It’s about time the passport format changes from book to card or maybe an app. Passport books have been used since we were using bank passbooks yet the format has not really come into the 21st century. 

Passports should be swipable cards or machine readable apps that interact with an international record bank of travel and trip info. Visas and controls will still apply for certain category visitors. Can online visa issuance be an option? Not mere application. But actually the full process including getting the visa on your profile.

Sent via my Android from wikiglobal.net

(Source: wikiglobal.net)

That is probably the most common of all questions people ask when shopping for smart phones or mobile 4G devices that can connect anywhere. There are many plans available from all the key players, prices are similar at times, but not always.

The key issue is, how much data do you use daily when hooked to the Internet? There are several ones:

• Streaming videos
• Streaming music
• Downloading apps and games
• Sending\receiving photos, files and documents
• Surfing the Web
• Checking Email

Each one consumes data and space on the broadband. They use it at different rates, so it is good to know what type of user you are.

Most users do all of the listed items, the question is how often. If you do all of them, all the time or on a regular basis, you need 10 GB every month. If you do Email and surf all the time or regularly, get at least 7 GB. If you also send and receive photos, files, you better get 8 GB. However, if you Email, Web and occasionally watch a movie\TV show via the Internet, you need 10 GB. If you do Email, Web, and seldom stream videos\movies or music, you might get by with 9 GB. If you seldom stream video, but not music (or vice versa), 8 GB might be okay.

Basically, if you stream video or music on a regular basis\all the time, even if you never surfed the Web or used Email, you need 10 GB. About 5 GB is needed for those who use the Web and check Email on a regular basis, without any streaming, downloading or sending files and photos.

As I stare into the San Francisco skyline I can’t help thinking to myself “how the hell did Steve see this new category called tablets”. We certainly did not see the need until it came along, now we can’t imagine our lives without it.

From Church congregates taking notes and flippin thru a Bible app, students reading textbooks, Entrepreneurs, CEO’s and other executives being more efficient or at least placing it in boardroom meetings to appear “on board”. Nobody wants to be seen without this new utility mobile device, especially when there’s an app for everything.

Tablets have made reading trendy again. For years I resisted the lure of screen, kidding myself into thinking ereaders were just a fad and paper text will stay supreme. But I have to admit I’ve lost the battle, I have now installed the Kindle app in my tablet and I’m loving books all over again.

Going forward, I think tablets will help us read more books as we’ve been trained over the years to read off the screen, book purchases will be reviewed and purchased online therefore killing the brick and mortar bookstore business entirely (It’s happening already) and creating coders and app developers in it’s wake.

Magazines and newspapers will be consumed of your tablet killing off your local newspaper/magazine stand business the same way cell phones made phone boxes obsolete. So for all those thinking we don’t read like we used to! We are in actuality consuming more information than we ever had in this age, the game has simply changed so let’s get with it.

Sent via my Android from wikiglobal.net

In my 5 year experience with dual SIM phones from North America thru Africa, Europe and Asia I have particularly found them useful for me as a traveler to avoid roaming surcharges. Basically I have my home SIM card in my Android dual SIM phone so I can see who is trying to reach me while abroad (I don’t answer the call, I text them, Skype them or email the caller my local #). And get a local SIM card, insert in second SIM slot to use locally at my destination.

The Android platform was a welcome addition. Locally, I use 1 SIM on my Android dual SIM for my T-Mobile USA plan (Can’t miss Pandora while driving) and the other SIM on an AT&T prepaid plan pretty much to filter my calls.

My observation in South Africa is, dual SIM phone users use these phones for the most part to toggle between networks and dodge interconnect premiums, I remember one time I was in a cab in Johannesburg and the driver had 2 cell phones… 1 single SIM phone and a dual SIM phone, essentially he had 3 SIM cards from 3 different networks, I asked why 3 SIM cards? And he proceeded to tell me he calls his contacts with the SIM card of the network they’re on “it’s cheaper” he said, “didn’t I know?” he added. He also said some networks offer free calls from midnight to morning so he enjoys that to call his daughter at the university and mom at his home town in Galashewe. “Eish… it’s better” he gibed.

Sent via my Android from wikiglobal.net 

Ever taken a long road trip and while going across city limits you find yourself searching for a station to listen to your fave tunes on? Or perhaps you’re living in an area that only has a limited amount of music to choose from. Well that’s where your Android comes in handy. Now and days your phone can be your best friend. It will provide you with daily news updates, your latest Kindle read and keep you current on your appointments. Oh, by the way it also provides you with communication to one of your nearest and dearest friends. So why wouldn’t it provide you with endless music as well?
With one soft push of a screen one can have their favorite hits at their fingertips. Why bother with an endless shuffle of cds? If you even own CD’s anymore. You only find yourself listening to the same thing over and over. The same thing goes for any music that you have downloaded into your music player also. Well hear the same thing no more. Try out some of these free downloadable apps.

IHeartRadio

By signing up to IHeartRadio you are able to create and customize the type of music you want to listen to. By selecting the Create button you can enter in the artist or song you want to hear. This will play music along the level of the artist or song you entered. Creating your own custom station will supply you with plenty of music for you to enjoy. Under the My Stations button is where you will find a list of your saved custom stations. If you do find yourself not liking a song that has been selected to play you can thumbs down it and it will not play it in your selected station. A thumbs up will play songs more along the lines of your station. By selecting the dial at the lower left portion of the screen it also aids in helping to play a better selection of music for you. You can select from Familiar Artists only playing a select few. Or you can choose between a medium variety of music or discovering new artists with the More Discovery option. Your favorite station can also be accessed as well. If you’ve found yourself living in an area where you can no longer hear the station you’re used to, you may find it in IHearRadio’s repertoire of live radio stations. Selecting the Live Stations button will enable you to look for stations by city. You can also select to hear a certain genre if you find yourself in a mood to hear a certain style of music. And if you feel like sharing new music with your friends or that song you just love you have the option of allowing what you are listening to, to be displayed on Facebook for all to see.

Pandora

One of the most well known radio apps is Pandora. It allows you to hear a great selection of your favorite genre. It allows you to also choose your favorite artists that you may want to listen to by selecting the Create Station button. You also have the option of thumbs uping a song you want to hear more of or thumbs down a song that you don’t want to play on your play list. If you accidentally find yourself thumbs uping or downing a song you can login into your Pandora account online and delete it off your saved or deleted list. This can be found under your Profile link and selecting the Stations link. There you will find your created stations and can undo any accidentals there. Unlike IHeartRadio, Pandora does not give you the option of listening to your favorite online stations. You are only given the option of searching for artists or genres. A few extra options that Pandora provides are Sort By Date and Sort A-Z. These two provide a sorting of the stations you have created. A Quick Mix choice is given at the top of the list of your created stations that allows all you to hear all your genres intertwined together. Also, when it comes to headset or auxiliary plugs the music automatically pauses when plugs are taken out.

Jango

Jango is a really good music app that offers the same qualities as Pandora. It provides you with an endless supply of music that only you want to hear. It is easy to maneuver and find what you are looking for. Also like Pandora, Jango offers the like and dislike option. But one main feature that Jango has that Pandora doesn’t not is the sleep feature. This can be a priceless feature for those that may like to sleep to their music or want to set it to turn off the music in a certain amount of time. Jango’s radio website can also provide you with the option of selecting artists that you want to hear more of by selecting the Artists option that’s located below the station you have playing. A list is preselected for you. By clicking on one of the artists you are given the option to play more of or delete the artist. Another feature that Jango offers is being able to hear from non-mainstream musicians. Artists that are trying to break out can gain exposure by having their music play amongst the chosen genre that one may select. You can either thumbs up the song or thumbs down it. Jango offers other options as well. The Resume Playback on Headset feature allows you to automatically be able to pick back up where you paused. When you insert your headset plug or auxiliary plug into your headset, stereo or car radio your music begins to play without any extra buttons to push. When plug is taken out music automatically pauses as well. You can also sort your stations by date and alphabetically.

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(Source: wikiglobal.net)