Top Three Analytics Tools Preferred by App Developers
The absence of a direct 2 way communication between the user and developer has in most cases established user analytic's as a prime mode of understanding user behavior. As the app development industry continues to feel the pressures of the competitive environment, user analytic's services become increasingly significant.

Let us take a quick look into the three major types of analytic's tools commonly used by app developers.

Google Analytics:

Google Mobile App Analytics

One of the most widely used analytics tools, Google Analytics is considered to be the most powerful and robust of its kind. Starting off with web analytics, it gradually extended its support to mobile apps -
Google Mobile App Analytics.

Google Mobile App Analytics is ahead of others when it comes to in-depth analysis of e-commerce and revenue. It can help you track your transaction data I.e in-app payment and recognize areas that drive the maximum sales.

Other than recording user behavior data, Mobile App Analytics has an advanced sense of user demographics, giving it an edge over the rest. Offering its own set of categories, the advanced segment also allows developers to benefit more out of it by using their own custom segments, thereby, letting them customize reports related to their business area.

Although it supports both Android and iOS platforms, there is more Android related information than iOS.

Pros

Has an excellent e-commerce reporting ability.
Has an acute sense of user demographics.
Integration with Google Play for conversion tracking.
Comes as a free service

Cons

Lacks the retention analysis ability of Mixpanel.
Does not offer an easy way for mobile a/b testing.
Only for Android and iOS

Flurry

An exclusive analytics tool built for mobile apps, Flurry Analytics is another commonly used alternative for tracking mobile conversions. Flurry Analytics supports for almost every major mobile platforms like iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Blackberry and Java ME.

Although Flurry may tend to appear a little complex than Google mobile app analytics, the fact that its complex structure leads to deeper data access has made it a popular alternative to many others.

For every app you monitor here, you can either use the Flurry Classic dashboard or build up to ten custom dashboards. The data accumulated through dashboard functions is more detailed, for instance, it gives a better vision of the traffic acquisition scenario across various marketing channels like mobile ad networks, mobile web and email campaigns.

Apart from monitoring the 'user types' and user behavior based upon the apps used, Flurry Analytics, it will also track the devices types, operating systems, etc.

Pros

Not just restricted to iOS and Android.
Free service for mobile apps.
Offers multiple dashboards.

Cons

Does not have retention/cohort analysis ability.
Unlike Google Analytics, it does not identify crashes easily.
Strictly restricted to the mobile apps.

Mixpanel

Mixpanel is another popular analytics tool used to calculate user engagement for both mobile and web. Compared to Google Mobile App Analytics and Flurry Analytics, Mixpanel has the easiest user interface.

Mixpanel's SDK has segmentation tools that are capable of analyzing vital and complex questions. It enables you to ask more of your data, for eg. how your app's users invite friends, which Ad words campaign is giving you the highest number of paying users, etc. Mixpanel's funnel analysis can track where the user drops out during each event.

Mixpanel has a unique retention or cohort analysis ability that gives it an edge over the rest. Through this you will be able to track when and how often your customers return and engage with an app.

Its targeting system can also group a client's users into similar profiles and display their activity feed.

The only disadvantage this tool has is its limitation of 25,000 data interactions for the free service, thereby, requiring users to purchase the Premium service for greater visibility.

Pros

-The data segmentation can answer complicated questions.
- Can track the retention in user engagement.
-More focused towards measuring user engagement.
- Caters to both the mediums of mobile and web.

Cons

-Paid service. It is priced monthly based on how many data points and profiles have been used.
'Mobile Device Management', aka MDM, is an essential corporate tool, which is used extensively in diverse business fields, facilitating significantly overall security provisions and management operations. In other words, at first, it is excellent for data-loss-mitigation cases, in order to notably reduce any unfortunate data breach or network security failure consequences. MDM is also quite fitting for custom productivity improvement, for it makes IT capable of sufficiently supervising mobile devices functions, with a view to assisting employees in defining and carrying out selected tasks and activities.

A more comprehensive look into the Mobile Device Management market data is possible through in-depth analysis of the market. The research has been conducted from a well known analyst company active in the field and it featured inputs from MDM industry experts. It is based on separate results from Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, Middle East and Africa, as well as North America countries.

Mobile Device Management 2015-2019 Market Research

Several key vendors and their overall performance regarding 'Mobile Device Management' solutions were taken under consideration. More specifically, this research focuses mainly on MDM products and services of Citrix Systems, Good Technology, MobileIron and VMware (AirWatch), while FeedHenry, Kaseya International, Microsoft, SAP, Sophos, SOTI, Symantec and Zenprise cases are also included. The research does not only target key and other prominent MDM vendors in the particular market space, but also deals with the most important market opportunities and threats faced by these vendors, as well as their specific strengths and weaknesses, always in relation to the up-and-coming MDM market.

The report addresses a number of important issues regarding the 'Mobile Device Management' market, which is expected to grow considerably, at a CAGR of 25.40% over the period 2015-2019. In order to get proper estimations regarding future MDM market size, as well as a precise growth rate of the global 'Mobile Device Management' market for the period 2015-2019, the report examines all revenue generated from software licenses, technical support and maintenance costs, coming from both the on-premises and cloud deployment models.

The report segments the MDM market according to two major product types, i.e. products and services, and in regard to the end-users of the Communication, Financial services, Healthcare and Manufacturing industries. In a more and more BYOD environment, the increased adoption of BYOD policies is considered a significant MDM market driver. At the same time, as the BYOD trend drives the MDM market, data security concerns and loss of mobile devices consequences rise as the major challenges to market growth. What is more, as illustrated by this report, development of CRM mobile applications for the MDM market is valued as the major market trend.

The unquestionably stunning numbers of the Global MDM Market Research are relatively straightforward and in any case well received, for these accurately correspond to the apparent growth of the mobile market. As Mobile Device Management promises an all-inclusive amelioration of a dedicated, digital working environment, and supports not only all mobile devices (including smartphones, laptops, tablets and phablets), but also desktop devices, it is obviously here to stay.
Benefits of a USB Charging Station

A USB charging station is a convenient device which can benefit you at the office and at home. It is a high powered desktop device that will make your life easier in a digital world where you have multiple items that need charging at the same time.

Most people these days have a mobile phone, a tablet computer and maybe even other items that require charging via USB. In most instances a family of our can have up to eight devices that all require USB to charge, as you can imagine this results in a lot of USB adapters and wall plugs to keep everything fully charged and operating at all times.

With a USB charging station you have the ability to charge multiple devices simultaneously. They come with up to four USB ports, all ready to take on your device and charge it to full as and when needed. The station can be used to charge one single device or more devices, all at the same time and with complete convenience and ease.

The main benefit of the USB charging station is that it is neat and compact. You can place it on your desk or on a table in the home and it can help hide unwelcome cables and a volume of wall adapters. When needed, you simply plug the device into the unit to enjoy a charging effect.

Another benefit you will find with these devices is that each of your products that require a USB to charge will have different amp requirements. The USB charging station should recognize what amps are required for each device and then allocate the correct amount to ensure the best charging experience at all times.

Further it should provide you with the ability to save time and energy. With so many devices in the office or home relying on USB to charge, it's easy to lose cables or wall adapters, it can leave you frustrated and spending countless hours searching for cables. With the USB charging station, you can leave it on your desk as it looks neat and smart, it is always there when you need it, simply plug in and allow to charge.
It is quick and easy to use. In addition to it being neat and tidy and giving you the ability to use it in the office or at home, you will find that the simplicity of using this device can save you time on a daily basis without having to read through detailed manuals or trying to find the right charger for the right product.

Always ensure when you purchase an item such as a USB charging station that you only purchase from a reputable supplier that provides quality products from top manufacturers. You need peace of mind when it comes to charging the items you rely on daily, you need to know that they will charge without any damage and to the highest standard.

Shop around for products and compare them against each other to find the ones that are going to meet your particular charging requirements. Whether you have one mobile phone or a number of devices, you need to know that the USB charging station you use is going to provide you with years of use, convenience and ease moving forward.

Focus on quality over price to ensure that you purchase the best of the best. High quality products should come with a good warranty to provide you with peace of mind and give you years of use and enjoyment in the future.

Avantree is a leading supplier of Bluetooth products from car kits to music accessories and adapters to Bluetooth headphones and so much more. The company designs, develops and manufactures the highest quality products with a worldwide customer base. They use their knowledge and experience in the industry, building up a solid reputation for the best quality, stylish design and competitive prices. Avantree offers superior customer's service at all times and adhere to very strict RoHS standards. They focus on the environment, using natural and recycled products wherever possible, including all their packaging. To find out more, visit http://www.avantree.com
It does not matter whether you are running a small designing company of garments or having a huge fabric designing and production company, an effective tool or software will surely be beneficial for you to create the unique and attractive design to the garments or accessories that you manufacture in the production unit. With the help of an effective software, you can design the image of the product and then upload them on the official website of your company. This will also help you to reduce the costing of advertising your products with ease.

Best T-Shirt Designer Software

You just need to know your requirements and select the best and effective tool and software for your use. Some of the most common benefits of selecting the best T-Shirt Designer Software are described here:

1. Minimize the Designing Cost: By using the software for the needed designing work, you will surely be able to minimize the designing cost in an easier way. You can select and design the perfect images for the products that you are going to introduce to the customers. Simply design the best image by your own and minimize the costing with ease.

2. Create Attractive Design: The software is effective and will help you to create the attractive design for the apparel that you are going to launch in the market. You can create the best and unique design for the apparel and the accessories that you are going to launch in the market for the customers. This will help you to attract the customers and get them aware of your products in a convenient way.

3. Ease of Use: The software is specially designed and developed by the professionals of the IT industry. This is why you will surely feel convenient in using them for the needed application. You just need to select the software according to your need and avail the premium benefits of their easy and convenient use. You will never face any kinds of difficulty in using them for the needed application.

4. Simple Installation: This is the best part of using the software for the needed designing work. They can be installed with different devices and also support a multi user interface. Simply install them to the needed devices and avail the premium benefits with ease.

In order to avail all these benefits and several others, you need to select the best T-Shirt Designer Software. For getting the best and effective software for your use, it is required for you to approach a trusted company. With a simple online research, you will get the list of available companies and approach the best one for your requirements.

Irshad Alam is Digital Marketing Manager at Mind Digital Group. He is having more than 8 years of experience in SEO & Digital Marketing. He is a contributor on EzineArticles.
IMPORTANCE OF LAPTOP COOLING PADS

Laptop Cooling Pads

Every laptop user has felt it at one point. The scorching hot waves of the heat of your laptop slowly cooking your legs as you try to finish up a project or check your emails. You might have also noticed, the performance of your computer seems to slow down in this case, too. You are right. This isn't just your imagination. This is due to throttling that takes place in the device. Having processing power in a compact space like the body of a laptop often puts a strain on the hardware. Intensive activities like gaming or even binge watching Netflix might be causing the throttling and making your computer over heat. This problem might eventually lead to permanent damage.

However, cooling pads come to the rescue in elongating your laptops life span and helping it deliver its top performance without the hassle of overheating. The most common complaints from laptop and notebook users are that their laptops systems almost crash due to heat exhaustion and the uncomfortable feeling of using a laptop that feels too hot while in use. Laptop cooling pads increase airflow to your laptop's mechanism. Majority of these pads have fan systems that allow the laptop's system to have access to a cool stream of air. This stream of cool air helps the device stay at a stable, cool temperature, eliminating the possibility of overheating. The stabilization of temperature in the device allows the mechanism to breathe which helps the computer to function better and makes it easier for the user.

The excessive heat that the laptop produces is not comfortable or healthy for the user. Recent studies have been showing that Wi-Fi using products, such as laptops, may be harmful to the user. It is possible that the laptop-cooling pad, while cooling the device can also block off some of the harmful radiation too.

While purchasing cooling pads it is important to pay attention to things like performance, the CFM and sometimes even the fan noise factor. Amongst that, it is also important to focus on the design and pick a cooling pad suited most to your working and life style. Fortunately many laptop and notebook cooling pads are very stylish and come with cool features like different lighting features and colors.

Even the best laptops might come down due to overheating permanently. The straining of throttling can unfortunately damage your laptops and notebook devices. Sanoxy Cooling pads will however eliminate this issue and provide you with a healthier and "cooler" laptop.
An explosion of converging technologies and super trends in medical electronic products have roiled together over the past 2 years and shaped a disruptive combination for the medical industry call Mobile Health (mHealth). There is an old aerospace motto prevalent in that industries' push to improve time-to-market and increase competitiveness "Faster, Better, Cheaper." mHealth steps it up by adding "Connected" and "Convenient" to this trio making an extraordinarily challenging environment for the healthcare industry that is now thoroughly intertwined with the Mobile Application, AppCessory, Analytics and Wireless industries. Much like aerospace the healthcare industry and its myriad devices and processes was for decades moving at its own pace.

mHealth Connectivity Defining the Future of Healthcare

Today, the proliferation of medical devices and their applications (often controlled by mobile devices) are everywhere; in hospitals and clinics, in patients homes, on their phones and tablets and on their bodies as they work and play, making treating and diagnosing more expedient and stretching security of information systems to the limit. Some fields seemed immune to this influx, certain disciplines such as spinal surgeries, implantable devices, but in a short time it has become clear that this is not the case. Wireless communications and the Big Data Analytics performed on supercomputing cloud platforms have brought tremendous breakthroughs even here.

Medical Device Connectivity via wireless devices, sophisticated analytics and information security features are employed by an ever increasing number of medical devices. Studies indicate that 50% of people say this will improve health care, while 86% of physicians believe that these inter-connected devices and applications will become essential to physicians for management of health care over the next 5 years. As a matter of fact, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is scheduled to review a record number of mHealth apps in 2015 as companies answer to demand for more sophisticated mHealth devices.

Mobile technology is, as with so many other fields, defining the future of healthcare. Recent trends show decisively, that patients do not want to pay for this extra convenience. Therefore, companies that focus on reimbursement strategies of connecting the patient to the healthcare ecosystems will be creating these applications with a dual purpose, by providing the analytics and outcomes that are needed for caregivers to get paid. Companies who are on board early are aware that it is this type of innovation that allows them to stay in the game and they will take market share from those who lag behind in adopting it.

In 2015 privacy will yield to accessibility as patients embrace the myriad of digital devices and their services emerging on the market. Gamification, and do-it-yourself tools will be what keeps them motivated and engaged; improving one dull and typically less controllable point in health care programs, patient compliance. Reimbursement models based upon the health information that these systems collect and analyze will begin to provide quantifiable data to support outcomes-based results. This will drive change as it begins to remove the physician from the feedback loop thereby driving change in this culture. As real, meaningful, useful and real-time data becomes available caregivers will relinquish control of certain aspect of care, but gain tremendous insight and decision-supporting information.

Connected and intuitive electronic devices prescribed by clinicians can accomplish so much when acting in concert to satisfy the public's yearning for convenience that Qualcomm has created an X Prize competition of its own to usher this era in. The 10 million dollar "Tricorder" prize will undergo consumer testing, in 2015 and final judging in early 2016.

The devices are expected to accurately diagnose 16 health conditions - 13 required core conditions and a choice of three elective conditions - in addition to capturing five real-time health vital signs, independent of a health care worker or facility, and in a way that provides a compelling consumer experience."

The next audacious dare will be not only seamless, streaming secure and HIPAA-compliant data from these colossally capable devices, but genuine interactive systems. Once systems are truly interactive a more complete well-rounded suite of care models that address core issues affecting outcomes and management of chronic health can be developed to better manage high-expense conditions in much lower-cost locations.

Finally, in just 15 years Millennials, the generation shaped by the internet revolution will make up 75% of the work force. Millennials value technologies that deliver personalized experiences, real-time feedback, flexibility, and convenience. They are using mobile technologies to create communities of personalized support, to socialize and interact with the world. Their impact is driving companies to reconsider how to accomplish these advances in the New Health Economy.

If you're looking to stretch your business' budget this year, outsourcing some of your day-to-day tasks to one of the many managed services companies is a great way to kick start the savings. Managed Service Providers (MSP's) are still a best kept secret in modern business strategies; they promote efficiency and extend the resources of companies who utilize them, but many small to mid-level business owners are not aware of their existence.

Managed Services Companies

Lighten Your Employees' Load

Have your employees ever raised concerns about being overwhelmed by their workload? The answer is likely "no," but that may only mean that they hesitate to complain, not that they aren't overworked or stretched too thin with tasks that aren't outlined in their job descriptions. When you outsource tasks such as IT management, virtual booking, and transportation, the people you hired for their individual talents can truly shine once again. Your web designer can spend her workdays enhancing the aesthetic appeal of your site instead of troubleshooting technical errors, for instance. When your employees come to work to do the jobs they applied for in the first place, they are happier and more motivated. They are also able to focus only on the work they do best, and thus, they are capable of high-quality output.

Benefit from Fewer Hours per Week

When you choose to outsource some of your administrative tasks to managed services companies, you eliminate them and get back a chunk of your workday. You can utilize that time to further develop your business' strategy or you can decide to treat yourself to a break once in a while. In addition to providing daily task management services, some of these companies offer time saving tools that can expedite the tasks you want to perform yourself.

For example, a cloud storage service allows you to file and locate all your data in one virtual place. This ensures efficiency and prevents you from having to search for your documents through numerous filing cabinets, which is a drastic time drain.

Benefit from the Knowledge of Experts

When you outsource work to managed services companies, you are ensuring that the tasks you entrust them with are carried out with expertise. This is a major benefit to your business, especially if you are not as familiar with the task at hand. Perhaps you are not familiar with marketing tactics but you know a successful business must utilize them to their full potential. In this instance, you can hire a marketing analytics team to monitor and compile your data. It is their business to perform this task well, which leaves you to take advantage of your own strong points to cultivate your business.



Keep in mind that hiring a managed services company does not mean that you relinquish control of some aspect of your own business. As a paying client, you are still very much in control of how tasks are carried out. More importantly, you reserve the right to switch services if you aren't satisfied with what you pay for. The outsourced work will still be done on your terms, but you aren't the one who has to do it. This tactic can certainly save you money and gain you valuable expertise, allowing you to tighten your budget and reap greater profits as well
Mobile has revolutionized the entire IT industry during the past few decades. It has become a center of discussion for businesses owing to its power to increase sales substantially. Mobile apps are being used by individuals as well as employees for accomplishing various tasks. Enterprise applications have gained popularity off late for bringing together the entire workflow.

Organizations wish to implement mobile solutions that have a two ways effect. One is they must be able to enhance business growth. Two is the application must be utilized by the target user base readily without any hassles. Companies are now focusing on investing more in sales technology. However, prior to jumping into the sea of mobile solutions, it is essential to understand its importance. It is important to know how it will help your users.

Despite the novel technologies introduced to help customers communicate with sales force, target or prospective customers always prefer to have personal communication with sales people. However, it has been viewed that direct interaction derives the desired results only if the sales person is offering information which the customer cannot derive solely. The way technology can power a sales person, it can also provide a plethora of information to buyers. Focus must be placed of customer's buying cycle.

Organizations, thinking to go for mobile apps development, to empower their sales team should consider the following steps in advance.


Consider The Sales Field

To truly come up with a solution which can drive your sales team to achieve more targets and perform effectively you must consider the challenges that they may be facing out in the field. You must understand the hindrances they face on a routine work day. This will give you clear idea about your requirements to be fulfilled by the application and also the mobile apps development company you wish to hire.

Creative Design

Implementing new technology successfully requires you to create a user-friendly interface which urges the end user to interact. Change is always met with resistance. Sales team always has a clearcut process and specific tools. If the mobile solution, you are going to implement, is going to make things complex, sales team may not embrace the solution for a long time. User experience is critical to the success of the application. A simple and intuitive solution which is akin to previous sales tool can help you implement the new application successfully.

Be Just and Fair

No matter which device or program is promoted by the organization, user mobile device should be considered important. If most of the sales force is using iOS then it is wise to go for an iOS sales enablement application rather than an Android application.

Provide a Holistic Solution

A sales enablement solution should help a sales person to complete the entire sales cycle. Right from getting in touch with or reaching the target customer to completing a sales call, a sales application should cover everything. A sales person may require a number of things for providing info to the customer. A holistic solution is one that powers the sales man with all that is required to close a deal. The solution must be in tune with the current sales methodology and deliver high value. The entire sales cycle must be evaluated and then instilled into the mobile solution you are going to offer.

Testing

Testing the solution before it is launched can help you identify bugs and clear them. Also, it helps in enhancing the current design. Observing users using the application can also give some insights into any needed changes. Testing the prototypes and initial versions of the application with few members of the sales team can help you understand if the design and features are perfect.
Knowledge is power - this is indeed true, most especially with today's competitive market arena. Enterprises that know more about its market along with its customers will certainly have an advantage over its competitors. But the main question is that how can certain companies secure revenue-generating information?

With today's advancement in technology, such goal can actually be achieved through Customer Relationship Management or CRM software. This covers a very wide range of applications as well as software that will enable companies to obtain business information, to automate marketing, sales & marketing support, to manage customer data & interaction, and to manage supplier & partner relationships and employees. Certainly this tool will greatly help you with your business operations. It will ensure excellent customer relations, and most importantly, help you achieve the success of your business.

Things To Consider When Choosing The Best Solution


Finding The Best CRM Software In The Market Today

Today, it is quite difficult to distinguish the best software from an inferior solution. But experts say that there are indeed tips you can employ so you can get the best.

A solution that will work seamlessly even if your business evolves will indeed allow you to boost customer services, lessen costs, and increase profits. Experts highly emphasized that the best CRM will not just be very scalable but likewise customizable. As your business grows, your customer support & data, sales and marketing requirements will definitely expand. In fact, you might even need to implement changes as your business discovers valuable data. Be reminded that if you choose the wrong software, you might end up spending a lot. Of course, you would not want this to happen.

Apart from that, the best solution will also be manageable. This further means that your staff will find it very easy to use. An application that will necessitate only the expertise of a programmer is indeed not a wise choice. When you staff cannot use it or perhaps refuse to use it since it is very complex, then it won't deliver great value to your venture. Though you can ask them to attend training, this will require sufficient time and money. Thus, it is advisable that you opt for a CRM solution that is very easy to use. And for you to determine its usability, consider asking your supplier for a trial. Allow your employees to it and get their feedback.

Another factor to consider when choosing the best solution is deployment. You must purchase the software only from a reliable provider and run it on-site or perhaps access it through cloud service. You must be aware that solutions that will offer multiple options for deployment will provide you flexibility. It is also highly advised that you obtain such solution from a leading source of IT solutions. With reliable and trustworthy providers, you are guaranteed that your investment is worthwhile. More information mentioned here.
Developing an app is an accomplishment. With so much time and effort involved in the entire process of development, test and launch, devising an effective marketing strategy would be the last thing in the mind of a developer.

In the App market, there exists the 'problem of abundance'. With a surge of mobile apps in various app stores, success is not guaranteed even if your newly developed app has 'everything' in it. This is further aggravated with the high failure rate of various nicely developed apps at the app stores. The truth is, no matter how fantastic your app is, a solid marketing strategy is what ultimately sells it. The marketing of 'promised value' can act as a key differential.

It is essential to create a marketing plan before the launch for promotion and brand awareness. After all nobody is going to download an app that doesn't s have buzz around it.

What is the strategy to create the marketing buzz?

1. Promotion Before Launch: Even before the launch of the app, various promotional content should be finalized - content development, reviews by various influencers, opinion makers and bloggers and banner designing for advertising, news releases, etc. Correct medium (portals and publications) can guarantee that the promotion is targeted to the right audience. This is facilitated by making an online presence through social media networks. Demo testing with a target group spreads awareness amidst the right audience.

2. Optimizing the App: Optimizing the app to search engine by providing the correct keywords in its title and description is important so that users can locate it easily. App optimization during the development process should be an essential step for discoverability in search query at the app store. (1)

Marketing Strategy for Success in the App Market

3. Releasing Unique Features Early: To grow a user base, it is essential to release early, which draws investor attention. Releasing the primary features would help early adoption - setting the stage for growing user base in the future. Enabling a social sharing facility can further lead to enhancing user base. Adoption is typically fast if a unique feature is introduced at an early stage. For example a messaging app that has the capacity to target 50 or more people at time would attract interest. (2)

4. Get Discovered: With a plethora of apps in the same market segment you are operating, at the highest frequency is essential to make your presence felt. The audience wants to know that how your app makes their task easier and that is ready to be downloaded. Create a landing page and an email subscription option for the app. Focus should be to create awareness to drive traffic to the page. A multi-channel marketing strategy such as email marketing, banner advertising, and viral marketing can help promote apps across various channels. To garner maximum visibility the marketing process should continuous.

5. Make Users Your Marketers: Attaining the top position in the chart is difficult but once achieved, users can act as the marketer for your 'great app'. Users can use the shareable features of the app to spread brand awareness among friends. They can use the app to share content, and social media to create the buzz around the app. Relationships can be forged through the shareable aspect of the app. Social media can be used to create profiles of the targeted users who can be engaged and re-engaged through content, value description, offers, and feature capabilities. Once convinced your true marketers do the viral marketing for the app. (4)

6. Revenue Model: It is essential to develop clarity over the revenue sourcing model. The most appropriate revenue model should be chosen. The app can be a paid app or an initially free and chargeable later on. The various monetizing sources of the app that can be explored include purchase options, advertisements, subscriptions, and product/service selling.

7. User Retention and Engagement: Retaining customers can be just as difficult as acquiring them. Push notifications serve as a source of user engagement. A solid user experience is essential to engage and retain customers. Feedback on user experience through ratings and reviews on the app page/app store are definite ways to boost credibility, retain existing customers, and acquire more. Allowing people to contact directly from the app through a mail or social media can help build engagement. Any negative review about a bug, problem, crash or additional feature requirement should be sorted immediately. Successful handling of user request leaves a happy customer and leads to positive reviews. (5)


Positive reviews increases app credibility as people download apps with higher positive recommendations.

Well planned pre-launch promotion, precise optimization, releasing unique feature early, enhanced discoverability, viral marketing, and positive review through high credibility are some of the killer strategies to fight competition and top the charts in the app market.

References

(1,2) Kimbrell, Gideon. "Five Killer Marketing And Distribution Strategies For Your App." 18 July 2014. Forbes Website. 19 February 2015
(3) Dholakiya, Prateek. "3 Strategies for Winning In the Hyper-Competitive Market for Apps." 6 February 2015. Entrepreneur.com. 19 February 2015
(4) "The iOS app Marketing Strategy Guide." Apptamin.com. 19 February 2015
(5) "Marketing your new mobile app." 10 October 2014. Smart Insights.com. 19 February 2015 
There are two types of Oracle applications training - system training and process training.

System training covers the basic functionality of the application, what I can form and function. A user will get introduced to the different screens they will encounter and the basic functionality provided by the application. The training topics tend to be general and built around the functionality available. System training is OK is you just want to get a feel for an application, but really doesn't convey how the applications is used in the business environment.



Process training requires the instructor to cover and use Oracle applications functionality as it is encountered during the business process. Another words, the process drives the direction of training.

You can tell when you are in system training because the topics and agenda have a top down approach according to the menu driven application. Many instructors start with the layout of the screen, then the main menu options starting with File, Save, Print, etc. and finally creating and editing information. But there is no connectivity between the steps. It's as though you are learning a bunch of disconnected unrelated topics. Users with a strong applications background can connect the dots easier than typical end users. System training can be great for technical users. This type of training design generally requires more data seeding as the exercises do not feed off one another.

Oracle Applications Training

With process training, the topics are tied sequentially to each other. For example, with Oracle Purchasing training, you would first cover the topic "Creating a Requisition" before you covered the topic "Creating a Purchase Order from an approved Requisition". By following the standard business process during training, the tasks are now related to each other instead of being disconnected tasks. Process training is usually accomplished by staging the tasks sequentially in the order they would happen during the normal business cycle.

This type of training design generally requires less data seeding as each exercise is built on using the data from a previous exercise. If planned correctly, the Purchasing exercises can be built on to the iProcurement exercises and the Payables exercises can be built on to the Purchasing exercises.



In addition to less work setting up the training environment, by connecting the exercises around a business process, students easily apply the tasks they are learning to their real world daily activities. Process training is the simplest way to communicate day in the life of training.
So how can you ensure that your business survives and flourishes in this race to get noticed? How can you ensure that your brand's identity remains distinguishable?

The answer to this lies literally on your hands! Confused? Don't stare at your palm, I am not checking horoscopes. See the mobile phone that you hold? Like you, millions of others may probably be holding their respective phones this very moment. They may be communicating with each other using messengers apps, using social media apps like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Also, they may be doing shopping using certain special "mobile apps".

Now that is your answer; a mobile application highlighting your brand name. So what is this application? It is simple, an application that can be installed on mobile devices, with internet access. A single app for your business can increase sales manifold. Yet, an app may have its own distinctive purposes and features. An individual mobile app can be designed for each of your products and services.

Need More Business? Develop a Mobile App!

Fine! You have the idea and an urge to design a mobile application. So what do you do next? What do know about it? Even if you have the programming knowledge, how do you make it look professional? For this, you go to a mobile development company!

The first thing you will be asked to decide is if you wish for a native app of a specifically a mobile web app.

Native App

A native app is meant for a particular mobile phone, tablet or mobile device. It is installed directly in the device at the time of manufacturing. However, they can also be acquired from the websites of phone manufacturers or online market places such as the App Store and Google Play.

The development process for these apps are unique to each mobile device. The normal programming languages used to design such apps are Java (Android), Objective-C (IOS), and Visual C++ (Windows Mobile). The standard development kits are normally provided by the manufacturers of the device.

Mobile Web App

A mobile web app indicates an internet enabled application that can be downloaded through the mobile device's default web browser. They need not be installed and are only temporary apps. Each of these applications have their own distinctive features. This app does not need any standard development kit.

A mobile application development company will take your choice and design an app idealistic for your brand. Precaution should be made to not create an app that already exists in the market. Originality is a big factor that makes a firm extremely successful, while leaving its competitors behind.
In this article I take a brief look at how the operating system(OS) deals with files.

Definition

Its a collection of data that normally is stored on a secondary storage device such as a hard disk or floppy diskette.

The operations performed on them

An OS must provide a number of operations associated with files so that users can safely store and retrieve data.


Typical operations are

Open

Close

Create

Copy

Rename

List

In addition, operations on single data elements within a file are supported by

Read

Write

Seek

File Control Blocks

File control blocks (FCB), sometimes referred to as file descriptors, are data structures that hold information about a file. When an OS needs to access a file, it creates an associated file control block to manage the file.

The structure of the file control block differs between operating systems, but most file control blocks include the following parts

Name

Location on secondary storage

Length

Date and time or creation or last access

Naming

Each OS uses a specific convention or practice for naming them.

MS-DOS Uses eight character names, a dot, then a three-character extension that denotes the type of file. Filenames are not case-sensitive.

UNIX Filenames can be up to 254 characters long and are case-sensitive.

Windows Filenames can be up to 255 characters long and are not case-sensitive.

File Management In An Operating System

Types

Types refer to classifying the content of the file, such as a program, text, executable program or data.

In Windows operating systems, the type is derived from the filename extension. Typical types and their extensions are

Extension

Type

.bas

basic source program

.c

c source program

.dll

system library

.doc

Word document

.exe

executable program

.txt

text


Windows associates applications (programs) with specific types. For example, the default application that opens to process a type.txt is the Notepad editor.

How an operating system keep track of files

The hard disk is comprised of a large number of sequentially numbered sectors. As files are created, free sectors are allocated to hold the its contents and marked as allocated.

To keep track of the sectors and whether they are allocated or free, and to which file they belong, the OS maintains a number of tables.

Root file system

When the OS is first installed, it creates a root file system on the disk that specifies how many sectors are available and how they will be allocated.

The root file system is a table of entries like a directory. In general, this is a fixed size, and once full, no more entries can be added.Each entry can be either a file or another directory table.

The Root file system entry

This is highly operating system specific, but an entry might look like,

Name

Beginning cluster number

Length in bytes

Type

Creation date and last modified right

permissions (an access control list)
If you're bold enough that you've taken a chance to root your Android device, then it is a must say that either you're too brave or you've a lot to spend. Anyways, if you've already taken a step forward, then go ahead and install these five essential Android apps to secure after you finish rooting Android devices.

Rooting is an illegitimate activity, and the device manufacturers don't provide support or warranty for any rooted Android device. Even after knowing all this, if you've gone ahead and rooted your Android Smartphone or tablet, then it's the time to manage and protect your device's security. Rooting Android devices might attract you to overcome limitations that hardware manufacturers put on some devices, but rooting permits a user to alter or replace system applications and other settings. Additionally, rooting your Google Android Smartphones and tablets allows you to run specialized apps that require administrator-level permissions and perform specific operations that aren't accessible to a normal Android user. If you've taken a step forward, then install these five best Android apps to ensure routine backups, access system-level files, and quickly boot into any Android mode.

Rooting Android Device? Install These 5 Google Apps Immediately After It

1. Titanium Backup

Titanium Backup is a must install app after rooting your device as it allows you to establish a strong security shield and protect your data files from future damages. Undoubtedly, the Android market faces plenty of uncertain threats and vulnerabilities that can damage your device to an irreparable extent so it is better to prepare yourself in advance. Android threats can easily flash your device with a kernel or a virus that might turn your device into an unresponsive phone. The app helps users by taking full backups of your device and allows them to restore the entire content later on. Users can get the app for free of cost from the Android Store and can create manual backups when they suspect any illegitimate activity or perform a custom development strategy. The app can efficiently backup your downloaded and installed apps, freeze apps, SMS, and other important files.

2. Quick Boot (Reboot)

This is another free app from the Google Play Store, and its key combinations allow a user to enjoy using various modes on Android devices. Using this app, you can easily access the recovery and bootloader modes or various Android modes, irrespective of your device's brand and manufacturer. The app lets you reboot into various modes with a single tap to eliminate the hassle of holding down numerous buttons on your device. The app is ideal for users who wish to access numerous UI modes and enjoy quick booting on their different Android devices.



3. ROM Manager

ROM Manager is amongst one of the best Android apps that can assist you to flash a custom recovery on a custom ROM. If you have a rooted Android gadget, then you can easily install a custom flash ROM to access the popular CWM Recovery by installing this app. Gaining access to the popular CWM Recovery will allow you to install your favorite custom firmware and reboot into the recovery mode by following a single tap technique. The app is available for free on the Google Play store, and you can download it to ensure complete device and user security.

4. AnTuTu CPU Master

Sometimes, you might feel that your Android device doesn't have the same speed and performance that impressed you during its initial purchase. AnTuTu CPU Master is an app that allows you to increase the speed of your processor and improve the overall performance to ensure smooth and faster Android experience. Additionally, you can also enjoy seamless gaming and video streaming experience, as it also boosts up your GPU and ensures faster graphics rendering. Download the app instantly for free from the official Android Store and experience tremendous improvement in your device's performance and speed!

5. Root Explorer

Root Explorer allows a user to explore the root level files on your Google Android device that you can't explore using the default file manager. The app allows you to view, modify, and even delete the unnecessary files or phone software that isn't required. But users have to be extra careful while doing so because it may lead to the bricking of your device and may cause some irreparable damages. Since the app can also perform some other crucial tasks, the Google Play Store offers it at a price of $3.99.



Conclusion

There are plenty of root-only apps in the Android market, but the list mentioned above will help you to select the right ones. Additionally, you can also try Superuser, SetCPU for Root Users, Wireless Tether for Root Users, Screenshot It, and others to maximize the benefit of root access on your device. Don't get panic if you've already rooted your Android device as you can still find some suitable apps and tools to enhance its benefits!
With developing technology, our expectations from technology-aided learning have also been rising. With the advent of modern Learning Management Software (LMS) we can now create learning platforms which cater to all the learning needs of a learner and helps him or her to perform better. With increasing investments and positive ROI, various types of LMS are being adopted more and more to ensure enterprise-wide e-learning.




LMS enables learning and development managers within an organization to achieve a lot. Some of the basic features of a learning platform ensure that the entire process of learning management is automated. A basic entry-level learning platform has the following capabilities:

• Course catalogues
• Scheduling of all training events - e-learning and otherwise
• Built-in report structures and Automated Reporting
• Inbuilt assessments - CYUs, quizzes or question banks
• Automated notification emails

Learning Management Software Gets a Strong Hold on the E-Learning World

But with increased needs, L&D managers often choose to implement Learning Management Software which provides not only the rudimentary needs, but enhanced features which can be utilized to suit changing and evolving learning objectives. These features are best suited for organizations that are open to exploring newer modes for training and believe that their trainees will benefit from them. The modern features include:

• Social learning: Through collaborative platforms like wikis, discussion boards and blogs built within the learning platform, learners can collaborate closely with each other and learn better.
• Mobile Learning: Learners can access courses through mobile devices and their progress is synched automatically within the main system.
• In-built video player: Access to instructional videos, 3D simulations or webinars within the confines of the LMS.
• Automatic notification through SMS

In addition, most organizations that have successfully implemented learning platforms take suitable steps to ensure that the Learning Management Software is adopted by all. It is wise to create a specific workflow and decide who is authorized to assign trainings, who will approve the attendees, who will monitor reports and so on. If this workflow is worked out and every stakeholder knows his or her role well, the learning initiative will be successful. The benefits of training should be clear to the learners, instructors, managers, administrators as well as technical support staff. They should also be well-versed with the working of the LMS. Finally, it is a great boost if the benefits of e-learning and learning management systems are sold well to the end users. There should be a well-defined campaign within the organization, led by the people managers as well as function managers who can educate the learners on how the system will help them perform better.

After implementation of the Learning Management Software it is prudent to keep a close eye on reports and assessments to understand how much have the learners gained out of the e-learning initiative. Feedback from learners should also be gathered from time to time to assess the impact of the learning solution and how much it helps them perform better.




Learning Management Software is evolving -- keeping itself in perfect match with developing technology and the changing needs of the modern learner. It is being utilized by organizations with varying training needs and this proves LMS as a ubiquitous solution that is truly aligned to corporate training.

Gireesh is an e-learning enthusiast and an avid follower of leading industry blogs related to topics related to online training software like Rapid Authoring, game based learning, learning management system elearning outsourcing, online learning courses, Mobile Learning, etc. and like to discuss leading trends of new-age corporate learning.
When people are choosing a guard for their fan, they need to consider what foreign objects could get into the fan and damage it based on the area that it will be located in. The wire 120mm fan guard is a very useful option. It is durable and comes in many different styles.




Choosing the right style is not based on what looks good. It should be based on what is the most effective for the situation at hand. Technicians that work with the electronics in the cabinet will be able to understand the process and figure out what the necessary fan guard will be.

The guard should allow enough air flow through the fan to cool as well as being able to protect the fan from debris and other things. Every situation is different and will expose the fan to different types of things. This is why there is a variety of different types of them that will fit on a variety of different fans.

Not all of the fans are going to have a possible exposure of things that are going to hit the fan and damage it though. The placement of the fan will have a lot to do with this too. Just because there will not be a big risk of this does not mean that the fan can be left wide open without one.

If a fan guard is not on there, it is going to be a safety risk to people that will be working around it. This is something that people need to understand also. Just because people do not intend to put their hand in a fan does not mean that it could not accidentally happen.

Finding the Best Style in the 120mm Fan Guard for Applications

When someone is working, they need to be careful, but if there is a chance that people can be protected, like this, they should take every opportunity to do it. Working with electricity, people can get a small shock and jerk back. If that happens, they may not realize where there hand is going to end up.

There are many metal ones that are used every day. They are easy to clean and will blend in with the cabinet fan that it is being used with. For some people, they need everything to look great. Other people are simply looking for something that is going to work great.

In a cabinet, it will be important to keep the cords away from these fans too. This is something that people may not realize could even get into a fan. If they end up in that fan, it can create a big mess and possibly ruin the cords and the fan.

This can be expensive if the electrical cabinet has to be rewired. It is not going to be a quick fix, more than likely. When this happens, it is possibly going to shut down the devices that are housed within it. This can cost the company to repair it as well as for the downtime caused by this.




There are many things to think about when putting electronics in a cabinet. It is not something that is going to be an easy fix, but it is something that is going to be an important fix. There are many styles and sizes of fan guards that are going to be able to prevent this.

Choosing the best 120mm fan guard will be a good option for many reasons. There are several different choices for each application and when technicians figure this out, they will purchase what they need. The best style and size will depend on the cabinet, the current fan and many other things.
If you feel your mobile devices are eating up too much of your time, and even your life, then read on. If you love your always-on connection and feel no problem, then read no further.

One of the most important steps you can take is to reclaim your home, and the concept of placement can help here too. Your home is a number of spaces. A house has various areas such as kitchen, dining and living room, bedroom, bathroom, garden etc. Even a studio apartment has several spaces. These spaces do not all need to become the territory of always-connectedness. In fact, "sacred" spaces are an important aspect of reclaiming your home from the Dance with Spiders.

Your mobile phone need not serve as your alarm clock beside your bed as you also text before sleep and check in to Twitter as soon as you wake up. Sleep is such a fundamental process in our lives. But sleep begins when we enter our bedroom, when we begin the process of settling down for the night. Sleep restores us. Our dreams help us resolve the day, and "work through" restlessness in our dream life.



Sleep restores body and mind. We'll take into our sleep the spidery-fingertip activity of texting and microblogging if it is the last thing we do at night. It is well reported that computer gamers see the after image of games in their visual space of closed eyes when they try to sleep for the night. They still see the movement of the boom boom or zap zap of the gun. In the very first days of computer games, when Pong was the rage - a game of virtual and simple tennis - addicted gamers couldn't get the image of the little moving white dot out of their minds as they lay down for a nights' sleep. This interferes with this vital human process. It is far healthier to clear the decks before sleep, to spend half an hour without such interruptions, to turn to our partner (if we have one) and share a goodnight with them. It can be healthy to listen to the sounds of the night outside through a small open window, or wind down to some relaxing music, to play back the day in our thoughts gently, or to just tune into our breathing as we relax into tiredness.

The sleep space - the bedroom - is the first sacred space we should remove the mobile devices from. Charge them up overnight in another room. Even putting them away, under the bed, behind a desk, or even in a pocket, supports their undeserved right to be in your sacred sleep space. Banish them. And enjoy the act of banishment. The banishment need not be a dramatic gesture. It is simply like putting the car away in the garage. The car has its proper place, and it isn't to be parked the living room, on in the driveway with the engine always on.

The place for the mobile devices is not in the bedroom - that is a place for sleep. And waking up needs to be a little more gentle and sacred too. We come from a very specific state when we sleep and transition into wakefulness. Shaking someone awake who is having a nightmare can be dangerous and traumatic. Equally, when we wake up, listening to the sound of birds, kissing our partner good morning, and lying there for a few minutes before exiting the bedroom, all of these are gestures of value to ourselves. We do not need always-connectedness in the bedroom.

Diary entry November 2010...

I've decided to keep my iPhone out of the bedroom where I sleep with my partner. It lasts for a couple of days and then seems to have found its way back to its place, charging up, right next to my head, after a short compromise of trying to plug it into a plug point further away. I try again. Back it is again, there doesn't seem to be a natural home for it in the spare room nor downstairs. Excuses. And the habit of checking it at night and first thing in the morning is too strong. Wishes and not enough will. I look at my partner as she is sleeping. Several times the last thing I have seen is not her smile, but the messages page on Facebook. She deserves better. I plant another resolution into very weed-ridden ground. The devices exert some kind of pull.

Some people leave the devices outside of the bedroom, charging up in the hallway. The first thing they do on leaving the bedroom is to take the device and check it. Ideally, mobile devices are better checked after three primevally important activities: awaking from sleep, washing, and eating. Only after these activities should we pick up the device and check it if we need to.

This challenges the will to be strong and we can stumble to achieve it. If we do succeed, great health benefits can result: more will power, a more motivated and happier start to the day, and less tiredness. We get more will power because we assert our will through the placement of the mobile device in both space and time - we reassert mastery over it. We feel more motivated because we have valued some prime things as most important to us and, in doing so, we have valued ourselves over the demands of devices. We feel more motivated because we have taken control and prioritized the energizing nature of the morning ritual of waking and preparing for the day. Thirdly, we are less tired because we have gone to sleep and woken up properly, in a way that allows us to enter and exit the sleep stater without distraction, and more in tune with nature.

Reclaiming Your Home From Your Mobile Phone

Try it. You'll see, although, as I said, you may stumble on the way. You'll need to persevere with it.

Placement is all about putting the mobile device in a place chosen by you, and in a way that prioritizes your need for undistracted transition into and out of restorative sleep. In the book, The Artist's Way, you are encouraged, on waking, to write your morning pages - some free flow writing of your thoughts - you may capture dreams, thoughts for the day, reflections, worries, fantasies and impulses. The key thing is that the ritual is renewed each morning and activated by you, by your will power. The need to check in on your mobile device is inherent in the device itself - you are drawn to it - the will impulse is maybe 5% yours, and 95% the corporation that created the pull in the device.

Diary entry March 2011...

We've moved into a new home, a three bed-roomed house. The back room on the ground floor is becoming the office room for the house. This will be the place where mobiles are placed. And computers. But we haven't got that room straight yet and it is a bit of a store room. The mobile finds it way, in the new home, into the bedroom in which we sleep and the living room, becomes iPad and laptop territory. And yet the living room always feels better, and paradoxically, a firer of my muse and creativity, when it is free of plugged in connection beyond its borders of wall, window and chimney. It is bedtime story time. Why on earth would I ever reach for my smartphone to see who has retweeted me when a glorious seven year old is asking me if Harry Potter is a real person? How could I have ever let my gaze wander during that priceless time?

Placement in the home involves assigning consciously and wilfully the physical and temporal place for a mobile device. You decide where it sits. You decide when it is on and when it is off. You reclaim most of your home as sacred and you place the device somewhere were you will it it be. For some this is a little office space, an armchair near an electric plug point It can be comfortable. It can be in a hallway, or in a spare room. When the phone rings, you go to it. If you like walking around whilst talking on the phone or texting, or even slouching on your bed, then do that, but then return the device to its "place". It is the act of will each time that reclaims the will power lost in being trapped in an always-on addicted state.

I'd like to suggest that, as important is the bedroom, is the kitchen or the spaces where you cook and eat. Eating, preparing food, tasting, these are all about the life processes that keep us healthy. Some health experts believe we should not even be reading while we are eating. It's mostly anecdotal evidence to back it, but the idea is that we should really savour our food, taste it, and allow ourselves to digest it properly. A cup of tea or some water to follow. A walk to let our meal go down. Digestion is important. Actually our will is involved in our digestion. We don't will ourselves to digest, just as we don't usually will ourselves to breathe.

Our will is the faculty that is least conscious to us. It only usually comes into consciousness when we choose to focus attention on it, often if something is wrong. But when we eat properly, prepare our food with loving attention, it is a bit like making an unspoken agreement with our will. When we taste our food properly, it does us more good, we get more out of it. When we support the process of digestion, our digestion tends to be better for it. Our unconscious will tends to respond favourably to conscious acts of will aimed at us eating healthily. Just as if we prepare well for sleep, and allow ourselves to wake up properly, then we tend to sleep more soundly, and we are all the better for it!

Now, when we are "always on" - reading alerts, texts, pokes, likes checking, email, responses, we are constantly ingesting content. If we do it while we are eating, we are multi-tasking and potentially overloading our will. As the will attempts to digest the virtual content, it can begin to neglect digesting the physical content - our food. This can be the beginning of nervous indigestion, and even ulcers. It's easy to eat a sandwich is a minute whilst talking on the phone.Some people are skilled at doing both at the same time. Others end up writing a half-hearted, shorthand text and not chewing their food properly resulting in both misunderstanding, follow up clarifying texts and trapped wind. Eat your sandwich. Taste it. Let it go down. THEN text. It is only in recent years, as part of a family, that I have come to really value the sacredness of the kitchen table, where we sit together and eat our meals. I'm not being old fashioned when I say that the meal table is no place for the spidery-reach of mobile connectedness. I'm actually being a futurist. Timothy Leary said that, in the future, physical meetings would become more rare, and more sacred. As families we spend less time together. Many families do not eat together at all. Yet food is the affirmation of life. Food comes from the earth and it is our connection with it. Distraction breaks that connection. Does that matter? I think it does, because, if we use placement to leave the mobile devices out of our meal times, we are making another act of will - to allow ourselves to fully enjoy those things which keep us alive, and give us the energy for the day. When we say to ourselves "The smartphone can wait" we are affirming the importance of digesting our food and, if the meal is with family, we are also focusing our will on prioritising a healthy rhythm - instead of connecting with disembodied presences online, we are connecting with those we love, showing wilful interest in them, and the togetherness combined with the focus of our will on maintaining this rhythm really does do two things - it makes the food taste better, and it makes us feel physically and soulfully connected with people in our sacred spaces.

Diary entry November 2011...

The last thing I see at night is the smiling face of my love. The mobile phone is next door in the spare bedroom and it has remained there now for a few weeks. The bedroom is now a sacred place for sleep and intimacy. When I wake in the morning I do not rush to check the mobile next door on my way to the bathroom (as I did in October). The plan is to declutter the office downstairs and then that will become the assigned place for being virtually connected. We have no mobiles or devices in the bedroom and none at mealtimes. The iPad and laptop still grace the living room. We just need a decent chair for the desk. We have all the right plugs for a dedicated charging station. That room will be the portal to the digital world, with a lovely view of the garden with double doors than can be opened when it is warm enough. But there'll be no other doors into the digital world from our home. The rest of the house will be ours, and ours alone. Meanwhile I sit in the living room, a shared space, sharing my attention with faceless colleagues in New York with the all too real and half neglected questions of a quite rightly curious seven-year old would-be wizard.

When we really do practice placement, something else can happen too. We can actually start to value the mobile devices MORE. We can look forward to using them and we are actually investing a deeper and more profound value in them too. They now have a place - in space and time - and we are investing our will in upholding those places and spaces. We then are also valuing the unique properties and possibilities of those devices in their assigned and proper places. We start to have a certain time of the day when we check in on our emails - it can even be a lot of times of the day - it just isn't ALL day. We can look forward to and enjoy emailing time. Reading the queue of texts can almost be like opening presents on a birthday.

We start to go into the virtual "zone" all the stronger because we know we have the ability to will ourselves out of that zone. If you love the feeling and possibility of being always connected, if that perpetual buzz turns you on and gives you a high you want to repeat, then good luck, and put this book down. I even believe you might be an evolutionary prototype, a person ahead of your time.

You might be the sign of people to come for whom always-on will be natural. It may even be hardwired into people who will be connected by tattoos and cyborg technologies attached to nerve endings. But if you feel that the always-on buzz, in your life as it is now, it too distracting, invasive, and that you feel the wish to reclaim your life from it, then placement will benefit you greatly.

So, in summary, we create assigned, willed places in our home for our mobile devices, and we banish them from meal and eating places, and from the bedroom. We also assign them places in time - specific times when we connect and then disconnect. We choose rituals that always precede the virtual connection - waking up properly, cleansing ourselves, eating and talking with family, and those times remain free of the always-on pull.

Here's the first thing: you'll notice that your productivity and efficiency online actually goes up not down. You'll notice that you experience the digital world in a more conscious way and you'll feel less tired at the end of the day. You'll become more able discern what is necessary and what is actually empty connection. You'll find being "on" a richer experience when "on" is a choice rather than a compulsion. Some people make the home a place for no virtual devices at all. Others have one room for it. If this all seems like a big leap, then try a few smaller steps. Just try keeping the device out of the bedroom for a couple of weeks - see how that goes. Set up a charging station in a spare room, and don't plug in anywhere else in the house. Try an hour at home with the device completely off. Start with small steps and watch what happens.

Placement is literally when you put control back into your hands, and then you place those hands at the service of your will. Just because social media platforms WANT you to be always on, doesn't mean you have to be and, ironically, there is no productivity benefit - personally or professionally, to be 24-7 connected anyway. You'll actually be more effective and efficient if, as with food or sleep, you'd don't do it all the time! What is also powerful about placement is that it is gentle, like the gesture of putting the bread back in the bread bin. It goes there because it isn't needed for a while, and the bin will keep it fresh and all the better for the next time you feel hungry. Placement isn't about dramatic gestures, it's a simple, clear gesture that will warm up your will. And once that will is back in the hands that it should be - yours - you'll find you can start to realize your dreams again.


Diary entry February 2012...

I'm using the devices more away from home than ever before. I still lapse and we still haven't properly assigned the back room for being connected. But meal times and sleep times are now our times. I love our meal times together. I still eat too quickly but not as quickly as I once did. We talk. We laugh. There is no feeling of pull from the devices. Sleep is better. Preparing for sleep is lovely. Waking up is lovely. The dance with spiders is now becoming one in which I choose many of the steps.

Now, you may be reading this and saying - Yes. Yes. This all sounds perfectly reasonable and I want to reclaim my home! You'll then sigh an outer or inner sigh and carry on as you did before. This occurs when there simply isn't any spare will power left to even embark on the journey to reclaim your home. So how do you start at all? Let me tell you the secret of this. It can usually only be done with gentleness. Not with dramatic big bang change. If big bang change works for you, then great. If it doesn't and you often run out of steam, have some faith in the long run.

Take a small step. Then another. That's how it works. So, today, leave the mobile outside of your bedroom. Have breakfast or a shower before you even look at your phone. Eat supper and then have an hour's relax without looking at your device. See if you can do it two days in a row. Then three. Then a week. Take a little step and see if you can maintain it. If you falter, don't beat yourself up. Just try again. Do it gently. Computers are binary beasts - they are either on or off. You are either logged in or you aren't. They are based on ones and zeros underneath all the lifelike interface.

But you aren't binary. You can choose to leave either-or behind and be either-and! So, small steps, a gradual change. Sometimes the middle way isn't the way of compromise - sometimes it is the way of gentleness, of hopefulness, and of success in the longer run.

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