[marko]

Now the site has settled slightly after the upgrade, we're focusing on our newsletter.

The newsletter will now be published online each fortnight instead of being sent to you via email each week, this is to give us a little more time to focus on the quality of the content and we hope include some great material for you. Publishing it online also gives us even more flexibility on what we can add and how we can present it to you. Of course, as a subscriber to the newsletter you will still receive advance notification when it's online (sign up HERE).

The question we have just now is, as a reader of the newsletter what do you want to see in there?.

It could be more reviews, more info on the latest downloads on our site, more content to make you chuckle or something completely new!. Remember, we're producing the newsletter for YOU and we really want to know your thoughts - what would make you look forward to reading it each fortnight?.

Similarly, if you are a developer of freeware we'd love to hear your news for inclusion to the newsletter and all those aspiring writers or editors out there, submit your articles or stories to us and we'll mark them for inclusion - CONTACT US HERE.

Please be as open and descriptive as possible with your thoughts and remember it's only as much fun for us to produce as it is for you to read it ;)

Cheers
Marko

[marko]

No probs, hearing you loud and clear James :)
Marko

[Oldwalter]

I am happy with the changes that have been made. I am enjoying watching the evlolution of freewareBB. Keep up the good work!

[grr]

Marko & Jim, thanks for ur hard work on the Newsletter :good: :)

As a reader I would like to see the following:

1. once every month- review of any security suite/malware (free + paid)
2. joke corner
3. new hardware like new processor or monitor
4. 5 freeware recommendation from FBB
5. monthly top-10 downloads as tracked by FBB
6. news digest on critical OS fixes, or security threats

I would add more later. :D

Thanks, Grr :)

[ginaba]

As a reader I would like to see such questione:-
1. Ask a reader what antivirus/malaware is s/he using
2. what is readers best freeware

I also want to see:-
Review of realy used softwares(shareware/freeware)

[marko]

Thanks for the responses guys and noted your comments - please keep them coming though :)
Cheers
Marko

[marko]

We intend on having the first online edition of the newsletter ready next week and will announce it's release around Tuesday/Wednesday :).

Now to answer some of your questions ...

JamesM, on 04 August 2010 - 12:24 PM, said:

Sometimes it's not just a utility that is valuable but a set of procedures that a include structured methodology that branches depending on success or falure of each step and where necessary recommends the utility for the next one.

So James, what you're suggesting here are step by step tutorials relating to common issues computer users face and we could integrate some of our freeware into those tutorials?. If so, you'll be pleased to know we're working on this :).

grr, on 05 August 2010 - 03:19 AM, said:

1. once every month - review of any security suite/malware (free + paid)
2. joke corner
3. new hardware like new processor or monitor
4. 5 freeware recommendation from FBB
5. monthly top-10 downloads as tracked by FBB
6. news digest on critical OS fixes, or security threats.

1. We could certainly look at reviewing a security suite like antivirus, spyware or anything else relating to security (will look into this one) but to start reviewing paid products wouldn't really be keeping with the theme of our site grr, and could be seen as promoting commercial software.
2. This, with a few funny pics will be included.
3. It's possible to include something about new hardware, etc, I'll look into this one as well.
4. We will be including a few recommendations in our newsletter :good:.
5. This will be included in the newsletter :D.
6. We will be offering snippets of news from the tech world, possibly not all relating to security but those items would certainly be in there if we're aware of them :)

ginaba, on 05 August 2010 - 05:00 AM, said:

1. Ask a reader what antivirus/malaware is s/he using
2. what is readers best freeware
3. also want to see:-Review of realy used softwares(shareware/freeware)

1. Readers polls will now be part of the newsletter with results published in the next edition. I actually took your idea's already and made them into a poll HERE and HERE. We already have a thread regarding favourite freeware HERE which we can turn into a poll just shortly :).
2. Same as our first answer.
3. Reviews will be part of the newsletter, although as noted above we can really only offer reviews on freeware.

[grr]

Thanks Marko for granting my wishes.. ;)

[marko]

Keep the suggestions coming guys ;)

[bribiec]

Congratulations guys for a job well done, am looking forward to spending more time on here. Just a big "thank you" for all the work you have and are doing.....

[marko]

Thanks bribiec, appreciated :lol:
Marko

[Quantum D.]

I agree with JamesM in some ways.


Tutorials that go beyond just telling us about freeware would be good and as a replacement, if you don't have the time to make one, a link to a safe place to get some guidance would also be good.


Other than that, everything is fine but I'll surely be back with other ideas when they pop out of my brain! :P

[marko]

Thanks Quantum, will keep that one in mind :P
Marko

[Information Overload]

As a new reader I think that a review of the various freeware/shareware antivirus suites would be a great addition to the newsletter; as a person who has just started reviewing software on my own I can see reviewing interface, ease of use, and developer support, and etcetera, but I find it hard to see a way of testing out security that is safe. I have these questions:

1.) How do you find the amount of viruses it missed with certainty?
2.) How do you protect the reviewer from those viruses it did miss?
3.) How do you measure what the average reader would encounter virus wise? (Slightly safer and more pertinent.)
4.) How do you compare it to the "average" virus program?
5.) How do you compare it to professional programs at no cost to the reviewer?

If there's an answer to the questions, such as a dud virus or a program that acts as a virus but only cracks into the system and doesn't do damage, then I'd love to get in on such reviews, but anything that is unsafe can't really be asked of a reviewer as most of them are doing their reviews free of charge and have no way to pay for damages to there systems and probably don't want to damager there systems in the first place. I know of one alternative and that is if the reviewer has used/is using the antivirus software. That's great and I'd love to see those reviews, but how can it be compared with other programs? And how can we relate it to the reader if there's no information as to what the average reader encounters?

I know I've used a couple of antivirus suites and will be reviewing those shortly. I've done things with my computer, stupid things that with the knowledge I now have continue to bewilder me at my own stupidity, that have probably, scratch that, have pushed my antivirus and antispyware to the limit and even past the limit of their abilities. Such things that would horrify any computer loving geek in the universe (and now, as I am a geek myself, horrify me). I can tell you right now I've had those rogue antivirus programs at least three times now; it only takes one to kill your computer for good, I used to get about two to three trojans every day or two, and Iused to get a plethora of adware and minor viruses every day. To this day I stand in shock an awe that my little netbook survived the torment it did. I have to give thanks to the God of computers, give alms to the different antivirus software I used, and do penance for the developers whose creations I strained to the very limits and beyond of what they were meant to do. I am humbled at the fact that my little netbook doesn't yet deny me access to its wonders. ("Okay when's this guy gonna shut up," is what your all thinking.)

As a new reviewer doing things on my own I'm glad for this thread as I am always welcoming of new ideas and new programs to review.(This is what happens when I'm caffeinated or sleep deprived, I get verbal diarrhea...)So if you have any more ideas please keep 'em coming and if you have any freeware/shareware to be reviewed just give me a holler. As you can see, especially if you have access to my login history, I have plenty of time on my hands that's why I've decided to put it to good use.

I've ranted enough to kill an elephant and bore even the most avid reader. So I shall commence the shutting up. (We shall see how long it lasts.) :) Thanks for reading or even just skimming!

[marko]

Many thanks for that Vic, always appreciated :)
Marko