Satellite Internet is the answer for high-speed internet in rural America

Does your current internet service get you where you want to go quickly enough? Are you able to surf the web without hassles? You might consider signing up with WildBlue, chosen for the prestigious Broadband Reports Gold Star Rating. WildBlue offers high-speed satellite internet service to homes, home offices and small offices. Check out a listing of WildBlue packages, including the Value Pak, Select Pak and Pro Pak.

Satellite Internet is always connected and always on! This reliability, along with lightning speed and affordabilty, makes satellite internet stand above dial-up internet companies. It's worth getting high-speed satellite internet that lets you surf the web efficiently without frustrating dialing delays and "bump off" scenarios.

It's a whopping 30 times faster than dial-up, giving you downloads at a rate of 1.5 Mbps and uploads at a rate of up to 256 Kbps! This two-way wireless system lets you download music and movies, share photos and more.

Rural areas rejoice! Hi-speed satellite internet now available virtually everywhere!

Do you live in tranquility on a mountaintop? You'll be happy to know that high-speed satellite is available across 48 states in almost every corner of the contiguous United States. Even if you live in a remote rural area, you can usually be connected as easily as city dwellers. Read the exceedingly positive feedback from customers who live off the beaten trail who have subscribed to WildBlue.

WildBlue's high-speed internet satellite technology

WildBlue has five gateways throughout the U.S. and Canada which connect WildBlue's satellite access network with the Internet. These gateways are made up of microwave, Internet and other broadband equipment.

The WildBlue satellite is designed with cutting-edge technology. Using a Ka-band communications system aboard Telesat's Anik F2 satellite, its 31 spot-beams reliably deliver signals between the satellite and its receivers on the ground. The customer's PC and modem are connected either via Ethernet or wirelessly.

Comparisons among high-speed satellite internet companies

The only equipment you'll need is a 26" mini-dish and modem. Installation, which takes 2 to 3 hours, involves setting up the dish in a clear line with the Southern sky.

Don't worry about changing your ISP services! Now at satellite speeds you can use your same web browser and e-mail while surfing your favorite sites.

Most computers in use today already meet the minimum requirements to be hooked up to Satellite Internet. Specifications are that a PC/Windows program needs a processing speed of 300 MHz or faster, a minimum of 128 MB Random Access Memory (RAM) and Windows 2000, XP Home or XP Professional and Vista operating systems. In addition, 100 MB of hard drive space and an ethernet card are required.

A Macintosh needs 300 MHz or faster processing speed, 128 MB Random Access Memory (RAM), and OS 10.4 or higher operating system. Also 100 MB of hard drive space and an ethernet card are required.

Order Satellite Internet today

Act now on a special deal! For a limited time only, get FREE installation and $50 OFF equipment. Ask us how! Also get FREE AntiVirus/AntiSpyware software for one year, equal to a $30 value!

* Selected areas only: Promotional offer valid through March 31, 2010. Value Package monthly bill will show a regular price of $49.95 with a $10 credit for the first 12 months of your 24-month contract. After 12 months the Value Package monthly price will automatically revert to $49.95. Select Package monthly bill will show a regular price of $54.95 with a $15 credit for the first 12 months of your 24-month contract. After 12 months the Select Package monthly price will automatically revert to $69.95. Enter your ZIP code to check for service availability and WildBlue Promotional Offers in your area.

** 30X Faster based on file download speed comparison between Pro package and 42 Kbps dial-up. Actual speeds will vary depending on time of day and how many customers are simultaneously using the WildBlue network in your area.

*** Anti-Virus/Anti-Spyware FREE for the first 12 months. After the first 12 months, optionally, $2.95/month. Offer ends 03/31/10.

Full terms and offer details.

How the Internet is changing the way People Shop

In the year 2010, it’s possible to see a time when there will be far fewer retail stores than there are now … when malls will be places where people congregate, perhaps dine, but not shop for merchandise. This time, in the future, may signal the end of the neighborhood store, as well.

There will be no need for walk-in stores in America’s future because the Internet will make it obsolete. The argument can be made that the process has already begun.

 

Consider that if you have a personal desktop computer and regular access to the Internet, you also have access to a broad range of online stores. In fact, every walk-in store you’ve ever been to, from large well-known department stores like Macy’s to big chain stores for do-it-yourselfers like Home Depot to major appliance stores to national pharmacies and more – all have a prominent online presence.

In fact, their online stores are electronic retail establishments that are always open … safe and easy-to-use environments where you can look at, learn about and buy every item that might be available in the walk-in store. The difference for you, of course, is that you don’t have to leave home to walk-in to any store in order to make a purchase.

You can buy what you want from the comfort of your easy chair, pay for it immediately … and wait until it is delivered right to your front door. Is the access you currently enjoy to online shopping your opportunity to “glance into the future?” It may be exactly that. As people like you, with busy, active lives, find it more and more convenient to shop online, there will be less and less desire to drive to a nearby mall, park in a crowded lot … and deal with the crowds, noise and jostling that are often part of the mall experience.

The truth is that it appears to be almost inevitable that people will no longer visit stores to shop for merchandise, with the possible exception of supermarkets (since food supplies are needed when you shop for them).That day may still be far off, but perhaps not as far as you might imagine.

After all, everybody likes convenience. And nothing can be easier than “visiting” an online store to buy such things as furniture … clothing … appliances … office supplies … lamps and lighting supplies … electronics – the list goes on and on.

It is not too hard to imagine that today’s super malls will eventually become tomorrow’s meeting place for teenagers. After all, they will always need somewhere to go in order to spend time with friends. And since there will be no libraries …

 

The Internet …

It’s the World’s Information Highway

It should come as no surprise to anyone who uses a personal computer … the Internet is rapidly replacing the traditional ways of gathering information. In the 230 year history of the United States, people have always turned to books to learn anything they needed to know.

If a book such as a dictionary or encyclopedia were not available in the home, a trip to the library became necessary. Students, at every age and grade level, would use libraries – at school and the municipal library, as well, to find text books covering every subject imaginable – from American history to European or world history … biology to physics … geometry to algebra … economics to domestic politics and more, much, much more.

It was necessary to find a printed book because there was no other source for the information. That was the way it was for all Americans right up until about fifteen or twenty years ago. That’s when the personal desktop computer became popular, not just for its business or professional applications, but also as a use-at-home tool for a variety of purposes.

Of course, the early desktops were still a bit technical and intimidating to many people … until the Internet was created. Call it one of the landmark moments in all of human history. It changed everything … the way people shop … look for employment … communicate with one another … and gather information.

Today, personal computers are remarkably user-friendly and most people who have computers know exactly how to access information for school … for business … or for other reasons. For example, virtually everyone who has a computer knows that there is an easily-accessible online encyclopedia called Wikipedia. It contains information on everyone and everything … and it’s instantly available. There is absolutely no need to leave home and run over to the Public Library, not when you can get the same information while sitting in your favorite easy chair.

Need information about a specific medical condition? It’s there inside your computer. All you have to do is use a Search Engine like Google to find it. That is something that every computer owner knows how to do. Planning a trip to an exotic locale and want to know what you can expect to find when you get there? That information is also available. As before, just use the search engine to find stories, articles and information – in detail – about anything you want and need to know.

As technology continues to improve and enhance the way we do things, it’s worth wondering what will happen to such things as books and Public Libraries. Will they be part of America’s future … or will future generations learn about them from an online encyclopedia?

 

 

The Internet for Music Lovers

If there is one thing that everybody uses the Internet for its music. With less diversity on the radio and rising album prices, the Internet has become more popular, less expensive, and a much faster alternative in finding the music you love. In rural America many people suffer with dial up Internet, which makes finding, buying and listening to music online more of a pain than a convenience.

It doesn't have to be this way.

With WildBlue satellite Internet you can download all of your favorite music at speeds 30x faster then dial up. Wild Blue gives you the ability to enjoy the internet and all it has to offer in rural America, just as it's enjoyed in the big cities.

Country or rock, jazz or rap, indie or classical, no matter what your taste in music WildBlue will make it easy to find and enjoy what you’re looking for. With new music released everyday from countless artists, the Internet has become a treasure trove of new and old music. The Internet gives you options when it comes to your music that just aren't available with store bought music. You don’t want to buy the whole album? No problem, just pick and choose the tracks you want to buy. Can’t find your favorite artist in stores? Just jump online and download their album. Don't want to pay for all the songs on a CD? On the internet, pay only for the songs you want. You can even preview songs before you order music on-line. Wild Blue can turn your Internet into a stop shop for music. Here is what you need to get started.

Finding Music On The Internet

Music downloading services have made it easer then ever to find and listen to your favorite artist. These services offer millions of songs in almost every kind of genre you can think of. As far as finding the right music and finding it fast, the better downloading services let you search for music by artist, song title, or album. Best of all, songs are priced so that they don’t break the bank.

Listen Before You Buy

When you buy a CD at the store you don’t really know if you will like it. With music downloading services they allow you to preview part or sometimes all of a song. This is important to do. This also reassures you are buying the right song, version, or mix that you want.

Playing Your Music

Almost all of the downloading services have a built in music player and organizer. This makes downloading, playing and keeping track of you music very easy. Also if you have a portable music device like an iPod or Zune, you can transfer the downloaded music to your device to take with you in your car, to work, to the gym, or where ever you want to listen to music. This makes it convenient for when you’re on the move.

Music Download Services - Features To Look For

MP3 Music Selection

Downloading services should have a wide selection of music and artist across all genres. A 6 to 7 million-song library is considered average 8 million would be ideal.

You should look for a service that offers more then just a place to download. Some features to look for are things like a built in music player, song preview, album covers, and even detail info about the artist you are downloading.

Music Search Capabilities

A download service should give you the ability to find music fast and easy allowing you to search by artist, album, song title, and even genre. With out those search options it will be very hard to find what you’re looking for.

Internet Music Pricing

Buying an album in stores can set you back $15 bucks. Song prices online start at around 49 cents. 99 cents is the normal going rate when it comes to better downloading services and sometimes you can land a discount when you buy the whole album at once. Anything more then 99 cents, you should just go buy the album.

Best Music Download Services

iTunes

Has a great library of songs with more then 8 million available track for purchase. Awesome built in music player. Great features like song preview and a built in organizer for all your music. ITunes also has additional content like TV shows, movies, audiobooks, and more. Songs are to be used on an iPod only, but that’s ok considering the iPod is the number 1 MP3 player out there.

Napster

Has a solid library of songs with a little more then 7 million. Great search engine finding the right song even if you spell the title wrong. Has a built in music player, but it could be better. Songs are compatible with any portable device, great for people who don’t have iPods.

AmazonMP3

Their music library is a just ok having barely 6 million but they are adding new songs everyday. Search engine is somewhat lacking with a single search box giving the most relevant results. They do have compatibility with all portable devices and they are cheaper then other services with songs starting at .79 cents.

Rhapsody

They have a great search engine giving you suggestions on what to search for. Music downloads; player, and organizer are simple, fast, and easy to use. Where Rhapsody fails is their library. Rhapsody, originally a streaming service, has over 5 million song but only 3 million are available for download. The rest of the library is for streaming only.

When Apple CEO Steve Jobs raved in early 2009 how the iPad would change the technology world forever people in the technology world started to grow crazy with anticipation. Even before the release people expected the iPad to be the best thing that Apple has ever released, which is a big deal considering Apple has created the iPod, which pretty much everyone in the world currently owns, and the iPhone that transformed the way smartphones are now made.

But just like the iPod, and iPhone, the iPad which will hit the market with a $499 starting price tag got mixed reviews when it was launched early this month. Some people loved the sleek new look and others bashed it for not having most of the features that you could get in a laptop. Hate it or love it just like the previous two devices this is the first generation iPad by the time the third version comes out it will be considered by most the best thing in the world. Even though the critics who hate the iPad have nothing good to say about it, they all agree that the iPad will be the end of the Kindle and any other electronic reader out there.

I have yet to see or use an iPad so I will hold out my opinion of it, but here is what some experts in the field have to say about it.

Quotes on the iPad

Tech Blogger Allegemeine Zeitung “expectations for the new Apple product were so high they were difficult to fulfill.”

Om Malik from tech site GigaOm “ its perfectly made for the consumption of digital media: games, music, photos, videos, magazines, newspapers, and e-books.”

Britain’s Daily Telegraph tech writer Claudine Beaumont “it won’t replace your laptop, but I think it may have sounded the death knell for notebook computers.”

MG Siegler of TechCrunch “ it felt like I was holding the future.”

Nintendo President Saturo Iwata “ it’s a bigger iPod Touch, there were no surprises for me.”

Was Apple the second company to make the iPad?

Back in August a Chinese company by the name of Shenzhen Great Loong Brother Industrial Co developed the “P88” which looks just like the newly launched iPad. The only real difference is the P88 is thicker with a larger screen, more memory, and has USB ports. While many believe Apple were the first ones to come up with the concept, executives for the P88 say that they were first and Apple designed the same thing they all ready did. However many do agree that the iPad is better than the already distributed P88 but it makes you wonder how did two company design two similar products within a short period of time.

For what I can tell I think the iPad would be a good device to have because of it’s light weight which makes it much more easier to carry around then a laptop. You can play games, download music and books right to it which saves you room. The only thing I don’t like about it is the price tag that starts at $499 and if you want 3G high-speed Internet access there is a monthly charge for that. But when its all said and done millions of loyal Apple customers will purchase one as soon as they become available in a couple of months, me probably being one of them.

To us and many other countries, Google provides High Speed Internet the tool we use to find anything we are looking for on the web today. There are other search engines out there like Yahoo, and Bing but Google remains the most used search engine in the United States today. For us we can openly search for any information we want to without restrictions, but for citizens in China it’s not the same.

Unlike major companies that fear losing such a big market by not having service in China. Google announced that they might be severing ties with China due to the major restrictions the Chinese government places on companies that advertise or do business in China.

For a while now Google has been contemplating closing down they’re headquarters in the Beijing high tech district. Yahoo was one of the first major companies to pull years ago after having continuous run ins with the Chinese government over censorship issues.

The Chinese governments continuously blocks Google sites like Youtube, Facebook, and Twitter and constantly watches what is put out on the Internet. Many people feel that the government has taken away the countries rights to freedom of speech by doing so. And with Google pulling out 360 million users will no longer be able to access the popular search giant other products like Google Maps, Gmail, Free music downloads, and Google Voice, which allows users to make phone calls over the Internet.

Right now google accounts for 32% of the search revenue in China, which some experts predict is valued at over $600 million annually. But for a company that brings in $22 Billion annually they are able to afford to lose the business as they look for other outlets and ways to replace the loss of China.

For now both sides are trying to work out a way that allows both sides to feel comfortable with the other. For Google they just want to be able to continue supplying the country with the same service they provide elsewhere. But the Chinese government is set in their ways and does not agree with the citizens of the country freely looking up any information they want without any repercussion.

There is not a day that goes by that I do not use the Internet for some reason, unless I am on vacation somewhere that does not have service. The Internet is used by millions of people all across the world for many different reasons. So I decided to list my top 10 reasons why I think people use the Internet on a daily basis.

1. News – Growing up my parents would always get the local newspaper every morning and read it before work or after work. Now print publications are falling faster than the economy due to online news. Instead of flipping through newspapers and paying a subscription fee, you can easily sit at your computer or laptop and getting all of latest local and world news for free.

2. Information – Most people are curious by nature, so the Internet provides a way for them to find an answer to any question the may have by simply asking a question. Search engine sites like Google, Yahoo, and now Bing offer a way for people to find and answers and other opinions to whatever question is on their mind.

3. Communication – People use to just pick up the phone and call somebody when they wanted to talk to them. Now a lot of people send emails as a way of communicating with someone else. I can relate to this a lot, being the coach of my sons basketball team the only way I can get in touch with most of the parents on my sons team is through emails because everyone tends to have different schedules. Email allows you to keep everyone on the same page without any confusion.

4. Recent Events – There are many things going on in the world that interest many different people. By using the Internet you can find out the scores of any sporting event on websites like ESPN.com. You can also find the next time there will be a concert or an event around your area. Or a recap of something you just missed going on due to your busy schedule.

5. Social Networking – Five years ago this wouldn’t have been in my top ten, but due to the growth of websites like Facebook, Twitter, Digg, and Myspace social networking is becoming one of the main reasons people log on today. Social networking allows people to get in touch with old friends they have not seen in years and keep in touch.

6. Entertainment – There are many ways to keep yourself entertained these days through the Internet. With video game sales being at an all time high, players can log in through game systems like Playstation 3 and Xbox live t o play people in different states and countries. Also there is Youtube that has some of the funniest videos that I have ever seen in my life.

7. Download Files – The days of going to a store to buy CD’s are almost gone. Now you can log into sites like Itunes and download your favorite CD or songs right to your computer, IPOD, or MP3 player. You can also download movies and TV shows that you may have missed or wanted to see.

8. Marketing – Instead of paying $500,000 for a 30 second commercial on a major TV network. Companies are paying a 1/5 of that price to display Ads all over the Internet on sites that target their demographic audience. Small business owners also use the Internet to try and grow their business without spending a lot of money.

9. Online Banking – Today more than ever people are staying away from giving out private banking information over the phone or through the mail. With online banking it allows you set up dates for your bills to be paid directly out of your account on time so you don’t have to worry about late fees. You can also quickly check your balance and move money around without stopping into a bank and waiting around for the next available teller.

10. Online Education – Today parents who have little kids at home don’t really have time in their schedules to go to school at night after working a full day. Online schools allows them to come home spend time with the kids, and once they go to bed log online and start studying and working on getting their degree from a major university that could be 3000 miles away.

For customers that live in rural areas and tried most of these but because they are stuck on dial up they were not able to, Wildblue is your solution. Wildblue offers high-speed Internet service to rural area residents that cannot get DSL service through their local companies at a low cost.

Now more than ever more and more people are turning to High Speed Internet service to find out the latest news, and with the facts coming out about the attempted Christmas day bombing of an airline flight heading from Amsterdam to Detroit that failed due to the explosives not being set up the right way. It seems that all of it could’ve been avoided had someone answered one of his many questions he posted online.

The 23 year old Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab who went by the online name of “Farouk1986”starting posting message online in early 2005 about how he was having a hard time making friends, and fitting in at his boarding school. He also sought out guidance to help him with his Muslim beliefs but most of his messages went unanswered. Each message he posted seemed to show the decline in a person who friends in school say was one of the nicest and caring people in the world.

When the news broke that Umar was the suspect in the attempted terrorist attack many people and friends were all shocked except for his parents. Over the last couple of years Umar’s father Umaru felt his sons growing radical beliefs might lead to trouble, so he went into the U.S embassy in Nigeria to report his son. At the time a file was created but not much else was done after the terrorism center in Washington D.C decided that the information was not worth pursuing.

It makes you wonder how many times this whole thing could’ve been stopped ahead of time. Obviously Umar was looking for help, and ended up finding it in the wrong place. His father warned officials that his son was probably going to harm innocent people but nobody really listened. If someone had taken time and replied to one of his many messages I wonder if it would have changed the outcome of a young man who came from a very privileged family but was led down the wrong path that almost cost hundreds of innocent people their life’s.

If high-speed Internet service is not available in your area the following link can help you obtain the service you are looking for. /internet

Do you work from home by connecting to your companies network, access school assignments through your schools network? If so, you may be tunneling or connecting through a VPN.

VPN or Virtual Private Network is a computer network that is implemented in an additional software layer, on top of an existing larger network for the purpose of creating a private and secure computer communication into an insecure network such as the Internet.

The connection between nodes of a virtual private network are formed with virtual circuits between hosts of the larger network. The Link layer protocols of the virtual network are described as tunneling through an underlying transport network.

VPNs are often used by organizations (companies, schools, etc.) to provide remote access to their secure network. Because VPN connections are more complex in nature than say a point-to-point connection, they require authentication and must maintain that handshake of sorts for the duration of the connection. VPN administrators will do things such as masking the IP address of the individual computers within the Internet in order to, for instance surf the World Wide Web anonymously or access a locations restricted services.

VPN connections are possible for folks with even slower dial up connections, but not possible with satellite Internet services, even though the connections are some 10-30 times faster than dialup. The problem with satellite Internet is transmission latency. This is merely a half second delay when a satellite modem transmits a signal into outer space to a satellite, which then returns the transmission to earth. It is unnoticeable to the end user except when that user attempts to use things such as VoIP (Vonage), or real-time games such as World of Warcraft and VPN.

The problem with satellite Internet latency and VPN connections is basically authentication related. Because VPNs allow connections only from known trusted users, said users are provided with appropriate security privileges to access resources with the network. Users need to authenticate themselves to join the VPN and must maintain that “handshake” through the connection. Satellite Internet transmission latency, that mere half second delay, causes in a sense, the tunnel to collapse and forces the end users to constantly authenticate to the VPN. Although dialup is painfully slow, the connection is constant and therefore can sustain itself through a VPN tunnel.

That is probably way more than most Internet users ever needed to know about how they may or may not connect to resources from home outside their ISPs network, but hopefully it can help some consumers decide between whether they can go ahead and drop the “trailing edge” technology that is dial up service for something much better such as satellite Internet service.

Of all the Voice Over Internet Protocol service options, Vonage is clearly the most popular. Reviews have always been mixed, for every customer who loves the service you will find another who has issues with either performance or restrictions. Those restrictions sometimes are not with Vonage itself, but rather with various products you wish to use that have issues or at least side effects when Vonage is present.

For those who are looking into Vonage, let’s examine just what exactly is involved with this product, what it can provide and what may not work well with it.

In order to use the service, customers must purchase or use a Vonage branded VoIP router or a phone adapter that connects to their main router or broadband modem. In addition, you’ll need an upload speed between 90-200 kbps as well as a reliable QoS optimized connection to make calls without substantial lag or jitter.

Vonage will require a contract of sorts, so make sure that this service will benefit you in the way you think it will. Most Vonage offers come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, but be careful, Vonage will require customers to cancel service by calling a toll-free number. Customers have described excessive hold times lasting in some cases more than 30-minutes. In a 12-month period, the Better Business Bureau received more than 3,000 customer complaints. Most of the complaints were service related, with billing and refund issues close behind.

Although Vonage markets its service as having no contracts or long-term commitments, customers are charged a fee of $39.99 for canceling within two years of having started service. A Rebate Recovery fee is also assessed if the account is cancelled after the 30-day money-back guarantee, but before 180-days of service. Customers who cancel are also responsible for the cost of return shipping to Vonage.

All of this may be worst-case scenario, so let’s look at the service itself. First, VoIP services, which is what Vonage is, will be dependent upon a consistent broadband ISP connection and VoIP equipment compatibility with the ISP’s modem. This alone makes Vonage not compatible with Satellite Internet providers, dedicated Fax lines, most residential alarm systems and TiVo.

You might be thinking at this point, magicJack may be a better option. magicJack is a computer peripheral that, in combination with telephony service from magicJack’s related company YMAX, which provides the Internet based telephone service to the United States. magicJack is a USB device that holds both the software necessary to place Internet-based phone calls via a customer supplied high speed Internet connection, and electronics called Subscriber Line Interface or SLIC, which supports conventional landline telephones, which can be plugged directly into the device.

In January 2008 PC Magazine reviewed magicJack and rated it as Very Good and awarded it their Editor’s Choice award. But, in February 2009, after dozens of complaints received about their support of the device, PC Magazine re-reviewed the product and reduced its rating from Very Good to Good.

The main complaints by customers were concerns with the advertisements displayed by the product and a policy that allows YMAX to analyze numbers called by subscribers. These numbers are then researched by YMAX and the annoying advertisements you are forced to live with are then targeted and become more relevant to YMAX’s findings in the research done on the numbers coming in and out of your magicJack.

If you find that to be somewhat controlling, up until November of 2007, magicJack wasn’t providing an uninstall method either in the software or in any documentation that came with the product. Removing the software from Windows required a registry hack. You can now uninstall the product on Windows, but it requires a download from magicjack.com. There is currently no such mechanism for Mac users.

For me I’ll take my chances with good old-fashioned phone service or cell phone service.