Over the last couple of days, it has come to my attention that there are many problems with the server and hosting package being used to host the Technically Motivated website, that is making it less functional than it should be. For example, I recently discovered that my host’s restrictions on the use of mail services makes TM unable to send emails through the site, making things like Password Resets, Email Subscriptions and the Contact Me form completely non-functional. I have also found that files are constantly failing to be transferred correctly using FTP, resulting in large amounts of broken or missing files – a problem that has occasionally had a negative effect on the site. These are problems I consider unacceptable.
To top it all off, I have now discovered that a problem with my host’s Database Management system means that backing up the databases may actually be an impossibility. This is TERRIBLE SERVICE and means that if anything goes wrong, the whole site could effectively be wiped without any hope of recovery!
For this reason, I have decided that for the benefit of both the site and its users; and to be able to make the site work a lot better than it does now, I am moving the entire site to a completely new server and host. While this happens, I will not be updating the current Technically Motivated website, save for posting further information about the move. Also, some functions may be disabled without warning. I ask all current users not to make any new posts or comments while the move is in progress.
Unfortunately, it appears the transition will not go very smoothly. Because I may not be able to transfer the database, a lot of information will have to be recreated at the new server, so it will take some time before the move is completed. It also means that all the comments made up to now, on all the posts, will be lost at the new location – sorry! Thankfully we shouldn’t lose much else, because I should be able to move over the actual site’s files without trouble.
Another problem is that, while the actual website’s address will remain the same – technicallymotivated.co.cc – I will need to reconfigure it to work with the new server, which means for a short while, the URL may not correctly work. I will have more on this when I know more.
Microsoft is suing Motorola alleging it has infringed nine patents in its Android phones, in that certain functions of said phones – including but not limited to synchronizing e-mail, calendars and contacts – are based on Microsoft technology.
Microsoft said Motorola licensed some of its mobile technology from 2003 to 2007 but continued to use the technology without renewing the license. So they have now filed a lawsuit in a federal court as well as filing one with the International Trade Commission.
Its court filing specifically mentions the Motorola Droid 2 and the Motorola Charm smart phones, but Microsoft claims that the infringements were not limited to those devices.
A Motorola spokeswoman said the company has not yet received a copy of the suit, but based on its strong intellectual property portfolio, plans to “vigorously defend itself”.
Google has released developer tools for a new image format that Google believes could replace JPEG as the ideal photo format for the Internet. Called “WebP”, the new format – invented by Google themselves – would offer improved performance while maintaining image quality. Google claims that files compressed with the new format would be as much as 39 per cent smaller than those compressed in the current JPEG photo format.
According to Google product manager Richard Rabbat, the open-sourced format is an attempt to cut the size of “lossy” compressed images, reducing file sizes and data traffic loads for networks with slower connection speeds such as mobile broadband platforms. “Most of the common image formats on the web today were established over a decade ago and are based on technology from around that time,” Rabbat wrote in a blog posting. “Some engineers at Google decided to figure out if there was a way to further compress lossy images like JPEG to make them load faster, while still preserving quality and resolution.”
The company is currently offering developer tools to help developers add WebP support to their applications. The company also plans to introduce support for the format with the next version of its Chrome browser.
Some time ago, Google launched its own URL shortening service – a service that turns long website links into shorter, more manageable ones – to not only help the site promote its own products through services like Twitter, but also help others with theirs. Dubbed Goo.gl, the service was previously available only with certain other Google services, including the Google browser toolbar, FeedBurner RSS service, News, Blogger, and Maps. But now, since last night, the service has its own website – http://goo.gl/ – where it can be used all by itself.
Google says its URL shorter is all about “stability,” “security,” and “speed.” Matt Cutts, a major Google player, had this to say about the service (spelling in context): “Google needed a url shortener for its own products where we knew the shortener wouldn’t go away. We also wanted a shortener that we knew would do things the right way… and that would be fast, stable, and secure.” That “right way” includes permanent redirects.
From the new goo.gl site, you can not only shorten URLs, but monitor traffic to your URLs after you shorten them. Google provides top referrers for each link as well as visitor profiles. “This can be a great way to better understand who’s interested in your links, how they’re finding them and when they’re reading,” the company says.
Thanks to various news sources for the Matt Cutts quote and for confirming the feature list!