Apr 29, 2013

How-To Create System Repair Disk on Windows 7 OS

This tutorial will help create a system repair disk in Windows 7. You can use The Windows System Repair Disk is a bootable disk for troubleshooting your operating system, if you don’t have or lost your Windows installation disc or can’t access the recovery options provided by your computer manufacturer. The repair disk will provide you access System Restore, Startup Repair, Windows Complete PC Restore, Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool and a command prompt.


Follow these very simple steps to create a System Repair Disk for your Windows 7.

Click on Windows button or the Start Menu Button, Open Control Panel then select Backup and Restore.


Click on “Create a system repair disk”.


Insert blank CD or DVD into your CD/DVD drive and click on the Create disc button.


NOTE: If you are prompted to insert a Windows installation disc, it means that the files needed to create the system repair disc cannot be found on your computer. Insert your Windows 7 installation disc then proced in creating your system repair disk.

Here is another way of opening the Create a system repair disc window.

Click on Start button and on the Search programs and files, type in “system repair disc

VLC The Best DVD Ripper

Do you know that aside from watching and playing music and videos is that you can also rip DVD movies using VLC? VLC is my favorite player, you can run almost everything and it’s very light. It can read almost any kind of video and audio format. See it’s full feature here. If you don’t have VLC yet then you can download it here.

VLC Videolan Screenshot

Going back to our tip, to rip your favorite DVD movie just load up the movie. Start VLC, under the Media menu click on Convert/Save.


The Open Media window will appear.Click on the Disc tab. Make sure the DVD, radio button is selected. Hit on Convert/Save button.

On the Convert screen, carefully check the source and the destination. If all are done and ready, click on start and enjoy.

When you are in the process of ripping you may notice a slowdown of your system as the process takes up a lot of resources. You will also notice notice the conversion results in lower quality compared to the original.

How-To Protect Your Online Account

Nowadays, technology is a part of every aspect of our lives. No matter where you go, a developing country uses an improving technology. We use technology for more than just accessing information. We use it for easy banking, bill paying, filing personal information and sending information to others. It makes our life a lot easier, but at the same time risky.

In order to be safe in using technology we rely on passwords to protect our identities and accounts. One simple “password” is all that it takes to safeguard our personal files against a possible huge headache if it is cracked by a hacker gaining access to it. A weak password is better than no password at all, but still not a good idea. It might deter a hacker for sometimes, but not for too long.

Though we can’t do anything with the hackers, extra security measures can be used to make cracking more difficult. It is by using a complex password. A complex password is critical to online security. It is different from a regular password because it uses more keyboard numbers, symbols and letters. A complex password is a strong password that is much more secure.

In creating a strong complex password you can think of a phrase or a sentence, to use as a clue to your password. Example: ” My female cat Meow has 2 blue eyes” Then the password could be MfcMh2be. This is a strong complex password and it won’t be as hard to remember since it is connected to a sentence. Mix capital letters with numbers. Adding symbols would make it more complex like **_MfcMh2be_** or –_MfcMh2be_-. Avoid using your name or screen name as your password. The length of the password should be from 10-14 letters and symbols. The more symbols the higher the security strength. Do not use passwords that are dictionary words, names, phone numbers and dates even words that are connected to you like your sports and favorites.

Using different passwords in your different accounts is a big thing. This way if someone tried to crack your password, they won’t have the access in your every account. Do not use shared computers to access your accounts. These include computers that are open to the public like internet cafes, kiosks, schools and libraries.

Laptop computers may be less secure as you use them in different places, so make sure your laptop has strong passwords.

Password protection is very important. Most security experts agree that you should never write down your password boldly and keep the information in an easily accessible area. If you must write down your passwords then write it using initials, clues, or drawings then store the information in a very safe place with your other valuables… do not write anything that would make it an obvious password. Another idea is to develop a code that will jar your memory so you can remember the password. This way the password in code won’t make any sense to anyone but you. Always keep your passwords secret and change them ever 30-60 days. Always keep track of your banking accounts and monitor them regularly for changes you did not make.

Planning To Create Your First Web Site?

You bought your hosting account, domain name and you have an idea. So, now that it’s time to start your website, you might be wondering how you actually go about doing it. Do you have to start scarfing down textbook after textbook of HTML, PHP and CSS knowledge? While this could be helpful if you really want to do everything yourself and you have months to learn the languages, the truth is that you can create a website within a few minutes without much technical knowledge. In fact, you don’t need to know the first thing about programming to get your website started. These are the exact steps that you need to take to create your first website.


Install a CMS

Log into your cPanel account (or whatever control panel your host is using) and select the script installer program. There are several different script installers commonly used with cPanel, but the two most popular are Simple Scripts and Fantastico. Both of these are similar and they mostly have the same scripts.

A CMS allows you to create, edit and manage content. It also allows you to add a template to your website so that you can dress it up and make it look good. While there are many CMSs, the easiest one to use is WordPress. However, if you want a CMS with better customizability, then Joomla or Drupal are better.

Just select the CMS of your choice, type in a username and password and click the “Install” button.

Find and Install Template

While you don’t necessarily need a template, it will make your website look and function better. There are both paid and free templates. Paid templates are often better, but they can cost $20-$60 for a good one. If you want to start a business with your website, then it might be good to invest in one of these. If you just want a blog to share your thoughts, then a free template will be ideal.

You can find free templates by just going to your favorite search engine and searching “free (CMS) template.” Just replace (CMS) with the name of your CMS, such as WordPress or Drupal. Look through the templates until you find one that you like. Before downloading it, be sure to check reviews to ensure there aren’t any viruses or bad files linked to the template.

Now just download the template and keep the ZIP file somewhere easy to find. Log into your CMS’s admin panel and click the “Appearance” or “Design” link, depending on your CMS. Select the template’s ZIP file and the template will be uploaded and added to your website.

Test the Site

The last thing you need to do is visit your website and make sure that everything worked. Click all of the links, look at the design and use the features to see if they work. If not, then go back to your admin panel, uninstall the template and then install it again. You can also contact the host’s support team for additional help.

Conclusion

Setting up a website is incredibly easy. You can even do it in a few minutes with very little technical skill. Most of the work is done for you, you just need to tell the software what to do. Check out Reviewpon, if you need any other tips on setting up your web hosting.

Apr 28, 2013

How To Easily Change Windows Registered Owner

Here is a very quick and easy guide on how you can change the Windows registered owner. I’m sure this trick will not be that useful for most windows users but it can be handy if you got a machine from somebody else and don’t want or don’t have the proper knowledge to perform windows installation.

Open your registry editor by typing regedit at the search menu and locate the following key.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion

Look for the RegisteredOwner and RegisteredOrganization keys in the right-hand pane then Change them to whatever values you want.

Now, to see the changes, just type winver into the start menu search box.


This trick works on all versions of Windows including Windows XP.

The Death and Life of Broadband over Powerlin

It seems like a decade or so ago, but, in actuality, the height of interest by the industry in broadband over powerline (BPL) was only a few short years ago.


The attraction of the technology was compelling and simple to understand. While it was never predicted that BPL would generate huge throughput to homes, the simple ubiquity of the technology — power lines are virtually everywhere people live and work — made the argument for the platform compelling, at least on paper. BPL, which also is known as power line communications (PLC), wasn’t a passing fancy. It enticed investments from Google, Goldman Sachs and a variety of projects.

The approach has largely faded into the sunset. Jamie Yap at ZDNet details why it didn’t catch fire. The bottom line is that the technology is expensive, the growth of wireless and wired capacity across the board greatly reduces the need for the introduction of a DSL-like technology and the intermingling of sensitive telecommunication signals with high levels of electricity is technically challenging.

That’s all interesting, but wouldn’t be too important if BPL were totally gone. It’s not. Yap says that the core technology has found a far more modest but real use as a platform for smart metering. It’s a natural: Very little data has to move upstream, so the technical challenges are de-emphasized. But the big advantage — almost total ubiquity — remains.

Metering.com in June reported on a study by United States National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) that described two trials of smart grid and BPL. The bottom line is that the technology is appropriate for the most demanding scenarios. The report was conducted by Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc. and Renz Consulting LLC. The story said that research was ongoing and it linked to the full report.

The use of BPL/PLC for smart grid is illustrated by a $15 million funding round from Power Plus Communications in Europe. The company raised $15 million from Siemens Financial Services, British Gas and Climate Change Capital Private Equity. The GreenTech Media piece on the funding round says that Climate Change is an existing investor in the company, which implies that the first two companies mentioned are new. Here is the reason for the round:
The technology will primarily be used for two applications: real-time communications in the distribution network for maintaining low- and medium-voltage control applications and smart metering to bring data from the meter back to the utility. GTM Research forecasts €6.8 billion ($8.5 billion) per year in smart grid investment in Europe between now and 2016, with the bulk of the investment going to smart metering and distribution automation.
The bottom line is that BPL/PLC was thought to be dead. That’s not true. It never will fulfill the expansive use case its developers originally envisioned. But, by the same token, a more modest future seems set.

Meralco scraps broadband-over-power lines project

MANILA, Philippines - Sister utility firms Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) and the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) have decided not to pursue its broadband-over-power-lines project, which was supposed to make Internet more accessible, because of unsolved interference problem.

Both Pangilinan-led firms have been pilot testing the delivery of broadband internet service over Meralco’s power lines since August 2009 in Malabon. The supposedly 3-month trial before the project is rolled out nationwide dragged on for years.

“After several trials in Metro Manila, we found the broadband over power lines project unstable because of electrical usage interferences. That’s why it was terminated,” PLDT president Napoloen Nazareno told reporters in a text message.

“The test results were not promising. Too much interference over the power lines on Meralco’s current infrastructure,” PLDT spokesperson Ramon Isberto said.

PLDT and Meralco want to provide wired broadband services in areas not currently reached by PLDT facilities or in areas where facilities are already exhausted. The results of such pilot tests were supposed to guide them in determining the scope and coverage of the project, which was expected to drive the investment requirements.

The project was one of the key areas for synergies when the Pangilinan-led group acquired a controlling stake in Meralco in 2009.

Alternative: prepaid scheme

Both firms have shifted efforts toward making the prepaid electricity scheme a success. “Prepaid electricity is generally positive,” said Nazareno.

Prepaid retail electricity scheme will be tested in Angono, Rizal in November 2012.

The prepaid scheme has been ubiquitous in the telecommunications business, with PLDT's mobile unit Smart Communications Inc. profiting from prepaid mobile services.

Once prepaid electricity service becomes available, the electronic loading facilities of the PLDT group could be made available to Meralco and its prepaid customers to make the reloading of prepaid values more convenient and ubiquitous.

Prepaid electricity has been in operation in countries like South Africa and Indonesia, and more recently in India, Australia and New Zealand. In South Africa and Indonesia, prepaid electricity is availed of by consumers using tokens and a meter with numbered keys where a code is punched in.

PLDT Fibr

Aside from the prepaid retail electricity scheme, Nazareno said the PLDT group is pushing with its fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) or direct-to-the-home (DTTH) fiber optic data service known as PLDT Fibr.

“In the meantime, we are rolling out the FTTH,” Nazareno said when asked if the broadband over power lines project will be replaced with a different technology.

PLDT, he said, is committed to rollout over 150,000 broadband lines using fiber optic cables capable of handling data speed of up to 100 megabits per second (mbps). “We would have installed over 150,000 FTTH lines by the end of the year,” said the PLDT official.

With a 100 mbps connection, it will take only one minute to download a full-length movie.

The PLDT Fibr was made available to residents of Forbes Park and Urdaneta Village in Makati, Palms Pointe in Alabang, Wack Wack Village in Mandaluyong, and all Valle Varde Villages in Pasig in November last year.

Isberto said the phone giant intends to tap other residential areas within the metropolis. “Our PLDT Fibr will be present in more areas in Metro Manila,” he said.

Powerline Communication Modem PLC-UART-12V

Description: This is a transceiver module designed to send/receive serial data over power lines. PLC-UART is designed to transparently move serial data over the AC or DC power line network installed in your home or office. These units have the distinct advantage over protocols like X10. The PLC-UART communicates bidirectionally and at up to 19200bps. Not only can you tell the blender to turn on, but you can query the remote device and get data from it (you can't query with X10).


The PLC-UART-12V requires an external 12VDC supply for operation.

On the PLC-UART motherboard, there is a 20-pin receptacle, users can choose different daughter boards based on the interface needs. This 20-pin receptacle is pin-compatible with XBee module from Digi. So a XBee module can also be used on PLC-UART, and PLC-UART will become a powerline communication to Zigbee bridge.

The new generation PLC-UART motherboard also support DIP by optional pins that can be used to directly plug to user's board without doing screwing. The interface board signals such as RS232/RS485/USB signals are also routed back to motherboard through the 20-pin receptacle, and again to users' board through these DIP pins.

LinkSprite modules have the built-in packet-level repeater function. This feature can greatly extend the coverage of the powerline communication.

LinkSprite module has both physical and logic addresses. In a network, both physical and logic addresses can be used to address different nodes in the network.

Features:
  • Fully transparent mode, plug and play coming out of the box without the need to do any programming.
  • Built-in error correction codes.
  • Built-in repeater function to extend the coverage.
  • Physical and logic address
  • AT commands used for advanced configuration.
  • UART interface to host uP
  • FSK(Frequency Shift Keying) modulation used in physical layer
  • Low power Design
  • RoHS
  • Small module size, and easy to be implemented into existing products.
PLC-UART-12V User Manual

Power Line Communication Modem

Power line communication (PLC) carries data on a conductor that is also used simultaneously for AC electric power transmission or electric power distribution to consumers. It is also known as power line carrier, power line digital subscriber line (PDSL), mains communication, power line telecom (PLT), power line networking (PLN), and broadband over power lines (BPL).


A wide range of power line communication technologies are needed for different applications, ranging from home automation to Internet access. Most PLC technologies limit themselves to one type of wires (such as premises wiring within a single building), but some can cross between two levels (for example, both the distribution network and premises wiring). Typically transformers prevent propagating the signal, which requires multiple technologies to form very large networks. Various data rates and frequencies are used in different situations.



A number of difficult technical problems are common between wireless and power line communication, notably those of spread spectrum radio signals operating in a crowded environment. Radio interference, for example, has long been a concern of amateur radio groups.

Solwise NET-PL-1000M Mediaxtream/Homeplug AV Review

PIGGYBACKING A NETWORK on the electrical mains might have a certain whiff of make-do-and-mend about it, but it's undeniably a convenient way of sending data around a home or office when pulling Ethernet cables is not an option.

Specifications 1 Gbps Ethernet port, 128-bit AES encryption, compatible with Homeplug AV 1.1 standard, 105 x 58 x 42mm, 200g, power consumption 6.5W, 0.12A

Currently the fastest products available use the 200Mbps Homeplug AV standard, as the proposed 1Gbps AV2 standard is unlikely to appear anytime soon.

The Solwise adapter uses a GGL541 chip from Gigle Networks, which is also used in Belkin's Powerline HD product. Mediaxtream is Gigle's name for its proprietary 1Gbps powerline technology, which uses higher frequencies than Homeplug AV - 50-300MHz compared to AV's 2-28MHz - to provide a 1Gbps backplane speed. The chip also has full interoperability with Homeplug AV devices.

Physically, there's little to say. There's a Gigabit Ethernet port at the base, a small pairing button, reset switch and three status lights. Mediaxstream connections get a blue status light, changing to green for Homeplug AV. The only software is a firmware upgrade utility.

We tested TCP throughput using Passmark's Network Test, plus Totusoft's handy LAN Speed Test utility as a sanity check. In Passmark we used the default TCP block size of 16,384 bytes and 60-second test duration, while in LAN Speed Test we set total packets to 100. Connections were handled via an Engenius ESR 9710 Gigabit router.

As with all powerline products, mains wiring quality and interference are the biggest bugbears, and difficult to control in the real world. Our test environment used fairly typical - that is, old - domestic wiring. After a lot of trial and error, plugging both adapters into a single 0.5m extension lead attached to a wall socket and turning off as much equipment as possible gave us the best results.

This is what baseline performance looks like using a wired connection, just under 780 Mbps:


The best we could achieve in Mediaxstream mode was around 92Mbps in Passmark:


And in LAN Test we recorded 120Mbps:


The same tests using a pair of Homeplug AV adapters returned 38Mbps and 52Mbps respectively. Interestingly, when we repeated the tests using a more ‘realistic' selection of grotty surge-protected extensions full of dodgy AC adapters, the Mediaxtream results tanked to about 16Mbps in Passmark:


However, the Homeplug AV units only dropped to about 23Mbps and showed much more consistent throughput:


Mixing a Homeplug AV unit with a pair of Mediaxtream adapters produced interesting results. When we ran LAN Test on the AV client while running Passmark on the Mediaxtream client, overall throughput remained roughly the same, but with 12Mbps on the AV client and 75Mbps on the Mediaxtream connection. With no activity on the AV adapter, Mediaxtream performance improved to just under 90Mbps.

Another trick that the Solwise Mediaxtream adapters can perform is meshing. Called Xtendnet, this is an intelligent switching agent in each adapter that uses any available node to optimise signal routing and extend the range. So the more adapters in a network, the more reliable the performance should be. We tried three adapters with one Gigabit client and one 100Mbps client and recorded a simultaneous overall throughput of 135Mbps. It might have been interesting to mesh more adapters together, but sadly we ran out of shillings for the electricity meter.

In short
An impressive improvement in throughput for powerline networking compared to Homeplug AV, even though we couldn't achieve anything like Gigabit speeds. It's a decent match for those using a 100Mbps switch or router, however, and the price is good.

The Good
No brains needed for setup, good performance compared to Homeplug AV, interoperability with Homeplug AV.

The Bad
Tiny pairing button, no monitoring software, less robust than Homeplug AV on poor mains wiring, won't work with Homeplug 1.0 kit.

The Ugly
Doesn't achieve the headline speeds for single connections.

Via theinquire.net

Gigle Networks HomePlug(R) AV and Mediaxtream(TM) Chipset Selected by Aztech to Create Asia's First Gigabit Powerline Adapter

Combination of GGL541 Gigabit Intelligent Multi-PHY Switch with Mediaxtream(TM) Technology Delivers 1Gbps Performance for Whole-Home Video Streaming

Gigle Networks, the leading developer of intelligent multi-PHY switching devices for both wired and wireless entertainment grade home networking, today announced that Aztech Electronics Pte Ltd ("Aztech") has selected the Gigle Networks HomePlug® AV chipset and Mediaxtream™ technology to create Asia's first gigabit powerline adapter. Aztech is Singapore's leading design and manufacturing company for electronics and communications equipment.

The Aztech HL280E Mediaxtream/HomePlug AV Ethernet adapter is based on Gigle Networks' GGL541 chipset, which delivers industry-leading 1Gbps data rates over a home's existing AC powerlines using Gigle Networks' Mediaxtream™ technology, and simultaneously supports 200Mbps performance using industry-standard HomePlug® AV technology. Aztech's HL280E adapter can be used to quickly and easily connect home gateways, game consoles, media players, PCs, IPTV set-top boxes and other devices in ultra-fast networks that stream high-bandwidth content five times faster than networks using other powerline networking chipsets. Setup is accomplished by simply plugging the adapter into a home's powerline wall socket, and requires no new wiring, cabling or special configuration software or installation expertise.

"As the leading brand for powerline devices, we are pleased to be the first in Asia to introduce a Gigabit powerline adapter that meets the demand for lightning-fast connections, multiple-channel streaming and latency-free gaming," said Michael Mun , CEO & Chairman of Aztech Group. "With our expanded HomePlug service range, users can look forward to enhance their home networking and entertainment experience."

"We are very pleased to have collaborated with Aztech Electronics on Asia's first Gigabit powerline solution that also supports the industry-standard HomePlug® AV specifications," said Tom Foster , vice president of sales with Gigle Networks. "The combination of Gigle Networks' advanced technology with Aztech's solid reputation for quality and performance makes this a truly exciting solution for a wide array of consumer and service provider applications."

The Aztech HL280E adapter with Gigle Networks' GGL541 chipset and Mediaxtream™ technology is compatible with any brand of broadband router or modem gateway and backward-compatible with existing 200Mbps HomePlug™ AV products. It is also IPTV-ready, HD-ready and Network Attached Storage (NAS)-ready.

Gigle's fully integrated GGL541 device includes physical-layer (PHY), media access control (MAC) and Smart Mesh home/Quality-of-Service (QoS)/Class-of-Service (CoS) switching capabilities. It eliminates any external memory or complex support circuitry, and also meets European 2011 Code of Conduct requirements for adapters and QoS, which is important for video distribution around the home. Gigle Networks' products are the only powerline networking solutions that operate from a single voltage supply and feature dual MII ports allowing for efficient interfacing to additional network processors. They also support Gigle Networks' Xtendnet™ intelligent switching technology, which amplifies and re-times signals on the powerline for improved network coverage. They also meet the active and standby power requirements for adapters of the Energy using Products Directive ( EuP) Lot 6.

About Gigle Networks: Plug into the Fun

Gigle Networks provides System­on-Chip (SoC) integrated circuits and complete system solutions for multimedia home networking that can extend wired and wireless Ethernet everywhere in the home – without the need for new wires. Targeted for applications such as Internet Protocol Television (IPTV), broadband TV (BBTV), video on demand (VoD), and voice over IP (VoIP), Gigle Networks' products offer superior performance, coverage and Quality of Service (QoS) when compared to alternative communication technologies, and are designed to be easily integrated into consumer electronics and networked products. Gigle Networks is a strong supporter of open standards, a board member of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance, and an active participant in the IEEE 1901 standards body and the ITU-T G.hn wireline standardization initiative. Gigle Networks has offices in Redwood City, Calif., Barcelona, Spain, and Edinburgh, UK.

About Aztech Group Ltd. ("Aztech")

Incorporated in 1986 and listed on the Main Board of the Singapore Exchange, Aztech is a dynamic international group with key activities in Electronics Design & Manufacturing, Materials Supply and Marine Logistics. The Group operates in six countries over three continents.

For more information, please visit www.aztech-group.com

How to get Smartbro Motorola Canopy IP Address

If you want to access your SmartBro Motorola Canopy SM (Subscriber Module) and be able to tweak it’s Administrator  settings such as root and admin or wanted fix your intermittent connection, one best way to do it is knowing it’s IP address, but how can you do it? Well, here is a DIY step-by-step procedure on how you can safely get the IP address of your SmartBRO Canopy so you can access and manage your SmartBRO Canopy settings.


Any new subscriber of SmartBro will have the 10.xxx.xxx Motorola Canopy address

1. Go to network connections in the control panel
2. Right click on the local area network
3. Highlight Internet Protocol and click on properties
4. Set to Use the Following IP address
5. Set the IP Address to “10.20.30.40″
6. Set the Subnet to “255.0.0.0″
7. Leave the gateway blank
8. Leave the DNS blank
9. Apply the changes
10. Then go to command prompt
11. Type in the command prompt c:\arp -a

arp -a  this will displays current ARP entries by interrogating the current protocol data.

If inet_addr is specified, the IP and Physical addresses for only the specified computer are displayed. If more than one network interface uses ARP, entries for each ARP table are displayed.

12. It will show several IP address

screenshot of your SmartBro Motorola Canopy IP address is 10.245.180.126

13. After you get the IP address of your canopy, open your browser (I prefer Mozilla Firefox)
14. Type the IP address at the address bar to get access to the smartbro admin site.

After you gain access to your SmartBro Administrator GUI (graphical user interface) you can now be able to tweak some settings and troubleshoot connections.

SingTel Fiber Broadband Review

I am selected to conduct a trial on the SingTel Fiber 200Mbps Broadband aka exStream. 5 x SingTel technicians came to install the devices on the 17 Sept 2010 @ 1700hrs. Yes, 5 of them, I was surprised why they need so many people to do it. Anyway, service was not activated at time of installation. Only able to use it 1.5 day later. A total of 3 devices were given:
  1. Optical Network Terminal (Ericsson T063G)
  2. Mio Gateway (2Wire 5012NV-002)
  3. MiO TV Set Top Box
The specification of the fiber connection stated on SingTel website claimed to be able to achieve up to local 200Mbps download / 100Mbps upload, international 25Mbps download / ? Mbps upload. Did several speed test using speedtest.net and ftp, I am unable to achieve the stated max speed. (You can refer to the results at the bottom of this post). However, i manage to get 1ms ping for local. Haha… It will be good for gaming i suppose. During the test, I am using a 3m Cat6 LAN cable connected directly to the 2wire gigabit port. This router has 4 x LAN ports. Unfortunately, only one of them is a gigabit port. How strange. Should have made all 4 ports gigabit. Also asked my friends to test my upload speed. He is using StarHub 16Mbps MaxOnline and he manage to download files at his max speed @ 2250KB/sec from my FTP. Cool….

The internet connection is quite stable, has been up for 3 days and I did not encounter any disconnection so far. As for the IP, it is classified under the same range as the SingNet ADSL BroadBand’s IP. I can’t determine whether it is static or dynamic assignment yet. Till now, my IP has not yet changed. It could be static, or it could be the DHCP lease time is configured to a long period?

Have attempted to bypass the 2wire router and connect my laptop directly to the ONT. However, my laptop’s LAN adapter was unable to grab any IP. Inspected the 2wire router WAN configuration and saw that it is using DHCP for WAN. But i got no idea why I can’t grab any IP using my laptop. Tried to configuring PPPoE…failed. Even tried cloning the 2wire WAN’s MAC address, also failed. Tried to set static IP using a few well know range, also failed. Lastly, also tried setting static public IP leased to the 2wire router, also failed. Can’t seem to find any administrator manual online for this ONT. If anyone got any idea what is wrong and how to bypass the 2wire router, please do let me know.

In order to bypass the 2wire router, you have to assign VLAN ID to receive the respective traffic:
  • Internet: 10
  • IPTV: 20
  • VoIP: 30
  • Management: 40
Unfortunately, DIR-655 do not support WAN VLAN tagging. Guess have to stick to 2wire.. =( Thanks to xieliwei from HWZ who found out that the packets are vlan tagged using wireshark.

Speedtest.net – Singapore

Speedtest.net – Los Angeles

Speedtest.net – Hong Kong

The fiber broadband service comes with Mio TV and Mio Voice. So far, Mio TV was quite good, no freeze, no lag. This is the first time i use Mio TV after it has launched for so many years. I am surprise they do not have Net Geo and Discovery channel. They are my favorite documentary channels. Furthermore, they also don’t have my favorite Taiwan channels to watch all the lame variety shows. Nevertheless, they do have Video On Demand (VOD) for movies, MobTV etc. However, these shows are not free… Have to pay on a monthly subscription basis or per view basis. Conclusion for Mio TV, i still prefer Starhub CableTV. The boot up time for Starhub set top box is much faster, they have more channels, more HD channels, better GUI and lastly they have net geo and discovery.

FTP download from ftp.singnet.com.sg – 1GB file in less than 1minute… COOL!

FTP upload to ftp.singnet.com.sg – 1GB file

As for Mio Voice, no comments so far. I didn’t really use it because I also have Starhub Digital Voice and my mum friends do call the Starhub number. I don’t want to purposely buy another phone just to test it out. Anyway, I did made a few phone calls. No voice lag, sound quality is normal. I do not have the device to test the video call.

Optical Network Terminal Modem (Ericsson T063G)

Rear view of the modem

SingTel’s 2Wire 5012NV-002 vs StarHub’s Motorola SB5120v VeCM

Mio TV Set Top Box

In conclusion, I feel that the fiber broadband is not necessary for home users unless you need to use Mio TV or you are a heavy file leecher. I cannot feel any difference when I use it to surf the net. It is because surfing net doesn’t consume much bandwidth and also international traffic are throttled at 25Mbps, which ADSL/MaxOnline are also able to achieve. I would think more than 95% of my traffic are channeled to overseas, unless i surf HWZ/VRZ. And for the price starting at $85.90/month, IMO it is too expensive.

This article was written by technet posted by guest blogger you can also post yours contact me!

A Pirate iOS App Store in China Will Let You Installs Pirated Apps Without Jailbreak

Chinese pirates have taken downloading cracked iPhone and iPad apps to the next new level. A new desktop software called “KuaiYong” (literally means “use quickly” in Chinese) will allows pirated iOS apps to be installed on non-jailbroken devices. It has been around on Chinese internet world since June 2012, being only in Chinese seems to have caused the software to go under Apple’s radar for so long.


KuaiYong is basically using bulk enterprise licensing to bypass Apple’s safeguards. So the Chinese service is essentially distributing the exact same app – with the same license ID – over and over again. And now the same team has launched a web version of its pirate iOS app store. The online store is full of pirated iOS apps and games available for free. It makes the service more accessible to potential new users who can browse the available apps in their web browser. To download one of the iOS apps or games from the site, it’s actually downloading the “KuaiYong” PC software …

The pirate iOS app store over at 7659.com seem to be using a geolocation detect to hide itself from those outside of China. So, only user within China will see the store. For those outside of the nation, you’ll either see an error message or it’ll just redirect to the KuaiYong official homepage. So far we can access the site over here in Hong Kong. Aside from this new web store, KuaiYong is planning to launch its piracy-pimped iTunes alternative app internationally, a English version only for Windows user will be available soon.

The KuaiYong software doesn’t support Mac OS.

The team behind the pirate service claimed that they have five million users, and listed some righteous notice on their website. They indicate that most Chinese Apple users are not familiar with iTunes system and how to effectively manage it. So they developed its own method of giving users access to thousands of free apps without having to jailbreak their devices. They further pointed out the number of jailbreak in China has started to decline is because of the introduction of their KuaiYong software. In the mean time, English-speaking user can find some instructions guide in order to use the Chinese service.

A game page on the new pirate store.

Actually this might be a good way for KuaiYong to distribute malware to iOS devices. Specialized malware could be developed for certain popular apps that collected information and logged activity on to the device. The Android eco-systems in China are working in this way. And there’s a strong likelihood that whatever the pirate team is doing is using illegally obtained licenses at the least, and credit-card fraud at the worst. It remains to be seen whether KuaiYong will be hit with a lawsuit from Apple.

Source: TechAsia via Shanghaiist

How-To Earn $263,547.24 From Google Adsense

Wonder how some people are able to show huge income proof on Adsense? Read on and I will show you how.


While I was searching for information and tips about Adsense, I came across this website Google Adsense Generator that allows you create a fake Adsense screenshot. You’ll just need to fill in “Today” and “Yesterday” income and it will generate a genuine looking Adsense income screenshot.


You can use this to fake your friends that you are truly a Adsense Millionare. But I think some people including scammers are using fake adsense screenshots to encourage people to buy their products, increase sales, or just simply use for scamming purposes.

Beware on fake adsense proofs or any other income proofs. Think a lot of times, read reviews, research on the person or company before buying any products that promises to give you thousands of dollars in just a short amount of time.

How I wish I am making this kind of money with Google Adsense

Apr 27, 2013

Samsung Is Crushing Apple in Smartphone Sales

Apple announced earlier this week that its smartphone sales have continued to rise, growing 6.6 percent year-over-year to 37.4 million this past quarter. That might sound like good news for Cupertino—until you look at the comparable figures for Samsung. Reuters cites an IDC report showing that the South Korean giant's sales leapt from 60 million to 70.7 million phones over the same period, more than Apple and its next three largest competitors combined. And of the top five smartphone makers by volume, Apple is the only one that has lost market share over the past year.


Apple can still point to its healthy profit margins, though they're less healthy than they used to be. The iPhone is a top-end device, whereas Samsung boosts its volume by selling cheaper models alongside its flagship offerings. But quantity matters too. That's because Apple is not just competing with Samsung for customers, it's competing with Samsung and all the other Android-phone manufacturers for the attention of app developers. If the current trend holds, Samsung's market share will soon double Apple's. Eventually, more developers will start to wonder whether it's worth it to build apps for two different operating systems if one is clearly establishing dominance.

There are some bright spots for Apple. iPhone users still use their phones more heavily than their Android counterparts. And AllThingsD's John Paczkowski cites a Yankee Group survey that finds iPhone customers significantly more loyal to their brand than Android owners, which opens the door for Apple to turn things around with the right product. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Apple is already working on a less-expensive iPhone that could launch later this year. That seems like the right move. But it also highlights once more how Apple is no longer the sole agenda-setter in the smartphone market. For once, it is the company playing catch-up.


Worldwide smartphone sales and market share in the first quarter of 2013, via IDC and the Associated Press.

Does Vitamin D Deficiency Cause Hair Loss?

Biotin is important for the production of energy in cells. It metabolizes carbohydrates, proteins and fats the cells to produce energy. You get vitamin B-7 from your foods including such foods as salmon, bananas, sardines, egg yokes and mushrooms.While it seems that there is a link between vitamin B and hair loss this has not been clearly shown by science. However it is thought that biotin contributes to the health of your hair as well as your nails because people with biotin or vitamin D deficiency have hair loss symptoms.


Though if you were to name the main cause of thinning hair in women it would be stress. When it comes to vitamins and minerals though they are up there as a main cause too. So you need to pay a bit of attention and decide when you may have a problem or not.When you are missing iron, such as suffering from anemia you could see more hair falling out. Though it is something that can be fixed by adding in some iron pills to your diet. You should really see the doctor to make sure there are not more problems in your body.

Generally, we lose about 100 hairs in a day out of the 100000 hairs that are present on the scalp. Hair loss women vitamin deficiency is thus a problem that affects people who do not follow a balanced diet. The loss of hair is caused when hair falls out and new hair does not grow in its place. It is common both in men as well as women to shed about 100 to 125 strands of hair everyday which is replaced 2 to 3 months later with new hair growing.

The main vitamins for your hair are the B vitamins. These are vitamins such as B6, B3, Biotin and Folic Acid. These vitamins are essential to maintaining healthy hair and have even been found to prevent hair loss. Vitamin C is another vitamin that if you are deficient in can have serious effects on your hair. This nutrient is important in making sure that your follicles get proper blood supply, as the blood is what carries the nutrients to the hair. Vitamin E and Zinc have been linked to helping hair through improved immune function. It is also important to make sure that your body is not deficient in protein or iron. Protein is the main component of hair, therefore if you are lacking in this, your hair will suffer.

For instance Native Americans have been using saw palmetto for years for the treatment of prostrate disease; its ability to treat hair loss was recently discovered. It is important to note that DHT hormone, which is another major cause of baldness is also responsible for prostrate disease; this means that apart from the link between vitamin deficiency and hair loss, there are also other causes of baldness.

To begin, a water deficiency can be behind the loss of one's hair. It is critical that people drink at least eight glasses of water each day in order to maintain overall good health. The body utilizes about 2 to 3 quarts of water on a daily basis. Making sure that the body's water supply is replenished ensures that organs are functioning properly and that new skin and hair cells are growing. In addition to this, H2O carries much needed nutrients to the scalp. When this does not take place, bald spots start to form in different places.

Congratulate yourself for being honest, even if it means feeling guilty. If you do, it is only temporary but contrast this with not being honest. That will prolong your problem until such a time when it can no longer be ignored. You may as well face it now and find a way to manage it effectively, which is why you are reading this.What does not eating balanced meals mean? It means that you may be getting way more than what your body needs of certain elements found in your food. At the same time, you may not be getting enough of other elements from food. The former may be a culprit in causing obesity while the latter is what we call deficiency.

Sunny Leone barred to perform cage dance in Dubai night club

Dubai: The sizzling Bollywood actress Sunny Leone was barred from performing a cage dance in Dubai nightclub called Wild and Sunny which was organized by Javed Shafi, CEO of Premiere Production House said.


Sunny Leone's show got cancelled last minute due to rejection from DTCM (Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing).

According to organizer Javed Shafi, all those who had purchased tickets to see Leone were refunded and the entry was made free for the night as opposed to the Dh100 tickets at the door. However, the audience had enjoyed the night with DJ Shadow, Hani and Bollywood dancers.

After this mess up, Sunny is expected to return with the cast of Shootout at Wadala at Ibn Battuta Mall, alongside John Abraham, Anil Kapoor and Tusshar Kapoor. Whereas the organizers of Premiere Production House are wondering how she will get a chance to promote and perform for her movie promotion in Dubai.

About Sunny Leone (born Karenjit Kaur Vohra; May 13, 1981) is a Canadian actress, businesswoman, model and pornographic actress. She was named Penthouse Pet of the Year in 2003 and was a contract star for Vivid Entertainment. Named by Maxim as one of the 12 top porn stars in 2010, she has also played roles in independent mainstream films and television shows. - Wikipedia

Connectify Dispatch Bonded Your Available Internet Connections into One Fat, Super-Fast Pipe

Windows: Most people only have one internet connection at home, but what if you could merge your connection with the free Wi-Fi from the coffee shop down the street with your phone's 4G connection to create a super-pipe with tons of additional bandwidth? That's what Connectify Dispatch does, perfectly.


Connectify Dispatch came out a few months ago in beta, and so far testers have been getting some impressive results. The app essentially bonds multiple available internet connections around your computer into a single pipe, and manages the traffic among them for you. You can connect multiple Wi-Fi networks and adapters, a wired ethernet connection, even a tethered 3G/4G smartphone, and the service uses the combined throughput of all of those networks together. The service even promises to accelerate your BitTorrent downloads.


Dispatch also provides automatic failover among those networks, so if one of them goes down or is unavailable, your traffic is automatically shunted to another one—this is especially useful if you have an open Wi-Fi network near you and your cable goes out. You won't even notice the drop. The Connectify app also allows you to prioritize the available networks, so you can rank your personal connection at the top, and others in order of speed or reliability. If any of them are unavailable, Dispatch will switch to the next highest one available.

Connectify Dispatch comes with Connectify Hotspot Pro, which allows you to share the bonded internet connection that Dispatch creates with other devices in your home. The service isn't cheap: Dispatch and 1 year of Hotspot Pro will set you back $50, while Dispatch and a lifetime subscription to Pro will cost you $70. Dispatch isn't available on its own, unfortunately.

The folks at Connectify sent us a license so we could test, and it works as advertised—you just need to have multiple networks open and available to you for the app to really work. In my case, all I had was my cable connection, a coffee shop that's about a block away (and too weak to really contribute), and my 4G smartphone. Even so, with two networks combined I managed to see throughput averaging 40-50Mbps down/15Mbps up, where my cable connection alone was around 30Mbps down/5-10Mbps up. Downloading a test torrent was definitely faster with Dispatch enabled. If I moved somewhere with more open networks, I could probably do much better—good enough to even log into a VPN and encrypt my traffic without latency.

Hotspot also worked well, and sharing the connection from the Windows laptop with my Macbook Pro was easy. That said, Dispatch is the real star here: if you live in a place with multiple connections and hotspots available to you (that you can use—all warnings about hijacking random networks to use with this app apply), bonding them this way can get you some serious added bandwidth for downloads, gaming, or streaming video or music. To learn more, hit the link below, check out their FAQ, or visit their technology overview for a deeper dive.

Online JavaScript Unpacker and Decompressor

This tool will unpack decompress and reformat the packed JavaScript to make the notations readable and editable. It can also unpack scripts packed by the popular Dean Edward's packer, and can deobfuscate scripts that are obfuscated and protected by software's and online obfuscating tools.


Options









Source: ilearnzone

Apr 26, 2013

List of Private Scholarship

Many college students need financial assistance to make their dreams of earning a degree come true. Luckily, there are many private scholarships and grants that offer the needed funds. Most of these opportunities involve entering a contest or drawing, or require submission of an essay. There are private scholarships to meet almost every need. Since many of these opportunities are highly competitive, it is vital to meet all requirements and deadlines completely.


Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund

The purpose of these scholarships is to provide assistance to single parents in Arkansas who are trying to improve their earning potential through higher education. These scholarships can be used for college tuition, textbooks, car maintenance, utility bills, childcare, or other financial needs that can help the student be successful in college. To be eligible for these scholarships, applicants must be economically disadvantaged and have custodial care of at least one child under the age of 18. Applicants must be living in Arkansas and must be single parents who have not previously earned a college degree. There are many different scholarships available, so to get information, application, and deadline dates, visit the official site at www.aspsf.org/students.html.

American Harlequin Dance Scholarship

These scholarships were developed to allow more opportunities for youth who wish to pursue careers in performing arts. The fund provides a total of $25,000 to ten recipients. Recipients are chosen by random drawing. The application deadline is November 1 of each year. Applications and further information can be found at the official scholarship site.

American Health and Beauty Aids Institute Scholarship

The scholarships offered through AHBAI provide awards of $250 for cosmetology students. Eligible applicants must have a high school average of 85% or more and must have completed 300 hours or more of study. Applicants will also be judged on attendance records, previous awards, and extracurricular activities. Applications are due November 30 and can be found at the AHBI scholarship site.

American Fire Sprinkler Association Scholarship Program

The AFSA private scholarships are open to all high school seniors who are citizens or legal residents of the U.S. Students must be enrolled in a college, university, or trade school in the U.S. no later than the fall after high school graduation, and even home schooled students are eligible to apply. To enter, students must visit the scholarship site and read the Fire Sprinkler Essay. Students must then complete the registration page and take a multiple-choice test over the essay. For each correct answer, students receive one entry into a drawing for $2,000. Entries are accepted until September 25 each year. To register and gain scholarship entries, visit the official site here.

Burger King Scholars Program

The Burger King Scholars Program has awarded over $15.4 million in private scholarships since 2000. Awards in this prestigious program can be as high as $50,000. To apply, students must be graduating high school seniors who are residents of Canada, the U.S., or Puerto Rico. In addition, students must have at least a 2.5 GPA and plan to enroll full-time in an accredited U.S., Canada, or Puerto Rico college, university, or vocational-technical school. Awards available through these private scholarships include those for $1,000, those for $5,000, one for $25,000, and three for $50,000. Appplications are accepted between November 15 and January 10 and can be found at the official website.

David E. Whitmire Scholarship Fund

These scholarships are available for Criminal Justice and Police Science majors. The fund was created by the Whitmire family to honor the career and life of David E. Whitmire. To be eligible, students must be full- or part-time undergraduate or graduate students at an accredited four-year college or university. Applicants must be juniors or seniors in an undergraduate program, or must have completed one semester of graduate school. Eligible candidates must have a 3.5 GPA, must be U.S. citizens, and must be majoring in Criminal Justice, Criminology, Police Administration, or Police Science. Applications must be received by December 15 for these $500 scholarships. Full details and applications are available at www.davidwhitmire.com.

Institute for Humane Studies

The Institute for Human Studies offers private scholarships in the form of the Human Studies Fellowship. This non-residency program awards students with between $2,000 and $15,000 a year, and also provides advising and a support network to promote student success. Fellowships are available to full-time graduate students from around the world who have interest in research related to societal liberty. Applicants must be relating their work to humanities and show dedication to advancing the ideas of liberty through teaching and research. The deadline for application is January 31. Details and submission instructions are available at the Institute of Humane Studies website.

James Alan Cox Foundation for Student Photographers Scholarship

These private scholarships were founded in memory of television photojournalist James Alan Cox. The Fund aims to offer financial support to student photographers in high school and college. Applicants to the scholarships may be eligible to receive a digital camera if in high school, or a $2,500 scholarship if in college. Applicants must have completed at least one year of high school or college and have taken at least one photography or photojournalism course. To apply, students must submit samples of video or still photography along with the official application. Deadlines are October 15. For further details, visit http://www.jamesalancoxfoundation.org/.

Prudential Spirit of Community Awards

These private scholarships are available through the country’s largest youth recognition program that is exclusively based on volunteerism and community service. Eligible applicants must be in grades 5-12 by November 6 and must be legal residents of the United States. In addition, students must have engaged in volunteer community service during the year before applying, and must submit an official application to the high school principal or head of an official local organization no later than November 6. Students who receive the scholarships may receive up to $5,000 for college as well as $5,000 for the charitable non-profit organization of their choice. Full details are available at http://spirit.prudential.com/view/page/soc.

Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship

These private scholarships are sponsored by an anonymous donor and provide two $5,000 scholarships to graduating U.S. high school students who have actively promoted vegetarianism. To apply, students must submit an application, an essay, a copy of transcripts for two years, at least three letters of recommendation, and documentation proving the promotion of vegetarianism. Applications and other instructions are available at http://www.vrg.org/student/scholar.htm.

There are many private scholarships available to help students pay for a college education. As these selections show, there are opportunities for everyone, regardless of major, school level, and interest.

Further Education Profile with Easy Scholarships

Academic qualification is one of the basic requirements that can help shape and define a person's career prospectus. Scholarship is the perfect solution for people seeking to further their education abroad. There are several benefits of scholarships for college; the amount received from the scholarship can be of great aid in meeting the astronomical college fees, cost of living abroad and other utility bills etc. there are different factors that need to be considered for acquiring the scholarship.


Mainly the scholarship is granted based on the credibility and merit of the student. Most of the reputed college all across the globe looks out for students with good academic background who make a valuable addition to the student body and add to the reputation of the college. There are different types of scholarships available a person needs to do a thorough research on college grants. Common types of scholarships available are Merits and Sports.

Merit scholarships are a highly competitive form of grant that is awarded to people who excel academically. Sports scholarships are a form of grants awarded to athletic stars based predominantly on his or her performance in sports. Online websites are the best source to complete information on all types of easy scholarships available and criteria that need to be fulfilled in order to be eligible.

There are several easy scholarships available that are fairly simple and easy to acquire. Even a small scholarship amount can bring about notable difference in the overall academic expenses. There are several civic groups, charitable organization, and local bodies all across the nation who provides easy scholarships to the students. There are several factors that influence the grant amount; the amount is usually fixed based on the academic achievement, excellence in particular subject, degree level, outstanding achievement and more.

There are endless numbers of sources online and offline, students can also find free scholarships through internet. However, there are many scholarships that offer both online and locally, competition for certain types of grant may be relatively higher. In such circumstances, the candidate needs to apply at the earliest time as possible and also apply repeatedly for increased possibility of selection.

There are a number of concerns that need to be addressed before embarking on student's life abroad. The cost of studies abroad can be a pretty pricey affair considering the number of expenses a student has to shoulder abroad from the cost of living, utility bills, tuition expenses and more. Many students opt for a part time job to be able to cover at least a portion of the overall expenses. Striking a balance between work and studies can be a difficult task to accomplish. There are also numbers of student loan options available that can cover the overhead expenses to a limited extent.

Excessive reliance on loans to cover up college costs is also leading many students into lifetime of financial burden. A prospective candidate needs to verify all the options in depth before adopting any suitable technique. The online website also provides information on scholarships for single moms and other easy scholarships.

Advice To Consider about Scholarships

It has become apparent that the need for a college education to improve the opportunity to obtain employment and higher wages has never been more important; this at a time when colleges are raising tuition rates. Securing the college degree and the money to acquire this degree is becoming very difficult for many. Certainly there are grants and financial aid opportunities for many; but what about those who do not qualify for financial aid yet still are in need of additional monies to pay for their education? The answer lies in applying for scholarships.


By definition, a scholarship is money awarded for college that typically you are not expected to pay back. There are many different types of scholarships with various criteria. Some are merit based meaning that they are offered based on a student's abilities whether they are academic, athletic or artistic, for example.

Some are need-based which, as the name implies, are based on a student's financial need. Others are specific toward perhaps a person's ethnic background, a disability, a business that offers scholarships to offspring of their employees, an individual's religion or perhaps even a field of study. Many colleges and universities offer scholarships to those extended entry as an enticement to lure that student to their college. Most often these are awarded to those with outstanding academic credentials, athletes or those showing a strong aptitude in perhaps the arts.

Additionally, there are scholarships offered by industries to attract students to their field. Oftentimes, those that are awarded these scholarships must commit to working for either the organization (public or private) offering the scholarship, working in that industry (example: an education major may have to commit to working either in a school that has difficulty attracting teachers or more generalized, just working in a public school.

And one cannot rule out some of the more unusual scholarships that are for those with a specific last name, a specific talent, a specific stature (little or tall people) and many other criteria.

But in order to be awarded a scholarship, most often than not, you will need to do some research and put in some time. Most scholarship funds do not give out money without expecting some effort on your behalf. This may entail writing an essay or making a video that is uploaded to the scholarship committee.

There are some reputable scholarship sites on the internet that are a good starting point for finding scholarships. If the site or a scholarship asks for any type of money on your part, then skip that scholarship. A legitimate scholarship would never ask you for money.

Some of the more established scholarship websites are fastweb.com, collegeboard.com and studentaid.ed.gov. In my experience, another good site for learning about scholarships would be cappex.com. Don't rule out your guidance counselor or the actual college or university itself to learn more about available scholarships.

Read over the application carefully and complete it exactly how it is requested. Scholarship committees can easily recognize when an applicant is applying just for the sake of applying, possibly ignoring the essay question or properly answering their questions. If you are not willing to put in effort, don't bother applying.

And, if a scholarship application states that the essay will be judged based on content and grammar, make certain you have checked for spelling and grammatical errors. Spell check is an obvious good tool, but it is not perfect and when you have hundreds or even thousands of applications, one little spelling error may mean the difference between winning $5K or zero. It is that simple.

Finally, while scholarships are hard to win, know that the organization, company, institution, foundation or even individual truly and sincerely wants to make a difference for a student looking to enroll and further their education. They sincerely believe in the value of an education and merely seek out those who desire to further their education. You have little to lose if you apply.