Niche Software Steals Microsoft's Thunder

When you think of software and personal computers (PCs), you think Microsoft.

The global software giant dominates the PC market in both penetration and pocketbook.

It seems you can't go a single day without seeing at least one news story and several advertisements for Microsoft or a Microsoft product.

But that doesn't mean Microsoft dominates in every corner of the market; in fact, as the software behemoth gets bigger, numerous niche software offerings spring up to fill in the gaps left in Microsoft's wake.

As you'll see, a couple of these niche software programs have managed to either beat Microsoft to the punch, or even steal market share away from the seemingly invincible company.


** FeedDemon **

FeedDemon software ($29.95) enables you to subscribe to and read RSS Feeds (Real Simple Syndication).

RSS has emerged as the preferred way to share news and other content with subscribers across the Internet without the use of email.

The advantage to subscribers: as news, blogs, or other content updates somewhere online, subscribers receive virtually instant notification just by opening up their reader.

This represents a huge time savings since subscribers can receive updates without surfing individual sites to chase down stories or wading through piles of spam to find the content they actually want.

The advantage to publishers: no worrying about whether email notifications, news releases, or blog updates made it past the spam filters or unreliable mail servers.

Though many free RSS reader software packages exist (just do a search on Google.com for "free rss reader"), FeedDemon offers an unmatched suite of tools that enable serious RSS subscribers the power and flexibility to mix and match feeds, including the new "POD Casting" craze where content providers syndicate audio content (MP3) over the web.

Available from www.bradsoft.com/feeddemon/, FeedDemon sets the standard for RSS readers in a market that Microsoft has yet to even address with any of its software products.

I'll make a daring prediction here: watch for Microsoft or another large player to purchase FeedDemon rather than try to reinvent the wheel and build a product brand themselves.


** FireFox Web Browser **

Security problems always seem to plague the Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) Web browser.

In fact, last year the problem got so bad, it forced Microsoft to release one of the largest free software upgrades (Service Pack 2) in the history of computing.

According to both OneStat.com and Webside Story, two of the Web's leading Web analytics companies, Microsoft's IE market share has dipped below 90%.

See actual stats from WebSide Story Here:
http://www.websidestory.com/services-solutions/datainsights/spotlight.html

In response to serious security threats to Internet Explorer, an upstart browser named FireFox from Mozilla.org took off like a rocket ship in late 2004.

Available free from www.Mozilla.org, FireFox offers not only a full-featured Web browser without the security problems, but also a number of features not available on Internet Explorer.

Probably the most popular feature Firefox offers over IE is "Tabbed Browsing," which enables you to open multiple Web pages without opening multiple windows.

Firefox also limits harmful Active-X controls and pop-up windows.

Firefox tends towards a less forgiving attitude on HTML coding and may display some Web pages awkwardly, where IE displays most pages as the designer intended.

Despite this, Firefox makes an excellent browser and Microsoft should take heed that market dominance doesn't last forever once consumers see a viable alternative.

And the lesson in all of this for all you would-be entrepreneurs out there with the next great idea?

It doesn't matter how big or small your organization, it always comes back to a simple formula: Meet the needs and solve the problems of a specific niche audience better than the next guy and you'll be the winner!

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A guide to VoIP

What is VoIP? Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is the ability to transmit voice over the Internet to either a receiving computer, telephone or even a mobile phone. VoIP phone is becoming the popular worldwide telephone service for both consumer and the business communities. VoIP works by using a network technology known as Packet Switching Network whereas landline telephones use the Circuit Switching Network. This is referred to as the Public Switched Telephone Network.

What's the difference between VoIP normal phones?

The main difference between Packet Switching and Circuit Switching, is that Packet Switching uses (data) or Packets and sends them over the Internet while Circuit Switching is accomplished by using electrical circuits to make a telephone connection. Circuit Switching is like the old switchboard operators, frantically trying to connect the right caller with the receiver. Packet Switching is used to transfer data all across the Internet including E-mail. Packet Switching converts audio formats into data packets and transmits them over the Internet, then reassembles them on the other person’s phone or computer in real time. By using a Broadband Internet Connection, microphone and speakers a conversation can take place similar to traditional telephone.

VoIP phones have been round for sometime, but increases in technology it is becoming increasingly popular. Several years ago many applications were available offering some form of free VoIP phone service. Majority of these have gone or now charge a fee for the use of their service as VoIP phone provider. Moreover, VoIP is developing higher standards of quality every day, and it has proved that it is a viable force for telecommunication for the future.

Who is providing VoIP phone service?

Telephone and Internet service provider companies are expanding to allow for monthly VoIP phone services. Companies such as AOL, Verizon and Sprint have VoIP phone offerings. Recently eBay has joined the ranks of VoIP phone service providers by purchasing skype VoIP software, with its vast membership base the VoIP message will soon reach the man on the street.

What's special about VoIP?

Instant messaging programs such as MSN massager have been using VoIP technology for years. Now, most of these messaging programs come with voice enabled features which allow you to call a member of your buddy list. By using a microphone and speakers, you will be able to converse anywhere in the world, by VoIP and your Instant Messaging program.

With instant messaging VoIP incorporates different areas into one program. With your voice enabled programs, you can hook up a digital camera,web cam and use video, while you are speaking on your microphone and listening to on your speakers, and you can type back and forth with your chat program. You could even write an email at the same time. The potential for VoIP phones use is nearly limitless.

VoIP has this unique ability to integrate many forms of telecommunication applications into one package can handle data, audio, video, E-Mail, and web based applications simultaneously. This makes VoIP an incredible boost to business world and provides a cost effective choice of telephone service.

VoIP phone service providers are increasing in popularity with many people discovering all of the benefits available to them by switching from using their land line telephones to VoIP service. First, VoIP phone services costs significantly less than standard phone service, and this is a great attraction for bringing in new customers. Many VoIP phone plans will let you make unlimited long distance calls or provide you with a plan for very inexpensive rates. Many of the features that are often included for a fee with traditional phone service are often included for free with VoIP services. Features such as Call Waiting, Call Block, Call Forwarding, Conference Calling, Voice Mail are usually charged as extras by the traditional phone companies but these are usually free with the VoIP phone packages.Another benefit to VoIP services is that you can usually keep your existing phone number, or allow you to select a new area code. The means if you select an area where most of your friends and family live, a call to you will be treated as local call. For a remote business VoIP service can give the perception of having multiple office locations.

What's the future for VoIP

Make no mistake about it VoIP phone services is a the emerging contender in the telecommunication world.It is a proven technology, can seamlessly integrate into many existing applications, does not require special equipment anyone with a PC with a microphone and speakers can use the service and it is very cost effective. Talk will be cheap!

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Is desktop search deserving?

Google, in their march to stay ahead of the pack of competition, has

released Google Desktop Search. With Microsoft's MSN in the lead position

and nipping at Google's heels, and Google's new shareholders to please,

Google has more incentive than ever to deploy technology both better than

the other guy's, and sooner. After all, the first to get loaded to the

desktop is more likely to build and retain user loyalty.

Google Desktop Search allows you to search within various types of files

on your computer. It's still in beta, but is available for download by

anyone. It requires Windows XP or Windows 2000 with at least Service Pack

3. It runs as a memory-resident application, with a system tray icon, so

that it can index new documents as they are created.

For example, if you know a certain word or phrase was in a Word document,

but you don't remember which one, you can easily locate all documents on

your computer that contain that word. Desktop Search can search through

email, text, and HTML files, your cached web pages, and MS Office

Documents (Word, Excel, and Powerpoint only).

By way of comparison, there is a competing application, also free, from

Copernic, not surprisingly called Copernic Desktop Search. At the moment,

it is perhaps more advanced than Google's. For example, Copernic's

software scans the same type of files as does Google's, but also scans

music and video files and PDF documents, while Google does not. Both

products can only scan Outlook or Outlook Express email at present.

But don't count Google out. Webmasters know it's never wise to do that!

After all, they're still in beta with Desktop Search, and they are as

surely aware of Copernic's product as they are of MSN. Google has both

the resources and motivation to not only keep but expand their market

leadership.

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Will The Real Spammer Please Stand Up!

If you have been using opt-in email marketing for sometime, I'm
sure you might have got accused of spam at some point, even
after doing everything right.

Yes, I'm talking about people who actually agreed to receive
your email, blaming you for sending unsolicited mail.

According to me it's not their fault, as nowadays it's very easy
to mistake an 'email marketer' for an 'email bomber'.

The web has grown so wide and huge in the last couple of years
that it has become hard to differentiate between a spammer and a
legal email marketer.

Spammers just didn't disturb a regular
email users life but also wrecked havoc in the Internet
marketing community.

Day after day it's becoming devastatingly difficult for
permission based email marketers to use email legally and not
get slammed for illegal mailing.

Even after making sure your email looks, sounds, smells and
tastes 'Legal', you run a high risk of either getting blocked or
being labeled as a spammer.

On the other hand, if luck favors you and your mail does make it
to your subscribers' inbox safe and sound, what's the guarantee
that it'll get opened and read?

It's a nightmare every marketer would love to avoid.

Well, you can stop worrying now and have a sigh of relief. It's
about time all the hardcore spammers out there had their last
laugh.

The Internet marketing world is abuzz with a brand new
technology, which could finally send spamming back to the dark
ages, big time.

If you still don't have a clue of what I'm talking about, it's
called RSS and it's turning heads all over the web.

RSS, which stands for 'Really Simple Syndication' is a new
technology, which enables anyone to syndicate his or her content
online.

A lot has been written on what is RSS and how it works. So I
would like to keep it short and sweet, as I'm sure you too
wouldn't really want to get into the unnecessary technical stuff.

In simple words, RSS is a way to publish and receive content
electronically. RSS files are XML based and are popularly known
as RSS feeds.

What's revolutionary about RSS is, it can help you distribute
your content directly to your subscribers, without any spam
filters interfering.

To subscribe and read your RSS feeds, all your subscribers need
to have is an RSS reader, also known as an aggregator.

What's more, they don't even have to worry about giving out any
of their personal details to subscribe to your feed.

And with a screaming bunch of RSS readers available on the web
right now (most of them being free), it wouldn't be very hard to
convince your subscribers to get there hands on one.

RSS readers are available in both versions, desktop and
web-based, of which the latter seems to be the most popular.

Once your subscriber adds your RSS feed to their favorite RSS
reader, you go 'live' and instantly establish a direct
connection with your subscriber.

Whenever you have something
new to publish, all you have to do is update your already
published RSS feed with your fresh content.

As soon you load your feed with new content, walla! Your feed
automatically gets updated everywhere it's subscribed.

No mess, no fuss. Just content that works.

Pretty neat huh?

That's the beauty of RSS. No wonder it's currently being
employed by web honchos like Yahoo! and MSN to deliver content
to their users.

They even allow their members to add any RSS feeds of their
choice to their members' area, making them perfect examples of
web-based aggregators.

Syndicating your content can mean a lot to you and your
business. By publishing your own RSS feeds, you could eventually
end up with more leads, more subscribers and not to forget, more
money in the bank.

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Does Your PC Have Worms?

Worms aren't just for dogs anymore. Find out how to inoculate your computer against these nasty parasites.

What Are Worms?

Worms are descended from viruses and are even nastier. Just as ever stronger doses of pesticide breed ever more resilient locusts, better and better anti-spyware software bred ever more devious viruses.

Finally, some virus designers stopped having their creations infect and take over files the way real viruses infect and take over cells. Instead, they created programs that could stand on their own and cause plenty of trouble without the help of any other software applications. Just worms are independent organisms that can infect a host directly, so do computer worms infect computers directly.

What Do Worms Do?

Worm designers are often even more sinister than virus designers, since worm designers are not just vandals. Worm designers often use their creations to achieve specific goals:

• Backdoor creation. Worms often try to set up another kind of malware, a backdoor. A backdoor is a hidden opening in your network connection that lets the worm send data out and take data in. Practically speaking, the data it's sending out are often spam emails, and the data it takes in are instructions on spam emails to send.

• Denial of service attack. Some worm designers really are vandals rather than profit-hungry con artists sending spam. But their vandalism can be more targeted. They use worms to send out numerous requests to remote computers, such as web servers, in order to overwhelm them and therefore shut them down. This is called a denial of service attack.

• Spyware, Trojan, adware, and virus installation. Worms are often used simply to unleash other forms of malware on a computer that might otherwise block them.

• Information theft and fraud.Worms can multitask in order to set up spyware that gathers sensitive information--often financial information--and then set up backdoors, Trojans, viruses, or dialers to disseminate the stolen data.

How Do Worms End Up on a PC?

Worms enter PCs just as viruses, spyware and other malware do: any way they can! Some favorite points of entry for worms:

• Websites can actually download software to your computer without you realizing it. This software includes not only worms, but also spyware, adware, viruses, and other malware. These malware programs find their way into websites either by the deliberate design of the site owner or because hackers have installed the software on the website's server.

• Peer-to-peer file-sharing networkscontain many nice-enough-looking files that are really worms. One of the sneakiest disguises is a filename that indicates the spyware is really a video of a beautiful actress.

• Email, the favored route of viruses, can still be exploited by Spyware. But since new email programs usually block the automatic opening of file attachments, this is less of a problem than it used to be.

• Any internet connection inevitably lets data flow both in and out, and so is vulnerable to attacks by worms.

How Do You Get Rid of Worms?

There's really only one good way to make sure your computer is rid of worms: scan it with multiple antivirus and anti-spyware programs using a full-system scan. Worms are tricky, so anything less than a full-system scan might let them escape. Worse, with new worms coming out all the time, some antivirus and anti-spyware packages may not even know about a new worm until after its wreaking havoc on your machine. That's why you should try using more than one antivirus program and more than one anti-spyware program to increase your odds of successfully detecting the malware.

Don't have more than one anti-spyware and antivirus software? You'd better start downloading. After all, worms won't take excuses.

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How To Get Links From Auction Sites

Internet auctions have emerged as one dynamic and effective economic force where millions of buyers and sellers are entering regularly. Online auctions provide a comfortable source of income to various webmasters. And for the customers, the auctions provide the platform to identify with the specific and discounted merchandise.

Having your link in the auction sites proves to be an extremely beneficial deal in terms of traffic building and link popularity. If you want to go deep into how links from auction sites can help you build link popularity, read on the article further.

First things first, when it comes to target traffic, auction sites prove to be amongst the best available options for your products. With all types of buyers and sellers conglomerating on the auction sites, the link popularity of your website also gains the propitious levels.

Now the most important question pops up: How to Get Links from Auction Sites?

To get your links on the auction site, you would have to first register with that site. The registration process is simple. You are required to fill in some mandatory details. These details include your name, your email address, your website address, and your phone number. After this an email would be sent in your account. It would require you to fill the details of the preferred payment method, product details and company details. Then with the final affirmation of the auction sites you would receive a confirmation of an official member of the website.

After you have successfully registered with the website, you can start placing the products for auction. This would include a link to your website with the product. You can go for multiple links to your websites for even a single product.

Getting a link with auction sites proves to be highly beneficial for you in two prominent ways.

The first and the foremost benefit that you would get after getting linked to an auction site is the link popularity. The auction sites provide you with a temporary web space where you can provide multiple links to your product, its description and additional features. As you provide more links to the website, people would click frequently on the link, and it would gain higher ranking in the search engines. As more and more people would click on your link, the sales would definitely boost up.

The second thing from which you would benefit is the traffic. As more and more visitors would click on your links to get the details of the products, their features and even their photos, the traffic would definitely increase. When the visitors would get to know fully about the products, they would prefer to buy them. This would again benefit you.

As your website gets more popular, visitors would insist on directly coming to your website instead via the links. By doing these they would explore various new products and if they match their requirements, they can purchase them too. This would again benefit you as a website owner.

Creating your link at an auction sites also gives you another benefit. You won’t have to ask for permission or a link back-up. You just have to pay a fee and you are free to proceed with your products posting.

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