I thought the news about BlackBerry Messenger expanding to Android and iOS was interesting at first. Then I started to think to be really useful a messenger app needs to also be available as a web app and available across all platforms including desktops, notebooks. Even though Microsoft’s operating system on mobile phones commands a tiny slice of the market the app needs to be universally available and then it may have a chance to compete. The closed off island approach to providing messaging services will disappear very quickly when someone makes the right move.
BlackBerry Messenger expands to Android, iOS... Read More
- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problem.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
BlackBerry Messenger expands to Anroid and iOS.
MyAnswers: YouTube video played from link in Outlook 2007 crashes and restarts computer.
The following MyAnswers solution 2354 is now available:
When playing back a YouTube video from a link in Outlook 2007 my computer crashes and restarts. Using Windows XP and Internet Explorer 8.
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Kelvin Eldridge
www.MyAnswers.biz
(An Online Connections service.)
Friday, May 10, 2013
MyAnswers: When does support for Internet Explorer 8 end when run on Windows XP? Is it the same time as Windows XP?
The following MyAnswers solution 2352 is now available:
When does support for Internet Explorer 8 end? We all know that Windows XP support ends in April 2014, but what about Internet Explorer 8. The major exposure to users using Windows XP is when connected to the internet and that is when using email or their browser. If IE8 is not end-of-life and support continues then end-of-life for Windows XP may be much less of an exposure. Microsoft’s massive scare campaign to force people to upgrade may need additional information for people to make good decisions.
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Kelvin Eldridge
www.MyAnswers.biz
(An Online Connections service.)
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Search Australia new features including searching using your choice of Google, Bing or Yahoo, quick access to a JustLocal postcode page and check if you're using the preferred Australian English spelling.
Search Australia was added to JustLocal to give those who wish to search a search engine which focuses on Australian sites and removes many of the directories which have now taken over the internet. I’m pretty happy that if I search for ‘fish and chips’ in a local suburb, if the business has a web presence I can now see their page. Of course many small businesses don’t have a web presence which doesn’t help them or their customers. I’ve shown a number of local businesses how a site I’ve put on the internet for them can generate hundreds of leads a month but in the end they don’t seem to care.
The worst example of not providing up-to-date information is when I went into a fish and chip shop in Doncaster Road. After placing the order via telephone the order was some 15% dearer. Every customer was complaining because like me they were ordering from an out-of-date menu and the business decided to increase their prices without letting them know. Had the business put their menu on the internet I would have known before I ordered and so potentially could everyone else. I’ve never used the business again so an out-of-date menu can and does lose businesses customers. A single page site assists hundreds of customers a year and is easily paid for by a single repeat customer. Small business can’t see if they don’t provide the tools people need they’ll go elsewhere and the bigger companies ARE providing online menus.
But I digress. The real purpose of this post is to let users of JustLocal know of three new features I’ve added to Search Australia, the search engine available on every JustLocal page and also available as an Add-in to Internet Explorer. If you add a single letter at the start of the search phrase you can select your preferred search engine, go to a JustLocal postcode page, or find out if you’re using the preferred Australian English spelling for a word.
1. Type in g, b, or y and go directly to Google, Bing or Yahoo. If you add a space and then your search query (such as ‘g fish and chips templestowe’) you’ll get search results for local fish and chips shops without all the directories. That is hopefully if they have a site you’ll get the actual business’ site.
2. Type in j and you’ll go to JustLocal. Type in j followed by a space and a postcode (such as ‘j 3106’) and you’ll go to the JustLocal postcode page. That’s a pretty convenient method to go direct to your local JustLocal postcode page. Keep in mind if your area isn’t covered you’ll get a place holder page with generic ads. As soon as a business or person in your area takes up the mantle to promote JustLocal in your area the generic page will be replaced with local information.
3. Type in w followed by a word and you’ll go direct to the Word Check page to check if you are using the preferred Australian English spelling for a word. You do need a password to see the answer. All clients of mine are provided with the password. In fact if you use Search Australia from JustLocal and type in ‘dictionary’, you’ll have access to Word Check for a while. A thank you for trying out Search Australia.
On top of removing dozens of directories now cluttering search results when using Google (not Bing or Yahoo) and the ability to enter a single word or couple of words to go to the top searched for sites by millions of users, these new features should make Search Australian even more useful. Clients are welcome to request the list of top site search terms. I don’t currently publish the terms on the internet because of the work involved collating the list so please feel free to ask for a copy to assist you in your searches.
Don’t forget, the most convenient way to use Search Australia is to use the link to add Search Australia as your default search engine in Internet Explorer. Then you can perform a search direct from the address bar in Internet Explorer. If everyone in Australia used Search Australia (heaven forbid as my server wouldn’t hold up to it) if could potentially save many hundreds of millions of searches when people are looking for major Australian companies, a TV guide and even the weather. Search engines want you to end up on their page to make money from advertising. I want you to get quickly to the site you want to get to.
For me the real test of whether or not something I’ve developed is worthwhile is whether I use it myself or not. Search Australia is my preferred search tool. It doesn’t stop me from using Google, and in fact if I want to use Google I simply enter the letter ‘g’ and I go direct to Google. I can quickly decide which search engine I’d prefer and not be stuck with just one. With one or two words I access most of the popular sites such as ANZ, eBay, Gumtree, Freeview (TV guide) etc., so it makes sense to use Search Australia rather than end up hunting through Google results that have become so cluttered. I hope you find Search Australia useful too.
Kelvin Eldridge
Online Connections
Call 0415 910 703 for computer advice and support.
MyAnswers: Google cache option is missing and seems to have been removed.
The following MyAnswers solution 2351 is now available:
Google cache option is something I've used to considerable benefit over the years. I was just reviewing the search results and have been wondering where has Google cache gone. I've read people are switching to Firefox and scripts with bugs but there isn't any need for that. The cache option is available to Internet Explorer users and in fact I suspect any browser without any changes required.
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Kelvin Eldridge
www.MyAnswers.biz
(An Online Connections service.)
MyAnswers: Using Outlook 2010 to access Gmail set up with own domain.
The following MyAnswers solution 2349 is now available:
Today I set up Gmail to work with Outlook 2010 where the user was using their own domain with Gmail.
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Kelvin Eldridge
www.MyAnswers.biz
(An Online Connections service.)
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Exposure when Windows XP support ends begs the question will Chrome, Firefox and Opera browsers be supported.
A vulnerability appeared on US Dept of Labor site where the exploit was installing the Poison Ivy backdoor Trojan.
Redmond probes new IE 8 vulnerability... Read More
When I read this article it reinforces the exposure users will face come April 2014 when Microsoft ends support for Windows XP. At that time I can only guess they will also end supporting their anti-virus program and Internet Explorer 8. In effect users will be left exposed and this is a concrete example of how users can end up with infected computers if they continue to use Internet Explorer 8.
When a computer operating system reaches end of support it doesn’t mean it stops and in fact the computer will continue to serve a useful purpose for some time into the future. The problem is this can mean users may be exposing themselves as malware writers take advantage of unpatched computers. As we move towards April 2014 we need to make sure we’ve moved away from areas where there is potential risk.
The problem is we don’t know what other vendors will do. We’ve seen Google with Gmail decide to stop supporting Internet Explorer 8 (which I felt was a deliberate strategy to move people to Google Chrome when Microsoft stopped looking after their users) with the reason given Google only support the current plus previous browser version. What will happen with Chrome when Windows XP reaches end-of-life support? I certainly don’t know and probably won’t know until we come closer to April 2014 or even after that date.
At this point all we really know is at April 2014 Windows XP will reach end of support. Then we’ll see which companies continue to provide support and which don’t. For those who wish to continue to use their computer and not buy a new computer, you could use a secure boot disk (I can provide these to clients) for use when on the internet and use local applications when using Windows XP. A good idea is to remove the ability for Windows XP to connect to the internet which would minimise exposure. Overall however you need to decide whether or not this is worth the effort or should you just move with the times.
- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problem.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.
