Jul 24

Freeware to Monitor Bandwidth Usage

Posted in: Features, Freeware, monitor, Software, Today's Chili, Windows

This article was written on December 22, 2009 by CyberNet.

networx.png
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There are some situations where it’s nice to monitor the amount of bandwidth that’s being used by your computer. One reason would be if your Internet Service Provider (ISP) caps the amount of data that you’re allowed to plow through in a given month. This kind of thing is especially prevalent in wireless carriers who tend to cap Internet usage at about 5GB per month, which actually isn’t all that much when you get into watching YouTube videos or streaming music.

Networx is a freeware utility for Windows that tries to provide you with every possible tool you can imagine for monitoring your bandwidth usage. You can see graphs of your usage, view your transfer rate, get detailed reports organized by time period or by the user logged into the machine, and keep an eye on how close you are to reaching your quota. Here are some more features it offers:

  • Clear graphic and/or numeric display.
  • Usage reports with export to a variety of file formats, including Excel, MS Word and HTML.
  • Permits close supervision of uploads and downloads.
  • Works with dial-up, ISDN, cable modems, ADSL, Ethernet cards, and more.
  • Includes network information & testing tools with advanced netstat that displays applications using your Internet connection.
  • Scalable to your own modem download capabilities.
  • Option to notify user or disconnect from the Internet automatically when network activity exceeds a certain level.
  • Speed meter to accurately time downloads and report the average transfer rates.
  • Dial-up session journal with detailed information about every session.

On top of all that Networx can also be used on-the-go thanks to the portable version, which means there’s nothing you need to install on your PC to start using it. And when you run it for the first time there’s nothing that you have to configure… it will just sit in your System Tray and immediately start keeping tabs on your network activity.

It’s not often that I come across an app that thoroughly covers what it sets out to, but this one does. If you want something that monitors bandwidth usage, this has got to be the best freeware utility available to do it. The wide range of utilities and customizability make this an extremely versatile app that will be tough to beat.

Networx Homepage (Portable Freeware, Windows only)
Thanks Tyler for the tip!

Copyright © 2011 CyberNetNews.com

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Jul 24

Sony Cyber-shot TX55 packs 16.2-megapixel sensor, promises ‘extremely low’ noise in dim light

Posted in: camera, digital camera, DigitalCamera, photography, point and shoot, PointAndShoot, sony, Today's Chili


With point and shoot cameras apparently now up against a megapixel wall, manufacturers are focusing on adding quirky new features to keep you hooked on the upgrade cycle. Sony’s new Cyber-shot TX55 includes several such additions, such as ‘amazing’ 3D image capture, ‘extremely low’ noise, and a new digital zoom technology called By Pixel Super Resolution, which promises to double the camera’s 5x optical zoom range while still capturing 16.2-megapixel images at full quality. We’re a bit skeptical about that last one, but if the $350 camera really can deliver on its promise, then we may just have a winner. Sony says there’s also high-speed autofocus that can lock onto subjects in 0.1 seconds, optical image stabilization, a 3.3-inch OLED touch-screen, and 1080i AVCHD video. It also includes some features found on the higher-end NEX-C3, such as Picture Effects, and a 42.9-megapixel Sweep Panorama mode. Sony has yet to completely nix the Memory Stick slot, including one with the TX55, though there’s also MicroSD support for those who prefer to take advantage of that more affordable memory card standard. We’re not yet convinced that all of the point-and-shoot cam’s new features perform as well as Sony suggests, but if they do, the TX55 may even be worth its $350 price tag when it hits stores in September.

Continue reading Sony Cyber-shot TX55 packs 16.2-megapixel sensor, promises ‘extremely low’ noise in dim light

Sony Cyber-shot TX55 packs 16.2-megapixel sensor, promises ‘extremely low’ noise in dim light originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 00:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jul 24

How would you change the Kyocera Echo?

Posted in: Android, GoogleAndroid, HowWouldYouChange, HWYC, smartphone, Sprint, Today's Chili

We get the impression that Kyocera’s design team had been hacking away at the Echo for years — largely due to the blocky corners that remained, despite the current market’s affinity for curvation — and in a way, we’re actually relieved that Sprint took a chance with it. We’ve seen what’s to come when looking at dual-screen handsets, and if executed properly, the future seems bright. The Echo itself surprised us with its flexibility, and while it’s obviously a niche device, we’re certain a few of you have ponied up for one. So, here’s your chance to tell us all what you’d do differently the next time around. Would you change the form factor in any way? How’s about that slider / locking mechanism? Was Android 2.2 the right choice? Do you wish it were available on a different carrier? Go on and get creative in comments below!

How would you change the Kyocera Echo? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 24 Jul 2011 22:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jul 24

Inhabitat’s Week In Green: solar-powered stadium, bipod flying cars and biofueled flights

Posted in: bike, green, solar, solar power, SolarPower, Today's Chili

Groundbreaking green architecture projects popped up around the world this week as Herzog & de Meuron unveiled plans for a solar-powered stadium in Bordeaux and a Korean department store prepared to install a massive iPod-inspired green roof. We also showcased several feats of futuristic architecture — a skyscraper zoo with a built-in ferris wheel and a shape-shifting solar bridge that purifies the air. As summer hit its peak and the weather heated up we also brought took a look at six awesome parks made from rehabilitated urban structures.

In other news, pedal-powered transportation geared up for the future as we showcased a chain-less hybrid bike with an out-of-this-world design and a molded bamboo bike that is grown from the ground up. We also saw greener transportation take to the skies as Finnair launched the world’s longest biofueled commercial flight, Scaled Composites launched its bipod flying car, and the US Air Force announced plans to replace 50 percent of its domestic fuels with biofuels by 2016. Eco transportation charted the ocean blue as well as researchers at Boston University unveiled plans for a fleet of ships that generate energy from the motion of the ocean.

As temperatures soared across the US this week we brought you five eco gadgets to beat the summer heat, and we also learned that solar panels have a cooling effect on buildings. We also got set to hit the beach by checking out the world’s first compostable swimsuit, and we spotted a futuristic pair of smart sunglasses that use LCD technology to block out glare. Finally, we covered a set of incredible LEGO creations — from a life-size Wall-E robot made from Lego Mindstorms to a computer built from plastic bricks and a series of amazing Lego animals that invaded the Bronx Zoo.

Inhabitat’s Week In Green: solar-powered stadium, bipod flying cars and biofueled flights originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 24 Jul 2011 20:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jul 24

Sanya Skypump charges your EV, illuminates parking lots using wind and rays (video)

Posted in: charger, charging, electric vehicle, ElectricVehicle, ev, hybrid, solar, solar power, SolarPower, Today's Chili, video

So you’re the first person in town to adopt an electric vehicle (EV), even clearing room for that 240v charging station in the garage. But what do you when you venture far from home, edging past the 200 mile mark on your Tesla Roadster? Well, if the Sanya Skypump ever sees the light of day (from its 150-watt solar panel), the hybrid solar / wind turbine-powered charging station will be making its way to parking lots around the world, pairing with a GE WattStation to juice up your EV as you shop at the mall, or browse a certain tech site from the office. The WattStation can theoretically recharge your EV in four to eight hours, though we’re not sure how those figures translate with this particular setup. The Skypump system is based on Sanya’s Streetlamp, which you can see in all its twirling glory in the B.o.B. music video remix just past the break.

Continue reading Sanya Skypump charges your EV, illuminates parking lots using wind and rays (video)

Sanya Skypump charges your EV, illuminates parking lots using wind and rays (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 24 Jul 2011 19:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jul 24

WrapUp: Android 2.1 Hacked onto Droid, Log into Multiple Online Accounts in Firefox, and More

Posted in: Firefox Extensions, Tips and Tricks, Today's Chili, ubuntu, WrapUp

This article was written on December 21, 2009 by CyberNet.

Welcome to the WrapUp by CyberNet. This is a collection of news stories, downloads, and tips that we have collected over the last few days, but never got around to writing about. Don’t forget to send in your own tips, or just leave a comment on this page if you think you’ve got something we should include.

–News–

predator drone.jpgPredator Drones Use Less Encryption Than Your TV
The military in Iraq and Afghanistan have been intercepting U.S. Predator drone communications because, well, the transmissions between the unit and ground control weren’t encrypted. They were able to grab transmissions using some laptops and a $30 Russian application.


shuttleworth ubuntu.jpgShuttleworth Steps Down as Ubuntu CEO
By March 1st, 2010 Mark Shuttleworth will have completely transitioned out of the CEO position of Canonical, the company behind the Ubuntu Linux operating system. His replacement is Jane Silber, who has been the COO of Canonical since 2004. Shuttleworth says that he isn’t leaving the company, and that the move will let him work closer on the design process.


mark as unread.jpgNew in Gmail Labs: Mark as Unread from Here
Google continues to amaze me as they roll out more and more Gmail labs features that greatly enhance the web email experience. The newest is a “mark unread from here” option that will let you flag parts of an email conversation as unread so that later on you can pick up where you left off. Individually these Gmail Labs aren’t earth-shattering features, but together they make web-based email more appealing to those who tend to lean towards desktop applications.


–News in Brief–

loneliest number.jpgGoogle Confirms: 1 is Indeed the Loneliest Number
Not really news… more like a little bit of fun to start your holiday week!


android 21.jpgAndroid 2.1 Hacked onto Droid
The iPhone isn’t the only one with a community to hacking the mobile OS every waking moment!


dell prank-1.jpgDell Gets Pranked After Announcing Layoffs
Dell laid off 16% of its Malaysian workforce (about 700 people), and shortly thereafter some “price adjustments” were made to their site: a $4000 laser mouse and an $11 computer.


tinker.jpgMicrosoft’s Free Tinker Game
Tinker used to be a Windows Vista Ultimate Extra game, and now they’ve released it to all XP, Vista, and Windows 7 users.


bing iphone-1.jpgBing App Debuts on iPhone
Last week Microsoft released a Bing search app for the iPhone with a dazzling interface.


reddit christmas.jpgReddit Users Band Together for Largest Secret Santa Ever
This year over 5,000 gifts were shipped for a Secret Santa program between Reddit users. In all over $160,000 in presents were exchanged.


duplicate contacts.jpgMerge Duplicate Gmail Contacts
If you have a lot of clutter in your contacts you may want to try Google’s new contact merging tool that tries to combine records together for (what it believes) are the same contact.


mcdonalds wifi.jpgMcDonalds Offering Free WiFi Starting in mid-January
Now you’ll be able to surf the web and devour a Big Mac at the same time… without having to bring the food back home first!


–Tips, Tutorials, and Reviews–

t3desk.jpgAdd a Little 3D to Your Desktop
This Windows app will let you view open programs in a 3D view that lets you flip windows, zoom, move, and much more. What’s nice is that on Windows 7 it works with features like Aero Peek to give you a more streamlined experience. I’m not too confident that I’ll use this all that often (I’m an Alt-Tab kind of guy), but it can be pretty cool to show off to people.


multifox-2.jpgMutlifox: Log into Multiple Online Accounts in Firefox
This is something that should absolutely be built-into all browsers. Mutlifox is a Firefox extension that will let you open a new tab with a clean set of cookies, and you can therefore log into multiple accounts for the same service (eg. Gmail). I mean really, how many people actually have just one Gmail account these days? I think I have like six… I just can’t remember what they all are. :)


packagetrackr-1.jpgPackagetrackr Aggregates Package Delivery Information
Got a lot of last-minute holiday packages being delivered this week? If so this will be the perfect time to start using this service. Once you enter in all your tracking numbers you can follow the status of your deliveries from your web browser, or through your mobile device (with the mobile-optimized version of the site). Windows 7/Vista users can also grab the gadget for some package tracking “fun” on your desktop. After all, it’s pretty hard to wait for those nifty little gadgets to arrive at your doorstep.


–Tips in Brief–

ubuntu blogging.jpgDesktop Blog Editors for Ubuntu
While these blog editors may not be as powerful as Windows Live Writer they do certainly offer the basics from the comfort of your open source operating system.


spaaze.jpgVisually Organize Your Tasks
Get a virtual corkboard to post up all of your tasks, movies you want to watch, and more. (Note: Spaaze says it’s free while in Beta… which means they may charge for it later on down the road).


instantmask.jpgQuickly Remove Backgrounds from Images
 This tool doesn’t do the best job removing backgrounds, but it is possible to get decent results depending on how clear the separation is between you and the background.


osmo.jpgOsmo: A Simple Personal Organizer
 A calendar, task, contacts, and notes manager doesn’t get much cleaner than this.


session manager.jpgSession Manager for Google Chrome
Save your tab sessions in Google Chrome with this add-on.


–Downloads–

Copyright © 2011 CyberNetNews.com

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Jul 24

Switched On: A Three-Headed Lion

Posted in: Apple, column, Mac, mac os x, MacOsX, os x, OsX, switched on, SwitchedOn, Today's Chili

Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

Kerberos, the hound from Hades that lent its name to an MIT-developed network authentication protocol, is often visualized as having three heads. But if dogs can have multiple heads, why can’t other technology species? Many of the features in Lion have impact for different kinds of users, and the value users see in them may well depend on which face they tend to view.

The new user. Lion represents the biggest user interface change to the company’s desktop experience since the debut of Mac OS X. With the Mac hard drive hidden by default, full-screen apps that hide the menu bar, and omnipresent scroll arrows put out to pasture, it even dispenses with some user interface conventions that have been around since the original Mac. The focus on multitouch gestures — while enabling more fluidity in the user interface — are not as self-evident. Overall, though, the gradual shift away from contrivances such as windows, menus, and cluttered icons should make things less intimidating for new users.

The iPad user. One can only wonder what features the successor to Snow Leopard might have sported had Apple not launched the iPad. The most prominent design theme in Lion has been bringing user experience elements of Apple’s tablet to the Mac. This is highlighted best by Launchpad, the iPad-like collection of sliding home screens, and full-screen apps, but also includes support for full-screen apps and bundling of the Mac app store introduced with Snow Leopard.

Continue reading Switched On: A Three-Headed Lion

Switched On: A Three-Headed Lion originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 24 Jul 2011 18:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jul 24

Samsung Series 3 laptops crop up on Amazon, 12.1-inch model still AWOL

Posted in: amazon, available, CoreI5, laptop, notebook, Notebooks, samsung, Today's Chili

Samsung’s Series 3 laptops deliver more performance-per-dollar than the ultra-thin Series 9, at the expense of — well, ultra-thinness. That said, the 12.1-inch model hardly struck as megalithic when we went hands-on last month, and we’re keen to see it emerge from pre-order status. For those who can’t wait, or who prefer a bigger screen and keyboard, then a couple of larger siblings have just become available via third-party retailers at Amazon. There’s a 5.5-pound, 15.6-inch variant with an i3 processor, 4GB of DDR3 and a 500GB HDD going for $590. Alternatively, you can pick up a 14-incher for $60 more, with mainly the same specs but a slightly bigger 640GB HDD. As for us, we’re holding out for that elusive baby brother, for the sake of its superior i5 processor and our aging knees.

Samsung Series 3 laptops crop up on Amazon, 12.1-inch model still AWOL originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 24 Jul 2011 16:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jul 24

Advertisements, awards, and yes, even more cosplay

Posted in: Today's Chili

Good luck escaping the barrage of ads during the second day of Comic-Con, but there’s more going on than the full-court press. A-list comics creators demonstrate how they work, and an awards ceremony acknowledges the best of them.

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Jul 24

Joss Whedon and Adam West at Comic-Con (video)

Posted in: Today's Chili

CNET TV’s Brian Tong talks to Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator and Avengers director Joss Whedon about all things geek, while the 1960s television Batman Adam West discourses on tights, taffy, and Family Guy.

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