Technoglam

Quick Guide: Twitter

What is Twitter? Twitter is often calling 'micro blogging'. However, instead of writing a full blog post (like you're reading now), you have 140 characters to make quick updates in real time. You can see others doing the same thing too.

How do I get started? Go to Twitter and sign up with your name, pick a username, confirm your account and start making updates. When you have friends to follow, you'll see their 'tweets' or updates on your page.

How do I make friends? There's a handy function that allows you to sign in to your Gmail, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail and MSN so that you can find which of your friends have already signed up. Click 'follow' under their image to follow their updates. You can see a list of who you are following and who is following you under your image on your Twitter homepage.Click on someone else's username to find out who they're following.

Quick Guide: Last.fm

What is Last.fm? This is a social networking site for music fans. You can share your music tastes (or inflict, if you will) with others and check out their recommendations too. Obviously you'll need a PC with speakers to hear the music. Basic subscription costs Euro2.50pm though you won't need to pay on sign up so you can have a look around first. US, UK and Germany residents can currently trial the On-Demand service where users can trial a track up to three times for free.

How do I do that? When you sign up, you'll get a library within your profile to which you can add tracks, artists and albums and create playlists. You listen to the music you've added, or your friends or any users choice, through radio stations. Just press the play button next to a track if you want to listen to that one specifically. Search for artists using the search button then click 'add 'add to my library' and save. You can also add songs by scrobbling.

Excuse me? Yes, scrobbling is on odd word. To scrobble means that every track you listen to is sent or 'scrobbled' to your profile. If you've downloaded the last.fm software, you can also scrobble tracks you've listened to on your iPod or media player and those artists will be sent to your Last.fm profile.

Quick Guide: Facebook

What is it? Facebook is social networking platform with over a million users worldwide. Users can connect with other users by becoming 'friends' and provide short real time updates on what they are doing, upload photos, comment on friend's updates, send private messages and even start their own fan groups. Just go to Facebook by clicking here. Sign up will take a few minutes and it's free.

Do you have to be a kid to use it? There is a minimum age limit, other than that you can be any age. You don't have to be young and cool to use it. You can be old and well seasoned! It doesn't matter but don't be suprised if your children won't be your friend.

Um, what do I do now? Make friends and influence people! You can find friends by typing their name in to the search box in the top right of the page. Remember that with over a million users there will probably be more than one person with that name. Check the photo to see if you have the right person. You can also search by email address. Click on the name and follow instructions to add that person. They will have to confirm you are friends before you can see their profile. You will get friend requests too, it's up to you whether you add them or not.

Quick Guide: Password safety

What's a password? Oh, you tease, you know this! A password is a series of letters and numbers that form a code to give only the password bearer to access to anything from your PC to your email account, bank account and any other service you use online that requires you to log on.

What makes a good password? Well, that can be quite tricky. Generally you should use a mixture of numbers, lower case and upper case letters around eight characters long. They don't have to make a word. They don't even have to make sense. They just have to be memorable to you.

What makes a bad password? Generally anything that would be obvious to anyone who knows you is a bad idea - so your pet's name, children's names and so on are generally considered to be a poor choice.

Quick Guide: Skype

What is Skype? It's an instant messaging program that runs on your computer. You can use it to send and receive instant messages and also to make free phone calls to other Skype users around the world.

What else can it do? You can also make video calls, send SMS messages to mobile phones. Some mobile phones and house phones are also equipped with Skype.

What do I need to use it? You'll need a PC and broadband Internet connection. If you want to speak, listen or use video calls, you'll also need speakers, microphone and a webcam. Many laptops have these built in already.

How do I get it? Click this Skype link and it'll open up a new window to the Skype download page. The software is free and it only takes a few minutes to download - just follow the on screen instructions on the download page. It runs on Mac and Windows.

Quick Guide: Netiquette

What is it? Netiquette is a word made up of 'Internet' and 'etiquette.' It's basically about good manners on the web. What is regarded as good and bad manners varies from site to site but this basic guide should give you a good start.

Why are manners important on the web? Same reason they are important everywhere else. It's good to have manners just as you would if talking to someone face-to-face or over the 'phone. Similarly, pleases and thank yous are endlessly worth while and if you must swear, replace a few letters with asterisks like th*s to spare blushes.

OK, what about SHOUTING? Typing in CAPS is SHOUTING. It's one way of getting your emotions across online but if you don't want someone shouting at you in real life, don't shout at them online.