A current phenomenon made possible via social media is the real-time reporting of seismic activity.Researchers realized that this activity could be helpful to track the activity in addition to all of the standard technology in use.It turns out that the sophistication of a smartphone can be even more helpful in tracking earthquakes as they occurred.The point of this approach was to create a more accurate and speedy warning system for those in the vicinity to help prevent surprises.What makes this project work the best is from wider participation, so if you know anyone that lives in an earthquake-prone area, let them know about this awesome project: https://myshake.berkeley.edu

Data Doctors Tech Tips

Citizen Science App

Unless you're an old-timer like us, you probably don't remember what it was like when not everyone had a website.Even those companies that did have one, looking back at what we thought was cool back then is kind of cringe-worthy.There's actually an easy way to see just how comical things looked back in the day thanks to an awesome archiving project at https://archive.orgIt's been grabbing snapshots of millions of websites for over 20 years as a massive archive of the web.This isn't a database of fully functional websites, in fact, many of the elements of the archived sites may not even load, but you can get the gist of what it was like back then.A cool way to use this tool is to look up the website for the company that you currently work for or for those that you worked for going back a coup of decades via this direct link:  https://archive.org/web

A Blast From The Past

The Internet has become an integral component in the business world and it all begins with a website.  If you know what you're doing, choosing which tools and technology to use on your website isn't much of a task, but for non-technical decision-makers, it can become overwhelming.  A process that can help you make a more informed decision is simply examining what similar organizations are using for their websites which is easy to do with the Built With web tool.  You simply input the web address of any website you want to get some intel on and you'll be presented with a comprehensive written review of the tech being used.  This is a great way to see what technology is on the uptick with lots of other websites or to verify what you think is a good way to go.  Making great decisions before you get started can save you a lot of time, frustration and money, so do your homework with https://builtwith.com

Web Trends, Intelligence & Research

Virtually any new project or product that you want to take to market starts with a search to see if the name you came up with is already being used.Once you have the name, you'll generally want to see if the website domain is available, which is where Picky Domains can be a huge time saver.This web resource uses crowdsourcing to generate ideas for those looking for a name and web address for their new project.It's not based on random suggestions as you provide the details of how long you want it to be, what words to use or not use, etc.You get to leverage the brainpower of a huge crowd of creative people at a very reasonable price because only one person will win your challenge.It's such an important step in improving your chances of being successful, so if you're ever in need of this unique service, make sure you bookmark it: https://www.pickydomains.com

What's In A Name?

If you use various chargers for your smartphone and it seems that the ones that didn't come with your device take a longer time to charge, it's probably true. In some cases, this can be caused by a defective cable that's wearing out from the inside, but it's more likely the wrong amperage from the charger.Despite all of the charger amps being at a very low level, which is why you don't feel any type of shock when you touch them, it's critical to have the right amount.Knowing what the proper amperage requirements are for your device allows you to buy a third-party charger that will do the job effectively.  If you happen to have the tools necessary to measure these low power levels coming from your charger, that's great, but for Android users, there's a free app. Ampere (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gombosdev.ampere) is a free app that not only tells you what your charging levels are for each charger, but also looks at heat generation and battery health. It's a great way to determine the best chargers you have so you can charge your battery in the best way possible!

Charger Testing App

If you're the type that enjoys creating unique images that will easily catch the attention of just about anyone, have we got an app for you to try.  It's an app called Alien Sky and it will allow iPhone users to do what the title suggests - place alien images in the sky of your pictures. There are some awesome celestial bodies that you can add to your images that are so realistic that it will likely create questions from those that see it.You can claim to have caught a comet just in time or say nothing about there being more than one moon in dusk background.  With over 150 effects available, you'll have endless opportunities for great fun and intrigue.  Check out all of the high-res objects that you can start using to bump up your space photo game at: http://www.brainfevermedia.com/alienSky.html

Epic Space Photos for iPhones

Protecting yourself from the multitude of threats that can destroy your data starts with having a solid backup process in place. A traditional backup that is copied to an external hard drive connected to your computer will only provide one type of protection - having a secured off-site backup in addition is today's best protection.The ongoing threat of ransomware which will lock you out of your own files and demand a ransom will also compromise your external hard drive.These sneaky attacks can easily bypass traditional anti-virus programs because they focus on tricking humans into allowing the exploit to start working behind the scenes.If you're hit by this attack and don't have a backup available, your two choice will be to pay the ransom or lose those pictures, videos and document forever.One of the easiest ways to keep yourself protected is with online backup services such as Carbonite, so if you haven't accessed your backup situation lately, take a minute to think it through.

Global Threat Protection Tip

Most of us are mindful of our physical fitness in one way or another but not so much when it comes to mental fitness.As with our physical capabilities that diminish with age, so does our mental sharpness if it isn't kept active.If you don't already have a way to train your brain to stay alert, an app called Elevate is awaiting your call.It's much more than a silly gaming app that will distract you from life as it's backed by science and research in the cognitive world.This app will personalize the brain training based in a number of inputs from you and your responses to the various interactions.They use the freemium model which provides the basics for free and premium features for a fee.It turns out that playing games will help keep your brain stay in shape and beyond exercise, it can make you feel much sharper too https://www.elevateapp.com

Brain Training App

Nature lovers tend to seek out the path less traveled so they can commune with their surroundings in solitude, which means they'll need a solid way to navigate the wilderness.Google Maps and other navigation apps can be helpful, but most of them require you to think about things well before you hit the trail, such as downloading the information that won't be available when there's no signal.If you're an iPhone toting nature lover, check out an app called Anchor Pointer that's a big help.This app allows you to drop 'anchors' along the way, so it can easily bring you back later.You can set the anchors well in advance or use it to mark where you parked your car.You'll get details info on the distance to each of the anchor points so you won't have to guess how much longer it will take to get there.It can also work with other iPhone users, so it's awesome for groups as well.Get the details at:https://apple.co/2VKlB14

Unique iPhone GPS App

Have you noticed how many gadgets you won that can take a picture?Some are basic while others are very sophisticated and include a flash option to shed light on your subjects.Low-light situations are an obvious time to turn on your flash, but did you know that it can be helpful when you have plenty of light?Having the right type of light in the right place is what determines whether a picture will be great or useless.Larger cameras that have a larger flash can be especially useful when there is too much daylight coming from one direction.Using the flash to fill in shadows caused by uneven lighting can be done with just about any camera.When the sun is too bright and is causing your subjects to squint, try moving them to shade and using the flash to brighten up the image.The best time to experiment with your flash is before you need it to be your savior, so take some time to shoot in different lighting situations so you'll know what works best with your go-to cameras.

When To Light Up Your Pictures

The advances in medical science has led to amazing medications for just about anything we're dealing with, but as you age, the number of medications is likely to increase.This can create a complicated routine for when to take which pill on which day.Well, there's an app for this common problem and it's called Mango Health.Once installed, you select the medications that you are taking along with their frequency to have the app start to remind you, but this app does much more.Ensuring that none of your medications have adverse reactions along with telling you which foods could create a problem based on what you're taking is also included in this app.Since we can often forget to take our medication, but rarely forget to have our smartphone with us, this app is very practical.Download the iPhone version at:https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mango-health/id560657279Download the Android version at:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mangohealth.mango&hl=en_US&gl=US

Medication Reminder & Manager App

If you've ever watched any financial news channel, it's likely that you were inundated with technical terms that you had no idea existed.Learning what those terms mean is just the beginning of becoming a more astute investor, which is where a website called Investopedia can be instrumental.  In the early days, they were focused on teaching the world the meaning of all those investment terms, but it's grown into something much more valuable.It's become an amazing resource for anyone that wants to continue learning about the world of investing in so many ways.It's even got a simulator that allows you to invest without actually risking any of your own capital, which allows for learning without the losses.Unless you have a degree in finance or have been investing for a living, this is an excellent resource for anyone that wants to be more informed and educated on all thing financial!: https://www.investopedia.com

Simplifying Investing Since 1999

Most of us never go anywhere without our smartphones in our pockets or purses, which is why it's become such a valuable tool.Keeping track of our lives in virtually every aspect is possible because of our smartphones and the folks at Google have created an app that's all about creating, sharing and collaborating.The Keep platform is an app and synchronized website that allows you to create lists, capture random thoughts and compile information that is instantly available on all your devices.It's not limited to text as you can use images and even your voice to create a note in Keep.Notes can become checklists so it's easier to keep track of the tasks that you have accomplished and those that are yet to be done.For any list making or note taking needs, Google Keep is worth checking out https://keep.google.com

'Keep' For Notes & Tasks

If you're in business, you're likely using one or many of Google's services, many of which are free.Of those tools, there's one incredibly valuable free tool known as Google Trends that every business should learn to use.It's a direct path into all of the insights that Google extracts from billions of searches through their search engines and it's at your fingertips.Every bit of marketing that is done online starts with what are known as keywords, which are based on the most popular search terms that you can access via this tool.The data that you can access through the website goes all the way back to 2004, so annual trends and other historical info can be derived.For anyone that's yet to see the awesomeness of this free resource, get started today at:  https://trends.google.com

Keywords Are The Key

When is one of the best times of day to help your child learn math skills? Would you believe that bed time is an awesome time to learn math?A group of university researchers studied this and came up with the conclusions with the help of an app called 'Bed Time Math'.The app combines fun, engaging stories along with math questions at the end to help your child connect with the lessons more deeply.Another great tidbit from the study was that it didn't require this to be a nightly activity as just once a week once found to be effective.For parents that may feel uncomfortable themselves with math, this is a much easier way to engage with your child in a way that takes away the stress.The app is available for both platforms in English and Spanish and is specifically designed to teach children ages 3 to 9: https://bit.ly/2ZGcvsZ

Boost Math Skills At Bed Time

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