Yearly Archives: 2012

VR Gaming

In the past, virtual reality gaming has been only in the realm of science fiction, and while it has been featured on many TV shows and movies, it has failed to gain traction in the real world. That is, until now.

Michael Abrash, an executive at Valve Software (the same people who brought us Steam) announced in an interview with the gaming magazine Rock Paper Shotgun that he believes the future of video gaming is in virtual reality, and that the time has never been more right to begin introducing it to consumers than it is now.

His reasoning behind this lies in a Kickstarter project that is recently getting a lot of attention, even from gaming heavyweights like John Carmack: the Oculus Rift. This helmet is “fully-immersive”, gamers who wear it will be in a completely virtual reality world, unlike the current systems of augmented reality produced by companies like Google in their Glass product.

What excites Abrash and other industry leaders and gaming fans more than the huge potential of virtual reality, though, is how it can open whole new doors to the industry. Games are no longer going to be limited to small screens that gamers look at and controllers that they have to use to make physical input, which means that game developers can let their creativity go wild when producing new games. Abrash did not want to mention specifics, but he said that he viewed the coming virtual reality products that are going to soon be on the market, including but not limited to the Oculus Rift, as akin to the smartphone gaming revolution or the beginnings of first person shooters such as Call of Duty and Battlefield.

Abrash was, however, cautious about the new technology at the same time that he was excited. He said that besides all of the good things that can come out of the new technology, there are still many negatives as well, such as the many hardware, development and technical issues that surround the platform. He also was sure to make sure that people understood the difference between the technology in the Oculus Rift and the technology in other products like Google Glass. The latter only provides augmented reality, and has no virtual reality. That means that it is only possible to “draw” on what the person wearing the helmet or goggles already sees, but as far as removing items from the scene goes, that is impossible. Therefore, he finds virtual reality to be a better platform for gaming than augmented reality.

Whatever the future for gaming holds, it would be a very interesting development if it does include virtual reality technologies like the Oculus Rift. Obviously, the technology will have to be fleshed out a bit before it hits primetime, but this same transition had to happen with other types of technology that we now enjoy today, such as handheld games, smartphone games as apps and the motion controls that are currently found in all three major consoles.

Karla Versio enjoys writing about her favorite topics like tech stuff, gaming and new games like Diablo 3 gold farming techniques and other cool tips and tricks that she can dig up and share with the online community.

Making cash using your smartphone

Downloading and using money-saving apps certainly helps stretch anyone’s budget. However, don’t forget the other side of the coin:

Make a bit of cash using mobile apps for your mobile OS as well! While some of the apps listed below have higher earnings potential, and the list is certainly not all-encompassing, they do present a fair range of mobile options that may put a bit of extra cash in your pocket.

ShopKick

For both iPhones and Android mobiles, ShopKick hopes to steer you into sponsored stores. Fortunately, sometimes, it may well be worth it.
Earn two points per annotated product at Best Buy, Target, American Eagle, Wet Seal and others simply for glancing at them from home. Accrue points for discounts off products, combining both savings and earnings together.

A few of the sponsors, such as Target and Best Buy, provide an option to scan barcodes in the store for even more points.

 

Checkpoints

This mobile app, also for Androids and iOS handsets, awards points when you scan the barcodes of many items, regardless of the product’s location. You’re not lured into specific stores but centers on branding.

Most scans are worth about 10 to 15 points, but you can earn up to 50 points with some products.

Some rewards are discount coupons, including some from Amazon.com, Home Depot or CVS. These sponsors provide a $1 cut per 300 points on average. Considering how often and in how many places you can find these products, points can accrue very quickly!

 

We Reward

Users of iOS and Android mobile phones are joined by BlackBerry fans in this app presentation. If your handset includes a mobile phone, you’re in luck: Take a picture of yourself and the sponsored item after purchase and while you’re still in the store, and earn a penny per point.

Fortunately, the list of authorized items is long to earn some easy money. Note, however, that you must cash in the points at the 1,000-point mark, and you might have to wait up to three days to have your photo approved for points.

 

Field Agent

Field Agent is an iPhone app that pays and not just saves money. Field Agent supplements a Secret Shopper function: Once you accept an assignment and arrive at the specified store and item, you snap a photo and answer questions.

Each assignment you accept can pay from $3 to $12, paid through PayPal, but depending on your geographic location, assignments might be rare or inconvenient. The more you accept and fulfill, however, the more invitations you will receive, increasing your chances of making money with your mobile app.

 

Alternate Approach to Apps

While the above apps are legitimate savings and earnings apps, you might make mounds of money by developing your own app and selling downloads. For example, one $0.99 app earned one developer $2.3 million as an app â?? not including the revenue from the expanded $3.99 iPad game earnings or the $10 million-plus earned from further development into a computer game.

Regardless of your preference, make your mobile make or save you money by exploring your app options.

by Jaye Ryan, a freelance author who likes to write about mobile apps for MobilePhones.org.uk.

 

Free image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

iPhone apps that would be good to see

My trusty iPhone can be used for so many applications, in fact I sometimes almost forget that it can be used to make and receive phone calls.

During any given day, Iâ??ll take photos with it, update my Facebook status, check my emails, text my friends and even record my scores on the local golf course.

Iâ??m able to book holidays via this incredibly useful gadget, to check the weather at my chosen destination and even, should I need it, to stay in touch with my office while Iâ??m sunning myself on the beach. All in all, itâ??s something of a minor miracle. There are, however, some functions which I would like to have but which are currently unavailable. Here are four which Iâ??m hoping are currently being researched and tested by the boffins.

iMower

Iâ??m impressed by the fact that I can check the latest soccer scores via my iPhone, but I would be more in awe of an application that will mow my lawn for me. I sincerely hope there will be such an app on the market in the next few months, although somehow I doubt it. I think it would be so cool to tap one of the touch screen icons and know it will lead to a beautifully manicured garden in no time at all.

Superman iâ??s

There are times when I could really use a pair of binoculars or a telescope, but I never seem to have one handy, of course. As I always have my iPhone with me, Iâ??d really appreciate an app that would allow me to have a strong zoom lens that would enable me to see things that are in the distance. If I have to promise to only use my new Supervision for good, Iâ??m quite prepared to do so.

Self-diagnosis tool

We all like to know weâ??re in good health, of course, but having to undergo regular check-ups at the doctorâ??s surgery can be time-consuming and tiresome. It would be so good if someone could invent a self-diagnosis app that would be able to ascertain my physical wellbeing just from the sound of my voice. If it could send me an update text just after every phone call I make that would make things even better.

GPS with a difference

My trusty GPS app enables me to find my way from A to B whenever I need it. What it doesnâ??t do, however, is tell me when I should be avoiding B at all costs. Iâ??d really like an app that, when I programme a destination into it, immediately says â??you donâ??t want to be going thereâ?. If itâ??s something of a sketchy area, Iâ??d rather it told me to stay away.

David Showell works for http://www.carrentals.co.uk and is a big fan of his iPhone.

**This article is just for entertainment purposes. No one can actually look into the future, and I’m not a war general who could guesstimate something of this proportion 🙂

Imagine if we had another World War. It has been a decade since the first one and it would be interesting to see how much the battlefield has changed. Politically Europe and America are sound, but if something came up economically I could see World War III ensuing. (Of course they are allies, but this idea is just for fun)

We can assume that Japan and China may join in, which would limit travel for European forces across the pacific. Letâ??s just assume that China and Russia are preoccupied with fighting each other while the rest of Europe fights America under a no nuclear weapons agreement. That way it is bound to get interesting.

The war would require intense resources and strategic planning. It would take anywhere from a couple of days to a couple of years. Who knows? It may look a little like this:

Part 1

Europeâ??s navy would make it hard for Americans to infiltrate via submarines and ships. America would first conquer Iceland and Portugal to use as temporary bases, while European forces may very well land in Cuba or Florida. Both would be using naval mines as well.

Naval Mines

Meanwhile both America and Europe would be using advanced jets to take down radars and other important bases. America would target the UK, Germany, and France as the top targets, while Europe may look for conquering cities such as New York, Manhattan, DC, etc.

Part 2

World War III would be the most ultimate war seeing that Europe and America would both have to play offense and defense at the same time. During WWII, Canada and America were able to help the Allied Forces, but imagine if they had to defend themselves at the same time.

Soon both Europe and America are met with war at their door steps. New advanced tank technology such as force fields would be used to make these weapons fiercer and stealthier.

Unmanned drones would constantly be sent to spy on the other side while each country will be actively taking down enemy drones as well. It would be a bit of cat and mouse to see who can take down the most anti-air defenses, while sending out unmanned drones at the same time. Drones would also be armed with weapons. Soldiers may possibly make use of other unmanned rovers and robots at their disposal.

Part 3

Full-fledged war would be happening at every level possible, sub-naval, sea, land, air, hacking, propaganda, and space. You can certainly expect each side will be trying to take out each otherâ??s satellites, the eyes in the sky.

The countries or states that are not being attacked would be manufacturing more supplies. For example western states in America would convert all their factories to manufacture tanks, drones, etc. Eastern European states would also be doing the same.

The winner will be determined by whoever has the most resources as opposed to tactics. During WWI and WWII you had to take into account the lives that would be lost at war. These were real people fighting for their country and trying to stay alive. Nowadays you can control anything imaginable without having a real man sitting inside. That changes the entire playing field.

The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird was developed in the 1960â??s and holds the record for the fastest manned aircraft since 1976. Its purpose was to overfly the Soviet Union and the entire project was a secret, up until recently. The technology was half a decade beyond its time, so you can expect that there are also technologies out there that we donâ??t know about yet.

Unmanned Robots

Will these little fellas replace soldiers on the battlefield?

It is very feasible that Europe and America have already designed unmanned fleets; jets, tanks, ships, and robots that can all be controlled from halfway across the world. If this were the case then you can certainly imagine that the warzone would be completely different.

Part 4

It is likely that a war like this would eventually end in a tie. Either way the war itself would have caused a technological and economic boom that would positively influence both sides for decades. If the war would not end in a tie then either America or Europe would take control of each other; which would be a step closer to a world government.

Part 5

A war between Europe and America would only fuel other wars around the world. Russia and China may try to conquer Canada, South America, and Africa once they realize America and Europe have become one power. From then on you could imagine more wars ensuing until a world government is achieved or all countries are so depleted they can not start wars anymore. Hopefully no country gets desperate or stupid enough to use nuclear weapons.

Click here to find out what might happen if Japan and China went to war.

If you love golf then having a smart phone can help you to enjoy your sport even more thanks to the large number of different golf apps out there for you to enjoy.

At the same time though it’s not just the golfing apps that can help to enrich the experience for you.

Sure playing the many golf games can be good fun, and golf GPS apps are very useful, but you can also make use of your built in camera, browser, GPS and much more. Here we will look at some of the best apps for your phone or tablet that will help you get more out of a day of golf, or that are likely to amuse you if you’re a fan of the sport.

Instagram: By now everyone should know what Instagram is, particularly after their high-profile acquisition by Facebook. You may not though have considered using it while playing golf though, which is a great way to get the very best looking photographs that will look really beautiful with the various filter and lighting effects and which will make it easy to upload to Facebook for your jealous friends to see. Great if you’re playing golf abroad somewhere scenic too.

Maps: Golf GPS apps are very useful for letting you get an idea of the geography of a course and where the various hazards and holes are in relation to you. However you can get some of this functionality from just using your inbuilt map and GPS which will have the general aerial layout of the course too. And this can also be very useful for just getting to the course if you’re lost in the area. Turn by turn navigation is also very handy for this purpose.

Fitness Apps: There are a wealth of fitness apps out there which will help you to improve your overall cardio fitness as well as your muscle strength. All golfers know that golf prowess is mostly down to technique, but that doesn’t mean you can’t improve your pitch by developing stronger muscles too. Combing technique and strength is very much the ideal here.

Notepad Apps: There are also a number of great notepad apps out there which are great for… well… taking notes. If you don’t have a scorecard, or would rather keep a more permanent record of the game, then using a notepad app is a great way to avoid being encumbered but to keep track of who’s winning and how you’ve improved over time.

Video Camera: There are again plenty of great apps out there that will record and analyse your swing, but really you can do much of this yourself. Get your camera out and set it to video mode, then ask a friend to film your swing. When you watch it back the chances are that you will easily be able to see where mistakes were made and just being aware of them can help you to improve on your next shot.

The Web Browser: This is handy just for looking up general rules and tips for golf and for accessing the many different golf websites. You’ll never go board and technically you don’t need to buy another golfing magazine if you have access to a web browser on your commute.

Mr.Michael Dan is a golf enthusiast who shares golfing tips via his blogs. He recommends the use of  golfbox balls  supplied by Australiaâ??s Golf Store as they supply the best and most affordable golf kits.

Image for Green Post 

Nowadays, the ecological system struggles to survive pollution and gas emissions, while its natural resources are depleted at record rates.

Obviously, pollution represents a very serious and dangerous factor especially because it destroys everything around us, including the aquatic life and ozone layer.

Due to these harmful factors, our world has become unfriendly for humans, fauna, and flora. The activities that we perform day by day hurt the environment even more, destroying the home of many living creatures and plants. All these things still happen although every single one of us is aware of the fact that our actions have a negative impact on our environment.

Unfortunately, only a few people show real interest in saving our world. It seems that nothing can convince humans to fight for their right â?? and obligation â?? of saving this planet. These days, people do not care about some very serious problems, such as the issues triggered by pollution and depletion of the ozone layer. However, a really positive aspect is that the quantum of the ecological problems that we all face these days has convinced numerous global organizations to adopt a green attitude. Adopting this attitude does not only mean to opt for specific actions that can help us to save our planet but also to start using the newest technologies, which can help us to preserve our natural resources.

What Does Green Technology Actually Mean?

Green technology is a term that stands for any processes that tend to protect our environment by reducing the consumption of the natural, conventional resources or replacing them with renewable energy sources. The conventional resources refer to oil, wood, coal, natural minerals, and other items that need tens, hundreds, and even thousands of years in order to turn into sustainable sources of raw material.

The latest technologies, including those that relate to the IT and energy fields, allow us to preserve the natural sources of our planet for the next generations. For instance, the latest mobile technologies allow us to communicate with each other without using paper to write letters or send faxes. This means that we have the chance to save a lot of paper and trees, respectively. In addition, the wind and solar energy sources allow us to save rivers because we do not need hydroelectric power plants in order to obtain electricity. More and more world organizations are trying to develop new solutions that have less impact on environment.

In addition, the use of wind and solar energy for generating energy is a great idea, which can help us to replace conventional energy sources, such as natural gas, oil, and coal. These two methods are not only very affordable but also able to protect the environment. Therefore, the new technologies can literally help us to save the eco system of our planet.

The Role of Recycling, Reusing, and Reducing the Consumption of Natural Sources

These days, recycling, reusing, and reducing the consumption of different natural sourcesrepresent the most basic things that a person, who wants to adopt a green attitude, must embrace. In order to fully understanding this initiative, everyone must understand a few important aspects, such as:

  • Recycling actually means that people must look for the best ways to refashion or remodel different old things in order to reuse them instead of throwing them away.

 

  • Reusing old stuff can help people to avoid buying items they do not even need. Additionally, there are numerous refurbishing companies that offer people the opportunity to purchase refurbished goods instead of new ones.

 

  • Reducing the consumption of natural resources is another thing that a person can do in order to prove his or her green attitude. By simply reducing the consumption of different natural resources, people can save the planet.

 

Can Cloud Computing Help You to Develop a Green Attitude?

Many people already know that any virtual technology, including cloud computing, has a lot to do with developing a green attitude. But, unlike the traditional data centers, the cloud computing technology allows people and companies to reduce their energy demands, which are usually needed for air-conditioning of different spaces. Besides cutting down on the energy consumption, cloud computing also reduces the hardware equipment needed for recording large amounts of data.

These two essential aspects show that cloud computing is the most ecological method of computing. Obviously, this is because cloud computing can help us to preserve our planet for the next generations.       

Content supported by Commensus, written by technology writer on cloud hosting solutions, David Veibl.

Have you ever wondered what the best Smartphone on the market is?

Definitely, if you plan to buy a phone, you have to choose the best one that is available or else, you get the more inferior types of phones. Smartphones are more than cellular phones that have been initially used for communication purposes.

Smartphones enable you to do virtually all stuffs that you can do in your computerâ??access the web, play music, play video, manage documents plus additional features such as taking and editing pictures, video recording and others. In addition, there are also thousands of apps that you can install in your Smartphone for added functionality. Before we look into the best Smartphone in the market, it is important to look into the various factors to make a Smartphone good enough for use.

What to Look for in a Smartphone?

Before buying any Smartphone, consider the following factors:

  • Design

The design consists of the weight, size, resolution, screen size and the quality of screen display.

  • Multimedia

Smartphones are typically a life management device because everything you need in communication, entertainment, and organization is there. The best Smartphones include at least a 5 megapixel camera with features of audio and video recording and playing, calendar, to do lists, and ability to sync with the computer for you to work on your documents.

  • Memory

A good Smartphone also has a wide memory space for you to store all your files. A Smartphone should offer choices in regard to memory depending on your use of the phone.

  • Battery life

A Smartphone also may be able to assist you throughout the day so a long battery life should be considered.

  • Call features

Definitely, the most important feature of your Smartphone is its call feature because it is the most basic function of your phone. A Smartphone should include call features such as three-way calling, loud speakers, call waiting, voice dialing and others.

  • Additional features

Aside from the basic features, additional features should also be considered such a calculator, maps and others. However, this feature is not that important because third party apps may maximize the features in your Smartphone.

Looking into these factors for a good Smartphone, the new Apple iPhone 4S is the best deal when it comes to Smartphones. The iPhone 4S has exceptional OS, best hardware and useful apps that makes it the best Smartphone available in the market. Apple has first introduced the â??what has been the best Smartphoneâ? before, which is the iPhone 3G. However, who would have thought that the company is still able to release a more perfect device, which is a lot more superior than the iPhone 3G.

Using your iPhone 4S, you can search the net using internet data cards. There are various internet data cards in the Hyderabad market that you can purchase. Using internet data cards, you enjoy surfing longer and on cheaper rates.

Based on product reviews, iPhone gets the highest rank with an average rating of 9.76/10 with only one feature that gets a lower than 10 rating.

  • Design 10/10

The design of the iPhone 4S has been one of the favorites of consumers because of its sleek and elegant design. It has a 3.5 inch touch screen similar to the iPhone 4. It has a retina display with a 326 pixels per inch, which is definitely super dense. This display features of iPhone 4S makes gaming, photos and videos in razor sharp images. The size of the screen has been a debate because competitors of iPhone 4S has started to provide wider screens, but iPhone still gets a perfect 10 rating because wider screens also tend to be more unconventional to use as a phone.

  • Multimedia 10/10

iPhone 4S has built-in iPod Touch, which has been the standard for multimedia players. The camera in iPhone 4S is as high as 8 megapixels, making it in line with the best camera phones available in the market.

  • Memory and Battery Life 8.8/10

The battery life of iPhone is also best, but the lower than perfect rating of this factor is based on the memory storage of the device. iPhone 4S include 16G, 32G and 64G options, which provides more spaces than the previous iPhones. However, there is no slot for memory card to expand the memory features of the device. Nevertheless, the iCloud app is able to fix this problem by storing your other files in your other iOS devices.

  • Call Features 10/10

The call features of iPhone are also best because of the FaceTime feature it provides.

  • Additional features 10/10

The wide variety of Apple apps that is simply the best in the market makes iPhone additional features more superior over other Smartphones. iPhone 4S also include Siri, a personal assistant that recognizes your voice.

IPhone 4S also supports Wi-Fi connectivity for web browsing. If you need faster browsing, you may switch to Tata Photon for postpaid wireless connectivity.

With the above features of iPhone 4S and many more, it becomes the best Smartphone available in the market now. Other cellular companies have started to make similar products, but Apple has just maintained to be on top because of its exemplary performance.

Amarendra, the guest author is an internet addict and gadgets lover. He enjoys surfing the web with his high speed tata poton plus device which he recently bought from SwitchToPhoton website.

When you first open up 250 Poses & Yoga Classes you are presented with a relaxing home page.

You have the option to create your own program or to browse the immense pose base. If you choose to create your own program you can add poses from the pose base, or you can also start off with a default program which you are able to edit to your liking. Poses have an image, info, and sometimes an instructional video or diagram showing affected muscles.

This review takes a look at the iPhone version of the app, however, there is a HD version for the iPad available also.

It is really simple for a beginner to start off with the default program. All you need to do is press start and listen to a calming voice direct your body into different poses and breathing techniques. By propping my iPhone on my desk I was able to see the images while listening to the easy to follow directions.

I have never practiced yoga in my life and was very surprised at how good I was doing and how well I felt afterwards. Personally I am going to start using this app more because it is really great and Iâ??m too shy to practice yoga at my gym. You can also customize the background music by adding any of your songs to the playlist; something I found very neat.

The different types and levels of yoga poses have been structured to be together in groups. This app struck me as being very well put together to a professional level.

At the end of the program you are greeted with a message â??Todayâ??s challenges have made you wiser and more experienced for a new start tomorrow. Have some rest and let happiness wash over you.â? You can then share your experiences through Facebook or Twitter. The best part about this app is that all of your progress gets saved in a calendar that you can monitor yourself through. Every day of the calendar has an inspirational quote about yoga that keeps you on track.

I really enjoy using this app and I’m impressed with how organized the poses are. While using 250 Poses & Yoga class, some advertisements will occasionally pop up asking if you would like to buy the premium version (300 poses & Yoga Classes). I am going to look into the paid version and I recommend you do too. This is a great app for people who practice yoga or are just starting out.

YOGA Free App Icon

Transcript:

Hi Kevin here with a review for YOGA Free: 250 Poses & Yoga Classes by ARAWELLA CORPORATION.

This is a great app with 250 Yoga poses with photos and instructions, as well as ready made programs with video and voice guidance, with the option of tailoring your very own program.

Let’s start the app up.

OPEN APP

Here you can see that we are given the option of signing in with Facebook and we can already see that the graphics look promising just by this colourful background with a wooden effect here.

SKIP

Here on the main screen we are given the option of viewing our personal programs, or entering the pose base, as well as a calendar, with an option to buy the full version, options and more.

We’ll just take a peek at the calendar.

CALENDAR

Here in the calendar our work out days will be marked with a flower so that we can track our work out days. If we tap on a flower we can view workout statistics, such as the workout’s name, duration and start time.

You’ll notice too that there is an inspirational quote that appears at the bottom of the screen. A nice touch.

OPTIONS

Here we have options to set time periods, calendar statistics and to turn the teacher’s voice on and off as well as more options.

HELP

We also have a help menu with various help screens which is a very thorough approach by the developer. This will help clear up any confusion over how to use this app.

HOW TO GO THROUGH PROGRAM

BACK x 4

Let’s take a look at the Pose Base

POSE BASE

As you can see the yoga exercises are divided into 4 categories, beginner, intermediate, advanced and guru.

SCROLL UP & DOWN

As you can see there are a lot of exercises and this is just the beginner section.

We’ll click on the cat pose and although it happens fast, when I press the button a flower graphic pops up which is a really different touch, rather than just ‘touch up inside’ button tapping effects.

CAT POSE

Here we can see a picture of the pose and also info needed to instruct us on how to perform the pose.

INFO SCREEN

The instructions in the app are concise, which I like because as you know, if a description of an exercise or pose in an app is too wordy, it can slow the workout down and make the routine kind of clunky to complete.

BACK

Let’s take a look at the intermediate poses.

INTERMEDIATE

In this category the app goes up a gear for more challenging poses, such as half moon rises, one arm right bends and mountain poses for example.

HALF MOON POSE

Here, looking at the half moon pose, you can see that although the exercises get a bit more challenging, they are not impossible and I’d guess that it wouldn’t take too long to progress from beginner poses to intermediate level poses through a regular yoga routine.

The guru category is challenging, so whatever your yoga skill level is, this app will be an invaluable tool.

BACK TO MAIN SCREEN

Okay, let’s click on ‘My Programs’

MY PROGRAMS

Here we have the choice of several modes, ‘quick recipe’ or ‘fast mode’.

QUICK RECIPE

Here in quick recipe we have ready-made routines for beginners if you’ve never done yoga before and want to jump straight in.

SUN SALUTATION FOR WELLNESS

This program is 23 minutes long which is a set of dynamic asana poses.

SCROLL UP & DOWN

GREETING POSE

As an example we’ll click on the ‘Greeting Pose’. As you can see there is a pose picture as well as info, but also a video too. Let’s take a look at one example video that you get for each exercise in this routine.

VIDEO

This is the half moon pose. So we can see here that with a picture, instruction and also a video there is not much chance of confusion as to how to do the yoga poses. Very thoroughly explained here.

BACK – FAST MODE

In fast mode we can create our very own program. You can name your program and also add poses.

TYPE IN PRGRAM NAME AND ADD POSE

FREESTYLE

Admittedly I used to think yoga was a lot less effort than say weight lifting or aerobic exercise, but on trying some of these exercises I personally found yoga more challenging. This is because I am not very flexible – this is my weak point, so this app will be personally very helpful in increasing my flexibility as well as my fitness levels.

Although I’m reviewing the iPhone version of this app, the app is also available on the iPad as a HD version.

The female instructor is a professional yogi and you can also listen to in-app music or choose music from your playlist.

Another thing I like is that if you get a phone call or SMS the app will pause and then resume at where you were after answering the call or reading your message.

In conclusion, this is a very comprehensive app that is completely free, so give it a try. You can’t lose anything from giving this great app a chance. There is also the option to upgrade to the paid version with even more poses and functionality which is at a very reasonable price on the App Store.

I found this app attractive, professionally put together, concise and very flexible, given that you can create your own personal programs too.

That’s all from me reviewing the free app YOGA Free: 250 Poses & Yoga Classes by ARAWELLA CORPORATION. Thank you for watching.

Are you never getting enough sleep? Do you feel like you need more than 24 hours during a day to get your work done? Then you may possibly benefit from altering your sleep schedule.

A Little on Sleep

Adults need anywhere from 7 ½ to 9 hours of sleep a night. Throughout sleeping you go through different stages. Stage 4 REM (Rapid eye movement) only occurs for about 2 hours, and is the most beneficial for humans. The rest of the time spent sleeping is essentially wasted.

How to Sleep Less

Polyphasic sleep is another method of sleeping. Instead of sleeping once during the night (monophasic) you nap multiple times throughout the day. Although it is generally believed that polyphasic sleep makes you achieve REM sleep faster, it actually doesnâ??t; no one really knows how polyphasic sleep works or why it does. So thatâ??s not something I can really explain. On the other hand I can explain how to achieve a more efficient sleeping schedule.

Polyphasic Sleep

Some people actually use a polyphasic sleep schedule, and they probably donâ??t know it. The Siesta method involves sleeping 6 hours during the night, and taking a twenty minute nap after noon. This removes about an hour and forty minutes off of a monophasic sleep schedule, while you continue to feel just as rested.

Then thereâ??s the Everyman 2-nap. This involves sleeping a total of 4 ½ hours during the night, a nap at noon, and a nap at around 5 oâ?? clock; for a total of 5.2 hours of sleep. As you sleep less, you have to take more naps to recharge. Once you get into a certain napping schedule your body becomes more efficient at sleeping and thus you have to spend less time unconscious. One nap you go through a certain sleep stage, and the next nap you go through another, etc.

You can keep adding naps such as the Everyman 3-nap schedule requiring only 4 total hours of sleep, or the Everyman 4-nap requiring only 2.8 hours of sleep.

The craziest method out there is called the Uberman. It requires you to nap 20 minutes every 4 hours for a total of 2 hours a day. It was also believed that by using this sleeping technique your body will only use REM sleep. That has been proven incorrect, as your body still goes through all the stages, but is more efficient in each one. This is what adds to the mystery, because we still canâ??t find out why we need non-REM sleep.

Uberman

Uberman sleep schedule

At any rate these methods have been tried and proven to work without any negative side effects. Steve Pavlina tried this sleeping schedule for 5 ½ months and experienced no problems with it. He eventually chose to go back to monophasic sleep because of the social impact. The rest of the world runs on monophasic schedules and the extra naps cut time you can spend with other awake humans.

To incorporate something such as napping 20 minutes every 4 hours you would have to be an independent freelancer, or not bound by an 8 hour job. You would also get an extra 6 hours of waking time! I think if you aren’t productive with your extra time you will eventually end up bored, and going back to a monophasic sleep schedule. I doubt anyone is actually crazy enough to incorporate this sleeping schedule in their lives to do more work.

In Other Sleeping News

Margaret Thatcher, the ex-prime minister of England, only slept 3-4 hours a night!

Scientists have also discovered a gene that controls the amount of sleep we need to sleep. ABCC09 used to be associated with heart disease and diabetes, but is also responsible for our sleeping needs. Fruit flies have the same gene, and researchers were able to shorten their sleeping time by mutating ABCC09.

A biphasic sleep cycle involves sleeping 4-4.5 hours at night, and taking a 90 minute nap at around noon.

Article written by Octavian Ristea.

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