20/mo, 96 GB storage and 4 GB transfers for $40/m0.
Dedicated Hosting
So you’ve used VPS hosting for a while, and the constant traffic
spikes to your site keep taking the server down, getting everyone else
on the shared hardware pretty upset. Have no fear, it just means you’ve
outgrown the VPS solution, and it’s time to move into the big leagues of
web hosting with your own dedicated web server. What is a dedicated web hosting plan? It is exactly
what it sounds like. Your website is hosted on your own, dedicated
physical server. No other website is stored on the machine, not even as a
virtual machine. You get the entire CPU, all the RAM, and all of the
system resources. Of course, this usually comes with a hefty price as
well.
Once again, A Small Orange leads the way with dedicated server plans
priced to give you what you need at a reasonably affordable price. Even
the starter package at $195/mo is a pretty nice machine
– an iNtel Xeon E3-1220 V2 3.1Ghz system with 4 Cores, 4 GB RAM, a
Raid-11 TB hard drive and 5 TB bandwidth. That kind of system should
suit anyone upgrading from a VPS package.
All of the dedicated systems offer the same 5 TB bandwidth and
Raid-11 TB hard drive. However, you can upgrade to 8 GB RAM and 3.3 Ghz
for $245/mo, 16 GB RAM and 3.5 GHz for $285/mo, or a massive 32 GB RAM, 12 core system (each 2.0 Ghz). Obviously, there’s something for everyone here.
At all levels, you get an expert support team who manage server security and system issues for you.
As usual, InMotion Hosting offers some of the best quality for what
you’ll pay. The starter dedicated server here is an Intel Core I3 with 4
GB RAM, a 500 GB drive and 6 TB of bandwidth, all for a starting price
of $119.99/mo the first year (reverting to $189.99 when
you renew). The advanced server is a 3.1 GHz system with 8 GB RAM, a 1
TB SATA drive, and 10 TB of bandwidth for $159.99 to start out, then $219.99/mo the next year.
If you have a booming website with a strong, steady flow of traffic,
you may actually need the top end dedicated hosting plan known as the
“Elite” plan. This gives you a 3.3 Ghz system with 16 GB of RAM, a
RAID-12x 1TB SATA drive, and 10 TB of bandwidth. This affordable plan
starts out at $229.99/mo to begin, and then $299.99/mo at renewal time.
What’s cool is you don’t have to stick to these plan configurations.
You can actually customize the server to suit your needs using the
server configuration tool.
The price will change to suit, but this tool gives you the ability to
get exactly the server you want, configured exactly how you need.
If you have the cash to spend for it, Rackspace may be the last web
hosting service you ever upgrade to. Dedicated servers here are
completely customizable for your needs, with up to 32 processor cores,
1.5 TB of RAM and 2 TB of bandwidth — there’s not much that you won’t be
able to do here.
Rackspace is a well-respected web hosting service. Dedicated hosting plans start from $725/month;
for that, you’ll receive a six-core processor, 24 GB RAM, 2x 146 GB 15K
SAS hard drive, 2 TB bandwidth, and a dedicated Cisco ASA firewall.
Just like with it’s shared and VPS hosting solutions, Media Temple
offers some of the most powerful dedicated server options at an
affordable price. All of them come with 128 GB of RAM, an impressive 1
TB of SSD storage, and 10 TB of monthly bandwidth.
Media Temple’s line of DV Enterprise servers now feature powerful
16-core (HT) Intel Xeon 2.13 GHz processors, 64GB RAM, 8x 300GB 10K SAS
hard drives (RAID 10), 3 TB bandwidth, Parallel Plesk, Cent OS. (dpv)
Nitro is essentially a single tenant dedicated server, with the
scalability of virtualisation.
Plans start at Start at $2000 for a DV Developer
plan, or $2500/month for DV Developer with Plesk Web Host Edition. Use
our exclusive code and receive 20% off new hosting sign-ups: makeuseof20
SingleHop is one of those hosting services you’ll want to turn to if
flexibility and options are your thing. Why? Because there are 16
options of dedicated servers to choose from. These start with an Intel
Core I5-760 server with a 2 x 2.8 Ghz processor, 16 GB DDR3 RAM, 2 x 500
GB drives and 10 TB of bandwidth. All that for just $159/mo.
If power is more important than memory, you can opt for the quad-core
3.5 Ghz machine with 8 GB DDR3 RAM and one 500 GB drive for $229/m0.
Need something a little more high-end? Go with the Intel Dual Xeon with 12 x 2.0 GHz cores, and 16 GB DDR3 RAM for $369/m0. There are other configurations to choose from that are likely to suit the needs of your website.
SingleHop boasts 24-hour technical support, your own dedicated
account team and a 90-minute hardware replacement time. If you go with
SingleHop, you won’t be disappointed.
Choosing Your Hosting Service
When a free or very cheap web hosting plan
just isn’t cutting it anymore, it’s time to upgrade to a paid hosting
service for your specific needs. The list above should give you a head
start toward purchasing the best hosting service that’ll ensure your
website stays online and serves up fast for all of your visitors. Do you have your own favorite web hosting service? What are
your experiences with it, or with any of those listed above? Share your
feedback and help other readers make the right choice.
Your iPhone may some day be the only device you need to purchase
products and services, but first you need to start using Apple Pay.
Over three years ago, I replaced my wallet with my iPhone and a case, which
holds up to three debit cards. Now I look forward to the day when I
don’t have to carry physical cards at all. Apple Pay and other similar
services may ultimately make that happen. Here’s how to set up the
service on your supporting Apple device.
What Is Apple Pay
Apple Pay is an iOS 8 service supported only on the iPhone 6, 6 Plus
and the forthcoming Apple Watch that allows customers to pay for
merchandise and services using their qualifying and installed debit and
credit cards. iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 owners can use Apple Pay to pay
for goods within apps, but not in bricks and mortar stores.
At this time, only the following banks and credit card networks
(including Visa, MasterCard, and American Express) support Apple Pay:
Apple Pay is not supported by PayPal, and it only currently works
with U.S. banks. Also, at this time, Apple Pay can be used in about 50 national store chains,
including McDonald’s, Apple Store, Wallgreens, and Macy’s. No
supermarket chains, besides Whole Foods Market, have signed up, nor is
Walmart supporting Apple Pay.
Setting Up Apple Pay
Setting up Apple Pay is a straight forward process. If have you have a
supported credit/debit card, add it to your device by opening the Settings app, and tapping on Passbook & Apple Pay > Add Credit or Debit Card. You can either scan the card, or if that doesn’t work, input the transaction data yourself.
After your cards are added, they will show up in the default Passbook app, which can also include other iOS Passbook supported apps, such as Starbucks, United Airlines, Target, and the event finder app, Eventbrite.
Using Apple Pay
Apple Pay works within supporting retail stores that have a
near-field communication (NFC) device installed. The NFC terminal works
similar to a credit card scanner, but customers don’t have to swipe
their cards. To use the remote transaction, look for an Apple Pay icon
on the payment system at the cash register.
Point your iPhone or other supporting device toward the machine to
pay for the merchandise. Apple Pay will pop up and request your touch ID
for okaying the transaction. You don’t need to open Passbook, and your
device doesn’t even need to be awake when it integrates with the NFC
terminal. After the transaction is complete, you’ll feel a little
vibration on your device to indicate the completion of the process.
In the three instances I’ve used it so far, there was one occasion
when the transaction still required me to punch my passcode numbers in
on the machine, instead wirelessly taking care of the entire process
remotely.
A Word About Security
Not only is the Apple Pay process convenient for not having to pull
out your card to pay for items, it also provides extra security measures
that shields your card number and PIN from other merchants and scanning
machines. Your credit card numbers are not even stored on Apple’s
server. Instead, the process involves assigning a unique, encrypted
Device Account Number in a dedicated chip within your device.
Touch ID also brings added security, because it prevents a thief from
accessing your device, unless he or she knows your passcode number. If
you want, you can disable access to Apple Pay and Passbook when your
device is in locked position.
Wallet Free?
So does Apple Pay mean you won’t need to carry your credit or debit
cards? Unfortunately not at this point. The payment process is not yet
supported by many of the stores and services you use on a regular basis,
including most supermarkets, gas stations, local shops, and so on.
I still keep my cards with my iPhone using the DistilUnion wallet case,
and I have a photo of my driver’s license on my phone. My physical
driver’s license, which I rarely have to use, is tucked securely away
secure in my car.
Apple Pay also doesn’t keep track of your spending, so you might want to make use of a personal finance service like Mint.com. Have you tried Apple Pay yet?
synchroniser any folder on your computer directly to your Android device — not a cloud you need to download from later. BitTorrent Sync‘s mobile app makes this easy.
Dropbox, SkyDrive, Google Drive,
iCloud: all services designed to keep your various devices in sync —
and all of them store your data on their server instead of your mobile
device. Whether you’re tired of storage restrictions, concerned about
where your data is being stored, or just want all of your files to work
offline, BitTorrent Sync offers a direct wireless sync between your
computer and your mobile device.
Sure, there are hacks that let you sync your entire Dropbox with Android,
but with BitTorrent Sync, the process is easy: just set up the app and
your files will sync whenever both your computer and your mobile device
are on. Concerned about bandwidth? There’s a WiFi-only setting. Let’s go
over how this works.
Start up Sync and you’ll see the folders you’ve set up.
Note that, by default, your files will not sync; instead, you can
download them from your other devices on-demand. To change this you need
only enable Auto-sync:
You can browse your files easily within the app itself.
The checkbox at right means the files are already synced — you can
open them from here. If you’re on Android, you’ll also be able to browse
your files using your device’s file manager.
This is an easy way to get files from your computer onto your phone,
and vice-versa. There’s even a “Camera Upload” option if you want every
photo you take on your mobile device to sync to your desktop computer.
But before you can do any of this, you need to set up a sync. This
was once the hard part of using BitTorrent Sync, but the process has
gotten easier.
Setting Up A Folder To Sync
A few years ago we pointed out how BitTorrent Sync makes it easy to sync files between computers. You
can read that article for an overview, but basically you need to pick a
folder to sync and copy a long string of numbers — called a secret —
for use on the other computer.
Don’t worry: it’s easier than all that now. Go ahead and download BitTorrent Sync for your desktop computer. Set up a folder to sync, then click the “Share” button. You’ll see the option for a QR code:
Now, with the app on your mobile device, you can scan the code with your favorite QR code scanner app.
Just like that, you’ve set up your sync. Do this for every folder you
want, but be careful: your mobile device only has so much space. Don’t
fill it up!
What Will You Sync To Your Phone?
It’s nice to have the flexibility to sync whatever you want to your phone, but what are the potential uses? Well, you could:
Sync your most important work documents, so that you always have them with you.
Sync your ebook or comic book collection, so that you can access it on the go.
Sync your entire music collection to your phone or tablet (if you’ve got enough space!).
Personally, I’m using this to get all of my favourite podcasts onto
my tablet. What about you? Let me know what you’d like to sync between
your devices in the comments below.
Oh, and if you’d like an always-on device to sync to when your
computer’s not on, you could install BitTorrent Sync to a NAS — there’s a
version for most vendors. If that sounds too pricey, we’ve shown you
how to build your own cloud storage service by setting up a Raspberry Pi with Bittorrent Sync. Give it a shot!
Editors' Note: This article was originally published April 24, 2012, and has been updated to reflect current offerings.
If 2014 isn't known as the year of wearables, it could be known as the
year of cloud storage. Between updates to Google Drive and Dropbox, and
revamped offerings from Apple's iCloud Drive, Amazon's Cloud Drive and
Microsoft's OneDrive, access to cloud storage is now easier and cheaper
than ever before.
Even with the cost of storage continuing to
decline, free storage is something that's hard to pass up. Let's take a
look at how to get free space from your favorite storage providers. If
you want to upgrade to more than just the allotted free space, check out
Sarah Mitroff's in-depth
comparison of the big four cloud storage services.
iCloud Drive
First, let's get the
service that doesn't offer any additional storage sans payment outside
of the initial allotment: iCloud Drive. Apple gives iCloud users 5GB of
free data, but anything beyond that you're going to have to pay for. You
can view the monthly storage plans, which range for $0.99 to $19.99 per
month here.
OneDrive
Microsoft's OneDrive
service is free for the first 15GB of storage space, with opportunities
to earn an extra 8GB by backing up your photos using the mobile app
(worth 3GB), and inviting friends to sign up for the service. For each
friend that signs up, you'll get 500MB of storage (with a max of 10
friends for a total of 5GB).
While the total allotment of free OneDrive storage caps out at 23GB, paid Office 365 subscribers can take advantage of unlimited storage once the new allotment is completely rolled out. Amazon Cloud Drive promotion for Prime members.
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET
Amazon Cloud Drive
Amazon's Cloud Drive
service remains free for basic users, with a base of 5GB free storage
space. However, Amazon Prime members are able take advantage of one
important upgrade - unlimited, free photo storage. Technically it's not
free since it requires a Prime membership, but as yet another perk added
to the service, one can get away with considering it a freebie.
Regular files, including music and videos, are still restricted to the 5GB of space.
Box
Box
offers 10GB of free storage with for its basic personal accounts. You
can, however, earn free storage by installing its app on specific
devices. As of May 2014, the list of eligible devices can be found here.
Some more notable devices found on the list include Sony Xperia, LG phones and tablets, HP Windows PCs, Dell and Samsung ATIV tabs.
The amount of free storage unlocked varies based on the device and you use to sign into your Box account.
Google Drive
Google Drive users are treated to 15GB of free storage space. The
space is used in combination with the attached Gmail account, which can
be problematic for those with a large email database.
In lieu of
paying for additional storage, you can unlock an extra 100GB of free
space by signing into your Google account on a Chrome OS device and
visiting this link. The added storage, unfortunately, has an expiration date of two years.
Google also has offers granting users of select Motorola, HTC and Kensington devices more storage. You'll need to visit this page and select your device type to learn more about added storage and the redemption process.
Dropbox
Dropbox storage options, both paid and free.
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET
Lastly is Dropbox, arguably the leader in promotions for free storage.
By now you likely already know about the free 2GB of storage included
with each account. And you likely already know you'll need to complete
the getting started guide to unlock more space. Referrals are also an
easy way to earn more space, along with connecting your Twitter and
Facebook accounts.
Another method is to use Dropbox's Carousel
app to backup your photos. By installing the app and setting up the
app, Dropbox will grant you 3GB of extra space. You don't actually have
to use the app, unless, of course, you want to.
Mailbox
is another Dropbox app that offers free storage in exchange for using
it. Link your Dropbox account to the Mailbox app and bam, 1GB of data is
automatically added.
It looks like HTC Android users using a device running Sense 5.0 can sign into the Dropbox app and earn 23GB of free storage through the end of 2014.
Samsung device owners have the ability to earn 48GB of extra storage,
depending on your device type and when you logged into the Dropbox app.
Be sure to read the fine print, which outlines how long the data is good for (one or two years).
It's likely more promotions than what I've listed here are available
for these services as well as others. If you have any tips to earning
free storage space on any service, be sure to share it below in the
comments
The provided software for some webcams can be a bit lackluster.
While options for adjusting the brightness, contrast, or zoom exist, you
may be looking for a way to record the feed. If you're already using
VLC for watching videos or streaming podcasts, did you know you can also
use it to record your webcam?
Don't have VLC yet but want to try it out? Grab a copy here.
The recording function in VLC can be turned on and off at will, or
switched to a set and forget mode. This allows you to use the feature
for a number of purposes, including studying your own abilities on
camera, setting up a temporary security feed (hard drive space
allowing), or just making a video for the Web. Check out these steps for
recording video from your webcam:
VLC capture device settings.Step 1: Head to Media > Open Capture Device and then adjust the following settings:
Capture Mode: DirectShow
Video device name: Select your webcam name.
Audio device name:
Choose your microphone. This can be the one built into your webcam, a
mic on a headset, or another free-standing mic you want to use.
VLC advanced options for capture devices. Step 2: Click
Advanced options and then adjust the Video input frame rate to 30 (a
lower value will yield lower quality video). If you want to stick with
the software settings for your webcam, then check the box next to Device
properties.
VLC Convert menu.Step 3: Pick one of these two recording methods:
Live feed: You
can choose to view the video as you're making it, which will require
you to wear a headset to avoid audio feedback. Additionally, you'll need
to click the Record button when you want to capture the feed, which will be saved in MP4 format in your VLC directory. Click Play at
the bottom of the window to start this method. Missing the record
button? You can enable it by going to View > Advanced Controls.
Direct save: If you don't want to wear headphones,
and you're confident that your webcam is at the correct angle to
capture what you want, then you may opt for this method of recording.
When you're finished, press the stop button and the entire video will be
saved. Click the arrow next to Play and select Convert to start this method. You can change the video format if you do not prefer MP4, and then you can click Browse to select a location and give the file a name to make it easier to find.
Once you're finished creating your videos, you can share them, or
keep them private if you are examining your speech or video abilities.
Reading is usually about the words on the page, but learning to program is
about code. When you're first learning to program, you should make sure to
look at, and try to understand, every example. When I first learned to
program, I would sometimes read the code examples before the text, and try to
figure out what they did. It doesn't always work, but it did force me to look
at the example very carefully, and it often helped make the writeups clearer.
If you want to see what sample code looks like, you can read this site's introductory
programming tutorial. This tutorial spends a great deal of time
talking about the sample code to help you work through exactly what the code
does.
2. Don't Just Read Example Code--Run It
But when you're reading a programming tutorial (or book), it's easy to look at the
sample code and say "I get it, I get it, that makes sense". Of course, you
might get it, but you might not get it, and you just don't know it. There's
only one way to find out--do something with that code.
If you haven't already, get a compiler like Code::Blocks set up.
Then type the sample code into a compiler--if you type it, instead of
copying and pasting it, you will really force yourself to go through everything
that is there. Typing the code will force you to pay attention to the details
of the syntax of the language--things like those funny semicolons that seem to go after every line.
Then compile it and run it. Make sure it does what you think it does.
Then change it. Software is the most easily
changed machinery on the planet. You can experiment easily, try new things,
see what happens; the changes will happen almost immediately, and there is no
risk of death or mayhem. The easiest way to learn new language features is to
take some code that works one way, and change it.
3. Write your Own Code as Soon as Possible
Once you understand something about the language--or even if you're
still
getting your head around it--start writing sample programs that use it.
Sometimes it's hard to find good ideas for what programs to write.
That's OK, you don't have to come up with every idea at the beginning.
You
can find some programming
challenges on this site.
You can also reimplement the examples from the book or tutorial you are
reading. Try to do so without looking back at the sample code; it won't be as
easy as it seems. This technique can work especially well if you tweak the sample code.
If you can't think of a small program to write, but you have in mind a larger
program you want to implement, like a game, you could start building small
pieces that you can later use for a game. Whether you use them later or not,
you will get the same useful experience.
4. Learn to Use a Debugger
I already talked about the importance of debugging in The 5 Most
Common Problems New Programmers Face--And How You Can Solve Them. But it
bears repeating; the sooner you learn good debugging techniques, easier it will
be to learn to program.
The first step in doing so is to learn how to use a
tool called a debugger,
which allows you to step through your code.
A debugger will allow you
to step line by line through a piece of code. It will let you see the values
of variables, and whether the code inside an if statement is executed.
A debugger can help you quickly answer questions about what your code is doing.
int main()
{
int x;
int y;
if( x > 4 ) // <-- what is the value of x here?
{
y = 5; // <-- did this line of code execute?
}
}
A final word about debuggers: the first time you learn about a debugger, it
will take you longer to fix the problems with your code. After the tenth or so
bug, it will really start to pay off. And believe me, you will have way more
than ten bugs in your programming career.
I often saw students unwilling to use a debugger. These students really made
life hard on themselves, taking ages to find very simple bugs. The sooner you
learn to use a debugger, the sooner it will pay off.
5. Seek out More Sources
If you don't understand something, there's a good possibility the way it was
explained just didn't click.
First, look for alternative explanations. The internet is filled with
information about programming, and some explanations work better for different
people; you might need pictures, someone else might not. There are also lots
of good books with detailed explanations.
But if that doesn't work, the easiest way to figure out where your
misunderstanding lies is to ask someone else. But try to go beyond saying, "I
don't understand. Please explain." You're likely to get a link back to the
same text you didn't understand. Instead, rephrase your understanding of the
text in your words. The more your question reveals about what you are
thinking, the easier it will be for a knowledgeable expert to answer it.
Programmers sometimes have a reputation for being grumpy about answering
questions, but I think the reason is that they want to make progress in
a conversation, and that requires both sides to put in effort. If you ask a
smart, detailed question that shows you are thinking, you will generally get
good results.
Introduction The
use of FTP from ABAP seems to have been a hot topic on the ABAP Forums
of late. I thought I might sit down and document whatever I could find
on this subject and share it as a weblog.
Over the
years I have seen lots of different solutions for moving files on and
off of a SAP system. I have seen external FTP scripts written in OS
shell languages. I have seen full blown custom applications that are
made to interface to the SAP system. However I think you will find that
most of the technology you need to perform a simple FTP from ABAP is
already contained in the standard system. All of my examples and screen
shots will be coming from a 46C system.
SAP's Solution If
you have ever taken a look at the kernel directory of your SAP system,
you might have noticed an interesting little executable: sapftp.exe (the
name of the file on Windows SAP Kernels). It is this part of the Kernel
that exposes FTP functionality to the ABAP Programming language.
So you have a suspicion that there is FTP functionality in ABAP, but
you’re not quite sure how to use it. Where do you start? I
always turn to the Service Marketplace first. A quick search on SAPFTP
reveals there is an entire component (BC-SRV-COM-FTP) on the subject.
The most general note and our starting place is OSS Note 93042. This
note starts off with a nice description of what SAPFTP is: A client RFC
application that is accessed via RFC from ABAP. But we also find out
that in addition to SAPFTP being part of the kernel, it is also part of
the SAPGui. That means that we can perform FTP commands originating from
our R/3 Server or from a Client Workstation.
Well
if this solution is accessed via RFC, then we must have to setup some
RFC destinations. In fact we have two that we need; SAPFTP for Front-end
FTP and SAPFTPA for access on the application server. Luckily we don't
even have to mess with setting these RFC destinations up in SM59. SAP
has supplied a program, RSFTP005, to generate the destinations for us.
Now before we go off and start written code on our own to hit these FTP
functions, why don't we make sure everything is setup and working. Once
again SAP has helped us out by providing us with a test program,
RSFTP002. (In case you are wondering the FTP functionality and many
other test programs are all contained in SAP Development Class SFTP).
When we run this test, we get a set input parameters for the server,
username password, etc. We want to start out simple and just make sure
we are getting a connection. Therefore we will just execute the pwd
command (Print Working Directory).
Your answer back should look something like this:
If you are wanting to see a list of FTP commands, try using the command HELP in place of PWD:
If something did go wrong during the test, I suggest that you active
the trace option in SM59 for the FTP Destination. You can then use
program RSFTP001 to display the current trace file.
Programming the FTP Not
only does the RSFTP002 program give us a test environment, but it also
provides us with a programming example. We can see that the FTP
functionality is really provided by a set of function modules all within
the SFTP Function Group. We have the basic commands such as
FTP_CONNECT, FTP_COMMAND, and FTP_DISCONNECT that can be strung together
to create a complete file operation action. The FTP_COMMAND Function
allows you to issue arbitrary FTP commands as long as the SAPFTP
function, the Host, and the Destination server all support the command.
Then you have the specialized functions such as FTP_R3_TO_SERVER,
FTP_R3_TO_CLIENT, and FTP_CLIENT_TO_R3. This lets you take some data in
memory and transfer it someplace else. This has the advantage of not
having to write the data to the file system first and not to have to
issue any FTP commands. However these functions are also limited to the
scope described.
If you are already familiar with
FTP in general, working with these function modules should not seem to
difficult. The Connect, Command, Disconnect actions would seem somewhat
self explanatory. So instead of looking at the entire program in detail
let's focus on two things that may be unfamiliar. First the program
starts off with an ABAP Kernel System call to AB_RFC_X_SCRAMBLE_STRING.
Well we don't want to pass a potentially sensitive password openly.
Therefore the FTP_CONNECT function module requires that the password be
encrypted before it receives it. It is this System call that performs
that one-way encryption. Now I checked a 620 SP42 system and in this
example, SAP has replace the AB_RFC_X_SCRAMBLE_STRING with a function
call to HTTP_SCRAMBLE. Unfortunately HTTP_SCRAMBLE doesn't even exist in
my 46C system. The only other thing that I wanted to point out about
these function calls is the exporting parameter on the FTP_CONNECT. It
passes back a parameter called handle. This handle then becomes an
importing parameter to all subsequent calls: FTP_COMMAND and FTP_CLOSE.
This handle is the pointer to the instance of FTP that we started with
the FTP_CONNECT. This assures that we get reconnected to the same FTP
session with each command we issue.
FTP Development I
thought I would share a few of the things that can be built using this
FTP functionality. First off I didn't want a bunch of ABAP programs
directly working with the SAP FTP Function modules. As you can see there
is already a difference in the examples for encrypting the password
between 46C and 620. Therefore I thought it would be best to encapsulate
all the FTP function in one custom ABAP OO Class. Not only did I get
the opportunity to hid the inner SAP functionality and make it easy to
switch out during upgrades, but I also get consistent error handling as
well. I accept the User Name, Password, Host, and RFC Destination in
during the Constructor of the class. I then store these values away in
Protected Attributes. Each function module is then implemented as a
Instance Method. The Password encryption functionality is then all
tucked away nicely in the class. Also the calling program doesn't have
to worry about keeping track of the FTP handle either since it is an
instance attribute as well.
Next I got really carried away. I wanted a way to record entire FTP
scripts that could be filled with values at runtime and ran as a step in
a background job. My company used to have many interfaces that ran
frequently sending files all over the place. We needed a mechanism to
monitor and support these file moves. This was really the root of this
tool, but it also gives you an idea of how powerful these functions can
be.
Closing I
hope that anyone interested in FTP from ABAP will find this resource
useful. If anyone has any other resources that should be included here,
feel free to post them.
Computer programming is one the most exciting fields to work in.
Millions of lines of code are written each day, all over the world,
bringing in new applications and software. If you are eager to become a
programmer and tap the potential which your computer puts at your
fingertips, it's time you began thinking about learning programming on
your own. If you enjoy thinking analytically and solving puzzles, as
well as problems of all sorts, programming is bound to give you a high.
The key to learning programming is to master programming languages and
learn to apply them to solve complex problems.
The standard way of learning to program is to get admission into a
college and get a degree in computer science. However, there are many
who can never make it to college, despite having the skills and the
talent for analytical thinking. I have written this article for those of
you who never went to college but have discovered the beauty of
programming and would like to master it on your own. This is possible
today as Internet and the open source movement has created a programming
culture online, which can guide you in the process. With self
discipline and persistence, you can teach yourself programming and enjoy
writing your own software. Not only is it a great way to exercise your
mind, who knows, you might even make money, by selling your own software
one day or find employment with software firms, if you get really good
at it.
How to Learn Computer Programming Without a College Degree?
Computer science is a tough field to master, but it can give you the
most enjoyable and creative experiences ever. Here are a few guidelines
on how to become a computer programmer.
Learn Programming Languages
Firstly, get hold of a desktop or laptop computer, which enables you to
read and execute your programs. Programing is all about learning to
communicate with your computer hardware to accomplish various computing
tasks. Computer only understands machine language, written in 1s and 0s.
For us humans, to communicate with computers, programing languages were
created, whose code can be converted into machine readable form by
compilers. There are a range of programing languages which vary in their
applications and power. You will have to learn at least a dozen
essential programming languages, which includes C, C++, Java, Perl, Lisp and Python.
To get your computer programing basics right, start learning C or Python
at the start. Use online resources and the hundreds of good books on
programming to get the basics. Install the compilers that the language
requires for writing code and execute it on your computer. Work through
examples and problems provided in books and online tutorials, to write
your own code. One of the best books to start learning C is 'Programming
in C' by Dennis Ritchie and Brian Kernighan. Another good book is
Programing in C by Kochan.
Get a hang of C and then graduate over to object oriented programming
that is made possible by C++. Then get a hang of Java, Perl and
Javascript, which is extensively used in client side programing for web
development. Learn HTML and server side scripting if you plan to get
into web development. As you can see, there is a lot to learn and it
will take at least 5 to 6 years to get well grounded in most languages.
Take help from online tutorials and courses offered by institutes like
MIT through their OpenCourseWare.
Start Writing Code
The best way to learn is to practice what you have learned. Write your
own code, make mistakes, learn how to debug code. Participate in coding
competitions and test your programming skills. Get hold of open source
software, read the code and understand how good programs are written.
Learn how master programmers achieve economy of code and the logical
clarity that makes great programs. Get to know your computer and the
hardware basics. Learn how the computer works at the basic levels with
memory and processors.
Learn to Run Linux or Unix
You cannot call yourself a programmer until you have mastered using
Linux and Unix operating systems. Install a Linux distribution like
Ubuntu on your computer and tinker around with it. It will provide you
with all the programing tools you need, along with compilers.
Apprentice Expert Programmers
Let expert programmers take you under their wing. Find a good mentor who
is ahead on the path of becoming a master computer programmer. Take
advice and learn from them.
Read Code, Write Code and Keep Improving
Keep writing your own piece of computer code and keep thinking on how
you could improve it. Join the open source movement and analyze the
anatomy of good programs. Pick up your domain of expertise and go deep.
Remember that there is always room for improvement!
Let there be no illusions that programming is an easy task. It will take
ten to fifteen years at least for you to attain a level where you can
start calling yourself a complete programmer. Your success in
programming is directly proportional to the dedication and persistence
you put into your learning. As suggested before, master at least a dozen
programming languages including C, C++, Java, Lisp, Python, Perl and
Javascript, read and understand new code, keep attacking newer computing
challenges and grow as a programmer. The aim of this Buzzle article on
how to learn computer programing was to give you a nudge in the right
direction. I hope that this objective has been attained in some measure.
Free your mind and enter the matrix of programming world with gusto!
n today's fast-paced life, waiting to connect to the Internet even for a
minute seems like eternity. Many of you must be traveling due to
several work reasons and may require Internet connection at any given
point. Let's say you're at the airport, waiting to catch a plane. You
have your laptop with you and it's vital that you send certain documents
right away. The airport doesn't have proper Wi-Fi or wireless Internet
access connectivity but your cell phone does; wouldn't that be the best
deal? Wondering how to use iPhone as a modem? Read on to find out.
Use iPhone as Modem for Laptop
Along with other useful iPhone apps, the device can be used as a
attached modem for your PC or laptop. Before using iPhone, you need to
first enable it via iPhone dock-connector-to-USB cable. If your phone
has a 3G connection, you can even make and receive calls on your phone
while using it as a dial-up modem. The directions aren't very long or
tedious. All it takes is few simple steps and you'll be good to go.
iPhone to USB cable
Data plan
Step #1 ~ First and foremost, make sure that tethering
has been enabled on the phone. What this means is, your other devices
will be able to receive the Internet connection made available by an
Internet-capable cell phone.
Step #2 ~ On your iPhone menu, go to Settings
icon. The location of your "Settings" icon will be different as you can
change it as per your own requirements. So it could be on the first
page of the menu or somewhere else. If you're new to iPhone, this icon
looks gray in color and has a cogs design. Click on Settings icon.
Step #3 ~ Now you need to go to the page where all the other subcategories are. So go to General category which will be towards the bottom of the phone's screen. The icon has similar markings as the Settings menu. Click on General and then click on Network subcategory.
Step #4 ~ After the Network icon, click on Internet Tethering option. Slide the option from Off to On. The Off icon is gray in color, and once you slide it to On icon, it will turn blue. This is where you have activated your iPhone to work as a modem.
Step #5 ~ Next, connect your cell phone with the laptop with the
iPhone to USB cable. Once you connect the cable, a pop-up window will
appear prompting you for approval. Click on iPhone and then select Apply. Your laptop has been connected to the Internet.
Step #6 ~ You have successfully turned your device into a modem.
Now you can launch the web browser for quick Internet access. You can
easily check the connectivity on the desktop toolbar, located on the
bottom-right side of the screen for Windows and top-right side of the
screen for Mac.
See, was that difficult? All you have to do is follow few necessary
steps and you'll be online in no time. You can also read about how to set up Wi-Fi.
In order to maintain Internet connection, you need to make sure that
the USB cable is intact. If you turn your phone off, the Internet
connection will be disconnected. So, make sure it has enough battery
life and stays on at all times. The connectivity needs to be strong so
that you can work online without any disturbances.
Time and again, Apple's flagship iPhones have come under the radar of
the 'gadget police' and have been criticized for their design flaws. The
most recent recurrence of this was when it was reported that the
recently-released iPhone 6 handsets tend to bend because of intolerance
to heat and pressure, that too when they are stored in the owner's
pocket! When after spending exorbitant amounts of money on an exquisite
mobile phone, that is the object of envy to everyone else, it is
literally disappointing when it does not fulfill the basic purpose of
utility.
While Apple works on improving upon its phone design, some of the people
who own older iPhone 3G, 4, 4S, 5, 5C, and even 5S models are suffering
from a common affliction; the "No SIM Card Installed" problem. If you
are one of them, you need not despair, because we have the way you can
fix it right here.
Detailed Analysis and Solutions
Did your iPhone, one fine morning, randomly declare that you have "No SIM card installed"
on your device? You have every reason to be upset; however, by
approaching the problem in a systematic, step-by-step manner, you can
easily get to the root of the matter.
SIM Card Troubleshooting
✏
Did you recently switch from a different mobile handset to an iPhone?
And while doing so, did you yourself convert your SIM card to its
smaller-sized counterpart by cutting it yourself? If the answer to any
of the above is affirmative, chances are, you may have damaged your SIM
card and need to request your carrier for a new one. ✏ Even if you have
no direct involvement in your SIM card's possible malfunctioning, it
could have been damaged because of reasons like overheating. You could
check if your SIM card is still a valid one, by inserting it into a
different handset, that supports the same size of SIM card. If it is
working there, then the key to this issue lies elsewhere. ✏ You could also
try to insert a completely different, compatible, and
tested-to-be-working SIM card into the same device, and see if your
iPhone recognizes it. If so, then the problem can be consolidated to
your particular SIM card. ✏ Maybe your SIM
card genuinely has not been inserted correctly. Carefully remove your
SIM card from your phone, by using a paper clip to pop out the SIM card
tray. Then, reinsert it into the tray, and reboot your phone. If your
SIM card has been positioned properly this time, it will be read, and
your device will acknowledge it. ✏ Maybe your SIM
card is simply clouded with dirt or grime, or there may be fingerprints
on the metallic chip, and that may be the reason that your device is
unable to recognize it. To solve this problem, isolate it from the
device once more, and using rubbing alcohol, clean the side that has the
chip. Allow it to dry completely before you re-insert it.
Other Troubleshooting
✏
Your SIM card physically may have nothing to do with the reason behind
it not being recognized by your phone. The answer may lie with your
device, firmware, or network connectivity. ✏ If you are not
able to connect to your network sometimes, your phone may assume that
your SIM card is not valid. This happens with phones of all brands. Turn
on the Airplane Mode of your phone, and after a few minutes, turn it
off again. This will refresh your connectivity. You could also reboot
your device entirely. ✏ Check for any available carrier settings update. This can be done by opening Settings → General → About. If there is any update available, you will get to know it here. ✏ Make sure that
the SIM card tray of your iPhone is the one that came with the device
when you purchased it from the vendor, and not the one you seated your
SIM card on, when you inserted it into the iPhone you used earlier.
Different iPhone models have differently manufactured SIM card trays. ✏ Is your firmware up-to-date, or are you using an older version of iOS? Make sure you update your device to the latest version. ✏ If your iPhone
was functioning properly a couple of hours ago, and is displaying this
suddenly, once you have ruled out the SIM card itself as a cause, but
you are unable to pinpoint its actual cause although you are certain it
is system-software related, the easiest thing to do is to restore your
iPhone to a backed up version in which your SIM card is recognized.
The Last Resort
✏
If none of the above methods result in the "No SIM Card Installed"
problem's resolution, you may be facing this problem because of a design
flaw that is present in many iPhone devices. ✏ The SIM card
tray's ejecting mechanism has a metal face, and sometimes, it comes in
direct contact with the metallic part of the inserted SIM card (the
chip), causing a short circuit to occur. As a result of this, it will
not be possible for the device to recognize your SIM card. ✏ To resolve this, a
method employed by many frustrated, yet innovative users is to stick a
small piece of Scotch tape (or any kind of tape) on the side of the SIM
card tray. This will serve the purpose of isolating the SIM card from
the metal part of the mechanism, and allow your device to recognize it,
resolving the problem
The problem will most probably be resolved if you follow our
step-by-step guide. However, if it still persists, you could contact
Apple Support, or take it down to the nearest iStore. If the problem of
SIM card failure occurs due to the design flaw, and your iPhone is still
under warranty, you could in fact get the device itself replaced.
