Friday, May 31, 2013

Facebook versus Blogs

google-vs-facebook by bloggingcagedotcom

Photo taken from www.bloggingcage.com

I have a lot of friends who are active on Facebook but they don't have a blog. I feel that they should really get a blog since they're always online and they always have something to say about every issue that's on TV and on the Web.

I'm not saying that they discontinue using Facebook and course their thoughts on a blog. I would suggest that they post their thoughts on Facebook (and Twitter as well) through a blog. The reasons being the following:

1. It's easier to search for topics (or backtrack) on a blog than Facebook. Facebook works best if you wanted to backtrack your post for the last few weeks. However, if you're going to backtrack what you posted 1 or 2 years ago, then good luck with that. Blogs will learn you organize your post according to topics (called Labels) and through dates (from oldest to latest). It also has an option to Search your blog. You can't do a search on Facebook, can you?

2. You can monetize your post through Blogs. If you post your thoughts on Facebook, you don't any money in return. Only Facebook benefits from your constant use of their website. If you monetize your thoughts and posts through blogs, you earn something in return -- either from Google AdSense or Nuffnang Philippines. You can also add advertisements on your blog especially if it's already receiving decent traffic.

3. You can reach more people on blogs than Facebook. Facebook is block most of the time at work. It's also blocked in other countries like China, North Korea, Cuba, Iran, etc. Blogs also have options for Subscription Through Email -- something that Dial Up readers can do. In this age of fiber optics, yes, there are still some areas in rural US, rural Philippines, some Asian countries and some African countries that doesn't have DSL connection.

4. A person who's not on Facebook can't view your Facebook status update. However, if he's connected to the Net, he could at least view your blog. Also, the contents of your blog (especially if it's hosted by Blogger) will automatically be indexed by Google Search. This means that it will reach even more people across the Globe.

5. You can customize your blog unlike your Facebook page. You can include a lot of Widgets on your blog like Facebook Fan Page widget, Twitter widget, Page Views counter, Disqus commenting system, among others. You can change the background color, font and lay-out of your blog to your heart's delight. Blogs bring out the lay-out artist in a person. So if you're one of those Facebook users that complain whenever the lay-out of FB is change, then create your own blog.

6. Amazing stories posted on Facebook looks better on blogs. Every day, we see amazing stories on Facebook but we have to click on Read more to see the entire story. Plus, we only see 1 picture for that story. That's the reason why that inspiring story would look better on a blog. More readable font, more pictures and is searchable on the Net.

Of course, Facebook have advantages over blogs as well but I’ll probably list it down some day. For now, I would highly suggest to start blogging, especially if you’re always online.

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

The Windows 7 Control Panel Category View

One of the most common things that we do with a customer is asking them to go to Control Panel particularly on Device Manager to check the status of the Network Adapters. No Internet connection is one of our common Call Drivers.

Sometimes, getting to Device Manager is a hassle specially to customers who are not familiar to changing from Category View to Large Icons. Don’t even try asking them to type the shortcut through Search programs and files (in Windows 7) since it will take longer. The best way is to steer them through the usual clicks.

Since the Control Panel is displayed (by default) to Category View (and I’m not used to it), I have made some screenshots of the icons in this view. These are the Category View of the different icons in Control Panel (Windows 7 Home Premium).

control panel large icons

This is the best way to go to different items in Control Panel – the Large Icons view. If only it’s easy for customers to switch from Category View to Large Icons. We usually ask customer to go to Device Manager, Windows Firewall, Internet Options, User Accounts, System and Programs and Features.

control panel category

This is the Category View of the Control Panel (Windows 7). This is what customers usually see.

system and security

System and Security, Category View. From here you could go to Windows Firewall, System, Windows Update, and Power Options.

network and internet

Network and Internet, Category View. From here, you could go to Network and Sharing Center, HomeGroup and Internet Options.

hardware and sound

Hardware and Sound, Category View. From here, you could go to Sound, Power Options, and Display.

programs

Programs, Category View. From here, you could go to Programs and Features.

user accounts and family safety

User Accounts and Family Safety, Category View. You can go to User Accounts from here.

appearance and personalization

Appearance and Personalization, Category View. You can go to Display and Folder Options from here.

clock language and region

Clock, Language and Region, Category View. You could go to Date and Time from here.

ease of access

Ease of Access, Category View. I don’t usually go here.

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Windows 8.1 Official Launch

The rumored Windows Blue will be launched very soon. However, it will be officially called Windows 8.1 instead of Windows Blue.

Windows 8.1

The Public Preview Edition will be release on June 26, 2013 on the Windows Store. However, this will have no support. Windows 8.1 is not merely a Service Pack (SP) – it is more than that. It aims to provide continuous updates for Windows customers to create a rich experience for the users.

Julie-Larson Green, the one in-charge of the Windows division at Microsoft, made this announcement on http://www.buildwindows.com and other information appeared on http://blogs.windows.com

Windows 8.1 will also be available for Windows RT – those that are running on ARM platform. It is also hinted that Windows 8.1 would probably bring back the Start Button and Boot to Desktop option due to several feedbacks that customers send to Microsoft. In fact, it is one of the most complained things on Windows 8. Hopefully, after the release of Windows 8.1 customers will finally make the upgrade from XP and Vista.

Sunday, May 19, 2013

10 Things I Like About Windows 8

I'm using Windows 8 since February 2013 and I love it. So far, it's the best Operating System from Microsoft. I already used Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows XP and Windows 7. There is a general impression that Windows 8 is complicated -- but the more you use it, the more you'll realize that it's not that different from Windows 7 (except faster).

The Windows 8 that I'm using by the way is at the office. I'm fortunate that I have a Windows 7 computer at home and a Windows 8 (and 7) computer at the office. We handle the support for Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7 and 8 by the way. However, I haven't tried connecting peripheral devices on Windows 8 yet like printers so I don't know how easy (or difficult) it is with Windows 8.

I haven't explored all the tiny details of Windows 8 yet but so far, here are the things that I like about Windows 8:

1. Yahoo! Mail integration with Mail App -- I love Yahoo! emails. It's my first email address that I have and I usually access it via the web. I'm delighted to know that it's already supported by the Mail App (default email program of Windows 8). I later found out though that it's the new emails from Yahoo! that ends @ymail.com that actually works with Mail App (and it's also working in Thunderbird).

2. Tons of free apps from the Microsoft Store -- I can definitely say that the amount of free apps available on the Microsoft Store rivals that of Google App Store and the Apple Store as well.

3. Fast boot up and shut down -- I have both Windows 7 and Windows 8 at the office and these PCs have the same specifications. I really can tell that Windows 8 boots up and shuts down faster than Windows 7. You also don't get the message that it's installing the updates (please wait).

4. New look (Metro) -- I love the new color combination of Windows 8 called the Metro look. The fonts are clearer, colors are more vivid and the icons (now called Tiles) are very colorful. It's Microsoft's way of competing with the Apple iPad and the Google Android tablets. It is also similar in design with SkyDrive, Office and Outlook.com.

5. Integration with Microsoft Account (sync settings) -- If you have two computers that runs both Windows 8, and then you could sync your settings on both computers. It's similar in concept with the sync option in Google Chrome, wherein your bookmarks will be loaded in any Chrome from any computer as long as you login to your Google Account. Emails from Microsoft (that ends with @hotmail, @live, @msn) are now called Microsoft Accounts and you could also these emails as your computer's login name.

6. Built-in PDF Reader -- No need to install Adobe PDF Reader to be able to read PDF files. Windows 8 already have it's default PDF Reader (simply called "Reader").

7. Built-in AV Program (Windows Defender) -- There is also no need to install the Microsoft Security Essentials (for Windows XP and 7) in Windows 8 because it was already integrated with Windows 8. It's called Windows Defender (similar to Vista) and it looks exactly like Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE).

8. Lock Screen Apps (Mail, Calendar, Messaging, up to 7 apps) -- The Lock Screen is similar in concept with the screensaver. If you're not doing anything on your Windows 8 computer, it will lock up. This time, the apps can be put on the Lock Screen so that you could still know how many emails (or instant messages) you have on your computer, or see the date and time. You could also add other Apps on the Lock Screen like Calendar and Weather.

9. People App (compile all contact info) -- The People App is the new name of the Windows Address Book. It will let you combine all your contacts from Outlook.com, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. It's very convenient especially if you're looking for a person's email address.

 

10. Refresh your PC without affecting your files & Remove everything and reinstall Windows -- This is a new feature in Windows 8 that will let your reinstall Windows 8 even without using the installer CD. It's very similar to the recovery software that is common on most computer laptop brands. The recovery software is a one-key-access software (usually F4, F9 or F12) that will let you reset your computer to the default settings. The installer is in the hidden partition of your Hard Disk Drive so it's a CD-less installation. That feature is already a built-in option in Windows 8.

I haven't test-drive the Pictures App yet but I can see that it has great potential since it will let you access your SkyDrive Pictures Folder as well as your Facebook and Flicker accounts.

The only drawback that I have seen so far in Windows 8 is the absence of the Start Menu (Start Button) from the Desktop screen. A lot of customers are also complaining about this. This is the most recognizable button in the previous versions of Windows. Suddenly <poof> it became the Start Screen.

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Samsung Australia’s Top Call Drivers

Samsung-in-Australia

From August 2012 to January 2013, I handled the support for Samsung Australia. During that period, I’ve compiled the Top Call Drivers of our support. Here are the issues that Australian customers are calling about regarding their Samsung monitors, laptops and printers:

1. Monitor is not turning on

2. Wireless setup for printer

3. Print quality is poor (faded)

4. Customer calling about the repair status

5. Customer calling about the replacement status

6. Misrouted calls to HHP (hand-held phones)

7. Webcam is not working or has poor quality

8. Customer upgraded to Windows 8 and some features (FN keys) are not working

9. Customer unable to scan

10. Customer unable to print on a network printer (wired connection)

11. Customer can't connect to the Internet wireless

12. Video quality is poor when playing video on the Internet

13. External ODD is not reading the CDs, DVDs

14. Computer is not booting into Windows

15. Computer won't turn on

16. Customer can't charge the battery to 100%

17. Battery life is short. Usually less than 2 hours

18. Customer is refusing the Customer Induced Damage (CID) charges saying they didn't do anything with the unit

19. Customer saying the power adapter is not charging the laptop

20. Touchscreen feature of the slate PC is not working

21. Customer can't connect a TV/monitor to the laptop

22. Customer can't use the webcam on Skype

23. Customer needs the product key of the Microsoft Office

24. Customer did a BIOS update and the laptop no longer turns on

25. Setup wireless keyboard for the slate PC

26. Customer can't eject the CD from the CDROM Drive

27. Customer saying the image projected on their HD TV is smaller