Category Archives: Articles

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freedompop

FreedomPop Review Plus Special Discount

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Discount links are located at the bottom of the page

FreedomPop is a “freemium” Internet service provider; a relatively new company (publicly launched in 2012) but one with fantastic products and backed by some major league players like the people from Skype. FreedomPop offers wireless hotspot devices with free mobile data in addition to free home broadband and has recently launched America’s first free cellular smart phone service. We had the opportunity to review two of FreedomPop‘s mobile devices; the Freedom Spot Overdrive Pro (a 4G and 3G hotspot for multiple devices), and the Freedom Stick Bolt (instant internet connection from any USB port).

Freedom Stick BoltFreedom Stick Bolt

The Bolt requires no wires or charging cables. You simply plug it into any device with a USB port and instant broadband Internet access is delivered. It only takes a few seconds to connect and no WiFi hotspot is created, it’s simply plug-and-play. Typical online tasks can painlessly be done — stream HD 1080p videos from YouTube, play high quality online browser-based games with little to no lag on the highest graphics settings, and of course it works perfectly doing some simple browsing or online shopping. Speed test results were not too bad, about 4 ½ Mbps down and 1 Mbps up, however, this was only with a reception of 3 out of 5 bars. With perfect reception you can expect up to about 12Mbps down.

Overall this little USB stick is a great device. The build quality is fairly decent and it’s great that it supports virtually any device with a USB port. The LEDs are a nice touch to see your signal strength.

The only drawback is that it is a bit wide so it may be difficult to use a computer’s second USB port while using the device. Nonetheless, it is relatively the same size as other products on the market and it is extremely portable; you can easily slip it into your pocket or book bag.

Freedom Spot Overdrive Pro

Overdrive Pro

The Overdrive Pro basically creates a WiFi hotspot that allows up to 8 devices to be connected (computers, smartphones, tablets, etc.) simultaneously. One of the best features is that you can set a password to secure your network and be sure that only the people who have the password can connect and use your data. The battery lasts for about 6 or more hours and you charge it through the provided micro-USB cable and a wall charger. It is also small, about the size of a pad of sticky notes, making it incredibly easy to be on the go with. Reception was hit and miss while testing the Overdrive Pro but for the most part it worked rather well and the build quality is great.

FreedomPop Service

An important thing to keep in mind is when going through the sign up process that you pay attention to what you are signing up for so you’re not spendThe most enticing part of FreedomPop‘s service is that it is contract-free, meaning you can cancel at any time as well as renew it whenever you would like. This is what gives FreedomPop a leg up on the bigger competition such as Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint. Additionally, there are no data caps or speed-throttling and you get 500 free MB each month with any 4G-only plan. You can also get another free 500MB monthly when you refer your friends and you can get additional unlimited free data by completing offers and surveys.

Finally, the last thing to notice is that they will show that your first month’s service is free, which it is, but after that first month your credit card will be charged for the 2GB plan. The first month is a free trial of the 2GB plan so you can get a feel for the service and gauge how much data you may need, but you can always downgrade to the free 500MB 4G plan and add friends for extra data that will renew each month. In summation, you are only charged if you choose to continue on the 2GB plan and you can downgrade to the free plan at any time. Nonetheless, it is still extreing any money on extras that you do not actually need. A lot of FreedomPop‘s extras like Online Security and Data Rollover are free for the first month but will cost you a couple of dollars afterword. However, Data Rollover is an excellent and extremely affordable option to save up to 20GBs of data for when you might be traveling or away for an extended period of time.

mely cheap and contract-free compared to the big companies like Verizon and AT&T and they do tell you the price that you pay after the first month in smaller print; like anything you just have to make sure you that read the details and do not rush through the sign up.

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signal icon

How to Theme iOS 6 Cellular/WiFi Signal & Data Icons

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Very few (current) themes modify the cellular and WiFi signal icons as well as themes that only modify these icons and I believe that this is because the names for these image files in the iOS file system have changed. Below you will find the names that your icons must have in order to be properly applied by WinterBoard on a device with a retina display. If your device does not have a retina display, simply remove ‘@2x’ from the images’ names.

Cellular Signal Icons

0 bars: WhiteOnBlackEtch_0_Bars@2x.png
1 bar: WhiteOnBlackEtch_1_Bars@2x.png
2 bars: WhiteOnBlackEtch_2_Bars@2x.png
3 bars: WhiteOnBlackEtch_3_Bars@2x.png
4 bars: WhiteOnBlackEtch_4_Bars@2x.png
5 bars: WhiteOnBlackEtch_5_Bars@2x.png

WiFi Signal Icons

0 bars: WhiteOnBlackEtch_0_WifiBars@2x.png
1 bar: WhiteOnBlackEtch_1_WifiBars@2x.png
2 bars: WhiteOnBlackEtch_2_WifiBars@2x.png
3 bars: WhiteOnBlackEtch_3_WifiBars@2x.png

Cellular Data Icons

EDGE: WhiteOnBlackEtch_DataTypeEDGE@2x.png
3G: WhiteOnBlackEtch_DataTypeUMTS@2x.png
4G/LTE: WhiteOnBlackEtch_DataTypeLTE@2x.png

Notification Center Icons

For Notification Center, all image names must start with ‘WhiteOnBlackShadow’ instead of ’WhiteOnBlackEtch’.

Additionally, these images must be placed in the ‘UIImages’ folder inside of the theme’s folder.

‘Theme Name’ → UIImages

You can download a signal icon pack which I modified to work with my Verizon iPhone 5 on iOS 6 so you can see how each icon is named. These icons were made by MacThemes’ user Karoshi.

Download: Cellular/WiFi Signal Icons

Quick Tip

With the help of WinterBoard, it’s actually extremely easy to figure out the file names of every image in iOS. In WinterBoard’s ‘Advanced’ settings, turn ‘Record UIImages’ to ON. Every image that is not themed will be saved as PNGs into /tmp/UIImages. For example, if you want to theme Phone.app’s dialer, open the Phone app to the dialer tab and those images will then be saved into the /tmp/UIImages folder. Simply SSH (or use iFile) into that folder and those images will be saved there so that you can find the images which you want to theme and use the same names for theming.

Leave us some comments of your favorite iPhone 5 or iOS 6 themes!

troubleshoot

Learning How to Troubleshoot the Right Way

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Playing around with a bunch of wires and fidgeting with the gadgets on the keyboard can not only be unproductive, but it can also be dangerous. When you want to know how to fix problems with your computer properly, what steps can you take?

Ask a Friend

Chances are, you know someone who graduated with a degree in Computer Science or who is working at a major computer store. Instead of fiddling around with the keyboard today, give that person a call. Find out when he or she is available, and ask this individual if a private tutoring session could be arranged. Let your friend know you want to learn how to deal with common troubleshooting issues when they arise, and, hopefully, this person will be happy to teach you.

Take a Course

Many people do receive their degrees in Computer Science and other related fields. As a result, most colleges, if not all, in your area will offer at least a handful of courses related to the subject matter. Over the summer or during a season when work is a little bit slow, enroll in one of these courses. You’re likely rather worried about the price. Fortunately, many community colleges also offer classes, and you can enroll in these for a fraction of the cost of what other universities would offer.

Read the Books

Whenever you purchase a new computer or a gadget for your computer, you are given a pamphlet. In this booklet, you’ll find an array of information about the device as well as details on how to deal with common troubleshooting issues when they arise. Generally, people tend to cram this booklet up into a drawer someone and completely forget where they put it in their times of needs. Make a nice little file of all of the booklets, and refer to them when your computer isn’t functioning properly. It’s quite likely you will find the answer for which you are looking in one of the chapters.

Using the Computer

Sometimes, the computer is not entirely beyond repair. For example, you might be able to turn it on, but, once you do, one of the programs you need for work will not function properly. Many computers have troubleshooting functions built right into them. As long as you are able to use the computer, look up steps on it to help you resolve the problem in a timely fashion. Sometimes, these tools can also check for problems on the system. Therefore, you will be able to find the root of the problem to address that as opposed to waffling around with issues that are not really problems at all.

The best way to learn how to troubleshoot on a computer is to have a professional or someone who works in the industry show you. If you have any questions, you can ask that person. However, when you cannot take a class or no one is available, other options exist to help you deal with the computer crisis.

This article was submitted through TechGeec’s article submission form.

Walter O’Neal writes about technology, education and more. Most recently, he has written a series of pieces on the best computer degrees.

top android devices

Top 5 Android Devices

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If you’re a fan of open source technology, you’re likely spurning Apple’s phones and tablets in favour of Android. However, the difficulty when investing in an Android model is the variety out there, which can make choosing a phone or tablet quite a challenge. Ironically, this array of technology is also one of the OS’s major draws.

Other reasons to choose Android over Apple include the use of widgets over installing apps, the wider variety of app marketplaces and the compatibility with Flash. However, there are drawbacks too – Android is less widely regulated so it may pose increased security risks to your phone or tablet.

If you do choose to go Android, there is a plethora of innovative technology out there, each one offering something a little different. So to help you in the decision making process, here are five of the best Android technologies to suit a variety of needs.

  1. Google Nexus 7 Android Tablet

One of the major selling points for the Nexus 7 is the price tag. Available at just $199, this beats all branded major competition and is a superb option for households or individuals on a budget. Smaller than the iPad, experts claim this might be more easily comparable to a Kindle – especially with its heavy focus on book and film apps. It has been described as a way for users to access and consume web content, and buy in particular from Google’s app stores. It is the ideal hybrid model – larger than a smart-phone but smaller than the average tablet – which makes web browsing highly portable, yet more easily visible.

  1. Samsung Galaxy S3 smart-phone

The Samsung Galaxy S3 makes the Top 5 Android technologies list due to its impressive quad-core processor, HD display and 4.8 inch screen – great features for a smart-phone. In terms of operation, it also boasts a surprisingly powerful battery, which allows it to keep its charge for longer; ideal for busy people on the go.

3.  Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime

If there is one thing that puts people off purchasing a tablet it’s the touch screen typing capabilities. Sometimes you just want a regular QWERTY keyboard. While other tablets offer plug-in typing facilities, the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime is an Android tablet with the physical benefits of a Netbook – it has a foldable and removable keyboard dock. Plus, it’s slimmer and lighter than the iPad, it has a 1.3GHz quad-core processor and it can process full HD movies too.

  1. Arnova ChildPad

The Arnova ChildPad has made it onto the list due to its innovative use. It is a tablet aimed at children and one of the few that runs an Android OS. This give kids the ability to use child-friendly Android apps without annoying mum and dad (by stealing their tablets). At 7 inches it’s smaller than the average 10 inch tablet which suits smaller fingers down to the ground and it comes fully loaded with 30 apps tailored for kids.

  1. Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

At number five, is the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 – the Android tablet most comparable to the iPad. It is both lighter and thinner than Apple’s model, offering a dual-core CPU which offers users a good speed and an 8 mega pixel camera to boot.

So there you have it – five Android technologies suitable for five different uses – and one thing’s for sure, you don’t get this level of choice when you buy from Apple.

This article was submitted through TechGeec’s article submission form.

Amy Boff writes for Appliances Online. When she isn’t checking Facebook she enjoys walking her dog. Follow her on Twitter @AmyBoff

java

Using Java for Mobile Applications

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One of the great advances in mobile technology is the ability for the average consumer to have mobile devices that are connected to the internet. The experts at Zintro consulting directory understand that having access to information in real time and in every day circumstances is an important tool for our daily lives. This is especially important to capture the commercial availability of mobile applications. One of the primary ways that mobile application developers fully integrate wireless devices with the internet is through Java.

Today, wireless devices process vast amounts of data from internet databases. Java is a great platform for employing the data processing power from mobile applications. It is a good platform for developing complex mobile applications because Java can be used on both wireless devices and other application platforms. One of the things that the Zintro consultant directory readily understands is that Java is independent of hardware and operating systems where the application is not native.

Java applications on computer operation systems can be too cumbersome for use in mobile systems. Conversely, mobile devices have limited hardware resources because of their size. Because of this, Java for mobile applications has been developed. This addresses the need that mobile devices have for a smaller memory usage and speedier executions. Quick execution speed is especially essential for mobile communication development.

Unlike applications that are based on browser usage and built around Wireless Markup Language and HTML, Java applications for mobile devices are good, flexible programs that can handle both input from user interfaces and extensive manipulations of data. In particular, this allows for better user interaction. In contrast to applications that are constrained by their respective platform, mobile Java applications are usable across various mobile platforms and can be sent over the internet. The consultants at Zintro understand that this is essentially vital for the mobile communications developer since it allows them to use their mobile application across a wide range of products. The marketplace is crowded with mobile devices, and the mobile application developer needs the flexibility and responsiveness to address shifting demand and attention.

Although there are a wide range of old existing mobile applications, Java ME remains a dominant mobile application development platform. Java programs use the Java programing language. Since Java is not specific to one platform, it uses an execution engine and a compiler with a set of libraries that are implemented for various hardware and operating systems. This enables Java applications to run identically on all of them. Because of the diversity of mobile devices, unified standards have been put in place that allow Java to run on mobile devices from different manufacturers. The experts at the Zintro consulting directory recognize that the development of these standards has followed the evolution of mobile devices, from the first standards where there were small screen sizes, no audio access, and a 32 kB program limit to the newer standards that allow audio and have a maximum 64 kB program size.

Mobile applications and mobile development are essential to the changing face of technological needs in commerce. Having the flexibility to address these changes has allowed Java to become the go to platform for mobile application development.

This article was submitted through TechGeec’s article submission form.

Susan Shelley writes for tech blogs where you can find out more about the Zintro consultant directory.

file compression

Understanding File Compression

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We use the internet to send and transfer all kinds of files and information. From audio, video, textual, and photographic images, any kind of information that can be created digitally can be sent over the internet. Nowadays, this is a regular process that people do not think much about, even when they send large files. The internet used to work very slowly, and today thanks to better technology, we can send this volume of information across the internet infrastructure with very little concern. Sometimes though, we need to be concerned about the size of files because internet bandwidth is not limitless. Compression is a way that large files can be made more manageable.

File compression is essentially about efficiency. A computer’s software will examine a file’s coding and search for redundancies in the code itself. What this results in is a smaller file size, since the redundancies are removed. A good way to think about this is to look at the way a paragraph is constructed. A software file will have many lists of the same kind of information that repeat, much in the way that a paragraph will repeat many words. The software uses an algorithm find one piece of information and allow that software to use that one piece of information every time it is needed. Thus, a paragraph would only need to use a repeated word once if it was compressed.

Although file compression is used more frequently in image formats, any file is capable of being compressed. Audio, video, and image files are more suited to being compressed, however, because of the way that their information is displayed, which relies on human interpretation for their reconstruction. For instance, there may not be much visible difference in a photograph that has been compressed to the naked eye if the resolution on that image has not been increased. A closer examination might reveal it. Because of their large sizes, media files need compression to reduce their size and make them more manageable in terms of memory.

File compression comes in two very distinct flavors: lossy and lossless. Lossless compression involves a process where the software breaks apart the pieces of a file into more manageable parts. As the term indicates, nothing is really lost. The file is merely disassembled to make it easier to move, much like breaking down a bed when someone is moving. Moving the entire bed takes too much energy and resources. The software then reassembles the file identically after it has been transferred. This is called decompression is most often used for sending applications and files that need to be identical to how they were before they were sent.

Lossy compression, on the other hand, does involve some loss of information. Lossy compression seeks out redundancies, and the results of lossy compression are most evident in image files like photographs. The loss of data will look like added pixelation and overall loss of sharpness to the image. Lossy compression is great when quality is not so much of a concern.

By understanding file compression, one can get a better handle on the kinds of files that benefit from the two kinds of compression. Since most of us send large files over the internet, using compression to get the results we want from our media needs can make us more productive.

This article was submitted through TechGeec’s article submission form.

broadband

Cable Internet vs. Mobile Broadband

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Three decades ago the only essential things identified by researchers for mankind to survive were water, food, clothing, medicine, and shelter; not until humanity was introduced to the so-called “Internet”. After long years of research and extensive experimentation, mankind had perfected the science of telecommunications and connectivity, making the world smaller and smaller until it could be manipulated with just our fingers.

The invention of the Internet is considered one the most significant events throughout history. And as experienced, this phenomenon just came out from the open without any said launching or debut. All of a sudden humanity was caught needing the essentials of the Internet.

With the prevalence of the Internet, business sectors are now in their rat race to achieve supremacy in this industry. Companies were established and developed in order to provide the masses with this new online communication.

The pioneering companies were divided into two sectors; the cable Internet and the mobile broadband Internet. These types of Internet connections both offer excellent services which will be suited to the needs and preference of the users. Some companies even have both services because they realize that these services are needed not only by internet savvy individuals but also by the ordinary people who would like to be connected 24/7.

Let us look where these connections do best in terms of:

Price

A cabled Internet connection is much cheaper compared to mobile broadband. The price differs according to preferred internet speed. The slower the Internet speed, the cheaper the cost is. Mobile broadband on the other hand seems a little expensive because it requires more technology to transmit Internet signal while the users are mobile. The verdict on which internet connection wins in this category will be prized on the mobile broadband. It is because the usability of the cable internet connection is poor compared to the capability of the broadband to be mobile. The simplest explanation of this will be noticed by the cable Internet users who pay extra charges to connect to the Wifi zones.

Mobility

There is no argument with this category that mobile broadband wins. Unlike cable internet where connectivity will only be limited to a maximum of 100 meters provided by a WiFi router, mobile broadband can be utilized in any place provided that the network is available.

Security

In this case, cable Internet wins this category. As a stationary connection, a secured system is expected because users can be easily identified. Unlike with the mobile broadband where signals are transmitted through towers, cable internet users have full control over the security of the internet connection by screening identified users to their network. The only risk of having cable Internet is when users travel and need to connect to WiFi. Security will be vulnerable in this case because a public internet service is prone to viruses, spyware, and other forms of malware. Mobile broadband on the other hand can be safe anywhere at any given time.

In conclusion, mobile broadband wins the overall battle in terms of price, mobility, and security.

This article was submitted through TechGeec’s article submission form.

Jashon Wills is a professional online article writer who promotes even and truthful facts. He believes that cable Internet information may be a bit scattered, but this page consolidates much of the info if you choose to visit it.

google voice banner

How to Set Up Custom Voicemail for Your Android Contacts

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When somebody misses your call, you’re usually redirected to their voicemail inbox. You hear a generic greeting, a beep, and then you leave a message.

But that’s boring. Why settle for the same old generic voicemail messages when you can assign custom voicemail messages to your favorite contacts?

Thanks to Android, assigning customized voicemail greetings has never been easier. Today, we’re going to show you how to give every one of your contacts a unique voicemail message using Google Voice.

Step 1) Download Google Voice

Google Voice is a free app that is available in the Google Play store. Download and install Google Voice here. Unfortunately, the Google Voice app is currently only available to Android users in the United States.

Step 2) Enable call screening

Google Voice has a useful call screening function. You’ll need to enable this function before you record your custom voicemail greetings.

To do this, open Google Voice and select the gear icon in the top right corner. Tap on the Voice settings link and then navigate to the Calls tab.

Find the radio button beside Call Screening that says ‘On’ and select it. Once you hit Save Changes, call screening will be enabled. Call screening allows you to send callers directly to voicemail, listen to the voicemail message they’re about to leave, accept the call, or accept and record the call.

Step 3) Set up Google Voice voicemail

Now that you’ve enabled call screening, you can set up Google Voice’s voicemail. Open Google Voice and click the gear icon in the top right corner of the main menu. Choose Voice settings from the list and then select the Voicemail & SMS tab.

Once you’re ready to record your voicemail message, select Record New and speak your name into your phone. Then, choose the Android phone that you want your calls to be forwarded to and hit Connect.

Google Voice will call the Android phone you selected and then ask you to record the name you want your contacts to hear when they call you.

Step 4) Set up customized voicemail greetings

Now that you have connected Google Voice’s voicemail, it’s time to record customized greetings for your favorite contacts. To do this, once again click on the gear icon in the top right corner of the page, navigate to Voice settings and choose the Voicemail & SMS tab.

Look for the Voicemail Greeting section and then click on the Add button to add a new contact. Type in whatever name you want to use for that customized voicemail greeting.

After you press OK, a new window called Record Greeting will appear. Open the drop-down menu called Phone to ring and then select your Android phone. Click Connect and Google Voice will immediately call your phone.

When you pick up the call, Google Voice will tell you to record your customized voicemail message. Once you’ve hung up the call, select your voicemail message from the Voicemail Greeting section of the Voicemail & SMS tab, which can be found under your settings menu (click on the gear icon in the top-right of Google Voice).

Step 5) Choose your contact

Go to Google Voice and look through your list of contacts. Select the contact for which you have already recorded a personalized greeting and then select Edit Google Voice settings. Choose the Voice message that you have already recorded from the dropdown list that pops up. You can also set up a personalized voicemail message for a group using this method.

You’re done!

This feature is useful for plenty of different reasons. You can set up a customized Google Voice message for your work contacts, for example, that says you’re currently out of the office. And your friends can hear another message entirely.

Whether you want to leave a cute greeting for your girlfriend or an “I’m safe, mom” message for your parents, Google Voice can help you get the most out of your Android smartphone. Thanks to the power of Android and Google Voice, generic voicemail messages are a thing of the past.

This article was submitted through TechGeec’s article submission form.

Andrew’s website, OneClickRoot.com, offers One Click Root, the smartest android rooting software available. Just one click and you can unlock your android smartphone, or android tablet, and harness its full potential.

zenbook

ASUS Zenbook: Style and Substance

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Ever since the release of Apple’s MacBook Air, ultrabooks are becoming more and more popular. However, many individuals are Windows users and prefer to use a thin laptop of great quality that utilizes that platform. These days, you have many great ultrabooks from which to choose, one of which is the Asus Zenbook UX31E-DH52. This device has many amazing features and specifications, making it the ultimate computer for any user who is always on the go. While ultrabooks are pricier than most standard laptops, you can purchase it cheaper with a Newegg coupon code when you shop. If you are considering buying the Asus Zenbook, you should explore all the details you can expect.

  • The design of the Asus Zenbook UX31E-DH52 is extremely similar to that of the MacBook Air by Apple. It is constructed from an aluminum unibody that rivals its Mac competitor. When closed, its silhouette appears in a teardrop shape and it sports a 13.3 inch screen that has a resolution of 1600 by 900 pixels. The ultrabook is primarily silvery gray with silver keys on its keyboard, making it not an exact clone of the MacBook Air like many Samsung models. It is very lightweight at just over three pounds, making it a breeze to tote around.
  • The Asus Zenbook UX31E-DH52 is equipped with Microsoft’s Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit operating system. It includes 4GB of memory and sports a 128GB or 256GB solid state drive, which is sufficient if you plan on using the machine for browsing the Internet, listening to music, watching videos, and for saving a minimal amount of files. The ultrabook sports a 1.7 GHz Intel Core i5 or i7 processor that is speedy and efficient. The speakers in the Zenbook are spectacular and superior to those of the MacBook Air and many other competing ultrabooks, so if your main goal with the device is listening to music or watching movies and videos, you will be completely happy with this feature.
  • Battery life of the Asus Zenbook UX31E-DH52 is not the best at around five hours. This is one feature of the ultrabook that may be negative to some, so if you need a machine that is going to perform for many hours outdoors or in an area where you may not have access to an outlet, you may want to reconsider this device. However, if you will be out for no more than five hours with your ultrabook, the Zenbook is perfect for you.
  • The regular retail price of the Zenbook UX31E-DH52 ranges from $1,099USD to $1,449USD, depending on the amount of hard drive space and processor you select. This makes it somewhat cheaper than a MacBook Air, though you can find it for under $1,000USD at certain stores if you do your research and comparison shop.
  • Other features you get with the Asus Zenbook are a multi-click touchpad, a USB 3.0 port, micro-HDMI connectivity, and an SD card slot.

When considering a new ultrabook, the most important question you should ask yourself is: What are the features I truly need, and how much money am I willing to spend? You can also decide whether you require the pricier version of the Zenbook if you feel it would be well worth the extra cost.

This article was submitted through TechGeec’s article submission form.

Data Processing - red

Data Processing: Size Matters

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An article about University of Illinois signing a $188 million supercomputer deal with Cray Inc. came out this month and a lot of people were amazed by the huge amount of data that these supercomputers can process. Computer processing is growing incredibly fast as the university is using 1.5 petabytes of information each day and a capacity of 500 petabytes.

500 petabytes! If you have no inkling of how enormous that data is, you can start computing in quadrillion bytes. Search engines like Google process an approximate of 24 petabytes every single day; that should give you an idea of how big a petabyte is.

But that is nothing compared to what IBM is planning to launch for Netherlands’ Foundation for Research in Astronomy. The $2.1 billion deal is talking not about supercomputers but about “exascale” computers. An exascale compute is a machine that can process an exabyte of data each day. And what is an exabyte? Just about 1000 petabytes; yes, start multiplying quadrillion bytes by one thousand.

You probably know how much information is being processed in the internet on a daily basis. Well, an exabyte is twice as much that information. Colossal is an understatement! But it appears mankind isn’t happy with that yet, we’re just getting started.

The National Security Agency is planning to build a $2 billion facility in Utah that will process and store the entire agency’s data. We’re talking yottabyte of information to be stored in this facility. What is a yottabyte you may ask? It’s just equivalent to quadrillion gigabytes and just about the ceiling for data measurement (for now) as no word has been coined yet for the next higher degree. With this staggering amount of data comes a plan for a highly productive computer that can execute a petaflop. Petaflop is a term coined for quadrillion operations in a second.

These are indeed mind-blowing pieces of information and some people might be thinking what kind of technology these computer makers will be using to be able to efficiently process data as big as the ones previously mentioned. The power alone is staggering – 200 megawatts – which can power up to 200,000 homes. So how on earth can an enormous and yet efficient machine be built and maintained?

Knowing that the more data you store in your computer means using up essential resources that if depleted, may mean poor performance, it would be interesting to see how the abovementioned projects will come to life. When it comes to data processing, size does matters and you’ve probably had a dose of irritating problems that come with processing huge amounts of data.

Just think that with personal computers, many users already experience poor PC performance with just hundreds and maybe less gigabytes of data. Some users often find themselves using optimization tools such as PC Speed Up to improve their computer’s speed and performance.

Now we’re talking thousands and quadrillions of gigabytes. It’s safe to assume that these supercomputers and exascale computers will have (should have) their own built-in optimization tools so as to avoid performance issues in the future.

This article was submitted through TechGeec’s article submission form.