2008 April | Computers Users Tips

Apr 30

Philosophy Of Successful Time Management Or How To Start Working With LeaderTask?

By: Ivan Abramovsky

Introduction. LeaderTask what is it?

Before you start using the LeaderTask organizer, you should learn about its features, i.e. find out what it can do and what it cannot do. First of all, LeaderTask is a personal organizer for everyday activities whose main features are:

* Task Scheduler (http://www.leadertask.com/content/view/49/53/)

* Calendar

* Personal Information Manager

* Contact Manager

* Project Manager

The organizer has a portable version, i.e. it is completely autonomous = mobile. LeaderTask depends neither on the computer, nor on Windows registry, it can easily exist on your flash drive and travel with you!

Getting started.

Important issues you should know about:

First - LeaderTask is a unique organizer. It is not an advertising slogan, it is a new concept for managing tasks, projects, time and human activities. You can see it for yourself. So what is unique about it? It is the following things: tasks have a set of parameters (tags) you can use to quickly get answers to your questions. For example, you can get the following to-do lists in one mouse click: “My today tasks”, “IMPORTANT”, “URGENT”, “Monthly Sales”, “Project XYZ in September”, “Monitoring delegated tasks”, “Bank”, “To buy”, “To read”, “Meeting issues”, “Overdue tasks”, “Year goals”…

Second - LeaderTask is very flexible. Anyone can customize LeaderTask and implement his own usual methodology for managing his activities. It is also possible to successfully use David Allen’s GTD (Getting Things Done) system in LeaderTask.

Third - it is possible to associate tasks in LeaderTask with any context you find suitable. Any thing can be used as context - place (home, office, bank, store…), contact (boss, subordinate, spouse…), category, project… Speaking the language of time management, any task can be associated with its kairos (context), i.e. the circumstances that suit the task best. For example, if you need to do it in a bank, it is better to add it to the “Bank” section, if another person should do some task in a project, it should be added to the corresponding project and assigned to this person, if a task is important, you should give it the corresponding priority, etc.

Entering initial data.

To start using LeaderTask, you should enter some minimum initial data without which it will be difficult to understand how LeaderTask works. For your convenience, you can use the predefined initial data you are offered in the Quick Start wizard when you start the program for the first time.

Contacts. Add your contact groups and the contacts you need. Make sure you add information about yourself - the very first contact (set the Favorite property)

Categories. Define the categories of your activities. To make planning convenient, create types of your professional activities, hobbies and also places you visit most often in the Categories section. Sample categories: “Calls”, “Meetings”, “Reading”, “Watching”, “Buying”, “Thinking”, “Family”, “Rest”, “Health”, “Office”,”Bank”, “Store”. Set the Favorite property for the main categories.

Projects. Define the projects you work on. Do not mix up categories with projects and tasks. Remember that a project is what you can do. A project has time limits, and its aim is to produce something unique. It is convenient to divide projects into meaningful groups. Set the Favorite property for the main projects.

Calendar. Use the calendar to define periods of time that are most suitable for planning your time. For example: Today, Tomorrow, Current Week, Month, Year, 1st quarter 2007, 2nd quarter 2007… Also, set the Favorite property for the main periods.

The Favorite property makes the item to be shown in the drop-down menu on the Filter bar.

How it works.

The main areas in LeaderTask - Navigator, Filter bar and Task pane. The task pane (displayed as a calendar here) shows only those tasks that meet the filtering criteria. I.e. if you select “Project -YZ” in the filter, all tasks related to project XYZ will be displayed. You can filter tasks by projects, contacts, categories, date. There can be several filtering parameters at a time, but there can be none at all, i.e. no filtering (all tasks present in the LeaderTask database will shown in this case).

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You can make such a filter favorite and enable it from the quick menu.

Quick favorite filter selection menu.

When you select a filter, tasks with the necessary parameters are shown. For example, when you select the “Mine for today” filter, your tasks for the current day will be shown. The “Site activities in November” filter will show tasks related to the “Site” project for “November”. The filter “Monitoring delegated tasks” will show all tasks related to other people (contacts) you delegated tasks to. Filters in Leadertask actually make its use much easier. You can use them to instantly get answers to the following questions: “What is the most important thing at the moment?”, “Where am I supposed to be tomorrow?”, “What has been done since 15-21 in the -YZ project”, “What tasks are the most urgent ones?”

Tasks can be displayed both in the calendar grid (fir. 1) and in the task tree (fig. 2).

Filtering work in the same way both for the calendar and for the task tree. In different situations it can be convenient to view sets of tasks both in the calendar (visually arranged in time) and in the task tree (you can see their order and how tasks are split into smaller ones).

Adding tasks.

Adding tasks is designed in such a way that it is as easy and quick to add tasks as possible. You can do it quickly due to hotkeys and minimizing manual input. When you add a task, its parameters are specified automatically - project, contact, date, category. This data is copied from the filter. I.e. if “Project XYZ” is selected together with the “URGENT” category and you add a new task, it will be added to “Project XYZ” and it will be urgent. Another important issue: this task will also be visible when only “Project XYZ” or only “URGENT” is selected. How to add tasks. You can always open Leadertask using the Alt+Ctrl+A key combination no matter what application you are working with at the moment. For example: you are tying some text in the editor and suddenly remember about an important thing that should be added at once. What you should do: press Alt+Ctrl+A, press Insert, type the text of the task, press Enter, press Alt+Ctrl+A again and that is all, the task has been adde!

d. And note that everything is done without using the mouse. Another way with the help of the mouse: right-click the LeaderTask icon and select the necessary filter, then press Insert and do what you did in the first case.

Task priority.

Priority allows you to highlight the importance of each task and each priority can have its own representation.

Priorities make up a strict sequence, i.e. the order where each priority is higher or lower than another. Every user can define his own set of priorities, their order and how they are displayed. The standard classic set is:

* High (red font)

* Regular (block font)

* Low (gray font)

Summary.

Time management in LeaderTask is arranged somewhat differently than, for example, in Outlook. That is why when those who use old organizers start using it, they have a lot of how-to questions. In order to master the new methodology of LeaderTask, you should at least read this guide. It will be much easier for those users who have never used software for organizing their activities before.

After you understand the philosophy of LeaderTask, it will be very easy and pleasant to work with it - a lot of feedback from users proves it.

Along with the above basic features, Leadertask has other features as well: storing any information (text, images, files), arranging bookmarks, task reminders, storing passwords.

A modern person needs a smart tool for time management. This tool must not burden, but help and save the person’s time and effort. LeaderTask is exactly this kind of tool. Try it and see it for yourself!

WebSite:

http://www.leadertask.com/

Download LeaderTask

http://www.leadertask.com/download/leader.exe

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/computers_and_internet/article_3969.shtml
.

Apr 29

How to create Screensaver from Flash movie?

By: John Dell

Have you ever thought your Flash movie would make a great screen saver? This tutorial will show you what you should do to create a colorful full-featured SCR screen saver with great visual effects from any SWF project.

Complete the following steps to create a screensaver:

1. Open SWF Maestro SCR. If you do not have it, you can download it at http://tools.allflashtools.com/SWF_Maestro_SCR-review-140.html

2. Click New to create a new project.

3. Open “General Screensaver name” settings and specify the name for your screensaver.

4. Open “General Version info” settings and specify version, company and copyright info.

5. Open “Files Files for compilation” settings and specify a SWF file you’d like to turn into the screensaver. You can also specify a directory if your SWF project loads data from other files (XML, JPG, MP3, FLV, etc.)

6. If you want to set your own icon for the screensaver, specify it in the “Files Screensaver icon” settings.

7. Open “Files SWF Player” settings and specify the Flash player requirements.

8. Open “Files Final screensaver” settings and specify where the screensaver should be saved.

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10. If you want to create an “interactive” screensaver that will terminate on ESC key or other key combination, use the “Screensaver Termination conditions” settings.

11. You can also setup the context menu for “interactive” screensavers using the “Screensaver Context menu” settings.

12. Use the “Screensaver Installer” settings if you want to generate an installer for your screensaver. An installer is the user-friendly and comfortable way to distribute the screensaver. Once started, it will automatically install the screensaver on the user’s computer and enable it. If the user would suddenly like to remove the screensaver, he can easily do it using the uninstaller coming together with the screensaver.

13. Click Save to save the project.

14. Click Preview to preview the screensaver.

15. Close the Preview window and click Compile to compile the screensaver.

To install a screensaver in the system, just copy the compiled SCR file (including the DAT file if you choose to pack files separately) to the System32 subdirectory of the directory where the Windows operating system is installed. If you want to create an installer for your screensaver, complete the step 12.

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/computers_and_internet/article_4015.shtml
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Apr 28

Ten Ways to Write Great Blog Posts That Get Attention

By: Courtland Bovee

Millions of blogs fight for readership online (over 75 million by some counts), with thousands more being created every day. Making yours stand above the rest may seem like a daunting task, but here are ten suggestions for making your blog posts stand out from the crowd.

1. Write each post title so it grabs the reader’s attention. It is the first thing someone reads, and it should get your reader’s attention right away. Your title should both pique the reader’s interest and be informative. Do not write “Business Writing Advice”; instead, say “The Best-Kept Secret to Reducing Your Business Writing Worries.” Longer titles have the advantage of describing in detail what your post is about; 8-12 words are a good range.

2. Keep sentences short and clear. A little goes a long way. Readers are busy people and they will not spend hours detangling complex syntax or sifting through blocks of text. Also, use strong language. Start a new paragraph every few sentences, and limit each post to 250 words, if possible. If you cannot write it in under 250 words, split it into two entries.

3. Break up the text. Use numbered lists, bullet points, and subheadings to make your posts easy to scan. Lots of white space on the page is a good thing-it allows your reader to take mental breaks and let the knowledge soak in. In addition, with the inevitable clutter of banner ads and side text, this technique puts some distance between your writing and all those distractions.

4. Keep current. No one wants to read old news. Your job is to stay up-to-date so your readers do not have to themselves. Read newspapers. Scour the web for references. For example, if you write a blog about business communication, subscribe to Google News Alerts using keywords related to the field, such as blogs, podcasting, instant messaging, business letters, memos, and business reports, so you will always be well informed. Posting items from last month or last year will lose your reader’s interest faster than you can say “Enron.”

5. Be bold. Timidity is an easy path to anonymity. Do not be afraid to create and state your opinions. Of course, there are some situations in which objectivity rules-but you have to give people a reason to read this blog by you and not by the person next door.

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If you make a statement, be prepared to back it up. Know what your sources are and quote them accurately. Misinformation spreads like wildfire online; do not be the spark that sets it off or the wind that fans it.

7. Contribute to the conversation. Links are great-but then what? Do not just post links to the same tired sites, offer your reader something new. Contribute to the conversation. Your goal is to be the site to which everyone else is linking-so you had better have something worth writing about.

8. Stay focused. Once you have defined the theme of your blog, stick to it. A blog about piggy banks has no business posting about the latest innovation in alternative energy. Such a deviance will only confuse your reader and chip away at your virtual authority.

9. Use key words liberally. Keywords are, well, key. Harness your blog’s search engine potential by dousing your title and post with effective keywords that will help interested parties find your page in the vast, muddled blogosphere. This is one of the most important elements of getting your blog read-go at it with gusto.

10. Be consistent. Keep a schedule and stick to it. Post frequently-at least several times per week if you want to increase your potential of attracting new readers. Let your blog languish for weeks without updates and your audience will move on to fresher ground.

Maintaining an informative blog that people want to read takes hard work and good writing skills. Find what makes your writing unique-and flaunt it for all it is worth.

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/computers_and_internet/article_3938.shtml
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Apr 27

Internet Advertising: The Greatness Of Banners

By: Todd Thomas

Banners are probably the most common form of advertising on the Internet today. The reason behind this has to do with their randomness and prevalence throughout the cyber highway. Banners are not intended for target audiences; instead, these flashing, animated, sound-generating eye-catchers are intended to simply throw the message out there in an endless array of locations for everyone?professionals and public?to see. In this way, the company that is advertising becomes known instantaneously, which is the purpose.

The banner may very well be the prelude to sucessfully target networking. When the banners provide a vast acknowledgement of a business? existence, networking becomes easier and more successful because a wider variety of other business owners will have become more familiar with those who have previously launched the banner. The banner, then, is a form of dynamic introduction for new business ventures and a constant affirmation of already existing ones. All types of businesses use banners due to their ?in-your-face? nature and the company recognition they provide during short-term and over long-term periods.

Banners are initiated through particular HTML or PHP hyperlink coding. The more elaborate ones, however, are launched through specialized software like Flash® and Java®, both of which are designed for extreme animation, video and audio presentations, some of which are unrestricted by Windows® framing, such as the Adobe? logo which is activated everytime a PDF file opens. Some banners feature only color stills with lettering, while others include motion and sound. That?s the great thing about banners: they can be constructed to show anything, and they are growing more and more sophicated all the time.

Among the more popular banners circulating the Internet, many represent the more well-known companies that have been around for a while. This suggests that the larger businesses tend to employ such technical and dynamic means of advertising. Cost isn?t low, and it continues to rise. This includes: software, design and development, and sponsorship with other businesses who offer space on their sites to feature the banners. Pricing varies, but it is usually beyond the budget range of the typical small business.

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There is also the constancy of the banner. Unlike, say, television commercials, this mode of advertising can run on and on, non-stop, day and night. Because of this, in conjunction with their prevalence throughout the Internet, business owners need not ever fear that their banner ads will be going unnoticed. Ongoing advertising is sure to incessantly increase traffic, keep the inflow steady, and promote current development in the businesses the banners represent.

In the end, banners are, due to their countless advantages, the best form of advertising for online business. As a matter of fact, their impact in their effects and efforts make their employment just short of a necessity to ensure success. New online business owners who aren?t sure how to introduce their ventures would be served best to use banners, which are flexibly ideal, despite their potentially high costs.

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/computers_and_internet/article_4038.shtml
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Apr 26

Game Development - Story Bible Example

By: Sebastian Gross

The bible deals exclusively with story and its elements. While the design document guides the creation of the entire gaming experience, the bible controls the game?s interactive screenplay.

Log Line

Let?s say we?re working on a game titled ?Hangnail,? the latest game inspired by Quake. Hangnail?s bible would include a ?treatment? or synopsis of the game?s story. That treatment should include one- or two-sentence reviews of the story?s beginning, middle, and end. In some cases, the treatment could go into greater detail, stretching from one page to 20 or more, if the designer or game writer chose to really flesh out the story in the design stage. If the game?s narrative is truly based on cinematic story construction, the story might include first, second, and third act reviews. Leave those bits to your writer?we waste hours worrying about that act-structure nonsense. At the very least, the synopsis should include a ?log line,? or a brief review of the game?s story, like this:

Hangnail:

Synopsis: A big, tough guy with heaps of muscles and a heart of gold walks through mazes and kills lots of stuff to battle evil, find his boxed lunch, and save the future of humanity?at least until the sequel comes out.

Characters

The second portion of the bible would include character reviews. The most important component of any effective narrative, whether it?s in a game, a movie, a TV show, or a novel, is good characters. They should have well-rounded histories and solid motivations. Most importantly, they should be clearly drawn out so anyone who reads the bible or works on the game sees the same person in their minds. If a writer or designer creates a game revolving around a Schwarzenegger-type action hero and fail to describe his all-American, psychopathic personality, the artist or renderer could end up drawing Marv Albert. Here?s what our character bible would say about Hangnail?s protagonist:

Character Name: Dirk Squarejaw

Age: Late 20s

Appearance: Ruggedly handsome and in the kind of impossibly good shape that you?d need to spend 25 hours a day in a gym to achieve.

Equipment: Death Ray of Death, Grenade of Severe Owies, Swiss Army Knife of Animosity, Pulse Cannon of Mild Mood Swings.

Attributes: Wonderfully and relentlessly violent. With an overdeveloped sense of honor. Dedicated to saving all life on Earth, or at least all attractive women on Earth. He enjoys painting in splattered blood, rainy days, long walks on the beach, thermonuclear devices, and backgammon.

Background: Orphaned at birth and raised by wolves, Dirk was rescued by nuns at the age of 4. The nuns instilled in the young Dirk his sense of honor and his bizarre obsession with backgammon. When the evil villain, General Payne, destroyed the nuns? village to hijack all their dice, Dirk set out on his lifelong quest to end evil around the world. He will never rest until Payne is defeated, peace and justice restored, and double sixes rolled everywhere.

All the information in the character description above could be distilled into one long paragraph entry, if the designer chooses to limit the length or the scope of the bible. However, every character in the game (even supporting players) should be presented in this same detail.

Such enriching character sketches can provide inspiration when planning game maps or missions (depending on the game?s genre). For example, in Hangnail?s case, given Dirk?s devotion to backgammon, the designer could construct a maze or a level in which the objective is to slaughter all of General?s Payne?s agents to recover their ill-gotten dice.

Character description and background is one area where a story bible can really enrich an interactive game. If the bible can draw out a game?s central character with convincing depth and detail, the production can present an interesting and exciting person around which you can build a game and story.

In some cases, the player becomes that character. In other games, the player merely guides an already existing character. In either case, the story bible can outline what the main characters wants! That?s the key. The entire game story should be built around what the main character or hero wants and needs. Once that is pinpointed (be it the damsel in distress, a magic amulet, or the enemy capital), a designer can build an entire game around that quest. Battles in the cold reaches of space.

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Puzzle-solving through a haunted library. Anything that makes the game more entertaining can stand between the hero and the goal. But, the goal must be clear, ever-present, and motivated. The story bible can help a design team do that.

In another example, if Dirk was scared of water because his wolf parents couldn?t swim, the designer might wish to create an underwater level and cause Dirk?s air supply to disappear quickly because he hyperventilates too easily.

Using a methodology like this, in which you define the background, attributes, age, appearance, and equipment of a character, can help ensure truly motivated and enjoyable characters and gives the design team ideas for gameplay. A game?s characters need to be compelling. If the player becomes a hero in the game, that hero must be attractive enough that the player wants to assume that persona. A game villain should be rotten enough that the player generates genuine passion and satisfaction from defeating him or her.

An essential rule of thumb states that every character, even the most incredibly butch of heroes, needs to have weaknesses or shortcomings. If a character seems too omnipotent and has every skill imaginable down pat, no player will believe he or she could possibly lose or die. You don?t have to make your hero or heroine a simpering wimp, but don?t make them invulnerable. Even Superman has his kryptonite.

In the final document, Dirk?s bible entry might include an artist?s sketch (if created early in the game development process) or a 3D rendering (if created farther along in the development process) which might also be the actual avatar used in the game if the product makes it that far along.

To digress for just a moment, I have approached the use of game bibles for story development solely from the perspective of the hero thus far. Lately, games such as Bullfrog?s Dungeon Keeper and LucasArts? Dark Forces II have made it possible for players to assume the role of the villain. However, that doesn?t turn the narrative rule on its ear?the same guidelines still apply. A villain also has wants and needs. In the best possible scenario, the bad guy wants exactly the same thing as the hero. In drama and writing courses, that?s called the ?Law of Conflicting Need.? A good story (and therefore a good game, if it has story components) has a protagonist and an antagonist wanting the same thing for perfectly opposite reasons. We usually want the hero to get to that goal before the villain. However, in games where we become the villain, we assume the motivations of the villain. The bible should outline the history, personality, and motivation of the bad guy as well as the hero. That way, if we become the antagonist in gameplay, it works just as well if we had chosen the hero?s role.

Resource:

http://www.computer-game-design.com

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/computers_and_internet/article_4107.shtml
.

Apr 25

Streamlining Regulatory Publishing with Submission-Ready PDF Files

By: Scott Mackey

As the business world turns its attention from back office automation to front office efficiency the need to streamline document and information management is starting to play an increasingly important role. This has never been more relevant than in the pharmaceutical industry. Enterprise Content Management applications, eCTD software and other information management tools all provide benefits that are designed to better manage information and streamline document workflows. As much as these applications aid in general contributions to document management, there are still further requirements in regulatory submissions that the generalities of these applications don?t address. The cost of government and regulatory compliance leaves a lot of room for improvement ? a key area being the document conversion and publishing process. The real and opportunity costs of non-compliance leave most companies spending an inordinate amount of time and money ensuring document quality and compliance. What if there was a tool that would not only automate document conversion and publishing but reduce the need to perform quality checks and balances? Streamlining the sub mission process not only saves money but it can generate millions of dollars on the back end of the life cycle of the product. This article talks about real-world process improvements, cost reductions and the opportunities for streamlining document submission processes, highlighted by applications with proven track records.

Time to market has always been a critical success factor for manufacturers and marketers of consumer products. But when every day?s delay can mean millions against your bottom line ? and when your product might mean the difference between life and death for millions of people worldwide ? the stakes are that much higher. These are the stakes that leaders of Life Sciences and Pharmaceutical companies must contend with every time a new drug or technology is faced with regulatory approval. For a blockbuster drug like LIPITOR® or NEXIUM®, that are now prescribed in excess of $10 million every day, reaching the marketplace quickly can make or break the financial quarter or even a full fiscal year. High stakes indeed.

The regulatory minefield

For Life Sciences and Pharmaceutical companies, time to market is always held hostage, to some degree, by the global regulatory landscape. Few industries face regulation on the same scale and level of complexity. Such intense oversight and scrutiny is reasonable for an industry of such intricacy and potential impact on the health and wellbeing of much of the world?s population. At the same time, the agencies that impose these regulations, like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States, face intense pressures of their own.

Recent media and congressional examination of several high-profile cases in the drug industry have put the FDA and its international counterparts firmly on the defensive. This is not good news for the industry. Scandals surrounding first the cardiovascular effects associated with Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), and more recently the ?sleep driving? and ?sleep eating? side effects of popular new insomnia treatments are causing a significant retrenchment within the regulatory community. The FDA in particular is facing growing pressure for congressional action to address these issues but the proposals currently under consideration, in the opinion of many industry players, would harm, not improve, patient safety by making it more difficult to get promising new drugs approved and into the hands of doctors and patients.

The FDA has also been perceived in the past as ?cozying up? to the industry and of rushing promising new drugs and technologies to market without an adequate paper trail. The result of this perception, justified or not, is heightened scrutiny, leading the agency to become progressively more conservative and defensive in its decision-making and in its approach to reviewing and approving submissions for new medicines and technologies. At the same time, promising new areas of study such as the Human Genome Project (HGP) are turbo-charging innovation and discoveries in the research community. In fact, the Wall Street Journal recently cataloged over $1 billion worth of currently pending IPO filings and there is a growing collection of existing bio-engineering companies applying HGP concepts in the marketplace.

The combination of more rigorous oversight, increasing threats of litigation and the explosion of complex, technology-driven areas of research have created a perfect storm for companies looking to succeed in this complicated landscape. It has also led to an atomic explosion in the size and complexity of submissions related to new drugs and technologies. Though this cutting edge research is conducted using the latest technology, it is remarkable how often the key results are compiled and maintained on nothing more sophisticated than a series of unconnected MS Word documents and even hand-written forms. Documentation for a single research study may consist of tens of thousands of pages with a full submission including multiple study results documents. Extend this over multiple jurisdictions, different languages, add in the complexity of joint ventures, patent laws, sub-contracting and outsourcing research and it is hardly surprising that some FDA and EMEA (European Medicines Agency) submissions were traditionally delivered not by the box load but by the truck load.

Electronic submissions: technology to the rescue?

When every day is critical, ensuring that you have effective regulatory submission processes and technologies in place is ?table stakes?. Having leading-edge document management technologies coupled with collaborative document transformation tools, on the other hand, is a significant competitive advantage. The effective implementation of these technologies can significantly accelerate submission lifecycles that contributes directly to the bottom line.

Preparing submission compliant documents, typically in PDF, is a time-consuming and highly iterative process critical to successful submissions. As discussed earlier, the highly collaborative and fractured nature of the research and development process means that many of the original source documents that make up the submission need to be manually reworked. The rework stems from deficiencies inherent in MS Word, particularly the inability to retain key navigation information during conversion to PDF. This kind of manual rework is time-consuming, prone to error and, not surprisingly, very expensive. These deficiencies can be overcome during the PDF creation process by having the right technology in place.

Not all solutions are created equal

The excessive size of these submissions is also a significant burden for the agencies themselves. For its part, the FDA plans to streamline and simplify the process by moving all submissions to an automated electronic platform by the end of 2007 ? with the caveat that this may be pushed out to a later date. The standard, known as eCTD (electronic Common Technical Documents) is an interface between industry and agency for transferring regulatory information while at the same time taking into consideration the facilitation of the creation, review, lifecycle management and archival of the electronic submission. The specification has set criteria that make electronic submissions technically valid, and any eCTD-compliant submission prepared in any compliant environment can be transferred to another environment built on technology from another vendor. In theory it sounds ideal, however in practice it should be remembered that not all technologies are created equal.

With the FDA demanding the use of the eCTD format, the leading players in Life Sciences and Pharmaceuticals were quick to make the transition; recognizing the opportunity to streamline their own processes and take advantage of the inherent cost savings. Even companies not required to make eCTD compliant submissions are seeing the advantages of an electronic workflow in accelerating time to market. They are finding ways to leverage the technology and transform eCTD into suitable printed CTD. These companies have also seen the way the wind is blowing with the news that the European Union has mandated that all 27 member countries be ready to accept eCTD submissions by 2009. Can the chapter of paper submissions be nearing its end? Can the rest of the world be far behind?

There is no shortage of document workflow, rendering and output solutions available but the requirements for eCTD compliant submissions are unique and require an integrated solution that puts the focus where it belongs ? squarely on delivering final submissions that can handle the complex, ever-evolving landscape of this leading edge industry.

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These improvements must not corrupt the perfection of the submission, which is often the result of post-production re-rendering where critical errors are made or repeated.

Software applications, like those offered by Adlib Software, avoid these pitfalls by focusing on document rendering quality while employing a design philosophy of stable, open protocols and standards such as XML and Web services. Adlib?s document transformation technologies streamline the rendering process for documents being used in the submissions process. By integrating seamlessly into the document workflow, any source document can be easily rendered automatically into a submission-ready PDF.

Robust rendering is the core

Robust PDF rendering forms the backbone of any document management workflow and is the lifeblood that flows through the entire eCTD submission lifecycle. By creating higher quality renditions, quality assurance churn can be reduced to only minutes per document. This is a significant process acceleration over traditional QA cycles ? searching for missing, broken and invalid hyperlinks ? that usually takes hours to complete. The cost savings, projected over submissions running into the hundreds of thousands or even millions of pages, have proven to be enormous.

Submission-ready PDFs are infinitely flexible and contain an almost limitless set of features. These PDF outputs can be readily equipped with essential elements like version control, downgrading, font embedding, automated Table of Contents creation, audit history and submission taxonomy. These PDF documents are also flexible and scalable at every stage of the submission lifecycle, particularly important given the FDA?s increasingly aggressive use of post-marketing ?risk minimization action plans? (RiskMAPs) ? including the requirement to submit additional safety information (such as larger safety studies to screen earlier for relatively rare potential adverse reactions) ? after the original submission is made.

The right instruments: powerful, flexible and nimble

When it comes to partnering with leading edge players in Life Sciences and Pharmaceuticals, Adlib Software is uniquely positioned to supercharge the submissions process with its powerful document transformation framework anchored by Adlib Express Server and Express Web Services. For more than 10 years, Adlib as enabled several key industry players to gain a competitive advantage by maximizing the efficiency of document workflows. The difference with Adlib Software?s solutions compared to some of the other PDF rendering engines is that Adlib Software cut its teeth working with global Life Sciences partners to ensure that the quality and fidelity of its PDF renditions not only meet but exceed the demands of regulatory submissions.

Several of Adlib?s customers have reported savings amounting to millions of dollars with the majority of the direct cost savings coming from substantial QA cycle time reductions due to unprecedented confidence in PDF rendering quality. QA has been reduced to a couple of minutes compared to what used to take hours. Given the sheer volume of document rendering that takes place for just one submission and multiply that by the number of submissions performed each year, the numbers add up quickly. The indirect impact, although harder to measure may even have a greater impact on the bottom line. By streamlining the submission process and providing higher quality submissions, product hits the market sooner. As mentioned earlier, each day gained could be worth millions of dollars in extra sales. Not a bad ROI is it.

With its advanced publishing features and support for multiple formats including MS Office-based sources, Adlib Express Server applications give companies all of the advanced features necessary to significantly accelerate submission compliant document workflows. Some of these features include automated, accurate optical character recognition (OCR) to create searchable files from images and PDFs, stamping to create headers, footers, volume numbers and cross-references from hyperlinks, as well as dynamic Tables of Contents generation capabilities. Importantly, Adlib Express also normalizes hyperlink styles to meet FDA standards and includes advanced bookmarking control with the ability to merge and/or volumize PDFs based on page count, size or other variables. Adlib solutions are XML-ready with XML Job Ticket support and Web services. A truly complete solution.

Adlib Software then takes things to the next level with its Exhibit product. Exhibit enables organizations to leverage existing XML backbones, as well as folder structures for Rest of World (ROW) submissions in either paper or volumized PDF formats. Exhibit works with eCTDs as well as other submission formats (e.g. 510k) and with other applications to provide the ultimate in flexibility and interoperability.

Exhibit was developed in partnership with several world leading pharmaceutical companies to automate the process of creating paper-based submissions from eCTDs. It?s a collaborative browser-based solution that optimizes the capabilities of Adlib Express Server to prepare electronic submissions for print or volumized PDF destinations. It includes the ability to convert electronic hyperlinks into paper-based bookmarks and references as well as automated features that allow for intelligent document assembly; modifying Tables of Contents, page scaling, the application of headers and footers, page numbers and the insertion of tabs and slip sheets. All of these advanced operations are available with Express Server but leveraged through applications like Exhibit.

The benefits of a solution like Adlib Express Server is that the scalable conversion, publishing and OCR functionality can be leveraged for not only regulatory submission processes but it can also be applied across the entire enterprise to create a complete rendering framework for all sorts of document workflows. The robust infrastructure of Adlib Express Server is designed to be a foundation for growth that allows Life Sciences and Pharmaceutical organizations to take advantage of existing investments in skills and technology to achieve document management efficiencies that truly support the critical work they do on behalf of humanity ? and their shareholders. These solutions are also flexible and scalable enough to act as the launching pad for adopting innovative new methods of information management to achieve competitive advantages over time.

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/computers_and_internet/article_4030.shtml
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Apr 24

Video Streaming ? A Market Unto Itself

Video Streaming Â? A Market Unto Itself

By: Scott Lindsay

Video streaming is not just a marketing tool anymore. Perhaps it never was designed for marketing purposes alone.

Today popular video seminars are available by video streaming downloads. The content has its own value so other tools are used to market a fee-based video seminar.

These could be strategic lessons about a specific industry, motivational streams or self-help and religious instruction.

Sometimes these video streams are for a specific course and may have password-protected pdf file downloads for note taking or testing.

Some web users are assigning a monetary value to content rich video streams that can empower them for greater success, give them tools to help cope with loss, provide step by step directions for a specific skill set or simply provide a unique opportunity to be encouraged by someone skilled in the arena of motivation.

In some ways video streams may be a bit like renting a series of DVDs, but the side benefits are much more acute and bring a comprehensive value to the overall download. Take for instance interactive online polls, reference material downloads and links to specific complimentary products. These are all things that are not available with existing DVD technology. One of the primary things that may hold video streaming from a broader acceptance is that there are still a significant portion of the population who are not utilizing the web for this type of interactive information.

The overriding principle of Internet functionality is the hybrid of complimentary technologies ? one application that works in concert with a separate and distinct application. Imagine being able to gain access to a highly valuable training video stream and then gaining priority access to a forum where other members who have viewed the same material can meet to discuss certain aspects of the training.

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Colleges and Universities have long recognized the importance of making offsite video available for distance learners, but the Internet also allows individuals to view the video stream from the comfort of their own home or even in a Wi-Fi hot zone using headphones while drinking a latte.

What does this say about video streaming? Well it tells us that this entertaining application that was ultimately used as a marketing tool has grown into its own. Something that was deemed useful to businesses as a marketing tool can, and in many cases does, stand on it?s own as a marketable product in much the same way an ebook can be used as both a marketing tool as well as a marketable product.

This versatile tool can still be used for the amusement of the masses (ala YouTube and similar video streaming sites), it can still be used to pass along free content rich information, but it can also be used to enhance an existing fee-based ecourse or study program making something accessible that was never available in such a dynamic way before.

How does this affect the way you view the potential in video streaming for profit?

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/computers_and_internet/article_3962.shtml
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Apr 23

What The Heck Is Podcasting? And How Can It Help My Business?

By: Ted Cantu

from the desk of Ted Cantu, Ex- Advertising Exec turned Defector

Just in case you?ve been living in a cave the last 18 months I?ll fill you in on Podcasting. In short it is an online radio show. You can come on week after week and get your marketing messages out to the millions at any time you like. That is TOTAL FREEDOM.

But what many people do not realize is that podcasting can be used to get incredible search engine rankings. This is a very powerful thing to keep in mind. That is what this mini course is about to show you.

Currently as I write this I have the number 10th popular show on Podomatic in the business section. Its been like that for quite a while. I didn?t have to buy my way to the top. I just plugged in a microphone and went for it. I blurted out tips and secrets and kept the format into a neat 40 minute segment.

More to the point I never asked for permission to do any of this. I just took action.

The truth was I actually hated my voice when I first started. But because I have done this so many times and have listened to myself over and over again I adjusted. Now I am not self conscious about any of this and I have grown accustomed to the way I sound.

GETTING STARTED:

If you’re considering podcasting, you’re probably wondering both, a) what it is, and b) why you’d want to get involved. Suffice to say (as you begin your journey) that podcasting is an amazing way to get audio material heard by an audience where and when they want. In terms of why you should podcast, however, the reasons are as varied, unique, lovely, controversial and fascinating as there are voices to be heard in the world. Just turn on a microphone and join the conversation.

It’s really fun. Yup, let’s start with the basics. If I were to say, “podcasting allows you to convert audio material via an RSS feed through an uploaded host…” the sound of your yawning would drown out the click of your mouse as you ventured to a different website.

Podcasting is about creation. It’s about taking your ideas, dreams, ambitions, business goals, or any other reason that you’d use your voice for to create a lasting record of said content and making it available to others. And one of the reasons it’s so fun is because it’s easy. Get a microphone, press a couple of buttons, and start talking.

And if you’re thinking, “but what would I say? I’m not funny or interesting and nobody would care about my show.” In short, I disagree.

You may not get an audience of 10,000 listeners, but the audience you do get will be utterly interested in what you have to say.

That’s why they call podcasting the ultimate niche marketing medium. If you’re not in marketing all that means is, you can speak directly and specifically to the people who are listening versus trying to speak in general terms to broadcast to a larger audience.

Think of it like when you were a kid and strung two cans together with string or used walkie-talkies; what did you say to your buddy when you pushed the button to speak? In some ways, did it matter? The joy was in communicating the joy of talking to one another using a fun medium. Podcasting is just like that.

RADIO DAYS ? MY LIFE AS A STRUGGLING RADIO HOST

Long before my days as a Rebel Marketer, ( a soon to be popular online show! Fall 07) I had a radio show in the Metro Detroit Market. To say that Detroit is struggling is a minor statement. This market has seen its many sides of downfalls. I somehow managed to get a radio show on a small AM station in the winter months of 2003.

Our wattage didn?t get past the city limits. The ride to the station was cold, dark and dangerous. It was in the worst neighborhood you can imagine and I had to pay for this experience out of pocket.

The amount of people I would reach every week numbered in the tens. Not tens of thousands but TENS. In fact, I would get the same ten people calling me every week and none of them would ever buy any of my health products that I was selling at the time. Most guests would call into the show because they were lonely people and wanted someone to talk to.

This was pretty depressing as you can imagine.

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I had to literally deal with this type of nonsense week after week. The bleeding only stopped when I quit the show a few short months later. We could never get sponsors to put this show on the air. Detroit is a political place despite all the cheery hype. Pulling the plug on the entire thing was the smartest thing I?d ever done.

Needless to say I don?t miss those days too much.

A CRACK IN THE CLOUDS

I first heard of podcasting and I raced to it. I had a show put together in a matter of hours. I didn?t like the first ones I put together but I kept at it every week. Today I got about 20 episodes and I continue to appear with a new show once a week. You can find them here?..

http://911copywriter.podomatic.com/

Here is a bio of the show?.

?I am an ex-art director, I spent my time in five major metropolitan markets including New York City and Chicago. I worked my way through five generations of interactive online marketing. I get my paycheck by cutting through the fluff and delivering cash pumping results into businesses. I am not one of those guys who will write online love letters to Macromedia Flash or hide behind the CEO’s back pocket. I create mountains of online customers.

I put you in front of your audience and create a 2.220 percent increase of OPT IN customers. That may be a little much for most of you. But believe me when I say it that what I do is totally possible. I create foundations through niche markets and create the bridge to huge online profits.

I?ve studied with Dan Kennedy, Orange Beetle, Brett McFall, Seth Godin, and most recently Derek Gehl just to name a few. What we do on this show is very simple. We stay on top of the curve and share with you our perspectives on Online Marketing ? Direct Marketing and show you how to get your fair share of traffic online for your business.?

I pay literally pennies to put my shows on every week. I got a steady listening base too thanks to Itunes and I don?t have to worry about spending a ton of money out of my pocket for sponsors. I just talk and send it to the masses. My listening audience is around 6,000 people on a good week and it is growing all the time.

I have taken a complete 360 degrees with this experience. You should do it for your business too. All you need is a microphone, some imagination and some free software called Audacity. You can download it on the web just type the name into Google.

This is a great way to establish yourself as an expert in your field.

Happy Podcasting!

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/computers_and_internet/article_4072.shtml
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Apr 22

The Earth Is Coming To An End - A Flash Animation

By: Austin Luna

About “End of the World”

For as long as I can remember, I have had a craving for funny flash animation that was on the internet. That craving for funny animations led me to find my favorite flash animation of all time.

Use the next link if you haven’t had the pleasure of watching The End of the World animation. This is one of the web’s finest animations.

Many people are looking

It’s safe to say that I’m not the only one out there that has an interest in this funny flash animation that some call The End of the Earth animation. In fact there are many of you searching for information on where and how to download this unique flash animation.

Download the flash animation

For those of you who are looking for the link to download The End of the World flash animation, you’re in the right place. Continue reading as I briefly explain a couple of the many different ways one can view and download this animation that’s about a few possible end of the world scenarios.

Right-hand click on the following link and select “save link as” to download The End of the World swf. A download box will appear asking you where you want to save the file. Go ahead and save the file to your downloads folder, just remember that the file will be in .SWF format.

Viewing “The End of World” animation

Viewing of the animation can be accomplished many different ways.

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Viewing the End of the World animation this way has it’s advantages. Since the file is actually on your hard drive now and not sitting in an online server, you don’t have to be online to view the file.

Adding the animation to your web site

Are you ready to add this creative animation to your site or your blog but just aren’t sure how to go about creating a page especially for The End of the World animation? If this is the case then the only thing I could suggest would be to navigate back over to The End of the World page using the link provided above and right-hand click anywhere on that page (except on the animation). Select “view source” to see the actual code which so you can get an idea of how to place your downloaded flash file within a web page.

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/computers_and_internet/article_3964.shtml
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Apr 21

Get A Personal Loan To Buy Or Upgrade Your Computer

By: Melissa Kellett

Both the computer and the financial industry are very competitive, thus it is not difficult to find great deals that can save you a lot of money. Sometimes you lack the cash to purchase a new system or upgrade your current one. That?s why Personal Loans are the perfect solution to this kind of problem. Learn why personal loans are the best source of finance.

There was a time when computers where a luxurious item. Only those with a high income could afford getting one. Nowadays, the computer industry has evolved and new products arrive every day driving older ones obsolete. This has greatly reduced the prices but also created the need of upgrading or buying new equipment regularly.

Financing Your Purchase

Thus, the need for finance becomes more marked especially for those with a limited income. Using your credit card is always an option but not the cheapest one and sometimes not available for everyone. If you are buying a new computer, your credit card limit may not let you purchase it through that means. Sometimes your credit card limit would allow it but other expenses may have exhausted your credit.

Using a personal loan to finance the purchase is a much better solution for several reasons. For starters, the interest rate charged for personal loans is significantly lower than that charged by credit card companies. Credit Card holders are used to paying a two digit interest rate that can get as high as 25% while those who request a personal loan may have to pay, in the worst scenario, an interest rate of 10%.

The amount of money you can obtain through a personal loan is significantly higher than your credit card limit (Often, the difference being 5 to 1 in terms of loan amount). If your credit card limit is $1500, chances are you can easily get approved for an unsecured personal loan of $7500.

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Another important advantage is that you can repay the loan in many loan installments even lower than the minimum payments on a credit card balance. Moreover, since the loan installments usually come with fixed amounts you can be sure that when the last payment is due, you will have cancelled all your debt and you will have become debt free. Paying credit card minimums, on the other hand, often implies paying only interests while your debt?s principal stays unaffected.

What If I Have Bad Credit?

If your credit is less than perfect you needn?t worry. Most stores that offer personal loans specifically designed for buying their equipment and other non-traditional lenders feature personal loans for people with bad credit, no credit at all and sometimes you can even get approved if you have recently gone through a bankruptcy process. What you need to do is request loan quotes from different lenders and compare rates and fees. Make sure to do this, especially if you have bad credit because the interest rate charged to those with bad credit tends to be higher so it will not hurt you to get the best deal possible.

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/computers_and_internet/article_4029.shtml
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Apr 20

What CRM Software Really Is

By: Dave Roth

CRM software is generally mentioned in a lot of specific business circles, and a lot of people are familiar with the CRM term. They do not, however, necessarily know what CRM software actually is or what it can do for a person�s business. For a person to know what the software is capable of, it is important for that person to understand what the software is. There is a common misunderstanding that CRM software is nothing more than a way to store customers� names and numbers, and that any interest in what the software can or should do does not go beyond that. This is, though, a very inaccurate assumption. CRM software provides much more than simply a way to store contacts and remember people�s names and numbers.

Names, phone and fax numbers, email addresses, and physical addressed can all be stored in the CRM software. In addition, however, birthdays, anniversaries, and other important dates can be saved. Returns, purchases, buying information, and how long extended warranties are good for, as well as information on extended coverage plans, are also all addressed by CRM software. These kinds of information are very important to the efficient running of a business, but many small business owners do not feel that having this software is really necessary. This could be accurate with a business for only one or two people. However, even a very small business can have a lot of clients, and those clients can be remembered with CRM software so that there are no problems with their future orders or correspondence.

Especially if people use a company frequently and do a lot of repeat business there, they want to feel like they matter to that company. These people appreciate it when their birthday is remembered, when they are asked to take a survey and give their opinion, or when they are reminded that their warranty is about to expire. People enjoy thinking that the company that they work with and give their money to wants to let them know that they are appreciated.

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Because the conversations and telephone calls can be easily recorded, people who talk with a customer in the future will be able to see what has been done in the past. This is especially helpful for individuals who may have problems with equipment or services from a certain business.

The CRM software is basically designed to take care of everything all at once, so that all of a client�s information can be easily stored. Of course, it can also be used for vendors and other individuals, because they are also very important to a business. A business can remain on the cutting edge of their industry an keep their clients happy by using CRM software to keep track of both clients and vendors.

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/computers_and_internet/article_4041.shtml
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Apr 19

How a Surge Protector Can Help a Laptop Computer

By: Stephanie Larkin

Electrical power spikes can be devastating to any electronic device, but the damage to a laptop computer can be even more significant to its owner because of the potential for lost information and reduced productivity. Safeguarding laptop computers with a surge protector (also called surge suppressors) is one simple and inexpensive way to lessen the risk of physical damage or lost information due to electrical surges.

Fluctuations in electrical service are common around the world. Known as power spikes, surges, brownouts, and blackouts, these fluctuations can cause anything from fire to data loss in an unprotected laptop computer. When power returns, it can come in a rush, rising significantly above standard household voltage levels to burn wires, overwhelm circuits and potentially cause damage to laptops, adapters, and any external peripherals that may be connected to the computer. Even when the power surge is not strong enough to knock out a system, it can slowly damage the computer’s components, reducing its reliability and lifespan. A surge protector diverts the extra voltage from a power surge to a ground wire, sparing harm to any connected electrical devices.

Most household appliances use 120- volt power (AC) - the level of electricity that you get from a regular electric outlet. Laptop computers covert 120- volt power to about 12 to 18 volts (DC) by way of an adapter that is usually located along the power cord. This conversion offers some measure of protection, but it never hurts to add the additional shield of a surge protector.

Surge protectors are inexpensive insurance for costly electrical gear. They also add functionality to most office environments, as they typically come in a power bar format that offers extra outlets. While most surge protectors are also power bars, not all power bars are surge protectors. Be sure to check whether surge protection is offered before purchasing a power bar. Power bars with surge protection may cost slightly more than a regular power bar.

Many office environments use surge protectors as part of their standard equipment configurations. However, portability is a key feature of laptops, thanks to their small size and alternate battery power, so laptop operators often find themselves using their laptops outside of the surge protected office. Ideally, laptops should be guarded by a surge protector wherever they are being plugged in, so a travel-size surge protector is a good investment. This is especially true in a hotel or large building where air conditioners, elevators or other equipment requires periodic bursts of large amounts of electrical power.

Not all surge protectors offer the same level of protection, and none can guarantee electrical equipment won’t be damaged if there is a severe power surge such as that caused by a nearby lightning strike. A powerful surge may also damage the surge protector, so try to find a model with an indicator light that goes out if the unit fails to function properly. There are several Underwriters Laboratories (UL) ratings (found on the label) that can help you choose an appropriate surge protector, such as clamping voltage, energy absorption and dissipation, and response time.

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Look for 330 to 400 volts. Energy absorption and dissipation is the amount of energy, in joules, that the surge protector can handle before it fails. The higher the number the better. A rating of 200 to 400 joules is adequate, but a rating of 600 joules or more will offer superior protection. Response time is the delay between the power surge and the surge protector’s diversion to ground. Faster is better, in this case, as the less time your laptop is exposed to the extra energy, the safer it will be. A response time of less than a nanosecond is desirable.

Power surge consumers who aren’t knowledgeable about electricity and UL ratings can also judge a surge protector by its price: more expensive models tend to offer better protection than the cheapest discount store models. Quality laptop travel surge protectors can generally be purchased for less than $50 (USD), and offer a variety of features including telephone and network/broadband Ethernet jacks, and universal plugs and sockets that will work in countries with electric utilities offering 100 volt AC service to 240 volts AC service. Some travel adapters have built- in surge protection that protects laptops as well as cell phones and personal digital assistant (PDA) devices. Most laptop surge protectors are designed with convenience in mind, and are compact and easy to pack.

The last consideration in purchasing laptop surge protection is the quality of the warranty offered by the manufacturer. Some companies will offer compensation if equipment is damaged by a power surge while it is protected with a functioning surge protector, but warranties vary, so read the fine print.

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/computers_and_internet/article_3977.shtml
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Apr 18

Get Yourself Started In Blogging - The Right Way

By: Bruce Tucker

As of September 2007, more than 106 million blogs have been tracked which makes one wonder just what blogging is.Blogging is that wonderful world where you can write your personal thoughts about what you think on any subject imaginable, whether good or bad, with or without anonymity, although in reality anonymity really doesn?t exist when it come to the Internet. Your website, your email has an ISP address which is easily traceable to any given computer.

In general, blogs are articles you write and post on the web for the entire world to see. Your blog puts you, your thoughts in the forefront, which lets others see your brilliance or idiocy. You can have your own website dedicated to your thoughts, or you can respond to a particular article that has been written which allows you to voice your opinion about the subject or article, although use tact when responding. Most news media allowing you respond to a written article requires you to provide a valid email address in order for you to make a comment.

Most subscribers to the Internet post there blogs on personal web pages or websites their ISP provides. Other bloggers post their comments on the multitude of websites available for posting their thoughts, usually indexed by subject. To find a blog site, simply type ?blog/s? in any search engine and behold you will find thousands of blog sites you can read or post.

Methods for blogging vary which you should consider before doing any posting. Blogging in response to a particular article, as well as posting on dedicated blog sites are permanent blogs, in that they can not be changed once posted. With that in mind, you really need to think about what you want to say before posting your thoughts. It?s somewhat like making a comment, once spoken it can?t be undone.

The other side of posting on an open blog site is the libel issue. At present, blog sites are not libel for what you say, so use caution when blogging.

The other method of blogging is to have your own website or page where you write your own blog. Using this method, you can edit your blog, write about another subject or simply delete the blog entirely. This method in my opinion is perhaps the safest method of blogging, but there is a caveat to this method. When you write something on your computer using a word processor and save the document, even if you delete the article, or document, it still resides on your computer and unless you completely reformat or destroy the hard drive, it remains on you computer forever. If someone wants to prove you wrote the article, with the proper software they can retrieve it.

You may wonder if blogging is without peril.

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If you are blogging about your Aunt Tilly?s super fruit cake recipe, you?re safe, but if you?re blogging about a politician, an organization, the government, religious leaders, a company, an individual, you need to be careful about what you have to say, as you just might be libel. Presently, in the US, the courts are undecided about blogging, weighing in on the free speech side of the argument, however; individuals have been imprisoned and/or fined for their blogs.

To be safe when blogging, it?s important to use the correct adjectives, or follow the method the news media use when writing an article. Words like; alleged, subject to, suspected of, and the like may keep you out of trouble. Although, innuendos you make can been seen as an attack, an accusation, by some very sensitive people and they just might decide to take action against you.

Even when using safe words, that doesn?t mean you?re not going to suffer the consequences for your big mouth. Many states have what is known as; ?The Right To Work Law,? which simply means employers can fire an employee for any reason, or for no reason. Individuals have been fired from their jobs for posting blogs about their company.

Many blogs are instructional in nature from how to grow a tree, wash a cat to building an explosive device. Here again you need to be careful. Those blogs about explosive devices just might cause a visit from a federal agency. Unfortunate as it is, when it comes to blogging, ?Big Brother Is Watching!?

By: James L. Herman

Edited By: Bruce A. Tucker

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/computers_and_internet/article_3979.shtml
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Apr 17

Point of Sale Software Means Big Profits

By: Marvin Cains

Today, most financial transactions use invisible or electronic money. Cash still has its place, of course, but most merchants do a huge portion of their daily transactions through a point of sale device. Point of sale devices, or point of sale terminals, connect a merchant to a financial network that can process electronic transactions. Each point of sale terminal runs a piece of point of sale software that holds the transactions and gives the merchant various options for tracking sales, inventory, profit, and other information. Because POS software is so important to a modern business, picking the piece of point of sale software that is right for the business is important.

When a merchant does much business, it can be difficult to keep track of profits, sales, and inventory. For example, in a restaurant it can take much time, and therefore money, to run totals and hand count items left in stock. Using point of sale menu software you can keep accurate records of business done each day. When you sell a certain item, the software can automatically subtract it from inventory. Even if you do not directly tie your specific system into your inventory, it can at least keep a running total of the each product sold. So you can take off that amount from your inventory without having to count the remaining stock. The time you save by not having to count manually inventory can make the cost of the software worth it all by itself.

Business software has to keep up with the ever-changing nature of modern business, finances, and merchant needs. You may be happy with your current point of sale software, but upgrading to something newer and more current can be a money-saving decision instead of a cost. Think of it like an investment that makes a return every time you make a sale.

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Software programmers and designers have to be creative to design the features that merchants need and will use. There is no need t pay for a bunch of seemingly neat features that you will either never use, or will use but will not save you time or money. You should buy the software that is right for your business and specific needs. This may mean buying a more basic piece of software instead of the high-end example. However, you should be sure the software still meets all of your needs and is designed with a small business in mind. You should also be sure the software will be able to grow with your business so you do not have to replace it right away.

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/computers_and_internet/article_3914.shtml
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Apr 16

Can Content Syndicators Work For The Benefit Of Your Business?

By: Fat Jack

A savvy internet marketer should always be aware of the new techniques and tricks of the business and RSS has emerged as the latest alternating messaging medium. With html fast becoming the thing of past, RSS is going to be the next big thing in the web; it is going to become the backbone of the internet by helping share the contents all over the web.

So what is content syndication all about?

This is a technology for sharing content among multiple websites. The characteristic features of this technology are:

* Syndication does not necessarily mean sharing of the full article, images or files.

* Syndication amounts to providing you information about the source website where the full article can be read.

* The information are found in forms of headlines with links to the web pages where the original content can be accessed.

* The syndication file is the basic element of content syndication. These files containing information about the site, the headlines and the links to web pages are located on the web server of the distributor of the content.

A professional webhost allows its customers to participate in content syndication for better business results. So what business benefits are you expected to get from content syndicators provided by your web host?

* Suppose you are engaged in the travel related business. What is the fastest and most effective way of circulating the news about your discounted summer travel package? Just create content with sensational headline and circulate it as RSS feed. Nothing can create speedier impact than this.

* RSS feeds help earn you more reliability from your customers for the simple reason that RSS feeds allow your subscribers to control the flow of information and your customers would trust you more when they are able to control the information they receive.

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* In the corporate circle and in the intranet, syndication provides a better mode of communications and information about time sensitive issues to the remote employees and clients.

* Finally, its keyword search capabilities empower the marketers in tracking their immediate competitors.

Why not follow the footsteps of such powerful sites as MySpace or YouTube in sharing your contents online? Let RSS be the focal point in your internet marketing and wait for the best to come.

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/computers_and_internet/article_3902.shtml
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Apr 15

Searching For The Best Membership Management Software Across The Web

By: Mario Churchill

The Web is truly the best venue where you could possibly find the best membership management software. You must be looking for that computer program for quite some time already. And your membership organization might really be badly needing the aid by such types of software.

If you are running a small startup and your labor staff is still very minimal, you must aim to achieve greater efficiency. Your employees must be well adept in using different computer programs as well as the basic operating transactions for your company?s business. However, most workers are finding it hard to balance computer program familiarization and basic business skills.

For example, not all employees are adept in using the complicated and widely used computer programs. They may be experts in the management and operating levels, but their computer skills might not be as impressive. You cannot avoid hiring these types of employees because you are after the quality and expertise in handling important transactions for your company.

Now, you can have a quick remedy to this pressing problem. There are many membership management software that are currently being introduced and sold across the world wide Web. Many software developers have spent considerable time and effort doing research and writing such software products.

Benefits of investing in membership management software

There are many reasons why you should spend capital allocation for buying membership management software. One top reason is that such computer programs will surely infuse all the computer tools and programs that would make everyday transactions in your office more efficient.

Membership management software usually consists of the most practical and widely used computer programs and applications, like those used in basic data encoding, those that are used in making tables and incorporating computations, those used in formal presentations and many more. There are also other basic featur