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Archive for June, 2009
June 30th, 2009
Today’s smartphones are very sophisticated and can do most of the things that a PC can do. Web browsing, instant messaging, email, spreadsheets, video editing, photo editing, word processing, and multimedia playback are common functions found on all smartphones. Smartphones allow you to take your ‘PC’ with you and access its functions anywhere.
Palm Pre from Sprint – has a completely new interface called the Palm WebOS. This touch screen interface has synchronization options that allow the user to seamlessly switch between personal e-mail, corporate mail, e-mail on Google and social networking sites such as Facebook. The phone has EV-DO Rev. A for browsing Sprint’s high-speed 3G network as well as support for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS. It has 8GB of internal storage and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Not only is the screen touch-sensitive, the sides of the phone also respond to touch and gesture. A single home button exists beneath the screen. The screen itself is rich, vibrant and clear. The keyboard has been less well received with many feeling that the space between the keys is too small. The phone has considerable processing power in the form of Texas Instrument’s new OMAP3 chipset. Most buyers rave about the OS, as the hardware is less of a selling point.
Blackberry Curve 8900 from Verizon – the Blackberry Curve is one of the best selling phones This newest model is a sleek modern update of the popular smartphone. The compact and attractive handset is smart and small enough to fit into a pocket. Its screen is bright and large and the QWERTY keypad is easy to use. Like other Blackberrys, it performs well when it comes to email. It has a music player that handles various formats including MP3 and AAC and a video player. Videos look good on its screen, which despite being small, gives a good clear picture. The camera is slightly less impressive. The camera can take both still shots and videos, but the flash is not particularly powerful. Sharing or downloading is possible via Wi-Fi, EDGE or GPRS, but there is no 3G. It has built-in GPS, but the lack of 3G means that the experience is not as smooth as it should be. It has exceptional battery life, lasting for more than 2 days in regular use. However, call quality has been described by many users as barely satisfactory.
Shadow 2009 from T-Mobile – is an upgrade of the original Shadow. It provides the rich features of Windows Mobile 6.1, but is less complex than other multimedia devices. It supports Wi-Fi, GSM and UMA to use T-Mobile’s Unlimited HotSpot Calling service. It has a slide-out QWERTY keyboard and spinnable d-pad. It has a 2 megapixel camera and a 2.6 inch display which is bright and clear. The right edge of the phone has a camera button for activating the camera application, and a dedicated messaging key that goes straight to email and SMS. The contents management system on the Shadow is exceptional, allowing users to store any information about their contacts. Data can be stored and synchronized with Microsoft Outlook. Battery life is good with long operating times both in active use and in standby. It has the mobile version of Windows Media Player and has good support for Word, Excel and PowerPoint, as well as messenger services. Support for games and the internet browser are not very good.
Nokia E71x from AT&T – AT&T is one of the most popular carriers in the USA. Their 2009 lineup of smartphones includes the Nokia E71x, a powerful device with an attractive shell. Although its interface could do with some improvements, it is outstanding at e-mail, call handling and web browsing. There have been some visual improvements, but it still lags behind other smartphones with repetitive menus and confusing shortcuts. Messaging is very good, with an impressive array of options. Scheduling and productivity are also good with plenty of options, if a little unpolished. The Nokia mini-map web browser is very good and may be the best web browser on any mobile device. Pages load quickly and look sharp and accurate on the screen. Scrolling is also very fast. The media player is good with many advanced playback options. However, organization is poor and it isn’t exactly pretty, whilst the camera is decidedly mediocre.
Tags: blackberry, e71x, nokia, palm pre, pda, shadow 2009, smart phones, smartphones, sprint, t-mobile, tmobile, verizon
Posted in Consumer Product Reviews | 3 Comments »
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June 21st, 2009
Almost daily, I see computers with an incredible amount of dust and debris in them. Depending on the environment in which your computer is located, it should be cleaned out once every 6 – 12 months on average. This pertains much more to desktops than it does to laptops, however, I have seen the fan vents on laptops become so clogged with dust that they overheat in a matter of minutes and shut down. On desktops, simply unplug your computer, take it outside, remove the side from the computer (panel removal procedure different on every model), use a can of compressed air to blow all of the dust out, and replace side cover. Sometimes you may also need to remove the front panel, as the intake vent can be quite clogged in that location. You may not be able to see it without removing the front cover.
Be careful with the compressed air so that you do not spray any liquid into the computer or on the components. You can prevent that from happening by holding the can upright when using. If you see a liquid or mist coming out of the can while spraying, stop immediately, as you may damage your computer if you continue.
Households with animals and children need to perform this clean up more often. In businesses where the computer sits in a relatively dirty area (garages, workshops, industrial areas, etc), you may need to do this more often. Cleaning the debris out of your computer on a regular basis will increase the life span of your computer and keep it running at optimal performance.
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CPU Fan Clogged With Dust
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A Disaster Waiting To Happen
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Front Intake Vent Clogged With Dust
Tags: dust, front intake vent, maintenance, over heating, proper computer cleaning
Posted in Computer Maintenance | No Comments »
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June 4th, 2009
There are many reasons why any business should have a website which include:
Convenience – these days access to the Internet and familiarity with its use is commonplace. Every day over 20 million people search the Internet to find products, compare prices and find information. Using the Internet to find information or to shop is faster and easier than ever before.
Exposure – you can advertise your business in the local phone book or newspaper, but the Internet can give you access to a much wider audience. You will no longer be tied to a geographic location, but be able to offer your services or products nationwide or even internationally. The National Retail Association forecasts that in 2009 the value of retail sales over the Internet will reach $204 billion dollars, whilst the rest of the retail industry is expecting slow growth. This represents a 17 percent increase on the previous year. America has 220,000,000 Internet users and in 2008 global spending over the Internet was $6.8 trillion, 15 percent of the global GDP.
Information – you can provide much more information via a website than you can in a phone book or even a brochure. TV/radio advertisements are limited by the amount of time that you can afford to purchase, but with a website there are no time restrictions.
Cost – a website is an inexpensive and effective form of advertising. Customers can browse through the information on your website at their own pace. In 2008 $65 billion was spent globally on Internet advertising. Printing and posting fliers, brochures, newsletters and other mail costs money. Internet advertising is more cost effective as it is a better way of reaching your target market. A website is a one-time cost other than the nominal hosting fee.
Branding – a well-designed website will become an extension of your brand. It becomes part of the experience of doing business with you and a good professional online image will set you apart from the competition.
Availability – your website can be available 24 hours a day, so if customers want to search for information or place an order outside of normal shopping hours, they can. You will always be open for business.
Time – a well-designed website will provide customers with information about your company, services or products, meaning that you don’t have to spend so much time answering questions on the phone.
Measurable results – with a website you are able to track the number of visitors to your site and also record how they found out about your company. The number of inquiries and the number of sales can be recorded. The ratio of inquiries to visitors is known as the conversion rate and you can use this information to improve the ratio and increase your sales.
Testing new ideas – a website is one of the quickest ways of publishing new ideas. Trying out new content can be done within a matter of minutes and at no cost. This allows you to try out new advertising material before committing to a costly print campaign.
Tags: Availability, Branding, Convenience, Cost, Exposure, Measurable results, Reason, Reason for website, Reasons, Testing new ideas, Time, Website
Posted in Website Related | 5 Comments »
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