The Internet has changed the way we get our news, watch movies, and pay our bills. It’s little wonder, then, that it has also changed the way we listen to music. Today, the web is home to several top music-streaming services – online services that permit users to listen to their favorite music on their laptops, desktops, and mobile devices.

But which music-streaming services are the best? Listed below are some suggestions:

Pandora: Pandora is very widely used because of its simple interface. After navigating to the website, you are able to input a song or artist you want to hear and Pandora will create a “radio” station based on that information. This is an excellent way to learn about new artists with similar sounds. The stations that Pandora creates are easily personalized as well. If Pandora chooses an artist that you don’t like, you can select the thumbs down symbol on the song. Pandora provides further customization by allowing you to “seed” your station with various artists. While you can enjoy Pandora without creating an account, it is necessary if you want to save your personalized stations.

Grooveshark: Grooveshark is a lot like Pandora in that it creates a “radio” station based on your musical tastes. However, you may also enjoy entire albums on Grooveshark and build playlists. One distinctive feature of Grooveshark is the ability to upload your own music to the Grooveshark database if you cannot find what you are searching for. This is a smart and simple opportunity for Grooveshark to grow its library.

Rhapsody: Rhapsody’s appeal is based on its huge database of music: more the 14 million songs. Sadly, this service is not free, it is $10 a month for unlimited music.

Spotify: Spotify is one of the most widely known music-streaming services out there. After its launch in 2008, it expanded rapidly. Spotify has a simple to use interface. You can enjoy entire albums, choose to create a “radio” station based on your tastes, or create playlists that you can share with other Spotify users. This is appealing to those who enjoy the nostalgia of creating mix tapes. Many people love Spotify’s integration with Facebook. By utilizing the Facebook app, Spotify generates a running list of what you are playing day by day. You can also see what your Facebook friends are listening too, in real-time.

It’s been some time since Windows was thought to be cool but the Kinect may change all that. The Kinect is a voice and motion-sensing device that was initially designed as a feature for the Xbox gaming console.

A version of the device also works with Windows-operated PCs, and almost immediately after its launch in February, people started identifying innovative ways to use it.

Innovative Uses for the Kinect

At the Chicago Auto Show the Chief Marketing Manager for Nissan North America used the Kinect in an interesting way, by creating a virtual tour of the enhanced interior of the Pathfinder. This worked out well as they only had the outer shell of the Pathfinder to physically display. Using the Kinect, participants could actually “see” what the interior looked liked.

Microsoft is encouraging companies to find different uses for the Kinect and even cooperating with them to build applications for it. This is a great move on their part, as it not only promotes creativity but it also puts a Microsoft product at the center of the creative development. One company that has worked with Microsoft in this way is Boeing. They’ve used the Kinect to create virtual tours of their jets. Another interesting use of the Kinect was discovered by a hospital in Canada. They are using the Kinect’s gesture-recognition to swipe through CT scans. This greatly lowers, if not eradicates, the chance of spreading germs as you don’t have to touch the computer.

Kinect: A Solid Hit

Microsoft hit a home run when they developed the Kinect. The Xbox 360 was last year’s best-selling video gaming console, and they have the Kinect to thank for that. Since November of 2010 Microsoft has sold over 18 million Kinect devices.

The excitement surrounding the Kinect and its many uses can only boost Microsoft’s reputation. They may be on their way to stepping into the “cool” tech company category.

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These days, whenever you post an open position on the Internet, countless people reply. Many of these people are eligible candidates for the position, so you call them in for an interview. But how do you sift through them and find the truly innovative and enthusiastic people? Since the interview is fundamentally all you can go on, your interview questions are essential.

Make certain that your interview questions solicit the information that will help you find the individual with the attributes you want. If you use a cookie cutter approach to the interview, you’ll probably get uninspired, cookie cutter answers.

Ask the Right Questions

Start by asking the right questions. Don’t ask applicants what their job titles were at past positions. Don’t ask them what their responsibilities were. Instead, ask them to list any innovative ideas that they developed for their previous employers. Ask them if these ideas helped their employers earn more money, operate more efficiently, or reduce expenses.

Another typical interview question is to ask about the individual’s strengths and weaknesses. Most of us have a canned answer to this, as they know it will probably be asked in an interview. Instead ask them to tell you what they add to the culture of a company, what do they do in demanding situations, or what are some ways they keep themselves satisfied at their jobs. These answers will clue you in to the character of the person you are interviewing, and if they will fit in with your organization and the position.

Another simple way to evaluate a prospective employee’s creativity is to ask them to carry out a task. For example, you could ask them to brainstorm ideas for an ad campaign, or write a short essay about their ideal workplace. Whatever it is, it is something your interviewee will not expect and it will give you a snapshot of their creativity.

In today’s job market, employers have the benefit of choosing amongst many talented people. So to be able to select the very best, they need to change the types of questions they ask in job interviews.

There aren’t many people who look forward to going on business trips. They’re a hassle and expensive for the organization. Business travelers often feel hurried, which leads to insufficient sleep and poor eating habits, which exacerbates stress. Not to mention dealing with Airports and long-term parking. As a result, many businesses decide to use videoconferencing as much as possible. But do you think that business travel is on its way out? Will Videoconferencing replace it completely?

The End of Business Travel?

But is this really what business people and their employers should want? Maybe not. Videoconferencing may never take the place of face-to-face meetings in the business world since the best ideas usually pop up during these in-person meetings. Think about the difference between how videoconferencing and in-person meetings usually work.

Fluid conversation is usually less common when videoconferencing. It’s tough to pin point precisely why. It may be due, partly, to office distractions, and also to any lag that the videoconference has. These problems could be resolved with technological advancements. But in general, when people are videoconferencing they have a tendency to stick to the main task of the meeting rather then allow discussion to flow naturally, which can result in creative ideas.

The Benefits of Face-to-Face Time

Conversation evolves a lot more easily with in-person interactions. This is healthy, and as far as business is concerned, can be very beneficial. Having an impromptu brainstorming session can bring about ideas that can lead the business down a path that wasn’t previously anticipated. This isn’t to say that every face-to-face meeting becomes a game-changing brainstorming session. But if a meeting degenerates into story telling, this is an chance for co-workers to strengthen their interpersonal relationships and increase moral.

Business Travel is Here to Stay

Yes, business travel is an inconvenience and videoconferencing is a convenience. However, there are times when meeting face-to-face is the best option for generating the most innovative business solutions. Because of this, don’t expect savvy business executives to ever totally replace business travel with videoconferencing.

Doesn’t it feel like we should currently have jetpacks? Teleporters? Or meals in tablet form? We already have some amazing technology, like tablets, which are small computers that people can carry around. We can take advantage of the GPS in our cars to navigate around town. We can post an update to our social media sites and reach countless people at once.

So, why don’t we have teleporters and hovercrafts? What exactly is keeping us from taking these leaps in technology?

Building a Better Battery

Batteries power most of our technology, particularly as we move into a more mobile world. Consequently, the more limited our batteries are, the greater limitations we have technologically. They are an integral part of our technology, so we need to focus on improving them before we can really make jumps in technology. Luckily, researchers at Chicago’s Northwestern University are developing a more efficient lithium-ion battery, which we discussed in a blog post last week. This could solve this limitation in the next few years.

Improving Internet Access

Another hurdle to overcome is that not enough individuals have access to the Internet. The truth is, most of the globe doesn’t have access to it. This is naturally limiting advancements in technology. It goes back to the essential concept of the more minds we have working on a problem, the faster we’ll solve it.

The Business of New Tech

Last but not least there is the bureaucracy. Business matters, like patent laws, can hamper technological progress. Individuals and companies that develop innovative things have to first navigate these waters. But if government regulations are clear and easy to comprehend, it could prevent some of this.

Even though there are several things that are holding technology back, it is still improving at a rapid pace. Maybe we will finally get hover boards when battery technology catches up to our imaginations.

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Adobe Photoshop is a fantastic photo manipulation tool. With it, businesses can create professional looking marketing materials quite easily. The greatest issue with Photoshop is the price. A person looking to buy it can spend more then $600 for newer versions. This is not feasible for many small business owners, and they probably don’t require all of the features that a $600 photo-editing program comes equipped with. Fortunately, there are many alternatives to Photoshop that are inexpensive or free.

Certainly, these programs are not as robust as Photoshop. But they have adequate photo-editing features for small business owners to effortlessly create professional looking material. Below is a list of the top free photo-manipulation programs currently available.

GIMP

GIMP, which stands for GNU image manipulation program, is the pick of many a cost-conscious designer. That’s because this free program contains the most important attributes of Photoshop. The GIMP website even offers a version of the program—cleverly named GIMPShop—that features a screen layout that’s a virtual twin of Photoshop’s.

Paint.NET

Do you recall MSPaint? It came standard with the Windows operating system. Paint.NET is its successor and is a very powerful and free photo editor. It includes its own special effects and an limitless undo; this is perfect for people who want to play around with the effects. The one negative of this program is that it only works with Windows.

Picnik

Picnik has turned into a popular free photo editor for several reasons. First, it works on the Mac, Windows, and Linux operating systems. Secondly, users aren’t required to download any files to their computers to use the program. The program is also recognized for its speed. It’s simple and easy to learn the fundamentals of cropping, resizing, and rotating photos. It is not difficult, too, to add special effects and turn blurry, dark images into clear, light ones.

Business owners needn’t let Photoshop’s high cost keep them from inserting professionally edited photos into their marketing materials. With just a small amount of online hunting, even the most frugal of business owners can get a wonderful alternative.

Have you ever needed your smartphone only to realize that the battery has died and you are nowhere near an outlet? It’s irritating, but in a few years, it might be a thing of the past.

A Better Battery on the Way?

Luckily, a better battery might soon be on the way, thanks to the work of a team of engineers at Chicago’s Northwestern University. A recent story reports that researchers at this Big 10 university are trying to make a battery that lasts longer and can recharge itself in mere minutes. Smartphone users across the country ought to be grateful.

Northwestern’s researchers have found a way to increase the charge of lithium-ion batteries by more then 10 times the present lithium-ion battery life. They’re even boasting that after 150 charges, which they believe represents about a year of operation, the new lithium-ion battery will be 5 times more effective than batteries right now.

A Charged Battery for a Week

Here’s the bottom line: The new cell phone battery could remain charged for over a week and then charge itself in just 15 minutes. This is great news for you: It could mean that your iPod won’t run out of juice while you are working the treadmill at the gym. But the new, better battery could have a much larger impact: According to the Northwestern story, this new battery technology could result in smaller and more efficient batteries for electric cars. This may help the United States—and other countries—cut its reliance on fossil fuels.

Batteries Powering Technological Change

The new battery technology isn’t available yet for consumers, but the Northwestern researchers say that it could hit the market in 3 to 5 years. This is a big step. When we look at developments in technology, we often forget about the batteries that power our latest gadgets. Battery constraints are one of the factors holding back an even greater technology revolution. The hope is that the research done at Northwestern University can change this.

When searching for something on the Internet, the majority of people automatically go to Google. We even use it as a verb when we “Google” something. Nevertheless, a lesser-used yet powerful search engine is Microsoft’s Bing. While Bing may be often overlooked, it actually has a lot to offer surfers of the Web.

Taking Another Look at Bing

When searching on Bing you may get more information about your search results then you do from Google. There is a navigation panel on the left that features related searches; this can help you refine your search if you didn’t get the information you were in need of. There is also a “search history” navigation panel to help you easily navigate to past pages if needed. This feature can be toggled on and off.

Bing Goes Beyond Search Results

Bing also brings more than just search results. Say users search for websites about pop star Lady Gaga. Bing will also bring up Lady Gaga’s newest videos. For users hunting for a flight out of town, Bing beats Google easily. The search engine employs something it calls Farecast Technology in its Bing Travel site. This allows users quickly locate the most affordable airfare to particular destinations.

Bing Video Search Shines

Bing stands out from Google in terms of searching for videos as well. Bing allows users to specify how long they would like videos to be, what resolution they would like, and what screen size they’d prefer. Moreover, to get a preview of the video, users only have to hover their cursor over the video to play a portion of it without clicking on it.

These are some of the reasons why computer users shouldn’t be so quick to ignore Bing. Yes, Google continues to be the go-to player when it comes to search engines. But that doesn’t mean that it’s the only good option today.

Cloud computing has definitely caught on. People can access data that is stored in the cloud—databases located far away from their own computer drives. They can store their favorite songs, access powerful word-processing software, and send their business proposals to the cloud. This saves lots of computer memory, as everything that’s kept in the cloud isn’t stored on a personal computer. The effect is a faster computing experience, as less programs gum up the operating speed of home computers.

Not All Clouds are the Same

However, that is not all you need to know about the cloud. There is the public cloud, which is the one most of us use, the private cloud, and the hybrid cloud. The hybrid cloud, as the name implies, is a combination of using both the public and private cloud.

For a business to provide a hybrid cloud, they store a client’s most sensitive data on their in-house private cloud, and data that needs less protection on a public cloud. For instance, archived files and large programs.

The Hybrid Cloud Approach Makes Sense

The hybrid cloud is a great way for organizations to both reduce costs and save space. It takes advantage of the less expensive public cloud while insuring that highly sensitive information is protected.

It’s no surprise, then, that a great number of organizations today are moving toward a hybrid cloud approach. There is way too much data floating around today for small enterprises to adequately store. At the same time, businesses in the present competitive environment don’t want to reveal company secrets and sensitive consumer data to either their competition or hackers. The hybrid cloud could allow businesses to accomplish both feats.

A growing number of employees nowadays work remotely. This is possible as a result of advancements in technology. The benefits are many for both employee and employer. Employers can spend less money as they have less people that need space in the workplace. Employees that work remotely are often more productive; they spend less time commuting, and they have the flexibility to adjust their work around their life instead of working 9 hours straight, which can lead to burnout.

Remote Worker Challenges

One worry that lots of employers have when deciding to hire remote workers is, how can they monitor the volume of work they do? How do they know they are truly working and not just playing games on their computer all day long?

Employers can solve this challenge by setting reasonable deadlines for their remote employees and expecting these workers to meet them. What really should matter for employers is that work is done in timely manner. It should not matter if workers finish their tasks from midnight to four in the morning.

Setting Remote Worker Deadlines

This is most likely the easiest way to monitor your remote workers. Employers could decide that a specific amount of work needs to be turned in by Friday. Another way would be to set up weekly or bi-weekly meetings via phone or video chat. To resolve any feelings of detachment some employers may ask that a remote worker spend one day a week in the workplace. This will help to keep everyone on track and informed.

Off-Site Not a Permanent Condition

Employers need to remember, too, that remote workers do not have to stay that way. If employers see that their off-site workers are not meeting deadlines or are turning in sub-par work, they can require that these workers return to the office on a full-time basis. Trust continues to be the key element of a remote working relationship. Organisations must place some trust in their workers that they will complete their jobs on time. Workers must demonstrate that they are deserving of this trust by hitting their deadlines, delivering quality work, and replying quickly to phone calls or email messages.