Archive for January, 2009

Bluetooth Thoughts and Specs

bluetooth

Bluetooth offers reliable speed combined with lower power drainage, wireless communication technology designated for connectivity of mobile devices to each other with a small or no work necessary by its user. Unlike many technologies (for example, infrared), the Bluetooth technology does not necessitate a direct line-of-site location in order to function.

Current circuits for Bluetooth are fitted over a board 0.9 centimeter squared, as well a significantly tinier circuit board that is currently under development for future applications.

Whenever a given Bluetooth device gets within close proximity to another, the two devices will instantly transmit address and capability data. Subsequently, they will form a one MB secure connection. The involved protocols will be able to toggle both voice and data.

The technology can reach its goals by embedding small and inexpensive short range transceivers into the
portable device. The frequency will function at the 2.45 GHz radio band, and will carry up to 721KBps, in addition to the triple voice channels.

Every Bluetooth-enabled device offers a distinct forty eight bit address from the 802 standard, with the connecting points being either point-to-point or multi-point. The maximum range is set at ten meters, although it can be magnified further to hundred meters by modulating more power. The devices would additionally be shilded from interference by alternating their radio frequencies, commonly known as frequency hopping.

Another important aspect, is that Bluetooth-empowered devices will not burden the battery’s power. The specification do target consumption of power. For instance, only 0.3mA in standby mode will be required of the radio chip, which is less than fiver percent of the power that standard cellular phones use.

Bluetooth technology will additionally focus on the level of bits when it comes to security. The 128 bit key authentication is used. Additionally, with frequency hopping, Bluetooth is already very hard to compromise.

The baseband protocol combines both packet and circuit switches. In addition, synchronous packets have reserved slots for them. At a different hop frequency, each packet is transmitted. Normally, a single slot is covered by packets although it can be enhanced to cover a maximum of five slots.

Bluetooth can also support data of up to a triple of voice channels. Therefore, it’s doable to transmit the data while talking. Each voice channel will support 64 KB.

Technically speaking, Bluetooth is significantly different compared to additonal technologies. It’s the best wireless technology available today, surpassing infrared. For wireless communications, Bluetooth is very difficult to compete with.

The iPhone Is A Must Have - My Thoughts

iphone

Ever since the iPhone was introduced, a tremendous public response followed it. Hoards of people are enjoying the marvels of this mobile phone, calendar, iPod and Internet in one device. However, the actual question is, does anyone really need the iPhone? Naturally, it appears that it is a good product because it streamlines digital productivity and offers the bundling of many products in 1, but are there any real perks to having an iPhone? The answer really depends on who you ask. Nonetheless, there are many real reasons why the iPhone is a great buy.

The first reason for why having an iPhone is a good thing is because it helps to streamline your life. Undoubtedly many of us live a very hectic life. We rarely have time to relax, not to mention running around the house searching for your cell phone, iPod and PDA. However, an iPhone offers all of these electronics, in one slim and sophisticated product. Many people who are used to carry around two or three electronic gadgets are thrilled at how easy and convenient their iPhone is.

Another good reason why you do need an iPhone is because it allows you to have a world at your fingertips, literally. Unlike other mobile phones, which allow you to view a simple version of the web, with the iPhone, you are actually surfing the Internet in a similar way to the desktop way. If you have never accessed the web while on the go, sitting in your car during heavy traffic, or checking your your Facebook account on a whim, then you are missing out on how wonderful it is to be able to access the World Wide Web intantly. This real-time availability to information is so empowering, and once you experience it will be hard to switch to another phone.

Because so many of us live in large cities, and have friends and jobs that live on the other side of the city, we are often in our cars. So what happens when you have to go somewhere but you don’t know how to get there? Normally, you get on the Internet and MapQuest it, however with an iPhone, accurate directions to any destination is only a few ‘taps’ away. An iPhone offers powerful mapping service using Google Maps, and it is with this application you can find your local pizza joint, Starbucks, public library, etc’. Of course you can get directions to this location as well as call them too. For instance, if you typed in “Domino’s Pizza” you would then be shown the closest Domino’s to where you are currently at. You can then call them and place your order, or ask them questions about their pizzas.

Very rarely will a device exist that not only connects you to the world, but also brings you closer to it. With technology becoming more diverse and impersonal, it is refreshing to find a device that connects you with your surroundings in such a dynamic way.

Finding The Right Bluetooth Set

Manufacturing quality wireless headsets which utilize Bluetooth technology is actually not an easy thing to do. The traditional wired popular headsets are relatively easy to design, which allow for their various styles.

Bluetooth headsets cannot be designed to be as small as well as light as traditional wired headsets, simply due to the fact it needs to include a battery and extra features. The additional size will surely impact how the mounting of the headset fits on or around the ears.

There are 2 main designs of headsets which utilize Bluetooth. Some are positioned on the ear having a loop just around the ear. Such styles are relatively quite more comfortable, although they are likely to be less secure. The other type of headset is positioned in place by actually being jammed into the ear, and usually are less comfortable.

Here are the important factors to consider:

Cost
As with any product, the cost of the headphones is an obvious issue.

Ergonomics
1. Verify that the device is easy to quickly put on your ear and remove.
2. Make sure the control buttons on the headset are easy to press.
3. The headset should be comfortable to wear, including during long phone calls.
4. For people who wear glasses, is the headset still comfortable?
5. Make sure you can wear the headphone on either ear.
6. When you choose not to wear the headset, how do you carry it.
7. The weight is important therefore make sure the headset is unlikely to fall off.

Ease of use.
1. The features and commands are easy to recall.
2. The volume level is easy to adjust.
3. The headset is to turn on quickly.
4. There should be a support phone number for reporting technical issues.
5. Ideally the manual is easy to understand.

Features
1. It is important to know about the battery, as well as the talk time, the battery type used, and how to accurately tell when it is running low or it is fully charged.
2. How many devices actually fit this type of headset?
3. Warranty period is important.
4. Make sure that the sound quality for both the sending and the receiving audio is good.
5. Verify the range that the headset offer?

Additional important features include last number redial, 3 way calling, voice tags, transferring calls, linking to other phones, call reject, and mute. You will also want to examine if the headset appears attractive and if it’s the right size or too big or small.

Bluetooth - The Good And Not So Good

Here are the pros and cons of Bluetooth technology:

Pros

Bluetooth has plenty to offer in an increasingly competitive market. Bluetooth offers a solution by promising the freedom from the wires and seamless networking that has yet to be equaled by LAN (Local Area Network).

In the primary niche markets of wireless and handheld devices, the closest Bluetooth competitor is infrared technology(IR). Infrared offers several key features, although the line-of-sight it requires doesn’t go through walls or around obstacles.

Unlike infrared technology, Bluetooth isn’t limited by line-of-sight and it does operate in ranges of up to 100 meters. Additionally, Bluetooth offers low power as well as low processing requirements. Essentially this indicates that it’s ideal for integration within small, battery-powered devices. In other words, the typical applications which incorporate Bluetooth are virtually limitless.

Cons
Bluetooth has a number of important features and one would be hard pressed to find cons. The only noticeable downsides are the data rate as well as potential security issues. As a comparison, infrared can have reach data rates of up to four MBps compared to Bluetooth which offers one MBps.

For this exact reason, infrared cannot be disqualified and is considered by most to be a complimentary technology to Bluetooth. Infrared also offers an inherent security benefit since it operates within a line-of-sight.

The enhanced range and radio frequency (RF) of Bluetooth place it somewhat vulnerable to being intercepted and attacked. As a result, security specifications are a key aspect to Bluetooth technology.

Due to its many advantages, Bluetooth is the optimal short-range wireless technology. For people who have tried it, love it, and they strongly believe that Bluetooth will remain the leading force in the wireless market.

Web Security Tips

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Every day more and more consumers are attracted to the convenience of online shopping and are spending more of their hard-earned dollars over the net. Unfortunately, at the same time, the chances of becoming a victim of online fraud are also on the rise. Complaints regarding general merchandise purchases that were paid for but never received by customers, accounted for 30% of Internet fraud complaints, and auction purchases, with the same circumstances, topped the list at 44%.

While most e-commerce sites are trustworthy and have taken precautions to protect their customers, it is still a good idea to use caution and follow a few simple rules of internet security.

1. Use only a single credit card, ideally with a low credit limit, when making online purchases.
2. Use only reputable e-commerce websites that offer both a street address and telephone number in case you require assistance with a transaction gone bad.
3. Choose verified sellers. Take a few minutes to investigate whether the vendor is a verified member of a reputable third party organization such as the Better Business Bureau or VeriSign.
4. Keep a paper printouts of all online transactions, and hold on to them as you would a receipt from any other store - at least until you receive your goods.
5. Keep in mind - if an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

iPhone Apps For Business

stevejobs

In the business environment of today, you have to be aware of the changing monetary environment you are part of. One of the optimal ways to achieve this is to own a digital device that can accurately monitor your income as well as expenses. If you own an iPhone, then it is likely that your life necessitates a level of detail and organization. When it comes to financial situations, you must be relatively organized to assure that your money is not being wasted away. One of the benefits of the iPhone is that it allows the addition of applications that will assist in making your life more organized.

One of the useful iPhone productivity applications is called JustAddMoney Expense Tracker. This great application not only allows for tracking your money, but also offers the sharing of the information through a multi-user online tracker. The application is an ideal solution for a business that requires constant updating regarding the financial dealings of a given business. With the application, you can update expenses instantly, by entering in receipts, checks, credit card purchases and the actual amount of cash you currently have. Because it is possible to add additional users to the expense tracker, it is possible to see how everyone has spent money before making the next purchase.

This application can manage your finances, no matter how complex they are. If you are running a business, and you want to keep employees up-to-date with certain financial matters, then you can do so by creating an account for each of them. After you have created an account, you can transfer money from these accounts, organize expense categories and create financial reports as per a date range. This will maintain your financial reports highly organized as well as easy to comprehend.

Also, with the application, you can have real-time updates to how much money has been spent, and on what. This will save you time in waiting for your checks to clear with the bank, and help avoid any surprises when you open your credit card billing statement.

Yet another practical application for business-minded, in addition to those people who want to keep information private, is called the Mobile Password Safe. In our modern world, it is necessary to have a secure location for storing your passwords, and probably no better place than your mobile phone. Only the user is able to gain access to the passwords.

After you have done so the passwords will actually be decrypted into the browser, which means that your passwords cannot be hacked and you are provided with solid security. If you have many passwords, or if you just want to keep your online banking password highly protected, this application is for you.

10 Pros of Bluetooth!

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Listed here are my ten advantages and rationale for using Bluetooth technology:

1. Wireless
There are obvious benefits of using wireless devices. The improvement of versatility and safety as a result of eliminating unneeded wires. When you travel with a laptop or any other wireless devices, you can forget about bringing cables for connecting.

2. Bluetooth is becoming cheaper
Bluetooth technology is relatively inexpensive, which results in lower expenses for manufacturing companies. Such savings are subsequently passed from such companies on to the consumer.

3. Bluetooth is automated
Bluetooth technology does not require setting a connection or pressing multiple buttons. Once 2 or additional devices enter a range radius of up to thirty feet of each other, which would cause it to automatically start communicating without the user required to take additional steps.

4. Standard protocol
Bluetooth is an accepted standard wireless protocol, which means that a high degree of compatible communication between devices is guaranteed. Bluetooth technology can connect the devices to one another, even if they aren’t made by the same manufacturer.

5. Lower level interference
Bluetooth devices essentially avoid the interfering signals from additional wireless devices. To accomplish this, Bluetooth utilizes a technology technically known as frequency hopping, in addition to the utilization of lower power wireless signals.

6. Lower energy consumption
Since Bluetooth uses lower power signals, the technology necessitates low level energy and requires less electrical power or less battery power as a result. This is an important benefit for mobile electronic devices, since Bluetooth will not drain batteries.

7. Sharing data and voice
The accepted protocol for Bluetooth allows devices that are compatible to share voice as well as data communications. This is ideal solution for cell phones and their headsets, as Bluetooth makes driving and talking on a mobile phone much easier.

8. Personal Area Network(PAN) that works instantly
It is possible to connect up to 7 Bluetooth devices to one another using a range of up to thirty feet, forming
what is known as Personal Area Network. For a single room, it is possible to set up multiple PANs.

9. Upgrades
Updated versions of Bluetooth that are constantly developed, which produce various new advantages as well as being backwards compatible with the older versions.

10. The technology persists
Bluetooth technology is now a universal wireless standard. Being as popular as it is, you can count on Bluetooth remaining so during the foreseable future. As increasingly more devices utilitze the technology, additinal manufacturers will be inclined to offter their products with Bluetooth.

Free Energy Possibilities

I imagine your first question upon reading this is - What is free energy? The term free energy can be defined as that which can theoretically, using the appropriate technology, be extracted straight out of the atmosphere, apparently in large quantities. Their are many debates concerning whether or not “free energy” can become a practical reality or not, and, if so, what quantities it would be available in. As well, what would be the cost factor in harnessing such energy?

A free energy device actually has several different meanings. What is being referred to might be a device used for collecting and transmitting the energy from some source that conventional science has yet been able to validate. or a device which collects energy at without financial obligations; or what could be meant is the legendary perpetual motion machine. Needless to say, the latter - a machine that can drive itself, continuously without end, is impossible. However, this isn’t so cut and dry that a new technology for extracting the energy that is often described to be floating in the atmosphere is impossible.

Supporters of “free” energy maintain that there are vast quantities of energy can be drawn from the so called Zero Point Field. This field is described as a quantum mechanics state of matter for a specifically defined system which is achieved when the system is at the lowest possible energy state. Zero Point Energy (ZPE), also know as “residual” energy. and also “vacuum energy” generally represents the energy of empty space.

To sum things up here, if free energy every becomes a practical reality in these times, it could change our lives and the earth’s outlook signifinantly. For those reasons, my opinion is that this is something that should strongly researched.