We all know what an iPhone can do. We can use this useful device to connect to the Web and view the latest movies and tv shows. We can use it to update our Facebook pages and send out tweets. We can listen to music, make phone calls, to get directions to the nearest Italian restaurant by using the iPhone. However, you may be amazed at what else your iPhone lets you do. Fortunately, there are plenty of smartphone experts out there willing to share their top iPhone tricks with you.

Saving Time

If you find it hard to type a Web address on the small on-screen keyboard, before clicking in the address bar on your browser, turn your iPhone to a horizontal position. The keyboard will now be larger, making it easier to type an “e” and not a “w”. This is a timesaving tip for making phone calls. When browsing the Web, if you locate phone number you need to call, simply tap the telephone number on the screen and your phone will dial it.

More Efficient Typing

This tip will help you type faster: When you tap the space bar twice at the end of a sentence, your phone will add a period and automatically capitalize the next word you type. If you are a person who uses a great deal of special characters, it’s simple to access the menu by touching and holding a letter on your screen until the special character options appear. Then simply select the character you want and insert it.

Quick Printing, Personalized Entertainment

This tip is for those of you that own an AirPrint-enabled printer. It is simple to print documents, emails, and Web pages from your iPhone with this device. To print a Web page merely tap the “Action” icon and choose “Print,” this will send the data to your printer. Printing an email is just as easy; tap “Reply” and select “Print.”

For you music lovers out there, you may create a music playlist on the run. Access the iPod app, tap the “Playlists” icon select the “Add Playlist” icon. Relabel your playlist and add any video or song on your phone by merely touching it.

It seems like touchscreen technology just came into our lives, yet we already take it for granted that after we touch an icon on our device a very specific action will be preformed. We expect the device to get it right, each time. A few years ago we wouldn’t have dreamed this was possible. Today, it’s a given that the latest and greatest gadgets will be equipped with a touchscreen.

How, exactly, does touchscreen technology work? How do so many of our screens know what to do if we touch the icons shown on them? The answer isn’t that straightforward. That is because there are many different types of touchscreen technologies, and each of them works in a different way.

Resistive touchscreens

Many touchscreens today operate on the resistive model. Resistive touchscreens are coated with a thin electrically conductive layer. Whenever you touch the screen, your fingertip causes the electrical current to change. This information is instantly sent to the device’s controller, which causes the device to react to your touch. Resistive touchscreen technology is less expensive, and is the most common form of touchscreen used in products today. However, such touchscreens are not the most sensitive.

Surface wave touchscreen

This form of touchscreen utilizes ultrasonic waves that pass across the screen. When your finger touches the screen, you absorb part of the wave. This information is sent to the device’s controller and an action is preformed. Simple right?

Capacitive touchscreens

This technology tends to produce the sharpest image quality. Much like the resistive technology these screens are coated with a material that sends an electrical current continuously across the screen. When you touch the screen you absorb some of the current, which in turn disrupts the flow. This information is then sent to the controller and the action that you requested is executed.

Fortunately, to enjoy touchscreen technology you don’t have to have a deep understanding of it. And you don’t have to be an engineer to realize this technology will become more popular, not less.

Consumer spending heavily depends on digital currency and possibly someday paper money will be obsolete.  It might sound fantastic but consider how frequently you yourself use a credit card to purchase things, go online to shop, or receive gift cards preloaded with a specific amount of money.  Probably you pay your bills via internet banking, pay-at-the-pump with a credit card, as well as purchase movie tickets online.  Once you consider how frequently you actually use digital currency on a day-to-day basis, we aren’t really that far off from going totally digital with our currency.

The Bitcoin revolution?

Did you know there is an increasingly popular digital currency already in “circulation?” Bitcoin, first seen in 2009, is an “unhackable” peer-to-peer digital currency that’s recognized globally and can used to buy goods and services.

Bitcoin is not technically a legal tender and for that reason many, if not most, retailers outside the Bitcoin user database will not accept it.  It is quite possible another alternative digital currency may pop up and over take Bitcoin, becoming more mainstream compared to the revolutionary Bitcoin.

The digital currency model

There are many advantages to ditching paper money. You can’t lose it, you don’t have to worry about having exact change, and there is no need to replace damaged currency, which saves time, energy, and money.

Digital currency can be more secure than paper money, too. When you’re robbed as you are walking down the street, you have little chance of recouping the money. However, if someone steals your credit card, you can quickly cancel the card, protecting yourself financially. The same scenario could easily exist with your digital dollars.

Holdouts

Not everyone is sold on the idea of digital currency. Many people still don’t use credit cards or even have a computer. They prefer to use paper money, as it feels more real to them. We will just have to see how the world changes and if the luddites out there will change their minds.

The Tokyo Motor Show showcased some of the most exciting concept cars of 2011. Many companies had efficiency in mind with their eco-friendly designs while others pushed their ideas to the limits of creativity. Here we will examine some of the more intriguing and eccentric designs of 2011.

Volkswagen

Volkswagen unveiled their newest Beetle and it is ready to rock. Teaming up with Fender, this Beetle is equipped with a sound system that includes a 400W 10-channel amplifier, a subwoofer, and two sets of tweeters, one set in the front and one in the back. This car is great for anyone who is ready to rock out!

Honda

This year Honda debuted this an ultra tiny electric car they call their “micro commuter”. This eco-friendly vehicle is only 98.4 inches long, 49.2 wide, and 56.3 tall and brings a video game feel to your morning drive. Two joysticks control the car. Its top speed is only 37 mph and carries three people. While this may seem like a disadvantage, for those navigating a crowded city, its tiny size is perfect.

Daihatsu

This design may look like a bus; it is actually the FC Sho Case fuel cell car. Daihatsu’s revolutionary design contains no rare earth metals, which makes it more affordable to make then other fuel cells. The LCD screen on the outside play soothing wave patterns, but when getting into the car, passengers must step high over these to get in, making it hard for elderly people or those with injuries.

Toyota and Yamaha

As people look for fuel-efficient ways to get around, we have seen the popularity of mopeds increase in the past years. Toyota partnered with Yamaha to take this one step further with their electric tricycle the EC-Miu. This scooter can be recharged at charging stations used by other electric vehicles and will be embedded with Wi-Fi capabilities. Talk about high-tech.

The cars debuted at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show were extremely imaginative and focused on energy efficiency. I can’t wait to see what will be unveiled next year.

One of the greatest benefits of Android smartphones is that they are extremely customizable. You can customize everything from your home screen to the way you access documents and download apps. Luckily, customizing your Android smartphone is not very difficult. Follow these suggestions to design your smartphone to fit your life.

One-Touch Dialing
There are unquestionably certain numbers that you dial more frequently than others. With Android smartphones, you can set up one-touch dialing for those people whom you call the most. Simply press an open space on the screen and select the “Shortcuts” option. Then press Direct Dial and pick the right person out of your list of contacts. Now you can call that person by simply pressing a single button.

Saving Time Searching the Web
Your Android phone can be customized to include your most often visited Web sites on the home screen. This is done by pressing and holding the desired site in your browser’s bookmarks. A list of options will pop up. Select the “Add Shortcut to Home” option. This will add the Web page to your phone’s home page.

Organizing with Folders
By creating folders on your Android phone, you can better organize everything from your contacts to your most important work documents by grouping these items into their own folders. For example, if you’re working on an important project for work, you can create a new folder that’s reserved for documents, Web addresses, and contact numbers relevant to this specific project. To make folders, press on a blank space on your phone’s screen. When your list of options pops up, press “Folders.” This will enable you to make your own folder and name it. You can then drag and drop important documents, images, and files into these folders.

Phishing scams continue to be one of the most profitable crimes for online cyber criminals. News reports of sensitive data from large corporations like Sony being jeopardized are increasing at a troubling rate. But contrary to popular belief, these phishing scams are just as dangerous for small business owners.

The Internet Crime Complaint Center (partners with the FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C) have reported more than 300,000 cases of online phishing scams and other Internet related crimes.

To give you a better comprehension as to why your small business is of great value to a cyber criminal, let’s take a look at what phishing is exactly. 

What is phishing?

What does “phishing” mean? Phishing is the attempt to access private data, such as financial information, usernames, and passwords. This is achieved by making false websites, graphics, email accounts, and phone numbers. The subject is convinced, by one method or another, to reveal these types of information that may be used to steal their identity (social security numbers are a popular target). For small businesses, phishing scams may attempt to get access to customer credit card information. 

Examples of small business phishing scams

There are many models of small business phishing scams.  For example, bogus emails have been sent to thousands of smaller businesses that are highly authentic looking from the IRS and even including the IRS logo.  These emails explain that they must fill out tax forms or W-4 forms and return these forms by fax.  Many business owners trust this information was sent by the IRS and fear that they will be audited if they do not do what the email said was requested of them.

The IRS states on it’s website at IRS.gov, that it will not initiate any contact by email and that you should never click any links on an email sent to you asking you to send anything to the IRS.

Your company email can be a target

Company emails are easy access for thieves.  They can target an individual by sending him or her an email that looks legitimate, however when they open it, it can release a virus or malware infecting the entire network.  The thieves will then have access to employee’s private information and company data.

Phone phishing

There are also several “phone phishing scams” where fake messages from your bank, for example, ask you to call a phone number and enter your account information.

How to protect your business against phishing

APWG.org is the Anti-Phishing Work Group, and their mission is to provide wonderful advice on how to guarantee your business does not fall victim to phishing. Listed here are some of their tips:

• Make sure your employees are aware of what phishing scams are, and are cautious when reading and responding to suspicious emails.  Always err on the side of caution.  Instead of clicking a link, open another browser window and go to the official website.
• Never give out company financial information such as bank routing numbers to an inquiry made via email.  Your bank does not need you to confirm your account information…they already have that. An email like that even if it has your bank’s logo is a fake. Make it a habit to check your accounts regularly for suspicious charges and withdrawals.
• Make sure every computer used has up-to-date virus and malware protection.  Schedule regular full system scans.  Never download “anti-virus” software from an unknown entity. It’s better to stick with trusted brands.

The best way to protect oneself and colleagues from these scams is to be aware of the methods one can use to identify a scam and stay on top of the latest news on the issue.

Business trends differ from year to year and sometimes even month to month. One of the most debated about trends is telecommuting. There are many of views concerning Telecommuting; unfortunately, as it is a fairly recent trend there isn’t much info around it. Does it make employees more efficient or not? Does it make them happier, lonelier, disconnected, or more connected? What about the cost for the company? Does it cost more or less? These are a few of the many questions businesses must consider when deciding if allowing employees to telecommute fits their company’s structure and style.

Some studies show there are remarkable benefits to telecommuting. We’ve laid out several pros and cons below:

Pros

• Telecommuters work longer hours, as they aren’t wasting time commuting.
• Telecommuters have more control over their lives, which leads to less anxiety, more happiness, and more productivity.
• Telecommuters can adjust their working hours around their lives and the hours they are most productive – even if that is at three a.m.
• Telecommuting is fantastic for those who do not thrive in the standard structured nine-to-five work environment.
• Telecommuting encourages self-reliance and problem solving, and develops time management skills.
• Employers can hire highly skilled individuals without having to pay for moving costs.
• Both the telecommuter and the employer save time and money.

Cons – the other side of the coin

• Telecommuters may suffer burnout if they work excessively.
• A lack of socialization for many who crave social interaction may result in depression and loneliness.
• Poor time management skills may lead to a lack of productivity
• Telecommuting can lead to a break down in communication due to distance.
• Telecommuting can require a more time than usual to put together a home office.

For both manager and employee, successful telecommuting takes strong communication, time management skills, and clarity of job responsibilities. We are seeing more and more people desiring an independent working environment. But in the end, whether telecommuting will work or not, depend on the company’s culture and the employees’ mindset. Tell us what you think; will telecommuting be the way most businesses are organized in the future or will it fade out?