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90s comedy show makes online comeback

December 28, 2011 By Oliver

When looking for laughs online, you needn’t search too far at the moment in order to find one of the funniest things available on the web – the Fast Show 2011. The original cast and comedy sketch show characters have made a welcome return, but this time they’re not on TV, they’re online at Fosters’ UK website.

Apparently the show’s creators were inspired to make the new series by the amount of people who had been found to be searching online for funny video clips of their favourite Fast Show characters, including the major characters like Ralph and Ted, the Suit You tailors, the Chanel 9 TV crew and Competitive Dad.

Each week, Fosters treats us to a new episode of the ten part series. The new episodes go online on a Thursday, but of course, you can re-watch any favourite moments at any time, simply by scrolling down the homepage to click on any of the previous episodes.

Mad scientist type Professor Denzil Dexter is still carrying out his weird experiments. As he talks to the camera, his trademark long hair gets flicked from left to right. Meanwhile, the lecherous 13th Duke of Wymbourne sits in a chair reminiscing about difficult situations in unsuitable places that jeopardised his ‘reputation’.

Whether this first online series is the first of many for the Fast Show remains to be seen. But for me the most important thing is that none of the quality has been lost with the transfer from TV to internet. If you’re looking for short-blast laughs while you’re on the internet, you should watch the Fast Show on Fosters.co.uk when you get the chance and see if you agree.

This could be the way forward for other sketch show favourites. We’ll have to wait and see.

 

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Watch out for rogue apps

December 12, 2011 By Oliver

Since the advent of the smartphone – Blackberry devices, iPhones and androids – our mobile usage has been transformed.  Mobiles are more like mini-laptops which are crammed with personal information.  They are just as much at risk from virus attack and fraudsters as at home computers and laptops.

Of course, pretty much everyone knows that you can get antivirus software for computers and there are loads of free antivirus downloads available if you don’t want to pay out for the full packages.  You can even get Mac antivirus software now, as with the increase in cross-platform programmes and services, Macs are less immune than they used to be.

Mobile antivirus software is the same thing – but for your mobile device.

Rogue apps are malware disguised as free levels of games that we are encouraged to download on online app stores. Once on the phone, they can give criminals access to your phone so that they can make calls and intercept and send text and voicemail messages. They can also browse your online content – giving them access to payment and other personal data stored on your phone.

One scam that has been doing the rounds is when criminals repeatedly send text messages to their own premium rate services.  The owner of the phone is often blissfully unaware until they receive a gargantuan phone bill.

Installing mobile antivirus will protect your phone from this kind of malware. It’s not offered as a standard ‘extra’ by network providers, but if you call your provider they can give you some guidance on what programmes your phone will support.

It’s also important to be savvy when downloading new apps. Type the name and developer details into a search engine – you’ll see straightaway if other users have reported any problems.  Check your phone bill regularly to make sure nothing untoward is happening. If your battery starts to drain really quickly, this is sometimes an indication that a virus has got onto your phone.

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Online security

September 13, 2011 By Oliver

When it comes to computers, there is little that everyone can agree on – apart from the need for good antivirus software.
Indeed, that is not always clear cut as there are fans of free antivirus downloads and those who pay for their programs.
The schools of thought go like this: “why pay for something you can get for free”, versus “why take a risk just to save a few pounds”.
There are those who firmly believe that there is no way a company will produce a free product that is 100 per cent effective, or else they would drive themselves out of business.
But some companies do produce both free and paid-for versions of their antivirus programs, for various reasons.
For one thing, free titles such as Kaspersky free antivirus trials may be time-limited trials. Perhaps the software will only last for a month, or maybe as long as a year, but then you can’t extend your subscription unless you pay. The theory here is that if a company can prove in 12 months just how reliable that piece of software is, they’ll be able to demonstrate that the customer really can’t do without it in the future.
Also, there are products that are free because they lack some of the more sophisticated features of the paid-for versions. This is very common, because it gives customers the chance to assess their needs before deciding which program is most suitable.
For example, anyone surfing just occasionally and never downloading any music or video from the internet might be able to find a free product that is absolutely ideal for them.
On the other hand, there are many millions of people around the world who rely on the internet for all their entertainment titles and who also use their laptops for business. These people, who might possibly face financial or communication problems if their hard-drive was ever destroyed by a virus, would do well to consider buying the best software they can afford.

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Making the most of web forums

August 31, 2011 By Oliver

From its earliest days, bringing together like-minded people to share knowledge and ideas has been at the forefront of the online world.

In the early 1990s, before people knew what www stood for, early adopters were logging into message boards. And their successors, forums, are still going strong.

They’re useful for exchanging ideas and tips on any given subject, but also for getting your message across if you have something to promote.  Increasingly, website owners are using forums to direct traffic to their sites by posting on forums.

There are thousands and thousands of forums on everything from politics to the supernatural. Most will have moderators, and those who run them may have policies regarding who can post on the site and what they can say.

For security reasons, the majority of forums will insist that you register before being able to post anything.  Then there are those forums who crack down hard on anyone who posts content that is not seen as being relevant.

There is no reason to fear these forums, it’s just a case of understanding and abiding by the rules. If you want to advertise your products there, you may have to contribute to a debate about something to get your post accepted. But you could either put a link at the bottom to your website, or use relevant anchor text for your link within a post.

There are a great many forums that allow non-relevant posts, or just plain advertising, within their forums. It’s fine here to post any information about your products or services, and it’s a good way of advertising for free.

As your online presence grows, ensure you follow good security practices to avoid issues.  Make sure your antivirus software is up to date.  If cost is a concern there are plenty of good free antivirus applications available.

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Ten Things To Think About Before You Set Up A Website

August 31, 2011 By Oliver

If you have a fantastic business idea then you are definitely going to need a website. Even if you expect only a small proportion of sales will originate online the need to get it totally right is still there, and the following checklist should help you along your way…

  1. What is your domain name? This is a vital starting point as the domain name and your company name are likely to be one and the same.
  2. Are you a .com? Will you choose a .com address or a .co.uk or something else entirely such as .biz or the increasingly popular .mobi.
  3. What’s the purpose of the website? Is it a shop window to sell something or an advertisement for a service which you deliver in person – this needs to be made clear.
  4. Do you need wordpress webhosting? Which provider will you use and what functionality do you want from them on your website.
  5. How good is your technical know-how? If wordpress hosts are an unknown quantity to you then get some expert help.
  6. What about security? If you are selling online then secure financial transactions and data storage are a necessity.  You should have up to date antivirus software.  If cost is a concern there are plenty of good free antivirus applications available.
  7. What will it look like? The visual design of the site sets the look for the entire business so it needs to reflect your business offering properly.
  8. What about search engine optimisation? There is no good having an amazing site with no traffic so get a plan in place.
  9. How long will it take you to set up and maintain? Is the idea viable and can you actually make money out of it in comparison to the time you invest?
  10. Will it work? Not just technically but will it speak to your customers and get them to spend their money with you rather than someone else.
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