Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a technology that allows devices to communicate with each other without cables or wires. It is an electronics "standard," which means that manufacturers that want to include this feature have to incorporate specific requirements into their electronic devices. These specifications ensure that the devices can recognize and interact with other devices that use the Bluetooth technology.

Many popular manufacturers are making devices that use Bluetooth technology. These devices include mobile phones, computers, and personal digital assistants (PDAs). The Bluetooth technology relies on short-range radio frequency, and any device that incorporates the technology can communicate as long as it is within the required distance. The technology is often used to allow two different types of devices to communicate with each other. For example, you may be able to operate your computer with a wireless keyboard, use a wireless headset to talk on your mobile phone, or add an appointment to your friend's PDA calendar from your own PDA.

Virgin Mobile

Virgin Mobile was the world's first Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO). It does not maintain its own network but resells wireless services under their own brand name using the network of another mobile phone operator.

It was launched in UK in 1999 and uses T-Mobile Network as its operator.

Virgin Mobile's shares were listed on the London Stock Exchange on 26 July 2004 and subsequently included in the FTSE 250 index.In 2006, Virgin Mobile was merged with NTL Inc. and its shares were de-listed from the London stock exchange. This merger created the first UK company able to offer a 'quadruple play' to customers. This new company will be able to offer mobile and fixed line telephony, broadband internet and television, putting it in an unrivalled position in the communications industry.

Since its launch in November 1999, Virgin mobile has attracted more than 5 million customers.

Virgin Mobile offers a broad range of mobile communications products and services, including mobile voice and non-voice services, including SMS, MMS and 3G, and entertainment services over the Virgin Mobile Bites portal including games, information and music services, and international roaming.

Virgin Mobile's customers were found to be the most-satisfied mobile consumers in the pre-pay sector for two years running in 2005 and 2004, according to the surveys by J.D. Power and Associates. Virgin Mobile is also featured in 'The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For' list 2005 and is part of the FTSE4Good Index.

Common limitations of mobile games

Mobile games tend to be small in scope and often rely on good game play over flashy graphics, due to the lack of dealing out power of the client devices. One major problem for developers and publishers of mobile games is describing a game in such detail that it provides the customer enough information to make a purchasing decision. Currently, Mobile Games are mainly sold through Network Carriers / Operators portals and this means there are only a few lines of text and perhaps a screenshot of the game to animate the customer. Two strategies are followed by developers and publishers to combat this lack of purchasing information, firstly there is a reliance on powerful brands and licences that pass on a suggestion of quality to the game such as Tomb Raider or Colin McRae and secondly there is the use of well known and established play patterns (game play mechanics that are instantly recognisable) such as Tetris, Space Invaders or Poker. Both these strategies are used to reduce the perceived level of risk that the customer feels when choosing a game to download from the carrier’s deck.

Recent innovations in mobile games contain Single player, Multiplayer and 3D graphics. Virtual love games fit in to both of single player and multiplayer games. Multiplayer games are speedily finding an audience, as developers take advantage of the ability to play against other people, a natural extension of the mobile phone’s connectivity. With the current internet gambling boom various companies are taking advantage of the mobile market to attract customers, Ongame the founders of Poker Room developed in 2005 a working mobile version of its poker software available in both play money and real money. The player can play the game in a single player or multiplayer method for real or play money. As well, the MMORPG boom appears to hit the world of mobile games. According to their website CipSoft has developed the first MMORPG for mobile phones, known as TibiaME. SmartCell Technology, a mobile applications developer, is in growth of the first cross-platform MMORPG called Shadow of Legend. Shadow of Legend will have the capability to play on both a PC and a mobile device.

Whole-house fan

Whole-house fan is a kind of fan installed in a building's ceiling, designed to suck hot air out of the building. It is occasionally confused with an attic fan.

A whole-house fan sucks hot air out of a structure and forces it into the attic. This displaces the very hot air attentive in the attic (which is pushed out the gable-end or soffit vents). Then, with windows and/or doors open to the external, the whole-house fan draws cooler outside air into the building to replace the hot air (creating a cooling breeze whilst doing so).

Attic fans, by comparison, only serve to remove some hot air from the attic; no cooling effect is supply to the actual living space.