Serif's DrawPlus X6

Most people have image - editing software that they use for touching up photos, but it is not much good for creating art from scratch. If you have artistic flair and want to use your PC to get creative, Serif's DrawPlus X6 provides the tools you need.

The name, if anything, is a little misleading. You are not simply using your mouse like a virtual pencil: this is a sophisticated tool for creating a range of different types of art, from logos to animations.

At a glance

SERIF DRAWPLUS X6

 

• 512MB of memory
• 778MB of hard-drive space
• 1,024 x 768 pixels resolution
• Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8

 

Unlike the pen, pencil and brush tools you get into image-editing software, every line in DrawPlus is editable. The software remembers the path your mouse made as it goes across the screen, so you can adjust the lines later. For example, even if you use one of the many sophisticated brush shapes, you can grab its surrounding handles and enlarge, reduce or rotate the line, or change the brush type long after you have finished drawing. If you do not like the shape of the line you have drawn, you do not have to delete it and start again, but can select individual vertices and reshape it.

 

The software is packed with features, so there is a lot to get to grips with when you first use it. As we have found with other Serif software we have reviewed recently, the interface looks dated. Banks of icons located across the top and left of the screen are used to select tools, but they are small and fiddly. This means you get plenty of room for your drawings, but if you have a recent PC with a high-resolution screen, the buttons will look very small. However, it makes tweaking and perfecting your work much more precise.

One of its great features, the Quick Shape tool, lets you make pre – cut 2D and 3D shapes like moons, cogs, polygons, tears, rectangles along with the chance of blending them and form a more intricate and larger designs.  Instant 3D button lets users to create 3D shapes also amuses with the movable light source.

If you are not any good at drawing there's an impressive range of clipart included, that can be easily adapted to look like your own creations. This makes it simpler to produce professional-looking logos and illustrative elements for newsletters and other projects, without them looking cheesy.

The best thing about the software, however, is that it provides professional-level tools at a very reasonable price. Given the complexity of the software, you need to be prepared to spend the time learning it to get good results.

This is sophisticated software, with the kind of tools that are professional illustrators might expect to find in a drawing program. It is not exactly cheap, but it costs a lot less than Adobe Illustrator.

The program's complexity means it is not particularly easy to use, but you can still create impressive pieces without too much trouble, even without much artistic skill, by using the software's wide range of features and clip art. 

Troubleshooting a DHCP server

If you are using a DHCP server that automatically configure the TCP / IP configuration of workstations in your organization, a non-working DHCP may lead to disruption of the entire organization. In addition, if the workstation is unable to obtain an IP address, it will not be able to access resources on your network or the Internet. Here we are going to discuss some methods that can be used to resolve issues related to the DHCP server.

Assigning an incorrect address

The most common problem associated with DHCP, which is to assign the wrong IP address. For example, assume that your DHCP server that has been configured to use the IP address range from 192.168.0.1 to 192.168.50. You should expect that the network computer been assigned an IP address from this range. Now assume that a workstation on your network began to experience problems accessing other network servers. You need to use the command IPCONFIG / ALL to see the network configuration and IP address. Instead of the address of the expected range of addresses, we see that the workstation that has been assigned an address starts with 169.254. If a computer on your network unexpectedly assigned to an address that starts with 169.254, then you can be absolutely sure that this address was not given by your DHCP server. What happened is that your workstation is unable to connect to server DHCP server. If this occurs, the workstation it assigns an IP address itself by using the Windows' Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA or automatic addressing).

Microsoft has built an automatic addressing of the Windows operating system as an aid to those who use very little network. For example, if you set up a small network of Windows, you do not need to configure the IP address manually, even if there is no DHCP server on the network. APIPA can help you automatically assign a unique address to the class of every machine on the network. It is excellent for home networks, but is not applicable for large networks. If the workstation used the services of APIPA, it means that its request for an IP address does not come to an answer. The causes of this problem can be several. If you know that all the other computers on your network normally request an IP address from your DHCP server, then you can conclude that the reason behind the problem is not the DHCP server.

More than likely a problem with the network hardware that is installed on the workstation. For example, networks interface using the wrong driver. Another possible reason could be that the power cable is driven into the network card is not connected to the other side of the switch.

Of course, only that one computer has failed to obtain an IP address that does not mean that our server is the source of the problem. If other workstations successfully acquired IP, then be sure that the server is working properly. However, there may be possibilities that the server has reached the limit of IP addresses that it can assign to clients. You can easily detect such a problem, comparing the number of addresses included in the slot allocated to the DHCP server, the number of devices have requested an IP address from the DHCP server, Common problems of DHCP servers.

If multiple workstations are experiencing problems with obtaining IP addresses, the most likely problem is with the DHCP server. If you suspect that the problem is the DHCP server, then you can check this by using a few simple tests to verify the connection (ping test) and the availability of the DHCP server on the network.

If the DHCP server can communicate with other computers on the network, then I suggest that you verify the DHCP server assigned IP address, and that address is compatible with the same interval of addresses for which the server is configured for, assigning addresses to workstations. For example, if the range of addresses, the DHCP server assigns workstations range from 192.168.0.1 to 192.168.0.50, then the server will not be able to assign addresses to workstations until it itself will not be assigned a static IP address in the same segment of the subnet, for example, 192.168.0.0 or 192.168.0.51.

If this still does not resolve the problem, then I recommend checking out the basics. As an example, you have to make sure that the DHCP server is still logging in Active Directory to distribute IP addresses. You should also check that this interval is active, and that all required services are active on the DHCP server.

Conflicts of IP addresses

Another problem that I have observed is the conflict of IP addresses, which dynamically allocated. When you create an interval DHCP scope, the DHCP server is responsible for the fact that the addresses within the interval were unique to each machine. If this is true, then where there is a conflict dynamically assigned addresses?

There were two situations that I have encountered in the event of a problem. The first time I encountered this problem, I was able to determine which computers were assigned the same address. When I checked the TCP / IP configuration of these machines, I found that on one of these addresses have been configured manually. This is a rather long story, but briefly, the work of one of the application on the computer it was necessary that the car had a static IP address. User tired of constantly adjusting this app to my address, so he just took the address that was assigned to it dynamically and made it static.

The likelihood of such a situation today is quite small. When this situation occurs commonly used operating system is Windows 98. In Windows 98 lacks many tools for security that we have today. Properly configured security on a workstation running Windows XP or Windows Vista will disable any configuration changes to the user. But despite this, I still wanted to mention this situation, because sometimes it will help you solve the problem.

It is much more likely a problem with the address conflict occurs when using multiple DHCP servers and DHCP servers, these are overlapping sets of addresses. If you have only one DHCP server on your network, you do not make mistakes, and do not rule out the possibility of such a situation on your network. There is a possibility that your network has a pirate (rogue) DHCP server that conflicts with your main server DHCP.

Windows 2000 Server and Windows Server 2003 are designed in such a way as to avoid problems with piracy (rogue) DHCP servers. They DHCP server to assign IP addresses only after it has been authenticated Active Directory. But the problem is that it is applicable only for servers DHCP, which work on Windows. Server DHCP, running on other operating systems can assign IP addresses to clients without the need to be authenticated Active Directory.

So is there any difficulty installing pirated server DHCP, which runs on Linux? Probably not. The explanation that makes more sense is that the problem is a wireless access point or router. Such devices almost always have a built-in DHCP server. These devices generally use a 192.168.0.x address range or 192.168.1.x. If it so happens that the same IP address range used on your primary DHCP server that then you run into the situation where both the DHCP server assign addresses from the same interval, which leads to conflict.

Conclusion

In the above article, I explained that there are a number of potential cases in which failures may occur in the work of DHCP. In most cases, failures related to problems with the connection between the DHCP server and workstations that are trying to address.

How to make your trial Kaspersky license into a lifetime deal.

Hell ya, I am in a good mood today and thinking that why don't you guys feel the same.So without further ado, lets make our trial kaspersky license into a lifetime deal from 666 ;) Now lets make something clear, this is a share and it worked for us. Ok then, what are we gonna do here is resetting the PCID for kaspersky,making kaspersky to think that its a new computer and approve us a month of fully functional and upgradable trial. 1) First of all delete the existing key if you have.

2) Goto Setting, then select Option, Uncheck the "Enable Self Defense" and click OK.

3) Now right-click the kaspersky icon from taskbar and click on "Exit". stun gun

Cross-border Leasing

Gaining much popularity in recent days, the basic concept of leasing, goes way back in financing history. Generally, leasing refers to the sale of the usufruct, not the sale of the item. As time demanded, clauses got modified and various type of leasing got introduced. Among them, Cross-border leasing is considered one of the financial world's most unusual niches. The sensitivity involved in arranging the tax-driven deals at the very heart of the business is the reason behind this claim. Also the publicity is positively discouraged and marketing is low key.

In a Cross-border leasing arrangement, the contract is signed between the lessee and the lessor dwelling or situated in two or different countries. Regarding Cross-border leasing, some notable tax shelter and avoidance related additional issues are often discussed. To arbitrage the difference in the tax laws of various jurisdictions, the Cross-border leasing is mostly practiced in some EU countries, normally between the US and a European country. In simple words, someone is living in UK leasing a car fleet from Germany much cheaper than UK by using the different VAT rules for vehicles in Germany. There is a common misconception that the countries under the EU go with the similar VAT rules. The reality is EU drawn a common outline or general guideline and every country then suitably implemented that within its own VAT system.

When a business situated in UK leases a vehicle from a UK leasing company, has to pay a 17.5 percent VAT on the leasing charges and for using the vehicle on both business and non-business intentions will recover them only half of the VAT money they paid. On the other hand, if the same business leases a vehicle from a German lessor, has to pay 16 percent German VAT on the lease. Additionally, under the German VAT rules a full recovery of the whole amount does an immediate saving for the lessee.

Now from the German lessor’s viewpoint, while sourcing the vehicle in the UK abiding the UK rules like UK specification, right hand drive etc. either he has to buy it or lease it from another leasing company (third party or related). Whatever the method he chooses an UK VAT will be due on him. But this amount is fully recoverable and the German Leaseco can recover it from the UK VAT authorities as the vehicle is going to be used leaseco’s business.

The VAT recovery from other countries is only applicable within the EU. The system also faces few problems in some countries. Leading to costly litigation may make the foreign VAT authorities to refuse to refund the VAT amount. Even though quarterly claims are possible to make but still a cash flow cost occurs as it takes about 6 months to get the refund in both Germany and UK. Additionally, extra costs and a corporation tax will be charged in Germany while setting up a leasing operation.

Now a day leasing companies are being pressurized for considering to introduce this kind of scheme by their customers, especially the customers with large fleets are exerting good deals of pressure. This type of consumers are capable of going alone and set up their own cross border leaseco, risking the business of the leasing companies.

Test Honda Accord

Novated Lease

Over the recent years, a novated lease has become very popular form of automobile financing. The word “Novate” usually refers to “substitute a person or thing” between two parties. A novated lease is a type of automobile lease allowing a business to lease a motor car on behalf of an employee, with the liability for the lease lying with the employee and the lease payments are paid from the employee's pre-tax income. Novated Leases are commonly practiced in Australia though USA has a well established market for novating leases. Also used in UK, the term “Novated lease” refers to a car lease which has been transferred or novated among two parties.

Terms tied to Novated lease: The most common terms used in novated lease are -

• “GST credit” means the Goods and Services Tax (GST) term input tax credits.
• “Purchases” means the Goods and Services Tax (GST) term acquisitions
• “Sales” means the Goods and Services Tax (GST) term supplies
• “Payment” means the Goods and Services Tax (GST) term consideration.

Novated leases in Australia: In Australia, it is a three way agreement between the lease company, an employer and his employee. Under a novated lease arrangement, the employer takes over the lessee’s obligation to meet the repayments under the finance lease. When a termination of lease or the employee decides to cease employment with the company, a clause in the deed of novation automatically shifts the lease obligations back to the lessee. Afterwards, this permits the employee to engage into a new novated lease arrangement with another employer.

Novated leases in UK: In the UK, a novated lease refers to an automobile lease that has been transferred to a 3rd party with the consent of the lessor, the initial lessee and also the prospective leaseholder. The transfer of liability for the lease, between 2 legal entities, is generally lined by tripartite contract.

Types of Novated lease: Mainly there are 2 types of novation arrangement:

• A full or split full novation
• A partial novation.

In a full or split full novation, the agreement can be done in two different ways. Either the employee engages into a lease with the finance company or the employer enters into a deed of novation (tripartite agreement) with their employee and the finance company. When under a full novation agreement, the employer is held responsible for duly lease payments and the residuary value of the car at the end of the lease. On the other hand, in a split full novation, the employee has to guarantee the residual value of the car at the end of the lease while the employer ensures the on time lease payments.

There are mainly two types of partial novation arrangements, the first one can be arranged directly between the finance company and the employee. In case of the second one, the agreement is made between the employee and his employer where the employee sub-leases the car to his employer but refrained from the right to receive payments. The main advantage of sub-leasing novated lease vehicles is that the finance company has no clause in the arrangement that can revoke the original lease.

Benefits of the Novated lease: A novated lease agreement bears advantages for all the parties like the employee, the employer as well as for the government, too.


a) Benefits for the employee:

• Possibility of noteworthy income tax savings.
• Possibilities of significant discount for the cases where there are multiple cars are leased under the same scheme.
• Savings on GST that will usually be incurred on vehicle expenses
• A greater flexibility with the choice of a car is offered.
• The employee can retain the car and transfer it to a new employer while changing jobs.

b) Benefits for the employer:

• A medium of providing an effective increment in employees' salaries with no or minimal cost to the business.
• The business doesn’t assume any risk for the cars while comparing to the company cars.
• While comparing to the company cars, employee vehicles goes on "off balance sheet".

c) Benefits for the Government:

• Government earns money from the fees paid by the Panel Members.

By judging the all the aspects of novated lease we can surely conclude that whether an employee or an employer, it is a win-win situation for all.