Designing Your Slides for Your Next Presentation

A PowerPoint presentation can be a great asset for those who are preparing a presentation, whether at work, school or a social organization. The key to having a PowerPoint presentation that is compelling and interesting lies in how you design each slide. Here are some tips on creating aesthetically pleasing PowerPoint slide designs.

Choose Neutral Colors

No matter how loud and exciting your presentation may be, you will still want to use neutral or muted colors. If you don't audience members may have a difficult time reading text on your slides.

Combine Text with Visuals

No one wants to see slide after slide of nothing but text. That's boring. To make sure your slides are interesting, provide a mixture of text, photos, short videos, charts and more. You can try them on alternating slides or combine them on the same slide.

Stay Consistent

They easiest way to distract an audience or lose their attention all together is to not be consistent in your slides. You are staying consistent in your spoken message, so your slides should reflect the same care. Make sure that the same color scheme and fonts are used throughout to avoid distracting changes.
With professional looking PowerPoint slides, you will be able to ace any presentation you have to give.

Apple to Aid Japan's Elderly with iPads in latest fruits of IBM alliance

Apple & IBM Partnership – iPad to Aid Elders 

Apple will be providing the iPads and IBM would be developing custom software, a low tech scheme wherein postal workers from Japan Post checked in on how elderly would be functioning on hi-tech with the help of iPads as reported by Walls Street Journal. The pilot scheme which is the outcome of Apple and IBM partnership will be seeing Japan Post, give out free iPads to around 1,000 senior citizens to enable close and more regular checks.

 `Watch Over’ so called is a niche which had been started by Japan Post in 2013 wherein mail carriers check in on elderly people providing consultation and share in information with family members. A Japanese Post official had commented that `by handing iPads to the elderly, we can closely check in on them more often, not only confirming if they are doing fine but also making sure that they are not involved in any trouble like a scam targeting the elderly’. Nikkei reports that IBM’s Watson computer would be analysing data from the iPads.

Project – A Commercial Service

The focus lies in turning the project into a commercial service and those caring for their elders could pay a minimum monthly fee for monitoring where the low tech service costs Y 1,000 ($8.40) per month. At a press conference IBM had stated that the goal was to reach 4-5 million clients by 2020 thus providing an improvement for iPad sales. Apple has released an official press release with regards to the initiative. Calling it the `first of its kind initiative which has been focused in improving the quality of life of millions of Japanese seniors’, the program would be including IBM apps which would connect the elderly to services, healthcare, community as well as their families.

The population of Japan comprises of 33 million seniors, which represents around 25 percent of the country’s total population. Taizo Nishimuro, CEO of Japan Post Group commented that they are joining with two of the world’s most respected leaders in technology in bringing elderly generation in the connected world, expand the businesses by deepening relationships and discover new ways of strengthen the fabric of our society and economy’.

The Japan Post Deal – Apple & IBM’s MobileFirst Partnership 

The software by IBM would be reminding the seniors to take their medication, suggesting exercises and diet changes help in tasks like grocery shopping and job matching. The company would also be catering to several behind the scenes services like system integration as well as training. Ginni Rometty, President, Chairman and CEO of IBM stated that they were starting draws on IBM’s long heritage of innovation at the intersection of technology, business and society.

The potential seen here as broad as national economics and as specific as the quality of life of individuals along with their families is an example of the potential of mobile led transformation anywhere in the world where issue of an aging population exist’. The Japan Post deal branched from Apple and IBM’s MobileFirst partnership. The combination of both the companies has given rise to a development of a range of template iOS apps and services for enterprise with divided support responsibilities when organization tend to agree to a contract.

HTC Mobiles

High-Tech Computer Corporation – Taiwanese Manufacturer of Smartphones

The HTC Company which was earlier High-Tech Computer Corporation is a manufacturer of smartphones as well as tablet. It was founded in 1997 and began initially as an original design manufacturer and original equipment manufacturer, designing and developing devices like mobile phones, touchscreen phone as well as PDAs, based on Windows Mobile OS and Brew MP to market to mobile network operators who preferred to pay a contract manufacturer for the purpose of customized products. After its initial development in smartphones which was focused on Windows Mobile it branched out its focus to devices based on the Android in 2009 and towards 2010 to Windows Phone. From 2011, HTC released and marketed its HTC Mobiles under the HTC brand and ranked 98th of the top brand on Interbrand’s Best Global Brands according to the 2011 report.

Founding Member for Open Handset Alliance 

HTC is the founding member for the Open Handset Alliance which is a group of handset manufacturers as well as mobile network operators devoted to the creation of the Android mobile device platform. The HTC dream is marketed by T-Mobile in several countries as the T-Mobile G1 or Era G1, which is the first phone to use the Android mobile device platform on the market. There are various devices, price points together with operating system to choose from their array of collection. The company is endeavouring in updates, to fit the requirements of the customers. It has been reveal from a report published that HTC is working to develop its own mobile operating system to compete with Apple’s iOS. For fast web surfing as well as seamless gaming, HTC has introduced a powerful quad core in its phone and the design set is simple though unique and smart. For good user experience, one could choose from the various options available.

Some Options Available 

Some worth mentioning include:

Android Jelly Bean – If one prefers HTC and is interested in a supersized screen to the likes of the Galaxy Note 3 and Xperia Z Ultra, the One Max is the preferred option. It comprises of a full HD, with a 5.9 inch display with good screen space to offer, together with a 1.7GHz quad-core process, 2GB of RAM of internal storage, 4MP Ultrapixel rear camera and Android Jelly Bean. One Max tends to be big and heavy.

Windows Phone 8–The HTC 8S seems to be attractive, a highly portable Windows Phone handset, a package which is instinctive with style and substance. Besides this, it is fast and slick for a mid-range phone with an edge over some of the top end Windows Phone 8 handsets especially with the inclusion of a micro SD card slot. The battery is average and web browsing could be a bit slow. It does not tend to stand out much in the apps or media department. Overall it is a decent handset.

Android Ice-Cream Sandwich – The lowest HTC range of models is the HTC Desire C which seems a little out of place since the Desire range was once the jewel in the HTC crown. The selling price of the HTC Desire C is the low cost and hence the 600 MHz processor could be overlooked or the HVGA 3.5 inch screen. Looking at the device, the HTC Desire C could pass off as a high end device.

Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference 2015

Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference - WWDC 2015 would be starting on June 8 and the company would be showing some new exciting products at that time. Some of the highlights expected from rumours circulating are from Mac, iPad and iPhone hardware to new updated versions of iOS and Mac OS X. WWDC is one of the highlights of Apple’s annual calendar and is a huge annual get-together for the company’s software partners. It is one of those occasions where Apple unveils a range of updated products, usually new versions of iOS and OS X, besides new hardware which includes new Macs and probably new iPads.

Apple had issued an invitation on April 14 with the announcement of hosting WWDC 2015 representing the 26th year of the annual conference from 8 to 12 June at San Francisco’s Moscone West.The location is not a surprise since Apple has been always been conducting WWDCs there for a long time.

Rumours with regards to this event had been circulating after WWDC 2014 closed its door with a suggestion that WWDC 2015 would be held on those dates. Apple had sent out invitation to WWDC which had a shape in the middle that was identical to an Apple TV. Inside the shape was inscribed `the epicentre of change’.

AppleTV – Central Hub Connected to HomeKit

This fits well with the rumours about the Apple TV which indicate that the Apple TV would be a central hub of everything connected to HomeKit, an Apple’s API which would be controlling the entire gadget all in the house. It is to be seen why Apple would need the Apple TV in controlling the devices in the home. But this equation has been missed out last June since Apple’s introduction of its HomeKit solution at the WWDC 2014 and the same has not really been launched to the public.

There are more interesting things coming up with regards to the Apple TV if one cares about the rumours circulating. It is said that Apple TV App Store would not only open up the Apple TV to iOS apps but also games and it is to be seen how games developers could translate their iOS games for TV screen where the control mechanism is the biggest issue.

However, this will be a popular addition to Apple’s box without any doubt. Apple it is said would be planning a subscription service, offering streaming TV shows from various sources. One of the issue of the Apple TV presently is that if one wants to watch a specific show, they would have to locate which of the Apple TV channel would be showing it. Apple would be resolving this, providing one place to search for the content and one place to stream it from.

Featuring 100 + Technical Session/1,000 Apple Engineers….

An announcement in Apple’s email informed that `at WWDC, Apple’s renowned developer community would be coming together to learn about the future of iOS and OS X, helping them continue to create the most innovative apps in the world. WWDC would be featuring more than 100 technical sessions over 1,000 Apple engineers, hand-on labs to help developers integrate new technologies and fine-tune their apps and the Apple Design Awards which showcase the best new apps in the last year’.

Philip Schiller, Apple SVP of Worldwide Marketing has commented saying `we’ve got incredible new technology for iOS and OS X to share with developers at WWDC and around the world. We can’t wait to see the next generation of apps they create’.Individuals could check out ways to get hold of the tickets for the forthcoming event. Developers can apply for tickets for the WWDC event and millions worldwide would be able to watch the sessions streamed live.

Students/Participating Member – STEM – Avail WWDC Scholarships

Students as well as members of participating STEM organizations across the world could avail the WWDC Scholarships. Those interested in attending WWDC 2015 may also face disappointment. As in 2012, all the 5,000 WWDC tickets were sold out within two hours of its release which came as a surprise to the developers who had no indication regarding it, from the company.

This resulted in disappointment for those who were looking forward to it especially since Apple had decided that 5.30am PDT was an ideal time to release them. Several developers had been there only to find out that the ticket had been sold out. Applying for tickets can be done via the WWDC website.

 Apple state that it will let the applicants know if they have been randomly nominated by April 20 at 5 pm PDT. To register one’s interest, the need to sign in with the developer account with submission of information is essential. If one is a current member of the iOS Developer Program, iOS Developer Enterprise Program or Mac Developer Program, they are eligible to apply for the same. If selected randomly, the default credit/debit card connected with one’s Apple ID would get automatically charged $1599 on April 20th.

Apple Watch: Everything You Need to Know

Details on Apple Watch Before Sale – April 24

At its recent `Spring Forward event’Apple had put the watch on display once again and provided some details on the Apple Watch before going on sale on April 24. The Apple Watch has three editions which vary in material and luxury such as the Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport and the Apple Watch Edition.

While Apple Watch is of stainless steel with a shiny chrome or a space black finish, its touchscreen is shielded with sapphire crystal which could be scratch resistant than the Gorilla Glass that Apple had used in iPhones. The prices range from $549 and $1,099 subject to purchase of the 38mm or 42mm case and the band.

The Apple Watch Sport comes with an anodized aluminum case, much lighter than stainless steel, in a silver or space gray and the face is of Ion-X glass, designed to be hard and rugged than the sapphire and is the lightest of the three editions. This makes it an apt exercise choice and is also the cheapest at $349 for 38mm version while 42mm model is priced at $399.

The Apple Watch Edition on the other hand is a luxury with an 18-karat gold casing in rose or yellow, is heavy and has a fancy leather box which doubles as a charging cradle. It also costs as an entry level car varying between $10,000 to $17,000 based on size and the choice of the band.

Each Edition in Two Sizes

Each edition has come in two sizes which was not envisaged with any Android Wear watches and these are available in heights of 38 and 42 mm around 1.5 and 1.65 inches resp. Apple has declared six bands which will be easy to mix and match with any band with any watch if the band and the watch tend to be of the same size.

The Sports Band comes as the default on the Apple Watch Sport and for working out, the sweat resistant elastomer sports band has a black, white, blue, pink and lime green shade with different colours having different weight where black is the lightest. Apple Watch and Watch Edition owners are provided with three leather straps together with two metal straps to choose from and the leather loop is styled to be soft and comfortable having adjustable hidden magnetic closure where one can just wrap the same around the wrist and the straps stay stuck together and remain closed. It comes in stone, light brown and bright blue.

Pre-Orders to Begin on April 10

The Leather Modern strap is available in pink, brown and midnight blue having two piece magnetic closures with refined texture while the Classic Buckle strap comes in a black leather strap which closes with a stainless steel buckle like the traditional watches seen. The Link Bracelet band is fashioned of stainless steel which closes with a butterfly clasp.

Apple had built-in release button on some of the links in order to remove links easily to customize the fit rather than having to take it to a jeweller or the repair shop. This comes with regular stainless steel tone or in space black. The Milanese Loop band comes with myriad tiny, interlocking loops which resembles chain mail though it seems to be much modern and the stainless steel mesh is magnetic enabling to adjust it to more size than the Link Bracelet.

Apple Watch would be shipped on April 24, though pre- orders tend to start on April 10 and on the same day Apple Stores also intend having Watches on hand for trial to get an idea on which combination of case and band to choose from. Users could also check out on the guide in picking the best choice on Apple Watch.

iPhone Essential to Pair with Apple Watch

The requirement of an iPhone to pair with the Apple Watch is essentialthough it does not need to be a new iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus and an iPhone 5, 5s or 5c could serve the purpose.The Watch according to Apple has a couple of different sensors which include a gyroscope as well as an accelerometer together with a custom sensor which utilises visible light and infrared LEDs with photodiodes on the back of the device in order to define the heart rate. Moreover, it can also talk to the iPhone’s GPS as well as Wi-Fi in figuring out location and other details. The accelerometer enables the watch to count the steps and generalize the distance on its own or on the GPS in the paired iPhone for tracing the accurate route and this data is useful for two of the apps, Activity and Workout, included by Apple on the watch. Apple Watch’s big invention is the dial which sticks out at the side known as the Digital Crown which acts more like the iPod’s clickwheel wherein one can turn the crown to scroll a list or zoom in and out of a map. On pressing, the Crown returns back to the watch’s home screen similar to the Home button on the iPhone.