iPhone Application Builder- How to become an iPhone App Builder di 21.54

You may have heard about i Shoot, an i Phone app and its builder who was working with Sun Microsystems and built iShoot in his spare time. This iPhone app builder has quit his day job and become a full time developer. This is one example but there are many instances available that the developer of different domain becomes the iPhone app builder. If you want to become an iPhone app builder here are some tips for you.

Buy a Mac

iPhone is an Apple product and it needs development environment in Mac. iShoot was developed on old MacBook with 1GB of memory, knackered wi-fi and an Ethernet port. Mac Minis are powerful, easy on desk space. They are also easy to move round, developers can take them home at weekend!

Get the SDK

Apple provides free SDK (software development kit) on their developer site. You can download it and use for development. This kit has everything you need to get going, including development environment called X-code, the iPhone simulator for testing, performance analyzers, interface builders and the full documentation reference library.

Learn Objective C

This is primary programming language for iPhone development. It is nothing but extension of C to include object-oriented principle. It has scripting elements to it, so is easier to pick up than some languages and anyone with programming experience should be able to transfer their skills. Apple developer forum is the best place to ask your doubts and grow further.

Start Writing

Start writing something. Forget about the language you are going to learn. This is the most practical way of learning something quickly. This is more or less a standard procedure in the development community when you are exposed to a new platform. Something should appear on the screen. The SDK comes with example projects and you can learn it through reverse engineering. You can build it by your own way adding extra features.

Be Official Developer

To become an official iPhone app builder you are to sign up as an official developer at Apple store. There is a standard procedure and you can follow up easily. Sign up also helps you to test your code on actual iPhone rather than onscreen emulator. Once you are on the developer program you will receive a certificate which allows you to pair up with iPhone device.

Submit

Once you finish the development you submit your app to the Apple store. It is a simple and straightforward procedure. Upload the zip and select the icon and write the description and wait for the approval for a week.

This way you will become an iPhone app builder and earn lot of money with it.

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How to Locate Talented iPhone App Developers di 21.15

Find iPhone app developers whose talent and expertise take your app from conception to reality. It's not difficult to find an app developer, but it is difficult to find one that really understands how to make a stellar application. Read below as we share some of the common places people have found iPhone app developers. We also offer some tips on how to work with one once you've found him and her. After reading, you'll be prepared to begin your search. Good luck!

You will find iPhone app developers:

Online Some app developers advertise via online posting boards such as Craig's List. You may even find a few companies out there in cyberspace that claim to do only application development. These companies usually employ developers who are very tech-minded. It makes sense that the Web is a great place to find an iPhone app developer. After all, these professionals love all things tech-related and often find themselves gravitating toward such forums.
In phone book listings Many app developers eschew this route because they believe it to be antiquated. You are much more likely to find an iPhone app developer online.

At local electronics stores Nearly everyone working in the computer sections at electronic stores is tech-minded. Ask an employee if he or she knows of any great programmers. Word of mouth can often be the best way to find these techies, as they are praised when their work is great and vilified when it is not.

Once you've found a listing or company online that looks promising, do your homework. Ask for references. Compare pricing. Take a few of the applications the developer has made on test runs. Also, make sure rapport is open with this person because you are entrusting them to make your application look and run like the one you see when you close your eyes.

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Create An iPhone App - Easy Guide di 19.18

Learn To Create An iPhone App - My Guide

How would you like to offer < a rel="nofollow" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link/3577649']);" href=http://peerfly.com/x/0/1661/23445/>an iPhone application for your website or blog?

All the hardcore Objective-C developers have been having a hay-day writing apps for the iPhone. You might have even tried reading a tutorial or two about developing for the iPhone, but its C-or a form of it-and it's really hard to learn.

I don't want to say that you should give up on the objective: you can get it eventually. But in the meantime, there is something else that you can do. This involves no programming or something close to it. If you have an idea for an App, read on!
It's the buzz on the street. < a rel="nofollow" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link/3577649']);" href=http://peerfly.com/x/0/1661/23445/>The iPhone has created unprecedented excitement and innovation from people both inside and outside the software development community. Still for those outside the development world, the process is a bit of a mystery.

Keep it simple in the beginning. Start with a few simple ideas and execute them. By keeping your scope relatively small, you can get things done a lot faster. You can always expand some a project, once it works.

Sketch out your idea. By "sketch" I mean literally sketch. Line out a 9-rectangle grid on an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper and get to sketching! Ask yourself these questions:

- What information does each screen need to present?
- How can we take the user from point A to point B to point C?
- How should elements on the screen be pro portioned or sized in relation to each other (i.e. is this thing even tap-able?)

In short: Get your idea on paper and check out how to put it into a working App. Check out iPhone App developer for dummies for more information!

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A Forex Scalper Robot That Made An Insane 738% NET PROFIT With A Very Low Risk! di 16.27

Forex Scalping is one of the most popular forex trading strategy. Many forex traders are expert scalpers. They scalp the forex market multiple times each day raking in pips each time they enter the market. So what is forex scalping?

Forex Scalping is the art of quickly entering the forex market and making a few pips each time you enter the market. Something like 10-15 pips. The best time to scalp the forex market is when it is moving sideways or is in the consolidation phase.

You see most of the time, the market is moving sideways and is not trending. It is in consolidation. This is the best time to scalp the forex market. You enter the market quickly with either no stop loss or with a stop loss something like 50-60 pips.

Why you do that? Isn't it dangerous? Sure, it is. But since the market is moving sideways,apart from the random volatility, there is not much volatility in the market. It can only move a few pips on average. So, most forex scalpers don't eve like to enter a stop loss as they are so sure of making a few quick pips.

You enter the market, make 10-15 pips and simply get out. Take out the cost of entering the market and getting out that you pay in the shape of spread to the broker. Usually the spread can be something like 2-3 pips, so you pay 4-6 pips per trade. What this means is that you need to make at least these much pips in order to breakeven when you are scalping and recover your cost of trading per trade.

You must have observed one thing. In using forex scalping strategy, you are making only a few pips each time you enter the market. What this means is that you need to make a number of trades each day to make a decent amount of pips. And if you want to make a lot of money with forex scalping, then you will have to make a lot of trades each day.

This is something that is not humanely possible. You can't sit all day in front of your computer scalping in order to make a lot of money. This can only tire you and make you fatigued in the long run. But what if you could automate the whole process of forex scalping. This is precisely what this Forex Trading Scalper robot does.

It has automated the whole process of scalping. It makes trades so fast that you would be amazed. It makes many many trades each day raking in few pips each time it makes a trade. At the end of the day, when you count all those pips, you end up with a sack full of pips in your trading account.

The Forex Trading Scalper makes trades with a whopping 98% accuracy making the whole forex scalping process almost RISK FREE for you. You would be amazed to know this that this Forex Trading Scalper made an insane 738% NET PROFIT for Joseph Taylor who had little forex trading experience. He was lucky to trade with this forex scalping robot when his childhood friend Ben who was working for a big firm allowed him to trade with his secret forex scalping robot!

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How To Apply A Forex Scalping Strategy di 16.00

Theforex scalping strategy is a high intensity, which is based on short-term exchanges.Scalping forex trading is a technique in which operations are performed in a very short amount of time, usually from a few seconds to a few minutes (10-15).The high volatility of the Forex market that favors short-term trading strategy.

There are different types of approach to Forex scalping, ranging from 'technical analysis to' fundamental analysis of published data.The common denominator of this trading strategy is that the transaction will close quickly.

Like any trading strategy, scalping Forex also has its strengths and weaknesses.

One of the benefits arising out of forex scalping comes from the fact that the trader's risk factor is minimized.It lets you open and close positions quickly, bringing profits consistently, and reducing the possibility of large losses.Forex trading success requires a rigorous risk management (especially for traders with small capital)).With scalping, the risk becomes easier to manage, so many traders rely on just this type of strategy.

During a session of scalping, a trader opens speculative positions on a currency pair in order to achieve a profit after a very short time.It does not matter whether the medium or long term trend is bullish or bearish, because traders generally applies a forex scalping strategy is based on 1 minute charts and speculates on small fluctuations in the market.

One of the disadvantages that instead comes from Forex scalping is cost.For example, a trader buys one lot of EUR / USD 1.302 to 1.304, in the expectation of a strong uptrend.With two pip spreads from Forex Broker, the trader is already in a negative $ 20 when part of the order.So, assuming that there will be really a bullish trend, and the price will rise to 1322-1324, the trader will end up with a profit of 200 pips, the less the spread charged by the broker.The net profit will therefore be 198 pips.

Another trader could open the same position on the EUR / USD, the price going from 1.302 to 1.304.However, this trader could apply a different strategy, so it does not take open positions for more than 25 pips at a time.So, considering the same move of 200 pips, the traders open and close positions for eight times.This means you will have paid 2 pips spread for eight times for a total of 16 pips in the negative.At this point, the net profit will be only 184 pips.

There is therefore a clear trade-off between risk management and maximum profit.The second trader has the advantage of immediate profit and greater flexibility in periods of high volatility in prices.However, the trader pays the most commission, in terms of spread, its forex brokers.

In aggressive scalping is generally open only one position or a few at a time, but within hours they are opened and closed many operations.Forex scalping, if well managed, can lead to big gains thanks to the absence of commissions in the transaction, to the magnificent benefits of leverage, and the immense liquidity of the market that is active for 5 days a week, 24 hours 24.The stop loss is placed near the entry price, so you can minimize losses and close the position even with small profit margins.

To runforex scalping requires a great deal of attention and a trading platform that permits the application of this strategy.So fast and agile platform for entering orders, because small hesitation could undermine the position.During the forex scalping you can also aim at a greater profit when you are sure to be in a favorable trend.

Not all forex brokerslike scalping, indeed, many brokers will not allow it on their own accounts, brokers and others have created special accounts for scalping.In fact, when you choose a trading strategy, your forex broker of choice becomes crucial.

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Apple iPhone 3G 8GB di 15.51

The Apple iPhone 3G 8GB is probably the most anticipated pieces of technology this year; of course it's been out in the US for a while now with much anger from the US consumers over AT&T's iron grip approach to the use of the iPhone. Unfortunately it seems that AT&T was so influential in the design of the iPhone that no matter where you are in the world AT&T's influence can be felt. The iPhone is not just a phone. As always Apple has created a lifestyle product.

The iPhone is more an iPod Touch with a web browser, a camera, a go-anywhere mail client with the option to make phone calls when you feel the need. The excitement surrounding the iPhone is testimony to the brilliant minds in Apple's marketing department, because in all honesty the iPhone is not really that good. It's great to have a phone with extra functionality which the iPhone has a whole range of, yet it fails at the simplest phone orientated tasks. The iPhone has no Java app support, so those of you who use Mxit will be out of luck. The camera doesn't have a zoom, not even a digital one, and there is no option for taking videos. There is no MMS functionality which seems to be a step backwards for technology.

The fact that the iPhone is 3G and comes with a minimum of 250MB of data built into the contract will have some people dreaming of using the iPhone as a 3G modem, well unfortunately as we discovered there is no option to use the iPhone as a 3G modem (thank you AT&T) in fact to accomplish this little feat requires some serious workarounds.

It's these little nagging details that start to chip away at the iPhone's veneer, even Nokia's that go for less than half of the iPhone's price can meet these rather easy requirements. The iPhone does have a few redeeming factors, for those workaholics who have Microsoft exchange servers at their office the iPhone will happily receive your emails so you will never be out of contact; and for those who do not have to deal with the corporate world Gmail and Yahoolmail accounts are supported. Thanks to the 3G connection the iPhone web functionality really shines, Google Earth and Maps are built in, along with weather and stock market applications.

The best web app however is the YouTube application, with the 3G connection YouTube videos buffer extremely quickly and there is nothing like showing someone that funny YouTube clip that you saw instead of just telling them about it. The built-in WiFi means that you can use your home ADSL instead of the 3G connection. The iPhone's multi-touch screen is a great interface and it makes using the phone an addictive experience, while the sounds make the screen seem as responsive as a normal keypad until you attempt an SMS. The iPhone OS is extremely user friendly and the layout makes accessing all the functions simple. Apple hasn't included iTunes so you will need to download it to be able to move music and videos to the iPhone.

Although it lacks functions that most phones come with standard, there will always be a hushed tone when you pull it out your pocket in a crowded room - it really is that awe inspiring, even if it is just a fashion accessory.

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What You Need To Do To Get A Free Apple IPhone 4 di 12.54

There are lots of people who are not familiar with the testing program set up by major marketing companies. Right now there is an incredible opportunity to do some testing for Apple's latest inventions when they are new to the market, new products like the Apple iPhone 4 that is being handed out for FREE to individuals to test.

You may possibly think that it's impossible fore an outsider to test for Apple and that it is impossible to receive a free Apple iPhone 4 just for agreeing to do some testing.

Well, you couldn't be any more wrong! All you need do is to find the promotional websites online of marketing companies that have set aside a certain number of free Apple iPhone 4 phones for people that sign up as testers. Normally you are just required to fill out a survey or questionaire for your troubles and not provide them some long drawn out lengthy review. It doesn't get much more complicated than this.

What you need to understand is that there are these marketing companies that get millions of dollars each year to carry out marketing inquiries with the purpose of determining what people think of products and to get recommendations to improve them. To accomplish this, these companies must go out into the marketplace and recruit people to do the testing. They have to use inticements to get people's help. They are known to give away fancy gifts and toys (like a completely free brand new iPhone 4) to cajole us to hand over to them our true feelings about products and fill out their surveys. It's truly a win-win situation for every person that takes part because the company receives the information they need and a tester gets to keep the product tested, in this case a completely new Apple iPhone 4 for FREE!

Don't be fooled into believing people who say that everything on the Internet is loaded with gimmicks and falsehoods and that

it is not possible to get a fre e iPhone 4 just by agreeing to test it out. It really is true and is being done by testers everywhere! Find the online sites that have the testing offers, fill in your email address, and then hopefully you will be on your way to receive your free iPhone 4 for testing! Good luck!

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Explanations Why You Must Get Apple iPhone di 12.08

So long asit is an Apple, browsers will gather and acquire the latestcraze. This also means the Apple iPhone, simply the most in style and probably the most progressive of all of the touch screen phones available that you can purchase now. Its fine black case hides the countless programs designed for this cellular phone.

There are so many people that aspire to be Apple iPhone owners, regrettably they might need to live with a vexation of not having what theyfancy. That's because Apple is comparatively resistant to digital viruses plus all of the apps you will ever fancy of.

What are the pluses to acquire an Apple iPhone? Wellhere'ssomethings to think about:

The touchscreen works impeccably, not like some which are a malfunction

It'snot pricey

It's light as well as ergonomically right

You control more functions than you know very well what to do with

You obtain a high quality camera along with your cellular phone

It doesn't have a problem with 3G links

Thein-builtHTML browser allows you to surf the net

It processes different types of leisure applications and it can be used to play web video games.

It may be considered a gaming computer in a cellular phone as it can top an Xbox and also the PlayStation 2 rather easily

If it is to be used like a phone its sound system offer legible as well as crisp resonance which makes discussion very comfortable

You willby no meansstray with its built-in GPS as well as another functions previously programmed.

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Apple iPhone 4 - Coolest Gadget Ever di 11.15

Apple has given most stunning handsets that has met the expectations of millions of people. This, time Apple has given the most sophisticated handset Apple iPhone 4. The handset has the dimensions measuring 115.2x58.6x9.3mm. Very light to carry, the handset is measuring only 137 grams in weight. The stunning handset is released on June, 2010. It has 5MP camera with all the features like auto focus, LED flash, geo tagging, touch focus etc is provided in the handset. It gives fine quality pictures. Messaging can be done through number of options available such as SMS, MMS, Email, Push mail and so on. It is available in two gorgeous colors black and white. People can go for the most favorite color according to their choice.

Apart from all these, the smart handset is having number of other features like scratch resistant oleophobic surface, multi touch input method, accelerometer sensor for auto rotate, three-axis gyro sensor, proximity sensor for auto turn off. T he handset is having 16/32GB storage options. Apple iPhone 4 deals are the cost effective deals that are available at all the leading network service providers of UK like Vodafone, Orange, T Mobile, Three, O2 and many more. Cheap iPhone contracts are also available in which the user is required to sign a contract with a network service provider for some time. Monthly rentals are paid in contract deals. Apple iPhone 4 is best for personal and business use.

They are high tech gadgets that are appreciated by people of all ages. Apple iPhone 4 deals can be availed both online as well as offline. There is pay as you go and SIM free deals also available to suit different needs of mobile users. People can avail number of free gifts with the contract phones such as iPOD, play station, gaming consoles, mobile accessories, laptop, digital camera, LCD and much more. Number of offers and discounts are also there. Internet is one of the best options availabl e to look for the valuable information for these deals. There are online mobile comparison shops that .gives better idea to lock the most appropriate deal.

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Explode Your Income Through Affiliate Network Marketing di 11.01

I have a different definition of affiliate marketing scams then most do. I look at the 95% of the affiliate marketing companies as being totally deceptive which is leading to a 96% failure rate online.

With that said both affiliate and network marketing are awesome ways to generate multiple streams of income if your business is set up correctly.

Many companies will promote their tools as the best way to build your business. They offer to you sales pages, capture pages, autoresponders and so much more, sounds great right.

The fact is that 95% of those companies are all building their list, their database and their business not yours, that to me defines affiliate marketing scams, not to mention very deceptive. Sure they give you the bread crumbs in the form of a commission check but wealth online is built through your list and your blog.

Remember, once your business is dressed for success you can add any affiliate or network marketing company to your arsenal, but you won't be under their control.

Yes you need a blog. If you don't have one there are many videos out there that show you how to build one within two hours. The main key to building true wealth online is to build your list by having thousands of people per day coming to your blog, it's not that difficult.

The way you have your marketing funnel set up will dictate your success or failure. There are a few affiliate companies out there that place all the tools into your hands including a marketing funnel where you can build your list.

Niche domination will not only generate thousands of people to your blog for free, but you can see tremendous results in less than 30 days. Google is the largest search engine in the world because of the type of algorithms they have.

Simply put they give the searcher the content they are looking for usually on the first try. If Google can find a blog that offers more content that is relevant to the search, they will rank that blog on page one regardless of the age or page rank of that blog.

With niche domination what you are doing is creating at least three or four blog post with different keywords within the same niche. You now create all three post and interlink them with something called an anchor tag.

Let's say you are creating a blog post with the keyword article marketing tips, and you have two other blog post you are going to create with the keywords article marketing strategies and article marketing income. Within each of your post you will place the other two keywords within a sentence that links to those blog post.

Google now comes in and follows your links and instead of getting credit for just the content on that post you will now triple your word count, relevancy and keywords.

Not only will you get ranked on page one with at least two of those keywords, but Google will give you hundreds of other keywords within that niche where they will rank you highly because of the relevancy.

The results are total niche domination, tons of traffic, leads and income if you have your marketing funnel set up correctly.

If your true desire is to earn replacement type income you need to have the following within your business.

A Daily blueprint of very specific strategies that you should implement

A professional marketing funnel

A free gift to offer your prospects

Professional autoresponders

Capture pages

A very specific syndication strategy for your blog post that will get your blog in front of hundreds and thousands of people and websites

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How To Make Big Money Online Through Affiliate Network Marketing di 07.35

Affiliate network marketing is a concept that is fast catching on in the internet marketing world, thanks to the rising demand amongst people for opportunities to make big money online. People are now looking for 2nd and 3rd sources of income that they can earn on top of their regular jobs. The need for money and a better lifestyle is making them look to the internet to make some fast cash. This is why affiliate marketing is catching up fast as a business opportunity to be taken seriously.

There are several web development companies which are looking to expand their business to every corner of the world. The only way an online business can survive and make big money online is by ensuring that enough traffic is generated to their website and enough people sign up for their services on a regular basis. Such web development companies usually charge a minimal amount for their services which you will be required to pay up front. But the best part about their services is that they work on the basis of network marketing. This means that, if you, as a member of the company, refer a couple of people, you will be paid a commission.

This works for everyone because, the web company gets its share of traffic, some of which will eventually turn into sign ups for them, and the affiliates on the other hand, get paid commission for their referrals. For an affiliate, his or her commission earned through this system does not end when the people referred by them sign up for the company services. In fact, it is a never ending stream of income earning opportunity under which the referrals and the people referred by them will all generate income for you.

In simpler words, when you refer a person, you get paid for your services as an affiliate. But when the person referred by you in turn refers someone else, you will again get paid. This pattern will continue forever. You might even be surprised how far this kind of marketing techniques can reach. As an affiliate for such websites, you will find yourself getting paid for referrals of people who are located in places that you might not even be aware of. It is a very simple way to make big money online. Affiliate marketing is a concept that is truly bringing the world together.

So, the next time you think about how to make big money online, you should search for affiliate network marketing businesses that are ready to offer you commission for becoming their affiliates. This way, the more number of people you refer, the more money you make. And once you develop a strong network of people working as affiliate for you, you can even stop referring people yourself. You will still get paid from the ever expanding referral network that of yours.

Make big money online by researching and undertaking affiliate marketing work and start enjoying your life to the fullest with the extra money that you make.

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Tricks To Buying Online Office Supplies The Inside Scope To Buying The Best File Folders di 07.34

I hear from people constantly about how confusing it is shopping for office supplies online. There are so many office products and choices today. The category people moan about the most is Filing Supplies. There are literally thousands of alternatives to chose from, each with different colors, uses, sizes, brands and tab designs. Office supplies are my forte, so read on to learn the secret to shopping for filing supplies.

To begin, ask yourself what you are using your filing supply for. Maybe you just need standard folders to hold contents you keep in your office desk drawer, or take with you on sales calls. Standard file folders are probably the answer for you. Or, maybe you have tons of file folders already, but need a way to organize these folders in a filing cabinet. Then hanging folders are the ticket. These are folders with metal tabs on the side that slide along the rails of file cabinets, and can hold many more file folders together.

Are you organizing a lot of documents that require a folder with multiple sections or a big expansion? Then classification folders, or possibly box bottom folders are right for you. Classification folders have everything you need. Metal fasteners for securing your documents, different expansions from 1 to 3 inches, and they also come with different sections inside the folder, from 2 up to 6 sections. Box bottom folders are the big brother of hanging folders, and expand to 3\" to hold more contents than standard hanging folders.

Let\'s look at a fun choice next - color. Today most online office products companies have tons of color choices outside of standard green or manila folders. Purple, maroon, teal, lavender and other fashion colors are available. A helpful tip; always use color coding for your filing. That way you can simply look at the color of the folder in your file cabinet, or on your desk, and know right away what project or department that folder is for. Now let\'s look at size, an d there are basically two choices. Letter size, or 8-1/2\" x 11\" is the standard size used in most copiers and printers today, and is the most popular size. Legal size, or 8-1/2\" x 14\" is used by lawyers, realtors and bankers - those who work with a lot of legal documents.

The position of the tab is a critical feature to filing supplies. Tabs are also referred to as the \"cut\" of a folder, which refers to how many different tab positions there are in a box of folders. For example, the most popular tab design for hanging folders is called a 1/5 cut meaning there are 5 different positions, moving from left to right on a folder, that you can place a hanging folder tab on to label the contents that are in that folder. The most popular standard file folder cut position is 1/3 cut, meaning the box contains folders with a tab in the middle, one on the left and one on the right. There are many other position choices, just not as popular, so make sure and find the one right for your needs.

An important thing to understand about \"cuts\" or tab styles; there are two standard tab styles to chose from. The medical profession typically has substantial filing needs to keep track of customer records. They use medical filing systems with folders that are end tab. This means the tab is on the short side of the folder, on the \"end\", so you can apply an alphanumeric label on the end for organization. Most people prefer the top tab folder style which has tabs on the long side of your folder, like standard file folders in any office. In general hanging folders and file folders are normally top tab. Classification folders are many times preferred using the end tab, and Smead or Pendaflex brands are top selling.

As to the best brands, many standard folders are basically the same, and most people look to the best value. Brands like Universal tend to be popular and very competitively priced. If quality is important, than brands like Smead, Esselte Pendaflex and Globe Weis are long standing brands known for solid quality.

Let\'s not forget about the environment and recycled content in our file folders. Anytime I\'m buying a paper based office product I consider my \"green\" options before buying. The good news is, the filing supply industry has been on the recycled band wagon a long time. Most all standard file folders and hanging folders are made with a minimum of 10% post consumer waste recycled material, and most are 30%! Items not marketed as \"green\" are actually already doing what is right for the environment. There are also 100% recycled filing supplies available that are marketed as great green solutions. Most quality online office supplies companies have special sections of their websites for green/recycled products, so search them out.

So remember next time you are confused over the right filing supply for your needs - define the function, size, color, cut and tab position - and then it\'s simply a matter of selecting the brand and price that is right for you. As to selecting the right retailer for you, I recommend independent online office supply companies versus the big box chains. Most importantly, I support companies that give back to the community and do good wor k. There are new companies today using a business model of conscious capitalism, and I always support companies who follow this vision, not big corporate retailers.

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Prime Lens Vs Zoom Lens – Which Is Best? di 07.14

So, youre wanting to get a new lens, but youre not quite sure whether to buy a prime lens or a zoom lens. Both types of lenses have their advantages and disadvantages, and you want to make sure you make the right decision and get the lens which best fits your photographic needs.

In case you didn't already know, the main difference between a zoom lens and prime lens is that a zoom lens enables you to adjust your focal length within a certain range (for example 18-50mm), whereas a prime lens has a fixed focal length.

So you might be wondering what the point is of using a prime lens. Surely if you have the choice between a lens with flexibility and one with no flexibility, then surely the flexible one is the best one, isnt it? Well, its not really as straightforward as that, because prime lenses do have some advantages. To begin with, they are lighter than zoom lenses because they have less moving parts. Mechanically speaking, they are simpler.

In addition to this, prime lenses usually have wider apertures. The aperture of a lens determines how much light the lens lets in at any one time. Aperture ratings are in ratios, for example 1:3.5 or 1:2.8, but usually when buying a lens you will see it shown without the 1 in front of it, for example 3.5. Lenses with lower aperture numbers are more expensive, as a lower number means a wider aperture. Having a wide aperture produces a shallow depth of field, meaning that only a small distance range is in focus. A narrow depth of field (a wide aperture) would be great for close-ups of flowers where you want the background blurred, whereas a large depth-of-field (a small aperture) would be ideal for landscape photos.

Okay, so how about the zoom lens?

Well, a zoom lens will give you a bigger range of distances to compose your image. This means that you don't need to move closer or further away from your subject to get the picture you're after. I t can also be great for taking shots of wildlife, because you can zoom in without having to change your position, so you will be less likely to scare the animal away.
The best way to decide which type of lens is right for you is to ask yourself what type of photography you are going to be doing. If you are going to be photographing a scene which remains still, such as a landscape scene, then a prime lens could be a good choice. If on the other hand you want to photograph things that are moving, such as animals, people, or sports photography, then a zoom lens is a must.

So, youre wanting to get a new lens, but youre not quite sure whether to buy a prime lens or a zoom lens. Both types of lenses have their advantages and disadvantages, and you want to make sure you make the right decision and get the lens which best fits your photographic needs.

In case you didn't already know, the main difference between a zoom lens and prime lens is that a zoom lens enables you to adjust your focal length within a certain range (for example 18-50mm), whereas a prime lens has a fixed focal length.

So you might be won dering what the point is of using a prime lens. Surely if you have the choice between a lens with flexibility and one with no flexibility, then surely the flexible one is the best one, isnt it? Well, its not really as straightforward as that, because prime lenses do have some advantages. To begin with, they are lighter than zoom lenses because they have less moving parts. Mechanically speaking, they are simpler.

In addition to this, prime lenses usually have wider apertures. The aperture of a lens determines how much light the lens lets in at any one time. Aperture ratings are in ratios, for example 1:3.5 or 1:2.8, but usually when buying a lens you will see it shown without the 1 in front of it, for example 3.5. Lenses with lower aperture numbers are more expensive, as a lower number means a wider aperture. Having a wide aperture produces a shallow depth of field, meaning that only a small distance range is in focus. A narrow depth of field (a wide aperture) wo uld be great for close-ups of flowers where you want the background blurred, whereas a large depth-of-field (a small aperture) would be ideal for landscape photos.

Okay, so how about the zoom lens?

Well, a zoom lens will give you a bigger range of distances to compose your image. This means that you don't need to move closer or further away from your subject to get the picture you're after. It can also be great for taking shots of wildlife, because you can zoom in without having to change your position, so you will be less likely to scare the animal away.

The best way to decide which type of lens is right for you is to ask yourself what type of photography you are going to be doing. If you are going to be photographing a scene which remains still, such as a landscape scene, then a prime lens could be a good choice. If on the other hand you want to photograph things that are moving, such as animals, people, or sports photography, then a zoom lens is a must.

Its not always easy trying to make this kind of decision, but whatever you decide, a Canon EF 85mm or a Nikon 17-55mm 2.8 Lens are good examples of the type of lenses that will always be useful to have as part of your photography kit.

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Which Canon EOS Lens Is Best For A Beginner - 3 Hints For Choosing A Good All Purpose Lens di 06.29

What do you believe is your beginning consideration as a new digital SLR owner? It should be which lens you want as an all-purpose lens. Believe me, there are plenty of folks who have agonized over this decision.

There are many really superior lenses to consider as walk around lenses. It's kind of like buying a compact point and shoot camera, though. What zoom range are you looking for?

For the purpose of this article, it shall be assumed that you are searching for a zoom lens rather than one with a fixed focal length. Most, though not all, new owners opt for the Canon "kit lens" as their first lens. While choosing a kit lens may make sense to you now, you will likely not be happy with the lens down the road. You either think you will just wait and purchase a better lens later, or you don't even think about a different lens.

That is not my view. You should get the very best glass(lens) that money can buy rather than spending money on an inf erior kit lens. After all, you will want to upgrade fairly soon, anyway, so why not get more bang for your buck right up front.

There are several things to consider about the lens you are planning to buy.

First consideration is focal length. In general, a focal length of about 18-24mm on the short end and 55-75mm on the long end will give you a very useful range. Keep in mind that these numbers are not critical. There are also some excellent quality lenses that have about 105mm at the long end.

Canon, Sigma, and Tamron have recently released some pretty good lenses in the super-zoom category. These have focal lengths of 18mm at the short end and 200-270mm on the long end. They have gotten favorable reviews, however just keep in mind that the image quality will not be as good as those lenses with less zoom capability.

Second consideration is aperture. The best lenses will have a constant aperture of f/2.8 across all focal lengths. Y ou can almost always save money by getting a lens with a variable aperture, such as f/3.5-5.6, but they will not give you the same performance in all situations, especially when lighting is a challenge.

The final thing to scrutinize when buying your first lens is price. For some, this may be the first thing to consider, but with DSLR photography, it really needs to follow the other two factors. Rather than getting the cheapest lens on the market just to have one, it would be far better in the long run to save enough money to start with a good lens. Don't make the same mistake that so many who have gone before you. If good image quality is something you take seriously, you will not be satisfied with a poorly constructed lens. It is very frustrating to try to take great pictures with poor quality lenses.
Now, you can save money by using Canon EOS lenses from third party manufacturers. Some third party lenses are top-notch and less costly than a Canon lens that is identical in capabilities.

A word of warning. Camera forums can be very informative, and they are full of well-meaning photographers, but they can also be very confusing. This is because the folks in those forums are very passionate about their opinions. They can mislead you by bashing certain cameras and products. While this is not always the case, if it happens to you, it could cloud your thinking and mess up your research.

User opinions on the Canon USE camera manufacturer site are much more helpful. Then there are other sites that will guide you as well. These are FredMiranda.com and online stores like Amazon.What do you believe is your beginning consideration as a new digital SLR owner? It should be which lens you want as a all-purpose lens. Believe me, there are plenty of folks who h ave agonized over this decision.

There are many really superior lenses to consider as walk around lenses. It's kind of like buying a compact point and shoot camera, though. What zoom range are you looking for?

For the purpose of this article, it shall be assumed that you are searching for a zoom lens rather than one with a fixed focal length. Most, though not all, new owners opt for the Canon "kit lens" as their first lens. While choosing a kit lens may make sense to you now, you will likely not be happy with the lens down the road. You either think you will just wait and purchase a better lens later, or you don't even think about a different lens.

That is not my view. You should get the very best glass(lens) that money can buy rather than spending money on an inferior kit lens. After all, you will want to upgrade fairly soon, anyway, so why not get more bang for your buck right up front.

There are several things to consider about the lens you are planning to buy.

First consideration is focal length. In general, a focal length of about 18-24mm on the short end and 55-75mm on the long end will give you a very useful range. Keep in mind that these numbers are not critical. There are also some excellent quality lenses that have about 105mm at the long end.

Canon, Sigma, and Tamron have recently released some pretty good lenses in the super-zoom category. These have focal lengths of 18mm at the short end and 200-270mm on the long end. They have gotten favorable reviews, however just keep in mind that the image quality will not be as good as those lenses with less zoom capability.

Second consideration is aperture. The best lenses will have a constant aperture of f/2.8 across all focal lengths. You can almost always save money by getting a lens with a variable aperture, such as f/3.5-5.6, but they will not give you the same performance in all situations, especially when ligh ting is a challenge.

The final thing to scrutinize when buying your first lens is price. For some, this may be the first thing to consider, but with DSLR photography, it really needs to follow the other two factors. Rather than getting the cheapest lens on the market just to have one, it would be far better in the long run to save enough money to start with a good lens. Don't make the same mistake that so many who have gone before you. If good image quality is something you take seriously, you will not be satisfied with a poorly constructed lens. It is very frustrating to try to take great pictures with poor quality lenses.

Now, you can save money by using Canon EOS lenses from third party manufacturers. Some third party lenses are top-notch and less costly than a Canon lens that is identical in capabilities.

A word of warning. Camera forums can be very informative, and they are full of well-meaning photographers, but they can also be very co nfusing. This is because the folks in those forums are very passionate about their opinions. They can mislead you by bashing certain cameras and products. While this is not always the case, if it happens to you, it could cloud your thinking and mess up your research.

User opinions on the Canon USA camera manufacturer site are much more helpful. Then there are other sites that will guide you as well. These are FredMiranda.com and online stores like Amazon.

0

IOL Risks — Learn the Risks Associated with Intraocular Lens Surgery di 06.15

IOL-Intra-Ocular Lens Implant in India

A cataract operation involves removing the natural cloudy lens from the eye. Without a lens within it the eye is widely out of focus and remains legally blind. The best remedy for this is to insert an artificial lens into the eye. This is now a standard part of cataract surgery, though it has not always been so.

This artificial lens is called "The Intra Ocular Lens Implant". Surgeons often refer to it as the IOL (Intra Ocular Lens). If a lens implant is not used the eye must be brought into focus with either a spectacle lens or contact lens. Each of these has disadvantages. A spectacle lens will be thick, heavy and restrict the field of vision. A contact lens has to be looked after and taken on and off the eye. An intra ocular lens once inserted can be forgotten about by the patient and restores the eye to the most nearly natural state.


The Lens Implant

This section pr ovides more information about the Intra Ocular Lens Implant. It expands on the brief explanation given on the previous page.

It includes information about : -

* The history of intra ocular lens implants.
* Types of intra ocular lens implants.
* Intra ocular lens implant power.
* Innovations & possible future developments with intra ocular lens implants.


There have been two particularly important factors in this : -

* Firstly the development of gel like substances (called viscoelastics) which can be placed within the eye during surgery to create space and protect the delicate internal structures of the eye. These substances allow the lens implant to be safely manipulated into position within the eye.
* The second factor was the development of surgical techniques which preserve a platform within the eye onto or into which a lens implant can be securely positioned. The best location for an intra ocu lar lens implant is behind the pupil, i.e. as near as possible to the position of the natural lens of the eye. The move away from intra capsular cataract surgery to the extracapsular technique in the 1980's made it possible to support a lens implant behind the pupil. Phacoemulsification cataract surgery popularised in the 1990's now means that the lens implant can be placed within the pocket (the so called capsular bag) of the natural lens.



Intra ocular lens implants may be classified according to : -

* their particular design
* the material from which they are made
* whether they are rigid or foldable
* where they are positioned within the eye




Lens Implant Designs

All intra ocular lens implants have two parts. The central part is the focusing or true lens component of the device. This is shaped like a thin round disc and is usually between 5 and 7 mms in diameter. This part of the l ens is called the "optic". From the edge of this optic extend limbs, called "haptics". These support the lens in position within the eye and ideally keep the optic centred on the line of vision.

Most lens designs have two haptics extending from the optic in opposite directions. There are a few lenses on the market with more than two haptics. The lens as a whole may be made from a single piece of plastic. It is then referred to as a one piece lens. Alternatively the optic and the supporting haptics may be manufactured separately and then fused together. If the lens has two supporting haptic limbs bonded to the central optic it is referred to as a three piece lens..


Intra ocular lens Material

Intra ocular lenses are made from clinical grade plastics. These materials need to be chemically stable and inert within the eye. They must not cause any irritation or chemically induced damage to the tissues of the eye. In other words they must be s afe and reliable. They must last a lifetime.

The first plastic used to make an intra ocular lens was perspex (polymethyl methacrylate); also known as PMMA. It is a rigid material and the same substance from which traditional hard contact lenses are made. Many millions of such lenses have been implanted. One company has devised a means of bonding a substance called 'heparin' to the surface of lenses made from this material. This has the effect of making them 'non stick' and ideal for use in eyes with a history of inflammation or in patients with diabetes..


Rigid v Foldable Lens Implants

Lens implants made from PMMA (described above) are rigid. The 'optic', the main focusing part of the lens, is inflexible. It cannot be bent or folded. This part of the lens is usually between 5 and 7 mms in diameter. The incision in the eye must therefore be at least this big in order to allow the lens to be put into the eye. If the incision is made in th e form of a slit like tunnel it may be self sealing and not require a suture.

However the larger the incision the more likely it is that a suture will be required in order to leave the eye in a sealed and secure state at the end of the operation. Newer silicone and acrylic materials are pliable. Lenses can be made from them that can be folded. This means that the entire cataract procedure can be performed through a small incision of around 3mms or less. The lens implant is folded and introduced into the eye either with special forceps or an injection device. Once within the eye the lens is released and gently unfolds to its full size. It is then manoeuvred into position..



Position within the eye

An intra ocular lens may be placed in the space between the cornea and the iris, be attached to the iris or be placed behind the iris and pupil. Nowadays lens implants are usually placed behind the iris and pupil. The fluid filled space be tween the cornea and the iris is called the anterior chamber. Lens implants designed to be positioned here are therefore known as anterior chamber intra ocular lens implants (A/C IOL's).

These implants are supported in position by S-shaped haptics (supporting limbs) that rest in the periphery of the anterior chamber where the root of the iris and the dome of the cornea meet. This is called the anterior chamber angle and this type of lens implant is therefore said to be 'angle supported'. When using an anterior chamber lens implant it is usually necessary to make a small hole in the periphery of the iris. This is called a peripheral iridotomy (or PI)..


The Intra Ocular Lens Implant Power

The optical power, or focus power, of the lens implant is measured in dioptres (D). This is the same measurement as that used for spectacle and contact lenses. The higher the number the stronger or more powerful is the focus of the lens. For a posterior chamber lens implant, the usual style of implant used these days, the average lens implant power is around +22D or +23D.

For short sighted (myopic) eyes the power will tend to be less than this and for long sighted (hyperopic) eyes it will be higher. The exact lens power chosen for each operation will depend on the desired post-operative focus of the eye. Most lens implants are available in a standard power range of +10D to +30D. This will meet the requirements of most eyes. Powers outside this range are available in some designs for the occasional eyes that require them. Innovations & possible future developments with intra ocular lens implants

Recent and possible future advances in intra ocular lens implant design includes : -

* Implant edge design.
* Multifocal implants.
* Accommodating implants.
* Implants that correct the optical aberrations of the eye.
* Adjustable implants.




Impl ant Edge Design

There has been much discussion of late as to the best shape for the edge of a posterior chamber intra ocular lens implant. The current consensus is that the back edge of the optic (the main focusing part) of the lens should be square and that the front edge should be rounded. It is thought that a square back edge will help prevent the development of posterior capsule opacity. The lens implant rests on the posterior capsule.

Immediately after surgery this membrane like structure is clear. In some eyes as time goes by it becomes hazy or opaque and vision worsens. This opacification is partly due to the proliferation of cells on the surface of the capsule. If the lens implant has a square back edge which abuts into the surface of the capsule this may prevent cells from proliferating across the capsule beneath the lens. This would then help to keep the capsule clear in the line of vision. A rounded front edge is thought to reduce internal re flections and stray light within the eye. Many lens implant manufacturers have now adopted these edge features.



Multifocal Lens Implants

In youth the eye has the ability to naturally adjust its focus. As well as having clearly focused distance vision the eye is able to re-focus for near vision. This ability, called accommodation, is gradually lost with ageing. This is why most people need reading or near vision spectacles by mid 40's. This adjustment of focus is produced by a small muscle inside the eye which alters the shape of the natural lens of the eye.

As the years pass the natural lens becomes less pliable until by age 60 all focus adjustment has been lost. Similarly after a conventional cataract operation the eye has a fixed focus. Traditional lens implants have only a single focus power which cannot be adjusted by the eye. If after cataract surgery the eye is in focus for distance vision spectacles will be required for nea r vision. Theoretically one solution to this is to use a lens implant with both distance and near focus; rather like bifocal spectacles..


Accommodating Implants

As explained above in the section on multifocal implants after a conventional cataract operation the eye has no ability to adjust its own focus. The ultimate dream, or the holy grail, of cataract surgery is to produce a lens implant with an adjustable focus. If this were possible then not only would sight be restored from removal of the cataract but the eye would also be returned to its youthful freedom from reading spectacles.

Some lenses have now been designed which may be able to do this. They are though currently experimental and, at the time of writing, their long term success in clinical practice has not yet been proven. The theory is that on attempting to focus for near vision the little focusing muscle within the eye (called the ciliary muscle) causes the lens implant to move forwards slightly. If the lens sits a little further forward within the eye its power is in effect slightly increased.


Implants that correct the optical aberrations of the eye

The main focusing part of a conventional lens implant is optically very simple. It is usually biconvex, i.e. both the front and back surfaces have a raised curvature. This curvature is part of the surface of a sphere, i.e. it is like the curvature on a soccer ball. A lens of this design will correct the main focus error of the eye. However it does not correct the other optical aberrations or imperfection of the eye (e.g. spherical aberration).

These aberrations cause vision to be slightly degraded especially when the pupil is large. The natural lens of the eye is shaped in such a way that some of these aberrations are neutralised. In other words a traditional style of lens implant is not as good as a clear natural lens at achieving the best possible focus an d clarity of vision..



Adjustable Implants

An alternative way to perfect the focus of a lens implant to the individual requirements of an eye is to adjust the focus of the lens after it has been placed into the eye, i.e. to do so post-operatively. A lens material has now been produced whose shape can be adjusted using a ultra violet light. A lens of approximately the correct dimensions is implanted and the eye is allowed to recover from the operation. The focus and aberrations of the eye are then determined.

The lens is exposed to a specific wavelength of light in such a way that its shape is altered slightly to perfect the focus of the eye. This can be done more than once if necessary. When the best focus has been achieved the lens is exposed to a different light which fixes or sets the lens and keeps the desired shape.

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Simple Card Tricks For Beginners di 05.42

Simple Card Tricks

Ever wonder how a wizard manages to raise a card from a deck of cards? Or balancing a pitcher of water on top a deck of cards? Or balance a card on your hand? These are simple card tricks to learn that is bound to electrify your friends.

Lets begin with the raising of a card, which is one of the most simple card tricks out there. There are two ways to confederate this ; one is with a gaffed deck of cards or spur of the moment. How this suppose to look like is the card that a audience member picked out, memorized and or signed rises out of the deck. Be certain to put the cards either back in the case or against glass. This is so that they can see that you aren't touching the cards.

How to prepare for this actual trick involves if you choose to use a gaffed deck ; is to take a small portion of the deck and string them together. To try this to put a thin pulley which has been weighted, inside them. To make the pulley syst em is composed of'double sided sticky tape' being attached. This is so that when you as the wizard turn the cards upside over, causes the weight to fall causing the card to raise.

there is an alternate version of this simple card trick using just elastic. The elastic must be white or if not elastic a chunk of old clothing. You may have to trim the piece of elastic ; just take a couple of scissors and fray the elastic, removing the individual strings. Alternate material would be white rubber bands, which you'll once more have to trim. Of course if you rather not do the prep work yourself you might purchase a prepared made gaffed deck just for this trick.
Tip : It is advised to use the jokers to save your deck of cards for this simple card trick. Just put one face up and one face down then using the sticky tape tape the elastic to the jokers. Just do yourself a favor don't use too much tape, the audience may see the tape.

To set this trick up place a face up card like the 5 of hearts so that the audience can see then place it in the middle of the deck. Show the bottom card then place the card that is taped on the bottom then the top card over the taped card, ensure that the cards stick. Another trick to this one is to chop out a triangle in the case so you may use a finger to raise the chosen card by pushing it up.

Slowly loosen your grip on the cards the card should raise. Like each trick practice is the key.
Tip : When practicing employ a mirror to observe yourself. This is to confirm no one will see what you are doing.

Another trick to this one is to chop out a triangle in the case so you can use a finger to raise the chosen card by pushing it up.

the next of the simple card tricks for beginners involves an ordinary glass and deck of cards. To start the trick ask an audience member to claim stop, when they do, take away the card that was stopped at, show it from each angle then balance the empty or full glass on the card.

to try this you will need this few things [*CO]'double sided sticky tape or glue' and a deck of cards.

To set this trick up will take some preparation. Take any card and a joker out of the deck. Folding the joker length wise so that the card halves are back to back, use the double side tape or a little of glue on the face of one side, then press the sides together for an actual fit.

Then thoroughly press the joker's face to back of the deck. Casually hold the cards, show both sides of the cards, in the meantime pinch the open side of the cards together so it appears to be ordinary. Meanwhile take any opportunely to unfold the joker's back, this is so it can be the stand for the glass. Be wary of the glass's weight since the card can hold a limited weight.

to set up the trick you need to place the card which has been prepared in the center of the deck. Liquid stops the fans from seeing the stand.

The above simple card tricks like any other trick takes a bit of practice. But it is actually worth the effort and time if you'd like to drag these simple card tricks off impressively.


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Mind Mapping While On The Road di 05.25

Mind mapping wherever, whenever. That sounds really interesting. I want to discuss three ways with you to create mind maps wherever you are.

Here are first four basic guidelines a tool has to offer me to create mind maps:

1. Create any type of mind map.

2. Easy to carry around and 247 at my disposal

3. Allows easy mind mapping.

4. Require hardly any training to use (when you know about mind mapping)

For me, mobile visual mapping is something that helps me to capture my thoughts and ideas. I am not really looking for a tool that lets me map together with others. When I do that, I want to have a nice big computer screen or white board to use.

Here are three types of mapping solutions that will help you and me in this.

1. Mind Mapping On Your Laptop/Net book

Of course you can create mind maps on a laptop. You have a big screen and you can probably use your favorite mind map tool. Add to this the advantage of probably using the same license as you have for your desktop and you have a wonderful combination: low cost and your own tool!

However... when I have to carry my laptop around to capture my thoughts... most of my immediate and most powerful thoughts are lone gone the moment I have my tool ready to capture them.

Using a net book is a much better solution. These computers are build to give faster results and need less time to boot. Another advantage is that these computers are smaller and easier to carry around. The screen size is probably not that impressive (10 inch), but still, it gets the job done!

Create any type of mind map - 8

Easy to carry around and 247 at my disposal -4

Allows easy mind mapping - 8

Requires hardly any training to use - 8

End score: 7

2. Mind Mapping On Your Mobile Phone

Most of us have a mobile phone. The latest models offer lots of features that make visual mapping much easier.

You may have used tools on your older mobile phone before. I even used to create mind maps on my Palm PDA (back in the days).

The biggest advantage was that you could 'instantly' work on my maps. The device was small and I believe it even used a color display. Still, there were some drawbacks back then. The maps created were not really the most powerful looking mind maps.

And please, don't talk about zooming in and out. The screen resolution was not that impressive compared to mobile phones nowadays. Yes, if you were a true software mind mapper then, you had to endure some difficulties.

Looking at the mobile phones now, we have a much more powerful 'computer' with a much better display. The resolution is a lot higher and the size of the screen is almost the same.

You can even get touch screen solutions! Think about the iPhone for instance. There are more and more tools available that allow visualizing your information on your iPhone. Since I don't have an iPhone I can only tell you what I heard from others.

The tools created are nice. Though not as powerful as the 'real thing' your desktop. Still, they allow you to create overviews that can even be exported to tools like for instance Mind Manager.

Don't expect to make too fancy overviews. Most of the tools only offer a rudimentary mapping solution.

The boot time of a mobile tool is normally only the time it takes for you to press a button (within a few seconds). Then you simply create your map. The mobile phones offer many hours of mapping time (if needed).

You probably won't need too much time. After all, a mind map created on the road is only for capturing your thoughts.

Here are the results of this type of mind mapping:

Create any type of mind map - 5

Easy to carry around and 247 at my disposal - 10

Allows easy mind mapping - 8

Requires hardly any training to use - 7

End score: 7.5

3. The Good Old Pen And Paper

You didn't think I would forget this one, right? This solution for mapping on the road is only available, oh..., I don't know... a couple of thousand years??? In fact... before there was paper people even used walls to visualize their ideas to others and themselves!

For most of my on the road visualizing I rely on my good old notebook. I bought a few empty hardcover books (here in The Netherlands we call them dummies). Basically, they are misprints. Before they were really misprints (books without content). Now they make them on purpose to sell them.

I really love these. My notebooks are small (about 1/4 of an A4 sheet). This means they are easy to carry along. I clip a pen to it and no one can stop me from capturing my thoughts and ideas!

Most people know all they need to know about visualizing their information and have no problem using a notebook. That is why I won't go into this any deeper.

Here are the results for this method of mobile mind mapping:

Create any type of mind map - 10

Easy to carry around and 247 at my disposal - 9

Allows easy mind mapping - 10

Requires hardly any training to use - 10

End score: 9.75

Conclusion

Of the three solutions, there is at first not that much difference between the notebook and the mobile phone. Where the phone is always around, the notebook offers better mapping features.

It is probably no big surprise that mapping on paper is the easiest method for capturing your thoughts when on the road.

Yes, I know that people who want to review their information, or who like to create (huge) mind maps that need to be shared probably like to use a software solution.

Still, when you are looking for a powerful, cheap and always available tool to capture your thoughts and ideas... think of your good-old notebook!

Creating clarity and overview in your information will give you a clear mind. This is vital when you want to create success in your life. When you like to learn more on how you can manage yourself, your environment and how information influences you, have a look athttp://MindmapsUnleashed.com

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Evaluating effectiveness of Mind Mapping in TBLT in Chinese di 05.08

INTRODUCTION

Mind Mapping is a thinking tool created by Buzan (1993) based on his own personal learning experiences associated with memory retention. A typical Mind Map will contain words, visual images and lines in color radiating from the centre to branch out to express one's thoughts and ideas. It is simply a note-making device which could assist the learner to visualise his or her thoughts and ideas on paper. According to Buzan (2003), note making is different from note taking in the way in which the former refers to taking notes from one's own head; whereas the latter refers to taking notes from other people or books. There are a number of declared benefits associated with Mind Mapping: (1) creative in ideas exploration; (2) easy to apply; (3) interesting and motivating in engaging tasks; (4) efficient in managing study time; (5) effective in problem solving; and (6) helpful with memory retention (Buzan, 2002, 2003).

Since its creation, Mind Mapping has benefited people from a great variety of professions such as nursing (Tattersall, Watts, & Vernon, 2007), health education (Wickramasinghe, Widanapathirana, Kuruppu, Liyanage, & Karunathilake, 2008), business management (Ganglami, 2007), customer service (Williams, 2009), teaching (Yee, 2006) to list just a few. However, there is little reported in the literature focusing on the application of Mind Mapping in TBLT and its effectiveness in TBLT has not been explored. The purpose of this study is to evaluate effectiveness of Mind Mapping in TBLT to complete the tasks designed in CSL which could also be applicable to the teaching of other foreign or second languages.

Given the listed benefits of Mind Mapping in learning in general, one would assume that Mind Mapping should play a very effective role in assisting CSL learners to complete various tasks in TBLT. Taking this assumption as a starting point for an investigation, this study will examine effectiveness of Mind Mapping in CSL in the areas of task phase application, problem solving, note making, memory retention and learner motivation. To be more specific, this study intends to investigate and seek answers to the following questions:

1. In which phase of TBLT will Mind Mapping be more effective?

2. How effective could Mind Mapping help CSL learners in problem solving?

3. How effective is Mind Mapping in note making by CSL learners?

4. How effective could Mind Mapping assist CSL learners to remember things?

5. How much will Mind Mapping motivate CSL learners to complete TBLT tasks?

METHODS

Participants

Sixty-four boys aged from 13-17 years old participated in this study. They were all from an independent K-12 boys' school in Melbourne, Australia and studied CSL as an elective offered in the school curriculum. Among these boys, 44% of them were from Junior High covering Year 7-8 and 56% of them from Senior High covering Year 9-12. 88% of the boys studied CSL for over 5 years priority to their enrollment into the advanced class.

Data collection

The data were collected via a multiple-choice and open-ended questionnaire. The participants were asked to respond to 15 questions by following a five-point Likert scale to indicate their attitudes towards effectiveness of applying Mind Mapping in TBLT. The responses were anonymous and were collected in class at the end of a 14-day teaching circle in Term 3, 2008. The response rate was 100%.

Task design in CSL

The Chinese language tasks completed by the participants in this study were part of their language program covered in the first 10-day teaching cycle in Term 3, 2008. These tasks were designed based on Willis' (1998) model of Tasks Typology for TBL Task Design mainly for TESOL. In this model, Willis (1998) proposed six type of tasks of which each involves a different cognitive process with the first three (viz., Listing, Classifying/Ordering/Sorting and Comparing/Matching) being more challenging than the last three (viz., Problem-Solving, Projective Work and Experience-Sharing).

In this study, 8 tasks were designed covering all three phases of TBLT. Below is the summary of these tasks:

Topic:Use of laptop computers at home

Task for Pre-Task Phase:

(1) Brainstorming the most frequently-used Chinese character phrases for computers in general

Tasks for During-Task Phase:

(2) Listing as many good reasons as possible for families to have a laptop computer at home

(3) Classifying laptop computers in as many ways as possible, e.g., brand, colour, weight, price, function, etc.

(4) Comparing laptop with desktop computers used at home

(5) Problem-Solving: to think of as many solutions as possible to solve the problem of insufficient memory space of a laptop computer at home

(6) Questionnaire-Design: to design a questionnaire to survey the class in order to find out how many ways a laptop computer could be used at home

Tasks for Post-Task Phase:

(7) Story-Writing: to write a story about the use of laptop computer at home

(8) Story-Telling: to share stories with your classmates about solving a technical problem of your laptop computer at home.

Before the commencement of the main topic, all the participants were introduced the Mind-Mapping technique and were asked to use this thinking tool throughout their task completion in TBLT in Chinese. The participants were also asked to complete each required task in pairs within two teaching periods of 80 minutes' duration. Some tasks which were more cognitively challenging such as Tasks 6-8 listed above would need a triple-period (120 minutes) to complete. The time factor was considered in order to keep the level of difficulty of the chosen tasks comparable with the proficiency level of the participants who were all advanced CSL learners. The timed task or speeded' task referred to by Oxford (2006) could increase the degree of difficulty of the task. A rubric marking sheet was designed to assess the participants' outcomes covering the areas of relevance, accuracy, appropriateness and range at the word level and relevance, breadth, depth and appropriateness of structure a nd sequence at the sentence level (i.e., in story writing). Task 8 was assessed by checking each individual participant's pronunciation, intonation, control of tone marks, phrasing, fluency and understanding of the written stories.

DATA PRESNTATION AND DISCUSSION

The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate how effective Mind Mapping was in TBLT in the teaching of CSL to secondary school boys. When the participants were asked to rank 8 tasks associated with the three phases of TBLT in Chinese through the application of Mind Mapping during the task completion stage, the boys generated the following ranking order:

As indicated above, the top 4 tasks which helped the boys in this study the most with their tasks completion through Mind Mapping were: Brainstorming, Classifying, Listing and Comparing. Among these 4 tasks, Brainstorming is associated with Pre-Task Phase and the remaining three with During-Task Phase. This suggests that Mind Mapping would be most effective in Pre-Task Phase of TBLT as 80% of the boys surveyed ranked Brainstorming as the top effective task through Mind Mapping in TBLT. It's also evident that Mind Mapping is quite effective in During-Task Phase, because the next three tasks (i.e., Classifying, Listing and Comparing) were all associated with During-Task Phase. 75% of the boys in this study ranked Classifying 2nd in terms of effectiveness of Mind Mapping application; 64% of the boys ranked Listening in 3rd position, and 63% of the boys ranked Comparing in 4th position.

Table 1 above also indicates that Mind Mapping was not regarded as an effective tool in Post-Task Phase, because the rankings of the tasks of Story Writing and Story Telling which were directly associated with Post-Task Phase were not high enough to be regarded as effective. For instance, the task of Story Writing was ranked 5th and Story Telling only 8th, the lowest among all the 8 tasks by the boys surveyed.

It is worth noticing that although problem solving remains to be the main focus of TBLT, the boys in this study did not rely heavily on Mind Mapping to solve the problems presented in CSL. As shown in Table 1 above, effectiveness of Mind Mapping in the completion of the problem-solving task was only ranked 7th, the second lowest among the 8 tasks.

Note making is an area which Mind Mapping shows advantage. When the boys were asked if

Mind Mapping helped them make clearer notes in TBLT in Chinese, they generated the following responses:

As indicated above, 41% of the boys in this study neither agreed nor disagreed to the effective use of Mind Mapping in note making in TBLT. If we combined the figures given by those who agreed with those who strongly agreed, the approval rating only reached 48%; therefore, the level of effectiveness of note making in terms of clarity through Mind Mapping was not high.

When the participants were asked if Mind Mapping helped them shorten their time in note making during TBLT, the overall responses were not positive either as revealed in Table 3 below:

Clearly, the majority of the participants took a neutral stance on the issue regarding time efficiency of Mind Mapping in note making in TBLT in Chinese. They neither agreed nor disagreed generating a reading of 36%. This made the approval rating, even if the percentage of those agreed and those strongly agreed were combined, still below 40%. This suggests that Mind Mapping was not as effective as it seems to be in terms of note making in TBLT in Chinese.

Effectiveness of Mind Mapping in TBLT in terms of memory retention was measured by the participants' responses to the question of if Mind Mapping helped them remember things better. Table 4 below summarises their responses:

Again, the majority of the participants took a neutral stance on this issue. 58% of them neither agreed nor disagreed that Mind Mapping could help them with their memory retention in TBLT. Those who agreed or strongly agreed took up only 25% collectively and those who totally disagreed or strongly disagreed reached 17%. This could mean that Mind Mapping would not be an effective tool for the boys of this age group to enhance their memory retention during their completion of various CSL tasks in TBLT.

Whether Mind Mapping could motivate the boys of this age group to complete the tasks in TBLT is shown in Table 5 below:

As Table 5 above indicates, the majority of the boys in this study took a neutral stance on this issue as 50% of them neither agreed nor disagreed with this evaluation. Those who disagreed or strongly disagreed took up 28% and those who agreed took up 22% only. No percentage figures recorded in the Strongly Agree category. From this we could be certain that Mind Mapping would not be an important motivating factor to help the boys of this age group to complete the tasks in TBLT in Chinese.

When the participants were asked if they prefer to use Mind Mapping in TBLT in Chinese, the boys gave the following answers:

The above distribution shows that 66% of the boys of this age group would prefer Mind Mapping in TBLT in Chinese. This supports the point made earlier in this paper that Mind Mapping is regarded by the boys of this age group as an effective tool to complete the assigned tasks in TBLT in Chinese, but mainly in Pre-Task and During-Task Phase.

When the participants were asked to specify what they like the most about Mind Mapping in TBLT, they listed the following:

Table 7 above displays eight reasons of why the boys of this group liked to use Mind Mapping in TBLT. Among them, "Easy to categorise items", "Easy to read" and "Organising ideas better" remain to be the top-3 reasons on the list. These would help confirm that Mind Mapping is effective in helping the boys of this age group with their organisation in completing various CSL tasks in TBLT.

When being asked to identify the negative elements of Mind Mapping in TBLT in Chinese, the participants responded below:

Based on the figures shown in Table 8 above, there were five negative reasons about Mind Mapping in TBLT and the top negative reason was associated with the issue of time efficiency in applying Mind Mapping in TBLT. 50% of the participants responded that Mind Mapping was too time-consuming in their attempt to complete the tasks in TBLT in Chinese. This correlates well with the results presented in Table 3 earlier that Mind Mapping was not an effective tool in TBLT as far as note-making time is concerned.

FINDINGS

It has been found in this study that Mind Mapping is most effective in Pre-Task Phase of TBLT as 80% of the boys surveyed have supported this claim. Mind Mapping is also quite effective in During-Task Phase since over 60% of the boys surveyed have contributed to this claim. This study has also found that Mind Mapping is least effective in Post-Task Phase as the ranking of the tasks associated with this phase are low and only less than 34% of the boys have responded positively to this claim. Overall, the boys aged from 13-17 years old still support the use of Mind Mapping in TBLT in Chinese as 66% of them have indicated that they would prefer to use this thinking tool in TBLT in Chinese.

In addition, Brainstorming, Classifying, Listing and Comparing have been regarded as the most popular task types among the boys surveyed as far as the use of Mind Mapping is concerned. They believe that Mind Mapping works much better in completing these types of tasks in CSL, whereas Story Writing, Questionnaire Designing, Problem Solving and Story Telling are the least popular types of tasks among these boys.

It has also been found in this study that Mind Mapping is effective in the area of note making, but the degree of its effectiveness in this area is not as high as it is declared to be in the area of learning in general. This study has identified two most negative reasons of why the boys aged from 13-17 did not enjoy the most about using Mind Mapping in completing various tasks in CSL in TBLT. These two negative reasons are (1) too time-consuming; and (2) too messy.

Although the main focus of TBLT is on problem solving through meaningful communication in the target language, Mind Mapping seems not effective in helping learners in problem solving, because the boys in this study ranked this task the second lowest among the eight tasks completed via Mind Mapping.

Mind Mapping also appears to be ineffective in memory retention as only 25% of the boys surveyed in this study supported the view that this technique helped them remember things better while completing various tasks in TBLT in Chinese.

Mind Mapping seems not effective in motivating the boys in this study to complete various tasks in TBLT in Chinese, because only 22% of the boys surveyed supported the view that Mind Mapping motivated them to carry out various tasks in CSL in TBLT.

CONCLUSION

It is evident that Mind Mapping works effectively in Pre-Task and During-Task Phase of TBLT in Chinese where the main focus is on meaning and language use, but this is not the case in Post-Task Phase of TBLT where the primary focus is on language form. This may help us determine that Mind Mapping would help learners how to learn and improve their organisational skills in learning the target language, but it is not necessarily helpful with their mastering of language form.

Ineffectiveness of Mind Mapping as shown in memory retention and learner motivation in this study might not be inconclusive if a large-scale investigation were conducted among secondary school girls or students from co-ed schools which may produce a different outcome in these areas. Whether this is true or not remains to be a topic for further investigation for those who might be interested.

Nevertheless, the investigation of effectiveness of Mind Mapping in TBLT would not only apply to CSL, but also to the teaching of EFL and ESL or any other second languages. The implication this study has could be greater if much could be done based on what has been initiated in CSL.

REFERENCES

Buzan, T. (2003). The Mind Maps for Kids. London: Thorsons.

Buzan, T. (2002) How to mind map. London: Thorsons.

Buzan, T. (1993). The Mind Map Book. London: BBC Books.

Ellis, R. (2006). The methodology of task-based teaching. Asian EFL Journal, 8, 3.

Ganglani, R. 2007. The far reaching benefits of Mind Mapping. Retrieved 8 April 2009 from http://www.buzanworld.com/far_reaching_benefits_of_Mind_mapping.htm

Oxford, R.L. (2006). Task-based language teaching and learning: an overview. Asian EFL Journal, 8, 3.

Tattersall, C., Watts, A., & Vernon, S. 2007. Mind mapping as a tool in qualitative research. Nursing, 103, 26, 32-33.

Wickramasinghe, A., Widanapathirana, N., Kuruppu, O., Liyanage, I., & Karunathilake I.

2008. Effectiveness of mind maps as a learning tool for medical students. South East Asian Journal of Medical Education, 1, 1, 30-32.

Williams, C. 2009. Mind maps for customer service: Minding your customers. Retrieved 18 April 2009 from http://www.fenman.co.uk/traineractive/training-activity/mind- map-for-customer-service.html

Willis, D. and J. Willis (2006). Doing Task-Based Teaching. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Yee, L.M. 2006. Gift of mind-mapping. Retrieved April 18, 2009 from http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/12/25/central/16366178&sec=central

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Android Phones Offer Greater Choice For Consumers di 10.54

If you're searching for a brand new mobile phone, you'll likely find your self considering a mobile phone that runs one of two big smartphone operating systems. While you'd be happy with either, there are numerous advantages to deciding on a great Android cellphone.

One thing you observe when researching a brand new phone is the phone itself. In the event you opt for an iOS cellphone, there are basically a pair of possibilities. You may pick the current generation Apple iPhone 4 or perhaps the older iPhone 3GS. The choice here's quite simple, taking into account the majority would likely pick the more recent Apple iPhone 4. The specifications are usually enhanced across the board and saving $150 isn't enough to move to the older Apple iPhone.

When you consider Android based phones, there are loads options. To begin with, you aren't tied to just two US service providers. Both Sprint in addition to T-Mobile do not currently offer the apple iphone, however they do offer handsets running Google android. With the opportunity to shop all major carriers, you are not confined with your choices. In addition, you are not limited by a couple of devices. Each service offers a plethora of options. If you prefer a physical keyboard, you may select a Droid Pro that has a portrait keyboard or possibly a Droid 2 with a horizontal QWERTY keyboard. Users considering a 4G smartphone can look at the HTC EVO 3D or even the forthcoming Droid Bionic on Verizon. As a client, you have a range of options in terms of your own mobile phone alternative.

Since you now see there are way more choices from a hardware view, let's take a glance at why the operating system is definitely beneficial. Google's Android operating-system is basically open. Phones are expensive, consequently consumers must have the right to make modifications they want to the software. Apple frowns upon tweaks of iOS and in fact it voids your warranty. This is simply not the case with Google. They embrace open computing and in most cases help it become straightforward to achieve root access, enabling people to install custom ROM's and more. From the minute you turn on an Android phone, you will see the wide array of possibilities. It is possible to pimp out wallpapers including live wallpapers that will animate in the background. Google even allows you to install third party widgets for instance a clock, weather, stock plus much more. These aren't accessible in iOS.

When picking your next phone, you should think about both Apple's iphone 4 along with devices that run Google's Android OS. With the massive variety of devices, selection of carrier and software customization, there are various reasons to make Android your next phone.

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HTC Hero Android Phone (Sprint) - one of the first android phones on the market di 08.05

I both love and hate this phone. I love the Android operating system. It's very elegant and easy to use. The Market is filled with Apps, and I was able to find an app for everything that I needed to do. I've used several different Android phones and generally found that the Android OS is reliable and stable. The phone and the user interface is also visually appealing. Simply put, the phone and the OS are beautiful.

HTC is known for adding its own modifications to the internal OS on all of its phones, and this one is no exception. HTC has modified Android on this phone to make it better looking and in some cases easier to use. However, those modifications may also have introduced problems, as I'll explain, below.

There also seem to be some serious build quality issues at HTC. The first phone that I got experienced an intermittent problem that caused the voice recognition feature to never work the first time. If more than 30 seconds passed and I tried t o use it, it would be wrong the first time, no matter what I said. This was a minor issue, but there's really no reason why it should have occurred on one phone and not on another. I got a replacment phone, and the voice recognition now works, but it takes forever (up to 20 seconds after I stop talking) to work at times. There are a ton of posts on the internet about voice dialing problems on this phone, and so I'm not the only one complaining.

Voice dialing is a major issue with this phone because the phone lacks any tactile keys. When you're driving and you want to make a call, you can dial on a phone with a regular keypad by touch. Since this phone has no keys, you either have to look at the keypad, or you have to use voice dialing. Voice dialing on other phones (including the Samsung Moment and even my very old Motorola RAZR) can work very, very well. Unfortunately, on this phone, it just doesn't.
HTC also makes the Google Nexus One, and it too has had a mixed reception on quality issues. Even worse, my first Hero also had repeated crashes of software that should have worked fine, including the application that you use to program the phone with your phone number and MSID. These are basic phone functions, and they really shouldn't crash.

My second phone continues to have application crashes for apps that I know should work fine, and do work fine on other phones. For example, today, the telephone dialer application crashed. The telephone dialer application is the application that gives you a dialpad so you can use the phone. It's a basic application, and shouldn't EVER crash. Yet, on the HTC Hero it crashed for me today. I suspect that HTC's modifications to Android are responsible, as the problems have occurred on different HTC Hero phones, and I've found that other Android phones are very reliable.

While HTC's modifications make the Android OS visually appealing, they also replace text based labels which are easy to understand with often confusing icons. HTC's modifications also make the phone take about 30 seconds longer to boot-up. There is simply no reason why HTC needed to do this to its customers. Honestly, I'd rather they at least give me the option to disable their enhancements...

(Update: Apparently, you can disable at least SOME of them: Go to the Home Screen, Press MENU button, Press Settings, Press Applications, Press Manage Applications, wait for the OS to compute application usage, Scroll down the list until you see HTC Sense and select it to go to the Application Info page, Press the Clear Defaults button, Press the HOME button. You will be prompted to select which app to compete the action with. Select Home and chose to make this the default action. If you want SenseUI back, follow the same steps, but instead of selecting "HTC Sense" from the applications list, select the application c alled "Home" (not the HOME button), and then clear the defaults.)

The processor may also be a bit slow. I've noticed on several occasions that the phone seemed to miss the fact that I pushed on certain buttons. For example, in order to answer calls on an HTC modified phone, you have to swipe your finger down the screen. On several occasions, I've actually missed calls because the phone didn't register my swipe until the call went to voicemail.

Why not just use the hard buttons? Good question! The layout of the call and answer buttons makes them very hard to use for someone with medium to large size hands, so its difficult to push one of them without also pushing one of the other nearby buttons. The speakerphone volume is also a bit low, making it almost useless when you're in a car.

Also, if you have a bluetooth headset and you're used to using the button on it to activate voice dialing, you're going to be disappointed. For some reason, HTC d idn't properly implement that feature. So, if you push the button on your bluetooth headset or speakerphone, nothing happens. Again, this is a basic feature built into most phones nowadays, and it surprises me that HTC didn't implement it on their flagship Android phone.

I've also used a Motorola Cliq (which also runs Android) and the Samsung Moment and found them to be quite reliable. The Moment definitely has a better screen, is a little larger than the Hero, and has a slide-out keyboard. Given my experience thus far, I think that I like the Moment better. Although it's a bit larger and I don't really care about a slide out keyboard, I can't stand the apps crashing on the HTC Hero..

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