Information Technology

The Advantages and disadvantages of having an iPad

2012-03-04T02:30:00.000-08:00

There is no doubt about the unique beauty That Apple (currently) the best-selling electronic device, the iPad, A. Its Creators describe it as "something perfect, Necessary and useful." Of course, this statement is totally subjective and relative.Used Apple has certainly the best materials, given the best finish at the best design in the creation of this product but like Any other electronic device, it has some Also negative points as well as many assets.

All in one:-. Regular daily tasks of a user are combined digitally and accessed via a single electronic device. Entertainment in the form of photos, videos, access to social networks, play music, reading eBooks and play games, standing on the day of your life by taking notes, access Google Maps, and Maintaining daily agenda, and above all, throwing in all kinds of applications, the iPad has it all.

On the road:-. The size of the monitors, weight and compactness makes it ideal for use on the road. However, this simple design leads to a Lack of USB ports and does not allow connection to external devices or webcams.

Screen:-.The screen occupies the Almost Entire face. Its size is 9.7 inches - small enough to fit in your handbag and big enough to watch a movie on. The touchscreen is responsive and zooming and property expansion makes the function of the use of cards SEEM much more real.

Camera:-.Yes Well, the iPad does not come with an integrated camera, but the iPad 2 is compensation for this option and it comes with ITS own built-in camera.

Flash Platform incompatibility:-.The Also iPad lacks compatibility Flash, Which Means That all web Pages that CONTAIN flash images, videos or slogans appear: to be empty in Regions where the flash element is supposed to be.

Lack of multitasking:-. Be a device for entertainment or leisure, it is quite reasonable to assume That one can surf the Internet and play music on it at the Same Time. But you can not, and this LACK of multitasking ability is one of the main Factors That opposte it.

Who iTunes:-.Those of us are regular Customers are familiar with Apple's iTunes, and maybe Become comfortable with it too. But Those Who are new to using Apple products Would certainly have a problem Embracing iTunes. In Addition, Almost all applications and all software must Be Purchased at the iTunes store before They Can Be Used. Could this cause some reluctance in Consumers.

Will Mac and PC compatible Ever Be?

2012-03-04T02:25:00.000-08:00

There is truth in the computer world, and it is there are two types of computers.There are Mac and PC ago, and it was always like that. Will it always the Same?

What is The Meaning of Compatible?

In many Ways, Mac and PC are already compatible. Wireless routers, for example, working for Both Systems. Devices are interchangeable. Most Manufacturers of printers and cameras you want to Be Able to use your device on Any system you may own, with They work for Both Mac and PC. Microsoft Word is available for Apple, as are The Most Important programs ..

Why the PC and Mac are Different

There are Important Fundamental Differences Between the Two Systems That Will probably never change. There are many more PCs in the world Than Macs.PCs are made by thousands of Different companies, together with Millions of Different Ways. Apple, on the other hand, controls every step of Their process.Also They make very good computers. While traveling through the store you can convince That Macs are expensive, this is only Because Macs are not cheap.Low-cost computers are all PCs. But When you try to find a Windows machine That does what a Mac, you'll Quickly See That They Are more expensive than option and Mac computer for less. Apple has made selling computers Their reputation for professional high-end computing and wealthy clients want more features WHO Than They Ever use. Their operating systems reflect this philosophy.

Universal Computing and information technology exclusive.

Windows programs enjoy a high degree of universality. Almost all systems can run Almost Any Program. However, the quality control Varies enormously. Apple products have strict quality standards. They are specific programs for specific Their systems. Innovate and assimilated as Windows, Apple does the best and it adds to Their base system.

More compatibility

One Way in Which it is a very good thing That the Mac and PC are Incompatible with the virus protection and security. Virtually all viruses out there affects not PC and Mac. That's Because Apple tightly controls Their devices, and Maintain a central IT department security. PC does not have an advantage drought. However, Both systems are equally vulnerable to new strains of viruses social networking.

Will They Ever Be compatible?

As we have Shown, in some Ways They already are. In some it is better Ways That They Are not. In the broadest sense, one Windows Could Say That Will Always Be one step ahead, but Apple Will Always Be the Strongest foot. They Will Never Be perfectly compatible, because the computers Apple Will Evolve and Will Change Politics, but Will Their interaction continue to bring IT to the people.

3 Good Reasons Not To Ban P2P File Sharing In Your Business

2012-03-04T02:17:00.000-08:00

Any business owner Who has been paralyzed by having Their network intruders have caused the Peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing want it prohibiti Their Use of Their network. It is natural to protect your assets from all Threats That undermine productivity and new money. But what if protecting your resources Means you are ignoring some key benefits for your business?
The P2P file sharing has some great business benefits:
Get information faster - The idea behind file sharing peer-to-peer information exchange. With the right infrastructure in place, companies can interact with Suppliers and partners worldwide, Differences Regardless of time. Imagine working end and Specifications That require presentation and Realize That Rome the office an older version the snake while the snake office Cadiz the latest changes. Despite the time difference Between Each of theses places, to have access to theses files When You Need Them helps Increase productivity and a healthy bottom line.
More demand equals Greater Capacity - Any That server is experiencing Greater demand is subject to bottlenecks, Which Means That the Increased Demand for Information Means Slower network. With P2P, the more demand on the system, peers are the Present Higher the total system capacity. The distributor of original content not having to worry about adding more memory or get a bigger server Because there is more demand
Reduce the risk of network failure - Crippling accidents network are to say the Least. The worst part is When the network failure is fixed, changes Paralysis That frustration Slowly ramp the network. With P2P file sharing network as a whole does not just crash a computer Because crashes. If one of HIS peers on the network malfunctions, there are other peers from Which you can get information.P2P file sharing has a built-in redundancy Which Makes Them More Reliable in the case of an accident.

These benefits for: to be felt, companies need to have controls in place Appropriate
How to File Sharing Will Be Used by your company? - Discover how P2P is Relevant to your business is key. Working with external Suppliers, contractors remotely what are some Factors to Consider.
Implement and test the integrity of the P2P system - Once you Realize the value of P2P file sharing for your business, ITS Implementation is only part of the equation.Testing the integrity of the system and making sure it is fully compliant with the essential security information.
Establish guidelines and Procedures Regarding the types of file sharing is Allowed - Now That You Have the system in place, what are the rules? Be easily understood, Procedures and guidelines Brings everything together.
Train all Employees, Suppliers, contractors - Whether in-house and outsourced all Those Who need access to information your company needs to Be Thoroughly trained on how to use this new system.

The Basic Thing To Know About Google

2012-03-04T02:09:00.000-08:00

As Stephen Covey says, interdependence with the State with the human race Which can benefit most. It Seems That The Creators of Google Sites something close to this idea in Mind When Their invented it. Regular users find a Number of Advantages of using it for Different Purposes.

It Will Be it easier for Those Who Understand use Google Docs. Like Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other types of files can Be downloaded and edited in real time and easily Be made available to the target audience, Google Sites Allows users to create and edit Web pages in and of very user friendly.

Who can use Google Sites?

Like Google Docs, Google Sites and Also has very diverse range of Ways it Can Be Used in. Some are listed below Ways.

Commercial Use

Yes, if you sell something online, you need to own a website or web page where you can showcase the product or service for sale. Google Sites has a sufficient number of features That allow you to post things for sale in a clear and attractive.

Use within The Business

Communication among the Employees of the organization is a very critical thing to manage. Although the winds may Be sufficient for Small Organizations, and mid-sized Organizations need a more Appropriate platform to share the latest updates and other data. Google Sites and proves very Effective platform where updates and editing old data with just a few clicks.

Personal use

Personal blogs are something That is growing exponentially all over the internet.Almost anyone else has a blog. For most of the new download blog posts is not really a problem, but When It Comes to editing, or deleting the message Oldest management, things can get a bit Complicated. This. Where Google Sites lets you know not only the amateur bloggers, but Those Who Also Want to try a hand and Maintain a proper website

Privacy

One of the best things about Google Sites Is that, unlike most websites, it gives the owner of the website the right to Authorize Certain prohibiti or people from accessing it.

Features

There are a number of features users can incorporate That Into one of these symbols That site make it more Effective. Some of Them are:

User friendly options - to customize your site, you do not need to know HTML. All you have to to is click on the buttons here and there and voila! You're done!

Personalization - There are a number of styles and themes That Allows you to shape the site They want you.

Types of Pages - Your Google Web site does not have it look like a Web page. It may look like a workbook, and the dashboard or Even a bulletin board.

Google Apps - Google Apps Can Be All integrated into a website built that way and can not to much more Valuable.

Google - The Google search tab That Allows users to search for content in your website can Also Be included.

The Best Ways To Protect Your Information

2012-03-01T01:19:00.000-08:00

We depend on computers for almost everything in our lives. We may store a significant amount of personal information on those computers, but at the same time, we may use them for all of our business purposes as well. Regardless of what or why you store information on a computer, it is important to ensure that it is kept safe. This is not only true from a financial perspective, it is also true when you consider the sensitive nature of some of the data that we may keep on our hard drives. In order for you to make sure that your information is as safe as possible, here are some data protection suggestions that can assist you.

One of the most important things for you to do when it comes to operating a computer is to safeguard against viruses and spyware. These are two completely different issues, but in most cases, they are going to be covered under a single type of protection software. Some of the bigger brand-name antivirus software will run on your computer and make sure that no damaging information is able to be added to the hard drive. It will check any download that takes place, as well as scanning your email and even websites before they are opened, to ensure that there is nothing damaging attached.

If you are going to be running an antivirus program, it is also important that you make sure it is updated regularly. New viruses are coming out on a regular basis, and these can often circumvent the security of anti-spyware and antivirus programs. By keeping the programs up to date, you will be sure to catch anything new that is released. Additionally, it is a good idea for you to familiarize yourself with how to recognize problem websites and other issues that could result in a virus or spyware being attached to your computer.

If you do any work on a public network, it is also important to ensure that nobody has access to your personal information. All of the information that travels across the network is going to need to be encrypted so that it cannot be read in such a way. In most cases, the build in protections for Windows is enough to take care of the problem, but in other cases, you may need to add more security. Be sure that you get what is necessary in order to protect your data on public networks.

One final thing that you can do to protect your information is to employ some kind of disk encryption software. Not everyone is going to need to take advantage of encrypting their hard drive, but if you have extremely sensitive data, it is something for you to consider. By including the data on your hard drive, it is going to be unreadable by anyone who is not able to unlock the encryption code. This is beneficial, not only when you are on a network, but when you have a laptop and run the risk of having it stolen.

Importance Of Wireless Network Solutions

2012-03-01T01:17:00.000-08:00

As a famous corporation leader, you understand the significance of your employees being mobile, as they are necessary to concentrate numerous meetings plus meet by customers out of the office. Nowadays, where all is digitalized, it becomes extremely significant that your workers are ready by wireless technologies. Hire wireless network specialist services plus make sure your employees are forever linked. For the achievement of your solid it is extremely significant that your workers make a faultless primary feeling. How awkward would it be if one your well-organized executives is on a lunch gathering by one of your potential clients plus when they button on the laptop to show your company's achievement, they cannot even access the internet? Surely, not creation use of the superior standards wireless network will make your corporation negative points plus this could still lead to you behind out on the explanation.

In your proposal to increase the mobility of your workers you experiment by various quick techniques for quick solutions. However, there are improved chances of them not operational for you. An additional difficulty by installing perfect wireless network is it requires completion of numerous events that balance one more, making it a very time consuming plus quite complex procedure.

So how do you make a decision which exact answer will most excellent suit your commerce plus get you in the high-quality books of your potential customers? A perfect answer is to rope in the services of a specialist wireless network service, as they will assure that the WLAN is intended to turn into an essential plus a rather rational part that contributes to your hard network communications. Also make sure they offer the efficient normal boost next to by other fully tenable wireless networks that are simple to measure plus managed distantly. Thus ensuring you get improved return on your investment.

Installing it is not simply simple plus quick but it also obviates the obligation to drag wire wires through ceilings plus walls. The systems linked by this skill are able to be simply configured into a broad diversity of network topology in order to convene the supplies of exacting installation plus applications. One can easily modify plus range configurations from peer-to-peer networks suitable for little users. Using it, users have a simple right of entry to in order anywhere in the corporation or association or exterior. Thus, this mobility very much supports improved output plus novel service opportunities that were before not likely because of aged technologies.

Ghana seeks ICT assistance from India

2012-03-01T01:13:00.000-08:00

Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, on Tuesday said Ghana is committed to strengthen relations with India to draw the expertise of the country in revenue mobilisation.

He said India would help the District Assemblies in mobilising money by tracking revenue through an electronic system.

Mr Ampofo was speaking when the new Indian High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr Rajinda Bahaght, paid him a visit in his office in Accra.

He said there was the need for Ghana to understudy India, which is an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) expert globally.

He solicited the help of India to turn the Tema Community Centre into a modern ICT facility.

Mr Bahaght said his country is committed to the development of Ghana.

He said the Indian Government would support the Electoral Commission with the provision of indelible ink to be used in the December Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

Mr Bahaght said India had indentified some areas to support Ghana’s development agenda to improve on the living standards of the people.

He said the areas include ICT and agriculture under which fertiliser and sugar plants would be provided to support farmers.

Mr Bahaght said this year India would give 116 scholarships to students to pursue Master of Business Administration.

He assured the Minister of turning the Tema Community Centre into an ultra modern ICT spot.

Source: GNA

Three banks begin integration to national switch

2012-03-01T01:10:00.000-08:00

The process of integrating the switches and Automated Teller Machines (ATM) to the national switch has started with three banks.

The banks are Zenith, Prudential and Cal Bank, which are using the NCR ATMs and position switches, which have since been ready for the integration.

The management of the Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GhIPSS) said the integration process meant that very soon customers of the three banks would be able to use each other’s ATM to access their bank accounts.

The Chief Executive of GhIPSS, Fred France, said the company was working assiduously to ensure the operability of banks this year to make banking more convenient to the public.

The interoperability will ensure easy banking, a move that could potentially attract the unbanked population to start using the banking system.

“However, once it becomes possible for bank customers to use ATMs of other banks, it will no longer be necessary for each bank to site as many ATMs as possible to achieve that convenience,” Mr France said.

Meanwhile, suppliers of Automated Teller Machines (ATM) and bank switches have resolved to ensure the speedy integration of their systems into the national switch.

General Manager in charge of Project and Business Development, GhIPSS, Mr Archie Hesse, said the various providers were determined to complete the processes to ensure that their systems were ready within the next two months.

Cyber fraud activities in Ghana peak at 1am daily – Report

2012-03-01T01:08:00.000-08:00

A report by a US-based firm that protects online businesses from fraud and abuse has found that activities of cyber crime are conducted at 1am local time (5pm Pacific Standard Time) in Ghana every day in the year 2011.

In a press statement February 23, 2012, iovation says it came to these conclusions using data from more than two billion transactions it has protected in 2011 through its ReputationManager 360 solution which identifies computers, mobile phones and tablets used to commit fraud.

The firm recently rated Ghana ahead of West African neighbour, Nigeria as leader in global fraud.

For Nigeria, it said the time criminal cyber activities peak is 6am local time (9pm PST) while in the Philippines cybercrime activities surge around 3am local time (11am PST).

According to iovation, cyber fraud persons never sleep saying the time period was most dangerous hours in 2011 because online companies open business 24hours in seven days.

“Unlike brick and mortar businesses, companies with online storefronts are open for business 24×7 and therefore susceptible to fraud around the clock,” said Greg Pierson, CEO and co-founder at iovation in the statement on its website.

Understanding Microsoft Excel

2012-02-24T02:45:00.000-08:00

What is Excel

Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet application that allows users to store, edit and manipulate data within a group of table-like structures known as a workbook. A workbook uses a collection of worksheets to organize data within a system or row and columns split into cells. Users can enter data or numbers into these cells to create easy to ways to calculate simple or complex formulas. Users can insert objects such as charts and graphs into their workbook to graphically represent their entered data in many unique ways.

Who Created Excel

Microsoft Excel was created by the Microsoft Corporation in 1984. It was designed to create a more efficient user friendly way for spreadsheet users to calculate data without the worry of having to deal with the DOS command line. It was originally created for use with Apple computers. When Microsoft Windows was first launched in 1987, Microsoft Excel was one of the first programs created for Microsoft Windows. Until 1992 it was the only windows based spreadsheet application.

Versions

Microsoft Excel created several different versions for three different operating systems. Microsoft Windows has had 11 different versions from 1987 until now. Apple Macintosh has had 12 different versions from 1985 until now. The OS/2 operating system had 3 different versions from 1989 to 1991.

Features

Microsoft Excel has created many features for Excel users to take advantage since the program was first created. Features such as formulas, charts, graphs, sorting and filtering have made the process of entering, manipulating and displaying data within Excel a useful tool for many different purposes. New features such as pivot tables, import and export options and visual basic for applications have made the whole process of using Excel easier and more customizable.

Tools

Microsoft Excel has also created useful tools and menus to allow Excel users more customization within their own specific Excel applications and workbooks. The quick access toolbar was created to allow users to create a quick way to access commonly used commands. This toolbar can be customized per Excel application or specific workbook. The Ribbon was created by Excel to replace the earlier versions of Excel menus. With the ribbon came the ability for Excel users to customize the ribbon to meet their specific demands.

File Types

Microsoft Excel has also created new types of ways to save workbooks and other various Excel files. With the creation of new types of save files Excel created the import and export feature that allowed Excel users to easily be able to import already created workbooks or files and export workbooks or files to be able used at later time.

How To Use Excel LEN Function

2012-02-24T02:42:00.000-08:00

LEN is one of the core text functions in Excel that all users should have in their set of skills. The function will return the length of a specified text string. You might wonder when you will use this?. But, once you start to do any sort of data manipulation in Excel you will soon realise how useful it really is.

So how does it work?. LEN will return EVERY character in a text string. So, all text, spaces, punctuation and numbers will all be included in the count of characters in question.

Let's look at an example or two. The syntax for the formula is

=LEN(Text)

See an example text string below:-

Excel is awesome.

Applying the above formula the result would be 17

Here is another example:-

howtoexcelatexcel

Applying the above formula the result would be 17

So, just how will this be useful? If you do any data work with Excel, in particular with data importing or data cleansing this function can be invaluable. Imagine you have a set of records to import from one database system to another. The new system you know will not accept a name field longer than certain character length.

You know the fields that have restrictions in the new database, but your old system records did not have such controls. With this information you could easily use Excel LEN function as a method of identifying the name records that were too long in length.

You can insert a additional column to calculate the length of the text string. The records can be sorted using this extra columns that contains the results of the LEN function. Easy.

Here are the detailed steps to carrying out such an exercise

Open your Excel file
Insert a column to the right of the field you wish to measure
Enter a column title in this example 'name length'
Place the Excel cursor in the first cell underneath your column title
Formulas Tab
Function Library
In the search for a function box type LEN
Hit Ok
Click the cell that contains the text string you want to perform the character count
Hit Ok

The result of the count of the text string will be displayed, all you need to do is copy the formula to your other cells in the column.

You can quickly do this by selecting the first cell in your column with the formula, scroll down the column to the last cell in the column you want to analyse.

Hit SHIFT-Click in the last cell to select them all.
Press CTRL+D to fill with your formula all of the way down the column.

You now have the count of the string of characters in your selected name records and can sort them to identify those which are over the threshold of what is allowed in the new database system.

Excel is often thought of as a number cruncher and that's its limit. LEN is one example of Excels built in functions that can be used to help you work smarter and faster to solve real problems with data.

Top IT skills wanted for 2012

2012-02-02T05:32:00.000-08:00

Takeaway: A new Computerworld survey indicates the nine IT skills that will be in demand in 2012.

Nearly 29 percent of the 353 IT executives who were polled in Computerworld’s annual Forecast survey said they plan to increase IT staffing through next summer. (That’s up from 23% in the 2010 survey and 20% in the 2009 survey.)

Here are the skills that the IT executives say they will be hiring for:

Programming and Application Development–61% plan to hire for this skill in the next 12 months, up from 44% in the 2010 survey. This covers the gamut from website development to upgrading internal systems and meeting the needs of mobile users.
Project Management (but with a twist)– The twist is that they’re not going to just be looking for people who can oversee and monitor projects. They also want people who can identify users’ needs and translate them for the IT staffers-the increasingly popular business analysts.
Help Desk/Technical Support–Mobile operating systems have added a new dimension to help desk and tech support.
Networking-This demand is being fueled partially by virtualization and cloud computing projects. The survey also revealed that execs will be looking for people with VMware and Citrix experience.
Business Intelligence-Computerworld interprets this uptick to a focus shift in many companies, from cost savings to investing in technology. That will be nice if it pans out that way.
Data Center-Virtualization and the Cloud could also be behind the increased need for IT professionals with backgrounds in data center operations and systems integration.
Web 2.0-Tech skills centered around social media will be in demand, with .Net, AJAX and PHP as key back-end skills, with HTML, XML, CSS, Flash and Javascript, among others, on the front end.
Security-Although down from 32 percent in the 2010 survey, security stays a top concern of IT executives.
Telecommunications-The survey indicates a demand for people with IP telephony skills, and for those familiar with Cisco IPCC call center systems.

The Similarities And Differences between iPad And iPhone Apps

2012-02-02T05:29:00.000-08:00

People who design an iPhone app know the similarities and differences between the iPhone and the iPad and their impact on the apps used in these two very popular and smart devices. When the iPad was first introduced to the market, Apple let people know that their iPhone apps can perfectly be used in iPads and it was true. However, as time passed and new apps were created and used, more and more of those applications became exclusive to one or the other of the devices.

First let us look at the similarities and differences between the iPhone and the iPad and how they affect the design of iPhone apps.

The iPhone is used to make phone calls or video calls on some models, send text and email messages, read books on it, play music and videos, surf the Internet and take photos. The iPad is used mainly for browsing online, reading books, and playing multimedia files.

So basically, the iPad can do all the things that the iPhone does except make calls and send text messages. However, some iPad apps do allow us to send texts. So what are their differences?

The iPad is a much larger device and has a bigger touchscreen than the iPhone. Because of its smaller size, the iPhone is primarily used to make phone calls. On the other hand the iPad serves as a PC or notebook. The docking device of one of the models has a physical keyboard which when attached to the tablet, converts it into a laptop or notebook. Very cool!

If you want to create an app for the two devices the difference in size is a key factor.

Today, you don't want to use an app you're using in your iPhone in your iPad or vice versa. It may work, but not as perfectly as in the device it was originally created for. The people who create iPad apps have taken advantage of the larger touchscreen of the tablet. iPad apps when downloaded on the iPhone do not look as great. The 'shrinking' of the app renders it unreadable. The reverse is true of the iPhone app. However, the pictures and text of the magazine and newspaper apps won't fit on the smaller touchscreen of the iPhone. And the iPhone apps downloaded on the iPad device, suffer a loss of quality. The graphics are enlarged and they become pixellated and blurry.

To fix these issues, some people who design iPhone apps have created two versions for the devices. All the user has to do is to download the correct one on his device and enjoy its graphics and functionality.

Some Pitfalls To Avoid While Designing A Popular iPhone App

2012-02-02T05:23:00.000-08:00

In today's mobile world nothing comes close to capturing the popularity of Apple's iPhone. One of the most popular features of this unique device is the third-party applications for it. They prove that anyone with the technical know-how can design an iPhone app. One is only limited by the imagination when it comes to designing one of these programs, but that does not mean that it will be marketable.

The only way to profit from these applications is to make them worth while to a targeted group of people, or satisfy an unmet need. Such a thing is not easy to accomplish as it requires some market research to know what people are looking for and what they need. Some of the most popular iPhone applications either meet a need such as directions to a destination, up to date financial news, or provide some other valuable service. These are the apps that people purchase. Or they are incredibly fun to use and are of the gaming variety.

Designing an iPhone app that delivers a gaming experience is a bit risky because of copyright issues. A designer really needs to be careful. If one does not create a game that is unique then they could be infringing on someone else's idea. If it is a big budget project then the patenting of the idea and involvement of intellectual property attorneys will probably be necessary. There is nothing more frustrating than investing a lot of time and money into a project only to find out that it is not marketable.

So when someone wants to design an iPhone app it is a good idea to look at what people need in their day-to-day lives. Of course there is a need to look at each group of people differently. Never try to cater to the needs of too many groups of people. Loyal consumers are far more desirable.

Creating a whole series of applications should be the goal of any business that is looking to cash in on the app craze. It takes a lot more than a basic idea or vision to design an iPhone app that is truly worth while. The technical know-how of talented programmers and designers can be costly. However, certain aspects of the programming of an app project can be outsourced to freelancers, but this can be risky. There are a lot of freelancers who take advantage of upfront payments and busy bosses.

The road to designing and marketing a product that sells well is a long one indeed, but the potential benefits are absolutely huge. You stand to make tons of money. It just depends on your vision and the willingness to follow through on it.

Avast! Anti-virus available for Android smartphones

2012-01-23T00:59:00.000-08:00

Avast! Anti-virus, with over 165 million users worldwide, announced that their hugely-popular anti-virus and anti-malware programs are now available to users of Android smartphones.

A screenshot of Avast! Free Antivirus (image: Wikipedia)

“You asked for it and here it is … avast!
Free Mobile Security, the new app for your Android phone. Before we launched avast! Free Mobile Security, a poll of avast! users showed that 19% had Android phones. Of these, 56% said they would be interested in a free avast! security app for their phone,” the company said on their South African website.
Avast also stated that their new app has been downloaded by many users. “In just a few days after its placement in the Android Market, our app has been downloaded by well over 100,000 users.”
In December 2010, Avast! Free Antivirus was awarded the VB100 award, conducted by Virus Bulletin, and also made the top 10 most-downloaded list on CNET Downloads.

Top BlackBerry Torch 9800 apps

2011-12-25T00:39:00.000-08:00

Since the release of the BlackBerry Torch 9800 in late 2010, the smartphone has managed to rank as one of the best BlackBerry devices ever. Although it looks similar to other phones, the combination of a sliding keyboard and bigger 3.2 inch 480×360 touch screen has made it hugely popular.

Research in Motion's Blackberry Torch 9800

The device hosts 512MB RAM and 4GB storage with the capacity for another SD card, which makes it perfect for downloading and installing apps from the BlackBerry App World. So with that in mind, we have compiled a list of some of the top apps built for, or compatible with, the BlackBerry Torch 9800.

Capture It

Capture It allows the user to quickly and effortlessly capture any image, including browser screen shots, from the smartphone. It comes in handy when users want to email or message photo from a website, but don’t want to download the photo itself.

Google Maps

Any smartphone isn’t complete without a version of Google Maps. The application allows users to navigate their way around virtually any city, and with the latest addition of Google Street View, the app will become an invaluable tool.

Plug It In

Running many applications at the same time can take its strain on any battery, but that is luckily where Plug It In comes in. The application lets users customise the battery use, and can also set up alerts for when the battery gets to a specific level.

Amazon Kindle for BlackBerry

When going on a long road trip or flight, there is nothing worse than having nothing to do. But the Amazon Kindle for BlackBerry app allows smartphone users to access their Kindle library, and also allows them to purchase more.

Pandora for BlackBerry

While undertaking that long flight and tired of reading a book, Pandora for BlackBerry will give users access to Internet radio stations. The app also features a Quick Mix mode where users simply select their favourite radio stations, and the app will create a custom mix from them.

WorldMate for BlackBerry

Sticking to travel, WorldMate for BlackBerry is probably one of the most essential apps for world travellers. The app is a travel assistant and allows users to store their entire travel itinerary, book hotels or car hire and monitor airline schedules in real-time.

BeBuzz Free – LED Light Colors

BeBuzz is a colourful app that displays who is calling the user with bright, flashing colours. The app can be customised to display certain colours for specific callers, so users will know at a glance who is trying to reach them.

WhatsApp Messenger

No smartphone is complete without WhatsApp Messenger. The app is a cross-platform smartphone messenger, and uses data to contact anybody in the users contact list who also uses the app. The data cost to send a message is much less than a traditional text message.

Photo Editor Ultimate FREE

With almost all smartphones having cameras, it has become very popular to edit photos and add effects to them before sharing the photographic master pieces with the world. Photo Editor Ultimate is one of the top free photo editing apps, and allows users to resize, rotate, add colour filters and various effects.

iSpeech Translator

Another favourite on the free app market, iSpeech Translator allows users to speak into the microphone and then translate it into multiple languages, including email or text. Currently it translates by speaking text in 7 languages and reads out translations in 18 languages.

Nigeria Ranked 2nd Highest Country in Software Piracy

2011-12-25T00:36:00.000-08:00

82 percent of personal computer users in Nigeria acquire software illegally most or all of the time according to the most extensive study ever under taken on users’ behaviours and attitudes toward software piracy and intellectual property rights.The 32-country study, conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs for Business Software Alliance (BSA – www.bsa.org), ranks Nigeria’s software pirate population second only to China’s, which stands at 86 percent – looming far above the worldwide percentage of47 percent.

The study entailed surveying approximately15,000 PC users included 400to 500 in-person or online interviews per country. Its findings reveal that large majorities of computer users in the developing world regularly acquire software through illegal means — such as buying a single license for a program and then installing it on multiple machines,or downloading programs from peer-to-peer networks — even though they express support for intellectual property principles Anti-Piracy Manager for Microsoft Nigeria, Seye Oloruntoba notes that, “Pirating software is often seen as a ‘cheap’ alternative to purchasing it legally.

However,in the long-term it can be far more costly, and for businesses, disastrous. It brings in many dangers in the form of malware, spyware, and viruses that can lead to identity theft, loss of data and more.”He added that “By providing an overview of global and country specific attitudes towards piracy, this study validates the work we are doing in the region to educate consumers about what software piracy is and the risks associated with non-genuine software.”

GTBank Rolls Out FX Fund Transfer, Opens e-Branches

2011-12-25T00:34:00.000-08:00

As part of efforts to provide value adding services, GTBank has announced that its customers can now transfer funds in USD, Great Britain Pounds and Euro from their GTBank domiciliary account to beneficiaries abroad for several purposes such as payment of school fees, medical bills, mortgages, upkeep of wards.

The maximum foreign exchange outward transfer limit for cash lodgement are a daily transferable limit of $10,000 (about N1.55 million) or its equivalent in other currencies and a weekly transferable limit of $35,000 (about N5.45 million) or its equivalent in other currencies. All transfers will be treated within 24hours of receipt subject to GTBank’s terms and conditions. Beneficiaries will receive funds between 48-72 hours depending on their location.

In another development, the bank has announced the opening of 5 additional ebranches. This it said is to provide convenient, prompt and reliable services to its customers.

The e-branches will carry out operations such as Cash withdrawals via ATMs; Cash deposit s via ATMs and Internet Banking. Customers of the bank are advised to take advantage of the e-branches when performing any of these operations.

www.gtbank.com

Glo Ranked Among Africa’s 10 Most Valuable Brands

2011-12-25T00:32:00.000-08:00

Globacom has been voted among the 10 most valuable brands in Africa and the only privately owned company to make the Top 10 at the inaugural Brand Africa 100 awards ceremony, which was held recently by Brand South Africa, and Brand Leadership Academy in South Africa.

According to the organisers, Brand Africa 100 (www.brandafrica.net) is based on a multi-tier methodology that incorporates qualitative, quantitative and secondary research.

Developed by the Brand Leadership Academy in partnership with TNS and Brand Finance plc, this seminal research has set the standard for brand evaluation on the continent. The valuation was conducted across Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

Being named among the continent’s top indigenous brands is an honour on the Chairman of Globacom, Dr Mike Adenuga whose vision has propelled the company to this level in just eight years of its establishment. Adenuga’s dogged commitment to growing an African telecommunications behemoth has propelled the extension of Globacom to Benin Republic, Ghana, Senegal, Gambia and Cote d’Ivoire, as well as the laying of a submarine cable from Europe to Africa with a dedicated extension to the United States.

Chairman and Founder of Brand Africa, Thebe Ikalafeng said the inaugural Brand Africa 100 “will signal which brands are getting it right on the continent.” Other brands that made the top 10 include MTN, Absa, NNPC, Eskom, Shoprite,Dangote, Woolsworths, Pick n Pay and Vodacom while GTB, UBA and First Bank made the top 20.

www.gloworld.com

Airtel Nigeria launches new BlackBerry packages

2011-12-25T00:29:00.000-08:00

Airtel Nigeria, a telecommunications services provider, has launched two new Blackberry packages with enhanced features to delight Nigerians.

Research In Motion’s new BlackBerry Torch 9810 smartphone (image: RIM)

The new Blackberry packages from Airtel come loaded with unique features and the packages have been specially designed to help people stay connected to business partners, family and friends.

The two new packages, Blackberry Complete and Blackberry Social from Airtel, are available on the daily, weekly and monthly subscription options.

With the new packages, Nigerians can now enjoy Blackberry services from Airtel for as low as N100 (one hundred naira) per day, and N400 per week.

The monthly fee for the BlackBerry Social suite is now N1,2oo (one thousand, two hundred naira only) while the Blackberry Complete from Airtel package is available at N1, 400 (one thousand, four hundred naira only).

The BlackBerry Complete service from Airtel allows for internet browsing,100 free SMSs every month for on net (Airtel to Airtel), free 50 SMSs per week and free weekly information on the BlackBerry devices and the services it provides, while the Blackberry Social plan allows for all the benefits associated with the Complete plan except internet browsing.

Customers can activate the latest Blackberry plans from Airtel through SMS and by short code and have access to an exciting total Blackberry experience that offers email service, instant messaging, internet access, Blackberry App World and social networking, amongst others.

Customers can opt for the Airtel Blackberry Social Plan via SMS by simply sending the word “bsm” to 440 while those who choose the Complete Plan need to send the word, “bcm” to 440.

Customers can also use short codes to indicate and activate their preferred plan. To activate the daily plan, customers are required to dial the short code *440*6#; and *440*5# for the weekly plan while the monthly plan can be activated with *440*5#.

Shedding more light on the service upgrade, Deepak Srivastava, the company’s Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director, emphasized that the latest additions to the Airtel Blackberry bouquet was “hinged not only on the yeaning of customers for Blackberry internet service, but also on Airtel’s desire to give customers complete communication package that seamlessly connects them with loved ones and associates, keeps them socially relevant and serves as their mobile office while on the go.

“We have with these additions, further removed the entry barrier for both our old and new customers to have unhindered access to the Blackberry service irrespective of class or social standing. Through this intervention, we have made the service more affordable to Nigerians and at the same time, added more features that will clearly complement the lifestyles of our customers”.

The Airtel BlackBerry tiered service is designed to give customers across its various segments remote access to information. In addition to the latest services, Airtel BlackBerry suites of products boast of unique features such as Enterprise Solutions, Internet Solutions and BlackBerry Lite for both social and messaging plans.

YouTube in Nigeria –YouTube.com.ng

2011-12-25T00:22:00.000-08:00

Nigerian content creators can now leverage the power of a localised version of YouTube to showcase Nigeria’s rich cultural, social, educational, Journalism, Entertainment and other relevant content as Google recently announced the launch of YouTube in Nigeria, showcasing the best and brightest local talent.

YouTube Nigeria will now offer some of the most informative and entertaining video content from around the world through a local interface, www.youtube.com.ng ,that promotes content that is most relevant to Nigerians.

There is something on YouTube for everyone, as shown by individuals such as Jason Njoku, the entrepreneurial spirit behind Nollywood Love , or companies such as 37th State , which set up an urban, African culture and lifestyle channel.

From amateur to professional content, from the unexpected to the emotionally affecting, the educational to the entertaining, Nigerians now have greater flexibility to tell their stories, and find videos most useful to them.

At the YouTube launch event in Lagos today, Google Country Manager Juliet Ehimuan welcomed Patrick Walker, YouTube’s Senior Director, content Partnerships, for Europe, Middle East and Africa. “With over 3 billion views a day, YouTube is the world’s largest audience, and a mode of communication that allows everyone’s voice to be heard”, said Walker. “Nigerians are passionate about music, entertainment and many other genres that YouTube offers. By launching YouTube locally, we help people to find the most popular videos in Nigeria, along with those that are rising in
popularity”.

YouTube Nigeria makes it easier for Nigerian users to find and view the videos most relevant to them. Content uploaded by Nigerian users will show up as “browse pages” on the YouTube Nigeria site, creating a new virtual space for the national community and giving Nigerians the opportunity to increase their exposure online. Also at the YouTube launch event in Lagos today, Nollywood Love announced the launch of iRok TV, whilst Storm 360 announced the launch of 6 new YouTube channels. 37th State announced the premiere of its first short film and documentary, Nkiru, which is to take place on December 18, 2011.

“The power of the internet presents great opportunities. YouTube gives people the power to broadcast themselves,” said Obi Asika from Storm360, a leading entertainment company in West Africa. “Our channel has helped connect us with local and international fans and artists all over the world, and is helping us to achieve our full potential. For users with slow connections, they can use YouTube Feather for better performance”.

One of YouTube’s key priorities, in addition to the making the platform a
comprehensive destination is to ensure that videos load and play quickly, even in places where bandwidth is at a premium.

Improving Internet access remains a key challenge across Africa which in my opinion Google should support Africa fully in increasing internet access especially in rural areas before unleashing her products on us!
In addition to the standard YouTube experience, users have the option to watch videos with YouTube Feather. This “light” version only includes the site’s most basic features, to help ensure that those with low-speed Internet connections are able to play videos play faster. YouTube Feather can be found in TestTube, the area on the site where new products are tested.
It is our believe that Nigerians will explore the opportunities with YouTube to positively change our image online.

Google Scholarships for 2012

2011-12-25T00:20:00.000-08:00

As part of Google’s ongoing commitment to encourage women and minorities to excel in computing and technology through her Google University Programes, Google has announced the following scholarships for 2012.

-Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship 2012: Europe, the Middle East and Africa. You can find more details at

http://www.google.com/anitaborg/emea/

-Google Europe Scholarship for Students with Disabilities. You can

find more details at http://www.google.com/studentswithdisabilities-europe/

The deadline for both scholarships is 1st February 2012. Scholarship

recipients will each receive a 7,000 EUR scholarship and in June 2012 all scholarship recipients and finalists will be invited to visit a Google

office in Europe for a networking retreat. It will include workshops with a series of speakers, panels, breakout sessions and social activities, and will provide an opportunity for all finalists to meet and share their experiences. You can find out more about the scholarships and retreat through the videos

HiTV Offers Dove and TVC Free

2011-11-10T08:31:00.000-08:00

HiTV subscribers will enjoy free viewing of two of its top channels Dove TV and Television Continental , TVC from October through December.

This disclosure came in a statement signed by the Nigeria Pay TV Company marketing/Brand Manager, Mrs. Kemi Fashina.

Nigeria woo of the Redeemed Christian church of God(RCCG) at the November edition of the Holy Ghost Congress. Also, all exciting programmes on tvc would be served on a free platter.

We value our subscribers and that is why we ensure that we do everything for them to get more value for staying with the HiTV platform.

Dove TV and TVC will remain free from now till December pending when you renew your subscription.

TVC, a terrestrial TV station shows Nollywood Movies, talk shows as well as hair raising political programmes.

This is what subscribers would be seeing free of charge before that coukd go and renew their subscription at any of our dealer outlets.

Etisalat Unveil ‘9ja Free Credit’ SIM promotion

2011-11-10T08:30:00.000-08:00

Etisalat Nigeria has launched its ‘9ja Free Credit’ promo after giving out over N3billion airtime to over 6million subscribers between June and October 2011. This promo which is designed to enable new customers experience the benefits of the Etisalat network and enjoy up to N100, 000 bonus airtime will run from 1st till 30th of November 2011.

Wael Ammar, chief commercial officer, Etisalat Nigeria, disclosed that the promotion is one of the company’s numerous ways of ensuring that new subscribers joining the most innovative network in the country are encouraged to improve their bonding and friendship with loved ones and business associates.

According to Ammar, “Our customers are always at the centre of our business. This is why we have designed this promotion in such a way that all new subscribers to our network begin to enjoy the benefits of the brand. All the customer has to do is to buy an Etisalat SIM card, register it in the month of November, recharge as much as he or she can within the next 30 days and we will reward them with 30% of their total recharges after a 30-day cycle”.

The bonus credit is valid for 30 days and can be used to make calls or send SMS to any network in Nigeria. Postpaid customers are also not left out as customers who buy an Etisalat postpaid SIM card and register in November will get 30% discount on their November bill, while an extra 10% instant bonus will be received by customers who recharge using Etisalat E-TOP UP.

Inec Considers e- Voting for 2015 Elections

2011-11-10T08:13:00.000-08:00

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is considering the use of electronic voting system for the conduct of 2015 general elections to boost the credibility of the electoral process.

This is coming on the heels of assertion recently by the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NigComSat) that it has developed an e-voting platform that can be adopted in the 2015 general elections and beyond.

Electronic voting (also known as e-voting) is a term encompassing several different types of voting, embracing both electronic means of casting a vote and electronic means of counting votes.

Professor Attahiru Jega, Inec chairman who was addressing members of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, on the activities of the commission last week, said Inec was being proactive in considering the possibility of electronic voting but said the final decision would depend on the parliament and their constituents across the country.

"Whatever we will do depends on what Nigerians wants. We need additional card readers that can be used for electronic voting. We can start piloting electronic voting machines on pilot basis to know if we will be able to use that in 2015," Jega said.

Jega said that though the 2011 election was not perfect, the commission was able to raise the bar and was prepared to make necessary improvement before the next major election in the country.

The Inec boss said there would also be need to embark on more reforms of the electoral process to take care of some of the lapses identified during and after the last elections.

According to him, events in the polity has shown that there would be need to further amend the Electoral Act to tally with one of the recommendations of the Justice Mohammed Uwais Panel on tackling electoral offences. He aligned with the recommendation of the Uwais Panel for the unbundling of INEC and the creation of an Electoral Offences Commission.

Jega disclosed that the creation of the proposed commission had become imperative given the huge volume of electoral offences recorded during the voter registration and the general elections last April. He said that whereas there were about 870,000 cases of multiple registration and thousands of other offences recorded during the elections, the commission had been able to commence prosecution of 200 offenders.