6 Best Tips To Develop An App For The Android Platform In 2013

A recent report by Gartner states that Android has captured over half of the planet's smartphone OS market share. Android app development provides an array of endless opportunities to its developers as it has a wide and fragmented user base. The good news is that even the tools of Android app development are getting updated keeping in mind the recent requirements and offering innovation development platforms for its developers.

Let's take a look at the 6 most vital things to keep in mind while developing an app for Android:

Develop Your Skills: Learn SQL, Eclipse and XML to create visually appealing and highly functional apps for your Android. All three technologies will allow developers to build intuitive apps with storage, productivity and visual features. Developers can fix future issues that may arise with Android apps. Thus developers must keep track of development software of Android apps.

Build For Multiple Screens: Create Android apps by keeping in mind various screen sizes and resolutions. Know all available screen sizes before you start building your app. An app developed for one screen size may not work well in a different screen size thus leading to inconsistent and unsatisfactory user experiences.

Use Latest Version: Developers must keep themselves updated with the latest version of SDK for Android app development. The latest versions can help fix many latent issues like bug fixes, performance related problems, resolutions and so on. In order to create a good app it is necessary to equip it with the most recent features and troubleshooting software for improved user experiences.

Power Consumption: Make sure to design your apps in a way that they consume less power. Whether you develop a free or a paid app make certain to design it for lower power consumption rate than that of computers. Ensure that your app does not kill the phone's battery life and annoy your users.

Make it Android Compatible: Build an app compatible with Android. Ensure that it can easily work using Android functions like it is easy to install and simple to work with. Android ensures that its app work as per the user requirements. For instance, app must close down when not in use and come back to life when the user taps or clicks back in for navigation. Moreover developers must make sure that your app is compatible with at least top 5 or top 3 versions of Android operating systems in order to deliver viable solutions to its users.

Test your App: Use Monkey to throw a stream of random tests to your app. Or, if you have time let random human users test your app and check for issues that might crop up. This is the most effective way to check for your app usability and appeal. This is the most crucial step before distributing or marketing your app as it a successful app is all about enhanced user appeal and function.

To conclude:
To develop robust and highly functional apps it is imperative for developers to use the most recent and reliable of the software. Remember to build apps for diverse customers and devices without compromising on the development aesthetics.

Finding an iPhone App Maker

If you wish to develop an iPhone App, and are seeking an iPhone App Maker, finding one isn't often an issue. You can find a lot of them on the Internet. The real problem is how to use such a tool properly. Users are more concerned with how to develop the best app following the instructions indicated in the maker's program. What concerns most is how long the process will take as well as how much effort is necessary to complete everything from start to finish. How much money to spend is another issue as well. Not every product that helps build apps is offered for free. Some can be used by anyone on the Internet, while others require a payment before getting an access to the software's system.

When you look for an iPhone app maker, don't be too concerned about the price. Price is just one of the many things to consider. A good app is something that loads fast into memory and operates smoothly and efficiently. Hence, good ones are those that can generate applications that are quick to run and easy to manage. The speed when it comes to running the application is extremely important as it is one of the major concerns of users.

What's beyond the price and output?

In finding an iPhone app maker, there are things that you need to think about first before you begin choosing one. Among these things are the maker's ability to generate applications that can be customized and upgraded and the maker's capacity to handle you as a customer. You will have knowledge about the application by reading reviews or listening to what their previous users have to say. Getting constant updates can keep your app fresh and unique. And even beyond price and output is the native functionality that is provided within the platform that allows for building rich iPhone apps that are seen as creative, innovative and native-feature-rich in the eyes of Apple. This is a must, else, even if your app is complete, chances it will be approved by Apple is slim.

Customer service that is attained after building an app is highly vital. A good provider is one that provides extra support service. Assistance is delivered through email or whatever medium is applicable.

The Most Appropriate App Maker For You

Every iPhone app maker involves the use of a mobile app development platform. Hence, if your goal is to get an application that automatically sends news updates, you may have to review the major function of a specific iPhone app maker. Depending on your needs and wants, you will determine which makers you must use and which ones you must ignore. You will know whether a particular application maker can be considered appropriate or not.

If you are having a hard time choosing an iPhone app maker, consult the experts. Collect recommendations from friends and other people who have tried creating iPhone applications. Experienced developers would definitely provide you with a few solid suggestions. You will get the names of app makers that were proven and trusted by friends and colleagues. Besides seeking advice, you may also refer to the samples previously created.

How to Track My Cell Phone

So, you just come home from your dinner with friends and suddenly you do not know where you put your iPhone. Did you left it at the restaurant or at work? Or probably it is still in your house. You probably fear the worst that someone might have stolen your cell phone. Luckily locating a cell phone is quite easy.

If you own an iPhone, you can always use the Find iPhone apps. First of all you need to download this app to your iPhone. Then you must log in to the app with your Apple account ID. Once activated, the device will share its location. The minimum network requirement for it to track the device is either through GPS signal, 3G, WiFi, or location triangulation via cell towers. What is a location triangulation via cell towers? I will deliberate on this in future post. If you have an iPad or any other Apple devices, you can easily track your iPhone by logging into your account via the find iPhone apps. There it will list all of your devices that are connected to the iCloud. Once it detected your device, it will show the location of your device on a map. You can also have the option of remote triggering the device to omit ringing sound or lock it so that it cannot be used by unwanted parties. Other interesting thing is that you can also follow other people's Apple's devices through your list of contact. Once you select the list of contact you want to follow, it will notify your friends and family that you are following them through the iPhone apps. It is a very neat app and it can also reduce your worries if you lose your iPhone or misplaced them.

Another way for you to track your cell phone is by tracking your phone's IMEI. IMEI stands for International Mobile Station Equipment Identity. It is a unique number for every mobile phone that was manufactured. It has 14 to 15 numbers that represents your mobile phones ID. You can quickly know your phone unique IMEI number by pressing *#06# on your phone keypad. Your phone will instantly show a string of numbers. This number represents the phones IMEI. The IMEI is usually used by GSM operator network to identify whether your phone is a valid device and not a clone one or a stolen one. GSM operator can actually stop the mobile phone that has an IMEI that was blacklisted. So, by blacklisting the IMEI, even though the thief changes the SIM of the phone, it will still cannot be used since the IMEI is unique to the mobile phone itself.

So, make sure to remember your mobile phone's IMEI and store it someplace safe. This will prove to be useful if your mobile phone do get lost. You can immediately use this IMEI number by calling your operator and tell them that your mobile phone got stolen or lost. By giving the mobile phones IMEI number, the operator will block that mobile phone form using the operator's network. This will make the stolen mobile phone render less. But, if you decide locate your mobile phone yourself; there are a number of services or software available on the web. There are also many free software available. You can search the web for other free tracking devices for your mobile number. However, your operator usually can do the tracking for you. Usually your network operator will ask for a police report before they can do the tracking of your mobile phone. So, lodge a police report and then give your mobile phone IMEI to the operator. Once, they have tracked the location of your phone, it is advisable that you should notify the police and let them do their job in retrieving it. Do not put yourself in danger. You will never know how dangerous the thieves might be. Do not get yourself hurt or die just because of a cell phone. Your life is much more valuable. Get some help. The police are the best choice to report to and let them do the job.

The New iPad Under the Covers

Before the release of the new iPad, there was a lot of speculation as to what processor would be used and what capabilities would it have. The iPad 2 has an A5 processor which is a dual core main processor that includes a dual core graphics processor (or GPU) and 512 MB of RAM. The separate GPU handles the new display while the main processor handles the other operations. Many of the rumors prior to the new iPad announcement had guessed that the new iPad would have an upgraded processor, possibly an "A6" which would have a quad core main processor, a quad core GPU, and more internal memory.

The new iPad has what they are calling an A5X processor which is still a dual core main processor, but the GPU now is quad core. The change was likely driven by the new "retina display" which increases the iPad resolution from the previous 1024 by 768 to 2048 by 1536. That resolution change quadruples the number of pixels the system has to handle, but it's more manageable with the improved GPU. Although not as dramatic a change as was predicted by the pundits, the GPU upgrade is still a great performance boost.

The A5X specs are not public, but the new processor may also have an increased amount of cache, more memory, and a faster clock speed which would further improve the overall performance of the new iPad. The battery in the new iPad puts out 42.5W compared to the battery of the iPad 2 which puts out 25W, but the reported life of the new iPad is the same as the previous iPad.

The new iPad appears to take longer to charge. It appears that the new iPad takes about 7 hours to charge, as opposed to its the iPad 2, that took 4 hours to charge. The new iPad's Retina Display takes 7 watts of power compared to the iPad 2's 2.7-2.8 watts, which is the main reason for the power drain.

The new iPad has the improved GPU and retina display, but are they worth an upgrade from previous versions? They certainly seem to be. The new iPad's increased resolution allows playback of 1080p HD movies in actual 1080p and it will render text in eBooks so they look very crisp. Many current and new apps will likely take advantage of the increased resolution as well by offering richer and more detailed graphics.

The power of the new GPU goes beyond just the new display. The upgraded GPU enables the new iPad to use its backside camera to shoot 1080p HD video, and then provides support for editing the movie in the iMovie app. AirPlay video streaming is also improved to 1080p if you invest in the newest version of Apple TV.

The new iPad has some great improvements over the previous model, and the quad core CPU is definitely a significant part of those improvements.

Later Then, BlackBerry 10

Samsung Galaxy S3 was released in May. As expected, many have sold their BlackBerrys and bought this technological magic. It is history's current fastest-selling smartphone. Impressive hardware, larger HD screens, and a multitude of apps from Android make this phone a must-have. However, months after, Apple released their iPhone 5 with a bang last September. The dubbed "iPhone 4S 2.0" created a tidal wave of demands and pre-orders reached millions. Even though Apple's stock has started going down, the iPhone 5 remains a hit for smartphone lovers and patrons alike. How about RIM? Well, the company is expected to release their magnum opus, the BlackBerry 10. Their patrons have been anticipating this phone for months. However, they are expected to wait longer.

A senior analyst doubts that the phone will be released earlier than expected. The analyst warns investors that this delay may mean more losses for BlackBerry's makers. Peter Misek, the Jeffries and Co. analyst, dubs that "We had hoped for a Jan launch but now see a March launch as more likely." He believes that because most carriers prefer other smartphone brands like Samsung and iPhone to stock, RIM may have to establish a good ground to get a large chunk of the carriers' inventory. Doing so will take a long time since they have not proven how strong the demand is for BlackBerry 10. They also need to look for third-party companies like HTC and Samsung to license their operating system for handsets. However, it would be most likely that this will slow down the process. Misek sees that RIM will not have partners for this endeavor, which they badly need. This will result in investors putting their money more in BlackBerry 7 handsets that will surely corrode RIM's bottom line. Would this result in people trying to sell used BlackBerry units?

The delay will translate to financial loss again. The company is dependent on its $2.3 billion to make the financial impossibility of catching up with revenues. Misek predicts that it needs a billion more just to manufacture enough units to eventually pay off their financial obligations and launch their newly developed operating system. The delay may be BlackBerry's blessing in disguise. The analyst creates a particular analysis that this is what RIM needs to catch up with the strong hype for flagship smartphones. Misek points out that the Canadian firm will not erode enough for Microsoft to invest and capitalize on its Windows Phone 8 smartphones, (considered third because of its weakness in consumer demand). He says, "We believe a third ecosystem will emerge, but the probability of BB10 filling the role is wholly dependent on whether RIM can convince Samsung, Huawei, and ZTE to license."

RIM executives have given consumers some of the amazing features BlackBerry 10 has. Its apps and servers are exclusive and improved and will debut with RIM's future smartphone. Despite many people who sell used BlackBerrys, RIM is hopeful that their BlackBerry 10 will be their redeemer from the shackles of criticism, financial loss, and mistrust from consumers.

Things To Know About Web Hosting Service

Nowadays, there are many web hosting providers with various hosting services. When you first visit the providers' homepage, you are probably unsure of what kind of hosting service you should get for your website. Thus, here are some of web hosting terminologies to help you understand better about web hosting.

1. Shared Hosting:

Shared hosting is a quite common hosting service, primarily for small to medium websites. When using it, your website will be hosted on a server that is able to contain hundreds or thousands of websites. Because there are plenty of websites on a shared server, in order not to affect other sites you are often limited about bandwidth and storage capacity. In contrast, when other sites use too many server resources, it also affects your site. Therefore, the average price for the Shared Hosting is only about 4-5 US Dollars. There are 2 types of Shared Hosting: Linux and Windows.

2. Linux Hosting:

With this one you can use the tools that are designed on Linux. It is consistent with PHP and Perl language websites and other common open source code such as WordPress, Joomla, Drupal etc. You do not need to know the command lines in Linux to be able to use Linux Hosting since there's graphics interface in the hosting management that is easy to use.

3. Windows Hosting:

If your website is designed using ASP language and Microsoft's tools, Windows Hosting is the right choice. The price of Windows Hosting is usually higher than Linux one.

4. VPS Hosting:

VPS stands for Virtual Private Server, in other words it is a virtual server. A strong configuration server can install multiple virtual machines. When owning VPS, you have the management power to one of the server's virtual machines. VPS Hosting is used for the high traffic sites. You can fully restart VPS as you want because there is only your site on VPS. However, when the server goes down, the entire VPS on that sever also collapse.

5. Dedicated Hosting:

If your website has a high traffic, Web Hosting becomes important. You might not use the Shared Hosting or VPS one as these 2 services often contains a lot of other sites that might affect your site. Using the Dedicated Hosting, you will be supplied with a separate server, which contains only your site, and you will have full control of it. As a result it is also more expensive than the Shared and VPS one.

6. Managed Hosting:

The hosting services (especially VPS Hosting and Dedicated Hosting), are normally divided into 2 types: Managed and Unmanaged one. With the Managed Hosting, the configuration installation on the server will be done by technical staff. If you already know how to install it, you might get it. This one is also more expensive than Unmanaged one.

7. Colocation:

Similar to the Dedicated Hosting, you also get your own server for your site. However, in the Dedicated Hosting, you rent the server from the provider. In this one, you might use your own server. The provider will locate your server in the Data Center or in other words, Colocation is a space rental service and infrastructure services to connect the servers to the Internet. Colocation is only interesting for the big companies who want to have a full control of their activities. The price for the Colocation service is the highest.

4 Tips For Searching On Google

Google and other Search Engines have become a part of our lives. Every time we want to search information for what we need, Google is usually the first solution because it is fast and effective. Only with a few keywords the result pages appear in less than a second. Most of Internet users only know the basics of searching on Google; they simply change the keywords until they find the relevant results. Generally, it is effective but there are still some tips that quite few people know. This article is to show 4 tips which help you customize and search better on Google.

1. Searching a webpage:

Currently most of the websites are integrated with Search Engines to help the users find conveniently the desired content. However, a number of these websites' Search Engines are not giving notification effectively with such things as "There is no result for... " or irrelevant results. Thus, instead of using Search Engines within the site and getting frustrated, you can ask for Google's help by typing your keywords into Google search box followed by 'at + name of the website".

Syntax: Keyword + at + Website's name

2. Searching the definitions:

The search for definitions of a specialized word is also what users often apply to Google. Previously, to do this, you had to type in Google search box "What is + Keyword" so that Google could offer the full definitions exactly.

But nowadays Google has become more powerful and multipurpose. You just need to type in the search box your specialized words, Google will be able to understand what you need and provide you with germane results.

3. Searching for the exact range:

There is a Google search operator called AROUND(n), (n stands for number) that is rather strange and probably very few people know when using Google. When applying this search operator, Google will return to the users the results that are limited with two primary keywords and 'n' the numbers of limited words. For example, when you type in the Google search box "Thailand AROUND(5) Cambodia", the system will display all websites containing the two keywords at both sides with proximity of 5 words.

Syntax: Keyword 1 + AROUND(n) + Keyword 2 (Where n = number of words)
Note: when using this operator, you need to put in upper case the word "AROUND".

4. Searching synonyms:

This is also considered as a useful searching tip with Google to help you save your time when you don't have to use multiple keywords. Google will automatically search the results with similar keywords, so you will find more results yet only need to type the keyword once by adding the "~" operator in front of the keyword.

For instance, if you want to search for a cheap laptop, you might type in the Google search box "~cheap laptop", Google will return to you the keywords that are synonyms with "cheap" such as affordable, discount or low-cost.

Things to Know About iPhone 5

Apple mobile phones are trackers of how the mobile market behaves and of how they are used. The new iPhone, even if it is not the revolution it was thought to be, gives valuable insights on the state of the field.

Changes

What is new exactly? First the look, glass was abandoned in favor of aluminum. Then the speed, the new A6 chip makes it twice as fast as the previous iPhone. A new connector standard also appears. But of all the changes it is the screen which catches most attention. It increased from 3.5 to 4 inches. The increase in screen size is directly linked to the rise of the use of mobiles in our life. It results in a will to have a more comfortable experience when using mobile devices. A bigger screen brings a better experience for long use. Telephones and tablets are a new marker and create new ways of consuming and accessing information.

Consequences

Firstly, there is a quick increase in the use of mobile devises for finding information on the Internet. Mobile phones, tablets now benefit from much quicker Internet connection than before with the development of LTE/4G. They are always ready to be used and one can almost instantly look for information through them. Their screens which get bigger and bigger and offer better definition allow showing more and more information at once. Moreover, the new cloud possibilities allow a user to synchronize it browsing experience from a Mac to an iPhone or an iPad really pushing forward the use of mobile devices.

Secondly, social networks are more and more used to share information. A constant connection to twitter and now Facebook makes it easier than ever before to share a trip picture, the photograph of a meal, a new product bought, etc. Social network become the center of much activity and influence purchasing decisions. They can be very beneficial to firms but also hurt their reputation quickly. A social network watch therefore becomes necessary for some firms.

Third is the steady increase of geolocalisation services. As more and more smartphone with GPS appear the services allowing for geolocalisation develop meaning one can now send location along with message or pictures. It makes it easy to find the restaurant where your friends enjoyed such a great meal or the resort or hotel where they had their best experience. Geolocalisation related services become strong marketing tools for targeting local customers for local businesses. They become more and more efficient as more people start using smartphones and tablets.

Once again the iPhone 5 is not a revolution. It though affirms again that we entered the era characterized by constant connection and holds many opportunities.

Learn to Lock iPad Screen Rotation

One of the most annoying things when using the iPad is when the screen rotates by itself without asking. This is usually the case when I'm lying sideways on my bed or sofa trying to view an online article from either newspaper, blogs or articles. This also happens when I'm scouring through Facebook in bed when I just woke up and wanted to know what's happening out in the world with my friends and family. Also, it gets frustrating when showing friends and family a picture on my iPad when the iPad is positioned horizontally flat.

For my iPad, which is the older version, the screen rotation lock is located at the top left physical slide button. Just slide it to lock or unlock the screen rotation. Often times, I forget that the rotation is locked. On the screen, a little arrow is shown and the lock icon at the top right side of the screen will serve as a reminder that the lock is switched on. There you go. Too easy! Quite often, I'd just leave the screen rotation locked and get accustomed to the one screen orientation. I find it easier to just use one screen orientation, usually the portrait orientation given that I read a lot. The only times I use the landscape orientation is when I need to view wide angled pictures. Even then, it's just one button slide away.

In the newest iPad update, which is the predominant number of the newer iPads these days, the top left slide button is changed to an audio mute button. You can lock the screen rotation by double clicking on the home button and then flick the bottom multitask bar to the right. The screen rotation lock is now situated on the left of the new bar. Turn on the screen rotation lock and your screen orientation will be set until the lock is disabled.

This same method can also be done the new iPad mini. Given that the new iPad mini has the same functionality as its older and bigger siblings, the features and button will be exactly the same, on a smaller scale. Given its pocked size and light weight, I may consider investing in this new iPad. This new method is obviously more tedious than that of the older iPad version but this is still just 3 clicks and a swipe away. Personally, as I mentioned previously, I would just leave the screen rotation locked until I want to view the iPad on a particular orientation.

6 Download Worthy Apps for Your New Windows

Now that you have your Windows 8 on your system and you are familiar with its utility the next step is to look for apps. Even though there are numerous apps that are available on the store, you still may want to keep focus upon the best available options. Let us discover 6 download worthy apps for your new Windows.

Tuning into online music

If you are the one who is interested in music streaming through radio then choose Slacker Radio. You get the benefit of tuning unto unlimited music and tuning through non-Microsoft supportive devices as well. This app is well-designed example of a UI in the modern sense. You will be able to channel 200+ stations along with music from various DJs. You easily enjoy free to air stations for lifetime that are advertisement sponsored, as for other stations you need to shell out $10 every month. Additionally, even after minimizing the window the app keeps running on the background.

Streaming movies

The modern design of the Windows 8 is supportive of full screen mode and touch controls. This is what gives you the advantage to tune into Netflix. However, the native app provided by Microsoft is not capable of a video library, so you need something like Netflix or Hulu Plus. You can easily subscribe to either of the services by shelling out $8 a month.

Cheat Keys for Windows 8

Even if you claim to have found out the ultimate UI commands and used it to your benefit, chances are that you may still need a proper guide for it all. It is observed that Microsoft is not that good at explaining a user about the system utility and providing a good guide in relation to it. The best option available is to go for Cheat Keys for Windows 8.

Download an app named Windows 8 Cheat Keys. You will be able to locate short cuts to closing app, instant printing, system shut down and other such utilities. Other things include list of shortcuts for the controls and tips that help in easy navigation. Additionally, you will keep receiving notifications that will alert you against the updated fresh controls. This way you will be easily able to master the OS.

Games

For any gaming freak the best option is the Windows Store with the games section. If you are running the new OS on a touch enabled device then you can go for games like Jetpack Joyride, Robotek or something as simple like Pinball FX2. However, you can still play them on non-touch device but the best experience comes through touch sensitive displays.

Gaming options

The most fantastic game is the Xbox SmartGlass; you are allowed to take control of your console via tablet or PC. You can quickly launch apps via console, as it is relatively quicker as compared to a controller. Additionally, you can even push media with this app that is dependent upon Microsoft services. You can launch media between Xbox and PC. Installing Xbox SmartGlass gives you the advantage of having a 2nd screen for a better console experience along with maps, song queues (games) and stats. Additionally, you would love the attractive array of ESPN and NBA apps. Interestingly it if this not enough then you will be delighted to discover your live Xbox profile along with a complete friend list.

Downloading the latest news

It is relatively easier to get news on your fingertips especially with various sources available online. With inclusion of easy to read formats, you can get news anywhere and at anytime, sources like Pulse News and News Bento give you just what you require. The fresh new look of News Bento gives you a crisp feel to news reading experience. Additionally, it is easily supportive of the new Windows UI. The display of articles is eye catchy displayed in newspaper style. This app also enables you to subscribe the RSS feed for News bento.

Pulse News reader is all about providing you with a vast library. However, you will still not be able to share news stories in Share charm. Nonetheless, the basic news reading experience coupled with the seamless news inputs is good.

Are Smartphones Under Malware Threat?

The changing face of technology has made many things possible, one such thing is mobile computing. Surfing internet, downloading apps or games, staying connected while on go and chatting with your friend network through Smartphone is the most convenient way of staying online. With all this there is one more thing that you need to be aware of, that of malware threat to your Smartphone.

According to a research it has been observed that hackers are targeting Smartphone and mobile security is under threat by malware. Your personal information and data are at stake. It is about time that you start thinking about securing your Smartphone.

The latest and freely available anti-virus software available are Avast (mobile security) and another by Lookout. It will help you by providing protection against any malware or potential threat to mobile security. Performing a regular scan on your phone for any malware, help create a backup of information and other such security measures are just a few activities.

Let us first learn how malware enters your phone.

How malware enters your phone?

Malware is a term that is deadly for your phone. It is malicious software designed to tamper with the data and steal information. The worst part is that you will not be aware of its presence and it will work without your knowledge. Your personal information, passwords, contacts and other such details can be easily stolen. Additionally, your current location too can be easily tracked; you will start receiving hiked bills and subscription to services that you do not remember purchasing.

A malware will make way into your phone via downloads of any kind, including apps, files, links and websites; these are just a few examples. Hackers can easily mask or disguise a malware into any program or link that will easily enter in your phone. It can also be disguised as a free copy of your favorite game, Angry Birds for instance. As soon as you click to download the free version in your phone you unknowingly invite malware. Before long you discover the havoc wreaked it may have already harmed your phone and data to a lot extent.

Let us now discover how Lookout and Avast are helpful in keeping your phone secure from malware.

Lookout Mobile Security

This is a freely available mobile security app; you can protect your Android and iOS devices with it. This app conducts a complete scan of your device and ensures that there is no potential threat like virus or malware residing in your phone. It also enables in taking a backup for restore purpose and help with remote location of your device.

If you are an Android user then you can opt for its premium version. This includes generating privacy app reports, remote data lock, wipe, and other such security features for data protection. On the onset, you can opt for a 14 day trial after which you need to pay $3/ month subscription for the service. Additionally, as soon as you download an app it starts a scan for potential threat. If it is found dangerous then you immediately receive an alert.

The privacy report generated by Lookout is yet another amazing feature. This generates alert messages against apps that are accessing your data including contacts, location, messages and other sensitive information. Additionally, you are also given an option to take a backup of your contacts on the website of Lookout.

Signal Flare is yet another feature that you will come across with this security app. Through this tool you will be able to track location of your phone and even get an alert on the battery.

Mobile Security by Avast

This security software is designed for Android users. You will find similar security features to Lookout in this security software too. However, you can schedule for a scan on your device while specifying location like scanning the phone or SD card. If there is any potential threat you will receive an alert message asking you to uninstall the software from your phone immediately.

The only drawback with this security software is that you are not allowed a backup. Nonetheless, with various security tools and features you will still like to download it on your Smartphone. Security features that keep your data safe, remotely lock your device, trigger alarm and even help wipe off data remotely in case of theft are some of the amazing tools. Additionally, features like firewall are effective for thwarting attack by hackers.

You can also apply the following tips to keep your Smartphone secure:

• Download from authentic websites and sources 
• Go through app reviews online before installing it 
• Avoid sending or sharing personal details when working on public Wi-Fi 
• Reading the privacy policy and then agreeing

Apart from the above-mentioned tips it is essential to install mobile security. Security apps/ software like Avast and Lookout to keep your Smartphone safe from hackers and malware threat.

Top Five Apps for Scrapbookers

Top Five Apps for Scrapbookers:

1. ScrapStash is an app for recording what supplies you have or what supplies you might want. This app is great for keeping track of all those scrapbooking supplies that you have. The best part is that you can keep track of all your supplies just by scanning the barcode. You will never buy a duplicate item again with this app. This app is currently only available for iPhone users.


2. Shutterfly is an app that gives you the ability to upload your photos directly from your phone to your Shutterfly account. The app was just recently updated so now you can purchase products directly from your phone and Shutterfly has provided us scrapbookers the ability to print 4x4 prints now! This app is currently only available for iPhone users.


3. Michaels, Joann and Hobby Lobby all these apps are so that you can use coupons to get your scrapbooking shopping done. Coupons are great especially the 50% off ones! The apps have some things that are different from each other but the main reason for them is so that you can access all the coupons that the big retailers have to offer when you are in the store! These apps are available on iPhone and Android.


4. Diptic is a great little app that gives you the ability to create photo collages straight from your phone and it has tons of options to create different collages and add text to your photos, available on iPhone and Android


5. YouTube ever since Apple has updated to a new operating system YouTube now has to be downloaded on to your phone as an app. YouTube is great when you are looking for videos on how to create a new scrapbooking embellishment or you just need some scrapbooking inspiration from one of the great scrapbookers out there! YouTube is available for iPhone and Android.

All these apps are great for making your scrapbooking life just a little easier. ScrapStash is great for not buying items that you already have and for creating wish lists for items that you might want. Shutterfly is great for uploading your photos and getting them off of your phone and into a scrapbook and the new ability to print 4x4 photos is wonderful. Michaels, Joann and Hobby Lobby are good for getting those coupons and for checking to see when the 50% off coupon is available for use. You will never pay full price for a big ticket scrapbooking item if you use these coupons! Diptic creates great photo collages and is user friendly. You do not need to be a rocket scientist to use Diptic. Once you create a photo collage you can upload it to Shutterfly and get it printed for your scrapbook! YouTube is just a must have if you want to learn a certain technique or if you are looking for some scrapbooking inspiration

Things to Consider When Getting a New Computer

Things to Consider When Getting a New Computer 

Operating Systems

The type of operating system that you decide you want to use will have a big impact on the type of computer you will be best off buying.

There are only a couple of major operating systems available for users to install and they are:

1. Microsoft Windows
2. Apple Mac OS
3. Linux

Unless you are very good at understanding and operating computers, most people will decide to purchase either the Windows or the Apple Mac operating systems..

Type of Computer

There are plenty of different types of computers available on the market and nowadays there are even tablets. Tablets are able to perform many of the same functions as a computer and can even replace a computer for some people.

If you decide that you want to go with a Windows or a Linux operating system, then you will require either a standard desktop or a laptop to run it on.

Standard Desktop

A standard desktop can be purchased from most electronics goods stores and can range in price from $500 up to a couple of thousand dollars.

You will need to make sure your desktop comes with the following hardware:

• Power Supply
• Case
• Motherboard
• Video Card
• Network Card (if not included on the motherboard)
• Sound Card (if not included on the motherboard)
• Processor
• Memory
• Hard Drive
• Optical Drive (DVD or Blu-ray)
• Monitor, Speakers & Printer (If you don't have them already)

Laptop

Laptops can also be purchased from most electronics goods stores and are slightly more expensive than desktops. Laptops come as an all in one bundle, which means that they include all the hardware they require, including a pre-installed operating system (Windows in most cases).

Apple iMac

If you decided that you want an Apple operating system, there are a number of different options available to you, including the Apple iMac.

The Apple iMac is similar to a standard desktop in that it isn't very portable and is meant to stay in a static location on a desk.

Apple products come with all the hardware and software they require without the user needing to do anything.

Apple Macbook

The Macbook is similar to a laptop as it comes with all the software it needs pre-installed. Macbooks come with the Apple OS installed and are normally slightly more expensive than the iMac.

Note: All Apple products must be purchased through official Apple channels like the Apple store or the Apple online store.

Tablet

A newcomer to the market is the Tablet. Many people only use computers for email and web browsing, this means that a tablet would be perfect for them. Not only is it portable like a laptop or a Macbook, but it is cheaper and also less complex to use.

There are two main types of tablets on the market.

1. Apple iPad (IOS Operating System)
2. Samsung Galaxy Tablet (Android Operating System)

The main difference between the two main tablet vendors is the operating system and different applications available from the various online stores.

Applications

Once you have selected your type of computer you will need to install a couple of applications on it to make it useful. I have listed the major types of applications that most people will require:

Web Browsers

There are a number of popular web browsers available on the market place. By default the operating system that you have installed on your computer will come with one of the following:

Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer is the default browser that is installed with Microsoft Windows.

Safari

Safari is the default browser that is installed on all Apple products

Firefox

Firefox is the default browser that is installed on most Linux operating systems.

All of the browsers listed above are fine to continue using so long as you keep them up to date with regular patching. If you decide that you don't like the default browser it may be worthwhile investigating others like Chrome or Opera

Securing Your Computer and Staying Safe

Securing your computer is possibly the most important part of your setup if you plan on using it on the internet. There are literally thousands of different ways in which your computer can become infected with a virus or malware.

Be sure to install an anti-virus program and also keep your operating system up to date.

Office Products

Most people will want to have a document editor / spreadsheet / email functionality when they buy a computer. The following is a list of commonly used products:

1. Microsoft Office (Available for Windows and Mac)
2. Open Office (Available on Windows, Mac and Linux)

The major difference between the two products is that Open Office is free to use.