06 February 2013

Write Mathematics Formulas in Blogger



MathJax provides an easy solution for displaying math formulas on web pages (including blogger). You can start writing blog posts with math formulas using latex syntax at blogger (blogspot) int the following two steps.



  1. At the dash board of blogger, click Layout->Add Gadget->HTML/JavaScript, and add the following code

    <script type="text/x-mathjax-config;executed=true">


    MathJax.Hub.Config({


    TeX: { equationNumbers: { autoNumber: "AMS" } }


    });


    </script>


    <script type="text/javascript" src="http://cdn.mathjax.org/mathjax/latest/MathJax.js?config=TeX-AMS-MML_HTMLorMML">


    </script>




  2. To write blog posts with math formulas, use \(..\) as delimiters for inline math symbols, and $$...$$ or \[...\] as delimiters for display style math equations.





Amazon Announces New Virtual Coin For Its Kindle Fire App Store [Updates]



Amazon has announced a brand new currency, one which will only be valid in Amazon’s Kindle Fire App Store. The new currency will launch in the US in May, and upon its launch, will be handed out for free to the Kindle Fire crowd. According to Amazon, it will be giving away tens of millions dollars worth of free Amazon Coins on launch, with each coin worth 1 cent. These coins can be used to buy apps or in-app purchases on the Kindle Fire.


How will this affect you, you’re wondering? If you’re an app developer, this is good news. For you, Amazon Coins are worth exactly the same as real money, and the free Coins will definitely make it easier for users to spend money on your app. All you have to do as a developer is have your app or update ready and submitted by April 25, so it’s ready for Amazon Coins when it launches in May.



For users, it’s somewhat harder to see the advantages. While Amazon Coins will help create a bigger app selection and more loyalty for Amazon’s App Store, users will still have to pay the same for apps they want to purchase, after their initial gift Coins are all gone. On the other hand, tying your account to a limited supply of Amazon Coins instead of a credit card can help make sure your kids don’t go on shopping sprees, spending only what you’ve allowed them to spend on apps.


As a user, all you’ll have to do is convert real money to Amazon Coins, and you’re good to go. As is customary with Amazon, Coins will only be available for US customers, at least to start with. If the experiment goes well, we might see it expand to other countries.


What do you think of Amazon’s virtual currency? Will you use it?


Source: Amazon Mobile App Distribution Blog


The post Amazon Announces New Virtual Coin For Its Kindle Fire App Store [Updates] appeared first on MakeUseOf.



How To Get Banned From Social Networks



banned from social networkThe Web has opened up lines of communication that were previously closed for the vast majority of the world. Anyone with an Internet connection can now head online and talk to someone on the other side of the world using any one of a range of different services. Social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ are the obvious options.


There is unfortunately a tendency to abuse these new lines of communication, by expressing opinions that would be best kept unsaid, attacking people that may or may not deserve it, spreading salacious gossip, or posting inappropriate content. What is often and easily forgotten is that it’s entirely possible to get banned from social networks, with some rules applying across the board, and others that individual sites have put in place.


What follows is a short and simple guide on how to get banned from social networks. Not that you should try (or even want to), of course, in which case you can treat this as a short and simple guide on what to avoid doing if you want to safeguard your position on your social networking site of choice.


Facebook


Facebook is the most popular social network on the Web, at least popular in terms of the number of users, but not necessarily in terms of likability. From the feedback we’ve received about Zuckerberg’s creation it seems many people belong to the site begrudgingly. Those who no longer want to be a part of Facebook can get themselves banned quite easily.


banned from social network


Create a Profile Or Page Without Permission


If you’re not Kanye West then don’t create a profile pretending to be him. If you do then you may get chucked off the site before you can don those stupid glasses of his as some kind of disguise.


Post Copyrighted Content To Excess


You may have downloaded various pieces of content illicitly, but put them on Facebook and the resulting action is likely to be severe. Especially if you do it continuously.


Post Pornography, Nudity Or Graphic Content


You can look at pornography all you want, assuming you’re happy with the possible consequences of doing so, but if you then post it to Facebook you’ll find yourself banned.


Threaten, Bully Or Harass Other Users


There are bullies everywhere, even online. If you’re one of them, and you decide to target someone for whatever reason, then Facebook may just turn the tables and bully you off the site.


Run a Pyramid Scheme


Multi-level marketing is a nasty business, with only those at the top gaining any benefits. Until they’re thrown in jail. This isn’t merely frowned upon by Facebook, but illegal in real-life as well.


Twitter


Twitter has even more to contend with than Facebook in terms of managing its users and their interactions with each other. Anyone can follow anyone else without an invitation, which means Twitter has stringent rules in place to prevent chaos ensuing. This means, once again, that it’s a breeze to get yourself banned from the service.


social network ban


Pretend To Be Someone You’re Not


It’s Kanye again. Oh no, it isn’t.


Create Multiple, Overlapping Accounts


You are allowed to create multiple accounts on Twitter, but not if you’re doing so for nefarious purposes. Especially if they’re all being used for the same kinds of activity.


Buy & Sell Usernames


Twitter took some time to grow into the behemoth it is today, which meant all the best usernames were snapped up by geeky early-adopters. If you’re one of them you cannot now decide to make a profit by selling that username on, no matter how tempting it may be to do so.


Buy & Sell Users


It may also be tempting to buy followers using one of those companies offering ways of doing so. Don’t. They’re breaking the rules, and you would be too.


Spam Your Followers


We’re all so used to spam emails that most of us don’t even give them a second glance these days. Especially as spam filters are so good at stopping them getting through in the first place. Sadly spammers have turned elsewhere, including Twitter.


Google+


Google+ is reportedly growing at a rate of knots, mainly thanks to Google’s integration of its social network into many of its other services. Most don’t then seem to follow through by playing an active role on the site, but those who do have a strict set of rules to abide by if they want to avoid being banned.


social network ban


Create a Page That Isn’t Yours To Create


Kanye! With the glasses! Nope, it’s some random person pretending to be him.


Run a Contest Directly On Your Page


By all means link to a contest you’re running on an external site, but you’re not allowed to run the contest exclusively on Google+.


Try & Use SEO Techniques


SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is a legitimate practice when it’s done well and for the right reasons. And shameful when it’s done badly and/or for the wrong reasons. It’s heartily frowned upon on Google+.


Go Out Of Your Way To Promote Hatred Towards Minority Groups


Bullying an individual is one thing, bullying, or inciting the bullying of, a group just because they’re different in some way is quite another. Both are bad, either could get you banned.


Aggressively Add Random People To Your Circles


Google+ is all about the Circles which you use to organize your contacts. Adding numerous strangers to Circles in a short space of time will see your account potentially flagged for abuse.


LinkedIn


LinkedIn isn’t your typical social networking site, surviving while so many others have passed away by catering to professionals building online résumés and a network of like-minded individuals. If anything this means the scope for abusing the system is even larger, and there are a variety of different ways to get yourself banned.


social network ban


Connect With Strangers Without Good Reason


LinkedIn is all about networking in a legitimate way with others in the same field of business as yourself. It isn’t about gaining as many contacts as you can, and you’ll be punished for trying to do that.


Post Copyrighted Content To Excess


If you don’t own it then don’t share it. Without explicit permission from the real owner.


Insert Links In Inappropriate Places


This is a form of spamming, referring to placing a link to an external site within a field not designed to hold such information.


Introduce a Worm, Virus, Or Phishing Technique To The Site


If you’re the source of malware on LinkedIn then you can expect to be expelled from the site with short shrift.


Gain Connections Inorganically


You’re meant to build connections in an organic manner, and if you choose to bypass that time-consuming process by employing nefarious techniques you’ll pay the price by being kicked off the site.


Pinterest


Pinterest grew from nothing to become one of the largest social networks seemingly overnight. We like it so much we created a guide to Pinterest. By focusing on content rather than the people it was able to differentiate itself from the competition, and yet it still suffers from the same issues as its rivals. Most of the ways to get yourself banned are centered around the type of content you choose to post to the site.


banned from social network


Create An Account That Isn’t Yours To Create


Kanye? Pinning images to boards? Well, I never.


Get Caught Posting Copyrighted Content


It’s not yours and it’s clearly protected under copyright laws. But you do have to get caught first.


Automate & Scrape


It’s not exactly hard work to pin content onto Pinterest. Even so, some people like to bypass the manual process and automate it instead. Even though it’s against the rules. As is scraping content or personal information.


Spam Your Fellow Pinners


Spam can crop up anywhere. Even on Pinterest. It’s not big, it’s not clever, and it may get you banned for life.


Encourage Others To Engage In Illicit Activity


We’re obviously not encouraging you to do any of the above (on Pinterest or any of the other sites), just merely pointing out what kind of things will get you banned or at least strongly censured.


Conclusions


What should be immediately obvious from reading the above is how many of the same rules apply across the board. If you want to keep your place on social networks then don’t spam others, don’t post copyrighted content without permission, and don’t pretend you’re someone you’re not. These are effectively universal rules that need to be adhered to at all times. Unless you want to test the system and challenge “the man.” And likely get banned as a result.


Have you ever been banned from one of the social networks included above? If so, was it intentional on your part? And what was your alleged crime? Feel free to recount your story in the comments section below, or alternatively use the opportunity to otherwise have your say on social networks and how they govern the users they attract.


Image Credits: Steve Snodgrass


The post How To Get Banned From Social Networks appeared first on MakeUseOf.



How To Use Facebook’s Conversion Tracking Tool [Weekly Facebook Tips]



If you run any sort of business and occasionally use Facebook’s advertising campaigns, you already know that there are many ways to track the popularity of the advert and keep track of how well it’s doing. Large businesses have had access to many sophisticated tracking tools for a while now. But now, Facebook have released a couple of new tools to smaller businesses and individuals which are worth taking a closer look at.


The new conversion tracking tools will track pixels in order to record consumer actions on adverts. Actions recorded will include things such as registrations for competitions. Another new tool is the ability to optimise your advert to be targeted to the people who click or view adverts the most. With these new tools available to you, you’re sure to get more value for money when advertising on Facebook.


What Is Conversion Tracking?


Facebook’s conversion tracking allows you to keep track of your Return On Investment (ROI) from Facebook adverts by compiling a report of what people do after viewing the ads. The tracking pixels can be added to websites outside of Facebook, where the conversions happen.



Sign Up For Conversion Tracking


Head to the Adverts section of Facebook, by using the link from your home page. Then choose “Conversion Tracking” from the left menu and click on “Create Conversion Pixel“. When you’ve read and accepted the terms and conditions you can proceed with creating your own conversion pixels.



Creating Conversion Pixels


Each conversion pixel can be used to track many different actions (checkouts, registrations, leads, key page view, adds to cart, or other website conversions). You should choose which of these are important for you to record, then create a conversion pixel for each category.



You will receive a JavaScript code snippet, which needs to go in the header of a unique page where the conversions may be tracked. For instance, if you’re tracking checkout numbers, you would put the code on the page shoppers see after their purchase is confirmed. You should only track one category of conversions per page, otherwise the results will be misleading.


Start Tracking Conversions


You can track conversions of Facebook adverts by using an existing advert or by creating a new advert. Depending on which way you edit or create your advert, in the “Creative” section or “Campaign, Pricing, and Schedule” section you will see an option to “Track conversions on my website for this ad” which will allow you to choose which tracking pixels to use for this advert.


Using Optimised CPM


Whenever you create or edit an advert, you will see the option to use optimised CPM in the pricing section. You will be able to make a choice for each advert depending on your budget and goals.



Learn More About Facebook Advertising


For more great tips about advertising on Facebook, take a browse through the Facebook Business page, learn how to place an advert on Facebook and make your Facebook page more interesting. Also, take a look at some great alternatives to advertising which you may not have thought of.



Privacy Concerns With Facebook Tracking


If you are an individual trying to avoid Facebook collecting information about you with these new tracking measures, read these articles on how to stop Facebook from tracking you online and how to block most social networks from tracking you.


Are you tracking your conversions for Facebook adverts? How has it helped you?


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