Computer Technology Guide

Why Laptop Computers Are Steadily Replacing Desktop Systems

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 17:31:00 -0700

By Adriene Blais

Photo: techyuva.com

The need for students, home users and business professionals to work remotely is growing therefore laptops are becoming increasingly common to fill this need. Laptops are useful computing and entertainment machines because they are powerful and portable. Many homes and offices are equipped with wireless and networking capabilities enabling a laptop computer to be used in the facility for gaming, entertainment, work, and watching television. The growing computer and technology industry has been able to make smaller and more powerful laptops therefore the difference in performance between desktop computers and laptops is steadily becoming narrower. The need for people in society to work remotely, on location and to use their computing device in different places creates a need for the mobility that laptop computers provide. They are a good tech solution for people who travel and need to bring their computers with them to perform work.
Laptops are smaller in size and much lighter than desktop systems. Their frames and internal components are much smaller than their desktop counterparts. Many of them are equipped with LCD screens that come in a range of sizes to provide consumers with options. Some consumers may prefer a laptop with a 14 inch screen and others may prefer a full sized 17 inch screen for a wider display area. Thickness is another factor that differentiates laptop computers and desktop systems. Today laptops can come in very thin sizes. Apple MacBook laptops tend to be some of the thinnest that are available in the market. Many people value laptops because of their compact size, their significantly lighter weight, and their portability as compared to desktop computers. Laptop computers tend to range between five and seven pounds although some models can weight much less.

Users may need to sacrifice durability but the hardware and capabilities of laptop computers is advancing and becoming more powerful. There was a time in history when the performance of a desktop computer was unparalleled but that gap has significantly narrowed over the years. Laptop computers come with hard drives and storage capacities that can be in the terabytes and powerful processors including quad cores. There are also high end gaming laptops available in the market such as the Alienware M14x R2 AM14XR2-6111BK 14.0-Inch system or the MSI Computer Corp GT70 17.3 inch system. In the computer industry laptops have become more than simple word processing and computing devices. Laptops have become powerful multimedia, entertainment, and gaming systems.

The biggest benefits for students, home users and business professionals that use laptop computers are mobility and networking. It is becoming increasingly important for people to have their personal computer or computing device with them in locations other than the classroom, home or office. Desktop computers are too heavy and large to carry around to different locations and generally anchor their users to a single work location. There have been advancements in cloud computing, networking and remote data access but a computing device is still required to perform the work.

Laptops fill the growing need for students, home users and business professionals to work and use their computers remotely. Desktop computers are not portable and mobile whereas laptops can be easily carried to different locations. Laptop computers will continue to become equipped with better hardware and capabilities as technology advances to close any existing gap in performance with desktop computers.

Writing about technology and computers is a passion of mine because gadgets and devices assist people in their daily lives. I write to share my knowledge in technology with others because I believe we all grow together. I particularly enjoy writing reviews for technology products including computers and laptops because they are a common tech gadget in homes and businesses that people use daily to work and connect with others.

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Laptops Versus Tablets - Which Is Best For Business

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 17:42:00 -0700

By Penny Mayhew

Photo: digitaltrends.com

Is your organisation thinking of implementing tablets and/or SmartPhones as part of your mobile strategy? Have you recently rolled-out a tablet or, specifically, the Apple iPad to your employees? Well, it appears that you are definitely not alone. A recent survey by Context reports that 63% of tablets sold in the UK are being bought for business use. And, if we follow the path of the US, 75% of businesses will have deployed tablets during 2013.

I've worked with many organisations over the last two years, assisting in adapting and modifying business processes in line with the use of tablets. The iPad is by far the most prolific player in the business tablet game and is used across small organisations through to Global 500 Enterprises, including family run farms and wineries to schools, medical centres and busy A&E departments. Recently, United Airlines reported the introduction of the iPad as standard equipment on their flight decks. As one of the world's leading airlines with the most comprehensive global route network, pilots are provided with one-touch access to charts, maps and other crucial navigation tools.

But, a common debate is whether tablets will replace laptops within business. Well, it's unlikely as a tablet is a tablet, and a laptop is a laptop - they both do different things and one does not claim to be the same as the other. But, with most tablets no longer just a media device, but able to create and share information, remotely connect to organisational networks and allow communication across the world through virtual meetings, it's no wonder that they're becoming an important addition for innovative companies worldwide.
Clients I've worked with have shared the following reasons for why they've chosen to implement these devices:

It's not much fun carrying around a heavy laptop and power cable on the train, to meetings or through airports. Tablets are generally thin and lightweight, easily slipped into a bag or held in the hand.
What better way to deliver a sales pitch, whether to a large audience (by connecting to a monitor) or by passing the tablet around a small group?
With several hours of power, there's no need to go looking for a spare electric socket during meetings, and trailing cables across the floor. You can just switch it on and it's ready to use in seconds, wherever you are.
When you sit in a meeting and pull a slick looking tablet out of your briefcase, no one seems to mind whereas a laptop can appear intrusive and unwelcome.
A range of business apps (some of which are built in and ready to use) are easily distributed to employees. And, with the option of a connecting a hardware keyboard, typing and entering data is no different to doing so on a laptop.
The front facing camera* is great for virtual meetings, particularly as the tablet can be passed around a meeting room or handed to a client. (*not applicable to all tablets)

So, tablets are definitely set to stay, both for personal and business use - the total annual shipments of tablets worldwide are set to exceed 120 million in 2015 (ABI Research). The impact of this on the business world is that over a third of all companies are planning to stop providing mobile devices to workers by 2016, instead requiring their workers to bring in their own devices (known as BYOD - bring your own device). I haven't come across many organisations that ask their employees to bring in their own personal laptops! Have you?

TrainingU offer customised ipad training, total flexibility and will fit in with your requirements - delivering training at a time and place that suits you. We can train in-house at your offices, another location or your staff can simply attend one of our regular open scheduled courses. All of our training can be tailored to meet the exact requirements of your business.

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Selecting an iPad App Development Company

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 3 Jun 2013 17:52:00 -0700

By Mason H Levi

Photo: businesswatch.21cbh.com

Making a selection of an iPad application development company is crucial. It can have a big impact on the outcome of the app. To make sure that you have a positive outcome of the iPad app, here are few things that might help you make a selection of an iPad application development company.

First, find out about their experience with apps development for iPad. The Apple's iOS operating system is difficult to work with, and the odd screen size of the iPad can make apps development difficult. This is the reason why, the first thing you need to do is find out a company that has considerable experience developing apps for iPad.

The next thing to do is check whether they are capable to develop apps that match your business segment. For instance, it would be illogical for a financial institution to get their app created by a company that is specialized in developing games. That's why, approach a company that specializes developing apps specific to your business type. The portfolio of the company could be helpful to determine whether they specialize, creating app related to your business or not.

It would also be helpful to find out how user-friendly apps they are able to develop are. It is, obviously, crucial for an app to be easy to use, even for the first time users. This is rather what Apple's devices are all about; ease of use. Browse through the company's portfolio and look for the signs, whether their iPad apps are easy to use or not. A great app is something that is easy to use, functional, and versatile along with beautiful graphics that are attractive and easy to view.

Find a company that believes in newness. Again, portfolio could help you in this regard. Check the apps and look for the newness such as the themes, colors, logos, functions, concept, and so on. It would be a worthwhile asking a company for a demo app, and see what innovative solution they come up with.
Timely delivery is also another aspect to consider while choosing an iPad app development company. When you ask for the price quote, be sure to get an estimated time frame, which will help you know how quickly the company can deliver your app. Refer their clients' testimonials and see what they have to say about the company's timely delivery.

In order to have a great iPad app, it is crucial to hire the services of the right iPad app developers for the task. Considering the above things could certainly help you make a selection of the right developers for your custom iPad app.

iPad app development company based in Australia provides mobile application development services for iPhone, iPad, Android & blackberry. For more information visit to us: http://www.iphoneappdevelopment.net.au/

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Can Seniors Find the iPad Useful?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 24 May 2013 18:41:00 -0700

By Irene Rosini

Photo: assistedliving.com

My dad was given an iPad by my sister when he visited her in Chicago last month. Since then he has not touched his desktop or his new laptop at home. He totes the iPad wherever he goes and has been using it at work. When you ask him why he prefers the iPad he would tell you it's the greatest gadget he has ever had. Below are some reasons why my father loves his iPad:

It's a good device for reading the newspaper
It's a good device to play his favorite games
It's a good device to surf the internet
It's a good device because it is very portable

My father's day is never complete without reading the newspaper and listening to his favorite news programs on TV. Now that he has an iPad, not only does he read the local dailies, but he has also subscribed to national newspapers like the New York Times. He loves his Reuters app that allows him to read news from all over the world.

If you are like my Dad who reads the news all the time, you can subscribe to your favorite newspapers and read what's in the news on your iPad. Getting newspapers from the App Store is easy for anyone, my dad was able to do it! All it takes is to go to the App Store by clicking the App Store icon on your Home screen. There are two things you can do once you are inside the App Store:

1) You can type the name of the newspaper you are looking for in the search field and it will be pulled up automatically.
2) You can tap on the "All Categories" button on top of the screen and choose "News" in the drop down menu where you will be taken to a page that has two columns. The first column features icons of paid news apps and the second column features the icons of free news apps. The paid apps include such newspapers as the New York Daily News that costs $1.99 to download as well as news programs like the popular show on CBS, "60 Minutes" that costs $4.99 to download. On the other hand, the free apps include an app for CNN, the NY Times, and The Wall Street Journal.

Be mindful that aside from the fee you pay in downloading the app on your iPad, access to the content of the newspaper you choose is not free of charge. You still need to pay the subscription fee for the newspapers that you want delivered on your iPad. For instance, even if you already paid $1.99 for the "New York Daily News" app, you still need to pay $13.99 for a 6-month auto renewing subscription or $23.99 for an annual auto renewing subscription. For the "NY Times," you only have limited access to its content unless you get a digital subscription which could cost around $5.00 to $8.75 a week depending on the access option you want. Most of the news programs that you can download on your iPad however, such as CBS' "60 Minutes" and CNN can be accessed for free once you download the app from the App Store.

I also noticed that dad has some games on his iPad when I borrowed it the other week and I know he downloaded them himself because he used to always ask me to do it for him. I think my Dad especially loves his iPad now because he does not have to bring crossword puzzles cut out from newspapers and magazines and a pencil while waiting for my Mom to finish shopping at the mall or while waiting at the doctor's office. If he gets tired doing the crossword, he can easily switch to being a contestant in "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" his favorite game show on TV. He even volunteers to babysit my daughters now because he can entertain them with kiddie games such as "Cars: Numbers and Counting," "Make Up Salon," and "Toddler's Seek and Find."

If you are also into crossword puzzles like my Dad, you can download crossword puzzle apps like the "NYTimes Crosswords" for free on your iPad. All you need to do is go to the App Store. Once in the App Store, type the word "crossword" on the search field and you will be taken to a page with crossword app suggestions. Tap the icon of the crossword you want to download and then tap the "Free" for free apps or the button that displays the price of the app for paid apps. When the button turns green, tap the button again and wait for the app to load completely. You can also look for games from the "All Categories" button and the dropdown menu that comes out when you tap on it.

Just like when you uploaded the news apps, some games can be played for free while others can only be played after you pay a certain amount. For instance, the "NYTimes Crosswords" gives you a week of free crosswords only. After the one-week, free trial period you can only play with their classic crossword puzzles. If you are a crossword puzzle pro like my Dad, you might not be content with the classic puzzle. If you want to play the puzzle printed on today's paper, then you will have to subscribe to get access. The fees are: $16.99 for a yearly subscription, $9.99 for a six-month subscription or $2.99 for a monthly subscription. Of course these fees may change at any time.

So, can seniors find the iPad useful? Oh yes, it definitely is for seniors and my Dad is a living testament that iPads can be used by people of all ages.

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How to start your car from your phone?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 14 May 2013 19:56:00 -0700

By Nashe Rockwell

Photo: blogcdn.com

Introduction:

In this article I will show you how to start your car from your cell phone. I already had a car starter installed in my truck years ago but the range was terrible and you had to press the button for a precise amount of time, otherwise it would just ignore it. So instead of pressing a button all day long from 10 feet away I decided I wanted to start my truck from anywhere in the world! I built this a few years ago, and some newer products have come out that integrate cell phones with vehicles, but this still works for older vehicles, and can also be adapted to many other kinds of appliances as well.

This isn't just limited to vehicles. Many DIY types have attached these to their cabin's furnace, aircraft pre-heaters, irrigation pumps on farms, servers, routers, and all sorts of other appliances and electronics.

Parts required:

Parts:

-GSM activated relay. This device will contain a SIM chip that can connect to the GSM cell phone network. It's relays must be able to be activated by phone call or text message. In my first build I used a GSM-AUTO, but found a cheaper alternative on eBay for the Quad Band version (North America) or the Dual Band (Europe, Asia, etc.). it costs around $150 which has 7 relays. Another alternative is to purchase from the online store called Relay Supply. One relay is controlled by phone call and the rest are activated by text message. The relays can be set as either momentary or latched.

-Car Starter Key Fob (the remote control thing on your keychain).

-12V DC cigarette power cord

-Small plastic bag or ESD bag.

-A few wires.

Tools:

-A few screw drivers
-Soldering Iron

Step 1:

Begin with canabalizing the key fob. Instead of consuming one of my existing remotes, I turned to eBay. I found the model number of mine on the back. Its an Auto Start 05-A433. I entered this in on eBay and up popped a bunch of used key fobs that are compatible with my system. WARNING: Some of these remotes may look exactly like the one you want but they come in many revisions. Some revisions are not compatible with others. If you are not sure which to buy on eBay, try buying one new online.

You will have to sync your remote with your car starter. As all car starters and car starter installations are different, I won't go into detail on how to do this. Whoever installed your car starter can usually do it for a fee but I strongly recommend you Google for the models manual as its a rather simple process. It usually involves either depressing the hood pin in a particular fashion (a pin that detects if your hood is popped), or pressing a button on the side of the remote starters brain under your dash.

Now remove any screws from the case and pry it apart. The circuit inside and battery are not secured in any way and came out easily.

Step 2:

Find the button that corresponds to the "start" button on your remote. Some remotes can require a combination of buttons to be pressed in a certain order, or multiple buttons pressed at the same time. This can be accomplished by soldering up two connections that are both wired through the relay (for multiple button presses) or a capacitor can be added to time delay one of buttons.

The contact in the center of this picture is already powered. When a user pushes the button, the connection is made between the interlocking contacts (they look like interlocking letter E's) and the starter signal is sent. We will be soldering one wire to each corner of the contact. This takes a great deal of precision to ensure that you do not join the two contacts.

Step 3:

Next, solder a wire onto each connector that supplies power to the remote. Color coding the wires is a good idea. This remote takes a small but powerful 12V battery. Note that if your remote can not handle this high of voltage (some cigarette lighters can pump out around 15V so be sure that the remote can handle this), you will have to continue using the existing battery.

Step 4:

The GSM Relay has 7 relays. The first is controlled by phone call. When called, the relay will open for a set amount of time that can be programmed into the device by text message. Mine is set for 1200 milliseconds.

I would recommend wiring the power cables into the device first. Take the 12V DC cigarette power cord and strip the ends of the cables and slide the cable through one of the ports on the side of the device. These ports can be tightened to ensure the device is weather proof. I fed the wire through the port closest to the power connector, but if your wires are higher gauge this can be difficult. Consider running the wire through the far port. The remote key fob will remain inside the device and its wires will not be run through on of the ports.

GND (ground) is clearly marked as the top most connector. Wrap the negative (black) wire from your remote key fob around the negative cigarette power connector wire and feed it into the GND connector. Screw it down tightly to ensure a solid connection.

Wrap the positive (red) wire from your remote key fob around the positive cigarette power connector wire and insert it into the +12V connector on the GSM device. Screw it down tightly and test both wires for looseness.

Step 5:

Next, run the wires from our "start" button into the relay controlled by phone calls. Each relay is simply a pair, with the first relay being controlled by phone call, and the rest being controlled by text message. Push the wires into each connector and screw them down tightly. Remember, the remote will reside within the GSM devices case, so do not run the wire through one of the case ports.

Once this is done, consider sliding a small plastic bag or ESD bag over the remote key fob to prevent any shorts.

Step 6:

Slide back the metal bracket covering the SIM chip holder to allow it to pop up. Insert the SIM chip as shown and press it down again, securing the metal bracket to hold it down.

The GSM device has 3 LED's on it:

-One for network connectivity. This LED won't turn on for the first 10 seconds, and then will blink quite fast when the device initializes. The rapid blinking means its searching for a network to connect to. Once it establishes a connection (this will only occur if the SIM chip is a valid one and the device is in GSM range), the light will blink much slower, indicating that the connection has been made.

-One for indicating power status (blinks regularly to indicate it is powered).

-One for indicating TX or RX. Whenever the device receives or sends a text message/phone call, this light will flash.

Connect the device to your vehicles cigarette lighter! The power LED should be flashing, as should the network LED. Once the device achieves network connectivity, the flashing of the network LED should slow down.

Step 7:

Programming the device is simple. I have attached a PDF to this Instructable containing the instructions. To quickly add a phone number to the list of valid phone numbers that can call the device (also called a white list), send the following text message to the device:

#PWD123456#WHL01=0001112222

PWD is the password (which can be changed), and WHL01 is the first position in the white list. If you wanted to add a second number you would use WHL02, etc. and so forth.

The phone number to be entered should contain the area code and regular phone number with no dashes. Occasionally the international country code must be prepended to the start of the number, but try without this first.

Call the device and the first relay should loudly clack open and closed for 300 milliseconds (default length of time). The device will never pick up the phone call; rather it merely checks whether that phone number is in its white list, and then either ignores it or acknowledges it. It usually activates itself on the second ring and causes you to hear two rings to occur quickly one after another when it activates.

To update the length of time to one second, use this command:

#PWD123456#GOT1000

Figure out how long you normally have to press the start button for to start your vehicle and then program the relay to open for the proper amount of time.

Step 8:

Time to test our device out. Call the device and watch as the TX/RX LED activates. The relay should loudly flip open, and if you have a small LED on your key fob like mine, you should see this glowing as the "start" button is pressed by our relay. If the timing is correct and the key fob is pressed, your vehicle should start!

The parts I used can be obtained from Rellay Supply. The direct link for the 7 switch device: GSM Remote Control Relay.

If you have any other ideas for projects let me know. I'd love to collaborate or try out new projects!

I found some really useful devices at Relay Supply but there are lots of other sites out there, and eBay has many items like this as well. Google is your friend! Find what works best for you.

Another type of device that can be useful are devices that don't use bare contacts, but instead have mains plugs can also be found on Relay Supply. All units are Quad Band, and are either GSM based, or Wifi based, with multiple options for AC or DC power inputs.

Relay Supply

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Customize User Interface of Android Device

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 3 May 2013 17:47:00 -0700

By Matt Rodricks

Photo: phandroid.com

Right out of the box, the newer versions of Android have fancy ways to jazz up the background of your home desktop, with the launch of live wallpapers for example, which allow screen interactions and a much more visual way of improving the appearance of your home screen - at a slight cost of battery life.

The Play Store is your main source for downloading third-party software, which can be used to customize the phone. However, there are normally plenty of ways, you can improve the look of your phone without even needing these apps.

Adding items on your home screen is the first step and can be easily done by selecting an icon and pushing down on it. Now you can either reposition the later or dump it in the trash bin (it does not remove the program, just the home screen icon). Finally, pushing and holding down on an empty screen lets you add shortcuts, folders or widgets. The last of these can improve the functionality of your phone immensely, such as displaying weather widgets, status updates or calendar entries.
Heading into the Settings menu provides a few more options you can change. For example, you can adjust your ringtones, vibration feedback (if present), how long your phone's backlight stays on before dimming and locking the screen. Or you can enable alternative keyboards, so if you don't get on with the default Android version, you can download a couple of freebies from the Play store (eg. iPhone keyboard) and enable these instead. Some custom keyboards can even have different skins.
In terms of a performance boost, we recommend Spare Parts (search for it on Play store). Despite reportedly being a root-only app, it seems to work fine on non-hacked phones and it's really handy for adding additional features, such as auto-rotation transition effects, haptic feedback or viewing detailed battery status reports.

Don't Like it? Change it.

Another way to customize your phone is to replace your default software. For example, you could get hold of Documents To Go for editing Microsoft Office documents or download Dolphin Browser, which is a great replacement to the default browser. For a start, the browser feels faster in operation and has gesture control as well, so you can draw on the screen to perform certain actions, such as adding bookmarks.

Of course, you may be sick of your default home theme or the way the icons/widgets look. Here you can head to the Google Play store and download a variety of third-party apps to customize your Android further.

Read more useful android tips on Everything Android which focuses on apps, tutorials and useful stuff for your Android device.
Checkout Everything Android today at etandroid.com.

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Explosion of Mobile Traffic In 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 20:15:00 -0700

By Sidney M Lefrancois

Photo: privacystar.com

According to latest data published by Cisco, mobile traffic has grown by an unprecedented 70% in the year 2012. This is, however, in lieu with what had been anticipated. Considering the phenomenal growth in sales of mobile devices, especially Android and Apple smartphones along with tablets, the northward surge of mobile searches is set to increase even further on a yearly basis for at least the next five years.

2012 saw an interesting trend emerging in mobile traffic. Mobile video streaming apps accounted for the largest growth in traffic. The entire spectrum of mobile traffic is now dominated by video which accounts for a majority of mobile traffic, information accounts for 12%, social networks have a solid 7% and general web browsing has a 6% share. Music streaming and other audio related traffic accounts for 4%. It is not really a surprise that video streaming apps and video sharing platforms account for the largest share of the pie because they have been the most intriguing aspect of mobile internet over the past three years but the rate of growth is worth noting.

Among the video streaming apps that have witnessed a huge rise in their popularity are not the already dominant video sharing sites but apps like Netflix and others that offer mobile friendly interfaces and a lot of free content to complement the premium content that can be subscribed to.
The growth in mobile traffic can be attributed to many factors. The first of those contributing elements is the larger market share of Android smartphones and Apple iPhones along with more tablets being out there from various companies. The mobile traffic amongst smartphone users has increased by a gigantic 80% in 2012. The second factor that has contributed to this sensational growth in mobile traffic is faster and better internet speeds. Internet connections for mobile devices have never been better and with faster speeds, users are now engaging in browsing web content, searching for anything and watching videos, images and social networking only from mobile devices. The third factor is the quality of web experience. With better displays and faster processing power of smartphones and tablets, it is inevitable that mobile traffic would surpass all other kinds of traffic in the near future.

2013 will witness a similar surge in the number of mobile devices being sold and as people also start to use Wi-Fi, land-based internet networks along with mobile internet offered by service providers, the growth trend would continue to rise further to unprecedented heights.

Want more information on the benefits of mobile apps and mobile websites? If you're ready to add a mobile-based strategy to your business goals, contact us today to get started.
For more information, please call us at: 1-800-939-3998 or visit our website at: http://www.niceapp.ca

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The Two Major Android Game Development Issues

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 18:27:00 -0700

By Denis Richard

Photo: gsdc.gamesalad.com.s3.amazonaws.com

Android's huge market share may make you believe that developers for this technology are absolutely in love with it. But the truth is something else, at least for those developers who deal with graphics in their developments. They are not happy when it comes to graphics support provided by Google's world-famous mobile OS. It is not a great platform that allows developers to easily use graphics in their apps, particularly in games.

This was also an exclusive issue in the recently held Game Developers Conference (March 25-29, 2013). In this conference, many developers revealed that Android is simply loathsome for game projects, but they will continue to create apps for it anyway. Their point is that due to dominance of this OS, they have no choice but to struggle.

The reason why Android still bothers developers for graphics is that Google has not paid enough attention to solve out the major issues in its platform. However, it does have a dedicated web page (developer.android.com/design/get-started/creative-vision.html) up on its official website for developers. This page says that developers should build their projects around three goals, which are Enchant Me, Simplify Me, and Make me amazing. The page also explains these goals in details.
Apple's iOS faced similar problem in its early years; however, improved development tools have now completely solved it out. Apple also keeps improving its mobile platform to fit various sorts of games. It is attracting more and more PC game developers who have now begun to develop games for iOS powered devices due to its advanced support to graphics and others functionalities.
Apart from graphics, game developers also have hardware related issues with Android. There are many hardware specific games that demand particular hardware environment to work. Tegra and Snapdragon are some most commonly used chips in this situation. These chips are generally used to integrate ARM architecture central processing unit, graphics processing unit, memory controller, Northbridge and Southbridge onto one package.

Together they decrease power consumption and delivers high performance. But, the major problem is that not all Android devices are built with these chips. It disappoints developers that games based on high-end technologies would not support all devices, whereas they need not to worry for the same if they build for iPhone.

Developers suggest that Google should take some steps to solve graphics and hardware related issues. They hope that with growing older, Android would also improve for these drawbacks. They want more support from Google because they also admit that they will hardly be able to survive in mobile gaming market if they do not build for Android.

Denis Richard - Working as professional technical content writer -For more information kindly visit here- android application development and android developers For any queries call +1 516 515 9506 or email us at info@rapidsofttechnologies.com

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5 Simple Tips To Get Rid Of Confusion Between Buying the iPhone or Android Phone

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 23:13:00 -0700

By Denis Richard

Photo: minilistings.com

It is safe to say that Android and iPhone are two kings in the castle. Both have strong market shares. According to the findings of Wireless Smartphone Strategies (WSS), Android and iOS had captured a record 92 percent share of global smartphone shipments in Q4 2012. This statistics makes one thing very clear that most people are buying either Android powered smart phones or iOS powered iPhone.
But people are confused between buying Android and iPhone. It is difficult for them to make up their minds for one and leave other. It is not a simple task. Both phones offer plenty of great features. But if you look closely, there are always some key differences. This article is a manual for those users who are confused between buying Android and iPhone. Here are the 5 simple differences that help you choose whether an Android or iPhone is better for you:

The hardware comparison
The hardware is the first and foremost thing in any device. After all, every OS performs better because of better hardware. Every iPhone is made by Apple. It gives the company a tight control over the quality and avoids the chances of any type of fragmentation. On the other hand, Google's Android is an open source OS and can be used by any mobile device manufacturer. Samsung, LG, HTC and Motorola are the major manufacturers of Android powered smartphones. Android phones vary in size, weight, display, features, user experience and quality.
Many users complain that Android devices of particular makers overheat. Some models simply run Android OS on low quality hardware that affects performance and productivity. These phones can hardly support all Android apps. Only high-end Android devices support all types of applications.
When you buy Apple's iPhone, the company offers limited choices such as 5, 4S and 4. Apple devices do not let you experience inconsistency of quality, but that doesn't mean there is no hardware issue in iPhone. iPhones too have hardware issues, particularly the iPhone 4 antenna problems.

OS update comparison
You have no choice but to buy iPhone if you want a smartphone with updated OS. Apple is the only company that manufactures iPhone and uses iOS mobile operating system. It has full control over the OS update that adds latest and greatest features to iPhone. As soon as Apple sends an OS update, users around the world are able to download it on their iPhones. On the other hand, Android phone makers are very slow about updating the OS version and sometimes do not provide update at all. Some users also complain that their smart phones with older Android OS do not support all types of apps. If you still want to buy an Android smart phone, make sure you buy the branded one.

Application comparison
Both platforms now have equal amount of apps (about 775,000 for iPhone and about 700,000 for Android). But big numbers do not make a sense. What makes sense is the quality of apps. Apple is famous for maintaining high quality standards for iPhone apps and want iPhone developers to built apps adhering to these standards. Only the best and safe apps are approved and made available to users, while Google's standards for Android application development are fairly more lax. There is no restriction whether developers make high-quality apps or low quality apps. All are published and made available to user.

Gaming app comparison
Mobile games are now dominating all forms of video gaming. Most credit goes to iPhone. This smartphone accelerated the trend of mobile game development. It has tens of thousands of great games. Leading mobile game platforms like Nintendo and Sony appear to be eclipsed because of iPhone. Android too is quite popular for game. More and more leading game developers have now begun to launch the iOS and Android versions of their world-famous PC and video games. Both devices offer great graphics and hardware supports. Most game developers build a game first for iPhone and then Android. So, you may have to wait for your favorite game if you buy an Android smart phone.

Battery life comparison
The battery life of Android phones varies from device to device. Android devices with 4-inch or larger screen drains more battery. However, some Android devices can work 8 hours straight without needing a charge. As far as iPhone is concerned, the new iPhone can go days without needing a charge. Still, the battery life mostly depends on how you use your smartphone.
Other things that can shape your decision include the size of screen, carrier, storage and cost. But they are not as important as the pointers mentioned above.

Denis Richard - Working as professional technical content writer -For more information kindly visit here- iPhone application development and iPhone developers For any queries call +1 516 515 9871 or email us at info@rapidsofttechnologies.com

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HTC Arrive: A Review

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 20:53:00 -0700

By Lucky Akpodiete

Photo: mobilecreek.com

Super fast 3G connectivity speeds are what you get on Sprints' network and the HTC Arrive comes loaded with lots of this quality. This device is actually the first from Sprint that is based on the Windows 7 operating system providing access to lots of User Friendly qualities like Microsoft Office etc that are a characteristic of windows based devices.

The HTC Arrive is endowed with a 1GHz dual core Qualcomm Snapdragon Processor, providing great speeds that enable you perform you multitasking with ease and without lags or delays. Its' also got 16GB of internal memory with no expansion slots but granting access to Windows Live SkyDrive for cloud based storage of up to 25GB, hence at your disposal is enough room for downloads of all your games, movies and multiple Windows compatible applications.

The device is a 3G enable smartphone with a 3.6 inch, 480 by 800 pixels, LCD touchscreen display. Its' also got pinch to zoom capabilities.
The batteries that come with the device is a 1500 Milli Amp Lith-ion battery that provides as much as 6 hours of talk time.

One unique quality of the device is its slide-out QWERTY keyboard, hence there are no more limitations to using the on-screen keyboard as is common with most other smartphones, the keyboard is also back-lit resolving concerns about using them in poorly lit environments.

On the surface, the device has its 3.6inch touchscreen display as was earlier mentioned, with capacitive buttons on the lower end for 'search','home' and 'back', on the top of the device is a 3.5mm headphone jack and the power buttons. On the left is situated the volume controls and micro USB port for charging and connecting the device to other gadgets and wider screen displays. On The right is the dedicated camera button which can also be used to wake up the phone when it is off by pressing and holding for a while and activates its camera function at the same time. Below the device is the microphone hoe and on the back is a 5 mega pixels camera with an LED flash.

The HTC Arrive works great with third-party applications such as netflix and offers portrait to landscape transitions when browsing even though such transitions don't occur with use of the home-screen when the keyboard is slid out.

All of these and a lot mor,e are the qualities that come with the HTC Arrive. If you love phones that are based on the Windows Operating System then this device is one you should take a better look at.

A more comprehensive review of The HTC Arrive including videos is available at http://www.phonepiper.com
The #1 source for Mobile Phones, MP3 Players and Accessories

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A Cheap Desktop Computer is really easy to Attain now

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 20:18:00 -0700

Author: Eflex Computers

Photo: i.dell.com

Computer has achieved essential part in our lives and live has changed due to the computer. Now the computer is fulfilling many responsibilities very conveniently. Therefore, we cannot survive without computer. If any person wants to move in the society without difficulty, he has to keep at least one computer at home and office as well. Unluckily, many people cannot afford it so far. They cannot bear the prices of a good condition computer. However, they can find very cheap desktop computers.
One decade before, it had too much expensive. Only affluent people could get it and manage it. Now, promisingly, computer is achievable for every one. The advancement of technology is the basic reason. Thus, computer's prices significantly are going down. Since, computer-processing power is tending every two or three years. With it, economical balance is demanding a delicate stability. Consequently, more order - extra supply is the main reason of lower prices. For this reason, computer prices are decreasing day by day. Accordingly, every person can get cheap desktop computers very easily.
We can get a computer very reasonable price from repair stores. These second hand computers have very good strength. We can make it more useful after the some changes. When we buy a second hand computer, we should be careful. First, we should check it very cautiously then we buy it. Although, the new cheap desktop computers are available in the markets, getting the good quality cheap desktop computer is a difficult task. We should aware about the desktop computer's hardware. Therefore, we have to know about the RAM, hardware, operating system etc. After that, we can purchase a top quality desktop computer.
Moreover, cheap desktop computers are not handy. We cannot hold and move it easily. Nevertheless, it is ideal for home. Because, cheap desktop computers not only do work on small project but also cheap desktop computers give a very better look to the room.
Furthermore, if any one wants to get quit new cheap desktop computer, he should get contact only some manufacture companies. These manufacture companies are trustable for instance, HP, DELL, etc. Hence, many people are making computer themselves and give any name to there computers. Therefore, if we need to buy cheap desktop computers, we should go towards only trust worthy names. These companies can supply us very reliable high-speed cheap desktop computers.
Most cheap desktop computers have fully equipped with a LAN card, optical device, RAM, hard drive, an operating system and a motherboard. Usually, windows XP are used in the cheap desktop computers.
Therefore, these cheap desktop computers can carry out different task. We can solve many problems and get benefits by them. We can run a lot of software on it. No doubt, these softwares can make speed very slow. Heavy software makes speed slow. Then, we should choose light software. Light software can provide the similar job. So, we should ignore the heavy software. For instance, heavy games, video editing and graphics design and choose the light software.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/a-cheap-desktop-computer-is-really-easy-to-attain-now-4710713.html

About the Author

Eflex Computers is a UK registered company specialising in the production of Custom desktop computers, Gaming PC's and in the refurbishment and resale of High Quality Business and cheap Laptops. See our full range of Cheap Laptops & Cheap Desktop Computers, fast UK delivery and unbeatable prices.

HTC Windows Phone 8x: A Review

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 19:11:00 -0700

By Lucky Akpodiete

Photo: cdn2.sbnation.com

In a world filled with literally millions of smartphones, the HTC Windows phone 8x stands out amongst others with an endless list of laudable features some of which include;
A 4.3 inch touchscreen LED display with a rich blend of colors that make viewing anything o the device a sight to behold.

Its' also got a 1.GHz dual core Qualcomm snapdragon processor thus providing the necessary speed for all of your multitasking needs and making it possible to play heavy games without delays. It has beats audio as a characteristic of HTC devices for superior sound quality.

On the surface, the device has a micro Sim slot on the left together with volume controls and a dedicated camera button. On the top is the 3.5mm headphone jack, below is the micro USB port for charging the device and syncing with other gadgets and connecting to larger screen displays.
On the front is the earlier mentioned 4.3 inch highly responsive touchscreen display, with a front facing ultra-wide angle viewing 2.1 mega pixels camera, which is unique as there are only a handful f devices that present that much for a front facing camera. The camera can record at 1080p. On the lower end of the screen are three capacitive buttons, the 'back','home' and 'search' buttons and on the back is an 8 mega pixels camera that can record High Definition videos at 1080p.
The device comes with a 1800 Milli Amp battery that presents excellent battery life even on heavy use.

The HTC Windows Phone 8x doesn't have and expandable memory slot for micro SD cards but that isn't much of a concern as you can access SkyDrive which comes with lots of free storage space for cloud based storage of up to 7GB. The internal storage on the device is 16GB which presents a lot of room fr downloading your favorite games, videos and applications.
The Operating System on the device is the Windows 8 Operating System providing access to user-friendly applications such as the Microsoft Outlook Mobile, Microsoft Office Mobile that houses Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and One-note.

The Device also presents access to super fast connectivity on AT&T's 4G LTE network making browsing the web and downloading your favorite applications and games easy and fast,
All of these and a lot more are the qualities that come with the HTC Windows Phone 8x, a device that really is a delight in use.

More information about the HTC Windows Phone 8x can be found at http://www.phonepiper.com
Your #1 Source for Mobile Phones, MP3 Players and Accessories

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Sony Xperia TL: A Review

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 01:18:00 -0700

By Lucky Akpodiete

Photo: i.i.com.com

Sony makes all things beautiful with the High Definition cameras that come with devices that carry the Sony tag and the Sony Xperia TL doesn't fall short of this quality.
Some exciting features of the device include a 4.6 inch LCD touchscreen display that is very responsive to touch and a 1.5GHz dual core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor that makes gaming and multitasking easy without the frequent lags and delays that is common with some other smartphones.
The operating system is the Android 4.0 (ice cream sandwich) which can be upgraded to newer versions if need be, presenting a wide range download options from the Google play store.
Its got an internal memory of 16 GB with options for using an external memory card hence providing you with a lot of memory room for storing all of your favorite applications, music and other downloads.

On the surface, the device has got a 1.3 mega pixels front facing camera for your video chats and calls, alongside its 4.6 inch screen. On the back is a 13 mega pixels auto focus camera with Exmor R for Mobile image sensor and a LED flash. It also has NFC capabilities for one touch connectivity. On the right we have a micro SD card slot for your external memory SD cards, a micro Sim card slot, the power button, volume controls and a dedicated camera button.

On the left is the micro USB charging port and on top of the device is the 3.5mm headphone jack.
The device is compatible with 4G LTE connectivity on AT&T providing access to super fast download and browsing speeds.
The battery is a 1850 Milli Amp battery that provides up to 7 hours of talk time and is capable of 17 days standby time.

Sony Xperia TL is also Play Station certified hence enhancing your gaming experience which only gets better when combined with its 4.6 inch LCD display.
All of these and a lot more are the great features that come with the Sony Xperia TL 4G LTE Android Phone. If you are concerned about the big sizes of the High End Galaxy devices or any other smartphone in the market, then in the Sony Xperia XL you have found a device which can perform optimally well and at the same time provide you with the portability that eludes some other smartphones in the market.

For a more intensive review of the Sony Xperia TL including video reviews showing some of its functions, visit the Mobile Store http://www.phonepiper.com The #1 Source for Mobile Phones, MP3 Players and Accessories

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Network Interfaces and Ports - Is There Any Difference?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 17:54:00 -0700

By Barry Burdette

Photo: i.dell.com

Over the long course of my career I have heard many of my colleagues refer to these two terms interchangeably, although this is actually not true and may cost you a wrong answer on an exam such as Cisco's CCNA or CCNP which could make the difference between you passing the exam or not. Let us take a look at the differences in these two terms.

Ports:
The Port resides at layer 1 of the OSI model, the Physical layer. This layer defines the electrical and physical specifications for a device, such as copper or fiber media as well as the voltages, line impedance, signal timing, and the physical layout of pins for the connecting device such as twisted pairs, coaxial or in the case of fiber cable single mode or multi-mode.

Interfaces:
The Interface resides at layer 2 of the OSI model, the Data Link layer. This layer defines the functional and procedural method of transferring data between network devices, such as Serial, Ethernet, FDDI, and Token-Ring. Additionally this layer may provide the ability to detect and maybe correct errors that might occur at the physical layer.

Virtual Interfaces:
There are a number of interfaces that have no physical connection to any device such as Loopbacks, Lines, and VLANs. These interfaces are referred to as virtual interfaces, and although these interfaces have no physical connection they can still be addressed and accessed by other devices in a network. Interfaces such as Loopback interfaces are very useful in insuring devices are reachable with many routing protocols.

Sub interfaces are another form of virtual interface and are used in WAN connections like Frame-Relay, and VLAN Trunks between routers and switches when creating a router on a stick to route between VLANs or deploying DHCP addressing for multiple VLANs.

In conclusion the line between Ports and Interfaces may be blurry, and in the real world the two terms may be used interchangeably but there is a difference and you need to understand the difference not only to pass an exam, but to help you properly configure network interfaces on Cisco routing and switch equipment and help you troubleshoot some complex networking issues. A good way to remember this is you use some form of media to physically connect a network port to another network device port and you configure a network interface with some form of protocol to allow communication between network devices on a LAN or WAN.

Learn about Network Routing Switching
Download CCNA Packet Tracer labs

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Computer Care, Can I Do It Myself?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 17:54:00 -0700

Author: The Computer Psychic

Photo: 1.bp.blogspot.com

With all of the resources available to you, you may well ask yourself, "Why do I need a computer expert to maintain my computer?" The short answer is, you don't. Just like you don't need a technician to fix your car, repair your furnace, or do any other maintenance or repairs. If you have the knowledge and the time, you can easily repair and maintain your own computer.

But be warned, there are several potential "gotchas" involved in maintaining your own computer. If you decide to repair your own automobile, a company won't sell you a carburetor what will break your car. Unfortunately, that's not true of computer maintenance. There are many programs out there that either don't do what they purport to do, perform unnecessary functions, or are just plain dangerous to install. It's up to you, the computer maintenance technician, to determine what programs you can safely use in what manner.

In this article, we'll discuss some of the programs out there and what the do-it-yourselfer needs to watch out for.

Registry Cleaners Websites such as Finally Fast.com and Double My Speed.com have been promoting themselves heavily of late. These (and other) sites offer products to download and install that purport to improve your computer's performance. These programs are mostly registry cleaners. The Windows registry is simply a database that the operating system uses to store everything it needs to know to run as per your specifications. In addition, it's available to any other program to write their information in there as well. Since Windows 95, the registry has been the recommended repository for user preferences, settings, and any other variables a program has to remember.

Over time the Windows registry will become cluttered with unneeded information, most frequently caused by uninstallation programs not removing all of the data they should. The concept of a registry cleaner is that it will detect and remove these orphan settings, frequently improving computer performance.

The problem with registry cleaners is that they will often incorrectly detect a setting as unneeded and delete it, causing problems with either installed programs or the Windows operating system itself. Registry cleaners are good, but you should never blindly take their advice as to what to delete. You should always review each entry to verify that it can be deleted safely.
And keep in mind there are freeware applications that do an excellent job of cleaning your Windows registry. Ccleaner is the one recommended by The Computer Psychic. (Go to Google and search for ccleaner.)

Anti-Malware Applications Malware (spyware and virus) cleanup and prevention is one of the most important aspects of computer maintenance. If you catch a virus on your system, you leave yourself open to all sorts of mischief - including having files deleted, getting your address book scammed and spam e-mails being sent in your name, and even having your credit card and banking information stolen! Spyware can be just as bad - it typically "watches" what you do on your computer, down to even logging keystrokes, and thus stealing your passwords. In addition to these problems, spyware and viruses are often poorly written, causing performance problems in your system.
There are dozens of applications on the market that claim to remove malware from your system. And many of them do a good job. But here's the rub - many programs that present themselves as anti-virus or anti-spyware are, themselves, viruses and spyware! The Computer Psychic has seen all too many systems where the owner has - with the best of intentions - installed an anti-malware app into their system, only to see the floodgates opened; they find themselves with more popup ads and performance problems than they've ever seen before.

So how do you make sure you don't install one of these #$%& programs? First of all, if you get a pop-up message telling you that your computer is infected with viruses and click here to download a virus cleaner, don't do it! Without exception, these programs are scams. Downloading one of these apps will introduce your system to more viruses than you thought existed. In fact, when you see this window, you'll be presented with an OK and Cancel button. Don't click either one! If you click Cancel, it will still install a virus. Instead, click on the little X in the upper right-hand corner to close the window.

Secondly, if you use a search engine looking for anti-malware programs, be careful what links you follow. Malware creators will name their applications very similar to - or even exactly the same as - legitimate programs, hoping to confuse you into downloading theirs instead of the good one. For example, if you wanted to download Spybot Search and Destroy (an excellent anti-spyware program) and searched for it in Yahoo, the very first result you'll find purports itself to be Spybot. Clicking their link takes you to a page that says it's Spybot Search and Destroy, but is actually an application that acts as a gateway to allow viruses into your system.

So, again, you need to take the time to learn what is and what isn't safe to install. The Computer Psychic has a very easy recommendation. Microsoft has a vested interest in keeping your computer malware-free. If they do a good job of preventing viruses from getting into your system, then that's one less thing that Apple can beat them up over. Towards that end, in September of 2009, Microsoft released an excellent free anti-malware program named Microsoft Security Essentials (www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials). In the past, The Computer Psychic has recommended against all-in-one solutions, arguing that no one application can catch everything. But Microsoft Security Essentials is just that good. It does as good a job as - or better than - any other application, or combination of apps, in blocking any type of spyware or virus.

Startup Monitors While not as popular as the other system maintenance programs, proper use of a startup monitor can dramatically speed up your computer. A startup monitor will tell you just what programs, drivers and processes load when you start your computer.
When you boot up your computer, the operating system will also auto-start many other components - possibly a fax application, printer elements, video or mouse drivers, to name a few. These are good - they are essential for the proper operation of your computer. However, many applications add themselves to the auto-run settings for their own convenience - not yours.

For example, programs such as Adobe Reader and Microsoft Office will tell the operating system to pre-load some of their components as Windows starts up. This allows their software to open more quickly when needed. The downside of this is, even if you aren't actively using their software, your computer is using memory running those components. Better to not pre-load those components; let the software take a second or two longer to load, and speed up your entire system.
Another popular use for the startup is for auto-update programs. These apps will periodically check the internet looking for updates. If one is found, the program will present you with a window telling you an update is available. Not only do these apps consume computer resources, they can be an annoyance.

In order to easily prevent unwanted software from running automatically, The Computer Psychic recommends a Microsoft application called AutoRuns (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx). Using Autoruns you can decide just what apps you want to run when starting your computer. Once again, though, don't blindly turn of all apps. Make sure you know what you're disabling.

Summary
As you can see, using the tools recommended in this article makes it quite possible for anyone to maintain their computer's health. But as with anything technical, make sure you know what you're doing before just tinkering away.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/security-articles/computer-care-can-i-do-it-myself-1556451.html

About the Author
With over 20 years industry experience, Steven O Smith is the owner of The Computer Psychic, providing affordable on-site computer repair to residences and business in the Vancouver, WA and Portland, OR area. Visit http://www.thecomputerpsychic.com for more valuable information and free software.

Reviewers and Training Manuals for COG-703 IBM Certification Test

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 9 Apr 2013 17:42:00 -0700

By Nadine Myrick

Photo: i.ebayimg.com

The COG-703 test is the code for IBM Cognos Tables Manager1 10.1. This is the required certification test if you plan to become an IBM Certified Administrator - Cognos Tables Manager1 (TM1) 10.1. Basically, this is an online certification test written in English language and there will be 60 questions. You will only be given 90 minutes or one hour and a half to answer everything. There will be no time extension. You will pass if, and only if, you garner at least 66% correct answers which is equal to approximately 40 points.

The IBM Cognos TM1 10.1 or COG-703 has four parts such as TM1 Concepts, TM1 Installation and Administration, Performance and Scalability, and Troubleshooting. Each part is worth 28%, 38%, 15%, and 19% respectively. From there you can figure out how many items of questions are allocated for each part.

The IBM itself provides a ready-to-read sample test that is available for public to download. This will give you an idea of how COG-703 looks like. However, the sample test only contains 10 questions with multiple choices so this is actually not enough for your preparation. Most likely, the questions included in the sample test are very basic. Do not rely much on the pattern given by the sample test, besides it is not a reliable assessment tool of how prepared and qualified you are for the test.

A very engaging preparation for the COG-703 test is the IBM Cognos TM1: Administer the Technical Environment (v10, 1). It is a short course that runs for two days. In case you do not have the opportunity to attend the training due to schedule and location restraints, you still have an alternative choice which is a COG-703 Instructor-led Online Course. With that, you will still get to prepare for the test at your own convenient time without thinking of distance issues. The title of the online course is IBM Cognos TM1: Administer the Technical Environment (v10.1) - ILO.

You really have to do a lot of reading to be able to pass COG-703 with certainty and to get your IBM Certified Administrator - TM1 10.1 soon-to-be title. The different manuals you should not miss to read are IBM Cognos TM1 10.1.0 Information Center, cognos TM1 Operations Console Guide 10.1.0, TM1 Reference Guide 10.1.0, cognos TM1 Operation Guide 10.1.0, TM1 TurboIntegrator Guide 10.1.0, TM1 Installation and Configuration Guide 10.1.0, Cognos TM1 Developer Guide 10.1.0, Configuring IBM TM1 for Citrix, Cognos TM1 Performance Modeler User Guide 10.1.0, TM1 New Features Guide 10.1.0, TM1 Web User Guide 10.1.0, SAP Cookbook for IBM Cognos 8 BI.

You might wonder why there are so many readings you have to review for 60-item COG-703 test. Well, the answer is simple- the test is just the start of you career determination so if you really want to be a Cognos TM1 Administrator, better be prepared for the real thing ahead of time.

If you are ready to take COG-703 Exam, then you must try IBM Cognos Certification Questions to Practice your exam. There is 100% passing guarantee.

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Nationwide POS Installation Companies

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 7 Apr 2013 17:48:00 -0700

By Robert C Kenney

Photo: cdn-static.zdnet.com

There are many companies across the nation that use POS terminals and therefore there should be POS installation companies to provide these services nationwide. The POS installation companies usually arrange for the new POS system to be setup and also installed at your site. As a business person, you need to make sure that you get a company that does the installation the right way in order to have you up and running as quickly as possible.

After the POS system has been installed for your company, the company that provided the services should be able to log into the system remotely and offer your staff real-time training on the usage of the system, additional software assistance as well as technical support where necessary. Installation as well as set up of the system can be a very simple practice for some companies while for others it may end up being a daunting task. So to avoid any complications, you need to know what operations are carried out in your business and the kind of POS system that will be suitable.

Some POS installation companies have point of sale systems that are already reconfigured and preloaded with the appropriate application, device drivers as well as their updates. For such companies, installing the system for you will be a very easy process. The company you choose should be able to make the process as simple as possible so as to get the system up and running in the shortest time possible. If you deal with a company that has got the systems already reconfigured, the task left for them will most likely be just plugging in a few cables and then later on powering up the system.

Some people will however prefer having an experienced POS technician on site during the implementation of the entire POS system. The technician will oversee processes like laying network cables from one internal location of the company to another, installing POS hardware, configuring internet access and also answering general questions that you may have concerning the system that is being installed. The technician can be very important if you are installing multiple systems and remote printers or you are doing additional hardware configurations for hardware components as well as other specialty programs you have in your organization.

A reputable POS installation company should be able to help you in the complete setup of the system, installation as well as the roll-out of the system anywhere in the country. The most common industries that utilize the POS system are the restaurant and retail industries and therefore it is important that their owners know the best POS companies to deal with.

You can always check the history of the company services, track record and its performance. If a company has been in existence for long and it has been offering good services to its clients, then it is no doubt that it is a company that offers quality services.

Did you know that IT-NetLogistics is among the companies that offers nationwide POS installation services? Visit our website for more details.

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Microsoft Access, How to Create a Combo Box Using Data From a Table

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 4 Apr 2013 17:47:00 -0700

By Alex K Cuttner

Photo: 185.photobucket.com

Combo Box Tutorial For Microsoft Access 2010

This program is a great asset to any business today.
Microsoft Access is an invaluable tool and can be used in the most easiest to most complex applications you can think of.
It is similar to Excel but only as a database, nothing more Microsoft Access is more powerful than many people will get to realise unless you are handy with VBA programming.
None the less you can achieve many things with the simple UI that Microsoft has provided for its users.

So your reading because you want a combo box BUT you don't want to enter the data as this will change over time. What you need is to use data from a table, this will allow that data to change, in turn the combo box will be updated with any changes.

Step 1. Create a table with one column named "colours".
Step 2. Create a blank form, switch to design view and select a combo box.
Step 3. Click on the form, you will be prompted with a wizard, make sure "I want the combo box to get the values from another table or query." is selected and click next.
Step 4. Select the table you would like to use which has the column "colours" in it and click Next.
Step 5. Select the column colours and move it over to selected fields and click next.
Step 6. If you would like to arrange the selection in a particular order you can do this here otherwise click next.
Step 7. Next you can adjust the width of the columns that will be displayed, click Next when done.
Step 8. Finally type the name of the label you wish to use and click Finish to create the combo box.

You will now have a working combo box that will update as the data in the table changes.
In most cases you will find using a query to be more beneficial and this can be done exactly the same way, just create a query with the data you would like and follow the same steps.
The query can be helpful for things such as customer orders where they appear when they are made but are gone when they have been sent. In this case the query will only show orders that have been paid for and have not been shipped with some simple SQL in the SELECT query.
You can view the SQL for the combo box in the Properties > Data > Row Source.
These techniques are some of the most efficient to create drop down boxes.

If you need any help with your projects visit our Microsoft Access page for more information.

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Why Companies Need Business Intelligence

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 3 Apr 2013 17:57:00 -0700

Author: Jose Allan Tan

Photo: 4.bp.blogspot.com

"We need information but all we have is data!"

This is the message managers often complain about. If there is anything that IT has ever done right it is the ability to collect nearly every single bit of data imaginable -- from data that is written or keyed-in to a computing device, to images like signatures and X-rays. We even record voice and video these days.

One manager told me over coffee: "I've got data coming out of my ears. I don't know how to make sense of it!"

Part-time solutions have been around for many years. I say "part-time" because the solutions solve only "part of the problem, part of the time." Product marketers have labeled these as business intelligence (BI) tools.

Wikipedia defines business intelligence as applications and technologies which are used to gather, provide access to, and analyze data and information about their company operations.

The goal of BI tools is to allow anyone using the information provided to make better business decisions. But there are a few problems with traditional BI tools.

BI is mostly associated with report delivery. Usually there are few people within an organization who actually know how to use BI tools. These users hold on to this 'control' because they probably get a kick out of the power they have over others.

More importantly, such specialty creates job security. But the net effect has been dissatisfaction with what was purchased, and concern over making further investments in the future.

BI tools' failure rests in the business unit's failure to communicate their needs and IT's failure to ask the right questions. The result is solutions that fail to deliver expectations.

"Previous perceptions of BI didn't factor the value provided in managing and making sense of the information assets contained within every enterprise," says V.R. Srivatsan, vice president of Asia South for Business Objects.

"However, this is changing as both technology and the business will with which to use it are maturing resulting in BI becoming a key business process driver within today's enterprise," Srivatsan adds.

BI wish list

Suganthi Shivkumar, managing director for ASEAN & India at Hyperion Solutions, notes that business managers want tools that give them increased insight into the dynamic nature of the global marketplace and allow them to identify areas of profitability.

They expect IT to unlock information that is potentially trapped between silos of applications scattered throughout the enterprise.

"Today's regulatory institutions and business climate are very unforgiving towards any kind of expectation variances or financial discrepancies that may be construed as malfeasance or misconduct. This forces companies to put a lot of rigor in their planning and reporting processes. To produce reports with confidence is critical in the choice of BI tools," Shivkumar says.

Having a single version of the truth is also just as important. Finally organizations want to have clear visibility of their operations including accurate demand-revenue-expenses forecasts to better deploy resources and capitalize on opportunities.

Business intelligence has emerged as a strategic initiative and investment priority for companies. But because departmental objectives vary, it would be easy to lose sight of the core objectives of the company and to deploy BI tools (sometimes from different vendors) to satisfy those needs.

The net result of such a strategy is a proliferation of disparate systems that not only do not effectively inter-operate with each other but complicate the matters.

The good news is that despite all the not-so-glorious past of BI tools, CEOs still believe that BI tools play an important role in today's competitive environment.

Global competitive pressures, and mergers and acquisitions are putting constant pressures on restructuring and finding additional sources of profitability. CEOs want insight to help them steer the business through these turbulent times.

For decades companies have been spending millions on enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer resource management (CRM) and data warehousing (DW) tools. With so much information locked in repositories, CEOs are putting pressure on IT to unlock information trapped in those systems.

After Enron, it's no longer enough to produce reports on time. Accuracy and consistency of reporting have become paramount and discrepancies can mean jail time for even the rich and powerful.

Who is responsible?

Changing the way things get done

Business intelligence has emerged as a top strategic initiative and investment priority for CEOs, but not surprisingly department objectives vary. Having learned from the past, IT is working to standardize on the type of tools it will deploy across the organization.

Users from across the business, not just managers, want quality information on demand, and are no longer willing to wait for IT to serve it. They also want the flexibility and ease of use in engaging tools that they are familiar with (the nearly ubiquitous use of Microsoft Office). And they want their information delivered consistently.

Business users need tools and solutions which not only can deliver information, but can manage information and produce information by integrating with their current systems. Finally they need to be able to tie operational information to financial information.

Minimizing the risk of failure

Business author and management expert Peter Drucker said there is nothing worse than doing the wrong thing well. Why does this happen? Because people don't understand the company plan or have visibility into how the business is performing.

It happens because people are not accountable for their part of the strategy, or can?t rely on their information to make good decisions.

One of the greatest failings of BI has been in how it gets deployed. Intelligence demand often starts out at a specific department where the scope is tactical and thus deployment is departmental in scope.

The result is a proliferation of tools serving the unique needs of specific departments. Unfortunately, the lack of consistent visibility across the enterprise means that these tools will have limited impact and may not even be aligned with the corporate objectives.

Have you read through a BI tool manual lately? You will notice that it isn't designed to be used by a layman? Many of today's BI tools are used by so-called power users who act as gatekeepers of the information. The result is BI tools do not get widespread adoption.

"BI tools must not be limited to those within an organization based on technical skills or of a certain department. To maximize the adoption of the BI tools within the organization, all employees should be given access to the information they need to make business decisions," advises Shivkumar.

BI is no longer just about the report, but what's IN the report. Just as business dynamics are constantly changing, BI tools must evolve from a report-centric to information-centric approach that delivers "actionable" insight.

Therefore, it needs to be universally recognized within the organization that BI supports improving performance. BI is a tool that is able to deal with the past, present and future and is the power to provide insight that leads to true competitive differentiation.

The only way to maximize the value of BI is to focus on the total picture -- information management, production and delivery that ensures consistent information, and the ability for users to analyze and re-purpose data.

Only then can a standard be identified and adopted across the entire enterprise.

Peep at the future

The current software trend is that of Software as a Service (SaaS) and BI tools are not immune to this trend. In addition, search and web collaboration are functionalities embedded in what vendors are calling the Business Intelligence 2.0 revolution.

Srivatsan cites the example of an emergency room doctor who could use search within BI to scour a broad set of data sources to find out how many instances of food poisoning have been reported in the past 24 hours, where people are affected, and determine common causes.

This real-time access to trustworthy data could help medical professionals spot and prevent widespread outbreak of food-related illnesses.

Companies can also look forward to more collaborative BI such as instant messenger BI where a sales team could have an IM discussion over a dashboard that shows sales performance below objectives, thereby speeding the process for establishing the next steps for addressing the situation.

Imagine being able to call upon BI tools to provide analysis of data as it comes in. This is, after all, what business managers want -- the ability to analyze and perform "what if" scenarios with data as it comes in from the field. No waiting for periods to close. What you have is the ability to make decisions at the right time, right place and in the right context.

Final advice

Gartner's vice president for research, Andreas Bitterer believes that business intelligence needs to be a continuous process for it to be of value. So stop thinking of it as a project.

Srivatsan: "Few organizations have a comprehensive enterprise BI strategy or clearly defined BI standards. Companies with a patchwork of disparate BI technologies are facing the consequences, including, rising deployment, maintenance and training costs, inconsistent information, and frustrated employees who cannot get timely answers to business questions.

By reducing the number of BI tools, companies can save money, have confidence in and control over business data, and give employees the information they need to do their jobs well, he adds.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/information-technology-articles/why-companies-need-business-intelligence-320561.html

About the Author

Jose Allan Tan is a technologist-market observer based in Asia. A former marketing director for a storage vendor, he is today director of web strategy and content director for Questex Asia Ltd. He also served as senior industry analyst for Dataquest/Gartner and was at one time an account director for a regional PR agency.

Free Windows Repair And Recovery Tools

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 2 Apr 2013 18:05:00 -0700

By David Cassell

Photo: 0.tqn.com

Microsoft has done a wonderful job of making Windows 8 faster and more powerful than previous Windows versions.
But no matter how good Windows 8 is, there will still be times when you need to use a Windows recovery tool to fix problems with your PC. Fortunately, many of these tools are free.
Previous Windows versions had many tools available to perform repair or recovery tasks, many of which were just a Google search away.

Unfortunately these tools often required downloading disk images and burning CDs, understanding the Windows command prompt or following other not so simple instructions. With Windows 8, the situation has changed for the better.

You may not know it, but there are several Windows recovery tools already installed on your PC. If your PC is running normally, you can take a first important step to making sure your PC runs as smoothly as possible by creating a Windows Recovery Drive.
A Recovery Drive will allow you to boot and use several Windows recovery utilities to recover a PC that cannot boot successfully from the hard drive.

The media you use for the drive can be either a writable DVD or a USB Flash drive, and will contain everything you need to fix the most common Windows problems that may appear.
Be sure to note that a Recovery Drive can only repair the same type of system from which it was created. That means that a drive created from a 64 bit installation of Windows cannot repair a 32 bit installation, and vice-versa.

To create a Recovery Drive, move your mouse to the lower right of your screen to bring up the charms bar. Click on the magnifying glass to perform a search, and type "Recovery Drive" in the search area. You should see an option to create a Recovery Drive on the left. Click that option to begin the process.
If on the other hand your PC will not boot properly, there are several free and pre-installed Windows recovery tools that can help. To access them, hold down the Shift key and tap F8 just after the startup system messages appear but just before the boot process starts.
Your timing is important here, and it is easy to not get the keystrokes just right. When you have pressed the keys properly, the Windows logo will appear, and the words "Please wait" will appear at the bottom center of your screen.

After a short time, you will be offered several options for repairing your system. These include System Restore and Automatic Repair, likely the two options you will use most. Each serves a different purpose; System Restore rolls back Windows to a previous known working state, before the boot issue began.
Select Automatic Repair to scan your system in an attempt to determine what is causing your issue and repair it. Automatic Repair can identify and replace missing or damaged system files and perform other tasks as needed to get your PC working properly again.

Perhaps the best feature of these two options is that neither will damage your documents, pictures, music or other data. These options can sometimes even undo damage done by a malware infection.
If your system boots fine but runs with issues, you can still try System Restore from within Windows. If that does not solve your issues, there is another Windows recovery option available, called a "Refresh". Refreshing your PC will install a completely new copy of Windows 8, while keeping your documents and other files intact.

After performing a Refresh, you will need to re-install your software.
You can access the Refresh option in the same way as the System Restore and Automatic Repair options.
Most Windows 8 PCs purchased at retail also come with a Windows recovery partition, which can restore your PC to its factory-fresh state, including pre-installed software.
This is usually a last-resort option, used when nothing else seems to work, or when the damage done by a malware infection is too extensive to be cleaned up by other tools.

Also note that this option will erase all of your documents, so be sure to have a backup of your files available to copy back over once the recovery process is complete. The method of using the Windows recovery partition can differ among manufacturers, so refer to your PC's documentation for instructions specific to your PC model.

If you have a malware infection, you can still utilize free tools to help clean up your system. Microsoft includes Windows Defender free with Windows 8. Windows Defender is a tool that runs in the background to provide help with prevention as well as removal of malware infections.
It features a clean, simple interface and an easy to understand green, yellow or red status icon to alert you to any problems that may occur. For many people, Windows Defender is the only anti-malware tool they will ever need.

Another highly recommended free anti-malware tool is called MalwareBytes. There is a paid version that offers advanced options, but the free version does an excellent job of identifying and removing most common malware, restoring your computer to the state it was in before the infection started.
MalwareBytes is a great tool to have installed before you need it, because some malware will block your Internet access or your access to common anti-malware websites.

If this is the case, download the latest version from a friend's PC, and use a USB flash drive to copy it to your PC. Then install it and let it perform a full scan on your system. MalwareBytes will provide you with a list of the malware it found and give you options to remove it.

As you can see, there are lots of ways to take care of all your Windows recovery needs without paying a cent. These free tools are mature, effective and best of all easy to use. Become familiar with them all so you can be ready if you ever need to recover your Windows 8 PC.

Your computer data is at risk of deletion. Click here to see a review of the top online backup services you can use to secure your data permanently or visit: http://mypcbackupreview.me/a-million-dollars-worth-of-backblaze.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Cassell

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How to Avoid Viruses From Attacking Your Computer

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 1 Apr 2013 18:00:00 -0700

By Jeremy P Stanfords

Photo: popularmechanics.com

Every day, people use their computers to complete a number of functions. In fact, it seems that many spend more time behind the computer screen, and use their machines to complete a majority of their tasks, either business- or leisure-related. However, with the increased activity, one thing you have to consider is how secure your computer is. One wrong click could wipe out the hard drive if you download a virus or spyware. The virus removal process could get tricky, if not expensive. A few simple steps could keep you from having to endure a costly computer recovery process.

Proper Software

One of the best ways to keep your machine secure is with proper antivirus software. These programs not only shield the system against an attack, but they also scope out potentially dangerous sites that could cause irreversible damage. Nowadays, many free programs provide just as much security as ones you can purchase in the store. However, for businesses that use a network, purchasing software is probably the better option. Otherwise, downloading free software provides many benefits, as well as protection.

Computer Recovery

If your issues are more severe, i.e. a hard drive crash, you may have to consult a professional. A PC repair shop can assist you with cleaning up any extensive problems. In some cases, you can even have someone diagnose the issue without having to leave your home. Some PC repair shops offer online support where you log in to a site, and go from there. If Internet access is unavailable, you may have to take your machine to the shop or have somebody come to you.

Watch What You Click

Another easy way to avoid falling prey to malware is to simply watch what links you click. While software exists to detect rogue sites, some may slip below the radar. Not every site contains material that damages your computer; some actually go after banking information or even personal sites. One popular method involves social media profiles, where clicking a suspect link posted by a friend results in similar information being posted to your profile repeatedly.

One way to stop the latter from happening is by changing your password on a regular basis, i.e. once every six months. In addition, be sure to choose secure passwords, one featuring letters and numbers, as well as special characters like punctuation marks or capital letters. You do not want to use any common information such as your address or name, as it is very easy for hackers to guess.

Author writes about a variety of topics. If you would like more information about virus removal, visit http://www.geeksonsite.com/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeremy_P_Stanfords

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New Trends in Software Development

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 20:32:00 -0700

By Melinda Gray

Photo: blog.ciklum.com

The world is ever changing, and this is especially true when it comes to software development. IT
professionals are expected to take on new challenges as they appear, since being up to date equals to staying productive and profitable in the IT industry. The following new trends in software development are expected to make a mark for the upcoming years.
High performance computing moving to the cloud

There is a reason why cloud computing is going forward and more and more companies choose to move their high performance computing to the cloud. The versatility the private and the public cloud offers for business applications takes this model of software development to the next level. Now, software tools or applications can be developed in the private cloud, in order to show effects and be effectively used in the public cloud.

The most important aspect of cloud computing is that it allows companies to cut costs on hardware and development. With cloud computing, more accurate and efficient prediction models are expected to be developed.

Location based apps
Being mobile has been trendy for years now, but with the integration of GPS functionalities, location becomes even more important. The ability to develop applications with focus on location will be considered of the utmost importance in the near future. Knowing where consumers are in order to provide them with readily available information in regards to their location will help businesses flourish in the following years. Facebook places and Foursquare represent just the tip of the iceberg and a sample of what is to come in terms of location based applications.

Going agile
The old model of developing software tools from bottom to top is no longer as efficient as in the past. Agile methodologies are now preferred, because they allow cutting down any project in chunks called iterations. The old unidirectional communication approach is no longer in place. Teams can now work on the same project and exchange information and recommendations on a regular basis, in order to create a better, more efficient product, with a reduced time cycle.

Mobile: the new battleground
With more and more people acquiring mobile devices for communicating, shopping, sharing and reading reviews, and for many other functionalities, it should come as no surprise that the battleground for software development will move to the mobile market. The focus will be placed on developing software applications for consumers using their mobile devices on a regular basis.

Web 3.0
Web 2.0 has created a revolution in the way the World Wide Web was being used by consumers. Now, the world is ready for Web 3.0 or the Semantic Web as it is also called. It is no longer enough to have access to a large quantity of data. This data has to be linked, made comprehensible, and the new technologies that are going to be developed in the years to come must concentrate on their Web 3.0 component.

IT professionals must respond to the new challenges for software development for the following years, in order stay on top of the game.
Copyright (c) 2013 AlleyFish.com

AlleyFish.com is a tech hub connecting talented professionals with the latest information technology, career enhancing opportunities around the country. Visit our Career Center for great articles and tips on Career Advancement, Interviewing, Negotiating, Resume Writing, Technology and more.

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How to Configure an Authoritative Time Server in Windows Server 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 17:55:00 -0700

Author: Richard n Williams

Photo: winbeta.org

Time synchronisation in modern computer networks is essential, all computers need to know the time as many applications, from sending an email to storing information are reliant on the PC knowing when the event took place.

Microsoft Windows Server from 2000 onwards has a time synchronisation utility built into the operating system called Windows Time (w32time.exe) which can be configured to operate as a network time server.

Windows Server 2008 can easily set the system clock to use UTC (Coordinated Universal Time, the World's time standard) by accessing an Internet source (either: time.windows.com or time.nist.gov).

To achieve this, a user merely has to double click the clock on their desktop and adjust the settings in the Internet Time tab.

It must be noted however, that Microsoft and other operating system manufacturers strongly advise that external timing references should be used as Internet sources can't be authenticated.

To configure the Windows Time service to use an external time source, click Start, Run and type regedit then click OK.

Locate the following subkey:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\Parameters\Type
In the right pane, right-click Type then click Modify, in edit Value type NTP in the Value data box then click OK.

Locate the following subkey:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\Config\AnnounceFlags.
In the right pane, right-click AnnounceFlags and click Modify. The ‘AnnounceFlags' registry entry indicates whether the server is a trusted time reference, 5 indicates a trusted source so in the Edit DWORD Value box, under Value Data, type 5, then click OK.

Network Time Protocol (NTP) is an Internet protocol used for the transfer of accurate time, providing time information along so that a precise time can be obtained
To enable the Network Time Protocol; NTPserver, locate and click:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\TimeProviders\NtpServer\
In the right pane, right-click Enabled, then click Modify.

In the Edit DWord Value box, type 1 under Value data, then click OK.

Now go back and click on
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\Parameters\NtpServer
In the right pane, right-click NtpServer, then Modify, in the Edit DWORD Value under Value Data type In the right pane, right-click NtpServer, then Modify, in the Edit DWORD Value under Value Data type the Domain Name System (DNS), each DNS must be unique and you must append 0x1 to the end of each DNS name otherwise changes will not take effect.

Now click Ok.

Locate and click the following
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\TimeProviders\NtpClient\SpecialPollInterval
In the right pane, right-click SpecialPollInterval, then click Modify.

In the Edit DWORD Value box, under Value Data, type the number of seconds you want for each poll, ie 900 will poll every 15 minutes, then click OK.
To configure the time correction settings, locate:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\config
In the right pane, right-click MaxPosPhaseCorrection, then Modify, in the Edit DWORD Value box, under Base, click Decimal, under Value Data, type a time in seconds such as 3600 (an hour) then click OK.
Now go back and click:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\config
In the right pane, right-click MaxNegPhaseCorrection, then Modify.

In the Edit DWORD box under base, click Decimal, under value data type the time in seconds you want to poll such as 3600 (polls in one hour)
Exit Registry Editor
Now, to restart windows time service, click Start, Run (or alternatively use the command prompt facility) and type:

net stop w32time && net start w32time
And that's it your time server should be now up and running.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/operating-systems-articles/how-to-configure-an-authoritative-time-server-in-windows-server-2008-461336.html

About the Author

Richard N Williams is a technical author and a specialist in the telecommunications and network time synchronisation industry helping to develop dedicated NTP clocks. Please visit us for more information about NTP or other network time server solutions.

The 7 Reasons WHY a Mobile App Is Effective

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 17:34:00 -0700

By Bola O Olonisakin

Photo: eiseverywhere.com

Brussels sprouts. I had no use for them. I had never even tried them, nor had I any intention of changing that. Even so, their horrid, green faces would stare up at me from my dinner plate at least once a week in my mother's kitchen. Week after week I resisted.
"Eat them. They're good for you," implored my mother, "and you need them."
Like any nine year old, I retorted, "But why?"
And like any mother, she zinged back with the silver bullet of maternal reasoning.
"Because I said so."

Who was I to argue with that logic?
As we move past the "Brussels sprouts phase" of our lives and into areas that require us to make mature, thoughtful decisions for ourselves, our families, and our businesses, we need more than "Because I said so" to determine our choices.

Consider the mobile app.
Most small business owners have no doubt heard that they should get a mobile app. They have read that it would be good for their businesses. They have been told that they need them.
But why?
Step away from the Brussels sprouts, and you will understand exactly why a mobile app is an effective tool for your business.

• Convenience - A mobile app for your business simplifies the accessing of your business for your customers. It brings your company right to their phone, rather than forcing them to find a computer or drive there in their cars.

• Intimacy - People are simply attached to their phones. It may sound silly, but it's the world in which we live. They take them when they go out and will usually return home hastily if they forget their phones! They have them in their hands while watching TV at night. Some even bring them in the bathroom and to bed! If your app is on their phone, you are essentially with them wherever they go.

• Immediacy - The mobile app eliminates the need to find a computer or hop in the car when customers want to access your company. If they want you, all they have to do is pull out their phones and access your app. Within seconds you are "there" ready to do business.

• Affordability - Mobile phones have become immensely popular, causing them to become far less expensive than they used to be, causing them to become even more immensely popular! Why not take advantage of this? If so many more people have mobile phones, it is foolish to not take your business down this road. And if you think your small business cannot afford a mobile app, think again! An app tailored to fit the needs of a small business is more affordable than you would imagine, and actually can pay for itself (and then some) with the additional revenue it brings in.

• Functionality - On a business app, everything is no more than one or two clicks away. It is a quick, practical way for customers to access your business.

• Multi-purpose - Any small business owner can have a mobile app that is suited to the needs of his or her company and designed to function accordingly.
For example, a small business app can allow people to join lists, sign up for consultations, conduct transactions, schedule appointments, view products, find your business using global positioning technology... the possibilities are sky-high and as varied as the many different types of small businesses in the world.

• The Trend - The trend is your friend... and right now the trend is mobile! To survive in business, the entrepreneur must be able to adapt to the latest trends and adjust marketing accordingly. If you allow mobile technology to enhance your business by developing a mobile app, you will find it to be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

When viewed this way, the acquisition of a mobile app by a small business seems more than simply "good for you." It actually shows itself to be essential!
My mother could have saved herself so much aggravation had she explained Brussels sprouts to me this way!

At The Land Of Apps, you can schedule a FREE STRATEGY SESSION to learn how a mobile app can be tailored specifically to your business and still fit comfortably within your marketing budget. CLICK HERE to find out how! http://bit.ly/159vqph

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bola_O_Olonisakin

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The Laptop Buying Guide

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 17:51:00 -0700

Author: Sasha Brown

Photo: cdn.i.haymarket.net.au

The world is moving very fast and every person wants their business on their fingertips. The rein of laptops has started and desktops computers have been pushed aside. Laptops are portable, occupy much less space and do the job more efficiently. The use of laptops has significantly increased such as in multi-national companies, offices, schools and even at in homes, this is simply because of the fact that laptops are more reliable than desktop computers. The latest laptops are more innovating than their precedes and consist of more interactive features like the use of touchscreen, rotatable displays and much more. There are varieties of laptops available that can be used for different purposes. Before buying laptop browse through their specification and choose which serves best at your purpose. The following buying guide will provide your assistance in this regard.

Balanced systems:
A normal laptop is equilibrium between a normal desktop computer. It can execute all the essential task that can be performed on a desktop computer. But one reason for using laptop is that it gives you the mobility to take your work anywhere you want. The storage and performance capabilities can also be altered according to your need. They can also perform day to day task like browsing net, real time face chat and much more with wireless connection

Substitute for High Quality Desktop:
There are also high-end laptops available that can serve multiple purposes which include graphic designing, video rendering and true gaming experience. These laptops are use by professionals or gaming enthusiasts. These laptops offer tremendous power and are capable of handling anything. They possess huge storage capacity up to 2TB and up to massive 8 GB memory. They also have dedicated graphic controller and a multi core processing unit which boost up its speed. They also serve as an entertainment unit when relaxing because they are equipped with ultra-sharp wide displays and sound quality deliver by the speaker t is also rich.

Processor: The CPU is responsible for carrying all the calculation in the system. The speed is calculated in gigahertz (Ghz).There are laptops available with multicore CPUs, which basically is the concept of running multiple processors on a single chip.

Hard Drive: It is use for storage purposes; all the data including movies, songs and programs are stored in the hard drive. They come in different types and storage capabilities. Most laptops use conventional rotatory hardware whereas, the latest models use solid state drives (SSD) which consist of no moving parts.

System Memory: Random access memory or (RAM) assists the CPU in running the system smoothly. More RAM will allow you to run several programs without slowing down your system.

Display Screens and Battery: Laptops have mainly two types of screens Liquid Crystal Display(LCD) and Light Emitting Diode(LED).LED is currently the latest technology that produces more sharp resolution . Battery is affected by the size and brightness of the screen. However, nowadays laptops are equipped with large battery that prolongs the battery life.

Optical Drive: Reading data on a DVD is an important constituent of work. Many advance models are also capable of Burning DVDs.

Connectivity Ports:There are different types of connection ports that usually all laptops have;

USB: These ports allow external components of computer to attach like flash drive or printer.
Video: VGA, DVI and HDMI are all use for connecting external displays to a Laptops like huge Television or monitors. Most laptops contain all or either of them.
Fire Wire: The fire wire port comes handy in retrieving video and images from camera or from camcorder. There are also some external hard drives that use fire wire port as they are faster than conventional USB ports.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/laptops-articles/the-laptop-buying-guide-6512633.html
About the Author
Laptops have great demands among customers around the world because of it's stylish design and attractive features. If you are buying a new laptop, please visit RioCoupon to find lot of laptop deals and coupons of top online stores such as HP Coupon Codes, CowBoom Coupon Codes, Lenovo UK Coupon Codes and many others.