But GPS continues to evolve and expand in its functionality, and those changes are making life easier for businesses and consumers. Here are five evolutions of GPS that are changing how we operate in and explore our world:

1. Google Glasses

By far the most revolutionary of the upcoming evolutions in GPS technology, Google’s “Project Glasses” is bringing sci-fi to reality. Just like Robocop, wearers of the glasses will be able to call up information from the Internet and layer it over the physical world around them. This will let “Glasses” users view GPS maps and navigation through their lenses while they walk or drive.

Google is also hoping that the glasses are ultimately able to record video and take pictures of whatever the lenses are trained on. Video conferencing may also be possible.

And if you’re super eager and have the money, you might be able to buy a pair of these bad boys by the end of 2012.

2. Cloud Computing

Yes, cloud computing is far more expansive than just its GPS functionality, but GPS tracking systems are increasingly being hosted on the cloud. The main reason is that GPS requires constant updates to remain accurate as road construction and other roadway changes occur. With traditional GPS units, this requires plugging in every unit to a computer so that it can download updates — a tedious task that won’t be completed by all consumers. But cloud-based GPS can easily be updated at its central storage location, providing real-time updates that service every GPS unit.

3. Location-based Marketing

Mobile marketing has become more valuable as smart phone coupons and other marketing tactics are able to reach consumers on the go. With location-based marketing, GPS can be employed to feed coupons, advertisements and other marketing materials to consumers based on their location. This can even be as specific as to what part of town a consumer is in, allowing marketers to recommend eateries and other businesses close to their location.

4. Fleet Management Systems

For companies utilizing large fleets of vehicles for deliveries or other functions, GPS units can be utilized to run fleet tracking systems. These systems, many of which are based in the cloud, can be used by business operators to observe at any given time the location of a vehicle, the destinations it has reached and estimated arrival times. This improves communication and planning for businesses and cuts down on the time required to keep track of fleet operations.

5. Geotagging Photos

With some electronic devices, each picture taken can be accompanied by bits of GPS data that identify exactly where the picture was taken. Websites like Facebook already allow you to tag a location to any given picture, but this new GPS technology will do so automatically. Sure, it may have a Big Brother feel to it, but in a world of oversharing, is that anything new? Sites like Flickr use geotagging to add an extra layer to their sophisticated photo interface and even art museums have played with the ideas of what geotagging can unlock

It may all seem very futuristic, but then, the present always does, doesn’t it? GPS has so ingrained itself in our lives that unless those satellites fall out of the sky, we’ll be seeing it long into the future.

About OpenStack

In hopes of changing the world of cloud computing systems, Rackspace donated the code behind its Cloud Servers and Cloud Files to OpenStack. It also used code from the NASA Nebula Cloud Platform to complete this project. OpenStack is scalable, easy to implement, and full of advanced features, thus allowing it to provide solutions for clouds of all types.

NASA and Rackspace both intend for their operating system to follow an open source formula, much like Android in the mobile space. OpenStack will help customers avoid vendor lock-in, thus allowing them to change cloud providers at any time. Because the OpenStack code has already been used in Rackspace’s other offerings, it has already been proven successful.

Global data centers, researchers, SMBs, VARs, service providers, and corporations can use OpenStack. Because the operating system is open source, all of its code is available freely under the Apache 2.0 license. This means that anyone can build on the platform, run it, or make changes and submit them to the project. This open model creates an ecosystem that spans all cloud providers and prevents cloud customers from becoming trapped with one cloud provider.

Whiskey

To complement OpenStack, Rackspace also began developing open source application testing and cloud monitoring technologies. Just like OpenStack, these programs are freely available under the Apache 2.0 license.

The first of the testing programs Rackspace has shared with the public is a framework known as Whiskey, which is a testing technology used to evaluate applications build on Node.js. Whiskey is an open source stack that Rackspace has been using internally for almost two years. Rackspace knew early that Node.js would be successful, so they began developing this testing tool in-house.

Whiskey currently runs in a single process. However, it also has a master process capable of spawning child processes and communicating with them via TCP. This mechanism allows the test to run over multiple servers.

About Open Source

As evidenced by the release of both OpenStack and Whiskey, Rackspace firmly believes in an open source model of software development. Open source programs offer a source of immediate feedback for any project. As users identify problems within a framework and report these problems to Rackspace, coders can improve the framework for future users. In some cases, users are even able to find the solutions themselves and submit them to the project.

Cloud computing has blown up in the past year, but the industry is still fractured in the absence of a standard platform. By opening up OpenStack, companies are allowing the public to be a part of developing such a necessary system. The bright glow of the future sits just over the horizon!

Rackspace^® Hosting is the service leader in cloud computing providing Fanatical Support® to customers across a portfolio of IT services, including Managed Hosting and Cloud Computing.

Connectivity Options

Many wireless providers are transitioning over to the 4g, or fourth generation connectivity technology. It does not appear that Google Glasses would feasibly work on the current 3g connectivity network, given the amount of data that this technology would end up using. While it’s in concept stages currently, and quite far out from a working prototype, it’s still worth wondering what kind of wireless connectivity is provided with the glasses. Google has not yet specified whether they are aiming at the 3g, 4g, or even a future connectivity method with Google Glasses.

When you have a display right in front of your eyes, it makes sense that you would get the faster wireless option possible. You don’t want to be distracted while walking around and waiting for your data to load. Google Glasses also supports video calling, so it’s even more important that you send your data in a speedy fashion. If the video and audio end up un-syncing during a video call, it could end up being confusing for the user.

Google Glasses is getting a lot of attention, as no mass market augmented reality products have really taken off. Google has the resources to make this a must have device, and other companies will be scrambling to keep up. If they don’t take advantage of the fastest wireless technology, however, it’s not going to be able to get off the ground at all. Avoiding buffering and other issues with connectivity are hurdles that Google needs to address with their glasses prior to releasing it. People are not going to flock to a technology that ends up being slower than their current smartphones.

Data Usage

The amount of data that Google Glasses handles is going to be much higher than your typical smartphone usage, so pricing also comes in to play. Many wireless service providers are cutting back on data plans with limits and tiered data access. Google Glasses requires a large amount of data sent and received, so traditional wireless data setups are not going to work quite as well.

Google Glasses is still in its infancy, but issues like the connectivity options are worth thinking about now. If this technology is going to set itself up to take over the smartphone market, one of the most important aspects is whether or not you can access your data as fast as or faster than what you’re used to. Once Google gets that figured out, it is easier to see how feasible this technology will be.

The rapidly growing smartphone market, coupled with the rapid growth of cloud computing means that mobile application development is also rapidly evolving and growing. In the near future, smartphone users will be able to do nearly everything they used to do on a computer from a smartphone. This also means we are expected to see some new mobile development trends throughout the remainder of 2012. Here are a few that have been shaping up:

1. Increased Android app development. More Android phones are being marketed than at any other time in the history of mobile phones. To keep up with this growing stable of dedicated Android users, more Android apps will be marked for development.  Though Android doesn’t have the developer following seen with Apple’s iOS devices, there are more Android devices out today than iPhones and iPads. Google is taking steps to rejoin the fractured pieces of the Android movement, hopefully making it a more palatable experience for developers.
2. The cloud will mushroom. The cloud will overtake mobile applications in 2012. This means that everything you do on a smartphone will be done within the cloud environment to some extent. Smartphone hardware has been getting faster and smaller, but it still can’t rival full-power desktop computers or even newer laptops, limiting their usefulness for playing full 3D games or performing intense calculations. But with the added power of the cloud, there’s almost nothing a smartphone can’t do.
3. HTML5 will continue its bulldozing mission. HTML 5 will continue to dominate the mobile web, and will eventually be the only standard for mobile app development. With Google pushing web apps full force  between their championing of HTML5 and the release of their Chromebooks, we’re starting to see more and more web developers building apps that feature cross-platform compatibility. Web apps will play nice with any device, be able to sync content for offline use and take advantage of the power of the cloud when connected to the Internet.
4. Even more apps in general. New apps are released every day that add some special functionality or a new way to entertain yourself. Though it would be impossible for every app out there to be fantastic, there are a surprising number of gems that can help users eliminate entire devices —like GPS guides —or add new abilities that people didn’t have on-the-go before.
5. Big data analytics. Lastly, there will be a rise in big data analytics. What does this mean? This means more efficient analytics solutions for interpreting data from large amounts of mobile applications. As more mobile applications are developed this will be a necessity for sustainability. How can we know where to go if we can’t see an accurate picture of where we’ve been?

This year is going to continue many of the trends begun last year, bridging the gap between our dreams of the past and their fulfillment tomorrow.

Apple released this long-awaited product to its eager consumers at 8 a.m. on Friday morning. Many Apple fans camped out overnight, while the other early adopters simply waited in line for 15 hours. The lines were shorter than those of previous iPad releases, but the amount of pre-orders Apple had already received for the tablet more than compensated. In fact, many customers who preordered their iPads had to wait until Monday to receive their purchases. Though Apple is happily sweeping up the records shattered by their pre-order sales numbers, this launch was different from those of the previous two iPads.

Protesting for China

For the first time, there were protests at the launch and not just by Samsung Galaxy fans. The public scandal of Apple’s manufacturing facilities in China, the working conditions and increased suicides brought a substantial counter narrative to the iPad launch. Some people stood outside the stores holding signs and shouting about unfair labor practices and accusing Apple of exposing its Chinese workers to harsh chemicals and forcing them to work long hours for unfair pay. Nonetheless, it does not appear that the company’s sales will suffer as a result of the protests and bad publicity. An unfortunate irony, but not the only problem with the iPad 3.

Let’s start with the name. iPad was provocative. Controversial. It got the people going. The iPad 2 was lazy, but the device had not changed considerably, so many gave it a pass. iPad 3 fits in that its lack of creativity parallels how little the device has changed. The whole thing has Wired asking the more pointed question: is this the last iPad the really matters?

The spectacle of Retina Display on a screen larger than that of an iPhone has sent many reviewers into riotous frenzy and while I don’t doubt the amazing wonder of seeing heretofore unparalleled crispness on a screen, is that all there is? No of course, it’s fast also. So then, what are we left with?

Other upgrades include a processor that has only been upgraded enough to handle the heavy lifting of the retina display and 4G LTE and an improved camera for users to never use. After that, it’s just an iPad – a thrilling communications devices that has changed the landscape of mobile computing, probably forever – but still, where does Apple go from here?

After revolutionizing electronics lifestyle with the iPad, it’s looking like that device is starting to get low on creative fluid. The speed and high-res display will likely drive a bit of mobile app development, enough to harness these two attributes in innovative ways, and that will mean good things for mobile apps across the board. Apple iterates its devices. Many of us learned from a hard decade with the iPod that as soon as you got the newest one, it became functionally obsolete in comparison to the newest version. It doesn’t seem like the iPad has that type of lifespan though. While the iPod added a stable of functionality over the course of its life, the iPod Touch can do most all the things an iPad can do now. So what will the iPad 4 offer up to entice consumers in an increasingly populated tablet market? They are running out of things to add.

Lucky for Apple, that doesn’t seem to matter yet with consumers.

Apple Remains On Top

Loyalty is the religion of Apple fans. According to a survey, approximately 50 percent of the people in line to receive the newest iPad were purchasing a newer model to replace their old tablet. Apple’s customer retention rates are much higher than those of other tablet manufacturers and they are still the big dog in the tablet park by far. In fact, some retailers wish a manufacturer would makes something to compete with the iPad.

Is Apple Untouchable?

If its labor practices remain under scrutiny, it is unclear whether Apple will be able to maintain its superiority in the tablet market. Some Apple fans refuse to acknowledge the protests, while other consumers are completely oblivious to the entire issue. Looking forward, the future of the iPad as a “revolutionary” device is foggy and its days as a full-featured, top-of-the-line device are numbered. But by the time that number hits triple-digits, Apple will have changed the world again.

1. TED Mobile

Gain access to inspiring educational talks and discussions by experts in a wide range of industries while you’re on the go. TED talks feature engaging discussions on the most fascinating subjects, including evolution, the history of scientific discovery, career advice, climate change, the ocean’s shifting baseline and more. No matter what your interests are or what your major is, you’re guaranteed to find a relevant and stimulating discussion that really makes you think. Not to mention, you can reference videos to gain points with your prof in your next class discussion.

2. Evernote

Named one of the top 10 must-have apps by the New York Times, Evernote allows students to have full access to all of their notes while on the go. The app syncs notes to your computer, tablet, smartphone and whatever other devices you use, so you can always pull up the information you need whether you’re at school, work or a study group session. The app features a user-friendly search feature and allows users to record voice and audio notes as well. Best of all, the app fits in perfectly with a student’s budget because it’s absolutely free.

3. Wi-Fi Finder

For tech-savvy students who are always on the move, Wi-Fi Finder provides a convenient solution for finding the nearest public location with Internet availability, so you can squeeze in a quick study session in between classes. Using the GPS function on your smartphone, this app not only identifies the nearest Wi-Fi hotspots in your area, but tells you how to get there as well. You can even customize your search according to certain Internet providers or location types (cafes, restaurants, hotels, etc.), to guarantee a perfect fit for your needs.

4. Dictionary

An instructor used an eight-syllable word in his or her lecture? Want to look well read for your next term paper? The Dictionary app by Dictionary.com provides nearly 1,000,000 words and definitions and 90,000 synonyms and antonyms that you can access to develop your vocabulary and gain a better grasp on the course material. The app also includes phonetic and audio pronunciation of each word, along with word origin, history of the word, and a voice-to-text search feature. Can’t find a Wi-Fi spot? No problem. Most content on the app is accessible with no Internet connection needed.

5. Graphing Calculator

Whether you left your graphing calculator at home or want to share and compare answers with your study buddies, the graphing calculator smartphone app turns your phone into a scientific calculator and high-resolution function plotter. This user-friendly calculator allows students to quickly plot multiple equations on the same graph, zoom and scroll to analyze graphs in full detail, and share your results with friends through email and screen shot features. In addition to offering a helpful graphing solution for class and group study sessions, the graphing calculator app allows you to get some graphing practice in while on the go as well.

Smartphone apps have truly redefined learning for the modern age, which has brought much more convenience and accessibility for the average busy college student. In addition to offering helpful and effective resources for studying and performing well in school, these apps can potentially save students hours of time in a day. For students running on five hours of sleep from all-night study sessions, these apps can provide the key to balancing school and everyday life.

Now riders are going to start seeing Square’s technology in the back of some taxi cabs in New York City. Paying for a taxi ride with a credit card can often be an unwieldy process, if the taxi driver will accept credit at all. For people in NYC who need to be somewhere quickly, performing their transactions by credit is especially important. Square’s pilot program involves installing an iPad with a built-in credit card swiping strip so customers can pay at any point during the trip, sign on the screen and get the receipt through e-mail. This is so much faster than waiting for the paper receipt to print at the end of the trip and signing it before you can leave.

Of course, VeriFone, which is the company that currently does the processing for NYC taxis, isn’t thrilled with this development, fearing that Square will take over the taxi payment business. While VeriFone charges 3.5 percent on its credit card transactions, Square only charges 2.75 percent, meaning taxi drivers are pulling for the Square system to see widespread implementation. However, VeriFone is working on its own system, and it plans to add some features that could make it better. For example, VeriFone wants to allow people to purchase event tickets while in a cab, which could make things faster for people when they arrive at their destinations. Other proposals include adding sponsored games to the VeriFone terminal and incorporating social media tied to locations and destinations.

Square is currently rolling out its iPad point of sale payment systems in 30 cabs in the city, so you probably won’t encounter them right away. But when you do, chances are you’ll appreciate the sleek design, the ability to pay by credit card during the ride, and the fact that the system is silent so you don’t have to listen to any annoying advertisements. But even if you do find a Square system, don’t get too used to it, because there’s a chance the system VeriFone is developing may be the one that is ultimately chosen as the best credit card payment system for riders in New York City taxis.

Newton’s Second Law of Motion

Newton’s three laws of motion were initially formed to describe basic mechanics. However, the second law can easily be used to describe the marketing world. This law states that the force of an object is equal to its mass multiplied by its acceleration, or, in simpler language, F=ma. A quick rearrangement of the equation shows that acceleration is equal to force divided by mass. Applied to branding this equation retains its basic meaning. The larger and more established a brand, the more force will be needed to change that brand’s position in the market. This concept explains why a larger company might want to keep its smaller brands separate, rather than blending them all together.

Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle

An essential piece of quantum mechanics, the uncertainty principle implies that a person cannot simultaneously measure a particle’s current and future positioning, because the act of measuring the positioning would ultimately change it. The uncertainty principle accurately reflects the process of market testing, in which the mere act of observing customers changes the way they act. When people know they are being watched, they tend to behave in a way that they deem acceptable to society. For example, if a person knows that somebody is studying his or her eating habits, McDonald’s will probably lose a customer for the day, while the local vegetable stand just might gain one. With this knowledge, marketers can utilize the technology necessary to track what customers actually do, not just what they say they’ll do.

Scientific Method

In studying for a physics degree, students are required follow the scientific method when completing their labs. This is not some sort of ancient devised by physics professors; it is a great way to capture any potential problems surrounding a given theory. According to the scientific method, a hypothesis cannot be proven through observation. It only can be disproved. A massive amount of data supporting a hypothesis can be gathered, but if one tiny piece of data contradicts the rest, the hypothesis has been disproved. This may seem frustrating, but it is actually a good thing, whether it’s used in scientific study or out in the world of marketing. No matter the amount of research invested in a brand, a consumer’s belief about that brand can be completely blown out of the water by a single piece of contradictory evidence.

Second Law of Thermodynamics

According to the second law of thermodynamics, the amount of entropy, or disorder within a system, is always going to increase over time. This law certainly applies to marketing, where a company can easily put out an advertisement, but cannot control how customers will respond to it. The blossoming world of the internet meme provides plenty of credence for that theory.

Marketing and physics are both complicated areas of study, but they also are both well worth understanding. Marketers with a firm grasp of physics principles will be ready for whatever the industry throws at them.

There are six common raid levels known as raid 0, raid 1, raid 2 and on and on up to raid 6. Each of these raid levels are built on top of each other and uses a process known as disk striping, this cordons off each of the drive’s storage space into different areas. Typically, these areas range anywhere from 512 bytes of storage all the way up to several megabytes. The stripes overlap to create a system in which the optimal amount of data can be saved but also to reduce disk failure.

Sata raid storage systems are sold by using a variety of descriptors like the number of drives, the number of terabytes, or TB, of storage as well as other terms like the amount of sata raid array in each device. In addition to raid systems, a second type of system is used to back up data and this is typically known as secondary storage. While raid is most often responsible for preventing against overwhelming data loss due to failure of one drive, or in the case of raid 6, two drives the backup system is different. A real backup system does not just include raid but additional elements like the ability to recall and bring back previous versions of data. This helps to save against the loss of software errors but also for recovery in the case of malware.

In addition to physical disks that can include raid, it can also be provided by an operating system by way of virtualization or through a virtual device. Typically, raid that is implemented as software work like a layer between multiple devices. In other instances there is something known as a volume manager which allows for different volumes to be moved or resized. And other times, operating systems provide the basic functions of raid without volume management. An example of one such operating system is Apple’s Mac OS X Server and Max OS X.

Related Article: SAN Systems, Career as A Network Programmer

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If you’re planning to start your own small business, you’ll find that there are many hurdles to jump and questions to answer along the way. Here are some of the important things that are worth paying attention to as you move down the path toward financial independence.

First, make sure you choose the right business structure for your model. Practically every new business owner asks himself or herself, “what legal structure will be best suited to my business?” Of course, there is no easy answer, because no single legal structure makes sense in every situation. However, just knowing the importance of getting this aspect of your business right is key to your success. Talk with other business owners you may know, and consider discussing your options with a professional business development consultant. However you go about it, make sure you carefully evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the different types of business structures before making an informed decision.

Next, make sure you properly fund your new business. This may seem obvious, but it takes money to get a business up and running, and it takes

even more to keep it running. Many new business owners overestimate how far they can stretch their budgets, and underestimate just how much money is needed to get a small company off the ground. Too many potentially-viable businesses never have a chance to succeed because they are not sufficiently funded. Make sure your plan includes enough money to cover your personal expenses while your new business finds its legs. Remember that most new businesses do not turn a profit for quite some time. Explore all of your financing options – from traditional lenders to government microloans – and seek professional help to accurately estimate your startup expenses. It is advisable to use some form of small business accounting software with expense tracking capabilities from the get-go. Expense tracking will allow you to see exactly how much money you’re putting into your business, and where it’s going. This information will help you tremendously as you develop your business strategy, and is indispensable at tax time.

Even if you have a strong financial plan, you can run into serious trouble if you don’t have a good understanding of the legalities of operating your business. New business owners are often flabbergasted when they realize how many actions they need to take in order to start and maintain a legitimate business. Some legal matters, such as reviewing commercial leases, require the assistance of a legal professional. But you may be able to handle other legal issues, such as registering a business name, just fine by yourself. Knowing when to hire an attorney and when to go it alone will save you lots of money and legal headaches down the road. If you pay attention to these critical areas, you will have a much better chance of starting a successful business.