Sunday, July 31, 2011

Looking for a Book or Reading Magnifier - Consider an Electronic Book Reader

The most well known electronic book readers are Kindle, Barnes and Noble Nook and the Sony E Book Reader. Each of them have their advantages and disadvantages. The Kindle reader has a text to speech feature and the new Barnes and Noble Nook has a colored full screen.

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After purchasing an Apple iPad several months ago, let me tell you about some of my favorite features that perhaps may make this the best ebook reader.

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1. Screen Size

The screen size is 9.7" - most of the others are 6-7" except for the Kindle DX which has the 9.7" screen. The more one needs to magnify the font, the more important the screen size becomes. Larger print words of course take up more room. More words can be viewed on one page with a larger screen size.

Touch Screen

The picture icons on the Apple iPad are large and in vivid colors. I've downloaded the iBooks app and the Kindle app by Amazon. I read from both applications. Amazon has a larger selection of books than Apple at this time. To go to iBooks, simply touch the book picture. You are then taken to the "library" where the downloaded book covers are shown on bookshelves. Touch the book you want to read and start reading.

Color Screen

Compare a color screen electronic reader to a black and white one - there is no question that the color screen is much more appealing. Children's book with vivid color pictures download wirelessly onto the Apple iPad. I've enjoying reading these e-books with my grandchildren. The Kindle readers are only available in black and white and the new color Barnes and Noble Nook is only available in the smaller screen size, 7" diagonally.

Looking for a Book or Reading Magnifier - Consider an Electronic Book Reader

BARNES AND NOBLE

Simple Tips To Repair Your AC Unit

Air conditioners bring comfort to people in their home's climate. The air conditioning process controls the infiltration, air movement, temperature and humidity of a given environment. It actually removes warm air from the house and re-cycles indoor as cooler air.

Three elements make up an air conditioning system, namely the outdoor condensing unit, a matching indoor air handler, and a ductwork to transfer the cooled air throughout the home. Furnaces provide heating. Heat pumps literally move heat from one place to another. The air handler is the principle air delivery system for your heating and air conditioning equipment. Boil systems deliver heated water or steam to points throughout your home to meet your heating needs. Thermostats are devices that control the call for heating or cooling.

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However, in some instances, a problem with the equipment might occur. The heating unit or furnace might not come on, will not blow cold air or might simply act oddly. Some factors that can lead to air conditioning failures include bad thermostats, defective contractors or tripped circuit breakers.

If an AC heating system failure occurs, check whether the thermostat is set to "cool" and below the current temperature. The AC should also be on its own 240-volt circuit. Check that the main electrical panel and secondary circuit panels do not have tripped breakers or blown fuses. If the problem occurs here, reset the breaker or replace the fuse. If the circuit blows again, something is wrong and a qualified air conditioning repair technician is needed. In addition, make sure that the furnace power is turned on and the outdoor condenser's power switch is on.

A trained AC heating repair technician should determine the real cause of the air conditioning failure and the parts or service required to bring the air conditioning system to good and efficient working order.He will do an overall assessment of the equipment, taking into consideration the age of the system, how clean the condenser and furnace is, if the compressor operates within the designed parameters, or if extensive damage has been done.

Technicians should insure that the system is running properly by inspecting and repairing all the necessary parts of the furnace, regardless of the fuel type used to produce heat. They troubleshoot and diagnose issues that will keep the air moving within the home, install and inspect the boiler, the heat source and piping system for continued peace of mind. Ductwork should also be inspected and cleaned. Furthermore, they will evaluate the needs, make recommendations, and install the best solution to meet the heating and air conditioning needs.

An AC heating repair service should be able to fix any problems relating to the cooling or heating needs, which is an essential service especially during the winter and summer months when temperatures fluctuate dramatically. One should make sure that the air conditioner and heating service repair being chosen has workers who are trained, friendly, and prepared with the necessary tools for the job. They should be ready to install and maintain electrical systems, heating and cooling ducts, and ensure that one's home or business has proper ventilation. In addition, they should be able to diagnose quickly and correctly the problem with your heating or cooling systems, and make the necessary repairs.

Simple Tips To Repair Your AC Unit

AUGUSTA GA

Saturday, July 30, 2011

2011 Masters Tournament Futures

This edition of the Golf Masters Tournament is currently set to start on April 7, 2011 in the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia. Prizes for competitors are still yet to be defined, however the 2010 edition had a total purse of .5 million. 2010 winner Phil Mickelson cashed in an official prize of ,350,000.

Among the favorites to win the 2011 tournament are Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson.

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Dustin Johnson

Odds: 20/1 (+2000) Implied probability = 4.76%

So far in 2010 Johnson has played a total of 23 events in the PGA Tour with a scoring average of 70.46 and total earnings of .4 million. He's fifth in the FedEx Cup with 2,493 points. His best result in the Masters was T30 in 2009.

Rory McIlroy

Odds: 15/1 (+1500) Implied probability = 6.25%

This Irish golfer has played in 16 PGA events this year with a scoring average of 70.94 and total earnings so far of .5 million. He stands 36th in the FedEx Cup with 1,489 points. His best result in the Masters was T20 in 2009.

Phil Mickelson

Odds: 7/1 (+700) Implied probability = 12.50%

Mickelson has participated in 20 events so far in 2010 and a scoring average of 70.34, cashing .8 million. The three time Masters winner (2004, 2006 and 2010) is 13th in the FedEx Cup with 843 points.

Tiger Woods

Odds: 5/1 (+500) Implied probability = 16.67%

After his personal problems, Woods has only played in 12 PGA events so far in 2010. Woods' scoring average stands at 71.07. His total earnings rank in the .2 million range. He's 42nd in the FedEx Cup with 1,300 points. Tiger Woods has won the Masters Tournament in 4 occasions 1997, 2001, 2002 and 2005.

The following is a list of other wagering odds to win the 2011 Masters Tournament. These odds are subject to variations.

Lee Westwood 20/1 (+2000)
Martin Kaymer 25/1 (+2500)
Anthony Kim 25/1 (+2500)
Padraig Harrington 25/1 (+2500)
Ernie Els 30/1 (+3000)

2011 Masters Tournament Futures

AUGUSTA GA

Friday, July 29, 2011

Augusta Georgia Housing Market

After taking some time to look over the Augusta Georgia housing market statistics for the year and see if I could get a feel for what 2009 may be like I came up with the following assessment.

The 2008 residential sales figures were down 22% over 2007's sales, but 2007 was the second best year ever in the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA). All in all, 5,011 homes sold in the Augusta area last year. Townhome sales where a bright spot in a down year. With 529 townhome sales in 2008 - it became the second best year ever for "residential attached" sales.

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For comparison 2007 was the best year ever, with 532 total sales, while the third best year fell way short of both - 2006, with 393 sales. Proof positive that what we're really going through is an affordability crisis rather than a mortgage crisis. The "sweet spot" of the housing market was between 0,000 and 9,999. That sector accounted for fully 46% of all sales. The luxury market suffered the most. Homes with a list price over 0,000 accounted for 6% of all sales.

The best news of the year comes from inventory reduction. The number of available homes dropped every month since June of 2008 at a high of 4,713. The end of December number of 3,955 represented a drop of 758 properties or 17% - the steepest drop in available inventory in MLS history. Since real estate is a supply and demand industry - this is a good sign we may be near the bottom of the trough of this Buyers Market cycle.

Despite all the gloom and doom, CSRA sellers still received - on average - 97% of the list price of their homes when they sold. This edifies recent media reports of Augusta continuing to see mild appreciation in a nationwide trend of negative appreciation. When you consider all the foreclosures that get lumped in with those statistics, it's probably more like 98-99% on a regular Seller-Occupant to Buyer-Occupant transaction.

I'll keep more market news coming as things evolve - please feel free to let me know what you think. I can also send you the reports that back up my data - just drop me a line and I'll get them to you. All in all the Augusta Georgia housing numbers were down, it is getting tougher to sell your home, and you need to have aggressive pricing and excellent terms to offer buyers if you intend to sell.

Augusta Georgia Housing Market

AUGUSTA GA

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Nook Color Vs iPad - Move Over iPad?

Barnes and Noble has just released it's new "Nook Color" for the holidays, a color touch screen ebook reader. At its cheaper price point, it makes sense to ask "How does it compare vs the more expensive iPad?" Here's a detailed look at the Nook Color vs iPad. Which is the better deal?

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Let's first take a look at the memory capacities of the two devices. The iPad is available in the 16, 32 and 64 GB models, obviously more expensive for the higher memory. The Nook Color comes with 8 GB, but can be equipped with expandable memory.

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Wireless and 3G capabilities differ for both the devices as well. The iPad charges extra for the 3G+Wireless models, whereas the Nook Color is only available in a wireless model.

The sizes of the screens differ quite a bit. Nook's design is at 8.1 inches high by 5 inches, and the iPad is quite a bit bigger at 9.56 inches by 7.47 inches. That obviously gives Apple's device more screen size.

Both screens are made with the same IPS screen technology. That allows for 178 degree viewing angles of the screen.

The Battery lives of the two devices are comparable as well, at around 8 hours usage time before needing a charge.

The BIG Differences Between the iPad and Nook Color?

Apple's aim with their design was to create a product that can do anything that a computer can do, but with the advantage of being extremely portable. That means it can be used as a media library and player, an ebook reader, and also a portable computer.

Of course it's fair to say that Apple has changed the entire game as well, so it can behave as an Apple device does, with the ability to use 1,000's of apps that each have their own use with the Apple devices.

The Nook is being marketed as an ebook reader, but it does much that the iPad does, up to a point. It can also be used as a small computer in the way that it surfs the web, stores and plays media, and can also be used as an ebook reader.

The NC, however, does not have the benefit of using many, many apps developed by a community of developers like Apple's device does. In fact the apps could be seen as non-existent for the Nook Color.

The prices differ considerably for the two devices. The Nook Color is going for 9 whereas the cheapest iPad is currently priced at 9. Who knows if this new release from Barnes and Noble will trigger a price drop for Apple. Time will tell.

So there are some very large similarities apparent when comparing the Nook Color vs iPad, but only to a certain extent.

Nook Color Vs iPad - Move Over iPad?

BARNES AND NOBLE

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

The Nook Vs Kindle 2 - And the Winner is?

Barnes and Noble will now sell the "Nook", their addition to the eBook Reader market, dominated largely by the Kindle and the Sony Reader. What's so special about the Nook according to Barnes and Noble?

barnes and noble nook

The Nook Unique Feature #1- The Nook eBook Reader boasts a lively color navigation screen. This means full color when you are scrolling through your ebook title covers, newspapers, magazines, etc. The Kindle 2 is still a gray-scale screen. Is this a positive for the Nook?

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The Nook Unique Feature #2- The Nook is boasting the ability to lend books to other people who have the "app" on their smart device. So the lendee doesn't necessarily have to have the Nook, but only the app. This app works on iPhone, Blackberry Touch, etc... The person who lends the book can do so for up to 2 weeks, and will not have access to the book while they lend it. Advantage or not even a feature?

The Nook Feature #3- The "E Ink" screen is a key technology on this new device, and is also a feature on the Kindle 2. This screen display technology is "clearer than actual book text" according to the folks at Barnes and Noble. You can make the font as large and small as you want as well.

The Nook Unique Feature #4- The Nook has the ability to sync with almost any smart-device on the market today. The Nook is powered by the Google software, "Android", and is compatible with over 100 other electronic devices on the market. So there are four ways the Nook is a unique addition to the eBook Reader market.

All these features are unique to the Amazon Kindle 2.

The Kindle 2 doesn't have a color navigation screen, but does have the same "E-ink" screen, so this is comparable.

The Kindle doesn't yet give you the ability to lend books like the Nook does. We will see if this feature is something the consumer embraces, or if it is an overlooked feature.

The Kindle does however have a "text to speech" feature so you can switch to speech while driving in the car. The Kindle has the ability to sync with a few devices, but will not compete with the fact that Nook will sync with 100's of devices. Android software is not a proven system however, and we will have to see how the developers embrace Google's new platform.

The Nook Vs Kindle 2 - And the Winner is?

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Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Want A Barnes and Noble NOOK? - 6 Reasons To Want One

The NOOK book reading device made by Barnes & Noble is a very popular product. It's a favorite of students, researchers, writers, journalists and many other readers. If you're looking to buy an electronic device such as the NOOK, your best shopping portal is now the Internet. This versatile product is readily available online, at a very affordable price.

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If you read product reviews that NOOK users wrote, you will quickly decide whether to order this B&N item. Even so, the following are brief reasons why many people choose an e-reader.

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1.) To enjoy unlimited book downloads from various web sources at very low costs.

2.) These gadgets enable hobbyists; researchers, journalists, students, writers and many other professionals to enjoy versatile reading experiences.

3.) Most people dislike using their computers or laptops for reading purposes. Computer screens exhaust the eyes, especially if, they lack anti-glare screen. Besides, they are not as portable as book reading devices are.

4.) Many do not have the time to spend searching in local public libraries.

5.) Most of them want to travel anywhere, anytime and do what they love most - read books.

6.) They realize that these small gadgets have the ability to reduce electricity costs. Their batteries can be useful for weeks as long as the wireless option is off.

Now that you know why you might want an electronic book reader, you need to know why NOOK is so popular. The following are five most desirable features of this Barnes & Noble e-reader.

1.) Easy book downloads - The first thing you will do when you get this product is searching your favorite book titles. There are sample books that you could try downloading free of charge. If you decide they are good, then you just have to pay for them, download and store them. This will be a quick action because of the free built-in wireless Internet. Every time you visit the store, enjoy exclusive content from renowned writers and other freebies.

2.) Easy to manipulate tap buttons - NOOK Reading Now button acts as a virtual bookmark. Simply tap it and you will quickly find yourself viewing the page you left off earlier. In case you need to share books, simply manipulate the buttons to where you see LendMe option.

3.) Get free Wi-Fi - when you want to stop reading to relax your mind, connect via this network to the web browser. Then, read and send email texts, do Google search using a user-friendly virtual keyboard. Of course, you can select your favorite color using the touch navigation panel.

4.) Select difficult words as you read a book. Barnes & Noble Nook enables you to highlight any difficult word and look up the meaning in a built-in dictionary. This is what makes this reading gadget very reliable.

5.) Compact size - NOOK is a small pocket size gadget that is lightweight and portable. If reading is your obsession, you can enjoy having this device with you everyday. One of the top characteristics it has is the wireless Internet connectivity that allows you to access the web free of charge.

6.) Affordable - The NOOK is very reasonably priced for the amount of value and convenience that it provides.

Want A Barnes and Noble NOOK? - 6 Reasons To Want One

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Monday, July 25, 2011

The NOOK Color Tablet From Barnes and Noble - Review

In today's age, there is nothing that is impossible. Once upon a time, the concept of inks and books seemed fantastic. Now we have reached such a time and age that the concept of paper is becoming obsolete. With the use of cutting edge technology applied to e-readers there is literally no difference between an actual book and an e-book. Most people nowadays prefer an e-book over an actual book because of the multitude of advantages that are offered.

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Not only can e-readers store an amazing quantity of books, they are also environment friendly. While printing books, it is an established fact that a large number of trees are felled needlessly. This has a direct contribution to environmental pollution. With the use of e-readers one can do one's part in saving the environment. There is no longer any need to hunt through book stores for the material that you have been looking for. Everything is available to you at the click of a mouse.

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The NOOK Color Tablet from Barnes and Noble is one such e-reader that was one of the first in bringing technology to the world of books. This device has many features that make it a great buy, at a very competitive price. Although there are some better models in the market today, the NOOK retains its reputation as good value for money.

When the NOOK was launched in the market it immediately caused quite a stir. This was because of the plethora of features that it had to offer and the advanced functionality of the device. One of the most astounding features of the NOOK Color tablet is the 7" display screen that it offers. The design of the NOOK is what makes it truly unique. The resolution of the NOOK simply blows the mind as it provides up to 16 million colors that are clear and bright, ideal for any magazine.

On the downside, the screen used is LCD rather than electronic ink technology. This may cause your eyes to tire from hours of looking at the screen. Though eyestrain is usually not an issue, but if you are apprehensive about the strain you may want to go with the original NOOK. The wide viewing angle is also designed to make readers comfortable. This eliminates glare and allows you to read both indoors and outdoors without any trouble.

The NOOK Color also offers a huge selection of reading material. It may be hard to believe but almost 2 million books can be accessed with this device to say nothing of newspapers, magazines and blogs. There will be something for everyone, right fro children's books to older classics.

The specialty of the NOOK Color tablet is its compatibility with reading magazines. Magazines are as vibrant and real as actual magazines so that you no longer need to order your favorite magazines.

This E-reader has an in-built memory of 8 GB. This lets you store almost 6000 books. The internal rechargeable battery only adds to the allure of this device since you can read up to 8 hours with this device.

The NOOK Color Tablet From Barnes and Noble - Review

BARNES AND NOBLE

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Challenges Faced By Barnes And Noble

Barnes and Noble's recent announcement that the company plans to sell itself brings a lot of things into perspective. It serves as a wake up call for investors that the market for physical books is waning and that the company will have to look for different markets in the future if they hope to keep profitable. The question then becomes, what should Barnes and Noble do in order to emerge a stronger and more successful company?

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The first thing to realize is that selling themselves does not mean they are going bankrupt. The company will continue to support the Nook and will still have their set of book stores and college textbook stores available for customers. Instead, it's like changing management, the company will have new people at the head directing their future endeavours.

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When looking how to reinvigorate Barnes and Noble, the first thing they have to do is improve their storefronts. Currently, their retail locations are viewed as a liability, when in reality, the company needs to leverage these as an asset. Use the stores to give people the perception of a company that interacts with their community. Start hosting book clubs and writers groups actively in Barnes and Noble, getting people interested in going to the book store and being a part of its community.

Second, push the Nook. Right now, Barnes and Noble is trying a price war with Amazon and it's not going to work. Amazon runs the Internet for all intents and purposes and it has given them a huge advantage. Barnes and Noble needs more ads out there putting the Nook in peoples minds. They need to differentiate the experience, to make it feel like something besides another Kindle. They need to make the affiliate program easier to use to get more people involved and promoting the Nook.

In the end, Barnes and Noble needs to become a fighter. The company seems to be rolling over on its back waving the white flag. They need to show that they've got good potential and market it to the potential consumers. Once they're in the peoples minds again, they'll soon find themselves back in their pockets as well.

Challenges Faced By Barnes And Noble

BARNES AND NOBLE

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Georgia Refinance Loans With Bad Credit in Atlanta, Savannah, Augusta, Athens, Columbus, Macon, etc

Homes in Atlanta, Savannah, Athens and surrounding areas have appreciated to allow homeowners to take cash out of their homes, via home equity loans or home equity line of credit loans, to finance home improvement projects, credit card debt consolidation, education, etc.

If you live in Georgia and you need a mortgage refinance loan but you are worried about bad credit - know that it is possible to get a HELOC or Home Equity Loan, even with a low credit score be it 450, 500 or 550.

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What is your FICO credit score?

Your FICO (Fair Isaac Corporation) score is number between 300 and 850, that indicates your financial health. A good FICO score is a score above 670, while a poor FICO score is a score below 620. Different lenders vary of what they consider a "fair" credit score versus a "poor credit score" - this
can be a gray line.

Having a good credit score allows you to get credit on competitive terms - good interest rates, exciting new loan products, credit cards, etc.

If you have a low credit score below 600, you will need to find a subprime refinance lender, who works with people with bad credit, whether it is due to poor debt management or a history of Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy.

Not all subprime lenders are created equal. The best lender is a lender, who is willing to look at your specific situation and find you the best loan product. Even though, you may have a low credit score, you may also have good equity in your home. Some lenders even offer up to 125% LTV (Loan-to-value) loans, if you qualify.

Georgia Refinance Loans With Bad Credit in Atlanta, Savannah, Augusta, Athens, Columbus, Macon, etc

AUGUSTA GA

Friday, July 22, 2011

What Features Does the Barnes and Noble Ebook Reader Have?

The Barnes and Noble Nook E Book Reader is one of the latest additions to the huge e book reader market. Barnes and Noble is one of the biggest book store chains in the world. It is a well known chain store that is dedicated to selling books of all manners from the classics to the newest edition novels.

barnes and noble locations

They have moved toward offering many of their books in online formats because so many people demand the ability to be able to read their books in the easiest format available, so Barnes and Noble responded by producing the Barnes and Noble Nook E Book Reader to meet the consumer demand.

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The Cost

Cost is always an important aspect of purchasing anything it is no different with purchasing an e book reader. Barnes and Noble Nook E Book Reader is a great example of a great device at a fabulous price. The new nook has Wig If capabilities that can be had for around one hundred and fifty dollars. This is a great price for a great device.

The 3 G model is available at approximately two hundred dollars. This is a great price compared to other e readers on the market.

Features

The 3G technology guarantees the perfect speed for the perfect downloads. You can enjoy your favorite books either off or online. The paper like display makes reading your books so much easier.

The display offers the opportunity to really experience a book not feel as if you are reading a web page, but you wind up feeling like you are actually holding a book in your hands. Other features include swipe to browse and one touch control for both audio and contrast.

You can browse your full color library by simply swiping your finger across the slide bars. Your library will be displayed with full color book covers. There are expandable memory storage options as well, to hold up to one thousand five hundred books. The audio is adjustable, and you can choose for a host of covers or skins to protect your e reader.

The Barnes and Noble Nook E Reader is the perfect option for all of your reading needs. It is affordable, looks sleek is easy to carry and performs wonderfully. The affordability makes this the perfect option to buy for you or to give as a gift.

What Features Does the Barnes and Noble Ebook Reader Have?

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