3 Great Facebook Alternatives

Maybe you’re tired of the the ticker. Or the timeline. Maybe it’s because your parents constantly check your profile. If it’s not any of these then you’ve probably had it with the constant stream of ads that are specifically tailored to target you. Because let’s face it: we are a bit tired of Facebook. It’s time to unlike them and chose a different social media platform.

Here are three great alternatives:

3.) MeetMe

According to their website you should join as it is “fun, friendly and free!” and currently boasts more than 90 million users MeetMe is different from Facebook in the sense that it is a place to meet new people rather than staying in touch with friends you already know. MeetMe was founded eight years ago under the name myYearbook by two students. On the site people use a virtual currency with which they can send gifts to each other: lunch money. You can earn lunch money by playing Flash games on the site. On MeetMe you’ll find the chance to instant message your new friends, ask them to rate your appearance and play games like truth or lie.

2.) Nextdoor

Nextdoor is a social network platform that specifically targets a special geographical area. Their website informs us that “when neighbours start talking, good things happen.” You will be able to only get in touch with people that live really close to you. Upon registering you need to fill in your address. Once this is done you’ll get a list of people living nearby who are also using Nextdoor. The website hopes to build a stronger neighbourhood by helping neighbours connect so that they can inform each other and share local information.

1.) Google +

This will not come as a surprise to many, but the best alternative to Facebook is Google +. G+ is the second biggest social network site in the world. With 500 million users, it surpassed Twitter in January this year. Where you share with your friends on Facebook, on Google + you share with your circles. The most striking feature is Google hangouts: a place where you can invite people from your circles to join a video chat. Other features are games and instant messaging. In a ‘community’ you can invite people to share information as you would do with a group on Facebook. Users can see what plussers talk about most in the ‘what’s hot’ section.

These are some Facebook alternatives that are definitely worth checking out. Do you know which one you want to sign up on next?

Author Bio:

This guest post is written by Rens van der Windt, a digital marketing executive from London. One of his clients is Intralinks more than a VDR, a secure document storage provider.

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Why The Humble Inkjet Printer Will Not Be Completely Superseded By Lasers (at Least Not YET Anyway)

Although laser printers are far more affordable than they once were (there was a time in the not too distant past where a decent laser printer would set you back about the same as a new car), the market for ink based printers in larger than ever. Why is this? You might ask yourself. Well it can't be denied that cost is still a significant contributing factor but it's more complicated than that. Inkjet printers might not be able to compete with the definition and clarity of their laser based counterparts when it comes to plain black text, but in the world of colour printing, ink still reigns supreme.

Colour me In

No matter how much you spend on a laser printer, you will never achieve the kind of realistic, textured results you'll get with a decent colour inkjet printer. For printing photographs there really isn't any comparison. Colour laser printers have come a long way in the last 10 years granted, but there's a depth to inkjet printing that just can't be replicated by laser.

Money Money Money

To put into perspective just how much more expensive laser 'toner' cartridges are than standard ink cartridges; it will take an average of £300 to fund an entire colour print cycle of a laser printer and around £70 to fund a print cycle with a colour inkjet printer. Granted the page yields offered by laser printers are far superior but you're only saving money if you print a lot and on a regular basis. For those who use their printer on only a semi-regular basis, there is really no need to spend the extra money. The printer itself will also be far more affordable, with a range of budget ink printers from reputable manufacturers such as Brother and Lexmark that should cost half as much as laser printers of comparable quality.

Versatility

Inkjet printers are incredibly versatile and can quite comfortably print on a variety of media including craft paper, printable CD's and even T-Shirt transfers. Laser printers on the other hand can print only onto standard paper or specifically engineered 'printer paper'. Certain inkjet printers are also capable of printing to larger formats whereas the majority of laser printers (even expensive models) are restricted to A4 sized paper and smaller.

Ease of Use

A laser printer is a complicated machine with thousands of intricate components, any number of which could go wrong at a moments notice and cause your printer to fail completely. A laser printer will also require a 'warm-up' period before it becomes operational and might be prone to overheating (especially if it's a cheaper model). With an inkjet printer you're looking at a far more straightforward device that will be ready to use as soon as you boot it up and will be far more convenient to refill. The majority of inkjet printers built in the last 5 years will accept combination 'CMYK' cartridges too, whereas laser printers will require 4 separate toner cartridges in order to print in full colour.

Playing Devils Advocate

The major argument FOR laser printers really all comes down to how much and how often you plan on printing. It can be argued that in most office based situations where speed and quantity is more important than quality, laser printers are far better suited to the job. However this isn't necessarily the case in all commercial situations. In professional print shops for example where quality colour is as vital a component of their day-to-day business as readable text, inkjet printers are still common, though for larger runs (over 100), laser is (admittedly) the superior option.

The choice is really up to you. However, if you genuinely care about your colours, then the choice should at least have been made a lot easier for you. Inkjet printers have been around in the commercial marketplace since the 1970's and manufacturers have used that experience to make sure their inkjet products are more efficient than ever. With toner cartridges still beyond the price range of most home users and inkjet printers and cartridges getting more affordable by the day, it would appear that (for the time being at least) ink is here to stay.

Author Bio:

Jann Webb is a freelance copywriter who has been using the same inkjet printer for almost a decade and it has yet to let him down. She gets all of her supplies from the wonderful people over at http://www.inkcartridges.co.nz

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A Technology Comparison: Was This The iPod Of The 1800s?

These days we’re pretty lucky. When it comes to technology, we’re just about overflowing with advancements that were probably unthinkable as short as five or 10 years ago.

Just take the iPod, for instance. A small, compact touch-screen device that can slot neatly into your pocket, and thanks to a sophisticated PCB layout, can store thousands of your favourite music tracks and play them back in supreme quality.

It’s the type of thing we take for granted now but just ponder for a moment those unlucky sods that came before us. I mean, a CD player? How impractical is that?! Replacing a disc every time you wanted to change artist? Ahh the hassle eh!

But what did folks do back in the 1800s? What was their iPod?

Well, perhaps the iPod of the 1800s was the object pictured below – a jukebox. Ok, so it wasn’t very portable and it certainly wasn’t personal enough to have headphones attached, but it did store and playback music.

Invented by Louis Glass in 1889, the jukebox was originally branded as the “Nickel-in-the-slot”. A pretty self-explanatory name really as, in order to activate it, you had to put a nickel in the slot. It wasn’t until the 1920s when radio was fully integrated that the jukebox was challenged for its top spot on top of the musical podium.

The first person to use the term “radio” was Lee Deforest who can also count himself as the inventor of AM radio. As for FM, that was introduced by Edwin Armstrong who also made it more straight forward for listeners to tune into their favourite station by tuning their device to the matching frequency.

At this stage, listening to music had made a significant step into making itself personable to the listener. The influence of jukeboxes, only appropriate for establishments that could afford them, had dwindled while radios were becoming the way for individuals and families to consume the very latest musical hits and trends.

Make our way to the 21st century and we have the iPod. First brought to the mass consumer market in 2001, the Apple-manufactured product has become a staple piece of technology for any person whom has a remote interest in music. Thousands of tracks can be stored while new ones can be downloaded in seconds from an online store.

Music has made its way to the 21st century in some style. It’s just hard to imagine what we’ll be lauding in another 100 years.

Author Bio:

This snapshot look at music over the past 300 years has been researched and written by Matthew Wood who is contributing for the PCB Design Services Concept CAD.

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Social Media – Making Our World Even Smaller

There was a point in time where hearing from friends or knowing the latest news stories happened to be more of a rare treat as opposed to something that you could constantly check. It wasn't until social media and networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and others took off along with the use of smart phones that we are continually connected to everyone we know and follow. This trend of social media has helped us not only remain connected but makes the world we live in much smaller.

How is social media making our world smaller?

One of the most interesting parts of social media has to be the fact that most of us have a smart phone that is connected to these networks all day long. It makes it very easy to quickly make comments on news, stories, share photos, give followers video clips, and be part of the conversations that are going on. It's easy to become part of a conversation with people that you may or may not have met before interacting with other people constantly. It not only makes it easy to talk with friends and family but people who live in other nations that you share interests along with.

Is this kind of connectivity a good thing?

While there are complaints about people being too addicted to devices like the stereotypical teenager on the smart phone or even those who fall for the misinformation that is on social networks at times, this connectivity is merely an outlet for people to express who they are and what they think. Some of it is great while some is not. All in all, being connected like this is something many enjoy.

This type of connectivity allows many of us to stay informed about various news, stories, local events, popular projects, charity initiatives, family issues, and the lives of friends. For many, this can make it so much easier to keep up with what is going on in an otherwise busy world.

How are people staying connected?

Many are either going directly to the social media sites, using smart phone apps, following blogs, or even using websites that allow them to consolidate all their feeds and interests in one spot. One of these that is fairly interesting is called Dwibbles that will literally learn what you read the most so that the most relevant information will be right there on the page which is easy to read and access.

If you haven't checked out social media and networking sites, it might be something that you could find to be interesting. Since it does keep us connected and make the world a bit smaller by interacting with others, it's something fun and valuable to look into.

Author Bio:

Eric Santos is a blogger, problem solver, and entrepreneur. Eric is the Co-Founder of Dwibbles, and the CEO of Soshowise. Eric received a B.S in Entrepreneurship from CSUF. Eric has served as an Account Manager for the survey software company Decipher, and have managed accounts for clients such as eBay and PayPal. Eric has done some social media consulting in the past.

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Cloud Computing - What Do You Need To Know?

You might have thought that cloud computing would never catch on, but it's definitely here to stay. Latest market forecasts are predicting a 30% annual growth for the industry, so if you haven't paid attention before, now's the time to start.

People all over the world are flocking to use technology to store data in a virtual space, but cloud computing isn't just for data. You can also use it to run applications and software remotely, so you don't need to be chained to your office PC.

If you're a small business that needs more IT expertise than your current employees can provide then outsourcing your IT to a cloud company could be the ideal solution. It might be slightly more expensive than hiring an in-house IT expert, but the pros definitely outweigh the cons. Cloud services will increase your efficiency and mean that your small business can take a "big business approach" to any issues you face.

Are there different types of cloud service?

Put simply, yes, there are three levels of cloud service.

First level: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS).

It provides virtual hardware such as computers, storage software platforms etc. This means that your employees can access everything they need via the internet, rather than being office based.

Second level: Platform as a Service (PaaS).

It provides all the resources a small business would need to create its own software and programmes. This will usually include an operating system, programming environment, database and web server. Useful if you're looking to reduce costs.

Third level: Software as a Service (SaaS).

This provides you with programmes and software that are ready to go. You can run them remotely, there are no lengthy installation times and no concerns about whether your hardware will cope.

What could go wrong?

Nothing is risk free and here are some of the potential pitfalls explained.

Data security

This is the most obvious concern that most people have, but in most cases, if you use a reputable supplier, your data is safe. When you combine a specialist cloud provider with an in-house expert your security will be better than most small businesses can normally manage.

Information control

Your information is stored on someone else's computer, and you'll have no idea where that is. You should be aware of all the contractual terms of your cloud supplier to make sure you comply with your legal, contractual and moral obligations.

Flexibility

At the moment it isn't possible to "pick and mix" cloud services like you would with internet providers. You could find it difficult to change cloud services and if you use more than one cloud service it could be hard to make them work together.

How do I choose a provider?

Ask yourself these three quick questions:

1. Is the provider stable, trustworthy and have a good reputation to lose?
2. Do the conditions of the contract work for your business?
3. Will this provider really benefit your business?

Trust your instincts, finding the right IT support is tricky whether you're in London or Lewes. Be sure to look before you leap, but don't be afraid to take the plunge.

Author Bio:

Rob Rudd enjoys his job as a writer and regularly contributes to several IT and technology blogs. When he isn't writing he enjoys learning to play the ukulele.

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Cloud Safety: A Survival Guide

Creative Commons image source

Safety in the Stratosphere

There is no doubt that cloud technology is revolutionizing the digital sphere. It's efficient, it permits employees to work from almost anywhere, and reduces the amount of money needed to be spent on data storage hardware. However, with the sheer proliferation of cloud-based computing, the question of privacy arises. How do you ensure that your information remains protected when it is stored online?

IT Advice

• Encrypt personal data: When saving personal information to an online storage source, it is best to encrypt the data. Identity theft and fraud are rampant on the internet, and as the old mantra goes, it's better to be safe than sorry. The kind of information that should be encrypted includes copies of personal documents, bank statements, medical records, property deeds, etc. Confidential business information should also undergo this process. There are numerous simple encryption programmes available to help you protect your data.
• Back up your info: Cloud technology is not infallible. In the worst case scenario, hackers can erase all your valuable information. The golden rule is to back up everything you don't want to lose on a hard drive or two.
• Passwords: Don't use the same password for all your accounts. It may be easier for you to remember, but it also makes it easier for nefarious hackers to access all of your accounts. So remember to diversify! Use date combinations that mean something to you. Save the password combinations in your phone contact list under a false name– that way, it looks like just another number to someone who happens to glance at your screen.
• Two-factor authentication: Simply put, this refers to the use of two methods to confirm your identity. This usually includes a password which you type in, and then an authentication code that is sent to your cellular device. This helps to prevent your social media accounts from unauthorised access, particularly if you are logging in from an unfamiliar device.
• No daisy chains: Refrain from linking all of your accounts together, for example, using your Facebook login details to sign into other websites. In the event of a hack, all of your interlinked accounts could be accessed. It's better to register social media accounts with a separate email address each time.
• Choose your devices wisely: Be careful when choosing where to log in. Try to avoid computers that everybody else uses, and if you do end up logging in from someone else's device, remember to clear the cache afterwards. And of course, don't forget to log out. This may seem obvious, but it's amazing how many people completely skip this step.
• Antivirus Software: Both antivirus and anti-spy software can add an extra layer of protection when browsing the net and accessing your personal data. This makes it a lot more difficult for people to access your system, and as a result, your online information.

So there you have it. Whether you use virtual desktop infrastructure, or even online storage sites such as Dropbox or Google Drive, implement a few of these tips and safeguard your data.

Author Bio:

Grace Matthews is a London-based lifestyle blogger who makes uses of Nasstar VDI so that she can travel and work from anywhere in the world.

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What To Keep In Mind When Buying A New Cell Phone Or Mobile Device

Image Credit: freedigitalphotos

There are so many kinds of cell phones and mobile devices on the market that it can be extremely challenging to figure what kind you want and what is a good price for this type of item. Intelligently programmed cell phones are among the most widely recognized type of cell on the market and with good reason – it’s also one of the best. Cell phones are now such a commonly used item that it can actually be difficult to remember when they were rare, bulky and barely functional. Compare the primitive cellular phone devices of the 1980’s with those of 2013, and it is easy to see how quickly progress has come about.

Getting an Intelligent Device

Some types of cellular phones are actually a type of computing system on a telephone rather than just a phone. These phones feature many upgraded technologies including cameras, web browsers, wireless data transmitting capacity and even mobile and high speed broadband. Depending on the phone carrier, these new phones may be able to feature magnificent imaging and photography options, much larger and longer lasting batteries and super sensitive touchscreens. This means that you need to see what is new on the market before you buy or you might miss out.

Getting a Good Deal and Good Phone

Since any kind of cell phone or mobile device requires an investment, it is important to make a good choice that will help make your life easier and not a financial burden. Look for a carrier has become a leader in wireless technology and smart technology as this means you will have access to the latest and most innovative products. The means of communication have changed, but the need for a quality phone provider has not.

When looking for your next cell phone, be sure to carefully weigh your options. There are literally almost unlimited options available to you, but you don’t want to get stuck with functions or features you don’t need and end up paying for. Consider how much you use your phone, whether it is for work or personal use, and what functions you absolutely need to have. After you determine this, you can determine what extras to add to that. This will help you make sure you have a fully functional phone that will not cost an exorbitant price.

When it comes to staying up with the latest technology and the latest trends in cell phones and mobile devices, computational cell phones can make a big difference in the convenience and functionality overall.

Author Bio:

Stephanie Frasco is the Community Manager for MyReviewsNow.net -- the #1 Social Shopping Website online!

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Could Computers Ever Replace Schools?

Most children studying in western schools will use a computer at some point in their education. In fact, online education is now actually part of the curriculum with a class dedicated to learning computer skills – IT.

More and more schools are dropping the chalk and picking up the mouse to integrate online with learning, but could computers ever really replace institutionalised schooling?

Most universities have some kind of portal that acts as a hub. Which usually includes taught materials, relevant information and timetables – these hubs could almost eliminate the need to go to the class at all.

If each student had a computer in class, it could save universities a lot of money that they would normally spend on huge lecture halls and projector screens – but would each student learning through a computer really make for Interactive education and could this filter through the chain down to primary education?

Long Distance:

Online learning allows for long-distance learning, meaning that location would no longer be an issue for people that live in remote areas.

Free Education:

The first thing most people do when they want to find something out is Google it. The amount of information on the internet is absolutely staggering and there is actually a growing trend of teachers and academics breaking away from traditional methods of teaching and uploading educational and engaging videos online. With themes ranging from algebra to aeronautical engineering, millions of people are tuning in to learn online. If this trend continues, there would be no limit to the amount of people being taught at one time and new students could access the videos whenever they like as the videos would remain online.

What’s stopping it?

All of this sounds great, so what is it that hasn’t allowed for this to happen already?

Well, of course, a computer could never really replace the benefits of physically being taught by a teacher and interacting with other children in class.

A lot of a child’s experience of discipline comes from being taught at school. Learning that you have to listen, learning that you must let others talk, patiently waiting for your turn to talk and hearing other people’s ideas all comes when being taught in class.

This allows a child to develop a lot of their characteristics, traits and life skills that they may not achieve by being taught by a computer and a mouse all day.




Author Bio:
Rich finds the development of computers and internet devices interesting as he works for a company called Case Comms that installs Industrial Routers

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Google Glass: the Technology Breakthrough of 2013?

Technological innovation is continual and this is most evident when we examine Google’s new and revolutionary glasses. Back in 2012 when the rumours that the search engine giant was in fact in process of producing augmented reality goggles, it seemed unreal. Fast forward to 2013 and we are now able to give you the lowdown on Google Glass and why it is attracting so much attention worldwide. So here’s a quick look at what we can expect from Google glasses as well as the basic evaluation of the positive and negative implications of viewing the world through these futuristic glasses.

What is it?

This innovative system is essentially a pair of spectacle frames, with functions of a camera, touchpad, display and microphone incorporated in them, and can be worn facially. With the help of Google Glass, data can be freed from your computer or mobile device and displayed before your eyes allowing you to photograph, film and search online when out and about. Google Glass uses display technology and a prism screen to place data before you without impeding your vision, and allowing you to record the world around you with ease as well as interpret your chosen commands.

What does it do?

This technological headset is capable of a whole host of exciting features including video conferencing, enabling you to show your friends what you are looking at precisely at the moment of your conversation, the use of Google maps to get directions, the ability to directly translate spoken languages onto the display. There are as well a large number of exciting apps that are currently being developed in order to go hand in hand with this new technology.

How much will it cost?

The developer version currently being known as the Google Glass Explorer sells for about 1,500 dollars, however the consumer version due to hit the market later this years is expected to be much less expensive.

Google Glass specifications:

Google’s latest innovation offers a mooted 640 by 360 display, a built-in 5MP snapper camera with a 720p zoom, 24 hour battery life, 16 GB of built-in flash memory, Bluetooth and WiFi. The Google Glass frame will also come with adjustable nose-pads and there will be a touchpad to be worn on one arm. The dev versions will include a Micro USB cable and a charger and will come in five vivid colours. When it comes to the style, rumour has it that Google is at the moment in discussion with some of the biggest eyewear manufacturers and distributors to improve this aspect of their new product. A good way to stay up to date about the possible outcome of such rumours is to keep a close eye on the twitter feeds of the likes of Luxottica and Ray-Ban.

Negative aspects:

As with all new innovations there remains the potential for misuse. A number of establishments have already banned the use of Google Glass for copyright reasons. Many are also concerned about the possibility of conversations being logged and transcribed with the help of Google Glass. Therefore, it is likely that more and more different establishments will ban the use of these glasses as questions surrounding privacy and copyrights arise.

It is evident that Google Glass will provide the world with innovative and revolutionary technology. What remains to be seen in the future is to what degree we will be able to use these goggles to enhance our everyday life.

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Top 5 Ways To Save Money On Your Cell Phone

Cell phones are a part of essential everyday life for most people, but they come with a cost - the cost of the phones, the plans, apps you want to download, and more. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways you can save money on your cell phone. Here are just a few ideas.

1.) Buy your next cell phone cheap:

Getting a new phone can be an expensive process. If you're getting a contract phone, don't go for the newest and biggest right away. You can get some great phones for under $50 with a new contract - sometimes even free. If you can't take advantage of that offer, do some research on good budget phones, or buy a used or refurbished phone for significantly less. This helps eliminate the huge upfront cost of a new phone.

2.) Ask about an employee discount:

Many businesses will have deals with the major cell phone companies that offer discounts to their employees. The catch? They're not always advertised. If you're looking to save money on your phone bill, contact your business's HR department and ask if they offer an employee discount for your particular carrier. Are you a student who's not working full-time? Ask your college. Many of the larger colleges partner with the cell phone providers as well to provide discounts. Sometimes to get these discounts, all you have to do is ask.

3.) Use free texting apps:

If you're on a plan that charges you for texting, you can cut that expense out of your budget by using a free app to do the exact same thing. Textfree and Heywire are two examples, but there are plenty more. It's a little bit more work, but by cutting texting charges out of your plan, you can save a significant amount on each month's phone bill. Most free texting apps even let you send picture messages, so you can still send everyone the photos you're taking.

4.) Use a family plan:

You don't have to be related to someone by blood to include them on your family plan, so take advantage of that. Include your roommates, your neighbors, or close friends. As long as they're reliable to pay their portion of the bill on time, you can all save some serious money on your phone plans. Select one person to be responsible for paying the bill, and they can collect everybody else's share.

5.) Get rid of the cell phone extras:

You may not even realize all the paid extras you have on your bill. Take a moment to look over your bill carefully and notice any extra charges. Mobile insurance, ringtone subscriptions, monthly games, GPS navigation, and roadside assistance are just a few of the features you may be paying extra for, even if you're not using them. Trim costs by trimming the extras. Bear in mind that you may have to call your cell phone provider to take them off your account.

You don't have to pay an arm and a leg to enjoy all the joys of owning and using a cell phone. Just follow these tips and you'll start seeing the difference!

Author Bio:

David Johnson writes about smartphone reviews and deals. He is a frequent contributor to a number of online coupon blogs. To start saving money on your next cell phone click here and use promo codes from at&t, Verizon Wireless, Sprint, and T-Mobile.

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Cloud Computing

When it comes to cloud computing, this kind of file sharing can be a very unique and interesting method. Instead of the traditional copy and paste methods of adding applications or programs from a flash drive to a computer, this method will allow anyone and everyone with proper information, access to these same files from the internet. These files can be retrieved with ease because it can be accomplished without having to plug in or hook anything up beforehand.

Cloud Computing services are helping many small businesses thrive due to the convenience and of course, efficiency, Cloud computing also offers numerous amount of benefits that are guaranteed to make any business more money. Time is money so if there is something that can make your business run more efficiently, than it will be making your business more money. When searching to see what cloud computing providers Manhattan had to offer for one of my clients' business, this is what I learned about the benefits of cloud marketing services.

What are the benefits to cloud marketing services?

It is Faster?

One of the benefits includes having the ability to be able to meet business commands in a quick manner due to the flexibility of the cloud. Instead of taking up all of the bandwidth within a server, you will be able to take up about half of the space, while delivering demands in an instant.

Disaster Recovery:

Another wonderful perk about this timeless method is that you can finally kiss all of your advanced disaster recovery file plans goodbye. With the cloud service, you'll finally be able to take care of what issues you need to, in record speed, while getting the job done.

Automatic Updates:

Why should you have to take the time to install all of those important software updates while interrupting your work schedule, when the cloud computing service can do it for you while you work?

Increased Security:

These service suppliers will make sure that their security updates and regular scans are taken care of, so that it won't take up the customers' time, keeping them away from their other duties.

Flexibility:

The best part of all is that you can work from anywhere you want! You don't need to worry about fighting travel, or having to worry if you don't make it to work on time for whatever reason. As long as you have a stable internet connection, you can work from anywhere in the world, hassle free!

Environmentally Friendly Options:

Last but not least, this service is environmentally friendly in the energy consumption department. You can expect to use less than 50% of it's energy in a single usage, while drastically cutting back on carbon emissions.

Author Bio:

Article was written by Sarah Smith. Sources used came from Madison Technology in New York, NY.

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Why Android is The Best Choice For Your Next Phone

License: Royalty Free or iStock

The smart phone market is big business these days, and a number of massive multinational corporations are vying the top spot. Whilst Apple are the other main player in the field, many onlookers believe that their offerings are beginning to reduce in quality. It's all very well bringing out lighter, larger capacity items - but how much of their new product range is really revolutionary?

Are Apple's Days Numbered?

Apple used to be the smaller alternative competitor to Microsoft's juggernaut, but in recent times the company has seen its stocks rise to become the number 1 player in the market. Microsoft are expected to fight back, as they begin their assault on the smart phone battlefield - but Apple is still the biggest player in town. However, in recent months Apple's share price has started to fall, and many predict that this is set to continue.

Critics argue relentlessly about why Apple is set to decline, and reasons include stale product offerings which rely too heavily on a loyal customer-base. After all, sometimes when you've been number one for so long, resistance grows and people look for alternatives. Many critics feel this might be starting to happen to Apple.

Android - Racing Ahead of the Pack:

The main winner in all of this is Android. While two long-term rivals battle it out with multi-billion dollar budgets, the open-source platform has continued to grow. Make no mistake, backed by Google's billions - Android is no amateur operation. However, they have managed to capture a decent chunk of the market while offering not only usability and reliability - but FLEXIBILITY as well.

One of the major criticisms of Apple's product line up is that they keep users "locked in" and only able to use devices in a manner deemed appropriate by Apple. If you want to purchase Apps or Mp3s, you've got to use Apple's own store - and you can only buy things that the company have previously "ok'd". This flies in the face of how the consumer electronics market is heading, and Android has managed to capitalize.

How Android is Different:

By offering an open-source platform, Android allows the ability to work together and provide software and support themselves. If you want to make your own Android app, that's fine - you're free to do what you want. Apps are available for free from a number of sources. Although Android does have it's own Marketplace - you aren't forced to use it.

Another great thing about Android - it's not tied to one system or handset provider. That means there's competition involved even amongst Android supporting phones, which drives down prices and allows more people the chance to own one. As you've probably seen, Android phones are normally considerably cheaper than the newest iPhone equivalent. But that's not because they're inferior - many believe Android phones are BETTER.

Author Bio:

Josh Robertson writes for phoneservices.us which specialize in helping you get your next cell phone for free - find out more here.

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Music@Twitter: Discover great Trending Music

Music.twitter.com

If it comes as a surprise, Think twice. The Huge impact of Social Network “Twitter”, like a global consciousness externalized, helps us see cluster of people (groups) talking about same things, “Trends” and no algorithm like analyzing music waves can ever see “Gangnam style” flying through the charts.

Trends:

Obviously, you follow bands, music groups on twitter. It helps you find the trending music, and songs on twitter.com

Play:

Will let you play, right through the webpage, it has integration with iTunes, and music services like Rdio, Spotify. Most Amazing Part, it makes webpage a thinking music player, another layer of real intelligence and music sense added through an algorithm.

How to Download:

Starting from 18^th April, this App is available,

• You can download Twitter #music from the App Store for your iPhone.
• Enjoy the web version here: music.twitter.com
• Not available for Android Phones.

Let us know about your experience with the Twitter Music App for iPhone, so that we can with your suggestions dig more deeper into it, and see how it affects your life, and catches on with you.

Author Bio:

Joshua Logan, is tech-writer. Inspired by the flux in creativity and technology, he feels, a need of missing art of rhetoric, and clarifying and simplifying lot of tech jargon, and influencing people to make right decisions. You can connect with him on Logan.

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Have Windows 8 Failed In Spite Of Its Many New Functions Such As Password?

Since the release of Windows 8, it has been over two months. Though Microsoft has made many changes on the new operation system, according to an article from eWeek, it doesn't sell well. And still some industry observers agree that Windows 8 is totally a failure. They insist that some new features aren't practical at all. Take Windows 8 password as an example. Opponents claim that once they forgot the Picture Password, it is not easy to get Windows 8 password reset, and also, it is not safer than traditional password at all. Therefore, dose it means that Windows 8 will end up with a failure? Of course not!

Reason 1: Microsoft has just began its fighting

Advertising Age said that Microsoft will spend $1 billion in advertising Windows 8. If you watch TV in USA, you will find that advertisement for Windows 8 is everywhere, just like the advertisement for President Election.

Reason 2: Equipments for Windows 8 will be on sale in large scale

It is said that the production of Windows 8 equipment will slowly grow. As a result, there will be 21 million sets in the end of next year, while there are only 3.8 million sets in the end of this year.

Reason 3: The professional version of Windows 8 will be released

The first batch of sets is for Windows RT, which is only suitable for computers with ARM processor. At the end of next January, the professional version of Windows 8 will be published to adapt to computers equipped with Intel X 86 processor.

Reason 4: Users need time to adapt to the new interface

Since the big changes made on Windows 8 interface, especially the lack of start button and the desktop full of images, users find it hard to get used. While, as time goes by, and with the efforts of publicity from Microsoft, we do believe that users will get familiar with Windows 8.

Actually, the advantages overweight disadvantages in Windows 8. Meanwhile, some disadvantages can be overcome with some tools. For example, just like the Windows Server 2008 password recovery tool, we can also find some software to reset our Windows 8 password now. I do believe that Windows 8 is promising. What do you think?

Author Bio:

I am a computer software expert. And I like making friends. They all like me very much, not only because I am an easy-going man but also because I can solve many computer problems, such as if they want to know Windows password reset I can help them.

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What To Consider When Choosing Cloud Backups

Every computer expert will tell you to backup early and often. However, sometimes there is insufficient space to backup and store all the data. Accidents happen and one loses data in a hard drive crash, which can be catastrophic when one is in the middle of a vital assignment. Sometimes your computer is stolen or the office burns down. We never really know what life has got in store for us, which is why data storage is crucial.

Cloud Backups:

Cloud backup is the name for data and information being stored in a secure data centre via internet. These data centres could be in any remote location in the world. Cloud storage takes away some of the stress about storage away from the individual who no longer needs to overprotect the device in which the data is stored. With cloud backups, the data is protected from accidental or intentional damage. Several issues come into play when considering the use of cloud backups. It is important to know how the service works, its limitation and its effects on the running of your enterprise.

Protect Against Leaks:

Among the major concerns for most organisations is data security. Data protection is absolutely paramount for individuals and, in the case of businesses, data leaks can have very serious repercussions indeed. For example, leaked customer contacts from a database could spammed with unnecessary mails or credit information used for other forms of cyber crimes. Files should be heavily encrypted before leaving the onsite storage. Encryption should be at least 256 bit or higher. Always ensure the service provider states their security policy before you begin to consider engaging their services in storing your data.

Know Your Limits:

Most of the service providers limit the sizes of data they can store by price; so your storage allowance depends on how much you pay. When deciding your cloud backup plan, take into consideration the size of your data and the quantity that is generated at a particular period of time. Check whether your provider can increase the available space if needed and at what cost. Some providers will limit the size of individual files, so be wary of such restrictions especially if you store large files such as videos.

A few service providers will limit the amount of data that can be uploaded or downloaded at any given time. Most of them will not. However, it is vital to know their policy so as to avoid the risk of being unable to access your information as quickly as possible in cases of damage to onsite storage. Initial uploads sometimes take quite some time. This is partly due to bandwidth limitation and partly due to the size of uploading files.

Access All Areas?

Consider whether the service provider allows you to access your files from other computers other than your basic computer. Web enabled access is convenient as one can access their files from any internet enabled device by logging into the providers website. You could download that bill, spreadsheet or statement way from office or home. If you would like to have automatic file upgrades, check whether the provider has software that monitors file changes. Otherwise, you would be forced to manually back up your files.

Final Considerations:

Where none catastrophic data losses are involved, it is often easier to restore data from a local storage in comparison to a cloud backup, so it is worth remembering this when assessing your cloud backup requirement. Another thing to bear in mind, especially if you pay per gigabyte or monthly, is reduplication services. Reduplication minimises the amount of data being stored because where similar files exist, it indicates the specific location of the data, rather than performing a double backup of your data. Overall it is clear that, wherever possible, it is prudent to have an online backup solution in place. It might cost more but in the long term it could save your business.

Author Bio:

This article on cloud backups was written on behalf of Securstore who offer many online backup solutions for businesses and individuals.

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What is Cloud Computing

You may have heard the term “Cloud computing” and wondered what it meant. Savvy IT professionals are aware that cloud computing refers to a system of servers that gives people access to computer services over a network, such as the Internet.

Cloud computing is taking off because organizations are realizing the many benefits it provides, including saving money on hardware and software, lowering the burden on IT department personnel and enabling companies to back up their vital data safely and securely.

In fact, cloud computing services are expected to generate almost 14 million jobs across the world by 2015, with many of these jobs coming from small-to-medium sized businesses, according to the IDC report “Cloud Computing’s Role in Job Creation.” What’s more, cloud computing could produce up to $1.1 trillion in revenue every year by 2015.

Remote Backups and Disaster Recovery:

If your company does not routinely make offsite backups of its vital data, what will you do in the face of a catastrophic hard drive crash? While prudent managers will at least set up extra servers to back up data locally, it’s important to maintain offsite backups as well, in case of a natural disaster, extended power failure, theft or other problems.

Cloud computing makes it easy to make multiple backup copies of your data, which you can then access via the Internet to recover information during a disaster.

While your competitors are struggling to regain power and reconstruct their databases, you can quickly restore your important files by accessing them via the cloud. Even if you have to evacuate the premises, such as during a severe weather event, your employees can use laptops or smart phones to access data via the cloud from a hotel, coffee shop or their office at home, thanks to cloud computing.

Save Money on Software and IT Services:

Organizations find that they can save money on software and IT services by taking advantage of cloud computing services. For example, instead of purchasing expensive licenses for a suite of office applications or a particular database program for your entire workforce, you can use software as a service (SaaS) on an as-needed basis. The software is always available via the cloud, and your employees access it through a standard web browser.

Your IT department won’t have to worry about updating software or applying security patches, as the cloud computing service provider’s IT department will take care of this task for you.

You can also purchase access to encrypted server storage space from a cloud services provider whenever you need it. Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting helps companies save money, as they don’t need to try to plan ahead and purchase additional server space for local use.

Access Data While on the Go:

Does your organization rely on travelling sales people and marketing specialists to drum up new business? If so, these employees are going to be on the road quite frequently. Instead of trying to bring copies of all necessary files with them on their laptops, they can access your company’s data securely via cloud computing.

When a salesperson develops a lead, he can input the data on his device while out in the field, and the information will be instantly accessible to everyone in your organization’s headquarters via the cloud.

Imagine updating important documents that everyone in your company needs to access quickly and reliably. For example, have you changed the terms of your standard contracts? Your legal department can put the updated files in the cloud so that employee will always be able to access the latest versions.

After examining the benefits of cloud computing, many people will want to consider implementing it for their own organizations. Whether you use cloud computing just to keep safe backups in an offsite location or rely on it for fast and reliable access to inexpensive software as a service, this technology is designed to make your organization work more efficiently and save your money. Cloud computing can give you a boost over your competitors, and that’s reason enough to begin implementing it to some degree at your firm.

Author Bio:

Matt Smith is a Dell employee who writes to help raise awareness on the topic of Cloud Computing and other network management subjects.

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Do You Really Know How Far Your Goods Will Travel When You Order Online?

License: Creative Commons image source

The Age of the Internet:

The internet has had a dramatic effect on the way most of us choose and buy a wide variety of products. Just a few years ago, our preferred method of shopping is likely to have been to pay a visit to our local shops, or, if we were looking to make a special purchase, probably to venture into a nearby city, or to an out-of-town shopping centre, where the biggest outlets with the widest choice of products could be found.

That idea has been strongly challenged in recent times, as most of us become ever-more accustomed to looking for what we want to buy online. For major purchases especially, we are happy to scour the internet to find the cheapest prices available.

But how many people, when they do this, give much thought to where the websites on which they find the best prices are run from, and therefore, how far their goods will have to travel to reach them when they finally click on that 'Buy Now' button.

My guess would be very few. We have become so intent on tracking down the best possible price for the precise product we want, that little thought is given to how it will eventually reach us after we take that split-second decision to make a purchase from a particular website.

Buying Online creates convenience:

From the buyer's point of view, shopping online breaks new boundaries in convenience, because it means we can compare products for all the criteria which we can possibly consider when we buy, and then look for the outlet which offers the product we find best meets our needs at the lowest possible price. And yet, when we do this, apart from exceptional occasions when a website will publish its full registered address, most of us will give little or no thought to where our goods will be shipped from, and therefore the task which lies ahead for the delivery company which will ensure that those goods, ordered in a fraction of a second, in turn reach us safely and in the shortest time possible.

This convenience is, of course, a compelling reason why so many of us now choose to shop for many of the things we buy online. But conversely, businesses of course are always looking out for locations from where they can operate while incurring the lowest possible overheads.

As a result, a company can have as many 'shop fronts' as possible, yet its online operation could equally be run from relatively unassuming premises, well away from the locations of these prestigious shop windows. Companies which already have large-scale premises which are used for storage of their products before they are sent out to their stores may, therefore, have a strong advantage over purely web-based companies when it comes to operating the online arm of their business.

But in truth, the motivation for shopping online is so strongly skewed towards seeking out the lowest possible price for the products that we want to buy, that the vast majority of shoppers won't care whether their goods are picked off the shelves of a posh flagship store, or come from a dingy warehouse operated from an industrial estate – provided they reach them safely, and in a reasonable time-frame.

Author Bio:

Guest blog contributed by Lauren Belfield, a parcel delivery expert working for MyHermes.

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Latest Rumors on the “Facebook Phone” – Features and HTC Repercussions!

Heard it right? “Facebook phone” may be coming soon! Android Police, a techie blog, reports of a system dump of the software to be featured on the intended smartphone. There are likely rumors that the phone will be announced on Thursday, April 4th at the social networking giant’s Menlo Park, CA campus. The leaked photos show the purported version of Facebook’s operating system.

The “Facebook Phone” is rumored to be on an HTC handset running a special version of Android designed specifically with Facebook in mind. The traditional Android homescreen is replaced with a custom Facebook application called “Facebook Home”. This app runs on top of HTC’s Sense 4.5 skin and Android Jelly Bean 4.1.2.

What are the features?

Screenshots reveal of a normal-looking Android user interface. But many of its features are not yet usable as its only pre-release build that works for only Facebook employee accounts. The above tech team was able to go into the build.prop file, which lists the specifications that the software works with. This particular build is meant for HTC-made device with the model name “Myst_UL”. This model is available on the AT&T network with 1GB RAM.

The “Myst” also features a 4.3-inch display with a 720p resolution and a 1.5GHz MSM 8960 processor. It's the same SoC featured in phones like the Samsung Galaxy S III and BlackBerry Z10, giving the “Facebook phone” a bit of a mid-range feel.

What can be the repercussions for HTC?

Till now smartphone manufacturer is “quietly brilliant”. Now it wants to attract more customers from the likes of Apple and Samsung by being the manufacturer of the so-called “Facebook phone”. But that will only be profitable to HTC if anybody likes this phone. What if, nobody wants to buy a phone that is tightly integrated with Facebook skin? HTC might have spent a lot of money on a project that may not see actual gains!

What kind of Apps?

If really the phone comes out and makes a big-bang like other smartphones, what kind of apps will be there? Are those going to be Native apps or Mobile Web Apps ? For many years, Facebook founder & CEO, Mark Zuckerberg has defended the Mobile Web’s ability to deliver a consistent user experience across multiple devices with a single development effort. But just like his earlier claims on “Facebook phone” he had to retract on the app developing platform.

According to ReadWrite, 

"Facebook released a completely rebuilt version of its iOS app for iPhone and iPad today, changing a fundamental aspect of the company's mobile strategy. Gone is the Web-centric, HTML5 approach. In its place, Facebook has rebuilt the iOS app using Apple’s native framework. The result? A more streamlined, faster app for the iPhone and iPad."

Conclusion:

The success of Facebook Home will come down to whether it really adds value to the existing Facebook apps on Android. If not, few will buy the HTC Facebook phone and only the hard-core fans of Facebook will install the homescreen replacement. Also OEMs will not invest in deeper Facebook functionality.
But if success does happen, we can see a 7th sense for our social lives. This can be possible by seeing what happens on our friends lives on our Facebook phone homescreens. Facebook can leverage more money and can gain even more control of the ever-more popular mobile experience.

Author Bio:

Palla Ramarao is a Microsoft enthusiast and writes about latest trendy Windows articles on his blog. He is interested in writing about Windows products like Windows 8, Office 2013, Outlook.com, Surface tablet and Tech Tips. He is a Civil Engineer, Software Engineer and Blogger by part-time.  His other interests are social networking, making online friends and participate in blogging discussions.

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What are Cloud Services?

If you work in business and computers, chances are you would have heard about cloud services. It’s something that is talked about a lot but rarely explained to those who don’t know. If you are starting a job in this area or are just curious about the service and how it can help you, it’s important it is explained clearly to you.

Below is a guide on cloud services. This article covers what it means, what cloud services are and how they can help you and your company. Hopefully, after reading you should have a better understanding of cloud services.

What does the term “cloud” mean?

The term cloud in computing refers to internet based computing. It is when all your resources, files, software, programs and information you share on it are available to other computers and internet enabled devices. It means everything you store on your cloud is easily available online.

What are cloud services?

Cloud services are when a business offers secure cloud space to individuals, businesses and organisations.

With a cloud service you can have programs such as word processing programs, spread sheet programs, in-house data systems and email programs easily available without the use of downloading the software onto your computer or device. The result is easy accessibility to files and programs from any device so that you can work from any device and share files and information with others. It works great with families, who may want to share photographs and files, and it works for businesses that may need to work on shared files and access informationeasily and regularly.

How can cloud services help me and my business?

Cloud services can help your business if you rely on your team to access the same files and if your company is computer based. When you work in an office, frequently you will need to access a file someone else has been working on or updating. With a cloud service, anyone of your staff members with the right permissions can access these shared files, saving you time and money. With a cloud service you don’t need to waste time emailing things or downloading them onto external hard drives, this in turn can save you money.Using cloud services can mean if an employee can’t come in because their child is sick off school or it’s a snow day, your employee can still work that day from home by just logging onto the cloud service where all the files they’ve been working on are stores.

What companies provide cloud services?

There are many types of companies that supply cloud services. The first thing to take into consideration is security and reliability. Consider how there are three different types of cloud: public, private and hybrid. Work out which type will serve your needs best, for example if you are using the service for personal use, private is good for you.Do some research on companies before committing to a service as there are many companies now offering this and therefore, a lot of competition. Companies that specialise in technology solutions usually offer this service and tend to be reliable due to their specialised field.

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Google Apps for Businesses

Google is one of the most trusted names in the world mobile industry today. Google’s software is immensely popular among small and large enterprises of the world. Promoting a smooth and efficient flow of work, the Google apps have generated attention among business owners, clients, and customers at cost effective rates.

Listed below are few reasons why startups and established businesses should deploy Google mobile apps:

Don't Miss: 15 Useful Google Tricks

1. Streamlining internal communication:

             Gmail is one of the most efficient ways of communication known to organization workforce and individuals. Since Gmail is browser based and one does not have to install any software for utilizing its benefits, workers can remain connected to their mails and access or share anything from there without the need of Wi-Fi or internet connectivity (this is known as Gmail Offline). Installing the Gmail app ensures integration of chat features which leads to quick delivery of messages in real time; the threaded conversation feature on the other hand helps users to simplify the process of message exchange. In reality, Google’s Gmail app helps businesses to cut down its internal telephony system costs.

2. Syncing events and meetings:

             The Google calendar application has made it possible for employees of a business house to eliminate the possibility of a missed meeting or slip up in the project completion date. The syncing of meeting dates or the day of any other official event to the Google calendar app means that an employee will receive notifications of important announcements and upcoming events directly in his/her Gmail inbox. An advanced feature of the calendar app allows employees to use color codes for distinguishing between different tasks and be notified if there is a change from the original schedule.

3. Improving the quality of business collaboration and project management:

              The Google Docs app allows employees of a business unit to edit documents and also share them with the rest of the workforce without having to email an attachment of the same document to each worker. This Google application is extremely beneficial for businesses of all sizes and types because it reduces the risk involved in misplacing important documents which otherwise have to be distributed within the organization. Moreover, Google Docs makes sure that latest versions of files are available to the workforce immediately after they are updated.

4. Sharing details and knowledge about the organization and promoting its services:

             The Google Sites app is a software that provides tools for the creation of a basic site that will help a business unit to share details of its products and services with an extended audience base and thus promote its brand. Businesses can create both public domain sites and private internet hubs for the company and its employees respectively using the tools available under the Google Sites application. This leads to the creation of a site which is comparable to the wiki system, since it helps the business to organize all its files; therefore, presentations, calendars, and all other important documents can now be stored in a central location.

The above were some of the most prominent Google applications which have contributed to the increased productivity of businesses worldwide. These apps have also made work for the business workforce easier by allowing them to concentrate upon business matters that require more attention in order to ensure mobility.

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Author Bio:
The Author is associated with a trusted mobility consultant firm in India, with headquarter in Dallas has experienced team of mobile app developer. The app developers Dallas has created more than 300 applications for clients from various industry verticals.

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