The notice of funding for broadband "Stimulus" package info is released today
Microsoft is continuing Windows XP lifespan until at least 2011.
This means OEMs could still be selling XP-equipped PCs as late as April 2011.
if you wish more detail, read this article:
http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20090618/windows-xp-it-lives-again/?reflink=ATD_myyahoo
(copy link and paste in your browser)
anybody doubt that personal devices are the future... read this. tcs
All,
There is nothing new on this from what we posted yesterday.
Summing up for you:
MLC (as a state agency) is NOT eligible. Libraries are. It is up to you to decide if you feel it is worth applying for, as stated yesterday, no money will be sent to you without you purchasing something new and then filing the claim for a voucher re-imbursement on the new purchase.
Here is an excerpt for those who don’t want to read this entire thing:
All Mississippi residents, businesses, county/local governments or schools that purchased Microsoft products or computers containing Microsoft products between January 1, 1996 and today will be eligible to receive a voucher of $12 or $5 (depending on which products were purchased). The vouchers can be used towards the purchase of any software or hardware product.
Software qualifying for $12 vouchers includes: Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows ME. The software qualifying for $5 vouchers includes: Application Products (i.e. Office, Word, Excel), MS-DOS, Windows 1.xx-3.xx Windows for Workgroups, Windows NT Workstation, Windows 2000 and Windows XP.
A claims administrator will attempt to notify all purchasers, review voucher claims, and distribute vouchers. Individuals claiming to have purchased Microsoft software or a computer containing Microsoft software will have to send a sworn statement verifying the purchase. Most high volume purchasers, such as businesses, local governments and schools, will have a licensing agreement to verify purchases.
If you do wish to read the entire thing... here is the link
http://www.ago.state.ms.us/images/uploads/forms/approvingorder2.pdf
Why Twitter Didn’t Go Down: The State Department Told It Stay Up (But Not Forever!)
Source: mediamemo.allthingsd.com
sent this using ShareThis.
a link to the following content:
MySpace Executes 30% Staff Reduction Today
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/16/myspace-executes-30-staff-reduction-today/
The sender also included this note:
no one is spared the economic crunch
--
Sent via a FeedFlare link from a FeedBurner feed.
http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/publishers/feedflare
Look for MLC's "new" website look in late June. Functionality is basically the same, but we gave her a facelift!
Other things in the works....
Email system for both public libraries and mlc staff being rebid as current contract will expire in December 09. We do not intend to change features or functions. Libraries will still receive free Plesk email accounts and webmail access. MLC staff will receive exchange accounts and webmail access.
MLC's ARRA Broadband "Stimulus" proposal at the Governor's office; we hope to be funded on some or preferably all of the 7 initiatives in our proposal. The Governor set up a committee to review proposals (applications to the governor). It is my understanding they had 65 applicants. We had a very good meeting with the Governor's representative and present our plan; and we are anticipating hearing something good soon!!
Treasure Conway Stover has sent you a news article
------------------------------------------------------------
Personal message:
More info will be posted as we receive it from MS Ag's office and ITS
Mississippi to get $40 million from Microsoft case - Yahoo! Finance
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/090612/us_microsoft_mississippi.html?.v=1
============================================================
Yahoo! Finance http://finance.yahoo.com/
All Hell May Break Loose On Twitter In 2 Hours
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/12/all-hell-may-break-loose-on-twitter-in-2-hours/
The sender also included this note:
for those of you who are twittering
--
Sent via a FeedFlare link from a FeedBurner feed.
http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/publishers/feedflare
It’s 3.0 Or Die For New iPhone Apps
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/05/07/its-30-or-die-for-new-iphone-a...
sent this using ShareThis.
Online retailer Amazon plans to unveil a large-screen version of its Kindle electronic reader this week tailored for displaying newspapers and magazines, The New York Times reported on Monday.
Amazon has invited media outlets to a press conference in New York on Wednesday but has declined to reveal what it plans to announce at the event.
The Times, however, said Amazon will show off an e-reader that "could present much of the editorial and advertising content of traditional periodicals in generally the same format as they appear in print."
It quoted "people briefed on the plans" as saying that the Times was one of several news organizations "expected to be involved in the introduction of the device."
Kindle's traditional electronic reader is designed for books but the new device has a screen roughly the size of a standard sheet of paper and is more geared towards periodicals "and perhaps textbooks," the Times said.
With advertising revenue and circulation declining at US newspapers and magazines, the Times said the device was being seen by struggling US media companies as "a way to get readers to pay for those periodicals."
It noted that several other companies are reported to be developing their own e-readers including Rupert Murdoch's News Corp., newspaper and magazine publisher Hearst and California-based start-up Plastic Logic.
The Plastic Logic e-reader, a lightweight device with a touch screen about the size of a pad of letter paper, is going to be used on a test basis by two Detroit newspapers later this year.
"Publishers could possibly use these new mobile reading devices to hit the reset button and return in some form to their original business model: selling subscriptions, and supporting their articles with ads," the Times said.
It noted that digital distribution would allow newspaper publishers to save millions on printing and distribution costs.
Amazon already offers dozens of newspaper subscriptions for its existing Kindle readers including the New York Times, Newsweek, The New Yorker and The Wall Street Journal.
MLC has successfully migrated its data center core over to full AT&T value added services, thus eliminating the need for additional firewalls, routers, and content filtering engines. As of May 4, 2009, MLC facility is getting content filtering and firewalling from the AT&T "bundle" off of state of MS contract.
I got a trojan just by visiting a web site performing my daily reads of technology feeds and articles. It was easy to clean though, thankfully. And... Norton A/V caught it and took care of it. I had some issues with quarantining it, but just a little work and all is well. And YES it can happen to me! (on my work laptop I might add). - Treasure
FYI,
MLC submitted a proposal to the governor's office in response to "his" call for broadband package RFI's.
We are networking with other agencies, private corporations, and all involved with the ARRA / stimulus package.
We attend bi-weekly conference calls on broadband stimulus.
When we know more, we will be sharing all with MS public libraries.
While we migrate MLC datacenter over to MI3 consortium on May 4, there will be email outages for Libraries, and email, LAN, and Library automation system outages for MLC staff.
MDOT to offer Twitter to evacuees
April 10, 2009
JACKSON - According to Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) executive director Larry L. "Butch" Brown, MDOT will utilize the popular social networking site Twitter to assist in providing traffic information for evacuation routes during the upcoming 2009 hurricane season.
MDOT has created six separate Twitter feeds that will provide route-specific traffic information to evacuees traveling Interstates 10, 20, 55, 59 and U.S. Highways 49 and 98. Evacuees will receive information such as traffic delays, contraflow information, fuel availability and roadway openings all on a real-time basis.
In order to access an evacuation route-specific feed, evacuees can simply type in the feed address in their web browser. If one is new to Twitter, click "Join Today." If one is an existing user, simply "login." Users will be asked to provide their full name, a user name, password and e-mail address. Once signed up, to follow the evacuation route-specific feed, one must click device updates to the "on" position on the Twitter screen to receive tweets via cell phone.
The feed addresses are www.twitter.com/mdot_i55, www.twitter.com/mdot_i59, www.twitter.com/mdot_us49, www.twitter.com/mdot_us98, www.twitter.com/mdot_i10 and www.twitter.com/mdot_i20.
"I am extremely excited about Twitter and how it will be used as a necessary tool providing information in a timely manner that is needed during hurricane evacuations," Brown said. "Utilizing this system will give MDOT the ability to not only get information directly into the hands of Mississippians evacuating, but also to evacuees from Alabama and Louisiana. Twitter will deliver instantaneously traffic information and will reach a large number of people needing traffic information while evacuating."
From MS Business Journal
Cell phone, Internet and landline service is back in Silicon Valley after one or more vandals apparently severed eight fiber-optic cables.
please read
An article from PC Magazine has been sent to you. Follow this link to view the article: Security Firms Begin Poking New Conficker Variant
Copyright (c) 2009 Ziff Davis Media Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Well reluctantly because I have enough rss feeds, blogs, breaking news, technology news, and just plain old conversations to follow but ... I have joined twitter. I really don't want to, honestly, but I feel compelled as it appears everyone is doing it and businesses and gov't are getting in on it as well.
No sooner had I signed up and joined 1 twitter list, did I start receiving requests to follow from people I don't know. Which I declined. And I am just not that "in to all this" so I have my settings to block public. And I get the opportunity to not be broadcast and to decline anyone wanting to "follow me". This probably defies the very concept of this service, but I do what I can to keep up with things without exposing myself to the world or kidnapping or just plain embarrassment. (old school here, forgive me). And, while I have friends (acquaintances) somewhat across the planet, I do not wish to frivolously invite more into my personal biz.
So... long story short, and this is one of the few "editorials" you'll see from me, but this is an area that deserves / merits it , I think. ... thanks for indulging.
By the way, I just am following cnn breaking news. I could have done that from their web site with an rss feed, or through my blackberry with viigo. Good grief!
http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20090407/hey-there-ritreasury-is-using-twitter/
copy and paste the url in browser to view full article
1 known infection in our peers, other than that, nothing. Fairly easily clean-up.
The worm still persists, so don't let your guard down (or more importantly your antivirus definitions down ... keep them updated!)
But... looks like the worst is over on this one, and little impact globally. Or as of yet.
http://www.crunchgear.com/2009/04/07/microsoft-kindly-permits-windows-7-users-to-downgrade-to-xp/
copy and paste url into browser to view full article
http://www.crunchgear.com/2009/04/07/crunchdeals-24-inch-monitor-for-199-2/
copy and paste url into your browser to read article
http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/23/knewton-takes-adaptive-learning-to-the-next-level/
copy and paste url into your browser for the article
A good test to see if your device is infected is try to go to the URL
http://www.symantec.com/norton/theme.jsp?themeid=conficker_worm (copy and paste it into your browser url window)
If you cannot, your device may be compromised and you'll need to clean it yourself or call in the professionals in your area.
One way to fix it yourself is go to a computer that you know is not infected (may be another location entirely) and download the "fix" from there. Then bring it back to your infected device and run it.
If you need help, contact NSB Helpdesk and we'll advise
Skype, the Internet telephone unit of eBay Inc, is planning to launch its service for iPhone users on Tuesday and for BlackBerry in May as part of its effort to expand beyond desktop computers.
Skype has been pushing to make its service work on the most popular advanced phones with an aim to expending its more than 400 million users who were mostly lured by the promise of cheap and sometimes free calls made using its computer application.
Skype Chief Operating Officer Scott Durchslag said he has high hopes for the application's success on Apple Inc's popular iPhone as he expects Skype's most feature-rich mobile offering to appeal to new and existing customers.
"The No. 1 request we get from customers is to make Skype available on iPhone. There's a pent-up demand," Durchslag said in an interview before the CTIA annual mobile showcase in Las Vegas, where Skype plans to launch the service on Tuesday.
In May it will launch Skype for Research In Motion's BlackBerry devices, which popularized mobile email. It has already announced Skype for Nokia phones and for phones based on Android, Google Inc's mobile system, and Windows Mobile, from Microsoft Corp.
CCS Insight analyst Ben Wood said the new applications give Skype a chance to boost its mobile phone position, which has been weaker than that of social sites such as Facebook, Twitter or News Corp's MySpace.
Skype's iPhone application will be free to download and will allow free calls between Skype users. As with Skype on the desktop, fees will be charged for calls to traditional phones.
All, there are many different places you can go to keep up with the stimulus package, but I'll post some things on this blog regularly.
Here is the "most clear news" of the day: from one of the feeds I'm watching.
Applicants can apply to both the USDA and NTIA separately for different parts of the same project, but can't get paid twice for the same parts.
USDA grants require 75% of the area served by an approved project to be a "rural" area without sufficient broadband. The NTIA, will address both "unserved" and "underserved" areas, though the government hasn't yet defined those terms and is seeking public comment on the process.
All broadband stimulus grants and loans must be awarded by September 2010, and the projects funded must be "substantially complete" within two years.
NTIA will award the grants in three phases, mostly to balance the need to get funding quickly to projects that are ready to go and to allow more grant-writing time for those who need it.
During its April 8 meeting, the FCC will initiate a public comment process for developing a national broadband strategy by May 22.
Just keeping you up...
My iphone drove me nuts. I guess I'm just not an iphone type...
the last straw is when it failed, couldn't make outgoing calls. Had to go through a lengthy restore process.
Switched back to blackberry and got a deal, and some free services. So all in all, it worked out well.
Now have blackberry bold and it is terrific.
Just sharing.
Again, for those of you who love your i-phones, I understand completely. I still maintain, both are great and the other smartphones too... it's a matter of preference. What I like might not be what you like.
March 26, 2009 at MLC
AT&T Workshop for MS Public Library technical contacts and directors on latest issues, how to's, etc.
“Maintaining AT&T Bundled Services and Reading AT&T Reports”
This one-day workshop will provide information about filtering, firewall management, opening trouble tickets and reading AT&T reports. This workshop will enable library staff to communicate more easily with AT&T regarding the libraries networks and needs. This program is designed for Directors and Library Technical Contacts.
Date & Location:
March 26, 2009
Mississippi Library Commission
Schedule:
Sign-In: 8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Training: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Lunch: Noon – 1:30 p.m. (ON YOUR OWN)
Trainer: AT&T Staff
Registration:
The registration deadline is March 18, 2009. There is no charge for registration. Please register by following normal CE procedures found in your latest CE publication(I would post here, but don't want to generate spam).
CEU’s:
Continuing Education Units and Contact Hours to be awarded are .6 and 6.0 respectively. There are no prerequisite required to attend.
Well... I gave up my blackberry a month or so ago due to monthly costs, but... couldn't stand going back to the "old days" without email integration, push and fetch features, and mapping.... so ... after some research, I chose an iphone 3g this time, as the service is $20 / month cheaper for the same type "value added" services such as gps map, etc.
Here's the skinny... I like the blackberry better for quickness and keyboarding... i.e. typing... and it is MUCH lighter. I like it's "more business" graphic interface... but the iphone is sexy, and it is very very functional, although complicated.
I still stand behind my initial opinions... if you want one for business and mostly functional type uses... choose the b'berry... if you want sexy and lots of cool apps... choose iphone.
I'll be keeping the iphone b/c it requires a two year contract, and it's cheaper monthly ... but thought I'd share with you all.
- Treasure
you can follow the progress of folks talking about the kindle 2
http://www.crunchgear.com/2009/02/24/were-getting-our-kindle-2-today/
Facebook further opens up the Facebook Platform for developers with the introduction of the Comments Box social messaging widget, which helps further integrate Facebook Connect into Web sites and blogs. Facebook recently added APIs for developers to create new applications.
- Facebook on Feb. 19 launched Comments Box, the first social widget for its Facebook Connect application. Facebook Connect allows users to sign on to other sites and blogs using their Facebook account information.
In the most recent effort to thwart child predators online,both the U.S. House and Senate are considering bills that would require any Internet access provider -- possibly including public Wi-Fi hotspots -- to retain Internet user data for up to two years.
What that means is that every coffee shop, hotel, office building, airport, or any other location that provides Internet service would be required to hold onto the access data of every person that used that hotspot or hard-wired connection for up to two years. Of course, this also applies to all the big Internet service providers like Comcast and AT&T, but they have the database resources to keep that information, resources that your average independent coffee shop probably lacks. Starbucks cuts deals with major ISPs like T-Mobile and AT&T, so presumably those services would store the surfing history.
Here are some very simple tips for cutting technology related power consumption:
LCD's (flat screens) use 66% less power than CRT's (tube screens)
Notebook computers use up to 70% less power than desktops
Cut power to pc's overnight when not in use, or have pc's go into "hibernate" mode
Unplug unused chargers and dvd players, etc. when not in use
For Datacenters:
Maintain equipment in temperature and humidity tolerances recommended by manufacturer
Use server virtualization to cut the number of servers you need / run thereby decreasing energy
Turn off all unused / key equipment (e.g. you have a test server, you only use it when testing once or twice a year)
New gadgets debut ... at mobile world conference in Barcelona
Here is the INQ1 phone ... it is tailored for social networking folks
http://www.inqmobile.com/inq1/
there are some slick sunglass looking things that interface with mobile "plan" and allow you to surf, make calls, etc.
there is a remote that allows you to control your computer/laptop without a mouse or trackball...
For more videos, articles about the mobile world conference go to
http://home.myhughesnet.com/news/read.php?ps=1015&rip_id=%3CD96D2O0G0%40news.ap.org%3E&_LT=HOME_LARSDCCLM_UNEWS
Here's the entire article from the Mississippi Business Journal:
Volume 31, Number 6
February 09, 2009-February 15, 2009
Are libraries the new town square?
PHIL HARDWICK
Project for Public Spaces (PPS), a non-profit organization dedicated to creating and sustaining public places that build communities, thinks so. PPS recently listed its "10 Trends Shaping the Future of Our Communities." Number five on the list is "Libraries emerge as new town squares."
I believe that PPS may be on to something. Have you been to your local public library lately?
I go to quite a few libraries on my booksigning tours, and from what I've seen lately these paragons of information are in the midst of considerable change, much of which is driven by technology and more involvement in the community. Ask any librarian if there is an increased demand for web-connected computers, community rooms, music, meeting rooms and even coffee bars.
A town square is by definition a place, more specifically a place for community gatherings. Historically, it was the place that had an open area and was located in the middle of town. It was a "square" because of the borders around it. Usually these borders were retail stores. People gathered in the town square for all types of events, from fairs to political gatherings. If we examine the things that went on in the town squares of the past, we see that many of them are occurring in today's libraries. For example, many elected officials hold constituent meetings, arts and crafts demonstrations are held and lectures and forums of all kinds are held in the library.
Librarians whom I've talked to recently tell me there is a weekday rhythm in their facilities. In the mornings, it is not uncommon to see jobseekers come in to use the Internet and use online job search sites to look for jobs and new careers. Later, business and professional people will come in for online and shelf research. Then there are the senior citizens who come in for programs in the community room and may use the Internet to communicate with family members. In the middle of the afternoon, it is the wave of students who are just getting out of school. I should interject here that one issue that many libraries face is what to do with parents who are using the library as a babysitter, but that's another story. The evenings are filled with high school and college students doing their homework and research projects.
The 2009 edition of the Horizon Report, collaboration between the New Media Consortium and the EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative, identifies six emerging technologies or practices that are likely to enter mainstream use in learning-focused organizations, i.e. libraries, within five years. These so-called technologies to watch are:
* Mobiles, such as iPhones and similar devices, which are doing many things once solely done by computers;
* Cloud computing, which is essentially a way to store information in large "data farms" on the Internet;
* Geo-everything, the ability of many devices to record the precise location of the user and code it into an application;
* The personal web, a collection of technologies that allow individuals to personalize their Internet experience;
* Semantic-aware applications, which mean that information is coded based on its context, such as whether the term "terminal" refers to an airport or a medical condition; and
* Smart objects, which refers to devices that are able to learn things about themselves.
Now that I have impressed or confused you with the technology talk, allow me to put things in perspective and come back down to earth. Recently, I was in a library in a rather small town. Among the many offerings and activities available to the public was something billed as "Hobby in the Lobby," a weekly activity near the main entrance to the library in which there were discussions and demonstrations about personal hobbies. Here's a list of the hobbies for the next two months:
"Cupcake Decorating"
"Decorative Pens"
"Painting with Acrylics"
"Pillow-Making"
"Quilting"
"Poetry Reading"
"Tips on Spring Potting"
"African Hair Braiding & Styles"
That same library had a wide variety of other activities. Every Monday there is "Lunch at the Library," which features a lunch provided by the library and a lecture by an author. There are adult GED preparation classes that meet for five hours every Monday-Thursday. Once a week there is a Humanities Discussion Group meeting, featuring a variety of discussion subjects related to the history of the community. And let us not forget "The Book Bunch," which meet on Wednesdays to discuss a book of interest to its members. Talk about the library being involved in the community.
In summary, libraries have always provided a resource center for their communities, but many of them are now pushing to turn their libraries into civic centers that foster a sense of community and offer a unique gathering place. Many librarians now envision their facilities as both virtual and literal town squares for their neighborhoods and downtowns.
Phil Hardwick is Coordinator of Capacity Development at the John C. Stennis Institute of Government. Contact him at phil@philhardwick.com<mailto:phil@philhardwick.com>.
Feed: Security - RSS Feeds
Posted on: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 2:36 PM
Author: Security - RSS Feeds
Subject: Obama Orders 60-Day Cyber-security Review
Just how secure are the federal networks that hold large amounts of sensitive data? President Barack Obama appoints Bush holdover cyber-security guru Melissa Hathaway to head a 60-day review of federal systems.
- President Obama ordered his National Security and Homeland Security advisors Feb. 9 to conduct an immediate review of the U.S. government's cyber-security plans, programs, and activities. Heading the 60-day review will be Melissa Hathaway, who served as the cyber-security coordinator executive u...
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Feed: Security - RSS Feeds
Posted on: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 4:59 PM
Author: Security - RSS Feeds
Subject: Hackers Crack FAA Employee Data
The personal information of more than 45,000 Federal Aviation Administration employees and retirees was exposed to possible identity theft. FAA reports that the hacked server was not connected to the air traffic control system or any other FAA operational system.
- Just a day after President Obama ordered a comprehensive review of the government's cyber-security systems, the Federal Aviation Administration reported Feb. 10 that hackers illegally accessed an agency computer and stole employee personal identity information. The FAA said in a statement that th...
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Rollback completed over weekend, still some filtering issues. 2/9/2009
AT&T WILL BE ADDRESSING AN OPERATIONAL PROBLEM THIS WEEKEND TO RESTORE FULL SERVICE CAPABILITIES TO THE AT&T FIREWALL. THIS ISSUE MUST BE ADDRESSED TO RESTORE FULL SECURITY FUNCTIONS TO THE AT&T FIREWALL.
Please be advised that at&t will perform maintenance on the MPLS firewall beginning at 8:00pm, Saturday, February 7, 2009 and ending at midnight.
In StateTech Magazine, Feb/Mar issue 2009
Article on Wired facility’ s thin client and collection appeal to patrons
Outlines Public Computing, On Line databases, and OPAC on line browsing
We do all this? What do they do we arent’? They have moved their library to a strategic location in a hot hot upscale area.
By the way… thin client doesn’t work very well with the AT&T infrastructure but check out the article anyway on page 4 of State Tech mag or online at www.statetechmag.com
Treasure
Upgrade to AT&T core router Tue Feb 3 2009 3:59 AM. Will affect library connectivity, email, and MLC web pages. Should be completed by 4:15 AM, but may experience issues Tuesday open of business. Please report issues to AT&T and to MLC.
Thank you!
www experiencing heavy traffic today
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T for tcstover@mlc.lib.ms.us
issues resolved
Some new features to be discussed
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T for tcstover@mlc.lib.ms.us
Still some issues remain from att migration
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T for tcstover@mlc.lib.ms.us
Att firewall upgrade issues left are some filtering challenges affecting a few libs
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
To create a cheap and easy sound and video podcast:
Disclaimer... it isn't real slick, but it's functional and something anyone can afford and very simple.
Use Powerpoint 2007 to create slides as usual
Use the add sound feature to narrate (record narration found in slideshow tab)(you'll need a microphone)
as you record your narrative, advance through your slides, powerpoint will prompt you if you wish to save your "timings"; say yes and your narrative with the slides progressing will run as you recorded it.
you can add some background music on the insert tab, sound from file (you can use public domain music)
save your powerpoint
convert your powerpoint to quicktime or some video type format and post it where people can "view" it, I use Wondershare's trial download, you can use it as long as you don't mind their embedded banner painted on as watermark, you can purchase the full product and there's no banner
tcstover@mlc.lib.ms.us has shared the following report with you from the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press (people-press.org):
Internet Overtakes Newspapers As News Source
Biggest Stories of 2008: Economy Tops Campaign
Go to http://people-press.org/report/479/internet-overtakes-newspapers-as-news-source
Reading books is usually a solitary experience, but it triggers social activity as well, as the ongoing success of real-life book clubs shows. BookSprouts is a fairly new online community dedicated to book readers who love discussing books over a nice cup of virtual coffee. The social network is designed to make it easy to start an online book club, discuss books with other individuals, organize meetings and write up reviews.
First of all: the website looks and feels great. Signing up was quick and easy, and the lay-out of the website as well as the copy all make it very clear what to do after you’ve registered. There’s a powerful search behind the community layer so it’s very easy to add books you’ve read, or books you haven’t read yet but would like to. Creating and joining a book club on BookSprouts is done in a heartbeat, and you can look for book clubs by book (surprise!), subject, author, or geographic location. Based on the search results, the social network currently counts about 275 virtual book clubs, but some of them are invite-only.
If you’ve been having trouble accessing some of the web’s most popular sites over the past couple days, you aren’t alone - reports have been pouring in that major sites like Amazon, CNN, and ESPN have been having sporadic outages in some areas across the United States. The problem seems to be stemming from an issue with Level 3Communications, which operates one of the largest internet backbones in the world.
According to InternetPulse, the provider has been showing severe latency times, and a number of other sites have confirmed that Level3 is the source of the issue.
Some of the affected sites are beginning to write blog posts explaining their outages to users (here are posts from SliceHost and Posterous). It looks like some of the issues are being resolved, but some sites are still having problems.
We should also note that AT&T customers have been reporting widespread outages in some regions. We’re trying to find out if the two outages are related.
Update, 11:45 AM PST: Level3 technical support technician Eunice Morales says that all of the issues have been resolved, and that the problems originated from Washington, DC, Chicago, Spain, and Germany. She also says that the problems with AT&T could possibly be related to the Level3 issues.
tcs has sent you an article.
Library PR 2.0
Read the full article at:
http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6602856.html&
Greetings--
tcs thinks this will be of interest to you:
Are Cellphones Really Displacing�Laptops?
http://webworkerdaily.com/2008/12/22/are-cellphones-really-displacing-laptops/
Enjoy.
gift ideas under $50
http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/hughes/36119
news:
Cellular issues predicted for January 20 2009 inauguration day
New ereader, called Foxit eSlic coming soon, cheaper than sony ebook or amazon kindle
Tiny iKit notebook computer 2.8" LCD
According to J. Gold Associates and posted in latest issue of Government Technology magazine, Blackberry's have 66% market share of the smart phone market, with Windows mobile at 23%, and Apple's I-phone 16%.
Palm and Linux based phones bring up the rear each with less than 10%.
AW3s spectrum news.... you may want to read Shwartz' blogs at infoworld on this matter
http://weblog.infoworld.com/realitycheck/archives/2008/10/free_spectrum_c.html
http://weblog.infoworld.com/realitycheck/archives/2008/12/free_broadband.html
Interested in where internet technology is going, read this
http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/PIP_FutureInternet3.pdf
past reports
2006 http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/PIP_Future_of_Internet_2006.pdf
2005 http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/PIP_Future_of_Internet.pdf
Well, I must say... this takes even me by some surprise....
Buzz and more buzz on android phones. As best I can determine, these are "open source" code type devices, act much like other cell phones, but not tied to a vendor specific line of applications. Looks like a few of the major players in this industry signed on to their open source consortium today.
Next taken by surprise, having had a recent death in the family, (an aunt), I was directed a week later to the on-line obit, wherein I was directed to the on-line funeral home blog where folks posted condolences. Now that is really something I find both facinating and horrifying all at the same time, but I guess it is nice to read and possibly post some tidbits to make everyone smile about a loved one who has passed away. But, be advised, just in case you weren't aware or the funeral homes weren't offering this in your areas yet... it's already being done.
This is way cool…
If you need to check travel conditions or get a peek at the live alerts on the MDOT highway billboards, or view live camera feeds around the state, go to
http://www.mstraffic.com/
you can opt also to view this from a handheld device like a blackberry or smartphone or some cell phones with video capability
All libraries have successfully migrated over to MissIn3 MPLS!
MissIN2 is officially sunset. Thanks all!
AT&T will perform an upgrade on the core MPLS firewall beginning at 12:01am, Saturday, December 13, 2008. The upgrade will be completed by 6:00am.
During the specified maintenance window, connectivity will be down for state agencies, schools and libraries which have migrated to MPLS. This will affect Internet access as well as access to the mainframe and other state resources.
All MissIN2 libraries, except for one are migrated over to MPLS MissIN3 Consortium.
The one remaining is in the midst of getting circuits installed, and barring some major issue, will be migrated over by December 31, 2008.
Thanks all for your cooperation getting migrated over to the MPLS MissIN3 Consortium.
This from Gartner, Inc.
Publication Date: 9 July 2008/ID Number: G00159496
The following technologies and trends are at or around the peak of hype during 2008:
• Green IT. Along with broader societal pressure for environmentally sustainable
solutions, IT has the opportunity — and in many cases, a requirement — to improve the
"greenness" of its own activities, as well as to contribute to broader company and
industry environmental initiatives.
• Cloud computing. As enterprises seek to consume their IT services in the most costeffective
way, interest is growing in drawing a broad range of services (for example,
computational power, storage and business applications) from the "cloud," rather than
from on-premises equipment. Many types of technology providers are aligning
themselves with this trend, with the result that confusion and hype will continue for at
least another year before distinct submarkets and market leaders emerge.
• Social computing platforms. Following the phenomenal success of consumer-oriented
social networking sites, such as MySpace and Facebook, enterprises are examining the
role that these sites, or their enterprise-grade equivalents, will play in future
collaboration environments. The scope is also expanding to incorporate the notion of
social "platforms," or environments for a broad range of developers to build on the basic
application.
• Video telepresence. High-end videoconferencing systems (for example, from HP,
Cisco, Teliris and others) that utilize large, high-definition (HD) displays and components
to show life-size images of participants in meeting rooms or suites have proven
significantly more-effective than earlier generations of videoconferencing technology in
providing a strong sense of in-room presence between remote participants. High cost is
currently the barrier to broader adoption.
• Microblogging. Pioneered by Twitter (although other services are becoming available),
microblogging is a relatively new addition to the world of social networking, in which
contributors post a stream of very short (less than 140 characters) messages providing
information about their current activity or thoughts, which can then be subscribed to by
others. The phenomenon has caught on among certain online communities, and
leading-edge enterprises are investigating its role in enhancing other social media and
channels.
• 3-D printers. Thanks to dramatic price reductions and quality improvements during the
past two or three years, 3-D printers (which create a physical model from a digital
design) are expanding into hobbyist, education and small business markets, and have
transformational potential in manufacturing, replacement parts and design industries.
Since 2007, virtual worlds have slipped down toward the Trough of Disillusionment, based on a
lack of compelling business applications for the technology and economic challenges in Second
Life, one of the most visible virtual worlds. Topics, such as corporate blogging and Web 2.0 in
general, are suffering from the inevitable impatience and disillusionment that comes from earlier
overhype, particularly when the promise of highly successful consumer models clashes with
enterprise requirements for security and accountability. However, planners should remember that most technologies pull through the Trough.
There are two library systems left on MissIN2.
Blackmur and Washington will be migrated before December 31, 2008.
We are starting January 1, 2009 on MLC's "migration", i.e. redistributing the MLC MissIN2 core over to Missin3 MPLS. We hope to have that completed by March 31, 2009.
Remember....
MLC pays public library internet utilization costs for MissIN3 MPLS.
MLC provides free email accounts and domain names to public libraries.
MLC provides help desk support and vendor advocacy for all public libraries.
MLC sponsors all MPLS VRF's (community of interests) for public libraries on MissIN3.
As of today, 4 library systems remain on MissIN2, 41 on MPLS MissIN3 or 91% migrated by library system, 95% by library physical site count.
The four remaining to migrate over by December 31, 2008:
B lackmur
Harriette Person
Union
Washington
Just become familiar with the term and concept for now, we don't have it, we can't get it yet. Youu can get 3G cards but be advised, for AT&T 3G only "works" currently in Vicksburg, Jackson, and Oxford), and for Verizon, 3G works on their enhanced network along the Hwy 49 corridor south, although Verizon does have limited availability on their extended service network in most of the rural areas according to their coverage maps.
WiMax IEEE 802.16 is emerging. While it is still slowly making headway in north america, it is beginning to gain momentum in Europe, China, and South America. I've seen projections through 2012, and it looks like it may penetrate the US market by 26% by 2012. That would be great, but don't look for it in Mississippi unless we all ask for it, and demand it from our carriers. It is not an expensive infrastructure as I understand it, but it is a controlled service, i.e. those with vested interests in traditional infrastructure may not be readily interested in building out the new technology. AT&T for instance is building out their 3G networks currently. WiMax is considered 4G. We want to make sure if and when we get this type technology it is not limited ot major metro areas, but reaches into the rural communities.
WiMax is considered better than 3G networks with mobile type cards and delivers broadband coverage up to 30 miles from a fixed location, and up to 10 from a mobile location. Wimax is perfect for underserved communities that have difficulty obtaining high bandwidth connectivity.
But again, don't look for miracles in Mississippi unless we all start talking it up. The infrastructure must be built. It involves point to point antennae towers, and multi-point antennae towers, and enough saturation to blanket an area. Typically, today, only a few US metro areas have it. In China they are exploring building it out to rural areas. Let's all keep watch.
WiMax is.... (in the simplest explanation)
wireless connectivity into fixed locations, or mobile (laptop, pda's) devices, providing broadband speeds, and security and reliability, with class of service standards.
3G is... (in the simplest explanation)
wireless connectivity to mobile locations, with better than normal cellular bandwidth speeds, but minimal range, and limited saturation capabilities.
Everyone uses their own terminology and typically spins their network to be metro e or metro connect, and may say it's WiMax when it is 3G. No matter, I believe sooner or later, in my lifetime, whether it is Wimax, or some other emerging technology, we will have blanket connectivity across the US, including rural areas in the 45M capacity or better, and it and our cellular and television devices will interact seamlessly with our internet availability. I believe the pricing model will be based on a utility type model. In other words, you'll pay for it like you do your water bill or electric bill and will have coast to coast coverage on whatever medium (cell phone, smartphone, laptop, fixed computer, car...), and whatever content (television, videos, internet, ....) you wish to tap into.
As of today, 5 library systems remain on MissIN2. 40 on MPLS. That is an 86% migration completion date by site count (number of physical sites).
Library Systems remaining to migrate over by December 31, 2008:
Blackmur
Lee Itawamba
Harriette Pearson
Union
Washington
Please keep up the good work. AT&T should have all migrated over by the deadline.
Here's a quick explanation for MS public libraries regarding email services:
If you wish to have email accounts for your staff, at no charge to you, MLC provides them. We provide POP type accounts, with the domain name we manage (i.e. .lib.ms.us) and with those POP type accounts, we provide a webmail interface (i.e. webmail account). The way this works is, your staff have email accounts and when staff is at a pc with an email client (like Outlook), and check their mail, their mail "pops" down to the hard disk on that pc. Webmail does not "pop" down but stays on the server until you "pop" down your email from a pc client (like Outlook). If you "pop" down your email at a pc client to a hard disk, that is where it resides forever or until you delete it, or there is a catastrophic failure, or you intentionally move it.
Some libraries prefer to use their own email server or services from another party. If a library gets its own domain name it is possible for those libraries to have their complete own email services without any relaying or dynamics from MLC. For example, a library might choose to use XYZlibrary.org instead of XYZlibrary.lib.ms.us. However, if a library keeps its use of the MLC provided domain name, such as XYZlibrary.lib.ms.us, then MLC is still managing your email routing, even if you have your own server. It is done through DNS services, as a standard. It however, is not being scrubbed for anti-virus activity, as that now becomes your responsibility as you chose to run your own email services, we simply make it happen with your MLC owned domain name.
To sum up, some libraries have moved over to their own domain names and email systems. Some libraries are putting in their own servers to gain more functions than what libraries are offered free through MLC, but still want to use their MLC provided domain name. Some libraries prefer to have nothing to do with their own email systems other than use the MLC provided email accounts. All these are fine, and no one is better than the others, it is a choice libraries make depending on their level of expertise, outsource strategy, funds, and desired functionality, etc.
Be mindful, if you implement your own email server, whether you choose to continue to use your MLC provided domain name, or you choose to get your own one, you are responsible for scanning / scrubbing your own email for viruses. If you use MLC provded email accounts, your emails are scrubbed of viruses, again free of charge to libraries. Antivirus scrubbing is a feature you will want and need to continue if you operate your own email server or outsource it.
Hope this clears up some gray areas. Hope it doesn't create more gray areas. If you have questions on this topic, please email me. - Treasure
39 library systems have successfully migrated over to MPLS MissIN3.
That leaves 7 on MissIN2 (including MLC core) to be migrated over by December 31, 2008.
(from AT&T)
East MS 9/9/08 , moved sometime in October
Lee-Itawamba 10/7/08
Union 9/25/08 , moved to Oct 8 tentative
Harriette Pearson 9/9/08 - moved to Oct 1 tentative
Washington County - circuits ordered
Blackmur 9/18/08, move to Oct 2 tentative
The MissIn SMS alert network has launched. All Mississippi Public Library Directors and their technical contacts were sent instructions for subscribing today. A test will be conducted Friday, September 26, 2008 at 10 AM. If you are subscribed, but do not get a text message at or around 10 AM on Friday, September 26, please contact the NSB Helpdesk and report you did not get the text message.
Missin text alerts subscriptions coming soon....
MLC Network Services is about to launch this new value added service for missin customers. If a customer wishes, they will text the keyword missin to a short code (we will provide later and not on this site to keep it private from the public viewers), from their cell phone. That is all it takes to "opt in" to the subscription. When alerts are sent out in times of emergency, that customer will receive an sms text message on their phone with the alert message from missin. A customer can "opt out" of subscription at any time by texting the word STOP missin to the short code (again, not published here).
As of Sept 18 2008:
37 library systems have successfully migrated over to MPLS MissIN3.
That leaves 9 on MissIN2 (including MLC core) to be migrated over by December 31, 2008.
(from AT&T)
East MS 9/9/08 , moved sometime in October
Lee-Itawamba 10/7/08
Marks Quittman 9/24/08 , moved sometime in October
Union 9/25/08 , moved to Oct 8 tentative
Harriette Pearson 9/9/08 - moved to Oct 1 tentative
Washington County - circuits ordered
Blackmur 9/18/08, move to Oct 2 tentative
Waynesboro 9/16/08 - rescheduled
there are no more pre-screening of comments
we'll try it open for awhile to encourage comments
MP3 files are "industry" standard for music, some audio books, etc. MP4's are Apple's iTune proprietary audio format, and they are encrypted where you cannot play them on non iPod MP3 players.
There are ways. Check the web if you want to know how. As far as we know, it is legal to convert an mp4 to an mp3 file; however, we won't post how here just in case.
MLC is in the process of a one year pilot with Webex for web conferencing and video "training". MLC Network Services has completed configuration and testing, including testing with five early adopter pilot library sites across multiple networks.
Webex will be demo'd at the May 22 meeting with public library directors in Jackson.
Around June 1, 2008 MLC will begin using and offering the webex services out to libraries with limited functionality and MLC hosting all conference and video calls, and webinars.
UPDATE
MLC is going to make this tech fair different and it's not just Network Services, it is an all MLC's event for you the Libraries! We hope to make it very FUN and exciting. For instance.... we hope to have some exciting gadgets for you to play with and some good best uses of web 2.0 / library 2.0 demonstrated. We are working on a format for the fair that will be fast and furious while still entertaining. Please plan to bring a car load of your library personnel. It is F-R-E-E! We'd like to see 150 - 200 of you attend!!!
Previous Blog
MLC will host the Tech Fair July 16-17 at MLC. Many vendors will be on site to demonstrate new technologies and gadgets. All libraries and other state agencies will be invited to attend. Please mark your calendars now and plan to attend. Booking will be done through Continuing Education.
802.11n is in the works. It is not ready yet. The minimum throughput requirement represents an approximate 4x leap in WLAN throughput performance compared to today's 802.11a/g networks.
Work on the 802.11n standard dates back to 2004. The draft is expected to be finalized in November 2008 with publication in July 2009, but major manufacturers are now releasing 'pre-N', 'draft n' or 'MIMO-based' products based on early specs. Cisco networks at a Mississippi conference last week mentioned a ready release may be more like two years out. The important thing to know now is it is coming, and it provides for much much faster wireless computing as you can see by the chart below.
Wireless LAN Throughput by IEEE Standard
IEEE Over-the-Air Media Access Layer
802.11b 11 Mbps 5 Mbps
802.11g 54 Mbps 25 Mbps (when .11b is not present)
802.11a 54 Mbps 25 Mbps
802.11n 200+ Mbps 100 Mbps
Table 1. Comparison of different 802.11 transfer rates. (Source: Intel Labs
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