Tuesday, 11 April 2017

What is "2G"?

2G is short for Second Generation, the name usually given to original GSM, CDMA, and TDMA networks. 1G, a term rarely used, would refer to the original analog (AMPS) type mobile networks first used in the early 1980s.
Also known as: "second generation"

Broadband

Alternatively referred to as high-speed Internet or wideband transmission, broadband (bb) is telecommunications that provide a variety of channels of data over a single communication medium (wire). Today, there are a wide variety of broadband technologies available in most areas, below is a short listing of some of these services and companies that provide it. Keep in mind, the examples of carriers all depend on where you are in the world.

Sunday, 9 April 2017

Safari

Safari is an Internet browser that was first introduced June 30, 2003 and included with Apple Mac OS X and the iPhone. It is also available for iPod Touch and iPad.
Note: On June 24, 2013 Apple announced Safari for the PC and Microsoft Windows had been discontinued. You can still get older versions, but with Apple no longer supporting these browsers we suggest an alternative browser like Chrome or Firefox.

Firefox

Sometimes abbreviated as FF, Firefox was first introduced September 23, 2002 and later as Firefox 1.0 on November 9, 2004. Mozilla's next generation of browsers that include such great features as tabbed browsing, popup blocking, and other features not found in other browsers at the time. The picture is an example picture of Mozilla Firefox 1.0.7.
Mozilla Firefox became a popular alternative to Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 when users began looking for browsers that would do a better job preventing spyware. Since then, Firefox continues to grow in popularity but has more competition with the introduction of Google Chrome.

Google Chrome

Chrome is a free Internet browser officially released by Google on December 11, 2008. Its features include native synchronization with Google services and accounts, tabbed browsing, in-browser translation and spell check, and its integrated address bar/search bar called the Omnibox.
Tip: Google Chrome can be downloaded at www.google.com/chrome.

Microsoft Internet Explorer

Often abbreviated as IE or MSIE, Microsoft Internet Explorer is an Internet browser, allowing computer users to view web pages. Users can also use Internet Explorer to listen to and watch streaming content, access online banking, make purchases over the Internet, and much more.
Internet Explorer was first introduced in August 1995 by Microsoft as Internet Explorer 1.0 and included with Microsoft Windows 95. Internet Explorer has been included with all versions of Windows since then. As of October 2016, the latest version of Internet Explorer is IE 11.
Microsoft change internet explorer to Microsoft EDGE.

What is Browser?

Alternatively referred to as a web browser, a browser is a software program created as a simplified means to present and explore content on the World Wide Web. These pieces of content, including pictures, videos, and web pages, are connected using hyperlinks and classified with Uniform Recourse Identifiers (URLs).
There have been many different web browsers that have come and gone over the years. The first, named WorldWideWeb (later changed to Nexus), was invented by Tim Berners-Lee in 1990. However, the first graphical browser and widely used browser that help bring popularity to the Internet was NCSA Mosaic.

List of current Internet browsers

  • Google Chrome
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer
  • Mozilla Firefox
  • Opera
  • Apple Safari

Where can I download a different browser?

Note: The following links open in a new window.
Browser Official Download Page
Google Chrome google.com/chrome
Mozilla Firefox mozilla.com/firefox
Opera opera.com
Apple Safari apple.com/sarari

What happens when you first open a browser?

When you first open your Internet browser it will typically load your homepage.
Note: If you changed your browser settings it may also open the last opened web pages or all of the tabs you had opened when it was last closed.

Getting around in a browser

Each browser has a navigation toolbar that helps you find your way around the Internet. As seen in the images below, the navigation toolbar has undergone significant changes to streamline its appearance and functionality. However, the toolbar is likely never going to lose the navigation arrows and address bar.

Overview of browser bar buttons, menus, and functions

As we mentioned in the previous section, over time, many Internet browser buttons and options have either been moved or done away with completely. Consequently, some of the options mentioned below may not be immediately visible on your browser.
Tip: In certain browsers, pressing the Alt key on your keyboard shows hidden options.
Settings (Menu)
Nearly all modern browsers today have moved advanced options and features in the upper right or left-hand corner of the browser window. Each browser's menu button is different:
For example, Internet Explorer uses IE tools button, Chrome uses Chrom settings button, Firefox uses Firefox menu button, and Opera uses Opera settings button.
Back
The back button visits the previous page that referred you to the page you are currently viewing. Typically this button resembles an arrow pointing to the left.
Forward
The forward button moves you forward a page. It only works if you have previously used the back button. If you have not gone back, and your browser shows a forward button, it will be grayed out.
Stop
The stop button no longer exists in the majority of modern web browsers. However, it's function (to stop a web page from loading) may still be executed by pressing the Esc key.
Refresh (Reload)
As you browse the Internet the browser cache's data it downloads, meaning they store some or all parts of each page you visit on your computer. This feature is useful as it allows users to not have to download the full page each time they visit the same site. On some sites, you may want to refresh the page to get the latest version; e.g. on a news site. The Refresh button can also be used to reload a page that has failed to load because of an error.
Tip: Press the F5 key or Ctrl + R to refresh the page from the keyboard.
Home
The Home button is used to return users to their default web page; the same page that loads when the browser is first opened.
Search
In the past, the Search button was used to open a user's default search page or execute a search on the text found in the address or URL text field. Today's browsers have what is called an Omnibox, which is a search function built into the address bar.
Fullscreen
This function is used to make the browser window a fullscreen; temporarily removing the toolbar, buttons, and address bar. Often, this view mode may be toggled on and off by pressing the F11 key on your keyboard.
History
This feature allows users to view the which pages that have been visited since the browser history was last cleared or created. All your saved pages are stored in your Internet cache.
Tip: The shortcut key for history for most browsers is Ctrl+H.
Favorites (Bookmarks)
This folder stores websites or pages chosen by the user. The term "Favorites" is used with Microsoft Internet Explorer; in other browsers this may be known as bookmarks or a hotlist.
Print
This feature, although no longer a button and may be accessed through the main settings menu or pressing Ctrl + P on the keyboard.
Font (Size)
This button no longer exists but was used to increase or decrease the size of a font; an option now covered by the zoom feature.
Zoom
On modern browsers, holding down the Ctrl key and pressing either the + or - key zooms in or out, increasing and decreasing the size of font and images. To reset the zoom function to its default size, press Ctrl + 0 (zero) at the same time.
Mail
Used to open a user's preferred e-mail program. Today, this option is no longer found in browsers.
Edit
Used to open and edit the web page you are currently viewing in an HTML editor. Today, no longer found in browsers.

What is an IP Address?

No doubt you've heard the term "IP address." Unless you're a techie, though, you may not have more than a shadowy notion ...