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.

Read More

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.

Read More

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.

Read More

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.

Read More

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.

Read More

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.

Read More

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.

Read More