Samsung Gear VR (2017) review

Not willing to rest on its OCULUS GEAR VR supremacy, Samsung is back with a new Gear VR headset. If you've lost count of the iterations by this stage, we don't blame you – the Korean company's latest device is the fifth to show off the Oculus-powered VR platform.

But while previous updates have offered much of the same with only small changes to the spec sheet, Samsung has now included a motion controller for you to control the action, despite this also increasing the price of the pair. The only other difference is the Orchid Grey finish to match Samsung's new flagship phone. That's it.

The experience is still totally wireless, using just your Samsung phone to showcase games, videos and apps, but how did we get on when using the newest addition to the Gear VR lineup, and is the controller really worth the upgrade? Read on to find out.

Generally, your experience using a Gear VR will depend on which smartphone you lock inside the headset. Samsung, of course, will be pushing you toward the Galaxy S8 and its wide screen, but those with an S7, S7 Edge, Note 5, S6, S6 Edge and S6 Edge+ are all covered, too.

Sticking with the same 101 degree viewing angle that was improved through the last iteration, the new Gear VR is still just about on par with the PlayStation VR for visuals. A darker colour tint is also involved so glare and reflections are minimal, while room inside the device also means that fogging issues of the past are no longer a problem.



It's not a perfect picture, but this is still mobile VR, and it's the best that you can strap to your head in this range.

Right, let's cut to the big addition here – that shiny new controller. As you'll likely have noted from the image above, the device matches the fresh aesthetic of the headset itself, with the same mixture of gloss and matte featuring.

The device itself is only 48.1 x 38.2 x 108.1mm, and accessing the volume controls, back button, home screen or touch pad are all a breeze, meaning your days of fiddling around on the side of the headset are over.

The trigger also opens up a lot of potential for plenty of first-person shooter type games plus a new way to get around the virtual world Samsung has created. If you've experienced Google Daydream's accessory (below) before, it's a pretty similar experience that will come naturally – you point the controller, you click the controller, you win.

There's obviously a minimal amount of depth here, which means its hard to separate the two, but the headline is that the new controller makes shooting around menus, jumping between videos and playing games a much more attractive experience than any before it. It does its job, and does it well. The only downside regarding the whole thing is that it took this long to implement.

Not only can you get involved with the big names like Oculus Rooms, YouTube and Minecraft, but the indie end of the spectrum is also packed with options for you to travel through.

It's an area that continues to push Samsung above its rivals, with plenty of demos and free apps existing alongside the pricy hitters. Users are also able to choose items to download through descriptions and a Netflix-style five-star review system. It's still simple, and it still works nicely.

As expected, the amount of apps which support the controller right now is limited. And while many games, for example, do support it, this can often turn out to just mean using the controller to navigate through menus, rather than actually playing differently.

Expect this to change as developers work through how to better utilise the tech, though the early signs with apps like Dead and Buried and Ocean Riftare encouraging.



Away from apps, Samsung has a new 360-degree video library at SamsungVR.com – there are 8,000 videos at launch and Gear 360 users can upload their own creations too. Sure that means there will be some tat, but there's enough quality out there including 'Originals' like Doug Liman's VR series Invisible. All impressive stuff, you won't get bored.

The Gear VR is still very much a Samsung Galaxy exclusive, with one of its only negative points being that it only works with eight phones in total. Like last year's headset, it comes with both Micro USB and USB Type-C adaptors so you can use the device with multiple Samsung phones. It's very quick to swap these modules and align your phone correctly with the slider. Just be careful not to lose these.


The full list of compatible phones for the Samsung Gear VR (2017) is: Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+, Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge, Note 5, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge and Galaxy S6 Edge+. This is the exact same list as the 2016 headset, with the addition of the two S8s.

IROBOT BRAAVA 380T

Design and Setup
The Braava 380t looks a heck of a lot like the Braava 320, with the same two-tier shape and dimensions. It measures 9.6 by 8.5 by 3.1 inches (WDH) and weighs in at 4 pounds. It comes in shiny black plastic instead of white, with the same matte black plastic along the sides. There are just three simple function buttons on top of the device: Power, Mop, and Sweep, along with navigation system indicator lights underneath. There's also a handle on the back that allows you to pick up and transport the robot easily. The only way you'd really know that this is a different model, aside from color, is the rubber bumper on the front. While both Braava models work slowly and gently enough that I wouldn't worry about it scuffing even the most delicate furniture, the rubber bumper makes for added peace of mind.

Before you can start cleaning, first you must charge the robot. Stand it up on its back to access the charging port, plug it in, and wait for a solid blue light to appear on the Power button. It takes about four hours to reach a full charge, which should last for up to four hours of sweeping or two-and-a-half hours of mopping. A Turbo Charge Cradle is available for $59.99, which charges the Braava to full capacity in just two hours. It's easier to use, too, since you don't need to stand the device on its back.

Once fully charged, you need to attach the appropriate cleaning pad and microfiber cloth for sweeping or mopping. The Braava comes with one multi-purpose cleaning pad, one reservoir mopping pad, one microfiber cloth for sweeping, and one microfiber cloth for mopping. The cleaning cloths are all machine washable, and can be used hundreds of times.


The pad for mopping comes with a small built-in reservoir you must fill up with water before using. Dampen the mopping cloth, then stick it onto the pad via Velcro attachments on the back. The pad for sweeping, meanwhile, uses a set of grip teeth to hold a dry microfiber cloth firmly in place. The pads are held in place by magnets, and are easy to put on. You cannot use the mopping and sweeping cloths and pads interchangeably.

I was a little surprised that there's no specialized cleaning solution for mopping. But the microfiber pads have been specially formulated for optimal cleaning, so just water should do the trick. You may also use a mild solution of your choice, but anything thick can clog the wick (which is the porous cap to the reservoir pad). Still, as an avowed germaphobe, I like to take a heavy duty approach to my cleaning every once in a while, and it looks like I'll have to continue to do that by hand in the future. The multi-purpose cleaning pad does work with pre-moistened cleaning cloths though, like Swiffer pads, if that's any consolation.


Finally, before you can start cleaning, you must turn on the included, battery-powered NorthStar Navigation Cube. When you turn it on, a flashing blue light will appear. Place the Cube on a counter or table with a clear view of the ceiling, and point the flashing blue light toward the center of the room. This will help guide the Braava around your room. I did have trouble on occasion getting the Braava to connect to the Cube, but this would pass with repeated attempts.

One major benefit to the Braava 380t is that you can use additional Navigation Cubes to guide the robot from room to room. Just keep in mind that each additional Cube costs $39.99, and the Braava 380t only has so much battery life. But if you live in a small one-bedroom apartment like I do, it makes for the ultimate in kick-back cleaning.


Performance and Conclusions
Once you're all set up, all you have to do is press the Mop or Sweep button and let the Braava do the rest. I first tried sweeping, in order to prep my floors for a good mopping. The Braava 380t only works on flat surfaces, like tile or hardwood floor, so throw rugs and carpeted areas are completely out. Luckily, my apartment is mostly hardwood flooring, and the Braava avoided my throw rugs like the plague.

The IROBOT BRAAVA 380T uses a mostly forward motion to sweep, pushing forth and carrying dust, debris, and plenty of pet hair. I was actually quite surprised at the amount of dirt and dust the pad the picked up, since I tend to keep a pretty clean home (I'll blame it on a shedding pug and the hard-to-vacuum spots underneath the couch). It doesn't vacuum, which means you're going to need to clean off all that debris it picks up by hand rather than emptying out a bin, which was a terrifying prospect when I spotted a long-dead house centipede. I was glad the Braava found it, but not so glad to dust it off by hand with a paper towel. Still the microfiber cloth picked up a lot more than I expected. Even better is that the Braava 380t is virtually silent. I often forgot it was even on until I heard it beep to let me know that it was done cleaning.

After a thorough sweeping, I set the Braava to mop. To do this, it employs a back-and-forth technique in which it leaves a liquid trail in the shape of the letter Y. I only filled the reservoir pad with water, to see how good a job the microfiber cloth would do. Once again I was pretty impressed with the results. I guess I just don't expect my apartment to be dirty, but I was surprised at the amount of dirt visible on the cleaning cloth when the Braava had finished, as well as the overall "clean" feeling of my floors.

The main problem is that the Braava 380t pays the same amount of attention to each area it cleans, so it will spend just as much time on a dried up spill as it will on a perfectly clean section of floor. That means that it's perfectly fine for a quick cleaning, especially if you usually keep things tidy, but you'll need to put in some of your own manpower on tough stains and spills.

The NorthStar Navigation Cubes did a good job in guiding the robot around my apartment. It often got right near furniture without actually bumping into it, and did a really nice job navigating around corners. A large shag rug in the middle of living room threw the robot for a loop though. While there should have been just enough space to navigate around the rug, it was never able to make it; I had to pick it up and move it myself. And as far as I'm concerned, if I'm using a robot to do my housework, I want to put in as little physical effort as possible. Additionally, there's no way to schedule cleanings with the Braava Plus, like you can with vacuum robots like the Neato XV-21.


Quibbles aside, I really like the Braava 380t. It's great for someone like me, who lives in a mostly hardwood-floored apartment. While its mopping capabilities aren't quite on par with the superior suction of the high-end Roomba 880$589.95 at Amazon, it has the added benefit of being able to mop my floors after it sweeps them. There's also the Scooba 450Best Price at Amazon, which vacuums and mops, but at $600, it's double the price of the Braava 380t. It's also a lot louder, and still lacks the muscle to take out deep-set stains.

I'm tempted to give the Braava 380t 4 stars instead of 3.5, but I won't, mainly because the Braava 320 is also available. That model sells for $100 less, and I'm not sure the added features here are worth the extra dough for most people. The extended battery is definitely nice, and room-to-room cleaning is handy, but keep in mind you'll have to pay even more for additional Cubes. The rubber bumper is welcome but superfluous, as are some of the other new features. So if you don't really need any of these, then go for the Braava 320. Either way, you're guaranteed a cool new robot for the couch potato with cleanliness in mind.

Garage Door Opener Buying Guide – How to Choose the Best

You definitely need to keep in mind the fact that selecting the most appropriate garage door opener (for example: MIGHTY MULE 502 ) is surely not going to be a walk in the park. There are just so many different things that the market offers and with the advancement of technology, it is easy to get lost in this great abundance of devices. However, you would have to properly pick the one that is tailor made for your garage door if you want to avoid any complications that would undeniably lead to some strong headache. This is due to the fact that if you purchase a model that is unfit for your garage door you are likely going to have to uninstall it completely and purchase a new one. And you are also very likely to have thrown a significant amount of money away. This is why you should keep an eye out for the things listed below.

• Try to find a device that is rather quiet. It is just something that would most likely bother most of the customers. You don’t want your garage opener to raise a lot of noise because it would undeniably cause discomfort and irritation amongst your neighbors and amongst your family members.
• Another thing that you want to get right is the remote-control reliability. Now, this might sound a bit technical but to put it in simple words – if you have neighbors who also have garage openers, the signals of your remote controls are likely to overlay which would cause interference. So, in order to avoid this, you should be looking out for garage door openers with dual-frequency. This would allow your remote to automatically switch between two frequencies in order to properly reduce the interference.
• The rolling code security technology is something that is relatively modern and quite complex. This method would allow you to rest assured that burglars won’t be able to electronically open your garage door. What it does is basically it would generate a new opening sequence every time you use your remote control. The garage door opener sets the new code out of millions of possibilities and sends the information to the remote which would trigger the opening process. So if burglars are to break in, they would have to guess a combination that is picked out of billion possibilities.
• Battery backup. Now, this is something that you should definitely aim to get. If it is not included in your garage door opener, you should ask for it to be added as an extra because it may be a lifesaver in certain situations. Generally, the garage door openers are operating with batteries or are plugged into the power source. However, if you run out of battery or if you are experiencing a power outage, you would literally be locked out or in your own garage. Imagine the inconvenience this might cause. With a battery backup, you would be able to open and close it for another 20-24 hours afterward.
• Another thing that you want to keep an eye out for is the overhead lights. Make sure that you buy a device that allows you to control the lights independently of the opening and closing process of the door. Some of the advanced garage door openers would be equipped with a motion sensor that would light up the place when a movement is detected.

All of this is regarding the specifications that you might consider getting. However, there are some absolute musts that you should undeniably take into serious consideration before going out and purchasing a garage door opener.

• How powerful a motor do you need?

  This depends on the size and the weight of your door. As you might have already figured heavier doors are going to require more lifting power in order to get opened. This is why you should consider buying a motor that offers you at least 1/2 horsepower if you have a heavy residential garage door. However, if you are using a lighter version you shouldn’t necessarily buy a less powerful motor because it wouldn’t matter much. On the other hand, there are also motors that offer up to 1 and 1/4 horsepower and they are designated for significantly heavier doors.

• What are the sizes of your door?

  Most of the garage doors are designated to handle standard 7-foot tall garage doors. However, there are extension kits that would allow you to use them for taller doors. You should expect to pay an additional amount of money for the kit, but if you got to do it there is no other way around.

• Do not overlook security and safety

  After all, security and safety must come first at all times. This is due to the fact that the most important purpose of a garage door is to keep the belongings inside out of the reach of burglars. Therefore, you should aim to get a device that would provide you with the highest amount of security features. You should always take into account safety matters. For instance, you surely wouldn’t want your garage door to slam on your car while you are parking because it got the wrong signal from your remote. Imagine if your pet or kid is under it while this happens. Aim for doors that have automatic reverse functions combined with sensors that would inform the device if there is something underneath the door.
  The truth is that this kind of technology would allow you to also implement an abundance of features for additional security, safety as well as convenience. For instance, you are also able to implement a HomeLink system that would allow you to operate the garage door right from the dash. However, keep in mind that some of the older cars might cause you nasty problems because the protocols of the system have altered over the years.

In any case, the benefits of a garage door opener are undeniable. They surely bring a great deal of assets to the table. The sole fact that you would be completely able to open your garage door without having to get out of the car in order to unlock it is enough reason to consider purchasing such a device. The most advanced models are incredibly quiet and if installed properly you would only hear the slightest sound of the door moving on the rails or being lift up.

Nevertheless, purchasing the right model could be quite a bother. Therefore, before going out to shop for it, make sure that you have done your homework. Measure the size of your door and figure out how heavy it is in order to get the model with the right capabilities. The last thing you want is to buy a device that wouldn’t be able to lift your door up because the motor is not powerful enough. This buying guide is specifically designated to provide you with all the information you are going to need in order to make an informed and concise choice so make sure to go over it on a quick glance and find out for yourself what you would be looking for.

Top 10 SEO Myths Everyone Should Know About

Hint #1: Only the initial position matters

Many e-books and other tools that business owners utilize will place a significant emphasis on the requirement to be on very top of search results, whether that's on Google Search, other motors, or perhaps in areas like social websites. But surveys have proven that individuals really frequently will look at other effects and they'll scroll down through the web page. Being at the top of another page, as an instance can be very beneficial for visitors. Additionally, search position is simply 1 portion of this mystery. Now Google puts other outcomes on the web page like societal recommendations and neighborhood results also, so there are a lot more avenues available to you, and being location is no longer as critical as it once was.

Hint #2: You are able to certainly do SEO services NYC with no external help

Doing SEO services New York simply suggests that you comply with a set of procedures and techniques to improve the opportunity that web users will proceed to your website. It's a fact that anyone can learn those strategies, and if you're a website owner and you would like to do your best local SEO then it's possible to devote the opportunity to learn and employ those techniques. However, affordable SEO services for small business can be complicated and touches many places like online advertising, coding, technical facets together with PR abilities. Most business owners just don't have everything necessary to do an excellent job at affordable SEO company, and that's the reason why so many agencies exist which offer aid. An easy IT employee or internet mark is often insufficient in the event you want truly fantastic outcomes.

Hint #3: META tags are Essential

It was that every page in your website needed META tags so as to rank well. Those are little pieces of code which will give Google a list of key words and a description. The search engine could base itself on people to learn what your internet site was around. Now, however, those don't affect your ranking whatsoever. Both Google and Bing ceased caring about META tags so as to index websites. However, they're not useless. As an instance, your description tag is going to be the text which frequently appears alongside the link that shows up on the lookup result, therefore it is still a helpful bit of this action.

Hint #4: Keyword-rich domains are rated higher

Back in the dot-com days, it was that the URL you used was quite important. Google put a great deal of significance on the domain, and in case you might find a title that had your key word in it, you'd get a large advantage over other websites. This is the reason plenty of organizations in the late 90s purchased domains for plenty of cash. Now, however, the indexing procedure simply appears at the actual content of your web pages, rather than the domain. This name is still significant, because people still have to view it, but it is not going to cause you to rank higher.

Hint #5: You Need to submit your Website to Google or other search engines

All search engines used to possess URL submission forms in which you can send your website into Google and many others. In actuality, they do, but that procedure is unnecessary. The crawlers these engines use today are complex enough that any new website is going to be discovered in a few days, or even hours. The only time you may need to be worried about submitting your website would be if for some reason it wasn't indexed automatically after a day or two.

Hint #6: Submitting a site will improve your rankings

Google provides a webmaster interface and from that point, it is possible to submit a site, which can be an XML file containing links to each page on your website. Some website owners take some opportunity to submit such a document whenever they make a switch, but that's not vital. Submitting a site doesn't alter your positions, all it really does is include web pages which might not have been indexed. If your website is typical and contains links to each the pages, then it is not going to be needed.

Hint #7: SEO services NYC has nothing to do with societal websites

Prior to the arrival of Facebook and Twitter, SEO New York company was the only method to get traffic out of a natural way. Now, however, social networking is everywhere, and the line is rapidly blurring between both. While some marketers still believe SEO services NYC and social websites to be distinct beasts, the simple truth is they're quite closely connected. As an instance, Google now puts their own social networking, Google Plus, into its own search results. If you're able to get enough powerful individuals to discuss your merchandise and link to your website, then their recommendations are going to appear in almost any Google search results their buddies do. This obviously affects SEO services NYC. On the opposite side, Facebook has begun going after hunt too, by presenting their Open Graph engine, which searches according to interests and friends. So both domains are closely connected, and they're becoming closer all of the time.

Hint #8: Google doesn't read CSS documents

The Google bot was fairly primitive and just watched text, and that's the reason why a lot of people concentrated on the text component of the internet site. However, now that motor is extremely complicated and it reads JavaScript, CSS, and much more. The crawler can definitely see if your site's presentation is attractive for consumers or not. As an instance, if someone searches on a mobile device and also you don't have any mobile design on your website, you might be missing out.

Myth #9: You Want to upgrade Your House page all of the time

Some folks believe that by upgrading their home page material constantly they'll rank higher, or simply by not upgrading it that their ranking will fall. Typically that's not the situation, since in the event that you've got a sales page that delivers an item, then there would not be a reason to upgrade that page unless something regarding the item varies, and Google expects.

Myth #10: The H1 header has higher significance than the rest of your text

The arrangement of your webpage is noticed by Google and search engines, but you need to realize that lots of websites are structured quite differently. Therefore, no one particular tag has more significance than another. An H1 tag is merely a header which corresponds to your CSS entry for the consumer to realize your web page a specific way. It doesn't create Google rank your web page any differently in case you use H2 tags rather, or if your key words are for the most part in the text rather than in a particular CSS tag.

How to select roofing materials

CHIMNEY CRICKET

When the property includes a fireplace, a specialist roofing contractor NYC may recommend installing a cricket if you haven't one presently. A cricket is a peaked construction in the back of a chimney to help prevent snow and ice build-up also to deflect water around the chimney.

PIPES AND FANS

Pipes and followers about the roofing contractors NYC should really be resolved in the appraisal. These are ports that enable air to escape the house in the loft, toilet, or other house needs. A contractor may show how they'll address these throughout the project. Can they keep the identical kinds, replace with fresh pipes or propose a different type of ventilation or fan.

GUTTERS

When changing a roof, it is a good time to think about replacing gutters as well. Either on your request or their advice, a choice for gutter replacement can take place to the estimation. It could specify the size in toes, sort of material, the kind of construction (easy, sectional), the dimension or thickness in inches and also the dimension of the downspouts which is used. Gutter estimates can include leaf safety, which is really a masking that allows water to flow and retains leaves and other debris from producing clogs while in the gutter and downspouts.

SOFFIT & LIGAMENT

Frequently exchanging soffit and ligament is likely to be advised.

Fascia - Joins the roof for the soffit, where gutters are attached.

Soffit - Covers underneath of the roof overhang.

These two enjoy a big portion in guarding the structure of the home.

PLYWOOD & SHEATHING

Under every one of the underlayment, ice & water shield and shingle material will be the decking. This is the wood which makes the strong design of the roof. Throughout roofing company NYC project, it could be discovered that some of this decking has been broken and must be replaced. NYC roofing contractors might show this expenditure in various methods. Whenever they discover noticeable harm they will observe that within the estimation and also the sort of substance that will be applied. This could be plywood, Luan or other covers. Nevertheless, occasionally this harm is concealed until the replacement project has begun. Some technicians will also are the added costs that could be incurred in case a problem is available.

WARRANTIES

Most roofing companies NYC estimate can note warranties and guarantees with disadvantages as well as for a specific period of time.

Producers' guarantees generally present coverage if you have a deficiency while in the New York roofing material that triggers leaks under normal situations. A manufacturer's coverage will typically cover the expense of replacing the resources, not the job to do this. In addition, they don't cover exchanging the whole roof, just fixing or changing the flawed regions.

Makers' warranties generally exclude harm because of pre-existing situations of the roof. When the shingles were installed wrongly or the New York roofer and gutter design were flawed, protection might be rejected. Many guarantees are prorated, indicating the longer the roof is in your home the less protection you have.

Companies might identify quality professionals that they trust. These companies may be able to provide extra or extended suppliers' guarantees.

Be sure to recognize the coverage and limitations of the maker's warranty before using it to create your roofing decisions.

While a superb guarantee to address flaws is very important, picking your NYC roofing contractors are as much so.

Suppliers' guarantees don't cover problems due to installment. That is in which an artistry guarantee will come in.

A design guarantee emerges from the contractor and includes all defects linked to installation work only. A qualified contractor may know what sort of content to use on your roof and just how to set up it properly, lowering the likelihood of commercial roofing NYC loss. Your contractor will also understand potential problems for example design, drainage and ventilation problems and target these in advance so they won't harm your new shingles in the foreseeable future. A dependable contractor will offer you a labor warranty to address any problems that may develop for extra satisfaction.

When contemplating your NYC roofing contractors, make sure you look at the protection guarantees provide and especially the quality and familiarity with the company installing them.

CHOOSING YOUR COMPANY

After reading and understanding the estimates, it is time to make a decision regarding who'll do the work. Ensure that you have a look at each contractor's skills and knowledge. Online reviews are a fantastic supply of information.

Grape Solar 250W Review

Although Grape Solar has been on the scene only since 2009, this company based in Eugene, Oregon, has made a name for itself as a producer of reasonably priced but good quality solar panels. The quality is the same as GOAL ZERO YETI 150 SOLAR GENERATOR KIT or other famous solar panels.  Grape uses a network of installers and also sells directly to consumers. The relatively new firm has expanded its sales vigorously in the United States and Canada and has forged partnerships with such companies such as Costco and Home Depot.





The corporation prides itself on its American presence, English-speaking employees in the U.S. and Canada and competitive prices, as well as its approach of direct sales both to solar panel installers and individual customers. You can get custom orders filled, experience just-in-time delivery and get help and referrals for design consultation and hands-on assistance. Most of Grape’s parts are made in China, although some are manufactured in other Asian countries and Canada, and then are assembled in the U.S. However, you can request panels with parts made entirely in the U.S. if you choose.


The Grape 250W solar modules each offer a solar efficiency percentage of 15.1, which is relatively good in the solar world. Each module offers a maximum power of 250 watts, a top power voltage of 30.8 volts and a maximum power current of 8.15 amps.

These modules are designed to hold 60 cells each, all with tempered glass covers. They are equipped with anodized aluminum frames. They can operate within a temperature range of 40 degrees below zero to 185 degrees F. The panels can hold a maximum load of snow weighing up to 50 pounds per square foot and can handle a one-inch hailstone flying at terminal velocity.

The individual panels for the Grape 250W model measure 64.6 inches long, 39 inches wide and have a depth of 1.57 inches. Each weighs 44.1 pounds.

Grape Solar gives you one of the better warranties for your solar modules. You receive a 10-year warranty on materials and workmanship, a 10-year warranty that the panels will provide 90 percent of the promised output and a 25-year warranty that you will get 80 percent of the power output you were told when purchasing these modules.

For help and support, Grape Solar is available via email and by phone Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. With this company, you get excellent customer service on the phone with courteous and well-informed representatives. The company also provides a customer hotline to contact its technical support team for urgent situations. You might also find answers to questions you have in the company’s frequently asked questions section on its website.

Summary

This relative newcomer in the solar panel world is turning into quite the competitor with attractive solar modules and an emphasis on customer service. The Grape Solar 250W provides you with reasonably good solar efficiency, decent power wattage and a solid warranty.

The simple business plan: Can you describe your brand in one word?

Business strategists always suggest having a great "elevator pitch." In other words, if you were to encounter an influential figure in an elevator or at the theater, could you pitch your business in 30 seconds or less? Now what if you took this concept one step further and were able to boil down your business's essence into a single word? Here's how this simple business exercise can help define your brand and measure the success of your marketing strategy.

Benefits of brand simplicity

No matter how complex or esoteric your business is, you gain an advantage by presenting it to customers with a one-word description. Whether it's "innovation," "beauty," or "efficiency," you make it easy on your audience by allowing them to associate your organization with a single concept. This can be a very effective way to cut through a very cluttered marketplace.

Dharmesh Shah, co-founder and chief technology officer of HubSpot, outlined how important simplicity is when defining a personal brand, and the same can be said about your business. Ideally, this one word will come up whenever someone mentions your company and go on to serve as the basis for further conversation and the foundation of your business as you head into the next phase of growth.

Your business in one word

Nonprofits, tech companies, and mom-and-pop shop owners will all consider different choices when searching for the one appropriate word they feel defines their business. Grocers and others working with food, for example, would love to have the word "quality" associated with their store, but it takes a lot of work to live up to this simple business description. Other business owners may decide that "affordable" or "convenient" serves them better.

Tech companies that specialize in simplifying business operations should think about a target market when coming up with their one-word descriptions. Will your solutions always be "cutting-edge," or do you see your company focusing more on "practical" applications for small-market firms to use in growth stages? There is enormous potential in either case, but you are better off starting out with a singular focus that lets your target consumers know that your company is the right choice for their needs.

Nonprofits that battle a perception of organizational waste would corner an attractive piece of the market if "efficient" or "sustainable" were the word associated with their organization. Yet there are many other directions to pursue. A nonprofit known as "creative" might attract more funding than one known as the best at counting dollars.

Simple business measurement

Wanting to be described by a certain word and actively being described by that word are different matters entirely. Finding out how people see your company has to be a part of your strategy in defining your brand simply. Whether you launch a survey to measure impressions, or monitor social media pages for feedback and keywords, metrics are essential. Online surveys and social media marketing campaigns are two solutions that canhelp entrepreneurs take stock of their business in the live marketplace.

Finding the right way to measure your company's success may be as tricky as finding that one word to describe it. For a business that focuses on Millennials, your measurement should make it a point to look at mobile device analytics. Activity on social media, which serves as a platform for today's word-of-mouth recommendations, is critical for any brand operating in the modern marketplace. Wherever you find your target market gathering and talking online should be considered the place to go to measure success.

Boiling the essence of your business down to a single word will help you define strategy and position yourself in the marketplace. No matter how complicated things get, this simple business approach will deliver returns.

Business strategists always suggest having a great "elevator pitch." In other words, if you were to encounter an influential figure in an elevator or at the theater, could you pitch your business in 30 seconds or less? Now what if you took this concept one step further and were able to boil down your business's essence into a single word? Here's how this simple business exercise can help define your brand and measure the success of your marketing strategy.

Benefits of brand simplicity

No matter how complex or esoteric your business is, you gain an advantage by presenting it to customers with a one-word description. Whether it's "innovation," "beauty," or "efficiency," you make it easy on your audience by allowing them to associate your organization with a single concept. This can be a very effective way to cut through a very cluttered marketplace.

Finding out how people see your company has to be a part of your strategy in defining your brand simply.

Dharmesh Shah, co-founder and chief technology officer of HubSpot, outlined how important simplicity is when defining a personal brand, and the same can be said about your business. Ideally, this one word will come up whenever someone mentions your company and go on to serve as the basis for further conversation and the foundation of your business as you head into the next phase of growth.

Your business in one word

Nonprofits, tech companies, and mom-and-pop shop owners will all consider different choices when searching for the one appropriate word they feel defines their business. Grocers and others working with food, for example, would love to have the word "quality" associated with their store, but it takes a lot of work to live up to this simple business description. Other business owners may decide that "affordable" or "convenient" serves them better.

Tech companies that specialize in simplifying business operations should think about a target market when coming up with their one-word descriptions. Will your solutions always be "cutting-edge," or do you see your company focusing more on "practical" applications for small-market firms to use in growth stages? There is enormous potential in either case, but you are better off starting out with a singular focus that lets your target consumers know that your company is the right choice for their needs.

Nonprofits that battle a perception of organizational waste would corner an attractive piece of the market if "efficient" or "sustainable" were the word associated with their organization. Yet there are many other directions to pursue. A nonprofit known as "creative" might attract more funding than one known as the best at counting dollars.

Simple business measurement

Wanting to be described by a certain word and actively being described by that word are different matters entirely. Finding out how people see your company has to be a part of your strategy in defining your brand simply. Whether you launch a survey to measure impressions, or monitor social media pages for feedback and keywords, metrics are essential. Online surveys and social media marketing campaigns are two solutions that canhelp entrepreneurs take stock of their business in the live marketplace.

Finding the right way to measure your company's success may be as tricky as finding that one word to describe it. For a business that focuses on Millennials, your measurement should make it a point to look at mobile device analytics. Activity on social media, which serves as a platform for today's word-of-mouth recommendations, is critical for any brand operating in the modern marketplace. Wherever you find your target market gathering and talking online should be considered the place to go to measure success.

Boiling the essence of your business down to a single word will help you define strategy and position yourself in the marketplace. No matter how complicated things get, this simple business approach will deliver returns.