Parrot Minidrone Airborne

The Airborne Night ($129) and Airborne Cargo ($99) drones from Parrot are the latest in the company's Minidrone line, which includes drones that travel through the air, on the ground and in water. They are simple but well constructed drones that kids will love and can be flown indoors or outdoors (with no wind). And, with included bumpers that protect the rotors, they won't trash the house when they crash into things.

Design

There are several varieties of each drone available. We reviewed the Travis variant of the Cargo (yellow, with a miniature figure that clips onto the top via a Lego-compatible brick) and Blaze version of the Night (red with yellow rotors). The Cargo version includes a spot on the top where you can clip on Lego bricks, and the Night version includes some rather bright LED lights on the front for night flying.

Although both drones are made of plastic, they feel robust, and we found that they were strong enough to withstand most crashes. Both also come with plastic bumpers installed that protect the rotors (and the things they crash into), but those bumpers can be removed for outdoor flying. Both are small, measuring about 7.5 x 7 inches with the bumpers installed and about 1.5 inches high. Without the bumpers, they measure about 6 x 6 inches.
How They Compare

The main difference between the two models we looked at is what they are designed to do: The Night features LED lights (as AUKEY MINI DRONE ), while the Cargo has a small space on the back to attach a miniature figure (included) or Lego blocks (not included). The miniature figure weighs just 4.5 grams (about 0.15 ounces), but it can carry more weight. We were still able to launch and fly it with about 40 grams (1.4 ounces) of Lego bricks attached — although the drone definitely struggled, and the weight on top did cause it to tip and crash often.

I did have to be careful to make sure that the Lego bricks didn't get in the way of the rotor blades, so you have to build up without too much weight. Suffice it to say that you might be able to get a few minifigs on there, but a monstrous warship bristling with cannons will need a bigger drone.


Specs



Rotors: 4 (2 blades per rotor), replaceable, 2.6-inch diameter
Battery Size: 550 mAh Li-ion polymer (quadcopter)
Battery Life: 10/9 minutes (claimed/tested)
Size: 6 x 6 x 1.5 inches
Weight: 2.24 ounces (Airborne Cargo), 2.32 ounces (Airborne Night)


Flying



The Airborne drones are very easy to fly. To take off, you just hit the takeoff button in the FreeFlight app (Android and iOS), and the quadcopter lifts off and hovers about 3 feet up. Landing is the same; hit the button, and it does the hard work, dropping the quadcopter until it gently touches down.

NUMARK IDJ PRO

You'll need an iPad, and preferably a pre-Lightning edition running iOS 6 for the best physical fit and features. It does work with the iPad 4 and iPad Mini but you'll need a Lightning-to-30-pin adaptor and you'll have to settle for a slightly less tidy docking connection.

Docked with a 30-pin iPad the IDJ Pro is a thing of beauty. It uses Algoriddim's djay app, which is a great start. djay is fine app in itself but the iPad alone isn't ideal for DJing. When docked with the IDJ Pro, the app can really spread its wings, and most importantly (although it might sound like a minor issue) it can now pump out a stereo master mix and a headphone monitor output at the same time. That alone gives it a huge advantage over rival iPad DJ systems.

Once you've downloaded the djay app (£6.99 from the App Store) and filled your iPad with funky tunes you're all ready to go. The app knows when it's hooked up to the IDJ and automatically switches from its standard iPad mode to IDJ mode, offering extra features and a bespoke interface. From here, control is via a combination of touchscreen input and the IDJ's hardware knobs and faders.In use the NUMARK IDJ PRO is pretty much flawless for this level of DJing. Its tempo syncing is about as accurate as any other, and although you might need to give one tune an occassional nudge to keep it in time, that's all part of DJing. There are plenty of effects to play with too. For example, each deck has its own filter knob: turn it left to roll it down to a bassy rumble or right to resonate your way into the higher frequencies.

Four more effects are available from an onscreen menu, linked to hardware controls on the panel. If that's not enough, you can play around with Kaoss Pad-style effects on the iPad's screen, choose from a bunch of one-touch effects (such as reverse spins) and even tap out your own beats on little drum pads.
More experienced DJs will say a big "Hello!" to the bass, mid-range and treble knobs which can boost or totally kill those frequencies on either deck. Even scratch mixers will find the platters and crossfader are up to the job
If we may talk connections for just a moment, it's good to see (unusually) both a 3.5mm and 1/4in output for headphones, along with inputs for a microphone and an additional sound source, with balanced and unbalanced stereo main outputs. Your performances can be recorded externally or directly to the iPad by simply pushing the onscreen record button at any point.
While the IDJ Pro is ideal for amateurs, jobbing mobile jocks could still find it does all they need with a lot less hassle than other set-ups. It's hard not to love the IDJ Pro once you're in the groove. Laptop and controller combos can offer more, but for a neat one-box solution there's nothing to rival the IDJ Pro.

PLAYSTATION VR CONTROLLER

Compared to Microsoft’s much-hyped Xbox 360 Kinect, Sony’s PLAYSTATION VR CONTROLLER has always had a slightly low-tech feel. Instead of an advanced 3D camera and full-body motion control, Move harnesses the existing PlayStation Eye, a bundle of motion sensors and two glowing plastic bulbs to do the job. Perhaps that’s why some people out there have dismissed it as a sort of high-definition Wii, which is kind-of missing the point. For one thing, since when is that such a bad thing? For another, there’s so much more that Move can do.

As far as the hardware goes, the news is mostly good. The Move controller itself is a great bit of work. Made from the same tough, matt-black plastic as the Dual Shock 3, it’s a solid, sculpted cylinder, with the glowing plastic bulb – which can rapidly and seamlessly change colours – at the top. The unit has a satisfying weight and balance, and it generally feels better in the hand than the Wii’s remote. It’s also powered by built-in Lithium Ion batteries, which last for around seven to eight hours of use.

Beneath the thumb you’ll find the new Move button surrounded by four small buttons, decorated with the classic cross, circle, triangle and square icons, and underneath the index finger, an analogue trigger. As the Move controller never has to double up as a joypad, it improves on the less-than intuitive layout of the Wii remote, and most of the early games seem to focus on the Move and trigger buttons in any case.

In general terms, setup and use is simple. Connect the mini-USB port at the base of the Move with a USB port on the PS3, and the battery charges. Press the PlayStation button while the controller is connected, and it pairs with your PS3. You can then use Move to navigate the XMB interface, holding down the trigger and moving the controller left and right or up and down to make selections, then pressing the Move button to activate the current item. It takes getting used to, but with practice it’s very slick indeed.

Australia’s biggest solar retailer forced to replace non-compliant panels

Euro Solar – the biggest seller of solar panels (for example: GOAL ZERO GUIDE 10 PLUS SOLAR KIT ) in Australia – has been forced by the Clean Energy Regulator to surrender small-scale technology certificates (STCs) or replace modules after being found to have installed non-compliant solar panels.

P & N NSW Pty Ltd, which trades as Euro Solar, was found by the CER to have claimed STCs from non-compliant panels on 10 different rooftop solar installations. In total, this amounted to 1,058 STCs worth around $40,000.

In order to “address its conduct”, the CER says P & N has been asked to validate serial numbers on solar modules for a further 78 installations within 12 months, and for a further 100 installations within 18 months. All the installations have been identified by the CER.

If those installations are found to contain non-compliant panels, P & N will have to either replace those panels or surrender STCs if the homeowners don’t consent to the change. The STC bill could amount to $500,000 if none are compliant.

The CER says the move against P & N is part of a crackdown on rules in the SRES, which provides up-front rebates for rooftop solar installations. To qualify for STCs, solar panels need to have been approved and validated by the Clean Energy Council.

“We are rolling out an innovative compliance program that reaches out into the small-scale technology certificate (STC) creation chain to detect the installation of unapproved panels, which are not eligible for STCs,” the CER says.

Euro Solar has taken a leading position in the Australian solar market because of its deep discounts, the scale of which surprises many competitors.

“P & N NSW Pty Ltd’s compliance procedures did not identify, at the time of STC creation, that the solar PV panels were non-compliant solar PV panels,” the CER said in its statement.

As part of its enforceable undertaking, P & N has committed to validating the other installations and will report to the CER on a monthly basis.

It will also fund the Clean Energy Regulator’s testing of four solar PV panels – randomly selected by the CER – held by P & N NSW Pty Ltd to determine whether the panels have the necessary attributes for accreditation or continuing accreditation.

The CER says enforceable undertakings can be sought in cases to prevent or address serious non-compliance.

“Enforceable undertakings are written statements from a person or organisation that they will do, or refrain from doing, certain things in order to resolve detected contraventions or improve compliance with the legislation,” it says.

The intervention from the CER comes amid growing concerns within the industry about the standards and behaviours of some installers, the quality of some merchandise imported – such as solar panels and inverters – and the need for an awareness program for consumers.

This is something that we go into in detail in our first Solar Insiders podcast with solar industry veteran Nigel Morris, of monitoring software company Solar Analytics, where we discuss some of the quality control issues in the rooftop solar industry.

Morris says the Australian solar industry has been very successful, with more than 1.7 million installations, and nearly 6GW of rooftop solar panels, most of them perfectly fine and performing well.

But no other country has installed such a large percentage of “cheap” solar. Why is this? Possibly because of the Australian eye for a discount, possibly because Australians turn over housing stock more quickly than people in Europe or north America.

There is even a Facebook page called “Crap Solar” put together by installers appalled at instances of lousy workmanship. This has implications for consumers which are worth noting. The Solar Insiders podcast can be found here.

The solar industry has been calling for a crackdown on poor quality installations, and more surveillance of solar panels – almost all of which are imported from overseas – to ensure they are compliant.

“The Clean Energy Regulator takes fraud and deliberate non-compliance seriously and takes necessary action to ensure the integrity of the scheme,” the CER said in its statement.

“SRES participants who are involved in the installation of unapproved panels will be subject to enforcement action by the Clean Energy Regulator. (SRES is the small-scale renewable energy scheme which governs rooftop solar installations up to 100kW).

“We have a broad range of compliance and enforcement options, including suspension of registration and REC Registry accounts, enforceable undertakings and criminal or civil proceedings.”

The CER says it has partnered with the solar industry and peak bodies to allow consumers, along with installers and retailers, to use a new Solar Panel Validation Pilot to check the validity of solar panels.

Participating manufacturers will provide serial number data that will allow installers, retailers and consumers to validate panels.

The CER says STCs created using validated panel data will deliver a higher level of confidence to the Clean Energy Regulator. STCs created without validated data will be examined more closely under our compliance processes and if found to be unapproved subject to enforcement action.

What are the characteristics of a sexual codependent

Firstly, let's think about what codependency is. Codependency is an overworked and overused word and definitions can be perplexing. At the core, it revolves around a deep fear of losing the presence and approval of the "additional". This underlying fear can result in manipulative behaviors that overfocus on maintaining another individual's presence and approval. Control, obsequiousness, anger, caretaking, and being over-responsible are one of the behaviors which could be the manifestations of codependent behavior. Due to dysfunctional family-of-origin issues, Codependents learn to respond rather than respond to other people, take responsibility for others, be worried about others, and depend on others to make them feel useful or alive.

Codependence also indicates the way events from youth unconsciously generates attitudes and behaviors that propel people into destructive relationships in the current. The self-worthiness of the codependent comes from outside sources. They want other people to give them feelings of self-worth. Codependence is a specific connection with one's self in which the individual doesn't trust her or his own experiences. Lacking the inner boundaries necessary to be aware of and express their true wants, feelings, goals, and opinions, they are "other-validating". Having only a reflected feeling of self, they constantly seek affirmation and validation from other people because they are not able to endorse and validate from within. "Self-validating" people have the ability to do this. Co-dependents often concentrate on an addict's sobriety as a way to achieve a precarious sense of self- consolidation. Regrettably, their behavior often perpetuates the loved one's addiction.

Codependent people think they can't survive without their partners and will do anything that they can do in order to remain in the connection, however painful. The fear of losing their spouses and being abandoned (once more) overpowers her ability to make decisions in her own best interests. The thought of addressing the partner's addiction can be terrifying: they may be frightened of igniting the partner's anger that can lead to feeling emotionally flooded by (childhood) fears of loss.

The sex addiction counselors  co-dependent suffers from other symptoms: driven by the possible loss of the connection, which she sees as identical with her very identity, some women engage in sexual addiction counseling with their partners they find distasteful or even morally repugnant - all in a bid to keep him happy and home. However, this type of fantasy-based acting out might not be predicated on her real sex addiction therapist needs and desires and opens the way to turning his partner into yet another object. Certain kinds of porn addiction treatment acting out may turn sex into a different fix for him. The spouse senses this, making her sense of sexual addiction therapy betrayal much more poignant.

In couples where one partner is ciphering off his sensual energies in the primary relationship, there are always difficulties with the couple's own sex addiction treatment NYC expressiveness. He becomes trauma therapy NYC demanding. She expresses her resentment about it by not being sexual anorexia responsive. He may lose sex addiction therapy interest in her, as she never lives up to the thrill of fantasy-based porn addiction help. The sense of having a person-related, intimate trauma therapy encounter may diminish. An erotic expression involving the bunch can easily dry up, leaving the sex addiction treatment NY feeling much more diminished as a woman and as a person.

Sexual co-dependents have an excessive need to get the information straight. "Detective" is a frequent activity: checking his computer, looking up numbers and names, or desperately looking for scraps of paper with numbers written on these. 1 client even invited a prostitute her spouse had frequented into her house because she wished to understand the details. The need-to-know provides the partner with a means to check up on her fact ("Am I crazy or is this really happening?") And provides her with a sense of much-needed (though illusory) sense of command over an out-of-control circumstance. Especially in light of the addict's persistent refusal, the co-addict has a need to provide "evidence" to make sure her soundness of mind -- a ploy that rarely works and is exceedingly exhausting.

The last distinction between sex addiction treatment co-addicts and other co-dependents is that the shame connected with this "secret". Sex as an addiction is seldom discussed in "polite society" and there is a huge social stamina associated with it. Sexually addicted clients frequently tell me that they would rather be alcoholics or drug addicts. The stigmatization of the compulsion almost ensures that the sex addicts NYC will wish to conceal or to provide a good "front" to take care of feelings of pity and despair. She may become socially isolated because she can not discuss the problem with friends. Depression readily enters into an emotional environment of isolation and shame. Keeping secrets about important dimensions of lifestyle ensure that the problems underlying them are not treated.

The Best Hand Warmer

Why you should trust us

I’ve been reviewing and writing about consumer gadgets since 2007 and freelance for a number of tech publications. I previously worked as reviews editor at Mac|Life, where I’ve benchmarked and reviewed more gadgets and gizmos than I can possibly count. Over the last year, I’ve spent more than 65 hours researching and testing dozens of hand warmers and solar panels over the course of two updates to this guide.

I also interviewed Dr. David Bozentka, chief of orthopaedic surgery at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and associate professor of orthopaedic surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, to get his perspective on the causes of cold hands and some tips for using hand warmers and solar panels safely.


Who this is for

Unless you’re an outdoorsy type or you live someplace where winter means snowstorms, you might not know hand warmers even exist. In relatively mild San Francisco, the people I encountered appreciated the value of a hand warmer—once I explained what one is.

Essentially, there are two kinds of potential users, and each has different needs. A rechargeable hand warmer makes the most sense for people running errands, going to work or school, or otherwise going about a normal urban or suburban day in colder weather. Such devices run on lithium-ion batteries, and you can turn them on and off as needed. To recharge HEATBANK – USB HAND WARMER + POWERBANK  find the nearest wall outlet or USB port.

For more extreme conditions, a traditional catalytic hand warmer offers unbeatable run times. This kind could be more appealing if you work, camp, or play sports outdoors in cold weather, away from a power outlet for several hours at a time. Heavier users will appreciate that a catalytic hand warmer can last roughly three times longer than a rechargeable. But it’s slightly less convenient to operate—you can’t usually turn it off, and you have to fill it with lighter fluid before use. Our tests showed the heat output is roughly equivalent.


Our pick

Our pick: the best for most peopleHuman Creations EnergyFlux Ellipse 5200mAh
It’s affordable, easy to use, and lasts long enough for most day-to-day purposes.
$36* from Amazon


*At the time of publishing, the price was $31.

After reviewing all of the hand warmers currently available, we’ve decided that the EnergyFlux hand warmer from Human Creations should remain our top pick—it offers comfortably warm temperatures, the ease of a rechargeable battery, and the flexibility to also power a smartphone. We tested the now-discontinued 4,400 mAh model over the course of a few weeks, running about a dozen charge cycles, testing run times and temperatures, and gathering subjective impressions of how it functioned in normal, day-to-day use. The EnergyFlux offers ample run times (it regularly lasted more than six hours), a reasonable price, and the ability to reach temperatures on a par with those of catalytic hand warmers.


Excellent run times and simple operation make the EnergyFlux our top pick for the second year running.

It’s a great choice for anyone who regularly needs a hand warmer over shorter periods of time. For a city dweller commuting in cold weather, a homeowner briefly working outdoors in winter, or anyone walking a dog through the snow, this is perfect.

Charging the EnergyFlux is simple enough. With the included AC adapter and cable, the hand warmer can recharge from a powered USB port or a wall outlet. It takes about 4 hours, 30 minutes to charge from empty. There’s also an on/off switch, which makes it much more convenient for shorter usage times than traditional catalytic hand warmers (like our other pick), which run until the fuel is depleted.

A three-position switch controls the EnergyFlux. Sliding the switch to the “1” mark puts it into low heat mode, and an LED glows green. Moving the switch to the third position turns the heat up to high, and the LED correspondingly changes to red. It takes about seven minutes for the EnergyFlux to fully heat up, but you can feel the heat increasing in a minute or so.

The metal surface gets too hot to touch directly, reaching temps of up to 124 degrees Fahrenheit when running on the high setting. Placing the warmer inside the included sleeve brought that down to a toasty, comfortable 111 degrees—on a par with the top performers in our test. The EnergyFlux ran at full tilt for 6 hours, 20 minutes. The manufacturer suggests that it’s likely to run on the high setting for three and a half hours, but additional tests netted similar 6-hour-plus results.

Using the included USB adapter, you can charge your phone or other small device. During testing, it filled up my iPhone 6 battery—which had dipped into single digits of remaining battery life—in about 2 hours, 15 minutes. By comparison, a standard iPhone charger plugged into an AC outlet takes 1 hour, 40 minutes to recharge from the same state. To charge a USB device, simply plug in your phone and it starts drawing a charge from the battery, without heating things up.

Human Creations has since discontinued the model I tested and replaced it with the EnergyFlux Ellipse, a version with a larger, 5,200 mAh battery. This bigger battery should only increase its life, so we still feel confident recommending the newer hand warmer.


Flaws but not dealbreakers

All battery-powered warmers have drawbacks. Price is one. While the Zippo and other catalytic hand warmers are in the $14 to $18 range, you’ll probably pay around $30 for the EnergyFlux. Since it’s basically a large battery, the EnergyFlux (and others like it) will eventually lose ability to hold a useful charge, but the manufacturer rates the lithium-ion battery inside for up to 500 charges. The EnergyFlux lacks a battery gauge beyond a low-battery warning, so frequent users will have to keep track of the unit’s remaining charge on their own.

Since it does require electricity to charge, the EnergyFlux (and its brethren) would make a poor choice for anyone who is away from an outlet for more than a few hours at a time. It’s also heavier: The EnergyFlux weighs 4.8 ounces, while our favorite catalytic model weighs only 2.5 ounces. That weight difference might not matter to anyone but backpackers, who would probably rule out a rechargeable hand warmer anyway in favor of a catalytic model.


Runner-up
Also Great

$47* from Amazon
$70 from Sears


*At the time of publishing, the price was $46.
Runner-up: USB Convenience with longer run timesKomfort Solutions Kozy Xcel Hand Warmer
It will run for longer than eight hours and has a shape that might work better for people with smaller hands.

If you need the convenience of a rechargeable hand warmer and longer run times, the Kozy Xcel from Komfort Solutions is our runner-up pick. The 9-ounce, 8,800 mAh battery I tested lasts longer than our pick but costs around $40 at the time of writing. That extra money gets you an average of 8 hours, 17 minutes on the high setting. We also like the rounded square shape (which is easier to grip for people with smaller hands) and the array of four LEDs that act as a fuel gauge. The 8,800 mAh battery was the largest in our test group so far—useful for smartphones or other devices that can charge via USB. It recharges an iPhone at the same rate as the EnergyFlux. The eight-hour run time hits a sweet spot between our more affordable, shorter-running pick and a catalytic hand warmer. Kozy has since increased the capacity of the Xcel Hand Warmer’s battery to 10,400 mAh, but the device remains otherwise unchanged, so we feel confident recommending the new version, with what should be a longer life.


The Kozy Xcel lasts all day and doubles the battery capacity of our main pick.


Flaws but not dealbreakers

The most obvious downside is the price, and during our time testing these products, the Xcel routinely cost more than our pick. It also gets pretty hot when used outside the pouch. It tops out at 121 degrees Fahrenheit—a few degrees cooler than the EnergyFlux but still plenty warm to keep your hands comfortable. Using it in the included pouch (which is recommended) brought the temperature down to a toasty-but-comfortable 112 degrees.

While run times were among the highest of rechargeable hand warmers we’ve tested so far, they were nowhere near the “10-12 hour” claim on the Xcel’s Amazon listing. Also, for whatever reason, blue LEDs seem to be many hand warmer manufacturers’ favorite color, and blue LEDs have a reputation for being painfully bright. The LEDs on the Xcel are no exception. It’s an admittedly small complaint, but you’ll find yourself staring at them often while checking to see how much charge is left, and the lights “fill” while the hand warmer is charging (which takes about 7½ hours).

5 Ways The UPS Store Helps Solopreneurs Do Business

Launching a company on your own may be a daunting challenge, but most solopreneurs would not have it any other way. The independence—both financial and personal—waiting on the other side of success is simply too attractive to ignore. However, getting there is rarely a quick and bump-free ride, and common mistakes are well documented.

Fortunately, you do not have to embark on this new adventure alone, even if you are the sole proprietor. Here are five ways The UPS Store can help you succeed:

1. Print services

Whoever said "print is dead" did not foresee the current slate of printing options available. While Internet clutter multiplies exponentially by the day, small business owners who use the printed word effectively are finding an opportunity with new and past clients. Well-designed catalogs, fliers, business cards and brochures stand out in a world of websites and advertising on social media feeds. Of course, it takes more than a slick piece of paper to land a customer or make a repeat sale, but the idea behind print is that it is still a very effective business tool.

In terms of 3D printing, The UPS Store has the technology of the future available to small business owners at 62 locations nationwide. Companies who need to produce a prototype can bring a CAD file to a 3D print location and have a print expert guide you through the process. Before you buy a 3D printer, test out the process and determine whether it is worth the investment and the maintenance required. And if you just need to use a 3D printer periodically, you now have a convenient way to access this cutting-edge technology at your local UPS Store.

2. Marketing

If the Internet is your primary place of business, then online marketing efforts are the key to separating your company from the pack. A strong website, great ads on social media, and engaging e-mail campaigns are crucial to finding your audience. Whether you need to make your site mobile friendly or need a total redesign, you can find graphic design and tech help through small business solutions from The UPS Store. Solopreneurs can take advantage of these marketing resources and get a discount on email marketing, social media campaigns and web design by visiting The UPS Store marketing solutions.

3. Packing and shipping

Your local The UPS Store is an incredibly useful hub for packing and shipping goods domestically and overseas. Whether you deal with fine art, sports equipment, delicate antiques, or electronics, there are shipping and fulfillment solutions available. Small business owners have to decide at some point whether they want to handle this busy work or outsource it to the experts. If you would rather leave the scaling headache to a company that is equipped to handle the job, head to your local The UPS Store.

4. Business mailboxes

Office space is often limited—if not nonexistent—for entrepreneurs. This makes it difficult to store packages as they come and go. Likewise, business owners who are constantly on the go may have trouble receiving shipments. Having business mail sent to your home address or leaving packages unattended on your doorstep is not ideal. Luckily, business mailboxes eliminate these issues along with giving your business a real street address. Similar to a concierge service, when you are unavailable to take a package, the store takes it and notifies you electronically. This solution also gives you 24/7 access to your mail.

5. Accounting and financing

Solopreneurs often have a single focus on the idea behind a company, and that is how businesses are founded. However, there are serious consequences to neglecting bookkeeping in the early stages of a company's life. Tax issues, payroll problems, and returned checks become expensive mistakes. While you are getting off the ground and cannot afford a full-time accountant, The UPS Store small business resources can provide these services on a freelance basis. Alternative financing is also available when your growing business needs it.

The UPS Store can serve as a one-stop shop for small business owners. Start by checking out these options, and then explore the other valuable services available to you.

Is the Next Wave of Social Media Apps Right for Your Small Business?

Launching a successful small business requires a lot of planning on your end. After all, you need to establish capital and develop the right product for the right market. A solid business plan should lay out each piece of the puzzle. On the marketing end, you need to establish ways to connect with your audience and determine whether or not your current business strategy is working. In order to accomplish this task, you must explore the various different social media networks that are currently available. By learning more about the latest social media apps, you can decide which tools and platforms will work best for your business.

Why are you using social media?

Too many small business owners create accounts on various different social media sites without establishing a specific purpose. While it is crucial for all companies to explore new ways to connect with their customers, you need to make sure your investment—in time and money—bears fruit. In order to make your effort count, you should only create a new social media account if you are sure that it will be valuable to your desired audience. You should learn how each platform works (and how your company can profit from it) before you work to grow your social media presence. Once you have that information, you can look into different networks and tools to determine which options would work best for your business.

Social media apps to explore

Here are some new social apps that you may want to consider investing in:

Buffer

If you are handling social media management with a small team, Buffer should be on your radar. This app allows you to schedule posts on Facebook, Twitter, and other networks so that you can optimize your publishing cadence for your audience. Once you determine the time of day when your customers are most active on social media, you can use Buffer to set up your publishing schedule accordingly.

ManageFlitter

ManageFlitter provides you with a variety of different tools to help you optimize your Twitter account usage. This app allows you to sort your followers by a range of criteria, track who unfollowed you, and find new relevant accounts that you should be following in order to stay engaged in your community.

Commun.it

While ManageFlitter is the key to follower management, Commun.it is an essential app for Twitter interaction. When you are trying to grow your social media presence, it is important to remember that followers or readers who are retweeting, liking, and commenting on your posts deserve your attention. Commun.it provides you with Twitter analytics that allow you to identify the most valuable members of your community. You can then use these insights to show your appreciation and interact with your most engaged followers. These insights also allow you to quickly and easily measure your social media efforts.

Agorapulse

Once you build up a roster of social apps, you need to establish a way to manage them on a daily basis. Agorapulse does the heavy lifting on that front. This app provides you with the tools you need to create campaigns, grow your lead database, and get to know your followers. You can even use this platform to run promotions, quizzes, and contests. Meanwhile, Agorapulse provides you with insights that allow you to determine how you stack up against your competitors.

When analyzing the latest wave of social media apps, it is important to remember that these platforms may not necessarily be useful for every business. Once you develop a thorough understanding of your social media mission and audience, you can invest in the apps and tools that will make it easier for you and your team members to reach your goals.

Regular Roof Cleaning - Why Is It Necessary? Tips by NYC Roofing Contractors

When talking about regular roof cleaning this does not mean that it should be done every month but should be done at least once a year. Most homeowners do not feel comfortable do this so they hire a professional roof cleaner. Your roof naturally collects grime, debris, algae, moss, and dirt that needs cleaned off. By doing so it will increase the value of your home should you decide to do it. It will also extend the lifespan of your roof. By choosing right roofing contractor you avoid all the problems that are given below if are located in NYC.

Removing debris
Debris can include small tree branches, leaves, etc and is one of the easiest parts of roof cleaning. If the homeowner decides that they want to pull some of the smaller branches off the roof they need to make sure that they have a sturdy ladder to use. If you are going onto the roof as advised by NYC roofing contractors to get any larger pieces or to sweep off the leaves, make sure that you are wearing slip proof shoes. You should also have someone on the ground to watch and make sure that you do not fall and to help hold the ladder steady. Be careful when tossing off the branches that you do not lose your balance and fall. If you have a long extension cord, you could use a leaf blower to blow the leaves off the roof and then use a broom to sweep the rest off. After your roof cleaning, you will need to take the time to clean the gutters of the leaves that have blown into them.

Removing algae and moss
This is something that a homeowner could do but most leave this job to a professional roof cleaning service because they have the knowledge and cleaning supplies and tools to do the job correctly. Both of these are natural enemies of your roof and are capable of causing leaks in the roof. They should be removed promptly, which may mean every few months instead of once or twice a year. It depends on how bad it is. The professional NYC roofing contractor will provide you with service that generally uses an acidic solution with a pH level that is below four. The solution is a 50/50 ratio of hot water and vinegar. You can also add some citrus juice to the mix. If your roof is plagued more by moss, they will apply it to your roof and not rinse it off so it will have time to kill the moss. If it is algae growth, they will use the same acidic solution but will clean off the algae using a soft brush to scrub the area until it is removed. Make sure that the professional roof cleaning services do not use a pressure washer because it can damage your roof.

National Small Business Week Celebrates The American Entrepreneurial Spirit

What creates two out of three net new American jobs; produces close to half of our nation’s goods and services (nonfarm private GDP); and can be found, coast to coast, in every small town, big city and rural enclave?

The 28 million small businesses that propel our economy forward and define our national entrepreneurial spirit.

To be American is to have the freedom to innovate, take risks, create, transform and put in the hard work that has led to the successes – and failures – that define human progress. From May 1-6, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will recognize and honor the critical and life altering contributions of America’s moms and pops, manufacturing enterprises, Main Street retailers and entrepreneurs during National Small Business Week.

Every year since 1963, the President of the United States has issued a proclamation setting aside one week to “recommit to advancing these vital enterprises, and celebrate their contributions to our collective American story.” As Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said, it was small businesses that powered our recovery after the Great Recession.

This year’s National Small Business Week, themed “SBA: Dream Big, Start Small,” will include special events in Atlanta, New York, Denver, Phoenix, San Jose, Oakland and Washington, D.C.

America is one of the few countries that gives entrepreneurs a seat at the President’s cabinet table. This allows the SBA to provide an amplified voice for small businesses and represent their divergent interests.

The SBA also offers an extensive national network of small business lenders and counselors that is unmatched anywhere in the world. Many innovators with great ideas and great potential do not begin with great wealth, so they need a great government partner to support their success.

The SBA offers the “three Cs” to help aspiring entrepreneurs start up and scale up by making counseling available, providing more choices and chances to secure capital, and by helping them seize market opportunities to commercialize their ideas. These risk takers will help make our lives more productive, safer, healthier and benefit society overall.

Capital: SBA fills gaps in the commercial lending marketplace so success in the small business sector is based on merit, not family wealth.

Counseling: SBA provides free consultation and advice to help Main Street succee.

Contracts: SBA levels the playing field with big business by helping small businesses capture new revenue and new customers by winning government contracts, joining corporate supply chains, and exporting beyond our borders.

This year, during National Small Business Week, we recommit ourselves to those fearless entrepreneurs who plan well, work hard, and dream big. Every business starts small. Many of today’s most recognized brands were once small businesses until they found an SBA counselor, lender or investor.

I came to this country as a 5-year old immigrant who didn’t speak a word of English. Today, I serve in the cabinet of the President of the United States. My story is possible only because of America's promise and its entrepreneurial spirit. I'm proud to lead an incredibly talented team assembled from across the country ready to serve you.

Success in business comes one small step at a time. So dream big, take that next small step today, because the next great American success story could be staring back at you in the mirror.