Computers and Technology

What Are Google Gadgets?

2007-12-24T23:31:00.000-08:00

You have all seen calendars, currency converters and clocks displayed on webpages. Some of these are designed by the webmaster while others are gadgets that Google has which you can display on your website without any programming. All that you have to do is to copy a piece of code and paste it on your webpage then sit back and watch the your webpage come to life.
Using these web objects on your website for free, you can improve your site with the latest weather forecast, currency converter or mortgage loan calculator to name but a few. These content-rich gadgets catch the interest of your visitors and keeps them coming back
These gadgets are made by ordinary Internet users like you and offer unique, interesting and dynamic content that can be placed on any website for free. You can also add them to your personalized homepage or your computers desktop if you have Google Desktop installed.
They are easy to install. Just select the gadget you want from the directory, customize it to suite your need and then copy-and-paste the HTML into your page's source code. Reload to see the gadget on your page.
Why not make your own Google gadget?
They are a great way to share information that you care about with other web surfers. Anybody will then be able to place your gadget on their website for other web surfers to see. They are easy to create - anyone with a little web design or programming experience can do it.
To see actual working examples and to get more information, have a look at the the Google gadgets here
James DuPont works for Independent Digital creating dynamic websites and will be happy to help you with your website and WordPress blog. James can be contacted via the Independent Digital contact form. See http://www.idig.za.net
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Adware

2007-11-02T11:30:00.000-07:00

Get That Adware Outta There!

Adware, also known as spyware, is software embedded in free applications that reports a user´s Web usage patterns back to advertisers to help them customize advertisements sent to the user. Adware will often change the default home page of your Web browser, and sometimes it will even change the way your browser looks up a website by pointing you to remote Web directory and may include code that tracks a user's personal information and passes it on to third parties, without the user's authorization or knowledge. These programs are accumulated especially by browsing various mainstream and niche entertainment sites: movies, music, sites aimed at kids, and especially porn or other sleazy sites. Another way they can end up on your computer is through peer to peer file sharing.
Removing these problem programs from your computer is important because this software has installed itself on your computer without your knowledge or consent. Scanning for and removing these files can greatly improve your system's performance.
But how do you go about removing these programs from your computer?
In many cases, removing these programs can be done with the installation of anti-spyware programs. If you believe you are infected with adware, the easiest way to detect and remove it is by the use of anti-spyware software or scanning software. Unfortunately, some of the supposed adware-removal programs that exist are of doubtful quality, or give inflated numbers of detection warnings to encourage sales, or even install their own adware. If the ads seem to pop up randomly, or if you see programs starting up in the Windows system tray that were not there before you downloaded free software, you may want to check your system for adware or spyware with a program like Microsoft's free Windows Defender.
There are many free removal tools out there but the two programs that work well for removing this software are SpyBot Search & Destroy and Lavasoft's Ad-aware. Anti-spyware software is a different tool from anti-virus software but operates in much the same way, by scanning the hard drive looking for files associated with known adware programs.
Like antivirus software, spyware removal software relies on current information to protect you from the newest spyware packages; therefore it is crucial to keep adware removal products up-to-date for them to be effective.
Removing adware from your computer is crucial as it tends to slow down system resources and bring your computer tasks to a crawl. Although removing adware may seem challenging there are good free programs that will help get the job done. Please remember, before downloading any "free" program from the internet, be sure to read the licensing agreement.
For advice on digital cameras as well as other computer tips please visit http://pccomputertips.blogspot.com

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Spam Control

2007-09-07T11:11:00.000-07:00

Spam Control Solutions for Businesses

Approximately 98% of all email is spam. To most people that’s a frighteningly huge number, but also makes sense to most of us given all the garbage that flows into our inboxes.
When I talk with clients about spam, their number one request is “Make it go away.” People just don’t want to ever see it, let alone have to deal with it. Sure it’s a nuisance, but what effect can it really have on the bottom line?
Studies have shown that the average computer user will spend 20-40 minutes each day dealing with spam. For a small business with just 15 employees, that would equate to 7-1/2 hours of lost productivity each and every day. It’s like having nearly one full-time employee on staff just to deal with spam. How would that look on the bottom line?
This number doesn’t even take into account the other destructive things that spam can bring along with it like viruses, trojans, worms, hijacks and phishing. If any of these make it through, it could cause untold amounts of damage in terms of lost productivity and cost for repairs.
One important fact to understand is that spam cannot be 100% eliminated, no matter what hardware and software you install. However, with the right solution, spam can be dramatically reduced, practically eliminating its negative effect on productivity.
So what options do businesses have? There are basically three choices when dealing with spam: control by the hosting provider, control on each individual computer, or a custom solution that specifically addresses the needs of all users.
Spam Control by the Email Hosting Provider
Typically email hosting providers offer some sort of spam control which is either ON or OFF. ON means you never see any of the messages the host determines as spam. OFF means you get everything.
The main problem with this type of control is that there are too many “false positives.” A false positive occurs when a legitimate email gets marked as spam and is deleted before the recipient ever gets to see it. Some examples of false positives are occur in email blasts (for example, “Your bank statement is ready” or “You have an invoice”), or html-based or graphic-rich emails. Because the recipient never gets to see it, he or she cannot control it at a granular, or individual email, level.
Spam Control on Each Individual Computer
On an individual computer, there is software available for Microsoft Outlook and other email programs that controls spam at a more granular level. This level of control is fine for a single computer, but not a good solution for multiple computers. The difficulty with this approach is that each user is responsible for determining what spam is. Imagine the labor that is duplicated with an office of 10, 20 or 50 people all managing the same spam, but doing it individually. You can see how the wasted time can add up in a hurry.
So what is the best possible solution? Stopping this stuff from ever getting to the computer in the first place.
A Custom Solution Creates the Ideal Spam Control
The ideal spam control setup is a custom solution comprised of three main components: an Exchange Server, a Firewall, and an Email Filter. These can be configured to address the needs of all users while also protecting the company. (Please note that for this article I will use the term “Exchange Server.” Microsoft also builds a Small Business Server, of which Exchange is a part. A qualified IT consultant should be able to help you decide which solution is best for your business.)
For any businesses of at least five users or more connected to the Internet, you must start by having an Exchange Server. An Exchange Server stores messages and effectively manages the processing of incoming and outgoing emails. An Exchange Server also adds other benefits like providing Outlook Web access for increased productivity, and allowing users to share contact information and calendars with others throughout the network.
For an Exchange Server to operate optimally, connectivity has to be persistent (consistent?), or always up. To get this type of connectivity, a T-1 line is the best connection.
Next, you must have a Firewall. We recommend a Unified Threat Management Appliance (UTM) which is a hardware firewall and then some. To turn a plain firewall into a UTM, it is necessary to add security software at your gateway, or the “front door” where your network connects to the Internet. This software includes anti-spyware, anti-virus, intrusion prevention, and standard content filtering software.
This complete Firewall solution basically builds a “wall” which secures the entire network, effectively stopping viruses and other destructive programs from finding their way in via attached files and emails. It also is configured to prevent dubious websites from putting spyware, adware and other things on your computer which can dramatically slow down performance.
Once the network is secure, the next step would be to add an Email Filter appliance, which is hardware that allows you to set granular level filtering for the entire network. The email filter will allow you to set characteristics ONCE for the network, and it can even learn preferences of your users over time (if you choose). Also, this filter adds valuable anti-phishing capabilities, protecting your company and employees at a much deeper level by keeping scam artists away from financial data and confidential information.
This setup takes the responsibility away from employees to manage spam on their own, and immediately increases productivity for each employee. Bottom line benefits can be seen right away, and for most companies, a measurable return on investment can be achieved in a few months.
You Can Control Spam
After reviewing these solutions, clients often say, “You can really make all of these problems go away?” The answer is YES, but the best solution for each business does not lie in an “off-the-shelf” or canned package.
The best solution is a custom solution, including a thorough analysis leading to a phase-in plan of the appropriate hardware and software over a period of a few months. This approach also allows the business to smooth the financial investment (which will vary) over the implementation timeframe.
Jim Kerr is President and Founder of CRU Solutions, which is celebrating their 25th year in business, and 15th year as an Intel partner. CRU is a comprehensive IT systems solution provider of exclusive, industry-leading hardware, software, connectivity, expertise and a unique approach to customer service. CRU’s intelligentTM brand of desktops, laptops and servers are custom built in Northeast Ohio exclusively with matched Intel components. You can reach Jim Kerr directly at jim.kerr@crusolutions.com. Additional information is available at http://www.crusolutions.com

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Computer School

2007-09-05T12:52:00.000-07:00

Computer School - Education At Its Peak

In this information era, almost every job out there now requires employees to know how to use a computer. If you take a moment and think about it, most businesses or jobs require some knowledge or skills in computers. In fact, the entire world is practically running on computers and digitized information. Why? Because it’s fast and has a low cost for the amount of work that it can complete. However, for those who truly with to pursue a career in computers, there are many computer schools available. In addition, there are many online resources available to make your education even more valuable.
There are many computer schools that offer a range of various programs either on campus or online. You can find animation courses, engineering, graphic specialist and much more. Some of these careers such as engineering or computer repairing will require you to keep attending some courses even after completing your degree. The main reason behind this is so that you do not fall behind as technology keeps evolving. In other words, some schools will have already follow-up programs available to you after your graduation so that you stay updated on the latest technology. This will keep you from being left out of the market.
There are even schools for those who aren’t really into getting a career in computers but still need to learn some basics. Basically, what you can achieve from these schools is a basic certification proving to your employer that you do indeed possess the required computer knowledge and skills for the job. If you’re thinking about just learning how to type or how to use some of the applications on a computer you can always find those kinds of lessons online for free. These online classes are usually very efficient and easy to learn from. With today’s technological advancement in computers, learning is made even easier. Computer learning programs exist so that businesses or certain trainings can be done in a fixed amount of time at a low cost.
However, education isn’t always about only working. Some schools use computer online games to teach the students. Of course, these schools mostly range from nursery school to primary school. These so-called online games were made so that children could benefit from having fun and learning at the same time. There are even programs for children with disabilities. Writing and reading programs were created so that the students with disabilities could learn and have fun at the same time.
The reality is that computers have become part of our daily lives. Let it be work or education, you can always find a computer nearby. And as you may already know, computers, the Internet and digitized information aren’t going to just disappear so learning some skills related to this technology will prove to be useful in the future. No matter where you are or what you do, if you have don’t have some basic knowledge of computers then chances are that you’re already behind and that you should consider going to a computer school or using the free online resources to get the skills required in today’s job market.
For more on computer school training go to http://www.computerschooltraining.com

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Google's Summer of Code

2007-09-04T01:01:00.000-07:00

“Students are flipping bits, not burgers.”
Summer is under way and, once again, students participating in the Google Summer of Code (GSoC) project are flipping bits, not burgers.
The project derives its name from the Summer of Love. Now in its third year since launching in 2005, the GSoC gives student software developers an opportunity to gain practical experience creating open-source programs or helping with established projects. While most students come from computer science and computer engineering programs, a variety of educational backgrounds are represented, including students in computational biology and mainstream engineering. The students work with a mentor and are paid a stipend for their participation. According to Google's Web site, several of the 2005 students served as mentors in 2006.
In its first three years, the GSoC engaged more than 1,000 students who worked on more than 100 open-source projects, creating hundreds of thousands of lines of code. In 2005, Google worked with 400 students and 40 mentoring organizations representing 49 countries around the world. The number increased to more than 600 in 2006. In 2007, Google accepted 131 organizations and more than 900 students. Students could submit up to 20 applications, although only one would be accepted; 6,200 applications came in.
The Goals
According to the Web site, Google's goals for the GSoC project include releasing more open-source code for the benefit of all; inspiring young developers to participate in open-source development; help open-source projects attract new developers and committers; provide qualified students the opportunity to find summer work in a field related to their academic training; and to give students more exposure to real-world software-development scenarios, such as distributed development, software licensing and mailing list etiquette.
Google does not view this project as a recruiting tool, although the company does look at the program's results to identify potential recruits. While past student participants have reported that their experience on the project made them more attractive to employers, most who found work are not currently employed by Google.
How It Works
A Wikipedia entry reports that early in March, prospective mentoring organizations submit applications to Google. By mid-March, Google publishes its list of accepted mentoring organizations and invites student applications. When students apply, they detail the project they want to perform. The corresponding mentoring organization evaluates the students' proposal(s) and ranks the applications. Google then decides how many projects each mentoring organization receives, and selects the top-rated applicants for that organization. The mentoring organization must provide a mentor for each accepted project.
In mid-April, Google publishes a list of accepted student applications on its Web site. Students begin coding in late May, and Google begins issuing first payments. The mentors perform mid-term evaluations in July and final evaluations in late August. In 2006, 82 percent of the participating students received a positive evaluation. Any code developed during the course of the project belongs to the mentoring organization unless otherwise agreed.
Projects 2007
The GSoC Web site lists this year's participating members and provides an abstract of the projects that are under way. There are far too many to cover here, but include One Laptop per Child, or OLPC , a new non-profit organization that is researching the possibilities of developing a $100 laptop. This technology would have a huge impact on how the world's children receive their education. OLPC has eight projects in the GSoC project, dealing with such matters as exploring alternate energy systems, facilities to charge backup batteries, and similar issues.
Another participant, WordPress , the organization behind the popular open-source blogging software, has 10 projects under way. They company's projects include coding that will facilitate page management and make it easier for bloggers to change the order of their pages. Another WordPress project involves coding that improves support for podcasting.
The Mozilla Foundation is another participating member. Its several projects include developing code to support roaming in the Thunderbird e-mail application, and coding to add Firefox support for the new JPEG 2000 image-compression algorithm. JPEG 2000 produces higher-quality images at smaller file sizes than the standard JPEG, but currently only the Safari browser renders the JPEG 2000.
Google itself has four projects running in the GSoC. Google's own projects include development of coding to realize socket support in Google Web Toolkit on a browser level using GWT Socket module. Another Web Toolkit project seeks to "make the process of writing gadgets in it less of a challenge."
Growing Pains
As could be expected, the GSoC project has been a learning experience for Google and the mentoring organizations, as well as the students. In the 2005 season, Google received criticism from the open-source organizations for providing insufficient time to plan projects. Nevertheless, 39 organizations participated, including FreeBSD, Apache, Ubuntu and others.
Additionally, the majority of projects stalled immediately at project end. Wikipedia quoted Google's open-source program manager, Chris DiBona, as saying that only 30 percent of students stuck with their projects afterward. The number of surviving projects may be less than half. However, in an interview with InternetNews , DiBona said that the GSoC project isn't only about getting coders to remain with their projects after September. Google also wants to introduce students to the open-source development process and to keep them working in a computer science-related field over the summer.
Some mentoring organizations indicated that, in future years, they would spend more time selecting appropriate projects, and would look for ones that are more likely to be completed within the time allotment.
As for GSoC 2006, things got off to a rocky start in late May when 1,800 student applicants received an erroneous e-mail saying their projects had been accepted. A follow-up e-mail a few minutes later apologized for the error, and told recipients that if they had received two e-mails, one saying they were accepted and one saying they were not accepted, then they were not accepted. Not all applicants found this amusing.
Similarly, GSoC 2007 has not been "glitch-free." Hoping to increase the number of student applicants, Google extended the application deadline from March 24 to March 26, and then, at the last minute, to March 27. In early April, the acceptance letters were delayed for administrative reasons. At one point, Google's Web interface erroneously changed to give each applicant a status of "not selected." This, as Wikipedia explained it, "caused a huge number of Summer of Code result-awaiting nerds to just suffer a collective heart attack." Google responded by saying that the acceptance e-mail was the only genuine word regarding acceptance or rejection.
Good grief! Would someone volunteer to teach the folks at Google how to use e-mail and how to update a Web site?
Anyone wanting to hear Summer of Code podcasts from participating students can surf on over to the Google Summer of Code Blog . You'll find a number of links to podcasts and videocasts. Apparently, students who meander into Google's headquarters are pressed into duty to create a podcast describing their activities.
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