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Socialize Your Interests
July 27th, 2010Everyday I receive emails inviting me to the latest social media website. There are social media websites for every interest. Many claim to have thousands of users, advertise they are going to be more popular than Facebook and some offer to make you a lot of money. Wondering if you are missing out?
You may be missing out, but it depends on what you are seeking. These social outlets are a great place to engage in discussions about your interests and gain valuable information. They also may be a great place to let weirdos in on your personal information. Remember Facebook and MySpace have suffered trying to protect your personal data, surely you can not expect a lower budgeted social site or forum to protect your information at all. Do not avoid them just because they may not protect your info or a weirdo could potentially contact you. Simply assert more caution and avoid using your actual personal information.
Many of these social sites are just someone trying to cash in on a fast buck, but some are really great places to network.
“If you build it, …”
July 15th, 2010Remember the famous lines, “If you build it, they will come.” Please recall the wiser line, “only in the movies,” because it is only in the movies that this line is true. You may have stumbled across the recent online buzz of html5. People have been raving about its replacement of Flash and how wonderful it is. Staple your ecstatic developer to their seat, because with this technology, “If you build it, they will not see it.”
I am just as excited as the next designer to begin implementing this new technology. Flash is great, but the developer in me loves bursting out with new technology. Unfortunately this new technology just isn’t something websites should be using yet. Why? Browsers usually do not support the latest technologies, particularly this one.
HTML5 is not supported by the following browsers…
- Internet Explorer 7 and all older versions of IE
- Firefox 3.0 and all previous versions
- Safari 3.0 and all of its older versions
- Google’s Chrome – none of its versions
- Opera – none of its versions
- Reference provided by Quirksmode.org
With stats like these, take the safe road and do not implement, or allow implementation, of HTML5 for at least another year.
Search – a Public Utility
July 9th, 2010When you think of public utilities, you think of things such as water, electricity, and telecommunications, right?
Read full WebProNews article by Abby Johnson -> Here
“Search is going to be considered a public utility.” – Kevin Ryan of Motivity Marketing.
Monitors – Yes, they are still an issue.
July 1st, 2010
Can you imagine not being able to view the products in a store because you were too small, too large, or just too average? Of course not. Why limit your website viewers based on their monitors? Monitors still come in a variety of sizes and capabilities. Websites need to be created to accommodate all of these differences. Many websites are being created for the latest, high-tech screen resolution size leaving only a portion viewable to a smaller screen size. Some websites are designed to fill the entire space on a very small screen leaving too much empty space when viewed on a larger, wider screen. Neither of these options are ideal.
I am currently taking a class dedicated to web design usability. It is only the second week of class and screen resolution is already being discussed in the textbook as a top design issue. A couple of years ago I created a web speech discussing the screen resolution size design debate. Decide for yourself. 
View this web speech on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZZ9juLDZVI
Associated PowerPoint link download: http://contractcoomer.com/Presentations/screen_resolution_debate.ppt
Wrapping Up Internet Safety Month
June 25th, 2010June is nearing completion so I thought I would make a final post regarding Internet Safety month. Technology is such an awesome thing, but as with much of everything in life, it is often misused. I hear people speak with frustration, expressing how much they wish it would all just go away. It doesn’t need to go away; technology’s misuse does. The Internet, when used properly and wisely, is a beneficial asset to every home and business. ~Surf Safely~
The following are just some random bits involving Internet Safety.
“The statistics are alarming: 1 in 7 kids is solicited for sex online; 1 in 33 kids receives aggressive online solicitations to meet in person; 1 in 3 kids receives unsolicited sexual content online; and 34% of kids online indicate they communicate with people they don’t know.” - PR Newswire snippet: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/1-in-7-kids-is-solicited-for-sex-online-96796509.html
Tips for keeping kids safe online from Verizon’s Internet Security specialist: http://forums.verizon.com/t5/Verizon-at-Home/Tips-from-a-Verizon-Internet-Security-Expert-for-Keeping-Kids/ba-p/212025
Tuesday, June 29, 1:00pm CT, Sprint will be discussing youth Internet safety with Nancy McBride, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children National Safety Director. The event is free and questions are encouraged.
Event Link: http://community.sprint.com/baw/index.jspa
bNetSavvy Website: http://www.bnetsavvy.org/wp/ This website provides useful information to adults interested in helping children be online safely. Cyberbullying information is addressed here as well.
Set password in wamp server’s phpMyAdmin
June 22nd, 2010It has recently been brought to my attention that there are limited resources instructing as to how one can manually set a password in the wamp server’s phpMyAdmin. In fact, I was unable to find a single resource instructing one how to properly put the often needed password into the wamp server’s phpMyAdmin. Why would this matter?
Often MySQL is installed and set with a password. The wamp server’s phpMyAdmin is set to not require a password by default. When one tries to run phpMyAdmin they receive the following error:
MySQL said: 
#1045 - Access denied for user 'root'@'localhost' (using password: NO)
Instructions to set a password to the Wamp Server’s phpMyAdmin:
Navigate to the phpMyAdmin folder which contains the config.inc.php file:
- ‘Computer’
- Double click Local Disk usually (C:) drive
- Open the ‘wamp’ folder (sometimes this is located within the ‘Program Files’ folder)
- Open the ‘apps’ folder
- Open the phpmyadmin folder
- Open the ‘config.inc.php’ file with your favorite text editor ( notepad ++ )
- Locate the following part in the config.inc.php file
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['user'] = ‘root’;
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['password'] = ”;
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['AllowNoPassword'] = true;
- If you use a user other than ‘root’ for your MySQL feel free to change it, but make sure you are using something else
- Place your MySQL password in between the ” like this:
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['password'] = ‘yourpassword’;
- Change the $cfg['Servers'][$i]['AllowNoPassword'] = true; to false like this:
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['AllowNoPassword'] = false;
- Save the file
- Open the wamp server and click ‘phpMyAdmin’ (if wamp was running refresh it and phpMyAdmin)
Internet Safety Month – Website
June 17th, 2010The US Department of Justice is honoring June’s Internet Safety month. The National Criminal Justice Reference Service Website is dedicating web space to educating individuals in Internet safety. The NCJRS Internet Safety page provides a brief overview addressing some of the issues with the Internet and potential problems. The web page also provides links to additional information regarding specific Internet safety issues. These links include information and additional links to General Internet Safety, Internet Safety for Children, Internet Privacy, Cyberbullying and Cyberstalking, and Identity Theft.
Many feel that adolescents are the only ones at risk on the Internet. Having spent years cleaning viruses off of business, family and adult computers, I know this is not the case. Everyone is at risk. The decline in economy has thrown the door wide open for Internet crimes. Be proactive with the Internet safety involving yourself, family and business and read through some of the web pages suggested by the NCJRS. You may learn something new and will definitely reinforce the information you already know.
~ Surf Safely ~
The Right Colored Track
June 14th, 2010There are many theories regarding color and its psychological portrayal. Studies suggest websites may be creating a particular business image just by the colors being used on the website. When searching through various psychological color opinions I chuckled realizing these opinions vastly vary. For instance, I noticed one expert noted black as being evil and mysterious, another noted its meaning as submissive, and another states black is an authoritative color. Reality is that people interpret color differently, a person’s mood interprets color differently. A website may be cheery and pleasant, but to a person in an unpleasant mood that cheery website becomes irritating, possibly nauseating. So what is one to do?
I believe it is an anything goes colored web world. Scour the best of websites and you will notice some are simply colored while others are color blasted. There are important things to remember with web design that apply to ALL web design including color.
Remembering the three Cs can help you stay on the right colored track.
- Content
- Contrast
- Consistency
Web designers are professionally trained to aid a business in choosing the best color, style and theme to suit website needs, but it is important to communicate your thoughts as to how you wish to portray your business.
Internet Safety Month – Video
June 10th, 2010June is Internet Safety Month. In honor of Internet Safety month I have posted the video Steering Clear of Cyber Tricks created by the YouTube safety center.
~ Surf Safely ~
Taking It Personal
June 7th, 2010“Hello, may I speak with … (insert random generic business title here).” 
Do you hate it when you need to talk to someone at a business, but do not know a name to request? When this happens, we often insert a random generic business title, hoping to speak with someone who can help us. It is so much nicer when we know the name of someone who can help us, regardless of our need, they will find a way or direct us to the way. That business is taking it personal. That is the business we don’t hesitate to call or email, knowing we will be helped.
We currently have many Verizon Wireless lines. We use a store located in Warsaw, IN. This particular store has many personable sales professionals. I know what you are thinking, of course they are personal, they want to sell you something. We have been using them for a long enough period of time and with enough lines, they are not in it just to sell to us anymore. We know two of them by name and never hesitate to speak with one. While listening to a local radio station one day, I smiled as the DJ referenced one of them repeatedly. The station sat up shop that afternoon at the Verizon Wireless store in Warsaw telling everyone listening to go in and talk to Anthony. Familiarity with Anthony, made me want to go in and have him sell me something or tell me more about the services and products we were receiving. Matt has eased us into purchasing a couple new phones and a few more lines, a decision we feel we made with the assistance of a friend. This Michiana business is a prime example of a business making its customers feel like they have established a new friendship.
All businesses can learn a great lesson in taking it personal. Has yours?
I have decided to take Contract Coomer to a more personal level. So, the next time you call …
“Hello, may I speak with Brandy,” will be fantastic.
P.S. You can address your emails to ‘Brandy’ too.