Four Amazing Web Browser Alternatives

Browser on a laptop

Web browsing using Google.

Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome?

Despite the multitude of options out out there, when people talk about web browsers, it’s just a competition between Firefox or Chrome. No one even uses Internet Explorer anymore . Moreover, no one talks about the other available browsers that are more impressive. Read this guide if you want to end your Chrome or Firefox dependence. It’s time to upgrade for the better!

You might like these browsers:

  • Torch Browser  Try it here!
    • Torch has a built-in torrent manager. If you are fond of downloading torrents, you will find this browser really useful.
    • It also has a music section, and a game corner. You have access to various free music and casual games with needing to download them.
    • You can download video and audio files using Torch’s media grabber. With its built in player, you can watch the downloaded content right away. Now, there’s no risk in downloading malicious file downloaders that may harm your computer.
  • Yandex.Browser Get it now!
    • Once you have installed Yandex, you will first notice that you can customize the background and not just a static background, but a dynamic background.
    • The browser has reader mode making reading an easy task. It also supports .epub files so you can read ebooks without downloading any apps.
    • If your internet connection is slow, Yandex’s turbo mode will make your browsing faster.
  • Ice Dragon Browser You must try it!
    • Ice Dragon browser is not something new because it is a Firefox based browser. All your existing Firefox plug-ins and extensions are 100% functional.
    • The browser has a set of dedicated social media buttons (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, and Pinterest) that will help you to instantly share any pictures or videos to your online friends.
    • It is the fastest and most secure version of Firefox because of the unparalleled security and privacy of Comodo.
  • Browzar  (It is just 222kb!) Download it now!
    • This browser is perfect for people whoa are tired of installing and registering. Just download the browser & go browse anything.
    • Browzar is compatible with all the different versions of Windows.
    • It does not store any cookies, history, temp files, & passwords.

There’s an ideal browser that fits your needs.

What is best among the four browsers listed? It really depends on your needs. Choose Torch if you prefer a multimedia browser. It is integrated with a media grabber, music, games, media player, and many more. If you do more surfing and reading, Yandex.Browser is a great choice. When your internet gets sluggish, the turbo mode will give you a boost. It also has an embedded protection system. You will protected from possible security threats like identity theft, DNS spoofing, and annoying pop-up advertisements. IceDragon features privacy and performance upgrades over the basic Firefox with  Comodo’s Secure DNS. When you use a lot of shared computers, Browzar is a great choice because it will automatically clean up once you are done. Whatever you need, surely, there ibos a browser that is perfect for you!

Easy to Use File Sharing Services

Storage devices

Different storage devices.

In this day and ages, we constantly share a piece of lives everyday. Photo and videos are not only for personal use, but we also share it to the different social media platforms. There is no need for us to save these files to various external devices. We can now upload files to an online storage so we can access these files anytime and anywhere. These applications are easy to use and you are sure you won’t lose a file ever again.

  • Dropbox (Sign up here!)
    • The basic account is absolutely free and you are given an initial storage of 2GB only. If that is too small for you, you can easily earn more storage once you sync your devices, social media accounts, and files. You will get an additional 500 MB of storage space when you invite your friends, and they install Dropbox on their computer. That would a total of 16GB if you have successfully invited 32 people. After that, if you still want more space, you can available their premium services. Price starts at $12.50 for the paid services.
    • Personally, I prefer Dropbox because it offers a simple back up and sharing. I can send files to anyone I want and it does not matter if they Dropbox installed. I use Dropbox to save all my books. Whether I am on my desktop or on my mobile phone, I still have access to my files no matter what device I am on.
    • Whether you use a Mac, Windows PC, iPhone, or Android device, there is a suitable app for it. You don’t have to worry because Dropbox will sync automatically whatever device you have. If you saved a file on your mobile Dropbox, You can also access it on your desktop Dropbox, and vice versa.
  • Yandex.Disk (Access it here!)
    • Like Dropbox, Yandex.Disk is also free. It is under the Yandex brand along with a search engine, translator, and many others. Once you sign up, Yandex.Disk gives you a free 10GB storage. If that it is not enough for you, you can expand your storage by purchasing additional space. An additional 1TB storage is just $10 a month. That’s so cheap for 1TB. Indeed, a great deal!
    • Yandex.Disk is a cross-platform application and is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. You easily share files to your friends whatever OS they are using. You can save any file you want and access them anywhere.
    • The unique feature of Yandex.Disk is that it supports documents, spreadsheets, photos, and presentations so you edit them. If your computer doesn’t have the appropriate application needed, you do not have to worry because you can easily access them and make the necessary edits.
  • Mega (Visit their site here!)
    • Mega is true to its name because it offers a mega huge 50GB of free storage. You may know its predecessor MegaUpload. Now, Mega is back with a vengeance. It guarantees you an end-to-end encrypted cloud storage. There is no limit on the file size of your uploads and paid services are available from €4.99 – €29.99.
    • If you find registering a hassle, you can try it without an account. This is a perfect option for those urgent file transfers.
    • If you wish to sign up, you can use their website or download their mobile app that is available in all major platforms. In addition, you can download the Firefox or Chrome browser extension for faster access to your files.

10 Laptops Features You Can Skip

laptop

What features to skip and not to skip?

The market is flooded with different kinds of laptop. In fact, manufacturers have added new and amazing features. You will be amused by how they have improved the laptop. But do not forget one important factor – your budget.

Here is the list of the added features you can skip:

  • Blacklit Keyboard – A lot of laptops come with this kind of lighting, but if you are the touch typist type, you don’t need this feature. If you are a gamer, playing in the dark can destroy your eyesight. Glaring backlights are not exactly helpful.
  • Higher than 1080P Screen – Do not purchase a laptop with a “full HD” if you want to save money. Surely, the screen of a 3840 x 2160 (4K) resolution can give you sharp images, but then, if your display is as small as 13 to 15 inches, do you think resolution matters?
  • Core i7 CPU – This is for those who has the kind of job that needs intensive tasks like giant spreadsheet formulas or transcoding videos. So, why spend more when an Intel Core i5 processor balances performance and cost
  • Discrete Graphics – This feature is for those professional videographers, graphics artist, film animator, or if your work requires 3D modelling. This is also ideal for serious gamers. If you are not, better skip this feature.
  • Infrared Camera/RealSense 3D – This feature lets you login in your laptop by facial recognition and this works well  with Windows 10. How cool is that, right? But is it necessary?
  • Fingerprint Reader –  This goes hand in hand with the infrared camera and lets you login via Windows Hello. Instead of typing your password, all you need to do is to put your finger on a sensor. Typing your password is still safer. Also, Window 10 still requires a password.
  • Touch Screen on a Clamshell Laptop – If you want a 2-in-1 laptop that can flip back or detach itself to become a tablet, then a touch screen is required. With the standard clamshell laptop, this is not necessary.
  • More than 256GB of Storage – With cloud storage and other similar services, a lot of people do not need a storage that is more than 256 GB.
  • Windows 1- PRO – A large business needs Bitlocker disk encryption, Group Policies, which this feature offers. Now, if you are not into business, why pay extra for Windows 1 Pro, right?
  • 16 GB of RAM – Normally, 8GB is fine and adding more is unnecessary.

True, it is cool, but it is not really necessary.

You might have to pay extra for these features. If you need a laptop to do basic computing tasks, think twice before purchasing . Remember, more pixels means more electricity and will affect the battery life. In addition, Touchscreen laptops also lessen the span of your battery by a few hours. SDD is, more or less, 5 to 10 times more costly compared to mechanical hard drives. There are several online storage options you can utilize if you need more storage. Read more about it here. If you are on a budget, it’s better choose a cheaper alternative and skip features you won’t be able to use.

Starting Your Own Podcast?

Podcast Microphone

A Guide to Finding the Right Podcast.

A podcast is just like an internet radio. Use your computer if you want to listen to it. Podcast is not all audio, it can also be a video. You can learn more about podcast by checking out this link.

If your podcast has a good format, it can be successful. Below are the kinds of podcasts:

  • Just one person in front of the camera or a microphone. Topic is usually news, an opinion, or a tutorial about a particular subject. The concern in this format is the voice and the delivery of the person talking aside from the quality of the recording. The focus here is how to hold the attention of the audience.
  • An interview has two people talking giving their own views which is rather more With this type, you have to make sure that both will be present for the recording. Also, the kind of microphones matters to allow clear deliverance of the voices. This is more challenging because the audio should really be perfect.
  • A conversational show is another kind of podcast. This time there are two or even more persons talking giving their own opinion on the given topic. Surely, this is more interesting compared to the solo podcast. The only tricky parts are scheduling of the people involved in the production and making sure that they do not overlap each other when talking. It is true that the more the merrier but more time spent on editing.
  • Video podcast speaks for its name. It is an audio and video, which gives the feeling of being close and more personal with its audience. Being such, the requirement of this kind is much bigger than a vodcast or vidcast. It needs more planning time and scheduling. The file size of this needs a high badwidth connection because of its big files that is bigger than 100 MB each. Of course this depends on its length. The video format is .m4v or mp4 H.264 done by Window and Mac users.
  • Combination podcast means a combination of synced images and audio podcast almost like a narrated slide show. A podcasts that has been enhanced has multiple still images and yet add to a live URL links to websites. To skip the podcast, it has a chapter marker. It is an audio file in .m4a format. The file of enhanced podcasts is very similar to an audio podcast. This cannot be played in Windows Media Player.
  • A screencast is a recording of your computer screen that goes together with an audio narration. This presents a definite process rather than merely instructing. This type is great for students who are more visual.

The minute you decide on your format, you have to be creative to come up with a distinctive and interesting show. Think also of the many segments you would want to produce and the length of each podcast. If you plan everything very carefully, you may just come up with a podcast that viewers or listeners would love. Don’t forget to have fun!

7 Reasons Why You Should NOT Buy a Touchscreen Laptop

touchscreens, computer, device

Touchscreens have more disadvantages than advantages.

As a laptop owner who is accustomed to the traditional keyboard, you will wonder why the market is full of touch screen laptops. This is ideal for graphic artists who can have more control of the design. But if you are a student, a business person, or a plain housewife, you might not really need it. Let us first find out both the advantages and disadvantages.

Here is the list of the advantages:

  • A touchscreen display makes it easier to apply the image editors available.
  • Designing graphic apps like CAD gives the right dimensions.
  • For the games addict, playing games can be more fun and easier too!
  • Microsoft made sure that their operating systems are compatible to non-touch and touch based laptop increases your output.
  • Touch screens makes interaction with your PC faster and easier in contrast to using track pad or a mouse and a keyboard.
  • If you have difficulty in typing, this saves time for you. All you need is a pen (stylus) input, and you can write or illustrate anything on your screen with such excellent precision. Both Windows 7 & 8 can translate anything you write into text.

With all these amazing things, touchscreen laptop is a touchdown. If you are convinced that you need one, why don’t you first find out the disadvantages before buying a touchscreen laptop.

Here are the disadvantages:

  • The touchscreen display can use up your battery power in comparison to a normal display because the touch digitizer is always on even if you are not using it.
  • The added mechanisms and sensors in a touchscreen adds from 0.2 to 0.4 pounds of thickness. This will not just affect the ergonomics and transportability, but it defeats the purpose of touhscreens being handy.
  • Touchscreen laptops have an effect on the viewing angles and brightness. It uses a glossy material so reflections are present.
  • The screen links and buttons are small that clicking them could be a real challenge. Filling out forms and shopping could be a hassle.
  • You need to use the microfiber more often than usual because of the many smears on your screen. This could be irritating for most people.
  • A touchscreen laptops are definitely more pricey. This could hurt your budget.
  • Try holding your arm for at least two minutes and for sure, your hands will fall off. So, what else could happen if you use your touchscreen for hours? Your hands and arms could hurt too. A good touchpad will not cause you this pain. For one, it gives you more helpful movements like three-finger swipe and two finger rotation. It is also easier to Navigate Windows 10 desktop with a touchpad as compared to a touch screen. Studies shows that touchscreen will later on cause you back and shoulder problems because of too much reaching out.

In the end, the touchscreen’s functionality does not meet any necessary needs. It is not just expensive, but also puts your health on the line. Weigh the pros and the cons before deciding to buy one.

How to Optimize My Website for Voice Search

One of the greatest advances in search engines today is voice search technology. As you may already know, you can make use of voice search by tapping the microphone icon in the search bar and speaking to it whenever you are searching for a query. This very convenient feature is particularly used on mobile devices; which is very telling about the changing ways people search for information online. As a matter of fact, this has now affected how SEOs optimize websites. If you are one of those who want to know how to handle this change before it entirely overtakes the whole world of SEO, then you are on the right page. In this article, we have written down below some useful ways to optimize your website for voice search.

Before we dive into optimizing your website, there are some things you need to keep in mind about voice search:

  • You have to remember that unlike the usual search keyword phrases that you type into the search box, voice search is more conversational and natural in tone.
  • Since voice search is typically done on mobiles, they are often more locally focused. Mobile devices are more active when it comes to knowing your location. So if you are looking for something, then expect to have more targeted results.

Now that we’ve set those things up, we can now move to optimization. Tips are as follows:

Think Local for User Intent

As stated above, people who use voice search are more likely to receive targeted results, which pertain to local content and information. This includes address, opening hours, prices of products, type of business, etc. So you should remember the intentions of users when it comes to search queries through voice search. Make sure that when you are structuring your site and its content, basic informative questions should be answered. Ensure important information can be found on your site and is readily available for Google to gather. You have to make it effortless for Google to rank you higher in search results, which can be done through accessible website/business information.

To further help you with this, your website’s content must be able to target the following people:

  • Information Searcher – This is people who are looking for details about a product of service
  • Location Searcher – For people who want to go to a local business and buy from a local store
  • How-to Searcher – This goes to those who want instructional materials or information
  • Product Searcher – People who are at the edge of buying a product and are looking for convincing information about it

Use Long-Tail Keywords

With voice search being conversational in nature, it is best to adopt long-tail keywords as part of your optimization strategy. They are, as it says, longer search terms and phrases than the typical search query. Long-tail keywords also comprise up to 70% of searches. So using them is necessary. Your keywords must mimic how people talk and ask questions beyond the Internet. This means that you have to be quite specific. Doing this could set you up for a higher search results’ position in voice search queries.

The Importance of a Blog for SEO

In the online world, a blog is a great way for people to connect and share information with each other. But beyond that, it is also an excellent SEO tactic that can boost your website’s search engine ranking. Let’s face it, as more people use the Internet, the number of web pages also increases; slimming down your chances of online visibility. By creating and using a blog, you will be able to build a brand, establish reputation, and more importantly, improve organic traffic. This can help you stand out from other competing websites in search results ranking and, ultimately, attract more visitors. If you are still unconvinced by all these, then allow us to tell you more about it below:

Fresh Up-to-Date Content

One thing search engines love is fresh and updated content. This provides users the assurance that the information given to them is not only fresh but relevant as well. Search engines prioritize websites that could give the best user experience when it comes to online queries. Algorithmically, they call this the QDF or the Query Deserves Freshness. A website’s content must be recent and contain relevance on trending topics.

And blogs are the best way for you to continually create this. You can’t change your company’s name nor can you switch up your about page. A blog freely gives you the opportunity to publish, create, and update your website’s content. You can post multiple times a day if you can and update some of your old content. For search engines, this translates to a higher search ranking. The freshness and relevance of your website shows that it is not outdated and instead could give the users reliable and useful information.

Maximize Keywords

If you’re familiar with SEO, then you’d know the importance of keywords. However, with its bad reputation as an overused SEO tactic, keywords have the power to turn visitors off and away from a site. But by strategically using them, you’ll be amazed at how effective they can still be. Through a blog, you won’t merely use keywords just for the sake of it; instead, you use them with a purpose. Blog entries are a great disguise to use keywords in your content, which could improve your SEO results. You must take note, however, that keywords must still be chosen carefully to be effective. To do this, remember the following:

  • Use long-tail keywords
  • Choose keywords that are unique yet searchable
  • Avoid cramming keywords
  • Use keywords naturally

Promote Backlinks

A blog is a great space for you to create valuable content that can attract not only readers but other websites as well. Once you have built a relationship with other organizations and websites, you will be able to actively promote your website on their page through backlinks and vice versa. This is a great indicator that your website can be trusted. When readers find a link to your website from a blog they’ve been following, then they will most likely visit it. And when your blog content is great, you can expect to gain some visitors. However, you must be wary to associate with reputable and high-quality websites. Having too many backlinks from any other sites could cause harm to your search ranking.

Why do my rankings keep changing?

In the world of Search Engine Optimization, seeing some changes in your ranking is enough to leave your nerves in pieces. They can be high one day then low to the next. But it is important to remember that changes in rankings are natural in the world of SEO. So don’t beat yourself up by obsessively checking and worrying about it too much. However, if you have seen some extreme changes, then you might want to hire an expert to take a look. This is to ensure that your site won’t plummet into obscurity. Determining the cause or causes could prevent and protect your search ranking. With this in mind, we have written down the factors that cause your rankings to change.

Algorithm Updates

Search engines, especially Google, constantly roll out a lot of updates to their algorithm. This is probably one of the biggest reasons why you can see a sudden change in your rankings. What is more, updates will sometimes not be announced. Popular announced updates are Google’s Panda and Penguin updates. This could give you a time to prepare. On the other hand, unannounced updates, such as the smaller ones, tend to take you by surprise—as reflected in your sudden ranking change.

Keyword Changes

Changes in keywords happen when content is updated. While it is good to change your contents now and then, its effect on keywords could significantly affect your ranking. It could make keywords more relevant and targeted which helps increase the ranking or the opposite. Also, changes in title tags could affect your keywords and ranking. So be careful in choosing the title tags and learn to stick to them.

Site issues

Technical issues have an impact on how search engines crawl on your page; affecting your sites’ speed and rankings. Avoid implementing robots.txt and incorporating complicated code. These things slow down your site’s loading speed, which is one factor Google considers when it comes to ranking a site in search results, and stop Google from crawling your website.

Backlinks

Looking at the activity of your backlinks and inbound link strategies could determine the cause of the rise and fall of your rankings. The more links that point to your site, the higher your ranking will be. However, be wary of spammy links since this could make search engines consider your page unreliable. Make sure to develop a backlink strategy that only involves quality and valuable sites. Also, losing links could make your rankings drop drastically.

Decreased Ranking of Other Sites

Sometimes, the sudden increase in your ranking has nothing to do with you. It is just that other websites suddenly had their rankings decreased; putting you higher. This is due to traffic fluctuations of other sites that are competing in the same search. Or it could be that these sites got penalized. Either way, their decrease in ranking has placed you higher. Nonetheless, you shouldn’t be too comfortable with this. Continue to develop your site or others will overtake you.

What is mobile SEO?

Almost everyone in the world uses their mobile devices to access the Internet. And one of the top activities of smartphone users is searching for information on Google. If you want your website to be more visible in mobile search results, then you need to take advantage of this information. One of the best ways you can do this is through mobile SEO. In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about mobile SEO and why you should start improving yours.

Mobile SEO is another kind of search engine optimization activity used to increase a website’s visibility in mobile search queries. As more and more people rely on their mobile devices, and even tablets, to go online, your website should be fully optimized for mobile use. Not every website is fully functional on mobile devices. They are not designed to adapt to different screen sizes and online loading requirements. Through mobile optimization, websites are transformed in site design, site structure, page speed, and more to best serve mobile visitors and increase a site’s potential mobile search ranking.

Why Use Mobile SEO?

In a recent study, it was found that mobile overtook desktop as the primary means of accessing websites. Also, with the amount of pages and websites competing online, you should take note that not all of them are fully functional in mobile devices. These days, users are five times more likely to leave a site that is not mobile-friendly. Taking the leap to mobile SEO could promote your website to a wide range of Internet users.

Another reason why you should use Mobile SEO is simply to rank higher in search engine results. Google, especially, made the move to include the responsiveness of a website’s design as a factor in search rankings. This pertains to the ability of a website to be usable and responsive on different kinds of devices. Search engines basically favor smartphone-friendly websites above those that fail to do so. If your website is fully optimized for mobile use, then you can expect to have a boost in your search results ranking.

Mobile SEO Practices

  • Increase Page Speed – one of the best features mobile SEO does is its ability to increase the speed of a website. You should know that these days, over half of mobile users leave a site that takes more than three seconds to load. To improve your website’s speed, you must minify code, leverage browser caching, reduce redirects, and optimizing images.
  • Avoid Pop-ups – Also, you must be wary of putting mobile pop-ups on your site. This not only decreases the page speed but annoys your visitors as well. They are most likely to leave even before your site has fully loaded which could increase your bounce rate.
  • Optimize for Local Search – This is especially helpful for business owners with a physical setting. You must know how to optimize your mobile content for local search. You can do this by standardizing your name, address, and phone number in your site’s metadata.

How to encourage Google reviews and why you should care

Google is undeniably dominating the world today. Almost everyone in the western world goes to Google for pretty much everything—from getting information to buying products. And one way they can assess the quality of stores in particular is through Google business reviews. As such, Google business reviews are considered an essential tool through which to promote your business and its products to clients and customers. If you are a business owner trying to put up a searchable website online using Local SEO techniques, then you must know how to take advantage of Google business reviews. However, being new to this can be both daunting and confusing; enough to make you give up the whole online idea in the first place. But before you do that, we are here to help. Below are reasons why you should care about Google reviews and ways to acquire and encourage more of them.

Why Google Reviews are Important

Before you can actually ask for reviews, you must first make sure to set up a Google My Business profile. This is where you can put necessary information about your business for potential clients and customers to see. But above it all, the Google My Business profile is your review platform that is embedded into Google search results, Google Maps, and Google Local Guides. It is where Google reviews are placed which are the first things your target audience most likely wants to see.

Google reviews, as you have seen already, are 1 to 5-star ratings made by your customers based on their satisfaction and expectation. They appear hand in hand with your business information on the Google search results page. Google reviews provide an initial impression of your business, and it is where you can establish trust with your potential customers. Statistically, 88% of buyers read online reviews to determine the quality of a business before anything else. And this should be the main reason why you should care about Google reviews. It turns searchers into buyers. Furthermore, where local SEO is concerned, a great amount of positive Google reviews increases visibility in online search results.

How to Encourage Google Reviews

Ask Customer Feedback

A study found that seven out of ten consumers would most likely leave a business review if asked. This information is the type of assurance you need if you have no idea how to begin getting Google reviews. Asking your customers for feedback is one of the most effective ways to get reviews.

Responding to Reviews

Responding to feedbacks sends a message to consumers that you value their opinions. Take note that your response will also be made public. This is a good way to establish trust, which is very necessary if you want to keep your customers.

Make Reviewing Easy

All of your effort from asking reviews will be put to waste if you make it hard for customers to do it in the first place. You can make it easier by sending customers direct links to the review page.