Tag: Dog

Furcode High Tech Pet ID Tags

The Webernets2 Comments

FurCode.comOver the years since I began Dogs With Blogs, I have received a lot of emails from people with all kinds of weird and wonderful new ideas. I recently heard from Furcode.com about their High Tech Pet ID Tags, and this is one idea I really want to get behind. I think its a great product!

Now, I really cant take anything away from Micro Chipping, because it is always with the dogs. Even if the dog slips its collar off, they can still be identified. I do now however see Micro Chipping as a secondary or “Back Up” means of identification. For INSTANT pet identification (with no need to take the animal to a vet or shelter to have the chip read) you cant beat FurCode.com High Tech Pet ID Tags.

My initial thought on the QR Code was that it might not mean anything to a “non-techie” person, but it is definitely a technology that is going to grow and become more main stream, no doubt. What I really like about these tags is the unique web address that comes with every tag. Once you receive the tag, you log in to your web page, and you can type in ALL your dogs details. Now, if your doggy busts out, whoever finds them can look at their web page, and contact you IMMEDIATELY.

Now, you might be thinking “doesn’t an ordinary dog tag do that?”, and the answer is yes, but that’s all it does. What if your doggy is hurt, and needs vet attention, but is allergic to specific medication? By logging on to the dogs web page, the person who finds it knows instantly not only who owns the dog, but who it’s vet is, allergies, dietary needs, medications, conditions, vaccinations, and a swag of other important information that can keep your doggy safe and alive.

What if your phone breaks? Or you are out of town? If your pooch is wearing a Furcode Tag when he/she escapes, you can ALSO be contactable via your Mobile/Cell, alternate phone numbers, email, Facebook and Twitter! Imagine trying to jam all of that onto a regular tag!

The best part about this, its just SO easy to update. No forms, fees, trips to the vet, just log in to your online account and make the changes – simple!

Furcode Comparison ChartIf you have an iPhone, I can’t recommend “Scan” QR Code Reader highly enough. Its free, simple, and just works! You can check it out on iTunes HERE or on QR Code City’s web site HERE.

 

Check out FurCode.com HERE.

 

Some Dog Stuff

The Webernets0 comment

As this site’s header says, “Tech, Web, and a little bit of Dog Stuff” – it is my great pleasure to post a few pictures of the original “Dog with Blog”, Charlie – The Big Dog.

Here’s C-Bux helping me install Freenas on a box we built specifically to be our home media server.

Charlie helping install FreenasAnd here’s Charlie listening to “Who Let The Dogs Out” on my Blackberry 9000 Bold.

Charlie listening to music on Blackberry 9000 BoldI really do miss The Big Dog – Daddy loves you Very Much buddy!

MX Guard Dog (vs Postini)

The Webernets0 comment

MX Guard Dog

MX Guard Dog is a free virus and spam filter, that I learned about when looking for an alternative to the Postini service I have been using for many years. It’s free, in exchange for a link on your site, meaning that if you display links to the service in prominent locations on your site, you earn credits towards the licensing fee. You can top up with paypal if you fall short after your free initial 30 Day trial. I haven’t been using it for long, but I am pretty impressed so far!

One thing I really like about MX Guard Dog is the different user access levels. There is a “postmaster” mode, which is basically god mode, where you set everything up and get all your accounts in place, and then there is user mode, which strips all of the admin stuff away, and leaves you with what you need to sort the good mail from the bad. Below is a screen capture of Postmaster mode, where you can preside over all spam, in all of the email accounts you have in your domain.

MX Guard Dog Main Panel

And this is what you are left with at the user level.

MX Guard Dog User Interface

Each user see’s only their email, and it’s really great for those who just want to check their spam, and not have to worry about the nuts and bolts. For comparisons sake, below is a screen capture of Postini’s dreary standard Google “sparse” interface.

Postini Interface

And the Postini settings panel (With copyright 2009 still down the bottom, making me feel like they are really paying attention to this service).

Postini Settings Window

For the most part, the functionality is similar. MX Guard Dog is a lot less annoying in my opinion, and apart from being free in exchange for links (I was paying $12 per year per email account for Postini through Bluehost), it has a few other features Postini doesn’t have, which make it the better service. A feature I really like in MX Guard Dog is you are able to set the intervals at which you get your spam summary sent to you. Postini sends it daily, but MX Guard Dog allows you to select multiple  summaries, which is great for those who receive a lot of email.

And speaking of email summaries, here’s the Postini summary on an iPhone (captured using Plutinosoft’s iDemo).

Postini Spam Summary on iPhone

And the spam summary from MX Guard Dog, also using iDemo.

MX Watch Dog Spam Summary on iPhoneAnd now, my favorite advantage to MX Guard Dog over Postini. When you click the senders name to have a message delivered, it actually DOES IT! My biggest gripe with Postini was that when trying to get a message delivered, you were taken to a screen where you have to log in, and fumble about, and on more than a few occasions the message never arrived for me. MX Guard Dog releases the message with just one touch! Nice Work!

In summary, even though Postini initiates a secure connection, it doesn’t tell you about it. You get that nice safe feeling with MX Guard Dog because you see nice re-assuring graphics letting you know they are thinking about your security.

MX Guard Dog Security SealMX Guard Dog does exactly what the makers say it does – “He lets the good mail in, and keeps the bad mail out.” It just so happens that he does it for free, and gives you some nicer options along the way.

I will post a follow up article after my 30 day trial is complete.