A browser is like any other program. It is usually best to keep it updated with the latest free patches and updates. Unlike other programs like Microsoft Word or Photoshop, any self respecting browser will never require you to pay to switch to the most recent major version (switching from version 2 to 3 perhaps), or even updates (upgrading from 2.3 to 2.4 for instance) . You can feel free to update all you want without having to shell out money.

Why does my browser need to be updated?

You’re probably pretty busy. You might not have time to keep your software updated. A browser should be no exception, right? The thing is, browsers are not like other programs. They are your portal to the World Wide Web, and most of the rest of the population on the planet. Thus, they potentially also have access to the scum of the world who would love to steal your personal information.

Keeping your browser updated has many benefits including:

1. The newest software is usually the most secure to hacking and other security threats. No software is ever perfect, but keeping your browser updated will help you stay ahead of the bad guys out there.
2. The newest browser software displays web pages the best without errors like things being positioned where they shouldn’t be. Keeping your browser updated makes it easier for us web designers to make websites. For instance, currently around 9% of people use Internet Explorer 6 (which is 2 versions old). This browser doesn’t display web pages correctly, and makes the web design process take longer because of additional troubleshooting we have to do.
3. Newer browsers add features to help save you time and make using your browser easier. And…it’s free!

What about my settings and bookmarks?

Worried about your settings and bookmarks being lost in the update process? No fear. All modern browsers will keep your settings and bookmarks automatically when you update. Some will even let you import bookmarks from other browsers you have on your computer during the installation process. Just pay attention to the windows that come up when you are updating.

It might not be your fault!

If you’re working at a company or organization that doesn’t have the money to have someone update their computers, or has to use older browsers for some reason, you may not be able to keep your computer there updated. In that case, I urge you to keep your own personal computer updated.

Well, how do I keep updated?

• Not sure which browser you are using or where to go to update it? A simple way to find out is to visit our business home page. When you get there, if you are using an old browser, a box will display telling you what browser you use and how to update it. Or, you can do one of the things listed below:
• If you are using Firefox (our favorite browser), it should inform you any time updates are available. If not, you can download the most recent version.
• Download the newest version of Internet Explorer.
• Download the newest version of Chrome.
• Download the newest version of Safari.

Recently, the popular online video services Vimeo and YouTube announced that they would be rolling out support for HTML 5 video.

Wait. What’s HTML 5?

It’s the next version of  the basic code that is used to create web pages. It will offer various ways to create web pages that are richer, and both user and website coder friendly. It boasts a huge new features list that will help modernize the web. HTML 5 won’t be fully ready til 2022, but like most things in the web design business, some of (probably eventually most) benefits of HTML 5 will be able to be utilized before then. It all depends on what web browser creators (Microsoft, Mozilla, Apple, Opera and the like) decide to support.

For more information on what HTML 5 has to offer, I recommend this site (particularly the video section).

What HTML 5 means for video.

HTML 5 will allow web designers to add video to sites without using Adobe Flash (which is what most video sites like YouTube currently use). Users will not have to download additional plugins for their browser to make the video work (like Quicktime, Flash Player, or Windows Media Player). Support for the video will just be built into the browsers.The problem right now is that no one can agree on what video file format to support (as detailed on the Dive into HTML 5 site).

The Google Wonder Wheel is an expansion to the Google search that I heard of recently that allows searches to have a different user interface that automatically suggests multiple related searches and displays them in a kind of chart form. You really have to try it out to understand. All you have to do is run a Google search. Then, on the page that gives the search results, under the search bar, choose “Show Options”. In the options, select “Wonder Wheel”, and presto, you have the Google Wonder Wheel at your command. The results of each search are displayed to the right of the wheel.

You can see it in action here with a search of the people at the U.P. Web Maestro.

You can also use the same feature with Google Image Swirl. Check it out here.

Some of the thinking behind this is that the less a company gets in the way of the consumer as far as what they need, the more they will appreciate the company and give it business. Besides, it’s the consumer’s data, why not let them have it? As Brian Fitzpatrick, lead of this project said “…if you’re using a Google product now and you decide to go somewhere else, the easier we make it to leave and take your data with you, the more likely you are to come back and use something we come out with in the future.” A major problem they have remaining, though, is how to make it easy to download large amounts of data over networks whose speeds don’t match the ever increasing storage sizes for online services, an ever increasing problem as people are obtaining more and more software products online.

The freebie: textures, vector art, photoshop/illustrator brushes, fonts, a community of people who like art and web design

The site: BittBox

The catch: none

The freebie: stock images

The site: SXC

The catch: Follow the rules here – http://www.sxc.hu/help/7_2, and also pay attention to the “Availability” box on the page of each image.

The freebie: fonts

The site: Font Squirrel

The catch: All of the fonts should be free to use for commercial purposes, but read the license on each font before you use them to make sure.