For most online ventures these days, one common thread that we continue to see is that having a website is a very good thing! I totally agree! At the beginning, you can probably get away with those "free", designed for you review sites, Blogger for your blogs or eBay as your portal to the world. At some point, though, you will out-grow this and the sooner you take the step into building your own website, the better off you will be for the future. I'm not here to talk about HOW to create a website (I will get to that later), but who should you invest in BEFORE you get started!
The first step is to buy a domain! This part is quite trivial to do, but finding the domain of your choice may be a little bit complicated! A few things to consider about choosing a domain name:
1) Search Engines Bots Usually Do Not Care What This Name Is (Directly)
2) From an SEO Standpoint, though, people are more likely to use your URL as your anchor-text link which brings SEO powers inherently to that domain name. For example:
Garden-Decor.com
SunshineHappiness.com
The first choice naturally optimizes for "Garden Decor", which is probably targeting the product at hand. "Sunshine Happiness" sounds nice, but no one is going to be searching for this phrase to find garden objects.
3) Hyphens are OK! Most people these days reach sites through links rather than directly typing in URLs. Because of this, hyphens usually are not that bad.
4) If possible, find a ".com" extension. ".net" is the next best choice. Newer extensions such as ".biz", ".info" and ".us" are still not as widely recognized.
4) Still, you want a domain name to remember! Not too long. Not too cryptic. If you saw the following three domains for bird feeders on search, which one are you more likely to choose?
Discount-Wholesale-Liquidator-Bird-Supplies-4-You.com
ABirdsNet.com
Plextor-Inc.com
There is still some psychology behind going to sites and personally, I would click on the middle one of those were my three options.
5) Finally, choose a domain that YOU like. Heck, you are going to have to live with it.
So where do you go to buy a domain? If you are just looking to buy a domain name, a cheap, reliable place to go is the king of domains, GoDaddy.com. A standard ".com" name only costs you $8.95/year. The management is simple. The customer service is great. The price is right.
Of course, most of us are looking to do more than just buy a domain. From this point, you have few options:
1) Park You Domain and Make Money
2) Sell Your Domain for a Profit
3) Use Your Domain to Make a Website
Parking and Selling domains is a rather new (and very lucrative!) venture. To find out how to do this, read my review of domain profitting.
To make your own website, you are going to need to find a "server" to host your domain. By adding hosting to your domain, you can usually reduce (and even eliminate!) the cost of the domain name. But choosing the RIGHT hosting company is CRITICAL to your success online. Read my review of choosing hosting companies.
The first step is to buy a domain! This part is quite trivial to do, but finding the domain of your choice may be a little bit complicated! A few things to consider about choosing a domain name:
1) Search Engines Bots Usually Do Not Care What This Name Is (Directly)
2) From an SEO Standpoint, though, people are more likely to use your URL as your anchor-text link which brings SEO powers inherently to that domain name. For example:
Garden-Decor.com
SunshineHappiness.com
The first choice naturally optimizes for "Garden Decor", which is probably targeting the product at hand. "Sunshine Happiness" sounds nice, but no one is going to be searching for this phrase to find garden objects.
3) Hyphens are OK! Most people these days reach sites through links rather than directly typing in URLs. Because of this, hyphens usually are not that bad.
4) If possible, find a ".com" extension. ".net" is the next best choice. Newer extensions such as ".biz", ".info" and ".us" are still not as widely recognized.
4) Still, you want a domain name to remember! Not too long. Not too cryptic. If you saw the following three domains for bird feeders on search, which one are you more likely to choose?
Discount-Wholesale-Liquidator-Bird-Supplies-4-You.com
ABirdsNet.com
Plextor-Inc.com
There is still some psychology behind going to sites and personally, I would click on the middle one of those were my three options.
5) Finally, choose a domain that YOU like. Heck, you are going to have to live with it.
So where do you go to buy a domain? If you are just looking to buy a domain name, a cheap, reliable place to go is the king of domains, GoDaddy.com. A standard ".com" name only costs you $8.95/year. The management is simple. The customer service is great. The price is right.
Of course, most of us are looking to do more than just buy a domain. From this point, you have few options:
1) Park You Domain and Make Money
2) Sell Your Domain for a Profit
3) Use Your Domain to Make a Website
Parking and Selling domains is a rather new (and very lucrative!) venture. To find out how to do this, read my review of domain profitting.
To make your own website, you are going to need to find a "server" to host your domain. By adding hosting to your domain, you can usually reduce (and even eliminate!) the cost of the domain name. But choosing the RIGHT hosting company is CRITICAL to your success online. Read my review of choosing hosting companies.
Ethics aside, imagine a little weather-resistant device that will ensure that no unknown vehicular activities are carried out under your nose.
Measuring 3.8 inches in length and 1.46 inches in width (about the size of a slim mobile phone), the magnetic GPS Tracking Key by LandAirSea can be mounted onto your car (even underneath) instantly to receive signals from the twenty-four Department of Defense GPS satellites orbiting the earth to give you precise information on where a person traveled, how fast they drove, where they stopped and for how long.
Well, this is not to say that you are supposed to use it to monitor the whereabouts of anyone in real-time. (Thank God!) The recorded data, accurate up to 2.5 metres, can be downloaded and displayed over web applications like Google Earth simply by plugging the USB device straight into your computer.
I say this little thing is good for long distance road travel. If you’re someone who needs to know exactly ALL the details of your next road trip. You never know when this information come in handy, eh?
The LandAirSea Tracking Key runs on two AAA batteries and can last for approximately two weeks based on driving activity of 2 hours per day and alkaline batteries. Using lithium batteries would buy you even more tracking life.
Measuring 3.8 inches in length and 1.46 inches in width (about the size of a slim mobile phone), the magnetic GPS Tracking Key by LandAirSea can be mounted onto your car (even underneath) instantly to receive signals from the twenty-four Department of Defense GPS satellites orbiting the earth to give you precise information on where a person traveled, how fast they drove, where they stopped and for how long.
Well, this is not to say that you are supposed to use it to monitor the whereabouts of anyone in real-time. (Thank God!) The recorded data, accurate up to 2.5 metres, can be downloaded and displayed over web applications like Google Earth simply by plugging the USB device straight into your computer.
I say this little thing is good for long distance road travel. If you’re someone who needs to know exactly ALL the details of your next road trip. You never know when this information come in handy, eh?
The LandAirSea Tracking Key runs on two AAA batteries and can last for approximately two weeks based on driving activity of 2 hours per day and alkaline batteries. Using lithium batteries would buy you even more tracking life.
Major advancements in technology like this one are what makes the future worth looking forward to. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany have invented an artificial cornea that may well be the key to restoring sight for our people with damaged corneas.
“Our artificial corneas are based on a commercially available polymer which absorbs no water and allows no cells to grow on it,” says IAP project manager Dr. Joachim Storsberg. “Once our partner Dr. Schmidt Intraokularlinsen GmbH has suitably shaped the polymers, we selectively coat the implants: We lay masks on them and apply a special protein to the edge of the cornea, which the cells of the natural cornea can latch onto. In this way, the cornea implant can firmly connect with the natural part of the cornea, while the center remains free of cells and therefore clear.” What is special about this protein is that it can survive the later thermal sterilization of the artificial cornea without being damaged, as it does not have the three-dimensional structure typical of large proteins. Such a structure would be destroyed during the sterilization process, leading to changes in the material’s properties. The optical front part of the implant is coated with a hydrophilic polymer, so that it is constantly moistened with tear fluid.
Researchers in Dr. Karin Kobuch’s working group at Regensburg University Hospital have already tested these corneas in the laboratory and found that their cells graft very well at the edge and cease growing where the coating stops. The optical center of the implant thus remains clear. The first implants have already been tested in rabbits’ eyes - with promising results. If further tests are successful, the technology will be tried on humans in 2008.”
“Our artificial corneas are based on a commercially available polymer which absorbs no water and allows no cells to grow on it,” says IAP project manager Dr. Joachim Storsberg. “Once our partner Dr. Schmidt Intraokularlinsen GmbH has suitably shaped the polymers, we selectively coat the implants: We lay masks on them and apply a special protein to the edge of the cornea, which the cells of the natural cornea can latch onto. In this way, the cornea implant can firmly connect with the natural part of the cornea, while the center remains free of cells and therefore clear.” What is special about this protein is that it can survive the later thermal sterilization of the artificial cornea without being damaged, as it does not have the three-dimensional structure typical of large proteins. Such a structure would be destroyed during the sterilization process, leading to changes in the material’s properties. The optical front part of the implant is coated with a hydrophilic polymer, so that it is constantly moistened with tear fluid.
Researchers in Dr. Karin Kobuch’s working group at Regensburg University Hospital have already tested these corneas in the laboratory and found that their cells graft very well at the edge and cease growing where the coating stops. The optical center of the implant thus remains clear. The first implants have already been tested in rabbits’ eyes - with promising results. If further tests are successful, the technology will be tried on humans in 2008.”
Once again, the Japanese have placed themselves right there at the forefront of cutting-edge technology – style included. Check out Nissan’s newest breakthrough concept, Pivo 2.
Here’s what I gathered from the recent interview with their designer and technical development engineer:
Here’s what I gathered from the recent interview with their designer and technical development engineer:
Fuel cell vehicle (Read: Eco-friendly!)
Rotating three-seater cabin: Achieved through electric “by-wire” technology, downsizing mechanical parts and completely eliminating others.
Frontal door: No more conventional engines remember?
In-Wheel Motor: Conventional axle and steering mechanisms eliminated, allowing the Metamo system to move the tires in any angle. (Read: No more embarrassing parking situations!)
Robotic Agent: Interactive interface that monitors and accumulates driver’s information and responds like a little boy would, promoting bonding between driver and the car. (Wow!)
Imagine the view on the road when you travel to work in the future, with fresh air might I add. Baby blue, pink, yellow, round electric cars bobbing along on the road! Oh, I’m really pretty tickled at my own imagination. And don’t get me wrong, I’m not being sarcastic at all.
More cute Pivo imageries below.
More cute Pivo imageries below.
RIM announced today its latest BlackBerry 9000, also known as the BlackBerry Bold. Due to its black color enclosed in a chrome border, it’s hard not to notice the similarity between it and the iPhone.
The BlackBerry Bold is not putting up a fight without being well-prepared. It has 3.5G HSDPA support, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, 480×320 resolution screen (twice the resolution of the most recent BlackBerry Curve), physical QWERTY keyboard, trackball located under the screen, full-featured desktop-style web browser, 2MP camera with video recording capabilities, built-in camera flash, and 5x digital zoom. Definitely a worthy competitor to the iphone.
Unfortunately for RIM, the BlackBerry Bold has yet to have an official launch date. The iPhone will be upgraded with new features very soon, and we don’t know how shiny the Bold would look by then.
The BlackBerry Bold is not putting up a fight without being well-prepared. It has 3.5G HSDPA support, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, 480×320 resolution screen (twice the resolution of the most recent BlackBerry Curve), physical QWERTY keyboard, trackball located under the screen, full-featured desktop-style web browser, 2MP camera with video recording capabilities, built-in camera flash, and 5x digital zoom. Definitely a worthy competitor to the iphone.
Unfortunately for RIM, the BlackBerry Bold has yet to have an official launch date. The iPhone will be upgraded with new features very soon, and we don’t know how shiny the Bold would look by then.
For those familiar with Mac, we all know how useful Exposé can be. With the click of a button, it elegantly displays all your open windows in one screen, making it really easy to find a particular window that you are looking for.
Long have Windows users yearned for something like this. There have been several offerings for Windows that tries to do the same, but neither has been particularly successful in emulating the original. And with the birth of Windows Vista, there is now Windows-TAB that does something similar, but still not as good.
But now, we have something new called DExposE2 Reloaded. This one seems really promising in becoming a worthy substitute for Exposé on Windows. It even features a handful of extras such as interactive previews, hot corners, and multi-monitor support. Why not give it a shot?
Long have Windows users yearned for something like this. There have been several offerings for Windows that tries to do the same, but neither has been particularly successful in emulating the original. And with the birth of Windows Vista, there is now Windows-TAB that does something similar, but still not as good.
But now, we have something new called DExposE2 Reloaded. This one seems really promising in becoming a worthy substitute for Exposé on Windows. It even features a handful of extras such as interactive previews, hot corners, and multi-monitor support. Why not give it a shot?
Keeping fit while having fun! If you own a Wii, here comes the motivation to do some exercises. Wii Fit is a new game that works with the new Wii Balance Board. The Wii Balance Board is a wireless pressure-sensing device, that is able to calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) and your center of mass.
The combination means the ability to provide you with about 40 fun activities to do at the comfort of your home!
Activities include:
The combination means the ability to provide you with about 40 fun activities to do at the comfort of your home!
Activities include:
Yoga Poses
Deep Breathing, Half-Moon, Warrior, Tree, Sun Salutation, Standing Knee, Palm Tree, Chair, Triangle, Downward-Facing Dog, King Of The Dance, Cobra, Bridge, Crocodile Twist, Shoulder Stand.
Muscle Workouts
Single Leg Extension, Press-Up and Side Stand, Torso and Waist Twists, Jackknife, Lunge, Rowing Squat, Single Leg twist, Sideways Leg Lift, Parallel Stretch, Tricep Extension, Arm and Leg Lift, Single Arm Stand, Press-Up Challenge, Jackknife Challenge, Stretch Challenge.
Aerobic
, Step aerobics, Hula Hoop, Rhythm boxing.
Balance games
Ski jumping, Ski and snowboard slaloms, Heading footballs, Table tilt, Tightrope tension, Balance Bubble, Penguin slide, Zazen.
Wii Fit was released in Japan on December 1, 2007, in Europe on April 25, 2008, and May 8, 2008 in Australia. The game is scheduled for release on May 19, 2008 in North America. Get notified by Amazon when Wii Fit is available.
Very soon, Cyalume sticks (aka glow sticks) will be history. MPK CO. has invented a new kind of light source called Litroenergy that acts somewhat like a glow stick, but lasts more than 12 years without ever needing a recharge. No electricity nor solar exposure required!
“The Litrospheres are not effected by heat or cold, and are 5,000-pound crush resistant. They can be injection molded or added to paint. The fill rate of Litroenergy micro particles in plastic injection molding material or paint is about 20%. The constant light gives off no U.V. rays, and can be designed to emit almost any color of light desired.”
“The Litrospheres are not effected by heat or cold, and are 5,000-pound crush resistant. They can be injection molded or added to paint. The fill rate of Litroenergy micro particles in plastic injection molding material or paint is about 20%. The constant light gives off no U.V. rays, and can be designed to emit almost any color of light desired.”
Safe, consistent, and eco-friendly. Litroenergy could possibly save billions of dollars for the world.
But smart netizens has dug out Litroenergy’s patent application, and it says the active ingredient used is Tritium. That is the tricky part - United States has a ban on the import of Tritium, probably due to its radioactive nature.
Do you think this product will ever materialize?
But smart netizens has dug out Litroenergy’s patent application, and it says the active ingredient used is Tritium. That is the tricky part - United States has a ban on the import of Tritium, probably due to its radioactive nature.
Do you think this product will ever materialize?