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Nokia recently introduced its newest member of the Lumia smartphone series, the Lumia 928, it raises the question, how is the 928 improved from the Lumia 920? As the Lumia 928 will be available for Verizon, those users with GSM phones will most likely have to wait for the next model to see their carriers catch up with Nokia’s newest and greatest smartphone. If you’re wondering if you should upgrade to the 928 here’s a breakdown of how the two Lumia smartphones stack up.

What’s the Same?

Well, if you were looking for Nokia to drop the hammer with its new Lumia smartphone, you may be disappointed that there are a number of similarities between the 920 and 928. Sporting the same sized screen (4.5 inches) and the same 8.7-megapixel PureView camera – though this is one heck of a camera that features Carl Zeiss optics – there are more shared elements of these two smartphones than I was hoping for. Along with these, Nokia kept the following elements the same between the 920 and new 928.

• 1GB of RAM. I was hoping Nokia would wow us with something closer to 2GB of RAM, but for now, they leave us patiently waiting.
• 32GB of internal storage. It’s tough to knock a smartphone manufacturer for the storage they offer when its as sizable as the 920 and 928’s 32GB, but if there’s one thing to be disappointed in, it’s the lack of internal storage options. Providing a 64GB version, in my opinion, would have been a major step forward for Nokia to better compete with some of the major smartphone manufacturers.
• 2,000mAh battery. While this is the largest battery Nokia has placed in any of its smartphones – and this has become a standard battery size for many Android phones – it doesn’t perform quite as advertised when it comes to talk time. Though, the battery allows for significant web browsing, as reported by GSM Arena in its Lumia 920 Battery Test Results.
• 1.5 GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor from Qualcomm. I have no issues with the new Lumia using this processor. It’s a very speedy processor that handles all the Lumia 920 and 928 can throw its way.
• Qi wireless charging capability and Optical Image Stabilization. Both of these are really useful features, and I would have been shocked had the Lumia 928 utilized both technologies.

What’s New?

Now that we know about all that the 928 shares with its predecessor, what about the new features? To be honest, there are more similarities than there are new features to the Lumia 928, but if you’re in a field of creating media, the 928 might be right up your alley. So, let’s get to it.

• The new PureMotion OLED display replaces the LCD screen found on the 920, and wow, does it pop! Despite being just 4.5-inches (yeah, just), the 928 sports a screen resolution of 1,280 x 768 pixels, and packs 334 pixels per inch. While this isn’t quite as high as some other Android smartphones, this screen is rather impressive, and is notably brighter than that of the Samsung Galaxy S4.
• One of the coolest technological additions to smartphone indoor photography, the Nokia Lumia 928 features Xenon flash. The combination of the camera and this Xenon flash can allow you to take a photo of a spinning ceiling fan, and actually capture an image as though the fan is off. So yeah, this camera/flash combination is truly something to marvel.
• Improving upon the Lumia 920’s audio recording capabilities, Nokia decided that rather than include three microphones that allow you to record in mono, the 928 needed to one-up the 920. The result was the inclusion of three microphones that allow you to record in stereo, providing you the ability to record substantially clearer and cleaner audio than the Lumia 920 allows.

Ultimately, if you aren’t too keen on taking photos or recording audio with your smartphone, you may be best served sticking with your Lumia 920. But if you’re amongst those who desire to have the latest and greatest technology, the Nokia Lumia 928 is an impressive device. Whether you decide to upgrade or not, Nokia continues to produce highly-functioning devices that are often overlooked for Android-operating smartphones.

For the latest and greatest in tech news and ways you can simplify your life with the help of technology, follow me on Twitter @TechBreachBrad!

The post Battle of the Lumias: Sizing Up the Nokia Lumia 920 and 928 appeared first on TechBreach.

If you run a small business, properly handling your bookkeeping is an absolute must. That said, we need to explore all avenues for ways to simplify our processes. Embracing technology and all it offers us , including accounting software for small businesses, can make our lives simpler and less stressful. With a multitude of quality options at our disposal, the trickiest part of using accounting software can be choosing the right software for your small business. Here are a few tips to help you narrow down your search and choose the perfect small business accounting software for your company.

Tax Preparation

Do you really want to be doing your company taxes by hand, agonizing over ever last detail up until the last minute before you can file your return? I didn’t think so, and honestly, this practice is by far one of the least-efficient you can implement in your small business. Preparing your taxes becomes significantly easier and less stressful if you choose accounting software that fits your needs. Explore your options; some software options are designed to work across multiple platforms and some offer easy e-filing options for your tax returns.

Whatever your intricate needs may be, there is accounting software out there that will tackle all of those needs head on. If you have a CPA who handles your small business taxes, most software options will allow you to send your CPA all of your tax reports with the click of a button. If you have an in-house accountant, they will love how easy your taxes will be by implementing a new accounting software. Able to create and edit reports while syncing your updates, you simply cannot afford to bypass small business accounting software.

Expansion Features

An aspect that often times goes overlooked is whether the software has modules that will allow you to add information later when your small business experiences new growth. When a business does experience growth, a payroll accounting module is one of the first added to a company’s bookkeeping. If specific software doesn’t allow you to add modules, make sure you have the newest version. If you do have the latest version, spend some time going through all of its features to determine if you need to upgrade to new accounting software. While some software options will disappoint you, there are plenty of options to explore, and you will come across accounting software that fits every need of yours.

Must Haves

In order to narrow your accounting software options down to a select few that can get the job done, small business owners must make a list of all the features their businesses require in order to run efficiently. Most small business accounting software options feature the following:

• Tax Reporting
• Budgeting
• Payroll
• Tracking Sales
• Managing Inventory

While some software options are industry-specific, others offer an array of tools that will work for the majority of small businesses. If your company is in a niche market that requires specific accounting features, research applications that suit those unique needs. Talking to your friends who also run small businesses will help you find software options that will truly benefit your company. Discuss what they like about the software they use, and perhaps more importantly, what they wish they had the ability to do with their software. You’ll most likely walk away with a short list of accounting software options, with a list of their pros and cons that will allow you to make the best decision for your small business’ accounting needs.

The post Why Every Small Business Needs Accounting Software appeared first on TechBreach.

After a long wait, BlackBerry finally delivered its new product earlier this year. The BlackBerry 10 operating system, unveiled in late January, signaled a new era for BlackBerry. The old isn’t exactly gone, though. In fact, the beauty of the new BlackBerry is how it combines its best legacy features with new features that consumers love.

Already we’re seeing results. Over a million customers have chosen to get the BlackBerry Z10, and many more million will follow them as it becomes more widely available (it has been released for less than a month in the US). Combine that with the release of another model, the full-QWERTY BlackBerry Q10, later this spring, and it could be a big comeback for the smartphone originator.

There are plenty of reasons to believe in BlackBerry right now. Here are five reasons that they will grow with time.

1. Superior navigation

For the past six years iPhone users have lived with the same navigation system. The smartphone has evolved significantly in that time, yet Apple has done little to improve the base navigation in iOS. Android, with its dynamic widgets, added some flavor to smartphone UIs, but at its core Android is about the same navigation as iOS.

In the past people have blasted BlackBerry for having the same UI and navigation for too long, and that it went stale. Can the iPhone really avoid such criticism, especially since we’ve seen no indication that they plan to upgrade the iOS navigation?

BlackBerry 10 features a navigation system that users will love, if they don’t love it already. The smartphone, at its core, is still a messaging device, and so the BlackBerry Hub, with the ability to view it from any screen, will prove a huge feature for consumers. There is also the live tile feature on the homepage which allows users to browse recently opened apps. The overall gesture navigation lets you work through what you’re doing, without distracting yourself with grids of apps.

2. Unparalleled messaging

Even as it faced intense competition from iOS and Android, BlackBerry retained its superiority in messaging. With a stripped down, yet intricate, email system, BlackBerry held onto many customers who might have otherwise switched. In fact, in the early days many BlackBerry users did switch to iPhone, only to switch back because BlackBerry messaging is superior.

BlackBerry Hub, a consolidated messaging feature in BlackBerry 10, takes messaging to a new level. It not only shows you all of your messages in one place, but it allows you to view them no matter what screen you currently have open. Just swipe from the left side and you’ll see all of your messages in one place.

In its transition to BlackBerry 10, BlackBerry also upgraded its popular BBM app, allowing for video and voice chats as well as screen sharing. BlackBerry balance provides users with a way of keeping their work lives and personal lives separate, without having to carry around two smartphones. All of this puts BlackBerry’s messaging services at the top of the field.

3. Variety of models

One reason Android won over such a huge segment of the market is that its’ not a single device. The iPhone is a single device created by a single company. Android spreads the field. Yet there are downsides to that. Since it’s open, any manufacturer can create an Android smartphone. This leads to many low-quality Androids on the market — even from well-reputed companies

BlackBerry keeps its production in-house, so you get a single operating system on multiple high-quality devices. The BlackBerry Z10 is the first on the market, and like most other smartphones it is a full-touchscreen device. But it won’t be the last. The Q10 will hit carriers later this spring, and it brings back BlackBerry’s signature QWERTY keyboard. It is conceivable that many users are waiting for the Q10, because they’ve come to know and enjoy a physical keyboard.

What about the future? There are plenty of options for BlackBerry to expand the reach of BlackBerry 10. Phablets — smartphones that are extra large and border on tablet size — have been quite the craze in the past year. BlackBerry could easily move in on that territory with BlackBerry 10. Even a 4.5-inch device will open it up to many more consumers. We will see variety, and that will expand BlackBerry 10′s reach.

4. The enterprise advantage

In the past few years many companies have switched to or adopted iPhone and Android models for their corporate cellular needs. Since those devices stood out at the top of the market, many enterprise customers wanted them. Yet the question persists: do they possess the proper security for enterprise? In some cases they do, but they simply do not match BlackBerry’s security capabilities

That’s what CEO Thorsten Heins meant when he talked about combining the best of the old BlackBerry system with the new QNX-based operating system. It’s also a reason that BlackBerry had to take its time with releasing its new operating system. Combining operating systems is an enormous task, but BlackBerry executed, providing a new interface and navigation along with its time-tested messaging and security systems. The combination makes BlackBerry perfect for enterprise.

5. Carriers’ choice

Believe it or not, cellular carriers love BlackBerry. That was the case in the mid-00s, when they were among the few phones that required a data plan. While carriers loved the iPhone for a while, thanks to its massive sales, their feelings were mixed. The typical iPhone user consumes a high level of data, which depletes a carrier’s resources. BlackBerry handles data efficiently, meaning its users consume less. Carriers have to love that.

In addition, carriers are always looking for more competition. Consumers might not be as apt to upgrade their phones, and therefore extend their contracts, if the only options are the same old iPhone and Android smartphones. With an additional competitor, carriers can convince more customers to upgrade and try something new. That is to say, BlackBerry 10 can certainly drive new smartphone sales.

For a while BlackBerry seems to be on its way down, releasing merely incremental upgrades on its old system. BlackBerry 10 is a revelation, bringing all new features to the table. Already they have sold millions of units, and with the Q10 coming soon, and with more consumers stating their love for BlackBerry 10, it should sell more units still. We could soon see a three-horse race in the smartphone field, rather than the same old two.

The post 5 Reasons BlackBerry 10 Will Grow With Time appeared first on TechBreach.

One of the main reasons why people are willing to spend hundreds of dollars on a smartphone is because of the hundreds of thousands of apps available on Google Play and the iTunes store, especially since many of these apps are free.

If you’re trying to decide whether to buy a new iPhone 5, one of the new androids or even if you just want to make your Apple fan boyfriend or girlfriend jealous with the phone you already have, here are five android widgets that are likely to your iPhone friends go green-eyed.

Swype

Even though this Android-exclusive app isn’t available on the Android Market, you can download Swype onto your android phone from their homepage if it didn’t already come installed on your phone.

Swype is a keyboard that allows you to type by swiping with your finger. I admit that Swype is a bit hard to use at first, but once you get the hang of it, this app allows for much faster typing than the regular keyboard.

Google Drive (Free)

If you use the Android OS, chances are, you use some or all of the Google Tools as well. As you may know, Google Drive is the new home of Google Docs and even though Google Drive still isn’t as good as a word processing application as Microsoft Word in my opinion, its primary benefit for me is that documents are stored in the cloud and can be accessed anywhere you have Internet access.

With Google Docs, not only can you access your documents anywhere, but you can also edit those documents and collaborate with others, retaining full control over the documents you create.

LauncherPro (Free)

After a while, many people get bored of the default settings and look their phones have and then start looking into ways they can personalize them without trading off on functionality. Well, when it comes to launcher apps, LauncherPro is one of the most popular, and for good reason.

Even though LauncherPro is packed with features, and has plenty of animations, it doesn’t take up too much resources and it’s very fast. It also comes with many different home screens, so there is plenty of variety and choice when it comes to customization.

Beautiful Widgets ($3.29)

If you’re bored with the look of your phone’s interface, then you may want to check out Beautiful Widgets. This app allows you to spice up your interface and make it reflect who you are as a person

Unlike with desktops and laptops, widgets are extremely popular on mobile devices. Beautiful Widgets is an app that supplies you with an array of well-designed and appealing widgets, such as clock widgets and weather widgets. You can also customize these widgets, since Beautiful Widgets supports themes and skins.

Advanced Task Killer Pro

Every smartphone user is going to have those days where the apps on their smartphone seem to be taking up all of the resources available. On those days, Advanced Task Killer Pro is definitely a godsend. There is a lite version of this app, as well as the full version which costs $4.99, which is a price that is worthwhile if it keeps your smartphone functional at all times.

As you can probably tell by the name, Advanced Task Killer Pro, or ATK, is an app that kills any other apps that’s running. Often times, people use this app to automatically kill apps automatically, yet the makers of this app suggest to use this app only to manually kill apps.

For some people, a quality exclusive app can mean the different between getting an Android smartphone or an iPhone. There are hundreds of android exclusive apps, but these are just a few of the best ones.

The post 5 Android Widgets Likely To Make iPhone Users Green-eyed appeared first on TechBreach.

A few years ago, it appeared that HTC was the big up and comer in the smartphone world. Google contracted them to do the first Google-branded Android phone, the Nexus One, and it was easily the best Android smartphone of its time. With other exciting releases, such as the Incredible, coming around the same time, HTC was poised to become the biggest player in Android.

A year later, the picture didn’t seem as clear. The Nexus One, while being a quality device by all objective measures, did not sell well. Instead of contracting HTC to do the next generation Nexus, Google went with Samsung. And so started Samsung’s vault to the top. After the Nexus S they came through with the acclaimed Galaxy S II, followed by the Galaxy Nexus, and finally captivated the smartphone market with the Galaxy S III.

Where did that leave HTC? Mostly in the dust. Samsung dominates the top Android phone rankings with the top seven models. HTC squeaks in at No. 8 with the Desire HD, but it has only three handsets in the top 20, combining for just under 3 percent market share. It will take quite a bit of market movement for HTC to even crack the top five, let alone approach the top of the charts.

Recently the company went all-in with its latest smartphone, the HTC One. By all objective measures, it blows away everything HTC has done in the past. There is nothing about the One that isn’t top of the line. And yet, it’s hard to see how the One, in all its glory, will make a significant dent in Samsung’s dominance.

In fact, the HTC One might be proof of why Samsung will continue to be by far the biggest Android player.

It’s about marketing

How did Samsung get to its dominant position in the first place? By challenging the market. When it released the Galaxy S II, the iPhone was still the dominant phone on the market. Few people even questioned this. Android was just some up and comer that had too many problems. The iPhone was sleek and smooth. And then Samsung challenged that entire notion.

While Apple was stuck in the past with a 3.5-inch screen, the S II pushed the envelope with a 4.3-inch screen. Samsung tweaked its own user interface to be sleeker and less clunky than stock Android. They bumped up the camera. But most importantly: they put themselves up against Apple. They challenged the leader by creating a device that was different — better, as Samsung put it.

The pushing of the envelope only continued with the Galaxy S III. This time Samsung blew up the screen, far beyond even Apple’s increased screen size. They ran TV ads that made Apple fans look silly. In other words, they came down the aisle strutting, mocking the industry leader, and as a result claimed the position for themselves. HTC simply does not have that.

HTC One is no improvement

Forget specs for a moment; few people buy a smartphone based on specs anyway. What is the unique selling point of the HTC One? That is, what can HTC claim as a superior feature, in the same way that Samsung claimed superiority to Apple? The answer is too little.

Camera: The HTC One boasts a mere 4-megapixel camera, but HTC really focused on the quality of pictures taken. That’s a noble cause for sure, especially in the era of Instagram. But do people really buy a smartphone because of the camera? It might be a tiebreaker, but it’s hardly a primary focus.

User interface: HTC updated its Sense UI, and that’s a good thing. One of the major complaints about HTC devices has been Sense. While the new sense, which in many ways resembles Windows 8, might appeal to some users, others will be turned off by how it is force-fed. Not everyone wants their feeds on their home page.

Really, there isn’t much to brag about other than that. Using Gorilla Glass 2 on a 4.7-inch screen is good, but not groundbreaking. The same goes for the 1.7GHz quad-core processor. None of these features challenge anything in the industry. If anything, HTC is just playing catch-up.

Competition abounds

HTC might have more to worry about from the competitors behind it than the behemoth in front of it. After all, Samsung will sell plenty of Galaxy S IV phones no matter what HTC does. But there are some downriver competitors that could pose and issue for HTC. The underwhelming One will do it few favors.

LG has been making Android phones for years now, but it hasn’t made a big dent. Yet Google awarded LG the latest Nexus device, the Nexus 4, which is selling better than previous models. LG is also experimenting with the phablet form factor, which is gaining popularity with users. They might not be pushing the envelope, but they’re certainly trying new things.

Another thing LG has going for it: selection range. Even at carriers where they have a small presence, you can still get a wide-range of LG phones at a decent price. HTC, on the other hand, has done little but pump out handsets like the One X, which appears high-end but fails most tests. It seems that LG is honest about where it is as an Android manufacturer, and that could help it as it grows.

Don’t forget Motorola, either. They haven’t made many big moves in the industry lately (though there are people who swear by the Droid RAZR HD), but they are owned by Google now. They are also supposedly working on the X Phone, which could prove to be Google’s big play. If Google decides to push its own brand, HTC could be in further trouble.

Taken by itself, the HTC One is a quality phone. It has many high-end features, and the new Sense UI could appeal to a certain type of smartphone user. But when looking at it in the current market, it falls short — far short. It doesn’t do anything that the Galaxy S III cannot, and the Galaxy S IV is just around the corner. Competition from smaller players, such as LG and Motorola, will make matters even tougher for HTC. At a time when they needed to blow away users, they essentially kept the status quo. It’s a shame to see, especially from an Android player that seemed so promising just two years ago.

The post HTC One Shows Why Samsung Will Continue To Dominate Android appeared first on TechBreach.

If you work a traditional nine-to-five in an office setting, you’re probably familiar with the body pains one can endure from sitting for long periods of time at a computer. While ergonomics may seem like a dicey solution to increase productivity in the office, the benefits can be great. Introducing ergonomic office equipment to your office can make your company more profitable while providing your co-workers with an unparalleled level of comfort. Here are just a few of the benefits of purchasing ergonomic office equipment for your business.

Increased Productivity

Whether you’re aware of it or not, ergonomics has become a science of providing the individual with the comfort to tackle long stretches of work that non-ergonomic equipment can’t offer. Any increase in efficiency or productivity is obviously a positive for your company. If you have the ability to improve your company’s overall efficiency, why wouldn’t you?

Something as simple as an ergonomic keyboard can make a huge impact in individual productivity. The human body isn’t designed to have your hands close together directly in front of you for long periods of time. Stop what you’re doing and place your hands on your keyboard. If you aren’t using an ergonomic keyboard, notice how awkwardly your hands and arms are situated. Coupled with the strain this positioning puts on your shoulders, it’s easy to see this is not a natural positioning of the human body. An ergonomic, split keyboard may require a slight learning curve, but will provide your co-workers with comfort and ease, allowing them to remain active at their computers for longer periods of time.

Decreased Injuries

Hundreds of thousands of work days are lost every year due to work-related injuries. While you may not think of an office setting as a threatening environment, work-related injuries happen everywhere. The cost of all those lost work days can cost billions of dollars to business owners. While you may think of a construction site when you hear of on-the-job injuries, a less-common injury is prevalent in offices across the country. Carpal tunnel syndrome is an easily avoidable issue in the workplace, and if your company is proactive to prevent these injuries, it stands to reap the benefits of decreased workers’ compensation and fewer days your employees will need to take off due to injury.

Regardless of your industry, injuries in the workplace are bound to occur. If you house heavy items in your office, place them where your employees can obtain them without exerting a lot of energy. Placing these heavier items where the individual can use good posture while picking them up will help prevent these injuries. While heavy-lifting injuries are not the only injuries that result in time lost in the office, they do make for a large number of overall office injuries. On average, back and shoulder injuries account for approximately one-third of all job-related injuries each year.

Work in Comfort

Nobody enjoys feeling uncomfortable at work, and this is especially true when it comes to someone’s workspace. Outside of ergonomic keyboards, a well-designed ergonomic chair can make the difference between working a full shift in ease and comfort or grinding through the day in productivity-reducing discomfort. Properly-designed ergonomic office chairs are meant to conform to your body, rather than have you conform to your chair. By supporting your lumbar, back and arms, these chairs are designed to make it easier for you to work, and the additional comfort will increase your productivity.

While ergonomic office chairs have been around for quite some time, their features have been adapting as research on common back issues people experience when sitting for long periods of time progresses. Despite the fact that no two employees or co-workers are the same, even if you bought the exact same ergonomic chair for each person in your company, most ergonomic chairs have adjustable features that can make every chair’s support unique.

Comfort in the workplace is a necessity which cannot be overstated. When your employees are happy and comfortable, they tend to work more efficiently since they don’t have the distraction of back pain to keep them from tackling their work with enthusiasm. Ergonomic office equipment provides your co-workers with the most comfortable work setting imaginable, and your company will reap the benefits. Do yourself and your co-workers a favor and create an ergonomic office. Your co-workers will love their new-found comfort, and you will love the productivity spike your company will experience.

The post The Benefits of Ergonomic Office Equipment appeared first on TechBreach.

Unfortunately, most people want to be rewarded but aren’t willing to put in the hard work in order to accomplish their goals. Though some people create budgets, many don’t have the drive to stick to it. They spend beyond their limits, slip into debt and after a long hibernation, wake up from their financial slumber and realize they’ve dug themselves into a rather deep hole.

If you’re one of those who has difficulty sticking to a budget, you might want to consider, ‘Commitment Device’. The term was first coined by economists Steven Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, who went into great detail on commitment device in their bestselling book, Freakonomics. This economist duo is also writing a blog which bears the same name. Commitment device refers to a contrivance that will chain you to a course-of-action, resulting in you achieving your desired effect. Here are brief descriptions about 4 commitment devices that will help you achieve your pre-set financial objectives.

Let Others Know

Tell those close to you that you have certain financial goals in life and that you are committed to fulfilling them. If you have no qualms in swallowing up your pride and being transparent, post your goals on Facebook. “I will payback all my debts in next 6 months,” is an extreme declaration that will keep you under pressure to live up to your goals. However, you will also receive the encouragement from your friends and acquaintances in your Facebook community. Sharing your monthly status report about debt payment will only make it easier for you to stick to your budget, all while showing your friends that you are serious about your promise and obligation.

Think about Online Help

Some psychologists and economists have started an innovative website that helps people follow their objectives. A site stickK helps you with commitment contracts that are regularly scrutinized by a referee to ensure you’re staying on track, and getting on you when you fall off the wagon. Goalmigo is another good choice if you thrive under peer pressure. This website allows you to set and share your goals with other users who share similar financial plans. Goalmigo also allows you to track your financial performance. If you search the Beeminder website, you can create a blueprint of your goals and monitor your progress as often as you like. With the principle value, “Either perform or be penalized,” Beeminder will help you take on all of your goals, assisting you with every step along the way.

Issue a Check to a group you dislike

Every one of us has a strong disliking for an organization; the one that champions nothing but poor ideas that simply cannot be tolerated. Issue a check in the name of this group or organization and drop in mail box whenever you fail in goal fulfillment. You may have some friends who also hold the same view of said organization. Tell them about your plan. When you share your goals with those who share your interests, they will jump on board and help you however they can to make sure you don’t send that check.

Prize for failure

It should be noted that this method does not work best for everyone. However, if this method does work for you, promise yourself that you will spend on frivolous purposes in the event of failing to pay back dues. If you are the type of person who doesn’t like to “reward” yourself this way, you will work harder to escape any embarrassment caused by a preventable failure. However, some people don’t feel punished by this kind of reward, which means your plan itself will ultimately result in failure. If this happens to you, drop the idea and find a reward system that will help you stick to your financial goals.

This was a guest post by Peter Christopher, the finance blogger at Finance Care Guide.

The post 4 Commitment Devices to Help You Set & Achieve Financial Goals appeared first on TechBreach.

The good news is that there are some really good smart phone applications for brick and mortar retailers and restaurants that won’t have you hunched over a computer for hours on end and never venturing outside of the house. The following 4 brick and mortar apps put you in contact with great retail and fast food services right in your own neighborhood…

1. Old Navy (Free – for iPhone, iPad and Android)

Did you know that the Old Navy app is magic? It’s true; when you use the brick and mortar stores mobile application, just click on the Old Navy logo and you’ll unlock shopping convenience and deals galore! You also have a wealth of retail information right at your fingertips—including the nearest Old Navy location near you, links directly to Old Navy Pinterest pages, which will help you get inspired for the upcoming season with stylish, new pin-worthy duds that other Old Navy fans are raving about. Also, when you snap any Old Navy logo, either in a store location, on a shopping bag, online, or on television, you’ll instantly receive a deal, game, or shopping code to use at your neighborhood Old Navy store. (You can also find a list of Old Navy coupons on the site as well.)

2. Domino’s Pizza (Free – for iPhone and iPad)

You can now use your mobile phone to order a piping hot pizza pie. And trust me, on a Friday, after a busy day at work, everyone loves the fact that I can place a cheap and convenient Domino’s order using my smart phone and have it reach home just as I pull in the drive way (there is a status bar in the app that shows you exactly what is going on with your pizza – order received, pizza being made, pizza in the oven, pizza being inspected and pizza being delivered!). With the Domino’s app you can order from more than 5,000 locations across the U.S., read the national menu, clip virtual coupons, and even set your preferences so your personal information is saved and you next order is one-click to pizza pie!

3. Home Depot (Free – for iPhone, iPad, Android and Windows Mobile)

How sexy can a home improvement store app be? The answer is very. Home Depot’s app offers a ton of features you’d likely never even thought to look for. You can buy on the app and pick up in store, get store maps and aisle finders and even do bar code scanning. They also offer tools to convert measurements and calculate needed materials. The shopping list feature allows you to decide what you need at home, add it to the mobile app and then use it to find everything you need in the store. Fixing your kitchen sink this weekend? Figure out what you need, head to their plumbing supplies section and tick off everything you need in the app!

4. Target (Free – for iPhone, iPad, and Android)

With Target text alerts, you’ll never miss an exclusive in-store deal or coupon for your favorite Target store location. Plus, you can find the nearest store to your current location, check the availability of in store items, refill prescriptions, and much more—all from your mobile device. Also, be sure to check out this handy guide to deciphering Target deals – it’s a must read!

The post 4 Brick and Mortar Stores with Awesome Mobile Apps appeared first on TechBreach.

However, the point is that I can hardly remember all of the various tasks and commitments I’ve made for the week. The fact is that I, like most of you, have way too much on my plate. But that doesn’t excuse missing a dental appointment (and still having to pay a fee), standing my girlfriend up for a coffee date, or pathetically losing my car in a parking lot and looking around for it for an hour.

I told you my life was a mess. The good news is that since the embarrassing lost car episode, I decided that it was prime time to implement some organizational tools into my haphazard life. Luckily this has helped me regain order. Now I’m no longer the friend who stands you up or loses her car, I’m the friend that remains on schedule, makes her dental appointments, and remembers to pick up her kids after school.

Here are the six life-saving and totally free apps that help keep my life on organizational track…

1. Dragon Dictation (Free – for Mac, Windows, Android, iOS, and BlackBerry)

If you’re driving around town, but get a text, the Dragon Dictation app lets you multitask safely. Simply launch this brilliant speech-to-text app and create a quick email or text by speaking directly into your smart phone. The app will translate the audio to text and you can even verbally select a contact and send the message off.

I also use Dragon Dictation for capturing to-dos and appointments on the fly, and even for jotting down those “eureka” moments in life so I can remember them or share them later via Facebook or Twitter.

2. Evernote (Free- for Mac, Windows, Android, iOS, WebOS, and BlackBerry)

Evernote is the app I most rely on for keeping my life organized. I can use it to capture all of my essential to-do, reminders, appointments, social commitments, and even dreaded workouts, and the app alerts me via a text reminder.

What’s so great about Evernote is that it allows me to take notes at the touch of a button on any device, and it saves everything on the cloud—so I can create notes on the subway with my smart phone and edit them later via my laptop. That’s right, this app securely stores and synchs all to-dos in one central location so you’ll never forget an important commitment as long as you’re using it!

3. Dropbox (Free – for Mac, Windows, Android, iOS, and BlackBerry)

Another fabulous and free cloud-based application, the Dropbox storage app ensures you’re productive—regardless of where you are and what device you’re using. For instance, if I’m staring a rough draft for an article on the subway on my tablet, I can save the file in Dropbox and access it later with another device—i.e., my desktop, laptop, or smart phone.

Dropbox is also a lifesaver for client meetings because I can instantly access a project with ease and even grant them permission to review, edit, and save changes (at my discretion) via any one of their devices.

4. Remember the Milk (Free – for, Android or iOS)

If you’re like me, you’ve purchased 3 jars of honey in the last week even though you have 2 at home in the cupboard. Luckily, since I downloaded the Remember the Milk task management app, I’m able to consult the stores that I already have at home so I don’t waste time and money. This app synchs your ongoing grocery list for you, so you can access and scratch items off from any device.

Plus, it keeps track of your existing food stores so you don’t buy duplicates. And if you share your list with a spouse or roommate, Remember the Milk will ensure that if one person buys toilet paper on the way home from work—the list is updated so the other person knows about the purchase.

5. Mint.com (Free – for Mac, Windows, Android or iOS)

Did you know that I was wasting a lot of money eating out? I knew this because Mint.com told me so. This free budgeting application gave me a “big picture” of my weekly, monthly, and yearly spending so I could see where I was wasting money. The app organized and categorized my spending so I could track every dime I was spending on frivolous things like eating out, movies out, and clothing.

Not only did it help me banish bad spending habits; it showed me how much I could save if I skipped that new pair of shoes and put that money down on my mortgage.

6. Find My Car (Free – for iPhone & Android)

I’ve already disclosed the day in which I lost my car and searched for it in the lot for over an hour. What I didn’t tell you was that I was late picking up my daughter at school. Yes, I get the award for “worst mom of the year”. However, since I got a hold of the Find My Car app, this has never happened again.

This app installs on your smart phone and uses GPS location services to help you locate your parked car quickly in a pinch. The app leads you to your car via an interactive map of the parking lot so you can locate it quickly (and without any yelling and stamping your feet) from your current location.

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It’s true; there’s such a mass selection of computers available as far as brand name…not to mention models, which can make choosing one for your home or business downright intimidating. Really, you don’t need it all.

The key is to set a budget, shop around, and buy with an understanding of the features you need in mind. This way you will ensure you get the most out of your new purchase.

Here are four vital things to consider before buying your next desktop computer…

1. Don’t be afraid to compare prices

You’re the customer, so you’re in control. I really, really mean that statement. Consider that you’re buying at a great time. The holiday season has ended and retailers are trying to clear their shelves before the next batch of new models hit the shelves in late February. This means one very important thing: if you’re looking for computer deals, as a smart shopper you can snag a bargain! However, you have to take the time to shop around and compare computers.

This isn’t a matter of getting it done in an afternoon. So do the footwork (or surf work if you prefer to shop virtually) by checking out several different physical stores and online sites. And if you see a model you like at a store that you can’t get to, take the ad or flyer to a store near you—most computer retailers will match prices if it means a sale.

2. Don’t get dazzled by features

Your preliminary research should also encompass the computer features that are the most important to you. Otherwise, there are so many available that you will get confused by all of the prospects. Start by mapping out what you want to do with your desktop computer by priority.

For example, if you use yours primarily to complete office tasks—like write email, Word documents, complete spreadsheets, etc.—you don’t really care about what CD drive your desktop contains or how streamed video appears on the screen. Don’t let the salesperson overwhelm and sell you on features that you won’t ever use. Make a list of essential features and take it with you when you shop so you don’t get side tracked by needless bells and whistles.

3. Warranty and support services

Get the salesperson to put in writing the warranty details as well as the added support services included with your desktop purchase. For instance, if you aren’t that tech savvy, a computer purchase that includes free computer set-up or 24-hour technical support might be vital to keeping you operational.

That way you can be sure that if a problem or question arises, you’ll have instant access to the support or warranty for parts and services that you need to get you back up and running quickly. And think hard before springing for an extended warranty.

4. Don’t shy away from buying used

Of course you should be cautious when considering a used desktop computer. However, if price is an issue, but the latest and greatest features are not, buying a used computer can save you significant money. Just be sure to do the research. For example, if you have a model in mind, look it up online to get a sense for what the new machine costs. Sometimes online sellers won’t expect you to do your research. You can find many great deals online from sellers who are looking to upgrade to a newer model.

However, if you’re not technically savvy, bring along a trusted friend who can inspect the computer inside and out and give you honest feedback on things like condition of the hard drive, ports, keyboard, etc. Also, be sure to ask if the computer is still under warranty. Many manufacturers’ warranties will transfer to the new buyer. So make sure to double check if the warranty is still honored.

The post 4 Things to Consider before Purchasing your Next Desktop appeared first on TechBreach.