Friday, April 6, 2012

Will Google Outclass Apple with Project Glass?

Google may have one-upped Apple on this one. Not by design, but by idea.

Project Glass, the innovative new technology developed by Google, is sure to take technology to a whole new level. What may look like large, dorky glasses, are actually the newest form of technology the encompasses voice recognition, maps and other features you wouldn't expect on a pair of glasses.

According to uproxx.com, "The glasses can stream information to the lenses and allow the wearer to send and receive messages through voice commands. There is also a built-in camera to record video and take pictures."

See Project Glass video here

Although Project Glass is still being developed, rumors have suggested Google may try to release this product within a year. In fact, Google co-founder Sergey Brin was recently seen wearing these around town. This type of technology aims to eventually eliminate smartphones completely, as voice control continues to take over.

Of course this increases the chance of distraction for someone focusing on an image while driving or walking. This parody is a good example of what may or may not happen if you are not careful with your glasses. -- Google Glasses a New Way to Hurt Yourself

Even though this hasn't come out yet, it makes you wonder what life will be like in just a few years. Will there be iPhones? Ipads? Even those dirty green goblins that call themselves Androids? Maybe. There will probably be something cooler than Project Glass. The technology revolution may just be taking off.

Check out this amazing video on Project Glass.

To read more about Google's new product read these stories from Wired and CNET magazine.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Are You Willing to be a Crowdfunder?


Our economy is in bad shape. Companies are laying people off. People can't afford things they used to be able to afford. Worried yet?

Even as a 23-year-old I see this around me. Friends not being able to find a job and parents constantly scared about their job security has become a common trend.

Our wonderful solutions: Tax the rich. Cut taxes on small businesses. Start killing off our population. Maybe.

In today's society more people are starting their own businesses. While this can be effective, it is extremely challenging to get the proper funding to start-up a company, manage resources, hire people and try to succeed. This is where crowdfunding comes in. You may have heard about the concept of people donating money to start-ups to support their business vision. Kickstarter.com has become a popular site for people who are interested in this concept. Since these donors are prohibited by the law to receive equity for their efforts, they can only receive small gifts such as concert tickets, DVDs and clothes.

A new bill gaining support through Washington, the Entrepreneur Access to Capital Act, may have dramatic impact on crowdfunding. While this bill does not allow cash to be given back to donors, it will allow companies to provide small stock options for people investing in them. Not only does this have the potential to explode as an idea, it can also spur innovation and help the economy. With start-up businesses succeeding, more jobs are offered, new technologies are developed and the economy grows.

How would you feel if you could be a stake-holder in Facebook, Groupon or any other company that has massively grown within the last decade? Are you willing to make some donations?

Read more about kickstarter.com and crowdfunding.

Monday, March 12, 2012

10 Things to Do in NYC Without Overspending

New York can definitely be an expensive city to visit (I learned the hard way this weekend). However, there are several things you can do to keep your wallet from emptying:

1) Central Park
Grab some food, walk around, go to the zoo, enjoy the view and get lost in Central Park. If you are feeling lazy and have 50 bucks on you, take a horse carriage ride.










2) Food
There are tons of famous restaurants in New York like
Katz Deli, Nathan's Hot Dogs and brick oven pizza joints. However, if you can find a good food cart (they are all over the city), for 5 bucks you will be full.

3) Rockefeller Center

For under 40 bucks you can go on top of the Rockefeller to see the city and take a tour of NBC studio. There a high chance you will see some celebrities too.













4) Staten Island Ferry
Instead of paying 25 bucks for a water taxi...pay FREE to get on the Staten Island Ferry and see the same Statue of Liberty and the city skyline.






5) Museum Mile
Almost all of the popular museums such as The Met, The Guggenheim and The Museum of Natural History have "Suggested Prices". This means you pay what you can.

6) The Multi-Neighborhoods
If you don't want to pay to get in a ca
b, take the subway or ride in a horse carriage, put on some comfortable shoes and walk around. On a nice day you can walk around lower Manhattan and see neighborhoods like SOHO, Greenwhich, East Village, Little Italy, Chinatown, the Financial District and Brooklyn Bridge.










7) Times Square
Bright lights, Giant TV Screens and foreigners. If you don't want to spend money, walk around Times Square and take pictures.










8) Greenwhich Village
Almost every bar has a happy hour that is cheap. If you want to spend a little bit of money go see a stand-up show at the Comedy Cellar.

9) Little Italy
Italian guys will stand outside the restaurants to pursuade to come in. For 10 bucks you can find some tasty pasta and a glass wine.

10) Chinatown
If you can get beyond the hanging roasted ducks and living fish that swarm around Chinatown, you can find some decent food. And some fake Rolexes as well.

Other Notables: Coney Island, Brooklyn, Please Don't Tell, Crif Dogs, The Sex Museum, Bryant Park, Grand Central Station and much more.





Sunday, March 4, 2012

10 Great Apps For Your iPhone. What Are Your Favorite Ones?



With thousands of iPhone apps, it is hard to keep up with what is relevant for you. Fortunately, there are several apps that can make life a lot easier and keep you up-to-date with what your interests are. Here are my picks for some of the best apps for the iPhone.


1) Flipboard

If you read news, are active in social media, and don't have a lot of time on your hands, this app is a must have. Follow your favorite news sources and integrate your social networks into Flipboard to stay caught up in whatever is relevant and interesting for you.

2) HootSuite

Tired of managing multiple social media outlets? With the HootSuite app you can post the same content to multiple portals such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

3) Redeye

If you are a Chicagoan, you are familiar with the Redeye newspaper. This app not only brings you the news, but it also features a CTA tracker so know when to expect your next bus or train.

4) Camera+

For only $.99, Camera+ is one of the best cameras out there. You can use multiple editing formats to make your pictures stand out.

5) Camera Awesome

This is a brand new app that is very similar to Camera+. However, this app has a lot more features and most importantly - its FREE.

6) My Phone+

MyPhone+ lets you sync your phone book with your Facebook contacts. This brings photos and other information directly to your phone. Furthermore, MyPhone+ adds your friends' birthdays directly to your calendar.

7) Wallpapers HD

If you get bored with backgrounds for your phone, this app is good to have. There are thousands of backgrounds and categories to choose from to always keep your phone fresh.

8) Mint

Spending too much money? Can't figure out a budget? Mint syncs with your bank account and you can set budgets to keep track of where your money is going.

9) Kicksend

If you are ever sharing multiple pictures with someone you know that the iPhone only lets you send 5 at a time. Kicksend will allow you to share up to 100 pictures.

10) TV Showtime

Watch a lot of TV shows? TV Showtime will let you know when your favorite shows are airing and you can keep track of what you have seen and what you still need to see.

What are your favorite iPhone apps?


Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Coffee in the Morning? How About a Beer


Hold the espresso and give me a shot of tequila. It'll be a long day.

According to Forbes, Starbucks will begin selling alcoholic beverages in some of their locations. After initial trials were run in Seattle and Oregon, Atlanta, Southern California and Chicago will be the next cities to experience the Coffee chains drink upgrade.

Personally, I think its a great idea. This gives me a happy hour I can actually make it to, considering I'm too tired to drink after work. Furthermore, this provides good morning entertainment. Who wouldn't want to see people stumbling out of a Starbucks at 7 am after drinking a few too many? Maybe the drunk businessmen in the morning will scare away the homeless people that sit out in front of the Starbucks outside of my work. Then again, maybe the smell of booze in the morning will attract more of them.

To read more about another way to promote America's binge drinking problem, click here.

What Kind of Employee Are You?


We all want to be happy at our jobs. Some people are. They get paid well, enjoy the company of their co-workers and are fully aligned with their company's goals. However, there are those that are unhappy. It seems that people tend to fall into 4 catagories at their job: The Lazy, The Overachiever, The Overworked and The Unnoticed.

The Lazy

This is the person that comes to work and doesn't do anything. Facebook is always in the background of what they are doing (not that isn't for all of us). Sometimes they pretend to work, but most of the time they are not doing anything. They are either on their way out the door or are about to die of boredom.

The Overachiever

The person we love to hate. Sometimes this is because we wish we were them. They are successful, get praise from the boss and worst-of-all, they don't even seem like they are trying hard. Screw them.

The Overworked

The person that is the first one to arrive and the last one to leave. At your job there is never any coffee because this person has consumed every last drop. They don't even have time to go to the bathroom after so much coffee. Unfortunately, this person is also stuck at the job with little opportunity for growth and no desire to tell off their boss.

The Unnoticed

Depending on where you work and how many people are in your company, most people will fall into this category. They work decently hard. They fulfill their job description. Their boss is satisfied with their work. However, this is never enough. They are stuck.

So how do we break lazy habits and get noticed without overworking and being the hated overachiever? Here are Inc. Magazine's 8 qualities that remarkable workers possess.

1. They ignore job descriptions.
2. They’re eccentric...
3. But they know when to dial it back.
4. They publicly praise...
5. And they privately complain.
6. They speak when others won’t.
7. They like to prove others wrong.
8. They’re always fiddling.

To read more about how to become a remarkable employee read the original Inc. article here.


Monday, February 27, 2012

Looking for some Fun? Check this out.

I think it is safe to say most of us have moved on from simply listening to rap music or pretending to know what to do when dub-step comes on. If you are looking for some music that is upbeat and unique, Fun's new CD, Some Nights, has all of the elements of good music.

Never heard of FUN? Check out this awesome video to their feel-good song, Walking the Dog



Here is their new song, Some Nights. Enjoy!