17.6.11

How to save a wet cell phone?

Wet cell phone rescueDid you just drop your cellphone in water? Or maybe you'd like to know what to do if that happens! Here are the first aid techniques for rescuing a drowned smartphone.

Step 1: Do NOT turn on the phone

Why do water and smartphones not mix? Because the water shorts out your smartphone's electrical circuits. So whatever you do, don't turn it on to check to see if it still works.

Step 2: Pull out the battery and SIM card

You want to remove anything removeable: Pull out the battery, the SIM card and the memory card, if your phone has one. As long as that battery's in there it's providing power to your phone, and that's what you need to stop immediately.

Some phones, like the iPhone, don't have a removable battery. Unfortunately, you'll just have to skip this step and hope for the best if you dunk one of them.

Step 3: Freshwater rinse

Did you drop your phone in salt water? The salt can corrode your device. So after you pull out the battery and SIM card, immerse your phone in fresh water to rinse out the salt.

Step 4: Dry your phone using compressed air

If you have a compressed air can handy -- the kind that's used to clean computers or keyboards -- run it full-blast all over your phone, with the back cover taken off if you can. A vacuum cleaner also works, even though it's pulling the air in the other direction. As long as it's blowing cool air over those circuits to dry them out, it's all good.

Don't stick your phone in the oven, even on low. The heat can warp your phone's circuits, and melt its internal components. You shouldn't use a blow dryer either, unless it has a heatless setting. A fan might help, but a microwave is out of the question.

Step 5: Cover your phone with uncooked rice

The premise of our experiment was to test if putting a wet phone into a sealed container of rice would actually dry it out, and bring it back form the dead. See, the idea behind the rice is that the dry grains will absorb moisture. So get a sealable plastic container, and fill it with enough rice to cover your smartphone.

10.6.11

How to motivate your metabolism to burn more fat?

Burn fat moreHere are some no-brainer ways to motivate your metabolism to burn more fat :

1. Go to bed earlier.
A study in Finland looked at sets of identical twins and discovered that of each set of siblings, the twin who slept less and was under more stress had more visceral fat.

2. Eat more protein.
Your body needs protein to maintain lean muscle. In a 2006 study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

3. Go organic.
Researchers report that dieters with the most organochlorines (pollutants from pesticides, which are stored in fat cells) experience a greater than normal dip in metabolism as they lose weight, perhaps because the toxins interfere with the energy-burning process. In other words, pesticides make it harder to lose pounds. .

4. Get up, stand up.
Whether you sit or stand at work may play as big a role in your health and your waistline as your fitness routine. Missouri University researchers discovered that inactivity (4 hours or more) causes a near shutdown of an enzyme that controls fat and cholesterol metabolism, so you store more fat, rather than using it for energy, all day long. To keep this enzyme active and increase your fat burning, break up long periods of downtime by standing up--for example, while talking on the phone.

5. Drink Cold Water.
Researchers found that drinking 6 cups of cold water a day (that's 48 ounces) can raise resting metabolism by about 50 calories daily--enough to shed 5 pounds in a year. The increase may come from the work it takes to heat the water to body temperature.

31.5.11

How to Boost Brain Power?

boost your memoryHere are 5 natural ways to protect your memory and boost your brain power, no matter what age you are!

1. Eat Brain Foods
A balanced diet rich in essential amino acids, omega oils, minerals, and vitamins will ensure a vibrant and sharp memory. Eat right to keep your memory bright:

Choose complex carbs, such as brown rice, oatmeal, lentils, whole beans, and other whole grain foods, which will bring your brain lasting energy and help fuel your cognitive abilities.

Eat a rainbow of veggies. Chock full of protective antioxidants, vegetables of every hue can help you boost brain power, especially bell peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, yams, and squash.

Get a mega boost with omega’s. There is more and more evidence indicating that omega-3 fatty acids are especially beneficial for brain health. A particularly rich source is fish, especially salmon, tuna, halibut, trout, mackerel, and sardines. Almond oil, fish oil, flaxseed oil, olive oil, and sesame oil are rich in monounsaturated fats and are good choices for brain health.

Micro-algae brings big brain benefits. Blue-green algae, spirulina, and chlorella are easy to digest, high-protein, and high-energy food supplements that support healthy brain functions. Look for powders you dissolve in juice or flakes you can sprinkle on your food.

Mix it up with nuts, seeds, and fruit. The essential fatty acids, rich carotenoids, and antioxidants in a trail mix of nuts and fruit will nourish and support your brain: choose walnuts, pine nuts, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, dried goji berries, dried apricots, and dried blueberries.

2. Stay Social

Having a vibrant social life is a surefire strategy for improving your life--and it may improve your memory, too. A study conducted with elderly individuals in Taiwan suggested that participation in social activities outside of the family unit positively benefited their cognitive impairment.

The study, published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, adjusted for previous cognitive impairments, health history, and social background. The results showed that the individuals who participated in one or two social activities failed 13% fewer cognitive tests; those who took part in three or more outside activities failed 33% fewer cognitive tasks than those with no social activities.

3. Combat Mental Decline with L-carnitine

One simple amino acid can help you hang onto your memory: L-carnitine may help slow down the onset of mental deterioration, according to research. Found chiefly in the heart and skeletal muscles, L-carnitine’s main job is to carry fatty acids through cell membranes to the mitochondrion-- the cell’s “engine”--and use them as cellular energy. Brain tissue also holds a rich supply of L-carnitine.

Even if you are taking in high levels of the beneficial omega fatty acids from above, if your L-carnitine level is low, your brain and muscles can’t use them. How to get L-carnitine into your system? The main dietary source of this amino acid is meat. Vegetarians may find it worthwhile to take supplements to help fight the onset of age-related memory loss.

4. Supplement Your Memory

Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a compound made by the body from the amino acid serine. Taken in supplement form, it lowers stress response and promotes the release of neurotransmitters in the brain that facilitate thought, reasoning, and concentration. PS has been well-documented in Europe for reversing age-related memory loss. One study worked with individuals that had memory loss (although not dementia), and PS provided significant benefits. The individuals that had the most severe memory loss exhibited the most improvement.

5. Drink Green Tea

Green tea has enjoyed plenty of attention for its brainy benefits in the past decade. Studies indicate that green tea may defend against Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of mental degeneration. Green tea is packed with polyphenols--antioxidants that have been found to increase cognitive acuity and learning ability. One particular polyphenol is responsible for all of these beneficial brain effects: catechin.

The concentration of catechins in green tea is four times that of black tea. Researchers aren’t exactly sure why, but the minimal processing used for green tea may help to preserve a higher concentration of the antioxidants. Drink up to gain long-term benefits for your brain!

27.5.11

Diet mistakes that age you

DietWhat if the fountain of youth were in your own kitchen? While we’ve come to expect certain physical and mental changes as an inevitable part of getting older, the fact is that the foods we eat—or don’t—may speed those processes along, aging us before our time.

The four below diet mistakes age you:

Mistake #1: You avoid all animal protein.
Why it’s aging you: You may lack of vitamin B12. which is essential for energy.

Mistake #2: You avoid supplements.
Why it’s aging you: You miss manganese and copper, which help prevent joint pain.

Mistake #3: You avoid fish and fat.
Why it’s aging you: Fish and healthy oils (like olive) offer the best source of omega-3 essential fatty acids ,which help prevent memory loss.

Mistake #4: You favor packaged foods over whole.
Why it’s aging you: Packaged foods are high in blood pressure–spiking sodium—and fresh fruits and veggies contain blood pressure–lowering potassium.

22.5.11

Easy Steps to Becoming a Millionaire

richWho wouldn't want to be worth a million dollars? So how can we get there? The answers are actually much easier than you might expect. Here are several easy steps to get you into the millionaires' club.

1. Only Marry Once
According to "The Millionaire Next Door" by Thomas J. Stanley, Ph.D and William D. Danko, Ph.D, the average millionaire is married with three children. The wives of these millionaires are good budgeters and most often described as even more frugal than their husbands. Interestingly, according to Stanley and Danko's survey, half of these wives do no work outside the home and of those who do, they are most likely teachers.

2. Live Off One Income
One of the advantages of having a life partner is the potential to pull in two incomes. If you are able, consider structuring your set expenses based on only one income, and save what comes in from the other income. Doing so strengthens your financial position in two ways: In case of an emergency or if one partner loses their job, you will not only have less set expenses to cover, but you will also have built up your net worth as a safety measure.

3. Choose the Right Career
According to The Millionaire Next Door, "self-employed people make up less than 20% of the workers in America but account for two-thirds of the millionaires." The book goes on to list an average of 45 to 55 hours spent working per week, so by no means is this the self-employed fantasy of playing golf while your business grows.

4. Put Your Money in Appreciating Assets
According to Stanley and Danko, the millionaires in their survey invested nearly 20% of their realized household income each year. Nearly 20% of the household's wealth is held in "transaction securities such as publicly traded stocks and mutual funds" and the millionaires tended to rarely sell their equities.

5. Don't Live the Millionaire Lifestyle
Warren Buffett's frugal lifestyle (especially relative to his net worth) is the go-to example for this point. The average value of the surveyed millionaires' homes was $320,000. The bottom line is, those who spend their money on non-appreciating assets cannot put that same money in an asset that will net them a return and increase their wealth.

The Bottom Line
Becoming a millionaire is easier than ever. While this is a dream that will take work and discipline to achieve, it isn't as far out of reach as you might think. Be smart with your money and before you know it, you'll be able to count yourself among the world's wealthier citizens.

10.5.11

Apple Overtakes Google as The World's Most Valuable Brand

apple vs googleAfter four-year reign by the internet search engine Google, now is the time for Apple to take over as the world's most valuable brand. The brand is now worth £94billion ($153billion), almost half its market capitalisation, the study by global brand agency Millward Brown, said.

Apple's portfolio of coveted consumer goods propelled it past Microsoft to become the world's most valuable technology company last year. Peter Walshe, global brands director of Millward Brown, said Apple's meticulous attention to detail, along with an increasing presence of its gadgets in corporate environments, has allowed it to behave differently from other consumer-electronics makers.

'Apple is breaking the rules in terms of its pricing model,' he said.

'It's doing what luxury brands do, where the higher price the brand is, the more it seems to underpin and reinforce the desire.

3.5.11

The Next Big Thing: New Superfoods

CupuacuIf you love expanding your nutrition horizons get ready for a whole new crop of superfoods bound to become the next big thing:

Skyr: This Icelandic yogurt is technically a soft cheese, but its texture and nutrients are similar to Greek yogurt, and it includes the same basic ingredients: skim milk and live active cultures. Skyr is made using a centuries-old straining processes that removes the whey (liquid), which makes it creamy and thick (stick a spoon in it and turn it upside down – it won’t fall out!) without providing any fat. A single 6 oz container of plain, nonfat packs 17 g of protein compared to about 15 g in Greek and 8 g in traditional yogurt.

Teff Whole grains: these grains have been white hot for the past few years but the most recent trend is ‘what’s old is new again’ and teff is an ancient grain that fits the bill. This African whole grain is used to make spongy Ethiopian flatbread. It’s known for its sweet, molasses-like flavor and its versatility; it can be cooked as an oatmeal alternative, added to baked goods or made into “teff polenta.” It packs twice the iron of other grains and three times the calcium.

Cupuaçu: Finding the next obscure fruit with a high nutrient profile is big business. Some such as pomegranate, goji berry and açai have enjoyed serious staying power, while others have been more fleeting. Experts predict that cupuaçu will be the next to test its trendiness. This creamy-fleshed, distinctly flavored fruit related to cacao grows in the Amazon and is known for its high levels of antioxidants. Its juice tastes like pear with a hint of banana.

Black Garlic: Free from additives and preservatives, black garlic is made from whole garlic that’s been aged for a month in a special fermentation process under high heat, where it develops its darker color, softer texture and sweeter taste. It’s been shown to pack twice as many antioxidants as raw garlic and because it’s soft you can easily spread it on whole grain bread or crackers. It’s sweet and delicious and won’t give you garlic breath like its unfermented cousin!

Chia Seeds: These small oval seeds pack more heart and brain saving omega-3 fatty acids than flax seeds, don’t go bad as quickly, and have been shown in research to lower blood pressure and inflammation, a known trigger of premature aging and disease. Just one Tbsp provides 5 g of fiber, about twice as much as golden flaxseed. Whip some into a smoothie – just be prepared for gel-ish texture since these gems soak up about 12 times their weight in fluid.

Online Game: Let’s Have Fun!

happy onlineOnline game has so many varieties and liked by so many people in various age. People from all over the world play online games these days, old and young, men and women, from all line of work, people just love online game, there are huge selections of online game, to name few of them are strategic games, educational games to free slots. We can choose any online game we like even from that we also can meet new friends who are fond with the same games.

Online game may increase not only our happiness level but players' creativities as well. With so many online games out there, those who are new with online game may think that they may get lost once they enter to the online game, but thanks to the internet system these days, you won’t! For each type of game, player will find rating website. This type of website provides rating; they sort only the best websites within the specific type, for instance, for those who love to play casino they can find rating website focuses on no deposit bonus codes.

Payment is also made easy these days. With the internet, you can use credit cards and paypal and other types of payment. If you don’t want to use credit cards to play online casinos then you can visit paypal casinos. Online game is a huge success these days; it provides entertainment within its simplest form. Pick games you like most and start playing, have fun and relax!

30.4.11

Kate remembers William's name

Prince William and KateThe curse is broken! Kate remembered William's full name! It might sound like a small victory, but it's far from it. William's full name is quite a mouthful. For the record, he is William Arthur Philip Louis. Imagine trying to remember that with two billion people watching.

The bride also wore white. Chris Jackson/Getty Images In royal weddings past, Princess Diana and Princess Sarah Ferguson messed up when asked to recite their groom's full name. According to Dickie Arbiter, former press secretary to the queen, Diana mixed up the order of Charles's names.

Diana had a pretty good excuse: Charles's full name is Charles Philip Arthur George. Same deal with Fergie; she accidentally repeated Prince Andrew's middle name. Not so with Kate. She nailed William's full name. A good omen if ever there was one.

24.4.11

Apple iPhone Secretly Records Owners' Every Move

Security researchers have discovered that Apple's iPhone keeps track of where you go - and saves every detail to a secret file on the device which is copied to the owner's computer when synchronised.

The file contains the latitude and longitude of the phone's recorded coordinates along with a timestamp, meaning that anyone who stole the phone or the computer could discover details about the owner's movements using a simple program.

For some phones, there could be almost a year's worth of data stored, as the recording of data seems to have started with Apple's iOS 4 update to the phone's operating system, released in June 2010.

20.4.11

NASA Posted Thousands of Incredible Space Images on The Internet

NASA space imageYou'll go starry-eyed at Nasa’s latest mission success - because the space agency has uploaded thousands of amazing space snaps onto the internet, including shots of previously unseen galaxies, stars and asteroids.

The colossal gallery – available to anyone with a connection to the web - was taken by Nasa’s super hi-tech sky-mapping telescope.

It took a staggering two and a half million pictures of the universe, which include 33,000 new asteroids found floating between Mars and Jupiter – and 20 comets.

Since 2009 the £200million infrared telescope, called the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, has been scanning the cosmos with the most sophisticated cameras ever deployed in space.

Its lenses can pick up heat glow, so are able to find dusty, cold and distant objects that are invisible to normal telescopes.

Among the eye-opening images released by Nasa is one of the Comet Siding Spring, seen streaking across the sky with a ghostly trail and the gigantic Andromeda galaxy, which lies 2.5million light-years from Earth. WISE also snapped the stunning rose-shaped Berkeley 59 cluster of young stars, burning away in their stellar nursery.

12.4.11

Introducing World's First Facebook Bullying Alert System

Facebook Bullying Alert Systemwhat a concerned father can do when he want to stop abusive behavior such as bullying? He developed the world's first bullying alert system for Facebook! NHS consultant Paddy Clarke's software scans walls and inboxes for trigger words and phrases such as 'gay' and 'fat' and alerts parents when they appear. The father-of-four came up with the idea after reading a string of cyber-bullying horror stories.

Mr Clarke, 48, said he hoped his system - called 'Know Diss' - will keep children safe from online bullies. He said: 'Bullying has now gone from the playground into children's homes. 'Kids feel safe sending an abusive message in their rooms. It is pretty awful.

'Cyber-bullying is very topical at the moment, particularly following some tragic cases where young people have taken their lives because of it. 'It is hard to believe but this software is the only one in the world to search through text on social networking sites to protect children.

'Know Diss is a very simple concept. It is also a partnership between parent and child because one cannot sign up without the other.' Mr Clarke, a consultant in pain relief at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital in Gloucester, joined forces with friend Alan Saul to design and implement Know Diss, which costs £12 for a yearly subscription.

4.4.11

Laptop energy saving: hibernate, sleep, or shut down?

energy savingHere are expert tips on how to keep your computer running smoothly: It is never fun to have to consistently wait any amount of time if the shut downs are too frequent. Sleep’ requires more power, but it boots up faster, while ‘Hibernate’ uses less power, but takes longer to come online, that same logic applies to shutting off your computer completely.

Your computer will become obsolete before you wear out your computer by turning it on and off a lot. It also doesn't take more energy to start a computer than to keep it running.

Sleep mode requires a constant, though reduced use of power (0-6 watts). Colorful screensavers do nothing to conserve energy. Accessing your computer remotely with the Wake on LAN feature also can drain the power.

To get the most for your money, expert advises adjusting power settings so that it automatically goes into Sleep/Standby mode after about 15 minutes of inactivity, and then shut it down at the end of your day.

26.3.11

Apple's iPad 2 Hits Overseas Stores after U.S. Sellout

apple logoCustomers lined up outside Apple stores in Australia and New Zealand last week for the international launch of the iPad 2, which has flown off the shelves in the United States leaving the company struggling to meet demand.

Analysts forecast some 1 million devices may have been sold in the first weekend of the launch in the United States, but many warn that it’s not clear how supply constraints will affect availability following the Japan earthquake and tsunami.

Apple plans to roll out the new iPad on Friday to 25 markets including France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, and Spain. The iPad 2, a thinner and faster version that features two cameras for video chat, was introduced in the United States on March 11.

But some would-be buyers have expressed frustration at how difficult it has been to secure one of the wildly popular tablet computers, sparking speculation Apple misjudged demand.

“If it wasn’t for the iPad, I wouldn’t be in Australia right now,” said Alex Lee, a backpacker from Canada, who was the first in the queue outside the glass-fronted Apple store in Sydney’s central business district.

He said he diverted his travels from Singapore to attend the launch. “It’s like a habit. I’ve also lined up on Regent Street in London for the iPhone”, added Lee, who had a folding chair and blanket and had spent two nights waiting.

23.3.11

Are We Too Reliant on GPS?

GPSIt is an issue that many law enforcement agencies and governments don't want to discuss, according to Professor Andrew Dempster, a specialist in satellite navigation signal processing and receiver design.

The problem? Australia and the world's reliance on global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), commonly known to many as GPS, and its vulnerability to be deliberately jammed or unintentionally interfered with.

"There is ... [a] group of people (users) who don't want to talk about it," said the professor, who works at the UNSW School of Surveying and Spatial Information Systems.

"They don't want to draw attention to the fact that GPS can be jammed. They don't want people to know that it's vulnerable. And included in that group are all the major telcos, some of the authorities that track vehicles and I imagine that the police are the same – that they don't talk about it that much."

Critical infrastructure that can be impacted by interference can include plane and airport navigation systems, emergency service vehicles, ships and security vans, some of which carry large amounts of money. Researchers in Britain have gone as far as saying that GPS failures could lead to "loss of life".

One known example of an airport and planes landing there being impacted by unintentional interference has already occurred in the US, the professor said.

According to The Economist, a driver who passed the Newark airport in New Jersey each day had a GPS jammer installed in his truck for personal reasons. The Economist said it took two months in late 2009 for investigators to track down the problem, which led to "brief daily breaks in reception."