Relieved to finally be out of flu season (swine or other), my body decided to celebrate with a lovely bout of hayfever as Spring came into full effect. Oh well, a good time to settle in front of a computer and browse that little thing we call the net.

As I sat there perusing photos from my friends, dabbling in the Ebay bidding war and moving some money around, I thought about how I use my particular web browser. It occurred to me that other people probably use their browser of choice in completely different ways, which brought about this month’s newsletter feature on the five most commonly used browsers. Hopefully it’ll give you enough info to choose the right one for you.

Taking a step backward to last month’s bizarre gadget discussion, it appears they’re popping up all over the place. Thanks to all the readers who told us about some truly unique gadgets – from the useful (flat shoes that fold up into a tiny handbag-friendly pouch) to the truly lazy (a beer gauge on the side of a stubby cooler, so you can always tell how full it is).

Hopefully you’ll find this month’s edition just as engaging!

Happy reading…

If you voted for these awards last year, you would remember them as the 2008 PC Authority Reliability & Service Awards. Last year Westnet took out the gong for Best ISP and, naturally, we’re keen to get a guernsey in 2009!

The name for these awards has since changed, but the premise is still the same. Rather than have experts decide the winners, PC Authority want consumers to have a say about the tech products they choose to live with.

By completing a few questions you’ll be taking part in the country’s largest tech survey, plus you’ll be putting yourself in a draw for over $15,000 worth of prizes. So, tell your friends and family to vote Westnet in the PC Authority Best Tech Awards!

For those of you who missed Episode One, the Starlight Express Van (SEV) is a brilliant Starlight Foundation initiative, where Captain Starlight and his bubbly team travel the West’s regional areas to entertain seriously ill kids.

As massive Starlight Foundation supporters, imagine our delight as we came across a cheerful postcard from down in Albany, addressed to everyone at Westnet. Here’s what Captain Starlight had to say:

“Hi Westnet! We are in lovely Albany and other than being a tad cold and windy, we are having a great time. We met some awesome kids at the school and the hospital – however we are yet to see a whale!

Thanks for all your help with our SEV (Starlight Express Van) program – heaps of smiles from all the kids in Albany!

Love,
Captain Starlight”

Stay tuned for our next update on the adventures of Captain Starlight!

The term ‘domain name’ is often thrown about when talking about the internet – no doubt you’ve come across it at some stage during your travels. You see domain names every time you look up a website or email a friend, so let’s get up to speed on what it all means in simple terms…

The internet uses a type of ‘address’ to identify where specific data lives, much like postal addresses you’d use when sending letters. These are called IP addresses, represented by a series of numbers so computers can interpret them, and look something like this: 192.168.20.30

A domain name is the word version of this address, making it simple for people to understand and remember. We use this ‘human’ version instead of asking people to recall the numbers in the IP address.

For instance, the ‘westnet.com.au’ in ‘http://www.westnet.com.au/‘ is our domain name. You’ll notice it in Westnet email addresses too – domains@westnet.com.au .

To make the process more universal, the web uses a system known as the Domain Name System (DNS), which orders each section of a domain name from the broadest part (ie. the ‘au’ which represents Australia), right down to the most specific part (ie. the ‘westnet’). This helps computers read the name in a logical order.

Anyone can choose and register a domain name, as long as it hasn’t been taken by someone else. You can use a domain registrar to do this (some ISPs have this offering, including Westnet Hosting). It’s best to choose a very simple and easy to remember word if you want a lot of visitors to your site. If it’s for a business, using your business name will help with search engine traffic.

For more information about domains, or to register your own, please contact our friendly Westnet Business Team on 1300 137 480 or by email at domains@westnet.com.au.

People are spending increasing portions of their lives doing one thing or another on the internet, let’s face it. So while concerning yourself with which internet browser you use may seem somewhat tedious, choosing the right one really can make your internet life much simpler and more enjoyable.

When it comes to browsers, everyone values fast speeds and tight security – so getting the latest version of any browser is always your best bet. The rest is entirely up to personal preference (trust me, this topic has been at the heart of many an internet argument). All I can recommend is trying a few for yourself, then choosing the one that just ‘feels right’.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the five most popular options:

Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer is Microsoft’s own browser and comes built into Microsoft Windows. It’s the most supported browser by websites and applications, has by far the most users and is straightforward to use. Internet Explorer does have rather limited customising options though, so it’s ideal for those who want the basics and don’t need all the bells and whistles.

Mozilla Firefox
Mozilla Firefox is compatible with both Microsoft Windows and Apple operating systems, and has a few little extras when compared to other browsers. Think built-in spellchecker, the option to save your session (all the tabs you have open) and live bookmarking. Firefox also supports loads of third party applications like Twitter, Adblock Plus and Cooliris (an image gallery application). Because of its sizable memory use, Firefox takes a little longer to load than other browsers.

Google Chrome
Chrome is probably the fastest browser of the bunch and has a very clean and simple to use design. As Google’s brainchild, it figures that it comes with built-in Google Search and works seamlessly with other Google offerings. Unlike other browsers, it updates itself continuously in the background, so you’ll always have the latest version – no notifications required. Chrome isn’t yet available on Apple operating systems, although there are plans to rectify this down the line.

Opera
Opera is great for portable devices like mobiles and smart phones, with useful zooming options and a download manager. It’s compatible with both Apple and Windows operating systems and has pretty tight security. It’s not as widely used as Firefox, but is a healthy alternative.

Safari
Apple’s answer to Explorer, Safari is native to all internet-enabled Apple devices (Macs, iPhones, iPods etc.), so it’s a favourite for Apple devotees. Google is built-in, which is pretty handy. Safari also works on devices running Microsoft Windows XP or Vista, although it does slow its pace when running out of its Apple comfort zone. Also, for Safari to work at an optimum level, you need to make sure it has the latest system update – so a little housekeeping is required.

Hopefully this helps you with what can be a confusing decision.

Happy browsing!

The special offers don’t stop once you become a Westnet member; in fact, they come through thick and fast! For updates and full details on great pressies like unmetered content through Westnet Freezone and RSVP, simply hit up this page!

Westnet and Paramount Pictures are giving members the chance to win one of 20 in-season double passes to see AN EDUCATION, the tale of a girl torn between studying at Oxford and a charismatic older man.

Jenny (Carey Mulligan) is a bright young girl on the cusp of her 17th birthday who finds herself in a whirlwind romance with a much older man, David (Peter Sarsgaard). Prior to meeting David, Jenny was trying to excel in her life by going to a prep school to get into Oxford. Once she sees the lifestyle David can provide, one she never imagined might so easily be hers, she is hooked and thoughts of Oxford go out the window.

Then, when things are looking pretty good for Jenny with the dashing (yet a little too smooth) David, the truth hits her like a ton of bricks. Jenny goes from being a bright eyed school girl to a sophisticated young lady and then all the way back to questioning if she really knows who she is at all.

For your chance to win one of 20 in-season double passes to AN EDUCATION, only at the movies October 22, simply click the ‘Enter’ button in the Westnet Newsletter in your inbox. Entries are limited to one per Westnet username. The competition closes at 12.01am (WST) on Thursday November 5^th, 2009.

Westnet and NewLine Cinema are giving members the chance to win one of 30 in-season double passes to see The FINAL DESTINATION, the 3D thriller that gives you an especially visceral thrill ride.

The latest installment in the extremely popular FINAL DESTINATION series, the film stars Bobby Campo, Shantel VanSanten, Nick Zano, Haley Webb and Mykelti Williamson.

The film begins with what should have been a fun-filled day at the races, where Nick O’Bannon (Bobby Campo) has a horrific premonition in which a bizarre sequence of events causes multiple race cars to crash, causing debris to brutally kill his friends and him.  When he comes out of this grisly nightmare, Nick panics, persuading his girlfriend, Lori (Shantel VanSanten), and their friends to leave…escaping seconds before Nick’s frightening vision becomes a terrible reality.

Thinking they’ve cheated death, the group has a new lease on life. Unfortunately for Nick and Lori, it’s only the beginning.  As his premonitions continue and the crash survivors begin to die one-by-one (in increasingly gruesome ways) Nick must figure out how to escape death once and for all before he, too, reaches his final destination.

For your chance to win one of 30 in-season double passes to The FINAL DESTINATION, simply click the ‘Enter’ button in the Westnet Newsletter in your inbox. Entries are limited to one per Westnet username. The competition closes at 12.01am (WST) on Thursday November 5^th, 2009.