Buying A Cell Phone Making Smart Choices

Whether you?re buying your first cell phone, upgrading to a newer one or contemplating a new cell phone plan, it?s a good idea to thoroughly research your purchase. There are a multitude of companies, cell phone plans and rates available. You can pick from family plans, prepaid time cards, and plans tailored to your specific needs. The list, like the beat, goes on. The purpose of this article is to help guide you through the large amount of choices. This article includes some suggestions to help you decide which cell phone and cell phone plan is right for you.

One of the things to consider when looking for a new cell phone is what cell phone accessories you need and want. It?s also wise to acquaint yourself with some websites that rate and review cell phones and cell phone accessories. Cell phone companies such as Nokia, Motorola and LG provide easy to use quiz?s to help determine what cell phone is right for your busy lifestyle. Because you are busy, I have done a little homework for you and have come up with some ideas to help you make the right choice when buying a new cell phone.

There are a few factors to consider when buying or upgrading your phone. Part of what you want to look for in a cell phone is what rates are available if you are buying more than one phone. Many cell phone companies are currently offering ?family plans? which make owning more than one phone very attractive.

The following are some guidelines to consider when researching a cell phone and cell phone plans purchase:

1. Economy

Advances in technology have revolutionized the communications industry. This technology has introduced the world to digital cameras and has also revolutionized the world of cell phones. This technology has enabled a cell phone to act as a camera and in some cases to fit in the palm of your hand. This is why the sky is the limit in the cases of some cell phone prices. You can pay as much as you like for all the internal options that a cell phone is equipped with. To further drive up the cost of your cell phone purchase, there are numerous cell phone accessories that are essential to the safe operation of the unit and some which are simply frills.

If funds are limited but you still need a reasonably good phone and corresponding cell phone plan, there are companies that provide cell phones free of charge with the purchase of a phone plan. These plans were previously called contracts and most of them were fairly long term (at least 3 years). This is no longer the case. Many companies like Verizon, T-Mobile and Nextel will provide a phone for free and won?t insist on a lengthy commitment.

Some Options To Consider:

Prepaid Cell Phones ? Are they right for you?
If you are considering a prepaid cell phone, it is a good idea to ask yourself how often will you be using the phone. A prepaid cell phone can be more expensive than a regular monthly rate and contain hidden charges and restrictions. If you need a cell phone simply for occasional use, a prepaid cell phone is probably a good choice.

Family Plans ? You Control who pays the bill.
Many companies are offering ?Family Plans?. This is making owning a cell phone even more economical. These cell phone plans allow the owner to provide a family member or in the case of small business, an employee, a cell phone. The principal owner of the plan pays for the air-time (at a discounted rate) and long distance. Using a family plan for a small business is a great way to keep track of cell phone expenditures and keeping the telephone budget low.

Cell Phone Accessories ? The costs add up!
When something shows up on the market, you want it?now! In the marketing world, you are known as an ?Early Adopter? and Early Adopters always pay more. Communications companies love you! You are ultimately their test market to find out what consumers are willing to pay for the newest features and latest gadgets available as cell phone accessories. There are numerous pages on the World Wide Web of cell phone accessories. Numerous pages; so where to look? Start with Verizon or T-Mobile as they provide stylish phones free of charge. These cell phones come with many accessories included in the start up cost. If economy is an issue with you, stick with the basics. You will only need to buy the following items:

* Handsfree Car Headset
* Battery Charger

It isn?t a very sexy list but if economy is important to you then that is really all you need. BUT if economy isn?t number one on your list of what to look for in a cell phone, read on.

2. The Latest And Greatest ? Can You Say ?E A R L Y A D O P T E R??

If you want the latest in technology, be prepared to pay for it. A minimum of $200.00 will buy only the most basic of cell phones. In the case of pricing for cell phones and cell phone accessories the sky truly is the limit. Nokia, Motorola, LG, Ericsson and Kyocera provide an established name in cell phone technology and they also provide cutting edge features in their repertoire of cell phone offerings. Check out their web sites for the latest and greatest in cell phone offerings.

3. Style ? Looking Good For A Price

Many companies include face plates as a catchy cell phone accessory. You can wear your heart or your favorite sports team on your sleeve. Motorola, for example carries a cell phone face plate that features a major league hockey team. You can even pick up a purse to carry your cell phone to the most elegant occasions. Check out these ?must have? little numbers on the Motorola site or one of the many other sites on the internet selling these aftermarket accessories. If you love color and need to match your cell phone to your Mercedes that is possible too!

Would you like something a little different? A cell mate is the thing to have. This cell phone accessory allows you to dress your cell phone. This item was adopted by Ashley Judd who is reported to have many different plush covers for her cell phones. These items are available from a limited number of cell phone companies and other manufacturers. Type your brand of cellphone and ?cell mate? into your favorite search engine to find a unique cover for your cell phone.

4. Reliability ? When You Need Your Cell Phone To Be Dependable

One of the most important features when looking for a cell phone is dependable service. There is no point in having a cell phone and the most up to date cell phone accessories if the phone is not reliable. Some cell phone companies advertise that they provide the best cell phone service but unfortunately this isn?t always true. Ensure that you deal with experienced cell phone service providers such as AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile.

5. Rate Plan Flexibility

Phone plans ? finding what?s right for you.
Family plans, call home plans, free included cell phones and prepaid cell phones! There?s a multitude of choices but what is right for you? Your lifestyle will indicate what type of phone plan you need. If your cell phone is your main source of communication and half your life is spent on your cell, you need a plan that will guarantee you the most air time for the least amount of money. If you have children and want to give them the opportunity to have a cell phone but want to control the amount of time they use it , a family plan may be the right choice for you. Perhaps you need to call a certain phone number regularly, then a ?call home? plan is the choice that serves your needs best. Do your research to find the best fit possible. Gone are the days when you had to fit the cell phone plan; today companies such as Verizon and AT&T make sure that the cell phone plans fits you.

The Choice Is Yours ? The Sky?s The Limit

As you can see, there are lots to look for when shopping for a new cell phone. This article covered only a portion of the information available on the World Wide Web and in the Marketplace. I hope you found it helpful in your search for just the right cell phone company for your unique lifestyle. Keep in touch!

? 2005 http://www.cell-phone-n-plans.com

About the Author
Lillian Fuller is a talented and successful freelance writer for hire providing tips and advice for consumers about cell phones, cell phone plans and cellular accessories. Her numerous articles offer valuable insight and informative views on many different topics.

Apache MySQL & PHP for Windows

Apache, MysQL and PHP for Windows could be a nice nice thing to have on your Windows workstation. You could try and experiment with all kinds of nice PHP and MySQL based applications right on your Windows desktop running Apache, instead of having to access a full-featured server.

Most people have Windows as their workstation and it can be sometimes difficult to switch to another operating system. So, you may have always wanted to run PHP applications on your Windows machine but wondered if it is too difficult to install or if the hassle will be worth it.

This article gives you the essential information to get started right away. Even if you are a seasoned PHP, MySQL and Apache guru, the checklist below will still be helpful in your installation process.

There are lots of 3rd party software that bundles Apache, MySQL & PHP in one package and installs them on our computer. We do not recommend this and suggest that you directly get Apache, MySQL & PHP from their official sites.

Apache

1. Get Apache 1.3.33 from here: http://httpd.apache.org/download.cgi.

2. Choose a mirror close to you and in the same page, look for the Win32 Binary (Self extracting) file: apache1.3.33-win32-x86-nosrc.exe.

3. Download the file and save it on your hard disk. Run the installer and the self- extracting wizard will guide you through the rest of the steps. Choose all the default settings and run Apache as a service.

4. Remember to put localhost when asked for a Server name/Domain name. Use administrator@localhost when asked for the administrative email account.

5. Now point your browser to: http://localhost and you should see an Apache Test Page.

6. You can change this page by creating an index.html page here C:Program FilesApache GroupApachehtdocs.

7. You can manually start and stop the Apache server. In a Windows command prompt, type net stop apache or net start apache.

MySQL

1. Get MySQL 4.1.7 from here: http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/mysql/4.1.html

2. Under the Windows downloads section, choose Windows Essentials (x86) and click on the Pick a Mirror link.

3. Download the file mysql-4.1.7-essential-win.msi and save it on your hard disk. Run the installer and the self-extracting wizard will guide you through the rest of the steps. Remember the root password when prompted for it in the installation process.

4. Once the installation is done, on your Windows toolbar, go to Start->Programs- >MySQL->MySQL Server 4.1->MySQL Command Line Client.

5. Type the root password and you should be logged in to the MySQL shell.

6. Type show databases; to see the list of databases. Type quit when you are done.

PHP

1. Get PHP 4.3.10 from here: http://www.php.net/downloads.php

2. Under the Windows Binaries section, choose the file: PHP 4.3.10 zip package size 7,405Kb dated 15 Dec 2004.

3. Download the file and save it on your hard disk. Unzip the file and rename the extracted folder to php. Now move this folder php and place it under C: Program Files.

4. Move all the files under C:Program Filesphpdlls and C:Program Filesphpsapi to here: C:Program Filesphp.

5. Copy the file php.ini-recommended to C:WINDOWS and rename it to php.ini

6. Edit your Apache httpd.conf configuration file located here: C:Program FilesApache GroupApacheconf.

7. Add the following lines in httpd.conf:

LoadModule php4module C:/Program Files/php/php4apache.dll
AddModule modphp4.c
AddType application/x-httpd-php .php

8. Now stop your server by issuing the following command in Windows command prompt: net stop apache. Then type net start apache to start your server. We are now going to test the PHP installation.

9. Go to C:Program FilesApache GroupApachehtdocs and create a file test.php

10. Edit test.php and add the following code:

11. Point your browser to http://localhost/test.php and you should see a lot of PHP configuration information.

Congratulations! You now have Apache, MySQL and PHP installed in your computer. Now you can install your favorite script right on your Windows workstation.

Sanjib Ahmad, Freelance Writer and Product Consultant for Business.Marc8.com - Business Best Sellers.

You are free to use this article in its entirety as long as you leave all links in place, do not modify the content, and include the resource box listed above.

Choosing The Right Flat Panel Monitor For You

For anyone that still has the huge computer monitor that takes up half your desk, this is a great time to consider choosing a flat panel monitor. They not only take up very little room on your desk, but also represent style and fashion that gives your office or room a modern look.

Since the flat screen monitor came on the market, not only has it gone down drastically in price but also the variety of flat screen monitors has increased. There is now a model and price range to suit almost everyone?s budget. When choosing a flat panel monitor, there are some things you should consider.

Prices on flat panel monitors vary by size and manufacturer so shop around and compare the prices to get a great monitor at reasonable cost. Prices vary but on average, the fifteen inch to nineteen-inch monitor?s average price range is $200 - $700.

If your monitor does not refresh or redraw itself at a high enough frequency, flickering occurs. When choosing a flat panel monitor, select one with a refreshing or redraw rate of at least 70 Hz or higher. This way you are not bothered with flickering.

Remember when choosing a flat panel monitor that the dot pitch on a monitor should be small as the picture is sharper. The highest dot pitch you should go is .28 so you have a clear, sharp picture.

The two most common resolutions used on a flat panel monitor are 800x600 and 1024x768. If you try a higher resolution, it fits more on the screen but is harder on you eyes. Some people work around this by adjusting the internet browser font size.

Choosing a flat panel monitor means choosing one that has a great contrast ratio. This measures the difference between the darkest black and brightest white. The most common contrast ratio is 300:1

By following these guidelines, choosing a flat panel monitor will be less confusing and you will end up with a monitor perfect for you.

Unleash your imagination with reviews on big screen tvs and info about flat screen tvs at http://www.flatpanelmonitorzone.com/

OnDemand Workforce Management Software Development LifeCycles

This article explores the need for Software Development Life-Cycles as Software Engineering Methodologies, the genesis and structure of PDLC, and its impact in the overall business of on-demand software organizations. It attempts to demonstrate that SDLC processes and activities can be arranged in a flexible structure so as to allow constant improvement and re-engineering within a product development organization.

Content Flow:
1. Software and customer Focus
2. Software Development LifeCycles
3. The challenge at iEmployee and birth of PDLC
4. PDLC Broken-down (will be covered in the following article)
5. Conclusion (will be covered in the following article)

1. Software and customer Focus

Like any other product, software products are oriented towards the customer.

The 80?s saw Customer Satisfaction as the buzzword in the industrial domain, followed by Customer Delight in the 90?s, and now Customer Ecstasy has taken hold in the new millennium.

As a result, software development in the last decade, along with all other industries, has been shaped by the mantra; Customer is the King. The rise of the Internet and the dot-com boom emphasized Speed-to-Market and Company-Growth as competitive business factors.

With these prevailing trends, rapidly-changing requirements and shorter product life-cycles became the order of the day and were often incompatible with traditional methods of software development.

2. Software Development Life Cycles

To address these needs, various processes were proposed in the form of SDLCs (Software Development Life-Cycles).

While quite a few of these SDLCs were developed from scratch, the majority evolved from their legacy bases to meet the continuously changing business trends.

As Linus Torvalds, the man who invented Linux Kernel, cleverly pointed out: No major software project that has been successful in a general marketplace (as opposed to niches) has ever gone through those nice lifecycles they tell you about in Computer Science classes.

In actuality, many companies invented their own models to suit their respective businesses, and most primarily based their models on Agile Software Development Processes, with an agenda to achieve Customer Ecstasy.

The Agile process framework is based on Iterative Development, but goes in a lighter, more people-centric direction. It uses feedback, rather than planning, as the primary control mechanism, driven by regular testing and the release of evolving software.

Agile processes are more efficient, using less programmer time to produce functional, higher quality software, but have a categorical handicap from a business angle: they do not provide long-term planning capability. For software development in a product-based domain, lack of long-term planning can be disastrous.

With large number of software projects not meeting their expectations in terms of functionality, cost, or delivery schedule, effective project management is proving difficult.

Advent of on-demand software product solutions reinforces this belief, and consequently methodologies must change with respect to long-term planning.

3. The challenges and the birth of PDLC

While project failure can be caused by a combination of several factors, no single factor can be universally attributed.

A PDLC, therefore, tries to work on those initial stages of inception and elaboration, where ambiguity gets in and introduces causes of project failure.

Since, on-demand software is a new model of software delivery, no single existing process framework has been found effective for implementation.

As a result, on-demand software companies like iEmployee.com established their own SDLC framework with the paradigm that the Product is the primary customer. This new set of framework has been termed as PDLC (Product Development Lifecycle).

PDLC is a hybrid process framework based on Rational Unified Processes (RUP) and the product paradigm.

Apart from RUP, PDLC adopts the benefits of Agile Methods, Test Driven Development Process and Waterfall Process, emphasizing on the needs of the product as opposed to those of individual clients. (See Figure 1: PDLC Origins)

While delivering requirements quickly is a necessity, improper planning and management can be catastrophic to the product and clients.

Having the flexibility to change the application faster in an on-demand software environment as compared to other models, the dynamic business environment forces the sales and support teams to continuously keep pace with competition and the increasing needs of clients, by introducing and accepting continuous modifications to the product.

Moreover, with the organization?s need to keep pace with the competition, the product is under constant enhancement. This brings in a variety and large number of changes in the application.

Consequently, at any point in time, there are multiple projects being conceptualized and running, simultaneously.

Some of these projects can be categorized into project-types such as Custom Changes (small changes for a single client or a single entity using the product), Product Enhancements (large changes for all clients), Interfaces (data exchange with third party applications) and New Modules (new features or a set of new functionality).

Each project-type forces the project management teams to use different approaches to manage Project Definition, Design Needs, Coding Requirements, Team Specialization, Deployment, Performance, Security and Quality Assurance.

More about the PDLC Structure and its impact on software product development activities shall be covered in the next article.

Akash Dave is the Operations Manager of Engineering at iEmployee, a provider of on-demand workforce management software solutions

Answering Machines Don't Call Me I'll Call You!

You would think with all the zest humans have for the next great thing, that once it comes along, we might appreciate it more. But the only thing that comes faster then new technology, is how soon people move on to the next thing. The phone was one of the greatest inventions ever. You would think that when it came along, that people fell in love with it. Imagine, being able to talk to people that you normally couldn't speak to, unless they came for a visit. Being able to keep in touch with family and friends that lived far away. How could people ever tire of answering their phones? Well, they did grow tired of answering the phones, and apparently in a big way.

For every problem, we would like to have a solution, and the solution for that ringing phone that you can't, or don't want to pick up, is the answering machine. The phone was invented in 1876. In 1898, a Danish inventor named Valdemar Poulsen, was given a patent for a machine he called a telegraphone. This was widely considered the first piece of equipment that could magnetically record sound and reproduce it. Valdemar later designed a model that could answer the phone and record a message, automatically. And thus, the telephone answering machine had arrived.

In the 1920s, the telephone service providers in Europe and the U.S. had different ways of looking at the use of answering machines. In Europe, the market was wide open and many inventors were trying to take part in this new field. But the U.S. market appeared closed. AT&T had a monopoly and actually banned the use of early versions of answering machines on the public network. They only allowed them to be used on private or independent systems.

AT&T kept fighting to protect its monopoly, but the end of World War II brought change. The FCC was under pressure from inventors, so in 1949, they ruled that automatic answering machines could be used on AT&T lines, but there were restrictions on which machines could be used and who controlled their use. Realizing their fate, AT&T began offering answering machines to their customers by 1951. Even though Europe took a liking to the answering machine, before the U.S., by the 1960s the U.S. market for answering machines was probably larger then Europe.

The 1970s saw the answering machine become cheaper and cheaper because of the use of microelectronics. The 1980s saw answering machines flood into the market; most were made by Asian firms, or made by them and sold under U.S. trade names. Since the 1980s, the number of U.S. homes with answering machines have leveled off.

Nowadays, the answering machine is used less to record calls and used more to screen calls. Telemarketers have gotten out of hand. They call people every hour of the day, even on weekends and you throw in the internet, where apparently private information is there for public viewing, no one knows who's calling. The answering machine is being used more as a utility for safety, then it is for its original intended purpose; which I think was to record calls from people we actually wanted to speak to.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Answering Machines

Accentuating Your Voice Mail

Does your voicemail on your cell phone have personality? Why not, it is easy to accentuate your voicemail with cool little sayings that tell the person calling a little bit about your upbeat personality, strength of character and what is important in your life.

Accentuating your voicemail is fairly easy, but you might have to practice a few times and perhaps keep working on it until you really like it and then the test, call up a friend and ask them to call you back and then find out if they like it? If not you must keep on trying until all your friends think it is cool. Indeed this might take ten more practices. But when you get your voicemail Just right, you will know it and that is how you accentuate your voicemail to the fullest possible extent and I advise that you do this.

You might also considered accentuating your email with a quote of a very famous person that you believe is very important and the message is paramount. Or perhaps you have a quote that you created yourself that you think is worthy of telling other people and also describes a little bit about your dedication and commitment as individual as well as your strength of character.

This will help you win friends and influence people and let those new acquaintances know that you are a real person with integrity and you're serious about what you do. Consider all this in 2006.

Lance Winslow

Website Positioning Software

Website positioning is what e-commerce business is all about. It is the process of making your website as well as your products or services land on top or in the first page of top search engines. Online sales rely on the Internet to sell their products. If your site is on the first page of the search, then it means more traffic and more sales.

The primary goal of a website positioning software program is to gain top position on most search engines like Yahoo and Google. This software gets your website above the competition to gain more traffic, income, and sales with less time.

Website positioning software is a part of basic success to online business. Anyone can design, create, or build websites, but without software that can bring your site to be one of the top-ranking sites, the world will never know the products and services you are offering.

It is a fact that at least 80% of customers everyday find the products or services they need using search engines. Since time is precious, most of them click only at the first page of the result, and often they turn to second and third page. By using website positioning techniques like website positioning software and website optimization, your website will appear in the first page of search engines and will immediately increase its visibility and sales.

Website positioning software is very important tool for online business. It helps you to get more eligible traffic and increases visibility of your website to consumers. This software also monitors your keyword rankings, highest value of keywords, link popularity, and search engine saturation. Enhanced reposting capabilities of this positioning software allow you to take care of your search engine information so you can identify new trends and take appropriate action.

Without the right tools, it is practically impossible to gain top position in a search engine. For that reason, this software is built to make your journey to success easier and better.

Web Site Software provides detailed information on Website Software, Free Website Software, Website Content Management Software, Website Design Software and more. Web Site Software is affiliated with Free Shopping Cart Software.

Zapping Unit Subdermal Implant for US Spies and Classified Personnel

It seems in the news we keep hearing of secret intelligence leaks. Why are we allowing our secrets to be stolen in this way? Why are we jeopardizing our National Interests and allowing weak individuals to peddle our most valuable information?

Currently it is estimated that there are over 2900 Chinese Spies in the United States involved in corporate and military espionage. Recently we all remember the Chinese Sex for spy information involving someone from the Department of Justices Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

I propose a subdermal RFID GPS implant so we can monitor every thing that everyone in the FBI is doing at all times. And monitor their conversations as well. If they start to discuss something of National Security they will be shocked with whopping voltage back into submission.

Since we know we cannot trust these folks as far as we can throw them and we know that there are Chinese Spies everywhere, we realize that we need something more. A better way to monitor these folks so they are not giving away our national secrets and since we cannot follow them around 24/7 lets allow technology to do this for us and shock the ever living crap out of them if they try to divulge information. Think on this in 2006.

Lance Winslow

Free Accounting Software

Who says that electronic bookkeeping has to be expensive? You can easily try out free accounting software if you know what to look for and, more importantly, where to look. Below are some ideas.

Look for meta-projects. There are a growing number of companies developing absolutely free accounting software for all types of businesses, usually to support their other marketing campaigns. Take advantage of such opportunities ? these freebies are not trial ware and will therefore never expire!

Some of the sites that offer free accounting software downloads will ask you to fill out a registration form, so be careful that it is not a scam (they might just be out to get your personal information or send you spam mail). Never give out your credit card number ? a legitimate, free site won?t need such data from you.

How can you tell if a site is legitimate? Registration is usually optional, and you can choose whether or not you want to receive marketing and notification emails from them. Legal sites, likewise, have a privacy clause that states their pledge never to give out your email address and other particulars to other websites or companies.

Take trial versions out for a drive. If you want to try a specific accounting software you are eyeing, don?t be afraid to download a free demonstration first. Use it for a week or so and see if it meets your accounting needs. The best thing about trial freebies is that there?s absolutely no commitment on your part. If you find that the software is lacking in essential functionalities or that it isn?t user-friendly enough for you, simply download another demo version until you find the right kind.

Look for the best functionalities. Who says you can?t have the best features of accounting software if you don?t pay for it? Free software developers are competing for your attention, too, and they add in extra functionalities to make you download their programs instead of the others. Browse around for special features such as instant report generators, easy hookup with common accounting programs, and even multiple language platforms. You just might get these and more without paying a cent.

Accounting Software provides detailed information on Accounting Software, Day Care Accounting Software, Small Business Accounting Software, Free Accounting Software and more. Accounting Software is affiliated with Free Small Business Accounting Software.

Brazil: ERP Selection Oracle SAP Microsoft

In the beginning of 21st century we can recognize the trend in international business. Multinational corporations are moving their manufacturing facilities and sales operations to Brazil. Typical scenario ? regional office is established in Sao Paulo or Rio de Janeiro and manufacturing facility in Salvador, Porto Alegre, Curitiba, Belo Horizonte, Recife, Manaus, etc. The first step in establishing controllable operations is ERP system implementation ? this formalizes the chain of command, decision making and management. In this small article we will give you Brazilian ERP market review for midsize and large business. We will compare Microsoft Business Solutions, Oracle, SAP as well as local ERP vendors: Microsiga and RM. Let?s come to the topic:

?Local versus International brand. We do not pretend to be the judge, just pluses and minuses. Local brand ERP has local market experience, tax, typical chart of accounts, payroll specifics implemented. They are probably very competitive if you are Brazilian business. However if you represent multinational company or corporation ? you should think about users experience for your international management team, IT centralized support and things like these.

?SAP. If you are committed to SAP solution - SAP Business One is probably the system of choice ? it has transactions integration to SAP, CRM, MRP/Production, POP, SOP, HR, Multilanguage, multicurrency. SAP Business One is just localized for Brazilian ERP market, especially we should mention localized tax engine. SAP tested its localization with 7 pilot implementation in 2005. You should be looking for SAP Business One customization partner (who is licensed to develop customizations and integration in SAP Business One SDK). SAP Business One sits in Microsoft SQL Server and is written in C++ - it also has integration with MS Office on the level of COM objects

?Oracle. Oracle E-Business Suite, also known as Oracle Financials (as part of Oracle E-Business Suite) and Oracle Applications is natural choice if your Headquarters in Europe, USA, Australia or elsewhere is committed to Oracle platform. Oracle has long time presence in Brazil and is very good choice.

?Microsoft Business Solutions Navision & Axapta. Microsoft is currently on the way of merging/integrating its applications ? this is known as Project Green, in September 2005 new marketing name was introduced- Microsoft Dynamics. Respectively Microsoft Navision and Axapta became Microsoft Dynamics NAV and Microsoft Dynamics AX. More traditional solution for Brazilian market is Navision. It has very strong position in both Europe (where it is recommended by Microsoft in all the countries, except UK ? where both Navision and Great Plains are in use) and USA- especially in manufacturing sector. Axapta, however is newer and respectively its design should be more geared toward new technological trends. Axapta should be released for Brazilian market in 2006

You can always appeal to our help and expertise ? in our Sao Paulo office we have all these systems expertise, plus Microsoft CRM, MS Great Plains, Lotus Notes Domino. Please give as a call S?o Paulo 55-11-3826-3449, USA 1-866-528-0577, 1-630-961-5918! help@albaspectrum.com

Andrew is Great Plains specialist in Alba Spectrum Technologies (http://www.albaspectrum.com) ? Oracle, SAP, Microsoft Great Plains, Navision, Axapta, Microsoft CRM Partner, serving clients in S?o Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Porto Alegre, Curitiba, Belo Horizonte, Recife, Manaus, Lisboa, Coimbra, Porto, Cascais and having locations in multiple states and internationally.

Microsoft Dynamics GP Dexterity Customization

Microsoft Great Plains software development, customizations, reporting. Microsoft Dexterity programming as reliable alternative to newer technologies and platforms, such as .Net, C# and VB MS Visual Studio development, eConnect, XML: Web Services.

Alba Spectrum Group is proud to announce Microsoft Great Plains Dexterity group development headcount increase. We are serving USA nation-wide from our Dexterity project management facilities in Houston, TX and Chicago, IL. Luis Leung (Alba Spectrum Texas) and Andrew Karasev (Alba Spectrum Illinois) are lead project managers for Microsoft Great Plains Dexterity customization, integration, reporting, form modification projects. Some Microsoft Dexterity technological features:

?Sanscript. This is Dexterity programming language. It is actually compiled and stored in Dynamics.dic with development source code. Dex is cursor oriented DB accessing programming language, however you can also call MS SQL Server stored procedures (with SQL Select statement aggregation logic)

?Alternate Forms. Technically you can modify any form you like in Dynamics.Dic ? original Microsoft Dynamics GP objects repository. But you might encounter future upgrade issues ? original forms are subject to redesign by Microsoft Dynamics subdivision without any notice

?Dexterity Reports. As software developer you can create new Dexterity report, assuming that you will also provide new Dex form, where report will be getting parameters

?Dexterity Alternatives. In 1990th the alternatives were VBA ? you could modify Greta Plains form with Modifier and include VBA scripting into your modification ? Dynamics.vba is the dictionary, storing your modification. In 2000th you have .Net instruments, such as eConnect with XML Web Services interface. Technically eConnect is very powerful, but comparing to Dexterity ? Dex has access to all Dynamics GP objects, while eConnect is secondary enabler ? it has access to objects, covered by eConnect development team. Future direction will probably give more options to Business Portal developer, using either eConnect or manipulating another future interface for Great Plains objects

?Dexterity Advancements. These are typically related to Microsoft Great Plains Source Code Programming. Very good extension is posting server, allowing ecommerce developer automatically post GP batches in such modules as Sales Order Processing, GL, Inventory Control, POP, and others

?Comparison to Other Microsoft Dynamics Products. Microsoft Dynamics ERP family include Axapta, Navision, Solomon and with some restrictions Microsoft CRM. Dexterity should be compared with similar technologies: Axapta Microsoft Dynamics AX ? MorphX / X++, Navision Microsoft Dynamics NAV C/SIDE

?Heterogeneous. Or cross platform software development: Oracle, IBM, Sybase, Ingress: Oracle Financials/Ebusiness Suite, Lotus Notes Domino. Microsoft SQL Server technology gives you Linked Server concept, Oracle gives you similar technologies, plus from Java/J2EE you can create various JDBC/ODBC bridges or native drivers

We are always available by phone: 1-866-528-0577, 1-630-961-5918, help@albaspectrum.com, or skype: albaspectrum

Andrew Karasev, Alba Spectrum Group ( http://www.albaspectrum.com http://www.enterlogix.com.br ), serving clients in USA Nationwide: Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Phoenix, Atlanta, Miami, San Francisco, Denver, Orlando, Washington, New York, Seattle, Minneapolis, New Orleans, Toledo, Detroit, Austin, Des Moines, Springfield, Naperville, Aurora, Schaumburg, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Boston, Canada: Montreal, Ontario, Vancouver, UK, Australia, New Zealand and internationally: India, China, Pakistan, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Ireland.

Windows XP: Use the Security Center to View Virus Protection

The Windows XP Security Center is not a well-known feature of the operating system. The security center was introduced as part of the Service Pack 2 release. Some people like it and some people don?t like it at all. If you don?t have the service pack 2 already installed, you need to do that now by updating your Windows XP. You can do this using the update feature of XP or simply go to the Microsoft website and search for SP2.

To access the Security Center, you go to the Start button, All Programs, Accessories, then System Tools. Click on the Security Center and it will bring up a window with the current system status. To view the Virus Protection recommendations, click the Recommendations button under this option. You will see the recommendations based on your current system.

You can get information on how antivirus programs work as well as information on different types of viruses by clicking on How Does Antivirus Software Protect My System help topic link in the Windows Security Center.

How to Disable Security Center Alerts

If you're running Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) Windows Security Center will tell you the status of your antivirus software, firewall, and automatic updates. The Security Center will alert you if your antivirus is out of date or turned off, firewall is turned off, or if Automatic Update is not turned on.

If you have received multiple alerts and would like to turn notifications off, you can disable the antivirus, firewall, or automatic update alerts.

Turning off these alerts could be dangerous because you won?t know if your system is vulnerable. But if you are an experienced user, then you most likely have a strategy and tactic for checking your system.

To turn off Security Center alerts

1. Click Start and then click Control Panel.

2. Double-click Security Center.

3. In the Security Center, under Resources, click Change the way Security Center alerts me.

4. In the Alert Settings dialog box, clear the Firewall, Automatic Updates, or Virus Protection check boxes, and then click OK.

The Windows XP Security Center can be a real advantage to some users and keep your system protected, but for others in gets in the way. You make the call.

Here is a link to the Microsoft site if you need more information-- http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/default.mspx

About The Author
John Chapman is certified computer technician with over 15 years experience. Please visit http://www.cheap-discount-computer-parts.com for more information on computer hardware and software. Copyright 2005

Seven Steps to a Vital Videoconference

When it's time for your fifteen minutes of fame will you be ready? With videoconferencing becoming common place in 21st century communication, executives, entrepreneurs, and leaders need to be media savvy. Here's how to put your best face forward:

1. Prepare. It's not enough to show up to speak. Practice with the technology an hour before your presentation and rehearse your message points. Don't wing it.

2. Pause and Listen. Expect time delays. A weak video signal could cause a delay or echo. Allow ample time for your message to reach the other site and wait for a response before you resume making new remarks.

3. Use Small Gestures. Actions are amplified on videoconference. Wild, sweeping movements can result in distorted, fuzzy images.

4. Appoint a Moderator. The moderator facilitates the meeting, introduces guests, and keeps the presentation movoing. The moderator or a designated person operates the technology to free speakers to focus on the message.

5. Dress for TV. Avoid distracting jewelry, shiny clothing, and large, bold patterns. Keep another shirt or blouse in the office for late day videoconferences. Perspiration stains and wrinkles will be noticeable on video. Keep powder handy for shiny noses and bald spots.

6. Create a Connection. Begin with hello. The wave is a standard greeting in videoconferencing. Use the zoom function on the camera to establish eye contact. It's difficult to communicate without viewing facial expressions from the remote site.

7. Minimize Distractions. Keep noise down by restricitng movement in and out of the room. Turn off all beepers and cell phones at the beginning of the meeting. Place a Do Not Enter sign on the door and change activities frequently to maintain attention and avoid the boredom factor.

Nothing can replace in-person communication. But if you master the techniques of online communication, videoconferencing is the next best thing to being there.

Copyright Diane DiResta, 2004. All rights reserved.

Diane DiResta is President of DiResta Communications, Inc.,a New York City based consultancy. She is author of Knockout Presentations: How to Deliver Your Message with Power, Punch, and Pizzazz (Chandler House Press) http://www.diresta.com

PDAs and Handheld PCs

This day and age marketing and tools are changing rapidly. Society has become more dependant on technology as we continue to leap forward in time. Any real professional who works in any type of marketing industry needs to be up to date and mobile to be proficient.

For example, a Real Estate markets more than property. He or she markets themselves; therefore being updated and mobile has become a necessity. Mobility for any ?self-employed? contractor could make the world their office. PDAs and Handheld PCs are becoming more popular for the ?mobile? generation.

HP has made the iPaq line of Handheld PCs which are integrated with WiFi and Bluetooth technology for mobility. Now how does this help with mobility? With WiFi and Bluetooth you could print locally, print wirelessly: send documents, e-mail attachments, and photos from any hotspot.

Now you?re thinking, why do I need something else on my belt? I don?t want to carry my cell and a PDA. Well, you don?t. Instead, you can carry your Address Book, Audio Playback, Calculator, Calendar, Integrated MP3 Player, Mobile Phone, Note Pad, Scheduler, Spreadsheet, Video Playback, Voice Recording, Web Browser, and Word Processor all in the palm of your hand. It?s time to make the world your office! Don?t you agree?

Tim O?Connor
Jack of All Traits (JOAT)

Timothy O'Connor is writer and senior administrator for JoatElectronics.com, which has quality PDAs and Handheld PCs.

What's In An iPod And Why Is It So Popular?

Not only is the iPod popular because of its reception from the public, but also because it was Apple's first and successful attempt at branching out from its iMac products and a reputation of being strictly computer. Unlike the iPod nano and the iPod shuffle which use flash memory, the iPod is designed around a central scroll wheel, with the full-sized models storing media on their internal hard-drive. The iPod is also used as an external data storage device, with its internal hardware and software design originally based on a reference design by another company, PortalPlayer. Apple had decided to focus on technical capability, wanting the iPod to focus on the development on the iPod's simple user interface, along with its ease of use. The iPod's software for the iPod development was not developed in-house for this, but contracted PortalPlayer, who already had the reference design based on 2 ARM cores. Apple then contracted another company, Pixo, to create and refine the user interface, under CEO Steve Jobs.

Currently the best-selling digital audio player, with over 50 million sold and over 1 billion legal downloaded songs from its iTunes online music store, Apple's iPod player is the most popular consumer brand in the mainstream of a growing market of digital devices. Whenever the iPod is connected to the host computer, the itune will automatically synchronize musical playlists or entire musical libraries. The iPod can play several different formats: MP3, M4A/AAC, Protected AAC, AIFF, WAV, Audible audiobook, and Apple Lossless audio file formats. The newer iPods can also play MPEG-4 (H.264MPEG-4AVC), .mp4, .m4v, and Quick Time video file formats. It does not support Microsoft's WMA format - as other media players do - but there is a converter available for non-DRM WMA files with the Windows version of iTunes. MIDI files cannot be played, but can be converted to audio files using the iTunes Advanced menu.

The Apple iPod can be used as a boot disk for a Mac computer, if it is formatted as HFS Plus, allowing one to have a portable operating system installed. If the iPod is formatted on a Mac OS X computer, it uses the HFS Plus file system format; if it is formatted on Windows, the FAT32 is used because Windows cannot access HFS file systems. A compatible third-party software must be used, as simply copying files to the drive will not allow the iPod to properly access them. As of now there are four basic iPod models that you can find on major shopping websites: the iPod shuffle, iPod nano, iPod photo, and the brand new iPod video. The iPod photo plays all the songs you wish to download to it, but also displays color photos (album cover art, etc.) on the mini-screen to please the eyes in addition to the already pleased ears.

The photo feature is a favorite of most users who purchased this version of the iPod, but like all electronic gadgets, it has its downfalls. The pictures are hard for some to see on the mini screen and some were upset that you MUST purchase a separate plug-in to view pictures on your television screen. When you do buy the extra connection, you will be more than pleased with the clarity of the pictures on screen. All iPod models come with ear bud headphones, an AC Adaptor, and a 2.0 USB cable in addition to the actual hardware itself. Battery life is usually strong in the iPod with anywhere between 12-15 hour battery life (15 hours on the iPod Photo). Various hard drives are available for different versions of the iPod Photo, but a basic rule of thumb to remember with MP3 players is 2,500 songs per 10 GB.

Check out http://www.mp3playertop.com/ for more articles on mp3 player portable samsung and applei pod.