Monday, October 29, 2012

LagBuster makes online games play faster — even Call of Duty

LagBuster makes online games play faster — even Call of Duty

connection order1This was intended to be an update column on bufferbloat, a problem mentioned in my January 2011 predictions that is messing with our enjoyment of bad movies on NetFlix and other streaming video services. There’s good news about bufferbloat but that will have to wait a day or so because this column is about something completely different — LagBuster. If you are a serious gamer you need LagBuster.
The difference between bufferbloat and lag is that bufferbloat is mainly downstream (video server to you) while lag is mainly upstream (you to the game server). Bufferbloat is caused by large memory buffers in devices like routers and in applications like media players messing with the native flow control in TCP/IP. We add buffers thinking it helps but instead it hurts. Something similar happens with lag but it tends to happen at the point where your 100 or 1000 megabit-per-second local area network meets your 3-25 megabit-per-second DSL or cable Internet connection. Lag is caused by congestion at that intersection. You can tell you have lag when you can’t seem to be able to aim or shoot fast enough in your shooter game.
It’s not you, soldier, it’s the lag.
The cure to lag, we’re generally told, comes in two forms: 1) you can get a faster Internet connection, or; 2) you can implement Quality of Service (QoS) in your router. But according to my old friend Ed DeWath, who makes the $220 LagBuster, neither technique really works.
Just think of all the hardened gamers who are paying two or three times more each month for a super-fast Internet connection that isn’t really helping their game play.
Game signaling takes kilobits-, not megabits-per-second. Yes, a faster Internet connection will empty your router cache faster, but not faster enough. Packets still back up in the cache and eventually time out, requiring a retransmission that just adds to congestion. Think of it as one of those freeway onramps with metering lights except that every few clock ticks all the waiting cars are disintegrated with a laser beam as the cache is flushed and a request is sent out for more cars, most of which will be blasted yet again.
Quality of Service is supposed to help and it might, a little, but not a lot simply because it’s a serial cache to which the QoS is being applied. That is the packet you really want to get through fastest is at some point at the back of the line. How do you get it to the front of the queue with all those other bits in the way? Why you blow those to smithereens, too, which takes time and produces further congestion.
The LagBuster is a box that sits between your DSL or cable modem and your router. In the LagBuster is not one buffer but two. Think of it as that metered freeway onramp but with the addition of a diamond or carpool lane that is the second parallel buffer. Network data packets leave the router and enter the LagBuster where they are sorted into game and non-game packets, each of which type gets its own parallel buffer. Game packets on their diamond lane never stop but go straight through into the modem while non-game packets are stored in their buffer and released as the modem is able to accept them. In both cases the idea is to keep the buffer in the modem nearly empty so TCP/IP flow control can operate.
Because there are two memory buffers in parallel rather than the single buffer in the typical router, game packets at the back of the queue are transferred unimpeded by the LagBuster, much faster than using QoS.
The LagBuster eliminates game lag completely, giving those who have one a decided advantage that’s completely independent of total bandwidth. Presumably it could be used to accelerate other packet types, too, but for now the LagBuster is aimed strictly at games.
I like the LagBuster because it is very clever but also because it is made in a factory in Fremont, California with the plastic case made in Alabama. Building it in China, Ed tells me, would have been more expensive.

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Cutting the cable cord?

In RokuDigitalVideoPlayer@yahoogroups.com, pecnj@... wrote:
>
> I would not be too sure about the "they have to provide them to you".
> My Cablevision service sent us a letter saying ALL TV signals would be encrypted soon and we all had to get a cable box to see anything, local access, or analog or whatever. The cord-cutters must be effecting their profits enough to force the issue. So I got a "free for 1 year" cablebox for each TV. I may threaten or actually go with Verizon FIOS next year when the "free" is not-at-all-free per TV.
>
> --- In RokuDigitalVideoPlayer@yahoogroups.com, Carmelo Serrano wrote:
> >
> > There is a better way. just keep the internet and get a cable splitter, place 1 end into modem and another directly in tv and you wont pay for any local channels. they have to provide them to you.
> >
> >
> >
> > ______________________________

__
> > From: bargainmomrlpa
> > To: RokuDigitalVideoPlayer@yahoogroups.com
> > Sent: Wednesday, August 22, 2012 9:23 AM
> > Subject: Re: [RokuDigitalVideoPlayer]Looking into cutting the cord!
> >
> >
> >  
> > What area are you in? The cheapest local only option that I know of for Comcast in the Harrisburg area is $20+taxes.
> >
> > Rolinda
> >
> >
> > On 8/20/2012 1:39 PM, Courtney Muir wrote:
> >
> >  
> > >Something to look into as well:
> > >
> > >We cut the cord, but struggled too much with an antenna.
> > We called Comcast, and found out that for about $7/month
> > we could add the local stations (PBS, ABC,NBC). We also
> > found out that adding the basics qualified as "bundling"
> > and we saved $14/month on our internet. So, we pay $7 less
> > and get both internet and locals. We have an ION channel
> > as part of the basics that often has Hallmark/Lifetime
> > type movies on it.
> > >
> > >Another option to consider is your library. Our library
> > system has a lot of the Lifetime/hallmark movies
> > available. 


Re: Is there a way to get a website on the tv screen?
Inbox
x

Michael Collazo mike.a.collazo@gmail.com via yahoogroups.com 
Oct 15 (13 days ago)

to RokuDigitalVid.
Images are not displayed. Display images below - Always display images from mike.a.collazo@gmail.com
 
  You need to load scripts from Playonscripts.com. That is where Playon excels. Get project free TV and Ice Films for starters. They will replace dvd rental service as well as shows TV series programming. Browse the scripts and install the scripts that you like. I use Play on also for YouTube.
Mike
On Oct 15, 2012 2:46 PM, "Jennifer" <jenalr0418@sc.rr.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> I have a Playon subscription but don't use it very often. It's handy if
> there's a storm in our area and we may lose coverage during a tv show. I
> can watch Tampa's channels on Playon. Other than that I've not really found
> that Playon is used much. What does everyone else use Playon for?
>
> As for web on tv - it's for the CBS shows that aren't on Playon or anywhere
> else. You can go to the CBS website and watch (such as Big Brother -
> season's over now, though) and such...
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: RokuDigitalVideoPlayer@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:RokuDigitalVideoPlayer@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of delraydelight
> Sent: Monday, September 24, 2012 10:05 AM
> To: RokuDigitalVideoPlayer@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [RokuDigitalVideoPlayer] Re: Is there a way to get a website on the
> tv screen?
>
> Yes, kind of. If you have a computer that can run the Playon server you will
> be able to access a wide variety of web-based content on your Roku.
>
> http://www.playon.tv/playon
> --- In RokuDigitalVideoPlayer@yahoogroups.com, "Jennifer"
> wrote:
> >
> > I'm trying to find out if there is a way to go through Roku (a certain
> > channel or something?) that I can stream something from the internet?
> >
> > For example..I watch the Big Brother Live Feeds and it'd be nice to have
> > that on my tv screen instead of the laptop. OR I would like to watch the
> > CBS shows (2 Broke Girls, etc.) but you can't get those through Netflix,
> > Hulu or Roku channels (that I have found).
> >
> >
> >
> > How can I get a "website" channel where I can type in the website I want
> to
> > go to?
> >
> >
> >
> > Is that possible?
> >
> >
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> >
> >
> > Jennifer
> >
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>

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James jengland46@yahoo.com
Oct 15 (13 days ago)

to RokuDigitalVid.
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Just hook your computer to the tv with an HDMI cable. I also purchased a remote for the computer that hooks into a usb port. That way I can pause downloads. I watch a lot of tv this way through watchseries.eu and tv-links.eu (.eu because of US restrictions). We watch newer episodes of White Collar and Burn Notice that are not on Netflix yet. Can watch anything that is on the computer this way.


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Paula Noakes pjnoakes@charter.net via yahoogroups.com 
Oct 15 (13 days ago)

to RokuDigitalVid.
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Hulu, plus there is a script for Roku called Supervoxtv (works only w/o
PlayOn) that enables you to stream live TV. I've used the website quite
often (supervoxtv.com) to stream Fox News, ABC, last night my son and I
watched The Walking Dead season premiere on it. The TV my Roku is connected
to right now is dying (it's over 25 yrs old), so we aren't watching as much
with it as we could. I don't know if we're going to disconnect the Roku from
that TV and put it in our family room, or just let it be for a bit. Dish is
going away this month, at least for a while so we can save some $$. We might
move the Roku then. PlayOn also has other plugins that we use. I find we get
better access through the PlayOn links to network sites (NBC, ABC, etc.)
than through Hulu. Hulu seems to lag a lot for us, while the network sites
don't, or at least it's not as noticeable.

Everybody's watching habits are different, though, so it really depends on
what you like and what your usage is.

Paula Noakes
pjnoakes@charter.net
 I just tested it on my Roku, some shows work, a lot don't. It's a shame. But on the plus side, I found out at the same time that the Youtube app for Plex now works fine on the Roku, so at least there's that.

--- In RokuDigitalVideoPlayer@yahoogroups.com, "Adam S" wrote:
>
>
>
> From what I can tell, the Roku app hasn't come out yet, even though it was announce to come out a couple weeks ago. For now, there's a user made plug-in for Plex you can use for free, but it requires the Plex media server to be running on your PC for the Roku to use it.
>
> I used the PC version of the Plex Media Center just now to make my Plex Server download the SyFy Plex app and I'm watching Caprica on it now. If you need any help getting the Plex server set up, feel free to drop me a line.
>
> Download the server at http://www.plexapp.com/getplex/
> Then add the Plex channel to your Roku http://www.roku.com/channels#!

details/13535/plex
>
> --- In RokuDigitalVideoPlayer@yahoogroups.com, "Ken" wrote:
> >
> > I was watching SYFY Channel the other night and they advertised that Nuclear Family starring Corin Nemec was available via Web and ROKU
> > I cannot find SYFY Channel app in store or Find show on HULU Plus
> >
> > I went to SYFY Website and it states there that show would be on Hulu after Oct 15th it is on their website, but I would rather watch on TV through Roku
> >
> > anyone know if available?

Friday, October 26, 2012

How to tell if your Facebook account is hacked, and what to do about it

How to tell if your Facebook account is hacked, and what to do about it

facebook logo
We all love Facebook, but if you’re not careful, your security may be compromised.  From phishing, to automated spam, or simply forgetting to logout at a public terminal, there are a lot of things that might go wrong.  So, similar to what we did when we showed you how to deal with Gmail hacking, here’s a quick guide on how deal with hacked accounts on Facebook. 

1. How to check for suspicious activity on Facebook

In order to see if anything is happening behind your back here’s how you check first.
First, go to Account Settings
 facebook remote logout
Then go to Account Security
facebook account settings
Then you’ll see a list of recent activity.  If you see something that doesn’t look quite right, simply click the end activity button, and it remotely logs out that particular session.
facebook end activity

2. How to get notified if a new device logs into your Facebook account

If you go to the same security menu detailed above you’ll also see an option to get notified via email or mobile phone.  This allows you to have a more proactive response to potential Facebook security risks.
facebook SMS

3. What can you do if your Facebook account is hacked

What you’d generally do on the spot would be to reset your password right away.
However,
  1. If the login email address that you normally use to log in to your Facebook has been taken over by another person (i.e., you can no longer access your email account), click here.
  2. If the login email address listed on your Facebook has been removed by another person (i.e., someone has replaced your login email address with one that you do not control), click here.
If your account is spamming your friends, do also do some free checks for malware and viruses.
Of course, prevention is better than cure so do take your time to read Facebook’s extensive coverage about resolving these incidents.