Here’s a decent run-down on the new Palm OS and some of it’s tools:
Palm Pre: The official Cool Tools review
Cool Tools By Keith Shaw , Network World , 06/17/2009
The scoop: Palm Pre, by Palm (on Sprint network), about $200 (after rebates, plus data and voice service plans).
What it is: The touchscreen Pre is Palm’s latest entrant into the smartphone market, and includes all of the features users would expect from today’s smartphones: a compact size, e-mail access (including Exchange), Web browser, multimedia (music and videos) player, digital camera, embedded GPS and the ability to download new applications directly through an app store. Differences from the iPhone include a physical slide-out QWERTY keyboard, and the ability to keep multiple applications open simultaneously.
Why it’s cool: A bit of a disclaimer — I’m a huge fan of the Apple iPhone 3G, both for personal use (iPod player, camera, entertainment apps) as well as business use (e-mail access, social network access, document access, GPS search). Palm has a tough hill to climb to take on Apple, considering that a lot of users who flocked to the iPhone were likely Palm users back in the day. Convincing them to switch back could be a tough chore. Fortunately, the Palm Pre is a good start, as it added features that the iPhone doesn’t have, and also retains features that iPhone users love. The Pre comes closer to emulating the iPhone experience with its touchscreen, gestures and application activation methods than any other “iPhone clone” I’ve tried. The browser, which has brought down many a smartphone, is just as good as the Safari browser on the iPhone. The Pre’s digital camera (with auto-focus/flash) is hands-down better than the iPhone (at least until the 3GS comes out).
Some other little things I enjoyed: The Touchstone magnetic induction-based charging kit (sold separately; it should be bundled with the device) made recharging the Pre simple, and the tiny envelope icon e-mail alert on the bottom of the screen was a nice touch.
Some caveats: I understand why Palm wants a physical keyboard, as many iPhone owners have complained about their on-screen keyboard. As an iPhone user, I’m satisfied with the on-screen keyboard, so I’m not aching for a physical keyboard. The keys are small, making the preferred two-handed (”BlackBerry style”) method of typing difficult. It was more comfortable to hold the Pre in my left hand and type with my right index finger. High-volume e-mail users are likely to feel cramped with this keyboard.
Adjusting to some of the new gestures and features took some practice. The system has a weird way of getting users to go back on a page — where the iPhone and other phones use a “back arrow” or button, the Pre makes users do a finger-slide “back gesture” (moving from right to left below the screen). I’d rather see a back button or other method to move back and forth among an application’s windows.
Will it dethrone the iPhone? If you tell people you like the Pre, they usually say, “Oh, but it’s on Sprint” – the only choice for U.S. owners. But reports say Verizon Wireless will offer the Pre in January 2010, so if you can wait that long, you’ll have another option. But with a new iPhone (the 3GS) also available, it’s unlikely that this version of the Pre will topple the iPhone. But Palm has a good device here, and I’m encouraged to see what other WebOS devices come out in the future.
Cyber Security Tip ST04-004
Understanding Firewalls
When anyone or anything can access your computer at any time, your computer
is more susceptible to being attacked. You can restrict outside access to
your computer and the information on it with a firewall.
What do firewalls do?
Firewalls provide protection against outside attackers by shielding your
computer or network from malicious or unnecessary Internet traffic.
Firewalls can be configured to block data from certain locations while
allowing the relevant and necessary data through (see Understanding
Denial-of-Service Attacks and Understanding Hidden Threats: Rootkits and
Botnets for more information). They are especially important for users who
rely on “always on” connections such as cable or DSL modems.
What type of firewall is best?
Firewalls are offered in two forms: hardware (external) and software
(internal). While both have their advantages and disadvantages, the decision
to use a firewall is far more important than deciding which type you use.
* Hardware – Typically called network firewalls, these external devices
are positioned between your computer or network and your cable or DSL
modem. Many vendors and some Internet service providers (ISPs) offer
devices called “routers” that also include firewall features.
Hardware-based firewalls are particularly useful for protecting multiple
computers but also offer a high degree of protection for a single
computer. If you only have one computer behind the firewall, or if you
are certain that all of the other computers on the network are up to
date on patches and are free from viruses, worms, or other malicious
code, you may not need the extra protection of a software firewall.
Hardware-based firewalls have the advantage of being separate devices
running their own operating systems, so they provide an additional line
of defense against attacks. Their major drawback is cost, but many
products are available for less than $100 (and there are even some for
less than $50).
* Software – Some operating systems include a built-in firewall; if yours
does, consider enabling it to add another layer of protection even if
you have an external firewall. If you don’t have a built-in firewall,
you can obtain a software firewall for relatively little or no cost from
your local computer store, software vendors, or ISP. Because of the
risks associated with downloading software from the Internet onto an
unprotected computer, it is best to install the firewall from a CD or
DVD. If you do download software from the Internet, make sure it is a
reputable, secure website (see Understanding Web Site Certificates for
more information). Although relying on a software firewall alone does
provide some protection, realize that having the firewall on the same
computer as the information you’re trying to protect may hinder the
firewall’s ability to catch malicious traffic before it enters your
system.
How do you know what configuration settings to apply?
Most commercially available firewall products, both hardware- and
software-based, come configured in a manner that is acceptably secure for
most users. Since each firewall is different, you’ll need to read and
understand the documentation that comes with it to determine whether or not
the default settings on your firewall are sufficient for your needs.
Additional assistance may be available from your firewall vendor or your ISP
(either from tech support or a website). Also, alerts about current viruses
or worms (such as US-CERT’s Cyber Security Alerts) sometimes include
information about restrictions you can implement through your firewall.
Unfortunately, while properly configured firewalls may be effective at
blocking some attacks, don’t be lulled into a false sense of security.
Although they do offer a certain amount of protection, firewalls do not
guarantee that your computer will not be attacked. In particular, a firewall
offers little to no protection against viruses that work by having you run
the infected program on your computer, as many email-borne viruses do.
However, using a firewall in conjunction with other protective measures
(such as anti-virus software and “safe” computing practices) will strengthen
your resistance to attacks (see Understanding Anti-Virus Software and other
security tips for more information).
_________________________________________________________________
Both the National Cyber Security Alliance and US-CERT have identified this
topic as one of the top tips for home users.
_________________________________________________________________
Authors: Mindi McDowell, Allen Householder
_________________________________________________________________
Produced 2004 by US-CERT, a government organization.
Note: This tip was previously published and is being re-distributed
to increase awareness.
Terms of use
<http://www.us-cert.gov/legal.html>
This document can also be found at
<http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/tips/ST04-004.html>
