Berlusconi aides seek presidential pardon

ROME (AP) ? A Silvio Berlusconi loyalist warned on Saturday of a possible "civil war" unless ex-premier's punishment for tax-fraud conviction is not lifted, as his aides maneuvered to win a presidential pardon so he can avoid a prison term and a ban on holding public office.

Berlusconi stalwarts also urged the 10 million Italians who voted for the conservative leader in this year's election to fill the streets of Rome on Sunday.

Italy's highest court on Thursday upheld Berlusconi's four-year prison sentence, the first time that the media mogul was definitely convicted and sentenced in two decades of trials and other criminal probes. A law to reduce prison overcrowding slashes his sentence to one year and since he is over 70, he can choose house confinement or perform social services instead of going to prison.

Berlusconi insists he is a victim of prosecutors and judges who he says have leftist sympathies.

"In this country, democracy has been mutilated" by the high court's decision, Daniela Santanche, one of Berlusconi's closest associates, told Sky TG24 TV.

His political associates and party officials pressed their "save Silvio" strategy on several fronts after huddling with him on Friday evening. Berlusconi, in a recorded video message a few hours after Italy's supreme court upheld the conviction, had sounded shaken but defiant, vowing to galvanize his party's base.

Renato Brunetta, a leader of Berlusconi's People of Freedom party, said Saturday he and a former Senate president, Renato Schifani, have requested a meeting with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, who can issue pardons.

Napolitano hasn't publicly commented about the prospects of a pardon. But, according to the Italian constitution, only Berlusconi, his lawyer or a family member can ask for a presidential pardon, which could wipe out or lessen the punishment but not the conviction itself.

Fueling political tension was longtime Berlusconi loyalist Sandro Bondi's assessment that Italy "must find a solution or risk civil war" if the 76-year-old billionaire businessman is forced to serve time and is stripped of his Senate seat.

Whatever the government's fate, Berlusconi isn't about to start serving his sentence or lose his seat. He has until mid-October to decide whether to serve the year's sentence at home or perform some socially useful service. And Senate procedures to strip him of his post will likely take months.

Exposing raw nerves in Premier Enrico Letta's coalition, Deputy Economy Minister Stefano Fassina denounced the request for a pardon as "an unacceptable provocation" and Bondi's words as "bordering on subversion."

Letta's fragile coalition risks collapse if Berlusconi's party withdraws support.

Berlusconi's political heir, Interior Minister Angelino Alfano has said that maybe he and fellow ministers who support the media mogul should quit in a show of anger over the conviction.

Letta's center-left Democratic Party won the most votes in February's election for Parliament but not enough to govern alone with a majority in both chambers of the legislature. Democrats reluctantly agreed to a coalition with Berlusconi's conservatives. The alliance has been fraught with tensions for weeks before Berlusconi's conviction made its long-term survival uncertain.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/berlusconi-aides-seek-presidential-pardon-173431518.html

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Cain Velasquez On Dos Santos Trilogy

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Source: http://mmaspot.com/redblack/comments/cain-velasquez-on-dos-santos-trilogy

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U.S. power regulator says JP Morgan manipulated market

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. power market regulator took a step toward charging JPMorgan Chase & Co. with gaming electricity prices on Monday, confirming months of media reports about "manipulative" trading schemes that have rattled the bank.

The "notice of alleged violations", which outlines bidding strategies used by traders in California and the Midwest, is an intermediate step by the regulator, but brings details of the investigation into public view.

The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) staff has found "eight manipulative bidding strategies" used by a JPM affiliate in 2010 and 2011, the regulator said.

JPMorgan declined to comment.

The notice comes as little surprise after weeks of reports that JPMorgan and FERC are in talks to settle the alleged trading infractions for as much as $400 million.

It did not contain any mention of specific traders or commodities chief Blythe Masters, who had been mentioned in media reports as having been at risk of being singled out.

In some cases it can be weeks or months between the time FERC issues a violations notice and it proceeds to issue a formal order. In many cases, a settlement will be reached in the intervening period.

It is a reminder of the tougher regulatory environment that commodity traders are facing, particularly banks, which have been under intensifying public and political pressure over their ownership of things like metals warehouses and power plants.

JPMorgan announced abruptly on Friday that it was quitting the physical commodity markets, seeking a buyer or partner to take over an operation that includes ownership of three power plants as well as a handful of large tolling agreements.

The alleged violations in Monday's letter offered little new insight into the bank's trading, as most of the details had already been laid out in previous FERC filings.

If settlement talks are successful, JPMorgan would close the book on a probe that dates back more than two years when California's power grid operator noticed the bank was using an "abusive" trading strategy that effectively forced the grid to pay for plants to sit idle, ultimately adding to costs.

FERC has been particularly active this month. The regulator approved a $470 million penalty against British bank Barclays PLC and four of its traders for manipulating California power markets. Barclays said it would fight the fine in court.

For JPMorgan, a deal would also allow CEO Jamie Dimon to make good on his promise to resolve multiple government investigations and regulatory run-ins over the past year. The bank, which is the biggest in the United States by assets, is under pressure in Washington for its size and for its $6.2 billion "London Whale" loss on derivatives trades last year.

(Reporting By Patrick Rucker in Washington and Jonathan Leff in New York; Editing by Leslie Gevirtz)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/u-power-regulator-says-jp-morgan-manipulated-market-214825112.html

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Kerry says Egypt is at 'pivotal moment' in history

WASHINGTON (AP) ? As violence in Egypt turned increasingly deadly Saturday, Secretary of State John Kerry said the Mideast nation was at "a pivotal moment" more than two years since the uprising ousted the longtime President Hosni Mubarak.

Clashes between security forces and supporters of democratically elected President Mohammed Morsi in eastern Cairo early Saturday left at least 65 protesters dead. The Islamist-led protests over Morsi's removal earlier this month followed nationwide rallies on Friday that drew millions in support of military-backed authorities.

In 2011 a revolution ended Mubarak's rule and brought Morsi to power last year as Egypt's first democratically elected leader. Military authorities toppled Morsi last month, calling into question the future of democracy in Egypt and the nature of the U.S.-Egyptian partnership in the region.

The U.S. has not taken sides but for weeks has called for peaceful protests and calm responses.

The Obama administration has avoided defining the ouster of Morsi as a coup. Under federal law, U.S. assistance must be suspended if a country's democratic government is overthrown by military force. Egypt received $1.5 billion a year in aid from the U.S., nearly all of it for the military.

"This is a pivotal moment for Egypt," Kerry said in a statement. "Over two years ago, a revolution began. Its final verdict is not yet decided, but it will be forever impacted by what happens right now. In this extremely volatile environment, Egyptian authorities have a moral and legal obligation to respect the right of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. Both are essential components of the inclusive democratic process they have publicly embraced."

Kerry said the continued violence sets back efforts of "reconciliation and democratization," and affects regional stability. The U.S. is urging "an independent and impartial inquiry" and that political leaders must help their country "take a step back from the brink," he said.

"A meaningful political dialogue, for which interim government officials have themselves called, requires participants who represent all the political parts of Egyptian society," Kerry said. "To enable such a dialogue, the United States reiterates our call for an end to politicized detentions and the release of political leaders consistent with the law."

On Saturday, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel spoke by phone with Egypt's defense minister to express deep concern over the violence and to encourage restraint, a Pentagon spokesman said.

"The United States believes that the current transition needs to be marked by inclusivity, that Egyptian authorities should avoid politicized arrests and detentions, and take steps to prevent further bloodshed and loss of life," Pentagon press secretary George Little said. "It is in the short- and long-term interests of the Egyptian people to renew their path toward democratic transition, and to emphasize tolerance across the political spectrum."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/kerry-says-egypt-pivotal-moment-history-201154670.html

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Amazon Web Services adds support for Windows 8/WP8 apps

Microsoft's Windows Azure cloud service has a huge rival in Amazon Web Services. This week, AWS announced it has released a new version of its .NET SDK that for the first time offers Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 app developers some of the same features as Microsoft does with Windows Azure.

In a post on the company's blog, AWS states:

With the new SDK, you can connect your Windows Phone or Windows Store apps to AWS services and you can build a cross-targeted application that's backed by AWS.? With this release, we add Windows Phone support to our growing SDK support for different mobile operating systems including our SDK for iOS and SDK for Android.

Specifically, AWS is now allowing Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 apps to connect to S3, EC2 and other services; developers can also pick which specific AWS region the SDK calls to in this new update.

Microsoft has offered similar features for Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 developers via its Windows Azure Mobile Services for some time. It also has cloud app support for the iOS platform and in March it added Android app support. It will be interesting to see how Microsoft and Amazon's cloud server rivalry will proceed now that both services offer similar features for the majority of mobile app developers.

Source: Amazon Web Services via ZDNet.com | Image via Amazon

Source: http://feeds.neowin.net/~r/neowin-all/~3/zRcqkdyYOYc/amazon-web-services-adds-support-for-windows-8wp8-apps

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INDIE ENTERTAINMENT SUMMIT - Hollywood Today

Diane Warren

BRINGS THE ?NEW HOLLYWOOD? TO LIFE

By Valerie Milano

Los Angeles, CA (Hollywood Today) 7/18/13

In a world of rapidly changing world, increasingly shaped by the internet, the music & entertainment business more than most have been going through a major upheaval and transition. Hence the need for serious members of the creative community (artists, writers, producers, managers, labels, video & film makers) to have more access to learn from those leading the way at the cutting edge of this evolving landscape. Here to deliver greatly on that need is an exciting and fast growing event in L.A., the entertainment capital of the world. IES ? the INDIE ENTERTAINMENT SUMMIT,? the 5 day industry conference & festival returns to the NoHo Arts District (in the North Hollywood area, just north of UNIVERSAL STUDIOS) in August for a highly acclaimed worldwide event. With a seismic shift away from ?old school record labels & movie/TV studios? to a more independent & entrepreneurial world, involving the internet & new technology, IES brings the leaders of the worlds of music, movies / TV, DJs, internet & technology together.

In addition to 5 days of the industry conference, music / movie & entertainment lovers in So Cal & visitors will be treated to the IES FAN FEST which will be a region wide series of free concerts & film screenings at area clubs featuring great talent from across the country and around the world. Like a mixture of Austin?s famed SXSW & Utah?s SUNDANCE, with a cutting edge creativity & technology mix, IES is growing into an important annual event for those involved in entertainment and lovers of music, movies, TV, acting, dance, comedy, the arts & new technology. More of what they love, with a huge component of discovery of new talent, creations & ideas for a voracious entertainment audience clamoring for more & more stimulating content.

With more cutting edge CEOs & leaders in the entertainment, media & tech industries than any other, the IES conference features over 80 in-depth industry seminars, workshops, panels & keynotes from over 100 industry leaders. In addition IES has many industry mixers & networking events, including the famed IES DEAL LINK where attendees are able to meet 1-on-1 with industry decision makers, investors & talent scouts. An annual highlight of the near week long IES extravaganza are the IES HONORS, where industry trailblazers are inducted and honored. This year?s IES HONORS include the legendary Quincy Jones, Smokey Robinson, Diane Warren, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube & N.W.A, Ozzy Osbourne & Randy Rhoads, Black Sabbath, 2Pac, Nirvana, Eazy-E, Foo Fighters, Nate Dogg, Motley Crue, Bone Thugs ?n Harmony, Motorhead, Cypress Hill, Slash, DJ Quik, Korn, Bun B / UGK, Blink-182, ODB & a special IES COMEDY Honor to the legendary Monty Python team, hailed as ?the Beatles of Comedy?.

Last year?s IES firmly established the brand as an event with a clearly defined mission, to bring talent & industry together to help the creative community build their businesses and grow jobs and revenues by spurring business growth. Last year?s event honored & inducted members of Guns ?n Roses, Pink Floyd, Megadeth, Poison, Skid Row, The Alkaholiks, hip hop legends Tech N9ne, Spice 1 & Chino XL, & a special induction to the Hendrix family for the iconic musician Jim Hendrix. A special IES session called a ?Case Study Of a Success Story?, studies the formation of iconic albums, bands & labels; which last year explored the 60+ million selling album ?Appetite For Destruction? by L.A. based group Guns ?n Roses, & reunited band members, original managers, engineers, video makers & those that were a part of this historic album and breakthrough group. Providing education, access to hard to reach industry connections, valuable resources, and a vibrant exchange of ideas and synergies, IES stands apart in a marketplace of conferences that are either old and outdated, or veer too far to the tech side, that focuses too much on the ?future crystal ball predicting? and goes over the head of most of the artists & creative community. This year?s IES HONORS features some of the biggest & most influential icons of their type, including Diane Warren receiving the first ever IES SONGWRITER HONOR. Warren is one of the most successful songwriters in history, with over 300 Billboard chart hits. She is so prolific, at one point, 7 of the highly regarded Top 10 were her compositions! She has written hits for the likes of Beyonce, Brittney Spears, Justin Bieber, Christina Aguilera, Aerosmith, Celine Dion, LeAnn Rimes, Snoop Lion, Enrique Iglesias, Kelly Clarkson, Mary J. Blige, Akon, Jesse J, Emile Sande, Paloma Faith, Jennifer Hudson, Keyshia Cole & hundreds more.? In addition Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame member Chuck D, leader of the group Public Enemy, will receive the IES TRAILBLAZER honor for his groundbreaking work in music, distribution, broadcasting & creation of indie oriented platforms for artists to own & control their creations & businesses. IES ROCK HONORS this year go to Ozzy Osbourne & his late great guitarist Randy Rhoads (with tributes to Randy by such legendary musicians as Zakk Wylde, John 5, Rudy Sarzo, Jake E. Lee & many more), The Who (with a special tribute by legendary Who producer (?My Generation?, ?I Can?t Explain?) Shel Talmy, Foo Fighters, Nirvana, Motley Crue, Slash, Motorhead & Blink-182.

On the IES HIP HOP HONORS side, this year?s inductees include the legendary group N.W.A (including Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren, DJ Yella), Eazy-E, 2Pac, Nate Dogg, Bone Thugs ?n Harmony, DJ Quik, Cypress Hill, Warren G & legendary execs Violet Brown & Chang Weisberg (Rock The Bells, Paid Dues & Smokeout festivals / tours). A special tribute & honor will be held for the iconic label PRIORITY (N.W.A, Ice Cube, Jay-Z, Master P, Mack 10, WC) & a ?Case Study Of A Success Story? of the landmark N.W.A album ?STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON?.

Created & founded by the founder of the INDIEPOWER network, Jay Warsinske & his new partner Scott Page (of Pink Floyd, new media/tech fame) the INDIE ENTERTAINMENT SUMMIT brings the world of entertainment & technology to the famed NoHo Arts District for a cutting edge conference by day, & every night a series of exciting concerts, film screenings & showcases along the ?creative corridor? along the Metro subway route. This famed route starts in NoHo, and continues stops & events at Universal Studios Citywalk, Hollywood & Highland, Hollywood & Vine, Silverlake & the Downtown Arts District. Future plans include the expansion across L.A. to the Westside, following the expanded subway route. Aiming to pump valuable revenues into SoCal, while providing the worldwide creative community with an annual summit & exchange of ideas, knowledge, collaborations and networking, IES is being hailed as ?the right thing, in the right place, at the right time? by industry execs and attendees, who last year came in from over 20 countries & all regions of the country. Legendary music industry executive Violet Brown exclaims ?IES is 5 days of incredible speakers & top leaders of the industry freely giving serious knowledge, trade secrets & tons of opportunities; with an incredible energy of super positive & committed people!? Artist manager & new media expert Steve Eggleston remarked ?I predict in 5 years or less, the INDIE ENTERTAINMENT SUMMIT will be to the entertainment world, what the SUNDANCE is to the film world, a revolutionary event on such an explosive scale.? Kevin Black, ex-President of WARNER BROTHERS RECORDS Urban says ?If you?re not at IES, you aren?t going to live to be a competitive artist these days, it feeds your mind, your soul & teaches you which way to go.? Discmakers exec Sydney Allston exclaims, ?IES is the best entertainment conference I?ve ever attended, it is a must attend event for all those serious about their careers.? Lady Gaga / Madonna / Beyonce producer Peter Rafelson, whose father created iconic TV Shows like ?THE MONKEES & films like ?EASY RIDER?, states, ?the overwhelming sense of good will & great energy at IES has made a lasting impression on me, a new community is on the rise & I am grateful to participate in the future growth of IES.? Legendary Founder of the longest running tour in America, the WARPED TOUR?s Kevin Lyman says ?You should check out IES, this is an annual event that we?ll all be going to for many years to come!? Finally, multi-platinum artist manager Steve Lobell exclaims, ?If you?re not at IES, you?re not in the business. Period!?

For more information on attending the IES Conference & Festival, visit the website at www.IESfest.com or call the office at 818-505-9537.

Source: http://www.hollywoodtoday.net/2013/07/18/indie-entertainment-summit/

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Video: Trade the tech wreck

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Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/video/cnbc/52521759/

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Apps of the Week: Financial Times, NewsBlur, Blank Lockscreen and more!

Another great set of apps to wrap up this month's Apps of the Week posts

It's Saturday afternoon, and that means it's time for another Apps of the Week post where we show off a few of our (currently) favorite apps. A handful of the Android Central writers have chimed in this week with an app that keeps them productive, entertained or just solves a problem that's bothering them on a particular device.

This week we have a couple ways to read the news, a great game choice and a few tools. Stick around after the break and see how we did.

read more

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/PVAhiEKJ67I/story01.htm

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Improved multiple monitor support in OS X Mavericks; who's going to use it? [Poll]

Multiple monitor support is being improved for OS X Mavericks, but just who is going to make use of it? Currently, OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion will allow you to use multiple monitors, but things get ugly when you go full screen on an app and all you get everywhere else is linen. So, Apple is improving on how OS X handles multiple displays with Mavericks.

The linen effect in Mountain Lion is ugly ? unless you like linen ? and completely impractical. After all, why wouldn't you want to go full screen on something you're working on? For me, it's one of the main reasons I don't use it currently; I actually have a second Mac hooked up to an external monitor, so I just use that instead. Mavericks promises to fix this with proper full screen support for each display you're working on. There's no longer a master display and a secondary display, wherever you're working you can have a menu bar and the dock, multiple apps on any display, even use AirPlay to your Apple TV to turn your HDTV into another display for your Mac. Sounds great.

But, at the same time, it also sounds a lot like a power user feature. The sort of person who really needs a multiple display set up likely already has one. But, Mavericks could make it easier on them to set up. The thing is though, with this added functionality, will any new, perhaps more casual users start to use it? That's where you guys come in. We want to know how many of you plan on using this enhanced capability in OS X Mavericks when it lands later this year. As ever, drop a vote in the poll up top, and share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/dwkI_r3qLTg/story01.htm

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Can You Use a Refrigerator as a Faraday Cage?

Earlier this week a New York Times article claimed that NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden asked a group of lawyers visiting him to put their cell phones in the refrigerator?the idea being that it would act as a Faraday cage. But does it actually work?

This video, by MAKE's Michael Colombo, suggests it might not be quite as effective as Snowden hoped. But a cocktail shaker? Now you're onto something. [YouTube via BoingBoing]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/can-you-use-a-refrigerator-as-a-faraday-cage-595625999

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Paul Shufelt: My Top 5 Tips to Avoid Your Own BBQ Disaster

We have all been there. We set about throwing an amazing BBQ for friends and family. We order some great steaks or chops from the local butcher, prepare our secret BBQ sauce, prepare delicious salads and sides to accompany the feast, pack the cooler with ice cold beer and have every last detail in order. Everything is perfect, that is, until the actual BBQ'ing begins. Whether it's the dreaded empty propane tank, or the distracted chef turning steaks into hockey pucks, a BBQ dinner can go from great to hurry up honey, call for pizza in a heartbeat. Here are a few great tips to help you get through your next BBQ outing unscathed.

? Have a Plan
Take the time to sort out your menu, write a detailed grocery list, and, whatever you do, don't forget to check the propane! Remember, when you fail to plan, plan to fail.

? Manage the Heat
Just because your BBQ can reach face-melting temperatures doesn't mean you have to cook everything at full blast. Contrary to popular belief, thicker cuts or items you wish to eat more well done require a lower heat to achieve the desired "doneness." Cooking a two inch thick pork chop on high will result in a blackened outside and raw center.

? Respect the Fat
Fat provides a great deal of flavor to just about everything, and I would never tell you to avoid it, but we do have to be mindful of how it behaves on an open flame. Steaks with a delicious fat cap and great marbling can taste wonderful, but as the fat renders down, it drips onto the burners and creates flare up, leaving an undesirable taste on your steak. Keep that in mind when cooking chicken with the skin on or marinating anything with an oil-based marinade.

? Watch Out For Sugar
Much like fat, sugar can be great, but it can also cause you grief. Now you're probably thinking that you aren't going to coat your steak or chicken in sugar before you cook it, but consider for a moment just how much sugar can be found in your standard BBQ sauce or marinade. I can tell you it's way more than you think. Now I'm not suggesting you avoid BBQ sauce -- it's just about finding the right time to apply it. I prefer to apply it as my steak or chops approach their desired temperature, smearing it on prior to its last flip, allowing the sugars to caramelize, but not burn completely. Remember, caramelized sugars take delicious, but burnt sugar tastes bitter.

? It's More Than Just a Steak Maker
Popular opinion might lead you to believe that your BBQ is only good for grilling steaks, chops and burgers. That couldn't be further from the truth. I have made cornbread on the grill, even made flatbread pizzas. The key is in understanding how the heat behaves. With the lid open your BBQ isn't much more than a steak maker, but if you consider that when the lid is closed it can behave just like your oven, then you can begin to understand the options you have. Use the top shelf to cook with less direct heat. Turn one burner off and rely on the oven heat, rather than the direct heat from the bottom. This takes a little practice, but as you gain confidence the possibilities of what you can prepare will grow exponentially.

Follow these simple tips to hone your BBQ'ing skills and you will be a master of the "Q" before you know it!

If you like what you read here and want some delicious recipes to get you started, head to chefpaulshufelt.com to get started!

?

Follow Paul Shufelt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/chefpaulshufelt

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-shufelt/bbq-tips_b_3496268.html

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Terminator Reboot: Coming in 2015!

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/06/terminator-reboot-coming-in-2015/

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Breakthrough in Internet bandwidth: New fiber optic technology could ease Internet congestion, video streaming

June 27, 2013 ? As rapidly increasing demand for bandwidth strains the Internet's capacity, a team of engineers has devised a new fiber optic technology that promises to increase bandwidth dramatically. The new technology could enable Internet providers to offer much greater connectivity -- from decreased network congestion to on-demand video streaming.

Described in the June 28 issue of the journal Science, the technology centers on donut-shaped laser light beams called optical vortices, in which the light twists like a tornado as it moves along the beam path, rather than in a straight line.

Widely studied in molecular biology, atomic physics and quantum optics, optical vortices (also known as orbital angular momentum, or OAM, beams) were thought to be unstable in fiber, until BU Engineering Professor Siddharth Ramachandran recently designed an optical fiber that can propagate them. In the paper, he and Alan Willner of USC demonstrate not only the stability of the beams in optical fiber but also their potential to boost Internet bandwidth.

"For several decades since optical fibers were deployed, the conventional assumption has been that OAM-carrying beams are inherently unstable in fibers," said Ramachandran. "Our discovery, of design classes in which they are stable, has profound implications for a variety of scientific and technological fields that have exploited the unique properties of OAM-carrying light, including the use of such beams for enhancing data capacity in fibers."

The reported research represents a close collaboration between optical fiber experts at BU and optical communication systems experts at USC. "Siddharth's fiber represents a very unique and valuable innovation. It was great to work together to demonstrate a terabit-per-second capacity transmission link," said Willner, electrical engineering professor at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering.

Ramachandran and Willner collaborated with OFS-Fitel, a fiber optics company in Denmark, and Tel Aviv University.

Funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the technology could not come at a better time, as one of the main strategies to boost Internet bandwidth is running into roadblocks just as mobile devices fuel rapidly growing demands on the Internet. Traditionally, bandwidth has been enhanced by increasing the number of colors, or wavelengths of data-carrying laser signals -- essentially streams of 1s and 0s -- sent down an optical fiber, where the signals are processed according to color. Increasing the number of colors has worked well since the 1990s when the method was introduced, but now that number is reaching physical limits.

An emerging strategy to boost bandwidth is to send the light through a fiber along distinctive paths, or modes, each carrying a cache of data from one end of the fiber to the other. Unlike the colors, however, data streams of 1s and 0s from different modes mix together; determining which data stream came from which source requires computationally intensive and energy-hungry digital signal processing algorithms.

Ramachandran's and Willner's approach combines both strategies, packing several colors into each mode, and using multiple modes. Unlike in conventional fibers, OAM modes in these specially designed fibers can carry data streams across an optical fiber while remaining separate at the receiving end. In experiments appearing in the Science paper, Ramachandran created an OAM fiber with four modes (an optical fiber typically has two), and he and Willner showed that for each OAM mode, they could send data through a one-kilometer fiber in 10 different colors, resulting in a transmission capacity of 1.6 terabits per second, the equivalent of transmitting eight Blu-RayTM DVDs every second.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_science/~3/zoBY3cb6fMU/130627142406.htm

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German unemployment dips to 6.6 percent in June

BERLIN (AP) ? A seasonal pickup in job creation has helped push Germany's unemployment rate down to 6.6 percent in June from 6.8 percent the previous month.

The Federal Labor Agency said Thursday that 2.865 million people were registered as unemployed, a drop of 72,000 over the month.

When adjusted for seasonal factors, unemployment fell by 12,000 but the rate was steady at 6.8 percent.

Europe's biggest economy has enjoyed a period of relatively low unemployment in contrast to many of the other European Union countries that use the euro. Spain and Greece for example have unemployment rates above 25 percent.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/german-unemployment-dips-6-6-percent-june-082438069.html

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Pre-caffeine tech: NSA admits, bunny GIFs!?

Technology

Helen A.S. Popkin NBC News

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26 minutes ago

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Our pre-caffeine roundup is a collection of the hottest, strangest, and most amusing stories of the morning.

BTW: The NSA admits its initial privacy promise was wrong.

Speaking of Edward Snowden: Can a refrigerator function as a Faraday Cage?

'Gayglers' and Google Easter eggs: Here's the search giant's great gay moment.

Google also wants you to know that lots of legit websites can infect your computer.

I Bing, you Bing? Time to take the No. 2 search engine seriously. Here's why.

The father of the World Wide Web scolded the "hypocritical" West over spying.

Virtual reality is in your grasp thanks to Oculus Rift.

This plastic surgeon posted a woman's nose job pics online, so now she's suing for $18 million.

Welcome to Instagram, President Barack Obama!

No more cheap Viagra for you! The FDA just shut down shut down 1,677 illegal prescription drugs Web sites.

The EFF is suing the FBI for access to facial recognition records: The lawsuit seeks transparency before we see a "bigger, faster and better" biometrics system.

OMG you guys! A fun 30-minute look behind the scenes of "Buffy: The Vampire Slayer!"

In closing: The 33 Most important bunny GIFs on the Internet!

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Big global increase in 'legal highs'

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Big global increase in 'legal highs'
Governments everywhere are struggling to cope with an increase in new substances known as "legal highs", the UN's latest World Drug Report says.

Source: BBC News
Posted on: Wednesday, Jun 26, 2013, 8:19am
Views: 16

Source: http://www.labspaces.net/128798/Big_global_increase_in__legal_highs_

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Obama Africa Trip: President Making Long-Anticipated Trip To Senegal, South Africa & Tanzania

Cristina Fernandez, President Of Argentina

President Barack Obama meets with Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez at the G20 Summit in Cannes, France, Friday, Nov. 4, 2011. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Hamid Karzai, President Of Afghanistan

Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai (L) and U.S. President Barack Obama shake hands after a joint news conference in the East Room of the White House on January 11, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Julia Gillard, Prime Minister Of Australia

U.S. President Barack Obama (L) and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard shake hands during a bilateral meeting at Parliament House in Canberra on November 16, 2011. (JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)

Dilma Rousseff, Prime Minister Of Brazil

U.S. President Barack Obama (L) shakes hands with Brazilian President Dilma Vana Rousseff (R) during a joint press conference at Palacio do Planalto in Brasilia on March 19, 2011. (JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)

Hun Sen, Prime Minister Of Cambodia

U.S. President Barack Obama (L) and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (R) reach out to shake hands on arrival at the Peace Palace for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and US summit in Phnom Penh on November 19, 2012 following the 21st ASEAN Leaders Summit. (ROMEO GACAD/AFP/Getty Images)

Stephen Harper, Prime Minister Of Canada

President Barack Obama shakes hands with Canada?s Prime Minister Stephen Harper in bilateral meeting during the G20 Summit, Tuesday, June 19, 2012, in Los Cabos, Mexico. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Sebastian Pinera, President Of Chile

U.S. President Barack Obama greets Chilean President Sebastian Pinera before a dinner at the Washington Convention Center during the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, DC, on April 12, 2010. (JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)

Xi Jinping, President Of China

U.S. President Barack Obama shakes hands with then-Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping during meetings in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, February 14, 2012. (SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)

Juan Manuel Santos, President Of Colombia

Colombia President Juan Manuel Santos (R) and U.S. President Barack Obama shake hands during a joint press conference in the framework of the VI Summit of the Americas at Casa de Huespedes in Cartagena, Colombia, on April 15, 2012. (SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)

Laura Chinchilla, President Of Costa Rica

President Barack Obama and Costa Rica's President Laura Chinchilla shake hands at the end of their joint press conference in San Jose, Costa Rica, Friday, May 3, 2013. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

Francois Hollande, President Of France

President Barack Obama shakes hands with French President Francois Hollande on arrival for the G8 Summit Friday, May 18, 2012 at Camp David, Md. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Angela Merkel, Chancellor Of Germany

U.S. President Barack Obama (R) shakes hands with German Chancellor Angela Merkel looks after a joint press conference following their meeting in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on June 7, 2011. (JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)

Giorgio Napolitano, President Of Italy

President Barack Obama shakes hands with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano during their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Friday, Feb. 15, 2013. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister Of Japan

President Barack Obama shakes hands with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Friday, Feb. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Park Geu-Hye, President Of South Korea

President Barack Obama and South Korea President Park Geun-Hye shake hands at the conclusion of their joint news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, May 7, 2013. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Enrique Pena Nieto, President Of Mexico

President Barack Obama, left, and Mexico President Enrique Pena Nieto, right, shake hands following a news conference at the Palacio Nacional in Mexico City, Thursday, May 2, 2013. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Benigno Aquino, President Of The Philippines

U.S. President Barack Obama (R) shakes hands with President Benigno Aquino of the Philippines in the Oval Office at the White House on June 8, 2012 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch-Pool/Getty Images)

Donald Tusk, Prime Minister Of Poland

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk (R) shake hands with U.S. President Barack Obama (L) during their meeting in Warsaw on May 28, 2011. (JANEK SKARZYNSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Amir Of Qatar

President Barack Obama shakes hands with Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani of Qatar during their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, April 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Traian Basescu, President Of Romania

U.S. President Barack Obama (R) greets Romania's President Traian Basescu before a dinner at the US Ambassador's residence in Prague on April 8, 2010. (JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)

Vladimir Putin, President Of Russia

President Barack Obama shakes hands with Russia?s President Vladimir Putin in a bilateral meeting during the G20 Summit, Monday, June 18, 2012, in Los Cabos, Mexico. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, King Of Saudi Arabia

U.S. President Barack Obama shakes hands with King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia during meetings in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, June 29, 2010. (SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)

Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister Of Singapore

President Barack Obama shakes hands with with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong during their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, April, 2, 2013. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Fredrik Reinfeldt, Prime Minister Of Sweden

U.S. President Barack Obama shakes hands with Sweden's Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt (L) during meetings in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, November 2, 2009. (SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)

Yingluck Shinawatra, Prime Minister Of Thailand

U.S. President Barack Obama, left, and Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra shake hands following the conclusion of their joint news conference at Thai Government House in Bangkok, Thailand, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Abdullah II, King Of Jordan

FILE - In this March 22, 2013, file photo, President Barack Obama, left, and Jordan's King Abdullah II, right, shake hands following their joint new conference at the King's Palace in Amman, Jordan. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister Of Turkey

U.S. President Barack Obama (R) shakes hands with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan after their bilateral meeting in Seoul on March 25, 2012 on the eve of the 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit. (JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)

David Cameron, Prime Minister Of Great Britain

President Barack Obama shakes hands with Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron on arrival for the G8 Summit Friday, May 18, 2012 at Camp David, Md. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Hugo Chavez, Former President Of Venezuela

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (R) gives a book, 'The Open Veins of Latin America' of Uruguayan writer Eduardo Galeano to US President Barack Obama (L) during a multilateral meeting to begin during the Summit of the Americas at the Hyatt Regency in Port of Spain, Trinidad April 18, 2009. (JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/26/obama-africa-trip_n_3502080.html

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Best Movies Of 2013 (So Far)!

Can you believe that 2013 is nearly half over? In the first six months of the year, you probably saw more than a few movies, and this is usually the time when we look back at the films that have come and gone to see how 2013 is shaping up. The some of the most [...]

Source: http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2013/06/26/best-movies-of-2013-so-far/

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Tools for Managing Web Projects ? Best Of - web design Singapore

With the ever-growing market of tech startups, Web apps and in-browser tools have become extremely popular among developers, designers, freelancers, and project managers. Over time these tools progressed and we now seen the release of desktop software, mobile apps, and even greater possibilities.

For this article I have collected dozens of various online resources from different topics which are useful to creative professionals. The tools are geared towards website projects, but can certainly be applied into almost any technology-based field.

You will find apps for e-mail marketing, task management, cloud IDEs, and so much more. The growth is practically endless and I would expect to see more evolution over the coming years.

Recommended Reading: Useful (Offline) Utensils and Toolkits for Designers

Code Management

In past releases of different open source projects the codes have been published on blogs and personal websites. But this method of sharing is not always the easiest, and it does not allow for contributions. I find these couple of tools for managing project codes are the absolute best solutions for a lone developer or teams of coders.

Github

Github and more specifically the Git version control system features an elegant way of managing project codes. Git is more lucrative than Subversion and provides an easier installation process for newbies. Creating new branches is very simple and there is no fear of accidentally losing your hard work.

One reason I highly recommend using Github for hosting your projects is because they have been doing it for so long. Their (free) tools are just simply the best ? you have access to a user wiki, Q&A support, push requests, and free webpage hosting for your documentation files. The network is teeming with developers and it is an excellent resource for both submitting and checking out new projects.

Beanstalk

I do not see Beanstalk mentioned as frequently as Github, but it is still a really nice service for newer Internet launches. Their target is geared towards private repositories with a potential team of developers collaborating in the backend. They support Git, Mercurial, and Subversion to handle version control on your project. The features list is quite expansive and even includes multiple choices for live deployment onto a web server!

If you have never heard of Beanstalk I must recommend at least glancing over their website. I think any dev team could greatly benefit from their service, especially for more complicated projects which will need a large number of revisions after launching online.

Bitbucket

Another alternative to Github is Bitbucket which also has free unlimited repo hosting for open source projects. You can pay for a private API key and server space, but this is not required. Bitbucket is also multi-user and supports Git or Mercurial. The best reason to push for Bitbucket is when building with a team of developers who don?t want to shell out money. The amount of internal resources and their online guides make this product irresistible.

Task Management

Anybody who is familiar with managing any creative project will understand the necessity of a to-do list. Moving into the digital era we can expect not just a cool webapp, but connections with other members in our team. Think about shared project lists where tasks may be designated to specific users. These are the best tools-of-the-trade for getting your tasks organized.

Trello

Although I have only spent a short time using Trello it is currently all the buzz among digital task enthusiasts. Their dashboard is extremely easy to manage and the signup process is very quick. Although the terminology can get a bit confusing, the Trello tour page can answer a lot of common questions.

One thing I specifically like about Trello is the ability to work with other people in your team. New projects are designated their own Board which contains to-dos or internal sub-boards. Tasks can be classified as To-Do, Doing, and Done. The interface may seem strange at first but give it a shot and I promise you will not be disappointed.

Do

The name is really simple, but the concept of task management is no easy idea. The webapp Do is really easy to use and focuses greatly on team management. Delegate tasks out to different users on various projects. All of your calendars and contacts will sync to display for other members in your group.

Do isn?t necessary for just a single user; the UI might be a bit overkill. But their features are tremendous for any design agency or creative studio. Surprisingly you can integrate Google accounts like Gmail and Google Drive right into the application. If you want to demo their features just sign up using a free plan and test the waters.

Basecamp

Having used Basecamp for many years I still like to include this with the other solutions. The ability to create your own teams and organize tasks dedicated to specific users is very handy. And each project has discussions and calendars for everybody to access. You can host text docs or similar resources which need to be shared among members, and ultimately Basecamp is just the most notable way for bridging gaps for teams and single users.

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Payment Processing

Many new tech startups are handling payments from alternatives outside of PayPal. The realm of digital transactions now requires backend support for APIs on credit, or 3rd party vendors as well. These tools are made specifically for developers who need to handle online payments without building everything from scratch.

Stripe

The extremely popular payment API Stripe has been gaining a lot of recognition. In the past year I have seen this mentioned countless times by other CEOs and startup teams who have been struggling with alternatives for payment. Their API is very easy to understand and works well using any backend language.

I remember they do support a wide variety of both webapps and mobile apps. You can check the documentation page if you want to read a bit more. They even offer a Stripe Connect feature which would provide a quick checkout process for any sales. Out of all the solutions available, I have been incredibly excited to see a company like Stripe getting some real attention.

Paymill

The Paymill website is definitely impressive along with their support docs. The payments are handled via credit or debit cards, along with more gateways coming in the near future. The greatest asset is their vast plugin library which supports Drupal and VirtueMart, among other services.

It certainly isn?t perfect but Paymill can fit into general eCommerce stores without much hassle during the installation.

Braintree

I think Braintree is one of the more adopted gateways for web developers. Their listed clients include Github, Angry Birds, 37Signals, and some other big-name tech brands. Very recently they published a new blog post about frontend JavaScript authentication which is even easier to setup.

The dashboard is also extremely easy to use for newcomers, and I would recommend Braintree as a perfect choice when digging for a simple payment solution.

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Data Logging

Admittedly data logs are certainly not useful to everybody. I feel that logging applications provide a deep analysis of traffic and issues within the server. It can help if you are testing updates or changes to your code. Or if you are expecting upticks in traffic and users on the frontend of your website.

These resources may be hosted externally and will procure all of your logs in an orderly fashion.

Sumo Logic

Sumo Logic is a newer startup in the field which offers a very nice service. The log data is presented in an easy-to-skim dashboard interface with charts and numbers. You can easily pinpoint related problems over the recent data queries and organize this information as needed.

And everything is stored within the cloud so you do not need to worry about local disk space. To answer further questions check out their FAQ page.

Logstash

The cute design of Logstash will stand out among the other data logging companies. Logstash is completely open source and free to distribute on any number of servers to manage. The installation will take some time, but their features are impeccable for a self-hosted solution.

You will get access to an entire dashboard area which holds all your past logs. This data can be reorganized in any fashion you like, and you can even search logs for a date or reference key. The latest documentation page is also full of great info. This logging system is not for the average user but it grants more control than other alternatives. Plus you cannot beat open source!

Papertrail

The Papertrail App has been mentioned a lot for producing very good quality logs. They are also a cloud-based hosting platform where you can login to access all the statistics from your web server. I feel their price ranges are generally higher than Sumo Logic because of the flat rate per month.

Sumo will only charge users for what they use, so lighter companies end up paying much less. Papertrail is better suited to handle intensive loads and working with a team of server admins or website developers.

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Dashboard Analytics

I think dashboards are the most truly interesting web applications of 2013. These tools provide access to all the important data within your company. This may pertain to split testing, e-mail signups, monthly traffic, or any number of metrics. A dashboard is one useful product for measuring the overall success of your project based on hard numerical data statistics.

Mixpanel

When I think of dashboard applications I immediately think about Mixpanel. They have been online for a few years and have proven a great track records for analytics lovers. This is a wonderful service when you need to record visitor interactions on your website. Possibly checking for new signups or user retention rates. Their free account is very reasonable and quickly introduces you to the world of dashboard analytics.

DigMyData

The reason I had to include DigMyData into this list is for their ability to connect with a multitude of networks. Businesses need to access a majority of their stats by visiting different websites. However the dashboard from DigMyData can include payments from a number of services like PayPal, Google Checkout, and Stripe.

Plus you can include API keys for your MailChimp, Aweber, or Campaign Monitor accounts. Google Analytics also has a connection method and you can even import documents/spreadsheets from Google Drive. DigMyData is more of a colossus dashboard where you can go for all your company statistics at once. Pretty cool if you have the time!

Instrumental

The Instrumental dashboard app is a little more tech-savvy in comparison with the other two. Most of the charts will monitor your server usage and disk space, along with CPU speeds and other digitized information. This service will be useful to a few companies who value high-proficiency in technology.

However their prices are also not as forgiving. Instrumental is a tool which is nice to know exists, but certainly isn?t required in all projects.

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Customer Support

Startups and newer websites which offer direct support may eventually become bogged down with requests. If you are selling products or services, you will need a way to handle issues from your customers.

This is a big area for webapps which includes at least a dozen or more choices, so don?t be afraid to experiment and try out products until you find one that works for you.

Intercom

Anybody who has read into customer support webapps must know about Intercom. Their popularity is of no coincidence after checking out the product. The Intercom administration panel is super easy to use for beginners and experts. This means you do not need to bring techies on board to handle the support tickets and emails.

You can manage relationships with the company and specific conversations between customers. All of this communication is archived to access at a later date, as needed. You can also setup a small resolution message box for customers to send their thoughts about the website. If you get a chance to skim the documentation you will notice a whole collection of user-centric features.

GrooveHQ

GrooveHQ is another resource which may be considered one seriously cool application. They support mobile phones and tablets, along with desktop web browsers for accessing the support dashboard. Tweets, tickets, and chats can all be managed from within the same window.

Organizing new tickets and assigning them to various tasks will be a piece of cake. The pricing model can get expensive if you have a lot of employees handling tickets. but Groove is definitely perfect for a new smaller startup launch.

Tender Support

The Tender support app is a more slimmed version of the other two solutions. This is actually a good thing for people who are looking for simplicity. You quickly have access to the Knowledgebase and closing/responding to discussions. My particular quip is how they lack a free plan for new users or customers with a small userbase. But overall Tender is a distinct support app which does include all the core features you would need.

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A/B Testing

A/B split testing has been around for years but the resources for performing these tasks are just getting into the spotlight. I do not think every website layout will require split testing. But playing around in your design can unearth UI/UX trends you had never even considered.

Visual Website Optimizer

I have spent time reading and toying around with Visual Website Optimizer and I am very impressed with the results. VWO has multivariate testing which split URLS along with JavaScript A/B models. You can track statistics like cross-domain visits and even generate screenshots of user activity. Their features are practically endless and it is a very handy application.

One other important feature to mention is the ability of collaborating in teams. VWO allows for multiple logins and setting permissions based on user accounts. This is the best optimization tool for working within a team of designers/developers.

Optimizely

Optimizely is another young contender in the market which can help move A/B testing off your server. Their backend has a nice drag-and-drop utility which makes handling your changes a breeze. Developers may want to double check codes before running, but it is a lot easier to maintain your website. I would say Optimizely is the best choice for beginners who are not super familiar with split testing. Their backend is quick to traverse and the UI just makes sense.

File Sharing/Storage

There will be times when you need to share files between computers or with a colleague online. There are Instant Messaging chat systems which allow for directly sending files, but cloud hosting solutions exist for this very reason. The market is still fairly small but growing rapidly.

Dropbox

Dropbox is a free solution which offers a decent amount of server space and great access on all Operating Systems. I feel that most people who need cloud storage are using Dropbox, so it is a very trusted solution. It is definitely more personalized where you can organize content into folders and share them with other users.

Dropbox is best used in a team environment where you need to keep multiple teammates in the loop together. But it can also work great for an individual, it just depends on your needs for a cloud hosting solution.

CloudApp

I currently use CloudApp every single day for transferring documents and photos between computers. It is a bit messier than Dropbox since all files are listed in a single root folder and organized chronologically. But the library UI allows you to sort contents by images, text, video, audio, archives, and other common filetypes. This is a more stripped-down version of cloud file hosting for quick and effortless uploading/downloading ? even from mobile devices!

E-mail Marketing

Methods of contacting users & customers have been reinvented and re-imagined for many purposes, but e-mail is a timeless classic. Campaign marketing does not disrupt users when they are busy. Instead they receive a nice letter within their inbox waiting to be read. These tools will help you manage subscriber lists and to push out newsletters from an e-mail server.

MailChimp

I simply adore MailChimp over similar applications mostly for their amazing customer service and backend dashboard. They have been online for a while and more people have been flocking to the MailChimp crowd. Users will have full control over their e-mail lists and how frequently to send new campaigns.

Check out their features page if you want to get an overview. The MailChimp templating engine is very solid and it even provides free custom templates you can use as a base foundation. Anybody who knows the pains of coding your own e-mail newsletter from scratch can attest to the helpful nature of pre-built templates. And one of the most important considerations is that MailChimp will remain free if you signup for a free account. There is no trial period, or the trial is just free until you choose to upgrade.

Postmark

Postmark is a different kind of webapp which supports dynamic e-mails sent via APIs. These may be sent out when users purchase something, or sign up to your list, or send an error message after your application crashes. Postmark is a better system for handling automated e-mail which is to be sent out at various times, as opposed to a whole newsletter campaign sent out in bulk mass.

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Issue Tracking

Another void to fill when building new projects is handling errors and bug tracking. There are lots of solutions you may install on your own server, but 3rd party alternatives can be just as good. It depends on your needs as a developer and how many tweaks/bugs you plan to deal with. When scaling a larger web application these error tracking services will save you a lot of headaches.

Sifter

Ever since the launch of Sifter I have been reading their updates on related blogs every so often. Their project management dashboard is quite useful for dealing with pesky bugs in your code. It is possible to implement many projects and once and designate bugs as being fixed by different users in your team.

The unfortunate part is that you only get a 14-day free trial when signing up. Otherwise their paid plans require a monthly charge of -9 USD.

Sentry

Sentry is my personal recommendation because of their beautiful dashboard and quick installation for any type of business. Website projects and mobile apps can benefit from using Sentry?s features. Most notably you will receive updates in real-time as they are happening in the application. Plus it can work running on dozens of platforms including Java, PHP, Rails, Python, Objective-C, and more.

You may signup for a free 7-day trial period just for testing the waters. I have yet to be disappointed and Sentry runs a solid open source error catching architecture.

Coalmine

I had first noticed Coalmine mentioned in a blog post a few months back. Turns out they are another fantastic error handling service which also manages on PHP, Rails, Python, and even Google App Engine. The project is completely open source and hosted on Github if you want to take a peek.

The Coalmine free plan is an excellent place for beginners to get started who are unfamiliar with error handling services.

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Load Testing

Many social networking websites which scale too quickly often run into trouble. The servers and databases cannot manage an overload of traffic, and over many repeats this can be disastrous to your project with long periods of downtime. Note that viral content is often the cause, but this scenario could happen to nearly any type of website.

These testing tools are useful to developers who are expecting a lot of fluctuations in traffic and need to study how it should be handled.

Load Impact

One of the quickest solutions Load Impact is a testing suite for websites under heavy traffic. You can manage a dashboard of statistics pulled from your server after running distinct connection tests. Their features will help determine bugs in your code which may be causing issues with loading times. Check out their list of features to get a better idea of what Load Impact can offer.

Selenium

Selenium is not a cloud-based solution as Load Impact, but instead offers a totally different spin on testing for high bandwidth. You can download the Selenium plugin to install in your browser for automating specific tasks related to load management. Things like user logins, updating avatar photos, posting comments, or similar tasks. It is not as straightforward as a self-hosted application but Selenium is very popular among the development community.

Cloud-Based Code Editing

A lot of my small ideas for user interfaces are crafted within cloud environments. There are plenty of tools which allow you to build a fully customizable HTML/CSS/JS webpage, using nothing but an Internet connection and a web browser. These cloud IDEs are great for coding on-the-go and for sharing your quick ideas with other developers.

Cloud9

I don?t think that Cloud9 gets enough mention for all the features that they offer. You can signup for a free account and still use a small bit of server space for testing your applications. Cloud9 is a fully integrated IDE where you may connect into projects hosted on your Github or Bitbucket account.

But Cloud9 is even cooler when you consider that they offer full app hosting for beta testing and planning new features. The premium account costs /month and you will be granted access to a litany of additional member features, extra HDD space, and the ability to share codes with other members. You may build & test static HTML or even dynamic PHP webpages. Check out their features page to learn a bit more.

jsFiddle

The amazing jsFiddle is definitely not a replicate of Cloud9. But instead a simpler resource for building & testing website interfaces without desktop software. The signup is free and allows you to save projects online which you may revisit later. The publishing system is version controlled much like Git where you may update projects and reset the master root.

All new Fiddles are public by default so it is easy to share links with other developers or post them to your website/blog.

JS Bin

Another worthwhile mention is JS Bin which has a very similar interface as jsFiddle. The output panel will display your updates and you have the option of switching between the various display settings. The default setup only shows HTML and Output, but you can toggle CSS and JavaScript codes from the toolbar buttons. JS Bin is also free to signup and public for sharing your codes online.

Social Media Sharing

Networking and marketing is a huge part of any successful business. And social media is currently the pinnacle of viral content. These tools are extremely beneficial to keep on top of your Facebook and Twitter feeds. Additionally you may signup to use other services, such as YouTube or Pinterest. Each product has its own benefits and you?ll have to consider a few options to weigh out the pros and cons.

Hootsuite

The HootSuite library has been around for a while and contains a lot of variety. You can schedule posts to publish in the future and organize content like retweets or new user comments. Even better is the introduction of HootSuite teams where you may incorporate different team members into a single account.

They offer a free plan which allows a basic level of 5 different social profiles. You can access the majority of their features just on the free plan, but consider the other options if you need HootSuite as an enterprise marketing system.

Buffer

An alternative is Buffer which performs many of the same capabilities as HootSuite. I really enjoy using Buffer App because of the simplicity of getting started. You can sign up very quickly and attach all of your related social profiles. Additionally they have extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and even offer mobile apps for Android and iOS.

SocialFlow

SocialFlow is an interesting product which handles marketing content a bit differently from the other services. You can track conversations and shared links in real time as they appear on networks. Users will have access to graphs and tables which correlate to your natural social marketing trends. The project is currently in beta testing, however you may request a demo to see what is coming in the very near future.

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Closing Thoughts

The process of building and launching a website has changed quite a bit in the past decade. It is now much easier to handle development updates and sharing project changes with your teammates. The vast number of helpful resources online is a crucial step in the right direction towards garnering more control over your web projects.

But there is certainly no way that I could imagine every useful tool for online businesses. These resources are a huge guide looking forward into 2013 but it is only my collective experience. I would love to see additional suggestions and resources in the comments area. Plus if you are using any similar tools for your own projects it would be great to read personal reviews from developers and founders.

Source: http://www.ipixel.com.sg/blog/web-design/tools-for-managing-web-projects-best-of/

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