Archive for February, 2011

The best phones on the net

Thursday, February 24th, 2011

Recent information would suggest that the average person buys a new mobile phone almost every year, and it is just as well because the mobile phone industry is moving so quickly that you would get left behind if you didn’t replace your old handset with regularity. Thankfully the standard of new phones is so high now that if you keep hold of one of the new smart phones for more than a year it should stand the test of time. The capabilities of these phones means that they can do so much. Email, internet browsing and great photographs are de rigeur and you can also now expect to have a lot of space on your phone for music and videos.

Of course, just because there are a lot of good phones available doesn’t make it easy to choose the right one. At the moment though you almost can’t go wrong. You can find so many great smart phones on the market, and the one that is right for you will depend on so many different things. One popular phone at the moment is the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play which is fantastic if you are into mobile gaming. However, this is a top smart phone with a price to match. If you are looking at spending a little bit less then you can go for the Ericsson Xperia Neo which is actually a very similar phone which costs quite a bit less.

Whatever phone you eventually opt for there has never been a better time to buy mobile phones outright.

Solar Technology Advantages & Disadvantages

Monday, February 21st, 2011



Energy from sunlight is one of the best and most effective renewable energy sources available.  The difficulty most new environmental warriors find is that the financial burden of professionally installed solar power systems is way beyond their budget and it could take well over 10 years to see a return on their investment.  Never fear, there are alternatives.  The most cost-effective way to take advantage of the power of the sun is to construct solar panels on your own.  What you need is plans to build a solar panel!

Too much trouble? If you are scared it would be difficult, it really is not true.  It is simple to build solar panels with the proper instructions.  Easy enough for kids, teens and adults.  The parts aren’t complicated either.  The items you would need to build solar panels are available at your local hardware store or you can purchase a solar panel kit, which will include all the supplies you need to be generating your own solar energy.  Once you have the instructions to build a solar panel, it is possible to construct several solar panels to power appliances or tools in your workshop.  With the right blueprints you could build solar panels to service a much larger electric load. 

Resources are readily available with detailed instructions on how to build solar panels.  The most important step is to locate quality step by step plans.  Step two is a visit to to your local hardware store to find or order your parts and the next time you have some free time, you will be able to assemble and install the system yourself.  Just beware, the neighbors may start asking you to build solar panels for them too. 

Not only is it going to save you money to build solar panels yourself, but you can feel proud that you are doing your part for the environment as well.  Being independent from fossil fuels and making a much-needed impact on your neighborhood and the rest of the world. 

Purchased solar energy systems can cost thousands to be installed and in today’s economy most of us don’t have money to spare.  Make the choice to go solar today and learn to build solar panels on your own.  It will be something to take pride in.

Navteq GPS Data Gathering Is A Daily Operation

Tuesday, February 15th, 2011

Navteq GPS has made a major leap forward in GPS navigation system capabilities with their Navteq Transport product. Large Fleet operators and their drivers are now able to create more efficient routes and calculate costs more accurately. Through their creation of applications matching truck routes and their special requirements to the real time highway network, the Navteq Transport product can improve route calculation accuracy and safety as well as delivery time estimates.

When planning a route, Navteq Transport calculates 20 key transportation industry parameters such as the physical restrictions that height, weight and length dictate to the chosen route, state by state motor vehicle restrictions including speed limits, permits and even truck specific turning restrictions. Static warning information about hills, grades and wind conditions are also part of the mix along with hazardous materials restrictions and the recommended routes for such items. Navteq Transport additionally provides for environmental benefits in that it facilitates more efficient fuel consumption, and lowers pollution levels by capping truck speeds with speed alerts to the driver which I turn lowers fleet operating costs.

Another area of input data that is provided to all Navteq GPS users is Navteq Traffic. Traffic data is obtained from three types of sources, digital traffic sensors, commercial and government partners, and their own traffic operations center staff members. Navteq’s own network of sensors is already deployed in many major metropolitan areas, and rapid expansion is planned for additional cities.