"This is why you should support Android (not Google, but Android), even if you prefer the iPhone. This is why you should support Linux, even if you use Windows. This is why you should support Apache, even if you run IIS. There's going to be a point where being Free/open is no longer a fun perk, but a necessity."

- quoted from Richard Stallman Was Right All Along

I agree and like to think that there is freedom in free software, and money in proprietary software and/or developing for someone else. So where does this put a PHP web developer, like me?

Honestly, even if I really love the idea that I can spend most of my waking days building free software and experiment with solar power, in reality I have bills to pay. So I have to balance this out and if I'm lucky I can build my own platform, with that being said, I need to learn a new programming language this year.

Although the two terms are used interchangeably nowadays, the difference lies on the design of the programs that triggers the processes - how frequent can it be interrupted to give way to another process.

In multiprogramming a list of programs are queued and switches programs from active to passive states. If the program turns into a passive state another program would be considered active.

Whereas in multi-tasking, it eliminates this condition - it tries to pause/stop the currently running process instantly regardless of the state and executes another process instantly.

1. Avoid Meta Keyword stuffing.
2. Create unique content.
3. Think of the keywords that your users would type on a search engine to reach your site.
4. Use Google Adwords's keyword tool to find the appropriate keyword/s (to target) for your site.
5. Take advantage of the concept of "user generated content" by implementing user reviews or comments and sharing tools for social media websites. User generated content helps to emphasize the title/content of the page without much effort from the web developer or web master (Look mom no hands!) [Read my reflection paper and know the impact of user generated content.]
6. If you're using a content management system (CMS) like Wordpress, Joomla or Drupal, make sure to upgrade to the latest version, as soon as possible, otherwise your site would be a candidate for hacks.
7. The main content should be in a good position on your page. Avoid putting ads, widgets, clickable thumbnails before or at the top of the content. These objects should be at the sidebar.
8. A matching URL and title makes a big difference. Make sure it is not spammy. Keep it simple.
9. Make your site unique. You don't have to worry in getting a domain that contains a piece of your keyword/s. It's all about the content.
10. Make people want to link to your site. Create a content that has value, unique, exciting or cool.
11. Use Google Webmasters tools.
12. Copied content does not rank highly.
13. Original content makes people want to return to your site.
14. Don't use images where text should be in.
15. Don't give your rankings to others - be careful with web developers / web companies that create your website and put their links at the bottom/footer of your web pages (ex. "Powered by Company Here"). Give value to your site.
16. Use Google Maps for every content when appropriate.
17. Observe the keywords that lead your users to your website. Utilize these keywords/web pages to attract more audience.
18. Make sure that your hosting provider is reliable and has good up-time.
19. For URLs use dash (-) or periods (.) as separators.
20. Find ways to make users busy on your site. Post related content in between paragraphs or images, especially on the sidebars. A 5 minute video is short and attractive to a busy person - then multiply that thought to 5 for each person (for another 5 video clips) who visits your site, and you'll know what I mean.
21. Shorten the meta description. Make sure that it is not cut-off abruptly in the search results.
22. Implement properly structured and clear breadcrumbs.
23. Make sure that the character encoding used renders all the special characters correctly.
24. Avoid rendering inorganic content. Focus on what users/humans like.
25. Don't put too much text on your site, especially if it's unrelated/spam content.
26. Don't sweat on creating a good URL. Unique and valuable content is the key. 
27. Be consistent with the links of each page. Use canonical tags.
28. Fix broken links and make sure links point to the correct destination.
29. Track your backlinks. Make sure that your backlinks are not coming from spam sites.
30. Use valid and appropriate HTML tags.

I am in the process of redesigning my own site, and I think this list is a good guideline for search engine optimization to help me get a higher rank in Google search engine results.

By the way, thanks to Adrian for the Google IO video.

First, the updates and points of discussion:

1. Microsoft is suing companies left and right

2. Yes, they (might) own most of the copyrights/patents for the essential technologies in software development.

3. Microsoft has managed to overpower companies that invented or produced a technology that people use and really enjoy, but now has to stop its production because according to Microsoft the technology infringes the terms of intellectual property rights.

Lately, Microsoft is getting better in suing companies - better than improving their own technologies. I understand the scope of intellectual property rights, how it can protect a company and destroy an idea or invention. Let's say that Microsoft has won in most/every IPR case, can this company be able to deliver the technologies they kill?

If they can - good. I'll stop the hate.

If they can't, which apparently is the current situation, then Microsoft is just getting richer, while some of use are getting dumber.

Of course, Microsoft still dominates the PCs and/or servers with their system and application softwares. But if we're going to talk about the web and mobile arena, I think they have failed to evolve together with their target audiences.

Well, Microsoft hasn't really been known as a company of innovation, Apple takes on that job really well. It's like Microsoft is still in beta testing mode after a decade of web and mobile evolution. 

"I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A GREAT THING TO HAPPEN AND I'M STILL WAITING."

Have you used Microsoft's search engine - Bing!? You know the search engine that has a fancy page layout but fails to deliver the results that you really need? I check it from time to time to see if it's still alive. Honestly, I'd rather use Yahoo! than Bing. But, Microsoft was able to buy that system too, probably now they understand what went wrong while analyzing Yahoo!'s source codes and network infrastructures.

Come to think of it, Microsoft now owns two search engines, but most of us are still using Google. They have the money but it seems they don't have the right people to invent the things WE NEED.

Have you seen a Windows Phone powered smartphone yet? My sister bought this huge smartphone - HTC HD7 - and as usual the graphical user interface is great, I was blown away when I first saw it, but when we tried sending files via bluetooth it failed to detect my Android phone. Sure, games look better in Windows Phones but check out the battery life! If you want to last a day while executing multimedia apps I suggest you buy an extra battery or don't ever, ever forget to bring the charger.

How about the fees in Windows Phone development? $99. You'd demand that amount without any guarantee of returns in investment. AND, WORSE HAVE YOU CHECKED THE MARKET SHARE OF WINDOWS PHONES?

As a developer, would you be inspired to create apps because of 10% market share?

Oh, and don't forget the maps...ok, I'll be kind here...it's a work in progress too.

It appears that Microsoft is creating a huge hindrance in reaching the full potential of (technological) user experience, by slowly killing other technologies that they fail to invent or produce.

And that's what worries me, on a small scale. But if you really think about it and imagine the future, you might feel the urge to scream out of frustration.

This is a simple Flash animation I created for my (UPOU) DEVCOM 207 course last semester.

The video contains information about the roles of women in the history of computers, current statistics and possible reasons on the status or participation of women in IT and how to encourage women to become computer programmers.

Gender is not an issue if you really want to pursue a career in (information) technology or other related fields.

Reference: Wikipedia