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Just like other Google apps, the Google Reader is a very useful tool as this web-based aggregator allows you to read and build a reading list on Atom and RSS feeds, regardless if you are online and offline.  However, due to the decline of use in recent years, Google has decided to kill it, so here are the best alternatives to Google Reader so you will not be left out hanging. 15.  Flipboard For those who use iOS to check out their RSS feeds, Flipboard offers an extensive array of features. A revolutionary social news app, it collects the content from social media and other websites into something that looks like a magazine with fun and unique layouts, so you can enjoy browsing them. 14.  The Old Reader While the Old Reader was designed to look and operate a lot like the Google Reader, it is, however, a much better option as it allows you to browse your contents, share it with your friends, and add some notes and comments as well. 13.  Newsblur Also a...

There are many facets of web design. If you think that hiring an efficient web designer would end the task, probably you are on a wrong track. For a successful website, you have to do a lot of things. Careful planning is important to save cost, time and effort along with money, in the long run. Below are some top steps you need to know before boarding on a web design: Market analysis Analysing certain components like target market, niche, site evaluation and tracking methods would give you the direction for building your website, thus helping to make it a grand success and little mistakes. Purpose of creating What is the purpose of creating the website? Is it for trading? Is it for auctioning? Know your purpose before you decide on designing. Targeting the right audience It is essential to keep in mind that aiming for the correct set of audience would help you to save time while designing and also bring in the right kind of visitors to your site. Include elements in th...

A logo is an essential part of your company brand. It works together with elements such as your website, collateral, brand promise, and marketing efforts to set the tone for your company as a whole in the public arena. And while this sounds simple enough, many logos tend to overshoot or fall short. Let’s see if your logo makes the grade and consider four essential rules for successful logo design. Test Your Logo Before sharing the rules of logo design, let’s start out by grading the latest logo you’ve created. Spend a minute and answer the 14 questions below (you can do it in your head): Get one point for each “yes” below Does your logo work horizontally? Does your logo have both horizontal and vertical options? Does your logo work in black and white? Does your logo work on both black and white backgrounds without a box around it? Can you sketch all non-typography elements in five seconds or less? Did you buy the font you used in the logo? Do you...

I often read about designers who cannot stand freelancing yet continue to use this path for solid income. I suppose there is nothing wrong with hating your job, but some designers actually enjoy freelancing. It is not a career choice that many people would keep for decades. But it does offer a unique lifestyle of working on various projects and studying new trends. In this article I want to present a few ideas arguing the benefits of working on freelance projects. Both designers and developers creating websites have the opportunity to earn real livable money without answering to one specific bossman. Over time you will grow interested in your own projects or other companies and likely move away from the freelance work. But lessons learned throughout various projects will stick with you for a lifetime. Unique Practice Whatever field you are working will likely require going into areas you are not yet familiar with. Thus by just accepting new projects you are likely to force y...

When Google Plus was launched a year and a half ago, it set in motion a multitude of changes to the search landscape. From this point forward, getting traffic from the famed search engine is no longer about the number of backlinks you have. A personal element was added to the search. The problem most small businesses have discovered over the past 18 months has been how to work with this new element in search to increase traffic, and continue delivering quality content. Below are some suggestions for making Google Plus work for your search traffic. You need to start thinking about Google’s search engine like a web instead of an engine. I know that this is a weird statement; give me a second to explain the implications of this concept in the following paragraphs. In the “olden” days before Google+, search traffic had a predictable pattern: while Google constantly changed their algorithm, there was a predictable flow to their thinking; it was, keywords + backlinks + quality con...

The Samsung Galaxy S4 was barely out in the market, yet people are already talking about the accessories that will come with it. However, words are coming out about the details for the S4’s optional accessories, though prices were not yet revealed for some of them.  Here are the beautiful Samsung Galaxy S4 accessories that you should watch out for once you get your hands on this high-tech phone. 20.  Clear Protective Film and Glare-free Protective Film Kits From iLuv Creative Technology, these film kits can help protect your S4 from scratches and maintain its touch-screen sensitivity. It also allows for easy viewing in highly-lit areas without any screen distortion. 19.  Overboard Waterproof Pro-Sport Arm Pack Going swimming? This trusty pro-Sport Arm Pack will keep your precious Galaxy S4 not only from water, but also from sand, dust and dirt as well. You can wear it like an arm wallet or around your neck, and is guaranteed submersible to 19ft. 18.  D...

In this digital age, when everything relies on data; losing important files and documents can be a great disaster. This is more so if the operation of your business relies on it.  It is for this purpose that online storage tools were created as backup for import data that may get lost due to system failure and natural catastrophes like earthquakes, fire, flood, etc. Data backup not only save you time and guarantee the protection of your documents and files, but is also easy to do. It can also save you from tedious and expensive data recovery process, which does not even ensure that you will recover everything. Subscribing to free backup tools online is the cheapest way to protect your data nowadays; as this also provides the benefits of large file-sharing, handy for collaborative tasks, and allows access from different computers in different locations. Here are the free online backup tools that you can access for your peace of mind. 1.  Just Cloud One of the fast...