Technology Life

How to Make Your Videos a Billion Times Better! (In 30 Seconds!)

2010-09-25T13:24:00.002+05:30

How to make your videos a billion times better! (in 30 seconds!)Aren't you tired of your videos just not... turning out? Made a how to, or trying to show something off and people are complaining they can't see what's happening and watching someone else's vid instead?
Making a video isn't just pushing the record button, you have to set it up right! It's really very simple, it's just most people don't know what they should be doing. I've seen WAY too many videos where you really can't see what's happening. If you've had complaints before, look no further. Follow the simple steps and I can guarantee you, people won't cut your video off just because they can't stand watching it!
Hopefully this helps, as you don't need expensive equipment to make your shots look good, just a minute of thought before you film!
*note, the camera used for all but the last shot is a Logitech Quickcam Chat. An extremely cheap $20 buck web cam. With the proper lighting, it looks better then 2/3 the content on Youtube. Why? because theirs isn't lit right! I guarantee almost anything can look better then what I have, just because this camera is so cheap.
Also note, the final camera was the Cannon Powershot, A620, an outdated point and shoot camera. Your shots will likely look better then that with your camera if you light it right!

Here's the youtube upload link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eO90T3duFNY

Secrets of Apple's Customer Success

2010-09-25T13:20:00.000+05:30

Secrets of Apple's customer success- Hardware manufacturers liberally take cues from Apple products, so why not its approach to customers?

Hardware manufacturers liberally take cues from Apple products, so why not its approach to customers?
For the seventh straight year, Apple has topped its competitors in the PC industry in the University of Michigan's American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), achieving a score of 86 out of 100. Its Apple's highest ranking since the annual survey began in 1995.
But the real story is how much further ahead of its peers Apple is in this area: most of the rest of the field (Acer, Dell, HP, and others) is tied with a score of 77, while HP's Compaq brand is ranked 74. All of the PC makers improved their scores this year, but it didn't help them collectively avoid sinking further behind Apple. The Mac maker's nine-point lead is now the largest lead any company has over its competition in any of the 45 categories that the ACSI study surveys--including home appliances, gas stations, autos, e-commerce, airlines, and more.

The Apple Store on Fifth Avenue in New York City is one of the company's flagship stores in terms of both customer traffic and architecture and design.
Apple's lead, while not insurmountable, can be attributed to a few things, including a lineup of products that is broad yet connected, a meticulously controlled retail experience, and a very particular brand of leadership at the top. It's not just notoriously good customer service, said David VanAmburg, managing editor of the ACSI, though that helps.
"I think it's a commitment to innovating and integrating products. Apple is still somewhat uniquely positioned with Macs, the iPad, iPhone, and the iPod," he said. "There's a plethora of IT products that have been integrated together easily, and Apple has been able to capture 'IT' writ large, rather than just personal computers."
That is to say Apple, in comparison to its competitors making PCs, has an ecosystem of hardware connected by its own software, iOS, iTunes, and Mac OS X. Apple has total control over its products and has been able to branch out to other types of devices beyond desktops and laptops. PC makers are somewhat beholden to the product cycles of Microsoft and are seen as just that, PC makers--not consumer device makers.
So why aren't they copying Apple? HP actually is beginning to take steps in this direction. By buying Palm, it's looking to integrate mobile devices like phones and tablets into its larger ecosystem of laptops and printers. But other large PC makers like Dell and Acer are not there yet.
"It's taken a long time for other manufacturers to see the benefits that Apple is getting from this," VanAmburg said. "We may be seeing it a bit with HP going out and grabbing Palm, getting into the handheld business and integrating (WebOS) within its systems."
"There is some movement in the industry now beyond Apple to grow past this thinking of the PC per se, but I think the industry has been slower to do it," he added. "But there's a reluctance to go down that route."
Face time with people and products
Apple Stores are the best example of what makes it different from its peers and are illustrative of the company's approach.
The retail stores are one of the most important ways people interact with Apple. Not just for those who are already customers but potential customers--sometimes more than 50 million customers tromp through Apple's doors every three months, and half of them who make purchases are first-timers, according to Apple.
There are 300 Apple stores worldwide right now, mostly in the U.S., but growing in major world capitals, like London, Paris, and Shanghai. Everything about the store is intended to represent what it is like to own and use an Apple product: Apple controls the whole experience, from the limited range of products on the shelves, to the training of the young, intentionally geeky/hip employees, to the manner in which some stores are designed with architectural flourishes normally reserved for museums, to the tech support received at the Genius Bar, to the educational classes offered in stores for using Apple products.
PC companies have dabbled in retail with varying results. Microsoft's current experiment in retail--which borrows from Apple's retail look and feel--is still small: four stores right now, with a few more planned. Dell's foray was brief, and Gateway did well for a number of years until calling it quits before eventually being sold to Acer.
Retail stores are expensive to maintain, but it can define a company's brand and dictate how customers interact with a company. Apple takes that task on itself, in addition to selling its products online and through some third-party retailers. PC makers either rely on the direct approach on the Web or trust a salesperson to properly present their product at Best Buy, Fry's, MicroCenter and others, or just leave it up to the consumer wandering the aisles at Wal-Mart or Costco.
Putting the customer first
A lot of that "reluctance" to embrace Apple's well-regarded approach to customers that VanAmburg spoke of may come down to the roots of these companies. Some are much more technically oriented than customer oriented, which has a sizable effect on how they prioritize, said Ira Kalb, clinical marketing professor at the USC Marshall School of Business.

Apple was able to save face with customers by giving away free cases to iPhone 4 owners after complaints arose regarding its antenna.
"The reason that a lot of these companies don't copy Apple's customer service is they don't realize how important it is, that's the big one," Kalb said. "They look at it as a cost rather than a return on investment item."
Though it sounds obvious that the customer being taken care of should be a primary concern for any company dealing in consumer goods, it's not always followed, he said. "A lot of these computer companies in particular were started and run by technical people, who are notorious for caring about technology over customers."
Things like customer service, marketing, and making technology easier to understand for nontechnical people can make or break a customer's perception of a company. Apple's customer service, which is perennially ranked highly, is illustrative of the differences.
The other major difference between Apple and the rest of the field is that no other company is as subject to a singular vision. At Apple, the only person whose opinion really matters in the end is Steve Jobs, and that goes for product decisions as well as how the company is run. That doesn't work for everyone. At most large companies, there are competing agendas and fiefdoms that compete for resources and weigh in with differing visions on products. Jobs' leadership style cuts that out.
It's not that Apple does everything right of course. The most recent example is "antennagate," which developed out of customers' distaste for the way Apple handled problems related to the antenna design of the iPhone 4.
Apple's initially condescending response to the issue was eventually addressed by the offer of a free case for iPhone 4 customers, though not without obvious annoyance on Apple's part. Still, the lesson was a useful one for a company that already handles its customer interactions mostly well, said Kalb. And it could be why the company continues to improve in its customer satisfaction index despite such hiccups.
"I think (Jobs) was shocked by the antennagate reaction," he said. "But I think that woke them up further."
Comment Please!!!!!!!!

How to Export Registry in Windows XP

2010-09-25T13:15:00.000+05:30

This article tells how to export registry in windows XP before making any changes to it .

If you are using windows XP and tweaking services using registry edit then there are things you need to keep in mind. You want certain changes in your windows you Google it and find ways to do it that requires registry hacks. But you should be very cautious while making any changes to registry. Registry is like nervous system for your Windows, it's a database that keeps information regarding configurations of users, applications, hard wares and many more things.
Backup registry
You should backup your registry before making any changes to it so that you can restore it in case of damage. Third party tools are available to backup your registry. But System Restore is simplest and best way to backup your registry in windows XP.
If you don't want to go for System restore then you can use regedit exporting feature.
Exporting the Registry.
You can export the registry in hives (Selected Branches only) or the entire registry. The choice is yours; you should be able to restore to your earlier settings in case of any damage.
To Export the registry
Open the Registry Editor
Start -> Run -> Regedit.
Go to File -> Export.
You can save your exported data in different file types.
Registration Files
Registry Hive Files
Text Files
Win9x/NT4 Registration Files
Each file type has a different purpose but the simplest and well known file format for backing up the registry is Registration Files that has .reg extension. Save the file and use it when you need to import it.

Speed up Your Slow Computer

2010-09-25T13:12:00.005+05:30

Computers naturally get slow over time and need minor maintenance to help boost their speed. Here are a few tips to help bring them back to how they used to perform.

Remove malware and spyware.
Download programs such as ad-aware and spybot to remove these. They are hidden programs that take information from your computer and will slow it down by running in the background.
End unneeded processes.
On windows, bring up the task manager,(Ctrl+Alt+Del) and under processes, find ones that arent used by system or local service. These can be ended. Close as many as you like, it will be trial and error to see which are most effective, but try to close ones that use the most memory. If anything is affected, restart your computer and it will be back to normal.
Permanently close processes.
This step is just like step 2, but will not allow the process to come back after restart. So do this step after you realize you don't need that process.
Go to Start->Run. Type in msconfig and click OK. Then go to "Startup" uncheck the box next to any process that you do not need. For example, "Google desktop" If for any reason something does not work correctly, repeat this step and put a check next to it. You can do this for the services tab also.
Scan your computer for viruses.
You need to have a virus software for this. If you do not already have one, AVG has a free one available.
Free up space.
Your computer may not be able to handle everything that you have on it. Start uninstalling things you no longer use such as old gamesthat take a lot of space.
Purchase more RAM
Buying RAM for your computer is the best bang for your buck! It will allow you to perform multiple tasks at the same time faster. If you think that you dont perform multiple tasks, think again. Go to the task manager in the performance tab and see how many tasks are there. Most likely over 50!
Reformat your Hard Drive. (Last option only)
This is different for all computers. Contact your manufacturer or look online for your model. Just make sure to back up ALL of your data before doing so. Only perform this step if all else fails, it will bring your computer back to factory settings!

Nero 9 Lite

2010-09-25T13:12:00.001+05:30

A light version of the very well known Nero Software.

The Nero 9 Suite is an extensive collection comprising tools for editing videos or audio files, ripping audio CDs, converting cassettes to CDs, creating photo slideshows and editing photos. The well known Nero software has kept its head high in the category of Multimedia suites, CD Burning and various other sub-categories.
It would make sense to go for the Full suite only if you need these features along with the standard features in the original Nero 9 Suite. Nero now offers basic tools for burning and copying data discs in a freeware package called Nero Lite, which has just one component: StartSmart.
Nero has done a very smart thing by highlighting the main features of the full suite. The basic tabs required are lined up at the top of the window. The bad news: you will be prompted to upgrade to the full suite if you select any function. The baseline feature of burning and copying discs is very easy- you can add data very easily. Also, the burning speed can be configured from the main menu that can be accessed via the button near the Nero logo at the top left corner of the window.
Verdict:Minimal Components for burning CDs and DVDs
FOR:Very easy to use, light on resources and not a high memory consumer.
AGAINST: No cover editor, cannot create audio CDs
I would give this software an overall rating of 3/5. This software is available as freeware at:
http://www.nero.com/eng/downloads-nbl-free.php

The Newest Generation Apple Ipod Touch

2010-09-25T13:09:00.002+05:30

A simple review on the Newest Generation of Apple iPod touch

The newest released of the Apple iPod touch series has been roaming around in the market, with the 32 GB capacity and newest features, you will be hooked with it. The pioneering technology built into iPod touch, can be able to flick, tap, and pinch with delightful experience. It is the basis that makes a racing game feel so actual and enjoy the realistic moment of any game. It's the reason why you are able to notice that your friend with this gadget jest around with reality. And it's the rationale that iPod touch is the best and implausible iPod that you can get on the fly.
And check this out, you can download mobile application directly without hassle to your iPod touch. You can create an iTunes Store account and enjoy shopping over Wi-Fi anytime and anywhere. The availability of iBooks as a free download plus with an amazing eBook reader and a grand place to check and buy books is the thing you want. You can even edit video, add themes and music, and share your videos to your friends or to the world. Of course, It is now enhanced in sending email and view attachments from your Gmail, MobileMe, or other email account. Stopover to your favorite websites in the internet with its powerful web browser, the thing you just need is your iPod touch and Wi-Fi.

Carry your photos with you as an album that you can share your moments anytime. Share them via an email or choose or make your favorite your wallpaper with your unforgettable moment. Modify the arrangement of your mobile application transversely over several Home screens in iTunes in your hand. Be in charge of music playback on iPod touch using voice commands. Come across to your favorite restaurants, concert venues, or any place that you need to go, and be amaze of the navigating feature of the iPod touch with its maps. You will never be again late to watch the latest viral video sensation and access other favorite videos in youtube.com. Well, set and have your fitness routine with the newly built-in Nike+ iPod support. Take down notes, your random thoughts, maybe a friend's impersonation, memory verses, reminders or record audio you want. The Apple iPod touch comes with screen-reading technology and other great accessibility features.
Nothing like last year's iPod touch revision, this one is a perfect overhaul to the whole line. Last year, the new models didn't alter in form and look. On the inside, quicker processors and double-memory were added to the 32GB & 64GB models, but the 8GB got left out. Not this time. Buying the new 8GB iPod touch to be sure to get you all the new goodies.

Why Hire Computer Support Professionals?

2010-09-25T13:08:00.000+05:30

Small or medium-sized businesses may have the need of hiring good PC tech support professionals since they cannot risk leaving the critical computer components to chance.

Computer support professionals for maintenance or repair or updates of the PC are available from very good service providers. The importance of average PC users taking the assistance of PC tech support professionals for looking after their PC cannot be overstated. The computer is a machine with very complex machinations with a lot happening inside which has a tendency to slow down its processing. There are quite a few in-built tools provided by Microsoft for keeping the computer functioning at its best efficiency. This requires the average PC users to become a little bit skillful technically.
Although not too very complex, even the optimization techniques that are built into the PC need to be trained. If you find yourself confident of getting it done yourself, that’s fine, but taking the help of online computer help professionals is a much better way of doing it all in the best way possible for the PC. The expert phone or online PC support technicians look after your PC through online chat, phone or remote PC connection.
Given the importance of computer these days, it is not a great ask to get Microsoft qualified professionals of PC tech support for looking after it. This service comes at very convenient options of annual service plans. These are good reasons for hiring professionals for computer support service.
Small or medium-sized businesses may have the need of hiring good PC tech support professionals since they cannot risk leaving the critical computer components to chance. If you hire such a professional computer support service, you get help for each and every computer slip-up that occurs from to time. This includes fixing the current error and installation of such features that pre-empt the errors from resurfacing.
The computer support providers have utilities from top software makers, they provide 24x7 support, and fast access is enabled by phone or email. There is constant skill up gradation programs for the technicians of PC tech support service providers. The problem resolution rate of more than 90% does happen without it. It becomes all the more necessary with newer versions of the operating system turned out by Microsoft from time to time. There are quite a few new features in each and every new operating system from Microsoft. It is advisable for average PC users to take the professional phone or online computer help for looking after their PCs and the same holds true for office PCs.
Barbara Mori is a technician working for Askpcexperts.com for many years. Ask PC Experts provides Computer Support, Online PC Repair and Live PC Support that are useful in repair, maintenance and tune up of your computer. Visit Askpcexperts.com for any Online Computer Help

What Is Waas?

2010-09-25T13:05:00.002+05:30

If you have looked into purchasing a GPS or owned a GPS system before then you probably have seen the term WAAS either on packaging or in ads for GPS systems.

The technology behind GPS systems can be complicated. However, a little research into what the various systems are and how they work can make choosing the right GPS system an easier decision. If you have looked into purchasing a GPS or owned a GPS system before then you probably have seen the term WAAS either on packaging or in ads for GPS systems.
WAAS stands for Wide Area Augmentation System. WAAS is an intricate GPS technology, which was developed to provide locations that are more accurate. This is done through GPS signal corrections attained through a network of ground stations and satellites. The stations and the satellites work together to create plots on maps so GPS systems can easily make this information available to the consumers that use these products.
WAAS is still being developed through the joint efforts of the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and the DOT (Department of Transportation). The reason the DOT and the FAA are developing WAAS is actually to make flight locations more accurate. WAAS works together with GPS because GPS does not currently meet navigational requirements of the FAA on its own.
At this time, WAAS is five times more accurate than the average GPS system technology. In fact, a GPS receiver with WAAS capabilities can maintain an accuracy of three meters or less over 90% of the time. Of course, the best feature of WAAS is that it is built in to certain GPS systems. This means there are no additional fees and you do not have to order any additional receivers or other equipment for WAAS to work correctly. Additionally, depending on the type of GPS device you own, you may be able to upgrade your GPS system to start using WAAS capabilities if it does not do so already.
GPS alone faces problems such as ionospheric disturbances, precision timing, and orbit errors for the satellites used. However, when used together with WAAS, these three main problems, as well as smaller errors in the GPS system are corrected. WAAS is also capable of providing information on the GPS satellite itself so there is never a question of whether the satellite is working to its greatest potential or not.
There are around 25 different ground stations, which WAAS uses as reference in the United States alone. The GPS satellite data is communicated to these ground stations so the information can be monitored. Then the information is compiled and sent to two master stations (one on the east coast and one of the west coast), which correct any errors in the GPS satellite information.
Corrections are made based on the orbit of the satellite, clock drift, and delays in the signal caused by the ionosphere and atmosphere of the Earth. After the corrections are made, the master station transmits this information to a geostationary satellite (one of two), which are located in a stationary position over the equator. Since the information is GPS compatible (the signal structure is the same) a GPS receiver with WAAS is able to read the signal from the satellite.
At the present time, only people in North America can use WAAS technology. GPS can be used in South America. However, WAAS will not work to correct accuracy errors. This is because WAAS enabled GPS receivers cannot receive signals due to the fact that South America has no ground stations. WAAS technology is constantly being tweaked and improved though, so in time it could become available across the world.
For now, it is best to use WAAS enabled GPS systems in open land or at sea. Since the stationary satellites are at the equator, it can be hard to receive the transmission if you are not close to the equator or if the signal is being blocked by mountains, trees, or other natural and man made objects that get in the way.
While WAAS technology is not perfect, it is much better than what is currently available. As the system improves, the accuracy will improve, making WAAS one of the leading technology systems for GPS receivers. You can find out if a GPS system is WAAS compatible by looking on its package or searching online. Some examples of WAAS enabled GPS units include:
·Garmin GPS 18 PC Deluxe
·Garmin Nuvi 660 Auto GPS Unit
·Garmin etrex Legend Handheld GPS Unit
·Garmin StreetPilot C530

Mobile Poker

2010-09-25T12:59:00.002+05:30

Do you enjoy playing poker? Do you often wish you lived near a casino or were involved in a group that frequently got together to deal a couple hands? If you answered yes to these questions, don’t stress because there is an alternative. Mobile poker is part of an online website called casino-palace.mobi which allows you to play poker whenever you have free time.
To play, you will simply need a mobile phone. From here, your gaming is endless. Simply download mobile poker to your phone and start playing today. Think about how much fun you are going to have. Not only are you finally getting to enjoy poker playing, it is at your most convenient times. You may play as often or as little as you want. One thing that is for certain is that you should never be bored again.
Do you ride the bus to work or school and often stare out the window bored? Do you have to wait for a brother or kid and often end up waiting impatiently for long times. Have you ever been the passenger in a car ride that took 7 hours? Many people would answer yes to these questions and wouldn’t hesitate to tell you how boring and annoying these situations can be. Now with a little help from the internet and your mobile phone, you won’t be bored in these situations. Simply whip out your mobile phone and start gaming and playing poker. It is totally free, but you may raise the wagers if you desire. You may deposit money into your account and play for real money, just like you would in a casino.
The game play is as follows. You will start the game by placing a bet of credits, and will be dealt a hand. You will have the chance to get rid of cards if you please in hopes of having the best hand. After an evaluation of hands, if yours is the best, the machine will pay you out. Everything is very similar to regular poker, all from the convenience of your own phone and according to your own schedule.
If the player decides that they would like to play to win real money, Casino-Palace offers a bonus of 100% on the player's first deposit. During the summer, they are also offering an extra 20% bonus, for a total of 120%. This 20% is additional to Mobile deposits, compared to online deposits. Signing up is free and the player is not required to place a deposit in order to play the mobile casino.
So next time you’re impatiently waiting for a slow restaurant to bring you your food, turn that frown upside down and play Mobile Poker on your mobile phone. Enjoy playing poker at any time, in any place, all for no money down. Don’t wait, act now. Visit http://www.casino-palace.mobi today to get started.
Mobile poker
http://www.casino-palace.mobi

Drive Backup Software

2010-09-25T12:57:00.002+05:30

These days there are a number of companies which provide the most up to date as well as reliable security software to both professional and home users

These days there are a number of companies which provide the most up to date as well as reliable security software to both professional and home users. Antivirus and firewall security systems provide protection from spam mails as well, this prevents you from receiving junk mail and garbage. While buying security software for your computer I suggest you buying one which firstly protects your computer efficiently and one which is also user friendly and easy to use. Security systems now come with a ton of features; they come with a choice of languages as well as customer support 24 hours a day 7 days a week. These even warn you before you install certain software which may contain viruses and malware. But before you go ahead and buy an Security software I would suggest you do some research, go through user recommendations and companies that provide internet security to large companies. It is always best to know that your software is the best out there. You should always remember that along with your antivirus your software should have an efficient firewall system, this monitor's all incoming and outgoing network data.
There are a few other important things to check on before you buy your security software, you need to make sure your computers meets the minimum system requirements required for the software to run. If you are running an operating software apart from Window's or Macintosh its always best you check the compatibility of your software. So when you buy your next Antivirus and firewall software you should keep these things in mind.
It is very important to have a efficient and updated antivirus and firewall software for your business and even home computers. Viruses are constantly getting better that is why you need these security systems to protect your files and important information. Viruses are updated all the time so you need to have an security system or tool which receives these updates immediately.
These days you are there has been a rise in cyber crimes, a lot of them related to money transfers, important documents. Here is a list of a few things to watch out for
1. Hackers
2. Spyware
3. Trojan's
4. Adware
5. Key loggers
6. Malicious online threats
Antivirus and firewall software has become increasingly important in today's world. These days the internet is widely used in all sorts of businesses and homes. Though the internet has made day to day life faster and easier it is important for us to remember there are many threats out there in the form of Viruses.

Things to do Before Registry Hacks

2010-09-25T12:56:00.000+05:30

Registry is like nervous system for your Windows, it's a database that keeps information regarding configurations of users, applications, hardwares and many more things.You should backup it before making any changes to it.

If you are using windows XP and tweaking services using registry edit then there are things you need to keep in mind. You want certain changes in your windows you Google it and find ways to do it that requires registry hacks. But you should be very cautious while making any changes to registry. Registry is like nervous system for your Windows, it's a database that keeps information regarding configurations of users, applications, hardwares and many more things.
If your registry gets corrupted in any way then it can result in several critical errors or even BSOD. You should try to change settings using Control Panel. If you are editing registry then it should be advised from trustable source otherwise you can end up in a big problem.
Backup registry
You should backup your registry before making any changes to it so that you can restore it in case of damage. Third party tools are available to backup your registry. But System Restore is best way to backup your registry in windows XP.
In order to go to System Restore you should logged on as the Administrator or a user that have Administrative privileges.
Start -> all Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> System Restore.
Or
Start -> Run and type %SystemRoot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe, and click OK.
Create a restore point by giving it a name. Now you have a backup and can go for tweaking.

World's First 256GB USB Flash Drive

2010-09-25T12:53:00.000+05:30

KINGSTON has announced what it claims is the the world's first 256GB USB flash drive.

KINGSTON has announced what it claims is the the world's first 256GB USB flash drive.The Kingston Technology DataTraveler 300 allows the user to carry more files than you can poke a stick at, including a whole database of documents.
Users will also benefit from quick transfer rates and the option to password protects their data, the outfit said.
It will be great for netbook users who want to extend the limited capacity of their machines and carry their entire porn collection with them.
It could also be handy for business consumers who work with large databases, or even designers who need to transfer a lot of large graphic files from one place to another.
Kirsty Miller, consumer product marketing manager for Kingston Technology in Europe said the DataTraveler 300 will enable users to carry up to 365 CDs for example. That's one album for every day of the year.
Of course it makes it possible for data thieves to steal a whole database without having to swap drives too.
Miller said it demonstrates how far flash technology has developed. Business users and consumers can also safeguard their data by initialising the Password Traveler software which will allow them to password protect their data in a privacy zone without the need of administrator rights.
The drive is enhanced for Windows Readyboost and is backed by a five-year warranty. The downside is that the DataTraveler is built to order only. there has been no word on price yet either. ,let's wait and see how much useful it is for the people.

Computer Theft and Copyright Infringement

2010-09-25T12:52:00.001+05:30

Student loan consolidation is a practical repayment tool that combines your student loans into one master loan, significantly reducing your monthly payment (up to 50% in some cases!). Take a look at how much you can save each month with our student loan consolidation calculator.

Federal student loan consolidation is a fixed-rate refinancing program that combines all of your existing federal student loans into one new loan. Consolidation is a great tool for managing your finances - providing immediate payment relief and long term benefits.

    * Cut your monthly student loan payment up to 50%
    * Simplify your finances down to only 1 payment and 1 loan
    * No credit checks, fees, or application charges

Federal Student Loan Consolidation Payment Relief

One of the key benefits of consolidating your federal school loans is payment relief. By combining all of your student loans into one consolidated loan, you can lengthen your repayment term from the standard 10 years to up to 30 years, depending on the amount of your education debts.

With a lower monthly payment, you'll have more money available to meet other living expenses, including car payments, housing expenses, and career-related necessities. Because there are no penalties for overpayment, you can make larger payments and reduce your repayment term when it becomes affordable. Learn more about how student loan consolidation works in this step-by-step tutorial.
Managing Existing Student Loan Debt Obligations:

   1. If you're having trouble meeting your student loan payments, contact your loan servicer. You may qualify for a deferment, forbearance, or repayment alternative that is more affordable.
   2. Consolidation can help by extending your loan's repayment term beyond the standard ten years. While this will increase the total interest charges, the monthly payments will become more manageable.
   3. Watch your expenses! Just as you need to be cautious when you're in school, you need to be aware of your expenses after you leave school.
   4. Limit credit card usage to absolute necessities. Remember you'll pay more for every charged item because of the credit card's finance charges.
   5. If you must have student credit cards, shop around for low interest rates or call existing credit card providers and ask them for a lower rate.
   6. If you are delinquent or in default, visit our Student Loan Default Assistance page for more help.

Sony Walkman X-Series review

2010-09-25T12:49:00.002+05:30

The Sony Walkman X-Series and what it means to the company

After years of struggling to get back a part of the Portable Music Industry which Apple stole away with its iPod line, Sony, the pioneers of this market for 30 years have finally come out with a solution to getting back to iPod: The Sony Walkman X-Series. The player brings in the technologies Sony has been investing on for years like OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode), active Noise Cancelling etc. The 3-inch OLED Touch Screen is alot sharper than competing models and offers amazing and vibrant colors. As part of the package comes Sony premium earphones which feature built in microphones to help the Active Noise Cancelling to work. These alone cost a mint and are very high quality. This is different from Apple's idea to package 3rd class earphones with their offerings. The Walkman player features Wi-Fi with a web browser and most importantly a Slacker app which lets you stream free songs to your device and listen to them on the go. With that there is also a Youtube player on board. The interface is very streamlined and having used the player i can say that the tilting feature of the album artworks is very cool and nicely implemented. The player's audio quality will shorely leave Apple in the dust and although its design could be alot more stylish, I think the player looks good like it is. We will have to wait till June 20 to see the public reaction to this product and if it can stand a hair to Apple's iPod Touch and its amazingly implemented App Store.

How Many of us Use a Laptop in Bed or on The Sofa!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-09-25T12:47:00.000+05:30

How many of us use a laptop in bed or on the sofa without ever thinking about this possibility? Lots I would presume.

A couple lost their 25 year old son, John Smith Jr, in a fire at home on May 4th, 2010. The son, who had graduated with MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison two weeks earlier, had come home for a while.

He had lunch with his dad at home, and decided to go back to clean up his hostel room. His father told him to wait, to meet his mother, before he went back for a few days. John decided to take a nap while waiting for his mom to come back home from work. Some time later their neighbors called 911 when they saw black smoke coming
out of the house. Unfortunately, 25 years old John died in the three year old house.

It took several days of investigation to find out the cause of the fire. It was determined that the fire was caused by the lap top resting on the bed. When the lap top was on the bed cooling fan did not get the air to cool the computer and that is what caused the fire. He did not even wake up to get out of the bed because he died of breathing in carbon monoxide.

The reason I am writing this to all of you is that I have seen many of us using our lap top while in bed. Let us all decide and make it a practice not to do that. The risk is real. Let us make it a rule not to use the lap top on bed or put the computer on bed with blankets and pillows around.

Please educate as many people as you can!!!

How to export Iphone SMS to Excel spreadsheet

2010-09-25T12:45:00.000+05:30

There is an easy way to export Iphone SMS to Excel. You dont need to be a techical person to do this. Just follow these steps.

Step 1 – Do a Full backup of the iphone :

Make sure to do a sync/backup of your iPhone in iTunes before starting to ensure all messages will be extracted.

Step 2 – Download SQLite:

Now download SQL lite database Browser

SQLite Database browser is a light GUI editor for SQLite databases, built on top of QT. The main goal of the project is to allow non-technical users to create, modify and edit SQLite databases using a set of wizards and a spreadsheet-like interface.

You can download the FREE version of SQLite from here

http://sourceforge.net/projects/sqlitebrowser/

Step 3 – Find the SMS database File:

The iphone SMS messages are stored in an SQLite database format.

The file is located in a backup folder on your computer. The file is named

3d0d7e5fb2ce288813306e4d4636395e047a3d28.mddata

In Windows 7/Vista the file is stored in this path

C:\Users\\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\(some random id)\

In Windows XP the file is stored in this path

C:\Documents and Settings\\Application Data\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\(some random id)\

Copy 3d0d7e5fb2ce288813306e4d4636395e047a3d28.mddata file from the folder

Step 4 – Save the Iphone SMS db file as SQLite file:

Save the 3d0d7e5fb2ce288813306e4d4636395e047a3d28.mddata file in the desktop.Rename the file as sms.sqlite

Step 5 – Opening the SMS SQLite Database

Open the downloaded sqlitebrowser-1.3-win.zip file
Extract to a folder
Now open SQLite Database Browser.exe

Click File>>Open Database>>Open sms.sqlite from the desktop
Now click File>>Export>>Table as CSV file
Select table name as message from the Drop down>>Select export

Save the CSV File as Sms.csv

Step 6 – Exporting to Excel

Open the Sms.Csv file in Microsoft Excel and Save the file as Sms.xls
Open the SMS.XLS file.

Here are a few fields that you are interested in:

address: This holds the phone number of the person that sent you or you sent the message to.
date: This is a Unix timestamp of when the message was sent.
text: The actual message.
flags: This should be either 2 or 3. The messages flagged 3 are messages that you sent (outgoing), while the messages flagged 2 are incoming messages.

Format the date column by inserting a new column after the date column and insert this formula
=(((C2/60)/60)/24)+DATE(1970,1,1)+(-5/24).Now drag the formula for all cells .
Select all cells now & right click select Format all cells>>Number>>Custom>>MM/DD/YYYY

Hurray That’s it! I hope this will be useful to someone, and if you have any questions or comments, or find any errors in this post just leave a comment!

Problem With The New Computer or Laptop: The Error Touchpad

2010-09-25T12:42:00.000+05:30

Hi, guys. Do you ever experience something miserable with your new computer or laptop? Could you tell us what it is?

Is there any problem with the keyboard? monitor? or what? until it drives you thinking how come a new computer or laptop can find such kinds of problem.
Actually, I had ever experienced it. I found my laptop’s touchpad did not work at all. In fact, I had just bought it! Furthermore, I was very clueless with technology, including laptop. This made me shocked and did not know what had to do.
At that time I was blank and could not make up my mind why this problem occured. What appeared in my mind was, I had to bring my laptop to the store where I bought it from so that my laptop would be repaired and the touchpad could be functioned as it was. Yet, the problem was the store was very far away from my home and I was still a stranger in my city. Moreover, to be repaired needed time, in fact I could not live without laptop even a single second. That is why, I still hoped that my laptop’s touchpad would be alright before I sent it to the store.
Suddenly—I did not know whether it was a miracle—I had a feeling to check the software, especially the touchpad setting of my lapotop although as far as I remembered, I never changed the touchpad setting before. Finally, I found that the touchpad notification in my laptop was disabled, in fact it should be enabled. Then, I clicked the ‘enable’ choice and finally my laptop’s touchpad could functioned as it should be.
From this experience, I start to learn that if there is something wrong with our electronic media, specifically computer and laptop, we ought to check the setting first before calling up the technician or before bringing it to the store.

How to Activate Hidden Windows 7 Themes

2010-09-25T12:39:00.002+05:30

Step 1

Open up Windows Explorer. Start ==> Computer.

Step 2

Then type this in the search bar above "Windows\Globalization\MCT\" and you will see 5 folders. Namely MCT-AU for an Australian theme, MCT-CA for a Canadian theme, MCT-GB for a British theme, MCT-US for an American theme and MCT-ZA for a South African theme.

Step 3

Choose what theme or country you like it doesn't matter. In this case we'll open up MCT-AU which is for an Australian theme (you can choose anything you like, this is just for a tutorial purpose, just feel free). Then double click on "Theme". And in this case, I'll run Windows Theme file inside the folder which is named AU because it's an Australian theme. Just wait for it to load.

Step 4

After the theme loads it will open the Personalization window. You don't really need that because after you click on the Windows theme file Windows 7 will automatically switch to that theme.

Step 5

Just close the Windows Explorer and Personalization Windows. And you're done.
Note: If in case you won't see the folders,just go the top right corner of the Windows Explorer and click on Organize and then click on "Folder and search options". After that a window will open. You can see on that windows are three tabs, General, View, and Search. You must click View then click on Show hidden files, folders, and drives. You should now be able to see the folders.
After installing the theme that you wanted, for safety purposes, go back to Organize, Folder and search options then go back to View and click on Don't show hidden files, folders, and drives.
Thanks for reading.
Disclaimer: If you did something wrong in the process, please don't hold me responsible. Please do this at your own risk.

Sony will be launching streaming services

2010-09-07T09:40:00.004+05:30

Sony will be launching a new music and video streaming service that will work on Internet-connected Bravia TV’s, Blu-ray disc players and computers. Its new music service, called Music Unlimited, it will let consumers stream from millions of songs over the Website. This is different from Apple, which sells music by album, which is based Sony's "Qriocity" platform. It is also said that the company will also be able to deliver digital content such as games and e-books. This seems like an effort to popularity over Apple, which dominates the digital music industry with its line of iPod and iPhone products as well as its iTunes store. In May, Sony has joined with Google and Intel to bring Internet-connected televisions to the market

Apple's Ping recorded over 1 million users in first 48 hours!!!

2010-09-06T22:27:00.000+05:30

Apple said Friday that its Ping network for music has reached more than 1 million users in its first 48 hours after launch.

One-third of the people who have downloaded iTunes 10 have joined Ping, said Eddy Cue who is Apple's vice president of Internet Services. He expects the network continue growing in coming weeks as more people download iTunes 10. Apple's CEO Steve Jobs had said Ping is similar to Facebook and Twitter and its users can follow artists and friends, and know what others are listening and purchasing.
Now with 160 million iTunes users in 23 countries, Ping has a ready traffic, even though users will have to opt-in to the service after downloading the latest version of iTunes. Initially people could connect to Facebook users but that feature is disabled. However Hours after launch, spammers had already started posting links related to scams.Fake celebrity accounts have been created as well.

Apple had added vibration to the fourth-generation iPod touch

2010-09-06T22:17:00.000+05:30

The new iPod touch device includes a motor for vibration, similar to the one found in the iPhone. The vibrate feature can be used to alert a user of a call when the phone is placed on silent; it has also become an important feature in games. Apple's website notes that the new device has the ability to vibrate, but notes only that it is used for an alert for Face Time calls.

Therefore if somebody starts a video call, we will receive an invitation along with a vibrating alert on our iPod touch asking us to join. However the iPad along with the iPhone and iPod touch cannot display Flash content

Amoung the 120 Million iOS devices sold by Apple, 38 percent of those were the iPod touch !!!

2010-09-06T22:03:00.000+05:30

Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs said that over 120 million iOS devices have been shipped since the iOS devices have been sold. The site assumed that 8 million iPhones and 4 million iPads were sold in August and July, which would leave the remaining share of 45.2 million units to the iPod touch. Out of the 120 million iOS devices, that would be 38 percent. Jobs also said that about the success of the iPod touch as a game playing device. He claimed that the hardware has more than a 50 percent market share among portable game players in both the U.S. and worldwide. The site calculated in April that 41 percent of iOS units sold were the iPod touch, which shows that the introduction of the iPad, along with international expansion of the iPhone, has reduced the overall share of the device. But, the iPod touch in the last year has also become the best-selling iPod in the company's sale.

Market review says that the Apple's iOS is 6 times larger than that of that of Android.The devices that run with ios are iPhone,ipad.Ios emerged as third operating system on web market.Windows and apple are respectively in the rank 1&2 positions respectively.iOS has overtaken Linux while considering the net applications in use. Although net applications don't reflect devises sold,they show how much people make use of the particular hardware and the OS. Nokia's android and Nokia's Symbian are already overtaken by the iOS. Mobile operating system accounts for 2.66 percent of the total share out of which only 0.2 percent of the operating system is governed by android. While considering advantages android has a ratio of 6:1 over android.

Upon the sales there is always a constant battle between Apple and Google in Smartphone deals. it is said that 10.6 milion android Android based smart phones are sold in a quarter. IPhones put Apple into the fourth place behind Symbian and RIM. However iPhone is not only the device which runs with iOS. Total of 3.3 million iPads and 9.4 million iPods in a quarter. Apple’s ceo Steve Jobs says that among the four models: nano, shuffle, touch, claasic Touch line is the best-selling model. Steve also says that total of 120 million iOS devices have been sold so far where every day, 230,000 iOs devices are activated!!!.