Will Facebook “Project Titan” Challenge Gmail?

Would you trust Facebook as your email provider? Hummmm… I don’t know that I would… they don’t exactly have a rep for security!

Facebook’s Gmail Killer, Project Titan, Is Coming On Monday

“Back in February we wrote about Facebook’s secret Project Titan — a web-based email client that we hear is unofficially referred to internally as its ‘Gmail killer.’ Now we’ve heard from sources that this is indeed what’s coming on Monday during Facebook’s special event, alongside personal @facebook.com email addresses for users.

This isn’t a big surprise — the event invites Facebook sent out hinted strongly that the news would have something to do with its Inbox, sparking plenty of speculation that the event could be related to Titan. Our understanding is that this is more than just a UI refresh for Facebook’s existing messaging service with POP access tacked on. Rather, Facebook is building a full-fledged webmail client, and while it may only be in early stages come its launch Monday, there’s a huge amount of potential here.”

Geek Software of the Week: Thinstation!

ThinstationSo, you have old PCs sitting around, to old, too tired, and too under-powered to do anything useful with? Is that your problem, bub? Well, now you have something you can do with them! Especially if you have an Enterprise setup with VMware View and have a need for terminals!

Thinstation is a highly specialized Linux distro that turns old computers into terminals! You can boot from a CD version, or, you can install it on the PC hard drive, but either way, you will have a great, free, client for your VMware (and many other clients) system!

Thinstation Web Site

“Thinstation is a basic and small, yet very powerful, Open Source ‘thin client’ operating system supporting all major connectivity protocols: Citrix ICA, NoMachine NX, 2X ThinClient, Microsoft Windows terminal services (RDP, via RDesktop), VMWare View Open client, Cendio ThinLinc, Tarantella, X, telnet, tn5250, VMS terminal and SSH (No special configuration of the application servers is needed to use Thinstation).

Thinstation is mainly intended for schoolroom, office, company or department use, but can be used at home (eg. for a silent PC in the bedroom that ‘runs’ XP on your workstation in the back room).

Whilst Thinstation is based on Linux, users may actually never see Linux at all. If you decide to connect directly to a Microsoft Windows, Citrix or Unix server, the user will feel that they are running directly on the server. But, you can also have a local Desktop interface (with a local Browser & other tools).

Thinstation supports a Microsoft Windows-only environment and REQUIRES NO UNIX/Linux KNOWLEDGE.

Thinstation runs on ordinary PC hardware (x86). You may either reuse older computers or save a lot of time on workstation administration. Or both! An old Pentium 100 MHz with 32 MB RAM or better can be a perfectly useful workstation. And you don’t need a hard disk – you can boot off the network and even have a silent workstation. Workstation devices (floppy/HD/CD/USB) and printers (LPT/USB) are supported.

Thinstation can be booted from network (e.g. diskless) using Etherboot/PXE or from a local floppy/CD/HD/flash-disk, and Prebuilt images and a Live CD are available. The thin client configuration can be local or centralized to simplify management.”

Facebook Building a New Data Center in NC!

Facebook Datacenter.pngSo, Facebook has “friended” NC! My home state is jazzed that Facebook will be building a new $450 Million Dollar data center. Dewd! That’s a lot of geekiness!

Facebook ‘Friends’ North Carolina With Data Center

“North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue on Thursday said that Facebook plans to build a $450 million data center near Forest City in Rutherford County, the second data facility that the company will own. Our Judges Selected Some of The Most Groundbreaking Technology at Interop 2008, Including Overall Best of Show ‘We are proud that Facebook chose to make North Carolina a ‘friend,” said Gov. Perdue in a statement. ‘The feeling is certainly mutual. You can’t pick up a newspaper, read a magazine or flip on the television without hearing more great news about our state. The investment and jobs at the data center will be a boon to that region of the state, and will help confirm North Carolina’s distinction as a global business destination.’ The project is expected to take 18 months to build and to create over 250 construction and mechanical jobs, according to the Office of Gov. Perdue. The completed data center is expected to employ between 35 and 45 full-time and contract workers. Future expansion will also be a possibility.”