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As consumers, we all have an ongoing relationship with electronic products, becoming increasingly dependent on them every single day. As a result, we are often swamped with complex information about gadgets and features, a frequently mind-boggling task. This is where Visuali.se comes in to help.

Visuali.se (www.visuali.se) is a pioneering, independent, and innovative comparison-shopping website. Visuali.se solves the problem for online shoppers having to traverse the Internet in search of understandable product information by organizing this data into a clear and meaningful display. What this website offers is a quick, accurate, and intuitive method to resolve search queries for feature-rich electronics, such as MP3 players, digital cameras, laptops, HDTVs, etc’.  However, ecommerce for electronic products has existed since the early days of the Internet, so what’s so new about Visuali.se?

The proprietary Visuali.se search results page stands out compared to other search engines by displaying product features in the form of bar graphs. Such a visual display is effective since: (1) bar graphs are familiar to any user, and (2) bar graphs offer the clearest way of comparing various features side-by-side.

Furthermore, Visuali.se produces a brief summary of each product as an overview for the user, as well as providing the ability to dig deeper and conduct an advanced search for additional product details. The innovative and functional graphical interface presented by Visuali.se allows the user to achieve one or more of the following:

* Find essential product features quickly and easily as well as features that are missing

* Spend less time on data that has no or lower significance

* Receive unbiased information that is reliable and actionable

Notably, the Visuali.se website also offers a community section, which allows users to create a blog, join a discussion group, or share their own pictures, audio, video, and even live chat about the products they see on Visuali.se.

Overall, it is apparent that the slogan of ‘raising the bar on search’ indeed fits both literally and figuratively with what Visuali.se is set on accomplishing.

I have had bad experiences with a few web hosts, and it’s a big deal. When servers are down, or data is lost – it impacts the user in a big, annoying way. For both big and small businesses, it’s never okay for a website to suffer technical issues due to the hosting company.

I was really tempted to name the hosts that I have been disappointed with, and ultimately jumped ship from, but as they may have since improved their service (and customer service, hopefully), I’ll refrain. I will say, that I currently use Media Temple, at least for this site, and while they are a little pricey, the people there have been great.

I want to mention that, if you’re using Blogger (Blogspot), it’s time to ditch it. Blogger can delete your blog and information at any time, for any reason – which they don’t have to disclose. Think it never happens? Think again. But don’t click on the first good deal you see without doing your homework. That’s how I ended up in a bad boat previously. Doing your homework now will save you many headaches in the future.

Okay, now the title of this post is “Building the biggest web hosting directory”, because I want you to check out all the competition in the web hosting sector. This site here that offers web hosting rating is actually pretty good, because it has web-hosting discount coupons right on the site, so you don’t have to Google around looking for one. You should so check out the web hosting awards section and see who is really excelling in customer satisfaction. As well, if you’ve had a bad experience with a web host, go and write a review and let others know to stay away.

If you’re a complete noob (and don’t feel bad, we all have been at one point or another), do yourself another favour, and find out exactly what your needs are – you can’t have them met until you do. Read some web hosting tutorials, and learn the differences between the different types of hosting. All in all, just take the time to do your research, and learn from the mistakes of others.

Thanks a lot, Mattel. Although, I can’t really blame you – it was an obvious intellectual rights infringement. However, that doesn’t stop me from pining for Scrabulous.

One of the few Facebook (third party, of course) apps worth having, is now blocked in pretty much everyone’s neck of the woods, seemingly permanently. Scrabulous, which was already blocked last month for North American users, has now been cruelly banished from most international Facebook sites – due to a warning Facebook received from Mattel.

Scrabulous creators, the Argwalla brothers, have produce a some-what less-addictive clone called Wordscraper. The new app has a few tweaks such as circular tiles and the possibility of earning triple points in some cases. I suppose they feel Wordscraper is different enough to avoid further legal issues, but that’s yet to be determined – so try not to get too addicted, as the rug could be yanked out at anytime.

Hasbro, the American rights holder of Scrabble, have gone ahead and released their own scrabble-themed app, which is receiving mixed reviews. The main drawbacks appear to be an abundance of bugs, and the inability to play along with users outside of North America. We’ll see which of the apps wins out in the end.

                                                    
There’s kind of neat news coming out of Sunrise Solar Corp regarding a solar sunroof they are developing. The solar sun-roof, which would replace a traditional automobile sun-roof, is said to provide enough electricity to recharge a car’s batteries, and either cool or warm a parked car.

Perhaps that doesn’t sound like much. Ideally, it would be nice to have a technology that could  power an entire car with advanced-green energies, but this is a step in the right-direction, and will likely lead to further solar-automobile productions.

The company also intends to bring to market a solar powered cell-phone charger, as well as, solar-powered light bricks. Specific details, including pricing and release dates, aren’t yet available.

Many broadband carriers like to offer free laptops as part of an incentive to choose their services over the competition. It’s actually a pretty good deal, as long as you are signing up with a reputable carrier, with reasonable terms that meet your broadband needs.

Now, if you’re looking into a new service provider and want to get a free treat with the contract, instead of going to each different company’s website to check out the details of their offer, you can head over to a site I like, Broadband Expert. Offered there are detailed charts and comparisons of leading UK broadband carriers, including a specialized page that offers insights and details for those looking to enjoy a free laptop with their service. I will be looking into this myself as it’s certainly better than what I received with my last broadband sign-up – nothing, unless you count a bill.

The site also features a broadband speed test, and reviews from current customers. These are both useful tools and go hand in hand. You can check out your current upload and download speeds and make sure you’re getting what you pay for, or consider changing providers – after checking out real user reviews first, of course.

Broadband Carriers

While enjoying some Sunday StumbleUpon, I came across this post, and thought I’d help spread the word. Basically, in an effort to promote safe sex, and combat the rising AIDS epidemic in India, BBC World Service Trust has released a new ring-tone, titled “Condom, Condom!”

While I personally won’t be adding it to my ring-tone collection, I gave it a listen and it’s a surpsingly sweet melody. Enjoy a listen at condomcondom.org, and share your thoughts.

The rumor is back, and if it’s true, iTunes can charge my visa card right now, because it would be a heck of deal for music connoisseurs, like myself.

An anonymous tip is currently circulating the blogs-of-Mac-worship, buzzing that Apple is preparing to launch an unlimited downloads, iTunes subscription service. If it’s true, other music subscription services will be forced to compete, or risk being put down.

Apple, and more specifically CEO Steve Jobs, have been publicly resistant to the possibility of an iTunes music subscriptions offering, stating that users wish to “own their music”, and standing by its popular retail model, while companies such as Napster, Real Media and even Microsoft try their hands at ruling the unlimited-download arena.

The anonymous tipster responsible for the resurgence in iTunes subscription rumors claims to have details of the possible offering: the subscription would run for $129.99 a year for regular users, and 179.99 a year for use with Mobile Me. It was also stated that songs would be of 256Kbps quality, with half of the iTunes library initially offered.

Now, before we get too excited, rumors of an iTunes subscription service have surfaced before, but they’ve never made it “to the shelf” as it were. However if Apple realizes that this is what its users are clamoring for, it could very well become a reality.

When most of us think of technology, it’s thoughts of fun and convenience that come to mind- video games systems, big screen televisions, cellphones, iPods, that kind of stuff. But there is another side to the story, technology that goes further than just providing entertainment, but actually contributes something valuable to society.

A current example of this is GPS vehicle tracking aids. Below this article, please watch the YouTube video and see for yourself how a GPS tracking device is providing major information in the murder case of a young girl. A death that otherwise, might have been ruled an accident. The GPS vehicle tracking device is small and easily concealable, which is how a suspicious wife, who only thought she might catch her husband cheating, may have provided the clues to solve a murder.

How? The device was able to track her husband’s whereabouts, which was in direct contrast to what he had told to police officials. You can check out this article for more information on that news story.

The GPS’ magnet, sold by LandAirSea Systems, is strong and can be placed under the car it is being attached to. It’s also water resistant, provides a 2.5 meter proximity accuracy, is compatible with Google Earth, and surprisingly inexpensive.

GPS Systems

If you like music and movies (who doesn’t) it is very likely that, at some point, you would want to  convert  these types of media from one format to another.  One example where converting media may be essential applies if a person wants to listen to music not just on their desktop computer, but also on their iPod. In general, with the vast number of  online downloads, it is highly likely that any user will be unable to read, hear and/or  view certain files due to incompatibility between file formats. As a result, file conversion is essential.

Introducing Blaze Media, an easy to use multimedia application offering conversion, as well as ripping, editing, recording, burning, and playback. Blaze Media is a very powerful software which not only supports any media format but also offers advanced features such as video converter, AVI joiner, AVI converter and much more. Honestly, the list is long , and the average user might not require many of the features. However, if you are an audio/video professional or an avid media enthusiast, then you should definitely consider to use Blaze Media.

The trial version if FREE to use, but to experience its advance multimedia capabilities and powerful features you can purchase the full licensed version for a very reasonable $50.

Apple is smokin’ — literally this time. Reports out of Japan indicate that users of first Generation iPod Nanos (circa 2005), have experienced battery problems resulting in the unit emitting smoke. This is mostly likely to occur during battery recharge, as the battery and subsequently the unit overheat. I know, I couldn’t believe there were people out there still using First Gen iPod Nanos, either.

Kudos to Apple, as they are stepping up to the plate on this one, and have issued the following statement – “Apple has determined that, in very rare cases batteries, in first generation iPod nanos sold between September 2005 and December 2006 can overheat causing failure and deformation of the iPod nano.”

The Apple representative, also spoke of replacement Nanos for those affected:

“Any first generation iPod Nano customers who have experienced their battery overheating should contact AppleCare for a replacement. Any other customers who have concerns about their first generation iPod Nano battery should also contact AppleCare.”

So if you’re using a iPod Nano First Gen from Japan, it may be time to upgrade, or, beware of fire!