Wednesday, September 26, 2012

How Technology Has Affected US Presidential Elections

The recent race to the White House has been the hot topic of conversation, and not just in America. People from all over the world have been gripped by the battle between the current president and his rival for the top job in US politics, Mitt Romney. Although both candidates spent a great deal of time travelling around the US, giving speeches to their voters, it is the internet that has acted as the means of communication to the American (and World) audience. We decided to look at how it was used for the most recent election and how improvements in technology have influenced presidential campaigns in the past.
1924: Davis vs Coolidge
President Harding first introduced the idea of speaking to the public on the radio in 1921 but it was not until the 1924 presidential election that it was really utilised. By this time millions of Americans had receiving sets in their living rooms and they were all expecting to hear what the candidates had to say. Such a huge importance was placed on this new technology that Coolidge and Davis were actually made to sit in a glass booth on-stage, in-front of 16,000 people, and told to avoid their usual pacing back and forth, to ensure that the microphone would pick up everything they said.
Across the country schools were closed so that students could listen and people huddled around radios in department stores and at home. Sales of receiving sets hit a record high and 'Nation' magazine printed that "1924 would be looked back on as the radio year". For the first time the American voters were able to listen in on a presidential election, thanks to this new technology.
1960: Nixon vs Kennedy
The first ever televised presidential debate was broadcast on Sep 26th 1960 and it was an event that changed the face of US politics forever. At that time Kennedy was a relatively unknown senator that had the odds stacked against him. The debate lasted one hour and by the end of it the majority of those who listened in on the radio were confident of Nixon's victory. However, the 88% of Americans who watched it on TV were witness to a completely different picture - one of Nixon looking frail and weak from a recent operation, as well as sweating and looking very nervous. In contrast, Kennedy looked calm, confident and strong and there was no doubt that, for those who had seen it with their own eyes, he had won. Kennedy would later reference the importance of this technology by saying "it was the TV more than anything else that turned the tide.
2012: Obama vs Romney
The photograph of President Obama hugging his wife has become the most re-tweeted post in the history of Twitter and this is a fitting nod to the huge part that this website has had to play in the recent US Election. The fact that it was posted before Obama even took to the stage to thank his supporters in person illustrates how important this social media platform was to his campaign. At one point on the election night, users tweeted at a rate of 327,452 per minute.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

How To Make A WordPress Theme

The reason that web developers love content management systems so much is that they divide the content that appears on a page from the way that it is displayed. This means that you can make a change to something like the font or the layout without having to actually touch anything related to the text of individual pages. Instead, these types of changes are made in an area of the software that is purely dedicated to controlling the way that things are displayed. If you want to make a site that looks different from anything else that is already out there, you need to start by learning more about how to make a WordPress theme of your own.
One of the best things about learning how to build a WordPress theme is the fact that there are so many examples out there that you can study. The underlying program is a piece of open source software. This means that copies of the actual source code that make it work the way it does are available to anyone who would like to view it. When it comes to themes, this means that you can often start out by studying how other themes work. Depending on their licensing, you may even be able to take one that already exists and make adjustments to it instead of starting from scratch.
If you are really going to learn how to build a custom WordPress theme, you will need to learn a bit of programming. You don't have to have a really sophisticated knowledge of it, but knowing some PHP will go a long way toward helping you to understand how an existing theme template works and how you can modify it to suit your needs without breaking anything. Make sure that you save extra copies of your work every time you manage to do something that you feel good about. Learning to do something like this involves a lot of trial and error, and it can often be faster to just delete a mistake and go back to a previous version than to try to untangle it.
Learning how to make a WordPress theme is not as difficult as you may fear. Because there are templates out there and the source code of existing themes is available, you have plenty of access to what you need to learn how to make something that will look exactly the way that you want. The important thing is to be willing to experiment and to risk making mistakes. It is the best way to learn the skill of creating themes, and also to develop a better sense of what kind of design will really work for your site.

Sunday, September 23, 2012

The Best US-Based VPN Service Providers

There are more than 620 million websites on the Internet. Around 2.27 billion people of the world visit these websites. These statistics show the dynamic nature of the Internet as a world of information. But, the Internet is not only a world of information; it is also a world of entertainment and communication. It takes less than thirty minutes to start a business on the Internet. Now businesses have gone on-line. Banking and financial transactions are done with a few clicks. In addition, there are even virtual worlds where you can buy and sell land, move around, fly in the air and study in virtual institutes. But, this dynamic world has its own limitations, weaknesses and problems. One of its problems is insecurity. Financial transactions, on-line banking and transference of information are potentially threatened interceptions caused by cyber criminals. Censorship is another problem. Certain websites are censored and banned by certain governments for various cultural, social and political reasons.
The USA is one of the countries which offer Internet Freedom. There appear to be no restrictions on accessing websites on the Internet and censorship is not exercised on the Internet But, according to a report entitled 'Freedom on the Net 2012' by the Freedom House, the USA does not offer the freest Internet. There are state intrusions in the use of the Internet. In addition, if you are a US citizen living and working in China and some countries of the Middle East, you may see that censorship, bans, and filters are operating in these countries with regard to the use of the Internet. Moreover, there are hackers and governments who monitor your on-line behaviour. With all these and other such factors, your freedom on the Net is thwarted. In order to enjoy the freedom and security on the Net, you have to go for a VPN connection.
With a VPN connection, you can unblock websites banned in certain regions of the world. In addition, you can safely carry out your on-line communication, on-line banking and on-line financial transactions. When you are outside the USA, a US-based VPN connection offers you access to the Internet as if you were using the Net in the USA. In other words, VPN service providers give you a US IP address. With this IP address you can access any website that is accessible in the USA. Thus, no matter where you live in the world, you will be able to access the Internet with freedom. In addition, your surfing and browsing will remain unobserved by governments and hackers tracking the on-line behaviour of the Internet users.

Saturday, September 22, 2012

How to Freeze Extra Primary Cell Products

The below information is for customers who have extra fresh cell products or have fresh cells that are not needed immediately for processing. Work through the following steps quickly and without interruption. Please note once Cryopreservation Media is added the process cannot be stopped and should be followed through to completion. Freezing cells risks poorer viability and poorer cell recovery after thaw.
Reagent and Materials Required
• Cryopreservation Media (80% FBS, 20% DMSO)
• Isocove's Modified Dulbecco's Medium (IMDM)
• Ice
Equipment Required
• Refrigerated centrifuge
• Biosafety hood (Class II)
• Compound microscope
• 2mL Cryogenic vials
• Freezing rack
• 1 to 10 mL pipets
• Conical centrifuge tubes
• Isopropanol graded freezing containers
• -20oC freezer
• -80oC freezer
Procedure
1. Prepare Cryopreservation Media up to 2 days in advance and store at 4oC.
2. Label cryogenic vials with the appropriate vial and donor information.
3. Place ice at the bottom of a freezing rack, place vials in the freezing rack, store in a -20oC freezer for at least 10 minutes until ready for use.
4. Count the cells with preferred primary cell counting method.
5. Centrifuge cells at 200 x g for 5 minutes at 4oC and remove supernatant from cell pellet.
6. Based on the desired concentration of cells/vial, calculate the amount of IMDM required to resuspend cells using the formulas:
A) # cells/desired concentration of cells per vial = # vials needed
B) 0.9mL/vial X # vials = # mL of Cryopreservation Media required.
Resuspend the cell pellet in this volume of cold (4oC) IMDM.
7. Mix the suspension well by pipetting up and down. Incubate cells on ice for approximately 5 to 10 minutes.
8. In a small bowl, add ice and water to make a homogenous ice-water bath.
9. Place the cell suspension tube in the ice-water bath. Add the Cryopreservation Media to the cell suspension at a rate of 3 to 5 seconds per drop. Shake the tube constantly to ensure even mixing.
10. Remove freezing rack from freezer and place in the hood. Mix the cells well by pipetting and aliquot 1.8mL of cells to each cryogenic vial.
11. Freeze cells at a controlled rate of 1oC/min by placing vials in an alcohol-graded freezing container(s) and incubating at -80oC for a minimum of 4 hours to a maximum of overnight.
12. Transfer vials to vapor phase of liquid-nitrogen storage.
Cells stored in the vapor phase can be stored long-term up to several years. When commencing downstream applications on the cells,follow the protocol on how to thaw cells by referring to the How to Thaw Frozen Cells written guide.

Friday, September 21, 2012

A Recorder For Doctors And Nurses

Recording technology has been around for several years and isn't something new to the tech market. However, the way recording technology is being used now is quite unique and different than ever before. Recording technology can communicate with certain software programs to create a truly unique and intuitive process for anything you are working on. More specifically, digital recording and medical software allows medical professionals to create medical documentation through recorded files on the digital recorder. It sounds different, but several medical professions are learning how digital recording is improving their medical practice.
With the use of the Olympus DS-7000 recorder, medical professionals can record everything they want to put in medical documentation all through the use of their voice. This recorder allows medical professionals to record specific information on the go and then connect later when they want to create documents for patients. So, a doctor can spend the entire day with patients, meeting their needs and prescribing the help they deserve, and at the end of the day they can bring the voice recorder being used and connect it to Dragon Medical Practice Edition software and have the records integrated into the software in little to no time. Now the information is all at his or her fingertips and can be produced through the computer in a matter of minutes.
The Olympus DS-7000 allows doctors and other medical professionals to put passwords on recorded content to protect records from reaching the wrong people. Encrypted files are safe for the entire medical practice, as professionals are sensitive to the release of personal information. These features allow doctors to practice with even greater quality.
Functions on the Olympus DS-7000 make it one of easiest recorders to use within the medical office. Index, personalize and create recordings in a quick and easy fashion. Also, the technology on this recorder is compatible with the latest Windows and Mac operation systems, so there are no problems with connectivity.
Olympus wanted to offer medical professionals a great, durable product they could use to increase the rate at which they document the medical service they provide. With intuitive controls, connectivity, password protection and other great features and accessories, the Olympus DS-7000 works well for physicians who want to use recording technology within their practice.
Medical professionals around the globe are becoming more productive and effective with the use of recording and dictation software. It changes the way they document for the better and leaves time for the completion of other tasks.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Change Clerical Tasks Completely With Dictation Software

Medical professionals are now catching a break with clerical tasks. One of the most tedious tasks within a medical practice has now been improved and revlolutionized forever and people love the change. So, what has changed? Software developers have created a solution for long documentation processes with one software program. This program capitalizes on the use of speech rather than typing. Now, just consider the possibilities.
You may know of voice recognition software, but just know of its most basic form. Voice recognition software is just now taking a big step in the tech world and enabling professionals in several fields to accomplish tasks quicker. Instead of voice recognition helping individuals surf the web on their smartphone or command certain tasks on a computer, it is now helping medical professionals create and edit medical documentation all with the voice.
When you consider speech, you think of it as a natural act, something you probably do every day and with ease. Well, it is a natural act for a reason because it's the most natural way to communicate with others around you. Since it is the most natural communication from, and most productive, software developers decided to incorporate it into software to improve how people create and edit software. So, with that same, natural act, medical professionals can speed along the transcription of documentation and move on to other tasks during their day.
Here are a few specifics as to what voice recognition can do within a medical office or practice:
-First, voice recognition software takes the focus from the keyboard and places it on speech and a microphone. While you can still use the keyboard, you don't have to. The focus is now on your speech through the use of a microphone, commanding text on a page to create medical documents. It's swift and it's smart because you command the program with a natural and fast act--speech.
-The product of increased speed with documentation leads to increased productivity within the office and increased profitability. Medical professionals are slashing the amount of time they need to transcribe documents and are using fewer resources to create and edit documents. It's a total win for the medical office.
-Not only is the software focused on the use of speech, but it's software, which means it's loaded on a computer and the documents are ready to be shared within the office. So, doctors and nurses can share any document they create or edit with the rest of the office. This type of connectivity is how technology changes the entire way we interact with every day work. Stop handing documents to each other and start sending them wirelessly over the computer.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Tips on Picking the Right Applications for Digital Kiosks Owners

Picking the right application for your digital kiosks is one of the key components of your kiosk business success. So, let's take a look at some tips on how to do it.
- Find easily usable software
This is one of the main rules to go by. It does not really matter how nice your software looks on the digital kiosks' screens or how professional it is. If it takes forever to do things with it, or if it is too complicated to be mastered even by the less computer savvy user, it won't do your business any good.
Keep in mind that digital kiosks are used not only by sophisticated PC users. According to research, many elderly people or those who do not have PCs at home enjoy using kiosks. So, your software has to be easy for them to master. And it has to work fast, otherwise you'd get low customer satisfaction rate.
- Find special kiosk software
There are some PC apps, which can be used for them too. And there is some free software available out there. Both of these options would not really work for commercial use in digital kiosks. These apps tend to get glitches; they may work too slowly on your kiosks and leave your customers walking away from them in disappointment. Plus, this software has hardly any security to offer, which is unacceptable in commercial kiosk environment.
- Go for standard apps vs. customized ones
You see, today you can find some real good standard kiosk applications. They are considerably cheaper than the custom ones. This is one good reason to start using them and only if your business really needs some customization done, only then you may switch to a more expensive custom software option. So, it's a simple rule of a thumb to go by in picking your appropriate apps.
- Learn how to go about licensing your software
Licensing greatly depends on the network of the equipment you have. As a rule, it is done based on the number of kiosk, i.e. you purchase software for a certain number of installations or number of kiosks it can be installed on. That's how you get priced for it.
As you may see, picking apps for your digital kiosks is not an easy task to manage. But gaining more knowledge on the topic may help you to do it the right way.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

What You Need To Know About Touch Screen EPOS

If you have ever gone out to go shopping and have made a purchase, odds are you are familiar with the Touch screen EPOS system. The Touch screen EPOS is the modern day cash register, the touch screen cash register if you will. And though people get to interact with this system almost daily no one really know much about it except for the person behind it - so what exactly is it?
Before the modern technology of today's EPOS system there was the POS system, or the point of sale system. The POS system was the turn of the century cash register. Using the keyboard that comes with it people entered the products in, however this system was susceptible to challenges and failure thereby making things a lot more difficult for everyone.
But thanks to the modernization of technology the touch screen was made. With this modern marvel POS systems employed touch screens thus giving rise to the Touch screen EPOS systems that we know today. Since operation now simply requires touching the screen, businesses no longer needed the more cumbersome keyboard and mouse to punch in the products.
If there was a need for a keyboard or a calculator though the EPOS system has still got the humble cashier covered. This is because EPOS has a built in keyboard and a calculator so there are no worried when you have to check something up real quickly.
An integral part of the EPOS system is the scanner which can either be handheld or in many groceries a part of the surface where you present the products you wish to buy. With the scanner the cashier will be able to punch in the product by simply scanning the barcode, which consists of 13 numbers that is represented by the all too familiar vertical bars.
What's so good about the Touch screen EPOS system is that even when the barcode cannot be scanned cashiers can just typing the barcode manually onto the touch screen system.
But what separates POS with the EPOS system is the fact that the later one can store product files. Product files are the files that contain the information relevant to the product; it contains your inventory, the barcode information, prices, and description.
Using product files makes things a lot easier for businesses and establishments since they no longer have to do anything manually. All they have to do now is to check up their inventory or their sales on the system and information will immediately pop up on the screen - a lot easier from the previous method.
Since cashiers no longer type on the product barcodes and no longer have to look away from the screen every now and then to punch the product in work efficiency has increased. With work efficiency increased shoppers can now move on from the cash register much faster, but more importantly, businesses and cashiers now have more time for other customers and have less work since the system does all the work for them.

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Heat Loss Detection Systems for Heat Loss Surveys and Insulation Testing

The HEATPROBE makes possible the field measurement of heat flow in:
  • Industrial/Residential Heat Loss Surveys
  • Building Insulation Conformance Tests
  • Refrigerator Insulation Testing
  • Boiler/Steam Pipe Heat Loss Measurements
  • "K" Factor Determinations
APPLICATION
The Model HB-100 Heatprobe is a solid state, thermoelectrically powered, digital readout, heat flux measuring system. The unit is capable of directly measuring heat fluxes from 0.1 W/M2 to 1350 W/M2 it can therefore detect and respond to the entire practical range of heat fluxes normally encountered in the field or laboratory.
Measurements may be made of the total heat flow either to, or from any solid surface to which the transducer may be attached. When the transducer attains thermal equilibrium with the heat transfer surface and its surroundings, the digital readout indicates the steady state heat flow in terms of w/m2.
Transient heat flow fluctuations having periods of five seconds or more may also be followed. The "K" factors of walls or other insulated barriers may be measured with the Model HB-100. The readout is also designed to measure temperatures of both surfaces of a wall or barrier; the readout automatically computes the resulting surface temperature difference. With the measured heat flux and temperature difference, the "K" factor can be determined.
PRINCIPLE
The flow of heat from, or to the surface whose heat flow rate is to be measured creates a small temperature difference between the upper and lower surfaces of the transducer. These surfaces are in thermal contact with a special, miniature, high temperature thermopile which generates a direct current signal from the temperature difference. The signal is directly proportional to the heat flux through the transducer. The hundreds of thermoelectric elements in each transducer yield multi-millivolt signals which may also be measured separately by a portable potentiometer, or recorder. The thermal resistance introduced by the transducer is normally negligible for most practical applications.
CALIBRATION
Each Heatprobe transducer is individually calibrated at a base temperature of 75°F. An absolute calibration technique is used to determine the transducer constant to the required accuracy.
OPERATION
The increasing emphasis on energy conservation has prompted renewed interest in the heat transport characteristics of both commercial and residential buildings. To satisfy the requirement for quantitatively establishing relative heat losses through structural components, a portable system for directly measuring heat losses is necessary. In addition to adequate sensitivity and accuracy, the system should rapidly respond in order that a series of surface heat loss determinations be made under a fixed set of environmental conditions. It is only under these circumstances that a true comparison can be made between the heat transfer characteristics of the various building components. The Model HB-100 has been designed to satisfy most requirements for such structural heat loss determinations.
To conduct a local heat loss survey, the heat flux probe is attached to the heat transfer surface either by means of tape, or a demountable adhesive. The signal cable is conducted parallel with the surface to the readout/operator. The operator should minimize his thermal view of the transducer because of its sensitivity to body heat. Measurements can be taken as soon as the transducer reaches thermal equilibrium. Air currents may cause minor fluctuations, however, these can be averaged out over several minutes.
To determine the thermal conductance of a wall or barrier, the temperature sensors are attached opposite each other on both sides of the barrier through which a steady flow of heat exists. The Heat flux probe is attached to the interior wall surface immediately adjacent to the temperature sensor. Heat flux and temperature difference data are read out consecutively on the digital meter. The thermal conductance of heavily insulated walls which undergo temperature transients may also be measured by means of periodic averaging over several transients.

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Make Learning An Inspired Experience With Mimio Interactive Teaching Technologies

No matter how long a student may sit inside a classroom throughout a typical school day, there is no real guarantee that he is able to absorb the lessons presented to the class at the time. Any individual who has gone through the prescribed school years will know that there are always moments when the day's lesson could either be extremely complicated or even really interesting, yet no length of time devoted to the subject can make a student pay attention if the teacher's manner of presenting the lesson is ineffective. When an instructor fails to engage students and command their complete attention, the young minds wander off to other things like their extracurricular activities or what to wear for the party coming up in the weekend.
With a little creativity and the right teaching tools, teachers can make classroom dynamics more fun for students and get them to really take interest and participate in the day's lessons. There are plenty of visual aids and props that can make any discussion more interactive, and thanks to modern technologies, these teaching aids have been taken up a few notches. Mimio, a popular provider of innovative interactive teaching technologies, has a wide range of tools that classrooms everywhere can adopt for inspired learning and increased student participation.
Teachers typically use whiteboards to make important notes and illustrations as they discuss a lesson, but there are now more exciting ways to use this classroom staple. The MimioTeach interactive whiteboard system makes use of a compact device that can simply be attached to an existing whiteboard in order to be integrated with other equipment. With this device, a computer can be connected to a standard projector and the computer's contents can be easily accessed and presented on the whiteboard. It pairs well with the ergonomic MimioTeach stylus pen that enables teachers and students to control the information on the board wirelessly.
Mimio also has a unique Whiteboard Capture System that enables teachers to save whiteboard notes, sketches, and diagrams to a computer; the notes can also be edited and printed out for distribution to the students. Handwriting can be converted into font-based text to produce documents with better quality. With this system, teachers can concentrate on the discussion and students are free to actively participate in especially complicated classes because it eliminates the need to take notes while the teacher speaks.

Friday, September 14, 2012

Important Features To Look For When Purchasing A Notebook

If you are looking to buy a laptop, then probably you already know that there are many brands and models available to choose from. That is why this very important question should arise in the minds of every buyer; "Which is the best Notebook?" Unfortunately, there is no definite answer to this question, since there are so many brands available. But there are some basic features that you must consider before making a purchase, and they are given below:
Size - Generally speaking, the smaller the size of laptop, the fewer the features it will have. However, it is also true that the smaller laptops have an improved battery life, because the hardware of these devices consumes less power compared to the bulkier ones. The larger laptops offer enhanced connectivity and hardware, but they are not very good in terms of portability features.
Battery Life - The biggest benefit of laptops over the old desktop computers is the availability of a rechargeable battery. They are very helpful for people who want the freedom to work. If you are a frequent traveler, then try to choose a laptop which has a good battery life to match all your needs.
The size of the Screen - These are available from 13 inches to 17.5 inches; moreover, the units with larger screen sizes are ideal for playing games or watching movies, while on the other hand the smaller ones are easy to transport and perfect for those who want to do general browsing, chatting and emails.
(OS) Operating System - The operating system is the basic software that runs on your computer and helps you to interact with different hardware devices. The most common operating systems are Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP and Mac OS X is specially designed for the Apple Notebooks. Some open source operating systems are also available, such as Linux.
Hard Drive - The hard drive mainly depends on the type of task that you have to do, and for average users the unit with 80 to 100 GB hard drive is good enough. But if you are a user who likes to download heavy files, then you should think about the models that have a hard drive of more than 300 GB.
Central Processing Unit (CPU) - This is considered the most important component of every kind of computer. CPU refers to how fast your system runs. Again, the type of CPU depends on the kind of task. If you are an extreme gamer, and want to play some high-end games on your system, you need a dual core processor, but if you just need a laptop for surfing or normal school work, then an AMD Athlon processor will be fine for you.
Color - It is the last but not the least important feature. Nowadays, some manufacturers have started to design colorful laptops in order to meet the particular requirements of consumers. So, if you really want to buy a stylish laptop then probably the laptops from Dell will be the best option for you.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Reasons Why You Can Get The Best Computers Online

There isn't anybody in the world these days that doesn't know about the internet and how it works. From the smallest toddler to the oldest adult, you won't find a living soul who doesn't know how to surf and browse through cyberspace. Whether you are tech-savvy or technically clueless, you will still have heard of the internet, limited as your knowledge of it may be.
And since the internet has become so much a part of our lives, it only follows that we depend on it for almost everything we need, whether that be the latest gadgets, movie tickets, kitchen appliances, groceries or even clothes. If we are able to get all our basic necessities online, then can you think of something we can't get? Heck, even our soulmates are somewhere out there in cyberspace, you just need to find them.
However, aside from the basics, the next favorite thing people love to do online is to shop. How easy is it to simply type in the name of the item you're searching for, have a thousand and one results for it come up and all you'll need to do is to pick and choose the sites you'd like to explore? It's so easy that even buying your computers can be done as easily as picking out a can of soup from the store.
Yes, computers that you need to check, scrutinize and test every part of to make sure it works, can be bought online. A few years ago, the very idea of buying computers without actually being able to test them for quality seemed preposterous but these days, it's the best way to buy them. It doesn't matter if it's a desktop PC or a laptop you're interested in, as long as the internet has it, you can get it. And in case you're thinking you'd have to browse through several online computer shops, you're partially right. But then even that has been made easier because now all you need to do is find a comparison shopping site and you'll have your brand new computer in no time.
Comparison sites came into being during the internet boom of the 1990s. Also known as a price comparison service, what these sites do is enable consumers to shop wisely and save money by giving them access to different lists of prices from different retailers for specific products, which they can compare and eventually pay for what they feel is the best deal. These sites don't sell any of the products but are able to directly source prices from retailers from whom consumers can get specific items from. Items are listed by genre and retailers paid a fixed fee to be listed in the comparison sites.
They are also easy to use. Consumers simply click on a particular retailer whose price for the item they want seems reasonable and they are instantly led to the retailers' website where they can check out more details about the product, including read customer reviews and testimonials that help tremendously in their decision-making.
When getting your computers from these sites, you may feel initially intimidated by the list of retailers but the beauty of using comparison sites to buy computers is that you can filter your search parameters and come up with only the results you'd like to see. Common search parameters you'll see on comparison sites for computer-shopping include searching by price range, by brand, by processor type, by processor speed, installed memory and hard drive capacity. You can even sort your search from the lowest to the highest prices, if you're on a budget and it may be important to note that the prices will already include shipping fees in most sites but that doesn't mean you don't have to check.
These online shopping sites will also include helpful articles that feature tips, advice and suggestions on how to get the best computers and what you need to consider before getting one. They will also feature buying guides to make your search for the best computers less stressful. You cannot get this level of service when you go to brick and mortar stores, where all you'll encounter are pushy salesmen who would sooner sell you something expensive and don't need.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Is Apple's Mac Better Than a Windows PC?

Many of you might find the question a bit ridiculous, and quite a few of you might find it extremely odd that the answer might just be a yes. If you are one of those who do not know much about the Mac, then yeah, you will disagree. But if you have even the slightest know - how of a Mac, then you will nod your head in agreement.
There are many strong reasons for choosing a Mac over a Windows PC. Macs are more productive, and are definitely worth the hefty tags on them. Other than the price, there is no way that a Window's PC is better than an Apple's Mac.
The costs are not that big a problem. You can purchase a refurbished product or a used device. This does mean buying an old Apple's Mac but it still is really good. If you search a bit more, you can get your hands on the latest models as well. The price is low, you get the same quality as a brand new Mac, and you even get a warranty if the seller is a renowned organization. Since all of this is completely in your favor, then why not opt for a Mac? Here's why you should.
* Windows Vista is similar to a virtual labyrinth with its many folders and paths. Moreover, whenever Microsoft releases an upgrade, many of the things are changed including the interface. On the other hand, OS X is more logical with a simple interface. Once you learn it, it is easy to accomplish tasks. The updates are also not so messy.
* Macs are not as flaky as a Windows computer. It neither crashes nor shutdowns inexplicably. The processing is faster and more reliable, and performance does not fall in tight memory situations. The prime reason behind this may be that Apple designs its own hardware and installs their own operating systems. However, a Windows PC is manufactured by many different organizations that don't have the expertise which Microsoft has for its operating system.
* Trojans and other spyware often infect Windows computers, even if an antivirus program is installed. A Mac PC is more secure even when there is no antivirus software running on the device.
* Windows is usually smothered by adware, word balloons, pop-ups, up-gradation notices and even Activation messages, which make work annoying at times. All these are absent in OS X.
* Macs are equipped with an AC adapter, a huge touchpad and a MagSafe connector.
* Apple has innovative, useful and enjoyable applications under its name. There may be Windows compatible versions, but it still is just not the same as on their own OS.
* Apple offers Genius Bar. This means that a qualified expert will provide you with the technical support you need.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Lasers, Fact and Fiction Revealed

The laser was developed in 1958, and since that time it really has been the target of many science fiction movies that use lasers to do everything from opening safes to destroying the world. Although it may be interesting to delve into that type of fantasy from time to time, it is also a good idea for you to understand the different uses of lasers and how they affect our life. It is also a good idea for you to understand that there are different types of lasers that can be used. For example, many lasers use gas as a medium, but solid state laser technology uses a green medium. Interestingly, the solid-state laser is something that is being developed for military use, although it may also have other uses in industry and science.
When you take a look at the many different reasons why lasers are used, it might come as a surprise to you exactly how many times they touch your life on a daily basis. In this article, we are going to discuss some of the ways in which they are used for military, scientific, and medical purposes. We will also discuss some of the industrial uses of lasers. Although this does not provide you with a full list of the laser tools that are available, it can really help you to see how diverse this tool really is.
As far as the scientific use of lasers is concerned, this is really one of the more interesting ways that can be considered. Although there are many different ways in which science is using lasers, something that you may enjoy knowing is the fact that there are arrays that are on the moon which can be accessed via laser from the earth. These reflectors arrays were actually put on the moon during the Apollo missions, and today laser beams can be focused on those arrays through large telescopes that are on the earth. This has the ability to give very accurate measurements as to the distance from the Earth to the moon.
In the military, lasers are being looked into for use as an energy weapon. There are several different lasers that have been developed which are strong enough to destroy large missiles when they are in flight. They also can bring down various types of artillery, including mortar rounds. This is more of a defensive use of lasers in military but there are also lasers that can be used for offensive uses as well.
Finally, we can take a look at the way that lasers are used in industry. Some of the laser tools that are more popular in industrial settings include those that measure and those that cut. In either case, you are provided with a more accurate tool when it is designed using lasers that can get measurements that are far more precise than older methods. The tools that cut using lasers are also highly accurate, and these can give you not only a clean cut, but one that is exactly what is needed. Of course, these types of tools continue to evolve and to grow in diversity, but they are something that is used regularly in many different environments.

Monday, September 10, 2012

An Overview of EPOS Touch Screen Systems

You would be hard pressed to have been to a retail outlet, pharmacy or hotel bar of late and not seen one of these systems. EPOS touch screens have rapidly become a crucial gadget for small to medium establishments.
Concept and Functionality
EPOS terminals (which are usually touch screen initiated) are point of sale devices which have many different practical attributes. Physically, it ordinarily appears as a flat screen LSD. Making use of EPOS software, an EPOS touch screen, very much like other terminals, presents buttons virtually. Similar to fashionable mobile phones and touchpads, the monitor has sensors that are attentive to the operator's contact.
EPOS touch screen systems, which are sometimes identified as POS systems or tills, form a platform which can help a business enhance the way it is run. By permitting the business manager to have a more proficient grasp on many tasks, they offer an attractive degree of control. Choices are twofold: embedded or computer-based.
Two Different Options
Embedded
Embedded systems are ideal for the likes of bars and restaurants - that is, businesses which have superior products and need as quick a service as possible. This kind of EPOS touch screen is designed to work on personal computer based networks or on computers networked together. These embedded terminals will include a touch screen and operator keyboard, that allow products to be sold just by pressing a virtual button.
These type of systems are, as a rule, supported by a back-end network - although they can be manually installed. Businesses can really take advantage of the features of this alternative, as it has the opportunity to efficiently control stock, pricing and a host of reports.
Another selling point of the embedded system is that it can improve the billing process and card devices, and, furthermore, offer other useful integrated attributes - CCTV, for example. These kind of POS systems are often a selection of many for its sturdiness. They are a lot less prone to overheating, data corruption, viruses and hacking because they're not computer based. Plus, these systems can run without much maintenance and, because of this, are very energy efficient.
Computer-Based
EPOS touch screen devices that are computer based often appear as an all-in-one point of sale unit designed with a more increased speed. In addition, they tend to be more user-friendly. Because they're much more compact, these systems can be easily put on walls - that is, including the accompanying devices such as credit card machines and any relevant advertisement.
If you wish to run several different applications on the same machine - together - then a computer based system is by far and away the best preference. Because of this, this option is best if you need the device to run a business like a hotel or restaurant.
A big advantage of this system is that it has a lot of software and system options, so that you can adapt it to match your own business requirements.

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Reasons Why Many People Still Use Desktop Computers

There is no doubt that the notebook or laptop has taken over the globe in terms of its current popularity and usability. With portability and easy access in mind, it's no wonder why more and more people are buying laptops over desktop computers these days.
A busy lifestyle is probably among the many factors why laptops are so in-demand - being constantly on the go and needing technology whenever possible, that is. But for those who are not looking at portability as an issue, a desktop computer will always suffice.
Among the features of the desktop PC that truly stick with many users as of today is its customization. While there are still numerous brands that sell desktops as a bundle, customizable PCs are still available. These are units that can be assembled according to your own preferences and specifications. Normally, gaming PCs are the most customized types of computers because of the need for speed, memory, and multimedia features.
Speaking of features, if you have noticed the latest models of any brand of desktop PCs today, the CPU towers are shrinking while the flat monitors are ever increasing in size. Technology buffs would say that the smaller the hardware, the better. Probably the most intriguing physical features of many desktops today is the fact that technology can jam pack tons of features in even the smallest of CPUs. And while that happens, the need for better visuals and usability still remains for monitors.
One fact that stays the same is that desktop computers are still alive and doing well in many business offices, homes, libraries, internet shops, and schools. Aside from the affordability of desktops, generally they are durable and can tolerate long hours of usage. This is also beneficial for the user because, ergonomically, it is better to sit on an office or computer lab set-up. A notebook or laptop computer may be portable, but if you try using it sitting down on your bed or on a sofa, chances are you will feel pain behind your neck and on your back. Same goes with your arms especially when there's nothing underneath to support them while typing.
If versatility and functionality are important to you, then a desktop computer can deliver these qualities seamlessly. Since it is built with ports, Bluetooth, and hubs, you can easily attach other peripherals as long as they're compatible. Latest desktops are equipped with compatible programs, so you can just plug in any device and you're good to go.
Lastly, if you are using your desktop to keep all of your videos, pictures, and music files, they are easily stored and retrieved because of its faster speed and memory capacity. You can even add extra memory in your CPU if you wish to have more storage space.

Saturday, September 8, 2012

The Facts About Freedom and Security on the Internet With A VPN

The Internet was designed to offer users freedom to access vast information. Unfortunately, to the unwary, this freedom can be compromised or restricted. Internet users can overcome these rights from being compromised with a Virtual Private Network (VPN).
How a VPN Keeps Users from Being Compromised
A VPN prohibits an ISP from tapping a user's connection and conducting deep packet inspections. With a personal VPN, a user's data and browsing is concealed from the ISP. A VPN can also enable users to override firewalls and restrictions placed on website viewing. Thirdly, the user's IP address can be made to appear as being domiciled in a different geographical location.
Advantages of VPN Technology
The VPN provides freedom and security by masking the VPN user's IP address with one of the VPN service's IP address. This service thus hides the user's IP address. Many VPN services enable users to select the country or location from which they wish to appear to be viewing. This means there is no blocking or spying on the user's Internet browsing behavior due to national restrictions.
The VPN Solution
Using a VPN to access the Internet is extremely useful. There are a wide array of security breaches on the Internet that can cause the loss of privacy or security. For instance, it is possible for government agencies to spy on user Internet viewing and location. In addition, advertising firms, companies, and hackers can obtain user information for marketing and other business reasons. Many users are not even aware that many social networks make use of users' private data. A VPN prevents this kind of snooping.
Factors Favoring VPN Use
A good number of countries block popular websites and social networks. Travelers overseas are thus restricted as to content they can see on their social networks and other sites. VPN protocols assist users in accessing blocked websites that are not available through other means.
VPNs: Giving Back the Freedom
With freedom comes responsibility. It is the responsibility of users to maintain their security and privacy on the Internet. The best way to maintain usage freedom and security is by using a VPN or Virtual Private Network.
Every Internet user should take a few minutes to do the research necessary to find a VPN service provider that can offer freedom and security on the Internet. Users should look out for VPN protocols that are best suited to their computing devices.

Friday, September 7, 2012

Is Windows 8 Good for Productivity?

File History
File history is a novel addition to the Windows software, it creates backups of files each hour (or what ever time setting you choose), to any external drive, or even server. You could compare it to Mac OS X's Time Machine. The most advantageous thing in terms of productivity is the fact that it creates 'versions', different save files which you can easily restore with a simple click. You know what this means right? No more accidentally overwriting that project you've been working away at for the last 2 months!
Microsoft have undoubtedly spent a lot of their time in ensuring that File History does not eat up resources, and that it only just backs up while nothing else is running.
Although this isn't the most perfected feature in Windows 8, it's definitely something that I'd encourage you to use, particularly if you work on a wide variety of projects that take a range of days to complete.
Boot Time
This may be quite self explanatory, but the boot time of Windows 8 compared to Windows 7 is tremendously significant, 50%+ faster than Windows 7. This video pretty much explains all of it.
Multiple Monitor Improvement
Another great addition to Windows 8 is the increased support for multiple monitors. Everybody knows that having two or more displays can increase productivity tenfold, and so now it's even better.
In Windows 8 you can have the task-bar on both screens, meaning you don't have to continuously go back to your primary screen in order to open an application or program, this can be easier to open certain programs or files in the screen you want them to be seen instead of dragging it over. Windows 8 also accommodates edge detection, meaning you are able to open charms on any screen without having to worry about your mouse jumping over to the next screen due it being on an inside edge (edge underneath or next to another screen).
App Pinning
Provided you're using native Windows 8 apps, there's the ability to pin them to either side of the screen. This is excellent if you're only using one particular screen, or just want to make the most of your work-space. I've found that pinning applications like 'Mail' and 'Messaging' are great and help with productivity (it's not necessary to open different Windows).
All things considered, I think that Windows 8 gives a significant increase in general productivity, in saying that, if you're completely happy and content with Windows 7 - then you may as well just stay with it until you feel like upgrading.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

The Pros or Promises and Cons of Public Cloud Deployment Model

Day by day, more and more organizations, business leaders, architects and team leaders are realizing the true value of disruptive innovation known as Cloud Computing and also coming to terms with the realities of the Public Cloud deployment model. Gone are the days when Cloud environments were merely considered on the basis of cost benefits; multiple parameters are used to consider the specific Cloud Deployment Models whether the specific deployment model is Best-Fit or not according to specific application requirements. Today we will look into pros and cons or promises and hypes of Public Cloud Deployment Model.
Pros
· Faster Time to Market:It is easy to create development and test environment; reusability enables users to produce production like environments within minutes using pre-build templates. It is very easy to scale up and scale down with flexible cost model.
· On Demand Resources:Resources (Compute, Storage, Network and other services) are provided on demand to meet fluctuating demands and to control the cost.
· Scalability: By utilizing public cloud, IT staff can quickly meet changing user loads for peak loads.
· Agility:Agility is the main business driver behind Public Cloud adoption. Resource provisioning time is very less even lesser than a minute. Pre-built templates are more useful to have a system with all installed components within a minute. Due to on demand resource provisioning, it is easy to scale up and down with speed.
· Cost Benefits: Cloud is a best option to sail smoothly in tight economy with limited budgets and dynamic market environment. No need for up-front investment in resources which results into "Zero CapEx".
· Minimize OpEx: Pre built services such as governance, management, security, information security, user management and implementation of best practices ensures less cost. Resource maintenance is handled by Cloud Service Provider.
· Economies of Scale: It refers to the cost-benefits organizations obtain due to the bulk of resources. In Public Cloud context, Cloud Service Providers and have huge amount of resources and because of it, cost advantages is transferred to all customers using those Cloud services.
· Pay-as-you-go Model: Only pay for what you use; as we do in monthly electricity bills.
· Scope of innovation: Considering Pareto principle, traditional ratio where 80% of focus is on resource acquit ion, capital expenditure and other activities while only 20% focus on core business processes. Cloud Computing helps to spin the ratio and gives IT departments the ability to spend 80% of their time on core business processes which opens up different doors of innovation.
· Competitive Advantage: Organization's ability to speed up development and testing at lower cost than the competitor organizations creates various opportunities. Innovations also provide huge competitive advantage.
· Green Computing:Need for energy and the processing effectiveness has become the center point of debates in organizations recently. Computing must be environmentally sustainable. Cloud computing naturally leads to energy-efficiency by providing economy of scale, improved utilization of the resources, and efficient resource management.
· Easy access to the resources such as compute, storage, and network.
· High Performance computing accessible to SMBs: Pay as you Go model, on demand resources, and Zero CapEx model enables various SMBs to use high performance computing considering the acquisition cost for the HPC resources in traditional environment.
· Proven best practices for better application architecture: Cloud Computing is not new; it has been used in practice from last few years and experiences with the usages of it has resulted into various best practices and robust application architecture to gain high availability.
· Fault tolerance: Various Cloud service providers implement fault tolerant mechanism to predict the failures and take action before the failure take place to maintain high availability.
· Skill Management: Organizations tends to conduct the data regarding expertise of various skills of all employees after each year to manage the resources and processes in efficient manner. Public Cloud services can be used with this data to provide better and quick insight into the skills of employees which can lead to better management of people and processes.
Cons
· Security and Compliance: To ensure the security of potentially sensitive information which traverses the cloud and to fulfil various compliance requirements in Cloud environment which requires different approach than a traditional approach due to basic features of Cloud is the biggest challenge at the time of Cloud adoption. The fact that rules and regulations were not made considering Cloud environments where various dynamics such as virtualization, multi-tenancy, laws, and regulations changes the perspectives as per the type of Cloud Deployment Model also provide different perspective. Some example of Compliances which can be met in Cloud environments are HIPPA, PCI DSS etc.
· Reliability: Single Point Failure: Reliability of Cloud services has been pretty good but outages in recent times have raised lot of eyebrows on the reliability of Cloud services even though they provide 99.95% uptime availability.
· Availability: Most of the Cloud Providers claim to provide 99.95% uptime availability but in case of failure, the only option for the customer is to wait and watch.
· Performance: Response time may vary in various Cloud environments. Different Cloud services such as databases and others have different response time and it also differs as per Cloud service providers and measures taken by them to improve the performance. Due to various issues faced by organizations in public cloud adoption, Private Clouds are gaining more popularity specifically for getting better performance in Cloud environment.
· Vendor Lock in: Changing the Cloud service providers is a huge challenge considering the customizations adopted due to usage of proprietary services or technologies offered by service providers at various layers of applications while migrating to specific Public Cloud. Common standards can help in the cause but how successful they are in the initiatives is still a question to ponder upon.
· Loss of Governance:Control is with Cloud service provider; customers need to be dependent on various things such as compliance requirements, security related aspects. In case of service outage, customers have no control on the activities and need to wait until Cloud service provider fixes the issues and services are available again.
· Data Security:It is a huge challenge to maintain confidentiality, integrity and availability of information. It is very important to secure data at transit and data at rest.
· Law restrictions:Data may be stored at multiple locations in Cloud and if any country has specific regulations considering location of data then it is difficult to comply with it.
· Cost of security measures: At different level such as virtualization layer, network layer etc., different mitigation controls can be applied to secure Cloud environment which may cost heavily.
· Variable cost: Pay as you go model attracts lots of organization but cost structure of Cloud resources are subject to change and it varies from provider to provider.
· No clarity on cost aspect in customers: Though various Cost calculator provided by AWS and PlanForCloud helps but still it is complex to understand how it is calculated.
· Dependency on Internet connection: In Public Cloud, IT resources are accessed using the Internet hence it requires constant connection.
· Integration with in House IT: Most of the IT organizations have invested lot of money in IT infrastructure over the years; considering benefits offered by Public Clouds, organizations are inclined to use Public Clouds but integration with Private Clouds or On premise IT resources is a complex task.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Advantages of an Online EPOS Retail System

For retailers with many branches located in different cities, an POS retail system provides a fast way to centralize sales data processing. An EPOS retail system links sales terminals across various outlets to the main office or server. Internet communication allows for less expensive setup and simpler way to run multiple EPOS sites. It also provides the advantages of real time data integration to update back-office accounting databases.
Fast-growing retail chains should use online EPOS solutions to better manage their new stores and consolidate data from several locations. Single point transaction application is made more effective and more secure by Internet-based EPOS systems. EPOS systems can also function even in off-line mode so that retailers can continue their sales transactions even during Internet downtime. Online EPOS system allows for fast cashier turnover by enabling retailers to easily manage multiple tills, thus reducing errors and complicated procedures that can cause delays. Bar-code reading and security enhancement can easily be standardized across multiple stores with the use of online point-of-sale system.
Small and medium businesses can have the cost benefits enjoyed by large companies that use EPOS solutions. The scalability of online technology makes it possible for SMBs to maximize their available software and hardware resources to supervise point-of-sale transactions in multiple locations. The online component of EPOS allows companies to manage their inventory and allocate supplies in real time. Fewer mistakes are made and less workforce is needed when consolidating and analyzing point-of-sale data through an EPOS retail system. It can be installed at a single site where data from all outlets will be sent. This makes the software component of online EPOS more affordable.
Software-as-service EPOS solution can also offer more data security. An EPOS retail system requires complete installation per POS machine. This makes the retailer the sole administrator of the EPOS system. Retail companies are not as adept as IT companies when it comes to database security. Through online EPOS service, retailers can run POS applications hosted in secure servers maintained by the EPOS system developer. This can save retailers thousands of dollars in terms of manpower and IT related expenses. Online EPOS solutions are highly scalable, which means that a new outlet can easily receive an EPOS system support via Internet. There is no need for another round of software installation. Data can be easily shared across store outlets. Product and customer data can be updated across all sites that share this information. This makes inventory control, accounting and decision making more efficient. In addition, new updates can be easily deployed.
During peak seasons, retailers need to access real-time sales data from various stores. Owners do not have to wait for days to get a consolidated report. With online EPOS retail system, retailers can easily compare the performance of several stores and assess the sales of in-demand items at any given time. Since the business analysts of most retail companies usually hold office in the main branch or headquarters, an online EPOS system serves as an efficient analytic tool for stores with many outlets.