Microsoft Surface 3 vs. Surface Pro 3: Which is Better for Business?

 

Microsoft’s Surface Pro 3 is one of the most versatile business machines around, with a detachable hybrid design and top-notch stylus support — but it doesn’t come cheap. The price for the entry-level model, with keyboard, is $830, and most workers will want to upgrade to a model with a faster processor and more internal storage, which hikes the price well above the $1,000 mark.
That’s why Microsoft has announced a new, more affordable version of the machine, dubbed simply the Surface 3. It’s smaller and less powerful than its bigger brother, but starting at $499, it’s also a lot less expensive while retaining most of the Pro version’s best features.
So which is better for work? We haven’t yet had a chance to go hands-on with the Surface 3 — which is set to launch May 5 — but here is a head-to-head comparison based on what we know so far.
Design

The Surface 3 is just like the Pro 3, but smaller — and that’s a good thing. The Surface Pro 3 is sleek and well-constructed, and its aluminum back and edging give it lots of premium appeal. The Surface 3 emulates the pricier machine down to the last detail — with one big exception.
While the Pro 3 features a kickstand that can be adjusted to any angle you wish, the Surface 3’s kickstand offers three different angles. That’s more than the Surface 2, which had a kickstand with just two angles, but it’s not quite as flexible as the one on the Pro 3. Regardless, that third viewing angle was just what the Surface 3 needed, letting you tilt the device back farther for easier use in your lap.
Display
The Surface Pro 3 sports a 12.2-inch display that’s a bit smaller than a typical laptop screen, but its supersharp 2160 x 1440-pixel resolution helps make up for its small size. For the most part, the device offers plenty of screen space for basic business tasks, and it’s roomy enough that split-screen multitasking doesn’t feel too claustrophobic.
The Surface 3’s screen is a clear step down in size and resolution. The slate’s 10.8-inch, 1920 x 1080-pixel display will feel considerably more cramped for work, but based on my experience with similar screens, it’s plenty big for everyday computing tasks like managing your email inbox and light document editing.
I think it’s the screen size that will probably make the biggest difference in helping you decide which device is better for work. The Surface Pro 3 offers a display that’s probably close enough to your primary work laptop’s screen size. The Surface 3’s small display, in comparison, makes it better suited to serve as a secondary device for light productivity on the go.
Note that both screens have a wide 3:2 aspect ratio, compared with the 16:9 dimensions of most modern laptop computers. This aspect ratio isn’t ideal for watching movies (which are typically shot in the 16:9 format), but, in my opinion, it’s better for productivity. That’s especially true when you’re using the device as a tablet, since 16:9 tablets feel too narrow when held in portrait mode.
Portability





The Surface Pro 3 is already one of the most portable Ultrabooks out there, weighing just 1.76 lbs. alone, and 2.4 lbs. with the keyboard cover attached. That’s about the same as the 11-inch MacBook Air (2.38 lbs.), even though the Surface Pro 3 has a larger 12.2-inch display.
In comparison, the Surface 3 weighs just 1.4 lbs. with the keyboard attached, thanks to its thinner design and smaller overall size. That’s lighter than most other 11-inch hybrids. Dell’s Venue 11 Pro is 1.6 lbs., while the Transformer Book T200 weighs a whopping 3.2 lbs.
At just 0.34 inches thick, the Surface 3 is only slightly thicker than the iPad Air 2, and it’s noticeably thinner than the Pro 3 (0.36 inches). The bottom line is that the Surface 3 is even more portable than the Pro model. It will slide more easily into your work bag in the morning, and it will fit better on an airplane tray table.
Software
The Surface 3 runs the same software as the Pro model. That’s a big deal, since the previous non-“Pro” versions ran on a gimped version of Windows — dubbed Windows RT — that couldn’t run most Windows software. In fact, the original Surface and Surface 2 were mostly limited to running simple mobile apps.
The new Surface 3, meanwhile, runs on the full version of Windows 8.1 — just like the Surface Pro 3. That means it’s compatible with all the software you already use at the office, so you won’t have to make any compromises in your workflow — that is, unless your workflow involves processor-intensive tasks like heavy photo or video editing, which the Surface 3 can’t handle.
Another perk is that all Surface 3 and Pro 3 owners will get a free upgrade to Windows 10 later this year. Windows 10 is a new version of Microsoft’s computer operating system that boasts tons of upgrades like a voice-activated assistant and the ability to toggle between multiple desktops.
Keyboard


Microsoft says the Surface Pro 3 is the “tablet that can replace your laptop.” That’s thanks to its lightweight Type Cover accessory — a snap-on keyboard that doubles as a screen protector when closed. Due to its short key travel and small touchpad, the Type Cover isn’t quite as good as many standard laptop keyboards, but it’s close enough for most users.
The Surface 3 is set to launch with a Type Cover accessory of its own. As with the Pro 3 version, the new Type Cover will be sold separately for $130. Regardless of what you think about the cost, I’m worried that the keyboard will feel too cramped for comfort. While the Pro 3’s keyboard is full-size, the Surface 3’s will have to be shrunk down a bit to accommodate the smaller size of the device.
In my experience, keyboards smaller than full size are fine for drafting an occasional email, but not cut out for extended typing sessions. I’ll have to wait to get my hands on the Surface 3 before I can say for sure, though.
Stylus support

The best reason to buy the Surface Pro 3 rather than a more traditional business notebook has always been its excellent pen support. The device comes with a stylus and packs a pressure-sensitive display, so jotting down notes directly on the screen feels precise and natural. Most tablets lack pressure sensitivity, making them poor digital notebooks.
Fortunately, the Surface 3 is outfitted with the same pressure-sensing tech as its more premium big brother, so you can take notes and draw diagrams to your heart’s content. Unfortunately, the stylus isn’t included with the Surface 3; it’s sold separately for $50, presumably to help Microsoft keep costs down. But since you won’t find inking functionality that feels this good on many other tablets, it might be worth the expense.
The Surface 3’s new third kickstand position, which lowers the device closer to the desk or tablet it’s sitting on, should come in handy for note taking by providing a better angle for writing compared with the original Surface or Surface 2.
Performance
The Surface Pro 3 can be purchased with Intel’s desktop-class Core i3, i5 or i7 processor, and either 4GB or 8GB of RAM, depending on how much you want to spend. The bottom line is that the Pro 3 is powerful enough to handle a heavy workload, including programs like Photoshop and AutoCAD.
In contrast, the Surface 3 runs Intel’s Atom x7 CPU, a less powerful processor designed for high-end tablets. While it doesn’t offer the raw computing power of the Pro model, the Surface 3 should be more than powerful enough to let you juggle several Office documents with a dozen Web browser tabs. Plus, it should provide longer battery life than the Pro 3’s — a big perk for road warriors who need a work device that lasts.
Bottom line
So which device is better for business? We’ll have to wait until we get our hands on the Surface 3 to know for sure, but right now it seems that these two tablets were designed for different types of business users.
The Surface Pro 3 is ideal for business users who are looking to replace their primary work laptop, and plan to make use of the machine’s excellent inking capabilities. The Pro 3’s screen is big enough for multitasking, and its top-notch stylus makes digital note taking a breeze.
The Surface 3, meanwhile, will probably be more practical as a secondary device, used for taking notes and light productivity.
If you don’t care about digital note taking at all, then I wouldn’t really recommend either Surface model. A more traditional work notebook would be better in that case, potentially offering comparable power and a more practical design at a lower price.

 

8 Smartphones With the Longest Battery Life

 

A fast processor and a big display won’t get you very far if your business phone is always running out of juice. That’s why long battery life is crucial for anyone who uses a smartphone for work. Before you buy your next mobile device, read on for the smartphones that couple great productivity features with serious longevity.
Note: Numbers represent battery life with continuous Web browsing over Wi-Fi.

Huawei Ascend Mate 2

Battery life: 14 hours and 45 minutes
This huge phone comes with a sizeable battery life to match. The Huawei Ascend Mate 2 lasted an incredible 14 hours and 45 minutes with continuous use. The Ascend Mate 2’s battery is so beefy that Huawei even lets you use the phone as a recharging station for your other mobile devices. Just connect a smartphone, tablet or notebook to the phone via a USB cable so you can refuel a second device on the go. Meanwhile, its enormous, 6.1-inch (15.5 cm) screen is another potential perk for business users — if you can handle the extra bulk. The large display gives you plenty of room to work, but it also makes the phone less portable and harder to use with one hand.

• 4G LTE capable
• Expandable memory
• Long battery life

OnePlus One

Battery life: 13 hours and 15 minutes
The OnePlus One is a great 5-inch (12.7 cm) business phone with high-end hardware, great software features, and an eye-popping 13 hours and 15 minutes of battery life. OnePlus doesn’t have the name recognition of major manufacturers such as Samsung or Apple, but the company’s flagship phone has the specs to match up to the Galaxy S5 and iPhone 5s. The OnePlus One also includes useful security features, such as Privacy Guard, which lets you block individual apps from accessing personal information stored on your device, plus built-in encryption for text messaging. It’s not available through major carriers like AT&T or Verizon, but even though you’ll pay more up-front for the device than you would for a subsidized smartphone, you won’t be locked into a pricey two-year contract.

• 4G LTE capable
• Budget friendly
• Long battery life
• Security features

Nokia Lumia 1520

Battery life: 11 hours and 30 minutes
Nokia’s huge Lumia 1520 might be the longest-lasting smartphone not powered by Android, running for about 11 hours and 30 minutes in tests. Longevity aside, this Windows 8.1 phone offers a huge, 6-inch (15.2 centimeters) screen and fast performance. It runs the latest version of the Windows Phone operating system, which includes plenty of productivity-boosting features. For instance, a new notification hub lets you view all your alerts in a single location. It also adds Cortana, a voice-activated digital assistant that lets you perform hands-free actions, such as saving a note or performing a Web search.

• Expandable memory
• Long battery life
• Security features
• Productivity app selection

Sony Xperia Z3

Battery life: 12 hours and 9 minutes
Sony’s Xperia Z3 is a sleek, fast business phone with a bright 5.2-inch display. It also benefits from Sony’s Small Apps functionality, a handy multitasking feature that lets you run a second app in a floating window over your main app. And the Z3 stands out in a crowd, thanks to its handsome glass and metal design. But its best feature might be its epic battery life: the phone ran for 12 hours and 9 minutes on our battery test. The biggest downside might be its limited availability; in the U.S., Sony’s flagship phone is only available off-contract through T-Mobile.

iPhone 6 Plus

Battery life: 10 hours
Apple’s first phablet packs a bigger battery than other iPhones. The iPhone 6 Plus’ beefy battery delivered about 10 hours of battery life with continuous use. And longer battery life isn’t the only thing the big new iPhone has to offer business users. Compared to other models, the large, 5.5-inch (14 cm) display gives you tons of room to work. The larger screen also allows for “dual-pane mode” in certain apps, such as Mail and Messages. When you’re holding your phone sideways, this mode shows a persistent navigation pane on the left side of your screen, letting you easily move between conversations without tapping through hidden menus; smaller iPhones don’t have room for the second pane. Plus, the iPhone 6 includes the usual updates you’d expect from a new generation of iPhones, including a faster processor and tons of software updates.

• 4G LTE capable
• Long battery life
• Security features

HTC One M8

Battery life: 9 hours and 50 minutes 
With an all-metal body and sleek curves, the HTC One M8 might be the sexiest business phone you can buy. Long battery life makes it ever-more appealing: It lasts for about 9 hours and 50 minutes with continuous use. Performance-picky users will like that the One M8 is one of the fastest smartphones currently available. It also includes handy features like Motion Launch, which lets you activate the display quickly by tapping it twice, even when the screen is turned off. The metal design of the phone makes it a bit heftier than the competitors, but that’s a fair trade-off for a smartphone that looks and feels as good as the One M8.

• 4G LTE capable
• Expandable memory
• Long battery life
• Security features

Samsung Galaxy S5

Battery life: 9 hours and 42 minutes
Samsung’s flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S5, packs powerful hardware and great security features for business users. It also gives you good longevity for a 5.1-inch smartphone, lasting about 10 hours and 50 minutes with continuous use. The Galaxy S5’s super-sharp display is bright and colorful, and its powerful quad-core processor delivers fast performance. In addition, the fingerprint scanner embedded in the phone’s home button lets you lock and unlock your device without fussing with passwords or lock screens. Plus, Samsung’s Knox security suite gives you even more protection by letting you run apps under a secure profile, ensuring rogue applications can’t access your data.

• 4G LTE capable
• Expandable memory
• Removable battery
• Multitasking friendly
• Long battery life
• Security features

Motorola Droid Turbo

Battery life: 9 hours and 30 minutes
Motorola claims that its new flagship phone can run for two straight days without a charge; however, with regular use, we found its staying power to be a bit below that. Still, the Droid Turbo’s 9 hours and 30 minutes of battery life is pretty impressive for a smartphone this powerful. It packs a supersharp, 5.2-inch quad-HD display; a blazing-fast quad-core processor; and a whopping 3GB of RAM. And its huge 3,900-mAh battery is the biggest we’ve seen in a U.S. smartphone. Plus, the Droid Turbo comes with a bunch of handy software features, like always-listening voice commands and Moto Display, which makes it easier to view and act on incoming messages right from the lock screen.

 

Best Laptops 2015 a group of 12 global brands device

 

This list contains some of the best personal computers that can be acquired for 2015 but, unfortunately, in most of the high price of great potential for using the latest technology in the field of electronics technology, including computers and a lot of professional techniques for high amateur games design.

1. Dell XP3 (2015):

Dell has been able to make your own screen b XP3 13.3-inch while the body of the laptop originally 11 inches only, which gives us the laptop weighs 2.6 pounds and is lighter even than what Air New Apple with high performance and design is made of carbon fiber that makes the shape neat The screen is nice to have his ability to touch a factory as the best laptops of type ultrabook
Price: $ 800 +

2. Acer Aspire S7-393:

The Acer manufactures laptop closest to perfection in the market, which Aspire S7 He has the best existing processor on the market yet Whipple and weighed 2.87 pounds and the screen can touch the quality of 2560 * 1440 pixels with the battery life is acceptable and certainly if you can buy it you will have acquired best laptop you can work on it yet
Price: $ 1,300 +

3. Lenovo Yoga 3 pro:

Is a laptop floppy that can be bent significantly from the rest of the laptop market 3200 screen * 1800 pixels with a thickness of less than 17% and lighter by 15%, which owns panel swab and operation keys, but its battery is not internal pressure to live up significantly compared to other batteries
Price: US $ 1275 +

4. Apple macbook air:

Apple has to improve the performance of the MacBook in this version and made it thinner so that became a 11-inch and 13-inch and is lightweight with a sleek design and plate convenient operation keys is the battery life of the best things owned by where you can last between 9 to 12 hours that but the problem the display resolution of the screen is less than his customers expect from Apple but it’s not too bad
Price: $ 899 +

5. Dell XPS 12:

This laptop is on the market two years ago, but that Aguetnath there is no need to change it never is an excellent performance is very processor i7 with a screen can turn even better than Lenovo Yoga resolution of 1920 * 1080, as he has with a reasonable rate of battery so you do not Chhanha before 9 hours of work
Price: $ 1,100 +
6. Apple macbook screen type Retina:
If you’re a fan of Apple and the Mac, but you want a much better performance you can buy this lap top with a much better screen display and a battery life of 11 hours, but the only problem is carried by the touch screen with the response speed is not required efficiency
Price: US $ 1299 +

7. Dell XPS 15:

This is a laptop best competitors for Mac Boom 13 inches, especially if you like to use Windows instead of Mac they carry the same screen and the same fish, but the Dell XPS 15 responds faster than the Mac to touch and reach the degree of resolution display on the screen 3200 * 1800 pixels with i7 processor and Graphics Accelerator 2 GB hard drive with a capacity of 1 terabyte
Price: $ 1600 +

8. Samsung ATIV book 9 plus:

This laptop carries a high-resolution screen 3200 * 1800 pixels with a few fish, but its battery is not good enough, but in the end with a good performance
Price: US $ 1299 +

9. MSI GT72 Dominators:

The latest laptop from MSI a thickness of 17 inches and is one of personal computers made for gamers especially as it carries Carr screen of NVIDIA Corporation with a capacity of 32 GB and so it has a good battery is not too bad compared to other types of Vogue and has the design of high-performance panel keys
Price: $ 1700 +

10. Dell AlienWare 17:

The AlienWare is one of the best personal computers for games and annexed by Dell to the company he has a large 17-inch screen size and excellent accuracy give you a suggestion that you are inside the game really with processor i7 type which provides excellent performance of the device and the speed with sleek and attractive design considers to its keyboard of the best designs in the world and has an internal confounded area of 2 terabytes so that you have enough space to store more games you want.
Price: US $ 1499 +

11. Samaung Chrome book 2:

This example lap top quality and reasonable price offers cheap where he has a high-quality 13-inch screen size with a sleek design and well-designed panel keys
Price: $ 399 +

12. Asus ROG G751JT:

This laptop is ideal for gaming enthusiasts he has a stellar performance at the level of components with high quality designs make games look like real with a comfortable keyboard
Price: US $ 1749

 

9 Free Business Productivity Tools For Startups

 

 

Starting a business can be a daunting endeavor, especially if all you have is a cool product and not enough capital. In the tech world, or in any other niche for that matter, most startuppers fail not because they have bad products but because they are unable to generate enough consumer interest in their products. 
Considering overheads and other back-office expenses, this scenario doesn’t come as a surprise. So if you’re still starting out and find yourself strapped for much needed funding to keep your startup afloat, the following free business productivity tools are worth checking out.

# 1. Bitrix24.com

If you need a collaboration tool your staff are most likely to adopt with relative ease and minimum training, take the social intranet route.
Bitrix24.com is the fastest growing social intranet that’s free for businesses with 12 employees or less. The application comes as a combination of several different work tools like CRM, project management, real-time streaming, activity planner, file sharing, to name just a few. As it is cloud-based, access can be anywhere, whether using your computer or smartphone. An upgrade to unlimited users starts at $99 per month.

# 2. GotFreeFax.com

In this era of e-mail and instant messaging, you’d think fax machines are no longer relevant. But if aLinkedIn survey as reported by Mashable is to be believed, fax machines are still in until 2017 steps in.
As you might have already guessed from the site’s name, GotFreeFax.com is an online service that allows you to send up to three pages of fax for free (maximum of two faxes per day) to any number in the United States or Canada. The site also offers premium pay-per-fax service should you need to send more.

# 3. RememberTheMilk.com

RememberTheMilk.com is an online productivity tool that assists in task and time management. Remember The Milk essentially functions as your all-in-one task manager, electronic calendar and to-do list. Aside from allowing you to share and split tasks with other people, the application can be integrated with GMail, too.
The pro account is priced at $25 for one year and comes with exclusive mobile app features and Microsoft Outlook integration.

# 4. Kolab.org

Kolab.org is an open-source group collaboration server that allows for sharing of notes, e-mail access, calendar organization, task management, address book maintenance, news aggregation, phone sync and journal integration. Kolab is secure, scalable, reliable, mobile and professional, ensuring productivity every step of the way. As a whole, the application requires some getting used to. But once you get the hang of it, the hassle can be all worth it.

# 5. WaveApps.com

Formerly WaveAccounting.com, WaveApps.com is an accounting software that’s fast, simple and easy to use, offering unlimited invoicing and expense tracking. 100% free for small businesses with nine employees or less, it’s accountant-approved and specifically designed for non-accountants. You can also securely connect your bank and PayPal accounts or other sources of data, and your transactions are automatically imported into the accounting software.

# 6. PRLog.org

To make your business presence known, one surefire route to take is through the distribution of press releases. PRLog.org is a site where you can dispense press releases for free. And if you feel you don’t have the necessary expertise to create a killer press release, the site provides instructions on how to write one, even how to embed videos where necessary.

# 7. Weebly.com

One cardinal business rule is that businesses should have their own websites to boost their market presence online. Weebly.com is a free website creator that doesn’t require website creation expertise. Until you’re ready to go for more complex and/or self-hosted sites that would require monthly or yearly payments, Weebly.com is a good alternative.

# 8. Join.me

For those meetings or web conferences on the fly, Join.me is a simple-to-use teleconferencing application that allows you to review documents and designs, train staff, do product demonstrations – basically to get everyone apprised of company updates. You can do transatlantic web conferences and presentations, too.

# 9. IFTTT.com

IFTTT.com, which is short for “if this, then that,” functions like a computer program repeatedly uttering if/then logic all day long. With IFTTT, you set up “recipes” to assist you with task automation. For a recipe to work, you have to have a channel, a trigger and an action. Examples of channels are Facebook, e-mail, Evernote, LinkedIn, just to mention a few.
For instance, if you’re tagged in a photo on Facebook, you can create a recipe that would automatically download the image into Dropbox.
What other free business productivity tools can you suggest?

Facebook’s Organic Reach and How it Will Impact your Blog

Facebook’s Organic Reach and How it Will Impact your Blog

 

How Blogs Get Missed out on Account of Facebook’s Organic Reach

Organic Reach?
– For those of you who don’t know or haven’t heard of Facebook’s organic reach, it can be simply explained as a means to reach people through Facebook for free whenever a new picture, video, page or blog gets posted.
Now of late there are quite a number of reasons for the reduced organic reach, but given below are two of the most important ones.
Some Reasons for Reduced Reach:
You may realize that each day people churn out and share new posts and blog content on Facebook and other social media sites. And quite frankly many of these very same people find that a lot of it can be ignored or left unread, unlike in the past.
Gone are those days when one had to go to a lot of trouble to do this too. However in this day and age of technically improved gadgets, just a swipe of your fingers can send content flying to so many people.
This results in people weaning about what they want to read, and it becomes more difficult for a story to get the requisite publicity in News Feed.
Another important reason could be attributed to the working of News Feeds too. In spite of exposing all the content to everyone, Facebook is right now so designed that it only exposes matter that could be of interest to the people. And it does by prioritizing what’s important and what’s not.
The Impact:
– Now, here the question arises as to why not expose all the content to everyone immediately, but the problem again is that as mentioned earlier, people have only time to read and look at important stuff and invariably miss out on most of other content as they are not seen when they log in. This results in the fact that they miss out on some very helpful content like blogs.
As you can well see, these and many other reasons can negatively impact blogs on account of Facebook’s reduced organic reach.


source: webtrafficroi.com

 

 

 

 

10 Most Dangerous Cities in The World to Travel

10 Most Dangerous Cities in The World to Travel

10 Most Dangerous Cities in The World to Travel

It’s now easier than ever to visit distant locations around the world. Some places, however, are best avoided due to dangerous conditions. Certain dangerous places, on the other hand, are also desirable tourist destinations. If you do decide to visit such places, you should at least be aware of the risks and take sensible precautions. Here, in descending order, are the 10 most dangerous cities in the world.

1. San Pedro Sula, Honduras

This city has ranked as one of the world’s most violent for several years now. According to many sources, it has the highest homicide rates in the world -169 per 100,000 people. Arms trafficking is a big problem, and illegal firearms are prevalent throughout the city. This is a city that tourists would do well to avoid.

2. Karachi, Pakistan

Pakistan is experiencing a great deal of political unrest, and crime as well as terrorism is rampant. Assassinations are common, as well as suicide bombings and gang warfare. Karachi is one of the centers of this violence and tourists are advised to avoid this city.

3. Kabul, Afghanistan

This has been one of the most dangerous cities in the world for some time. It is still a war zone, although U.S. troops are gradually being removed from the country. Terrorist attacks, including many bombings are common. Kabul is facing a very uncertain future and will probably be a very dangerous place for the foreseeable future. Like Baghdad, Kabul is a city where violence can occur at any time.

4. Baghdad, Iraq

Bombings, gunfire and other violent events are common in Iraq. This country has been on the “do not travel” list for Americans for many years and Baghdad remains a dangerous place. The future of Iraq is extremely uncertain as U.S. troops are departing from the country. This is another war-torn country that is not likely to be safe anytime soon. Since the violence in Baghdad usually consists of unpredictable outbreaks of terrorism, it’s not a place that people should visit without a good reason.

5. Acapulco, Mexico

Not long ago, this city was considered a safe and luxurious resort area. While tourism to Acapulco is still popular, drug violence has now made this into a dangerous area. Recent statistics reveal that this city has one of the world’s highest murder rates -142 per 100,000 people. People visiting Acapulco are advised to remain on the property of the resorts where they are staying, as most of the crime occurs in surrounding areas.

6. Guatemala City, Guatemala

Although Guatemala, a Central American nation on the Caribbean, has many tourist attractions, it’s a nation that is plagued with drug violence. It has a high murder rate and other common crimes include street robberies, bus holdups and carjackings. It’s advisable if visiting Guatemala to remain in safer regions and avoid Guatemala City.

7. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Many cities in Brazil have very high crime rates, and some are more dangerous than Rio de Janeiro. Yet since Rio is by far the most popular tourist destination in Brazil, it’s worth focusing on here. Rio is actually safer than it was a decade ago, but street crimes are still common in many areas, especially at night. It’s possible to enjoy the resorts and beaches of this city, but common sense precautions should be taken.

8. Cape Town, South Africa

Due to the prevalence of poverty and social unrest in this city, it is suffering from an extremely high crime rate. Although many tourists are drawn to South Africa because of its natural beauty and proximity to nature preserves and other attractions, Cape Town can be a dangerous place. It is possible to enjoy a visit to this city if you avoid the more dangerous sections and don’t travel alone at night.

9. Ciudad Juarez, Mexico

Mexico’s problems with drug traffickers are well known and Ciudad Juarez is one of the nation’s most violent cities right now. Police are often employed or paid off by drug gangs, which means that many crimes go unpunished.

10. Caracas, Venezuela

This is the capital city of Venezuela and it is presently facing a crisis involving drug gangs. Street crimes such as muggings and theft are also common, making this an undesirable destination for most tourists. Many other cities in Venezuela also have high crime rates.

Free and Cheap Ways to Enjoy Winter

 

You can stay warm and save money at the same time.

Curl up under some blankets and enjoy the weather for free.

During the coldest months of the year, cabin fever can easily set in. It’s easy to think about outdoor activities in spring, summer and fall that don’t require spending much money, but when cold weather arrives, it seems the easiest ways to fight the winter doldrums are often expensive. The next time you’re looking for fun ideas over the weekend or a school break, consider these free and cheap ways to love the winter season instead:
Visit a museum
Winter can be one of the best times of year to visit museums because there are often fewer tourists and crowds. Most museums offer “free days,” when admission is free or a donation of your own choosing. Spend the day wandering the exhibits when it’s especially chilly outside.
Find the best sledding hill
Load up the car with sleds, inner tubes and a few friends and head out in search of the best sledding hill in your area. Have everyone in the group pick out one hill to try, and at the end of the day discuss your favorite over a mug of hot chocolate.
Ice skating
Lace up your ice skates or rent a pair for a small fee, and head to an ice-skating rink. This is an activity all ages can enjoy. You might even get lucky and pick a day to skate that is relatively warm; the ice-making machines will keep the rink frozen for you and you’ll get plenty of exercise.
Volunteer
Not only is volunteering a great way for couples, families and friends to get out of the house and involved in their community, but it’s also needed when temperatures hit freezing or the snow flies. Sign up to shovel snow for those who aren’t physically able; there are often online forums in your community. Another needed service? Volunteer to grocery shop for the elderly or anyone who can’t endure the bitter cold or doesn’t have reliable transportation. You’ll get to help others and save money all at the same time.
Snowman competition
Take your snowman building to the next level and host a competition. Dig up fun accessories around the house to make your snowperson the most unique, and then award fun prizes to everyone who competes. Potential categories include “most creative” and “best use of kitchen tools.”
Walk in the woods
Put on your winter boots or rent a pair of snowshoes and grab a friend for a snowy walk through the woods. Find animal tracks, see frozen streams and explore your own backyard when everything looks different in the snow. Make sure to pack a hot thermos of soup or cocoa, along with enough gloves and hats for everyone.
Complete a puzzle
If you’re stuck inside on a snow day or a weekend, dig out an old jigsaw puzzle to work on with others or even on your own.
Make paper snowflakes
Not snowing but still stuck inside due to the cold? Make your own snow instead. Grab some paper from the recycling bin and cut out paper snowflakes to hang around the house. You can even find patterns and tutorials for elaborate snowflakes on YouTube.
Host a potluck party for the Big Game
Whether or not your team made it to the final NFL game of the year, you can still host a fun party. Invite your friends, make it a potluck and you won’t need to break the bank on food and beverage costs. Coordinate who’s bringing what to avoid duplicates and guarantee plenty of goodies.
Attend a free workshop
If you’ve always wanted to attempt a do-it-yourself project but don’t know where to start, take advantage of a free class. Stores such as Home Depot, Michael’s and Lowe’s all host free workshops, ranging from education for homeowners, to specific projects and crafts, to fun activities for kids.
Make a blanket fort
Remember when you created those forts out of blankets and pillows when you were a kid? Turn back the clock and make an adult-sized version for watching movies, reading books or napping on cold winter days. Even better, share the tradition with your own family and teach your kids how to make a blanket fort. Chances are it will be just as memorable for them!

source: usnews.com

 

9 Websites to Earn Extra Money Online

9 Websites to Earn Extra Money Online  


It doesn’t take much time to run across someone pitching a “get-rich-quick” scheme online. We’ve all seen them – people who promise to show you how to make thousands at home in your spare time.
Guess what? Like any get-rich-quick scheme, it’s only going to make money for the person running the scheme.
That doesn’t mean there aren’t reputable ways to earn a little bit of money online during your spare time. There are many easy and legal ways to earn a few bucks on the Internet.  Here are nine to try:
Mechanical Turk is a program run by Amazon where anyone can sign up and complete simple tasks – like choosing which of two pictures depicts a bridge – to earn a few cents per task. With some practice, you can earn a few dollars an hour while just sitting on your couch watching television. And with enough focus, you can earn an amount roughly equal to minimum wage.
YouTube allows anyone to post nonexplicit videos on pretty much any topic they desire. Recording a video can be as simple as turning on the camera on your computer and hitting the record button. If you enable advertisements on your videos, you can earn money at a rate of about $1 to $3 per 1,000 video views. The more videos the have, the more views you can accrue, so this option really pays off if you record a lot of videos and build a viewership.
eLance allows people in almost any profession to find freelance work at home in their spare time. While the projects on eLance aren’t going to earn you a ton of money, they do provide a great way to build an independent portfolio to show off your skills while also building a network of clients.
Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing allows anyone who has written a book on their own to upload it to Amazon to be sold on Amazon Kindle devices. Let’s say you write a novel and want to sell it. If you upload it here and then promote it online through social media or blogs, you can sell copies of your book and earn as much as a 70 percent return on each sale.
Fotolia allows you to sell photos you’ve taken for stock photography usage. For example, if a publisher is looking for a picture of a beach and you uploaded such a picture, the publisher can use Fotolia to purchase the rights to use that picture in its publication and you receive a cut of that money. For a photography hobbyist, this is a great way to earn a few dollars for some of your best photos.
Swagbucks is perhaps the most popular – and most legitimate – of the online survey sites. Swagbucks pays you a small amount for participating in a consumer survey, which companies then use to figure out what kinds of products to make and sell. You can participate in several surveys a day, and Swagbucks earnings can be redeemed for gift cards from Amazon, Target, iTunes and more.
Fiverr is a website where you can make $5 doing almost anything. On the site, people upload jobs that they’re willing to do for $5, like writing Facebook posts for companies. Many of the jobs require creative skills such as graphic design or audio editing, but tasks are things you can easily do on the couch in your spare time.
Skillshare is a website where you can teach an online class and get paid for it. You record series of videos on a topic that you know about – popular subjects include crafts, film, fashion and cooking – and then participate on the Skillshare forums related to your class. In exchange, you receive a cut of the money from the people who take your class. No teaching degree is necessary to get started, and the site says teachers can earn an average of $3,500 a year.
Zirtual is perhaps the most time-consuming, but most rewarding, option. With Zirtual, you sign up to be a Zirtual Assistant to a busy person. The person will send you things to do such as write emails, research a topic and summarize the findings, or personal tasks such as order flowers, manage a personal calendar or write handwritten notes. The starting base pay is $11 an hour, and Zirtual Assistants work weekdays full time.
All of these websites offer great opportunities for anyone to earn some extra money online. It all depends on what you want to bring to the table in terms of time, money and effort.

source:   usnews.com

Egypt Economic Development Conference  

The Egypt Economic Development Conference (EEDC)

The Egypt Economic Development Conference (EEDC) offers a unique opportunity to further understand the investment opportunities available in Egypt and share your views with heads of state, ministers, CEOs, diplomats and investors from around the world. This unprecedented gathering of Egypt’s international partners will send a clear signal of confidence to domestic and international investors alike.
The Arab Republic of Egypt has done much in the past year to restore political stability, revive economic activity, and respond to the most pressing needs of its people. Far-reaching reforms to reduce energy subsidies, put public finances on a sustainable path, and streamline the business environment reflect the Government’s intention to establish a solid foundation for growth.
Building on this momentum, the Government of Egypt is launching an ambitious investment program so that Egypt can realize its full economic potential and generate employment. This program will help fulfill the aspirations of the Egyptian people and enable Egypt to play a critical role in rebuilding prosperity and stability for the region. Key sectors targeted include oil & gas, power, housing, transportation & logistics, mining, tourism, information technology & telecommunications, industry and agriculture.
The EEDC will provide a platform for the Government of Egypt to elaborate on its macroeconomic vision and program, present the action plans for the abovementioned sectors, and explain the concrete initiatives underway to transform the business climate. The conference will also offer global business leaders and investors a venue to help shape the reforms to come and to be among the first to engage in attractive investment opportunities.

Event Website:
http://www.egyptthefuture.com/

source:  ahkmena.com

You Can Make Six Figures As A YouTube Star … And Still End Up Poor

 

 

 

It’s the new American Dream: Quitting your job to become famous on YouTube.
Dozens, possibly hundreds of people, have built up huge audiences on Google’s video upload site, and the media is full of stories of their success. The archetype is Jenna Marbles, who has millions of fans and makes an estimated $350,000 a year from her self-deprecating takes on life as an American female.
But before you buy a videocamera and tell your boss to shove it, consider what it costs to become a YouTube star. Turns out you can be one of the most famous people on the web and still barely get by.
The New York Times recently profiled Olga Kay, another YouTube star who does self-deprecating monologues on female American life (are you sensing a theme here?). It’s a great story if you want some hard numbers on the costs and revenues of being internet famous:
Kay has earned $100,000 to $300,000 in each of the last three years. She has 1 million subscribers. That number is merely the gross revenue, however.
She makes 20 videos a week, all of which are filled with ads via Google’s automated YouTube partners program.
Kay likely gets about $7.60 per 1,000 ad views, down from $9.35 in 2012, according to TubeMogul, which buys and sells video ads.
Ads are only run on a minority of videos shown. Roughly, a video creator will earn $2,000 for every million views. “And then YouTube takes 45 percent,” the Times notes. (The IRS will take its cut of the remainder, too.)
Kay spends $500-$700 a week on editing costs.
In other words, Kay is probably getting by on less than 50% of what her videos make in gross revenue. In a $100,000 year, she might be looking at $21,000 annually, after YouTube’s cut, taxes and editing costs, according to our back-of the-envelope math ($100,000 minus $45,000 for YouTube, minus editing costs at $500 per week for 50 weeks, minus 30% for the IRS).
We presume Kay’s real numbers are a little more optimistic than that — otherwise why bother?
Jason Calacanis, a well-known Silicon Valley entrepreneur who was part of YouTube’s professional partners program, said that to make 10 videos he would spend $25,000 to $75,000 in costs before a dime was earned in advertising:
We were huge fans of YouTube … but we are not creating content anymore because it’s simply not sustainable. YouTube is an awesome place to build a brand, but it is a horrible place to build a business.

source :

businessinsider.com

 

Money-Saving Apps That Won’t Cost You a Dime

Money-Saving Apps That Won’t Cost You a Dime



For some people, to say times are tight financially is an understatement. A recent Bankrate survey revealed that three out of five Americans are only one medical emergency or unexpected car repair away from emptying their savings, if they have any savings in the first place.
Part of the reason is that many of us don’t take the time to properly budget — especially not the slow, inconvenient old-school way, via pen and paper. And we all know how well tracking cash in our heads works out. It generally doesn’t.
The good news: It’s never too late to master your finances and start saving. That’s where today’s web and mobile financial apps come in handy, making it easier and faster to scrimp and save than ever before, sometimes automatically.
Here are three of our favorite free apps to help you start saving money now.
1. Digit
Image credit: Digit
If you’re among the one in three Americans who hasn’t saved a single penny for retirement, Digit aims to get you stashing cash pronto. It’s a web- and texting-based digital piggy bank app that “automates your savings so you don’t have to think about it.” We like the sound of that.
Digit dials into your checking account (with your permission) and studies your income history and spending habits. Using an algorithm, it then crunches the data and figures out how much you can afford to save. Every two to three days, the Google Ventures-backed tool transfers small amounts of cash from your checking account (typically between $1 and $150) and funnels it to an FDIC-insured Digit savings account, notifying you all the while via SMS texts.
Related: 10 Apps to Save You Time, Money and Energy on Your Next Business Trip
The startup guarantees that it will “never transfer more money than you can afford.” That way, you need not worry about overdrawing your checking account.
Digit users can access their nest eggs 24/7/365 via text message. Transfers are free, unlimited and have no minimums. The only drawback is that you won’t accrue interest on your savings as digit accounts aren’t set up that way. But, hey, when you hit your savings goals, Digit texts you cheeky congratulatory messages featuring GIFs of killer whales and Bill Murray. That’s something to look forward to, right?
2. RetailMeNot
Image credit: RetailMeNot
Sure, growing your savings is great, but who doesn’t want to save some dough on their next shopping spree? This free coupon app — spun off from its popular namesake website — scours the web for deals and coupons from more than 50,000 retailers. It then delivers them as barcode scannable and printable digital coupons that you can redeem right from your smartphone screen.
You can also use RetailMeNot to set up customizable notifications so you’ll always be on top of the latest in-store and online deals. Major retailers featured on the site include Amazon, Home Depot, Kohl’s, Old Navy, Target, Staples and more. The app also tracks several national chain restaurants — including Papa John’s, KFC, Chili’s, Olive Garden, Red Lobster — for special deals and discounts.
Related: 3 Free Personal Finance Apps to Help You Save Money
To discover deals, you can either browse retailers by category (Accessories, Automotive, Beauty, Books, etc.) or by using the app’s keyword search. The visually simple app also has a helpful “Nearby” map feature so that you can see the deals closest to your location (per your device’s GPS coordinates). RetailMeNot is available for iOS and Android devices.
3. GasBuddy
Image credit: GasBuddy
While you’re out shopping, you might as well save a few bucks at the gas pump, right?  Every cent saved is another penny you can put back into your budget (uh, and you do have a budget, don’t you?).
GasBuddy, a free user data-driven app, can help you cut down on your gasoline costs by directing you to gas stations that sell the cheapest gas near you. The best part, other than saving on gas, is that GasBuddy does this in a fun, gamified way, similar to Waze, hooking you up with points and snazzy new car icons as you report gas prices. Also, the more prices you report, the better shot you have of gracing the GasBuddy leaderboard.
Available for iOS and Android devices, the app draws on user-supplied gas price information to “drive” you to the lowest gas prices in your area, based on your device’s GPS location. The prices are displayed on a map, but you can also search for them by city or ZIP code.

source :   maktoob news

Questions About Currency Trading Answered Top 7 Questions About Currency Trading Answered

Questions About Currency Trading Answered

 

 

 forex is the largest financial market in the world, it is relatively unfamiliar terrain for retail traders. Until the popularization of internet trading a few years ago, FX was primarily the domain of large financial institutions, multinational corporations and secretive hedge funds. But times have changed, and individual investors are hungry for information on this fascinating market. Whether you are an FX novice or just need a refresher course on the basics of currency trading, read on to find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the forex market.
How does the forex market differ from other markets?
Unlike stocks, futures or options, currency trading does not take place on a regulated exchange. It is not controlled by any central governing body, there are no clearing houses to guarantee the trades and there is no arbitration panel to adjudicate disputes. All members trade with each other based on credit agreements. Essentially, business in the largest, most liquid market in the world depends on nothing more than a metaphorical handshake.
At first glance, this ad-hoc arrangement must seem bewildering to investors who are used to structured exchanges such as the NYSE or CME. (To learn more, see Getting To Know Stock Exchanges.) However, this arrangement works exceedingly well in practice; because participants in FX must both compete and cooperate with each other, self regulation provides very effective control over the market. Furthermore, reputable retail FX dealers in the United States become members of the National Futures Association (NFA), and by doing so they agree to binding arbitration in the event of any dispute. Therefore, it is critical that any retail customer who contemplates trading currencies do so only through an NFA member firm.
The FX market is different from other markets in some other key ways that are sure to raise eyebrows. Think that the EUR/USD is going to spiral downward? Feel free to short the pair at will. There is no uptick rule in FX as there is in stocks. There are also no limits on the size of your position (as there are in futures); so, in theory, you could sell $100 billion worth of currency if you had the capital to do it. If your biggest Japanese client, who also happens to golf with the governor of the Bank of Japan tells you on the golf course that BOJ is planning to raise rates at its next meeting, you could go right ahead and buy as much yen as you like. No one will ever prosecute you for insider trading should your bet pay off. There is no such thing as insider trading in FX; in fact, European economic data, such as German employment figures, are often leaked days before they are officially released.
Before we leave you with the impression that FX is the Wild West of finance, we should note that this is the most liquid and fluid market in the world. It trades 24 hours a day, from 5pm EST Sunday to 4pm EST Friday, and it rarely has any gaps in price. Its sheer size and scope (from Asia to Europe to North America) makes the currency market the most accessible market in the world.
Where is the commission in forex trading?
Investors who trade stocks, futures or options typically use a broker, who acts as an agent in the transaction. The broker takes the order to an exchange and attempts to execute it as per the customer’s instructions. For providing this service, the broker is paid a commission when the customer buys and sells the tradable instrument. (For further reading, see our Brokers And Online Trading tutorial.)
The FX market does not have commissions. Unlike exchange-based markets, FX is a principals-only market. FX firms are dealers, not brokers. This is a critical distinction that all investors must understand. Unlike brokers, dealers assume market risk by serving as a counterparty to the investor’s trade. They do not charge commission; instead, they make their money through the bid-ask spread.
In FX, the investor cannot attempt to buy on the bid or sell at the offer like in exchange-based markets. On the other hand, once the price clears the cost of the spread, there are no additional fees or commissions. Every single penny gain is pure profit to the investor. Nevertheless, the fact that traders must always overcome the bid/ask spread makes scalping much more difficult in FX. (To learn more, see Scalping: Small Quick Profits Can Add Up.)
What is a pip?
Pip stands for “percentage in point” and is the smallest increment of trade in FX. In the FX market, prices are quoted to the fourth decimal point. For example, if a bar of soap in the drugstore was priced at $1.20, in the FX market the same bar of soap would be quoted at 1.2000. The change in that fourth decimal point is called 1 pip and is typically equal to 1/100th of 1%. Among the major currencies, the only exception to that rule is the Japanese yen. One Japanese yen is now worth approximately US$0.01; so, in the USD/JPY pair, the quotation is only taken out to two decimal points (i.e. to 1/100th of yen, as opposed to 1/1000th with other major currencies).
What are you really selling or buying in the currency market?
The short answer is “nothing”. The retail FX market is purely a speculative market. No physical exchange of currencies ever takes place. All trades exist simply as computer entries and are netted out depending on market price. For dollar-denominated accounts, all profits or losses are calculated in dollars and recorded as such on the trader’s account.
The primary reason the FX market exists is to facilitate the exchange of one currency into another for multinational corporations that need to trade currencies continually (for example, for payroll, payment for costs of goods and services from foreign vendors, and merger and acquisition activity). However, these day-to-day corporate needs comprise only about 20% of the market volume. Fully 80% of trades in the currency market are speculative in nature, put on by large financial institutions, multibillion dollar hedge funds and even individuals who want to express their opinions on the economic and geopolitical events of the day.
Because currencies always trade in pairs, when a trader makes a trade he or she is always long one currency and short the other. For example, if a trader sells one standard lot (equivalent to 100,000 units) of EUR/USD, she would, in essence, have exchanged euros for dollars and would now be “short” euros and “long” dollars. To better understand this dynamic, let’s use a concrete example. If you went into an electronics store and purchased a computer for $1,000, what would you be doing? You would be exchanging your dollars for a computer. You would basically be “short” $1,000 and “long” one computer. The store would be “long” $1,000 but now “short” one computer in its inventory. The exact same principle applies to the FX market, except that no physical exchange takes place. While all transactions are simply computer entries, the consequences are no less real.
Which currencies are traded in the forex market?
Although some retail dealers trade exotic currencies such as the Thai baht or the Czech koruna, the majority trade the seven most liquid currency pairs in the world, which are the four “majors”:
EUR/USD (euro/dollar)
USD/JPY (dollar/Japanese yen)
GBP/USD (British pound/dollar)
USD/CHF (dollar/Swiss franc)
and the three commodity pairs:
AUD/USD (Australian dollar/dollar)
USD/CAD (dollar/Canadian dollar)
NZD/USD (New Zealand dollar/dollar)
These currency pairs, along with their various combinations (such as EUR/JPY, GBP/JPY and EUR/GBP), account for more than 95% of all speculative trading in FX. Given the small number of trading instruments – only 18 pairs and crosses are actively traded – the FX market is far more concentrated than the stock market. (To read more, check out Popular Forex Currencies.)
What is a currency carry trade?
Carry is the most popular trade in the currency market, practiced by both the largest hedge funds and the smallest retail speculators. The carry trade rests on the fact that every currency in the world has an interest rate attached to it. These short-term interest rates are set by the central banks of these countries: the Federal Reserve in the U.S., the Bank of Japan in Japan and the Bank of England in the U.K.
The idea behind the carry is quite straightforward. The trader goes long the currency with a high interest rate and finances that purchase with a currency with a low interest rate. For example, in 2005, one of the best pairings was the NZD/JPY cross. The New Zealand economy, spurred by huge commodity demand from China and a hot housing market, saw its rates rise to 7.25% and stay there, while Japanese rates remained at 0%. A trader going long the NZD/JPY could have harvested 725 basis points in yield alone. On a 10:1 leverage basis, the carry trade in NZD/JPY could have produced a 72.5% annual return from interest rate differentials, without any contribution from capital appreciation. Now you can understand why the carry trade is so popular!
But before you rush out and buy the next high-yield pair, be aware that when the carry trade is unwound, the declines can be rapid and severe. This process is known as carry trade liquidation and occurs when the majority of speculators decide that the carry trade may not have future potential. With every trader seeking to exit his or her position at once, bids disappear and the profits from interest rate differentials are not nearly enough to offset the capital losses. Anticipation is the key to success: the best time to position in the carry is at the beginning of the rate-tightening cycle, allowing the trader to ride the move as interest rate differentials increase. (To learn more about this type of trade, see Currency Carry Trades 101.)
Forex Market Jargon
Every discipline has its own jargon, and the currency market is no different. Here are some terms to know that will make you sound like a seasoned currency trader:
Cable, sterling, pound – alternative names for the GBP
Greenback, buck – nicknames for the U.S. dollar
Swissie – nickname for the Swiss franc
Aussie – nickname for the Australian dollar
Kiwi – nickname for the New Zealand dollar
Loonie, the little dollar – nicknames for the Canadian dollar
Figure – FX term connoting a round number like 1.2000
Yard – a billion units, as in “I sold a couple of yards of sterling.”
To learn more about FX trading, see A Primer On The Forex Market, Getting Started In Forex and Demo Before You Dive In.
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source:   investopedia.com