Website Design And Development

By Bob T. Wilson

The mobile world has awaited the arrival of ‘Honeycomb,’ the 3.0 release of Google’s runaway hit mobile device OS, Android. Android is already the dominant force in the mobile market with dozens of smartphones released by almost every manufacturer running on the open source platform. The Honeycomb release is a major move for Google, and according to Google executives, it was a major development effort as well.

The most important aspect of Honeycomb 3.0 is that this is the first Android OS version built and optimized especially for tablet PCs. Additionally, the graphics, menu systems, and display handling have been optimized for larger tablet screens. Could this perhaps be a hint as to the direction that tablet development is heading? However, this does not mean that smaller screen tablets won’t benefit as well.

The Empty App Store

The problem with the initial release of Honeycomb was the lack of compatible apps for the OS. When Motorola announced the Xoom at the 2011 CES, no apps were yet available, and only 16 had been developed for the OS by the time it released the last week of Feb. 2011. Part of the reason was that the Android 3.0 Software Development Kit (SDK) had not been made available to developers yet. Nevertheless, several weeks later Google announced its availability and as of March, the Android Marketplace was sporting 60+ Honeycomb Apps-finally.

This number will increase drastically as the Android tablet market expands, which is a given as developers are hungry for a solid competitor to the iPad and its restrictive market. Most major manufacturers are either planning development or already developing Honeycomb specific tablets, and as they come to market, the number of Apps will expand as well.

The First Real Android Tablet

The first real tablet to come with Android Honeycomb 3.0 is the Motorola Xoom, which is a large screen, high-powered tablet released at the 2011 CES International with hopes of directly competing with the Apple iPad, and might as well have been built specifically for Honeycomb. There are others, such as the Samsung Galaxy S Tab 10.1 and the LG G-Slate, which are larger screen models as well as designed with Android Honeycomb 3.0 in mind. Part of the reason for the lackluster performance of first generation Android tablets against the iPad was the lack of an OS that was designed specifically for tablets. Android 2.2 is a well-developed smartphone OS, but lacks support for critical aspects of tablet operation that finally Honeycomb provided.

A Fast Start

Many of the initial Apps should be ports of existing and popular Android 2.2 apps, but we should expect to see native tablet apps in increasing number as well. The entire Android ecosystem is open source, and the Android 3.0 SDK is free to download. Developing an App takes only time and there are no restrictive policies for posting them on the Android marketplace. The combination of these factors and the huge success of Android with smartphone manufacturers will insure that by mid-2011 there will be many Honeycomb tablets and thousands of Apps. The cost of the tablets will begin to come down and Apple may find it harder going in the tablet marketplace, one that is expected to become the number one venue for mobile Internet access.

About the Author: Bob T. Wilson is the technology writer at velocity guide, a site dedicated to keeping its readers informed of the constant advances in mobile computing technology and

Mobile Internet

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Source:

isnare.com

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By Simon Oliver

Most people love candles, and they just love collecting them for their homes. Collecting candles is a great idea but making candles is even better. Candle fundraiser activities have been known and used by many people for many purposes. Candles are easy to make, and you will enjoy it at the same time as raising money for a good cause.

Soy candles are best for candle fundraiser activities. They are much better and considered a healthier choice compared to the scented candles. Soy candles have benefits that can never be beaten by other types of candles. Soy candles can burn longer, up to about 50% longer than other candles because they burn slower. These candles are set at a lower heat temperature that is why the fragrance is distributed better.

Candle making is a fun activity and can make a great hobby. Your children and family members can even help you because they are easy to make.

First, you should have a mold in which the candles are formed. You can choose from cartons or metal molds and you can cut them to the desired height. If your children want to try making candles, they should start by making short candles because it will be easier for them to insert the molds into the wax.

Next, spray the inside part of your mold with silicone, or you can use a light wipe of vegetable oil. Then you cut a wick which is two to three inches longer than the mold. Attach a tab and stick it to the center of the bottom part of the mold with a little spread of melted wax. You can use a chopstick across the top of the mold so that it can be centered and straightened.

Now you need the wax. To find out how much wax you will need, you must pour water into the mold and mark the level you desire. After you have marked the level, you can empty the mold. Be sure to keep the mold dry. In melting the wax, the melting point should be from 130-150F but you can also set it to a temperature of 180-200F.

Now you can break the wax into chunks or you can pare it off so that it will melt faster. You can either melt your wax by making your own can which is placed inside a pot of water that is half full, or you can melt it in the top of a double broiler pan. If you use a can, make sure that it is not be too shallow because the can has the tendency to float. If it is shallow, the hot wax might spill. In order to prevent fire, you should keep baking soda on hand to toss on any flames that may flare up.

Then tip your mold a little so the wax can be poured down the side. Fill it to about an inch of your preferred level. You must keep the wax hot so that it stays melted. Watch the wax cool in the molds and your candle is ready. Soy candles use bees wax because they produce synthetic candles. You can apply drops of oils or vanilla to make the candle scented.

A Candle fundraiser is not that difficult to start. You just need the right materials and procedures in order to be successful in making your first candles for your fundraising activity.

About the Author: Simon Oliver has an interest in Recreation. To access more articles on raising money for charity through candle fundraising events or for additional resources visit this candle fundraiser related website.

Source: isnare.com

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