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Archives for Technology

Protecting your Home or Business from Flood Emergencies

30
Aug
posted by Mike               filed under Home Development, Shopping, Technology

FloodStop

Through recent natural events, floods have become such a prevalent topic for home owners whether they live in high-risk areas or not. While most disasters are tough to predict, bracing for such an event can go a long way into mitigating the damage of your property from water damage.

Flood sensors can help alert different water levels in your property for immediate attention. They can be easily placed in main rooms, basements, kitchen, bathrooms and laundry rooms where appliances using a water line reside.

Additionally, property owners are facing the common problem of water leakage due to faulty systems. Ask anyone who has experienced a water leakage problem in their home or business and they will tell you that the first warning signs are crucial. In the event that an appliance overflows, these flood sensors will alert residents to the source of the problem. Serving as a watchdog in high-risk areas in your property, determining the source of the problem can help you race against time to minimize risk in your property.

The Sonin Water Alarm detects leaks and sounds an alarm during the first signs of a leakage. Its low battery setting also alerts users to change the battery over time. Different settings are available to monitor different rooms throughout a house or business for potential leaks.

The FS1 1/4-NPT FloodStop System for water heaters can alert property owners of a leaky water heater. This device shuts down the water supply to the heater and sounds an alarm. This FloodStop system is powered by an AC adaptor or batteries and is compatible with home automation or auto dialer systems.  There are also FloodStop systems for dishwasher or toilets that connect to the water supply line. This system works as a valve and forces the closure of the line until problem is attended to and the system is reset. The FloodStop FS 3/8 C automatically shuts off water supply to the unit whether it is caused by a leak, broken part, overflow or a ruptured supply line. Property owners can consolidate their alarms through a relay output that can be connected to alarm panels throughout the home.

Additional things you can do to prepare for a possible flood is to make sure your rain gutters are free from debris or any buildup that accumulates over time.

A great tip for families who live in high-risk areas is to practice drills and decide on a meeting place (preferably higher ground) in the event of an emergency. Groups should be assigned so members can be accountable for other members and an emergency grab bag should be easy and accessible in the event that your property becomes uninhabitable.

Lastly, property owners should review their insurance policy in the event of a flood. Many insurance plans in America do not include floods as part of their coverage. There is no doubt that flood damage can be costly, can ruin your property and take years to repair. Becoming proactive in protecting your investment can greatly minimize the risk of catastrophic damage. For similar home security equipment and alarm systems, Home Security Store has everything you need to protect your home or business.

 

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University of Southern Mississippi Assigns Honors Program Galaxy Tablets

2
Aug
posted by Mike               filed under Education, Pop Culture, Technology

Students at the University of Southern Mississippi just took a giant leap forward when it comes to learning in the digital age. The University announced plans to provide Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 to students in the Honors program this fall.

A groundbreaking initiative for the Honors program, this project fits in line with some of the fundamental values of university leadership.  Along with active learning courses designed to put into practice theory and experience, Honors College students are part of smaller classes which emphasize more interaction with professors. By providing tablets and sharing the same operating system, students and educators can easily share video, audio and other content that can take education beyond the classroom.

The tablets are pre-loaded with Blackboard Mobile which contains course syllabi, references, schedules, contact information, class message boards, e-textbooks and more. These tablets provide the tools necessary to having a centralized platform where ideas can be shared and students can gather all the information needed to not only complete the course, but excel in it as well.

University President Dr. Martha D. Saunders took office in 2007 and stresses creating a climate for academic success. By launching this initiative in the Honors program, Southern Miss is leading the way in implementing a learning model using the latest technology to engage students to learn more efficiently.

Not only is Saunders a forward-thinking president, but she has experience to back it up with a 30-year career in higher education. She is a role model for students and is a campus leader for her use of social media with an active blog and Twitter (@MarthaSaunders).  Additionally, Saunders is considered a leader among women university presidents and is recognized for her expertise in public relations and branding and is an APR (Accredited Public Relations) professional.

The new millennium generation is seemingly born with social media and computing as an inherent trait. There’s no doubt that arming them with cloud computing through a versatile tablet will create and sustain a culture more perceptive to critical thinking and lifelong learning. This initiative is a great first step for this campus and is a wonderful model for other campuses to follow.

 

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Tech-Savvy Travel Tips for This Year’s Summer Travel Season

27
Jun
posted by Mike               filed under Software, Technology, Travel

If you’re like the millions of Americans who are planning to go on vacation this summer, you’ll want to have the latest available information before you go. Here are some helpful tech travel tips to consider before you leave that can prepare you to get the most fun out of your getaway or avoid the unexpected hiccups during your trip.

Helpful Smartphone Apps – Americans are successfully integrating smartphones with their everyday lives and the travel industry is no different. If you know where to look there are some great mobile applications available that can make life a little bit easier for travelers.

FlightTrack Pro for the iPhone provides everything a user needs to track the status of their flights in real-time. This app is the most comprehensive flight tracker and allows users to synchronize their itineraries with other apps. Our favorite feature of this app is the layout of over 5,000 airports and flight delay alerts.

When it comes to weather, knowing precisely how the weather is going to be in a particular region can mean the difference between a good time and a bummer trip. Weather.com is always a favorite, and WeatherBug for Android, iPhone and Blackberry users provide current conditions, radar as well as the forecast for your particular destination. What makes this app great is its full integration with mobile operating systems and its precise weather conditions for GPS locations.

Traveling overseas? Don’t leave the U.S. borders without the World Customs & Cultures app. This iPhone app provides a quick snapshot of laws such as legal drinking age or smoking laws of the country you are visiting.

Many destinations in the U.S. or abroad have their own app to clue in guests and travelers of events happening in the area. For example, Florida Beach Resort Sandestin, offers vacationers their own Apple iPhone and Android app, Explore Sandestin. This 2,400-acre white-sand beach resort offers multiple bay-front properties, four championship golf courses, 19 swimming pools, various water sports and engaging children’s activities that benefit from this app’s role as a guide to local events. In fact many resorts are active participants in the world of social media through photo-sharing and networking activities for the whole family.

Tablets – If you’re considering traveling for an extended period of time, ditch your phone for a tablet instead. This convenient hybrid between a smartphone and a laptop makes for the perfect travel companion for e-reading and computing.

Reviews, Blogs and Social Media – Travelers in 2011 have a great asset available to them when it comes to traveling: social media. It’s important that when you are researching hotels, restaurants or attractions you should collectively get an idea of what the majority of people are saying about that particular establishment and not just focus on individual reviews. Sites like Facebook, Twitter, Yelp, TripAdvisor and Concierge can help you get a better idea of your destination before your arrival.

AAA Fuel Cost Calculator – If you’re planning to drive to your destination, you can save a little money and get accurate gas costs through this great tool from the Auto Club.

Suspend Home Subscriptions – In the past we put a vacation hold on all incoming mail or suspended newspaper subscriptions while we were on vacation. But did you know that Internet retailers such as Netflix and Hulu Plus allow subscribers to temporarily suspend their services?

And lastly, according to Ian Hamilton, a technology reporter for The Orange County Register, the No. 1 tech travel tip is to download everything you can to your mobile devices before you leave the house.

Whether it’s traveling to the beach, the mountains or overseas, Hamilton emphasizes that travelers can save on their data plans and be armed with the latest information while on the road.  It’s also good to have a sure bet, because sometimes you can’t depend on Wi-Fi or cellular coverage. Hamilton said that savvy travelers should download apps, games, books, documents or maps at home before the trip, and that lots of mobile apps offer offline access to their content if you are stuck in a dead zone.


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Room 77 iPhone App

4
Apr
posted by Mr.404               filed under Software, Travel

The Room 77 iPhone app is a clever smartphone application that compiles an extensive database of international inn information, making life on the go a little easier.

Whether you’re planning in advance or very last-minute, this social media interface allows users to share their experiences at different accommodations in words and photos as well. Much more impressively, however, Room 77 has a plethora of floor plans for motels, guest houses and lodgings of all types. It sifts through 425,000 individual hotel rooms in 16 worldwide cities so far, expanding every day. A simple customization of your settings on the Room 77 iPhone app will recommend your quintessential quarters based on floor number, view, proximity to the elevator and more.

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I love when Sushi and technology meet

20
Dec
posted by Mr.404               filed under Hardware, Odd Stuff, Pop Culture

I would like to get the full set for Christmas, I think they would make a great stocking stuffer.

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PC Magazine’s Top 4 Undiscovered Shopping Sites of 2010

1
Dec
posted by Mr.404               filed under Lists, Shopping, Technology

PC Magazine may have listed their Top 100 Websites of 2010, but it’s the new and yet undiscovered websites that have peaked my interest. It only seems right to take a closer look at the very best undiscovered shopping portals for the 2010 Holiday season. While this list does not include every Undiscovered Shopping website, we have narrowed it down the Top 4 of 2010.


Listia offers a new way to get all the things you want, but can’t afford. The idea is to give away the things you no longer want (old cell phone, VHS tapes, books… anything), and in return get new things, such as DVDs, video games, clothes or anything else you can find on Listia. Instead of just a basic exchange, however, you are given credits to use for their online auction system. Listia is completely free to use and by using an auction system, the people that really want something can actually get it, unlike Craigslist where first come first serve takes precedence. The more credits you get, the more free stuff you can bid on and win. You get credits by listing auctions to give away your old stuff. In other words, I got around 200o credits for auctioning off my old gameboy games and used those credits towards a new XBOX game.

Listia has reportedly held over 1,000,000 auctions and helped recycle hundreds of thousands of used items that might have otherwise been left for trash. This Christmas, consider cleaning out your closest, putting your things on Listia and get some new stuff you really want for free. Visit Listia today.

Listia Homepage








The DealMap

Looking for deals in your area? TheDealMap is a handy little Google Maps mashup that lists local discounts on shopping, restaurants, food, hotels, and much more. You can subscribe by e-mail to receive regular deal updates or download the iPhone or Android apps for deals on the go. I highly recommend you take a look at this as it is very easy to use and seems to have a pulse on the best deals around town.


Ookong

If you really have your eye on that special item… but it happens to be too expensive, then try using Ookong to keep track of the price. It will track any item you want on Amazon, or other stores so that you can be notified when price drops. As it drops, you can get the discount you have been waiting for!


SeatGeek

Nervous you won’t get those great tickets you want for the big game or rockin’ concert? You should be. They sell out fast, and they can get ridiculously expensive at the same time. SeatGeek wants to help by using that amazing magic called “math” to forecast prices and availability and when you should buy to save the most moolah.



For a full list of the PC Magazine Top 100 Websites of 2010, view here.

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Go Green and Get a Solor Powered Meal

23
Nov
posted by Mr.404               filed under Health & Fitness, Odd Stuff, Technology

The Sunflower Lunchbox is a little solar-powered appliance that heats and cools food items according to your desires. It’s fairly small and has the power to make lunch time tasty ans green.

The flowery design of the box has collapsible petals used to trap solar energy, which is then stored in its internal battery. With a quick push of a button, you can heat up or cool down your cuisine within the individual boxes of the Sunflower Lunchbox. With this item, you’ll barely have to use the microwave or fridge again!

Not sure this will catch on, but you’ll be the talk of lunch hour when you whip this bad boy out.


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New Nissan Ellure

22
Nov
posted by Mr.404               filed under Odd Stuff, Technology

Some cars are just getting too small for their own good. You know it’s small when you can’t even open a door properly.

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TempurPedic Cloud as Compared to the AngelBeds Sky Supreme-ES

6
Oct
posted by Mike               filed under Health & Fitness, Shopping, Technology

Angel Beds has recently introduced their new Sky Supreme-ES bed, which is comparable to the TempurPedic Cloud. The Sky Supreme-ES bed gives you a softer, more cushioned pillow top feel to your memory foam mattress that has the same body contouring support of our other Angel foam beds. This bed, due to its style and comfort coupled with technological features that enhance your sleep experience, has quickly become one of Angel Beds most popular models.

The new Sky Supreme-ES mattress features a luxuriously soft pillow top like feel comparable to TempurPedic Cloud at an affordable price. Angel Beds utilize a soft stretch knit cover with the upgraded styling of a suede and damask border that is machine washable. The bed is anti-microbial and allergen resistant and features thick layers of the highest quality American made foam combined to bring you the ultimate in a softer pressure relieving comfort sleep system.

The Sky Supreme-ES mattress, as compared to the TempurPedic Cloud Supreme mattress, provides premium level comfort at an affordable price point. Save between $1000 to $1200 on TempurPedic Cloud comparable Angel Bed mattresses.

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NewAir comes out with the Most Compact Portable Air Conditioner Available

30
Apr
posted by Mike               filed under Shopping, Technology

There has been a recent increase in portable air conditioners in the past few years. NewAir’s newest offering, the AC-10000E, incorporates the latest cooling technology to provide an efficient, lightweight product that is the most compact portable air conditioner available to consumers. It’s perfect for adding spot or supplemental cooling to areas like small bedrooms, office cubicles and personal spaces. It’s considered the most compact lightweight model in its cooling range. It’s designed with stylish and contemporary high-tech and modern look that blends with any sort of décor you already have established in your home.

The NewAir AC-10000E comes equipped with rolling casters so that you can move the unit easily from room to room, effectively and efficiently cooling whatever areas you spend the most time in. It is ideal for use in areas with limited floor space. The unit itself has a cooling capacity range of 10,000 BTUs per hour, which is good enough to cool most small or average sized rooms. The unit’s built-in air purification system collects airborne particles and helps to eliminate odors. An easy-to-read digital LCD display allows for monitoring, and the programmable 12-hour timer allows users to save energy by setting the portable AC unit to only operate when necessary.

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