Get the latest Age of Conan news and views at Massively!
AOL Tech
Posts with tag net neutrality

Want to help Azureus (Vuze) fight BitTorrent throttling ISPs?

Posted Mar 27th 2008 5:30PM by Danny Mendez
Filed under: Fun, Internet, Utilities, Windows, web 2.0

no speed limitIf you like yourself some BitTorrent downloading action, we recommend you help Azureus fight BitTorrent throttling ISPs like Comcast, Adelphia, SusCom, and others by installing the Network Status Monitor plug-in for Azureus / Vuze. The plug-in monitors your network traffic for anything that might prohibit your computer from utilizing its broadband connection to the fullest.

Lately, some ISPs have been using BitTorrent throttling techniques to prevent BitTorrent programs from working properly. It is understandable that ISPs need to manage their networks in order to ensure that every customer gets a fair share of the bandwidth pie, but as individuals, traffic throttling techniques take away from the service we were promised when signing up.

If you choose to share the data collected via the Network Status Monitor, the Azureus team may analyze and compare it with the data collected from other users in order to develop ways of circumventing BitTorrent throttling. The plug-in only works on Windows machines for now, but Mac support is coming.
  • Read
  • Permalink
  • Email this
  • Comments [0]

Time Warner's use-based pricing model to fuel the net neutrality issue

Posted Jan 18th 2008 1:30PM by Jason Harris
Filed under: Internet, Social Software

The TubesNet Neutrality is a subject that has impassioned internet enthusiasts and techies alike. However trying to get the broader public to take notice of the issue has been challenging. A few net neutrality bills have been brought up, but quickly fizzled out in Congress. Perhaps the fine Senators don't really understand the "Tubes". Or is it they and the public have had no real reason to care so far?

This week, Time Warner gave us a reason to care. It has come to light that Time Warner will start billing internet customers based on usage, rather than a flat-fee as they've been doing for years. That is, rather than expanding the network to accommodate and enhance customer experience, Time Warner will start charging new customers more.

To take this line of thinking further, how about this scenario: if your parents or grandparents only use the Internet a couple of times a week to check photos of their little grandchildren and to check their email - will they be able to pay less? We highly doubt it. The monopolistic ISP's have have only one intent in mind - bilking us for all the cash they possibly can.

We hope the net neutrality flames is fanned by this move before it's too late. It's time to start talking, blogging, and contacting your legistlator to tell him or her your viewpoint on this issue.

[via Freedom to Tinker]
  • Read
  • Permalink
  • Email this
  • Comments [7]

AT&T openly says it may filter Internet content

Posted Jan 9th 2008 11:00AM by Jason Harris
Filed under: Internet, Social Software

Net Neutrality
According to Brad Stone over at The New York Times, AT&T openly stated at CES that they may start filtering Internet content. This is a very big announcement because most ISPs (even Comcast) have up until this point claimed to be net neutral.

So much for being a wide-open pathway to the Information Superhighway. AT&T is reportedly talking to technology companies and the RIAA/MPAA regarding the implication of digital fingerprinting techniques at the networking level. Our friends at civil rights organizations are opposing such measures by implying that they impede on free speech. Some are going as far as to say that these legal provisions stop uses such as parody.

When asked about how their customers would respond to network level filtering, AT&T stated: "Whatever we do has to pass muster with consumers and with policy standards. There is going to be a spotlight on it."

Yeah, there will definitely be a spotlight. We say: Let the free market reign.
  • Read
  • Permalink
  • Email this
  • Comments [75]

Comcast could receive hefty FCC fine for throttling Bit Torrent traffic

Posted Jan 8th 2008 10:00PM by Jason Harris
Filed under: Internet, Social Software

ComcastRemember October's news of Comcast throttling Bit Torrent traffic? The debacle not only created a firestorm of bad press for the nation's largest cable provider but also re-ignited the nationwide debate about Net Neutrality. We had numerous signs that Comcast was inhibiting our use of this legal and legitimate file transfer protocol, but to have the AP catch them red handed was icing on the cake.

To add to our pleasure, we learned today that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has finally taken notice of Comcast's indiscretion as well. According to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, a group of consumer advocates and legal scholars have asked the commission to look into Comcast discriminating against specific types of data (read: Bit Torrent). The groups have also requested the FCC to fine Comcast $195,000 per affected subscribers. In case you were wondering, at last report, Comcast has 9.1 million subscribers.

We don't really think Comcast will be forced to fork out the projected $1.77 trillion, but we do hope they get scraped through the mud on this one. They completely disregarded their entire customer base and should receive far more than just bad press as a result of this. If you are a company and you're going to filter network traffic, be transparent and disclose it up front. If not, be ready to pay up to Mr. Martin.

[via Mashable]
  • Read
  • Permalink
  • Email this
  • Comments [34]

Googleholic - August 4th 2006

Posted Aug 4th 2006 9:30AM by Chris Gilmer
Filed under: Features, Google, Googleholic

googleholicThe Video Issue. In this issue we cover:
  • Google Demo Reel
  • Google Click Fraud: The Movie
  • The Secret of Google's Search Engine
  • Google's First TV ad
  • Vint Cerf on Net Neutrality
  • Google is looking for a Chef in Chelsea
  • What News sources does Google index?
  • Picasa Web Albums
  • Gpokr

Continue reading Googleholic - August 4th 2006

  • Permalink
  • Email this
  • Comments [0]

Download Squad Features


Geeking out on the squadcast. Tune in and then tune out.

View Posts By

  • Windows Only
  • Mac Only
  • Linux Only
Categories
Audio (830)
Beta (328)
Blogging (686)
Browsers (21)
Business (1362)
Design (808)
Developer (928)
E-mail (513)
Finance (127)
Fun (1735)
Games (546)
Internet (4758)
Kids (130)
Office (491)
OS Updates (574)
P2P (176)
Photo (460)
Podcasting (167)
Productivity (1302)
Search (249)
Security (536)
Social Software (1089)
Text (436)
Troubleshooting (51)
Utilities (1911)
Video (1011)
VoIP (138)
web 2.0 (740)
Web services (3320)
Companies
Adobe (184)
AOL (48)
Apache Foundation (1)
Apple (467)
Canonical (35)
Google (1299)
IBM (28)
Microsoft (1304)
Mozilla (457)
Novell (19)
OpenOffice.org (43)
PalmSource (11)
Red Hat (17)
Symantec (14)
Yahoo! (351)
License
Commercial (667)
Shareware (194)
Freeware (1955)
Open Source (897)
Misc
Podcasts (13)
Features (381)
Hardware (167)
News (1108)
Holiday Gift Guide (15)
Platforms
Windows (3585)
Windows Mobile (422)
BlackBerry (44)
Macintosh (2057)
iPhone (83)
Linux (1571)
Unix (78)
Palm (177)
Symbian (122)
Columns
Ask DLS (10)
Analysis (24)
Browser Tips (294)
DLS Podcast (5)
Googleholic (196)
How-Tos (97)
DLS Interviews (19)
Design Tips (14)
Mobile Minute (125)
Mods (68)
Time-Wasters (374)
Weekend Review (38)
Imaging Tips (32)

RESOURCES

RSS NEWSFEEDS

Powered by Blogsmith

Sponsored Links

Advertise with Download Squad

Most Commented On (60 days)

Recent Comments

Urlesque Headlines

BloggingStocks Tech Coverage

More from AOL Money and Finance

More Tech Coverage

Weblogs, Inc. Network

Other Weblogs Inc. Network blogs you might be interested in:

Joystiq
The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)
Download Squad
Autoblog
Engadget
BloggingStocks