Download Tools and Plug-Ins
In your learning log record which programs you downloaded and note which (if any) facets you think might prove useful.
1. Adobe’s pdf reader
Adobe PDF reader is a program installed on my laptop from the factory. I currently have this updated to version 8 and it is integrated into all of my web browsers. This allows me to view PDF’s on the web without having to download them first, I can simply view them within my web browser of choice. This is a custome appltet/plug in developed by Adobe. The use of PDF reader led me to discover Primo PDF. This allowed me to install a virtual printer on my laptop. Through any program, when I press print, I can choose Primo PDF as the destination and it will create a PDF document of what I am printing. this is great for group work so all can see work I do in a global compatible format. This makes the reader very useful as it is common on most machines and people can always access my publications.
2. Flash/Shockwave Players
I have these plug-ins installed on all my web browsers. They are necessary for access to many media content rich websites I frequent and allow many extra web features. These include video viewing and browser games to be played! Many corporate websites, such as Holden, Mitsubishi etc.. use flash as a basis of forming an entire website. It appears professional and offers unlimited crativity.
3. Media Players
Apple Quicktime Player (Mac or Windows)
I have this installed already but never use it. I find it troublesome and laggy on Windows machines which greatly dimenshes the quality of the application. I rarely come accross occassion where I require the software.
Windows Media Player (Mac or Windows)
By far my favourite. Windows media player is a very useful application for my needs. I always have it updated to manage my music and video library. The main purpose of this is not to use it as a player though. Windos media player can handle media sharing. This allows me to access my media content through my wi-fi home network and Windows media player can stream it to my Playstaion 3, allowing me to play content from my media library onto my LCD TV and Home Theatre sound. It acts as a simple media manager and player, as well as a complex media sharing solution. It all comes down to the level of user knowledge of the software.
Real Networks Real One (Mac or Windows)
I do not have this software and refuse to use it again. Last time I installed a REAL networks product, it filled my computer with spyware from REAL to monitor my usage. This clogged up resources and bandwidth and put me off the brand entirely.
4. Search Manager/Combiners
Copernic Meta for PC
I have never used a desktop search manager or combiner before so I decided to check out Copernic Meta for PC and see how it worked. I found it very easy to establish and install. It works quite fast and the results returned were quite relevant.
I seearched “HTDDW7000″, the model number of a recent purchase I made. It searched a variety of search engines and combined the results and listed them in order of most relevance. I found this very useful and may use it in my future dealings on the Internet.
5. Bookmark Manager
I downloaded the above program and unfortuneatly found no interest in it. The layou and GUI seems quite basic and unappealing. I don’t use enough bookmarking to really appreciate the software and it’s features. I use my browser bookmarking features and find them much more appealing. Perhaps if my needs were different, I would utilise the this kind of software.
6. Offline Browser/Copier:
This is actually something I would use and have started since being led to it in this unit. There are many times where I have no web access but need to view sites with content not often updated. It’s great I can view it now offline. It works quite well and it is very easy to download and use.
Choose your most commonly used internet search engine and do a search with words of your choosing.
Words: “Bodyboarding Western Australia”
Search Engine: Google
First Hit:
bodyboarding wa – home page
www.bodyboardingwa.com/ – 41k
Hits: 26, 400
Using copernicus or similar, set it up to search at least three search engines (including one that will search the ‘deep web’) and repeat eactly the same search
Words: “Bodyboarding Western Australia”
Search Engine: Copernicus (11 Search Engines)
First Hit:
BSC Bodyboarders Surf Co
Aussie Owned Best Deals Specialist 1000s of Bodyboard’s Fins Wetsuits [Sponsored Link]
http://www.bodyboarders.com.au/
Copernic
Hits: 45
Compare: Google provided more results and a better first result as it matched my criteria better. However, copernicus provided 45 results that were all relevant, compared to Google’s 20 000+. 45 is much easier to go through than that massive figure. The quality of copernicus was better compared to google’s results.
Google 1st Five Hits:
-
bodyboarding wa – home page
Bodyboarding WA - Western Australia’s premiere online bodyboarding community. News, reviews, pictures, articles, forums and much much more.
www.bodyboardingwa.com/ – 41k - Cached - Similar pages -
EBB SUMMER SPLASH – EBB (WA) Bodyboarding Perth Western Australia …
Please upgrade your web browser. Site designed by KIDTHREAT. Site managed by FM DIGITAL. All content copyright exclusively body boarding & respective authors.
www.ebb.net.au/ – 14k - Cached - Similar pages -
Funkshen Bodyboards - Custom Bodyboards Australia, Handcrafted …
PO Box 1737 Wangara Western Australia 6947. Phone: +61 8 9309 9190 Fax: +61 8 9309 9089. Email: info@funkshenbodyboards.com. Funkshen Bodyboards …
www.funkshenbodyboards.com/ – 7k - Cached - Similar pages -
Funkshen Bodyboards
Funkshen Bodyboards. Unit 7 / 36 Buckingham Drive Wangara, Western Australia 6065. PO Box 1737 Wangara Western Australia 6947. Phone: +61 8 9309 9190 …
www.funkshenbodyboards.com/contact.asp – 9k - Cached - Similar pages -
Video results for bodyboarding western australia
YouTube - bodyboarding western australia
1 min 53 sec
www.youtube.com
YouTube - Bodyboarding Western Australia …
1 min 5 sec
www.youtube.comCopernicus 1st Five Hits:
http://www.bodyboarders.com.au/
http://www.OO.com.au/
http://EBB.net.au/Catalog_Specials/
http://www.TradingPost.com.au/
http://www.ebb.net.au/
