15 Super Useful Apps for Busy Entrepreneurs

Since the launch of Apple's App Store in 2008 there has been a flood of smartphone apps all with the intention of making our lives easier. Because of these apps we can find out instantly what song is playing on the radio without having to be told, we can know the square roots of pi is to the 137th decimal, and much more.

Take a look at this list of other useful apps. They might teach you about something you didn't know before or help to make your life just a bit easier.

Jasmine, a better YouTube player.

Kevin Smith, Business Insider

Jasmine is a minimal YouTube app replacement. We love how Jasmine allows us to play YouTube audio in the background, freeing us up to do other things with our phone.
The app is chock-full of features including a nighttime/low light function, full playlist support, and Airplay, Apple's feature for streaming audio and video to your living room

Price: Free

Available on: iOS

Catch is a fun way to take voice, photo and text notes.

Catch helps you capture your most important ideas so you never miss anything. You can create voice, photo, and text notes, online and offline. It's incredibly easy to share checklists to collaborate with others, too.

For those worried about security, users can protect notes with a four-digit PIN.

Price: Free

Available on: Android and iPhone

Slice helps you track and organize all your online shopping.

Slice

Besides being an awesome package tracker, Slice is an app that helps you stay on top of all your online purchases.
The app securely scans your email and finds receipts from iTunes, Amazon, and wherever else you shop online creating great archive of purchases.

Price: Free

Available on: Android and iOS

SwiftKey for Android is a keyboard replacement that might replace your old keyboard.

Business Insider / Matthew Lynley

Swift Key can change how you type on your Android. The app automatically detects how you've typed in the past -- from text messaging, mail, chat, Twitter and a few other services -- and serves up suggestions on what you're going to say.

Price: $3.99

Available on: Android

Check the Weather is handy for tracking changes in the weather.

Kevin Smith/Business Insider

Check the Weather provides a beautiful interface to view the weather in your current location or favorite city. The app provides a 10-day outlook, precipitation stats, and even weather advisories.

Price: $1.99

Available on: iOS

Use Prismatic to stay on top of the news you care about.

Prismatic is a news reading app that strips away clutter like ads and presents you with a simple, easy-to-read interface. Think of it as Instapaper meets Flipboard.

As you use Prismatic the app gets to know you, delivering the stories you're likely to care about based on your interests. The app knows your interests based on the articles you've read and the topics you've chosen. It also shows you Twitter commentary on articles from the people you follow.

Price: Free

Available on: iPhone and Web

Shazam: Know exactly what song is playing.

iTunes

How many times have you wanted to know what song is playing but you have no way of figuring it out? We remember the first time we used Shazam and it just worked.
We're still amazed every time it works.

Price: Free

Available on: Android,Blackberry, iOS, and Windows Phone.

Evernote: Search scanned documents.

Mac App Store

Evernote's goal is to help you remember everything. The app organizes and tags your most important notes. The feature that makes Evernote super smart is its ability to search any scanned file or document.

Price: Free

Available on: Android,Blackberry, iOS, Windows Phone, Web OS, PC, Mac,Google Chrome, and the web.

Robin for Android: A driver-friendly version of Siri.

Robin is an Android version of Siri. You can ask Robin for directions, local places, real-time parking, traffic info, gas prices, weather, your Twitter news and much more.

Robin was built with drivers in mind, it is most useful when behind the wheel because she helps you to keep your eyes on the road and off of your device.

Price: Free

Available on: Android

Nike+: Have a record of where you ran and how long it took you.

Before Nike+, runners never really knew exactly how far they ran. This smart app allows you to track your distance, calories burned and pace.

The best part? All the information is logged across multiple runs letting you know how well you're doing.

Price: Free

Available on: Android andiOS.

WolframAlpha: The computer's computer.

The WolframAlpha app essentially takes the entire WolframAlpha site and crams it into your iPhone, iPad or Android. WolframAlpha can answer questions on math, statistics, data analysis, physics, chemistry, engineering and more.

Price: $3.99

Available on: Android andiOS

Apex Launcher for Android takes your customization even further.

Apex Launcher is a fast and customizable launcher for your Android's home screen. Apex helps you to customize your Android's grid size and allows you to have nine different pages. In addition, users can create a scrollable dock with up to 7 icons per page.

Price: Free

Available on: Android

Notability: Voice recording and handwriting integration for your notes.

Notability integrates handwriting, voice recording, PDF annotation and media into a single app. You can even enhance your notes by adding pictures from your photo library or from the iPad camera. Insert web clips, figures, and drawings to compliment your notes. Crop, resize, and draw on images to make them perfect.

Price: $0.99

Available on: iOS

Google Chrome: All your tabs from all your devices in one place.

Google Chrome is a smart app because it allows users to sync web pages across multiple computers. Now when we pick up our iPhone, Android or iPad we can still see exactly what we were looking at on our desktop.

Price: Free

Available on: Android, iOS, and Mac and PC

Spoken Layer: You can listen instead of read.

iTunes

Spoken layer converts an entire webpage into a podcast for easy listening. The app makes it possible for you to listen to articles while on a walk or commuting.

Price: Free

Available on: iOS

eToro Snags a World Finance Award for Most Innovative Trading Platform

eToro Snags a World Finance Award for Most Innovative Trading Platform 2010

The eToro platform, already a trader favorite, has now received a nod of appreciation from the financial trading industry as a winner of one of World Finance's prestigious annual awards.

eToro's (www.etoro.com) innovative approach to financial trading has been making waves for quite some time now among traders worldwide. The platform's user friendly graphic interfaces and wide range of ground breaking community tools have captured the attentions of novices and experts alike, who now take part in eToro's vibrant and active social trading network. With its open and daring approach, eToro has now managed to not only become one of the most popular trading platforms online, but to also receive a seal of approval from an already established financial institution.
“Our vision is to become the first global market place for everyone to trade and invest their funds in a simple and transparent way”, said eToro CEO, Johnathan Assia. “eToro already transformed the way people trade today, and we thank our community of over a million traders for helping us win this award that recognizes eToro's achievements in the financial trading arena”
World Finance magazine launched its annual World Finance Awards in 2007 with the goal of identifying industry leaders that represent the benchmark of achievement and best practice in the financial and business world. To determine the winners, World Finance magazine used an independent panel of judges headed up by Editor Alexander Redcliffe. The Panel followed up on the countless nominations, suggestions and contributions of World Finance readers to explore and analyze new trends in order to unearth the best and the brightest pioneers in the FX marketplace.
“We couldn't be more thrilled and honored to win this particular award,” said Assia. “To know that our platform was nominated and then chosen out of the hundreds of nominations is a sign that we must be doing something right. It is especially rewarding to know that our push towards innovation, which has been one of eToro's core values from the start, hasn't gone unnoticed. The challenge now is to keep innovating so we can have a shot at next year's award as well!”
As for eToro's community, they will certainly be thrilled to know that their platform of choice is leading the way in cutting edge trading technologies, and intends to continue to do so for years to come.
Open a free trading account with eToro to explore the benefits of financial trading

Top 10 Simple Things Every Computer User Should Know How to Do

No matter how tech savvy you are, there are certain things every one of us has to deal with when using a computer, but we don't always deal with them in the most efficient ways. Here are 10 things that everyone can—and should—learn to keep their computer fast, safe, and easy to use.

Here at Lifehacker, we take a lot of the simpler stuff for granted: how to avoid viruses, use keyboard shortcuts, or even just keep your data backed up. Even if you've mastered all of these tricks (and there's a good chance you haven't), you may want to send this along to some of your less computer-savvy friends. After all, the more they know how to do, the less they'll call you for help.

10. Set Up a Dead Simple Backup System

We all know we should back up our computers, but it's always one of those things that you'll set up "one day". Setting up a backup only takes minutes to do, though, so you can do it right know and forget about it until you need it—and when you do need it, you'll be glad you set it up. If you're just backing up to an external drive, you can just use the simple tools built in to your computer, like Windows Backup or Apple's Time Machine. However, that'll only keep you safe if your computer fails. If you lose your home in a fire, get all your gear stolen, or experience any other kind of disaster (God forbid), you'll have lost all those important documents, family photos, and other files forever. So, we recommend using a service likeCrashPlan to back up your computer online. That way, it can back up no matter where you are, and that data will be safe no matter what happens to your hardware.

9. Do Everything Faster with Shortcuts

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The great thing about computers is that they can do a lot of things much faster than a human. Say you're looking for a specific word on a web page. Instead of scanning it yourself, all you need to do is press Ctrl+F and type the word you're looking for. There are mountains of shortcut like this, from pressing Ctrl+S to instantly save the file you're working on, Ctrl+P to print it out, or Ctrl+T to open a new tab in your web browser. It may seem like more trouble than its worth at first, but after you use a shortcut one or two times, you'll wonder why you ever did anything with the mouse. Check out our list of six shortcuts everyone should know, as well as ourshortcut of the day series for even more tricks.

8. Protect Yourself From Viruses

Windows users have long known the pain of viruses and other malware, but the good news is it's pretty easy to avoid. First, we recommend learning the difference between viruses, trojans, and other kinds of attacks, as well as the myths surrounding them. Then, install some good antivirus software to protect yourself (Microsoft Security Essentials is our favorite—you won't even know it's there). You can even get antivirus for your Android phone, if you so choose. But in the end, the best way to avoid viruses is to use common sense: don't open links that look suspicious, don't install programs from untrusted sources, and if a window pops up saying your computer's infected, make sure it's actually your antivirus software saying that and not a fake web page.

7. Set Up Your Network (and Fix Wi-Fi Problems)

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Understanding routers, modems, and the other things that make up your network can seem daunting, but there are a few basics that can fix most problems that come your way. Does your router constantly need resetting? Make sure it isn't overheating or clogged with traffic. Is your Wi-Fi speed and range less than ideal? Use one of these tricks to give it a boost. If you experience more serious problems, you can probably fix them yourself too. Check out our complete guide to knowing your network for more info—it's got everything you need to know, from buying a router to setting up your network and more.

6. Keep Your Batteries Lasting as Long as Possible

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Running out of battery on your phone or laptop can be pretty frustrating, but luckily, you can do a lot of things to keep it lasting longer. Your laptop has a lot of built-in power settings that can come in really handy, and there are a few tricks on both Android and the iPhone that will eke some extra time out of your battery. And, if you want your battery to retain that life, make sure you know how often to charge it to keep it alive in the years ahead.

5. Access Your Home Computer From Anywhere

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Ever go out with your laptop and realize you left something important on your computer at home? One way to solve this problem is to use a service like Dropbox, so your files are with you everywhere you go. However, it's also handy to know how to use your home computer from anywhere. With a simple app, you can log into your home computer from another machine and use it as if you were sitting right at your desk—whether you just need to grab a quick file or access a program you don't have elsewhere.

4. Keep Your Computer in Tip Top Shape with Regular Maintenance

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Computer maintenance has gotten really confusing over the years. Between defragging, cleaning up temporary files, and other tasks, it's almost like trying to maintain a car. Luckily, it's gotten a lot easier in recent years: you only really need to do one or two things to keep your computer running fast and smooth. Check out our guides to Windows maintenance and Mac maintenance for more info and keep your PC running like new. And if your phone's feeling a little sluggish, we have guides for iOS and Android, too.

3. Instantly Share a File Between Two Computers

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So you've got some files you want to give to your friend sitting next to you, but your flash drive has mysteriously gone missing. Well guess what? You don't need it! It's very easy to transfer a file between two computers over your wireless (or wired) network, whether it's between you and a friend or between multiple computers you own. Here are our favorite ways to share files with a nearby computer, but if you want to share them between multiple computers in your house, Windows 7's Homegroup feature is a great option. Of course, this is where the aforementioned Dropboxapp can come in handy, too. And if you're sharing larger files over the internet, there are great ways to do that too.

2. Easily Find Your Lost or Stolen Gadgets

You never know when you might misplace your phone, laptop, or other tech, so set up some safeguards now. iPhones have an easy-to-use feature called Find My iPhone that'll help you track it if it goes missing, but we're big fans of an app called Prey. With it, you can track nearly any laptop or smartphone that's gone missing, and even get a photo of who might be using it. If you're missing a camera, the CameraTrace service can help you find it, too. Of course, the best solution is making sure it doesn't get stolen in the first place, and making sure all your personal data is locked down. Which brings us to our last tip...

1. Keep Your Personal Information Safe and Secure

Unfortunately, the internet isn't always a safe place, which means everyone needs to make sure they're keeping their personal information safe. Make sure you use strong passwords, remove personal information from photos and other files, and never use open public Wi-Fi networks without protection. Keeping your personal information safe is easier than it sounds, and if you aren't sure what to do, check out our checklist for staying safe online. You'd be surprised how unsafe you were being before.

Adopted from LifeHacker

Looking to harness the power of financial markets?

Looking to harness the power of financial markets?
Heard about financial trading and want to try it for yourself?

eToro is the place for you. It's a financial trading and investing platform that puts you at the centre of financial markets. With the world's largest community of financial traders, a simplified trading platform and up to $10,000 extra to trade with on your first deposit, you get much more with eToro.

What Can eToro Offer:

• An outstanding user experience: Never miss your entry price, due to
  market fluctuation.

• An exclusive social trading network: The eToro OpenBook connects you to one million eToro traders, the world’s largest trading community and lets you see, follow and copy the trades of any trader you choose.

• Trading education: An exclusive eToro eCourse and learning tools get you from trading zero to pro — fast.

• Free Practice Trial: Take eToro for a spin – for free – and build your trading skills and experience without risking a cent.

• Personal Service: Dedicated help and support for every eToro investor.

Open a Free eToro account now!


A Great Trading Experience For Every Investor

With its easy to use platform, exciting trade visualizations and outstanding learning resources, eToro is the perfect platform for a newbie trader who’s looking to discover financial trading. Because eToro offers features specially designed for beginners, like its Visual trading mode and the ability to copy the trades of the best traders through the eToro OpenBook, it enables everyone to start getting the benefit of trading for themselves from day one.

With its great array of professional trading and analysis tools, eToro is also the perfect platform for more experienced traders who want an intuitive and reliable trading platform together with lots of innovative community features. eToro’s regular Trading Challenges enable every user to compete against fellow traders for cash prizes of up to $100,000 per month on top of their regular trading activity. The eToro OpenBook social trading network lets experienced traders interact with each other to share trading tips and insights and find market opportunities.

Currency Trading With eToro

The Forex trading market is the world's most talked about financial market. Millions of people are now trying currency trading for themselves because of the unlimited profit potential it offers together with the freedom to control their investment strategy for themselves. eToro is open for Forex trading 24 hours a day, five and a half days a week for traders from anywhere in the world. It offers competitively low spreads on the trades you make as well as all the leverage you want up to 400x. That's why more people chose eToro for Forex trading than any other company.

Commodities and Indices Trading With eToro

As well as providing outstanding currency trading eToro delivers the best of commodities and indices trading as well. Trade the precious metals Gold and Silver, Oil and popular indices like the Dow Jones, NASDAQ and FTSE 100 straight from the eToro platform. eToro takes the pain out of investing in these asset classes by offering 24 hour trading and simplified trading contracts leaving you free to concentrate on your trading instead of on reading the small print.

Open a Free account  with eToro and join the world's most rewarding trading community.