Plan Hub

Toronto - Blockbuster Canada will be closing down its remaining stores by the end of the year. Grant Thornton Ltd., the accounting firm that was selected in May to oversee the movie rental chain’s receivership proceedings, stated in a news release Wednesday that it is seeking an order on Sept. 6 from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice at a hearing to wind down the video store’s operations and shut down the remaining 253 stores. The firm explained that they could not locate a suitable acquirer to make the necessary investments into Blockbuster Canada. If the court approves the request, the closure process would begin in only a few days.   Therefore, the company would not be obligated to accept loyalty-rewards programs and/or gift cards. “ We appreciate the ongoing support and wish to thank Blockbuster Canada Co.'s employees, customers, suppliers and other stakeholders during this difficult period,” said Granton staffer, Michael Creb...

I recently have tried to learn the basics of cloud computing. Technology has not always been easy for me. I have two strikes against me, I didn't grow up with computers and I am a woman. Enough said? I have an iPad, a Kindle, a Smartphone and a laptop that are all amazingly tied together. How are they connected to each other? How are these small pieces of technology able to function as my desk top computer? Somehow all of takes place in the cloud. Definition Cloud computing is a model for delivering information technology services in which resources are retrieved from the internet through web-based tools and applications. Data and software packages are stored in servers. Cloud computing allows access to information as long as an electronic device has access to the web. It is named because the user does not have to be in any special location as the information is found in the clouds. The Cloud In My Life Here are some of the ways that I use cloud technology and didn...

 

Rolex is one of the most storied names in watch making, and certainly the most recognizable as it is familiar to even those who are the least concerned with luxury watches. The brand's iconic crown logo is recognized the world over as a symbol of luxury, quality, prestige, taste, and precision. Even those who have never worn a Rolex or even given one a second thought can tell you that the company's watches are made in Switzerland, carry high price tags, and are among the best in the world. But are they really the best? Below you will find the answer to this question and four more surprising facts about Rolex's business operations, watch movements, trademark timepiece, and durability. Rolex, the Best Watch in the World? Rolex is, without a doubt, the most recognizable watch brand in the world and they are universally recognized as a status symbol, but is a Rolex the best watch ? There are different measures by which one can judge the quality o...

Critics continue to dismiss the iPad as a "toy," and the tablet market as a "fad." But the iPad is demolishing PC sales, especially sales of laptops and netbooks. Indeed, Deutsche Bank analyst Chris Whitmore believes as many as 30% of iPad owners are using their iPads to replace their PCs, not to supplement them. So why is this happening ... and what does it mean for your next PC purchase? 1. Many People Don't Need A "Computer" That is, if you define a "computer" as a box that sits on your desk and has a keyboard and monitor. (And yes, laptops like mine are meant to be used at a desk, unless you like neck strain and bad ergonomics.) We call these things "personal computers," but the reality is that many people use them for anything besides web browsing. And judging by my mother's reaction to Firefox, even web browsing is about ten times more complicated than it needs to be for her. Is she an idiot? ...

While Facebook is a fun place to connect with old friends and network with new ones, used correctly, it a can be a great tool to improve your personal finances. Facebook can save you money in your everyday life and even give you access to free things. We have a Facebook page for my travel website and blog ( planhub.blogspot.com ) and use it to network and promote the site. But we've been using it more and more as part of our almost daily research to ensure we always get the best price, whether it's at a local restaurant, our neighborhood dry cleaners, or on a new car. All those types of businesses have Facebook pages and "Like"ing their pages (joining their social network) is the key to accessing them. If you don't use Facebook here's how the system basically functions. People have personal Facebook pages and business can have their own Facebook pages as well. Just as you accumulate "Friends" on your personal page to increase your own social ne...

We can all agree that iPhone apps can be incredibly useful, practical and even magical when they work properly, but there's nothing more annoying than an app which keeps on crashing for no apparent reason. It's all the more annoying when an iPhone keeps crashing before an app even loads. I recently installed the app for Chicago Public Radio's "This American Life," which wonderfully contains almost all of the show's episodes for the last couple of years. Unfortunately, it's also plagued with serious bugs. After I installed it, it crashed constantly, usually before the interface would even load. Later, it started crashing when asked to play shows, which sort of eliminates the purpose of the app in the first place. If you're having problems with an iPhone app that crashes before it loads properly, here are a few tips to try. Close Competing Apps: If an app suddenly starts crashing before it loads, there's a good chance that it's not abl...

Those who are serious about using eBay to make money online should consider setting up an eBay store; an eBay store gives you a unique URL which you can direct potential customers to which will remain constant. The main benefit of having an eBay store, rather than simply setting up individual auctions, is that because the URL remains the same it is far easier to promote. This means that you can drive more traffic to your auctions, which statistically should result in a greater number of bids and sales. There are a number of ways you can promote your eBay store , but most of the best ways are also the simplest. For example, making sure you include a link to your store from every auction you run can greatly increase targeted traffic; if someone is already looking at one of your auctions then there is a good chance they’ll be interested in similar items in your store. A simple link such as ‘click here to view my other items for sale’ sounds so obvious, but there are many people who d...

Once upon a time the only technological device that required an operating system was a personal computer, then with the arrival of smartphones things changed. Initially it was just one or two high-end mobile phones that ran on operating systems, but with the success of these particular models more and more models started using smartphone operating systems. One smartphone operating system that has truly revolutionized the whole idea of a mobile phone is Android. Android OS Launched by Google, Android was designed to take the smartphone industry by storm and it did precisely that. After the initial success of Android run phones by HTC, more and more smartphone manufacturers got onboard with the project. This resulted in Android becoming the most widely used smartphone in the market, holding more than fifty percent of the smartphone market share. Open Source Nature and Third Party Developers: The open source nature of Android allows independent third party developers to furt...

One of the most unpopular industries these days is the telecom industry. Plagued with scandal after scandal, telecom companies have tarnished their image and credibility in the eyes of the people. From allegations of corruption to lawsuits against corporate involvement in smartphone theft, telecom companies are hard pressed these days. One would think that they would learn their lesson and change their ways but no, apparently these corporations need some more bashing. A newly emerged scandal shows corporate hand in overcharging customers and exploiting minors through flashy advertisements.   Overcharging   The sly folks at corporate have designed a brand new way to milk customers. This comes in the form of deals and packages with a hidden surcharge or vague clauses. This new “fraud” is aimed at confusing customers into paying a lot more than they should legally pay for the services they use. A classic trick that these telecom companies employ is ...