Which handset do you prefer: Samsung Galaxy S5 or HTC One M8?

This is really a tough call because both phones have their merits. Much like last year with the HTC One M7 and the Samsung Galaxy S4, the winner really depends on what kind of a user you are.

In terms of sheer functionality, the Galaxy S5 wins. It can do more things and has more integrated features than the HTC One M8. The camera is better, the heart rated monitor is…well…there, and the stuff baked into the OS can be useful for some people. If I had to give a blanket recommendation, I’d say the Galaxy S5 simply because it has more features than the M8 and the more features a device has, the more likely it has the features that a specific user wants.

That said, the HTC One M8 has its perks as well. The better speakers, the sleeker, more premium phone design, and lack of unnecessary extras (no physical home button, no heart rate monitor) make it a much more streamlined device for people who want something more minimal. Granted, HTC Sense isn’t stock Android (it doesn’t get anymore minimal than stock Android) but Sense does a good job of keeping it short and sweet while relying on third party applications to provide features.

Personally, I’m in the camp of the HTC One M8. I think that the third party app scene has improved and evolved to an extend where OEMs don’t need to bake so many features into the OS anymore and while I’ll never lobby for OEM skins to be removed entirely, I will conceded that Samsung puts a lot of stuff in their phones and not everyone needs all of it.

TL;DR
If you don’t know what you want in your device or you want a whole bunch of features for the sake of having a whole bunch of features, I’d recommend the Galaxy S5.

If you want something more minimal and streamlined while relying on third party apps and accessories for more functionality, I’d recommend the HTC One M8.

If you put both in front of me right now and told me I could have one for free, I’d pick up the M8.

I must echo many of the same sentiments as Robert and Joseph. We have in front of us two very impressive devices. Both pack a powerful punch and are fine examples of the best that these manufacturers have to offer.

With these equally effective devices available, it is no easy choice between the two. As such, if these were the only two phones in the world, I would choose the Samsung Galaxy S5 over the HTC One (M8). This decision would be based almost exclusively on the camera and the IP57 certification.

As Robert mentioned, these phones are really only incremental upgrades from their predecessors. I see this as a good thing, the HTC One and the Galaxy S4 were relatively solid devices, what better to build upon. Despite their improvements, I still find the new phones lacking in the ‘wow’ department. Perhaps, at least for the Galaxy S5, it is psychological. The fingerprint scanner, although a powerful tool and impressive upgrade, only serves to remind me of the evils of the world, where’s the fun in that?

I suspect that, in time, our general opinions of these devices will change. Right now, we are expecting such greatness that we are possibly feeling a little let down. I think we will eventually recognize that they are not the dream machines that we put posters of on our walls, but they are certainly very well equipped devices that prove excellent daily drivers.

Luckily, I do not think you could really go wrong in choosing either of these devices. They both pack powerful specs and feature sets that will keep us entertained and productive. They both offer cameras that will adequately preserve our memories in digital form. Both have large, bright and colorful screens to enjoy our media, and, strangely enough, these phones both still place excellent phone calls, for those that still do that sort of thing.

Darcy LaCouvee

Having interacted with both devices extensively, I have to really hand it to HTC for creating a device that truly represents arguably the most premium build quality of any Android device ever made. It’s astonishing how good it feels in the hand, and how it looks. It’s unquestionably a conversation starter. Actual ownership of said device though, is a different story. Metal is incredibly unforgiving when met with the hard realities of concrete, or any hard material. That being said, so is plastic, too. I think most device owners wrap their favorite, techno-be-all-contain-all-do-all in a case at this point, though I could be wrong. I’ve just paid the piper a few too many times at this point.

In terms of the technology, Samsung wins hands down. The ISOCELL camera in the S5 is best in class, there’s no question. The granular improvements made to the processor are appreciated, but not groundbreaking. Qualcomm appears to be holding out for the next generation of flagships. Samsung has tried to deliver a very good phone to all of us, and they’ve certainly succeeded in that respect, but I know a lot of nerds out there are still dealing with post flagship phone let-down syndrome. We’re all so damn spoiled.

The IP certification, ensuring that the device can take on more water and more dust than previous generations is a very welcome addition, and I wish every manufacturer would make it part of what they are doing.

That being said, who isn’t sick of plastic? Our device safoys a lot about us, and for the many that cant stand the tyranny of iOS, there’s no other choice than Android. Consumers have long clamoured for more devices with high build quality, in sizes a touch larger than the iPhone. Sony delivered with the Xperia Z1 compact. Motorola delivered with the Moto X, and the other large manufacturers seem keen to want to lower the specs of their mini offerings because they know they appeal to the least spec savvy among us. I digress.

There will never be a perfect phone. There will always be tradeoffs. Both HTC and Samsung are to be commended here for what they have been able to achieve. In particular, I think HTC should be singled out for actually being able to have a simultaneous coordinated global launch, wherein they actually have enough devices made available, and that they have enough supplies in the supply line; something they’ve never been able to achieve.

Samsung is Samsung. They are a machine that keeps on churning, regardless. Their technological prowess and multi-billion dollar strong R&D is laser focused on delivering best in class optics, display, battery life, and their tier one relationship with ARM, Qualcomm and Google increasingly will ensure that they likely have some of the best integration of hardware to software in the industry.

And speaking of the topic of Samsung making a metal device when I met with one of their VP’s last week, they said they would love to, just that it’s remarkably difficult to produce the millions and millions of frames necessary to satisfy consumer demand in a timely fashion. If HTC can do it, why can’t they? HTC is the little engine that could, and if they could just implement a better optic solution, than I would be very much holding a One M8 right now. Anyway, my humble thoughts.

DATA Act, Which Would Make Government-Spending Data Available Online, Passes Senate

The Senate unanimously passed the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act, or DATA Act, today.

The DATA Act is designed to help bring new transparency to spending by the federal government, by making spending data available to the public at USASpending.gov. The bill’s goal, to quote the Congressional Research Service’s (CRS) summary, is to “provide consistent, reliable, and searchable government-wide spending data.” That data will “improve the quality of data submitted to USASpending.gov by holding federal agencies accountable for the completeness and accuracy of the data submitted,” according to the CRS.

No politician wants to be caught opposing clarity in government spending, which makes the act’s unanimous passage unsurprising.

As the Washington Post notes, “[t]he final language also requires everything the federal government spends at the appropriations account level to be published on USASpending.gov, with the exception of classified material and information that wouldn’t be revealed in response to a Freedom of Information Request.”

Precisely.

The more data we the regular folk and assorted watchdog groups have, the better oversight we can impugn upon our elected officials from every branch and level of government.

Republican House leadership appears confident of quick passage:

And original co-sponsors of the bill in the House that passed in November seem quite content with the Senate’s actions:

The original version of the bill passed the House by a vote of 388-1. Given that, the chance of it failing to pass the House this go-round is incredibly low.

With broad definitions of what counts as a group that must report its spending, the DATA Act would force the Secretary of the Treasury to start tracking submitted data from “each federal agency” monthly, with data including “outlays, funds reprogrammed or transferred,” according to the CRS.

The secretary will set the regulations for data, and as possible make the information collected available in formats that are “widely accepted, nonproprietary, searchable, [and] platform independent.” This will harmonize data from various agencies, allowing for better comparison and historical tracking. Also, no group should be able to hide behind technical issues to prevent public oversight.

The Director of the Office of Management and Budget will have a role, as well, helping to set data standards, and putting together a two-year pilot program to help gel rules so that reporting standards are not onerous to parties forced to comply.

Nice to see the above on the fast track. It’ll take years, according to current language, to get the program fully up and running. But given current momentum, I think it’s safe to say that whoever wins the next presidential election will see, early in their first term, a new amount of light spilling in from outside on just what the government is buying and how much it’s willing to pay.

IMAGE BY FLICKR USER Zoe Rudisill UNDER CC BY 2.0 LICENSE (IMAGE HAS BEEN CROPPED) 

How To Find Out Which Foods Are Making You Sick

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Although food allergies are still rare (affecting about five percent of the population), food intolerances are quite common. I see patients for food intolerances every day with symptoms like constipation, difficulty swallowing, heart burn, bloating, and headaches. But how do you figure out which foods might be affecting you?

For many allergic and food intolerance issues, I ask patients to go on a food restriction diet ranging from one week to one month. After following this plan, many of them experience weight loss, fewer menopausal or PMS symptoms, a decrease in acid reflux, better energy, better sleep, a clearer complexion, and more. Even I was surprised at first.

After seeing so many of my patients experiencing these positive side effects, I decided to try it myself. One month later, I concluded that I was going to take out some of these foods for good because I was feeling so fantastic. It's important to note, however, that food allergies and food intolerances are two very different things.

Food Allergy vs. Food Intolerance

A food allergy is an immediate immune reaction usually resulting in throat tightening, hives, and even anaphylaxis. Even a microscopic amount can elicit a life-threatening reaction. If you think you have a food allergy, consult a doctor and do not try to diagnose yourself.

A food intolerance is usually a delayed reaction that can cause intestinal issues or other symptoms. This is an area where much research is being conducted about the immune system and other mechanisms. In fact, we are finding more and more conditions that are affected by the food we eat. So, in short, these food intolerances can be causing all kinds of symptoms that range from headaches to bloating.

To figure out what food intolerances you may have, I have an eight step food elimination plan that you can do yourself. This is really is the gold standard—even better than those expensive blood tests. In fact, blood testing for food intolerances is not FDA approved and research on any type of food intolerance blood testing is controversial at best.

Remember, because these foods the most common culprits, the FDA requires labeling of these food groups by all manufacturers. Therefore, except for corn and additives, you will always be able to read labels to identify hidden sources of these foods.

1. Try to stay off dairy, wheat, soy and eggs for 2-3 weeks. This includes yogurt, cheese, whey, and processed foods with eggs as an ingredient.
2. Add them back one item at a time separated by 3 days.
3. Then, remove peanuts, shellfish, corn for 2-3 weeks. Remember to read labels and ask for ingredients at restaurants.
4. Add them back one item at a time separated by 3 days.
5. Remove tree nuts (i.e. almonds, walnuts, cashews), and all fish for 2-3 weeks.
6. Add them back one item at a time separated by 3 days.
7. Eliminate any foods or drinks with preservatives such as MSG, artificial sugars, and artificial dyes for 1 week. This is probably the hardest part because it includes sodas, most alcoholic drinks, and snacks, but it's only a week!
8. Add back each (if you want) separated by 3 days.

Now you are done! You should permanently remove the foods that caused your symptoms such as bloating, joint pain or swelling, brain fog, or constipation.

The theory behind this plan is that certain foods cause inflammation of the intestines, joints, or stomach. Now if you add the offending food back, you will notice that your symptoms are back, sometimes with a vengeance!

Usually, I find that it takes at least 2 weeks to notice any difference in your symptoms. That's way we try avoidance for 2-3 weeks. In fact, the longer you do avoidance the better the results. Food additives and preservatives usually don't even take that long.

If you think you may have a life threatening allergy or you are still confused, visit a board certified allergist immediately. But if you are able to identify your food triggers that cause uncomfortable issues, your body with thank you.

Amy Shah MD is a physician, Board Certified In Internal Medicine and Allergy Immunology.

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Image remixed from ayelet-keshet (Shutterstock) and moonkin (Shutterstock).

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LastPass Now Tells You Which Heartbleed-Affected Passwords to Change

This week, a giant security hole came to light that affects a large portion of the internet. As different sites recover, you'll need to change your passwords, and now LastPass tells you when to do so.

Due to the nature of the Heartbleed bug (read more here), you'll need to wait until affected sites update their infrastructure before you change your passwords. LastPass' ever-useful Security Check tool now includes recommendations for Heartbleed, letting you know which sites have closed the hole, when, and if you should update yet.

To run the tool, just click on the LastPass extension and head to Tools > Security Check. After running the tool, you'll get the results (shown above) so you know what passwords to change. Hit the link to read more.

LastPass Now Checks If Your Sites Are Affected by Heartbleed | LastPass Blog

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New vs. Current Clients – Which Are More Important?

If you’re a freelance designer serving a target market that seems to be shrinking or not providing you with quite enough business, maybe it’s time to change up your client base. This can be done in a number of different ways, but usually involves making a decision about whether to seek out new clients, or upsell and strengthen your relationships with the clients you already have. We go over the pros and cons of each strategy, so that you can determine which is right for you.

In the meantime do check out some of these freelancer-client relationship posts previously published:

Market Health

Design in general has been both a buyer’s and a seller’s market for the past decade or so. More individuals and small businesses are in the market for professional design. At the same time, there are more working designers out there than ever before. This means that opportunities are aplenty for just about every designer who zooms in on a niche.

If you’re looking to narrow down your client base, which you should always be doing, a wise approach is to assess your current clients and determine whether or not they represent exactly the market niche you want to serve.

Read Also: Handle These 9 Client Types Like A Pro

If not, it’s time to fire those clients and find new ones. No matter what your niche is, there are plenty of potential clients out there.

Focusing Outward

Focusing on acquiring new clients requires more time and effort, in terms of marketing and reaching out. But it can result in a more lucrative freelance career. Not just because you can raise your prices with ease as you accrue experience, but also because you’re constantly exposing yourself to new people to work for, who also bring with them new possible opportunities.

Read Also: Freelancers: How To Raise Your Rates

Say you do some work for a brand new client that’s really nothing special. But that client happens to be closely associated with another influential person in your niche that you’ve been dying to be introduced to for a while, but who has eluded you thus far.

Well, impress client A enough and scoring an introduction to potential client B will be a breeze.

Shrinking Budgets

Sometimes, clients cut back on the number of design services they accept due to financial reasons. In this situation, it’s helpful to seek out new clients, rather than simply hoping your current clients pick up steam again.

This way, you’re not left hanging if one of your important sources of income suddenly dries up, which I’ve seen happen to a lot of designers. The moment you catch a whiff of things heading south, dust off your business cards and find some new business.

Read Also: Get More Clients: How To Harness The Power Of Testimonials

However, do keep in mind that the best clients are always the ones you form real relationships with. If you’re not doing your best to provide value and create a raving fan in each new client, then there’s no point in seeking out new business.

You’ll get stuck with one-offs and clients who don’t really care about you. They see you as merely a commodity – an Adobe technician for hire – which is the absolute worst place for a designer to be. Commodities can’t negotiate or make a good impression, and they always must take whatever work or compensation is offered.

Read Also: Freelancers: Learning When To Say No To Clients

Getting Referrals

Your existing clients should not be left out in the cold, however. You can make them feel appreciated by providing them with extra value. This will incentivize them to give you more work, or refer you to others.

Read Also: Entrepreneurs & Freelancers – Add More Value Or Find Another Job

You already have relationships with your existing clients, so it’s a lot easier to ask for referrals. Yet, many designers have a very hard time doing so – they’re afraid their client will say no, or that it will be an imposition. This could not be further from the truth.

Yes, you may get the occasional odd client who will balk at referring you to others, but this is usually a sign that it’s time to cut ties with that client. Remember, asking for referrals is a completely normal part of the freelance process. Any client who refuses to do this small service for you, after you’ve just provided them and their business with so much value, is the one with the problem – not you.

In Conclusion

So, to conclude, choosing between your new clients and your existing clients is a matter of personal preference and what makes sense for you. It all depends on your individual situation and the relationships you have with your clients. However, it’s wise to always maintain a watchful eye for new opportunities, so you won’t fall victim to any sudden, nasty surprises.

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Screenburn, Which Does Paid Video-On-demand Inside Facebook, Raises Angel Cash

Screenburn, which specialises in video-on-demand events, with fans paying to watch films or concerts, has raised $500K (£302k) in angel investment to expand. The company is used by musicians and filmmakers to monetize their Facebook presences.

Screenburn’s app works with Facebook pages, taking payments from fans, and then making video available to stream for time limits. So far the site has launched over 200 films on Facebook, such as projects for Paul McCartney and the Rolling Stones.

The company also brought onto its board Steve Macallister from television distributor Zodiak Rights and Howard Kiedaisch from digital cinema firm Arts Alliance Media.

Memory Diag Shows You Which Apps Are Eating Up Your RAM

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OS X: There are a lot of methods for keeping an eye on your memory, but Memory Diag aggregates all the information you want to know that lives in different parts of your system and sticks it in your menu bar.

The app tells you the basic memory usage breakdown you'll find in OS X's built-in Activity Monitor app, but you'll also get a look at which apps are using a significant amount of memory. That way you can quit them if you need to free some up. You can also find out which RAM modules are installed in your computer so you can see what you've got in case you're considering an upgrade.

The app also comes with a few themes so you can match it to your style. Regardless of what you choose, it still maintains a minimal appearance like iOS 7—the direction OS X is trending in its design. Memory Diag does a good job of keeping you informed and looking good. You can pick it up for free on the Mac App Store.

Memory Diag (Free) | Mac App Store

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