Google Removes 'Beta' Label from Gmail, Calendar, Other Services

Google Removes 'Beta' Label from Gmail, Calendar, Other Services - Business Center - PC World

Tuesday, July 07, 2009 8:00 AM PDT

Google is removing the "beta" label from many of its key services, including Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Docs, Google Talk, and Google Video for Business. The move is seen as a way to attract large businesses to Google Apps, its suite of messaging and productivity applications.

For most users of Gmail and Google Calendar, today's news is little more than a lifting of the "beta" label for these already-reliable Google services. But Google says removing the "beta" label is a big deal for the businesses that it hopes will switch to Web-based Google services--and away from software-based services offered by Microsoft and IBM.

Bye Bye Beta, Hello New Features

Google says it has beefed up the Google Apps suite by adding offline access to e-mail and calendars and streamlinging access to Google Apps for BlackBerry users. Google also says that its Web-based messaging platform is now more compatible with Microsoft Outlook and it has improved contact management for Google Apps.

Google hopes large businesses will now feel more comfortable about entrusting Google with its core communications services. A Google Apps Premier Edition account, which includes Gmail, instant messaging, documents, and spreadsheets (among other apps) cost businesses $50 per user per year.

"We've come to appreciate that the beta tag just doesn't fit for large enterprises that aren't keen to run their business on software that sounds like it's still in the trial phase," wrote Rajen Sheth, senior product manager, Google Apps, in a blog post announcing the changes.

Google: The Little Guy

"No business is going to rely on a 'beta' service for something as important as e-mail," says Matt Cain, lead e-mail analyst with market research firm Gartner. But, he adds, just by lifting the beta label does not guarantee Google success.

Google may be a giant in the search engine space, but the company is only a bit player when it comes to providing e-mail to businesses. Microsoft owns about 70 percent of the e-mail market, followed by IBM with 17 percent, according to Gartner. Cain says Microsoft and IBM don't have any serious competition yet, but can expect nipping at their heels from Web-based services such as Google and a new offering from Cisco expected as a result of the company's purchase of PostPath. These services are cloud based, meaning companies don't have to host servers on site and any heavy infrastructural lifting is done by the provider offsite. Google's pitch for its communications suite also includes a claim that Google Apps can save companies 50 to 70 percent compared to "other e-mail solutions."

In recent months Google has stepped up its battle against Microsoft to win over the enterprise business market. Last month Google released a new plug-in that allows businesses to switch to Google Apps. The utility can migrate a company's e-mail, calendar, and contacts to Google's cloud while retaining the interface of Outlook.

"Google has listened to what enterprises want, and it has delivered much of that," Cain says. Google says it manage 15 million business inboxes and "tens of millions" more consumer Gmail inboxes.

Cain doesn't anticipate cloud-based e-mail management to pose a threat to offerings provided by Microsoft and IBM for another two to four years.

Bring Back the Beta!

Google representatives say by no means does the removal of the beta label mean Google will stop innovating and experimenting with new features offered through Google Labs for Gmail, Google Calendar, and other Google App services. It says existing Google Labs users can re-enable the beta label for Gmail from the Labs tab under Settings.

Howto Install LAMP server in Jaunty

Howto Install LAMP server in Jaunty | Ubuntu Geek

LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL and PHP) is an open source Web development platform that uses Linux as operating system, Apache as the Web server,MySQL as the relational database management system and PHP as the object-oriented scripting language.

We have already discussed howto install LAMP server using the base installation.If you want to install separately use this procedure.

Apache2 installation

Install apache2 using the following command

sudo apt-get install apache2

to check that Apache has been installed without problems, go to your browser and type

http://localhost

or from remove machine

http://serveripaddress

Note:- You can find your server ip address using ifconfig command

if everything is correct you will see the message

It works

PHP5 Installation

Install php5 using the following command

sudo apt-get install php5 libapache2-mod-php5

restart apache2 using the following command

sudo etc/init.d/apache2 restart

MySql Installation

To install MySql type the command

sudo apt-get install mysql-server

During the installation you will get the screen to set root password for MySql, enter your password and retype it

Phpmyadmin

phpMyAdmin is a free software tool written in PHP intended to handle the administration of MySQL over the World Wide Web. phpMyAdmin supports a wide range of operations with MySQL. The most frequently used operations are supported by the user interface (managing databases, tables, fields, relations, indexes, users, permissions, etc), while you still have the ability to directly execute any SQL statement.

Install phpmyadmin in ubuntu

sudo apt-get install phpmyadmin

During the installation a blue screen will appear asking you which server you want to use apache, apache2 …. choose then apache2 and click ok

Now Point your browser to: http://serverip/phpmyadmin

Toybox Ten: 10 full-featured laptops for less than $750

Toybox Ten: 10 full-featured laptops for less than $750 | The Toybox | ZDNet.com
Posted by Andrew Nusca @ 4:00 am July 1st, 2009

It's the best of times, it's the worst of times — at least when it comes to shopping for a laptop.

Prices are lower than ever before, yet a dizzying amount of options are available for your next machine. And with diminutive, Intel Atom-powered netbooks creeping up on the traditional notebook segment, it's hard to discern which system will give you enough bang for your buck.

To aid back-to-school shoppers out there looking to spend less than the $700 to $1200 range I used for my "Top 10 laptops for college students" list, here's a list of 10 fully-featured laptops for under $750.

(And no, you won't find any netbooks on this list.)

Lenovo IdeaPad Y450

We've recommended Lenovo's colorful IdeaPad before as a pleasing, un-Lenovo (read: corporate) take on a laptop, and the Y450 model fits the bill nicely: an Intel Core 2 Duo T4200, Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics, 3GB of DDR3 SDRAM, a 14-in., 1366×768 HD widescreen LED display and a 250GB HDD. An incredible bargain, it can all be had right now, on sale, for $599.

[read the review] [check prices]

Toshiba Satellite M500

Toshiba just revamped its Satellite lineup, and the Satellite M500 is one of its shining stars: An Intel Core 2 Duo T6500 processor, 2GB DDR2 SDRAM, 250GB HDD, DVD SuperMulti drive and HP's premium "Fusion" finish can be had for exactly $700.

[read the original announcement] [check prices]

Acer Aspire Timeline

The slim, 13-in. Acer Aspire Timeline claims an 8-hour battery life, just one element defining the Timeline as a razor-thin road warrior. The Timeline offers mostly business-class components for a consumer-minded price: 13.3-in. LED backlit widescreen HD display (1366 x 768), 4GB RAM, 320 GB HDD, 1.3 GHz Intel Pentium SU2700 processor, Intel GMA 4500MHD, 802.11a/b/g/n wireless, a 5-in-1 memory card reader, HDMI, a webcam and a multi-gesture touchpad — all for $599.

[read the review] [check prices] [original site]

HP Pavilion dv3t

The Pavilion dv3t is a versatile machine with a pleasing array of options for varying price ranges. Configured with a 13.3-in. LED widescreen HD (1280 x 800) display, Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 processor, 3GB DDR2 RAM, 320GB HDD, Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics, SuperMulti 8X DVD/RW, webcam, and wireless-G card in a glossy espresso black finish, it sells for $699.

[ZDNet product page] [check prices]

Dell Studio 14z

Dell's revamped (March 2009) almost-ultraportable keeps pace with other systems on this list by offering many of the same components: Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 processor, 14-in. HD 720p LED display, 3GB DDR3 RAM, 250GB HDD, Nvidia GeForce 9400M graphics, 802.11g wireless and 6 hours of battery life for $699. For an extra $40, pick from five bright colors.

[read the original announcement] [check prices]

Fujitsu A1130 Lifebook

If you're less concerned about looks and portability and more concerned about how much performance you can get for your dollar, the $750 A1130 Lifebook is the way to go. It manages to shoehorn the best components on this list into its sizeable frame: Intel Core 2 Duo T6500, 15.6-in. widescreen (1366 x 768) display, 4GB DDR2 memory, 500GB hard drive, DVD writer, 1.3-megapixel integrated webcam and microphone, 802.11b/g/n wireless, 3 USB 2.0 ports, an SD card slot and an ExpressCard slot.

[ZDNet product page] [check prices]

Gateway NV

The 15.6-in. Gateway NV series is a new face in the Gateway lineup, and by nature of its price tag — the series starts at $499 — it fits perfectly on this list. The $579 NV5814u, available soon at Amazon and TigerDirect, offers Intel Core 2 Duo T6500, 4GB DDR2 memory, 320GB hard drive, Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics and 802.11a/g/n wireless.

[read the original announcement] [check prices]

HP G70t

It's not easy to find an inexpensive 17-in. desktop replacement, but the HP G70t manages to make it happen. For $704, you get an Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 processor, 3GB DDR2 memory, a 250GB hard drive, Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics, a SuperMulti 8x DVD-RW, webcam, microphone, wireless-N and that 17-inch, WXGA+ HD (1440 x 900) widescreen display.

[ZDNet product page] [check prices]

Sony VAIO CS

Sony's VAIO CS series tops out far beyond our official $750 price limit, but the entry-level VGN-CS390 is worth consideration. At $749, it comes with a 14.1-in. widescreen (1280 x 800) display, Intel Core 2 Duo T4200 processor, 2GB DDR2 memory, a 160GB hard drive, CD/DVD player/burner (Blu-ray's $80 more), a fingerprint sensor and Sony's chiclet-style keyboard. Oh, and the crocodile finish? It'll cost you an extra $40.

[read the review] [check prices]

Dell Inspiron 14

There's nothing particularly special about Dell's affordable Inspiron 14 laptop besides the seven candy-coated colors, but the real value lies in Dell's trademark — customization. For $609 configured, you can take home a machine with a Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 processor, 3GB of DDR2 memory, Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics, 8x CD/DVD burner, 802.11g wireless and a 14-in. HD (720p) widescreen LED display.

Doesn't suit your taste? A dual-core Pentium T4200 system starts at $449. Not enough juice? A Core 2 Duo T8600 system with 4GB RAM and 250GB HDD runs $719. Want Blu-ray playback? A 2x drive costs an additional $125, whatever the configuration. And if you don't dig the 14-inch screen, size up to the Inspiron 15, which starts at $349, or down to the Inspiron 13, which starts at $499.

[check prices]

Got any more? Leave your suggestions in TalkBack.

Andrew J. Nusca is an assistant editor for ZDNet.com. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.

How to moon walk like Michael Jackson

The moon walk is one of the most famous dance moves of all time. Done properly the moonwalk can't fail to impress, dance guru Anthony King shows us how to moon walk like Michael Jackson.

How open source is growing up

BBC NEWS | Programmes | Click | How open source is growing up
Page last updated at 16:54 GMT, Friday, 3 July 2009 17:54 UK

By Chris Long Reporter, Click Open source software is created by enthusiasts for free There is no doubt that free technologies, mainly open source software, are proving more popular both inside and outside the computer industry. Behind this growing acceptance is a non-commercial movement of independent developers that are putting together the open source software that anyone can use. Paul Allen, editor of ComputerActive magazine, said the defining feature of open source software was that the set of tools and systems were developed by enthusiasts rather than big companies. But he added it should be treated as "free thinking rather than a free lunch" because it is not always free of charge. Out of this movement have come fully-fledged programs, such as Open Office for e-mail, spreadsheets, word processing and presentations, and VLC for video, that were put together for free by a community of people. "The entire source code for the software is made available to the community and anyone can modify it," said Phil Andrews from open source software provider Red Hat. 'Catching up' While the core software may be free to download and install, some companies are making money from open source by offering support services. This can be in the form of a helpdesk or more technical aid to troubleshoot problems once the software is being used. Paul Allen said open source is unknown to many computer users "In the same way that you would take purchase software and have a maintenance contract… we supply a support contract for open source software," said Mr Andrews. Despite many businesses turning to open source and its use becoming widespread, it remains relatively unknown to the masses of computer users, said Mr Allen. He said consumers were particularly unaware of the free versions of operating systems, largely Linux, that are available. This could be because many appear in different versions that can look fragmented to those unfamiliar with them. Beyond operating systems, many do use open source programs even if they may not know them as such. "On the applications side, programs like Firefox and Thunderbird are immensely popular and are catching up Microsoft in some places," said Mr Allen. Many of the open source applications have millions of users. For instance, statistics suggest that there are about 40 to 50 million users of Linux desktops, while Open Office has been downloaded 60 million times since October 2009. The browser Firefox has been gaining popularity with web users and the organisation behind it claims it now has 270 million users. Lawful or not? Independent developers use some code from big firms One factor driving the acceptance of open source software has been the success of small form factor notebook computers that shipped with a version of Linux installed. One pioneer of this approach was Asus whose netbooks originally shipped with Linux and Open Office installed. Now they are just as likely to have Windows XP and Office installed. Mr Andrews believes the open source community could have made more of that opportunity. "But when you have someone like Microsoft who suddenly decides they want that market - they have the war chest to take that market," he said. The growing popularity of commercial applications has driven the creation of open source equivalents - these are often based on other people's software, Mr Allen said. "If a company wanted to have compatibility with a certain type of device or service, it has to reverse engineer its standards, so they are actually breaking into the technology". "Whether or not it's legal for them to do so, is not for me to say," he said. When big companies feel threatened by others tweaking their technology, they have been know to consult their lawyers, he added.

USB Linux Mint 7 Persistent Flash Drive Creation (Windows)

USB Linux Mint 7 Flash Drive creation (Windows) | USB Pen Drive Linux

USB Linux Mint 7 persistent flash drive creation. In the following tutorial, we show you how to use Windows to create a Portable Linux Mint 7 USB flash drive. Linux Mint 7 Gloria is based on Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty Jackalope and is compatible with it's current repositories. Originally launched as a variant of Ubuntu with integrated media codecs, Linux Mint has developed into an elegant Linux distribution. Currently maintained by Clement Lefebvre, more information about Linux Mint can be found at the Official Linux Mint site.

Note: The persistent feature works just as it does in Ubuntu 9.04, allowing you to save and restore most of your changes.

Linux Mint 7 Gloria Screenshot:

USB Linux Mint 7 Flash Drive creation essentials:

• 2GB or Larger USB Flash Drive (Fat32 formatted)
  
• Linux Mint 7 Gloria ISO
  
• fixmint7.exe

Linux Mint Flash Drive creation process:

1. Download and run USBMint7.exe extracting the contents to your desktop, a USBMint folder is created
2. Download the LinuxMint-7.iso and copy it to the USBMint folder on your desktop
3. From the USBMint folder on your desktop, run fixmint.bat (not working for me, so I deleted the paragraph for inputing drive letter and replaced %drive% with the drive letter of my flash drive F) and follow the onscreen instructions
4. Reboot your PC and set your system BIOS or Boot Menu to boot from the USB device, save your changes and reboot booting from the USB memory stick

Upon reboot, you should have a successful launch of USB Linux Mint (Portable Linux Mint 7) from your flash memory stick.

Persistence size: The default casper-rw loop file that becomes the partition for saving changes is only 1GB. If you have room and would prefer to use more space for saving changes you can download one of the following zip files and extract the new casper-rw file to your USB device, replacing the old one.

• 2GB casper-rw loop file
• 3GB casper-rw loop file
• 4GB casper-rw loop file

You will lose any saved changes by replacing your casper-rw file with one listed above!

Using computers in language teaching

Using computers in language teaching

Computers have made a triumphal entry into education in the past decade, and only a dyed-in-the wool Luddite would deny that they have brought significant benefits to teachers and students alike. However, an uncritical use of computers can be just as disadvantageous to students as a refusal to have anything to do with them. In this article I discuss some of the ways that computers can be used in English language teaching, with a view to helping colleagues make the most of the opportunities they offer to ESL students.

It is helpful to think of the computer as having the following main roles in the language classroom:

• teacher - the computer teaches students new language
• tester - the computer tests students on language already learned
• tool - the computer assists students to do certain tasks
• data source - the computer provides students with the information they need to perform a particular task
• communication facilitator - the computer allows students to communicate with others in different locations

Computer as teacher. In the early days of computers and programmed learning, some students sat at a terminal for extended periods following an individualized learning program. Although we have come a long way from the rather naïve thought, held by some at that time, that the computer could eventually come to replace the teacher, there has been a return to a much more sophisticated kind of computerized teaching using multimedia CD ROMS. In such programs, students can listen to dialogues or watch video clips. They can click on pictures to call up the names of the objects they see. They can speak into the microphone and immediately hear a recording of what they have said. The program can keep a record of their progress, e.g. the vocabulary learned, and offer remedial help if necessary. Many of these CD ROM programs are offered as complete language courses. They require students to spend hours on their own in front of the computer screen, usually attached to a microphone headset. For this reason alone I prefer not to use them in my language teaching. Another of their serious drawbacks, in my view, is the fact that in many cases the course content and sequence is fixed. The teacher has no chance to include materials that are of interest and importance to the particular students in his or her class.

As an alternative to large CD ROM packages, there is an increasing number of useful sites on the World Wide Web, where students can get instruction and practice in language skills such as reading, listening and writing. Some examples.

Computer as a tester. The computer is very good at what is known as drill and practice; it will tirelessly present the learner with questions and announce if the answer is right or wrong. In its primitive manifestations in this particular role in language teaching, it has been rightly criticised. The main reason for the criticism is simple: many early drill and practice programs were very unsophisticated; either multiple-choice or demanding a single word answer. They were not programmed to accept varying input and the only feedback they gave was Right or Wrong. So for example, if the computer expected the answer "does not" and the student typed "doesn't" or " doesnot" or " does not ", she would have been told she was wrong without any further comment. It is not surprising that such programs gave computers a bad name with many language teachers. Unfortunately, there are now very many of these primitive drill and kill programs flooding the Internet.

Despite their obvious disadvantages, such programs are nevertheless popular with many students. This is probably because the student is in full control, the computer is extremely patient and gives private, unthreatening feedback. Most programs also keep the score and have cute animations and sounds, which many students like.

There are some programs which do offer more useful feedback than right or wrong, or that can accept varying input. Such programs blur the role of the computer as teacher or tester and can be recommended to students who enjoy learning grammar or vocabulary in this way. If two or more students sit at the same computer, then they can generate a fair amount of authentic communication while discussing the answers together.

Computer as a tool. It is in this area that I think the computer has been an unequivocal success in language teaching. Spreadsheets, databases, presentation slide generators, concordancers and web page producers all have their place in the language classroom, particularly in one where the main curricular focus is task-based or project-work. But in my opinion, by far the most important role of the computer in the language classroom is its use as a writing tool. It has played a significant part in the introduction of the writing process, by allowing students easily to produce multiple drafts of the same piece of work.. Students with messy handwriting can now do a piece of work to be proud of, and those with poor spelling skills can, after sufficient training in using the spell check, produce a piece of writing largely free of spelling mistakes.

Computer as a data source. I'm sure I don't need to say much about the Internet as a provider of information. Anyone who has done a search on the World Wide Web will know that there is already more information out there than an individual could process in hundred lifetimes, and the amount is growing by the second. This huge source of information is an indispensable resource for much project work, but there are serious negative implications. I shudder to think of how much time has been wasted and will continue to be wasted by students who aimlessly wander the Web with no particular aim in mind and with little or no guidance. I generally do not turn my students free to search the web for information. Instead, I find a few useful sites beforehand and tell the students to start there; anyone who finishes the task in hand can then be let loose!

As an alternative to the Web, there are very many CD ROMs, e.g. encyclopaedias, that present information in a more compact, reliable and easily accessible form.

Computer as communication facilitator. The Internet is the principal medium by which students can communicate with others at a distance, (e.g. by e-mail or by participating in discussion forums). In fact at Frankfurt International School the single most popular use of computers by students in their free time is to write e-mails to their friends. Some teachers have set up joint projects with a school in another location and others encourage students to take part in discussion groups. There is no doubt that such activities are motivating for students and allow them to participate in many authentic language tasks. However, cautious teachers may wish to closely supervise their students' messages. Recent research has shown up the extremely primitive quality of much of the language used in electronic exchanges!

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Computers in education have been disparaged as: Answers in search of a problem. And certainly many computer activities of dubious pedagogical value have been devised in the past simply to justify the existence of an expensive computer in the classroom. Nowadays, however, I think it is much more clearly understood that the computer can play a useful part in the language class only if the teacher first asks: What is it that I want my students to learn today, and what is the best way for them to learn it? In most cases, the answer will probably not involve the computer, but there will be occasions when the computer is the most suitable and, for the students, most enjoyable way to get the job done.

References

• The Internet and ELT Eastment, D. 1999 The British Council

  This is a brief but useful overview of the issues concerning the use of the Internet in English language teaching.

• CALL Environments Egbert, J & Hanson-Smith, E (eds.) 1999 TESOL, Va.

  Despite the unpromising title, this is a good and very comprehensive account of the use of computers in language teaching. It contains detailed discussions of the pedagogical value of the entire spectrum of computer-based language activities.

• Dave Sperling's Internet Guide Sperling, D. 1998 Prentice Hall, New Jersey

  This is a comprehensive listing of Internet sites for English language learners and teachers. Sperling also runs a very good ESL website called Dave's ESL Café at http://www.eslcafe.com.

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Call for contributions

I am looking for contributors of content for this website. In particular, I would like to build up a stock of materials to help students with their work in other subjects. There are examples of what I mean in the Learners/School Subject Help pages of the Students section of this website. If you are interested in contributing, please read the webpage containing more details on how to do so.