Here in Sri Lanka we are alao paying more LKR for USD than a few months ago. So what do we do? Guess we need to increase the prices as well…

Right now, we are still offering our present clients the same price we charged for their domains last year but we would have to incrases it slightly. I mean a wee bit okay?

So why did I make that huge step from Windows to Linux?

Firstly, it’s the assurance of being open-source and free. Secondly, I have the consolation that I am using original software and not those 150 rupee pirates.

If you ask me how the process has been, I would confidently say great, really great. Initially, it takes some time to get the hang of it but at the end of the day, it’s very fruitful. The OS loads in a flash and so do the programs.  Gone are the days that I had to stare at the monitor till the programs finally loaded. I mean loading, loading…

The Ubuntu 11.04 interface also looks nice, very nice!

After three short term releases, a long term release will come up. That means, that every 18 months, a long term release of Joomla will appear. The first long term release of Joomla 1.8 is expected in January 2012.

One of the nice new features in Joomla 1.7 is that it offers batch processing of articles. So now you can process access levels and even select category for move/copy of several articles in one go.

Happy Joomlaing!

The principal changes introduced in Joomla 1.6 are as follows:

New Access Control System – Allows site administrators control over who can view and manage content.

Unlimited Depth Organizational Model – Gives site administrators and content creators user-defined category levels that allow for the creation of a category tree with as many or as few levels for organizing articles and other content as needed.

One-Click Extension Updates – Allows users to keep sites secure and controlled by simplifying the process of updating extensions.

Semantic XHTML Layouts – Provides a better baseline for content presentation.

So go on and install Joomla 1.6, the powerful Content Management System (CMS)…

The “Best Web 2010” is a unique and innovative competition organized by the LK Domain Registry. This web-based competition provides an exclusive opportunity to promote and popularize Sri Lankan websites and thereby showcase the Sri Lankan web identity online.

B-Connected approached Webvision to develop their first static website almost five years ago. Thereafter, they progressed to build a dynamic website using the powerful Joomla Content Management System (CMS).

We extend our best wishes to the Managing Director and all the staff at B-Connected for winning this prestigious award! Webvision is proud to be associated with the company that truly believes that “small things make a BIG difference”!

Of course, many beat Google in this business of transliteration, but I personally think their version is quite user friendly.

So next time you need to write to your Grama Sevaka, just log on to:
http://www.google.com/transliterate/Sinhalese

You can see similar Sinhala transliteration services here:

• http://www.sayura.net/im/
• http://www.ucsc.cmb.ac.lk/ltrl/services/feconverter/t1.html
• http://singreesi.vndv.com/

If you want to beat the price increase, it is a good chance for you to consider renewing any domains now that will expire before the end of the year.

More importantly, if you have been considering purchasing a domain and starting a website, now may be just the right time. You can register your domain by first checking the availability of your domain.

This price increase done by Verisign is not the first and it’s not the last one that we are going to see. The cost of doing internet business will only continue to grow…

So how do you really select the best browser? This is probably a very personal decision but there are a few aspects that one should seriously consider. For example, the interface or look and feel, features, performance and security. In my opinion, security is the most important criteria since many want to infect your machine with their virus. For me it’s Firefox as the number one browser but you may not agree.

Here’s a nice, straightforward video that looks into some of the features of the most popular browsers: Firefox, IE, Chrome, Safari and Opera.

Let me tell you boldly: if you’re in business, you definitely need a website but it wouldn’t cost you the earth nor take up too much of your precious time!

Hopefully, this article will convince you to get your business online without spending a lot of money or time.

Domain name

A domain name is the address where your website will be found on the Internet. The best domain name is probably the one that uses your company’s name. So for example, if your company name is Smart Shirts Private Limited, you should consider the domain name smartshirts.com. However, this is not easy as you think since good names are hard to get! If the first option fails, look for something catchy or memorable that your customers can associate with. You may also want to read “how to select a good domain name.”

Reliable web hosting

Storing the files of your website on a server is referred as web hosting. Many in Sri Lanka offer you cheap web hosting. However, what you really need is reliable web hosting that will keep your website up and running, hassle free. Since there are different hosting packages, select the one that would suit your needs. For example, the amount of space, email accounts, the need for a control panel etc.

Planning

Planning is important. You should have an idea of what you want on your website and how it should look. The best place to start is to look at some of your competitor’s websites. Obviously, they have beaten you to it but there again, that gives you an opportunity to look at the shortcomings of their websites and create one better than theirs!

Static or dynamic website

Static websites are generally html pages that need to be updated by someone with a knowledge of website development. Static websites are the cheapest to develop and host, and many companies still use this mode to get a web presence. So for example, if you want a 5 to 10 website that does not require frequent updates, then go for a static website.

Dynamic sites on the other hand can be more expensive to develop initially, but the advantages are numerous. At a basic level, a dynamic website can give the website owner the ability to simply update and add new content as frequently as he or she likes. Some examples of dynamic website features could be: Content Management System (CMS), blogs, e-commerce system, bulletin boards etc.

Maintaining your site

Websites that are updated frequently are favoured by the search engines. If you have developed your site using a CMS this would not be a problem. If not, you can arrange for frequent updates through your web developer.

Here at Webvision, we can help you achieve the above. For more details and affordable rates, just contact us today!