New Technology Era

Modern Technological Advanced Mirrors for the Bathroom

Why didn’t anyone ever tell me that modern bathroom mirrors are so exciting? We went online to look for some the other day and I had it jotted down mentally as a quick 5 minute job. Get one which is the right size and which generally reflects things and it’s sorted, I thought to myself. After that there would be plenty of time left in the day for day for more important stuff such as warming up junk food and looking for football on the telly.

Anyway, that particular plan fell apart right away when I realised that nowadays you can get mirrors with lights around them, cabinets mirrors which are heated and others which make me look like Sundance Kid era Robert Redford. Ok, so I made up one of those features but you get the idea that the choice is far greater than I had anticipated.

I can remember buying very few mirrors in my lifetime. In fact, I did a little totting up earlier and I can recall buying 3 bookcases, 4 wardrobes and a couple of bathroom cabinets at various times. Yet I don’t remember ever being in the market for a bathroom mirror. Isn’t that a bit strange? It’s even more unusual when you consider that I can clearly recall breaking at least 2 mirrors in the last decade. I have also been known to occasionally complain about the mirror steaming up and not letting me get a good shave after my shower.

However, now that I have seen that mirrors are more interesting that any simple, reflective surface has any right to be then maybe I will start buying more of them. I have never been a particularly vain person but I could end up with them all over the house now.

What Else Is More Exciting Now?

So why didn’t I ever take the trouble to look at this product in depth before? I guess I took it for granted as being something simple and rather boring to be honest. Now that I know that I was wrong I am left wondering what other household items are more complex than I imagined. Could looking at picture frames and extending ladders turn out to be an enjoyable way of passing a Saturday afternoon nowadays?

Anyway, looking at fun mirrors like these is a great way to pass some time but now it has got me worried about how doing other sorts of shopping could turn into marathon affairs now. Can you imagine if they made cutlery or light bulbs more interesting? I could end up spending half my life looking at household goods to the detriment of my sports watching and pizza eating. Maybe it is time to put an end to this sort of thing and go back to the good old days of simple, basic products which don’t need much thought put into the purchase of them. Having said that, I’ll still have one of those fancy mirrors before we go and change things back to the old fashioned way again.

Published January 26, 2012 – 9:27 am Categories: New Technology | Post a comment

Has the recession fuelled or stagnated the adoption of Cloud Computing amongst small businesses?

The past twelve months have been some of the toughest and most uncertain in living memory. Small businesses have fared particularly badly with banks unwilling to invest or lend money, well documented spending pattern reductions in consumers and belt tightening across all business sectors as a result. At the very same time Cloud Computing hype has been increasing in momentum.

With all of the much publicised benefits of moving to the Cloud you would think that it would have been adopted as a much needed cost cutting measure in more businesses by now. Paying for applications on a pay as you go basis, deferring big capital costs in favour of smaller monthly payments as well as the promise of application availability wherever, whenever and on whatever device the team happened to be using sounds too good to be true. Not to mention getting rid of the expense and administration of having a server sat in the office.

But is this where the transition to Cloud Computinghas stalled? All the arguments are there for Cloud Computing – but in the real world, the world where small businesses just use IT as an enabler for their core operation it’s arguable whether there has been enough of a catalyst for change. It’s not like moving from analogue to digital TV – there’s no deadline after which their systems won’t work.

Planning a cloud computing transition, a cloud strategy may not be top of small business agendas just because everything is working just fine and until that server in the corner of the office goes on the blink or runs out of warranty it may not be a high enough priority. After all – small business owners’ first concern is running their business (whatever that may be) – and in times of recession we all know that takes at least 25 hours a day, 8 days a week just to stay afloat.

To Know more information about cloud computing services, log on to http://ziptechservices.co.uk/.

Published January 24, 2012 – 3:18 pm Categories: New Technology | Post a comment

DIY Technology for Home Improvement Jobs

We all love getting improvements carried out to our homes but paying for it is something else altogether, isn’t it? These days it takes a massive effort to put away some cash for getting anything done on my property but it is always worth it in the long run.

The main reason I go to the trouble of saving up to make some changes to my house is simply because I want to enjoy it as much as possible. I like to make the odd trip away here and there but for me there is nothing better than getting back home and relaxing. This means that I am always looking at ways to make it a more comfortable place such as landscaping the garden using the latest power tools and investing in innovative double glazing windows.. I am a bit selfish in the things I do to my property and prefer to look at changes which directly benefit me rather than simply make it look better to other people.

Apart from this, I like to make improvements which add to the value of the place. I don’t really have any intention of selling it but it gives me great peace of mind to know that if I ever need to do so then it is worth as much as much as possible. So how can you go about saving up money for some decent home improvements?

Make It a Priority

I find this to be the simplest part. When I really want something I make sure I save up the money needed to get it. It is a routine I started back in the days when I yearned for a copy of Match Day for my Spectrum and saved up my pennies for many a long month until I could buy it. On the other hand, if I don’t make something a priority in my head it quickly joins the long list of things I forget about.

Make It Realistic

Personally I would like to have an Olympic sized swimming pool in my back garden but it ain’t going to happen, and not only because half of it would need to be in my neighbour’s garden. It is important to be realistic about what you can and can’t do. I like to start off with the big jobs first while other people maybe prefer to do things round the other way. The important thing is to be sure that you are aiming for targets which you have a chance of hitting.

Make It Happen

It is easy to sit around thinking about how perfect your home could be but you are the person who needs to make it happen. It isn’t always easy to save up the money needed for some major changes but it is well worth it in the long run. If you really want to make your home a better place then you will find the motivation to put away the money you need to do this. Even if it takes you a fair bit of time to do it you will forget this once your property is how you want it to be.

Published January 24, 2012 – 10:20 am Categories: New Technology | Post a comment

Cutting Costs with Kiosks

In today’s world there is a growing need to free up manpower by using technology to take over many of the tasks which take so much effort and time from valuable workers. From automated receptionist kiosks which can answer many questions to retail information kiosks where customers can cut queues and find product information and locations, a kiosk can efficiently handle these tasks.

Similar in function to automated phone systems, the right kiosk can direct traffic throughout busy stores by sending them to the right departments to find the products they are looking for. Protouch has been manufacturing kiosks for supermarkets, phone stores, post offices, departments, shopping malls and even banks for more than a decade and have built a name within the industry as being on the cutting edge of technology.

In fact, when choosing a kiosk for your business it is important to find a kiosk manufacturer that can provide the functions you need. Some product lines are limited in this regards but when you find a company that can provide kiosks for payments, ordering, directions (way finder), feedback, internet, queue busting and even to provide help or allow for feedback, this is a company to consider.

Of course in recent years kiosks have come a long way. There are no longer those awkward buttons for customers to contend with on the sides of screens which never seemed to match up with the lines on the monitor. With advanced touch screen technology it is a breeze for customers to literally put their finger on what it is they need to quickly and efficiently call up the information they need.

From banks to retail outlets, kiosks can save thousands of manpower hours weekly. Within no time at all the kiosk will pay for itself and continue to provide savings along the way. Whether you are looking for an in-store point of sales or strictly for information, there is a kiosk to suit your needs.

Published January 17, 2012 – 6:00 pm Categories: New Technology | Post a comment

The Marketing Benefits of Personalized Video Production

Creating effective marketing material is perhaps the most important aspect of building any advertising campaign, and video marketing is by far the most effective form of advertisement. By working with video production specialists like those at Vidify.co.uk you can begin promoting your products and services to a larger audience, with a specialized message that is more memorable than any other type of advert. Unlike contextual advertisements, video productions give your prospective client base an interactive look at what your business has to offer, rather than just a written sales pitch.

When video production corporate goals can’t be met in-house, the need to contract the assistance of an experienced media creation firm becomes evident. It can take thousands of training hours, and/or days of searching to equip or find the right employee to help with your video advertisement requirements. After hiring the specialists at Vidify you can rest assured that your company aspirations and key marketing points are being conveyed to an extensive consumer audience, without any significant effort on your behalf.

Corporate digital video production is a complex art form when done properly, combining a powerful message with images that create lasting memories and plant a seed of interest in potential clients. Corporate analysts have long known that there are two main types of thinkers in this world – those that prefer to process information statistically, and those that like to process information visually.

Video advertisements market to both, because a variety of data delivery methods can be used, including on-screen text, soundtracks, spoken narrations, and of course animated display. If you’ve tried conventional advertising methods like pay-per-click, or have tried producing your own video advertisements, with limited success, consider the benefits of working with a company that has a proven track record of enhancing their clients’ marketing efforts.

Published January 17, 2012 – 5:59 pm Categories: New Technology | Post a comment

Technology You Can Take Camping

The days when a camping trip meant roughing it in a moth-eaten tent, and scrambling around in the dark by the light of a battery powered torch are long gone. Today’s self catering holidays have developed so that people of all ages can enjoy the outdoor life, but with all the comforts of home. The latest technology means that whether you are spending a weekend under the stars, or have booked a cosy cabin for a weekend away, those little extras that make life fun will never be too far away.

Although I am certainly not someone that could be described as a gadget geek, I have discovered that there are some really great devices out there which can add an extra dimension to your holiday. Here are my top picks for technology you can take camping.

E-Book Reader

As a lover of good old fashioned ink and paper books, I was somewhat dismissive of e-book readers – until I borrowed my daughter’s Kindle during our camping holiday. I don’t have much free time to read at home, and have always stocked up on best-sellers to read while on my holidays, but on this occasion, didn’t have space to pack a stack of books into our luggage. On a rainy afternoon, I picked up the Kindle and started to read one of the classic novels that my daughter had uploaded for her university course. I was quickly hooked, and was even more impressed when I discovered that my daughter had also thought to pack her e-book reader with some travel guides for the area we were staying in, as well as some handy language guides. The size of most brands of e-book readers mean that they are totally portable, and ideal if you have to fit within airline luggage restrictions. Since returning home, I’ve treated myself to my own e-book reader, and have had fun uploading a library of useful books and magazines. Not only will I have plenty to keep me entertained on our next camping trip, but I’ll also have a wealth of local knowledge, literally at my finger tips.

Portable Speakers

While camping is a fantastic way to get closer to nature, we sometimes find that we feel like livening up the atmosphere a bit with some of our favourite music. Back when my husband and I was first married, we used to take a big stereo on camping trips with us – and of course the huge batteries which were needed to power it up. Obviously, with the invention of the mp3 player, personal music devices have gotten considerably smaller, but what about when you want to share that music with other people? This is where portable speakers come in handy! We bought a brand of high quality portable speakers which can run on a solar power pack and so far we’ve been really impressed with the quality of the sound and lasting power of our purchase. For anyone who likes to have a sing along while cooking the dinner, or a dance to their favourite tune before going out in the evening, portable speakers are ideal.

Published January 12, 2012 – 10:48 am Categories: New Technology | Post a comment

Acquiring Blackberry cases

Blackberry cases are meant to offer you the best protection to your blackberry phone. Knowing that blackberries are one of the best phones in the world, it is the responsibility of every blackberry owner to cover it with the best cases. The cases are designed with the aim of protecting your phone from environmental conditions which includes water and direct sunlight which could damage your phone. This helps to ensure that your blackberry phone remains in good condition for a very long time and that it serves you well all the time.

Blackberry bold cases are made of very high quality leather and anodized aluminium which helps to give your phone maximum protection. The leather offers that smooth good look and also cushions you phone when it falls down. The anodized aluminium gives that case strength and shape. These cases are durable, very attractive and very functional. They are light and fit very comfortably in the pocket. These cases are handmade and very stylish.

Choosing the best blackberry case will save you a lot of costs as it increases your phones durability, reduce repair costs and also help reduce damages the phone would suffer on its surface in case it hits a hard surface. A good blackberry case should be of very high quality in terms of the material used to make it, it should fit perfectly with the phone to ensure that the phone does’t come out when it falls and also it should feel comfortable in the pocket. Blackberry is a prestigious phone and so is its case should be. Read More »

Published January 11, 2012 – 3:32 pm Categories: New Technology | Post a comment

Camping Gear Gadgets

If you love camping as much as my family do, you probably already have a packing list of those essential items that you take with you on every family holiday. However, if you enjoy camping holidays on a regular basis, you may find it worth investing in a few extra camping gear gadgets – small items which can make the outdoor life so much more pleasant.

Over the years, we’ve tried various camping gear gadgets on our trips. Some have been worth their weight in gold because they are so useful, while others would have been better left on the shelf (that solar powered battery charger was discounted for a good reason!). Here are our top three gadgets – the ones that really do what they say “on the tin”.

The SteriPEN

Sometimes when we travel abroad, we find that the water quality is not always as high as we are used to getting at home. This is where the SteriPEN comes in – a clever camping gear gadget designed to purify water of bacteria and viruses. The SteriPEN utilises UV light to get rid of all the microscopic nasties which can make you very ill. While you may not be planning on drinking water from rivers or lakes, if you are not 100% sure that all the water you will drink and cook with while camping is clean, it is worth using a SteriPEN for extra peace of mind – after all, who wants to contend with a stomach bug while on holiday?

LED Wind-Up Torch

Everyone knows that when you are camping, a torch is a definite essential – it can get very, very dark especially in areas where there are no street lights ! However, the standard battery powered torch does have its downfalls, the worst being that the batteries always seem to run out at the most inconvenient time (on a late night trip to the toilet, for instance) and then, of course, you never have spares to hand. This is why we decided to upgrade to an LED wind-up torch, the theory being that if it isn’t powered by batteries, then you’ll never be subjected to an unexpected blackout! We opted for a heavy duty high-powered torch, which has super bright LEDs, and charges with just a couple of minutes of winding. It hasn’t let us down once, and has been useful at home too, during power-cuts caused by winter storms.

Portable Kitchen Sink

My husband loves to joke that when we go on a camping holiday we take everything, including the kitchen sink! Actually, he’s telling the truth – my portable sink was one of the first camping gadgets that I purchased and is one piece of kit we use every day while on vacation. We found that, even on camp-sites where washing up areas are supplied, it is usually easier just to fill up our own sink, which unfolds to hold a capacity of five litres and clean our dishes closer to our tent.

Published January 9, 2012 – 2:42 pm Categories: Gadgets | Post a comment

Will You Need Your IT Support Company ToInstall Your New Business PC

It comes as a shock to many business owners that their newly purchased PC’s don’t work straight “out of the box.” In fact they need a fair amount of IT Support setup. Usually this is done by your IT Support Company

After your new PC is unboxed and on your desk here are some of the things that your IT Support Company needs to do before you can start using it:

IT Support Company

Complete initial Windows configuration:
- Windows product key
- Date
- Time zone
- Language
- Input type
- Computer name
- Local administrator username and password.
Update the Windows operating system with the latest patches
Register the Microsoft Office licence with Microsoft online
Update Microsoft Office with the latest patches
Set the virtual memory to the size recommended for Microsoft Windows. This will improve the speed of your PC
With laptops ensure network card is always on when it’s operating on battery power
Uninstall any trial applications that clutter the machines memory and use up space.
Install Adobe Reader, Flash & Shockwave
Install afree PDF writer such as CutePDF Writer
Install the latest version of Java – some applications may require it
Install Anti-virus and Anti-spyware – use your company standard software. You may need to purchase additional licences
Create a VPN connection for remote users or laptops.
Join the PC to the company network domain enabling it to use server resources and come under the server management
Provide access to network printers

You may also have a few additional IT Support setup requirements specific to your company such as:

Company specific operating system configuration
Installation of company specific applications
Installation of company specific plug-ins and templates
Setup network profile specific to the nominated user
Login as user and setup email software if PC is designated for a specific user

And potentially some IT Support setup requirements specific to each individual user. For example:

Any personalised operating system configuration
Installation and configuration of personal software applications
Migration of personal settings to new machine, where possible
Migration of personal data to new machine

Setting up a PC is time consuming and as you can see beyond the skill of most users. After all they are not IT Support Engineers! Clearly this is going to require some assistance from your IT Support Company. Your IT Support Company does this time of work all the time so can get the IT Support work done in a few hours. In contrast the average not IT Support users would probably take all day, but most couldn’t do this IT Support setup no matter how long they had!

Published January 5, 2012 – 12:33 pm Categories: New Technology | Post a comment