How to Add Collaborators to Google Sites

Google Sites is a tool that allows you to set up a free web site.  While there are many pros and cons to using Google Sites (or any free web host for that matter), this post will only you how to add collaborators to your existing Google Site.

The first thing you need to know is that Google Sites allows you to add 3 types of users to your existing site:

• Additional Owners (which can do everything the original owner can do)
• Collaborators (which can create, edit and delete pages, but not change site layout, name, etc.)
• Viewers (which can only view the site but not make changes).

For more information about each category of Google Site Users, click here. 

In most cases, if you're looking to add others to a Google Site so they can create and edit pages, it's best to add them as a "Collaborator" as opposed to an "Owner".  This will help lessen inadvertent mistakes by other users.

The next thin you need to know before you can add a Collaborator to your Google Site is that the prospective collaborator must have a Google Account first ... or they won't be able to log into the site.

Getting a Google Account is easy. Share the link below with the prospective Collaborator and tell them to sign up for a free Google Account.

https://www.google.com/accounts/NewAccount

Be sure that the person creating the Google Account responds to any email verification requests sent in order to create the account.

Once the Google Account is created, you're ready to add this person as a Collaborator to your existing Google Site.  To do so, follow the steps below:

1. Log into your Google Site (and go to the website)
2. Click the MORE ACTIONS button (top right corner) and then MANAGE SITE
3. In the left navigation under "Site Settings", click SHARING
4. Make sure COLLABORATORS button is checked  (or click it if you need to)
5. Type in the prospective collaborators email address
6. Click INVITE THESE PEOPLE button (this sends an email to prospective collaborator)

The person you've invited to be a Collaborator will get an email informing them that they've been invited to a collaborator on your Google Site.  All they need to do now is log into their Google Account and then access the Google site.   If they need more help, they can follow the isntructions below:

1. Log into Google Account (https://www.google.com/accounts/Login)
2. If you don't see the navigation links on the top left of page (web, images, video, etc.), then GOOGLE HOME link near top right of page.
3. Click MORE link on top left page then SITES
4. Under MY SITES, click the name of your Google Site

You (the Collaborator) now has full control to create, edit, and delete pages.

Unable to Play Games in Firefox?

One of my clients recently had a problem playing facebook games using Firefox.  The funny thing is that only some games had problems, while others were fine.  Inconsistencies like this make troubleshooting a problem difficult.

But while going through the normal steps to correct the problem, I came across a small note the other day on the Java website that mentioned a compatibility problem with the latest version  of Java (6 update 18) and Firefox (version 3.6).  It's a tricky issue, but in short, before upgrading to the latest version of Firefox, you have to have an older version of JAVA on the computer.

People like me, who always uninstall older versions of  software before installing newer versions, are the ones who primarily seeing this problem.

Without going into too much technical mumojumbo, if you're having trouble playing games on Facebook or other JAVA based games, you might want to try these steps to resolve the problem.

1. Uninstall Firefox completely (through Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs)
2. Uninstall JAVA completely (through Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs)
3. Download and install an older version of JAVA, click here.
4. Reinstall Firefox

Hopefully,  your problem is now fixed.  Give the games another try.

Obama Administration Wants to Track You Via Cell Phones

If you value your privacy, you might want to read an article published today on CNET.  It's titled, "Feds Push for Tracking Cell Phones".

As you know, most cell phones today have GPS chips in them which can allow emergency services and cell phone companies track your whereabouts.  These are sold to us as a good thing - for our own protection.  By having the GPS chip, emergency services can find us if we find ourselves in need of help.

There's also an ongoing battle between the ACLU, the government and law enforcement agencies on whether cell records can be used in tracking criminals. Again, on the surface, this seems like a valid reason to scare folks into giving up their privacy - for the good of society.

But here's the problem.  Often times, our definition of criminal activity is not the same as that of the government's or others.  Just look at how many convicted felons are currently serving in the Congress and Senate!

The liberal left went into a frenzy when Bush put the Patriot Act into motion ... and rightly so!  The Patriot Act is another example of how privacy violations are sold to the American public by playing on their fears.

But the Obama administration is taking it a step further.  The Patriot Act was set up to "monitor suspected terrorists phone calls" and now Obama wants to go further and track the whereabouts of American citizens via their cell phones.  This is Soviet-KGB like monitoring ... and it's definitely an invasion of your privacy!

Read the article, linked above.  No doubt, you'll find it very interesting.  

By the way, cell phones still emit a tracking signal when the phone is OFF.  The only way to prevent this is to remove the battery.  When the battery is removed, the tracking feature is disabled.