Use the best applications even if you have to pay less for them

I've been using a commercial file transfer protocol (FTP) application for several years, but I needed to find a free FTP application for an organization that had no money to spare. Checking Sourceforge.net, where cross-platform open-source applications live, I found FileZilla. After downloading the installation file, I tested Filezilla and found that it more than met the organization's needs. And it appeared to be a better application than the one I'd paid for.

That simplifies things. If I can find an open-source application that does what I need it to do, then I can both use it and recommend it.

Filezilla handles both FTP and secure FTP connections. It's faster than the commercial program because it seems to open several threads and transfer multiple files simultaneously. And it doesn't crash.

The crashing is what finally convinced me to install Filezilla as my primary FTP application. I was attempting to upload several hundred megabytes of files to a client's computer and the application I'd paid for kept telling me it was sorry, but that it had crashed. Would I like to report this problem to Microsoft? After the third such crash, I loaded Filezilla and asked it to transfer the files.

It did. Without crashing.

		FileZilla's screen is set up in a way that provides the maximum amount of information clearly. Defined connections are available from a drop-down list. The program shows the commands it sends and the server's responses, which are helpful when something doesn't happen the way you thought it should. The large central area shows the files on the local computer and files on the remote computer. At the bottom, data streams are shown during the file transfer process.
		FileZilla in operation.

Overall: FileZilla (4 cats)

It works better than expensive FTP applications and it's available for free. What's not to like? You'll find FileZilla on the Sourceforge website. If you try FileZilla, like it, and use it, contributions are accepted and encouraged.

The mysteries of Microsoft

I visited Microsoft's website recently to get some information about the company's new Windows Media Photo file format (WMP – and how many people will refer to this format as "wimp"?) when I noticed a new version of the Windows Media Player (also "WMP", by the way) and a new version of DirectX. I got the information I needed about WMP and downloaded WMP 11 Beta. But DirectX turned out to be a bit of a problem.

I like to keep DirectX current because DirectX is an application program interface (API) that Microsoft developed in the mid 1990s to allow all programs to write instructions to the hardware without knowing exactly what hardware is installed. Games and graphics applications that include DirectX are able to communicate with the hardware more efficiently than they otherwise could.

Without looking to see whether my installed version of DirectX was the most current, I chose to download the installer file. When I ran it, everything went well until the end. Click the images for a larger view.

		Now here's something you don't see very often: A Microsoft product failing Microsoft's own validity testing.
		Thud!
		I wish that I had looked first to see if the existing DirectX installation was the the latest version. It is now. I don't like little mysteries like this.

Don't scorch your lap with that Apple

Notebook computers get warm. "Hot" might be a better word. In a pinch, you can flip a laptop computer over and fry an egg on the surface. (Just kidding. Don't try this at home.) Some Apple notebook computers are running even hotter than normal and Apple says it's because of a manufacturing fault.

When this happens, Apple says the fan will run almost consistently and users will notice the heat on the keyboard side of the computer. If this happens with your MacBook, Apple suggests checking the rear vent of the MacBook to make sure it's not blocked. How might it be blocked?

It seems that the Apple factory (in China) uses a clear plastic strip to cover the rear vent during assembly. This is to prevent dust from getting into the computer. (I always thought notebook computers were assembled in clean rooms.) Some MacBooks apparently have been shipped with the plastic still in place. If you find this to be the case, just remove the strip and discard it.

The rear vent is located on the keyboard side of the computer, above the function keys, as shown in the image here:

Photo from Apple Insider.

The computers still run hot, though. Apple says this is normal operating behavior. "With processor and bus speeds in portable computers often matching, if not exceeding, those of desktop systems, increased operating temperatures in portable computing products are common throughout the industry."

Apple cautions, "For prolonged use, place your iBook, PowerBook, MacBook or MacBook Pro on a flat stable surface. Do not leave the bottom of the computer in contact with your lap or any surface of your body for extended periods. Prolonged contact with your body could cause discomfort and potentially a burn."

Apple suggests placing the laptop computer on a desktop or tray because a soft surface, such as a bed or a lap will limit the flow of air under the laptop. Apple also suggests using the energy saving functions to reduce the heat (and also the performance) of the computer.

A tray for your laptop

This week I received a Laptop Desk from Lap Works. This is one solution to the heat problem. The device is made of heavy plastic. It folds to take less space in your computer case, but this also gives it two operating modes.

Most people will use it as shown at the right – unfolded so that it will fit on the lap. The top surface has several rubber-like non-skid pads to help keep the computer in place. The ribbed surface provides air space. Unfolded, it's a little over 20 inches wide, bit less than a foot deep, and just over half an inch thick. When folded, the device is approximately 11 inches square and about an inch thick. There's also a way to use the tray on a desk.

There's a fold-up bracket that holds the unit partially open so that the computer is tilted forward slightly, as shown at the left. This is presented as an ergonomic advantage, but some ergonomic experts suggest that the keyboard should actually tilt away from the user. That could be accomplished by rotating the Laptop Desk 180 degrees before placing the computer on it.

The $30 tray (2 for $50) is made of tough plastic, but the bracket that holds the device partially open is attached with plastic clips that break easily. I know because one had broken in shipping. It would be easy enough to glue the bracket in place, and that may be what most users will do.

Except for that, the Laptop Desk does what it's supposed to do, which is keeping your lap cool.

Overall: Laptop Desk (3 cats)

A clip that broke in shipping was disappointing, but doesn't adversely affect the unit's performance. It's reasonably priced, has enough non-skid surface to keep the notebook computer from escaping, and keeps the bottom of today's increasingly hot portable computers from being a lap warmer. For more information, see the Lap Works website.

Nerdly News

A new version of Google Earth

Google has new versions of Google Earth -- version 4 beta. The existing version 3 is still available. Google Earth is usable only by people who have fast computers and high-speed Internet connections, but in the past year, the application has been downloaded more than 100,000,000 times. Google makes the application programming interface (API) information public, which has allowed 30,000 websites to add geographic information of their own.

New in this version:

• Satellite imagery update: A significant high-resolution imagery update for Google Earth increases the product's index of high-resolution imagery by four times. This makes sub-meter high-resolution imagery available for more than one third of the world's population. While initially available only in Google Earth, this database will also be accessible in Google Maps shortly.
• Improved interface: Google Earth now features a more streamlined user interface and new tools that enable the creation and display of third-party and user-generated content.
• Available for Linux: In addition to being available for Windows and Mac users, Google Earth will now run on Linux operating platforms.
• Google SketchUp with textured buildings: In coordination with the release of Google Earth, Google SketchUp now enables the creation of textured buildings for visualization in Google Earth and the Google 3D Warehouse.
• The API has been updated, too, and Google says the new programming tools make the process of embedding Google's interactive, dynamic maps into websites even easier.

Obtain the download from http://earth.google.com/.

Faster than speeding silicon

IBM and the Georgia Institute of Technology say they've developed technology that will allow semiconductors to operate more than 200 times faster than today's chips. Usually advances increase the speed of a chip by half. Occasionally, improvements double the speed. But increasing the speed from 2.5GHz, which is common today, to 500GHz is astounding.

And this isn't something that might show up in equipment 20 years from now. The researchers are talking about 1 to 2 years. The researchers cooled the chip to near absolute zero in liquid helium.

With a CPU that runs 200 times faster than today's CPUs, even Microsoft Vista would be speedy.

Annoying legal disclaimer

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