IE 6.0 – or as I call it Internet Exploder 6.0

July 2nd, 2009

I was glad to see the recent statistics for website browser usage at the w3school site showed that Firefox is now the dominant web-browser. The simple fact that there are still stats for IE6 are indicative of the issues that Microsoft brings to the web-browser world.

In November 2002 a combined 83% of users used either IE 5 or IE 6. Internet Explorer 6 was released on August 27, 2001, a few months before Windows XP. So it begs the question – why the hell do so many people still have IE 6.0 on their computer?  Someone must have the answer… let me Google..

Here is what one blogger wrote;

“Internet Explorer 6 is always a hot subject of debate. We’ve talked about it here many many times. The forums are full of folks trying to troubleshoot it. The CSS support is problematic and the JavaScript support is proprietary nonsense.”  Source

I believe that a great number of computers in Corporate Calgary are still using IE 6.0. Accordng to stats  90% of the World uses Microsoft Windows – 67.2% Win XP and 18.4% Vista (w3school.com May 2009). So, Microsoft released Vista and 67.2% of their customers did not precieve enough value to upgrade…

This morning when I logged into my computer, I was soon prompted by FireFox to download their newest version of this popular web-browser – v 3.5. So why can’t Microsoft push their browser upgrades in the same manner. Am I missing something here?

Please, people… check your browser and if it was released in 2001 – it’s time for a change.

Download FireFox today.
Your IT support team won’t mind ;-)

browsershots

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INTERWORKS.US :: Paul Brian, President

June 21st, 2009

Stuart Crawford, a good friend and colleague, wrote in his blog today about a US company that has ripped off their website design and writing.

INTERWORKS.US, a company previously called Interworks and now called IT Authority has literally scraped Bulletproof website design and the written content. While they made some effort to rewrite some of the text, they left the majority of the words as they took them.

A quick scan of the domain name “bulletproofit.ca” at CopyScape.com very quickly returns a result showing exactly how the content at both websites compare.

There are some other great tools out there to catch people who steal your writing. While Google Alerts is the standard for names, domains and phrases - Copyscape can monitor and compare all of your website content against copyright infringement. We started monitoring our key marketing websites with copyscape last year. Believe it or note… about every two months someone out there that is starting a website design or search marketing company starts their website off by stealing my content! Incredible.

Now the company that is using the website design and content from the BulletProof IT site, IT Authority, Interworks.us… they state that they are web developers and that they do SEO;

They wrote, “Each website we design is a “one of a kind” site, custom designed from scratch. Effective navigation and usability testing insures your visitors won’t get lost and that they can find your important content and/or products. We have over 10 years web development experiance.”

All I can say to the boys over at IT Authority - experience is spelled with an E… just like Ethics.

The internet is not private. What you do online… well, it stays online.

For example, we know that the Interworks.us website was update as follows; the image on the left is how the website looked until May 2009 according to DomainTools.com. The image on the right is the November 2006 site shot.

IT Authority, June 2008 IT Authority Nov 2006

Here is the screen image of the Interworks.Us website today (click it to read the copy);

homepage1

Now - to compare, please feel free to visit one of Alberta’s best IT company - here and compare the design and copy.

Update: June 22, 2009 - The offending website was altered today to remove the majority of the unique design elements (images).  It Authority / Interworks decided to keep the footer tag on the website “Web Site Designed By IT Authority”

To a degree, I take offense not only regarding the tag remaining on the website claiming some sort of design skills, I take offense to the fact that this company sells website design and search engine optimization services (according to the content on their website).  Potential clients should be very wary of a company that states that they have 10 years of experience in website design - and then turn around and take a design that is not for the taking. Is it possible that they “borrow designs” for their client websites like the way that they “borrowed” the design for their own marketing website? One is left wondering…

I was not going to publish this blog post if they removed the borrowed designs from their website, but after careful consideration I really believe that their potential website clients need to know that they are likely not qualified.  My request to Mr. Brian was to place an under development flag over the borrowed website until they can deploy a website that they have a right to display. They chose not to do that.  Our HTML and CSS code still remains in use at the domain name  - the images were removed (design images).

To read the letter sent by registered email to Paul Brian - click the read more link…

Read more…

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Do You Fully Understand Your Blackberry?

June 11th, 2009

Do you have a Blackberry and struggle to understand some of the basic functions on how to use this device?

If you do, you are not alone. Many business executives, sales people, service engineers, and all other workers have these wonderful devices that are suppose to make our lives easier and keep us productive while away from our office. However, many of us continue to struggle with even some of the basic use of our Blackberry devices.

Bulletproof InfoTech has the answer for you!

Register today for your special half day seminar on June 23rd (morning and afternoon sessions) and take the first step to understanding how to use your blackberry today. Calgary business special price is $199.00 for this 3 hour seminar, held at the Calgary Coast Plaza Hotel at 1316 33rd Street NE. Special Group discounts are available, please call Stuart directly at 403.206.2233 to get yours.

Members of our networking group get in for $139.00, you save $60.00…

You will walk away with valuable insight and knowledge that will save you hundreds of dollars in roaming fees when you travel. When you finish this session, you will have knowledge that will provide you with instant return on your investment and return on life.

Register online today at http://www.bulletproofIT.ca

Red Deer course available on June 24.

Thank You for your time

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eKzact.com TV Episode 2, May 2009

May 31st, 2009

Non-Specific Ramblings, general business, training

Does the World Really Need Another Search Engine?

May 30th, 2009

Not long ago, Microsoft tried to buy into YAHOO with some billons of dollars. It didn’t work out. Apparently that didn’t turn Microsoft away from the potential of becoming a rival to Google. This was a bid that I actually hoped would occur - because competition is good. As much as I respect Google, it would be nice if there was an alternative search engine.

Enter Bing.com

Microsoft is not branding their new search engine as a “MSN” or  “Live” upgraded - it appears that they have actually been innovative. Some of my colleagues who know me may be surprised to know that I am excited about this. On the surface, based on a short into video, it looks like this may be something good.

I am glad that Microsoft is going to take another run at providing search results. I hope that eventually 50% of the world users use it for their daily search and I hope that in the not too distant future when I ask a prospective clients how they found us… they will answer “I Binged you”.

Competition is Good.  It’s good for search engines, it’s good for websit designers and it’s good for operating systems.

Enough said… for now.

Cheers - David

Non-Specific Ramblings , ,