Alternative to Siri for iPhone 4/iPhone 3GS

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There seems to be a big deal made of Siri which was recently introduced with the iPhone 4S and iOS 5 by Apple. Apple have been pushing the iPhone 4s as a new phone because of this one new software feature. However in reality, it’s more of a marketing strategy than anything. The iPhone 4s and iPhone 4 are very very similar, with just a few minor hardware boosts to be found here and there.

Unless you think that Siri is something that you’ll be using every day and that you need another few megapixels in your camera, then it’s not really worth splashing out to upgrade to the iPhone 4s. So I’ve got a solution for you instead. If you’ve currently got an iPhone 4 or iPhone 3GS then there is some alternative free solutions to Siri.

Dragon Go

Dragon Go is a free app available on the app store that does just as good as job as Siri for all you users who don’t have the iPhone 4S. (It works not only on the iPhone,but also newer iPod Touch’s and the iPad)

It works just like Siri, you simply speak to it by telling what it is you want. It will deliver you to the best mobile sites best on what you’re looking for, ie. Accuweather.com for the weather, Fandango for showtimes and trailers etc..

 

What’s more, it also offers a few complimentary results at the same time, so if it doesn’t get it right straight off, you can easily swipe over to an alternative suggestion.

It’s very useful altogether, say you’re looking for “Cowboys & Aliens Showtimes”
A few things will happen:

  • You’ll be brought to Fandango featuring movie trailers, showtimes and ticket purchasing for your local theaters.
  • You’ll also have the option to see what people are saying about it on Twitter in one of the tabs
  • And you’ll be able to flick over to Wikipedia and learn more about the movie as well.
All this is achieved with just one search, now that’s better than what Siri can do. And if you’re not in the mood for speaking to it, you can also type and you’ll get the same results.
Download it from the iTunes Store
You can have a look at it in action below

And just for fun here’s a little something to give you a laugh over Siri

Are you using Dragon Go? How’s it working out for you?

 

We’re A Movin!

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Hey Guys,

Just thought I’d give you all a quick little update,

The reason things have been pretty static over the last few days is because I’m currently in the process of moving all my sites over to a new server. I think the move is pretty much complete now (at least I hope so) and as far as I can tell it’s gone off without a hitch (fingers crossed)

I’ve moved to a new host because my old one was just a disaster, once they suspended my account because it saw a small increase in traffic (and I’m not talking about hundreds of thousands here, not even tens of thousands) and ever since I’d swear they’ve restricted my account somewhat and it seems to be down more than it’s up.

So I said to hell with them and now I’ve moved to a new host letshost.ie

So far everything seems to be going well with them, and their tech support is flawless, getting back to me nearly as soon as I email them and always having a solution and being ever so helpful.

Let’s just hope that their hosting service is just as good (which I’m sure it is)

Anyways, just thought I’d fill you in

Hopefully normal service will resume soon!

 

 

How to Ensure Safety in Cloud Computing

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With more and more consumers switching over to mobile devices, cloud computing has grown into a major industry. Cloud storage is a system in which data is stored virtually. Typically, third parties host the platforms on which cloud computing takes place.

Many people are still hesitant to make the switch to cloud computing. They fear that clouds are not secure enough for private information. It is true that the early hours of cloud computing were rife with security issues. Since then, servers have worked hard to ensure that information stays safe from prying eyes. However, like any other technology, cloud computing comes with its hazards. Most problems can easily be avoided by using the following simple precautions:

Choose a Decent Password

The most vulnerable area of cloud computing for any user is the password needed to access stored documents. Unfortunately, many people are terrible about choosing passwords. They choose convenience over keeping their information safe. Many users choose to either type their own first name or even the word “password.” These also happen to be the first passwords hackers use when breaking into an account. When selecting passwords for virtual servers, choose an assortment of letters, numbers and symbols. Be sure to write the password down somewhere safe. If you suspect that your cloud has a poor password, it is never too late to change it.

Encryption

Despite the best efforts of security experts, hackers still manage to sneak their way into precious stores of information. With encrypted text, you can ensure that hackers won’t understand anything they find on virtual servers. They will have gone through quite a bit of work, only to find a ton of jumbled text that they can’t decipher.

Back Up Important Files

If you still feel ill at ease about having a cloud, be sure to back up files. Documents filed on virtual servers are rarely lost, but the existence of a physical hard drive may offer some valuable ease of mind. With a physical backup, you’ll still be able to enjoy the benefits of cloud computing without worrying about losing invaluable files.

Be Careful with File Sharing

One of the major benefits of using a cloud system is that you can easily share documents with coworkers, clients and anyone else. However, you need to make sure that you fully trust whoever you decide to share information with. In the wrong hands, certain files can be devastating. Be sure to use the same level of precaution in sharing information as you would if you chose to physically hand a document to another person.

What Internet Marketers Wish You Knew

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There are a lot of myths and misconceptions in the world of internet marketing, and a lot of so-called “experts” that prey on the ill-informed, confusing people that want to get started with online marketing, and making life difficult for the more reputable SEO agency groups.

Here’s a few of the more common online marketing myths:

  1. Online marketing is expensive: If you’ve spent a lot of money with an online marketing company, and not had good results, then you’ve been ripped off. A reputable SEO agency should be able to help you find a package that’s within your budget. Even a small scale campaign should show results.
  2. Search Engine Rankings and Sales are Related: Good search engine rankings are only half the battle. Don’t invest in online marketing if you don’t have a plan for what you’ll do with the traffic you get.
  3. SEO is a One Time Thing: Once a disreputable online marketing company has your money, they don’t care what happens in the long term. A fly-by-night SEO agency will get you a few links, and then leave you to it. A reputable agency will explain to you that you need a steady flow of SEO work if you want to keep the top spot.
  4. You need a lot of traffic: Don’t be dazzled by high traffic stats if your sales haven’t increased in kind. The quality of traffic is a lot more important than the quantity of traffic.
  5. Social media is a waste of time: There’s been a backlash against social media in SEO circles recently, but a lot of the backlash has come as a result of shady companies that used social media spamming as a way to get traffic. Spamming social media sites is a waste of time, but if you know how to use social media correctly, you can get some good results.

If you’re thinking of hiring an SEO agency, be sure to shop around and ask for some testimonials first. Contact the people who gave the testimonials, and do a bit of searching yourself. Is the site ranking well for sensible keywords? Does the site have high quality incoming links? Did the online marketing company get results by safe, sensible methods, or did they use “black hat” techniques? A black hat technique is anything shady or underhanded – for example, using invisible links, spam, or bulk link-building techniques that are likely to create links that will vanish quickly.

Remember, you are paying an online marketing company to act on the behalf of your business. You need to be able to trust them to act responsibly on your behalf. Online marketing does not have to cost a lot of money, and you don’t absolutely have to get to the top of the search engine results, or get millions of visitors in order to do well. A reputable company understands all of this, and will help you to grow your business in a slow, steady, and sustainable manner.

Make Your New Website User-Friendly

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If there is one thing that is absolutely necessary for doing business online, it is an attractive and easily navigated website for your customers. Although the nuances of creating websites are beyond the time frame and learning curve of all but expert web designers, there are many tools including online website builder sites that can help a great deal in creating smart looking and easily navigated websites for small and medium sized businesses.

Click to Visit Viral Bamboo for Web Design

Check out Viral Bamboo, my new company if you want some web design work done!

Here are some tips on creating your own website using an online website builder or hiring a third party, or even doing it yourself:

1. Keep It Simple

Whether you hire an outside company or choose to do your website yourself, you must remember that complexity is not your friend online. Keep your website simple and no matter how much you might think you are missing, compared to a corporate competitor, your customers will definitely thank you for providing them with easy navigation rather than a messy convoluted website full of all kinds of needless multimedia.

2. Test It

Whether you create your website with an online website builder or you outsource it to a third-party, you must definitely test the first iteration of your website on your audience and make changes according to the analytics you receive. You may find that a set up you thought looked great confuses your audience, or something that your audience would  like is missing. Your first draft should never be your last. Your website should constantly change based on the needs of your audience and your search engine optimization analytics.

3. Communication Is The Key

No matter what type of site you choose to produce, you must make sure that it is set up for a two-way communication between you and your audience. People have long since outgrown the static website which doesn’t allow them to interact and provide feedback. You must make room for comments sections, suggestion boxes and different sorts of interactive techniques including giveaways or promotions with connection to your social media platforms. You’ll also do much better in search engine optimization rankings if you connect your landing page to social media and review websites.

4. Keep It Dynamic

Whether you have to create a separate blog or do a new role at the top of your website, you must do something to keep your website current and up-to-date with news relevant to your industry. There are so many websites to choose from so keeping everything up to date sets you apart from the competition and keeps the audience interested in what you can offer.

Rising Trend: Watching TV on Mobile Devices

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Do you remember a time when TV shows were watched on TV? Of course, you are probably still doing that, but in several years, do not be surprised if that big screen is traded in for a smaller, mobile device. Statistics and studies have shown that mobile TV is becoming exceedingly popular.


Larger providers like Time Warner Cable and Xfinity Internet are making this trend accessible to nearly everyone, and with so many people on the go, there are plenty of opportunities to watch TV through a mobile device. Popular subscription services like Netflix and Hulu are on board as well, making mobile TV watching a feasible alternative to large-screen viewing. Many popular shows are available through these services, and with on-demand subscriptions, you can watch many programs and movies whenever you want.

What is Mobile TV?


Mobile TV applications offered through Xfinity Internet and other service providers are used on mobile devices such as iPhones and iPads as well as Android devices. When you download one of the many apps available, you are taken to an area where you can select a channel and program you want to watch. There are often several episodes available, so you can watch the newest episode or classic reruns.

How Many Shows Are Available?


This isn’t a hard-and-fast statistic, but on average, 90% of all popular shows on large broadcasting networks are included. Depending on the app you choose, some programs may be more readily available than others. All in all, nearly all of the more popular programs will be available to users.

Does it Cost Anything?

Yes and no, and this is one reason why mobile TV is becoming more popular. There is normally a subscription fee. However, it is generally part of your normal internet or cable bill. Users are given a specific number of minutes or megabytes (MB) that they are allowed to watch each month without being charged.

Since the service is “free,” rather it is already being paid for, there is no reason to decline using mobile TV. Otherwise you are spending money for nothing, and most providers will not revoke this charge.

There are free options. Many of these apps are supported by advertisements, but for users not willing to pay the subscription fee, the ads will have to be tolerated.

Where Can I Watch Mobile TV?

This is one of the biggest reasons why the mobile TV trend is exploding and reaching new heights. If you want to watch TV on a TV set, you need to be in a specific room. If you watch TV through a laptop, while you can bring it anywhere, there may not be a hotspot and the size of the laptop may make watching TV from it rather restrictive.

Mobile devices can be easily carried, so there will be no size restrictions. Not only can you go anywhere and still watch TV, but most phones are automatically connected with a data service plan that allows you to use internet. Instead of a hotspot with most laptops, you get a direct signal, so you should always have an internet connection, meaning you can watch these programs virtually whenever you want.

Sounds Great, What Are the Disadvantages?


With all of the advantages of mobile TV, you may be wondering if there are any disadvantages. In truth, they aren’t all that bad. Since most mobile TV apps optimize downloading times, it typically doesn’t take long to download an episode, but you may get the “Buffering” message every now and then.

Also, the mobile screen is small, but you can easily bring it closer to make the image appear larger. Since every show is not available, you may not be able to see your favorite series, but with 90% of popular shows, 9 times out of 10 you will be satisfied with the experience.

This trend is growing because the technology and convenience of mobile TV makes it very appealing, and there are no signs of it slowing down.

Blake Sanders is a tech writer at broadband comparison site Broadband Expert. Blake specializes in high speed internet providers like Xfinity internet, as well as cell phone news and wireless industry information.

 

Note: Photo courtesy of bekathwia via FlickR Creative Commons.

How To Use Google Music From Outside The United States

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I’m sure that most of you have all heard about Google Music by now. The internet giant has had a limited beta running for a while now, but this week Google finally rolled out Google Music Beta to everyone in the United States. The service is free and lets you store 20,000 songs in the cloud. You can then access them from anywhere in the world,, either through the google music website, or via the Google Music app on your phone.

Google also teamed up with several of the major record labels to let you buy tracks as well.

The only problem is if you live outside the United States (Like me) you’ll be greeted with the message

“We’re sorry. Google Music is currently only available in the United States”
But fear not! There is a way that everyone can use Google Music!
You see the thing is, Google will only check your IP once and only once to see if you’re located in the United States or not. So once your in, your in.
You’ve 2 choices:
  1. Fly over to the United States and sign up for Google Music in a Starbucks cafe
  2. Trick Google into thinking that you are in the United States
For the first option, you’ll probably want to head over to your local airlines website. But if you’d rather try the second option read on.
All you have to do is change your IP address so you can access Google Music. So all you need to do is use a proxy server.

1.Head over to http://www.proxy4free.com/ and find a proxy that is based in the United States.

Here’s one that I found. They’re always changing so if one doesn’t work, try another. Also you’ll need to make sure you use one that has cookies enabled on it (generally you’ll see an option somewhere for it)

2.Next up make your way over to https://music.google.com/ through the proxy.
With a bit of luck, you won’t be greeted with the message “We’re sorry, Google Music is currently only available in the United States”. If you did get this message, then try a different proxy.

3.Now it should ask you to log into your Google Account. Do this and then you’ll be asked to accept the terms and conditions

4.And that’s it! You’re in to Google Music! Go ahead and download the music manager from the website and you can start uploading your music.

5.Of course because you’re not actually in the United States, you won’t be able to buy music from the store until it rolls out in your area.

6.And finally, I’m sure you want to get the Google Music app on your Android device. But since you’re not in the US it won’t be in the Android Market for you. However if you do a quick search for com.google.android.music.4.0.9.apk you’d be surprised what you can find :p Click here to get it

So there you go! That’s how you can get Google Music up and running, even if you don’t live in the United States

Enjoy!

Feel free to leave any comments or issues you have below

Mobile Phones 2011: Galaxy Nexus – Androids Flagship Device

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As well as the much talked about Apple iPhone, there is one other major competitor on the horizon. This competitor comes in the form of the Galaxy Nexus.

The Galaxy Nexus had been described as simple, beautiful and smart. These three little words really sum the handset up and such a model is certainly proving just as popular as the renowned iPhone.

Google have in fact teamed up with Samsung in order to unveil their very first smartphone to run with the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich platform. This particular software has been created to work with both tablets and mobile devices, which makes it a great option for the tech savvy individual.

The handset above is the follow up of the Google Nexus S handset. The improvements include a range of hardware and software upgrades, which offer quite a bit of competition to the recently released iPhone 4S.

At the end of the day, however, you will know yourself if you are an Android or Apple fan and both will most likely always be the go-to handsets when it comes to mobile phones and their software.

The key features of the Galaxy Nexus include a 4.65in Super Amoled HD screen, which really works to bring content to life. Watching movies and viewing video and picture content is both exciting and attractive, and allows for an intense viewing experience.

The resolution of the screen comes in at 1280 by 720 and the phone also offers a dual-core 1.2 GHz processor as well as an impressive 1GB of storage in RAM with a choice of either 16GB or 32GB of internal storage. The handset you choose will depend on how you intend to use it. If it is to become your camera, your diary and your music player, then investing in the larger storage may be wise!

iPad Pocket Projector

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The iPad projector is one of the handiest devices that you can use for your iPad, and you will find that entertaining yourself when on the go is much easier thanks to the simple device. The iPad pocket projector is small enough to fit into your pocket, but the picture it can display is large enough to make working or playing on your iPad much more enjoyable. Of all of the iPad accessories, the iPad projector is one of the most useful for the majority of tasks.

ipad projector

The iPad projector will come in handy in any number of situations:

  • Making a professional or business presentation is much easier thanks to the iPad projector. Rather than making your clients crowd around your iPad or having to copy your presentation onto your laptop, you can simply pull out your projector, connect it to your iPad, and display your presentation quickly and easily.
  • Playing games on your iPad can be a lot of fun, but imagine how much more fun it would be if you could see the objects up close and personal. You will find that working with the iPad projectors makes playing iPad games much more fun, as you can enjoy the high quality of the games without having to connect your tablet to your TV.
  • Enjoying music videos is much easier with the iPad projectors, as there is no need to squint to see what is going on in the videos. All you need to do is load your video, plug in the projector, and display your screen in large size as you blare your music.
  • YouTube parties are more and more common, but how many of your friends can display videos from their iPhone or iPad in large size? You will find that your YouTube parties are much more entertaining thanks to your iPad projectors, as you and your friends can enjoy high definition video that appears larger than life.
  • Surfing the internet with the small iPad screen is easy enough, but it will be much easier if you can see what you are looking for with the iPad projectors.
  • Copying photos from your camera to your iPad makes it easier to share them online, but using the iPad projectors will make it easier for you to edit and alter the photos with the iPad digital photo editor without having to squint to see every tiny detail.

These are just a few of the uses of the iPad projectors, and you will find that there are hundreds of situations where the projector will come in handy. Thanks to the fact that it is so portable, you will find that the pocket sized device will be ready available no matter where you are.

Want Good Hosting Advice? Want A Discount? Read This

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For anybody looking to launch a blog or website, one of the most important things to decide upon is choosing a web host. If you are already running a website and you’ve never encountered a problem like downtimes, poor technical support, or any other problem related to hosting, you should consider yourself lucky. For those, who weren’t that lucky, and who ended up hosting their websites with a second rate hosting service, it can turn out to be a nuisance. There are number of hosting services available out there, and you will see quite a difference in the prices, while the basic service appears to be almost the same. Many people make the mistake of choosing their hosts solely on the basis of price. To save some bucks, they end up choosing a substandard service that does more harm to their business than good. On the other hand, services which are satisfactory often charge almost double the prices.

Does that mean, either you pay hefty sums or you are left with no other option but a substandard hosting service? Thankfully, there’s an option that lets you enjoy the best of both worlds i.e. availing the discount coupons which are easily available for many reputable services. These coupons would let you sigh up with as much as 50% discounts. However, you must remember some common pitfalls while using coupon codes with hosting companies.

  • Remember it’s not a one-off payment:

Web hosting services are subscription based, which means that you’ll have to pay on monthly or yearly basis. Therefore, when using a coupon code, confirm that this discount will apply to future payments as well. Not all hosting companies provide lifetime discounts, but that doesn’t mean you should never use a coupon code if it doesn’t apply on all future purchases. Instead, you can take a look at the normal rates and decide if they’re reasonable. In case the discount applies on your first order, you can choose to pay for a year or more to get the maximum benefit. However, If the discount is valid for just one order and the normal rates appear beyond your reach, don’t go for it, because shifting your website from one host to another after some time is quite a hassle.

  • Know thy requirements:

Some hosts will try to up-sell by offering bundle packages, so it’s important for you to know your requirements and choose a package that doesn’t include unnecessary features. Web hosting services are all about packages, the basic features include the bandwidth, disk space, free domain name, number of domains that you can host, latest versions of MySQL or PHP, and the likes. Remember that for an average website, a shared hosting package is more than enough, so there’s no point in going for a dedicated host, no matter how tempting is the discount.

  • Put the prices side by side:

As I’ve earlier mentioned, prices tend to differ quite a lot from one host to another. There are various reasons for this deviation, some hosts are just middle-men, others are operating from a low cost region, and some provide excellent technical and customer support (hence they charge more). After going through some hosts and their packages, you should be having a basic idea of what’s the average price? When availing a coupon code, make sure that it offers a discount on the average market price and the hosting company hasn’t inflated their normal rates to a level where the availability of discount would still mean that you will be paying the average market price.

  • Quality comes first:

Many new hosts will try to offer mouth-watering discounts to attract clients. While there’s nothing wrong in it, but being a customer, you should make sure that you are not risking your plans by signing up with an inexperienced host that might fail to deliver the services in a satisfactory way. The idea is to choose the host, search and go through some reviews, and then search for the coupon codes with the company name like 123inkjets promo code or 4inkjets coupons. Chances are that you will find one for your desired service quite easily.