Here’s what’s inside our April 2015 Newsletter:
SCAM ALERT – AVOID ONLINE TRAVEL BOOKING SCAMS
NEWS FROM THE SHOP
GO PINTEREST-ING! COOL STUFF TO PIN ON YOUR PINTEREST BOARDS!
FEATURED APPS – THESE THREE ARE WELL WORTH A LOOK
<BR>SITES OF THE MONTH – GREAT SITES TO CHECK OUT IN APRIL
TWO TO VIEW – A COUPLE OF AMAZING VIDEOS YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS
THIS MONTH’S FAQ – HOW TO STOP VIDEOS FROM AUTO-PLAYING ON FACEBOOK
The Gulfcoast Networking Team
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
———————————————————————-
SCAM ALERT – AVOID ONLINE TRAVEL BOOKING SCAMS
Booking travel online can put you in a vulnerable position: you’ve got your credit card out, and the online travel world may be as unknown as the new place you want to visit. Some online travel deals may seem too good to be true, and some of them are. To be sure, consider following these tips:
~Only book travel through reputable sites. Well-known travel sites like Orbitz or Priceline are good bets. If you’re unsure, check the Better Business Bureau’s review at www.bbb.org.
~Carefully review reservation and cancellation policies before clicking the “buy” button.
~For all-inclusive packages, understand exactly what’s included and what’s not.
~Pay with a credit card, rather than a debit card. Credit cards offer protection against fraudulent purchases that debit cards may not.
~Don’t ever pay via wire transfer.
~Don’t respond to emails saying you’ve won a vacation — especially if collecting your prize means traveling to claim it.
~When booking through a one-stop-shop contact the individual entities (such as airline, hotel, car rental) to confirm the details of your purchase.
Finally, use common sense. If anything seems fishy, strange, or just plain off, do some research to find out if the vendor is legitimate or just move on to the next travel site — there are plenty to choose from!
———————————————————————-
NEWS FROM THE SHOP
I’ve been building websites for the better part of twenty years. During the last couple of years, I’ve been standardizing my website design to utilize the WordPress platform. WordPress is now THE most popular foundation for websites worldwide. As part of that effort, I’ve been taking online classes and experimenting with new features on as many websites as I can.
More and more people are looking at websites using their smart phones or other mobile devices. As a result, websites need to be “mobile responsive”, or in plain English, mobile friendly. With Google’s announcement a couple of weeks ago that they were going to start penalizing websites that are NOT mobile friendly beginning April 21st, this transition has become all the more important. The WordPress based websites I’ve been building are ALL mobile friendly, meaning that they display properly on a smart phone.
I’ve completed a number of new or revised websites over the past few months. Each one has had some fancy features on which I’ve been able to hone my skills. A few examples include:
http://www.vssfinancials.com – I converted a number of Powerpoint presentations into videos and then embedded the videos into the website.
http://www.kycsol.com – Getting this site right required me to dive into the CSS code that governs how the site looks.
http://www.specialtyinstallations.com – This site includes some fancy image mapping. I’ve also done more graphics work on this site than on all of the other websites I’ve worked on so far this year put together. The site also required some custom CSS code.
http://www.jamescampbellpa.com – This site uses a table function to make lists display correctly. This site is a perfect example of a simple website that can easily be expanded.
http://www.robmarlowe.com – A blogging site, where I publish articles about the City of New Port Richey.
I’ve got several new websites under development, including a specialty retail site that is due to go live the week after Easter.
If you have a website that needs help or you work for a company with a stale, static website; please call me or have your boss call me and we’ll set a time to get together. We an also help you fine tune your SEO, social media, and web advertising campaigns.
Don’t be concerned about how simple or complex you website project might be. I’ve got access to some excellent web designers we bring in if you’ve got a website that is going to need high-end features that I’m not up to speed on.
———————————————————————-
GO PINTEREST-ING! COOL STUFF TO PIN ON YOUR PINTEREST BOARDS!
Fun, Yummy Cupcakes
Look Too Good To Eat
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/291537775854480513/
Simple And Healthy
Poached Egg Idea
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/291537775854253415/
Recycled Bedsprings
Make Stylish Lamps
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/291537775853925591/
You haven’t started pinning on Pinterest yet and you want to get started?
To sign up, go here https://pinterest.com/join/signup/
———————————————————————-
FEATURED APPS – THESE THREE ARE WELL WORTH A LOOK
FYI Decision – FREE
This app, available for iPads and iPhones, can help you make both big and small decisions based on a set of objective, customizable criteria.
http://www.fyimobileware.com/fyi-decision.html
Takeoff Mode – FREE
Need something to help you relax during plane takeoffs and landings? Takeoff Mode is designed to do just that, with an engaging game and soothing music.
http://www.ana-takeoffmode.com
Autodesk Pixlr – FREE
Pixlr turns your phone into a darkroom, enabling you to edit photos with cropping, rotation, effects, overlays, borders, and more fun options.
———————————————————————-
<BR>SITES OF THE MONTH – GREAT SITES TO CHECK OUT IN APRIL
Ready, Set, Race!
http://indianapolismotorspeedway.com/events/indy500
Racing season at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway starts on May 3, and this site can help you prepare. Whether you want to purchase tickets, find camping information, check out photos, or just learn more about events, you’ll find it here. Visit the Get the Gear section for hats, t-shirts, and more.
Plant A Tree For Earth
http://forestnation.com/earth-day-tree-planting
Earth Day is April 22, and you’re invited to celebrate by planting a tree. ForestNation has a goal of one billion trees planted on this day to give back to Earth and help stabilize its climate. When you buy your tree from ForestNation, the organization will plant another in a developing country.
Grow Your Fruit and Veggie Knowledge
http://fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/fruit-veggie-nutrition
The latest guidelines from the USDA suggest that Americans fill half their plate with fruits and vegetables at each meal. This site makes it easy to use these nutrition stars in your meal planning. Check out the Nutrition Databases for how to select, store, and prepare dozens of healthful foods.
Fun In The Sand
http://thisissand.com
Remember how fun it was to play with sand when you were a kid? Now you can get the same experience, even if you’re hundreds of miles from the nearest beach. This desktop application (that’s also available for mobile devices) enables you to choose colors of sand and make your own artistic creations.
———————————————————————-
TWO TO VIEW – A COUPLE OF AMAZING VIDEOS YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS
http://www.eNewsletterHome.com/_eNewsletter/2015/1504_VIDEO_A.htm
Kitten Goes Crazy For Reflection
Who knew the mirror could be a place to find a playmate? Watch what happens when this adorable kitten tries to attack its new “friend.”
http://www.eNewsletterHome.com/_eNewsletter/2015/1504_VIDEO_B.htm
Vegetable Market is Right on Track
These veggie vendors in Thailand know exactly how to deal with a train running right through their market. Not so much as a mashed potato in sight!
———————————————————————-
THIS MONTH’S FAQ – HOW TO STOP VIDEOS FROM AUTO-PLAYING ON FACEBOOK
Question: When I open Facebook, every video in my feed start playing automatically. Can I make it stop?
Answer: The short answer is yes! And you have good reasons to want to do so. All those videos can use up your computer’s power and might not be appropriate for the environment where you’re watching them (such as work). Not to mention, it can be just plain annoying. To turn off this feature in Facebook, follow these instructions:
~From your Facebook home page, in the upper-right corner, click the down arrow, and select Settings from the menu.
~On the next screen, in the left column menu, choose Videos.
~Under Video Settings, next to Auto-Play Videos, click the down arrow, and select Off.
The process for turning off this feature on your Facebook app is similar. Tap the menu icon, go into Settings, and find the video option from there.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
We hope you found this newsletter to be informative. It’s our way of keeping you posted on the happenings at our shop.
Thanks for your business!
Best regards,
Rob Marlowe, Senior Geek
Gulfcoast Networking, Inc
6335 Grand Blvd
New Port Richey, FL 34652
727-847-2424
(We have used our best efforts in collecting and preparing the information published herein. However, we do not assume, and hereby disclaim, any and all liability for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions resulted from negligence, accident, or other causes.)
©2015 Gulfcoast Networking, Inc.
Portions ©2015 Cornerstone Publishing Group, Inc., used with permission.