A Pensioner's Guide to Using the Internet to Research Products

Pensioners are no fools when it comes to new technology, after all the first programmable computer was invented in 1936 and during the Second World War many young men and women were operating code breaking machines with such deftness that would impress any computer programmer. Online technology may be new, but the basics behind it are not.

The Internet has, since its birth in the 1980s, made the world a much smaller place and has opened up knowledge to anyone at anytime, anywhere in the world.



By using the Internet, you can discover information in seconds which also means that you can now research any products that you buy, read reviews about them and find the cheapest prices. With our pensioner's guide to using the Internet to research products, we'll show you how.

Research your Products Online



There are billions and billions of website and whilst many of these many be useful, informative and correct, others may be scams or fake sites, so how can you research something properly and filter out the results you need?

STEP 1: Log onto the Internet and go to a search engine. The most popular search engines are Google, Yahoo, Bing and Ask Jeeves.

STEP 2: Think about what it is you are looking for. Do you need a particular brand? What is your budget? Knowing exactly what you are looking for will help narrow down the search and make you less vulnerable to impulse buying.

STEP 3: Type in your search phrase and try to be as specific as possible. Searching for "stairlifts" may bring up thousands of results, many of which will not be relevant, but searching for "curved stairlifts for sale in south London" will narrow down your search, providing you with more relevant results.

STEP 4: Choose the result which closely matches what you are looking for. If you realise that the website is not what you are looking for, you can quickly go back to your search results by using the back arrow to the left of the address bar at the top of your screen.

Finding Trusted Websites



Whilst the majority of websites out there are trustworthy, unfortunately some opportunists have exploited the Internet to advertise their own, unscrupulous websites. These can look convincing and can even have portfolios and testimonials from satisfied customers but anyone can write a testimonial.

Here's how to tell if a site is genuine:

- It should have a full postal address, email and landline contact telephone number.

- Some sites have an "s" after the http in the site address which indicates that it is safe.

- If you are unsure then call the telephone number given on the website.

- You can also search the name of the company online to discover a little more about it.

- You should also look for delivery charges as these charges can add considerably to the cost.

Check out their returns policy too, just in case there's a problem. You need to know how easy it would be to return a product, if you have to pay for return postage and if you would be entitled to a full or partial refund.

Comparing Prices

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The Internet offers a great way to compare prices, for instance if you were looking for stairlift prices then you can search the type of stairlift you require and compare the prices and services of lots of different stairlift companies. Always be aware though that if something sounds too good to be true, then it usually is.

You can also use price comparison sites such as Moneysupermarket and Pricechecker which will compare prices from hundreds of websites for you.

Finding Reviews

If you are to make an online purchase then obviously you can't view it beforehand or try it out, so it's handy to get some customer reviews and feedback. Any reputable site should provide customer feedback and ratings on their products but you can also look at review sites such as Trusted Reviews and Which?. Happy Shopping!
This helpful blog was provided by Acorn Stairlifts, the name you can trust in stairlift installation, design and manufacture. Why not read more of our informative blogs on stairlift advice and online articles for the elderly.

Must have accessories for iPhone

The iPhone is one of the bestselling mobile which has been made a record when compared to all other mobile phones. The interface of the iPhone has made the apple lovers to go for it. iPhone is almost present all over the world, even you can find them in each and every region of this globe. Buying an iPhone is just the beginning of your apple life; you can get tons of applications for your iPhone which enhances your day to day life activities. iPhone supports several accessories that are used to make various levels of ease in your lifestyle. iPhone accessories are more efficient when compared to other Smartphone accessories hence they offer ultimate power by accessing your iPhone.

iPhone Fitness

Maintaining fitness is one of the main things which have been considered by most of the people around this world. Keeping track of our health is the more important than any other things in this world. iPhone has many accessories which let you to keep track of your body and you can have them in connection with your iPhone. iPhone fitness application is one of the best thing which has been popularly available for the iPhone. Most of the popular companies such as Adidas, Nike and Reebok have many iPhone versions of accessories which can easily measure your heart rate and speed. This let you to track your health condition and you can accurately keep track of your body condition by using this application and also with these kinds of accessories too. These iPhone fitness accessories are more precisely accurate than the conventional accelerometer available in the market to monitor the heart rates.

Extra Battery Support

Batteries are the most important accessories for your iPhone which gives the power for the device. Obviously Smartphones consumes lots of energy for working. Suppose if you want to work for a longer time, then you need a battery backup plan to work perfectly for more time. A larger battery capacity will help you during work time as well as during travelling time. It acts as a secondary fuel tank for your iPhone if you have an extra backup battery. It is strongly and obviously noticed that people having secondary battery will work with their Smartphones without bothering about their battery power consumption schemes. Nowadays various battery accessories are available in the market which offers you better solutions for the battery power source. Various colors are available for external battery, including compact design and also with perfect functionality too.

Wireless Headphones

Wireless headphones are other important accessories for your iPhone. Bluetooth headphones are awesome and look fantastic when compared to other ordinary wired headphones. Various designs of wireless headphones are available in the market for the iPhone device and they provide you more fashion. Brands such as Sennheiser, ZAGG and other leading manufacturers provide more trendy headphones as well as more fantastic products. They are renowned for their long lasting quality and with more sensible clarity. It is the best accessory for the iPhone and also brings out the best quality for you.

From Email Marketing To Amscreens' Face Detectors: How Can Retailers Use Unified Communications To Drive Sales This Winter?

With the advances in technology that have taken place in recent times, businesses need to adapt in order to meet consumer demands and increase the customer experience - especially so in the retail business where competition is fierce. By making use of unified communications, retailers can take advantage of lots of ways to enhance the consumer experience whilst stream lining their operations and reducing costs. Read on to find out how this is possible.
What is unified communications?
Unified communications is the bringing together of an organisation's networking and communications resources, to create a single infrastructure. This could include phone, voicemail, email, instant messaging, server-based applications and video conferencing.
The consequence of unified communications is that users across different sites will become part of one single network, no matter where they are based. In a retail environment, this could help to enhance the consumer experience, speed processes up, increase sales, enhance brand credentials, make cost savings and personalise the shopping experience.
In theory, it sounds like the perfect solution to stay one step ahead of the competition. But, in reality, research suggests that over 60% of retailers lack understanding of what unified communications is all about. However, many businesses plan to put some form of unified communications in place over the next two to three years in an effort to take advantage of this technology.
Instant communications
Unified communications can be used in retail for instant, real-time messaging with its customers. So, if someone orders something online, they will get an instant email message to confirm the order or give further details about other products of interest. As mobile shopping gains momentum, unified communications will enable the process to move smoothly with text messages to confirm orders, etc.
Being able to communicate with customers in an instant can also help to clarify information and sort out any problems or issues, in as swift a manner as possible.
Unified communications can be used to route calls automatically to different stores or outlets. All messages should be easily accessible from a single point, regardless of the type, such as voice message, social media or chat, etc.
This improved technology will enable conferencing and collaboration between different retail sites and mobile workers. With unified communications, rich presence management means you can see the status of others on-screen, for example, so you'd instantly know if they were in a meeting or available.
Personalised service
Retailers can use unified communications to give customers multiple options to decide where and how to buy items, as well as giving them a personalised service. So, if one person wants to place an order via their mobile phone or request information from your social media accounts, unified communications allows the organisation to do this.
The technology is increasingly being used in an intuitive manner, so that it can recognise a customer's buying history and information that will help to enhance the personal shopping experience. For instance, retail giant Tesco are rolling out face detectors to screen advertising. Other stores may consider giving a customer information about a product via their phone as they walk past it. Mobile phones could be used to show consumers an interactive map of the retail store to guide them around it, or different departments, for instance.
Unified communications can also be used to instantly check stock, speed up problem solving, communicate effectively with staff on the road or other members of staff who are working remotely.
This post was written by business writer Crispin Jones for Maintel – experts in business continuity and contact centre services.

6 Tips On Creating An Effective Website For Your Business

Whether you're starting a business or branching out from a blog, creating your own website can be an intimidating task. How do you design it to perfection? What's more important, text or images? How can you be sure you've crafted something worthwhile when you're all done?

If you're building a website and looking for guidance, here are six tips from the pros.

1: Choose The Right Domain

Domain names are like handshakes: They send an immediate first impression that will lay the groundwork for everything that comes later. If you want to send a strong, confident message right off the bat, you'll need a solid domain name that conveys your image and intent. register here  for more information on choosing the right domain.

2: Offer A Modern Layout

Quality web design can make all the difference in how your site is perceived. No one will take you seriously if you're using Comic Sans over pixelated animations from the '90s! Hire a professional designer to give your website a sleek, professional and thoroughly 21st century look.

3: Organize Your Content

How are your readers going to navigate your site? Are there menus, categories and drop-down lists? Try to give everything its own place. Not only will this encourage usability, but it will also make it easier for search engines algorithms to sort your content.

4: Simplify Your Readability

Avoid posting large blocks of text that require academic stamina to finish. Break it all up with paragraphs, headings, subheadings, bullet points, numbered lists, et cetera. Try to remember that the average Internet user browses a page for less than five seconds, so you need to catch their attention immediately.

5: Add Images

Again, design is very important for the successful website. Create visual interest by complementing your text with photos, artwork and infographics relevant to the content at hand. You don't want to overdo it, especially with moving GIFs that can prove distracting in large quantities, but adding a few images never hurts.

6: Double Check Accessibility

Not everyone browses the web from a laptop. In fact, millions of users have turned to smartphones and tablets as the only way they read, shop and engage online. See the problem? If your site refuses to load on iPhones or Galaxy Notes, you're missing out on millions of potential visitors. Before you go live, make sure your webpages can be accessed across all platforms.

SteelSeries offers wireless game controller for iOS 7

SteelSeries introduces the first wireless gamepad for games especially for iOS 7. Up to four players can compete simultaneously on an iPhone or iPad. Who wants to play on his current iPad or iPhone with gamepad control, may yet resort to “pinch " Solutions Logitech or Moga .

Now SteelSeries has the first wireless gamepad Stratus presents at CES 2014 , which corresponds to the set by Apple's standards on games controller.

This means that for the Stratus an iPhone 5 , iPhone 5S, 5C iPhone or Fifth Generation iPod Touch is required. All games that support has been available since iOS Games 7 interface are compatible without further adjustments to the controllers.

Currently, among others, GTA San Andreas, Bastion and Call of Duty: Strike Team compatible with the standard. According to SteelSeries; Players can also dilly-dallying on HD TVs via Apple TV with Airplay. Stratus offers the classic controller design with a D- pad D-pad, a 4 -button layout, two analog mini- joysticks and four shoulder buttons.

In addition, it has an on and off switch and a pairing button for quick and easy Bluetooth connection to the iOS device. According to the manufacturer with a full load the battery lasts more than ten hours and has an average total charging time of two hours via the included USB cable.

For multiplayer matches up to four controllers with a single iOS device that can be connected, and in the middle of the controller is to display the red LED indicators to indicate the number of active players. The gamepad is now available on pre-order from the manufacturer for around 100 Euros.