Victor Caballero

Maybe I'm a little bitter right now. But I just want to comment on the state of the hosting market.

I am involved with accounts with 4 different companies and they don't live up to my expectations, so I imagine.

iPower, one of the largest has some of the worse problems I have seen.
It's also unfortunate that they power some of the other smaller hosting companies.

Globat one of the other players, has periodic problems with their servers as well.

I think that most of these companies try to cram too many users on servers and hope for the best. It's a crapshoot for them and they count on not having troubles.

The tech support offered by these companies is not that great either, chat sessions that last an hour or longer and go in circles. Basically blaming you the user. Stick to your guns and request a credit or refund.

I requested to be moved to a new server at iPower and they wanted to charge me $50. I was like no way. You want to charge me $50 to move my files to a better server???? What's wrong with this picture.

Anyway, they moved the files, and missed most of the files, the site was a mess. They can't even move the files properly.

So here I am moving files from my backup. Always make a backup of your sites.

Using the templates can be a blessing and curse. I recommend you not use them once you are able to get up and running with your own template. This is another way the hosting companies get you. You try moving the templates to another server/host and they are a mess. iPower ruined that as well.

Anyway, my rant on hosting companies. If you know of some good services out there, I'd love to hear about them and give them a shot. I'm looking.

Victor Caballero
www.TheTopDeal.com

The latest version of the Firefox web browser will be released Tuesday, Mozilla Corp said.

Firefox 1.5 will be available for free download in editions for Windows, the Mac OS X, and Linux later Tuesday from the Mozilla site.

New features in Firefox 1.5 include a better system for updating software, faster navigation using the “Back” and “Forward” tabs, and a redesigned Options/Preferences window that increases the number of category icons and moves them from the left side of the window to the top.

Firefox 1.5 also includes new support for Web standards, adding support for Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG), JavaScript 1.6 and new versions of CSS (Cascading Style Sheets).

The browser has added the Answers.com site to its search engine list, a link to report web sites that do not work in Firefox, and improved support for the Mac. The new version also has a “clear private data” feature that allows users to quickly remove personal data through a menu item on the browser.

Firefox, which celebrated its one-year anniversary on November 9, has become a popular alternative to Microsoft Corp.'s Internet Explorer browser.

Web metrics firms estimate Firefox owns between 8.6 and 11.5 percent of the browser market.

Get your copy today by scrolling to the bottom of this page and clicking on the Get Firefox link.


-Victor Caballero

For those aspiring musicians looking to make it in the music business. This is an event not to be missed.

EMERGE LOS ANGELES Saturday January 21, 2006 Directors Guild Theater

Emerge Music is a program designed to give new and developing artists a fresh and innovative approach to breaking through in the music industry. By attending this one day conference and panel discussion you will hear from and meet some of the music industry's top-level executives, entrepreneurs, A & R executives, record producers and music managers. In addition, by attending the Emerge Music workshop, not only will you will get professional one-on-one A & R reviews of your music, but you will also receive instruction from leading music industry professionals on an alternative approach of starting your career in the music industry.
It is our goal at Emerge Music that all individuals who attend the conference acquire a better understanding of what steps they need to take to get a head start in their career in the music industry. Is Emerge Music right for you?
Visit the site at: www.emergemusic.net


-Victor Caballero

If you are into mods and bending head over to Kerry Bradley's site where he describes mods and bends with diagrams.

http://home.earthlink.net/~kerrybradley/

Great resource. Keep up the great work Kerry.

-Victor Caballero
www.theTopDeal.com

Congrats to my friend Jonathan, on his great site as well. www.jlradio.com.

This announcement from Jonathan L:

ANNOUNCEMENT!
To all my friends.As of last night (Sunday)..."The Lopside World Of L" will be on Sunday nights from 7-9 PM in addition to Saturday Mornings from 7-10 AM on 98 KUPD-FM -the#10 station in the market.

Big radio station, the heritage station in the Phoenix metro area.

I will doing the same version of LWOL on Saturdays--70% FROM THE PAST AND 30% NEW MUSIC The Sunday edition will be 98% NEW MUSIC! I thank Program Director Larry McFeelie for the opportunity to double your pleasure and your fun! And, mine too. So "The Lopsided World of L" moves on and now rocks you 2x a week.

*I program all music and host both shows live.Thanks and cheers,Jonathan LPs: There will be a separate page for each playlist on this website.

www.jlRadio.com


by: Victor Caballero
www.TheTopDeal.com

This is good news for a change. A company like DirectTV can make a difference in setting a trend.

Kudos to DirectTV!

DIRECTV Opens Call Center In US
El Segundo-based satellite television provider DIRECTV announced yesterday that it is opening a new call center. The company said that the call center will be its fourth, and will employ up to 800 people. Bucking the trend of locating call centers in either India or the Phillipines, DIRECTV is locating the center in Missoula, Montana, which the company said it located after a nationwide search. DIRECTV said that it chose Missoula because of its quality workforce, technology infrastructure, and the opportunity for DIRECTV to be one of the state's leading employers.

AOL has released the version of AOL Instant Messenger named Triton. You can download it here:
http://www.aim.com/

It has some new features and even the downloading is different.

Triton links with Plaxo.

The interface has been updated and is much cleaner looking.

Overall I like it so far. More to follow.

This site has an interesting concept in that it will provide hosting and articles for you to use on your site. Check it out: www.merchantmonger.com

Tired of getting the run around when calling for customer service.
This site has some ways to get you directly to a human.
http://www.paulenglish.com/ivr/

Also, don't forget to ask for onshore support, support jobs in the US by requested your call be transferred to the US, from India and other countries.
Companies that offer onshore support as option
Linksys
SBC Global Yahoo
CitiBank

Check out Google Base

Great service and good functionality.

You can search any type of service or product. Many say it could be the next ebay, craig's list killer.

My initial response is I am impressed. I have a few items posted and it seems to work well.

It's missing the ability to perform transactions online, but that could be next.....

Good job Google keep up the good work.

I've listed a few items here:
http://base.google.com/base/search?q=author:victorcab

It's interesting how you can link to all your items using different search criteria.


by: Victor Caballero
www.thetopdeal.com

Yahoo Debuts RSS Feed Advertising
----
Yahoo's Pasadena-based publishing network has started to offer RSS feed advertising in its Yahoo Publisher Network beta, according to a letter to its beta users. The network, which competes against Google's AdSense advertising network, said that publishers can now place Yahoo Search Marketing ads within RSS feeds. Yahoo said the ads may be relevant to a specific article or post or to a web site's content. Yahoo has been beta testing its service over the last few months as it attempts to add smaller publishers, blogs, and web sites to its advertising network.
Yahoo's Search Marketing program was formerly known as Overture Services.

Last night I attended the seminar with Mark Zuckerberg.

Learned some interesting things about Facebook.

The site receives 350 million pages views a day!
6 million registered users.
8 or 9 most visited website on the net!
generates revenue from advertising.
Approx 400 cpus run site, each school on different database.
PHP, C, Python platform
Located in Palo Alto, CA.
25 Engineers and growing.
Started at Harvard and grew and grew.

Overall a great place to work with good values and fantastic service. This business could easily be worth $1 billion.

Facebook at Caltech
Mark Zuckerberg Facebook: I'll Find Something to Put Here Thursday, November 10, 2005 at 8:00 PM Beckman AuditoriumFREE; no tickets or reservations required While a student at Harvard University, Mark Zuckerberg created thefacebook.com, an online directory that connects people through social networks at colleges. The site has been online only since February of 2004, yet already has 2.8 million users on more than 800 campuses.He'll be discussing the creation of Facebook, including the evolution of what the site actually is as well as decisions along the way, such as who to work with, how to design the site, and how to do all this while still a college student. (In fact, Zuckerberg took time off from Harvard to work full-time on the site, and is now due to graduate this coming Spring!)

FridayNov. 11, 2005

Exhibit Hall & Theater10:00am-5:00pm Keynotes & Conference9:00am-4:15pm


SaturdayNov. 12, 2005

Exhibit Hall & Theater10:00am-5:00pm Keynotes & Conference9:00am-4:15pm


Portable Media Expo & Podcasting Conference is the only industry event that brings together influential podcasters, media, content creators and device makers to cover the complete range of business, marketing and legal issues for portable audio & video. The ability to take media with you and listen or watch when you want - on whatever device you want - is the focus of this event. It's also about the new trend of individuals as media companies. Through unique conference sessions, networking functions and an exhibit hall, the entire event is devoted to the industry of creating, delivering, and profiting from unique digital content for portable devices. The conference program features a combination of keynotes, expert panel discussions, expert "how to" sessions, and lots of audience participation. Plus, presentations take place every thirty minutes in the Exhibit Hall Presentation Theater. Why this is a "must attend" event: Practical information you can take away and use immediately - this is the foundation of every conference session you'll attend at the Expo. Whether your interests are in content creation, marketing, viewing or distribution and licensing, there is something for everyone - in the exhibit hall and the conference sessions. Companies wanting to reach out to technology-driven opinion leaders - those who try products and technologies first and then podcast or blog about their experiences - should exhibit.


Portable Media Expo & Podcasting Conference Exhibit Hall
If you'd like more information about any of the companies listed below, simply check the box next to the company name and click the "Submit Now" button
Exhibit Hall (click here for an online floor plan)
Adobe
American Podcasting Network
Applian Technologies
ARCHOS
Association of Music Podcasting
Audible
AudioAcrobat
AudioBlog.com
Battery Technology
Belkin Corporation
Bias, Inc.
BitPass
BlueTake
Cableyoyo
Click & Buy
Contour Design
CreativeCow.net
Encryptanet
FeedBurner
FeederReader
Griffin Technology
iLounge.com
Industrial Audio Software
IT Conversations
Kiptronic
L.A. Podcasters
Liberated Syndication
Limelight Networks
M-Audio
Macally
Marantz Professional
Microgistix
mobiBLU
MobilePlanet
muvee Technologies
Neo Car Audio Mp3 Your Car
Orange County Podcasters
Otter Box Products
Paramagnus Developments
PodBlaze.com
PodcastPickle.com
Podcast Webcast in a Box
PodKive
Podtrac
Podvertiser
Power Support
Rogue Amoeba Software
Scosche Industries
Shoreview Distribution
Sony Electronics Pro Audio
Speck Products
Taldia
Telos
ThoughtOut.biz
TuneWear America
TVEyes Podscope
Ultimate Ears
Video Without Boundaries
VoxPro
WITI (Women In Technology International)Media and Marketing Partners
Dave's iPaq
Digital Camera Magazine
CNET
Handheld Computing Magazine
iPodGarage.com
iPod Observer
Playlist Magazine
Pocket PC Magazine
The Mac Observer
Wiley Publishing(click here for an online floor plan)

by way of Ed Bott:
One of the most eloquent voices in Blogtopia(tm) echoed what Carl wrote earlier:

Very Good News
Expanding on tristero's good news below, may I just say how pleased I
am that California voted down every single initiative yesterday,
thereby shoving Schwarzenegger's useless 70 million dollar special
election down his throat. Even the parental notification for minors
seeking abortion went down.
Schwarzenegger is toast. After watching Bush and him in action maybe
people are finally beginning to move beyond the "dumbshit guy I'd
like to hang out with" and "movie stars are, like, awesome" methods
of choosing our leaders.
"http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2005_11_06_digbysblog_archive.html#113154987869982385"

Scroll to the bottom of the page and try out Firefox and you can also try to make some extra money with your site with AdSense. Great way to make some money from your site.