Adobe Photoshop - Jonathan Emrich

An example of Application Software is Adobe Creative Suite CS5. Adobe Creative Suite CS5 comes with the following programs: Adobe Dreamweaver CS5, Adobe Fireworks CS5, Adobe Flash Professional CS5, Adobe Illustrator CS5, Adobe InDesign CS5, and Adobe Photoshop CS5. What makes all of these programs convenient is that the suite also comes with a program called Adobe Bridge CS5, and it lets all the above listed programs work together, in one way or another. Another interesting fact about the Creative Suite is that the Creative Suite also helps you in the creation of banners, websites, and just about anything professional you could find on the internet.

Among the programs in Creative Suite, Photoshop CS5 is one my favorite programs. Photoshop is an amazing program for image editing, as well as letting you make other things like animated .gifs and HTML website pages. Add to it, the wide variety of tools and effects that Photoshop gives you; it really provides you with a wide range of customization. All in all, Photoshop is a really fun application and is equally as easy to learn and use.

Internet Service Provider - Arnise Coates

An Internet Service Provider is a company that provides a subscriber with internet access. The Internet Service Provider charges a monthly or yearly fee for providing internet access. The ISP can provide internet access to businesses as well as to individuals for personal use. If you use broadband access; a broadband modem and software is normally provided.

With so many users and many different forms of connecting to the internet there will always be competition between the larger and smaller companies. Some of these providers include Qwest, AT&T Verizon, Cox, Southern Bell, Comcast and Clear; just to name a few. Through my job, I have had the opportunity to work with several of the ISP providers that I have mentioned. Many Internet Service Providers provides other services.

Google Chrome -Lab 2 Post

Internet Browser -David Matthews
Google Chrome is a Very Flexible Web Browser,
In the Past I have tried Many Web browsers including, Microsoft's Internet Explorer, Opera, Safari, Firefox, Netscape, Links, and Google Chrome. Of all the Browsers I've Tried, Google Chrome is by far my favorite. The Close Second is opera, for it's ability to compress images to speed up Web browsing. Firefox Used to be my favorite, However, many of the pages I visit have heavy Flash Content that cause Firefox to freeze up or crash. Another problem I had with Firefox is the way it handles scripts, I get All sorts of errors, even with the latest version. Also with firefox, and opera, start up time is really bad for me waiting for the browser to load for sometimes over 3 minuets just to find out, I didn't really have any new emails. While opera is way better than fire fox (in my opinion) when it comes to handing scripts, and Flash, It falls short when it comes to add ons, their are very few useful addons for opera, while with firefox, you can have Download managers, and weather widgets, Email notifiers, and IM Clients, with opera, you get a virtual Fish tank, and sports scores. With Microsoft's Internet Explorer, you get a quick startup, and it handles flash very well, however, IE, is full of security holes. Also some of the very Addons made for internet explorer, can cause major issues, some so bad you may have to reinstall IE, I have witness thees First hand, as many of my relatives have come across this problem, And I have helped them fix it. however IE has come pretty far. Internet Explorer Actually Used to be part of Windows Explorer, The File manager for Windows. So if Your Internet Explorer Got Messed up Then you were in Big trouble.

As for Google Chrome, you get the great Startup Speed of IE, and the wide Addon Support of Firefox, with opera's stability! basically the best of the three browsers all in one, also Google Chrome has an open source counterpart "Chromium", that is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux, while IE only works on Windows.
Also for those who want added security, their is Iron from SRWare, based on Chromium's source code. As if Google Chrome Did not have enough addons, Google Launched the Crome Web Store, a one stop shop for all your needs, you can find most any thing for your browser here, From Games and puzzles, to virtual sticky notes, and news. Their is even an app called StayFocused that limit's your Web browsing time to increase the amount of work you get done!

So in my experience, With my Slow computer and Even Slower internet, Google Chrome is my #1 Pick!

Internet Explorer

Lately I have heard alot about how people do not like using Internet Explorer. I find Microsoft Internet Explorer is very user friendly. I found that despite the problems with vulnerabilities I find Internet Explorer well organized. I enjoy the way the menu bar is organized and find it fits my browsing needs.

Types of Images On Web Pages- Kelly Moran

The three most common types of images on web pages are GIF, JPEG, and PNG. The Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) is a bitmap image format that supports up to 8 bits per pixel (Wikipedia, 2011). The Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) is a graphic image format that supports up to 24 bits per pixel (Wikipedia, 2011). Portable Network Graphics (PNG) is a bitmapped image that supports up to 64 bits per pixel (Wikipedia, 2011).

For photo images and graphics, a PNG file will have the best quality (Fulton, 2010). If file size is an issue, a JPG photo file will have a high quality, but not as good as a PNG file. A JPG file would be the least desirable choice for a graphic file, because when compressed it can smear text and lines. A GIF file would be the least desirable file choice for a photo because of the limited color, but can be used for simple images including graphics or logos of solid area color. JPG and GIF files do, however, have the maximum capability with PC, MAC, and UNIX.

Works Cited
Fulton, W. (2010). Image file formats. Retrieved February 22, 2011, from A few scanning tips: http://www.scantips.com/basics09.html

Wikipedia. (2011, February 18). Graphics Interchange Format. Retrieved February 22, 2011, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphics_Interchange_Format

Wikipedia. (2011, February 12). JPEG. Retrieved February 22, 2011, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.JPG

Wikipedia. (2011, February 12). Portable Network Graphics. Retrieved February 22, 2011, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portable_Network_Graphics

Wi-Fi - Joseph Mallette

The topic I chose to blog about is Wi-Fi. A device equipped with Wi-Fi has the ability to connect to the Internet when it is within the range of a wireless network. The name itself is believed to stand for "wireless fidelity." Wi-Fi was developed in the year 1999, but over time has grown in popularity. It was invented by a non-profit organization known as the Wi-Fi Alliance to promote wireless local-area-network technology.

Many different devices have the ability to be equipped with Wi-Fi. These include computers, video game consoles, cell phones, MP3 players, and laptops. In addition to personal use, many organizations offer free Wi-Fi as a way of attracting customers. These areas of public Wi-Fi access are known as "hotspots."

Wi-Fi
Stephanie Gruss

Wi-Fi is an abbreviation for wireless fidelity. It is a wireless network that uses radio waves to allow users to connect to the internet. Wi-Fi is relatively inexpensive and easy to set up. Most find it a great alternative to a hard wired connection. An area where Wi-Fi is available is referred to as a "hotspot". These wireless networks can be closed meaning it is password protected or open meaning anyone can use it. Most public "hotspots" are open, but it is recommended that you protect your home or business wireless network with at least a password.
Wi-Fi is increasing popular. In fact, newer model laptops usually come with wireless cards built in so they are ready to use with Wi-Fi. If a laptop or other device does not have a wireless card an adapter is required to connect. The wireless card or adapter sends signals to the router. The router deciphers the signal and then send the information to the internet. Many large cities are even looking into providing city-wide Wi-Fi available for everyone.

Lab 2 Hot Spots Blog

Hot spots are a way to access Wi-Fi internet signals in your favorite places (ex. coffee shops, airports, remote work locations). These locations are growing more and more popular everyday. Open puplic networks allow a private user of a router to turn off thier authentication under the router settings, allowing everyone in range to access the available Wi-Fi signal in that location. You can also use a Hot Spot Managment System to allow specific users to access the internet; this is called a closed public network. The above mentioned hot spots tend to be free of charge, to the allowed users in range.

There are also commercial hot spots that allow users in range to access the available Wi-Fi signal for a fee. A captive portal is a login screen that directs the user to a page for authentication or for a payment to use the signal. These locations can also provide a walled garden that allows users to access certain web sites. Under the commercial hot spot umbrrella there is also roaming services available. Roaming allows users of a commercial ISP to have access to other providers Wi-Fi areas for a fee (usually for a minute by minute fee).

Information from www.wikipedia.com

Cloud Computing - Megan Garrett

Cloud computing describes computation, software, data access, and storage services that do not require end-user knowledge of the physical location and configuration of the system that delivers the services. The National Institute of Standards and Technology describes cloud computing as a model for enabling convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources. that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction. In simplest terms cloud computing is the set of hardware, networks, storage, services and interfaces that combine the deliver aspects of computing as a service. Additionally, there are three main groups of participants; which include: the end user who do not have to know anything about technology; business management who needs to take responsibility for the governance of data or services within the cloud; and the cloud service provider who is responsible for IT assets and maintenance.

There are many types of cloud services; for instance: Saas (Software as a Service), Paas (Platform as a Service) and Iaas (Infrastructure as a Service). The Saas is the most popular form of cloud services. This software is built by the service provider while the end users can configure it to suit their needs and the end users cannot change or modify the software. Paas offers a platform to clients for other reasons. For example, they have software that offers developers to build, test, and host applications that can be accessed by the end users. Additionally, the end users may or may not know that the application is hosted on the cloud. Iaas offers infrastructure on demand. The infrastructure can be anything from storage servers to application to operating systems.

Web Browser-Seongja Jenkins

The web browser is the software application that’s used to in retrieving information on the World Wide Web. The web browser is used to move around the web located either specific web pages or designated ones. There are many web pages that are used by internet users today, a few examples are Google, Firefox, MSN, and Apple's Safari. Although browsers are primarily intended to access sites on the Internet, it can also be used to access information provided by private networks and servers.

The primary purpose of a web browser is to bring digital information and other resources to the user. It’s also used as a kind of hub for business to advertise their web pages as to lure the user to their pages. This information is uploaded using Uniform Resource Identifier or (URI) to. The user see these URI’s as Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTPS), that takes you to other sources of information that the main browser couldn’t handle.

Hotspots

         A hotspot is an area that offers access to the Internet over a wireless LAN. It could be in a hotel, restaurant, coffee house, or even a public park. Most hotspots are open and free for use by anyone with a laptop or device that has wireless capabilities. Most businesses like restaurants or hotels will offer free WiFi to draw in customers, which turns the area into a hotspot. Some have a secure LAN that requires a password, which is normally given upon request.

          Some areas that are considered hotspots, such as airports, require a payment to access their network. Fees are determined on broadband usage and are priced by time frames. For example, most airports that I have been in recently (even the airplane itself), charge for different time frames, like three hour, 5 hour, 7hour usage and they will also offer a monthly fee for those who travel a lot for business.

Cloud Computing - Antoine Wekpe

Cloud computing is an extension of servers that can be accessed from any computing system, this removes the complex working details from visibility. All that is visible is an interface, which connects to a server for a person to use from any computer. How these connections are computed is completely hidden. Hardware is not needed to access all the capabilities of a computer.

Cloud computing applies the concept of abstraction in a physical computing environment, by hiding the true processes from a user. In a cloud computing environment, data can exist on a different number of servers, details of network connections are hidden from the user. In fact, cloud computing was given its name because a cloud is often used to depict inexact knowledge of inner workings.

Remote machines owned by companies would have the computing equipment to promote cloud computing, where these machines would make computing more abstract. This decreases hardware and software demands for a user because to use cloud computing is as simple as opening a web browser. Multiple computers within an office can load one application from a server to retrieve all the software and equipment they need to do their jobs, opposed to a company paying a lot of money for each computer to have the same software. Cloud computing could soon change the entire computer industry.

WiFi - Melissa Connell

Wi-Fi is installed in devices such as a computer, game console, or smartphone. These devices, within range of a wireless network, can connect to the internet via a wireless network connection. When using Wi-Fi, a computer's wireless adapter translates data into a radio signal and transmits it using an antenna. A wireless router receives the signal and decodes it. The router sends the information to the Internet using a physical, wired Ethernet connection.

This is mostly available for home use but can be used at a wide range of local "hotspots" including restaurants, shops, hotels, and airports. Wireless networks are inexpensive and easy to setup and Wi-Fi is used by over 700 million people today. In the near future, wireless networking may become so widespread that you can access the Internet just about anywhere at any time, without using wires.