How To Get The Best PAYG Deal

How To Get The Best PAYG Deal
Contract mobile phones are definitely a convenience. You tend to get a free or heavily subsidized mobile phone, and you then get the comfort of never running out of credit and just receiving a monthly bill. However, there are downsides. That phone is not free of course, rather you'll be paying for it in monthly instalments on your phone bill, which over the two year contract can add up to a lot more than the actual cost of the phone. For many people, finding the best pay as you go tariff is the key to saving money on their mobiles. So how do you go about it? Read on to find out...
  • Find Out What You Need...
The key to a good PAYG tariff deal is to make sure that it matches your needs. Look at your old phone bills and find out how your phone activity is broken up, how much of the time do you spend calling, how many text messages do you send. This information will help you determine which kind of plan is best for you. If you're sending over 500 text messages a month, for example, it's probably a good idea to get a PAYG tariff that includes unlimited texting. Be warned, PAYG tariffs tend to work out as money savers only for those that plan to spend less than £25 a month. For users who regularly spend more, contract phones are still the best deal.
  • Decide What to Spend
Not being tied down to a contract means that you don't have to spend money on your phone each month. However, it's a good idea to have a budget for the month that accurately reflects what credit you'll need. This is because a lot of PAYG tariffs offer special deals for customers who top up every month. For example, putting ten pounds of credit on your phone each month will get you unlimited internet.
  • Decide Which Operator to Go With...
This decision should have two parts. First, find the operators who have plans that match your needs (they'll probably be more than one of them). Then ask around, ask your family and friends which operator they use. This is a good idea for a couple of reasons; firstly, because you'll get some recommendations, but also because many operators offer lower calling and texting prices to numbers in the same network. If you call your Mum every day, it might not be a bad idea to be on the same network as she is to get some savings for both of you.
  • Shop Around
This can take some serious time, but it's definitely worth doing. Just because you already know which network you want doesn't mean that you need to go straight to their store. There are many online sources (such as Carphone Warehouse) that offer special deals on hand sets bought with PAYG tariffs. It may be that you end up back at your mobile service operator, but it doesn't hurt to take a look around and find out what's out there.

Phil Turner is searching for the best pay as you go tariff available to him because he hardly uses his phone at all.

Pros And Cons Of AdAware Anti-Spyware Program

Pros And Cons Of AdAware Anti-Spyware ProgramOften when you surf the Internet going from site to site adware is installed on your computers. This happens when you download a free application or even give out your email. It is a marketing tool that is used for finding out what websites you go to so they can sell products or services to you. There is a debate over whether this is an ethical marketing tool as some consumers do not like these programs.

Pros of Adware Anti-Spyware Program
Adware Anti-Spyware Program is a program you install on your computer or laptop that helps you detect these adware and malware programs. When the program detects the adware it lets blocks or stop the popup ads or programs from functioning. This program scans downloaded files to check for threats. When you attach a USB to your computer the program will scan for malware and infections.

When a file is suspected of infection or malware it moves the file to a quarantined area or sandbox. This program will monitor the behavior of the file to see if it is infected. This program helps you shop and bank online more safely. When people use social networks it helps protect their identify and from virus attacks when using email or links. This program has a game mode that let's you play a video game or watch a movie without the software interrupting you with urgent updates. It scans most websites for url's that are dangerous or downloadable files that have malware or viruses. This sites are checked against a central database of sites that are known to be dangerous.

This central database is updated every five to twenty minutes preventing you from stumbling on phishing sites accidently. The program has free installation and setup assistance. You can call the company by phone and get up to 15 minutes of free advice on a problem you have. If you think your laptop or computer are infected the Lavasoft Network will try to diagnose and fix the problem. This program is for home use or professional offices. It has a fast antivirus program that goes with the Adware Anti-Spyware Program. It protects you from email threats like viruses and program that are sent as attachments through email. It keeps you protected against the latest viruses and worms as they develop. It stops infected files from downloading before they can infect your computer. On social networks it protects your passwords and personal information. If there are links on posting of social network it scans them to insure safety. It has an advanced two way firewall that protect your computer . This program has a file shredder that permanently deletes files with passwords and information you do not want to be found.

Cons of The Program
When tested against other more powerful programs Lavasoft was found to be an average program. It does not slow down your system while performing and does a fairly accurate job of identifying dangerous files and websites. When tested for protecting against malware it was not found to be as good as other program that it competes with.

Reference: http://anti-spyware-review.toptenreviews.com/ad-aware-se-pro-review.html 

+Katrina uses her technical knowledge to help people. At Rack Solutions. her passion for technology and wealth of knowledge have helped many people find the right solution in their unique situation.

5 Best Data Backup Programs For You And/Or Your Business

5 Best Data Backup Programs For You And/Or Your BusinessWhy Should I Back My Data Up?
It is safe to say that computers are one of the most important technical advancements to date. We use them for almost everything imaginable, storing large amounts of data in the form of pictures, videos, music, documents, and executables. Many would attest to the argument that their lives are contained within these intangible bytes of information. Now think about losing all that information; every memory, work file, memoir, and life's work lost. Hard to imagine right? Like life itself coming to an end. This is why data backup software exists. These programs ensure the safety of your files using various methods and tools including scheduled backups and system restore, which allows you to recover all data after a major malfunction without the hassle of reformatting the entire computer.

This article will describe the top 5 data backup programs that will help you keep your data safe.

NovaBACKUP Professional ($49.95)
NovaBACKUP is a top of the line data backup program that uses an automatic back up process to continuously keep all your valuable files safe. In addition, NovaBACKUP can handle more complex processes like creating a full disk image of your hard drive, a more complete backup solution. This program sports a user-friendly interface with advanced options for more tech-savvy users and provides a free online storage service.

NTI Backup Now ($29.99)
NTI Backup Now takes the backup and restoration process and simplifies it into 3 steps. This program is geared towards those who are not very tech-savvy, with a simple UI and process walk-throughs. Because of this, it lacks some advanced features. Like other solutions, NTI Backup Now provides scheduled backups as well as a choice between full or incremental backups.

DT Utilities PC Backup Pro ($49.99)
PC Backup Pro is one of the most reliable and cost-effective data protection solutions. The software has a simple interface suitable for all user levels. It is capable of backing up and recovering data to/from a variety of storage devices including CD/DVDs, online storage, tape and disk drives. The program also provides step-by-step instructions on how to perform backup and restoration procedures, disk-imaging recovery, and scheduled backups.

Macrium Reflect Professional 5 ($58.99)
Macrium Reflect provides a variety of advanced backup tools like scripting abilities, Macirum ReDeploy (restoring your data to a new computer), and image verification. This software also provides the basic tools like incremental and automatic backup. When using these options, Macrium uses a unique drag and drop UI that makes it attractive and easy to use.

Genie Backup Manager 9 Home ($49.95)
Genie Backup Manager uses three different backup types: full, incremental, and mirror. Like the other programs mentioned, it supports scheduled backups but is capable of backing up your data even when you are not logged in. A truly unique feature. This program can also keep your data safe from hackers through military level encryption methods.

Though computers are machines built to support you, they are unreliable at times. These data backup programs were created to ease your mind and provide security for your life's data.

Reference: www.novastor.com, www.nticorp.com, www.dtransfer.com, www.macrium.com, www.genie9.com 

+Katrina uses her technical knowledge to help people. At Rack Solutions. her passion for technology and wealth of knowledge have helped many people find the right solution in their unique situation.

Reasons Why The Internet Is Essential For Freelancers

Reasons Why The Internet Is Essential For FreelancersIf you are a freelancer then you have probably heard more than once that you need to establish yourself online if you want to succeed. If you haven’t ever thought about what the internet can really provide you with then here are some of the biggest reasons why you need to go online as a freelancer.

Increase Your Customer Base

Of course the internet will open up many new doors to attract more clients. You can be instantly connected to people across the world and thus you can think about growing your business a lot quicker online. Many freelancers don’t need to be in the same physical location as their customers and thus you can really benefit from being on the internet.

Market In More Affordable Ways

The internet is also great in providing freelancers with the same opportunities to market their business as the big companies have. For example, with the proper use of SEO on your website and social media platforms you will be able to increase the exposure you get without spending a fortune. If you only had to market through the conventional means like TV ads and newspaper ads you could probably not afford it. But on the internet even running video ads and promotional videos on platforms like Youtube is possible and really affordable.

Improve Your Skills

In order to attract more customers you need to be constantly developing your skills and the internet is an amazing place for making sure you have the knowledge you need. There are so many more opportunities to learn about your industry online and it is important to take advantage of these opportunities. Odesk provides a comprehensive list of the best websites that freelancers can use to improve their skillset and make the most out of the internet. You may notice that many of the options available are either free or very affordable and you would often end up paying a lot of money if you had to take these courses offline. You can also attend seminars online and thus don’t need to travel around the world in order to get the right skills. Make sure you stay on top of your field by going online and making use of the opportunities available.

Get Help To Run Your Business

Being a freelancer isn’t easy and there are a lot of things that you need to learn to juggle at once on your own. But the great benefit of the current technology is that you have many more opportunities to ease your workload.

For example, companies providing online accountancy are really affordable and can give freelancers a lot more time to focus on the more essential parts of the business. Friendly Accountants suggests that getting help with your finances can be a really cost effective way of improving your business prospects. There are also many great tools that make the above points of marketing and attracting customers online a lot easier. It is a good idea to browse through these tools and find out what are the ones that work the best with you.

Marlene is enthusiastic in making sure freelancers are making the most of the internet and the technology available for them and she is constantly reading about new developments in the business field. She is a big ice-cream fan and could eat mint ice-cream all day long if her husband would allow it.

Freelancing: An Online Profession

Working for yourself is something so many people dream about and perhaps the best way to do this is by being a freelancer. Freelancers make money from doing something they love, in essence they make money from a hobby. Sound good to you? It sure sounds good to me (hence why I do this job). There is nothing better than waking up on a new day and making the money you need to live by doing something that you enjoy.

We live in the internet age and the internet is starting to dominate the freelancing profession, there are so many different platforms online and they are the best place for any freelancer to get noticed. If you are a freelancer or a budding freelancer it is so important to have an online presence, so many potential employers look to the internet to find the experts they need. If you are any good and you can present your profile in an engaging way then there is a really good chance you will get the client base you need for long term success.

Platforms

There are so many different online platforms available now for freelancers to showcase what they can do. We live in the internet age as I have mentioned previously and it is therefore essential that freelancers make use of the World Wide Web. It is by far and away the simplest way for an online expert to get what they can offer across to potential employers in the quickest time possible.

Take a look at Enthuse, they are a company that offer freelancers a blank canvas online from which they can upload their portfolio. The greatest benefit of this is the freedom to upload whatever you like, whether you are going to upload everything you have ever done or just a small selection (something I think is best) the option is there. Just do a little bit of research and ensure that you are willing to spend some time checking out what they best companies are.

Efficient

They are extremely efficient, like anything to do with the internet. You can upload your documents and files online with the greatest of ease, make sure that there are no problems with spelling and grammar and ensure also that if there is any video it is editing in a professional manner.

Cheap

Going about your freelancing career in this manner is extremely cheap, these platforms cost very little or nothing to set up and thus any money you make can be yours. If you are a credible freelance worker then uploading a strong portfolio on these websites really can help you get noticed. Building a strong client base is essential and if you can do that then the chance of building up further is there. We live in a world that is dominated with poor freelance workers, it is an unreliable industry and if you can showcase yourself as the opposite to that then you can be in for a potentially lucrative career.

Tom is a writer who loves to write about the technological developments that have occurred in recent years. He initially began working as a journalist for a local newspaper however soon started working freelance.

How Technology Improves The Patient Experience


How Technology Improves The Patient Experience
Healthcare delivery is practically unrecognizable when compared to its former self from a few decades ago. Today, technology is making it possible to deliver healthcare services even when the provider isn’t in the same zip code with the patient. Today’s patients can also provide more of their own care from the comfort of their own homes, handling treatments and performing tests that at one time required an inpatient hospital stay. There’s no question that technology is making a big impact on the patient experience in a positive way.

No more waiting in lines
The ability to provide healthcare consultations remotely is a major benefit for elderly and disabled patients who struggle getting to a physical office location. For this reason, technology is essentially improving compliance – while some patients would have skipped visits and therefore missed life-sustaining treatments and medications, they’re now more likely to receive the consistent monitoring required to adequately manage a chronic or life-threatening condition.

It’s not just the elderly and disabled that benefit from technology, however. Even patients who simply need a prescription for an antibiotic have avoided making an appointment with a provider, knowing that they’re giving up an entire day of valuable time thanks to a long wait to see their providers.

Now patients can simply email some healthcare providers, explain their symptoms and have a prescription electronically submitted to their preferred pharmacy – no driving to the physical office necessary to pick up a written prescription. Even better, those same patients could go as far as having the prescription delivered by the pharmacy to the front door. Technology has finally entered an era where nearly the entire sequence of events involved with a single healthcare interaction can be conducted without a physical office visit.

Increased compliance
All of the above means that patients now have the ability to be more compliant, with fewer reasons to skip medications or avoid proper monitoring for a chronic condition. Many patients cope with chronic illnesses and fail to take their medication as prescribed simply because it’s too difficult to get to the doctor’s office. When office visits aren’t regular, providers can miss out on important signs that indicate that a patient is no longer responding to a specific treatment or requires a higher or modified dose of a medication.

There are many things that could go wrong when patients take their healthcare into their own hands. Some go so far as to adjust medication dosages on their own to compensate for increased symptoms or to make a prescription last longer – avoiding more office visits and costly co-pays. But when patients can simply email a provider a status report including vital signs and other test results and readings obtained at home, they can often make informed decisions that are in the patient’s best interests – completely virtually.

Less costly hospital stays
When patients are more compliant and more conscientious about following physicians’ recommendations, they experience fewer complications – and that means less costly hospital stays due to infections left untreated or necessary medications that haven’t been taken properly.

But technology also reduces costly hospital admissions in another way. With sophisticated technology available for medical devices that makes controlling the complex underlying processes of the device using simple, intuitive controls, patients are now able to do themselves at home what once required an office visit or even an inpatient hospital stay. This type of technology, such as Pannam imaging switches, creates a simple user interface that patients can readily learn and use to ensure accurate delivery of treatments and tests – even without the presence of a medical practitioner.

There are still some treatments that require in-person coordination and care, because of the possibility of serious side effects and the need of a trained professional to closely monitor the administration or treatment, but there are more and more treatments and tests that can be conducted entirely by the patient or caregiver at home every day. Technology is a critical component of healthcare delivery. With new advancements every day, healthcare in the future could be even more remote and independent than ever imagined.

Nicole Enwright contributes, on behalf of Pannam, to a variety of tech and new gadget blogs to help users find the product they need.

Three Top Tips For Protecting Your Smartphone From Damage On Holiday

Three Top Tips For Protecting Your Smartphone From Damage On HolidayMost of us love our technology and spend lots of money on our favourite gadgets. Despite the fact that smart phones only hit the mainstream a few years ago, many people can no longer imagine life without them. The thought of not having permanent internet access and constant contact with friends on social media is unthinkable to so many people.

As we struggle to imagine life without our smartphones, many of us can’t even have a holiday without our favourite gadget. Nowadays, we see people on the beach and by the pool with their phones out. Smartphones aren’t cheap, therefore keeping them in good condition is important. Water damage can completely destroy a phone, so when on holiday, it is important to exercise some caution.

Be careful of the temperature
Smartphones feel the hot and cold and can be affected by extremes in temperature. When overheated or freezing, your phone’s battery and display is affected. Some phones even break completely when subjected to extreme temperatures. The best way to protect your phone from the elements is to ensure that you keep it in the shade when in hot temperatures. If your phone has become overheated, put it in a shaded area to cool naturally. Putting your phone in the fridge is not recommended.

If you take your phone on skiing holidays where conditions are freezing, be sure to keep your phone within an inner pocked where it can benefit from your body heat. Once again, allow your phone to return to its normal temperature at a natural pace, don’t try warming it up quickly with a hairdryer or other warm appliance.

Buy a completely waterproof cover
If you’re planning to take your smartphone to the beach, you’re subjecting it to a whole host of risks. Sand and water can both cause irreparable damage to a smartphone. The problem with sand and water is that these substances get everywhere. Simply having your phone in your bag can be a problem as it is all too easy for sand and water to get inside.

Luckily for technology loving holiday goers, a number of companies have developed completely waterproof cases for smartphones. Some cases are completely waterproof, featuring a ziplock feature and buoyancy aids which enable your trusty phone to rise to the surface rather than sinking. Many of these cases have such advanced technology that your device can be completely submerged, allowing you to take amazing underwater photographs of your holiday.

Purchase a waterproof sheath
 If you don’t want to splash out on a case which is 100% waterproof, you could opt for cheaper waterproof cover. These thermoplastic sheets wrap around your phone and protect all of your phone’s ports, preventing sand, dust and water droplets from damaging your phone. Of course, these sheaths don’t allow you to use your phone as an underwater camera, but it does provide you with additional protection whilst at the beach or at the poolside, assuring you that your all important smart phone won’t get damaged.


Loud-Mouthed Megaphones And The People Who Use Them

Loud-Mouthed Megaphones And The People Who Use ThemJust when you thought that powerful megaphones were only being used as crowd control during times of emergency comes the news that Ryan Seacrest used such a megaphone to exhort 10,000 aspiring American Idols to sing in a huge arena. Ryan Seacrest is not alone – Cyndi Lauper and Kristie Alley have also used such megaphones to good effect.

So, why do celebrities use megaphones? This is probably the shortest and simplest answer you will ever get to such a complex question – because they don’t want to blow their dollars on expensive sound systems.

What’s The Big Deal About Such Powerful Announcement Devices?
Powerful bullhorns are lifesavers. They are reliable to work with and affordable as well. They come equipped with a robust warranty and can achieve a return on investment in double quick time. That is why they are used in a variety of institutions such as:
  1. U.S. Army – by commanding officers to instruct and control troops that are spread across a rather large area.
  2. U.S. Marines and navy – their applications are similar to the U.S. Army’s.
  3. NASA – nope, NASA does not use bullhorns on the moon or Mars! But they do use such devices during rocket launches and other events that require coordination across a vast expanse of land.
  4. Churches use powerful megaphones to address large crowds, especially at fundraising events.
  5. Dictatorial movie directors who love the sound of their own voice can also use them.
Some megaphone companies manufacture ultra loud devices for crowd control applications, which are fondly referred to as “earthquake makers.” These beauties can clear entire streets and smash window glasses in minutes. My advice to you is not to go near one when it is being used. If you are using one, use it with care and sensitivity.

What Are The Key Features Of Loud-Mouthed Bullhorns?
  • These devices amplify sound like no other. Don’t believe me? Stand next to one while an announcement is being made and watch how you go stone-deaf in seconds! Or, at least suffer from tinnitus.
  • But you may be spared of deafness if the announcer saw you and toned down the volume control, which manufacturers graciously build into each device.
  • These devices are tough. You can treat them real rough and they will take it with a smile. Go ahead: your persistent screaming into them won’t matter.
  • Powerful bullhorns at the minimum power rating can throw the voice to about 700 yards. As the power ratings inch higher, so does the amplification area.
To Sum Up
When ancient man conceptualized bullhorns, the idea was to make music and perhaps to make the device work as a Paleolithic long distance telephone. Then population increased and the ancient device was deployed to warn people about impending danger. (Dinosaurs ahoy!) One thing led to another, and you already are familiar with what these devices are capable of these days. Technology will continue to keep changing the way these work and who knows, one day we may be working with mega-powerful megaphones that are no more than 12 inches in length.

Robert R. Thomas lives in Marlin, TX, with his family. He is a blogger, entrepreneur and a gadget enthusiast.

5 Steps To Marketing Your Law Blog

5 Steps To Marketing Your Law Blog Even if you are not an ardent internet user, you don’t have to be told that blogging is one of the most effective ways to market your law firm today. You may not enjoy blogging as much as some others do, but it is absolutely necessary for you to ensure that you have an active blog if you want to get your firm’s name out there.

A common mistake made by legal professionals is underestimating the whole blogging process. Here are a few tips on how to effectively develop and market your blog:

Decide your approach:
Before you start your law blog, you should decide on what type of approach you’d like to use for your blog. Do you want to write about law in general or would you prefer to write about a specific area of law? If you are a law firm specializing in a particular field of law, then you should concentrate your efforts in providing information in this field. This will establish you as a professional in this area and you will attract a specific niche of readers interested in this area of law.

Professional or do it yourself
Your next task is to determine if you would like to hire a professional to provide you with articles for your law blog or you’d prefer to write the articles yourself. Hiring a professional will mean that you get professionally done articles at regular intervals. Your blog will therefore have fresh content every so often. Writing the articles yourself will mean that you can share your own personal experiences and therefore give the blog an even more personal touch. You can also opt to combine the two. Have some articles done professionally and provide some of your own personal articles for the blog. You’ll therefore always have fresh information on your blog and keep your readers hooked.

Linking your blog:
Link your blog to your law firm’s website and other social networking accounts. Ensure that updates are provided on these accounts whenever you post new information on your blog. Ask your friends and family to connect to your social networking accounts so that they can get updates as well. You can also request them to share any interesting information from your blog on their social networks. This is a great way to get your law firm’s name out there.

Submitting to directories:
Submit your blog to a blog directory. There are countless directories to which you can submit your blog and get it out there. It is best to submit the blog to a law specific directory such as blawg.com. However, even general directories have law specific categories that your blog will be placed under. Simply ensure that you submit to popular directories that have high ratings with internet users.

Connecting with other bloggers:
Connect with other law bloggers and comment on their blogs. This is a great way to get recognition as an expert. Be sure to include a link to your blog in your signature. Those reading your comments may be curious to find out more about you and your law firm and follow the links that you provide. Marketing your blog is equal to marketing your firm. Invest the resources required to get the best out of blogging.

Melissa Trowbridge is marekting professional from Atlanta, Georgia. She specializes in promotions for law firms and legal services companies.