Christmas is Techie Time

You probably like me always end up in the electronics store or section this time of year.  Interestingly online stores are creating great ways for us to shop and get gift ideas.  One of the online stores I visited this year has created a great system for browsing.  Check out their online "store" http://www.amazon.com/Electronics-Gift-Guide/b?ie=UTF8&node=7258612011.  This creates a great experience for those of us shopping online this year.  I know I purchase more gifts than ever online - what about you?

Black Friday Technology

By now I am sure you have received a ton of emails, mailers and even coupon texts about Black Friday deals.  While I do participate in Black Friday events I do think things may have spiraled out of control.  Check out this article about unstaffed digital stores and other innovative shopping trends http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/innovations/wp/2013/11/27/black-friday-will-never-be-the-same-heres-how-technology-is-changing-shopping/

A direct quote is "We’re still in the early stages of technology changing retail. We’ve seen online retailers such as Amazon chip away at traditional retailers, but the use of smartphones to enhance in-person and online purchasing is just beginning."

Planning time to update my phone and apps!

Daily my phone notifies me that it needs to be updated, there are apps I want and haven't taken time to install and apps that need to be uninstalled.  So I am going to make some time in the next two weeks to get my phone cleaned up.  If you are wondering about what apps I am interested in these are ones to increase my "productivity" supposedly.

The first one is an area GPS calculator.  Each fall I do yield checks for corn and soybean growers in Talbot County.  I want to compare my wheel measurements with the calculations to check for accuracy.  Some have said that the wheel would be more accurate others have said that the GPS would due to ditches and bumping of the wheel. 

The second one is a business card reader.  I would love to clear out the box on my desk of accumulated business cards.

The final is a reader app.  I am on the road a lot and have heard that there is a reader app that will read documents to you.  This could save a lot of time on my commute and my eyes.

Stay tuned as I will follow up on these apps.  Does anyone else have ones theyd want to work with or install but haven't taken the time to search, download or learn to use them?

Cell Phone Laws

I am sure everyone has heard of this but thought it should be included in this blog.  For those of you that are not hands free you don't know what you have been missing.  Having a bluetooth in my car has been the most liberating experience since having my license.  I am no longer stuck to the phone and with the shape of phone now there is no way to hold them between your shoulder. 

Here is some info about the new law:

• A new cell phone law goes into effect on October 1, making it a primary offense to be holding your phone and driving. (police officers will be able to pull drivers over just for talking on a cell phone without a hands-free device)
• Only 12 states and Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands prohibit drivers from using hand-held phones. 
• Texting while driving is already a primary offense in the state.

Changes to Maryland Traffic Law Cell Phones and Seatbelts Effective Oct. 1:
Driver using hands to use handheld telephone while motor vehicle is in motion will be a primary traffic offense:

• 1st Offense is an $83.00 FINE, including court costs
• 2nd Offense is a $140.00 FINE
• 3rd and Subsequent Offense is a $160.00 FINE
  
  If the violation contributed to an accident, THREE (3) POINTS will also be assessed in addition to the fine.

Driver using hands to use handheld telephone while operating a commercial motor vehicle, first offense is a $290.00 fine and also a primary traffic offense.

Facebook App Center

I was getting tired of the same old apps on my phone.  Needing something new I wanted to be inspired not by going to google play or the iapp store.  In my search I found out that facebook has an app center.  They have listings and reviews of apps http://www.facebook.com/appcenter/ .  I really liked the central views and comments available, even downloaded a few.

iOS 7

A new software update for apple users iOS 7 was released this week. If you have been lucky enough for your software to actually update you have noticed some differences in  your icons. 

iOS has a new look and new icons. There are many reports of problems loading the new software and it can take hours to download.  With the new software just released servers are feeling the strain.   I started my upgrade this morning on my ipad and hoping I can check it out when I get home.  Check out the you tube on iOS 7.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0ErUMeT7uE

Fall Foliage App

Time for fall and Yankee Magazine's Leaf Peepr app!!! It helps fall-foliage fans find and report on the best and brightest colors in the United States.

Make foliage reports (we call them Peeps!) by posting photos, writing comments, and rating foliage status for your location.

The Peak Slider lets you rate foliage as either Green, Turning, Moderate, Peak, Fading, or Gone. The current foliage color is determined by averaging other ratings in a geographic area along with your Peeps.

Use the Foliage Map to see photos and find current foliage rated by hundreds of other leaf peepers!