MyAnswers: Windows Live Mail should be avoided as an RSS feed newsreader.

The following MyAnswers solution 2367 is now available:

Windows Live Mail as RSS Feed newsreader fails to work properly.

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Kelvin Eldridge
www.MyAnswers.biz
(An Online Connections service.)

MyAnswers: How to combine RSS feeds from different sites into a single folder in Outlook 2010.

The following MyAnswers solution 2366 is now available:

Outlook RSS feed by default splits each site into a different folder. The problem is you have to then check each folder for new items. I prefer to check a single folder. I decided to investigate Outlook 2010 and determine how to combine the news feeds from different sites into a single folder.

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Kelvin Eldridge
www.MyAnswers.biz
(An Online Connections service.)

Google Adwords advertising issues

I've recently completed running a couple of small trials to test Google Adwords and the results of those trials are available in MyAnswers solution 2361. There are some interesting issues I've noticed with Google Adwords relating to local advertising but a bigger concern is even though I limited visitors to be from Melbourne, I received two visits from China which consumed nearly 20% of my latest budget. Keep in mind my budget is tiny but still I really don't want to promote a local service to people outside of Australia. If it occurred to me I can't help but wonder if this is happening to others.

If you participate in Google Adwords I'd suggest that if you are limiting your advertising to a region that in the beginning you check your web site logs and in particular investigate the clicks and where the IP address is from. Then factor these into your budget accordingly.

Kelvin Eldridge
Online Connections
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.

Alert: Qantas Booking reference 47648830 - Seat Select Fee Receipt

Over the last hour I've received five fake Qantas emails for seat selection fee receipts. The booking reference number changes and may be randomly generated. Attached is a zip file with what looks like a randomly generated filename.

If you receive these emails you should delete them.

As a matter of course when I see multiple suspicious emails I use an online scanner to check the attachments so as to advise others to be on their guard. In this case 13 of 47 antivirus programs identified the malware, which also means quite a few antivirus programs didn't and the one which concerns me is Microsoft's Windows Defender which comes as part of Windows 8. If Microsoft want to include antivirus software as part of the operating they have to be up there with the best and not just one of the pack.

Ultimately you are your own best defence against malware and other scams. I'd suggest if you do receive an attachment and have any doubt whatsoever, even from someone you know, then take the time to scan the attachment. In MyAnswers solution 2293 I provide the site I use to check suspicious email attachments and in most cases the site has been very good. The site shows just how often the leading antivirus programs would leave you totally exposed.

Kelvin Eldridge
Online Connections
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.

Qantas Frequent Flyer toolbar

I read today that if you install the Qantas Frequent Flyer toolbar, log on to the toolbar and perform valid web searches, you'll receive one point for every valid web search (up to 150 points per month) and if you install and use the toolbar by the 23rd of June 2013 (which is tonight), you'll earn 200 bonus points.

What was also interesting is I read one person said people are installing the toolbar, earning their bonus points and then removing the toolbar.

Toolbars like the Qantas Frequent Flyer toolbar (and Coles offered a similar toolbar) generally offer little value to users and in return users give up valuable private information. For example Qantas are offering up to 150 points per month. If you look at the gift cards from Qantas Rewards they start at a $25 gift card for 3,500 points. That is 140 points is equivalent to $1. Qantas are thus offering a little over $1 of value per month for your valuable searching behaviour which may assist to sell more products and services. The 200 point bonus is worth around $1.43. Not that much really.

Often when assisting clients and cleaning their computers one area is to clean up and remove unwanted toolbars in their browser. The more you have installed in your computer the greater the performance hit. The question is, is it worth around $12 a year of Frequent Flyer points to: a, have your search history recorded for marketing purposes, b, change to using the Yahoo search engine, and c, the slight performance hit you'll experience. The choice as always is yours.

Kelvin Eldridge
Online Connections
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.

Alert: 50% Disсоunt from Telstra at online Bills Pay.

Interestingly today I received an email with the subject "50% Disсоunt from Telstra at online Bills Pay". What I found interesting was that of the four email clients I continuously use and test, only one identified the email as a potential phishing scam.

Whilst the email is designed to appear to be from Telstra using the Telstra logo, if you check the links in the email )don't click on them) you'll notice they are for an IP address (a series of four numbers separated but dots) rather than a domain. The IP address is hosted in the United States.

To Microsoft's credit the email client was Microsoft Live Mail client. In fact you can't click on the links unless you actively unblock the message. That's good protection for users. Unfortunately over time I've found this is more the exception than the rule. It would be a good feature for other email clients to have to protect their users where possible. Of course it is hard because scammers change their approach so quickly to work around the software.

Kelvin Eldridge
Online Connections
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.

MyAnswers: Changed to US app store and now want to change back to Australian app store.

The following MyAnswers solution 2365 is now available:

When checking for an app on app store the app wasn't available yet in Australia and I was asked if I wanted to change to the US store which I did. Now I can't see the Australian app store. How can I change back to the Australian app store?

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Kelvin Eldridge
www.MyAnswers.biz
(An Online Connections service.)

MyAnswers: Netgear WG111T USB adaptor won't connect even though the network can be seen.

The following MyAnswers solution 2364 is now available:

My computer won't connect to wireless network. I'm using Windows XP with a Netgear WG111T USB adaptor. The computer can see the network access point.

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Kelvin Eldridge
www.MyAnswers.biz
(An Online Connections service.)

Digg Reader and Facebook Reader to launch soon to replace Google Reader which ends July 1st 2013

You know I've never really been a fan of Google Reader for one reason. In order to use Google Reader you needed to log on. To me that doesn't quite make sense. It feels like another lock in from Google. News feeds are open for anyone to read. All you need is the software installed. So why the need to log on. In this case Google needs to store your feed information somewhere. But if you install an app or software into your computer or device there is no reason to log on.

Check out Windows Live Mail which comes with a built-in Feeds section which enables you to read RSS feeds. Outlook does the same. Simply subscribe to a feed and you receive the news items. No need to log into anything or any service.

Google is dumping Google Reader which means the effort for the return isn't there for them. This often means tens of millions of users get dumped. In this age of global services tens of millions of users is too small to worry about. This creates opportunity for others. Digg and Facebook are both bringing out Readers but I suspect both will require you to log in.

Personally I'd prefer to use a service that doesn't require me to log in if there is no need to log in. Perhaps look at some of the software you already have available to you (free or commercial) and see if the readers will suit your needs before signing up for yet another service which will collect data on you.

Kelvin Eldridge
Online Connections
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.

Computer Repair Melbourne - Covering Doncaster, Doncaster East, Templestowe, Templestowe Lower, Eltham, Montmorency and Lower Plenty

Currently I'm running a trial using Google Adwords to promote my computer services business in the area covering Doncaster, Templestowe and Eltham. I've set up a landing page (www.computer-repair-melbourne.com.au) which promotes my services in Doncaster, Doncaster East, Templestowe, Templestowe Lower, Eltham, Montmorency and Lower Plenty.

At the end of the Google Adwords trial I will share what I've found with the notes I've recorded in MyAnswers solution 2361. Google made an offer that when I spent $25 they'd provide $100 credit. Thus the trial is equivalent to spending $125 and you'll be able to see what I did and what the result was.

To me this is valuable information. Few people share this type of information which can be used by others to make better decisions on how and where they spend their advertising dollar.

Most advertising works on the perception that it will deliver results and in the past I've spent thousands advertising in media with little or no result. So how Google Adwords compares based on $125 spend is shared in the MyAnswers solution 2361.

My aim and desire is to assist people in making better decisions by sharing my experience. Others will consider this information isn't the type of information they'd share because in effect they've giving away their marketing advantage which has cost them real dollars to determine the information. By making the information available via MyAnswers I see the cost is shared by those who are interested and the marketing advantage is shared by those contributing.

Kelvin Eldridge
Online Connections
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.

Office Mobile for iPhone now available for Office 365 subscribers in the USA and shortly in Australia.

According to press releases on the internet Office Mobile for iPhone is now available for Office 365 subscribers in the States (14/06/2013) and will be rolled out internationally over 4-5 days. I tested the link today (16/06/2013) and Office Mobile for iPhone is currently not available from the Australian Apple online app store.

Kelvin Eldridge
Online Connections
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.

Apple's iOS7 won't work with iPhone 3GS

It was only a matter of time before Apple decided the iPhone 3GS would not be included in the list of devices which will be able to run the latest version of iOS. The next version of iOS announced at the developer conference and expected to be released around the September/October timeframe won't run on the Apple iPhone 3GS.

Kelvin Eldridge
Online Connections
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.

Alert: Vodafone MMS notification ID746753

I received couple of fake emails with the subject being 'Vodafone MMS notification ID746753' or similar. Attached was a zip file 'image 2APPZD55EP.zip'. Contained in the zip file was the file 'image DRJT4D45AS.jpeg.exe'.

The attachment contains malware and you should delete these emails. You'll also notice the filename of the contained file is 'image DRJT4D45AS.jpeg.exe'. For those who do not display the filename extension they'll see 'image DRJT4D45AS.jpeg', and may think the file is an image file and attempt to open the file. Opening the file will most likely run a malicious program.

I suggest that people turn on the option to view filename extensions in Windows to help them identify malicious files.

You should delete these emails.

Kelvin Eldridge
Online Connections
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.

Alert: Woolworths Supermarket Survey Department

I received an email today with the subject ‘Woolworths Supermarket Survey Department’. The email has an attachment ‘Woolworths_Survey.zip’ which contains a html page which is a web page.

The body of the email contains:

‘You have been selected by Woolworths Online Department to take part in our quick and easy reward survey.

In return we will credit $50 to your account - Just for your time!’

This email is most likely a phishing scam designed to collect your details. You should delete these emails.

Woolworths Everyday users should start to become concerned with the constant emails sent out by Woolworths where you click on a button to accept their weekly offer. All it will take is for a scammer/malware writer to send you a fake email and you click on the button which takes you to a website and you could infect your computer. Once the large companies such as Woolworths send out regular emails where people don’t have to think too much they will become targets for malware writers. The same applies to Coles offers. Don’t just click on a button in an email without thinking. If you get tricked you could infect your computer and that will cost far more to repair than any special offer.

 

Kelvin Eldridge

Online Connections

www.OnlineConnections.com.au

Call 0415 910 703 for computer advice and support.

 

Acer Iconia W3 Australian release date not yet known.

The Acer Iconia W3 has been announced and according to news on the internet it is now available for pre-order in the States. One article indicated the UK market would be next but there is no mention of Australia.

The Acer Iconia W3 is an interesting device as it represents the first small form factor Windows 8 tablet. The problem with Android and iOS tablets is if you're a Windows user and have software which you use, those tablets simply won't work with the software. The time and effort involved in replacing the software can often far exceed the cost of the device. I have scripts I use with Internet Explorer, the preferred Australian English spelling for use with Office and Internet Explorer and these simply won't work on Android or iOS tablets. They will however work with a Windows tablet and to me that is what I'm interested in.

My only real concern is whilst Microsoft have worked hard to create Windows 8 so it works well on a tablet, it is hard to say how well it works until you have to live with it. To me their Mail app isn't good enough and I prefer the Desktop version of Internet Explorer to the app version, but that's when using a notebook.

This is the type of device I'm looking for. Small enough to be portable when out and about, a long battery life, and when coupled with some accessories may just cut it as a desktop/notebook replacement. It may not be the Acer model that suits me, but I get the feeling the hardware is getting close to what I'm looking for. I'm sure we can expect to see more of the 8" Windows 8 tablets announced this year.

Kelvin Eldridge
Online Connections
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.

HP Slate 7 now available in Australia.

I just received an email notification from HP letting me know the HP Slate 7 was now here and thought I’d let others know if they are interested. This isn’t a recommendation for the HP Slate, but simply a sharing of information. You should compare the HP Slate with other devices and more specifically against your needs. I have a very underutilised Acer tablet which is Android based and would have to say it wasn’t one of my better purchasing decisions. Since different people want different things from tablets some people will be very happy with an Android based device.

 

Kelvin Eldridge

Online Connections

www.OnlineConnections.com.au

Call 0415 910 703 for computer advice and support.

 

Is Google's $100 credit for Google adwords when you spend $25 worth anything?

For Google this is a no lose situation whereas for you, you could lose $25 and the time you spend in using their adwords. The worst case scenario is you earn nothing and Google gets $25 from you. If Google makes this offer to millions of past adwords users this can easily generate Google tens of millions of dollars with no real gain to the user.

Given I've used adwords a number of times without any return I thought perhaps I'd give it one more chance. I know how to be quite specific with the terms I use and whilst it is a long shot, there is a slim chance I might now know enough for Google's $100 credit to pay off. I'm happy to pay for advertising if it works, but so far it hasn't and the one reason I created my own advertising service which does work for me and others.

So here goes. I'll take Google up on their offer and once the $125 is spent I'll then provide the result as a MyAnswers solution which others can learn from. I'll also provide details of how I advertised, that is my strategy and why I used that strategy.

Business isn't about long shots. Business is about making informed decisions and getting a return on investment. If you want to take a long shot go to the casino. My experience will hopefully turn a long shot into a sure bet, or at worst, will be an experience where people can learn from my experience and save their money.

If you are interested in the results of my testing I've written up my notes in MyAnswers solution 2361 which is available from the site www.MyAnswers.biz.

Kelvin Eldridge
Online Connections
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.

MyAnswers: How to stop Microsoft OneNote from starting and appearing in the System Tray.

The following MyAnswers solution 2360 is now available:

I don't use OneNote. How do I stop OneNote starting and appearing in the System Tray? I have Office 2007.

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Kelvin Eldridge
www.MyAnswers.biz
(An Online Connections service.)