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Announced back in January of this year, the Xiaomi Mi Note Pro has finally been unveiled. The new smartphone is being pushed as the company’s most advanced smartphone to date, and takes a step further by putting the device at par with some of the leading smartphones available in the market at the moment, such as, the Samsung Galaxy Note 4. But, if we know anything about Xiaomi, its more than just pomp and talk for the smartphone manufacturer, which has been one of the major reasons for its success not only in the Chinese market, but in other countries as well. So, what’s so special about the new Xiaomi Mi Note Pro? Well, let’s take a look and find out.

Design
For those who love their numbers, according to mobile tech reviews, the Mi Note Pro is 77.60mm wide and 155.10mm high. It has a depth of 6.95mm and is said to be thinner than your average smartphone. In fact, The Mi Note Pro is the thinnest phone in the market, even after its put into its case, which is a pretty tall claim live up to. But, the Mi Note Pro surprisingly lives up to its claim. The device weighs around 161 grams, and is again surprisingly heavier than the average smartphone of its size, which is mainly due to the much larger battery that has been added to the Mi Note Pro to boost its efficiency.

Xiaomi seems to have done its homework this time around and has designed the Mi Note Pro to look something a lot similar to the iPhone 6 Plus, with its curved glass front and back, along with the rounded edges to make it more visually appealing. The curved glass design that has been used in the Mi Note Pro for the rear resembles the Samsung Note Edge, the only difference being, that it is on the back and not part of the display.

What you get is a really good looking phone, with a top-shelf build quality. The Mi Note Pro is available in two colors, black and white. While the White model manages to stay clean, smudges can easily be seen on the black version, so frequent wiping will be in order to keep your handset clean. That is, if you choose to use the black one.

When it comes to the strength of the glass, it is without a doubt that Xiaomi has gone the extra mile with the new Mi Note Pro. The durability and general toughness of the display glass has been well documented in videos for us to know that it’s far from something fragile. Since we’ve mentioned videos, Xiaomi had recently revealed the strength of the glass display by first dropping the phone from a height of five feet, then dropping ball bearings on the glass. Apart from the tough as nails glass display, the aluminum frame of the Mi Note Pro also does its part in selling the phone as a premium product, which offers a not-shelf feel.

Display
We’ve covered the display already, but that was from the outside. Now, we go in to see what powers the Mi Note Pro. For starters, the Mi Note Pro sports a 5.7-inch display, which makes it a part of the larger size phones, and also makes it qualify as a phablet as well. It also means that the Mi Note Pro could be difficult to use for some users who have small hands, and especially those who want to use the device with one hand. The 5.7-inch display features a 2,560 x 1,440 pixel, which makes it a 2K HD screen. The display is where the Xiaomi Mi Note Pro really shines. The device has a cool 515 ppi, meaning that the phone is around 120% sharper than your average mobile devices that are available in the market.

Hardware
The Mi Note Pro works with an Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 chip, with a clock speed of 2 GHz, which is pretty impressive for a smartphone of its price point. The Mi Note Pro also comes along with 3MB of RAM, which is also more than what you will get from your typical smartphone. In fact, the high RAM gives the Mi Note Pro an added advantage when it comes to processing time, which is a good thing. Apart from that, the phone also boasts of 16GB and 64GB storage options, and comes along with 4G LT-FDD support as well. And last but not least, the Mi Note Pro also houses the Adreno 430 GPU, which offers superior graphics and makes watching movies or playing games on the display a visual treat.

Software
As far as the software goes, MIUI has been chosen as Xiaomi’s skin, which is operating over the Android 4.4 KitKat Operating System. While the user interface is flat and lacks some important apps which are expected to be pre-loaded. Besides that, the Mi Note Pro also lacks an app drawer that keeps your apps more organized. But, this is something that is common amongst Chinese smartphone manufacturers.

On the bright side, users who are familiar with the iOS interface will find it very easy to make their way through the Mi Note Pro, and will even find it easier to switch products since both have some striking similarities in the software department. One nifty feature in the Mi Note Pro allows the user to collect the apps they want to move and send them off to a new screen with a flick of a finger. Those who want to move a particular app just need to tap and hold the app with one finger. Then swipe to their screen of choice, rather than having to move the app to the edge for it to change.

Camera
With a 13MP rear snapper, you get to produce some fine quality shots which are crisp, sharp and offer great detail in every picture. The front-facing camera is no slouch either. A 4MP camera makes those average looking selfies a bit more special than those from its contemporaries. It is also able to capture images in 1080p HD video. According to mobile tech reviews the brand has been boasting of its camera’s prowess, and based on what we’ve seen so far, they weren’t joking. On the physical side, the camera lens is flush, with the chassis, which means that it doesn’t rise outwards. The clever addition of optical image stabilization makes each shot count and especially helps while taking photographs in low light environments. As far as photo quality is concerned, the Mi Note Pro does have Auto HDR tolerance, but that seems to be on the low side. But, the HDR images are just great to look at, with dark areas shown clearly. The twilight mode also helps a lot when taking those night shots, but the result is not as good as the iPhone. But, that would be asking for too much.

Storage

On the storage side, the Mi Note Pro does will with a good 64GB of internal storage space. So, it’s safe to say that the Mi Note Pro works well for those who want to store an abundance of pictures, audio and video files on to their handsets.

Speaker and Audio Quality
The Mi Note Pro has some great speakers as well. The speakers are nice and loud and don’t give out a flimsy sound which is something that is expected with mobile phone speakers. In fact, you might have to turn it down if you’re in the room with other people. The calls are nice and crisp, and more importantly, they are clear enough for both parties to understand what the other person is saying. This clarity is possible with the inclusion of the ESS audio chip, which has also been paired with the Mi headphones that have the beryllium diaphragm speakers. While you don’t need to be an expert in sound quality, it’s easy to see why the Xiaomi Mi Note Pro has done well since its release.

Price and Availability
So, what’s the verdict then? With the Xiaomi Mi Note Pro, you get a powerful operating system along with a powerful camera and great build quality. You also get to use a premium quality smartphone at a really affordable price, which makes it an attractive choice for most consumers. With the Mi Note Pro, Xiaomi has certainly set the bar high for its future releases, and has been able to do it in a budget. The 16GB version of the Mi Note Pro is selling in China for 2,200 RMB, which is roughly the equivalent of $260, while the 64GB version of the handset will cost you around $450, both of which are very affordable rates considering the amount of specs you get for the price point.

The hash tag came to fame mostly through Twitter. In Twitter it’s easy to make a statement in a post and put a hash tag on it, and suddenly more people than are following you can see it. This is because the hash tag acts like a keyword in your post and allows people to search against it. Clicking on the hash tag will then take them to anybody else who has used it. It’s almost instantly a way to get your point across to the wider audience.

Whether it’s on a popular show or a game people are playing or even a product or a business these hash tags can be very powerful and actually are used on more than one type of social media, for example Pinterest is another site that uses them. Some people don’t get the point of using them but others, like people who know SEO understand that power of reaching out to people who are on the search.

The Power of the Hash Tag
The first tip that can be given about the hash tag is to look at what the trending topics are before you post. If there is already a hash tag for what you want to post then use that hash tag, why? Because chances are it’s already got user searching by it. This means somebody else has already done half of the work for you in creating that searchable term. If you don’t see the hash tag in the trending topics then do a quick search on it just to be sure. Then of course if it’s still not there you are free to create your own.

One of the most important things to remember is that the hash tag is very open to people to read. If you are writing something to promote your company for example think about the tone of your words and use it as an advertisement. This is a way to promote yourself and possibly gain more followers so use the power of the hash tag well and understand its power. In the same way don’t always pick a popular hash tag at random just in the thought of gaining more exposure, be sure you know exactly what the topic is, you don’t want to offend your followers by catching their interest with a hash tag that can be offensive to people. This is something that can often occur without care due to the nature of social media itself.

Social media, especially Twitter is fun and very powerful when it comes to promotion, SEO and exposure of yourself as an interesting person to follow but it has to be used wisely. Make the most of your tweets and use of hash tags and you’ll find that you can use Twitter to your own benefit while still having fun with it.

Mechanical advances are never again terms that quick confounded facial reactions and juvenile clarifications. The nearness of these advances and a large group of recreational devices change unremarkableness into popularity. These projections are seen through TV documentaries, films, and strong media. The issues raised by innovative advances direct the procedure of social improvement. This is uncovered by the consideration paid to the meaning of “innovation”. There is assortment of recently built social settings compared to an officially depicted condition. This produces and expresses an alluring game plan of social cooperation. The presence of adequacy and steadiness introduced by these different mediums is drained of hypothetical improvement as a course of progress organization. The social texture of human association is accomplished by re emerging loyalties of another milieu toward unimportant social practices and obsession with the governmental issues of personality. The colossal impact of this societal and social development towards innovation, substitutes our consideration from social principals and relations to conduct that pollutes social acknowledgment. The quantity of people who have all the earmarks of being ostensibly secure in the realm of mobile phones, diversion young men, and iPods is rising. This lead has uprooted human components of basic leadership dependent on firsthand experience and social contacts that would normally emerge. Present day youth are not associated with social exercises profiting from the distinctions that different societies have managed. Ones proclivities are to such an extent that these detached and aggregate social contacts create the understanding conceivable to make associations that rise above the colloquial practices of classes, significant connections, and colleagues. Inside this structure the intricate way helps with clarifying ordinary public activity through the encapsulation of implications, qualities, and imagery.

The web appreciates stamped progresses adding to the degree of worldwide reach with overall web and remote correspondences. Topics of discussion develop refering to worries of protection, trade, and security as an irreversible impact on the scene of business and individual correspondence, as observational confirmation to the state 21st century security is an immediate consequence of our mechanical advances. While analyzing the effect of innovation on the utilization of old laws and new advances we find that there is a ‘wild west” style of person to person communication, for example, Facebook and MySpace yielding separated qualities and informal personality amalgamated under the mechanical umbrella. Considering the liberal humanism in which our young and their associates are locked in, the peopling of devices in the midst of a human scene has prompted a progressively unfeeling consolidation of innovation and human organization. Not very many of the people occupied with the peopling of innovation really speak to their hypothesis practically speaking.

The media, which fill in as another stimulant in the lives of the present youth and grown-up data, are to some degree in charge of conveying, “poor correspondence.” While bring down principles are set by bleeding edge media stars spoon bolstering the unlawful while continuing these portrayals with regards to innovation insinuating its effects as a social contrast. Innovative drawbacks and the disengagement it makes, is a worldwide wonder with nearby articulations. As the innovative distraught are marked as untalented work, country and urban America endeavor to uncover the force behind the practices of hostile to social feelings of trepidation introduced by its backfire

Inside the clinical settings, magnificence parlors, corner stores, and eateries people share data and recount stories passing on verbal safeguarding of legends with benefactors immersed in providing stories to substantiate declamatory awards. We end up in another type of separation through innovation. This love for protection may not be elite, but rather the craving to get away from the routine happens without making better approaches to fasten it in an abstract way. For some the dismissal of innovation is a dismissal of western qualities. The independence and absence of shared exertion can be acknowledged inside both, people who touch base from suburbia, and the ever present groups in the city who feel you ought to be conscious of their young families, foul dialect, and filthy clothing. The detachable factors, iPods, make it simple to be separately and quietly connected to different methods of conciliation while trenched in overwhelming goals of rural life, and the articulation for new states of understanding by a solidification of new innovative socialization started by a rising impact of the individuals who move in the direction of groups, and the individuals who hold fast to a resurgence of rebel practices.

We would be persuaded into trusting this a characteristic request of movement in the human condition to exist emphatically influenced by innovative toys. People practice their privilege in reclaiming their security and significant serenity through idealism. The “how about we not be here now” way to deal with issues presented in the urban condition is managed through the individual head set. In the populist dialect of things to come, “make tracks in an opposite direction from everything” are endeavors to conceal the disintegration of family esteems and neighborhood security. Innovation has obtained numerous American employments and introduced abroad as off shoring accounts disentangled through utilization of innovation energizing revanchist conduct by the regularly expanding appearance of shabby work. A substance innovation can convey to your entryway step.

In the midst of another mechanical renaissance, ensuing social conduct legitimizes an evaluate of the advancement and political commitments of the biggest market involving our private, relaxation, and work milieu. The dissociative and impassive conduct of a straightforward human implicit understanding is delicate to conditions that advance the removing of our adjacent neighbor, companions, and associates through innovative mediums. Noteworthy development of the innovative marvel since its initiation is delineated by the makers of Buck Rodgers and Dick Tracy to open offices who watch out for the fallout these two powers produce. The trouble of securing an arrangement to examine mechanical continentalism, its circumstances and logical results, and potential to affect the conduct of society through innovation is a troublesome one.

Sony have relaunched their popular Walkman range of phones starting with the release of the new W8 handset. This news will delight music lovers but does the handset offer users any other facilities that will see it compete with the other phones available that offer a multitude of features?

Casting your eyes over the device for the first time you will see the W8 is a phone that is certainly pleasing in the aesthetic sense. Much of this appeal lies in the striking colour schemes that the phone is available in. These finishes contrast perfectly against the phones black fascia with the orange option being particularly nice looking. The other options available are red and azure. Along with the attractive colour another great appeal is the phones compact size. At just 104 grammes the handset is one of the lightest you are likely to find whilst the overall measurements of 99 x 54 x 15mm maintain this compact theme. Occupying the bulk of the phones front panel is the screen which measures 3 inches which is in line with the brands other recent releases which are the Xperia Mini and the Mini Pro. What is very pleasing is that in order to make the small screen easy to use Sony Ericsson have again decided to again use the four corners of the display to house a series of shortcuts keeping the regularly used middle segment clutter free and nice looking. Whatever you are viewing on the screen it is sure to look sharp as the manufacturers have a packed a high quality resolution of 320 x 480 into the relatively small display. On its own this figure may not sound to spectacular, but given the screens compact measurement it results in exceptional quality.

An important thing to remember about the Sony Ericsson W8 is that it is not a handset designed to compete with the high powered smartphones available, it is aimed at people not needing smartphone specification but who require good storage and excellent audio features. Having said this however what does impress is how the manufacturers have enabled this handset to operate using the Android OS. Admittedly the version incorporated here is only the outdated 2.1 edition however it does offer some great functionality that you would not normally expect to find on a feature phone. An excellent example of this is the Timescape UI which is found on some of the makers very top end handsets. This offers some great synchronisation with social networking sites in order to bring you a single timeline informing you of everything that is relevant, from SMS texts to Facebook updates.

If you are looking for a handset with super audio functionality but with modern looks and some great user friendliness then this is the perfect model for you. The colour scheme is eye catching and the inclusion of Android is a definite plus side to the impressive handset.

It was recently launched at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and now the Sony Xperia S will soon be hitting the shelves of retailers everywhere. It is due for release in the UK in March and has lots of exciting features to put it right up there with the best mobile phones around at the moment. Some retailers are also allowing customers to pre-order this mobile phone, so you can beat the rush. The Sony Xperia S will be the only smartphone which has the Sony branding, which is down to Sony taking a share of Ericsson’s capital. This is the end of Sony Ericsson and the beginning of a new era of Sony smartphones.

The most striking feature of the Sony Xperia S is the sleek, slender and classy black design. Although it is a little more bulky than some other mobile phones on the market, it is still extremely light. It also has full HD video recording with a 12MP camera, which gives it very high definition. The camera also has Sony’s Exmor R sensor, which really improves the quality. You can even watch videos from your mobile on your television, by using an HDMI cable. The Sony Xperia D also boasts a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor.

This exciting new mobile phone has plenty of features which make it stand out from the crowd, including the clear HD on the large 4.3 inch reality display with mobile BRAVIA Engine. The 720 by 1280 pixel display will help to make your images really stand out and the icons on the phone will be extremely clear. The high definition and clear images are by far the features which make this model of mobile phone really special. If you are a fan of the Sony PlayStation then you will enjoy this mobile phone as it is PlayStation certified, so you can visit the PlayStation store and access loads of games. It also has an impressive 32GB of internal memory and an astounding 1GB RAM.

When it reaches the UK, the Sony Xperia S will be available from Orange, O2 and Three. The mobile phone store Phones 4 U will exclusively stock the white model of this smartphone. You can expect all of these carriers to have Android 2.3 Gingerbread, although you can also upgrade to Android Ice Cream Sandwich later on in the year.

As you would expect, the Sony Xperia S will have the usual features, such as Bluetooth, 3G and Wi-Fi and it also has an Li-Ion 1750 mAh battery. If you want to take pictures really quickly and enjoy a more enhanced experience with your games, the Sony Xperia S is the perfect choice. It will certainly ensure a fast experience and will offer everything you would normally expect from the quality of other Sony products. It is reported that the cost of this mobile phone will be around £468, although it may vary depending on your country.

If you enjoy previous Sony products, there is a good chance you will love this smartphone just as much.

Viewsonic is an electronic technology product manufactures that has mostly concentrated on provided visual technologies like different type of monitors and projectors. It has competed with the top brands like Acer and Samsung over the span of 25 years. However, recently they have not let their brand stay far behind in the dynamic competitive market of tablet computers. The Viewsonic Android Tablet devices alongside some of the windows tablet devices have been doing a very decent job in the industry that provide cheap tablet. Viewsonic have released many different types of tablet devices in many different shapes and sizes with each having distinctive features to make them a good buy for those who do not want to spend much money on the tablet product or perhaps looking for a device to perform some basic functions with a limited budget.

ViewPad 10e
The most important factor for any tablet seeker to look at is the processor. This 9.7 inch device from Viewsonic has 1 GHz processor speed with 512 MB DDR3 RAM which is very decent for a 10 inch device that can be bought for a little more than $200. It runs on the old Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system and comes with a lot of free built in apps in the device. However, they have recently upgraded the device to have the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system. The Google play runs well, the Wi-FI and the Bluetooth connectivity are not bad; in fact they have surpassed the expectation according to many users. The display is also good for effective game playing and video watching experience that have 1024×768 resolution display. Moreover, the slim and light device with wide viewing angle helps the users to run the device very conveniently at different environments. It does have problems with sluggish behavior and sudden freezing while using for a long time, however the fact that it is cheap may cut down a better expectation from anybody who bought this product.

Rating: 3/5

ViewPad 10s
This is another cheap 10 inch device from Viewsonic that have recently refurbished its features and can be bought for only $199. It has a faster processor speed of 1 GHz NvidiaTegra 250 SMP dual cortex A-9 with the DDR 2 512 MB RAM. Most of the features and the design are actually quite similar to the ViewPad 10e; however this device has been running on the old Android 2.2 operating system with no news of any upgrades. Furthermore, there have been reports of a better graphics performance while playing and watching high resolution videos of up to 1080P full HD. The capacitive touchscreen is also very smooth while the sluggish behavior does not exist much on this version of the Viewsonic tablet.

Rating: 3.2/5

ViewPad E-100S
This 9.7 inch tablet from ViewSonic is probably the best one they have now. It has all the upgraded features that run on the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system. The design is also one of the best from ViewSonic with stylish and attractive look and lightweight carry making the users to carry the device and use their anywhere possible the most ease and convenience. It has the speed of 1GHz processor from Nvidia which however could have been improved as the other cheaper ViewSonic tabs have the same processor with the same speed. It does have however upgraded to 1 GB RAM with an internal storage of 4GB MMC iNand. In addition to that, it has a pretty decent battery life, decent Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity and also very decent touchscreen performance with good audio and video quality. This product is absolutely available to provide whatever it can for around $250. Rating: 3.4/5

There were many products in the 7 inch ranges that ViewSonic have stopped distributing, probably because of its low sales. Certainly, their cheap tablets that are now available are not bad in terms of the money spent on the products. However, this company does have the capability and potential to come with more competing tablet devices and therefore one can look at the future to observe what ViewSonic has in store for us.

Our universe, our technology, well the dominion of science keeps offering better advancements and alternatively, this being more observably in real life especially in the medical world of technology. The doctors or consumers, perhaps, making it general, human beings can have vital displays of illness by the new introduction of the ViSi Mobile Monitor. Definitely, facts are almost catching up with fiction. The new ViSi Mobile Monitor is a wondrous device that can display almost 95% signs of a long-suffering patient.

The ViSi Mobile Monitor has a sensor package that relies on a verified and tried Wi-Fi network technologhy.It gives the doctor opportunities to monitor vital characters or signs of his or her patient in a remote environment without forfeiting on accuracy.

What do you need to use this technology? Not much at all, but only possessing a tablet or acquiring a smart phone and you are done in a nick of a second. The new ViSi Mobile Monitor gives a perfect probability in monitoring patient’s signs especially the vital ones in time of emergency. People have used it and results come remarkably that the new visi Mobile monitor offers similar accuracy just like an ICU (Intensive Care Unit)

A well-known concept in science popularly quoted as “the monitoring motion” led to the design of the ViSi Mobile Monitor, it is composed of several components of rugged and water proof PVC with other components for example, there is a unit that is placed on the wrist for monitoring readouts, a couple of sensors, where by, some accept biometrics like finger (thumb) or those that monitor the chest. For this to work well and patient to earn the trust of the hospital, then a Wi-Fi connected network should work or be second by an encryption of WPA2 to enhance security for patients’ data and prevent hacking.

The ViSi Mobile Monitor sensors enables doctors or other consumers like nurses, first aiders etc. to constantly keep track of vitals like the levels of oxygen in blood, temperature of the body, the bit rate of the heart and some readings of an electrocardiogram device. As a result, the ViSi Mobile Monitor saves energy and time, as data is taken by the gadget remotely, patients do remain in their wards and no need to make them move around from one place to the other for monitoring their signs. These so called vital signs are normally gathered on spot checks and the monitoring or checking by ViSi Mobile Monitor takes a minimum of 2 hours and at least maximum of 7 hours to display the results.

Today, the doctors or health related specialist should be recommended to have ViSi Mobile Monitor as it is advantageous and well improved to work with rather than having beepers which reminds them to rush back to the hospital during an emergency. The use of the new ViSi Mobile’s monitor assist them to keep the vital signs of different patients at once even before attending to them directly.

Save a life today, save your time, save your energy and go for the new ViSi Mobile Monitor that will provide accurate monitoring services of vital signs.

An alarming trend in the growing deterioration in home security is having people up in arms and worried about keeping their families and possessions safe. There is ample evidence that more and more cases of house breaking and worse is happening on a daily basis in almost every country around the world, resulting in home owners looking for ways and means to safeguard themselves from thieves and criminals hell bent on murder and robbery.

Maximizing the security of your home therefore becomes a primary concern especially during night time when the whole world except criminals are sound a sleep. Investing in a camera de videosurveillence therefore should be seriously considered by one and all and especially by residents living in isolated areas where even a call for help goes unheard. Videosurveillance systems installed in business establishments, banks and supermarkets play a major role in fighting against not only theft and crime but are also effective in preventing terrorist attacks or at least identify the perpetrators involved in such acts.

With a number of security systems flooding the market today, all it requires is some research to identify which particular camera de surveillance is most suitable for one’s home security. While every home does not require more than a basic camera for surveillance purposes, locations sensitive to such crimes are recommended to have an advanced videosurveillence system installed to prevent any type of criminal act taking place. One that is very popular and thought to be the best is the digital CCTV camera which can easily monitor and record suspicious activities happening in and around your neighborhood.

Unlike with the past systems that were not capable of identifying suspects due to blurred images and dim backgrounds which was all that these security systems could display, today’s camera de surveillance are highly advanced and has infrared capabilities that makes recording images and backgrounds even in deep darkness a piece of cake. These videosurveillence cameras are so technologically advanced that they can not only identify a criminal but also the clothes he’s wearing and any items he’s carrying with him.

One of the greatest advantages of installing a camera de surveillance is that it not only helps identifying thieves, murderers and rapists once the act is done, it also deters most criminals from attacking innocent people or breaking and entering for fear of being identified through security systems that are installed in homes and in prominent locations. This is quite evident from the number of videosurveillence cameras you now see in airports, train stations, supermarkets and other sensitive areas which in most cases is a deterrent to those hoping to get away even after a petty crime such as bag snatching or picking a pocket.

Once you have a camera de videosurveillence installed in your home or store, you can sleep in peace knowing that you have taken all precautions against crime. If anything unexpected does happen, there are law enforcement personnel trained to monitor these CCTV cameras, and they will waste no time to pounce on the suspects and take them into custody even while you sleep undisturbed throughout the night.

The amount of money corporations and marketers have spent to attempt to grasp even just a portion of the potential revenue from the social networking site Facebook, is nearly astronomical. For just about every other avenue, these large conglomerate companies have managed to infiltrate just about every other form of advertising by just slinging a bit of cold hard cash at the guru’s who understand how it works.

In the case of Facebook, it sure seems that “Money Can’t Buy You Love…”

Especially when it comes to advertising. Facebook seems to be such an odd, diverse and interesting collection of people, who are all able to ignore just about all advertising on their pages. Facebook developers have done everything to try and hook users in through games, apps, groups and more, but they just can’t seem to hit that “buy button”.

So what is it that enables to facebook users to get away with only generating only a few cents on the dollar for facebook everyday? They can’t charge, for there are numerous groups of users who have all joined groups suggesting that if facebook ever sought to charge for the social networking platform, that they would stop using facebook.

They also can’t place large annoying adds in the middle of user profiles, for that is one of the many reasons a person chooses to use facebook over Myspace and other networks. It seems as though facebook is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Those who understand how facebook works, are pretty much not talking about it and those who want to know how to infiltrate the potential consumerism gold mine that facebook offers, just don’t understand how things work in the world of facebook.

I’m not promising to offer all the keys to this social networking gold mine, but possibly a few tips that might help you, as a business owner, marketer, advertiser or researcher, to understand the missing links to getting attention from facebook users.

First, lets discuss why millions of users enjoy facebook as a social networking platform.

The K.I.S.S. Method (Keep it Simple Stupid)

If people wanted a complex social networking platform, they would join myspace or yuwie. Many do, but as to recent stats, facebook and twitter are the most popular. One of the largest reasons is because it is some simple. They are losing much of that allure as they attempt to upgrade and enhance their platform, but as of right now they are still the most easily navigatible social networks around.

Monkey See, Monkey Do

It’s a simple matter of getting positive reviews. Facebook may have it’s issues, but “all my friends are on there”, or “I prefer another social network, but there are more people to talk to on facebook”. People go where other people are, which is another big reason so many people are on facebook. It’s the one thing facebook really has over all the other networks, combined with the K.I.S.S. method. It’s simple and everybody is already there. So why leave either?

You Can Ignore Advertising

It may not be a benefit for advertisers, but it’s a big benefit in the eyes of individuals who are tired of being considered “consumers” and not individuals. We are people, not cows. If you’d like us to buy something, why not be upfront and honest. Why not offer us something we could truly use, instead of fancy materialistic junk we don’t need nor truly have room for. Why not be innovative and creative with what you have to offer, instead of just focusing on how you advertise the same old boring ideas or ‘things’. Facebook also allows for users to rate the advertising they have seen and don’t want displayed on their pages. This is fun and also allows for some census from facebook. There are not a lot of other sites that allow that sort of thing. If offers users the chance to rate the advertising as “Repetitive, Offensive, Misleading, Uninteresting” and so on.

The Games Are Addicting

This is a major reason why so many people come onto facebook. They have these weird and time consuming little games that range in difficulty and taste and allow us to connect with our fb friends through helping each other complete these tasks. There are only a few problems with these games. 1) Eventually you get burnt out of playing whatever games and pretty much stop playing any of them all together. 2) They are time consuming and it’s easy to not go out and live your life when you’re addicted to a facebook application or game. 3) There is a lot of advertising involved. You may want to continue playing the game, but in order to continue you have to pay, since you’ve already invited your limit of friends and completed your list of point earning tasks. It’s a great thing from the point of view from those making money from the games, but it turns into a bad gambling type habit that American’s neither need nor want.

Awe Inspiring

I recently heard a radio news show discussing a poll that asked people why they choose facebook over other social networks and one of the strongest over all reasons was that people enjoyed the “awe and inspiration” that came from networking with people on facebook. In this year of 2010, two years before the anticipated and dreaded 2012, there are many people getting into the spirit. Whether it’s patriotic, conspiratist or just laugh out loud spew milk through your nose funny. People come from all over the globe to be ‘Awed’ and ‘Inspired’.

These are all great things about facebook and as insignificant as they may seem, they are major reasons that many people join and stick around on facebook. We have now looked at some reasons why facebook is so popular, which is why it is drawing so much attention from those who want to market on it, especially those desperate to replace the dying TV and Radio methods.

Now let’s consider some reasons why advertising and marketing has failed on facebook and some ways that it might improve for the capitalist.

Ad Space

As much as I would hate to see facebook filled up with ads and I am sure many users would agree with me, there is still a lot of unused space that could be utilized on facebook. I might be one of the few that goes looking for adds to rate on my page, but I’ve noticed there are hardly ever any ads when I am on my main user page. They generally pop up on the left of the screen during all other activities while doing any other activity on facebook. When scrolling down the page, it always surprises me that there are only three advertisement there. Not that I am complaining, nor would I like to see the entire left side of the page consumed with advertising and I must give facebook kudos for staying mostly ad free, but 6 or 8 small adds on there that could be rated or looked at, wouldn’t hurt anyone.

Format

This is something facebook gets a definite plus on. Making sure adds stay in a small square on a contained and predictable area of the screen. You don’t have to worry about getting blasted with a high flash seizure inducing advertisement when you go to another page. This is something that advertisers should stick with. One liners or compelling images of their products that attract people. Focus on the true value and necessity of what you offer to people and not on how flashy or truth stretching it is.

Getting Involved

I would dare to say that the majority of those who found advertising easy with TV or Radio, are not happy about continually hearing this, but it is extremely important to get involved with the social networking. This is not your grandma’s traditional gathering of people. They are ending baby boomer’s and several new generations. They are savvy and not easily fooled. It’s easy to spot a business that is just there to sell you something, versus finding a real person behind the advertisement, who wants to help you and add value to your life, even if you don’t buy anything.

I have met a few absolutely awesome entrepreneurs, small business owners and marketers who love using facebook to increase their revenue and they have to do nothing more than just be themselves. The truth is, you’re not going to get away with selling junk on facebook. It’s 2010, people can spot a scam when they see one. If you’re trying to market or sell something on facebook, you should be offering a product or services that can pretty much sell itself. If it can’t, that no amount of money in advertising and paying social networkers will enable you to bring in more revenue. It requires more than just the infiltration of the social networks by a paid employee, it requires a caring compassionate person who doesn’t have to lie to make their product look better. Someone who gets involved in others lives as much as they are asking others to get involved in their lives/business.

Use Whats Already There

If you cant beat em, join em. I haven’t noticed very many mainstream marketing utilizing the polling applications on facebook. There are plenty of popular ones that have to the potential to bring in a large census of valuable data, if only you knew how to mine it properly. I won’t give the whole cow away, but I will say that marketers could find more value in their time of posting thought provoking polls that get people thinking, debating and involved.

Offer An Incentive Everyone Wants

This is a hard one, not because it’s hard to tell what people want, but because what people want, changes often. Currently, I would go along with one of two trends. 1) Something that offers independence from government services or adds freedom to our lives. 2) Money.

The second one tends to be easier for most service and product pushers, which can be effective, but only for so long. If the incentive of money isn’t easy to attain and continually getting better for the participator, then it becomes and dull and a waste of time. Offering ways to make real money through rating advertising, talking to friends about products you’ve actually used and had improve your life, getting in touch with other like minded business, taking and creating polls, testing games and applications, writing blogs, notes or reviews. These are all things that facebook users already pretty much do on a regular basis. If they found that they could legitimately make good money doing what they already love to do, without rip offs, scams or truth stretching involved in the middle, then they would be great ways to increase business and to get a foot hold in facebooks unique social world.

If you don’t understand the majority of these concepts, or it seems like to much, or you’re having a hard time implementing these practices in your business, then it might be time to consider a new product, service or idea. Capitalism used to be so much more than just trying to trap or trick the consumer into buying useless things. It used to be about offering products that made our lives better, not lazier. It used to be that the most innovative and easy to attain products where on the “Hot List”, not the coolest new gizmo that hasn’t had any bugs worked out in it and cost more than you make in a week.

Take the time to get involved with the facebook world yourself. Remember what it’s like to just be another person and not just a business owner or advertiser. The sooner you do it, the sooner you will find success. Until you let this concept enlighten you, I’d suggest continuing your research.

If you are a movie lover with a home theatre set up built to give you the best experience you can possibly get then you’ll no doubt know what THX is. Most people should at least remember the logo appearing in the front of movies, for example Star Wars would be an example of this. What THX basically was created for was to provide the audience with the best audio and visual performance from the technology available. The fact it was the brainchild of George Lucas himself gives you an idea of just how high profile it is.

ThX Tune Up is a new app for iOS devices like the iPad to help you tune-up your HDTV to get the most out of it. The only drawback to this is the fact that really you’ll only get the most out of this if you have Apple TV (connects over AirPlay) or an Apple AV Adapter. This of course restricts the advantages of the app quite considerably if you don’t have a way to connect to your television.

The User Interface
The app is fairly simple in what it does, it will send test patterns and signals to your television and this will let you make the required adjustments to make the sound and visual settings fit your needs. It’s simple, but effective when it comes to getting it just right. One of the first drawbacks you’ll notice is if you don’t have Apple TV for AirPlay or the AV Adapter, these adapters can cost around £35/$50 which will be quite a big cost if you’ve not already got one.

The user interface itself is fairly basic. When you load the app up you’ll see the THX logo and a button to press to start the calibration. You’ll be given a video to introduce you to the process then given access to three screens (Equipment, Adjustments and Extras). You’ll find that the Adjustments screen is the one where you’ll get most of the functionality for the calibration process.

Calibrating your HDTV
The first thing you’ll notice is that the sound calibration is fairly basic when compared to the visual side. You’ll be able to do tests to see if the speakers are places right and to get the volume settings more in balance, but really it’s the picture quality where the app shines. With the visual side of the app it will help you with six adjustments Aspect Ratio, Brightness, Contrast, Color, Tint and Review. These adjustments are fairly self-explanatory with Review simply being a test pattern to let you see that the adjustments you’ve made are looking. Help is provided with each screen so it’s an easy process that helps you get the most out of the settings.

Verdict
For what is a free app there is really little to complain about with the THX Tune-up and working with the iPad it’s easy to use and gets the job done. The problem will of course be if you don’t have AirPlay functionality or an AV adapter to connect to your television. This leads to a big expense you may not be willing to pay, unless you were going to get an adapter in the future anyway. For the audiophiles out there this app may be a little lacking and for people experienced with calibrating their home theatres this may not fit their needs, but for most of us it’s quite a useful tool to get the most out of your HDTV.