In a very short amount of time, the internet has come a long way. The main method that millions of people keep in touch, the world wide web has become more user-friendly than anyone could have imagined, and people on all continents spend record amounts of time each day doing everything from chatting online to browsing videos on YouTube.
While the sort of computer you use to get online can determine what you can and cannot do while surfing the web, the thing that matters most when it comes to how you get to experience the information superhighway is actually the connection that you have. And while there have been some serious advances in recent years, a lot of people still just use the old standard of broadband to get online.
But there’s a lot more to the internet than just broadband. Here’s a look back–and forward–at everything from the beginnings of dial-up to the huge advancement that was wireless internet. The internet: an evolution.
When the internet started, there was only one way to get online: dial-up. Everyone can remember the familiar noises of a computer connecting with a loud beep and then whirring. That was the internal modem, which was only able to connect to things like America Online and Prodigy through the telephone line. This meant that it took forever to download anything, that surfing the web could feel more like waiting for a movie to finish downloading on a high-speed connection, and that not very much could be accomplished that wasn’t in text form.
But after dial-up came broadband and cable, which are two very popular ways that people still get online. The second most popular way of getting online lately besides using wireless internet, this was the most reliable way to upgrade a connection. Using an ethernet cable instead of a phone line meant that it was possible to transfer more data at a faster speed. Hence, the internet was able to grow and include more images and video, while users were able to download a song in less than two hours.
At sort of the same time, large companies and governments began using satellite internet to get in touch with business offices far away in remote regions. While satellite was once just the realm of those extremely wealthy corporations, today a consumer version has been rolled out to offer an alternative to dial-up for those living in areas where cable and broadband don’t currently offer service.
Most people, however, get online by combining a faster connection and wireless internet. Wireless is just a way of taking your T1 or broadband connection and making it float through the air with the help of a router. This means being able to sit somewhere besides a desk and surf the internet. However, if a lot of people are on a wireless connection, it often slows down considerably and becomes less enjoyable to use.
T1 and T3 connections are mostly used in offices, but are just a faster way to transfer data using an ethernet port. These have developed in tandem with wireless and are the method of choice for people who are depending on the fastest connection around while happy to stay at a desk.
For those who want to move around but need a better connection while they do so, the latest development in internet, WiMax, seems like the most promising hope for the future. Instead of depending on a router and a centralized location to provide a signal, this new mobile version of surfing the internet connects laptops and desktop computers alike all over the country to a network that is bounced using towers, just like a cell phone company does. Pretty forward-thinking, it offers potential into the direction that future innovations in the internet might take.
For the fastest mobile 4g network around, the choice is clear .
Ever since the age of the Internet has dawned in our lives, we have discovered an electronic counterpart of many things from our everyday life. The Internet has changed the way we communicate with others, share information, buy and sell things, and also the way we entertain ourselves. This is the era of e-mails, e-commerce, e-shopping, and e-radios or Internet radio.
Internet radios are the latest rage in cyberspace. It is but a natural culmination in the continuing evolution of the Internet. Internet radio networks are what everybody is talking about these days. In fact, after e-mails and e-commerce, e-radios are poised to be the next big thing in cyberspace.
E-radio or Internet radio, however, is not a very new innovation. As every netizen will know, Internet radio networks have been around for quite some time now. It is only recently, with the proliferation of Internet technology and improved connectivity, that Internet radio has truly come of age. Today, the listener is pampered with a most exhaustive range of channels (or stations), catering to all kinds of interest. This is becoming a standard offering of Internet radio networks that serve music online. The listener can tune into any of dozens of stations covering such genres as Classic Rock, Alternative Rock, Indie Rock, Jazz, 80s music, 70s music, Oldies, New Age, Reggae, Country, Latin, Euro, Ambient, Lounge, Progressive, Techno and what not. Hours and hours of uninterrupted music at no cost – that’s the magnitude of the entertainment provided by Internet radio networks.
And now let me introduce you to the latest avatar of Internet radio – the Internet talk radio. Among the most popular Internet radio networks are the ones that feature Internet Talk Radio. Streaming talk shows and discussions on a wide range of subjects have made them popular among serious listeners or those who carve for something more than just music from their e-radios. Internet talk radio programs host various talk shows with specialists on different subject matters who anchor the show.
The possibilities of Internet radio networks extend even beyond the apparent. While traditional radio broadcasters have often used the Internet to advertise or promote their shows, Internet radio technology has actually revolutionized the concept and simple programming requirements have taken it to the extent where individuals, organizations or anyone for that matter, can easily host their own Internet talk radio station from the comfort of their home.
Now, let’s take a look at the technology that has made it all possible. Internet radio networks use many different methods for creating the audio stream source. Some of these include using the SHOUTcast service, which utilizes Winamp and the SHOUTcast DSP plugin to deliver MP3 audio at higher bitrates. Other methods include open source technologies such as Streamcast, stream-db, IceS, and MuSE, and patent-free data formats such as Ogg Vorbis. Using open source stream source tools allows for interesting web interface possibilities like phpStreamcast. Other applications include Broadwave which delivers audio in mp3 and relies on the listener’s default media player to open the stream.
There is no dearth of radio networks on the Internet today. Some of these are really exceptional in the range of services they offer. Internet radio networks like Voice America make it easier to host your own Internet talk radio show. Such Internet radio networks not only provide you with the technology to host your Internet radio show but also give you a complete package of Internet streaming media broadcasting, proven support services in web, marketing, and interactive solutions that help you to make your mark and your presence known to the ever increasing Internet audience.
If you are planning to host your own Internet talk radio, seriously consider working with internet radio networks like Voice America. The possibilities are truly endless.
Jennifer Salerno is a veteran in Internet marketing and a wordsmith par excellence with countless articles on a wide range of subjects to his credit. She is an expert on internet Pay-Per-View .