Slow Computer? Learn How to Speed Up Your PC

Does your computer seem to be slower than normal? Has your PC crashed recently? Have you had the misfortune of experiencing the blue screen of death or a similar error?

There are a plethora of things that can cause your computer to crash or perform at an unreasonably slow level. You might have too many programs loading at startup.

The general rule is this: If you don't need it and it isn't vital to your computer, delete it. By following this rule, you will enable your computer to boot up faster and perform better.

Another thing that can cause your computer to run slower is a corrupted or bloated registry. If you have a Windows computer, then you have a registry.

The registry, like a meticulous bookkeeper, stores a record of everything you do on your computer. It keeps tabs on what programs you use on your computer, what websites you look at, what you download from the Internet. It stores all of this info on your computer’s hard drive and is notorious for producing corrupted or fragmented files.

Cleaning out your registry every now and then will help Speed up your PC.

Author Bio:

Erin Walsh is a technology junky and the Director of Public Relations at Boost Software. She enjoys blogging about topics in technology and occasionally guest posts on popular blogs about some of the most recent tech gadgets, windows installer errors, and other slow computer issues.

Interesting Facts That You Didn't Know About Your Smartphone

Creative Commons img source.

Smartphones are amazing devices that have greater capabilities than supercomputers used to twenty to thirty years ago. Technology moves fast and technology that once needed to be housed in a large room now fits in your pocket. The amazing features of smartphones have become commonplace however and what once amazed us now just seems commonplace. Here are six facts that you didn't know about your smartphone that you may find amazing and compelling.

Usage Amongst Smartphone Owners:

Smartphones have been growing in popularity steadily ever since they were first introduced in 2001. It is estimated that the number of smartphones in existence by 2015 will be approximately 1.5 to 2 billion. That means that there is likely to be one smartphone for every six to seven people alive, which is quite amazing. In the United States, current smartphone usage equates to 35% of adults having a smartphone. People are also spending tons of time using their smartphones. On average, people check their smartphones 150 times per day which equates to once every six to seven minutes. What are people primary using smartphones for? That depends on the country that the user is living in. Usage tends to fluctuate widely from country to country though with social media being less popular in Japan and restaurant apps being more popular in the United States.

Apps have grown in popularity in recent years as well due to improved download speeds and an increase in the number of computer programmers designing new applications. Having said that, approximately 90% of apps that are downloaded are only used ten times or less once they are downloaded. What types of apps are being used by individuals? Approximately 60% of smartphones are used to play games though health apps are also prominently featured on many cell phones with approximately 90% of smartphones having a health or fitness app on it.

Cell Phone Costs:

Those text messages that you send do not cost your cell phone provider a thing. That is because the size of text messages are small enough to be inserted in data transfers by your cell phone provider that fit neatly into the spectrum that cell phone companies rent from the government. The space a text message uses is less than the space used to set up the transmittal of information between a call tower and a phone. As a result, the cost to a provider is zero and the amount you pay is all profit to a cell phone provider. The most expensive part of a smartphone is the screen. Touchscreens have grown in complexity and sensitivity and the cost of these screens have grown in accordance with these technologies. Gorilla glass, commonly used on iPhones and other smartphones are durable and sensitive to touch and have led to new functionality for smartphones. The presence of these sensitive touchscreens have led to a decrease in popularity of other input devices for smartphones including pens, points, physical keyboards, and scroll wheels, all of which were used when smartphones were first introduced to consumers.

Conclusion:

Smartphones are continuing to revolutionize the cell phone world and have become ever more popular in recent years. While it is difficult to predict what direction smartphones will head, they are bound to become more powerful and add new functionality for users. As this occurs, expect smartphones to become even more common amongst users.

Author Bio:

Today's guest post was contributed by Brian S., article writer for i-Adapters.com. When Brian isn't busy blogging he likes enjoying the finer things in life.

Google Glass - The Future Of Eyewear

Touted by some as the next iPhone, people are excited and gearing up for Google Glass to be the best thing since sliced bread. While a laptop, iPhone or tablet brings you the world at your fingertips, Google Glass makes staying connected completely hands free. You can see the world and let the world see you. This lightweight, wearable device brings the world into your field of vision and allows you to share what you see as it happens.

What is Google Glass?

Google Glass a computer that you can wear. The small, lightweight device encompasses a camera, display screen, battery, microphone and touchpad and has 16GB of flash memory, built-in Bluetooth and WiFi. Like a futuristic pair of glasses, this device is sleek and comes in blue, red, white, grey and black. It is sturdy, yet flexible so it can stand up to everyday wear and still be comfortable. The device uses technology like a smartphone to perform voice commands allowing wearers to perform a variety of functions completely hands free.

What Can Google Glass Do?

Google Glass is equipped to perform a variety of functions. Being a Google product, it can run an internet search and find any topic that is on your mind, but it can also do so much more. Do you need directions? Ask Google Glass and you will see the map right in front of your eyes. Hopping a plane to another country? Google has you covered. Not only can you get flight times and be notified of boarding and delays as you dash through the airport, once you arrive the device can help you with translations. You will never miss another special moment either! With hands free pictures and video you can record the moment and share it live, all hands free. Sending messages is easy as well, with simple voice commands you can instantly message friends and family.

Who Wants Google Glass?

Google glass is specifically designed for those who love technology and want to stay connected. Google expects that the main demographic will be young people and business professionals because the technology can bring to these groups Google search, texting capabilities, photo and video, maps and directions, translations, flight arrival and departure times and even video conferencing all hands-free and on the go. Google is targeting both men and women in this demographic. Google is even working on versions of this technology that incorporate prescription lenses.

What's Next?

Right now, Google Glass is only available to a small number of testers at $1500 per pair, but this feature loaded wearable computer may just be the future of technology. It has been suggested that this device might be ready for the open market in late 2013 or early 2014, but development continues. By bringing consumers features such as Google search, messaging, photo, video, maps, translations, airport information and video conferencing right into the user's field of vision, Google hopes to free users from their desks and revolutionize the way we use technology.

Author Bio:

This post was provided by Alex L. from the SQL Solutions blogging team. Alex is a web developer by day and avid blogger by night. He has earned two degrees from Full Sail University and plans to continue furthering his education.

How On Earth Can I Download A Youtube Video?

YouTube has given a new turn to video sharing and viewing. It is the most popular video site and hosts the largest number of videos. It serves most of the humans on earth. Take online lectures, learn recipes, share your own personalized videos and seek comments, learn whatever in the world you want to learn about. YouTube has the whole universe in it. The increasing magnitude of the YouTube platform explains its ownership by Google. Yes! It may be a news for few, but YouTube is owned by Google.

As already said, All Video Lovers tend to view videos via YouTube, but this is strange that YouTube does not allow video downloading directly from its website. People can only view movies while staying connected to the internet. If the internet speed is not enough, buffering may take longer and one has to wait till the video is ready for viewing. People who do not have access to the internet all the time or those who want to share the video with others, like to download few and keep them for later viewing. The situation has given a rise to the demand of YouTube video downloading software. A handsome number of websites now offer such software through which you can download YouTube videos and can even Convert Videos in any format depending upon PC compatibility and personal preferences. These software ensures the quality of the video even while converting them to various formats.

So How To Download?

1.) Using Software:

Downloading process is very easy. You either can install the software on your system to download the file or can download it straight from the website. In case you are using software (Such as YouTube Video Downloader), after it is installed on your system, open its User Interface, copy the link of the YouTube video and paste it in the place provided and click Download. You can provide a path to the location on your PC where you want the file to be saved.

2.) Using Someother Sites:

In case, you are downloading the video from the website (such as tubelify.com), provide the link on the bar available on the video page of Youtube, select the required format and click convert. Once the file is converted, a notification will appear on your screen that your file is ready for download. You can provide a path to the location on your system where you want the file to be saved. Downloading time would depend upon the size of the video. Large videos may take longer time while the small ones can be downloaded in just few seconds.

Remember, internet connectivity is must for downloading a YouTube video. If the connection is lost during the process, at times you have the option of resuming the downloading from the same point while in few cases, the file has to be downloaded from the beginning. Speed of internet also determines the time a file will take to download.

When the file is ready for use, you can open it in any media player and enjoy a you tube video offline and keep it in your system for as long as you want.

Author Bio:

Brandon is a tech blogger who loves to write on latest in technology and gadgets. He regularly uses youtubeconverter to convert and download his favourite videos.

Are You Using The Internet Efficiently Time-Wise?

Creative Commons image source.

If you’re reading this, you’re most likely sitting on your computer and looking for things to do. A few years ago, Nielsen and the Pew Center released a graphic to show how people use the internet and for the most part, internet users spent their time viewing content. Fourty-Two percent of their time was spent viewing text, images and video. In second, came email and commerce with 36%. Finally, in third place was social networking at 22%. Now if we were talking about today, with the emergence of social media as a must-stop for most internet users, the percentage of time spent using social media has most likely gone up.

Given these numbers, some may question whether or not we’re using our time as wisely as we should be. The Internet offers people a number of things to do, and sometimes those things can actually be useful. While social media can certainly provide quality information, many of us sometimes go through a social media rabbit hole. You go on to Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest and seemingly lose track of time as you go through all of your friends’ profiles. Then you look up at the clock and realize you’ve spent hours on your computer. Wouldn’t you like to use the internet to learn a skill you’ve always wanted? Here are some of the many options out there:

Teach yourself code in 8 weeks:

While you might not be able to work for Facebook as a senior programmer, Lifehacker does show you that it’s possible to learn basic coding in as little as 8 weeks. In this particular post, the author gives the reader a step by step guide for what he did to learn Python. Google offers a free class with detailed instructions and video as well as exercises to get the basics down. From there, there are a variety of courses and guides you can use to build your very own prototype.

Teach yourself guitar without ever leaving the house:

If you have a fear of meeting with an instructor in person, but you still want to learn the guitar for your own personal endeavors, it’s possible to learn to play the guitar online. Look into live music tutors who guide you through the basics and will be there each step of the way as you improve on your instrument of choice. Even if you’re a beginner who just wants a working knowledge of playing the guitar or you’re an experienced guitarist who just wants to learn a new song, a live music tutor can help. And the best part is: all you need is a webcam and WIFI connection.

Go to Yale without paying the tuition:

If you love to learn for learning’s sake to expand your mind, Yale University offers a few free courses as part of its Open Yale Courses program. You can access these courses online through iTunes, YouTube or Yale’s website; and there are a variety of courses to choose from, including Milton, the American Novel-Post 1945, and a philosophical look on Death.

Author Bio:

Kay Kissinger is a writer who stronger believes we can benefit from the interenet.

3 Apps Every Parent Needs

Becoming a parent will make your life incredibly, significantly busier - no doubt about that. I grew up in a large family so there was always some sort of chaos with the younger kids. If it be potty training, what they needed to eat, cleaning up after them, making sure they were doing their homework, or whatever else, there is always something to do. Although there is good news and there is help! If you know where to look, there are many tools available to help you with your kids. Here are a few apps that can offer some help to a parent in need.

1.) Fooducate

Not only can this app be helpful to you and help you lose weight, but if you're concerned about what your child is eating this app is just for you. In this app you able to grade you food and tell you whats really in it. You can scan a product and then it will tell you the real ingredients and how healthy it really is, and then give you a healthier option of what you could eat. This has the largest market available of UPCs with over 200,000 products ad more being added. This app was rated as the number one iPhone Health and Fitness category in the Apple App Store, 1st Prize in US Surgeon General Healthy App Challenge, and was even featured on Oprah, ABC, FOX, and others. This is a fantastic app for anyone wanting to keep a close eye on what they eat and what they're feeding their children.

2.) alarm.com

This app is great for anyone with a family. What this app does is it links up to your home security systems and allows you to monitor and control every part of your home security system from the app. You can control the lights, unlock or lock the doors, control the thermostat, and even set up certain wall plugs to be turned on or off from the app. So if you accidentally left your curling iron on you could turn off the wall plug from your app. This app is perfect for anyone that has babysitters as well. The app can also link up to any home security cameras you have so you could keep a close eye on you kids and your babysitter at all times.

3.) 2Do: Tasks Done in Style

Moms are known for their multitasking, but all that mental energy and trying to remember everything can bring on a lot of stress and frustration. With this app you can sync all of your to-do lists in one place. This app can go from a simple checklist - to a huge project manager. It's incredibly easy to use and allows you to prioritize your to-do list so you don't get anything mixed up or misplaced. It can sync from your dropbox, iCloud, Yahoo, and a lot more. You can even tell Siri to remind you of something and it will sync to this app.

Author Bio:

David Michael LeMarr is a musician, blogger, public communicator, and future architect - follow him on Twitter // Facebook // Wordpress.

Hacking And Cracking: What's The Difference?

In the field of cyber security, there are two distinct groups of individuals, hackers and crackers. A person will ultimately be classified as either one or the other depending on their particular intentions; however there are different skill sets and subgroups typically associated with each title. To help differentiate, below is a breakdown of hackers, crackers and everything in between so you can gain a better idea of who is responsible when a cyber security breach occurs.

Hackers:

The term “hacker” typically refers to individuals who seek to fully understand how computers and network systems function in order to gain in-depth knowledge and perform a precise exploit of vulnerabilities.

These experts in computer security tend to have non-malicious intentions and thus have become colloquially known as “white hat” hackers. White hat hackers engage in ethical hacking, which consists of lawfully breaking into systems for the purpose of exposing security flaws. They either seek to improve the protection of their own security systems or they are hired by organizations to perform this service. In order to do this, the hackers will initiate assessments of the company’s security system by attempting to penetrate it. If the hacker is successful during penetration tests, they are generally responsible for reporting the issue and developing a solution to prevent the same kind of security breach from occurring maliciously in the future. Companies often hire individuals to test for these vulnerabilities instead of leaving possible holes in their security systems open to attack by malicious hackers, commonly referred to as “crackers.”

Crackers:

The title of a “cracker” has gained much controversy over the past few years in regards to its malicious connotation and the reputation these individuals have gained throughout the cyber security community.

Hackers often make the argument that crackers are less knowledgeable of computer systems and lack originality in their work, which is true to an extent. Crackers are motivated solely by personal gain and are not concerned with learning the ins and outs of computer systems as much as their counterparts. Additionally, the fact of the matter is that crackers do not need to follow ethical guidelines; they simply need to exploit the system. The primary goal of a cracker is either to obtain valuable information that will lead to personal gain or to cause mischief for organizations simply because they are capable of it. Regardless of their motives, the malicious intention of these crackers has led to them being labeled as computer criminals, or “black hat” hackers. They may choose their victims randomly or target specific organizations based on profitability and other interests, but the end goal is always for their personal gain never as an ethical profession. These crackers are often caught for their malicious acts because they are not cautious or mindful of the protections that have been put in place by a business’ white hat hackers. Businesses with secure networks will hire ethical hackers to establish a honeypot, which is essentially a trap used to detect and counteract unauthorized breaches by the black hat community.

Grey Hat Hacking:

The term “grey hat” is used as a combination of white hat and black hat because it refers to hackers that engage in both hacking and cracking. While they may break into computer systems for the purpose of making a profit, their intentions are not entirely malicious. The grey hat hacker may have to perform illegal actions in order to test a system for vulnerabilities and make the necessary improvements. A possible scenario for a grey hat hacker could be breaching the security system of a company and then notifying them of the vulnerability in hopes of receiving a payment to improve the system. These tactics are seen as questionable in the hacking community, but in the end they result in a positive outcome for the hacker and improved security measures for the involved organization.

Top iPhone Apps for Parents

Being a parent is a full-time job – times 10. There are never enough hours in the day to do all that you need to do, both for your children and for yourself. You need all the tools at your disposal you can get to help you manage it all and to accomplish even a fraction of what you set out to do.

Your iPhone is a great tool, and you can use it to stay in touch, to keep organized, and to stay on top of your to-do list. With the right apps, you can do much, much more. Here are a few of the top iPhone apps for parents to help you manage it all a little easier:

1.) Baby Connect:

When you have a newborn baby, your days are a blur of feedings, diaper changes, rocking, and crying (often your own). This app can help you to keep track of it all when you can’t even keep track of your own thoughts. You can track feedings, diaper changes, sleeping schedules, medicines, and even the mood of your baby. It will help you to monitor your baby’s progress, to establish schedules, and to diagnose any illnesses that might arise. You can also use the app to share the information with other caregivers. $4.99.

2.) Potty Chart:

Potty training can be a trying time. With this app, you can manage it a little easier. Use it to create a reward system for your toddler to encourage potty usage. You set a number of stars to reach a reward, and then mark off a star each time they use the potty. The app also provides tips on how to manage potty training, gives you ideas for rewards, and offers troubleshooting solutions. $2.99.

3.) Chore Bank:

For older children, you might need a little more than a reward chart to get them motivated to do chores around the house. You can use this app to keep track of who has done what and how much they have earned in allowance as a result. It creates a kind of virtual bank account for your children, and it’s an easy way for you to track who is doing what. $1.99.

4.) Bank of Mom:

Your children are likely to get money from other avenues besides their allowance. For example, they may get money for their birthday or they may have a particularly good run with the Tooth Fairy one year. You can use this app to help them manage their money and to teach them about financial responsibility. You can track expenses, deposits and withdrawals, and even add interest. You can even e-mail them receipts. It’s a great way to start teaching them about how to manage their money wisely. $1.99.

5.) How to Cook Everything:

Even if you have a partner who loves to cook, let’s face it: As a parent, you’re going to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Instead of stocking your shelves with lots of bulky cookbooks, you can use this app to quickly look up how to cook just about anything. There are 2,000 recipes so you can be sure to find something that even your kids will love each night for dinner. $4.99.

What are some of your favorite apps as a parent? Share your picks in the comments!

Author Bio:

Bridget Sandorford is a freelance blog and culinary writer, where recently she’s been researching on line cooking school. In her spare time, she enjoys biking, painting and working on her first cookbook.

Review On Bitdefender Internet Security 2013

According to AV-Test in Germany Bitdefender was declared as the Best Antivirus engine in terms of protection, repair and usability. Bitdefender also received "Best Product Of The Year 2013" award and is ranking on the top in Top Ten Reviews in terms of it's Performance, Features & Help and Support. There are to many if we have to talk about it's achievements, So let's get into the review of this World's Best Antivirus "Bitdefender Internet Security 2013".

Features:

Bitdefender Internet Security Offers a variety of security features to protect us from variety of online threats and to safeguard our privacy online. It is empowered with lot of tools for parents to monitor their child's activity online, and allowing you to block Suspicious sites, messages and email that contain flagged words or Phrases. Also You can limit time of internet access for each child. When you search for something on a search engine like Google, Bitdefender gives each url in the search results a security rank based on the no. of votes it receives.

Bitdefender Makes Online banking more secure through it Safepay(Sandboxed Web Browser) feature. This feature prevents any type of keylogger, spyware, etc.. from stealing info. on your bank or other transitions you make online. It is really a must needed tool for safe online transitions.

Bitdefender automatically check for updates periodically to protect you from the new kind of threads emerging day to day. This feature can be disabled if you plan to check it manually. But it is necessary to get the most out of it's Security.

Speed and Performance:

Like other Antivirus programs Bitdefender also slightly appears to slow the system when a scan is in progress, But fortunately it is empowered with some additional features to utilize best time to scan without slowing your system. Bitdefender Internet Security can run full system scan quickly with less utilization of Internal memory. You can even schedule scans. But Don't worry! These scans runs on background without affecting your work in progress and allowing you to do multitask at one time. Usually bitdefender Scans only if your system is idle. The Scan Dispatcher tool will make a scan only if the PC usage falls below a certain level.

Bitdefender's "AutoPilot" which is present at the top right corner of the window can be turned on/off. Autopilot is really a great option if you are busy and don't want to get interrupted in the middle of your work in applying decisions to the actions to be taken against the threats.

Help & Support:

When it comes to Help & Support Bitdefender is 24/7 and ready to help you at any time. You can search for your answers online, ask questions to the professionals, chat with them or even call them. Their Blog has interesting post on Security topics and Emerging Threats.

System Requirements:

If you ask for minimum system requirements. Then here it is,

• Operating system: Microsoft Windows XP SP3 (32 bit) , Vista (SP2), Microsoft Windows 7 (SP1), Microsoft Windows 8
• CPU: 800MHz processor
• Memory (RAM): 1 GB
• Available free hard disk space: 1.8 GB free space (at least 800 MB on the system drive)
• Additional Softwares: .NET Framework 3.5 (automatically installed by Bitdefender if necessary)

Price/Shopping:

Bitdefender is comparatively low when compared to other Antivirus softwares who have less features when compared to Bitdefender.

1PC                         -               $24.97 (1 Year)  $44.98(2 Year)   $64.98(3 Year)

Upto 3PC's             -               $34.97(1 Year)   $54.97(2 Year)   $79.97(3 Year)

Upto 5PC's             -               $54.97(1 Year)   $89.98(2 Year)   $124.97(3 Year)

Upto 10PC's           -               $89.98(1 Year)   $159.97(2 Year) $214.97(3 Year)

You can visit Bitdefender Antivirus to download a trial version/buy this product, or check out other antivirus solutions.

Secure Password Generator

Password Generator generates the most secure passwords randomly for your personal or anyother use. The password generated are 100% secure one and cannot be easily cracked by anytype of hackers!

Recommended: Do Password Strength Meters Actually Work?

Checkout someother online tools here: Useful Tools

QR Code Generator

Using Below Tool you can generate QR Codes for your Texts, Email Address, Website/Blog Url, etc...

To make this more funny you can even create codes of secret messages and transfer them to your friends.

How to Read This QR Codes?

There are many Apps available to scan these QR Codes. Here i have some best collections for you.

For Android Devices:

1.) QR Droid.
2.) Barcode Scanner.
3.) RedLaser Barcode & QR Scanner.
4.) Scan.
5.) ScanLife Barcode & QR Reader.

For iPhone:

1.) QR Reader for iPhone.
2.) QR Scanner.
3.) TapReader.
4.) i-nigma 4.
5.) QR App.

For Java Devices:

1.) KAYWA Reader.
2.) i-nigma Reader.
3.) Lynkee Reader.
4.) UpCode.
5.) SnapMaze.

5 Strategies To Fight Anonymous DDoS Attacks

Img.Credit:chanpipat

There are lots of ways to protect your site against spammers and other folks who generally do not do nice things online. You are not safe online, and you should remember it all the time. However, if you can protect yourself against spammers, often you’re helpless when your site is under DDoS attack. By the way, do not feel guilty for not being able to protect it. Such companies as eBay or the US government sites used to be victims of hackers and they were also helpless for some time, although they had enough money and resources to hire the best engineers to deal with the attacks.

Of course, you have to bear in mind that DDoS attacks can be so big and intense that you will need much resources to stop them. If 200k computers are trying to connect to your site all at once, there is no hardware and software that can handle it. Yet, there are a few little secrets that will help you fight anonymous DDoS attacks.

1.) There are no invulnerable sites:

In fact, if you think that only government sites are hit by Anonymous group, you are mistaken. Sure, they target mostly government sites of countries they don’t like. However, recently sites of New Zealand government were hit. Can you say anything controversial about New Zealand? So, your site might well be a target for such attacks. Be prepared for the worst.

2.) DDoS attacks are better to stop at the initial stages:

As a rule, site owners do not do much at first. They just wait for the site to go down and then start complaining. What you should do is to implement the best practices in the industry to protect your site, network, any additional services, such as DNS. Don’t wait until hackers destroy your site.

3.) Identify the bottleneck of the attack:

There should be a part of your network which is most vulnerable. Hackers use it to assault your site. These weak areas may include a firewall, a server, an Internet pipeline, a security system, a load balancer or a SQL server. Any of these elements of your network can be vulnerable to attacks. So, identification of where the attack comes from will certainly help you ‘stand and fight’. Some experts recommend slowhttptest tool to stop DDoS attacks. You can also configure your server to allow only 1k requests at once.

4.) Monitor your network:

Yes, you have to see what’s happening in your network, especially if your site is a part of a large corporate network. Sometimes, you may just block your network to be access from the Internet and analyze the attack. Sure, this is not the best solution, but this will give you a few extra hours to handle the attack.

5.) Cooperate with your ISP and a hosting company:

Yes, this is the best decision to make. Call your ISP, and make sure they are aware of the problem. Reliable ISPs and hosting providers have enough resources to deal with DDoS attacks, of course, if they are not too big. It is fair to say that if your site has become a target for Anonymous you will have problems.

Author Bio:

Aleksey is an independent consultant in matters of the Internet security and data protection. He personally oversees a dozen of sites for small and mid sized companies, as well as cooperates with such services as http://www.vistnet.com.

Social Media - Great Way of Communication

Most of the people today with internet access use social media in some form or the other. It changes the way people and organizations communicate or interact with others. But despite of its popularity, most people have a very limited knowledge and understanding of the scope and utility of Social Media in its entirety. A phrase being tossed around a lot today but it can sometimes hard to answer what it is?

Social Media! it is in use today as one great way of communication, where people across the world and from various professions, races, cultures and religions meet. It allows users to share content, information, opinions, insights, experiences, and perspectives or even resources, tool widely use today that foster interaction, discussion and community via the internet.

Social media can take many forms, including images, text, video, and audio. Some include blogs, podcasts, wiki, message boards and blogs. It consists of billions of people’s buzzing minds, relating and connecting to each other by just a simple tap of few keys. Like a waterhole for a thirsty brains that never dries up. While the tools of social media are easy to use, the rules of the road are not necessarily intuitive. It’s a new communications landscape out there, with tremendous opportunity but also a lot to learn, waiting to watched or visit or read or blogged.

There are tons of social media platforms these days and it may hard for some people to catch up with the ever-changing lingo, in many ways is experimental; it’s not however, completely unproven and it actually a waste of money if you don’t know what you’re doing. It’s essential to understand that it is simultaneously a great opportunity.

Social media facilitates open communication and enhance information delivery and discovery. Everyone can find new people, communicate to their loved ones all over the world and meet their friends. It allows people from the different geographical location to share and express their views and meet in a single point, or at the same time promote products globally. Many will experience the broadness of connectedness and knowledge through social media use, technological literacy, opportunity to widen business and can give attract attention to your site, product or services.

Social media has a character of its own; there is nothing that would be taken for granted or be assumed. There is no “one hat fits all” kind of a solution. In fact, there are certain aspects of social media that apply to everyone, but they can at best be termed as guidelines or best practices. Social media are a learning process. Ultimately it all boils down to understanding, gathering relevant information and then analyzing it to tweak your activity, be it online or offline.

Img.Credit: freedigitalphotos

Author Bio:

Derar Barqawi, online marketing specialist at Almond Solutions. I am also an active member on Domadeed.

Top 5 Investment Apps

Creative Commons image source

Technology is more than a source for investments that have the potential for big payoffs in a short amount of time. Technology is providing us with tools for smarter investing in other areas of finance, allowing virtually anyone to track prominent trends, quickly make trades, and put money to work efficiently on the open market. One of the fastest growing forms of this type of technology is coming in the form of Apps for smart phones and tablets. Because more and more people are making their trades on the go, the following Apps are ideal for investors of all experience levels who do not want to necessarily be tied to a desk.

Motif Investing:

Available in both a desktop format or as an iPhone App, this free software streamlines one's portfolio and is capable of creating over 90 different themes. It handles 30 stocks per portfolio well, encouraging users to funnel their investments into more concentrated areas of the market. Each portfolio comes with a $9.95 charge, and the minimum investment amount is $250. This App is not geared towards the long-term investor, but it is perfectly designed for the day trader or those wishing to begin dabbling in the world of high finance. The acclaim for this App has come from both novice traders and MIT instructors who are experts in the field of finance.

SigFig:

Many investors have no problem establishing a portfolio with which to work. However, once their money is in place, a great deal of traders are unsure of how to optimize them for their personal goals in the market. This App takes the most important data from your portfolio and puts it on a single page that is organized in a dashboard fashion. From there, the program makes recommendations based on the relevant data. SigFig is free and works on all desktop computers, iPhones, and Android devices. The program is much better suited for long-term investors. It is capable of synching with up to 90 different brokerages in order to track 401(ks), general investments, and IRAs.

Personal Capital:

This App finds its strength in the number of tools built in to manage money and maintain investing budgets. It provides a complete listing of all your investments at the touch of a button in addition to summarizing your total investments in a way that puts the numbers in context of the market at large. The management tools have received high marks from the editor of Netbanker.com as well. Although the App and the website are free, users have access to financial advice on a regular basis for a flat fee. This program also allows users to make money transfers using bank accounts and track credit card information in real time.

Bloomberg:

Compatible with desktop computers, iPhones, Android devices, Blackberries, and Windows Phones, this App opens people's eyes to the in and outs of the high-finance world. Each investment comes with reliable and well-researched data that is updated in real time. There are few other Apps that put so much data at the fingertips of investors. The charts that users can access to guide their decisions are interactive and constantly updated. This App will even construct new charts based on the performance of investments in order to better guide the individual investor.

Morning Star:

Geared towards research and the exchange of mutual funds, Morning Star constantly updates users as to the top-performing holdings and exchange funds. This powerful software is capable of handling up to 8,100 mutual funds at any given time, giving users a huge amount of freedom when it comes to diversifying their investments on the open market.

When it comes to money, finances, and investments, it's always good to have information at your fingertips. No matter which app you choose, you'll be confident using modern technology to keep tabs on your investments no matter where you are.

Author Bio:

Financial advisor Frank Starr enjoys sharing money managing tips and investment advice with his readers. Frank also has contributed to educational material featuring online masters in finance programs for others interested in a career in finance.

The Emergence & Efficiency of LinkedIn

Using social media to promote a website, business, cause, or group is no new feature, but many organizations have struggled with finding the right recipe of properly reaching their specific market with success. Many individuals have come up with lists upon lists of tips, tricks and strategies on how to create noticeable ROI through proper use of these popular platforms. Certainly, there are ways to become a social media savant; it has been done, but there is also something to be said about the product and/or service that is being offered…maybe the real key is not the secret recipe for posting the right things at the right time to interest groups of people, but rather using the appropriate social campaigns for what you have to offer. That being said, some may be surprised at some recent trends in the virtual world.

Facebook:

Everyone uses Facebook, plain and simple. Recently breaking through the one billion-user ceiling, it is indisputable that Facebook is the leading social media giant of the world today. People use Facebook for everything from photo sharing to business promotion, to catching up with friends and relatives; it certainly is an all-encompassing platform. The drawback to Facebook is that it has a laid-back, informal aura that makes it difficult to convert views into customers unless the product/service offered is similar to that of Facebook’s personality. Furthermore, the company must successfully be interactive with their fans, meaning that these users (who have already shown invested interest in this product) have to be able to have some sort of input, compete for recognition, or be offered giveaways in order for a Facebook campaign to create significant waves.

Twitter:

The magic behind Twitter is two-fold: first, people and companies love it because it allows them free advertising along with quick ideas, facts and opinions about their favorite topics, teams, celebrities, brands and people; second, Twitter has become so popular that they don’t even have to spend a single advertising dollar to promote themselves. Everyone promotes Twitter for Twitter. There is hardly an event, commercial, or program on television not sporting its own Twitter Handle. On a micro level, in regards to convenience and usability, Twitter is genius because a quick blurb can bring you anywhere in the “Twittersphere” where the more, in depth content is located. On a macro level, a drawback to Twitter is that it can certainly be overwhelming for a user because of the sheer volume of tweets flowing into a virtual space at any given time. A not so small example of this is the Super Bowl this past February: the game average was 4,064 tweets per second, and that isn’t even the highest on record!

Linkedin

One of the younger Internet successes of the past few years is quickly and quietly taking more and more of the professional piece of social networks. Founded for the exact purpose of conducting business and creating professional relationships through online networking, LinkedIn has carved its own path in the realm of social media. Though they have much fewer users than Facebook, LinkedIn can still boast an impressive number of users: over 225 million. Mind you, LinkedIn isn’t aimed at anyone who feels like signing up; it is specifically targeted towards business professionals and students looking to enter into business. Furthermore, LinkedIn is now the top IPO over Facebook according to an article on phys.org. LinkedIn also had a higher success rate during their opening trades, but also recorded a much steadier momentum throughout their trading. LinkedIn not only supports personal profiles that act as online resumes, but also looking for new jobs as well as discussing major business issues. The table to the left from emarketer.com shows the unrivaled popularity among those in financial professions who use social media tools specifically for business. Lastly, LinkedIn provides a platform more appropriate for B2B companies whereas Facebook caters more to the B2C companies that need consumer interaction in order to generate revenue.

Choose Wisely:

In today’s world, which is run by technology, it is almost required for all businesses to have some sort of online presence. This could be a website, a strong social media following, or simply strong customer service through an email/newsletter system. What is important is that each entity chooses the path that is right for them; the mistake here would be trying to force a business into social media fame. Some types of products and services simply aren’t cut out for that method of exposure. This does not mean that just because your company or product may not be the next Facebook success story that it is impossible to hold a considerable share of the market. It only means that you must go about building your brand in a different manner, this is where LinkedIn rules over the others. The honed course of catering to business professionals and their needs is what helps people of all professions network, find jobs, seek input and even possibly find business partners and/or investors. LinkedIn is the businessperson’s version of Facebook and it doesn’t look to be leaving anytime soon.

Author Bio:

Scott Cleary is involved with managing the social media and blogging for SysIQ, a global ecommerce company. You can connect with him here on LinkedIn.

IT Rumors iPhone 6 Will Be The Low-Cost Phone

Just months ago the launch of iPhone 5 around 100 countries, Apple has declared rolled-back in other section orders, apparently in reply to lower than expected require for its novel flagship of Smartphone product.

Why is this happen? This is because Apple cuts some section orders, which is not so clear. However, it will affect to the response of some users, matters related to iPhone prices, or might affect the development of short item life cycles into iPhone or iPad – that can be estimated, so that the reduction of marketing window on each launched iOS gadget.

In addition, the supply restraint said that weighed down on iPhone 5, at times on the first quarter, for the most part on the first 2 months – when several keen followers were expecting to upgrade. The steep 100 to 200 dollars price cut on Apple’s previous gadgets, like iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S are also expected involved selling decisions. As Apple racked-up on implausible 26.9 million ‘iPhone sales’ during of its latest quarter or 58% add to prior year’s sales. And there no reports about the prices of iPhone 4S and iPhone 5, because Apple does not escaping on its individual ‘model sales’, as well as on its iPhone listings also comprise the currently very pleasingly priced with ‘99 dollars’ iPhone 4S and the ‘free’ iPhone 4.

On the other hand, iPhone 6 is very hot in the ear among all customers. There are many rumors of the next model of iPhone including on its unique designs; better sharp display, eco-friendly battery, as well as it will be sale on lower price.

In point of view, Apple always give satisfaction to their customers including wireless charging, Wi-Fi standards, better 4G LTE, eye tracking, camera, processor, screen, home button, etc.

However, with this latest rumor about iPhone 6 that will be on the cheaper price. This is very impossible, because in terms of business, lots of things to be considered, especially to the overall expenses.

For example, a simple vendor selling his items on the lower price without turn-back to his total income, well, this is unfair to the vendor right? Just for the sake of customer’s desire.

In conclusion:

If you are planning to really have iPhone 6, start now to save money to avoid disappointed and no problem regarding what is the price of that certain iPhone.

Author Bio:

Irina Webandyou is a tech/seo writer and professional blogger. She likes to cover tech and seo news through online exposures She runs her own website: Guest Posting Service.

A Password Manager Ensures Safe Browsing Anywhere

A password manager keeps people safe from hackers.

Consumers who regularly sign up for some type of online service are likely required to include a password to access their account. The process of filling out complex phrases that include punctuation marks, numbers and other symbols can be tiresome for anyone, but using complex passwords is one way to make it more difficult for hackers to obtain sensitive information.

A password manager,such as Sticky Password, is another and more effective option for consumers looking for ways to improve their password security. Such tools create complex passwords for accounts so people don't have to. These phrases are backed by advanced algorithms, making them a challenge for any hackers to break.

In addition to staying safe on a home computer, people must also practice safe browsing habits while on the move. Smartphones have become a staple for consumers and employees alike. These powerful gadgets are not just for making phone calls or sending text messages. The devices come equipped with mobile browsers, making it possible for people to access their most important accounts. Apple's iPhone remains the king of the smartphone arena, but its popularity means that cybercriminals are likely trying to take advantage of iPhone owners. Luckily, password managers keep users of iOS devices safe anywhere they travel.

Passwords are sometimes overlooked for various reasons. Although it may seem impossible that a hacker can guess a person's unique phrase, cybercriminals prove this is possible on a daily basis. Instead of trying to create a uncrackable password, consumers can use a password manager to do the heavy lifting for them and protect their most critical information from being breached. The only safeguard a person must remember is a master password and the rest is handled by the manager.

iPhone Will Feature The Long-Rumored Fingerprint Security Scanner With iWallet Release

The spinning rumors about the 2013 iPhone has become very common today, many sites also expresses their own opinion some of them says that it could “iPhone 5S” and others “iPhone 6”. In this article we’re going to make our own assumptions as well that Apple will launch the revived iPhone 5S this year and releases renovated iPhone 6 in the next year.

Certainly this iPhone 6 will be featured the much projected fingerprint scanner as a next-gen security measure, apparent as a set off to the final publicity of iWallet. But the most intriguing is that one fanatical tech analyst stated that they will release the fingerprint scanner.

Ming-Chi Kuo tech analyst from KGI Securities, who has gaining good track record by predicting Product Plans of Apple issuing a new research statement outlining his Apple’s 2013 products expectations. As what Kuo expected Apple will launch the revamped iPhone 5 together with iPhone 5S in June or July of 2013, appearing very parallel to the iPhone 5, iPhone 5S carrying a number of updates that includes the A7 system-on-a-chip to make the performance of the phone better, camera upgrading that features smart LED flash and f2.0 aperture and fingerprint sensor.

As what was reported and first published by MacRumors that iPhone 6 will also features fingerprint detection? Indeed Apple is planning to install fingerprint sensor hardware on their next iPhone, most probably it was incorporated with a home button, and in order their phones make a difference from the growing competition.

And almost certainly, the fingerprint scanner would be joined with iWallet. However, if we based on the current reports and rumors there is no clear evidence that iWallet is forthcoming. In the end, it won’t be hard for us to notice that it’s approaching. If we are going to lessen the imaginative kernel of this rumor down to the critical talking points, it almost certainly the break down should be like this – Kuo assumed that, no matter what Apple product will be releases this year in the way of iPhone, it’s going to be just a renovated version.

Talking about fingerprint scanning or iWallet, I believe these technologies are still an attribute of 2014’s iPhone6.

Author Bio:

Irina Webandyou is a tech/seo writer and professional blogger. She likes to cover tech and seo news through online exposures She runs her own website: Guest Posting Service.

How to Find a Reliable Web Hosting Partner [Infographic]

Your website or blog is as good as the webhost that powers it. A web host is as important to your blog/website as an engine is for a vehicle. It usually is the factor that dictates whether your website can offer a predominantly positive or a lousy user experience. And if we’re not careful, we might fall for those web hosting companies that are only good at doing marketing stunts, but doesn’t focus on their service’s dependability at all. I’ll admit that in the beginning, I too fell victim to those hosts that offer domains for less than $5 a month. Over time though, I have smartened up. I finally realized that the errors and the frequency of slow loading time they’re causing my site is losing far more money than I’m saving.

If you’re currently on that dilemma, where you’re just starting to see how badly you’re mistaken in your selection. Then you have to add ‘seamless transition’ as one of the benefits of the web hosting company you’re going to switch to. On this infographic, you should consider other important factors you should be looking for in a web host.

Author Bio:

Daniel A. Schultz love writing blogs, stories, poems and reading as well as collecting quotes & inspirational stuffs. He currently makes a living as an affiliate marketer where he spends most of his day telling people what is Amway review.

Best iPhone Apps For Photo Editing in 2013

Img.Credit: freedigitalphotos

The iPhone camera has gotten to the point that it is of such high quality that many people don’t even carry another camera anymore. They can simply use their iPhones to capture images of amazing quality that stack up with those created by most amateur point-and-shoot cameras. There are also loads of Great iPhone Apps for Editing Photographs. Here is a look at the top five iPhone photo editing apps available in 2013.

1.) Gelo:

This outstanding iPhone photo editing app offers a feature that is found in very few other photo editing apps. Gelo allows users to inject some color into their photos with a high degree of sophistication. Unlike the garish colors that most other apps provide, Gelo uses very subtle gradients of color that allow users to create beautifully distinctive photographs.

2.) FxCamera:

This is one of the most wildly popular iPhone editing apps on the market, and you will soon see why if you give it a try. FxCamera offers its users a wide range of cutting-edge photo effects that turn even everyday photo takers into extraordinary artists. This app also makes it incredibly easy for users to share their innovative photos on social networks like Facebook and Twitter.

3.) Retromatic:

For those who like the vintage looks of photographs from the 1950s and 1960s, this is the photo app for them. Retromatic makes it incredibly easy for users to instantly transform all the photos on their iPhone into retro-looking photographs that give off an essence of cool. The best part about this app is how easy it is to use, but some more advanced users may feel that it is a bit too simplistic.

4.) Photoshop Touch:

For experienced photographers, Photoshop is one of the very best photo editing programs ever created. Now, those loyal Photoshop fans can now bring their love of the program to the iPhone. Photoshop Touch brings in a simplified version of the program to the iPhone. This is probably the most powerful photo editing app for the iPhone on the market today. It even brings in the layering system that makes Photoshop so powerful.

5.) Camera360:

There is one feature on the Camera360 app that is especially helpful. Whenever you use the app to edit a photo, you can touch the screen to instantly bring up a side-by-side comparison of the photo before and after the effect was applied. This is a very handy tool that greatly simplifies the experience of editing a photo. That is just one of the many functions that are provided with this free app that doesn’t bombard users with ads.

Lots of Great Apps:

These are the five best iPhone Photo Editing Apps on the market today, but there are hundreds more that users can discover. There are always new ones being released as well. Anyone who likes to take photographs on their iPhone will surely find a killer app that will allow them to create photographs that are as beautiful as anything that professional photographers can create.

Author Bio:

The article was written by Andy G from driver download website http://www.helpjet.net/.

Truth Behind Unlimited Hosting [Infographic]

Before we seek the truths behind unlimited web hosting, we first need to get something out of the way. We need to point out an obvious fact that there really isn’t anything on this earth that deserves the tag “unlimited” other than the insatiable desire of humankind to consume more. The gist of every argument that we would bump into while on the topic of unlimited web hosting is that everything – including information, consumes resources. For all the promises these hosting companies make, their data centers are being powered by engineers, innovators and not to mention are power hogs.

Armed with these arguments, it’s why we’ve set out to discover the obscure facts that web hosting companies often likes to keep to themselves. We’ve done the hard work so you don’t have to. We’ve scoured those puny imprints; those fonts not ordinarily used unless you’re severely lacking space or you do not want people to catch it at first glance. On this infographic, the visualization of our efforts can be seen.

Author Bio:

Albert E. Lewis is an online entrepreneur. He also believes firmly in giving back to the community and the world at large. Hence, he feels it is his duty to tell everyone within his circle about the Lyoness cashback program and the opportunities that lies with it.