Archive | Web General RSS for this section

Google Green

Nice explanation from Google on how they are helping the environment – Google Green. Check out ‘the story of SEND’ (emails).

Google Chromebook: an easier way to get online?

Google are preparing to launch their new laptop the Google Chromebook.

What is it?

Bascially, it’s a browser in a laptop and nothing much else.  All content is stored in Google’s cloud (internet).

Why would I want that?

Well, many people will not like that – fair enough!  However, others may see some advantages especially if they spend a lot of time on the internet:

  • Less hassle – forget about running anti-virus, installing programs, configuring the operating system.  Switch it on and away you go.
  • Less worries – all your data is in the Google cloud and can be accessed from any computer or internet enabled device.  If it doesn’t need AV then surely it’s a safer way to browse the web?

Here’s the pitch from Google:

Question

Is this simpler approach, with less technical barriers, a good device to get more people online?

Personally, I think it is.

Blogging – where to start

Thinking of starting a blog?  Here’s a brief introduction to your options.

WordPress

It’s free and you have two options: hosted (wordpress.com) or self hosted (wordpress.org).  Wordpress.com is probably best if you’re just starting as all the techie stuff is taken care off.

Tumblr

Features different post types: text, video, links, photos etc.

Posterous

Easily update your blog by email.

All three have a lot in common, hopefully these videos will have provided a useful overview.

My own preference is WordPress.

How Google Works

Learn more about how Google works in its three key areas:

  1. How Search Works
  2. How Search Ads Work
  3. How Google Apps Work
How Search Works
The remaining two can be viewed on How Google Works.

Keyboard Shortcuts for Internet Explorer

For those of you that still use Internet Explorer here are some useful keyboard shortcuts.

You also may want to consider another browser such as:

 

How to backup your Google Doc files

Backup is one of those tasks we should all do on our computers, but what about our files on the web (the cloud).  We assume it is all taken care off and I’m sure in most cases it is, but if you are like me and take a belt and braces approach you may want to do your own independent backup.

Google docs makes it very easy, as this article by Prof. Vinod Kumar demonstrates: Download All Your Files from Google Docs. All nicely packaged in a zip file.

There is also a backup utility named: GDocBackup.  Learn more about it from this article: Backup & download Google Docs files on computer.  Here’s the YouTube demo:

Google Chrome Ads – Extensions and Translate

Google have released two new ads to promote their Chrome web browser.

The ads cover:

  • Extensions – same idea as Firefox add-ons
  • Translate – (I’ll leave you to figure that one out)

I’ve embedded them below: (which along with many other videos can be found on the GoogleChromeUK YouTube channel)

Google Chrome Extensions

Translate for Google Chrome

I’ve installed the following extensions: (download Google Chrome)

  • Twitter Reactions – see the reaction on twitter for the web page you are currently viewing
  • Turn Off the Lights – the entire page fades to dark, so you can watch video as if you are in the cinema

These are most welcome additions to one of my favourite web browsers.

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.