Best Wishes And Greetings For A New Day And A Brand New Year 2014

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Howdy guys! I hope your holiday is filled with amazing fun, fellowship, and celebration! 

Sometimes it’s good to stop for a second and take a moment for reflection, and anticipation. It’s the time when we’re preparing to turn the page and refresh just about everything we can. It's also the time when i have the utmost pleasure, shared by the entire THE OFFICIAL ANDREASCY team, to wish you all, and your beloved ones, a very Happy and Prosperous 2014! 

2013 has been a very good year and I simply can’t turn the page and close the 2013 book without thanking all of you - our readers, followers, fans, friends, subscribers, collaborators, and everyone dear to us - for making our 2013 a fruitful, and pleasant one! Thank you to all those who have supported us, advised us, done business with us, we are so thankful! Could not have done it without you!

Lets hope this year will be better than the last, but then we always say that of every passing year and this New Year should be no different in our hopes and ambitions for our ourselves and our families. So whether you joined us this year, or have been with us from the beginning, THANK YOU for giving us your time and attention! It’s going to be a magical year bringing with it opportunities to shine. As for 2014, let’s all be determined to make it our best year ever.

Faster chips, bigger, beefier networks, whole new kind of servers, new programming languages and new tools to transform companies and societies themselves are coming. We will work hard to cover all these things that we believe merit your attention.

God bless you all with health and happiness! Keep going strong and think positive! ;)

SUGGESTED POST: 5 Top Picks for Christmas Holiday Like a Fairytale

What was your greatest accomplishment or success in 2013? Tell us below and let's celebrate together! Spread this love. 

*by andreascy*

The Best Graphics Cards of 2013

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

What's the golden rule of building a gaming rig? You don't skimp on the GPU. Processors, RAM, hard drives and accessories can all be sacrificed without sabotaging the experience, but the graphics card is the heart of any gaming PC. 

It doesn't matter if it's a $500 budget machine or a $3,000 powerhouse.

Finding a balance between quality and price is tough. AMD and Nvidia are the two big manufacturers regarding chipsets (Radeon and GeForce), but several third-party companies assemble the actual video cards and add the memory.

Gigabyte GV-N670OC-2GD

Chipset: GeForce GTX 670

Memory: 2GB

Price: $285 on Newegg

This is the perfect card for the budget builder. The 670 is a middle-road chip from Nvidia capable of handling high settings from fan favorites like Skyrim and some GTA IV resolution mods. It's new anti-aliasing mode helps eliminate most of the jagged edges during gameplay without sacrificing frame rate, and you can game on three monitors from a single card (4-way SLI is optional if you want to go crazy).

On top of that, Gigabyte houses 2GB of video RAM on the card, which is standard, and keeps it all cool with three massive fans — all for less than $300.

EVGA 03G-P4-2784-KR

Chipset: GeForce GTX 780

Memory: 3GB

Price: $520 on Amazon

So the GTX 670 doesn't quite wet your whistle. We get it. You want to run that new Battlefield 4 download on ultra-high settings while gaming on several monitors. But at the same time, you're not made of money. The 780 is one of Nvidia's top chipsets and, while the price seems high at $520, it's actually modest in comparison to others (don't worry, we'll get to those).

The extra gigabyte of memory makes a difference too, as games like BF4 list 3GB as the recommended dosage for video memory. Any gaming PC equipped with an i7 and 16GB of RAM should have a card like this.

Sapphire Vapor-X

Chipset: Radeon HD 7970

Memory: 3GB

Price: $385 on Newegg

Nvidia and AMD are a bit like Ford and Chevrolet. Each have loyalists who swear by the product's superiority, but in the end it's really two versions of the same beast. The Radeon HD 7970 is the chipset from AMD that's comparable to a GTX 770 from Nvidia. Both chips can manage high to ultra-high settings on modern games and handle all the shadowing, smoothing and anti-aliasing a game can challenge.

The 3GB of memory is on par with any mid- to high-end card, and the Radeon is capable of 4K resolution if you can actually afford one of the displays.

EVGA 06-P4-2791-KR

Chipset: GeForce GTX Titan

Memory: 6GB

Price: $1,010 on SuperBiiz

Alright, no more child's play. You want the biggest, baddest video card on the market and you don't care what it costs. Nvidia has you covered. The GTX Titan is, by leaps and bounds, the sexiest chipset in gaming graphics. It packs every feature under the sun and is backed with 6GB of memory that could likely handle two games at once. This card doesn't run ultra-high settings on just today's games, but will run top-notch without skipping a frame for any 2014 game as well. It's a clean grand to buy, but this card is a Ferrari among Mustangs.

SEE ALSO: Game-Changing Reasons Why Parents Can Say Yes to Video Games

Be sure to leave your thoughts – feedback is highly appreciated. Oh and SUBSCRIBE! ;)

*by andreascy*

Stay Safe While Shopping Online This Cyber Monday

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Hi friends! We are friends by now, right? :) Cybercrime costs the U.S. economy anywhere from $24 to 120 billion each year, the Center for Strategic and International Studies reports. 

This year, get the jump on your Cyber Monday holiday shopping safely by protecting your computer with these eight tips.

1. Use antivirus software - Antivirus software alerts you to malware, spyware or keylogging software installed on your computer. Most antivirus programs also spot phishing scams, which attempt to steal your information by posing as legitimate entities (i.e. your bank). Keep your antivirus software up to date and running this holiday season to stave off cybercrime.

2. Be wary of too-good-to-be-true email offers - If you see an incredible-sounding offer (say, 80 percent off Sephora's new arrivals), check the store's website or CyberMonday.com, a site that lists legitimate Cyber Monday offers. If Sephora is offering the same deal, you know it's legit and you can shop with confidence.

3. Shop securely - Type in the store's actual Web address when searching for deals. For example, go to Macy's site directly when searching for deals instead of relying on a potential scam email or link on an unfamiliar site. A secured Website keeps your data protected so that others may not view it during transmission. Secured sites use https instead of http. If you are trying to check out and you do not see the S there, hold off on your purchase. Someone may swipe your credit card number.

4. Protect your network - Protect your home wireless with a password to stay safe. While you might browse the internet at your local library or coffee shop, don't purchase anything if their network is not secured.

5. Log off, don't just close the window - You bought those stocking stuffers from Target and paid after making sure the page was secured. Don't just close the webpage window, log out of your Target account first. This prevents thieves from stealing your personal or financial information because you left your information logged in.

6. Pay with credit and watch your account - Paying with credit cards is often more secure than a debit card purchase. Keep an eye on your account for fraudulent activity in the days and weeks to come. If you see fraudulent activities, file a claim with the credit card company. Many credit card companies also screen for unusual transactions. So, if someone in Romania tries to purchase $1000 worth of computing equipment, a red flag goes up as this is obviously not consistent with your purchasing behavior. The transaction will not go through and you'll be notified.

7. Update that web browser - Using an old version of IE or Firefox can leave you vulnerable, according to the Chicago Tribune. Protect your finances by updating your browser when asked.

8. Use smart passwords - When signing up as a store customer online, select a strong password that combines letters, numbers and special characters. There are encryption apps you can use to make your password hard to hack, such as KeePass. If you're worried about forgetting an encrypted password, use a memorization tool like Dashlane.

RECOMMENDED: Top Ten Best Cars of 2014 Under $60K

Hope you found something useful in the above tips. Are there any extra details you’d like to know? Please don't forget to join our Facebook fan page and spread our voice to your friends and other social circles. Stay tuned for more!

*by andreascy*

How To Shop Black Friday Like A Pro

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Black Friday is a great day to get huge TVs, powerful laptops and an array of other products for incredibly low prices. 

If you're new to Black Friday shopping, or if you just want to learn how the pros do it, then follow these tips. You'll be finding the best sales without breaking a sweat.

Be Focused

The first thing that you have to do is being focused. Most people who shop on Black Friday love the amazing sales, but they are just going to buy anything that's cheap. This approach makes it difficult to find the best stores with your favorite products. What do you really want to buy? For example, let's say that you want a new laptop. After figuring out what you want, you can then compare the different stores that offer good laptops to see which one has the best price. Researching the price shouldn't be hard. You can check flyers and inserts, the store's website or check online for the latest Black Friday deals. You should bring the flyer or insert with you to ensure that you get the right price.

Make a Plan

Most people don't just visit one store on Black Friday. If you want to do a lot of shopping, like early Christmas shopping, then you'll want to make a plan to ensure that you visit every store on your list. You should organize your list based on which products you want the most. If you want a laptop, then visit a store with computers before going anywhere else. This ensures that you get the things that you really want, and anything else is just a bonus.

Small Stores

The big brands always advertise Black Friday sales, which causes a lot of people to visit them. Best Buy, Target and other similar stores have lots of sales, but they also have long lines. Consider visiting smaller stores. Due to public demand, nearly every store will have deep discounts on this day. You can call the store or visit the website to see what sales will be offered.

Social Media

Social media will be your best friend on Black Friday. Many retailers will issue last-minute coupons to ensure the highest number of sales. You should follow any retailers that you plan to visit on Black Friday. This will ensure that you get these coupons if they are issued, and you might get updates about new discounts.

Join Forces

Do you have a friend, spouse or child that loves shopping just as much as you? Then join forces to make Black Friday that much easier. For example, you can run to the cheapest product while the other person gets a cart or rushes to find another cheap product that you both want.

Be Comfortable

If you're going to be out all day, then ditch that bulky winter jacket for something more comfortable. It's a much better idea to dress in layers so that you can just remove one or two things to get comfortable. Those bulky jackets will make you feel tired halfway through your shopping because you'll be sweaty and uncomfortable.

SEE ALSO: Four Interesting Graduation Present Ideas

I love to blog about mobile phones and shopping tips. I recommend buying a smartphone from AT&T on Black Friday to take advantage of the biggest holiday saving.

*by andreascy*

The Future Of Link Building Strategies - 2013

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

There has been major upheaval in the search engine optimization space this year. There have been major Google updates over the years but the most major ones were the Panda and Penguin updates in the previous years. This year the major upheaval has been caused by the latest update christened Google Penguin 2.0. This is an update that takes the earlier major update Penguin forward. While the earlier updates ensured that content remains king, the new update is targeting all spam search engine optimization techniques. 

So in this new era of Google, how does a search engine optimization company ensure that a website ranks well on the search engine behemoth’s results? Though there is still no guarantee that a SEO company will surely rank your website in search engine results, there are a few strategies that have proved beneficial for many and if properly utilized can be beneficial for all websites. Even though Google has tightened its algorithm some tried and tested strategies like link building maintains it’s pre-eminence.

Future of Link Building Strategies

Link building as the name suggests is all about building links for your websites using anchor text (keywords). Many SEO companies target a few keywords which they feel will be beneficial for the website. But with SEO companies building a lot of links for the same keyword, it has raised a red flag for Google. So, what can be done to overcome this? To overcome this one has to have a diverse link building strategy. Instead of getting back links for a particular keyword, you need to use LSI keywords. 

LSI or Latent Semantic Indexing (Don’t worry this is just a fancy name for related keywords) is essential to diversify your anchor text. Not just related keywords you need to use the bare URL of your website to link back to you and also common phrases like “Click Here”, “Read More” etc. This will make your back links seem more natural and you will reap the benefits.

Try to get back links from authority websites as they will give you more value. Websites that do not have authority or websites in bad neighborhoods will only harm your website. Social media is a big thing nowadays and getting links from social media websites are a huge plus. Try to build a brand with your link building strategy.

Need help with your SEO? Contact us and learn how to create your own messaging and marketing system that will deliver consistent sales to your business and save you time in the process!

*by andreascy*

Office and Productivity - Metro Icons by Orphydian

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Icons are one of those things that are produced by the thousands. Creating icons is such a specialty that there are companies and designers who are devoted 100% to designing icons like the popular Icon Factory. 

Metro is a design language so it can be applied to any platform or technology. It's influenced by the International Typographic Style or Swiss Style which in turn learned also from the Bauhaus school of Architecture and Design. 

Using metro icons in your projects is part of defining the identity of your project itself, your brand, your value proposition and even business model. Branding is a whole big area of conversation. It’s also about color, style, value proposition, identity and others aspects.

We’ve found many free Metro icons around the web and some for sale. Icons that can be used in everything from Powerpoint presentations to applications. You guys loved the Amazing Metro Icon Sets so we thought of adding even more for all you developers and enthusiasts out there.

This time we feature two Astonishing Office and Productivity Metro Icon Sets with over 100 icons (Uinvert Custom Icon Set and Modern Tile Set) by Orphydian, the same person who gave us the last metro icon set.

Check out the images, download links and author's comments for more.

1. Modern Uinvert Custom Icon Set I Office and Productivity

"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 software out there used for Word processing, Team collaboration, Project management, PDF and OCR editing/converting, Reference and Bibliography management, Compressing and archiving, Desktop publishing etc."

Download link

2. Windows 8 Modern Tile Set I Office and Productivity

" This set contains over 60 modern UI style PNG's proper to be used for Windows 8 startscreen depicting most of the rellevant software out there used for Word processing, Team collaboration, Project management, PDF and OCR editing/converting, Reference and Bibliography management, Compressing and archiving, Desktop publishing etc."

Download link

SEE ALSO: 

Amazing Metro Icon Sets by dAKirby309

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

Want to be featured on our Blog? Send us your suggestions via Twitter (@andreaschriscy) or use this contact form. Subscribe also on our RSS feed to get all the latest updates to your inbox.

*by andreascy*

What You Should Know About Oil and Gas This Summer

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Oil and gas prices are known to rise significantly in the summer, and this summer appears to be no exception. Have you ever wondered why oil and gas prices continue to rise, despite increased levels of production and a booming oil industry?

This article argues that governmental policies have restricted the development of US-based oil production, keeping prices high for the average American. The good news is that prices are expected to drop in the near future due to lowered demand and increased supply. 

Rising Prices and Policies

Former President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama have created policies that force major car manufacturers to design more efficient cars that provide a higher miles-per-gallon, which may help lower demand and gas prices in the long term. However, the government has also blocked American energy companies from obtaining the land access they need to produce oil and gas on US soil. This causes America to be subject to prices set by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), even though the US has enough oil shale to last two centuries or more.

Oil and Gas This Summer

The demand for oil and gas is likely to soon fall. This is because the temperature this summer is expected to be cooler, and fewer utilities are being switched from coal to gas. In spite of this fall in demand, natural gas prices will rise this summer compared to 2012. 

Gas production will also be far higher this summer, according to Natural Gas Supply Association. New processing plants and pipelines are being constructed to carry natural gas from previously inaccessible regions, like the Marcellus Shale. Governor Rick Perry in Texas and the State of North Dakota are leading the effort to expand pipelines in the US. 

A Plunge in Oil and Gas Prices in the Future?

According to the International Energy Agency, we are about to witness a period of exceptionally low gas prices. The period will last for five years, and estimates for the plunge vary. The relief will be the result of a higher spare capacity and an increased number of oil fields. The current spare capacity is 3,000,000 barrels a day across the planet, and it is expected to increase to about 7,000,000 barrels a day by next year. It will continue to grow in the future. The current demand for fuel is equally balanced by supply, but in the next few years, supply will likely outpace demand.

According to Citigroup, we may witness oil prices of $80 a barrel through 2017, when the price could drop to less than $50. 

Certainly, governmental policies bolstering US-based gas production infrastructure would likely have prevented the oil crisis we have suffered since the early 21st century. With an increase in production, however, coupled by a projected fall in demand, this crisis may soon be righted, relieving the pressure on many American families who rely on oil and gas every day.

SEE ALSO: Do the Benefits of Oil Rig Jobs Outweigh the Risks?

We recommend doing more research and keeping yourself up to date on issues with oil and gas. Subscribe on our RSS feed and follow us on Twitter and Facebook and we'll manage to serve you well!

Thanks for visiting! 😍

*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*