Free email addresses are everywhere these days, but which one to choose? There are so many! Below I’ll talk about some of the more popular free email sites out there and how to sign up for them.

1. Hotmail: Hotmail is run by Microsoft. This email integrates perfectly into all of Microsoft’s products like MSN Messenger (soon to be replaced by Skype), Bing and the MSN games site. But aside from easy integration with other products and services, having a Hotmail address also gives you access to SkyDrive (free online storage space) and easy access to your email 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

To sign up for a Hotmail address simply go to the Hotmail website click where it says “Sign Up Now”. Fill in the information it asks for and click “submit”. The hardest part of this process is coming up with a name for your email. You’ll have “somename”@hotmail.com or “somename”@hotmail.ca but because Hotmail has been around so long the easy ones are already taken. It’s likely you’ll be putting in a fair amount of numbers and special characters to find one that’s not taken.

Hotmail has terrific up-time and it will integrate with your smartphone nicely. That said it has a very high rate of spam. The junk filter does a good job of filtering most of it, but it’s not perfect yet. This definitely isn’t recommended as an account for children to have access to, but if you can deal with the spam, it’s a good, stable choice.

2. Gmail: This is a Google product and will give you access to all of Google’s services and apps. Much like Hotmail you will have constant access to your email and Gmail will work with your smartphone without a problem. Google is also not nearly as prone to spam as Hotmail is.

To sign up just go to the Gmail website and click on the link that says “Create a New Account”. Again you’ll follow the prompts and have to come up with some name for your account. Your address will be “somename”@gmail.com. This can be a difficult process as well because of the number of Gmail accounts that have been created. Just use numbers and underscores to find one that works for you.

3. Yahoo Mail: This is run by Yahoo. The nice part of this one is you can use it to access all of Yahoo’s games! It will also integrate with your smartphone and is accessible from anywhere with an Internet connection.

Yahoo hasn’t caught up with all the services that Hotmail and Google have, but the email is straightforward to use. You can even use a Hotmail or Google address to sign up with Yahoo and it’s available under the Yahoo Canada website which will give you a Canadian email address.

If you’re just getting started with email, Yahoo is probably a good choice. It’s just email. There is nothing extra to it. It’s simple and easy to use and won’t overwhelm you with a whole bunch of products or services you don’t want.

Most emails, these three included, will ask you for a secondary email in case you lose your password and need to recover it. If you’ve been using the email that you can get from your Internet Service Provider (ISP), you can use that as a recovery email. The other option is to sign up for two free email accounts so that you have a recovery email for both. If you don’t provide a recovery email and you lose your password, it usually means you have to create a new email address.

Once you’re signed up all you have to do is share your email with your friends and start using it. Free email is a great alternative to the email provided by your ISP. In the next article we’ll talk about the reasons why you should use a free email address instead. Happy emailing!

The market is abuzz with the news that Apple developers are working to developing the latest iOS version. It is being said that work on iOS 7 has already begun. Although it is not clear about the specific features that it might incorporate. The official announcement about this new version is still on hold, it will only be available around June 2013. Until then one can only guess and hope that this new version is what one wants because it accommodates the iOS 6 features as well as several other new features.

Let us try and have a look at the probable features that the new version might have:

Adding Widgets

The most essential feature that any technology user might agree upon is the widgets. It not only makes things easier but also helps in fetching the latest updates immediately. Any technology user including an Android or even a Windows user would agree upon its inclusion as an essential part in any software. Additionally, with so many latest updates in the software field it becomes necessary for Apple to keep up with the trend and include it. Apart from this a user wants to access everything immediately on the home screen itself including functionalities like Wi-Fi, brightness, 3G and other such options.

Active Feeds on Home Screen

Apple has yet to incorporate a life feed on its home screen. This is what is disappointing. It would make it easier to scroll through the list of active feeds that appear on the home screen instead of checking them out from the menu.

Battery Alert Settings

iOS 6 has faced many issues related to battery power. Issues like easy battery drain and battery consumption are the key ones. Additionally, if more features are included in the phone then it might consume more battery. It seems as though in the new iOS battery consumption is again going to haunt a user. However, to overcome this issues Apple might like to incorporate battery alerts that are customizable. A user should be able to receive alerts against low percentage of battery, for example, as soon as battery is low by 40% a user should be sent an alert.

Automatic App Updates

The best feature that one can think of is incorporating an automatic app update. Going into the store and checking out the latest update on app is tiring. Instead, Apple should include an auto-update of apps as soon as there is an update in the store for any app.

Better Functionality of Siri

Siri is good as far as voice assistance goes. However, it is up against Google Voice. This is what makes it lag behind, especially when it comes to performing certain activities. For example, you cannot command Siri to launch a website in Google Chrome. Apple needs to make more changes in its new iOS so that Siri is able to take more commands and launch more operations.

Customizing Themes

It is not possible to customize your fonts or themes on the iOS 6. However, being able to do so is empowering a user to make more changes accordingly. Apple should think of including customizable themes, fonts, color schemes and other such things. Users are not pleased with the graphical look of the Apple.

Selective Privacy Settings

Changes in technology have lead to providing users with making privacy changes. It is about time that Apple too should think about providing selective privacy protection to apps and folders. As for the current OS, a user can only make general settings by Settings> General. This does not enable private data protection of a user given the amount of data that a technology user stores on a device.

Including a File Manager

An intuitive interface is a brilliant idea but users will be more thrilled if there is a file manager in Apple device. Being able to control file settings by drag and drop, renaming, editing is all what a user would like to take control of on their device.

All the above are some of the features that we might hopefully see in the iOS 7 by Apple.

Computers can be found just about everywhere and dominate the economy. Nearly every employee must work with some type of digital devices on-the-job. How in the world did computers become such a big deal? Most people don’t know.

Here’s the simple answer. Computers altered the relationship between labor, capital and raw materials in the production of goods and services.

Once I owned an advertising business. It consisted of a computer and monitor inside a furniture quality wooden cabinet. Passers-by could activate the device by pressing a button on a keypad. A menu would appear that listed my clients and displayed their businesses. The users of my computer box could select the company they wanted to learn more about, Uncle Bill’s Antiques, for example. Uncle Bill’s custom-designed display screen would appear with its message.

Users could browse the screens for other advertisers for as long as they wanted. My revenue was generated by charging my clients $35.00 a month.

My monthly operating expenses included my own time (I did all of the graphics work) and money spent on gas to travel to a potential client’s location to preview a customized display ad.

Now, let me ask you a question. How much money did I have to lay out for a client’s screen for the second month? If you answered “nothing” you are correct. Even the electricity to “run” the computer was paid for by the owner of the establishment in which the computer-advertising box was placed.

All of the labor was already completed on the customer’s display ad. The money had already been spent to build the cabinet and to purchase the software. Rightfully so, a pro-rated amount for the cabinet, hardware and software could have been considered a monthly expense but that figure would have grown smaller each month as more clients were added and time passed. Truthfully, very little money, if any at all, was spent on any one client’s ad once it was activated on the computer.

My clients, therefore, were paying me a monthly fee to display information on their businesses and I wasn’t laying out any money for labor, capital or raw materials – all because of the computer. In days gone by, signs would have had to be painted, hand-bills printed and distributed, and display ads created for various publications and printing costs would have been high. Now, we have virtually the same thing with web sites.

Computers truly have, forever, changed the basic relationship between labor, capital and raw materials. Entrepreneurs, once they have computers functioning the way they want them, can continue to do the same thing over and over again with proportionately less financial outlay.

You can think of hundreds of examples where computers have replaced human involvement in the production of goods and services (i.e. quilt making, furniture making, drafting, publishing, banking and finance). The list goes on.

The point is that we can achieve higher production with computers for dramatically less money and labor. That reality is a game changer. And that’s why computers are such a big deal.

People who know how to use computers to achieve business and social goals are in high demand. Computer jobs are expected to grow tremendously between now and the year 2020. The trend isn’t going to go away.

Shown below is a link to a free report, An Overview of IT Careers. You are welcome to visit The Learning Net and download the report.

A common question from a number of our customers recently has been whether to use Optical or HDMI when connecting equipment such as DVD Players, Blu-Ray players and Digital Televisions to their receivers.

Most customers have their Blu-Ray players, Media Players and Consoles linked to their TV via HDMI, but it is also very common for us to see a single Optical Cable running back from the TV to the Receiver. This works – and by works I mean it does send a Digital Sound Output from the TV channels and other connected devices back to the Amplifier. But is this the best way for Audio to be sent to your Home Theatre System?

Horses for Courses

What is suitable for one person or situation might be unsuitable for another. Without trying to get too technical, there IS a difference between the performance capabilities of HDMI and Optical – but these will only matter if the equipment you are using also possesses these features.

Dolby True HD – An Audio Codec which delivers 100% lossless sound for movies or music designed for your high-definition home theatre.

DTS-HD – An Audio Codec for Blu-ray Disc format exclusively. DTS-HD Master Audio has steadily become the standard for Blu-ray lossless audio format.

The two audio formats listed above use Lossless Audio Compression, which basically means that the exact original sound source is recreated from the compressed data source being delivered from your Blu-Ray Player, Super Audio CD or Media Player as examples. To deliver these Audio Codecs, you cannot use an Optical Cable, as the Optical Bit-Rate limit is 1.5 Mbps, while HDMI will carry a lot more.

This is why you need to choose a HDMI cable to connect your equipment if you wish to gain the benefits of SACD, or Blu-Ray with Dolby True HD or DTS HD. You can only take advantage of DTS-HD or Dolby True HD if your receiver supports that codec.

What if my Amp doesn’t have HDMI, only Optical?

Optical Cable connections will still transmit Dolby Digital Sound, and, especially since a great deal of installations we have done for our customers over the years are for “Out-Of-The-Box” all in one Home Theatre Systems, they still deliver a more than reasonable Surround Sound result which many people are more than happy with.

However in saying that, there are also many people who can really tell the difference which lossless audio provides over its compressed alternative, and this is why you would need to choose HDMI over Optical when deciding how to connect your Home Theatre System.

The way we see it, and the way we try to explain to our customers is – if your Amp has HDMI, then the best connection to use is HDMI. If your Amp does not have HDMI it might not be worth the expense (to most) to upgrade your whole system, as Optical Cables will still give you a great experience.

It is also true that (so far) soundtracks using Dolby True HD or DTS-HD don’t exist in free to air broadcast, Foxtel, Cable or satellite TV. You won’t compromise any sound quality connecting your DVD Recorder or Player, Overseas Satellite Dish, or Foxtel Cable box to your receiver with an optical (or coax) cable.

There are other benefits which come by using HDMI too…

The latest HDMI standard, v1.4, adds another useful feature – ARC, or “Audio Return Channel”. This basically means that the HDMI cable coming from your Home Theatre System can not only send the Audio and Video Signal to the TV, but it also sends the TV Audio back to the receiver across the same cable. Read our earlier post on ARC here. This eliminates the need for using an Optical Cable from the TV back to the Amplifier for hearing the TV channels through your speakers.

No matter its value-added features, a mobile phone rises in prominence from among a crowd of wannabes and similarly designed products because of five fundamental factors that affect a buyer’s decision. These factors include the phone’s standard and value-added features, the price tag, the mobile plan attached to it, the phone’s flexibility and expandability, and the phone’s hardware.

Standard and Value-Added Features of a Mobile Phone

Naturally, the discriminating buyer would want a mobile phone with all the standard features. These basic features include a body that fits an average person’s hand, a clear display screen, an alphanumeric keypad (touchscreen or real), good quality audio for music and voice calls, a powerful antenna (internal or external), and a durable casing that can withstand most shallow drops and fine rain. Honestly, the touchscreen with a high-resolution display isn’t as equally essential as the phone’s capacity to store data. Also, Wi-Fi connectivity may be important now because of the expensive data rates for mobile broadband, but the Bluetooth feature should be gone by now.

The Price Tag Makes a World of Difference

We often use our phones for calling, texting, web surfing, listening to music, taking pictures, or playing games. When a phone has more value-added features, such as GPS for automatic geo-updates to Foursquare or a capability to playback DivX movies in HD, expect the price tag to shoot through the roof. These features are great! We have fun exploring different apps and we enjoy interacting with the software. But, these do not contribute to the essence of a mobile phone, which is a communication device for making voice calls rather than surfing the web or playing games.

Beware of Plastic Parts Inside a Mobile Phone

If you have the money to spend, then you’re lucky to have the means to get the kind of phone you truly wanted. However, when you’re coping with a restricted budget, turn your attention towards the lower end of the market where many phones also have the same features you’re looking for, but you know their internal hardware may not last a year or even less. The best choice for an inexpensive phone is from middle-level brands that offer durability and full functionality, but at a price that’s lower than branded units.

The Mobile Services in a Phone Plan Must Bring Value to You

Many buyers choose a phone brand because of its design and popularity, and the high-quality features of the phone are just icing on the cake for these phone users. However, for the individual with a deeper appreciation of the level of technology we’re enjoying today, a mobile phone isn’t just a device, but an essential part of his or her workday and lifestyle. This is where the kind of mobile services you have in your plan bring more value to you as a mobile phone user. After all, a phone without Wi-Fi connectivity becomes a useful device for connecting to the web when its mobile plan also has data services.

Flexibility of Design and Expandability of Phone Features

Some brands of mobile phones restrict their users’ ability to tweak their unit’s internal system and turn it into a more powerful version of its former self. Proprietary operating systems for mobile devices, such as Apple’s iOS, Blackberry’s RIM, and Microsoft’s Windows Mobile, run smoothly as they are with a less complicated user interface that’s perfect for non-techies. However, for geeky phone users with a love for Linux or Unix-based systems, an Android phone always presents a world of exploration. They can spend hours rooting, flashing, hacking, and tweaking their phones or tablets until they’re satisfied with the way the device performs and the additional functions they’ve installed within.

Another area where phone buyers may be looking at is the opportunity to expand a phone’s data storage through a microSD slot and increase its usability via a Micro USB port and connector. A microSD disc is a small square chip that’s inserted into the slot and functions as a portable drive. With this chip, a phone’s storage capacity can be boosted up to 3 GB or more. Meanwhile, a Micro USB port is where you insert a short cable with its corresponding micro plug at one end and insert a normal-sized USB plug at the other end to a USB 2.0 port on a laptop or desktop computer. Through this connection called tethering, you can convert your smartphone into a wireless router.

Everyone has a story to tell.

For companies, there are a variety of methods they can use to send their message across. A well-written press release is an effective way to update the public about the company’s achievement. A written report highlighted with key figures will be highly appreciated by the company’s shareholders. Training manuals can effectively give new hires an in-depth vision of what their new job will entail. But sometimes, effective can also be boring.

Whether it’s a corporate documentary or a case study, video can engage your target audience far more effectively than any other media. Because they engage the viewers’ auditory and visual senses, they can sustain their attention far longer. But what’s the difference between watching a CEO give a report in front of a live audience and watching him give a report through a video? Two words: motion graphics.

Motion graphics is a type of animation that has been broadly used in a variety of videos – from commercials to news reports. They are so ubiquitous that audiences rarely notice them. And that is why they are effective – you can use them to highlight key figures or to let specific facts and dates standout without distracting your audience.

This type of graphics is versatile enough that it can be used by companies from different sectors for a wide range of audiences. Motion graphics can engage the audience far better than a person speaking in front of the camera can. More importantly, they can help break down a big chunk of data into smaller pieces that are more manageable for viewers to perceive.

Using specialised computer software, a graphic artist can make a stand-alone video. This can eliminate the need for actors and the use of video recording equipment which results in cheaper production cost.

If you have a ready-made video, a graphic artist can tweak it to make it more compelling by adding a sense of dynamism and vibrancy. Graphics can be used as opening titles or as lower thirds to introduce the speaker talking in front of the camera. 2D animation can be used to make key statistical data standout.

Videos are making headway as the preferred method for companies to get their message across. Aside from being an effective and engaging medium, they can be easily shared online through the company’s social media page. In order to get the most out of your videos, use motion graphics to tell your story effectively.

Every business has to be promoted in one way or the other. Finding the right advertising method is very vital if you want prospective customers to be aware of your products and services. Text message marketing provides a great way to take advantage of the mobility of consumers in today’s world.

Most people will not sit in front of a television or computer for a larger part of the day but their cell phones are always with them. It therefore makes a lot of sense to find a way to reach them through their phones. This is what this type of marketing will do for you. It makes it possible to pass information to your customers quickly and effectively.

You can easily let them know when you have new deals, new products or when coupons are available. The mobile marketing service usually provides an opt-in form that enables customers to indicate their willingness to receive information from your company. People who provide their contact details willingly are more likely to take action on the texts that they receive.

This service is not just about sending out a large number of text messages. It is important to have measuring tools that will provide you with an evaluation of the effectiveness of this strategy. The mobile marketing company is expected to provide you with reporting tools that makes it possible to measure the performance of each campaign.

The best products are those that provide two-way communication. This makes it easy to have continuous dialogue with your clients. You should also consider the availability of auto-responders as well as polling. These features facilitate the creation of ongoing rapport with your contacts and they can continue to receive updates of the activities that are taking place at your store.

The ideal system should also be easy to use. The general purpose of this application is to make it easier for you to promote your business and reach out effectively to your customers. It should be easy to comprehend the interface and to make use of the features even if you do not have any technical training.

When you want to choose text message marketing services, it is important to look for a company that provides excellent customer support. Although the application is easy to use, you may still encounter problems from time to time. When problems come up, you should be able to get support through phone, email or live chat.

When was the last time you had a good desktop? There are so many PCs out on the market these days, that it can be hard to identify the good ones. Hewlett-Packard is the one manufacturer that can usually be counted on to produce the good desktops. The HP ENVY Phoenix h9-1420t is an example of this. This desktop in particular comes with speed and a cutting-edge style.

The appearance of this machine is highly-impressive. It has a modern finish with armor-plated styling. It’s engineered to deliver top-notch performance for digital projects and immersive gaming. If you’ve ever played online games, then you know how annoying lagging can be. It’s very frustrating to be in the middle of a virtual battle with lagging problems.

While a high-end gaming desktop can cost a fortune, the h9-1420t is actually available at a reasonable price. You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars on a multimedia powerhouse when this cheaper alternative can do the very same tasks just as efficiently.

What kind of technology can you expect? Well, as far as the processors are concerned, you can’t really ask for anything better. The base option is a 3rd generation Intel Core i7 processor (3.4 GHz and 8 MB shared cache). If that isn’t enough, you can upgrade to a slightly better model, the 3770K (3.5 GHz).

How would you like a desktop PC with 10 GB of SDRAM? Or 16 GB? Or even 32 GB? This machine can handle up to 32 GB DDR3 SDRAM (4 DIMMs). The base option is 10 GB. It’s always best go with a bit more than what you think you will need.

Most HP desktops can hold 3 internal hard drives, and the h9-1420t is no different. There is room for a primary hard drive, a secondary hard drive, and a solid state drive. The primary hard drive is a 2 TB SATA (7200 rpm). There is also an option for a SATA RAID model. The secondary hard drive options include 1 TB, 2 TB, and 3 TB. Of course, you don’t have to go with a secondary hard drive if you don’t think you’ll need it, and want to save a bit of money.

Since this is a multimedia desktop, you can expect plenty of multimedia features. Beats Audio is exclusive HP technology that enables the highest quality audio available on a computer. HP Connect lets you share music files, photos, and other media with relatives and friends through social networks.

Since the HP ENVY Phoenix h9-1420t can easily be customized to suit your own personal preferences, you won’t be needing a new desktop for a very long time. Thanks to its exclusive technology and durable build, this machine can last for years and years.

Handing over your precious home videos for transfer to DVD can be worrisome. What if it gets damaged or lost? Before yo hand over your memories media to a video transfer lab, visit the lab, ask or just observe for these 10 points:

1. Is the video transfer work done on-site? This is what a good video transfer lab would say:

All of our work is done at the same location where you left your old Super 8 film or VHS Tape. It never leaves the building until you pick them up

2. Is every item ID’d and tagged? Here’s what a good lab would say:

Ever item and project is given its own job and item number. So even if your 8mm looks like every other 8mm, you can still be sure that you are returned the one that’s yours.

3. Is your workplace organized? Don’t ask, just observe.

Look around you, is every job in its own bin on a shelf designated for whatever type of media it may be? Or are tapes and film, photos and slides lying in stacks that are tipping over. Are order forms neat and organized or hand-written scribbles?

4. Is every job tracked with a barcode? Give bonus points

If you see barcode tracking, this helps us to make sure your tapes are constantly tracked. If for some reason your VHS to DVD fall in the cracks, a barcoding system will alert the lab.

5. Is every item counted and recounted? A good lab is obsessive-compulsive about counting.

Of course you want to get back all of your tapes or photos. You also don’t want to get anyone else’s. If you give them 8 tapes, you want 8 tapes back, not 7, not 9. A good lab counts whe you bring them in and recount them when the project enters the transfer lab, and again when the project is done and the media is handed back to you.

6. Do you see any open beverages? You won’t in a professional vhs to dvd transfer lab.

No matter what the beverage is, even if it’s just water, it must be capped at all times. Liquid damage to your media is not an option.

7. Do you see any open trash bins?

You may be wonder what opent rash bins has to do with safety. Because it’s so easy for your precious media to fall into one, that’s why.

8. Are they gentle with your fragile media?

Or are they rough? For example, do they put extra protection for fragile photos, SD cards, hard drives and loose slides?

9. Are completed jobs labeled clearly?

Often, right from the front desk, you can see the lab’s completed jobs in brown or white bags. Are these bags labelled clearly so there’s no mix-ups when a customer picks up her VHS and DVDs?

10. Do they confirm ownership?

Lastly, when you pick up your tapes or photos, do they take the contents of the bags out and ask you to visually verify ownership. This is serious, what if you walk away with someone else’s VHS/VCR tapes by mistakes. You don’t want their memories, and they don’t want your memories.

Your precious home movie tapes are irreplaceable, asking these questions and observing for the above safety procedures is well worth it!

Oprah Mini has long been a default browser to many mobile phones. Over many years, it has been the default browser to many phones until the new era with touch devices arrived. Considering the increasing touch enabled devices, Opera Software has introduced a new browser called Opera Ice. This new browser is said to be the new age browser and is at par with the changing technological trends. It is still being developed but is rumored to be available for Apple products. Let us find out more about this browser and its new additions.

About Opera-Ice

The Opera Ice is a WebKit-based browser that seems perfect for any iOS device. Opera is keeping up with the Apple policy that strictly refrain any third-party software download. This new browser seems to be a viable solution to create a strategic browser which is in compliance to the Apple standards.

The new Opera browser is all about hiding the old buttons and menu. The previously used buttons and controls that dominated the entire look and feel of Opera are now hidden. This gives you a much-organized look. This browser is capable of being used on a touch enabled device that contains gesture commands and control key elements. You will be able to smoothly navigate through the menu to move forward and backward. All this makes it a browser that embraces touch screen technology and can easily run on any touch-enabled device.

This browser is capable of utilizing the full touch screen space for displaying the content. You will observe major changes like graphical icons, bookmarks and tabs will be like web pages that will be easy to navigate. The forward and backward motion will be controlled via gesture commands. Nonetheless, the Opera will still continue with its old mobile browser, as it is still pretty useful and applicable in many mobile phones.

Other things include eliminating the thumbnails that used to be display in the older version. The new look will incorporate icons that will be easy to identify by the user. Additionally, with a complete new makeover of the entire browser you will be surprised to find live previews that come up in your search query.

Conclusion

This browser is undoubtedly a good option for those who own a touch enabled device. Alternatively, if the user wants to install this browser, then it is essential to set it up as a default browser. With a neat look, gesture commands, new controls anyone would like to replace it with Safari.

The initial release date of this Opera Ice browser is slated for February 2013. Both iOS and Android users will benefit from it. It is also said that the company is already working to provide this browser for Windows phone too. Even a desktop user will be benefited from it as stated by the company.