Phone Cleaning Hacks You Should Know

Owning a phone can entail a lot of responsibility, especially when it comes to maintaining its condition. Every phone, such as Alcatel A30 Fierce, needs proper maintenance. After all, though the inside of a phone may be an important thing to monitor, the outside of your phone counts just as much, especially in cleanliness.

To put it short, cleaning your phone is something that needs to be done on a regular basis. If ever you want to keep your phone as new as the day you first bought them, then do whatever it takes to keep them clean. In fact, there are numerous ways to do just that, with many of them consisting of unorthodox, yet effective methods. With that said, here are some phone cleaning hacks you can try for yourself:

Using Toothpaste to Clean your Phone Screen

You may have heard of this particular hack in numerous other areas. If you think that toothpaste is only good for giving your teeth that radiant shine you’ve always wanted, then you’re missing out on a lot of its other benefits, especially for your phone screen. Just rub some on it, let it dry, and you’ll have a screen that’s devoid of those pesky fingerprints.

Using Microfiber Cloths

These things usually come packed with the phone when you buy it; and these things are also usually discarded upon first glance. When it comes to keeping your phone clean and safe from any outside elements, these microfiber cloths may just save your phone’s life. Think of all the dirt and germs that stick to the cloths when you use them to wipe your phone off.

Using Rice or Silica Bags to Dry Your Phone

Everyone knows that when a phone gets wet, it can mean the end for the phone. Luckily, besides airing your phone out, there are other ways to get the moisture out of your gadget, namely some rice and silica bags.

For both of these, all you’ll need to do is cover your phone in a bunch of either of them and set them aside for at least 2-3 days, all while remembering to keep your device open and take out the battery for maximum effect. Once time has passed, put your charger back in and voila! Your phone is back to normal before you know it.

Another thing that’s noteworthy about this hack is the amount of cleanliness it can give to your phone, especially when using silica bags for the job. Silica bags have the ability to take out any odors or dirt out of your phone by absorbing them, which in turn leaves your phone looking as fresh as ever.

Key Takeaway

The world of hacks can definitely bring you a lot of perks and advantages. It’s the ingenuity these hacks have that enable one to think out of the box. In the case of keeping your phone clean, the aforementioned hacks can definitely guarantee a fresh and clean mobile device for your convenience and enjoyment.

Mobile Games You Should Play

Since the inception of the cell phone, there have been countless upgrades made to this handy, little device in general. Nowadays, there are millions of services catered to each and every smartphone such as MetroPCS Device Unlock, which caters to the unlocking of various mobile phones for foreign use; and if ever your phone needs repairing, there won’t be any need to look around at your local repair shop can definitely get the job done for a reasonable price. True enough, the various characteristics of these kinds of phones seem to fit seamlessly in any aspect of daily life, all brought on by pure evolution.

People use their smartphones for a variety of reasons, whether it be surfing the net, rearranging their contacts, or using any app there is. Smartphones are also seen as an instrument of modern business as emails have been distributed in a speedy fashion. Literally, with a smartphone, everything can be created and accessed with a tap of a button; but, if there are any other reasons why people use their smartphones, it’s the numerous games that are available for download and eventual play.

There are thousands of games for your smartphone, with each and every one of them offering a unique playing experience with every time spent playing. If you’re looking for the best game there is, here are some of the best ones you should definitely play:

Super Mario run

Super Mario Run

That’s right! Everyone’s favorite plumber has made it on to the small screen! A combination of the side-scrolling and platforming genres, playing this game is simple as all you’ll need to do is tap on the screen to make Mario jump and vault over ever obstacle in the game. Mario is always running in this game, so timing is the key to winning this game.

Also, while you’re at it, don’t forget to pick up the coins for exciting bonus items for your next run. Originally only available for IOS users, the game has also been made available for Android users worldwide.

Minecraft

Minecraft: Pocket Edition

This pixelated sandbox game has taken over the gaming world by storm since its inception in 2011. Its open-world gameplay has introduced a harmony between creativity and survival, enabling you to create numerous objects out of materials obtained from your surroundings, as well as fighting off monsters once the night hits. In a fun way, it’s survival of the fittest.

The goal of the game is simple: gather every useful item there is and create something out of it, may it be shelter and weapons. Then, once the night hits, do your best to survive the onslaught of numerous creatures ranging from zombies, creepers, and skeletons. Available in both IOS and Android systems.

Mobile Legends

Mobile Legends

Ever since the rise of popularity in MMORPG games, there have been numerous variants of the genre, especially in mobile terms. With this game, you’ll be able to step out of your computer for a change and enjoy MMORPG goodness in the comfort of your own bed. Various features are in the game such as character customization, skills upgrading, and much more. This game is also available on both Android and IOS systems.

Candy crush saga

Candy Crush Saga

This game is definitely for those of all ages, especially those who definitely love candy. Playing this puzzle game is definitely fun as all you’ll need to do is match each candy with the right kind and color and clear the stage with a limited number of moves. With this game, you’ll definitely get a sugar rush. Available in both Android and IOS systems.

Temple Run

Temple Run

This game is one of the first ones to make its way to the mobile market. A 3D endless-running game, the goal is to jump, vault, sidestep, and slide under each obstacle in your way, all while avoiding the creatures that chase you around the game. Available in both Android and IOS systems.

Key Takeaway

There is an endless array of mobile games for your choosing. Either one you play, enjoyment and satisfaction is sure to follow with every button tap.

What To Expect in SEO This 2017

With its rising popularity, numerous companies have been using search engine optimization on their sites. Competition is tight and one way to get ahead is to master the latest trends first. The following are changes and developments in SEO that will happen in 2017 that you want to take advantage of.

Accelerate Mobile Pages (AMP)

This is Google’s initiative to create a new standard for creating mobile versions of websites. This open-source protocol makes simple changes that allow websites to load 4 times faster with 8 times less data. Google favours pages that use this protocol and give them higher rankings in the search engine results pages (SERPs) and even marks them with a small lighting to indicate that it is an AMP.

Dense Content

The internet has been littered with multiple articles about the same topic with the same information but worded differently. People have grown sick of needing to dig through multiple pages just to get the information they look for. This is especially true for technical topics. However, there has been a rise of lengthy articles that talk about a topic comprehensively. This is becoming more and more attractive for readers because it is like a one-stop shop; all the information they need will be present in one page.

Voice Branding

When you do a query search on Google, there will be box on the very top of the SERP. This is called a feature snippet (also called rich answer or direct answer) and its purpose is to immediately show you the answers you are looking without clicking any link. This is usually taken from any site on the first page on an SERP.

But did you know that these snippets are also available for voice searches? This happens when make a query with voice command. Google understands that you are using voice command for a reason and it will answer back with a voice prompt.  This will say “According to [brand/website name] the answer to your question is…” The reference to the brand names in the voice prompt gives the companies a name-recall branding opportunities. When users recall the name of the brand that gave them useful answers, they will keep visiting. This especially useful when recent studies have shown that more user use google with voice command. Gaining a featured snippet on voice command should definitely be part of your 2017 SEO goals.

Machine Learning

During late 2015, Google RankBrain was revealed; a machine learning algorithm. This is an extension of Google Hummingbird. In layman’s terms, this is how their relationship works:

Hummingbird is what finds out and gives what users want when entering long keywords in Google. RankBrain is what studies the long keywords that are too complicated for even Hummingbird to understand. This was made with the intention for RankBrain to update Hummingbird when it further understands how humans word their keywords when looking for a specific answer. Basically, RankBrain is a mind reader.

Although, it’s been a while since there has been an update. Companies practicing SEO can expect that Google will begin releasing multiple updates beginning this year which will open much more possibilities of ranking.

Personal Branding

Personal branding, for a company, means establishing identity standards which include a personality and an image which dictate how the company is marketed. Psychologically, this will engage clients and customers to interact with a company and its website because of how personal it feels. When this happens there will be more website traffic and securement of guest posting opportunities.

How true is it that people will interact more with a company that has personal branding? You can look at social media. Facebook has already adapted to this reality by revising their algorithms to show more posts from personal accounts over company pages.

SEO is a marketing method that evolves as people and technology evolve. Because of this, it is always important to observe and adapt to the evolution. This year, these are the changes but next year there will be more. Be vigilant and always willing to learn new trends to be successful in SEO no matter how much it evolves.

Which Social Media Platform is Right for Your Small Business?

It seems like virtually every business is on social media and they are right to do so. Millions of people access social media everyday through computers, phones, and tablets. Which is exactly why businesses are taking advantage of these free communication tools.  There are lots of social media platforms to choose from but what some business owners don’t realize is that they don’t have to be on all of them. Here’s some info to help you find which platform is right for you.

Facebook is by far the platform with the most users. Business owners use it to either increase their web presence or for direct advertising. People can link to their product pages or buy ad space directly from Facebook. However businesses tend to favor increasing their audience than making ads. Active users who frequently like and share content end up being more profitable in the end. Marketing was usually managed by third party marketing firms but people are starting to hire social media managers internally. Internal management tends to result in a more personable image since the person writing posts lives in the area and knows the demographic better.

For business owners Twitter and Facebook generally achieve similar goals: increasing presence and advertising. Sharing content and posting original Tweets is the best way to gain a following, but remember to get creative with your Tweets because you are limited to 140 characters. Twitter is a great tool to direct contact, you can Tweet directly at a business or person and usually get a response. You can even Tweet at your favorite celebrity and get a response. These two platforms are also used as a form of public relations since they are a direct connection to customers. Businesses can refute negative feedback with public or personal responses.

Many businesses are utilizing Google Plus because of its growing user base and access to other tools, making it a quick and effective for communication. The platform is accessed through Gmail which creates many different ways to share ideas between different people. A favorite from Google Plus is the hangout platforms that allow people to instantly message each other. Plus it includes a calendar that is used to schedule events and reminders, which can be used to create projects that are then assigned to specific people. On the employer side the main benefit is streamlining company communication.

Another social media platform that most businesses are using, or at the very least their Human Resources department is using, is LinkedIn. The platform connects businesses with people working in that field. Employees and employers can establish a connection and communicate with each other about potential job opportunities. LinkedIn is used alongside a strong email marketing campaign to recruit new hires when needed. It is a simple and effective tool to vet new hires because LinkedIn profiles are basically online resumes. LinkedIn is not as popular as Facebook so you won’t be able to find nearly as many people but it is increasing in popularity and this particular social media platform looks like it is here to stay.

Going Green Around the Office

 

There’s a stereotype out there that big business is on a rampage to destroy the environment. Some would argue that this perspective is justified regardless the relationship between industry and the environment has been tenuous at times. The BP oil spill of 2012 is still fresh in the memory of many, particularly in the gulf region. The publishing industry is constantly on the hook for their business practices in regards to conservation, and chemical companies like DuPont and Dow have always been environmentally controversial. But many business offices across America are trying to reverse that thinking. There are many ways that an office environment can take steps to keep from harming the global environment. These measures don’t interfere with profit margins, indeed, in some ways they may even increase them. Here are some useful tips about how to “green” your office.

Energy in the Office

One of the most effective things you can do is to make sure all electronic equipment and lights are turned off at the end of the day, and don’t forget replace lights with energy efficient light bulbs. There may be some devices that needs to be powered overnight but certainly not all electronics. Encourage employees to turn off their computers while they’re checking out for the day also. By turning off just one 75 watt desktop every night, you can spare the world 750 pounds of carbon emissions every year. It will also go a long way to reducing your power bill.

Re: Recycling

Encourage a recycling program in your office. Just have two bins instead of one in the corner of your office, and make sure employees throw any and all used paper products in the recycling bin as opposed to the trash bin. You can even recycle your office furniture. There are companies out there that will come to you to pick up your old desks and chairs and will subsequently recycle them. While you are recycling your old materials, make sure to strictly use recycled material, when you have the option. Office Max and Staples sell 100% post-consumer recycled paper. It’s just as good as new paper and cuts down on deforestation.

The Road Less Travelled

In today’s tech crazy world, instant communication is easier than it has ever been. With the advent of instant messaging and networks like Skype, it is possible to communicate with someone halfway around the world with just a click of a button. Many companies are using these instant communication technologies to save on travel expenses, and it’s proved to be effective. But the great added perk is the environmental benefits that come with this minimized business travel. So next time you are planning a business trip, take a moment to consider if you really need to actually travel to conduct your business or if you can just use the bevy of communication tools available to you.

These are only a few creative ways to become more environmentally friendly while you conduct your daily business. Keep an eye out for tax breaks that apply to your company if you start green initiatives, these tips could save you money.

5 Reasons to Use Social Media for Business Marketing

I know that using social media to market your brand can feel weary. Although confusing and overwhelming at times, social media can be a very powerful tool for your business. If you are on the fence about bringing your business to social media, these 5 benefits might just convince you to join.

Cost

In the past, marketing was a huge part of a business’s budget. Marketing is still a huge part of business, but the form has shifted. Social media is a great way to market your business, and it’s free! It levels the playing field between businesses and opens everyone up to a large audience. Social media allows you to invest more time than money into your marketing campaign.

Customer Relationship

Social media allows you to create relationships with customers by directly interacting with them. Customers will be encouraged to respond to posts, and keeping the conversation about your business going through different social media feeds will keep them aware of it. Not only do your customers most likely use social media actively every day, they also take it with them everywhere via smartphone. In addition to this, customers can share information from your page onto their page. This is the new form of recommendations, customers share what businesses they like with their friends on social media, which encourages their friends to give your business a try as well.

Keep Up on Competitors

Using social media for your business will allow you browse through other competitors pages. You can keep up on new trends your competitors may be implementing in their business. You can also see what customers are saying to them, products, and other information that might not be readily available to you by visiting their store or website. Especially locally, this kind of information allows you to be even more competitive with pricing and quality because you can directly address the concerns your competitor’s customers have.

Email Marketing

You no longer need to wait for customers to sign up for an email list in order for you to share newsletters, discounts, or other information with them. You can now share this information with your whole audience, as well as new customers who might be browsing the page for information. Email doesn’t have to go out the window all the way you can use social media and attract customers with a “Join Mailing List” button making it even easier for them to join and stay in the know.

Build your Brand

Social media allows you to really grow and confirm your brand. Businesses now have voices, giving you the ability to accurately build the image you want for your company. Respond to local events, news, and reviews in a tactful, timely manner. Your image and brand can really show itself on social media, and give customers an idea of the experience they will have using your business. Social media can help give you that boost to make your brand memorable to customers.

If you want a cheap, fast, accessible way to reach your business’s audience and customer base turn to social media. Just remember to keep your pages positive and respond to customers tactfully, since these profiles become the face of your business. Good luck and have fun!

Using Social Media for your Business

Facebook has over 1 billion users and Twitter has over 300 million. With so many users it’s impossible to ignore social media and any business should strive to utilize social media as effectively as possible. Here are some ideas to keep in mind.

 Set goals.

Start with the purpose of the company and develop social media goals from there. Do you want to engage customers more? Do you want to expand online sales?  Do you want to develop or correct the image of your company? Having goals gives your social media activity a sense of direction.

Research

First find what works for businesses and what doesn’t. You don’t have to be on every platform, some companies don’t belong on Tumblr or Pinterest just refer to your goals and do some research about each one. Keep up on what each platform is doing like the addition of reactions on Facebook or Microsoft acquiring LinkedIn. Research also involves doing so keep track of which posts generate traffic or user interaction.

Be patient.

Some businesses have unrealistic expectations about their social media strategies, gaining followers does not happen overnight and it takes plenty of time. It’s important to be patient when you want to increase traffic or web presence. Creating content also takes time, there should be a purpose behind what you are posting so take your time and think about what kind of message you are projecting.

Be active.                                                             

Successful social media strategies are constantly active. Whether you are retweeting, uploading pictures, or updating your profile stick to your goals and create schedule. Social media trends are constantly changing and some only last a few days, not everything you post has to be evergreen. Take some time each day to work on your account and remember to update across all platforms not just your most popular one.

Stand by your statements.

Social media is used to communicate your views. If your business takes a stand on a divisive issue stand by what you say, that doesn’t mean replying to every single negative comment but you shouldn’t back track either. It’s also okay if you decide to stay away from this type of attention. Standing by your statements also means owning up to mistakes, accidents happen and owning up to a bad repost or tweet is better than pretending like it didn’t happen. Apologize and move on.

Be creative.

With so many accounts for business it’s easy to get lost among them, being creative with your posts makes you stand out. You can be funny, being professional doesn’t mean devoid of humor. Even newspapers make puns and publish a funny story now and then. No one can tell you how to be creative so just have fun and see what works.

The Cost of Clean Water

Large scale desalination plants are found in Saudi Arabia and Israel because of their dry climates, up until now desalination has never been a priority for the United States. Unfortunately California is now facing the same challenges as these Middle Eastern countries. Historically California would import water whenever there was a need for it, a majority of the water coming into San Diego is from the Colorado River. With water resources becoming scarce California is looking for new ways to provide water.

San Diego County is home to the Carlsbad Desalination Plant. It is the largest desalination facility in North and South America. It can produce up to 54 million gallons of clean drinkable water a day. This is good news for California that has been in a drought since 2013 but for San Diego 540 million gallons of water a day is not nearly enough to supply everyone.

In order to desalinate water it most go through a process known as reverse osmosis. Approximately half the water taken into the plant becomes fresh water while the other half contains all the leftover salt. The extra salty water is then diluted and recycled back into the ocean. Reverse osmosis requires large amounts of pressure in order to convert salt water into clean water but that pressure requires a significant amount of energy.

The Carlsbad Desalination Plant is now the single largest user of energy in all of San Diego County. They have spent over a billion dollars in order for the plant to run at maximum efficiency. Maintaining the desalinating process requires a large enough power source, the cost is one of the reasons desalination is not widely utilized in the United States. Energy is approximately 55 percent of a plants cost of maintenance. With a growing trend of businesses going green many desalination plants are looking towards alternate energy sources. Renewable energies are becoming less expensive and provide tax breaks for businesses in the U.S. Unfortunately solar and wind energy alone cannot generate enough power to completely replace current sources. Desalination plants have installed energy recovery devices that mitigates energy loss through data centers.

In spite of these efforts water from the plants still costs more to produce than it does importing fresh water. Desalination is promising but energy is still too costly to rely on desalination plants.

Build a Flying Saucer

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This project started based on my desire to create my own original remote control airplane from drawing, to cutting the parts on a cnc machine that I built from a kit, assembling the parts, and then flying the finished product.  There were so many normal type airplanes out there, that I decided that I would do something different.  I decided on a saucer shaped plane.  The project was such a great challenge from the beginning.  First, I had to learn to use a CAD program.  I started with a program from Google called SketchUp.  It was a painful experience, but it’s a great program to learn CAD drawing on, and, it’s free.  After some time, I had a drawing created that included over 50 pieces.  The next step was to build the router based cnc machine called a PhlatPrinter.  Not as painful as CAD, but still very challenging.  The group that created the PhlatPrinter also included the script that would create the gcode file that the cnc machine need to actually cut the parts. Continue reading “Build a Flying Saucer”