August, 2017 | VinaGecko

The Latest Tech Innovations in Online Games You should Know about

When it comes to online gaming, we’ve definitely benefitted from a host of innovations in recent years. Mobile gambling is already a common activity, as most everyone has a mobile phone or tablet, and some of the simplest games such as slots have now become a lot more advanced, with better graphics and features to boot. Technology is at the forefront of online gaming, and the latest innovations to hit the industry have attracted more and more gamers than ever. Nowadays, if you’re interested in playing roulette online, you can benefit from live dealers and a whole plethora of variants when it comes to this popular casino game. Of course, the bonuses are one thing that attracts a whole range of players, and they’re always available for anyone, such as the 888casino promo code offer. So what should you know about the innovations, and how exciting are they? Let’s find out.

The basics

If you’ve never tried playing online roulette before, then you should know that it’s not much different from traditional roulette. The games of online roulette are often played on an online casino’s site, and these games can also be downloaded. Unlike traditional, land-based games of roulette, online roulette is just as its name implies: it is played in an environment generated by computers. Players can choose from a broad range of menus, and players also have the option to just spin the wheel themselves without having to rely on a virtual dealer.

When you play online roulette, you are experiencing the convenience of Internet gaming to the utmost. Unlike playing roulette in an actual brick-and-mortar casino, online roulette gives you the chance to enjoy a game or two without having to dress up, travel, or go out. You can do it all from the comfort of your home, and you can play it any time you want.

Another advantage to online roulette is that, compared to a live game where you will typically see only 40 turns or spins in one hour, online roulette can give you as many as 100 turns or spins in a single hour. This means you don’t have to wait too long, which helps you make the most of your time as well.

A realistic experience in gaming

But thanks to high-definition streaming, RFID technology, and specially-made interfaces now found online, whole variations of online roulette, from French roulette to American roulette to European roulette can be played by individuals in an extremely realistic, much more exciting setting.

Another innovation which many players can look forward to is virtual reality online roulette. VR roulette makes use of tools and software such as the Leap Motion 3D Controller and the Oculus RIFT DK2 headset, and although it’s not available yet, it’s something that players can definitely look forward to.

Image attributed to Pixabay.com

Tips for Eliminating Procrastination Within Your Project Team

Procrastination can kill your productivity and cost your project money. It can happen for many reasons, even in a successful team. Sometimes employees feel that reaching a deadline is a foregone conclusion, and they can thus take it easy on the journey. Other times people simply prioritize incorrectly, leaving a major task for last when it should be done first. Whatever the reason, here are some ways you can keep your team from procrastinating.

Minimize Interruptions

The constant interruptions that occur throughout a typical workday lead to abandoned tasks and procrastination as people constantly shift from one priority to another. You can minimize procrastination by encouraging your team to minimize their distractions. This can include scheduling a block of time during the day to check email rather than trying to answer each message that comes in. If you use PM software that allows messages to be sent with different levels of priority, you can encourage the use of these priority flags as a way of letting others know how urgent a task is. Minimizing distractions means a greater focus on the task at hand, which reduces procrastination in getting it done.

Set Mini Goals

One of the reasons why a person procrastinates, to begin with, is because the final results of the project seem so distant, making the individual tasks that lead up to it feel irrelevant. You can combat this by providing mini goals that represent small achievements which your team can view as milestones. Many project management programs allow you to set goals and deliverables for your team; make sure to take advantage of this by providing some near-term goals to go with the long-term achievements. This gives your team a stronger feeling of accomplishment and helps keep them active and motivated. It also gives you a better feel for time management and efficiency within your project.

Schedule Regular Check-In Meetings

A weekly or semi-weekly check-in meeting can do wonders for communication and productivity. Schedule meetings between yourself and individual members of your team on a regular basis at a standard time so it is something you can both plan your schedule around. These one-on-one meetings should provide an opportunity to discuss upcoming deadlines, review ongoing tasks, and voice any concerns about either the project or productivity as a whole. They serve as a weekly chance to refocus on what is important and to both give and receive feedback. Doing this can help keep procrastination away and reenergize each team member.

Create Group Assignments

People are less likely to procrastinate when they have peers relying on them and pushing them in a positive manner. When you determine the workflow for your team, try to include multiple people on tasks that might normally see procrastination. This prevents one person from feeling isolated from the project and allows the teammates to feed off one another. This also increases accountability, since if one person procrastinates they are doing a direct disservice to the rest of the team. When doing this, make sure to chart out the workflow thoroughly using Celoxis web project management tools or a similar application. This cuts down on confusion and makes sure everybody is on the same page.

When confronting a procrastination problem, it is important to remember that most people don’t choose to procrastinate because they like it. If somebody is procrastinating, it is usually due to a problem of engagement or a lack of proper prioritization. In most cases, the problem is treatable as long as you identify the underlying reason for the procrastination. By doing this and following the tips outlined above, you should be able to increase team productivity and put everybody in the best possible position to thrive.

3 Information Security Trends to Keep an Eye On

Information security is evolving as hackers try new tactics and bring back old ones to cope with improving information security. Here are three information security trends to keep an eye on.

Human Intelligence Makes a Comeback

Human intelligence, spying on people and manipulating them to collect information, is making a comeback. It is difficult to hack a network. The process is easier if you send what looks like an industry survey to their IT department and ask what firewall they use, what antivirus software they use and whether they have intrusion detection systems.

Another issue is the return to cloak and dagger work, such as leaving USB drives in the parking lot of the business in the hope someone what they think belongs to a co-worker in a work computer, infecting the network with monitoring or malicious software.

Wikileaks used a variation of classic human intelligence techniques. Why hack a network when you can identify a disgruntled person inside an organization and get them to give you the information?

Those earning information assurance degrees should learn from these examples. Some colleges, such as Norwich University, have whole modules dedicated to the impact of human error insider threats. Norwich University‘s information assurance program stands out for teaching you how to design systems against accidental deletion or alteration of data as well as malicious changes.

Ransomware on Everything

There have been jokes about people’s smart appliances being hacked. The hacker’s vulnerability probing software finds an open port. This vulnerability can be exploited to put ransomware on smart devices.

What could hackers do? Pay us $150 via this convoluted process or we’ll turn off the fridge, ruining all the food on it while you’re on vacation.

We might see the hackers doing it as much for fun as for profit, threatening to play music you hate or random screams through the information appliance if you don’t pay $20.

Automated and Built-In Security

Routers with built in firewalls are an established industry standard. Intrusion detection software is starting to be rolled out installed on servers and imaged laptops. These automated tools and devices with built-in security reduce the risk of infection via viruses and malware while freeing up IT security to cope with attempted intrusions or infections quickly. Unfortunately, hackers are now targeting as many devices as they can to get on the network. They infect someone’s wearable device, which lacks the same level of security, and then infect their Apple computer via the compromised Apple Watch.

Conclusion

Automated tools to monitor for hack attacks and built-in security and data storage are freeing up IT workers to deal with problems quickly. Yet hackers are targeting the second tier of devices without these protections, so your computer’s infection is as likely to be from an infected child’s toy to USB drive from someone pretending to be a vendor giving out freebies. To get around security improvements, hackers and foreign governments are returning to human intelligence, because there are relatively few tools to stop the insider from intentionally leaking information. Study for a MSIA degree to learn more.

Why It’s So Important Your Small Business Chooses the Right Software

Whether your business operates out of an office or a warehouse environment, different software packages are used to make the operations of the business more efficient. From software packages such as Adobe and Microsoft to CRM (Customer Relationship Management) and BPM software to improve Business Process Management, there are so many different pieces of software that are needed to run a business. If you’re currently looking for reasons why it’s so important that your small business has the right software from the get go, have a look at some of the reasons below.

The Right Software Improves Efficiency

The number one reason why it’s so important to choose the right software is that it improves the efficiency of a business overall. From basic software packages to complex pieces of software that do more, implementing such software will always have a positive impact on how your business is run. Employees’ jobs will be made easier and good customer service will always be provided.

Software Packages Can Help Businesses Grow

Small businesses always need to be ambitious and think ahead, otherwise, they’re just going to be stuck in the same situation for the foreseeable future. Software packages can automate processes to make things easier. And that means lower employment and running costs that could give you the financial freedom to invest in more inventory.

A Well-Organized Business Relies on Software

Being organized is key to a business. Without it, your business is not moving forward. Being organized from the bottom up will provide many other benefits in terms of improved customer experience and a happy workforce. Therefore, the right software will enhance a business so normal processes are much easier to undertake.

Financial Management Is Easier

Managing the financial side of a business is often a headache. But, even with basic Microsoft packages that include the likes of Excel and Word – financial management is made easier. It’s important financial software packages are well-thought of because it’s the financial side of a business that’s going to keep the business ticking over for years to come.

Customer Experience Improves

If customers aren’t happy with the products or services they’ve been provided with, they’re not likely to use your business again. Therefore, excellent customer experience is vital to the success of any business. Not only can the right software boost efficiency throughout different departments but it can also make organization much easier, and that means your employees have more time to cater to the needs of your customers.

What’s the Best Way of Deciding on Software?

Firstly, it’s best you understand business from the bottom up. An effective way to do that is to earn a masters in business administration online via one of the online MBA programs that Northeastern University provide. It’s the only way you’re going to truly understand business management and what it takes to make a business a success.

While the above reasons only scratch the surface of why software is important to your business, they are still the reasons that should push you in the right direction when it comes to spending time choosing the right software to suit the needs of your operation.

How to Make International Travel Easier and More Productive

Many people who have to travel for business often dread the time they spend sitting in the airport, on the plane, and in taxis just waiting to get from point A to point B. Travel can be stressful, uncomfortable, and time consuming. Because of this, it’s imperative that professionals who travel on a regular basis make the most of their time in transit. Follow the tips below to make your international travel easier and more productive.

Plan Ahead to Minimize Setbacks

When packing for your trip, keep the cramped overhead bins in mind and remember that whatever you pack, you’ll have to lug around the airport. Pack light and keep it minimal. Make sure all your devices are fully charged and that your outfit is practical. You don’t want to show up in pajamas, but a full suit or high heels might make traveling even more uncomfortable.

Double check that you’ve packed your identification, tickets, and passport. Keep your tickets and all forms of identification somewhere that’s easily accessible so you don’t have to sort through your bag at each checkpoint. Most airlines allow you to check in online, 24 hours before your flight. Consider doing this to avoid dealing with it when you get to the airport. When you check in ahead of time, you’ll also have a bigger selection of seats to choose from.

Have the Right Gear

From neck pillows to noise-canceling headphones, there’s an unlimited supply of products designed specifically for avid travelers. For those looking to get some work done in the air, you need to have a laptop or tablet. If you need to communicate with coworkers or clients or send time-sensitive emails, make sure you have access to the internet. Some airlines offer in-flight Wi-Fi for a small fee, but many still don’t. To make sure you’re always connected, consider using a service like T-Mobile’s Gogo In-Flight, which gives you one free hour of Wi-Fi and unlimited texting throughout your entire flight.

You should also look into portable chargers for keeping devices powered up on long flights or the right pair of headphones to help block out the sounds of other passengers. Adapters are also important when you’re traveling out of the country.

Get Your Finances in Order

The first thing to do is to let your bank know you’re traveling abroad. You don’t want to have your bank account frozen because a purchase in another country looks suspicious. Try to avoid exchanging your money for the local currency at the airport. The exchange rates are usually very high, so do your research to find the most affordable option. When you do exchange money, don’t swap out more than you need. Having too much currency means you’ll have to pay additional fees to convert it back into dollars after your trip.

Tackle the Airport

Arrive early. You never know what could happen, and missing your flight could mean missing a big meeting or having to reschedule your flight for the following day. Frequent travelers should create a routine for navigating the airport to optimize time and allow less room for mishaps. You can also look into becoming a member of the trusted traveler program, TSA PreCheck, which allows its members to leave on their shoes, belts, and outerwear and even allows them to keep small amounts of liquids and laptops in their bags. TSA PreCheck lets you get through security within minutes.

Avoid checking your bags if possible. This will ensure that your luggage won’t get lost in transit and that you won’t have to wait for your bags after arriving at your destination. You should also try to avoid spending unnecessary money. Airport terminals have so many things you might want but don’t need like drinks, food, and souvenirs. You don’t want to waste money just because you’re bored and then regret it when you land.

International travel can be tough, especially when it’s for work. By maximizing your time and minimizing possible delays, you’ll breeze through all of your future international trips.

Image via Flickr by AstridWestvang

Best Tricks for Mastering the Art of SEO

These days, everyone is aware that search engine optimization has the power of giving you a massive return on your investment. SEO has become essential for every website, blog and online nowadays, but the fact is that there is no magic formula to it. Those who believe that they can just master the art of SEO overnight are making a mistake. There are a myriad of aspects of search engine optimization and learning about them is a time-consuming and ongoing process. If you want to learn and understand SEO, you have to think about the future. It will not only require you to work diligently in the long term, but some experimentation and risk is also involved.

Some of the best tricks and resources that you can use for mastering SEO are outlined here:

Wing it

In a nutshell, reading about SEO, studying it and actually implementing it is a whole new world. Even after you have read hundreds of articles and blog posts about search engine optimization and watched lots of tutorials, you still need to put all this knowledge into effect. This is where you wing it because you are doing this for the very first time. The best way to do this is to have a website that you can start optimizing for search engines. Yes, there is a good change that you are going to fail in the beginning, but this failure will actually provide you with a learning experience. Some dedication and experimentation can go a long way, but always keep track of what you are doing as this will tell you what works and what doesn’t so you can make adjustments accordingly.

Training Courses

Today, it is possible to get all kinds of education online. A quick search on Google will provide you with thousands of SEO training courses that you can take for understanding different elements of search engine optimization. You can find lots of virtual academies offering a comprehensive SEO training course that covers the ins and outs. Likewise, you can also find a SEO training course that provides you with insights into the latest SEO techniques and practices. In order to increase your likelihood of success, it is a good idea for you to enroll in a good and reliable SEO training course. Some are going to be free while others will cost, but they will offer you value for money.

Forums

Getting in touch with likeminded individuals and brainstorming with them can be immensely beneficial. This is where joining forums can be a great decision. When you become a part of forums, you will have a platform for discussing search engine optimization with others who are experienced and skilled in SEO. Their guidance and advice will come in handy and will strengthen your portfolio. You will be able to gain more practical knowledge from forums where you talk with people who have tried and tested methods.

A combination of forums, experimentation and an SEO training course can go a long way in helping you understand SEO.

What’s New in Mobile Betting – and How You can Get in on the Action

We already know that mobile betting is on the up and up – more individuals are relying on their mobiles to bet on their favourite sports matches rather than physically visiting a brick and mortar shop. The convenience is there, after all, and it can’t be denied – why dress up and go out when you can simply click on a few buttons and place your bets online, from the convenience of your own home? You can do this at any time, at that. Thanks to technological advances, you can take advantage of some of the best free bets on the market and even place bets on real-time games – in-play betting is getting a lot more enthusiasts nowadays, as you can see the results as they happen, in real time. But what else is new in mobile betting, and how can you get in on the action?

More online wagers

As mentioned, an increasing number of punters are placing their bets online through their mobile phones. And this is not just done by younger punters, either – punters who are older and who have seen the benefits of mobile and digital technology are placing more of their bets through their smart phones and tablets as well. In fact, some studies show that bets on mobile could very well reach the £1 billion mark by next year.

Because of the rising trend of betting on mobile, you can expect bookmakers to also do their part. Think faster apps, better live streaming capabilities, more innovations when it comes to the placement of bets, and more. Some bookie sites have even begun offering ‘text bets,’ where you simply send them a text with your choice and the amount of your stake, and they’ll arrange your bet for you.

The social aspect

You may already know that there are many betting forums which you can join online. These betting forums are the perfect platform for anyone who’s into sports betting, because you can get lots of tips and advice from both the experts and enthusiastic punters just like you. But there’s another thing that’s coming up, and it’s coming up big: sports betting on social media sites such as Twitter, WhatsApp, and Facebook. The community of punters in these sites is growing, and at a great pace. Perhaps, in time, you will see a social network solely dedicated to sports betting – but for now, you can well take advantage of social media platforms to learn more about sports betting and perfect your strategy as well.

The .bet domain name

For the techies out there, there’s one more thing to watch out for: the .bet domain name. It was announced last year that this domain name is ready for purchase, so you can expect to see some new sites springing up in the near future.

Image attributed to Pixabay.com

The Personal Screen: The Gaming Platform of Choice for the Majority

A decade has passed since the launch of the iPhone, the first smartphone as we know them today has opened up a brand new frontier for entertainment providers to explore. Over the years, the smartphone – along with its big brother, the tablet computer – has become the entertainment device of choice for billions of people all around the world. It is, after all, the perfect device to consume various forms of entertainment, from videos and music to pictures, social media updates, and lots of games of all kinds. Mobile gaming’s growth has translated into a lot of money for the publishers – today, mobile generates the most revenue among all the gaming platforms (32%, or $46.1 billion, according to the latest estimates by Newzoo), overtaking consoles (31%) and PC (23%). And the latest estimates expect mobile to continue to grow in the coming years – smartphones and tablets will be responsible for half of all the gaming revenue generated by 2020, with a total of over $70 billion.

The games we play

According to a report published last year by Verto Analytics, the most played mobile game genres today are brain puzzle and matching puzzle games, action/strategy games, Alternate Reality (AR) games, and real money online casino games and their social counterparts. Even though the real money games at the All Slots and beyond hardly ever show up in the statistics (the All Slots Mobile is a browser-based game which doesn’t make it to the stats), they still influence these statistics, especially in Australia, Canada, and the US – here, social casino apps are constantly among the top 10 grossing mobile games with six-figure daily revenues for their publishers.

Building simulation games, RPGs, card games, and racing titles are also on the top 10 list of popular smartphone game genres, yet these fall behind the leaders when it comes to the number of players and the time spent playing them.

The portrait of the average mobile gamer

Who plays what? Well, it depends largely on the genre and the age of the player.

According to Verto, matching puzzle games are predominantly played by 35 to 54-year-old female players, while brain puzzles are preferred by females aged 35 to 65. Alternate reality games appeal mostly to younger generations – they are very popular among players aged 18-24 (mostly males) and 25-34 (mostly females). Interestingly, the interest of males aged 35-44 for such games drops significantly, while the interest of females of the same age grows when they reach this age (as you might expect, a very small percentage of the 65+ demographic plays AR games). And when it comes to the active hours spent playing on the go, card games are the clear leaders – Verto’s statistics show that on average, players spend more than 18 hours a month playing poker on the go, more than twice as much as playing matching puzzle games.

Cinema Box: The What, How, And Why!

Movie watching is definitely fun but watching all your favorite films plus TV shows and cartoons along with animes can take a tool on your mind. The complexity of the process and interruptions galore is likely to have you tearing your hair out. No worries though for you have an easy way out now! Try to down load the Cinema Box apk and get it installed on your Android device. Yes! The device would turn into your very own movie theater and more thereby allowing you to be fully entertained whenever the desire hits on.

4 upgrades for your business’s technology

Staying up to date with the latest technological advances is a fantastic way to show that your company can thrive in the modern world. Potential clients, employees, and business links will be impressed by your ability to make the most of all that technology has to offer. That is why it is so important for you to review the digital aspects of your business consistently. Are there any areas that need updating? Could you use new technology to improve your efficiency? How can you invest in technology to save your business both time and money? These are all questions that a tech savvy entrepreneur should be asking themselves. If you are looking for some suggestions on how to get started, look no further! Below are four potential upgrades for your business’s technology.

Upgrade your presentations

Not so long ago, a well-made PowerPoint presentation would be a sure sign of a modern business. However, the standard PowerPoint presentation has now become outdated. Instead, successful businesses are investing a lot of effort into finding new and exciting ways to convey information. If you want to stand out from the crowd, you need to do the same. Prezzi is a fantastic solution that is surprisingly easy to use. When used with a smart whiteboard, this online software will help you, and your staff, to create presentations that have a more interactive feel to them. Instead of a standard slide transition, Prezzi allows you to give a presentation that moves around a larger image. You can switch back and forth from one point to another and make interesting links using visual aids. You can also save your presentations online, and even make them available to the public. This could be a clever way to raise the digital profile of your business.

If you already use Prezzi, why not try creating infographics as well? You can find software online that will allow you to design these visual aids for free. This is a fantastic way to create sophisticated and professional resources for your business. You can download the images and use them in your company brochures. You could even have them blown up to create eye-catching displays or upload them onto your website. It isn’t hard to be creative when you have the technology to help!

Upgrade your devices

Although it may sound like an expensive undertaking, it is important that you upgrade your business’s technological devices on a regular basis. Having access to the latest gadgets is a clever investment, as it can end up saving you both time and money. It can also help to bring in impressive potential employees to your business. It is likely that they will be drawn to a company that can offer them top-of-the-range technology rather than devices that are out of date. Make sure that you engage your staff with the process of making new purchases. Give them the opportunity to tell you what new devices would improve their working life. Is there a certain task that takes up an unnecessary amount of their time? Is there a piece of tech in the office that doesn’t operate properly and slows down your staff? If so, research potential solutions.

Don’t be overwhelmed by the amount of choice available. Write a list of all of your requirements, then shop around for the best deal. You might want to try comparison sites, or maybe wait until the right time of year for a sale. However, it is important not to be too distracted by the price of an item. You must also consider how long it is going to last you. It may be worth spending a little more if it means you are getting a piece of kit that will stand the test of time. Pay attention to the warranties offered, as this is another important way to make sure that you are getting the most for your money.

Analyse the performance of your business

An upgrade in your business’s technology can help you to analyze your performance. By relying on technology, instead of simply asking your staff or checking your books, you can get an unbiased picture of how your business is operating. Technology also removes the potential for human error, so you will know for certain that the information you are looking at is accurate. You can find free software online, or you can invest in more advanced software that will provide an even more specific analysis of your business. By taking this approach, you will get the chance to see things that you would have never noticed without the help of technology. For instance, this process will alert you to areas where your business is spending most of its money. Some of this will make sense to you, but some of your costs may seem higher than expected. You will then be able to review these costs and look for cheaper alternatives. This action might not have been possible if you didn’t have such a specific breakdown of your company finances.

Streamline your sales

If you are a tech savvy entrepreneur, your business may already depend heavily on the use of apps. However, now may be the time for you to get Salesforce to NetSuite connector to streamline operations for your company. This software will use pre-built integration flows to synchronize data between Salesforce and NetSuite. This will allow your company’s system to recognize revenues faster, provide a 360-degree view of customer activity, achieve faster time-to-value, and minimize your ongoing costs. Instead of switching between two different systems, you will be able to get the most out of Salesforce and NetSuite. The two programmes will be able to communicate with each other so that you don’t have to transfer the data manually. This will save you, and your employees, an enormous amount of time and effort. This technological upgrade can also help to improve the relationship you have with your customers. By synchronizing your account, Salesforce will immediately become aware of any changes to the products, or the prices of products, in NetSuite. This way, no customers will be left disappointed by miscommunication or human error.