360-Days Blog

Palm: 100,000 Pre Units Shipped So Far, Analyst Says

2009-06-13T11:20:00.001-07:00

Palm (PALM) has shipped 100,000 Pre smart phones so far, according to to an estimate by J.P. Morgan analyst Paul Coster.

Coster contends the company sold just over 50,000 units in the first two days. He estimates that the average Sprint (S) store received about 40 units, with 2-5 at the average Radio Shack (RSH) store and 2-4 at the typical Best Buy (BBY). Coster says that about 50,000 more units have shipped since the weekend, with Sprint stores getting about 10-15 units every 2 days. He says Radio Shack inventory has been replenished once, but that Best Buy so far appears not to have received additional phones, a conclusion he concedes is “based on very limited” sampling.

Coster says most of the Sprint stores he checked with are selling phones to customers on a waiting list, with only a few selling units to walk-in customers.

“Though we came away with a generally favorable impression of the sell-in momentum that Palm is currently experiencing, we also detected a lot of uncertainty,” Coster writes. “Sprint stores are being drip-fed devices without much certainty or uniformity regarding timing and quantity.”

Coster’s advice to people who want to buy the phone is to head for the local Radio Shack; he says the stores “seem to have been neglected by eager early adopters.”

Palm today is up 13 cents, or 1%, to $13.56.

Source
http://blogs.barrons.com/techtraderdaily/2009/06/12/palm-100000-pre-units-shipped-so-far-analyst-says/

China take steps to deal with SMS spam messages

2009-06-13T11:19:00.000-07:00

BEIJING (Reuters) - China will limit the number of messages that a mobile number can send per day to battle rampant spam messages clogging cell phones, state media said on Friday.

Spam messages, largely consisting of real estate offers, ads for English lessons, fake tax receipts and other frauds have grown very quickly in China in recent years. It is not unusual to receive dozens of messages a day, including the odd gun ad.

China's three main mobile network operators, China Telecom, China Mobile Ltd and China Unicom have signed onto an agreement to deal with inter-network spam messages, the Xinhua News Agency said, citing company officials.

One mobile number cannot send more than 200 messages per hour or 1,000 per day on weekdays, according to the agreement.

On holidays, 500 messages per hour and 2,000 per day may originate from one number.

(Reporting by Yu Le and Lucy Hornby; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani)

Source
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE55B1RU20090612

Wolfram Alpha Rekindles Campus Math Tool Debate

2009-06-13T11:18:00.001-07:00

"The goal of WolframAlpha is to bring high-level mathematics to the masses, by letting users type in problems in plain English and delivering instant results. As a result, some professors say the service poses tough questions for their classroom policies. 'I think this is going to reignite a math war,' said Maria H. Andersen, a mathematics instructor at Muskegon Community College, referring to past debates over the role of graphing calculators in math education. 'Given that there are still pockets of instructors and departments in the US where graphing calculators are still not allowed, some instructors will likely react with resistance (i.e. we still don't change anything) or possibly even with the charge that using WA is cheating.'"

Source
http://science.slashdot.org/story/09/06/12/2058215/Wolfram-Alpha-Rekindles-Campus-Math-Tool-Debate

Apple shipping Snow Leopard in September, $29 upgrade

2009-06-09T03:43:00.000-07:00

After showing off Mac OS X 10.6 "Snow Leopard" at last year's WWDC, Apple is finally ready to ship it out the door this coming September, for a quite reasonable upgrade fee of $29 for Leopard users (as opposed to the regular $129 for larger refreshes). Folks who buy a Leopard machine between now and December can get the upgrade for $10 in shipping. While the added feature list is relatively slim, and there are few surprises between what was confirmed last year and the various leaks from developer previews, Apple's still giving users and developers some fun new tech to play with -- particularly the GPU-exploiting OpenCL, and the Grand Central Dispatch tech for developers to ease application optimization for multi-core processors. Pretty nerdy stuff, but if it makes our Dashboard Sudoku Widgets run faster, we can hardly complain. Other updates to the OS Apple is trotting out at WWDC:

* Apple rewrote the Finder, while keeping it mostly the same on the surface, for a bunch of "little benefits." Tweaks include faster Quick Look previews and Spotlight searches.
* There's built-in Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 support in the OS, including Mail, Calendar and Address Book syncing.
* QuickTime X has a new "modern foundation," HTTP streaming and a whole new look. Users can record and trim video, and upload to sharing sites like MobileMe and YouTube.
* Snow Leopard has half the footprint of Leopard, amounting to 6GB in savings and 45% faster installs.
* New trackpads can handle handwriting recognition now, and there's new text selection "AI." There's also support for wireless Braille accessories (pictured).
* Safari 4 is available for Windows, Leopard and Tiger, but Snow Leopard adds "Crash Resistance," which keeps browser and tabs intact even if a plugin crashes -- user just refreshes the page. 64-bit version does JavaScript 50% faster.
* All core apps are 64-bit, and performance improvements abound. Mail boasts 85% faster message loads and 90% faster loads, while Time Machine has a 50% faster initial backup time.

Update: More Snow Leopard additions and refinements are detailed here. Highlights we've spotted so far include Text Expander-style capabilities in Text Edit and Mail, and three finger and four finger multitouch gesture support for older (pre unibody) MacBooks! [Thanks, Jakob]
Source
http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/08/apple-shipping-snow-leopard-in-september-29-upgrade/

Accommodation in Koh Samui and Koh Samui property

2009-06-08T06:34:00.000-07:00

Koh Samui island in Surat Thani is situated in the ever beautiful and gorgeous country Thailand. Ko Samui also known as Koh Samui is gifted with white sandy beaches, beautiful never-ending waters, coconut trees, coral reefs and beautiful natural resources. All this has made Ko Samui a major tourist attraction and the visitors consider it a must visit spot if you plan a holiday with your family. The pleasure of watching the sunrise and sunset, blue waters disappearing in the long lost horizon, enjoying a sun bath on the sandy beaches, a pleasurable body massage on the sea side etc. is quite inexplicable and you can enjoy an unforgettable holiday with your family. Perhaps this is the reason why holiday lovers keep flocking the Ko Samui islands throughout the year.

The island and its people are quite hospitable and so Samui accommodations can be availed very easily. You don't have to wander with all your bags and luggage and your family in order to find a suitable accommodation. Koh Samui accommodation is available at different beaches as well. With the presence of hotels, villas, guest houses and resorts including the very luxurious ones to the low budget ones, Samui accommodation is never a problem. If you want to enjoy each and every moment of your holiday, you can hire a sea side hotel so that you can enjoy the picturesque view of the sea whenever you wish to. Online booking for the Koh Samui accommodation is the most convenient and recommended way so that you just don't waste even a single moment looking for hotels. holiday rental accommodation with attractive packages is also available in Koh Samui and it is affordable as well.

If you think of acquiring a property in Koh Samui, it is not at all a bad idea. To your great surprise, many Samui property holders are the visitors who like the place so much that they keep coming here every vacation. Isn't it so fascinating? People visit this place and some of them find it so beautiful and marvelous that they end up buying their own property in Koh Samui with the wish to keep visiting the island for the rest of their lives. You never know, you also like the place so much that you acquire a Samui property on one such trip.

Source
http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=1666942

China to require site-blocking software on PCs

2009-06-08T06:33:00.000-07:00

BEIJING (Reuters) - The Chinese government has required that personal computer makers bundle a software that filters Internet content from July 1, according to a Ministry of Industry and Information Technology document seen by Reuters.

The free "Green Dam-Youth Escort" software, developed by Jinhui Computer System Engineering Co, can effectively filter "unhealthy words and images," the document said.

The requirement is "in order to consolidate the achievements of the online campaign against pornography, combine punishment and prevention, protect the healthy growth of young people, and promote the Internet's healthy and orderly development," it said.

China already has a system to block websites deemed objectionable. Internet police monitor sites, blogs and other online venues for pornographic or politically sensitive content.

"Summer vacation is coming up, and many Chinese parents worry about what their children will see on the Internet. That's the purpose of the software," Jinhui founder Bryan Zhang said.

"Even if you wanted to use it for, say, political content, you couldn't, because it's image distinction software that tracks pornographic images," Zhang told Reuters.

PC makers must report the number of computer units sold and software packages installed to the ministry on a monthly basis in 2009, and yearly starting in February 2010, the circular says.

"Using the software is not compulsory. You can shut it down or take it out if you want to. With a password, you can turn it off at any time," Zhang said.

"It's an optional tool to prevent access to pornography, just like anti-pornography software in the United States."

The Wall Street Journal first reported the news on Monday.

CONCERN

Homegrown brands like Lenovo and Founder dominate China's market, though global names such as HP, Dell and Acer have significant market share.

It is one of the world's fastest-growing PC markets, with research firm Gartner forecasting total PC shipments will climb by about 3 percent this year to more than 42 million units.

Acer said it was not aware of the new requirement, while rival Taiwanese maker Asustek said it was but had not yet been officially informed by the Chinese government.

"Along with the rest of the industry ... we are studying it and working with relevant government and other parties to seek clarifications," said Dell spokeswoman Faith Brewitt.

Source
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE5570DF20090608?feedType=RSS&feedName=technologyNews

Conference call

2009-06-04T05:07:00.000-07:00

A conference call is a telephone call in which the calling party wishes to have more than one called party listen in to the audio portion of the call. The conference calls may be designed to allow the called party to participate during the call, or the call may be set up so that the called party merely listens into the call and cannot speak. It is often referred to as an ATC (Audio Tele-Conference).

Conference calls can be designed so that the calling party calls the other participants and adds them to the call. In most cases, the participants are able call into the conference call themselves, by dialing into a special telephone number that connects to a "conference bridge" (a specialized type of equipment that links telephone lines).

Usually, most companies use a specialized service provider who maintains the conference bridge, or who provides the phone numbers and PIN codes that participants dial to access the meeting or conference call.

Three-way calling is available (usually at an extra charge) for most customers on their home or office phone line. To three way call, the first person one wishes to talk to is dialed. Then the Hook flash button is pressed and the other person's phone number is dialed. While it is ringing, flash is pressed again. This will put the three people together. This option allows callers to add a second outgoing call to an already connected call.

Source
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conference_calls

Microsoft to use a new term for netbook

2009-06-04T04:42:00.001-07:00

Microsoft plans to redefine mini-notebooks that Intel has categorized as netbooks with a new term – low cost small notebook PC, according to Steven Guggenheimer, corporate vice president, Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Division, Microsoft.

Guggenheimer pointed out on June 2 in Taipei during Computex 2009 that since some of the mini-notebooks already feature capabilities more than just purely Internet browsing – which is the main purpose of the netbook – therefore the term netbook should be abandoned.

Some market watchers speculated that the renaming strategy will help Microsoft separate the mini-notebooks with regular notebook capabilities from netbooks, so that it can reduce the number of its low-end Windows shipments.

The new definition will require mid-range to high-end mini-notebooks, which may fall into the netbook category because of their size, to adopt higher-end versions of Windows 7, added the market watchers.

Microsoft declined to comment on the speculation, saying Guggenheimer would provide more details of the strategy while delivering a keynote speech at the company's Computex forum on June 3.

Microsoft has recently decided to lift the restriction on Windows 7 Starter Edition being able to run only three concurrent applications on a PC at a time, and it has also decided to

Source
http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20090602PD221.html

Sony PSP Go announced -- $249, no UMD

2009-06-03T06:41:00.001-07:00

Just as expected, Sony just announced the PSP Go at E3 just now -- Haz Kirai called it the "worst kept secret at E3." The slider handheld has a 3.8-inch LCD, built-in Bluetooth and 16GB of internal storage, all in a case 50 percent smaller and 40 percent lighter than the original PSP-1000 -- a weight savings we're guessing is directly attributable to the loss of the UMD drive. That's right, the Go doesn't have a UMD drive -- games will instead load in through the Memory Stick Micro slot or over PlayStation Network. That's not the end of the classic PSP, though -- Sony says it will "live on." New PSP titles will be distributed through both UMD at retail and online simultaneously -- Sony's beefing up the desktop client and renaming it Media Go for easier access and syncing with Playstation Network media, but you'll be able to get PSN content directly from the Go as well. The PSP's music features have also been beefed up with a new auto-playlist feature called Sense Me, which sounds a lot like Pandora or iTunes Genius playlists, and there's a new video delivery service being rolled out.

Don't expect the loss of UMD to lower the price, though: the Go will be $249 when it launches on October 1 in North America and Europe and November 1 in Japan. Sony's showing demo videos with both black and white versions, but that's not confirmed yet -- we'll let you know.

Update: Check the full PR here.

Update 2: Sony has just blasted out the detailed specifications. Here are the highlights:

* Approx. 128 x 16.5 x 69 mm (width x height x depth)
* Weight: 5.6 ounces (including batter)
* CPU: 333MHz
* 64MB memory
* 3.8-inch display (480 x 272 resolution)
* Built-in stereo speakers and microphone
* 802.11b WiFi
* Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
* USB 2.0
* Memory Stick Micro slot
* Analog video out
* 16GB storage

Source
http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/sony-psp-go-announced-bye-bye-umd/

Synaptics Demonstrates New TouchPad™ Products and Gesture Technology at COMPUTEX

2009-06-03T06:40:00.000-07:00

nnovative ClickPad™ Solution Delivers Improved User Experience, Incorporates Clever Three-Finger Press Gesture

Taipei, Taiwan – June 2, 2009 – Synaptics Inc. (NASDAQ: SYNA), a leading developer of human interface solutions for mobile computing, communications, and entertainment devices, is demonstrating new products and technology enhancements at COMPUTEX 2009. Synaptics will unveil its new ClickPad™ solution, an innovative touchpad for consumer and business users that want larger multi-finger gesture enabled TouchPads in smaller notebook designs, particularly netbooks, which have been the fastest growing product segment in the portable computing market over the past year. ClickPad complements the rich minimalist design trend in the notebook space by eliminating the need for traditional physical buttons and enabling the entire ClickPad to act as the button that can be “clicked” to initiate a user action.

All Synaptics ClickPads and Touchpads incorporate the latest gestures previously announced in the Synaptics Gesture Suite™ (SGS) 9.1: two-finger scrolling, two-finger PinchZoom, two-finger pivot rotate, three-finger flick, and three-finger press. For example, users can start-up their PCs using the three-finger press gesture by placing three fingers on a TouchPad and then releasing them to automatically launch from one to six user-selected applications. Synaptics ClickPads are optimized for all laptops and ideal for space constrained netbooks where real estate is at a premium in the palmrest. ClickPad is available with an innovative mechanical assembly that will provide optimized performance for notebook PC designs, ranging from sleek netbooks to large desktop replacement portables.

Synaptics is also announcing that its entire SGS 9.1-enabled TouchPad family is Microsoft Windows 7 ready. This signifies that Synaptics’ highly regarded software driver, which offers the best pointing performance and gesture functionality in the PC industry, has passed Microsoft’s rigorous Win 7 Logo testing and will be available on time for the release of Windows 7 on leading OEM designs later in the year.

In addition, Synaptics DualMode™ TouchPad is now available to support “under plastic” designs and provides OEMs with excellent consumer appeal and differentiation, enabling OEMs to add custom 0D buttons and 1D scrolling support directly on the TouchPad surface, thereby enhancing TouchPad functionality to enable new features like multimedia controls. Synaptics DualMode TouchPad transforms a traditional Synaptics TouchPad from a navigation device to a launch and control center with the touch of a button. When users tap on the mode switch button in the top right corner of the TouchPad, LEDs illuminate icons on the surface of the TouchPad. Now available under a plastic coating for the most vibrant image, DualMode allows OEMs to customize the feature functionality of the icons to highlight key notebook features.

“Since first introducing the revolutionary TouchPad in a notebook computer 14 years ago, Synaptics has continued to enhance its innovative technology to expand its solution portfolio and bring a more engaging, productive, and entertaining user experience to notebook PC designs,” said Mark Vena, vice president of Synaptics’ PC Business Unit. “With more than 350 million TouchPads shipped since 1995, Synaptics has demonstrated that it knows the notebook PC space like no other technology provider. ClickPad, DualMode and Synaptics’ growing gesture portfolio underscore our on-going commitment to providing easier and more meaningful ways for people to interact with their notebooks.”

These solutions will available to OEMs for integration into notebook PC platforms beginning in 3Q09. Synaptics will be showing these new products during COMPUTEX at the Grand Hyatt Taipei, Suite #1010, by appointment only. To arrange for a demonstration, contact Niamh Conlon at nconlon@synaptics.com.

About Synaptics
Synaptics (NASDAQ: SYNA) is a leading developer of human interface solutions for the mobile computing, communications, and entertainment industries. The company creates interface solutions for a variety of devices including notebook PCs, PC peripherals, digital music players, and mobile phones. The TouchPad™, Synaptics’ flagship product, is integrated into a majority of today's notebook computers. Consumer electronics and computing manufacturers use Synaptics' solutions to enrich the interaction between humans and intelligent devices through improved usability, functionality, and industrial design. The company is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif. www.synaptics.com

# # #

Synaptics, TouchPad, ClickPad, DualMode, Synaptics Gesture Suite (SGS), and the Synaptics logo are trademarks of Synaptics in the United States and/or other countries.

All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

Press Contact:
Tara Yingst
Edelman for Synaptics
650-762-2942
tara.yingst@edelman.com

Source
http://www.synaptics.com/about/press/press-releases/synaptics-demonstrates-new-touchpad%E2%84%A2-products-and-gesture-technology-comp

Prepare For The Facebook Vanity URL Landrush

2009-05-31T08:12:00.000-07:00

Facebook will soon be allowing all users to claim a vanity URL pointing to their regular profile page, we’ve heard from a reliable source. The announcement should come sometime later this week. Afterwards, at a certain date and time, the landrush will begin. Users will be able to grab a vanity URL of their choice.

The Landrush rules will prohibit trademark infringement and a lots of words will be blacklisted, such as generic terms. But for the most part, we hear, users will be able to grab a name that they like.

Facebook has been toying with vanity URLs for some time. URLs for user profiles are currently user id numbers - such as facebook.com/profile.php?id=500065899 (that’s me). In March some Facebook pages started rolling out with vanity URLs, although you must have a business relationship with Facebook (or know someone there) to get one. Facebook.com/techcrunch, for example, links to our TechCrunch page.

The reason they need them - vanity URLs have proven to be a powerful tool on MySpace, Twitter and other services. It’s not just that users like them and it makes telling people your profile name easier. People have also long used MySpace URLs as their online identity. Twitter, more recently, has started to become the online identity provider of choice. Even Google is getting in on the vanity URL game. Facebook doesn’t want to give that up.

Facebook has recently polled users to see if they’d pay for a vanity URL. We have no idea if they plan on charging for the landrush at this point.

Stay tuned, and in the meantime start thinking up that perfect Facebook name. I want facebook.com/mike myself. Oh wait, I guess Facebook employees get first pick. So you’re also out of luck if you’re name is Mark.

Source
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/05/31/prepare-for-the-facebook-vanity-url-landrush/

Online streaming and the changes in the way satellite radio works

2009-05-21T06:45:00.003-07:00

Online streaming and the changes in the way satellite radio works

The recent development of satellite radio received a lot of newspaper and web page space, as well as plenty of attention from traditional media channels. There are a few things that are changing rapidly in satellite radio, changes that may or may not affect the future of the XM and Sirius Satellite Radio companies, as well as the consumers. A few major steps towards the dynamic development of satellite radio have given consumers and financial analysts different perspectives from which to analyze this phenomenon. With the MLB moving away from terrestrial radio and heading for digital radio transmissions, with a Playboy Satellite Radio channel that has over a million subscribers and several other impressive developments, we can say that satellite radio is on an ascending path. An abrupt one, filled with shock news and unexpected developments, but ascending nevertheless. An interesting idea is the one that XM and Sirius are working on a single receiver unit that can receive broadcasts from both major satellite radio broadcasters. Another event that rocked the satellite radio world was Howard Stern’s online streaming on Sirius. His appearance on the Sirius Satellite Radio gave a new light on the Sirius company, as one that offers more than radios and broadcasting means – as one that offers genuine content.

Terrestrial versus satellite

One of the problems XM and Sirius have had is with making the satellite receiver something desirable, cheap and effective. In the beginning the satellite receivers were large and expensive, and performed poorly on moving vehicles. Of course, the modern satellite receivers are much better, very small and compact and offer excellent reception in any area. The digital quality of the satellite radio has some amazing benefits on its own since there are no noise disturbances that were traditional to FM and AM broadcasts. Both XM Radio and Sirius Radio can be picked up on all the US territory and they are also available in some parts of Canada and Mexico. Since the direct line of sight from the satellite to the receiver may often become obstructed by landscape or buildings, land based devices were installed in order to eliminate the lack of direct satellite transmission The broad range of broadcast and the superior sound quality have taken satellite radio high in the preferences of the consumers. On the other hand, terrestrial radio has some strong points of its own. To begin with, it’s free and readily accessible to anyone. Also, terrestrial radio is so common, widespread and easy to use that anyone can enjoy it and most people don’t find it hard to actually create their radio stations. Many people are reluctant to move on to satellite radio, which is more complex and complicated.

The end consumer – the real winner

In this battle of the radios, the end consumer is the one that gets the most benefits. And since the competition got even more fierce when satellite radio started taking away subscribers of regular radio, things have gone one step further. Also, the competition between XM Radio and Sirius is in the benefit of the subscribers. An interesting aspect of the competition between the two satellite industry giants was realized by Interoperable Technologies - a joint effort funded by both Sirius and XM Radio, with the intention of bringing dual-subscription satellite radios to the general market. Analysts expect to see even more development in this direction, with XM Radio and Sirius entangled in a strange relationship, where they are working together on one project and battling it out on the satellite radio broadcasters market. In order to understand the way online streaming develops and the changes in the way satellite radios work we have to keep an eye open to the industry giants but also to the companies looking to obtain a license from the FCC. One thing is certain, however – no matter if satellite radio or terrestrial radio come up with new ways of attracting customers, the end users are the ones who will always come on top.

18-Meter Lifesize Gundam's 'Making-of' Video Streamed

2009-05-21T06:40:00.000-07:00

Not-So-Daily Link of the Day: The Yahoo! Japan website has posted the first free four-minute video of the making of the 18-meter-tall (59-foot-tall), "life-size" statue of the title robot from the Mobile Suit Gundam space war anime series. (The video requires Microsoft's Silverlight browser plugin.) The website will eventually update with a new video every Thursday until July 23, although the next video will be added on May 7, and the schedule is subject to change.

The first video, "For the next step," discusses the genesis of the project to mark the 30th anniversary of the first Gundam series. Gundam creator Yoshiyuki Tomino was involved in the initial process and visited the site during construction. The final section of the first video episode is a time-lapse video of the statue's onsite construction from March 31 to April 3. The next video will focus on the internal frame.

Starting this July, the statue will be available for free public viewing for two months at the Shiokaze Park on Tokyo's artificial Odaiba island. The theme of the three-phase Mobile Suit Gundam 30th Anniversary Project is "Always Beginning." The life-size Gundam represents the "Real G" phase of the project, while this August's Gundam Big Expo convention represents the "Feel G" phase. "Soul G" will be a collaborative music event planned for the Gundam franchise this year.

Source: Phile Web

Image © Sotsu, Sunrise via Mainichi Shimbun's Mantan Web
Source
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-04-23/18-meter-lifesize-gundam-making-of-video-streamed

Giving Your Cat A Pill

2009-05-21T06:35:00.000-07:00

Giving a cat a pill can be a nightmare. No cat wants something shoved down his throat, and he will fight you tooth and nail to prevent it. Although most cats are small in size, you’d be quite amazed with how much power they actually have. There are ways that you can get your cat to take his pills, which we will cover below.

The easiest way to give a cat pill is to crush the power into a powdery form by putting it between two spoons. Once the pill is powder, mix it in with some wet cat food. Cats that are used to eating dry cat food will see the wet food and think of it as a treat. They will normally eat it up, unaware that they just took their medicine.

If the medicine happens to be in capsule form, all you have to do is pry the capsule apart then sprinkle the medicine on some wet food and serve it to your pet. If the food also contains the pill or if your pet is sick, chances are he won’t eat it. In this event, you should look into a pet piller. You can get these handy devices from your veterinarian. They are plastic rods that hold the pill until you press a plunger. When you get one, you should always get a long one with a softer tip.

When you get your gun, your vet should show you how to use it. The most difficult aspect of using the gun is getting your cat to open his mouth. The gun will more or less shoot the pill in the cat’s mouth, and down his throat. You’ll need to hold him tight, to make sure that he doesn’t wiggle his way loose. Once you have his mouth open, you’ll need to squeeze the trigger and pull the gun away quickly. After the pill has been inserted, make sure you give your cat a treat.

If you aren’t comfortable using the gun, you can always try giving your cat his pills by hand. To do it this way, you’ll need to hold your cat still, and open his mouth with your hand. Once you have his mouth open, you should aim for the back of his throat and throw the pill in. Once it is in his mouth, you should close his mouth with your hand and hold it shut for a few moments. This way, your cat will swallow the pill if he hasn’t already.

If you can’t get any of the above techniques to work, you can always go to a local pharmacy and get them to a make flavored gel or liquid using your cats medication. You should use this as a last resort though, as it can tend to get expensive.

The Techniques Of Muay Thai

2009-05-21T06:34:00.001-07:00

The Techniques Of Muay Thai

A majority of the offensive techniques that are used in Muay Thai utilize a students hands, feet, elbows, and knees to strike an opponent. In order to bind the opponent for both defensive and offensive reasons, there is a small amount of grappling on the feet that is used - the clinch.

The clinch occurs when someone gets in your circle of radius, inside of your comfort zone. To execute knees and short kicks from the inside, the clinch can be very useful. The Thai fighter makes great use of the clinch, tying up on opponent on the feet then pounding his stomach, ribs, knees, and legs with brutal knees. Knees are very popular techniques with Muay Thai, as Thai fighters spend a lot of time training their strikes - especially knees and elbows.

Although high kicks to the opponents head looks amazing during the fights, experienced Thai fighters always say that knees and elbows have a lot more impact, and they do the most damage to the body. If a Thai fighter is very experienced and has enough power in his strikes, he can quickly and easily kill someone with his techniques.

In all Muay Thai techniques, two in particular have become very popular with other styles of martial arts.

The roundhouse kick
The roundhouse Thai kick is a very useful technique for both self defense and competitions, proving to be very efficient when it is executed properly. Thai stylists execute the roundhouse kick by a straight leg and the entire body rotating out from the hip. The hip is locked shortly before the thrown leg makes impact with the opponent. If executed properly, the roundhouse kick can easily render someone unconscious.

The low kick
The low kick is a common Muay Thai attack, that involves a circular movement from the stylist’s body to kick the opponent in his upper shin area. If the low kick isn’t blocked or defended, it can quickly lead to fight being ended. After a few well placed low kicks, the opponent will be unable to put pressure on his legs due to the bruising, and will eventually crumble.

With other martial arts styles, such as Tae Kwon Do, stylists use snapping kicks that are indeed faster to execute, although they have less power. Muay Thai on the other hand, teaches stylists to follow through with kicks, using the shin instead of the foot. Nearly all of the techniques involved with Muay Thai emphasis movement with the entire body, which means rotating the hip each time the stylist kicks, punches, or blocks. The techniques are slower, although they are far more powerful that techniques found in Tae Kwon Do and even Karate.

As a lot of people already know, the training and conditioning training found in Muay Thai is nothing short of legendary for the intensity and rigorous training. The training in Muay Thai aims to harden the weapons used in the martial art to a high degree. Students who have been training in Muay Thai for many years can absorb a beating, yet if they land a shin kick it will feel as if you have just been hit with a sledgehammer.

All in all, Muay Thai is a very dangerous martial art that teaches punishing blows with very little grappling. Thai stylists are physical strong, capable of taking an opponent out with just one well placed strike. Muay Thai is also one of the most well known and most popular styles in the world today - which is why you shouldn’t hesitate to study.

Palm Pre on June 6th for $200: It's official!

2009-05-20T07:33:00.000-07:00

Palm Pre on June 6th for $200: It's official!

by Thomas Ricker, posted May 19th 2009 at 7:00AM
The day you've been waiting for is here. Sprint just announced that the Pre will cost $199.99 after $100 mail-rebate and 2-year contract and will launch on June 6th as rumored this morning. The phone will go on sale nationwide (US-only for the moment) at Sprint stores, Best Buy, Radio Shack, and select Wal-Mart stores. The Pre will be available under Sprint's Everything Data or Business Essentials with Messaging and Data plans. Accessories include the optional $69.99 Touchstone charging dock kit that includes the $49.99 dock and $19.99 Pre back cover. June 6th, that's two days before the WWDC keynote. Poor Apple.

Note: Looking more info? Check out our giant Palm Pre hub!
Source
http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/19/palm-launching-pre-on-june-6th-official/

Next-Gen iPhone Specs, Launch Date Revealed?

2009-05-20T07:32:00.000-07:00

A source closely connected to Apple’s hardware team claims to possess knowledge of the next-generation iPhone’s specifications and release date.

The source told iPhone fan blog Apple iPhone Apps that the new iPhone will launch July 17. Many of the provided specifications corroborate with past rumors that the device will introduce a digital compass and a video recorder, among other features. (The source did not provide a photo; the image to the right is from a past rumor report for the sake of comparison.) Here’s the list:

* 32GB and 16GB storage (up from the current 16GB and 8GB models)
* $199 and $299 price points to be maintained
* 3.2-megapixel camera (up from the current 2-megapixel camera)
* Video-recording and editing capabilities
* Ability to send a picture & video via MMS
* Discontinuation of the metal band surrounding the edge of the device
* OLED screen
* 1.5 times the battery life of the current models
* Double the RAM and processing power
* Built-in FM transmitter
* Apple logo on back will glow
* Rubber-tread backing
* Sleeker design
* Built-in compass
* The camera, GPS, compass and Google map combined will identify photo and inform about photo locations
* Turn-by-turn directions

Overall, if these claims are true, this is a relatively minor upgrade. The most notable new features would be the built-in compass (which appeared in earlier rumor reports), the video recorder and editor (the current iPhones don’t support video recording unless you Jailbreak them), the built-in FM transmitter and the OLED screen (which would improve battery life).

One of the features that sticks out to me is the built-in FM transmitter. I see no compelling reason for Apple to put this in the iPhone, as it is not a feature that users have been demanding, and it hasn’t appeared in other iPods.

Another specification I find strange is the OLED screen. That would be a welcome change because it would look nicer than the current LCD screen. But OLEDs are generally pricey, and if the current price points are maintained, I’m not sure if I believe this one.

Otherwise, the rest of the specifications appear not too far-fetched. If the source is simply taking shots in the dark, then most of these specifications are very conservative guesses derived from previous rumor reports.

What do you think, readers? I’m curious as to whether this list of purported specifications is enough to get you to upgrade from a current iPhone. Or if you don’t own one, will you buy one if these rumored features turn out to be true? Let us know in the comments below.

I, for one, will be standing in line for Apple’s next iPhone this summer whether or not these rumors are true. After all, my iPhone is resting in rice.

Updated 1 p.m. PDT to correct a typo: The current iPhone features an LCD screen, not an LED screen.

Updated 8:20 a.m. PDT to clarify earlier in the story that the source approached Apple iPhone Apps, not Wired.com.

Source Reveals Specs And Release Date of Next iPhone! [Apple iPhone Apps]
Source
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/05/next-gen-iphone-specs-launch-date-revealed/

First Look - Power Over eSATA cable pictured

2009-05-15T02:43:00.000-07:00

We've just been sent a rather interesting picture from a Taiwanese motherboard maker.

After MSI announced its first motherboards with Power Over eSATA recently, we just had to get a look at one of the compatible cables to get a full grasp of the technology. And as it turns out, it seems like MSI isn't the only one to take on the new eSATA concept released by SATA-IO earlier this year.

The shot below is of a Power Over eSATA cable that bridges from a single eSATA port to a connector that includes the normal SATA power and data connectors. You'll end up seeing cables like this at the start and later "normal" single eSATA cables that transmit both data and power.

First Look - Power Over eSATA cable pictured

We suspect during Computex Taipei to be held early next month that we will see many motherboard makers showing off new boards with Power Over eSATA and we may even seen SATA products without power connectors, but they'll like stay on for backwards compatibility.

Source
http://www.tweaktown.com/news/12159/first_look_power_over_esata_cable_pictured/index.html

Google Android Will Grow 900 Percent in 2009, Analysts Say

2009-05-11T06:50:00.000-07:00

Google’s Android mobile OS is expected see a growth rate of 900 percent in 2009, Strategy Analytics is predicting in a new report. The Apple iPhone OS will follow behind it, as the second fastest-growing smartphone OS, and the RIM BlackBerry is also in good shape, as the second-largest overall smartphone OS in the U.S. in 2008.

Google’s Android operating system is expected to grow by 900 percent in 2009, encouraged by vendors, developers and operators, a May 11 report from research firm Strategy Analytics is predicting.

The report, “Global Smartphone Vendor Market Share by Region: 2008,” breaks down smartphone market growth by region and operating system.

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“The Android mobile operating system from Google gained early traction in the United States in the second half of 2008 and it is gradually spreading its presence into Europe and Asia during 2009,” wrote Tom Kang, the author of the report, in a statement.

Kang additionally expects the iPhone OS to grow 79 percent in 2009—outpaced only by Android, which is expanding from a lower user base.

Neil Mawston, director at Strategy Analytics, also remarked in the statement that Android’s “relatively low-cost licensing model, its semi-open-source structure and Google’s support for cloud services have encouraged companies such as HTC, Motorola, Samsung, T-Mobile, Vodafone and others to support the Android operating system. Android is now in a good position to become a top-tier player in smartphones over the next two to three years.”

Despite the global economic climate, global smartphone shipments reached 152 million units in 2008, and Kang’s report states Asia Pacific is still the biggest market for smartphones, followed by North America and then Western Europe.

Core markets for Symbian have been sluggish Kang additionally writes, but the RIM BlackBerry has also seen success, pulling ahead of Microsoft Windows Mobile to become the second largest smartphone OS in 2008.

Source
http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Mobile-and-Wireless/Google-Android-Will-Grow-900-Percent-in-2009-Analysts-Say-557897/

At a Glitzy Washington Gala, Hailing the Stand-Up in Chief

2009-05-10T07:56:00.000-07:00

A once-cachet Washington tradition, the annual dinner may have completed its final transformation this year into a crushing gathering of several thousand, increasingly less a celebration of journalism than a parade of Hollywood and television celebrity. Photo positions for paparazzi dotted the Washington Hilton space where the dinner has been held for decades; midway through the evening, in the center of the room, a cluster of a half dozen tables became a traffic jam of Hollywood rubbernecking, as guests glommed around Sting, Kevin Bacon, Steven Spielberg, Kate Capshaw, Forest Whitaker, Natalie Portman, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Donatella Versace, among others, who were attending as guests of various news outlets. When the dinner ended, many of those in attendance then fanned out over the city for additional celebrations, though at a time of unprecedented economic difficulty for most news organizations, it is hard to say of what, exactly. (Read the Twitter coverage of the White House Correspondents' dinner, a.k.a. #nerdprom)

The President, who by tradition attends and delivers comical remarks at the dinner each year, won the crowd over early. "Most of you covered me." After a beat, he added, "All of you voted for me." Noting that Sunday is Mother's Day, Obama reported that it was a tough holiday for his sometimes profane chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel. "He's not used to saying the word 'day' after 'mother.'" (See an eight-year retrospective at the attempts at comedy at the White House Correspondents' dinner.)

Obama also made fun of RNC chairman Michael Steele for seeking a bailout for the GOP and noted that former vice president Dick Cheney was not in attendance, busying writing his memoirs which Obama said would be titled, "How to Shoot Friends and Interrogate People." He mocked the reporters' recent obsession with his first 100 days by announcing that he was immediately building a presidential library in honor his first 100 days. "My next 100 days will be so successful, I will complete them in 72 days. And on the 73rd day, I will rest."

Obama said that in his next 100 days he will learn to give a speech without a teleprompter — something he has been criticized by some for relying too heavily on — while his vice president Joe Biden, who has made a string of ill-advised comments lately — will learn to use one.

The President said he was taking credit for "revitalizing the Democrats... bringing in fresh young faces like Arlen Specter." He suggested that his Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton, had urged Specter to make his recent jump from the Republican to the Democratic party with the advice, "If you can't beat em, join em."

Obama's less successful riffs — a few of his jokes fell flat — were overlooked because the room is traditionally forgiving of its top guest and because the professional comic who typically follows the president — this year it was Wanda Sykes — can almost always be counted on to go much further overboard. Sykes came through in that department. While delivering a number of one liners that the crowd applauded, she included several — including one about Rush Limbaugh's drug problems and another about the fashion habits of previous first ladies — that would have been better to have scratched from her script.

Source
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1897164,00.html

Microsoft rebrands WGA nagware for Windows 7

2009-05-10T07:51:00.000-07:00

A nagware anti-piracy feature in Windows isn't going away, it's just getting a marketing makeover by Microsoft.

Windows Genuine Advantage is being re-branded Windows Activation Technologies in Windows 7 and for updated versions of Windows Vista, the company has said.

Microsoft claimed the change reflected the use of "fundamentally" different technologies - new code and "latest methods" that work with Windows 7 and Vista components that are different to Windows XP - to stop PCs running pirated or illegal copies of Windows.

But the explanation makes no sense, given Windows 7 is based on the Windows Vista code and it was Windows Vista that saw long-running complaints over WGA reach their zenith with the creation of the ill-advised Windows Vista kill switch.

The kill switch penalized Windows Vista customers who'd failed to activate or register their copy of the operating system within 30 days or three days after a major change to the PC's hardware configuration by blocking certain key features.

Users would be denied access to features such as Aero Glass, ReadyBoot, and BitLocker, with Windows Vista running in an "out-of-grace reduced functionality mode."

Windows Vista's Service Pack 1 removed the kill switch, but WGA had already earned itself the kind of reputation where people start Googling work-arounds to de-install it.

Built to detect and prevent installation of pirated or illegal copies of software, WGA failed genuine copies of Windows in large numbers for reasons never explained.

One in five PCs running Windows XP have failed WGA tests since July 2005, but less than 0.5 per cent were reported to be running counterfeit software, according to figures from Microsoft released in January 2007. In 2006, Microsoft said that more than 20 per cent of WGA failures had been caused by something other than piracy of the keys used to activate the software.

Along the way, alerts would pop up. If WGA found your copy of Windows to be not genuine, unauthorized or not validated, you got repeated warnings of: "This copy of Windows is not genuine".

Despite these failures, Microsoft remains committed to the idea of WGA - hence the name change to break from the past as it introduces a brand new operating system.

If you chose not to activate your copy of Windows 7 immediately, the company said Thursday, you're still going to get an annoying alert - but more in the vein of a peppy and irritating health and safety manager than a harsh headmaster ready with the cane. According to Microsoft, it has updated the Windows Vista SP1 reminder so: "When customers choose to activate later they will see a dialog box highlighting how activation helps them identify if their copy of Windows is genuine and be allowed to proceed immediately without a 15-second delay."

WGA is not going away. Microsoft has also hinted at changes in the Windows Vista and Windows 7 management tools to cater for virtualized images and volume activation. Also, the company promised: "More can always be done - which is why you'll continue to see us invest in anti-piracy efforts such as Windows Activation Technologies over the long term."

Interestingly, Microsoft did not tackle the hot-button issue of WGA from either the roadmap or re-branding perspective during its recent outing at the security industry's annual San Francisco, California - the RSA Conference. The company's corporate vice president trustworthy computing Scott Charney instead rehashed a previous pitch for "end-to-end trust" using its planned Geneva identity management and sign-in framework. ®
Source

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/05/07/microsoft_wga_rebranding/

Customer Loyalty Tug of WarCustomer Loyalty Tug of War

2009-05-07T08:22:00.000-07:00

Developing strategic priorities focused on the customer, an organization should encourage its sales people to work in a collaborative style to leverage business potential within the marketplace. Jeanne M. Liedtka suggests, in her research on how collaborating across lines of business gain competitive advantage, that by establishing a collaborative approach, a focus on internal organizational strengths and on the needs of the customer, there is then potential for gaining (or pulling) a larger segment of market share. Customers have to deal with external influences, their own preferences and multiple competitive choices in order to make informed decisions. Organizations that can take a holistic, collaborative approach to identifying and satisfying customer needs will more likely obtain a greater share of the market. The sales manager’s role is therefore to ensure they optimize their sales person’s performance against the customer. For example, while sales managing a unified sales force targeted at providing holistic solutions for our customers, while the organization had multiple product lines fighting for shelf space, I found myself spending a lot of time preventing our internal silos from looking like our competition - fragmented and confusing.

Create a mental image of a tug of war with the customer in the center – Not just one rope being pulled at both ends but many ropes pulling in all directions. First, they have their own established preferences and habits. Given we are creatures of habit these can be well anchored and difficult to move. Second, they have external influences coming at them all the time by way of marketing, subliminal messaging and information highways to name a few. Thirdly, there is your competition trying to influence them and attempting to pull them in multiple directions. Hopefully they are fragmented and more confusing than your own value proposition. Lastly, there is your own organization and in my own situation various lines of business or products attempting to secure the customer through a single sales force. You can either look like your competition and be pulling your customer in multiple directions or you can collaborate and unify yourself to be the power line that wins the customer’s heart, mind and soul then ultimately their business.

For collaboration to exist, Liedtka suggests that shared goals and partnerships are important and the sales manager’s role is an integral part in developing these relationships. Sales managers and sales leaders today should use a less directive approach to obtain commitment and manage the risk of forfeiting control of what often has been ownership of outcomes for many managers of the past. This is consistent with humanistic-encouraging behaviours in sales managers as described by Dr. Clayton J.C. Lafferty as these sales managers believe that they can assist others in fulfilling their potential by providing a supportive climate that inspires self-improvement, motivation and confidence.

Certainly with my own experience when we were unified, all pulling for the customer to win we had double digit growth, business leaders that were exceeding plan, sales people making more money than they had ever contemplated and we had established brand recognition that clients wanted to be associated with. When we were not unified all of these indicators slipped away and more quickly than it took to establish them.

10 Ways To Lower Your Auto Insurance

2009-05-07T08:21:00.000-07:00

Nowadays, auto insurance is really expensive. A typical insurance policy can cost a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars a year. And the insurance rates you pay are hugely dependent on the insurance company or agent, your age, your car type, your driving record, and even the area you reside in!

You should never go without auto insurance though, despite the costs. Almost all the states require you to protect yourself with a minimum amount of liability coverage. Naturally, the bare minimum is not adequate enough for the average car owner. And as you add in additional coverage for your car, you realize that you will be paying a fairly large sum annually.

So, understanding auto insurance can actually help you to decide on a suitable insurance policy that won't vacuum clean your wallet! Here, we have gathered 10 of the best tips for lowering your auto insurance, by as much as 40

Always compare insurance policies. There are states which regulate auto insurance rates, but the insurance premiums can vary by hundreds of dollars for the exact same coverage. It is definitely worthwhile to shop around. The first thing you can do is to check with your state insurance department. They often provide information about the coverage you need, as well as sample rates from the biggest companies. You can also ask your friends or look up the yellow pages. Checking consumer guides and asking insurance agents can pay off as well. You can easily find out the price range for your insurance policy, as well as discover the lowest prices in town.

However, you should not be shopping based on price along. The insurance company should provide good service at the best price. Excellent personal service is available as well, and they provide added conveniences, although they cost a fair bit more. Ask the company how you can lower your costs, and also check their financial ratings. The rule of thumb is always to get three price quotes from three different companies, and pick the one with the best value.

It can also be a good idea to increase your deductibles. When you file a claim, the deductible is the amount you pay before the insurance company pays for the rest of the damage. A higher deductible on collision and comprehensive coverage can lead to a much lower premium. For example, increasing your deductible from $200 to $400 can reduce your premiums by up to 25àHowever, you must ensure that you have the financial resources to handle the largest deductible when the time comes.

Remove certain types of coverage from your policy. Almost all the states require liability coverage for your car, but the rest of the coverage is probably dispensable. However, you do not want to be underinsured if you're in an accident, so it isn't advisable to remove all of your additional coverage. Optional coverage includes medical payments, uninsured motorist, collision, and comprehensive coverage.

Drop collision and comprehensive coverage for older cars. If you drive an older car that's worth less than $2,000, it's probably more cost-effective to drop collision and comprehensive coverage since you'll probably pay more for the coverage than you'll collect for a claim. You can find out the worth of your car by asking auto dealers and banks.

Make sure your credit report looks good. Car insurance companies often look at your credit history as there is a correlation between the risk to the company and your credit history. If you pay your bills on time and maintain a good credit history, you can enjoy lower insurance rates.

Drive less. Insurance companies often offer low-mileage discounts to motorists who drive less than a predetermined number of miles each year. You can use public transportation more often, car-pool with friends, and take the train or a plane instead of driving to another state. And you'll save on more than your coverage as you'll need to spend less on gasoline (of which prices are incredibly high).

Maintain a clean driving record. The company will give you a price break and you can save on your insurance policy after a specified period of a clean driving record. This means that you have no accidents, no serious driving violations etc, during this period of time. The simplest and surefire way to qualify for this discount is to drive carefully and defensively all the time.

Choose a low-profile car. Insurance rates vary among difference models of vehicles. Generally, sports cars and high-performance cars tend to cost more to insure, mainly because they represent more risk of theft and the drivers are often the people who drive more recklessly. Newer cars will cost more to repair or replace than older ones, so naturally they can more to insure. Low-risk vehicles include station wagons and sedans.

Ask about safety and security discounts. The insurance companies sometimes offer discounts on your insurance if your car is equipped with the following: anti-lock brakes, air bags, automatic seat belts, car alarms, tracking systems. These reduce the injury risk to you, as well as the chances of your car being vandalized or stolen.

Finally, ask about other discounts. You may receive a discount if you buy more than one type of insurance from the same company or if you insure multiple cars under the same policy or company. You may also receive discounts for taking a defensive driving course, staying with the same company for a few years, being a driver over 50, good-student discounts, and being an AAA member. If you already have adequate health insurance, you can also eliminate paying for duplicate medical coverage, thus lowering your personal injury protection costs by a substantial amount.
Source
http://www.recent-articles.com/automotive/auto-insurance-rates-insurance-policy.php

Blu-ray making greenbacks, sales up 72% to start '09

2009-05-07T04:38:00.001-07:00

Congratulations Blu-ray, you might be ready to step into the zone of mass market acceptance, as NPD's retail tracking service found Q1 sales of standalone players up 72 percent over last year, moving over 400,000 units with a 14% increase in dollar sales. Last year sure the format survived mad fights but high prices were a setback; fast forward to March when an online survey of 6,994 people found awareness has reached 90 percent in the last six months, with customers fascinated by its updates. Although BD-Live is looking more and more like an unneeded gimmick, the real facts are people care about cost and average player prices dropped from $393 last year to $261 in 2009. The "Blu-ray report" suggests the magic number is $214 for folks like Shawn Marion, so more room might be needed to breeze, and could come as soon as this fall around the time Vizio's player finally appears. It might be tragic for Vudu, CBHD and others trying to get a foothold, but Blu-ray's magic wand is word of mouth - so while much talked about, but much lower selling tech like Kindle is happy as hell to get a record deal, right now Blu-ray's unique skills can't be compared.

Source
http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/blu-ray-making-greenbacks-sales-up-72-to-start-09/

Coffee Espresso Machine - Gourmet Coffee At Home

2009-05-05T05:24:00.000-07:00

Ever imagine what Starbucks would be like if it didn't have an espresso machine? The famous coffee spot just wouldn't seem the same. So, where did this machine originate from and who do we thank for this convenience of "foam" coffee? An espresso is nothing more then coffee that is brewed by mixing hot water with ground up coffee beans. Believe it or not, the coffee espresso machine has been in existence for almost 100 years.

The first official coffee espresso machine comes to us from France. It was created by a gentleman named Louis Bernard Rabaut in 1822. The machine was a simple contraption that allowed steam and water to flow through a filter lined with fresh coffee beans. Mr. Edward Loy Sel de Santias showed his version of the espresso machine at the Paris Exposition in 1855. He impressed the crowd by being able to brew up 2,000 cups of what was then called fast coffee in an hour.

Mr. Luigi Bezzera, an Italian, received a patent for his coffee machine in 1901. The machine used the same principle as Louis Rabaut's in the early 1800s. The machine was supposed to enable people to make fast foam coffee without the need of waiting 10 minutes for a cup of hot Joe.

In 1903, Desiderio Pavani purchased Bezzera's patent and La Pavoni machines were introduced to the U.S. in 1927. Americans gawked over this fast foam coffee. The taste however was another story. The steam and boiled water gave coffee a burnt flavor.

That changed with the invention of a spring lever for the machine. The purpose of the spring lever enabled the machine to able to apply pressure to the beans. Applying this pressure to the beans instead of simply adding boiling water improved the taste immensely.

M. Faema supplied the finishing element to the evolving espresso machine in 1961 by adding an electric pump which would change the way we drink coffee all together. With this advancement to the espresso machine the way was paved to have the machines introduced to households worldwide. In 1991, the first ever espresso machine was able to be purchased by ordinary households.

The next time that you get that good old cup of of espresso or cappuccino in the morning just take a second and reminisce. Try to envision the pioneers whose inventions paved the way to make a simple cup of cafe latte possible. It's hard to think about all the hard work and effort that is put into one simple cup of coffee.

A good deal of dedication and discipline was put into play to allow this simple creation to evolve into what it is today. The final result has triggered an American favorite as evidenced by the numerous specialty coffee bars springing up everywhere. We now can enjoy this delicious crema coffee all at the push of a button.
Source
http://www.amazines.com/Cooking/article_detail.cfm/874960?articleid=874960

Linux use reaches 1%; world yawns

2009-05-05T05:23:00.000-07:00

Many people have made much of the fact that for the first time, Linux use as measured by Net Applications has crossed the 1% market share barrier. As significant milestones go, this is about as meaningless as it gets. Linux will never be a big player in the desktop market, nor should it be.

Net Applications tracks operating system usage on the Internet. In its latest results, it reports:

Linux usage share on client devices has surpassed 1% for the first time in our tracking. Linux has been successful primarily as a server operating system, but client usage share has not kept pace with server share. Linux has reached this important milestone on the client as Linux-based systems have become more functional, easier to use, and pre-installed on computers from vendors like Dell.

Linux guru and my compatriot in blogging, Steven J. Vaughn-Nichols, believes that Linux may eventually reach 10% to 20% of market share.

I think that Steven's estimate is far off the mark. I'd be shocked if Linux ever came close to approaching even 5% of market share, and I believe even 2% will be a stretch.

To understand why, let's look at how Linux reached that 1% market share. Linux was first created in 1991 --- that's 18 years ago. To reach 1% market share in 18 years is not a particularly difficult task, especially considering that the operating system is available for free.

For most of Linux's history, it wasn't even a blip on the radar of any market share figures, apart from server market share. There it's a strong presence, and deservedly so. It's a flat-out great operating system for servers.

The desktop is where it's floundered, and for good reason. There are too many variants of it, and while it's gotten much easier to use, when you need to install software on it or update it, it's far too complicated.

As I wrote about in Living free with Linux: 2 weeks without Windows, I've become a fan of Linux. It can use less-powerful hardware than Windows, and is surprisingly simple to use --- with the exception of updating and installing software, that is. I now use Ubuntu regularly.

Why has Linux finally broken the 1% barrier? Because of netbooks. Initially, Linux had a big netbook market share of 30% or so. So the 1% breakthrough is due entirely to netbook use, not Linux use on desktops, where it still flounders. Sure, you can buy Linux on a Dell, if you try hard enough. But otherwise, good luck. And that's the way it will stay.

Linux will never become a mainstream operating system on desktops, and so for client machines, it will remain largely confined to netbooks. Market surveys have shown that Linux sales on netbooks have plunged to only 10% of netbooks.

Given that, how will Linux ever reach 10% to 20% of the market? The answer: It never will. It will remain a niche operating system, and a very good one at that.
Source
http://blogs.computerworld.com/linux_use_reached_1_world_yawns

Horny Goat Weed - Increases Libido and Overall Wellness Quickly!

2009-05-05T05:19:00.000-07:00

This herb will improve your sexual health and your overall level of health; here we will look at its advantages and some great herbs to combine with it to make it even more effective...

Today, the trend is to multi herbal sex pills which combine a number of herbs to improve erectile function and libido and Horny Goat Weed is found in all the best with the complimentary herbs listed below.

The advantages of Horny Goat Weed are:

- It increases testosterone
- It reduces stress and lifts overall energy levels
- It increases nitric oxide secretion

Nitric oxide you may not have heard of but if you haven't, it's the key to an erection, as it's the chemical that allows the blood vessels to relax and widen and to allow more blood to enter the penis and harden it. In fact, if you don't secrete enough Nitric Oxide, your manhood can never get hard at all it's vital.

The above are great advantages but the testosterone increase is small and also the herb does nothing to improve blood circulation to the pelvic region, for Nitric oxide to allow it to enter but that's easily corrected by combining it with these herbs:

Tribulus Terrestris

Tribulus is also a great circulatory system tonic and dramatically increases testosterone. The herb contains protodioscin, a saponin constituent which boosts libido and desire. This is the ultimate herb for more sexual stamina and energy.

Ginkgo Biloba

Ginkgo Biloba is the ultimate blood circulation it also protects blood vessels and reduces furring. Ginkgo also increases the half-life of the endothelium relaxation factor, to ensure strong and continued blood flow to the penis.

Cnidium

Cnidium increases blood flow around the body the release of nitric oxide while inhibiting PDE-5 (just like synthetic prescription drugs) and relaxes the corpus cavernosal tissue, to provide an increased flow of blood into the penis. Finally, the herb increases blood circulation to all areas of the body.

The above herbs are found in all the best natural sex pills, so try them and boost your libido and health at the same time.
Source
http://www.articlesbase.com/men%27s-health-articles/horny-goat-weed-increases-libido-and-overall-wellness-quickly-899147.html

Astral Projection Underground: Astral Projection Book

2009-05-01T02:56:00.000-07:00

Astral Projection Book

If you are looking for an astral projection book that will teach you everything you need to know about astral projection, then you need not look any further after reading Astral Projection Underground by Abhishek Agarwal. In this 350 page book, he reveals some of the most closely guarded secrets from India about astral projection. In fact, what he teaches in this book is so powerful that you are guaranteed to have your first astral projection in 30 days or less.

You may be wondering what exactly does Agarwal teach in this book that makes it so special? Well I will try my best to break it down for you.

The first thing I thought I should mention is that this astral projection book has been written based on 15 years of research and experience. It is not based on myth or any personal beliefs, it is based on the author's personal experiences and the techniques he has used to master this almost lost skill.

Just a few of the things you will learn include:

*The basics of astral projection (covered in Chapter 1)

*There are actually benefits from astral projection that you might not have been aware of. (covered in Chapter 2 )

* In Chapter 3, all the myths and misunderstands regarding astral projection are set straight for the record.

*8 Tips that will help prepare you and get you ready for astral projection

*22 techniques for astral projection

and much more! I have just covered a few of the things included in this astral projection book.

If you would like to learn more about Astral Projection Underground, you can download the first 2 chapters for free at AstralProjectionRevealed.com.

Also, you can read another review of this book by visiting Astral Projection Book

Related Articles - astral projection guide, astral projection, astral projection how to, learning atral projection, astral projection book
Source
http://www.amazines.com/Books/article_detail.cfm/871426?articleid=871426

Audiology Marketing and Understanding Your Patients

2009-05-01T02:44:00.000-07:00

Do you know where your patients have their point of pain when it comes to hearing loss? If you don't, then you are missing a great opportunity to your Audiology marketing to address those pains and make revenue gains. Pay attention to the feedback you get from people when they are on your Audiologist website or when you are sitting live with a patient. The complaints are just as important as the praises they leave.

If you don't have an area for feedback, or you aren’t currently measuring patient satisfaction with a formal measurement system, then you are missing a good way to improve your Audiology and hearing aid practice and increase your bottom line. So, offer a way for customers to provide feedback, once they become members or register with your website. Having a blog that patients can find to get their questions answered will help and also give you a way to have fresh and new content consistently on your Audiology website that will improve your marketing.

If you hear someone complaining of a headache and you offer them an aspirin or aspirin substitute, what do you think they will do? They are in pain and the longer they don't address that pain, the more they will continue to suffer. So, most people will take the pill and take you up on your offer as quickly as possible, with immense gratitude, no less. So, what's the difference between that and the type of pain your patients have when they are looking to solutions to their hearing problems? Nothing! If you can find a way to address a complaint about something that irritates or makes them suffer, you will experience success online and offline.

The real opportunities for improvement come from listening to your patients when they do complain about what they are experiencing. Listen very carefully so that you can design your blog or website to address the pain they are feeling or experiencing in their lives that will justify the purchase of hearing aids. This should not be limited to just your website, you can use it in your Audiology marketing as well. Use a patient satisfaction measurement system to learn what motivates people to buy as well as, the other strategies we have discussed and you will always stay one step ahead of your competition in your Audiology marketing campaigns.

Kevin D. St.Clergy, M.S., Author of "The Death Of Audiology" Discover what is killing our industry and what you can do about it.

Kevin St. Clergy helps Audiologists attract more patients and increase profitability. He has worked with hundreds of practices nationwide to help Audiologists reach their goals to run a more successful organization by improving operations and increasing patient satisfaction. Kevin is a regular speaker at many state and national conferences on a variety of Practice Management subjects. His ideas have been published widely and his articles have appeared in several industry publications.

If you're serious about seeing your practice flourish, visit http://www.educatedpatients.com to learn how Kevin can help you reach your goals.

Ready to grow your practice?
Source
http://www.amazines.com/Books/article_detail.cfm/872395?articleid=872395

History of the Kentucky Futurity

2009-04-29T19:00:00.000-07:00

The Kentucky Futurity is the second race of the prestigious Triple Crown of harness racing for trotters. The race was first held in 1893 at the Red Mile race course in Lexington Kentucky and has remained at the same location for its entire history.

Being that the Kentucky Futurity has always been held in the bluegrass state of Kentucky; the race became an instant success and has continued to be very popular among both horsemen and horseracing fans. It is one of the few races in the sport of harness racing that still utilizes elimination races to determine the winner of the race.

With the elimination format, a horse must win two heats before they will be declared the winner. This means heats will continue to be held until one of the horses is able to win two. In the early years of the race, it was not uncommon for the horses to race as many as four heats before the winner could be determined.

There have also been several occasions in which the Kentucky Futurity was only decided after the horses raced in five heats. The most heats that have been needed to determine the winner was six.

Even thought the Kentucky Futurity is one of the races of the harness racing Triple Crown for trotters, the purse money has not always been very substantial. In the early years of the race, the horses would often race for a total purse of less than $60,000, compared to the Hambletonian that had a purse of over $70,000 for its first running. The Red Mile has tried to improve the total purse over the past few years and has begun to add money to the total purse. In the last few years, the Kentucky Futurity has been able to offer a purse of between $400,000 and a half a million dollars to the horses that are entered.

The great thing about this race is that the race has never been about winning large sums of money. The horsemen and women that are associated with the sport of harness racing are more concerned about having a champion harness racer that will be able to get their name in the history books, along with the past harness racing champions, by simply winning this prestigious and historical race.
Source
http://www.amazines.com/Sports/article_detail.cfm/869750?articleid=869750

New Jersey Bed and Breakfasts

2009-04-29T18:48:00.000-07:00

New Jersey is known for many things but often visitors are unaware of all the things that the state has to offer. Here you will find everything from gambling in Atlantic City to beach resorts along the Atlantic Ocean to rich history and culture that will educate the whole family and still bring enjoyment to parks for the kids to a vibrant nightlife for the young and young at heart, there is truly something for everyone in the state of New Jersey. Visitors who vacation here often find themselves returning time after time again for an enjoyable vacation and the ultimate in relaxation.

One thing visitors will find an abundance of in New Jersey is cultural activities. The state is home to numerous art museums and galleries such as the Atlantic City Art Center on Garden Pier, the Beacon Fine Arts Gallery, and the Hunterdon Museum of Art. Visitors to the state will also find a number of other exciting cultural activities to enjoy no matter which time of year they decide to visit. Vacationers have the opportunity to attend a performing arts show at one of the states many venues such as the Westminster Arts Center in Bloomfield, the Albert Music Hall in Waretown, the Boheme Opera Company in Trenton, or the Bickford Theatre in the Morris Township. And that's just to name a few there is an extensive list of venues where visitors can enjoy any one of a number of performing arts. Whatever type of show you and your family enjoy you will be sure to find it in New Jersey.

New Jersey also boasts rich history dating back as far as pre-Colonial days. Those who visit this fine state will have the chance to explore sites such as the Absecon Lighthouse, the Berlin Railroad Station, the Beverly National Cemetery, the Civil Rights Garden, and Fort Hancock just to name a few. The state is actually home to more than one-hundred and thirty individual historic sites, all with an exciting bit of information regarding our nations and the state of New Jersey's history.

Many people visit New Jersey for the outdoor adventure as well. In Barnegat you can visit the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in the Harding Township, or the Henry Hudson Recreation Trail. For those that like to sit back and relax and enjoy the more peaceful side of nature there are a number of locations where families can camp or spend the night in a rustic cabin and take in all the wondrous scenery the state has to offer. Such places include the Adventure Bound Camping Resort, Atlantic City Blueberry Hill Campground, or the Big Timber Lake Camping Resort. Other outdoor activities in the state include fishing, boating, snorkeling, surfing, golf, and cross-country skiing. Regardless of what outdoor activities you enjoy you will be sure to find it in the state of New Jersey.

From culture to adventure to history to entertainment New Jersey has something to offer everyone who visits the state.
Source
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/new-jersey-bed-and-breakfasts-892812.html

A tribute to Prophet Mohammed in Guangzhou

2009-04-29T07:54:00.001-07:00

Guangzhou City served as a central port in the Marine Silk Road. Along with the development of trade in ancient China came the introduction of various religions. Christianity, Buddhism and Islam were introduced to China from this port. The Huaisheng Mosque is the first mosque to be erected in China in the 7th Century during the Tang Dynasty. The word Huaisheng translates to ‘remember the sage’. The sage referred to is Prophet Mohammed. The mosque is spread over 2,966 square meters and contains six important elements the Wangyue Attic, the storehouse of Islamic Scriptures, the Stone Steles Pavillion, the Imam Hall and its most eye-catching feature is the Light Tower. The Light Tower was a guide to ships and traders to maneuver their way to the port of Guangzhou. This tower was built according to typical Arabian architecture and stands approximately 36 meters high. There are 2 spiraling staircases that make its way up the central axis of the building to the highest point of the tower. Sailors would often climb the stairs to the minaret which is the onion shaped crown of the tower to better judge the impending weather conditions. It is recommended to dedicate half an hour of your time to visit the Huaisheng Mosque, which is an excellent way to study the Islamic culture of China. Located on Guangta Road this historical site is open from 6:00am to 5:30pm every day. Islam is still a deeply respected religion in China and the Huaisheng Mosque is its historical landmark. Offering one of the most ideal locations to explore Huaisheng Mosque and other key tourist attractions is the Ascott Guangzhou that offers one of the best Guangzhou serviced accommodation. This hotel offers a sophisticated ambience along with the security and spacious comfort of a Guangzhou serviced apartment.

http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/a-tribute-to-prophet-mohammed-in-guangzhou-892362.html

How to Save Money on Car Rentals

2009-04-29T07:51:00.000-07:00

Are you going on an important personal or business trip? Want to drive there, but don't want to rack up the mileage and put more wear and tear on the family car? Then at this very moment, you are probably worrying about the cost of renting a car. But you don't need to worry - there are many ways you can save money on car rentals. Read on to find out how.

Decide what size vehicle you really need. If you are traveling on your own, there's a good chance that you can get away with renting a subcompact car for your trip. That's generally the most cost-efficient way to go because the rental and the gas will be cheaper. However, if you will be traveling with a family or co-workers, comfort will be of importance so you will most likely want to upgrade to a mid-size car that can handle the demands of your passengers and ensure a safe comfortable ride to your destination.

Get quotes and ask about specials. Before you decide from what company you plan to rent the car from, get out your local yellow page listings or get online to find the best deals. Then locate a phone number and make a telephone call to get price quotes. Oftentimes, if you explain the reason for your trip and that you are calling around to other companies for quotes, each company will try to under-quote their competitors in order to get your business. Customer service agents do their best to get you to rent from them so be sure and take advantage of this by speaking with a live person first.

Ask if the rental club checks driving records. Many consumers do not know this, but when you give the rental company a copy of your driver's license and sign the rental agreement and release, you are giving the rental company the right to check your driving record through the DMV. Many rental companies can increase the rental price or refuse to rent you a vehicle if you have multiple tickets or accidents appearing on your driving record. So be sure to ask about this before signing anything.

Learn more about hidden fees and extra insurance. When renting a vehicle from a car rental company, they each will assess small fees to increase the rental rate. Fees like vehicle refueling charges, cleaning fees, late return fees, and extra insurance can really rack up. In many cases, if you have your own insurance policy for your own cars, your insurance carrier will cover your rental vehicle for no additional cost to you for liability and collision. You do not have to purchase the additional insurance that car rental companies sell- these policies are often grossly over-inflated and useless.

Check with your company for corporate rates. If you are traveling for business purposes, the best thing to do is check with your corporate travel or human resource department to see if your company is eligible for any corporate rates with rental companies. Oftentimes, they will be able to provide you with a special code to use or a contact that will allow you to rent a car for a reduced price. You can hold onto this code and use it later for personal use if you wish and save even more.

Join a club. That's right, if you want to save money join a travel club like AAA or AARP. The memberships cost very little, but the savings you will realize on car rentals, hotels and other travel amenities over time will be well worth it. Many club members save as much as 50% of their travel costs, including car rentals.
Source
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/how-to-save-money-on-car-rentals-892304.html

Deadly outbreak of swine flu in US, Mexico

2009-04-28T11:36:00.000-07:00

World health authorities on Friday rushed to tackle flu outbreaks in the United States and Mexico that have killed at least 60 people and have pandemic potential.

Hundreds of people in Mexico have been infected and 60 have died from suspected swine flu, while seven human cases have been confirmed in the United States, a World Health Organisation spokeswoman said.

The WHO, which has identified swine influenza as a potential source of a human flu pandemic, activated its global epidemic operations centre while Mexican authorities closed schools in Mexico City and the centre of the country.

Mexico's Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova urged people to avoid large crowds, shaking hands, kissing people as a greeting, or using the subway.

"This afternoon the epidemic was confirmed by Canadian and US labs to be a new influenza virus," Cordova said in a televised statement late Thursday.

But it was unclear if the Mexican flu virus was the same one implicated in the confirmed swine flu outbreaks in the southwestern United States.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said the "novel" A/H1N1 influenza identified in at least two of the recent cases by US counterparts might have a risk of developing into a pandemic-type virus.

"The infection of humans with a novel influenza A virus infection of animal origins as has happened here is of concern because of the risk, albeit small, that this could represent the appearance of viruses with pandemic potential," the ECDC said on its website.

Referring to "swine flu cases that have broken out in the United States in Mexico," WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib said there are "now a total of seven known cases in the United States."

They included five in California and two in Texas, in three clusters, Chaib told journalists.

"Meanwhile in Mexico unusual end of season influenza activity began to be noticed at the end of March, peaking in April."

"To date there have been some 800 suspected cases with flu-like illness, with 57 deaths in the Mexico City area," the WHO spokeswoman said.

Twenty four suspected cases and three deaths were also recorded in San Luis Potosi in central Mexico, she said.

Mexico's health minister reported a total of 20 deaths late Thursday.

"The virus is being described in the United States as a new subtype of A/H1N1. Mexico so far hasn't said anything about the virus, what type of virus it is," said Chaib.

Most of the Mexican cases were found in healthy young adults with no known record of prior illness.

The WHO said it was in constant contact with health authorities in the United States and in Mexico.

Human outbreaks of H1N1 swine influenza virus were recorded in the United States in 1976 and 1988, when two deaths were recorded, and in 1986. In 1988 a pregnant woman died after contact with sick pigs, according to the WHO.

In recent years the global focus for a pandemic has shifted to the H5N1 bird flu virus, which has spread from poultry to humans and killed 257 of the 421 people infected by the virus since 2003.

WHO experts have pointed out that pigs have been implicated in the emergence of new influenza viruses responsible for two of the previous century?s influenza pandemics.

If a pig is simultaneously infected with a human and an avian influenza virus, it can serve as a "mixing vessel" for the two viruses that could combine to create a new more virulent strain.

Source

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/health/141540/deadly-outbreak-of-swine-flu-in-us-mexico

Nasa moon launch may be delayed until after 2020

2009-04-28T11:23:00.002-07:00

Moon fleet: A collage of Nasa's Constellation programme, showing the Ares I crew launch vehicle (left) and Ares V cargo launch vehicle. Photograph: Nasa

Nasa's plans to return astronauts to the moon are quietly being revised and are in danger of slipping past 2020.

In meetings over the last few weeks at the Kennedy Space Centre, agency managers have told employees and contractors that they are delaying the first lunar launch of the Ares V rocket - a cargo hauler slated to be the most powerful rocket ever built - by two years.

Nasa's internal plans had called for Ares V to go to the moon in 2018, though the agency had announced a public goal of 2020. Internal deadlines are used by Nasa to keep programmes on track and to provide a margin of error for developmental problems.

But because of growing budget woes, the agency is resetting its internal date to 2020. And privately, engineers say that means the public 2020 date to send humans back to the moon is in deepening trouble.

The news is another major blow to KSC; the facility had hoped to get the moon-rocket programme up and running as quickly as possible to offset thousands of job losses from the space shuttle's retirement next year.

One contractor sent a BlackBerry message this week to the Orlando Sentinel following a meeting with KSC officials who told his group about the decision to delay Ares V.

"It was not received with enthusiasm," the contractor wrote. "[We] understand what that means for the work force."

In a speech last week, former Nasa administrator Mike Griffin blamed the White House - especially the Bush administration. He said that money available for Ares V and other moon projects had dropped from roughly $4bn (£2.7bn) through 2015 to just $500m.

"This was to be allocated to early work on the Ares V heavy-lifter, and the Altair lunar lander," he told the National Space Club at the annual Goddard Memorial Dinner. "With only a half-billion dollars now available, this work cannot be done."

Nasa officials would not comment.

"We cannot discuss any changes to Ares V until after the budget is officially released at the beginning of May," spokesman Grey Hautaluoma said. "Nothing definitive can be said about Ares V development cost at this point in time."

Source
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/apr/23/nasa-moon-launch-budget-delay

Two New Devices from Apple: Category Defining 'Media Pad' and 'iPhone Lite'?

2009-04-28T11:23:00.001-07:00

Apple and Verizon partnership rumors seem to have taken on a life of their own with multiple reports that the companies are planning to work together as early as 2010. Businessweek provides the most intriguing report yet with claims that Apple could be working on releasing two different devices with Verizon: an iPhone Lite and a Media Pad.

One device is a smaller, less expensive calling device described by a person who has seen it as an "iPhone lite." The other is a media pad that would let users listen to music, view photos, and watch high-definition videos, the person says. It would place calls over a Wi-Fi connection. One of these devices may be introduced as early as this summer, one person says.

BusinessWeek was able to confirm with Verizon Wireless CEO Lowell McAdam that Verzion had been in talks with Apple but could not get any details from McAdam.

Instead, the magazine cites "two people familiar with the subject" as the source for these two possible Apple devices. The Apple media pad is said to be smaller than Amazon's Kindle ebook reader but its touchscreen is bigger than the Kindle's. The source predicts that this new product will be a category defining breakthrough device:

"The media pad category might go to Verizon," said the person who has seen the device. "We are talking about a device where people will say, 'Damn, why didn't we do this?' Apple is probably going to define the damn category."

Meanwhile, the iPhone Lite is said to be thinner, smaller, and cheaper than the current iPhone. Most of the cost savings are said to come from a new system-on-chip that has reduced costs.

Source
http://www.macrumors.com/2009/04/27/two-new-devices-from-apple-category-defining-media-pad-and-iphone-lite/

AMD Athlon X2 7850 BE review

2009-04-28T11:20:00.000-07:00

Budget is one of the keywords that AMD likes to address. It's a huge market and really, what's not to like about it ? Today AMD is adding another budget processor to their line-up, in specific the AMD Athlon X2 7850 BE 2.8 GHz (Black Edition) and here at Guru3D.com we will take a look at it.

A 2.8GHz clocked dual-core processor with 3MB of total cache, 512KB of the L2 variety per core and 2MB of shared L3 cache per chip developed under ASIC codename KUMA, and that means it really is a 1st generation Phenom processor.

To top it off, this processor will also be a Black Edition chip which overclockers should like very much. To top it off, the product costs merely 79 USD. Not bad .. or is it ?

Check out this full Guru3D review right here.

Source

http://www.guru3d.com/news/amd-athlon-x2-7850-be-review/

How to become a successful Niche Marketer

2009-04-28T11:18:00.000-07:00

How to become a successful Niche Marketer What is Niche Marketing? There are many people doing Internet Marketing today. Many of them would agree that one of the easiest and fastest ways to earn money online is to write product reviews. So the important point here lays that on what product to select. Niche Marketing is a term which is commonly used in Internet Marketing to target a certain group of people. The main focus is on people who have similar interest as well as needs. How to do Niche Marketing Effectively Today as you are aware, there is a tough competition in the online market. So it is important for you to withstand this competition in affiliate marketing and succeed in earning good affiliate commissions. For this purpose, it is essential to focus on a certain niche and do research on the same. For that you need to find those products that is within your niche and that has low competition as well as good volume. Once a thorough research has been done and product selected, it is necessary to select those keywords that will get you a good ranking in Google or other Search Engines and frame the contents accordingly. After doing this, it is necessary to have a website or blog to incorporate the products and contents. Today there are many individuals or corporate who provide ready made niche review sites or niche review templates with attractive features as well as other benefits like bonuses and also write articles on review products. There are many affiliates who have good niche products and contents but do not have good sites to promote and hence lose their affiliate commissions. This would definitely affect their earnings. So it is equally important to have the site presentable so that you get lots of traffic or visitors visiting your site. Finally you have to know the art of promoting your niche site. There are various methods like writing articles or visiting other people’s blog and writing comments. The important aspect is that on account of less competition in Niche Marketing, your product stands to gain in the online market. Moreover, it is a sort of real marketing which is very effective provided it is done in the right way and also could help you in earning a substantial income.

In order to become a leading Niche Marketer and earn large affiliate commissions, you need to visit this site Niche Review Templates and learn how to make money.

Source

http://www.amazines.com/Affiliate_Programs/article_detail.cfm/868904?articleid=868904

Finding the Suitable Acne Soap for You

2009-04-28T11:14:00.000-07:00

Browsing the internet would expose you to thousands of acne soap solutions. In the middle of your bewilderment, you are only to realize that good words and fanciful packaging are not enough to lead you to the soap that suits your skin.

Before jumping into impulsive buying, be sure to know these three pointers that point you to the right one.

Price

While most of the wonderful gifts in the world are in small packages and from highly marked-tag section, it is not a guarantee that it works even for acne soaps. Understand that packaging and transport expenses play a big role in dictating the market price of every commodity, so you better change your notion that high price guarantees immediate effect. However, doubtful cheapness deserves a thorough examination.

Type

You must have known now that the type of your skin matters largely in finding the right acne soap. In fact, it must be your top most priority.

Be guided that if your skin is sensitive, you must lean on the most natural acne soap. A sensitive skin must only receive mild formulas which are mostly unscented.

Meanwhile, if your skin is having much acne flare-ups, you must be in need of antibacterial soaps. Most of effective antibacterial acne soaps have triclosan and salicylic acid in their content.

Lastly, if you think that excessive skin oil is what bringing you with much trouble on your skin, then look for acne soap solutions with non-comodegenic formulas.

Texture

Though this may not matter much on the effectiveness factor, the texture of acne soap will determine your satisfaction and ease. You can choose from liquid, cream, foam, beaded, bar and many others.

Remember, you must be extra careful in trying out soaps which are not familiar to you. Be sure that you are done figuring out if the acne soap you are about to use pass excellently in the three pointers given above.

Source

http://www.articlesbase.com/acne-articles/finding-the-suitable-acne-soap-for-you-881972.html

Coffee, The Joys Of Drinking Coffee At Home Are Immense

2009-04-28T10:16:00.000-07:00

Whenever you happen to be feeling down and fatigued and you want to get out of your sleepy mode then all you need to do to perk yourself is drink a steamy cup of coffee. In regard to coffee, the joys of drinking coffee you can take heart from the fact that there is perhaps no better option when it comes to staying fresh and energetic than consuming a cup of coffee and it is also a great beverage to help you watch sporting action as well as movies. It is hard to imagine life without a daily cup of coffee because this is more than a beverage; it is medicinal as well.

No More Heart Attacks

According to research on coffee, the joys of drinking coffee it has been found that a cup of coffee helps to reduce the risk from heart attacks and as long as you don't drink too much of this enervating beverage you can hope to stay in perfect health. To ensure that you get the most out of this beverage it is a good idea to purchase a coffee grinder or coffee maker or even an espresso or cappuccino machine which will then give you a better chance of drinking your coffee and get the joys of drinking coffee.

Modern coffee makers are able to produce fresh coffee that tastes good and which are easy to use. Even the Cappuccino and espresso machines do their bit to ensure that you get the most out of your daily dose of coffee. In fact, in regard to coffee and the joys of drinking coffee the espresso and Cappuccino machines ensure that you always have something delightful to serve to your guests. There no doubts the fact that both espresso and Cappuccino coffee are immensely popular and so whoever you serve these types of coffee to will welcome being given a popular beverage to relax and unwind with. The best part is that the coffee machines do all the work for you and you have to do little more than switch on the machine and the pour out the drinks once they are ready. Now that is why coffee and the joys of drinking coffee make you want to serve only this beverage.

If you are even more concerned about learning about coffee and the joys of drinking coffee then you might want to learn to grind the coffee beans and so brew even more refreshing cups of this wonderful beverage that will provide a distinct taste to add to the immense joy that you will already have got from just preparing the coffee.

Today, with so many excellent options in so far as preparing your coffee go you can even get the exact taste that you want and so get drink your coffee and get the greatest joy of drinking coffee. There is now no longer a need to depend on coffee shops for your coffee because you can easily create your own special tastes without even stepping out of the home.

The best part about coffee and the joys of drinking coffee is that modern coffee makers are not only easily available but their costs have come down and so you can save money in not having to buy your coffee from a coffee shop and also at the same time not have to pay too much to make the coffee at your home. Even more exciting is the fact that the modern coffee makers are smaller and more compact in size and so you don't need to have a lot of space to store them in your home.

In regard to coffee and the joys of drinking coffee it must also be pointed out that modern coffee makers can brew enough coffee for a small gathering of people (at most eight people) and so it does help you enjoy your coffee with friends and relatives without needing to go down to a coffee shop for the pleasure of drinking tasty cups of coffee. And, if you buy an automatic coffee machine then you get even more joy from your coffee.

Source
http://www.articlesbase.com/food-and-beverage-articles/coffee-the-joys-of-drinking-coffee-at-home-are-immense-889920.html

Best Treatment For Acne Vulgaries – Acne OTC Medication

2009-04-28T10:12:00.000-07:00

Acne vulgaries is a kind of skin stipulation that results in swelling in the skin, usually more common on the face. This is commonly noticed in teenagers who are in the verge of puberty which may even pass to adult stage of their life.

To avoid the permanent scars and marks due to acne over the face, neck and chest, precautionary treatment should be taken. Methodology and intensity of treatment differs between individuals which depend on the percentage of results with regard to treatment on suffering of skin.

Benzoyl Peroxide in Acne Treatment:

Acne treatment for less severe to minimal case of sufferings can be treated with Benzoyl Peroxide. This particular product shows great results, which is evident through many people who used it for treatment.

Benzoyl peroxide usage should be followed continuously as this removes the clogs of skin pores filled with keratin over dead skin. For treatment it is available in gel, cream, solution and soap based forms, where usage is suggested based on acne treatment procedures.

Antibiotics in Acne Treatment:

Another effective method of acne treatment is using antibiotics, which is available in the form of ointments where the absorbed antibiotic acts on bacterial destruction. Antibiotics kill the bacteria which are responsible for swelling and stops further prevailing.

Some individuals are sensitive to antibiotics hence treatment for them has to be undergone in strict supervision of doctor for more effectual results.

Hormonal Treatment for Acne:

In case of individual suffering form acne due to hormonal imbalance of puberty and menstruation period, hormonal pills with suggested ointments and best hygiene habits of skin provides them with effectual results. Mostly using hormonal pills, shows better results as it takes just little efforts to control the hormonal imbalance.

Treatment process of acne differ form individual to individual based on severity, doctors recommend combination of the above or one of the above to get notable relief from blemished of acne. Preventive treatment helps to control acne by practicing better hygiene methods of skin.

Source
http://www.articlesbase.com/acne-articles/best-treatment-for-acne-vulgaries-acne-otc-medication-890440.html