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KeepIt PC Backups – Favorite Web Development Freebies (Part 4 of 5)

Mitch — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Keeping a backup of your files is always important. You never know when a disaster might strike, and it is always better to be ready for the worst that might happen. Lunarpages realizes this, and this is why they provide 3 months free of KeepIt to their hosting customers. With this awesome backup service – you will never lose another file, document, or photo ever again.

How does it work? After signing up, you install the Keepit client to your personal computer. Once that has been done – the first time you start Keepit’s client up you will be asked to save your digital key. This is an assurance for you, to guarantee that you are the only one who will have access to your files that are encrypted on the server side. It is really easy to configure as well. You can easily set the client to watch or un-watch certain file or folders. Once you have selected the files you want to backup, your part in this is done. Keepit does the rest of it for you.

By default, Keepit will backup every single day. However, if you need to setup your scheduling a different way – they are flexible enough to meet your needs. You can configure yourself which days Keepit should backup.

Just as one more inside tip, this service is great when it comes to downloading a backup of your own hosting account, to have the backup remotely hosted somewhere else. That way you have the web site back both on your computer and on KeepIt.

This offer is exclusive to Lunarpages customers, you will not find it anywhere else!

Want more Freebies? Stay Tuned!
All this week I am going to be covering my favorite fee tools, applications services and more that we deliver to our Lunarpages web hosting customers. Want to check out what your missing – sign up, and join in on the fun.

Related Tips and Tricks:

Bring Fancy Bullets to Windows Live Writer

Mitch — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 11:07:34 +0000

Are you tired of the old boring HTML bullets that may have come with your blog theme, or you want to make them a little more fancy, with a little less work? If you use Windows Live Writer to update your blog, there is a plugin to give you Fancy Bullets.

After you install this plugin, you will have up to 42 other bullets you can use in your blog postings. You can pick up the plugin on the Windows Live Gallery or via the official web site for the plugin.

Related Tips and Tricks:

Choosing the Best Ecommerce Shopping Cart

Tiara — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 00:04:42 +0000

by Tiara Rea

A lot of customers at Lunarpages use ecommerce features to enhance their sites. Since we offer four different shopping cart software alternatives, many people wonder which one works best and what the major differences are between each. So, I’m here to help you choose the perfect shopping cart! :)

The Agora Shopping Cart features design integration for cascading style sheets/CSS, templates and HTML, PERL, and even JavaScript. You can also take charge of merchandising and inventory management by generating unique product pages, adding unlimited options for each product to vary by size, color, weight, etc, adding unlimited categories and sub-categories, and even classifying taxes, best selling items, and discount codes. This makes order processing and order management incredibly easy, since you can generate creative order confirmation emails, HTML order forms, and handle multiple payment processing gateways. With the ability to view order logs by date, year, status, etc, and support for various shipping arrangements, many customers prefer Agora to the competition. Of course, you also get it as a one-click installation through the Lunarpages cPanel. ;)

Since they’ve been in business for over 6 years, OsCommerce is one of the leading E-Commerce shopping systems in the world and probably the best known as well, serving over 12,000 storefronts and 150,000 webmasters. Their software runs on any operating system or machine, so it’s Windows and Linux-friendly and compatable with Macs too. There is a one-click installation for OsCommerce via Fantastico through the Lunarpages cPanel, and since it works on a template-based structure, integration into your website and everyday updating is simple. Like Agora, osCommerce supports unlimited categories, subcategories, products, and invoices, and also allows webmasters to add, remove, or edit any of the features easily. Their administration area is secured with sensitive login and from there you can create newsletters, backup your information, and send out packaging lists or invoices directly from the interface. OsCommerce also supports an address book, product reviews, shipping, and payment through multiple payment gateways like Authorize.Net and PayPal.

CubeCart is a professionally audited shopping cart system, which offers a variety of extras along with the most common shopping cart features. It is 100% template driven, where the HTML code you create can be completely separated from the PHP code that runs the application on the server. This makes CubeCart a favorite for webmasters who want ease of use and simple maintanence. There are various layouts to choose from, XHTML and CSS are fully-functional, it supports unlimited product images, has an HTML image gallery pop-up, enables currency support for a various countries, and includes email marketing tools, multiple tax classes, and various languages, such as German, Chinese, and Slovakian. Plus a one-click installation, because Lunarpages likes to make things that easy.

ZenCart’s motto of “the art of ecommerce” aptly suits them, as the software speaks for itself. Acclaimed for being newbie-friendly, many customers choose ZenCart as their option for its customization, XHTML and template systems, and of course its ease of use. Again, we offer a one-click installation through cPanel, so that makes it quicker than ever to get this fully-functional shopping cart up and running. Considered one of the most helpful systems around, ZenCart’s FAQs are one of the other many reasons customers flock to Zen. Among the other outstanding reasons to give them a try are no HTML knowledge necessary to add, delete, or edit product catalogues, security guarantee, the inclusion of an advanced template system for CSS, HTML, and image functionality, multiple pricing and payment options, product quantity limitations, one-time fee additions, sorting by any method, store layout is easily customizable, customer authorization keys, WYSIWYG page editor, and even advertising banners, which is one of their neatest features.

So Which Shopping Cart Works Best?

As always, the best way to find out which one will best suit your site and personal tates is to give each of them a shot! You can visit their websites and read up on their support, ease of use, and creative elements, because what works for one person doesn’t necessarily fit another. It’s ultimately up to you to do your homework to find out which works best for your customers and website.

Related Tips and Tricks:

Page Mason: the next great step in flawless web design

Tiara — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 20:17:39 +0000

by Tiara Rea

Let’s face it – designing your website can be super tough if you don’t have the right tools. Hiring a web designer is great….if you’ve got wads of cash hanging around that you’re willing to toss their way. And you’ll definitely think twice the next time you let your best friend’s cousin’s sister design your site.

Lunarpages is always trying to find new ways to help make your website creation as easy as possible. We give you a domain name, one-click installs of blogs, forums, chatrooms, and more, and now, we are so incredibly proud to offer Page Mason, the next great step in intense web design.

While still in Beta Testing, Page Mason is our newest browser-based web design application, which all Lunarpages customers receive free with every purchase! It has definitely surpassed my expectations of what you can do with easy web design and offers a new kind of simplicity in website building without looking stupid or cheap. Even in beta, it’s already more than capable of delivering a beautiful website, literally in minutes. So here are some highlights to hook you:

* No experience necessary!
there are help tips and icons for every aspect of your web design, so if you get stuck, help is only a click away

* WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) web design editing
quite literally – my text, images, and links were flawless in the editor and browser alike:

* so easy your mom could do it image uploading
I’m not kidding – I created a test site in a couple minutes and was peeved when I realized I needed to upload some images…but Page Mason did it for me! Such a time saver

* an amazing variety of over 80 templates; everything from a serious business image to a great blogging layout

* no downloading necessary! Page Mason is a browser application, so you never have to leave the safety of your Lunarpages Control Panel to manage your website

To use Page Mason, simply login to your Lunarpages account at account.lunarpages.com and click on the Page Mason Installer button. This will automatically install Page Mason for you, and after that, you’re ready to start building your website!

And if you don’t have Lunarpages Web Hosting…what the heck are you waiting for? ;) Try our free demo version to take a look and see what Page Mason can do for you!

Remember, this is a Beta release, so any and all feedback is welcomed! If you have questions, problems, or comments, email pagemason@lunarpages.com

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3D Virtual Email, SHARKS & Miami Babes?

Amy — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 16:28:46 +0000

by Amy Armitage

I’m a huge fan of Visitorville and I use it every day to check out our traffic on the blog. My excitement peaked this week when Robert Savage from World Market Watch emailed me a heads up that their new product 3D Mailbox is live and ready for me to check out.

They even have a Hollywood style trailer!

I had a bunch of questions about how the program works and Robert was kind enough to take some time out to explain it all to me.

Amy: How did you come up with the idea for 3D Mailbox?

Robert: I want everything to entertain me. After years of using utilitarian programs like Outlook and Eudora, I knew there had to be more to email. Using them is like driving around in a Jeep with no shock absorbers. I knew that there were human needs that weren’t being met by the boring programs, and so I mulled over the idea for a while. Remember that I’m also the creator of VisitorVille, which depicts website visitors as avatars. So I was already leaning to humanizing things. Then it came to me when I was watching the opening scene of “Goldfinger”, set at the Fontainebleau Hotel on Miami Beach. We modeled this first level based on that scene, complete with Olympic-sized pool, ice rink and cabanas.

Amy: How long did it take from concept to launch?

Robert: Not as long as you’d think, considering that we had to build a robust email client that could compete toe-to-toe with the established email clients, plus integrate a full-scale shader-based 3D engine. I have about 50 people involved with the various aspects of the project.

Amy: I want to tell my staff about 3D Mailbox but I’m concerned they will get distracted and start playing during work hours… lol Do you think that will happen?

Robert: Personally, I work 15/7. I need things to make me smile. Anything that does, makes me more productive. Should you cram workers in cubicles, or give everyone a corner office? I believe that people need sea, sun and air to thrive.

Amy: I was reading the FAQ that right now the program is only compatible with Windows. Will you release for Mac or Linux users anytime soon?

Robert: We’re focusing on the Windows crowd for the moment, but haven’t forgotten about the Mac and Linux folks.

Amy: For everyone who hasn’t tried 3D Mailbox, how does the application work? Web Based or a download and installation on a PC or both?

Robert: It’s a desktop app, so it’s a download. You set it up just like a regular email program. It works with Gmail and all the web-based mail services, as well as with POP3 and secure POP3. You can automatically import your settings from any other client, or do it manually. Then you just read and write mail as normal. The big difference is that you’re immersed in a 3D world while doing it. Who doesn’t love sunshine, clear water, palm trees, the sound of seagulls and waves? It’s relaxing, like being on vacation — writing your mail on your laptop on South Beach :)

Amy: Will the program help prevent spam?

Robert: Yes! And I’m really excited about this. We’ve integrated in both the Free and Premium versions the best spam filter in the world, SpamBayes. It is very, very effective, and “learns” from your specific e-mails what is good and what isn’t. It’s an amazing filter. But we go beyond that. We let you literally feed your spam to the sharks, and that is very gratifying. You get the feeling that, for once, you’re getting back at the spammers.

Amy: Does the program use your mail servers or do we keep our usual mail settings?

Robert: You keep your own settings and accounts. We’re not in the business of storing or routing your mail. Like Outlook Express, 3D Mailbox is a pure email client.

Amy: Do you need an uber duber graphics card or special settings to get the full effect of the program?

Robert: You can use it with just 512 MB of RAM and 128 MB of video RAM. But if you want to get the most of the 3D graphics, then sure, the more RAM and the better video card you have, the more spectacular the graphics will be. It supports HDR (High Dynamic Range), so it can handle whatever fancy hardware you throw at it.

Amy: Does it take a lot of resources to run?

Robert: It takes more than your average email client, that’s for sure. And that’s because it has a 3D engine running, too. The 3D engine is the same kind of shader-based engine that powers games like Half-Life 2 and Halo 3, and there’s no way around using system resources to get that kind of intense, immersive visual experience.

Amy: Does it support IMAP?

Robert: Not currently, but that’s on the development list.

Amy: If you are in contact with another email user who also uses 3D Mailbox can you meet up in a virtual world and hang out poolside in Miami?

Robert: No. Now, that is something that *would* make workers less productive :)

Amy: What’s the next project in store for World Market Watch?

Robert: Levels 2-10 of 3D Mailbox. We have a lot of great, immersive environments in the works to suit every mood or interest.

Amy: What’s the difference between the free version and the premium version?

Robert: Not a lot! The free version has all the features of the premium version, and is free for life, but you don’t have access to human tech support, and you have our watermark and promotional text at the end of your outgoing messages, similar to what Gmail and Yahoo Mail do. Future levels will be available at a nominal charge. We’re still hoping that enough free users will get the premium version, though, just to support our efforts — since we don’t have any ads in the program, and don’t engage in the dark side of marketing.

Amy: So is each email message you send or receive represented by an avatar?

Robert: Exactly. There are avatars for good mail, and for spam. The good mail hang out by the pool, and the spam get sent to the beach to await their fate at the jaws of the Great Whites offshore. When you move a message to a folder (represented by cabanas complete with bartenders), the avatars walk there. You’d be surprised how human the scene is — but after all, each email you get was sent by a person, and communication with others is what email is all about. 3D Mailbox takes that communication to the next dimension.

Amy: Where can we download our FREE version of 3D Mailbox?

Robert: Right here

Thanks Robert!

If you’d like to see more on how the program works I have attached some additional screenshots. Be sure to let us know what you think of 3D Mailbox by leaving some comments!

New email meets the Bouncer (spam filter) at the entrance…

… takes a cooling, disinfecting shower …

…then takes the plunge into your inbox…

… and swims until you read it.

Once read, they hang out poolside…

… until you move them to a cabana

Spam gets sent to the beach to await their fate..

… at the jaws of the Great White Sharks.

If the Bouncer can’t decide if email is good or spam, it chills in the Ice Rink until you decide.

If you delete good mail, it goes to the trash alley.

Resize the screen however you like.

With over 60 camera angles, music and sound effects, you’ll never be bored!

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Kuler Colors – Adobe gets its scheme on

ReTodd — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 02:12:55 +0000

Author: Todd Austin

What is Kuler? Will it keep my beer cold? No, it won’t.

Kuler is Adobe Labs’ latest web application geared toward the design crowd. It is a online color scheme creator, for lack of a better term.

Here’s the main page of the application:

With kuler, you can creat your own scheme, search other users schemes, and share your schemes online. You can even download them as Adobe Swatch Exchange (.ase) files, but those are only usable if you have Adobe’s Creative Suite 2 programs. If you don’t, you can always use the screen color picker in your copy of Color Schemer Studio, or of course you could use the Colorzilla add on in Firefox.

Reminds me a lot of the ColorSchemer.com scheme gallery. Except here you can actually create the color scheme online. Then share it with the world, so that other users may download your creation.

Download others themes, or create your own to let others use. You do have to have an Adobe ID to create or download, but sign up is easy and painless.

The Adobe Labs page says Kuler is being released as a technology preview, free of charge. Now whether that means it will someday be charging for it, I do not know. So for now, check it out for free, download some of the great color schemes available online, and give a try at creating your own.

I personally have been using Color Schemer Studio(shown below) for years, mainly for color picking and some themes, but this may be a great online alternative.

Check out Kuler, or Color Schemer Studio. They are both great applications.

EDIT: Just got this link from Lunarforums:

http://www.colourlovers.com/ – looks like a good resource also!

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RocketDock Rocks!

ReTodd — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 22:17:16 +0000

Author: Todd Austin

I am always looking for cool little apps, especially ones that mimic Mac OS X apps. I love my Mac, but I tend to do most of my design and development work on my PC. Yeah, I know, I know. I should be using my Mac for design. That’s a whole other saga.

Normal:

Hover:

I reported a while ago on my own blog about Y’z Dock, an OS X style application dock, unfortunately they were told to stop by Steve Jobs’ team of lawyers. Well we shall see how Punk Software, the makers of RocketDock, fare. They have come up with a similar type of application as Y’z Dock, but in my opinion have done a better job executing it.

I recently installed this little app, and like the ease of use in adding additional icons. They also have a usable screen to adjust specific icon settings.

You can even have it hold minimized windows like the OS X version:

Definitely check this out if you are a PC user looking for some Mac style.

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Launchy – Quicker Application Launching

Mitch — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 16:34:06 +0000

Author: Mitch Keeler

Now doing a lot of work at one time means that I have to have quick and easy access to a number of programs, links and documents at all times. Now this might sound like it would be a little easier to manage than it actually is, but don’t let it fool you. Multi-tasking is a hard job. For help getting things launched from my computer though, I do have a shortcut for you to try. That shortcut is called Launchy.

Launchy is a small program that makes launching anything as easy as hitting a few keys on the keyboard. It is a free Windows utility designed to help you forget about your start menu, the icons on your desktop, and even your file manager. You get everything you need in just one search box.

I guess you could almost think of it as what might happen if Google had a child with your personal computer. Well, maybe that isn’t exactly the visual you wanted to wake up to this morning. The point of the matter is – is that it works, and works well.

Give it a shot and let me know what you think. Also if you have a better alternative, give us a link in the comments to it as well. Always willing to give new things a shot.

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Great Text Editor and FTP Client

Mitch — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 21:51:57 +0000

Author: Mitch Keeler

When it comes to recommending free software for people inside of the Web hosting industry, your going to run a little slim in your pickings. One freeware program that has always been a winner since the day I first started talking about it is PSPad. PSPad is a free unicode developer editor for all types of Web code.

This program is simply the best one I have ever used for Web page editing. Think of it as merging both a text editor and an FTP client together. Once you mash these two Web hosting classics together, and add a whole boat load of features you are left with one pretty nice program.

Now in the days before PSPad, if I wanted to edit my Web site I would have to edit the local version I have saved onto my Web page in a text editor. Then I would have to open up my FTP client, upload the files that were changed, then refresh the Web page in question that I was editing. With PSPad all I do is open it up, edit the page in question, and hit save. That is it.

This program also works great for making quick changes to WordPress (or any other content management system software you have). Editing on the Web has been a totally different experience since I found it so I figured I would pass the goodies onto all the loyal readers of Amy’s blog.

Be sure to download it, give it a shot and then add a comment or two here if you really like it.

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Tracking your hits can be SHEXY!!!

Amy — Sat, 21 Oct 2006 14:20:34 +0000

We host a website for a lovely guy named Robert Savage and he is “The Mayor” of Visitorville! I checked out the software, in fact we installed it on the forums and OMG it is JUST TOO COOL!!

Imagine seeing your website visitors as 3D avatars moving around a 3D city. Imagine clicking on any of them, and initiating a chat. Yesterday I was watching and this little bus started driving around with Google written on the roof and that represented one of our visitors who found us via Google. I was able to right click him and see the search term used, location, that he was a new visitor and I could even track (or stalk) his movements around the forums. Let me show you some screenshots:

See all the buses and traffic?

This is the passport you can see on each visitor

People walking round the site

There’s exciting night life at Visitorville too!

And Of course traditional stats reports

Basically as you can see by the images above, it combines traditional web stats with SIMS-type graphics to help you visualize, in real time, what’s happening on your site in human terms. I’ve never seen anything like it before. Nick Longo, CEO of CoffeeCup Software, calls VisitorVille “The coolest thing to happen to traffic reporting…ever.”

Is it just me or is he everywhere we go lately?

If you’d like to try it out there is a demo version, and Robert will look after Lunarpages Customers. If you are planning to purchase a copy, please let me know and I can contact Robert and flutter my eyelashes and strike up a discount for you ;)

Let me know what you think of VisitorVille!!

Random Posts

Website Design

Amy — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 13:54:06 +0000

Author: Amy Armitage

Lunarpages offers cheap and professional design services and we also recommend checking out the designers listed on the Killersites Design Directory

If you’d like to do it yourself with programs like Microsoft FrontPage, Dreamweaver or CoffeeCup VisualSite Designer 3.0, check out the Lunarpages Tutorials or our Community Forums for assistance.