You are here: Home / Archives for Gadgets

10 Android Apps to Increase Productivity

January 24, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Smartphones let a person work while on route to their next destination or while waiting somewhere for a scheduled appointment. A mini office exists in your Android smartphone that is every bit as productive as being at your desk.

Here are 10 Android apps for productivity when you need to get some work done:

Image via Flickr

Quick Office Pro

A functional app, Quick Office Pro puts Microsoft Office products on your phone. It is the most comprehensive and connected suite available for Android. You can get access to MS Word or Excel documents remotely or create new ones. The connected file manager lets you share files with Google Docs or Huddle to name a few.

Droid Edit

A functional app for those who are into programming source code. Droid Edit offers a free text editor feature. It comes with syntax highlighting for Python, Ruby, Javascript and many more. It can create network sockets. Best of all, it has infinite undo and redo.

TripIt

It offers survival from the avalanche of details you have to deal with during a business trip. It puts all your trip information—flights, reservations, maps, tickets and schedules of meeting—in a quick access, linear fashion that briefs you on what will transpire on your busy day.

Documents to Go

This practical app lets you work from your smartphone with Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Adobe pdf supported files. Documents to Go lets you edit documents or create new ones. Once finished, you can open and send attachments by email or Gmail.

Key Ring

A reliable app, Key Ring lets you scan all those company cards for discounts or coupons. Scan the bar code and your phone becomes a digital card which retailers can scan with their devices. Other features include a special-offer notification and a note program for making lists.

Talk to Me

This app makes international communication a bit easier. Its speech recognition software in 15 languages lets you translate a phrase from your native language to a foreign one. It then outputs a voice in that language.

Google Voice

A practical app, Google Voice creates a phone number and lets you make cheap international calls which are then transcribed for later viewing. This app has text messaging and voice mail as well.

Seesmic

For the social bees, Seesmic lets you manage your social networks. You can see updates or notifications of your trusted social networks at once, since Seesmic stacks the messages and puts the latest message on top.

Sprite Droid Back Up

An app that keeps you organized, Sprite Droid Back Up keeps your phone data safe. It gives you the choice of device, storage card, box.net or Dropbox back up.

Instagram

Finally, Instagram for Android!—though Android-users-slash-photography-hobbyists still have to wait a little longer as this app is still on it’s way to the Android market.

Aside from sharing photos in a stream, Instagram also has custom-designed filters and borders to creatively change the user’s images any way he wished. With the instant sharing feature, one can upload his professional-looking upshots to any social media sites.

Try out these 10 Android Apps for productivity and make your life a little easier, anytime and anywhere you want it.

Filed Under: Gadgets Tagged With: , ,

The Best Four Gadgets of 2011

July 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment

 

Gadgets have changed the face of American business. From MP3 players to smartphones and everything in between, people want the fastest, most versatile and smallest version of today’s hottest gadgets. 2011 saw the release of hundreds of gadgets, but not every new machine is worth your investment. What gadget should you really consider? Your best bet is taking a look at the top four gadgets released in 2011.

1.      The iPhone 4:

There are several smartphones on the market right now, but in 2011, Apple released its latest version of the iPhone. If you are honest, you know that there is a reason why Apple leads the pack in smartphones. Based on the Windows 7 platform, the iPhone 4 has all the speed and applications you could want – and it looks cool, too.

2.      The Nook Simple Touch:

EBook readers have been growing in popularity over the past few years, leading to a surge in electronic reading devices. Barnes and Noble has taken the eBook to the next level with its simple and intuitive Nook. The e-reader is entirely touch operated so it really stands out from the pack.

3.      The iPad 2:

The release of the iPad several years ago created a veritable crush of tablet computers, but Apple still leads the way. The iPad 2 addresses some of the glaring problems of the first version. While it could be a little lighter and sleeker, it absolutely is the best tablet on the market.

4.      The Flip Ultra HD:

A hand-held video recorder is a must have, and the Flip Ultra HD is leading the way in its field. It has all the features you need to make it really useful, including an integrated USB port, a battery that you can charge 500 times and a full hour of recording time. These features make this one of the best gadgets to buy.

If you haven’t found the gadget you are looking for by shopping for electronics on eBay, just wait. The year isn’t over yet, and more options are coming in the second half of the year. Two notables are the BlackBerry Rim and the Sony PlayStation phone. The BlackBerry Rim is a mini projector, and the PlayStation phone will allow you to play your favorite PlayStation games on your phone.

So far, 2011 has provided several gadgets. If you rely on mobile technology, start shopping for the best four gadgets of 2011. What is your favorite gadget?

Filed Under: Gadgets

Best Reasons to Get HBO

July 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The theme music is unmistakable, but this isn’t your father’s HBO. Long known for its cutting edge shows, documentaries, and mini-series, today HBO on direct TV, is one of the most popular movie channels on television.  In 1972, the Home Box Office aired its first movie, Sometimes a Great Notion, and since then the channel has expanded to include several different channels, including HBO HD, HBO Family, HBO Latino, and many more. Today, it reaches more than 28 million viewers. If you still aren’t convinced, here are some of the best reasons to get HBO.

Cause It’s a Thrilla

In 1965, Charles Dolan had an idea — an idea that would change the way we view television. His innovation allowed the average American access to more than just movies. During more than 40 years in operation, HBO has had many first time broadcasting feats. Including the first satellite broadcast of a boxing match, The Thrilla in Manila. Other firsts include The Terry Fox Show (first made for pay TV movie) and Fraggle Rock (first children’s program)

It’s a Gas

While they don’t make everyone’s top ten list, HBO is quickly changing the way we look at, and think of, documentaries. They often develop, fund, and produce their own documentaries, and focus on a wide range of areas designed to pique the interest of even the most fickle of viewers.


Gaslands, sometimes dark and sometimes comical, explores the impact of fractal drilling across the country. Frighteningly, the public is largely unaware of the impact this type of drilling has. Gaslands brings the fight to the public and highlights the battle now before our government.
Other popular documentaries include Sex Crimes Unit, A Matter of Taste: Serving Up Paul Rembrandt, Koran By Heart, Bobby Fischer Against the World, and Mann v. Ford.

A Shining City Upon a Hill

Many of their documentaries are award winners, but this year, Reagan stands out. It blended together contemporary interviews, historical commentary and period footage, and a new view of Ronald Reagan emerged. The documentary explores the social, economic, and political influences of the Gipper on today’s society and reminds us all of his famous vision for America . . . that we can be that shining city upon a hill.

It’s an Addiction

HBO may have been conceived as a way to bring full-length movies to the masses, but when they saw the chance to produce serial shows, they took it, creating some of the most innovative shows of the last 30 years. From The Hitchhiker to First and Ten, their critically acclaimed shows are the perfect entertainment.

Many of their most popular series have large fan followings and might more reasonably be called an addiction. With more than 30 series under their belt, including The Sopranos, Band of Brothers, and Sex and the City, HBO continues to churn out the hits.

Winter Is Coming

Owing in part to the popularity of the tag line “Winter is coming,” the show is considered to be the most anticipated TV series of all time, A Game of Thrones is an epic rendition of the popular book A Song of Fire and Ice. It is grand in design, beautiful in rendition, and stunningly popular. HBO is currently filming the second season, and millions of fans can’t wait for the season premier next spring.

Under The Boardwalk

Boardwalk Empire follows the lives of prohibition era gangsters, politicians, and common folk in Atlantic City. This period series is richly styled and an ideal glimpse into an era gone by. With an intricate plot line and star-studded cast, Boardwalk Empire grabs your attention and never lets go. With the second season starting soon, now is the perfect time to sign up, get caught up, and take a “walk” under the boardwalk

It’s a Bit…Messy

Vampires aren’t to be feared; in fact, they’re at the heart of some of the most entertaining shows on television — including HBO’s True Blood. Edgy and risqué, the show has reached cult stardom. Vampires, werewolves, shape shifters, and other supernatural creatures vie for love, power, and life. Now in its fourth season, this cult favorite is making history.

A Cupboard Full of Series

If the enormous catalog of past series, movies, and documentaries isn’t enough to catch your eye, HBO is the current home to some of the most popular shows on televisions anywhere. Curb Your Enthusiasm, In Therapy, and Bored to Death are just the tip of the iceberg.

Catch the latest episode of your favorite HBO series or watch those from years gone by all in one convenient place. It is these shows that everyone is talking about, these shows you must watch.

Get It Free

We haven’t even touched on the thousands of movies offered by HBO and its related channels and already the complete package sounds like an expensive proposition. Luckily, it is possible to get HBO free through several service providers like DirectTV.

They are currently running a promotion that will allow you to watch all of the real life documentaries, exciting series, and movies without spending a dime. Check with your service provider to see if you qualify for a free trial.

Get It to Go

HBO will never leave ya hanging either — especially now with their HBOGo program. No matter where you are, you have access to all of HBO’s popular shows. They have compiled their entire catalog online, making it possible to watch the latest episode of your favorite show anywhere you can access the Internet. Even better? The service is free to subscribers.

Wrap It Up with a Bow

HBO is more than a simple movie channel. Instead, it is the perfect blend of movies, documentaries, and award winning shows. Including the HBO family in our cable or satellite package is free for three months and means always having access to your favorite shows and movies. Perhaps the best reasons to get HBO are yet to come. Who knows what new series, documentaries, and movies will be available next year? HBO continues to answer all your entertainment needs. Got HBO?

Filed Under: Basics, Gadgets

5 Things You’re Lacking When Not Using an Electronic Signature Service

June 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment

It’s a huge delay when business emails, text messages, phone calls and Skype usage are all concluded by someone having to print out a document to have it couriered or faxed, signed and mailed, faxed or couriered back, so someone can then put the information back into the electronic system. Yet, this is how crowds of business managers still operate.

Having the use of e-signature services like Echosign make that waste of time non-existent and it saves companies a bunch of money in a bunch of ways, but these savings are not afforded to those who don’t utilize e-signatures.

1. Timely Communications

One major example of a need for e-signatures: a small chain of banks has policy changes that are effective immediately, and they need to be signed off by all the city’s bank managers within 24 hours. All the bank managers know it’s coming via a courier who will pick up the printed form at one bank and take it to each bank to be signed and then returned to the original bank again. This can take all day and be costly, especially if there are multiple procedures taken in this manner. It’s much faster if each manager and employee can check a box and click a link to signify a response as an electronic signature.

2. Timely Start Date for any Job

For interoffice communications, the manager sends each person involved a copy and then he waits to get them all returned. If this was a paper transaction, the manager may have to pay someone to make the copies, pay for the copies, then pay postage and finally wait until everyone gets around to sending the paperwork back. Many times, business cannot be conducted until the forms are signed and returned.

3. Unaltered Communications

It’s also becoming more apparent that document “hard copies” succumb to many fates once outside the originating office. They get lost, get coffee spilled on them, they sometimes get torn and sometimes they’re forgotten inside “the other briefcase.” They can also go unsigned if the person is very busy or forgetful.

4. Savings on Cleaning, Paper Purchases and Ecology

Companies that don’t use electronic signature services like Echosign risk all the fates above (and more). Many firms strive for totally paperless environments that are touted to be cheaper and cleaner. Less is paid to clean the offices and remove trash, no paper purchases or printing services are procured and trees are saved in the process.

5. Integrity and Security

Lastly, the integrity of a document can be kept when it’s only seen by those who are meant to see it. Paper documents are always at risk of being seen by the wrong eyes, and worse, they can be changed or forged.

Companies need to use current technologies to keep up with business today and electronic signatures are one way to go. Don’t you agree?

Filed Under: Gadgets Tagged With: , ,

Why We Love Gadgets

June 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment
GPS receivers from Trimble, Garmin und Leica 

Image via Wikipedia

They are time savers and promise to make our lives easier, what’s not to love. Americans spend billions of dollars every year buying the latest, greatest, fastest tool around only to do the same thing next year and the year after that. If gadget junkies were honest about what they love, it would probably fit within these three categories.

More Power

If given the chance to pick up leaves with a traditional rake or to blow the leaves to kingdom come with a “Leaf Blower 2000″ what would you choose? Doing household chores and otherwise tedious jobs faster and more efficient than ever before is the goal. Powerful gadgets that quickly do chores leave us time for what we really want to do. This is really what propels us to get the newest “whadayacallit”

They look cool

Items that make us look like professionals or just simply increase our “cool” quotient are likely to be purchased. Designers know this and that is why hand held vacuums look like rocket ships, if it looks cool it will be desired even if we are not 100% sure what it does.

The challenge

New technology is loved for the challenge of getting the thing to work. Why else would unsuspecting customers by the most complicated gadgets and refuse to read the owner’s manual! Instead most fumble around trying to make their newest toy come to life. Of course this is impossible but true gadget lovers do it time and time again until horrible hiccups cause them to cave and actually read the instructions.

Technology fuels us and makes doing the smallest chore exciting no wonder we love gadgets!

Filed Under: Gadgets Tagged With: , ,

Is it a Good Idea to Supply Your Employees with Smartphones?

May 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - NOVEMBER 28: A woman hol... 

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Smartphones are great for businesses because employees are able to access their email on the go, take conference calls, contact clients, adjust their schedule, and do anything else they need to do while away from the office. Employees can also do research on the Internet and create documents directly on their smartphone. The possibilities are almost limitless.

Many companies are now starting to offer smartphones as a hiring and retention incentive. This is because it benefits their business, and employees feel it is a perk of their job. Many companies, however, are beginning to regret this decision. Here are some of the reasons why:

  • Employees download games and other time-wasting apps and play with them during company time.
  • There is no way to monitor the activity of the smartphone user to make sure they are being productive.
  • The monthly cost of a smartphone can be a burden.
  • Important business information can be stolen if the smartphone gets lost or into the wrong hands.

Smartphones provide many benefits to your employees and your business, but there are some reasons why supplying them might turn out to be a bad idea. If you do decide to give your employees smartphones, make sure that they know the phones should only be used for business purposes and games and entertainment apps should only be used off business hours. The best way to do this is to check the phone bill for unauthorized activity that is done during company time. If employees know their activity is being monitored, they are more likely to obey the rules.

Filed Under: Gadgets Tagged With: , ,

Tablets Replacing All Other Computers?

May 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment
olpc cgi for version concept

Image via Wikipedia

In this world of mobile computing, it seems as if these devices are slowly overtaking the market. While that may not be entirely true, there is a lot of credit that should be given to tablets, which provide a number of conveniences. In addressing this question, it is important to take a look at why this is happening for some users.

For the “why” in this conversation, the simple answer is convenience. Studies that report tablets replacing laptops and other devices cite this reason.  It is easier to carry from place-to-place than a laptop. A tablet will allow you to get plenty of things done, without the hassle of a larger laptop or less capable device.

Leading into other points, other devices simply can’t match the versatility of the tablet. An e-reader is limited in functionality, while smartphones and devices such as the iPod Touch aren’t great for productivity. With a tablet, you get the display size, portability, and functionality of a laptop with the ideal specs in such areas.

Tablets are also easy on the pocketbook. The Blackberry Playbook price is an affordable option to a higher-priced laptop, for example. With a product like this, a user could take advantage of the high-speed Internet. In addition, there are dual high-definition cameras and other functions that make a tablet a great deal for a user.

Tablets won’t completely replace all other computers, such as users that need access to high-powered programs. However, many users are beginning to understand how versatile and convenient these devices have become, which provides truth to this theme.

Filed Under: Gadgets Tagged With: , ,

Could Smartphones Serve as Back Up Hard Drives?

February 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment
LAS VEGAS - JANUARY 09: Sony's HDR xR500V Han...

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Many people use back up hard drives to save all their data and content in their computers whether it is laptop, desktop or e-mails and files stored somewhere online.

External Hard drives whether they are traditional electromagnetic or based on solid state technology, have gained wide acceptance as the back up storage devices just in case anything goes wrong with the internal hard drive. External hard drives also have sophisticated software which can either work alone or in conjunction with windows operating system to automatically save all the files at different points in time. These files are stored in unique compartments so that one can store the entire data at different points in time depending upon the overall capacity of the external drive.

Solid state drives are now available in 512GB capacity and electromagnetic hard drives are crossing the 4TB barrier. Compared to these figures Smartphones are still way behind in terms of spare hard drive capacity which ranges from anywhere between 8GB to 64GB.

However, smartphone makers can engineer the smartphones in such a way that they can serve as back up devices thereby taking market share from external hard drive makers and making them obsolete in the long run.

Smartphones can either be partitioned at the request of the customer to dedicate a portion of their hard disk space exclusively reserved for saving data from the laptop of primary internal hard drive. As a second option, smartphones can come with built in apps or software which can help them transform into external hard drives depending upon the storage space available inside them.

However, smartphones as external storage drives may not become an attractive choice until their storage capacity matches or exceeds the storage capacity of internal hard drives in laptops or desktops. It remains to be seen if this will happen by 2020.

Filed Under: Gadgets Tagged With: ,

Will Large Touch Screen Smartphones Blur the Distinction with Tablets?

February 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment
BlackBerry Storm

Image by StrebKR via Flickr

Cellular phones started with tiny black and white screens more than two decades ago, but ever since the introduction of smartphones by RIM, Nokia, Apple and others, there has been a spirited debate about what is the appropriate screen size and what majority of phones will go after as the majic figure to drive their sales in different parts of the world.

This kind of tumultuous development took place in the laptop world for more than 10 years before wide screen displays were introduced in the market and in time laptop makers realized that 15-15.5 inches was the sweet spot where more than 55-60% of the global laptop sales were occurring.

In the same manner, smartphones are going through an evolution in terms of how thin, weighty, and large the smartphone screen might be suitable and attractive for reaching that sweet spot in global sales hierarchy. Smartphones today range from anywhere between 3 inches to 4.5 inches and newer models are coming out everyday which are pushing the envelope. Depending upon the aspect ratio, some smartphone makers are selling more squarish looking smartphones with generous screen sizes at least from the smartphone perspective, whereas others are focusing on the long, lean and slim factor.

Samsung for instance has introduced some really sleek looking smartphones with windows mobile software which have large but not lean looking screen. This generous 4.5 inch screen size makes even online news articles, stories, e-mails and attachments more readable, causing less strain to the eyes.

On the other hand Apple is pushing its long and sleek line of iPhones with smaller than 4 inch screens and long aspect ratio so that the screen area is meager but the overall phone design looks sleek and stylish when held in hand, especially by women. It is difficult to say where the sweet spot will be, but it will definitely fal between 4-5 inches.

Filed Under: Gadgets Tagged With: , ,

Types of Computers

January 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The computers which we use on daily basis can be classified both according to their technicalities as well as on the basis of their physical structure and sizes. The computers according to their technicality are categorized into following three classes:

Analog computers: The analog computers are very primitive type of computers which we rarely use nowadays in our daily life. It only intakes and analyzes continuous data for the sake of mathematical computation with data of continuous nature i.e. not quantized in nature. E.g. – Hydraulic operations and automation use such types of computers.

Digital computers: Almost all of the computers that we come through these days are of digital in nature which accept data of digital type and its internal computational mechanism depends on the digital type data i.e. binary , 1 0 , for example.

Hybrid Computers: The computers those are capable of functioning both as an analog as well as the digital computers are referred as Hybrid Computers. These can compute and analyze both continuous and discreet data. These are used in mainframes as well as scientific and robotic purposes.

The computers on the basis of their utility and physical structure are classified as following:

Mainframes: The mainframe computers are the ones used by large organizations and have many computer units in them. They can perform many operations at the same time that too on a very large scale. These are used for scientific purposes as well as by the large organizations such as banks or weather departments etc.

Mini computers: These are like mainframes but support relatively less no. of users and are mainly used for lesser mathematical purposes for keeping accounts, finances or track a server etc.

Micro computers: The microcomputers are the computers that we most frequently come across in our daily uses. These are desktops, laptops, notebooks, handheld tablets, workstations and palm-tops etc.

Filed Under: Gadgets Tagged With: ,
« Older Posts