Tune Into Your Favorite Tracks With These Popular Portable Players
Tune Into Your Favorite Tracks With These Popular Portable Players

Tune into your favorite tracks with these popular portable players

Right from the days of the chunky Walkman to sleek, pocket-sized media players, portable media devices have come a long way. The evolution of portable audio and video players picked up speed in the past couple of decades. Earlier you had to carry around a set of batteries, your portable player, audio cassettes or CDs, and headsets. Now you just have your compact media device with all your playlists stores in the device. You now have thousands of songs or movies at your fingertips.

Whether you are a keen audiophile or just like to listen to music or watch movies while you are commuting to work, portable audio and video players can be quite useful for you. A portable device can be used for playing games, reading books, streaming videos, and recording audios and videos as well. If you are looking for portable audio and video devices, here are some popular options available in the market for you:

  • Apple iTouch: This is one of the most popular and coveted portable audio and video player that you can find. With its 32 GB storage capacity, this media player can store around 7000 songs, 2 videos, and 10000 photos. It is one of the most compact devices with dimensions 4.4×0.28×2.3 inches and with a weight of 3.6 oz. This portable audio and video device has a touchscreen interface with the LCD screen measuring about 3.5 inches. Other features of this device include an Internet browser, radio, Bluetooth, USB, and Wi-Fi. It supports a wide range of audio and video formats. The battery life is about 40 hours. The device comes bundled with earphones and a charger. The price is this device is around $200.
  • Samsung Galaxy Player 5: The Samsung Galaxy Player 5 has a storage capacity of 4 GB. The device can hold about 5 videos, 1000 songs, and 10000 photos. It has an LCD touchscreen display that measures nearly 1.7×0.4×3.7 inches. The device is quite light with a weight of 1.8 oz. This Samsung portable audio and video device has an Internet browser, radio capability, Wi-Fi, USB, and Bluetooth. Earphones and a charger are provided along with the device. The battery life is about 25 hours. You can listen to music or watch videos for 25 hours straight on a single charge. The price of this device is around $150.
  • Zune 80 GB Digital Media Player: This portable audio and video device has one of the largest storage capacities with 80 GB. You can store nearly 25000 photos, 20000 songs, and 5 videos. It looks quite sleek and weighs about 4.5 oz and measures about 2.4×0.5×4.3 inches. It has an LCD touchscreen measuring approximately 3.2 inches. The features of this device include an Internet browser, radio, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and USB. The device supports almost all popular formats of audio and video files. The battery life is about 24 hours. The device package includes a battery charger and earphones. The price is this device is around $270.
  • Archos 604 30 GB Ultra Slim Portable Multimedia Player: This device is relatively bigger and heavier than the other portable audio and video; its size is about 5.1×0.7×3 inches and the device weighs about 9 oz. The device can store 40 videos, 150000 songs, and nearly 300000 photos. Its storage capacity is about 30 GB. Its touchscreen LCD display measures about 4.3 inches. Similar to other devices, the Archos Portable has an Internet browser, radio, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and USB capabilities. It supports all video and audio formats except AIFF. Its battery life is about 16 hours. Earphones and battery charger are bundled with the device. The price is this device is around $300.
  • What causes constipation

    Constipation means infrequent or difficult bowel movements. Most people experience occasional problems with normal bowel movements. But if constipation lasts for weeks and months on end, it is termed as chronic.

    Symptoms of constipation have 1-2 bowel movements in a week, needing to strain to pass stools, difficulty in passing stools, hard stools and a feeling of incomplete evacuation.

    There are several possible causes of constipation.

    Colonic or Rectal Blockages: Colonic or rectal blockages can adversely affect normal bowel movement. These blockages can be due to many different reasons, such as –

    • Colon cancer
    • Rectal cancer
    • Abdominal cancer
    • Bowel stricture or colon becoming narrow
    • Rectocele or a bulge or swelling in the rectum through the back part of the vagina
    • Anal fissures

    Hormonal Diseases: Diseases that affect hormones in the body can be a cause of constipation. Hormones maintain the fluid equilibrium in the body. Diseases that affect hormones can upset this balance and cause mild to severe constipation. These diseases can be –

    • Diabetes
    • Hypothyroidism or an underactive thyroid gland
    • Hyperparathyroidism or an overactive parathyroid gland

    A note on hormonal problems and constipation during pregnancy: During pregnancy, a woman can have constipation for many reasons including hormonal changes. The condition often resolves itself after childbirth. Treatment for chronic constipation during pregnancy may depend on the woman’s health.

    Neurological Problems: Many conditions affecting the nerves around the bowels and nearby muscle groups can be a cause of constipation. These can be –

    • Stroke
    • Spinal injuries
    • Multiple sclerosis
    • Parkinson’s disease
    • Autonomic neuropathy

    Pelvic Muscle Problems: Pelvic muscles support organs involved in stool elimination. Any problem in the pelvic floor muscles can cause constipation. These can be –

    • Weak pelvic muscles.
    • Anismus or difficulty in relaxing of pelvic muscles.
    • Dyssynergia or problem with pelvic muscle movements.

    Lifestyle Factors: An unhealthy diet and lifestyle can contribute to poor bowel health and cause constipation. These can be –

    • A diet is lacking in fiber.
    • A diet high in fatty and spicy foods.
    • No or low levels of physical activity.

    Determining the cause of constipation is important for its effective treatment.

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  • 4 premium food brands that boost the health of your dog

    In addition to showering your furry friend with love and affection, you need to pick out the best premium dog food for him. There are various premium dog food brands competing in the market, but you need to consider a lot of factors before you decide on the best premium dog food for your beloved canine friend. The dog’s age, weight, breed, and of course his taste, are the factors determining which will be the perfect dog food. So, here are some of the best premium dog food brands you can consider while choosing the right dog food for your pet.

    • Merrick Grain Free Dog Food
      This dog food has been considered one of the best premium dog food brands owing to the fact that it comprises of ingredients that are meant to promote your dog’s health and well-being. You will have plenty of different formulas to choose from, and you can even choose the protein source. Moreover, it contains some healthy additives such as omega-3s and omega-6s, that contribute to helping your pet maintain its glossy coat.
    • Wellness Core Natural Grain Free
      If your dog is quite choosy about his food and isn’t a big fan of the so-called “natural” dog food that is so ferociously advertised these days, then investing in this premium dog food is advisable since it is one of the best premium dog food brands. It is made of completely natural ingredients, has reduced contents of fat and carbohydrates, and is rich in proteins. Plus, it has proven to be appealing to your canine friend’s taste buds.
    • Nature’s Variety Instinct
      Nature’s Variety Instinct has been hailed as one of the best premium dog food brands. It is completely natural and has added omega-3 and omega-6, in addition to the minerals and protein content in the food. Moreover, it doesn’t contain preservatives, which, otherwise would affect your dog’s health. Pet owners often opt for this premium dog food since it is grain-free and has all the required nutrients to keep their beloved puppy healthy and active.
    • Taste of the Wild High Prairie Canine
      The name itself is indicative of the unique nature of this dog food. What makes this the best premium dog food is that the formula is closely related to the actual ancestral diet of dogs which emphasized the need for high protein and extremely low carbohydrate content. It is a rich source of protein and contains vegetables and fruits to a certain extent.
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  • Credit unions that have the best 5-year CD rates in the market

    Five-year certificates of deposit (CDs) will most often be the longest term of a CD offered by the banks. The banks will offer the highest possible rates, but this will only be in return for a long-term commitment on the part of the customer. A 5-year CD is popular as it allows the depositors to lock in a large sum of money at a high interest rate for a long period of time. 5-year CDs are preferred by depositors looking to gain a high yield and take advantage of the high interest rates. The interest rates, however, are still making their way to a higher amount after their significant drop due to the recession. Following are some of the institutions offering the best 5-year CD rates.

    CommunityWide Federal Credit Union
    CommunityWide is one of the oldest credit unions, being established in 1967. The credit union held assets worth $410.9 million as of 31st December 2017. It has a large working team of around 77 full-time employees and hold leases and loans worth $362.6 million. They have 47,332 members that currently hold a massive $281.3 million in shares with the credit union. This credit union has had a good response from their customers and holds a good rating for the safety and soundness. A higher capital shows that the credit union can provide protection to their members in the unwarranted occurrence of a mishap. The institution has a high capital performance with a capitalization ratio of 24 percent.

    Mountain America Credit Union
    Mountain America is an NCUA-insured credit union that has its inception in 1936 and is currently headquartered in West Jordan, UT. This credit union has a substantial $7.09 billion in assets as of 31st December 2017. They have a commendable group of 1,686 employees that ensure the smooth functioning for this credit union. It is one of the credit unions with the best 5-year CD rates due to its commendable grip on loans and leases worth $6.13 billion. Even if this credit union is higher on assets and loan and leases amount, it ranks behind Communitywide due to its slight drop in the capital. Mountain America has a slightly below average capital score and has a capitalization ration of only 10 percent. It is, however, high on safety and soundness as it holds an amazing asset quality score.

    Connexus Credit Union
    Another NCUA-insured credit union, Connexus is based in Wausau, WI and was founded back in 1935. As of December 31st, 2017, the credit union had assets worth $1.69 billion. They are one of the top credit unions with the best 5-year CD rates and a strong team of 255 full-time employees. This credit union holds loans and leases worth $1.05 billion. Connexus currently has 305,795 members that account for $1.34 billion in shares. Similar to Mountain America, Connexus does not have a great capital score either. They have a score that allows them to be one of the best as they have an outstanding asset quality score. This commendable asset quality score allows them to be high on safety and soundness. The capitalization ratio is set at 12 percent, which is a lot better than most credit unions and complements the asset quality score well.

    United States Senate
    Founded in 1935, United States Senate is an NCUA-insured credit union based in Alexandria, VA. They have assets worth $673.8 million as of 31st December 2017. A strong workforce of 106 full-time employees allows them to have a tight grip on loans and leases worth $516.2 million. They come in as a credit union with one of the best 5-year CD rates with around 34,809 members who hold $589.1 million shares with them. Even with comparatively lower assets, they still hold a very high asset quality score that allows them to be a credit union with one of the best 5-year CD rates. The capitalization score of 14 percent is not very far behind either. A strong asset quality score and a good capitalization score allow them to be high on safety and soundness.

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  • How to ace your first online purchase for the cheapest tires

    If you are iffy about buying tires online, then don’t be. Like numerous other products, the process of buying tires online has evolved on an amazing level. It simply just doesn’t involve the plain order and deliver. Online retailers today are making a genuine effort to scale and understand a buyer’s requirements and concerns. And you can ace your first purchase at buying the cheapest tires from a website, but how? By researching and planning in a certain way!

    There are plenty of popular online sellers for tires, providing an amazing line, brands and products. You will find tires for different kinds of cars, bikes or trucks. This will be of great assistance as you have an extensive selection which you might not find at an auto repair shop or dealership. These websites have a well maintained customer service to reach out to the buyers and to resolve any of their existing concerns about the products and the delivery. Buying tires online has one big advantage that they are extremely economical for most types, unless you’re a race driver you don’t need to fuss about the costs. You can find great quality tires at the cheapest rates. You can easily surf and compare, and choose what offers work for your own benefit.

    If you’re concerned about the unavailability of the installation service, websites like Tire Rack, Tire Buyer and Simple Tires, to name a few, have an excellent assistance service which will help you narrow down the best local installer in your vicinity, if you don’t happen to have one. They also offer delivering the tires directly to the installer, so that you can get started with your services as soon as possible. They attempt to make the fastest transfer as well, you can even have your tires delivered at your doorstep by the next day.

    Apart from cheapest tires you can also find rare parts and accessories which are not readily available in the market. A few websites have blogs and review columns which help them inform the consumers with comparative analysis and the real time performance of various different brands of tires. Other than this you’ll also have the chance to explore amazing amount of content uploaded on the blogs of these websites. This gives you an opportunity to stay updated with the upcoming trends and happenings of the automobile sector.

    Let’s hope that the next time you buy tires online it is a laid back process and not a tiring one.

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  • Importance of employee engagement

    Have you ever wondered exactly what task the employee engagement team or person in your organization is actually tasked with? Is it all just fun and games, organizing the year-end Christmas or holiday party, showing up at your desk to congratulate you on your work anniversary, or organizing the cake for employee birthdays? Sure, these are probably some of the front-facing tasks that you see your human resources or corporate communications executive who is in charge of the employee relations and employee engagement initiatives engage in. However, there is a whole lot more that goes into this endeavor, and indeed, some serious reasoning and requirements lie behind the entire employee engagement team. Research has proven, as has real life experience and observation in organizations of all shapes and sizes across industries, that happier employees are more engaged employees and when they are happy and engaged at work, their output is more this means that they are more productive and work better and want to do more for and in the organization. So, apart from the feel-good factor of getting to eat some cake or blow off some steam by having that monthly pizza party or even that much looked-forward-to Friday potluck, there is indeed an organization level reasoning for keeping employee engagement going.

    In order to achieve good levels of employee engagement, there can be no working in silos. Interaction between teams, within teams, and with senior and junior employees is essential to foster good communication across the organization, at all levels. Keeping this in mind, one way to improve employee engagement within the organization is by encouraging employees to talk to one another, share their work, and also share feedback and ideas with management. On the flip side, employees should be recognized for their contributions and efforts and made to feel like they are a valuable and contributing member of the team and organization at large. With strong communication in place, there will be engagement and employees will want to share as well as feel important. Sending out emails, putting up posters announcing events or lauding teams or individuals who have performed well, presenting them with small incentives and gift vouchers and certificates, and holding celebratory get-together are all simple and effective ways to improve employee engagement within the organization. Measuring employee engagement means frequent interaction with employees and learning whether they feel valued and engaged in order to learn and improve activities in the future.

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  • 6 best accessories for your iPhone

    You cannot imagine the modern world without smartphones. From professional needs to entertainment, iPhones of today can take care of all your digital requirements. However, irrespective of how advanced your phone is, you can always enhance its performance with the right mobile phone accessories. A great range of phone accessories are available in the market for you to choose from according to your needs, and here is a list of the best iPhone accessories.

    Apple AirPods

    If you own an iPhone, then you can make your life a lot easier with a pair of Apple AirPods. These are wireless in-ear headphones that offer great sound quality, sweat-proof technology, and active noise cancelation. Another great feature of this accessory is the access to Siri with voice command, which makes it simpler for you to control your phone without using your hands. With the latest models, you receive a charging case that can be used anywhere.

    Wireless charging station

    If you are constantly traveling and have to use your phone on the go, then keeping it charged may become difficult for you. This is where the wireless charging station comes to your rescue. If your smartphone comes with the wireless charging technology, then you should invest in a good-quality charging station to keep your phone juiced up at all times.

    iPhone cases

    iPhone cases are another necessary accessory for every Apple smartphone owner. A case is not provided by Apple with the phone, so you will need to buy it separately. While the case’s primary job is to protect your phone from scratches and other external damages, it also gives the phone a new, stylish appearance. The smartphone case you need depends on the model of your iPhone and your choice of color and design.

    Screen protectors

    Another necessary phone accessory is the screen protector or the screen guard. Regular phone uses can lead to screen damage due to scratches or dirt. The only way you can effectively protect it is by investing in a good-quality screen protector. These are made of transparent material and come in many different sizes and shapes to fit perfectly on your iPhone.

    Portable Bluetooth speaker
    If you want to enjoy music or movies on your phone with great sound quality then you should consider buying a Bluetooth speaker. These speakers can be connected to your smartphone wirelessly and be used anywhere you go. These speakers are smaller in size, but offer powerful performance. There are many different portable mobile speakers available in the market, which you can use at home and also when traveling.

    Zoom lens

    If you enjoy mobile photography with your iPhone, you can magnify your experience with a zoom lens. These lenses can be attached to your phone camera to enhance its performance. The zoom lens not only allows you to take clear photos from afar but also improves the quality of the photographs. Depending on your photography requirements, you can buy the model that suits you the most.

    All these mobile accessories are easily available on online stores. You can find the product you need within seconds and take your smartphone experience to the next level.

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  • Here’s what you need to know about the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3

    The Samsung Galaxy Tablet, one of the best tablet computers, was first launched in September 2, 2010. Since then it has seen great success with several other models being launched through the year.

    The first Samsung Galaxy Tab (renamed later as Galaxy 7.0) was the first Android-powered tablet to be released. With a 7-inch LCD display and a high resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels and a 1 GHz Single core processor, it took the markets by storm.

    Seeing its instant success, several other models followed the first Galaxy, with each having an increase in speed, capacity, quality and other features and functionality.

    The Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 2017
    The Samsung Galaxy S3, launched on February 26, 2017 is the latest model of the Galaxy series. Let’s take a look at its edgy features:
    Premium Glass Design
    As sleek as a premium smartphone with all qualities of a tablet computer, the shiny glass back of the tablet gives it a classy, premium look.
    Extraordinary Viewing Experience
    The superb clarity and the HDR quality of the playback videos and the pictures gives an extraordinary viewing experience. You can now watch your favorite movies and videos and enjoy it an exclusive Samsung Galaxy experience.
    9.7-Inch Screen
    The new Tablet comes with a 9.7-inch display that is quite big for a tablet.
    Speakers
    It has speakers installed in every corner of the tablet and lets the user enjoy videos and audio to the fullest. Also, the HDR video lets the user enjoy scenes as realistically as possible.
    Power Saving
    The power save mode, mute games and ongoing calls are added benefits. It helps you save your battery as well us keep a tab on apps that are running in the background.
    Redesigned S Pen
    The new S Pen that comes with the tablet writes fluidly and is ergonomically designed for a good grip. The tip is 0.7 mm wide, which gives the most natural writing experience.
    Long Battery Life
    You don’t have to worry about low battery issues. With a longer battery life and fast charging, it makes your life easier.
    Sync N Store
    The Samsung flow lets you shift from phone to tablet and back in seconds and with ease. One can transfer the contents of the phone to view them on a bigger screen. This means the user is simultaneously notified of calls and messages on the phone and tablet.
    By now, you will be convinced of how fantastic the Samsung Galaxy Tablet is. It out performs a number of competitors and offers excellent usability. Get yours today and experience the ease that a tablet can bring into your life.

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  • Things you should know about cargo vans

    A cargo van, as the name suggests, is a type of road vehicle used for transporting goods. Depending on the kind of the van it can be bigger or smaller than a truck and SUV, and bigger than a common car. Large vans with only front seats for passengers are used for business purposes, to carry goods and equipment. Some vans are specially equipped and used by television stations as mobile studios. Postal services and courier companies use large step vans to deliver packages.

    The standard size vans appeared with the innovation of Ford’s engine under a short hood and using pickup truck components and taillights. The cockpit of the engine is often known as a dog house. Over time, they evolved longer noses and sleeker shapes. Second stage manufacturers also modify the original manufacturer’s body to create custom vans for the general public.

    Five years ago, if you’d wanted a cargo van for your business, you’d have had four choices: Ford’s long-in-the-tooth E-Series, Chevrolet’s ancient Express, Dodge’s Ram converted minivan or the pricier Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. But today, there are a number of options encompassing cargo vans. Vans offer a large range of choices for interior customization; modern diesel and gas engines, which deliver more power with better fuel economy; and a slew of sizes, from car-size wheelbases for easy city driving to models with more than 500 cubic feet of cargo volume and 5,000 pounds of payload.

    Companies like Nissan, Ford, and Mercedes have a range of models to pick from. However, there are a few things that need to be looked into before buying a van for your business. Anyone considering small vans should be aware of payload constraints and the weights they’ll need to haul. Fuel will not be saved if you overweight them, and they don’t handle well if you overload them.

    Cargo vans are often touted as extremely reliable because no matter where employees drive them, cargo locked up in a van is very secure.

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