It's Official - Your Internet Bills Is Going Up On March 1 2011
February 1, 2011 : 10:40am : Posted by Anthony Joseph
Back in June of 2010, I blogged of how unlimited internet use is a thing of the past and that you will be have to start paying a metered rate for your internet usuage just like you pay a metered rate for water or electricity. It is now a reality.
Just a few days ago, the CRTC voted in favor of Usage Based Billing (UBB). This means that come March 1 2011, if you use more than 25GB worth of data, you will be charged anywhere from $1/GB to $5/GB just for using the internet.
If you're the only user on your connection, it won't cause you a problem as the average person uses aprox 16.5GB worth of data per month.
However, if you're like the typical Canadian family with three or more users in the household, based on the numbers above, your internet bill will rise by $24.50 or more.
Bell and Rogers are trying to convince everyone that 25GB is enough data for the average household and that anyone who needs more than that is a "pirate" who steals music and movies online. This couldn't be further from the truth.
As technology improves, prices should decline not increase. Its simple economics. All we need to do is look to countries within Europe and Asia. For less than 50 Euros a month, you can get unlimited, unmetered internet access at speeds ten times faster than you can find in North America. Why does Canada lag behind their counterparts? Why does Canada want to overcharge their for internet rates?
There are many legitimate ways one can go over their very low cap.
- Sending and receiving large photos of friends and family
- Updating your Windows or Mac software
- Watching a High Def movie on NetFlix
- Playing online video games over XBOX
- Watching Apple TV
- Watching YouTube
- Streaming online music
- Downloading on iTunes
- Viewing content rich websites
What can you expect going forward? If you're with Bell, your first bill will go up on March 1 2011. If you are with Rogers, your bill will be going up on July 1, 2011.
So what can you do? You can start by signing the online petition at http://openmedia.ca/meter
The second thing you can do is call Rogers and call Bell and tell them that you refuse to pay for usage based billing.
The third is to tell your friends and family about this and get the message out there. We need to let the CRTC and our elected officals know that we will not accept this. We can not afford to have our internet providers rob us!
Your browser may be out of date!
November 2, 2010 : 8:27pm : Posted by Anthony Joseph
The program you use to view web sites may be out of date and you may not even know it!
I have the luxury of spending a lot of time in front of peoples computers. The thing I see time and time again is old software installed. Usually the oldest piece of software is the Internet browser. The browser is either your Internet Explorer, Mozilla FireFox or Safari program that you use to surf the web and view various web pages.
Now why should you care if your browser is out of date?
Reason 1 - Your old browser is prone to bugs, viruses and malicious scripts that can hijack your computer system - Part of the reason why developers continue to release new versions of their software is so that they can fix problems that presented themselves in the previous version. There are hundreds of thousands of viruses floating around looking for old software to infect. Having a newer browser installed is just as important as having the latest anti-virus software. Why would you want to increase your chances of getting your system infected?
Reason 2 - The quality in which you can view web pages are greatly reduced - A few months ago both YouTube and Google had officially stopped supporting old browsers. Part of this logic stems from the fact that both of these companies are very innovative and like to use and experiment with the latest technologies. Its very difficult for a company such as YouTube and Google to "show their stuff" if you don't have the right software installed. One technology that is slowly emerging is called HTML5. It promises to be a game changed in how web sites are made. Your old browser will not be able to support its up and coming features.
Reason 3 - You are lacking a whole bunch of new features - If you're one of the many people who are still using Internet Explorer 6, you are missing out on a lot. Things like Tabbed Browsing can greatly enhance your viewing habits. You are also missing out on having stronger data encryption and tools that prevent spam, pop ups and other nasty little flees that scour the Internet. You don't have access to features such as Private Browsing which lets you keep your data private, and due to better engineering of the software, new browsers load quick and preform better.
So what is one to do? Upgrade your browser! Its free and it doesn't cost you anything to do so. It only takes a few minutes to install and you'll have a safer and more vivid browsing experience. The computer will take care of all of your bookmarks and favorites. It will also keep your history intact. The most difficult thing for you to do is to choose which one you want to go with. I've enclosed the links below and some simple deciding factors for you to choose from.
Microsoft Internet Explorer: Choose this browser if you prefer the status quo and don't want to deviate from a trusted name.
Mozilla FireFox: This browser allows you add hundreds of addons to make your online experience more fun and is very quick.
Google Chrome: This browser will allow you to stay on the bleeding edge of technology and experience the best the web has the offer
Now which browser do I use? When I develop sites, I use all three. I need to ensure that no matter what browser someone is using, that my clients web site will appear identical in each. When it comes to personal use, it is Google Chrome for me.
Are all web designers clueless?
August 24, 2010 : 3:36pm : Posted by Anthony Joseph
I'm writing this posting as I'm sitting in the shade down here at the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort in St. Maarten. The weather has been hot hot hot this week and I need to get my mind off of the beach, the ocean and all inclusive drinks!
Anyways, I'm a frequent responder in the Programming & Design forum of Yahoo! Answers. This forum allows anyone who has a question on web design or programming to ask a question and have someone with experience answer the question for them. Just a minute ago I found the following question:
"Are web design companies generally clueless about sales, negotiation, customer service and revenue streams? Do most really think the whole population knows nothing about developing websites and databases? How does someone say that it takes two days to build an e-mail form? What rubbish!
I have never met such a bunch of entrepreneurially challenged people in my life. Has anyone ever found a serious, professional web design business that relies on more than just technical ability to stay afloat?"
After reading it, I decided not to respond for a few reasons. 1) He's trying to get a rise out of the web designers. 2) He was being ignorant (rude and insulting). 3) I wasn't going to waste a response on him.... plus I wanted to save it for my blog. You heard it here first ladies and gentlemen!!!! :-)
I will be honest and say that the person who asked this question is spot on about with his comment on being entrepreneurially challenged. Contrary to popular belief, most web designers and programmers are in fact nerdy and geeky and not the buffed, bronzed, good looking and debonair men Realty TV makes us seem to be. I've had my fair share of experiences with many socially inept programmers and know they can be quite ackward to talk to (and I'm one of them). If you really want an ackward conversation with them, try telling them that Captain Janeway is a much better captain than Kirk and Picard combined and see the results for yourself.
But in all seriousness, any technical consulting work will always take more time create and administer than if you had an equivalent in house colleague do the work. Two days for implementing a new page or form is a fast job, even if it is technically simple. Many of my clients don't often understand the work that really goes into seemingly small change. And that's fine. Thats why they call me. Does my technical ability allow me to stay afloat? Sure it does, but thats my field of expertise.
To make one final response to the gentlemen's question 'Do most really think the whole population knows nothing about developing websites and databases?' I hate to break it to you kiddo, but most people don't understand how websites are built, what database their built on and whether or not Apache or IIS is their server of choice. From my experience, clients don't want jargon. They want a solution and that's why they come to me. I can provide something for them they can not provide for themselves.
We all have an expertise in a certain field. Yes we can dabble a little and learn more and do things on our own, but it's not the same. Sure I've put up drywall, but I'm no pro. I can paint a wall (not well), but some people charge upwards of $500 per room. Now I don't mean to sound crass, but just because you have 300 friends on Facebook and can do some goog'lin doesn't mean your web savvy. And yes, you may know a little about HTML and sure, you learned a bit of SQL along the way, but if you can't do it yourself in a week, why are you upset that it's taking someone like me two days? Oh well.... back to the sun.
You're Paying A Lot More For Internet Services Than You Think
June 18, 2010 : 3:08pm : Posted by Anthony Joseph
There used to be a time when internet services (much like your home telephone) was provided to you as an unlimited service. You pay your monthly fee and you can use it all you want.... do you remember those days? They were less than three years ago. Did you not know it changed? Neither did most.
As of late, Internet Providers (ISPs) have implemented something called Usage Based Billing or UBB for short to all accounts with internet access. What this means is that your friendly ISP has implemented an arbitrary maximum to the amount of data you can consume on a monthly basis and if you go over this 'cap' you will be charged overage fees for every gigabyte you download.
The local companies will tell you that the average home user has no need to consume more than what is allocated and anyone who does otherwise is either pirating illegal software or are abusing the network and congesting everyone elses speeds. Both of these remarks couldn't be farther from the truth.
The average house has three of more people using the internet often simultaneously. Mom is doing banking online and listening to online radio, Dad is streaming YouTube, little Billy is playing an online game and also streaming music and the laptop was left on.... now whats missing from this is that behind the scenes, all the computers in question are downloading windows updates, new antivirus updates, new java updates, new printer files, office needs a new security update... the list goes on and on and next thing you know, you've blown through your cap and you're now getting charged with additional fees.
This scenario is now becoming the norm and is a far cry from the type of people your ISP say are downloading illegal software and those who use their internet connections for evil doings. And just try to call your ISP to complain about the fees. They will suggest that you either upgrade to the next tier (which give you not too much more) or you're asked to consume less.
It seems we are paying more and more and getting less and less. The biggest problem is lack of choice and lack of competition. All we have to do is look across the pond and see what Europe and Asia has to offer. Compare our internet to theirs and you'll see we're still stuck in 2002.
4 Out Of 5 Don't Know Their Internet (Broadband) Speeds
June 1, 2010 : 2:42pm : Posted by Anthony Joseph
The FCC has released the results of a survey (pdf) that indicates that four out of five internet users have no idea what speed their broadband connection is. According to the agency, while the majority of public has no idea what their speed is (71% for men and 90% for women) 91% of respondents said they were either very or somewhat satisfied with their broadband service -- a number that drops to 71% for mobile broadband users.
I think what this means is that when Mom and Pop go to their local provider for internet services, all they really want is some kind of service to check their emails, watch some YouTube and to see whats going on at Twitter without taking an hour to do all of that.
The problem with this is two fold. One, If you don't know how fast your connection is, you may be over paying for something you don't need; And two, you may not have enough bandwidth (capacity) to spread across your office if you have more than 5 people at any given time using your network.
Many times I've been to offices that are bulging at the seems with employees and as soon as staff knows I'm there, they start asking me why the internet is so slow and what I can do to fix it. And on the contrary, I've done network analysis for smaller firms and have found that their internet fees can be reduced in half with no noticeable difference in performance.
You run your own business. You make widgets, you sell services, you do things non technicaly related. So when it comes to cable internet, DSL lines, ADSL, Co-Lo's, 5Meg, 10Meg, 3Meg, Lite.... its no wonder that the average user doesn't know. It can get very confusing. Start piling on bandwidth caps, overages, ubb and other misc. items and your scratching your head even more.
Now is all of this a bad thing? Maybe. For someone in my position, it is critical to know what all of the above means and how to make it work best for my clients. I know all of the ins and outs of the internet and networks, so many times it boggles my mind when someone asks me what the difference is between a DSL connection and a Cable Internet..... Oh, on a side note, I'm a car owner. My Jeep gets me from A to B and I'm very content with that. What is it's max speed? Not sure. Do I know what the catalytic converter does or how to replace it? Probably not... Do I care?
.... oh wait... now I get this......
Another Warning - Dangerous Website Links (Can these be avoided?)
March 11, 2010 : 7:21pm : Posted by Anthony Joseph
Go ahead.... click on this link - http://bit.ly/9b9mkl - I dare you.
If you've been reading blogs or have been on Twitter for some time, you've definitely come across a link like the one above. Even coming from the best of sources, users today must still be vigilant and cautious of clicking on these type of links that I consider dangerous.
So what exactly are these things? Well, if I have the following website link (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/archives/2010/january/technology/reviewsof2009) and I wish to make it smaller and post it to my Twitter blog, I'll find a site such as Bitly or TinyURL and paste the website address into it. What I get is a shortend website link that looks cryptic.
The problem with these links is that you never know where they will take you. A common complaint among my clients is that they just 'clicked on a link' and got their computer infected with a virus. One of these links can easily direct you to a site loaded with Spyware, Malware and other nasty STDs that are floating around online. I consider clicking on one of these links to be similar to playing Russian Roulette. There is a chance that everything will be ok, but the uncertanty is always lurking.
It seems Twitter is littered with these hidden links and there is no way around it. When you're reduced to typing in a response with 140 characters, it almost seems worthwhile to plug in a link of this nature and hey if one person does it, it must be okay, right?
Just like one should not walk across a road blindfolded, one should not surf net with a blindfold either. With these type of links, you're puting your faith, trust and judgement into someone you don't know.
So what is one to do? I would highly suggest avoiding these links at all costs. You can always ask for a copy of paste of the original link of its own.
Scam Alert - Don't fall for this trick
February 10, 2010 : 12:05pm : Posted by Anthony Joseph
A client of mine called me this morning demanding to know what happened to his domain (his .COM name) as he had received a letter in the mail (physical mail) from the Domain Registry of Canada advising him of renewal dates and inclosed was an invoice. It came in an envelope that looked like a government official domain name authority with a Canadian flag on their envelope.
'I thought I was paying you!' he yelled. 'Why did I get a bill from the government ?!'
The letter that was received in the mail is almost fraudulent. It is sent out with the hopes that the unexpecting receiver of the domain would believe this to be a true invoice and must pay a 'higher authority' the fees specified for the renewal of their domain. 'It must be authentic! How else could they get my address?' These letters are nothing but junk and can be thrown out. The Domain Registry of Canada is not an authority when it comes to domain names.
Since 2001, this company has been soliciting domain transfers under the guise of renewing the registration with the existing registrar. Of course, their prices are ridiculously expensive at $40 per year for a domain name. All of my clients know I give FREE domain names with my hosting. They shouldn't be paying a dime for this.
The notice that the Domain Registry of Canada sends out makes it look like an official request to renew an expiring domain name. It is well disguised and designed to take advantage of those in the industry who are not 'tech savvy' and have them inadvertently fill out the form, provide the necessary information and transfer their domain away from their current provider.
Regardless, the domain registry process to those people who are not in the business of registering and dealing with domains is often foreign. The notice sent from the Domain Registry of Canada looks official and with the ominous sentence in the first paragraph that reads 'Failure to renew your domain name by the expiration date may result in a loss of your online identity' the Domain Registry of Canada is bestowing fear in those people who don't know any better. Their online identity is often their livelihood and losing their domain name would be disastrous.
Avoid the Domain Registry of Canada at all costs. If you get one of the notices from the Domain Registry of Canada, tear it up, toss it in the garbage and move on! While in the eyes of the Domain Registry of Canada this is a service, to me it is clearly a scam.
What the SEO is going on here ?!?!
February 7, 2010 : 11:26am : Posted by Anthony Joseph
Raise your hands if you ever got an email from a company or was told by a web designer that they will guarantee you a #1 ranking within Google or any other search engine. According to them, SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is just as easy as Sunday morning.
It's a common misperception that getting a #1 ranking is a reasonable, achievable, and sustainable goal for pretty much anyone who has a website. It has even become an acronym that is thrown around too loosely.
My job as a web developer is not only to create an online presence, but also to inform and educate my clients. Granted I will never go into detail of how HTTP requests work, but what I would do is manage their expectations and guide them accordingly.
SEO was never meant to be used as way to gain top positions with websites. It was always meant to be a standard in how web sites should be created and coded. It was meant to tell developers to use the most efficient coding practices possible. It was meant to allow search engines to read and scan your website more effectively as to improve the volume or quality of traffic one would receive to their site.
So why are people confusing SEO which is a standard of web programing to getting top rankings within search engines? Just a few years ago, designers who create websites would just throw some code together and not bother inserting certain programing methods that search engines would use to determine what kind of website it was looking at or the category that it should fit into. That rendered the site invisable to search engines. So consultants would do some 'seo' by adding whats called a META TAG and voila, it rose to the top.
Web technology has changed drastically and search engines don't rely on META TAGS like they used to. They are much more clever then ever. Also, when all programers start doing the same thing (ie SEO), then the end result becomes redundant and there is nothing to separate us from others.
Just be aware that there are plenty of SEO companies that will say they can do whatever you want them to do. You want to be the number one site for social networking and relegate Facebook to second place? No problem. They will happily take your money, do some work, and promptly get no results. Don't blame them though, they were just telling you what you wanted to hear.
Caveat emptor.
.TO is the new .COM
January 27, 2010 : 12:47pm : Posted by Anthony Joseph
Whenever I meet with clients, we always center our discussions around domain names. Many of my them have never had a website before, so when I ask them what for their domain name (lets say they have a medical office), they turn around and say 'I want medicalcentre.com'.
I always find it refreshing to see such vigor and excitement from my clients when they tell me their vision of their future website, however those traits quickly turn around as I have to let them down and say that getting medicalcentre.com is out of the question.
We humans are creatures of habbit, so when something new presents itself we are often sceptical about it. It comes as no surpise to me when I say 'What about medicalcentre.to? There's a very good chance we can pick it up.' that my client looks at me like I have three eyes.
For whatever reason, everyone is focused on .COM being the only game in town and everything beyond that is subpar. It reminds me of how everyone in Toronto who gets a new phone line is focused on getting a 416 area code as they consider the 647 area code to be the runt of the litter. Many years ago, people had their hands in the air when they found out their new area code would spilt from 416 and become 905. Fast forward 15 years later and you'll see that the 416/905 area code split has become a way of life and people have moved forward.
Why should domain names be any different? The internet is still relatively young and ever expanding. I forsee a time in the future where there will be no discrimination to a certain domain name. It will be 'just another area code'.We can either be pigeon holed and choose to not move forward, or we can move onto newer and fresher options.
There are a number of reasons why one would want to choose .TO as their domain name.
- The chances of getting the domain name you want increases substantially
- It gives your website a physical presence of being within the city of Toronto
- It is original, creative, and it will give you a name that the sites users will remember
We are now living in age where .COM names are harder and harder to come across. Many firms are in the business of buying up .COM names by the thousands and reselling them for many multiples more than what they paid for them. Unless one has the cash flow to absorb the acquisition costs, or are willing to come up with a really bad domain name, its not worth it. Has anyone ever tried to give you an archaic email address over the phone: 'My email address is info at jims hyphen hotdog... no..you need hyphen after jim... thats jims hyphen hotdog hyphen stand dot com' ... its difficult.
On a side note, one of my long time clients had approached me a few weeks ago to build a site for a new division of his business. We had the chat about domains and spent about 30 minutes pouring over various options. Needless to say we had a lot of difficulty in finding something that would work out for him. I decided to throw out a line just to see if he would bite using .TO for his website. Out of all of my clients, I was positive if anyone would decline it would be him. You get to know people and their attitudes over the years....
.....he surprised me. He said 'Lets do it!'
Do It Yourself Home Media Centre for under $20.00
November 30, 2009 : 11:19am : Posted by Anthony Joseph
If you're like most, you probably download movies and music to your laptop on a regular basis. You can actually connect it to your tv to watch movies and listen to your music whenever you wish. I'll show you how to do it for under $20.00.
Things needed
- s-video out to composite converter (bought at The Souce/Radio Shack for $15.99)
- rca video cables (bought at your local dollar store for $1.00)
- 3.5 to rca audio cable (bought at your local dollar store for $1.00)
When looking for the s-video out converter, stay away from Future Shop. They will tell you one doesn't exist. Instead, check out The Source store and pick it up there. usually there is an s-video out port either on the side or at the back of your laptop. Place this into the appropiate spot.
Next, head to your local dollar store and pick up a composite rca video cable. Make sure that this cable has yellow ends and male connectors on each side. Connect one end of the yellow rca cable to the s-video out converter and the other end of it to the yellow port on the back of your tv.
Next, take the 3.5 to rca audio converter and connect it into the 'speaker' port of your laptop. Take other end of the audio rca cables with the red and white ends and connect those to the red and white ports on the back of your tv.
Make sure your laptop is OFF before you proceed. Now on your TV, you should have an INPUT button on the remote control. Press input until you see VIDEO1 or VIDEO2 on the screen. Turn on your laptop and within moments the video will be displayed on the screen.
Keep in mind that older tvs were never meant to be used as computer screens, so don't be perplexed to see the screen a little grainy at first. Once you load your movie and go full screen, the grainyness will go away and the video will play properly.
If you have any questions or would like to tell me your story, contact me. I'd love to hear your progress. Enjoy.
Keep in mind that the method here is best used with older TVs, non high-def screens. I'll show you how to hook this up to high-def on a future post.
Lest We Forget
November 11, 2009 : 8:58am : Posted by Anthony Joseph
One day every year, we pay special homage to those who died in service to their country. We remember these brave men and women for their courage and their devotion to ideals. We wear poppies, attend ceremonies, and visit memorials. For one brief moment of our life, we remember why we must work for peace every day of the year.
Every year on November 11, Canadians pause in a silent moment of remembrance for the men and women who have served, and continue to serve our country during times of war, conflict and peace. We honour those who fought for Canada in the First World War (1914-1918), the Second World War (1939-1945), and the Korean War (1950-1953), as well as those who have served since then. More than 1,500,000 Canadians have served our country in this way, and more than 100,000 have died. They gave their lives and their futures so that we may live in peace.
Let us all spare two minutes of our time today to reflect on those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for us.
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918) Canadian Army
Windows 7 - Install and Experience
October 28, 2009 : 9:03am : Posted by Anthony Joseph
With all the hoopala and hype over the new Windows 7 operating system, I decided to give it a try and see if it is worth it. Luckily, I was able to get my hands on the Windows 7 Ultimate Edition 64-bit OEM software package quite early after its release.
Like most peoples experiences with it, when Vista first came out it had left a sour taste my mouth. It was slow, made the system feel like it was congested, and file transfers were taking place at a snails pace. After a year of putting up with a clunky system, Microsoft released Service Pack 1 which 'fixed' many of the bugs that shouldn't have been there to begin with. Its almost inexcusable for a company the size of Microsoft to release shoddy software and 'fix' it a year later.
Windows 7 changes everything. I had not made one single upgrade on my computer since Vista was installed and immediately after installation of Windows 7 my system was significantly faster. Boot up times come in under 20 seconds and response time of heavy programs such as Photoshop and Illustrator is drastically improved.
There are many changes including the tool bar itself. No longer do you have bars which show you what program is open, instead the tool bar consists of a very large quick launch bar. This change was a little annoying at first, but after 20 minutes of use, I had gotten quite used to it.
Another big change is that every time you want to install software, the computer doesn't black out on you and ask you two times if you are sure this is what you want to do. That black screen scared many people when they first used Vista. Myself included as I wasn't expecting it.
Over all, I am quite pleased with this release of Windows 7. Microsoft has learned from their mistakes and released an operating system that is stable and fast. It reminds me of the release of Windows XP. If you are using Windows Vista, do yourself a favor and upgrade to 7. You won't be disapointed.
Tools of the Trade
October 19, 2009 : 7:44am : Posted by Anthony Joseph
A lot of clients usually ask me what programs I use to create websites. Many of them usually expect me to use some over priced piece of software such as Adobe Dreamweaver or Microsoft Front Page. Most are quite shocked to learn that the crux of my programing is used in a program similar to Notepad which is found installed on your computer.
'Why?' is usually the first question I get asked. It's a very simple answer; Control.
With using a piece of software such as Notepad, you can almost think of it as designing a website by hand. You write every line of code one letter at a time until the page is complete, much like how you write your Christmas cards by hand at the end of the year.
When one uses web editing software, the program tends to anticipate what you want to achieve and starts to 'fill in the blanks'. This usually results in undesired results and a re-edit of what the software has made for the programer. A click here to fix this. Editing this field. Editing that field. More clicking.... over and over until finally we have our result.
Now instead of getting caught up in this endless loop, my best practices have shown that writing the code from scratch not only saves time, but allows me to be more aware of the code being written for clients and forces me to be more careful of each line that is created.
When it comes to web design, there is no right or wrong way to create a site. What really matters is the end result....
Happy 8th Birthday intoDesign
October 10, 2009 : 10:19am : Posted by Anthony Joseph
It's hard to believe that on a dreary day back in October of 2001, a young programmer straight out of school looked around within his environment and decided enough was enough. Incorporation papers were signed, bank accounts were opened and intoDesign made its debut.
At this time, new jobs in the IT industry were hard to come by. Companies were laying off existing employees and cutting back on spending as the economy was going through a period of uncertainty. Just a month prior, two airplanes collided into the World Trade Centre sending the economy into a nose drive and fear was the new norm.
With just theory in his pocket and minimal real world experience at best, this newly minted entrepreneur had no idea what he was in for. The first six months proved the most difficult. Rejection presented itself at almost every opportunity. However, in the face of adversity and just a few 'sealed deals' to rely on, this young man was able to persevere and start to build a base of clients at a slow, yet encouraging rate. This was the point in time where things were finally starting to move in the right direction.
Eight years have now passed since the incorporation papers were originally first filed..... the internet has changed drastically, fads have turned into trends which then turned into necessities, clients are more savvy and knowledgeable than ever and know what to expect from their designers.
Its funny how October of 2009 is similar to October of 2001; economic uncertainty and cutting in corporate spending seems to be almost deja-vu like. This 'newly minted entrepreneur' sees the current economic slump as a positive omen. Knowing the challanges that had presented themselves in the past and attempting to use past experiences to produce the same desired results, this 'young programmer' has no doubt that intoDesign will live on continue to be Toronto's leading web design firm.
Fool Me Once.....
August 3, 2009 : 9:48am : Posted by Anthony Joseph
I'm sure you've heard the old saying, 'Fool Me Once, Shame On You. Fool Me Twice, Shame On Me'.
Whenever I meet with clients for the first time, the one question I always ask is 'How's Your Past Experience With Web Designers Been?' to which I usually get one of the following:
- Didn't pay attention to my needs
- Over promised, under delivered
- Does web design part time, they can't commit any longer
- Lost contact after first meeting
- Difficult to communicate with / they are too technical
It's no wonder why that my clients are hesitant to deal with 'yet another web designer'. They don't want to get burned again. And I don't blame them.
Here are a couple of things to watch out for when dealing with a web designer:
- Designers who promises you a #1 ranking in Google or Yahoo! searches.
- No one can guarantee you being placed in the number one spot.
- Designers who create web sites all in Flash.
- They are difficult and time consuming to update.
- Most visitors are not interested in intros. How many times have you clicked on 'Skip Intro'?
- A web site made entirely in Flash is invisible to all search engines.
- Designers who will create your webpage for $300 or less.
- Mainly students with no experience or 'designers' with full time jobs looking to make a few extra bucks.
- Designers who freelance from offshore.
- Do I need to explain this one?
- Designers who burden you with technical jargon.
- Don't get over taken by fancy words or terminology. A lot of times it's just used to confuse the client and put them in a position where they are embarresed to ask what something is.
- Designers who promise you the world and are Yes-Men.
As a little boy, my mother taught me one thing and it still stands to this day:
If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is.
Leaving The World Of Windows Vista
July 27, 2009 : 1:17pm : Posted by Anthony Joseph
After much deliberation and testing, I have finally decided to remove Windows Vista from my laptop and install the Ubuntu Linux operating system.
If you never heard of Linux, it's basically an operating system that was made by some guy from Finland back in 1991 because he didn't want to buy an operating system for his computer. Sounds sketchy doesn't it? Believe me, it's come a long way since then and has plenty to offer.
Now its only natural that I am making this transition. Since I started web development, I've always used alternatives to Microsoft technologies mainly due to the 'bloatedness' factor that comes along with them.
I use Mozilla Firefox instead of Internet Explorer for web surfing, PHP instead of ASP.net to program web sites for clients, Apache instead of IIS to host those web sites, MySQL instead of SQL Server for database storage and now Linux Mint over Windows Vista for day to day use. Even for productivity use, I've switched to OpenOffice from Microsoft Office.
Some of the main reasons why I am switching:
- More stable / infrequent crashes
- Runs smoothly on even the oldest PCs
- Less prone to viruses, spyware and adware
- No copyright infringements on duplicated software
- Hundreds of high quality software available
I plan on converting my desktop within the next few months or so. There is still some testing and debugging that needs to be done. In the meantime, I think I'll enjoy the new OS on the laptop.
A New Website Is Upon Us
July 20, 2009 : 9:32am : Posted by Anthony Joseph
It's been a long time coming, but intoDesign finally has it's new look. Now we've all heard the story about the shoe cobbler who is too busy doing work for others. It seems this shoe maker has finally found some spare time to fix some holes of his own in need of repair.
We have a lot of new ideas planned and they will be making their way to the site shortly. We have plans to introduce online video tutorials and reviews on the latest trends to hit the internet, we will be introducing the details to our referral program soon, and we will even be having monthly specials and giveaways from time to time.
All in all, 2009 is shaping up to be an amazing year, so keep your eyes and ears tuned to intoDesign.ca .... the best is yet to come!