iPad or Android Tablets: What's the Difference?

Which are best: iPad or Android tablets? What's the difference between them, and which should you choose? We will first discuss the Android and Apple software platforms in general, and then discuss them in terms of tablet computers, specifically the iPad 2 and the Android Honeycomb operating system used in the Motorola Xoom tablet.

The fundamental difference between the Apple and Android operating systems for tablet computers is that the Apple system is a closed system, specific only to apple devices, while Android is open source. That means that Android is free for developers to use, both in terms of designing apps to run with it, and in the hardware using it as a platform.

Android now belongs to Google, who purchased it form the developers Android Inc. in 2005. Google made it open source, under the Open Handset Alliance (OHA). It is available as part of the Apache free software license. In 2010, it was listed by Canalys as the best-selling software platform for smartphones worldwide.

A Common Platform

That's the background for Android, which is now being used in tablets in competition to Apple's iPad. Because the iPad uses a proprietary software platform, it is by nature more restrictive than Android devices, and there before does not have the same breadth of communication between devices as Android tablets would theoretically have. However, because Android tablets are in their infancy, this degree of platform commonality has yet to be used to any advantage.

In fact, it is highly likely that individual Android users will be protective of their own devices, and that the full benefits of a common platform are unilaterally to be developed. Because of this common platform, it is highly likely in the future that apps and other forms of software will tend to focus on Android rather than Apple. For now, however, there is still a larger choice of apps available for Apple devices than for Android tablets - but this is expected to be only a temporary situation due to development of Android apps is now continuous.

iPad 2 Vs Android Tablets

So how does all this translate into the hardware using each of the two operating systems? It is fundamentally now a comparison of the iPad 2 with the top Android tablets. There are several tablets that fail to match iPad let alone iPad 2, but there have been some good tablets developed using Android by top firms such as Acer, Samsung and Motorola, and is the latter that we should consider here.

The Motorola Zoom Tablet uses the Android Honeycomb OS, and is thicker and heavier than the iPad 2 (0.34 v 0.5 inches). Both have dual-core 1GHz processors, but the Zoom has 1GB RAM against the 512MB believed to be offered by the iPad 2.

One excellent feature of the Xoom is that you can plug it into your PC and access your files. You can transfer files or download from one the other. With the iPad 2 this is a ponderous process that has to be made through iTunes. No need you use iTunes to download music: you can easily download music to the Xoom tablet by drag and drop without requiring a massive ponderous iTunes file to stay on your memory.

Multitasking Comparison

Another advantage of the Android tablet is that it is true multitasking which the iPad is not. The iPad is more a matter of changing between tasks, with a small amount of processing in the background, but not true multitasking. There are many other benefits that the Android tablets can offer over the iPad 2, including more flexibility in file handling, and icon presentation. You are not restricted to Apple formats because you can use any that uses the Android open source software.

However, the iPad does have some advantages in addition to being thinner and lighter, and one of these is the number of available apps as suggested earlier. This is likely because most tablet apps are based on the iPad, and are generally developments of the apps developed for the iPhone. Now, however, an increasing number are being created on the Android platform, and it will not be long before they overtake the iPad apps.

Apple Fan or Android Fan

Ultimately, the choice between the iPad and an Android tablet, exemplified here by the Motorola Xoom, will probably come down to wherever or not you are an Apple fan. Apple fans will likely stick to the Apple product, while there currently appears to be no compelling reason why PC fans should go with the iPad rather than the Xoom - though there are more excellent Android tablets on the market.

The Android software platform has been slowly but gradually eating into the Apple market, and, as more firms offer their own versions of Android tablets, this competition against the iPad 2 will increase. Before long, the tablet market will be very similar to the current situation in the laptop market where we have those that go with the Apple way of doing things and those that prefer Windows. Except it is now Apple Vs Android. Who will win - you will decide that.

Comments: Time to Wake Up Because in 2007 Trading it is a Much Different Financial Market

Comparing the Widows Mobile and Android Develpment Platform

Mobile Development Platforms Comparison

Introduction

Software giants, like Google are disabling the other safe and established players in the mobile application development business. Newcomers like Android have led to significant structural changes on the future of mobile application development by imposing their rules. This changed environment not only brings additional opportunities, but also adds certain constraints. Developers today, need to assess their options and find out how they can benefit from this changed environment.

While mobile computing has addressed the attention of application developers, there has been very little work done to examine the programming ease of these technologies. Here we will take a look at two of the most widely available mobile development environments - Android and Windows Mobile and explore and assess these options from a developer's perspective.

Android

Android was released by Google in 2007, as an open source platform for mobile software development for smartphones. The Android platform was released as part of the Open Handset Alliance. The primary aim of this alliance was to set up open standards for smartphones. Android is basically a Linux based, open source operating system for mobiles. As a mobile operating system it allows developers to create managed codes in Java, by using Java libraries developed by Google. Not only does Android provide a mobile operating system including a development environment, it also offers a custom virtual machine known as the Dalvik Virtual Machine for running applications as well as acts as the middleware in between the operating system and the code. When it comes to application development, Android facilitates the usage of 2D as well as 3D graphical libraries, advanced network capabilities such as 3G, Edge and WLAN and a customized SQL engine for continuous storage.

Windows Mobile

Developed by Microsoft, the Window Mobile is an operating system for mobile devices. Based on the Microsoft Windows CE 5.0, Windows Mobile is used as an operating system on many smartphones, PDAs, and touch screen devices. Windows Mobile facilitates the creation of custom written applications in managed as well as native codes. The Application Programming Interface (API) in Windows Mobile is extensible and has rich features along with a programmable layer. Beside that Windows Mobile also takes advantage of the capabilities provided by Microsoft.Net environment.

We will compare these platforms and closely examine their strengths and weaknesses. The platforms will be compared on the basis of implementation and performance aspects as well as developer support. We have chosen these criteria for the comparison as they represent the most important aspects when it comes to mobile software developers.

Implementation

We will use persistent storage as the basis for comparing the implementation aspect. The technology used for persistent storage in mobile technology varies between various mobile development environments. Both Windows Mobile and Android have the ability to use an on-device database which facilitates easier manipulation as well as extraction of data. Also, as far as local file storage is concerned both environments support memory cards for additional storage space. However, the difference lies in the way the storage space is exploited. While Android can not install applications on memory cards, Windows Mobile allows it. Both Android and Windows mobile platforms have a relational database. Also, in both the platforms and the libraries have quite a few useful persistence features. Once the libraries have been initialized, access to database is available via an object oriented interface which can be easily accessed by developers.

Performance

Performance figures are important for both users as well as developers. The performance comparison of the two platforms will be transported out based on the file size. The basic purpose of measuring file size is to get a better idea of ​​the configuration as well as the run time dependencies that are included in packaged applications.

Android applications come packaged in apk (Android Package) files. The .APK file generally has a group of .DEX (Android program files), which operate like a single application file for use within the Android platform. The .APK file is basically the compressed version of the contents in the 'Androidmanifest.xml' file.

Windows Mobile applications make use of cab-files for application packaging and deployment. The first step while making a distributable file, involves packaging the application in a CAB (Cabinet) file. This CAB file can be deployed to other devices where it can be expanded and installed. A CAB file is basically an executable archive which contains the application, resources, dependencies like DLLs and other resource files.

A comparative study of mobile development environments was conducted by Tom Morten Gronli, Jarle Hansen and Gheorghita Ghinea, of Brunel University, London. In this comparative study, a demo example application was created in both the Windows Mobile and Android development platforms to better illustrate the deployment file size for each application. The demo example application was a simple program which printed a line of text on the screen. The result from the code example was as follows:

• The deployment size of the demo application in the Windows Mobile environment was 2.8 KB.
• The deployment size of the demo application in the Android environment was 9.3 KB.

The file sizes as denoted were without any obfuscator or shrinker software. This is the type of file that an end user would either download or get shipped and then installed on his / her device. As can be seen from above, the demo application in Windows Mobile had a file size of 2.8 KB while Android was approximately three times the size at 9.3 KB. This serves as an indication of the total amount of configuration files and runtime dependencies which must be bundled together with each of the client applications. When it comes to the number of lines of code, Windows Mobile required only 11 lines whereas Android needed 28.

Developer Support Comparison

Developer support is a highly important aspect when it comes to gaining speed as well as quality during the development process. While both mobile development platforms do have similarities, there are some unique differences in developer support. The differences become clearer when we take the integrated developer environment (IDE) and the tooling into consideration.

The only choice for development in Windows Mobile is Visual Studio, which is again developed by Microsoft. With Visual Studio, Windows Mobile needs Microsoft backing before it can implement and ship new features in the IDE. The community can only make suggestions but does not have any direct influence. However, there is a positive side as consistency is assured. Also, the quality approval process implemented by Microsoft while shipping new products will assure quality.

On the other hand, there are several tooling options for Android, with quite a few IDEs. Android has open source communities who contribute to IDE development by providing as well as assuring quality of plugin functionalities for software. However, the multiple IDE environment can be quite a challenge for maintaining consistency and quality assurance. Consistency becomes a challenge as extension features may be available for only some of the competing IDEs. Quality assurance becomes a major challenge as development carried out by the community is not controlled by a common standard for quality required prior to making the new integrated developer environment feature available. Quality assurance of the delivered code is essential for delivering fully functional products. These two factors can potentially make code and application portability between environments impossible.

One of the differences between the Android and the Windows Mobile development platforms as far as developer support and quality assurance is concerned becomes more relevant in the testing environment. Let us take a closer look at this during unit testing of both development platforms.

Unit testing is basically a quality assurance and validation tool for testing small parts of a computer or mobile applications. The aim is to have each section isolated and tested separately. This will help to isolate and confirm the quality of the different units of the application.

Unit testing for Android is significantly straightforward as the API uses the JUnit test framework. The JUnit framework enforces hierarchical organization of the various test units which is a major advantage. Beside that, the JUnit pattern ensures independence of the test units as well as minimizes interference. This is done by first creating and then destroying the recently created test environment, before and after each test method is run. Android even takes JUnit a step further by allowing on device testing of the code. Here the test libraries are incorporated as part of the Android's standard libraries.

However, there's one challenge with Android's on device testing as compared to Windows Mobile is the results' readability. Android's on device tests do not have a user interface which can display the test's results. In order to view results of the test, a handler which deals with callbacks from Android's test runner has to be implemented.

Windows Mobile on the other hand exhibits a high degree of readability and visibility, while the Android platform is a bit hard to use when it comes to efficiency. The difficulty with Android is the lack of feedback, which is issued automatically through visual tools in the integrated development environment in Windows Mobile.

Windows Mobile implements a version of the xUnit framework. The code for test classes is kept in a separate project, although it still exists inside one solution in the IDE. Like Android, Windows Mobile's xUnit testing also allows on device testing. The biggest difference here, as stated earlier, is its test feedback. Windows Mobile has a more comprehensive user interface which offers feedback based on each test run. This makes it easier for developers to better understand which test succeeded and why a particular test failed.

Debugging support is also important for application development as it is a real time step by step code execution, which can help find and fix bugs. The debugging process will be dependent on the integrated development environment to perform its task. Both Windows Mobile and Android platforms support step by step debugging. Beside that, both platforms also include an on device debugging feature that lets an application run on a mobile device while debugging runs in the IDE.

Conclusion

Both Android and Windows Mobile have the advantage of being closely integrated with the mobile phone's operating system. This is what results in great integration between the mobile device and the development environment. The primary strength of Windows Mobile is in its close connection with Microsoft, as a sole vendor. This ensures the stability of the development environment as well as high quality assurance when it comes to features enabled for application developers. Android on the other hand, has brought an interesting way of distributing apps through the Android market. As the Windows Mobile development platform is a product from Microsoft, it is Visual Studio based. Visual Studio also relates on the Windows operating system, so you do not have any choice here. For Android on the other hand, Google offers the Eclipse plugin. Developers are not locked into Eclipse as both IntelliJ IDEA and Netbeans provide developer support. This means that developers are free to choose the IDE and operating system they want. Development ease in various areas will have a major impact on the choice of the mobile development platform for creating assistive environment applications.

Key Facts You Will Want to Remember a Stress-Free Laptop SODIMM Upgrade!

Once your laptop loses oomph, it's often that the cause is low system memory. You've probably heard that modern laptop memory upgrades come in the form of a laptop SODIMM, but just what are they, and sometimes most importantly, how can you buy the one right for your laptop? To save you confusion, let's go over the vital aspects you should know before clicking the order button!

What is a laptop SODIMM?

A laptop SODIMM is the shorthand term for laptop Small Outline Dual Inline Memory Module. Quite a mouthful would not you think? Fortunately, a SODIMM is rather small and is the name given to the PCB (Printed Circuit Board) on which modern laptop memory is sold.

Consequently, each time you stumble across a laptop memory upgrade, it's very likely to be a laptop SODIMM of some sort. Does this mean all laptop SODIMM's are identical? Unfortunately not, but luck has it that it's not as complicated as it sounds.

Laptop SODIMM's different depending on what type of memory they feature. Older SDRAM SODIMM's for example are 144pin, slightly newer DDR and DDR2 SODIMM's are 200pin while the current latest DDR3 SODIMM's are 204pin. Their physical dimensions also vary but ever so slightly.

The main thing to remember is that laptop SODIMM's of varying types can not be mixed together in the same laptop. For example, if your laptop uses DDR3 memory then there's no use trying to install a DDR2 SODIMM in there. It's not mere the number of pins that vary but also the pin layout, operating voltage, timings and addressing etc.

Does this mean upgrading is a burden best left to professionals? Of course not!

Laptop SODIMM compatibility

While it's impossible to mix and match SDRAM, DDR, DDR2 or DDR3 SODIMM's (any combination) together it's usually just fine to mix and match the same types of SODIMM's together, even if the brand of memory differs. Let's put this into perspective.

For example, say you have a DDR2 laptop that shipped with a single DDR2 SODIMM. Its capacity is pretty much irrelevant but let's fits its 2GB. You now want to upgrade to 4GB but the DDR2 laptop memory upgrade you purchased is of a different brand than the one currently installed (ie Samsung Vs Hynix). Will this work? In 99% of cases yes! You see, the brand is for most part a non-issue, what's relevant however is that both modules are DDR2 so follow the DDR2 SODIMM specification.

Even if the memory timings differ between the modules then this is also acceptable (unless you want every ounce of performance you can get). The only aspect you should pay attention to when purchasing is the memory speed. For example, if that current 2GB RAM is of the PC2-5300 (667MHz effective) variety, you want to make sure your new DDR2 laptop SODIMM is also at least PC2-5300, otherwise the memory controller within your laptop will be forced to run both SODIMM's at the speed of the lesser (ie slower) SODIMM. To extrapolate this further, PC2-5300 and PC2-6400 DDR SODIMM modules will work together at 667MHz and not 800MHz (effective).

So why will mixing different brands of laptop SODIMM's only work in 99% of cases. The short answer is incompatibility. The long answer is as follows, some less brands of laptop memory do not always 100% follow the JDEC (the organization what devises memory specifications) specification, at other times BIOS's (Basic Input Out System) found in laptops are not without bugs. The net result is a laptop that will continuously beep when turned on while displaying a black screen.

Is there a way to upgrade without potentially facing any such problems and diminishing performance? Nothing will 100% guarantee you escape from laptop SODIMM incompatibility issues, after all it's you who clicks the order button, however as long as you stick to some key recommendations then we're almost certain you'll be smiling in no time at all.

Upgrading laptop SODIMM's - key recommendations to consider prior to buying

We've compiled the below shortlist of aspects you should pay attention to when seeking to buy a laptop SODIMM. For peace of mind we recommend that you:

A) Where possible try and buy the same brand of memory to what you already have installed OR buy a laptop memory upgrade from a respected brand

B) Buy the same speed of memory to what's currently installed, ie if PC2-5300 is installed then buy a PC2-5300 laptop SODIMM as it's very rare that the memory controller in your laptop can run at a higher memory spec, and even if it can, the current installed low memory will prevent this (unless you change all SODIMM's to the new faster spec)

C) Where financially feasible to do so, always try and buy SODIMM's of the same capacity to what you currently have installed (see below as to why)

D) If the laptop memory upgrade you plan to buy does not feature a lifetime warranty then it's best to avoid it alike, respected memory brands offer lifetime warranties because they believe in their products, so should you (for peace of mind)

E) Simply buy mainstream laptop SODIMM's rather than performance laptop SODIMM's. The latter will feature faster memory timings, which offer a modest performance boost. For them to run at these timings however all installed memory modules must meet this spec. As your currently installed laptop will likely feature some slower timings, your laptop's BIOS will use these, and not the faster timings.

Laptop SODIMM dual channel mode

The vast majority of modern laptops support what is known as dual channel mode. In practice, this means two laptop SODIMM's are accessed in parallel for enhanced performance (bandwidth).

When dual channel mode was introduced (in DDR memory laptops) it only operated in what's known as synchronous mode. Newer DDR2 and DDR3 memory laptop support both synchronous and asynchronous mode.

Synchronous mode only works when two identical SODIMM's are installed. In this case identical also extends to mean two modules of the same capacity, for example, 2x 512MB = 1GB.

Asynchronous mode on the other hand only works when two non-identical SODIMM's are installed, non-identical in the sense that they vary in capacity, for example 1x 1GB and 1x2GB = 3GB.

Regardless without you have an older DDR memory laptop or newer DDR2 or DDR3 laptop, always try and install SODIMM's of the same capacity. Doing so will ensure your memory (where your laptop supports dual channel mode) runs in synchronous mode.

If you have a DDR2 or newer laptop that supports dual channel mode and install non-identical capacity SODIMM's, this will force asynchronous mode. In such situation, only part of your memory will operate in dual channel mode, the other part will run in single channel mode.

Fenugreek Breast Enlargement - 3 Things Needed For Fenugreek Breasts Augmentation

Rather than to merely ingest breast enlargement supplements and pray for miracles to occur, it is far better for you to know the facts about Fenugreek breast supplementation. Particularly, in the current worldwide marketplace for natural breast enlargement without surgery, one of the most common ingredients you will find included within top-notch breast augmentation supplements is Fenugreek.

Thus, it can become a great benefit for you to know exactly what Fenugreek breast enlargement should truly comprise. Now, you will encounter one problem when you attempt to gather research data on the success rate of this nutrition enhancing herb.

The reason why the above rings true is because worldwide or even United-States-only statistics about Fenugreek breast size remain generally lacking. The greatest supportive details happen to originate from foreign countries like China, Egypt, or India, for example, where usage of this supplement has a much longer history and people speak out about its actual and lasting benefits.

For the most part, Americans are still guessing and hoping that at least SOME partial benefit can come from herbal breast supplementation or utilization. On that note, here are the basic facts about WHAT the Fenugreek breast enlargement herb basically comprises.

-- Fenugreek contains "saponins" that also tend to inhibit the absorption of bad cholesterol.

-- Within the body, absorbed Fenugreek molecules create a fiber very similar to mucilage, providing a helpful "stickiness."

-- The Fenugreek herb can offer possible benefits in blood sugar and body weight lowering.

Yet, for purposes of natural breast enhancement, here is the reality:

Fenugreek intake tends to increase breast size plus milk production primarily for nursing mothers. Thus, only very partial perks like these can come to ordinary women who simply want to expand their breast tissue for non-feeding purposes.

However, the very slight feelings of fullness that DO come from using this breast enhancement herbal supplement are enough for many women to appreciate. Normally, ladies tend to rely upon ONLY ONE SOURCE for comprehensive breast augmentation -- and, especially in regard to Fenugreek breast enlargement, herein lay one of the central problems that cause countless individuals to miss the mark of natural breast enhancement achievement.

Enhancing your breasts in a natural way calls for MULTIPLE holistic approaches. In order to maximize your success, you must combine these techniques in a synergistic plus intentionally combined way.

The previous explanation about the PHYSICAL properties of Fenugreek provides you with a clearer understanding of its herbal foundation; however, be it known that breast enlargement supplements do NOT work successfully in an "isolated" mode. Meaning, there are at least three other things you must do in order to make herbal breast augmentation work for you.

You can use the following three tips to secure your Fenugreek breast enlargement goals:

ONE: NUTRITION -- It is possible for breasts to shrink because of poor nutrition. Therefore, consume the types of foods that tend to enhance breast appearance, fullness, and growth. Here, even Fenugreek is a food-based nutrient, and its mucilaginous consistency tends to apply an appearance of fullness over time.

TWO: EXERCISE & WEIGHT LIFTING -- Support the very foundation of your breast tissue by pumping up the muscle layers upon which they rest. You may be hearing this tip very often; however, there is one missing element. That is, while BUILDING up breast tissue via exercise, you can also use AEROBIC exercises to REDUCE the midsection of your body. Thus, a thin and firm waist line does wonders for the appearance and contour of your entire body.

Continuing with your three tips for Fenugreek breast enlargement...

THREE: Apply phyto-estrogen cream topically to the skin of breast regions; yet, using such creams in combination with thorough and safe breast massage stroking is the best way to apply them. In this way, you will be giving your breasts the PHYSICAL activity they need, plus stimulate the mild inner workings of breast hormonal function.

The Basics Of Used Car Financing

As if the process of purchasing a used automobile wasn't convoluted enough, a potential buyer also has to consider a little detail known as used car financing. The truth is that while most would love to do so, the average automobile buyer simply can't afford to put down enough cash to purchase a new auto. When considering where to get used car financing, there are a few key factors to consider before making the decision. Chief among those factors would be the knowledge of the basic information regarding the financing plans available to a buyer.

One of the things to keep in mind when considering used car financing would be the terms of the agreement. What the terms basically boil down to would be how long a buyer has to pay off the car in full. In general, longer loans have the interest spread out more evenly, resulting in lower monthly rates. Of course, the drawback for longer terms would be that the buyer may end up making interest payments that add up to an amount, which is significantly higher than what the auto is actually worth on the market. The way to avoid such a situation is to agree to a shorter loan term, though a shorter term forces the buyer to pay larger monthly payments.

Also, any buyer should check his credit rating and credit history before engaging in used car financing. A poor credit rating can result in disadvantageous loan terms, or in unacceptable loan applications. The financial institutions assume that a poor credit rating indicates the applicant as a financial risk. While the payments are smaller, in the long run, longer loan terms turn into profits for lending groups, so the groups extend terms on applicants with poor credit ratings. Financial history, as mentioned, also plays a key role. A history of bankruptcy or defaulted debts can either kill the application immediately or put the applicant at a severe disadvantage when negotiating loan terms.

Equally important to considering the terms would be the location to get used car financing. Every used car buyer has several options to choose from, each with a set of features that the others do not typically have. However, each option also has some sort of caveat that may prove unattractive for some buyers. The most common options are used auto dealerships and financial institutions such as banks, financing specialist websites, and credit unions. Credit history and credit rating are both factors that all the institutions above would consider, though the importance that previous financial records play in the application process varies from business to business.

Once a buyer has determined which financing group to go to and has managed to negotiate acceptable terms and conditions from the lending company, the used car financing deal can be signed. As with any other major financial transaction, used car financing should not be taken lightly and anyone who is going to obtain such a financing agreement should carefully consider the minute details first, as well as assess their own situation. Only by analyzing one's financial capabilities, as well as their personal situation, can a person determine just what type of financing arrangement would be ideal.

Credit Cards Conditions And Terms

So it is advisable and wise for you to compare its fees and terms before you make your mind to get start with a charge or credit card account. There are some conditions and terms to consider which usually must be disclosed in charge card applications and in solicitations, which needs no application. Many people want to know more about these cards and their conditions and terms when they go to purchase one for themselves.

Free period: This period is also known as "grace period", this period lets you ignore finance charges through paying your amount in full prior the payable date. It is important to know whether the credit card gives you the free period, especially when you are planning to shell out your amount in full every month. Without the expired period, the credit card issuer can impose a monetary charge starting of the date when each transaction has been made or you have started using your account. The card issuer will post you your bill 14 days prior to your payable date, so that you may have ample time to shell out the money, if your credit card comprised a free time.

Annual fees: Many issuers charge participation fees or annual membership fees. Their charges often starts between $ 25- $ 50, few times it goes to $ 100; "platinum" or "gold" cards frequently charge $ 75 as well as many charge a fee monthly whether you use these credit cards or not.

Balance totaling way for the monetary charge: If free period is not given to you, and if you supply to the shell out for purchases added time, it is very important to get familiar with the method of the credit card issuer to evaluate your monetary charge. It will make a huge difference in the monetary charge that you will pay- no matter if the APR as well as your purchasing method remain reliably stable.

Transaction fees: A credit card may indulge other costs. Many issuers charge an extra fee if you are using the card simply to get the advance cash, not paying on time, or increasing the limit of your credit. Few issuers charge fee monthly, whether you are using the card or not.

APR: The Annual Percentage rate is a measure of the credit cost, expressed like a annual rate. It must be disclosed before you turn out to be forced on the financial credit as well as on the statements of your account. The issuer of the card must disclose periodic rate- this is the rate useful to your excellent balance to outline the monetary charge for every billing period. Few credit card plans permit the card provider to alter your Annual Percent Rate when other financial indicators or interest rates - called indices - change. This is because the charge alteration is linked with the index's presentation, these strategies are known as "variable rate" programs.