ArticlesNov 28, 2014

The Best Tech Apps For An Entrepreneur

by Nick - Dec 22, 2014

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Being an entrepreneur is not easy. You need to have some tools at hand to make your life seamless and to operate efficiently in order to achieve your expected success. When it comes to technology, an entrepreneur must embrace tech apps that are relevant to the business. The apps must also be easy to use and effective in their capacity to make an entrepreneur’s life easier.

The following apps meet the criteria above:

Winstreak

Winstreak is an application that is used to establish habits that are conducive to the success of the business. It is a free app that is available in Apple Inc.’s iTunes Store. Winstreak shows the successes that a business has experienced and helps to motivate people to want to continue doing those habits that aided in making the success a reality. This is an app that can help an entrepreneur’s staff to gather momentum and enthusiasm from the success of their work and to seek to do more.

DropBox

In an age where transfer of large data has a lot of requirements, an app like DropBox resolves any issue that an entrepreneur might have. Sometimes you might want to send large files such as multimedia and it might not work because most emails don’t allow attachments of very large files. This is where DropBox comes in. DropBox allows you to send large files to a recipient in any part of the world as long as they have installed the app on their computer. Even if you don’t intend on sending files to a recipient, you can just store all of your business files in the DropBox storage and access them from anywhere using your password. It is very convenient. There is also a DropBox app available for your Android or iOS smartphone.

Evernote

Evernote is one of the best inventions of recent years. It’s an app that allows an entrepreneur to edit and save written and audio notes, and share files. Evernote also gives you the luxury of bookmarking website content that you would like to read later and access it when it is convenient for you. All the data stored on Evernote can be synced to all your tablet and smartphone devices at just the touch of a button. You can save all your thoughts and ideas, as well as multimedia files.

Gmail Offline

Google developed a very helpful tool for entrepreneurs to access their emails without having to connect to the internet. They can read all the received emails at their own pace without worrying about internet data bundles. You can also reply to the emails. It is very convenient to an entrepreneur as it can be used anywhere.

Hootsuite

People love Hootsuite because it simplifies their social media interactions. Hootsuite is a social media manager for all your social media accounts.

Skype

Skype allows you to chat via text, audio or via video with anyone in any part of the world. It is an application that is very easy to use. All their data and premium options are affordable and you can make free Skype phone calls to anyone who has installed the Skype app. In the long-term, as an entrepreneur, you will discover that you have saved a lot of money on phone charges.

Trillian

Just like Hootsuite focuses on social media platforms, Trillian focuses on instant messaging apps. Trillian allows you to access all your IM clients and log in to all of them at once. From then, you can send messages to every customer’s favourite IM chat client just from the Trillian app.

Flow Dock

Flow Dock is an app that allows you to keep track of team communications and ensure your employees are in connected to one another. The app allows employees to send files, chat with each other and even read emails meant for the entire team.

Lookout Mobile Security app

Lookout is a mobile phone application used to secure sensitive company data that might be lost if the mobile device was hacked or stolen. It protects your network and therefore you will not be susceptible to identity thieves when you are browsing the web from your mobile device.

All these apps will give an entrepreneur a leg up in the business dealings. It is important to take applications that are convenient and apps that will improve efficiency.

Spend Money On The Right Gadgets

by Nick - Dec 15, 2014

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Marketing techniques have evolved over the years and they are now more persuasive than they have ever been. People are spending lots of money on items you would not expect them to want. Worse still, is the fact that some people spend money on items that they will not use after the first few days.

The world has been sold the mentality of wanting the new stuff while forgetting that there are never that many advances or changes in the new devices. During the holiday seasons, gadget mania grows to a new level and people are more likely to be pressured to spend money on items that they either don’t need or will not be using them after a few days when the products lose their appeal.

You can future-proof your gadget expenses by spending money on only the top gadgets that still give you value-for-money. Here are some examples of gadgets that will serve you well:

Samsung Gear Fit

This is arguably one of the best gadgets of the year. Samsung’s entry into the wearable’s market was met with scorn but they have managed to merge fitness and technology with this offering. The Gear Fit has a Super AMOLED touch screen display that offers users a variety of themes and wallpapers to suit their personality. The display shows the menu which focuses more on fitness and therefore offers pedometers and heart rate monitors. The display also alerts the user of new messages or phone calls on the paired smartphone device.

For the fashion-conscious, the Gear Fit has a beautiful design and interchangeable colour bands that complement one’s attire. Most of all, the fitness apps offer the health-conscious people all the tools to monitor their activities and health.

Asus X551CA iCeleron-1007U

The Asus iCeleron is a 15.6-inch HD laptop with a processing speed of 1.5GHz. It is thin and lightweight with a large touch pad. It incorporates IceCool Technology to cool down the palm rests. The device also has an intuitive Smart Gesture option and it provides users with USB 3.0 ports for faster data transfers. Despite all this value, it costs less than an iPhone 6.

Motorola Moto G or the OnePlus One

When it comes to smarphones, Motorola’s Moto G and OnePlus’ One device are the benchmarks for cheaper phones with fantastic hardware and software features. It is difficult to pick just one of the two devices but both perform at optimal levels to provide a user experience akin to those with high-end smartphones. The Moto G is a 4.5-inch display smartphone and it is protected with scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass technology. The device is also water resistant.

The OnePlus One has been the revelation of the year. It packs high-end specs for a budget device. It comes with a 5.5-inch display and it runs Cyanogenmod mobile operating system. The One also has Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3 to protect its screen. It is a device operating with one of the recent Qualcomm chipsets, the Snapdragon 801.

Asus Zenwatch (WI500Q)

The Asus Zenwatch is a recent device in the wearable technology space, which blends technology and classic timepieces to create a smartwatch that interacts seamlessly with your smartphone to provide convenient functionality. For example, when your phone rings, you can simply cover the screen on your Zenwatch and the call will be muted. The watch tells time but also goes much further using Google’s Android Wear operating system, to provide the user with access to the internet via Google and to also use features such as GPS to navigate in unknown environments. The Zenwatch provides reminders and notifications on activities and on new calls and messages.

Canon DSLR EOS 500D

This camera provides the user with high quality photos and videos at resolutions of 1080p. The camera also comes with a HDMI slot which means it can be connected to your computer or video playing devices to view the contents in the gallery. It has 15.1MP to provide the user with high-quality shots that can be edited without the photo losing a lot of quality.

All these devices are not only affordable, but also provide value for money. They are unlikely to be thrown away any time soon and will continue providing quality service as long as they are taken care of.

10 Most Luxurious Yachts In The World

by Nick - Dec 15, 2014

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10. The Rising Sun – $200 Million

9. Seven Seas – $200 Million

8. Lady Moura – $210 Million

7. Al Mirqab – $250 Million

6. Dilbar – $263 million

5. Al Said – $300 million

4. Superyacht A – $323 million

3. Dubai – $350 million

2. Eclipse – $800 million

1. History Supreme – $4.8 billion

7 Tech Gadgets You Can Give As Holiday Gifts

by Fast Business Lifestyle - Dec 12, 2014

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With the holiday season in full swing, it is now that time of the year whereby you have to struggle coming up with the perfect gift to give a friend or loved one. Choosing gifts always seems to get complicated every year despite the fact that new products are released throughout the year.

For the tech aficionados, there has been a lot of innovation in the tech industry and this means that there are a lot of cool gadgets on offer. Some of the gadgets you should consider giving as gifts include:

Samsung Gear 2 Smartwatch

The second iteration of the Galaxy Gear smartwatch was modified and improved upon to create a fashion-conscious smart watch. The Gear 2 has comfortable and changeable straps and fits seamlessly in any setting. The Gear 2 uses Samsung’s Tizen operating system and offers customizable themes and clock faces. The best feature of the smartwatch is the fact that it allows you to make and receive phone calls. As a bonus, you can even take pictures with your watch. It is a great gift to give someone.

Parrot A.R Drone 2.0 GPS Edition

The Parrot drone is an amazing drone that is controlled using Wi-Fi connectivity and can capture photos and videos at high ranges and distances. The latest Parrot drone has a GPS feature that allows the drone to return to its original location on its GPS monitor by the flick of a switch. The drone captures streaming video and sends it to your mobile device or saves it on the available USB drive on board the drone. You can use the drone to capture aerial view pictures and video of your friends and family as you have fun at a gathering.

Playstation 4 Gaming Console

The PS4 is the best selling gaming console this year and for good reason. It incorporates high-tech graphics and processing units that make gaming more realistic and fun. The PS4 also has multimedia features that allow users to share their gaming experiences online in social media platforms. Most importantly, you can watch all your HD and 3D movies on the PS4.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4

In the phablet segment of the market, no other device comes close to challenging the Galaxy Note 4. Samsung’s latest device boasts some of the top hardware and software features available in the market. The stylus option on the Note 4 is still one of the major selling points of the device. The Note 4 also incorporates the image stabilization feature that has been missing in most of the Galaxy devices. In general, it can be considered to be the best smartphone of the year 2014.

Marshall Stanmore Pitch Black

For the music lovers, nothing ruins music than bad speakers. The Marshal Stanmore is a great speaker. Its best feature is its sound quality. You can raise the volume really high and the speaker won’t ruin your sound experience.

FitBit Charge

The fitness wearable market has witnessed a surge this year and one of the top devices in the fitness segment is the FitBit. It is a simple device that tracks your fitness, you calorie intake and your travel distance. It can also tell time. It comes in a host of colours to suit whichever gender you want to buy the device for. The FitBit charge can also notify you of a call on your mobile device if they are both paired.

Automatic

For the car lovers, Automatic connects your smartphone with the car’s computer system, thus allowing you to retrieve data about your vehicle. The onboard computer system keeps information about your driving habits and on your car’s diagnostics. Automatic is a small box that allows you to have information about gas usage and the nearest gas stations for a refill. The device can alert you as to the location of your parked car. Another top feature within Automatic is its ability to provide reports when an accident occurs.

All these tech gadgets can be given as gifts to either men or women. While both genders might have different preferences, all these gifts at least provide them with an option for what they might consider purchasing to improve their lives.

10 Gadgets, Gizmos and Widgets to Watch for in 2015

by Nick - Dec 12, 2014

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Technology has changed the way we do business in ways we could never have imagined 25 years ago. The array of gadgets, gizmos and widgets that now have business applications has revolutionized everything. Here are some amazing new gadgets and tech toys to watch out for in 2015 to bring your business to the next level:

1.Google Glass is Reborn. After a lacklustre debut in 2012 Google Glass, Google’s wearable device had all but faded into oblivion. However, Google is releasing a new version in 2015. Intel is providing a new chip replacing the Texas Instruments processor and it will have improved battery life. Google is targeting businesses for the new device such as hospitals and manufacturers, rather than tech-savvy consumers. This is logical as it frees up those who need to continuously check a computer monitor while working. This could give the device a new life in 2015

2. HP Multi jet Fusion 3D Printer with Sprout PC. 2015 will see the launch of Hewlett Packard’s new 3D Printer which claims 10 times the speed of current models. Printers are not only getting faster but they are getting smarter. This model is as close to the type of replicators that you have seen on Star Trek as we have come so far, being able to print in 3 dimensions in about an hour what used to take about 23 hours to produce with current state of the art models. The scope for the application of this technology is still being determined so we may not see it in full bloom till 2016

3.Amazon Kindle Fire 2015. Coming out in September of 2015 the much anticipated Kindle Fire is rumoured to be increasing its screen size to 12″ or perhaps even larger, giving it almost the size and productivity of a laptop. Amazon Kindle Fire has always performed well and while the future of Android based tablets is becoming uncertain, this device is one of the top must- have gadgets in 2015.

4. Laser Projection Keyboard – This has got to be among the coolest of the gadgets that would make James Bond proud. This little gizmo fits in your pocket or the smallest purse, connects with Bluetooth to project a functional keyboard on to any flat surface. It has motion sense lasers that function as a mouse. The price for this? A mere $150. Is this science fiction become fact or what?

5. Parrot Flower Power -The following item on our “what will they think of next?” list is a gadget that you put into the flower pot of your favourite plant which gives a detailed analysis on the health of the plant, quick advice for its care and the type of love and attention it requires. While this is not something that directly affects your productivity or the bottom line, now even the most hopeless plant-killers will be able to enjoy some natural healthy greenery in their offices.

6. Apple Watch – To be released Spring of 2015 this devise is part technology and part fashion statement and has appeal as a fitness device as well as a techno-gadget. It monitors vital signs as well as beaming messages, updates and notifications from Facebook, eliminating the need to take out your device to check. I think it tells time too.

7. Wifi Finding Laptop Bag- When you are on the go it would be great to not have to pull your laptop out of your bag to find a signal for some free bandwidth. Now you can get a signal detector embedded right in your laptop bag. This is a great time saver when you are on the go. The Wifinder line of laptop bags from Soyntec have 4 different styles that average around $62

8. Livescribe Echo Smart pen – This little gizmo is a pen that also allows records audio while taking notes. Now you can save and share interactive notes on your ipad, iphone or laptop via a micro-usb connector. It has 400 or 800 storage memory and includes an OLED display that makes it easy to operate smart pen apps

9. HP 1200w Mobile Print Accessory – Up to now mobile devices could do almost everything a desktop or laptop could do except print. Finally HP has come out with a way to print documents from your smart phone. This device connects to the usb port of HP Laserjet or Officejet mobile printers and you can either print directly or remotely from your smart phone tablet or notebook.

10. Dragon Naturally Speaking – Voice recognition software has been around for a while but Nuance Communications has perfected the application with Dragon Naturally Speaking. Instead of typing each character one at a time, or paying an assistant to do it, you simply speak i and it types out the written word in your favourite word processing software. As an added bonus you can get Dragon Dictation, a free iphone app which saves dictated text into your iphone.

Technology is changing business at a dizzying rate but whether you work at home or in the office 2015 promises to be a year of rapidly expanding development of applications to make your business life easier.

10 Ridiculously Expensive Toys For Adults

by Nick - Dec 8, 2014

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1. Personalized Backyard Ice Rink $699.99

2. Pac-Man Cocktail Table $3,500

3. Inflatable Water Park $7,999.99

4. Mustang Pool Table $9,995

5. Bavarian Electric Touring Bicycle $10,000

6. Inflatable Obstacle Course $12,500

7. Spaceship Bed $18,000

8. Personalized Whac-A-Mole Game $35,000

9. The Light Cycle $50,000

10. The Killer Whale Submarine $100,000

7 Ways Tech Can Keep You Out of Trouble

by Nick - Dec 8, 2014

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With all the advances in technology, it is very easy to find yourself caught up in a lot of trouble. If big multi-national companies are hacked and their records stolen, what chances does an individual like you have against the criminals on the internet?

There are other issues that can arise when you are using tech products besides the threats posed by criminals. Here are a couple of ways tech can keep you out of trouble in the modern day world:

Tech will safeguard your Health

Nowadays, most people spend most of their time seated. Sitting can cause potential health risks such as deep vein thrombosis which can prove fatal if a medical check-up is not conducted. Fortunately, there is a shift in focus for many tech companies as they are now making tech products that inspire people to be more active.

For example, Samsung’s Gear Fit tracks a person’s movement, calories, and heart rate. Another tech product promoting activity is the Nintendo Wii game console, which provides players with a game pad that they can use to create the actions of the in-game player. For example, you can now physically play a tennis match with your in-game player mimicking your actions.

Anti-virus protection

There are a lot of spyware and malware on the internet that allows criminals to access your personal data for their own nefarious purposes. The anti-virus software developed by tech companies can keep you safe by protecting you against all malicious attacks geared to stealing your information.

VPN – Virtual Private Network

With the recent news concerning the spying of individuals by their governments, it is important for you to protect yourself. Everything you post on the internet can be intercepted and a personality profile established just from the data you have willingly shared. Governments can even invade your privacy by looking at what you were browsing.

There are other instances of companies providing your personal information to third-party agents who then start sending you their marketing and sales letters. Worst of all, there are websites you visit which track your location. It is scary that all this information could be floating around on the internet.

To protect yourself, you need to install VPN software, which masks your identity and your browsing location from prying eyes. Some VPN software even allows you to browse through websites which you would not gain access to due to your location.

Bomb squad robots

People who work for the bomb squad are always at risk of death. Nevertheless, bomb squad robots ensure that those lives are preserved a little bit longer by being the first on-site bomb monitors. If an explosion goes off, only the robot gets hurt. Some robots are designed to contain the bomb so that it can explode within the robot. This is a great way in which technology keeps you out of trouble.

Smartphone SOS feature

Sometimes in real life situations, you are faced with impending danger and you cannot make a call using your smartphone. Smartphones such as Samsung’s Galaxy Note 4 have safety features whereby you can press the volume keys at the same time and this will send a distress message to the person whose contacts you’ve saved as your emergency contact. That person can then either come and assist you or call emergency services to come to your rescue.

Cloud storage

A few years ago, your best bet at preserving the work on your computer was by saving another copy to your flash drive. Now, companies have established cloud storage services where you can save copies of your work to ensure it doesn’t get lost.

One of the worst things that tended to happen to your work on your computer was that it either got lost or was corrupted by a computer virus. If you connected your flash drive to the computer, the data on it was also compromised thus leaving you to explain to your boss or your clients why you don’t have the data they require. Cloud storage allows you to store all your information on the web and you can access it from any location in the world; just as long as you have a computer and your password.

Why Gadgets are Killing You

by Nick - Dec 4, 2014

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Every day, the world bears witness to new information and new advancements in the technology world. Who would have imagined decades ago that you would be carrying a phone in your pocket or even making a phone call with your wristwatch? These advancements have made our lives easier. Despite the benefits accrued from new technology, we are now paying dearly for their enjoyment: With our lives.

You may not know this, but many of the gadgets that you use in your everyday life may be killing you. It might be the 3D TV that you’ve been bragging to all your friends with or the latest smartphone device that has the most advanced hardware and software features in the market. These gadgets are still reducing your life expectancy every minute you use them. Here is how gadgets are killing you:

You are sitting too long

Nowadays, many people spend a lot of hours sitting down, for example, because they are at their workstation using their computer or they are at home watching a show on TV. The negative effects of sitting are numerous. For one, you can get deep vein thrombosis which is a medical condition whereby a clot develops due to constricted veins and this clot breaks off and travels toward the heart. There are usually symptoms such as loss of consciousness or some pain and difficulty in breathing. If the clot reaches the heart, you will die.

Your posture and body positioning is wrong

No matter where you look when you are out in public, you will see someone bending their head to read something on their phone or tablet. Most people are fully engaged with these gadgets and will spend a considerable amount of time with their heads facing down. This posture puts pressure on the neck muscles and on the spinal cord. Injury to the spinal cord can lead to other health complications such as neurological diseases and depression due to loss of motor function. These can lead to death through loss of pain sensations that can alert you to dangers to your body and suicide respectively.

Exposure to Radiation

There will always be a raging debate about how much cell-phones expose people to radiation. Nevertheless, there are no doubts about the electro-magnetic radiation discharged whenever your mobile phones connect to the cell tower. At one time, you have most likely felt your phone getting hot when you are making a phone call. There are also instances when you feel pain in your head after talking on the phone for long periods. Scientists also say that mobile phones have an adverse effect on children’s brains. Using cell-phones is said to cause damage to brain cells leading to diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. The radiation is also said to cause brain tumors.

Toner fumes and particle poisoning

Modern day printers emit fumes and fine particulates that, when inhaled, can cause respiratory diseases that mimic the effects of cigarette smoking. Smoking causes diabetes; blindness; erectile dysfunction; a variety of cancers; heart attacks; and ultimately death.

Laptop and mobile phone light affecting sleep patterns

The light emitted by laptops and computers can be dangerous. If you’ve ever played a racing game on your computer, you can understand the effect of ‘seeing’ the race when you close your eyes. The light emitted by laptops and computers can affect sleep patterns by suppressing melatonin production which is essential for sleep. Insomnia and sleep disorders can lead to loss of coordination and concentration – which are important for your navigation throughout the day – leading to accidents that can be fatal. You can also experience memory loss and hallucinations that can make you a danger to the safety of other people. Stress and mental health issues also arise from sleep deprivation. These issues can cause reduced immune function that can lead to fatal diseases.

There are other instances of gadgets posing a threat to your life. Sometimes, people use laptops on their bed, forgetting that if the vents got blocked, it would lead to an explosion. There are also the documented accidents that occur when people are texting. It is therefore important to be wary of gadgets. While they may be useful, they need to be used in the proper manner to ensure they don’t harm us.