30 Fresh & Free UI Kits for Your Next Project

Looking for more UI kits to expand your web designer's library of awesomeness? Well, you came to the right place! In this post, I've handpicked 30 beautiful UI Kits that will definitely be of great help to your next project. There is a wide variety of kits with different themes, styles and designs to choose from – flat, minimalist, two-toned and more. All you need to do is choose, download, and start using them! Read also: 60 Free GUI Sets To Download These UI kits are made available for free so don't forget to thank the designers who took the time to build, design, and release them on the Web without charge. Now, off to check out these awesome kits. Blog/Magazine Flat UI Kit – [Visit page] Bootflat – [Visit page] Dark Admin Panel UI Kit – [Visit page] Simple UI Elements – [Visit page] Flat UI Kit – [Visit page] [...]

DotA, LoL to be supported by DepEd, CHED as varsity sport

  CAGAYAN DE ORO, PHILIPPINES (The Philippine Chronicle/July 27, 2014) – After the popularity of DotA and LoL as electronic sports, Department of Education Region X director will now support electronic games as a varsity sports in Region X. "Our continued support for our future interests of today's generation of future Filipinos is the reason for supporting electronic sports." he said. "We'd also like to be one with the times because our children play a lot of these sports" "We are supporting DotA and LoL because they are the most popular games in Internet cafes today" he added. The Philippine Internet cafe industry which is earning around Php500 million a year for the Philippine economy is steadily dropping, yet there are more people who are playing games at home nowadays. We interviewed one of these gamers; Glenn Radana, who resides in Cagayan de Oro and plays at E-Stop in Carmen. "I really like this decision by them (DepEd, CHED) because it really supports us who play games everyday to showcase our skills and be known in school." Department of Education Directors in other regions have voiced their support and should follow suit in the future.

Get Published (Part 2): Discussing Writing Terms With The Site

Last time, we talked about identifying your niche and the right site for you to write for. The process involves checking out the guest-posting guidelines, and understanding what the site needs, and what their readers are looking for. This second part on our how to get published series will touch on what you can do before you pitch an idea to the site you want to write for. Yes, expect to have to do a lot of work, but understand that it's necessary if you don't want to end up pitching titles that won't be accepted anyway. The earlier you recognize how your writing fits (or not) with a publication, the better. Let's take a look at how you can make a stand out pitch and some of the details to look into when dealing with the site you are hoping to pen articles for. Read also: Get Published (Part 1): Finding The Right Site

Craft a Standout Pitch

Want to pitch a title? Here are a few tips:

1. Give (Sincere) Compliments In Your Intro

Compliments show the editor that you genuinely gave a thought about their publication, not just their ability to give you a byline. If you've been following them for a while, this should be easy. For example, you can say "I'm John Smith, a blogger with a passion for history. I read your article last month about the Jamestown mysteries, and I must say, I was impressed enough with it to visit the place for myself." Remember: Be sincere. Insincerity will backfire on you.

2. Be Original With Your Idea

Your pitch may be good, but if there's already a similar article previously published on the [...]

How to Use CSS3 Blending Mode [CSS3 Tips]

Note: This feature here requires enabling from the chrome://flags page for it to work. If you have ever used a graphic or photo editor like Photoshop and Pixelmator, you should already be familiar with Blending Modes. Blending Modes is a collection of modes that enables an object to blend with other objects, and thus producing contrastive output of the mix. If done correctly, Blending Modes could output a very enticing result, like this. Blend Mode application in a logo by Ivan Bobrov Blending Mode has been a feature found only in graphic and photo editors. Nowadays, you can find it in the CSS realm. Let's take a look how it works. Recommended Reading: Understanding LESS Color Functions

Getting Started

It's worth noting that CSS3 Blend Mode is an experimental feature. Firefox and Chrome are the only browser that ships with this feature at the time of the writing. Note: In Chrome, before it's able to render CSS3 Blend Mode, you will have to enable the Web Platform Features from the chrome://flags page.

Background and Mix Blend Mode

There are two newly introduced CSS properties regar [...]

20 Creative Uses Of Lego You Need To See

The world will probably never get tired of the wonders of Lego, even if it definitely hurts when you step on one. Painful feet massage aside, the popular brick toy continues to astound us with the many things we can create with it, from mega structures to constructing movie scenes. The sky is the limit to what you can create with Lego, unless of course, you don't have an unlimited supply of Lego bricks. But that doesn't mean you can't bring out your childhood Lego collection to create practical everyday things or as a simple lifehack. To that end, here is a list of 20 creative uses of Lego ranging from simple to mind-blowing. Recommended Reading: 15 Star Wars Scenes Re-Imagined With Lego

Gift Box

Could this be the answer to less trees being chopped down for wrapping paper? It would definitely be an interesting way to house a present for a geeky friend. Best of all, it's Lego, so you can always reuse it for something else instead of adding to your pile of boxes in the attic. (Image source: PopClip)

Game Controller Organizer

Do you have multiple gaming consoles and the many remote controllers that come with them? Are they always jumbled up in a drawer? If you create a few of these, that mess in your drawer will be a thing of the past. Kudos to Lifehacker reader [...]

Basic & Essential Command Lines Every Web Designers Should Grasp

You may have come across instructions in web design and development tutorials that tell you to do things like npm install or git clone, etc. These are Command Line Interfaces (CLI). We use them to tell the computer to perform specific tasks, usually by typing specific commands from Terminal and Command Prompt. Terminal and Command Prompt may not be the most convenient tool to use, particular for web designers, which is quite understandable, since web designers may be more familiar with graphical interfaces. Yet, tools like Yeoman, Bower, and Google Web Starter Kit operate through command lines. If you aren't a fan of typing commands, this post will start you off with just a few basic command lines to help you familiarize yourself with them. Recommended Reading: Basic Shell Commands For Bloggers

But First…

We need to talk about Terminal and Command Prompt. Both are powerful apps that give you access to the core of the OS you are on. Once you make a change to it, the change is not reversible so whatever you do with these two apps, should be done with caution (and preferably if you know what exactly you are getting yourself into). The second thing to know is that you won't be able to use the mouse to move the cursor within Terminal or Command Prompt. This means no searching or highlighting text with the cursor. Everything is done on the k [...]

ChrisTheGr8ests Task Manager

 

A portable Task Manager for your personal computer. I know it might be unuseful but this tool is coded through visual basic. It works like the real task manager in your computer.

Download:

Mirror Link:

Controlling CSS3 Animation with steps() Function

Animation is one of the greatest features introduced to CSS. In the past, web animation was only available in the JavaScript or Flash territory. But, today, many websites opt to use CSS for adding subtle animation. In previous articles, we have gone through how to do some cool things with CSS animation like adding a marquee effect and adding bounce effect to something. In this article, we will once again dive into CSS animation. This time, we are going to discuss a CSS animation function, steps(), that enables us to control the animation's movement — don't freak out, it's not as puzzling as it sounds. Let's take a look. Recommended Reading: 38 Inspiring CSS3 Animation Demos

So what is it?

Normally, the animation in CSS will go straight from start to end at the specified duration. steps() is part of the animation timing function. It allows us to control the animation to move gradually. The very best example that shows how the steps() works would be the second hand of an analog clock; the clocks second hand does not move continuously, instead its movements are split into stages. So let's replicate it with CSS animation and steps().

Replicating the Second Hand of a Clock

Let's first add the keyframes that will rotate the Second Hand for 360 degrees; the rotation will start at 90 degrees (or at 12 o'clock). Note that the following code may need a prefix (-moz-, -o-, and -ms-) in order to work across browsers.

 @-webkit-keyframes rotation { from { transform: rotate(90deg); } to { transform: rotate(450deg); } }

The second hand will move steadily every second and compl [...]

Apex 0.9.1

Apex is a cracking tool which also needs configs, mostly it's been used for cracking website users and password. There's also a SOCK5 proxies and of course Login Editor is there for you. I think this is the most latest version of Apex but if it's not, you can comment what's the latest.

Download Link:

Alternate Link:

10 Notorious Hackers That Made Headlines

When people hear of the word 'hacker', they usually think of those who are considered black hat hackers. As opposed to white hat hackers, who hack computer systems to help patch flaws in the security, black hat hackers hack for more illicit gains. Whether it is for money, personal information or just for the thrill of it, black hat hackers wreak havoc on computer systems and usually leave a trail of victims behind. In this post, we will briefly look into the lives, motivations and outcomes of 10 hackers who have made the headlines by targeting and hacking into large organizations and even governments. Some bear good intentions while other have no qualms of hacking for personal benefit, but no matter what their reasoning is, these are hackers that keep major organization on their toes when it comes to the security measures they employ in their systems. Recommended Reading: Here's How You Are Helping Hackers Steal Your Data

1. Hector Xavier Monsegur (Sabu)

Sabu is well known as one of the founders of LulzSec, the infamous black hat hacker group that broke into and stole information from government and corporate websites, all mainly "for the lulz" or in other speak, entertainment. His real identity was eventually discovered by the FBI and he was given a choice: turn informant or go to prison. Monsegur chose the former and co-operated with the FBI, hacking with his Lulzsec team all the while keeping tabs of their activities and reporting to the feds. This eventually lead to the capture of the other members and the end of Lulzsec. Monsegur spent a mere [...]

Designers: Where In The World Should You Be Working At

There's a romantic mythology around certain cities. In fact, all you have to do is mention them, and a thousand images are conjured up in your brain, the product of decades of history and popular culture references. Paris. Milan. London. Rio de Janeiro. New York. No matter where you live, you've likely heard of these places, and you know exactly what they are famous for. But which cities (or countries) are best suited for professional designers? Where can designers have access to the most potential clients, a great culture of design appreciation, and all the other accommodations that creative professionals need? The question today is: where in the world should designers work? Let's survey the options. Recommended Reading: How To Become A High-Demand Designer (And Get The Good Clients)

Home Is Where The Designer Is

The best place to work, hands down, for most designers, is wherever you feel "at home." When a creative professional is grounded in a place, surrounded by inspiring people, places, and things, they are compelled to use this environment in the most productive way possible. You can "absorb" all the best, most inspiring things about your environment like a sponge, channeling them into more innovative designs. Another thing to consider is the design community that exists wherever you choose to settle down. Are there many design professionals and organizations around you? This can either be a bad thing (� [...]

A Guide To Getting Published: Finding The Right Site

Having one online article published is great, but having multiple articles published is awesome. And, often, the latter has less to do with your writing skills, and more to do with how you handle your articles before and after publication. That's not to say that writing skills don't have their place, of course. If you want to make a living as an online writer or blogger, you should, at the very least, know how to write. This may seem obvious, but judging from the usual quality of online content, it's surprising – not to mention alarming – how many people ignore this basic fact. Anyway, let's get back on topic. Suppose you are, in fact, one of those writers who can effortlessly churn out beautiful prose with your eyes closed. That's all well and good… except there are also thousands of writers around the world who can do the same thing. Which begs the question: How do you stand out in such an enormous crowd, especially on a place like the Internet where everyone's doing their best to attract attention? Glad you asked! Recommended Reading: Useful Tips And Guidelines To Freelance Writing

Find Websites In Your Niche

Your first order of business is to figure out what you want to write. What do you like to think about first thing in the morning, and before you go to sleep? What topic(s) can you go on and on about for hours without getting exhausted? Do you have any experience, skills, and/or knowledge unique to you? Once you have a definite answer to those questions, that's the time you s [...]

LMGTFY | Let Me Google That For You

Die hard fan of laziness even a clinch of thumb you can''t type Google's Search Engine Website? Oh well, this is the portable tool for you to let Google search do it for you.

Download:

Mirror Link:

10 Portable Batteries For Your MacBook

One of the things that the MacBook has going for it is its pretty solid battery life except if you have to be on the move a lot. It is not advisable to leave your MacBook plugged into a power source for long periods of time as it will shorten your battery's lifespan. But if you are always travelling with your MacBook, it won't be easy to find a power source to plug in, when you are running low on juice. That's where portable batteries come in to save the day. Portable batteries power your laptops like powerbanks power your smartphones and tablets – giving you a constant power source, at your disposal. They are also compact and light, and thus easy to bring about. If you are looking for external power packs to keep your MacBook running for longer, here are 10 great battery backups you should check out. Note that most of the battery packs in this list do not come with the Apple Magsafe connector. Recommended Reading: 30 Smartphone Chargers You Have Not Seen Before

1. GreatShield LuminousPower External Battery Pack

GreatShield LuminousPower is a 7800mAh capacity external battery pack made for portability. It comes with a built-in short circuit to prevent your MacBook and the battery from over-charging or over-heating. There are 4 LED lights to show the battery level and charging status plus a dual-LED flashlight that can be used as a torchlight, if you need it. GreatShield is powered by a Samsung lithium-ion battery that promises over 500 charge cycles. [[...]

Create And Customize Maps With Google Map Builder

There are now plenty of geolocation-based WordPress themes available. They provide customized maps so that the users can easily find specific places like restaurants, event venues, hotels and more. I noticed that some of web developers have been including their themes with map support and often use it within the contact page. They utilize maps, Google Map to be exact. And as you may have noticed, Google Map is one of most powerful map services on the web. Customizing the map can be easily done using map styles API control. But it requires one to understand javascript programming a bit. Try this brand new Google Map Builder, a tool to easily customize your own Google Map. It has a pretty nice and friendly user interface. You can build the map with just a couple of selections from the select box and you don't even have to code. There are many options for you to control the look of the map. You may also insert your custom marker icon and places. And the best part is it has 75+ readymade map themes from Snazzy Maps. Recommended Reading: How To Style Google Maps

Overview

Google Map Builder works exactly the same like customizing Go [...]

20 Tips For VLC Player Users

VLC is probably the most versatile video player you can download due to its amazing ability to play almost any codec you throw at it. This alone makes this app a worthy addition to your software suite. While most people use VLC as a simple video player, it is so much more than that. VLC is the Swiss Army Knife of video players with features that are hidden and unknown to the casual user. These features include the ability to do video recording, playing Internet radio and video, simple editing; just to name a few. To go through the number of hidden features VLC has could fill an entire wiki (which it does). So instead of you reading through the incredibly technical wiki, we have gathered the best 20 VLC tips and tricks you may not know. Note: The tips included here are done using the Windows version of VLC, unless specified. Recommended Reading: 30 Video Editing Software And Online Tools

1. Convert Media Files

Did you know that you can use VLC to convert your media files into a wide variety of formats? The app lets you choose exactly how you would like to convert them or you can simply use a given preset. To start, go to Media > Convert / Save, add a file and click Convert / Save. From here you will select the desired codec to convert to. [...]

5 Open Source Synthesizers You Can Build And Hack

The whole do-it-yourself (DIY), open source maker electronics scene that’s really gained in popularity over the past few years has led to a lot of really interesting devices and kits appearing on the market. The great thing, of course, is that it isn’t just limited to computing and robotics enthusiasts: musicians have benefitted from this open source DIY movement too.

We’ve started seeing a lot of synths with open access to both the hardware schematics and the software or firmware (if any) at the heart of the synth.

DIY synths aren’t a new thing, but until a few years ago they used to be either super simple square wave toy synths or complex analog synths, with very little i n between. These days, there’s a lot more to choose from, especially with the advent of microcontrollers running easily hackable firmware.

Here are 5 great open source and DIY friendly synths that you can play, build, modify or even use as jumping-off blocks for your own synth creations, listed in rough chronological order.

Recommended Reading: 10 Virtual Instruments You Can Play In Your Web Browser

1. Mutable Instruments – Shruthi

Mutable Instruments’ Shruthi is a hybrid digital and analog monophonic synth that uses an 8-bit microcontroller to generate two oscillators plus a sub frequency oscillator. The Shruthi-1′s oscillators are quite capable, though, and aren’t just limited to the square waves that you normally expect from DIY synth kits. Since they’ re digital, the osci [...]

15 Tips & Tricks To Help You Master Prezi

If you need to create presentations for high-powered clients, or impress lecturers and professors in university, you may have heard of (or are already using) Prezi. Prezi is a cloud-based presentation tool and is known for its zooming user interface (ZUI) allowing you to easily break down or go into things in detail.

As it was created to replace slide presentations, Prezi’s interface and visual story-telling makes it ideal for conveying information interactively.

Prezi is not new but if you are just starting out, it may be a little disorientating to use, beyond the basics. Granted, it will also take you a while not to get over-excited with the zooming feat ure but that is a different topic for another day. But if you would like to give Prezi a try, we’ve compiled 15 tips and tricks to help you get started and make the most of your Prezi-making journey.

Recommended Reading: 10 Presentation Tools To Win Over Your Audience

1. Importing From PowerPoint

If you already have a PowerPoint presentation ready and don’t want to build slides from scratch on Prezi, just import your slides over. You can even choose to do it either slide per slide or all at once.

1. Select the Insert tab from the top bar in the Edit mode.
2. Next, select PowerPoint from the drop-down menu.

1. You can now [...]
   
   

Designers: How To Gather Ideas That Will Impress

More and more designers are turning to blogging to get their ideas about design out there and be heard by the greater design community online. However, there’s one special problem that many of them have: they have nothing really interesting to say about design. They will blog about things that are unimportant, or boring, or that no one really cares about.

It’s essential that designers who blog have something interesting to say. If you don’t have this one down, you’re going to get nowhere fast in the blogging world. No one will stick around to read bland, uninformative content. Let’s explore some ways designers can develop an interesting b logging voice that keeps readers coming back for more.

Recommended Reading: How To Become A Design Thought Leader

1. Read, Read, Then Read Some More

I’ve said it before, and I’ll keep saying it until I can’t say it anymore: if you’re not reading, you are doing a great disservice to yourself as a designer. Books are the main portals through which everyone – designers and otherwise – gain wisdom which they can apply to their lives. Now, you may think that you need to read a lot of books about design specifically. And you do. But you also need to be reading about other topics as well.

Read about anything else you have a vague interest in, and, if you can manage it, things you know almost nothing about. Any unusual perspec tive gained [...]

8 Types Of Email Titles That Often Get Ignored

When an e-mail pops up in your inbox, what do you usually do with it? Do you open it, ignore it, or shoot it straight into the "Trash" bin? It depends, right? It depends on what's written in the subject line. See, the subject line tells you, at a glance, whether the sender's message – or, more accurately, the sender's purpose – is worth your attention. As a sender, you can either write the subject line right, or you can do one of the following things, which will definitely get your email pushed aside. Recommended Reading: Send Anonymous Emails: 20 Sites To Keep Your Identity Hidden

1. Get Too "Cutesy"

Example: Bet you won't be able to resist opening this e-mail! Why it doesn't work: It's one thing to be witty. It's another to come across as trying too hard, which is exactly the impression you'll get from the sample e-mail above. When you're in doubt about how to write your subject line, remember this: Clarity trumps cleverness. You can combine both, of course, but that takes some practice. What can work: This e-mail will help you [insert clear benefit for reader here] today

2. Type in ALL CAPS

Example: VERY IMPORTANT E-MAIL Why it doesn't work: Your e-mail may be the most urgent in the history of urgent e-mails, but if your subject line looks like the online equivalent of sho [...]

20 Inspiring Ideas For Minimal Home Living

The common idea most of us have when it comes to living space is that we are quickly running out of it. Rent and land is expensive in areas of vast opportunities and yet there are very creative people who went ahead and took the little space they have and made the most out of it. We're talking about smart micro-living where home owners make use of smart, stowable furniture, multi-purpose home fixtures, clever architectural designs or a combo of all three to cut down on the size of homes, without eating into the comforts we have grown accustomed to. In this post, we will be looking at 20 amazingly tiny houses, some at less than 200 sq ft area, that will make you ask yourself if you really need all that space in your home right now. From studio apartments to vertical houses, these designs showcase the amazing architectural feats that redefine how much space we actually need for comfort living. Recommended Reading: Home Design – 20 Creative Ways To Maximize Limited Living Space

Mini Dwelling Tower

Located in Nada, Japan this 3-story high house contains a parking spot, living room, 2 children's room, one bedroom and plenty of storage space – all within 398 sq ft. [Visit Page] [...]

20 Instagram Accounts Food Lovers Need To Follow

With 50,000 users uploading 5,000 photos each hour across the planet, Instagram represents a huge mobile photography movement that amazes and inspires. And honestly, what's a better inspiration than food? A good plate of food doesn't just satisfy your palate but presented right can be a feast for your eyes too. Today I'm going to share with you 20 yummy Instagram accounts for foodies to follow. You'll find tons of photographs featuring cookbooks authors, professional chefs along with food enthusiasts from all over the globe. These Instagram accounts will add to your experience, not just for food photographers but for anyone who's keen on satisfying their food cravings. Recommended Reading: 20 Inspiring Instagrammers You Need To Follow @marika_collins. Marika Collins is a Toronto-based food and lifestyle photographer with a sweet tooth. Her Instagram feed has a classic polished feel to it, as it comes complete with beautiful, old silverware and paint-chipped tables. @edibleliving. Sarah Copeland is the food director at Real Simple magazine. She is a New York city-based cookbook author and food expert. Sarah uses her Instagram to share new recipes and delicious photos of food. [...]

18 Creative Uses Of Typography In Video Games

There is an argument as to whether or not video games should be considered an art form. Whatever side you're on, there is no denying that video games do incorporate several forms of art into their narrative and gameplay as part of the storyline, art direction or audio. Video games have also been known to use many forms of typography, to relay atmosphere or a timeline in the cutscenes or the gameplay itself. Its uses are varied but with it game-makers can greatly enhance the experience or gameplay. In this post, we will showcase 18 different games and how they use typography to give players a better and more submersive gaming experience. Who knows, this may make you notice the use of typography in your next gaming session. Recommended Reading: 28 Excellent Examples Of Typography Portraits Alan Wake. In the end stage of the game and in the downloadable content, the main character will find words lying around, that when hit with a flashlight, will turn into the object the word is e.g. the words "telephone pole" (2:20) will form an actual telephone pole when shine with the flashlight. Splinter Cell: Convictions. Instead of handing you mission objectives in a menu, the game will project the mission objectives on the wall so there can be no question on what you have to do next. [...]

These 10 Websites Will Help You De-Stress And Stay Calm

There's a lot of things that goes on in our daily lives that can lead to a lot of stress and leave us agitated. It could be anything from working with certain clients on a particular project to a looming deadline. There are plenty of solutions but what about when you're busy at your computer and have limited time to spare? This is where the Internet can help you out. There are several websites that are designed to help you achieve a sense of inner peace. They do this through the use of captivating images and soothing sounds, among other things. If you feel like you could use some quick but efficient relaxation, here's our list of 10 websites to help you calm down those nerves. Hopefully, they'll work as well for you as they did for me. Recommended Reading: 15 Calming Color Palette & Tile Wallpapers

1. Calm

Calm can help you achieve what the name itself suggests. You can choose between "guided calm" or "timer" to get there. The length of the session varies from 2 – 20 minutes. For the guided calm option, a voice will guide you on how to relax your tense body and mind. If you rather do a quick session without narration, just click the "timer" button. The background music gets an added effect from the nature scenes depicted, such as a flowing misty riverside or sunlight streaming through moving clouds. Calm also offers a free iOS app with limited features. [Visit website]

2. Do Nothing For [...]

Make Local Web Server Accessible Online With Localtunnel

During the development stage, you may deploy the website in a local server. There you can run, develop, and debug the website on a computer, locally. But when your clients need to get access to the website immediately, or if one of the applications you need uses a webhook that has to be online to function, you probably wish that your local server could be accessible online. Making your local server available online is probably the fastest way to cope with this, especially if you have hundreds of files that you require access to. This is where a tool called localtunnel comes in. With localtunnel we can create a proxy that can tunnel to our local server, making it accessible from anywhere. Let's see how this tool works.

Installing Localtunnel

The localtunnel that we will be using here comes in a form of a Node.js package. So, you first need to install Node.js using the installer; you can download it in this page. Once Node.js installed, launch Terminal or Command Prompt and type this command below.

 npm install -g localtunnel

This command will install localtunnel globally, so it can be accessed in any directories at any level of your computer. Once localtunnel is installed, you should be able to access the lt command. To test the command, you can type the following (in Terminal or Command Prompt).

 lt –version

If the command works, it should return the localtunnel version installed in y [...]

The Best and The Worst: Super Bowl 2014 Product Commercials

by Mary Faller

The Super Bowl is one of the most watched broadcasts in television and one of the main reasons, aside from the big game, is for the commercials. Businesses spend about $4 million on a 30-second spot. If they succeed in their marketing strategy, that particular commercial could be the buzz of the Internet and indeed the world. If they do not, their brand name could suffer negative buzz. We are always on the lookout for the best in innovative product marketing and advertising, so we made a list of what we thought were the best and worst of Super Bowl XLVIII.

First, let's take a look at the best commercials:

1. Budweiser "Puppy Love" Budweiser has been a major contributor to the commercials of past Super Bowls and with each passing year, the commercials evolve and improve. This commercial was memorable because it struck a heart chord with the adorable puppy that didn't want to leave his best friend (the Clydesdale horse). The Clydesdale horses are a signature icon and this commercial brought heart to the major company.

1. Beats Music "Goldilocks – Ellen" By using a well-known icon like Ellen, Beats Music targeted a major group of potential consumers. Ellen has become extremely successful with her talk show and if you've ever watched it, you'd know the girl likes to dance! Add that to the many musical options of Beats Music and you have the perfect equation for a successful commercial. It has appropriate product placement with the perfect amount of humor and facts.

 

• Radio Shack "Phone Call" From the start of this commercial the company name is prominent making no mistake about who the commercial is advertising. Following that, Radio Shack owned the fact that their store needed improvements by saying, [...]
  
  

Innovation and the Winter Olympic Games

by Mary Faller

The Olympic Winter Games will take place from February 7 through February 23, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. The Olympic Games have been around since the late 1800s in Athens, Greece. Each year the summer and winter Olympics showcase the talents of thousands of athletes from all over the world. It is a joining of cultures and athletic competition that never fails to excite viewers from all walks of life. The Olympics have come a long way since their introduction centuries ago. So how has innovation changed the way athletes perform and viewers watch the sports within these exciting games?

PASSING THE TORCH

The opening ceremony has been an iconic display of traditions with the most memorable being the carrying of the torch which began in 1936. In 1988, during the Calgary Winder Olympics, the National Research Council of Canada developed a special torch that would be lighter in weight and was powered by a special fuel to withhold any weather condition during the 88-day, 18,000-kilometer trip across Canada. This improved torch displayed the Olympic motto: "Faster, Higher, Stronger."

A BOBSLED FROM NASCAR TECHNOLOGY

Of course, many of the innovations of the Olympi c Games came with th [...]

10 Quotes from Shark Tank’s Sharks Every Entrepreneur Should Know

by Mary Faller

The hit reality television show "Shark Tank", which premiered in 2009, has been bringing entertainment to America by showcasing entrepreneurs hoping for the chance to bring their dreams to fruition. These hopefuls present their "big ideas" to the sharks – successful business people that took their own dreams and turned them into highly rewarding empires. Entrepreneurs present their ideas to these sharks in the hopes that one will invest in their idea or product, thus making their dreams a reality. 

The shar ks in the tank comprise a colorful group of intelligent individuals who have worked their way from the ground up and discovered many battles and setbacks along the way. Although the sharks do not invest money into every entrepreneurial endeavor that comes along, they have invested much advice and knowledge that could benefit these business hopefuls. Here are some of the best quotes from the sharks of "Shark Tank":

Kevin O'Leary, Canadian Investor and Software Publisher

1. "The biggest mistake entrepreneurs can make is trying to do everything themselves. They usually blow up when they try. I did an inventory of every deal I've ever done and it turned out that every single deal I made money on was a partnership, and every colossal failure, where I lost millions, was something I tried to do by myself."&nbs [...]

Innovation Defined

by Bill McHenry, President and CEO of Widgeteer, Inc.

in.no.va.tion (ine'vaSHen) noun: the action or process of innovating.

Synonyms: change, alteration, revolution, upheaval, transformation, metamorphosis, breakthrough. 

Everything that exists came from an idea. A seed that blossomed. A vision in the mind brought to life by will and determination in the heart to make that dream come true. From the simplest Widget to the Taj Mahal, it tak es INNOVATION to create it…to see ways of improving upon that which already exists.

Innovation seems to be the buzz word of our generation…and there's a good reason why. Read the definition. If we are not changing, altering, revolutionizing, up heaving, transforming, creating metamorphoses, and making breakthroughs, then we are stagnant and growth becomes stifled. We need to be innovating in order to be evolving.


Innovation doesn't require "reinventing the wheel." Improving, expanding and revising use innovative skills as well. Many of our everyday items are improved versions of products already in existence. A perfect example is the iPhone. All it takes is a shift in thinking. Practice this exercise...stand in front of almost anything (a wall of tools at the hardware store, a row of laptops at the electronic store, sit in your car and look around at everything, you get the point). Ask [...]

Game Changers: How Innovation Changed The Way We Play Golf

The eyes of golf lovers worldwide are currently on the Augusta National Golf Club as Augusta, GA, hosts the 2014 Masters Golf Tournament. This ancient game, first thought to have been played by the Scots in the Fourteenth Century, is today much different than it was even a hundred years ago. Even novice golfers are playing better than ever before—the average handicap of golfers has decreased consistently over the past 15 years. What can account for this? Golf innovations have made playing easier, and recent equipment innovations have taken playing to a whole new level. Let's look at the history of the basic rules and equipment used at the Masters Tourn ament today.

The Golf Ball

The modern golf ball—round, white, dimpled, and solid—has only been in use since the late 1960s. The first golf balls in use were hard round wooden balls made by carpenters from beech and box trees. Imagine being hit at high speed with that projectile!

Feathery

The Fourteenth Century also brought us of the Feathery, a hand-sewn round leather pouch filled with chicken or goose feather (thus giving it is unique name). The creation of a feathery was a long process, as the feathers were boiled and softened before being placed in the pouches. Experienced craftsmen could only make a few balls per day, but few of them were perfectly round and often went off course . Wet balls decrease [...]

The Innovation of Bitcoin: How Does It Really Work?

Exchange of goods and services happens every day around the world. Here are two scenarios in which it may occur.

1. The Middleman

I have an orange, and you want my orange. We agree that you can have my orange if you wash my car. You wash my car, and I give my orange to a stranger along with a dollar bill. That stranger hands the orange to you and keeps the dollar. You have been paid your one orange and the stranger has been paid a dollar for being the middleman in our transaction. This is how most of our monetary transactions cur rently happen.

2. Peer Exchange

I have an orange, and you want my orange. We agree that you can have my orange if you wash my car. You wash my car, and I give you the orange. No one has witnessed the transaction but the two of us, but we know I had an orange and gave it to you. No third party was involved, and we both got what we wanted: a sweet juicy orange and a clean car.

Crypto-Currency

This is the theory behind Bitcoin and other "crypto-currency," or electronic money exchange systems. You and I can make exchanges without the need of assistance (and fees) from third parties. The inventor of the Bitcoin system, an unknown person going under the alias of Satoshi Nakamoto, created a peer-to-peer open source software system in 2009 in which regular people could exchange money without the need of [...]

The Future Is Now: 5 Apps That Prove The Booming Business Behind Web App Development

If any doubt remained about the power of web application-based industry, they were wiped away by the recent news of Apple's purported $3.2M takeover of the Dr. Dre-driven Beats Music, which is poised to provide the iTunes Radio service provider extra ammunition in its web-based rivalry against Pandora and Spotify for listener's ears—and subscription and advertising dollars. How did virtual come to replace brick-and-mortar startups, with companies such as Netflix wiping Blockbu ster Video out of existence, and what other innovative companies and clever entrepreneurs should be on our radar?

There's an App for That

The introduction and growth of use of web-based apps has been staggering. It is no longer just the younger set with their eyes and thumbs glued to smart phones and tablets. The use of web-based apps for everything from commerce to entertainment to news reporting has grown exponentially along with the increased sophistication and decreased general pricing of Wi-Fi and cell-based technology and hardware. What makes a web-based company worth paying attention to is the potential for it to apply its recommendation algorithm to other areas and services, including advertising, mobile app recommendations, and anything else. These companies are vibrant and think outside of the box—they are innovation at its finest. You can do things in the vir [...]

Tesla & the Innovation of Alternative Fuel Automobiles

My Kindergarten-age child is learning at school about energy use and the environment. She is quite concerned about our use of the car that drives her to and from school, and trips to the gas pump are met with troubled stares. "I wish there was a better way to drive," she told me last week. "I think we are going to ruin the earth."

My daughter is not alone in her concern. Overuse of fossil fuels and its resulting pollution scare a lot of people, no matter on what side of the political fence you stand. One solution proposed to allow us to maintain our car-dependent lifestyles while stabilizing the climate is the use of vehicles not completely dependent on gasoline. After years of false starts that forced consumers to fit their needs to the alternative-fuel car, Tesla Motors has developed vehicles that finally allow the dog to wag the tail. Tesla wants to change the world, and they just may be able to do it.

Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles, usually in the form of electric-gas hybrids, have been in existence since the mid-1800s but were not made practical. Limited battery power and range of distance were often drawbacks, but even their brief use in the late 19^th Century was hampered by the building and use of roads that required cars able to travel long distances. Throughout the 20^th Century attempts were made to rejuvenate interest through the use of new and emerging technology, but with the comparative smaller expense of the gasoline powered car widely available, interest was small to none [...]

New Tech Innovations at the 2014 World Cup

Outside of the Olympics, the World Cup is the biggest sporting event held globally. The final of the Brazil World Cup 2014 will be watched by at least 1 billion people, and the US has really been paying attention to the action this year with the match between the USA and Ghana being watched by up to 11 million ESPN viewers, a record for the channel. With so much viewership, this is the perfect spot to promote innovation and new product designs. Here are a few you should keep a look out for this year.

Goal Camera Technology

 

GOAL!.. or is it? GoalControl-4Dis able to track whether or not each goal has officially made it passed the goal line through 14 high-speed cameras (7 cameras on each goal) that show x-,y-, z- coordinates along with speed. A signal is then sent to a wrist watch worn by the official on the field within less than a second! Watch it in action:

A Line of White Foam

 

If you haven't noticed it yet, before every free kick, referees have been running onto the field to spray a white shaving cream like line of foam. This is to ensure defensive players are a 9.15 meter distance from the kicker, hence the product name 915 Fairplay. Within one minute, the foam disappears, allowing for continued gameplay.

The New Ball

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How Wearable Tech is Evolving into the Coolest Gadgets Today

With the proliferation of Smartphones and the accompanying drop in prices of data, you can be connected to anyone, anywhere, at any time. Middle school children are demanding iPhones so they are able to text and connect with friends and social media networks, and Baby Boomers share Facetime with grandchildren across the country. A large portion of our society expects to be connected, and they are willing to pay the costs necessary to do so quickly and conveniently. Demand is such that innovators and entrepreneurs have moved into developing ways to connect without the inconvenience of having to hold a Smartphone in your hand. Welcome to the new and ever-expanding world of wearable technology.

Easier Than Simple

 

The idea behind wearable technology is straightforward: People want to be able to access information while on the go, without having to use their hands or take attention away from their activity. They want to be able to access crucial data without, let's say, having to take their hands off the car wheel and their eyes of the road. The promise of wearable technology is to take the information off your Smartphone screen and to put it closer to your line of vision. We are looking towards a market influx of smart watches, gesture-controlled armbands, transmitting rings, and notification bracelets along with crazy-looking glasses. Society is on the verge of a technological revolution. Just as the desktop computer was replaced by laptops, which was replaced by tablets, the Smartphone is about to be pushed aside for smaller, more easily accessible devices.

I [...]