KIC E-News -- -Volume 2 Number 1

January 24, 1998

KIC E-News Summary

IN THE NEWS:

DATA OVER POWER LINES

NORTHERN TELCOM – Nortel announces the first successful implementation of electrical modems.

This new technology allows for a high speed data stream to pass from the fuse box back to the transformer where data is passed to a high-speed (generally a fibre optic cable) line. While in the home, the data signal is separated from the incoming power cable (just ahead of the fuse box) and carried to the computer over a dedicated line. It is then attached to the computer through a special devise similar to a modem.

This new technology is currently only available in Great Britain. For those in North America, don't expect your local power company to start offering high speed Internet access too soon. Due to the differences in the electrical power systems between Great Britain and North America, this new technology will not work in North America.

Nortel is promising to make the technology available in North America within the next 1 to 2 years.

LAS VEGAS LOOK OUT

If you’re in the Las Vegas area on Tuesday January 27, 1998 be sure to tune your radios to KLAV 1230 AM at 6:00 PM (local time) for the B&B.Com show. One of the featured guests that evening will be Alan K'necht founder of K'nechtology Inc..

The show is informative and addresses computer problems encountered at home, as well as providing both business and home computer solutions.

KIC E-News COMMENTARY

Anyone who has spent any time surfing the World Wide Web has come across something politely called a “Magic Cookie” or “Cookie” for short. Much has been written about these little bits of code that are automatically written to your computer's hard drive. What is not being said are the facts about “cookies” and why you might want to want to accept them from the web sites you visit.

Here are the facts about “cookies. They are small bits of plain text that are sent to your computer from the web server you are visiting. These bits of code must meet the following criteria:

  • maximum number of characters 256 characters
  • maximum size of 4 kb
  • no more than 20 from one server (oldest ones are replaced)
  • the total stored cannot exceed 300 (oldest ones are replaced)
  • cookie can only be read by the server that issued it

    If all the maximum criteria were implemented, the maximum space of all the “cookies” on your hard drive is 1.2 megs, slightly less then one floppy disk’s worth of information. So why are people upset about “cookies”.

    “Cookie Fear” stems from what information is being stored in a cookie and what it might be used for. The majority of web designers use cookies to identify unique visitors. Other uses include recording user preference to customize the web site to your preference on your next visit, storing temporary information (such as an electronic shopping basket) and many other uses. While only the server that sent you the “cookie” can read the “cookie, the information is visible to anyone accessing your PC directly. So be cautious before accepting “cookies”. Don't accept any “cookies” that store information such as credit card number, User IDs or Passwords.

    The appropriate and functional use of “cookies” can help a designer build a better web site and make your visit more functional. However, if you find that a site is abusing the use of “cookies” don't accept them (see your browser’s manual) and e-mail the webmaster with your complaint.

    For more information on the use of “cookies” contact K'nechtology Inc..

    PRODUCT REVIEW

    GEO through its suite of Emblaze multimedia programs is out to revolutionize the web. Their goal is to eliminate the need for users to download plug-ins before viewing multimedia enhanced web sites. Anyone who has ever visited a web site in search of information only to discover that they need to download a plug-in before they can view it will appreciate Emblaze. Emblaze uses Java Applets to deliver their multimedia content. This makes it available to any Java enabled browser.

    Emblaze multimedia programs consists of their products Audio, Video and Creator. KIC has reviewed all three products and will deliver the reviews in three parts. The first review, (Emblaze Audio) is attached. The other products will be reviewed in the next two issues of KIC E-News.

    Emblaze Audio by GEO (www.emblaze.com)

  • Suggest Retail Price: $295 USD
  • Audience: Web Site Developers
  • Operating Systems: Windows 95, NT 4.0
  • Rating: 4.5 out of 5
  • Version 1.0

    From the beginning, Emblaze Audio is an easy to use program. This product is so simple that the sparse 23 page manual is 22 pages too long. All that is really needed is a single page stating “Click Open File, Select File and then press Compress”. At last software made easy and best of all, Emblaze Audio delivers on its promise to deliver audio streaming from any web site.

    Through the use of an easy to use and pleasing User Interface the web developer can import any “wav” (SND or AIFF on Macs) file into Emblaze. With the simple click the file is automatically converted, compressed and the HTML code necessary to run the applet is simultaneously (optional – user can turnoff HTML generator) generated.

    Test Results:

  • sample file - 6,424 KB
  • compressed file - 482 KB.
  • Compression time - less then 2 minutes (even a Pentium 100 machine)

    Emblaze serves up the audio streaming quickly and effectively even with a 14.4 modem. Emblaze has delivered a low cost alternative to audio servers such as “Real Audio. However during testing with a 14.4 modems, the audio file did periodically pause as the applet waited for more data to be transferred from the web server.

    The only limitation of Emblaze Audio Applet is once the audio has been loaded, the web site visitor has no control over the audio. It would be nice if Emblaze generated a control bar along with the applet that would allow the visitor to pause, or replay the audio without affecting the web page. The good news is (that KIC has been informed) that this feature will be included in the next version of Emblaze Audio.

    There is one small pseudo bug in the program. When viewing the generated code in Netscape 3.0 added text was not visible. By simply changing the applet size from 1 pixel to 2 pixel this problem was eliminated.

    At the low price of $249 USD Emblaze Audio is a must have for anyone wishing to add audio to their web site.

    UNDER REVIEW

    K'nechtology Inc. has completed or is currently reviewing the following software products, be sure to look for the next issue of KIC E-News for more reviews.
    • Emblaze Video by GEO – Final marks 3.5 out of 5
    • Emblaze Creator by GEO - Final marks 3.0 out of 5
    • Emblaze Web Charger by GEO – Preliminary marks 2.5 out 5
    • INET Developer by Pictorius – Preliminary marks
    • Installation – 5 out 5
    • Documentation 2.5 out 5
    • Features – Currently under review

    K'nechtology Inc. is about start testing and evaluating the following products.

    • Emblaze Hot Spots by GEO
    If you have a product you would like to see reviewed in a future issue of KIC E-News, please e-mail us at answers@knechtology.com

    Please feel free to circulate KIC E-News to your friends and colleagues. Commentary is always welcomed and should be sent to answers@knechtology.com.

    If you would like to find out more about K'nechtology Inc. please visit our web site at www.knechtology.com. For more information on any topic covered in KIC E--News, please contact K'nechtology Inc. by e-mail answers@knechtology.com or by telephone at 416.855.6351.

    For Canadian recipients of KIC E-News, be sure to look for regular articles and product reviews by our founder Alan K'necht in Computer World Canada.