The problems appear when we try to resume these downloads. Sometimes, these downloads break and further download is impossible. When this happens, we turn our eye towards download managers that help us recover broken downloads. And in moments like those, a few tips on which is the best or other tricks we could try, are most welcome.

How to Recover a Download That’s Been Cancelled

As I mentioned earlier, these broken downloads appear whenever there are connection problems with our Internet access, or when the files on the server are corrupt or unreachable. This might sound like a big problem, but fear not, there are ways we can overcome this inconvenience. Although not all of them work, and not all downloads are recoverable, some can be “helped along”.

What happens is that a fragment of the encryption code is unreadable, or a part of the download cannot be accessed, and so, the entire file becomes unreachable. Although the parts that seem to be missing are still on the server, we just can’t get to them, and for that, there are all sorts of applications out there that can give us that helping hand.

Tips on Recovering Broken Downloads

• Close your Internet connection and reconnect. This trick has worked for me numerous times and it still works. When a download fails, I close the Internet connection and resume the download after I reconnect.
• Stop and resume the download. This method works usually when the speed of the download goes down and it cannot download anymore. This simple trick that can help is to renew its connection to the server and it will give the download a fresh connection.
• If any other method does not work, then a re-download might do the trick. Deleting the temp file and restarting the download might prove to be the solution.
• Searching for an alternate mirror. If a server is causing you trouble when downloading, then it’s better to look for another mirror server that has the same file and try downloading it from there. This will be the best solution and it will most likely take care of your problem.
• If you want to download from a file sharing website, then request a new download link. Many have expired download links and getting a fresh one can help you download your files.

Top 5 Download Managers

If neither of the methods above work, then it’s time to get to the big guns. And these are the last resort: Download Managers. These programs can help you with most nasty downloads that have no apparent reason for failing. Although, keep in mind, not all of these work 100%. Some downloads might even be irrecoverable and no matter what you try, you cannot access them and the only way to get them is to try another website or source.

5. GetBot

One of quickest ways to download media files such as music file from websites that don’t work is GetBot. This simple program lets you input the URL of the website and it will download all the pictures it can find. Although, if you are looking for a specific picture, you will have to search for it in the results. In the future we might see an update that will let you download other than pictures.

4. Recover Damaged Files

A great way to recover files that have been downloaded poorly and do not open is Recover Damaged Files. This free program offers support for a number of tasks, like recover deleted files or corrupt files on your hard drive. As a bonus, it provides you with lots of other useful tools for your computer.

3. iGetter

Being available for both Windows and Mac users, iGetter is the perfect tool for fixing those broken downloads and managing your other downloads as well. Besides the obvious feature of recovering downloads, iGetter doubles as a download accelerator. So give it a try and see for yourself just how useful it can be.

2. MetFileRegenerator

MetFileRegenerator is a program that allows you to regenerate broken downloads and files in order to make them usable. It requires Java Runtime Environment v1.4 or higher in order to work, and it can make quick work of your damaged download files.

1. Free Download Manager

Enjoy a full service program that can help you to regenerate broken downloads as well as providing other useful features like BitTorrent support or Flash Video Download. Keep your downloads safe and tidy by using this great program.

Now you won’t have any more problems with downloads that just won’t complete. Armed with these tools, you can now download to your heart’s content, and most of the time you won’t have to hustle with broken downloads anymore.

[photo credits: HebaPhoto]

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Battery Life: Prominent Issue of Smartphones

There have not been improvements one a wide scale to make the batteries last longer. Some of use hope that fuel cells will provide the needed solution. It would seem that the manufacturers of the other components have invested in making them more energy efficient, and therefore making devices last longer. Intel has released the new 22nm chip, the Ivy Bridge that is up to 20% more energy efficient than the previous generations, Samsung has released the mighty Galaxy S III with wireless charging capabilities, but even so, these so called “mobile” devices are not truly mobile, having to be recharged daily.

Why smartphones drain the battery so quickly? The question that everyone thinks of has a pretty easy answer: the components that these devices have installed on them, the components that make them smartphones. The screen is in most cases the biggest power drainer of all. Even with Super AMOLED and other such technologies, this component is still the biggest power drainer of all. Also, processors and memory are big power drainers. Wi-Fi is another great example of power drainers that runs your smartphone dry. And yes, your iPhone also needs apps and tips for a better battery life.

Tips to Improve Android’s Battery Life

If you wish to increase the battery life of your Android smartphone, there are a few tricks you can try. However, these will not make your phone last a big period of time, but they will give you a few hours of extra battery life, and in smartphone standards, that is quite a lot.

• Keep your screen on automatic brightness. Knowing that the screen is the biggest battery consumer, keeping it a bit more dim than at full capacity will give you some extra battery life. Although it won’t look as good, it will make it last longer.
• Use Data Connection (3G connection) instead of Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi is a big power drain, so keeping it turned off more will give you more battery. It uses a different antenna and so, it will consume more power, unlike the 3G connection that uses the same antenna as the phone’s signal. It’s quite understandable that using one less component will result in less power drain. Also, if you do not use Bluetooth or GPS, it’s better to turn them off. Although they are not big battery consumers and GPS works only when using an app that requires it such as Google Maps, it adds up.
• Do not use vibrating alerts. The vibrate function on any phone is provided by a tiny motor that turns and vibrates your phone. This motor consumes lots of power and if you can just stick with audio alerts, it will give you some increase in battery longevity.
• Close background apps. Apps run in background after you close them. This feature allows the phone to quickly load them when you access them again. But these apps running in background consume memory, and therefore power. And this takes us to the main reason for this tutorial. Using task managers and power savers that cut off functions of the smartphone will give you a boost in battery efficiency.
• Do not use Live Wallpapers. But try using black backgrounds. Because of the way the LED screen works, when a black image is on the screen, the tiny LEDs are turned off, thus conserving power.

10 Apps to Save Battery on Android

There are lots of such apps available on the Google Play Store. Some work better than others, but if you keep in mind the tips above, then you can make your Android smartphone last longer than ever.

 10. Battery saver – Dolphin add-on

This Android battery saver is one of the best I have ever used. It comes as a add-on to Dolphin Browser and it gives you complete control of the power options of your Android smartphone. You can chose from a preset list of battery saver profiles or create your own profile and select what apps or services your device can run.

9. Battery Calibration

If you think your battery runs out faster than it should, the reason might be that it’s miscalibrated and it shows you a false value. To resolve this issue you might want to re-calibrate your battery. This will ensure you that it shows the actual level of the charge. And from here, you can start saving battery and make your device last longer.

8. Battery Saver

Battery saver is a great app that allows you to better put to use the power saving features of your Android smartphone. Set up a sleeping schedule for your device and it will save power and make your device last longer than ever.

7. Advanced Task Manager

Task killers give you control over the apps that run in the background of your Android smartphone. By closing these apps, you can extend the battery life of the smartphone. Also, you can set auto-kill option and the app will kill the apps whenever they open.

6. Battery Calibration

Another Battery Calibrator that lets you take control of your battery and make it show the real value of the charge. Although, keep in mind it is recommended that you use this app after a fresh flashing of a ROM and it also needs root permissions because it changes the batterystats.bin file.

5. Battery Widget

A simple widget that allows you view the state of your battery via a simple 1×1 widget. Also, it allows you to control GPS, Bluetooth Wi-Fi and Screen Options. The first step in trying to make your Android device more power friendly.

4. Battery Dr saver

Adjust all the power options for your Android smartphone with just one app. Battery Dr saver allows you to adjust screen timeout and brightness, turn off or on functions for longer battery life and it also provides a great task killer for those unwanted apps that just won’t close.

3. Advanced Task Killer

One of the best Task Managers that allows you to kill tasks and therefore save battery life. The auto-kill option gives you control of what apps run in background and it takes on the task of killing them so that you don’t have to stop them every time they start.

2. Super aTool Box-cache battery

As the name suggest, this app accomplishes what any other app cannot. It combines all the options of your device and it lays them at your fingertips. With its impressive list of features it can be truly called one of the best apps that allow you increase the battery life of your Android smartphone.

1. JuiceDefender

This complete toolbox offers you top of the line control over all the aspects of your Android smartphone and it allows you to set up your device in order to consume less power and keep your battery drain in check.

3 Other Apps

Also, I have used these apps with great success I might add. I was very pleased with the results. You might want to take a look at them.

• Easy Battery Saver
• Battery Monitor Widget
• GO Power Master (requires Go Launcher installed)

I have used these apps, in combination with the tips I provided and I have saw a result. However, do not expect miracles to happen. In some cases, depending on how much I used my smartphone, I had an increase in battery efficiency of up to 5 hours, which is about 25%. Of course, it might seem just a little improvement, but I must admit I felt the difference. And you will too.

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How to Update Drivers Automatically

It may not be a particularly hard task to do, but it’s pretty time consuming. Going after each driver, downloading and installing, it takes ages. But fear not, there are ways to install drivers with much more ease, although, some might argue that the old fashioned way is still the best there is. Also, every manufacturer encourages you to download and install the latest driver for their product and in itself complicates your life even more.

Always searching for driver updates on numerous websites. But fear not, there are a few ways to update your drivers with much more ease and far lesser time consumed. Nonetheless, for those who are willing to try alternative methods of installing drivers, methods that take a lot less time and headaches, here are a few methods to automatically install or update your drivers.

Why Update Drivers?

This is the question many will ask. Why update drivers in the first place? Well, like with all computer programs, games or apps, each update brings it closer to perfection. Bug Fixes, smoother running and more options are available with each update. Take for example Video Card drivers (I only mentioned this because yesterday I update mine).

The update for my nVidia card had numerous bug fixes and it also offers better performance and increased stability in many games and in 3D mode (up to 20% better performance). So, you see how much it matters for you to have the latest drivers installed on your computer. They make it run smoother with less errors and they will give an increase in performance.

Install or Update Drivers Using Windows

You might have noticed that when you plug in a new device to your Windows PC, it automatically searches for a driver. This extends further than USB memory sticks. Any plug-and-play device you connect to your computer can automatically get its designated driver automatically. Windows allows you to do this using the Device Installation Settings.

You can find this feature in your Control Panel (Start -> Control Panel), under Devices and Printers. Once here, you will see a list of all your devices connected to your computer. Find your PC, right click on it and select Device Installation Settings. There, you can check the “Yes” box and the next time you plug in a plug-and-play device it will automatically search for the default driver and install it.

Use Driver Update Designated Programs

There are lots of programs that can search for drivers automatically, and they work pretty good. I use them on my laptop to find, download and install all my drivers. They work great, but they have a few bugs, such as seeing that a driver is old (the latest version is old and the manufacturer has not released newer drivers) and downloading time and time again the same driver. But these are bugs I can live with. After all, they do install all my drivers in a few minutes, rather than 1 hour it would take me to navigate to each website and search for my driver.

Driver Update Programs

Here are just a few examples of such programs. I won’t go into specifics because apart from the additional features, they all do the same thing and they all work pretty good. I use on my laptop Uniblue Driver Scanner and I am most pleased with its performance so far. But the others work just as fine.

4. Driver Checker
3. SlimDrivers
2. Driver Robot
1. Uniblue Driver Scanner

And there are many like these available on the web. They basically do the same things, although some offer other features like computer scan for problems, registry cleaners and other useful tools. But it is entirely up to you which one you consider the best suited for your needs.

Use Manufacturer’s Website

Some manufacturers of computer components, like nVidia and Intel offer support for driver updates directly on their websites. These tools scan your computer for installed devices and they detect the current driver installed. If there are updates available, it will prompt you to download and install them. I prefer this method above all other. I’m certain that my driver comes directly from the official site of the manufacturer and that is the latest driver released. Also, this method gives you the guarantee that the driver is compatible and that it is 100% safe.

Also, some brands offer you a specialized software, when you buy their their product, an auto-update program. These will search for new releases and they will notify you when one comes out. But keep in mind these are designed to work for the component they come with, and will not give you updates for other components installed in your computer.

Keep in mind that it is always recommended to have the very latest driver installed. However, I might stay away from beta drivers because they are still in the test phase and by installing them you might encounter system instability. But other than that, updating will keep your computer working at full capacity.

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Get Rid of Wires and Plugs: Top 7 Solutions

And what can we do to get rid of them? Well, it seems nothing can do it. No matter how much we try to mask and organize them, they still get twisted. It’s like they have a mind of their own. But fear no more, there is a solution for this, and it’s called “wireless”. Although not every device is wireless, and every one needs as little as one, wireless devices can clean up pretty good.

Wireless products means you have to invest a few extra bucks in them but it will definitely make your work space look cleaner. Wire managers are another solution but nothing seems to beat cordless products. Let me give a few pointers for getting rid of those nasty wires and make your home or office look better and not like a server room.

1. Use Wireless Mouse, Keyboard

Using such devices gets rid of at least two wires on your desk. And because technology has made great advances in battery technology and wireless technology, they no longer lag so much you can’t even play a game. There are lots of these devices scattered in every computer shop. Some can even satisfy the most hard-core gamer out there, having response times that rival wired solutions. There are lots of wireless mice and keyboards, and I’d recommend those from Logitech or Microsoft. There is even one wireless keyboard that also has solar charging (featured in our top solar powered gadgets article).

2. Wireless Speakers, Headphones

Wireless speakers and headphones will help you get rid of cables around your house. From your home entertainment system to your desk speakers and headphones, they will give you a cleaner look and more tidy aspect. Also, as with wireless keyboards and mice, they now have excellent fidelity, giving you a great sound. Now you can walk around the house listening to your own songs withou tripping on cables.

3. Wireless Printers

Wireless printers also have the potential to make some wires obsolete. Especially in an office environment, where you have more than one printer connected to more than one computer. So, going for a wireless solution might make a lot of sense. Check out our printer buying guide to understand what to look for when buying a printer.  The biggest advantage with a wireless printer is that you can place it inside the room but not near your computer so that makes your working space less cluttered.

4. Wireless Appliances

Other wireless devices can be found throughout a home: such as a wireless TV transmitter (the new generation, that also has LAN connection), or wireless thermostat (remember nest, featured in our top app-ccessories post?) and media center. All of these can make your house look better and tidier, eliminating those nasty wires running all over the place. Also, other devices such as stereos, CD players or DVD players have the possibility to work wireless, so you might give them a try. These will definitely give you a helping hand in getting rid of cables. And in the future, many more devices will have wireless capabilities and making them controllable from smartphones or tablets will make our lives much more easier.

5. Wireless Router

A wireless router will get rid of the majority of cables from today’s household. Think of it, if you have 2 computers, 2 laptops and a smart TV that has network integration, then you have at least 4 more cables to worry about. So, the wireless router is a great solution. Keep in mind, if you want to connect all your Internet enabled gadgets to the router, you might need wireless network cards for your computers.

Smart TVs usually have Wireless capability, and laptops, tablets or smartphones have it, so it only makes sense to get yourself a home wireless connection. Just keep in mind to have a strong password, you don’t want your neighbours to use your Internet connection. All these wireless solutions are a brave step towards making a smart home.

6. Use Sleevings, Wire Managers

You can find sleeving materials and wire managers (such as those plastic cable covers) at any Home Depot or IKEA store, and in fact, at any other Home Improvement store. They can help you mask and organize your cables. A sleeving can make all of those power cables into one and you can quickly hide them. And if you want to act like a little designer, you can play with colours and make it look just like a part of the wall, carefully covering it.

7. Hide Cables

Some cables you can’t do without. Such as power cables, video input cables or TV cables. These you just can’t get rid of. And because of that, you have to mask them as good as you can. Using sleeving materials will only get you so far, but then, you have to the old fashioned way and hide them under the rug of behind the bookcase. Use stickers, adhesive tape, everything it takes to make those cords disappeare!

In the future, we will definitely see more wireless devices appear and replace today’s ones. The first step is made: as you might of known, the new Samsung Galaxy S III has wireless charging capabilities. This technology will definitely get better and better and it will migrate from smartphones to other household appliances. The future Smart House will be totally wireless, using no cables and where we will control everything with just our smartphones, or who knows, even our minds. Ironic, no? The future promises more connectivity, but with less connectors.

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UploadCinema Puts YouTube Videos on The Big Screen

Every two months, Upload Cinema presents a selection of web films focused on a specific theme. The website members submit their proposals then the team chooses the best movies, compiles them in a coherent programme of around 90 minutes. The selection is then screened in movie theaters and other special venues in various locations.

The public is informed about the upcoming events on the special website. In order to attend these special events, the public doesn’t necessarily need to subscribe to Upload Cinema website. If someone decides to do it, there are certain advantages, however. The members get priority in booking tickets and they are informed regularly about the upcoming premieres. The best part is that some lucky members are sometimes chosen to enter the jury and to decide what web videos are included in the final selection.

Web Movies Are Becoming More Popular

Upload Cinema managed to show movie selections in about 20 cities, mostly from Netherlands but also in Spain, in Barcelona and Madrid, in Belgium Antwerp and Hasselt and sometimes in other European countries. The Upload Cinema project has intriguing implications, beside its novelty.

“The web is changing film. Not only the way film content is being distributed, but also the way film is being produced and watched. The whole interactive process of making, mixing, choosing, uploading, commenting, recommending and reacting is what is truly revolutionizing the industry,”

says the Amsterdam-based team. They propose a different way of enjoying YouTube productions. The viewers move from the intimacy of their homes and share the watching experience with others, friends and strangers. So, get as more YouTube views as possible if you want to be among the winners!

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Exchange Favors Instead of Money

Some might say that the technology might step off its boundaries here, when replacing the courtesy, but you need to judge this by yourself. Wederbank is an app that promises to help the users keep track of favors. Suppose a friend helps you move or paint your room or lends you the book you were looking for a long time. You plan to return the favor as soon as possible but then, all the daily routine come storming over your gratitude and forget about it.

Wederbank prevents this from happening. Moreover, the app advertises a new system of trading: exchange favours to get things done instead of money.

“Now that our financial systems are failing and most of us have to cut corners to make ends meet, it’s time to think of alternatives. Instead of spending a lot of money on professionals, why not call in some favours from friends?”

reads the official app description.

Keep Track of Who Owes You a Favor

The app allows the user add a Weder every time they receive a favour or did something nice for somebody else. The user needs to input a contact, the date and time, followed by a short description. The contact will receive a notification. The conversation module included allows the two parties to agree on the favour exchange and then they can seal the deal. It works something like “Remember, I’ve helped you move? Now you need to feed my cat while I’m away.”

For now, the app is available only for iOS 5 or later and it is compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. It also needs the user’s Facebook account, as it is after all, a social network application. The company behind Wederbank promises that “support for other platforms and login with Twitter and with email, will soon be released.”

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DeadSocial Keeps Your Digital Legacy After You Die

“DeadSocial is a tool that allows anyone to create scheduled messages. These are distributed across their social networks after their death,” says the official website. This means that the users who register for free on the DeadSocial network can keep their Facebook, Twitter and Google+ accounts alive and active even after their deaths.

DeadSocial subscribers can schedule messages to be sent to their friends or followers for years after their passing. In brief, the tool keeps the digital legacy and uses technology to extend our online digital life. The team that came up with this idea and developed the project announced a beta release of the platform. Later on, the company will roll out a new version that integrates into Facebook Pages, according to the official website. Probably, for the companies who plan to file for bankruptcy but still want to remain in their customers’ memory.

Creepy, Yet Interesting Start-up

DeadSoci.al was selected amongst the final 19 start-ups to pitch, present and launch their services at The Next Web Conference, hosted these days in Amsterdam where I am present. The team from London entered the ‘Startup Rally’ and James Norris the founder of DeadSocial was the one walking up the stage to present his ideas and it seems it was one of the winning start-ups at the rally.

The intriguing platform that offers to keep our social accounts alive entered the Alpha channel of the start-up competition. This section of the competition is reserved to the brand new services, meaning that DeadSoci.al is launching these days. Amazon CTO Werner Vogels will preside over a team of experts who have the mission to decide this year’s start-up winner and we’ll know the results by the end of the month. For now, it was the best presentation at the Start-up rally.

What Social Accounts do When You Die

Currently, the lawyers and lawmakers specialized in the rights of the netizens are wandering what happens with the accounts on social networks after the users die. Some of the US states (Oklahoma, Nebraska and Oregon) already came with a solution. Here the authorities consider that the all the information stored on the social accounts is part of the users’ legacy; therefore the relatives have the right to claim access to these accounts after the owner’s death.

Facebook already has a system that allows the accounts of the members who died to be “memorialized.” This means that only the deceased user’s confirmed friends can view the profile and post messages on the wall in his or her remembrance. However, Facebook doesn’t allow access to these memorialized accounts to anyone, not even to the family of departed user.

Twitter has a different approach to the situation, more inclined to respect the privacy of the departed. The friends and family of the deceased users can contact Twitter  and obtain a copy of the public tweets. Afterwards they can ask the account to be closed. A digital executor will need to verify name and contact details, the documents related to the death and the relationship to the user and at the end of this process the account is closed.

LinkedIn and YouTube need proof of death and also need to confirm the relationships and identity of the people who speak on behalf of a deceased user. If everything checks out, both platforms will grant heirs the access to the accounts of deceased members. Google+ and Gmail have a less complicated verification process but the result is the same.

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Have you ever tried to stay away from your phone a day or even more? Well, you probably cannot, as addiction to mobile communication devices is part of our modern life. Nevertheless, with the benefits come the risks. According to many studies, including reports from the World Health Organization, the European Commission, and the Environmental Working Group, our trusted cell phones emit radiation dangerous to our health.

Information, transmitted from cell phone to cell towers or antennas and back, use powerful, high-frequency electromagnetic fields. The level of radiation varies according to the distance to the source and to the frequency of use.

Risks of Radiation Exposure

The World Health Organization has released last May a study warning the public about the potential risks of overexposing to radiation coming from cell phones.

“WHO/International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B), based on an increased risk for glioma, a malignant type of brain cancer associated with wireless phone use,”

says the research.

The recommendations are mainly directed to parents who allow their kids to spend too many hours on the mobile phone. The children’s tissues are still growing and therefore, more sensitive to radiation. The radiation has a wider impact to the brain and the effects can be more dramatic. The organization also recommends precautionary measures during pregnancy.

Actually, the manufacturers admit the risks and advise the customers not to press the phones directly against the head. Apple tells iPhone owners to keep the phone during voice calls or other data transmission over cellular network at minimum 15 mm (5/8 inch) away from the body and RIM suggests the distance should be 25 mm (1 inch) or more.

The kind of radiation coming out of cell phones is called ionized radiation. It is not exactly as an X-Ray radiation, but similar to a low power radiation coming from the micro ovens. So, what to do to keep our brains from being a little cooked every time we use our phones?

Tawkon comes with a Solution

As we obviously cannot push the technology aside and start living without it, there are means to control its side effects. And, here’s where Tawkon offers a solution. This is one of the most interesting start-ups that I discovered at The Next Web Conference in Day 1. The app, developed by three enthusiasts from Israel, allows the cellphone users to monitor the level of radiation they are exposed to. The teams behind Tawkon rely on the simple truth that the safest cure is prevention.

“Tawkon encourages a healthy lifestyle by monitoring radiation emissions in your mobile device, alerting you to make small changes in the way you’re talking to bring high radiation absorption down to safe levels… so you can talk on!”

says the quick description of the app.

Instead of starting a fierce campaign to warn people to use less their mobile phones, Gil Friedlander, the company Co-Founder and CEO, and his friends, Amit Lubovsky and Ori Goshen decided to rely on technology to provide solutions. They have realized that the phone itself contains radiation-related data.

The app collects data from the phone and taps into the device’s internal measurements. The data extracted from the phone are network type, band-GSM, UMTS, CDMA, channel, signal strength, phone model, and more. Tawkon then calculates the phone’s radiation level and the user’s exposure. When the radiation exposure reaches to a dangerous level, Tawkon alerts the user.

Tawkon Thinks About Your Health

Tawkon relies on proprietary technology validated by Satimo, a leading FCC-certified RF lab in the United States. The testing procedures compared Tawkon sensors to very accurate radiation sensors certified by FCC and the results were more than encouraging. At the beginning of this year, the company announced on its website the tests’ result. The report “clearly confirmed tawkon’s effectiveness as an accurate tool to predict SAR levels and recommend changes to reduce users’ risk.”

One would think that this innovation that keeps people safe would draw the attention of the big players in the technology field and the team would receive generous offers for the technology. Well, think again… This is an app meant to keep people from talking too much on their phones, so the phone manufacturers have perceived it as a threat. Two years ago, Tawkon released an iPhone app, which was rejected by Apple. Rumours say that Steve Jobs himself pulled Tawkon from iTunes.

The team saw this as only a bump on the road and move forward. For iPhone users there is a jailbroken app available and BlackBerry owners have their own Tawkon to protect them. The most successful Tawkon app is for Android platform. Most of the users who submitted reviews on this believe that is a must-have tool.

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But not only computer hard disks fail, any other device that stores information can fail, and when it does, you are left with nothing, except if you have a backup of your files. A backup is probably the most important habit you must develop. What a backup means is that you have to have more than 1 copy of your data, on different storage devices or mediums (such as other HDDs, CDs/DDs, Cloud, etc). Nowadays, the fear of losing personal data is even greater.

How to Back-up iPhone Data

We depend so much on our devices, that if they fail, we have next to no identity. Take, for example, the humble smartphone, now it can hold precious information that we need on a regular basis. Credit card numbers, contacts, pictures, file etc. Everything about us on a tiny silicone and plastic brick. Unfortunately, a hardware breakdown is not all we have to worry about. Firmware upgrades can also erase our phones, physical damage, and even the fear of having it stolen. All of these can lead to unrecoverable data loss.

But fear not, there are solutions for us to avoid the problem of losing our data, and especially, our smartphone data. If you paid attention, I talked about how to backu-p your data on Android, and now, the spotlight lands on the next favorite when it comes to smartphones: The iPhone.

Although there are some apps that can make a fairly decent backup of your iPhone (unlike the many for Android that do a great job), I would prefer, and I think that so would you, to do this backup using Apple’s systems. These are developed by Apple’s own developers and they tend to work best.

2 Basic Solutions to Back-up Your iPhone Data

Apple has 2 very good options of backups you can try. They work very well and you can even use both for more peace of mind. These use the iPhone’s integrated backup features to make a copy of your personal data and keep it safe. Although they have 2 very different approaches, they both work very well and deliver great results.

1. iCloud

Apple’s iCloud has gotten a lot of attention, although it offers a small space for free, it does provide a very useful tool for a backup. Either if you are upgrading to iOS 5 or for any other reason, you can trust Apple’s servers with your information. To make this type of backup, you will need to have an account with a registered Apple device (which I’m sure you have if you are reading this) and a Internet connection (I’d suggest a Wi-Fi network because the process of backing up and restoring can take a toll on your Data usage).

To enable this feature, navigate to “Settings > iCloud > Backup & Storage” and enable the service. This will backup your device on a daily basis if the phone is connected to a Wi-Fi network, connected to a power source and has the screen locked. Also, you can manually backup your device at any time by clicking on the “Back Up Now” button. What data is backed up with this method, well, Apple provides this information on their site:

• You get unlimited free storage for: Purchased music, TV shows, apps, and books 
• You get 5GB of free iCloud storage for: Photos and videos in the Camera Roll
• Device settings (for example: Phone Favorites, Wallpaper, and Mail, Contacts, Calendar accounts)
• App data
• Home screen and app organization
• Messages (iMessage, SMS, and MMS)
• Ringtones

2. iTunes

iTunes can also backup your iPhone files, but the difference between it and the iCloud, is that you have your information available on your computer. I tend to prefer this method, mainly because I’m old fashioned and I like to have my files, not just upload them on some server, but also because it can store much more information and I don’t need a Internet connection to do it. All you have to do is plug in your device, and as soon as it shows in your “Devices” menu, right click (or Control-click) and select “Back Up”.

This type of backup can save a great amount of information on your computer and you can easily restore it when you need. All without any Data charges. For a more detailed list of what information is stored, check Apple’s official page for backup with iTunes. These are the main ways to backup your iPhone if you do not have Jailbreak. Although, you might find apps that backup and restore information, try not to trust them completely. Make a backup using them, but do make a backup with one of these methods also, you will never know when they could come in handy.

PkgBackup App For Jailbroken iPhones

If you have a Jailbroken iPhone, then Cydia can help you out. You can backup your settings and apps using the PkgBackup app. This app can be purchased from Cydia and it offers a great backup solution. It’s very easy to use, all you have to do is hit “Backup” and then sync your iPhone with iTunes. A very quick way, but I still recommend making a full iTunes backup just in case.

© Raju PP for Technically Personal!, 2012. This Feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this material in your news aggregator, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact us, so we can take legal action immediately. If you are on Twitter you can follow me @rajupp! | Permalink |

One of Google’s services that can help you reach more people is the video sharing service, YouTube. From the moment Google bought it, back in 2006, YouTube has considerably grown in users, now having hundreds of millions of users worldwide.

How to Get More YouTube Views: 10 Easy Tips

A statement to YouTube’s growth is the fact that every day there are 8 years worth of video uploaded. And with this growth, YouTube now can be a great source of website visits and publicity. Your YouTube channel can be a powerful tool for publicity, and if your videos are good, they can attract many viewers. Also, established businesses that have original content and produce videos with many views, can put Ads on their channel and videos, via Google Ads and generate profit with their videos (in English speaking countries).

But what about small users, that have small businesses or upload tutorials and other materials on a regular basis? They could take advantage of the views their videos generate to increase their website traffic. How that might do this? By following these simple rules, tried and tested by hundreds.

1. Create Good Content

Content is the thing that will make you big on YouTube. It’s useless to move forward and try other methods of making more YouTube views is your content is low quality. Find something good to make a video out of, something people search for, for example [How To] Videos, educational videos or reviews, and stick with it. If you have a topic, then upload videos in that topic and not a new topic every week. These are just a few examples, do some research before making your videos and when you start, try as best possible to have high quality audio and video. If people have a hard time listening or looking at your video, they won’t like it and you won’t get far with it.

2. Don’t Bore Your Viewers

A video that is too long and inexpressive will bore your viewers. Try to make your video as short as possible, but not too short, depending on what type of video you are uploading. Add animations and multiple angles of shooting (don’t stand in front of a camera for 5 minutes and just talk, move around, shoot the video from different angles). Try and get viewers’ attention right from the beginning and keep them there. My advice is to have a look at how trailers are made.

3. Use SEO

SEO, or Search Engine Optimization also works on YouTube. The name of the video is the most important, because the search algorithm searches in the names of the videos for matches. The next important thing is the description of the video. Use Keywords both in the name of the video and in the description. Also, try to give a link to your website in the description, but try not to spam it. Users won’t like that and won’t click on it. Also in the description, insert your keywords in the first 30-50 words. Use a good name, that has a connection to what topic you upload your videos. Use tags wisely, look at what users search for in your category and try to find the best keywords. Also, use the keywords in other videos so that YouTube will show them in the “Related Videos” section.

4. Title is Important

Try to give your video a good name, not something common. Use words that catch the eye, but also look professional. For example, I upload a video of me drinking beer with my nose. If I want to have many views, I will not name my video “me drinking beer with my nose”, but something like this: “INCREDIBLE: Check out how I can Drink BEER with my nose!”. Try to avoid 1 or 2 letter words, the algorithm skips them, also try not to separate words with “_” or “-”(underscores and dashes), YouTube spikes them also. And try to avoid too long titles, people won’t read them.

5. Thumbnails

All YouTube videos have a thumbnail, and if you do not modify it, then the thumbnail will be the frame at the exact middle of the video. This can be to your advantage, using a video editing software, you can find this frame and modify it. Swap it with an exciting image or a high quality image. Users tend to click on videos that have interesting thumbnails, but keep in mind, it’s better to have that thumbnail resemble the topic of the video, rather then a hot chick. People will click on your video, but they will never recomend, like or share your video if you’re deceiving them.

6. Make Your Channel Interesting

Use a nice theme, on which users can read easily. If they have trouble reading, they will leave your page and most likely never come back. Use warm colours try to avoid high contrast. And of course, get a nice, non offending and clean background, it looks more professional and it has good readability. Don’t overdo it, or it will look like an old MySpace account.

7. Remember, YouTube Is Almost a Social Network

If you look closer, you can say that YouTube is in fact a social network. It allows you to make friends, share content, subscribe to others, comment and much more. Just as you would on any other Social Network. Try to use this to your advantage. You might have enough experience doing this from Facebook or Google+. You have to make as many friends as possible, mainly because they have friends of their own and so on. When you share a video, if they like it, they will re-share it and so on. Also, the subscription is a great tool for promoting your videos to those who are interested.

Try using the “Video Response” feature to attract other views on your videos, and always comment to other people’s videos (but not just “I like it! Keep it up!”), try to add something interesting to the discussion, but also comment and reply on your videos. Interact with your viewers, answer their questions and compel them to share, like or comment by using phrases (either in the video or in the description) like “Don’t forget to Comment and Like!” or “Tell your friends about this video!”. The thing you must remember is that if you are not friendly (friendly as in commenting, liking and subscribing) to others, they won’t subscribe or like your videos.

8. Go Outside YouTube

There are lots of services that guarantee you more views and subscriptions on YouTube, but keep in mind these are illegal and you can get your account banned. But there are lots of alternatives to get your videos to the world. Try sharing them on other Social Networks such as Facebook, MySpace, Google+(which is very important keeping in mind that it’s another Google Service and it has higher ranking than others) etc. Using Google’s Blogger could help you do this. Keep a blog and embed your videos, or embed them on forums for extra views. Also, you can use some specialized services, especially designed to help you promote your YouTube Videos, such as Tube Toolbox or Fireviews. They both claim to bring your videos more traffic and be legal.

9. Friends, Please Share!

When uploading a new video, talk to your friends and give them the link to view and share it to their contacts and so on, this type of sharing could give you a large number of views in a short period. Another good way to get your video to your friends is to email the link to your entire list of contacts and ask them to do the same.

10. Become a Partner

If you do all the right things and get to the point where your videos are making hundreds of thousands of views and you have a steady flow of traffic and new videos, you can become a YouTube partner and start earning money for your hard work. However, there is a limited number of countries that are accepted. With this you can get Ads to add to your videos and get money via Google AdSense.

Now you know how to use another of Google’s services to your advantage. Don’t turn a blind eye on YouTube, it can boost your business or website quite a bit, and if you follow these guidelines, maybe even make a good profit off of it.

© Raju PP for Technically Personal!, 2012. This Feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this material in your news aggregator, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact us, so we can take legal action immediately. If you are on Twitter you can follow me @rajupp! | Permalink |