Creating favicon with GIMP software

      Sites or blogs on the Internet generally have a favicon, an image / icon as a sign of site or blog. Favicon will appear with the title of the site in the address bar. It’s also used on a site bookmark. This will make it easy to identify a site or blog from the image / icon.

       Image / icon that is used as the favicon should be square (16x16) with “.ico” file extensions. How to make a favicon? Create a favicon is actually not too difficult. Favicon can be made using Photoshop software from Adobe, but this software (originally) quite expensive. Favicon can also be created using free software like GIMP, an alternative solution for photoshop. The software can be obtained free of charge from the Internet (just ask google, where to download it!)

        This time I will try to explain step by step, how to make a favicon with GIMP software. First , of course you must already have the GIMP software installed on your computer. Open/run the software, then click "File", then "new". Enter the size of the image : "width" = 16 and "height" = 16 pixels (16x16), then click "OK". On the displaying window will visible a square that according to the size of the image that we will create. To facilitate the work or the design icon that we created, we can enlarge the window size. Click view select Zoom 8:1 (800%), or more, it is up to you. Then you can start creating images that will be used as a favicon inside that square field. Once the design is finished, It is just need to save the favicon. Click "File" then "save as". In the window that appears, than type the name of the icon with the extension. Ico, or click the "Select file type (by extension)" and select "Microsoft Windows icon." (Ico) and then click "save". Your favicon was done and It can be put on your site or blog. Put or create a favicon to a blog on blogspot (Blogger) now is also quite easy.

Creating a favicon in Blogspot Blog (Blogger).

         How to create a favicon for a blog on Blogspot (Blogger)? To create a favicon for a blog on Blogspot (Blogger) before was used to be a little bit more complicated, because we have to hosting the image file (icon) for our favicon somewhere else, then add the script on the blog template that redirects the favicon on that file. Sometimes our favicon still not appear or visible on the blog, because Blogspot (Blogger) itself has a default favicon to display and problem may occur when load the icon from it’s location.

          But now, make a favicon on blogspot (Blogger) is quite easy. Blogspot(Blogger) has been giving the facility on it’s blog to settings favicon that are fairly easy to use. First of course we must have image (icon) that we will make to become our blog favicon. Image (icon) that we use as a favicon should be rectangular / square (16x16). It should have an extension that generally use for favicon file(. Ico), which indicates that the file is an icon file. Using a file with another extension will make the favicon may not visible on some browsers.

          Next, you have to log in to your Blogspot (Blogger) account, open the design menu (click “design” button on your blog’s menu on your dashboard, On your blog layoutyou’ll find favicon item that located at the top left corner of the layout (design) of your blog. Click “edit” to edit the default favicon Blogspot (Blogger). On the Configure favicon menu click “browse” and select the image that you will make to be your favicon (it must already be prepared in advance) Once the upload is complete you just have to save it! And it’s done !. The icon that uses as a favicon will appear at the layout design of the blog. Sometimes our blog favicon does not appear immediately when we try to see or view it. This is possibly caused by the browser cache that still keeps previous favicon. Wait a while, refresh it or delete the browser cache, then the favicon will appear in the browser's blog.

Google Blocks .co.cc Subdomains.

         Google has blocked about some 11 million .co.cc subdomain sites to cut down on malware. The .co.cc is a domain owned by a Korean web site - www.co.cc It doesn’t belong to any country. The service is fully legitimate and has nothing to do with spam, but it offers free subdomain names and only charges for bulk orders. This free services has attracted a ton of unwanted attention.It’s been so popular that a big chunk of spam originates from this domain.

         If you have a site/sites with co.cc subdomain, they won’t show up in Google search results. Even that you’ll still be able to access them, it will deeply decrease your site traffic because traffics usually com from search engine. While Google was known as the most popular search engine, it will have a big effect on your site traffics. Another interesting or might be important thing to remind is that Google’s Adsense program, which is used across the web, was also blocked to .co.cc sites. Which mean loss of a way to monetize your site.