Browser, Smowser - Who Cares 

Most of us don't realize how much an old and out-of-date web browser can negatively impact our online lives, particularly online safety.  You wouldn't drive an old car with bald tires, bad brakes, an unreliable engine and ugly old features for years and years.  You might drive a car in that condition for a while if you were low on cash.  But given a choice, I think we would all prefer to go with safe and new.   

It's the same with web browsers.  You use the web daily.  For the most part it's free.  And yes, it makes a difference which one you use.  You may be saying..."browser?, you got way ahead of me here.  Are you talking about which search engine I use and why?  No, you really are talking about browsers...why do I care?  What's the difference in web browsers?"  So maybe I should remind everyone what a browser is.  And no, it's not your search engine.  

A web browser is the program that decides how and what you see (pages) on the web.  And if you think I've gone too basic please know that most people, about 80 percent, don't know the difference between a web browser and a search engine.  And that's okay.  You're still going to care more about what you want in a search engine more than what you want in a browser.  However, I just want to give you some insight on why you might want to care a bit about both.   

First the market share stats for browsers:

Next, the market share stats for search engines:

 

You can see that Google is the clear leader in search engines and that's not going to change anytime soon.  So now let's look at the browsers and remember that Google works differently for you depending upon the browser you use.

I'm going to suggest that you upgrade whenever possible to the latest version of whatever browser you use the most.  Upgrading Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Opera, or Google Chrome is important for three reasons: First, old browsers are vulnerable to attacks, because they typically aren't updated with the latest security fixes and features.  Second, the web evolves quickly.  Many of the latest features on today's websites and web applications won't work with old browsers. Only up-to-date browsers have the speed improvements that let you run web pages and applications quickly, along with support for modern web technologies such as HTML5, CSS3, and fast JavaScript.  Lastly, (And unfortunately the one you likely care the least about) old browsers slow down innovation on the web.  When we cling to old browsers, web developers are forced to design websites that work with both old and new technologies.   With limited time and resources, they end up developing for the lowest common denominator.  

Back to the car analogy, imagine if today's highway engineers were required to design high-speed freeways that would still be perfectly safe for cars from the 30s.  Not that anyone blames you personally for staying loyal to your aging browser.   In some cases, you may be unable to upgrade your browser.  If you find that you're blocked from upgrading your browser on your company computer, have a friendly chat with your IT administrator.   Maybe you can upgrade an old version of Internet Explorer with the Google Chrome Frame plug-in.  It can give you the benefits of some modern web app functionality.

So here's to safe, fast and cool "driving".

Click here to join our blog discussion or simply shoot me an email  when you get a chance.

There Ain't No App for That   

by Stephanie Darden, President & Creative Director of FDG{creative}

Ours is a world overflowing with endless ways to diminish a 24-hour day into oblivion. Take it from me-a President/Creative Director of a small business, wife, mother of two little boys, oldest sister in a family of four girls and an individual predisposed to discovery thanks to an ingrained creative inclination.

Since I wrote this title and introduction, I have literally wasted 17 minutes browsing client Google Analytics statistics, 11 minutes on Facebook (it helps me track the daily adventures of my three sisters), and 7 minutes producing the soundtrack for this column (listen to free mp3s at Grooveshark-Counting Crows and acoustic Maroon 5 songs are in this article's soundtrack). I have an expert vantage point of endless ways to slice and dice an otherwise productive day through technology. Trust me!

Between apps to manage your grocery list (ShopShop for your iPhone, or OurGroceries for Android, websites to calculate your time (I adore and use Freckle for my own company), and onboard or smartphone navigational features to ensure I get there when I'm supposed to with minimal detours, what's left?

Surprisingly, a lot.

There is no app for being team mom for my sons' little league teams. Let me rephrase: GameChanger is an available app to help you keep score and track the game.  BUT to be clear, there is no app for me being present-in the moment-bringing snacks, leading cheers, watching at-bats, and engaging in chitchat with other parents at the game. I can find an app to keep score but it's merely keeping score. What is life in the end if all we do is keep score?

There is no app for me being in the same room with my husband right now. But, OH yes, there is Mind Over Marriage, Marriage Fight Tracker, and Fix a Fight. Sensing a common theme with the names of the apps? Yep, I do too! There is no substitution for me being present-in the moment-listening to his day, sharing mine, comparing notes on the funny things our kids said or did. I may be able to find an app to impart an algorithmic-induced observation on my personal life, but all things considered, last time I checked, math is math, equations are equations, technology is technology, and human beings are the infinite wild card of life-immune to mathematics and equations, but apparently weak in the knees for technology.  

Let me be clear: we are living, breathing beings who thrive on human interaction. Apps (and technology in general) are appendages we can live without. It may not be pretty. It may not be fun. We can do it nonetheless.  

Some of you will remark or comment that we have evolved to a state of dependence on certain technologies. I concur...

Sorry... just departed to respond to comments by 4 people on Facebook and make a post about this article on LinkedIn.

Frankly, without certain technology I would have zero business (or at best a minuscule amount) at this very moment. A main staple of our business includes online platforms inclusive of websites, social media platforms, and campaigns to fuel traditional marketing initiatives.

Sure, task management is convenient. Advancements in time management are amazing. Avoiding detours is a lifesaver when business meetings abound. However, understanding the fine art of balancing technology's imprint on our daily lives is mandatory. There can be grocery lists, on-demand directions, and even relationship tit-for-tat algorithms. However, the biggest challenge we face is ensuring we balance life and technology. I will wage my worldly possessions that my children will never consider an app as a substitute for my presence on the sidelines, and my husband would prefer for me to sign off now and head to bed.

Budding generations are at the biggest risk if we fail to master the real life/technology balance. My challenge moving forward (and potentially yours too):  

·    Grab the groceries quickly with help from free apps

·    Manage your professional time thanks to online solutions that can even produce psychedelic pie graphs

·    Know when to get lost, create an impromptu adventure, and just ignore the damn nav

·    Experience the impact you have which technology can never replicate on the humans that depend on your love, attention (and cheerleading!)

·    Know when to unplug and go to bed!

Lenny's Sub Shop operates 150 locations nationwide. The restaurants, offering sandwiches and salads, occupy spaces of 1,500 sq.ft. to 2,400 sq.ft. in urban/downtown areas and endcaps of entertainment, specialty and strip centers. Growth opportunities are sought throughout the southeastern region of the U.S. during the coming 18 months. Typical leases run five years. The company is franchising, and prefers to locate in areas with a high daytime population.  For more information, contact Andrew Bryant, Lenny's Sub Shop, 8295 Tournament Drive, Suite 200, Memphis, TN 38125

Dibella's Old Fashioned Submarines, Inc. trades as Dibella's Old Fashioned Submarines at 24 locations throughout MI, NY, OH and PA. The sandwich shops occupy spaces of 3,500 sq.ft. to 3,800 sq.ft. in freestanding locations and power and strip centers. Growth opportunities are sought throughout the existing markets, as well as CT, IN and KY, during the coming 18 months. Typical leases run 10 years. Specific improvements are required. Preferred cotenants include Home Depot, Lowe's Home Improvement and Best Buy. Preferred demographics include a population of 100,000 within three miles earning $50,000 as the average household income.  For more information, contact Greg Barkstrom, Wendy's of Rochester, 20 North Union Street, Rochester, NY 14607

Singas Famous Pizza operates 18 locations throughout NJ and NY. The restaurants occupy spaces of 1,200 sq.ft. to 2,000 sq.ft. in urban/downtown areas and power and strip centers. Growth opportunities are sought throughout the existing markets, as well as CT, during the coming 18 months, with representation by Royal Properties, Inc.  For more information, contact Scott Meshil, Royal Properties, Inc., 850 Bronx River Road, Bronxville, NY 10708

Rosa Mexicano operates 10 locations throughout CA, FL, GA, NY and Washington, DC. The Mexican restaurants occupy spaces of 5,000 sq.ft. to 12,000 sq.ft. in urban/downtown areas and endcaps of lifestyle and strip centers. Growth opportunities are sought throughout major metropolitan areas nationwide during the coming 18 months, with representation by Higdon Development. Typical leases run 10 to 12 years with options. A tenant improvement allowance is required. Major competitors include Red O. The company prefers sites with patio space and valet parking, located in areas with affluent demographics and dense urban populations. The company will also consider freestanding locations and spaces in event centers and hotels.  For more information, contact John Higdon, Higdon Development, PO Box 3307, Cedar Park, TX 78630

The Vault operates one location in TN.  The store, offering upscale, young men's apparel and footwear, prefers to occupy spaces of 2,000 sq.ft. to 3,000 sq.ft. in upscale locations.  Growth opportunities are sought throughout the southeastern region of the U.S. during the coming 18 months, with representation by Results Realty, LLC.  For more information, contact Ron Devine, Results Realty, LLC, 5803 Lee Highway, Suite 103, Chattanooga, TN 37421

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