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Opera 9.6 released
I strongly recommend the following download, the latest version of the Opera browser. The office is split over whether Firefox or Opera is better. I'm in the Opera camp, although I use both.
Opera 9.6 has been improved to show web pages even faster along with a collection of other bits and pieces.
The email client in Opera is often forgotten, which is a shame because it is very powerful. Firstly it gives emails tags rather than putting them in folders. I prefer tags to folders because an email can be given several tags but only put into one folder.
Opera 9.6 has a new low bandwidth mode which should improve the download speed when on a slow connection. I'm guessing this is a similar technology to the mobile version of Opera, Opera Mini. The web pages or emails are sent to the computer via an Opera server that compresses them.
Opera Link has been improved. This is a synchronisation service that now shares bookmarks, SpeedDial settings, notes and even the browser history between different Opera installations using a My Opera account.
Opera is also worth trying just for mouse gestures, which are included by default (Firefox can do this with an addon)
SMS from Windows
One of the things that keep me with my increasingly elderly Nokia 9300 Communicator is that quality of the Windows software, Nokia PC Suite.
Not only does it synchronise all of my contacts and appointments but it will display incoming text messages. The limitation is that there is quite a delay between the text arriving and it appearing onscreen but this is more than made up for by being able to write a reply on the computer instead of the phone.
The only danger is that it is very easy to write an email rather than a text and spend lots of money. Luckily there is a counter that shows how many messages will be required.
The other great thing about PC Suite is it's the only synchronisation software I've ever got to work with Bluetooth. Don't even think about asking about ActivSync for Windows Mobile.
When there's no silver lining in the cloud
I've got a Googlemail account. And it's my main email account, not simply because it's the one I give out the most, but also because it imports several other addresses to avoid checking lots of different mailboxes.
What's starting to worry me a little are the tales on the web of problems when trying to contact Google about problems with the email.
But if you don't pay for something, what level of support can you really expect? Granted Google displays ads on the site but in the three years I've used the account I don't think I've clicked on more than two.
My advice would be to prepare for the worst. I have a computer downloading all of my emails so I wouldn't lose any in the event of being locked out (well no more than 10 minutes worth). I wouldn't be able to access any emails in the meantime but it's a start, and I have other email addresses that could be used in the meantime.
My worries also pose the question, is having the ability to use the Google search engine to look for emails more important than other levels of service, and at what cost?
While I'm pondering that, I ought to try and make the time to learn some useful keyboard shortcuts thanks to the Official Gmail Blog.
Firefox memory performance tip
Tabbed browsing can use up a huge amount of memory if you get carried away, as I often do. There's a quick settings change that can help prevent Firefox 3 from holding the computer back when it is minimised.
The change forces Firefox to transfer all of it's information to the hard drive and out of system memory. Windows moves information around like this anyway but maybe not as soon as we'd like.
You will need to change the settings in the about:config page (the one with the 'Here be dragons' warning!). I haven't tried it yet but I wonder if it will make Firefox a little sluggish when you return to it. A good reason not to get distracted by the internet then...
Password hint for Firefox and Opera
A moments hesitation revealed an incredibly useful aspect of the Password manager in Opera. The page continues to load in the background before you make a decision to save the password or not.
It saves a little time but it is more useful if you are not entirely sure what the password should be. Several sites have had three or more saved passwords on my computer, only one of which is correct because I didn't know to wait.
As the screen shot below shows, by waiting for the password to be accepted or rejected you can opt for 'Not now' and then try again with the correct password.
Firefox does this as well. Sadly it didn't work on Internet Explorer 7. That browser won't send the password until you decide whether or not to save.
Explaining Tabs
We can't imagine not using tabs now in our internet browsers. But they are still new for some people and the help provided for them is crucial.
Interestingly it is only really Internet Explorer that says anything about what the new tab is. Firefox is blank by default and Opera has the Speedial page.*
The IE8Blog has some information about how tabs will work in the next version of Internet Explorer.
The New Tab screen looks quite impressive with some useful hints and tips for using tabs.
I also like the list of closed tabs. I've appreciated this feature in Opera many times in the past and the simple 'Undo closed tab' option in Firefox has always seemed limiting in comparison.
* I like Speeddial, and use it myself, but it doesn't provide much help for the new user.
If it's online, anyone can read it
And I mean anyone, and it's something that often seems to be forgotten, especially with the micro blogging service Twitter. This is best expressed by a funny cartoon on ReadWriteWeb.
Office Genuine Advantage comes to Firefox
There are some situations when Firefox struggles to replace Internet Explorer. Windows Update is one, as was validating Windows for Microsoft updates.
At least until recently in order to validate Windows or Office for a download you had to download a small program which would then give out a special code identifying whether or not the download was allowed.
Internet Explorer had an ActiveX plug in, making the process even simpler as there was no intervention required. It either gave you the download or not.
Now that's true for Firefox as well as there is now a Genuine Advantage plug-in for Firefox as the grab below shows.
It does suggest a certain acceptance for Firefox, not least because Silverlight is also available for it now.
Phishing phrases to avoid
The McAfee Avert Labs has released the top ten phishing phrases they found in August.
1. Update Your Billing Information.
2. Your Account with Google AdWords.
3. Please re-submit your payment information.
4. Your AdWords Google Account is stoped.
5. You have one or more alerts.
6. Update your payment information.
7. Exclusive Back to School savings from PayPal
8. Submit your payment information.
9. Please submit your payment information.
10. Please Re-activate your account.
I'm not suggesting that all emails with these phrases should be deleted but be extra careful and certainly don't click on any links. Log in the normal way if you need to check account details.
August security update for Internet Explorer now available
Word from the IEBlog that the IE Cumulative Security Update for August is now available. It is on Windows Update so should be downloading now if you have Automatic Updates enabled.
As this update is rated Critical, I'd recommend heading over to the Update site anyway just to make sure. I'm on my way there right now...
