School is already here and vacation is over. There are so many back-to-school deals that we sometimes have no idea which one to take. While I have already bought most of the essentials for the kids, I still can’t help browsing the net to find out if there are more deals out there I might have missed. I got good discounts for their school bags and other necessities. Yet, I want to make sure I’ve covered all the bases.

Charter Communications probably has one of the best back-to-school deals around. They are giving away 1 laptop a day for 30 days to 30 lucky customers who avail one of three Charter services online — Charter High-Speed Internet at $19.99/month for 6 months, Charter Digital Home and High-Speed Internet at $69.98/month for 6 months or Charter Digital Home, High-Speed Internet, and Charter Telephone® at $99.97/month for 12 months. Aside from becoming a possible winner in the Charter Laptop-a-Day Giveaway, you also get a free Shell gas card after purchase of the services included in the promotion.

We are not talking about some cheap laptop for their prize, it is a New HP Compaq Presario C770US Notebook worth $600 with a Dual-Core processor, a 2GB RAM, and a 160 hard drive. It’s considered the best back-to-school deal around not only because of the laptop giveaway, but also because of the exceptional service that Charter Communications provide at the best price. The laptop is just cherry on your sundae. The service is a good enough deal by itself.

Categories: Technology & Internet
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Just 2 months to go and Certified Blogaholic’s web hosting service will expire. I have been searching and asking around about web hosting services. I have no qualms about my blogs current host. However, the number of web hosting services in cyberspace has me thinking that somewhere out there my be a better, cheaper, and more efficient web host. This early, I’d like to make my shortlist and decide from there.

Then again, the opinion of experts or experienced webmasters would be welcome. I doubt I have enough experience to make the smart choice. For this, I will need to refer to a web hosting rating site that can assist me with my choice. And I did find the exact site. WebHostingRating.com provides website owners a list of web hosts in the internet which are rated and reviewed according to important criteria. In one click, you get a summary of all the features offered by the web host, including bonuses and costs. Some of them are foreign to me, so I will have to rely on the number of thumbs up that the site has given the host. Their criteria for the rating includes customer satisfaction, price, reliability, uptime and customer support. It’s a fairly new site but they will also include unedited reviews from actual customers of specific web hosts which will give credibility to the rating. No body wants to read a review that is no different from an ad placement. What customers want is a review that is backed up by actual users.

So, before choosing your web host, find out what the experts think about them. Visit WebHostingRating.com and make the smart choice.

Tags: web hosting rating
Categories: Technology & Internet
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When Asus came out with the EEE PC, its first ultra-mobile personal computer (UMPC), the world went nuts. Here’s a gadget that has a bigger screen than a PDA, bigger keypads, yet small enough to fit into a woman’s handbag. The earlier UMPCs were forgotten. My officemates rushed to get one because it was even cheaper than a smartphone. It was a mini laptop, except for one drawback — the data storage. I held back because of the limits in the memory. The data storage was too small and it would defeat the purpose of getting a portable laptop if you have to carry along a removable hard drive (At that time, flash disks or thumbdrives were only up to 4 GB). I also found the screen too small. For me, it’s still not comfortable enough to write on or surf the net with. Good thing too that I didn’t join the bandwagon. A few months later, HP came out with its own UMPC. But they rushed into it and came up short.

The newest kid on the block for UMPCs is the MSI Wind. They say this is loads better than the Asus EEE. The first batch that was released wasn’t enough and availability became difficult. Some who made reservations didn’t even get their units. It had become so hot that sellers decided to make extra bucks and canceled those who reserved at the original price. Sellers were able to mark-up extra on the price because of the demand. Before I started this post, I was planning to get my own Wind. But while reading about it, I discovered there were other brands that are coming out soon. So, I sit back again and wait.

The brands everyone is waiting for is Lenovo and Dell. If these 2 are coming out with their versions, why settle for MSI? If Lenovo comes out with its model Ideapad S10 in October 2008, it’s my choice. But I am also waiting for information on Dell’s model. The good thing about waiting is that other brands work out the wrinkles on the earlier releases and find a way to make their versions better than the earlier ones. There is still no word on Sony or Apple making their UMPC. I’m certain that it’s in the works. They are just waiting in the sidelines scouting to assure that they come out with the best in the market.

Tags: asus eee pc,dell,lenovo ideapad s10,msi wind,ultra portable personal computer,UMPC
Categories: Gadgets & Games
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The thing that can make life a real pain is boredom. It can even turn some people’s lives into a mess when they find hobbies or diversions that cause more trouble than they are worth. If you’re bored, just try to remember to stay with activities that are productive and one that can improve your life rather than those that degrade it.

After my Mom’s retirement, she had to find alternative activities to keep her active. Aside from cooking, she found bingo a fun way to meet other people and pass away the time. It has even gained her a additional income after winning jackpots a couple of times. For most senior citizens, bingo has been a savior. They meet people their age and stay away from depression and idleness. Now, there is a way to play it without leaving your home.

Online Bingo is now available at bet365.com. And if you’re worried that you might lose money playing, they have Bingo Offers that will allow you to play for free. You can play for free for £1,000 guaranteed from Monday to Thursday, 8pm until 9pm in the Island Hopper Room. So, join now and play Bingo at bet365 and you might just get a lucky streak.

Tags: bet365,free bingo,online bingo
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Lotus Domino Access will soon be available for the IPhone. It is planned for release within the year and marketed as IBM Lotus INotes. Users can access their emails, contacts, and calendar through their IPhones. You will never miss another email from the office again — this time it fits right into your hand with the touchscreen experience of your IPhone.

I don’t really feel like this is a good thing for most employees. It’s obviously bringing your work with you anywhere. When the boss knows you’ve got your Lotus Notes right in your phone, there is no excuse for not answering an email or sending information or data through it. Like the ad for the software says, it’s “bringing the enterprise to your Apple IPhone.” The world is working too hard as it is. We have forgotten to stop and smell the roses. We spend more time in front of the computer or our mobile phones than playing with our kids. Meanwhile, the kids follow our example and stuff their ears with their IPod earphones and stop listening to their parents.

Anyway, my Lotus Notes is one application I don’t want to be carrying around with me wherever I go. But for most people, they feel it is a convenience that IBM and Apple has gifted them with. So, for the workaholics out there, below are some planned screenshots for the Lotus INotes. These are just planned shots and the final software may actually look different. Enjoy. . .

Tags: IBM Lotus INotes,IPhone email software,IPhone software,Lotus Notes for the IPhone
Categories: Gadgets & Games
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In an age when multimedia has become part of everyday life, there is nothing more important than having a multimedia software that boasts of functions that encompass almost every format and codec available. This is exactly what Blaze Media Pro Multimedia Software is all about. Why choose a software that is not flexible enough to fit into the varied formats and media available in the digital world? Blaze Media Pro is an all-in-one multimedia software that will make your audio and video experience less complicated.

Blaze Media Pro records, converts, and edits audio and video files all packed in one software. It is probably one of the most comprehensive and powerful multimedia software in the market. Among the formats supported by Blaze Media Pro for its audio and video editing are MP3, WMA, WAV, OGG, AVI, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, WMV, and much more. It fully supports CD, VCD, SVCD, and DVD. It can even record from line-in (cassette, LP, etc.), streaming audio, or any other source available in your system.

This powerful software features video encoding and abilities that almost no other multimedia software can match. It can do batch video conversions AVI, MPG, WMV, and MOV. Video editing is at it’s best where you are given the ability to edit all popular video formats, extract images from video files, insert images into video files, capture video from almost any device, compress video files, convert PAL to NTSC video standards, and even join videos for AVI, MPEG, and WMV. Blaze Media Pro’s capabilities are too long to mention in this blog post. All I can say is, it would be difficult to find an audio and video software capability that it cannot perform. Visit the site and you will understand what I mean.

Tags: audio converter,audio editing,blaze media pro,complete multimedia software,powerful multimedia software,video converter,video editing,video encoding
Categories: Technology & Internet
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Apple just admitted that it can remotely remove applications from any IPhone 3G device. According to Steve Jobs, the “kill switch” is intended to prevent malicious software from getting through the network. Malicious software, such as one that can steal personal identity, may be distributed to other IPhones through its App store if the kill switch was not created.

Steve Jobs felt that not creating it would be irresponsible. However, some people see it differently. Having the kill switch meant that Apple has virtual control over IPhones through the network and poses a security risk to many users. The issue of the kill switch is that it gives Apple too much control over the units, leaving users at their mercy. What else is Apple not telling?

Tags: Apple IPhone,IPhone kill switch,Steve Jobs
Categories: Gadgets & Games
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One of the more expensive expenditures that a business has to contend with in the 20th century is Information Technology. A software license for every computer or workstation in an office will run into thousands of dollars. The problem with software is that it doesn’t last. Though you can still use it for years, it’s almost impossible to integrate with other businesses without updating softwares every few years. This is especially a problem for businesses that only have 50-400 employees. There is no such thing as volume discounts in software. You pay for the fixed price on the license and a variable price for every user.

Now, there is a business solution for small companies that do not have the funds to purchase software licenses needed for operations. The IT industry now has what is called the software as a service (SaaS) solution to minimize IT costs. Instead of purchasing software and incurring all relative costs, it can now be rented for use at Phase 2 International. With SaaS, you eliminate the need to have an IT department and save up on software updates, security devices, remote access devices, and a lot more. Moreover, your choice of application can be ready and set up within hours. You can even access the application anywhere — all you need is an internet connection.

Phase 2 International offers various softwares that businesses need for its operations such as the hosted team foundation server and even cheap web conferencing with ShareMeeting. These are available for rent or subscription at the lowest price available in the market. It even comes with a 30-day money back guarantee if the service fails to improve your business operations.

Visit Phase 2 International now and find out how easy it is to save on IT expense. Optimize your profits and get the best IT service in the industry.

Tags: Phase 2 International,SaaS,software as a service
Categories: Technology & Internet
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They say that planet earth is under threat from all sides. Global warming, natural catastrophes, chemical hazards, pollution, accumulating garbage, and incurable diseases are bringing mankind to the brink of extinction. Is there still hope for us?

If we are facing extinction, there should be a way for us to preserve our species. Richard Garriott, the creative genius behind the Tabula Rasa video game, will be the 6th private citizen to travel into space in October 2008. He is collecting messages from around the globe, digitized DNA, and a history of humanity’s greatest achievements which will be stored in the International Space Station on his trip. This will be dubbed Operation Immortality, mankind’s attempt to preserve or at least make our race be known in the universe.

In OperationImmortality.com, you will get a chance to contribute to humanity’s “saved game” which will be the legacy of the human race in the event that we eventually destroy ourselves. I joined and left my message — “Hold each others hand. But watch your back.” I believe it summarizes the way that we humans have lived our lives. We constantly crave each others companionship, yet we hurt each other too. At least that was how I saw my life. I have numerous friends, but most that I rely on disappoint me one way or the other. I have been that way with other people. As much as I would like to be always dependable and be the hero, I do disappoint many people. But it’s the way we are. We have already accepted our imperfections and take this as part of who we are.

Why not leave your own message? On your way, you can check out mine with ID 612. Join Operation Immortality: Leave your mark. Save Humanity.

Tags: Operation Immortality,Richard Garriott,Tabula Rasa
Categories: Technology & Internet
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My nightmares are not made up of the boogieman or Freddie Kruger. One thing that I fear the most is a hard disk crash. I now have thousands of files in my laptop that are too important to lose. I have financial projections that I have worked on for years, pictures of my kids years ago that cannot be replaced, and jobs that will require months to redo if my hard disk ever crashed. I remember making back-up copies in cds, but these are not updated regularly nor verified if still in mint condition.

Tilana Systems Corporation assures that you will never fear losing data again. At Tilana.com, you can get a free download of Tilana Reserve and get free continuous data protection (CDP) and a permanent archive on a storage-based synchronization platform. Data is continuously protected with an automated system that implements schedule-free immediate back-up transfers. These can be accessed anytime through the web or through mobile together with multi-computer synchronization. For a very good price, you can also purchase Enterprise CDP with your own data center on servers that you already own. Their storage system is supported by the Tilana Cloud platform which provide the best kind of information security with encrypted true real time.

Tilana assures that their Cloud storage will keep your data secure and available anytime for synchronization. No emergency crash will cause you stress and a hard day’s work. Sleep well at night knowing that all the calculations and models you have created are safe with Tilana.

Tags: free back-up,free cdp,free continuous data protection,free storage,Tilana Reserve
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They say those gadgets that we humans are going gaga over can be detrimental to our health. I’m not talking about the alleged brain cancer that radio waves can give us. They have dubbed it with different names — nintendonitis, texting tendinitis, numb thumb, and more recently, the IPod finger and the Blackberry thumb. We seem to have become so engrossed with our gizmos that we overlook the fact that it causes stress to our fingers or wrists. Before texting became a craze, carpal tunnel syndrome was the most usual ailment we acquire from typing too much on our computer. We do tend to overdo it, don’t we?

Well, except for carpal tunnel syndrome, all the rest are minor injuries that can be cured with rest and therapy. Doctors advice that if we can’t control the use of our gadgets, we have to remember to flex and stretch them every so often. However, they still maintain that texting while driving or crossing the street is a no-no. This last habit can cause more than just injury. There have been reports that accidents due to texting while walking or driving has been on the rise. There have been a few deaths, but nothing alarming. Still, we have to control ourselves and remember that our safety comes first.

Categories: Gadgets & Games, Health & Beauty
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We are currently looking for a new theme for Certified Blogaholic. We’ve tested a few but can’t come up with something satisfactory yet. Those we have chosen wreak havoc on the blog’s layout and still need a lot of work. Changing a blog’s theme is not that easy. Sometimes, you find several features you want mixed with different themes. On the other hand, paying for customization is a bit too much for our budget. If we start making as much as John Chow, maybe we can hire someone to customize it. At the moment, we have to settle for quality downloads and just work on them.

For bloggers looking for good wordpress themes, we’ve found the best ones at Top Wordpress Themes. The amazing thing about them (actually almost unbelievable) is that they are free. I couldn’t believe it myself considering the quality of the themes available for download in the site. Choosing was the hard part because of all the great choices. Whether you want a simple theme or a more artistic one, I assure you that the variety available for download would satisfy your taste and style.

Bloggers whose themes are now outdated or those who want a refreshing new look for their wordpress blogs, check out TopWPThemes and give your blog a facelift for free. As for the newbies, give your blog the best first impression in the blogosphere and choose from the wide array of themes available for download at TopWPThemes.

Tags: free wordpress themes,quality wordpress themes
Categories: Technology & Internet
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After graduating from high school, my first choice was actually a college degree in computer science or computer engineering. My mistake was that I opted to take my college education from an educational institution that had a very high reputation and standards — equivalent to an ivy league school in the US. And like any ivy league institution, technical degrees were difficult to enter. I ended up choosing a mediocre management degree, prioritizing the institution over the knowledge that I knew I could easily master even with only an above average mathematical prowess. Now, with over 18 years of work experience, I realized that the real world works quite differently from the standards of ivy league schools. I should’ve pursued a passion I knew would bring me further than I ever dreamed of, even at the time when computers were still not a necessity.

Since contemplating in retrospect will not bring me anywhere to obtaining the knowledge I wanted, I’m convinced that a separate training would be the only way to address my pursuit of technical knowledge. In my current job, I handle several sensitive information relative to finance and treasury. Management deemed that I was suitable to handle security protocols and my ability to easily adapt to new systems and electronic equipment allowed me to be given basic training in computer networking. It was only a taste of what I have always dreamed of. And after learning about the current opportunities and earning potentials of networking professionals, I want more.

When it comes to networking, nothing beats the value and worth of a Cisco certification. Cisco is the leading supplier of networking equipment and network management worldwide. I recently browsed the Cisco Learning Network and discovered that the multinational company offers certification programs for those who want to enhance their qualifications in information technology, specifically in networking. The first step is to acquire a CCENT (Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician) Certification. I realize that I will have to take additional training programs from authorized Cisco Learning Partners. The good thing is I already access to the tools available to pursue the knowledge that I want. Now, it is all up to me to travel this road that I desire.

For IT professionals who have already acquired enough knowledge in their field, I do encourage you to take Cisco’s certification programs. A Cisco certification will open doors for you that you have never thought possible. And at the rate that information technology is growing, it is a certainty that this qualification will be even more valuable in the years to come.

Tags: Cisco certification,information technology,networking certification
Categories: Technology & Internet
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Haptics, from the Greek word “haptesthai,” means to touch. This new technology is what Samsung is currently banking on to get an edge over the stiff competition in the cellphone industry. Scientists have studied haptics for decades and have now determined the functions of skin receptors and how information travels from the point of contact to the central nervous system.

Samsung’s Anycall looks almost like the IPhone except that it will definitely boost its features to give the IPhone a run for its money. And considering that the IPhone is mostly hype and lacks so many of the high tech features of its competitors, the Anycall has a good chance of bumping it off its spot.

Though there is very little information to describe the new model, what has been reported is that the Anycall will operate with a touchscreen which will vibrate with a touch allowing the user to confirm that the input has been registered. However, unlike other touchscreen devices, it will have 22 different touch sensations depending on what the user wants the gadget to do. It will be the most advanced touchscreen device unless another company releases a similar gadget before its actual market release.

Experts predict that haptics will be the future in gadgets and it will become so advanced that users will be able to determine who the call is coming from just by touching it — a sort of digital Braille as they call it. The world of electronics is becoming so captivating every moment that it is almost difficult to catch up. Pretty soon, the concepts presented in sci-fi movies such as James Bond or Minority Report will now become a reality.

Tags: advanced cellular phone,electronic device,gadgets,haptics,Samsung Anycall,touchscreen device
Categories: Gadgets & Games
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Blogging started as a hobby for Dr. Arnold Kim. His blog, MacRumors.com, features gossip and facts about Apple. Although it was a time-consuming hobby, he kept at it while earning his medical degree. He completed his medical degree and began to diagnose kidney problems for patients. With his website attracting 4.4 million people and 40 million views per month, he decided to hang up his stethoscope this month and become a problogger full time. According to Quantcast, it has become the one of the most popular technology website to date.

Now that he has decided to focus his attention on his blog, Dr. Kim believes the potential to earn more from his endeavor will grow further. As with all other people who are unaware of a blog’s potential, his colleagues could not comprehend how he could make more money from blogging than pursuing his medical profession. He sums it all up in two words, “build traffic.” In the internet, traffic equals power, which in turn translates to money.

Dr. Kim started blogging about Steve Jobs’ company in 2000 writing about rumors on future Apple products he collects around the web. Being a secretive company, Apple has become the object of speculation and interest over the years. With a computer science degree from the Columbia University, his skills in programming and technology has added value to the blog and made visitors keep coming back for more. He also knew that everyone wants to know in advance what Steve Jobs is up to. If the midnight vigil during the market release of the IPhone 3G is any indication, Dr. Kim has indeed found a niche that was worth more than the degree he is giving up.

MacRumors ranks No. 2 on a list of the “25 most valuable blogs,” just behind Gawker Media and ahead of The Huffington Post, PerezHilton.com, and TechCrunch. Among those on the list, 2 tech-oriented blogs, Ars Technica and PaidContent, were sold earlier this year for alleged sums in excess of $25 million. Ars Technica has over 3 million visitors per month while PaidContent and its associate blogs reach approximately half a million people. Considering that MacRumors attracts a far bigger audience, valuations indicate that he has a gold mine in his hands. That is one piece of real estate that no crisis can topple.

Initially, he hesitated to make it a full-time job since he enjoyed medicine and had invested almost $200,000 for his education. However, when he saw the figures, it had become an easy decision to make.

When asked how he figures out the rumors from the real thing, he claims that its all a gut feel. He is aware that most of the images of future Apple products in the web are fakes. He does enjoy this fun part where he sometimes posts suspicious images with hints on their authenticity.

At the moment, he is planning to go beyond the horizons of MacRumors. He is currently cooperating in a spinoff Web site, Touch Arcade, that tracks the new games for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Though he keeps mum about his other expansion plans, one thing is certain — he plans to go where no blogger has gone before.

Tags: Apple,blogging,Dr. Arnold Kim,IPhone,IPod Touch,MacRumors,Steve Jobs
Categories: News, Online Earning Opportunities, Technology & Internet
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