Pros And Cons Of Spybot Search And Destroy Anti-Spyware Program

It wasn’t that long ago when the term spyware was an ambiguous term. This meant that the original anti-spyware companies such as Spybot and Ad-Aware had to educate the public on the subject. It is not clear which of the two companies designed the first complete anti-spyware program, but Spybot was definitely one of the first companies to do so. Since Spybot initially hit the scene they have spent a great deal of time in a dormant state. Until recently there was not a great deal of evolution associated with the Spybot program.

Now, Spybot has introduced Search and Destroy which claims to detect and destroy malware, spyware, adware and rootkits. Unfortunately, this new version does very little to live up to the hype.

Benefits:

Honestly, the benefits are minimal. One benefit is that private users can download the program and use it for free. The thing is that there are some exceptional free protection programs on the market that simply blow the doors off of this program. There is a version that costs $13.99, but it is basic and only removes tag screens. The professional version is $24.99. The professional version does get you access to the protective repair environment which also allows you to generate rescue disks. The core protection format is basically the same as the base program.

The installation process is hassle free, in fact in comparison to many similar programs, Spybot fared well in this category.

The Down Side:

For a company that played a role in revolutionizing the way computers are protecting from dangerous programs such as malware and spyware, Spybot fails miserably in its claim to deliver a simple product that will search out, detect and destroy destructive programs.

First of all, simple is not necessarly a word that could be used to describe the user interface used for this program. One of the problems is that the same interface is used for all versions of the program, so when the basic program is in use the buttons and functions associated with the advanced program are shown, but they are not functional. This can be frustrating for a basic or inexperienced user.

Another problem with this program is that once a scan has been completed the program will delete system files that are not contaminated.

As far as actual malware removal, the program performed miserably. The system lacks precision in the criteria that is used to detect malware and spyware. In tests ran on the program it only detected an average of 32 percent of malware samples that were present on the test computer. To exacerbate the matter, the program had an extremely difficult time removing them.

The Bottom Line:

The program does very little to follow through on its promise or live up to its name. For the purpose that it was designed for the program is basically useless. Even as a freeware in the personal version, it bears no value because there are numerous free programs that are much more effective.

Author Bio:

Louis Rossmann is a straight shooting tech guy who specializes in repair and LCD replacement. Contact him through his Rossmann Group website.

Will a Wet Reckless Conviction Require an IID?

In a few counties in the state of California a conviction for a DUI will require the installation of an ignition interlock device or "IID" in the car.  There are currently few exceptions to the rule and Los Angeles County participates in the pilot program  However, one question that folks have is whether an IID will be required for wet reckless pleas, the answer is no.  Fortunately, the law does not compel the devices for wet reckless offenders at this time.  The DMV will not send the people any letter requiring the machines. 

Keylogging the FBI Way

Magic Lantern may seem something out of a science fiction movie but it is very real and operational. With the Federal Bureau of Investigation at its helm, the tool has been behind many official surveillance activities which have not, always, been legal. Our info graphic tells more about the Magic Lantern, whose history can be traced back to 2001. This was when the FBI began its work on monitoring software that could be, remotely, installed without the user’s knowledge.

With the passage of time, the rootkit became advanced enough to steal vast amount of data from the target system, helping the FBI bust several extortion syndicates and identity theft cases. Magic Lantern also has support from some of the big antivirus makers like McAfee and Norton. They have ensured that a backdoor is left open for Magic Lantern to place a Trojan in any monitoring system, protected by them.

Our info graphic has a lot more details:

Source: Mobistealth.

Author Bio:

Jane Andrew has been working on different aspects of privacy and security in the digital era.She writes for Mobistealth and tweets @janeandrew01.

Recording Your Every Move

How do you use your Smartphone to communicate? Do you prefer to text or Facebook your friends? Or are you a fan of sending you message out to the world via Twitter?

If we follow in the footsteps of our ‘celebrities’ we might choose Facebook to post pictures of ourselves to show off our best bits. If words are more your thing, then Twitter is a great medium to tell the world your thoughts and all in 140 characters or less.

Celebrity Tweeters:

We watched Will-i-am on the first series of The Voice tweet about contestants. It was an on-going commentary of his thoughts about them.

Across the pond, Kim Kardashian uses her Twitter feed to pass on tips that are subsidised by advertising. She can make $10,000 for one tweet. We’d all have a piece of that if we could get it!

Billionaire Donald Trump spends a lot of time on Twitter ‘warring with pretty much everyone’ including the writer of Modern Family, Danny Zuker; he referred to Zuker as a ‘moron’. Nice!

Another famous ‘loose cannon’ is actor Charlie Sheen who uses it as a platform to rant too!

As singer Minaj uses Twitter to hurl insults; one of her targets has been fellow American Idol judge Mariah Carey.

Whether you chose to use Twitter as a war zone or would rather just share your opinion on daily life is your choice of course. We rather think etiquette is better demonstrated without the public abuse.

Immediacy:

Smartphones make tweeting a favourite pastime that allows tweeters to connect with others. The immediacy of this social platform is appealing and the fact that any message you put out there goes to your whole community – there is nothing private about it.

Visual presence:

While you can add images to your tweets, Facebook is more visual. You can give your friends a photographic tour of your life – where you are, who you can see, what you’re just about to eat and more.

Social media really is about sharing some of your most personal moments. We’ve all seen entries from friends as they give birth or minutes after haven’t we?

Keeping it real and ... safe:

It’s a whole new way of way of communicating in the here and now. It’s strange too – nobody really cares what you’re having for breakfast, lunch and dinner but many users feel compelled to tell everyone.

However you choose to use your Smartphone, it’s obvious from most user’s habits that it’s a very important device. It is easier to capture every waking minute than a traditional diary or blog. It involves physical input but usually in sharp, short bursts. It’s perfect for exhibitionists or narcissists who like to see pictures of themselves everywhere.

If you feel like your right arm has been cut off if you leave home without your Smartphone, then the thought of losing it or having it stolen must invite nightmares.

Obviously you will do everything to ensure that your phone is always close at hand – in fact you’re probably using it most of the time. Adding the precaution of phone insurance is a really good back-up plan.

Author Bio:

Rob Rudd is just a little bit incredulous at the nonsense that celebrities spout via social media. He enjoys writing for technology and lifestyle websites.

New DUI Laws. What's Ahead For California?

Mandatory jail for first offenders?  Lifetime revocation of you license for any second DUI offense?  10 year mandatory IID for all convicted drunk divers?  These are all being considered by the current lawmakers in the great state of California.  While these draconian measures may seem far fetched, they are on the wish list for many groups advocating for stiffer sentences and punishments for all drunk drivers in this part of the country where drinking and driving is still not regarded as a serious crime.

Currently, the state senate has many bills brought and written by MADD that all mandate that any DUI remain on the driver's DMV record for life.  This means that insurance companies will see the conviction and punish the defendant for all his life.  The bills are winding their way through the legislative process with few groups opposing them with the exception of California DUI Attorneys and some civil liberty groups.  In 2014 we will certainly see some change, it remains to be seen how far the state will go.

Facing Mandatory Jail for a DUI? Consider Pay To Stay

It is an unfortunate fact of life in California, if you are convicted of a DUI as a second or third offense you a looking at the real prospect of a stint in the county jail.  With this in mind, it may be wise to consider the various "pay to stay" programs offered in Los Angeles and Orange County.  These programs offer a defendant the opportunity to avoid going to county jail.  Why is this such a big fear?  Maany believe that the county jails are much more dangerous that the alternatives, particularly in metropolitan L.A. where gang violence is rampant and racial tensions are high.

Before starting the process there are many considerations.  First, can you afford the paid city jail options?  The cost of most facilities is at least $100 a day with some charging as much as 200 or more.  Second, you must submit to a TB test and have good general physical health.   Once you have been approved and paid the requisite fees you can start your time.  You will likely be given your own cell away from the general population.  You will be doing light work, such as washing police cars or cleaning the building,  and have much more freedom of movement than the other incarcerated persons.  Most jailers will give you additional privileges such as unlimited use of a phone, computer, internet and television. 

It would be great if everyone could afford private jail but they can't.  In the coming editions we will provide a list of the cities that offer this jail alternative.  In addition to DUI cases, the programs allow the private option where the case is non-violent and you have no extensive criminal record.

The Numbers Behind Facebook

Twenty percent of all Internet page views involve the social networking site Facebook. Females log on to the site far more often than males do, and North American women between the ages of 18 and 24 are the most active Facebook demographic of all, accounting for approximately five percent of all Facebook users or roughly 25 million accounts.

North America is rapidly moving toward Facebook saturation. It's been estimated that over half of all North Americans have Facebook accounts. Europeans are not far behind them: 27.5 percent of all Europeans have Facebook accounts. Yet North Americans and Europeans together account for less than 20 percent of the world's population, leaving the remaining 80 plus percent as a potential base for client expansion. If Facebook wants to keep expanding, it will have to specifically target more populous markets in Asia and South America.

Facebook's main source of revenue is still advertising. Two of its three biggest advertisers are Zynga and Electronic Arts, the companies behind several of Facebook's most popular games. Other top advertisers include Proctor & Gamble, AT&T, American Express, Microsoft, Groupon and Walmart.

What Drives Facebook Participation?

Facebook participation is mainly driven by gender and the demand for recreation.

Women on Facebook:

One of the typical female Facebook user's favorite activities is uploading photographs on to the website. Females upload and are tagged in well over twice ads many photographs as males. In an average year, women upload 347 photos while men only upload 179. The average female Facebook user is tagged in 73 photos while the average male Facebook user is only tagged in 35.

Games on Facebook:

Facebook offers services through which its account holders can buy virtual goods for games and to give as gifts to other users. In 2012, 27 million Facebook users bought virtual goods through the social networking site for a total expenditure of $810 million. All but five million of that amount was spent on virtual goods used in Facebook's most popular games.

Facebook's most active game programmer is Zynga with four out of the top ten most popular games: Cityville, Indiana Jones, Words With Friends, and Empires and Allies. Playdom (Garden of Time), Electronic Arts (The Sims), Double Down (Double Down Casino), Buffalo Studios (Bingo Blitz), Playtika (Slotomania) and Wooga (Diamond Dash) account for the other six.


For Better View: Right Click the below image and open it in new tab.

Source: Great Business Schools Program Guide.

Stellar Drive Defrag [Review]

The most advance and critical part of your computer is “hard drive” independent of the OS you are working upon. You love to keep all important data in hard drive but after few months you find your machine running sluggishly. The very obvious reason of such a fall in performance, is fragmentation of hard drive due to which the fragmented data scattered over disk. Windows users can defrag their drive via desk defragmenter but , there is no such app for Mac users. Luckily, Stellar has made an awesome tool for them called Stellar Drive Defrag' to defrag Mac drive.

However, HFS+ is the new Mac file system and it has the ability to minimize the chances of fragmentation of files up to 20 MB size. But, it doesn't work on large files so you need any third party tool to defrag all large files and increase the productivity of your Mac system.

Stellar Drive Defrag is an advanced and a risk free solution for fragmented Mac volume. It defrags your entire Mac or any selected volume to optimize your Mac hard drive. It is compatable with the latest Mac OS 'Mountain Lion' and all legacy Mac Operating Systems like Tiger, Leopard etc.

Features of Stellar Drive Defrag:-

• It can effectively defrag all large files presents in Mac drive along with the metadata files.
• It can defrags drive by organizing the scattered or distributed free space.
• It works on single large file as well as on entire Mac volume or drive.
• It helps to create Mac bootable DVD to defrag the boot volume.
• It supports Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion.
• Temperature bar to display the status of hard drive temperature during defragmentation.
• Email notification after completion of task.

The Free Edition of this tool helps to scan your entire Mac hard drive and show you the status of your Mac hard drive with fragmented data. The latest version of this tool is 2.5 which has many advance features like you can see the temperature fluctuations during defragmentation and set email notification after the completion of defragmentation. For paid version you need $39.

System Requirements:

Processor: Intel, PowerPC(G3 or later).
Memory: 256 MB RAM.
Hard Disk: 40 MB free space.
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.3.9 and above i.e. including Mac OS X 10.5 & Snow Leopard, Mountain Lion.

Pros:-

This software is very effecient, easy to use and very cheap.

Cons:-

Need bootable DVD to defrag boot volume.

Rating

How To Turn Your IPhone Into A Unlocked Wireless Device

If you purchased your iPhone from AT&T, there is a very good chance that your phone is what is considered a locked device. This means that your device will only work on the AT&T network. This typically does not cause any problems, as long as you remain with AT&T. The problem occurs when you consider changing mobile phone providers. Below is some vital information about why you might want to turn your iPhone into a unlocked wireless device and how to do it.

There are really four basic reasons why you may want to consider unlocking your iPhone. And they are,

Change Mobile Phone Carriers:

           The only way that you will be able to use your iPhone on another mobile phone company’s networks is to unlock the device. All AT&T phones that operate with a SIM card, require that the SIM card ID and the cell phone’s ID match. This means that if you change carriers and put their SIM card into your phone it will not work.

Increase the Value of Your Phone:

          If you have recently upgraded to the newest iPhone version, you may want to consider selling your old phone. You will be able to sell it for a lot more money if the phone is unlocked. This is because unlocked iPhones are in high demand, and you will be able to sell it to people with other mobile phone carriers.

Use Apps Outside of Apple App Store:

          If you have a locked iPhone, you will only be able to download apps to your phone that are found in the Apple Apps store. While Apple does have a large selection of apps for the phone, there still may be some apps that are only available on other networks.

If You Are Traveling Overseas:

          If you travel overseas with your current iPhone, you may be surprised when your next phone bill come in due to the huge amount of roaming charges. However, if you have an unlocked phone, you can take out the SIM card while you are in the other country and use one from that country. Europe offers SIM card that come with a set amount of minutes already on them, which is less expensive.

Steps for Unlocking Your Phone:

If you fit any of the four categories above and want to unlock your phone, you need to be very careful about how you go about it. There are some websites that offer to show you how to unlock your phone through a process called jailbreak. Not only is this process illegal, but is can also cause severe damage to your phone if not done properly. There are also several third party companies that offer this service for a set price. This also may not be the safest method for unlocking your phone.

Fortunately, AT&T offers their customers a way to unlock their iPhone right through their website. You are require to first fill out the online unlock request form, and within five days, they will send you the cod you need to unlock your phone. In order to qualify for this service you must be a current or past customer of AT&T and not be delinquent on any payments to AT&T. In addition, the phone must not have been reported lost or broken in the past and it must be an AT&T distributed phone.

If you feel that turning your phone into an unlocked wireless device is the best option for you, contacting AT&T directly is the best method to use. If they cannot help you, then you may want to explore other options. However, it is important to know that if you live in the United States it is actually considered illegal to unlock your phone on your own and you could face some stiff fines.

Author Bio:

Tina Jacoby is an electronics expert with years of experience working with wireless mobile devices. She has been able to successfully work with Negrielectronics.com to unlock an older version iPhone.

Most Popular Mobile Phone Games

Mobile phone gaming has come along a great way over the past few years. These days you can spot people from all walks of life tapping their screens to beat their best scores. The graphics and processing capability of mobile phones has improved greatly by leaps and bounds, giving the user a versatile gaming experience. Sometimes you just get seriously addicted to some games that you can easily and quickly play intermittently, regardless of where you are. However, with the introduction of more powerful smartphones in Mobile Market, mobile phones games are also getting better and better with each passing day. Game developers are constantly coming up with lots of interesting and fantastic games that you can install in your device and simply walk around tapping your fingers on the screen. So stay tuned and have a glance at some of the most popular mobile phone games that you might not be aware of or just don’t want to miss them out in your device.

Angry Birds:

Angry Birds has enjoyed a runaway success on iPhones and Android. You’ll find this game immensely addictive. It depicts life-long struggle of bird-versus-pig and it’s your call to hurl these kamikaze birds into the pig's towers, destructing their houses and beating the green swine inside. This interesting game was been developed by Rovio and has been downloaded million times across various platforms. This game is sure to get full marks for a fun experience which you can play time and again.

Temple Run:

Temple Run combines great graphics with a very simple, arcade-like depiction. In this adventure game, you play as an Indiana Jones doppelganger grabbing golden icons and your aim is to run away from evil eagle-gorilla monsters by swiping and tilting your way through obstructions in your passageway. It’s a most redefined and exciting running game ever!

Cut the rope:

This is really an interesting enigma game wherein your objective is to feed a cute monster. How you’ll do that? There’s a candy coupled with ropes and you’ve to cut the ropes in such a way that the candy should fall directly in the mouth of that starving monster. This game has awesome animation and graphics that makes it highly addictive and fun game.

Fruit Ninja Kaka:

It’s another little ninja training game in which your goal would be to train your ninja to cut fruit and be a "fruit killer". It’s one of the most popular and fun game when it comes to mobile gaming.

So these were some of the most popular mobile phone games that you can enjoy right on your mobile to get few moments of relief in your hectic schedules.

Image Credit: Flickr.

Blue Screen of Death - Take a Deep Breath

Don’t fret if your computer shows you the blue screen of death error. It isn’t the worst possible thing that can happen to your computer and it is fixable. The blue screen of death is caused by errors with memory, drivers, or the registry.

All three of these are sensitive parts of your computer; therefore, you should not tinker with them by yourself unless you are computer savvy. One wrong click and your computer could become unsalvageable.

With the right software, the blue screen error can be fixed and avoided without much work or stress on your part. Replacing your memory stick and upgrading your PC can fix memory errors. Replacing or updating old or outdated drivers can fix driver errors. Fixing registry errors can be difficult and should only be done by professionals or registry cleaner software.

In fact, you can invest in software that will take care of your memory errors, driver errors, and registry errors. If you are not as familiar with computers, this is definitely a smart option to keep your computer running smoothly.

Author Bio:

Erin Walsh is the Director of Public Relations for PC Health Boost. She loves to blog about everyday computer issues, by helping them users speed up their slow computer, clean up their pcs, update their registries. Fixing a blue screen of death error? No sweat. She has written several fixes over at her PC Health Boost blog that many newbies have been able to troubleshoot themselves.

Is a Forced Blood Draw the same as a Refusal?

In California, the law treats the forced removal of blood the same as a refusal. What this means in a practical sense is that the DMV will suspend or revoke your diving privilege for a minimum of one year.

How Does A Computer System Generate So Much Heat?

It is arguably the most commonly known law of physics, that heat is produced by motion. The motion of atoms and molecules constantly moving together creates heat and this takes place in absolutely everything in this world. One of the most apparent examples of motion creating heat in the modern age is when we look at computer systems.

Internal fans:

For those who do not know a lot about electronic goods the constant humming noise of a desktop computer of a Playstation games console is an annoyance that will never be fully understood. The simple explanation is that these types of electrical devices rely on internal fans in order to prevent their internal moving parts from creating too much heat for the device to carry on work or much much worse to create so much heat it starts a fire.

Problems with large systems:

The small scale example of a laptop or of a domestic computer is one that can be related to by most people and gives a good indication of the problem and how manufacturers go about combating the problem. However, the real problems lie when you take into consideration a large commercial sized computer system that is required to power the database for an entire office block or to provide the internet for a business of endless size, of which there are thousands around the world.

The problem with these computer systems is that they incorporate hundreds of different devices that are required to be kept close together in order to do the job that they are designed to do. In fact, in the majority of data centres these individual devices are stacked on top of each other, both to save space in the building and also to save costs and resources spent on wires and extensions.

How to reduce excessive heat:

The big problem with this is that it is not only a large collection of devices all producing their own heat in an enclosed space, which creates a lot of heat, but having them all together in such a tight space means there is nowhere for the heat to go. The key to reducing the heat produced by a device is to ensure that it has enough space in which to disperse. A good example of this is next time that you use your Playstation cover up the fan and you will soon see that it will quickly begin to make a louder and louder sound. This is an indication of the fan trying harder to disperse the heat by increasing the RPM of the blades as it has nowhere to move the heat to.

In data centres there is a solution to the problem that in its own confusing and incoherent way adds heat to the system. Data centre cooling systems are in the own way devices that produce heat which is added to the mix; however they are designed to displace the heat of the other devices using fans. This works well enough at the moment to keep these kinds of systems working but soon it will be time for a new development to come into play. All indications so far point towards water aided cooling to be the future of the technology.

Image Credit: Flickr.

Author Bio:

Guest post contributed by Jay Simmons, a technology geek working as a computer engineer involved in UK data centre building for dedicated server storage for businesses & clients. A regular blogger around computer education, from simple things you might not have known, to more complex computer based education.

Facing A License Suspension Following an APS Hearing? What You Can Do To Drive To Work

For many, the thought of a license supension in California can be terrifying.  The DMV is completely heartless and unsympathetic to your plight as it relates to your job, your family, keeping your home, etc.   There are immediate steps you can take to keep a provisional license after an unfavorable DMV APS hearing. 

The law does allow for a restricted license if you meet the following conditions:  1.  You are a first offender and have no past suspensions for any DUI related administrative sanctions,  2.  You must have taken a test and not refused.  3.  You must be over 21 and not on any form of DUI probation from any Court.   As long as you comply with the restriction conditions you can keep your license after a short 30 day period.

In addition to the foregoing, you must also get an SR-22 proof of insurance, get enrolled in the AB541 first offender alcohol program and pay all applicable re-issue fees, usually $120.

Surprising News On What People Do With Their Mobile Phones

One of the biggest ways that you can tell what year a movie or TV show is from is by noticing what telephones people are talking on. If it’s an old rotary phone, it’s generally prior to the 1970s. The same goes when it comes to what mobile phone device they are using. Remember those huge car phones that became popular in the 1980s as a status symbol among the rich? The phones, which recently seen in the National Geographic Channel miniseries on “The 80s,” were big and unwieldy and literally cost as much as a car did back then.

Mobile phones have changed over time:

Even 15 years ago, just having a cell phone was still seen as an expensive luxury, although the size of the phone was smaller than the 1980s. How the world has changed since then. Now mobile phones are ubiquitous these days – a recent Pew Internet Survey found that an incredible 91 percent of people now have mobile phones, with 56 percent of them having smartphones. So if you are interested in reaching people for your business, you should consider mobile advertising campaigns.

So what do you think people do with their mobile phones? Here are some surprising facts about mobile phone usage:

1. After text messaging, checking email is the most popular non-calling activity with smartphone users, with 75% of the American users using the phone to check their email, according to a recent survey.
2. According to a recent study, participants checked their mobile phones an average of 34 times a day, usually checking their email and Facebook accounts.
3. Here is a rather disturbing statistic – some people use their phones everywhere they go, including the restroom. Yes, an incredible 75 percent of people have used their phones in the restroom.
4. According to the Daily Mail, a new poll has discovered that the most common way a person finds out his or her spouse has been cheating is by going through their mobile phone.
5. Emails devoted to shopping during the holiday season are increasingly popular, and 45% of people check such emails on their mobile phones.

Interesting statistics, to be sure. If you are interested in mobile advertising campaigns, you need to pay attention to such things. After all, it is important to find out where people are using mobile phones, who is using them, and what they are using them for, in order to best reach your market.

One way to do so is to use an email marketing and advertisement company like LiveIntent. Companies who run email marketing platforms like them can help your advertising efforts. Since email is something that your target audience will check on various platforms, this is a good way to reach customers on their desktop computer, or their mobile phones. And the ads can show up just in emails where the readers are more likely to buy your products, thereby helping your marketing impact and increasing the chances people will be interested in your product. Good luck.

Author Bio:

Lisa Swan writes for a variety of computing sites. She lives in New York City.

The "Heat" and Keeping it Off you When Drinking This Summer

No doubt, many of us will be drinking this summer. Keeping the police or "heat" off you back is a simple as exercising common sense. When you consume alcohol, do it responsibly. When you drink do not drive, this simple maxim will keep you out of jail and avoid a DUI on your record.

How To Optimize Your WordPress Blog For Speed?

There are over 60million websites currently using the WordPress platform and content management system (CMS). This number includes sites hosted on the actual WordPress site, as well as those that use external web hosting but continue to use the WordPress CMS.

Despite there being hundreds of custom WordPress themes, plug-ins, applications, and various other features that users can take advantage of to make their site unique, the fact remains that most of the time, it is extremely easy to tell if as site is a WordPress site or not. If it is, then there is nothing wrong with that. However, all site owners, not just WordPress customers, are always looking to have the quickest, best performing site possible.

The Power of Speed:

Various pieces of research suggest that three seconds is how long your site and its pages should be taking to load. Given that different research has shown top sites like Amazon and eBay to fall well outside that, we’ll take that with a pinch of salt. At the same time, you have to know that big brands are going to be given more slack by browsers. If your small business WordPress site is slow, there’ll be no sympathy.

Here are some tips for speeding it up.

Look at Your Server:

Is your site on a U.S. based server, but you’re actually targeting browsers in the UK? If so, you’re experiencing a familiar problem, one that is slowing down your site and undermining your objectives massively.

Ensure your server is based where the majority of your customers are, so that they’re getting the experience they should be whenever they head to your site.

Compress All Images:

Some guides such as this one are saying, “Remove your images,” but where would the sense in that be when web design is focused on visuals more than ever?

If you’re using your website for blogging, images will make it more engaging and attractive, too.

The answer is simple: keep the images, but compress them, before you upload them. You do this because even if your site automatically reduces the actual size, the file size remains the same. Image Optimizer is a great tool for doing this, and can reduce file size by up to 80%.

Minify:

Using Minify in addition to compressing images yourself will make your site even quicker, as it streamlines everything so your server can load it quicker.

A note of caution, however; don’t believe that, because you’re using Minify, that it is okay to load up your site with heavy functions and applications. All that will do is give back the performance gains you’ve earned, and possibly make your site even more of an ordeal for browsers. Rather than seeing Minify as an opportunity to make your site more complex, see it as your chance to make a simple site even better.

Take Advantage of the Cache:

You’ll need to use a WordPress caching plug-in for this feature, but it’ll take a significant chunk of time off your page loading times. Caching works by storing your data externally, so that repeat users can get data from there rather than having to put pressure on your server each time they land on your site. If you have static web content, this will massively reduce loading times of pages, and your servers’ workload, as browsers will just get the same data repeatedly from the cache.

The Big Impact:

If you put all of these ideas into practice together, you can expect to see an improvement in page loading times of up to 65%. In a world where time really is money and people want data immediately, can you afford not to be doing more to get your important information in front of your customers’ eyes quicker?

Author Bio:

Robert McKinley is a technology expert who regularly blogs on the impact a VPS host can have on website speeds in comparison to a shared hosting platform. Robert also specializes in areas associated with CMS-based websites, taking a particular interest in WordPress and Joomla.

Why Recycling Your Old Laptop Is Important?

In a fast-moving world such as technology, computers become outdated quickly and the need to dispose of them properly becomes more and more important. Figures from United Nations show that around 50 million metric tonnes of electrical waste is accumulated around the world every year.

Regardless of how much landfill space they can take up, computers contain hazardous chemicals such as lead oxide, mercury, nickel, zinc and cadmium. If these toxins and other heavy metals end up in landfill rather than a recycling centre, they can cause soil and water pollution and endanger wildlife. For example, cadmium can damage organisms in the soil which then affects the breakdown of organic matter. The substance has also been known to kill fish, which reduces their numbers.

At the same time as being a reason to produce laptops using less hazardous materials, it is a big reason to make sure your laptop is disposed of correctly when no longer needed.

What is computer recycling?

Laptop recycling is the process of either refurbishing a unwanted device or harvesting it for parts that can be of use elsewhere. Unwanted items can either be sent to a refurbishing business, a specialist recycling service or, if still in good working order, donated to schools and clubs in your area. Recycling can be as simple as donating to friends and family.

If the laptop is nearing the end of its life, be careful when donating to charity – it can prove a headache if they are left with, and have to dispose of, a non-functioning laptop.

At a recycling facility, the computer will be taken apart and its metals and plastics recycled where possible. Harmful materials will then be disposed of in the correct manner.

Recommended for you: Why Computers Recycling In Areas Should Be Done?

What are the benefits of recycling?

As mentioned earlier, proper disposal of unwanted electrical items avoids them unnecessarily clogging up landfill space and protects the environment. If you are donating you can also allow other people to buy laptops at an affordable price.

Many refurbishing companies give their revamped computers to school systems, correctional facilities and charity programs which allows the less fortunate to learn how to use them to prepare for their future.

What’s in my laptop?

There are some very valuable things that go into making a laptop; engineered plastics, steel, copper, aluminium and precious metals like gold, platinum and palladium. The recycling process attempts to recover these for use elsewhere once the device has reached the end of its life. In 2009, only an estimated 38 per cent of computers thrown away were recycled properly. The remainder end up in landfills where these materials are no longer available for reuse in the manufacturing of new products.

Often, the company you buy your laptop from will offer a free return service – ask before you buy. If this is not an option, your local council may run a scheme. For more details, go to the Environment Agency Website or contact your local authority. Whichever method you choose, make sure all of your personal data has been wiped from the machine before you give it away.

Image Credit: Flickr.

Author Bio:

Guest post contributed by Simon Jones. A technology geek who loves to give hints & tips when it comes to technology, not just using it, but also how to dispose of it correctly when the time comes, to help the environment. Simon also has a large knowledge of Business Software - BT Business Direct and helps people in business find the right software for their needs.

The Most Important Phonecalls Of All Time

Imagine a world without telephones, it’s pretty inconceivable. In a time when near enough everyone is little more than a punch of a few digits away, the youngest among us may struggle to think of a time when letters were the modus operandi.

Once, if you wanted to talk to someone you had to meet them face-to-face. The idea of which will surely send a shiver down the spine of many a tech-savvy, textaholic pre-teen.

So, what have been the most technologically significant phone calls in history? Perhaps these:

1867 – The beginning:

The first telephone call ever made. There is some question over whether Alexander Graham Bell or Elisha Gray should be fully credited with the invention of the telephone. It was, though, Bell who made the first telephone call in history in Boston on March 10, 1867.

The phone call, to his research assistant Thomas Watson – who was only in the next room – was as simple as: “Mr Watson, come here. I want to see you.”

1926 – The first transatlantic conversation:

After calling people within the same city, and then people within the same country, had been mastered the time came for overseas correspondence.

By 1926, making a call across a vast ocean was not a new idea. As early as 1915, short transmissions had been demonstrated as viable and calls had been made to ships for some time. A full conversation across an ocean as big as the Atlantic had not been a reality until the first call from London to New York was made. The first telephone cable between the UK and the US was laid underwater in 1956.

1946 – The first mobile telephone call:

Obviously a world away from the tiny, smooth handsets we have today, mobile phones have been about in some form or another for over 60 years. In the US, engineers from Bell Labs began work on a system to allow telephone calls to and from automobiles – this first of which was on June 17, 1946 in St Louis. Shortly after, AT&T offered Mobile Telephone Service. A range of unreliable, rudimentary mobile phones that offered limited coverage. Reporters and truck fleets were among the first to use the early mobile phones, which were very expensive and equally cumbersome.

1973 – The first hand-held call:

On April 3, 1973, Motorola employee Martin Cooper made the first ever hand-held mobile phone call to Joel Engel, head of research at AT&T's Bell Labs. The device was the huge – to today’s eyes at least – Motorola DynaTAC prototype. It weighed 2.5 pounds and measured 9 inches long, it offered a talk time of just 30 minutes and took ten hours to re-charge.

Prior to 1973, mobile telephony was limited to phones installed in cars and other vehicles.

1992 – The first text:

Not really classed as a ‘telephone call’ but important all the same. Short message service (SMS) was born on December 3, 1992. British engineer Neil Papworth, 22 at the time, used his computer to wish a "Merry Christmas" to Richard Jarvis, of Vodafone. He didn't get a reply because there was no way to send a text from a phone in those days.

That had to wait for Nokia's first mobile phone in 1993.

Image Credit: Flickr.

Author Bio:

Guest post contributed by Lauren Jones, an expert in the telephone system business, helping people & business to see the benefits of call handling services.

Do Password Strength Meters Actually Work?

Password strength meters are helpful in some cases, but are not always used effectively.

Consumers who frequently access websites are sometimes prompted by strength meters to improve their password security. A new study conducted by the University of California at Berkeley, Microsoft and the University of British Columbia indicated that these systems can be effective if they are established properly.

Serge Egelman, a research scientist at UC Berkeley, told ArsTechnica that people are more likely to enter passwords they have previously used when asked by strength meters to change their credentials. This is often the case for new accounts or ones that are not of great importance to consumers.

"Whereas we show that in a different context - when changing passwords for high-value accounts - then the meters actually do have an observable effect on behavior in that people do choose stronger passwords," Egelman told the news source. "And ironically that's the context where we're least likely to see real meters in real life."

Password strength meters are a good reminder that online security is necessary for anyone accessing important accounts through the Internet. Consumers who neglect such protection may experience major problems such as identity theft if hackers obtain this valuable information.

Rather than only generating strong passwords when reminded, people can use effective tools like a password manager to keep all of their accounts protected with complex and hard-to-crack passwords. These solutions constantly generate new credentials so users always have the latest safeguards for their websites.

Another great aspect of password managers is that they remove the burden from consumers who are constantly tasked with remembering a dozen or more unique credentials. Sometimes people decide to use the same passwords for all of their accounts because it is easy to do so, but this approach invites trouble if hackers know this particular phrase.

Password strength meters are helpful in some cases, but are not always used effectively.

Best Picture Sharing Apps of iPhone And Android

Nowadays image Sharing is kind of Common. There was a time when Digital Cameras were used for this purpose however now most of Smartphones features a nice camera to capture a stunning image.. However simply taking photos isn't enough, everybody desires to Share their photos with their friends and family, therefore here are some applications that can be used to share photos from your Smartphone. Whether it’s a iPhone iPod or iPad or an android Smartphone.

Flickr:

Flickr is a picture sharing and video Sharing App, it's a cross platform app that can be used from Windows also as From Smartphones, it has been taken by Yahoo In 2005. Its network has countless photos which you can like or share.

Wink:

You have Personal photos and you only wish to share with somebody special in your contacts. Here let me present you the right app. As it’s a personal image sharing application. From this app you'll be able to directly share photos along with your specified contacts. It conjointly syncs your contacts from your phone memory therefore you don’t need to Add individuals on your own.

Instagram:

Instagram is a image sharing, video sharing and a social Application, from this photos may also be shared to other social networks sites like Facebook, twitter, Google+ and tumbler. it had been created in October 2010 and its one of the foremost quick growing application; In august 2011 instagram proclaimed that a hundred and fifty million photos were shared through instagram. You can also edit your photos and apply numerous different filters to your photos before uploading or sharing them. Photos can be liked and commented upon; its platform it very tempting and this application is used from Windows and Android and iOSSmartphones.

It’s a free app,In both PlayStore and iStore.

Photobucket:

It’s a image sharing application only for android users and it's expected that its IOS version is going to be released shortly; as it’s a really far-famed and quick growing application for videos and image sharing, its one among the numerous advantage is that you can link the uploaded photos to Numerous other websites, it’s a cross platformapplication; you can use it on windows and your smartphone or tablet, image can be edited with a lot of filters present in the tools and another awesome feature is that the you can combine your different pictures to create a combo image. It’san extremely nice application that can be used for sharing photos along with your friends and family.

SphereShare:

Sphereshare is presently an android application however it'll be shortly launched for IOS.. Its speciality is that you just can upload panorama photos from your android smartphone or tablet and share them along with your friends and family. Photos of 360 degrees can also be uploaded and there is a option to see them in 3D, which make them look real. Photos can be liked andyou can comment on them and you can upload and download the images and share them on social networks sites like Facebook, twitter, tumbler and Google plus. And you'll be able to also check in at some city or area through this app with yourGoogle account

Author Bio:

Written by Abdullah Akbar .. Blogger at www.techbeasts.com.

Simple Solution for Wordpress Contact Form Problem

Every business knows the importance of good communication with their customers. That's why the Wordpress contact form plugin is one of the simplest, yet most valuable enhancements you could make to a company's website. Having a form that allows you to receive submissions via email allows a business to capture leads, generate revenue, and receive customer feedback. If this form is not configured properly, and you aren't receiving these emails, your company could be losing out on valuable business and creating a negative customer service experience for visitors to the site. Let's examine a common problem involving the Wordpress contact form, and walk through the steps of the solution.

When form submissions are sent to you through your business's website, the emails are usually sent through the server on which the website is hosted. If the IP address for this server has been associated with spam-related activity in the past, it might be automatically blacklisted by your email server. Therefore, the form submissions would go straight to your spam folder, and you would never see them.

Fortunately, this situation doesn't require you to change your hosting provider. Switching to another provider isn't a guaranteed solution anyway, as a new provider's IP address could easily be blacklisted in the future, causing the same problems to occur with your form. Instead, Wordpress can be configured to send your email out via a different, trusted IP address.

The first step in doing this involves downloading and installing the WP Mail SMTP plugin on your website. This plugin reconfigures Wordpress's mail function to using the SMTP protocol instead of mail(), and provides the website owner with more options for specifying an alternate host for sending mail.

Before selecting an alternate host, you must first confirm that this new IP address is trusted. To accomplish this, you can use a domain's Sender Policy Framework (SPF) record. The SPF record is a published list of IP addresses for a particular domain that are authorized to send email. A couple of recommendations for trusted hosts include AuthSMTP and Amazon SES.

Once you've configured the mail plugin and set up a trusted SMTP host, the final step is to test the form. Send test messages to yourself in the same way that a customer would, and verify that you receive the emails. If the emails arrive successfully, the solution has worked and you should see increased customer communication immediately!

Is It Really All About Content?

There has been a lot of discussion lately about the importance of content and content marketing.  Since Google made their last algorithm change, more and more articles and blog posts are lauding the importance of developing unique content for the web.  But does the story of content development end there?

Based on recent experiments by The Marketing Blog, it looks like theres more to the idea of original content than meets the eye. Two factors in particular weigh into the content discussion.  They are; influence and engagement.  Last year Google rolled out the rel="author" tag and its gained wide acceptance.  Do you think they are providing extra juice to content published by influential voices in a given industry?  You bet. 

In addition to providing higher rankings to content produced by influencers, you can rest assure they are also providing additional weight to content that is widely shared among social networks and other online communities.  After all, Google's likely more interested in what individuals (especially influential ones), communities, and social networks have to say about digital content than any other type of source.

What this means for you

Depending on your role, you may want to consider how best to leverage the new opportunities inherent in a social world.  Guest posts from authoritative sources, engaging content that is designed for optimal shareability, and engaging with social networks can all have a dramatic impact on your website and website rankings.

Keep in mind however that the end goal isn't just for purposes of search engine optimization but rather building brand and generating leads for your business.  If you rank number one for a keyword or keyword phrase that no one searches on, you haven't accomplished anything.  focus on results if you want to make the most of this new post-Penguin 2.0 digital world.

The best place to start with any type of content marketing campaign is with specific goals and objectives.  What is your end goal?  Can a content marketing plan help you get there?  Probably but you need to begin with the end in mind.  I've spoken with a lot of marketing executives but many don't have a clear understanding or picture of what success looks like.  Define it for yourself and you'll be much more successful with your content marketing initiatives.

What I like about content

The one true benefit that seems to be emerging from this new world of content generation is that of creating value for your audience.  No one likes being sold... they do however like being engaged.  The most productive way to engage your audience is by giving them what they want, creating value, and getting things done in a way that excites and delights them.

Marketing to customers is no longer about selling "buy me" emails but rather engaging content that can positively engage and motivate them - building a relationship.  And a meaningful one at that.  The best place to start is with a deep understand of your customer.  What motivates them?  What do they want?  By creating persona's of your target audience you can fully understand the best content to produce and how to deliver it.

Always begin with an understanding of your customer and have the end goal in mind.  When you do, you stand a pretty good chance of succeeding in your content marketing goals.  Put in place a measurable plan and you're home free.

Please share your content marketing successes (and failures) with us on the Marketing Blog!

Factors That Affect Your Broadband Speed

The speed of broadband delivered to us is measured in megabytes per second (Mbps). Various websites offer free speed checks for your system. The Mbps you receive depends on the area where you live, and on what your internet service provider (isp) can deliver.

Broadband Types:

If your broadband signal is carried over a standard telephone line using copper wire – ADSL broadband – its speed depends on the distance you are from the nearest telephone exchange. The shorter the distance, the faster the Mbps you can receive. If your isp delivers broadband carried over high quality fibre wires – Fibre broadband – it will not be affected by the distance from the telephone exchange.

Fibre broadband therefore offers higher speeds, so of course, it costs more than ADSL broadband. In the UK is offered by several isps, such as Virgin Media, Everything Everywhere, and BT, although the latter still uses copper wire locally, which can reduce the Mbps.

Satellite broadband is only normally used where the other options are not available, such as some areas Wales. This is complicated and expensive to set up: you need to buy a satellite dish and a satmodem to receive the signal. Monthly costs are also relatively high.

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The UK’s Code of Practice:

Most isps in the UK follow a voluntary Code of Practice, under which they give you an estimate of the maximum broadband speed they can offer for the package you are thinking of buying. If they have another package that should help, they should offer it to you if you find that the Mbps you actually get is much slower than their original estimate. The code also stipulates that they must explain the factors that affect speed and give advice where needed.

What Makes a Difference:

Apart from the distance from the exchange, for ADSL broadband, most will mention the complexity of your telephone wiring system and whether you have installed your broadband microfilters correctly.

For all types of broadband, the Mbps you experience can be reduced by:

1. Using it in peak time when there is more traffic on it.
2. The speed of the websites you visit.
3. Running spyware, anti malware or some virus protection systems.
4. The processing speed of your computer and router, and their connection.
5. Running more than one computer or mobile devices that must share the connection.

ADSL broadband is likely to be slower in rural areas which are probably further from telephone exchanges than towns. Because they are more sparsely populated though, they might have the advantage of coping with less broadband traffic.

Broadband speed is never consistent. The factors mentioned above will affect it at different times of the day, so if you check the Mbps first thing or mid-morning, it’s not likely to be the same in the evening when many home users are going online after work.

If you are not happy with your broadband speed you may be able to change to a faster supplier. Just time it right so that you don’t incur penalties for leaving your current isp before the end of a contract.

Author Bio:

The author of this article Jane Richards believes that broadband speed issues can best be solved by approaching the broadband providers.