(Answer) HIST405N Week 7 Discussion: American Foreign Policy during the Cold War

ANSWER

I hope you are all safe.

My focus for this discussion will be Marshall Plan, Containment and Berlin Airlift.

Marshall Plan

Marshall Plan was one of the steps that the United States took to curb the spreading of Soviet communism. U.S. undertook to gives aid to Western European nations whose economies had been ripped off by the Second World War (Corbett, Janssen, Lund, Pfannestiel, Waskiewicz, Vickery, 2019). The aid was meant to see their economies get on their feet. The policy prevented the spreading of Soviet communism in Western Europe since the financial aid strengthened the economies of the nations found in this region leaving no……(cont…)

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(Answer) HIST405N Week 7 Discussion: American Foreign Policy during the Cold War

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What Makes the iPhone Different

What Makes the iPhone Different

When you are in the market for a new cell phone, you have a plethora of phones to choose from. One of the biggest challenges is finding the perfect phone that is compatible with your current cell phone provider. The choices slim down considerably when you start to head into the realm of smart phones. Smart phone are more expensive than others, mainly due to the fact they offer a higher end technology. The iPhone by Apple, is one of these smart phones. Why should you choose an Apple iPhone instead of another smart phone like a Blackberry? What makes the iPhone different from all of the other smart phones available.

The Apple iPhone has a touch screen. While other cell phones have touch screen capabilities, most of the other smart phones do not. That is why they have keypads. The iPhone's touch screen is one of the features that have made it so popular. Everything is done through the screen. It makes texting, sorting through the main page, finding contacts and browsing the internet so easy. No awkward and cumbersome key pads to deal with (men know that these are usually too small to be practical), and no stylus to lose. Everything is done with a tough of a finger. You page through your options and make your selections with your fingertips. The volume and other controls are also controlled with just a tough or two from you. It is this ease of use that is what makes the iPhone different from the other high-end smart phones. 

The features of the iPhone are another way that it is different from the other smart phones. This phone is crammed packed with features. As some would say, "this is a mack daddy phone". What are the features that this phone has that others lack? First, there is the fact that the Apple iPhone has given the user the ability to have music, video content like movies and TV, texting, emailing, internet, photography and GPS navigation all in a single device. This is in addition to having great call quality. When you look at the fact that this allows the user to only need a single device instead of having to cart around a PDA, MP3 player, camera, cell phone and GPS system, and you have a very appealing device. These features are what make the iPhone different from all of the others.

Is there anything else that makes the iPhone different? Yes, there are but these may not be positive differences. it is only available with AT&T's cell phone service. If you happen to be in an area with limited or no service by AT&T then you are out of luck if you want an iPhone. Another feature that makes the iPhone different is the battery. It cannot be replaced. If your battery dies, then you need a new phone. Not very good news to someone that has just spent $500 on a phone. There is no way to add to the memory of the device. You can purchase your Apple iPhone with either 6 GB, 8 GB, or 16 GB of memory. If you run out of room on your phone, you have to delete something. There are no slots for memory cards. This is something that Apple should have researched better. Teens who love music and video content can burn through 8 GB or memory in record time.
Overall, what makes the iPhone different from all of the others is its ease of use and versatility. Along those lines, Apple did a fabulous job. Just like with anything else it is not a perfect phone, then again, what is? 

Websites for Your iPhone

Websites for Your iPhone

You have seen all of the ads. The Apple iPhone is one of the few phones that are truly internet friendly. There are many places to visit with a mobile phone, but depending on your phone and connection speeds, you may be seriously disappointed.  The iPhone has revolutionized how we access the internet with our cell phones. If you don't believe this, just take a look at how many websites offer iPhone content. There are a number of really good websites for your iPhone. The ones listed below are just a few of them.

Facebook is a website that seems to have been designed for an iPhone. There are many mobile applications available for free downloading on Facebook. A visit to this website via your Apple iPhone will allow  you to share photos, thoughts, ideas, and more with your entire social network. Online social networking websites are becoming more popular everyday. If you do not believe this just look at how many new Facebook and MySpace accounts are opened everyday. This is not just for children. With Facebook and an iPhone, you can stay in touch with your teenagers. It's easy to keep tabs on them if you have them list you as a friend in their Facebook profile. This way with a few taps of the screen, you can see who their friends are. You will know where they are going and what they are doing because you can easily ask them. This is one way to make websites for your iPhone work for you.

Another website for your iPhone is YouTube. The movies and other items available for download on YouTube are iPhone compatible. You do not need a converter application to download and view content from YouTube on your iPhone. YouTube and Apple have worked together on this so that with your iPhone your access to the fun on YouTube is quick and easy. This comes in handy when you are on a trip or away from your computer and boredom is setting in. YouTube has a lot to offer. From the funny to the absurd to things of a more serious nature, you can always find something there to entertain you. Have bored kids in the back of the car? Hand them YouTube on your iPhone and let them watch short clips from the Muppet Show. Sitting in a waiting room for what seems like an eternity? Why not check out the content on YouTube and other websites to keep you from being bored to tears. After all, it is much better than just sitting there listening to your hair grow.

Another website that is a must visit for Apple iPhone users is iTunes. This is where you can download a plethora of content for your iPhone. With what seems like an endless supply of movies, TV shows, eBooks and music, you could literally spend days searching and downloading everything that appealed to you. This is how iTunes and other websites for your iPhone help keep you entertained.

These are just three of the most popular websites for your iPhone. The great thing about this is that you can access them via your Apple iPhone or with your PC or MAC. How about that for easy access. Has the iPhone revolutionized the communication industry? Perhaps not single-handedly but it sure has contributed to it.

Unlocking Your iPhone: Is It A Good Idea

Unlocking Your iPhone: Is It A Good Idea

We have all heard about unlocking your iPhone so that you can use a different SIM in it. This may be a good idea in certain situations. Many people want to unlock their iPhone to get around using AT&T as their cell phone service provider. Others just want to use the iPhone for internet and music capabilities and they do not want to use it as a phone at all. They hack the firmware so that they do not have to activate the phone on any network in order to use it. Here is the question before us. Unlocking your iPhone, is it a good idea?

If you are looking to unlock your iPhone to use it on another network such as T-Mobile then you are breaking the law. It is illegal and in violation of Apple's agreement with AT&T to use it on another network. Apple receives royalties from AT&T for every iPhone that is connected to their network. Apple loses money on every hacked iPhone. Many feel that it is ok to hack the iPhone's firmware so that it can be used on another network. It is the author's standpoint that this ethically wrong. Whether you agree with AT&T and Apple's agreement or not is up to you. If you do not agree with it then do not use the iPhone as a cell phone. In this case, I do not agree with the hacking of the firmware.

On the other hand if you do not want the high expense of AT&T's iPhone service and you are looking to use the iPhone for its music and internet capabilities then hacking into the firmware so that you do not have to activate the AT&T cell phone service is OK. You should be able to buy the iPhone and use it for the music, video and internet capabilities without having to connect to AT&T's cell phone network. You can use places that offer free WiFi to access the internet via your iPhone. The iPod does not give you internet capabilities. Therefore, if you want to have internet, combined with awesome content then you really do need an iPhone and you should not have to purchase expensive cell phone service in order to enjoy the reason most people buy an iPhone in the first place. Unlocking your iPhone, is it a good idea? In this case, yes it is.

Then there is a third reason to hack into the firmware. This is really in a grey area as it uses the full capabilities of the iPhone, including using it as a phone. You can add Skype VOIP service for about $10 a month and then you have a WiFi phone. If you are using the iPhone in this way and do not want to use AT&T's cell phone service you are still going to have to hack into the firmware so that you do not activate the phone with AT&T. Is this in violation of the AT&T, Apple agreement? No, it is not. That agreement is for AT&T to provide exclusive cell phone service for the iPhone. The VOIP service is not cell phone service. Therefore, if you are not using another cell phone service provider for your iPhone you are not violating any agreement. This is one way to get around the exclusive contract with AT&T and still be able to send and receive calls. The only drawback is that you need to be in an area where you can pickup a WiFi signal in order to use your Skype VOIP service.

Unlocking your iPhone, is it a good idea? It depends on your views. On one hand there are legal and ethical issues with hacking into the firmware in general. However,  your intent on why you are doing this also comes into play. Apple and AT&T have an exclusive agreement as far as cell phone service goes. Apple does not recommend the use of any other SIM card other than the one that came with your phone but it does not specifically prohibit it either. If you bought the iPhone to use for content and internet only or even if you plan to use it as an expensive Skype VOIP phone, that is your business and you should be able to do this without signing up for expensive cell phone service you do not need. Unlocking your iPhone, is it a good idea? Perhaps.

Troubleshooting Your iPhone

Troubleshooting Your iPhone

Where you can turn to and what can you do if you are having problems with your iPhone. There are many reasons that you might be experiencing problems. Before you can correct what is wrong, you have to know what is causing your problems.  Apple's website has a lot of information about what you can do to correct your iPhone problems. Listed below are some common issues. Troubleshooting your iPhone is not as difficult as you would think. Let us take a look at some common problems and solutions.

Is your iPhone "frozen" or not working? If so, let's take a look and see why. Does it need to be recharged? You can charge the iPhone with a high-powered USB port, not on a low powered one. If you are using your PC to charge your iPhone, be sure that your USB port is a high-powered port. If you are using a USB hub, check the power, some are low powered, your keyboard USB port (if you have one) is low powered. Only a high-powered USB port will charge your iPhone.

If you are sure that your iPhone is fully charged, try restarting it. To do this hold the sleep/wake button and wait for a red colored slider to appear. Then slide your finger across this red slider and this will turn off the unit. Wait at least 10 seconds before you restart. You restart the iPhone by holding the sleep/wake button until you see the Apple logo.

Is your iPhone locked up? Did an application freeze? If you press the home button and continue holding for about 6 seconds or so you should be able to cancel the program that is locked up. Then restart your iPhone.

There is the ability to actually reset the Apple iPhone. To do this you need to press and hold the wake/sleep button and the home button at the same time. Keep holding these two buttons down at the same time until the Apple Logo appears. Ignore any other symbols that may appear. It is important that you wait for the Apple Logo before releasing the two buttons.

Sometimes content that is not synced properly will cause problems for your iPhone. This will require more than a restart. Connect your iPhone to your computer and go to the iTunes site. Change your sync options for each of the following categories: contacts, podcasts, calendars, videos, and MP3s.  You may have to remove several files that may be causing problems.

If none of the above items work when troubleshooting your iPhone, try resetting it. Go to settings and then general, then reset, then reset all settings. This will reset everything but keep all of your files and documents intact. Hopefully this will solve your problems. However if you are still having problems with your iPhone at this point you may have to reset the phone. This will unfortunately remove all of your saved files, folders, and content so do this with caution. You may want to try to backup all of your content before attempting this. To reset all of the iPhone's settings, go to settings, select general, then choose reset, and finally pick erase all contents and settings. Everything on your iPhone will be reset and all of your content that you have saved will be erased. This will include pictures, music and videos, text messages, files, folders, added on applications and more. It puts your iPhone back to the state when you first bought it. Use this option with care.

As you can see there are many ways to reset or unfreeze your iPhone. If you are still having problems the best advice I can give you is to go to Apple's website and click on the troubleshooting guide for the iPhone. They have an enormous amount of information out there for you. Just go to apple.com and follow the links to get to the iPhone troubleshooting area. This may be the best way for troubleshooting your iPhone.

Travel and Your iPhone

Travel and Your iPhone

Do you like to travel? Are you on the road constantly for business? Then the Apple iPhone may be the phone of choice for you. The reason for this is that the iPhone has a GPS navigator built into it. If you are always on the go, a navigator is what you need. Fussing with maps and asking for directions is a thing of the past. Nowadays, tech savvy people have a navigation system in their cars. With an iPhone, you always have your navigator with you, no matter who is driving. Travel and your iPhone; it's a match made in heaven (sort of). 

Why would you need a navigator on your cell phone? Anytime you need directions, to a new club perhaps, just tell it where you want to go an viola' directions are there. Even those of us who are no longer part of the club scene will benefit from having a navigation system with us at all times. You can use this to quickly find directions to the field your kid should be playing on. Perhaps the directions given to a friends party were vague. These are all situations where having a navigations system like the one included with the iPhone comes in very handy. Lost in the desert? (yes it happens) Then you really need the navigation system on your iPhone.

In addition to the navigation system there are other reasons to make sure you have your iPhone with you when you travel. Aside from the fact that you will always have a cell phone with you, another advantage is that all of your entertainment is with you as well. If you are taking a long drive and there is nothing to see but cornfields for the next 400 miles, having movies, eBooks and music to entertain you can be a godsend. With the  iPhone, you can take your movies and television shows with you wherever you go.  This is another reason for pairing up travel and your iPhone.

Are travel and your iPhone really a good match? Let's take a look and see. For example, instead of stopping to ask directions, you can get the information that you need right there on your iPhone. The Apple iPhone is right there to help you find your way with the ability to view satellite images of major street names. The iPhone can help you find landmarks and other things that you might be interested in along the way on your trip. Itís like having a navigator right there with you in your car, letting you know what you need to know and getting you where you need to go.

Now that you know why travel and your iPhone make such a good pair, remember to keep this in mind for your next trip. Be sure to load up on plenty of movies, eBooks, TV shows  and music. Use your Apple iPhone to plan your travel route.  Check the navigation system for points of interest along the way and make sure that you visit some of them. You can even mark the gas station along or near your route so you can plan a fill-up before it becomes an issue. If Apple keeps making features like this built into their cells phone AAA Travel services may get put out of business.

Top 5 Reasons to Own an Apple iPhone

Top 5 Reasons to Own an Apple iPhone

Although they are expensive, there are many reasons you should own an iPhone. After you page through the hype and advertising, you will see that this is a very functional cell phone that contains a number of extremely useful features that are built into it. With the iPhone, you are getting more than just a cell phone. This is the main reason that the price is so high. Here are the top 5 reasons to own an Apple iPhone.

First, there is functionality. The iPhone offers you many features in addition to making phone calls that have superior quality. This phone is also an MP3 player, camera, PDA, navigator, and mini computer all rolled up into a single device. You can easily switch from application to application without the need for an awkward keypad that is too small for most people. This is one of the top 5 reasons to own an Apple iPhone.

Next, there is the touch screen. The screen on the iPhone is touch sensitive. All of your commands are done through finger taps and drags on the screen. There are no fussy keypads or stylus to deal with. Everything is right there on your fingertips. This is another reason why you should consider an iPhone.

Reason number three in the top 5 reasons to own an Apple iPhone is entertainment. The iPhone gives you either 6 GB,  8GB, or 16 GB of memory depending on the model you purchased. This enables you to download and store a significant amount of music, video and TV shows. You can carry all of this around with you without the need for an additional MP3 player. You can even hook up stereo headphones via Bluetooth technology if you wanted to. There is no lack of content available for your iPhone. You can get MP3 files in any number of places. You can also download MP3, video and other content for your iPhone from iTunes.  With so much content available for you to watch and listen to, you should never be bored.

The fourth reason to own an iPhone is the communications capabilities. You can easily send a text message to one or many people with just a few taps of the screen. There are many contact managers that you can download so that you can sort all of your contacts into categories. The iPhone makes keeping and staying in touch very easy. Your options to text, email, chat or talk are easily accessible and you never have to worry about not being able to find an important contact. This is probably one of the best reasons to own an iPhone. It helps you stay in touch easily.

Finally, number 5 in our top 5 reasons to own an Apple iPhone is the camera. The iPhone comes with a 2 megapixel camera that is always ready to use. You can immediately share your pictures with all of your contacts with a few taps and drags of your finger. For anyone interested in digital photography or for those who just want to give it a try, the iPhone's picture quality is amazing, especially when you consider that it is a cell phone. The possibilities of how use this camera are endless. You are only limited by the space left on your iPhone and your creativity.

These are the top 5 reasons to own an Apple iPhone. This list may or may not agree with your reasons. Overall, the Apple iPhone is a functional and sleek cell phone that makes a fashion statement as well as provides you with outstanding ease of use and functionality. As far as the smart phones go, this one is probably still the standard to go by. When you take into account all of the features packed into this rather compact unit you will begin to understand why this phone has become so popular. It is definitely worth looking into if you are in the market for a new cell phone.

Top 5 Reasons Not to Own an iPhone

Top 5 Reasons Not to Own an iPhone

Apple has done a great job telling the world about their iPhone. The advertising has worked and the iPhone is one of the hottest cell phones to own. For those interested in keeping up with the Jones' the iPhone is a must have item this year and probably next year too. The question is does the Apple iPhone live up to the hype. Is the iPhone really worth top dollar? What do the users say? Here are the top 5 reasons not to own an iPhone.

The first reason is the price. This is a very expensive cell phone. The average price for an iPhone is between $500 - $600. That is a lot of money for a phone. At this price it is really a luxury item as there are phones that offer similar features for a lot less money. For internet and email capabilities you can get a Blackberry or Motorola Q for a lot less than an iPhone. If you are looking for touch screens and music, there are hundreds of phones that will suit these requirements without having to shell out so much money. Although the iPhone's advertising is geared toward teens and young adults, does a teenager really need a $500 cell phone? This is the fist reason in our Top 5 reasons not to own an iPhone: Price.

Reason number two in the top 5 reasons not to own an iPhone, the battery. Did you know that you cannot replace the battery in your iPhone? If that battery dies, you are out of luck. Apple decided that soldering the battery to the unit was preferable to offering a proprietary battery or any standard cell phone battery. This way when your battery dies, and without a doubt it will in under two years, you have to get a new iPhone. Apparently many users did not realize this as Apple made no effort to make this common knowledge. Now they are in litigation over the battery issue. Therefore, if you are considering buying an iPhone be sure to get a warranty that covers the battery if you can. Otherwise you will be paying for another phone within 24 months which is the average life of a cell phone style battery.

Reason three: Internet access. Although the iPhone is touted as having amazing internet capabilities, there are many shortcomings to its browser. The browsers search capabilities are severely lacking. This makes finding what you want on the internet difficult and time consuming. The other feature the browser lacks is the ability to store passwords. This may have been done as a security measure as cell phones are not as secure as a laptop, PC or Mac. However, keeping track of a lot of passwords is difficult. Internet searching and browser issues is our third reason.

Reason four not to own an iPhone is memory. You can purchase a 6 GB, an 8 GB, or a 16 GB  iPhone. When you use up all of your available space on the iPhone, you must delete or back off content to another device like your PC or Mac. Many iPhone proponents claim that this storage capacity removes the need for a separate MP3 player, such as an iPod, therefore saving you money. In reality, teens can download 16 GB of music and video in an amazingly short amount of time. This leaves no memory for other applications or photos. You will still need a separate MP3 player so there are no real savings to be had here. There is no ability to upgrade the memory via a memory card or flash drive. This is another area where the iPhone is lacking.

Finally, reason number five in our top 5 reasons not to own an iPhone is the service provider. You are limited to AT&T's cell phone service packages for the iPhone if you wish to use it. These packages are expensive as they all include data and internet. AT&T has no incentive to change their iPhone service pricing because they have exclusive rights to provide service to the iPhones. This has led to a great number of hacked iPhones on the market that can be used on other networks. As long as Apple and AT&T's agreement stays exclusive, you will have hackers.

Overall, the iPhone is an overpriced, over hyped, cell phone. These top 5 reasons not to own an iPhone are valid and you should consider this before you buy one.

The Dangers of Unlocking Your iPhone

The Dangers of Unlocking Your iPhone

You may have heard that there is an unlock for the iPhone. Not only can you unlock iPhone firmware 1.0.2, now firmware 1.1.2 is also cracked and so is firmware 1.1.3. There are many ways to unlock your iPhone. If your read all of the hype, then you might think that this is not a big deal and anyone can do it. You have the choice of purchasing an unlock from iphonesimfree.com or you can search YouTube for the latest video on how to unlock your iPhone. There is risk associated with this, especially if you start messing around with the bootload program. The dangers of unlocking your iPhone may actually outweigh the benefits.

Before we go any further, we need to be certain that everyone understands what we are talking about. An unlocked iPhone is an iPhone that has its firmware hacked into. The most common reason for this is so that the user can bypass the Apple ñ AT&T exclusive agreement that AT&T is the sole provider of cell phone service for the iPhone. When you unlock your iPhone, you are allowing the iPhone to be used on any cell phone network using standard GSM technology. Now that we have the terms cleared up, we need to see if it is really worth risking the dangers of unlocking your iPhone.

There are risks, make no mistake about it. Some of those risks are recoverable, some are not. If you make a serious mistake, you can "brick" your iPhone. In a sense, this is exactly what happens, your iPhone locks up, cannot be recovered from, and is now nothing more than an expensive brick. In order to prevent this from happening, you need to be certain that the instructions you are following are accurate. Even iphonesimfree.com will not guarantee that their software will not harm your iPhone. All they state is that it will work. They do not offer money back guarantees.

Why do you need to unlock your iPhone? If you are happy with AT&T as a cell phone service provider and you enjoy their visual email (an AT&T exclusive) then there is no reason to unlock your iPhone. Just keep using it as is. You can keep upgrading to the new firmware releases without worrying about killing your iPhone. If however, you would rather use T-Mobile as a cell phone provider or if you are looking to get enhanced music and video content then you can unlock the iPhone.

Here is the risk; right now, there are hacks to unlock the iPhone through firmware versions 1.1.4. However, only iphonesimfree.com states that their product is guaranteed to work with every firmware update from Apple. They claim that any unlock from them is good for every firmware update. Others claim to be able to have unlocking instructions for free that will unlock your phone without having to downgrade to firmware version 1.0.2. The problem is if you unlock your iPhone this way and then you upgrade to a higher version and it does not work, your iPhone will re-lock. If this happens then you might not be able to use your iPhone even if you go back to using the SIM card that originally came with your iPhone. Then you will have to go and figure out a way to get it to work. Apple will not be of any help to you if your iPhone bricks or even refuses to connect to a cell phone service because you decided you wanted to hack the firmware.

What about buying an unlocked iPhone? Here again the dangers of unlocking your iPhone still hold true, only this time you have no idea of how the phone was unlocked. If you purchase an unlock from iphonesimfree.com and have problems you can contact them and they will help you. Vendors selling unlocked iPhones may not be so helpful.

The dangers of unlocking your iPhone may not be apparently clear. However, there is a danger of ruining your iPhone. That makes it very expensive experiment. Are you sure you want or need your iPhone unlocked? If you do remember the dangers of unlocking your iPhone before you do something that cannot be undone.

The Apple iPhone - Super Phone or Super Hype

The Apple iPhone - Super Phone or Super Hype

The Apple iPhone, super phone or super hype?  Is this cell phone really the complete package that Apple purports it to be or is it all hype? Let us take a look at the facts and fiction about the Apple iPhone to see how it really stacks up against the advertising.

Ease of use, this is what Apple shows in all of its advertising. On this point, they hit it dead on. The Apple iPhone is extremely easy to use. If you can tap something with your finger or slide your finger along a screen you can use the iPhone without difficulty. For ease of use, the iPhone is a super phone.

Music listening and storage. As far as sound quality goes, the iPhone is great. A set of good quality stereo earbuds are required to enjoy the iPhone's sound quality. To complete the upscale look of the iPhone, perhaps a set of Bluetooth stereo earphones are in orders. In the category of sound quality and music playback capability, the iPhone is a super phone.

Storage is another feature that Apple hypes the iPhone. With 6 GB, 8 GB, and now 16 GB, this seems like a tremendous amount of storage. Here is where the downfall is, you cannot upgrade the memory or use external memory such as memory cards or sticks. Therefore you are limited by the amount of content you can have on your iPhone. You cannot take content with you. A work around could be to store content on an internet site and swap it out when you want it. Any teenager I know can blow through even 16 GB of music in an amazingly short amount of time. If you add in videos and TV shows, 16 GB becomes filled rather quickly. In the storage department, the Apple iPhone becomes hype instead of a super phone.

What about battery life. Here is where there is no hype at all: actually Apple has very little to say about the iPhone's battery. Here is why. You cannot change it. Most cell phones have a removable battery. This way if it dies, you change it out with a new one. The iPhone lacks this capability. Once that battery dies and will no longer hold a charge, you need a new phone. The reason Apple is so quite about the battery is probably due to the current litigation surrounding this. Is this hype or super phone? Neither one. The battery issue definitely does not qualify it as a super phone. Apple has said very little so there really is no hype involved. Perhaps we should just categorize this as buyer beware.    

What about that touch screen? This is where you see the Apple iPhone hyped to the max. Is this super phone or hype? The touch screen is super sensitive. If your phone hits up against something in your pocketbook, or knocks into something while you are getting in and out of your car, you can end up calling people or having your iPhone do something weird. The touch screen does allow you to easily manipulate the iPhone. Overall, the touch screen ranks it as super phone not hype. Just be careful with it.
Next there is internet access. All of the commercials for the Apple iPhone show it as a super phone when it comes to internet access. You can use any WiFi to contact friends on Facebook or watch content on YouTube. Well, the browser needs better search capabilities. This is one area where the iPhone is lacking. Another is that the iPhone's browser does not store password. This was most likely a security feature that Apple built in. Personally, you are better off it does not store your passwords. In general WiFi networks are not secure, and you do not want your banking access information readily available to the public. Is this super phone or hyper. I will give them super phone on this one although it is not any different than any other smart phone out there.

The Apple iPhone, super phone or hype? It is looking like it comes out as a super phone. Especially if

The Apple iPhone for Business

The Apple iPhone for Business

If you view the advertising for the Apple iPhone, you would think that it is strictly for young adults to be used for pleasure. Most of the advertising focuses on the iPhone's entertainment value. They focus on music, video, and Facebook. Overall, not very business like. However, the Apple iPhone for business purposes is something you do not see advertised much. Perhaps this is due to the fact that the only service provider for the iPhone is AT&T and they are not looking to cut anyone deals on iPhone services. Nevertheless, the iPhone can be a useful business tool; one just has to decide if the cost is worth it.

Is using the Apple iPhone for business really a viable option? It can be. Your particular business situation will dictate if this phone is something your company should consider or if it will be impractical. There are situations where the iPhone will shine and then there are other situations that will make it totally impractical.

You should consider the Apple iPhone for business if you need to stay in contact with others constantly. This would include texting, chatting, email and cell phone communications. An ideal example for an iPhone in a business environment is a buyer for a retailer. When the buyer goes to shows or other purchasing events, using the iPhone as a camera to send potential product to management can give the competitive edge to your business. The fashion industry lends itself to iPhone use. If you are attending the fashion shows in order to see which designer lines to bring in, then the iPhone is what you need. You can snap a picture or take a video of the hottest items still on the runway, send them to purchasing and orders can be placed before the end of business that day. If your business thrives on having the latest and greatest designer fashion in your shop, then the sooner you can place orders for the upcoming season, the more profitable you will be. If you do not get the new styles in first, someone else will. Antique dealers and art collectors will benefit from having an iPhone. There is no better way to send pictures of art and antiques to clients and to your business than with an iPhone. When you are looking to make purchases, you can keep customer wish lists with you, along with their contact info. If you find something they are looking for, you can let them know before you make an offer on the item. In a sense, you are pre-selling your inventory! It does not get any better than that. These are some of the ways that using the Apple iPhone for business purposes can be profitable. This would justify the cost.

On the other hand, if you are in an environment that is less than safe for a sensitive device like the iPhone then using the Apple iPhone for business probably will not make much sense. Construction sites, factories, assembly lines, shipping and receiving departments, and anything near water are not favorable to iPhone usage. The touch screen is very sensitive. Dirt, debris, water, moisture, grease and oil are not friends of the iPhone or any other cell phone. Industrial environments are too tough for this delicate phone. It does not handle being dropped well. There is a high risk of breaking the screen or damaging the unit. This is really a phone for a less stressful environment. If this is your particular business situation, then using the Apple iPhone for business is not a wise investment. 

Therefore, now that you understand which business applications are suitable for iPhone use and which are not, you can decide where your business fits in. Should you buy the Apple iPhone for business? If you can justify the high costs of the phones, and using AT&T for your business cell phone service the perhaps it is worth it. You are the one who knows your companies finances. If the iPhone fits in then you can consider it. However, if you are in an industry that tends to be rough on laptops and cell phones or if you require an industrial strength walkie-talkie phone due to your working environment, then using the Apple iPhone for your business is not a viable option. What should you decide on?

The Apple iPhone & Downloads and Piracy

The Apple iPhone & Downloads and Piracy

One of the biggest things that customers want they purchase a cell phone is simplicity. People want to make their calls quickly and they need to be able to access their contact lists without a fuss. The Apple iPhone makes this easy. This is why is has become so popular. That popularity has its downfall. There are many programs that can hack into the iPhone and undo the security that Apple has put into it. So what is the link between with the Apple iPhone, downloads and piracy?  

It is amazing that Apple has been able to pack so many features into one small device. The Apple iPhone includes widgets. These are simple but powerful programs that allow you to keep tabs on things like the weather, stocks, news and more. Everything that you could want or need to know is right there, available for you to use whenever you need it.

Apple knew that downloads for their iPhone would be a hot commodity.  Other software manufacturers and programming gurus know this too. They are getting into the downloadable software scene too. Many websites are geared to the iPhone user. To find them all you need to do is search for them using your favorite search engine. Some iPhone-approved websites are member's only sites that offer unlimited content such as videos, movies, music, games, and more. These websites also have free iPhone themes that you can load onto your iPhone. On many iPhone sites, there are no download restrictions on content, music, games or other items than can be transferred to your iPhone. The only limitation is the space available on your phone. You might even be able to find a website that offers a membership bonus, like the free software or CD's.

A popular feature with the iPhone is the ease in downloading. This is not always easy however. Sometimes the iPhone can balk at high download speeds and takes can take its time. Slow transfer rates frustrate many iPhone users. Many younger users are used to instant downloading. Slow speeds frustrate them. For teens and those in their early 20's, 15 seconds is a long time. Knowing about potential lags in download time allows you to plan your downloads during off-peak hours. This is the case with any download from the internet.  

iPhone approved websites as well as non-approved (pirate sites) give you a plethora of download options. There is a good reason to use an iPhone-approved website. These sites ensure the highest standards in MP3 downloads and they assure their membership that no malware will be hidden contained in downloads or on the website. If you are more adventurous and very careful about spyware and the like, you can use unauthorized websites. Unless your phone has a problem, it may not seem like a big deal to use unauthorized software. However, if you run into a problem, Apple will void the warranty and they may lock your phone. This is one way that the Apple iPhone, downloads, and piracy are all related.

Apple does not allow others to produce software for the iPhone. This is due to their proprietary operating system. However, third parties can produce peripheral devices (like headphones and docking stations).  Those restrictions never bother hackers (both white and black hats). Not surprisingly, hackers have broken into the iPhone's code. This is why you see ads for "unlocked" iPhones. Pirated software disables the internal "firewall" of the iPhone, thus making it possible to use other cell phone providers other than AT&T. Apple is working at a frenzied pace on a firmware update to curtail pirating.

The apple iPhone, downloads, and piracy are hot topics on the internet. If you are looking for expert advice for your iPhone, look no further than the internet. You can find many blogs and websites with important iPhone information. This is peripheral that combines function, fashion and form into one. With a statement that an iPhone makes, why not see if an iPhone will work for you.

Samsung s8 Release Date , Features and Price

The new Samsung Galaxy S8 has arrived and we have all the details

The Samsung Galaxy S8 has finally been launched and… well, it's entirely as we expected thanks to the myriad leaks that sprung up all over the internet in the preceding months.

But the good news is that it's a rather nifty phone, and you can check it out in some rather sumptuous depth in our hands-on: Samsung Galaxy S8 review to get all the information you could want on Samsung's new flagship.

    Fancy something bigger? You'll want the Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus

The brand has been very careful with this device, telling TechRadar directly that it's taken a more cautious approach to the battery sizes to ensure there's absolutely no repeat of the Note 7 farce of last year.

What the Galaxy S8 will do is impress you with the large display, faster innards and all-round improvements throughout the user interface – so if you're not going to check out our thorough and filled-with-beautiful-photos Samsung Galaxy S8 hands-on (the plugs will only get more shameless) we've rounded up all the salient information here.
Samsung Galaxy S8 release date 
Samsung Galaxy S8 specs

Want to know the specs? We've got them all here:

Dimensions: 148.9 x 68 x 8mm
Screen size: 5.8 inches
Resolution: 1440 x 2960 (QHD+)
Processor: Exynos 8895
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 64GB
Rear camera: 12MP
Front camera: 8MP
Battery: 3,000mAh
- Rear fingerprint scanner
- Water- and dust-resistant (IP68)
- No physical home button
- Iris scanner
- Bixby AI assistant
- Headphone jack

    Galaxy S8 release date US: April 21
    Galaxy S8 release date UK: April 28

Samsung has now confirmed the Galaxy S8 release date: April 21 for the US, and April 28 for the rest of the world (including the UK) - although it hasn't given specific information on territories such as Australia.

You can pre-order the phone already and if you do so before April 19 you'll get the Samsung Galaxy S8 delivered to your door as soon as the April 20 if you're in the UK (but no word on a free Gear VR... boo).
Samsung Galaxy S8 price

    Galaxy S8 price: $720, £689, AU$1,199

The SIM-free Samsung Galaxy S8 price is $720 (£689, AU$1,199) - which certainly makes it one of the most expensive phones on the market.

On contract in the US, it'll cost you anywhere from $28 to $35 a month, depending on your carrier.

In the UK you'll be able to pick up the Galaxy S8 for around £40 per month on a two year deal - put you'll have to part with some cash upfront too.

However, for that money you do get more storage than before, as the phone will land with 64GB on board, rather than the 32GB of last year – plus there's a microSD card slot and some decent AKG headphones in the bundle too.

    Samsung Galaxy S8 price: how much does it cost?
    You can find the best Samsung Galaxy S8 deals here

 Key new features

    Rear-mounted fingerprint sensor
    Bixby AI assistant with dedicated button
    Massive Infinity Display on the front
    Refined user interface

In our eyes there are three major upgrades that Samsung fans will be most drawn to on the new Galaxy S8, beyond the impressive upgrades to power and performance throughout the phone.

The first is the new Infinity Display that adorns the front of the Galaxy S8, a massive 5.8-inch screen that wraps its way around most of the phone.

Yes, that's right: it wraps, as this is a curved screen by default. There's no flat version this year as Samsung saw how well-received the Galaxy S7 Edge was last year and decided to make that the flagship experience.

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It's a QHD resolution, but longer – just like the LG G6, the screen is in the longer 18.5:9 aspect ratio - which means some apps will initially display with bars left and right.

The screen on the S8 is also HDR-enabled, so if you're paying extra on Netflix (or just using Amazon Prime Video) you'll be able to get the superbly bright and colorful experience on your mobile - although we're still waiting to see that experience filter through.

It's also a pretty special display in terms of quality, having taken the "best smartphone screen" crown in a recent DisplayMate shootout.

The Galaxy S8 took the title by supporting more colors than rivals, an unhindered contrast ratio and the first screen certified by the UHD alliance. In short, the screen on the Samsung Galaxy S8 looks fantastic.

The second big change is the addition of another key on the phone, which will take you to the Bixby assistant. This is Samsung's big play in the smartphone AI stakes, a contextual assistant that can work out what you need through voice, touch or the camera.

    Find out more about Samsung's Bixby AI assistant

We'll be honest: it's not that impressive yet. Samsung has announced that the voice functionality won't be available until Spring for the US, with no details for other regions, and it can only do a very limited number of things – essentially this is Siri, but a few years back when it comes to voice.

However, Bixby Vision in the camera can do more, working out places and products that it's seeing, as well as matching certain items on Pinterest.

The big play from Samsung here is that it, eventually, wants Bixby to take on Alexa by being the AI that's coded into every app.

However, right now it's not even in all the default Samsung apps – only the camera and phone systems at the moment, with more rolling out in the future as well as a toolkit for third-party developers.
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In short: Bixby currently isn't as good as Google Assistant, which is thankfully also on the phone.

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The final big change is to the UI – and some people still won't be happy, while others will. The reason for this divide of opinion is that the Samsung Galaxy series TouchWiz overlay, which sits atop Android, has been maligned for years as too overbearing.

Well, for years Samsung has been refining the experience, making it lighter to use and look at, and this year it's cleaner than ever without losing the Samsung 'look' that many of its users will be accustomed to.

This means the fonts are smoother, the menus more clean and natural-looking (with little recommendations of other things you might be looking for in the settings menu – a nice touch), and even the symbols for navigating through the phone have been altered to offer a more premium look.

(Well, we say premium – they look more like ancient runes or hieroglyphics. But hey, that's what's there).

    Samsung Galaxy S8 colors: what options will you have?

 Design

Right, that's the big changes out of the way – so let's get on to how this thing looks. The design is covered in more depth through our Samsung Galaxy S8 hands-on (we told you there would be more plugs) but here are the main points:

The screen covers most of the front of the phone, but we didn't experience any accidental taps of the display simply by holding the Galaxy S8 – there are obviously some smarts coded into the handset to stop that happening.

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The home button is gone now – there's nothing visible on the front of the phone any more. There is a pressure-sensitive button at the bottom of the phone, in a similar vein to that on the iPhone 7, where you can press where the home key WOULD have been and you'll get a pleasant buzz.

The fingerprint scanner is now on the back of the phone, next to the camera, and it's a bit too high up for our liking, meaning we're more inclined to use the facial recognition or even the iris scanner to open the phone.

The outer rim is a fusion of metal and glass, with everything rolling attractively together in the hand, and very few hard edges to find under the finger.

In short, it's a very well made phone from Samsung, and with the headphone jack still present and correct, it's going to please a fair few users looking to get a top-end phone with beautiful lines.
Camera

    Single, 12MP rear facing camera
    8MP front facing camera

The Samsung Galaxy S8 camera hasn't really been given much of an upgrade compared to the Galaxy S7, which will be a bit of a disappointment for some. The Galaxy S6 had a good snapper and yet Samsung still decided to upgrade it – but no such luck this year.
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Well, if we're being fair there might be some internal tweaks that mean you're getting a better picture thanks to improved software – we'll need to test to be sure, but in our initial look (which you can read here) we didn't see too much different.

However, the 12MP sensor on the back is still one of the best around, offering speedy snaps and great performance in low light. This year Samsung has added in something called multi-frame image, which takes three snaps and finds the sharpest, so the quality should be improved in terms of what you're looking at, at least.

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There's also the same impressive range of modes and options from Samsung within the Galaxy S8, from the clever auto mode, which manages to pick out a great picture nearly every time, to the professional mode, which offers the chance to really tweak the settings and shoot in raw too.

The front-facing camera has been boosted to 8MP, and there's also a fun new effects button which you can use to give yourself a range of augmented reality makeovers to entertain your friends, as they wonder why you've not just decided to use Snapchat instead.

There's also autofocus on the front-facing camera to make it easier to take half-decent selfies of you and your chums, so that's a pleasant upgrade for those that like to see the pics they're taking.
Battery

    3,000mAh, non-removable power pack
    Fast and wireless charging support

Samsung hasn't really done much to the battery either with the Galaxy S8, which does raise our eyebrows a touch.

The new chipset inside has been improved to offer 10% more CPU power and 21% better management on the GPU, so everything should fly along faster and with more efficiency.

However, there's only a 3000mAh battery in the Samsung Galaxy S8, which is the same as last year – and with more pixels to power on the front of the phone (thanks to the longer aspect ratio and display) that's something to think about.

It could explain why Samsung has limited the screen resolution on the Galaxy S8 to Full HD by default, with users needing to delve into the settings and boost the sharpness manually.

That said, the Galaxy S7 Edge was one of the best phones we had on test for battery life last year, so there's every chance Samsung has done more than enough to deliver a phone that can last well over a day.

On top of that there's also a full suite of wireless charging compatibility – in short, if there's a wireless charging point where you are, it can charge your Galaxy S8.

Fast charging is also enabled, although Samsung hasn't given exact numbers on how quickly the handset will power up just yet.

We'd estimate about 15 minutes of charge giving you a third of your power back, but we'll await confirmation from Samsung on that one.
Power and operating system

    4GB of RAM
    Android 7 with TouchWiz interface
    Use two sets of wireless headphones at the same time

Samsung has split its processor strategy with the Galaxy S8, with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 at the heart of the phone in the US and the Exynos 8895 doing the grunt work throughout the rest of the world.

That's a lot of power whichever phone you plump for, meaning the Galaxy S8 is very likely to destroy some of the phone benchmarking tests out there.

There's 4GB of RAM in the Galaxy S8 too. Asian markets will be getting more (and Samsung has cryptically said the specs will vary throughout the world); however, 4GB is more than enough, and in our tests (you can read about them in our in-depth hands-on Samsung Galaxy S8 review... you know you want to) we found the phone to be lightning fast.

As mentioned, the Samsung Galaxy S8 is running Android Nougat, with the latest version of the operating system offering things like Google Assistant to the user, as well as improved battery management.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 also packs in Bluetooth 5.0, the latest version of the wireless standard and one of its party pieces lets you use two sets of wireless headphones at the same time.

Samsung Galaxy S8 vs Galaxy S8 Plus

The Samsung Galaxy S8 isn't alone, it arrived alongside its bigger brother the Galaxy S8 Plus - but what's the difference between Samsung's two flagship phones?

In truth, not a lot. The Galaxy S8+ boasts a larger 6.2-inch display and 3500mAh battery, but the rest of the spec sheet is identical to the Galaxy S8.

Check out our versus video below to get the full run-down of the two new Galaxy phones.

    Samsung Galaxy S8 vs Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus

Samsung Galaxy S8 vs Sony Xperia XZ Premium vs iPhone 7

We can't round up our Samsung Galaxy S8 coverage without taking a quick look at how the new smartphone weighs up against the other two most popular handsets on our YouTube channel.

We've put the new Galaxy S8 up against the stylish iPhone 7 and the eye-popping Sony XZ Premium smartphone - check out our video below to see how they compare.
Samsung Galaxy S8 vs LG G6

Both South Korean giants have now launched their 2017 flagship phones, so we've put them head-to-head to find out how they compare - and more importantly, which is best.

Will it be the dual-camera LG G6 or and all-screen Samsung Galaxy S8 - read our in depth versus to find out.

    Samsung Galaxy S8 vs LG G6: which Android phone is better?

Wrap up

In short, we'd urge you to read our Samsung Galaxy S8 hands-on review – it's the place to be if you want a really in-depth look at this phone.

However, if you can't manage to imbibe such a heady brew, then here's the summary…

The Samsung Galaxy S8 is a really, really good-looking phone, with lots of key features that users want – as well as some new additions in the shape of Bixby, although that's not really offering much at the moment.

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Some will be worried by the fact that the camera and battery haven't been given an obvious boost, and that's something that does need to be checked out when we get the phone in for a full review.

However, this is a phone that's far more impressive than the sum of its parts: while a wrap-around screen doesn't sound like enough to warrant buying a phone, it's an incredibly impressive look, and one that will lure in many buyers.

The camera and battery life are likely to be good enough, and the raw power of this phone will see it shine through nearly every task.

The Galaxy S8 is a great phone at its heart, and we'll now be waiting with much intrigue to see how Apple responds...

Updated: Best movies on Netflix: 20 films you have to stop what you're doing and watch right now

Best movies on Netflix

If you're new to Netflix and want to find the best movies to watch, or you're tired of browsing Netflix's catalog day after day and coming up empty, you've come to the right place. With thousands of movies at your disposal, it's easy to get stuck in binge-watching mode, but finding the honest-to-goodness best films can be a bit of hassle.

In an effort to determine the best of the best, we've put together a list of the greatest possible films you can watch – curated by TechRadar editors and backed up with ratings from IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes – so that you don't have to sift through the muck. We'll keep this best-of list up to date with the latest movies that are must-watch, so you waste zero screen time searching.

Are TV shows more your scene? Here are the best TV shows on Netflix!

1. Blackfish

Blackfish, the controversial nature documentary that follows a misunderstood and often violent killer whale in captivity at SeaWorld, made a huge splash when it was released in 2013. Its story has moved audiences to take action in a way that few other films have ever done, going so far as forcing lawmakers' hands to introduce legislation that will demand that SeaWorld release killer whales back into the wild. It's an emotional ride through the highs and lows of the aquatic entertainment industry, one that reveals the real consequences of keeping animals where they don't belong.

IMDB Rating: 8.1, Rotten Tomatoes: 98%

2. Pulp Fiction

There's no shortage of prolific Tarantino films on Netflix (see: Django Unchained, Kill Bill Vol. 1 & 2, Inglorious Basterds and Reservoir Dogs), but Pulp Fiction stands one bullet-riddled head and shoulder above the rest. Tackling questions of morality and social issues like racism and socioeconomic class, the film remains one of John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson and Uma Thurman's greatest works. Considering these people have been in half a dozen other flicks found in countless "greatest films of all-time" lists, it's really saying something.

IMDB Rating: 8.9, Rotten Tomatoes: 93%

3. American Beauty

At this point in your relationship with the streaming service, you've probably already watched a vast majority of Netflix's top TV shows – including the absolutely incredible House of Cards. If you've watched the political drama and haven't had enough of Kevin Spacey's cunning apathetic character, check out American Beauty where a man finds a new lease on life right before he gets shot. All life is like a plastic bag floating in the breeze, right?

IMDB Rating: 8.4, Rotten Tomatoes: 88%

4. Good Will Hunting

No one can ever take Robin Williams's place in cinema. His ability to ad lib scenes and bring a palpable depth and realism to his roles is irreplaceable. Couple this with an endearing performance by Matt Damon and one of the most pivotal, transformative scenes in all of film, and you have a recipe for a classic that will live on forever. If you haven't seen Good Will Hunting yet, it's not your fault. It's not your fault…

IMDB Rating: 8.3, Rotten Tomatoes: 97%

5. Braveheart

Taken out of context, Braveheart is the story of a man born in the wrong place, at the wrong time and then forced to do something nobody else wanted to do, only to be – well, just watch it. In context, it's one of the best Mel Gibson films of all-time, winning five Academy Awards in 1996 for its gripping, insanely dark narrative and excellent performances. Whether it's your first time watching the men of Scotland stand up for their freedom or the tenth time, Braveheart is easily worth one of your Saturday movie nights.

IMDB Rating: 8.4, Rotten Tomatoes: 78%

6. Cartel Land

Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature Film, Cartel Land explores the state of the ongoing drug problem along the U.S.-Mexican border. On one side is the heroic Dr. José Mireles, the leader of the vigilante group, the Autodefensas. On the other is Tim "Nailer" Foley, the leader of Arizona Border Recon. The two are stuck in a never-ending battle against the cartels, putting both themselves and their families on the line to fight for what they think is right.

IMDB Rating: 7.4, Rotten Tomatoes: 89%

7. The Big Short

Another Academy Award nominee, The Big Short stole critics' hearts last year as it told the tale of financial downturn of 2008, how it happened and the men who used the opportunity to hit back against the banks who caused it. If high finance doesn't sound like your cup of tea, there's more than enough drama and humor to keep you hooked on the line while film stars the odd trio of Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling and Steve Carell alongside Brad Pitt, Karen Gillan and Marisa Tomei immerse you in one of the greatest tales of American ingenuity ever told.

IMDB Rating: 7.8, Rotten Tomatoes: 88%

8. Beasts of No Nation

Beasts of No Nation stars Idris Elba as a war lord, and follows the story of Agu, portrayed by child actor Abraham, who is forced to become a child soldier during the civil war of an unnamed African country. What follows is a nightmare: boys stolen from their families are forced to kill and through blood take their vengeance on the world. It's a war movie with a profound message, and is probably the closest equivalent of Apocalypse Now that we're like to see in the 21st century.

IMDB Rating: 8.0, Rotten Tomatoes: 91%

9. Forrest Gump

This list is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get. On this page, though, what you get is one of the most quintessential movies in American cinema. Yes, Forrest Gump tells the story of a man who falls for a girl and becomes somewhat of a phenomenon from humble beginnings, but, more importantly, it's a history lesson in how America has grown and changed over the years. Heartwarming, uplifting and inspirational, Forrest Gump teaches us an important lesson: if you're kind and you work hard, amazing things will happen to you – eventually.

IMDB Rating: 8.8, Rotten Tomatoes: 72%

10. The Babadook

Horror movies have fallen on hard times. There, I said it. Spending the past decade relying on jump shocks and excessive gore to win over new audiences, it's rare to find a film as well-made, thought-out and genuinely scary as The Babadook. Two parts horror, one part mind game, the film explores the feelings of guilt that come along with death, the darkest sides of parenthood and the sheer creepiness of kids' imaginations.

IMDB Rating: 6.9, Rotten Tomatoes: 98%

11. Jurassic Park

Sure, Chris Pratt impressed us with his velociraptor wrangling skills in 2015's Jurassic World, but without Steven Spielberg's 1993 classic, there'd be no Jurassic World, no raptor wrangling and no Indominus Rex. (Well, OK, maybe that last part would be a good thing.) Jurassic Park was the first time our imagination ran wild with the fear of a tyrannosaurus waiting for us outside of our house in the middle of the night or stalking us as we drove through a dark road in the middle of nowhere. The original telling of the story remains one of our favorite for its compelling tale of science gone awry and tech-loving little girl who fortunately and unrealistically happens to be better at systems engineering than Newman from Seinfeld.

IMDB Rating: 8.1, Rotten Tomatoes: 93%

12. Amelie

If you haven't seen it, Amelie is pretty much the French equivalent of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. Starring Audrey TauTou, it's a weird, quirky and all-around whimsical joyride around Paris as we see Amelie develop from a reserved waitress into a romantically involved extrovert. For introverts, Amelie is a spiritually moving film, taking on mental ailments like depression, social anxiety and agoraphobia head-on while still providing a solid rom-com foundation for all fans of the genre.

IMDB Rating: 8.4, Rotten Tomatoes: 89%

13. Almost Famous

Where Ferris Bueller fed our fantasies of cutting class for an epic day on the town, Almost Famous harnessed our ambitions and played with the idea of a kid writing for Rolling Stone. One part loss of innocence, two parts coming of age story, Cameron Crowe directs the story of a boy who lies about his age to go on tour with a band, falling in love with a groupie and realizing that, once you discover how the sausage is made, it never tastes the same again.

IMDB Rating: 7.9, Rotten Tomatoes: 88%

14. Moonrise Kingdom

Starting September 16, Moonrise Kingdom will be the only Wes Anderson film available on Netflix. And while that sounds somewhat depressing, it's anything but. By limiting us to a single Anderson flick at a time, Netflix is slowly building our palette for the director's dry wit, exceptional pacing and phenomenal casting that seems to permeate each film under his supervision. Wonderfully smart and expertly crafted, Moonrise Kingdom might not overtake The Grand Budapest Hotel or The Royal Tenenbaums as our favorite Wes Anderson films, but that doesn't make it any less of an excellent movie on its own.

IMDB Rating: 7.8, Rotten Tomatoes: 94%

15. Django Unchained

Quentin Tarantino is loved and revered for his work in American cinema, and lately his takes on classic '70s movies. Like his take on Inglourious Basterds before it, Django Unchained deals with role reversal in a historically controversial time. The story of revenge and justice, Django (played by Jamie Foxx) and Dr. King Schultz (played by Christoph Waltz) set off to hunt down a gang of felons before the ultimate promise of setting Django free. Like other Tarantino films, it doesn't shy away from the grotesque and gory or mind going against the grain, making it easy to recommend and easier to watch time and time again.

IMDB Rating: 8.5, Rotten Tomatoes: 88%

16. Indie Game: The Movie

Full disclosure: Almost all of us here at TechRadar love video games. If you couldn't tell from the hundreds of articles we write about the latest and greatest gaming hardware to the disappointment in our text when we hear that our favorite game has been delayed (again), one of the best parts of the job is getting to be so close to one of our favorite mediums. Not to sound all mushy, but Indie Game: The Movie is the culmination of that love into a single, two-hour film that illustrates perfectly the periods of heart-break and joy that go into each and every one of your favorite games. If you even remotely care about games, you should watch this film.

IMDB Rating: 7.7, Rotten Tomatoes: 93%

17. The Fundamentals of Caring

The Fundamentals of Caring is proof that you can take actor Paul Rudd, put him in literally any movie about any subject and he automatically makes it 10 to 20 times better. With any other actor in the leading role, The Fundamentals of Caring – based on the book by Jonathan Evison – would've likely had no lasting appeal. And yet, with Rudd behind the wheel of the ship the film becomes a comical road trip movie with a compelling twist that's one part Eurotrip and two parts 50/50. The stakes here are that Rudd is taking care of an emotionally sheltered, physically handicapped teen whose bark is fiercer than his bite. The friendship the two form ultimately help the other grow out of their shells. It may come off as trite, cliché and over-wrought at times, but if you stick through the saccharine, there's a well-crafted story here that might melt your heart.

IMDB Rating: 7.4, Rotten Tomatoes: 79%

18. The Pursuit of Happiness

Call us overly sentimental, but on more than one occasion The Pursuit of Happiness almost brought a tear to our eyes. Following business man-turned-entrepreneur-turned-homeless man Chris Gardener (played by Will Smith), The Pursuit of Happiness is about one man's quest to provide a better life for his son, even if that means giving his metaphorical pound of flesh in order to do it. Gardener's son is played by Will Smith's actual son, Jaden, and helps add an extra layer of chemistry to the film making it perfect for the times you want to tell your dad how grateful you are, but will settle for watching a movie instead.

IMDB Rating: 8.0, Rotten Tomatoes: 67%

19. Jiro Dreams of Sushi

Jiro Dreams of Sushi is the uplifting documentary of one man who never gave up on his … uh, dreams. Jiro became the first three-star Michelin sushi chef in Japan and has been called a national treasure, all the while honing his mantra of being his best self. Jiro's commitment to his craft that carries the film – but it's his two sons, both famous sushi chefs like their father that make the film one of the best documentaries ever made. If you're hungry for a bit of inspiration in an evermore depressing world, pull up a seat.

IMDB Rating: 7.9, Rotten Tomatoes: 99%

20. Back to the Future

Ending the list on a high-note, Back to the Future needs little introduction and little in the way of selling. The film remains an exceptionally paced action/comedy/sci-fi hybrid that's almost too easy to watch time and time again. And while Back to the Future II (also available on Netflix) might be the better film overall, there's a rare form of nostalgia that you get from watching the final lightning storm scene for the umpteenth time and an unparalleled feeling of joy when everything comes together in the end. There are plenty of deeper thinking, harder hitting films available, but Netflix chose wisely when it signed on the dotted line for the rights for Back to the Future.

IMDB Rating: 8.5, Rotten Tomatoes: 96%

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Original source: Updated: Best movies on Netflix: 20 films you have to stop what you're doing and watch right now.

In depth: Why 3D printing will save your life one day

A 3D future

The simple fact is really sick and desperate people are left frustrated by modern medicine for a number of reasons.

Those seeking transplants have to wait on long lists, and if they do eventually find a donor, their body might reject the tissue. Patients in need of casts or equipment to help them heal often only have expensive choices made of heavy materials.

And those in developing countries don't have access to the medication they so desperately need — often resorting to black market options that are unreliable and dangerous.

These are only a small handful of the problems that 3D printing could eradicate completely, creating personal, bespoke solutions that are tailored to each patient, where materials are light and comparatively cheaper than traditional options. And crucially, 3D printers can be taken anywhere, so those in remote locations aren't left without – and they can even print hair.

What does the future hold?

3D printing is already giving amputees a new lease of life and turbocharging healing time with tailor-made super-healing casts, but the future looks even brighter and more exciting.

We're not even talking about the 'boring' consumer applications, where digital rights management will allow us to print something like a new pair of glasses for yourself without having to pay an optician, book an appointment and waste time at a fitting – although even that is revolutionary.

YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nnrstBxomk

The same can be said for medical equipment. There's a lot of noise around 3D printed human tissue, but 3D printing can also be used to improve the way doctors carry out procedures by arming them with ground-breaking equipment.

Whether that's printing a tiny 3D printed medical three-lens camera that can fit into a syringe or projects like iLab Haiti, an initiative that brings 3D printers to Haiti allowing basic but important equipment to be printed with ease, the more obvious ideas for 3D printing are very real possibilities.

But what's the future of the technology – could it change the face of healthcare forever? We spoke to a number of industry insiders to find out what's to come – instead of casts and legs, could we one day be using them to print an entire human from a chunk of DNA, à la The Fifth Element?'

Why medicine really needs 3D printing

It feels like every day a new 3D printing medical "miracle" makes the headlines, but one of the most widespread examples of printing already being used in a number of medical establishments is to create prosthetic limbs (hell, even this dog has 3D printed legs) and state-of-the-art casts that heal broken limbs up to 80 percent faster.

Jesse Harrington-Au, 3D printing expert at global 3D design software company Autodesk, told us the reason printed prosthetic limbs are so revolutionary is three-fold.

"They're a fraction of the weight of traditional prosthetics as they're made using lighter nylon or titanium meshes, instead of heavy, mass-produced solid plastic. They're also easily customised to the user's body, which not only radically improves comfort but also means they can be designed with fashion in mind, helping empower individuals, especially kids."

He added: "3D printing is also drastically lowering the cost of prosthetic limbs to as little as $70/£50. Limbs made using traditional manufacturing techniques can cost thousands of pounds, putting them out of reach for many people."

It doesn't stop there though: the wide-ranging possibilities for personalisation in 3D printing means you could print prosthetic limbs that behave even more like human limbs — or are actually more superhuman.

For example, a heat sensor being printed into a prosthetic arm could let the user "feel" sensations in a new way. Or a 3D printed leg with a tracker could help users take the quantified-self obsession to a whole new level.

Harrington-Au told us: "Soon we'll start to see limbs fitted with a range of sensors and other electronics. For example, prosthetics could be fitted with heat sensors, heart monitors that can act like a built in FitBit, or even a torch.

"These sensors and additions not only assist in creating more human acting hands but also can help to enhance the user."

Prepping for surgery with a printer

3D printing could revolutionise surgery itself but before that happens it'll be used to help plan procedures in a whole new way, giving surgeons information they've never had access to before.

A number of doctors are already using 3D printing to construct real-life models of patients in order to better inform their surgical decisions – recently doctors created a 3D printed model of unborn baby Conan Thompson, to assess whether he'd need surgery in the womb.

Glenn Green, one of the doctors who worked on the case, explained: "The 3D printed model of the foetus allowed us to actually see in person what it looked like and have something in our hands to help us decide the best way to care for the baby."

Although every expert we spoke to was excited about the prospect of futuristic concepts like printed organs, they all agreed that 3D printing these planning models was what could actually make the biggest difference.

Although there are already a few examples of 3D printed models being used to inform surgery, in the future we can expect this to become widespread and commonplace — even for the most basic procedures.

Bioprinting new organs, skin and ears

Up until now, a number of researchers have only begun printing small quantities of human cells and synthetic skin. But recent advancements in 3D printing tech mean these cells may soon actually withstand being transplanted onto a human and behave like human skin and organs.

Back in February, a research team led by Anthony Atala from Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine unveiled an innovative 3D bioprinter called the Integrated Tissue and Organ Printing System (ITOP). The bioprinter uses living cells as 'ink' and injection nozzles that follow a CT scan blueprint to create a bespoke body part, like muscle, bone or even organs.

A similar kind of technology has been developed by researchers from the RIKEN Centre for Developmental Biology in Japan. Their focus has been on creating skin grafts that actually behave like living human skin, 'creating' stem cell-like structures and convincing them to perform like the skin they'll need to replace.

Lead scientist Dr Takashi Tsuji, from the RIKEN Centre for Developmental Biology, said: "Up until now, artificial skin development has been hampered by the fact the skin lacked the important organs, such as hair follicles and exocrine glands, which allow the skin to play its important role in regulation. With this new technique, we have successfully grown skin that replicates the function of normal tissue."

Similarly, Researchers at Cornell University have pioneered a way to use cells from cows in order to grow cartilige that can then be moulded into an ear shape and transplanted onto patients who have lost ears to cancer or in accidents.

So far these skin cells, homegrown organs and cow ears have only been tested on lab animals, but the next steps are obviously creating ones that can be transplanted to humans safely – and it's in the lab that the first victories will be found.

Simon Shen, CEO of leading 3D printer brand XYZprinting, told us: "Printing whole organs for transplant is something that might be possible in the distant future, but more immediately printing skin cells and pieces of tissue to test drugs could be viable within five years."

Not only is human transplanting next on the list, but so is using the patient's own DNA. And this is where 3D printing will become even more effective.

Printing pills

One area that's had a great deal of attention and research is 3D printing medication — as well as the designs they come in.

Last year the FDA in the US approved the first 3D printed drug, but in the future we can expect all kinds of medications to be printed quickly, cheaply and on demand.

The reason drug printing has garnered so much interest is because there are so many challenges when it comes to creating and distributing medication today.

These include creating customised shapes (required to administer drugs in specific ways for different conditions), tailoring medication to a patient's needs and cutting costs and stopping the rise in counterfeit drugs in developing worlds.

Simon Shen told us: "The true advantage of 3D printing in pharmaceuticals is this capacity for personalisation."

He continued: "3D printing can create any number of unusual shapes of pills that standard production techniques find difficult. The surface area of these different shapes (and therefore the duration of drug release) can be adjusted for various patients' needs.

"Some patients need fast acting medication, whereas others need gradual release over a longer period of time – 3D printing can create shapes specific to these requirements."

Clive Roberts and his team of researchers at Nottingham University have been working on 3D printing a polypill. This means a single pill that contains numerous drugs with different release profiles, which would be hugely beneficial for those who have to take more than 50 pills a day, like the elderly or those with HIV.

What are the drawbacks?

When it comes to printing drugs, the problems are pretty obvious. In a world where medicine is digitised, what would stop a drug being shared online, with people using the technology to print narcotics? After all, some area already printing 3D guns.

For printed drugs to work, it would have to be heavily regulated and controlled by pharmacists or other medical experts.

Professor Lee Cronin, Regius Chair of Chemistry at the University of Glasgow and TED Talk speaker spoke to Gizmodo about this topic in-depth and explained: "If someone went to a local hardware store right now, they could buy the chemicals and the equipment to make all sorts of drugs.

"It would take them ages, and they'd get in trouble, and it would still be illegal. And, in the end, they wouldn't have a pure substance that they should trust anyone to take."

He continued: "Will [this technology] increase access to [illegal] drugs? No, it will not change anything fundamentally from what is possible illegally now. But what it aims to do is dramatically lower the cost of drug manufacturing and open up access to the world to medicine – it would allow the entire inventory of known drugs to be made again, even if they are 'out of print', i.e. not being made today in a big manufacturing facility.

"[But even if it could be used illegally], the thought experiment is: how many millions of people suffer from drugs problems? And how many billions of people die because they have no medicine?"

Everything we have but better

Even if all of these problems are ironed out, some of the developments highlighted above could still be years away. This is due to the fact many of these ideas will need rigorous testing – after all, you don't want a new 3D printed heart if it's not likely to stand the test of time.

We've only scratched the surface about what the future of 3D printing in medicine will bring. But let's not overlook some of the 3D printing tech that's already in use.

Simon Shen told us: "Right now we are already seeing SLA 3D printing being used in dental work – dentists producing their own crowns, bridges and orthodontic devices at the touch of a button, which match every groove and curve. That's something that I expect will come further into the mainstream very soon."

So although this is a really simple application of 3D printing in comparison to some of the more ambitious research projects we've covered, it's important to remember that advances will see techniques and technology improve, become more accurate, more effective and mainstream.

Brigitte de Vet, vice president of Materialise Medical: "In the future, 3D printing in medicine will no longer make the headlines, except in the most exceptional cases, because it will actually be an expected and accepted standard of care."

"Much like you expect to be given anaesthetic before a surgery, people undergoing complex operations will expect that their surgeon has used 3D printing in the planning stage of the procedure, perhaps using 3D printed surgical guides to translate that plan into the operating room, or even using 3D printed, customised implants."

Of course, with such huge developments, like printing organs and skin, don't come without their their own challenges and ethical implications. But as Cronin says, the bottom line is that more and more people will be saved, which is what's really important – provided the technology keeps advancing.

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Original source: In depth: Why 3D printing will save your life one day.