1. Just Cloud

As the name would imply, this cloud storage provider aims to be straightforward and user friendly while offering all the options you could ever require. With plans for personal and business use, Just Cloud’s pricing starts at $4.95/month for unlimited storage (do note that this is a discounted price for a 2 year commitment, and the full 24 months must be paid upfront). There are options for businesses as well, and on their pricing page you can easily preview your plan based on how many computers you have and how much space you need. Backup time is speedy thanks to Amazon S3 support, and files as large as 5 GB can be uploaded to the cloud. Synchronization across PC and Mac devices is available, as well as 24/7 customer support. If you’re still unsure if Just Cloud is right for you, they offer a free 14-day trial.

2. Zip Cloud

Zip Cloud appears to be very similar to Just Cloud, but with a slightly higher starting price for unlimited storage ($6.95/month). It uses Amazon S3, is compatible with all the same Mac and PC devices, features a simple sign up process and UI, and has comparable upload and download speed. Perhaps the most noticeable distinction is found in its customer support, which is only done online via e-mail. If instant contact is important to you, then the edge goes to Just Cloud. Otherwise, both sites offer affordable and seamlessly integrated cloud storage for personal or business use. 

3. SugarSync

If you begin to comb the comments sections of cloud software reviews, chances are you’ll find plenty of unsolicited user support for SugarSync. It doesn’t offer unlimited storage like the previous two examples, but in contrast to most of its competitors, there is no need to “drag and drop” the files you want to backup; rather, you can simply right click any file and an icon will appear that indicates the file has been synced. Additionally, while you’re in “cloud view,” you can hover your mouse over anything and see whether or not it’s been backed up. Because of efforts made towards swift and easy manual operation, SugarSync seems to be geared towards those who want to keep a closer eye on their content.

4. Google Drive

If you go gaga for Google, then Google Drive might be the best option for you. With reasonable prices and the best sharing and collaboration features around, this cloud storage provider has been gaining steady momentum since its inception in 2012. You can store up to 16 TB (which might as well be unlimited for the average user), backup files up to 10 GB in size (the largest I found in my research), and view files from programs like Photoshop even if you don’t have the program installed on your computer. Google Drive is one of those innovative platforms that offers small business ecommerce solutions, since files can be shared and updated easily by multiple users, so that everyone is on the same page.

Renee Floyd is a prolific writer, visual artist and photographer. She credits her love of innovation and technology to growing up in the Silicon Valley.

As the world’s major information technology companies like Samsung, Asus, Huawei, etc. have introduced super sized cell phones (phablets), ZTE is also entering the phablet market with the introduction of its flagship smartphone, the Grand Memo Phablet which was officially launched in the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2013 in the city of Barcelona, in Spain, on 24 February 2013.  The Grand Memo is a 5.7 inch Android device and is the first smartphone to use the latest Snapdragon 800 chipset.

The Grand Memo has the best quality specifications which are as follows:

• Hardware – The TFT high definition display screen is 5.7 inch diagonally and has a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels. The hand set which measures 6.3 x 3.25 x 0.33 inches is very thin and light in weight. It has a metallic blue back. ZTE has created customized keyboards to enable typing and dialing with one hand. ZTE’s mi-POP has a small group of controls (Home, menu and back buttons) that appear on the screen only when needed and will be placed as per the user’s choice. The keyboard automatically moves closer to the hand holding the handset to enable easy typing making one hand use convenient.

• Software – It runs on the optimized Jelly Bean 4.1.2 form of the Android operating system and has ZTE’s Mifavor user interface, which has been specially created for smartphones.

• CPU – It sports Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 800 processor with a quad-core of 1.5GHz making it an absolute interactive machine for gaming.

• Camera – It has a 13 megapixel shooter at the back and a 1 megapixel camera at the front. The camera at the back can take 1080p video and has attributes like time lapse and geotagging. The front facing camera can be used for video chatting.

• Audio – It has Dolby Digital Plus Surround sound technology to provide good quality sound.

• Memory – It has a RAM of 1GB and internal storage of 16GB.

• Battery – The battery is of 3200 mAh.

• Connectivity – It has 4G LTE and dual-band 5.0 GHz Wi-Fi (802.11ac) connectivity which allows the user to access high speed internet connections. Besides this, ZTE is providing its Z Cloud service (supporting MHL and DLNA) with the Grand Memo for additional connectivity.

As the Grand Memo Phablet is excellent for multimedia activities and also for sending and receiving e-mails, browsing the net and contacting people on-the-go, the Grand Memo Phablet will be an essential device for people who have a demanding lifestyle and hence it can be considered to be a versatile large screen smartphone that is appropriate for both home and office use.

It is expected to be released first in China in the second quarter of 2013 and later in Europe. The date for the US release has not yet been announced.

This is a guest post is brought to you by Samantha Kirk, a writer for Centurylink Internet. Samantha provides up to date content and information for high-speed internet, phone services, bundles and other Centurylink offers.

Samsung Galaxy S III

This third generation Samsung Galaxy S boasts a quad core processor that run at 1.4 GHz, as well as large amounts of RAM and memory – with Jelly Bean, the S III is one of the fastest, if not the fastest running smartphone on the market. A HD screen and an 8 MP camera complete the appeals of the phone, with Jelly Bean boosting the already significant range of apps and connectivity speeds available for the phone.

Samsung Galaxy Note II

The larger complement to the S III, the Samsung Galaxy Note II is a ‘phablet,’ or a smartphone that runs close to a tablet in terms of size. With a 5.5 inch screen, the Galaxy Note allows for super fast browsing and app usage on its quad core processor; the first phone to use Jelly Bean, the OS has made the Note II an even faster device, and ideal for multi tasking.

Motorola RAZRi

A new release the Motorola RAZR i was launched with Ice Cream Sandwich, but has since been upgraded to run Jelly Bean. Key features of the RAZR i include an Intel 2 GHz processor, as well as a 4.3 inch edge to edge screen; Jelly Bean allows the RAZR i to run smoothly, and can be optimised with Motorola’s Smart Actions tool to remember different personalised settings, from automatic Wi-Fi enabling to geolocational features.

HTC One X+

Powered by a Nvidia Tegra 3 processor, and featuring a 4.7 inch LCD screen, the HTC One X+ is one of the most impressive phones on the market. Jelly Bean helps to boost the  HTC phone’s already smooth running, and works alongside an LCD2 screen to allow for easy HD video playback and Internet browsing. The only downside: a slightly poor battery life that HTC are still working on.

Sony Xperia P

Set to receive Jelly Bean in February and March, the Sony Xperia P will join other smartphones in the Japanese manufacturer’s range to be updated to the latest version of Android. A good mid range phone, the Xperia P comes with a 1 GHz dual core processor, a 4 inch screen; Jelly Bean will make the Xperia P run even faster compared to Ice Cream Sandwich, and helps to make it one of the better phones for users that don’t want significant amounts of power, but still need their smartphones to be as efficient as possible when handling different tasks.

The iPhone 5s is expected to hit Apple Stores this summer. What are the rumours circling the web about what we should expect?

It is important to remember that we are discussing the iPhone 5s, not the iPhone 6. The ‘s’ here stands for ‘just a little better, not brand new and exciting’. But even with that in mind, the tension is rising and the rumours are spreading like wildfire as the release date gets closer and closer.

The display rumours say that the size will be the same but the resolution and the clarity will be much, much better. Supposedly, we should be expecting a 10-point multi-touch display which means that all 10 fingers can be used when handling the device. One source says that Apple will use Sharp’s IGZO display technology, although this requires a pen and that’s not something that Apple sounds likely to do.

All the smartphone cameras of 2013 are going big and the iPhone 5s is expected to come with something amazing. Phones with 13MP cameras are already available, so if Apple want to keep their market share they will have to work on that. It will be a big leap from the iPhone 5’s 8MP camera to a 13MP one, but it is necessary and the fans will love it.

The design of the device is expected to follow the trends set by previous ‘s’ releases, i.e. not very different than its original. So the ultra-thin, light and comfortable iPhone 5 is going to be available as an iPhone 5s as well, which is great because the design is definitely a factor in the purchase and it is already brilliant.

The rumours stated above can be almost perceived as facts. They are in accordance with all the trends set by Apple in previous years, and the current requirements of the market. There are a few rumours, though, that sound a little unbelievable. They are guaranteed to come true, but whether that happens in iPhone 5s… only time will tell.

A very interesting rumour floating around says that iPhone 5s will come with a wireless charging feature. It is questionable whether such a revolutionary and long-awaited option can be placed in an ‘s’ release, but since Siri came with iPhone 4s, it might actually be possible. Fans will surely appreciate it as battery life is one of the worst things about smartphones today.

Another speculation involves the use of fingerprint recognition. The ‘recognizer’ is supposed to be located beneath the iPhone’s home button and be used instead of all the passwords, pin-codes and so on. On top of providing reassurance that no one else can use your phone, once this technology is introduced it can be put to work by app developers and replace passwords altogether, thus taking security to a whole new level.

This article was contributed by gadget lover Rita Rova, who writes about her passion for the forward thinking voucher code site, LoveMyVouchers.co.uk – where you can find top discounts on all the latest mobiles from top UK providers.

Creative D100 Wireless Bluetooth Speaker

This unit puts out great volume and offers quality audio. It’s small in size so that it’s convenient to carry with you. Whether you have it right up close to you or further away across the room, you will experience exceptional sound performance. As this Bluetooth speaker is priced under seventy dollars you’ll find that it provides you with your money’s worth for the sound that it produces.

Jawbone Wireless Bluetooth Speaker

This is another Bluetooth speaker that produces quality sound and so much more. This speaker will allow you to download music and movies to your phone. It’s great for taking with you when you are traveling with the kids as it will allow them to watch movies while riding in the car or they can enjoy listening to their choice of music while you enjoy your own type of music. If you work out, it’s great for that too; it will allow you to stay away from the use of ear buds that can become sweaty and irritating during your workout. The sound that it emits is crisp and clear, making it a quality choice speaker.

Jabra DRIVE Bluetooth Speaker

The Jabra provides sound that is crystal clear and that also reduces echoes and other unwanted noises. You can connect two Bluetooth devices to this speaker at one time, which makes it very convenient. It also offers automatic volume adjustment and voice guidance to tell you when your battery is low as well as your connection status. This speaker is simple for anyone to quickly set up and use, even those with little tech experience.

Monster iClarity HD Bluetooth Speaker

This speaker will fit into the palm of your hand but it will offer you a large audio sound. It offers a bass that is deep and clean thanks to the Monster Passive Subwoofer. It works great with the iPad, iPod, iPhone and the Macbook. The built-in microphone allows for hands-free phone conversations and even conferencing. A single charge of the battery will last up to five hours. From this little speaker you’ll experience room-filling stereo sound.

Bose Sound Length Bluetooth Mobile Speaker

This is a quality speaker for great sound anywhere; it easily connects to your Bluetooth and you can take it anywhere. It also provides the great sound quality that Bose is known for. The rechargeable battery will last up to eight hours providing you a day’s worth of quality sound while you’re at work, in the car or mingling with friends. The Bose will connect too many electronic devices and is able to go wherever you are going.

Choosing the best Bluetooth speaker for your needs will give you the quality sound that you crave.

Eric Halberg likes getting the most out of his technology. His articles mainly appear in tech blogs where he shares his insights. Visit ExpertSatellite.com for information on satellite connections.

It seems very likely for the operating system to be Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean, although most of we were hoping for 5.0 Key Lime Pie. Maybe the most important fact is that the phone will feature a Qualcomm processor, which has caused a certain amount of interest on the web.

We are getting closer to the release date of the new Galaxy smartphone, rumored to happen in April, this year. The date is also supported by TechRadar and Gizmorati, so all we can do is wait for the big day. We also expect to see a new design from Samsung. The leaked specs have already given some overall idea of what to expect, but of course nothing is confirmed yet.

Sources have been suggested that the new Galaxy SIV would come with the amazing Samsung S Pen stylus that is a must-feature with the Galaxy Note smartphones. The latest news from a Korean online trusted publication is that the company has decided in the last moment that the Galaxy S4 will not now feature the S Pen stylus, but this remains unclear.

Other news from the same source mentioned that its home button will not be present on this version, although it seems that Samsung has decided to keep the home button, according to a leaked draft. The report also mentions that the production will begin in March, this year, with a release no later than April.

What I know for sure is that we will have an 8 core smartphone coming from the Korean firm, as it was announced at CES 2013, which will be complete with 4 big cores and 4 smaller cores, as part of ARM’s complex and powerful architecture.

The support for the 8-core SIV version is one of the best to run the Android 4.2.1. and will sport a 1.8GHz Octa processor.

The April launch event is expected by at least 600,000 new Samsung customers, eager to buy the new smartphone.

Ryan Landonn is a Tech writer for HackedTime, covering the best topics for your information.

Get the Whole Picture

The first thing that you should do is to analyse your usage based on your past bills. Most people commit the mistake of choosing the wrong plan and end up paying a lot more than what they actually should be paying. After analysing the usage, if you have a lot of unused limits left on either calls, text or data then you should contact your network provider and get your plan changed as soon as possible. Also if on many occasions you exceed your allotted limits change your plan, it will work out much more cost effective. The service charge for the extra usage is significantly higher than the plan rates. In case you are exceeding the allotted usage, opt for a plan with increased limits.

Ask questions

Before selecting a plan, make sure you enquire about the price plan thoroughly so that you don’t get shocked to see any hidden charges in your bill. Speak with the representative of the network provider and ask him to explain the breakdown of charges. There may be instances where you are paying for services that you don’t require such as paying insurance charges for a phone which is already covered under your house insurance. Contact your network provider and cancel these services and save yourself a lot of money over the course of your contract.

Use Apps

In this era of technology and smartphones, there are much cheaper ways of calling, texting and data services. You can adopt these techniques to reduce your usage and your bill. Smartphones have apps such as Viber, Skype or WhatsApp which allow you to call or text any person for free. These apps are much more sophisticated than the normal call and text feature and can be used as a substitute.

Use Wi-Fi rather than 3G

Many shopping malls and public places these days have a free Wi-Fi zone. Whenever you are in such a place, make sure you utilise these services in order to reduce your data usage. Once your overall usage is reduced, you could switch to a cheaper plan with lower limits.

Almost everybody has internet access on their mobile phone. The internet offers many benefits and you can access almost anything you want from your mobile. There is no need to pay for the premium services such as 0871 numbers when you can avail the same services using mobile internet.

Look at Group Plans

Opt for a group plan or a corporate plan if possible. If you own a small business or there are many members in your family who own a phone, then opting for a family plan or corporate plan will help reduce your cumulative bill by a huge amount. These group plans tend to be much cheaper per head than the individual plans. And don’t forget to bargain with the representative of your network provider. With the increase in competition, network providers will try their best to retain customers and will offer you attractive offers, but you have to ask.

. . .

With the rising cost of living and increased expenditures, you can implement some of these ideas to make sure that you save some money so your household budget can stretch just that little bit further.

Phil Turner has been asked to compare mobile phones for various friends and relations. He has learned a lot.

Obviously there will be a certain threshold that, once attained, will gradually see signs of slowing, but that is not to say that the number of brands will decrease. New and improved models and versions will continue to be brought out, and possibly new brands will be created that exclusively design and produce tablets. But once everyone has one, the only business left will be for when newer models are produced. As with any new craze, it catches on very quickly at first, and there is always a massive surge in sales as people flock to buy the product, but as numbers of people owning tablets increase, this will be when the market will start to show signs of slowing.

Tablets began with the creation of eBooks. These lightweight electronic devices are able to store many hundreds and thousands of books on them, removing your need to carry around multiple books with you. They’ll remember what page you’re up to, so there’s no need to have to rummage around for a scrap of paper to use as a bookmark, and they’re slim and compact, so there’s no more worrying about fitting your huge tome into your handbag. The majority of them even come with overhead lights now, so you can read at night-time without disturbing your partner as they sleep next to you. All of this from one device; it’s no wonder people went crazy over them. They’re also really useful for those who have sight problems, as you can easily adjust the size of the print to suit you, so you don’t have to strain even with your glasses on to be able to read the story properly.

Next came the tablets that double up as phones and computers. Again, great for those with sight problems and the multifunctional aspect allows you to carry your phone and computer in one handy device. Brilliant also for when you just want to quickly check something, without having to turn on your PC and wait for ages for it to load up, or have to go to a different room just to be able to access your emails, or play a game.

Better yet, they’ve even created child-friendly ones too! They act as teaching and learning tools for kids. You can purchase a number of games and activities for them to do to help them learn and have fun at the same time. They’re also great to take on long car journeys to avoid the inevitable ‘are we nearly there yet?’

In short, it’s easy to see why tablets have caught on as well as they have done. With the number of tablets ever increasing, it’s unlikely that we will see signs of the market slowing any time soon.

Whichever tablet you may own, make sure you keep it safe with iPad cases or Nexus 7 cases.

So, an iPad tutorial for seniors is the perfect way of learning how to use an iPad to its full potential. iPad don’t come with a manual, therefore the internet is your only alternative at learning how to us an iPad.

A video tutorial series called the Pad Professor will teach you how to take advantage of all your iPad’s features — everything from the least  used settings to the most used.

CASE STUDY

I purchased the $47.00 Pad Professor course for my seventy year-old grandparents. It’s composed of ten separate workshops. Each day during lunch they would load up one of the 10 minute workshops. The first few workshops explain the basics of using the iPad. There isn’t a single aspect of the iPad’s features left out. Best of all, if my grandparents forget how to complete a certain task on their iPad, they can look back at a Pad Professor workshop.

They enjoyed the program and felt that $47.00 was well worth the investment. After all, they wouldn’t know how to use an iPad without these video lessons.

Pay for the $47.00 membership fee and you will receive unlimited access to the iPad lesson video database. You will learn skills on how to be more productive while using your iPad.

Even myself, being the iPad wiz that I am, was able to learn a few tricks from the program. CLICK HERE to learn more about this program. If you’re ready to purchase, than click here.

**Everyone that makes a purchase using the link above I will offer a $17.00 discount to. Just email me at ryanjstonge@gmail.com after the purchase is complete.

If there is one reason to try out the following games, it would relate to them being free of charge. You have nothing to lose by trying them out.

Four Best Free iPhone Games 2012

Temple Run: The game of avoiding obstacles and collecting coins. It is similar to Mario Brother, except it is much faster paced. Play with friends and climb your way up the Game Center leaderboard. Overall, it is an incredibly fun way to pass time by while having fun.

Dead Trigger: This game is the ultimate zombie-fighting title available on iOS. The on-screen graphics are off the charts for a free game available on mobile devices. If you ask me, it is an upgraded version of the Black Ops zombies game available on gaming consoles. This game looks the best on Retina display devices.

Storm the Train: Another gun-related game, only this time you’re hopping between trains while avoiding cartoon-ish zombies. It isn’t very appealing to the eye, however I fell addicted to playing it after a short few minutes.

Frisbee Forever 2: A game well-suitable for any child, Frisbee Forever 2. You ultimately have to control a frisbee between multiple goal-posts while grabbing stars simultaneously.

Those are our choices for the four best free iPhone games of 2012. Remember, they are suitable for any iOS device, including the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad.

Since we have stated our favorite iOS games of 2012, it is now your turn to do the same. Leave a comment listing your favorite games of the year. We also enjoyed a few of the new Angry Bird titles, however they didn’t make our list. Watch the video below for a more in-depth review of these games.