Technology Overview

Many large companies who are not internet service providers also need a computer permanently connected to the web so they can send email, files, etc. to other sites. They may also use the computer as a website host so they can provide details of their goods and services to anyone interested. Additionally these people may decide to place online orders.

    * Free web hosting service: offered by different companies with limited services, sometimes supported by advertisements, and often limited when compared to paid hosting.
    * Shared web hosting service: one's website is placed on the same server as many other sites, ranging from a few to hundreds or thousands. Typically, all domains may share a common pool of server resources, such as RAM and the CPU. The features available with this type of service can be quite extensive. A shared website may be hosted with a reseller.
    * Reseller web hosting: allows clients to become web hosts themselves. Resellers could function, for individual domains, under any combination of these listed types of hosting, depending on who they are affiliated with as a provider. Resellers' accounts may vary tremendously in size: they may have their own virtual dedicated server to a collocated server. Many resellers provide a nearly identical service to their provider's shared hosting plan and provide the technical support themselves.
    * Virtual Dedicated Server: also known as a Virtual Private Server (VPS), divides server resources into virtual servers, where resources can be allocated in a way that does not directly reflect the underlying hardware. VPS will often be allocated resources based on a one server to many VPSs relationship, however virtualisation may be done for a number of reasons, including the ability to move a VPS container between servers. The users may have root access to their own virtual space. Customers are sometimes responsible for patching and maintaining the server.
    * Dedicated hosting service: the user gets his or her own Web server and gains full control over it (root access for Linux/administrator access for Windows); however, the user typically does not own the server. Another type of Dedicated hosting is Self-Managed or Unmanaged. This is usually the least expensive for Dedicated plans. The user has full administrative access to the box, which means the client is responsible for the security and maintenance of his own dedicated box.
    * Managed hosting service: the user gets his or her own Web server but is not allowed full control over it (root access for Linux/administrator access for Windows); however, they are allowed to manage their data via FTP or other remote management tools. The user is disallowed full control so that the provider can guarantee quality of service by not allowing the user to modify the server or potentially create configuration problems. The user typically does not own the server. The server is leased to the client.
    * Colocation web hosting service: similar to the dedicated web hosting service, but the user owns the colo server; the hosting company provides physical space that the server takes up and takes care of the server. This is the most powerful and expensive type of web hosting service. In most cases, the colocation provider may provide little to no support directly for their client's machine, providing only the electrical, Internet access, and storage facilities for the server. In most cases for colo, the client would have his own administrator visit the data center on site to do any hardware upgrades or changes.
    * Cloud Hosting: is a new type of hosting platform that allows customers powerful, scalable and reliable hosting based on clustered load-balanced servers and utility billing. Removing single-point of failures and allowing customers to pay for only what they use versus what they could use.
    * Clustered hosting: having multiple servers hosting the same content for better resource utilization. Clustered Servers are a perfect solution for high-availability dedicated hosting, or creating a scalable web hosting solution. A cluster may separate web serving from database hosting capability.
    * Grid hosting: this form of distributed hosting is when a server cluster acts like a grid and is composed of multiple nodes.
    * Home server: usually a single machine placed in a private residence can be used to host one or more web sites from a usually consumer-grade broadband connection. These can be purpose-built machines or more commonly old PCs. Some ISPs actively attempt to block home servers by disallowing incoming requests to TCP port 80 of the user's connection and by refusing to provide static IP addresses. A common way to attain a reliable DNS hostname is by creating an account with a dynamic DNS service. A dynamic DNS service will automatically change the IP address that a URL points to when the IP address changes.

Web hosting is often provided as part of a general Internet access plan; there are many free and paid providers offering these services.

A customer needs to evaluate the requirements of the application to choose what kind of hosting to use. Such considerations include database server software, scripting software, and operating system. Most hosting providers provide Linux-based web hosting which offers a wide range of different software. A typical configuration for a Linux server is the LAMP platform: Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP/Perl/Python. The webhosting client may want to have other services, such as email for their business domain, databases or multi-media services for streaming media. A customer may also choose Windows as the hosting platform. The customer still can choose from PHP, Perl, and Python but may also use ASP .Net or Classic ASP. Web hosting packages often include a Web Content Management System, so the end-user doesn't have to worry about the more technical aspects.

A web hosting service is a type of Internet hosting service that allows individuals and organizations to make their own website accessible via the World Wide Web. Web hosts are companies that provide space on a server they own or lease for use by their clients as well as providing Internet connectivity, typically in a data center. Web hosts can also provide data center space and connectivity to the Internet for servers they do not own to be located in their data center, called colocation.

Service Scope
The scope of hosting services varies widely. The most basic is web page and small-scale file hosting, where files can be uploaded via File Transfer Protocol (FTP) or a Web interface. The files are usually delivered to the Web "as is" or with little processing. Many Internet service providers (ISPs) offer this service free to their subscribers. People can also obtain Web page hosting from other, alternative service providers. Personal web site hosting is typically free, advertisement-sponsored, or cheap. Business web site hosting often has a higher expense.

Single page hosting is generally sufficient only for personal web pages. A complex site calls for a more comprehensive package that provides database support and application development platforms (e.g. PHP, Java, Ruby on Rails, ColdFusion, and ASP.NET). These facilities allow the customers to write or install scripts for applications like forums and content management. For e-commerce, SSL is also highly recommended.

The host may also provide an interface or control panel for managing the Web server and installing scripts as well as other services like e-mail. Some hosts specialize in certain software or services (e.g. e-commerce). They are commonly used by larger companies to outsource network infrastructure to a hosting company.

Magazine publishers may have a new way to boost flagging circulation: the iPad.

The Audit Bureau of Circulations said Tuesday that it has changed its definition of a digital magazine to accommodate the new class of tablet-style devices.

The new rules allow publishers to count paid digital subscriptions as part of a magazine's overall circulation as long as all the same editorial and advertising material is included.

That means publishers can custom design their articles and photo spreads for Apple Inc.'s iPad, which goes on sale April 3. Without the rule change, they could only count digital editions that appear exactly the way they do in print.

Magazines need the change because they charge for ads based on the size of their so-called rate base, the circulation they guarantee to advertisers.

By comparison, newspapers have had looser restrictions. Because they don't guarantee a rate base, they can count people who pay for access to their Web sites regardless of what ads run there.

In order for the tablet circulation to count, the Audit Bureau must approve each software application for the iPad and other devices. It already has approved one for Conde Nast's Wired magazine, which will be available for the iPad starting with the June issue. Conde Nast is also planning iPad versions of GQ, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair and Glamour.

Subscriptions on many existing e-readers, such as Amazon Inc.'s Kindle, don't count because those editions don't carry ads. But the iPad will have a backlit screen that can carry color advertising alongside articles, opening up another potential revenue stream.

Of course, magazines would only get this circulation boost out of the iPad if they can persuade readers to pay for applications. Few consumer magazines or newspapers have succeeded in getting large numbers of readers to pay for access to Web sites.

GQ's iPhone app, which meets the auditors' new guidelines, may provide the best barometer. About 6,800 people downloaded the first issue for $2.99, according to company figures — not a significant rate compared with the magazine's overall circulation of just under 900,000. Still, it does seem to be moving in the right direction, with January downloads more than doubling to about 15,100.

Social networking website Facebook has capped a year of phenomenal growth by overtaking Google's popularity among US internet users, with industry data showing it has scored more visits on its home page than the search engine.

In a sign that the web is becoming more sociable than searchable, research firm Hitwise said that the two sites accounted for 14 percent of all US internet visits last week. Facebook’s home page recorded 7.07 percent of traffic and Google’s 7.03 percent.

It is the first time that Facebook.com has enjoyed a weekly lead over Google.com. The lead may be slim, but it has become inevitable as Facebook’s popularity has grown rapidly from just over 2 percent of visits a year ago.

Heather Dougherty of Hitwise said that Facebook had “reached an important milestone” with the weekly figures.

Facebook’s membership has more than doubled in the past year, passing the 200m mark last April and 400m in February.

“The true value of Facebook and social networks is just becoming clear to marketers,” said Augie Ray, analyst at Forrester Research.

Although Facebook is enjoying rapid growth, it is only beginning to cash in on its success. Revenues at the social media company are estimated to be in the range of $1bn to $1.5bn this year, while Google took in $23.7bn last year.

Google has responded to the ascendancy of the social networking site with its own Buzz service last month.

Buzz allows users to add status updates, friends, pictures, videos, location information, comments and links to other networking sites.

Buzz, though, has struggled with privacy concerns just as Facebook has been criticised for encouraging members to reveal personal data to search engines.

The Hitwise figures only cover visits to the Google.com site, meaning that services such as Gmail, YouTube, Google Maps and searches carried out in a box in a browser toolbar are excluded.

Taking all Google properties into account, the internet company accounted for 11.03 percent of US website visits last week, compared with 10.98 per cent for Yahoo properties and 7.07 per cent for Facebook, according to Hitwise.

Facebook’s trajectory suggests that it will soar ahead of Google.com in the coming months.

However, social networking sites have fallen in the past. Google.com had led since September 2007, when it overtook News Corp’s MySpace.com.

Internet users worldwide spent more than five-and-a-half hours a month on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter in December 2009, an 82 percent increase over the previous year, according to the Nielsen Company research firm.

Nokia has started selling of its highly anticipated entertainment package, Nokia’s X6 from March 15. The latest device from the leading mobile maker has been most awaited since its pre order stage.

The pre order started from the 19th February and continued till 10th March. The X6 was launched in conjunction with Nokia’s dedicated web portal, nowplaying. nokia.com.bd, which allows fans to be connected with their favourite entertainers like Feedback and Fuad. The web portal hosts the artists’ blogs and allows fans to comment and communicate with them.

The X6 will be available in 5 Nokia stores and 20 Nokia solution partners for the first week.

Three Nokia stores that are dealing with the pre orders of the mobile phone have arranged booths for music and games. Consumers can enjoy their favourite games and music there and can record and upload them to their devices on the spot.

Nokia also offering Nokia Bluetooth Stereo Headset BH-503 for first fifty consumers each who have pre ordered and bought the device from three designated Nokia Stores.

This offer will also be applicable to all Nokia play device, including Nokia X3, Nokia 5230, Nokia 5233, Nokia 5530 and Nokia 5800 from March 20.

Nokia X6 provides quality music capabilities on an all out entertainment package. It offers key features that ensures the best mobile music experience, including dedicated music keys, support for 3.5 mm connectors and extended battery life for music listening. The X6 is the ultimate device for social networking, with a 16:9 widescreen optimized for photos, videos and browsing and an easy access from the home screen to social networks, like Facebook and Twitter. The entertainment experience is completed by three embedded games, Spore by EA, Asphalt4 and DJ Mix Tour by Gameloft, and direct access from the home screen to download more games and applications through the Ovi Store.

It is capable of playing up to 35 hours of music, offering 16GB of on-board memory which can store up to 3,200 tracks on the device itself and supports all main digital music formats, with a slick 3.2" finger touch interface and a 5 mega pixel camera with Carl Zeiss lens. The Nokia X6 follows up on the Nokia 5800 in style and touch—with the inclusion of the long-awaited capacitive touch.

“Nokia X6 is the latest edition to Nokia’s touch-screen device portfolio, designed for people who love music, socializing and entertainment on the move. It is very rewarding for me today to see how excited all our consumers are to finally get their own Nokia X6”, said Nokia representative Nowfel Anowar, Head of Marketing.

It has a price tag of Tk 30,800.

Bangladesh's internet users are now allowed to talk through VoIP (voice over internet protocol) technology within the country, as 18 local companies yesterday launched IP (internet protocol) telephony services.

The existing users, connected by local internet service providers (ISPs), will get the chance to transfer and receive voice calls through IP telephony.

Besides getting data services, the internet users will enjoy video calls, call forwarding and audio-video conferencing.

Internet protocol telephony service providers (IPTSPs) initially target corporate customers, as intra-office communication cost will come down.

Presently, more than five lakh internet users are connected through local ISPs, while mobile operators claim that more than 40 lakh people are connected via mobile internet. Bangladesh's internet penetration rate is four percent.

ISP internet users can start voice calls by just installing PC2 dialler software into their computers. With headphones, they can talk through landline and mobile phone. The internet users can also transfer voice through USB phone.

The users who have traditional phone sets with an internet connection can switch to IP telephone by installing an analogue telephony adaptor.

SIP (session initiative protocol)-enabled handset users can get the benefits of IP telephony in the Wi-Fi areas.

However, users can talk to people living abroad through IP phone, but overseas calls through VoIP are still restricted.

The IP telephony operators offer free installation of PC2 software to the customers. Presently USB phones are available at Tk 1,000 in the local market. IP telephone sets cost Tk 3,000 to Tk 30,000, while the analogue adaptor price ranges from Tk 2,000 to Tk 6,000.

IPTSPs will charge a maximum of Tk 0.20 a minute for IPTSP-IPTSP calls and a maximum of Tk 2 for a call from IPTSP to any mobile or landline operator, in line with a Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) directive.

As per the decision of IPTSPs, customers will have to pay Tk 100 as connection fee per month for unlimited IPTSP-IPTSP calls.

However, the minimum airtime charge for calls from IPTSP to any mobile or landline operator will not be below Tk 0.65 a minute.

The 18 operators are Advanced Data Networks System Ltd, Agni Systems Ltd, BDCom Online Ltd, Beximco, BracNet, BTS Communication Ltd, Connect BD Ltd, Dhakacom Ltd, Grameen Cybernet Ltd, Global Access Ltd, HRC Technologies Ltd, Information Services Network Ltd, Innovative Online Ltd, Link3 Technologies Ltd, Metronet BD Ltd, Optimax Communication Ltd, Royal Green Online Ltd and Telnet Communication Ltd.

The companies have developed required software locally to run the business.

Yeafesh Osman, state minister for science and ICT, yesterday inaugurated the IP telephony service at a programme organised by Internet Service Providers' Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB) at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel.

IP telephony could be the cheapest means of communication for the educational institutes, said Nazrul Islam Khan, national project director of Access to Information Programme of the Prime Minister's Office.

He said: "The service can be tagged with government plans to bring all educational institutes under internet service."

Zia Ahmed, chairman of BTRC, and Akhtaruzzaman Manju, president of ISPAB, also spoke.

Motion controls and social gaming were the hot topics at this week's Game Developers Conference, the annual convention of game designers, programmers and executives.

Sony shook up the conference with a splashy introduction of the PlayStation Move, a new wand-shaped PlayStation 3 motion controller system that will rival Nintendo's popular Wii.

Sony showed off several games that use the new system, which utilizes a PlayStation Eye camera to detect players' movements. Among them were the action brawler "Motion Fighter," over-the-top party game "TV Superstars," athletic simulator "Sports Champions," mini-game collection "Move Party," third-person shooter "SOCOM 4" and wacky downhill racer "Slider."

"It's just scratching the surface," said TechSavvy technology analyst Scott Steinberg. "If you talk with game developers themselves, they will tell you they don't know what they're quite capable of doing because they're just coming to grips — no pun intended — with the hardware itself. At this point, we're just seeing some very early possibilities."

The biggest buzz, however, seemed reserved for social gaming, a form of easy-to-play online multiplayer games. With the success of such social games as the real-time crop-growing simulator "FarmVille" and the gangster role-playing saga "Mafia Wars," several conference sessions this year were devoted solely on how to tap into the gaming world's Next Big Thing.

"I feel like people are motivated more this year," said Game Developers Conference director Meggan Scavio. "They seem genuinely excited to be doing what they're doing, and there's an air of anticipation. I think they've discovered there's still new business models out there. There's still new ways to develop and make games that they hadn't thought of before."

There's still wow factor, too. On the sprawling expo floor, attendees gawked at the VirtuSphere, a huge hamster ball-like virtual reality doodad that allows users inside to control a virtual character by walking around inside it. Folks also crowded in front of a mock living room populated with hipsters rocking out with the upcoming guitar game "Power Gig."

The Bangladesh Bank (BB) has already taken such a tremendous technology-based initiative, BACH (Bangladesh Bank Automated Clearing House), which moves towards achieving the goal of Digital Bangladesh. This is one of such technologies that will enable integration with different banks on a single platform. The technology is being implemented and system integration testing is going on. Hopefully, the system will be in place soon.

Now there are four payment and settlement systems: (a) Bangladesh Bank's clearing houses in Dhaka and its branches in seven other cities, (b) Sonali Bank's clearing houses in 31 towns where there are no BB branches, (c) Large value cheque settlement system of BB, and (d) BB foreign currency clearing system in Dhaka, which clears and settles foreign currency cheques and pay orders. Initially only Dhaka zone will be operating through the BACH. The rest will be implemented in phases.

In order to understand BACH processing, it is important to grasp the concept of the automated clearing house. BACH is a network that enables customers, companies and other establishments (i.e. banks) to complete cheque processing within the participating banks through the BACH.

This payment system will make use of the automated clearing house to enable electronic payments or fund transfers in future, and small and big business houses will be benefited. The business houses planning to use such a system should be aware of the pros and cons of using this payment method. Knowing both the benefits and risks will help them make suitable decisions that can improve online business activities through faster check processing.

Basically, BACH processing makes it possible for online businesses to deposit cheques using the automated clearing house network; this method is important in order to secure payments from customers faster and without hassles. BACH will also bring some benefits for commercial banks. According to Bangladesh Bank directive, commercial banks need to maintain idle funds solely for settlement purposes. This liquidity is a burden to the banks. Moreover, moving funds from one place to another is expensive and results in poor liquidity management. Besides, there are many risks involved in end-of-day settlements. These drawbacks in payment system can be eliminated by introduction of BACH. Since BACH processing is done electronically, a bank will not need to process bad cheques several times. This system or method is also exposed to fewer mistakes. With the BACH system, there is no such scope for mistakes and thus the businesses and customers are more protected.

There are still some things that can go wrong with BACH payment -- cyber criminals can hack into system and harm online banking transactions. There are a lot of things that can be done to minimise the risks involved in cheque payment method. The banks should ensure that dedicated computers will be used for internet banking. Separate computers will be used for other important transactions that are involved in BACH and thus will lessen the chances of account being hacked.

The entire system design is flexible for banks to participate in the BACH network. The banks can choose any clearing model from these three: 1. Centralised, 2. Distributed, 3. Cluster.

In any of the three models, all cheques are collected and scanned in a designated location. It can be done centrally at head office or branch, or any regional or zonal location. It is also possible to use distributed model for outward clearing but centralised model is for inward clearing. In addition, if any bank wants to provide services to another bank, it is also possible.

Despite all concerns, it makes us hopeful and dream about the digitised clearing system. The Bangladesh Bank is the core component of the entire monitory system. If the central bank can be digitised, it will transform our banking and eventually digitise the concept of business, commerce and trade, and help us achieve Digital Bangladesh.

Skype for Symbian will run on any Nokia smartphone using Symbian ^1, the latest version of the Symbian platform. Skype will soon introduce this client to Symbian mobile devices from other manufacturers, including Sony Ericsson. “Symbian enables us to bring smartphones to more and more people and ensures scale for our solutions and compelling services, such as Skype. We're seeing around 1.5 million downloads a day on Ovi Store now and believe that the Skype client for Nokia smartphones will have wide appeal to Symbian users," said Jo Harlow, senior vice president for smartphones, Nokia.

“Skype, the king of Internet communications, running on Symbian, the world's dominant smartphone platform, makes for an explosive combination,” said Larry Berkin, Head of Global Alliances and GM USA, Symbian Foundation. “With Symbian's global reach, Skype is that much closer to becoming the ubiquitous real-time communications platform for hundreds of millions of Symbian-based mobile users.”

Russ Shaw, General Manager, Mobile at Skype said, “With Skype for Nokia smartphones, more than 200 million smartphone users worldwide will be able to take the Skype features they love with them on the move. Alongside Skype's relationships with operators and handset manufacturers worldwide, making Skype available direct to consumers will help millions of users keep in contact with the people that are important to them without worrying about the cost, distance or whether they are away from a computer.”

The initial Skype for Symbian application is compatible with the following Nokia devices: Nokia N97, Nokia N97 mini, Nokia X6, Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, Nokia 5530: Nokia E72, Nokia E71, Nokia E90, Nokia E63, Nokia E66, Nokia E51, Nokia N96, Nokia N95, Nokia N95 8Gb, Nokia N85, Nokia N82, Nokia N81, Nokia N81 8 Gb, Nokia N79, Nokia N78, Nokia 6220 classic, Nokia 6210 Navigator, Nokia 5320.

bracNet, a leading local internet service provider and KDDI Corporation, the second largest telecommunication company in Japan have announced the launch of bracNet-DEFTA-KDDI joint venture in Bangladesh.

KDDI Corporation has forayed into Bangladesh market acquiring 50 per cent stakes of BRAC BDMail Network Limited (bracNet). According to the Japanese trade official, KDDI found potential future of business in Bangladesh for its huge population and possible growth in telecom and internet service markets. Entry of KDDI in Bangladesh would give a further boost to the growing telecom and ICT sector of Bangladesh and help to achieve the goal of “Digital Bangladesh by 2021”.

A senior official of bracNet said partnership with KDDI would enhance their company's financial and technical strengths for further expansion of existing services and take it to the doorsteps of consumers at an affordable cost.

Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, KCMG, the founder and Chairperson of BRAC was the chief guest in the ceremony. Dr. Syed Abdus Samad, executive chairman, Board of Investment, Prime Minister's office, Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury, chairperson bracNet and Mohammad Abdur Rab, CEO bracNet were also present.

Tadashi Onodera, president and chairman, KDDI Corporation and Gorge Hara, chairman, Alliance Forum Foundation and DEFTA Partners, LLC, represented KDDI, Japan and DEFTA Partners respectively.

There is a common things now on our mind about this supposed to be Nokia’s Internet Tablet photo –the N900. Likely what, we see in the image above is well crafted successor of N810. Apparently, this can be just products of unknown gifted artist to lure hog of attentions.

According to BeGeek, it's touting that the release of this phone/MID will be inline with the upcoming Nokia World event dated by early next month to happen in Germany. N900 will feature 3.5-inch touchscreen display, 5-megapixel camera, 32GB of storage, accelerometer and GPS support. Interestingly, the highly anticipated Maemo 5 –is what we are looking forward.

There is no other details telling when or how the phone will have its US release version, which we know will closely goes with T-Mobile.

When it comes to forex trading the forex software you choose is essential. There are so many forex trading companies all competing for your business that choosing the right forex software can be quite a difficult task. Most of the forex software products available offers live online forex trading platforms but what other components are vital when it comes to your forex software.

Key Elements For Your Forex Software:

Before purchasing any forex software there are a few essential items that should be included. The most important is security and your online forex trading software should include a 128 bit SSL encryption which will prevent hackers from accessing any of your personal details and information such as your account balance, transaction history, etc.

Providing the best security for your forex trading will include a company that provides 24 hour technical server support for your forex software, 24 hour maintenance should anything go wrong, daily backups of all information, and a security system that has been designed to prevent any unauthorized access. Along with these security protocols there are also some forex trading companies that use smart cards and fingerprint scanners to ensure that only their employees can have access to their servers.

Another important factor when it comes to choosing your forex software is to check what the company's downtime is like. When it comes to trading forex and particularly your online forex trading you need to ensure that the forex software you choose is reliable and available 24 hours a day. The forex software you choose for your forex trading should also have technical support available at all times should your session be cut short.
Ensuring that all the above features are listed in the forex software you choose will help to ensure your forex trading success.Anyway, a forex software is a must have if you want to earn money.

Google is offering news publishers a way to attract paying subscribers without having to remove their content from Google News search results, after some media companies accused it of profiting from their online news. The Web search giant said it would adapt its so-called First Click Free programme to prompt online readers to register or subscribe to a news provider's site after reading five free articles from that publisher in a day. Previously, the user's first click on any article would be free for an unlimited number of articles, provided the user did not click through any more links from any article. Google said the update would allow publishers to focus on potential subscribers who were accessing a lot of their content on a regular basis. Rupert Murdoch's News Corp had been reported to be considering removing its news from Google's web search results and to be talking to rival Microsoft search engine Bing about listing stories there instead. News Corp already limits online access to its Wall Street Journal newspaper to paying subscribers, and plans to do the same for its Times and Sunday Times newspapers in Britain. Many other news providers are also considering putting up paywalls around online content as a recession-led slump and structural changes in advertising mean they can no longer fund newsgathering operations from ad revenues. Google's relationship with publishers who put news behind paywalls is complicated by the fact its web crawlers need to access the content behind the paywall to index it and make it discoverable by its search engine. But its crawlers cannot fill in registration or subscription forms, leading to the potential for users to be shown different content from what the crawler sees, and hence encouraging users to click through to pages that are not what they expected.

Google Inc software will start up a computer as fast as a television can be turned on, the search company said on Thursday as it showed off its Chrome operating system designed for PCs that do their work on the Web.

Google gave the first public look at its Chrome OS four months after declaring its intention of developing the PC's main software, a move that pits it directly against Microsoft Corp and Apple Inc.

True to Google's Internet-pedigree, the Chrome OS resembles a Web browser more than it does a traditional computer operating system like Microsoft Windows, matching Google's ambition to drive people to the Web -- where they can see Google ads.

Google said the software will initially be available by the holiday season of 2010 on low-cost netbooks that meet Google's hardware specifications, such as using only memory chips to store data instead of slower hard drives, the current standard.

Netbooks running Chrome OS will only be able to run Web applications and the user's data will automatically be stored on the Web in the so-called cloud of Internet servers, Google executives said at an event at the company's Mountain View, California headquarters on Thursday.

Such a machine is made for a world of near-constant, extremely fast Web connection, without the type of software that made Microsoft famous, since most of the work would be done by big machines on the Web which take directions and send information to relatively uncomplicated devices like a Chrome PC.

Sundar Pichai, vice-president of product management for Google's Chrome OS, said that computers running Chrome OS will be able to start in less than seven seconds.