When seeking to improve anything regarding your business, service or product, it is important that you acquire and pay attention to feedback from various customers. Feedback is important because they help you see things that you may be missing from the big picture. Usually, it is the customers who tell you which parts you should improve and which ones should go. Is your procedure too slow? Are your products satisfying? Is there anything else you need to work on? Whether it’s constructive criticism or praises and comments, it is important for you to pay attention to whatever your customer is saying.

Enter communication via the internet. Nowadays, a lot of websites feature a lot of ways for the customer to inquire or give feedback. Several examples are comment boxes, e-mail forms and live chat among many others. However, with the continuously growing notoriety of automated “spam bots”, how are you to protect your communication with your customers?

  • Comment forms are usually the easiest way to get feedback from your customer. It is fast, easy and efficient. If you are going to embed a comment form in any part of your website, make sure to get the ones that “verify humanity”. For example, anyone who attempts to submit a comment will be asked to input words based on an image or an answer to a certain question. This makes sure that it isn’t an automated bot that’s just entering spam.
  • Have a separate e-mail for feedback. Do not use your personal e-mail to receive feedback and instead, create a separate e-mail account specifically for that purpose only.
  • Avoid chat boxes in your website. This has little to no security at all plus the messages are usually immediately viewable to your other web visitors.
  • If feedback should be viewable to other visitors, see to it that your message board has a feature that allows you to approve any messages first before having it posted. Of course, a message must tell your users that their message should be approved first.
  • Try to categorize the feedback or messages. For example, you may include options for your users to classify their message such as Comments, Suggestions, Inquiries, Complaints and the like. This makes it easier for you to sort out which are the ones that need immediate attention.
  • If you’re using a third party application for feedback, make sure you understand what you are having. Some of these comments packages have a limit as to how many comments a day you can receive and moderate depending on which package you buy.
  • Again, for third party feedback widgets or applications, try to get those which have a banning feature for you to be able to ban spam IP’s, bots and the like.
  • Comments that allow membership could be a great idea, too, especially if it can be integrated into several other services of your website. This helps you build a closer business relationship to your customer.

 

The Samsung Galaxy Y is one of the least expensive smart phones available in the market today. If you’re already an owner of a Samsung Galaxy Y, you’ve probably already experienced the occasional error message saying “Memory Card Removed Unexpectedly” or the “Removed Unexpectedly Error”. Don’t immediately have a technician open your phone to look at the memory card slot, and don’t buy a new memory card to replace the one you have either. You are not the only one who’s experiencing the “Removed Unexpectedly Error”. All owners of Samsung Galaxy Y units are experiencing this error.

Why is the Removed Unexpectedly Error appearing?

Apparently, the Removed Unexpectedly Error is caused by a mismatch regarding the upgrade of the operating system Android 2.3.6. Now before you decide to forget your Samsung Galaxy Y and buy a new phone, be informed that there is a solution to this error. If you’ve seen the solution that tells you to format your memory card’s FAT 32, it will work but only for a few days. And that doesn’t really help much, does it?

How do you fix the Removed Unexpectedly Error?

Now you don’t need to have great levels of technical knowledge for you to proceed with the solution. The solution for the Removed Unexpectedly Error is relatively simple. All you have to do is update, again? Yes, again. It turns out that the problem occurred when a person upgrades firmware from 2.3.5 to 2.3.6 DDKJ2. What you have to do is to upgrade from 2.3.6 DDKJ2 to 2.3.6 DDKL1. If you’re not familiar on how to do that, all you have to do is to go to Settings from the Menu. In Settings, look for About Phone and then Software Update.

This step requires you to connect to the Internet so it would be a good idea for you to connect to a Wi-Fi hotspot first before beginning the procedure. If you’re not connected to a Wi-Fi hotspot, there will be an option for you to set up your Wi-Fi settings first. If you can’t connect to Wi-Fi, you will be asked if you’d still like to proceed. This time, you will download the update via Mobile 3G Internet. Be informed that data charges will apply. After the update has been downloaded, you will then be asked if you want to install this update. After you install it, the phone will restart. Wait for a while and you’re done!

What if your phone keeps restarting?

Don’t panic. It’s not broken; the phone will restart after every installation of the downloaded patch. It’s natural and actually depends on how late or updated your current patch is.

 

Has job hunting ever been so difficult for you? Job hunting can be tiring and frustrating, especially for the impatient. Imagine waiting for hours in a long line of applicants or travelling from place to place in search of job vacancies or going from one interview to another. And even if it’s online, there are still difficulties such as wondering if the potential employer ever received your resume or if someone from the company ever gets to check this account on a certain job hunting site.

Filtering job applicants isn’t easy for employers or HR officers either. They have to find a way to professionally and effectively cater to a lot of applicants at a given time, while figuring out the good, the bad and the don’t-ever-hire. Some applicants also have several issues, inquiries or situations that sometimes make the hiring process longer and harder.  Of course, there’s also a sense of judgment in terms of appearance, making the process quite biased. Even if the application has been processed online, HR offices have this thought at the back of their minds that this may or may not be sent by one of those automated bot systems.

Singapore’s Job Kiosk@Central was created from the difficulties of job hunting and hiring. This project aims to make the whole process faster, easier and more convenient, not only for job hunters, but also for companies and employers. It is described as a “job bank in a computer tablet”. These kiosks may be found and used by going to Central Singapore CDC. The program is readily accessible by the use of provided iPads.

Job Kiosk@Central offers a wide variety of jobs, fields and industries to also a wide variety of applicants. Also, this eliminates the current need for the applicants, at least in Singapore, to see a career consultant for a 45-minute to 1 hour session. Also, unlike most online job application sites today, the applicants don’t need to register or have an account with Central Singapore CDC. The applicant is also able to communicate directly with the employers or HR officers, so there is a direct relay of information, lessening time and error. Not only that, Job Kiosk@Central also gives updates and information to job hunters regarding events, programs, seminars, trainings, talks and the like. This increases their chances of finding work and getting hired.

So far, these kiosks are available in Radin Mas, Toa Payoh and Buona Vista and have been received quite well by the people as it saves them a lot of time and effort. There has been positive feedback from most people who have tried the program. The features people particularly enjoy include the direct communication with the employer, making negotiations and inquiries faster and direct to the point. Also it makes job hunting easier as compared to browsing news papers or looking at posters or ads. Some people also find the system faster and easier with regards to age. There is a certain age, after all, where job hunting gets to be more difficult than the usual.

 

blackberry playbookAre you a tech whiz who just can’t seem to get enough of the latest innovations from smartphones or the much celebrated touch tablet technology? If you are, then you might be in for a few months of anticipation before the leading Canadian-based manufacturer and designer of wireless solutions in the mobile industry would be out to launch yet another innovative and more advanced 4G LTE Playbook later this year. Thorsten Heins, CEO of the company Research in Motion which is the main producer and marketer of the Blackberry line has yet to provide a specific date for the launch; however, many Blackberry fans are eagerly awaiting the release of the product, to see if it would meet their expectations, especially with the inclusion of the 4G LTE technology in the tablet.

With the onslaught of various touch tablet gadgets in the market, the company is faced with the pressure to exceed the expectations of enthusiastic Blackberry loyalists, and to outdo the stiff competition from a myriad of other competitors. But with the recent criticism for the unsatisfactory functions of some applications in touch tablets’ software, why choose 4G LTE? The answer of course would be the maximum speed that this revolutionary wireless technology can offer; which would allow you to download pix, movies, games, apps real time without the annoying wait time for loading and buffering. It surpasses the 3G capacity up to 10 times, that means a download range of 5 to 12 mbps. With that in mind, it is very ideal for business executives who are always in contact with possible clients or their colleagues, because they would be able to cut costs on calls, and this would allow them to have meetings and conferences at awesome streaming speeds.

Some of the key features which separate the new 4G LTE Blackberry Playbook from the already existing Wi-Fi Blackberry Playbook which is already making a hit with many touch tablet users are its new processor and NFC support. Not to mention of course the greater speed that it can accommodate due to having the 4G Long Term Evolution technology. RIM made mention of having the new Playbook designed and built in with a 1.5 GHz dual-core ARM and another astonishing innovation in the form of NFC which stands for; Near Field Communication. The new feature would allow its users share data with other compatible devices. Not only would it allow you to share photos or music, but it also holds a secure port for credit card info, payments and transfers; making it very easy for you to do some shopping. If this pushes through, and as long as the manufacturers can guarantee secure transactions using the device, then you might not need to bring along a wallet with you the next time you go shopping. It can also make online purchases a breeze.

Although there is no definite time set for its launch, there is however a confirmation that people should await the coming of a faster and more innovative touch tablet in the form of the upcoming 4G LTE Playbook that would definitely make a splashing entrance into the world of mobile technology.

 

facebook organ donorEnough of the social bickering and cyber bullying that are often associated with the world’s leading social network – Facebook. Proving to the world how influential and how technology can be of great assistance to social work, its founder Mark Zuckerberg and some of the high executives of the company initiated the move to encourage its millions of subscribers to actually become organ donors for those who are waiting in line to be blessed with some vital organs that would help them live longer.

The website has been updated to contain an option for its users to register their names if they want to become an organ donor someday. Users in the U.S and also in the U.K. can use the simple tool in their timelines to feature that they are willing to be organ donors. As of the current time, this initiative is targeting to help about half a million patients in the U.S who are awaiting very crucial transplants. The country has been having problems in terms of very scarce donations of different organs for thousands of patients suffering from various illnesses who are waiting to become beneficiaries of these vital parts. A report from one organization has estimated about 6,000 to 7,000 patients dying every passing year just because they were not able to receive immediate surgical procedures to replace damaged or non-functioning organs in their bodies.

With Facebook spearheading the campaign for organ donation, it won’t be long before thousands of kind donors would come up in the open to offer new encouragement and hope for these patients to continue the fight for their lives. Registering on Facebook does not coerce you to become a donor, but rather it is an open invitation if you are willing to share a part of you to someone who badly needs it to add years to their existence. To be eligible and get registered as an organ donor, you still have to follow some state laws and registration, before you are permitted to actually do so.

The campaign is not only set to gain possible organ donors, but also looks to promote awareness to millions of people worldwide on how to save a life, and how important it is to become an organ donor. The site also serves as a potential link for those who are in the search of possible organ donors; this way they won’t have very difficult times looking for someone who might be willing to lend a helping hand. Facebook also offers some helpful links to other organizations that are registering or enrolling willing donors.

Social media such as these social networking sites are very influential these days, especially with their different kind of charisma and appeal to the younger generations. Hence with the initiative in place, it might be a good way to show them the values of charity, sacrifice, and love for others which are now sadly rare to find. It also strengthens the claim of how modern technological advances can be used to save thousands of lives.

 

nook microsoftThe company pioneering in software engineering and programming, is now out to launch another app to compete with Apple’s Ipad and Amazon’s Kindle Fire. Microsoft has bagged some $300 to $600 million deal with Barnes & Noble for the new Nook e-reader application that would boost the company’s portfolio in terms of the growing tablet computer market, and the expanding e-book business. With the new input and the current Windows 8 OS as the company’s flagship, they are looking to reach out to as many potential users of the touch tablet generation and for many avid e-book fans.

This new application would bring the company to new horizons in terms of electronic publication and would further the desire of many people to purchase the new touch tablets that they offer. While it is true that they have been in the business far longer than their competitors, those years were mostly spent in developing advanced and more innovative operating systems for various units. Subconsciously, they have ignored other areas of potential investments in the market, particularly the mobile and smartphone revolution which have been the most productive and financially growing areas of the cyber business.

And this collaboration with Barnes & Noble would ensure that they bring forward a tight competition from other leading mobile and smartphone manufacturers, most especially Apple. It cannot be denied how Microsoft has changed the way modern technology has influenced the many operations of our day to day life, especially in its excellent contribution to many computer systems. Sadly, they have been left out too long from the competition, and now it might really take some time before they can begin to step up on their level of mobile and smartphone engineering. However, with their ingenuity and their resources, you wouldn’t put it past them.

The investment is said to be beneficial to both parties. Microsoft would now have something in the market that should somehow compete with other touch tablet gadgetry in the market, and Barnes & Noble would have the needed funds to strengthen and promote their e-Nook reader application. With this in mind, it should not take too long before both companies would be able to regain the financial expenditures they have made, while making a name in the cyber community. Money is not an issue for Microsoft, so it is a risk that should go unnoticed if the whole plan falls through. However, this is something far from the minds of both companies.

Actually the Nook has already been launched in the market since 2009, barely a couple of years later than Amazon’s Kindle Fire. E-reader apps, tablets and other electronic book sales under the company’s banner were slowly gaining fame, but that was not enough to reach out throughout the global market scene. A year after launching the application, the company was seeking other investors to make the app more public, but sad to say only Liberty Media was quite interested, and eventually backed out from the deal. Currently, the Nook is only available in the U.S. and with its collaboration with Barnes & Noble; the company looks forward to sharing it with the rest of the world.

 

food technologyAre you one of the many people who are very meticulous about the details of the food they eat, and would spend a few minutes reading through the back of every label of possible dairy or food products they would want to purchase from the supermarket? For many health conscious buyers, it would always be necessary to look through every bit of information they could find to be sure it would be a right choice for them, and certainly not otherwise. There are also a few shoppers who not only look through the dietary components of every food products, but are also concerned about how much the cost of their entire basket or cart.

If you are one of them, you don’t have to strain your eyes anymore reading through the small fonts written in there, because there is a new gadget in town which is making quite an impression not only to the shoppers, but also to many grocery owners and supermarket managers. A new device was invented by a British collaboration called Project Change. This new invention is geared towards promoting more responsible buying habits and allowing the consumers to see food mileage, salt content as well as the comparison of pricing from the normal household budgets. It can also be upgraded to provide information about fat and cholesterol content, whether the foods you buy are in season or not and whether it is organic.

You don’t have to go through a lot for the device to work on each item you buy. All you have to do is scan the barcode and the device would tell you what you want to know using the lights or the display factors on the device. For example, the LED lights on the handle would show the food mileage of the product you buy. The fewer the lights it means the lesser or the nearer the source of the products, whereas the color that lights up in the handle would show the salinity of the products that you buy. For those who would want to patronize their local produce, this is the thing that would help promote your local economy. And after you have piled up everything that you need, the emoticon on the handle would show just how much you have spent on your budget; whether it would just be within the average or higher or lower than the norm and you would have a smiley, neutral or frowning face to show for it. What a cool way to exercise money management, right?

This is actually a good item to go with on your shopping trip the next time you are out buying some new stuff. Not only would it be beneficial for health conscious customers, but it would also encourage most shoppers to start looking into the contents of the food they eat. So if you are thinking of purchasing this device, you should look out for the “Lambent Shopping Trolley Handle” as this what the inventors of this gadget dubbed the new electronic shopping machine.

 

friendsterBefore the online community was taken by the novelty of Facebook or Twitter; another company was already spearheading photo sharing apps, instant messaging and the most basic of social networking. But in the vast world of cyber space, the competition heated up with the coming in of more user friendly apps with a blast of different online games for every registered user. As more and more people got hooked with Farmville and other games on Facebook, Friendster was slowly ignored and was easily forgotten by some of its users. Nothing was heard from them until recently when they tried to level up the playing field by introducing the site as a new “social gaming” venue for the online community.

Its executive officers and affiliates from other countries are trying to revive this pioneer site by making it a platform for more intuitive games, and as a venue to meet new friends, instead of just connecting with people that you already know. As of the moment, the site features about 50 online games which can be easily accessed and played with or without logging in. Your progress in each game is automatically saved so you won’t have to go back to the very beginning if you opt to stop the game at any given time. Rewards are made available and games are mostly free; however, there are updates and options for players to use a Friendster currency known as Friendster coins to purchase other available games, applications, and other goodies for their characters. Unlike other gaming consoles, the site allows you to have as many avatars as you wish and you don’t have to reveal your true identity to the public. In this day and age of online breaches, this is something good to secure and to protect users from possible cyber crimes. The company is projecting the production of newer and more user friendly games every week for its users to enjoy.

To make it easier to use, a gaming platform and to present it as an avenue for people to meet other people from all over the world and develop relationships are the primary objectives of her management. As of the current time, the company is trying to develop the program to be available on different avenues; not only on your computer, but also your mobile phones or other portable web based devices. Previous features such as photo sharing, bulletins, testimonials and all the stuff you have learned to love before are being enhanced and develop to bring you more amazing experiences and opportunities. But other than these, you can also expect many more software innovations and novelty ideas that would give you much more reasons to go back to using your Friendster account.

The social networking media is gaining more and more popularity with followers over the years and as part of the expanding industry, businesses and companies should be aware of more modern and advance innovations that would make them stand out from the rest; this is to ensure their longevity in the industry and of course to gain more income.

 

ipad apps for babiesWith the ever increasing number of applications and softwares developed and produced by the ingenuity of man for specific purposes to his own benefits and comfort, it is not therefore surprising that as of recent times, the use of technology and advance programming is becoming more and more essential to virtually every age group.

What has captured the interest of many people today is the increasing influence of these technological advancements to the development and growth of the young population. The existence of applications such as the “moo box”, the “crazy piano!” and the “Crayola color studio HD” has been vital tools in the development and learning of some children. Many say that using such technologies help keep their baby happy and behaved while they are busy doing some household chores or some other things. The fact that these applications use vibrant colors, animation, and are very user-friendly are just few of the reasons why parents encourage their children to use the ipad at a very early age.

Storing these features and the ease of access, as well as the potential benefits it can give to these young ones are keeping moms agreeable on using such gadgets for their children. Although there are still many people who are against the idea of letting a one year old or even a few months old baby learn from a machine. It is not that they are against technology in general, for they also believe that they can be used in moderation to help kids be familiar with the advancements in today’s modern age, but rather it is with great concern that many people think kids fail to develop some of their faculties if left on their own to learn only through these electronic devices.

It would be safe to say that many applications developed by many companies and even individual programmers are really safe to use and enjoyed by kids; however, the problem is that these same apps and functions are on a different level from where the kids learn different cognitive and social skills. While it is true that many of these softwares help children learn and develop their sense of sight, hearing and touch, it can never be expected to help them develop their sense of taste and smell simply because, the things they see on the screen exist in the virtual world only. It can never replace how kids enjoy the simple pleasures of figuring out how to do things and probably how to maneuver blocks and other toys.

Parents and pediatricians believe that ipad applications can in a way be used for children’s entertainment and fun time, but only in moderation and should be under the supervision of their parents or guardians. After all, the piece of equipment they are holding is not something that can easily be fixed if broken. It should also be emphasized that these gadgets can only supplement what the children may learn from the real world first and should not be the other way around.

 

google drive cloud storageWhile Microsoft Corp. already has the SkyDrive that they offer to their loyal customers and Apple has what they call the iCloud on their gadgets and software applications, at long last Google has even up the playing field by introducing their own application which lets their users store files, uploads photos and other documents easily into an organized portfolio. The new technology has been referred to only as Google’s Drive.

This newest offer to the already long list of advanced applications from Google has been launched earlier this week and is gaining strong support from a wide range of online users; however, there are already a few who seem to be against its usage agreement and policies. The Drive can provide as much as 5 gigabytes of storage space absolutely free while users can still upgrade it for a fee. Right now you can do a 25 gigabytes storage space for only $2.49 a month and it can still go up depending on how much you need and you are willing to pay.

Encoding your necessary files and data into the storage capacity of the Drive would let you have access to all of it anytime and anywhere you are as long as you have the ability to access the web. You don’t have to worry because the application is compatible with multiple computers such as Windows, Macintosh and other android programs. The company is still working on adding Apple iPhones to the list of compatible hardware for the Drive to be used. Once the information is stored, you would have the ability to share it with others too.

Because the files are open to all software applications, this is also one of the many advantages of the application. Aside from having the ease of access to all your documents and files from almost anywhere, you would also have the ability to use search engines to find exactly what you are looking for. You can use a variety of keywords that you have encoded in the texts, like for example the title of the article, any phrase or word that you can remember putting in or simply any word that is in the content. If you do it this way, it would be easier to look for the specific file or document you want to work on, to share or to view without going through a lot of folders first. Keywords are easy and it’s fast.

What people are worried about is the fact that the company (Google) can also access the files even without the owner’s permission. Although all contents are still rightly your own and the company does not enforce any direct limitations to what you want to upload and what you want to do with your files, agreeing with the policy use and agreement would give them the right to use it for their own benefit especially for advertisement purposes or using your photos to gain sponsors.

The Drive is available for everyone to take advantage of and it is really up to you on how far you want to go with it.

 

Facebook’s acquisition of 650 patents from Microsoft

by Jeff

Who would not be familiar with perhaps two of the biggest names in the cyber community and social networking – Microsoft and Facebook? Just recently, Microsoft have engaged in a potential investment from AOL into purchasing about 925 of its patented applications for $1 billion but now the giant company is trying to make a [...]

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Google’s Project Glasses – an innovation that stands out among the rest or a burden?

by Jeff

While the never ending discussion of where the boundaries of technology should stop, and would man be able to live comfortably without the use of computers, cellular phones, or similar gadgetry be possible; the ever famous cyber community of Google is on its final phase of mass producing another in electronic gadget you will find [...]

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Facebook buys Instagram

by Jeff

The biggest social- networking website in the world has gone a step further to secure another app right to their name. Facebook is reported to have made a $1 billion offer to Instagram co-founders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger. Instagram is a mobile photo-sharing app that has rocked the tech world in the last 15 [...]

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5 Graphic Design and Development Tips You Cannot Ignore

by Jeff

It is a recurring theme looking through modern gallery sites and portfolio collections – ego. Looking through sites for inspiration I notice designers designing for designers, developers building functionality for show off points, and the end result is something considered “cool” that the customer cannot use and the customers audience deems inappropriate. I have compiled [...]

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Google+ And The Plus Button

by Jeff

I recently added the plus 1 button to my website and read through some of the suggestions. Google recommends placing the button at the top of the page, close to the logo, to make it easier for visitors to use it. My translation of that is, they want to brand everything. I placed the button [...]

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Stitcher Renews Faith In Podcasts

by Jeff

When pod casting started it was instantly a geek only medium. Just the fact that you had to subscribe, download, and either listen on your computer or sync to take it with you was a pain. It has all changed thanks to smart phones and apps like Stitcher. I no longer need to sync to [...]

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Your Phone’s 4-Digit Lockscreen PIN

by Jeff

Very true – if you have finger smudges over 4 digits on your smart phone then your pin is pretty easy to figure out. But there is also something to be said about security and cleaning your screen. Repeating One Digit May Actually Improve the Security of Your Phone’s 4-Digit Lockscreen PIN – Lifehacker.

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Lexus LFA 2012

by Jeff

Lexus LFA 2012. Looks fun to me.

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Manhattan Beach Patch, CA – OB’s Pub & Grill

by Jeff

Manhattan Beach Patch, CA – OB’s Pub & Grill.

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Coffee’s effects revealed in brain scans

by Jeff

Just confirms my love for strong coffee in the morning. I might need to think about a slow consistent drip of caffeine throughout the day to keep my brain levels at peak performance… imagine what that crash would be like? Coffee’s effects revealed in brain scans – health – 01 December 2005 – New Scientist.

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The Tale of Apple’s Next iPhone – Iphone 4 – Gizmodo

by Jeff

The Tale of Apple’s Next iPhone – Iphone 4 – Gizmodo.

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InADayTrafficSchool.com — Fast and Easy.

by Jeff

InADayTrafficSchool.com — Fast and Easy..

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Pantone Coffee Mugs

by Jeff

A client wanted these imprinted and I thought they were fun. Products · W2.

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Free Ground Shipping on Business Cards at Print Fellas

by Jeff

Print Fellas is offering free ground shipping on all business card orders from now until tax day, April 15, 2008. Here are three easy ways to take advantage of this offer: Choose a template design here: http://www.printfellas.com/gallery/business-cards/ Download a template to design your own business card: http://www.printfellas.com/download-templates.html Upload your ready-to-print business card design here: http://www.printfellas.com/upload.html [...]

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Print Fellas Launches Their Online Printing Site

by Jeff

  Print Fellas has just launched a complete makeover of their online printing site. New features include a larger design template gallery, Ajax enabled purchasing, scrollable product designs on each product page, project logs to track your order, and a completely new css designed interface. The dark grays and blacks have been replaced with bright [...]

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10 Holiday Photo Tips

by Jeff

  Print Fellas has just publish a useful article about taking holiday photos. This is a quick list of ten items to consider hen taking your photographs. Here is one of the tips: 5. Get Close Your family should fill the entire frame of the picture. Position your camera close so that you don’t rely [...]

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