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Sofast Nitro technology accelerates a typical dial-up
connection by a factor of 3-5 times.
The Sofast Nitro Acceleration System is the most advanced
in the industry today. It surpasses competition in
acceleration ratios, image quality and reliability.
Sofast Nitro provides a distributed system that accelerates
Internet access for dial up users, using proprietary
technology, including compression, caching, smart
routing, persistent connections and other technological
means. Additional features such as ads blocking, popup
blocking and privacy protection further increase the
effective speed and improve your experience.
Sofast Nitro combines a number of speed-boost technologies
and methods, most of which are proprietary. These
increase dial-up connection to an effective speed
of 3-5 times compared with un-accelerated connection.
Compression
Compression is the most important element of the technology.
Sofast Nitro uses multiple compression algorithms,
intelligently applying them based on data types and
content. Sofast Nitro compresses HTML pages, documents,
animated and static graphics, Flash animations and
some other data types. Typical Compression ratios
for different data types are:
HTML (lossless): 10x-50x
Graphics (lossless): 1.5x-3x
Graphics (lossy): 2x-8x
You have an option to select among four degrees of
loss in the lossy compression, deciding on optimal
compromise between quality and speed. The default
setting is a very low loss (excellent image quality).
Ads/Popups blocking
Ads and Pop-Up suppression are designed to further
increase the acceleration ratios, as it is synergistic
to other acceleration techniques employed. Furthermore,
it enhances user’s experience beyond acceleration,
as many banner ads and especially pop ups are distractive
and annoying. Pop ups and pop unders frequently cause
browser crashes or endless loops. The Sofast Nitro
Accelerator employs sophisticated artificial intelligence,
distinguishing between popups that are a legitimate
part of the site functionality and annoying promotional
pop ups.
In addition to the browser, ads and popups are blocked
in the leading P2P applications (Kazaa, iMesh, Morpheus)
and many spyware applications (Gator etc.)
Client & Server Side Caching
The Sofast Nitro Client implements a caching technology
compliant with HTTP. It allows additional time savings,
when visiting previously visited sites. This technology
is the fastest in the market. In addition, Sofast
Nitro’s Servers cache static content, complying
with the HTTP protocols.
Settings Optimization
The Sofast Nitro Client optimizes the Internet Settings
on the clients’ machine whenever required. It
improves Internet speed for all applications and protocols.
For example, Sofast Nitro increases the value of TCP
Recv Window when it is too tight.
Persistent Connections
The Sofast Nitro Accelerator employs persistent connections
to the server. Persistent connections save the time
required to tear down or to establish a TCP connection.
DNS Caching
The Sofast Nitro Accelerator caches DNS resolutions,
saving the time needed to resolve the host name to
its IP address.
File Downloads Acceleration and Resumption.
The Sofast Nitro Accelerator applies multiple techniques
to improve downloading of large files. Some of them
are used by common download managers, some of them
are unique:
- Multistreaming: large files are downloaded in chunks
through a number of connections; the number of streams
is being determined automatically
- Mirroring: the downloading is done from multiple
servers at the same time, if they are available
- Transparent resumption of interrupted downloads
– up to 20 resumptions per download without
user’s interaction. Downloads are resumed from
the interruption point even if stopped by the user
or the computer was rebooted
Privacy Protection
The Sofast Nitro Accelerator is able to protect users’
privacy against information collection by Advertisers
and Networks. This is a significant security enhancement
to the security settings of Internet Explorer V6.0.
In addition, unlike other companies and their accelerator’s,
Sofast Nitro does not collect information on your
browsing habits, develop profiles or sell your personal
information to marketing companies. Please find our
full privacy policy online at http://www.sofast.net/about/policies.php
Reliability and Fault Tolerance
The Sofast Nitro system was developed with the highest
reliability standards in mind. In addition to a high
quality of each component, the Sofast Nitro system
ensures un-interrupted Internet access by the user
even in a case of a server failure. If the proxy server
fails, the client will automatically switch to a direct
connection mode, bypassing the failed server. After
that, it will probe the server periodically, and switch
back to the normal mode when the server is available.
What is accelerated, what is not and why
Accelerated:
· Web Browsing
· Email and News, accessed through web
interface
· Email – graphics in many HTML pages
· Many other applications, using HTTP protocol
· HTTP downloads (effectiveness varies)
· HTTP video and audio (effectiveness varies)
Not Accelerated:
· Secure connections - redirecting through
the proxy would breach security.
· Text and attachments in POP3 email
· Non-HTTP video and audio
Overview
Sofast Nitro Client is an extremely light (~800kB)
Windows application. When installed, the Sofast Nitro
Client automatically starts every time the computer
restarts. A simple user interface allows changing
acceleration parameters. A Speed Meter measures the
effective speed of each browsed page.
Client System Requirements
Hardware: Pentium class CPU, free 4MB RAM, free 3MB
HDD
OS: Windows 98, Me, XP, 2000 or NT 4.0
Browser: Internet Explorer 5.01 or later;
Netscape 4.06 or later;
MSN Explorer
Self Diagnostics
The Sofast Nitro Client is able to recognize software
conflicts and alerts users of such conflicts. It provides
a Repair functionality which automatically fix the
client connection settings.
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