Oct 24

Google Offers Free Spreadsheet on the Web

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The clash of ideas that started over a decade ago between Microsoft, on the one hand, and other hi-tech giants like Oracle and Sun Microsystems about the relative merits of desk-top-based vs. web-based services is coming to a head with Google’s new web-based and free spreadsheet application.

Just like the free web editor and hosting that is now available from Google, if you’ve got a Gmail account, you can now also get an innovative spreadsheet program.

The “light client” idea championed by Oracle, Sun and Google has made impressive inroads with an ever-increasing number of applications which were previously bought out in boxes and then installed on PCs.

Now a lot of such out-of-the-box applications are shifting onto the web in an amazing variety of “web services.” The spread of fiber optic networks and the dropping price of broadband are factors that favor the increase of such web service in the future.

Enter Google Spreadsheets…

The service is still in its Beta phase and so you have to register for it. I did and a day later I got my invitation to test drive the Google Spreadsheets.

As usual, Google engineers did their homework well. This is a very easy-to-understand interface, with a disarmingly clean and simple approach to the main tasks that many people end up doing with spreadsheets.

The three main tabs FORMAT, SORT and FORMULAS cover 99% of all the things that I’ll ever do with a spreadsheet.

All three tabs have their own dynamically-constructed mini-menus.

For example, in the main FORMAT tab, the menu offers different ways to format your text and numbers, with great drop-down menus to ALIGN, INSERT and DELETE anything and everything. Wrapping text and merging cells is a breeze though the well-marked menu check-box and button.

The SORT tab has the very useful FREEZE ROWS drop-down list to work efficiently with those spreadsheets with hundreds of rows. Two buttons make ascending and descending SORTING by columns a straight forward operation.

The FORMULAS tab provides an easy one-click way to calculate sums, averages, counts, etc..

And here is the most REVOLUTIONARY feature of all:

By clicking a link you can actually open a CHAT WINDOW and share the spreadsheet with your friends or co-workers. You can literally collaborate in real time as you are working on your spreadsheet. You can people to EDIT or just VIEW the spreadsheet. Try doing that with Excel.

Overall I’m very impressed with this new effort by Google to drive yet another nail into the coffin of the “heavy client” PC idea. The future looks more intriguing by the day.

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Ugur Akinci, Ph.D. is a Creative Copywriter, Editor, an experienced and award-winning Technical Communicator specializing in fundraising packages, direct sales copy, web content, press releases, movie reviews and hi-tech documentation.

He has worked as a Technical Writer for Fortune 100 companies for the last 7 years.

In addition to being an Ezine Articles Expert Author, he is also a Senior Member of the Society for Technical Communication (STC), and a Member of American Writers and Artists Institute (AWAI).

You can reach him at writer111@gmail.com for a FREE consultation on all your copywriting needs.

You are most welcomed to visit his official web site http://www.writer111.com for more information on his multidisciplinary background, writing career, and client testimonials.

While at it, you might also want to check the latest book he has edited:http://www.lulu.com/content/263630

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Sep 27

CD Duplication Terminology

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Here we will take a brief look at the most common terminology that is used in CD duplication.

BLER
Block Error Rate. This is the raw digital error rate before any type of error correction.

CD
This the Compact Disc, a digital medium that’s formed of a 12cm polycarbonate substrate, a reflective metalized layer, and a protective lacquer coating.

CD-R
Compact Disc-Recordable. The term CD-R is used to describe the technology of recordable CD along with the equipment, software, and media that are used to make the recordable disks.

Data layer
With CD-R media, this is the organic dye that is sandwiched between the polycarbonate substrate and the metalized reflective layer of the media. CD-R disks don’t have any data on them at all until the are recorded.

Now that we’ve covered those aspects of CD Terminology, let’s turn to some of the other factors that need to be considered.

Injection Molding
This is a manufacturing method where the molten material is forced into a mold, normally under high pressure, then cooled so that the material will take on the shape of a mirror image in the mold.

Media or blanks
CD-R media are the disks that are used to record digital information using a special recorder and premastering software with a computer. These discs are made of a polycarbonate substrate, a layer of organic dye, a metalized reflective layer, and a coating of lacquer for protection.

Organic dye
The data layer of CD-R media is made from a dye that is melted during the process of recording. Where the dye is melted, becomes opaque or refractive, scattering the reading laser so that it isn’t reflected back into the reading sensors.

Reflective layer
This is the metal later that sits on top of the dye that reflects the laser beam back to the reading assembly. This is normally 24k gold in CD-R disks, although it can be silver as well.

As you become more and more familar with CD duplication the above abbreviations and meanings will become second nature. And next time you’re at the pub quiz and the question comes up “what does BLER mean?” you’ll know instantly!

Sometimes it’s tough to sort out all the details related to this subject, but I’m positive you’ll have no trouble making sense of the information presented above.

Visit CD Duplication Web today for information on CD duplication and related topics.

For further information on CD Duplication Visit http://www.cdduplicationweb.com
right now!

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Sep 06

GPS Security Functionality

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One of the most common uses of Global Positioning System (GPS) technology, by businesses and consumers alike, is to ensure security from theft, as well as human safety.

Using a GPS tracking system is an excellent way for an individual or small business to keep track of important equipment including vehicles, machinery, and portable electronic devices, such as laptops and cell phones.

A prime example of the usefulness of GPS technology for security purposes is its abilities in the fight against vehicle theft. If you car or truck were stolen, and it had a GPS vehicle tracking system installed, then you would be able to pinpoint the exact location of the vehicle, and see its exact coordinates on a map. You could then turn this information over to the police, allowing them to retrieve the stolen vehicle, and apprehend those responsible for the theft.

GPS technology can also be instrumental in ensuring basic human safety. This is especially true with children, as every parent’s worst fear is their child getting lost or kidnapped. Fortunately, with the help of a child GPS tracking device, you can always know the exact location of your child. In the event of a kidnapping, you would be able to determine the exact location of the kidnapper and notify police and other emergency authorities of this information.

All in all, there is little doubt that GPS can be an excellent way to fight crime, and ensure the safety of your belongings and of your family.

About the Author: Jeremy Maddock is the webmaster of www.GPSDevices.info, an informational site about GPS Devices, and TeleClick.ca, a useful telecommunications news resource.

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