coxy's blog

If you're reading this you probably know me, and that I'm a big fan of Opera (the application, not the music). I ramble on all the time about how good Opera is as a company and how I think everyone should use their products - but nobody really listens to me. In fact, considering how much I talk about it, very few of my friends actually have bothered to take my advice... but those that have feel like they've benefited. Mostly.

The other day seen the release of Opera 9.6. Anyone who cares about such a release would've downloaded the latest version already from opera.com/download/ - but if you haven't, read on.

Here's some good reasons why you should download Opera - even if you don't care about web browsers or anything to do with your computer, I bet there's a convincing arguement listed below:

Coxy's Reasons to Download Opera

• Better than Internet Explorer
  If you access the internet using the blue 'e' icon you can be considered a bad, bad person. Internet Explorer is made by Microsoft and comes with your Windows computer - and it's this very reason that most virus/security risks are aimed at Internet Explorer. If you value your security (ie, bank details, passwords, etc) - get a better browser.
• You're using / thinking about Firefox?
  Mozilla Firefox is the browser that most Internet Explorer users are switching to. If you've heard of another web browser, it's probably Firefox. Whilst Firefox is undoubtably better than Internet Explorer, for most users to make the browser do what they want it to, they have to hunt down and install 'Add Ons' making Firefox slower and more cumbersome. Most of Firefox's popular plugins come built-in as standard with Opera. It's well known that most of Firefox's new features are existing features in Opera.
• Speed Dial
  Opening a new tab or window in Opera provides you with shortcuts to your favourite websites. If you're a socialite, you can be a mere click away from Facebook, MySpace, Bebo, Flickr and your other favourite social networks - there'd be no need to type urls!
• Opera Link
  Connect your browser to your free Opera Link account and Opera will back-up and sync your bookmarks, speed dial, notes, personal toolbar, search engine preferences and typed history. When you log in at school, work, on any other computer or mobile phone, you have instant access to all your data - and any changes you make away from your computer will still be there when you get home. Get in sync, get a better browser.
• Zoooooooooom!
  Opera zooms pages like no other browser. Seriously. Where other browsers will only zoom the text on the page, Opera zooms everything with the touch of the plus or minus keys. Save your eyes, zoom when reading long articles or small type.
• Login with Magic
  The keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Return becomes your friend! Pressing it (or the magic wand button) magically logs you into your favourite sites - or fills out long forms for you - so long as you've saved that information previous. Login to pretty much any site and hit 'Save' when prompted and you'll never have to remember your username and password again!
• Find Anything!
  Opera comes suited and booted with the latest search engines; Google, Yahoo!, Ask and more. You can also search your history by typing in the address bar. If you can't remember the name of that lolcats site you were visiting, but remember seeing the word 'kitten' on the page, type away and Opera will find it for you. No other browser searches every word on every page you've visited! What's more - you can add any search box on pretty much any web page into your browser by simply right-clicking on it. Another good reason to get a better browser.
• Ultimate Protection
  Opera comes with Fraud, Malware and Phishing protection built-in as standard. Every site you visit is checked against a list of known phishing or fraudulent site to ensure your computer's not going to get infected with any spyware or viruses and that you're not giving your bank details away to a fake website.

To be honest, I could go on - but I'll stop now. There are so many good reasons to give Opera a try; even if you're happy with Firefox or just don't give a crap about web browsers - at the end of the day it'll ensure you're safe from nasty things on the web, or that you're browsing that little bit faster.

If one person came up to me after reading this and said "I read you blog, I downloaded Opera.", I'd be happy for the rest of the day!

Download and installation is free, quick and easy. Opera works on Windows, Mac and Linux... your mobile, your Nintendo Wii, your Nintendo DS and a handful of other devices. Just click the button:

If you ever needed a good reason to switch from Internet Explorer to a new web browser, tomorrow is as a good excuse as any.

To cut a long story short, a patent was filed which basically claimed control of any ActiveX content embedded within web pages. This resulted in Microsoft getting sued for Internet Explorer, and Microsoft lost the case.

Should your computer be set to AutoUpdate, you can't help but download the latest version of IE tomorrow which will disable all embedded content; flash, video, pdfs, etc. This becomes a problem for interactivity on the web, where now you'll have to manually activate such embedded content before it works if the code behind the website fails to comply with the new rules.

Originally posted by Michael Wallent, GM of the Microsoft Windows Client Platform:

We've been talking to customers and partners about this update since December 2005, and we're trying to get them ready for what will happen once the IE update goes out to everyone. The majority of companies have successfully modified their content to make sure that no additional clicks will be required but some people need more time.

During an official demo of the changes, one source said some advertising content served by Yahoo! was impacted. What's more, Microsoft's own Channel9 marketing site was also partially affected during the demo. So, whilst most major, big name sites will have accomodated the changes, there's going to be lots of sites that won't actually function correctly.

So, the solution? Well, as I stated at the start of the post; what better reason to change to a new web browser.

Download Opera.
Fast, Safe and easy to use.



If you're a web developer, you may want to explore this further reading:
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1943847,00.asp
http://developers.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/03/29/1823233
http://www.cbetta.com/blog/index.cfm....-flash-adobe-reader-and-more
http://msdn.microsoft.com/ieupdate/

Can you Digg it?

Taking a look at the latest ins-and-outs and ups-and-downs of recent days...

Film And Cinema
Today I seen the trailer for X-Men 3. For those that are interested, you can click here and watch it at Apple Trailers. Personally, I was quite impressed with what I was watching. I wasn't expecting to be a fan of the X-Men series, since I originally gave it a miss when it was out at the cinema, but ever since I bought 1 & 2 on DVD - I've been eagerly awaiting for the third.

Okay, it's probably quite a cheesey film, and the acting isn't the best ever - but then... the storyline is brilliant. The whole concept behind the film intreques me, because I can't help but wonder what it would be like if the storyline were true (to some extent). Regardless, you can count on me being in the cinema for when X-Men 3 (aka X3) is launched!


Video Games
Spending a long day at work, I was looking forward to returning home to find some brand new Nintendo DS games sat on the doorstep - one of which was set to be Mario Kart DS. I was particularly looking forward to receiving this because its the first online game for the DS and I've set up a Wi-Fi connection ready to play online...

...only when I got home, there's a note saying that there's two parcels at the Post Office. And so, that means there's going to be no DS games tonight, but rather I'll have to go out tomorrow and get them before work. Tonight I'll be watching a DVD instead. Or, playing on the Dreamcast.

That's right! I have been up in the loft this past weekend and fetched down my SEGA Dreamcast. This was my primary games console of choice whilst everyone was playing on their Sony Playstations' (upgrading to their PS2s) and Nintendo 64s'. It has some brilliant games on it, and I've a feeling I'm going to play it more than my Microsoft Xbox.

You won't see me playing on the Xbox 360 - because I sold that during the weekend for £500 - two hundred and twenty pounds more than what I paid for it. A good profit, I'm sure you'll agree.


Music
On the music front, I've had no luck this week with a band called Bromhead's Jacket. These guys were meant to have a single out on Monday called 'What Ifs & Maybes' and can I find it? No. There is a website online where I could buy it - but it's nearly £4 online - whereas if I can pick it up in the shops, it would be £1.99.

What's more, to add insult to injury; they were playing Monday night at Club NME in Manchester. Only, I didn't realise it was on so late... so, when I trotted along to the gig at 7.30pm (on my own, might I add) - I found out that the first bands weren't going to be on until 9.30pm, and there were three bands playing, with the night on a whole ending at 2am. Sorry lads, but I'm not hanging around that long - it's a Monday night FFS.

However, what I did manage to pick up is the new single by a band called Milk Kan. It's a good song - a bit cheesey, but good cheese. I love it.


The Rest
There's not much else happening in the life of Matt Cox - or at least not much that needs explaining in detail. So here's a few other things to whet your appertite until the next post.

The first person I met off the net was Vikki Lea Clarkson. She's a lovely girl and as I was on my way home from work, she was going to a concert at the MEN Arena - and we met in the train station. Yesterday her boyfriend split up with her, so I called her to cheer her up. It was cool to speak to her on the phone, because I usually only speak to her on the web. Plus, I forgot she has a funny accent.

For those geeky people amongst us, I made a Yahoo Toolbar for Opera Web Browser. I call it the Yahoobar. At the minute, its not quite complete - I need some advice from some Opera staff, really, to finish it off. And when its there, I'll release it to the general public. In the mean time, you can take a look at toolbar in its current state by clicking here. Leave some comments.

I'm getting really annoyed with myself for being such a pussy when it comes to women. See, there's the girl in HMV in town who I think is absolutely stunning, and aside from looking scared of me, has a cute personality too. I've mentioned her on here before, but I still haven't asked her out or anything - and probably should. Even if it comes to nothing... at least I'd have asked. I'll keep you updated.

Mmm. Ben & Jerry's ice cream is sooo nice. I have a tub of Phish Food in the freezer right now. I think I might eat it.

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