performance

New research suggests that wireless operators may unwittingly be degrading performance on their networks as the technology they use to shuttle traffic around their networks gets more and more complex.

Researchers from the computer science department at University of Michigan along with experts from Microsoft Research discovered that "middleboxes"--or network hardware that performs tasks such as firewalling, deep packet inspection, and intrusion detection and prevention--may be slowing down network connections and even exposing wireless subscribers to security vulnerabilities.

According to the report published last month, "An Untold Story of Middleboxes in Cellular Networks," researchers observed … Read more

Microsoft, addressing a painful part of using the company's operating system, says Windows 8 starts up 30 percent to 70 percent faster than the same machines running Windows 7.

That's music to my ears.

Alas, I've heard Microsoft say it's speeding up Windows startup so many times over the years that I'm skeptical it'll ever really happen, especially given that part of the responsibility lies with third-party software out of Microsoft's direct control. This time, though, Microsoft is tackling the problem with a more dramatic approach that preserves some of the computer's … Read more

Facebook's revenue skyrocketed in the first half of 2011, according to a report from Reuters today.

Citing a source with "knowledge of its financials," the news service said Facebook doubled its first-half revenue this year, growing to $1.6 billion. In addition, Reuters said, the company was able to generate a profit of nearly $500 million.

Since it's a private company, Facebook does not divulge its financial performance. However, that hasn't stopped reports on its financials to continue to crop up.

Early last year, social blog Inside Facebook reported that the social network would generate about $1 billion in 2010, … Read more

Apple's iPad blew away several other mobile devices at loading Web pages, according to a recent speed test conducted by Compuware.

Although the test was geared toward smartphones and the iPad was used only as a reference point, Apple's popular tablet proved speedier at Web browsing than the iPhone, HTC Desire, BlackBerry Torch, and several other mobile devices.

Conducted in July, the test tried to determine the impact of each device on Web site performance. Specifically, the analysis looked at two measurements:

• Page load time, or how long it takes for a Web page to fully load. •&… Read more

Two days after Mozilla delivered Firefox 6 to its wide-release stable channel, Firefox 7 and its much-anticipated spate of better memory management and reduced load times got promoted from the developer's Aurora build to the Beta channel. You can download Firefox 7 Beta for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android.

The performance improvements are the first major performance changes for Firefox after a summer of complaints from a small yet vocal minority that was experiencing severe memory leaks and crashes. The company is anticipating around a 30 percent gain in performance that derives from changes to the JavaScript garbage collector, … Read more

The rap on AOL used to be that it was "the Internet on training wheels," yet many solid Netizens cut their i-teeth on its superfriendly apps. AOL Computer Checkup Lite continues AOL's tradition of making things as easy as possible for inexperienced users, with an ultrasimple interface asking simple questions about your PC experience. Not to worry; it doesn't actually do anything but make recommendations about your system's health. That's when you should start to worry.

AOL's interface consists of four check boxes and a Scan button. The boxes are associated with questions, … Read more

The bottom line: Firefox 6 is a worthy expression of Mozilla's ideals. The browser is competitively fast, sports a new minimalist look, and includes some excellently executed features. Unfortunately, that describes most of Firefox's competition, too.

Review: The second version of Firefox to come under the new rapid-release aegis, Firefox 6 follows in the footsteps of Google Chrome, which adopted the rapid-release cycle a while ago and is now up to version 13 (at the time this review was written) despite having its first release only in 2008.

Firefox 4 had a massive impact on Firefox 5 and … Read more

Customers who purchase a 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 will be able to push the limits of the performance vehicle at the Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah.

Ford on Thursday announced "Boss Track Attack" days, a program to provide comprehensive hands-on track experience for Boss 302 owners.

The program will be offered by Team Mustang and Ford Racing instructors at the Ford Racing High Performance Driving School at the high desert track.

The street-legal 2012 Boss 302 was announced last summer as a performance vehicle, but drivers may not get a chance to really test the limits … Read more

If you've been eyeing a Cadillac CTS-V Coupe but feel like 556 horsepower just isn't going to cut it, perhaps Hennessey Performance's limited-edition Caddies are more your speed. The performance turning house plans to produce a dozen 1000 horsepower Twin Turbo CTS-V Coupes next year that have been customized inside and out.

The performance-tuning house has been offering 1000 horsepower Cadillacs for a while, but setting the limited-edition CTS-V apart from other souped-up Caddies is its modified body and custom interior. Like the V1000 upgrade offered on all CTS flavors, the sports coupe will be outfitted with … Read more