No this is not a scam! I great way to get people to watch a promotional video is by donating to charity. Microsoft Australia, have done just that. Go to the site, watch video and Microsoft donate a $1 to the Smith Family.
Great idea, it's viral, it's a good cause.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Friday, June 27, 2008
Storing images and more online!
Ever wanted to store huge volumes of images and video online? Well now you can using Multiply. It's a social networking style site, but you share your images, video, music etc and it's all stored and backed up for you, indefinately. The free version deletes your files after 30 days, but the paid version ($20 USD) a year is so cheap, it's ridiculous.
My first thoughts were can it be used for business? I figured I'll be giving it a go.
For businesses that work a lot with images (eg: web developers, graphic artisits, designers etc); this could be a really great business tool. If not to be used with other clients, a back up tool for your media in a remote location for 20USD a year, is hard to let it go and not give it a try.
I'll be testing them out over the next couple of weeks and I'll keep you posted on how useful it is as a business tool (between clients, setting permissions, backing up etc).
My first thoughts were can it be used for business? I figured I'll be giving it a go.
For businesses that work a lot with images (eg: web developers, graphic artisits, designers etc); this could be a really great business tool. If not to be used with other clients, a back up tool for your media in a remote location for 20USD a year, is hard to let it go and not give it a try.
I'll be testing them out over the next couple of weeks and I'll keep you posted on how useful it is as a business tool (between clients, setting permissions, backing up etc).
Thursday, June 19, 2008
.au Domain Name policy change
The policy regarding the sale of .au domain names changed on 1st June 2008.
The policy changes effectively mean the ban on consumers purchasing .au domain names and selling them to the highest bidder will end. Consequently the risk of competitors registering .au domain names associated with your online brand will increase significantly.
If you haven’t registered the com.au and net.au domain names for your business or product name, in the future you may have to bid for them from auction sites against other prospective purchasers.
Contact us regarding domains names you would like to protect. We don't charge for domain parking, like some web hosts do; just registration.
This maybe your last opportunity to secure your .au domain names from competitors and cyber squatters.
The policy changes effectively mean the ban on consumers purchasing .au domain names and selling them to the highest bidder will end. Consequently the risk of competitors registering .au domain names associated with your online brand will increase significantly.
If you haven’t registered the com.au and net.au domain names for your business or product name, in the future you may have to bid for them from auction sites against other prospective purchasers.
Contact us regarding domains names you would like to protect. We don't charge for domain parking, like some web hosts do; just registration.
This maybe your last opportunity to secure your .au domain names from competitors and cyber squatters.
Two Browsers are better than one
A tip to all that use a CMS (even our prodgymanage CMS). Using two browsers is better than one. My choice is IE (Internet Explorer) and Firefox.
When editing a website page you want to be able to see your final version. If you have one browser you can just create another TAB, load up the site and you have two versions going. You should be also able to view the site in normal mode vs editing. With prodgymanage, you can do this too, but two browsers are better than one.
Aside from seeing how the page will look inside two of the worlds most popular browsers, it speeds up your work by editing in one browser and viewing in another. When you are logged into your CMS, it has created a 'session variable' meaning whilst you are using a browser, it knows you are logged in as webmaster. Therefore you open another version of your browser, guess what, you log back in as webmaster. If you open another Browser, ie: Firefox, you see the site as a general user.
Make a change in IE and Save it. Jump to the other browser and hold down the keys, CTRL F5 to refresh the page, so the changes take effect.
For even greater control and little bit of a luxury grab a spare monitor from the office or tell your boss it's required for your work to have two screens. Edit on one and view on the other. I'm planning to have three monitors or more :).
Happy edting.
When editing a website page you want to be able to see your final version. If you have one browser you can just create another TAB, load up the site and you have two versions going. You should be also able to view the site in normal mode vs editing. With prodgymanage, you can do this too, but two browsers are better than one.
Aside from seeing how the page will look inside two of the worlds most popular browsers, it speeds up your work by editing in one browser and viewing in another. When you are logged into your CMS, it has created a 'session variable' meaning whilst you are using a browser, it knows you are logged in as webmaster. Therefore you open another version of your browser, guess what, you log back in as webmaster. If you open another Browser, ie: Firefox, you see the site as a general user.
Make a change in IE and Save it. Jump to the other browser and hold down the keys, CTRL F5 to refresh the page, so the changes take effect.
For even greater control and little bit of a luxury grab a spare monitor from the office or tell your boss it's required for your work to have two screens. Edit on one and view on the other. I'm planning to have three monitors or more :).
Happy edting.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Google Maps Scam
Business selling FREE Google tools is an out and out SCAM and you can do it for free.
If you are a MerlinFX client, we'll do it for you for nothing.
If you get web related offers in the mail or "act now before you lose your domain"; it's best to check with your web developer or whom ever manages your web related services; before you go and spend your $$$ on services that are otherwise free or misleading.
It's also a point to have all your web related services handled by one company or person. If you are super organised and can track where your domains are registered, who handles email set up, web hosting etc; then you are fine. But my experience, most business don't. Most web developers should offer to manage all that for you.
Here is a link on how to set up your business on Google Maps. The article mentions that you can select to have the verification process handled by Google sending you snail-mail. Frankly having them call (automated) or SMS you is a lot easier and faster.
How to set up your business in Google Maps
If you are a MerlinFX client, we'll do it for you for nothing.
If you get web related offers in the mail or "act now before you lose your domain"; it's best to check with your web developer or whom ever manages your web related services; before you go and spend your $$$ on services that are otherwise free or misleading.
It's also a point to have all your web related services handled by one company or person. If you are super organised and can track where your domains are registered, who handles email set up, web hosting etc; then you are fine. But my experience, most business don't. Most web developers should offer to manage all that for you.
Here is a link on how to set up your business on Google Maps. The article mentions that you can select to have the verification process handled by Google sending you snail-mail. Frankly having them call (automated) or SMS you is a lot easier and faster.
How to set up your business in Google Maps
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
New site launch: Cavallaro's
We have just re-built the Cavallaro's website and added many features to it than what they previously had before. Check it out at www.cavallaros.com.au, launched today. It features an easy to CMS, galleries, newsletter, VIP members area and much more.
If you are local and want to take advantage of their VIP offers like taste testing new products, closed door events only, then go register on the site and keep updated.
They are a local pasticceria and I find it dangerous for me each time I enter. There are so many nice treats in there. Scott Kell, their extraordinary pastry chef has added his flair and talent to the Cavallaro team.
I feel like a pistachio canoli .....
If you are local and want to take advantage of their VIP offers like taste testing new products, closed door events only, then go register on the site and keep updated.
They are a local pasticceria and I find it dangerous for me each time I enter. There are so many nice treats in there. Scott Kell, their extraordinary pastry chef has added his flair and talent to the Cavallaro team.
I feel like a pistachio canoli .....
Monday, June 16, 2008
Windows Live Foldershare - beta
This free (currently) PC based, web syncronisation is such a great little tool I discovered about a month ago and now find it indispensable with our development team that spreads across the globe. Rather than consistently email briefs, files, images etc; I simply drop them into a 'FolderShared' folder and next time one of the development team opens his PC (and it connects to the net). The Folders syncronise. Naturally he/she has the option of manually syncronising, but I just leave mine 'on' all the time.
I can control who has access to the folder and what rights they have. eg: Can they delete, add, edit files.
It has it's limitations of not being able to send files larger than 2 GB, but for my line of business and most of my clients, who would!
I am thinking of using it as a remote backup tool to synchronise everyday files with a remote location.
Windows Live FolderShare Team Blog | Discussions in Windows Live FolderShare
I can control who has access to the folder and what rights they have. eg: Can they delete, add, edit files.
It has it's limitations of not being able to send files larger than 2 GB, but for my line of business and most of my clients, who would!
I am thinking of using it as a remote backup tool to synchronise everyday files with a remote location.
Windows Live FolderShare Team Blog | Discussions in Windows Live FolderShare
Been a while, but always been here...
Geez it's been a while since I posted anything to the blog. My only saving grace has been, we've been unbelievably busy and a few other things I won't go into right now; but a lot has happened and I'll be updating most of it here.
Where to start, ok the beginning:
We moved office to a temporary location as the old place was out grown. Put on several other programmers around about that time. We eventually moved into our new premises in Northumberland St, Liverpool complete with reception, waiting room, board rooms etc.
I am sure you're all thinking so, big deal. Believe you me this is major step up from what we had before.
Before the move we were coding in ASP, then moved to ASP.NET. We basically re-built all our web applications and added miles of features to them all. Everything is now even easier to use and we continue along the development path. The web is almost a sentient being with it's own intelligence changing, adapting and learning. We move with the changes - but only if it benefits the client and us first. No use adding stuff that's cute and but doesn't benefit anyone.
Where to start, ok the beginning:
We moved office to a temporary location as the old place was out grown. Put on several other programmers around about that time. We eventually moved into our new premises in Northumberland St, Liverpool complete with reception, waiting room, board rooms etc.
I am sure you're all thinking so, big deal. Believe you me this is major step up from what we had before.
Before the move we were coding in ASP, then moved to ASP.NET. We basically re-built all our web applications and added miles of features to them all. Everything is now even easier to use and we continue along the development path. The web is almost a sentient being with it's own intelligence changing, adapting and learning. We move with the changes - but only if it benefits the client and us first. No use adding stuff that's cute and but doesn't benefit anyone.
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