Skype to acquire Qik

 
Qik is available on over 200 mobile phones running Android, iOS, Symbian, BlackBerry OS and Windows Mobile, and comes preloaded on a wide variety of mobile handsets through partnerships with handset manufacturers and mobile networks.
Skype and Qik share a common purpose of enriching communications with video, and the acquisition of Qik will help to accelerate our leadership in video by adding recording, sharing and storing capabilities to our product portfolio.
Through this acquisition, we’ll also be able to take advantage of the engineering expertise that is behind Qik’s Smart Streaming technology, which optimizes video transmission over wireless networks.
Together, we’ll focus on providing great products that will allow people around the world to share experiences in real-time video across different platforms, as well as storing those moments so they can be viewed later.

Microsoft gets Skype, Skype gets Qik- America finally starts talking on the phone with THREE of the five senses, well assuming you listening to whom you're talking.

Well, gotta go- just found a nice new one to get onto- Google, siblings (especially older, male ones), the 1st Amm. to the Constitution, money, privacy, and jobs- all in one very long piece.  In the mean time I meant to give you a tip here.  

People love to hate VoIP phone systems- I almost don't want to say the word.  I mean does EVERYTHING have to be digital?  No, your PBX lines aren't- that's why you could very well have someone listening to your phone calls right now.  The phone system going down?  When's the last time your DSL went out?  Not that a computer wouldn't get online- but you had to have Century Link come out and put in a new modem or something, because the whole Internet was out??  Anyone- I heard that smartass- yours' went out last month........ Well guess what?  I said DSL, which 90% of businesses have, so if your DSL was out, so was your PBX or whatever phone you use- because they use the same line- the phone lines....

So what's the difference between, say Skype, Google Voice, the service I have with Charter or Century Link (or whatever they have here now).

First, let me say this- I have 6 phone lines and pay $60 a month.  If you can beat that, I'll pay your bill for a year.  Add the Direct TV and other partner lines (800 numbers, and I've got about 12- $60/ mo.)  $55 of that is my cell phone, by the way where I get Verizon with 2GB of data and unlimited talking and texting without a contract.  I'm with the ONLY nationwide carrier of Verizon's complete network- want to know who that is?  Call me- 828-MIX-PLUS or 828-919-TECH....  

Quickly here's the difference... Skype is great for home and your cellular.  But it takes very low bandwidth to use per call.  The business version is stepped up a bit, but not much.  If you used a SIP converter to a PBX system and had Skype for your service, yes- you'd throw your phone at the wall.  

Businesses- in this case...not all- need a business class service.  My favorite (and I've tried them ALL- believe me) is Ring Central, BY FAR.  Where a 1 minute call using Skype might take 20 kilobytes of bandwidth, that same call using Ring Central would take about 85 kb.  This ensures a solid connection with no fading or waning, and thus begins the platform for a virtual PBX, answering attendant and all sorts of stuff- the best part is... .It's really not Virtual at all anymore- it's here, and here to take over the market, once CFO's find that they can save a company with 25 employees thousands of dollars per month by using such a service.  How?  First, there's no monopoly with VoIP as the phone company has.  Most importantly though- the Internet and transmissions over it are free.. You're not using AT&T's creation which meshed with MCI's tangle of wires............ You're at the top- in the clouds... And it's getting less and less lonely up there, lemme tell ya... These are what is going to bring our nation out of the economic slump that we've begun to crawl away from already.   The extra funds executives will have using systems that not only save thousands per month, but offer dozens of extra services at no charge- these things will bring us back.... Out of the 90's, and into the great One- Century 21.

Free Trial of RingCentral Fax Call: 

877-929-6750

Mark Vanderbloemen

http://homePCmedia.com

Free Trial of RingCentral Fax

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Toxins in Electronics

“Electronics contain a variety of toxic components like lead, mercury, arsenic, beryllium and brominated flame retardants, some of which cause cancer and other adverse health effects,” says Kate Sinding, a senior attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), an environmental non-profit. In fact, each individual piece of electronic equipment can contain enough toxins to make a person (or the earth!) seriously ill. According to the Electronics Takeback Coalition, one CRT monitor holds between four and eight pounds of lead. Flat-screen TVs use mercury lamps.
Because electronics contain so many toxins, it’s important not to throw them away with the regular trash. If e-waste gets sent to a landfill, chemicals can leech into groundwater and poison water systems, says Sinding. If they’re sent to an incinerator, all of those harmful compounds get emitted into the air, posing significant health risks to people who breathe that air in. Properly recycling used electronics can prevent noxious chemicals and heavy metals from winding up in the land and in our bodies.

The Ugly Side of E-Recycling

Bringing discarded electronics to recycling or take-back centers is a noble action, but it’s important for consumers to only choose reliable programs. A 2008 report from the Government Accountability Office found that a substantial amount of America’s “recycled” electronics were actually shipped to developing nations like China, India and Africa. Workers in these locations, who are often women and children, disassemble products with their bare hands, exposing themselves to a host of toxins. Plus, electronics sometimes wind up sitting around in unlined pits, where chemicals can leech into soil and groundwater, poisoning the surrounding areas.
Exporting e-waste to developing nations should be illegal, and legislation is being introduced to do just that. But for now, the burden of picking reputable e-recyclers falls on consumers. To that end, consumers should ask every recycling, manufacturer, and retail take-back program if they use e-waste recyclers that are e-Stewards certified. The Basel Action Network (BAN), a non-profit that works to prevent the globalization of toxic chemicals, launched the rigorous certification program last week. The certification ensures that recyclers are not exporting electronics to developing nations and that recycling is handled domestically using state-of-the-art protective measures.
To learn more about e-waste and how to properly recycle electronics, be sure to read the next installments of our Electronics Recycling 101 series.

Read more: The Problem with E-Waste | Inhabitat - Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building

HP and Staples Make It Easy, Free to Recycle Electronics Nationwide

You may do so in Hickory at Home PC Media as well, and your donation is tax deductible and will go, if possible, to families in need of such.

PALO ALTO, CA and FRAMINGHAM, MA, Apr 12, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- HP HPQ -2.30% , the world's largest technology company, together with Staples, Inc. SPLS +1.08% , the world's largest office products company and second largest e-commerce company, today announced free electronics recycling for all brands of office electronics at Staples stores nationwide. Consumers and small businesses can responsibly recycle their electronics every day at Staples locations nationwide,(1) regardless of where the devices were purchased.

"HP is a leader in the technology industry in product reuse and recycling," said Gabi Zedlmayer, vice president of sustainability and social innovation, HP. "We recently celebrated reaching our goal of recycling 2 billion pounds of electronic products and supplies since 1987 and our collaboration with Staples will build upon this achievement and focus on increasing electronics recycling in all states."

The Staples technology recycling program, powered by HP, accepts all brands of the following electronics for free.

       ---  Desktop PCs, laptops, net books, tablet PCs, external hard drives and
            small servers
        --  All computer monitors
        --  Printers, desktop copiers, faxes and all-in-one devices
        --  Mice, keyboards, modems/routers networking and PC speakers
        --  Shredders, streaming devices, phones and Universal Power Supply (UPS
            battery backup)
        --  Mobile phones, GPS devices, MP3 players, digital camcorders and
            digital cameras
        
        

Home PC Media Recycling

"Staples free tech recycling program will help increase the number of electronic products that are safely recycled," said Mark Buckley, vice president of environmental affairs, Staples. "As a trusted source for office solutions, Staples is making it easy for consumers to responsibly recycle electronics for free every day at our stores. We are excited to work with HP on this initiative as part of our ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability."

Customers can drop off their technology for recycling at the service desk of their local Staples store. Staples will take advantage of its world-class logistics networks to collect the devices and consolidate them at its distribution centers. A certified e-Stewards(R) and R2 recyclers will then arrange to have the materials transported to one of its processing centers.

Additional information is available at HP's and Staples' websites at www.hp.com/us/go/recycling or http://www.staples.com/recycle .

About Staples Staples is the world's largest office products company and a trusted source for office solutions. The company provides products, services and expertise in office supplies, copy & print, technology, facilities and breakroom, and furniture. Staples invented the office superstore concept in 1986 and now has annual sales of $25 billion, ranking second in the world in eCommerce sales.

 With 88,000 associates worldwide, Staples operates in 26 countries throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia, making it easy for businesses of all sizes, and consumers. The company is headquartered outside Boston. More information about Staples SPLS +1.08% is available at www.staples.com/media .

About HP HP creates new possibilities for technology to have a meaningful impact on people, businesses, governments and society. The world's largest technology company, HP brings together a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure to solve customer problems. More information about HP HPQ -2.30% is available at http://www.hp.com .

(1) All Staples locations in the continental U.S., except for Staples Copy and Print Shops, participate in this program. (2) Staples does not accept televisions, appliances, alkaline batteries, floor model copiers/printers, large servers, audio/visual equipment or certain other household electronics (kitchen electrics, etc.). There is a limit of six items per customer per day in most states.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If such risks or uncertainties materialize or such assumptions prove incorrect, the results of HP and its consolidated subsidiaries could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions.

 All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations, including execution of cost reduction programs and restructuring and integration plans; any statements concerning expected development, performance or market share relating to products and services; any statements regarding anticipated operational and financial results; any statements of expectation or belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing.

 Risks, uncertainties and assumptions include macroeconomic and geopolitical trends and events; the competitive pressures faced by HP's businesses; the development and transition of new products and services (and the enhancement of existing products and services) to meet customer needs and respond to emerging technological trends; the execution and performance of contracts by HP and its customers, suppliers and partners; the protection of HP's intellectual property assets, including intellectual property licensed from third parties; integration and other risks associated with business combination and investment transactions; the hiring and retention of key employees; expectations and assumptions relating to the execution and timing of cost reduction programs and restructuring and integration plans; the resolution of pending investigations, claims and disputes; and other risks that are described in HP's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended January 31, 2012 and HP's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including HP's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2011. HP assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.

Copyright 2012 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.

SOURCE: HP; Staples

Traditional Media

 v.

Web Marketing

The marriage between print and Web marketing communications is a happy one. Cross media solutions that combine the best of both worlds make for the most powerful and effective marketing campaigns.
For small and mid-sized businesses, a website is a must-have. Our Web design experts will show you how you can have a site that:

incorporates your brand identity delivers your marketing messages complements the rest of your marketing strategies.

Electronic media and Web marketing seems to change daily. We can show you innovative ways to use print and email communications to drive traffic to your site. Or, enhance a direct mail promotion by including a PURL, or personalized URL. At Allegra, we stay on the leading edge, guiding you to best practices whether you are new to Web-based and email marketing or an old pro.
See Allegra for smart ways to integrate Web marketing into your overall communications plan.
_________________

That's Allegra's statement regarding a little of what they do.  The thing to remember is that, unlike in the past- your business in being advertised whether or not YOU have anything to say about it or now...

The more proactive we are to seek people to help us with this, the greater chance for exponential growth within a company.  I will say also, that growing out of control sort of sounds like a week.  It's a lot more about being able to communicate directly with your 'base' clientele- the people who send you people time and time again and wouldn't see another person with their questions.  

Direct mail, with all the printing, stamps, licking and editing over and over, just to find a horrible mistake just as you go to mail them- and you drop them in the box anyway.  You don't know what made it where, you don't know if the person opened that letter, and there is no quick avenue to just hit 'reply['  and shoot a message, or hopefully an order right back to you.   

Web marketing, -SEO, email campaigns and so on are healthy if they're balanced with those of social networks advertising and plain old Craigslist.or advertising from time to time- it's a jungle out there... Be a Gorilla!



Mark Vanderbloemen , CEO
Vanderbloemen Communications, Inc

828-212-4817 


contact@homePCmedia.com


1245 2nd St NE 
Sutie B
Hickory, NC  28601 

Google+ Hangouts On Air allows users to broadcast live video to anyone

By Rick Burgess (Re-blogged 5-7-12 by Mark Vanderbloemen)

On May 7, 2012, 6:30 PM EST With Video

Comments 0

I'll tell you one thing that Facebook has to worry about if they don't relax on a bunch of their regulations and policies.  That thing is "Google."



Vanderbloemen Communications, Inc
Hickory, NC



Google has the the coding experts to create the platforms, the obvious connection to nearly every person in America and the tenacity to remain OPEN, as far as what's behind their coding.  When you want to "share" something, for example with Google, there are 101 different elements you can personalize within your icon link that would give props to your site, or that of whomever you'd like. 

The demise of Facebook will be their iron curtain.  As soon as people are so close to figuring out how it all works, they change their format and policies. 

If you're one watching the the whole 'social networking' gamut play out, perhaps searching for where you might fit in, or where your business' presence might be served for the sake of increasing the bottom line- keep Google in sight.  Check it out- get a Google + account or addition to your existing Gmail / Google account. 

Here's a bit on 'hangouts,' by Rick Burgess:

Google has announced Hangouts On Air is being rolled out, a feature which aims to give Google+ users a way of broadcasting live video to anyone and everyone. On Air was originally introduced last September, but only a select few broadcasters and celebrities had the opportunity to use it -- that is, until today.

Hangouts On Air is an amped-up version of Hangouts, a feature which allows Google+ users to start up video chats with friends. Hangouts, however, have been limited to Circles, which has meant that joining a Hangout required a Google+ account. Unlike traditional Hangouts, Hangouts On Air will be available to anyone, regardless of membership status.

Additionally, the new feature will integrate with YouTube. When a public broadcast is finished and goes off air, Google+ can upload a recording to the user's YouTube channel. Once there, people may then share and discuss your broadcast even after it is over.

Broadcasters will also be able to see how many people are watching, manage users who join the Hangout and focus attention to certain members when desired.

The rollout, according to Google, will "take some doing" so the company plans on gradually introducing the feature. To get started, look for an option to "Enable Hangouts On Air" over the next few weeks.

Here's a list of some noteworthy, upcoming Google+ Hangouts On Air broadcasts.

• CBS This Morning: 05/08 @ 4:20am PST
• Cadbury UK: 05/11 @1:30pm PST 
• Conan O’Brien: 05/08 @ 7:30pm PST
• The Nerdist: 05/11 @ 3:00pm PST
• CNBC: 05/10 @ 1:15pm PST
• Jamie Oliver on Food Revolution Day: 05/19 @ 5:00pm PST
• Global Poverty Project: 05/10 @ 4:00pm PST
• New York Times’ Opinion series

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