Digital Journaling

Image via Flickr by mac.rj

People have always documented their lives through journals and diaries. This is something that technology has enhanced through blogs and social media sites like Facebook. People can now create online journals about their lives and share stories with anyone they choose. The thing to understand is that people aren’t documenting anything different, they’re still human. People will always write about family, vacations, etc. It’s simply the way in which these details of our lives are communicated and shared. The same is true with photos. People still take photos, but technology enhances the way these photos can be shared. They’ll never worry about the pages withering over time. Their words cannot be destroyed in a fire. In this day, our lives are recorded digitally forever. That’s right, you’re life on Facebook will be there for your children’s children to laugh and gawk at. Better watch what your write!

Digital Reading

Image via Flickr by premasagar

Will printed media live to see another generation? People still read they just do it from a digital device. They are reading the same novels, newspapers and publications that they read before eBooks were around. There is an unlimited supply of material to read on the Internet — you could literally spend the rest of your life reading something new every day. This was not the case in the past. Information was hard to come by with the exception of oral traditions.

Digital Communicating

Image via Flickr by thenestor

According to the 2012 Pew Internet and Life Project, nearly half of all Americans are smartphone users (45%). 66% of all smartphone owners are between the ages of 18 and 29. Because of instant messaging, children are not learning how to be social with one another. Since today’s society is constantly “plugged in” to a media source (smartphone, television, iPad, Internet) people may actually be losing their ability to communicate verbally and interact physically. Studies have shown this may hinder future generation’s ability to develop empathy, or how to understand emotional nuance.

Digital Health

Image via Flickr by Chiot’s Run

Americans are criticized for their growing waist lines, and a lot of the blame is put on technology and how it encourages people to be more sedentary. However, it’s not really fair to put all of the blame there. Fast food and the easy access to processed foods are a bigger problem. Technology actually provides people with more opportunities to track fitness schedules and eat healthier.

So what does the future hold? One doctor believes we are subtly rewiring our brains as new technologies are developed and demand more of our interaction time. He believes it’s actually altering the neuro-circuitry in the brain. Thus, with the new generation born into this increasingly technological age, we have a new generation of what we call digital natives. They love it, they’re great at it. But the downside is they’re not spending as much time face to face.

Then you have the older generation, the digital immigrants, who have interacted with technology more reluctantly. There are definitely still people out there that are afraid to embrace technology. For instance, if you were to tell your grandma that you bought a new ultrabook, her automatic response would be, “What is an ultrabook? Why would I need one of those?” Those are the people that think technology is bad and makes people different in a bad way. Do you think technology makes people different in a good way or a bad way?

Joseph Stark Jr. is a freelance writer and blogger by day, focusing on technology and web design niches. By night he is a tech junkie, gym member, and avid comic book enthusiast. When he’s not out in his garage modifying his computer, he’s writing for established companies like CopyForByLines. Friend him on Facebook and say hey.

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Amendment #1: The Megapixel Myth

Image via Flickr by RafeB

One competing factor smartphones try to use to get you to buy a new phone is the amount of megapixels they offer. Most people leave with the notion that more is better. While this is true to a certain extent, nobody really needs more than 3 megapixels on a smartphone. Plus, any more than 5 megapixels is overkill. The only reason why you would need a higher amount of megapixels is if you were going to blow a picture up to the size of a billboard or larger. Otherwise, the megapixels aren’t distinguishable to the naked eye.

Amendment #2: App Store Legends

Image via Flickr by THEMACGIRL*

Some people think Android phones are the best because they have the most apps. While there’s definitely a good debate for why Android phones are good, the amount of apps they have in their market should not be one of them. This is because the Android platform is open source, so anyone can create an app and try to sell it — that doesn’t necessarily mean it is a good app. So, in this case, more is not necessarily better. The Apple Store has a more rigorous testing method for their apps — something more people should be concerned about. For instance, if you compare Android phones and iPhone devices based on the amount of apps they have, Android phones come out a clear winner, but Apple definitely has more quality overall.

Amendment #3: The Bigger Is Better Lie

Image via Flickr by umpcportal.com

The smartphone market has seen a trend towards larger screens, but that doesn’t really make a phone better. As a matter of fact, it makes it harder to carry the phone around. One of the biggest complaints people have about their smartphone is that it doesn’t easily fit in their pocket. If you want a large screen, you might as well buy a tablet — smartphones’ biggest feature is always going to be their calling ability, not their screen size.

Amendment #4: Thin Myths

Image via Flickr by Cooky Yoon

While having a slimmer phone does make it more portable, it doesn’t really leave enough space for an adequate battery. Many smartphone users cannot even go an entire day without charging their battery because they have sacrificed size for battery power. Either battery technology needs to get better or smartphones need to get a little thicker to accommodate better batteries. Many smartphone users complain about poor batter life, so it is obviously a problem that needs to be fixed soon.

Do you have any other amendments you’d like to add to the list? Leave a comment below.

Natalie Bracco is a freelance writer and an amateur gamer. When she’s not busy playing old school games, you can find her writing about technology, travel, food and finance. Follow her on Twitter @nataliebracco.

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Apps like Pinterest and Evernote are no doubt in use by many current Android users. Those with new Android devices, perhaps given as gifts this holiday, might benefit from looking through apps such as Pocket and Pixlr Express.

11 of the 12 are free so they’re definitely worth a look. With a market stuffed full of apps and is ever expanding, this list offers a nice way to quickly grab some apps to fit those niches you didn’t know you had.

You can view the entire list by following the link below. Have a favorite of your own? Let other readers know in the comments!

Google Play Best Apps of 2012

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Sleek Design

Just out of the box, Microsoft Surface boasts a very sleek look made from VaporMg. This rugged yet beautiful magnesium based material holds the Surface together and the finishing is just in a class of its own, you can spend a while just looking at it.

Kickstand

Made from the same material as the casing, the integrated Kickstand supports the Surface giving a hands free entertainment as it can comfortably rest in a table surface or even on the laps as you watch the latest movie. When not in use, just flip it back and it disappears into the casing, you won’t even know it is there.

Touch cover and Type Cover

These are full size QWERTY keyboards that also acts as protective display cover for the Surface. They are available in many vibrant colors and include a touch pad. The touch cover keyboard is pressure sensitive and thinner than Type cover which has a tactile cover with real physical keys. Both comfortably attach to the Surface via a magnetic strip. Another unique feature is the gyroscope and accelerometer that can determine whether to accept or not accept input based on the orientation.

Massive RAM and Extra Storage Capability

The Surface comes bundled with 2 gigabytes of RAM. This provides for swift work and play compared to the latest iPad which comes with just 1GB.
The default internal hard disk storage capacity is either 32 or 64 Gigabytes; this is somewhat an industry standard but what put Microsoft Surface ahead is the microSD slot for storage expansion. The competition does not offer this choice.

Choice of Two Operating Systems.

The Surface ships with either Windows RT or Windows 8 Pro. Windows RT has been designed specifically to run on the tablet and it includes Microsoft Office 2013 Home edition and Student RT. The other alternative, Windows 8 Pro will allow you to run third party programs like media players and other utility applications you are used to having in your Windows based PC.

Extra Ports and built in Speakers

The Surface is fitted with a dedicated charger port. Also it has extra device support through an integrated USB 2.0 port. A connection to an external monitor is made available through the HD video out port and the inbuilt stereo speaker just seals the deal.

This article has been written by Lester who is a contributor for Who Is Hosting This? where you can get some useful resources to help you compare hosting.

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Richard Wike, the associated director for the Pew Research Center’s Global Attitudes Project, the institution that conducted the survey, said that people use their phones for many more ways aside from phone calls.

The Global Attitudes Project studied the 21 countries in an attempt to find out just how people all around the world use their cell phones today. Everyone uses it to make calls but a big number of them use their phones for other tasks. One of these is for texting.

A full 75% of the mobile phone users in the countries involved in the study say that they also use their phones to receive and send text messages.

In fact, texting is more common among the poorest nations. In Indonesia, 96% of those who use mobile phones text while 89% do so in Kenya.

50% of the people involved in the survey said that they use their mobile phones to take pictures. This is very rampant among the Japanese as 75% say that they use their phones like cameras.

About a quarter of those surveyed use their mobile phones to surf the internet. This percentage is higher in some countries. In certain countries like the US, Japan, and Israel, 40% say that they use their phones to access the web.

Wike added that social networking is popular around the world, though it is more common in countries that are wealthier. The reason for this was that those users who access the internet are from those living in developed countries. The countries of Japan, France, and Germany are the only ones who said that they do not visit social networking sites.

Further, around the globe, it is those people who are well-educated and less then 30 years old who are comfortable enough to use digital technology. It was realized that the more educated a person is, the more likely they are to use their mobile phones for various uses, including the use of social networking.

Truly, Wike said, digital multi-tasking is growing. As mobile phone technology spreads around the globe, more and more people are now able to connect to the internet, which is why marketing of telecom services has increased over the years and is being utilized by many businesses around the world. Because of this, we should be expecting more of this gadget’s uses, as it gets more common globally.

Amy C. is a tech geek. She enjoys reading and writing about news and insiders about the latest releases and studies. She also helps with the administrative and blogging activities of Mojo Marketing, a telecom marketing company. Stay updated with the newest gadgets by tuning into Amy’s next post.

The post The Big Generation Shift, Mobile Phones Are Not just for Phone Calls first appeared on GeekITDown Computer Services & Technology Solutions.

What You Get

Verizon’s Share Everything Plan is big on unlimited, except data. Plan subscribers will get the following included in whichever data plan they choose:

• Unlimited Talk across all devices.
• Unlimited Text messages across all devices.
• No domestic roaming or long distance charges.
• Free Mobile Hotspot on all devices.

In addition subscribers will receive basic voice mail, 3-way calling and other basic Verizon plan features.

Data & Devices

Subscribers can add up to 10 devices to their Share Everything Plan and each device is a separate charge based on Verizon’s pricing scale. Smartphones are the priciest at $40 while tablets are the cheapest at $10. The pricing seems to be scaled appropriately since smartphones are by far the most popular device. Tablets on the other hand have struggled to take hold with carrier plans and the $10 fee is no doubt an attempt to boost tablet contract agreements.

Data plans extend up to 10GB of usage per month at $100/month. In all, there are 6 different data plans to choose from. The benefit of Verizon’s Share Everything Plan is in the data plans. Subscribers pay for multiple devices, but only pay once for the data. Although there’s no mention of it, we expect there is a contract termination fee if subscribers choose to downgrade as opposed to upgrade their data rate. Our advice is to buy low and increase later if necessary.

Conclusion

The idea of paying for data once is great. The pricing for data isn’t too terrible considering the market and the free Mobile Hotspot alone saves subscribers $30. Throw in the unlimited talk and text and the plan seems quite attractive. The negative portion of the plan comes from the device pricing. The tablet cost at $10 is great, but the smartphone $40 tag is inflated.

As a new Verizon Share Everything subscriber you’ll need to weigh the number of devices versus how much data you need. Odds are, sacrificing a device is the way to go and instead opt to utilize the free Mobile Hotspot.

You can read about all the Share Everything details on Verizon’s shop page.

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Taken from the official Verizon news posting:

“This fee will help us continue to provide customers with the level of service and support they have come to expect which includes Wireless Workshops, online educational tools, and consultations with experts who provide advice and guidance on devices that are more sophisticated than ever.”

Complete rubbish. Basically, Verizon is charging customers for the privilege of owning a new, more modern phone that they prefer customers buy anyway. At the same time, they’re thumbing their collective noses at customers who want Verizon Wireless service by charging an extra $30 on top of the already exorbitant cost of the service, 2-year nearly unbreakable contract and data usage caps (unless grandfathered in). If monthly charges aren’t covering those kinds of things, then what are the charges paying for? Data is separated, the nickel and dime charges (activation, etc.) are separated, text message charges are separate, users pay for apps separately, so Verizon can’t explain the $30 fee away for any of those reasons.

Frankly, this comes across as just another way to charge customers for a company’s inability to properly budget or worse yet, reach investor expectations. There’s simply no realistic justification for a charge this high. Shame on you Verizon, greedy is a terrible way to be perceived.

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Google has been, not so quietly, introducing service after service lately. With those services comes cloud integration and as such mobile access. The downside of all those services is that they’re scattered and access is separated between apps. Not any longer. Google Play is the newest re-branding from Google. It combines several media sources into one cloud supported navigation area.

Google Play combines apps from the former Android Market, Google Movies, Google Books and Google Music to deliver a full service media destination. Moving forward, as users update their Android devices they’ll notice that the Android Market is now replaced with Google Play. All media (movies, music, books, apps) items are stored in the cloud which means syncing is instantaneous as long as you’re using your Google Account.

For those living in the US, all services are available. Users in other countries will be limited to just apps or a combination of other services, falling short of a complete entertainment hub. Google Play is a positive, logical step forward and probably should have been done sooner. Combing all media entertainment under one umbrella should make cross-promotion easier and increase overall visibility for lackluster services like the seldom promoted Google Movies.

Some may view this as another attempt to mimic Apple, since iCloud has been available for some time now. The similarities are visible and while Google Play may look like an attempt to copy the competition, this re-branding move is more common sense than an attempt to duplicate an Apple product.

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Do you make an app decision based on user reviews? If you like to do your homework before installing anything on your phone, then reviews are likely a part of your investigative routine. No matter how much reviews play a part in your decision, the search for relevant information can seem daunting. Now, a small tweak to the web interface of the Android Market allows users to filter out the irrelevant results and narrow the reviews down to only those associated with your phone or device.

How To Filter The Reviews

In order to take advantage of the new filtering, you’ll need to head on over to the Android Market website:

1. Login with your Google account.
2. Browse through and select an app that interests you.
3. Click the ‘User Reviews’ tab.
4. Scroll down to just below the colored ratings bars and look for ‘All Devices’. Click ‘All Devices’ and select your device to filter the results.
   

In addition to the filtering, users will notice a green highlighted area on the left side of the screen which will state the app is supported on the users’ device.

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Along with voicemail is a text messaging update. Google Voice now supports sending text messages to multiple recipients. Most users have come to expect sending texts to multiple numbers, but the addition to Google Voice means that their one step closer to being a full fledged replacement for a typical cell device.

Google Voice is free and available to anyone with a Google account. To access it, just login to your Google account and add it to your Products section and sign up or access Google Voice directly.

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