The Linux Box in My Pocket

By John Dembowski

My wife and I picked up new ‘phones’ last week. Penny wanted a phone with a slide out keyboard so she would be able to text more easily. I wanted a Droid.

The Droid is a 4 inch machine running a slim Linux Kernel called Android. The whole thing is orchestrated by Google. The machine comes with 16 gigs of flash memory, a 5 megapixel camera, audio player that plays several different formats of music including MP3s, GPS, 3.7 inch touch screen, slide out keyboard, WiFi, wireless broadband, a very sophisticated (free) software installation framework, and, oh yeah, a phone.

Not wanting to scare her off I dumbed it down a tad. I said something like “This one has a keyboard. And you can log into Pandora and stream your channel 24 hours a day.” She was sold.

When were just about done checking out and I’ve had about 1/2 hour to tell her all about ‘this and that’ I mention that it doesn’t come with a manual. You have to learn how to use it by actually using it. Among other things there is a big search box on the main screen. Instinctively you find your way to Google. Google can answer any question.

We each found cool stuff to show each other over the next 8 hours. ‘TV time’ that night became ‘install-try-uninstall time’. We tried out every free Droid app we could get out hands on.

My current app list includes:

* a dictionary

* an app with information on every country

* another with info on each of the United States

* an app with just about every math and physics formula you can imagine

* a copy of the Constitution

* the periodic table with all the basics on each element

* an interface to play audio versions of just about every influential book that has fallen out of copyright

* a crappy DirecTV app to set my DVR to record (better than nothing but this is weak and I expect something really slick and similar to the same searches that can be done directly on the DirecTV box)

* an LED scroller that shows the message you type in (think “Get me a beer, plz” on a lit up sign)

* a light saber with the sound-FX following the Droid’s movement

* the Bible

* the Quran

* several WiFi tools to not only find hot spots but to see which channels have the least traffic

* a ton of relaxation noise machines

* a Darth Vader soundboard

* headlines from NPR and BBC World

* the weather radar for where I happen to be standing (goooo GPS)

* the 10 day and hour by hour forecast from the Weather Channel for where I happen to be standing (GPS is so abused in Android apps)

* a few tools to automate common Android tasks

* a guitar tuner

* flashlight app that turns the flash on and leaves it on until you turn it off

* copied 5 gigs of music to it – turning it into a USB drive for a desktop computer was a tad strange

I’ve spent probably 72 hours during the past week geeking:

* set up all the various options to my preferred settings

* set up the phone to teach me Spanish using 5 different apps

* set up a rather complex Personal Assistant to remind me of just about everything using 4 apps but I’m adding at least 2 more for specific task lists

* on my regular PC I installed the developer’s tool kit, the java programming libraries, an Android OS emulator, wrote and ran a little BS app so I could see what the developers see

* joined a couple Droid-Fanboy forums

* joined a couple Android-Developer forums

* wormed my way out of xWindows and into the underlying file structure

* tricked the phone into doing a full install of the Perl programming language

I can really see a future for the Android OS. I have no idea what is going on for iPhones and BlackBerry. They will not be able to go where the Android will go unless they are willing to let other people use their OS.

Dude, I’ve totally gone Google.

Originally posted @ the personal blog of John Dembowski

What is So Fascinating About a Wireless Security Camera System?

By Singgih Tri Widodo

From the installation and use, lies in the simplicity and beauty that has a wireless security camera system. With this camera you can send pictures or videos directly to the recipient that the cord is connected to your computer or television. This is a wise way to watch someone who you think is suspect or your goods.

You do not need to buy goods with a very high price for it, and then you get someone else to arrange it. It is not necessary. For that, you should need is some good camera and handy with a computer software and stable, it makes you more calm and comfortable.

Wireless camera – Take a picture

You have the freedom to choose different types of cameras you want to build your own surveillance. You can have 4 to 30 cameras, you want at will. If you want to do off-site supervision, you need to put the camera in certain places. For example pages, swimming pool, main entrance, backyard, etc..

A good outdoor camera should be weather resistant, and must also have night vision. While which indoor surveillance cameras, was far too difficult for a computer or using a simple camera eye to eye. This camera is easily disguised so as not to be seen and caught.

Tips for buying a camera

I suggest before you make a purchase, make sure you check the camera so that the signal coverage to ensure you receive a picture can clearly. It may need a powerful transmitter.

To create a data input, choose the camera to perform voice or movement, and he will activated own end at the appointed hour through the scheme

Recipients / Receiver

Wireless camera basically sending videos and pictures through walls which can achieve distances up to 300 feet 10 miles. By your camera, you will only need can to get a DVR receiver that is used to retrieve the signal is transferred through the camera. The recipient is the most important part of your camera system, without it you can not do anything and can not receive video images you capture which.

This hardware is easy once you plug in the computer or television or wherever you want to install to see it. Usually the camera is equipped with DVR card is which their own and it can directly broadcast to the Internet. But you can buy the device separately at your nearest store shops.

Memory

Data you have on your camera you should keep it safe. You must put the camera in a different place, which surely will make the full leap camera memory. You must buy a separate memory was of about 1 TB hard drive or you need to hire another online server to store your video data. And of course you should regularly monitor your data.

Software

You must have the software to monitor the camera. Maybe you can using a Mac, Windows, Linux, or others. This can help you to monitor, transfer, and store your data. You can see it on the laptop, or phone, or even equivalent to a simple desktop.

For more information see Wireless Security Camera System

Singgih Tri Widodo comes from Kalimantan Timur, Indonesia. has written several articles on Motorcycle and Camera. You may want to check out other guide on Motorcycle Link tips, and Camera Link guide!

How to Prepare For an Operating System Upgrade

By Brady Crabb

Upgrading software is a task that should done with some care. When you upgrade an application you should backup your data for it. But when you are performing an operating system upgrade, you should do more than just back up the data.

Because an Operating System (OS) controls how your computer interacts with the components attached to your computer and with how it communicates with networks and the Internet, you should put some time into preparing your migration. What I am stating here applies to ALL operating systems. No matter what the system upgrade is, whether it is a linux os upgrade, mac os upgrade or a windows 7 upgrade, you need to back up all your application data first.

System software, no matter what the computing platform, effects how the computer sees the world and how it interacts with it. For your migration to be as painless as possible, you should go through the followng list. Skipping any step in the list could cause you to lose data or make your computer inoperable under the new OS.

1. Determine if the new OS is compatible with the hardware you have.

a. This step is the most critical and cannot be skipped.

-i. Go to the vendor’s website and find out what the minimum hardware requirements are. Important items here are:

1. Memory Requirements

2. Hard Drive Space Required for installation

3. Graphics Card Support

4. Video Support (Monitor or LCD panel)

5. Installation Source

a. CD, DVD, hard drive or network

6. Supported Devices and Equipment

a. If you own unsupported items, they may or may not work and most likely will have to be replaced.

-i. This affects printers, scanners and all-in-one printer/fax/scanners

-ii. Your DVD and hard drive

1. This can get real bad if the DVD you are installing from isn’t supported and suddenly fails on you.

2. Determine the type of install you are wanting to perform:

a. Clean Install – which reformats the hard drive before installation.

-i. This is usually the best option, as it checks hard drive integrity during the installation, as well as removing any potential virus or spyware during the install.

b. Upgrade leaving Old System files intact.

-i. Some folks do this for purposes of setting up a dual-boot system that can boot the old or new OS.

-ii. I recommend this only to advanced users, as problems can occur if the installation has problems…data can be lost in this scenario.

c. Deleting the old OS and keeping existing programs and settings.

-i. This option is not always possible, as some OSes, like Windows 7, require reinstallation of applications before they can be made usable under the new OS.

3. Plan your strategy for backing up your data and do it. Copy the data to CD, DVD or a hard drive before you do the upgrade. If you don’t back up your documents, you may lose them, especially if you do a “Clean Install,” which reformats the hard drive before installation. Application data varies on where it is stored, and some of us store lots of files on our desktop as well as our Documents folder, (this is very true of both Mac and Windows users).

a. Look around for your files a little and make SURE you have backed up all your important files, or else you can lose them.

b. The ideal solution here is to back up the entire hard drive as an image with a backup utility. There are a number of free options out there for each operating system, just get the right one for your current OS. Make sure the program is compatible with your new OS, or it won’t do you any good.

4.Verify that the data you backed up is usable. Open some of the files to verify them, or if the backup utility you used can do this, use it to verify the data. It seems like this is overkill, but you will be much happier if you can retrieve your data after the migration.

5.If you are using a CD or DVD for the install, make a backup of your installation discs before proceeding, and put the originals in a safe place. This may sound like an extra step, but take it from someone who lost an original of Microsoft Office several years ago due to it being damaged in the drive. If you get scratches on a backup, all you have to do is to make another copy to do your install – don’t assume the manufacturer of the software will be willing to replace the damaged original. Use the backup of the installation disc for all installs and for all re-installs and you won’t be sorry.

I hope this information helps you out and allows you to make a smooth migration from one OS to another. If you followed the steps above and the installation goes bad, you can try to install again. If worst comes to worst, you can reinstall the old OS and copy your data back until you fix whatever the problem was that prevented a successful upgrade.

Brady Crabb is a computer educator and repair tech, blogger, eBayer, and website developer. You can check out his websites at http://crabbymac.com and http://crabbymac.info/kindle-books or watch his videos on YouTube under the ID of TheCrabbyMac.

How to Pass the CCNA Certification Exam the First Time

By Joseph L Wilson

Working within I.T. for most companies today almost always means at some point you will have to take a certification exam. If you’re a network engineer this means you will need to take a Cisco CCNA Certification exam. To take and pass a CCNA exam is not an easy thing. In this article I will layout some tips and suggestions on how you can pass your Cisco CCNA certification exam the first time.

There is usually three reasons why you would need to take a certification exam.

1. Your Employer requires you to take it – this is often need to justify the salary they are paying you and for managers to gauge your expertise level.

2. You want a new job – Many times having a CCNA certification on your resume will help get your foot in the door to a new company and new opportunities.

3. New career choice – You are wanting to start a new career and a certification is a great way to allow you to enter in to a new job field.

Most seasoned I.T. professional are well versed at certification exams. For Cisco there is the CCNA, CCDA, CCNP, and CCIE, plus numerous other exams including Security, Voice and Storage. Other vendors have certification tests as well. These companies include Microsoft, sun, Oracle, Linux, and Novell.

All of these tests are given at a special facility that is designed to administer the tests in a controlled environment. Nothing can be taken into the testing room while you take your test with the exception of two pieces of paper and a pencil provided by the testing center. Tests are delivered to workstations in the testing room that have been downloaded over the internet to the testing center.

Taking these tests can be very unnerving. However, passing these tests can be done by anyone. You simply need to invest in the study materials and time to get the job down.

The sure fire way to pass these test:

To prepare for a CCNA Certification Exam you should do the following.

Get a Good Study Book

Visit your local bookstore and look through the CCNA study guides. Find a book that is easy for you to read and makes sense. Every author writes differently and can convey technical details differently. You need to find an author that writes in a way that allow you to absorb the material.

Get Practice Exam Software

Next, you need to get a hold of a practice exam. There are many companies today that sell practice exams that will help you prepare for these difficult test. You need to buy a practice test that is focused on your particular exam, for example the CCNA Certification Exam.

Finally, read the book that you purchased once through, highlighting along the way key areas that you may want to come back to later to review.

Then, install your practice test software and take your first practice test. Don’t worry you will most likely fail your first time through. Don’t get discouraged, everybody does. Most practice test software will come will a bank of about 400 questions or more, each divided in to 4 practice tests. You need to take each practice test 4 times! After the 4th time (you should be passing by now- if now take them again until you do pass) Lastly, take the final practice exam which will be the entire bank of 400 questions.

After this point you are ready to take the real exam. Your head has swollen to a point you didn’t believe it could swell to. Pick up the phone and call your local testing center to schedule your exam. Take it as soon as possible.

Good luck! You can to it!

Be at the leading edge of the latest networking technologies. Get and pass your Cisco CCNA certification exam today.

Joseph L Wilson is a Senior Network Engineer in Dunedin Florida and has worked with IP networks for over 18 years. As a Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) and CCIE candidate, regularly writes about how to pass Cisco exams and is the author of the Cisco blog site RouterFreak.com.

Computing & Internet Books

By Suleman Thadha

Certification

CCENT is an acronym for ‘Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician’ and it is the first stage of the professional IT certification grade that leads up to Associate level. Other certification qualifications needed to attain Associate level are the CCNA together with the CCDA certifications. Studying for the CCENT brings you up to speed on basic networking skills such as network security and enabling you to install, configure and troubleshoot small branch networks and switched networks. During your CCNA study you will also learn how to implement and verify connections to remote sites via a WAN. Once you have got this certification under your belt there is the Cisco routing, switching and network design course to study for. To ensure you obtain your CCENT certification you will need to learn and understand a variety of protocols, such as:

•Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol [EIGRP]

•Serial Line Interface Protocol Frame Relay

•Routing Information Protocol Version 2 [RIPv2]

•IP

•Ethernet

•Access control lists [ACLs].

There is a good range of books on certification courses in our Computing and Internet category on our website. You might like to take a look at ‘Networking Fundamentals, CCNA Exploration Companion Guide’ by Mark Dye. This book is an accredited and accepted by the Cisco Networking Academy Program and is the official supplemental textbook for the Network Fundamentals Course in the CCNA Exploration Curriculum Version 4. You might also take a look at ‘CCENT/CCNA ICND1 Official Exam Certification Guide’ written by Wendell Odom. This book is invaluable in preparing you for the exam and certification that follows.

Computer Science

Computer science is another branch of the diversity found amongst the computing and internet-based courses of study. It actually involves the more theoretical aspects of computation and how to apply practical techniques into the necessary algorithms to be processed by a computer. Obviously, computer science involves far more than that, but that is what computer science is about when taken down to its most basic element. As with any other field in the world of computing and internet, there is a wide variety of associated fields such as computer graphics, programming language theory, and human-computer interaction to name just a few.

Taking a look at our computer science section amongst the computing and internet category you will find a good range of books on the subject, such as ‘Search Engine Optimization: an Hour a Day’ written by Jennifer Grappone. A book that you might enjoy, amongst the computer science books because that is loosely the subject it covers is ‘The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable’. It is written by Nassim Nicholas Taleb and has been described as ‘provocative’ by the Economist; ‘idiosyncratically brilliant’ by the Sunday Telegraph and ‘a fascinating study of how we are regularly taken for suckers by the unexpected’ by The Guardian newspaper. You will just have to read it to find out whether you agree with the critics or not!

Databases

Databases are records or files which are integral to the computer and which have been collected into a logically filed system, centrally filed where it can be easily located for one or more uses. Databases of this type are classified according to their content – i.e. full-text, numeric, image, bibliographic etc. There are different models that can be applied to how data are stored within a database. The model that is used most often is the relational model: others include the hierarchical model and the network model.

The structure of a database is what is described as a database model, described above. The database has to be used in conjunction with a database management system. The database model will be stored in a data dictionary. As mentioned above, the database model is used more often than any other model is the relational model. Key terminology that defines the relational model are:

•Relations – this is a table characterised by columns and rows. Each row is referred to as a tuples.

•Attributes – these are columns from the above table. Each column is named – and this is an attribute.

•Domains – each attribute is enabled to take a set of values. Each set of attributes is a domain.

In other words, a relational database refers to the table that is made up of columns and rows. Each column is named with an attribute [such as a phone number]. Each row is a specific instance of that entity [the name of a place that the phone number relates to]. Together, the whole forms a matrix and, within that matrix, is a series of information given about one single person or thing [the entity].

Computing and internet, as a subject, can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be. However, within our computing and internet section you will find a wide range of books that relate to computing and internet from Larry Ullman’s ‘PHP6 and MySQL5 for Dynamic Web Sites: Visual QuickPro Guide’ to Paula Moreira’s ‘ACE the IT Resume: Resumes and Cover Letters to Get You Hired’. Within our computing and internet category you will find a range of sub-sections such as Digital Lifestyle; Digital Music; Digital Photography; Digital Video; Hardware; Mac OS; Microsoft Windows; Networking and Security; New to Computing; PC and Video Games; Professionals; Programming; Software and Graphics; UNIX and Linux; and Web Development. Each of these categories have an enormous range of books of their own, but the best way to see what we have in our web site pages is to delve in and spend an hour or so browsing – you never know, you could strike gold!

Snazal – Buy computer Books

Hard Disk Data Recovery Solutions

By Sunil Punjabi

Data stored in a computer may be lost due to mechanical reasons like a head crash where the read-write head of the disk collides with its recording surface, a power surge, failure of the disk controller device, or due to a defective air filter. It may also be due to software-connected problems like virus problem, file corruption, problems in the operating system, or accidental erasure. In all these cases recovery and backup services are an absolute must.

Once any of these eventualities occur, access to data will be denied to the user in the normal way through the computer. In some cases data will be irretrievably lost as well. But in most cases, data is not lost. It is only access to it through the normal path that is denied and data can be retrieved through various other means. This process is known as hard disk data recovery.

One way of reducing the possibilities of disk failure and the resultant need for hard disk data recovery is using the technology of Redundant Array of Independent Disks, which is better known by its acronym RAID. In this process data is replicated and stored in different hard drives. The computer senses these small hard drives as a single storage unit. The arrangement provides more storage space and speeds up the computer, and gives the machine more fault tolerance.

The use of RAID is no foolproof solution for data loss. The advantage of RAID from a data recovery and backup services requirement perspective is that the data will be pretty much intact even if one of the drives fails. However, more than one hard disk from the group may fail and in such cases the process of hard disk recovery will become a must.

The word RAID was originally expanded as Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks though later the word inexpensive was changed into independent. There are different RAID levels and some of the levels use striping, which is an interleaving process whereby multiple disks are reading and writing at the same time. This arrangement makes hard disk data recovery process from a RAID group a little more complicated than that from a single large disk. Data is retrieved in almost all cases even though RAID data recovery may turn out to be more expensive for the customer.

Where disk damage is limited, connecting the damaged disk to another hard disk as a slave can retrieve data. There is also data recovery software used by data recovery and backup services providers, which is highly effective in most cases of data recovery. There are slight differences in the recovery software used for different operating systems like Linux, Windows, UNIX, etc. Some of these software are available online.

When hard disk failure is due to mechanical reasons like a head crash,recovery using software may not always be possible. The damaged parts of the drive will have to be replaced in such instances and data will have to be retrieved from the reconstructed drive. This is a slightly complicated procedure but many recovery and backup services provide the necessary help, thereby saving most of the data.

PCSoft is a Sydney based hard disk data recovery expert. Providing computer repairs, maintenance and computer support same day onsite support anywhere in Sydney. We can send a computer technician to your home or office for onsite assistance and data recovery and backup services today.

Web Development – 10 Essential Keys

By Henrik Blunck

In webdesign there are certain key elements you need to employ in your web development to assure maximum visibility and best impact upon your niche. I have assembled these ten keys so you can have your own personal checklist next time you need to create a website, a sales letter online or when you need to edit a template for your own blog.

1. Make sure you are unique
2. Separate your HTML from your CSS
3. Make sure your site validates
4. Check your site in several browsers
5. Use proper code for headings, subheadings etc
6. Avoid bad color combinations
7. Implement presentations with care – avoid Flash
8. Implement banners and ads with care
9. Get others to proofread your texts
10. Use manual additions to indexes, and avoid automatic systems

I will elaborate on each of these to help you achieve the best results with your projects.

You might be surprised of how well your page will perform once you implement these keys in your webdesign, and I ask you to read very attentively so you can gain the full benefit from these ten keys.

1. Make sure you are unique

You need to make sure your design is unique. Nothing is as big a turn-off as arriving to a site that looks like a boring old template just revamped with a few keywords and some graphics from a public domain folder. People leave such sites before you know it. They won’t come back to you at any time, and first impressions stick with people.

I remember some names in Internet Marketing just because they market a product I didn’t like. When I reinstalled my system I quickly added new filters in my Thunderbird e-mail client to send it directly to the waste bin. If such people were decent, you could have unsubscribed, but with some of these people even that isn’t followed because spam penalty fines are too low. Don’t let the same bad impression come from bad design.

2. Separate your HTML from your CSS

Some people use web design programs very erroneously. They embed their styles into the same file as their separate webpages. That will make it far more difficult to change details and get them to match other pages at a later date. If you use proper etiquette and run external stylesheets, editing becomes far easier.

It was actually the entire idea behind webdesign, originally. But at a time when coding by hand became less popular many of these ideals were thrown out with the bathwater. If you want to be a decent webdesigner you will want your coding to be pure and the idea behind it to be easy to edit in the future. You’re actually helping yourself since you can edit details in design in one file and see the changes straight away.

3. Make sure your site validates

You need to check your HTML with a HTML validator since it will give you hints as to whether your coding obeys the rules set up by the World Wide Web Consortium. It will help you find errors that, if overlooked, could make your site look wrong in some browsers.

If you are running Windows, it can be quite difficult to know how a site appears in Konqueror under Linux or in Safari for Macs. You can test the Windows version of Safari but there might still be differences in appearance if you have an error in your coding. This brings me to the next point.

4. Check your site in several browsers

You need to have several different browsers. For Windows users Internet Explorer is usually available by standard, but you need Opera, Safari and Mozilla Firefox also to be sure your site is seen well in all browsers.

5. Use proper code for headings, subheadings etc

You need to use the right codes to separate headings from subheadings, and that is the main reason we operate with codes such as H1 (headings), H2 (subheadings), H3 (subheadings to subheadings) etc.

If you use that type of coding, you will put better emphasis on your content, and the strategy becomes readable by search engines also. When you define the appearance of your codes correctly in your external CSS file, everything becomes better styled.

6. Avoid bad color combinations

You want to have good contrast between backgrounds and content so your design is easy to read in browsers. When you use a dark grey text color with a light grey background things will be difficult to read. Just as yellow and black send signals of being somewhat “discount”. Red text color on a blue background will make text appear as though it’s jumping around.

You will no doubt appreciate checking out this site: http://www.colorschemer.com/online.html to get a better understanding of design colors.

7. Implement presentations with care – avoid Flash

I know some will be offended by this, but Flash requires a Flash player at the receiving end. You probably don’t want your customers to leave your site because they don’t want to install a plugin. You have other opportunities. If you need to show a video, upload it to YouTube, and link to it on your website. No need to use Flash, if you think creatively, and you avoid losing visitors who don’t want to install the Flash player plugin.

8. Implement banners and ads with care

Jumping banners all over the place will take away from your content. It will distract people, and you don’t want that to happen. Use banners with care and concern for your visitors. You will actually get more clicks by doing it in a professional way.

Furthermore, it’s very important that banners are relevant for the content on your page. When your site deals with dogs an ad for cat food is hardly the right thing – although some might have both a cat and a dog. It is something you should test to get your own best results. Niches are all different and what works well on one site might not work on another.

9. Get others to proofread your texts

When you write texts, make sure you remove spelling errors. It makes your site look less professional when it’s filled with lots of spelling errors. You might not see it yourself, but visitors get ticked off when they spot tons of mistakes.

Be professional and check your material. It makes it far more credible.

10. Use manual additions to indexes, and avoid automatic systems

When you have options to add your sites to search indexes, you should avoid automatic systems. It works far better when you add these places manually. Search engines can spot automatic additions due to timestamps, and it would be far more effective to write comments referring back to your site than ever relying upon automatic systems.

Concluding Words

If you use all 10 keys in your webdesign, you will see that you can create some very good sites using proper coding, and following all aspects of professional webdesign. If HTML and CSS is new to you, I would recommend you check out Sitepoint’s website because they have some very good books on this subject.

Good luck with your webdesign.

Henrik Blunck administers numerous blogs. He has lectured people about communication through distance learning, and enjoys social networks. “Mingling gives new ideas, and I like that. Even disagreements can teach us something new when we are willing to listen and learn from one another” he says.

Linux Mobile Powers the Vodafone 360 M1

By Simon Drew

The Vodafone 360 M1 is a Linux Mobile smart phone with amazing capabilities; this is the product of Samsung’s manufacturing and the Vodafone service. When three major industry giants with different specializations get together for a single device, you know it is going to be amazing. Still, the 360 M1 is the little brother of the even more powerful 360 H1 Linux Mobile smart phone. Frankly speaking, if the H1 is well within your budget, then you should get that phone instead.

The M1 on its own is an amazing mobile device. It does not have the highest rated specs available, but it has a very sound, functional and practical set of functions that you will be hard pressed to find another mobile phone that delivers this much functionality. The Linux mobile interface, 360 services and a whole host of other interesting features makes the M1 the practical smart phone for people on a budget.

The 360 Service at its Best

Vodafone is launching its 360 service for these two mobile phones. It’s a smart move considering how much functionality and connectivity the 360 is going to offer. First of all, the Vodafone 360 combines the information from your mobile device such as contact information, messages, and other relevant data with your online accounts in social networking sites (such as FaceBook) and contact information in messenger services (such as Yahoo! Messenger and Google Talk). With the 360 service you will be able to track message and conversation history, profile and status updates, share media such as video and even geo-tagged images. The 360 service will also hook up with your desktop PC or Mac to create a truly comprehensive connectivity experience.

360 M1 Specifications

As we said earlier, the Vodafone 360 M1 is a Lite version of the original Vodafone 360 H1, so if you are hungry for the original H1 specs, you will be disappointed with this model. Otherwise, the M1 presents users with an alternative device that provides some excellent functionality. The loss of the AMOLED touch screen and the reduction of screen size is probably the biggest change from the H1 to the M1.

The 360 M1 has a 3.2 inch touch screen display as compared to the original 3.5 AMOLED HD touch screen used for the 360 H1. We have yet to confirm if the 16GB internal storage has been reduced but we expect it to fall around 8GB; hopefully we will be delightfully mistaken and the M1 will be retaining all 16GB. Wi-Fi is not present and instead of having a 5 mega pixel camera, it has been reduced to 3.2 mega pixels. The source of the price drop is pretty obvious once you break down the different changes made.

The Overall Score

Is the 360 M1 a great mobile phone? With excellent features and the 360 service, it definitely is. The only problem the 360 M1 has is the fact that it is overshadowed by the giant of the phone that is the Vodafone 360 H1.

If the Vodafone 360 M1 takes your fancy, then you should check out Best Mobile Contracts who are the UK’s leading mobile phone price comparison website.

8 Best Search Platforms For Web and Graphics Designers
By James J. John

Do you ever find yourself stuck with creativity blockage? It may be interior designing, painting, creative writing, or any form of art. This is a common setback that all artists go through but if you are web designer then you do not need to worry about this blockage. Here are some of the handiest references to get the required inspiration from and overcome this hurdle easily. So grab the extra boost of creativity with these search platform. Yes, you heard it right (actually, read it right!). There are search engines meant especially for designers which provide them with every specific thing that you are looking for.

Icon Find

This is a engine that enables you to find icons. It is a platform with difference as it has several features in it such as ‘most popular’ feature. This feature helps you to surf through the popular icons and hence help you immensely. It has more than 50,000 high quality icons in formats such as PNG, ICO, and ICNS for operating systems such as Windows, Macintosh, and Linux Systems. Most of the icons here can be used freely for commercial purposes. However, there are few copyrighted icons too which belongs to the author and you need to pay for them in case you wish to use them commercially. This will definitely help your web design company to find best web 2.0 Icons.

Icon Look

This is similar to the previous icon searching search engine that is nicely designed. This has cool features such as link exchange, random icons, and popular icons. The search engine is in beta version but gives good performance. It is also a store house of numerous creative icons.

IconDB

This is quite useful but it can be a bit difficult to navigate for the new comers. It has a voluminous database and provides with best results for the search. No doubts, the interface of the search engine is nice but just seems to be over whelming initially. It has great list of icon collection for software developers and website designers.

Icons Search

This is another great icons searching search engine with several useful features. This not only provides the icons search but also has the guidelines for searching the exact icons that you are looking for and provides with relevant links to the designer. The relevant link listings is found in terms of emoticons, desktop, web and graphics and many more. Hence, it makes the work of finding icons very easy and comfortable for any designer. Icons for operating systems such as Windows Vista and XP, Macintosh, Linux, Desktop icons, Software icons, Website icons, and so can be found here in sizes from 16×16 to 256×256.

Very Icon

This is an invaluable tool for all designers as it has icon category and advanced search features. It has more than 20000 high quality web icons in more than 1000 icon packs. All the icons have numerous file formats such as PNG, ICO, and so on. All these can are generally free and easily downloadable for Windows, Macintosh, and Linux Systems.

FyFont

This is truly a cool and very useful search engine for finding fonts. The best part about this search engine is there is no need to type any specific word in the search box, simple upload the font sample that you have and it will identify the fonts.

FontHit

This is a very simple but an effective search engine for finding fonts. The search engine enables you to perform functionalities via a plugin framework. It can make you preview, install, uninstall, print in color, customize size and text of the font files.

Vectorials

This is another amazing search engine for when seeking for vector. It has a large database and numerous software categorized tutorials meant for the all the designers. It is the most excellent search engine for learning vector for any designer.

James john is keen to provide latest and handy information that can help designer to find resources at less effort. Author has vast experience in designing and have been working with web design India at leading position.