What Is A Green Car?

The Green Car

First Published Date: Feb 13, 2010

What is a green car and why it is gaining so much popularity is a question that a lot of users are asking and reading about in different blogs or articles. People have become more conscious of the hazards that are presently polluting our environment and there is a lot of awareness that has been given to us by the media and the technology to become environment friendly. The green car is exactly serving the same purpose by introducing alternate fuel and battery technology. The car manufacturers are now experimenting and investigating hydrogen-powered vehicles and also that are powered by ethanol. Another technology that is being introduced by the green car manufactures is the new battery technology. The battery technology has more efficiency and there is no pollution as well.

A promising and popular technology that has come into the limelight of the future of the car industry is hybrid technology. This is unique when fuel efficiency is boosted by an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. There are a variety of greener alternatives that have made their room in the markets of the United States and Europe as well. In the year 2020, more than a billion green cars will be a part of the traffic as estimated by the experts. It is more like a dream coming true to save our environment and our planet from pollution and this dream had been watched over by millions of people over the years. The car manufacturers are also being pressurized by the governments to increase the manufacture of green cars because they are friendlier to the Ozone layer as well. Another reason for its popularity is that the green car fuel technology will also finish the global agony of rising fuel prices and now brought forward is this latest concept of more efficient and clean cars so petrol-powered vehicles will no longer be marketed or manufactured. Many big names in the field of car manufacturers have introduced their green series like Toyota “Prius,” Honda “Insight,” Nissan “Altima Hybrid” and also Hyundai’s “i10” which was launched by a famous Indian celebrity.

At present, there are a limited number of green cars available on the market for purchase. But this new technology is ever-expanding and it can be easily speculated that green technology will hit the markets of the world like a storm. There are also trial runs conducted to examine the roadworthiness for the concept cars. These concepts cars have exciting sleek designs and features that may never be introduced to most of the other ordinary car models. One of the hydrogen-powered vehicle that is a talk of the town is going to have features beyond the space age. There’s another revelation about one of the future concept car which at first glance would look like it can fly. This will also run on ethanol and its material will be very light which will contribute to its fuel efficiency. The production dates are not yet revealed but there is a possibility that the green car will be introduced and manufactured for the mass market as well. The preview of the concept car is only a way to imagine what the expectations will be for the future and these green cars will be a real help to our environment and it will go green again.

To streamline and minimize blog maintenance, I will be discontinuing maintaining the Thegreenlivingblog.com website (however, I will still hold the domain). I will gradually move all articles from this site to A Dawn Journal. This article originally published on the above website on Feb 13, 2010.

How Google Image Loadings in Gmail Will Affect You

Gmail Now Loads Images on Google Server

First Published Date: January 1, 2014 ADawnJournal.com

Google recently announced a policy change in terms of how it handles loading images for Gmail and other Google apps.

Here is what you need to know in brief:

– In your Gmail, images will load automatically by default (you can change it by going to settings if you don’t like it this way).

– Images now will not load from the senders external original host servers. Instead, images will load from Google’s own secure servers.

Are These Changes a Good or Bad Thing?

The positives about these changes are as Google is loading on their servers first, they will do thorough scans for possible malware or spyware, and images showing inside your Gmail will be safer when you open your email. Also, you should see emails with images loading faster as Google servers are very fast.

On the other hand, some email marketers or email tracking services may not be able to provide accurate real-time or geolocation data as it will show Mountain View, Calif.

For the majority of Gmail users, these changes are positive. If you would like to find out more, read the following links:

5 Safe Online Shopping Tips You Need to Know

Online Shopping Safety and Security Tips

First Published Date: February 16, 2012 ADawnJournal.com

Convenience has its advantages and disadvantages. Advantages? There’s no need to elaborate when it comes to online shopping. Disadvantages? One of the many is that con artists or scammers get hold of your credit card or other valuable information and make you suffer endlessly. I will go over some simple things you can do to make your online shopping a safe one.

1. Protect Your Computer – Use a full version Internet security software like MacAfee or ZoneAlarm. Prices have come down a lot for the paid version of such software these days and you can get a full version protection for less than $100 annually. This is the first thing to do to protect yourself.

2. Secure Your Browser – Keep your browser up to date. I recommend Google Chrome for all your online activities. Whenever you are shopping or banking online, make sure your browser is properly encrypted by checking its URL. URL should start with HTTPS:// instead of HTTP://.

3. Use Well-Reputable Websites – Internet shopping is a lot easier when you know the merchants. We all know Amazon, eBay, Future Shop and won’t be hesitant to buy something online due to their reputation. Be extra careful when you buy from a merchant you don’t know. Research online first to check if this is a fake online store that has had issues in the past dealing with customers.

4. Do Not Use Debit Cards – If you use debit cards (Interac in Canada) online, your bank account may be exposed to thieves. Canadian credit cards now offer zero liability policies for fraudulent or unauthorized transactions under some conditions. Also, you can use PayPal instead of credit cards and I find it even safer than credit cards.

5. Other Precautions – Do not use public computers or public Wi-Fi to shop online, access your bank accounts, or access your email. Use a strong password and change it from time to time.

Best Android Free Financial Apps

My Top Favourite Free Android Financial Apps

First Published Date: March 1, 2012 ADawnJournal.com

Technology has made it possible to keep your money manager in your pocket or in your bag these days. Stay on top of your finances like a Pro with these free Android money management and financial apps. Today, I am going to discuss some of my favourite android apps I keep handy on my cell phone and on my tablet.

Mint.com Personal Finance by Intuit Inc. – View all your accounts and manage your money in one place with this Android app. This seems to be the only one app that works with all major Canadian banks. Don’t forget to make it password protected on your smart phone or tablet.

Stocks by Dato – View your stock portfolio or world stock markets on your screen with the Stocks app. It has the ability to sync with Google Finance portfolios and view all stocks saved on Google finance. It also supports Canada’s Toronto Stock Exchange.

Gold Live by Kitco Metals Inc. – This app lets you view precious metals like gold, silver, platinum live prices and also keep world stock markets and financial news at your fingertips with various charts and data. Gold Live does not come with a widget, but its home screen is customizable and neat enough to install this app on your phone or tablet.

Bloomberg for Smartphone or Tablet by Bloomberg LP – Get world financial news, world market data, stock tracking tools, major currency exchange rates, and much more from Bloomberg. It brings so much information that it can be overwhelming, but if you would like to keep on top of the global financial news, this is for you.

Exchange Rates by Russell Wilson – A very simple, but packed- with- features currency converter. Ad-free content and a minimalistic screen make this app better than other currency converter apps on the market.

Link: https://market.android.com/

Did You Get Your Free Canadian Phone Number For Android, Apple Smartphone or Tablet?

Dell Launches Dell Voice – A Free Phone For Canadians

First Published Date: March 8, 2012 ADawnJournal.com

(Dell Voice is now Fongo at Fongo)

Dell recently rolled out their free VOIP phone service Dell Voice for Android, Apple, and Windows devices exclusively for Canadians. A Blackberry version will soon be launched as well. Dell Voice is powered by Fongo, a VOIP tech company located in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.

How Does Dell Voice Work?

Dell Voice is an app that you need to install on your smartphone or tablet. You will be asked to choose your free Canadian phone number from the available cities across Canada during registration. I was not able to get a Toronto area code number 416 or 649. However, I was able to get area code 289 number – which is a local number for Toronto as well. If you would like to port your existing number, a $25 charge applies.

Is Dell Voice Is Really Free?

Dell Voice uses Internet to place and receive calls. You can receive unlimited calls on your device and place calls to most of the Canadian cities for free regardless of your location, as long as you have Internet connection (3G, 4G, WiFi). Dell Voice also comes with voicemail, caller ID, call waiting, call forwarding up to 3 separate numbers, 911 emergency service, and much more – all for free.

A Few Things You Need to Be Aware Of

Dell Voice uses your Internet or phone’s data connection to make calls. It uses 1 MB per minute of your data when you are on a call. If you do not have an unlimited data plan on your phone, keep an eye on your data uses as you may exceed your allocated data plan. You can easily keep an eye on your data uses by installing a data monitor application on your phone. If you are using Dell Voice to make and receive calls using your home’s Internet connection via WiFi, keep an eye on your broadband uses if your plan is not unlimited.

Also, to keep your free Canadian phone number forever, don’t forget to use Dell Voice at least once every 90 days. You can easily avoid the deletion of your free number by buying a VoIP unlock key, if you are planning to use it every 90 days.

The World Is Your Local Area Code

The possibilities are endless with Dell Voice. The whole world is your local call as long as you have a smartphone or tablet and an Internet connection. This is a must-have app for global travellers as it breaks the barriers and boundaries of placing and receiving local calls anywhere on earth. For example, on my upcoming trip to the Philippines, I will have my Asus Transformer Tablet with me. With the Dell

Voice app, I will be able to make local calls to Canada from the Philippines and my friends and family will be able to call me local from Canada as well, although I am 7000 miles away.

Last Word

Currently, Skype does not offer a paid or a free Canadian phone number to receive calls and it charges $2.99 per month to make calls within the USA and Canada. Google Voice keeps promising a big time roll out in Canada, but it does not look like it will happen anytime soon in the near future. Dell Canada’s launching Dell Voice is the right move in the right direction to secure its place in the competitive VoIP sector, as VoIP is the future of telecommunications.