Image to Word App: How to Convert and Edit Your Receipts

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

How Fast Do you Lose Track of Your Cash?

Do you find it hard to keep track of your daily spending? Many people often have problems with handling their finances, day-to-day spending and taking care of their bills, so they turn to technology for help. Ask any millennial and they will tell you the importance of managing your cash in today’s world… There just isn’t any money we are ready to give up that easily!

If you are an avid fan of money, you should consider using technology to help you save your money. There are many useful apps that can provide the same user experience as if you were reading out the receipt just handed to you. One such app is Image to Word, a mobile app converter that will help you track your spending. This app allows its users to take a photo of their receipt, or a screenshot of an image, and convert it to the easily editable MS Word file. The apps developer Cometdocs has recently released a bunch of new apps, among which this was one of them, if not even the most successful of all apps in this past release.

Money in the Bank, Tracking Ain’t Easy!

Well, not really in the bank since you are spending it, but at least this way you will know how to track it. Here are some of the standout features that make Image to Word one of the best converters on the market:

- Great conversion quality and absolute data recognition

- Screenshots and complex tables are convertible too

- No limitations when it comes to file sizes and numbers

- Won’t drain your battery

- Very intuitive and easy-to-use

The app offers two ways of converting files: by choosing a file from your library, or taking a photo with your camera and then selecting to convert it.

If you click on Photos, you will see a list of folders which are located on your device, and from there you can select any image you want to convert. If you wish to convert a screenshot of you receipt, or a photo you previously made, this is the option you need to select. If you click on Camera, the app will open your rear camera, with which you can quickly snap a photo of your receipt or maybe a newspaper. 

Once you’ve selected your file, the conversion will begin. The file being converted will appear on the main screen. You can also see all active and finished conversions on your main screen below the part where you choose between Camera and Photos. Those files are saved on your phone for future use, unless you choose to delete them by hand.

The converted file will be in .docx format, which is the primary format for editing text in many apps, mainly MS Word. By clicking on your converted file, you will see a preview of your new file and you can export it to the app where you wish to edit it by clicking on the Share button in the bottom left corner. The app will then open a list of suggested apps to use, as well as all previous editing apps you used.

If you are having trouble using the app, click on Options and then click on Guide for better results for a few quick tips. This guide will take you through the app and show you the proper way to take a photo of your receipt, or how to make a screenshot suited for conversion.

From there you can also rate the app, stop all conversions or contact customer support in case you have issues with using the app. Also, by clicking on Settings in that same menu, you can allow and deny Image to Word access to certain parts of your iPhone/iPad, such as the Photos and Camera, as well as managing the notifications you get from this app.

With this app you shouldn’t have anymore trouble tracking your receipts because now you can have them all stored in your phone. While this app is very popular among iOS users, Image to Word is also available on Android so feel free to try it out, and let us know how much it helped you in managing your finances.

NEXT ARTICLE: How to Edit Bank Statements on a Mobile Device

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How Mobile Technology Has Enhanced Everyday Life

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

It won't be long before there will be an entire generation of adults who won't remember that there was a time when you couldn't snap a picture while listening to music and texting with a friend. Back then, it would take three devices to do all that. Your GPS would be another device and your handheld gaming system yet another. Watching a movie on a phone? That sounded like something straight out of sci-fi. 

Fast forward to today and you can stream your favorite show on your mobile device, keep an eye on your puppy while you're at the office with a tablet, and start a load of laundry from across the globe using your smartphone. 

It's pretty clear that mobile technology is one of the reasons this planet of ours feels smaller every day. Connectivity refers no longer to the person to person virtue but rather to the relationship between our mobile devices and the world around us. More and more, we are interacting with our loved ones, our homes, our workplaces and our stuff via mobile devices loaded with apps. 

The Internet of everything is an evolving concept but mobile technology is already making our lives better in myriad ways. Here are just a few examples:

Taking Care of Yourself

Beyond Fitbit, consumer health monitors and lifetrackers abound – almost all of which rely on apps to store and analyze data. But even without wearables, taking care of your physical and even your mental health has never been easier. 

Smartphones often come equipped with heart rate monitors and pedometers, and mood charting apps like Optimism are promoting healthier habits among their users.

Self-love also means treating yourself to the things you enjoy, whether that’s enjoying a nice night in with a bath bomb and some binge-watching, or using that promotion bonus towards a new smartphone. 

There are also plenty of great ways that technology can help us relax and de-stress, such as giving us access to our favorite songs and movies with streaming services like T-Mobile’s BingeOn and Music Freedom. 

Taking Care of Your Home

Thanks to fully integrated and DIY smart home systems that synch up with mobile devices, it's never been easier to stay on top of all of the tasks most adults are responsible for. Even better, affordable smart home components are becoming more common. There are now smart fridge and freezer combos that will send alerts to your phone when you're running low on staples like eggs and milk. And that's not all!

There are deadbolts that can only be unlocked via an app. TCP's Connected lighting system is a budget-friendly starter kit for those who want to see what smart homes are all about. According to Berg Insights, the market for smart home accessories is only going to get bigger and the accessories themselves are bound to get smarter. 

Keeping an Eye on Who You Love

Pixies Scientific has created a smart diaper that synchs with an app. There are apps that let you track your pet's activity levels and behaviors while you're at work. Baby monitors and trackers that send data to worried parents' phones are starting to look like they wouldn't be out of place in a modern NICU. And nowadays with a tablet and a few pieces of add on hardware you can create your own security system from scratch. 

Paying for What You Want

Apple Pay and Samsung Pay are just the beginning of the mobile payment revolution that will see the US become a cashless society. 

With Samsung Pay in particular you don't even need to shop at stores that have NFC-enabled terminals. Your phone is all you need because of Samsung's pioneering technology that mimics a credit card swipe. And when you can settle the tab with a wave of your phone, it won't matter that you forgot your wallet at home. 

Getting Things Done

Whether the always-on state of modern work is actually good for employees isn't clear but there's something to be said for having the ability to do research, take notes, dial into meetings and clear out your inbox when you actually feel like doing it. Today's smartphones are simply computers in miniature, which means the keys to a truly productive day are always in our pockets. 

Living Cleanly and Comfortably 

Simply living is better thanks to mobile technology and the devices controlled by it. If you wish, you can have a wakeup call that has been carefully calibrated to match your sleep patterns. Via an app on your phone, your smart car can remind you that it's time for its next round of regular maintenance. There are smart flowerpots connected to mobile apps that let caretakers know when houseplants get thirsty. And smart kettles can inquire via text message whether you'd like a cup of tea ready for you when you arrive home. 

Conclusion

There are still some limitations to how much mobile tech can do in our lives and bugs that will need to be worked out. But right now there are so many ways mobile devices, apps and the gadgets controlled by them are making the modern world cooler and more comfortable. It's abundantly clear: our phones are getting smarter and we're reaping the rewards.

RELATED: 10 Gadgets that Will Make your Life so Much Easier

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The Mobile Kill Switch Is In Effect: Here’s What You Need To Know

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

It’s officially July, which means the California smartphone “kill switch” law is officially effective in the Golden State. If you’re scratching your head right now asking, “What is that? Did I miss something? Is that a dumb question?” You can find the answers here. 

It’s important to stay informed because the impact of this mandate could mean a revolutionary change for the smartphone world and us owners in it. 

What Is A Kill Switch? 

A kill switch is a function featured on a smart device that gives a person the ability to remotely lock a phone and wipe the data on it if needed. The anti-theft measure requires users to input a passcode in a smartphone before it can be unlocked or restored to factory settings. What this new law in California calls for is a mandatory kill switch (think “Find My iPhone” or Android Device Manager) built into all smartphones, placed in active mode automatically. 

Why Is It Happening? 

It’s happening because “Apple Picking,” aka iPhone stealing, has become a crime epidemic due to the great value these handheld gadgets hold. In fact, 3.1 million Americans had their mobile phones stolen in 2013 and an estimated 1 in 3 thefts in the U.S. involves a smartphone. Many victims of these crimes are passengers on public transit and a sizeable portion have been threatened with knives or guns as well as assaulted. In order to deter these events from happening, the government is getting involved. A law has already been put in place in Minnesota and most recently went into effect in the state of California. The thought behind requiring an obligatory kill switch in all phones is that potential thieves won’t even attempt to steal a phone by knowing it will render useless once out of the original owner’s hands. 

How It’s Taking Effect & Who’s On Board? 

The wireless industry is proactively working together with policymakers to ensure that phone software complies to the new law in effect. For California, it’s required that a kill switch be equipped in the device and turned on as a default. Retailers must comply with the statute and if they sell any smartphones without a kill switch in place, they could be fined $500 - $2,500 per each one that doesn’t meet the now standard requirement. 

Major mobile carriers like T-Mobile and Verizon have endorsed the effort, working with app developers and tech manufacturers to develop kill-switch capabilities in the phones they sell at the store. Ultimately the customer is protected in every way, and no additional costs are inflicted upon them with the upgrade. Smartphones with tightened security mean happier consumers and a happy customer for these businesses is always the goal. 

What The Future Holds

With initial steps already taken with similar kill-switch software implemented in the past couple of years, results are proving positive. From the 2013 stats of 3.1 million phones stolen, the number has already dropped by a million to 2.1 million in 2014, according to Consumer Reports. As technology undergoes innovation after innovation, more people will indirectly buy new kill-switch-enabled phones that come to market. The California law is anticipated to be a success and the rest of the nation will follow the leader. 

So now when anyone asks you what a mobile kill switch is, you’ll know that it is an anti-theft feature that has become a requirement in all new smartphones made in California. The overall hope is to prevent the act from happening altogether, thus leading to a world with no more smartphone stealing. This big move by the biggest state in America should spark a domino effect and bring the United States one step closer to a more peaceful, less crime-filled society.

RELATED: Will You be the Next Victim of Laptop Theft?

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10 Gadgets to Help You Catch More Fish

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Fishing has changed dramatically over the past decade with the increasing popularity of smartphones and other technology. Even those who have strongly resisted the change are giving into the pressure to adapt. Once there is a smartphone in your pocket, it's difficult to keep refusing time-saving, fish-catching options. 

Here are 10 tech tools that will make your outing both safer and more successful without ruining the great outdoors.

Find Where to Go

Fishing Hot Spots Maps: It's an old tool in a new format. You no longer have to track down paper maps for the water you want to fish but rather this company provides digital maps for both freshwater and saltwater. You can even get maps that work with older units and handheld devices.

The Fishidy Mobile App: This app provides maps as well as a community for sharing tips and up-to-date reports. You can track your fishing successes on a map using GPS in addition to identifying water depths, underwater contours and fishery data.

Learn How to Get There

Broadband RADAR: This tool boasts that it is the most significant radar breakthrough since 1940. It has much lower power requirements and crystal clear images, which helps for limited visibility situations or tight maneuvering. Plus, it does not require a license.

SIMRAD: This tool is very similar to Broadband RADAR. It also has clear imagery, low power consumption and low emissions. Whether you combine navigation with your fishfinder or separate the two, broadband technology is taking hold quickly.

Locate the Fish

Lowrance HDS-12 Gen3: There are plenty of fishfinder models to choose from, but the new Gen3 model uses a broadband sounder, supports wireless signals and uses Spotlight Scan Sonar, making it a top-notch gadget.

Raymarine Dragonfly: For CHIRP (Compressed High-Intensity Radiated Pulse) lovers, Raymarine Dragonfly is the tool for you. This new unit delivers incredibly clear images and includes Navionics charts on microSD in addition to a temperature sensor and 50-channel GPS.

Play it Safe

Iridium Satellite Phone: Whether speaking with family or getting out an emergency call to the Coast Guard, you can always contact land and other satellite-equipped vessels when you pack a satellite phone. They also claim that their call quality is three times better than their competitor's.

C-pod Security: The C-pod sends current status information about location, heading, intrusion, battery voltage and other vital statistics to your phone or computer. Remote on/off capability allows you to be in control of C-pod sensors from the helm.

Stay in the Game

XPand: If you are you taking a green seafarer along on the next voyage, consider the Xpand anti-motion sickness glasses to keep queasiness at bay. Pills and patches often cause drowsiness and confusion, but the sunglasses use electro-optical systems to reduce motion sickness in a noninvasive way. They are powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion polymer cell.

Gomadic Solar Charger: Stay prepared with a solar charger to keep any of these gadgets charged and ready to use. It can charge multiple devices simultaneously, and does it just as quickly as a wall outlet would.

Prices in each category can vary widely, so be sure to do your homework. Many times you can cut back on features to make a tool better fit the budget. Yesterday's top-dollar fishfinder or navigation aid, for instance, can often be found at rock bottom prices as others switch to broadband units. So, get ready, be prepared and fish on!

SEE ALSO: Science Nation - Electric Fish Charges up Research on Animal Behavior

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Top 3 Tech Tools for Managers That Mean Business

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

What sets a successful business apart from one that closes its doors after just a few short months? The numbers 20 and 80. These two figures make up what is known as the Pareto Principle, which is named after an Italian economic expert named Vilfredo Pareto. At the turn of the century, Pareto realized that just 20 percent of the people in Italy owned 80 percent of the land. What is interesting about the Pareto Principle is that it applies to all sorts of business-related statistics.

For example, 20 percent of clients are typically responsible for 80 percent of sales, and 20 percent of employees usually help to bring in 80 percent of the customers. The 80/20 Rule, as it is commonly called, can be so powerful that smart business owners can use it to help grow their company. If they can figure out who their top sales people are, they can arm them with whatever tools are needed to help bring in the lion’s share of the clients.

In order for sales people to succeed in business and help become part of the incredible 20 percent who are responsible for bringing in 80 percent of the business, the following technological tools can help them, and managers, stay at the top of their game.

Mind Manager

Successful salespeople typically juggle a lot of plates at once. In order to keep ideas and projects organized, a software program like MindManager will come in handy. In addition to helping sales people brainstorm, it also allows them to create business plans, organize all of their tasks, manage meetings and much more.

Essentially, MindManager helps salespeople keep tabs on and map out the dozens of ideas and plans they have in their heads in a cohesive and helpful way.

Salesforce Reporting

In order to grow their business, company owners need to know a variety of facts and figures, including which areas of the state or country have the most clients and which regions are less active. Salesforce reporting with InsightSquared allows business owners to effectively analyze how their salespeople are doing. In addition to showing in black and white which employees are doing the best, Salesforce will also help managers identify which team members need to step up their game and bring in more clients.

As a bonus, while looking closely at regional sales and employee performance can take up a lot of time, Salesforce will do all of the heavy number crunching. This will give leaders more time to effectively manage and encourage their team of salespeople and inspire them to bring in as much business as possible.

ClearSlide

Unlike the days of yore when being a successful salesperson only required having good powers of persuasion, these days each employee needs also to be aware of the various tools that can help his or her company succeed. Keeping tabs on the latest innovative tools can help salespeople get into that coveted 20 percent from the Pareto Principle. One Web-based tool that will help salespeople and managers succeed is ClearSlide.

This tool allows sales reps to easily share presentations about products and services while also getting an accurate indication of their clients reactions with automatic alerts when links are clicked, or emails are opened. This helpful information can impact how effective a sales team can be, and allow them to make changes to their sales pitches as needed.

RECOMMENDED: 3 Best Tools For Construction Project Management

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The Hottest Fitness Gadgets on the Market

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Wearable fitness technology is all the rave right now from wristband trackers to electronic compression shirts. These, plus other gadgets, help monitor every aspect of a person’s workout from checking vitals and tracking weight goals to meeting and connecting with others. 

If you’re looking for something to help bring your workout into the 21st century, check out these new and awesome fitness gadgets.

Benefits of Fitness Technology

Between wearable technology, smartphones and mobile fitness apps, fitness technology has the potential to revolutionize the world of workouts. For personal trainers, these devices can free up one-on-one time with clients and help them manage their fitness businesses. For consumers, fitness technology can help them meet whatever personal training or health goals they have from losing weight to just feeling better about themselves. The benefits of fitness technology are extensive. 

• They are convenient to use.

• Consumers can monitor their own activity and fitness goals.

• They can bring fun and excitement into a person’s workout routine.

• Fitness gadgets enhance the experience of physical exercise.

• They help consumers make the best use of modern technology.

Some of the coolest new fitness gadgets come with smart technology, which allows consumers to connect them via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi and that have social sharing features to keep consumers motivated and informed. Some of the newer fitness gadgets with smart technology feature processors from Snapdragon, which include integrated CPU, GPU, DSP and sensor processing. 

This technology lets users connect to their smartphones or tablets to upload and keep track of fitness activity. Items to consider when purchasing fitness include ease of use, battery life and purpose of measurement. 

Popular Wearable Fitness Gadgets

There are many fitness and exercise gadgets on the market, with the most common being:

• Wristband fitness tracker: There is a wide variety of wristband trackers from detecting sleep quality to measuring calories. The best trackers are the ones that sync automatically and can be used with all your devices. The Fitbit Flex tracks steps, distance and calories burned during the day, and sleep quality at night. It also gently wakes you in the morning.

• Samsung Gear Live: This Android smart watch acts as a personalized fitness manager by providing real-time information on the results and progress of your workout through its optical heart rate sensor. The Samsung Gear Live can be worn 24/7 to keep track of your activities throughout the day and runs on a Snapdragon 400 processor. It is dust and water resistant. 

• Notch Body Tracker: This wearable fitness device is worn in tandem with a number of trackers to provide even more detailed data. It tracks not only the number of steps taken in a day, but also their speed, acceleration and force. 

• Sports Sensors: Zepp’s Sports Sensors connect to baseball bats, golf gloves and tennis rackets and provides real-time data about the swings, angles at impact, speed and more. 

Whether you’re training for a marathon, want to lose a few pounds or you’re simply motivated to live a healthier lifestyle, wearable fitness gadgets have many benefits. This technology can help anyone with their fitness goals, and this fad doesn’t appear to be losing traction anytime soon.

*by andreascy*

Tightening Android Security Against Data Stealing Applications

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

It’s common knowledge that Android devices aren’t foolproof when it comes to malware and viruses, but for the most part these threats are hiding in the back alleys of the operating system. You’re most likely to run into them when you start downloading apps from sketchy third-party app stores, or side-loading pirated APKs. 

But here’s something scary. There is a family of apps containing malware just relaxing in Play Store, and they have multiplied at a decent pace during the last few years or so. 

Last year, DCCI (Data Center of China Internet) released an investigation against various Android markets and found that 66.9 percent applications were tracking private data, and 34.5 percent of them were engaged in cross-border tracking; tracking information that has no relevancy to the app’s main permissions and not informing users about what is happening. 

So what kind of data are these apps tracking from your android device? In short, everything -- from your phone book contacts and text message history to your account credentials. The fact that such apps are looking at your data even when it has nothing to do with the features provided should be a major concern. 

Even more worrying is that the apps responsible may be different than the ones that you expect to breach your privacy. The report, for example, reveals that beauty and study apps are among the worst privacy offenders in case of location tracking, while travel apps top the list when it comes to swiping user contact information. 

And this was just once instance where many applications were unethically crossing the line. A recent report cited by ComputerWeekly reveals that 79 percent of the clones released for the famous Flappy Bird game contained some form of malware. 

These clones were doing more than just tracking user privacy; hackers used them to make phone calls without the consent of the user, extract list of contacts, install more applications and establish root gateway for control over everything on the device. Data-breaching criminals are finding success by manipulating the familiar features in mobile games and apps that users trust and recognize. 

Taking Measures to Protect Your Personal Identity 

So, what can you do keep these app-stealing threats at bay? Before installing apps on your device, follow these best practices to ensure your personal information is not being compromised:

Utilize advanced internet security solutions: Advanced internet security solutions feature support for android and iOS devices. According to Trend Micro, some advanced solutions not only provide internet security virus warnings, they protect your android phone by identifying apps that steal your personal data. Further, they back up and store your information for retrieval in case a hacker is able to gain access to your device and wipe your data.

Review permissions: The next time you install an application on your device, take out a few minutes to read the app permissions for making sure your personal information is not shared with third parties. This kind of information is usually buried in the last few sentences. 

Use official download channels: even though the Google Play consists of data-stealing applications, whatever you download through the official route would be much less harmful due to official policy procedures than downloading apps through third-party app stores and unofficial channels.

RECOMMENDED: Are You Underestimating the Importance of Data Security? 

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How to Keep Employees From Texting Too Much

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Undeniably, one of the arising problems that most employers are dealing nowadays is about their employees getting distracted at work because these personnel are spending much time on their mobile phones. There are instances when employers catch the employees on hand texting most of the time during working hour and when asked or confronted about it, easily they would just say or may make some alibi that what they are doing has something to do with business or are business related like answering clients query or making some follow-ups.

In the standpoint coming from human resources management, there are lots of employers who are being caught up this same situation. Worst is, most of them don’t know what is the proper way to deal it with their employees or doesn’t know how to possibly handle this kind of issue without turning out to be the cons. Grounding or terminating an employee due to mobile phone usage will certainly affect employee’s outlook to the company. Some employers think about this agreement to their employees to hand their cell phones during working hours and could use them during break time or at the end of their shifts. However, this bargain still cannot address the issue for some and is only applicable for just a few. In short, it is not most likely suitable for every kind of working environment.

The practice of cell phone usage that has not something to do with work and being highly done in the workplace may extremely result big loss in the productivity of the company. It is therefore a must to take some action on how to take measures in dealing the issue in a not too restricting manner, but definitely work to keep your employees from texting excessively or using phone too much at work.

As we all know, cell phones is widely use nowadays not just by many employees but by people of all ages including the younger generation. People are now very dependent on it as a tool for communication. Thus, banning the use of cell phone in the business premise or in your company could only persuade absolute panic and confusion among sections of your company. This is because working parents can only keep in touch on their child at school or the ones left at home by texting them and vice versa. Actually, using mobile phone in the work place especially for important matter as well as in case of emergency is not a problem, bad or prohibited as long as it is minimal and reasonable. What really causes and serves as the root of the problem is when employees starting to use the mobile phone issued by the company inappropriately and abusively during office hours.

It has always been employer’s goal to maintain or increase productivity among employees and they don’t want to bear witness on how business working hours have been wasted through texting too much unproductively. And as the business keeps on expanding, it would be more difficult keeping an eye on all of the employees activities, including unofficial phone calls and sms. 

The best way to stop all the unnecessary activities that employees might get hooked onto, employers should start using spyware apps. Those cell phone tracking apps when installed in a mobile phone can keep track and full record of messaging and call activities of the employees. 

The cell phone tracking software could really help the employer to identify and know these employees who are working on their jobs the entire working hour and those who are just busy on sending text messages. The mobile spyware works remotely and gives you access to data through your account online. This feature helps employers to not only monitor if employees are working, but at the same time can also check their loyalty with the company.

DON'T MISS: Trying to Improve Productivity in the Workplace? Try These Unconventional Methods 

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NFL And GPS Tracking

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Teams in the NFL are really making strides these days to practice differently than the rest of the league in an attempt to set themselves apart through better performance. Not only are they incorporating different types of work out regiments, like Crossfit, to get their players into shape but they are also incorporating modern technology into their workouts as well.

Now, you may think they are only logging times played in games or on the practice field. And we are all aware of the normal statistics that the NFL tracks being big factors considered when players get their starting slots, but with the help of a few small GPS trackers installed in the players jerseys these teams are taking stats to a whole new level.

Catapult

Catapult Company, is the manufacturer of a small GPS tracking device that sports teams around the world are beginning to integrate, not only into their practices, but also in the actual games. A small device in inserted into a pocket that has been sewn into the player’s jersey, this device is used to measure all types of criteria to help measure output from the player as well as g-forces. 

The equipment managers and trainers for these teams will gather a lot of extra information from the tracking devices that would be very difficult to gather any other way. They will be able to measure the exact amount of time on the field, practicing and playing. The intensity from the players while they are playing, through their speed and how many G’s they pull when stopping, starting and cornering (or cutting) across the field. Of course the amount of G’s that are created when a hit is laid on another player is also tracked. I can see this information being very important with the new concern of players and head injuries.

Preventing Injuries

As we mentioned the amount of head injuries has gone up a lot over the past few years in the NFL. Not only have the head injuries gone up but also have the amount of other injuries. Teams are hoping to use these tracking devices to help assess when a player has played too much, and may be in need of rest. These Catapult devices relay the necessary information to a server that takes it all in and then gives out a performance number for each player. These numbers range from 300 to 400 and are based on their activity, so the more they play and the faster they run, or hit, the higher the number. Team managers are taking these numbers and giving them to the coaching staff so that they may then decide if a player is approaching the point that they may be more easily injured. If a player has practiced and played at a level of 400 4 days in a row that may not be a good thing for his body, at this time they can pull a player from practice or they can make sure they are practicing at half speed to prevent injury. Essentially the teams are preserving players for game time and hopefully for many more years to come.

SUGGESTED: The Business of Sports [INFOGRAPHIC]

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5 BlackBerry Tools for Your Business

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description : 

It's common knowledge that small businesses have difficulty surviving their first few years in business. According to the Small Business Administration, 3 out of 10 small businesses fail to survive for more than two years, and 5 out of 10 go out of business within five years. Lacking the resources of larger counterparts, it is imperative they do everything possible to improve their odds of success. 

Brad started a small design firm three years ago. Business seemed to dictate he be in 10 places at once. He recently began using mobile applications on his BlackBerry. The ability to create documents and meet with his clients and employees while being away from the office proved crucial to the survival of his business. 

The new BlackBerry 10 OS has the multitasking function called Peek and Flow. This allows users to use multiple apps for an "always open, always on" experience, according to Crackberry. Small business users can prioritize and organize operations from any location. Mobility along with the resulting increase in efficiency, organization and productivity can ensure success for small businesses.

Advances in cell phone technology makes the day-to-day operations of small business easier. These mobile applications are designed to assist in file storage, communication, monetary transactions or finance, productivity and more.

1. File Storage - PlayCloud 10

Organization is critical to the success of any business. PlayCloud is a file manager with integrated cloud service. Users can access files and directories from their BlackBerry device. They can then open, play and sync those files. PlayCloud allows users to sync files with a remote cloud such as FTP, OneDrive or Dropbox. They can also use the BlackBerry 10 OS’ SD-card. Thumbnails are created, which users can use to view and sort files depending on the task.

2. Communication - Cisco WebEx Meetings

Users are no longer confined to conference rooms and offices when attending meetings. They can tap into a mobile web conference from any location, while enjoying the full meeting experience, complete with simultaneous data and audio via Cisco WebEx Meetings. As a host, users can view the meeting list, schedule, start, and delete a meeting, and invite others to a meeting. Invitees can join the meeting via an email invitation, view active speakers, view the attendee list, view shared content and more.

3. & 4. Monetary Transactions/Finance - Square & Expensify

For conducting business outside the office, businesses have had to invest in credit card processing stations that employees could carry to complete monetary transactions. Now, employees who have a BlackBerry can easily accept credit card payments via Square. With Square, there is no sign-up or monthly fee. Instead, Square takes 2.75 percent of each transaction. The cost of conventional credit card processing stations has prevented many small businesses from being able to provide this service to their customers. By removing this barrier, Square has become a key application for small businesses.

When thinking about expense reports, an image of a stressed worker digging through piles of paper, trash cans and files in search of an elusive receipt comes to mind. Expensify is an application that will prevent users from experiencing this nightmare. Users can log expenses and scan paper receipts on the go. This is a free application for BlackBerry, and it makes a tedious task much easier.

5. Document Editing - Documents To Go

Knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint is essential in today’s workplace. Documents To Go is an application that allows BlackBerry 10 OS users to view, edit and create Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files and attachments. It also makes it possible to view PDF files. The application includes a bi-directional file synchronization desktop application. This provides users with a way to transfer and manage documents.

RECOMMENDED: Top 3 Tech Tools for Managers That Mean Business

Are there extra details you’d like to know? Add anything and everything below in the comments!

*by andreascy*

4 Effective Tips for Reducing Your Electricity Bill

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

These days it's way too easy for the typical American household to have an enormous electricity bill. Between home appliances, televisions, video game systems, computers, and phone chargers we consume a lot of electricity. 

Thankfully, it is entirely possible and actually very simple to live a comfortable life without a huge electricity bill. Here are four simple tips that will help lower your electricity bill. 

1. Use Your Air Conditioner Wisely

Using an air conditioner can add a lot to your electric bill. Instead of turning up your air conditioner and wondering why your energy bill is so high, try keeping it at 78 degrees when you're home. If that isn't cool enough for you, there are other things you can do to keep your home comfortable in the summer. Ceiling fans can help a home feel cooler even if they don't actually cool the surrounding air, and closing the blinds on your windows can give your home some much-needed shade. 

Using an air conditioner wisely also means keeping it in working order. Check the filters at least every thirty days, and clean or replace them as needed. Schedule a maintenance check with an air conditioner repair specialist every season. A good central air conditioning system will last for years, but if it isn't maintained it will be forced to work harder and cost you extra on your energy bill.

2. Invest in Fluorescent Light Bulbs

Fluorescent light bulbs may be initially more expensive than incandescent light bulbs, but they last about ten times longer and are much more energy efficient. Overall, a single incandescent light bulb costs as much to operate as six fluorescent light bulbs. With this type of inefficient light bulb Invest in fluorescent if you really want to save money on your electricity bill.

3. Pick the Right Oven

Microwaves consume 90 percent less energy than an electric oven, so you should be using your microwave more often if you are trying to save money on your electric bill. If you would rather not use a microwave for your cooking, there are other energy-efficient options available. For example, a toaster oven is perfect for baking or roasting smaller items, and it still uses less energy than a conventional oven. A convection oven also cooks food 35 percent faster than a conventional oven. 

4. Make Sure Things are Turned Off

Turning off the lights in a room before you leave should be a no-brainer, but these days people leave their computers and video game systems on all the time, even when they aren't using them. Even in standby or sleep mode, electronics are still using electricity. Many of these devices require an extra step to actually shut them down completely. If you're not going to use them anytime soon, take that extra step to make sure they aren't wasting electricity.

For your needs we recommend to seek a professional help from a home renovator or a DIY specialist who can offer you specific energy efficient solutions. Let us know about the details and we'll guide you step by step how to achieve it.

*by andreascy*

Will You be the Next Victim of Laptop Theft?

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Laptop theft is becoming increasingly common, which should concern you if you own one. FBI statistics say that 97 percent of stolen computers will never be recovered. Statistics also report that 1,600 laptops are stolen daily in the United States alone. 

Today, we can safely assume the number to have increased greatly. If you own a laptop, chances are 1 in 10 that your laptop will be stolen.

Data Loss

The hardest thing to swallow about the theft of a laptop is always the loss of the data it contains. Family pictures, music libraries, and, of course, sensitive documents all vanish in the blink of an eye. Most laptop users also have their passwords saved on the laptops, so it's easy enough for the thieves to hack into accounts and gather enough material to commit other crimes, such as identity theft.

If we look at the theft of laptops belonging to large corporations, the fallout of the loss of a laptop can be extremely difficult to contain. Organizations lose several thousand dollars, at the very least, every time a laptop belonging to one of their employees is stolen. In 2004, Software Insurance claimed that over 600,000 laptops had been stolen, which caused a hardware loss amounting to $720 million and information losses estimated at $5.4 billion. Clearly, the loss of the hardware does not hurt as much as the loss of the data on the laptop.

Protecting Yourself against Laptop Theft

The only way to guarantee that your laptop won't be stolen is to keep your eye on it all the time. Of course that's not always possible. Luckily, there are several ways in which you can reduce the chances of your laptop being stolen and protect your data from being compromised.

To protect your laptop from being stolen, you can use either an alarm or chains to keep it attached to something immobile. Since a large number of laptops are stolen by thieves breaking into offices, you can prevent yours from being stolen by keeping it attached to something solid and immovable. Alarms can alert you or a security guard in the event someone tries to steal your laptop by breaking the lock.

Unfortunately, there are no foolproof ways to protect your data, as a determined attacker will eventually get in no matter the levels of encryption or password protections you use. But you can use a combination of biometric scanners, tracking software, data encryption, BIOS passwords, drive locks, and OS passwords to make it as difficult as possible for a thief to steal your data.

Laptop tracking software will help you recover your laptop only if the thief isn't smart and connects to the Internet. Full Disk Encryption is a popular approach to protecting data. It is inexpensive and easy to maintain, but, like other methods, can be cracked.

In the end, it's best to be realistic and prevent the theft of your laptop from ever happening, since it's statistically improbable that you'll be among the 3 percent who have recovered their computers after a theft.

READ ALSO: The Mobile Kill Switch Is In Effect: Here’s What You Need To Know

For more tips on laptop safety, i suggest researching protection software and products. 

*by andreascy*

Taking The Help Of A Web Based Billing System

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description : 

Imagine all your business processes done as far as your billing and accounting department is concerned; at a fraction of the cost.

If you could outsource your accounting and billing operations to a reliable and reputable firm and enjoy seamless and smooth services then it would be an extremely wise business decision and here is exactly where opting for a web base billing system comes in. Most firms that deal with such web-based billing systems offer plenty of features and benefits.

What Are the Benefits of a Web Based Billing System? 

There is quite a wide range of benefits the business organization can enjoy when it scouts for an online or a web based billing system. Some of them are: 

• Flexibility of the service which can scale up as the customer base grows.

• Immediacy and up-to-date information which means that a customer can get billing information even somewhere in the middle of his billing cycle, if he so chooses.

• Control of the billing process is possible from almost any location. All an individual needs is to have access to a laptop and Internet access.

• Capability of delivering a high degree of data visualization and data customization as well. 

The Features of a Web Based Billing System

One of the easiest things that you can do when you are searching for a reliable and comprehensive billing system for your business organization, is to go through the websites of different firms that deal with this particular product. This will also give you a pretty good idea of the kind of features that they offer and the costs of the same. 

Getting the highest possible value for your money is a good idea indeed when it comes to the choice of an online billing system. Most companies do have flexible packages or editions of such billing systems and depending on the kind of features that you want, you could either opt for a normal or standard version or go in for a full featured, premium version.

Enhanced User Interface

With the help of a web-based billing system, you as a business organization owner can program the system in such a way that the user facing interface allows your customers to login and enjoy granular visibility and details as far as their bills are concerned. Such user interface also means that a customer can also use your web based billing system to make his payments online and in time.

Cross Platform Capabilities

A web-based billing system should also be capable of being accessed and operated and even controlled through different types of platforms such as Windows, Linux and so on. This would mean that you can enjoy all the features of such billing system regardless of the platform that your organization’s computers and network uses.

Security

A web based billing system will be successful only if it promises completely failsafe security. This means that unauthorized personnel and even hackers should not be able to get into your network and access personal information of your customers and, even worse, credit card details that they may use while making the payments.

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*by andreascy*