Personal Finance Software Quicken: Should You Buy It?

A Simple Personal Finance Software Quicken and Mint Review: Both Quicken and Mint Will Do The Job

First Published Date: February 9, 2012 ADawnJournal.com

I received a complimentary copy of Quicken 2012 – the most recognized Personal Finance Software. Today, I will do a brief review of this product and also will talk about whether you should pay for Quicken 2012 or stick to free personal finance software Mint. A point worth mentioning is that both Mint and Quicken are owned by Intuit.

New Features in Quicken

Some new features were added to Quicken 2012. These features are:

– A redesigned better budgeting tool
– Debt reduction planner was revamped
– Bill and income reminders were improved
– Fonts were improved for better visibility

Adding Accounts to Both Quicken and Mint

I found it easier to add accounts to Mint than Quicken. For the Canadian version of Quicken, I had to download transactions manually for each account. It was a hassle. For Mint, I had to just provide the user ID and password, and the rest was a breeze.

How About Other Features

Both Mint and Quicken have very similar features, such as the ability to see all your bank and credit card accounts in one place, track your investments, create a budget based on your actual spending, set financial goals and see progress, receive bill payment reminders, and much more. However, the confusing part is to decide whether to pay for Quicken or use free Mint. I will discuss some points below so you can make an informed decision on whether to buy or not.

When To Use Quicken

– If you are an investor and looking for in-depth portfolio monitoring such as cost basis, detailed stock quotes, and other info, then Quicken is your choice.
– If you are not comfortable with cloud-based or online personal finance software, Quicken is your choice, as all your data is stored and run on your computer, not on a cloud server.
– Except for updating your accounts, you don’t need to be connected to the Internet to use Quicken, as it runs locally on your computer.

When To Use Mint (And No Need for Quicken)

– If you are looking for portability and would like to access and manage your finances anywhere on Earth, Mint is your choice.
– If you would like to have a mobile app on your smartphone, Mint is your choice.
– Although Quicken gives you more in-depth information on some of the features, I find it a bit more complex than Mint. So if you are looking for a simple and streamlined solution and don’t mind giving up some advanced features, Mint is your choice.
– And the best part of Mint – it’s all free.

Last Word

Currently I am using both Quicken and Mint. However, had not I received a free copy of Quicken 2012 I would be reluctant to buy Quicken and would only stick to Mint.

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.

Asus Eee Pad Transformer Tablet Review

Asus Tablet Review

First Published Date: September 14, 2011

I spent roughly two months researching all new tablets and checking out some of them physically at stores.  It’s very hard to decide on a tablet these days as manufacturers are flooding the market with new models every few months.  During my research, I ruled out the iPad due to its high cost and restrictive hardware/software.  I also ruled out the BlackBerry Playbook and the HP Touchpad due to their inferior operating systems.  I decided that I’d be buying an Android tablet, and I narrowed down the list to three finalists with 10 inch screens that would fit my needs and lifestyle:
– Samsung Galaxy Tab
– Toshiba Tablet
– Asus Eee Pad Transformer

I was already leaning towards one of these, but I decided to ask my nephew Shim to do another round of research and pick the best of the three. And guess what? We both came up with the same pick: the Asus Eee Pad Transformer 10.1.

Why Not Toshiba Tablet and Samsung Galaxy?

Here are the reasons why I did not pick the above mentioned two tabs:
– Samsung Galaxy does not offer any ports like MicroSD, SD, USB, or HDMI.
– The Galaxy’s back is too smooth and starts slipping out of your hand if you hold onto it for a while.
– Toshiba’s front camera sticks out (as it is shiny and not blended  
  into its own color) and looks ugly.
– Toshiba tablet is heavier, bulkier, and ugly looking. If I want a tablet, I want it to be a slim and good looking.
– The option to add a keyboard doc and transform Asus Eee Pad Transformer to a laptop was my main plus point to go for Asus.

Hardware Pluses for Asus Eee Pad

-Beautiful, clear screen
-Easy to grip
-HDMI port
-Extra Storage (MicroSD)

Software Pluses

- Android’s Widgets are a huge plus, and iPad lacks them
-Flash video, which the iPad also lacks.

Hardware Minuses

-No USB Port on the pad itself (its on the dock)
-Screen gets fingerprints very easily (worse than the iPad)

Software Minuses

-Honeycomb still needs some fine tuning, browser sometimes crashed when playing video
-No built-in task killer, software must be downloaded to enable this
-Android Market doesn’t have as many free apps as Apple’s app store

What I Like Most About Asus Tablet

Its price and the option to use it as both a tablet and a laptop.

What I Don’t Like About Asus Tablet

Its power supply cord is too small. 

As I write this review, stores in Canada are getting ready to launch Sony’s new Tablet. In 2-3 years, expect to see even more great tablets on the market.  The fierce competition will drive prices down and make them much more affordable.

How To Get Free Internet (No Kidding)

Get Free Hi-Speed Internet for Your Home and Save $50 or More per Month

First Published: May 11, 2011 ADawnJournal.com

Is This A Trick To Make Me Read Your Article?

The purpose of this article is not to trick you to read it by giving unrealistic tips such as going to an Internet cafe or Wi-Fi hotspot zone and sit there all day long to have free Internet access; or not to give you an even more nonsense tip such as drive around the neighbourhood to find an unsecure Internet network and sit in front of that house in your car with your laptop to have free Internet access (and oh yes, don’t forget to keep an eye out for police cruisers).

The purpose of this article is to give you enough information to have free Internet at home and at outside – without paying for a separate Internet connection. I will tell you what you need to save around $50 per month, and I will also tell you what you can do to overcome some technological limitations – if you are not a tech savvy person. However, after learning about all the tips and tricks, just like anything else, some of you may not want to go through the pain and hassle (if you think it that way) to save $50 a month – and that is perfectly understandable. However, I will tell you this that I have been using free Internet and saving $50 a month for 4 months now since I discontinued my regular Internet service in January 2011.

What You Must Need To Have Free Internet

Here is what you must need to have this work for you:

An Android smart phone (same procedure mentioned here should work for other smart phones; however, I use Android and am only familiar with Android)

A phone plan with unlimited data. In Canada, Mobilicity and Wind Mobile offer unlimited data plan.

A tethering app or software

A USB/micro USB cable

What Is Tethering?

Tethering is the process in which you use your smart phone to get Internet access for your laptop or desktop. Your smart phone and your computer can be connected via USB cable or wirelessly via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection.

How Do I Actually Connect My Smart Phone and Computer To Get Free Internet Access?

The way I do it, and this is the easiest way to tether with an older version of the Android operating system, is to use a USB cable and very user-friendly tethering application such as Easy Tether.

Here are the steps in order:

You need to install tethering software on your computer and smart phone. There are many available on Android market so you can pick the one that suits your needs. I use Easy Tether.

Connect your computer and smart phone via a cable.

You may need to change some settings on your phone. The tethering software’s website will tell you what settings need to be changed and it should not be that complicated.

What If I Am Not Tech-Savvy Enough To Do It On My Own?

Tethering is not hard to do; however, I realise that some of you may not be able to do it. What can you do in that case? Find someone else to do it for you. If you know a high school kid who is on the Internet 24/7 in your neighbourhood or even in your home, most likely this kid will be able to do it for you.

Another easy way to find someone is to check cell phone stores. The folks who works there are usually very tech-savvy and they can do it for you in a snap. One geeky guy at my phone store did a lot of work for me when I first bought my smart phone, as I had even no idea how to pick up a call on a smart phone. As a token of appreciation, I gave him some cigars upon returning home from Cuba. This is the guy who also taught me how to tether. One point here – don’t expect someone to work for free for you. Offer them money and they will be happy to go the extra mile for you and it is only fair. For example, offer someone $100 to set up tethering for you and I can almost tell you with certainty that this will be an offer someone won’t be able to refuse. Don’t worry about spending $100 when you will be saving $50+ a month on a regular basis.

Technology Makes Life Easier

In newer versions of Android phones, you will not have to go through setting up tethering and so on to enjoy free Internet. Google has added built-in tethering and Wi-Fi hotspot functionality so you can tether easily or use your smart phone as a high-speed wireless modem to share an Internet connection among many computers.

The Last Word

My smart phone does not support Wi-Fi hotspot functionality – so I am limited to have Internet only on one computer at a time. I am hoping to get a new version of the Android phone shortly so I can have Internet on all my computers at the same time. And yes, with the money I am saving after disconnecting my regular Internet – which comes out to be about $600 annually (12 X $50), I can afford to buy a new phone shortly.