Software Tips/Tricks & Info

Lockerz Proof

2010-02-08T18:08:00.005+08:00

What Is Lockerz?

2010-02-06T00:27:00.004+08:00

1. What is Lockerz?

Lockerz is an invitation-only worldwide community where members can find entertainment, shopping and a full social network all on one website. Members are rewarded for almost everything they do on the site--whether it's buying a new brand, watching a video, playing a game, answering a daily question or even just logging in. At launch, Lockerz will have more than 15 ways for members to earn PTZ.

2. What types of products can be purchased at Lockerz?

We've partnered with thousands of the best brands and stores. Starting in early 2010, we'll offer you the latest and greatest in every category - electronics, designer gear, stylish accessories, sports equipment, and more. Members will soon be able to purchase digital assets such as music, videos, art, and decals.

3. What can you do with PTZ on Lockerz?

PTZ can be used only on www.lockerz.com right now for free prizes in PTZ Place™, for entering amazing sweepstakes as many times as you want in the same contest, and for charity donations. After launch, PTZ may be used for discounts on items for sale, free shipping, VIP experiences across the globe as well as free prizes and charity donations in PTZ Place.

4. Why is Lockerz giving away prizes at low levels on PTZ Place?

We set PTZ very low to thank our earliest members for helping us build the site. Beginning in early 2010, PTZ values will increase by 4x on average because there will be many more ways to earn PTZ than ever before. Even with the PTZ increase, prizes will still be very attainable for the active Lockerz member.

5. What does "More Soon" mean?

We are working to get you more products in PTZ Place because the overwhelming early response to Lockerz blew right through our inventory. We will re-stock PTZ Place on a periodic basis.

6. When is the next "restock" happening?

Due to huge traffic issues from our last redemption, we are no longer pre-announcing re-stock dates. Stay tuned to the hallway for news about the redemption.

7. Does Lockerz ship internationally?

Yes. Keep in mind that you will be responsible for any incoming taxes or duties into your country if your country does not deem a free prize as a gift. Check out this link to better understand what duties and taxes you might have to pay:

http://fedex.com/us/international/irc/profiles/?link=2

We are working to find distribution partners to help us reduce any taxes, duties, or other governmental fees you may owe for incoming shipments

8. When will I get my shipment (i.e., Redeemed PTZ Place prize, Purchased Order, Z-List t- shirt)?

From the time we confirm member eligibility or other qualification, product availability, and other information regarding such goods, please allow two weeks for delivery in the U.S., 14-21 days outside of the U.S.

9. How many accounts can I have?

Members are entitled to one account per person. Each eligible person within a household can have their own account.

10.How will Lockerz make money?

Starting in early 2010, you will be able to purchase products at Lockerz. But don't worry; PTZ Place will still be around, with even more prizes and experiences. Members will be able to earn PTZ when they buy, watch, play, share, invite friends, or simply show up on Lockerz. PTZ will be redeemable for both products and experiences.

11.When will Lockerz launch?

Lockerz is launching in stages. PTZ Place, Lockerz' Prize Redemption Center, is now live. Other components will be launched soon. The complete site will be launched in early 2010.

Maximizing uTorrent Download Speed (Guide / Tutorial) Beta

2009-12-03T00:56:00.004+08:00

This article explains how to get up and running with utorrent Bit Torrent efficiently. It shows how to battle ISP's throttling bittorrent speed, optimize download speed and other ways to speed up utorrent and increase utorrent download speed.

Introduction

This is a tutorial step by step guide on how to speed up uTorrent's configuration. It details all the steps from downloading to optimizing your utorrent and Windows settings. Many people have used and think they are running with optimized settings, even then, it is advised to read through this guide and see what you may have missed to get the best configuration settings.

Starting off with Bittorrent Client

This guide will focus on the top most client, uTorrent. A quick rundown of its major features and we're talking SPEED here

1. Peer Exchange

Obtain more peers for your downloading torrent in addition to trackers. Peer exchange checks with other peers to see if they know of any other peers. More Peers = More Speed.

2. Protocol Encryption, Half-Open Connections and uTP UDP Packet Protocol

This is the major speed booster if your Internet Service Provider (ISP) throttles BitTorrent traffic, allowing bypassing of ISP throttling. It can do wonders on torrents with high seeds and can give high speeds especially if your peers are using the top 3 clients I mentioned above, as those are the popular ones that support this standard.

A list of commonly known ISPs who throttle BitTorrent can be found here. You can even do an online test to verify if your ISP throttles BitTorrent connections.

3. Capping Upload Speed

Uploading data to other peers at full throttle will severely limit your download rate. This is one key element we have to adjust for a good download / upload ratio. Unless you are purely seeding and not using your computer for other tasks, limit your upload to 80% of full bandwidth.

4.Distributed Hash Table (DHT)

Similar to Peer Exchange, it also obtains more peers for you to download from. If the tracker is down, and the torrent is not private, you can depend on DHT to continue downloading!

5.Local Peer Discovery

Searches for peers with the same Internet Service Provider (ISP) as you. Connecting to a peer in the same network (or ISP) means you can get the maximum speeds from that peer, assuming he is generous with his uploads.

What We Need

1.An Internet Connection and its maximum download and upload speed. If you are not sure of your download/upload speeds, visit http://www.speedtest.net/ to run a speed test. Select a download location closest to you, especially if you are outside US. The Recommended Server (golden pyramid) works out most of the time.

2.Patched TCPIP.sys to allow more concurrent half-open connections. Windows XP SP2 and Vista limits the number of half-open connections to 10.

To increase the limit, there are freely available patcher:

Half-Open Patch - For Windows VISTA / Windows XP /
This patcher works for both 32 and 64 bit Vista and XP versions.

Go to this site - http://half-open.com/download_en.htm.
Download the ZIP file in the link titled Half-open limit fix 3.6 (as of Feb 2009)
Extract all files to one folder in your desktop
Open the folder and run the Half-open_limit_fix_3.6.exe file
Click English
Under 'New value', set it to 100 (if it is not already set)
Click 'Add
Click OK.
Click OK again. Cancel any Windows XP warnings that should appear, it is part of Microsoft's way of ensuring its files are not tampered with (the utility tampers with them on purpose to change the limit).
Restart your computer.
If something is not working right (e.g. Internet access does not work anymore) and you want to undo the changes, run the software again and click "Restore original file".to tcpip.sys'

NOTE: The patchers above are known to trigger anti-virus alerts sometime. Ignore them. The alerts are triggered due to the patcher making changes to the way Windows works hence the anti-virus software interprets it as suspicious.

Enabling Protocol Encryption, uTP (UDP Packets) and Increasing Speed Via Max Half Open Connections

uTorrent by default disables protocol encryption. We need to enable this so that the ISP's packet shaping hardware will detect our BitTorrent traffic as normal traffic and hopefully let it pass.

Click on Options, Preferences.
Click on BitTorrent.
The one we are concerned about is Protocol Encryption. Set the Outgoing to Enabled.
Click on Advanced on the left column.
If you did NOT patch your TCPIP.sys to allow more concurrent half-open connections above, SKIP this step.

Change "net.max_halfopen" value to 50 by selecting the line, modifying the value at the bottom to 50 and clicking Set.

NOTE: It is normal for a asterisk(*) to appear. This is to indicate that the value has been changed from the default value.

From uTorrent version 1.8.3 onwards, a new UDP protocol named uTP was introduced which sends UDP packets as well as TCP packets. The main benefit is that it provides a new avenue of bypassing ISP throttling limits resulting in a more efficient torrent swarm.

At the same Advanced screen, Change "bt.transp_disposition" value to 255 by selecting the line, modifying the value at the bottom to 255 and clicking Set.
Click OK. Stop all torrents (red stop button on toolbar on top), wait 10 seconds, and Start the torrent (green play button on toolbar). Now let's watch the speeds.

Hopefully, the above changes will improve speeds. Ultimately, it depends on the number of seeders and peers with high upload rate. Remember, you must upload to enjoy good download rates, but not so high that it affects download speed.