Internet testing regional flavour with Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs)

An internationalized domain name (IDN) is an Internet domain name that contains a language-specific script or alphabet, such as Hindi, Chinese, Russian or the Latin-based languages with diacritics, such as French. These writing systems are encoded by computers in multi-byte Unicode. Few domain registrar companies worldwide have started offering IDN registration. Recently I purchased (read Registered) my own IDN अजय.com from one such registrar.  Now, the question comes is that how IDNs can be hosted or accessed? How do one type the internationalized domain name in browser window if (s)he doesn’t has the tools to type in that particular language. Enters Punycode.

Punycode is intended for the encoding of language specific component of the Internationalized Domain Names, such that these domain names may be represented in the ASCII character set allowed in the Domain Name System of the Internet (The encoding syntax is defined in IETF document RFC 3492). This procedure is known as ToASCII and ToUnicode. For example अजय.com in punycode becomes xn--l1b0cxc.com. To host an IDN (domain name containing international (non-English) characters), you need to convert the domain name into “punycode” before entering it into the DNS server. The domain registrar with which you will register the IDN shall provide you punycode equivalent of that IDN. However, you can find one such tool at network tools website.

In my opinion IDNs will take some time to pickup the pace. Moreover, it will add more confusion to already confused common user of internet.

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Upgrade to WordPress 2.8 Now!

The latest version of WordPress, version 2.8 “Baker” (named in honor of noted trumpeter and vocalist Chet Baker), has been released on Wednesday, 10 June, 2009 as scheduled. It has several improvements to themes, widgets, taxonomies, and overall speed along with over 790 bugs fixed.

Visually 2.8 doesn’t look much different from 2.7, however once you start digging dip, you’ll notice and begin to appreciate the changes.

Stay out of Trouble with your Adsense a/c using these Tips

Google has very clear guidelines outlined for placement of Adsense ads on any publisher’s website. As per google, “It’s important to consider how your ad implementations affect not only your click-through rate, but your users’ and advertisers’ experience as well”.

Google Beta Testing Google Ad Manager

Google, after acquiring Doubleclick, has started offering new ways for publishers to maximize their ad revenue. In continuing efforts to provide publishers of all sizes with tools to improve revenue opportunities and productivity, today announced a new tool with the beta launch of Google Ad Manager. Google Ad Manager is a hosted ad management solution that can help publishers sell, schedule, deliver, and measure all of directly-sold and network-based inventory. It offers an intuitive and simple user experience with Google speed and a tagging process so publishers can spend more time working with their advertisers and less time on their ad management solution.

When Your Domain becomes non Transferable

At times, due to various reasons, you may like to transfer your domain to other domain registrar. But, there are various cases where a domain name MAY NOT be transferable. If you are planing to transfer away your domain name, make sure status of your domain name adheres to guidelines provided in this article. Transfer denial of your domain could happen in the following circumstances:

Latest Offering from Google Apps – Google Sites

Recently Google introduced its’ new offering by the name of Google Sites as part of Google Apps. Google Sites makes creating a team web site as easy as editing a document. Variety of information can be gathered in one place easily including videos, calendars, presentations, attachments, and gadgets. It can also be shared as easily for viewing or editing with a small group, entire organization, or the world.

WordPress.com upgardes Free Space to Three Gigabytes

Today, wordpress.com made an announcement to upgrade free upload space by 6o times from 50mb to 3000mb for all wordpress blogs hosted on it. This upgrade will give its’ users freedom to blog rich media withour having to worry about storage space left in their wordpress account. To remind you 1GB paid space at a normal web hosting company costs approx. $300 per year.

sabsebolo.com – Free Conferencing Facility Launched

Sabeer Bhatia, co-founder of Hotmail, has co-founded SabseBolo.com – a free conferncing facility, in association with Yogesh Patel, a serial entrepreneur and co-founder of arzoo.com. SabseBolo.com provides a three easy steps facility to start conferencing. Mind you, this is not some online conferencing, Sabeer is talking about. It’s about conderening through any land line or mobile device.

Steps to Move Your Web Site from one Server to Another

During the lifetime of a website moments come when need arises to move the site from one domain name to other. This migration process is painful for bigger and more active websites. If hosting control panel on both servers are same then migration becomes easier. However, sometimes you need to migrate your site to a server having different control panel. In this scenario, to ensure smooth migration of an active web site from one server to another follow the steps given in this tutorial:

Gmail about to Reach 6GB Storage Mark!

Google is known for doing things in its’ own style. Started with 2 GB mail box facility (besides other features), now Gmail is about to reach a mark where it seems to touch a new height. As evident from attached screen shot it is about to touch 6GB storage space and it’s still couting. Perhaps a time will come when you will be able to get unlimited storage space from Gmail like Yahoo! and few others. And mind you, it’s all for free. You need not shell out a single cent for this.

Now, this is what can be called a real new year gift in true style.