As you may know I play a lot of Xbox, especially Battlefield 3 and Fifa 12 and wanted to upgrade my headphones for a better pair. When searching online I came across the Turtle Beach Ear Force DSS which is a surround sound processor that changes any stereo head set into a surround sound one and I had to give it a go.

I also ordered a set of Turtle Beach X12 headphone to go with it and have been trying them out today. Here are my first impression of both the DSS and X12 together.

Set Up

The DSS is easy to set up, simply plug the optical cable from your Xbox to the processor and plug the headphones 3.5mm jack and USB into the front and its ready. You can control the volume and bass from the DSS as well as turn the surround sound processor on and off. The X12’s also have a bass boost as well as game volume and chat volume and a mic on/off switch.

Sound

The sound is amazing, in Battlefield 3 I can now hear where different sounds are coming from and whether someone is sneaking up behind me and the crowd chats in Fifa also sound great.

I turned the bass boost down on my headphones and used the bass from the processor as having both on is a bit overpowering.

I also tried the DSS with my old XLC headphones and it still sound good, but to be honest the X12’s are far better.

I would definitely recommend the Turtle Beach DSS for anyone who wants to experience surround sound without annoying the neighbours and although it sounds good even with a set of cheap headphones I’d also recommend getting a decent pair to begin with.

The tight credit market and the increasing popularity of invoice factoring has led to many businesses questioning if they should take that route in order to alleviate their cashflow difficulties. When deciding if a company should abandon chasing after business loans and permanently ease the likelihood of overdrafts by utilising invoice factoring, many are hampered by lack of information.

Although not a new concept, invoice factoring is unknown to many and misunderstood by many more. Invoice factoring is an arrangement whereby an institution will contract to buy a company’s invoices at a discounted rate and then assume the billing and collecting responsibilities. The institution that buys the invoices pays around 80 to 90 percent of their value immediately and then waits to receive payment from the debtors.

The reason why a company would pursue finding a buyer for their invoices is twofold. First, it receives a large percentage of the invoice value immediately, rather than having to wait 30, 60 or 90 days. Receiving money immediately for work or services performed allows the company to take advantage of discounts offered by its own suppliers for paying early. It also ensures supplies and labour costs are covered for coming projects and eliminates the need to constantly search out loans.

Secondly, the factoring company handles all billing, apart from the initial invoicing. The company saves labour costs as well as the awkwardness associated with trying to squeeze money out of clients whose patronage they want to keep. A factor, working with the invoices of many companies will have experienced personnel who are adept at handling many tasks that might be beyond the scope of the average company. Vetting potential clients to determine their credit worthiness is one such task, while having overseas contacts and the ability to bridge language differences is another.

The only way to know if it is right for your company is to consult with experts, such as Touch financial and investigate all of the options.

The braided rug is made from scraps of old clothing or fabrics and is a great way to recycle old worn-out or out of fashion clothes that would otherwise end up in the rubbish bin.

You will need:
Scissors
Safety pins
Ruler
Clothespin or binder clip
Tapestry needle
Upholstery thread
Old clothing scraps

Begin by cutting up the old clothes into one inch wide strips that are at least a foot long.  Select three strips of cloth, pair them together at one end and secure them with a safety pin.  Using another safety pin secure the fabric pieces an inch away from the end of the fabric.  Begin braiding the fabric together and after braiding a foot long section secure it with the clothespin or binder clip to hold your position.  Continue braiding and move the clip up every foot.

Stop braiding and move the clip forward when you are approximately four inches from the end of the shortest strip.  Take a new strip of fabric and lay it over the end of the shortest strip.  Ensure that both pieces overlap and are secure.  Continue braiding until you have used all the fabric.

An inch or so before the end of your braid turn the ends of the cloth under the braid and sew them tightly to the braid.  Repeat this process with the other end of the braid.

The next phase requires you to tightly coil the braid to form a circle or oblong shape.  Using a zigzag stitch, and starting from the centre, sew the side-by-side portions of the braid together.  Repeat until the entire rug is sewn together, flip it over and place it where you want.

At some point in your life you are invariably going to need help with a legal problem; whether it be buying a property or getting a divorce, solicitors can help with all aspects of the legal process. There are many different types of solicitors to choose from and below is a brief list of the most common and popular ones:

Generalised/ High Street Solicitors

These types of solicitors are usually the first to be visited by someone in need of legal help. These solicitors are trained in various aspects of legal code and if they cannot help you directly they will recommend a specialist solicitor to you.

Divorce Solicitors

Marriage is no longer a lifetime commitment and divorce is a common legal process when two people no longer want to be together. A divorce solicitor can help make sure that both parties are satisfied by dividing up assets and property and making sure that a fair settlement is achieved.

Property Solicitors

Buying a property is the single biggest purchase of most people’s lives and to make sure that everything runs smoothly and legally a property solicitor must be hired. A property solicitor (aka a conveyancing solicitor) makes sure that everything is legal, can help find a property surveyor and handles all legally binding documents. They can also advise you or any legal questions you may have.

Injury Solicitors

If you have been injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault then an injury solicitor can help you claim compensation. They can give you advice and file compensation claims against any companies or individuals that were responsible for your injuries.

Employment Solicitors

Employment solicitors can help settle employment related disputes such as unfair dismissals or discrimination cases.

So, whether you’re looking for solicitors in Milton Keynes or solicitors in Nottingham, the first step in taking legal advice is to find a reputable solicitor.

Online betting has been around for a few years now and it’s amazing just what you can bet on. You can bet on usual things from sporting events to football results, but did you know you can also bet on strictly come dancing or do a bit of dancing on ice betting as well.

The popularity of online betting means that there is even more choice than before, with many websites offering free bets and new customer bonuses there has never been a better time to have a flutter; now all you have to think of is what you’re going to bet on.

I re-grouted my bathroom at the weekend and though I’d write a quick how to guide incase any of you wanted to try it as well.

Causes of Grout Discolouration

Unless your shower is a brand new installation, you may well have noticed that the spaces between the tiles are not quite as pristine as the tiles. This is due to dirt getting into the grout, the cement like material that fills the joints between them.

Bathrooms and kitchens are subjected to a wide range of temperatures and particularly in the case of bathrooms, damp. Both will eventually cause the grout to become discoloured.

Removing Grout Build-up

To remove grout it is essential to protect the surrounding tiles with masking tape. You can then use a tool called a grout rake, which can be found in most DIY stores. This is a little like a heavy-duty toothbrush, which enables you to gently scrape the dirt encrusted layer of grout away. Once this has been accomplished, you are ready to apply a fresh layer of grout between the tiles.

Use exactly the same process to tackle grubby tiles in the kitchen. These are liable to suffer from greasy coating as much as the effects of damp, so also wash their surfaces with detergent.

The hosting on my blog is about to end and I’m thinking of hosting it with a specialist WordPress hosting company. I’ve had a look around and found a company called 34SP.com who specialise in hosting and WordPress hosting.

Plans start at just £.95 a month and you also get access to custom WordPress themes, so it might just be the time to update the style of this blog. 34SP.com has dedicated servers and the best thing is the first month is free, so if I don’t like it I can cancel it and it’ll cost me nothing.

Check out their website, it has everything you need to know about getting started and even a full page of WordPress sample sites for you to have a look at. They can even install WordPress for you if it’s a brand new blog and set it up for you too.

A big Happy New Year to everyone! Hope 2012 is a great year for you all.

Android users are benefitting greatly from some of the new free smartphone sat nav apps that are now available. These sat nav apps are some of the best in the industry and are available to Android users free of charge. One of the newest Android sat nav applications is Navfree, an on-board satellite system that can easily and quickly be accessed on a smartphone. This new application provides detailed mapping data that has been provided by more than 3.7 million iPhone users.

While Navfree was originally designed for the iPhone, the application is now available to Android OS users on such models as the LG Optimus 2X and the LG Optimus Black. The app is completely free and is available to users in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, India, South Africa, Latin America and North America.

Users will find Android sat nav apps like Navfree very useful. Since this is an on-board application, all data and mapping will be stored, allowing access without a signal. This is one of the most advanced navigation applications and is already being used by millions around the world.

Using Android sat nav apps that are on-board will help to reduce data charges that can be incurred, which is another reason Navfree has quickly become one of the top applications for Android. The download is fast and free and constant updates are made available. With users around the world, all mapping data is always up to date. This GPS system is one of the most popular free Android sat nav apps on the market.

Forex traders consider that the forex market offers excellent opportunities for retail traders to make a profit; perhaps the best of all the markets available today.  This is borne out by the fact that it is the most commonly traded market across the globe, with the most liquidity; that is, the ability to enter and exit trades quickly, and the long opening hours make it possible to trade day and night throughout the working week, no matter what the geographical location.

When these important factors are brought together, it creates an environment in which forex traders benefit from modest transaction costs compared to other traders in different financial markets, improved flexibility and increased opportunities.  Despite all these advantages, of course, forex trading takes time, dedication and skill in order to ensure success.

A good approach is to become familiar with the terms used in trading and the actual mechanisms for making trades.  The principle whereby forex software is used to make trades via a forex platform should be clearly understood; automated trading is carried out via forex robots in response to, a usually pre-arranged, forex signal, which is an indicator of when to start or finish a trade.

There are different forex systems, however, and varying degrees of human intervention depending on the preferences of the trader.  For example, there are companies specialising in selling forex signals and sending them to traders via mobile phone or sms, leaving it up to the trader to put in place the trade using whichever mechanism is preferred.  Other forex platforms are directly linked to a broker’s central trading hub and trades are automatically instigated in tandem with this, requiring no hands-on work by the trader at all.

Individuals who take the time to practise their trading skills will be able to make an informed decision to favour one method or another.