How to Tether your Android Phone

Accessing the Internet while you are on the go may not be possible at all places. There are situations where you may require to go online, but without any Wi-Fi hotspot around, you are helpless. So in such cases, tethering your cell phone may seem to be a good way out. In the following section, I have put down some easy tips on how to tether your Android phone when you are left with no other means to access the Internet.

The Best Way to Tether Android

Although people have come up with multiple methods of tethering Android phone, what I found to be the best and safest approach was using the Android application called PdaNet. Most users found its use to be the easiest and less time-consuming. The following steps would help you with tethering your Android phone.

Step # 1: First of all, visit the Android store and install the application called PdaNet on your phone. This application is known to be the fastest software for tethering Android phones.

Step # 2: You would also have to download the PdaNet PC program on the computer you wish to use for tethering your phone. You would be provided with options for Windows and Mac; choose accordingly. Once the download is over, run the program as prompted, and follow the instructions.

Step # 3: The next step would be to make some changes in the settings on your Android phone. Follow the steps below:

• Go to Settings ---> Applications ---> Development.
• Once you are in the Development tab, you would see USB Debugging as one of the options. Check the box against it and click 'OK' to confirm.

Step # 4: Now you are all set to tether your Android phone. Connect the phone to your PC, and simply run the PdaNet application on your phone. Thereafter, select Enable USB Tether.

Step # 5: Go back to your PC, find the PdaNet icon (usually stays in your system tray), right-click on it and select Connect. Voila! You are good to go now!

Things to Remember

• While the application, PdaNet can be downloaded for free, the free version limits the user to access secure websites. The paid version costs $30.
• Experts recommend to turn off the USB Debugging function under the Development tab, after the user is done with tethering.

As mentioned, there are multiple ways of tethering your Android phone. Apart from the one cited above, there are two more ways of doing so. While these methods incur no cost at all, their usage involves heavy configuration, and is apparently not for novices.

Other Ways to Tether Android

One method is about turning the phone into a Wi-Fi hotspot. This requires the help of the application called Android Wi-Fi Tether. This method also involves what is known as rooting. Rooting means gaining access to services that manufacturers or sometimes carriers impose on the device. For the Wi-Fi Tether to work, your phone must be rooted. The possible risk in performing this operation is you making a mess out of your phone if the rooting goes wrong. This method is not recommended for all users, it is only for those who are savvy enough to perform some heavy configuration on their Android phones.

Another method is making use of Proxoid which when used, turns your phone into a proxy server thus, making it usable for tethering. This technique does not involve rooting your Android phone, but it does demand the knowledge of working around command lines and proxy server. Also, installing Proxoid alone is not enough as, to make it operational, you would also have to install Android SDK. Not to forget, you would have to make certain changes in your PC too.

So far, the use of the PdaNet Android application has proven to be the best method for tethering Android phones, which is well evident from its download of over 4 million times. To add to this, it is known to handle a download speed of well above 35Mbps.

How to Play Facebook Games on iPad

The Apple iPad has sold more than 20 million units worldwide since its release, the Apple iPad 2 has sold around 1.5 million units in a select few countries (while more countries are being added to the list every week) and Facebook is a social networking website with more than 700 million active users worldwide. It would be reasonable to say that every individual who owns an iPad will definitely be a member of Facebook, so he will be accessing the network through the device at least once a day.

There are several games and applications that are available for use on Facebook which are highly successful thanks to the highly social nature of the platform, and the large ecosystem that it provides. Moreover, people who own iPads are tech savvy, to say the least, and can find their way around simple web based activities, so they will undoubtedly be immersing themselves in some of the best Facebook games that various game developers have to offer.

Can You Play Facebook Games on iPad

The simple answer to this question is a resounding yes, since there is absolutely no reason why you cannot play video games, and Facebook games as well, on the Apple iPad. You have pretty much everything that you need for playing these games on the iPad. This includes access to the web, a large touchscreen for good viewing and optimal navigation and control, excellent image clarity, a three-axis gyroscope (in the iPad 2) and also an accelerometer which can come in handy for some fast action games. But the only tool missing for this purpose is a rather significant one, and it mentioned below. In the meantime, these are pretty much all the tools that you need in order to learn how to play Facebook games on iPad (only some selected games), so it is fair to say that the Apple iPad is more than capable of achieving this.

The only problem in this scenario is that some Facebook games require the device running it to have Adobe Flash installed on it. This is a software that is totally absent from Apple products because of a long-running feud between Steve Jobs (the founder and CEO of Apple) and the good folks at Adobe. This software is not going to be found on the iPad anytime soon, so any game which requires Flash will not run at all on the Apple iPad, which is slightly disappointing to learn.

Best Facebook Games

With that in mind, here are some popular Facebook games that do not run on an iPad due to the unavailability of Adobe Flash.

• Bejeweled Blitz
• CityVille
• Cafe World
• FarmVille
• Mafia Wars
• Monopoly Millionaires
• Pet Society
• Texas Hold 'Em Poker
• Uno

This list is much bigger than this, but we have only mentioned some of the best Facebook games here. It is unfair on consumers that they have to go through this because of Apple's refusal to accept Adobe Flash's conditions, but this is something that all iPad owners have to live with. If it is any consolation, this disadvantage is not only restricted to Facebook games. It spreads to other iPad activities like surfing the web and playing other browser games as well, making this the iPads only possible weakness via-a-vis its direct competitors in the tablet market.

How to Play Facebook Games on iPad

One possible solution to this problem is to jailbreak your iPad and then install some third-party applications that allow you to make use of Flash content. While this can be extremely useful, it can also prove to be dangerous and expensive, since an iOS devices warranty is considered null and void if it has been jailbroken. So this is a dilemma that you will have to deal with, in a manner that you see fit. You can also try installing an application known as iSwifter on the iPad through the official Apple App Store. This app apparently allows the iPad to play a few Flash games, but not all. Unfortunately, it can also only be used over a Wi-Fi connection and not a 3G Internet connection.

Another piece of advice for an iPad owner who wants to learn how to play Facebook games on iPad would be to discard the iPad completely and then get an alternative replacement tablet that runs on Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) or RIM's QNX OS. These support Adobe Flash so these games will work seamlessly on such tablets.

Apple has created a lot of problems for their consumers by continuing their issues with Flash. This is still a very prevalent software in today's media driven world and it is no surprise that Apple users are suffering as a result. For all the greatness of an Apple iPad, it is more than just a little frustrating that it is unable to play the best Facebook games around.

Lemonade Stand Game Tips

Want to test your management skills? Looking upon that ever crowded coffee shop while walking on the street, have you ever thought that, if you would have run the business it could have seen no bounds? Well, before you try your hand at running that coffee shop, here is a game that you can play to see if you are going to be successful or not. Though it seems childish, I mean, what businessman plays games, but the lemonade stand game will surely put all your managerial skills to the test. Let's then, without further ado, take a look at what this game is all about, and find out some lemonade stand game tips as well, while we are at it.

What is the Lemonade Stand Game?

The lemonade stand game is a very simple pc game that can be played by both adults and children. Though simple, it ends up as a good pc game, thanks to its economics and business principle based theme. Like in real life, your goal in this game is to make as much money as possible, in a given time frame. You control a business, a lemonade stand, and you get to manage all aspects of this business in your bid to earn more money. Everything, right from purchasing raw material, setting up the pricing, quality control, customer satisfaction, et al, is in your hands. Based on the weather conditions, you have to decide how much to stock, how much to price your drink, and try to sell maximum lemonade to potential customers. The weather, your price and your quality are the main determinants of your sales. Besides the weather, changes can be made to almost everything. In some versions of the game, you can even change your selling price depending on the time of the day. A higher price towards noon, and a lower price towards the evening can ensure that you sell maximum lemonades to customers.

Being a business game, the Lemonade Stand Game was developed to let upcoming managers, administrators, and students try their skills by running a virtual lemonade stand. Since it is a java-based game, it can be played from anywhere provided the user has Internet access. The player is exposed to a business like situation and based on his managerial skills, one would be able to make maximum profit.

Directions for the Lemonade Stand Game

You first are required to choose how many days challenge you want to play, you can choose from 7, 14 or 30 days. Then you will need to consider your assets. You will be given $20 for your setup and you have to manage with it. You can purchase as many cups, lemons, sugar, and ice cubes as you want, but you need to remember that this purchase can be made only once a day. It is important to keep in mind weather conditions, as you don't want to run out of stock on a particularly hot day. Weather is the major component for your business. Always consider weather while deciding upon the cost per glass, the price which your customers will be paying for the lemonade. Once you get the hang of it, you yourself will understand and manage your setup. The clue to the game is your business sense.

Lemonade Stand Game Hints

There aren't any specific tips or hints for the game, so don't expect any game cheats for it. You will have to play on your own. But what we shall look at here are lemonade stand game tips, clues, and hints which would enhance your business.

• You will be given $20 in the beginning and you need to use it judiciously to purchase raw materials. I would recommend not to purchase lots of ice, cause if you do not happen to sell the required lemonades, then the ice melts towards the end of the day, resulting in your loss. Also, do not buy too many lemons as again, if your sale is not high enough, there are chances of the lemons going bad. The same applies for sugar, too much or too little are both bad for your business.
• Weather plays the most important part in this game, and you need to check the weather for the day before buying any raw materials. Buy more inventory on a hot day, and less on days that are rainy.
• The price you charge per glass has a huge effect on the amount of glasses you will be able to sell per day. Keep in mind the gamut of customers and see that your price falls in reach of them all. Also, consider the weather while setting up the prices for your product. For example, no one would want to buy a highly priced lemonade when it rains.
• Customer satisfaction is another important factor which will help boost your business. If people like your product they will spread a good word about it and it will work in your favor. Remember, a good product should be evenly priced. If you overcharge, you will see your customers go away.
• Have a business sense of your own to see the profit you make, going higher.

Hope these Lemonade Stand Game tips prove to be useful to you. I played it myself and its probably one of the best pc games I've played so far. It is a very simple looking game, but then it will put your business running skills to the test. Though it may be addictive in the beginning for some, nevertheless, it is one of those harmless addictions. So what are you waiting for? Get yourself bewildered with it and make some good money. GOOD LUCK!