13 Things We Learned in 2013

Monday, December 30, 2013

Before we lay 2013 to rest and welcome 2014, I would like to take a moment to recap all the things that we saw in 2013: things that were good, mistakes that should not be made again, and ponderings of what the year has shown us. Unbiased politically but probably biased in almost every other way possible, here is my list of 13 Things We Learned in 2013:

1) Google Glass is for celebrities and Google tradeshows. Seriously, is that thing ever coming out on the market? Speaking of things that won't come to fruition...
2) Drones. Amazon got us all a-flutter when they made the announcement that drones were soon to be a part of the Amazon Prime package. But unless someone comes out with really great, all-encompassing drone legislation, there are just way too many problems with this. Darn you, Jeff Bezos! I will never be fooled again by one if your hare-brained marketing schemes. Until the next one rolls around. 
3) Who runs the world? Nerds. One even single-handedly took on the NSA and FBI and won. Sort of. 
4) Apple could slap gold or a fancy new color on ice and start selling it to Eskimos. 
5) The government is NOT listening to your telephone calls. Don't be ridiculous. They just know who you are calling and when and where you are located. Oh, and they also read your Facebook messages. But calls? Nah. 
6) It is now safe to search on Google! They won't give your info away to marketers! Unless, you know, they pay enough. 
7) We realized all too well that Big Data sort of sounds like Big Brother.
8) Beyoncé does not need advertising. Beyoncé can release a CD out on social media and it can be an instant best seller. It is also true that the Earth's gravitational force actually revolves around Beyoncé. 
9) Are you are a cat with a facial deformity? Congrats! Instant internet fame! 
10) We lived through the Twerkpocalypse and we survived. I tell you what, humans are a sturdy race. 
11) Farewell, honorable Nelson Mandela. We will never forget you nor the legacy that you left behind. Except for the kids that thought you were Morgan Freeman. Sigh. If you will excuse me, I have to weep for the future now. 
12) If the government gives you millions upon millions of dollars to make a website, you should probably make it suitable for, oh, I don't know, more than 10 people to be on it at one time? Maybe you could also make all the web site options work properly? Heck, just make the thing viewable for goodness sake. 
13) Pretty much the world cried when Breaking Bad ended. And I have yet to watch a single episode (at this point, it is just my pure stubbornness and a refusal to follow the crowd, although I am 'Breaking' down fast. Breaking...see what I did there?).

Tune in next time for my interview with the makers of YAPPER App, the app I will be supporting in the Student Startup Madness, a collegiate digital media tournament at SXSW! You won't want to miss it! 

Merry Christmas from Tech-Know

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Merry Christmas everyone! Hope your morning was filled with family, good food and good presents!

This Christmas, the best tech gifts I got were a subscription to Wired Magazine and Roku, which will stream my Netflix to my TV.

At this rate, I will never leave my room.

What was your best tech gift this Christmas?

Holiday Gift Guide: Last Minute Shopping

Monday, December 23, 2013

I would like to say I am a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of girl. However, I am a planner of the worst sort, and I got most of my holiday shopping done in November.

Online of course.

But I understand there are many out there who wait until the last minute. Is this you? Never fear! I have a list of GREAT last minute Christmas gifts you
can send - all you need is your recipient's email address. No wrapping paper or trips to the mall needed - these gifts are all online!

Digital Audiobooks/Albums

Audiobooks, my savior during horrible traffic jams, are a great gift to give someone you know that has to commute. Audible.com, an Amazon company, is an audiobook rental website that allows you to buy a monthly subscription (one or two books a month) or an annual plan (12 to 24 books).

My favorite place to get audiobooks, the Pottermore Shop,  has all the Harry Potter books on audio at a discounted price that you can send to your friends or family via email. Go ahead, make someone's Christmas a little more magical.

This also works with iTunes albums. You can send out a Christmas album of your choosing, or even better, get someone that new Beyonce CD. Because lets be honest, Beyonce > Christmas music.

eGift Cards

The most obvious and easy last minute gifts, eGift Cards allow you to email  a gift card to that certain coworker you know that is always online shopping.

Some of my favorite gift cards include:
Barnes & Noble
Best Buy
Apple Store
Etsy
Amazon 

Netflix, Spotify, Hulu, Amazon Prime...


For those pesky brothers/sisters that keep using your account. Or for that neighbor that is always in their pajamas every Friday night.

P.S. I'm that neighbor.



Monthly Box Subscriptions

For those people in your life that don't have time to shop, I recommend get a monthly box subscription, such as Birchbox ($10/month) for the glamazon in your life, or the Barkbox ($19-$29/month) for the lazy dog lovers on your list.

Have a friend that marches to the beat of their own drum? They would probably love Skoshbox ($12/month), a monthly delivery of Japanese candy and snacks delivered to their door. Or, for that DIY diva in your life, Lullubee ($125/month) sends a crafting kit in the mail.

The Gift of Blog

With more and more people sharing their opinions, experiences and stories these days, I would recommend you give someone the gift of a creative writing space and help them set up a blog. How? Here are a couple of ideas:

Buy them a domain name on Godaddy.com, starting at $12.99/month. GoDaddy also offers packages to help people set up their website and improve their website's search rankings.

Have a blog beginner? Help them set up a blog on Blogger or Wordpress, and then give them a gift DesignerBlogs.com, which will help them set up the look and feel of their blog.  They can either get a custom web design starting at $300, or can choose from pre-made blog templates for only $15.
certificate to

Just be careful who you give this to. The world does NOT need another gif-only site.

And if all else fails, go to the grocery store. Buy wine. Can't go wrong with that!


My Christmas Gift To You

Wednesday, December 4, 2013


As I was sitting at work today, a coworker sent me this gem that I don't think you can go with out this holiday season.


Please note that this is LIVE.

Click here for the best thing you will see all Christmas. Eat your heart out, claymation Christmas movies.




#GivingTuesday: Google Hangout-a-thon

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Black Friday, Cyber Monday....#GivingTuesday?

Google has partnered with Mashable to create the first ever Google+ Hangout-a-thon, where from 9am - 9pm today, you can see different charities present on why they do what they do.

Hear from charities like Charity:Water, Toms, Unicef, Save the Children, Happy Hearts Fund and many more. Google then makes it easy to donate using the Google Donation Shortlist, which you can simply click and go to the donation websites.

If you're like me and have been spending money on Christmas gifts and running around like a chicken with its head cut off, it feels great to give back to someone else and put my money toward those in need.

Check it out here. I promise you, its worth it!


Jennifer Garner presenting on Save the Children 

Droning On and On...Check Out What Amazon Just Announced

Monday, December 2, 2013

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos announced Sunday on 60 minutes that Amazon will be offering drone delivery service in the future. If you live within 10 miles of an Amazon distribution center and are an Amazon Prime member, a drone will deliver your package within 30 minutes of your order. Check it out:


What do you think about this announcement? Are droids the new delivery method of the future? 
 
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