It’s always just a little bit creepy to hear news like this, but WMPoweruser has a story about multiple users who have had their Windows Live accounts suspended over content that was uploaded to their SkyDrive. The recent example that inspired the post was of a user who lost access to his entire Windows Live account, not just SkyDrive. His email, apps, Xbox Live achievements, everything. He had to create a new account and start over.

The content that got the user suspended was in a private folder and could not have been accessed by other users. Given just how strict the Windows Live code of conduct is and how much storage space they’ve given away for free, it isn’t hard to imagine that many users will start to run into this problem. Read the first three rules and you might find yourself wanting to double-check the contents of your SkyDrive folder. They ban profanity. It’s 2012 and you can’t type out the word “damn” and upload it to a private folder. Good thing I’m writing this article on Google Drive.

Other highlights from the code of conduct include nudity of any kind (full, partial, human, non-human, animate, or photographic), obscenity (I guess they’ll know if when they see it), and the fact that you can’t incite or advocate for any of these things. So if a zex advice columnist writes an article advocating the use of pornography and saves it to SkyDrive, I guess they are in danger of having their account suspended (stay away, Dan). What if Rush Limbaugh writes content for his radio show and it incites someone to curse aloud, would that violate these terms? I’m not sure how someone would incite pronography…

Ok, now move down to item four which prohibits content that “provides or creates links to external sites that violate this Code of Conduct.” So not only can Microsoft ban you for keeping a text file of naughty words in a private folder, they can ban you for linking to, say, this article. Now, do I actually think Microsoft would suspend my account for saving a private Word document that contains swear words? No. But I wouldn’t have they they would suspend a photographer for storing his own work that contains partial nudity either. What happens when a mom uses her Windows phone to take a picture of her kids in the bath which then gets automatically uploaded to SkyDrive? Would she get in trouble? Stranger things have happened.

Cloud storage is still a tricky issue. Most users see the data they store online as private. Just as private at the data they store on their own hard drives. After all, it’s illegal to break into someone else’s email, so why should Google or Microsoft or the government be able to browse through my file attachments? On the other hand, it’s understandable that companies that provide us with these services don’t want to be on the hook when one of their users decides to launch a spam campaign or share illegal content from their cloud drive. It’s probably a good idea to be conservative with what you store on someone else’s server, but Microsoft is probably going a little too far here.

Let’s be honest, Android tablets have been lackluster thus far. None of them seem to have been able to match the iPad on price, size, and features. Many of the nicer tablets carry heavy price tags or expensive data service contracts. Others have been bulky and covered in ports or have been chintzy with resistive touch screens and terrible screens. The first Android tablet to see major success wasn’t an iPad competitor, in fact it was hardly recognizable as an Android tablet. The Kindle Fire is a 7”, $200 device for accessing Amazon books and video that include a web browser and can run games. It’s compelling because, unlike many Android tablets, it’s inexpensive, it’s well-built, and it has a clear purpose.

The Nexus tablet is, I think, the first real shot that Android has at making into the tablet market in a serious way. Why? It’s not going to be bundled with a cellular data contract, it’s not going to try to be a laptop, and it’s only going to cost $200. The Nexus isn’t going to compete with the iPad, it’s going to compete with the Kindle Fire. Consumers will be faced with this question: For $200, do you want an Amazon Prime device or do you want an Android device? A Nexus tablet will let you read Kindle books, stream video (though not Amazon instant video), and browse the web, but like the iPad, the other features aren’t going to be an afterthought to the e-reader and video player.

Instead of a modified phone operating system, the Nexus tablet will be running the latest and greatest Android OS, unmolested by third-party hardware manufacturers and cell providers. The training document indicates that Google will be handling software updates themselves so there will be no year-long waits for an update to be adapted to the device before users can install it. $200 for the latest Android running on good hardware? That’s almost in impulse-buy territory.

The Nexus tablet will also give some focus and stability to the Android ecosystem. If Google can really sell this as THE Android tablet, then they can give developers something to shoot for compatibility-wise. Google can control backward-compatibility, it can give important developers time to update their apps before a new update is launched, and they can ensure that current Nexus owners won’t be left out in the cold every time a new device is released.

Of course it will take some time for all of this to come together, but there is some real potential here for Google make the Android tablet a force to be reckoned with.

A good place to start your search is with finding the right agent. There are a ton of insurance agents out there, but they aren’t all equal. You need to find the one that is well versed in the problems you have and can find the right product for you. Driving around and making calls is too much work, but the internet has your back. You can compare different insurance policies online.

The internet can help in a lot of ways. First of all, you don’t have to leave your house, and you can get quotes relatively easily at any number of comparison sites. It also allows you to research every aspect of your policy before agreeing 

Most car insurance providers offer the ability to get quotes through their websites, and ever provider is eager for more business. You just fill out their forms with a little basic information, like what kind of car you have and where you live. There are a few other questions about the kind of package you want, and their website will match you with a price. You might even be able to talk to an agent and ask for discounts. You can also use these quotes to convince other companies to lower rates.

If you complete the online forms, you can get a variety of local agents and companies to choose from. From there, you can take a look at how established they are and look at how satisfied their customers are from online reviews. There are a ton of independent review sites, so you shouldn’t have any problems finding out what people have to say. You might even try asking neighbors or friends about their experiences.

I know, you may be concerned about giving your information to a website, especially because this information can be quite personal. It’s never bad to be cautious; most companies are very aware that people are concerned about their information, and often have verification from places like the Better Business Bureau, which indicate that they store and use customer’s information responsibly. Look for images that say that the website is verified from one of these watchdog organizations.

If you’re conscious about what sites are legitimate, getting online quotes is a great way to save not only your time, but your hard earned dollar. They can get you all the information you need, and can even be valuable negotiating tools if you want to talk to local agents. Just be sure to do your research before you make any final decision.

The browser has seen wild success, just recently passing Internet Explorer as top dog as far as browsers go. The OS itself has transitioned from a browser with a few essential tweaks to a desktop and app model. It has also found its way onto new hardware, going from a single Chromebook to several, and now to the Chromebox. Android and Chrome don’t seem to be cooperating, but it will be interesting to see where each goes. My personal theory is that Google will try to make a push into the education market, selling Google Apps for Education alongside labs full of cheap ChromeOS computers. I also think we’ll see the Chrome browser on iOS — and you can already demonstrate iOS devices through Google Apps set up through Exchange.

On Microsoft’s side, we will see the big debut of Windows 8, Windows Phone 8, and WindowsRT on tablets. Microsoft was slow to the mobile devices game, hanging onto Windows Mobile for far too long and trying to squeeze the full Windows experience into a tablet. Their image is also still recovering from the technological mess that was Windows Vista and while Windows 7 was a nice change, there are many concerns about Windows 8. Still, they are hugely embedded in enterprise and in most people’s computers and they have the money to stay in the fight.

And then there’s Apple. No matter your feelings about Apple, you have to admit that their product releases have a way of making headlines and generating conversations like no other. It seems that they are ripe to release updates to every Mac line, the iPhone, iOS, and OS X. Most-likely, WWDC next month will see the release of Apple’s next-generation OS, Mountain Lion as well as a sneak-peak at iOS 6 (of which rumors have been surprisingly sparse save for an updated, non-Google 3D maps app). And of course, what fun is a new operating system without new hardware? The MacBook Pro seems to be first-in-line for a major refresh and stands to gain a lot from Intel’s new Ivy Bridge chips and USB 3. Of course the rumors and mock-ups have been rampant, showing a thinner, wedge-shaped MacBook Pro and a retina display. And then there’s the Mac Pro which has been collecting dust. I think this year we’ll have to see either a major update or an end-of-life announcement.

So wait, and watch while the major players in tech make their moves. There seem to be a lot of new technologies coming to maturity which could make for some interesting changes.

Just as has always been the case with traditional commerce, companies that engage in online commerce face fierce competition as they try to utilize limited resources while fighting for valuable real estate to carve out their piece of market share. To adequately engage in this fight, businesses need skilled professionals who know how to take time-tested marketing and commercial knowledge and apply it in the new field of battle. To accommodate to the changing needs of companies, institutions of higher education now offer degree programs specific to this field of expertise.

A master’s degree in online commerce comes as a result of a very specialized course of study that gives students the tools they need to compete effectively in the sphere of online commerce. Most such courses of study incorporate basic financial and economic studies, discussing how they apply to selling products and services over the Internet. They also often deal with marketing, social networking, Web design, etc. Obtaining such a master’s degree can give a student the knowledge necessary to oversee the design and application of an entire ecommerce campaign or platform.

In addition to the master’s of online commerce option, various other options can give students similar skill sets and prepare them for the same types of jobs. For instance, a master’s in ecommerce technology covers many of the same skills and concepts but focuses more on the technical aspect involved with the programming and implementation of online store systems.

Another option for students seeking employment in the field of online commerce is a master’s degree in online marketing or Internet marketing. Rather than focusing on the programming aspect of online commerce, these courses of study focus on the implementation of technology to actually reach consumers and clients and convert contacts into sales.

In addition to these options, some educational institutions offer MBA (master of business administration) programs that focus on electronic commerce. Such programs incorporate all of the same basic aspects as other MBA programs, but they focus on applying these concepts specifically to online business.

While all of these options are specifically designed to produce professionals who can compete in the online space, those who seek employment in online commerce do not necessarily need these degrees. For instance, depending on the specific job, professionals with advanced degrees in business administration, statistics, analytics, mathematics, information technology, information systems, and computer science may qualify as well. One option is to take one of these more traditional degree programs and earn specific certifications on the side. Combined with actual personal interest and verifiable skill, any of these degree programs can imbue students with skills relating to online commerce and pave the way toward a rewarding career in the field.

What is an umbrella insurance policy? With regard to automobile insurance, the name implies that you own several vehicles (cars, motorcycles, vans, recreational vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, etc.) and you have them all under the same policy.

This can be advantageous for several reasons. First, it means convenience for you. Rather than having paperwork to keep track of for each separate vehicle covered, it means you have one company to deal with, one bill to pay, and one point of contact should you need to make a claim on your policy. Second, it means lower costs to you. Because you have multiple vehicles covered, most companies will give you a reduced rate, either annually or monthly, on your premiums.

Of course, different providers all provide different umbrella policies, but you have the power – if your insurance company won’t give you a satisfactory rate, it may be time to go shopping.

The options seem endless.  There is wireless internet, there is cable, and there is DSL.  Which one is best for you?  That depends on who you are.  You want reliability, and you want a good deal.  Both are offered with cable internet and DSL internet.  The one you choose will depend on what your priorities are, and what options exist in your particular area.

You will want to consider the main ways that you will be using the internet.  Will you be using the internet primarily for emailing and basic daily functions—paying bills, looking up recipes, or looking up sports scores?  Will you be depending on the internet for your business, or for quite a bit of important transactions?  The way you use the internet will help you determine your service-option priorities.  You might prioritize speed; you might prioritize reliability.  Both cable and DSL are fast, and both are reliable.  Compare the rates, speeds, and reliabilities of each option in your area, and then decide which option, and which price is right for you.

Much like a regular market, the stock market sells large quantities of goods and services every day. Unlike a regular market however, the stock market sells pieces of individual company, or stock. Therefore, if you own a piece of stock, you own a piece of the company. The more stocks you own, the more of the company you own, and thus the larger role you play in the management of that company.

The concept of Risk is the first thing you should research before investing in the stock market. You must consider how much money you can afford to risk in the stock market, and never risk more money than you can afford to lost – no matter how “guaranteed” the business opportunity is. While people can become very rick playing the stock market, they can just as easily lose everything they own as well.

If you are new to investing, it is a good idea to hire a professional who has your best interests in mind. A professional stock manager knows the ins and outs of the stock market, and can cater to your individual financial situation, and how much risk you are willing, or should be willing to take in an investment. A professional will help diversify your holdings, and create a portfolio. If you have multiple stocks, picking a wide range of stocks will minimize your long-term risk. For example, you could invest in pork bellies (the source of bacon) while also investing in an airline. Again, a diverse portfolio will keep you safe in the long run.

However, just because you have hired a professional, doesn’t mean you should sit back and be passive in your investing. Pay attention to current events and politics, study the financial pages of your local newspaper, and even subscribe to a financial journal such as Forbes or Fortune Magazine. Become fluent in the languages of successful companies, and what makes them successful. Know that, for example, a drought in Colombia can affect the world price of coffee, or an oil shortage increases the price of oil world-wide. Soon you will know more about what your stock manager is talking about, and can even make some decisions of your own.

In the end, don’t be afraid to invest. It can dramatically increase your wealth, as well as the companies. Investing in companies provides them with the opportunity to grow, and thus pay dividends to you for the use of your money. At the same time, there is always a level of risk, so do your research and hire a professional if necessary.

The recent economic downturn may have also led people to distrust professional advisors, or just generally mistrust the system of management in retirement accounts. Despite this cynicism, it is possible to find a professional who you can trust, and has your best interests in mind. Even more, if the advice is free, what risk are you really taking?

Almost half of the people surveyed stated that they wanted to save at least $100,000 before talking to a financial manager. The rest were either getting advice from another source (non-professionals or friends), needed to focus on their immediate financial situation more, or just felt they didn’t need professional advice. Whether you feel your savings are too small to need professional advice, or you feel you know enough to get by, getting professional advice is encouraged, especially if it is free.

It is often said “knowledge of the problem is often the first step towards finding a solution.” Now that you know why most people don’t seek free professional advice, you can do better than them. By seeking advice you are securing your financial future. It will only take a little bit of your time, but pay dividends into the future.