How Samsung Rose to Success

When one thinks about successful smartphone companies, Apple may be the first company that comes to mind. The reality is, however, that Samsung currently holds a greater piece of the pie in regards to the smartphone market. Samsung has been able to out-compete Apple in a tremendous fashion and has become extremely successful over the past few years. It is incredible to see what Samsung has been able to accomplish through its creation of innovative smartphone products.

Currently, Samsung holds over 30 percent of the market in regards to the global smartphone market. This indicates that Samsung must be doing something right to retain its customers and deliver excellent products to them. With over 230,000 individuals employed throughout the globe, Samsung has enough manpower to create highly competitive products on the market.

Samsung also has a tremendous influence on the economy of other countries. In Korea, the sale of Samsung products accounts for 17 percent of the country's total Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This is truly incredible when one considers the numerous products that are flowing out of Korea on a daily basis. Statistics indicate that at least 100 television sets are sold every minute throughout the world. This just shows the gigantic success to which Samsung has risen over the years.

In 2011, the net sales for Samsung also showed true success. Samsung was able to make over $247 billion. One of the other great qualities of Samsung is in its drive to become a more environmentally-friendly company. The company is committed to reducing its negative impact on the environment. It has invested billions of dollars in research so that it can reduce the greenhouse gases that it emits from company factories.
It will be interesting to continue to see how Samsung succeeds in the future. It will also be interesting to see whether Samsung is able to continue to outcompete Apple. As Apple continues to place new products on the market, we will just have to wait and see what types of products Samsung can create in order to compete. It will be an interesting race to watch for the future.

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By: Unknown On 7:20 AM

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How To Handle Corporate Travel Plans In Your Company

While a lot can be done via teleconference and other web based technology these days, there are still plenty of occasions where as a business, you need to send some of your people to other cities or even other parts of the world to get things done. If, as a business, you do this a lot, you need to find the best way to handle all the planning and booking that goes along with it. There are really three ways to do this, and they all have their merits, but which is right for you?

Let Staff Do It Themselves

One of the easiest ways to handle it is to let the person who is going on a trip, or the manager of a team if they are all going, handle planning and booking it. This can work well if you have consultants who are flying here and there all the time and are experienced in making travel arrangements, but not so well when it is someone who only makes a couple of trips a year and might be a bit daunted by the idea of finding all their own flights and hotels. When you do this, you also need clear policies on what they can and can't do, or you may end up with people thinking they can fly business when you'd prefer they went coach, and then booking themselves in for all the spa treatments on offer at the hotel at your expense! You also need to give them a way to pay for things as it is unfair to expect people to pay for expensive things like flights and then claim it back later as they may not have funds available, so you will need to issue corporate credit or charge cards.

Internal Logistics People

Another way to do things is to have a person or team who handles travel arrangements for everyone. Depending on the nature of your business and how many people travel this could be part of someone like a secretary's role, or could be a full time job for a small team. The benefit of this is only these people need to know the ins and outs of your travel policies and have a means to pay, and you can hire or choose people who are competent when it comes to the travel area.

External Travel Agents

The third option, and often the best for small to medium sized companies who don't want the expense of staff to do this work for them, or to make their own staff do it, is to use the services of a business travel company. This does take almost all of the work out of your hands and means all people need to do is contact this firm when arrangements need to be made. This can be done on a casual basis or by forming an official relationship with one travel agency, though if you need a reliable company who can handle everything for a
Jack Foster, the author of this article, is a sales executive at, Teplis Travel, a leading corporate travel company, based in Atlanta. He is pretty good with the drums and plays for a band at the local pub on weekends.

By: Unknown On 7:48 AM

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The Top 8 Workplace Safety Apps

Smartphones are very common today and as some people use them to check their emails, text their friends and view websites, many others are using their gadgets for other functions among them, to get weather reports, play games, read news and safety. Here is a look at the top workplace safety apps that you can have in your smartphone.

Too Loud?
This app gives answers to maintain your hearing healthy. It is a very useful app for people working in busy, noise-filled surroundings like manufacturing and heavy industrial facilities, cafeterias, farms and concerts. Too Loud? utilizes color to let you immediately know if noise levels have got to an unhealthy level.

Online-MSDS
This app provides instantaneous access to the industry-leading information base of Safety Data Sheets. It allows you to save an unlimited SDSs number to your personal “binder” assisting you respond fast to any dangerous material emergency. You can share the complete SDSs by email, fax, text, Facebook or Twitter.

Dangerous Goods Manual
This app is perfect for emergency responders and it helps you to identify dangerous materials and offers Emergency Response Intervention (ERI) cards on first actions for fire fighters. No internet connection is required to use this app.

OSHA Heat Safety Tool
This workplace safety app utilizes available weather information to protect people who work extended hours in hot conditions. Once you have this app, your smartphone will display heat as well as safety risk to outdoor personnel with reminder to drink adequate fluids, know what should be done in an emergency and schedule breaks.

EHS Audit and Inspection Tool
This app offers over 500 checklists and templates for a wide range of inspections, which includes ISO, OSHA, crane inspection and medical device standards. You can capture pictures, audio and video; generate reports in PDF, Excel, Word and CSV; customize templates; and sync your reports to WikiChecklists for team collaboration.

Pocket First Aid and CPR from the American Heart Association
This app features 34 videos, 46 clear illustrations as well as informative articles and it provides step-by-step tips for many first-aid procedures and CPR. Besides, you can manage personal medical data for several people and utilize the first aid kit checklist for ensuring your kit is wholly stocked with all essential supplies.

NIOSH Lifting Calculator
This app makes NIOSH’s calculation in both standard and metric measurements and represents the certified professional ergonomists’ effort. You can evaluate existing as well as proposed lifting conditions so as to determine the RWL (Recommended Weight Limit) for a particular task or job.

PhoneGuard Premium
This app is very useful of all workplace safety apps and is available by subscription and it gives you one year of safeguard from your own temptation to become a distracted driver. PhoneGuard senses when the vehicle is moving and prohibits emailing, texting as well as web browsing, while still permitting emergency calls such as 911. Separate controls for auto-reply, speed control and override are also provided.

Crane Operator Hand Signals
This app gives users access to every necessary crane hand signal in both Spanish and English. All signals included are compliant with OSHA’s Cranes plus Derricks Standard revealed graphically so operators can speedily reference the suitable signal for every command.

Tim is a tech blogger interested in software and app development, SEO and game design. During the day he writes code for INX Software and their Occupational Health and Safety software.

By: Unknown On 9:23 AM

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Best Practices In Pre-workout Snacking

So you’ve finally made up your mind about getting some exercise –perhaps to get ready for the IronMan Triathlon; trim down your waistline; or maybe because you’re worried a sedentary lifestyle isn’t going to do you any favors. However, before you get started with your jumping jacks or kettlebell workouts, you might want to think about getting fueled up before you start sweating it out.

You might be surprised that you’ll need to eat before exercising. Isn’t the point to lose weight? Wouldn’t noshing on something just weigh you down?

The answers to those questions are yes, and not if you eat the right foods.

It’s true that certain fitness experts like Bill Phillips, author of Body for Life: 12 Weeks to Mental and Physical Strength, believe that jumping into an intense 20-minute aerobic workout first thing in the morning without having eaten will yield the greater effect on fat loss than an hour of cardio after having eaten. However, this doesn’t really mean that you’re losing more fat but rather, you’re using more of the fat from inside the muscles and not the fat from below the skin. Besides, exercising without fueling up is a moot point as any fats that aren’t oxidized completely will just end up being adipose tissue.

So yes, one has to eat before exercising. Eating something with carbohydrates keeps people from getting fatigued right away and helps maximize endurance. But even if you’re supposed to snack before your workout, choose what you eat carefully. In fact, here are some pre-workout snack tips:

1 Time your meal. The food you consume before exercising will only work for you once your body’s absorbed the nutrients. This depends on the type and amount of food you eat but a good rule of thumb is to either have a meal 3-4 hours before exercising orhave a lighter snack 1-2 hours before getting to your workout.

2 Go with low glycemic foods, simple sugars are a no-no. Though it’s fun to chomp on a candy bar, just have oatmeal or beans. These won’t cause blood sugar spikes and keep you satiated for a longer time.

3 Bananas = Power. Bananas are great because of their digestible carbohydrates. The potassium in these yellow fruits will also help maintain your body’s nerve and muscle function.

4 Craving something sweet? Since you’re not supposed to have simple sugars, satisfy your craving with a low-fat yogurt, fruit and fruit juice smoothie. This will set you up with carbs that break down fast enough so you get fueled up, and with proteins that will prevent muscle damage.

5 Drink water! People tend to perform better when they are satiated. This includes being hydrated whether with water or liquid meal supplements. Keeping a water bottle with you when exercising is also a good idea.

6 Win with protein. Okay, we’re cheating here. Protein is actually more important for post-workout snacking. Proteins can help your muscles recover and grow, so include lean meat or low fat milk in your meal, especially after something as strenuous as weight training.

Aside from these, there are still many ways to fuel up for your workout that are delicious, creative and won’t defeat your weight loss or fitness plans. The above tips are just so you can get your foot in the door. So, congratulations on deciding to get more exercise but always remember to keep yourself properly nourished!

Stephen Cole, a Fitness Camp Manager writes articles about health and fitness for WeightLossCamp.co.uk.

By: Unknown On 9:25 AM

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The 7 Must-Have IPhone Apps For Moms

Being a mom is hard work. You have to be a homemaker, a friend, a nurse, a short-order cook…and you have to keep everything organized. Although being a mom can be chaotic, it’s important that you utilize the right tools to help you function and perform all your responsibilities with ease.

Using a smartphone or tablet can help you manage your household without stressing, and it can be the one tool to help you fulfill your role as super mom. No matter how old your kids are, the following are seven apps that every mother needs.

1. Mint
Managing the family finances can be tricky and stressful, but using the Mint app can help make it easier. Mint connects with your current bank accounts to help keep track of your income and expenses. Plus, it also integrates with your bills to help remind you of what bills are due and when. The app also gives you a forecast of how your finances will look for the month ahead so you can determine just how much of a budget you’re working with. Plus, it will also provide you with reports so you can see exactly where your money is being spent. If maintaining your budget is a high priority, this app is for you.

2. Mom Maps
Trying to find a kid-friendly place to take your kids? You need Mom Maps. This app will use geolocation software to determine your location and then provide you with a list of kid-friendly parks, museums and other establishments in the area. Plus, you can even add in a separate address if you want to find kid-friendly establishments to areas you’ll be traveling to.

3. Sex Offender Search
The safety of your kids is your number one priority, and you always want to know who may be lurking around you. The Sex Offender Search app integrates with the National Sex Offender Registry to provide you with sex offenders in your area. You can use the app to search near your home, your child’s school or playground, or even in an area you plan on moving to.

4. Grocery IQ
Grocery shopping can be a huge pain, especially if you know that you could be saving money. Instead of clipping coupons or kicking yourself for leaving coupons at home, use Grocery IQ. This app first lets you create a list of your groceries and will even organize them by aisle. Plus, you can scan the barcode of the product you’re purchasing, and Grocery IQ will scour the Internet in search of coupons. If it finds a coupon, it will add it to a main barcode that you can scan at checkout. This way, you’ll always have your savings on hand.

5. Event Book
Keeping track of everyone’s schedule can be exhausting, but Event Book can help. This app works like a calendar but with many more features. Not only can you enter in events, but you can also access maps of the location and even the weather. You can see the events you have for the day, week, month or year with ease. Plus, you can invite other people to your events to help keep your family on track too, and you can set alarms for every event so that you don’t forget about anything.

6. How to Cook Everything
Making a meal for your family is important, but sometimes you have no idea what to make or how to make it. That’s where How to Cook Everything comes in handy. This app teaches you how to cook everything, no matter what it is. Plus, it has an integrated timer to help you while you’re cooking, and it also has an internal grocery list so you can plan your meals in advance.

7. Rev Voice Recorder
Sometimes life is just too hectic for you to write things down, whether it’s notes to remind yourself, lists for groceries or even emails. With Rev Voice Recorder, you can now speak your needs instead of write them down. Rev Voice Recorder will then save your recordings into Dropbox so you can access them from anywhere, and you can organize them however you see fit. Plus, the talk-to-text feature allows you to send your recordings off to be professionally typed,  making life much easier for you.

Kelly Johnson is a full-time mom and blogger. She likes to write tips and helps for busy moms.

By: Unknown On 8:53 AM

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Planning The Perfect Romantic Getaway In Bangkok

Bangkok is a city filled with mystery and wonder for the new tourist stepping into the Land of Smiles. Bangkok is one of the world’s top cities to explore, experience and shop. The city alone is the host to a fusion of cultures and ethnicities from around Asia, packed into a busy city with over 9 million inhabitants. Bangkok seems extremely crowded to the untrained eye but the city is one of the best cities in the world to come and experience Thailand on a whole new level.

Riding On the Chao Phraya River
Riding on the Chao Phraya River in the evening is one of the first things that come to mind when thinking of Bangkok. The Chao Phraya River extends from Thailand’s North and drains out into the Gulf of Thailand; it is Thailand’s longest river. The majority of the river cuts through Bangkok, splitting the city in half. There are a variety of river cruises people can book to experience Bangkok on a cool evening.  One of the most notable cruises on the Chao Phraya River is the Chao Phraya Princess Cruise. This culmination of east meet west is expressed in its top quality cuisine, prepared by master chefs, served with rich wine and topped off with an extraordinary atmosphere.

The cruise is well known for its soft, dimly-lit yet extravagance ambiance accompanied by the sound of live music played on board. While on the vessel, the boat will pass through notable historic sightseeing locations illuminated by spotlights. These locations are: Royal Grand Palace Wat Pra Kaew, Wat Arun (The Temple of the Dawn), Bangkhunprom Palace, Kanlayanamitr Temple and the Rama 8 Bridge.

Experience the grandeur and romance of Bangkok on this two hour once-of-a-kind journey down the Chao Phraya River.

Fine Dining
Bangkok is the ultimate hotspot to try out new foods by famous chefs at 4 to 5 star hotels, ingeniously prepared to sizzle and serve. With tall hotels towering most of the Bangkok cityscape, which hotels serve the best food and drinks for newlyweds? Pullman Bangkok Hotel G is a 5-star hotel located on Silom Road in Bangkok. This hotel stands out due its stylish and chic interior, boasted in every corner of the hotel including its quality driven bars and restaurants. The hotel is well-known for its restaurant named the 25 Degrees Restaurant that is a sister venue to the well-established chain in Los Angeles. Up to 45 patrons can be seated here at this funky, newly renovated space to dine in simple, juicy burgers while listening to live music.

If patrons are keen on tasting the best wines Bangkok has to offer, the hotel offers exceptional bar service, prepared by professional mixologists at The Playground. Enjoy the relaxing mood of trying out different cocktail tastes to spice up the young night in Bangkok.

Relaxing At Asiatique
For couples looking more towards going out and having fun on their honeymoon night, one of the most recommended places to go is Asiatique. Asiatique is located at Charoenkrung Road, once a trading port now transformed into the city’s casual hang out place. Asiatique is set up to be an open market with small boutique stalls (around 1000 stalls in total) are placed inside warehouses. The entire place is renovated and is one of the top places to go for families or couples-alike. With a multitude of shops and food to choose from, Asiatique is the perfect place to catch up on some shopping or enjoy a multitude of amazing cuisine, prepared by skilled cooks of the establishment.

Asiatique offers one more attraction: The Ferris wheel. The tickets are roughly 500 Baht per person and up to 4 persons can be seated in one cart. For couples, this is the perfect activity to do if they wish to view Bangkok from a view point nobody else has seen before.

Seth Ratliff is a community guest blogger, specializing in travel and food articles.

By: Unknown On 8:23 AM

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