Quick Online Tips

Google Model Your Town Competition

QuickOnlineTips — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:21:03 +0000

Google has announced the first international Google Model Your Town Competition and invites people to use free sketching tools to create a 3D portrait of their community and ensure its place on the 3D world map.

Buildings can be modeled with SketchUp, a free 3D modeling program from Google or using Building Maker if your town is located in an area where Building Maker data is available. Each completed building model should be uploaded to a dedicated town collection on the Google 3D Warehouse. Submit your entry by March 1, 2010 and win lots of prizes … including USD$10,000 for the town’s public school district.

Here are some example towns that are modeled in 3D for Google Earth.

This video will show you how to get started

Must Read Related Articles

Original article: Google Model Your Town Competition
Copyright 2009. Quick Online Tips. All Rights Reserved.

Buy Monopoly City Board Game: Monopoly City Streets Ending

QuickOnlineTips — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:50:59 +0000

Now you must buy the Monopoly City board game as the popular online game Monopoly City Streets, where you could buy your own street on Google Maps, is ending on December 9, 2009. The game started with a huge response in September and was reset and restarted after several cheating and server issues continued to affect the game play.

While thousands of players enjoyed negotiating, buying, selling and building streets - they can now Buy Monopoly City Edition board game and continue to build industrial complexes, skyscrapers or stadiums and sabotage their friends!

Here is a commercial for the new Monopoly City game

And this video is a hands on view of the Monopoly City board game

I hope you have already tried the 15 best strategy tips for Monopoly City Streets. Enjoy the last few days of the game, then go ahead and Buy Monopoly City Edition board game.

Must Read Related Articles

Original article: Buy Monopoly City Board Game: Monopoly City Streets Ending
Copyright 2009. Quick Online Tips. All Rights Reserved.

5 Best Antivirus Programs for Mac Computers

QuickOnlineTips — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:03:09 +0000

Guest Post by Prasanth Chandra.
Which are the best Mac antivirus programs? Whether it would be cyber life or real life, security is the most alarming issue. One can go to any extent to see him and his family safe and secure. Since computer plays a pivotal role in almost each and every human life, keeping it secured from various cyber threats is equally important.

There is misconception prevailing that Apple Macintosh users do not need an anti virus program. But remember once Apple had issued the notice: “Apple encourages the widespread use of multiple anti-virus utilities so that virus programmers have more than one application to circumvent, thus making the whole virus writing process more difficult.”

So keep your computer powered by Mac OS safe from viruses, malware, Rootkits, Trojans and other malicious programs, because keeping our data and ourselves protected is the priority. Below are the top five antivirus programs for Mac (in alphabetical order):

Best Antivirus for Mac Computers

1. Agax Antivirus: Antivirus program by Agax is popular for its powerful and robust protection on a Mac computer. Apart from conventional features like detection and deletion of viral threats, it integrates your Mac OS with potent background protection which makes way for hassle free experience on computer.

Agax antivirus program features a shielding force namely, “Defender”. This adds to the overall protective features of this sound antivirus program. Agax antivirus program is also a free program.

2. ClamCour Antivirus: Since Internet is the primary source of most of the cyber attacks on your computer, ClamCour provides a robust protection while you are on Internet. This antivirus program mainly concentrates on the protection from cyber threats.

ClamCour offers an amazing feature called “Courier Filter” which scans all the mails coming into your inbox and does not allow you to download them, incase they are infected. It enhances your Internet browsing experience. Moreover, this antivirus program will not hurt your wallet as it a freeware.

3. iAntivirus for MAC: If you are a Mac user, then you would be aware of the name iAntivirus. It is one of the popular antivirus programs for Mac OS. And yes, this is also a free antivirus program. iAntivirus has been designed such that it does not allow malicious programs to attack your Mac OS.

Its real-time protection and solid detection system enhances all the security parameters of Mac OS for free. You can also keep updating this antivirus program to keep your computer safe from all the latest cyber threats.

4. McAfee Virus Scan: McAfee is not at all an unknown name for Windows users. And this popularity inspired them to design antivirus programs compatible on Mac OS. Like a typical McAfee computer security program, it allows you to keep your Mac OS free from old and new viruses, Trojans and other malicious programs.

This McAfee antivirus program for Mac features McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator which allows you to keep an eye on all the computers connected on the network. Its user friendly interface and availability of updates makes it a rough and tough antivirus program for Macintosh OS.

5. Norton Antivirus: Norton (Symantec) is a huge name in the arena of computer security experts. Even big companies trust their products capability. This undoubted fact makes it a popular and a favorite antivirus program for Macintosh operating system.

Its conventional detection and deletion feature with updated database makes it an ideal computer protection system. Regardless you are on Internet or not, its features will always make you feel safer from cyber threats like viruses, Trojans, and Rootkits.

Although Apple’s Mac OS provides some of the best security features like sandboxing, Library Randomization and Execute Disable, adding an extra layer of protection will never harm you. Choose your favorite antivirus program and get ready for a safer ride on Apple Macintosh OS.

Guest author Prasanth Chandra blogs at Review Unit about latest gadgets, laptops, software, mobile phones, web apps and other tech stuff. You can also write a guest article and share your favorite Mac software.

Must Read Related Articles

Original article: 5 Best Antivirus Programs for Mac Computers
Copyright 2009. Quick Online Tips. All Rights Reserved.

Replacing OpenDNS with Google Public DNS

QuickOnlineTips — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:23:51 +0000

I have been using OpenDNS to browse faster, safer, and fix DNS errors. But now Google Public DNS is a new challenger which is encourging web users to use their settings on Networks to speed up your browsing experience and get improved security.

Google Public DNS is a free, global Domain Name System (DNS) resolution service, that you can use as an alternative to your current DNS provider. Since a faster and safer DNS infrastructure could significantly improve the web browsing experience, Google Public DNS promises to do just that.

Get started with Google Public DNS
Read the configuration instructions and then configure your network settings to use the IP addresses 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 as your DNS servers. Remember after that your client programs will perform all DNS lookups using Google Public DNS. For once .. no Google account needed.

Quick Start on Windows Vista
Go the Control Panel > Click Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center > Manage network connections > Right-click Local Area Connection / Wireless Network Connection > Click Properties > Select Networking tab > Click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) > Click Properties > Replace Preferred DNS server and Alternate DNS server with Google DNS servers: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 > OK.

So which is better – OpenDNS or Google Public DNS? Both are really good and only time will tell. The best part is that short Google IP addresses are really much easier to remember than OpenDNS. I switched and its working lightening fast as of now. Another ace by Google to speed up the web. And if you are still using the DNS settings of your ISP, try out these DNS services and feel the difference … and secure your browsing.

Must Read Related Articles

Original article: Replacing OpenDNS with Google Public DNS
Copyright 2009. Quick Online Tips. All Rights Reserved.

5 Ways to Generate Company Trust Online

QuickOnlineTips — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:47:04 +0000

Guest post by Brian Easter.
With thrifty consumers and a frightening economy, do your customers have faith in your company? Your survival relies on your ability to create trust. Creating trust enhances the customer experience, increases brand loyalty, and fosters a superior reputation. But, how do you create trust?

Trust isn’t something you can sell, give away, or put together. Trust is an atmosphere that surrounds your company. However, there are tangible methods to facilitate the development of this atmosphere. As more and more consumers take product research and purchasing decisions online, the internet has quickly become fundamental in generating trust. Below I’ll explore the foundations of creating trust online by utilizing your website, other online activity, and even offline activity.

Image by thorninside (under CC)

Visual Distinction

The design of your website is your first chance to create a good impression with potential customers. That being said, it’s imperative that you look your best and aim to please. A good design is far from the only factor to influence purchasing decisions, but it is fundamental to keeping people from clicking that back button.

There are many factors that go into a good design, and it’s not just about being visually pleasing. Good design incorporates conversion-friendly usability with an aesthetic quality that emotionally resonates with users. Few things trigger suspicion as much as a poorly designed website; it’s the online equivalent of operating out of a crumbling building. When you incorporate good design into your website, users recognize your efforts and reward you with trust.

Recognition

Beyond setting yourself apart with a quality design, it’s important that potential customers have visual cues as to what you’ve accomplished, how you accomplished it, and what you plan to still accomplish. Demonstrating your recognition and direct influence with awards, associations, certifications, memberships, and testimonials on your site shows a third party’s confidence in the quality of your work. If you’re not a member of the better business bureau and industry associations, this is often a good enough reason alone to join.

Once you have this visual credibility established on your site, it’s important to back it up with easily accessible information. Whether the user is looking for background information on a product or project, wants to contact someone at your office, or wants to know more about the certification or awards you’ve earned, it’s vital that there is a transparent and easy-to-follow process for finding the right information.

Secured Communication

With the rise of identity theft and hacked websites, securing your customer’s information is fundamental to maintaining trust online. Whether you take credit card numbers or temporarily store personal information, customers need to know that you have taken measures to secure their data. For e-commerce websites, SSL is an important first step to securing the shopping experience, but for websites transferring other types of data back and forth, Managed File Transfer (MFT) is the most secure solution. Unlike standard file transfer protocol (FTP), MFT is not susceptible to man-in-the-middle attacks where information is intercepted by a third party along the way.

Security features such as SSL and MFT are excellent to have, but unless you market these benefits, you’re missing out on their full potential to generate trust. For service organizations, bringing in a third party to affirm your security can go a long way towards generating trust with your customers. A SAS 70 audit is a powerful way to communicate to your customers that their financial information is kept secure. By bringing in an accredited auditing firm to confirm the security of your internal controls, you establish a level of credibility that is beyond reproach.

Community Involvement

Having a credible website is important, but it’s no replacement for a lack of effort elsewhere. Offline, community involvement and charitable partnerships help foster a brand image that carries over to your website and other online activities. Creating a generous, humble, and selfless image within your community greatly improves your attraction to potential customers by inspiring them to something larger than themselves.

In this time when people are more connected than ever, local communities have the power to influence consumers around the world. Even if you’re only a small company reaching out to your home town, there are significant online benefits from the positive discussion that follows. Not only are these discussions fuel for your internet marketing efforts, they are a sturdy foundation on which to generate trust.

Social Media Presence

Getting involved in your community is a great way to generate positive discussions online, but to maximize your credibility you need to be involved in those discussions, alive and active. Nearly 60% of Americans are interacting with companies through social media. This is a trust-building gold mine. When people see a large following actively engaging with a brand at places like Facebook and Twitter, it confirms that the brand is known and appreciated by other people.

On the other hand, abusing social media can just as easily turn against you and destroy what credibility you’ve created. By engaging in social media marketing campaigns in a candid, authentic, and useful way, you’ll anchor your credibility in the increasingly numerous voices of your fans and followers.

Conclusion
Trust isn’t something you can buy. It’s something you have to earn. Whether it’s through achievements, community involvement, or enhanced security, it’s up to you to create a brand that people trust. The ball is in your court. But it’s not just about being trust-worthy; it’s about creating a clearly trust-worthy image. Strong visual cues, an open social dialog, and tangible security benefits are the fundamentals of communicating a caring image to your customers online.

Guest author Brian Easter is the CEO of NeboWeb. As CEO, Easter has led NeboWeb to explosive growth, attracting Fortune 500 clients and driving strategic partnerships, which have fueled NeboWeb’s expansion. He is well known in the interactive marketing industry and frequently speaks about capturing the power and potential of online marketing. You can also write a guest article and share your experience.

Must Read Related Articles

Original article: 5 Ways to Generate Company Trust Online
Copyright 2009. Quick Online Tips. All Rights Reserved.

How to Activate Kaspersky 2010 Using Key File

QuickOnlineTips — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:36:32 +0000

Guest article by Bilal.
In this tutorial I am going to explain the steps involved in activating Kaspersky 2010 using key file. Kaspersky Internet Security 2010 and Kaspersky Anti Virus 2010 are the latest version of Kaspersky Lab. Kaspersky Lab added a lot of powerful features in these new versions, but one thing is missing there – you cannot activate Kaspersky Internet Security 2010 and Kaspersky Anti Virus 2010 using key file. Because this option is not available in “License” menu, you can only activate kaspersky 2010 using activation code.

In order to activate Kaspersky 2010 using key file, you have to use a simple trick. In this trick we are going to activate Kaspersky 2010 using wrong activation code, so that we can enable “Activate Kaspersky using key file” option.

How to Activate Kaspersky 2010 using key file

1. First open your Kaspersky Internet Security 2010 OR Kaspersky Anti Virus 2010 and click on “License Manager” button located at the bottom of Kaspersky screen.

2. Now click on “Activate New License” button from the given options.
3. Click on “Activate Commercial License” button

Enter any of the below activation code and click on “Next” button.
UC8M6-3VC2W-3CD56-WRGEA OR 7PEJP-Q2KCG-NPT56-SNZAX

After clicking on “Next” button, you will see a error message “Activation code is not compatible with this application”. Ignore the message and click on “OK” button.

4. Now you will see a new screen, where you can activate Kaspersky 2010 using key file, instead of activation code.

Now your Kaspersky Internet Security 2010 OR Kaspersky Anti Virus 2010 is activated using key file instead of activation code, but don’t forget to use a valid Kaspersky key file to activate kaspersky 2010.

Guest author Bilal Ahmad is the owner of Bnsofts.com, where he shares latest news, updates and keys for Kaspersky Internet Security and Kaspersky Antivirus. You can also write a guest article and share your expert tips and experience.

Must Read Related Articles

Original article: How to Activate Kaspersky 2010 Using Key File
Copyright 2009. Quick Online Tips. All Rights Reserved.

India Blocks Millions of Fake, Invalid IMEI Mobile Phones

QuickOnlineTips — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:48:41 +0000

A lot of unbranded and largely Chinese mobile phones were disconnected by mobile service providers today in India, due to invalid IMEI, fake IMEI, illegal IMEI numbers of these mobile phones. This follows a Government of India directive for security purposes, wherein mobile phones which do not have a valid IMEI number will no longer be connected to mobile networks.

As of Dec 1 2009, all the telecom operators are blocking such mobile devices and as per estimates, there are over 25 million such phones. So if you bought a cheap smartphone from the gray market, chances are high that it would have stopped working.

As per a notice on the website of Indian Cellular Association and a downloadable letter http://www.ica-ind.org/images/Ica-Letter.pdf (.pdf)

There is now a clear directive from Government of India directing Operators not to process and reject calls from mobile handsets IMEI numbers not available in the updated GSMSA database or without IMEI Numbers or all Zeros from 30.11.2009. As Cellular Service Companies in both prepaid and postpaid plans have to check IMEI on their computers. In the interest of security of nation the calls from mobile handsets with IMEI numbers not available in the updated GSMSA database or without IMEI Numbers or all Zeros are not to be processed and rejected.

They advise that selling of any mobile phones without IMEI number or all zeros as IMEI number or fake IMEI number or fake/ cloned IMEI number is against national security and is illegal.

So what is the IMEI number? The International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number is a unique 15-digit code on every GSM and WCDMA and iDEN mobile phone.

How can you find IMEI number of your mobile phone? Type *#06# and your IMEI number will be displayed.

How can you check authenticity of your IMEI number? Use this IMEI analysis tool, enter your 15 digit IMEI code and you can check all known information regarding manufacturer, model type, and country of approval of a handset. The Indian Cellular Association says users can SMS “IMEI 15digitnumber” to 57886 and the SMS reply will provide the brand name and the model number for which this IMEI number was originally allotted.

So why are Invalid IMEI numbers are harmful? The IMEI number appears on the operator’s network whenever a call is made. If the IMEI number is not displayed, it is impossible to trace the caller or the phone or get call details. Terror groups may take advantage of this situation for secret communications, therefore, Government of India has banned these fake illegal IMEI connections.

Must Read Related Articles

Now Play Farmville Facebook Game on Farmville.com

QuickOnlineTips — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 15:05:07 +0000

Farmville fans can now enjoy the addictive farming game on Farmville.com and bypass the Famville Facebook App which they have been using so long. You still require to connect to Facebook for login, so that you can retrieve your saved game and level, but the interface is much better.

I have been addicted to playing Farmville ever since I started playing it a month back. Now I login at Farmville.com and I get a less cluttered and more Facebook-Ad free screen to enjoy. There are sidebar updates from the Farmville blog and a better message alert too. Since Zynga, the owner controls the page, they can tweak it whichever way they want and also enable new ways to login without Facebook later!

Zynga claims to be the largest developer of social games with more than 100 million unique users playing its games every month, making it the largest online game destination. Zynga’s popular game FarmVille is the largest social game with over 65 million virtual farmers, 26 million of which play the game every day. Now go ahead and enjoy Farmville on a new url!

Must Read Related Articles

Download Free Microsoft Office 2010 Beta Software

QuickOnlineTips — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 10:53:50 +0000

Now you can download a copy of Free Microsoft Office 2010 beta right now and preview the latest version of this Microsoft software. Office Professional 2010 combines all you need to create, edit and share documents from virtually anywhere.

It is available in 2 formats – Microsoft Office Home and Business 2010 features new photo, video and text effects for creating stand-out documents and presentations – you can download the Office 2010 beta if you’re a student, running a small business, or using Office at home. The second type Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2010 is for enterprise and mid-sized business – download if you’re an IT professional or a developer or want to use Office at work. Check out the top 10 benefits of Office 2010 beta.

The Microsoft Office Home and Business 2010 suite contains Word 2010, Excel 2010, PowerPoint 2010, Outlook 2010 and OneNote 2010. Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2010 in addition contains InfoPath, Access, SharePoint Workspace and Publisher 2010.

Download Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2010 Beta

Download Microsoft Office Home and Business 2010

Check out some of the system requirements before you get started

Processor – 500 megahertz (MHz) processor or higher.
Memory – 256 megabyte (MB) RAM or higher.
Hard Disk – 1.5 GB; a portion of the disk space will be freed after installation if the original download package is removed from the hard drive.
Display – 1024×768 or higher resolution monitor.
Operating System – Windows XP with Service Pack (SP) 3 (32-bit operating system (OS) only) or Windows Vista with SP1, Windows 7, Windows Server 2003 R2 with MSXML 6.0, Windows Server 2008, or later 32- or 64-bit OS.
Graphics hardware acceleration – requires DirectX 9.0c compatible graphics card with 64 MB or higher video memory.

Must Read Related Articles

Attract Twitter Followers with Twitter Tattoo Socks, Stockings

QuickOnlineTips — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 18:54:47 +0000

I stumbled upon this cool way girls can attract more Twitter followers – wear Twitter Tattoo Socks, Tights and Stockings!

These fashionable socks, tights and stockings are semi-transparent, look natural, blend perfectly with the natural skin tone, and are available in 4 body color shades. The printed “Follow Me” Twitter text gives the appearance of a black tattoo on the leg and since the design is printed on the side of one leg only – you can rotate the stocking, and the tattoo can change position on the same leg, or wear it on the other leg.

Now isn’t that an interesting way to attract new Twitter followers! No wonder the manufacturer likes to call them Twitter Stalkings and they are selling out on Etsy here and here. (Disclosure: No financial interest)