software

What Sites Are Your Kids Visiting?

This isn’t a new website and maybe you’ve seen it before, but more of a reminder to parents that in this day and age you can’t be too careful when it comes to your children being online. K9 Web Protection is a free program that parents can use to monitor their children’s online activity.

FYI: It’s NOT spying. Have you seen Dateline’s “To Catch a Predator” or heard of the many horror stories about children on the Internet? Wise up folks!

The Internet is a fascinating place, full of rich and interesting information. But as a gigantic virtual community, it has “good neighborhoods”, “questionable neighborhoods”, and “downright bad neighborhoods”.

With K9, you can decide which neighborhoods are OK to visit, and which ones aren’t. That ability makes a big difference when you’re trying to provide a safe environment for children. K9 makes it easier to let your children explore and learn on the Internet, while you do what you can to keep them safe.

Want even more options? How about ‘real-time’ monitoring? Then you’ll need to try Web Watcher. It’s not free, but it’s a top notch software with lots of features.

Savvy Chick vs. Windows Live Mail

I’m trying. Really I am.  I want to love Windows Live and all it has to offer. I want to embrace Web 2.0.

I got an invitation to try the “new” Windows Live™ Mail beta so I logged in using one of my old hotmail accounts and went into it with an open mind. Yes, I really did. I chose my layout, colorized it pretty pink and then got to see the new interface. I read a few emails and then discovered the calendar link. “Oh, that’s cool..” I thought. So I clicked it and then I couldn’t even get back to my email account. No link. Not even the logo is linked. So I hit the back button, and of course it gives you the error that you have to refresh the page. I’m not trying to be bitchy, really I’m not. What happened to basic navigation? A link back to where you began and a logo linked to the main page, it’s simple.  Anyway, I didn’t see anything Earth shattering within the shiny new interface that made me want to give up my own email client. continue reading....

Why should I use Windows Live?

Can someone please tell me why I should use Windows Live? I mean from what I can see it offers a search, news feeds and weather. There seems to be some other options as well, but nothing that makes me want to get excited and proclaim my profound love for it.  Maybe I’m missing something, maybe? I’m not? It was good for looking up a few RSS feeds that I couldn’t find for sites I’ve been looking for. So the search function is kind of good. Also their image search offers you a chance to view content within frames - which is convenient but isn’t that a big no-no? Framing other people’s content has been a big taboo on the ‘net as far as I remember.

I know it’s all about Web 2.0 and I know everyone’s excited about it. Well, most people. I guess I don’t enjoy having to be connected to do everything, and with as many errors I had while surfing the site it was just frustrating.  Yea yea, I know it’s Beta - but still.

Here’s a link to all the goodies they’re offering: Windows Live Ideas

Anyway, if you have something exciting to add to my lovely Windows Live (beta) experience I would LOVE to hear about it. Send me an email or comment. In the meantime, I guess I’ll stick with my good old standby.. MyYahoo. It’s been good to me and it offers nearly everything that I found available on Live.com.

Stop Asking Me Questions…

Just the other day I said a word and my daughter drove me insane as I tried to define it for her. I finally ended up telling her to go look it up on the Internet.  The word was redundant. A simple word, right? Well tell that to my headstrong 15 year old who thinks she knows everything.

So, what am I going to do today?

I’m going to fill that nearly empty 60gig video iPod of hers with a copy of Encyclopodia, the Wikipedia for iPod!!!!!!! Oh yeaaaa.

Next time she bugs me about the words I use like.. personified, unfathomable, etc. I’m going to tell her to use that shiny, expensive iPod we got her for Christmas for something other than that mind numbing hip hop that’s usually blasting from those ear buds. Will she use it? I don’t know.. but I’d honestly think it would come in handy at school.

And another thought, how come she has an iPod and I don’t? Something is wrong in the universe.

Savvy Chick’s Gone Google

It’s only been a couple days since I posted the announcement about Windows Live—and now Google’s in the game with their new Google Pages.  It’s a WYSIWYG environment, but it also allows you to edit the source code.  I built my own quickie site and you can see it here:  http://digitalgirl.googlepages.com. I built it in less than 3 minutes.

They’ve got a handful of templates (wish they had more *hint hint Google guy*). I chose the only one that was available in pink. You know I love pink.  The user interface is clean, easy to use and I liked it.  Also, unlike Windows Live, their free service is advertisement free from what I could see. Not even a link was placed on my page.  To find a free webhosting service without advertising is almost unfathomable - but hey that gives me one more reason to love Google.  Yes, I shall shout if from the rooftops at the top of my lungs.  Savvy Chick LOVES Google.

You have to have a Google Gmail account to access this service. If you don’t have one, just email me and I’ll send you an invite.

02/23/06 - Looks like due to an overwhelming response they’ve throttled sign-ups for Google Pages. So you’ll need to add your name to the waiting list, like what they did at Google Analytics. Sorry ladies.. but keep trying.

*OPEN AGAIN* I just checked once again and as of 02/25/06 you are able to access Google Pages and create your accounts. Yeaaah! Go try it out.

Microsoft Front Page is dead? Office Live

Have you heard about the new Microsoft Office Live website design service/program/builder. Well, what can I say? You know how your mother told you that if you can’t say something nice that you shouldn’t say anything at all?

Okay, I’m going to try.