Email options from POP to IMAP to webmail

There are many ways to get your email, from POP accounts with your cable provider to free email through your favorite browser. Let me explain some of the glossary terms first, then I offer links to Best of the Web 2010 (courtesy of about.com), services and software options.

Post Office Protocol (POP):
is an application-layer Internet standard protocol used by local e-mail clients to retrieve e-mail from a remote server over a TCP/IP connection. POP and IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) are the two most prevalent Internet standard protocols for e-mail retrieval. Virtually all modern e-mail clients and servers support both. The POP protocol has been developed through several versions, with version 3 (POP3) being the current standard. (thanks wikipedia)

Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP):
is one of the two most prevalent Internet standard protocols for e-mail retrieval, the other being the Post Office Protocol (POP). Virtually all modern e-mail clients and mail servers support both protocols as a means of transferring e-mail messages from a server. (thanks wikipedia)

Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP):
is an Internet standard for electronic mail (e-mail) transmission across Internet Protocol (IP) networks. SMTP was first defined in RFC 821 (STD 15), and last updated by RFC 5321 (2008) which includes the extended SMTP (ESMTP) additions, and is the protocol in widespread use today. SMTP is specified for outgoing mail transport and uses TCP port 25. (thanks wikipedia)

E-mail client:
is a computer program used to manage email. Specifically, the term email client may refer to any agent acting as a client toward an email server, regardless of it being a mail user agent, a relaying server, or a human typing on a terminal. In addition, a web application providing message management, composition, and reception functionality is sometimes considered an email client. (thanks wikipedia)

The Complete List of Reader's Choice Awards 2010 Winners for About: Macs
Numer One:
Apple Mail
The Runners-Up:
Thunderbird 3.0 - 9%
Mailsmith 2.2 - 4%
Entourage 2008 - 3%
Eudora Pro 6.2 - 2%

The Best in Email 2010 - The Reader's Choice Awards
Mozilla Thunderbird — 54.82%
Outlook — 28.43%
IncrediMail — 9.64%
eM Client — 4.57%
Pegasus Mail — 2.54%

Webmail:
is an e-mail service intended to be primarily accessed via a web browser, as opposed to through a desktop e-mail client (such as Microsoft Outlook, Pegasus Mail, Mozilla's Thunderbird, or Apple Inc.'s Mail). Very popular webmail providers include Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, Hotmail, and AOL. (thanks wikipedia)

Best free email services 2010 Readers Choice Awards
Gmail — 45.50%
GMX Mail — 20.87%
Yahoo! Mail — 18.875
Windows Live Hotmail — 7.94%
Zoho Mail — 6.83%

In our office Thunderbird rules for our email client and Gmail is our most used webmail option on both the Windows machines and our Mac.

SPRING - think green (some ideas to make your office more green)

As spring begins to make an appearance, we can't help but begin to rethink how our office can be more green. Now granted, we use green as our company color, but there are others ways to go green too!

1. ceramic coffee mugs: not only show off your company's logo, but also reduces the use of styrofoam and wax/paper cups

2. dry erase mini boards vs. post it notes: another chance to lesson the paper at your desk but still feel the sense of accomplishment as you check completed tasks off of your to-do list.

3. eco friendly office supplies: like recycled folders, paper, pencil, pens with paper barrels

4. digital frame: don't print those show and tell photos, instead put them on a digital frame. they come in sizes as small as a keychain or 8X11 for at your desk.

5. stainless steel water bottles: another way to illiminate styrofoam or paper/wax cups

6. telecommute: use internet or conference calls more, save yourself the trip! there are many online options like webex.com or freeconference.org

7. walk, bike or take public transportation: try to do this more days than driving into work! Chicago offers some great options, check out transitchicago.com

8. join a car sharing organization: like zipcar.com or igocars.org

9. electronic mailings: we have switched to all client billing and announcements (vs. printing + snail mail) and you can too! constantcontact.com is an easy to use solution! quicken.intuit.com is another option.

10. reuse paper: we only bought one box of paper last year! you can too by printing on the other side and using PDFs more often. createpdf.adobe.com

11. recycle your cell phones: (donate to a good cause!) recyclemycellphone.org or ncadv.org

12. Unplug your cell phone, laptop computer, and other electronic device chargers when your battery is fully charged or when the power cord is not in use. The "power brick" transformers continue to use electricity whenever they are plugged in. More tips here: mwalliance.org/resources/efficiency-tips

Overall our goal is to reduce, reuse, recycle and buy smarter.
And we hope you will join us!

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NEW SITE LAUNCH! caregivinghelp.org

"CJE SeniorLife offers you this website caregivinghelp.org as a tool to support the overall caregiving experience. Our goal is to provide caregivers with educational materials and resources that are applicable to many different caregiving situations. In order to help caregivers maximize the quality of care they can offer while also minimizing the risk of "caregiver burnout," we have shared our expertise in dealing with the older adult population and designed our web pages around the most challenging aspects of caregiving. We anticipate that you and your loved one will benefit from your experience with this website."

What a wonderful working experience with the team at CJE!!
Our team enjoyed creating this new version of the caregivinghelp.org website AND we have learned so much! If you or someone you know is a caregiver for a friend or family member, send them this site for more support. Everything from how to lift + transfer someone to remembering to take care of yourself too!

Your Plan B Company is proud to announce the launch of our latest project with the CJE.
And we are so happy to know, that because this is a Drupal website, that the CJE team will be able to grow the site content on their own at their own pace. Which, in the end, will help all of us!

CONGRATS! to Kathleen Ameche (womanroadwarrior.com)!

Announcing the Local Nation Contest Winners!
The "Local Nation" contest received amazing entries from road trippers who speak their mind, share local knowledge and want to represent you, their fellow traveler, on Women on Their Way's newly formed "Local Nation" sounding board.

Our fabulous client, Kathleen Ameche (womanroadwarrior.com) is one of the 10 winners of the Wyndham Local Nation contest for 2010!
We want to congratulate her! And thank everyone who helped by voting for her online!

Check it out here: womenontheirway.com/local-nation

What is a content management system (CMS)?

A content management system (CMS) is software that keeps track of every piece of content on your website, much like your local public library keeps track of books and stores them. Content can be simple text, photos, music, video, documents, or just about anything you can think of. A major advantage of using a CMS is that it requires almost no technical skill or knowledge to manage and edit. Since the CMS manages all your content, you don't have to.

It allows for easy, browser based editing to web content. Allowing you to keep your website current faster and from anywhere. No need to open FTP, Dreamweaver etc. Just browse to your site and log in!

Check out some of our CMS sites:
kruzinusa.com (Drupal)
latebarchicago.com (Joomla)
mwalliance.org (Drupal)
spatulatta.com (Joomla)
and there are more in the works but have not launched yet!

Give us a call 773-665-2552 to convert your site over to a CMS so you can manage your content updates easily!