The truth behind the “I’m Gandalf and Magneto” & “Han Solo, Indiana Jones and Blade Runner” T-shirts…
You may have seen these pictures over the last few days on the Internet…
But you realize they are not real? If not, then you might want to see the history of these shirts…. They first started as a joke, but mutated out of control…
Evidently people on the Internet don’t understand when you try something new…
Valve, please give Erin a chance, at least a call…. That’s all she’s asking for…
What Is a Port Number?
To the uninitiated or the otherwise-gifted computer user, technical geek-speak can be rather frustrating and aggravating. When instructions are filled with such things as “port,” “TCP,” “UDP,” and other acronyms or technical terminology, the user feels more isolated and rarely finds a solution or comprehension. Fortunately, comprehension is just moments away.
Port
Picture a bay where there are lots of private boats are docked. The overall location is called a seaport, literally a port at or on the sea. Everyone wanting to dock there, requesting landing services, uses the same port. Seaports work with berth numbers assigned to individual boats. The port name and the berth number combine into the “who, what, and where” of boat identification.
The berth numbers on the Internet are Internet Protocol or IP addresses, a user’s numerical identifier on the Internet. Depending on connection type and service provider, a user’s IP address may or may not remain the same with each connection to or “docking” on the Internet.
A computer port is a type of electronic, software- or programming-related docking point through which information flows from a program on your computer or to your computer from the Internet or another computer in a network.
Ports are numbered for consistency and programming. The most commonly used and best known ports are those numbered 0 to 1023 dedicated for Internet use, but they can extend far higher for specialized purposes. Each port set or range is assigned specialized jobs or functions, and that’s generally all they do. Usually, all identical system services or functions use the same port numbers on the receiving servers.
For example, all computers accessing or requesting Quote of the Day will always use port 17, because that port is officially reserved for that purpose, and only requests for that service use port 17. Outgoing information is channeled through a different or private port, keeping the “incoming line” open for others. Email received on a local computer generally uses a TCP port 25. File Transport Protocol or FTP uses port 21, to name only a few port assignments.
TCP/UDP
TCP stands for Transmission Control Protocol, and UDP is the abbreviation for User Datagram Protocol. Both pertain to data transmissions on the Internet, but they work very differently.
TCP is considerably more reliable. It is connection-based transmission of data. TCP requires that the data being sent is received in the order that it was sent. The only transmission that fails is one that is broken (for instance, if the transmitting point’s Internet connection was lost or a receiver’s website is down or an email address is no longer valid. The email server is the receiving point that counts thereÑnot the user name.)
UDP is connectionless protocol. Data is sent regardless of the receiving destination’s status. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that the data will ever be received, in what order, or in what condition. If the data is received out of order, the receiving computer must piece it back together properly.
Another difference between TCP and UDP surrounds data streaming. Data sets sent via TCP are sent seamlessly; there is no separation between bits of data which allows for a smoother viewing or listening experience.
UDP streaming data sets or packages are guaranteed to arrive, but they do so individually. Slightly lagging or jerking pictures or sound may result as each separately arriving package is received, read, and played. While seeming to contradict the above, the difference is in the data “packaging” aspect. Bits of data, those individual letters, aren’t guaranteed to arrive or in what shape. The streaming data is packaged “in bulk,” and boxes are sent, not envelopes. The streaming data “boxes” are sent along more reliably, and if they’re requested, they’ll be delivered. Consider the delivery of a higher priority, air travel versus ground transportation or certified mail versus standard mail.
Port Range Groups
0 to 1023 – Well known port numbers. Only special companies like Apple QuickTime, MSN, SQL Services, Gopher Services and other prominent services have these port numbers.
1024 to 49151 – Registered ports; meaning they can be registered to specific protocols by software corporations.
49152 to 65536 – Dynamic or private ports; meaning that they can be used by just about anybody.
What Is a Port Number?
To the uninitiated or the otherwise-gifted computer user, technical geek-speak can be rather frustrating and aggravating. When instructions are filled with such things as “port,” “TCP,” “UDP,” and other acronyms or technical terminology, the user feels more isolated and rarely finds a solution or comprehension. Fortunately, comprehension is just moments away.
Port
Picture a bay where there are lots of private boats are docked. The overall location is called a seaport, literally a port at or on the sea. Everyone wanting to dock there, requesting landing services, uses the same port. Seaports work with berth numbers assigned to individual boats. The port name and the berth number combine into the “who, what, and where” of boat identification.
The berth numbers on the Internet are Internet Protocol or IP addresses, a user’s numerical identifier on the Internet. Depending on connection type and service provider, a user’s IP address may or may not remain the same with each connection to or “docking” on the Internet.
A computer port is a type of electronic, software- or programming-related docking point through which information flows from a program on your computer or to your computer from the Internet or another computer in a network.
Ports are numbered for consistency and programming. The most commonly used and best known ports are those numbered 0 to 1023 dedicated for Internet use, but they can extend far higher for specialized purposes. Each port set or range is assigned specialized jobs or functions, and that’s generally all they do. Usually, all identical system services or functions use the same port numbers on the receiving servers.
For example, all computers accessing or requesting Quote of the Day will always use port 17, because that port is officially reserved for that purpose, and only requests for that service use port 17. Outgoing information is channeled through a different or private port, keeping the “incoming line” open for others. Email received on a local computer generally uses a TCP port 25. File Transport Protocol or FTP uses port 21, to name only a few port assignments.
TCP/UDP
TCP stands for Transmission Control Protocol, and UDP is the abbreviation for User Datagram Protocol. Both pertain to data transmissions on the Internet, but they work very differently.
TCP is considerably more reliable. It is connection-based transmission of data. TCP requires that the data being sent is received in the order that it was sent. The only transmission that fails is one that is broken (for instance, if the transmitting point’s Internet connection was lost or a receiver’s website is down or an email address is no longer valid. The email server is the receiving point that counts thereÑnot the user name.)
UDP is connectionless protocol. Data is sent regardless of the receiving destination’s status. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that the data will ever be received, in what order, or in what condition. If the data is received out of order, the receiving computer must piece it back together properly.
Another difference between TCP and UDP surrounds data streaming. Data sets sent via TCP are sent seamlessly; there is no separation between bits of data which allows for a smoother viewing or listening experience.
UDP streaming data sets or packages are guaranteed to arrive, but they do so individually. Slightly lagging or jerking pictures or sound may result as each separately arriving package is received, read, and played. While seeming to contradict the above, the difference is in the data “packaging” aspect. Bits of data, those individual letters, aren’t guaranteed to arrive or in what shape. The streaming data is packaged “in bulk,” and boxes are sent, not envelopes. The streaming data “boxes” are sent along more reliably, and if they’re requested, they’ll be delivered. Consider the delivery of a higher priority, air travel versus ground transportation or certified mail versus standard mail.
Port Range Groups
0 to 1023 – Well known port numbers. Only special companies like Apple QuickTime, MSN, SQL Services, Gopher Services and other prominent services have these port numbers.
1024 to 49151 – Registered ports; meaning they can be registered to specific protocols by software corporations.
49152 to 65536 – Dynamic or private ports; meaning that they can be used by just about anybody.
Folks,
Here is a list of processes that I have documented from various sources on the Internet. If you have any suggestions for additions, please leave a comment with the suggestions or changes…
Please note: If you list the processes in use, you may find processes marked as “0xdeadbeef.anonymous.program”. These are jobs which are not managed by launchd, but, at one point, made a request to it. launchd claims no ownership and makes no guarantees regarding these jobs. They are stored purely for bookkeeping purposes.
We’ve all seen it. The little “On My Mac” label in Apple Mail, or Entourage’s “On My Computer” label…
Almost every modern mail package offers a similar feature, but many people don’t understand what this means… So here’s the scoop.
There are three different major ways to handle email:
POP, or Post Office Protocol is an older standard from 1984. The core issue with POP is it is designed to remove your mail from the server and it is only stored on your local machine.
Pros:
Cons:
IMAP, or “Internet Message Access Protocol”, was designed in 1988 to fill in gaps that Pop created. For example, the major issue with pop is that you are unable to share basic information between different mail applications. So IMAP allows the server to track if a message has been read, deleted, forwarded, etc, so that all IMAP clients are aware of this.
Simply stated if you check your mail from home, when you get to work, your work mail will be read as well. Anything you delete from your work computer, will also be deleted from your home computer. You also can have folders that are on the server so you can organize your email, and depending on the installation IMAP supports server based searches.
Pros:
Cons:
So, in Apple Mail, you will see the Server name, and the “Inbox”. If you have an IMAP connection, you can place folders on the server and organize your mail on the server. The “On My Mac” or “On My Computer” refer to folders / mailboxes that have been created on your local computer and stored there. If you have a computer failure, and don’t have backups, that mail will be lost with no way to recover it.
Now, Pop3 does have unofficial support for “Keeping your mail on the server for XXX days”. But this is not a standard and how it works will vary widely depending on your mail applications. For example, some applications only allow 7 days, or up to 30… But even so, your read / delete and reply status will not be stored with the mail. So if another mail package connects and downloads the mail it will appear to be unread.
IMAP is currently the better choice, assuming it’s available. In most cases your mail provider should support IMAP connections…
Internet TV is threatening to turn cable TV’s subscription model on its head with on demand programming and rentals, but there is a key component that’s missing: content discovery. There is still no better way to find out what’s on than to flip through channels.
Apple TV, the Boxee Box, Google TV, Hulu, Roku, and a sundry of desktop (and now mobile) applications comprise a compelling alternative to traditional cable TV service. My colleague Harry McCracken has them all pretty well covered.
I know many people who have “unplugged” themselves from the shackles of costly year-long contracts. Why pay for channels that you don’t watch? Those people are typically more technically savvy than most of the population. I just recently upgraded my mother’s 1980s big screen TV to an HDTV.
My mother and I find what’s on TV in much the same way: we channel surf or use a “guide.” There are more than a few shows that drew me in by happenstance. AMC’s “Breaking Bad” is my favorite “accident.” Internet TV is surfing with a net, keeping us in the familiar, and not venturing out into the unexplored.
That’s from David Worthington from the Technologizer.
Here’s a crazy idea, talk to friends, talk to neighbors, go to TitanTV or the TV Guide web site… All of these are neat ways to get ideas on what is on TV, and or to schedule your TV viewing.
Or check your daily newspaper, or subscribe to the Sunday newspaper, they both use to include (I assume they still do) TV listings for your area…
But, if you want to find accidential gems of TV shows. I have two words.
YOU TUBE!
Go over to youtube, type the keyword “TV” and add a random word. I guarantee you will find something to watch, and possibly find some interesting TV shows you would never watch normally…
Now the question changes, to are these shows still available. Well… That I can’t help with. But if you want the ultimate in pain, then type in “Reality TV shows”.