Cashback credit cards are a fantastic way to get rewarded for everyday purchases. As we enter 2026, the landscape of cashback credit cards continues to evolve, offering even more attractive rewards programs, perks, and features. Whether you’re looking to earn cashback on groceries, dining, travel, or gas, there are plenty of options to choose from. Here are the best cashback credit cards for 2026 that can help you maximize your rewards and save more.

What Are Cashback Credit Cards?

Cashback credit cards allow you to earn a percentage of your spending back in the form of cash. The cash rewards can be redeemed in various ways—such as a statement credit, direct deposit, or gift cards. Some cards offer a flat cashback rate across all purchases, while others provide higher rewards for specific categories, like dining or groceries.

In 2026, many credit card issuers are providing lucrative cashback opportunities, enhanced features, and sign-up bonuses to attract new customers. Here are the top five cashback cards that stand out this year.

1. Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Best for Flat-Rate Cashback

If you’re looking for simplicity and solid rewards, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a top contender. It offers 1.5% cashback on all purchases, with no limit to the amount you can earn. This makes it an excellent choice for those who don’t want to track spending categories. Additionally, you can earn 5% cashback on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% on dining, and 3% on drugstore purchases.

Bonus Offer: New cardholders can earn a $200 bonus after spending $500 in the first 3 months.

This card is perfect for someone who wants straightforward cashback rewards across all spending categories, plus valuable bonus rewards in specific areas like dining and travel.

2. Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: Best for Grocery Purchases

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a powerful option if you do a lot of grocery shopping. It offers an incredible 6% cashback on up to $6,000 spent annually at U.S. supermarkets (then 1%), 3% on transit (including rideshare), and 1% on other purchases.

Bonus Offer: New cardholders can earn a $300 statement credit after spending $3,000 in the first 6 months.

The Blue Cash Preferred® card is ideal for families or anyone who spends a lot on groceries. The high cashback rate on supermarket purchases makes it an excellent choice for maximizing rewards on everyday expenses.

3. Citi® Double Cash Card: Best for Simplicity and High Cashback

The Citi® Double Cash Card is a fan favorite due to its straightforward cashback structure. It offers an impressive 2% cashback on every purchase: 1% when you buy and 1% when you pay. This makes it one of the best cards for earning high cashback on all purchases, with no limits on the amount you can earn.

Bonus Offer: While this card doesn’t offer a sign-up bonus, the consistent cashback rate is a strong selling point for anyone looking for a no-fuss, high-reward card.

For those who don’t want to track spending categories and prefer a simple cashback system, the Citi® Double Cash Card delivers excellent rewards with minimal hassle.

4. Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for Flat-Rate Cashback with No Annual Fee

The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card offers 1.5% cashback on all purchases, and the best part? There’s no annual fee. This card is perfect for anyone who wants a no-annual-fee card with consistent cashback on every purchase.

Bonus Offer: New cardholders can earn a $200 cash bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first 3 months.

If you’re looking for a straightforward, no-fuss credit card that offers solid cashback on all purchases, Capital One Quicksilver is a reliable and cost-effective choice.

5. Discover it® Cash Back: Best for Rotating Categories

For those who are willing to track rotating categories, the Discover it® Cash Back card offers exceptional rewards. It gives you 5% cashback on rotating quarterly categories (such as groceries, gas, restaurants, etc.) on up to $1,500 in spending per quarter (then 1%). All other purchases earn 1% cashback.

Bonus Offer: Discover will match all the cashback you’ve earned at the end of your first year as a cardholder.

This card is ideal for someone who enjoys maximizing their cashback through rotating categories. The cashback match at the end of your first year is an attractive feature for new cardholders.

How to Choose the Best Cashback Credit Card for You

When selecting the best cashback credit card, consider the following factors:

Spending Habits: Look for a card that rewards you for your most frequent purchases. If you spend a lot on groceries, a card like the Blue Cash Preferred® may be best for you. If you spend evenly across categories, consider a flat-rate card like the Citi® Double Cash or Chase Freedom Unlimited®.

Annual Fees: Some cards charge an annual fee, which may offset the cashback rewards if you don’t earn enough. However, cards like the Capital One Quicksilver have no annual fee, making them a great option for those looking to keep costs low.

Sign-up Bonuses: Many cashback cards offer generous sign-up bonuses. If you can meet the minimum spending requirement, this is a great way to get additional rewards right away.

Bonus Categories: Cards with rotating bonus categories, like the Discover it® Cash Back, can be lucrative for those who track these categories and adjust their spending accordingly.

A high-yield savings account offers a higher interest rate than a traditional savings account. While traditional accounts may offer an annual percentage yield (APY) of 0.01% to 0.05%, high-yield savings accounts often provide APYs ranging from 2% to 5%. These accounts are a safe and reliable way to grow your savings without the risk of investing in the stock market.

1. Ally Bank: Leading the Pack in 2026

Ally Bank continues to be a popular choice for high-yield savings accounts in 2026. Offering a competitive APY of up to 3.50%, Ally is known for its ease of use, no monthly maintenance fees, and excellent customer service. The bank also has no minimum balance requirement, making it a great option for both beginners and seasoned savers. Ally’s online platform is user-friendly, and you can access your funds anytime without penalties.

2. Marcus by Goldman Sachs: Great for Higher Deposits

If you’re looking to deposit a larger sum, Marcus by Goldman Sachs could be the right fit. They offer an impressive APY of 3.75% with no fees or minimum balance requirements. Marcus is well-regarded for its straightforward approach to saving and offers a high level of transparency. It’s perfect for those who want a set-it-and-forget-it account that grows steadily over time.

3. Capital One 360: Reliable and Accessible

Capital One’s 360 Performance Savings account offers a solid APY of 3.40% in 2026. This account comes with no fees, no minimum balance, and a mobile app that makes managing your savings easy. While the APY isn’t the highest on the market, Capital One’s reliability and widespread ATM network make it a good choice for those who want quick access to their funds without sacrificing interest growth.

4. Discover Online Savings: Simple and Effective

Discover Bank’s online savings account is another solid option for 2026. With an APY of 3.60%, Discover stands out due to its customer service and straightforward approach to saving. There are no fees, and Discover also offers mobile banking features to keep track of your savings. With access to over 60,000 ATMs nationwide, it’s convenient for those who need quick access to their cash.

5. Synchrony Bank: High APY with ATM Access

Synchrony Bank offers a high APY of 3.90% in 2026, making it one of the leaders in the high-yield savings space. One standout feature is the access to a network of over 30,000 ATMs, which gives account holders convenient ways to withdraw their funds. Synchrony also offers a great mobile app, and there are no fees to worry about. However, it does require a $100 minimum deposit to open the account.

What to Consider When Choosing a High-Yield Savings Account

When selecting the best high-yield savings account for your needs, consider the following factors:

APY: The higher the APY, the more your money will grow over time. But don’t forget to check if the bank offers any introductory rates that might change after a few months.

Fees: Look for accounts with no monthly maintenance fees. Some banks may charge fees if you don’t meet certain criteria.

Accessibility: Some high-yield savings accounts limit your ability to access your money, while others, like the ones listed above, provide easy access to funds.

Customer Service: A reliable customer service team can be an asset when you encounter any issues with your account.

Additional Features: Mobile apps, online tools, and ATM access can make managing your account easier and more convenient.

Conclusion

In 2026, high-yield savings accounts are an excellent option for those looking to earn more on their savings while maintaining low risk. Ally Bank, Marcus by Goldman Sachs, Capital One 360, Discover Online Savings, and Synchrony Bank are all great choices, offering competitive APYs, no fees, and great customer service. No matter your savings goals, these accounts provide an easy way to grow your money with minimal effort.

By choosing the best high-yield savings account for your needs, you can maximize your savings and put your money to work for you. Remember to keep an eye on APY changes and account features as rates may fluctuate over time.

The first step in personal finance is knowing exactly how much money comes in and where it goes. Track your income and list all expenses, including rent, food, transportation, subscriptions, and entertainment. Awareness alone can dramatically improve your financial habits.

2. Create a Realistic Budget

A budget is a roadmap for your money. Use the 50/30/20 rule as a starting point:

50% for needs

30% for wants

20% for savings and debt repayment

Adjust this rule based on your income level and goals.

3. Build an Emergency Fund

An emergency fund protects you from unexpected expenses like medical bills or job loss. Aim to save 3–6 months of living expenses. Start small—saving even $500 can make a difference.

4. Avoid Unnecessary Debt

Debt can slow down your financial progress. Avoid high-interest debt such as credit cards unless absolutely necessary. If you already have debt, focus on paying it off using strategies like the snowball method or avalanche method.

5. Start Saving Early

Saving early gives your money more time to grow. Even small contributions can compound significantly over time. Open a savings account with automatic transfers to make saving effortless.

6. Learn the Basics of Investing

Investing isn’t just for the wealthy. Beginners can start with low-cost index funds or ETFs. Understanding compound interest and risk tolerance is key before investing.

7. Live Below Your Means

One of the best personal finance tips for beginners is spending less than you earn. Avoid lifestyle inflation as your income grows and prioritize long-term financial security.

8. Improve Your Financial Literacy

Read books, follow finance blogs, listen to podcasts, and take free online courses. The more you learn, the better financial decisions you’ll make.

9. Set Clear Financial Goals

Define short-term and long-term goals, such as buying a car, paying off debt, or retiring early. Clear goals help you stay motivated and focused.

10. Review and Adjust Regularly

Life changes, and so should your financial plan. Review your budget, goals, and investments at least once a year to stay on track.

Creating a monthly budget on a low income may seem challenging, but it is one of the most powerful tools for gaining financial stability. A budget helps you control spending, prioritize essentials, and work toward savings—even with limited income. With the right approach, budgeting becomes empowering rather than restrictive.

Understand Your Total Income

Start by calculating your total monthly income. Include wages, side hustles, government assistance, or any consistent cash flow. Use your net income, not gross, so your budget reflects what you can actually spend.

List All Monthly Expenses

Write down every expense, starting with essentials:

Rent or mortgage

Utilities

Food

Transportation

Insurance

Then include variable and occasional expenses like phone bills, subscriptions, and personal spending. This step helps identify where money is going and where cuts can be made.

Separate Needs From Wants

When money is tight, prioritizing needs is essential. Needs include housing, food, and basic transportation. Wants include dining out, entertainment, and shopping. Reducing wants doesn’t mean eliminating joy—it means making smarter choices.

Use a Simple Budgeting Method

The zero-based budget works well for low income earners. Every dollar has a purpose—expenses, savings, or debt repayment—so nothing is wasted. If your income fluctuates, base your budget on your lowest expected income.

Cut Expenses Strategically

Look for areas where you can reduce costs:

Cook at home more often

Cancel unused subscriptions

Shop with a grocery list

Use public transportation

Small savings add up quickly over time.

Build a Starter Emergency Fund

Even on a low income, saving something is important. Aim for $500–$1,000 as a starter emergency fund. Set aside small amounts consistently, even $10–$20 per month.

Track and Adjust Monthly

Review your budget weekly or monthly. Adjust categories as needed to reflect real-life changes. Budgeting is flexible and should evolve with your situation.

Stay Motivated

Set small, achievable goals like paying off one bill or saving for a necessity. Celebrate progress, not perfection.

TIC Investors

In this very dynamic real estate market TIC (Tenant in Common) investors have suffered as the market has weakened. In particular, those real estate investors that joined TIC investments in the last four years, (at the top of the market) are finding that in some locations, high vacancy rates and plunging rental rates are squeezing their cash flow and their ability to pay their mortgages.

Who bought TIC investments?

As baby boomers have aged, they wanted to reposition their assets into investments that did not take up as much of their time and that did not involve their day to day attention. These investors wanted to escape management intense investments and buy into real estate investments that guaranteed them a “safe and consistent” return.

They had typically sold other investments and traded into the TIC using a 1031 exchange, pooling with other investors which seemed like a safe bet. Unfortunately, many (not all*) TIC investments were organized by syndicators who purchased the properties at one price and then marked up the properties to resell to their investors. In many cases they used short term “interest only” loans to get their deals to pencil, betting that real estate appreciation as well as increasing rents would increase the value of the properties quickly and allow the properties to be refinanced.

As a result of the large number of investors (TIC syndicators, REITS and others) competing for the same inventory, the price of assets went sky high thus lowering the yields of the investments. CAP rates as low as five and a half were not unusual and CMBS loan originators and other financial institutions were willing to lend to TIC syndicators and their investors on a non recourse basis.

The Real Estate Market was not as strong as investors expected.

Market appreciation, and rent increases did not occur. In the majority of American markets most property vacancy rates have increased, making it difficult for TIC’s to have enough money to cover their expenses. In many cases the properties performed to proforma, but when the time came to refinance them the rules had changed and the lenders wanted to see more equity in each investment. Nervous lenders have moved their investor equity requirements from 25% to 40% and even 50%.

This has forced many TIC investors into the unpalatable position of significantly increasing their cash investments in properties to save their existing equity positions and furiously attempt to get new financing for their deals to replace the existing “interest only loans”. These new equity requirements are stretching the resources of TIC investors.

Today

In the past two years DBSI and Sunwest Management two major TIC syndicators have dissolved and filed for bankruptcy. As these cases move through the courts, questions have emerged about the future of TIC property sales. It seems likely that real estate TICs sold by real estate brokers will disappear and most likely be replaced by securitized TIC’s for larger investments and real estate partnerships for smaller investments. (TICs can be sold as real estate investments or as securities, but Real estate TICs are not held to the same high standard of disclosure as securities investments).

A reflection of this trend, is that the Tenant-In-Common Association (TICA) changed their name to Real Estate Investment Securities Association ( REISA). In the last year REISA recommended that all TICs be structured as securities.** Some TIC syndicators are still in business such as RealtyNet Advisors. Realtynet Advisors have adjusted to changes in the market place with their special approach to TIC’s where there is no debt just equity invested, in other words they do not borrow money to make a deal. They find enough investors to contribute equity for the full sales price.

The future of TIC investments will be dictated by the recovery of the market; in the mean time look for other ways to make money investing in real estate. Some of these other options include purchasing foreclosed property, purchasing real estate deals with large (50%) down payments or buying notes from banks that are desperate to increase their cash positions.

Notes:

**RealtyNet Advisors, are not your average Tenant-In-Common sponsor. Unlike most TIC sponsors, Realty Net Advisors don’t burden their properties with debt, brokerage fees, or other costly charges, and they do not sell at a higher than market rate. With the RealtyNet’s simple, co-ownership structure, investors own an undivided, fractional interest in an entire property. They each share in their portion of the net income, tax shelters, and property appreciation.” (quoted from RealtyNetAdvisors website) See http://www.realtynetadvisors.com/benefits-of-a-tic.php.

Note: What is a Tenant in Common (also known as Undivided Fractional Interest) Investment?

The tenant in common (or undivided fractional interest) structure allows investors to purchase an interest in a significant real estate asset, perhaps larger than they could obtain individually. The investor acquires a percentage ownership (title and deed) and receives passive rental income while receiving the tax benefits of traditional real estate. The investors own and control the properties, not a third party. TIC ownership provides investors with the first ever means for ownership diversity, both in location and type, of their real estate portfolio.

Unlike partnership real estate, TIC ownership entitles each owner to the same ownership rights regardless of the equity invested. This element of the investment structure puts no individual owner (or group of owners) in direct control of the property over any other investor(s). You can truly have all of the ownership benefits and security of a large commercial asset with significantly fewer obstacles. As with any type of investment, the value of a fractional interest typically increases annually due to escalations inherent in most tenant leases. From Real Estate Investment Securities Association website at, http://www.reisa.org.

** REISA is a national trade association for professionals who offer and distribute securitized real estate investments

Being healthy is something that everyone can do. Unfortunately, many people have not been told how they can be healthy, or what things they should do during the day to keep their body in top shape. This article is a quick guide for helping you to maintain your body in the healthiest way possible.

1. Keep a daily journal of what you eat. This way, you can track your health. For instance, you might find that you feel sleepy when you eat too many carbohydrates, or that you feel a burst of energy when you have a smoothie made with fruits and vegetables. A journal can help clue you in to your own health, and provide a good foundation in case you ever need to see a doctor about your diet.

2. Avoid buffets. A buffet may seem like a way to save money when you want to go out and eat some food, but think carefully about what you’re doing. Not only do you not have a guarantee that the food is fresh, but you are also going to eat more food than you would have otherwise because you want to get your money’s worth. Don’t force yourself to eat more food just so you can feel that your money was well spent; it’s not good for your body.

3. Eat several meals throughout the day. As a kid you may have been told to have three meals a day, but the truth is that it’s better to have a lot of small meals during the day. The reason for this is more meals allow your blood sugar levels to remain consistent, which is good for your body. Not only that, but when you eat more meals you are less likely to binge. Your body is not ‘starving’ the same as you might if you only eat three times a day.

4.Adding protein to you diet is a great way to have a diet filled with more nutrition. Protein can be found in a variety of sources, including any lean meats and nuts. Protein can also be found in dairy products. Protein is needed for a number of body functions, so when you eat more protein your general health will improve.

5. Planning your meals is a smart idea. When you plan your meals, you take a focused look at the nutrients and vitamins you need in your diet, and allow specific times to have those things. It allows you to save money at the supermarket because if you have a plan, you will only buy the things you need instead of grazing through the entire store.

6. Don’t eat too many carbohydrates for breakfast; definitely avoid sweets. Carbohydrates drive up your blood sugar, particular simple carbs like sugars, syrups, pancakes, and many of your sweet breakfast favorites. When you drive up your blood sugar too much, you will crash and become tired and hungry again. Sugar is generally not good for health.

7. It is critical to drink enough water. Every cell in the body uses water, so it is important to keep your body hydrated. Dehydration can lead to all kinds of serious problems, so make sure to stick to your 8-10 recommended cups of water.

As you can now tell, being healthy and eating a diet full of nutrition is possible, although you need a lot of motivation and discipline to pull it off. You just have to know the right things to do and consistently incorporate these tips into your life. Soon, you will find yourself feeling healthier in no time and you’ll be able to live your life to the fullest!

Are you building a network marketing empire solely online? If so you are going to be disappointed with the lack of leads that you will have to talk to until you are able to generate 10+ leads per day. Here are some multi level marketing tips that you can immediately implement to generate leads to introduce to your main opportunity.

Multi Level Marketing Tips #1

Work events. Find one or two meet up groups in your local area that you can attend and begin to collect business cards. You’re goal should be to collect twenty-five cards per event and will give you plenty of prospects to expose your opportunity to until you can start generating leads online. When you are networking at these events ask as many questions about them as possible. Keep them talking about themselves for about five to ten minutes before moving on to the next person and never tell anyone about your business.

The next day follow up with each prospect and ask them this question, “Hey, I just meet you at this event last night and you seemed like a really nice person. I didn’t get a chance to chat with you very long and I’m just going to throw this out there. Would you be open to a side project that doesn’t interfere with what you’re currently doing? Most people will be receptive and congratulations you just got an exposure, which is required in order for us to make any money.

Multi Level Marketing Tips #2

Post-It Notes. This is a little known strategy to generating leads offline. What you want to do is post notes all across your town in high traffic areas such as gas pumps. On each note say something like this…

Superstars Only
Make $50-300k
Don’t Even Call Unless You Are a Producer and Can Prove It
Your phone number

Whenever one of these leads calls you ask them questions and begin to build a relationship with them. Here are a few questions you can ask potential business partners:

-Why do you consider yourself a producer?
-What is it that you’re looking for?
-What are you’re goals?

Then send them to watch a video presentation or a pre-recorded conference call or webinar. Whatever you do make sure it is duplicable.

Multi Level Marketing Tips #3

Realtor signs. Take several different routes while driving to work whenever you a realtor sign take down their name and phone number. Realtors are the perfect type of people you want to talk to because they work for a commission and are open to new ways of making money especially in the past few years with the economic down turn.

Multi Level Marketing Tips #4

Card grab. Find places in your area that have corkboards where people place their business cards for advertising. Take them home with you and begin to call them. You can say something like this…”I’m not sure where I found your card but would you be open to a side project that doesn’t interfere with what you are doing?

These people want to make more money or they would not be advertising.

Multi Level Marketing Tips #5

Local Google Alerts. Set Google Alerts on cities around you to be auto-emailed to you. Let the news come to you and it will help you get more leads. Contact people featured in the news and prospect them, but do not throw up on them with your business opportunity concentrate on building relationships. People don’t do business with people that they don’t know, like, and trust, so establish a relationship first and then expose them to your opportunity.

Multi Level Marketing Tips #6

People you meet. Whenever you meet someone at the grocery store you strikes you as someone that you would want to work with strike up a conversation with them. Not sure what to say? Complement them on their clothes, shoes, necklace, kids, etc. Once you’ve got the conversation going do not pitch them on your business. Ask them about their family, occupation, recreation.

Once you have established rapport you can transition the conversation by saying, “Just throwing it out there. Would you be open to a side project that doesn’t interfere with what you’re currently doing?” If they ask you to give them the details tell them that you are busy right now, but you will get back with them within the next 48 hours. Get their contact info and leave.

Multi Level Marketing Tips #7

Asking for referrals. Always ask everyone you meet for referrals. After an exposure if for some reason they don’t get started in your business say, “You have got to know someone who has been affected by the economy or lost their job, do you mind if I shared this with them?

If they say they don’t know anyone who is struggling say, “No? Really? There is no one you want to help? Nobody is struggling? After you contact the referrals they give you call them back asking for more because there is a chance they will give you more. The guy I learned this strategy from received 157 referrals from ONE person!

1. About Google Video

We are living in a digital world, where pretty much everything gets uploaded online. There are 80 million web hosts according to the stats made in 2006. The growth of the World Wide Web is obvious, it’s all on the web – companies addresses, documents, pictures, books, you can buy everything from cars to ships. But it’s not just documents any more, pages are far from stating these days. The web is now full with video clips being shared by millions of people around the world.

Google Video allows people to search for video files, download and play them on their computers. Although Google has not released an exact number of the video files available at their site, they claim there are several thousands and increasing all the time. The video material includes just about anything – TV shows, movies, amateur videos, commercials not displayed on US channels, etc. The files are either free of charge or must be purchase online from the Google Video Store. Google Video enables users from all over the world to upload their own content on Google Servers and share it with everyone. The files are in GVI, AVI, GVP and MP4 formats.

Google Video Player lets you watch videos that have been downloaded or purchased from the Google Video website, video.google.com. Google Video Player allows you to watch the videos in full screen as well as browse the video using thumbnails. It also uses OpenSSL Toolkit, QPluginLoader and QLibrary classes.

Some say that Google Video is just an effort of the search engine giant to enter the online video sharing, gathering up a rich archive of moving pictures to be accessed either for free or for pay. Market trick or not, Google Video is here to stay and this article will try to familiarize you with the technology behind it.

The Google Video Player is a piece of software that transfers the paid video content from Google’s servers to your computer. There is a version for MAC and Windows. Technically as a video player, it has some pretty cool features. It allows you to browse the scenes using thumbnails, so that one can easily find each and every moment.

The GV player has full-screen mode and the FTP portion of it is on a high level as it supports download resuming, automatically. This is a really nice feature especially for people on a dial-up or other users with a low and unstable connection. Perhaps the only strange thing about this application is that it is made to play paid-content, which is sort of useless, considering the amount of websites with video clips and all the video players, torrents and ftp clients.

The overall success of this software depends on the richness of the library. If it has a lot of interesting content, it will succeed even if the service is paid. But if the library is weak, then it doesn’t matter how smart and functional the player is, cause it just won’t matter when you don’t have any multimedia to play.

In the context of all that, it’s important to know that Google faces a strong competition when it comes to online video content, from the likes of YouTube, MetaCage, iFilm and several other websites with a pretty decent traffic. A lot of money are involved in this sector, so that’s a big opportunity for any company. The content available at Google Video is mostly amateur, because of the ease with which users can upload their files. Video files can be uploaded at the website video.google.com or with the help of Google Video Uploader, available for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X and Linux.

But it’s not just amateurs that upload content to Google Video, television networks also participate by making whole shows available and Hollywood studios are also putting up some movie trailers. Because of all that, the video quality is inconsistent, depending on who uploaded it. There are all types of video files, copy-protected or not, with or without ads. Google screens out any sex related material, so Google Video is totally safe for the children.

The paid content is another interesting moment regarding Google Video. Amateur movies might be free, but episodes of Survivor or other TV shows cost $1.99 each, a price set by the producer of the given video.

2. System Requirements:

• For playing videos:

As mentioned, you can play the videos with your Internet browser or trough the Google Video Player.

To play videos through your browser on Google Video, your system must meet the following requirements:

- Adobe Flash Player 7.0+

- Microsoft Windows 2000 or higher, all updates installed

- Internet Explorer 5.0+, Firefox 1.1+

- broadband connection with 500+ Kbps for continuous playback on Google Video.

To play videos trough the Google Video Player, your pc must meet the following requirements:

- Intel Pentium III 1GHz

- 256MB RAM

- 16MB Video memory

• For uploading videos:

The Google Video Uploader has the following requirements:

- Windows 98 or higher, Mac 10.3 or higher, or any OS that has Java 1.4.1 or higher in order to install the Uploader

- broadband connection to upload video.

3. Installing Google Video Player and playing it

If there is a video you wish to view from video.google.com, then click the “Download” button to the right of the video, and if you don’t have the GVP installed, you will be prompted to do so. Of course, you can download the setup executable on your own from http://www.freesecuredownloads.com/free-downloads-download.html#video, or from the official website at [http://video.google.com/playerdownload]. Once you have it on your desktop, run the GoogleVideoPlayerSetup.exe application to complete the installation. When the installation is complete, the video you’ve selected will download automatically.

4. Finding videos on video.google.com

Google’s video library is expanding all the time. Considering the amount of video clips available, users often need an advanced search technology that will help them find what they are looking for. Google has responded to this need, by developing the Advanced Video Search available at http://video.google.com/videoadvancedsearch. On this page, you can specify all or just some of the words describing it; filter results by duration, price, and genre; language; duration; price; site domain. The Advanced Video Search will output results based on their relevance with the video’s title, popularity, and many other factors.

5. Buying Google Videos

Apple’s iTunes Store was the first that started selling videos online and from the day they started, internet exprets immediately understood it will be a great hit. TV fans from all over the world bought videos for about $8 million just in the first three months. Yahoo, Microsoft, AOL and Google are the major competitors on the “download TV show for free” market. Google calls its system “the first open video marketplace” because of the idea that everyone is able to upload his content, from professional TV producers to neighborhood amateurs. Everything is available – complete NBA reruns, TV shows from CBS to family videos. This makes the whole market a bit chaotic, as there is a lot of contrast in terms of video quality. Therefore, some videos are copy-protected and require payment, while others are free for download and distribution. Google gets 30% of the fee you pay for a given video.

The thing about Google Videos is that some of them will self-destruct 24 hours after being downloaded, because you buy the rights just for that short period of time. That’s how we come up to the three basic categories established:

1) Commercial TV Shows – Star Trek, I Love Lucy, all games played in the National Basketball Association are available for download 24 hours after they are played, for $4 each. Sony Music Videos can be downloaded for $2 each.

2) “Pseudo-commercial” – concerts and third-tier stuff.

3) User submitted material – home movies, just like the ones you see on YouTube.com.

Videos that should be purchased have buttons saying “Buy High Quality” and “Day-Pass High Quality”. Buy High Quality is the best option, because the video doesn’t self-destruct and you can watch it whenever you want, directly from your Desktop. The Day-Pass High, are once again with high quality, but cheaper, because you must be online to view them and you got only 24 hours to do that. You must be online to view copy-protected content, because to decrypt those files, Google Video Player needs to communicate with Google servers over an active Internet connection.

To purchase Google Videos, you must create a Google Account, by entering your email address, password and payment details.

6. The GVI Format

The Google Video Player reads files in Google’s own GVI format. The Google Video Files – GVIs are a modified .avi files with an extra layer with additional information, about the type of the file – self-destructable or not. GVI video files are encoded in DiVx along with MP3 audio stream.

You can download a GVI2AVI converter from http://www.kultiras.net/programs.html. The program requires the .NET Framework.

Naevius.com is also a website from which you can download a GVI converter allowing to turn GVI into AVI and the opposite. It’s extremely easy to use, simple and clean interface.

For a fast and secure download of Google Video, go to http://video.freesecuredownloads.com

Choosing a window tint shop can be confusing. “Best Price” “No Bubbles” “20 Years in Business”… How do you know which shop to choose? There are major differences between tint shops and you don’t want to make a bad investment. After all, window tint is something that you have to live with for years to come. It’s either going to make you proud every time you look at it or make you sick! Hopefully after reading this post, you will have the tools you need to make an educated decision.

Ask Your Friends Where They Had Their Vehicle Tinted

Take a close look at the tint work on other people’s vehicles. Do you see bubbles, cracks, peeling, or signs of turning purple? If not, you might want to find out where this particular vehicle was tinted and add this shop to the list of shops to visit. This is simply a starting point! You still have work to do!

Visit the Website of Shops That You Are Considering

No website? That would be a definite strike against them. Quality shops are proud to display their workmanship in any way possible. The website should not only show pictures of the work, but also help to educate customers in an effort to help them make a decision. Great shops are not afraid to share information and show off their expertise. As I write this, the year is 2012. EVERY business needs a quality website, especially a visual business like window tinting.

Read Online Reviews

While online reviews should not be your only basis of consideration, you can usually learn a lot about the workmanship and the general business practices of the shop. You should be looking for a tint shop with a lot of reviews and the majority being positive. Nobody is perfect and you might find some negativity. Be sure to consider how this negativity is handled. Some places to look for online reviews are Google Places, Yahoo Local, Yelp, Merchant Circle, etc. Many times you can find reviews on the companies own website. Put more trust in the independent review sites since the owner has no control over those reviews.

Visit the Tinter’s Facility!

Unless the steps above make you 100% confident in your decision, you need to visit the shops you are considering. Nothing short of a visit will help you decide whether this is the right shop for you or not. Look at their showroom? Is it clean? Ask to see their installation area. Is that clean? You can’t expect a quality job in an unclean environment (This does not mean that you should expect an area fit for producing computer chips!). Are the employees professional? Are they dressed appropriately? Do they explain things clearly? How long have they been in business? How long have the window tinters been employed at this facility? These are all things that you will need to observe and ask the employees. The shop should make you feel totally comfortable in handing over the keys to your ride without any worries at all. If this is not the case, you haven’t found the right place yet.

Ask About the Shop’s Warranty on Window Film

Does the shop stand behind its work? If so for how long? In this business, it is not uncommon to have a warranty on tint work for as long as you own your vehicle. This is important since mistakes can happen and you don’t want to be left with a poor quality tint job on your ride. Make sure you have a clear understanding of the warranty. If the shop is evasive of unclear about this, I would scratch them from your list of considerations.

Brand of Tint

Here is an area where I believe some might disagree. Just hear me out and be sure to read this entire paragraph! If you trust the shop you are dealing with, BRAND OF TINT DOES NOT MATTER. If you have decided that Shop A is the best choice, you can rest assured that others have decided the same also. This makes for a busy shop and one that takes care of their customers. The last thing that a busy, quality shop wants to do is FIX MISTAKES or REPLACE DEFECTIVE TINT! They are going to work hard to select a quality brand of tint that does not cause them headaches. These guys are the professionals. They know tint. If you are counting on them to take care of your car and do the job right, you really need to trust their judgement on the tint that they offer.

I will say that the exact opposite can be true if the shop does not measure up to the above criteria. If the shop is dirty, the employees unprofessional and the reviews mediocre, you can count on the fact that quality tint was not at the top of their list. CHEAP, inferior tint probably was.

PRICE!

Notice I saved this for last. In my opinion, if the shop passed all the tests above, price is not a consideration. Most people get tint shortly after making a vehicle purchase. Most people will keep a vehicle for about 3 years (36 months). That said, follow along with me on this exercise:

Shop A is everything you ever wanted in a tint shop. Clean, friendly, great online reviews, informative website with tons of pictures, great warranty and they’ve been in business for almost 20 years. They will charge you $275 to tint your vehicle.

Shop B Just opened up. They have no website (or one that looks like it was thrown together in less time than it took me to write this post). Reviews are non-existent. The shop is cluttered and dirty. The salesperson looks like you interrupted him for changing his oil. Their price to tint your ride is $199.

Think about this a second. On the surface it looks like a big difference. In reality, it is $2 a MONTH over the 3 years you will own your vehicle.. For less than a cup of Starbucks or a can of Monster, you can have total piece of mind that your tint job will be done right. If it isn’t you’ve got a reputable, established shop that will stand behind the work and make it right. The shop that is in business for 20 years didn’t do that by accident. They did it by making people happy and exceeding their expectations. $2 a month buys you the pride of knowing that you vehicle looks great and will continue to look great for as long as you own it. A great question to ask yourself is “Do you want to trust your vehicle to the lowest bidder?”

Why is Shop A more expensive? Could it be that the owner is greedy and wants to make a quick buck? Highly unlikely. As stated above, if Shop A passed all the tests mentioned earlier, they have an established business with happy employees and customers. Retaining employees costs money. Maintaining a clean and functional work environment costs money. HAVING INSURANCE costs money. Paying taxes costs money. At the end of the day, both owners are probably making the same profit on each sale. But the owner of Shop A is certainly sleeping better at night knowing that his shop is providing great work and producing happy customers.

Conclusion

Getting your vehicle tinted can be confusing and intimidating. It is really an exercise in common sense. Do your homework and visit the shops. Talk to the employees and ask questions. Look around the shop and ask to see the installation area. Tie all of this together and you should have an idea of who is the right choice for you. Brand of tint should have little impact on your decision. Price should only come into play when all other things are equal.

I submit that, with nearly 20 years in business behind us and numerous industry awards for customer service and quality installations, Mobile Edge is an excellent choice to have your window tint work done in the Lehigh Valley, Poconos, and all of Eastern PA.