Browsezilla

Basics of a Well-Designed Web Page

Designing your own web page isn’t easy — especially if you’re not a professional graphic designer. But there are some basic principles that you can use to create a better designed page if you can’t afford to pay for a professional to design your site.

Text alignment: Something that makes amateur pages stand out is the text. There needs to be a logical flow so that eye of a visitor is attracted to what is most important, what’s second most important, and so on. This means that if you use columns, they’re used effectively and not randomly. If people visit your site and don’t know where to look, they’ll likely leave the site immediately.
Use of white space: Technically it might not be “white,” but basically don’t fill the page with words. Dense words turn readers off and will also cause them to likely leave rather than having to sift through it all to find what they want.
Fonts: Many amateurs use too many fonts on their home page. At most, you’ll have three, but most well-designed pages have two: one for headings and subheadings and one for body text. You might also have a stylized font for your company logo, but that’s separate and doesn’t really count.
Colors: It’s important to choose colors that don’t hurt the eye of the visitor (i.e. nothing too bright or garish), but at the same time you want something interesting. Most importantly, make sure the font color is easily readable.

Filed Under: Browsers, Computers, Technology Tagged With: Font, Typographic alignment, Web page

Selecting the Best Web Browser for Your Taste

Image via Wikipedia

Three web browsing programs currently dominate the market, with other programs trailing in the far distance. Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer are the most widely used browsers, but all have distinct features and issues that can make or break them for the end user.

Internet Explorer is widely popular, but tends to be the most vulnerable of the big names. While Microsoft does work on minimizing the security risks, the loopholes never seem to be completely closed. It is also a “busy” browser, meaning that the interface is loaded with buttons and bars that tend to be superfluous for the job of surfing the Internet. Many external programs such as Yahoo Instant Messenger like to add in their own bars, cutting down on the real estate of the actual website window. Certainly these can be turned off, but why do they get turned on to begin with? When all is said and told, Internet Explorer may or may not enhance your surfing experience.

Firefox, another popular browser, has a much cleaner interface. The security against viruses is much stronger, although it is not invulnerable. Firefox gives the user the opportunity to install add-ins of their choice. This customizes the interface to the user’s tastes, but make the computer vulnerable to attack. However, Firefox is still a good browser, and resists most virus issues.

Chrome, created by Google’s developers, is the most pared down of all browsers. Again, it is not free of issues, but a user can overlook that in favor of a clean and uncluttered. It is the least popular of all three, but users tend to be die-hards over the program.

Filed Under: Browsers, Software/Hardware Tagged With: Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Web browser

Google Chrome Browsing Tips

Image via Wikipedia

The Chrome web browser, created by Google, has a lot of options built into it that beginning users may miss because of the incredibly simple interface that is used. While many options may be hidden away to give a neat, polished appearance, there’s a considerable amount of customization you can do to make Chrome your favorite and most useful web browser.

First of all, you’ll want to download Google Chrome. The browser replaces or can substitute for your normal web browser, such as Internet Explorer, Firefox or Safari. Then, you’re free to customize your experience.

Many web browsers let you set up your home page or the page that’s accessed when you first launch the browser. Google Chrome lets you assign multiple pages when you start up. Perhaps you’d like to access an online mail account, your work webpage and your favorite news source. Click on the wench icon on the right hand side of your browser’s address bar (you’ll become very familiar with the options this button provides). Click on options and choose the “basic” tab and you’ll see a radio button to choose where you can add or remove the pages you’d like opened on startup.

If you’ve ever needed to compare two sites at once, you may have found yourself switching between tabs or windows constantly. The Google Chrome Dual View plugin lets you open two pages in the same tab.

There are lots of other extensions and applications that are available on Google Chrome that can help customize your experience even more. From web designing tools to games, you’ll find almost everything you’ll want to have in the Google Chrome site.

Filed Under: Browsers, Technology Tagged With: Firefox, Google, Google Chrome

Keeping Your Gaming Desktop Safe

As a computer owner, keeping your computer safe and secure can be troubling enough, especially if you don’t have the right software. However, for gamers, there is another layer of threats that are presented. In this conversation it becomes apparent that more care must be taken to protect the gaming desktop that is used.

Gamers are at risk due to viruses that may be found in one’s favorite games. Hackers and spammers may try to send viruses and worms through these mediums. If they are successful, files may be stolen or the computer may be destructed. Playing a game – similar to opening an unknown email attachment – gives way to additional security threats. Gaming desktops are at particular risk.

Thus, it becomes important to find a reliable antivirus program to protect gamers against such threats. Consider a program that can provide this additional protection. There are several antivirus choices for gamers, such as Symantec Norton Internet Security, Eset Smart Security, and ZoneAlarm Extreme Security.

Review some of your choices to see what works best for your system and your needs. Always remember to back up important files, as you never know when something might happen – virus-related or not.

Gamers are at particular risk due to the possibility of obtaining a virus through games. Thus it is extremely important to protect one’s gaming desktop against threats that can cause serious damage. If you are at risk, consider well-received antivirus programs that can allow you to have fun safely. With a few steps you can have peace of mind while you play games on the Internet.

Filed Under: Software/Hardware Tagged With: AntiVirus

iPad Looks to Maintain its Position

The Consumer Electronics Show debuted several new products meant to whet the appetites of electronic lovers everywhere. In 2010 the hot item was iPad the first widely successful consumer tablet. If 2010 was the dawn of the tablet then 2011 might be the beginning of its reign. Several manufacturers released sneak previews of their tablets — many that run on the Google supported Android operating system.

Plenty of companies are issuing products to challenge the dominance of the iPad. Some of the companies, including Motorola and Samsung, are major players in the consumer electronics market. Even with major companies backing entries into the tablet market competitors to the iPad face an uphill struggle. Even tablets that can meet and exceed the performance of the iPad must overcome the massive head start that the iPad enjoys on cornering the market. The word iPad has come to represent the tablet technology in the eyes of most consumers. Getting a head start on the marketplace has served Apple well with other technologies.

The iPod has been on the market for nearly a decade. Even though other companies have attempted to issue their own MP3 players none have been able to seriously challenge the position of the iPod. Creative Labs, Microsoft and Sony have all failed to gain a foothold in this market. The iPod has a powerful secondary market of hardware, software and services that are attached to it. Consumers are as attracted to familiar services such as the iTunes store as they are to the actual iPod.

Apple faces plenty of competitors in the tablet market, but the company appears to be in a strong position to maintain its market share. Apple enjoys the strong advantages of product awareness, a massive marketing budget and a powerful supporting system of products and services that will ensure that the iPad will remain a leader on the tablet market for years to come.

Filed Under: Computers

Alternative Browsers to Internet Explorer

When a user buys a computer they find that there is usually stock software installed on the computer. There is the customary games, applications, and word processing programs. One of the things that comes equipped on the computer is Microsoft’s Internet Explorer. It’s a web browser and it has been around forever. However, to those in the know they will tell you that not only is Internet Explorer only one of many web browsers around, but it’s not nearly the best one on the market. Here’s a look at some of the better alternatives to Internet Explorer that are on the market.

Mozilla Firefox

This is probably the most popular web browser that is one the market. It touts itself as the most customizable web browser on the market. Users can change the font, the color scheme, and the what is represented on the toolbar. Firefox also features some of the best updated security measures. These measures are increased pop-up protection and alerts for sites that are not considered safe by Firefox.

Google Chrome

This web browser doesn’t get the attention, and it’s certainly not flashy, but it might be the best browser on the web. It’s whole gimmick is simplicity. There are few icons and no advertisements. There are just bookmarks. What makes Chrome so good is that there is an integrated search bar in the web address bar. It’s one of the better web browsers out there, and from a company like Google, nothing less should be expected.

Opera

This is a much lesser known web browser, but one that has been around for 15 years. This browser is very big on the widgets that it’s user can put onto their browser. It’s fully customizable and has improved it’s protection to users over the year. They also tend to cater to businesses. They pride themselves on being able to help a business with their web strategy. These are better alternatives to Explorer.

Filed Under: Internet

How Much Hard Drive Space Do I Really Need?

When purchasing a new computer or upgrading an old model, one of the biggest questions is what size hard drive you will need to store all of your applications and associated information. Personal computer hard drives have come a long way in the last twenty years, now offering storage up to several terabytes. But how much space do you really need on your computer, and when does extra hard drive space just become a waste of money?

Evaluate Your Current Hard Drive Usage

The best way to know how much you need is to know how much you’re currently using. On a Windows PC this is as simple as going to Start > Computer and right-clicking on your main hard drive. You can easily see how large your hard drive is and how much of it you’re using. If you’re approaching your storage limits and noticing any sort of performance issues on your computer such as slow application processing, you may need to invest in a bigger hard drive.

Determine Your Primary Computer Activities

Once you’ve decided you need more space, you have to consider what tasks your computer is performing. Do you just use it for research, opening a word processor and browsing the web? Is your hard drive full of music and movie files? Do you need extra space for large applications that eat up 10-20gbs apiece?

Most people will have plenty of hard drive space with the standard 250gb shipped in basic factory models. If you download a lot of multimedia or compile videos on your computer, you may find the need to purchase up to 500gb. Only gaming computers should ever need more than that, but if you find yourself running out of space, you can always purchase an external hard drive to help lighten the load.

Filed Under: Software/Hardware

Using Valuable Web Design Tools

If you want to ensure your career in web design is successful, it’s important that you always stay up to date with the latest advances in internet and web design technology. By doing this, you will have access to tools that will simplify your job and can incorporate the latest technology advancements into your website programming. Here are a few web design tools worth utilizing, if you aren’t yet familiar with them.

Color Matching Tools

Various free color matching tools are currently available to download. These applications are wonderful because they allow you to view how colors will appear in a web based setting and can greatly simplify the color matching process.

Additionally, if your budget doesn’t yet allow the purchase of expensive designing software, these free color matching tools can act as great supplements until the budget gets a little larger. Color is major element defining the attractiveness of websites and should be a top concern as you begin each project.

Screen Sizing Applications

The days of designing websites for one screen resolution have passed since most people now access the Internet from a variety of platforms. To ensure your designs are accessible from a variety of gadgets, consider using one of the many screen sizing applications that are currently available.

These screen sizing applications are valuable tools because they allow you to view how various website elements appear in various screen resolutions so you can make adjustments if necessary. The last thing you want is to create a wonderful design only to have it be incompatible with a popular gadget.

Pursuing a career in web design can be a very profitable decision. As online technology continues to expand, the need for skilled web developers will also grow. By staying up to date with the latest online advancement and utilizing web development tools, you can experience immense success in this career field.

Filed Under: Software/Hardware

Technologies

This is the list of currently suggested Java technologies for use in the Jazilla (Java-Mozilla) project. Most of the ones currently listed were suggested by Ernst de Haan (znerd@hotmail.com)

Java Native Interface (Javasoft)

JavaMail (JavaSoft)

JDK 1.2 ORB (JavaSoft)

Java Media Framework (JavaSoft)

Java 2D (JavaSoft)

Java 3D (JavaSoft)

JDK 1.2 Security (JavaSoft)

Java Cryptography Extensions (JavaSoft)

Java Accessability (JavaSoft)

Java Sound (JavaSoft)

Java Speech (JavaSoft)

Java Telephony (JavaSoft)

JNDI [Naming Services] (JavaSoft)

JDBC [Database Access] (JavaSoft)

Electronic Commerce (JavaSoft)

Java Message Service (JavaSoft)

Java AWT Data Transfer Report by Ernst de Haan

Java Activation Framework (JavaSoft) Report by Ernst de Hann

Usability report by Ernst de Hann

HTTP API: Jigsaw (W3C)

Parsing API: SAX (Microstar Software)

Sax to DOM

DOM (W3C)

Filed Under: Technology

Open Source Technology

Open source technology refers to the development of software and other programs that offer access to the source of the product. Allowing users to view the source code of a specific program opens communication paths and allows for interactive communities to exist.

The open source model includes the idea of varying approaches in development and production, as well as use of specific software and hardware programs. Previously, commercial software programs were very rigid in the use and installation, and the source and data could not be viewed or altered. For individuals who were very familiar with the way computers run and the program files that were necessary and those that were obsolete, this was frustrating. Thus, the creation of open source technology has been well received among those who want to choose what files are installed onto their computers.

In order to qualify as open source software, programs must meet certain requirements, according to the Open Source Initiative. Those restrictions stipulate that access to the source code must be given to those who own the software. Additionally, the license to own this program must permit modifications to be made, as long as the integrity of the software is maintained throughout the changes. It also cannot discriminate against anyone or group of people.

Programs also cannot be restricted from being used in specific fields. The Open Source Definition was loosely based on the Debian Free Software Guidelines, to ensure that all programs maintain continuity. Open source software is available in the form of source code, which allows users to change and improve the software as they see fit. Usually open source software is created in collaboration among several software companies to be sure that it will fit the needs of all users. According to a study performed in 2008, the creation of open-source software has saved consumers about $60 million.

Filed Under: Software/Hardware, Technology