Introduction to Torrent

Hi,

Have you heard of torrent? Oh! you must have. Many of you have used torrent to download files and other documents from internet. But many of us are unaware of how torrent works and what torrent is?

Lets talk about Torrent in detail.

What is torrent?

Torrent is actually a computer file type used by BitTorrent protocol. This file contains meta data about the file's and folder's size, their list of locations (called trackers in language of torrent). This has extension of .torrent. One more and most important thing about torrent file is that, it does not contain files or folders that you want to download. It only contains the Structure, Location and other information about file. In current days, this has been replaced by Magnet Link which is a web version (hyper link) of this file containing all information about this file.

History of BitTorrent?

BitTorrent is a peer to peer file sharing protocol developed by Programmer Bram Cohen and first released on April 2001. He released it for public on 2 July 2001 on first time and continuously developed till 2008. As per BitTorrent, Inc which has published official client also, revealed that number of Torrent users per day over world is twice than the users of Facebook and YouTube combined together. 

How it works?

Now, if the torrent file does not contain files to be downloaded, how actually it works? Lets see a image below to understand more clearly.

Requirement and Background

While the file is of Gigantic size and need to be distributed among many users, what is the cost of server. The same amount of data has been transferred to each users. Suppose a file of one GB is to be shared among a thousand users. Then server needs more than a one Terra Byte of bandwidth which will surely cost a lot for any company. This will also impact the performance of server. To overcome this, BitTorrent protocol is designed where you need not to distribute file to each user, Once user downloaded a file, that can even uploaded from users PC.
Most of Computer Science students are known and for others information, data is transmitted in Packets over internet. A complete file can not be transferred at at time if that has lot of data. And you have heard of Bit and Byte. At a single time a limited byte of data can only travel or transmits between two IP (computers).
Suppose, we have a file of 100 MB and our computer hardware determines and think that it can be transmitted if the file has been broken into 100 pieces and then tells receiver that it has send 100 pieces of a file, combine and give to user, in general language. This is also applicable for torrent also. Torrent file has meta data where the piece size has been mentioned. The complete file has been broken into pieces and assigned a serial number (virtual). Then at the time of distribution, these pieces are downloaded to users computer one by one. And most importantly, based on permission from user, the downloaded pieces are again uploaded to other user who is downloading same file.

Advantage

Following are major advantage of torrent protocol for user and uploader.

• Server cost is reduces because file is later shared using peers (other users who are downloading)
• Even your Internet get disconnected or you shut down your computer, your files are saved in hard disk and if you think of continuing the download, only remaining pieces will downloaded. This is intelligence added in BitTorrent clients. 
• Better download speed.
• Faster distribution

We will talk about legal controversies and other bad aspects of torrent system on later post. 

If you find this post helpful, say thanks on comments or you have any suggestions or feedback on this, please comment.

+John Bhatt 

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Cloud Storage : SkyDrive

Hi,
Some time ago, we have talked about Cloud Storage. Continuation of that series, I am going to write here about SkyDrive, a cloud storage facility provided by Microsoft to its user for free with custom upgradable plans also.

Introduction:

SkyDrive logos at various stages

   Microsoft SkyDrive is included with Windows Live product and previously known as Windows Live Folders, then Windows Live SkyDrive and now SkyDrive or Microsoft SkyDrive. Being officially announced on 01 August 2007, this product is tested by some BETA testers across United States and UK. Initially storage capacity is given 5GB per user which is expanded to 25 GB on 02 December 2008. On continuous improvement of service, SkyDrive is integrated with Office Web Apps and Outlook.com (formerly Hotmail) to attach larget Photos and other documents as email attachments. 

Current

Now, SkyDrive is developed for various platforms and available for most of devices. Now it has its native application for Apple's iOS and Mac, Google's Android, Microsoft's Windows (Desktop version for Windows 7 and prior version), Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Phone and XBox 360 also with Web version. Due to high volume of users and popularity, its size has been reduced to 7 GB for new registrations. Emails registered after 22 April 2012 will get 7 GB for free while members registered before that date have 25GB of free storage. You can upload every kind of file in SkyDrive, there is no restriction of File Type. SkyDrive is  currently available over world with 94 languages. Microsoft launched Premium plans of SkyDrive on 23 September 2013 which are divided in 3 classes for 50+, 100+ and 200+ which adds corresponding GBs of data to user account.
The Desktop version and other application has capability to Sync file and save to cloud as preferred by user over internet.

Registration & Login

Everyone, who signs up for Microsoft Live Account has access to All of the Windows Live services including SkyDrive. SkyDrive is accessible at https://skydrive.live.com.

Features

There are lots of feature of using Cloud Storage, but we will just list some of SkyDrive features that are notable.

• Integrated with Office Web Apps, you can create or edit your document online.
• Format support of PDF, XML based Document and ODF with lots more.
• Document Embedding on web and sharing with friends which makes it useful at work.
• Email Integration, send directly via email as attachment to any email id.
• Share with Windows Live Groups, such as your office team have access to your work files and they can work even you are not at office and multiple users at at time.
• Slideshow of uploaded photos.
• Recycle Bin. Most useful tool for cloud storage. Suppose you uploaded a larger file and deleted by mistake. SkyDrive gives you option to Restore your file within maximum of 30 days period.
• Download all your files in single Zip file and extract at your machine.

Snapshots

SkyDrive for Web (Current Version)

Android

Windows 8.1

For a Developer

SkyDrive has launched its API so that developer can develop applications for Windows Phone, Windows 8 and 8.1 and other portable devices which has ability to store data and access to SkyDrive of user.

Download

Applications are available for downloads free on various platforms. 

For iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/skydrive/id477537958?mt=8

For Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microsoft.skydrive

For Desktop: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?LinkId=248256

For Windows 8 & 8.1 : http://apps.microsoft.com/windows/en-us/app/skydrive/2682e314-15ab-4510-bbb3-d33da78a44d9

For Windows Phone: http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/store/app/skydrive/ad543082-80ec-45bb-aa02-ffe7f4182ba8

If you found this post helpful, do share and if you have any feedback please post a comment. 

+John Bhatt 

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New project for Indian Computer Institute (ICI)

Hi,

These days I am working on a website and web application for Computer Institute.

Indian Computer Institute is a complete software training center established in 2008 and served more than 5000 students with excellent placement records. This institute is based in Rani Bagh location of New Delhi and some months ago, on the expansion of its chain of branch, a new Center has been opened at Jahangirpuri in New Delhi.

Project Details:

• Website

• Powered by PHP/MySQL platform.
• WordPress as CMS.
• Responsive Design.

• Email

• Email Service for their custom company.
• Administration of services.

• Software

• Version 1.0.30 of ESKOOL, A complete web based Educational Institute Management system designed for Schools, training center and computer institutes based on ASP.NET platform.

Please have a look at my recent work and provide feedback or suggestions.

+John Bhatt 

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Creating a Static Home Page on Blogger

Hi,

On the first day of English Calender, lets start with Blogger tip. A lot of us use Blogger as blogging platform. Blogger is self hosted blogging software from Google. It has great tools and uptime and easier interface with lots of Google features integration with custom templates.
But it lacks a feature, you can not set a static home page. In other CMS (Content Management Systems) you have option to set your desired page as homepage so that each-time user visits website, the static welcome page or home page can be served. Blogger does not support this kind of setting.

Lets make a trick with Google so that we can set our desired post as home page.

Procedure:

1. Sign into blogger account and choose blog for which you want to set a static homepage.
2. If you have already written that post and published, skip options 3.
3. Click on New Post button in your Blog Admin section.
   
4. After setting your content and page title, Click on Schedule link in right side of compose box.
   
5. Set any future date and save. Remember date must be of future, suggested is a year or more future. 

Logic

The above trick will work on blogger because blogs are sorted according to published date and newer first. So blogger will think that that blog is published in last time and display at top of your blog.

There might be some risk if you are using AdSense with blogger, because the AdSense team randomly checks websites and this might not be according to their policy.

Thanks for reading. Wish you a happy new year once again and better luck ahead.

+John Bhatt 

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