MSN Smileys, Emoticons, Emotions and Avatars

The MSN Smiley and Emoticons Age has arrived

Communication is something that play a vital role in our daily lives. True enough, technology has effectively grasped the situation and has been rigorously devising ways on how to enhance these modes. Such innovations introduced today are that of SMS or Text Messaging, Mobile or Cellular devices, Instant Messaging and Video Conferencing. Each has their own way of making the manner of communication more lively and among the notable rave for most people today is that of getting smileys, emoticons and avatars to bring color towards how they would want to express their hidden identities.

While some find this awesome, there are sites that have made such opportunities as a stepping stone towards mischief as well. Some carry Trojans, viruses and hoax, supposedly harmless in a sense, but actually silently break some system files in computers, unknown to the person behind it. If such files or cookies can get past technology armed individuals, then anyone can just imagine how people who are clueless would be aware of such malicious acts unseen by them.
On the positive side, similar to that of blogging or article writing, these have gotten their share of creative minds and putting them into existence, most of which have been praised by people who have become addicted towards these add-ons.

Animation and cartoon enhancements are something that most people would always search for, and if one would look for them in the top search engines such as Google, Yahoo and MSN, millions of sites would turn out that can provide such emoticons, display pictures, avatars and emotions. Here are some good sights to check out that have such instant messaging enhacements from Idleplay:

Iconburst
Emoticonzone
Avatars and Emoticons
MSN Names and Meanings

Computer Troubleshooting: Formatting a PC as the Last Resort

The worst part about troubleshooting computers is having to format the entire system due to one reason or another such as:
1. Virus Infections
2. Spyware or Malware infections
3. System Corruption
4. Upgrading to higher specifications
5. Operating System conflicts
6. Hardware Failure

Formatting a computer may be easier said than done. Certain things should be done as well prior to anything else, and these include:
1. Back ups of files and important documents and spreadsheets
2. Software for Installation
3. Hardware Software Drivers

In most cases, formatting a computer is the last option a technical person would resort to. It is likened to simply taking out the trash. The bad thing about it is that sometimes, hardware replacements such as the Memory Chips, Motherboards, or even video cards can do the trick. Often, these solutions come at a point where it becomes a maze. Finding the right solution for the entire dilemma may either be fast or slow and in whichever case, even the best technicians will be scratching their heads for solutions.

I found this out trying to format an EPOX motherboard. I recall some years ago when I was still assembling and selling computer packages that this motherboard was indeed troublesome and was not that saleable. It was priced at a very low price, to bring down the price of the entire package for computer desktops. Hang ups and conflicts were said to occur after a certain period and surely, this has been something that I experience now. I only catered then for Jetway and ECS motherboards, two of the cheaper brands, but cost efficient backbone of a computer. To this day, I still use the ECS motherboard and it has been already 5 years without problems. Mostly, it is the software conflicts, but when one talks about hardware, this motherboard has given me less problems compared to this EPOX motherboard.

The lesson to be learned? Well, gather feedback first prior to anything else. Sometimes feedback on computers may be varied, but unless you experience it, well believe me, the experience is something you would want to discount. Besides, taking some time to compile such situations will be worth it, especially if it means lessening the headaches for products such as EPOX who offer cheap prices and cheap quality.

Simplicity of Understanding HTML Programming

How hard is it to understand HTML programming? Honestly, there are various softwares available, starting from the standard Microsoft Frontpage that comes along with usual Micosoft Office programs that are automatically needed by people to process documents and spreadsheets. Incidentally, people don’t give much attention to the Frontpage program, perhaps because they do not really maximize the bundled software package that Microsoft offers to its market base.

However, there are other developed software programs to make web page creation easier. For the other software developers who are exposed to programming, a lot will be surprised on how people can simply use the notepad as its main source for making attractive web pages. So it is really more on the scripting that needs focus for people to be able to understand what webpage authoring is all about. Of course, the creativity part is also another factor, since how can a person be able to produce an output if he has no vision of what to expect once his webpage is available online.

Free ware sites such as yahoo geocities and tripod offer basic tutorial and basic commands to allow people to put up their own webpage in the simplest form possible. After going through the usual commands and basic scripts needed for proper functionality of the webpage, this lights up their interest all the more and brings tem to more advanced techniques such as flash, embedded sounds or videos to enhance their web pages.

Web page can be typified towards making promotional materials as well. Advanced programs such as Macromedia Dreamweaver and Fireworks have provided web programmers a more extensive manner of being able to produce fine web pages with various techniques and enhancements. But a word of caution to aspiring web developers. Some designs and scripts may need time for a web page to load, and waiting is something that most people have little patience of. Hence, web pages should be done in its most simplest form but at the same time effective manner. It is more than just showing of complexity of knowledge and rather should be how a person is able to access a website without having to wait for the entire page to load up.

Waiting time may become a reason for people to browse other web sites that can immediately show their content, something that should be put into consideration prior to actual programming by web developers on the Internet.

Internet Relay Chat: Still The Best Internet Therapy for Stress

Internet Relay Chat may have died for me a long time ago, but somehow, I found myself once again trying to look for old buddies and friends who may possibly be around. Well, it wasn’t surprising, my former channel #lounge was no longer registered to me, and well, using my old handle seemed to be passé in a way so I just decided to be me.

When I chatted, it was an entirely new world for me. There are some familiar handles but most of them I cannot remember anymore. Even when it comes to trying to meet new people, my approach and confidence was unlike before. I was totally groping for form. Whichever the case, well, the people who make up IRC are still the same. Rude, obnoxious and some entertaining and great to converse with.
Of course I do not expect the same warm welcomes I had before, besides, I am a lot older now and most of the people who chat are usually a lot younger than me. Undernet still has the good quality of people compared to other servers. I tried Dalnet but the level of approach for some people still cannot be compared with that of Undernet.

Well, I met two or three girls, two I got to talk on the phone the other holding the same profession I have. Well, it is a nice way to kill time, especially for loners like me. I just hope I don’t run into childish people like before, but for sure, many of them are still lurking around. Oh and of course, there are still the infected handles, which, if anyone would happen to encounter, should not be accepted, otherwise its not only your IRC client that may infected but your whole computer as well, so be cautious!

Maximizing Online Storage with Yahoo Group Features

People always have this problem of saving their files or finding the best way to access them wherever they are at anytime. Sure, there are compact discs, the usual USB drive and the standard diskette, although the latter has a limited capacity, around 1.3 megabytes allowed only. For the people who are not that acquainted with the web, using the many resources like sites that offer a certain storage quota where they can store there files temporarily may be something due for consideration.

Of course, this is only limited towards the people who are not that well-versed of the web. Although some are already practicing such, the limitation is that the need for an Internet connection becomes the only hindrance for such.

The Yahoo Groups offers such a storage capability, even allows a person to store pictures separately from the files. All that is needed is for a person to create a yahoo group, and name it as he wishes. Of course the existence of a yahoo account makes it easier, especially for validation procedures.

For more information just visit the Yahoo Groups for a more detailed summary and procedure.

Information Tecnology, MBA and perhaps a Doctorate Degree

In my years of experience, handling Information Technology work and quickly excelling towards a managerial position, I found this work more of fun than being a professional. They say that the best way to excel at something you do is to find it easy to deal with and at the same time the hunger for advanced knowledge. Thanks to the Internet and various exposures to exhibits, IT shows and such, I can say that it has successfully been a big part of my career at some point.

Thus in 2005 became my year to explore other opportunities, those of which are in the other business related side. Continuing where I left out in 1998, I found the completion a resounding fulfillment of sorts, since it is so ironic that I stopped then to pursue my career in Information Technology. While I am sure that I have not covered all aspects of the IT career, venturing out into the business world and once again attaining a lead role, particularly an officer level status as of late have become two of my good sides in the professional side of my life. While I know it will take another couple of years to be able to establish my name again in this new role, combining my stored knowledge with my marketing endeavors shows great promise.

To this day, I am still fascinated with the fast evolution of technology, but at the same time, business practices need a new look, and hopefully, I will be able to do the same in the coming years and perhaps consider advancing to my next dream, that of which is to start my final goal, that of which is to attain a Doctorate Degree at the only other school I have not been able to go to, that of which is the University of the Philippines. Once accomplished, I have completed my task, that of which is to go to the top three schools in the country today, the others being De La Salle University where I got my Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Applications Majoring in Computer Applications and just recently at the Ateneo Graduate School of Business where I got my Masters in Business Administration Degree.

Funny Thing Called "BUGS"

No developed system is perfect. Definitely, there will be glitches, most of the time minor. These are often referred to as “bugs”, a defect in a routine program or code. Many would say that this is the bail out word that programmers and system developers use once their finished program is unable to create the necessary output, or worse, in times where in the system would suffer from a critical error that could eventually lead to system crashes or downtime. A good example is the operating system we are using, whether this be Microsoft Windows or Linux. There are periodical update patches that are advised to be download most of them critical to safeguard our computers from such untoward intrusions like “hackers” or the more commonly known “viruses” from creating havoc in our computers.

To declare that a company has a perfect system really depends as to how the programmers are able to effectively translate the workflow of a company’s operation into a working system. This is one reason why it takes some time before a systems development project group takes on the system architecture that they have laid out to meet their superior’s or client’s needs. Properly identifying these critical points is a must. Shortcuts to processes must be put at a minimum otherwise, this would just open the door for bugs, leading to criticism on the part of the project development group, and most likely leaving the door open for bugs to arise.

Systems development is really more than meets the eye. It needs a more thorough and deeper analysis of how to translate daily operations and procedures are done, and at the same time serving the necessary output expected from it. Systems should never be deemed as fully accomplished. They can be termed as developed “according to what the end user needs” but should also be left open for further enhancements. Especially in our day of age, most companies need more than just figures and graphs to determine the actual corporate stature, most top officials would want to go deeper, to the last centavo as they would typically term it. These are things not usually included in a developed system, rather a summary of the performance of that entity. Though these may not be categorically identified as “bugs”.

The Internet Relay Chat (IRC) Days

Internet Relay Chat is one thing I miss ever since I got to hook up on the World Wide Web. Meeting people, typing away and flirting, and allowing fantasies to run off to a certain level, chatting surely had its boom in the late 90’s. All of us experience a certain portion of our life where we have to grow out of it, and while I totally agree, I miss the days when my new found friends would be online until the early mornings, just chatting. A sure stress reliever in my case, the company I had then in cyberspace was truly something I treasured.

Of course, there will be people who are just there to join in the fad, fictional in the sense that this is only the Internet and that people met here are subject to criticism. No doubt about having hesitations. I mean, how can people find out if the people they meet are sincere and true to whom they claim to be? For most people, they would not take such a past time seriously. While I must admit I did take it seriously, I can safely say that the experience was worth every time and effort I placed in it.

Cyberspace relationships as well were a fad in those days. I remember relying on my intuition to find out what the person looked like or how she was like. There were times I even fell in love just by knowing the people. But of course, the fact of the matter is, if all is a lie, then you have to live with it. These situations would best be tagged to people who have high regards to trusting their emotions rather than their mind. But whichever the case may be, it will also depend on the person and how he or she would handle it in any case. Sure wish I could meet them all up again, maybe for one last rare occasion.

Video Editing with Ulead Visual Studio

During my college days, I always had the knack for finding out how technology driven things could be done outside the usual professional businesses. Striving at the closes possible way, among these fascinations was video editing and enhancement. There was no doubt it boggled my mind on how they were able to do this, and if there was any way to do it at home and produce my own videos.

Well the time came late last year during my return to the MBA scene at the Atone Graduate School of Business. Again, presentations were around, and most of them started to make use of video coming from the web. It was really simple. Using downloaded commercials or spoofs as part of their Power Point presentation already impressed the professors, but at the back of my mind, armed with the proper IT degree and Internet access, I know I can do better. I had the equipment, a video camera, computer, video interface gadgets, music files and of course the best software I got to use which can be similar to just making simple slide presentations, Ulead Visual Studio.

Not many would have knowledge in it, video editing using the computer and all, and I knew I could be the first one to do this at school. The first presentation was a blast. First was compiling commercials with the use of simple transitions, then some on the spot interviews with added text and all. The best part of it all was the bloopers part where I had a blast compiling the wrong takes of my group mates. Wouldn’t you know it? That was the best part of the presentation since people would laugh a lot. From thereon, people took up the endeavor, although some still look for me to make their presentations, something I really just do for fun.

HP All-in-One Colored Printers Review

Four years ago, for some silly reason, I was thinking of a colored printer that was able to do more than just print hard copies from a computer, pictures or brochures alike. This was to be used rigidly by the new company that I just joined, and definitely, for start up companies, costing at the lowest possible price was very necessary. At this point in time, colored printers were starting to pick up the pace in invading the market, replacing the usual black ink jet printers that were usually packaged with new computer set purchases.

Relying on the reviews and feedbacks that leading printer manufacturers and users were sharing, the number of actual users for this kind of a printer was not that convincing at first. A probable reason was the actual crisis and inflation that the economy was facing, hence, more people and companies were tightening their belts, opting to spend their money wisely on much needed necessities for their everyday routines.

After some computing and analysis, I took the liberty of preparing the necessary steps to convince my superior of the fruits that this contraption can give to a start up company, at the same time, provide leeway before the company can actually purchasing such equipments, as scanners, photocopying devices and the usual facsimile machine that any business would usually need to operate effectively. The company had just purchased a HP PSC 500 printer, and the first demonstration made has really impressed me to this day. The first demo was the photocopying feature, which left me totally speechless. The copied material was almost the same as the original, from the words to the pictures. The quality was hard to discriminate since the quality was very much impressive. And this was only the normal quality, so anyone could just imagine the output if the selection was placed at a more higher quality level.

To this day, this contraption is still up and running and I have rarely experienced any problems or limitations. The quality is still the same as the first day I used it. The only fallback that I can see for now is the price of the ink cartridges it uses. The price of the cartridge may not be easily affordable, but considering that it takes some months before it is replaced, depending on the usage of the printer of course, I would say that the printer is a very good buy, or a steal even since this is not only a printer, but can be used as a photocopier, facsimile machine and even a scanner. The software included by HP with it, makes it much easier to use. Its interface is compatible with almost all known software that we use, like Adobe, Corel, etc.

At the moment, that model is no longer available in the market. New models like HP PSC 2410 and PSC 1315 are offered for sale at lower prices, most probably due to the fact that other leading printer manufacturer have followed suit in offering the same device to the consumer. Truly, this device is a must have, especially for people on a stiff budget. There is nothing more you can ask for in maximizing a printer’s use than just producing the usual outputs for your work.

IT Personnel Tidbits

A large part of underrated people in any organizations right now are the people who comprise the Management Information Systems or Information Technology department of companies. Though these people were not really given much importance before, the boost of technology in helping out corporate entities has totally changed this scenario. Though at present, more corporate organizations do not see the benefits of putting up or giving due emphasis to this division, one can only need to point to over achieving companies in their success as a proof of the added benefits and deeper analysis of how their respective companies are operating and at what level they are at the moment.

Needless to say, these people bring innovations to the old style of corporate success. Without a doubt, the fast paced development of technology has aided a large portion of corporate entities in evaluating and forecasting better operations and profits. With the new manner of collective data from their operations and transforming them into easier ways of analyzing through graphs and figures, people can now find out in a day how they operate and what they need to possess to be able to improve and even medicate certain deficiencies from their actual operations.

Though for some companies, having this kind of a department may not be feasible, comparing this scenario to a company that relies on consultancy basis may not be as cost effective. There are times when the needs of a company may become already outrageous that they would eventually consider their consultant corporate partners as impotent and ineffective, which is very unfair since there are instances that some demands may also need the value of time management or curing periods, to whichever case it may be applicable.

Moving forward, there will be times that the importance of these people will be realized once they are nearing stages of leaving behind the company for better opportunities for growth and development of their skills. Once this point arrives, a question arises for all corporate entities with regards to security of their systems or maybe even the safeguarding of their data or documents. Though this may be hard to defend at times, legal processes are the usual resorts for some companies. However, it would seem unprofessional for such an occurrence and more often, it is these people who would be ruining their names rather than the company’s. More plainly put, systems can be restored at some point, credibility and trust never.

Making Money Online

In the recent years, practically everyone who was exposed to the Internet was exploring all possibilities on how to make this gift of technology a revenue making opportunity. Making money online was something that people left to the mercy of the bigger organizations and the benefits that individuals could gain from it were relatively remote. With a ton load of information anywhere from people who use the web as a medium of exchange for their communication and reference for certain matters as studies and business related endeavors, there was bound to be some way that people could make money online.

Today, there are various ways of being able to make the most of using the Internet. Common hearsays such as adsense, content writing, article marketing, reciprocal link exchange auctions and all have suddenly become an opportunity for the people to earn profits from them. While there will always be risks involved, in actual life, risks are part of business related tie ups. Getting into business is like gambling, and whether such people would gain or lose from it is entirely up to them. Fact of the matter is business is not purely about trusting intuition. It is about properly enhancing situations and taking on the chance to enter into a whole new world of investing and money making opportunities online.

Some people would stick towards the old fashioned way of earning, which of which was to look for a job and actually go to an office or work place where they can totally see the operations daily. These setups will soon vanish one by one, thanks to cyberspace. Putting emphasis on Information Technology development, it won’t take long when people will have the luxury of working anywhere they wish, as long as they have a computer and complete access to the World Wide Web.