Our society is evolving every day, but the best example of a speedy evolution is IT&C and the internet. The Internet offers a huge opportunity to find information from every field and also to communicate with people all over the world, crossing borders and reducing space. However the Internet does not belong to a person or an institution, so nobody can control everything that happens on the Internet, every site appeared and accessed by millions of users. And the truth is that there are a lot of unproper websites, especially for children and teenagers who are more vulnerable than grown-ups. That is why parents thought of a way of forbidding their children access to these kinds of websites: pornographic, radical, terrorist websites. This is what parental control software is about.
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But parental control software is not used exclusively for the Internet. This software provides parents with automated tools while using different devices and services: e.g. it may alert a parent that his/her child's device is leaving school, it may help the parent establish the maximum speed of their child's car, or it may control the content of the websites visited. Parental controls are  optional features that may be included in digital television services, computer and video games, mobile phones and computer software. The parents have four tools that help them control their children and their actions: content filters, usage control, usage management tools and monitoring. Let's take them one at a time. Content filters are the first option of the parents when it comes to limiting their children's access to the internet unwanted and improper content. There are also some television stations that introduced a new technology to allow the parents to limit the access to some content.

This kind of parental control software applies to a wide range of topics from explicit songs and pictures to objectionable movies or magazines that can be bought online, thus you don't need to prove that you are an adult. The usage controls constrain a child to use a device during a specific time and for certain purposes. They are more and more sophisticated and can make the computer or tv turn off during a specific time of the day(for example when the child is supposed to be studying). Big companies approve of the parents' attitude and e.g. Ford has introduced a new software that limits the volume of the music that can be heard in the car. The monitoring devices include webcams that allow to see what your child is doing at home, even if you are at work and GPS technology that helps you locate your child.

There are several techniques that allow parents to control their children's access to certain internet websites and even block this access: add-on parental control software may monitor API in order to monitor the computer applications and interfere and block access when the child e.g. uses a word from the database of forbidden words when browsing or chatting. All these kinds of software usually provide means of blocking access by means of a user and password, in order to make the difference between parent and child and to prevent the child's attempt to break the interdiction. Some other parental control software may include a proxy server, that is the proxy server is the first to receive the requests for web content and not the web server intended. Proxy servers scan the content of the requested website and compare it with a data base of banned words or URLs and act accordingly: they either allow or deny access to that specific URL. However this method is easily bypassed, as the child can reconfigure his computer not to use the proxy, but to access Internet directly, thus avoiding banning.  

Computer Usage Management method is very different from the one presented above. That is this method teaches parents how to encourage their children to access educational sites by rewarding them with increasing gaming time. Teenagers like to be up-to-date with all kinds of gadgets and the latest versions of mobile phones. This is another problem,  because parents used to monitor only the computer at home.

But now the mobile phones have Internet access, so the parents needed a parental control software for them, too. Verizon was the first to come and help them in November 2007 as it offered content filters in June 2009 Apple Computer provided a built in mechanism on iPhone and iPhone Touch that blocked the children's access to certain websites and prevented them from downloading improper applications, according to the age of the user. Another step forward in parental web controls in the mobile phone area was made also in June 2009 when Surfbalance Kids browser for iPhone appeared on the market as a safe mobile web browser. But children will be children and they have always wanted to be free and get rid of their parents' restrictions and supervision. That is why many of them try tricking these parental control softwares to enable them with unlimited access to the internet. For example if the software that monitors their web activity is located within the computer they can reboot it from another media or use another operating system. So the parents should configure the BIOS on their computer not to allow booting from removable media and always require authentication.

Other methods are to use alternative protocols such as FTP or HTTPS, to make the search in a different language,  to use a proxy server or a circumventor. As a strong reaction to the successful attempts of bypassing filters and parental control software, many software companies are trying hard to bring new and better software that can help parents and children as well.There are a lot of companies that offer parental control software with different functionalities built-in. The most famous are Net Nanny, Ez Parental Control and Sental Parental Controls.

Nowadays, desktop users find they need permanent connection with their computers. Because of the latest technology, software and hardware, s remote connection between a desktop user and its computer is nothing easier to establish. However you need at least two things, let's make them three, an iPod touch or iPhone, a good connection to the internet (3G, EDGE for iPhone and Wi-Fi for iPod), and a solid application that will allow such a connection.
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In a previous article I have presented a paid remote desktop application found on App Store. Today I am writing about a free version; exactly as you heard a free of charge application that will enable a stable connection between your iPod touch and iPhone and your desktop computer (or a left at home laptop).
On April 06, 2009, Thinstuff s.r.o released the latest version of "iRdesktop", a free remote desktop service application, which uses the RDP - also known as remote desktop protocol in order to create a connection (implying not just view but also full control) between your Apple device and computer. You can currently find this application on App Store under the Business category with the latest version, 1.0.1, available for downloading free of charge. The "iRdesktop" was developed for both second (later than 2.2) and third generation operating system for iPhone mobile platform. It is compatible with both iPod touch (any generation as long as it sports the proper operating system), and iPhone (1^st generation, 3G and 3GS).

This application is compatible nine Windows systems, such as Server 200, Server 2003, Server Small Business 2003, Server 2008, XP Professional, XP Media Center 2005, Vista Business, Vista Ultimate, Vista Enterprise, XP Home Edition, Vista Home Basic, and Vista Home Premium. The last three operating systems need an extra installed program, the "Thinstuff XP Vista Terminal Server".

Therefore, if you are planning to download this application for any one of this three operating systems, XP Home, Vista Home Basic, and Vista Home Edition, you should be prepared of paying a certain charge when you are going to download the special add - on software. If you buy the "iRdesktop" you will get a discount, but it is still frustrating to pay for an application that should be free.


Therefore, the developer's policy is to charge the Home users with a fee, and give this application for free to anyone that uses a business orientated operating system. The features of this software are quite normal, just use the touch screen to navigate, and rotate to switch between portrait and landscape modes. I can say that you get a full package, necessary for a great user experience.

The graphics are well done with good attention to details, no freezes, or glitches when used. The latest upgrade provides compatibility with the first generation of iPod touch and enables sounds and music features. Overall, this is a great application as long as you can get it for free. If you are using any of the operating systems which need a supplementary software then you should buy a better remote controls application.

On October 13, 2009, EuroSmartz Ltd released the latest version of "Alta Mail - Print, view and save Emails, Files and Contact History", a useful application which delivers exactly what is promising within its name. You can find this application on the App Store, under the Business category, with the current version, 1.4, available for purchase for $4.99 price tag.
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The "Alta Mail - Print, view and save Emails, Files and Contact History" was developed for both second (later than 2.1) and third version operating system of the iPhone mobile platform. No need to worry about compatibility, since this application will work with the iPod touch (any available generation) and iPhone (from the 2007 model, 3G and the new 3GS).


The first impression this application might give you, is that it will certainly improve your possibilities within the mail department on your iPod touch and iPhone. This application is a real savior for anyone that has more than one mail account. The "Alta Mail - Print, view and save Emails, Files and Contact History" will collect all the information within all the mail accounts into one single view list. Within this view mode you can manage all the information as you might need or want.


You can edit your mails, view your contact email history, resend attachments, and even print any files or documents from your laptop or desktop computer. Even more, this application will allow you to filter and alter the way you look at your viewing list. Easily filter the mails by the sender. However if you find this solution to disturbing, you can certainly chose to go with a more familiar email look. Even more, you can prints any emails, contact list, or email history you might have on your Apple device. Just ask the application to form a viewing list with what you are planning to print.


Even more, you can choose to save the edited emails, files, or documents not only onboard the iPod touch and iPhone but also on your computer. There are no limited features with this application. Create your very own perfect viewing application (strictly regarding emails, files and documents, and even contact history). Within the email department of this application you can certainly find more than a few features, such as send and receive emails within the application by using your mail accounts, send files, photos and other documents, view your contact history within a specific date time, and other important features like formatting text and adding photos or contact information within mail accounts (not necessary yours). You can chose to print any files, documents or viewing list by using a Wi-Fi connection, 3G or EDGE connection.
Regarding the contacts, you can either print a list of all your contacts, or just print single contact with the full contact information in card layout or other pre defined or custom formats. In terms of files and documents, this application is compatible with most of the files from the Office 2003, 22007, 2008, Zip and Unzip folders, Mac documents and others. For a good connection between your iPod touch or iPhone and your computer or Mac computer, you should have one of the following operating systems, Windows XP, Vista, and the latest Windows 7, but also Mac OS X 10.4, 10.5, and the 10.6 version.


Overall, the "Alta Mail - Print, view and save Emails, Files and Contact History" is more than useful. If you need an application that will not only merge all the necessary information, but is also compatible with many Office file formats and has the print enabled feature, then maybe you need the "Alta Mail - Print, view and save Emails, Files and Contact History".