Showing posts with label How To. Show all posts
Showing posts with label How To. Show all posts

Friday, October 30, 2020

HOW TO DUAL BOOT UBUNTU 18.04 AND WINDOWS 10


HOW TO DUAL BOOT 

UBUNTU 18.04 AND WINDOWS 10 [2019]

1,924,524 views•May 20, 2018

IT'S FOSS - LINUX BLOG

41.5K subscribers

Dual boot means you can have more than one operating system in one system and you can choose which OS you want to use at the boot time.

 

In this tutorial, I'll show you how to install Ubuntu 18.04 alongside Windows 10 in dual boot. This way you'll get to use both Ubuntu Linux and Windows on the same system.

 

In my opinion, dual booting Ubuntu with Windows is the best way to enjoy both the operating system on the true hardware which is not possible if you use either of Windows or Ubuntu Linux on a virtual machine.

 

Newer computers and newer Ubuntu versions support secure UEFI boot so you don't have to disable fast boot or secure boot anymore. Installing Ubuntu and Windows in the same system has become a lot easier and hassle free.

 

However, I recommend making a backup of your data on an external hard disk, keep a Windows 10 bootable USB or a Grub repair disk with you to avoid any unfortunate events while dealing with partitions and boot settings.

 

Links discussed in the tutorial:

 

-Ubuntu download: https://www.ubuntu.com/desktop

-Etcher for making live USB: https://etcher.io/

-Swap size discussion - https://itsfoss.com/swap-size/

Grateful thanks to IT'S FOSS - LINUX BLOG and YouTube and all the others who made this video possible

HOW TO INSTALL UBUNTU ALONGSIDE WINDOWS


HOW TO INSTALL UBUNTU ALONGSIDE WINDOWS | 

GET THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS: DUAL BOOT!

684,830 views•Jul 11, 2017

LINUX TV

33.8K subscribers

 

Works for Ubuntu 18.04LTS up to 19.10. Learn the 5 easy steps to download & install Ubuntu on your PC while keeping Windows at the same time!

 

DOWNLOAD LINKS:

Deluge (torrent download client) - http://deluge-torrent.org

Ubuntu ISO Image - https://www.ubuntu.com/download/alter...

Rufus (Live USB Creator tool) - http://rufus.akeo.ie

 

MORE INFORMATION ON TORRENTS

Using a torrent or bittorrent client means that you will be downloading the Ubuntu ISO file from other users around the world who are also using a torrent client: it's called a p2p, or peer-to-peer, connection. Once the download is complete, the torrent program will begin "seeding" the Ubuntu ISO. In other words, it will make the Ubuntu ISO file available to other torrent users, and can possibly use your Internet bandwidth to upload the Ubuntu ISO file for other users.

 

To stop sharing the Ubuntu ISO file after the download is complete, either uninstall Deluge, or (1) Go into the Deluge program, (2) Right-click on the Ubuntu ISO file name in the main Deluge window, (3) Left-click "Remove torrent", (4) Once the new window opens up, left-click "Remove torrent" again. Deluge will no longer take up your Internet bandwidth to share the ISO file. Good to go! :)

 

Grateful thanks to LINUX TV and YouTube and all the others who made this video possible 

Saturday, April 25, 2009

How To-67: "How to Download Safely"



How to Download Safely


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

The internet is a dangerous place, filled with all kinds of malicious software. In this article, proper web safety is discussed as well as techniques for ensuring protection of your computer.

Steps

  1. Be sure you're on a reputable site. Look at the URL bar on the top of the browser window, and be sure that the address displayed coincides with the page that you're on. Pay close attention to the beginning of the address, the part between the http:// and the .com/.org/.edu. If the name matches the page, you may be safe.
  2. Check the file you recieve is not an exe file, if you are downloading music or images
  3. Use a spyware/malware detection program, such as Windows Defender or McAfee Site Advisor. If you do happen to download something that is unsafe, a program such as this will help identify it and possibly aid in its removal.
  4. Use common sense. If a program has features that seem too good to be true, chances are, they are. One of the most prominent examples today are the Myspace Trackers that keep popping up everywhere. Things that seem like they wouldn't work probably don't.

Tips

  • Open source systems like Linux or BSD aren't prone to viruses, so downloading should be safe.

Warnings

  • No one method will protect you from all unsafe downloads; new ways to deceive users are developed all of the time.
  • Viruses are always a risk you take when downloading a program, file, or anything else from the internet.

Related wikiHows

Sources and Citations

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Download Safely. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-66: "How to Accelerate Downloading"


How to Accelerate Downloading


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Many times it takes a very long time to download from another site. You can easily accelerate your downloads by following the directions.

Steps

  1. Close any Internet using programs you do not need, so close any kind of P2P program (unless this is how you're downloading); Internet browser; streaming media; messengers; and games like WOW, America's Army, or any other multiplayer online games. This will increase the available incoming traffic you have.
  2. Make sure your firewalls are not blocking the program and that the port is open. (See below.)
  3. Get a download manager. Some of them are actually faster than the download speed you see when using Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox (see below for a good download manager).
  4. Get a faster internet connection.

Tips

  • This tip does not apply if you are running single computer over a network connection.
  • If someone else on your network is doing a massive download, or similar to above they will affect your speed as well. Kindly ask them to stop, pause, or slowdown/limit there downloading. (Or just wait until they are done.)
  • Also, keep in mind that downloading from servers near you is generally faster but not always. If you are in prime hours in your area, look for a mirror server farther away where most people are likely to be asleep. The server loads will usually be less and your downloads faster.

Warnings

  • If you do not have permission to unblock ports then don't!
  • All websites have upload speeds governed by their providers. Don't expect to get 500mb/s from a site whose max upload is only 300kb/s, as you will only get its max upload speed at best. So don't call your ISP due to slow downloads if it is the fault of the site you're downloading from, because your ISP doesn't have control over that.

Things You'll Need

  • Admin access to the router if needed
  • Computer
  • Internet connection

Related wikiHows

Sources and Citations

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Accelerate Downloading. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

How To-65: "How to Improve Search Engine Ranking"



How to Improve Search Engine Ranking


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Showing up on search engines is one of the most critical ways to increase website traffic and expose your content, product or service to people who might be interested in what you have to offer. Most of the major search engines utilize an algorithm to determine where a website ranks. The search engines have set up specific criteria that a website must meet to get to the top of the list. The criteria are different for every engine, but all engines share several commonalities. It all boils down to the type and amount of content provided on a given website, the level of optimization done on the site, and the popularity of the website (link popularity/PageRank). Tailoring your website for improved search engine rankings is also known widely as search engine optimization, or SEO.

Steps

  1. Research the keywords. Decide what search queries you want to show up for. Do some research on how many people are actually searching for your site. Many times it is best to consult a "natural search engine optimization" professional during this process. There are several tools available from Google, Overture, and third party software developers that can make the keyword research process easier.
  2. Think outside of the box. Don't just focus on your main keywords. The first thing to realize when targeting keywords is that it is not all about ranking for the most popular keyword. The most successful search engine marketing and optimization campaigns target the most relevant keywords. For example, if you are a realtor in a particular area, don’t just optimize your site for “real estate." Optimize your site for dentist, florist, movie theaters, etc. You would be amazed how many unique visitors will come through to your site when "outside of the box" thinking occurs.
  3. Focus on the end user. If you spend too much time trying to please the Search Engine Spiders, you may forget about the end user. Think about what your target market needs to accomplish their goals, and then put it on your site so that they can find it. The phrase "content is king" was born about 6 years ago, and it still holds true today. If you want to be relevant for specific keywords, than you need superior or at least highly competitive content. Write about 225-300 words of copy for each keyword and plant it on your site each day. Grow, grow, and grow. On average, one can target between 3-5 like keyword phrases per page. Make it as natural as possible and the Search Engines will reward you with a first-page ranking.
  4. Make sure that all the pages of the site have custom titles and descriptions. If your site is using the same tags for all the pages, you are not helping search engines figure out the subject or relevance of your individual pages. Regarding Meta Tags, there are 2 very important fields:
    • Title Tag - arguably the most important SEO tag for any website. Google supports approx. 60 characters in the title, while Yahoo allows for up to 110 characters in the title. It is important to target the most critical keywords in the Title. Every page should have a unique Title.
    • META Description Tag - also very important for every page on the site. Some engines do display the description defined, while others do not. All search engines do read the description tag, and do utilize the content found within in the ranking process. A good rule of thumb is to create descriptions that do not exceed 200-250 characters. The META keyword Tag is essentially useless in today's SEO market, but is oftentimes good to utilize as a placeholder for the keywords targeted.
  5. Keep the structure, navigation and URL structure of your site simple enough for search engines to follow. Remember that search engines cannot parse your navigation if it's using flash or javascript. So try to stay close to standard HTML when it comes to Navigation. URLs with dynamic parameters (?, &, SIDs) usually do not perform when it comes to search engine rankings.
  6. Create a site map that tells people where everything is on your site. You will get about a 1% click through rate to your site map. However, it will do wonders for those who know what site maps do, and the Search Engines will like it as well.
  7. Build up your popularity. So now you have determined the right keywords on the right pages, you've created all of the necessary content, and you've optimized all of the content to the best of your capabilities. Congratulations - you're now in the top 80th percentile (from an optimization standpoint) of the websites listed for the keywords you're trying to target. So how do you get a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd page listing? The answer is quite simple: You have to be the most popular, too. That's right, it's a popularity contest. In other words, how many other websites know you (link to you), and how popular are they? This is typically referred to as link popularity, or called PageRank by Google. The more sites that link to your site the better, and the more popular the site linking to you the more value you will receive for your link popularity. The best types of "link building" are directory registration, text link advertising, and press release distribution. Try to offer valuable information or tools so that other people are motivated to link to your site. Well-linked sites (that don't use spamming) do better in search engines.

Tips

  • Search engine algorithms assess the relevance of your page to any particular keyword by the content on your pages. For instance if you are selling "widgety widgets" on your site and you do not mention "widgety widgets" on your page text, search engines have very little to work with. Also make sure that you are not spamming search engines by using the same keyword over and over.
  • Although not as important as they used to be, reciprocal links do still matter with Google. Reciprocate with similar websites and include keywords near the links on your site.
  • If you want to optimize well for your city, state etc., make sure to sprinkle geographic search terms throughout. Include it in text as well as set apart. Search engines do not know where you are unless you tell them.
  • Bold and italics can make your keywords stand out more with the search engines.
  • Interior links within your site will improve SEO; Sitemaps are a great way to generate internal links and make your website better too!
  • Correct broken links, search engines do not like dead ends.
  • If you have over 30 keywords that mean business to you, then you might want to hire a Professional Search Engine Copywriting firm or outsource it to freelancers.
  • Anyone who can go to google and type in "keyword research" will find very many tools that mixed with common sense should suffice quite well.
  • Now when digging deeper to understand the traffic patterns of certain keywords use Wordtracker’s GTrends Tool. You can get an idea on the amount of competition on Google compared to the amount of searches. Now these numbers are far from accurate, BUTTT if you can kind of step back and take a broader look at things, don’t worry so much about the numbers but compare the trends since it shows the past history. See if its steady traffic, traffic that is going extinct, or traffic just starting to peak. By using this tool, you can many times find some golden opportunities.
  • It really comes down to just using common sense. Just sit down and think, "What would other people search to find this? What would I search for to find this?" Try phrases in your keyword research tool to get new ideas and find the higher trafficked most targeted phrases. DO NOT look at the numbers spat back out at you by these programs as accurate numbers, they rarely are. You can still use these tools to get ideas on new keywords, search patterns of users, and many other things, that mixed with the information of trends in that area, can really help you.

Warnings

  • If you are going to use freelancers, beware of duplicate content. Always make sure to check the content that you get by searching for the content on Google, Yahoo, and MSN.
  • Never have hyperlinks like "click here", hyperlinks should always be keywords, long hyperlinks with multiple keywords are even better.
  • Don't hide content.
  • Don't create duplicate websites.
  • Remember that if you use black-hat SEO techniques, you run the risk of getting penalized by the search engines and having your web site permanently removed from their index.

Related wikiHows

Sources and Citations

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Improve Search Engine Ranking. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-64: "How to Get Your Blog to Appear at the Top of Searches"



How to Get Your Blog to Appear at the Top of Searches

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

How do you get your blog to appear at the top of search results on Google, Yahoo, Ask.com etc? It appears to be a simple question; the answer, however, isn't as easy as you'd like (if it was, everyone would be at the top of search results, and we know that's impossible). This is a list of 5 free tips for getting your blog to appear at the top of search results.

Steps

  1. Update your blog – daily. So to begin - you must be serious about your blog. Update it at least 3-4 times a week, preferably once a day.
  2. Write clean, precise, and accurately. This includes grammar, spelling, and punctuation. The next step is very important: write clean, precise, and accurate blogs. How do you do that? You learned this in junior high - use correct grammar, spelling, punctuation etc, but go beyond that - create your own voice, one that commands respect and one people will turn to for whatever it is that you provide.
  3. Provide a consistent ‘product’ for your audience that they want to come back to. That leads me to the next step: provide something for your audience. It can be entertainment, advice, riddles, jokes, laughs, just about anything - but be consistent. If you're predominantly positive, then one day you spew negativity and rant about something, be aware that you might be turning off regular readers of your blog.
  4. Promotion! How do you promote your blog? Link your blog to as many sites and blogs as you can. Search engines, like Google, track this networking through an always changing, mathematical algorithm. So it's simple, post comments on other sites and blogs and sign off with your blogs 'address'. Contact site administrators and ask to post a link to your blog on their site (this will happen more frequently if your blog is relevant, and useful!). Part of promotion is registering your site with search engines. It may take some time once you register for the search engine ‘people’ to review your site or blog, but once they have, you will start appearing on search results. They look for keywords, relevance, etc. The two biggest search engines are Google and Yahoo.
  5. Keywords: use popular keywords that are relevant and can be used in the context of your article. Use them often in your article, and in the title of your blog! This is somewhat complicated because people use keywords to search for what they need differently. Some keywords are searched for more often than others. Only use keywords in the context of your article, and make sure they are relevant, or else you can be ‘black-listed’ by search engines for spamming. With that in mind, use the keywords frequently in your article. Let’s say my keyword is "How‿", use it about 10 times throughout the article you write, but again, use it only in context and not just to use it. How do keywords help? Search engines scan your article for these keywords. The more often you have used them, and the more relevant they are, the more they appear on searches. Remember, you appear at the top of search results because advertisers are willing to pay the search engine for advertising on your site. If it’s not relevant, or it’s a worthless laundry list of keywords, you’ll be spotted right away. And finally, use these keywords in the title of your blog entry!
  6. Use photos! If someone is searching for a photo, and your blog has keywords from their search, your photo will come up in the search. If they are interested in the photo, they may click on it to enlarge it or get more information. If they do this, and if they are searching using Google or Yahoo, then they will get taken directly to your blog. Free promotion!

Warnings

  • Remember this isn’t easy work – you must be serious about it, and your blog. Promoting will take the most time and effort, but that’s what helps the most. Theirs is only one wrong way to promoting and marketing – Not promoting or marketing. There is no right way, just do it the best you know how, and you’ll see a difference.
  • Also, try not to post your URL on other people's blogs too much. Not only is it annoying, it also seems kind of desperate.

Related wikiHows

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Get Your Blog to Appear at the Top of Searches. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-63: "How to Design an Effective Newspaper or Newsletter"


How to Design an Effective Newspaper or Newsletter


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

A basic overview about how to lay out a good-looking, well-structured page using desktop publishing software. A primer on information architecture, layering and all the other things that will help people read the words you put on the page. This is not a how-to on using desktop publishing software.

Steps

  1. Open a desktop publishing program. Quark XPress and Adobe InDesign are the most popular. Much design is done on Macs, but that's not always the case. And now, with Boot Camp, that line is sure to get blurred even further. Anyway, Quark or InDesign are the most professional, most flexible publishing programs. Are you on a broadsheet or a tabloid? Or an 8 1/2 x 11? Good news is, design principles apply to every page size. There are some small differences, but not many.
  2. Organize. Plan your content. What is the most important story? The next? The next after that?
  3. Consider your "art."
  4. Know -- and use -- a grid. 5 columns. 6 columns. 4 columns. Mind you, a 10 column grid is really a 5 column grid that allows for 1/2 columns, and a 12 column grid is 6 columns with 1/2 column slots. 1/2 columns can be useful for running information boxes, mug shots, etc.
  5. Keep the design on the grid. What does this mean? For example, on a 6 column grid, run a story over 3 columns and another story over 2 and a story over 1.
  6. Think about the centerpiece. What is the dominant story the grid -- either through rules (thin, usually .5pt black lines) or through images or logos or boxes. The centerpiece is an anchor.
  7. Create a dominant headline. Consider 60pt, even 70pt, but probably no less than 52pt for the most important story. The hierarchy of story headlines should be at least 6pt difference. If the biggest story is 52pt, the next highest should be 48, 42, 36 and so on. Some consider 10pt, or 8pt to be preferable.
  8. Back to the photos -- dominant vs. secondary. Hopefully, a photo editor will make that call, but if not, what photo advances the story the best? Look for emotion, dynamics and movement, unusual angles and intense or intimate moments. Then play them big. Don't be afraid of, say, 4 columns wide on a 6 column grid. Huge? Yes. Worth it? Yes.
  9. If you have multiple photos, the second photo should not be greater than half the size of the dominant. If the main image is 4 columns wide, the secondary should be roughly 2. Maybe 2.5. Not 3. 1 Might be too small. Strong headline order + big photos = strong, basic page.
  10. Add layering. What is layering? See tips.
  11. Have someone else look at the page. A copy editor, for example, to proof the headlines and layers and body copy for, hopefully, minor errors like grammatical mistakes. You never know what factual errors may come up, and as a designer, its usually not your job to "proof" a story.
  12. Send the page to press.

Tips

  • You'll be given stories to lay out. While you may not be responsible for "proofreading" them for grammar, you had better be sure to read them. You will be able to add context and information -- your design will be more informed. This is critical: newspaper design is an architectural thing, not really a paint-pretty-pictures thing.
  • Avoid lumping photos in the ubiquitous, non-descriptive "art" category. Consider "photos" and "graphics." But many editors etc. do call it all "art."
  • Grids allow a mass of empty newsprint to take on an organizing form.
  • Headline hierarchy is essential to a well-organized page. Without it, how will a reader know what is important and what's not?
  • Research respected publications and compare how they do layout, Often a proven method is what readers expect - this is a great source for Daily Newspaper Covers
  • To layer: Add subheds, or "decks," or "dropheds." These are two three or four lines of additional display type -- 20-24 pt -- that add context to the hedline. You can run them 1 column deep, or on the other extreme, you can strip them all the way across a page. They allow readers to get a better grasp of the story while doing a lot less work than reading the whole story.
  • Add infoboxes. Pull information out of the story and bullet-point it; bold key numbers and explain WHY these numbers are so important. Readers want information quickly; breaking it out for them is simply doing your job.
  • Mug shots are good for identifying who the players in a story are. Mugs are small, 5p-6p-7p sized headshots. Crop tightly. Add a sentence or two giving context about who the mug-ee is and why they are being featured. Mugs run this way function as additional layering -- information pulled out, brought forward, thrust in front of the eyes of your readers.

Warnings

  • Photoshop cutouts can be awesome -- they add a powerful dynamic to a page. But be very, very, very careful about how and when you apply this technique. Photoshopitis is common.
  • You only really need one headline font. One body copy font. One infobox font. Maybe another variant for cutlines. More fonts doesn't make anything better.

Things You'll Need

  • Computer
  • Patience
  • Stories, photos

Related wikiHows

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Design an Effective Newspaper or Newsletter. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-62: "How to Start a Newsletter"


How to Start a Newsletter


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

There are several different topics about creating a professional newsletter or designing one. But what if you've never even started a newsletter before and need to just get off the ground? Here are some helpful things you can do to get started.

Steps

  1. Define the goal of your newsletter. Are you doing it just for fun? To make money? To draw new visitors to your website? To advertise your products and services? To educate? To inform? The newsletter's purpose will influence how it's written and distributed.
  2. Identify the content you intend to print. What topic are you addressing, and how broad will your coverage of it be? Since newsletters come in various forms, there is a variety of subjects you can cover. Online newsletters can apply to online communities or groups, and print newsletters can apply to a company or town or a school.
  3. Identify the target audience. Who are they and what do they want to know? How will the newsletter serve them? If you are writing for teenagers, for example, make sure that your writing style is appropriate. If you are writing for a company, likewise, make sure your style is professional and applicable to the work environment.
  4. Determine your production schedule. You need to know how long it will take to write and edit content and set it up in the newsletter.
  5. Determine how many people you need to get started. At the onset, you probably won't have many people to help you. And in today's technologically-advanced world, you can probably handle most of it yourself. If your production schedule (from the previous step) is more frequent than every two weeks, you probably need at least 2-3 people to help you.
  6. Determine how your newsletter will be published. If it is online, make sure you have an email mailing list or a website to post the content. If it is printed, determine if you are mailing the newsletter or placing in a public location. Printed newsletter also require a printer of some sort, whether its your laserjet at home or a professional printer.
  7. Get working. The key to getting your newsletter off the ground is to actually get publishing. Whether online or in print, it's important that you stick to your production schedule. If you find that you have enough content and manpower to publish more frequently, make sure your readers understand the change up front.

Tips

  • Desktop publishing software has improved in leaps and bounds and can set up a pretty fancy newsletter. More advanced software can create online and print version of the same newsletter as well.
  • Human beings love to laugh. It's best to include some fun, if not light-hearted information, stories, or even comics.

Warnings

  • Don't take yourself too seriously. A newsletter is a little different from a newspaper in that it doesn't have to follow various "unspoken" journalism rules nor does it require articles to be objective.
  • It is never OK to take copyright material and republish it, even if you credit your original source. You must use copyrighted material with permission. That said, there are many public domain information firms out there that can give you interesting content for your newsletter.

Related wikiHows

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Start a Newsletter. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

How To-61: "How to Increase the Life of a Digital Camera"



How to Increase the Life of a Digital Camera

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Technology moves at a pretty fast pace. You can buy a brand new computer or camera, and it is, almost instantly, outdated. However, you can increase its lifespan by taking proper care of your camera.

Steps

Lens Care

  1. The lens of your digital camera is its eye or window to the outside world. It is easily the most important component in any camera. To take care of the lens, make sure that you never, ever touch directly with your fingers. Also, make sure that you put on the lens cap when not shooting pictures.
  2. If you really need to clean the lens, use good lens cleaning equipment. Investing in such equipment is really important. Always use a good lens brush, lens blower and lens cloth to do the job.
Temperature

  1. The other thing to look out for is the temperature under which the camera is stored. You should always keep the camera out of sun. One mistake that newbies always make is to store the digital camera in the extremely hot temperatures (e.g. the car boot [trunk]). Don’t ever do that. It’s also important not to store the camera in extremely cold temperatures either.

Storage

  1. When storing your digital camera, you need to keep it away from magnets of any form. Magnets will affect the circuitry of your digital camera and should not be placed near it.
  2. Another point to note is to use silica gel to combat condensation. Many electronic products come with silica gel capsules. Keep these and put them in your digital camera storage box. It will prevent condensation.
  3. The batteries of the camera should also be removed if you intend to store the camera away for a long time. The reason is that batteries can have corrosive leaks over time.
Protect Delicate Components

1. You also need to protect those delicate components. In particular, watch out for the
memory card (whether it is a CompactFlash, SD or MMC card). Handle them with care
because they are small and delicate.

2. Camera panels are also very delicate. In my Canon PowerShot S500, the panel for the USB
connect and the battery is a tad flimsy. Make sure to handle it with care whenever you
open it.

Conclusion

Your digital camera cost a lot of money and it pays to take care of it. Remember to apply the above tips to preserve your camera and it’ll last you a long, long time. Good luck!

Learn to Take Beautiful Photos
  1. If you want to improve your digital photography skills, you may want to take a look at Digital Photography Success. This e-book package includes excellent step-by-step instructions on how to take pictures of beautiful landscapes, people, nature, fireworks, night scenes, etc. Learn how to shoot professional photos - just like those you see in glossy magazine covers.
  2. You can also look around. Search on Google or your favorite search engine. One web site, with a lot of free, helpful tutorials[1] is very informative.

Warnings

. Do not drop it.
  • Do not get food all over it.
  • Do not ever touch the Lens.
  • Do not get sand in it.
  • Do not get it near a magnet.
  • Do not get it wet.

Sources and Citations

http://www.geofflawrence.com/


Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Increase the Life of a Digital Camera. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-60: "How to Improve Digital Photo Quality in Photoshop"





How to Improve Digital Photo Quality in Photoshop

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Have you ever wanted to improve the quality of a photo? Maybe you took it with a disposable camera and scanned. Or, maybe you took it with a digital camera, but it still doesn't look right. Here's a quick way to drastically enhance the quality of a digital photo.

Steps

  1. Open your photo via Photoshop. If you need to, crop your photo using the CROP tool on the left tool bar. This can help remove any unnecessary background that may be in there.

  2. Once cropped, if you cropped it, click on IMAGE at the top and select ADJUSTMENTS/AUTO LEVELS. Once you have done that, back to adjustments and this time select AUTO CONTRAST. And again, under adjustments, run AUTO COLOR.

  3. After you've got those three down, bring up the curves palette with Ctrl+M. Drag that diagonal line until you get the balance that you like. You can drag it twice.

  4. Finally, on your main image layer, click the FILTER menu. Open the SHARPEN sub-menu and run UNSHARP MASK. 100%, one to two pixels and two to ten threshold levels will make your images look much sharper.

Tips

  • Don't try to overdo it. Sometimes adding too many effects to a photo can ruin the photo completely. People will be focused on how jazzed-up it is rather than the subject of the photo.

Things You'll Need

  • Photoshop, Digital camera

Related wikiHows

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Improve Digital Photo Quality in Photoshop. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-59: "How to Transfer Digital Photos from Your Digital Camera to Your Computer"



How to Transfer Digital Photos from Your Digital Camera to Your Computer

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

It can be a hassle and can take a lot of time for an inexperienced user to transfer digital photos from digital camera to a personal computer. However, once learned, it will take only a matter of minutes to transfer your photos from your digital camera to your computer. This lesson will help you achieve quick and easy photo transfer from a digital camera to a computer.

Steps

  1. Plug the USB cable into your camera.
  2. Plug the other end of the USB cable into the USB spot on your computer. On most laptops the USB spot is located on the back, for desktop computers it is usually on the front.
  3. A screen will then pop up asking what action you wish to take. Choose the option "Copy pictures to a folder on my computer using Microsoft Scanner and Camera Wizard." Another screen will then pop up indicating that the pictures are being copied.
  4. Click NEXT on the screen that pops up.
  5. Check off which pictures you'd like to have copied. If you want them all copied to the computer then keep all of the boxes checked. If you'd rather select only certain pictures, scroll to the bottom of the screen and click "CLEAR ALL." You can then go through and check the pictures you wish to have copied.
  6. This is the trickies step. The screen will ask you to type a name for this particular group of pictures. Label it however you wish. For example "Beach Trip 2006." It will aslo ask you where you'd like the pictures to be saved. As a default, My Pictures should already be in the box.
  7. On the bottom of the page there is a box that suggests deleting pictures from the camera after copying is completed. If you wish for your pictures to be deleted from your camera click this box. If not, leave it blank.
  8. The following screen shows that the copying is in progress and long until it is completed.
  9. The next page to pop up will ask you what you'd like to do next. There are three different options to choose from. However, selecting the last option "Nothing. I'm finished working with these pictures." is the best option. You can then view your pictures and decide what to do from there.
  10. The last page to pop up will state that the Camera Wizard is done. Click FINISH at the bottom of the screen.
  11. Your pictures will then appear in the folder that you selected earlier in the process and you can then view them.

Tips

  • Make sure to follow all of the steps correctly!
  • Just follow the directions and you will have no problems!

Warnings

  • Make sure that you do not choose to erase your pictures off of your camera if you are not 100% sure you want them gone. There is no way to get them back on!

Things You'll Need

  • Digital Camera
  • USB cable for the camera (usually a universal one will work)
  • A computer (laptop or desktop)
  • Camera Wizard on the computer (most computers come equipped with it)

Sources and Citations

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Transfer Digital Photos from Your Digital Camera to Your Computer. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-58: "How to Take a Picture with a Digital Camera"



How to Take a Picture with a Digital Camera

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

A simple guide to taking pictures with sometimes complex digital cameras.

Steps

  1. Find the "on" button (usually on top of the camera) and press it. Wait for it to turn on and load.
  2. Adjust settings if necessary (refer to users manual).
  3. Look into LCD screen on back of camera to aim the camera at whatever your target is. Zoom in or out if necessary.
  4. Find the photo button (always on top right of the camera).
  5. Once target is in the screen how you want it, hold the camera still, press and hold in the button until the camera flashes.
  6. View your picture by using the playback button on the back of the camera.
  7. Insert your memory card or attach your USB cord to your computer and upload your pictures onto your computer to print or save.

Tips

  • On most digital cameras, if you press the photo button (the on that takes the pictures) halfway, it will focus the picture so the image will look nicer.
  • If you are taking pictures in a dark environment you can turn on the flash so it is easier to see the picture. Most digital cameras have a mode to do this automatically.

Related wikiHows

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Take a Picture with a Digital Camera. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-57: "How to Make the Most of Your Digital Camera"



How to Make the Most of Your Digital Camera

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Digital cameras are extremely versatile. More softwares and features are being designed for them every day. Whether you have a top-of-the-range model or a low-end solution, digital cameras can do one-million-and-one things. Here are the most fun, easy, and effective things that anyone can do.

Steps

  1. Shooting a video
  2. Plug the cable into the USB port.
  3. Open Windows Movie Maker (WMM) or another form of video software. There are many other packages such as PCCam, Quicktime, but I will demonstrate with WMM.
  4. Select Capture from video device on the left panel and follow the on-screen instructions. Then press Start Capture and record! Of course, press Stop Capture to end your session.
  5. To copy to DVD for playback on your television, access My Documents > My Videos and press Copy all items to CD after inserting a blank disc in the drive.
  6. Set up a webcam.
  7. Again, establish a connection from your digital camera to your PC.
  8. Open up MSN 6.0+ and click Options > Webcam Settings. Adjust the brightness, contrast, etc.
  9. Set up a conversation with one of your contacts and press the webcam icon below your display picture. This will initiate an invitation to view your webcam.

Tips

  • Explore! There's so much out there on the Internet, you may even unlock a whole new world to your digital camera.
  • Don't be afraid to try out new things, as long as it's approved of and you're using a quality accessory. For example, if you have a Bluetooth phone, install the hardware on your computer and access your photos on the PC!
  • Always read the manual that is packaged with your camera. They have lots of handy tips and tricks that you never thought you could possibly do with a gadget.

Warnings

  • Make sure with any software you use that it is safe for your PC and your camera. It is highly recommended that you virus-check everything you download or install.

Things You'll Need

  • A digital camera
  • Windows Movie Maker
  • MSN Messenger 6.0 +
  • Windows preferably

Related wikiHows

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Make the Most of Your Digital Camera. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-56: "How to Blur the Background of a Digital Image"




How to Blur the Background of a Digital Image


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Maybe you have taken a picture of a group of people, and now you want to highlight one individual? Or perhaps you thought you've taken the perfect picture, except something in the background is distracting from the photo?Learn how to enhance your digital photos by blurring the background with GIMP or Adobe Photoshop.

Steps

  1. Use a graphic editing application such as Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, or GIMP.
  2. Open the image file. Choose an image with a good resolution to blur the background.
  3. Determine which areas you want to stay in focus (the foreground), and what areas you want to have blurred (the background). Set the zoom to see the entire image on your monitor. This will help you get an idea of where to make your selections. To zoom in and out, use the Ctrl- and Ctrl+ keyboard shortcut in Photoshop.
  4. Click and hold on the Lasso tool (it looks like a rope lasso), then select the Polygonal Lasso tool in Photoshop. Other graphic editing applications may have this option accessible as a "point to point" feature in a "Tool Options" toolbar.
    • If the Lasso tool is not visible in Photoshop, click on the "Window" menu and select "Tools".
    • If the "Tool Options" toolbar is not visible in Photo Shop Pro, enable it from the "View" -> "Toolbars" menu.
  5. Zoom in on the image until it appears pixelated. This will give you finer control over your selection, but you may have to scroll around the image while using the tool.
  6. Select the foreground.
    1. Click once with the Lasso tool to set a point.
    2. Move your cursor to the next point to make a line, then click again.
    3. Repeat until you have a somewhat accurate selection of the foreground.
    4. Make sure the shape you create ends where you started so that the entire foreground is selected. If so desired, make multiple selected areas using the Lasso tool.
  7. Use the studio quality method to create a professional result. A faster method is described later in this article.
    1. Copy the foreground selection by pressing Ctrl-C.
    2. Paste the foreground selection over top of the existing image.
    3. Select the Move tool which looks like a cursor arrow, then drag the newly pasted foreground to line it up over top of the existing image so that they match. The newly pasted foreground and the original image should match.
    4. Select the Background layer that contains the original image. This is available from the Layers toolbar. If this "Layers" toolbar is not visible in Photoshop, select it from the "Window" menu.
    5. Select the entire image by pressing the Ctrl A keyboard shortcut, or using the "Select" menu and "All" command in Photoshop.
    6. Apply a "Blur More" filter to the selection. In Photoshop, select the "Filter" menu and choose "Blur" -> "Blur More".
    7. Repeat this Blur More command until you achieve the desired effect. In Photoshop, the Ctrl F keyboard shortcut will repeat the last filter command.
    8. Alternatively, use the "Gaussian Blur" effect instead and try different pixel radius values. This will give you a deeper control over the blur effect.
    9. Flatten your image's layers by selecting "Layer" from the menu, and "Flatten Image". If your foreground appears too sharp, you may either undo some of your Blur More commands (from the "History" toolbar) and try again, or change how the two layers combine. To do this:
      • Try changing the newly copied foreground layer's "Opacity". This is visible in the Layers toolbar. A good opacity level to start at is 50%, then move up a little at a time until you find a good blend.
      • Try changing how the layer combines with other layers by changing its property, also available in the Layers toolbar. For example, try "Darken" instead of "Normal" for an artistic sketch effect.
    10. Blur the edges of your in-focus foreground using the "Blur Tool", which should be on the same toolbar as the "Lasso Tool" in Photshop.
      1. Set the blur tool's strength to somewhere around 33%.
      2. Set your brush size to a comfortable level such as a radius of 5 to 15 pixels. If you don't see a brush size option, select "Brushes" from the "Window" menu in Photoshop.
      3. Use the blur tool to touch up the outside edge of your foreground, especially where the image seems pixelated. This will help to create a sense of transition between your foreground and background that is easy on the eyes.
  8. Use the "Quick & Dirty" method if you're looking for something faster and easier:
    1. Inverse the selection by pressing the Ctrl Shift I keyboard shortcut in Photoshop, or by selecting "Inverse" from the "Select" menu. For Paint Shop Pro, this may be the "Invert" command from the "Selections" menu.
    2. Apply a "Blur More" filter to the selection. In Photoshop, select the "Filter" menu and choose "Blur" -> "Blur More".
    3. Repeat this Blur More command until you achieve the desired effect. In Photoshop, the Ctrl F keyboard shortcut will repeat the last filter command.
    4. Alternatively, use the "Gaussian Blur" effect instead and try different pixel radius values. This will give you a deeper control over the blur effect.
  9. Save your image under a different name (to keep your original separate) by using the "Save As..." option in the "File" menu.
  10. Share your new image with friends and family!

Video

This video features two ways of blurring the background of an image, plus a few tips.

Tips

  • The higher the megapixels of your camera, the better your image resolution will be. It is difficult to enhance a picture with a lower resolution.
  • Be very precise in outlining your foreground, especially when using the "Quick & Dirty" method. Otherwise, your foreground will look choppy or it will also include part of the background that may be in focus as well.
  • Before making any alterations to a photograph, make a copy, then convert the copy to 16 million colors, if it is not already set for 16 million colors. All of the algorithms in these digital darkroom programs work better in 16 million colors than in other modes.
  • When using the lasso tool, you can make the edges blend better by changing the feather amount at the top. It is normally set to 0 but you can change it to more like 3-7. It gives a softer edge.
  • This technique produces somewhat artificial looking images. If you want a more natural look, blend your blur so it truly only affects items in the background. In the example above, if the grass in front of the child were still sharp it would more accurately simulate a narrow "depth of field", which would look more natural.
  • Some digital editing programs have a feature known as zoom blur that allows you to pick a point in your image and blur out from that point.
  • Using digital editing to blur the background does not create true depth because it blurs everything in the background uniformly rather than independently based on distance from the lens. If you are using Photoshop CS2 it now offers a 'smart blur' option in the filters sections under blur. The filter takes into account the depth of field and perspective and applies more blurring to pixels it interprets as farther away and less to pixels perceived as closer to the subject. The filter is also adjustable so it is better to gradually add the effect until you have the look desired.

Warnings

  • Make sure you do not save over your original file! Once your image file is overwritten, it is gone for good if that was your only copy.

Things You'll Need

  • GIMP, Paint.NET, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Elements or Corel Paint Shop Pro (formerly from JASC)
  • A digital image of adequate resolution
  • A drawing tablet is also a recommended tool to make precise selections.

Related wikiHows

Sources and Citations

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Blur the Background of a Digital Image. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Friday, November 7, 2008

How To-55: "How to Increase Website Traffic"


How to Increase Website Traffic


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

One of the Internet's strengths is its ability to help consumers find the right needle in a digital haystack of data. ~ Jared Sandberg
There are many creative ways to increase traffic to your website. Some will cost you money, and some won't. Below you'll find many legitimate ways (ranging from free to costly) to boost the number of visitors to your website. But if you don't have so much as a cent to spare, read How to Increase Website Traffic for Free.

Steps

  1. Offer free, original, and quality content on your site. This is the most effective means for increasing traffic to a website; offering people something that they cannot obtain elsewhere, or at least, not to the level of quality that you are offering it. Ways in which to ensure that your content is of higher quality than competitors or is unique include:
    • Creating content that is helpful and useful. Simply cobbling together information from another website will not generate traffic. You need to offer visitors the information they need to achieve a goal, solve a problem, be entertained, find out quality news or have a good laugh.
    • Keep it fresh. For repeat visits, it is crucial to provide regular updates to the website, especially in frequently viewed zones. Add fresh content every few days if possible; at a minimum, weekly.
    • Outsource article writing. If you hate the thought of generating content yourself, or your team is not writing-savvy, consider outsourcing this end of the task. Depending on the length, content, specialization and quality required, prices can start as low as US$5 per article. However, don't neglect attempting to write your own work - who better than you knows your own business, hobby or club and can express precisely what needs to be said? Just sit down and start writing an article. You may be impressed when you're done!
    • Get a proofreader. Poor spelling and grammar reflect badly on the services and information being provided; avoid unwarranted negative judgments by getting the writing in order prior to publication online.
    • Avoid content generators. While these were once the delight of a fledgling web industry, they are no longer useful. Putting your own team's creativity online is what is useful.
    • Never copy and paste from another website - Google, Yahoo, MSN and other search engines are too smart for this nowadays and will detect copied and unoriginal content, sending you to the bottom of the pile.
  2. Improve your search engine ranking by focusing your content on keywords related to your topic. This is called search engine optimization and will help people find your website when they're searching the Web. Make sure the keywords flow naturally with the text and when you are brainstorming for good words, ask around for words that come naturally to people of all ages when looking for your type of site. To help you understand better, realize that the keywords not only go into headings and page names but also into "meta tags". "Meta tags" are the software code that website visitors do not see but search engines do. Finally, don't overdo the keywords; over-stuffing keywords will result in a very low search ranking for your website. Also, be very careful not to place key text inside graphics; search engines cannot pick up graphics.
  3. Get linked. This is a very important part of website management. Exchange links. Trading links with other websites that are closely related to the subject of your website can bring you more website traffic. These are two-way links because you must provide a link to them, too, and linking to low-quality websites can threaten the credibility of yours. Only link to sites that are dead on topic, and truly help your visitors. Instead of trading links, you could also trade banner ads, half page ads, classified ads, etc.
  4. Advertise your presence. Besides using links, you must make use of numerous other ways to increase web traffic. Sit down and write a list of all the ways you can think of to get your web address noticed and clicked on. For example:
    • Use e-zines. Make your own that relate to your website and form a regular reminder each issue for people to visit your website. Submit all the free e-zine directories on the internet.
    • Submit your articles to e-zines, websites and writing sites that accept article submissions. Include your business information and web address at the end of the article. This is a good way to create one-way backlinks to your website. This is the most effective way to get listed on any search engine. Usually, the more relevant links you have pointing to your site the higher you will rank.
    • Go beyond the electronic medium and into the print medium. Advertise in local newspapers, business brochures, magazines, nationwide publications and mail-drop literature. And don't forget the perennial favorite, the good old Yellow Pages™ - printed version naturally!
    • Small business cards left in cafés, on signboards, exchanged at meetings etc.
    • Use local resources such as clubs, libraries and community centers for non-profit website awareness raising.
    • Participate on message boards. Post answers to other people's questions, ask questions and post appropriate information. Include your signature file containing your website's URL at the end of all your postings.
    • Start your own online discussion community. It could be an online message board, e-mail discussion list or chat room. When people get involved in your community, they will regularly return to communicate with others.
    • Use word of mouth. Tell everyone you know about your website, give out business cards to passers-by in the street, and so on. You might even want to run a guerrilla marketing program!
    • Use your car, especially if your website is area-specific (e.g. a website detailing local events or selling local services). Get some vinyl decals or bumper stickers created and turn your car into a moving advertisement, literally driving traffic to your web site!
  5. Give freebies. Who doesn't like a freebie?! Online freebies are commonplace and they leave the visitor wanting more when they are well written and informative introductory materials. Consider such freebies as:
    • Giving away an eBook with your ad on it. Allow your visitors to also give the freebie away. This'll increase your ad exposure and increase web traffic to your website at the same time;
    • Holding free online classes or seminars. They could be held in your website's chat room. The idea of "live" information will definitely entice people to visit your website. You will become known as an expert on the topic.
    • Giving visitors a free entry into your contest or sweepstakes. The prizes should be something of interest or value to your visitors. Most people who enter will continually revisit your web site to get the results.
    • Letting visitors download free software such as freeware, shareware, demos etc. You could even turn part of your site into a free software directory. If you created the software, include your ad inside and let other people give it away.
    • Targeting specific groups who might worry about using the internet with free classes in using it on your site - senior citizens, busy workers etc. might find these convenient and alluring.
    • Offering free online services or utilities from your website. For instance, they could be search engine submitting, copywriting proofreading etc. The service or utility should be helpful to your target audience.
    • Giving free consulting to people who visit your website. You could offer your knowledge via e-mail or by telephone. People will consider this a huge value because consulting fees can be very expensive.
    • Offering a free start-up package that has a finite time; enough time for the customer to practice with your online product and like it enough to pay for continued use.
    • Sending out free CD-Roms, CDs, DVDs etc. that contain starter packs or teasers to encourage the customer to use your site more.
    • Offering free screensavers or templates for business cards, cards, writing paper etc., anything that a customer can print out.
  6. Be patient. Search engines need a lot of time to index a new website and domain. They need time to index all your content; it's worth the wait and should be factored into your website profitability and/or popularity timeline. In the meantime, continue to add high quality content to your website and keep it up-to-date and relevant.

Tips

Warnings

  • Never, ever spam. Your credibility will be gone before you know it, and with it will go your traffic.
  • Don't get caught up with website generators and internet tricks. All these "black hat" tricks will only work temporarily. Your business needs to be set up for the long term.
  • Do not be fooled by those traffic sellers promising thousands of hits an hour. What they really do is load up your URL in a program, along with a list of proxies. Then they run the program for a few hours. It looks like someone is on your site because your logs show visitors from thousands of different IPs. What happens in reality is your website is just pinged by the proxy, no one really sees your site. It is a waste of money.

Related wikiHows

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Increase Website Traffic. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-54: "How to Market Affiliate Products Online"


How to Market Affiliate Products Online


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Don't want to work for someone but wish to make an income at home selling their profits for high commisions? Affiliate marketing is for you.

Steps

  1. Learn about the product use it and see what its like. Rate it out of 10 and decide if other people would want it.
  2. Set up a domain and webhost so you can market their product.
  3. Join various programs you would rate 9/10 and begin marketing them online, set up webpages and use google adwords to promote your site.
  4. Write compeling sales speeches that hypnotised your clients into buying. Get them thinking " I must have this product or else!".
  5. Promote, promote, promote keep promoting your site till you get a flood of traffic.
  6. Monitor your results 8 weeks later.

Tips

  • Write articles that review the product and then send the reader to your web page.
  • Driving traffic to your affiliate site is done just like any other site. Advertise your website, make sure that it is search engine optimized with good, specific keywords, and keep it up to date. As you are visited, your site will get more and more hits that will drive it higher in the search engine rankings.
  • Another way to drive traffic to your website is via PPC (Pay Per click). All you have to you do is find a a good PPC network and start sending traffic to your site for as low as 0.05$ USD per click. If you use PPC engines monitor closely what you are spending

Related wikiHows

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Market Affiliate Products Online. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.