Ask Leo!: Browsers en-us 2008 Leo A. Notenboom and Puget Sound Software, LLC Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:42:07 -08:00 Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:42:07 -08:00 720 http://ask-leo.com/images/altile144.jpg Ask Leo! http://ask-leo.com 140 140 Tech Questions? Get Answers! Ask Leo! How do I change my browser home page back to what I want? http://ask-leo.com/how_do_i_change_my_browser_home_page_back_to_what_i_want.html I upgraded Internet Explorer to Version 8, and I've always had MSN as my homepage. Now, suddenly, the MSN homepage has changed to something called "Preview MSN". It has a white background. I hate it. Can I change it back, and if so, how do I do it?

]]> It's actually fairly annoying, but many software installation programs these days will offer to change your browser's home page "for you" to whatever they think it should be. Sometimes they don't even ask and just do it, which to me is simply unacceptable.

Since I create and use my own custom browser home page, it's more than a little annoying when it gets changed out from underneath me.

So yes, let me show you how to reset it, and throw out a tip or two to avoid it being changed again "for you" in the future.

]]> leo@pugetsoundsoftware (Leo A. Notenboom) Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:42:07 -08:00 Technology How do I stop QuickTime from playing audio files in my browser? http://ask-leo.com/how_do_i_stop_quicktime_from_playing_audio_files_in_my_browser.html Why does it seem that quick time takes over playback of MP3s in Internet explorer? This phenomenon appeared after I installed iTunes. instead of my default media player, quick time seems to want to play my MP3s instead of my default. The only way the default works is if I right-click and download first.

]]> This is one of the Most Annoying Things Ever.

Can you tell I've experienced this?

Let's look at what's happening, and what to do.

]]> leo@pugetsoundsoftware (Leo A. Notenboom) Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:51:00 -08:00 Technology Does the Flash Player store things in my computer? Is that safe? http://ask-leo.com/does_the_flash_player_store_things_in_my_computer_is_that_safe.html I had a problem installing a program on my computer. After 20 minutes with tech support we found the problem was my Macromedia Flashplayer settings. Sometime in the past when Flashplayer asked if it could store stuff on my computer I had changed the memory setting to NONE. Changing the setting to allow Flashplayer to save stuff on my computer solved the problem.

What are the benefits/dangers of allowing Flashplayer to store stuff on my computer. What are your thoughts on these settings, and what the best/safest setting should be?

]]> Macromedia Flash (long since purchased by Adobe) has exploded in the web as the platform-independent dynamic content player of choice. If you've ever watched a video on YouTube (and who hasn't?), you used the Flash Player to do it.

What many people don't realize is that, yes, Flash can store information in on your computer for the site you're visiting.

You've heard of "cookies", as used by your internet web browser? There's a new term in town: flash cookies.

]]> leo@pugetsoundsoftware (Leo A. Notenboom) Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:17:14 -08:00 Technology Why do some web pages not update like they should? http://ask-leo.com/why_do_some_web_pages_not_update_like_they_should.html Every once and a while after I visit a website (such as MLB.com and NASDAQ.com) when I go back to it old information comes up on the website. For instance, I went to MLB.com a week ago and now every time I go the scores, news stories, stats, etc. will all be from that day a week ago. Certain pieces of info on the website are current and sometimes clicking a link will bring up current info, but most is old. I clear the browser, delete history, cookies, etc. but no luck. The only thing that solves the problem is running defrag, but only temporarily, as soon the issue will reoccur. It only seems to happen on one of my 3 computers. Any ideas?

]]> What you're experiencing isn't all that uncommon, though its persistence through the steps you've taken to clear it up is. The fact that defragging has an impact is completely mysterious.

Let's look at what happens under the hood, what steps we would normally take to clear it up, and then make some guesses as to what else you might try.

]]> leo@pugetsoundsoftware (Leo A. Notenboom) Sat, 06 Jun 2009 11:34:45 -08:00 Technology Do new browser features offering privacy really work? http://ask-leo.com/do_new_browser_features_offering_privacy_really_work.html Google Chrome promises Incognito mode. Is it true that no record of your web browsing is kept and in the future can not be recovered? I thought windows kept a log of everything you did as a matter of course. Scenario: could the law enforcement agencies find the web sites you have visited if you were using incognito mode?

]]> Ah yes, "Incognito" in Chrome, and "InPrivate Browsing" in Internet Explorer 8.

Also known as "Porn mode" to the rest of us.

Let's review what these features do, and just how paranoid you should be when using them to surf porn whatever it is you want kept private.

]]> leo@pugetsoundsoftware (Leo A. Notenboom) Fri, 22 May 2009 10:36:24 -08:00 Technology