Monday, August 26, 2013

Should I donate to open source projects?

I was recently asked by a client who was using open source software whether they should donate to the project or not. For me this was a hard question. My personal desire is to donate, but my experience shows me open source projects generally take the work of others and do not themselves contribute to those who they take from.

For example, I made open source dictionaries available from my site. The work was originally based on the UK dictionary created by others. The direction I received from the open source project was to simply take the work of others that was closest to what I wanted to create. There was really no thought given to assist those whose work I was to use.

The world however has a funny way of paying you back. As I had not considered those I was taking the initial work from, I would soon find others would do the same to me and not give anything back.

I built the Australian dictionary in my own time and provided the dictionary to my clients at not cost to assist them. In hindsight I should have stopped there. Instead I then went on to answer around a thousand emails from open source participants and contributed the work to the OpenOffice.org project. Over the next three years I found I could count on one hand the number of people who contacted me with a word suggestion. All the work to maintain and enhance the dictionary was through my own efforts consuming hundreds of hours.

Then the Firefox project used my work for the basis of their Australian dictionary making a few changes and adding errors to the dictionary. Less than an hours work. The Google Chrome project likewise came along and took my work and incorporated the work into their project and gave nothing back. My open source work now has millions of users and yet I received almost nothing for my efforts.

So now when people ask should they donate the answer is pretty simple. Most open source projects take the work of others and don't give back so why should you. If the projects don't feel inclined to give back to those they take from and don't feel guilty, then neither should you.

That isn't the way I work. I've donated a small amount to the projects I use because it is part of my nature. But the reality is don't let your conditioning determine what you do. Open source projects take what they want, from whomever they want, to give what they want, and that isn't giving back to those they take from. That is just how open source works. Personally I believe in giving back to those who assist me and that isn't how open source works.

So next time you feel guilty for using the software from open source projects without paying for it, don't feel guilty. That's exactly what they are doing and they don't feel guilty at all, so neither should you.

Kelvin Eldridge
Online Connections
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.

Friday, August 23, 2013

MyAnswers: Clicking on a link which states "click to see email" doesn't work on one machine.

The following MyAnswers solution 2383 is now available:

I have a link on my web page which states "click to see email" but doesn't work on one computer. I'm using Internet Explorer. On every other computer I use if I click on the link a windows opens with the email address.


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Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au/myanswers/
(An Online Connections service.)

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Energy Cost Calculator an example of a simple internet site.

I built the Energy Cost Calculator some time ago whilst I was reviewing the electricity cost of appliances and the payback period in terms of replacing an appliance with a lower running cost appliance. The Energy Cost Calculator proved to be very useful and assisted us in reducing our electricity usage to around half. We currently sit around 7 kWh per day. Pretty good for an household with three people.

I've now decided to set up the Energy Cost Calculator as a separate site which is www.energycostcalculator.com.au.

I often look for opportunities for businesses that I support to see if developing a fairly simple but useful app might assist them in promoting their business. As long as things are kept simple the return on the investment with a single job may be sufficient to pay for the development of the app. Excluding my own time the cost for the site is around $10 a year. I expect the app will pay for itself many time over in a year, however if it doesn't, compare to other forms of advertising the risk for return is not large. Best of all the app is a useful tool which I use so really I'm pretty much ahead anyway.

By developing the Energy Cost Calculator as a web app rather than a native app, the same app can be accessed from any computer and most modern smartphones. That covers most internet users. An Apple or Android native app would take far more resources to develop and would only work on the platform it was designed for.

If you feel a simple web application might help you promote your business and require assistance, please give me a call.

Kelvin Eldridge
Online Connections
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.

MyAnswers: How to recover the data on the hard disk from a dead computer.

The following MyAnswers solution 2382 is now available:

A client's Lenovo notebook recently died and I was asked to recover the data on the hard disk. Normally companies can charge hundreds of dollars for this service which I think is a bit steep. For those who do it themselves the cost can be between $10-$30.


Click here to obtain the solution.

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Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au/myanswers/
(An Online Connections service.)

Porn users tricked in cyber extortion is a reminder to all of us, our webcams can capture any of us at any time.

Whilst I may hear cries “that porn doesn’t apply to me as I don’t watch porn”, the reality is porn users were the target market in this case but it could just as easily be any computer with a webcam.

Porn users tricked in cyber extortion... Read More

It has always concerned me that a webcam is installed in most notebook computers. I have one and I suspect you will as well. That means the webcam is pointed at me right now and potentially could be seeing me and what is around me at any point in time.

We’ve seen how the police used this feature to gather evidence on one of their own, but really what is to stop a malicious software writer from infecting your computer with software that uses your webcam without you realising. Earlier webcams had a cover which you could slide across ensuring such software could not see anything, but modern notebooks have no such cover.

I was thinking what is the easier way to cover the webcam and the idea I came up was a cut down bandaid. That is cut the sticky pieces a little shorter and then the fabric can be placed over the webcam and the bandaid stuck down on either side. The camera lens doesn’t get sticky glue on it and removing the bandaid is quite easy.

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problem.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

MyAnswers blog and site merged into Online Connections.

MyAnswers enables me to provide solutions to clients' problems cost effectively, saving time and money for clients.

For some time when I've posted notifications for solutions to the MyAnswers blog and also to the Online Connections blog. Solutions provide clients with an idea of problems others are having that have already been solved. To me it no longer made sense keeping MyAnswers as a separate site. Now all notifications regarding solutions will only be posted on the Online Connections blog.
 
The MyAnswers site has also been merged into the Online Connections site. You can find MyAnswers at www.OnlineConnections.com.au/myanswers, or you can use the link from the Online Connections site.

Kelvin Eldridge
Online Connections
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.

Friday, August 16, 2013

MyAnswers: Installing Office365 failed with message: "Something went wrong. Sorry we ran into a problem."

 
The following MyAnswers solution 2379 is now available:
When trying to install Office365 on a Windows 7 machine the install kept failing with a message: "Something went wrong. Sorry we ran into a problem."

Click here to obtain the solution.

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Kelvin Eldridge
www.MyAnswers.biz
(An Online Connections service.)

Thursday, August 15, 2013

MyAnswers: How to add a Start button to the taskbar in Windows 8.

 
The following MyAnswers solution 2378 is now available:
In this solution I provide instructions on how to add a Start button to the Windows 8 taskbar. This adds the button which takes you to the Start screen, but does not include the Start Menu. A common issue is the discomfort people have is not having a Start button on the taskbar.

Click here to obtain the solution.

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Kelvin Eldridge
www.MyAnswers.biz
(An Online Connections service.)

Windows 8.1 Australian release date 18th October

Microsoft have announced the release of Windows 8.1 will start on the 18th of October and start its global tour.

If I read this is correctly it sounds like come the stroke of midnight in each country Windows 8.1 will be available from the Windows App Store. I may have misinterpreted what I read but in any case, we should expect Windows 8.1 to be available around the 18th.


Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 if you require help with your computer.
No problem too small.

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Free web hosting for new business promotions.

One of the advantages I've been able to share with clients is how to set up their site on the internet for $24 for the domain for two years and around $10 a month for hosting. However, when the client wishes to promote a new service on the internet using a new domain, they don't have to pay for additional hosting.

When Master Renovators wanted to promote their new porcelain tile drilling service, they were pleasantly surprised to find out there was no additional cost for hosting. The only cost (apart from time) was $24 for two years for the domain name www.porcelaintiledrilling.com.au. The time to create the page and set up the site, including an email address, was around an hour and a half.

In addition to assisting the client with their site I then also kick-start the site by promoting the site using the JustLocal advertising service. In the first day of being live www.porcelaintiledrilling.com.au received a visit from a Google search and is now receiving traffic. I can't think of any other advertising medium that is so cost effective and starts to generate traffic within hours of the advertisement being written.

If you'd like assistance to put your small business on the internet you are welcome to contact me. My approach is to assist you to sign up for the services so you are in control and are not locked into using my services. You only use my services because you want to, not because you have to.

Kelvin Eldridge
Online Connections
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.

Saturday, August 10, 2013

Analysts report a record number of price increases for enterprise software products from Microsoft

One thing that can happen when the market gets tough, is businesses can increase prices knowing their users aren’t going anywhere, and in the case where you are largely locked into a product, you have no choice but to pay up.

Microsoft Corp. plans to raise the price of the Datacenter edition of the upcoming R2 release of Windows Server 2012 by 28 percent, adding to what analysts call a record number of price increases for enterprise software products from Redmond.... Read More

Why this works is very simple. It is the same approach used by the government which looks good in theory, but in practice nets the government increased revenue. The government increases the price of cigarettes, even by what is considered a considerable amount. This is done under the guise of being good for the health of the community (and none of us can really argue about that). But the government knows they have an addicted market. Yes a small number of people will give up, but the loss in revenue from the decrease is far outweighed by the price increase.

The detail is hidden in the maths. If you increase the price of a product by 10%, even if you lose 10% of your customers you’ll still be well ahead. The reason is you haven’t just increased the product by 10%, but for the business you’ve increased your margin by perhaps 20-25%. Thus in some cases the business would have to lose up to 25% of their customers, and if the customers are tied in, that isn’t going to happen.

When using any service which ties you in, keep in mind once tied in you have to tolerate the price increases and chances are, those price increases will continue to come.

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problem.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.

Alert: Postal Vote Application delivered to your mail box may not be from the Australian Electoral Commission. Beware of material from Kevin Andrews MP.

I must admit this one shocked me. A couple of days ago I had a Postal Vote Application Form, which I was going to pass on to friends of the family to use, since they could use them and I had no purpose for them. The forms had arrived in the mail. I was gutted when I read the following.

People who intend to vote this way have been urged by the Australian Electoral Commission to take extra care when filling in forms, as postal voting applications sent to the household may be a vehicle for political parties to collect the most personal details of the voting public.... Read More

These forms reportedly aren’t from the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) and in fact are from the political parties. In my case I suspect the Liberal Party because it has on the back “With the compliments of Kevin Andrews MP”. When you fill out the forms according to the newspaper article they apparently go to the party where the information is collected and the form then passed on. It is illegal not to pass the form on.

This is all totally legal. I personally see this as a straight out scam. We expect it on the internet but when our own politicians do it what hope is there for this country. I’m both shocked and disappointed.

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problem.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Weight Loss Maths is a site which uses a low cost approach

The Weight Loss Maths site is now live. The Weight Loss Maths site serves two purposes. The first is to share what I've learnt about the maths of dieting and to share that information with others. The second purpose is it provides a live site which can demonstrate how to build a presence on the internet for very low cost.

The total cost (excluding time) for the site, including the domain name www.weightlossmaths.com.au, which is registered for two years, is $19.98. Yes, effectively the price is under $10 a year.

My approach as an IT Consultant is to help people build a presence on the internet and enable the client to be part of the process as much or as little as they wish. Some people like to be fully involved and take over their site, whilst others just want it done. Ultimately the approach used is up to the client. By working with clients, clients remain in control of their site and their domain. Many businesses keep control over a client's site and domain which means customer loses control. The customer is then tied into the supplier's business. My approach is to assist clients when needed, and if a client for some reason wishes to go somewhere else (I hope that they don't), then it is their choice.

To build a site like Weight Loss Maths, including registering the domain, you should allow around two to three hours of time. Part of the time is training on how to post articles to the site. When something is required in the future which is beyond the skill of the client, I'm available to assist.
Kelvin Eldridge
Online Connections
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Alert: St George - account e-statement

The aim of this email is to highlight the continuing problem of legitimate sites which have been compromised by a third party who have then installed malicious code on the site. This means any site can potentially be used for malicious purposes such as infecting computers, phishing attacks and identity theft.

The following is the body of the email.

Your St.George Internet Banking Profile Has Been Blocked.
Kindly activate your St.George OnLine e-statement please "LOGIN"

The word LOGIN is a link to a page on a UK site. The site which could be any site has a web page added in the folder "Scripts/stgeorge/stgeorge/stgeorge/stgeorge/stgeorge/stgeorge/". The owner of the site will initially not be aware their site is now delivering a malicious page. The email was sent from New Jersey in the United States.

If you receive such an email you should delete it. If you receive an email with a link to a site it is best to open your browser and type in the address. Every day with the internet someone is literally attacking all of us. Only you can protect yourself and your interests so please take appropriate care.

Kelvin Eldridge
Online Connections
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.

Google Chromecast fails the Hotel TV test.

I thought this was an interesting experience a journalist shared when trying to use the Chromecast to access online content instead of using the hotel’s more expensive in-room service.

The $35 Chromecast seemed like the perfect alternative to expensive hotel pay-per-view. Unfortunately, the hotel's Wi-Fi didn't cooperate.... Read More

Using the Chromecast to provide entertainment whilst travelling failed for the following reason. When signing on to use a hotel’s Wi-Fi service you usually need to complete a logon screen. With the Chromecast you can’t access the logon screen so you can’t log on.

The second reason the device may fail even if you were able to log on is free Wi-Fi in hotels is renowned for not being particular fast or stable. There’s a good chance you wouldn’t get the bandwidth you’d require. Having said that, if you can watch the video feed on your computer then there’s no reason you can’t watch the feed on your TV.

This actually leads to a very interesting solution. If you take a computer also take a HDMI, VGA and audio cable with you. Most computers can connect to a second screen such as a modern TV and output what you’d see on your screen to the TV. Big screen enjoyment whilst travelling, as long as the free Wi-Fi can deliver the content.

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problem.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.

 

NOTE: The Google Chromecast is not currently available in Australia.

Monday, August 5, 2013

MyAnswers: How to see which sites you've visited in Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox and Safari.

The following MyAnswers solution 2377 is now available:

I purchased a service from a site on the internet and want to cancel but can't remember the site. The following is how to check see the sites you've visited recently in Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox and Safari.


Click here to obtain the solution.

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Kelvin Eldridge
www.MyAnswers.biz
(An Online Connections service.)

MyAnswers: How to find the printer queue in Windows 7

The following MyAnswers solution 2376 is now available:

Often when printing under Windows there will be an error and the print job may sit in a queue blocking subsequent print jobs. Also if a printer can't be seen for some reason it may go offline. This solution shows you how to solve those problems.


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Kelvin Eldridge
www.MyAnswers.biz
(An Online Connections service.)

MyAnswers: Burning CD in Windows Media Player no longer works in CD player.

The following MyAnswers solution 2375 is now available:

When I burn a music CD using Windows Media Player (using Windows 7) and put the CD into my CD player it no longer works. A friend has changed a setting recently and I don't know how to fix it.


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Kelvin Eldridge
www.MyAnswers.biz
(An Online Connections service.)

It you're a software developer and thinking about developing an app keep these figures in mind.

I've heard a couple of unconfirmed figures in terms of the sales of apps.
 
1. The top 20 apps represent 50% of app purchases.

2. The top 200 apps represent 80% of app purchases.

I read once that 80% of paid Android apps are never downloaded more than a 100 times.

Apple recently reported that 90% of the apps in their app store are downloaded at least once a month. Whilst this sounds good, keep in mind that once a month means just 12 downloads a year and with apps being around a $1 each, that isn't much money. That also means 10% of apps are not downloaded more than 12 times a year.

The problem for developers is to get a realistic picture of what to expect for their efforts. Most developers are good developers but most are not in the top 20%, which means be realistic as to how much you think you'll earn from developing an app. In general, unless you have a hit (like finding gold in the gold rush days) chances are the return won't be that great. In fact if you factor in your costs and time you'll probably have made a substantial loss.

If Apple, Google and Microsoft would provide better statistics it would make it easier for developers to make better informed decisions. Without real information to make decisions many developers will invest considerable effort for little return. Of course it probably isn't in the interest of the app store owners to let developers know the actual statistics because then many would realise their efforts won't generate them much income.
 
For example Apple recently announced they've paid App developers $10 billion. There are 900,000 apps. If just 200 make 80% of the money, that means on average developer makes around $2,000, which for an IT person is one to two weeks pay. I'm sure developers put in a lot more time and resources than that. Buying an Apple computer for development alone would consume most of the money.
I'm not saying don't develop apps, just make sure you have your eyes wide open if you do. Apple makes a great deal of money and most developers simply give away their time to make the Apple App store look good. The same would be true for Google and Microsoft's app stores.

Kelvin Eldridge
Online Connections
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Geoblocking on Office 365

It came to my attention that Microsoft has introduced geoblocking on Office 2013/Office 365. Australia is considered to be in the same geographical region as New Zealand, Korea and Singapore.

This is important because if you purchase a copy in this region and go to install it in another region you could have issues. Likewise if you purchase a copy of the software in another region and try to install it in our region you won't be able to.

I have heard second hand reports that airline hostesses are having trouble when using their software in another country and whilst this isn't confirmed it may indicate possible issues for international travellers/users. I've not personally heard of anyone having such problems but since the software is relatively new and no one has let me know they've had issues I can't say whether or not this is any issue.

The only obvious issue is of course Microsoft don't want to you purchase software from another region and install it in Australia. For some this will create a problem.

Kelvin Eldridge
Online Connections
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.

MyAnswers: How to remove red eye from a digital photo.

The following MyAnswers solution 2374 is now available:

I have a digital photo where one person has red eye. How can I remove the red eye for a better photo?


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Kelvin Eldridge
www.MyAnswers.biz
(An Online Connections service.)

Saturday, August 3, 2013

MyAnswers: How to display system files in File Explorer using Windows 8.

The following MyAnswers solution 2373 is now available:

How do I display System files in File Explorer using Windows 8. There is an option for Hidden files in the toolbar but not System files.


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Kelvin Eldridge
www.MyAnswers.biz
(An Online Connections service.)