Energy cost calculator to help determine the electricity cost of your appliances.

I built the Energy Cost Calculator some time ago whilst I was reviewing the electricity cost of appliances and the payback period in terms of replacing an appliance with a lower running cost appliance. The Energy Cost Calculator proved to be very useful and assisted us in reducing our electricity usage to around half. We currently sit around 7 kWh per day. Pretty good for an household with three people.

I've now decided to set up the Energy Cost Calculator as a separate site which is www.energycostcalculator.com.au.

I hope you find the calculator as useful as I have.

Kelvin Eldridge
Online Connections
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.

Wipe Off 5 ad campaign by the TAC should go.

I just read about the Wipe Off 5 competition so I decided to check out the site. The problem is many people just don't know what the Wipe Off 5 campaign is about and it shows from the suggestions being put forward.

Suggestions like reduce the speedo so it reads 5 km/h less. Reward people who drive 5 km/h under.

All the TAC is doing is sending a confusing message to the general public. Speed limits are posted and people think the campaign is about reducing your speed to 5 km/h below the posted speed limit creating a situation where good people think they are supposed to travel 5 km/h below the speed limit causing frustration to other drivers. Add that speedometers can legally be out by up to 10 km/h below the actual speed and what is created is inconsistent behaviour.

The Wipe Off 5 is about speeding drivers. The Wipe Off 5 is a campaign promoted by the Transport Accident Commission. VicRoads I suspect looks after the speed limits on our roads and adjusts the speed limits to what is considered safe. This is just two government departments sending out mixed messages that conflict with each other and potentially causes more harm than good.

The government needs to get rid of the Wipe Off 5 campaign and replace it with a better message that reflects what they are actually trying to achieve.

Kelvin Eldridge
Online Connections
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.

Alert: Qantas Departure Information - LIXAB3 KCA AK8 17Y

Today I've been receiving a number of malware infected emails designed to trick Qantas users. If you receive a message from Qantas with a zip attachment, there's a good chance the attachment is malware.

If you need to check departure information visit the Qantas site and check your departure information.

You should delete these emails.

Kelvin Eldridge
Online Connections
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.

MyAnswers blog and site merged into Online Connections.

MyAnswers enables me to provide solutions to clients' problems cost effectively, saving time and money for clients.

For some time when I've posted notifications for solutions to the MyAnswers blog and also to the Online Connections blog. Solutions provide clients with an idea of problems others are having that have already been solved. To me it no longer made sense keeping MyAnswers as a separate site. Now all notifications regarding solutions will only be posted on the Online Connections blog.

 

The MyAnswers site has also been merged into the Online Connections site. You can find MyAnswers at www.OnlineConnections.com.au/myanswers, or you can use the link from the Online Connections site.

Kelvin Eldridge
Online Connections
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.

Alert: NetBankNotification - You have received a secure message

I noticed new malware sent as an attachment (SecureMessage.zip) targeting NetBank users.

The body of the email is the following:

You have received a secure message
Read your secure message by opening the attachment, SecureMessage.zip. You will be prompted to open (view) the file or save (download) it to your computer. For best results, save the file first, then open it.
If you have concerns about the validity of this message, please contact the sender directly. For questions please contact the Commonwealth Bank of Australia NetBank.
First time users - will need to register after opening the attachment.
About Email Encryption

If you receive this email you should delete it.

Currently only three of less common antivirus programs detect the malware and non are antivirus programs typically used by Australians.

Kelvin Eldridge
Online Connections
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.

Alert: Cellarmasters $50 giftcard

We received a letter today from Everyday Rewards today with a shiny black Cellarmasters $50 giftcard. This reminded me that someone recently mentioned they'd received an offer and was totally confused, placing an order and spending more money than expected, only to later cancel the order.

To me this isn't a gift card. It is a discount. When you buy a gift card for someone and give the card to them, they can the money on whatever they want without any additional cost. That's a gift card.

By using the term giftcard Cellarmarsters is tempt you into spending at least $70 (plus delivery) for 12 bottles of wine. Whether the offer is a good offer or not is up to each person to decide for themselves.

Kelvin Eldridge
Online Connections
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.

Alert: NAB Weekend Database Update

If you receive and email with the subject "NAB Weekend Database Update" you should delete it. It is a fake with a link that will take you to a site with the .eu domain and not an NAB site. The email I received was sent from Morocco in Africa which is a confirming indicator the email is a fake.

Kelvin Eldridge
Online Connections
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.

Message: The Age - Subscribe to The Age today for just $1.

I use a newsreader to read news items from all over the world. What surprised me recently was when I clicked on a link to read an article I was presented with a screen to subscribe to The Age. That makes sense. The Age wants people to subscribe.

However I wondered just how thorough The Age was in identify unique readers. The Age limits the number of articles you can read a month before they block you from reading additional articles and requesting that you subscribe. In theory it is possible they might be tracking you individually, and yes this can be done with some effort, but I suspected they'd take the easy path and probably use a cookie to record how many times you read an article. If you cleared the cookies I was pretty sure the subscribe message would disappear.

 

Sure enough, clearing all the historical data including cookies in the browser and the subscribe message disappeared. Alternately using a different browser also had the same effect.

Kelvin Eldridge
Online Connections
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.

Australian Businessman to Pay $95,000 for spamming New Zealanders as a result of using Image Marketing Group's email list.

Previously I’ve written about Image Marketing Group (IMG) and alerted people to their spamming. I’ve also warned people to make sure they know how their business is being marketed. IMG constantly sends out spam so how anyone would use their service I don’t know. An Australian businesses is now paying the price for using their services.

Australian Businessman to Pay $95,000 for Sending Almost a Million Spam Emails to New Zealanders... Read More

Whilst offers you receive for marketing and SEO services via the internet may be tempting, given they are already spamming you already know the ethics of these businesses. If you decide to use a business that spams you, you really deserve what you get in the end.

I’ve also found smaller web developers in Australia using suspect services for their Australian clients. Make sure if you use a web developer, or in fact any business which may outsource services which have your business name on it, that you know who you are dealing with. It is your reputation on the line and no one cares about the web developer or the company spamming from India or another country. They’ve made their money and you end up with the consequences.

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problem.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.

Facebook Use Predicts Declines in Subjective Well-Being in Young Adults

I thought the following research was interesting. My initial feeling was the research may be simply measuring how people feel and then use Facebook more and thus the increased use of Facebook is simply an effect of how they felt. However the research does cover this to their credit.

Facebook Use Predicts Declines in Subjective Well-Being in Young Adults... Read More

If I’m correct in reading the research one interesting insight I think I read into the information is the more you socialise in person with other people the greater the effect when using Facebook. That may infer the less you are dependent on socialising with others for your own happiness the less effect using Facebook has on your happiness. To me it makes sense the more you rely on interaction with others for your happiness, when you’re using Facebook you are not really interacting person to person and thus you could expect to become less happy. I expect others will read what they wish to into the results as I do.

It is good to see services such a Facebook use being researched. I’m also sure that what people write on Facebook reveals a considerably more about them than people realise. Analysis of what people are writing over time may end up being an important tool to assist people and could lead to new areas of preventative health services.

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problem.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.

MyAnswers: How to add a Start button to the taskbar in Windows 8.

The following MyAnswers solution 2378 is now available:

In this solution I provide instructions on how to add a Start button to the Windows 8 taskbar. This adds the button which takes you to the Start screen, but does not include the Start Menu. A common issue is the discomfort people have is not having a Start button on the taskbar.

Click here to obtain the solution.

Click here for related solutions.

Kelvin Eldridge
MyAnswers
(An Online Connections service.)

Google AdSense reduces default payment threshold to $100 in Australia.

A while ago I noticed Google announced the payment threshold was being adjusted and that the Australian payment threshold would be $100. When I checked Google AdSense previously the payment threshold was still $150. The latest payment from Google AdSense has been processed and now the payment threshold has been reduced to $100.

Hopefully this will assist those using Google AdSense to get a more frequent regular payment from Google.

If clients would like to generate an ongoing income stream from Google AdSense and receive advice based on a number of years of receiving revenue from Google AdSense I'm happy to provide advice and assistance.

Kelvin Eldridge
Online Connections
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.

Alert: Call from 02 8820 8777 possible scam.

A person I know received call recently asking for another person (a relation) who lived at the house over 25 years ago. The caller requested the person's contact information but this information was not provided. When asked what it was about they said it was a personal matter. They were asked if they wanted to leave a message. The number they left was 02 8820 8777 and their name was Paula. No message was provided.

I researched the number on the internet and found two other incidents where the same number was used in a similar manner.

The number was not called as it was felt it was too suspicious and calling would potentially create an exposure.

If you receive a call out of the blue requesting a person's details, it is best you don't provide a contact number. Take the callers details. If the person isn't prepared to provide their full contact details, which can be traced via the telephone book, you should treat the call as a potential scam. Scammers are incredibly manipulative and it is easy for them to get past the defences of the average person.

Kelvin Eldridge
Online Connections
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.

Windows 8.1 Australian release date 18th October

Microsoft have announced the release of Windows 8.1 will start on the 18th of October and start its global tour.

If I read this is correctly it sounds like come the stroke of midnight in each country Windows 8.1 will be available from the Windows App Store. I may have misinterpreted what I read but in any case, we should expect Windows 8.1 to be available around the 18th.


Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 if you require help with your computer.
No problem too small.

Electrical Pro - Peter Matthew Havas blog spamming to promote business

Australian businesses like Electrical Pro should be careful of who they use to promote their business. Today I received a comment on my blog promoting Electrical Pro. The post was written by someone in India so obviously wasn't done by Electrical Pro, but by a service provider on their behalf. I suspect Electrical Pro has retained the services of an SEO organisation, or perhaps their web designer, but Electrical Pro should check out their suppliers before they retain their services.

Often smaller businesses in Australia decide to promote their business but don't ask the questions they should. Simply asking how their business is going to be promoted is a good start.

Spam is spam and whilst it isn't illegal in Australia to spam others by writing comments on blog posts, it is still spam and shouldn't be used as a means to promote your business.

Don't turn a blind eye when promoting your business. You know what is right and what is wrong. There is no excuse for spamming. Poor decisions in business reflect on your business. The business in India has made their money, but the ramifications of being caught blog spamming shows poor business judgement and will cause people to question your business ethics. I know I'd rather use an ethical business rather than a suspect one.

Kelvin Eldridge
Online Connections
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.

Porcelain drilling - Porcelain Tile Drilling service now available from Master

Master Renovators have now launched their porcelain tile drilling service. More details can be found at www.porcelaintiledrilling.com.au.

If you have just tiled using porcelain tiles and now need to fit your bathroom accessories, you may not have realised that porcelain tiles require a greater level of skill and knowledge than ceramic tiles. If you need assistance call Charlie Brincat of Master Renovators.

Kelvin Eldridge
Online Connections
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.

The Age changes the pictures in online article for house reported purchased by Julia Gillard

What I found particularly interesting when I read the following article wasn’t when the article first appeared.

$1.8m bungalow wins over Gillard... Read More

When the article appeared it showed the swimming pool at the rear of the home. When I later went back to the article the picture had changed to the one now shown.

The address of the property is exceptionally easy to find in a few seconds of Google searching.

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problem.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.

Fuel consumption rate stickers on new cars can be very misleading. Use the Petrol Cost Calculator instead.

When looking at fuel consumption stickers on cars keep in mind the tests are performed in a laboratory and may not match your real world fuel consumption and expectations.

Fuel miser on sticker, a guzzler in real life... Read More

As mentioned in the article, some manufacturers even remove the spare wheel to reduce weight and less weight means better fuel economy. I even wonder if there is weight added to the car to simulate a driver. If you add a driver and passenger (as well as the spare tyre) then all of a sudden you end up reducing your fuel economy.

If you look at the testing methodology there are a series of tests but these don’t reflect your real world driving experience. In the real world according to the article you can expect your fuel consumption to be 20%-40% greater than the stickers.

To use the stickers keep in mind you are comparing the laboratory tests for one car against another car. Not how one car performs in the real world against another.

To get a good idea of your fuel consumption and cost to drive a given distance, use the Petrol Cost Calculator and determine your own litres per 100 kilometres based on your own tests.

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problem.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.

Alert: Postal Vote Application delivered to your mail box may not be from the Australian Electoral Commission. Beware of material from Kevin Andrews MP.

I must admit this one shocked me. A couple of days ago I had a Postal Vote Application Form, which I was going to pass on to friends of the family to use, since they could use them and I had no purpose for them. The forms had arrived in the mail. I was gutted when I read the following.

People who intend to vote this way have been urged by the Australian Electoral Commission to take extra care when filling in forms, as postal voting applications sent to the household may be a vehicle for political parties to collect the most personal details of the voting public.... Read More

These forms reportedly aren’t from the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) and in fact are from the political parties. In my case I suspect the Liberal Party because it has on the back “With the compliments of Kevin Andrews MP”. When you fill out the forms according to the newspaper article they apparently go to the party where the information is collected and the form then passed on. It is illegal not to pass the form on.

This is all totally legal. I personally see this as a straight out scam. We expect it on the internet but when our own politicians do it what hope is there for this country. I’m both shocked and disappointed.

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problem.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.

Weight Loss Maths is a site which uses a low cost approach

The Weight Loss Maths site is now live. The Weight Loss Maths site serves two purposes. The first is to share what I've learnt about the maths of dieting and to share that information with others. The second purpose is it provides a live site which can demonstrate how to build a presence on the internet for very low cost.

The total cost (excluding time) for the site, including the domain name www.weightlossmaths.com.au, which is registered for two years, is $19.98. Yes, effectively the price is under $10 a year.

My approach as an IT Consultant is to help people build a presence on the internet and enable the client to be part of the process as much or as little as they wish. Some people like to be fully involved and take over their site, whilst others just want it done. Ultimately the approach used is up to the client. By working with clients, clients remain in control of their site and their domain. Many businesses keep control over a client's site and domain which means customer loses control. The customer is then tied into the supplier's business. My approach is to assist clients when needed, and if a client for some reason wishes to go somewhere else (I hope that they don't), then it is their choice.

To build a site like Weight Loss Maths, including registering the domain, you should allow around two to three hours of time. Part of the time is training on how to post articles to the site. When something is required in the future which is beyond the skill of the client, I'm available to assist.

Kelvin Eldridge
Online Connections
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.