These apps have added to the scope of communication, location tracking, learning, gaming and entertainment thereby causing a sudden boost in the mobile application development industry. They are fast gaining significance for companies who wish to promote their products and services to smartphone users.

Trend wise, it is the mobile game applications that are most popular in the mobile app stores. We expect more game applications will be created by mobile application development companies to engage users while teaching them more about business activity.

Most Popular Mobile Apps in 2013
We expect the following top applications to lead others in terms of popularity in 2013.

Facebook:
The most popular application of 2012, Facebook can be used to market a company’s products and services while keeping connected to the target market. Customized Facebook applications allow companies to launch specials, showcase products and organize polls and giveaways for all mobile users on the go. The use of a company logo and corporate colors add a corporate look and style to the mobile app.

Mobile Tracker:
Companies such as movers, cab companies and car sales can create an application similar to the Mobile Tracker to allow users to track their friends anywhere in the world. All you have to do is enter their phone number, and using Google Maps the application will point the location of your friend.

Evernote:
All entrepreneurs who use smartphones or tablets and want to organize their day will use Evernote (there are free and subscription versions). It allows them to keep track of meetings, seminars and conferences. It also lets sales people save notes on client meetings and share the same while on the go. Most startups like the ease and convenience of using this app as it is more cost effective than commuting.

EchoSign for iOS by Adobe
This mobile app allows users to use digital signatures instead of signing hard copies and scanning the same. This helps traveling sales reps to get all contracts signed quickly. Users are able to send, sign and manage all sales documents from within the application. No need to carry paper-based contracts, now you can send the contract using EchoSign. Mobile app development companies can create e-signatures to promote your business.

Meeting Mapper
Meeting Mapper documents all the minutes of the meeting for easy sharing with colleagues and peers. You can select the stance and roles of all participants, and the information about the meeting once collected can be exported as a PDF and emailed. Or upload the same to your CRM application, SharePoint or save it on your PC.

Busy people also like to use Workshare and Basecamp. While companies involved with social media marketing can’t do without Tweetr, Tweetbot for Twitter, Google+, Hootsuite and Roost by Vertical Response. Mobile application development companies can create all types of apps to suit your business needs.

About the Author – This piece was created by Roland Hartford, a freelancer based in the great city of Richmond, Virginia who often contributes articles on tech subjects.

The post Likely Top 5 Mobile Apps in 2013 appeared first on Computer Articles.

Historical Impact

Though the Game Gear was unable to beat Game Boy in terms of sales, it did mark a few firsts for Sega and for gaming in general.

This was one of the first handheld systems with a color screen. Game Boy just had a tiny black and green screen with poor contrast that was often difficult to see. Game Gear, on the other hand, had a full-color, backlit screen that was incredibly easy to see.

This was also one of Sega’s first romps with accessories. As with their Master System (which was soon completed with the 32X, Sega CD system, and other accessories), the Game Gear had a lot of accessories that other systems weren’t offering. These included the Super Wide Gear magnified the screen, a TV tuner, and Gear to Gear cabling for two-player action.

The last accessory, and probably the most useful one, was the Master Gear. This was an adapter that allowed players to play Master System cartridges on the Game Gear. This also almost doubled the number of available games from 250 to 469.

Strengths

The backlit color screen was a novelty, and one of the Game Gear’s main strengths. The 3.2-inch screen was larger than the Game Boy, and the color definitely beat the four shades of gray that the Game Boy was capable of displaying.

This was one of the first systems that was ergonomically designed for real use. The Game Boy was very narrow, but the Game Gear was wide enough so that you could easily use both hands. Nintendo would later use a similar design with their Game Boy Advance.

Sound was also much better. This offered full stereo sound with more than the simple “beeps” and “boops” that the Game Boy supported.

The last strength was that most games, like the early Sonic franchise, were made to be picked up and played without any complicated controls. You could easily get into the game without any instructions.

Weaknesses

The biggest weakness that kept people from buying it was the battery power. Aside from being the first time that Sega introduced a lot of accessories for a system, this was their first system where Sega used technology that was too advanced for the time, which led to technical problems. For example, the Sega CD had a very hard time working with CDs and the Dreamcast was rife with technical problems and was very loud loading.

The Sega Game Gear required six AA batteries and only lasted two hours, which was nothing compared to the Game Boy’s four AA batteries and six to ten hours of battery life.

Inexpensive capacitors were used in the sound system, which led them to fail after extensive playing.

The screen refresh rate was rather low. This caused some fast-paced games to stall, and it also caused the resolution to significantly drop if you moved too quickly.

Conclusion

While technically superior in almost every way, the Game Gear failed to evenly compete with the Game Boy due to some major issues, with the two biggest being price and battery life. Though this system wasn’t as popular at the time, it has become a major piece for collectors due to its expansive library and place in gaming history.

About the author – James Reynolds writes on various tech issues, including gaming, cell phones, cell phone accessories, computer software and hardware and other assorted topics. Those interested in learning about keyboards should view the kensington bluetooth keyboards available at kensington.com.

The post Retro Review – Sega Game Gear appeared first on Computer Articles.

1 – The feel, shape and grip of the device

This should be the most obvious factor when you are choosing a hand held device, specifically because it is a “Hand held device,” which indicates that it is going to spend a lot of time in your hand.

Why should the feel of the device affect how easy the tablet is to hold? A tablet may be heavy, slippery and wide, yet feel fine when you hold it. The trouble is that when you hold it for an hour your wrists, hands and fingers hurt. When you hold it for two hours every day then by Sunday your wrists, hands and fingers are aching.

The feel of the device relates to its size. The thicker a device is then the harder it is to hold for long periods. However, you should be aware that the size of your hand plays a part in this. Take your hand and rest the tip of your index finger on the tip of your thumb and you will make an oval shape. The distance between your two fingers (width, not length) is the ideal size for you to hold your tablet. So obviously a large mans hands is going to be able to comfortably hold a paving slab sized tablet, where a tiny 3 foot tall woman will not.

A tablet device with a good grip will mean that you will not have to grip the tablet as tightly, which is going to save your fingers and wrists from getting tired too quickly.

2 – The weight of the device

The weight of the device plays a big part when it comes to tablet use. This is because a tablet is meant to be held on one had for long periods of time whilst the other hand operates the device. This means that not only does a person have to hold the device in one hand, but also has to resist the force of their other hand pushing upon it. When using a Smartphone, only one hand is used and even then, the device is operated by the thumb of the same hand. Portable game consoles are controlled using two hands holding the device (except the Nintendo DS). A tablet device however is a one handed device unless a person is reading; therefore, it cannot be too heavy. When you are testing a tablet device, ask yourself if you would feel uncomfortable holding its weight for an hour.

3 – The processing power of the device

This is important for usability and for the entertainment value of the tablet. Many people use their tablet device for console games, and the really good ones use up a lot of CPU power. Some tablet devices do not have the RAM capabilities, the graphics capabilities and the CPU processing power to handle these games. The processing power affects your usability by the fact that having your applications stutter and freeze can become very annoying. Ideally, if you set a program a task, you want it completed quickly and without any problems. A device with little processing power may not be able to hold true to that ideal.

4 – The size of the screen

You need to ask yourself if the size of the screen really matters. You are going to pay more for a 10 or 12-inch screen, so you really need to ask yourself if you need a bigger screen. Is a big screen going to facilitate what you plan to use your tablet device for? On the flip side, is a 7-inch screen going to hinder your use of the device? You must remember that a larger screened device is going to make your tablet device harder to carry around. You may struggle to put a 7-inch device into your coat pocket, so imagine the difficulty you are going to have with a 12-inch wide screen tablet device.

5 – The position of the home screens tools and applications

If the apps and tools are in the middle of the devices home screen then it is easier to operate with one hand. This may not seem like such a big deal, but if you are planning to use your tablet a lot then this is going to matter to you.

6 – The battery life of the tablet

Ideally, you want to get at least eight hours out of your tablet. The battery is a major contributor to the size and weight of your device. This means that manufacturers have to make a compromise. They lower the battery life in order to make a smaller device, or they install a more sophisticated battery and increase the price of your tablet. If you come across a thin and lightweight device that is economically priced then there is a high probability that battery life and power has been sacrificed.

7 – The speed at which the device boots up or re-awakens

The boot time becomes annoying if it takes a long time. Ideally, you do not want to have to switch on your device and then leave it for a while whilst you find something else to do. The re-awaken speed when coming out of standby or sleep mode is also important. The benefit of a mobile device comes through being able to use it quickly. You should be able to whip out and use your tablet device in mere seconds so that you can access your apps and any relevant information whilst you are still in the real-world moment. If the moment is allowed to pass because your tablet is taking too long to wake up then you may as well carry your laptop around with you.

About the author – My name is Sonia Jackson. I represent the UK web-site http://www.royal-essays.com. We’ll help you to solve all problems with writing different essays and research papers according to the rules in the UK.

The post 7 Useful Tips How for Choosing the Tablet PC appeared first on Computer Articles.

1 – Open new links in brand new tabs on Windows Internet Explorer

If your mouse has three buttons – then use the middle one to open new tabs. Hover the mouse pointer over the link and press the mouse wheel to open up new tabs.  All you need to do is place the mouse pointer over a link and then press down on the middle mouse button (the mouse wheel).

The middle mouse button is able to roll forward or back, however, it is also able to be pressed down and clicked just like a button.  If you do this on a link then it will open up that link in a new tab.  This is a lot quicker than pressing right-click and clicking on “open in a new tab.”  It is an easier way to research certain items by simply clicking in order to open new tabs.

If you are feeling the super lazy you can hold CTRL and press Tab to scroll through your tabbed windows – or you can even hold Alt and press Tab to see a screen of windows – which shows all of the items you have active at the moment, including your tabbed windows.

2 – You may find hidden menus within context menus on Windows

Some article and icon buttons on Microsoft Windows may be right-clicked on to reveal a context menu. Some icons you are able to hold shift upon in order to reveal an even bigger listed menu.  You should try it on your hard drive file.  This is a very nice little trick to use if you are a hardcore windows user.

3 – You are able to select columns of text with some Windows applications

On some applications you are able to select text on a vertical level as opposed to on a horizontal level.  You do this by holding the ALT key and then dragging the mouse across the text you would like to highlight.  This may be done on some versions of Microsoft word and many advanced editors that word have created.  You will even find that you can use this technique on the fantastic code writing software known as Notepad++.

4 – You are able to drag and drop items into some menus

When you right click on the bottom taskbar/icon bar, a contextual menu pops up. In many cases whilst this menu is open you are able to grab certain icons and add them in there. For example if you right clicking the folder icon on in the bottom left of the taskbar (next to the start menu), you will see a list of your most recent file accesses.

Click and hold onto an icon on your desktop and drag it into the open menu to pin it to the folder menu. Every time you right-click the folder you will see two lists. One list is your usage and the other is the list you created. You can use this instead of having to search through the directories on your computer to find files.

5 – Sometimes you are able to select chunks of text.

If you would like to select a big chunk of text, you can hold the CTRL button and highlight the section of text whilst avoiding the other end selected texts pieces.  This is a nice alternative to having to highlight in a horizontal direction only, because the horizontal selection process is all-inclusive and does not allow you to omit certain parts of text.

About the author – My name is Sonia Jackson. I represent the web-site www.writing-research-papers.org. We’ll help you to solve all problems with writing different essays and research papers in a short time; we’ll answer all your questions and give you useful advice.

The post 5 Cool Mouse Operations You Can Use In Windows appeared first on Computer Articles.

Personal and Work Mode

Perhaps one of the best new features is the ability to create two profiles. You can create a profile for work, and another profile for business. This is in response to the widespread fear of smartphones being hacked as the technology becomes more common. Hackers often go after popular devices, and smartphones are being attacked more frequently.

The ability to make two profiles is incredibly powerful. This is convenient because you can easily place work apps and content on the business profile, and the personal profile can include fun apps and contact information for your friends. This is also safer because the work profile is sandboxed.

This means that the work profile is stored in a separate compartment of the smartphone’s memory. This allows IT administrators to remotely wipe the information if necessary, and it keeps hackers from obtaining all of the information on your smartphone.

Flow

BB10 has also introduced the Flow feature. If you are used to the iPhone, then you will love Flow. The problem with the iOS is that it’s difficult to switch from one app to the next without closing the app, going to the start screen and then selecting another app. This takes time, and it requires a lot of tapping that can becoming annoying.

Flow allows you to open a sidebar whenever you are using an app. You can easily select a new app from this sidebar to instantly launch it. This saves time, and many testers have found it convenient.

Enhanced Lock Screen

The lock screen has also been enhanced to make it easier for you to see content without unlocking the phone. Most smartphones force you to unlock the phone so that you can check your calendar or read content. This can get annoying if you are waiting for a new message or update because you will have to periodically unlock your phone.

BB10 allows you to see certain content from the lock screen without having to unlock the phone. For example, you can easily check your Twitter updates. The lock screen will also display your schedule from the calendar app so that you can easily see what you need to do that day.

Problems

While BlackBerry has many competitive features, there are some things they need to do if they really want to compete with the other smartphone manufacturers. BlackBerry seems out of touch with the consumer market. Many of their features will only be interesting to business users, and this market is currently loyal to Apple and Android.

Another problem is that many of these new features can be emulated with apps from the leading smartphone manufacturers. This means that you can enjoy many of these benefits with a few premium apps from the Apple App Store or Google Play. If BlackBerry wants to succeed, then they need to connect with the consumer market. BlackBerry also needs to give corporate users more beneficial features that address proficiency so that they can get more work done.

About the Author – This piece was contributed by Ty Witherspoon who writes for 4g lte.  He an avid tech writer and freelancer based in the great city of Chicago.

The post New Blackberry 10 OS appeared first on Computer Articles.

If you’re already signed up to a plan with either orange or T-Mobile, you’ll still need to sign a new contract and basically join a new service if you wish to take advantage of EE’s 4G network. That being said, if you’re happy with your current plan, that won’t disappear and everything that you enjoy about your existing contract will stay the same, including your number, mobile service and plan details (and, perhaps more importantly for some, your Orange Wednesdays benefits). If you do choose to upgrade to 4G, discounts are available with the possibility of being able to shift over with no penalty.

EE has stated that ‘eligible’ Orange and T-Mobile customers will be provided with a ‘straightforward’ way changing over to their newly launched 4G service. Bear in mind though that in order to make use of the 4G coverage, you will need a 4G compatible phone, a 4G SIM card and a 4G plan directly from EE. It’s also not an entirely inexpensive move, with contracts only available for 24-months at a time, starting from £36 per month for a mere 500MB of data and going up to a maximum limit of 8GB for £56, with no unlimited plans on offer. That being said, the new tariffs are flexible, and if you find yourself nearing your data limit regularly, you can shift up a tariff. Also, in an attempt to eliminate any chance of buyer’s remorse, you’re still afforded the option to move back down to your original plan should things not work out. Keep in mind though that you won’t be able to go lower than the tariff which you originally signed though.

Currently, the only phones to offer 4G and LTE services are, rather unsurprisingly, the higher end models. As such, expect an upfront cost for your plan as well in order to purchase the handset as only the Ascend P1 is offered free of charge, but only from tariffs price at £41 a month or higher. EE have also confirmed that there won’t be any pay as you go plans available at Launch but haven’t ruled out the possibility in the future, likely when the other networks finalise the 4G spectrums they’ll be using and are able to compete with EE directly.

It’s also worth noting that no handset bought before mid-September will work on the 4G network with the sole exception of the UK version of the iPhone 5 which just happened to be on the compatible 1800MHz spectrum. Regardless of what the specifications for any other phones might say, the modems and antennas are different enough to make them incompatible with the current 4G network from EE. As such, any phones you’d want to use on their contracts would have to be bought directly from them. Luckily, the range of phones on offer from EE is respectable, ranging from Android equipped devices such as the excellent Samsung Galaxy S3 LTE, Apple’s iPhone 5 and even Nokia’s Windows 8-based 920, all high-performance, high-quality (if expensive) phones.

While EE is very much pushing the message that it wants to create a network for everyone, not just the elite, upgrading is still a pricey proposition for most people. Although, with the speeds being offered, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see data allowances slowly being pushed up for all. If that happens, we’d soon be caught in a space-war between the major operators once they pitch in with their 4G offerings and, with any luck, we may well see the unintended benefit of skyrocketing mobile data usage over the next few years. At 4G speeds, it’s going to be pretty easy to tear through those 500MB data caps after all.

EE is bringing some pretty major changes to mobiles within the UK but for now it will only likely affect a small proportion of users, namely those willing to pay a premium to stay on the cutting edge. That being said, it won’t take long for the market to get competitive again and bring down prices. And at least for now, such big changes won’t be directly affecting anyone that doesn’t necessarily care for them.

About the Author – Vitor de Magalhaes writes for the Orange Store

The post From T-Mobile and Orange to EE appeared first on Computer Articles.

The old traditional 10-inch screen has been reduced to 7.9-inch screen; it is sleek and has a glossy appearance. It weighs around 0.68 pounds and 7.2 mm thick that means it is 53 % lighter than its previous versions, which is great. Isn’t it?

Connectivity:

If we have a look at the Kindle Fire HD, we can see that it has LTE connectivity which is way too expensive. The same goes with iPad Mini, the version with LTE connectivity is very expensive. However, it has 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, so it once again outshines regular Fire HD and Nexus 7 that are normal Wi-Fi build devices.

Specifications:

If you compare this version with an iPad2, you may find it has similar processor specification as this also has dual-core A5 processor. We are not sure about the configuration of RAM, though. Probably, it would have the same 512 MB like its previous version or there are chances that they will upgrade it too.

When it comes to storage, it may come either with 16 GB or 32 GB or 64 GB storage capacity. Apple has claimed that it provides 10 hours of battery life, even when you are watching videos, playing games or listening to music. That makes it to stand out of the crowd, of similar gadgets.

The quality of the camera is a very important factor to consider, as it is very important for video calls and other purposes. It is no more a feature, which was once meant only for entertainment. iPad Mini has a front end facing HD camera, which is of 1.2 Megapixels. This is better than what iPad 2 has. Like its older version, the back end camera is of 5 Megapixels, Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HD lacks in this regard.

It has a lightning port that can be seen in almost all iOS devices.

Did we mention that the screen of iPad Mini is too smart to detect whether your finger is resting on it, or you’re really using it to work on it and it acts accordingly? This, we must say, is a super cool feature which has been added by Apple Corp.

Pricing and availability:

If you have an expectation that you will be getting this iPad Mini with a huge drop in price, then we would say that your expectation from this version is too high! The Wi-Fi version is available at $329. If you want to get LTE connectivity as well, then you need to pay $130 more, the more you pay better will be the functionality.

iPad Mini will hit the shelves of US stores and two weeks after that, it will be available globally (probably). If you’re game for this version, then you can place your order on 26^th of October and get it on 2^nd of November.

We would like to add that the price is a matter of concern for the price sensitive markets, although the young buyers would be definitely excited about its features. However we will know how much this model will be successful only after it hits the stores, globally. Till then, let us wait and watch.

About the Author – AmyClaus writes for the technical support company Mytechgurus. Most technical issues can be easily diagnosis by Mytechgurus technical experts and they Offers the best remote technical support.

The post Apple iPad Mini appeared first on Computer Articles.

A significant number of the older members of our communities have little or no experience of computers, and will not be aware of the many benefits that regular internet usage can bring. In an era when we are encouraging young children to find their way around the web and to become increasingly au fait with everything computers can achieve, it seems a shame that we are neglecting those at the other end of the age scale.

Those who were born in the 1980s and beyond have grown up in an era of technological innovation, and are therefore better equipped to understand the many gadgets and gizmos that have appeared on the shelves of our stores ever since. Although there are plenty of older people who know their way around a digital camera or a mobile phone, there are still too many who struggle to understand just what a computer, and the internet, can do.

The first step is the most important one

Needless to say, switching on a computer and accessing the worldwide web is a simple operation for most of us, and if some of the less enlightened members of our senior communities could be encouraged to try it, they will undoubtedly be pleasantly surprised by this simplicity. The most difficult hurdle in this is likely to be the first one of all: how best to guide and support the uninitiated through that vital initial step.

A worthy campaign by the BBC in recent times to get older people involved in internet life produced some interesting results, with many initially reluctant participants discovering many of the benefits of web usage. If the momentum from this outreach programme could be harnessed further, we may find a growing number of men and women becoming more and more keen to put the computer through its paces.

Initial understanding of what can be achieved is a major obstacle, but it appears that many potential silver surfers are interested in processes that can allow them to contact friends and family instantly on the other side of the world. Those in the older age bracket are from a generation in which many of their relatives emigrated to countries such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada, so they are eager to discover the immediacy of an email.

Another process that piqued their interest was online shopping. A great many seniors find it difficult to cope with regular trips to the major supermarkets or to their local grocery stores, so the opportunity to have a weekly delivery of their provisions brought to their front door appealed greatly. Through such applications, the shroud of mystery that surrounds the internet can hopefully start to clear in the coming months and years.

Bio

Matthew writes for Comet and has an interest in generational use of digital technology. He wrote a thesis on that subject, that claimed the older generation can help combat mobility, loneliness and entertainment by learning basic computer skills.

The post How Seniors Can Get the Best from the Digital Age appeared first on Computer Articles.

These days computers are important, as these have become important means for communicating, be it for business purpose or some personal need. We could assure you that Raspberry Pi fulfills the basic needs of all classes of people. However, you need to understand one thing clearly, from the moment you take the circuit out of the package, do not expect things to happen automatically. If you do not know how to work with Raspberry Pi, land up on Raspberry Pi’s website for online help and start working with it.

Before purchasing a Raspberry Pi, you should know certain things about it to make a better choice. We have gathered a precise info about it, here you go:

Raspberry Pi has two versions, one is Model A and another is Model B. Model B is better version than that of Model A, and it is more expensive too. Let us see few of the features of both flavors of Raspberry Pi: Model A has only one USB port, but Model B has two such ports. Unlike Model B, Model A lacks in Ethernet port. Other than few certain things, major part of the hardware is more or less similar.

Let us dig deeper into the hardware section: It has 700MHz ARM1176JZF-S CPU, it has a Broadcom Video Core IV GPU, 256MB of SDRAM. RCA & HDMI are the two video outputs that you can find in the circuit, also a 3.5 mm audio output. It is important to note here, it receives its power from a micro USB adapter, this means that this circuit doesn’t have any Switch ON or Switch OFF button; rather it draws its power from plugging the adapter into the circuit.

It is not necessary to remind you of the fact that, you will not get a capable computer with the kind of price that has been mentioned, but it is also a fact that you will not have a great multi-tasking and web browsing experience with the circuit of Raspberry Pi. All that you can run are: fundamental desktop jobs, few low-end games which can otherwise made to run in lower models of smartphones, play HD videos.

Did we mention that, to use Raspberry Pi, you need few components such as: a monitor with digital connection and compatible video cable, a USB keyboard and a mouse (if required)? Do not forget a micro USB power adapter or else your computer will be a box, which is meant for a showpiece in the drawing room.

There is nothing exciting about it, as it is just a bare board with no chassis, you have to put all the efforts to build it as a computer and the difficult part is that, you need to know little bit of Linux to have a command over it.

However, it gives you a platform for experimenting and if unfortunately, things go wrong during experimenting then it will not remind you of the money spent by you. If you were afraid to purchase a computer for your son, thinking that you cannot afford to pay for the damages, then Raspberry Pi is a good option that will not wreak any havoc on you.

About the Author – Amy Claus writes for Mytechgurus, the technical help experts.

The post Raspberry Pi: The Cheapest Computer to Date! appeared first on Computer Articles.

There are already lots of advantages to embracing cloud computing in your home, whether it’s for work, pleasure or managing your household.

Cloud Storage for the home:
One of the big early selling points of cloud computing has been the availability of cheap, plentiful storage space for photos, videos, work documents and anything else you can think of. Cloud storage providers include UK-based Memstore, along with U.S companies such as Dropbox, Amazon, Apple, Google and Microsoft.

It’s important to check out the various options and not just sign up to the most familiar brand names, as costs can vary depending on the storage needed. And in the UK it’s also well worth considering a UK-based provider like Memset, as they’ll be fully-compliant with UK specific laws and regulations, which isn’t the case for businesses based elsewhere.

Backing up anything valuable to you, whether its photos of your family, household documents like your insurance forms, or work documents, is essential. Many people rely on external hard drives for manual backups, which is a good idea. But these backups are often left sat next to computers, so in the event of a robbery, you lose both the originals and backups.

For peace of mind, backing up once to an external hard drive and once to a cloud service means that you have security whatever happens. And it’s low cost – Memstore is a great example as you only pay for the space you use and when you download beyond large amounts. For instance, you can store up to 100GB and download 20GB per month for just £3.95 per month.

If you check the disk space you’ve used on your computer and laptop now, you’ll probably find it’s a lot less to backup than you might think.

Cloud Streaming for the home:
Whether you enjoy music, movies or even videogames, we’re all becoming used to cloud storage and streaming.

If you just want instant access, you can choose from a variety of services such as Spotify to get access to a huge range of music, or Lovefilm and Netflix to stream movies to your tablet or TV – apps for games consoles mean you don’t need to move the computer or trail wires through your house.

But if you’re worried about relying on the cloud for all your entertainment, you can still buy physical CDs and DVDs etc. Legally backing up entertainment you own to cloud storage or a more tailored cloud service means the physical copy can be stored out of the way in the cupboard or loft, and you can now access the entertainment you own wherever you have an internet connection.

And the same is becoming true for videogames, even the latest releases, with services such as Onlive), which allows you access to all the latest games for a fixed fee.

Home Management via the Cloud:
We’re all leading business lives. And in a family home, that’s even more apparent between work, school, social commitments and more. But by using a handful of cloud applications, you can make family life much more enjoyable and less stressful.

With everything going on in our lives, it’s worth using shared calendars and notes to know what’s happening. Whether that’s via Google Calendar, or beautiful note-taking app Evernote, it means you’re not relying on Post It notes around the house, or the often-ignored calendar in the kitchen.

And when it comes to bills and managing your money, we’d all like to save time and cash without as much effort. The main option for aggregating your personal finances is UK-based Money Dashboard.

As you can imagine, the home business world is well supported, with the likes of Freshbooks KashFlow, Quickbooks, Freeagent etc.

Home Appliances via the Cloud:
Ever wanted to switch your central heating on from work when the day suddenly gets colder? Devices such as the Nest Thermostat not only give you remote access, but learn from your behaviour to learn from your energy history and turn the heating down automatically when no one is home.

Meanwhile car manufacturers such as Ford are integrating cloud technology to have your car warmed and ready when you’re about to leave home, update on traffic jams and weather, and notify you when friends have suggested locations in your area – great if you’re somewhere new and need to find a place to eat. If you can’t justify a new car, the free Waze GPS traffic and navigation app already crowd sources information from other drives in your area.

This is just the start as increasingly devices will make use of the cloud not only to function, but to aggregate anonymous data to help improve how you utilise them. No more trying to work out the cheapest energy provider, or quickest way to work, as it’s all provided for you. And internet connected devices can also tell you when they break, what needs fixing and when the repair visit fits with your schedule.

Cloud computing makes life easier:
As shown above, cloud computing offers many ways to make life easier. As home internet connections continue to get faster and technology continues to improve, this is only going to increase.

There’s no good excuse for not investigating now and making use of the best applications and services to be able to spend less money and have more time for the things you really enjoy in life.
About the Author – Ben Jones writes for http://bgejones.blogspot.co.uk/

The post Advantages of Cloud Computing for the Home appeared first on Computer Articles.