The Geek Withinletting the inner geek shine through…

Ethernet is the accepted standard protocol for communications that is rooted on software applications and hardware devices designed for LAN (Local Area Network) structure. It was initially introduced in 1973 by Bob Metcalfe under the DIX (Digital, Intel and Xerox) company. Ethernet was later on labeled as the standard model structure for LANs globally. The concept of Ethernet was generally based on communicating computers structure via shared coaxial cable. Coaxial cable functions as a medium of broadcast transmission. The shared cable links all computers providing a communication channel which is attached to the ether. Ether is the basis for the name Ethernet. This general concept employed by the initial Ethernet structure was later on developed to employ more efficient and dependable system. It was not long before Ethernet became the base foundation of standard LAN (Local Area Network) structures. Point –to-point links was employed via Ethernet hubs links or switches which are more cost efficient and effective. StarLAN marked the initial development stage of the Ethernet technology which changed coaxial cable bus to twisted-pair network. This made the Ethernet system more competitive technological structure via significantly cutting high installation costs. Ethernet can run at different speed rate with corresponding cable category on each rate of speed. Ethernet Cable Categories Cat-1 Cat-1 wiring is popularly used for regular plain old telephone service (POTS) and Integrated Service digital network (ISDN). ISDN is a digital transmission standard over POTS. This category is not duly approved by the TIA (Telecommunications Industries Association). Cat-2 Cat-2 is a wiring category widely used for 4Mbit/s token ring networks. Like Cat-1 wiring Cat-2 wiring is not also accepted by the (TIA). Cat-3 Cat-3 Ethernet cable is commonly used on 10Mbps Ethernet networks before Cat-5 cable. This cable has the ability to support up to 16 MHz frequencies of data networks. Cat-3 Ethernet cable has been identified in TIA/EIA-568-B. Cat-4 Cat-4 Ethernet cable is popularly used on token networks which operate at 16 Mbps and can accommodate up to 20 MHz frequencies. This category of Ethernet cable is not duly recognized by the TIA/EIA. Cat-5 Ethernet cable category Cat-5 is generally used on 100Base-T and 1000Base-T networks. This is due to its ability to operate data transmissions at a minimum of 100 Mbps to a slightly higher Ethernet. Cat-5e Cat-5e is Ethernet cable category is a duly approved by TIA/EIA-568-B. This cable is almost similar to Cat-5 the only difference is Cat-5e is twice more efficient and functional than a regular Cat-5 cable. Cat-5e can support up to 125 Mbps and is most ideal Ethernet cable category for 100Base-T and 1000Base-t (Gigabit Ethernet) Cat-6 Cat-6 Ethernet cable is designed with faster and more efficient technology compared to that of Cat-5 and Cat-5e. This Ethernet cable category can support up to 250 Mbps frequencies. Cat-7 Cat-7 Ethernet cable is commonly used on applications that require 600 Mbps frequencies. This cable category is composed of individual pair of wires with additional shielding on each pair plus an over all cover to shield the cable.

Related articles by this author include: Ethernet and Ethernet. Visit Ethernet.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/information-technology-articles/ethernet-904311.html

Microsoft Direct X pertains to a group of application programming interfaces (APIs), which operate to support multimedia related tasks. Direct X is commonly used on Microsoft environments to operate video and gaming programs. API names are initially identified with the word Direct like DirectMusic, DirectPlay, Direct3D, and many more. Later on DirectX became the commonly used term for the collection of these APIs. Microsoft Windows generally uses Direct3D (Direct X 3D graphics API component) for creating video games in Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Xbox gaming console users. It is popularly used in many other visual graphic software programs like CAD/CAM engineering tool. The DirectX SDK (Software Development Kit) is composed allocatable binary forms of runtime libraries. These binary forms are tagged with headers used for coding purposes. Runtimes were primarily used for gaming applications or via user specification. The DirectX technology was initially not included in the standard Windows 95 operating system but was packaged in Windows 95 OEM Service Release 2 installers after. The succeeding Windows OS were from then on released inclusive of the DirectX application. The most recent DirectX component is the Direct3D 10 and the Direct3D 9Ex, which are exclusively available for the latest Microsoft operating system Windows Vista. This new versions of DirectX are tailored fit to work with Windows Display Driver Model of Vista. History Before Windows 95, the consumer’s deciding factor on which OS is most effective is based on the number and types of applications the OS can support. In the late 1994 three employees of Microsoft, Alex St.John, Eric Engstorm, and Craig Eisler observed that most gaming programmers prefer to use MS-DOS as there development platform. This implied that Windows 95 would then have very limited program options since it does not appeal to many program developers. It turned out that one of the main reasons for this preference is due to the ability of DOS to directly access, most parts of the OS, such as keyboards, video cards, and mice sound devices. These accessibility options were originally restricted on the standard versions of Windows 95 due to its protected memory model. To resolve these problems Microsoft‘s employees leaded by Eisler worked together with his team St.John and Engstrom to develop a technological solution, which later on became the DirectX. DirectX was tested through series of hardware and software application to assure operability and compatibility. The DirectX team made tests and sample distribution to computer hardware manufacturers and software developers, which helped them validate whether DirectX is ready for its final release. DirectX program was initially introduced in September 1995. It replaced existing applications such as WinG APIs for Windows 3.1 and Win32 for DCI. Direct3D 11 Direct3D11 is the latest DirectX component presented in the previous Gamefest 08 event in Seattle. This version of DirectX has the ability to sustain GPGPU (General-purpose computing on graphics processing units) technology and provides highly developed multi-threading assistance that allow video game programmers to fully utilize multi-core processors. Direct3D 11 is compatible with Windows Vista/7 and other anticipated operating systems.

Related articles by this author include: DirectX and DirectX. Visit DirectX.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/information-technology-articles/directx-904313.html

Music has become an integral part of the lives of millions of people. It is believed that by listening to music you can actually relax from your daily hectic schedule. Music has a power that can actually enhance your good feelings and take you on a gentle journey. Looking at this importance of music, Apple Inc introduced the unique music gadget called the iPod.

An iPod can actually help you to listen to a large collection of songs while on a move or just sitting anywhere. The compact size of an iPod makes it easy to carry anywhere. You can easily find the youngsters of today carrying their iPod with the headphones fitted tightly inside their ears. An iPod is a rectangular gadget with a bright and large clean screen which stores and plays a large number of audio songs, videos. An iPod is a real hassle free musical device which gives you freedom from the changing of CD’s or cassettes as was required in the walkmans of the earlier times. There are iPods with a storage capacity of 120 GB allowing you to store around 30,000 songs of your choice. Apart from this storage capacity, the markets also contain the iPods of different other storage capacities. The very wide screen of the iPod is its main attraction as you can have the pleasure of a big screen while on your move. The manual control of the iPods makes it easy to shuffle through the wide collection of your favourite songs. You can easily download songs into your iPod with the help of the program called the iTunes. With the help of iTunes, you can easily enhance your song collection which is already loaded into your iPod.

iPods have certain exclusive features which make them even more in demand. So, why wait go ahead and get your iPod today.

iPod Accessories online store. Accessories for iPod Touch, iPod Classic, iPod Shuffle, iPod Nano, iPhone and older iPods.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/information-technology-articles/exclusive-features-of-ipods-907971.html