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Fun Free Online Games & Social Networking
By Noel Crowe

Computer and video games have become very popular. In particular the interest in playing fun free online games over the internet is increasing strongly.

Despite the growing popularity of YouTube, MySpace, and Facebook, gaming remains the king of online entertainment, driven largely by casual gaming activities.

Sites like Yahoo Games and EA’s Pogo.com offer users access to a wealth of advertisement supported free online games, where sponsors have options for branding opportunities, and display and banner ad placements.

Online games on the consoles could become a $10.5 billion business by 2011 from $981 million in 2007, according to market researcher IDC.

In 2007, online console revenue is at 2.5% of total global video game market revenue, including console and handheld hardware and software revenue. By 2011, revenue from connected consoles will represent 18.6% of total market revenue.

Although subscription revenue for premium online services and games will grow from $476 million in 2007 to over $2.4 billion in 2011, its share of online console revenue will decline from 48.5% in 2007 (already down from a high of 86.5% in 2006) to 23.2% by 2011.

Downloadable content (DLC) consisting of games and game-related items, which at $35 million in 2006 represented a 13.5% market share of online console revenue, will become connected consoles’ primary revenue source in 2007, growing from $493 million in 2007 to $7.2 billion in 2011. In 2011, game-centric DLC will make up 68.6% of online revenue.

Advertising revenue from sponsored services, in-game ads, and product placement in connected consoles will reach $12 million in 2007, posting the first significant online console ad spend. Advertising revenue will grow to $858 million in 2011, with an 8.2% market share of online revenue.

Video game growth will be strongest in the Asia Pacific region, its largest market, with a 10% annual growth rate through 2011, but will increase in the Europe/Middle East/Africa region (10.2%), the U.S. (6.7%), Canada (9.4%), and Latin America (8.2%) as well.

Certain trends hold steady across most regions: For instance, driven by increased penetration of broadband access, online gaming is surging. In the U.S. and Europe/Middle East/Africa, online gaming represents the fastest-growing consumer segment (19.3% and 24.6%, respectively); in Asia Pacific and Canada, online growth came in second only to wireless (at 16.1% and 13.9%, respectively). Other trends are more regional. The in-game advertising market is expected to increase 64% in the U.S. And in China it is expected to rise at a compound annual rate of 14.3% to $2 billion in 2011, most all of that growth will come in online games.

Spurred by the new generation of consoles and handhelds, and by increased penetration of broadband and wireless technologies, the video game industry is ripe with opportunity. “Growth in platforms allows you to hit new demographics,” says Stefanie Kane, a partner with PwC’s entertainment and media practice, noting that handheld game devices have brought more women into the market, and that the entrance of cable and on-demand TV channels will further widen the base. “There is a lot of unlocked potential.”

You might think the face of one of the hottest areas in gaming right now is a young male in his 20s who owns the latest supercharged gaming system from Microsoft or Sony - or both.

But you’d be wrong.

Instead, the epitome of the new-era gamer is a woman in her late 30s or early 40s who plays on an average PC.

Yes, the video game industry seems to have been turned on its head.

For years, the dominant themes have been faster game machines, increasingly realistic graphics, more immersive play, as well as the old standbys - blood, guts and blowin’ stuff up.

But that picture has begun to look increasingly outdated. While young men dominate the gaming industry as a whole, casual games are one of the fastest-growing parts of the industry and attracting a whole new demographic.

You can find signs of the revolution everywhere. One of the fastest-growing parts of the game industry is centred on so-called casual fun free online games, PC-based titles that users can generally start playing in minutes and usually don’t require the mastery of some combination of multiple buttons to enjoy.

The upheaval has spread to the console market, as sales of Nintendo’s Wii console and DS handheld, both of which stress fun-to-play games over powerful processors or realistic graphics, are far outstripping their supercharged competitors from Microsoft and Sony.

Revenue streams enabled by active online consoles in this cycle show the strongest growth in the sector and will not only determine the future success of the console vendors but also be crucial to the success of many third-party publishers.

Further information on fun free online games and business opportunities combining Online Games and Online Social Networking can be found at my blog.

Noel I Crowe

Skype: noel.crowe1

Noel Crowe is based in Sydney Australia and has full time interests in online home based businesses which include social networking sites involving online gaming and entertainment activities in new generation 3-D spatial virtual worlds.

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Growth of Social Networking Sites
By Aakash Shah

Social networking is the latest fad among the young and old. Social network sites have become a great platform for people of different walks of like to express their views and ideas and meet people with similar interests. There are hundreds of social networking sites on the internet these which have attracted millions of web browsers.

This trend of social networking is quite new. It all began in 1995, when some early networking sites started. One of the first of such sites was Classmates.com. This site was meant to connect old classmates. Another site called SixDegrees.com became very popular in 1997. This site focused on indirect ties among people. This site allowed users to create their profile and they could send messages to other user on their “friends list”. Users were able to interact with members who had similar interests as theirs.

But the real boom in the social networking came after 2004. Many networking sites were launched in this time. One of the today’s most popular networking sites Facebook was launched in February 2004 and it completely changed the face of social networking. The CEO of Facebook Mr. Mark Zuckerberg hit a complete jackpot. He became the youngest self-made billionaire ever at the age of 23. Another couple Michael and Xochi created a website called an extremely successful website called Bebo and sold it AOL for $850 million out of which they got $600 million. n.

The success of Facebook inspired other companies to launch their own social networking sites. In March 2005, Yahoo’s network called Yahoo 360� was launched. In the same year, one of the most successful social networking sites called MySpace was launched.

By the year 2005, MySpace had become extremely popular and it was getting more hits than Facebook which was also growing very fast. The popularity of Facebook increased in 2007 when it allowed add-ons on its website to be used by the members. Other then these, another networking site called Orkut which was launched in 2004 has also become very popular. Right now, there are about 200 networking sites on the net.

The success of social networking lies in the simplicity and convenience they provide for the users. These sites have given the world a whole new way to communicate and share their views, ideas and information. Millions of web surfers log on to these websites everyday and it has almost become a part of their life.

Social networking websites not only give us a window to express our views but they are also being used in the business world to expand the trade. Websites like LinkedIn.com help different professional to connect and interact with each other. LinkedIn.com has approximately 20 million users and the number is growing. These websites also give the entrepreneurs and traders a great place to meet and interact. Many sites are introducing the corporate model in their portals in order to give the companies a place to meet each other.

These websites also help businesses by making individuals interact with each other. You can meet and interact with the experts of different fields and share your ideas and views with them. You can also get their expert advice on various things. You can discuss ideas, projects, share pictures and documents with each other. If you are looking for a new job or an opportunity to get ahead in your career then these sites can make you meet some very important people and companies. This can help you in your career a lot.

Many people these days are earning from these websites also. Most of the networking sites do not charge any fee to sign up. This is because of the fierce competition in the field of social networking and also because it being a new phenomena, most people will not find it essential enough to pay for it. But these sites still earn millions of dollars each year by selling advertising space on the website. This also serves as another reasons to not to charge the members as the website owners want as much traffic on their websites as they can. Increased traffic will mean increased revenue from the advertisement sales.

Many sites have also other means to earn money; for example creating a marketplace on the website where they sell different products or merchandise related to the website. Many professional, goal-oriented website also earn money by selling information about different topics and social connections. One such website is the LinkedIn.com

Another way of earning money through these websites is by selling virtual products like music, skins, avatars etc. Some websites have also linked with some other gaming websites and sell games on their behalf to earn revenue.

But as always, something bad is always attached to something good. Social networking has brought the world closer. It has allowed us to interact with people we don’t even know. It has brought the world closer. And that is where its problem starts. Many frauds, criminals, pedophiles have used these sites as an accomplice in their crimes. There have been many instances when underage kids have fallen pray to the kidnappers and pedophiles through these sites. As we have never met the people we interact on these sites, it is very easy to get fooled by them. It is especially dangerous for small children.

Many a times, people get a little to friendly with their network friend and give away a lot of personal information about their life. This is also very dangerous as there have been instances of identity thefts on the basis of information given on the networking sites. No, we are not saying that all the social networking sites are bad and all the members are there to cheat you. All we are saying is that these websites have a potential danger. You must be aware of them.

But if we measure the benefits and disadvantages of social networking websites, then we will find them to be much more beneficial to the society. These website allow us to express our feelings. They help a community to get united in the face of a threat or problem. Whenever there is a problem in the world, these sites have performed a great role of informing the world about it.

These websites are for the people and by the people. Therefore, there is no scope of whitewashing over some burning issue. This helps the society in more than one way. It not only informs the citizens about the real situation in their country but also encourages them to unite and take action to solve the problems.

Many networking websites encourage their members to use it for the social good. They even help them in collecting charities and give out charity badges to the people who work for a cause. Hence, social network sites are here to stay and will flourish more in the coming years.

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Laptop Care to Avoid Laptop Repairs
By Nanette Hampton

When a laptop is not properly taken care of, there are several things that can go wrong, leading you to need laptop repairs. By keeping a few tips in mind, you can properly take care of your new laptop. With proper care, you will not have to worry about losing all of your important documents or pictures. If you are going off to school, then you no doubt bought your laptop with the intentions that it would last you for all four years of school. Since most schools require you to have a laptop nowadays, keeping yours in top condition is important. If something does happen to your laptop, however, there are laptop repair options available. There are services that offer laptop repairs and screen repairs, as well, and many of these options are affordable.

If your laptop breaks down and you take it to where you bought it, chances are that they are going to try to talk you into purchasing a new one. On the other hand, if you take it to someone that knows how to repair laptops, this can save you a lot of hard earned money. There are, however, problems with laptops that are not easily fixed. Your first order of business is to protect your laptop as much as possible from actions that could cause it harm. For instance, keeping it in a laptop case is a very good idea when your computer is not in use. If the laptop gets dropped or something were to be dropped on it, then it is at least a bit more protected, especially if you have purchased a hard case for your laptop.

Many people nowadays purchase screen protectors for their cellphones, and these are even available for laptops. These are handy if you do not want to have to carry your laptop in a case all the time. This will at least protect your screen from damage. Also, if you are not using the computer, be sure to close the lid to avoid damage in that respect, as well.

It may not always be comfortable to sit behind a desk to write a paper or to take notes on your laptop, so many college students sit on their beds to do homework. While this may be more comfortable, it is very bad for your laptop as it needs air to breathe. If you prefer sitting on your bed to do your work, there are fans that you can purchase that will help keep your computer running cool so as not to overheat it. These fans are not bulky and they are powered by the power within your laptop.

It is always good to keep food and drinks away from your computer when you can. If you have access, it is also a good idea to install virus protection software, as well. If you normally use your laptop to watch videos or movies, chances are that you also eat around your laptop which can be devastating if something spills. Take the precaution to take care of your computer as best you can and it will last you for many years of great service. When you are ready for a new computer, you can take your old one to a place that will recycle laptops.

Take care of your laptop to avoid laptop repairs. When you are finished with your laptop, take it to a place that will recycle laptops.

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JN0-101 Juniper Networks Certification - Brighten Up Your Future Career Prospects
By Dennis Stephanie

IT industry is one of the most flourishing industries in the present day technological world. Myriads of better and lucrative job opportunities are available for the budding IT aspirants. But, in order to find a better job, you are required to sharpen you It knowledge and skills by obtaining a certification. Various industry and vendor based certifications as well as diploma courses are available for the interested candidates in the market. These certifications are very useful for the people interested in working in the technological world. A professional certificate is a kind of accreditation to your technical knowledge and skills. JN0-101 Juniper Networks is one such well liked vendor accreditation which is mainly designed for the well experienced as well as the budding networking professionals.

JN0-101 Juniper Networks written examination verifies the understanding level of the appearing candidates in context of working on the Junos Operating System of the Juniper Network. Networking fundamentals as well as the basic routing and switching skills of the candidate are also tested by this written examination. This Juniper Networks Certified Internet Associate (JNCIA-Junos) certification is valid only for 2 years.

After this duration, a recertification has to be obtained by the candidate by successfully passing the JN0-101 examination. There are no requisites for the interested candidates in order to appear in this examination.

The JN0-101 exam is managed and controlled by the Prometric testing centers on the global level. The normal duration of this written exam is around 105 minutes and during this time, 65 multiple choice questions are asked to all the appearing candidates. The exam is usually conducted through the internet and the final result is immediately made available to the people. The main objectives of this certificate examination are mentioned below. This list provides a general view of the skill set required in order to successfully clear this exam.

� Operational Monitoring and Maintenance

� Junos OS Fundamentals

� User Interface Options

� Routing Policy and Firewall Filters

� Networking Fundamentals

� Junos Configuration Basic

� Routing Fundamentals

� Class of Service

In order to assess your knowledge and skill in relation to this certification, you can take help of the free test available on the official website. This test will enable you to find the gap in your preparation for the written exam.

So, this was all about undergoing the JN0-101 Juniper Networks Certification for the networking professionals. You can obtain this certification in order to brighten your future career prospects and find a better and high paying job in a reputable IT company.

Find complete information about professional courses at test4actual site. We provide detailed study material regarding JN0-101 which help you to beat exams easily.

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Project Management - Why Information Technology Projects Fail
By Greg Pack

To understand the reason why Information Technology projects fail, it’s important to understand the roles people play in delivering IT projects.

The Players

The Business (often referred to as the project “sponsor”) drives the project. Whether it is a new application to improve business processes or upgraded hardware, the project itself is driven by The Business that generates revenue for the company.

Business Analysts are key players in IT project delivery. The Business knows what the end result should be, whether it is cost savings, improved revenue or any other desired result. Unfortunately, technical project staff generally understand their own specific disciplines and rarely grasp the big picture or business concepts that drive projects. The Business Analyst gains an understanding of the big picture and translates it into technical requirements so technical project staff can architect, design deploy and operate a solution.

Technical Project Staff are equipped and trained in specific disciplines. They are assigned technical tasks to perform as a component of the overall project delivery. Technical Project Staff rarely see the big picture or the end result of their efforts.

Project Managers manage all of the processes, resources, budgets, risks, schedules, tasks and communications necessary to complete the project. Project Managers interact with all of The Players.

Some Failure Points

Information Technology Projects fail for a number of reasons, and the responsibility for failure can fall on any or all of The Players.

The most obvious point of failure is in the gathering of business requirements. Often projects require restarts or multiple restarts due to the failure to gather business requirements accurately, changes in requirements (usually as business evolves) or change in scope.

Before blaming the Business Systems Analyst for this Information Technology Projects are managed by a Project Manager and driven by The Business who play key roles in project success. In addition, with every increase in productivity and ability to deliver complex systems and infrastructure, the bar is raised again on the definition of success to deliver even more complex systems faster, meeting customer functional and non-functional requirements with predictable schedules and costs.

Technical Project Staff are also accountable for targeting improvement to quality, cost control, productivity, and meeting customer expectations even as we see rapidly changing requirements and tools.

Additional failure points include:

Project Cancellation - There are a number of reasons why sponsors might cancel a project. Topping the list is a change in business direction.

Cost Overruns - At some point a project may become to costly to complete and it becomes time to cut your losses or restart.

Resource Constraints - One of the biggest mistakes businesses make is attempting to deliver information technology projects with existing staff, or to underestimate work effort and resources required to deliver the desired end result

Scheduling Issues - An Information Technology project must be carefully scheduled to insure the desired result is achievable in the required timeframe. I recently relocated a data center over the holiday season and found out the hard way that it takes much more time during that time of year to get things done,

Poor or Lack of Communication among The Players - All of The Players involved must be in the loop for a project to succeed. Regular communiques, email, phone calls, scheduled and ad-hoc meetings all contribute to keeping everyone up to date and moving in the right direction.

Poor Project Risk Management and Recovery - The risk of project failure must be clearly understood and business expectations managed. Failure to do so may result in failure, cancellation or worse.

See our article entitled “Five Things you Must do for your Project to Succeed” for useful information on making your projects succeed.

By Greg Pack

The value our project professionals bring to your organization is the ability to effectively gather and create business requirements in order to ensure only relevant functionality is implemented. They can then manage the project team and partner with the business sponsors and stakeholders, subject matter experts, and other IT resources to achieve goals that include system upgrades, software installations, and application enhancements.

Cardinal Data Systems, Inc. http://www.CDSystems.com has learned that the key to success is listening to our clients and understanding business needs. We build relationships, motivate teams, manage conflict, and resolve issues to achieve collaborative results with businesses.

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