30th January 2012

Data storage, why is it so important?

It’s unlikely that you have your own power station at home and you probably keep your money in a bank, not stuffed inside your mattress. But you almost certainly keep your important digital files, such as documents, photos, music and videos, on a hard drive in your house. Many people are well organised and decide to backup all that data, but you probably keep your backups on another hard drive somewhere in your house. In the event of a catastrophe of one sort or another burglary, or a flood for example, you could lose both copies of your data.

There are many external sources that will allow you to back up your data, for example BT Digital Vault online file and photo storage lets you safely store important or large files like photos or videos without the need for expensive hard drives or disks, and can be accessed from any computer. Windows Live SkyDrive offers 25GB of free online storage. Your stuff is stored in the cloud which means you can access it from any web-enabled PC. There are many others and it is well worth considering getting external data storage.

+ Desktop Computers, General Information, Internet, Laptops

28th January 2012

Samsung Galaxy Nexus Review

The Samsung Galaxy Nexus is an ideal choice for those looking for a high-spec Android phone that offers a sleek design and all the latest in smartphone technology.  One of the phone’s most prominent features is its 4.5 inch super AMOLED screen, which enables users to watch HD videos directly on the phone.

The Samsung Galaxy Nexus is perfect for those looking for a phone that is user-friendly and suitable for multi-tasking.  Running on Android 4.0 Ice cream Sandwich, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus enables faster web-browsing as well as instant access to Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.  Users also have access to features such as a media player, music player and a 5 megapixel camera with LED flash and autofocus.  The phone also features a video recorder, which enables users to record high-definition videos.

For those looking for a phone that offers plenty of unique features, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus is a great choice.  The phone includes a face unlocking feature, which enables users to unlock their phones using their own face and there is also a voice recognition feature which can be used for text messages and security purposes.

The Samsung Galaxy Nexus offers plenty of widgets, which can easily be organised on the phone’s home screen, and users can also install a variety of applications and games.  The phone also includes multi-touch controls to provide a more user-friendly handset.  Users are also provided with plenty of notification features, including a notification light, when messages or other alerts are received.

There are a wide range of comparison sites that provide users with a detailed Samsung Galaxy Nexus review as well as information on all the latest deals for the handset.  Exploring the many review sites and price comparison sites will enable you to find a deal that suits your requirements.

+ Android OS, Mobile Phones, Samsung

26th January 2012

New data protection proposed

A new law promising internet users the “right to be forgotten” will be proposed by the European Commission on Wednesday. It says people will be able to ask for data about them to be deleted and firms will have to comply unless there are “legitimate” grounds to retain it. The move is part of a wide-ranging overhaul of the commission’s 1995 Data Protection Directive.

A spokesman for the commissioner clarified that the action was designed to help teenagers and young adults manage their online reputations. It would seem that the new rules are particularly aimed at young people as they are not always as aware as they could be about the consequence of putting photos and other information on social network websites, or about the various privacy settings available. However, not everyone is happy at the new proposals and some tech firms have expressed concern about the reach of the new bill.

+ General Information, Internet

16th January 2012

What to Expect From a WordPress Hosting Company

There are so many WordPress hosting companies in the world today that is often very bewildering for the user to know how to select the best company for their purposes.

The Manchester based WordPress hosting company, 34SP.com, in common with most independent industry analysts, suggests that the novice looks at online user forums and, importantly, makes sure that the technical support offered by the web hosting company is 24/7 and 365 days a year.  It is no use to have a blog or website running and if there is no-one to turn to when something goes wrong.  Another avenue to explore, either for recommendation or general comment, is the host company’s Twitter site.

A company that is confident in its ability to deliver what is promised should offer a trial period so that the new customer can see for themselves that the service provided is what was promised.  The Search Engine, Google, offers a huge array of comment on web and WordPress hosting and some short term research may help the novice come to the right decision about what will suit them best.

Most WordPress host companies will be able to look after both blogs and websites and it is vital to ask your chosen host supplier any niggling questions at the outset.  Most responsible companies do offer technical telephone support.

WordPress has made online communication so easy that anyone who wishes to can take part in this publishing phenomenon.

+ General Information, Internet

15th January 2012

New IT Curriculum for schools on the way

The Royal Society has suggested ways the government can overhaul information and communications technology (ICT) teaching in schools. It follows promises from Education Secretary Michael Gove to scrap the way the subject is taught currently. If you remember the IT lessons that we had at school, they were around forty of our and the teachers time wasted when he or she spent the time reading off a sheet in a bid to help us ‘learn’ how to use a spreadsheet or word document.

For most of us we went home and hijacked mum or dad’s computer surfing what was the ‘world wide web’. In short, the IT or information and communications technology (ICT) curriculum, as it called today, was not considered a proper subject by either the teacher or pupils. This is why it is also brilliant to hear that Education Secretary Michael Gove will be working with the technology industry and universities to create the next generation ‘open source’ IT school curriculum.

+ Education

7th January 2012

New Sony Ericsson Mobile Phones

Sony Ericsson is known to manufacture some of the most functional mobile phones on the market today. With more than half of the population in the UK owning a mobile phone, many are making the switch to Sony Ericsson because of the wide product selection, great deals and reliable mobile devices. Sony Ericsson already has many loyal customers, and just a few months ago, the company announced the release of two new feature phones. Feature phones are not the same as smartphones, but they are not a basic mobile phone either. The Mix Walkman and the Txt Pro are the two new Sony Ericsson mobile phones. These devices do so much more than just make basic phone calls. They may not have all of the fancy features that are found in the smartphone market, but they do offer some fantastic elements that are exclusive to Sony Ericsson. The Mix Walkman was designed with music very much in mind, allowing users to have access to a media player, song IS, music ringtones, a track download service and stereo Bluetooth. Many users enjoy having the capability to store hundreds of quality MP3s on their phone and to be able to listen to the songs at any time. In addition, the phone offers email access and instant messaging, USB syncing, a 3.2 megapixel camera and a 3-inch touch screen. The Txt Pro is just as it sounds and has been specially designed for those who text on a regular basis. With a slide-out keyboard, messaging has never been easier. This feature phone also features a media player, MicroSD slot, personal organiser, PC modem support and integrated Twitter and Facebook applications.

+ Mobile Phones, Sony Ericsson

4th January 2012

Record Apps download in December

A staggering figure of more than a billion apps have been downloaded for the first time in a single week, this according to analytics firm Flurry who said 1.2 billion apps were downloaded in the last week of December. No doubt the numbers were influenced by many users who received new devices for Christmas and firms offered discounted apps over the holiday period. The US was responsible for nearly half of the figures accounting for 509 million, followed by China with 99 million.

The UK alone was responsible for 81 million which easily surpassed Canada with 41 million, Germany and France who each downloaded 40 million. Looking forward to 2012, Flurry expects breaking the one billion download barrier per week will become more commonplace. Unsurprisingly, Christmas proved a boom time for device makers. Flurry estimated that nearly seven million Android devices and iPhone were activated on Christmas Day. Apple does not disclose such figures but Google confirmed that more than 3.7 million Android devices were activated over the Christmas weekend.

+ Gaming, iPad, iPhone, Mobile Phones

2nd January 2012

Samsung risks following Sony and IBM’s slide

It’s an old saying, but nonetheless often true, that a company cannot stand still, it will go one way or the other; could this be happening to Korean Giant Samsung? The South Korean firm could soon enter a sunset scenario that would see it follow other downturns. Just as the Roman and British empires rose and fell, technology companies too face inevitable phases of evolution and devolution. The rule applies to the likes of Sony, IBM and yes, even Samsung.

Sony, much like Samsung, initially entered the US market with relatively low-priced products such as its TR-72 transistor radio in the 1960s. The Japanese firm followed up its success with a series of blockbuster game-changing products: the Sony Walkman in 1979; the CD music format in 1982, in conjunction with Philips; and the DVD in 1995, to name just a few. Like Samsung televisions today, Sony TVs and electronics in the 1980s were heralded as the industry’s best and most cutting edge. But like IBM, Sony’s peak period was soon followed by a rapid sunset that began the following decade. Could this be happening to Samsung as well?

+ General Information, Samsung

27th December 2011

Top of the Christmas list

The iPhone 4S, which was released in October, made up a quarter of all handset sales in the four weeks before December 9, according to market research firm GfK, closely followed by Samsung’s Galaxy SII which was the second-best selling phone in the week up to December 9th.

However, a big disappointment for  Nokia’s new Lumia handset which got off to a poor start, failing to make the top 10 handsets in the four weeks of the survey period. The Lumia, which runs Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 operating system, was released in Britain on November 16. The iPhone 4S is a more powerful version of its predecessor, with an improved camera and a new voice control system called Siri. Last week, there was speculation that Google was working on its own voice control software to be released as part of its Android mobile operating system.

Not such good news for RIM, the Canadian company that makes BlackBerry handsets, it has had a bad year but there was at least some comfort in the GfK data. Sales of BlackBerry handsets increased during the period of the survey, with three variants of the BlackBerry Curve in the top 10.

+ Gadgets, General Information, Mobile Phones

24th December 2011

Top Sony Ericsson Mobile Phone

Sony Ericsson has been developing some of the best mobile phones in the industry for years.  With the recent technological developments, Sony Ericsson mobile phones now offer enhances features that can only be found on Android phones.  One of the best selling phones from this company is the Sony Ericsson Arc S.

The phone offers a unique curved style for comfort and style.  Sporting a bright 4.2 inch screen, the phone offers a large viewing area perfect for running various Android apps.  The phone also includes an 8 MP camera.  The smartphone also offers GPS and Wi-Fi capabilities.

Users will enjoy a fast processing speed and various internet functions.  Perfect for social media, users will find it fast and easy to send off emails and messages.  With an easy to understand menu system, the phone is easy to use.

Sony Ericsson mobile phones have been top choices since their introduction and as Android takes over the market, Sony continues to introduce enhances phones with amazing capabilities.

+ Mobile Phones, Sony Ericsson