Press ReleasesEvernote: Now Open to Everyone

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Evernote Launches Public Beta of Popular Cloud and Desktop 'Memory-Capturing' Service; Offers Free and Premium Subscriptions

Sunnyvale, Calif., June 24, 2008 – Evernote, a web service with full-featured desktop and mobile clients designed to allow users to easily capture and find information, memories, and content in any environment, today announced its public availability and a new subscription model. Access to Evernote is now available to everyone, without the need for a prior invitation, on the Web, Mac, Windows, iPhone, Windows Mobile, and other mobile devices. Over 120,000 users have participated in Evernote's invitation-only closed beta in the past four months.

Evernote allows users to capture information in any environment using virtually any device or platform, and makes this information accessible and searchable at any time, from anywhere. The product's innovative recognition and synchronization technology allows users to capture their memories as text, snapshots, digital ink or audio and then easily find and share them. Printed and handwritten text within images is made fully searchable and all notes are automatically synchronized between the network and local devices.

In addition to opening up the service, Evernote also announced details of its new subscription pricing. Premium users will benefit from an expanded 500MB monthly upload allowance, priority access to image recognition servers, stronger security options, and premium support. Evernote will charge $5 per month, or $45 for a full year, for Premium service. Free users will get a 40MB monthly upload allowance and have access to all clients and tools. These limits apply only to information added in a given month, not to the total amount of data that a user can store.

The latest release also features a completely redesigned Evernote Web user interface and a new version of the company's Web Clipper bookmarklet. The new Web Clipper allows users to instantly save the contents and links of a webpage into their Evernote accounts, a feature popular among bloggers, researchers, and online shoppers.

Other features include public notebook Facebook and blog integration, PDF support, encryption, and automatic synchronization of notes, to-do lists, snapshots, and audio notes among all Evernote clients. In recent weeks, Evernote has also released major upgrades to its Windows and Mac versions.

"Our goal is to make Evernote an extension of human memory. Since memorable things can happen at any time, online or in the real world, we realized that we needed to go beyond traditional web 2.0 and develop native clients for the major computer and phone platforms, in addition to a powerful web service. The response has been amazing," said Phil Libin, CEO of Evernote. "Opening up the beta is a huge step for the company. We're excited to introduce the world to Evernote, and we hope it becomes the place to store everyone's memories for months, years, and decades to come."

To sign up, create your own Evernote notebooks, and watch an introductory demo video, please visit: http://www.evernote.com.

What Home Inspections Can Do For You

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Home inspections can give buyers a better understanding of the condition of the property they plan to buy. In this article I will discuss four types of home inspections and what they cover.

During a standard home inspection a licensed inspector should examine the exterior of the house for damage and rot, the roof for leaks or holes, overall structure of the house, the garage, the attic, the basement for possible water damage, the crawl space under the house (if the house is built under a crawl space), the foundation of the house for cracks and other damage, plumbing, electrical work, heating and air conditioning, the fireplace.

Some home inspectors also look to see if the landscaping beds around the house divert water away from the home, to see if the driveway has cracks that need to be sealed, to check the overall condition of windows, to check if smoke alarms work, and even to see if the dryer vent needs to be cleaned.

Another type of home inspection is a termite inspection. These inspections are especially important in warmer areas like Charleston, SC, where it does not get cold enough in the winter to kill termites. Termite inspectors look for insects (like termites) and other organisms (like fungus) that can destroy wood. These inspections also inform the buyer about what aspects of the home are conducive to these organisms.

For an asbestos inspection, a sample is sent off for lab analysis to determine if asbestos is present. If asbestos is detected, the buyer should hire a professional to remove the contaminated fibers.

Radon inspections detect and measure the levels of a potentially dangerous gas called radon. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), more than 20,000 people die every year from lung cancer that is caused by radon gas. If a radon inspection shows levels of radon that are unsafe according to the EPA, then you can hire a professional to fix the problem.

Although there many different kinds of home inspections, these four are some of the most commonly used. The termite inspection is the only inspection that is usually required by the mortgage company before closing on your new home. However, the standard home inspection is highly recommended. If you would like to talk with us about home inspections, please call or email us.

Tips on Creating a Real Estate Investing Business Plan

At times a real estate investing business plan might be very simple and at times it might be complex. It all depends on what plans you are doing this for and how well you know this business. For the curious, this discussion would provide some real estate investing business plans that will help you in generating revenue from your business.

If you want to be a successful real estate investor, then make your own team. Do not ever try to do it alone. A good team helps you with all the things that you need for success. A good team can also provide you with a sound real estate investing business plan.

Do not just jump into the business. It can be dangerous. Think logically before you come to any decision. Give yourself 30 days before you make up your mind and sit down to formulate your real estate business investment plan. Know all the nooks and corners of the business. After judging all of these, come to a final conclusion.

After your 30 days are over and you have made up your mind, then do not waste any more time. From the next day onwards start working on your real estate business plan. Think how you can improve your business.

Marketing is a very important part of any real estate investing business plan. If you want to expand your business, then you must let the people know about your work. To do this, you need to concentrate on the marketing section.

A very important part of the real estate investing business plan is to notice which parts of your business are earning you more money. Pinpoint them and give more attention to those areas. Try to make those areas successful and your business will automatically take off.

You need to come up with a good real estate business plan. The competition has increased these days. So you need to offer something new to the client that others are not offering. This will increase the popularity and business of your company.

If You Want To Back Out Of The Sale...

The buyer offered everything you asked for. So the wheels are in motion to close the sale. But all at once a wave of "seller's remorse" flows over you. You realize that you really don't want to sell the property. What can you do? And if you do back out of the sale, what are the possible repercussions?

Contrary to popular belief, a seller never has to accept an offer presented--even if it's for exactly what you told the agent you wanted. (The seller might be responsible for paying the agent's commission, however, depending on how the listing was written. This is because the agent has done what he set out to do--to provide the seller with a "ready, willing and able buyer.")

Secondly, while "seller's remorse" may not occur as often as buyer's remorse, it does occur. It often happens when the seller realizes how tedious it will be to find another home and to move there and then estimates the potential costs involved in both. Just as buyers with second thoughts need to rehash why they wanted to purchase a particular property, sellers need to remember their initial reasons for selling, then consider not only the time, effort and money already expended in the selling effort but also the downside of not following through with closing--including the possibility of legal action by the buyer.

What legal recourse would a buyer have against a seller who backed out on selling his property? That depends on how the purchase and sale agreement is written. For example, the agreement might state that upon any default, the defaulting party would forfeit the right to any earnest money and/or down payment (paid or received) and that the aggrieved party could seek legal remedies. Although not too common, a buyer could petition the court to force the sale of the property (a "specific performance" suit); perhaps the buyer could seek compensation for damages if he had expended money in anticipation of closing on the property. For the seller who declines to sell, a bottom-line, worst-case scenario might include: the buyer could sue the seller; the seller would perhaps need to pay legal costs to defend himself; and the seller could be required to pay the sales commission--all without the benefit of proceeds from the sale.

If you're a seller who's considering bailing out, the first person to call is the real estate practitioner involved in the sale. The call is recommended--not so the broker or associate can talk you out of it--but because he may have late-breaking and pertinent information that could impact your decision and its consequences. Perhaps the buyer just found out that the financing he needs is much more expensive than he expected, that his job transfer has not yet been approved; perhaps the buyer himself is suffering a simultaneous case of "cold feet."

Just as gathering information was important before you accepted the buyer's offer, it's equally important to check and recheck the facts before making the crucial decision to call the sale quits.

Don't forget that if you do back out of the sale, it doesn't necessarily mean that you can jump quickly back into the sales arena on your own and without consequence. The listing agreement you signed previously will dictate the time period during which you'll be liable for the sales associate's commission. This provision is included to deter sellers from trying to become for-sale-by-owners late in the process in order to avoid paying the sales commission.

What is a Solid Surface Countertop?

Going With a Solid Surface Countertop

A solid surface countertop is going to be a great investment in your home. These countertops are easy to install, easy to clean, and great on the eyes. You can find a solid surface countertop in almost any color in the world, which offers great versatility and allows you to perfectly coordinate it with the existing dcor in your home.

Solid surface countertops have been popular throughout the centuries but are more popular now than ever before. One of the main reasons that they are so popular is because they are so durable, but also because they have such a uniform appearance.

Formica

Of all the choices you have when it comes to a solid surface countertop, Formica is one of the very best. People know of this high pressure laminate surface by its name brand, and Formica was one of the first surfaces to be used for countertop purposes.

Corian

This is another option if you are choosing to go with a solid surface countertop. The durability of this surface is far better than most laminates, and it also does not come across as looking cheap, which some laminates do.

This is one thing that every homeowner wants to avoid, for numerous reasons but more than anything because it will decrease their overall home resale value.

Silestone

There is also Silestone that you can use for your solid surface countertop, and although this is the most affordable option, it does often look rather cheap. This is one of the newer solid surface countertop products, and is a fabrication of natural quartz and crystal, bonded with a polyurethane resin to create a solid surface.

Whether you are choosing a solid surface or any other design for your kitchen, it is important that you take your time and not rush into it. There are so many options, and especially to the novice designer, you do not want to make the wrong decision. You will need to set out a budget for yourself beforehand, as the prices of countertop materials vary so greatly and of course you will only be able to pay for what you can afford.

There are some terrific home design specialists out there that you can go to for assistance through this, namely countertop installers who will actually come into your home and look at your kitchen, then work with you keeping your budget and desires in mind to help you achieve the look that you want.

Safey Alert: Please check your tires Now!

Recent ABC News reports about old tires failing has experts asking if tires should have expiration dates the same as many other products. Why? Because old tires are failing and killing people!

In a letter released September 22, 2003, a private safety group called Strategic Safety asked the National Highway Traffic & Safety Admin. (NHTSA) to investigate the problem of tire aging. The group says they have documented at least 20 accidents caused by old tires blowing out, 10 of which resulted in fatalities. Most of the lawsuits involving these tread separation accidents have been on tires that were six or more years old.

The group says the NHTSA should have a new rule requiring tire manufacturers to put expiration dates on all new tires.

REPLACE OLD TIRES
Strategic Safety says based on their findings, motorists should replace tires that are more than ten (10) years old, including ther spare tire.

(Note: In Europe, vehicle manufacturers typically recommend replacing tires that are more than six (6) years old.)

The group also says tire retailers should NOT sell tires that have been in storage for more than six years since the date of manufacture.

Tires deteriorate over time, even if they are not used or driven on. The tires may appear to be in like-new condition on the outside, but inside the rubber is slowly deteriorating. This may dangerously weaken the tire and increase the risk of a blowout at high speed or during hot weather.

In one such incident, the owner of a 1964 Sunbeam Tiger was returning from an antique car show. The tires only had 4,000 miles on them and looked good as new on the outside, but the tires were 11 years old. On the way home, one of the tires blew out causing the car to crash. The passenger suffered permanent brain injuries as a result of the accident.

DETERMINING TIRE DATE CODES
How old are the tires on your vehicle? The date of manufacture is indicated by the last group of digits in the DOT manufacture code on the sidewall of the tire. The number is often stamped in a recessed rectangle. The DOT code tells who manufactured the tire, where it was made and when. The last group of digits in the code is the date code that tells when the tire was made.

Before 2000, the date code had three digits. Since 2000, it has had four. The first two digits are the week of the year (01 = the first week of January). The third digit (for tires made before 2000) is the year (1 = 1991). For most tires made after 2000, the third and fourth digits are the year (04 = 2004).

In the photo above, the date code is 8PY806. The 8PY is a manufacturing shift code, and the date the tire was actually made was 0806, which is the 8th week (08)in the year 2006 (06).

The date of manufacture is essential information for car owners and tire buyers because tires deteriorate even if they are not used. European automobile manufacturers recommend replacing ANY tire that is more than six (6) years old, including the spare tire. No such recommendations have yet been made by domestic vehicle manufacturers.

PLEASE WATCH THE VIDEO:

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4826897

Real Talk Hawaii: Video Podcast Episode 02

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Looking for a good Realtor can be a task. We hope to shed a little light on the matter with a few helpful tips on finding a good agent. Click the picture to hear the show! Post a comment and tell us what you think, drop some ideas or ask a question for future shows.

Real Talk Hawaii: Video Podcast Episode #1

So I thought it was time to get bcak to podcasting so here is a new video installment of the old show “Real Talk Hawaii: Real Estate Information Blog”. Click the picture to hear the show! Post a comment and tell us what you think, drop some ideas or ask a question for future shows.

When the Holiday Decor Becomes the New Year's Clutter - Start the New Year with Order in the House

The ritual of bringing out the Christmas decorations and putting up the tree is my way of getting into the spirit of the Holidays. I love to sit and look at the lights in the Christmas tree, and the collection of holiday cards displayed on the inside of the the front door gives me pleasure too - briefly. By New Year's Eve I am done with all of it. What starts out as beautiful seasonal decorations turns into more clutter than I can stand and it all gets packed away for next year before we ring in the New Year.

BUT - there is always a collection of stuff that seems to take weeks to find all their appropriate storage spots.

What to do with:

~ The beautiful holiday cards

~ Those thoughtful gifts that you really have no use for

~ Bits of ribbon and gift boxes that seem too good to just throw away

~ The items that need to be returned or exchanged

~ The three Christmas decorations that did not get packed into the decoration box that is now neatly stored on the top shelf in the garage

~ And last, but not least, if you have children there is that mountain of new toys on top of the mountains of toys they already have

Make a Plan

It can all get to be completely overwhelming, so you have to come up with an easy plan and stick to it until your house is back in order. As they say at Nike - Just Do It.

Clear the Horizontal Surfaces

I like to get the horizontal surfaces cleared off first. Collect up all the wrapping things and get them stashed in the wrapping box. Cruise through every room of the house looking for the stray decorations and make one last trip to the garage storage with those.

The Holiday Cards

The holiday cards always pose a dilemma - are you going to write back to some people? Keep those cards in your to-do file. Are you really going to create that wonderful craft project you saw in a magazine with the rest of the cards? Be realistic about that probability. Yeah, I didn't think so. Let them go. You enjoyed them, now they are done.

Oh, You Shouldn't Have, Gifts

The gifts that you really have no use for might make a great donation to your favorite charitable cause. If you know that you will not use an item - don't keep it. Let someone else enjoy it, or return it to the store if you can.

Returns and Exchanges

There are always those gifts that are good, but just the wrong size or color - just a quick exchange is all that is necessary. Make the time to do that and give yourself a deadline so it gets done before the receipt expires.

Toys, Toys, Toys

How many toys can your child play with at the same time? How many do they play with on a regular basis? Do they really need all the toys accessible all the time? How about taking some of the toys that they may have lost interest in, and storing them in a bin in the garage, to make room for the new Christmas things. In a few months you can rotate the toys again and keep all the toys more interesting in the process. While you are sorting and rotating, you can cull out the broken bits and pieces too.

My goal is to start the New Year with a clutter free house. Once the tree is down and the decorations put away I am inspired to spruce up the living room a bit. Seems like a good time to try a new furniture configuration and switch the accessories around a bit too.

May Your New Year begin with order in the house!

Sandra J. Carroll is the owner of Creative Changes, a professional organizing company, and is known to her clients as the Clutter Conquerer. Aside from her many years of business experience, living and cruising on a 30-foot sailboat for 4 years gave Sandra unique training in space efficiency and organization.

Creative Changes specializes in simple solutions to clutter, space challenges, time management and inefficient storage. Sandra's Organize to Sell system is an effective and budget friendly option to home staging.

Request your free e-book, "

70 Practical Tips to Organize Your Home & Office

" at http://www.creative-changes.com

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