Archive for the ‘Main Content’ Category

announcement – customer website redesign now live

Wednesday, September 10th, 2008

Amcho Computer Services are pleased to announce that Tamar Embroideries new ecommerce website has just gone live. The new website is based on the well known oscommerce open source code that we have extensively modified to meet our customers individual requirements.

Tamar Embroideries specializes in individual custom embroidered clothing.  Customers own designs are manually digitized for embroidery quality, each embroidery is sampled, individually monitored during stitching and hand finished“.

Googles New Browser: Google Chrome

Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008

I have just downloaded and tried the latest, newest browser from google.

Google have used open source components from Apple’s WebKit and Mozilla’s Firefox and others
and have created Google Chrome as an open-source browser.

First impressions: It seems to be very fast, and easy to use, the browser has a clean and neat look.

They have combined the address bar with a search box; type your search query in the address bar, and it automatically suggests related queries and popular websites, based on your input, and previous webpages you have viewed.

After viewing a couple of web pages, when you open up Google Chrome it will show you your most popular/recent websites and recent searches. This is fine if you are the only person using
your computer, but may be problematic if you share your computer with others!

There is an incognito mode that stops Google Chrome from storing information about the websites you’ve visited. The websites themselves may still have records of your visit,
and any files saved will still remain on your computer.
If you are planning a surprise, say a gift for a birthday,
remember to go incognito!.

Spam / fraudulent text from 87131 on vodafone mobile

Thursday, August 21st, 2008

Just received an unsolicited text message on my mobile from 87131 Headlines
somehow it costs me 1.50 to read the text

I have asked vodafone for a refund
via their online form
(why they needed my address and postcode and date of birth may be another blog post)

I also phoned the number in the text message –  08700 110637
and spoke to a nice lady who said that they will do a refund!

Google Checkout – better than Paypal and Credit Cards?

Monday, June 2nd, 2008

I have just been online to make a few online purchases – it is not easy and not fun anymore!

First hurdle: The merchant wants you to sign up before allowing you to hand over your money.

After collecting all your info, they tell you that you are already a valued customer (‘your email is already in our database’), and you must login first – they then play a silly game of guess the password, or variations of such as guess your mothers maiden name, your dead parrots first name, your fathers birthday, the name of your first sexual partner…. etc etc….

Hey! I just want to buy a toaster for 15 pounds, not get married!

Second Hurdle: Enter credit card details and navigate the pop-ups that look like a phishing site (I assume that securesite.com is genuine?) – make up yet another password and usernname (hint if you click register later I think it lets you make the purchase anyway).

Third Hurdle: My fault – I got the password wrong. – So Lets try paypal.
At least this merchant takes paypal – and I have an account with paypal – so this should go OK!

NO such luck! – The merchant still wants me to register with them – having set up three accounts with this merchant – I could not remember with password applied to which username.

Fouth Attempt: This merchant takes google checkout – and I have a google account.
And surprise – all went OK – (well It looks like it went OK………

Conclusion:

If you are a merchant – do not play silly buggers with your customers – if they do not want to sign up and register with you – do not try to force them to. Do not ask your customers for their mothers maiden name or date of birth or gender, or cats maiden name=, or favorite color….

Allow your customer to pay using google checkout as well as paypal and credit cards.

I’m off to add google checkout to all my customers websites……

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Tuesday, May 27th, 2008

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