Digital Deputy

An Absolute Beginner's Guide to Social Networking Sites

2009-12-10T18:19:00.000-08:00

MySpace, Facebook, LinkedIn, Bebo, Twitter... The list goes on and on. You've heard about them but perhaps you don't actually know anything about them.

So first things first a brief description. Social networking sites allow friends (or acquaintances) to connect. They usually include methods of discussion between two or more friends, various methods of updating your friends and family with what you're up to and other ways for people to interact depending on the social network.

The social networking sites that are the most useful to you will change depending on your interests and needs so there is no one site to recommend. The most useful will typically be though, the one that the greatest number of your friends, colleagues and/or family use. Chances are these will be either Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Facebook is a general social networking site. It has a huge user-base and doesn't really focus on any one thing in particular. It offers chat, one of the most used video sharing services on the net and has many seperate applications within it.

Twitter is a social networking site that falls under the category of micro-blogging. To put it simply, you write little amounts often (Going to see a movie in the city tonight). Many users like it because if they're away from family they can read about all of the little things that are happening in their lives instead of some broad summery in the form of the occasional email or phone call.

LinkedIn is a business based social networking site with according to their website "over 53 million members". This isn't unheard of in the world of social networking sites but it is a large number considering that most are business professionals. Business professionals should consider the possible benefits of LinkedIn.

(All images property of respective companies.)

Stop Asking Google, Ask Wolfram Alpha

2009-12-10T14:10:00.000-08:00

One of the main attractions to the internet for many people is the fast delivery of information directly to you. When you need to find something it's nothing more than a few words in a search engine to find it.

As useful as search engines are, much of the time people are looking for specific information. This is where knowledge engines come in. And king of them all is WolframAlpha. It occupies what I like to call the Google spot. That is, top of its field for righteous reasons.

'But what exactly is a knowledge engine?' you may be asking. Well it's simple. If there is a specific piece of information you are looking for such as a trend in populations, maybe the you want you know about electrical principles or you are learning music and need some help. WolframAlpha is helpful in all of these situations and many more.

It is an amazing source of knowledge and with practice it can become even more amazing. It has its flaws though, it doesn't always know exactly what you are trying to say, but it does keep getting better and better.

It's never going to replace Google, it isn't trying to, but the next time your kids need help on their maths homework, give WolframAlpha a try.

(All images copyright WolframAlpha. Used with permission)

A Brief Look at a Very Good New Security Tool Courtesy of Microsoft

2009-12-10T00:17:00.000-08:00

Computers are different things to different people but to most they are expensive investments in technology and act as a source of connection to the outside world.

So it stands to reason then that we would all like to protect them. There are a number of different options, some free and some paid for. For many this is a complicated and sometimes pricey process that can often result in uninformed people causing more damage than they are trying to prevent.

Most computer security programs are either too complicated, too expensive or both. And to top that off many eat away at your system resources turning your computer into little more than a dedicated security device.

This is why I'm sure you can see that I have issues with recommending any particular program (other than in a lesser of two evils sort of way). But a few months ago I started using Microsoft Security Essentials alongside my regular Norton's Suite and haven't looked back.

I say I'm using it alongside as in my mind its working in a trial period before I let it go out all on its own. Also its new so I'm sure it isn't perfect. I apoligise if I sound a bit unsure. The thing is, so far I've found nothing wrong with it. It's free, it works on XP, Vista and 7, it's light and its easy for anyone to use.

It isn't the best for every user out there. All in all though it's pretty good. Nothing will ever protect you for 100% of threats and nothing replaces being a bit cautious and very skeptical on the web. Don't expect all the features that you get with the big suites with Microsoft Security Essentials, you won't get them because that's not what this software is for.

I recommend that any one interested in this or their computer's security in general has a look at some sites such as AV Comparatives and the like in order to make an informed decision on their computer's security.

What does everyone else use? Leave a comment below.

Improving Your Online Experience: Four (Free) Alternatives to Internet Explorer

2009-12-01T23:47:00.000-08:00

Although I recognise that it is the most popular web browser; Microsoft's Internet Explorer is, in my opinion, far from the best. Past and present versions have been characterised with problems including performance issues , major security flaws and a less than impressive appearance. While I recognise that they are improving these areas in the desperate struggle to maintain a dominant market share, there are many browsers that surpass it and already avoid these issues.

The four most popular of these (in order of popularity from Stat Counter) are: Firefox, Safari, Chrome and Opera.

Firefox: The World’s second most popular browser is also probably its most versatile. This is due primarily to its solid core of user-developed content such as themes, add-ons and plug-ins. Mozilla also have a strong community and both official and unofficial support are easy to come by.

While it may be superior to Internet Explorer in many aspects, chances are they won’t be visible on the surface to most users. Those who make use of the add-on content however will be able to see a large difference both of the surface and in day to day use.

Safari: Although it’s not to my personal tastes, there is no denying that Safari is one of the most popular browsers. Apple patrons should be familiar with it as the default browser for Apple computers and other devices including the iPhone and iPod Touch. There is also a version for Windows that’s well worth trying however many users are put off by the appearance which seems out of place on a Windows based computer. The update manager is another frequent annoyance on an otherwise solid piece of software as it seems as if it constantly wants you to install software you don’t want to.

Chrome: Google’s new browser turns out to be solid, containing a set of well thought out features and clean interface. For the average user, this is the browser that I would recommend containing everything you need and nothing you don’t. The interface maximises the viewing area for the user without sacrificing any features. This in it itself is enough reason to switch from Internet Explorer and the numerous toolbars that your version undoubtedly has. As seen here it is also one of the fastest browsers.

Chrome is the closest I’ve been to experiencing the idealistic internet that was marketed to us in the 90s as it really does just allow the user to- for lack of a better word- “surf” the internet.

Opera: The forgotten browser. This unfortunate but true fact says nothing about Opera and its performance, appearance or security. For me Opera has a unique balance of Firefox’s features and Chrome’s simplicity. For an average user unwilling to switch to Chrome, Opera should definitely be considered. When I first tried it I found that it was like a breath of fresh air from Internet Explorer.

Conclusion: To put it simply, in my opinion Chrome is the best browser I have used for the average user, balancing features and design. Any of these four browsers are a good choice in my mind but if you choose not to switch then at least make sure that you have the most recent version of Internet Explorer as certain versions (6&7) are have large security holes if left un-updated.

In my next post I will be talking about how great a certain piece of software from Microsoft is. If you liked this article please check that one out when it is posted.