Our top tech picks for 2013 include several pieces of hardware, some apps and a few old favorites that continue to make waves.

Hardware 2013

Without a doubt it was a big hardware year. Tablets are saturating the market while tech enthusiasts and investors search for “the next” gadget to disrupt the market.

Google Glass

While Google Glass is little more than an interesting sideshow at the moment, its reality shows what future tech may hold. Envision if you will average glasses or sunglasses with Google Glass type function. Complete with internet browsing and presumably dictation through a microphone in the frames for text, email and the like.

Yes, Google Glass looks ridiculous and that’s okay because it’s simply the first in what’s sure to be a line of wearable tech moving forward.

Smartphones

Without a doubt the best smartphone of 2013 is the HTC One. It can be debated until smartphone owners are blue in the face, but we stand behind that statement. Samsung and Apple seem to always share the spotlight when it comes to popularity, but the market needs competition to further innovation. For all of HTC’s struggles as a company the last 12+ months, they deserve immense credit for delivering what is an absolutely brilliant piece of hardware in the One.

Gaming Consoles

We could debate Xbox One versus Playstation 4 all day long and one will always outshine the other depending on how they’re viewed. Fact is, this may be the last true gaming console generation. Xbox One is already much more than a gaming console and many would say a detriment to itself. Sony has integrated more online social aspects that are maturing now with Playstation 4. By the time gamers and console makers are ready for the next generation of consoles, it simply won’t be enough to be ‘just a gaming console’.

Should we feel sad that this may be the last true gaming console generation or perhaps nostalgic about past generations? Yes, though there’s no need to panic. Game makers are delivering games at an unreal pace to every tech device they can. Mobile gaming is exploding, PC games are resurgent and new manufacturers such as NVIDIA (Shield) are delivering dedicated gaming units.

It’s impressive to see what Microsoft and Sony have delivered and we commend them for delivering possibly the last true gaming consoles. There’s no doubt each are worthy of mention for top hardware in 2013.

2014 Watchlist

Keep an eye out for Steam Machines. Steam is moving forward, if not slowly, with their own gaming device. They’ve labeled it “a powerful new category of living-room hardware” which points to more than gaming, but that remains to be seen.

Tablets are shifting towards larger models. Don’t be surprised if 7” tablets begin to fade away as new larger models flood the market.

PCs aren’t dead despite news to the contrary. However, Google’s Chromebooks are now starting to realize their potential and others are noticing. With everything online and cloud based, the Chromebooks offer a distinct advantage for some. That number will grow as cloud adoption continues.

Another watch item from Google is the Chromecast. Sure it’s getting a ton of hype now, but let’s watch what happens when it starts to hit its stride or better yet spawn something more from the minds at Google. Either way, grab a Chromecast now for $35 and enjoy inexpensive cable-like viewing.

Apps 2013

Mobile apps are an absolutely immense category to narrow down and dissect. The fact is, the app market is saturated both in iOS and Android. To stand out and make an impression you’ve either got to have a monumentally grand idea or improve tenfold over similar apps. We picked a few of our favorites from 2013 and hope you get the same kind of warm fuzzy feeling from them.

Simplenote

Not new in the traditional sense, it was new to Android in 2013. Long an app on iOS, Simplenote is, as you’d expect, a note taking app. As many of you know, we’re huge fans of productivity type apps and Simplenote falls into that category. It comes from Automattic, Inc., the makers of WordPress mobile. There are several key reasons Simplenote makes our top apps for 2013 list.

1. It’s super lightweight. Leave the fluff and extra junk at the door because Simplenote has none of it. At less than 600k, this app is like a feather compared to some.
2. The interface is nearly prestine. It’s so clean you almost feel bad cluttering it with notes.
3. If you’ve tried Evernote and didn’t care for it or even found it to be too much for your needs, then Simplenote is the option you’re after.

We won’t harp on it too much, but if you haven’t tried it yet, then start 2014 out with a new app.

Download for Android

Download for iOS

Cal

Cal comes from Any.do, the makers of ..well.. Any.do. If you’re not familiar, Any.do is a to-do, reminder, sort of productivity type app to keep you on target with tasks. Cal is basically a replacement for your other calendar apps. It’s still new so it lacks a few features that a true Google Calendar has. And while we aren’t huge fans of Any.do, Cal manages to improve on something every smartphone has – a calendar.

It’s attractive interface is super clean and sharp. It uses just enough graphic to spice things up and of course syncs nicely with Any.do to wrap your tasks into your calendar with ease. If you’re someone who likes to have their schedule at the ready and appreciates a very legible interface, then Cal should be on your list.

Download for Android

Download for iOS

Game Apps

We could literally go on forever with all the game apps. Needless to say, there were some standouts.

Real Racing 3

EA’s racing game has enjoyed plenty of ridicule for their freemium model and some of it deservingly so. However, their Real Racing 3 is visually fantastic and has sparked numerous copy cats in the mobile markets. With nearly 80 vehicles, RR3 has given gamers plenty of variety to play with. Fairly regular updates have provided new tracks and competitions and continued to keep the game interesting.

Real Racing 3 gets high marks for guiding the racing category of the market in the right direction (aside from the freemium in app costs that is).

Download for Android

Download for iOS

Injustice: Gods Among Us

Meant as a companion app to the console version. Injustice is quite fun on its own for those that don’t have time to spend in front of a console. Again, based on a freemium type model – Injustice provides achievement based reward with expensive upgrade options. The system is done well and not nearly as overwhelming as some other freemium games. The graphics are slick and for the most part gameplay is consistent.

Download for Android

Download for iOS

Old Favorites 2013

Evernote

We might be beating a dead horse with this one, but the fact is there is no better note-taking, productivity app than Evernote. It is an all encompassing tool that anyone can use. One of our readers spoke up about their experience and how they struggled to find a “practical use” for Evernote. Turns out it was easy once they stopped thinking so much about it. Now their Evernote account is used for storing warranties, manuals, recipes (in conjunction with Evernote Food) and a slew of other everyday things.

The real surprise from Evernote this year was their foray into physical goods. The Evernote gear is somewhat cheesy, but at the same time a testament to it’s popularity and following. Another physical good is their ScanSnap scanner. They partnered with Fujitsu to deliver a high quality device for taking all those loose piles of paper and sending them directly to Evernote notes. Although pricey it’s a real godsend to those looking to go completely paperless.

Download for Android

Download for iOS

Apps Everyone Should Be Using

Pocket

Save anything and everything for reviewing later. Don’t have time to read it now, but the headline looks interesting? Share it to Pocket and view it later. Need to follow a how-to found online, but need it later not now? Share it to Pocket and it’s there.

Download for Android

Download for iOS

TuneIn Radio Pro, Spotify & iHeart

TuneIn, Spotify and iHeart complement each other perfectly. iHeart has most radio stations and those it doesn’t are likely found on TuneIn. TuneIn is also great for radio broadcasts of sporting events, something any fan can appreciate. Spotify delivers everything those two don’t by way of user selected music. Spotify’s new free Playlists playback allows for greater control over selection of songs played. With their immense library of music, there’s very few songs missing.

Download iHeart for Android

Download iHeart for iOS

Download Spotify for Android

Download Spotify for iOS

Download TuneIn Radio Pro for Android

Download TuneIn Radio Pro for iOS

Any Cloud Storage App

If you aren’t using a cloud storage service, then what are you waiting for? There are literally a half-dozen excellent choices with more than a dozen other quality options. Every smartphone owner should be utilizing one to save those precious photos and other data accumulated on mobile devices.

For ease of use you can’t go wrong with Dropbox. Want something closer to your everyday routine? How about Google Drive (for Gmail users) or SkyDrive (for Outlook.com users). Our other favorite is Box although we’re disappointed they don’t give Linux users more love.

Security

Wondering where all the security apps and info are? We intentionally left that info out. Reason being that users need to dedicate more attention to security, not a passing thought in a “best of” list. With this year’s revelations and events, 2014 is going to be a pivotal year for users in securing their information. Look for an early year 2014 Security Checklist post with a bunch of suggestions for keeping you and your information out of other’s hands.

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The post Top Tech Picks [2013] first appeared on GeekITDown Computer Services & Technology Solutions.

This November 24th is Small Business Saturday®, a day to celebrate and support the local small businesses that boost the economy and invigorate neighborhoods across the country.

GeekITDown is proud to take part in Small Business Saturday, and we’re encouraging everyone to Shop Small® here on November 24th.

Plus, we’re having a special Small Business Saturday offer! Check back on November 24th and you’ll get a full year of remote tech support for the cost of a single remote service!

Most importantly, get out there, Shop Small, and let’s make this November 24th the biggest day of the year for small business.

To learn more, visit ShopSmall.com.

The post Join Us For Small Business Saturday, November 24, 2012 first appeared on GeekITDown Computer Services & Technology Solutions.

We’ve long been proponents of cloud solutions and continue to review cloud offerings across the web. Now, we’re expanding our already established brand of Computer Services to Cloud Consulting and Cloud Broker Services.

Through these new cloud services, we can offer clients unlimited options to make technology work to their advantage. Clients can benefit from cloud applications or become completely untethered with absolute cloud integration for everything from simple cloud storage to complex server management.

A Brief History Lesson

GeekITDown was founded for a very simple reason. To provide quality tech service in an uncomplicated way, thus to Geek it down. It’s the main reason we strive to provide excellent support for all our services. Your understanding means our success.

The Present

Now, through the use of the cloud, we’re able to provide tech solutions in an even more simplified way. Did you know that GeekITDown publishes a weekly list of cloud based apps and services, many of which are free? It’s called the Nifty Websites Collection and it continues to grow. Here’s the complete list via Twitter.

Our new cloud services mean an expansion to our existing services. We’re extremely excited about our Cloud Consulting and Broker Service, but that doesn’t mean our Computer Services are going away. Those great services are the backbone of our business and we will continue providing clients with the exceptional service they’ve come to expect.

To further provide a better client experience, we’ve completely redesigned the website (as you may have noticed). Now, clients can easily find all the services we offer with an updated menu and visually appealing interface. Contacting us is even easier with a simplified contact form and email address to directly reach out.

Our blog continues to exceed expectations, reaching 40,000 visitors per month and now has an even more attractive design. Through guest posts and an even wider range of topics, we’re bringing readers the same helpful information they’ve come to expect.

Thanks to people like you, we’re able to continue all our current projects and work towards more in the future.

GeekITDown’s Future

Moving forward is what technology enables us to do and GeekITDown embraces it. We’re moving forward at a fast pace to integrate our new cloud services and deliver solid, reliable, and at times cutting edge cloud solutions for our clients.

Now is the time to announce our new cloud services, but tomorrow is where we’ll be taking you. We look forward to seeing you – in the cloud!

Do you have any questions about the new Cloud Consulting and Broker Services?

Please share your thoughts in the comments..

The post Announcing New GeekITDown Cloud Services first appeared on GeekITDown Computer Services & Technology Solutions.

Firefox’s Message

The Firefox 9 video is a little cheesy with all the happy thoughts and moral high ground talk, but that’s kind of what Firefox is. What seems like forever ago, Firefox was the beacon of light for those who wanted, needed and yearned for a quality alternative to Internet Explorer (IE). Firefox owes its popularity to the disgrace that was IE at that time. The reason Firefox succeeded beyond its popularity is that it’s open, free and has no commercial interests.

Unlike Microsoft or Google who have a bottom line and big purses, Mozilla is a global community who believe, as they put it “..the Internet is a public resource and must remain open and accessible to all”. That is the message Mozilla is sending through Firefox and every user that uses Firefox is helping to ensure that message stays above the profits of other companies.

The old is new again approach is a good idea and could swell those feelings of pride in users that happened years ago when Firefox gradually, but quickly took chunks out of the IE dominance. This time their competition is less incompetent, but equally as funded. Google’s Chrome browser has quickly grown into a browser of choice and developers have jumped on board to lend their extension creation skills.

One could argue there is very little difference between the two browsers. Chrome advanced quickly due to the speed and memory leak issues with older versions of Firefox and people like new shiny things which make Chrome appealing. Firefox’s improvements with speed, especially in version 9 mean there’s one less reason to switch away.

Download Firefox

Final Thoughts

Here at GeekITDown we still recommend Firefox over any other browser and see no reason to change that opinion. Does that mean we don’t use Chrome or other browsers? Certainly not. It does mean that we feel Firefox provides a better product for everyday use.

Your Thoughts

Do you think Mozilla’s message will ring true with users? Do you agree or disagree that Firefox is the top browser? Let us know in the comments!

If you enjoyed or found this article useful, please show us some support by liking us on Facebook or by sharing us on your favorite social website. Thanks!

The post Firefox’s Message Uses ‘What’s Old Is New Again’ Thinking first appeared on GeekITDown Computer Services & Technology Solutions.

Submit Your Website

Currently we receive submissions from various sources with the overall volume exceeding what we can actually feature during a given week. With literally millions of websites, the competition for being featured on the web is extremely high. Our future plans include expansion of the collections to feature more websites, but for now we highlight websites and tools weekly with an average of 5 in each collection.

There are 2 ways to submit your website for inclusion in the Nifty Websites Collection. We accept web apps, mobile apps, software apps, and websites which provide a service. Websites do not have to be technology oriented, however there are some websites which we will not profile. We don’t accept adult, gambling, dating or similar websites or services.

Basic Submission: Free!

Send an email to nifty[at]geekitdown[dot]com. Include a brief description of your website, product or service and where we can find it on the web.

This submission is free, but won’t guarantee you a spot in a collection. The volume of submissions we examine versus the number we actually publish means that many are left out.

QuickQueue Submission: $ 64

QuickQueue is a risk-free option for requesting inclusion in the collection. QuickQueue let’s you jump the line and move to the top of the list for review and inclusion consideration. It is the quickest way to get featured. Using QuickQueue guarantees we will review your submission for a collection, but does not guarantee inclusion.

To use QuickQueue, simply transfer $64 via paypal. If we decide not to feature your website or application, then we will refund the payment in full. Simple process.

Click the ‘Buy Now’ button to submit your request.

Nifty Websites Collection: Benefits Of Inclusion

Exposure

First and foremost your website or application will get exposure. The Nifty Websites Collection stays on our front page, as our top story, for roughly 24 hours, but may exceed that, reaching as long as 48 hours.  Along with a stint as Top Story, Collection articles may remain on the front page for extended amounts of time due to the design of our site.  So, your website or application could potentially be on our first page well beyond the first 24 hours.

Along with exposure on GeekITDown, sometimes our articles are picked up by other sources who republish them or link back meaning increased exposure across varied sources.

Multiple References

We have many categories covering a wide range of topics. We will feature your website in our collection, distributed across several categories in which your submission applies, including the ‘Nifty Websites Collections’ category. That means increased access and exposure from a number of locations.

Our articles are sorted chronologically, so depending on the category, it may remain at the top of a category list for weeks which could generate extended traffic to your website.

Promotion

We go above and beyond for our Nifty Websites Collection. All collections receive a posting on Facebook, Chime.In as well as a mention in our newsletter. Additionally, we promote the collection through Twitter featuring each website in the collection, meaning extra exposure for every website in the list.

Of course we expect you’ll promote on your own as well, which is great.  You can reference our collection on your website, letting your visitors know you’ve been featured by GeekITDown in the Nifty Websites Collection, adding value and reputation to your submission.

Get Shared Elsewhere On The Web

The targeted traffic generated from being included in our weekly Nifty Websites Collection can move your website up in popularity and gain submission to other sites like StumbleUpon or get listed on Reddit or Digg if your submission gains enough popularity.

What Others Are Saying

@Gigwalk says:

@geekitdown awesome! thank you for the write up and the mention!

@LyricStatus writes:

@GeekITDown thanks for the feature! u guys rock x

@Find_The_Best says:

Thanks for the mention! RT @GeekITDown Weekly Nifty Collection features a product/service comparison site FindTheBest: http://goo.gl/Yxtd6

@SnapPages says:

@GeekITDown Thanks for selecting @snappages! We are honored! to be listed in your Nifty Websites Collection – #website #webdesign

The post Get Featured In The Nifty Websites Collection first appeared on GeekITDown Computer Services & Technology Solutions.

The Tablet Threat

The most popular tablet, the iPad, has made huge inroads by being the first portable computer-like device that is worth using. Like any new gadget, curiosity drove initial sales and as Apple successfully marketed their iPad product other tablets were created from competitors and so the tablet wars were born.

Tablets are convenient and portable, but are they a PC killer? That’s a definitive no. Tablets have been marketed to be a tablet computer without all the weight, bulkiness and trouble of a laptop. Fact is, tablets are little more than large smartphones. Does that make them worthless? Certainly not, in fact it makes them desirable especially for those who don’t do much other than browse the web, check email and play games. Think of tablets as your hardware device for the cloud.

As tablets continue to develop they will likely achieve greater capabilities and establish themselves as a must have device. For now, they cannot replace a PC.

HP and Computer Sales

PCs have enjoyed a long and flourishing span of success. Sure there have always been different brands, but they are all computers in the end. Now the road has become more bumpy as smartphones and tablets eat up sales that would otherwise be available to computer manufacturers. HP decided to jump ship early and whether it is a well thought out decision or not, they deserve credit for having the guts to make such a move.

Does HP’s departure from PC sales mark the end of the PC era? No. However, it may indicate a climate shift in the industry. Manufacturers will need to take the cookie cutter approach of ‘install hardware necessary to run the latest version of Windows’ and throw it out the window. Brands like Dell, Acer, Toshiba and others will have to adjust their way of creating PCs to better fit the lifestyle of their consumers.

What does that mean? Specifically, consumers are on the go more than ever so access to anything and everything needs to be at their fingertips which translates to more cloud integration. Along those lines, having cloud options isn’t enough. Those options and connections need to be 100% secure, which means hardened encryption, firewalls, heavily monitored servers and redundant backups for all users as standard packaging.

The final step that manufacturers need to take involves trashing the current look and feel of computers. One thing tablets have shown us is that shrinking hardware to create a slick device is possible. Manufacturers need to realize the bulky box system is not what future consumers want. Additionally, laptops aren’t a good enough alternative. Just as cellphones advanced to smartphones and tablets, PCs must be advanced beyond their current configurations and make the PC an item that belongs anywhere in the home not just on a computer desk in another room. The technology is there, but someone needs to take the leap.

Computers Live On

Regardless of what happens over the next several months and few years, computers are here to stay. Their overall appearance and presence may change, but their function will remain the same. Businesses alone will enable computers to continue for an unknown length of time. Home PCs are the most likely to have change befall them as hardware advances and competition heats up between the different platforms. The thing to remember is that somewhere a PC is being used to maintain something you’re fond of, whether it be a website, email, financial platform or something else.  Yes, PCs are here to stay.

Final Thoughts

In my opinion the PC is not dead, but with the acknowledgement that the industry needs to make some changes to compete with the onslaught of tablets and future computing gadgets. If you’ve been wondering whether you should spend your $500 or more on a tablet or PC, then the answer is a PC. Tablets priced equally to computers are ridiculously overpriced. HP got one thing right, they dropped the TouchPad to $99 when they decided to discontinue it and it flew off the shelves. While $99 might be too cheap, no tablet should cost more than $300 for what they offer. My advice, save your money for when a tablet can do everything your computer can.

Your Thoughts

Do you think PCs are dead? Are PCs on their way to see the dinosaurs? If you agree or disagree, please let us know in the comments! We love a healthy debate.

The post End Of The PC Era? first appeared on GeekITDown Computer Services & Technology Solutions.

With the Kindle we can reach readers who prefer the Kindle’s visually soft screen to traditional monitors or smartphone displays as well as those who don’t always have the time to sit at a computer to catch up on our feed. Additionally, those who enjoy using the Kindle can follow our latest stories and articles and still read a book without changing devices.

You can find our published blog through the Kindle Store, just search for geekitdown. For the full color listing you can view the GeekITDown Blog in the Kindle Store at Amazon.com.

The post GeekITDown Blog Published On Kindle first appeared on GeekITDown Computer Services & Technology Solutions.

The most noticeable change is the articles slide-show.  This is a fantastic feature for allowing viewers to examine multiple story headlines before clicking the article of interest. Along with the slide-show are ‘Featured Articles’ and ‘Editor’s Picks’ which will allow readers to see what topics are hot and must read.  For all of those new areas, readers will see an image associated with the article or story in question.  You’ll notice the Topics and Categories are now lined along the top with subcategories for more natural navigation and our social network connections (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) have moved to the side.  In addition, we’ve made significant improvements to page load speed which should be immediately noticeable.

Finally, we’ve changed our logo.  We felt a change was in order to better represent our brand and modernize our look.  This change applies across the board to all things GeekITDown and while the roll-out is immediate, it may take some time before all our footprints across the web are updated.

We’d love to hear your opinions or comments on the new look, logo or anything else.  Please let us know!  Over the next several weeks some additional minor improvements will be made and we will continue to improve in ways that best affect our readers.  A special thanks goes out to the Arras theme makers for creating an outstanding template for which to work on.  A very special thanks goes out to our readers who continually encourage us to bring them great content.

The post GeekITDown Blog Redesign first appeared on GeekITDown Computer Services & Technology Solutions.

The Basis

The basis for such a plan points to endless logins and passwords for seemingly endless amounts of online destinations. Although it can be a daunting task if managed properly, there seems to be little difference in the NSTIC. In fact, it looks eerily similar to social security numbers (SSN). One large difference between the proposed Online Credentials and SSN is that users can choose to have one or more credentials.

Without delving into specific goals of the NTSIC or what is hoped to be achieved, I do have some opinions on the matter.

The Good?

It’s easy to see the good in a plan like this. No more endless logins and passwords. Users can have a few Online Credentials which allow them to access their bank info, email, Facebook, etc. without creating new login information. Additionally, the Online Credential used for banking could also be used for Facebook or other online sites and would presumably be just as safe. Another great benefit is users will need to remember just one credential to login to any participating online destination. If the online merchant, bank or other destination accepts Online Credentials then they accept any credential a user has created.

The most influential benefit could be the promise of reduced identity theft. While I agree it makes for a great sound bite. We’d like to see some real world evidence to substantiate that claim before passing judgment.

The Bad?

Let’s face it, do we really need the government overseeing this type of thing? While the private sector is likely to be taking the lead on this project, it’s hard to believe their won’t be problems with privacy and secondary motives. Part of the problem with passwords now is that users use the same one or even the same few for everything. When clients come to us in search of security or password solutions, they know they are making mistakes by recycling their passwords but find it difficult to remember multiple logins. Credentials, for now, appear to be much of the same. I have to wonder what happens when credentials get stolen, compromised or otherwise by someone other than the credential holder.

Lastly, the strategy would seem to be pointing towards voluntary participation. While that is good to hear, I find it hard to believe that banks, merchants and other online destinations who choose to participate in the online credential program will offer multiple ways of accessing their sites. Meaning, users will ultimately be forced into participation in order to enjoy the same benefits they already have, such as online banking and shopping. It then makes perfect sense that if the Online Credential program takes off, there is sure to be a mandatory enrollment for users at some distant point in the future, a la SSN.

Summary

While this is one opinion, I think it’s important to raise questions to facilitate answers. We’d like to know what you think about Online Credentials and whether they can be of benefit or not. Leave us your opinions in the comments section.

The post Internet Identity Plan: Right or Wrong? first appeared on GeekITDown Computer Services & Technology Solutions.