Chrome

August 9 2021

Device Sustainability: Alternatives to the Landfill

We’ve all been there before – your device, be it a tablet, laptop, or desktop, is considered obsolete by the manufacturer. You’ve taken good care of it, and it’s still fully functional, but the company has just decided they don’t want to support it anymore. Some people call it planned obsolescence, while some call it practicality. Both lines of reasoning have merit – companies have an easier time selling more products when they can discontinue the old ones, but likewise continuing to support the old ones takes potential resources away from new development and can restrict potential innovation by forcing them to lower the bar for the old devices’ sakes. Although compatibility often ends and support dries up, in a lot of cases, the hardware still has life left in it despite what the manufacturer might have to say about it. This can be more accurate in certain cases than in others, and the problem can vary in magnitude from device to device. When a computer is still viable, it can be painful to have to replace it on someone else’s order. Especially when the cost of a good computer can be so steep, why send your good computer to a landfill when there’s another alternative?

Let’s look at a few different companies and their typical practices, in order to get a firm idea of where certain devices may sit and whether or not their end of life may be premature.

Microsoft

Microsoft ironically gets some of the most flak for their support lifespans despite having some of the most generous policies. This can often be attributed to their high number of users and the desire by many of those users for consistency. Regardless, as far as Microsoft Windows is concerned, the average lifespan for a given version of Windows is around a decade. Windows 7, for example, released to manufacturers during the summer of 2009, and kept receiving support and updates until the beginning of 2020. That’s ten-and-a-half years, for those counting, and Windows 7 proved not to be a dead end for any devices running it. For most users, an upgrade to Windows 10 could be installed for free following its release in mid-2015, extending the effective lifespan of their device until the discontinuation of Windows 10 in late-2025. In the most extreme cases, it is conceivable that a device purchased in 2009 could have free software support for a total of sixteen years, however this brings questions of practicality along. Microsoft is not the primary producer of Windows PCs – mostly other manufacturers build the computers, and Microsoft simply provides the software. Most manufacturers offer both high and low-end computers and while a high-end computer from 2009 could conceivably go the distance to 2025, some lower-end computers just can’t keep up with the demands of newer software or versions of Windows. Likewise, if you were running a high-end computer before the release of Windows 7 or you simply chose to run an older version as a preference, you may find yourself unable to upgrade to (or perhaps unwilling to pay for) a new version of Windows. For these circumstances, we have a couple of options. As most PCs (especially from past years) tend to be easier to service, it’s common for even an older computer to be able to be brought up to the standards required for new software for relatively little money, especially when compared to the cost of a new system. Where this isn’t possible (or practical), it’s always plausible to just skip out on Microsoft entirely. Something we commonly do for systems that can’t run newer versions of Windows well is installing and setting up an operating system called Cloudready. This software effectively replaces Windows and allows you to use your PC as a Chromebook instead. Chromebooks have more limitations than Windows PC, but can give you a lot of functionality for performing the basics, like letting you browse the internet, work on and write documents, check your email, and more. Built to save older devices from the landfill, this product is both free and simple for home users.

Apple

On the other side of the equation, we have Apple and macOS. Unlike Microsoft, Apple builds their own hardware to work with software that they design themselves. This grants them a very high level of integration and consistency since they know what to expect out of their own designs. Apple also does not have a low-end segment to most of their products, and only sells mid- to high-end computers, with price tags to match. As such, Apple’s support life cycle of (on average) seven years can feel a bit constrained, as most of the time the good hardware will outlive the software. Pair this with the aforementioned high replacement costs, and it’s easy to see why Mac users may want to hold onto their investment for longer on average. Apple also tends to draw the line in what sometimes seems like an arbitrary fashion for where support will end. Some systems, for example, can be almost identical from a hardware standpoint, but separated by one model year. Even counting years where much of the hardware did not change, one model may be graced with another year or two of support over another, sometimes seemingly purely at the whim of the company’s fancy. While, like a PC, the computer doesn’t become unusable once it runs out of support, it does become increasingly insecure and incompatible with newer software. Within a couple of years, some of the latest software simply won’t work on your older version of macOS, and you’ll be left behind. There are a few potential ways around this issue. For some Macs, there is nothing but an arbitrary lock-out preventing them from running newer versions of software. For others, dedicated members of the Mac community can sometimes get older hardware to work properly. While this is not sanctioned by Apple, it’s not unusual for unsupported Macs to be able to be upgraded to newer versions than their official support indicates, with the right know-how, while maintaining full (or close to full) functionality. In cases where this isn’t possible, there are a couple of other options. At their heart, most Macs built over the last decade are very similar to PCs in their design. With the demand for certain software that is unique to Windows, Apple built a tool to allow Mac users to run Windows alongside macOS, called Bootcamp. While not necessarily ideal for a person accustomed mostly to Apple’s software, this can be a viable option for keeping your Mac out of the landfill. Especially in cases where you need a secondary computer for the family, most of the uses you may have for your Mac will still be applicable on Windows. In the case where neither option is available (or practical) there’s also the option of falling back to Cloudready. For the same reasons Windows is compatible with many Mac models, it is often plausible to turn your Mac into a Chromebook, allowing you to use it for internet browsing, document editing, and more. For Macs that are already expensive and built well, these approaches can be more commonly applicable for avoiding the creation of more electronic waste and continuing to use the product you paid for.

Chromebook

This brings us to Chromebooks themselves. Like PCs, the hardware is built by a number of different companies, while the software is designed by Google (instead of Microsoft, in the case of Windows). As Chrome OS was built to be efficient and easy to run, the barrier to entry is fairly low hardware-wise, and Chromebooks tend to be cheaper than most Macs or PCs. While this also makes them less painful to replace on average, there are some high-quality (and by extension, expensive) ones out there. Likewise, a Chromebook doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive to be worth keeping. Officially, the software support for Chromebooks per Google’s guidelines is five years. However, considering most of the software is built around the web browser, the practical limit is, “whenever the last version of Google Chrome on your Chromebook stops working with the websites you visit.” Like the other options on this list though, there are ways of stretching this further. For one, most modern Chromebooks allow the installation of Android apps, being the mobile operating system nearly all non-Apple smartphones use. This gives them a huge library of software available from Google’s app store, including other web browsers such as Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and even the mobile version of Chrome. Considering how functional these browsers are, one could effectively replace the outdated version with an app from the store, which tends to remain useable for quite a while. Fittingly, the option of Cloudready is also available for certain Chromebooks, which may represent a lifeline of continued support and updates for those who want to keep using their devices.

The reality we live in has become one of sometimes pointlessly curtailed product lifespans, and perhaps even that of planned obsolescence. Regardless of the reasoning behind it or its validity, this industry creates a lot of waste where it doesn’t need to out of products that often cost a good deal to replace. At a time where computers are more expensive and in shorter supply than they have been in a long time, and many of their materials are not easily or effectively recyclable, it is important to consider more environmentally friendly and financially responsible technology solutions. Especially in this new era of remote work, schooling, and tele-health, having the ability to continue using your otherwise perfectly functional computer can be a significant boon. For those who want to save their devices from the landfill, or those who just don’t want to spend more money on new hardware, there are almost always options. At RGB Computer Solutions, we are happy to help you explore these options and decide what is best for you. Contact Us

February 6 2017

Upcycling Your Old Computer: CloudReady

Chrome, Latest News, MAC, Performance pc, photos, upgrades

If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably had any number of older computers through the years – from laptops to desktops, they either break down or start to feel too slow to justify keeping. Very often, we end up throwing away computers that are otherwise functional simply because they’re out of date or we don’t like how they run anymore. For some, this can be one of the more irritating situations – it works, so why can’t we continue making use of it?

Enter projects like CloudReady by Neverware, which aims to allow older computers to run like new through the use of software. Rather than attempting to improve a computer’s existing operating performance through optimizations or removal of applications or issues, CloudReady outright replaces your computer’s operating system.

As far as actually noticeable performance benefits go, one can expect to see a number of improvements across the board on a computer that has had CloudReady installed. Faster startup and load times will probably be one of the more noticeable differences – this also applies to how long it takes for the computer to actually become useable after it has started. Second will definitely be application performance; things like web browsing and document editing, in addition to email and even video or music streaming will be a breeze. Multitaskers rejoice, as most systems will handle having multiple tabs open and any of the above happening simultaneously as well. Finally, laptops and desktops alike will, in most cases, exhibit decreased power consumption due to the lower stress on these systems. While not immediately noticeable in desktops, laptops (especially older ones with weaker or more worn-out batteries) will see an improvement in battery life and a decrease in heat output. Finally, while not quite a “performance benefit”, CloudReady is also extremely safe from viruses and malware – even more so than either Windows or Mac OS.

Functionally, CloudReady differs somewhat from its counterparts in the Microsoft and Apple spaces, being Windows and Mac OS, respectively. Most noticeably, devices running CloudReady or Chrome OS are not compatible with programs on either Mac or Windows, and instead rely on web-based programs and apps from the Chrome App Store. For document handling, spreadsheets, and slideshows, CloudReady has the same integration with Google Docs as Chrome OS, which is what most schools work with for student collaboration and class assignments. Files can be stored on the computer’s hard drive like other systems, but the focus on storage for Chrome OS and CloudReady devices alike is Google Drive, Google’s cloud storage. As we’ve gone over before, Google Drive gives 15 GB of storage to users for free for documents, as well as unlimited storage for pictures and videos. Paid plans give more storage if desired, with fairly inexpensive plans offering up to 1 TB of space overall.

The benefit of Chrome OS and CloudReady being connected and managed with Google Drive is that all your documents and pictures are accessible from anywhere, so long as you can log into your Google account. Not only that, but all the apps and settings in CloudReady are synchronized and thus immediately available to you if you’re logging into a new system; whether you’ve just gotten a new Chromebook or you are switching over to a new CloudReady installation, everything will be as you left it.

All-in-all, CloudReady is one of the most complete experiences of its kind available, and is an excellent option for when you need to pep up that old system that’s been sitting in the corner collecting dust. At the very least, this might keep your computer out of the landfill for a few more years. Ewaste, which refers to any electronics that have been thrown away, is one of the biggest obstacles to recycling and waste disposal out there. Many of the components in our computers are either toxic or at least difficult to reclaim or break down. Not only that, but many students and school systems have to buy new computers each year – so save that computer from the trash; even if you can’t use it yourself, consider donating it instead!

April 29 2016

Escaping The Fake Blue Screen Popups and Evading Similar Scareware

Browsers, Chrome, Computer, Firefox, ie, Internet Explorer, Latest News, MAC, Malware edge, opera, pc

We’ve spoken before on the subject of the numerous call center scams that exist for the purpose of convincing people they have a problem and taking their money to “fix it”, but with the increased frequency at which we’ve been hearing about more and more clients being affected, we decided that it would be prudent to go into more detail on the types of blue screen popups and tactics users may encounter.

As we’ve mentioned, on many occasions users might run into a page that is disguised to look like an error or even a Blue Screen of Death.

This type of message can be very jarring on its own, and to make matters worse, it will often be accompanied by a computerized voice making claims about errors or viruses on your computer. However, there are some tells that clearly indicate its illegitimacy. First off, if you take a moment and look at the screen, you can tell that this screen is clearly within the internet browser, which means the computer is still running. In every case, a blue screen is a complete crash of Windows itself, which means everything else will have closed before it can be displayed. Not only this, but it prompts for readers to call a support phone number. Microsoft has no such number that they provide on the blue screen of death. Third, and sometimes most telling, is the lack of proper spelling, grammar, or capitalization on the page. These types of trap pages are oftentimes surprisingly shoddily designed, and will often mis-word or misspell even basic terms. In the case of the example above, the message not only repeats the “Please contact Microsoft technicians” twice, but it also forgets to capitalize Microsoft, while it capitalizes “Immediately” and “Rectify” for some reason. The sentence as a whole also seems somewhat clunky and indicative of “English as a second language.”

Calling the number on the page will get you to a (usually foreign) call center that will walk you through “fixing the problem” and charge you a great deal of money to do so. Refusing to comply once they have connected after a call to them can often lead to them actually messing with your computer in some way, and if the worst happens, they may make your computer unusable. To make matters worse, the page itself usually traps visitors on it with a continuously reappearing notification that prevents you from closing it, leading even people who might know better to call the number just to get control of their computer back.

Thankfully, wrenching control back from these types of pages is not impossible, and any consequences implied by the pages in question are usually empty threats. Three methods might be available to you, depending on your situation.

Method one is available to most users running a third-party internet browser; if you are running Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Opera Chromium, the option to “prevent this page from creating additional dialogues” will be available as a little checkbox at the bottom of the notification that seems to keep opening no matter how many times you close it. Checking it and acknowledging or closing the notification one more time will prevent it from appearing again, allowing you to simply close the page normally.

Method two is available to all users, but requires you forcefully close the process of your internet browser which, if you keep multiple pages open at a time, can cause you to lose whatever you are doing on the other tabs of your web browser. On your keyboard, pressing CTRL, Alt, and Delete (DEL) at the same time on a Windows PC will allow you to open the task manager. From there, simply choosing your internet browser and clicking on “End Task” will force it to close, allowing you to simply reopen it and continue working. For Mac users, pressing the key combination of Command, Option, and Escape (esc) allows you to activate the equivalent function, “Force Quit”. From that windows, simply selecting the program you wish to close and clicking Force Quit will accomplish the same result.

The “Task Manager” window in Windows 10.

The “Force Quit” screen on a Mac.

Method three should only be used as a last resort. It’s simple to execute, but it can potentially cause problems if you perform it while your computer is updating or installing something, and can at least cause you to lose data if you have any programs open and you are editing documents or files that haven’t been recently saved. In this case, simply holding down the power button on either a Mac or PC will force it to shut down, and the problem should be gone upon restarting it and logging back in.

Now in some cases, especially those in which you may have inadvertently installed something, you might be afflicted with something known as a “Browser Hijacker“, or “Scareware“. These pieces of software are some of the more extreme measures such call center scammers have been using in recent years, and they usually have the effect of automatically defaulting the home page of your internet browser to their own error page, or even going so far as to generate an otherwise inescapable error message upon computer startup. If this is the case, getting rid of such malware can be rather complicated, at which point it is usually recommended that you consult your local technician.

April 1 2016

The Risk of Identity Theft and Dangers of Computer Disposal

Chrome, Latest News, Security data recovery, digital disposal, identity theft

If you’ve ever thrown away or recycled an old computer, there’s a good chance you have unwittingly put your personal information at risk.

Unfortunately, in this age of digital credentials and identity theft, criminals are always on the prowl searching for more convenient ways of obtaining the information on their next victim. This problem has worsened over time, of course, as a result of the more numerous and diverse methods of spending money and saving information, especially financial information, online. From online banking to online shopping, birthdays to credit card numbers, the computers of today store more of, well, you, than ever before.

In many cases, the threat of identity theft comes from online, in the form of phishing websites, trojan horses, or company breaches. However, what many don’t seem to realize is that the computer itself often saves information to its hard drive over the course of its life, some of which can be used for nefarious purposes if discovered. Many such perpetrators will actually go digging through dumps, scrap yards, or take-it-or-leave-it areas looking for old computers and their hard drives to try and acquire this information, and an alarming number of these types are quite successful at accomplishing this goal.

So, when recycling or disposing of a computer, one of the most important steps you can take to make sure you don’t fall victim to this type of scheme is to make sure that there is nothing left to retrieve. Contrary to popular belief, files are not actually deleted when they are “deleted”. Most are still perfectly retrievable with the right tools, and only through more advanced methods can data be permanently erased. However, most perfect drive wipes take a while, and involve steps that would not be so simple. As a result, the best way is usually a more direct approach.

Damaging the drive physically can be much more effective than deleting the files virtually. Anyone who has ever lost data from dropping a laptop can vouch for just how complicated or expensive it can be to try and retrieve data from a drive that suffered a thud or ding. Ergo, something like a sledgehammer impact would obliterate the disk inside, making the data completely irretrievable. In fact, damaging the disk in any way can have the same result. Most of the time, a less messy alternative can be to drill a hole through the drive.

Whatever the case may be, so long as the drive is no longer functioning when you’re through, it should be safe to dispose of.

If you’re unsure of how to do this, or would feel more comfortable, contact us at RGB Computer Solutions or your local IT.

March 23 2016

Remembering Passwords Made Easy

Chrome, Firefox, Latest News, MAC, Windows edge, opera, password, Windows 10, Windows 7, Windows 8

If you’re like me, and indeed most people, you tend to have a bit of trouble remembering passwords for your different online accounts. At the very least, you may remember the passwords themselves, but not what they go to. What’s worse is that many account-connected services will auto-lockout when hit with too many wrong passwords. It’s almost like having a lock that breaks and becomes unusable after you try the wrong key.

Thankfully, as many companies and developers have become aware of this common problem, a good number of tools, features, and programs have cropped up over the years to help. We’ll be looking at some of these solutions, from built in features to standalone programs, and comparing the capabilities and convenience of everything from the basic to the advanced.

The most basic form of password management is the built-in password autofill option incorporated into most modern web browsers.

Now, for the most commonly used browsers out there, any new webpage or account that is signed into with a username and password will prompt the browser in question to ask if the user wishes to save that information for easy access later. If the user chooses to accept the prompt, then the browser will automatically enter the correct information to log in to a webpage every time the user accesses said webpage. In addition to this convenience, most browsers also have synchronizing capabilities to some extent, and as such can log a user in and provide usernames and passwords for the user’s accounts, even on a computer that wasn’t originally used to save the password, so long as the user is logged into the browser itself.

However, this method has its disadvantages. First off, the very fact that the information is not itself password protected means that anyone with access to your computer, or one of the computers you are signed into with that browser, can access any of your accounts without having to directly know the information required to do so. Besides this, the feature itself is usually not very easy to control. Once a password is saved, some browsers require you to go through a mess of menus and interfaces to manage or remove this type of saved information, and some don’t let you pick and choose, requiring you to remove all of the browser’s data, even down to your history and your bookmarks, in order to get rid of a saved password. For another thing, the browser’s password saving is obviously limited to only things you can open in said browser, and will not be effective on applications loaded onto your computer such as Adobe Creative Cloud, QuickBooks, ACT!, etc.

The next step up from this form of credential management are tools like Norton’s Identity Safe.

Identity Safe is a free program provided by Norton, and is frequently bundled with their antivirus package, making it one of the more commonly seen options on this list. Although it has some of the same limitations as the browsers’ integrated options, it definitely surpasses them in a few key areas. For one thing, it protects your many passwords with a master password, which is immediately more secure than browser-stored passwords. It still stays synchronized across different computers and devices since it is cloud based, meaning wherever you go, your passwords are just a log in away. It has an account and password manager for deleting or altering login data for different websites and specific accounts should they change or become out of date. It can also conveniently import existing passwords and account information from a web browser of your choice, so upon setting it up it is not necessary to go through and re-enter every piece of information you already have stored. It can also remember multiple logins for the same site, should you have multiple accounts.

Unfortunately, it still faces certain disadvantages, just like the options listed above. For one thing, Identity Safe only works, once again, on webpages. It has no support for logging into applications outside of a web browser. It also is not as secure as many would like, as all those passwords you have stored could be the most secure in the world, but that wouldn’t protect you if someone were to guess your master password. Beyond this, it also reportedly has trouble with identifying certain web pages that it should save the passwords for, but doesn’t. All in all, it’s a good option for the fact that it’s free, and it’s more secure than not, but it still has its disadvantages.

If you are looking for essentially the last word in secure passwords, look no further than products such as LastPass and Roboform.

Both programs rectify every weakness seen in the previous options, and include every feature already seen. However, both add the ability to generate large, randomized, and complex passwords. Both also work on external applications as well as webpages. both allow for numerous different form autofills and account logins for as many websites and applications as you wish as well. Security wise, both are heavily encrypted and virtually impossible to breach, as well as having the capability to set up a two step-authentication, which is a method of logging in that requires more than one password or method. In fact, the user has a good deal of options for authentication methods, even down to their fingerprints if the device has a fingerprint reader.

All in all, you cannot get more secure than these. Their convenience parallels their effectiveness, removing any real difficulty in choosing or managing what information is to be protected by these applications. In this day of identity theft and cyber crime, it is all the more important to remain vigilant and well guarded online.

The Battle Of the Browsers

Browsers, Chrome, Firefox, ie, Internet Explorer, Latest News, MAC edge, microsoft, opera, Windows 10

For many years, the vast majority of users on the internet have mostly used one or two internet browsers: Internet Explorer or Safari. Those options were always laid out as plainly as the platform they were built on, being Windows or Mac OS, respectively. However, around 2010, that started to change. With the major performance issues of the now-defunct Internet Explorer 10, and the lack of features or real change presented by Safari, more and more users began looking toward alternative web browsers.

We’ll be going over some of those options, and why you should (or shouldn’t!) make a switch, depending on your tastes.

Mainstream Web Browsers

Microsoft Internet Explorer

First off, we have the most historically widely-used internet browser, the mainstay of Windows, and probably one of the longest-running ones on this list, Internet Explorer 11. Because of its long history, it also tends to be compatible with a lot of commercial sites, which tend to be slow to change or update. This makes it a very important asset for corporations and enterprises, especially those whose size make major system changes cost or time prohibitive.

However, Internet Explorer still suffers from a bit of instability when viewing certain content, and has been known to become sluggish or unresponsive in some situations. Also, being one of the historically most popular browsers has made it a target, in the past and present, of malware and adware attacks. Older versions are probably the most vulnerable, so especially for those running 10 and prior, which are no longer supported by Microsoft, it becomes very important to upgrade or, barring that, switch to another alternative.

Apple Safari

Next up, we have Safari. Apple’s mainstay internet browser has shown a long history, and like IE has shown considerably wide compatibility with many websites, whether they were made yesterday or fifteen years ago. Safari has also been shown to be more stable than Internet Explorer, and barring the occasional mishap, has had a very strong record of good performance and good security. With the recent integration of Siri, it has also entered the same smart browsing space as Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge. Its exclusive presence on the Mac and iOS operating systems makes obtaining and using it prohibitive to anyone not owning an Apple-branded product, but for those that do, it remains a good option.

Naturally though, there’s no such thing as a perfect product, and in a number of places Apple’s Safari web browser falls short. For example, synchronizing settings, bookmarks, and the like is not possible, except between Apple devices. Being so restricted to exactly one brand of products means cross-compatibility is non-existent, and if you find yourself using a Windows, Android, or Chrome OS device (which tend to be far more commonly available), you will have no access to the data on your Safari browser. This was somewhat excusable in the case of Internet Explorer due to its widespread availability, as well as the ability of most other browsers to import settings and favorites from it on request. Even Mac users have the capability of running Internet Explorer via Bootcamp or Virtual Machine software like Parallels, but on such a closed platform, having no presence on other systems is inconvenient.

As far as both Microsoft and Apple’s original offerings go, both offer strong compatibility, good performance, and a simple interface. However, the lack of any real customization or the lack of a centralized location to get a decent selection of addons or extensions leaves them feeling bland and somewhat limited. As mentioned before as well, being the “original” essentially paints a target on your back in regards to security breaches and annoying or less than useful toolbars and hijackers looking to hit the widest number of potential victims.

Alternative Web Browsers

Google Chrome

Chrome has a lot of things going for it, and a lot of the changes Google has made have been pretty beneficial. First off, Chrome, especially when it first came out, was the fastest web browser around. Since its inception, it has also expanded to every platform imaginable, and can be used on Windows, Android, Mac OS, iOS, and even Linux. It also takes advantage of its cross-compatibility with its synchronizing capabilities. If you are reading an article on your Android phone, you can pick it up on your iPad or Windows PC, or any other device for that matter, right where you were. If you save a bookmark, add an extension, or save login details for a website, you will find that Chrome will have them handy on whatever device you use. Its connection to everything Google also gives it the interesting ability to allow for voice searches using “Google Now”, in which users can actually talk to the web browser to get answers on different subjects and perform searches. Chrome also has a massive library of extensions, from ad blockers to productivity tools, as well as a huge selection of themes, designs, and other tweaks to personalize it how you see fit.

Once again however, this is not to say Chrome is perfect. Unfortunately, since its now been on top in popularity for a few years, it suffers from the same targeted bloat and malicious software that the previous options have, and its extensibility has also amplified the problem to a degree, causing many Chrome users to unwittingly install such software alongside seemingly benign programs. It also seems that every piece of adware these days has some sort of hijacker or toolbar forcing victims to be annoyingly revisited by such content. Besides this, Chrome has also started picking up a bit of a flaw in its design in more recent versions. It has become very memory demanding, and although it still runs well on higher-end systems, lower-end or older hardware will suffer considerably from its hunger for more and more resources.

Whereas Google Chrome is something of a newcomer to the field of alternative web browsers, there are a couple that have persisted for much longer. One such example is Mozilla’s Firefox web browser.

Mozilla Firefox

Firefox is a rather interesting animal in that it stands out from the pack when it comes to a different emphasis on a few of its key features, and has historically been one of the first to develop or adopt a lot of capabilities we take for granted today. Every browser worth its bits these days has tabbed browsing, which is the ability to have multiple pages open simultaneously within the same web browser. Although so many use this feature in the present day, Firefox was the first, and it still has the most refined tab experience. It allows users to efficiently group multiple tabs into organized groups relating to certain subjects, almost akin to how one might organize a set of paper documents in a file folder. Another development is the smart location bar, which allows users to find webpages and information they frequently access or have recently visited simply by typing a related term or even a few letters into the address bar. Besides it features, however, Firefox has probably the greatest emphasis in the group on privacy and security, and tends to be the least vulnerable to phishing attacks looking to steal user information, and even goes so far as to actively block sites that it detects are dangerous or misleading. Firefox seems to focus a lot in areas different from the other browsers here, and to further fill that idea, it has shown to be the most lightweight web browser around – using about half the average memory of Chrome and significantly less than any of the aforementioned options.

Where Firefox excels in some ways over other options, it also has some weaknesses in comparison. Partially as a caveat to its low memory usage, Firefox has one of the slowest startup times on this list, and does not reload recently closed pages or tabs nearly as quickly as some others. In addition to this, with how its (admittedly plentiful) addons work, running multiple instances of Firefox or mutliple addons can cause a significant slowdown or instability. Finally, it is still somewhat less compatible with some websites than other options, and it can be almost overprotective in some cases, occasionally blocking perfectly legitimate websites or services it believes are harmful in some way.

Opera Chromium

Over the years, Opera has accumulated quite a troupe of interesting capabilities, most of which have remained to the present day. First and foremost, there’s Opera Turbo: a function that compresses website data before sending it, decompressing it on arrival. This provides the benefit of loading pages more quickly on a slow internet connection, as well as saving data on a metered or limited internet connection, for example on airline flights or with mobile hotspots and smartphone networks. Furthering the idea of getting to the pages you want quickly, Opera also has a feature called “Speed Dial”, which, in the same vein as a telephone, is a fully customizable menu which Opera opens to by default that can store links to frequently used or important websites.

There are also a variety of other handy features built right into the web browser, many of which often exist as dedicated programs elsewhere. For example, it has a built in Email client which can handle multiple accounts, an RSS reader, a note manager similar to Evernote, and even a Torrent downloading client. Other minor features involve the ability to preview tabs by hovering over them, reload webpages automatically on a set schedule (for those bloggers and bidders out there), and control common browser functions (Back, Forward, Refresh, New Tab, Etc.) with mouse gestures. It’s also built on Chromium just like Google Chrome, but it lacks a lot of the vulnerability to bloat with a tighter sense of security and, partially thanks to its uncommonness, much less of a focus by malicious software writers. It also manages to be one of the lightest on memory usage, trailing only behind Firefox on its lack of resource demand.

Opera is an interesting project in that it rectifies a lot of the flaws in some of the other browsers on this list, but it doesn’t particularly excel at any one thing. It’s features are numerous and different, and it comes with a lot of capabilities pre-packaged, but also because of its uncommonness, it doesn’t have a strong following in the extension development community. On the performance side, it doesn’t really stand out from the others either. It’s not the fastest, nor the lightest-weight, nor the most secure, nor the most extensible, nor even the most widely compatible browser on this list. It gets good scores on average where a lot of the others will flop in at least one area, but it never tops the charts. As they say: jack of all trades, master of none.

Microsoft Edge

But wait! You didn’t mention this browser under the mainstream browsers section. It’s a Microsoft product, and it’s meant to replace Internet Explorer! Doesn’t that automatically make it a mainstream browser?

Well… Not quite. Microsoft Edge may be the “powerful new web browser” built from the ground up to serve as the heir apparent to Internet Explorer, but it’s not quite mainstream yet. For one thing, Edge was in experimental stages as early as six months ago. All things considered, it’s very young. Secondly, it is not backwards compatible with versions of Windows before Windows 10. That’s right, it’s a Windows 10 exclusive. However, that doesn’t mean it should be discounted. In fact, if you’ve bought a computer in the last few months, you more than likely have Edge already, and if your current computer is from within the last six years, you probably have the chance to get Windows 10 for free. But this isn’t news, as everyone has seen the upgrade option at some point or another.

Regarding Edge though, it definitely lives up to the hype regarding its performance over Internet Explorer. Pages load faster, its more secure, it launches more quickly, and it is designed more intelligently. From my article regarding changes in Windows 10, “It has a very clean aesthetic, and most of the menus and settings are laid out in a very straight forward manner. In terms of integration, it works quite well with Cortana, allowing her to learn about the user’s needs over time, as well as allowing her to assist you and carry out functions within the browser.” It also has the unique feature of allowing users to capture entire web pages, even space outside the boundary of the screen (which alone functions better than any screenshot software I’ve ever seen), and write on them or edit them for collaborative projects or presentations. It also appears to be far less vulnerable to intrusion or exploitation than most browsers currently, and it has solid security.

It uses a good deal of memory, but it actually relinquishes it when closing tabs much better than Google Chrome seems to want to, and that’s alright with it being part of only the latest iteration of Windows. It doesn’t have support for extensions at the present time, but it’s planning on having them in the future. It’s still somewhat buggy, though, and that’s its greatest weakness: its age. Tabs don’t always close, some websites don’t display completely, and occasionally it lags for a second or so when loading new webpages. However, it’s solid otherwise and should improve on its deficiencies in time. Remember when I said that Microsoft Edge is Internet Explorer’s “heir apparent”? It hasn’t deposed Internet Explorer or anything. IE is still present, even in Windows 10, for “compatibility purposes”. This simply means that Microsoft acknowledges that Edge is not yet fully matured, and some things might not yet work with it. For those things that don’t, users have something to fall back on.

July 6 2011

The Browser Smack Down: Which Is Most Secure

Browsers, Chrome, Firefox, ie, Latest News, Malware, Security

The Security Challenge

Who knew something as cute as a dancing squirrel could be so dangerous? Apparently not the 9 year old, that clicked on the impossibly cute link giving that new laptop something not so cute – laptop virus and the need for a malware removal service. Web browsing has become a fundamental activity in the average daily life of most of the U.S. population. It is so common many get a false sense of security and will read any email and click any link that appears recommended by a friend – making the environment an attractive target for the not so cute, distributers of malware. As of June of 2010, 77.3% of the U.S. population uses the internet, according to the United Nations technology agency ITU. Cheaper computers and expanded access to connections have driven growth in internet usage for the last decade.

Viruses, trojans and other dangerous malware are constantly attacking this large, diverse and growing set of users. Malware, an abbreviation of malicious software, exists for one reason, to do something bad. It may be an “annoying” bad or a “scary stolen identity and make life a nightmare” bad or somewhere in the middle. No matter what the intent, malware is in all cases bad; it is the number one risk to personal security online.

The first experience many have with malware is when it infects their computer by exploiting a browser weakness, browser plug-in or opening a hidden file and using a security hole in an application used to view the file, like Adobe Reader. Even users that think they visit only safe sites can be infected. Malware has been distributed to unsuspecting users on large popular sites, like Google, hidden in banner ads.

More Secure Browsers

In an effort to provide more protections to users, Mozilla Firefox 4, Google Chrome 10 and Internet Explorer 9 (IE9) updated security and privacy features. News and blog articles have already appeared announcing which browser has the best security in all the land. Which is the best? As with most things, it depends. Users will have to decide which features are most important based on how they use the internet and what information they wish to share. No matter which browser emerges as a personal favorite, the increased competition to improve protections is a win for all users.

Key new features include:

IE9, Chrome and Firefox added options for users to request that sites stop tracking what they do at other locations on the web as part of the do not track initiative. It’s kind of a do not call list for the internet. Users should be aware, however, that at this time, sites do not have to honor the settings

Chrome 10

The security sandbox, which isolates browser plug-ins from the rest of the computer, has been expanded to include the integrated Flash player so that malware embedded in Flash content can’t damage the computer.
Updated malware reporting. The browser also auto-blocks sites known to be performing unsafe activities like phishing or other malware attacks. Users can configure an add-on like the Web of Trust extension or a separate security program to block threats or Google’s embedded list.
Automatically disables old versions of plugins to prevent hacking
The account syncing feature, which syncs themes, preferences, auto-fill entries, extensions, and bookmarks with a Gmail account, has been updated with encryption and password protection.
Customizable privacy settings for items like cookies, image management, JavaScript, plug-ins, pop-ups, location information, and notifications

Internet Explorer 9

Allows Active X filtering so that Active X only executes on trusted sites.
The download manager has been integrated with malware protection. Some studies are reporting that the browser blocks about 99% of malware.

Firefox 4

Added a HSTS feature that can turn any site into a secured site (HTTPS). Now, even if the web being visited doesn’t encrypt content, the browser can.
Blocks malicious scripts from running
Modified the settings for visited links so that people walking by can’t easily see what links a users has visited

Have you started using one of the new browser versions? Do you feel they are more secure? Are there any features you feel should have been included? Let us know.

Is Google’s Cloud Computing Chromebook a Great Deal?

Browsers, Chrome, Cloud Computing, Latest News

Google has announced an enhancement to its already popular Google applications suite a cloud-based laptop developed in conjunction with manufacturers Samsung and Acer named what else – Chromebook. According to Google,

“You won’t have to wait minutes for your computer to boot and browser to start. You’ll be reading email in seconds.”

8 seconds actually, according to the product’s website. Who emails anymore? That’s a topic for another post.

The new offering from Google uses the company’s Chrome browser and Chromium operating system. Goggle, says the device can last an entire day on a single charge. An impressive feat and definitely one the that those tethered at an undesirable location with an electrical umbilical cord promising to complete one more blog post will welcome.

The device features:

Automatic software updates
Optional 3G with 100G data transfer
Built in security
Flash support
Cloud based storage

Chromebooks are expected to be available in the US, UK, France, Netherlands, Italy and Spain on June 15, and additional countries will follow. Google released Chromebook initially for students at $20.00 per month at last week’s Google I/O conference. Now the company has announced Chromebooks for Business and Education for $28 per user per month for businesses.

What Do You Mean Cloud Computing Isn’t Magic

Despite shouts of Windows killer and the end of the desktop. It won’t happen. It’s hype. A storm or a dead spot and the laptop is rendered unusable – although Google promises it will fix the issue soon. Aren’t these basically slightly fancier versions of 80’s style dumb terminals. Plus, Google’s cloud-based operating system is not the first cloud based version – at least 10 viable options exist and they have not managed to “change the game.” That spot currently belongs to the venerable all-star Apple iPad, which introduced a sexy form factor, and a unique browsing experience that has enticed millions of users to drop a grand on something nobody really needs.

However, at $20 a month, the Chromebook is not a significant investment and will likely entice many to at least try it out. Before renting the device, users may want to ask a few questions like:

Who will do customer service? Will customers be caught between retailers selling the device and Google to get answers?
How frequently can hardware be exchanged?
Who will fix the laptop should something go wrong?
What happens if your kid breaks the device?
What’s the privacy policy for information that is stored on Google’s servers?

We are not trying to be overly critical of the device. It might be awesome. Interested in taking a Chromebook for a test drive? The devices will be available at Amazon and Best Buy domestically starting next month. If you decide to invest, be sure to come back and let us know what you think of your new toy.

Related posts: Making the Shift to Google Photos

May 18 2011

Top 5 Tips for Epically Fast Web Browsing

Browsers, Chrome, Firefox, ie, Internet Explorer, Laptop, Latest News, Performance

We are certain that we’ve never heard anyone utter the phrase,

“You know I really enjoy seeing that little hour-glass when I browse the Internet.”

Users frequently visit multiple pages simultaneously spread across numerous windows or tabs to satisfy their fleeting web attention spans. Everyone has personal preferences for their browsing experience, but the desire to see more content more quickly seems almost universal. There are lots of reasons users could experience slow downs while browsing the web

Poorly designed sites
Limited bandwidth internet connections
Computer memory or performance constraints
Older browsers

With all of these possibilities, is there really anything the average user can do to improve the speed at which they experience the web? You can bet your bandwidth there are options. Read our tips below if you want to enjoy epically fast web browsing.

Use tabs instead of windows, but don’t get crazy. Almost all major browser versions support tabs. Using tabs provides a quicker web experience than pages because tabs allow users to locate and switch between content easily, while windows can become hidden or obstructed. Multiple tabs in one window is just easier. In addition, tabs in most browsers use fewer computing resources than opening a completely new browser window.

Tabs are a good thing, but, too much of a good thing can cause problems too. Opening too many tabs at once will slow down the browser. Excessive numbers of open tabs also adds clutter that can make it difficult to locate content.

Only install and activate a reasonable number of extensions. Browser extensions can provide valuable functionality that is not available out of the box in a browser. Helpful tools to support activities like blogging or looking up references. However, like with tabs, if browser extensions are not used in moderation, they can affect browser stability and performance.

Users should pick a few extensions that improve productivity most or that they use frequently, and remove all others to truly optimize the speed of web browsing.

Get a decent browser. Despite rants by technologists and campaigns by Microsoft to kill Internet Explorer, some users insist on continuing use of Internet Explorer 6. Just stop. Simply switching to a newer, faster browser will result in a dramatically improved browsing experience. This is even more true given the many performance improvements in recently released Internet Explorer 9, Google Chrome 10 and Firefox 4. The renewed interest and competition in performance has resulted in a new generation of much faster and lighter weight browsers that can benefit almost all users.

Quit downloading toolbars. The number of toolbars available for browsers has been growing like water logged Gremlins after midnight. Like excessive use of tabs and plug-ins, too many toolbars slow down browser performance and consume screen real estate. Toolbars can also make browsing slower by constantly sending and receiving data, reducing the amount of bandwidth available for legitimate uses. If users don’t absolutely require a toolbar, it should be removed immediately.

Learn keyboard shortcuts. This recommendation may not seem straight forward, but learning keyboard shortcuts can make it much faster to execute common actions like opening windows or switching between pages can go much faster when using a key stroke or two. Every browser has different shortcuts, but they are are easy to learn and make web browsing peppy.

Many other performance improvements and specialized tools could increase the speed of your browsing experience. However, these five quick and low-cost techniques are accessible by even the most non-technical user and provide an immediate impact. Try them out before purchasing the latest offering to “Speed Up Your Computer!” being advertised on that late night infomercial and let us know what you think.