Sirius Radio's web-based player is helpful when there is interference with Sirius' satellite signal, as in the case of a recent client who listens to the Metropolitan opera through Sirius' web-based player. However, a recent OSX update appeared to break Sirius' web-player.
The truth is that Sirius' player uses Windows Media Player as its base, and OSX tends to favor Apple's native Quicktime player. Apple corrected the problems in a Quicktime update, and once we were completely up-to-date with all of 10.3.9's updates, including Quicktime and Safari, we were able to load Sirius' web-based player in Safari.
Apple is on the move, refining OSX with regular updates. Running an OSX prior to 10.3.9 may mean a loss of functionality. If you have OSX 10.3.9 I recommend running all of your updates.
Saturday, October 06, 2007
Friday, August 10, 2007
Slow Internet / DNS response in Ubuntu Dapper
I recently upgraded to Linux Dapper Drake with a CD, and everything was working very well until I allowed Dapper to perform its automatic updates.
The updates created a problem in Firefox: URL's did not even begin to load for twenty seconds. I guessed this was related to my Linksys router, however I also knew that Windows was working fine, and Dapper worked before the updates. I researched the issue and patched together a solution, which I posted to the Ubuntu community forums. If my DNS servers change, there could be an issue, however at that point I could switch to open DNS.
Here's the problem: Ubuntu is having difficulty with DNS because of miscommunication with the router (related to wrong ports).
Here is my advice:
Establish a direct DNS connection. No need to disable IPv6!
1. Find your DNS servers. You may need to check your router settings (usually 192,168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1). Look for a status tab, or similar with the current DNS information. Write down your DNS servers (x.x.x.x & x.x.x.x).
You may wish to back up your dhclient.conf file at this point. In the Terminal, type:
cp /etc/dhcp3/dhclient.conf /etc/dhcp3/dhclient.bak
2. Enter these DNS servers directly in your dhclient.conf file:
sudo gedit /etc/dhcp3/dhclient.conf
You should see your dhclient.conf file displayed (with text in it). Add two lines to the end:
supersede domain-name-servers x.x.x.x,x.x.x.x;
prepend domain-name-servers x.x.x.x,x.x.x.x;
The x's represent your DNS server IP addresses that you found in Step 1.
Save your dhclient.conf file, close gedit and return to the Terminal.
Now restart your DNS lookup with (assuming eth0 is your connection to the router):
sudo ifdown eth0 && sudo ifup eth0
You should immediately experience an improvement in your Internet speed.
I built this solution with help from https://forum.bytemark.co.uk/viewtopic.php?pid=1790 as well as several Ubuntu forum entries.
The updates created a problem in Firefox: URL's did not even begin to load for twenty seconds. I guessed this was related to my Linksys router, however I also knew that Windows was working fine, and Dapper worked before the updates. I researched the issue and patched together a solution, which I posted to the Ubuntu community forums. If my DNS servers change, there could be an issue, however at that point I could switch to open DNS.
Here's the problem: Ubuntu is having difficulty with DNS because of miscommunication with the router (related to wrong ports).
Here is my advice:
Establish a direct DNS connection. No need to disable IPv6!
1. Find your DNS servers. You may need to check your router settings (usually 192,168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1). Look for a status tab, or similar with the current DNS information. Write down your DNS servers (x.x.x.x & x.x.x.x).
You may wish to back up your dhclient.conf file at this point. In the Terminal, type:
cp /etc/dhcp3/dhclient.conf /etc/dhcp3/dhclient.bak
2. Enter these DNS servers directly in your dhclient.conf file:
sudo gedit /etc/dhcp3/dhclient.conf
You should see your dhclient.conf file displayed (with text in it). Add two lines to the end:
supersede domain-name-servers x.x.x.x,x.x.x.x;
prepend domain-name-servers x.x.x.x,x.x.x.x;
The x's represent your DNS server IP addresses that you found in Step 1.
Save your dhclient.conf file, close gedit and return to the Terminal.
Now restart your DNS lookup with (assuming eth0 is your connection to the router):
sudo ifdown eth0 && sudo ifup eth0
You should immediately experience an improvement in your Internet speed.
I built this solution with help from https://forum.bytemark.co.uk/viewtopic.php?pid=1790 as well as several Ubuntu forum entries.
Friday, January 12, 2007
Can we Protect Privacy and Reputation?
I was recently published in CIO magazine in a response to Rob't Atkinson. Here is "Privacy and Progress: We Can Have Both" from the December 1, 2006 issue:
"I disagree with Robert Atkinson’s article “The Luddites are Coming” [Oct. 1]. I have yet to meet someone who is actively against the Internet. There is no “war against IT.” At least not yet!
I find that IT’s strongest critics come from within our own ranks, and appear on the pages of your magazine and similar publications. Perhaps this is because we understand the threats and possibilities of IT.
"The public does have legitimate concerns, especially if they are informed that their personal data has been stolen from an unsecured laptop, or through an online hack. Everyone has a right to be concerned if rootkits and “back doors” allow hackers to scan your hard drive or record your keystrokes. We should be angry if thieves divert legitimate network traffic to illegal Web servers that spoof legitimate sites. This is the new reality of an IT world. Unless we get security under control, we are going to lose public support.
"IT professionals know that biometrics do not provide foolproof security, and that Microsoft’s fingerprint reader can be fooled. We are very concerned about a society where everyone’s financial data, phone records and Social Security numbers are available for $75 online.
National databases are currently gathering thorough profiles of us as individuals and consumers, and the federal government is very interested in this information. As IT professionals, we need to advocate for the individual in terms of privacy, reputation protection and online security.
"I believe we currently have the support of the public, and that almost everyone realizes that network technology has benefits for the general population. However, as identity chips are implanted in livestock and people, we will face renewed questions about surveillance issues and privacy rights. We can respond by targeting imaginary “Luddites,” or we can develop more standards and protections for consumers before we release smart systems and biometrics into popular use."
"I disagree with Robert Atkinson’s article “The Luddites are Coming” [Oct. 1]. I have yet to meet someone who is actively against the Internet. There is no “war against IT.” At least not yet!
I find that IT’s strongest critics come from within our own ranks, and appear on the pages of your magazine and similar publications. Perhaps this is because we understand the threats and possibilities of IT.
"The public does have legitimate concerns, especially if they are informed that their personal data has been stolen from an unsecured laptop, or through an online hack. Everyone has a right to be concerned if rootkits and “back doors” allow hackers to scan your hard drive or record your keystrokes. We should be angry if thieves divert legitimate network traffic to illegal Web servers that spoof legitimate sites. This is the new reality of an IT world. Unless we get security under control, we are going to lose public support.
"IT professionals know that biometrics do not provide foolproof security, and that Microsoft’s fingerprint reader can be fooled. We are very concerned about a society where everyone’s financial data, phone records and Social Security numbers are available for $75 online.
National databases are currently gathering thorough profiles of us as individuals and consumers, and the federal government is very interested in this information. As IT professionals, we need to advocate for the individual in terms of privacy, reputation protection and online security.
"I believe we currently have the support of the public, and that almost everyone realizes that network technology has benefits for the general population. However, as identity chips are implanted in livestock and people, we will face renewed questions about surveillance issues and privacy rights. We can respond by targeting imaginary “Luddites,” or we can develop more standards and protections for consumers before we release smart systems and biometrics into popular use."
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Net Neutrality and Market Pricing
I was recently published in Network World (12/11/06):
"I usually agree with Johna Till Johnson, but her article 'Nuances Matter in Net Neutrality' left me perplexed.
[She asks] Why would Google support net neutrality regulations? They developed Google video, purchased YouTube for 1.65 billion dollars, and signed content agreements with Universal, Warner Music Group, Vivendi, the NHL, and others. But with AT&T offering Internet television on demand in their Homezone package, can Google compete? Only if their content is not further degraded.
Johna is right that net neutrality is still a vague concept. There's almost no way to tell if content is being intentionally degraded and it may be difficult to enforce legislation specific enough to address real world problems. However, it is important that we have a fair and level playing field. Whether content is charged per bit or per packet, the price should be the same for any player. A typical market incentive is volume discounts, not volume overcharges.
Net neutrality may end up being decided in myriad individual court cases relating to anti-competitive practices, or in government antitrust action. But the idea that carriers such as AT&T are investing billions in a "money-losing endeavor" is ridiculous. Video is the next phase of the internet, and it requires infrastructure expansion and investment. Net neutrality means that all players in the video over internet market receive a fair price as well as reasonable and enforceable quality of service agreements."
"I usually agree with Johna Till Johnson, but her article 'Nuances Matter in Net Neutrality' left me perplexed.
[She asks] Why would Google support net neutrality regulations? They developed Google video, purchased YouTube for 1.65 billion dollars, and signed content agreements with Universal, Warner Music Group, Vivendi, the NHL, and others. But with AT&T offering Internet television on demand in their Homezone package, can Google compete? Only if their content is not further degraded.
Johna is right that net neutrality is still a vague concept. There's almost no way to tell if content is being intentionally degraded and it may be difficult to enforce legislation specific enough to address real world problems. However, it is important that we have a fair and level playing field. Whether content is charged per bit or per packet, the price should be the same for any player. A typical market incentive is volume discounts, not volume overcharges.
Net neutrality may end up being decided in myriad individual court cases relating to anti-competitive practices, or in government antitrust action. But the idea that carriers such as AT&T are investing billions in a "money-losing endeavor" is ridiculous. Video is the next phase of the internet, and it requires infrastructure expansion and investment. Net neutrality means that all players in the video over internet market receive a fair price as well as reasonable and enforceable quality of service agreements."
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