Cosmopolitan Magazine Analysis

Vogue Website Analysis

Last Week (17th November)

Last week I analysed a magazine front cover and it's website. This week I will be focusing exclusively on websites because apart from the front cover of the magazine I will be mainly looking to produce a website.

Cosmopolitain Magazine and Website Analysis

Last Week (10th November)

Last week I finished the DCM list and starting looking at magazine websites that would be my competition so this week I am going to start my written analysis.

DCM's

Email – Email stands for Electronic Mail and is a method of exchanging digital messages across the Internet. You can send, receive and store these electronic messages using an email account such as hotmail or yahoo. Not only written messages can be send using email, as now it is possible to attach all sorts of different files including photographs, videos and even voice recordings. Email is a very good way of sending files and it is especially useful for certain businesses like graphic design companies because it allows them to communicate with clients and send drafts of designs and example of their work without printing it off, resulting in paper and other resources being saved.

IM – IM stands for Instant Messaging and can be used to talk to people over the Internet all over the world instantly, using their computers. The communication using IM is text based and unlike email is in real-time, meaning that people can have conversations without having to wait hours or even days for a reply. Instant messages services like MSN are completely free to use as long as you have a valid email account and Internet connection. More advanced IM software that often has to be paid for allows users to communicate using live voice or video calling. MSN allows users to hold text based conversations while using a webcam so one or both of the users can see each other whilst talking, newer versions also allow users to record small portions of voice recording and send it. The VoIP network, Skype also has an instant messaging feature. Instant messaging is particularly useful for people that have friends or family living far away because it is a great way to communicate with each other for free.

SMS – SMS stands for Short Message Service and is a way of communicating using text based communication via a mobile phone. SMS’s or text messages as they are commonly referred to, can be sent using a mobile phone to either another mobile phone or a landline. Billions of text messages are sent every month all over the world. An advantage of text messaging is that it is quick, easy and often cheaper than making a phone call, particularly if you only want to ask one question. However, many blame text messages for affecting the way we speak and write. This is because many people adapt their language and spelling when sending a text message because of the limited amount of characters allowed. Another down side of text messaging is that if the person sending the text message is in a different country to the person receiving the message it can get very expensive, sometimes costing up to a pound a message.

Bulletin Boards – A Bulletin Board System can also be known as a BBS and allows users to connect and log in to the system using a terminal program, as it is a computer system running software. BBS can also be known as a Bulletin Board Service. Once logged in, you can download files, read news, exchange messages with other users or view other content provided on the bulletin board.

Discussion Forums – These are sites that people can hold conversations or ‘discussions’ on via posted messages. Messages are temporarily archived unlike chat rooms and most IM services meaning that if you turn off the computer and come back at a later date the message will still be on there so you can carry on that particular discussion, whereas with IM as soon as the window the conversation was being held on is closed those messages are lost. With many discussion forums, posted messages have to be approved by a moderator before they are visible to other users. This means that there is a delay between actually posting a message and it being available on the site. However for many, particularly parents letting their children on these sites, it is a small bit of piece of mind that means that anything obscene or inappropriate will not be seen by others. With most discussion forums you need to be a registered member and log in before you can post any messages, but you don’t usually have to be a member of the forum to read already posted messages.

Weblogs (blogs) – The word weblog is combined to produce the commonly used term of blog. A blog can either be a website on its own or part of a website such as the blog publishing site, blogger.  It is usually an individual that maintains the blog with regular entries about almost anything depending on what the blog is about; these entries can also include links, graphics and videos. Unlike static websites that are simply viewed most blogs allow viewers to interact by posting messages to each other or the blogger. A lot of people use a blog as an online diary that people can view, a more practical use for the service would be keeping an online diary of work, which is exactly what we are dong as part of this course. The fact that the blog can be updated from any computer with an Internet connection is a big advantage as students can post work from home as well as in college making it easier to do private study. Another advantage is that the lecturer can view the blog at any time meaning the work they have done can be seen without having to print out lots of paper, meaning that resources are saved resulting in money being saved as well as helping the environment by reducing waste. Progress can also be monitored using these blogs so if a student falls behind the lecturer can quickly pick up on this and provide the support needed.

Newsgroups – Newsgroups are very much like discussion forums and bulletin boards in that they allow people to talk about issues and interact with each other. However, newsgroups tend to cover more intellectual issues rather that simple speculation and gossip. Google newsgroups use an extension to identify what a newsgroup covers; examples of these would be that the humanities newsgroups cover fine art, literature and philosophy, the sci newsgroups cover applied science and social science and the talk newsgroups cover current issues and debates. Information displayed on newsgroups tends to be more reliable than information found on bulletin boards and discussion forums but this information is not guaranteed to be 100% accurate.

Internet Telephony – Internet telephony is the software and applications that allow users to speak to each other over the Internet using VoIP technology. Skype is the most well known Internet telephony service that uses this VoIP technology. If a user has fast, fixed-price Internet connection this service is usually free because the applications do not cost anything to download or use.

Conferencing (video and audio) – Web conferencing allows participants to connect to each other via the Internet, this means that live meetings, training and presentations can be conducted without people having to even be in the same country. Conferencing using the Internet is widely found within the business world because it allows employers, clients and other important people to talk to each other without having to travel long distances. Using web conferencing eliminates the need to get on a plane, train or travel a long way in a car because the whole meeting can be held from their office. A conference can be held with or without video but if video is available, usually via a web cam, all participant can see each other meaning that a much more in depth meeting can be held because things like PowerPoint presentations can be presented.

Last Week (3rd November)

Last week we finished the email task that was started before half term and I completed the document demonstrating how to attach a photo to an email. I also started the DCM list that I am going to complete today before starting my assignment.

Last Week (20th October)

The week before half term we finished and presented our powerpoints and played the email photo game.

VoIP Presentation

http://www.slideshare.net/JamJin/voip-presentation

Last Week (13th October)

Last week I was ill so did not manage to complete my Power Point, this week I hope to finish it and present it to the class.

Last Week (29th September)

Last week we researched 2 of the DCP's we had looked at the previous week in much more detail. We had to look at strengths, weaknesses and usefulness as well as how it can be used by both the public and businesses.

ADSL

 ADSL allows users to access the Internet through a wireless router. Whereas before ASDL technology was readily available connecting to the Internet required wires attached to the computer running to a modem. Particularly in companies this could be annoying and unsightly because before ADSL was brought out when a new office was fitted out wires would need to be run from every single computer through the wall or along the floor to a single modem to be able to connect to the Internet. Because an individual modem was required per computer due to its low speed connection this could also become highly expensive. ADSL means that only one wireless router is required per office, reducing cost and clutter as well as being much faster.

In the home ADSL has become commonplace. Nearly every home now has a wireless router allowing all forms of electronic communication equipment to connect to high speed Internet. Devices such as laptops, PC’s, iPhones, iPods and Playstations can all connect to the Internet through an ADSL router. This allows large families with 3 or 4 laptops or computers between them to connect to the Internet at the same time with ease. Before this was possible a single modem would have been required per device, which again is costly and if there is only one modem per household trying to get on the Internet could be a struggle.

A downside to ADSL is that it can be interrupted and ultimately disrupted by the simplest of radio transitions. If an individual only has an ADSL router to connect to the Internet then ADSL is perfect and serves it’s purpose. However, if an individual has several wireless devices such as stereos or TV’s that submit wireless signals to speakers etc the ADSL signal can be interrupted and simply stop working. Because of the price people pay for ADSL this can be highly annoying and un-practical. ADSL can also be interrupted by other ADSL transitions that are near by. For example, if a neighbor has a strong ADSL wireless system it could affect your own ASDL system, which again is highly un-practical.

Another issue with ADSL is that due to the way it uses the frequency spectrum. The deployment of ADSL can present some issues. It is necessary to install appropriate frequency filters at the customer's premises, to avoid interference with the voice service, while at the same time taking care to keep a clean signal level for the ADSL connection.

VoIP

VoIP technology uses a broadband Internet connection to make phone calls rather than a conventional phone line. Because it is using your existing broadband connection it is a cheaper and more efficient way to make phone calls, this is done by converting your voice signal into a digital signal. VoIP can be used in 3 ways, connection via a regular phone or adapter, a special Internet phone or by downloading software and using your computer.

VoIP can be used to record phone calls, which means that it can be applied in the radio industry to record telephone interviews. Because of it’s efficiency and cost effective method VoIP can be used in a business environment as a conferencing tool. As of 2007 it was reported that 20% of businesses in the US already used VoIP. VoIP allows business professionals all over the world to connect with each other using their existing phone line, whereas state-of-the-art conferencing equipment can be expensive. However, if a business or individual is switching to VoIP from a regular phone line a downside can be that they will most probably not be able to keep their phone number. It’s not impossible but unlikely, as most VoIP providers do not have the ability to provide local numbers and therefore cannot allow a user to keep their old number which can be important to major business and large radio shows.

Another negative of the VoIP technology is that there is a minor glitch, which as a result means that not all VoIP providers have the ability to register your address and number with the emergency services. This means that if the emergency services were contacted using a VoIP system and the caller was unable to tell the operator their location help would be unable to reach them because they would not know where to go.

Security risks and worries are becoming increasingly prominent where VoIP is concerned. In its early days people were not highly concerned about security issues ad they were mainly focusing on its functionality, reliability and most importantly its cost.  Fraudsters are now turning to VoIP as a tool to gain sensitive information such as usernames, passwords and credit card details. This is known as Vishing, or VoIP Phishing. Just like regular phishing a party calls faking to be trustworthy organisation such as your bank and request confidential and often critical information. This is become an increased risk as VoIP starts to become more commonplace within society, however this sort of criminal process can take place via regular phone lines, mobile phone lines and email so is not an isolated issue simple involving VoIP technology.

Skype is the most well-known computer application that uses VoIP technology to allow uses to make calls over the Internet. Calls can be made to traditional landlines and mobiles at a fee but all calls made to other users within the Skype network are free. Skype has become so popular because it allows users to take advantage of the additional features, such as instant messaging, file transfer and video conferencing. Skype uses a proprietary Internet telephony (VoIP) network, called the Skype protocol.

Last Week (22nd September)

Last lesson we researched the list of DCP's and made ourselves familiar with their meanings and what they do.

DCP's

HTTP– stands for hypertext transfer protocol and is a networking protocol for distributed, collaborative, hypermedia information systems resulting in http being the foundation of data communication for the World Wide Web. HTTP enables users to write Web browsers, Web servers, automatic page downloader’s, link-checkers, and other useful tools. HTTP means that web users can request information from a web server and the web server can provide responses to those requests. Every time we access a web site HTTP is used.

WAP – this is mainly used to access the mobile web from a mobile phone or PDA. It stands for wireless application protocol and is an open international standard for application-layer network communications in a wireless-communication environment. WAP supports activities such as music downloads and mobile phone emailing. WAPs that use displays and access the Internet run what are called micro browsers; these are browsers with small file sizes that can accommodate the low memory constraints of handheld devices and the low-bandwidth constraints of a wireless-handheld network. This is why basic mobile phone’s that access the internet using WAP produce simplified versions of the website.

GSM – is an abbreviation for Global System for Mobile communication. It digitizes and compresses data, then sends it down a channel with two other streams of user data, each in its own time slot. GSM is a digital mobile telephony system that is highly popular in Europe as well as other parts of the world. GSM enables users to make use of their phones for mobile communications and means that users can use their phones in places other than their country of origin. This technology provides users with high quality signal and speech channels resulting in network operators being able to provide their customers with cheap calling and text messaging options.

3G - is a generation of standards for mobile phones and mobile telecommunications services fulfilling specifications by the International Telecommunication Union. 3G is the better know abbreviation of International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 and can also be referred to as 3^rd Generation. The services of this application include wide-area wireless voice telephone, mobile Internet access, video calls and mobile TV, all in a mobile environment. Meaning that all of this can be accessed using a mobile phone. Products such as the iPhone have embraced this 3^rd generation technology, making the most of its benefits.

MMS - Multimedia Messaging Service, or MMS, is a standard way to send messages that include multimedia content to and from mobile phones. An MMS is often referred to as a picture message because it allows the sender to send a photograph using their camera-equipped handset to another mobile phone that is equipped to receive MMS messages. MMS can also be used to deliver videos, pictures, text pages and ringtones.

GPRS – stands for General Packet Radio Service is a packet oriented mobile data service on the 2G and 3G communication systems global system for mobile communications. GPRS provides moderate-speed data transfer, by using unused time division multiple access (TDMA) channels in, for example, the GSM system. Objectives such as providing flexible services at relatively low costs can be met using GPRS.

Bluetooth - is an open wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances using short wavelength radio transmissions. This can be done from fixed devices such as Bluetooth enabled computers and laptops as well as mobile devices such as mobile phones. Photographs, videos and audio files can all be sent via Bluetooth.

ADSL – stands for Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line and is a form of Digital Subscriber Line technology. This data communications technology enables faster data transmission over copper telephone lines. ADSL is much faster than a conventional voiceband modem and enables wireless Internet access that can be used by laptops, computers, iPhones, the iPod touch and even the Playstation 3.

Broadband – is a high data rate Internet access and is typically contrasted with dial-up access using a 56k modem. Because dial-up modems are limited to a bitrate of less than 56 kilobits per second and require the dedicated use of a telephone line broadband has become a much more desirable alternative for accessing the internet. Broadband is much faster and does not disturb the telephone line when in use.  Rather than paying as you use most broadband packages are a fixed monthly rate, making it a much cheaper way to access the Internet.

VoIP - is a general term used for a family of methodologies, communication protocols, and transmission technologies that deliver voice communications and multimedia sessions over the Internet. Applications such as Skype use this technology to enable users to make voice calls over the Internet.