Six Creative Ideas for Throwing an Event or Party

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Throwing a party can be a wonderful way to show your friends and family a great night of fun, but it is often a complicated and daunting task. 

From deciding on a time that accommodates each guest to selecting food that will be appetizing to all, planning for a party at your house can cause a serious headache! If you are about to throw a bash, here are six creative ideas that will help relieve the pain.

1. Costumes

A costume party is a great idea if you are hosting friends from a variety of social circles. 

Wearing a costume allows people to hide behind a mask, help them overcome social pressures and relax while at your house. 

They're a great conversation starter, too! Make costumes mandatory and watch as everyone mingles easily.

2. Tissue Paper Lights

This is pretty simple, but it adds a charming mood to any party. 

Cover your lamps or ceiling lights with a variety of colored tissue papers, and you will have a quick and inexpensive way to add a delightful accentuation.

3. A Cool Atmosphere

Even if the temperature outside is cold, the party will quickly heat up as the crowd gathers. Set the temperature low early in the evening, and monitor it occasionally to make sure people feel their best all night. 

Look for signs of sweat or fanning. You don’t want sweaty, uncomfortable guests at your party.

4. Name Tags

If you are hosting friends that haven't yet been acquainted, nothing makes small talk more difficult than having to ask the name of everyone in attendance. 

Help your guests break the ice by insisting that everyone wears a name tag (that way you won't forget either!).

5. Cupcakes

How many times have you gone to a party with cake and not known how much to take? Wouldn't it be better if everything were set up for each person individually? Make it easy for all of your dessert-eating guests and present an assortment of store-bought or homemade cupcakes for guests to sample. 

This way no one feels uncomfortable about cutting a slice too large, and everyone gets to revel in the delicious taste of these sweet childhood treats.

6. Everyone is a DJ

One of the most important parts of any party is the music selection, but it is likely that each of your guests has a very unique musical taste. Allow everyone to hear their favorite tunes by letting each guest choose a song. 

You can have people sign up on a list to play next or allow them to play songs in a random order. Just make sure that everyone gets a chance!

Have Fun at Your Party

Hosting a party can be a daunting and arduous task, but it doesn't always have to be a pain. Use a few of these creative tips to take off some of the stress, and relax as you enjoy the fun that you deserve. 😍😎

What other ideas do you have?

PROMOTED ARTICLE: Thinking About Buying a Hoverboard? Read This First!

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*by andreascy*

5 Easy Tips And Tricks For 3D Animation

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Today, broods as well as grown-ups are all enthralled with the bizarre plots and astonishing rotations of animated cartoon movies. The animation industry has originated a long way now, by taking a simple 2D hand drawn plan to a totally new phase of 3D animation where gears come to life with all feature having exclusive qualities. 

3D animation is the continuous increasing tendency for most of the movies right now; be it a mixture of actual and vigorous movies, or a fully included animated movie, or computer made motion cinemas has turn out to be part of contemporary film business that both broods and grown-ups will adore.

CGmentor Inc.

CGmentor Inc. is a 3D animation company that creates quality 3d animations display and demonstrate real movement of lips and body parts and offer great amusement to the spectators who are significantly awestruck by these implausible animation movements and 3D effects. The company is also known as 3D animation Toronto as it is prevalent all over Canada. 

When enlivening in a bedroom of a main studio, you will save hours of time and foiling by understanding their top guidelines and ruses for animation. It is true that numerous ideas of appeal animation will never alter; the 12 values of Disney’s ‘old men’ are as imprinted in stone as any statute. On the other hand, animators require growing with the industry and attempt to endure to carry work on time and financial plan. 

In setting together these tips, CGmentor Inc. focuses on notions that are instant modifications for animators to generate as you grow into your career. 

Animate Acting Shots One Phrase at a Time 

It is finest to have a clear full body affectation in your expressions at the expenditure of smooth changes, particularly early on. Animation trails beats and expressions, each with its own resolution. Treat each phrase like its personal shot. Lessen your timeline to show only the phrase in which you are functioning on, and generate a beginning, mid and end to the notion being animated. 

Loosen Up When Animating Contact 

Evade setting the whole body at the point contact. On supreme activities faster ones, the prompt of interaction won’t be seized on 24fps film. Significantly, you will prejudice the measure towards ending at the moment of interaction, by annihilating your curves. If a person picks up a glass, the arm is the sturdier force. 

Animate the indicator passing through the glass, by passing the contact point while remaining on nice arcs. Now correct the glass location and compelling of the glass to make up for the instant of contact lost amid frames. 

A Mirror is a Dangerous Thing 

Be cautious while using a mirror for doing lip-sync. When talking into the mirror, slow down the articulation to print a shape. This is deceptive because it disrespects natural lip/jaw individuality. Key your lip in discrete permits for the lips and jaw, and utilize a mirror for facts to aid one pass at a time whichever lip shape, or jaw gesture. 

Mute Your Dialogue 

Certainly, you must listen to your dialogue constantly when you commence a dialogue shot to get into the charm, the implication, the temper, and the presentation. However, when you operate over the body procedure and full body signs, it is common to trust too deeply on the discourse to fill in the presentation that is missing in the body. 

Go rear into the body and strengthen your posture choices for the main points. Express the line completely with the body language beforehand unmuting the discourse and functioning out lip-sync. 

Do More of Less 

Snap on smaller shots for rehearsal. The cause you practice is to get superior for the industry, so drill the distance of shot you are about to meet on the job, which will infrequently be more than 10 seconds. You are more expected to finish shots that are wieldy attaining skills from obstructive over to final polish.

RELATED: 5 Cool Things You Can Do With The Leading Video Editing Software Programs 

These tricks will aid you to develop your animated skills and explore your business. Comment down below your ideas.

*by andreascy*

Benefits of the Different Types of Alternative Transportation

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

There are a lot of reasons to want to leave your car behind and find alternative modes of transportation if you're in the city. Cars can be a gigantic hassle--traffic and parking nearly always present problems, and you are constantly running the risk of fender benders and other accidents. 

Cars also guzzle gas (especially during the aforementioned traffic in larger cities), and are thus much more costly than most alternate forms of transportation. And finally, cars are very inefficient, and thus environmentally unfriendly. So if you're thinking of leaving the car behind, and hopping on some alternative transportation, here are some options to consider.

Bus 

A bus is often the best friend of a city dweller. Buses run frequently to all the busiest parts of town, and for very reasonable rates. If you're a frequent public transportation user, a bus pass is a very worthwhile investment. Chances are, if you live in the city, there's a bus stop within a few blocks of your residence. It's a good bet that walking to the bus stop takes less time than trying to find a parking spot. 

Buses equipped with hybrid engines or solar panels on their roofs are becoming more and more popular, meaning this mode of transportation is getting greener and greener. So buses are also a way to feel better about your carbon footprint when you're moving from Point A to Point B. 

Subway 

If you live in a city with a good subway system, then look no further. Subways can be the ultimate form of transportation, as they are speedy, usually run with good frequency, bypass traffic completely, and are a fantastic, environmentally friendly choice.

If you're lucky enough to live near a subway station, your trip or commute is bound to be much less of a hassle than it would have been by car. And if you don't live in walking distance of a station, just hop a bus to one! Subways are also important because they represent the future of public transportation: they can hold lots of people, they travel at good speeds, and the potential to lower their environmental impact is almost limitless. 

Taxis 

Taxis are pretty prevalent in almost all of the major metropolitan areas. They're a great way to get where you need to go with little hassle or wait. You can call and reserve a taxi, or simply flag one on the street, and it will take you exactly where you're going: no parking, no stopping for other guests, just a beeline to your destination. There used to be two downsides to taxis: money, and environmental impact. They still cost a lot more money than, say, a bus, but you certainly make up for it with the low-hassle and quick delivery. As for the environmental impact, more and more taxi companies are shifting to hybrid vehicles, meaning you needn't feel so bad about wasting gas to get to work or that new restaurant you've been wanting to try.

Car Share

Car sharing is a revolutionary idea that allows you to have a car only when you need it. With a membership to one of the many car sharing services, you have access to a whole fleet of vehicles that are conveniently parked in street spots reserved just for them, or cruising around town waiting to pick you up. These vehicles are usually environmentally friendly (and you don't pay for gas or insurance, just a membership), so they're a fantastic alternative to owning a car.

That was it for today, we hope you enjoyed our article. Feel free to like, comment and share it with your friends and other social circles. Hopefully we will inspire and attract more people on our Blog. Thank you everyone for your continuous support! 

*by andreascy*

Amazing Metro Icon Sets by Orphydian

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Metro is the codename for Windows Phone Design System. It's modern, clean, light and open design with no shadows, glows or gradients. 

Our friend Orphydian released 2 Fantastic Metro Icon Sets with over 100 icons (Uinvert Custom Icon Set and Modern UI Custom Tile Set). Unique icon sets that developers can use in their applications. 

The Design of these icons it's based on the Metro style, with cleared, straight forms and pure typography. All icons in the sets have the right color and resolution, with content areas perfectly centered. Any icon is ready to be used in your new application, design or concept. 

Have a look on the images, download links and author's comments. 

1. Modern Uinvert Custom Icon Set I 3D Software

" This set contains over 60 modern Uinvert Icons ( in both .ico and .png format) to be used on any Windows desktop depicting most of the rellevant 3d graphics sofware out there comprising modeling, digital sculpting, 3d painting, lighting, rendering, animation, visual 3D FX, CAD, scenery generating functions."

Download link

2. Windows 8 Modern UI Custom Tile Set I 3D Software

"This set contains over 60 modern UI style PNG's proper to be used for Windows 8 startscreen depicting most of the rellevant 3d graphics sofware out there comprising modeling, digital sculpting, 3d painting, lighting, rendering, animation, visual 3D FX, CAD, scenery generating functions."

Download link

SEE ALSO:

Office and Productivity - Metro Icons by Orphydian 

Amazing Metro Icon Sets by dAKirby309

Finesse Icon Pack : 125 Excellent Icons Now Available for Purchase!

That was it for today. Keep sending us your suggestions via Twitter (@andreaschriscy).

*by andreascy*

10 Stories You Shouldn't Miss This Weekend

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Who's awesome? You're awesome! 😍 😍

We wanted to just take a second and say thank you to everyone. Have a wonderful weekend!

It is good to have spent sometime reading this week and i had a tough task to pick through many dozens of shortlisted stories. I guess the ones here are those pieces that had a lasting impact (click the headlines to read the full story). Hope you like this selection.

1. Brands - it's time to stop being faceless and start showing character on social media. There was a time when brands could get away with all-out self-promotion. Things have changed a lot in the last couple of years. Now, businesses really need to take into consideration what audiences want - especially personality. A great piece that is worth reading.

2. Why is Android’s growth rate suddenly flat? (Hint: Android is not the same as Google Android). Mobile phone technology exploded over the last 7 or so years,… the whole industry is much slower now. Saturated, and a bit non-plussed at this point.

3. The Psychology of Color in Marketing and Branding. We love color, it makes life so much better. This is one of the best info graphs we've seen in a long time! Read this extensive discussion about the impact of color on ‪marketing‬. 

4. Social media giants' features compared. Google+ comes on top with 50 features vs 30 supported by Facebook and 20 by Twitter. One of the best things I have read this week.

5. Brands: Who Owns What? Ever wonder what massive corporation controls all of the other companies? This crazy-amazing graphic shows who owns what and how.

6. Why Social media actually works for small business [Infographic]. Social Media is a powerful tool for small businesses and startups to market themselves with the right intent. It's easy, effective and the fastest way to approach the intended customer base.

7. A Smooth, 3D Printed, Multicolored, High-Resolution Vaze. The ProDesk3D from botObjects, an unreleased 3-D printer, says they've conquered the problem of crappy resolution in 3-D printed objects. Watch out the video that demonstrates the beauty and finish quality of 25 micron printing, using PLA (Not ABS) thermoplastics.

8. Smart Surgical Knife Detects Cancerous Tissue. Surgeons may have a new way to smoke out cancer! An experimental surgical knife can help surgeons make sure they've removed all the cancerous tissue. This knife could be a groundbreaking development in cancer surgery.

9. Spell Check on Paper With Lernstift's Digital Pen. Digital Pen points out spelling errors with a subtle vibration to help kids (and adults) acquire better writing skills! This is possibly the smartest pen we've ever seen.

10. Mural.ly loves Evernote. Evernote is fast becoming my go to organization tool. Linking it to mural.ly makes it even more useful. I can now use the material in my Evernote account to create a mural.ly presentation. 

Looking forward to hearing your feedback and insights in the comments below. Please don't forget to like our Fan page and show your love like always! 

Peace out. ✌

*by andreascy*

What You Need to Know About Disability Insurance

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Insurance: it's everywhere. We have car insurance, home owner's insurance, health insurance, life insurance, even insurance for things like jewelry and baseball cards. The reason we have so many types of it is simple: insurance is synonymous with protection in case of the worst. 

One type of insurance that many people don't consider is disability insurance. While not as common as other types, it is still very important and allots people protection that they hope they never need to use. 

What is Disability Insurance?

Disability insurance is a type of insurance that protects you financially in the event that you become ill or disabled and are unable to work. It helps provide you with compensation from lost wages so that you can continue to pay your bills, your mortgage, save for retirement, pay tuition, and purchase everyday necessities, such as clothing and food. 

Who Should Purchase Disability Insurance? 

According to the US Department of Commerce, Economics, and Statistics Administration, one in five Americans are disabled: one in ten are considered severely disabled. While some of these disabilities are the result of birth defects or genetic diseases, many are the result of accidents or other incidents. In other words, disability can happen to anyone. 

Many disabilities involve physical ailments, such as long-term disease or damage to a wrist joint, but disability isn't always something that can be seen: having post-traumatic stress disorder or another mental illness, for instance, can interfere with your ability to perform a job and may therefore be considered a disability. 

With the term "disability" having a wide range of definitions, as well as the fact that no one is immune to it, disability insurance is a wise choice for anyone. However, people who work in certain occupations (such as construction or transportation) where accidents are more likely may further benefit from disability insurance. Your risk of disability goes up as you age, so those who are over 40 may further benefit as well. 

What About Disability Insurance Through Work? 

Your place of occupation may offer disability insurance, allowing you to purchase it through your employer's group benefits plan. However, this may not always be the best decision. Depending on your place of business, your employer might offer you a plan that limits your coverage under the Employee, Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). While the ERISA protects insurance companies, it doesn't offer a great amount of protection to the insured. For this reason, many people are better off purchasing an individual plan. Even so, any type of disability insurance (employer based or individual) is better than none at all. 

What Kinds of Things Should be Considered When Purchasing Disability Insurance? 

An agent or lawyer who specializes in disability law or disability insurance can help you procure a plan that is right for you. However, in general, there are several things you should look for in a plan, including: portability (your ability to keep a plan if you change jobs), your premium (some carriers may allow you to lock in a premium price, others will not), adding a rider (such as cost of living benefits and future increase options), residual benefits (these may apply if you are able to work part-time), renewability (ability to retain your coverage after it expires), collection time of benefits, and the ability for your insurer to make coverage changes. 

*by andreascy*

Popular Mobile Apps In 2013

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Certain apps have been used by several thousands of people over this past year, but there are other apps that are few and far between that have millions of users using them on a daily basis. 

License: Creative Commons

Apps are a huge market with millions of Apple lovers that just enjoy how there are so many new things happening every single week in the App store. Discover below the four biggest mobile apps of 2013:

Snapchat

Snapchat is being considered the #1 app of 2013. Even Wall Street is considering it one of the best since they are becoming obsessed with this little online tool. It is a great thing to use on your iPhone when you are bored. The way it works is simple; it lets you capture photos in an instant, send them to certain friends, and let them view the snap. The trick is that the photo/snap disappears when you send it. For some people, they may want their friends to look at it for ten seconds and for others around several minutes. Snapchat showcases that your special moments should he shared instantly with others.

Vine

Vine is another cool app famous among teenagers. It allows for you to upload videos with cute designs to Vine. You can easily send them to your friends and family almost instantly. You can post them on your other famous social networks. It is a fun way to share short quick moments at a fast notice whenever you want without having to yank out your video camera. Vine works on your iPhone, and it is so easy to use once you get used to it. No doubt, this is one of the most popular apps on the market today.

Wanelo

Wanelo stands for Want Need Love. It is one beautiful online community to share the love for shopping. You can actually buy everything that is seen on this app that is being posted by users. This community, when you download the app, is sort of like a family, and if you want to buy quality items that may or may not ever be available in a regular store, Wanelo has everything you want. Being popular for their cute and stylish app, teens are downloading this app like crazy and shopping through this app by storm.

Flow

So let's shift gears and look at one popular game in the app world. Flow is a fun game that is simple and easy enough, and the concept is quite easy to grasp, but once you begin playing the harder levels, you will find this to be harder than it really looks. Your goal is to connect the green dot with the other green dot; blue dot with the blue; red with red; and so on.

SEE ALSO: Top Educational Apps For All Ages

These apps are all very famous and popular. They are all worth downloading for yourself if you want to be up to date on the latest trends in the Apple world. If you want a way to have fun, use the fun apps above to keep you occupied.

Til we meet again, my friends… I wish you peace, love and fine tequila.. if you can't find the first two, you can always find the last. Live in peace! ;)

*by andreascy*

Are Your Smartphone Apps Putting Your Phone At Risk?

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

As smartphones become an everyday aspect of life, the apps we use help us do things better, simpler and faster. But as a new report shows, those exact same apps may just be making things easier for cyber criminals too.

The June 2013 Mobile Security: McAfee Consumer Trends Report revealed a number of interesting points, showing how free apps are able to invade phones by sneaky permission settings. While adware is of course a known risk, the McAfee report noted that 26% of apps are very likely worse than adware – sms scams and many others have also been bundled in with free apps.

What apps are most likely to be infected? Apparently games are most targeted, followed closely by personalisation apps such as wallpapers; music apps, lifestyle apps and TV apps.

Luis Blando, McAfee VP of mobile product development says, "Most consumers don’t understand or even worry about the app permissions they agree to. Because of that, cybercriminals are increasingly abusing app permissions as an efficient way to deliver mobile malware. Through these agreements mobile consumers are willingly putting their personal information into the hands of criminals disguised as ad networks, and opening up endless doors for scammers.”

Skype App Also Posing Risks?

If by now you’re feeling safe and smug, you will want to read this before feeling too comfortable. An Android developer known as ‘Pulser’ had some rather interesting things to say about Skype on the Full Disclosure security forum recently.

According to this developer, there may be a way that Skype for Android is able to get past the lock screen. Although it may still be pure speculation, this potential security glitch may be cause for even more concern.

"The Skype for Android application appears to have a bug which permits the Android inbuilt lockscreen (ie. pattern, PIN, password) to be bypassed relatively easily, if the device is logged into Skype, and the 'attacker' is able to call the 'victim' on Skype,” says Pulser on the forum post.

Watching Out For Sneaky Mobile Apps

Like it or not, the applications we use on our phones put us at risk - just as the tools we use on our computers do. You can’t completely take out any remote chance of viruses or other threats, but you can at least put some basic steps in place to improve your security on your smartphone. Try these simple tips for preventing attacked posed by sneaky apps…

•  Always read app permissions before hitting download. If you see any that require permission to access your calls, contacts or other features that should not be required by the type of app in question, do not download.

•  Do a proper clean up every few months to remove apps you no longer use. Those fun, quirky apps you downloaded for a laugh last year has served its purpose, and is just taking up memory if you don’t use it. 

•  Be aware of updates before installing them. Even apps that seem legit on the surface may not be entirely safe on a long-term basis. Some even trick users into adding 5 star reviews, in order to appear safer to new users.

•  If you are ever unsure, take the time to do a quick Google search on the app you want to add. In many cases, you can spot a dodgy app in the search results quickly, or you can see if anyone has anything else to say about it before downloading.

•  Check your app permission settings. It’s also good to remember that many apps are added in a sneaky way - you may authorize a certain app when using a news reader for instance, or you may click on something without realizing it’s an application. Check your general permission settings so that you don’t add something nasty without realizing.

Conclusion 

If you put a little more thought into the app browsing and downloading process, you will be able to reduce security risks notably. The less risk there is, the more you can enjoy better quality apps that don’t turn your phone into a lean, mean, virus-ridden machine. 

RELATED: Tightening Android Security Against Data Stealing Applications

Thanks for reading! We love to share tips & tricks for all smartphone users. Let's connect on Twitter.

*by andreascy*

Microsoft Surface Pro Tablet Comes To Australia

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Microsoft announces the arrival of its Surface Pro tablet in Australia. Users can choose from one of two options - either the 64GB one for $999 or the 128GB one for $1099. More than likely people in the Land Down Under are saying that it's about time.

After all, Microsoft already sells the Surface Pro in the United States, Canada, China, UK, and other countries. However, Australians probably also could say that late is usually better than never. 

The same is possibly true of what people in Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Russian, and Thailand would say when theirs arrive in June. Word has it that Japan will also finally receive shipments in the same month as some of the other Asian countries.

A Surface Pro Overview

Unlike most tablets, this one was made for both work and play in mind. In fact, this could possibly justify charging over $1,000 for the larger hard drive space. This device comes built with Touch Cover, Type Cover, HD AV and VGA adapters. It also features the Wedge Touch Mouse Surface Edition.

Surface Pro Versus Surface RT

Sometimes computer companies offer so many choices that deciding on the right device may not be easy. In this case, some consumers will find themselves having to decide to stick with the RT or to go Pro. The following lists show some major differences between the Pro and the RT:

The main Surface Pro specs are as follows: 

•  Thickness and weight - It is 13.5 mm thick and weighs about 903g. 

•  Price range - Microsoft will charge approximately $899 to $1099 for it. 

•  Screen resolution - It is an HD screen of 1920x1080 pixels. 

•  Surface - It supports up to 10-point input. 

•  Processor - This uses a third generation Intel Ivy Bridge Core i5 processors and 4GB of  RAM. 

•  Storage capacity - Users can purchase either the 64GB or 128GB model. 

•  USB and HDMI port - This one has the 3.0 USB slot as well as the Mini DisplayPort.

Here are the main Surface RT device specs: 

•  Thickness and weight -This device is 9.5 mm thick and weighs 686g. 

•  Price range - It costs approximately $600 to $800 

•  Screen resolution - It is 1366x768-pixels. 

•  Surface - This device supports up to 5-point input. 

•  Processor - This one uses the NVidia Tegra 3 quad-core processor with 2GB of RAM 

•  Storage capacity - Users can choose either the 32GB or the 64GB model. 

•  USB and HDMI - This one has the 2.0 slot and the micro-HDMI port.

Additional Surface Pro Features

Much of the features of the Surface Pro Microsoft tablet compare to the original Surface RT. For instance, both tablets have a front and rear camera of 729p, and this picture-taking tool is angled. That way, it will be level when the device is angled.

Both the Surface Pro and the processor RT also have Bluetooth capabilities, USB slots, headphone jacks, and an SDXC card slot. They are also both Wi-fi ready, and they also both are meant for carrying around no matter where a person wants to go with it.

READ ALSO: Office Webinar - What's Office like on Windows RT devices?

The only decision that Australian users have now is to decide based on the facts which one is better. In the end, the choice is easier as long as they know their priorities.

*by andreascy*

The Top 5 Payroll Tax Problems to Avoid

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Paying the payroll tax can be daunting for most small businesses. In most cases, small business owners don't know the rules involved and end up making mistakes. 

The IRS further complicates matters with their (not infrequent) blunders. To help you avoid a major headache in the future, here is a brief description of five of the most common payroll tax problems to avoid.

Missed Tax Deadlines and Incorrect Depository Policies

You should be aware of the way the payroll tax is deposited, once it has been recovered from the employees. You should also be aware of the deadlines for depositing the payroll tax. Several businesses miss deadlines and end up saddled with significant penalties for a missed payment or reporting late.

To help you or any other company payroll professional remember deadlines, it's recommended that you mark out all the important country, state, federal, and local deadlines on a calendar.

In some cases, businesses miss deposits because they assume all banks have the same rules regarding the date of deposit. It's best to deposit taxes on the same day as the company collects the payroll funds. 

Missing Data or Mismatched Data

Several businesses mix up the social security number and names of their employees, resulting in penalties later. This is actually such a common mistake that the Social Security Administration operates a special verification hotline. Make sure the data on your payroll records is listed out in a chronological order to avoid penalties.

Missing data may include missing records, like time sheets, W-4 forms, cancelled checks and similar documents that have to be preserved by law for up to 6 years. Other mismatched data may include classifying a temporary employee as a permanent employee. 

The Right Personnel for the Job

In several cases, if you look at small businesses especially, there are no trained personnel for completing the payroll tax procedure. It's highly recommended that you hire a competent accountant for this task, to decrease the chances of problems cropping up later.

In some cases, there is just a single employee who is responsible for payroll, which puts an unnecessary burden on the employee. It's recommended that you train at least a couple of employees, so they can cross-check each other's work. This will also come in handy should your payroll manager come down with the flu at the worst possible time. 

Garnishments

Garnishment is the payment made by the company on behalf of the employee to a third party. During payroll taxes, a company has to fill out a garnishment form, or several such forms. Because most companies don't understand garnishment, they often ignore the document or fill incorrect or incomplete information, which results in large fines later. 

If you are unclear how you are supposed to pay garnishment and fill the form, we recommend you consult a professional.

Form Errors

Errors in filling out forms, especially W-2 forms, are very common. Several deductions have to be listed on the form, in the appropriate boxes. Sometimes companies forget the deductions, don't include the correct deductions or include them in the wrong places. 

Also, it's common to see companies forgetting to send out a 1099-MISC form to any contractors or consultants associated with them before January of that year. A missed deadline results in penalties and corrective paperwork later for the company. 

*by andreascy*

7 Useful Pieces of Advice for Accounting Students

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

For students who are good with numbers or have a penchant for math, accounting is a wonderful career possibility. 

However, being an accountant is more than just audits and taxes--it takes a great deal of people skills as well.

Network, Network, Network

According to the Harvard Business School, between 65 and 85 percent of jobs are found through networking; the same could be said to hold true about gaining clients. There may be no more important skill for advancing professionally than networking: everyone you meet is a potential client, as well as a gateway to other clients. Thus, never miss out on a chance to work on your networking skills. Keep a business card on you at all times and offer it to anyone looking for accounting help. Remember, often it's not what you know, but who you know that counts most. 

Join a Club

Many colleges have clubs related to financial matters, such as an accounting club. If your school offers one, join it. This club will give you the chance to interact with professional accountants and your future colleagues, hone your accounting skills, and learn about the industry. It will also allow you to make contacts, which may come in handy down the line. 

Meet and Greet

In addition to clubs, many colleges also offer days dedicated to bringing together students with industry professionals. These days may be called something like Meet the Firms or Meet the Professionals, but regardless of their titles, they are a wonderful way to set yourself up for possible future job offers or, at the very least, the right contacts.

Hone Your Resume Skills

The importance of a resume cannot be understated when looking for a job: a resume is often your only chance at making a first impression. Not only should resumes be polished, concise, and honest, but they should also be error-free and void of any extraneous information (such as hobbies enjoyed or awards won decades ago). In addition to a resume, a cover letter is also a nice touch. This helps the employer see that you have truly taken interest in their job, rather than simply sending out your resume to every employer in a fifty mile radius. 

Find Your Specialty

Just as business and medicine often have a more specified focus, like communications or neurology, so too does accounting. There is public accounting, private accounting, and governmental accounting. While all areas will share some similarities, there are also important differences. Governmental accounting (such as working for the IRS) offers stability and benefits, but may not be best for those who are people pleasers and enjoy helping individuals. 

Maintain a Good GPA

The grade point average (GPA) you earn in college isn't usually as important as the one that gets you into college (i.e., your high school GPA), but that doesn't mean it's irrelevant. Some industries care very much about the grades you've earned and will only solicit people with a GPA above a certain number. A solid GPA also offers you the chance to go to graduate school, if you so desire, or may land you on prospectors' lists. 

Dress the Part

Accountants are professional and, as such must dress the part. This is particularly important when you are meeting people in the industry, visiting firms, and going in for an interview. While you don't need to dress as you would for a black tie gala, you should dress to impress. In other words, ditch the jeans, and bring out the ties or panty hose. 

We like to help our readers with their important life decisions including finances, education, and careers. If you need our help then do not hesitate to contact us.

*by andreascy*

Do Windows 8.1 Screenshots Prove Return of the Famous Start Button?

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Most people thought they would never see the Windows “Start” button again. However, recent Windows 8.1 update confirmed that Microsoft placed it back where it belongs. 

Users are thrilled to have the start button back, but we are still waiting for further feedback on how the start button affects the Windows 8 performance.

So What Will It Be?

According to Paul Thurrot's SuperSite For Windows, The Windows 8 start button really will be what people expect it to be. When people update, they won't be able to miss it. The color appears to have changed, but it's still the familiar Start button. 

Oh, but there's more about the color: Apparently when a user hovers over the Start button it changes colors. Thurrott, the man who had access to the Milestone Preview of 8.1, says it changes to a black background and accent color used on the flag logo. This Start button closely resembles the Start Charm. 

Other (Hopefully) Welcome Changes

Most Windows 8.1 users indicate that additional features such as the ability to boot up the computer straight to the desktop and bypass the “Metro-Style Windows 8 home screen” are also a long-awaited welcomed feature. Furthermore, little things like being able to replace the desktop wallpaper make them feel at home again.

Overall, Windows 8.1 was designed with customization in mind. Reports state that Microsoft intends to make it so anyone who uses this OS is able is to conform it to their wishes. This operating system is supposed to work for everyone. 

The “Blue” Preview

The Microsoft Build Conference took place from June 26th to June 28th at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California. Microsoft offered current Windows 8 users a free 8.1 upgrade on the first day of this weekend conference. 

With an already cramped event, they later announced that they were able to offer even more tickets for sale. This event was in high demand for future developers who plan to shape the future of Windows and help create new programs. Microsoft scheduled several sessions run by some of the top people in the industry to offer their training. 

However, one of the main reasons people wanted to attend is for the sneak peak at Windows 8.1. Every single day that passed causes people to anxiously await the “real deal.” Just about any developer that was able to attend wanted to be here for this debut, and learning experience.

YOU MIGHT LIKE: The Battle between Windows, Chromebook and Mac

As far as the Start button is concerned, the Build Conference was the true revelation for current and future Windows users. Attendees walked away feeling like they understood an exclusive part of the Windows OS that no one had ever caught a glimpse of before. 

*by andreascy*

5 Tips To Improve Your App Marketing

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

The app market is like a beehive. Just like bees, there are hundreds of thousands of apps in the hive and having one app in particular stand out is extremely challenging. 

This article will give you tips to help your app rank higher in the marketplace and make it easier to discover any potential customers. With these thoughts in mind your app just may end up being Queen of the hive. 

License: Creative Commons

Marketing costs may be something an app developer fears will cut into the apps profits. Also, with the rapidly changing market, tactics that work one day will be useless the next. This makes planning a long term marketing strategy seem difficult. Below you will find tips that will not eat up your apps profits and also have been very solid strategies that, so far, stand the test of time in the changing mobile marketplace.

1. Everyone Uses Social Media, So Should Your Apps

Every company, big or small, should utilize social media to their benefit in every way possible. Social media is an ideal tool for building brand awareness and keeping in touch with your apps community. Communicating with your app users keeps your reviews positive in the app store. You want to ensure customers accentuate the positives of your app much more than the negatives some may find, and if the only outlet is your app review process, it could potentially be harmful to your app's success. Not every customer will be satisfied, and it is best kept that in mind.

2. Make Use Of Ad Networks

An affiliate ad company can help your app raise revenue. A click-through rate of 1%, which does not seem like much, when advertising your app can boost your ratings in the Apple store. It is vital you find an ad company to publish your app ad in front of your target audience. Not every ad company may provide the results you want, so it may take a bit of testing the waters among various companies.

3. Go Organic

The Apple store, and Google Play differ much in what drives the ranks of apps. As discussed above, the Apple store relies on ad-driven links. Google Play ranks apps depending on how high is the usage. The more a customer uses a download of your app, the higher the apps rank rises. Below, you will learn how to help your app rise the ranks in Google Play.

4. Keep The Coming Back For More

Rewards for your loyal users help to keep them using your apps. Using push notifications you can offer your users special discounts and other benefits. If the app is a game, perhaps a reward could be a specific item for the player to use. There is no number to the rewards to be offered to customers, and they don't have to cost you a thing. 

5. Make Your Own Market

Market your apps within your other apps. Introduce users to the different apps with internal banners, push notifications and links. Existing users can click through and try your other apps this way, and you are increasing your app downloads and usage per app. It is a common practice, and very successful strategy used by many developers.

The Sum Of Its Parts: Every tip mentioned in this article can be used to create a dynamic marketing strategy for your apps. Large financial risks are not required, and you will find that each tip requires a time investment more than marketing money. If you stay vigilant, and monitor your apps, success is not as far out of reach as you may initially have thought.

SEE ALSO: The Future Landscape of Software Development

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*by andreascy*