Web-based CRM Systems are becoming an essential feature of all business marketing plans as a way of keeping your myriads of client data up-to-date, and by keeping track of which marketing campaigns work well and which ones bomb.

While implementing a CRM is all well and good to discuss, getting into a meeting room with a CRM company, hearing their exciting pitch and fainting when they tell you the cost of personalising their software to your company is something most businesses, particularly small businesses, prefer to avoid.

An alternative to buying your own CRM System is to go to the cloud. Online CRMs work well for small businesses because they’re easy to implement, cost-effective and you don’t need your own massive servers to store all of your growing data- they keep it all for you via the inter-webs.

It will still take a bit of time to get all your data uploaded, but once that’s done you’re ready to send flyers to all your contacts over the age of 60, email all your contacts over the age of 25 and Facebook all of your contacts over the age of 9.

Payment-wise there are usually various amounts you can pay per month or per year, depending on how in-depth you’d like your cloud-based service.

Usually online CRM companies will charge you per user, so it’s important you initially figure out who in your team is likely to hang around for the next few years. If someone in your company who is a nominated subscriber does leave, it’s usually no drama to change over the name on your account, or simply pretend to be them Facebook-hack style.

So if you’re sold on a software as a service (SaaS) solution, what are the best online CRM companies out there?

5. WiredContact.co.uk

WiredContact is a UK-based hosted CRM company that prides itself on UK-based support whenever you need to get in touch with them.

Its service offers the usual CRM tools such as managing and reporting on leads, sales opportunities, the activities of all of your sales reps and reports on your won / lost / pending ratios.

A nice touch to WiredConnect’s service is that you can easily tailor your interface to suit your business. By providing standard HTML-based templates you can alter the look and feel of your platform and choose from a range of custom views to suit your eccentric tastes.

Unlike some other CRM providers, WiredConnect will let you use your own servers to host data if you prefer which is one way to keep your fees down.

The more licences your company buys, the lower the cost for each licence, so 1-4 licences will set you back around £278 per user, per year, but 10+ licences will cost a noticeably less £174 per user, per year.

4. Lunar CRM

Lunar CRM may not be the biggest online CRM name in the business, but it’s local based in Coventry rather than California, and it’s small enough to still provide quite a personalised service as opposed to bigger US online CRM providers like ZohoCRM (which on a side note, I’ve not included in this list due to its ridiculous extra storage costs)

While it’s small, Lunar CRM offers a product to rival the big boys with the ability to compare suppliers and their product performance, breakdown your relationship with different customers and see which staff are doing a cracking job at selling ice to the Eskimos.

If something off the shelf isn’t exactly what your business needs, Lunar CRM can also design and build a bespoke system to fit your difficult needs, and also offers technical support 24/7.

Because they’re so boutique, you will have to contact them directly for a quote but we hear they’re priced in a similar vein to Salesforce.

3. SugarCRM

SugarCRM is one of those Californian-based companies, but has a UK branch Sugar UK supporting its service across the Atlantic. Sugar UK has engineers based in picturesque Surrey so support time differences won’t be a problem.

If you’re looking at a bit of a combo package, SugarCRM is an online CRM system that can bundle a VoIP phone system to integrate your company’s communication with customers directly into SugarCRM.

This means you can access features including click-to-dial and recorded-call logging. It also saves you money on an expensive PBX with everything hosted and managed on the network.

There are three different editions you can subscribe to, starting with the “Community” plan which is at the very reasonable cost of free. You do get what you pay for though and for a CRM system comparable to others on the market, you will probably want the next cheapest “Professional” plan at £235 per user per month.

For the extra cash you will get features like manual Outlook integration, sales forecasting, market analysis and field-level security. If you pay around double that amount for the “Enterprise” plan, you get some cool Android, iPhone and Blackberry apps at your fingertips plus a few other nifty features.

2. Open CRM

Open CRM is another online system option for your business, and what makes this company interesting is that regardless of your subscription level, all customers have access to all of Open CRM’s available features.

There is no disabled functionality so you’re never compelled to upgrade your account, or change your business strategy to fit within a set of limiting features so often associated with a cheap-option plan.

What Open CRM has going for it is incredibly competitive pricing. Ten users each with 10GB data storage and a ridiculous 2TB file storage will set you back £125 per month or £1500 per annum. Compared to big guns Salesforce.com, 10 users with 1GB data storage and 6GB file storage starts at £450 a month or £5400 per year.

While that may seem like an unnecessary amount of storage, the guys over at Open CRM take the view that as a business your storage needs will only ever grow, so any additional storage costs should be considered from the start.

If you somehow find your terabytes a bit too limiting, you can increase your data storage allocation with an additional 500GB for £15 per month, or 1TB for £25.00 per month, or if you’ve got high-res videos of every single person in your database, an extra 1.5TB will set you back £32.00.

1. Salesforce.com

One company that has done a very good job getting itself known in the market is Salesforce. The fact that its targeted marketing works so well is indicative of how good their systems are.

Apart from its standard CRM offerings, Salesforce.com has a number of cloud apps and platforms to help businesses keep on top of the game when it comes to interacting with potential customers.

It provides a private social network for your business called “Chatter”, a means to monitor your social media engagement called “Radian6”, as well as the world’s first enterprise cloud database, creatively called “Database.com”.

Salesforce.com has a swag of impressive clients making use of its services including O2, Boots, Confused.com and even the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.

For an entry-level very basic system, you only need to fork out £10.20 per user, per month, but the £45 per user per month offers a wealth more of the standard CRM options your business will most likely benefit from.

Top Five Web-Based CRM Systems for UK Business is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

Whether it’s your Christmas party at home or at work, these gizmos will get nan off the eggnog or even involve Barry from accounts to end 2011 in a memorable way.

10. Karaoke Machine

What better way to subtly hint to your third cousin twice removed that you fancy them a bit than by singing along to a bit of “All I want for Christmas is You” with Mariah Carey? Or keep the kids entertained for hours by having them re-enact their favourite moments from Glee.

Karaoke Machines come in all shapes, sizes and prices with basic machines costing as little as £40, and Karaoke Box-Set CDs from £20. There are also DVDs players that have a karaoke function, so all you need to do is plug in a microphone and claim your five minutes of family fame.

9. Photo Cube Smartphone Printer

If you have a bit more budget and want something to get the kids involved in, the Photo Cube Smartphone Printer is a great idea to instantly print off pictures snapped on your phone. It only takes 60 seconds for a digital picture to leap off your phone into your hands.

No longer will you have empty promises of sending that great pic you took to everyone else in the group shot, just pop your phone into this printer and provide a picture for everyone. Christmas is sometimes the only time everyone gets together, so it’s nice to provide a memento of your gathering to keep everyone going until next year.

The Photo Cube will set you back £120, with an extra £20 for ink cartridge and paper.

8. Digital Photo Frame

Grandma and grandpa will love the novelty of watching the family through the ages flick past while they sip on punch. Digital photo frames take up little room and are a great feature for a family get-together.

You can theme photos to just show funny snaps, or take a tour through the ages starting with mum and dad as kids moving onto the latest addition of the family. If you’re hosting a work party, fill it with past party photos or as a bit of a look-back on everything that’s happened this year.

Digital photo frames have been around for awhile and as such have dropped in price since they were first released. If you’re a bit of a savvy shopper you can pick one up for £20, but it may be worth spending a bit more to up the photo resolution and memory capability so that you can keep the photo show going for hours.

7. iPod Dock

There are a few options for getting the carols pumping in your house or office this year, and one is getting an iPod dock to shuffle through your tunes through a decent pair of speakers.

Logitech has a range of docks that provide excellent quality sound and will look great on the mantelpiece. The Logitech Pure-Fi Express Plus and the Rechargeable Speaker S315i both sells for £64.99 and are portable so can even come outside should the need for a snow-picnic arise.

6. Snow Machine

For some people, this might not be such a great Christmas Party gadget with the abundance of snow already piled up outside your front door, but for those dreaming of a white Christmas and getting nothing of the sort, a snow machine can make that dream come true.

Priced from as little as £50 for a small device, a snow machine doesn’t have to cost the earth. For this price, you can get a machine that will project snow up to 6 metres, and is remote control so you don’t have to end up looking like the abominable snowman when trying to turn it off.  If you do spend more on a snow machine, you are more likely to get a quieter device that won’t sound like a chainsaw going off in your living room.

Just to be clear, a snow machine doesn’t produce real snow, and you do need some special Snow Fluid to make the magic happen, which costs around £20 for 5 litres of the stuff.

5.  Home Brew Beer Machine

Why not compliment the roast potatoes with a glass of your finest home brew, vintage 2011? Home brew kits are easily accessible, and just by mixing packets of ingredients with water you can call your living room a microbrewery.

The Beer Machine Model 2000 is just £90 with an impressive-looking bar-style tap and pressure gauge to make sure your liquid gold doesn’t explode all over the place.

There are a range of beer mixes to choose from as well so you’re not just stuck with your standard ale. Flavours include Dutch Lager, Canadian Red Lager, Nut Brown Ale and Czech Pilsner.

4. Cocktail Fountain

On the topic of innovative inebriating drinks, this is a chance to combine practicality with a stylish interesting looking centrepiece. This cocktail fountain will let the daiquiris flow from four dispensers to create a lovely water-feature for you to stick your glass under.

It lights up too to create a night-club-esque ambiance which is great for gearing the office party up for the real night clubs afterwards.

At £24, this little gem of a party feature won’t break the bank and leaves you with enough to fill it with your spirit of choice.

3. Game Consoles

How do you tire the kids out when they’ve been cooped up all day? Yes they’ll want to play with their presents for a bit, but what happens when little Johnny steals little Frankie’s transformer pack? You distract them with something to tire them out- like a bit of Wii.

With games for kids and adults alike, a Wii or PS3 is a great idea to have set-up in a corner to get everyone involved. If your work Christmas budget allows for it, a bit of Guitar Hero 5, Dance on Broadway or Just Dance 3 won’t go astray. Or maybe it will but that’s the whole point really.

For PS3 faithfuls, get all of the aunts and uncles around some Family Game Night 4, Truth or Lies or Yoostar 2.

2. Mini Projector

While you may have last used a projector to display your PowerPoint prowess, they are also a good idea for scrolling through funny photos, or for playing a heart warming movie on Christmas bringing families together or something of the like.

You can get pocket projectors for around the £80 mark, but that may not be the right device to sit through the Titanic with, mainly because the battery life just won’t last.

Mini projectors are larger than pocket projectors and some come packaged with a screen. They have better resolution but will still fit into tiny spaces. Expect to spend around  £270 for a decent one.

1. Portable Hot Tub

If the snow machine didn’t do it for you this idea will- banish the Winter chill in your very own affordable portable Hot Tub. This may not be appropriate for every office party, but it will provide a talking point if you and your co-workers decide to go tenths in one.

The Lay-Z-Spa will set you back £330 which includes a water filtration system, Lay-Z massage system, rapid heat adjustment and 12 months warranty in case someone decides to wear stilettos in it. It takes 30 minutes to set-up and will fit back in its little box when you’re done resembling a prune.

Even if you don’t end up using it on Christmas day, what better way to melt away the stresses of having all of your family factions together than by spending all of Boxing Day in your very own hot tub eating turkey sandwiches?

Top 10 Christmas Party Gadgets is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

If Aunt Maud is in need of a camera upgrade, this is the guide for you. We’re taking a snapshot of the Top Ten digital cameras on the market that will produce a great picture.

We’ve covered a range of price-ranges to make sure you get the camera you want but still have some pennies left over to buy Uncle Bill’s pressie as well.

So get the siblings together and chip in for one of these stocking fillers.

Fujifilm FinePix Z90
RRP: £129.99
Specs: 14 megapixels, 5x optical zoom
Key Feature: Upload pics straight to Facebook

Featuring a large touchscreen on the back, the Fujifilm FinePix Z90 will appeal to anyone not wanting to squint at tiny symbols to change picture settings. For the younger generation, this camera has the ability to upload pics directly to Facebook or YouTube.

The camera comes in six different colours so will quickly become a fashion accessory in your handbag. Tech-wise, the camera offers digital image stabilisation to prevent blurry action shots, and you can also touch-up pictures without having to download them to your computer first.

This is a great all-rounder camera that looks great and won’t break the bank.

Kodak EasyShare M575
RRP:  £90
Specs: 14 megapixels, 5x optical zoom
Key Feature: Easy to use, great pics

For a camera that won’t break the bank but will still take a good picture of it, the Kodak EasyShare M575 is a great option. It’s easy to use with its default “Smart Capture” mode which just means you can push the button and the camera will take care of everything else. In doing so, this camera provides quite impressive pictures considering its budget price tag.

Available in red, green and black (all metallic), the EasyShare M575 is perfectly themed for Christmas. There is also a video record function that will let you film High Def up to 720p, which isn’t top of the market but is definitely decent. Unfortunately you can’t zoom while filming your latest Spielberg moment with this camera.

The Kodak EasyShare M575 is a stocking stuffer that beats a pair of socks.

Nikon Coolpix L120
RRP: £249.99
Specs: 14 megapixels, 21x optical zoom
Key Feature: Extreme zoom capability

For something that looks a bit more serious at a relatively affordable price, the Nikon Coolpix L120 provides easy-to-use functionality in a serious camera casing. With an impressive 21x optical zoom, the Coolpix L120 will ace that hard-to-get-to shot. The camera also features a Vibration Reduction lens which provides an additional 4x digital zoom.

Seventeen dedicated scene modes will keep those with a basic understanding of photography happy, or there is also an easy to use auto function for those who prefer to point and click.

For the budding photographer, the Coolpix L120’s super zoom ability is bound to impress.

Canon PowerShot A800
RRP: £70
Specs: 10 megapixels, 3x optical zoom
Key Feature: Best cheap camera on the market

For a basic, no bells and whistles point and shoot, the Canon PowerShot A800 is hard to go past. It doesn’t have the best specs in the world with video resolution of 480p and limited zoom, but it does take surprisingly good photos and really represents value for money.

The PowerShot A800 is also good for travellers as it takes 2 AA batteries (remember them?) instead of having to be charged at a strange-looking international powerpoint. While it won’t max out your credit card, it doesn’t look cheap as it’s available in 4 metallic colours with a silver lens housing. There is no image stabiliser but there is face detect which goes a long way to helping you take great family portrait snaps.

At a bargain basement price the Canon PowerShot A800 punches well above its weight.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT3
RRP: £369.99
Specs: 12 megapixels, waterproof to 12m, shockproof to 2m, freeze-proof to -10° C, dust-proof
Key Feature: Will go to Everest with you

This camera is for the extreme adventurer in your life. It looks like a rugged piece of work because it is. With its own GPS system, the Lumix DMC-FT3 will make sure you never get lost in the Alps. It also packs a compass, altimeter and a barometer which will also read underwater depth. While you pay a bit more for this camera, you will get your money’s worth in terms of extra features.

The Lumix DMC-FT3 comes with full 1920×1080 HD video recording so your scuba diving movies will turn out a treat. There is also the now standard face detection focus as well as AF tracking and spot focusing.

For a tough camera to take on a snorkel adventure, the Lumix DMC-FT3 is exactly what you need in your wetsuit pocket.

Pentax Optio RS1500
RRP: £80
Specs: 14 megapixels, 4x optical zoom
Key Feature: Batman (or if you like, changeable skins)

The first thing you may notice about this camera is Superman. With a range of changeable skins, the Pentax Optio RS1500 can be personalised to express almost any personality. You can either choose from Pentax’s DC Comic range of skins, or pop on over to the Pentax site and upload images to create your own skin.

For a sub-£100 camera, the Optio RS1500 really does pack in the tech with video recording to 720p and advanced automatic features, such as automatic tracking and face detection. There are night, sport and portrait capture modes and also one for taking pictures of text documents, which might come in handy for the student in the family.

For someone’s first grown-up camera the Pentax Optio RS1500 is fun and will capture growing-up years in surprisingly good quality.

Samsung ST6500
RRP: £150
Specs: 16 megapixels, 5x optical zoom
Key Feature: A designer’s camera

This camera looks stylish with a wavy finish on top and large touchscreen on the back which lets you change settings by tapping of large icons.  Its slim design also means that this snapper will fit snugly in your pocket or even the smallest of handbags.

The Samsung ST6500 comes with plenty of artistic filters and setting to keep any creative entertained. You can “vignette” or “object highlight” your pics with ease before loading your artistic endeavours to Facebook. The standard picture quality is good too considering the price, with a hybrid image stabilisation that uses both optical and digital anti-shake techniques.

For a design camera with artistic photo features, the Samsung ST6500 is hard to top.

Casio Exilim EX-H15
RRP: £180
Specs: 14 megapixels, 10x optical zoom
Key Feature: Great zoom in a compact case

This compact camera packs a wicked 10x optical zoom. Combined with 720p HD video recording capability and an excellent battery life, the Casio Exilim EX-H15 makes it worth the extra few pounds for a performance digital camera.

The camera’s big screen isn’t touch-responsive but there aren’t many buttons to play with. You can access most of the camera’s features through an easy-to-use  on-screen menu and five-way pad system. One thing this camera lacks is an HDMI output, and video recording is limited to 29 minutes, but for most people that’s more than enough to claim their two minutes of fame on YouTube.

It’s pretty in pastels to match any clutch purse but it does feel a bit chunky in your hand, while you use it to take quality pics up close and personal.

Fujifilm Finepix X100
RRP: £999
Specs: 12 megapixels, 35mm fixed focal length
Key Feature: Manual control for the photo aficionado

For a super-stylish retro camera, the Fujifilm Finepix X100 will take you back to the days when photography was a real artform. This camera is unique with its extensive set of manual controls, uilt-in lens filters, a large DSLR-size sensor sans the bulky camera casing and a bright F2.0 aperture lens.

What you don’t get for your high-end £999 is optical zoom. The Finepix X100 does however provide a lens and sensor combo that is tailor made for each other with very fast power-on-to-first-shot time and no distortion that you can get with many other wide-angle, long-zoom lenses.

For its old-style charms this camera still shoots 720p HD video, and has been one of the most exciting cameras to have been released in 2011.

Samsung EX1
RRP: £399.99
Specs: 10 megapixels, 3x optical zoom
Key Feature: Full manual mode in a compact package

While the zoom on this camera isn’t exactly telescopic, the Samsung EX1 packs a large sensor, f/1.8 lens and a maximum ISO 3200 which is not to be blinked at. That’s a lot of camera speak for this camera can take pretty much any photo you want.

The Samsung EX1 has a full manual mode, HDR capability, can capture files in RAW and comes with a good range of filters to get your artistic side excited. If all of that is somewhat meaningless for you, the camera also comes with a fully automatic mode so that it does all the hard work for you.

This camera takes great low-light photos, making it perfect for capturing those embarrassing moments at the pub.

Top 10 Digital Cameras for Christmas 2011 is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

Why Facebook for Business?

With over 750 million active users on Facebook, it’s a bit of a hard medium to pass up when trying to reach an audience. Granted, these people are quite diversely spread around the world which may not be of much use if you’re focused on selling curtain rods in Wandsworth.

Facebook however does have the added benefit of being able to drill down into very specific sections of the community for highly targeted advertising. But if annoying people with sidebar ads isn’t your thing, a cheap (read: free) alternative is to create a Facebook Page for your business. Why do this? Let’s find out.

Facebook Pages Vs. Facebook Groups

According to Facebook’s own statistics, the average user has 130 friends and is connected to 80 community pages, groups and events. It doesn’t take much extrapolating to realise that if you want a low-cost way to reach out to an audience, a Facebook page for your business may not be a bad idea.

Both Facebook Pages and Facebook Groups are free to create, so already you don’t have much to lose other than the lunch hour it will take you to create your new online presence. The main difference between the two is that Facebook Pages can be viewed by Facebook’s entire network, Facebook Groups however can only be seen by registered users of that particular group.

In a bit of a nutshell, Groups comprise of “members” while Pages comprise of “fans”, and really, who wouldn’t like a few more fans telling them how awesome they are? Facebook Groups can work better for organisations trying to raise awareness of a specific cause, as it collates like-minded people together.

Facebook Pages will maximise your reach by not excluding any users from seeing all activity on that page, and once someone becomes a fan all of their friends are notified about this on their News Feed.

Benefits of Your Business on Facebook

Facebook’s reach allows you to potentially reach out to new clients while maintaining relationships with existing customers.

You can instantly update everyone with any new products, services or competitions without having to liaise with a third party agency to get your message out there.

A Facebook Page works brilliantly as well for any promotions or competitions you want to run. People are more likely to Like your Page and spread the word if there’s something in it for them. By running a competition for the person who provides you with the most Likes, you can easily tap into those myriads of users Facebook is known for.

The more you engage with your Fans, the more your Page will be active and “Liked”. On your Wall settings you can allow Fans access to post on your front page which is great for interaction- just make sure you continually moderate the site to avoid any offensive comments being posted. By publicising the good and the bad of what people communicate with you, you start a dialogue and as close to a meaningful relationship to your clientele as you can get. Especially if you address the negative comments in a way to show that you’re taking on board constructive criticism.

Also by having a Facebook presence, you are showing yourself to be up to date with technology and can create a voice for yourself as a leading authority within your industry. If you want to take your Page further, you can use it as part of a wider PR campaign for your business.

Downsides to a Business Facebook Page

Your Facebook Page needs to be an active part of your marketing campaign. If you don’t update your Facebook Page at least once a week (once a day is even better) you’re not going to get much market traction because people won’t get involved with something that is static. A Facebook Page with a last update a year ago is worse than having no Facebook Page at all.

You will also need to monitor the Page to ensure any offensive comments by your fans are moderated. Again, a Page that is full of insults to your business or is offensive to your Fans obviously will do more harm than good.

Why a Business Page is Better than Straight Advertising

Apart from the obvious monetary benefits of not having to shell out any cash upfront to set-up a Facebook Page there are a few other Page plusses over traditional advertising streams.

You can personalise your page to your business by uploading photos, videos, applications and shout out messages to all of your fans.

The Page also provides a means of communication with your customers, if you respond to people who write on your Page’s wall, you can actually create something close to meaningful dialogue which will showcase your customer service skills.

How to Create Your Business Page

Finding the link to create a Facebook Page can be a bit tricky, as Facebook has done a great job at not placing it anywhere prominent on its site. To create a page, wander over to:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/create.php

The first thing you’ll have to do when you venture over to Facebook to actually create your page is to decide what you are. Facebook offers pages for:

• Local businesses or places
• Company, Organisation or Institution
• Brand or Product
• Artist, Band or Public Figure
• Entertainment
• Cause of Comminute

Simply click on your category, fill in your details and you’ll then be asked to log into an existing Facebook Account or click “I do not have a Facebook Account”, and voila, you will find yourself with one Business Page! Keep in mind though that once you’ve created your Page you won’t be able to change your business name or category so make sure you’re typo-free before submitting your details.

Facebook now helpfully uses popup screens to help you navigate your way around your new Page, and to let you know what details and updates you can post to the world. Kick this off by clicking on the “Get Started” button under your image.

You can upload a main image which could be a logo or a picture representing what it is your business does. You can also include some info on why you’re awesome in the “About” section. Make sure you also include your website URL as well in case any visitors are so taken with your Page they want more information.

Once you have a few things happening on your Page, you’re going to want some people to get involved with it. An obvious way to kick off your fan base is to share your Page with as many people as you already know, asking them to Like your Page.

If you have a storefront, create a sign so that your customers know that they can Like you on Facebook for special deals. If you have a website, add a Facebook badge to your site so that people can instantly click through to your Page. If you have a Twitter or MySpace Account as well, network with these platforms to consolidate your presence online. There are a number of ways to get your new page out there, do as many as you can for maximum impact!

To keep tabs on how well your Page is going, you can click on the “View Insights” tab on the right side of your Page. This provides you with info such as how many “Likes” you’ve amassed, and can change the timeframe you’re interested in to compare this on a day-to-day basis. It’s not quite as thorough as Google Analytics but it’s not bad.

Your Facebook Page

The more you engage your Fans, the more your Page will work for you. Facebook has given you a two-way street to speak to and listen to your customers. Remember all of those old-school “We Welcome Your Comments” forms that never got returned without an obscure drawing scribbled on it? No more do you have to decipher hieroglyphic-esque handwriting to give your customers a chance to air their opinion! Used correctly, Facebook Pages can be an extremely effective tool in your Marketing arsenal and best of all (don’t tell the agencies this), it’s free.

Why And How To Create A Facebook Page For Business is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

Sure you can search for a recipe on Google, but if you’re looking for a bit of inspiration, creative kitchen tips and the dreaded calorie-count, you’ll need an app. Here then are the top 10 paid and top 10 unpaid foodie apps to get you cooking up a storm!

Top 10 Paid Recipe Apps

10. MacGourmet £1.99

This app provides what you expect from a recipe app- a bunch of inspirational ideas, shopping list feature and an ability for you to add a few notes along the way. You can even store wine notes if you’re hitting up a bottle at a restaurant. It does what it says on the tin quite nicely with pictures of what your creations should look like included just so you don’t make a complete mess of the Apricot Chicken.

9. Martha’s Everyday Food £1.99

Martha has brought a new version of her popular first recipe app with a few performance improvements that make scanning through her recipes a more speedy process. The Recipe Shuffle function lets fate decide your meal providing you with a different idea at each shake of your phone. You also get daily articles and videos on improving your cooking technique. The only biff with this paid app is that you still get ads with your Sunday brunch inspirations which is annoying for most.

8. CookIt £0.69

Not all apps have to cost the equivalent of a latte. If you’re one of those people who create a beautiful main meal only to realise right at the end that you’ve forgotten to make any semblance of a side-dish, the bargain basement CookIt is here to help. While it doesn’t have any of its own recipes, you can import your own into the app then load it up with everything you plan to make for dinner. CookIt will let you know when it’s time to start the brussel sprouts, soufflé and sponge pudding so you don’t end up without when your rack of lamb is done.

7. In the Kitchen: Food Network Recipes, Chefs, Cooking Tools and Shopping Lists £1.49

If you’re a celebrity chef fan, you can’t go past this all-in-one app featuring Food Networks chefs including Alton Brown, Emeril, Bobby Flay, Tyler Florence and Paula Dee. Recipes are sorted into a great list including the usual beverages, chicken greats and desserts alongside a list of HotDog! Faves. Videos are included in this app, though there aren’t many and they’re only short clips from Food Network shows.

6. Weber’s On the Grill £2.99

It’s still Summer and therefore still warm enough to get the mates around for a BBQ. Weber’s On the Grill offers marinade, rub and sauce insights that will make your steak really sizzle. The pictures alone are inspiring enough to dust off the old Webber and buy a pack of coals in an attempt to make your chicken that good. There are also expert tips and handy outdoor cooking tip videos.

5. Real Simple Recipes £2.99

A great search function makes this app a handy one in the kitchen. You can sort recipes based on your ingredient of choice and easily create a shopping list to get you prepped properly. You can add notes to your recipe or watch a related video which will either take you through the recipe step-by-step, or provide you with some handy tips for one part of the recipe. Nutritional info is also provided in case you’re watching your weight.

4. BBC GoodFood Quick Recipes £2.49

All recipes on this app can be created in under 30 minutes which is perfect for a busy lifestyle. You can toggle between imperial or metric measurements and the search function is a doddle to use. For your bang you also get a cooking timer, 5 cooking skills videos and a suggested “10 speedy ingredients” (their marketing garb, not ours) to include in your diet with tips on actually cooking them. This little app is really a great all-rounder.

3. Nigella Quick Collection £2.49

If you’re a fan of her recipes you’ll be a fan of this app. With how-to videos and voice control, you can flick through the stages of creating a wicked chocolate dessert without having to touch your phone with sticky fingers. Nigella offers over 100 of her recipes in this app which isn’t a truck load but will get you inspired to whip up something undeniably delicious in only a few minutes. This app features some of her best recipes so no longer will you need to stand in a corner at WHSmith with a pen and post-it note trying to copy down her tricks to tasty morsels.

2. How to Cook Everything £2.99

As the name suggests, this app will provide you with a one-stop shop for recipes on… well most things. The app is an electronic version of the book of the same name, and heavily features cooking-school-style instructions as well as the usual straight recipe. There is also a How to Cook Everything Vegetarian app for those of you more leaf-inclined. The Vege version has 2,000 recipes including 900 vegan meals. Both apps have built-in timers throughout the recipe steps to keep you on track.

1. 20 Minute Meals- Jamie Oliver £5.49

The top paid recipe app goes to one that not only provides foodie inspiration, but also helps to limit your time in the kitchen if you’re in the mood for a meal in minutes. Jamie Oliver’s 20 Minute Meals is an interactive Jamie Oliver recipe book, that makes the most of its platform by including 90 minutes worth of video tips from the man himself along the way, telling you how to slice an onion and other handy knife hints. The interface is sleek and stylish and navigation is a breeze. The recipes themselves are simple to follow and you can again change the ingredient portions to fit the number of people you’re cooking for.

Top 10 Free Recipe Apps

10. Healthy Recipes: Cooking for Fast Weight Loss

All recipes on this app are not only easy but healthy and filling as well. It’s a great idea but unfortunately is let down by its lack of search ability and all recipes can only be watched via video which is great for inspiration, but slightly annoying if you’re going along with it and have to wash your hands 20 times to pause the instructions as you chop a cucumber. The recipes themselves all look delicious and the videos are easy to follow.

9. Whole Foods Market

Whole Foods Market has 2 foodie apps- the first, Whole Foods Market Missions not only provides you with healthy recipe options but also teaches you about healthy eating through games or “Missions”. There is a wealth of handy info for things like mushrooms as well letting you know how to choose the best one for your risotto.  The second app, Whole Foods Market Recipes helps you get the most out of your organic ingredients with the ability to search by category, diet or ingredients you already have on hand.

8. u can cook with James Martin

Stay with me on this- canned food can make a tasty meal. No seriously! With over 80 recipes waiting to be let out of the tin, you’ll be spilling the beans on this one to all your friends in no time. All recipes come with full ingredients list, step by step guide on creating your canned sensation and also include nutritional values. You can also read up on the benefits of canned food including its affordability, ease of use and that strangely satisfying sound you hear when all the air gets released from your can.

7. Vegan YumYum Mobile

Burger-lovers look away now. If you like your beans and cauliflower though, this specialised app is for you. Each recipe is broken down into separate steps each with a high-quality photo so you won’t get confused with what to do with that tofu. You can bookmark favourite recipes so that you can quickly pull them up again and it also works offline which is a plus.

6. Big Oven 170,000+ Recipes

As the name suggests, Big Oven will provide you with almost 200,000 recipes, but will also let you import your own recipes via Recipe Scan, so if you’ve got an old handwritten recipe passed down from generations that you’d quite like in your iPhone, you can just snap a picture and it’s yours. No need to type in the family Ginger Beer recipe when you’re at nan’s anymore. There are a great range of recipes on hand and you can also upload pics of your own take on a chilli con carne to share the love.

5. Cook’s Illustrated

For a free app, Cook’s Illustrated offers a stylish interface and a few thoughtful features that make it stand out from the pack. There is a timer included so you can keep track of how long the carrots have been in the oven for while you’re outside watering the lawn. A new upgrade has included an audible alert when time is up, which has improved this app’s usefulness tenfold. Recipes also have a video function so you can see exactly how a dish is done, or alternatively feel like you’re cooking with a virtual friend in the kitchen.

4. Healthy Recipes by SparkRecipes

With over 190,000 user-submitted recipes there is no excuse not to get your oven mitt on. To trawl through these meal ideas, the Healthy Recipes by SparkRecipes app needs a good search function, and this it does have. You can even search by Dietary Needs or Occasion, so you can find that low-cal Halloween cake you need to take to a party. An included unit conversion calculator and kitchen timers makes this app a good all-rounder in the kitchen.

3. Betty Crocker Mobile Cookbook

With over 9,000 recipes to choose from, the Betty Crocker Mobile Cookbook is a sure bet for Sunday lunch inspiration. It features an ingredient search function that will find a receipt for you based on a particular ingredient you’ve specified. Photos of each meal make it easy to select from the masses on hand, and each recipe includes nutritional information as well.  The app is dead easy to use which is great when your hands are covered in flour.

2. Epicurious

This app has come in as one of Time’s 2011 50 Best iPhone Apps and for good reason. Over 30,000 recipes are organised by interesting categories such as skill level and theme and creating a shopping list is quick and easy for you to access again when you’ve poped down to Sainsbury’s.  Each recipe has been professionally tested and there’s also a voice search function so you can change your mind on a recipe while your hands are stuck into the mince meat.

1. Allrecipes.com Dinner Spinner

Love the interface with this app, which lets you customise your dish type (main, beverage, cookies- apparently that’s a dish), main ingredient and how long you’re prepared to slave away in the kitchen. Once you spun through your selections, the app will provide you with a list of recipes that fit the bill. If you’re watching what you eat you can even search by nutrition information. With over 40,000 recipes at your finger tips from the Allrecipes.com site, you’re really not starved for choice, inspiration or, well, dinner really.

Top 20 Paid and Free Recipe Apps. Masterchef Style. is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

Buy Now: HTC Desire

Overview:

When we first got our hands on the HTC Desire, we found it did an excellent job of living up to its name. Pitted against what is now one of the most hotly desired new handsets on the market, the iPhone 4, how does the Desire still fare? Let’s find out.

Comparison:

From the start, the newest and thinnest addition to the iPhone family has out-slimmed the comparatively bulky HTC Desire with the iPhone 4’s dimensions of 115 x 59 x 9mm fitting into more pockets than the Desire’s 119 x 60 x 12mm size.

Weighing in at 137g, the iPhone 4 is slightly heavier than the 135g HTC Desire though.

Both handsets have relied on their screens to be a wow-factor, and we’ve loved using both the Desire and iPhone 4.

Size-wise the HTC Desire offers a bit more screen than the iPhone 4 with a 3.7 inch screen over Apple’s 3.5 inches. This may not sound like much, but can make watching video just that bit more comfy.

The iPhone 4 has a brilliant screen res of 960 x 640 against the Desire’s 480 x 800 resolution, which is still good, but not quite as good as the iPhone 4.

Under the bonnet, Apple has given its software a new name, and has included iOS4 in its new iPhone. Along with the new name is the new multitasking feature, allowing you to switch between open apps almost as fast as you can decide which one to use.

For those with an organised mind, iOS4 also allows you to organize apps into folders.

On the flip side, the HTC Desire runs Android 2.1, with an upgrade to Froyo 2.2 coming to a Desire near you soon.

We’ve been long-time Android fans, and the open source nature of the Desire’s software gives it a leg-up against Apple.

With the Froyo update, the Desire is expected to run over 400% quicker, and will also support Flash 10.1 which is a bone of contention with Apple.

Delving into each handset’s connectivity, both phones look quite similar  on the surface with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPRS and MMS capabilities in both handsets.

The Desire has been constant in its call reliability from day one though, and this is again where Apple have stumbled somewhat.

The iPhone 4 drops its phone signal when your palm covers the lower left corner of the phone- like when you hold it with your left hand for example. This obviously isn’t good for a phone, with Apple simply telling users to hold their device differently to counter the problem.

Both the iPhone 4 and HTC Desire pack 5 megapixel cameras with LED flash and auto focus. Both take decent shots, but aren’t number one in the market for this feature.

To store your pictures, the iPhone 4 offers you 16GB or 32GB of internal storage compared to the HTC Desire which is just a tiny 512MB.  However to make up for the lack of internal storage, the HTC Desire comes with a microSD card slot, allowing you to store up 32GB of memory, definitely upping the ante on the number of songs and snaps you’re carrying around with you.

We Say:

The iPhone 4 is without a doubt an impressive piece of kit, and does have a bit more street cred than any HTC Device on the market today. Delving into each phone’s differences though, the Desire has a better OS in Android, and superior reliability, which is important in a phone. We’re giving this one to the HTC Desire, but in reality both phones will do you proud. But don’t take our work for it, take a look at other mobile phone reviews.

iPhone 4 Deals…

Vodafone Ltd (£0.00)

HTC Desire Deals…

Carphone Warehouse (£0.00)

iPhone 4 vs. HTC Desire is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

We take a look at both the iPhone 4 and the Google Nexus One to give you a better picture of what best to part your cash with. It might be worth it to compare mobile phone deals to make sure you keep within budget as well.

Appearance:

Apple has steered away from the rounded corners of current iPhones on the market, with sharper corners giving the iPhone 4 a somewhat edgy look.

Conversely, the Nexus One has something of a Marmite design- you either hate it or think it’s not too bad.

The iPhone 4 is smaller and slimmer than the Nexus One with the iPhone 4 measuring up at 4.5 x 2.31 x 0.37 inches, while the Nexus One boasts dimensions of 4.7 x 2.4 x 0.5 inches.

Winner: iPhone 4

Screen:

Both the iPhone 4 and the Nexus One are top-end touchscreen smartphones, but which screen is better to use?

Size-wise the Nexus One has it over the iPhone 4 (just) with a 3.7 inch screen over Apple’s 3.5 inches.

But while size matters, we all know it’s how you use screen technology that’s really important.

The Retina Display on the iPhone 4 ups the screen resolution to 960 x 640, which Apple boasts makes individual pixels invisible to the human eye.

In comparison, the Nexus One has a not too shabby but noticeably less 480 x 800 screen res.

The Nexus One does boast a very impressive AMOLED screen, while the iPhone 4 uses Apple’s own LCD-IPS as part of its retina display, which I think we’re all just a teensy bit excited about.

Winner: iPhone 4

Camera:

Apple has long been the laughing stock of camera phones, launching the first iPhone with a pathetic 2 megapixel snapper, which only grew to 3 on the iPhone 3GS. Now though, Apple is playing with the… well medium boys, packing a 5 megapixel camera in the iPhone 4.

Similarly, the Nexus One also has a 5 megapixel snapper tucked away. Both cameras come with flash as well.

The difference comes in to each handset’s video capabilities. The iPhone 4 will record in 720p HD at 30fps which Apple is shouting from the rooftops.

The Nexus One on the other hand shoots at 800 x 480 at 20fps.

Apple has also included a front-facing camera on the iPhone 4 so you can take self portraits and video call with ease. The Nexus One just has the back camera.

Winner: iPhone 4

Connectivity:

Both the iPhone 4 and Nexus One come with GPS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

The iPhone 4 does have the added bonus of a TV out connection through Apple AV cables, nudging it in front of the Nexus One yet again.

Winner: iPhone 4

Verdict:

Although the iPhone 4 came up trumps in each category, it was a close shave in terms of connectivity, screen and camera.

The Apple iPhone 4 has won this particular comparison, but being a much newer model, it should have.

iPhone 4 Vs Nexus One is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

We take a look at the key features of the iPhone 4 so you can compare mobile phones and decide if it’s really worth your while to upgrade from your previously awesome 3G S.

5. Retina Display
The first new feature to kick-off our countdown may be viewed as a bit of a gimmick to some, but the coolest thing since flat-screen TVs to others.

Apple’s new “Retina Display” apparently has boosted pixels so high that your eye is unable to distinguish individual pixels.

If nothing else, this is undoubtedly the sharpest, most high-res screen specs of any phone on the market today at 960 x 640 resolution on its sizey 3.5 inch screen.

The iPhone 4’s Retina display also features LED backlighting and an ambient light sensor which will adjust screen brightness for optimal viewing and to preserve battery life.

4. Screen
We’ve established that the technology under the screen’s bonnet is somewhat impressive, but that doesn’t mean very much if the screen itself is going to scuff easily.

Apple has thought of that as well, making the screen glass out of the same material used in helicopters and high speed trains, though apple didn’t specify which part of the bullet train its new screen is modeled on.

The glass on the iPhone 4 has been strengthened chemically to make it stronger, more durable and the most scratch resistant phone ever. It will only be a matter of weeks before the first smash-an-iPhone-4 will hit YouTube, so we won’t have long to wait before this claim is tested out.

Similarly to the iPhone 3G S, the screen features an oil-resistant coating so that you can eat a Big Mac and answer messages with the one hand and not mark-up your phone.

3. Enhanced Video Calling
The iPhone 4 includes a new features dubbed FaceTime, which is basically a video calling function. Why is this so special you may wonder? Well it’s more the usability of this feature that is pretty outstanding.

Apple has made video calling as user-friendly as possible, working straight out of the box without the need for you to set up a separate account on a third party app.

Video calling is now a one-button process. You just need to choose a contact from your address book and tap the FaceTime button. You can also hit this button while you’re in the middle of a call with someone to switch over to a video call.

FaceTime will work on both the front-facing camera and the rear camera on the iPhone 4. It will also accommodate for portrait and landscape shote.

2. Multiple Apps
Apps has made the iPhone as popular as it is today, so it makes sense for Apple to vamp up the app experience on its new device, and that exactly what has happened.

A new multitasking interface allows you to quickly and easily switch between apps you’ve recently had open.

To reveal your recently used apps, just double-click the Home button for a list of apps on the bottom of the screen. This removes the wait-time for an app to reload, and old apps will open right where you last left off.

You can also now keep GPS apps running in the background while you’re updating your Facebook Status, or playing a time consuming arcade game. This means you can hear turn-by-turn navigation directions while you’re fiddling around on another app.

1. HD Video Recording
Now this is really exciting for Apple fans world-wide. No more being the laughing stock of mobile phone specs with this upgrade- HD video recording.

Apple has incorporated a sensor to produce quality images in both bright and low-light settings, and an LED light will act as a flash for those really dark nooks and crannies.

You can also edit video as you go within the Camera app, by simply tapping and dragging to select start and finish points on the filmstrip.

If you’re doing something else with your phone like say texting someone and something newsworthy happens right in front of you, instead of fiddling around between apps, Apple has included a camera icon within the messaging function so you can record on the go. You can then send your vid to your mate over MMS.

To gain kudos for your other Spielberg creations, you can send your movie out directly via email.

The still camera has also been upgraded to 5-megapixels, more in keeping with phones on the market today.

Convinced on the virtues of the iPhone 4? Leave us a comment and let us know.

Top 5 iPhone 4 Features is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

The security update fixes a total of 32 vulnerabilities as announced in an Adobe Security Bulletin.

Adobe has admitted that critical vulnerabilities appear in Adobe Flash Player versions 10.0.45.2 and earlier.

“These vulnerabilities could cause the application to crash and could potentially allow an attacker to take control of the affected system.” Adobe said.

The company has recommended that users of Adobe Flash Player 10.0.45.2 and earlier versions should update to Adobe Flash Player 10.1.53.64.

Adobe AIR 1.5.3.9130 users should update to Adobe AIR 2.0.2.12610.

To verify the Adobe Flash Player version number you’re running, you can right-click on any content running in Flash Player and click on “About Adobe (or Macromedia) Flash Player” from the menu.

Multiple browser users need to perform the check for each browser installed on your system.

Adobe users running Windows, Macintosh or Linux were all thought to be particularly vulnerable to attack; so pretty much all of us.

Adobe is now working on an update for its Reader and Acrobat programs which addresses a similar bug affecting the security of PDFs. This security release is due out at the end of the month.

Have you been affected by an Adobe bug? Leave us a comment and let us know.

Adobe Plugs Critical Flash Holes is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

Microsoft Live account or SkyDrive storage account holders can now access final versions of PowerPoint, Word and Excel Office Web Apps for free.

The Web apps also come as part of Microsoft Office 2010, which is due for customer roll out next week.

Existing documents can either be uploaded to Office Web Apps or can be created within the browser. Any uploaded documents can the be accessed from within desktop Office suites without having to first take the document offline.

There have been some omissions to get Office Web Apps online though, such as the online version of PowerPoint not supporting high-performance video editing tools which you get on the desktop version.

On the flip side, there are some inclusions in the online version of Office that you don’t get otherwise. In true web-form, there is now the ability to embed tags into documents and post them straight onto blogs.

The new online offerings will also integrate with Microsoft’s upcoming Hotmail revamp, though exact details still remain cagey.

Office Web Apps is accessible via Internet Explorer, Safari and Firefox, but noticably not on Google Chrome.

Microsoft currently has roughly 400 million Windows Live users, which isn’t a bad starting base for the new service.

Will you be moving your Word documents online? Leave us a comment and let us know.

Microsoft Office Available Free Online is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com