Top Ways to Optimize Your Gaming Experience

Posted on October 14, 2018 by Jessica Oaks Posted in Guest Post Articles, Technology News, Video Games

Gaming offers transportation to an alternate universe where you can virtually be and do anything within the parameters of the games you choose. However, many factors contribute to a flawless and quality gaming experience. Having the right tools, space and game in your hands can make or break your experience. Find out how you can transport yourself from your computer to the realms of virtual reality. Are you ready to play the best game of your life?

The Games You Play

The gaming industry is constantly trying to reinvent itself and the games that are put out in to the public. There are jobs dedicated to testing each game going out to market to ensure the experience is truly something special. Big gaming companies also look at customer feedback to produce an even better user experience with every new version of a game being created.

Every good game has a captivating story behind it. Whether you want to try your combat skills as a warrior, challenge an evil sorcerer or save a damsel in distress, there is a game out there for you. However, it is important to stay current with new game releases to make sure you are getting the best and most current experience. Don’t miss out on new storylines, characters, and magical worlds you could be exploring. The best way to do this is by joining an online gaming forum and following a blog dedicated to reviewing video games. That way the research is done for you and you can avoid doing any unnecessary spending.

Accessorize Your Gaming Experience

Gaming and technology both play a vital part in creating a seamless user experience. Gear up with a good game, a gaming console or digital TV to stream a PC game, high speed internet and the latest gaming accessories. Long-gone are the days when dial-up was used to start a simple mouse-and-keyboard game on a spaceship-sized computer. Now, having anything less than good internet connection and the latest technology tools can cause major interruptions in your gaming experience.

Get your hands on some shiny new gadgets and change your world. Learn which keyboards, speakers and headsets will set you apart from your virtual competition. How you see, hear and interact with the game makes all the difference. The right accessories can sharpen your game’s images, amplify the sound effects and leave you feeling like you possess as much power as your virtual character.

Eliminate Interruptions

For gamers, one of the biggest challenges is cutting back on loading times and outside distractions. The perfect gaming room, the right accessories, the best-rated game, and a setup free from roommates, spouses and roommates can still have its setbacks if your PC is not set up properly.

Learn about easy optimization tricks that will sharpen images, speed up downloads, eliminate background interruptions and boost your PC’s performance to maximize your game’s potential. Keeping up with some minor monitor maintenance can help eliminate and hiccups during your game.

A gamer’s mission is never complete. There is always something new to learn, a challenge to conquer and a new game to play. Stay in the game and optimize your experience by taking a few easy steps. It can change your world.

About the Author

Jessica Oaks is a freelance journalist who loves to cover technology news and the way that technology can make life easier. She is also an editor at www.freshlytechy.com. Follow her on Twitter @TechyJessy.

Augmented Reality and the Future of Online Shopping

Posted on July 27, 2017 by Jessica Oaks Posted in Biz Tips, Business, Guest Post Articles, Small Business, Technology News

Online shopping is so popular that many brick-and-mortar stores – both large and small – are finding it harder and harder to remain solvent. Online shopping offers an endless selection of goods and materials, highly competitive pricing, and the ultimate in convenience. So it’s little surprise that so many people are opting to shop online these days, rather than brave the real world. But what of the future? Can we expect online shopping to evolve and change as technology continues to improve? All signs point to yes, with augmented reality playing a key role.

Augmented Reality: What Is It?

If you’ve played Pokémon Go, then you’ve experienced augmented reality. Unlike virtual reality, which places you inside a wholly digital environment through goggles or looking glasses, augmented reality brings the virtual into your world. Typically, this is done using a display tied to a camera, such as a smartphone or television monitor. For example, if you point your camera at foreign text using Google’s Translate app, the text will appear to translate in real time, right in front of you. The effect is amazing, and can prove tremendously helpful if you’re traveling overseas and don’t know the language. Thus, you can see that the technology is aptly named. It “augments” your reality, rather than bringing you into a virtual one.

The technology is already used in a variety of ways. In the case of Pokémon Go, augmented reality makes it appear as if a Pokémon monster is standing on the sidewalk right in front of you. On the other end of the spectrum, many high-end retailers are finding that augmented reality helps provide a more rewarding in-store shopping experience. Why walk to the changing room with five items at a time when you can try on an entire wardrobe through augmented reality? This is the idea behind augmented reality in stores. But could this technology find its way into the home? Could it enhance the online shopping experience? The answer is “yes,” and some retailers, like IKEA, are already trying it.

Augmented Reality Meets E-Commerce

Noted Swedish furniture retailer IKEA first toyed with augmented reality as far back as 2013, and the company is currently in talks with Apple to launch its next-generation e-commerce mobile app to do the same. The augmented reality technology enables shoppers to photograph their house or view it using their smartphone’s camera in order to see how various pieces of furniture will look within the home. Because the furniture models are rendered in 3D, the overall effect can be very convincing – in practice, the technology allows a person to “window shop” IKEA’s entire catalog without ever having to leave the house. Do you have your eye on a particular leather couch? With the app, you can see what it will actually look like next to your other pieces of furniture. That, ultimately, is the promise of augmented reality; it brings the virtual world into the real world.

With 5G technology promising to provide unparalleled wireless speed and bandwidth capacity in the very near future, the infrastructure will finally exist to help the reality of augmented reality catch up with the dream of augmented reality. Retailers will be able to offer you discounts and promotions in real time, based on your location (should you opt in, of course). You’ll be able to look at products in all dimensions, and see how they’ll look in the home (or on your body). And it’s conceivable that retailers might even provide you with real time directions to their nearest location, by cross-referencing your GPS. Have McDonald’s app installed on your device? If you’re using your camera while out and about, the app could use augmented reality to pinpoint you in the direction of the nearest store. Some might find this a bit obtrusive, but the possibilities are nearly endless.

What Will Your Future Shopping Experience Be?

Augmented reality can be used in a myriad of different ways. In fact, all of the ways which AR technology can be put to use likely haven’t been thought of yet. The technology is still in its relative infancy, after all. That being said, there’s little doubt that all of the elements are now (or soon will be) in place to make it mainstream. Pokémon Go has demonstrated that quite conclusively. So don’t be surprised if it becomes a part of your online shopping experience in the near future. You could soon be trying on those clothes, rather than wishing and praying that they look good on you!

About the Author
Jessica Oaks is a freelance journalist who loves to cover technology news and the way that technology can make life easier. She is also an editor at www.freshlytechy.com. Follow her on Twitter @TechyJessy.

A Look at the Future of Mobile Gaming Software

Posted on October 12, 2015 by Jessica Oaks Posted in Guest Post Articles, Tech, Technology News, Video Games

The evolution of mobile gaming was not a steady rise from Nokia’s now iconic Snake game to the long-awaited augmented reality frontier. The consecutive success of the Game Boy and then the Nintendo DS and Sony PSP proved there was a hunger for gaming on the go but the technology lagged behind. While the desire for handheld multi-player gaming did eventually fuel the development of some of the systems that make modern smartphone performance possible, a two-punch combo of poor quality displays and crunchy graphics meant cell phones played second fiddle to handhelds in the mobile games space for years.

All that added up to smartphone gaming having relatively rocky beginnings and a shockingly meteoric rise to the top. As noted, though the technology wasn’t up to par the interest was certainly present. The main thing standing in the way of mobile gaining dominance over handhelds and then consoles was the games themselves. To create a truly amazing game requires a truly amazing platform, and even in the latter half of the 2000s the devices on the market were not up to the task of supporting complex, rich, graphics heavy titles.

Then just a few years ago mobile technology started advancing in leaps and bounds, with companies like Snapdragon releasing some of the best mobile processors for gaming. These allowed game developers to start creating titles that rivaled the look and playability of sixth gen console games (or better) on mobile. And from there, the mobile gaming world has seen a flood of innovation from Nvidia’s Tegra processor to Unreal Engine 4.

And that’s not all. The streamlining and democratization of the game development sphere means everyone from small businesses to big data is jumping feet first into the mobile space hoping to capitalize on the changing definition of what it means to be a gamer. The rise of fresh player demographics like adult women is inspiring companies to use games to learn more about players via sophisticated built-in analytics.

On the consumer side, the excitement over the VR headsets that flooded the market this year has given way to the highly anticipated release of augmented reality technology and the possibility of hassle-free streaming games. But add-ons aren’t the only thing that caused Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida to admit that mobile is killing handhelds. As software and hardware makers continue to roll out incredible innovations, expect to see the big newly released titles blow those from the previous year (or even previous quarter) out of the water.

There will always be console (and PC) devotees and that may just be the most surprising part of the future of mobile gaming. There is still room for choice. While mobile takes a lion’s share of the $72.5 billion gaming market and handhelds go extinct, PC gaming is making a comeback. So-called serious gamers will likely always have something derisive to say about the quality of mobile gaming but as the technology advances, they may just be grasping at straws.

Eventually how you play will depend less on whether the tech is there but what kind of experience you want to have. Maybe it’s the traditional first-person shooter playing out on a big screen, streaming from your phone to your TV. Maybe it’s slipping that phone into a headset to immerse yourself in VR or even AR. Maybe it’s loading up Taneli Armanto’s fresh take on Snake to take your mind off your morning commute. Or as many anticipate, it could be all three because the future of mobile? Is wide open.

Via http://www.giantbomb.com/profile/banielse/blog/355-snake-nokia/107221/

Via http://www.geeks3d.com/20140501/unreal-engine-4-tech-demos-pack-including-elemental-and-a-shooter-game-download/

Must-Have Tech & Software for Back to School

Posted on August 18, 2015 by Jessica Oaks Posted in Gadgets, Guest Post Articles, Tech

(Image Source: http://www.thunkmedia.com/backtoschooltech/)

Back to school, back to school. The sweet but short summer months couldn’t last forever. To make this year count, here’s a roundup of back-to-school must-have tech gadgets and software that will ensure a productive year of learning.

Microsoft Surface Pro 3 with Surface Pen

The Microsoft Surface Pro 3 tablet is THE notebook for the 2015-2016 school year. This 12-inch digital notepad has a 2160×1440 resolution display which gives it a natural size that lets owners flip through online textbooks and PDF files with ease, much like the same feel the old-school paper kind provides. Additionally, it comes with a convenient Surface Pen for taking notes or drawing graphs, or if you prefer to have a pad to type on, the snap-on keyboard option provides the best of both worlds – the lightness of a tablet, but the physical functionality of a laptop. And what’s more back-to-school trendy than going green and digital when it comes to notebooks?

OneNote

If you do decide to make the Surface Pro your own, it is accompanied with a perfect partner, the OneNote software. The program transcribes handwriting to typed text, which makes the learning process a lot more efficient, especially when it’s time to cram for the exam and refer to diligently taken notes.

Galaxy S6 Edge

Every student needs a phone/tablet to give them an edge. Look no further than the new phablet on the block – the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge. It provides the multi-functionality of the latest technological innovation in smartphones and furthermore, it’s very student friendly. Two major selling points that appeal to a student’s budget is T-Mobile’s guaranteed price cut on the device along with an offer of one free year of Netflix when purchased. That’s a student’s dream—not only do they have a premium, powerful tablet to manage their busy lives on, they can also take study breaks and watch free video entertainment at leisure on the crystal-clear, Quad HD 2560×1550, 5.1-inch screen.

Ginger

Writing is crucial in any form of education so if it isn’t your strong suit, you shouldn’t have to fall behind. A go-to writing app for both mobile and desktop devices is Ginger. It helps students write better and faster by providing assistance in grammar and sentence rephrasing, as well as comes complete with translator, dictionary and text reader to read what you wrote back to you. Communicating through a written format is crucial in education and at a professional level and this is one piece of software that will improve your capabilities in this department.

Zotero

One of the biggest bottlenecks for students is citing research. It oftentimes comes as an afterthought but is a necessary evil to give credit to those who deserve it. Zotero is a browser extension that can help you automatically generate citations for online sources. It also comes with plugins for Microsoft Word to quickly add the citations to papers. Not to mention, it’s free. Sound like a win-win for both parties? It is.

Google Docs

Group projects can be difficult if there isn’t coordination in place to collaborate. Google Docs is a fitting and useful tool for students to share and edit documents. All files get stored in an online cloud so it’s easier to maintain version control, particularly when there may be a lot of hands in the pot at one time.

School doesn’t have to be hard given the technology that’s available these days. Whether it’s buying the perfect tablet or phablet or downloading software, streamlining learning to be a productive activity can help you grow as a student and ultimately lead you to becoming a contributing member of society that will hopefully make a positive impact on the world in the future after studies.

All You Need to Know About Dual- & Quad-Core Processors

Posted on May 8, 2015 by Jessica Oaks Posted in Gadgets, Guest Post Articles, Technology News, Video Games

Mobile gaming is blowing up, and the proof is in the numbers. As of right now, women have rocketed past young guys as the largest video game playing demographic in the U.S., with 80% of moms (if you can believe it) playing mobile games at least once a week. This evolution of what it means to be a gamer is one reason that the mobile segment of today’s 90 billion dollars gaming industry is going to overtake the console market this year. A lot of people are playing video games these days and there are plenty of them out there to play.

So now let’s talk about some different numbers – specifically the number of processors in a gaming device. A big part of mobile’s dominance in the gaming world has to do with the technology available now. Once upon a time, being a serious gamer meant having a lot of different devices. A PC, a console or three and some handheld systems, too. Now the only device you need to play everything from the simplest word puzzles to the most complex RPGs is probably already in your pocket.

Probably – not definitely – because when it comes to what a phone or tablet can do, the specs are still all over the map. Price, screen size, coverage area, and audio options are easy enough for the not-so-serious gamer to understand, but processors are another story. What are dual core and quad core processors? And why do they have such a big impact on device performance, anyway?

First, let’s take a look at what processors actually are. The first single core processors (also known as the central processing unit or CPU) on the market for desktop and mobile devices were pretty good at doing one task at a time. Multi core processors were the next stage of desktop evolution – having multiple processors meant a device was much better at handling multiple tasks simultaneously. More cores also let users complete larger, more complex tasks with greater efficiency. Fast forward to 2012 when the first dual core processors for tablets and smartphones hit the scene and then to today, when companies like Snapdragon are helping make quad core the standard.

The natural next question is whether you need a quad core processor or whether two cores will suffice. Processing power isn’t necessarily a clear deal maker or breaker. A dual core will offer plenty of power to casual device users who tend to do one thing at a time – browsing OR looking at photos OR listening to music.

More serious gamers, however, benefit from everything multi core processors offer because they don’t have to worry about games competing with background functions and downloads for resources. That ‘s why graphics-heavy video games and resource intensive apps that deliver graphics, speed and sound simultaneously look better and work better with more processing power behind them. An automatic Instagram update or an incoming text message – just to offer two examples – isn’t going affect performance.

If you’re in the market for a new device, don’t get swept away by the more technical stats. Instead, consider how you use your tablet or phone. Devices at nearly every price point now feature quad core processors but that doesn’t mean you need one. Don’t forget that a device’s graphics processing unit (GPU), Flash processors, image processors and operating system will all contribute to how well it performs under pressure.

That said, a phone or tablet with a quad core processor will load apps and photos faster, have sharper graphics and streaming speeds, and support today’s more graphics-intensive games. It’s also a good bet for the future as more and more apps are being developed with the assumption that the user will be on a quad core device. As development goes, so do device trends – getting on board the quad car now might just be a smart idea.

Via http://ematic.us/tablets/7-hd-quad-core-android-42-egq307

Advancement of Graphics and Mobile Gaming

Posted on February 16, 2015 by Jessica Oaks Posted in Apple, Gadgets, Guest Post Articles, Technology News, Video Games

gaming-and-mobile-img1
(Image Source: http://www.cnet.com/news/can-the-iphone-6-replace-your-gaming-handheld/)

The days of the slowly moving pixelated snake on a tiny Nokia cellphone are long gone and have been replaced with Snapdragon processor-run games. Due to the emergence of groundbreaking innovation like powerful graphics processing units, as well as the integration of internet in mobile devices, leaps and bounds have been made in mobile gaming and graphics technology.

It’s important to understand that just a couple of decades ago, games were solely played on traditional gaming consoles or computers and not on phones or tablets. Smart phones did not exist and tablets most definitely were not available to the general public. The progression towards mobilizing society has led to the massive rise of network-equipped gadgets, which has indirectly pushed the development in modern graphics processing units (GPUs). This technology has evolved gaming and allowed it to become a mobile experience.

gaming-and-mobile-img1
(Image Source: http://www.qualcomm.eu/snapdragon)

Snapdragon’s GPUs, made by Qualcomm, have been integral to changing the face of mobile gaming and overall consumer expectation. These processors provide ultra high-definition graphics and are capable of producing realistic 3D scenes and effects. Furthermore, the technology enables smooth connection to the internet allowing users to connect with other gamers, participate in social media components that are now often woven into the game schema and continue to upgrade and purchase the latest versions from publishers. Speed, connectivity and superior graphics are becoming the norm thanks to Qualcomm’s advanced technology that is being built into the top Android-based devices in the market. It’s fueling the mobile gaming industry’s growth.

Along side super strong GPUs, a new API (application programming interface), is on the way to changing the game. Metal, by Apple, will soon replace the industry-standard 3D-graphics API, Open GL, which currently sits between game software and processor. The new Metal API framework offers exponentially quicker rendering efficiency and is still in its initial stages of entering the scene – owners of iPhone 5s or later can currently experience a handful of games that truly showcase the stunning and rich visuals and seamless functionality.

Video game publishers have been adapting their strategy to match the fast pace of technological developments on the backend of mobile visuals. Producers have invested heavily in mobile games by launching classic console game staples across mobile devices. The competitive landscape in gaming has also become more diverse – mobile gaming has created a platform for lesser-known developers to come out with a variety of different games and place them in app stores for anyone and everyone to buy. Because the playing field in terms of graphics has leveled out between console and mobile, the audience has moreover expanded to various demographics. Complex gaming doesn’t just mean Modern Combat; it also means games such as Candy Crush – bright, visuals with social media as a huge part of the game.

The shift has been made from Nintendo 64 to the latest lightweight, AMOLED-screen tab and now, innovative gaming and graphics technology is being developed with mobile in mind. Advancements in processing units and internal structures within mobile devices give consumers the chance to experience accurate, quick moves, sharp immersive sounds and spectacular graphics that come with mobile games, simple and complicated alike. Mobile players are left wanting more, and so long as there is demand, graphic tech development will continue to game on.

Sources:
http://www.wired.com/2013/01/how-mobile-kills-the-console-but-advances-the-gaming-industry/
https://www.esoftload.info/advancements-mobile-gaming-industry
https://www.qualcomm.com/products/snapdragon/processors
http://www.cnet.com/news/apple-supercharges-ios-gaming-with-metal/

Top Apps and Software for Synced Devices

Posted on November 13, 2014 by Jessica Oaks Posted in Apple, Biz Tips, Business, Cloud Computing, Dropbox, Guest Post Articles

Top Apps and Software for Synced Devices

With smartphones, tablets and laptops now an everyday fixture in people’s lives, the long-held promise of near universal connectivity has finally arrived. Spearheaded by companies like Samsung, which has invested heavily in sync devices over the last half-decade, this new connected era allows individuals to access information, personal data, files and more, from anywhere and at any time. Whether you want to settle a bet at the bar, pull up a work file during the weekend, or need to conduct some last-minute banking, you can, right from your phone. These connected devices have literally changed the world for hundreds of millions of people.

So You’re Thinking of Syncing Your Devices…

To make the most of sync devices requires some degree of engagement from the user. Syncing information to multiple devices – so that it can be viewed on, say, both your smartphone and laptop, for example – isn’t hard, per se, but isn’t always intuitive either. If you’ve heard the phrase “sync devices” bandied about but never quite understood how to do it yourself, then this article is for you. With the applications and software programs listed below, syncing your devices – and putting all of your information right at your fingertips – is easier than ever. Download these apps today and get started.

Google Drive

One of the easiest, quickest and most intuitive ways to sync devices and make information accessible anywhere is through Google Drive. All that’s needed is a Google account, which by this point in time most people have, and one can store and create documents in the cloud. Think of Google Drive as Gmail for files, rather than messages. Everything from photos to spreadsheets and text documents can be stored, and shared, using Google Drive – and it’s incredibly easy and free.

Source: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.docs

Dropbox

Similar to Google Drive, Dropbox enables online, cloud-based storage of various file types, including photos, music, spreadsheets, PDFs and more. However, as Dropbox isn’t provided by one of the Internet’s largest, most reputable companies, some accounts do require payment. After all, Dropbox has to pay the bills somehow, and it doesn’t have a massive advertising platform to do it! That being said,

Dropbox does offers free account options, and is a proven and respected platform for storing information in a central location for decentralized access.

Source: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dropbox.android

Goodsync

Available for Windows, Apple, and Android devices, Goodsync is a software program that automatically backs up files on sync devices, without storing them in the cloud. The program can both backup and sync files, and it can do so either in real-time or on scheduled delay. And with Goodsync Connect, it does this quickly and securely, without relying on 3rd party servers, which can slow this process down and introduce potential vulnerability.

Source: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.siber.gsserver

Apple iCloud

If you have an Apple product, then you are likely already aware of iCloud. In fact, if you’re like some, you may be familiar with iCloud because you’ve been frustrated with the service a time or two. Despite some issues that may hinder ease of use for some, there can be no doubt that iCloud is a tremendously powerful and effective platform for sync devices. Whether it’s music, photos, apps, or more, iCloud makes it possible to view all of your data across the full suite of Apple products – iPhones, iPads, iMacs and more. And like Google Drive, it’s entirely free. Better yet (for most, anyway), it’s automatic too. Activate it and forget about it!

Source: http://www.connectedrogers.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/apple-icloud.jpg

Danipa Joins Dropbox Partner Network

Posted on October 22, 2014 by Danielle Reynolds Posted in Danipa, Dropbox, Press Release, Technology News

At Danipa, providing quality solutions for our customers has always been a top priority. Since day one, we’ve been committed to hand-picking the best options to fit our customers’ needs.

That’s why it was a no-brainer for us to join the Dropbox Partner Network and add Dropbox for Business to our suite of services. The reason we’re really excited, though, is because Dropbox is a unique offering that delivers the same trusted, user-friendly service to businesses through Dropbox for Business.

Founded in 2007, Dropbox has been a trusted service for 300 million users to put their most important stuff. It solves the tough problem of syncing files from your computer so you can work on them offline, and lets you have all your stuff, whenever you need it. Dropbox is also cross-platform, so you can use it with the operating system or mobile device your company already uses.

Dropbox for Business adds robust management and control for IT admins to the same easy-to-use experience people know and love with Dropbox. Dropbox is helping empower employees with the tech they love, while giving IT the confidence that their data is secure.

Whether your employees are already using Dropbox, have never tried a cloud-based solution, or are somewhere in-between, Dropbox for Business makes it incredibly easy to get started or move onto the business offering. Plus, we’ll be there with you every step of the way to make sure everything goes smoothly.

Dropbox for Business is currently used in over 4 million businesses, with 1 billion files saved per day.

To learn more about Dropbox for Business and how it can impact your business, contact us at (519) 748-6874 to speak with one of our sales specialists.

View the official Press Release:

http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1432086/danipa-business-systems-inc-joins-the-dropbox-partner-network-to-provide-customers-with-secure-and-easy-file-sync-and-share

About Danipa
Danipa is a web design and Internet marketing company based in Kitchener, Ontario. We offer secure cloud-based solutions that allow businesses to share important documents across multiple devices, improve employee productivity and efficiency while cutting their IT cost. For more information about Danipa, please visit http://www.danipa.com.

About Dropbox:
Dropbox simplifies the work and personal lives of millions of people by letting them bring their documents, photos and videos anywhere and share them easily. The service has more than 300 million users and is used in over 4 million businesses, with over 1 billion files saved per day. For more information, please visit https://www.dropbox.com/press

The Rise of Large-Screen Devices Highlights Importance of Mobile Websites

Posted on October 16, 2014 by Jessica Oaks Posted in Biz Tips, Business, Guest Post Articles, Web Development

With the introduction of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, there is now no denying the popularity – and demand – for large-screen devices. Perhaps the most famous and prolific of the smaller screen holdouts, the iPhone represented a bygone era; one in which devices were designed to fit nicely in your pocket, but perhaps not with ease of use in mind. But now that the larger iPhone 6 has ushered in a new era at the world’s largest technology company, the writing is on the wall. With devices like the iPhone and iPad Air getting ever larger, the era of the large display has proudly arrived.

It’s Time to Reconsider the Browsing Experience

So what are the potential repercussions of larger screens on traditionally mobile devices? What does it say about users, and the public in general, that mobile devices are growing in size with each passing year? And does it foretell a time when mobile devices will no longer be, well, mobile? We may not be able to answer all of these questions, but in general, it can be stated without too much controversy that screens are growing in size because people are increasingly turning away from their desktop devices and towards their smart devices for everyday use. With smartphones, tablets and phablets becoming much more than mere novelties – in fact, they have become the new computers – it was perhaps inevitable that screens would grow in size to accommodate the devices’ new roles.

If it’s true that individuals are increasingly using their mobile devices for everything from Internet browsing to online purchases to banking – and let us state plainly that they are – then it is also true that companies which previously designed their websites primarily for a desktop viewing experience need to reevaluate their approach to how people view the Internet. A business that fails to develop a mobile-friendly website runs the real risk of alienating its customer base and losing its competitive edge. Mobile is the future of Internet use, and making a website that is compatible across devices is as important as it once was to make a website that was compatible across browsers.

What Is a Mobile-Friendly Website?

The easiest way to answer this question might be to state what a mobile-friendly website is not: a mobile website is not a separate and unique website, wholly different from its desktop version. Though this might have been the case four or five years ago, when smartphones were first arriving into the marketplace, that is no longer true. Now, a mobile-friendly website is one that is mobile-responsive, capable of adapting and changing as needed to fit the screen that it’s on, but maintaining its core elements, from content to design.

But why is a mobile-responsive site needed? In simple terms, mobile websites live by a different set of rules. Buttons and links are generally larger, extraneous information might be marginalized, layouts become more vertical (or horizontal, depending on the screen), and the interface morphs so that it is better suited to a touch screen, as opposed to a desktop monitor. As the name implies, a mobile-friendly website is one that provides a friendly and pleasant user experience for individuals on mobile devices – not one that is frustrating and unsatisfying. Think of how annoying it is to have to tap, pinch and zoom; mobile-friendly websites aim to eliminate this.

Source: http://www.abookapart.com/products/responsive-web-design

responsive

Mobile is the Future – Are Businesses Ready?

With phablets, tablets and smartphones selling like hotcakes (no doubt spurred on by companies like T-Mobile offering free 4G LTE for devices like the iPad Air and Galaxy Note 4), businesses would be well-advised to hop on the mobile-friendly bandwagon now, before it’s too late. Think about how often you use your smartphone or tablet to view the Internet (the odds are good you’re using one right now), and then let that answer the question of whether it’s important or not for companies to develop websites for mobile. The answer couldn’t be more clear.

Source: http://autopilotonlinesuccess.com/responsive-design/2362/

starbucks responsive

Does Social Media Affect SEO (Search Engine Optimization)?

Posted on June 16, 2014 by Danielle Reynolds Posted in Biz Tips, LinkedIn, SEO, Social Media, Twitter

Yes, yes and yes. Social media is just another way to generate backlinks to your site, which might help you rank higher –depending on what people are saying about your business.

With the popularity of social media rising, specifically Facebook well over 500 million users and growing, it’s a market you can’t afford to ignore. That’s thousands of potential leads, customers and contacts for your business. Additionally Facebook has its own pay per click campaigns so you can reach out to even more users, specifically by their interests, age and gender if necessary. Facebook has also recently introduced a whole new level of ecommerce on their site, so all your business has to do is tap into it.

Twitter is another major social media player that you really shouldn’t ignore. Twitter works by giving users bits of quick hit information. Your business can use this to its advantage by offering Twitter only coupons, a behind the scenes look at your company, previews of upcoming promotions, and more. Twitter also helps you rank higher on Google as people re-tweet you and your company name shows up more and more often.
This practice leads to higher visibility, and pushes you up as a trusted or recognized authority on the topic in organic search.

Social media can also help you to connect with your clients in a way that wasn’t possible before. You can get to know who they are, what their needs are, and most importantly what they are saying about your business as a whole. This helps you see a direct correlation between how you’re operating, how effectively your marketing dollars are being spent and what you can do to make improvements. And all of this straight from the horse’s mouth, not from a focus group or third party survey company.

So, why wouldn’t your company jump on the social media bandwagon? Well, there are a few reasons some businesses are dragging their feet. One is fear of the unknown. New technology always presents a certain amount of uncertainty. However, as a leader in your industry don’t be afraid to jump into this market with both feet. Unless you participate in a pay per click campaign, the only thing it’s going to cost you to get your social media visibility going is man hours, so you really don’t have much to lose here.

The bottom line is if you don’t jump into the social media world, your competition will. Then they will have access to the hundreds of millions of users you passed on. You might as well just hand your business over to your competition if you choose to ignore this growing market. So, play your cards right, and accept the fact that social media does affect SEO. The conversations between people online and user generated content matter to Google and they include it in their SEO algorithm.

Blog Post courtesy of Optimum 7

Gmail: Understanding and Managing labels

Posted on May 27, 2014 by Danielle Reynolds Posted in Gmail Tips, Small Business

Labels help you organize your messages into categories — work, family, to do, read later, jokes, recipes, any category you want. Labels do all the work that folders do, but with an added bonus: you can add more than one to a message.

Only you can see your labels, so whether you mark a message with “Best friend” or “Read later,” the sender will never know.

Create a label

Here’s how to create a label that you can add to any of your messages:
On the left side of the page, click More at the bottom of your labels list. (If you don’t see “More,” grab the gray dividing line with your cursor and drag it down to show more labels.)

Click Create new label.

Type the name of your new label and click Create.
You can also create a new label for a message in your Inbox by selecting the box next to the message, clicking the Label button above your message list, and then clicking Create new.

Apply your label

You can add a label to your messages in several ways:
When viewing your Inbox, select the checkbox next to those messages, click the Labels button, and click the label you want. (Or check the boxes next to several labels and click Apply.)

When viewing a message, click the Labels button to add a label to the message. You can also click and drag a label from the left side, and drop it on the message.
When writing a new message, click More options drop-down arrow More options in the bottom right corner of the compose window, click Label, and then select one of your labels.

When you add a label to a conversation, it only applies to the messages already in that conversation – not to messages sent after you applied the label. When you search for labeled messages, you’ll see any messages that match the label, along with their conversation thread. However, you won’t be able to search for an individual message in the thread that doesn’t have that label.

Organize your labels

Hover your cursor over the label on the left side of your Gmail page, and click the down-arrow that appears next to that label. A menu appears where you can change the label’s color and edit its settings, or click Edit to change the label’s name. In that menu, you can also click Remove label to delete the label from your list and remove it from all messages that were tagged with that label. You can also edit and delete labels in the Labels tab of your Gmail Settings.

Create Sub-Labels

You can add a sub-label beneath a label to create a hierarchy. For example, if you have a label for your vacations, and want to create another specifically for a trip to Hawaii, you can nest the “Hawaii” label inside your “Vacations” label. When creating a new label, you can make it a sub-label underneath another label that’s already in your account by checking the box next to ‘Nest label under’ and selecting which label you’d like to nest it under. You can also create sub-labels by hovering your cursor over an existing label on the left side of your Gmail page, clicking the down-arrow that appears next to that label, and selecting ‘Add sublabel.’

How to change your label settings

You can control some of the settings for your labels on your Labels tab. Get there by clicking the gear icon , select Settings, then Labels. Here are a few examples:
Choose which labels appear in your list on the left: In the “Show in label list” column, click the “show” or “hide” link next to each label to choose whether it will be shown in the left panel of your Gmail pages. You can also set labels to appear only when they contain unread messages (otherwise, they will be hidden).

Choose which labels appear on your messages: In the “Show in message list” column, you can choose whether you’ll see each label displayed next to its messages’ subject lines. Click hide if you don’t want to see that label name when you look at the messages it contains.

Delete labels: If you see a label that you don’t want anymore, click remove in the “Remove label” column. (You’ll have to confirm that you’d like to remove the label by clicking Delete.)

Video: Managing Labels

Quickly revise labels to tag and organize your Gmail messages.

Gmail: Unthread your conversations

Posted on April 28, 2014 by Danielle Reynolds Posted in Gmail Tips, Google, Tech

Normally, Gmail groups a message and its replies in a single, threaded conversation. If you prefer, however, you can switch back and forth between conversation view, and the traditional, unthreaded view, where all messages are listed separately.

Threaded vs. unthreaded view

After switching to unthreaded view, you’ll notice several changes in your Inbox. First, the number of messages in your Inbox will likely increase (1). This is because, rather than showing a single entry for the entire conversation, Gmail now intersperses messages throughout your Inbox, based on the date they were received (2).

Switching to unthreaded view (and switching back)

1. Open your Gmail Settings
2. On the General tab, under Conversation View, select Conversation view off.
3. Click Save Changes.

To switch back to Conversation view later, just come back here and select Conversation view on.

How Unthreaded Gmail changes your Inbox

What exactly happens when you turn off Conversation view?
● Gmail reloads your Inbox and displays all messages in the unthreaded, message-based view, sorted in reverse chronological order. Based on the number of previously threaded messages you had, you’ll typically notice more messages listed in your Inbox.

● Replies to messages you sent display as separate entries in your Inbox.

● When you reply to a message, the message is sent to the recipient and to your Sent Mail label. It’s not linked to the original message.

● When viewing messages others have replied to, you’ll see the entire contents of all replies in the body of the email.

● To find messages previously linked together based on a particular subject, search for the messages based on the subject or keywords contained within the subject.

● Unthreaded view has no effect on any chats listed in your Inbox.

Check back on Danipa’s blog for more handy Gmail tips! Have a questions about Google Apps? Comment below and and will do our best to answer you question!

Why Use Responsive Web Design?

Posted on April 25, 2014 by Danielle Reynolds Posted in Biz Tips, Web Development

Watch this short video for a great explanation of what responsive design is. This will help you to understand how responsive design affects the user experience of clients accessing your website on different devices like a PC, iPad, Tablet and phone.

Video Rating: 4 / 5

Check out our portfolio page for examples of responsive design.

Using social media successfully in your small business marketing

Posted on April 24, 2014 by Danielle Reynolds Posted in Biz Tips, Facebook, Marketing, Social Media, Twitter

This video by the Cogent Coach, offers some great tips on how to get the most out of your social media marketing efforts.

Topics covered include:

What is Social media Marketing
Major sites / Tips / Techniques
How to integrate Social Media into your marketing
Automating your efforts

New Testimonial video for Danipa

Posted on April 24, 2014 by Danielle Reynolds Posted in Danipa, Portfolio

Global Pet Foods KW has three locations in Kitchener & Waterloo making them very busy. We worked with them to create a website that has the ability to showcase the many products that they offer, and a blog for posting relevant articles and pet care tips. We also work closely with them to manage their social media accounts and email blasts.

Check out what they have to say about Danipa below:

Please feel free to give us a call if you have any questions about the services that we offer!

What is Responsive Website Design?

Posted on April 23, 2014 by Danielle Reynolds Posted in Web Development

As a business owner, there are a number of different options to consider when developing your website.

Responsive web design or “RWD” is a newer method of building a website which aims to deliver a website that is automatically tailored to the device and environment of the user who is accessing your website. Just as your needs for web browsing are different when browsing on a desktop in the comfort of your home/office compared with an iPhone while rushing through a busy airport, your website can also change to deliver a different experience depending on whether you’re at home, on the go, on a large screen device, or a small smartphone.

Watch the video below to learn more about Responsive Design.

Join the discussion and view the tutorial on Tutvid.com: http://tutvid.com SPONSOR: |||| ||||

2 Gmail Ninja Tips!

Posted on April 22, 2014 by Danielle Reynolds Posted in Biz Tips, Gmail Tips, Google, Guest Post Articles

These 2 Gmail tips will save you time! Learn how to enable “Canned Responses” and also how to quickly undo an email after you have clicked the send button!

Saving you time and Saving your bacon, that is what these two terrific Gmail features will do for you! Hiding from plain sight in the Labs section of Gmail are two tools that we all need to know about. Canned Responses and Undo Send!

Video Rating: 4 / 5

Tips for a tidy Gmail Inbox

Posted on April 22, 2014 by Danielle Reynolds Posted in Biz Tips, Gmail Tips, Google

Overwhelmed with email? This video gives simple tips for managing your inbox in Gmail so it’s always empty.

Visit learn.googleapps.com to find out more!

Video Rating: 4 / 5

Google Apps for Business Overview

Posted on April 21, 2014 by Danielle Reynolds Posted in Google

Check out this video and learn how Google Apps for Business will save you money!

Google Apps for Business: An overview of the suite.

Contact Danipa today!

Danipa Launches New Website for Platinum Key Real Estate

Posted on March 21, 2014 by Danielle Reynolds Posted in Danipa, Portfolio, Web Development

We recently successfully launched a beautiful website for a new Real Estate brokerage in Mount Brydges, Ontario.

Platinum Key Realty Inc. is a full-service real estate brokerage, located in the heart of Middlesex County, that delivers the experience and expertise that today’s housing market demands. They came to Danipa looking for assistance in creating their new home on the internet! They wanted to be able to connect with current and new clients with a blog, and to also allow for the search of new listings on the website.

We also integrated third party applications to allow for on-site MLS searches of listings and for the viewing of Visual Listings..

Platinum Key also wanted the ability to connect with clients through their blogging.

Easy to manage agent bio pages were also needed, they are easy to set up as the company grows and new agents are added!

It was a pleasure to work with Platinum Key! If you are looking to buy or sell real estate in Middlesex County, make sure that you drop the friendly people at Platinum Key a line! They will go out of their way to make your experience a positive one!

Visit the new website at www.platinumkey.ca

Danipa Joins Google Apps Authorized Reseller Program

Posted on January 6, 2014 by Danielle Reynolds Posted in Cloud Computing, Google, Google AdWords, Press Release

KITCHENER, ON, Jan. 6, 2014 – Danipa Business Systems Inc. today announced it has become a Google Apps for Business Authorized Reseller.

“The Google Apps Reseller program will help us enhance the value of Google Apps for businesses in Kitchener-Waterloo and surrounding areas,” said Patrick Aboagye, President & CEO of Danipa. “Google Apps for Business offers a broad set of powerful APIs that enable us to deliver innovative cloud-based solutions for our customers at reduced IT cost.”

Google Apps brings simple, powerful communication and collaboration tools to organizations of any size – all hosted by Google to streamline setup, minimize maintenance, and reduce IT costs.

With Gmail (including Google email security and retention, powered by Google Vault), Google Calendar, and Google Sites, users can stay connected and work together with ease. With Google Docs and Google Drive, which include word processing, spreadsheet, presentation and website creation tools, users can share files and collaborate in real-time, keeping versions organized and available wherever and whenever users work.

The Google Apps Reseller program includes value-added resellers, consultants, managed software providers, and independent software vendors that sell, service and customize Google Apps for Business for their customers. Danipa received training, support and deployment services from Google, as well as access to APIs for integrating Google Apps into their customers’ business operations.

Danipa is able to retain a close relationship with their customers by providing additional service and support. The businesses receiving Google Apps will benefit from the additional attention to their specific needs.

For more information on Danipa’s program please visit www.danipa.com/google-apps-for-business and to learn more about the Google Apps Reseller program, please visit www.google.com/a/partners.

ABOUT DANIPA BUSINESS SYSTEMS INC.

Danipa is a web design, development and Internet marketing company based in Kitchener, Ontario that develops online solutions for businesses worldwide. We have been providing cloud-based solutions for businesses in the Kitchener-Waterloo area for over 7 years and have expertise in web design, development and the setup up of Google Apps, Google Analytics, Google AdWords and Google Webmaster Tools.

Google, Google Apps, Gmail, Google Talk, Google Drive, Google Vault, Google Calendar, Google Docs, Google Sites and Google Video are trademarks of Google Inc.

Get noticed with Google AdWords this Holiday Season!

Posted on November 22, 2013 by Danielle Reynolds Posted in Danipa, Google, Google AdWords

Danipa is excited to be able to offer a new promotion for clients who create a new Google AdWords account prior to December 31, 2013.

Now when you spend $100 you get $300 in free advertising! This offer is perfect for those who want to ramp up their Holiday Marketing!

Here’s how it works:

For a limited time period, Danipa is offering a $300 promotional coupon; when you spend $100 within 14 days of creating your first AdWords account:

Signup and request $300 promotional AdWords coupon!
We will notify you after reviewing your application if you qualify.
Apply the promotional coupon to your AdWords account.
Your account would be credited with $300 if you spend $100 within 30 days of your first AdWords campaign.

Don’t have time to create a new account? Danipa can set up and monitor your account for the first month for only $100!

AdWords is a great way to reach thousands of potential customers, at exactly the right moment, when they are actively searching for your type of business!

AdWords advertising will benefit your business because of the following reasons:

Create more than one ad for multiple targeting.
You can create more than one ad within a campaign for multiple targeting. This allows you to see better performing ads over a time period and optimize non-performing ones.
Advertise globally — or locally.
Your AdWords campaign can be setup so that your ads appear to people just in your town or Province, or all around the country or even the entire world.
Get targeted traffic.
Your ads appear next to search results when a user searches for words of your choice.
If you are a florist in Kitchener you can choose to show an ad next to the search “Kitchener flower delivery”.
Pay only for clicks.
You pay only when someone shows interest in you by clicking on your ad.
Control your costs.
You decide how much to pay per click, and determine your budget. You can set your daily ad budget and change it whenever you want.
Enjoy Powerful reporting
AdWords lets you know your results at all times. The detailed reports can tell you what’s working, what isn’t, and how you can improve your campaign.

Watch this informative video for more details!

New Website for New Hamburg Photographer Suzanne Leakey

Posted on November 22, 2013 by Danielle Reynolds Posted in Portfolio, Uncategorized, Web Development

It was a pleasure to work with Suzanne Leakey to create a new website that serves as a showcase for her amazing Portfolio of Family Photography, Model Photography, and Commercial Photography. Suzanne needed a website that showed off how amazing her images were and we are very happy with how the website turned out! The home page is very simple on purpose, so that the user is gets to experience her work.

Suzanne works with clients from throughout South Western Ontario, including Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, Stratford and more! Visit Suzanne’s website and check out her work today!

New Website for the Criminal Lawyers at 30 Queen Street

Posted on October 28, 2013 by Danielle Reynolds Posted in Portfolio

At Danipa, we are always excited to work with people when they are creating a brand new website! For the Criminal Lawyers at 30 Queen Street in Kitchener, Ontario, we developed an online solution that gives them the opportunity to highlight lawyers and answer questions via the new blog. For this project we created a new logo, new website and integrated a WP blog theme.

1. Home Page features a scrolling screen showcasing the lawyers

2. Profile Page that highlights the Biography of each Criminal Lawyer and includes a custom contact form and Google Map integration for each profile.

3. Services Page features a drop down feature that showcases the types of criminal charges that they can assist clients with.

Please feel free to visit the website directly at www.30queenlaw.com.

Best Tips for Choosing a Domain Name for your Business

Posted on August 22, 2013 by Danielle Reynolds Posted in Biz Tips, Domains, Top Ten Lists

We often get clients who are in the initial stages of starting a business or who are starting a new marketing campaign and realize that they need help choosing an appropriate domain name. Several years ago we went over the different options available for choosing a domain for your business in this blog post, it is one of our most popular blog posts and since it has been quite awhile since our last post on domains, we are updating the content for 2013!

We always stress the importance of choosing a domain name that is both simple and easy to remember and that is also in line with what you are going to be using the website for. A good domain name will be an important part of your marketing strategy if integrated properly. Listed below are some of the most important tips for choosing a domain name that will be the perfect match for your company.

Brainstorm Keywords

If using your company name is not the preferred option and you are looking for something different, take the time to sit down and brainstorm about 5-6 keywords or phrases that describe the business that you do.

Once you are happy with your keywords, visit a domain registration site (Like www.danipa.com/domains) and begin the search for available domains.

Prepare to be disappointed! You might think that your name is unique but chances are that someone has already thought of it and purchased the domain name. Don’t give up and mix and match using your keywords, eventually you will find an available name!

To avoid competitors purchasing similar domains it is also advisable to purchase domains in different extensions (e.g .com, .ca, .org, .net).

Keep it Simple

You want your customers to easily associate your domain name with your business or brand. If a domain requires a lot of attention to type correctly then you lose part of its marketing value almost immediately! Avoid Hyphens and numbers as they make it hard to verbally promote your website. This is important if you advertise through radio or over the phone. You do not want your customers to be unable to find your website simply because they have spelled it incorrectly.

Double Check

Once you have found the perfect domain name, take some time to check if it is available in social media accounts. If your name is already in use on Twitter, Facebook or other social media accounts than your brand recognition across channels will diminish. You should also take the time to see if there is a trademark or copyright on the name. Be very careful when registering names that have a copyright on them, or that are very similar to a trademarked name. You can be setting yourself up for a hassle if the licensee decides that you have infringed upon their trademark.

Pro Tips

1. Keep it simple and easy to remember
2. Avoid Hyphen’s, dashes and numbers
3. Use your company or brand name if possible
4. Avoid Slang terms – Not everyone understands what you mean!
5. Check if social media accounts are available to match the name
6. Register your name for more than one year
7. Choose automatic renewal – Never forget to renew!
8. Keep it short – Long names are easy to mistype!

In short, it is important to take the time to choose a domain name that will satisfy your needs for years to come. By taking the time to research available names you can be confident that your small investment will pay off in the long term in marketing and branding!

Get started with our easy to use domain name registration system. Buy your domain name today!