3 Kids and Us

5 Ways to Improve Your Online Business

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When it comes to business, you should always be looking to improve as no one has ever been successful by doing the opposite. Online businesses usually have more flexibility than a strictly location-based business; however, many companies are doing both. It’s great to live in a world of options, and you are only limited by your imagination. If you’re looking to succeed, check out these five ways to improve your online business.

VPN’s

A virtual private network should be just private. As the online world grows, so does the online criminal activity. Make sure that whatever company you are using for, your VPN uses an encrypted network. Doing otherwise could easily leave you open to being compromised, an area you don’t want your business to go.

Packaged Services

Rather than buying your services all over the place, it’s likely going to save you money and headache by getting as many services as you can in one place. A good service provider will offer things like custom firewalls, emergency off-hour services, vulnerability scanning, and host-based intrusion protection to name just a few. Doing a bit of research upfront will save your time and money down the road.

Local Support

It’s great to work with a business that is globally diverse; however, when you have a problem, you might find it more beneficial when that problem can be dealt with right in your own country. Using a company that has engineers in your own backyard will likely make it easier to relate to you, and then solve your problem the best way possible.

Dedication

For your online business to run smoother and more efficiently you are going to want to use a dedicated server. Utilizing the right company that gives a completely dedicated server will ensure that whatever you are running is faster and can be configured to your exact needs. As a basic feature, you should also be offered RAM and disk configuration so that you know it’s all about you.

Get The Latest

Don’t mess around with outdated technology, use the best and forget the rest. Put the services of Dell to use for you, pick a company that utilises the latest generation Dell chassis with high-performance Intel Xeon CPUs. When it comes to technology, you are only as good as the latest edition.

There are many hosting companies available out there, but not all are created equal. When you are looking to choose the perfect one that allows the most value for money, it is important to shop around. Look for companies that can offer you more services all under one roof, great security and has support staff that can locally relate to what you need help with now. All of this and more can be found in great companies like Memset.com, a great place to get hosting services and plenty of other services to help with your online business. It always pays to improve your business, for both you and the clients you serve.

5 Things to Check When Buying a New Camera

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Before you diagnose yourself with Gear Acquisition Syndrome (G.A.S.) or the unnecessary want of getting something new; it would be healthy and wise to test out first the 5 things to check when buying a new camera.  Who knows? You could have been wrong and this new camera is really what you need and not just what you want.

  1. It starts with a why.

When the world has already offered you the best, there is clearly just a little room for improvements. With that, the task of choosing a new camera and let alone decide whether you really have to buy one no longer becomes just a pushover.

Valid reason is the game changer. Your present camera must be really old or it’s broken and buying new seems to be the most practical solution. Additional needed feature is also valid.

Nobody really knows exactly what will happen next. So to future proof this, also consider new and necessary features as one of the 5 things to check when buying a new camera. Remember, necessary here is relative. Your specific need is sometimes different than others. Everything depends on the situation. One example is when you need a full frame and not a crop sensor.

In other words, your conscience is your first guru.

  1. You also need to consider a budget consideration.

Now that you get why you have to buy it, next is you have to think if the price is really worth it?  Is the return of investment from your photography passion bringing back profits? To make things simpler to you, less than 500 USD is the target price. Several factors are considered here, like what the general population of photographers really just need, and what trusted brands average price is.

The present world of photography offers everything that is already good enough – ideal body stabilization, interchangeable lenses, deep dynamic range, brilliant image quality, fast auto focus and desirable high resolution. Because of this, a value of less than 500 USD is definitely most adequate – the supply of quality products is phenomenal you know!

David from Cameraseals can help you with his review on the best camera under $500 here => https://cameraseals.com/10-best-cameras-under-500-2017/

  1. Lens resolution and lens compatibility is important.

The megapixel marketing is nothing but a myth because the pinnacle suitable number of megapixel for a good camera has long been reached ages ago.  Focus more on the lens, because nowadays, it is easy to find a high resolution and adequate megapixel camera at a fair price anyway.

It makes sense because everything will be put to naught if your lens cannot give the proper resolution that your camera can actually provide. It’s like you are limiting its capacity when it can actually reach better performance.

Interchanging lens definitely provide convenience. So in 5 things to check in buying a new camera, it is a common sense to see to it that your camera body is harmonious to your lens. Lens mount adapters are also available in the market. It is your job as well to see to it that they actually support your lens and the harmful or augmenting effects they may bring to the specific features of your camera are understood well. Read your manual!

  1. Don’t forget your storage space and computer specs.

Bigger pixels result to bigger photo files. Buy a camera with more internal storage capacity, as well as having memory cards which can store lots of data. Larger raw files won’t be problems then and to access them quicker is another advantage if you don’t have to resort to external hard drives and other dedicated storage arrays.

Also, the aspect of photo processing should not be left unattended. Make sure you won’t get a slow processing experience. You can do this by making sure that your computer’s system configuration is in sync and in par with your new camera.

  1. Check the manufacturer’s claims and disclaimers on repair, support and maintenance.

Protection given by product warranty is a common thing but in reality, a business is a business. It is for the benefit of the manufacturer if it will find loopholes to any of your outcry. So bear in mind that it is your right to see the manufacturer’s claims and disclaimers, and written warranty before you even buy your camera. Don’t take them for granted.

If something is really off to be considered for a warranty, then make sure that you understand the service and support platform that your product manufacturer offers and that you get the most out of it.

So before you venture on researching the next newer version of cameras or the next newer and cooler features of the product; study everything first and let 5 things to check when buying a new camera guide you, accordingly.

5 Cool Gadgets Your Kids Will Love

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When we were kids, all we could do for fun was go out and ride a bike or play with the ball. But, nowadays kids are lucky as they have the opportunity to play with a bunch of cool gadgets that are both fun and useful and can teach them valuable things. If you are looking for ideas what to get for your kids, you are in luck as we are about to suggest some of the coolest gadgets that are bound to be loved by your kids, but you will love them and have fun as well!

R2-D2 Smart Droid

If you are a Star Wars fan, getting your kids to love this iconic story is something that you plan on doing, right? So, is there a better way than getting them the legendary R2-D2? As we all know (at least those of us that love Star Wars) a year ago, one of the hottest and most wanted toys for the parents… sorry, I meant to say kids, was the Sphero BB-8.

However, as the storyline of the saga continues, we are again going back to the old characters and that includes the famous, grumpy little white/blue droid knows as R2-D2. This insanely cool gadget can be paired and controlled by a smartphone (Android or iOS), and through the app, your kids (or you when they are asleep) can control the droid around the house. Don’t worry, driving it around is not the only thing it offers, as a matter of fact, R2-D2 became famous for his bleeps and bloops, especially when he was angry, and that is what you can expect from this gadget. Also, you can even set it in the guard mode, where it uses its sensors to detect movement and react just like in the movies, and, it can be educational as if offers a bunch of Minigame missions that include programming routes for the droid to follow.

All in all, this gadget is quite affordable and can make a great Christmas present for a Star Wars fan family.

Survival Watch

For the outdoor loving parents, getting outside and taking their kids to bond with the nature is the most rewarding parenting experience. But, you want your kids to be safe and to know how to get out of tough situations, right? Therefore, getting them a cool survival watch will definitely ease your worrying as they will be able to know their exact location at any time, no matter where they are.

Furthermore, you can also teach your kids to navigate by using a map and a compass, as these types of watches usually come with a digital compass. Another cool and above all useful feature of survival watches, is a built in barometer, altimeter, tide charts and tide data display, which all come in very  handy when your kids are in the great outdoors. For example, sudden changes of atmospheric pressure, means that the weather is about to change and that can give them an advantage and enough time to find a shelter or head back to safety.

In general, getting your kids a survival watch is never a bad idea and they can use it to get much more familiar with outdoor survival skills.

Quadcopter

There isn’t a kid that wouldn’t like getting a drone for birthday or Christmas! Luckily, nowadays, drones are widely available and really easy to use. In fact, they are so easy to use that even kids can fly them safely.

The one we are suggesting is the Walkera QR X350 quadcopter. This model is an affordable aerial filming platform that will definitely be fun for the entire family. Thanks to its advanced systems like GPS position and altitude hold, 6-axis gyroscope, and various mission planning program compatibility, the drone is unbelievably stable in the air, has precise hovering, and simply “stands” in the air if you don’t touch the controls. This makes it ideal for the young ones, as they can simply let go of the controls in case they lose orientation and the drone will hover in place waiting for the next command.

Furthermore, the QR X350 can be bought with a camera stabilization gimbal, which is compatible with most action cams. And, with a range of 2 kilometers and 20 minutes of flight time, your kids will definitely have fun making aerial videos and taking selfies from a totally new perspective.

If you want, you can even get your kids into programming as this drone is an open source model and allows mission planning. This means that your kids will learn coding, and enjoy autonomous flight missions! Cool, isn’t it?

Action Camera

If you already decided to buy a drone for your kids, then getting them an action cam is the next step. Don’t worry, even though it is the most talked about brand, the pricey GoPro Hero is not the only high-quality action cam choice out there.

In the last couple of years, many new action cam brands surfaced and now, you can spend hours on finding the one you like the most. Our recommendations are brands such as Xiaomi, SJ, and Eken. Most of them now come with the ability to shoot in 4K and deliver crystal clear photos with vivid colors.

Also, if you combine an action camera with a waterproof case, your kids will also be able to make underwater videos and keep their camera safe from unexpected drops. All in all, having an action cam will spark up your child’s imagination and creativity.

Power Bank

Whether we want to admit or not, today’s kids are addicted to smart devices such as smartphones, tablets, laptops and so on, and they think that when they are off line, it’s the end of the world! But, none of the mentioned devices can’t work forever as the batteries need to be recharged every few days, or in case of extensive use, even every few hours.  As long as they are home, there’s no problem as they can simply plug it into the wall in their room and browse the web or chat with friends from their room. But, what about when they are outside?

This means that, if they are on a camping trip, or on an excursion for a few days, they will not be able to recharge their phones every time the battery goes empty. As much as this sounds like a tragedy for them, it actually means that you won’t be able to call them and check if everything is okay, any time you want. Therefore, we recommend getting them a power bank. This is a gadget that is basically an external battery pack, which can be charged and used as an electrical power “bank”, to top off any device when needed.

Depending on the battery capacity, some power banks are capable of charging a few devices at once, or even high-demand devices like laptops or DSLR cameras. They can also be solar, or solar/electric combined.

All in all, your kids will love the opportunity to top off their smart phones or tablets, and not worry about being off line when they are on a camping or backpacking trip.

Author Bio:

Rebecca lives in the USA but loves hiking all over the world. Her favorite is Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal. It usually takes 16 days, but she likes to slow down, enjoy mountains, the company of other adventurers and take more pictures, so it took her 28 days last time. The ocean is another one of her passions, so all short and long hikes along the ocean shore bring a lot of joy. She also writes for HikingMastery.com

An Introduction to Digiscoping

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If you have been looking for a reason to prise the kids away from their screens and various devices, what better way to encourage them to get outdoors in the fresh air with digiscoping? All kids like watching wildlife, and with digiscoping, they can do just that. Although it requires a lot of practice, it should keep the kids entertained for hours, which is great for those long summer holidays when all you seem to hear is “I’m bored.” Some photographers have perfected the technique of digiscoping to the level where they have photographed some amazing photographs of birds and other wildlife, which would otherwise be impossible with a traditional digital camera.

The first step to digiscoping is to assemble the right kit. Digiscoping is increasing in popularity which is growing the number of products that are available on the market. If your family already owns a digital camera, you’re halfway there. Another piece of kit you will need is a spotting scope, and an adapter to connect your camera and spotting scope.  A spotting scope is essentially a kind of telescope that creates an upright image. Unlike a normal telescope, a spotting scope is much smaller, and it doesn’t have as much magnifying power as a regular telescope. Also, the majority of spotting scopes are weatherproof; being resistant to fog and water.

If you don’t have any equipment to start digiscoping, a quick search online will reveal all the equipment that you need, and stores such as Phone Scope offer great and up to date equipment. The best camera is one that has a flexible focus and shooting mode. The camera that you need will also require a 3x optical zoom to stop black circles from appearing around the image.

Digiscoping Basics

Before you begin digiscoping, it is important to understand the camera and the spotting scope, so when you eventually merge them together, you get a great result. Practice first with still objects in the garden like a tree or a garden ornament so you can perfect your technique. Then once you have mastered the basics, you can move on to larger birds such as ducks in the local park or geese at the farm because they move more slowly and are easier to photograph. Then once these have been perfected, you can move onto small animals.

If you are considering digiscoping as a new hobby, you will need to purchase the equipment, but before you decide on buying a spotting scope, it is important that you try it out first. There are two main types of digiscope; straight and angled. The straight scope is best if you intend to use it primarily for photography while an angled scope is more suited to a birder who takes the odd photograph now and again.

Finally, a great digiscoping image is all about the right amount of light. The more light, the more illumination and the less motion blur there will be. If you are using a zoom eyepiece on the spotting scope, it is recommended that you set it at the widest possible setting. This reduces blurry images and camera shake.

How to Take an Idea and Make it Work

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There is a lot of information out there on how to use crowdsource software to generate new ideas. This information is all highly valuable and really important. However, what this information often doesn’t get into, is what to do once ideas have been generated.

Why You Must Plan for Idea Selection

When you crowdsource for ideas, there is the possibility that you will get thousands of replies. This is why it is very important that you plan how ideas are selected, which happens twice. The first time is once they are presented, and the second is when they have been tested. By having a process and plan in place for this, you will be far more likely to end up with an idea that can actually be implemented and made to work. Let’s take a look at some important tips.

  1. Build and Expand on Ideas

First of all, when you crowdsource for ideas, they aren’t complete yet. They must be properly reviewed, clustered into categories, and then expanded upon. An affinity diagram can be a very useful tool for this, as it helps you to identify whether there are any underlying themes. You should also make sure that as many people as possible are involved in this stage, for instance by leaving the crowdsource or idea management software platform fully open.

  1. Meet the Objectives of Your Company

Once you have completed the first step and have various categories of ideas, you need to determine which of those categories actually meet the mission, vision, goals, and objectives of your company. Ideas can be very good, but simply not relevant. Those can be shelved rather than discarded. Other ideas will never be relevant, in which case they should be removed immediately. At this point, internal stakeholders have to be involved, as they understand the company culture and its mission and vision.

  1. Understand that Good Ideas Don’t Have to Be Great Ideas

Many of those who look through ideas only pay attention to those that could really be “the next big thing”. But a small improvement on a relatively insignificant process can have far-reaching positive benefits. In fact, really big, company-changing ideas should be reviewed completely separately (they should be in a different category at step 1, in fact).

  1. Test Whether Any Assumptions Are Right

As human beings, we make assumptions. For instance, we assume we know the customer. While this cannot be helped, what can be helped is taking those assumptions as gospel. Instead, you have to test them. This is absolutely fundamental, as directing a new idea towards a demographic that doesn’t actually exist will lead to instant failure.

  1. Be Ready for Resistance

Last but not least, you have to be ready for some resistance. People do not like change, whether they are your employees, your customers, or your board members. There will always be a nay-sayer who believes things will go completely wrong. You need to channel that into a learning process that delivers something positive.

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We left our home in Sydney, Australia many moons ago in May 2012 and, other than a brief stint back in Perth for Christmas and a wedding in early 2014, we have been travelling the world nomadically ever since, running a business from our laptops and we’re here to show you how to do it!