Google is finally stepping up their game, announcing their new sci-fi looking glasses – the Google Heads-Up Display glasses.  According to Google, the glasses may be released by the end of 2012 or in 2013.

The glasses are Android based, and are rumored to have a front-facing camera with flash, and a voice input interface. Data will use 3G/4G connection, and GPS will use several sensors to collect information about the surroundings. They will have a display just inches from the wearer’s eye, streaming real-time information about your surroundings. The only problem with the glasses so far is their design – you may look stupid wearing them. Another problem would be for people that wear glasses presently, you would have to switch to contacts to be able to use the glasses. This is why Google has released this information so early, to get everyone’s input to improve their product before its released. We also must think of how these might replace smart phones – how much more dangerous could these glasses be while driving?

The cost of these HUD glasses has been guesstimated around the price of current smart phones – which can range anywhere from $150-600, so no precise cost as of yet. Like smart phones, these glasses are currently a want more than a need – but they seem very interesting and futuristic!

How ’bout it?  Will you be able to “resist” Google’s new “smart” glasses, or will you be among the first in line to buy them?

The old expression “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” does NOT apply here. It’s more like – “it’s probably broken, so fix it.”

First is speed. With applications that work more smoothly and efficiently, while avoiding compatibility problems associated with older versions, updating greatly helps websites run faster.

Security issues with older browsers is a huge reason to update immediately. Buying shoes, clothes, music, or anything that requires a credit card to be entered on an older browser can put your personal information at high risk. Without the security of the current browsers, it can make stealing your identity and credit card numbers very easy for a hacker.

To improve functionality of your browser and the websites you’re trying to visit, browsers are updated with newer and improved plug-ins. Plug-ins help enhance the browsing experience and address issues that the previous version might’ve had.

Updating your browser also reduces the risk of getting a virus on your computer.

Keeping your browsers up to date is a lot easier than people think. You can find out which version of your browser you have by going to the Help tab inside your browser, then click on “About ________” Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari, or whichever browser you use will fill the blank. A screen will then pop up and show you which version you are using. The most current of web browsers are:
Internet Explorer 9
Firefox 11
Safari 5.1.4
Opera 11.62
SeaMonkey 2.8
Google Chrome 18
If you use another type of browser, just Google the name, and you will find the most current version.

But be warned – if your computer is still running XP or an older version, you may not be able to get these updates. (I know for a fact, Internet Explorer 9 does not have a Windows XP version).

So no matter who you are, you need to check just about every month for updates. If you need any help with updating your browser, or any other questions, feel free to email us or call us here at Smellycat Productions – 757-250-3197

Will Schmierer, our lead designer/developer ninja, recently attended a Wordcamp in Miami to hone his mad WordPress skills and make the WordPress sites we build for our clients even better!  To see some of what he experienced at Wordcamp Miami, visit WordPress.tv or Wordcamp Miami.

From the March 3rd, 2012 edition of the VA Gazette.

If you don’t yet use LinkedIn, we highly recommend that you do. It’s free to join and easy to set up a profile, and you can add a “Follow” button on your own company website @ LinkedIn Developer website.  But if you need help with either, you can always call or email us! We’ll be happy to get you started!

Here’s a quick video from LinkedIn on how to find and follow companies on LinkedIn:

In layman’s terms, each time Panda runs, all the content Google knows about is re-sifted. Improved content escapes the filter, and poor content gets caught again, and the page it is on never makes it to a search engine results page.

Panda 1.0 was released in February 2011 and targeted sites that copied content from other sites. The newest Panda update, version 3.3, is now effective. There are about 40 search updates coming from this newest version. In it, Google has gotten rid of something it has been using for years, saying, “We often use characteristics of links to help us figure out the topic of a linked page. We have changed the way in which we evaluate links; in particular, we are turning off a method of link analysis that we used for several years. We often rearchitect or turn off parts of our scoring in order to keep our system maintainable, clean and understandable.”

Another excellent update is the local search rankings – “to find results from a user’s city more reliably…we’re better able to detect when both queries and documents are local to the user,” says Google on their more extensive and detailed post (to find out all of the other updates that came with 3.3, click here.)

Sites that continue to have solid, informative content will not fall through the Panda filter!

At Smellycat Productions, it is our duty to keep you informed and on-top – and out of Panda’s greedy paws. We keep up with the updates and optimize our client’s websites accordingly. Do not hesitate to give us a call or e-mail us to ensure your site does not get eaten by Panda!

You have to be willing to  step outside of your comfort zone – join different clubs and organizations (but only ones that YOU have a legitimate interest in) and reach out to others to make that connection. You can’t let intimidation stand in your way – you’re not the only one who’s nervous; others could be there for their first time, too. The art of connecting is the willingness to reach out to someone you don’t know. It’s much more interesting to sit down and talk with someone you don’t know – there is so much you can learn from strangers and their journeys in the past.

The greatest characteristic of a connector “is a willingness to help and to reach out even if there is no obvious or immediate payback”.

Here at Smellycat Productions, we recommend networking with LinkedIn, Merchant Circle, and Facebook — but don’t stop there! Go and see these people you’ve networked with and connect! These networking sites can help you connect with current and future clients — behind a computer screen where you can only see pictures and text. Make the extra effort to actually see their face and make yourselves better acquainted. Make a connection!

Do you have what it takes to become a connector? What clubs and organizations would you consider joining? Be sure to leave feedback if you have already joined organizations and let us know how connecting and “paying it forward” has worked for you!

Some businesses communication may not reflect their work efforts, but to the customer, if it’s a sloppy conversation they will assume their work follows suit. Taking the time to strive for better contact with consumers will greatly improve repeat customers and better reviews. “Someone who takes the time to contact you and ask detailed questions is further along in the buying process and if you take the time to address their needs, you have a great shot at landing their business,” says Brian Phelps. Be quick to answer, and you will start seeing advancement with your customer base and sales in no time!

For more hints and tips on how to grow your business online, call or e-mail us today!

Search engines decide and choose original content that displays more relevancy to a given search query.  So, don’t copy or clone your content from other sources.

Now, that’s not to say having multiple domains is altogether bad–it depends on how you use them:

1. They are ideal for introducing a new service or product you are offering or want to test.  Just remember, no two websites should have the same or even slightly altered content, and there should separate optimization (SEO) for each one.

2. If you have multiple domains but no websites associated with them, at the very least, make sure your webmaster does a 301 redirect for each to your main website.

For more on the bad and good of multiple domains, visit seo.com.

Do you have multiple domains and need help managing them?  Give us a call or email us–we’ll get them and you on the right track!