12 Practical Uses of GPS for Everyday People

by: Simon Wyryzowski

GPS or Global Positioning Systems is a term that most commonly conjures up images of vehicle navigation systems, space-age satellite technology, and interactive maps for outdoors-types and sportsmen. But the reality is that there are far more applications of Global Positioning Systems beyond GPS vehicle tracking or map navigation that everyday people like us can benefit from. All it takes is a bit of creativity, and some trial and error. Here are a few of the many possibilities that can benefit you right now in your busy and hectic life.

1. Know where your children are using services from companies like uLocate Communications.

2. Keep track of elderly members of your family, so that they don’t wander off alone.

3. Plan a road trip around interesting points of interests, landmarks, campsites, diners, etc, and hear fewer "Are we there yets?"- and of course get the most out of that expensive gas.

4. Get emergency road side assistance at a touch of a button from your vehicle, so you can get help exactly where and when you need it.

5. Keep a visual journal and bookmark collection of your favorite hot spots, sceneries, and points of interests, that may not be listed in any travel guide (You can create your own mini travel guides and memories).

6. Find lost pets easily using collars with built-in GPS, better than running around in your pajamas hollering like a maniac.

7. Feel safer with cellular phone 911 calls, so emergency personnel can pinpoint your location once you make an emergency call. Please double check your carrier service to see that it has GPS features and get a primer on how it works if possible.

8. Get to your interview, or any important time sensitive destination or engagement, faster by finding shortcuts and correct directions.

9. Find a good Italian restaurant near your movie theatre on the fly.

10. Track your luggage, laptops, and anything of importance while traveling.

11. Track and find family, friends in a crowded concert, graduation, or any social gathering.

12. When going on a vacation, feel free to separate from group for a while to venture on your own based on your own interests and find them later on with your GPS enabled device- even in an unfamiliar place.

Our ability to use GPS so far is limited by the relatively poor connection to the satellite feeds when we are indoors in buildings, homes, or behind anything that could obstruct the GPS connection. However with the investment and development in a new satellite network called Galileo which should be completed in the near future, these problems should be eliminated drastically. Despite these problems, GPS still offers a world of benefits as mentioned earlier, and with any technology, it will only get better.

In addition to more practical usage applications, GPS will make a great educational and fun gift for your loved one’s and friends as well. Consider just two of the many creative and educational uses of GPS:

1. Stay physically active and fit by playing RayGun! A locational based cell phone game based on GPS technology.

2. Become more cultured, make global friends, and learn about the world playing GeoCache, a global GPS based treasure hunt.

With many affordable feature-rich models to satisfy anyone’s preferences and budgets, now is as good a time as any to learn more about GPS technologies, which are surely to become more assimilated into the mainstream within the decade. One day we will take these things for granted just like we do now for the internet and cell phones. The key is to dive in, without paralyzing yourself with the overwhelming array of choices in the GPS market, and enjoying some truly amazing technology.

About The Author

Simon Wyryzowski is a GPS enthusiast and regular contributor to GPSZoom.com. For even more practical, creative, and common uses including GPS tracking services for people, please visit http://www.gpszoom.com/.

When To Rent A Laptop Computer

by: John Beagle

Most companies either lease or buy their computer equipment, but why or when should a company rent laptop or notebook computers?

Here are a few reasons to rent a laptop computer:

-If you need technology on short notice or for a short time, it is best to rent a laptop.

-If you need a large quantity of laptop computers for a training class, it is best to rent laptops.

-If your laptop computers are on back order but your staff isn't, it's best to rent laptops for immediate installation.

-If you need a wireless laptop computers for travel and all your company laptops and notebook computers are wired.
People confuse computer renting with leasing.

Renting is short term in nature and is very flexible. Leasing, like buying is a fixed arrangement.

You can extend the rental or cancel at any time with no penalty. Leases can't be cancelled without a 'severe penalty'.

Renting laptops is totally flexible, requires no capital budget and can often be accomplished with a company credit card. For most companies, renting is as easy as getting office supplies.

Rental companies have expert computer technicians who deliver, install and test your laptop rental right at your office, training room, trade show booth, seminar, convention or conference.

Rental companies have everything you need and a backup plan if something unexpected happens.

Other reasons why businesses rent laptop computers include temporary offices, traveling executives and temporary employees.

Temporary Offices

Temporary offices can be made complete with rental laptop computers, printers, copiers and fax machines. The hardware will be configured to your company specifications and installed at any remote location in the United States or Canada.

Rentacomputer.com has set up temporary offices in hotel rooms, trailers, warehouses and convention centers. Temporary offices have been set up for State and Federal Government agencies such as FEMA, the FBI and the IRS. Also legal firms, television networks covering hurricane disasters, movie studios setting up "on location", and new building construction sites, corporate mergers and takeovers.

Traveling Executives

Traveling executives won't have to carry portable laptop computers through airports or other public transportation facilities. Executives can have technology, preconfigured and tested, waiting at their final destination! Traveling with technology is one hassle that can be easily avoided by calling a computer rental expert like a Temporary Technology Travel Agent.

Temporary Employees

Temporary employees need temporary technology. By renting laptop computers you can coordinate the installation and removal of computers, printers and other technology for any period of time specified. If you hire temporary employees, hire temporary technology too.

Next time you have a temporary or special need, consider renting laptop computer technology and technical expertise.

About the author:
John Beagle is a writer for the Tech Travel Agent© services of Rentacomputer.com, a laptop computer rental firm that installs rental laptop computers nationwide in the United States and Canada. The client website can be found at http://www.rentacomputer.com

Be An Effective Mobile Phone Spy

by: Kingston Amadan

There are many ways to listen for important information that you can use in the future. Because most people own mobile phones, and because they are on the rise as a primary phone, it can be worth your while to learn to be a mobile phone spy. Private investigators and bounty hunters can use the techniques of a mobile phone spy in order to learn information for their clients and gather evidence. People can be quite unguarded while speaking on a cell phone; it can be the perfect way to hone your spying skills.

The effective mobile phone spy has the right equipment. Luckily, it is usually easier to get the right spy equipment in the cell phone department than it is in many other ways. Additionally, cell phone spy equipment is often less expensive than other equipment. If you are just getting your PI or bounty hunter business off the ground, starting out with some good cell phone bugging devices is a good way to start. It will help you get your feet wet and prove to clients that you have good equipment.

Another thing needed is to ensure that you do not miss important phone calls. For many a mobile phone spy, this ties right into having the right equipment. There are two different cell phone bugs that call you when a phone call is made. The Spy Matrix Cell Phone will give you a rig whenever a call is made, allowing you to listen in on the conversation without constantly checking to see if a call is being made. Likewise, basic cell phone bugs that share with the home phone can also call you whenever the phone line becomes active. This allows you to do more than one thing while waiting for the call.

Finally, the effective mobile phone spy has a means of recording the conversations she or he hears. This can be recording equipment attached to your end of the device, or it can be transmitted to a recording assembly (if you are using a phone that picks up signals near someone using a cell phone). It is always good to have the conversations available as evidence when you are a mobile phone spy.

(c) 2005 Copyright www.spyassociates.com. This article is about: Mobile Phone Spy

Choosing the best computer model

by: Dr. Yuri Iserlis

Computer Families and Models

Many computer manufacturers, especially such computer giants as IBM, Dell, Gateway, Sony, Apple, etc. issue families (series) of computers. Models of computers in each series have either the same principle of design, or same processor, or have been given diapason of performances. The series can include a base model, and several derivative models. Usually for each type of computer, manufacturers issue series that generally can be divided into 3-4 categories: budget-friendly (at low price), mid-range (at middle price), cutting-edge and ultimate performance (at high, and very high prices). IBM, Gateway, Dell and Apple issue computer families not only for Home and Home office, but also for Small, Mid size or Large Businesses. These families can also include the network optimized series.

The needed features

First of all, you have to make a preliminary analysis of your needs to pick a type of computer, and a zone where you might search this computer, for example, for Home or for Small Business. But it is not sufficient.
(see: http://www.cleverace.com/Choosing_type_of_computer.htm)

To understand what kind of computer to buy, you additionally have to determine what computer performance you need: the type of processor, speed, size of memory, type of video and audio cards, type of case, and so on. You can select one from two ways: 1 - to formulate your needs in the process of searching, 2 - to compile a list a hardware requirement for the programs you might want to run.

(see: http://www.cleverace.com/Choosing_best_computer_model2.htm.)




Preliminary selection:

To select a computer family, you have to choose one, which the features match your wishes. Such families can be several. Next procedures are to find the best computer family and best model of computer belonging to this family. If you know the features you need, you can identify the name of the computer family. For this goal you have to use for example, a Table of Features comparison for base models of computer families. For example, according to this Table, if you know that you need a computer only for simple text editing and emailing, your choice is Budget-Friendly Series. On the other hand, if you need for realization of your tasks a computer from Cutting-Edge series , but it is not affordable, your choice can be like a computer from Mid-range series plus a customization (perhaps, when you can better afford it).

To accelerate the search for the preliminary selection, you can find comparison information about the different types of computers with the help a comparison-shopping search engine. It allows you quickly to find the needed products sold by online stores, small businesses, and individuals in diapason of affordable prices. Search can be done by Brand, by Price, by Processor speed, etc. To find what you need, see: http://www.nextag.com/serv/cleverace/buyer/outpdir.jsp

Generally, a preliminary selection can be executed on the basis of not only cost and main functions, but also on an evaluation of convenience of use, warranties, and so on. This kind of selection you can make for computer families of different manufacturers for example, for 3 or 4 families of computer giants. Some companies, such as Gateway, gives to a buyer an opportunity to compare preliminary selected models of computers with "compare" option.

Final selection.

To find the optimal model for yourself, you may make the final selection from the preliminary chosen models. It is much easier to compare 3-4 models, than more than 5 million variants that are available on the Computer Market at the beginning of your search.
Custom built model

If you can't find a computer with the needed performances among the available computers, you need to select a vendor and to order a custom built computer.
See: http://www.cleverace.com/Ordering_custom_built_computers.htm.
Discount

Keep in mind, you can find a cheaper computer for the same model on the Discount Market, because some online stores, especially the computer giants, suggest coupons; or discounts, such as $20 off, when you spend $150 or more; free shipping; free printer; and so on.
See: http://www.cleverace.com/discount_market.htm
For more information see: Web site: www.cleverace.com:


About the author:
Some information about author. Graduated (1961) St-Petersburg Polytechnic State University as mechanical engineer, and post graduated St-Petersburg Marine Technical University (1972). Devoted 10 yeas to a methodology of optimization of design and post-design development for complex machines. Worked as designer, researcher, analyst and scientist in different fields of industry, education and medicine. Created from scratch the Intellectual System, Inc. in St-Petersburg (Russia - 1992-1996). Developed some realtime intellectual systems for industry. Wrote and published more than 60 articles and books. In 1996 immigrated in the USA. In 2002 founded a new company Clever Ace (San Jose, CA).

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