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Welcome
Ed – Jonathan Burnside
Welcome to volume 3, issue 1 of LSM, this will be the first issue of 2006 and again we have a couple of very interesting articles for you to get started in the new year.
In our first article we take a closer look at the competition between the leading internet browsers. Many of the Internet Explorer faithful are now looking to Firefox, for its excellent features as a result it’s market share is growing. We investigate why this is and what is happening.
In our second article we explain recordable DVD formats. You will find out which format is intended for widespread consumer use and which doesn’t support ‘professional’ features, amongst other important facts you may need to know.
We hope you enjoy this issue and it puts you in good stead for what is to come in the next 12 month!
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Who Will Win the Race - Internet Explorer or Firefox
by
Allen Brown
For the first time in a web browser's era, we are witnessing real action behind a browser other than Internet Explorer. The most browser history we can remember, major and widely accepted internet browser was Internet Explorer.
In late 90s, there was a time when Netscape was trying to claim superiority in that browser market share, but Internet Explorer walked away winning a lions share. However at present, for the first time Microsoft is facing tough competition. The new contender of Internet Explorer is "Firefox", which is likely to take advantage of the security concerns that are counted as loop holes in Internet Explorer’s structure.
A browser from the producers of Mozilla, Firefox is drawing massive attention. Firefox is a browser that focuses on opening websites rapidly while keeping malicious pop-ups and spyware a side.
While, at final stages Firefox luckily was picked for the upcoming browser by two federal agencies that recommended Internet users to select browsers other than Internet Explorer for the first time, because of security concerns.
Internet users began switching over Firefox after facing numerous security issues with Internet Explorer. Users believe that Internet Explorer has not actually been upgraded since beginning of 2000s. Users have to download the patch known as Service Pack 2 as well as upgrade their system up to windows XP for more secured Internet Explorer.
Internet Explorer used to hold around 95 percent of market share for web browsers but slid down to nearly 92 percent in just the few months. This might seem a few percentage points, but these few percentages depict millions of people who have switched over to Firefox from Internet Explorer.
It shows that Firefox is becoming widely accepted by millions of its fans, for its excellent features such as download speed, outstanding user interface along with its pop-up blocker.
But the biggest advantage for Internet Explorer is that most websites are still built to work best with Microsoft's browsers. It may result that some sites may not seem right or not be accessible at all through internet browser other than IE.
So, who will win this race Internet Explorer or Firefox? If Firefox sustains getting market share as it has at the current phase then the future is bright for Firefox. But, if Internet Explorer comes out with the solutions for its security issues, it can hold onto its over 90 percent lions share in the browser market.
Whatever, but the fact is that both browsers have had advantages along with security problems and loop-holes. So only the time will show the right answer, just wait and watch.
Allen Brown is a freelance writer for www.1888SoftwareDownloads.com , the premier website to find Free Software Downloads including free anti-virus software, free spyware detection software, free toolbars, free chat software and more. He also freelances for http://www.1888FreeOnlineGames.com . |
Recordable DVD formats explained
by Kenny Hemphill
Picking your way through the ton of information available on recordable DVD formats can be a nightmare. To help you out, we’ve done our best to distil it into this summary.
There are five recordable versions of DVD; DVD-R for General, DVD-R for Authoring, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, and DVD+RW. None of the formats is fully compatible with the other although there are drives which will read, and in some cases write to more than one format.
DVD-R for General and DVD-R for Authoring are essentially DVD versions of CD-R. And DVD-RW is a DVD version of CD-RW. All three formats can be read in standard DVD-ROM drives and in most DVD video players. The difference between DVD-R for General and DVD-R for Authoring is that DVD-R for General is a format intended for widespread consumer use and doesn’t support ‘professional’ features such as piracy protection or duplication in mass duplicators. The Pioneer DVD-RW drive which is the most popular PC device for writing to DVD uses the DVD for General format. And as the case with CD, DVD-RW is essentially the same as DVD-R except that it can be erased and written to again and again.
DVD-RAM is slightly different as it is a sector based disc which mounts on the desktop of a PC when inserted into a drive. Files can then be copied to it in the same way as any other mounted media. Some single-sided DVD-RAM discs can be removed from their caddy and inserted in a DVD-ROM drive which will then be able to read the content of the disc.
There are DVD video recorders which use the DVD-RAM format. This enables them to pull off clever tricks like timeshifting – where you can watch the beginning of a programme you have recorded while you are still recording the end on the same disc.
DVD+RW is the newest format and not supported by the DVD Forum, the body which sets the standards for DVD. However, it is supported by some of the biggest electronics and computer manufacturers, and is therefore likely to stick around.
It is also the format used by Philips in its DVD video recorders. Despite not being authorised by the DVD Forum, DVD+RW is claimed by its supporters to be compatible with more DVD video players than DVD-R and DVD+RW writers are found in PCs from quite a few manufacturers.
Kenny Hemphill is the editor and publisher of The HDTV Tuner
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