Friday, November 21, 2008

New IPod Nano 4th Gen

The Launch of a new range of iPods always brings an air of excitement to all iPod fans. The New nano 4th Gen dubbed "the thinnest iPod ever" has been the worst kept secret with in Apple's recent history, images of the Nano were posted on and around many internet forums several days before the iPod was supposed to be released.

The new Nano has been totally redesigned from the previous shorter fatter shape of the Nano 3rd Gen it now stands tall and thin resembling the first & second generation versions. Although styled on the first generation's of the Nano the 4th gen has been thoroughly modernised creating a much easier on the eye style. The Case is now curved oval shape, with the glass screen matching the aluminium housing.

The newest feature of the iPod Nano 4th is the inclusion of the accelerometer, previously seen in the iPhone. This device allows you to shuffle tracks by simply shaking the iPod, the tracks will then automatically randomise. Another cool Nano feature is Cover Flow technology which allows you to browse album covers when the iPod is turned onto its side.

The good news for Dension owners is that the new iPod Nano 4th gen and revised iPod Touch will work with the Dension Gateway systems if the newer firmware has been installed. Problems were caused earlier in the year when Apple changed the way the iPhone 3G charges to a newer 5V system, that the previous Gateway could not support. The Nano 4th gen also has the 5v charging system so will work perfectly with the Dension Gateway. However due to the new shape of the Nano the Active cradle inserts may not accept the Nano 100% correctly so for the mean time its best to connect via the Dock Cable that will accept all iPods.

Great Resource to Market Your Books

As an author, you probably know how important it is to get your books out to the buying public. Amazon.com is a great tool that should not be overlooked. Here are some of the key features you can use to help market your books.

Get Listed

First and foremost, get your book titles listed on the site. There are basically two methods for listing your books:

  1. Amazon.com Advantage - for new titles
  2. Pro-Merchant Program - for used, collectible, and remainder books

Add Content

Once your book is listed, you can add descriptive content. Add things like a short description, author bio, inside flap or back cover copy, reviews, or an excerpt of the first chapter.

Search Inside

This feature will allow customers to view actual pages inside your book, such as the table of contents and index. This will "tease" customers into wanting more, and ultimately will help you to sell more books.

Add Reviews

For increased sales and visibility, ask friends and others to review your book on Amazon.com. If you give away copies of your book, ask the person to post a review if they had a positive reading experience.

Amazon Advantage

For a $29.95 annual fee, you can receive additional services to help market your book. Advantages include:

  • Your book is listed as "ships in 24 hours"
  • CDs, DVDs and other products can be sold
  • Your book can be listed here before being released, and pre-orders can be taken
  • Book returns are zero to minimal

Amazon Connect - Amazon Upgrade

Anyone who purchases a hard copy of your book will be allowed to receive a digital copy of the book for an extra fee.

Amazon Shorts

Another promotional tool available to you as an author, this program sells access to short format stories for just $0.49. For less than a cup of coffee, a reader can download a story of 2,000-10,000 words. The downloads can be saved in HTML, PDF or plain text formats to be read over and over.

Kindle

You can make your book available in digital format, to be used with Kindle, a new wireless reading device.

As you can see, there are several ways you can use Amazon.com to your advantage to market your books. For the most part, you do not even have to pay a dime. What better deal is there than that for the exposure you'll gain?

This is a new program that allows you to post messages directly to your readers. The posted messages will appear on your book detail page(s), profile page and blog. In addition, you can create your own profile page.

© 2008 Cynthia Morse, Virtually At Your Service. All rights reserved.

Cynthia Morse, CAP is a Virtual Assistant, and the owner of Virtually At Your Service, http://www.virtuallyatyourservice.biz

She offers top-notch administrative support to small business owners and other busy professionals from her home office, allowing them the time to focus on what they love and do best. Visit her blog, 'Virtual Biz Connection', http://virtuallyatyourservice.typepad.com/virtualbizconnection - It's full of tips, helpful articles and resources for your small business!

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Top 10 Most Wanted Toys For Christmas 2008 - Put These Under Your Tree

Figuring out what the top 10 most wanted toys for Christmas are is very important if you want to make sure that Santa gets things right this year. These toys are flying off the shelves with increasing fervor, so it's definitely best to act sooner rather than later so your shopping cart doesn't look sadly empty.

Toy #1 - Elmo Live

The first toy you need to make sure you have is Elmo Live. Elmo is a beloved character for the young and old alike. This Elmo is so lifelike you won't believe your eyes. For such a lifelike toy you'll be surprised at how low the cost is!

Toy #2 - Bakugan Starter Pack

The next toy you need to have on your list for the Christmas 2008 season is the Bakugan starter pack. Children love the anime series Bakugan, so you definitely can't go wrong when you decide to pick up these packs. They are also incredibly inexpensive, and make great stocking stuffers.

Toy #3 - Kidizoom Digital Camera

For that little photographer in your life, you'll want to buy the Kidizoom Digital Camera. This camera is incredibly tough and durable for even the most carefree of children. It also contains features you'd expect on an adult- and much more expensive- camera. This one is probably less than you think.

Toy #4 - Flip Video Camera

The Flip Video Camera. Okay, so this one is technically not a toy. Still, this is a great first video camera for kids because it's inexpensive, small, and very easy to use.

Toy #5 - Busy Ball Popper

For that baby or toddler in your life you'll definitely want to look for the Busy Ball Popper Toy. This one is great because it has colorful balls that go through a tube and pop into the air! Tons of fun for your little one.

Toy #6 - Furreal Friends Biscuit

Furreal Friends Biscuit Dog is a real winner for this holiday season. You can't help but fall in love with this little pup because he is so lifelike. This one is on the expensive side, but the expense is well worth it to see the look of happiness your little one has on his face.

Toy #7 - Eyeclops Night Vision Stealth Goggles

Eyeclops Night Vision Stealth Goggles are next on the list because they are fun for everyone. It's hard to believe, but this toy delivers in a big way by offering real night vision.

Toy #8 - Nintendo Wii

The Nintendo Wii is perhaps an obvious choice, but it's a great one! The Wii has been out for a couple of years now, but it's still hard to find. The interactivity and excitement is something your whole family will love.

Toy #9 - Star Wars Clone Trooper Voice Changer

Star Wars Clone Trooper Voice Changer is another great option. This toy allows your child to change their voice just like in the movies! It's great fun, and sure to bring some laughs.

Toy #10 - Little Big Planet

Last but not least, one of the top 10 most wanted toys for 2008 is Little Big Planet for the Playstation 3 console. This is one of the most innovative, interesting and fun games that has come out in years. You can't go wrong with this title.

Figuring out which toys are hot is half the battle! Now you've got to narrow down your list and choose the best Christmas toys for your own child this year. It also helps to learn about the best pricing deals so you can save money this year. Visit http://bestchristmasgiftsonline.com for more details.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Fisher Price Elmo Live - Health Hazard For Your Baby?

Are you considering buying Fisher Price's new Elmo Live doll as a Christmas present this year, for your own child of maybe for somebody else's child? If so, there are a few things you need to think about. Buy a gift for a young boy or a baby is fun, but when purchasing a toy there are always certain considerations as to the safety and production quality of said product. Many toys have been recalled in the past due to them having been discovered to be hazardous to your child's health; Elmo Live is brought to us by Hasbro, a company which is known for the high quality of its products, but nevertheless we must ask the tough questions for the sake of our kids.

The first and most clear step in determining whether a toy you're about to buy is going to be safe for your toddler is, does it have any small parts that can be inserted into the mouth and choked on? Young children and especially babies absolutely love to put things in their mouth and try to suck on them or bite them. A piece that is too small could easily slip down and hurt them. Luckily, Elmo Live comes through on this regard, since the toy is one big piece and even though it moves, no parts of it actually come off, so it doesn't represent this type of hazard.

Secondly, you need to determine whether there are any sketchy materials, such as lead or mercury, used in the fabrication of the product. Today we take the general awareness about lead poisoning and mercury poisoning to be for granted, we don't really realize how insidious and undetected this type of thing can be. Very recently several Chinese toy products have been identified as carrying trace amounts of lead which can be extremely dangerous to young kids. Luckily, Elmo Live was not among these toys, and as far as we know today, it does not contain any other dangerous materials whatsoever.

Finally, and this point of toy safety is a new one that has been created with the advent of the "animatronic dolls" in recent years, does the toy move in any way that can harm the boy or baby? Since the toy moves by itself, there is a very real chance that moving arms and legs and mouth can suddenly and unexpectedly pinch or tear the skin of the child. As regards to Elmo Live, none of the moving parts appear to move in such a way, but just to be safe, make sure your child doesn't try to pick up and hug the toy close when its moving. The movement strength of the gears seems to be very low anyways so there is probably very little to worry about.

So, all in all we can say that Elmo Live is a pretty safe toy for a toddler. Armed with this knowledge, you can be certain that you are indeed making the right decision in your purchase, and can rest easy at night knowing you've looked out for your child's safety.

Have a safe, happy holiday season by becoming informed on the things you're about to buy! I offer research and advise you on all the features and characteristics of the latest top Christmas gifts For even more useful information and specs on Elmo, visit me at Fisher Price Elmo Live