Websites and How Awesome They Can Get.

"A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a set of related web pages served from a single web domain. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet address known as a Uniform resource locator. All publicly accessible websites collectively constitute the World Wide Web."

~Wikipedia [en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Website]

-Websites, what purposes do they serve? In the business industry, we know that websites will always contain some form of information or another. But how do we determine if this information is useful to us or not? Will there still be "real" websites out there in the future? Well, Wikipedia is one of them. It is a free encyclopedia that contains public contributions in each of their articles. In fact, Wikipedia is one of the most popular websites in the world! Here are some other websites that I like:

This website is probably the most commonly used one out there. It's main purpose is for you to search for other websites. Just type in whatever you need to look up in its handy search bar, and within seconds it will display a ton of websites that are related to what you want to search for. The Google company has also created many other useful websites, Blogger.com being one of them, and I use them almost every single time whenever I have to complete my business homework. I'm pretty sure that all of you use Google already, if not, then you might've used other search engines as well. Moving on...

isup.me is a useful website that tells you if another website is accessible or not. This is really useful if you don't want to waste time finding out why the website is not responding. It can also be used to detect problems within your network, or within your computer. So if it says it's up but you can't access it, then you might have a problem. It's really simple to use; just type in the URL to see if the website is down or not. The longer URL is: downforeveryoneorjustme.com

This is a website that gives you some of the information of our global economic standards. Although the number changes are based on algorithms, it provides an accurate picture of the real world. What I find interesting about this website is how specific it can get. For instance, they display the amount of forest loss that has happened so far (and the numbers are surprisingly huge!). Overall, this is a website that can tell you some general information about what situation the world is in right now.         　　       [www.worldometers.info]

"Step 1, type in the question. Step 2, click on the search box. Now wasn't that easy?" This website literally googles stuff for them. That's right, folks. If you have a friend or a colleague that doesn't know a certain phrase on the internet, then this is the website for you! Just simply type in whatever the heck they don't know (let's say that they forgot how to breathe; type in "How to Breathe" in the search bar!) and the magical URL will pop up for you to show to that person. A perfect way to solve many modern-world crises that happen everyday. However, if your buddy was smart enough to know this website firsthand, then this next website may solve the problem...    　　　　　 [lmgtfy.com]

The previous one may be a problem solver, but this website is more of a problem disintegrator! What this awesome website does is that it shortens URL's for you. Just paste in that super-long address and watch what it can instantly do! Now, most people use it to just shorten Google search links, but it works well for other links as well. The result links after you have inputted your link will always contain the address "goo.gl/[Label]" in it. Now you can show that lmgtfy URL to your mate without having another guy being able to point out the obvious. Isn't that amazing?             [goo.gl]

-There are many many other websites out there that are really useful, such as whos.amung.us. They all have the potential to change opportunities in the business world. These are just some of them; I have a link to websites that show very useful website links! Anyways, I hope you've enjoyed this rather short blogpost. I also hope that you can take the time to get out there in the Internet and experience all these unique websites. It surely will make the time that I've spent on this more useful. Bye have a great time!

~Jeff Ma

{Oh, and here's the link that I've mentioned earlier: http://goo.gl/R9jLL4 }

5 Ways to Improve Your P.C. Performance.

 How many times has the following happened to your P.C.?

1. "My computer is running too slow!"
2. "My computer isn't loading the information right..."
3. "There is a problem(s) with my computer!"

Well, have no fear; now that there are 5 ways to fix them...for free!

-A happy Easter week to everyone. A lot of time and experience has been put into this blog post to ensure that the information is at its clearest and most informative state. So, let's begin. How do you determine if your computer is as slow as a snail? Well, chances are, if your computer is still loading the rest of this page, then it's already in the red zone. Likewise, you can actually experience the effects of the lag if you have to wait a long time for software to load. And at times, your computer is not compatible with loading some of the information. This happens especially if you have a computer virus, or if you haven't updated your computer much. But in general, issues that occur within your P.C. will ultimately tackle down your computer's performance. Here's how to solve them:

1. Use CCleaner. 

CCleaner is a handy tool created by Piriform that basically cleans up all the junk that's stored inside your computer. One thing that I like about this tool is that you can configure what it is that you want to clean out. So if you don't want your saved passwords erased, then you better uncheck that. Another thing that I like about this tool is that it doesn't take very long to clean your drive. It even includes a Registry Cleaner, utilities like Uninstall, Startup, File Finder, System Restore, and Drive Wiper. As well, they have a customizable options list, but I don't recommend fiddling around with that unless if you are an advanced user. Overall, something recommended to use frequently.

2. Select which programs to run on startup.

Your P.C. was built and programmed to run software. Certain programs automatically run on startup so that they can get more tasks done. However, there will be a point in which a program that isn't very important causes a heck of a lot of trouble. This affects startup performance for other programs, and can cause your computer to overheat early. There are two easily accessible places that allow you to configure which programs can run on startup. They are: MsConfig, and CCleaner. Both software are needed for this method to work best. If you don't know what MsConfig is, go ahead and search it up in your Windows Explorer. From there, all you need to pay attention to is the Services and Startup tabs. From then on, you may notice a few programs that you don't normally use or haven't used at all (some programs may even be unknown viruses!). Search for what you want to disable online before actually disabling it (because of the virus thing, right?). After disabling the programs, restart your computer. But before you hit that "Apply" or "Okay" button, always make sure to backup your whole entire computer drive! You do not want to end up realizing that you've disabled essential windows programs, because your computer will interpret you as a horrible, horrible person, and will not even start up at all after rebooting. As for CCleaner, the creators were nice enough to categorize the programs into which software they run with. So you can select which programs to run on not only computer startup, but browser startups as well!

3. Use Defraggler!

Defraggler is another tool made by Piriform. Similar to the Disk Defragmenter, it modifies your disk so that all the fragments that slow down performance and write speed are removed. I think that this program is great because, just like CCleaner, you can configure which fragmented files to defragment. I feel that this is a really handy feature, because it also displays the size of the file, and how many fragments are contained within it. It also displays your file composition, in blocks. You may even search for files that you want to defragment. The ones that are larger in size tend to have fragments that have a greater effect to your system than other small files. Anyways, the [C:] drive is what you want to focus on, but if you have other drives that you usually use, make sure to check those as well! I would only recommend defragging once a month, as the defragmentation process puts a lot of stress on the write speed as well. (Oh, and it now displays the Health and Statistics of your drives.)

4. Additional services and programs to stop:

Think you've prevented all those unnecessary programs from hogging up your C.P.U.? Think again! Sometimes, when you are done with a program and you close it, it still runs in your background. This could be annoying at times because it's basically hogging your R.A.M., and not doing anything with it at the same time. So how do you fix this? Well, for starters, the easiest tool to use is the pre-installed Task Manager. It lets you see the Applications that are currently active, and also gives the status. If you go under the "Processes" tab, you can see all the different programs that are currently running in your system. End processes that you find unnecessary for, but do not end system processes like winlogon.exe! You have to be really careful in what processes you kill, because ending the incorrect program results in system instability. In fact, search for those processes online first! Then we have the "Services" tab, where a whole bunch of services are either running or have stopped. The same basic rules apply if you choose to stop any of these services. And the other three are ones that display some of your performance information. I actually use a tool called Process Explorer. It's an alternative to Task Manager (you can even sneak this tool past the school computers, since Task Manager is disabled) and I love using it, simply because it displays more information and is less tedious than Task Manager. Don't worry, you'll get used to doing this! =D

5. Virus management.

Pay attention, because this is the most important part! Having a virus(es) running on your computer will GREATLY affect performance and restrict access to performing certain commands. It's also unsafe to do so, as it can steal information, wipe your hard drive, and can even spread through the entire network without you knowing. Sure, you already have two major virus prevention programs (Windows Defender and Windows Firewall), but there's still ways for viruses to penetrate through. If you want the easiest way of dealing with this problem, then install another antivirus program. I recommend that you try avast!, as it's virus definitions are updated fairly frequently, and it's great at handling viruses properly. For extra protection, try Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. As well, if you want to go for a manual file hunt for the virus, then try enabling those hidden folders. Look in places like ProgramData, Downloads, System32, and anywhere else where there's a hidden folder. Virus checks should be very frequent!

-And that's about it. Of course, there are many other ways to improve your P.C. performance, but the ones that I've talked about are the highlights of it. I hope that you've enjoyed this blogpost. It was certainly one that took a very long time to compile together. And yes, P.C. performance greatly affects the business industry too! You aren't going to progress much if you depend on a slow computer for it! 

~Jeff Ma.

EDIT: Pardon me, I forgot to cite my sources! Anyways, here are the links:
https://www.piriform.com/ccleaner

https://www.piriform.com/defraggler
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx

http://www.avast.com/en-ca/index
https://www.malwarebytes.org/

iOS Devices.

The iOS device has provided many users with on-the-go apps and entertainment. It has a simple design that gives the user an easy experience, and the users themselves can easily get used to the mechanics of it. It gave a different view of technology to the world when it was released, primarily because of its touch screen interface. Originally unveiled in 2007 for the iPhone, it has been extended on to support many other iOS devices. Personally, I own an iPad mini for my entertainment and learning purposes. It's much easier to bring along than a laptop, and you can get more done with it because of the multi-touch feature it comes with.

Here are some features included in most of the iOS devices:

Home Screen: The home screen is basically where you can access all of your apps. It includes a bar at the bottom so that you can easily go to your most used apps. You can access the home screen by pressing the home button, a physical component to the iOS device. This in turn exits the current app that you're on.

Folders: Like in computers, folders are places where you can store your apps in. It's a great way to organize your apps by category so that you don't end up opening the wrong one. You can add and modify folders by holding on to any app, until it enters "jiggle mode", and then by dragging it onto another app. The Apple Software will automatically create a folder name based on the categories of the apps, but you may change this name at any time.

Notification Center: A useful tool that will notify you about any software updates or anything going on within your apps. It does the job of checking apps for you, basically. It can also be configured so that certain apps will not notify you if any activity has happened within the app. This is useful if you are working on something important (like games), and you don't want to get distracted by the notifications.

There are many other features that are not as general as these three main ones, and most of them are about apps that are included in iOS devices. I would recommend trying out this product because it gives a whole new perspective to electronic devices.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IOS

Introduction.

Good day to all, and welcome to my blog page. As you may have noticed, this blog page will contain any blog posts that are part of my Business class. Hopefully, you will learn a few things from my posts, and use it to your advantage in the advancing world. However, there are a few rules to consider:

1. You are free to comment about anything you want, PROVIDED that:

• It does not contain any PROFANITY, RACISM, or anything else that is OFFENSIVE.
• It is of at least some RELEVANCE to the topic, and is HELPFUL in a way(s).
• The comments aren't REDUNDANT, and that you don't SPAM anything.  

Criticism is encouraged, and I take it seriously in all my work. Help me improve so that I can better deliver the information to you guys. You may even start by commenting on this very blog post! C=

     2. You may redistribute my blog posts so that the information is shared, BUT WAIT!:

• You MUST cite me as the publisher and the sources that I've used.
• You may NOT make money off of my blog posts! (In fact, you shouldn't for ANYONE'S blog!)
• You may modify my blog posts ONLY with my permission.

Anyways, since I don't want to overwhelm my new visitors, I'll leave it here for now. This page may have been created for the sole purpose of my teacher, Mr. Oppenheimer, but that doesn't mean that you aren't allowed to join in on the action too! I would love to hear suggestions from you guys, and I would certainly appreciate it if you learned something from my posts, because that means that these blogs have a purpose. Best of luck to those that have the same assignment as I do, and most importantly: Have fun!

[Hidden text indicates that it's a spoiler. ;)]

~Jeff Ma.

[P.S. Part of the business industry in blog posts is to first explain the rules and criteria, so technically this still counts as a blog! Just to let you guys know. =) ]