New SiteMeter Windows Vista Gadget

As many of you are aware SiteMeter has developed a Yahoo Widget that allows you to view your sites daily page views and visit totals “live”, on your computer’s desktop, as they happen.

A few months back we were introduced to Rajesh Lal. He was interested in making a similar tool for SiteMeter members using Windows Vista Gadgets. Rajesh Lal is an author, technology evangelist, and solutions engineer specializing in web technologies. Rajesh has completed the new Widget and has also written a book on how to construct you own gadgets.

We have arranged with Rajesh to provide anyone wanting to have a SiteMeter Vista gadget on their desktop with a full working version available through download. Just download the gadget, enter your SiteMeter codename and password and track your sites stats, live on your computer desktop. You will of course need to be using Windows Vista.

The download is available here.

For those interested in learning how to create your own Vista Gadgets the book is titled - Creating Vista Gadgets - Using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript with Examples in RSS, Ajax, ActiveX (COM), and Silverlight.

The book is oriented towards beginner to intermediate users and teaches how to –
• Build a blog tracking Gadget
• Create an Information Gadget with Ajax
• Develop Utility Gadgets using ActiveX (COM)
• Incorporate Internet Radio and YouTube Videos in Gadgets

The book’s cover price is $34.99 and can be found at Borders, Barnes and Noble, Amazon.com and other online retailers. The book is published under the SAMS label and is also “Safari Books Online Enabled”. For more information you can go to www.innovatewithgadgets.com.

Source:- http://weblog.sitemeter.com/2008/06/18/new-sitemeter-windows-vista-gadget/

Ten Net Commandments Internet Solution Tips

Here's a fun one for you!

Okay, I admit it! No one really asked today's question, but I saw this on our message board the other day and I just had to include it in today's newsletter. It may seem like a little joke to you, but all the information you're going to get today is something we all really should pay attention to. So, what am I going on and on about? Well, posted on our message board by "doldgeek" was a thread called "The Ten Net Commandments." They are just ten Internet "laws" we all should abide by on a regular basis. Let's see what they are, shall we?!

1.) Thou shalt not buy merchandise found in pop up ads or spam.

2.) Thou shalt not post thy e-mail address, phone number, address or social security number on the Internet, nor shalt thou post anyone else's.

3.) Thou shalt not forget to update thy Windows every second Tuesday.

4.) Thou shalt not connect to the Internet without installing an antivirus, nor shalt thou begin a scan without checking for updates.

5.) Thou shalt not connect to the Internet without installing a firewall.

6.) Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's credit card number, nor his bank routing number, nor his social security number.

7.) Thou shalt not enter thy credit card number without seeing the tiny padlock icon on thy status bar.

8.) Thou shalt not reply to the e-mail from the Nigerian banker.

9.) Thou shalt not forward chain letters to thy friends and family.

10.) Thou shalt not use "password" as thy password, nor thy birthday, nor thy childrens' names.

Aren't those great?! I mean, they all make a lot of sense and if you think about it, they are some general rules we can all follow when it comes to keeping ourselves and our computers safe. Also, in case you were wondering, this list was put together by Mr. Mike Healan, who works for Spywareinfo. I just thought this was something all of you who do not use our message board on a regular basis would like to see. I hope you enjoyed it!

Now, go on and make sure you're staying on track with the Ten Net Commandments!

~ Erin

Check For Viruses

Malicious virus code can infect your files and cause you to lose important data. This guide explains how to install an anti-virus program to protect your PC.

What Are Viruses?
Computer viruses are malicious programs designed to cause annoyance and even damage to computer data. They spread by infecting files and by automatically sending e-mails to everyone in your address book. There are new virus threats everyday. It is essential to take steps to protect your PC.

What Can I Do About Them?
If you suspect you already have a virus on your computer, or if you just want to keep your computer safe from the threat of viruses, there are several virus-detection programs which will scan your system and let you know if any malicious programs have been found.

There are many commercial and free anti-virus programs available on the Web, all with different features and levels of security. This tutorial uses AVG Anti-Virus.

Download AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition
AVG Anti-Virus can be downloaded from the AVG website. Scroll down the page and click Download Free Version. Under the Windows section, click the link to download the file under AVG Free for Windows installation files. Click OK to save the file to your PC. Scroll down the page and click Download Free Version. Under the Windows section, click the link to download the file under AVG Free for Windows installation files. Click OK to save the file to your PC.


Technorati tag : computer computer checks windows internet software computer troubleshooting

Spam (or Spamming)

It is generally agreed that Spam is unwanted email. Many believe that Spammers are abusers of the email system.

Spam is an ugly word that is over used and means any unsolicited e-mail, one e-mail or dozens or hundreds of thousands. Many individuals do not mind a little of it. They are afraid of missing an opportunity to meet a new friend or of finding a useful service or business opportunity. Other individuals make studies of what is said on these e mails. One can really get an education on ad writing from these e-mails.

Still others even sign up for the mailing lists or participate in an activity, which makes them a target for unsolicited mails. Still other individuals do “Unsolicited Bulk E-mail” and know the cost is to receive "Unsolicited Bulk E-mail” in return. It is one cost of doing “Unsolicited Bulk E mail." If you participate in discussion lists, which allow advertising, or you maintain "Bulk E- mailing Lists", please don’t make a pest of yourself. If your name is seen too often, then some people will NEVER join you. They will send unsubscribe requests. If you are on a discussion list, people may unsubscribe or just ignore you. Make yourself a pest and you will defeat yourself. This is called loss of mind share.

Another reason some people are tolerant of un-solicited e-mail is that all it takes is a couple of keystrokes and offending mail is gone. If they do not like what the person is sending (such as, solicitation to visit or receive pornography) they are willing to write a polite email and ask to be deleted from their mailing list. I have never been refused. Perhaps Mr. Internet BEAR has a use after all. One type of Bulk E-mail is acceptable for all occasions. This Bulk E-mail is one where a person has asked to be placed on the list. It is this type of e-mail whether it be a newsletter like this one or a discussion list that has always been accepted on the Internet.


Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

View Your IP Address

First, what is an IP address? The technical definition goes something like this: "An IP (Internet Protocol) address is a 32-binary digit number that identifies each sender or receiver of information that is sent across the Internet.

When you request an HTML page or send e-mail, the Internet Protocol part of TCP/IP includes your IP address in the information." To find out what your IP address is, click on START | RUN. Type in "WINIPCFG" without the quotes.


Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

What is Cookie

A "cookie" is an Internet site’s way of keeping track of you. It’s a small program built into a web page you might visit. Typically you won’t know when you are receiving cookies. Ideally a cookie could make your surfing easier by identifying you, tracking sites you visit, topics you search, and get a general feel for your preferences. This can make surfing easier, faster, more personal, and more efficient. It can also be used to collect your e-mail address for marketing (spamming) purposes.

You can set your browser to warn you before you accept cookies or not accept them at all. Check your (advanced) browser settings. Keep in mind that some secure sites, such as stock trading sites, won’t work if you don’t accept their cookies.

First Party Cookies is an Cookies from the site you are visiting.

Third Party Cookies is Cookies from a different site than the one you are visiting. For example, on About.com if there is a Double-click add on the page there is probably also a Double-click cookie.

Session Cookies. Temporary cookies used as long as you are accessing a site. For example, when you log onto About.com a session cookie is created. Each time you visit another About.com forum or post a message it uses this session cookie. Without this session cookie you would have to log in each time you post a message or visit another forum.


Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

Internet address

It is an Internet address. While you are in your browser (which you are probably in now) you will see a section at the top of the page that is titled “location”. If you type in the address of someone’s web page and hit enter, your browser will take you to that page. However the address you type in the location bar must be an exact match.

Load
It means download and upload. If someone asks how long did the page take to load? He/She is referring to the time it takes a page to appear on your screen. If a web page is loading slowly it means that it’s taking a long time to fully appear on your screen. You can often scroll through a page and look at the parts that have loaded while the rest of the page continues to load. Also, you can usually click a link on the page you are loading and link to another page without waiting for the current page to fully load.

Once you access to the Internet you are online. Often people will say they are online meaning they have access to the Internet and have an e-mail address, but may not necessarily be connected to the Internet at that moment.

What you need while surfing the web. Some web pages seem to take forever to fully appear on your screen - [Patience].

Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

View The Source Of A Web Page

Ever wondered what a web page looks like underneath all the colors and pictures? Well, wonder no more. Next time you're on a web page go to the top of your screen and click on VIEW | SOURCE

Easy Access Dictionary Button
Have you ever been reading something on the web and come to a word that you don't know the meaning of? Dictionary.Com offers an easy access button that sits right on the tool bar in your browser.

Once the button is installed, all you need to do is highlight the mystery word and click the button. You'll be taken right to the definition of the word.

Filling Out Online Forms
When you're filling out a form on a web page, it can get a bit tedious typing in your name, then grabbing for the mouse to get to the next text field. There is an easier way to get from one text field to the next. Just hit the TAB key on your keyboard. To move back through the spaces, hit SHIFT + TAB.


Technorati tag : computer tips windows internet software hardware

6 Tips For Optimal Computer Speed

Have you ever been in the middle working on your computer and suddenly it froze, crashed or came to a slow crawl? And you had to restart, lost your work, lost time and felt so enraged that if you had an ax...STOP! Don’t kill the computer. Here are 6 tips on how to speed up a computer.

1. INCREASE VIRTUAL MEMORY:

Virtual memory is the space your computer uses when it's short of RAM (Random Access Memory), which is the memory used when running programs like Office Suites.

Resetting the virtual memory usage on your computer, also referred to as pagination, is great way speed up a computer.

To access and reset the Virtual Memory:

On the Start menu,click My Computer. The My Computer window is displayed. Click View System Information. The Systems Properties dialog box is displayed. In the Systems Properties dialog box click the Advanced tab. Under Performance, click Settings. The Performance Options dialog box is displayed.

In the Performance Options dialog box, click the Advanced tab. Find the Virtual memory area. Click Change. The Virtual Memory dialog box is displayed. There you can make changes to the custom pagination. DO NOT exceed the limit given in the properties box of your windows system.

2. STORING FILES ON THE MAIN DRIVE:

Do not store lots of data on the main drive, which is where you install your windows operating system. Storing software like games, finance programs and other software on another drive of your computer is another way to speed up a computer’s performance.

3. RESETTING START UP MENU:

The speed with which your computer boots depends on the amount of programs that are set to be started automatically at booting. Removing unnecessary and unwanted programs from the start up process can greatly speed up a computer at the start up level.

4. TURN OFF SYSTEM RESTORE:

Having the system restore option on takes a lot of space from the hard drive. Freeing up a lot of physical memory by turning off system restore can significantly speed up a computer.

To access and turn off System Restore:

Click START, then click ACCESSORIES, then click SYSTEM TOOLS, then click SYSTEM RESTORE. Once there you can edit settings and then turn off the system restore option.

5. CLEANING INTERNET CACHE AND COOKIES:

Temporary Internet files affect browser speed. Regularly cleaning the cache and cookies will make your browser and computer perform at a faster speed.

To Clean Internet Cache and Cookies:

click Tools from your browser toolbar and click on Internet Options to delete and clear cache and cookies. This should be done on a regular basis to ensure ongoing improvement of computer performance and browser speed.

6. DEFRAGMENTING THE DISK:

Regularly defragmenting the drive will speed up a computer.

This tool can be accessed from the Start Menu then Accessories then System Tools.


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