A free iPhone may sound completely implausible, but there are actually some legitimate reasons that a free iPhone would be a good move for Apple to make. Many analysts are already theorizing that Apple is going to go in a cheaper direction with their expensive but ubiquitous handsets, and free may just be the next step towards total market domination.

1. It’s already free–sort of

Older models of iPhone already come free with many service plans, so it would be trivial to release a new model with the same cost. These iPhones wouldn’t really be coming free directly from Apple, but the cost would be fully subsidized by the cellphone companies with a new service plan. Since most people end up signing up for service plans anyway, this might not be that big of a deal. This would mean that Apple would still be collecting some money for the phones, just lowering the price. This would make the cellphone companies happy too because they would be selling more phones and more phone lines.

2. It will increase market saturation

While Apple has already saturated the market pretty significantly, there is still a rising Android demographic. A free phone would allow Apple to practically monopolize the cellphone industry, which would pave the way for many future revenue generating possibilities. Once the cellphone industry was appropriately saturated, Apple could return to charging more for its handsets. Since Apple prides itself on product integration, an increase in iPhone purchases would also increase their sales in other accessories.

3. The phone itself doesn’t have to be the revenue maker.

While the phones do cost a pretty penny, a lot of money is actually being made in the media and application store. This means that the more people have these phones, the more people will be buying items from these stores. Since the life of one of these phones is a year or two, the cost of the phone can be subsidized by these purchases. Laterally, an increase in app sales will also increase the sales of other related technology such as iPads.

4. The cost of the phone is largely an illusion

The phone itself probably doesn’t cost very much to create. Despite the heavy amounts of R&D that are put into these phones, it’s very likely that the price is set high artificially to increase its desirability. Since the phone has already achieved this goal, it really doesn’t need to keep inflating its price.

5. Apple can afford to do it

With all of the other reasons for a free iPhone in place, the only reason that Apple wouldn’t do it is because they can’t afford to. However, Apple has been exceedingly successful with a variety of products in recent years, and they can very well afford to produce free phones for at least a limited amount of time.

A free iPhone may not be what the future holds, but there’s no denying that it makes logistical sense for Apple. A free handset would allow Apple to completely dominate the market and to retain that hold. It would also open up Apple to explore a myriad of revenue opportunities that other handsets have not yet explored. It wouldn’t just secure the domination of the iPhone, but also of the iTunes store, and it would make iTunes practically a household necessity.

This article was written by Wayne Johnson, an expert in consumer electronics and blogger for bestincellphones.com. He likes to try out and review the latest smartphones. You can read more about free cell phones at: http://www.bestincellphones.com/free-phones.asp. There is no rebate needed. However, you are required to sign a 2-year contract with selected wireless carrier.

Everyone needs to have a rudimentary understanding of the most basic tools that are found in a toolbox and a cordless screwdriver certainly fits that criteria. In fact, the cordless powered versions are becoming a must-have for the average homeowner. The convenience that it provides allows you to take care of quick jobs without any headaches at all. Gone are the days of having to twist and wrench your arm to death to tighten up those screws. You simply put your cordless to the screw and let it do the turning for you. Still, there are a great many different cordless screwdriver out there. How do you know which one you need?

Do You Need A Screwdriver Or A Drill?

There is a huge difference between a screwdriver and a drill. A drill is designed to screw in things that are much more difficult and that require a great deal of power. They are larger and can take care of everything from basic everyday tasks, up to complicated power-hungry carpentry jobs. A common cordless screwdriver is often as simple as a little powered screwdriver designed to take care of the simple needs around the house or garage. These are two different tools and it is important to know which one you need before you go shopping. Screwdrivers are for the folks that just need a basic tool. Drills are for folks that plan to do bigger jobs that require more power.

The Basic Cordless Screwdriver

These screwdrivers are generally just a lightweight tool that plugs into the wall when not in use. The power from the plug in keeps the battery juiced and ready for your easy screwdriver needs around the home. They are ideal for hanging pictures, tightening those loose doorknobs and other basic household jobs. It is not very good for anything that requires a great deal of power. This tool is fantastic for hanging up in the kitchen and having close by when you need a quick job taken care of. You can buy extenders for them that can make hard to reach areas easier to deal with as well.

A Cordless Drill

Drills can vary wildly as well but they all are usually designed to handle the toughest jobs around. This might include hanging window blinds, drilling into steel, installing a TV bracket or any other heavy duty use. It usually has a portable battery pack that charges up and they vary depending on the power of the drill. Regardless, the cordless drill is a basic tool found in most toolboxes these days. You can find these for less than twenty bucks but you certainly get what you pay for.

If you don’t have either of these basic tools in your toolbox, then you might consider adding them both in the near future. They make the everyday jobs a whole lot easier and make your life just a little less painful. What more could you ask for from a power tool?

This article was provided by Jon Dunn of i-Fluid Media on Behalf of Online Power Tools. OPT are the UK’s leading supplier of power tools such as Cordless Screwdrivers and power tool accesories.

Apple’s iPad is generally considered to be better secured than personal and Mac computers. It is a great combination of OS, security features and hardware. If at all there is a security problem with your hardware getting stolen and stored data falling into undesirable hands. Data is the result of hard work. Users also expend enormous time in obtaining them from different sources.
Though advising you on how to prevent your iPad from getting stolen is beyond the scope of this post, advising you on deleting the content is within it. In the event of your iPad getting stolen, the first thing you need to do is erase your device clear of all data. How do you clear data when you don’t have access to it, you may ask, but there are ways for doing it, believe. Keep reading and you will know.

It is always good practice to keep your data in more than one place, especially in a cloud drive. Subscribing to a secure cloud service makes sense, though that can cost you money.

Encrypting Data and Passcode Settings
Encryption is a built-in feature in all iPad that are shipped to customers, and the only little thing that they need to do make it a little secure is setup a passcode for the device. It protects your device from being opened by unauthorized personnel. The moment you start with a passcode, all your data will be encrypted even without your knowing that.

The procedure for setting up a passcode is to go to Settings, then General and finally Passcode Lock. You will be required to type in a 4-digit code twice. Twice, to ensure that you have typed the right passcode you have thought of. It also makes sense to reinforce your device’s security by turning of the simple passcode off. In that event you can choose a really longer passcode which is hard to guess.

Though providing a longer passcode protects your encrypted data, hardcore users can still access your data by resorting to process called jailbreaking. If you are using iPad2 you are protected from jailbreaking. That doesn’t either mean it will remain that way for ever. At least for now there isn’t one for iPad2. The good news however is that intruders cannot access your email even if they resort to jailbreaking as of present. You can also extend encryption for use with apps, though very few users are known to be aware of it.

Adding Extra Punch to Passcode
IPad as well as iPhone have special features that will let you create passcode that are hard to break. For comprehensive information on configuring you device, you can visit http://bit.ly/2DUOPj. Though what you will see there will be for most called configuration help, they are in fact information on making your device more secure through use of passcode and more. You can seek more information at http://help.apple.com/iosdeployment-ipcu/, http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1465, and http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1466 .

To enhance your passcode setting experience go to Configuration Profile, then New and finally Passcode. When you set your passcode from here, remember that all your previous settings for passcode will be overridden. There are settings especially for business and personal use. There even ways to set authorization at different levels, and you can even set the minimum passcode word length. Before you set the passcode, decide whether you alone will be using it or someone else to will be using your device. This is a very important issue.

About Secure Wipe and Using Safe Connectivity
Recovering your stolen iPad and safely storing them is beyond the scope of this post. It is a matter of legal process. Most often, you will be more concerned with data. Data, remember, is too valuable to part with especially if it relates to trade secrets and financial details, like username and access codes. Criminals are known to use data for soliciting money and blackmailing people.

Since due process of law may take substantial time, it is always prudent to delete data in the meanwhile, and that you can do it with MobileMe service brought to you by Apple, the company that make iPad and iPhone. With MobileMe you can instantly delete all data stored in your device remotely, they moment you discover theft. It also has features that will let you setup a passcode without access to your device.

Consider Ordering a Security App
There are numerous speciality apps made for securing your iPad. Lookout is one of the better known apps that enhance iPad security. It is also compatible with iPhone and can be downloaded from http://bit.ly/WLS2Y0. Lookout will also help you backup data and help you recover your lost or stolen device. The latest version is 2.7.1.

This is a guest post by Sharon Thomas of www.thecornersuite.com, a site that offers savings and current information on dish network internet, as well as dish.com services.

These days, most people find that there are not enough hours to get the things done that they need to do. With the fast paced life that most of us our living, keeping up with the clock just is not possible. Most people drive themselves crazy trying to stay on top of everything.

Those who do not do that are often those who are constantly falling behind schedule. But staying on top of things is very possible, and in fact can be rather easy so long as you have some help along the way.

We have gathered 15 of the most important apps that will allow you to do the things you need to do with out having to go home, log on to your computer, wait for it to load and then type out all of your needs.

These are (unless stated) all apps that are entirely free, and will allow you to make more use of the hours that you have in the day. Because we all know that there are not nearly enough, and every little bit of extra help makes managing time that much easier to do.

App Number 1: Seesmic

If you are a person who loves to Tweet, no doubt you know how annoying Twitter’s app can be. Having to wade through all of the latest community Tweets, and many other frustrating things, can take up a lot of your time.

Not to mention you can only link a single account with Twitter’s app, and if you manage your own business and talk to your customers, letting them know what is up (which you should be doing), this can be a pain.

Seesmic is a wonderful app that allows you to manage multiple accounts, and see all of the relevant Tweets in your stream. It is extremely professionally designed, and is rated as the top Twitter app around—even more highly rated than Twitter’s own app.

App Number 2: UK Jobs

Let us be honest; the economy sucks. Being unemployed is terrible, and it can be hard to always look for a job all of the time, keeping up with the latest listings, and still manage your day to day needs and activities.

Well with the UK Jobs app, you can easily see all of the job openings currently available in the UK, provided to you in a seamless and beautifully simplistic stream that is very easy to use. Of course, UK Jobs is only for those in the UK, so if you live in the US, you are just going to have to wait until some US developer picks up on this great app idea—which, we hope, is very soon indeed.

App Number 3: WordPress for Android

If you own a business, then chances are you have a WordPress web site. These are the most affordable (because they are entirely free) and useful (because they are easily and highly customizable) web sites currently in use today.

With the WordPress for Android app, you can easily manage your content right from your phone. If you are always finding yourself apologizing to costumers for the long delay in between up date because you just can not seem to find the time to log in and fix or update the things that need it, the WordPress for Android app is going to be invaluable to you is a business person.

App Number 4: Swype

Swype is one of the most popular keyboards available today for mobile devices. It is faster than typing with your thumbs as it does not freeze up and glitch when you start to type too quickly, and it is more accurate than Google Voice because you are controlling exactly what you write.

Swype is a keyboard that allows you to draw lines from letter to letter on your keyboard to spell out words instead of having to hit each and every single individual key. For those who are always struggling to keep their fingers up to the speed of their mind, Swype is an excellent solution.

App Number 5: iMapMyRUN

iMapMyRUN is for those who have gotten fed up with how bloating and unnecessary Nike’s running program is—which is to say, nearly anyone who has ever used it. iMapMyRUN allows you to do several things all at once.

For the active person, it is a god send. What this app does is allow you to quickly input and keep track of your calories through out the day, showing you how close you are to your daily limit. It also allows you to easily create new running routes, with a GPS, and then track your mileage almost entirely more accurately than Nike’s running program does.

What is more is that this app also allows you to keep track of your work outs, so if you do other exercise than running, you can stay on top of literally everything. It also allows you to connect with your friends, which makes staying on the path to your goal much easier.

App Number 6: GasBuddy

Tired of spending time driving from gas station to gas station trying not to get robbed for your money by the outrageous gas prices? Tired of doing all of this driving around and then invariably forgetting which prices belonged to which gas stations? Well, you are not alone. The creators of GasBuddy are geniuses.

They started the gas station mapping and tracking first, and they still, arguably, do it best. While the interface for GasBuddy is not the greatest, this app is invaluable because it allows you to find the cheapest gas prices near you. This will save you countless minutes of driving around town, and in the end, that adds a lot to your day.

App Number 7: Evernote

Evernote is that app that took a great idea, implemented it, and did it very well. Ever find that you are having a hard time keeping track of all of your devices, or at the very least, keeping organized across all of your devices? Well, you are not the only person. Luckily, Evernote makes it easy. Evernote is an app that allows you to do several things.

First, you can take notes, make lists, take pictures of boards for ideas, and do literally anything any good organizational app lets you do. Then you can share all of this info, or save it. And best of all you can search through your entire directory of tasks, allowing you to ensure you never forget a thing.

App Number 8: Google Maps Navigation

No one likes getting lost when they have very little time to spare. The thing is, most people have literally no time to spare at all. Getting lost can cost you a job, or a number of other things. And let us face it; Apple Maps was a disaster. As of 2013, it is one of the worst replacement scheme apps ever made.

Google Maps Navigation is one of the best. It allows you to, well, navigate. With Google Maps Navigation, getting lost and being late are both things of the past. And if you like your job, then that is a good thing.

App Number 9: Astrid

Astrid is an open source style task list and planner. What makes it so special is that it is an excellent task list and planner. Planner apps are almost always hit or miss, and too few hit the mark to begin with, resulting in hundreds of misses across the board.

Astrid is one of our favorite task managers because it allows you to do so very much, and it has so many customization options. With Astrid, you can just as easily notify some one else on your contacts list with an auto notify as you can yourself, which is invaluable if you are a person who frequently finds themselves hindered by other people being unreliable.

App Number 10: Shareprice

For those who have stocks, no doubt it can be a troublesome bother to try and keep an eye on your stock at all times. And several of the stock apps currently available are just complete blunders. Shareprice is one of the best, because it does things in a way that are entirely convenient for the user.

Shareprice allows you to check your stocks in private, so that, in the case your shares are doing poorly, you do not have to notify the world of the fact. This app is ideal also because it allows you to keep track of all of your stocks, so you do not have to sift through the countless shares out there to check how yours are doing.

App Number 11: Dropbox

Dropbox is not the perfect app. But if you are a person who needs to use files on short notice, it is very useful. Dropbox is very popular because it allows you to download, upload and manage files in the Dropbox data base right from your phone.

It is lacking a few features, and it requires you to down load any files you want to edit directly to your phone, which, depending on your available disk space, could be unrealistic, but the fact remains that even despite these things, it is still far more useful and convenient than Google’s Drive service, which tends not to work on most mobile devices.

App Number 12: the Amazon App

Amazon is a giant. They are one of the most widely successful companies on the planet. Why? They offer great deals, great bonuses, and great shipping. What other company gives you free two day shipping all year round for just seventy five bucks a year? None. If you find your self needing to purchase things, but never quite having the time to do so from home, then the Amazon App is priceless.

It will allow you to manage your account, buy, manage sales if you are a seller, stream movies and TV, and manage your community account as well. The app is super simple to use, and has a very clean and helpful interface, making it one of the best store apps on the market to date.

App Number 13: Google Reader

If you use Google, the Google Reader is the perfect app for you. It is a glorified RSS feed that allows you to keep track of and manage any number of Google accounts. It is also very clean, and easy to use.

For those who use their email account and are tired of having to switch from that to their Google Plus accounts, then any other account, the Google Reader is a wonderful solution that will save you loads of time.

App Number 14: Blogger

This is another app that caters to the business crowd and the always constantly busy blogger crowd. If you have a Blogger account, until recently, you would have had to either open it in a browser in your phone (which can be very buggy), or update your Blogger from home.

The Blogger app allows you to up date your Blogger account easily, and manage all of the things that you have to, including your account info and communication with other blogs. It is also tied directly in with Google Plus, making it a two for one sort of deal that can be extremely convenient if your Google Plus account and Blogger account are used for practically the same purpose.

App Number 15: the eBay App

eBay has had one of the most notoriously bad apps for years. However recently they have hauled all of the junk just where it belonged and have cleaned things up nicely. If you do business on eBay, the eBay app is not a thing that you can pass up on. It is easy, and it is simple. It will allow you to access your account and manage it, and you even get bonuses for listing using the eBay mobile app.

Terry Jacobs is a freelance writer who enjoys researching and writing on a very broad range of topics.  He’s written for businesses as diverse as software companies, recycling plants, watch repair businesses like Manhattan Time Service, and many more.

The new year has rolled in, and what that means for gamers is that more new games will be hitting the market. For many, this is a mixed blessing. These days, game quality can vary greatly, even within the same game publishing house.

What does that mean? It means that a company that makes some great games can also make some huge stinkers. And since you work hard for your money, you no doubt want to avoid wasting any of your money on the titles that will become this year’s biggest disappointments.

This year, the mobile gaming community is set to expand. Mobile gaming has been growing tirelessly, and ceaselessly. This year, we expect it to make a huge splash. In fact, there are five huge titles coming to mobile gaming that we are expecting to wind up draining the pool of all its water.

Game Number One: BADLAND

If you played Limbo, you know how much a simple design and some great aesthetic choices, not to mention a focus on gameplay, can do for a small time game. BADLAND is made by the same people who put out Limbo, and it is expected to make just as big of an impact on the mobile market as Limbo did on the Xbox Live Arcade Market.

With BADLAND, you get the same creepy, eerie and dark feeling of Limbo. But what you get combined with this is a whole new story and all new sets of challenges. BADLAND aims to take all of what made Limbo great and trim off some of the fat (though we can not see how there could be said to be any fat at all on Limbo).

This is a game that is going to have a huge impact on the mobile gaming community. Expect BADLAND to be huge, expect it to be huger than huge; expect it to be so big that it will make all the developers out there stop and think for a moment about how fun game mechanics still do matter, and how pointing a gun and shooting a bad guy is not all a video game is meant to do.

Game Number Two: YEAR WALK

YEAR WALK is by the people who brought us the cutesy little game “Beat Sneak Bandit.” But this year, the developers responsible for that game have announced that they want to change things up. They, like the creators of Limbo, want to make something that the big names in gaming are afraid to touch with a ten foot pole; something entirely new.

YEAR WALK is going to be a game all bout folklore, and some very creepy creatures. From the trailers available, this looks like a game that could possibly wind up vying for the best of 2013 in the category of mobile gaming (a category most gaming awards shows need to stop looking down on and cater to).

YEAR WALK takes place in the 1800s, in Sweden, and while we do not want to give too much away (after all, what fun would that be) the game is definitely shaping up to be something hugely unique.

Game Number Three: INFINITY BLADE: DUNGEONS

With the sneak peeks of INFINITY BLADE: DUNGEONS out there looking so much like what Diablo III should have been (sorry, is that still a sore spot?), INFINITY BLADE: DUNGEONS could not help but make our list of the Top Mobile Games to Look Forward to in 2013.

INFINITY BLADE: DUNGEONS is a hack and slash that is going to be available for tablets devices exclusively. The reason for this? INFINITY BLADE: DUNGEONS is currently boasting some of the best looking graphics we have ever seen for any mobile gaming platform.

Taking full advantage of the iOS, INFINITY BLADE: DUNGEONS is a beautiful game that looks much like World of War Craft, or even War Craft III (remember how good that game was?), but with some great updates to models and textures. For the coming year, we are definitely keeping our eyes on this game, as it looks like it could also vie for the top of 2013 mobile gaming position.

Game Number Four: Wild Blood HD

Okay, so this one is a bit of a cheat seeing as it came out in January, but still, Wild Blood HD is a game to look forward to if you have not experienced it yet!

Wild Blood HD is quite possibly one of the best looking mobile games out there to date. It looks absolutely beautiful. What makes it such a cutting edge and innovative game is that it is the first mobile game to make use of the famed Unreal Engine.

Using the Unreal Engine to make games for mobile devices is a big risk, and with Wild Blood HD, it totally paid off, as every single detail in this RPG game looks beautiful.

Game Number Five: Heroes of Order & Chaos HD

Okay, so this one is a cheat as well; Heroes of Order & Chaos HD already came out this month. But this game is huge, as it takes the Defense of the Ancients style game play (also known as DOTA), popularized by the hugely successful and innovative War Craft III, and puts it on a mobile device.

Heroes of Order & Chaos HD is much like the Heroes of Newerth, and if you know that game and have ever wished you could take it with you when you leave home, then Heroes of Order & Chaos HD is the perfect game for you to buy.

It has beautiful graphics which look surprisingly organic and smooth on mobile devices, and so far, there have been relatively few bugs to surface, which for a modern day game is a very good sign that the developers took their time and wrote the game code the exact right way the first time around, meaning you won’t be wasting your cash. 

Sam Williams is a freelance writer who writes on a wide range of topics, and in his spare time loves playing computer games, his favorite game genre being racing games.