Showing posts with label a. Show all posts
Showing posts with label a. Show all posts

Friday, May 15, 2015

How to Lease a Car for Less

If youre in the market to lease a brand new car, youre probably dreading the day-long negotiations, the feeling of uncertainty and dealing with smooth-talking salespeople. For the last month, my husband and I have been experiencing all of those stressful scenarios. With my husbands current lease ending in five months, we wanted to shop for prices earlier rather than later. Last time, we made the mistake of waiting until the lease was over and then felt rushed into deciding on a new car. Since my husband knew which specific car model he wanted, our focus was entirely on price.

To make sure youre comfortable with the price you end up paying for your leased car, try these five steps that worked for us:

Timing. You often hear people talking about the best time of year to get a car. The truth is that you can get an amazing deal all throughout the year with a few tips. If youre currently in a lease situation, make sure you start looking for a car soon because you will have more insight into pricing and wont feel rushed. If you walk into the dealership a few days before the end of the month, the salespeople and manager will be more flexible in giving you a great deal to meet their monthly goals. For example, we were offered $369 plus tax at the beginning of the month but got $349 plus tax at the end of the month for the exact same car.

Shop around. Sounds like a given, right? Youd be surprised how many people walk into a dealership and get so wrapped around those dealers fingers that they end up walking out with a new car at the first place they go to. Try to follow the three dealership rule. Make sure you go to at least three dealerships and work out the pricing so that you can compare. Being a good consumer is all about researching and comparing prices. Why pay more if you dont have too?

Scan your offers. Make sure you walk into a dealership with a fully-charged phone. Almost all dealers will come to you with a price sheet which outlines the price and your monthly payments, including taxes, along with the model and make of car. When you get some alone time, take a picture of it or use a scanning app on your phone to capture it. This can be your biggest bargaining tool when you go to other dealerships because once they see the numbers they will try to beat it.

Walk out. If youre not happy with the deal the dealership offers you, dont waste your time. Just stand up and walk out. When the dealership knows that you are not happy with the deal, they will either try to get the manager for a final attempt or a, "Sorry, we couldnt help you" exchange. Once you make the decision to walk out, be prepared for multiple follow-ups by the dealership. Since they know you already want the car, its an easier sell to work with you on your pricing rather trying to convince Joe-Shmoe whos just shopping around with five different makes in mind. They will try to negotiate via phone and email to get you the best price possible.

Try smaller leasing companies. After taking steps one though four, if you still dont have the right price for the car of your dreams, give a smaller leasing company a try. Theyre not a dealership. They work for you. They will do the haggling for you, kind of like real estate agents for the automotive industry. You tell them the make and model and price you would like to get for the car and off they go. Once they have a good price, they will come back to you and you just have to say "yes" or "no!"

Following these tips will help ensure you take out a lease that you feel good about, and that youre driving a car that you love.

Susan Yoo-Lee is the editor of Savings.com personal finance blog and founder of Mommas in the House blog.

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Monday, April 6, 2015

Has Apple made a resolution to release a Retina and non Retina iPad mini 2

According to the last piece of info we gleaned from the ever-churning Apple rumour mill, the company hadnt decided if it will upgrade its popular iPad mini with a Retina display.


In what is admittedly a speculation-raising twist, reports on Friday suggested that Apple will give buyers of the 7.9-inch iPad mini 2 the option of snapping up both Retina and lower-res non-Retina equipped models.

In its report, Taiwans reputable Economic Daily News (via Electronista) has claimed a shortage of Retina display panels means a potential Q4 2013 release has been scrapped in favour of an early 2014 arrival.

A report from earlier this week suggested that it was the decision over screen resolution itself could cause delays, but either way, it doesnt seem like the iPad mini 2 will arrive much before Christmas.

Will it, wont it?


The long-running saga over whether Apple would launch a sequel with a higher resolution display has been going since the day the company initially announced the device in October 2012.

The relatively lo-res 1024 x 768 resolution was by far the most criticised feature of an otherwise widely-liked device, which sold by the truckload amid stiff competition from the likes of the Google Nexus 7.

Recent speculation has also suggested that the second-gen device would have a faster A6X processor, a touchscreen bezel or even no bezel, and, if a Retina display is on-board, a slightly thicker profile.

When will we see the new iPad mini 2 (or 2s), and what features will it/they include? Apple as yet to confirm even a single refresh to its smaller slate let alone a pair, so until we get official word were sure to hear everything from the plausible to the utterly implausible. Thats OK though - at least well be entertained.
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Saturday, April 4, 2015

LG confirms a trio of new L Series handsets ahead of MWC 2014

LG has showcased yet more of its MWC 2014-bound handsets with a trio of third-generation LG L-Series devices formally unveiled.


LG’s lower and mid-range handset line, the new LG L-Series smartphones will sit beneath the existing LG G2 flagship and the LG G Pro 2 phablet and compact LG G2 Mini that have already been confirmed for MWC 2014 unveilings.

Issuing an image of the new LG L Series III Android line, the Korean manufacturer has revealed that the trio of new devices will be known as the LG L40, LG L70 and the LG L90. All three phones will come pre-installed with Google’s latest Android 4.4 KitKat OS.

With the LG L90 lining up as the highest spec of the new trio, the upcoming handset will see a 4.7-inch display run a slightly disappointing 960 x 540 pixel resolution.

With a 1.2GHz quad-core processor running the show, the LG L90’s specs sheet is rounded off by 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage and an 8-megapixel rear-mounted camera. A 2540mAh Lithium-polymer battery keeps the handset running.

Dropping in screen size and specs, the LG L70 is set to be a 4.5-inch, 800 x 400p smartphone offering, with a 1.2GHz dual-core CPU. Running 1GB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage, the phone will boast its own 5-megapixel camera alongside a 2100mAh battery.

At the lower end of the spectrum, the LG L40 is set to be a true entry-level offering, with a 3.5-inch display running a 480 x 320 pixel resolution. Running a 1.2GHz dual-core CPU, the L40 adds 512MB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage to the mix alongside a 3-megapixel camera and a 1700mAh battery.

We will be on hand at MWC 2014 later this month to bring you all the latest on the full range of new LG handset.

Smartphones tips and tricks               Tablets tips and tricks               Smartphones reviews

Smartphones rooting                               Tablets reviews                 News from mobile world
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Friday, April 3, 2015

The smart toothbrush that nags you if you miss a spot while brushing

A £60 ($100) smart toothbrush that can tell you if you’ve missed a spot when you brush is set to go on sale this year.


The Kolibree toothbrush is filled with sensors, and uses an app to show people exactly where they have brushed and if they’ve missed a spot.

Its makers boast it will tell you whether you brushed long enough and reached the hard-to-reach but important parts of your teeth and gums.

It connects to your smartphone, and you’ll have an app that tracks the time, and the effectiveness of how you brush - the motion - and how far back in your mouth you get, Amy Forrester of Kolibree told MailOnline.

It’s like having a dentist inside your phone.

The device was unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, where the world’s electronic manufacturers are meeting this week to unveil their products for the year ahead.

The smart toothbrush sits on a small white charging stand so users dont run out of power, and uses Bluetooth to communicate with a phone.

The app - available on both Android and iOS - is able to show a dentist if the user has been brushing properly, and owners can even share their daily dental routine with friends.

Each brush is given a star rating out of five.

It’s a really interesting idea - I use a Sonicare brush at the moment, and I presume it’s working, but with this I’d know for sure, said Stuart Miles of gadget website PocketLint.

I could even show my dentist my data to see if I’m brushing correctly. The question is whether there’s a big enough market for it.

Mr Miles predicts 2014 could be the year of the connected gadget.

I think this year we are going to see more things around the home than ever before get connected online, he said.

The toothbrush is due to go on sale after April this year.

KOLIBREE BRUSH: HOW IT WORKS


Users load a special Kolibree app on their phone.

Sensors in the toothbrush can monitor exactly where in the mouth it is, and how much pressure is being used.

The toothbrush sends the data to the app after each brushing, and can tell them if they have missed a spot or not brushed for long enough.

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Nexus 5 leaks in a big way with photos Kitkat details and more

The Google Nexus 5 is on its way - possibly today - and weve been treated to a host of leaked images and Android 4.4 details to whet our appetites.


It looks as though several people around the world have got their hands on pre-release Nexus 5 handsets, with one enterprising self-starter taking to Reddit to do an AMA about it.

He described the handset for his eager audience: "[The handset] doesnt feel cheap like a Samsung device, feels great in the hand, its similar to holding a G2 but no volume controls [on the back]."

The price is right


He also claimed to be "99% certain" that the pricing would start at $349. Thats about £220 or AU$370.
And the question on everybodys lips: what does the Nexus 5 taste like? "Fresh plastic mixed with finger sweat."

As for KitKat, it sounds as though therell be some kind of cloud-based backup option and voice control.
Not long to wait until we find out weve been had: were expecting the Nexus 5 and Android 4.4 to launch later on today.
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Thursday, April 2, 2015

5 Android Apps to Turn Your Phone Into a Mobile Document Scanner

Your Android smartphone has all the photographic and processing power youll need to snap up those docs and get them into the cloud where they belong.

Here are a few mobile document scanning solutions we put through their paces.



1. CamScanner


CamScanner is a breeze to use, and you can test out the free version via the Market link above. Snap a photo of your document and pull up the cropping tool. The app will auto-detect the edges of the paper, but the slick drag-and-snap guides will help you fine tune the dimensions.

The processing enhancements are smart, and will compensate for low light and bad focus reasonably well. Though the app generates a cropped and toned image, it will also hang onto the original photo -- handy, in case you accidentally cropped your boss name off the letterhead.

The app has built-in integration with Google Docs, Box.net and Dropbox, but for the less fancy among you, its easy to pipe scanned docs straight into email.

The main issue we encountered was with PDF creation. The original image is stored as a JPEG, but the option to convert it to a PDF simply opened the phones default PDF viewer. The file is viewable, but we found no apparent way to save or share.

The paid version promises to make things easier in this department, but you should see how the free version performs on your device before purchasing.

Price: Free / $4.99 for full license and features

2. Document Scanner


This app scans directly to PDF with ease. The interface couldnt be cleaner, and while the cropping tools arent as snazzy as CamScanners, they get the job done.

There are image enhancement features, but in our testing, they werent as precise as CamScanners.

Document Scanner also lets you upload directly to Google Docs, DropBox, and Box.net. It even has Evernote integration -- a nice touch. Scan multiple pages in succession and email them to your hearts content.

The trial version will only last you seven days, but that should give you the time to decide if youre ready to throw down four bucks on the real deal.

Price: Free / $3.98 for full version

3. Droid Scan Pro PDF


Droid Scan works similarly to the aforementioned apps with one exception -- itll send you out to the system camera to grab the image. No big deal -- in reality, the other apps are simply wrapping the native camera with their interface.

Once youre done shooting, Droid Scan picks right back up where you left off and gets down to image processing quickly.

The app has smart edge detection, intuitive (if small) color and contrast controls, and a final menu that lets you select the docs you want to save down as either JPEGs or PDFs (though PDF functionality is only available in the paid version).

Price: Free / $4.99 for PDF functionality

4. Scan to PDF


Scan to PDF scores big on interface simplicity. Its easy to start scanning or adjust the settings right from the first screen.

The app jumps over to the system camera by default (though you can adjust this setting), and offers great image processing and enhancement, even in low light.

The cropping function is intuitive but can be awkward -- rather than dragging and snapping at the corners, youll have to pull the edges. Occasionally, your fingers will run out of screen or theyll accidentally drag the entire frame away from the edge. However, This quirk is far from a deal breaker, and the excellent gallery viewer more than makes up for it.

The free version of Scan to PDF does it all, but if you like it and use it regularly, you can show the devs a little love with a $.99 upgrade.

Price: Free / $.99 optional purchase for a job well done


5. PDF Scanner


For those looking for the dead-simple option, PDF Scanner is the way to go. This no-frills app cuts right to the quick.

Add pages by hitting scan. The camera viewfinder that appears has no buttons, so youll have to just tap the screen to focus and snap.

The camera makes use of your phones flash, which is helpful when scanning in low light. But be sure to frame and focus your image carefully because theres no crop or image enhancement here. Snap away until your document is complete, then email the PDF to its destination.

Regrettably, theres not trial version of this app, but if youre looking for a way to generate PDF scans quickly and easily, have no qualms dropping your coin here.

Price: $1.99
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How to expose a Twitter fraud Its all about the time of day and how often you receive Tweets

The timing of tweets is the major clue as to whether they are authentic or not, new research suggests.

Scientists determined the difference between human tweeters and automated Twitter accounts based solely on the timing of tweets.


The researchers, from Imperial College London, found that they could easily tell if humans were responsible for tweets, without even looking at their content, based on when the user’s tweet was posted.

Their technique also enabled them to distinguish between individuals and those accounts managed by groups of people.

Surprisingly, they found that there was not an obvious pattern for automated Twitter accounts, which were more random than humans in terms of the timing of tweets.

The technology behind the research could provide a new way to verify the authenticity of Twitter account users.

The study, published in the journal PloS One, is also providing fresh insights into how our brains operate when using social media tools.

Study author Doctor Aldo Faisal, said: We found that it does not matter whether you are a model in Sao Paulo or a student in Beijing; it seems that we all share something very similar in our tweeting pattern that dictates the timing of when we send out messages.

Why is this important to know? Well, it suggests that there is something fundamentally similar in the wiring of our brains that comes into play when we use twitter to communicate.

Since its creation in 2006, Twitter has accrued more than 200 million active users worldwide, producing 400 million tweets per day. 

The researchers analysed 160,000 tweets from around the world using computer programmes that they developed to spot complex behavioural patterns in Twitter users.

By analysing the timing interval between tweets the team were able to determine that personal accounts holders tweeted more evenly throughout the week and, on each day, more tweets were recorded during typical waking hours of 7am to midnight.

Managed accounts, run by people in corporations, were more active during the five working days and during working hours between 8am and 8pm.

However, tweets from automated accounts were less easy to predict using their method because they were random in terms of when they were sent out.

Dr Faisal added: I am a Twitter user and this project was born out of my curiosity in wanting to know who I’m actually tweeting with.

Sure, there are methods for verifying account holders, but are they fail-safe methods? Are we really speaking to a Member of Parliament on Twitter or a PR representative or a machine? We have now developed a method that can help us determine who it is we are actually tweeting with.
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Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Yahoo fancies a Qwiki

Yahoos mobile property guzzling continues as the company announces it has bought Qwiki, an app that takes photos, music and clips and turns them into short movies.


The deal is said to have gone down for something in the $40 million to $50 million realm (about £26m-£33m / AU$44m-$55m).

Its another move from Yahoo to move into the mobile space, squaring up to the likes of Google and Facebook. However, unlike it did with Summly, Yahoo has promised that it has no intention of killing off the Qwiki brand, instead looking at ways to integrate the technology with other services.
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Thursday, May 15, 2014

Now youll never get any sleep! Pillow doubles up as a CHARGER so your mobile and tablet never loses power

If you just cant be without your phone or tablet, even when youre in bed, a pair of Canadian inventors have created a pillow that doubles up as a charger.


The Power Pillow comes with two portable batteries, and each battery is fitted with two USB ports capable of charging a phone and tablet at the same time.

Its makers claim each battery will charge an iPhone six times before it runs out of power, but will need to be charged for 10 hours to reach full capacity again.

The Power Pillow is aimed at people who watch films or TV, check emails, or read on their tablets and Kindles in bed.

It is the brainchild of Canadian inventor Geoff Martin who came up with the idea when he was speaking to his brother on the phone in bed and his battery ran out.

He started working on the project with his partner Lisa Sutt and they created various designs and prototypes.

The pair has now launched a campaign on Kickstarter and is hoping to raise $30,000 (£18,200) to fund the device.

The pillow is being sold for $79 (£48) for a pillow and one battery.

People who donate $124 (£76) will be sent a cushion, two batteries, and two micro USB cables.

Lisa, 37, from Nova Scotia in Canada, said: ‘Geoff and I were relaxing in bed when his brother Frank called: While he was on the phone with his brother he blurted out "why not have a pillow that you can directly connect your phone to for charging."

‘I was sitting next to him on the bed working on my laptop and thought it was a good idea, and we immediately started working on the Power Pillow.

‘We have gone through dozens of design drawings, dozens of batteries and over a dozen prototypes.’

The charging system comes with two 12000mAh battery packs, one is kept in the pillow along with a charging USB cable.

The other pack is charged separately via a wall plug.

When one battery dies, it can be replaced with the fully-charged pack so the pillow is never without charge.

Alternatively, the second battery can be carried in a bag or pocket and used to charge a device when out of the house.

Each lithium polymer battery in the pillow is lined with ExStatic fabric made with carbon nanotubes to offer protection against the voltage. They are also cased in a battery pack.

‘In a nut shell, Power Pillow will make running to an outlet a thing of the past,‘ continued Sutt.

‘Even with one per cent battery left on your phone, by simply plugging into the Power Pillow right beside you, you will extend your call for literally hours. The same goes for watching movies and playing games.’
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Wednesday, April 23, 2014

BlackBerry A10 to be game focused and shaped like a Samsung Galaxy S4

Fresh reports are claiming that the forthcoming BlackBerry A10 will come with an unexpected focus on gaming, and that itll resemble a Samsung Galaxy S4.


Echoing what an industry insider informed us last month, multiple trusted sources of BGRs have claimed that the forthcoming BlackBerry A10 smartphone is going to be the most capable, powerful BlackBerry yet with a media-friendly 5-inch Super AMOLED display.

More interestingly, the BlackBerry A10 will come with "a huge focus on gaming."

Despite being geared towards "power and gaming," the A10 will only come with a dual-core processor. Apparently, BlackBerry has been unable to make the jump to a quad-core architecture - either due to concerns over battery life or because of difficulties optimising BlackBerry 10 for a quad-core setup.

Still, this dual-core CPU will reportedly be backed by a healthy 2GB of RAM, and the BlackBerry A10 will apparently adopt the same silicon as the iPhone, with separate CPU and GPU processors. In the iPhones case, this has certainly resulted in a string of highly capable gaming smartphones.

The report also has something to say about the BlackBerry A10s design. Itll apparently closely resemble the Samsung Galaxy S4, though if anything itll be larger. Its also described as being "more rounded and less aggressive-looking" than the BlackBerry Z10.

Its claimed that we can expect to see the BlackBerry A10 launching some time this autumn.
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Wednesday, February 12, 2014

PDF 2005 Honda FSC600D A SILVER WING OWNER’S MANUAL

2005 Honda FSC600D/A SILVER WING OWNER’S MANUAL. Congratulations on choosing your Honda scooter. Before riding, take time to get acquainted with your scooter and how it works. To protect your investment, we urge you to take responsibility for keeping your scooter well maintained. Scheduled service is a must, of course. But it’s just as important to observe the break-in guidelines, and perform all pre-ride and other periodic checks detailed in this manual. We also recommend that you read this owner’s manual before you ride. It’s full of facts, instructions, safety information, and helpful tips. To make it easy to use, the manual contains a detailed list of topics at the beginning of each section, and both an in-depth table of contents and an index at the back of the book. As you read this manual, you will find information that is preceded by a symbol. This information is intended to help you avoid damage to your Honda, other property, or the environment.


DOwnload: 2005 Honda FSC600D/A SILVER WING OWNER’S MANUAL
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