Tag: internet
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How to access Wikipedia during the SOPA/PIPA blackout
If you are a college student, like me, and you have an assignment due tomorrow, like I do, you may have noticed that Wikipedia has taken itself down (sort of) in protest of SOPA and PIPA legislative acts. While I agree with the protest going on and commend Wikipedia for doing what they have to…
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How to download a full backup copy of Wikipedia
I’ve spent plenty of time making jokes about what would happen if Wikipedia went offline in our modern, internet-dependent world – planes dropping out of the sky, no knowledge of any events before 2007, dogs walking their owners – but in all seriousness, any Wikipedia outage will affect millions of students, educators, scientists, and everyday…
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How to Test Your Internet Connection Speed
Do you ever wonder if you are getting the upload and download speeds promised by your provider? DSL users especially may find themselves scratching their heads wondering why their Internet connection is so slow. Many providers have their own testing tools. But again what if their testing tools are lying to us? Here’s an easy way…
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Network Neutrality and Where You Should Stand
From quick searches and online collaboration, to gaming and video streaming, the Internet has made many things possible. A key factor in this beautiful technology is its openness. That is where the issue of network neutrality comes into play. This article explains the current state of this openness and the proposed laws that attempt to…
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First Look: Logitech Revue with Google TV
Editor’s note: I am joined at the end of this article by software engineer Chris Finke, who was kind enough to share his experiences integrating Google TV with his Tivo. Both Chris and I won our Logitech Revues through a developer contest held by Google. The Logitech Revue with Google TV is Google’s first foray into…
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How I Used the Internet to Save Time and Money While Shopping
As I believe I’ve stated on most (if not all) of my past articles, I am kind of lazy. I did not line up at 2:30am on Black Friday in hopes of scoring huge deals. In addition to that, I am in college, therefore I am, let’s say, not as financially well off as I…
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Net Neutrality: A Lose-Lose Situation?
Much has been made about net neutrality recently. But what does “net neutrality” really mean? In a nutshell, it’s the idea that Internet Service Providers should not be allowed to discriminate against any type of traffic on their networks, for any reason. While it has many more implications, it has become a hot topic of…
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How The Internet Has Changed (and created new) Holiday Rituals
The internet has changed lives every day. It has changed how we learn, work, and communicate. It’s also changed how we celebrate the holidays – let’s just hope that Santa doesn’t get cheap on us and start sending us presents through email. One of the biggest ways that technology has impacted the holidays is by…
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Holidays 2.0: How the Internet Changed (and saved) Christmas
The internet is without a doubt one of the greatest and furthest reaching inventions in the history of mankind. It allows for near instantaneous communication with people on the other side of the planet (and even in outer space). Internet connectivity has become so ingrained into our everyday lives that it’s often hard to imagine…