As technology becomes more affordable and employment opportunities continue to be scarce – the latest ONS figures showed that the number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance rose by 10,100 in October 2012 to 1.58 million – more and more people, particularly from the younger generation, are starting their own businesses.

As long as you have dedication, drive and a sound business idea, choosing to start your own entrepreneurial venture can have plenty of advantages. But before you take the plunge, there are a few things that you should consider to ensure that you’re sufficiently prepared for every eventuality that self-employment may throw at you.

1.  Find a gap in the market and carry out extensive, thorough research to ensure there is a customer base for your product or service – try conducting a survey or arranging a focus group of your target market. By ensuring a gap in the market you should something an area or product that no one else does. You could perhaps follow a trend but add your own personal twist to the service or product. Find local business units which you could rent temporarily so your idea can grow.
2. Write a detailed business plan – including financial projections – with reference points and milestones for you to achieve as you develop your business over time. Think about how you can advertise your business in the local area and how you can make use of advertising online at very little cost. Set up a social media page and get shouting about your business. You have to think progressively about your business and you may not make much money at first however if you look at it as an on-going project then you can expand and develop.
3. Carefully investigate all of the legal and financial ramifications of setting up your own business: you may need to inform your landlord, the local authority or your mortgage lender that you’ve become self-employed. It is important that you carefully research all legal and financial regulations to ensure that your business is running legally and that your business practices are all above board.
4. Choose the correct insurance cover for your business: there are many options, from professional indemnity to public liability and simple home insurance. Ensuring that you have the correct insurance is key as you need to keep safe your contents and your technology.
5. Register your company with HMRC and, if you decide to make it a limited company, with Companies House – this will separate your personal finances from those of the company.

Have you ever left your smartphone in your apartment, only to return and find that some of your data is missing? When you pose the question to your roommates, you get the sea of confused looks that a kindergarten teacher gets when she is trying to find out who broke the vase on the class window sill.

Did you know that you do not have to put up with nosy roommates going through your smartphone? You can protect your smartphone from roommates, thieves and anyone that may find your phone if you should ever leave it behind somewhere. So get ready to load up your mobile phone with the protection you need for your personal information.

Protection Apps

(Image Via Softpedia)

Smartphone apps such as Bullguard Mobile Security will allow you to lock your phone against intruders and viruses. If you lose your phone, you can access it from your laptop or another smartphone and lock your lost phone down. That way, whoever has it cannot get information from it.

Passcode

(Image via Flickr by Ninja M.)

Most smartphone models allow you to lock the screen and prevent access to anyone that does not have the proper passcode. Too many people ignore this feature and do not utilize it to help protect their sensitive data. Always set up your screen so that it is protected by a passcode and only you can access your phone and all of the important information that it contains.

Protecting Specific Information

(Image via Flickr by digitpedia)

Some people do not put a lot of personal information on their smartphones. However, they do take pictures and make personal notes on their phones that can be used be a criminal to determine where they live and other important information. You can get smartphone apps that will allow you to password protect specific parts of your phone and prevent you from having to constantly log into your phone each time you want to use it.

Don’t Hack Your Phone

(Image via Flickr by nickb_rock)

One of the biggest mistakes that people make is they try to jimmy-rig their phones to unlock special features or get features that they are not paying for. Aside from this being pretty dumb, it is also a good way to disable all of the protective features on your phone. If you want a special feature on your phone, then pay for it. If you try to hack your phone to add special features, then security features such as your locking screen will no longer work. That is a sure way to get all of your smartphone data compromised if you lose it and someone else finds it.

Curiosity is always a big motivator, and people get curious when they see a smartphone that does not belong to them. No matter even if you own a ‘smart’ smartphone like the T-Mobile HTC Windows phone, all phones need some extra security. You can protect your phone and the vital information it holds by taking some simple steps towards phone security.

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After Nikon Android camera, samsung finally launched their whole series of android camera. This is a very good news for all the amateur photographers & instagram lovers who always like to click their food, beer, dress & roads!

What’s in For You in Samsung Android Camera | Galaxy Camera GC100 

Unlike mobile cameras this camera is very powerful sensors & image capturing capabilities. It have an effective pixel of around 16.3 MP & zooming ability of about 21X. Moreover it can also capture the movies that you can stuff into your facebook or youtube channel. The camera have all the base functionality like “Auto, Auto & Red-eye reduction, Fill-in flash, Slow sync, Flash Off, Red-eye fix” & capable of shooting movie in  1920×1080(30fps), 1280×720(60fps), 1280×720(30fps), 640×480(60fps), 640×480(30fps), 320×240(30fps) Slow Motion Video WVGA : 768×512(120fps).

Moreover it can connect to network via 3G, wi-fi, HDMI 1.4, PC sync & Bluetooth (old school). The samsung android camera have 1.4GHz Quad-Core processor & have a strong battery of 1,650mAh which last upto 280 hours on 3G network.

Full Features & Specs of Samsung Android Camera

Windows is continuing its evolutionary process even after this long journey of nearly 30 years, yet still being able to surprise the people with the innovations and evolutionary capabilities. The journey started with the introduction of Windows 1.0 in 1985. The year 1992 saw the rise of Windows 3.1, which inculcated less operation of DOS and introduced the surprise element of Windows, which simply revolutionized the nature of computing.

In 1995, Windows 95 introduced the ‘Secret Doors in Doom’. It provided the taste of internet to the users by Windows 98, which introduced Yahoo. Windows 2000 brought in Google and MSN, at the dawn of the new millennium. In 2001, the game of Solitaire inculcated the technology that offered the users to take breaks in between their heavy work schedule. Year 2007 brought Windows Vista, which paved the way to Youtube and Facebook. Windows 7, in 2009 brought about the freebies of Farmville, Twitter and even helped in providing immediate status updates through blogs and posts. Last, but not the least, Windows 8 of 2012 is here to give you the pleasure of handling pocket-computers.

Record from Apple Inc is flashing that the company has managed to climb the figure of 3 million regarding the sales of its new iPads, and that too, within the first three days of its launch at the stores throughout the world. The newest product launched by the company, has lived up to the expectations of the top brass of the company, leaving behind the speculations that it might not be able to withstand the competition from its cheaper counterparts of Samsung, Google and Amazon.

Apart from this, the market also showed some tendency of slowdown on part of Apple Inc in the last quarter of the year. However, the company was quite apprehensive of the results to be achieved through the introduction of iPad Mini. Even reports of few takers of the new device were being reported from every store of the world during its appearance in the stores.  Meanwhile another competitor with great potential has also entered into the foray of smart tablets- Microsoft.

According to Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, nearly all the stock of the Mini device had been sold and the company cannot deliver the new batch until the next month.

The latest devices of Apple Inc has defied the analysis of various market exponents and has shown the world that Apple still rules the world of digital tablets, although the invasion from its cheaper counterparts have been able to eat-up a section of its customer’s base. It has been reported that in the third quarter the share of Apple had fallen down to 50.4 per cent, while it had earlier it used to be close to 60 per cent.

If reports are to be believed, then Microsoft, the world’s most renowned software developer, is gearing up for manufacturing their own hardware for Smartphones. Presently, the launch of the Windows phones by Microsoft, in a joint venture with Nokia has made way for the software giant to test the market for its own Smartphones.

Until recently, Microsoft was entirely dependent on software development, although the company has been able to provide some of the best hardware materials to the world. The gaming console of Xbox, developed by Microsoft, is still considered as one of the best consoles that the world has got until date.

On the other hand, the launch of the new range of Smartphones by Microsoft will ensure a competition between the companies producing latest smart gadgets. The threat that the desktops are facing with the introduction of the Android powered devices of the various companies and their constant evolution from being only an advanced mobile device into a multi-utility and multimedia product, is really striking in the recent times. This move of Microsoft will therefore ensure the company to be able to fight back into the war of advanced devices and help it to regain a secured place in the world of on-growing Smartphones.

According to reports, Microsoft has become considerably frustrated by the lack of upgraded hardware and sleek design devices from its partners, and is therefore heading towards production of the same. If rumors are to be believed, then the software giant is all set to unveil its Smartphone line of ‘Slate’.

The reigning social networking site is more concerned on its privacy controls now. It has announced the strictness and privacy on certain aspects of sharing. This included photo tagging, public view of profiles, auto-opt in features and others. The announcement or information is not something new in this giant social media but its manner of highlight is quite distinct from the previous actions.

Facebook now zooms in and highlights all little scribbles details, while the new users sign up for the accounts. The users’ interaction with games and Facebook applications is also a concern in this aspect. Facebook has now started highlighting all tiny scribbled details of application management and policies, while a new user enters the game and application zone.

These enhanced privacy policies will also be imposed on customization of user profiles and group of friends. Facebook has confirmed the fact that it received sufficient assistance from the Irish Data Protection Commissioner’s Office. It is Facebook services’ regulatory oversight agency. However, some Facebook users who had been on this site, since quite some time, before Facebook received the tag of the most popular social network has commented on this announcement on where the extra assistance is required to maintain those privacy policies.

It is good to notice the efforts of Facebook in enhancing its privacy policies, but as billions of users use this giant social media, it might happen that some users have missed out this private educational campaign. Facebook needs to upgrade and propagate its announcements in a stricter way.

On Monday, Google officially announced the launch of its flagship device on Android Jelly Bean 4.2, the LG Nexus 4. This was quite a restless and host time in the techno industry; Microsoft was set to launch its phone operating system Windows 8 and the buzz around iPad Mini Rife is still ablaze. In this meantime, hot news arrived from Google, which was the launch of Nexus phone over the latest version of Android. This was an odd time for Google to announce its precious belonging, but after many conclusions being derived, it was finalized that Google has done so for good.

The LG Nexus 4 has distinct specifications and adorable features, but still its announced price makes it a mismatch to its distinct specifications. As far as the features of the Nexus 4 are concerned, anyone would suggest its price to be around £500 and above. The Samsung Galaxy Note II is priced at £550 and Apple iPhone 5 at £500. However, the price of LG Nexus 4 is around £239.  This deed of Google is quite mature and clever, because concerning the specifications of Nexus 4 and Apple iPhone 5, it is very hard to drive a conclusion on why Apple iPhone 5 should cost £300 approximately more.

Google has always been very distinct in it launch-arrangements. Although the event was postponed due to Hurricane Sandy in New York, Google held some quite press releases and undertook several highlight attempts to spread the buzz; after all it’s a master of the viral medium internet. After the price specifications by Google, it is certain that many iPhone users are bound to be attracted to the new Nexus or give it a thought at least.

Finish mobile maker, Nokia has teamed up with the Kenyan Government, with the help of Kenya ICT Board, assuring to provide technological startups in education, health and agricultural applications and will also provide financial and technical support during the entire period of the partnership for two years.

It is believed that the joint venture will help in developing mobile-based platforms that would help in increasing the earning and productivity of the farmers, help in instructing and teaching and also simplify the process of businesses. The partnership will also introduce universities and techno hubs that will be entrusted in building the advanced business and technical skills that would be required for the Kenyan mobile startups. They will also be required to train as much as 200 students per year.

The main objective of this venture is to support the local talent and help them to develop skills and helping in the process of developing channels through which these talents can expose their skills and their innovations in both the global and regional markets.

The Kenyan government is very much apprehensive about the venture. They have also felt the need to create such applications and believe that these would be immensely helpful in solving the problems prevailing at various sectors of the country.

According to the study by the experts, although there has been advancement in the field of technology in Africa, yet the sector of health is much neglected in the continent. They believe that the services of healthcare will find its natural opportunity in the region, especially in the rural areas, where the medical services are really disappointing.

Samsung has hired Miami basketball star LeBron James for promoting the latest product of Galaxy Note II. According to Samsung USA’s promotional copy, the celebrity spokesman hoops star wanted exceptional that would be able to turn the heads on one hand, and also help in accomplishing the daily regimes effortlessly.

The promotional material exposes the functional elements of the smartphones and the creativity of the tablets, all being combines into the new Galaxy Note II. The enhanced functions of multitasking, the super Amoled screen of 5.5 inches along with the fine-tuned S Pen makes the new device of Samsung a complete package for entertainment and utility.

The device runs on the latest technology of Google’s advanced Android 4.1.1 version of Jelly Bean. It comes with Samsung manufactures quad-core Exynos processing chip, powered with 1.6 GHz. The 2GB of RAM makes it one of the faster devices available in the market in the present day.

However, the wider screen, effective and advanced touchscreen mechanism of the device are considered as the unique selling point of the new product of Samsung. The seemingly larger device than that of the latest iPhone was rather looking like a normal sized tablet in the hands of the basketball hunk.

In spite of its enlarged dimension, the device is rather very thin with only 0.37 inches in width and weighing just about 6.3 ounces. The Galaxy Note II is available with a storage variety of 16GB, 32GB and 64GB. Its price is declared to be starting from 299 dollars and will vary according to the storage variety of the device.

Apple unveiled its latest iPad mini a few days back and is also gearing to market it as fast as possible. But the question that is arising in the minds of most of the critics and market analysts is that will the product be able to show its magic in the market, under the present scenario?

The question is really pertinent if the present circumstances are analyzed. With the market flowing with a variety of similar gadgets and that too at less than almost the half of the price of the costly iPad mini; will the customers tend to buy iPad mini? Leave aside the tablet from Microsoft, even Google and Kindle Fire is gearing up to launch their 7-inch screened tablets with a variety of features into the market. These tablets will be available at a price much less than that of iPad mini. Will iPad mini be able to face the stiff completion regarding the price from its counterparts?

However, it is being said that Apple is delivering better features in its iPad mini, than any of the newly launching tablets. May be it is the camera functionality or the resolution of the screen, specifications are indicating that the product of Apple will certainly be the best in comparison to the other upcoming products. However, market analysts are eagerly waiting to see whether the product of Apple will truly be able to beat its cheaper counterparts, or not.

It is highly noteworthy in this respect that former CEO of Apple Inc, Steve Jobs, was totally against launching of such a product by Apple with such small screen size. He had even displayed his displeasure by declaring that if Apple plans to launch any version of iPad with a smaller screen size, it will definitely hit the bolts and will not be able to stand the stiff competition from the tablets of the rival companies.

YouTube has crossed the benchmark of over 100 million in the year 2012 itself, and the number is still increasing. This is despite the fact that the website is still banned in several countries. Many countries have even repealed the order of ban of providing the services of YouTube.

More than 2 billion of videos posted on the website are watched every day, throughout the world. Reports say that the citizens of US spend more than an hour in an average every month, surfing and watching the videos on YouTube. Almost 47% of internet users over the world accessed YouTube in the month of April 2010.

India’s widest network BSNL has launched the tablet under the model Penta T-Pad WS702C built by Panel Technologies.

Powering the Penta T-Pad, is the Android 4.0 well known as Ice Cream Sandwich.

The 7” multi-touch wide display screen offers a pixel dimension of 1024 X 600, a great feature for the size.

For a perfect voice and data, the BSNL’s SIM is ably supported by the slot of the 2G GSM SIM.

The new BSNL’s tablet is powered with 1.2 G Hz CPU combined with Malt 400 GPU.

The smart unit Penta T-Pad WS702C has 1GB DDR3 RAM to deliver consistent and solid performance.

Pentel boasts the new tablet has a built-in 3D acceleration graphics capability as its USP. But the product spec does not point this special feature.

Following are the speculations of the new Penta T-Pad WS702C from BSNL

• Platform: Android 4.3 (ICS)
• Display: A 7” capacitive multi-touch screen delivering 1024X 600 pixels
• Processor: Cortex AB CPU @1.2 GHz; Mali-400 GPU; 1GB RAM with DDR3 facility
• Internal storage: 8 GB with a slot for 32 GB microSD
• Other special includes BSNL 2G SIM, a mini-USB support for external 2G & 3G dongles applicable for both GSM and CDMA; Wi-Fi 3.5 mm jack; and HDMI Out facility.
• Power Backup: A 4000mA battery with a capacity of 6 hours of backup.
• Other package contents and accessories: USB cable, power adopter and a user manual.

Foot Note:  The HDMI-Out enables to send images and video data to the HD screen. It is feared Google Play store may not support the new model.

Among all the social networking sites available throughout the world, Facebook rules the world covering almost the major share in this regard. However, it has not been able to spread its dominance over Asia, as yet. The networking site of Facebook covers almost all the major parts of the world including USA, Canada and even most part of the continent of South America. The whole of Australia and major parts of Europe also comes under its ambit.

However, Russia and China are mostly using their very own networking sites of V Kontakte and QQ respectively. Yet, Orkut is still used largely throughout India and Brazil.