Teen On Da Rise

I'm Moving!

2011-01-24T16:26:00.000-08:00

Click the picture above to go to my new blog!

2010 has been amazing and 2011 is off to a good start. Through this blog I have done so many great things and met some very cool people. I created a small community and I've even made money... All while having fun.

At first I thought that this blog would be utilized to simply review products but it's evolved into so much more than that. It was a bridge to new opportunities, an open forum for technology enthusiasts and most importantly a hobby that has turned into a passion.

I love what I do but on this site I am limited in more ways than one. For this reason I have decided to branch out onto a new domain where I can continue writing while also making a larger dent in the blogosphere. With new topics and tips for you -the reader- you won't want to miss out.

Along with starting another blog I am also spearheading a few other projects: including a redesigned and redefined teenondarise, a column on a site near and dear to my heart, and an internship with an innovative youth program.

This year is going to be packed with work but I hope you'll join me on the bumpy ride.

Best Buy is Ready for the Holiday Season!

2010-10-01T16:29:00.000-07:00

This past Tuesday I was invited to Best Buy's Holiday Media Preview event by a very good blog friend. It was the first technology event that I attended on my own and it was definitely more then I expected. Product displays lined the perimeter of the room and Best Buy employees were readily available to demo each for you. It was such a weird yet amazing feeling having people wait on you.

From lights that could improve your mood,

to food and drink resistant laptops,

to a machine that could change any hard candy into cotton candy,

all of the products that I saw were innovative in their own respect but there were two that truly stole the show.

The G1 Blaze (G2)

Google and HTC's newest creation packs a punch. It will be T-mobile's first HSPA+ phone, which in layman terms means it will have 4G data speeds; but unlike Sprint you won't need to pay for this extra feature. It comes standard in the data package you already pay for.

The phone features a crystal clear 3.7 inch capacitive touchscreen, 4 soft keys beneath it, an optical trackpad, Android 2.2 out of the box, an 800 MHz processor, a slide out 4 row QWERTY keyboard and a 5 MP camera with LED flash.

The screen was amazingly vibrant and was extremely responsive. Although the phone only has an 800 MHz processor Android 2.2 ran smoothly. Apps were snappy and page turning was a breeze.

The G2 boasts a lush 4 row QWERTY keyboard. It usually takes a bit of time to get used to a new keyboard but I was instantly typing out full length sentences with few errors.
The slide out mechanism was also a welcome surprise. The top of the phone actually lifts off of the base as it slides back.

The 5 MP camera looks nice on the back of the phone but the photos are nothing to brag about. If you are looking for a phone that can also be used as your go-to digital camera then this isn't the phone for you.

The G2 has an expected release date of October 16 and will retail at $200 with a 2 year contract.

X-Box Kinect

I brought a Wii about two months after it's initial release and I loved it from day one. Although the graphics weren't great, the fact that it was an interactive game made it amazing. As soon as I heard of the X-Box Kinect I knew it would instantly fail. It was just going to be a mindless copy of the uber successful Wii.

While at the event I was asked to demo the product and boy was I wrong! The Kinect combines the amazing graphics of the X-Box and today's innovative motion sensing technology. Even without a remote the motion sensor was more sensitive than the Wii. While playing Kinect Adventures even the slightest lean (or misstep! ha) was recognized. I was actually able to pay closer attention and excel in the game because I didn't have to make sure that I was pressing the right button, or play in fear because I might lose grip of the remote and break something.

I found it amazing that on top of all of those great features the Kinect can track 3 people at a time and can be placed above or below your TV without being affected (the motor within the device will orient the camera and motion sensor to best capture your movements). In conjunction with X-box Live it can also be used as a webcam.

Upon release, on November 4th, the Kinect will retail at $150 (just $50 short of a full fledged game system) but for the amount of features that it has, the price is reasonable.

Are you thinking of adding any of these products to your holiday wishlist?

Let me know in a comment!

Building Communities.

2010-08-19T19:30:00.000-07:00

I grew up along side the internet. I have watched it go from static pages to new media platforms with mind-blowing designs and uses. It's so amazing to me the innovation of it all and how we are continuing to take great strides to become as cutting edge as possible.

But, honestly, none of that matters.

Advanced or not, what matters is how we use all of these platforms- from traditional writing to films & music- to further develop the communities we already have, build new ones and maintain the healthy relationships that we need.

Communities aren't just the set group of people around you. Dictionary.com defines community as:

"a social, religious, occupational, or other group sharing common characteristics or interests and perceived or perceiving itself as distinct in some respect..."

That means your Youtube subscribers, your Twitter followers, and your Facebook fans & friends are all seperate communities. How are you building them up? How are you showing them to build others?

"Social media isn't a fad, it's a fundamental shift in the way we communicate" -Socialnomics09

This quote is so undeniably true yet so few have actually realized it. While corporate giants and most adults are using social media as a cash cow, today's youth have understood this principle and have put it into practice.

From fundraisers to empowering meetups the youth are finding new and innovative ways to better their communities... and they are not going to stop.

How are you- adult or youth -helping to create a better tomorrow?

If you're stuck and don't have an answer to that question click HERE to vote and hear more on this topic at SxSW.

ANOTHER Facebook Revamp

2010-04-20T19:29:00.000-07:00

Fan pages have become a pivotal part of the Facebook experience. There are thousands ranging from bubble gum to blogs. For whatever reason, whether it be because the Fan page makes you laugh or you truly enjoy the subject millions of Facebook users click "Become a fan" daily and Facebook admins have taken notice. User profiles will be revamped so every page you have become a fan of will be on your main profile page... not hidden in the info tab.

Nows your chance to un-fan all of those embarrassing or inappropriate pages because this change takes effect this Monday.

The iPhone 4G has Been Leaked

2010-04-19T17:26:00.000-07:00

These previously leaked images of the iPhone 4G have turned out to be more than just Chinese counterfeits. They are the real deal. That's right, this is the new iPhone 4G.

The new additions to the phone include:

A Front-facing video chat camera.
Improved regular camera as well as flash.
Micro-SIM
Improved display.
Split buttons for volume.
Metallic power, mute, and volume buttons.

The new iPhone now boasts a square design but I doubt that that will stick after the official release of the phone. Apple is all about aesthetics meeting innovation. This design is neither aesthetically pleasing nor innovative. This design actually takes a step back. Although it makes the phone thinner it makes it harder to fit the hand and it doesn't match the design of all of their other gadgets.

The iMac has a rounded back, the Mac Mini is rounded, the whole MacBook line is rounded, and all the iPods besides the oldest --the classic-- have curved backs. Why would Apple ostracize it's highest profit gainer with a whole new design?

I choose to stay optimistic. I believe that Apple has way more up their sleeves then we can possibly imagine... Don't they always?

Some Reliable Sources

2010-04-09T14:24:00.000-07:00

The internet is buzzing with Apple news. In a matter of a week they released a groundbreaking device and an amazing update to their iPhone Operating System. The problem is that you could only say it in so many different ways so rather than reiterate what the rest of the world is saying I thought I should just point you in the direction of a writer that has covered it all: Eli of Teen Tech Blog.

If you don't want to read, this video covers just about everything the new update has to offer:

But if you want to see it straight from the source you can click HERE.

Win a Nook!

2010-04-08T18:41:00.000-07:00

I found another one! As I was searching the Blogosphere for interesting reads I found another e-reader giveaway.Tech Savvy Mama is giving a Barnes & Noble Nook. It looks like an amazing device and I really hope I or one of my readers wins it!

Click HERE to enter into the giveaway!

My Mom's Thoughts on the iPad

2010-04-06T10:25:00.000-07:00

That's it? Ew, it's so big!

Who would want that? It's just more junk in your bag!

Super Mario: A Super Game

2010-04-06T10:19:00.000-07:00

With countless iterations and more than 20 years in the industry Mario has definitely become one of the most beloved video-games characters in the world. This fact gives Nintendo every reason to make yet another version of the classic game.

This game follows the same timeline as all the others. Mario is on a mission to save Princess Peach from Bowser and Bowser Jr. Surprisingly the repetitive timeline hasn't gotten old. There are all new twists, turns and power-ups. If you play the game the right way you won't just be going one way on the timeline. You'll have to go back and fourth to do various things; from saving one of the Mushroom men to earning more points.

Gameplay is really simple. You hold the remote horizontally and use the directional keys and the "1" and "2" keys. I actually felt more comfortable holding the remote like this than the normal way. The difficulty of the game is fair. It's easy enough for my 8 year old brother to play but hard enough to keep me entertained. The only thing you have to really practice is the timing of your jumping because if you don't you'll most likely miss your target and lose a life.

Whether you want to reminisce or get a taste of Mario then this game is definitely for you.

Nintendo went above and beyond with this game which is why I'm giving it:

★★★★★

5 out of 5 stars.

Be Smart. Stay Safe.

2010-04-04T19:28:00.000-07:00

As I was growing up the biggest rule about the internet was to never give up your address. Your school, your home; nothing was to be disclosed.

That has all changed with the explosion of real-time web services like Twitter and FourSqaure. If used at the same time they could tell your whole life story: Twitter updates what you're doing and Foursquare where you're doing it.

Of course without some sort of perk, updating the world with what you do and where you do it would a little ridiculous. Twitter makes you feel famous with a bunch of followers and Foursquare keeps you frugal with free deals and discounted items.

Even though less people are cautious about giving their location, it is still dangerous. Although those perks and prizes are enticing they're not worth your life.

Stay smart and follow the rules -- even when it's not trendy.

Uprinting 500 Business Card Winner

2010-03-31T17:24:00.000-07:00

The Uprinting giveaway has come to an end. One person will be walking away with 500 free business cards, along with free shipping.

If you have forgotten, the winner will have the choice of cardstock and size. They can go with either 14 pt. gloss cardstock, 14 pt. matte cardstock, or 13 pt. recycled uncoated cardstock on a slim, square or regular business card; whatever makes their heart skip a beat.

So without further ado the winner is:

Congratulations Lisa you won! Uprinting was kind enough to give me the same prize so I'm celebrating with you! :]

Please send me your contact information by April 3rd so I can pass it on to my rep and you could get your business cards in a timely fashion!

NanoBundle 2: Tracks Review

2010-03-21T16:41:00.000-07:00

Tracks was the first app that i downloaded from MacHeist's NanoBundle 2. It's not an extravagant app but the fact that I could play music from my iTunes library on my menubar really intrigued me. The menubar never disappears so your music is always in reach.

There aren't many features to the app. It just sits there in your menubar and when you click on it you type in the name of the song you want to hear. That's all there really is to it. Like Geico says: "It's so easy a caveman can do it!"

Granted you can't play any of your playlists from the application but this is the first app of it's kind and the execution of the idea was superb. That is the reason I'm giving it:

★★★★

4 out of 5 stars

I Cleaned Out My Locker.

2010-03-16T17:28:00.000-07:00

I have been a part of Lockerz since the end of last summer and I have been a dedicated member. After checking out PTZplace and seeing all of the amazing prizes they had to offer I wanted to start earning as fast as possible. It's actually really mindless. You get 2 ptz for logging in and 2 ptz for answering the Daily Question. As your pointz add up you have one chance a month to redeem them... or at least that's what they want you to think.

With amazing prizes like the MacBook Air, iPod Touches and various games and game systems of course many people are going to join. Lockerz has either failed to realize this or is too cheap to buy servers that can actually handle their traffic. It's nearly impossible to redeem when items fresh out in 10 seconds and it takes your page about a minute to load. You would have to refresh your page at just the right time to have even a slim chance at redeeming your pointz.

All of these problems plus some have pushed me from Lockerz and into the hands of another "redeem your prize" site called SwagBucks. It's a lot more useful and reliable than Lockerz. All you do is use Swagbucks as your primary search engine and as you search you could win 10-100 SwagBucks. After letting your swag add up you can redeem for gift cards, clothes, cameras, mp3 players, and more.

The best part is that you don't have to wait for a restock. You could cash in your SwagBucks at any time; so what are you waiting for? Go get some swag.

Let's Celebrate!

2010-03-09T17:22:00.000-08:00

I am happy to announce that Teen On Da Rise has it's very first sponsor: UPrinting; a premier promotional printing company. Not only can you order business cards online but posters, brochures, vinyl banners and wall graphics too!

UPrinting and Teen On Da Rise would like to start this sponsorship off with a bang which is why we are going to be giving away 500 business cards in one of the following formats:

Regular: 2 x 3.5", 2 x 3

Slim: 1.5 x 3.5"

Square: 2 x 2"

in 14 pt. gloss cardstock, 14 pt. matte cardstock, or 13 pt recycled uncoated cardstock with full color on both sides.

Only one person can take it all home and if you want that person to be you, here's how to enter:

MANDATORY ENTRY: *You must do this before you can get any other entries.*

Let me know in a comment what you would use your business cards for.

EXTRA ENTRIES:

1. Subscribe to my RSS feed via a validated e-mail or reader (10 extra entries)

2. Comment on another one of my posts (5 extra entries per comment)

3. Follow me on Twitter and tweet the following:

I just entered to win 500 business cards courtesy of @teenondarise http://bit.ly/af8Wo4 #giveaway

(2 extra entries) One tweet a day so tweet away!

********************

Giveaway ends on March 29th at 11:59PM EST

The winner will be announced on March 31st

Open to US residents only!

********************

**The winner will be chosen via Random.org so to be counted you must comment for every entry that you make. If you complete an entry that gives 5 extra entries you must comment 5 separate times!

Google is Trying to Take Over the World

2010-02-22T16:38:00.000-08:00

Google is said to have put a lot of thought and effort into Google Buzz; and I believe it. They just haven't used a lot of creativity. They are using status messages like that of Twitter, photos like Flickr, and liking and directly commenting on posts just like Facebook. They also don't forget to include the fact that all of the social media sites are compatible with Google buzz. Essentially Google is trying to push themselves into the social media space and eradicate the competition. It's not the first time they've tried to do this either:

Google brought out Blogger to compete with Wordpress and made Google Docs to go against Microsoft Office and now more companies use Google Docs than Microsoft Office and Blogger now has a higher Alexa rank than Wordpress.

Before you know it Google is going to own the whole internet...and then the world!

My Favorites!

2010-02-19T16:10:00.000-08:00

I've been seeing a lot of other bloggers list their favorite internet personalities so I've decided so should I. Here goes!

Bloggers:

SheGeeks
ThePinkMac
TechnoBuffalo
MacintoshTipz
Techinformants
MacGirl
Blog GoDown
TeenTechBlog
DanielBru

YouTubers:

TheMacintosh1
iTalkApple
ChillaFrilla
Itsmemorphious
MattsMacintosh
iTouchiPodz
iMaCarly
Mitch625
TheAppleFreakk

MacOSXTutorials

MarquesBrownLee

As I find more Bloggers and Youtuber that I like I will add them to this list so check back to see if you make it.

Kindle Giveaway!

2010-02-18T20:31:00.000-08:00

I've seen many people get interested in e-readers and their glee and genuine happiness when getting one has really made me want one. If you're like me or have always dreamed of having a gadget like this then Ash Elizabeth has the answer for you! One of her lucky readers will be walking away with one of these:

Yup that's right! A Kindle!

To enter her giveaway all you have to do is follow her blog HERE, and her Twitter HERE.

If you want 5 extra entries you can Tweet about the giveaway.

(I did that!)

If you want 5 more entries after that you could add the giveaway link to your blog's sidebar.

(I did that!)

And on top of those 10 entries you can blog about the giveaway for 5 more!

(I did that!)

Can you tell I really want it?

Not what I Expected

2010-02-18T09:46:00.000-08:00

Two weekends ago I attended Blissdom '10 with my mother and brother. It was the perfect time to give an unbiased review of the 13" Incase Nylon Sleeve. It went on four planes, took a couple of trips around a nine acre hotel and was thrown on the floor more than a few times (without my laptop in it of course) and it's still in one piece which means it must have done something right...

The Good:

The best part of this case is the texture of the interior, it's a faux fur lining just like the Incase Neoprene sleeve. Also on the interior is a gigantic lip that totally protects the laptop when the case is being zippered. If you take your time when putting your laptop in the case it will be impossible to scratch it with your zipper.

Along with having a great interior the exterior is aesthetically pleasing, and surprisingly versatile. You could tuck the handles in and take the shoulder strap off and it'll just be a sleeve or don't do any of that and use it as a bag.

The Bad:

Although the faux fur lining is great for protecting against scratches it is too thin to protect against anything else. It does just as much as putting a thin cheap T-shirt in a form fitting Jansport bag. What boggles my mind is that even though the case is so thin it is not airport friendly. I had to take my laptop out of the bag each and every single time I went through security.

On the face of the bag there is one huge pocket that is sewn down the middle. Although the pocket doesn't bulge when it is filled it is hard to get what you put inside. It would have made more sense to leave the pocket untouched.

The Verdict:

Even though this bag is pleasing to the eye it doesn't do as good a job at what it's supposed to do. That's the reason I'm giving it:

★★★

3 out of 5 stars.

You Have to Hand it to Them!

2010-02-17T20:03:00.001-08:00

Although the economy is and has been taking a hit there has been one industry that has been doing extremely well: Models... more specifically hand models.

As more and more pieces of technology are released more and more hand models are needed to present them in ads and campaigns. Whether or not the pieces of technology doesn't matter, they are still getting paid. Here are some pros from a few well known companies

It's amazing how an industry that so few work in is doing so extremely well.

Can Your trackpad do this?

2010-02-17T18:30:00.000-08:00

Although I'm not a big gamer this game definitely caught my attention.

Techie Tuesday: MacSlaps

2010-02-17T09:34:00.001-08:00

Apple is known for their innovative machines but now with MacSlaps you can make your laptop unique too.

The best part is that if you don't want to be unique anymore you could take the slap off and be normal again!

My favorite is the lego man holding the apple; what's yours?

Windows Phone 7

2010-02-15T10:36:00.000-08:00

Just when I thought Windows was losing it's flair they blow me away yet again...

My New Pet Peeve

2010-01-30T07:14:00.000-08:00

I've had my MacBook Pro for a little over four months now and I love almost everything about it. Everything I ask it to do, it does... plus some. Apple has done a lot of work and paid a lot of money to make this a quality machine and it definitely lives up to it's cost. The only problem is that Apple has taken a cheap turn on one of the most used parts of the computer... the keyboard.

I'm not a heavy user of my laptop. I'm on it when I get home and that's about it. Even though that's not much use the keys have already developed a dull shininess that can't be wiped off. The worst part is that the more I use the keyboard, the shinier it gets!

I have no problem buying a keyboard protector. I just feel that I payed a substantial amount of money to buy a nicely built machine; not just quality software but quality build too.

"Come See Our Latest Creation"

2010-01-29T08:57:00.000-08:00

The Apple Tablet aka the iPad is here. It feels like a dream. Just a few days ago noone thought that it was going to happen. All of the far fetched rumors made it impossible to believe but in actuality most of the rumors came true. The tech specs are as follows:

1GHZ processor courtesy of Apple's very own A4 chip
9.7 inch oleophobic IPS screen
1/2 inch thin build
Aluminum backing and full glass screen with black bezel
10 hour battery life; 1 month standby time
e-Book store called iBooks
modified iWork suite to work with the capacitive touch screen
AT&T 3G coverage (on select models)
Built in speakers, microphone and 3.5 mm headphone jack

Although the iPad and the iPhone don't look alike on the outside they have very similar software. Besides the fact that the iPad's backdrop is customizable both the iPhone and this tablet feature the same home screen. The come with the same standard apps. They also have the same format. You could only have four apps in each row and 4 apps in the dock. It is a bit spacious but I have a feeling that this will be fixed in a soon-to-come software update.

The Capable

Even though this device is "truly magical and revolutionary" and a whole new segment to the tech world Apple has enabled the Tablet to access and use all the apps from the iPhone and iPod Touch appstore. You don't have to do any hacking, "it all just works".

The Free

The iPad allows you to connect to AT&T's 3G network; not only at a cheap price ($14.99 for 250 mb and $30.00 for unlimited data) but also as a pay-as-you-go plan. You are under no contract and you can cancel at any time without having to pay an extra fee. That means all us Teens On Da Rise can have internet wherever we have cellphone coverage; and our parents have no reason to say no because they don't have to sign a pesky contract.

To say that this gadget is a beauty inside and out is an understatement.

Techie Tuesday: ThrowBoy

2010-01-26T22:15:00.000-08:00

Are you a die-hard Apple fan?

A huge texter?

Or an avid Blogger?

If you answered yes to any of these questions ThrowBoy has a pillow for you. With it's minimalist design and obvious meaning these pillows definitely make a statement.

Click HERE to see the entirety of ThrowBoy's collection and tell your friends what you think.

Don't Miss Out!

2010-01-26T21:55:00.000-08:00

Everybody and their mother has heard about Apple's latest event, "Come See Our Latest Creation". It's been the talk of the town. Websites and newspapers alike are filled with rumors of what's going to be released. Many say a new tablet, a MacBook Pro refresh, and a software update for the iPhone. It could all happen but no-one knows yet.

The event is going to be amazing. The only problem is that it's tomorrow, Wednesday, a school and work day. Most people don't have a computer to watch the event live while they're at work or school. If you're one of those people don't fret. I'm here to save the day.

If you have Mobile web on your phone then you can get live updates by following the #ALCE hashtag. If you don't have mobile web you can simply follow my Twitter stream and enable SMS forwarding so all the updates are automatically sent to you. When the event is over you can just disable the SMS forwarding.

Whatever you do just don't miss the event, it's going to be mind blowing.

Relieve Some Stress

2010-01-26T17:01:00.000-08:00

This time of year is extremely stressing. It's when we have so many tests and are bombarded with homework. Although I can't run away from all the stress I did find a way to lessen what I already have. It's a website called OMGpop that offers a diverse range of games. They are so addictive and sadly for me the website tells the amount of hours you have played (So far 14 hours and 10 minutes; that's a lot of stress relieving huh?). Two of my favorite games are Balloono and LetterBlox. They are the games that I have spent the most time on and what keep me the most entertained.

Balloono was the first game that I found on the site. You act as a little monkey that drops balloons that break crates; when some crates break there are power-ups that are revealed. They allow you to drop more balloons, go faster, and have a farther range. After getting as many power-ups as you can, you start going after the other monkeys. The last monkey standing is the winner.

In LetterBlox, you are given six different letters that you have to make into as many words as possible.If you get stuck and don't see any words you can hit space to shuffle the letters. You have a set amount of time so you have to type really fast. Although Balloono is the most fun game this is the most addictive. I played for an hour trying to get in first place and it only happened once. The key to winning is knowing how to touch type and of course having a gigantesque vocabulary. Needless to say I am working on both.

Check out the site and tell me what your favorite game is... and while you're there

ADD ME AS A FRIEND.

Techie Tuesday: My Gear Store

2010-01-11T23:59:00.000-08:00

Much like the Walmart for technology lovers, My Gear Store sells a huge variety of products... and all at a discounted price. They show no bias; they sell products for both Macs and PCs, iPods and Zunes, and Playstations and Wiis.

The best part though is that they're not giving discounts on generic or cheap items. They sell name brand from Incipio to Otterbox.

Go check out their website, I know that you'll love what they have to offer!

Something New for Someone Old

2010-01-10T18:21:00.001-08:00

As you get older you start losing more and more things. It starts with your sight, goes to your memory and then ends with your hearing. Although this TV doesn't give you back all of these things it does enhance what you have left of them.

As you lose your sight it gets harder and harder to see your remotes. The buttons are small and there are just so many. The TV Ears TV comes with a remote that has only six buttons (Power, Volume up, Volume down, channel up, channel down and mute). It also has a slide down panel that reveals a traditional number keypad to get to a channel faster. TV Ears takes great pride in their remote and they have every right to.

Usually the farther you sit from your TV the harder it is for you to hear... but not with this TV. As long as you are in range you will have no problems hearing from anywhere you're sitting. This set comes standard with a comfortable set of wireless headphones. This move was was made to cut down on volume blasting when switching from channel to channel.

The best feature, in my opinion, is what the creators included for those that fall asleep while watching TV. After 4 hours the set will automatically turn off so as not to waste any money on your electric bill and not surprise you when you wake up in the morning. The TV's timer resets whenever you press a button on your remote so it won't turn off while you're actually watching TV.

The price is steep at $1,199 but all that money doesn't just go into the set. To maintain their senior friendliness the company offers White Glove Services. They deliver the TV, hook it up, program the remote for all of your external devices, and they initiate one on one instruction for the owner. If the price hasn't turned you away and the features interest you the set will be available to consumers in March. You can find more information about this set HERE

The First Surprise of 2010

2010-01-09T15:58:00.000-08:00

Yesterday in technology class we had to find movie animation software. I know about movie-making software but not animation so I went on the #1 ranked website in the world and I screamed when I saw the screen.

For some reason I thought that the Google Nexus One was going to come out later on in the year and all of the videos and pictures were just leaked to get the hype up from consumers. The idea really stuck in my head because for me it was the most ideal. The Google phone coming out later in the year would give me an ample amount of time to save for it.

As I dug into the site I was even more impressed. The videos and pictures of this device did not lie. It seems that Google did enough work to beat out Apple's iPhone on almost every front. The iPhone has a 3.5 inch screen and the Nexus One boasts a 3.7 inch screen. The Nexus One costs $529.00 with no contracts and the iPhone costs $599.00. The iphone allows 5 hours of talk time and the Nexus One allows 7 hours of talk-time... and the list goes on and on.

The features of the actual device aren't even what push it over the edge. It's the fact that this phone is open to almost every carrier; not one sole carrier who's network isn't even that great (Ahem, ahem iPhone). It's now available on a plan with VodaFone and T-Mobile. If you buy it unlocked it can be used on any GSM carrier except you will not be able to get 3G connection, just EDGE. It will also be available for Verizon in the Spring time of this year.

The NY Post called this device a 'Superphone' and I totally agree with them!

A perfect 10!

2010-01-01T10:41:00.000-08:00

2010 is going to be a big year. Not only is it going to be the last year of this decade but we are supposed to be hit with a huge amount of technological advances. We hit the ground hard last year because of the recession so there is no where to go but up.

These 10 gadgets and implementations have been the talk of the town and are said to bring 2010 sky high in terms of technology.

The Apple Tablet

Long awaited and highly anticipated.

The Palm Pre coming to Verizon

An amazing addition to the Verizon lineup.

The Nexus One

Many say that this phone is going to change the cell phone industry.

Thinner laptops

Seagate has taken the lead and has made the world's thinnest hard drive.

Twitter Has a Brother!

2009-12-28T19:00:00.000-08:00

The creator of Twitter, Jack Dorsey has made yet another ground breaking invention. It's called Square. It plugs into 3mm headphone jacks and turns some smartphones into credit card readers. You swipe your card, use your touch screen to sign for transactions and you are then sent a receipt via e-mail. Like Twitter the service will be completely free.

The company's set release date is March of 2010. Many ordinary consumers haven't been able to get their hands on the device but a few retail stores have. They are already calling it a "really good tool" and "super-convenient". Even though they love it, there is heated debate on whether or not this device is going to be as revolutionary as Twitter. Many say no because it's not the first of it's kind (Verifone is making a mobile card swiper and Apple has already made a card reading device for the iPhone and iPod Touch) but there are more than a handful that say yes because if it truly gets adopted it will change the way that we pay for things. I am still on the gate because I haven't used or seen demos of the device.

Although the Square website didn't include any demos of the software, it did include one amazing feature that would make me and many others want to buy the device: For every transaction that is made with Square one penny will be donated to a charity that you choose. Dorsey says that the gadget can be used anywhere "from a major retail store all the way down to selling your couch on Craigslist". That means a lot of transactions and in turn a lot of pennies. They say with this device they are going to better the world and I believe it.

My Keyboard is Dusty!

2009-12-28T08:59:00.000-08:00

These past 2 and a half weeks have been so busy! I've had an enormous amount of homework, a few projects here and there, some Christmas shopping that I had to get done, and I went on a 4 day cruise to the Bahamas with a program that I'm in.

Days turned into weeks and because of all the things that I was doing I totally forgot about my blog; I forgot about you, my readers, and I'm sorry. I was drowning in a sea of work but I have risen above it all and I have so many ideas that you're going to be hit with a barrage of posts!

I'm back and I'm not going anywhere anytime soon!

I Got an Award!

2009-12-09T16:06:00.000-08:00

I was recently given the Best Blog Award from Ms. Latina of Latina on a Mission. I was so happy to go on her blog and see my name as one of her awardees. It's truly an honor to be given an award from such a prestigious Blogger.

The rules of the Best Blog Award are:

To accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his/her blog link.
Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you have recently discovered and think are great! Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

My choices were:

I think that all of these writers are great, and hope that they continue to blog because I love the content that they put out.

Techie Tuesday

2009-12-08T18:04:00.000-08:00

I have found many great technology blogs and Youtube channels. Their content is amazing, their site designs are superb, the only problem is that they have no one to look at them.

It makes me sad that these people don't get the attention that they rightfully deserve, and eventually quit because they feel like they're getting nowhere. That being said I am now going to try and stop that from happening. Every Tuesday I'm going to devote a post to someone that I think has great content but doesn't have an audience to share it with. Not only that, but I will also shout you out on Twitter and if you are a Youtuber feature your video on my channel.

Although there are many people that need help I will also be featuring businesses that have great products because honestly what would a Techie be without amazing cases and accessories. Like the individual bloggers and Youtubers I will also dedicate a post to them and give them a shout-out on Twitter and if possible feature a video on my Youtube channel.

I don't have to be the only one to help out though. If you find an amazing Technology Youtuber/Blogger or company you can shout them out on Twitter with the #TechieTuesday hashtag (on Tuesday of course!) or contact me HERE and tell me all about them just in case I missed them!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T12:17:00.000-08:00

Before I indulge in my Thanksgiving feast, courtesy of my Grandmother, I would like to wish all my readers a Happy Thanksgiving!

I would also like to list the top 10 things that I am thankful for and since that I'm a technology Blogger it seems appropriate to only list the Technology gadgets that I am thankful for, so here goes:

1. I'm thankful for my MacBook Pro because without it I wouldn't have been able to make this blog and keep it updated with the latest news, rumors, reviews and thoughts.

2. I'm thankful for my Blackberry because it not only lets me keep in contact with all the people that I love and care for, it actually looks nice!

3. I'm thankful for my Sony iPod docker because if I didn't have it I would be late to school everyday.

4. I'm thankful for my MagSafe adapter because I have stepped on it so many times and if it were just any old adapter my computer would be on the floor broken in two.

5. I'm thankful for my MX Revolution because it's so comfortable and even though it doesn't have multitouch capabilities it could still do everything my trackpad can.

6. I'm thankful for my iPod Shuffle's amazingly strong and grippy clip because I don't have to worry about it falling when I jog.

7. I'm thankful for my 42" HD Sharp TV because even if my mom decides to cancel cable we wouldn't need to buy one of those converter boxes.

8. I'm thankful for my mom's Bose radio because we could play Star 99.1 when we wake up and start the day off right.

9. I'm thankful for Wii because it allows me to workout while having fun.

10. Finally, I'm thankful for having an amazing Microwave because honestly what would Thanksgiving be without leftovers?

What are you thankful for?

MacHeist's nanoBundle Review

2009-11-20T20:45:00.000-08:00

This was the first year that I participated in MacHeist's annual discounted or free bundle of Mac software and I am so happy that I did. All of the applications were great and they fed every side of my life.

As a Twitterer TinyGrab was a must have. It worked in the background and after taking screenshots or dragging pictures onto the app that appears in the dock it will give the picture a URL and will immediately allow me to paste it anywhere. It's definitely a time saver now that I don't have to manually upload my picture on a site everytime that I want it on Twitter.

WriteRoom is a word processor that displays what you are typing full screen to give you, well, room to write. As a student it caught my attention. When it comes to school work I spend a lot of time on my laptop, not because the work is hard but because I get distracted and do other things. This app definitely solved that problem. It covers everything else up but is easy to get out of, unlike Pages' full screen mode. Best of all it's customizable so I could be happy with what I am staring at.

As a Blogger I am always looking for new information for my blog but I can't always apply it right away so I have to store those URL's, sentences, paragraphs and pictures somewhere; bookmarks are a hassle to keep up with and honestly while running Safari they are tedious to get to. That's where Shovebox comes in handy. It's a nifty little app that hides in your menubar. You just drag whatever you want onto it and will save it automatically, you don't have to press any special keys. You can then rename the "notes" and put them into different folders with just a few clicks.

As a Mac user I don't get to play many games because most are made for Windows computers so when I saw Hordes of Orcs in the bundle I got really excited... and the excitement didn't leave after I played...it intensified. Although it's a simple game of keep-away, I felt like those were really my people behind the gates on the other side of the field. I was so into the game that I couldn't even hear what my mom and brother were telling me, I just had to protect those people. It's definitely an amazing, addictive game.

As for Twitterrific and Mariner Write, they are both superb apps that are user friendly and helpful but I already use Tweetie and Pages in their place. Twitterific and Mariner Write don't offer anything new so I rather just stick to what I use already.

All in all, the bundle was amazing, it had apps that packed a punch and were extremely easy to get used to and they weren't just the "use them once and toss them apps". I would have liked to see more of a diversity in apps instead of 2 writing processors but for free I really can't complain which is why I'm giving it:

★★★★

4 out of 5 stars

Leader of the Pack

2009-11-09T19:05:00.001-08:00

The HP Photosmart Premium TouchSmart leaves nothing to be desired. It is the first printer that allows you to connect to the internet. The machine also boasts a 4.33" touch screen that can easily be customized to include all of your favorite apps. The touchscreen on this machine is as responsive as most touch screen phones and doesn't take much getting used to, actually when you do start using it you'll wonder how you ever lived without it. With a few taps it will get you whatever you need.

There is also Bluetooth connectivity so you can directly print from a cell phone. I tested out the image quality while at the #hpwebprinter event and surprisingly it's amazing even from a measly 2 megapixel camera. It enlarged my picture from a 2.5" screen to a 8.5" by 11" piece of paper and I couldn't see any pixilation. It made my jaw drop!

Along with the neat hardware features, the software on this machine was amazing. The apps were extremely intuitive and worked hand in hand. Since this is the first home printer that can do all of these things, most apps are still being worked on but they are still great, they did what they said and were supposed to do, so really what can you complain about?

The price tag is a bit heavy at $399 but it is definitely worth every penny!

Beat Your School's Proxy

2009-11-05T19:12:00.000-08:00

We do a lot of advanced things in my Technology class so my teacher is always giving free time as a treat for doing so well. We get to surf the web and check our e-mails, it's really fun until I get a screen like this...

It gets me upset when websites like this, or other needed websites are blocked and I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one. To all of my readers that have the same problem, I have compiled a list of websites that allow you to bypass this filter.

You don't have to change any settings or download any plug-ins, and they're all free which is the best part. You just visit one of these sites and type in the blocked URL and it will bring you to it without any hint of the Websense screen above. Happy Surfing!

Pushing All the Right Buttons!

2009-10-24T15:27:00.001-07:00

As much as I love Apple and their products their competitors' advertisements are getting better and better.

As much as I laugh seeing Justin Long and John Hodgeman argue over which company is the best, I laughed way harder when I saw a cute little girl give a rave review of Windows 7.

Apple's "There's an App for That" commercials are catchy but this Verizon commercial with actual people, and a colorful background made it stick in my mind just that much more. (If you look close the AT&T guy was holding a white iPhone).

iDon't have anything to say about this commercial. It's self explanatory. Verizon is using Apple's well known "i before the product name" against them.

There are plenty other commercials bashing Apple but I thought that these were among the best.

The Forgotten...

2009-10-21T15:21:00.000-07:00

Many know that Apple released the new generation of the Mac Mini, MacBook, and Mighty Mouse (now called the Magic Mouse). But, many don't know about the few other products that Apple released, so I decided to search their website for all of those forgotten products.

1. The newly designed Apple Remote now has an aluminum body and can control any Mac made since 2005 with an infrared port. It also controls iPods and the iPhone but only when they are docked on the Universal Dock.

2. The Airport Extreme is said to now be 50% faster and have a greater range by 25% beacause of a new antenna design

3. The Time Capsule now offers 60% faster Time Machine backups.

4. If you look really hard on the MacBook page you can also see that there is a new Magsafe Power Adapter. It has a new revised plug that looks much like the new gray iPod shuffle.

What do you guys think about all of the new products from Apple?

My Disclosure

2009-10-16T22:34:00.000-07:00

The FTC has made new blogger rules and one of the biggest ones is that you include a disclosure within your blog. I was going to put it onto my sidebar, but a disclosure is long and I don't want more than a couple of sentences on my sidebar and even then that's too much. So, to not clutter my blog but also not break the newfound law I am making my disclosure into a whole post!

This policy is valid from 17 October 2009

This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. For questions about this blog, please contact TeenOnDaRise@gmail.com.

The compensation received will never influence the content, topics or posts made in this blog. All advertising is in the form of advertisements generated by a third party ad network. Those advertisements will be identified as paid advertisements.

I am sometimes compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though I receive compensation for my posts or advertisements, I always give my honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the blogger's own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question. This blog does not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest.

To get your own disclosure visit DisclosurePolicy.org

Commentary: Apple owns up to a Snow Leopard bug

2009-10-16T21:49:00.000-07:00

Having watched Microsoft (MSFT) go through a weekend from hell for wiping out the personal data of thousands of T-Mobile (DT) customers, Apple (AAPL) finally acknowledged a data-swallowing bug that Snow Leopard users have been complaining about since September.

"We are aware of the issue, which occurs only in extremely rare cases, and we are working on a fix," an Apple spokesperson told CNET's Erica Ogg on Monday.

According to several hundred messages on Apple's discussion boards, the Snow Leopard problem is triggered when users log in and out of an old Leopard guest account and then try to log back in to their regular account. One victim described the effect as follows:

"Not only did Snow Leopard wipe out ALL of my documents, my email accounts, my address book, it broke the dynamic spell checker in yahoo messenger, caused random problems with Safari, InDesign, and others, caused lockups, spinning beach balls, loud fans… and it was just getting worse. I am restoring Leopard (sans snow) as I write this."

(via BrainStormTech)

Commentary: I came across this article and I wasn't surprised. It was something that many people have talked about: their problems with Snow Leopard. I have heard it from bloggers, I've heard it from Youtubers, I've even heard it from non-techies... Apple seriously did something wrong with Snow Leopard. From the minor glitches to the major ones like the one above Apple definitely didn't come out with the most innovative operating system this time. Yes, the upgrade came with a few features that made me smile for a few moments but when you really look into it they're not good enough to cover up the bad that Snow Leopard causes.

Although I am mad with the lack of innovation and abundance of problems with this product I am really happy with Apple as a company. It may have taken them a long time but they actually owned up to their mistakes. They didn't hide them like some companies... AHEM AHEM Microsoft... It shows that they listen to their customers and are trying to amend the problems that they are having. It shows that they actually care.

2 Amazing Sites

2009-10-16T13:00:00.000-07:00

While surfing the web this week I found two amazing sites. One that I had found and another someone invited me too and they are both amazing. They have some great perks and I thought that my readers would really enjoy them.

The first that I found is called urThots and the site is dedicated to your thoughts. Their slogan is "think it. write it." and that's exactly what you do. If you have an idea, question, or random finding you could post it anonymously, or if you'd like, you can make an account and connect it to your Facebook to make it public. It's easy, fast and a great way to get noticed. Finding another person that is thinking the same thing or asking the same question isn't hard either, you can just search through tags. I really liked the concept and the user friendly interface.

The second site is an invite-only website and I am so glad that I got invited. It's called Lockerz and it pays you with pointz everytime you log on and answer the daily question. You get two points per day that you log on and 2 points per day when you answer the Daily. You also play a game when you first join that allows you to get free pointz. You can redeem those points for electronics, cool brands, and events. It's fun and a great way to get new technology in this decrepit economy. If you want an invite just e-mail me at TeenOnDaRise@gmail.com with your e-mail address and I will be happy to send you one.

Leave a comment and tell me what you think of these websites!

Blackberry Desktop Manager for Mac

2009-10-06T16:18:00.000-07:00

The Blackberry Desktop Manager for Mac was just released Friday of last week. It's the easy way to sync and backup your calendars, contacts, tasks, notes and music... or so they say. The actual program is very user friendly but what it does to your Blackberry is HORRIBLE, or at least what it did to mine.

After a very short installation period, the program asked for me to plug my Blackberry in to verify that I actually have one. As soon as I did, it told me that I don't have the latest software and asked if I would like to download. I answered yes, my first mistake! As soon as i upgraded my software it deleted my browser and everything else that I had involving data. I had to call Verizon to get everything back and it wasn't fun.

To make sure that something like that would never happen again I decided to backup everything that I had on my phone. It was a pretty smart move considering what happened next!

Syncing with my Mac was easy but once again the consequences were not desired. When I pressed the button it told me that I had information that was repetitive on my Mac and Blackberry. It asked if I wanted to erase the information that was on both machines so I pressed yes for all of the options because like anybody else I didn't want anything to be repeating on either my Mac or Blackberry. Once again I made a drastic mistake. This time, instead of erasing all of my internet based applications it erased everything else. My notes, my tasks, my contacts, my calendars and my bookmarks. I called Verizon once again to see what was going on and they said that it's just a glitch that the program is having, that there's nothing that they could do now and it will probably be resolved within a few weeks.

Now this is what I know everybody has been waiting for, the moral of the story: Never EVER download and/or use a new program without checking it out even if it's from a trusted company. Read reviews and watch tutorials on Youtube just don't be one of their unpaid Beta testers.

2 Billion Downloads Celebration!!

2009-09-28T12:20:00.001-07:00

Today Apple has achieved yet another amazing feat. Their App Store- the world's largest and most revolutionary- has just reached 2 billion downloads in less than a year.

I thought that this achievement was so amazing that I should celebrate with you, my readers, and giveaway the latest edition of Mac|Life's very own iPhone Handbook that not only includes hands-on how-tos but also reviews of 44 APPS, external battery packs, speakers, cases, headphones and more.

So, if you have an iPhone or are just interested in getting a brand new iPhone magazine here's how to join:

MANDATORY ENTRY- You must do this before you recieve any extra entries:

Subscribe via e-mail or feed. Subscription options can be found on the right-hand side. If you’re already a subscriber, let me know! If you subscribe by e-mail, you must validate your e-mail address. You can do so via the e-mail sent by Feedburner. If you do not validate your e-mail address the entry will be disqualified.

EXTRA ENTRIES:

1. Leave a comment on any other blog post.

2. Follow me on Twitter (@TeenOnDaRise) and tweet about the giveaway. Your tweet must include my name, @TeenOnDaRise and RT. One tweet a day until the giveaway ends, so tweet it up!

3. Fave me on Technorati or Digg for 2 extra entries (you must leave 2 separate comments with your username if you enter this way).

**********
GIVEAWAY ENDS OCTOBER 5, 2009 11:59 P.M. EST
Open to US and Canada residents only
**********

I will be using Random.org to choose the winner so in order to qualify for the giveaway you must leave a separate comment for each entry that is completed. You will not be counted otherwise.

IN-Another-CASE

2009-09-20T11:27:00.000-07:00

I love my Incase Neoprene Sleeve but traveling with it is a pain. It has no handle, no outside pockets to carry my power brick or any other accessories and the wonderful material that makes it smell so good and form to my MacBook Pro so well makes it very slippery. I'm a high school student and portability is definitely a must. The Neoprene Sleeve just doesn't fit my needs anymore.

I really love the quality and protection that Incase gives their customers so I went searching for new protection on their site before going on any other one. In about 5 minutes of searching (I love Incase) I found the Nylon Sleeve that is close to what I already have but adds the pockets and handles that I need. The price wasn't too bad either. I liked the overall design best of all, it's extremely thin while boasting a pretty big front pocket and velcro magazine pocket in the back. It looks professional but still cool. I ordered it today and it should be here by Thursday... I really can't wait.

PSP Go!

2009-09-18T13:43:00.001-07:00

One of my good friends told me about the upcoming PSP Go and I am so impressed with Sony. At first glance I knew that it was going to be great. From design to hardware they have really outdone themselves.

The first thing that I noticed about this new PSP is the size. It's actually 50% smaller and 40% lighter than the previous models. The design has also changed immensely, it now has a slideout 'control board' and no UMD slot, so you can only download your games to the device. Don't fret though, if you buy the PSP Go Sony will send you digital versions of the games you already have for free, all you have to do is go to their site.

You now are given 16GB of internal memory for your new games, movies, music, and pictures. Standard games take up about 1.8 GB's of memory so the 16 probably won't last long which is probably why Sony has kept the Memory Stick Duo port. You can plug in a card with a max of 32 GB's which gives you a whopping 48GB. It also has improved speeds because of a newly added 480 Mhz processor. Bluetooth has been added to the gadget even though i still don't know what people could use it for.

Gamestop has an upgrade offer as usual. You bring in your old PSP 3000 or Slim with 3 games and you'll get $100 towards the Go. That means you only have to come up with $150 more. That's actually not much for a brand new game console.

It's going to be in stores soon so make sure to GO and get yours!

{Image via EndSights}

There's Still Room For More...

2009-09-12T21:26:00.000-07:00

I've been hearing the same question over and over again: "Why did Apple give the Nano a video camera and not the Touch?" I think the answer's simple. It's to make sure that the world's best selling mp3 player stays around for just a bit longer. If you really look at it Apple has crammed everything that they can into the little guy. A pedometer, FM radio with live pause, a mic and speaker, accelerometer, voice over and a video camera. At this point, what more could they add?

The iPod Touch is a different story, there's still room for more. Everybody just has to remember that Apple is a company and they want to make this touch screen phenomena stay successful for as long as possible and adding a camera in this generation would have just made it that much harder to top themselves. But, pictures have already been released so we definitely don't have long to wait for the next refresh.

In Case You Missed It!

2009-09-10T13:13:00.000-07:00

For all of you who like me were stuck at school (or work) and missed out on the apple keynote event and don't know the latest on what's going on with their products I have compiled a list of all of the refreshes that they have made.
The iPod Classic received a capacity bump from 120GB to 160GB but is still being kept at the same price ($249).
The iPod Touch received a price drop, a cut and a hardware upgrade. The 8GB is now $199.00 (down from $229), the 16GB is now nonexistent, the 32GB is down to the price that the 16GB once was ($299) and there is now a 64GB model priced at $399. Both the 32GB and 64GB are also supposed to be 50% faster than previous generations and will run OpenGL ES 2.0. A 3.1 firmware is also now available free of charge, for those that already run 3.0, and is only $4.95 for those that don't.
The iPod Shuffle is now being sold in pink, green, blue and limited edition stainless steel (only sold on the Apple online store and Apple Stores) along with the original black and silver. A new 2GB edition also joins the mix at $59. Apple is also working with third parties to make headphones compatible with the Shuffle's features.
The iPod Nano received the best (in my opinion) price drop and hardware upgrade. It now comes standard with a video camera, speaker, FM radio, the new Genius Mix, Voice Over, a built in pedometer and a larger 2.2 inch screen. The 8GB version stayed at the same price of $149 but the 16GB version has dropped from $199 to $179, which makes me wonder who would buy the 8GB when they can get the 16 for just $30 more?
If you still want to see the whole Keynote you can click HERE.

Back To School: Savings

2009-09-07T11:40:00.000-07:00

As I was searching the web this Labor Day weekend I came across Studica.com. It is an amazing website that gives student discounts on all of their products including: Hardware, Software and Music Technology.

Most of their products you can purchase with a discount, with no proof that you are a student, but on some you must verify that you are a student with either a schedule, a letter from your school or a photo of your dated ID. For more information on what you need to have to qualify for student discounts click HERE. Happy Shopping!

Grand Theft Apple

2009-09-04T10:14:00.000-07:00

It still boggles my mind how these 5 goons were able to take off with 23 MacBook Pros, 14 iPhones, and 9 iPod Touches (equivalent to $32,470) in just 31 seconds!

Back To School: Top 5 Best Apps

2009-09-01T21:49:00.001-07:00

School is just around the corner, if not already started for some people, so I thought that it would be appropriate to have the top 5 best Mac apps for school that don't already come pre-installed with your mac. My list doesn't have an order, so you can ignore the numbers.

1. Task List is essential for those that take their laptops to school but is still great for those that don't. It allows you to track your assignments, grades (and converts them into your GPA), notes, and goals. The newest version 5.2 allows you to keep everything handy on your dashboard with a widget, can be locked with a password, has graphs, statistics, 5 levels of priority for each assignment and a school overview for at-a-glance information.

2. Quicksilver is a program for all of those people that don't like taking their hands off of their keyboards. You can launch and do almost anything with this app with just a few keystrokes.

3. Google doc isn't an app but should be made into one. This website is for all of the people that don't want to dish out money for a word processing suite. This site allows you to type up anything you want, and save it as almost any type of file. You just need to make a Google account.

4. iClip is an amazing app that automatically records everything (that includes pictures, regular text, and even apps) that you copy and/or cut into it's little 'hub'. It's great for people like me who are always losing their much needed notes because there is no such thing as 'Copy 2' or 'Paste 2'.

5. Desktop Curtain does exactly what it's named. It makes a curtain fall over everything on your desktop to give you privacy, whether it be while presenting a Keynote presentation in front of your teachers or just to hide whatever clutter you usually have on it. You could also format the app to cover just certain apps and leave others unhidden.

Better Than Willy Wonka...

2009-08-30T23:40:00.000-07:00

LG's powerhouse, the Chocolate, is back and better than ever. Now boasting a 4 inch display I must say that this is the nicest looking LG phone I have seen yet.

The phone is very similar to the iPhone whereas it has very little buttons. Only volume control/zoom (they're the same button), an assigned camera button and a power button. Everything else is done on the huge 4 inch HD display that is basically the whole front of the phone.

The device is extremely narrow but also very thin. It has a 3.5mm audio port, 5 megapixel camera, accelerometer, and wifi built in. What most people love is the user-friendly interface. It acts as a 3-D 'cube' that you can flick through to see desktop-like sides that allow you to achieve different tasks. It also has customizable widgets that you can place on any of the sides.

The device is extremely sensitive so there is no need for you to press down on the screen just tap. It's really responsive so there is not much lag when you switch to the different sides of the 'cube' and to the different apps/widgets. All of these features have made this Chocolate even tastier than ever! Much better than Willy Wonka's!

Upgrading From Tiger is illegal!

2009-08-28T14:10:00.000-07:00

From the EULA (Joe Kissel)
"If you have purchased an upgrade for Mac OS X Leopard license, then subject to the terms and conditions of this license, you are granted a limited non-exclusive license to install, use and run one (1) copy of the Apple software on a single Apple- branded computer as long as that computer has a properly licensed copy of Mac OS X Leopard already installed on it."

Don't worry Apple is still giving all of their Tigers a chance to upgrade with the all in one deal, the Mac Box Set, for $169.00 It includes:
Mac OS X 10.6
iPhoto '09
Garageband '09
iMovie '09
iWeb '09
iDVD
Numbers '09
Keynote '09
Pages '09
Although it is illegal you could still walk into the store and buy the upgrade, so use your own judgement, and make the right decision!

DUO!

2009-08-25T13:49:00.000-07:00

KCI communications has taken a step into the future with their new gadget called The Duo. With it's stylus you are able to write on any screen 22" or smaller. This is all made possible by the base station that you place on top of your screen that tracks where the stylus is moving. The fun doesn't stop there though. The stylus also doubles as a pen, so you can write on traditional notebook paper and transfer it to your PC, much like Livescribe. This gadget is currently only made for Windows based computers but by November there will be one made for a Mac. If you are interested you can click HERE to purchase.

A Klutz's Necessity!

2009-08-24T23:17:00.000-07:00

As soon as my mom told me that we were going to be getting me my MacBook Pro, I knew that I would need protection. Because I'm the type of person that drops everything, I already knew that I would need a case that protected every part of the MacBook. So, I did a little research and I found the Incase 13" Neoprene Sleeve. As soon as I saw it I fell in love. The rich black color, the simplistic design, and from what I saw that other people had said, the great quality ("it's built very nicely", "durable, and is extremely stylish", "finely crafted", "I think it is one of the most well made cases out there", "well constructed case", "I would highly recommend this case").

When I went to the store to buy the case it had everything that I saw on the website and even more. There was a lip that went around the whole interior of the case, a white faux fur lining, and it had a thickness but also a thinness about it. All of these features worked hand in hand to give the MacBook "all around protection"...

The thickness of the case shielded the machine from short distance drops and other things falling onto the laptop. The thinness allowed the laptop and case together to be placed in virtually any bag that is made for a 13" (or more) laptop.The lip also provided protection from falls, as well as from the zipper when you are opening and closing it. The Neoprene material (the same material that wetsuits are made of) protected from small spills, allowed the case to keep it's form and fit like a glove, and keeps your laptop smelling brand new. That feature alone would appease anybody!

I have had this case for almost 2 weeks and have nothing bad to say which is why I'm giving it:
★★★★★
5 out of 5 stars

Premature Birth: Snow Leopard

2009-08-22T20:27:00.000-07:00

Yesterday one lucky Japanese man received a Snow Leopard start up disk with the purchase of his Mac Mini. Although the story is believable, this slip up has added even more confusion to the release date that Apple has set for it's new Operating System. Just a few weeks ago, it was said to be August 28th but now it's more than a week away. Many say that the delayed release date is for the sole purpose of competing with Windows 7. Nobody, but Apple employees are positive of that but whatever it's for, we now (assuming that Apple doesn't change their release date yet again) don't have too long to wait!

Wi-Fi What?!

2009-08-19T18:36:00.000-07:00

I was just surfing the web when I came across the weirdest/coolest tech devices ever. They are the cap and shirt Wi-fi detectors. These devices help you detect wi-fi signals and their strengths while you have them on. The lights turn on when you come near a network and the amount of bars that are lit up show how strong the network is. Although this is a very cool device i would never wear it outside. To have it light up and flash at any given moment is pretty embarrassing! But, if you are brave enough to strut with either or both of these products on, they are retailing at about $15-21 depending on where you go. May the wi-fi be with you!

Apple Wireless Keyboard Review

2009-08-19T13:28:00.000-07:00

Price: 79.00-On Apple

Holding the Apple Keyboard you feel a sense of weightlessness and balance. In size, shape, their new über thin design, low to the base keys and nice aluminum color, as well as material the new Apple Keyboard makes the previous generation look disgustingly cramped and inelegant. Though I know many accountants, programmers and pro tool users will be upset with the lack of number keypad and editing keys, I personally, am happy with the change. Nowaday, people want compact and Apple wants their customers to be happy. As a customer that change definitely made me happy!

The keyboard uses Bluetooth so you don't have to block one of your USB ports with a receiver. That's also a great thing for me too seeing that i only have two ports. It's extremely easy to setup on any computer, Mac or PC. Although PCs can't use the default shortcut keys at the top you can always reassign them.

It's an awesome keyboard, but there are a few problems. It gets dirty REALLY fast. The keys are white and even the natural oil on our fingers turns it a slight grey. I believe that the best solution to this problem is Mr. Clean's Magic Eraser. It lasts longer and works better than soap and won't scratch off your letters like a regular sponge would, but an even more cost effective way to clean this keyboard is to buy a bottle of rubbing alcohol at your local 99 cents store and dab it on a paper towel and wipe it across the keys. Either of those methods should keep it looking good as new.

The final problem with this keyboard is that it runs on 'AA' batteries, so if you are a heavy computer user make sure to have a few extra packs just in case they die. The keyboard does automatically turn off when you stop using it for a while, or when your computer goes to sleep but keep those batteries stashed just in case!

★★★★

All in all I give this keyboard 4 stars out of a possible 5

Wordless Wednesday (With a Few Words): Apple Bonanza

2009-08-18T21:04:00.000-07:00

I didn't post a picture of the first day that I got my Mac, so here it is... still in the box with all of it's little buddies! :)

Airport Extreme-ly Incompatible?

2009-08-17T21:46:00.000-07:00

While I was researching what MacBook Pro I wanted I saw the Airport Extreme and all of the neat feaures that come with it. It has the latest "N" technology, you could connect a wired printer or hard drive (both if you buy a USB hub) that become wireless, it allows you to make a guest network so your guests dont need to know the primary password for the router, it has dual-band support so it's faster on handheld devices (ex: iPod Touch, iPhone, Nintedo DSi etc.) and has a greater range, it has an automatic firewall that doesnt need to be set up so your conected hard drive wont be attacked, it has parental controls, allows up to 50 users without slowing the router down and finally is compatible with both a Mac and PC... Or so they say.

I only checked out the Apple site before I brought it and saw all of the rave reviews for the product. I was so excited about getting a new Apple product that I didn't do as much research as I should have. I only looked at the Apple site, and of course I thought that that was good enough but it wasn't. I failed to remember the fact that I would be connecting it to a PC so I should be looking at forums and how well it connected to a PC. So eventually, I remembered that small fact and did more research, after I had brought the product, and boy was I surprised. Everything on Google that popped up was how bad the Airport Extreme is on PCs especially those that run Vista. I'm a little scared now that I have a product that i spent so much on that may not be compatible with my computer. I'm going to take a leap of faith with Apple and keep the product and when i eventually connect the Airport Extreme hopefully it will work like a charm. We don't know yet, but soon enough we will! So, keep an eye out for an update on my blog.

Golden Boy

2009-08-17T09:38:00.000-07:00

I recently heard about the new card that Starbucks has released called The Gold Card, for those that love Starbucks. It's a membership that you pay for annually ($25) and you get exclusive offers and discounts, a free drink on your birthday, a free drink if you buy the card in a store, 10% off of most of your purchases, and 2 hours of free wi-fi everyday. It sounds like a good deal. The perk that I'm most looking at is the 2 hours of free wi-fi everyday, having a MacBook Pro and all. :) Usually the 2 hours of internet cost $3.49 so i would be recovering the cost of the membership fairly quickly, plus all of the discounts and offers. I believe that it's a great deal but there is a downside to the card, it's so new that most baristas don't even know about it, so you have to constantly remind them to take 10% off. I'm thinking about getting it, not because I'm a Starbucks fanatic and go everyday, but because when I do go I go all out and buy either a lot or the really expensive things. I also love the way the card looks, and I've heard from other forums that the black is matte-y and the gold is just shiny plastic. Now who wouldn't want that in their wallet?

What all the cool kids are doing:

At Last...

2009-08-16T09:31:00.000-07:00

After years of waiting for one, my Macbook Pro is finally home. I went to the Apple Store and it was SUCH an adventure. I opted out of ordering the machine online because i believe that you also pay for the experience. The Apple Store was great. The layout, the products, and best of all the staff. They were amazing. They answered all of my questions and they made great small talk. They gave me all the "secret" deals and even recommended websites that offer programs that are cheaper than they usually sell them for. I really do understand why they won an award for their support.

Now onto the machine, I purchased the higher end 13" MacBook Pro that came with a 2.53 ghz processor, 4 gb ram, NVIDIA GeForce 9400 graphics, and a 250 gb hard drive (5400 rpm). It also comes standard with the backlit keyboard, an SD card slot (such a great addition) and a newly added Firewire Port. I've had the computer for one day and for it being the first Mac that I've owned i grew to it really fast. The operating system was really easy to figure out and the wizards really help out with all of the new programs.

But the MacBook wasn't the only thing that my mom purchased for me at the Apple Store. We had an Apple bonanza while we were there. She got me:

Airport Extreme
Incase Neoprene Sleeve
iWork 09
Cannon Pixma MP480 Printer (with the rebate from my laptop so in reality it was free!)
One to One

I'll be doing reviews and updates of all these products in the coming weeks because I know all of you guys want to stay updated. :)