Twitter Apps for twittercolics :
Tweet a file : Tweetafile brings an important email functionality to the simple world of Twitter – attachments. Through Tweetafile, Twitter users can send any files (images, PDFs, Docs, videos… whatever) to all of their followers or via direct message to individuals.
Remember The Milk : If you use Remember The Milk to manage your tasks, you can do so via twitter using this app. Add Remember The Milk as your twitter friend and simply DM to add or interact with your tasks.
Twittonary : If you are new to twitter, some of the words twitter users use can be quite confusing. Get help from a twitter dictionary and learn the “twitter lingo.”
Twonvert : 140 character limitations at times can really hold you back. This app converts your text into SMS shorthand language and allows you to say more with less characters.
Twist : Allows you to see “hot trends” on twitter. You can also use the search box to see what people are saying about a particular thing and how much buzz it is creating.
WhosTalkin : Although this app isn’t specifically for twitter, it is a very useful twitter tool. It allows you to search conversations that you are interested in. This helps you interact with like minded people or the whatever subjects interest you at that point in time.
TweetWhatYouSpend : Manage your spending online using twitter. Create an account and use Twitter’s “DM” feature to send tweets. You can export a spending journal later as an Excel or CSV file.
TwitterJobSearch : This service allows you to find job postings on twitter. If you are looking for a “web design” gig, simply enter web design to see what jobs are available related to web design.
IsTwitterDown? : If you are a heavy twitter user this service might be quite useful. It allows you to find out if twitter is down for everyone else or just for you. The page displays a simple answer “Yes” or “No.”
Twiddeo : Upload videos to Twiddeo from your camera phone while on the go. The service then generates a link and posts it to twitter for your friends and followers to see.
TwitterCal : This tool connects your twitter account to your Google calendar. You can add events to Google calendar from twitter by sending direct messages to gcal.
TwitterFeed : Twitterfeed helps you send your Blog RSS feed or atom to twitter and also lets you track the number of clicks your feeds are generating.
PollDaddy : Create polls and post it directly on twitter. This can be extremely valuable when you are researching a subject or need user feedback.
LinkBunch : Due to character constraints, it can be quite hard to send more than one link in a tweet. If you need to send multiple links in one tweet (example : a post that has part1,2,3…), this service can be useful. It collects all links and gives you one shortened link that you can post on twitter.
Tweetdeck : One of the best desktop twitter apps out there. Tweetdeck helps you sort your friends and followers in groups and also helps you manage replies, DMs and search results.
Saturday, 22 August 2009
how to Increase Laptop’s Battery Life
Falling just short of carrying an extra pack of batteries in the back-pack, are several ways to keep the juice flowing through the batteries.
1. Ship shape with a defrag
Regular defragmentation helps to arrange data more efficiently thus making the hard drive work less to access the data. The quicker the moving hard drive works lesser is the load placed on the battery. Thus, your batter can last longer. The effect is minimal, but this efficiency goes hand in glove with hard drive maintenance.
2. Kill the resource gobblers
End the background processes that are not vital. Monitor the resource usage through a ‘Ctrl-Alt-Del’ which brings up the Windows Task Manager (in Windows). If you’re not on the internet, it is safe to shut down the immediate non-essential programs running in the taskbar like the antivirus and the firewall. Weed out unnecessary programs running as start-ups by launching the System Configuration Utility from Run – Msconfig – Tab: Startup. Uncheck the programs which you don’t want to launch and reboot the computer once.
3. Pause the scheduled tasks
It may be a defrag or a virus scan, but make sure it is scheduled for a time when you are near a power outlet. If not then nix them for the moment.
4. Unplug external devices
USB devices are the biggest drainers of battery power. Unplug all external devices like an external mouse, PC cards, Wi-Fi, external speakers, Bluetooth and even an attached iPod.
5. Empty the CD/DVD Drives
Even if you don’t intend to use it, don’t leave any CD/DVDs as leftovers in the drives. A spinning drive sucks battery power like a sponge.
6. Go local
Desist using the DVD/external drives while running on batteries. Shift the content to the hard drive or run using (free) virtual drives like Pismo File Mount or even Microsoft’s Virtual CD ROM Control Panel.
7. Lower the lights
The LCD screen of a laptop is another huge power sink. Calibrate the brightness to the lowest level you can tolerate using the Function key toggles or using the Display Settings applet in the Control Panel.
8. Kill the sounds
Mute the speakers and try avoiding the use of multimedia software to maximize the battery life. Installed sound schemes also drain a battery perceptibly.
9. Rid the screensaver
To maximize battery life by a little, switch off the screensaver.
10. Visit Power Options
Get familiar with power management through the ‘Power Options’ applet in the Control Panel. Both XP and Vista come with advanced power management features which shut off components like the monitor and/or the hard drive after specified intervals. This again depends on the chosen ‘Power Schemes’ (for XP) in the same applet. For instance in XP, ‘Max Battery’ under Power Schemes can be selected for maximum battery optimization.
11. Turn off the looks
Today’s OS’s like Windows Vista come with features like ‘Aero Glass’ which are resource guzzlers. One can turn it off and go for the ‘Classic’ appearance which consumes less power. In Vista, click on Desktop – Preferences – View Colour – Appearance – Classic Appearance and Windows Basic graphical interface. In XP it’s – Display Properties – Theme – Windows Classic.
Linux and even Macintosh are better optimized for longer battery life.
12. Hibernate is better than Sleep
In the Stand By mode (or sleep mode), the computer turns of the hard drive and the display but memory remains active while the CPU slows down. This draws on the battery. In contrast, hibernation mode is better because the computer saves the current state and shuts itself down completely thus saving power.
13. Get the most…work on the least
Working on too many programs while on the battery is a sure fire power drainer. Keep use of graphic intensive applications to a minimum. Working on a spreadsheet consumes much less than playing your favourite game. To increase the life of the battery open just one or two programs concurrently.
14. Ram in more RAM
Adequate RAM reduces the load on Virtual memory which by default resides on the hard drive. Though every extra bit of RAM uses up more power, it increases overall savings by short cutting access to the power hungry hard drive.
15. Keep it clean
A laptop with blocked air vents will generate more heat thus reducing the life of the battery. Clean the air vents regularly to keep operating temperatures low. Allow for open space around the vents for air to circulate freely. Keep the area around the laptop clean to avoid entry of dust.
16. Temperature is a silent killer
Undue heat kills off a battery slowly but surely. Avoid leaving the laptop under direct sunlight or inside a closed car.
17. Avoid the memory effect
A problem more for the older Ni-MH batteries than for Li-Ion batteries on which most modern laptops run. Memory effect relates to the loss of battery charge when they are repeatedly recharged after being only partially discharged. It can be prevented by discharging the battery fully and then completely recharging it. Li-Ion batteries on the other hand have no problems with partial discharges and re-charges and complete discharge is never recommended for this type.
18. Update software and drivers
This sounds a bit incongruous but then newer drivers and software are often designed to be more efficient (and hopefully less resource hungry).
19. Use the right adapter
Ensure that the adapter you use to charge the laptop battery is an original one or one with the correct specifications. A mismatch in the wattage could cause an overload thus damaging the laptop and the battery.
20. Pack it up
If you don’t plan to use the laptop on batteries for quite some time, ensure that the charge is nearly 40 percent – remove the batteries and store it in a cool place.
A typical lithium ion battery has an overall average life of 2-3 years. With some care and caution, its mortality can be delayed.
Have you found your own way to increase battery life of your laptop? Share the ‘life giving’ tips with us in the comments.
1. Ship shape with a defrag
Regular defragmentation helps to arrange data more efficiently thus making the hard drive work less to access the data. The quicker the moving hard drive works lesser is the load placed on the battery. Thus, your batter can last longer. The effect is minimal, but this efficiency goes hand in glove with hard drive maintenance.
2. Kill the resource gobblers
End the background processes that are not vital. Monitor the resource usage through a ‘Ctrl-Alt-Del’ which brings up the Windows Task Manager (in Windows). If you’re not on the internet, it is safe to shut down the immediate non-essential programs running in the taskbar like the antivirus and the firewall. Weed out unnecessary programs running as start-ups by launching the System Configuration Utility from Run – Msconfig – Tab: Startup. Uncheck the programs which you don’t want to launch and reboot the computer once.
3. Pause the scheduled tasks
It may be a defrag or a virus scan, but make sure it is scheduled for a time when you are near a power outlet. If not then nix them for the moment.
4. Unplug external devices
USB devices are the biggest drainers of battery power. Unplug all external devices like an external mouse, PC cards, Wi-Fi, external speakers, Bluetooth and even an attached iPod.
5. Empty the CD/DVD Drives
Even if you don’t intend to use it, don’t leave any CD/DVDs as leftovers in the drives. A spinning drive sucks battery power like a sponge.
6. Go local
Desist using the DVD/external drives while running on batteries. Shift the content to the hard drive or run using (free) virtual drives like Pismo File Mount or even Microsoft’s Virtual CD ROM Control Panel.
7. Lower the lights
The LCD screen of a laptop is another huge power sink. Calibrate the brightness to the lowest level you can tolerate using the Function key toggles or using the Display Settings applet in the Control Panel.
8. Kill the sounds
Mute the speakers and try avoiding the use of multimedia software to maximize the battery life. Installed sound schemes also drain a battery perceptibly.
9. Rid the screensaver
To maximize battery life by a little, switch off the screensaver.
10. Visit Power Options
Get familiar with power management through the ‘Power Options’ applet in the Control Panel. Both XP and Vista come with advanced power management features which shut off components like the monitor and/or the hard drive after specified intervals. This again depends on the chosen ‘Power Schemes’ (for XP) in the same applet. For instance in XP, ‘Max Battery’ under Power Schemes can be selected for maximum battery optimization.
11. Turn off the looks
Today’s OS’s like Windows Vista come with features like ‘Aero Glass’ which are resource guzzlers. One can turn it off and go for the ‘Classic’ appearance which consumes less power. In Vista, click on Desktop – Preferences – View Colour – Appearance – Classic Appearance and Windows Basic graphical interface. In XP it’s – Display Properties – Theme – Windows Classic.
Linux and even Macintosh are better optimized for longer battery life.
12. Hibernate is better than Sleep
In the Stand By mode (or sleep mode), the computer turns of the hard drive and the display but memory remains active while the CPU slows down. This draws on the battery. In contrast, hibernation mode is better because the computer saves the current state and shuts itself down completely thus saving power.
13. Get the most…work on the least
Working on too many programs while on the battery is a sure fire power drainer. Keep use of graphic intensive applications to a minimum. Working on a spreadsheet consumes much less than playing your favourite game. To increase the life of the battery open just one or two programs concurrently.
14. Ram in more RAM
Adequate RAM reduces the load on Virtual memory which by default resides on the hard drive. Though every extra bit of RAM uses up more power, it increases overall savings by short cutting access to the power hungry hard drive.
15. Keep it clean
A laptop with blocked air vents will generate more heat thus reducing the life of the battery. Clean the air vents regularly to keep operating temperatures low. Allow for open space around the vents for air to circulate freely. Keep the area around the laptop clean to avoid entry of dust.
16. Temperature is a silent killer
Undue heat kills off a battery slowly but surely. Avoid leaving the laptop under direct sunlight or inside a closed car.
17. Avoid the memory effect
A problem more for the older Ni-MH batteries than for Li-Ion batteries on which most modern laptops run. Memory effect relates to the loss of battery charge when they are repeatedly recharged after being only partially discharged. It can be prevented by discharging the battery fully and then completely recharging it. Li-Ion batteries on the other hand have no problems with partial discharges and re-charges and complete discharge is never recommended for this type.
18. Update software and drivers
This sounds a bit incongruous but then newer drivers and software are often designed to be more efficient (and hopefully less resource hungry).
19. Use the right adapter
Ensure that the adapter you use to charge the laptop battery is an original one or one with the correct specifications. A mismatch in the wattage could cause an overload thus damaging the laptop and the battery.
20. Pack it up
If you don’t plan to use the laptop on batteries for quite some time, ensure that the charge is nearly 40 percent – remove the batteries and store it in a cool place.
A typical lithium ion battery has an overall average life of 2-3 years. With some care and caution, its mortality can be delayed.
Have you found your own way to increase battery life of your laptop? Share the ‘life giving’ tips with us in the comments.
Check The Speed Of Your USB Flash Drive
How do we go about checking the speed of USB flash drives? Maybe the following light and free software can lend a hand ?
Check Flash
The Check Flash website is in Cyrillic (there is an English option too) but it shouldn’t stop anyone from downloading this light and free USB flash drive speed testing and error checking software.
With Check Flash you can test, manage and format your USB flash drive. You can also run a read-write cycle on your USB flash drive, which returns not only the speed but also any errors (read/write or physical) in your USB drive. The software does not rectify the problem but merely reports it.
Check Flash v1.07 runs as an 812KB sized executable and does not require an installation.
HD Speed
HD_Speed is a pint sized software that can be used to gauge the speed of data transfer on your hard disks, CD/DVD ROMS and USB flash drives. This program is compatible with Windows 2000, XP and Vista only, though it supports both FAT and NTFS volumes.
The 80KB utility does not require installation and runs with a click. Select the drive and hit start. The read/write results show up as a graph and also as real values.
Crystal Disk Mark
Crystal Disk Mark is another disk benchmarking tool that can double up as a USB flash drive speed tester. The screen is simple and gives readouts according to the type of tests performed.
Crystal Disk Mark can carry out sequential read/write tests (i.e. read/write data in order) or random 4KB/512KB reads/writes or text copy. The speed test results are displayed as large numerical in MB/s.The 396KB software runs as a standalone executable straight from the box and is compatible with Windows Vista/2003/XP.
Flash Memory Toolkit
Flash Memory Toolkit is advertised as a collection of utilities for flash memory devices. The toolkit includes options to get detailed device information, erase files and recover files lost after a format, hardware failure or an accidental deletion. Backup and restore functions along with our benchmarking task of measuring the read/write performance of the flash drive is available.
Unfortunately, the free standard version gives us only the ability to judge the Read speeds. To calculate both read/write speeds one has to upgrade to the Pro version. Even with this handicap, the ability to measure read speeds along with the File Benchmark feature (which calculates the time it will take to read or write files of various sizes to the device and returns the results as comparative graphs) is a nice help too.The 766KB software (v1.20) is installable on Windows 2000, XP, XP 64-bit, 2003 Server and Vista.
HD Tune
Similar to the aforementioned software, HD Tune also comes in the free and paid flavors. And again, the free version allows for only read speed testing of our USB Flash drives. It also gives a detailed disk information option along with an error scan.
For more advanced aspects one need to dole out for the pro version. If you disregard the missing features in the free version, it is a handy utility to have around because it gives us a lot of benchmarking information like the maximum, minimum and the average transfer rates (i.e. the read speed) along with access time, burst rate (defined as the highest speed at which data can be transferred from the drive to the OS).HD Tune v2.55 is available for Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows 2003 Server and Windows Vista.
USB 2.0 has a cutting edge data rate of 480Mbps, and it is rated 40 times faster than the now archaic, USB 1.1, which peaked at 12Mbps. Flash drives are catching up with most now hovering around the 30-40 MB/s mark.
Check your Internet Speed with 10 Way
check your internet speed connection with 10 Way
1 Speed.io : Speed.io is a modern DSL speed-test to analyze your broadband internet access
2 2Wire Speed Test : No need to enter any detail just open the link and it will start bandwidth test.
3 McAfee Speed test : Speed test from popular Anti-virus website McAfee.
4 Intel Speed Test : Speedtest from official intel website.
5 SpeedTest : Easy to remember domain name, and nice interface.
6 Bandwidth Place : Click on start and you are good to go with your bandwidth test.
7 SpeakEasy : Option to choose from the different server list to get accurate result.
8 Kify Internet Speed Test :The Kify.com Bandwidth Meter speed test will check the bandwidth of your Internet connection against top DSL, cable modem, and other broadband services.
9 CNET Bansdwidth meter :The CNET Bandwidth Meter speed is one of the fastest and reliable method to check your internet speed.
10 Airtel broadband : Bandwidth test from india top internet provider which also analyze your speedand connection quality.
1 Speed.io : Speed.io is a modern DSL speed-test to analyze your broadband internet access
2 2Wire Speed Test : No need to enter any detail just open the link and it will start bandwidth test.
3 McAfee Speed test : Speed test from popular Anti-virus website McAfee.
4 Intel Speed Test : Speedtest from official intel website.
5 SpeedTest : Easy to remember domain name, and nice interface.
6 Bandwidth Place : Click on start and you are good to go with your bandwidth test.
7 SpeakEasy : Option to choose from the different server list to get accurate result.
8 Kify Internet Speed Test :The Kify.com Bandwidth Meter speed test will check the bandwidth of your Internet connection against top DSL, cable modem, and other broadband services.
9 CNET Bansdwidth meter :The CNET Bandwidth Meter speed is one of the fastest and reliable method to check your internet speed.
10 Airtel broadband : Bandwidth test from india top internet provider which also analyze your speedand connection quality.
Sunday, 19 July 2009
Javascript Framework and Scripts and Tutorials
Many would initially think that Javascript has something to do with Sun Microsystem’s Java but as the matter of fact, it doesn’t. Javascript was created by Netscape, they previous name was LiveWire, then LiveScript.
Javascript is a programming language that is normally used on the client side. It is easy to learn and pick up. Most Javascripts on websites serve the purpose of encouraging user experience, increase interactivity, functionality as well as web speed. DHTML (Dynamic HyperText Markup Language) is formed with the use of Javascript and CSS (Cascading Style Sheets). On the other hand AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) is Javascript based web development technique that uses data formatted in XML.
Here are some good Javascript sites that worth a visit.
Javascript is a programming language that is normally used on the client side. It is easy to learn and pick up. Most Javascripts on websites serve the purpose of encouraging user experience, increase interactivity, functionality as well as web speed. DHTML (Dynamic HyperText Markup Language) is formed with the use of Javascript and CSS (Cascading Style Sheets). On the other hand AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) is Javascript based web development technique that uses data formatted in XML.
Here are some good Javascript sites that worth a visit.
Javascript Framework
- Prototype
Prototype is a JavaScript Framework that aims to ease development of dynamic web applications. - Yahoo! User Interface Library (YUI)
The Yahoo! User Interface (YUI) Library is a set of utilities and controls, written in JavaScript, for building richly interactive web applications using techniques such as DOM scripting, DHTML and AJAX. The YUI Library also includes several core CSS resources. All components in the YUI Library have been released as open source under a BSD license and are free for all uses. - Rico
Javascript framework designed for building rich Internet applications. - qooxdoo
qooxdoo is one of the most comprehensive and innovative Open Source multipurpose AJAX frameworks, dual-licensed under LGPL/EPL. It includes support for professional JavaScript development, a state-of-the-art GUI toolkit and high-level client-server communication. - Ext Javascript Library
Ext is a client-side, JavaScript framework for building web applications. In early 2006, Jack Slocum began working on a set of extension utilities for the Yahoo! User Interface (YUI) library. These extensions were quickly organized into an independent library of code and distributed under the name “yui-ext.” In the fall of 2006, Jack released version .33 of yui-ext, which turned out to be the final version of the code under that name (and under the open source BSD license). By the end of the year, the library had gained so much in popularity that the name was changed simply to Ext, a reflection of its maturity and independence as a framework. A company was formed in early 2007, and Ext is now dual-licensed under the LGPL and a commercial license. The library officially hit version 1.0 on April 1, 2007. - MooTools
MooTools is a compact, modular, Object-Oriented JavaScript framework designed for the intermediate to advanced JavaScript developer. It allows you to write powerful, flexible, and cross-browser code with its elegant, well documented, and coherent API. - Dojo
Dojo is an Open Source DHTML toolkit written in JavaScript. It builds on several contributed code bases (nWidgets, Burstlib, f(m)), which is why we refer to it sometimes as a “unified” toolkit. Dojo aims to solve some long-standing historical problems with DHTML which prevented mass adoption of dynamic web application development.
Scripts and Tutorials
- AjaxLine
- Ajax Rain
- Ajaxlines
Ajaxlines is a project focused on providing its audience with a database of most of Ajax related articles, resources, tutorials and services from around the world. - Dynamic Drive
Dynamic Drive offers free DHTML, Javascripts and updates their archives frequently. - Free Javascripts
free-javascripts is a database listeings of free basic javascripts that help your website gets more interactivity. - HTML Goodies
- Javascript.com
- Javascript Kit
Tones of free Javascripts, tutorials, references, DOM references, applets, DHTML. - The Javascript Source
The Javascript division of Internet.com - jQuery Javascript Library
Query is a fast, concise, JavaScript Library that simplifies how you traverse HTML documents, handle events, perform animations, and add Ajax interactions to your web pages. - Javascript Toolbox
Collection of Javascripts source, examples and concept from Mattkruse - Mini Ajax
Cool collection of AJAX scripts you can port to your website in no time. - Mochikit
Making Javascripts suck a bit less. - moo.fx
moo.fx is a superlightweight, ultratiny, megasmall javascript effects library, to be used with prototype.js or the mootools framework. - Page Resource
- script.aculo.us
script.aculo.us provides you with easy-to-use, cross-browser user interface JavaScript libraries to make your web sites and web applications fly. - Server Scripts
- Tutorialized
- W3Schools Javascript Tutorials
Basic SEO Strategies for Beginners
Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process getting your website ready to be found in organic web searches. By organic searches, I’m referring to web searches that appear naturally as the result of a search for a particular keyword or phrase, rather than appearing in the sponsored links (pay-per-click advertising) section of a search page.Frankly, for the first few years I was online, the thought of doing my own SEO made my eyes cross, and I was overwhelmed at where to start. I even toyed with the idea of hiring a specialist to do this for me, but never got around to it. However, over time, I slowly began to see a pattern emerging, and started to optimize some of my sites accordingly. One of the best days of my business was when I recently ranked #1 for a particularly competitive search term.
I’m not a search engine optimization (SEO) specialist, nor do I play one on TV. However, even a new business owner who creates and updates her own websites can implement some very basic SEO strategies to make her website appear higher in the organic rankings on certain keyword searches.
Here are the 11 strategies that I regularly implement on my sites for better SEO positioning:
I’m not a search engine optimization (SEO) specialist, nor do I play one on TV. However, even a new business owner who creates and updates her own websites can implement some very basic SEO strategies to make her website appear higher in the organic rankings on certain keyword searches.
Here are the 11 strategies that I regularly implement on my sites for better SEO positioning:
- Page title tags: This is the page information that you see in the blue bar of your browser in the upper left-hand corner when you visit a website. For best SEO, use your top 2 keywords in your title tag. The best way to do that is separated with a bar, as illustrated in this example: Internet Marketing Web Marketing.
- Domain name: If at all possible, use one primary keyword in your domain name. You will have a slight edge over your competition by doing so. If you already have a domain that you have used for some time, include a keyword in the name of files for your website pages. Example: http://www.yoursite.com/internet-marketing.htm if your keyword is Internet marketing.
- Meta tags: These are descriptions on a web page that are not seen by most visitors except when looking at the page source code in their browser. While the keyword and description metatags used to be the primary way that search engines indexed sites, that is no longer the case. However, you shouldn’t ignore them entirely, as it is still worthwhile to include them as a part of your page description. For optimal SEO, your meta description and keyword tags should be no more than 150 characters each.
- Header tags: Header tags are the HTML code that indicate a headline, like H1, H2 and H3 and show up as bolded headlines in your page content. The first 3 header tags are the only ones you need to be concerned about, and the primary header tag, H1, is the most important. Use your primary keyword once in the H1 tag, 2-3 times in your H2 tags, and multiple times in your H3 tags.
- Alt image tag: The alt tag typically describes an image in a floating text window when you put your mouse over the image if the image isn’t able to be displayed. The best use of any
tag is to use your keywords in your image descriptions. - Content formatting: Search engines pay attention to formatted content, as in when text is bolded, italicized, and underlined. Make sure that you are bolding your keywords in the content of your website.
- Keyword density: Keyword density refers to the number of times a keyword or keyword phrase appears on a web page. Rather than trying to focus on the number of times a keyword appears in the content of your page, aim for a more natural density by keeping your keyword phrases in mind as you write the copy for your page. Optimally, keyword density should be between 2% – 7%. There are a number of keyword density checkers available online to assist you with determining the keyword density of a page.
- Anchor text: Anchor text refer to links on a page that connect your visitor to other pages. So, rather than telling someone to “click here” in the content of your page, include a keyword in your anchor text, as in “click here for dog training tips.”
- Inbound links: Reciprocal link exchange (you link to my site and I’ll link to yours) used to be a great way to attract the attention of search engines to your site. Now, search engines pay attention only to the quality and popularity of the site providing you with an inbound link that is not a reciprocal link. One of the best ways to get quality inbound links back to your site is to submít articles to high traffic article directoríes and submit press releases to paid press release services.
A second way to gain high quality inbound links is by listíng your site in search engine-friendly directoríes in which humans review the listings. Google and other search engines place more credibility in the directories in which the listings are reviewed by real people than they do other kinds of directories. Consequently, these links are weighted more heavily and favorably in the inbound link evaluation process. - New content: Content is still king, so one way to improve your page rank for a search term is to write high quality articles containing one or two of your keywords in the title and posting those regularly (weekly is best) to your site. Search engines are always seeking good, fresh, content, so your goal should be to make your site into an information-rich resource for your industry.
- Site maps: There are sitemaps that help a visitor navigate a site, and sitemaps that are expressly designed for the search engines. The two are not the same. To enhance your site, submit an xml sitemap to Google Webmaster Central and Yahoo Site Explorer. I use XML Sitemaps to build search engine-friendly sitemaps on my sites.
Search engine optimization strategy is not as difficult as it appears. Take some time to do some keyword research for your site, and then spend another 15 minutes a day employing a few of these strategies until you have a well-optimized site. Why pay for visitors through pay-per-click advertising if you don’t have to?
Easy Ways to Improve Your Alexa Ranking
Alexa, which is owned by Amazon.com, gives away a free toolbar that you can download and install in your browser. Alexa is then able to keep track of the sites you visit and compute the traffic ranking of those websites, with a rank of “1″ being the assigned to the most visited site.If you want a more technical definition, Alexa explains it like this:
The traffic rank is based on three months of aggregated historical traffic data from millions of Alexa Toolbar users and data obtained from other, diverse traffic data sources, and is a combined measure of page views and users (reach). As a first step, Alexa computes the reach and number of page views for all sites on the Web on a daily basis. The main Alexa traffic rank is based on a value derived from these two quantities averaged over time (so that the rank of a site reflects both the number of users who visit that site as well as the number of pages on the site viewed by those users).
http://www.alexa.com/site/help/traffic_learn_more
In April 2008 Alexa revised its methodology so as to “aggregate data from multiple sources to give you a better indication of website popularity among the entire population of Internet users“.
http://awis.blogspot.com/2008_04_01_archive.html
How accurately this method reflects the actual surfing patterns of all Internet users is open to question. However, if you bear in mind that by the end of 2005 the toolbar had been downloaded well over 10 million times you will realize why many people still think that Alexa offers one of the best approximations that we have of website ranking, especially for the top 100,000 or so websites.
That is why Alexa remains an important measure of a website’s
status and is used as a quick way to assess the popularity of a website by advertisers looking for the maximum exposure for the their money. Websites with a higher Alexa ranking also tend to be trusted more than those with a low ranking, so it is in the interest of website owners to get their sites ranked as highly as possible with Alexa.
Here are some quick and easy tips to help you do that !
The traffic rank is based on three months of aggregated historical traffic data from millions of Alexa Toolbar users and data obtained from other, diverse traffic data sources, and is a combined measure of page views and users (reach). As a first step, Alexa computes the reach and number of page views for all sites on the Web on a daily basis. The main Alexa traffic rank is based on a value derived from these two quantities averaged over time (so that the rank of a site reflects both the number of users who visit that site as well as the number of pages on the site viewed by those users).
http://www.alexa.com/site/help/traffic_learn_more
In April 2008 Alexa revised its methodology so as to “aggregate data from multiple sources to give you a better indication of website popularity among the entire population of Internet users“.
http://awis.blogspot.com/2008_04_01_archive.html
How accurately this method reflects the actual surfing patterns of all Internet users is open to question. However, if you bear in mind that by the end of 2005 the toolbar had been downloaded well over 10 million times you will realize why many people still think that Alexa offers one of the best approximations that we have of website ranking, especially for the top 100,000 or so websites.
That is why Alexa remains an important measure of a website’s
status and is used as a quick way to assess the popularity of a website by advertisers looking for the maximum exposure for the their money. Websites with a higher Alexa ranking also tend to be trusted more than those with a low ranking, so it is in the interest of website owners to get their sites ranked as highly as possible with Alexa.
Here are some quick and easy tips to help you do that !
- Install the Alexa toolbar and set your website as your homepage.
- Copy and paste an Alexa rank widget onto your website. You can get the widget code at http://www.alexa.com/site/site_stats/signup. As well as informing your visitors about your Alexa rank, it will also keep Alexa updated about the number of unique visitors surfing your site.
- Create a customized version of the Alexa tool bar, Then place a link on your site to the download page and invite your visitors to download it. You will also earn Amazon commissions every time a user shops on Amazon via the toolbar link.
- If you have a Wordpress blog there is a plug-in for Alexa Ranking (wp-Alexa-redirect-0.3plug-in) that you can use. Editor’s Note: This plugin may no longer work.
- Submit your site to web directories. Although a lot of directories charge a registration fee, you can still find many that are willing to líst your site free of charge or in exchange for a reciprocal link. A lot of the webmasters who browse web directories have the Alexa bar installed, so if they clíck your link it will help your Alexa traffic rank.
- Become an active participant on Internet marketing and SEO forums. Again, a lot of those forum participants are already webmasters and a high percentage will use the Alexa toolbar when they surf. Place a link to your site in your signature and your rank will improve when any of those people clíck through.
- A lot of Asian and Australian websites feature in the Alexa top 100,000 and you can bet that a lot of website owners will have the Alexa toolbar installed, so it makes sense to join social networking sites that are popular in those regions, such as:
http://www.orkut.com/ – Orkut is owned by Google and is the second most visited site in India.
http://hi5.com/ – Hi5 has an Alexa ranking of 17 at the time of writing this article. - Become an Alexa expert and post articles that discuss Alexa ranking and SEO tips. This will attract people to your site who may be interested in downloading your toolbar, or people who have already done so. Either way, it will be good for your Alexa ranking. You could even build a whole category of articles on your website devoted to this theme.
- Set up a freebie page on your website and post a líst of useful tools to attract other website owners to your site. Include another link to your Alexa toolbar download page.
- Get into the habit of using Stumbleupon and other bookmarking sites to spread the word whenever you post a new article on your website or blog. Set up a group of fellow website owners so that you can have run reciprocal stumbling campaigns for better results.
If you apply these ten quick and easy methods you will definitely see an improvement in your Alexa rank and you should also start to attract more traffíc to your site!
PHP6 still under development
PHP6 is the latest, yet unreleased version of PHP. It is still under development and won’t be released for some time yet. Nonetheless, it is still important that we consider the changes we know about at the moment, and write scripts which are compatible.
If you want to make use of PHP6 when it comes, you’re going to have to write your new scripts so they are compatible, and possibly change some of your existing scripts. To start making your scripts PHP6 compatible, I’ve compiled a list of tips to follow when scripting:
If you want to make use of PHP6 when it comes, you’re going to have to write your new scripts so they are compatible, and possibly change some of your existing scripts. To start making your scripts PHP6 compatible, I’ve compiled a list of tips to follow when scripting:
- FILE_BINARY and FILE_TEXT constants available for use with filesystem functions.
- register_globals will be gone.
- magic_quotes will also disappear.
- $HTTP_*_VARS has been removed, in favour for $_GET, $_POST, etc.
- ereg() no longer available in core PHP6.
- Initiating objects with the reference operator (& new Object()) will generate E_STRICT error.
- E_STRICT error messages are included in E_ALL errors.
- {} for string offsets no longer available.
- [] un-deprecated for accessing characters in a string.
- ASP-style tags can no longer be used.
- Better Unicode Support.
- var will be an alias of public, and raises E_STRICT warning.
- Support for 64 bit integers.
- With ternary operator, the “true” expression is no longer required – this can be done: $a = $s ?: ‘b’; (Not clear yet exactly how this will work).
- zend.ze1_compatibility_mode removed.
- safe_mode is being removed.
- Freetype1 and GD1 support removed.
- dl() is only enabled when a SAPI layers registers it explicitly.
- Support for dynamic break levels removed.
- XMLReader and XMLWriter will be in the core distribution.
- mime_magic removed from the core.
- Fileinfo moved to the core.
- ext/soap on by default.
- foreach supports multi-dimensional arrays: foreach($a as $b => list($c, $d))
- microtime() will return as float by default.
- opcode cache included in core distribution, but turned off by default.
- flags parameter available for file_get_contents().
- before_needle parameter added to strstr() – allows strstr() to return part of haystack before occurence of the needle.
- namespace, import, and goto become reserved words.
Thursday, 16 July 2009
3 Top Tips for Great Web Page Design
Great web page design is very important to making sure that your customers see your company in the way that you want them to. Just as you put a great deal of effort, time and resources in ensuring that your bricks and mortar storefront is bright, clean, and attractive, your website needs the same kind of attention. This article will explain the top three ways to make your website work for you!
When I started Future Access in 1995, St. Catharines website design guru’s thought that good web page design was no more than putting up a few pictures, a page of text, and that was it. Little to no thought was given to how things made you feel, the logical path you would expect someone to take through the site, or where you wanted them to end up. It was much more about being trendy and cool by being one of the first companies in your industry to have a website at all!
Today, now that bandwidth limitations have been greatly reduced and multimedia content is everywhere, great web page design has become a way for small companies to level the playing field and compete on par with much larger rivals. In my experience, as we have developed better and better websites over the years, our customers’ customers continually give positive feedback (and their business!) to companies that have made effective use of their design.
People have enough stressors in their life as it is today, and they don’t need their experience on your website to add to them. Everywhere you look, busy, highly pressured individuals are seeking after a Zen-like experience, feng-shui, or just simplicity in general. So should it be on your website. Do away with the unnecessary extras, flashy gimmicks, and fancy doo-dads. Resist the temptation to say everything you want, or put a list of every single product you offer all on one page.
I have come to realize that less is more, and that users really appreciate the simplicity of a clean, uncluttered look on websites. The success of Google’s web page design is a prime example. Look how clean Google’s homepage is compared to its major competitors like Yahoo and MSN. They have so much white space, they even offered a black background for the 2008 Earth Day in order to reduce power consumption on the monitors of their millions of users.
The simplicity and ease of use have allowed a single company to capture half of the market share of the entire search engine industry, and catapult them to market leaders and innovators in many other areas as well. Remember this, give the user what they want (not what you want), and less is more.
Part of keeping your site clean and easy to use is simple, intuitive navigation. Many times in my online browsing experience I have come across websites that have a beautiful homepage, and then completely change the design on their inside pages. Menu items that were clearly outlined across the top have now moved to the left hand side, or have disappeared altogether. I have no idea how I am supposed to progress through the site, and in fact I can get lost altogether on some pages.
I have found that a much better approach is to use clear, consistent navigation. This means that the links to your various pages should appear in the same place and in the same order on every page on your site. If you have many pages for your users to navigate, a drop-down menu can be a very effective tool. Everyone is used to clicking or rolling over a menu at the top of a program like Microsoft Word and have a menu drop down from there. If your website allows them to navigate in the same way, you keep the experience consistent and help users to get around your site with ease.
So now that we have established that your website should be clean, simple, and easy to navigate, how do we make it beautiful? What is going to create that emotional response that you create when people walk through your doors into your bricks-and-mortar storefront?
After years of St. Catharines website design at Future Access, creating hundreds of websites for our customers, I have come to realize that the use of high-quality photography really separates a great site from an average one. The key is to use the right photograph, and not to overdo it. A collage of 9 or 10 images a blurred together on your homepage, many of them indistinguishable because they are wide shots reduced greatly in size will not be effective. Instead, a single large, high-quality close-up photograph that showcases your product or service can work best.
If you want to use more than one image, a moderately paced Flash animation can create extra emotion by having them fade into one another, or by panning across the picture very slowly. A photographic technique called “depth-of-field”, where the foreground of an image is in sharp focus but the distant background is completely blurred really draws attention to the image. Don’t believe me? Check it out next time you are browsing the web and see for yourself!
Now you have all the essential advice you need to create fantastic website. Great web page design includes a clean uncluttered look that eliminates unnecessary information. You need an intuitive navigation system to help people get around easily. And finally, you should use great, high-impact photography to create an emotional response. That’s it! Now, go and check your website to see if it meets these criteria. If not, go to it!
About the Author: Bill Janzen has been doing web page design since 1995, and owns Future Access, a St. Catharines website design company.
When I started Future Access in 1995, St. Catharines website design guru’s thought that good web page design was no more than putting up a few pictures, a page of text, and that was it. Little to no thought was given to how things made you feel, the logical path you would expect someone to take through the site, or where you wanted them to end up. It was much more about being trendy and cool by being one of the first companies in your industry to have a website at all!
Today, now that bandwidth limitations have been greatly reduced and multimedia content is everywhere, great web page design has become a way for small companies to level the playing field and compete on par with much larger rivals. In my experience, as we have developed better and better websites over the years, our customers’ customers continually give positive feedback (and their business!) to companies that have made effective use of their design.
People have enough stressors in their life as it is today, and they don’t need their experience on your website to add to them. Everywhere you look, busy, highly pressured individuals are seeking after a Zen-like experience, feng-shui, or just simplicity in general. So should it be on your website. Do away with the unnecessary extras, flashy gimmicks, and fancy doo-dads. Resist the temptation to say everything you want, or put a list of every single product you offer all on one page.
I have come to realize that less is more, and that users really appreciate the simplicity of a clean, uncluttered look on websites. The success of Google’s web page design is a prime example. Look how clean Google’s homepage is compared to its major competitors like Yahoo and MSN. They have so much white space, they even offered a black background for the 2008 Earth Day in order to reduce power consumption on the monitors of their millions of users.
The simplicity and ease of use have allowed a single company to capture half of the market share of the entire search engine industry, and catapult them to market leaders and innovators in many other areas as well. Remember this, give the user what they want (not what you want), and less is more.
Part of keeping your site clean and easy to use is simple, intuitive navigation. Many times in my online browsing experience I have come across websites that have a beautiful homepage, and then completely change the design on their inside pages. Menu items that were clearly outlined across the top have now moved to the left hand side, or have disappeared altogether. I have no idea how I am supposed to progress through the site, and in fact I can get lost altogether on some pages.
I have found that a much better approach is to use clear, consistent navigation. This means that the links to your various pages should appear in the same place and in the same order on every page on your site. If you have many pages for your users to navigate, a drop-down menu can be a very effective tool. Everyone is used to clicking or rolling over a menu at the top of a program like Microsoft Word and have a menu drop down from there. If your website allows them to navigate in the same way, you keep the experience consistent and help users to get around your site with ease.
So now that we have established that your website should be clean, simple, and easy to navigate, how do we make it beautiful? What is going to create that emotional response that you create when people walk through your doors into your bricks-and-mortar storefront?
After years of St. Catharines website design at Future Access, creating hundreds of websites for our customers, I have come to realize that the use of high-quality photography really separates a great site from an average one. The key is to use the right photograph, and not to overdo it. A collage of 9 or 10 images a blurred together on your homepage, many of them indistinguishable because they are wide shots reduced greatly in size will not be effective. Instead, a single large, high-quality close-up photograph that showcases your product or service can work best.
If you want to use more than one image, a moderately paced Flash animation can create extra emotion by having them fade into one another, or by panning across the picture very slowly. A photographic technique called “depth-of-field”, where the foreground of an image is in sharp focus but the distant background is completely blurred really draws attention to the image. Don’t believe me? Check it out next time you are browsing the web and see for yourself!
Now you have all the essential advice you need to create fantastic website. Great web page design includes a clean uncluttered look that eliminates unnecessary information. You need an intuitive navigation system to help people get around easily. And finally, you should use great, high-impact photography to create an emotional response. That’s it! Now, go and check your website to see if it meets these criteria. If not, go to it!
About the Author: Bill Janzen has been doing web page design since 1995, and owns Future Access, a St. Catharines website design company.
30+ Web Design Mistakes
When you begin designing your HTML web pages, you may find that many HTML courses fall short when it comes to providing you with special effect HTML codes and tips.
However, there are many special effect HTML codes that will enable you to enhance your visitors’ experience tremendously.
When trying to decide what HTML codes to use within your web pages, keep in mind, if it doesn’t enhance your web page, it’s probably best to leave it out, as the more special effects you add to your page, the longer your page will take to load.
In addition, prior to using any of these HTML codes and tips within your web pages, you must ensure that the effect you’re trying to achieve doesn’t irritate your visitors.
For example, using HTML codes that load web pages within web pages may crash your visitors browser. In addition, using excessive pop up windows, frames and placing scrolling text within the status bar can be very irritating and cause your visitors to leave your web site and never return.
Please ensure you select your special HTML codes very carefully and use them to your fullest advantage.
Web Design Mistakes:
1. Confusing
2. Pop up messages
3. Poor load time
4. Over use of Java
5. Poor overall appearance
6. Poor use of HTML tables
7. Spelling/Grammar mistakes
8. Poor organization
9. Inconsistent page design
10. No contact information
11. No ‘about us’ page
12. No privacy policy
13. Different backgrounds on each page
14. Poor content
15. Poor navigation
16. Over powering music set to auto play
17. Broken HTML code links and graphics
18. Poor browser compatibility
19. Large slow loading graphics
20. Too many graphics
21. Large Welcome banners
22. Flashing banners
23. Pages scrolling to oblivion
24. Multiple colored text
25. Multiple use of animated graphics
26. Text difficult to read
27. Animated bullets
28. No Meta tags
29. Too many graphic and/or line dividers
30. Multiple use of different fonts
31. Under construction signs
32. Busy, distracting backgrounds
33. Scrolling text in the status bar
34. Multiple banners and buttons
35. Large scrolling text across the page
36. Poor use of HTML code frames
37. Large fonts
38. Poor use of mouse over effect
When you begin designing your web site, try to keep your main HTML page as small as possible. For example, instead of trying to cram all your information into a single web page, consider creating sections for your content. These sections can contain highlights of your content with a link to further information. You can set up your content sections in HTML tables with colored heading sections for information such as articles, products or whatever you’d like.
To keep your main HTML page smaller, it is much better to keep it down to the most essential elements. You can then use links to additional pages to provide the detailed information. A good rule of thumb is Less is More.
To enhance your web page, you can format your text using bold headlines, colored HTML table cells, and graphic bullets and/or arrows.
If you use the same graphic bullets and arrows throughout your page, you can enhance your page’s appearance, but you won’t add any additional time to your web page load time. When you reuse an image, your image only has to load once. When the image has loaded, it will instantly be displayed in all of the other locations.
If you’re looking for some HTML codes and tips to spice up your web site, you’ve come to the right place. You will find a variety of HTML codes and tips below. Simply click on the links and copy and paste the codes into your web page according to the instructions.
However, there are many special effect HTML codes that will enable you to enhance your visitors’ experience tremendously.
When trying to decide what HTML codes to use within your web pages, keep in mind, if it doesn’t enhance your web page, it’s probably best to leave it out, as the more special effects you add to your page, the longer your page will take to load.
In addition, prior to using any of these HTML codes and tips within your web pages, you must ensure that the effect you’re trying to achieve doesn’t irritate your visitors.
For example, using HTML codes that load web pages within web pages may crash your visitors browser. In addition, using excessive pop up windows, frames and placing scrolling text within the status bar can be very irritating and cause your visitors to leave your web site and never return.
Please ensure you select your special HTML codes very carefully and use them to your fullest advantage.
Web Design Mistakes:
1. Confusing
2. Pop up messages
3. Poor load time
4. Over use of Java
5. Poor overall appearance
6. Poor use of HTML tables
7. Spelling/Grammar mistakes
8. Poor organization
9. Inconsistent page design
10. No contact information
11. No ‘about us’ page
12. No privacy policy
13. Different backgrounds on each page
14. Poor content
15. Poor navigation
16. Over powering music set to auto play
17. Broken HTML code links and graphics
18. Poor browser compatibility
19. Large slow loading graphics
20. Too many graphics
21. Large Welcome banners
22. Flashing banners
23. Pages scrolling to oblivion
24. Multiple colored text
25. Multiple use of animated graphics
26. Text difficult to read
27. Animated bullets
28. No Meta tags
29. Too many graphic and/or line dividers
30. Multiple use of different fonts
31. Under construction signs
32. Busy, distracting backgrounds
33. Scrolling text in the status bar
34. Multiple banners and buttons
35. Large scrolling text across the page
36. Poor use of HTML code frames
37. Large fonts
38. Poor use of mouse over effect
When you begin designing your web site, try to keep your main HTML page as small as possible. For example, instead of trying to cram all your information into a single web page, consider creating sections for your content. These sections can contain highlights of your content with a link to further information. You can set up your content sections in HTML tables with colored heading sections for information such as articles, products or whatever you’d like.
To keep your main HTML page smaller, it is much better to keep it down to the most essential elements. You can then use links to additional pages to provide the detailed information. A good rule of thumb is Less is More.
To enhance your web page, you can format your text using bold headlines, colored HTML table cells, and graphic bullets and/or arrows.
If you use the same graphic bullets and arrows throughout your page, you can enhance your page’s appearance, but you won’t add any additional time to your web page load time. When you reuse an image, your image only has to load once. When the image has loaded, it will instantly be displayed in all of the other locations.
If you’re looking for some HTML codes and tips to spice up your web site, you’ve come to the right place. You will find a variety of HTML codes and tips below. Simply click on the links and copy and paste the codes into your web page according to the instructions.
Screen Capture Tools: 12 Free Tools and Techniques
Windows Only
By default, you can only do a full page and active window print screen on Windows. The following tools give you much more flexibility.
ZScreen
Open-source screen capture program that allows for region/window/full-screen screenshots. It can FTP screenshots and put the URL in your clipboard in a single keystroke. It supports automatic custom naming conventions with variables. [Download]
Screenshot Captor
Behave like most screen capture software. The most interesting part is – you can run it from a USB thumbdrive. Talking about print screen portability. [Download]
Cropper
Cropper is a screen capture utility written in C# on the Microsoft .Net platform. [Download]
Capture
Capture is a quick-and-easy screen capture utility for Windows (and NT), which allows you to capture the entire screen, at any color depth and resolution, and save it into a Bitmap file for editing. [Download]
MWSnap
Small yet powerful Windows program for snapping (capturing) images from selected parts of the screen. [Download]
ScreenPrint32
Free windows tool to print and/or capture to disk or clipboard, the full desktop, active window, predefined area, or user selected area of the screen. [Download]
Snippy
Useful free tool to copy webpage screenshot for sharing purposes. Interesting thing is that, when you cutting out a portion of an Internet Explorer window, the URL will also be copied to the clipboard; this makes it very convenient to select something interesting on a Web site and send it out in an email message. [Download]
SWBCapture
Screen capture utility that allows you to quickly and easily capture an image of any window on your desktop, or the entire desktop. [Download]
Screen Grab Pro
Screen Grab Pro features one-click grab of any screen for ease of use, Timer operation, Current window selection list and more. [Download]
Wisdom-Soft ScreenHunter
Wisdom-Soft ScreenHunter is a free screen-capture tool for you to easily take screenshots. ScreenHunter can capture a full screen, an active window, the client window, or a rectangular area. [Download]
Gadwin PrintScreen
Capture screenshots with ease. [Download]
FastStone Capture
Light and powerful screen capture application with whole screen, object-selective and region screencapture ability. Save files in various formats, BMP, GIF, JPEG, PCX, PNG, TGA, TIFF and PDF. [Download]
By default, you can only do a full page and active window print screen on Windows. The following tools give you much more flexibility.
ZScreen
Open-source screen capture program that allows for region/window/full-screen screenshots. It can FTP screenshots and put the URL in your clipboard in a single keystroke. It supports automatic custom naming conventions with variables. [Download]
Screenshot Captor
Behave like most screen capture software. The most interesting part is – you can run it from a USB thumbdrive. Talking about print screen portability. [Download]
Cropper
Cropper is a screen capture utility written in C# on the Microsoft .Net platform. [Download]
Capture
Capture is a quick-and-easy screen capture utility for Windows (and NT), which allows you to capture the entire screen, at any color depth and resolution, and save it into a Bitmap file for editing. [Download]
MWSnap
Small yet powerful Windows program for snapping (capturing) images from selected parts of the screen. [Download]
ScreenPrint32
Free windows tool to print and/or capture to disk or clipboard, the full desktop, active window, predefined area, or user selected area of the screen. [Download]
Snippy
Useful free tool to copy webpage screenshot for sharing purposes. Interesting thing is that, when you cutting out a portion of an Internet Explorer window, the URL will also be copied to the clipboard; this makes it very convenient to select something interesting on a Web site and send it out in an email message. [Download]
SWBCapture
Screen capture utility that allows you to quickly and easily capture an image of any window on your desktop, or the entire desktop. [Download]
Screen Grab Pro
Screen Grab Pro features one-click grab of any screen for ease of use, Timer operation, Current window selection list and more. [Download]
Wisdom-Soft ScreenHunter
Wisdom-Soft ScreenHunter is a free screen-capture tool for you to easily take screenshots. ScreenHunter can capture a full screen, an active window, the client window, or a rectangular area. [Download]
Gadwin PrintScreen
Capture screenshots with ease. [Download]
FastStone Capture
Light and powerful screen capture application with whole screen, object-selective and region screencapture ability. Save files in various formats, BMP, GIF, JPEG, PCX, PNG, TGA, TIFF and PDF. [Download]
How to test Website?
Following are the validations done while testing a website.
User Interface or Usability Testing
Functionality
Interface testing
Compatibility Testing
Load / Stress Testing or Performance Testing
Security Testing
User Interface testing is done to check how the users navigation happens and to check how easy the application to use. Following are done while performing User Interface testing
- to check the site map or navigation bar
- to check the content like irrelevant or not, grammatical or spelling errors.
- to check the color or background
- to check the images like type of files, positioning, the size of the files etc.,
- to check the tables
- to check whether the wrap around happens properly.
Functionality testing is done to check whether system behave as per the requirements. Following are the generic terms done in the Functionality testing.
- Links like internal Links, broken Links, external
- Forms to validate the data, functionality check, error messages happenning correctly, mandatory fields which should not be left empty, optional fields,
- Verification of data to check the data saved correctly in the database as pper the business rules.
- If the system uses cookies it should be checked
Interface testing to check the server interface, external interface, client interface and the error handling when interfacing
Compatibility testing to check how the application behaves under different web browsers. Following compability are done like with operating systems, with Browsers, modem, printers etc.,
Load testing is done to check how the system reacts with the number of users per time period and how will it be divided over the period, transfer of large amount of data from each user.
Stress testing to check the system performance under the less memory space, to reduce the resources and to check the reaction of the system
Security testing to validate the
- Valid and invalid login
- Validating the users
- limitation of No. of attemps while logging
- Encryption of data sent over the network
- usage Secured link while data transfer happens
Example test case for website project
Test cases for shopping cart.
1.Enter the URL
2. select the required item
3. Select the quantity
4. Select the payment gateway
5. Enter the amount
6. Enter the address to delivery
7 if you want to continue click on home and continue shopping or else quit
Test cases for Email field
1.- test the long of the field
2.- test without the @ character
3.- test without any character before the @ character
4.- test without any character after the @ character
5.- test that you can sing in alphanumerics characters
User Interface or Usability Testing
Functionality
Interface testing
Compatibility Testing
Load / Stress Testing or Performance Testing
Security Testing
User Interface testing is done to check how the users navigation happens and to check how easy the application to use. Following are done while performing User Interface testing
- to check the site map or navigation bar
- to check the content like irrelevant or not, grammatical or spelling errors.
- to check the color or background
- to check the images like type of files, positioning, the size of the files etc.,
- to check the tables
- to check whether the wrap around happens properly.
Functionality testing is done to check whether system behave as per the requirements. Following are the generic terms done in the Functionality testing.
- Links like internal Links, broken Links, external
- Forms to validate the data, functionality check, error messages happenning correctly, mandatory fields which should not be left empty, optional fields,
- Verification of data to check the data saved correctly in the database as pper the business rules.
- If the system uses cookies it should be checked
Interface testing to check the server interface, external interface, client interface and the error handling when interfacing
Compatibility testing to check how the application behaves under different web browsers. Following compability are done like with operating systems, with Browsers, modem, printers etc.,
Load testing is done to check how the system reacts with the number of users per time period and how will it be divided over the period, transfer of large amount of data from each user.
Stress testing to check the system performance under the less memory space, to reduce the resources and to check the reaction of the system
Security testing to validate the
- Valid and invalid login
- Validating the users
- limitation of No. of attemps while logging
- Encryption of data sent over the network
- usage Secured link while data transfer happens
Example test case for website project
Test cases for shopping cart.
1.Enter the URL
2. select the required item
3. Select the quantity
4. Select the payment gateway
5. Enter the amount
6. Enter the address to delivery
7 if you want to continue click on home and continue shopping or else quit
Test cases for Email field
1.- test the long of the field
2.- test without the @ character
3.- test without any character before the @ character
4.- test without any character after the @ character
5.- test that you can sing in alphanumerics characters
Why You Should Use Article Directories to Promote Your Website?
If you are online and are not already using article directories to promote your website, you are missing out on a free and highly effective marketing option. Article directories are great ways to draw traffic to your site without paying for advertising. However, to get real traffic to your site using an article directory, you must know how to use them correctly.
What Article Directories Are?
Before you can use an article directory, you have to know what one is. Article directories are websites where thousands upon thousands of articles on just about any subject are posted. They are generally categorized to make it easier for readers to find information they want. They are also linked together, so a reader reading about “Hawaii travel” will naturally go from article to article on that topic. People can use the articles they find in the directories on their own websites, either for free or for a small fee. Authors pay nothing to submit to article directories.
How Article Directories Benefit Online Businesses?
You are probably thinking, “Sure, that’s great. But how does an article directory help me promote my business? Doesn’t giving away free content defeat my purpose as an online business?”
These are great questions. When you submít an article to an article directory, it will contain a bio with a link to your website. Since you are the author of the article, you are allowed to include this information.
This means that anyone who is searching online and comes across the article directory will see a link to your site. Not only that, but the people who use the content on their own websites are required to keep it exactly as it appears in the directory. This means that your link could show up on hundreds of websites.
Article directories are generally large websites. This means that the web spiders are attracted to them. Having your link in these articles is a crucial part of an online linking campaign.
How to Make Your Submissions Effective?
If you are going to submit to article directories, you need to do two things. First, you need to learn about proper keyword usage. You need the right percentage of keywords in your article, and they need to appear naturally within the content. This will draw the search engine spiders to the article, thus exposing people to your link at the bottom.
You also need to make your content unique and helpful. If your article is the same as thousands that are already online, other website owners will not want to use it. Also, if the information is not helpful, people will not read the entire article. Your goal is to have them read the entire article so that they will click at the link on the bottom.
Having helpful information in the article also helps the reader view you as an “expert” in the field. This is important, because you want them to have a reason to click on the link. If they are reading useless information, they will have no desire to visit your site. Also, proving that you are knowledgeable about a particular topic will show that whatever product or service you are marketing is worth buying.
What to Do if You Can’t Write?
At this point you are probably wondering what you can do because you can’t write. You are an entrepreneur and business owner, not a writer. The good news is that you have options.
You can hire a freelance writer to “ghostwrite” the article for you. Ghostwriting means writing the article in your name. Instead of placing his or her name on the article, the freelancer uses your name and your business link. You will need to pay for this service, but the amount you will pay for a quality article is far less than the amount you would pay for an advertising campaign, and a well-written article placed in the right article directoríes will draw more traffíc to your site than just about any other form of advertising.
Where can you find ghostwriters? There are a variety of online classifieds where you can post your job requirements or search for available writers. You can ask for quotes to help you learn what the going rate for a writer is. Keep in mind that you will pay more if you have detailed information that needs to be researched or if you are working on a tight deadline. You can also hire a content creation company to help you if you require numerous articles that would be too much for one individual writer.
If you do use a ghostwriter, be sure that you proofread the article before submitting it. You may find that the writer did not approach a particular topic as you would have wanted. You can ask the writer to rewrite the material, but posting something that is inaccurate or does not sound well written will detract from your goal of drawing traffic to your site.
Risks of Using an Article Directory?
There is only one main risk to using an article directory, and that is that someone will download your content and use it on their site without including the link. You can do some work to check for this, but it is hard to police. However, the occasional unscrupulous website owner who uses your content incorrectly is a risk worth taking for the many users who will give you a link on their site.
Post Much and Often
Once you get the hang of using an article directory, post many articles, and post them often. The more fresh, relevant content that links to your page, the greater traffic you will receive. Be sure to continually research your keywords, because the keywords that people search for constantly change.
Also, submit your articles to a variety of sites. The most popular article directories may not draw a certain demographic of people. The more places that have your article and your link, the better your traffic results will be. Since these sites are free to use, you might as well submit to as many as you can.
(Source blog.tuvinh.com )
What Article Directories Are?
Before you can use an article directory, you have to know what one is. Article directories are websites where thousands upon thousands of articles on just about any subject are posted. They are generally categorized to make it easier for readers to find information they want. They are also linked together, so a reader reading about “Hawaii travel” will naturally go from article to article on that topic. People can use the articles they find in the directories on their own websites, either for free or for a small fee. Authors pay nothing to submit to article directories.
How Article Directories Benefit Online Businesses?
You are probably thinking, “Sure, that’s great. But how does an article directory help me promote my business? Doesn’t giving away free content defeat my purpose as an online business?”
These are great questions. When you submít an article to an article directory, it will contain a bio with a link to your website. Since you are the author of the article, you are allowed to include this information.
This means that anyone who is searching online and comes across the article directory will see a link to your site. Not only that, but the people who use the content on their own websites are required to keep it exactly as it appears in the directory. This means that your link could show up on hundreds of websites.
Article directories are generally large websites. This means that the web spiders are attracted to them. Having your link in these articles is a crucial part of an online linking campaign.
How to Make Your Submissions Effective?
If you are going to submit to article directories, you need to do two things. First, you need to learn about proper keyword usage. You need the right percentage of keywords in your article, and they need to appear naturally within the content. This will draw the search engine spiders to the article, thus exposing people to your link at the bottom.
You also need to make your content unique and helpful. If your article is the same as thousands that are already online, other website owners will not want to use it. Also, if the information is not helpful, people will not read the entire article. Your goal is to have them read the entire article so that they will click at the link on the bottom.
Having helpful information in the article also helps the reader view you as an “expert” in the field. This is important, because you want them to have a reason to click on the link. If they are reading useless information, they will have no desire to visit your site. Also, proving that you are knowledgeable about a particular topic will show that whatever product or service you are marketing is worth buying.
What to Do if You Can’t Write?
At this point you are probably wondering what you can do because you can’t write. You are an entrepreneur and business owner, not a writer. The good news is that you have options.
You can hire a freelance writer to “ghostwrite” the article for you. Ghostwriting means writing the article in your name. Instead of placing his or her name on the article, the freelancer uses your name and your business link. You will need to pay for this service, but the amount you will pay for a quality article is far less than the amount you would pay for an advertising campaign, and a well-written article placed in the right article directoríes will draw more traffíc to your site than just about any other form of advertising.
Where can you find ghostwriters? There are a variety of online classifieds where you can post your job requirements or search for available writers. You can ask for quotes to help you learn what the going rate for a writer is. Keep in mind that you will pay more if you have detailed information that needs to be researched or if you are working on a tight deadline. You can also hire a content creation company to help you if you require numerous articles that would be too much for one individual writer.
If you do use a ghostwriter, be sure that you proofread the article before submitting it. You may find that the writer did not approach a particular topic as you would have wanted. You can ask the writer to rewrite the material, but posting something that is inaccurate or does not sound well written will detract from your goal of drawing traffic to your site.
Risks of Using an Article Directory?
There is only one main risk to using an article directory, and that is that someone will download your content and use it on their site without including the link. You can do some work to check for this, but it is hard to police. However, the occasional unscrupulous website owner who uses your content incorrectly is a risk worth taking for the many users who will give you a link on their site.
Post Much and Often
Once you get the hang of using an article directory, post many articles, and post them often. The more fresh, relevant content that links to your page, the greater traffic you will receive. Be sure to continually research your keywords, because the keywords that people search for constantly change.
Also, submit your articles to a variety of sites. The most popular article directories may not draw a certain demographic of people. The more places that have your article and your link, the better your traffic results will be. Since these sites are free to use, you might as well submit to as many as you can.
(Source blog.tuvinh.com )
10 Steps to Finding Your Target Market in Facebook
Everyone is talking about social networking, and many claim social networking to be the panacea for all of your marketing ills. Marketing on social networking sites like Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter can help you boost the size of your email list and help you grow your business. The key to success with this strategy is making sure that members of your target market are in your network.
Facebook is very strict and very particular about how its participants contact each other. Facebook limits the number of new invitations that can be sent in a given day or week. The exact number is a Facebook secret and unknown to the public, but if you exceed this secret amount you can get booted from Facebook. However, I think if you stick with no more than 10 per day, you will probably stay within their limits. Secondly, you are permitted only 5000 friends in Facebook, so if you’re successful in this strategy, you may ultimately need to create a waiting list of friends.
How do you find your target market in Facebook? Whether you’re an experienced social networker or just a newbie, here are 10 secrets to growing your target market network in Facebook:
1. Update-to-date profile and/or Fan page: Before you begin a “friending” (i.e. request to become another’s friend), be sure that your profile is up-to-date with an accurate description of what you do, your interests, and your contact info, including your web site URLs. If you have multiple businesses, invite people in your appropriate target market to become fans of your niche-specific fan page.
2. Follow the gurus. Follow leaders in your field/industry and “friend” them. Anytime you make a friend request, include a personal note, as that will improve the likelihood that they will accept your request. Say something like, “I’m a big fan and have been on your ezine/blog list for several years. I’d love to have you in my network in Facebook.” Once they have accepted your invitation, make comments about their status updates to help you get on their radar and in front of their networks.
3. Friends of friends. Take a look at the people in the network of your industry leaders, as they are probably part of your target market as well, and send friend requests to those of interest to you. When you friend someone that you only know by association, send a personal note as well, like “I discovered your profile in’s network and would like to get to know you better by adding you to my network.”
4. Use groups. Look for groups that may contain your target market. In your search for groups, use keywords that describe your niche, your industry, your geographic area, the interests of your target market, or whatever other terms you might use to find members of your target market. Join and begin to participate in the group so that they begin to get to know you. Then peruse the member lists for good prospects, sic as the members you’ve connected with or have gotten to know. Since you won’t be able to view the profiles of the group members because they aren’t in your network, much of your decision-making about whom to friend may be based upon appearance or how you might be connected to them via other friends in your network.
5. Check your lists. Friend people that you already know from your high school, college, alumni associations, and places of employment if they fall within your target market definition.
6. Facebook-recommended friends. Facebook typically recommends friends based on your current friends list when you log into your profile. I’ve found these recommendations to be pretty solid. Take them up on their recommendatíon and add those folks to your network.
7. Add by interest or industry. Do a people search by job title, industry, geographic location, or interest. Those people with those terms in their profile will show up in your search, and you can request to add them based on common interests.
8. Build the relationship. Once you friend someone, you need to begin to get to know them and start them on the like, know and trust journey so that you become their top-of-mind expert in a particular area. Begin building the relationship by posting a quick “thank you” note on their wall, as well as a comment about something on their profile that interests you or in which you have in common. Watch for their status updates, as well, and comment on these when appropriate.
9. Create a group. Once you’ve got about 500 followers, create a group for your target market. Provide the group with useful content and and ask questions to stimulate discussion and get the members to return to participate in the group. You can post articles, links to blog posts, or videos you have created. Invite group members to any free virtual or face-to-face events you’re hosting.
10. Integrate into your plan. No marketing strategy works unless you consistently implement it over time. As a newbie to Facebook, you might want to spend as much as 60 minutes per day researching friends and participating in groups. As your network grows, you many spend only 15 minutes 3 times per week on Facebook. The key to success is to put this strategy on your calendar and make it a routine part of your ongoing Internet marketing tasks.
While social networking is an inexpensive marketing tool and can be effective in helping you grow your business, maintain your other marketing strategies, as well, and simply add this strategy to your marketing mix. A well-rounded Internet marketing plan that includes social networking and is implemented consistently will mean that your prospect well won’t ever run dry.
(Source: www.sitepronews.com)
Facebook is very strict and very particular about how its participants contact each other. Facebook limits the number of new invitations that can be sent in a given day or week. The exact number is a Facebook secret and unknown to the public, but if you exceed this secret amount you can get booted from Facebook. However, I think if you stick with no more than 10 per day, you will probably stay within their limits. Secondly, you are permitted only 5000 friends in Facebook, so if you’re successful in this strategy, you may ultimately need to create a waiting list of friends.
How do you find your target market in Facebook? Whether you’re an experienced social networker or just a newbie, here are 10 secrets to growing your target market network in Facebook:
1. Update-to-date profile and/or Fan page: Before you begin a “friending” (i.e. request to become another’s friend), be sure that your profile is up-to-date with an accurate description of what you do, your interests, and your contact info, including your web site URLs. If you have multiple businesses, invite people in your appropriate target market to become fans of your niche-specific fan page.
2. Follow the gurus. Follow leaders in your field/industry and “friend” them. Anytime you make a friend request, include a personal note, as that will improve the likelihood that they will accept your request. Say something like, “I’m a big fan and have been on your ezine/blog list for several years. I’d love to have you in my network in Facebook.” Once they have accepted your invitation, make comments about their status updates to help you get on their radar and in front of their networks.
3. Friends of friends. Take a look at the people in the network of your industry leaders, as they are probably part of your target market as well, and send friend requests to those of interest to you. When you friend someone that you only know by association, send a personal note as well, like “I discovered your profile in
4. Use groups. Look for groups that may contain your target market. In your search for groups, use keywords that describe your niche, your industry, your geographic area, the interests of your target market, or whatever other terms you might use to find members of your target market. Join and begin to participate in the group so that they begin to get to know you. Then peruse the member lists for good prospects, sic as the members you’ve connected with or have gotten to know. Since you won’t be able to view the profiles of the group members because they aren’t in your network, much of your decision-making about whom to friend may be based upon appearance or how you might be connected to them via other friends in your network.
5. Check your lists. Friend people that you already know from your high school, college, alumni associations, and places of employment if they fall within your target market definition.
6. Facebook-recommended friends. Facebook typically recommends friends based on your current friends list when you log into your profile. I’ve found these recommendations to be pretty solid. Take them up on their recommendatíon and add those folks to your network.
7. Add by interest or industry. Do a people search by job title, industry, geographic location, or interest. Those people with those terms in their profile will show up in your search, and you can request to add them based on common interests.
8. Build the relationship. Once you friend someone, you need to begin to get to know them and start them on the like, know and trust journey so that you become their top-of-mind expert in a particular area. Begin building the relationship by posting a quick “thank you” note on their wall, as well as a comment about something on their profile that interests you or in which you have in common. Watch for their status updates, as well, and comment on these when appropriate.
9. Create a group. Once you’ve got about 500 followers, create a group for your target market. Provide the group with useful content and and ask questions to stimulate discussion and get the members to return to participate in the group. You can post articles, links to blog posts, or videos you have created. Invite group members to any free virtual or face-to-face events you’re hosting.
10. Integrate into your plan. No marketing strategy works unless you consistently implement it over time. As a newbie to Facebook, you might want to spend as much as 60 minutes per day researching friends and participating in groups. As your network grows, you many spend only 15 minutes 3 times per week on Facebook. The key to success is to put this strategy on your calendar and make it a routine part of your ongoing Internet marketing tasks.
While social networking is an inexpensive marketing tool and can be effective in helping you grow your business, maintain your other marketing strategies, as well, and simply add this strategy to your marketing mix. A well-rounded Internet marketing plan that includes social networking and is implemented consistently will mean that your prospect well won’t ever run dry.
(Source: www.sitepronews.com)
HTML Help Compiled Help File
Pocket CHM description
Easily creates HtmlHelp (CHM) files, open and edit the .chm file directly
Pocket CHM is a convenient tool for developers, Help authors, and technical writers to create online Help for desktop applications in HTML Help (CHM) format. Pocket CHM provides a rapid streamline authoring mode – drag files/folders from built-in resource explorer or windows resource explorer and drop them on your Help book.
Pocket CHM screen shot:
Guideline:
You creat file word and save as type: single file as web page
Open tool Pocket CHM
File -> new ( input project name, location, title…)
Built-in CHM tools
To facilitate your work and authoring, Pocket CHM includes a toolbox that is related to CHM. Using the toolbox you can explore CHM files, decompile CHM files and convert CHM files for PDA.
CHM Explorer provides an easy way to extract resources from .CHM files. Using it you can easily extract HTML files, images (.gif, .jpg, etc.), style sheets (.CSS), index (.HHK), table of contents (.HHC) from CHM files.
With Pocket CHM, you can convert .CHM files to a format that is readable on your PDA (Pocket PC, PalmOS and Psion).This function will make it easy for you to take your technical articles or business documents or ebooks in CHM format and read them on your PDA.
Easily creates HtmlHelp (CHM) files, open and edit the .chm file directly
Pocket CHM is a convenient tool for developers, Help authors, and technical writers to create online Help for desktop applications in HTML Help (CHM) format. Pocket CHM provides a rapid streamline authoring mode – drag files/folders from built-in resource explorer or windows resource explorer and drop them on your Help book.
Pocket CHM screen shot:
Guideline:
You creat file word and save as type: single file as web page
Open tool Pocket CHM
File -> new ( input project name, location, title…)
Built-in CHM tools
To facilitate your work and authoring, Pocket CHM includes a toolbox that is related to CHM. Using the toolbox you can explore CHM files, decompile CHM files and convert CHM files for PDA.
CHM Explorer provides an easy way to extract resources from .CHM files. Using it you can easily extract HTML files, images (.gif, .jpg, etc.), style sheets (.CSS), index (.HHK), table of contents (.HHC) from CHM files.
With Pocket CHM, you can convert .CHM files to a format that is readable on your PDA (Pocket PC, PalmOS and Psion).This function will make it easy for you to take your technical articles or business documents or ebooks in CHM format and read them on your PDA.
Why PHP is more preferred programming language?
PHP supported website is always a good option.
Why?
PHP is a powerful server-side scripting language for creating dynamic and interactive websites.
Today PHP is the most widely used programming language on the web, with over 40% of all web applications are written in PHP and is installed on over 22 million domain servers.
PHP is a free open source language that saves thousands of dollars in licensing fee and that makes it more cost-effective than its competitors like ASP.NET, Visual Basic.net and Java.
PHP is very easy to install and PHP websites are fast, secure and stable. It provides web developers much more liberty in creating website with some of the excellent features and they can use common elements repeatedly.
A PHP supported website can retrieve information from database and for that you need a relational database management system like MSQL. Databases can be used in new ways and users have access to this centralized data. Small websites can utilize PHP to obtain feed back from users on their products and services.
It is a well known fact that most of the popular websites are dynamic in nature as compared to the websites that are having plain pages. User friendly websites attract more visitors and loyal customers that ultimately results in the rise in your online business. So, if you are planning to create dynamic web pages, you must consider PHP websites.
If you want to develop a website, you should make sure that you have designed and developed efficient website; else you will have to start from the beginning again. At http://www.tuvinh.com/en/services…, you can have a look at some of the examples of PHP supported websites. Developers at TuVinhSoft have expertise in developing high-end PHP supported websites to its clients world-wide.
Why?
PHP is a powerful server-side scripting language for creating dynamic and interactive websites.
Today PHP is the most widely used programming language on the web, with over 40% of all web applications are written in PHP and is installed on over 22 million domain servers.
PHP is a free open source language that saves thousands of dollars in licensing fee and that makes it more cost-effective than its competitors like ASP.NET, Visual Basic.net and Java.
PHP is very easy to install and PHP websites are fast, secure and stable. It provides web developers much more liberty in creating website with some of the excellent features and they can use common elements repeatedly.
A PHP supported website can retrieve information from database and for that you need a relational database management system like MSQL. Databases can be used in new ways and users have access to this centralized data. Small websites can utilize PHP to obtain feed back from users on their products and services.
It is a well known fact that most of the popular websites are dynamic in nature as compared to the websites that are having plain pages. User friendly websites attract more visitors and loyal customers that ultimately results in the rise in your online business. So, if you are planning to create dynamic web pages, you must consider PHP websites.
If you want to develop a website, you should make sure that you have designed and developed efficient website; else you will have to start from the beginning again. At http://www.tuvinh.com/en/services…, you can have a look at some of the examples of PHP supported websites. Developers at TuVinhSoft have expertise in developing high-end PHP supported websites to its clients world-wide.
Welcome To Egypt Web Solutions Company
Egypt Web Solutions is a professional web site design company based in Egypt, specialize in providing high quality services at most affordable rates. Our aim is to offer you all latest and updated search engine with friendly website designs.
Egypt Web Solutions Offers a range of services including web design, web hosting, logo design, database design, email marketing ,Web Maintenance,Search Engine Optimization,Network& more.
Egypt Web Solutions Offers a range of services including web design, web hosting, logo design, database design, email marketing ,Web Maintenance,Search Engine Optimization,Network& more.
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