5 Tech Toys for Your Geeky Dog

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   1. Pet Qwerks Babble Balls
   

   
   

   
   

   Available in three sizes to suit the stature of your dog, Babble Balls entertain canines with 20 different “wisecracks” or sound effects.

   
   

   The motion-sensitive balls will start shouting special sounds when your dog comes near.

   
   

   Cost: From $6

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   
   
   


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   2. Bubbletastic Dog Bubble Machine
   

   
   

   
   

   What could be better than bubbles to amuse your pooch? How about bacon bubbles?

   
   

   This automated bubble machine of wonder will keep Fido amused for hours — or until the solution runs out.

   
   

   Cost: $19.95

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   
   
   


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   3. Go-Go Dog Pals
   

   
   

   
   

   With a top speed of 35 kmph, this remote-controlled “woodchuck” will lead quite the puppy chase.

   
   

   Boasting sturdy construction (in case Rover does catch it), the gadget is a long-range, effort-free way to give your dog some exercise and stimulation.

   
   

   Cost: $299.99

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   
   
   


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   4. Dart Automatic Pet Laser Toy
   

   
   

   
   

   This cunning laser features variable speeds and timer settings in 16 “play combinations” sure bemuse your pooch.

   
   

   Set the timer as you leave the house, so your dog has a fun distraction to keep him occupied.

   
   

   Cost: $29.99

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   
   
   


5. 
   

   
   

   
   

   5. Fetchtastic Automatic Fetch Machine
   

   
   

   
   

   The Fetchtastic automatic tennis ball launcher throws tennis balls every seven seconds. If your canine is really clever, you can train him to return the balls into the machine’s feed for non-stop throw action.

   
   

   Cost: $164.95

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   
   
   

Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/09/14/dog-tech-toys/

5 Tech Toys for Your Geeky Dog

animals, Family & Parenting, gadgets, gallery, home, Lifestyle, pets, tech

8 Premium Apps and Gadgets for Better Productivity

8 Apps and Gadgets for Work

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   1. Alfred + PowerPack

   
   

   
   

   Price: ₤15 (approximately $25 USD)
   What it does: A smart and frills-free application launcher, Alfred acts like the Mac search bar on steroids and is a productivity dream. PowerPack unlocks the power of searching through your computer, including streamlined and lightning-quick file directory access, a comprehensive list of options to enact on files, and fully programmable global hotkeys to launch programs or perform actions, among others. The PowerPack also grants access to hundreds of user-submitted add-ons that take advantage of specific software on your computer.
   Why it’s worth it: Early adopters have raved often about application launcher Alfred’s streamlining effect on the Mac OS, providing hosts of hotkeys and a revolutionary search function that allows for sparing use of the trackpad. And, while it’s a great tool for any work-focused individual looking to shave a few seconds of lag time, it’s an absolute must-have with its paid add-on, PowerPack. It’s an easy investment to make if you’re looking to lifehack your workday.

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   
   
   


2. 
   

   
   

   
   

   2. Doxie Go

   
   

   
   

   Price: $200
   What it does: Doxie Go is a wireless, cordless scanner than can take any paper anywhere at any time and turn it all into shareable and simple files that are easily synced. The little but powerful machine runs on a rechargeable battery and can handle up to 600 pages of scans with its built-in memory alone. Then, the system syncs via USB, and all documents are ready to be sent to cloud programs such as Evernote, Google Docs, Basecamp and Dropbox. And for an extra $30, Doxie Go can be outfitted with a wireless card that allows for seamless syncing to computers as well as the iPad, iPhone and Android devices.
   Why it’s worth it: Expense reports. Conference documents. Business cards. Sometimes, it can be a pain taking these soul-crushing analog objects and turn them into useful, storable digital information. The Doxie Go is a portable, helpful gadget that really makes scanning smart. Definitely pick this one up if you’re looking to digitize all your work-related documents.

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   
   
   


3. 
   

   
   

   
   

   3. Dragon Dictate

   
   

   
   

   Price: $200
   What it does: Nuance’s Dragon Dictate is a powerful and proprietary speech recognition tool that practically acts (or replaces) a personal secretary. Need a document written quickly? Organizing spreadsheets? Sending an email? Dragon helps you do all of it without lifting a finger.
   Why it’s worth it: Far and away the most celebrated speech recognition technology, Dragon Dictate is able to not only compile written documents with ease, but also launch software applications, create closed-captioning for presentations and record high-quality audio for later use. You can also reverse-engineer your work and allow the software to read in an easily accessible text-to-speech mode. In addition to major productivity boosting, this software is a must for people who suffer from typing-related injuries or who are looking for greater mobility while working at a computer.

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   
   
   


4. 
   

   
   

   
   

   4. HDMI Pocket Projector

   
   

   
   

   Price: $300
   What it does: Sometimes big innovation comes in little packages, and Brookstone’s $300 HDMI Pocket Projector can make your next presentation much more beautiful. At just 3.9 inches wide and weighing only half a pound, this rechargeable projector can display 1080p HD images up to 60 inches on diagonal — meaning big slideshows or videos can be seen by the whole conference room.
   Why it’s worth it: Frequent travelers and presenters should definitely take the plunge on this little projector — its quality is worth the price. The system runs for two hours on a single charge, and also comes with built-in speakers to provide quality audio when needed. Even more impressive, the projector doubles as a USB backup battery, so smartphones and tablets can be charged in a pinch. But perhaps the most impressive thing about the HDMI Pocket Projector is that it’s a one-cord device, meaning that setting up and calibrating the system takes very little effort.

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   
   
   


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   The New Acura ILX
   

   
   

   
   

   The Hot List highlights tech products that are worth splurging on, and it’s presented by the new Acura ILX. With technology centered around your life and a design that pushes all the right buttons, luxury starts here.

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   
   
   


6. 
   

   
   

   
   

   5. Omnifocus

   
   

   
   

   Price: $40
   What it does: More than a simple list, Omnifocus actually works like a personal project manager, culling all tasks with a simple hotkey. All to-dos remain in an “inbox,” where they can then be organized into groups and bundled into tasks. For example, when you have a spare moment to write emails, simply click on the “Email” context and you will see what emails you have to shoot out. Omnifocus also allows users to create projects — including due dates, time estimates, recurring schedules and sticky tasks. Most importantly, the aforementioned sync feature means that all Omnifocus details can be ported to already-existing group or individual calendars for easy sharing.
   Why it’s worth it: A powerful workhorse with enough features to make even the most task-driven workers squeal with glee, this $40 software is the mother of all to-do list platforms. And, with a seamless sync to email, calendar and to-do applications, this Mac software can keep your workday on track.

   
   

   But note: If you want to move your productivity management to your iPhone or iPad, it’s going to cost you an extra $20. However, Omnifocus’s autosync system ensures that all tasks are updated across platforms, so productivity freaks won’t be disappointed with dropping the extra dollars.

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   
   
   


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   6. Screens

   
   

   
   

   Price: $20
   What it does: Screens is a VNC client that enables users to connect to any computer from an iPad with a simple internet connection. Screens is able to connect to Mac, Windows and Linux PCs from Wi-Fi or 3G and can also connect via a secure and encrypted protocol. Screens also incorporates the iPad’s slick multitouch capability, meaning that users can enact features already available on the trackpad. Screens can also provide access to a multitude of different computers, meaning that you can easily switch from your home computer to your work computer and back.
   Why it’s worth it:The iPad is rapidly becoming the go-to device for frequent flying executives for its ease of use and portability. But, one of the drawbacks to going laptop-free is the lack of tools only a reliable work computer can provide. Simple, uncomplicated and reliable, Screens is a great way to get the full functionality of a computer with the slick and portable features of the iPad.

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   
   
   


8. 
   

   
   

   
   

   7. ShadowProtect Desktop 4.0

   
   

   
   

   Price: $89 for an individual computer and more than $800 for up to 10 computers
   What it does: ShadowProtect offers one of the most comprehensive business network backup systems on the market today. Its reliable and thorough data backup and protection system can save you thousands in potential disaster recovery. Once the system is installed and directed to a backup storage device (whether it’s a dedicated server or a virtual environment), the program backs up seamlessly every 15 minutes. If the worst strikes, ShadowProtect not only restores all data from the last backup but also enable users to boot their old computers from a virtual machine.
   Why it’s worth it: Sure, there’s lots of software to help you with working better, but ShadowProtect will help your business stay protected and keep you up and running. Think of it: A virus worms its way into your network of business computers and begins to eat your data en masse, including those important finance folders. How can you recover?

   
   

   ShadowProtect isn’t only worth paying for, it’s one of the only tools that can pay for itself in the long run. If you have a business that needs your computer, don’t leave it unprotected.

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   
   
   


9. 
   

   
   

   
   

   8. Xobni Pro

   
   

   
   

   Price: $7.99 per month
   What it does: Already built with the power of Xobni’s free app Smartr, Xobni Pro adds a boatload of features that could boost any business. The smart system not only puts a face to every contact but also provides an in-depth email history and ports updates from LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. And, the Pro features enable users to add contacts to Outlook and BlackBerry, gain access to powerful searching filters that comb through all email archives and group all contacts across all platforms in the cloud.
   Why it’s worth it:The standard, vanilla email client can often leave much to be desired for both productivity and efficiency. Xobni Pro is a great solution to the headaches of traditional contact management and email efficiency. Simply put, Xobni has one of the smartest and most efficient contact managers out there. It’s definitely worth your money, and it can change how you view the power of your contacts.

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   
   
   

Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/09/13/work-gadgets-apps/

8 Premium Apps and Gadgets for Better Productivity

Apps and Software, gadgets, Lifestyle, Mobile, productivity, The Hot List, work, Work & Play

8 Tips for Safe Shopping on Cyber Monday

If you’re staying home this Black Friday weekend, opting instead for online shopping, you’re likely avoiding the mobs of shoppers and keeping yourself safe from flying elbows and possibly getting trampled in the crowds.

But for the growing number of people who prefer to shop on Cyber Monday rather than face the crowds at the mall, be warned; shopping online isn’t entirely safe, either.

With so much money exchanging virtual hands, and the growing threat of cyber crime, it’s important to take precautions. In the first 18 days of this November, online spending surpassed last year’s figure for the same number of days by 16% — reaching $10.1 billion in online transactions alone, according to research by comScore. If this is any indiction of how Cyber Monday online transactions will be, it’s safe to say shoppers should be extra aware of online threats. Mobile shoppers should be wary, too — mobile shopping has increased by 300% in the last year, making protection against viruses and malware key for safe shopping from your device.

“As more people decide to take their shopping experiences online this weekend thinking they’ll avoid the perils of mobs and lines, they should be aware that there is always the chance that they could be leaving themselves open for an attack on their lives through cyberspace,” said George Otte, CEO and founder of Geeks on Site. “In order to minimize the dangers of being hacked or becoming the victim of identity theft there are some precautions that are paramount for safety.”

There are a number of things you can do to ensure your safety when you shop online.

• 
  

  Make sure your antivirus and malware protection software is up to date. Also check to see if you have a firewall installed on your computer.

  
  


• 
  

  Update your browser. “When shopping online, make sure to use the latest brand named browser available for your system, such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Internet Explorer, as the latest versions of each have increased safeguards to prevent adware, spyware, and phishing attempts,” said Otte. “Having an updated antivirus or anti-malware is essential when preventing fraud. Both the browsers, as well as approved antivirus programs offer some type of verification of websites, making sure they are the original site and not a spoofed one.”

  
  


• 
  

  Don’t click unknown links in your email. “Most phishing attacks will try to scam shoppers with an email that presents some sort of incredible, cant-be-beat deal,” said Brian Jacobs, senior product manager at Ipswitch’s Network Management Division. “If you’re skeptical of an offer or email, go directly to the retailer’s website to confirm the offer, and don’t click the email link.”

  
  


• 
  

  Don’t use public computers and unsecured wireless connections — shop at home if you can. Computer expert Otte explains, “public LANs and Wi-Fi networks, such as libraries, cyber-cafes, airports or even work computers, could be compromised with malware. Hackers also have access to these networks, and could be tapping into them to get your personal information. Always do your online shopping from network secured with a WEP or WPA password.” Also, “never save your credit card information online in case you get hacked — then it’s open season on your personal info.”

  
  


• 
  

  Shop only on encrypted sites, advises GreenDot, a leading provider of prepaid phone cards. Websites that begin with “https” are encrypted, rather than just “http.” This means the site allows for secure transactions.

  
  


• 
  

  Save or print all payment confirmations. Michael Brim, founder of BFAds.net, tells Mashable, “During Black Friday and Cyber Monday, stores can often get overloaded with orders that may impact their ability to process payment and order confirmations. Sometimes during these sales, your order can go through, you close the confirmation window and never receive an email confirmation. The order may also not show up in your order history on the merchant’s site. Printing these order confirmations allows one to have written history of their shopping expenditures. That way, if your order never shows it was processed in the site, you can counter with proof of your order and can sometimes get it processed retroactively – regardless if the sale is now over or if your product is out-of-stock.”

  
  


• 
  

  Use your credit card, not your debit card. Debit cards are directly linked to your bank account. Since credit cards let you use borrowed money from the card provider, if someone steals your card you have more protection. Just contact the card provider and dispute the charge. With debit cards, that can be more difficult to do. And get a new credit and/or debit card one-to-two times per year and change the pin numbers, advises Scott Olson, VP of product at iovation, an online fraud prevention company. You should also monitor your bank statements for unauthorized transactions.

  
  


• 
  

  Update your passwords frequently. Use at least eight characters and a combination of numbers, letters and symbols from strong passwords. Don’t use any of the most common passwords.

  
  

Shoppers who follow the above tips and make sure they’re buying items from trusted websites should have a positive and successful online shopping experience.

Have you ever encountered any problems while shopping online? Tell us in the comments.

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, iPandastudio

Tune in for more Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals

• 
  

  15 Sweet Cyber Monday Deals from Amazon

  
  


• 
  

  11 Cyber Monday Deals for iPhone Owners

  
  


• 
  

  10 Great Cyber Monday Deals to Snag Right Now

  
  


• 
  

  10 Black Friday Deals You Can’t Afford to Miss

  
  


• 
  

  14 Best Black Friday Tech Deals at Walmart

  
  


• 
  

  9 Hot Black Friday Deals at Target

  
  


• 
  

  Gilt’s Black Friday Deals Are Awesome…If You Can Find Them

  
  

Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/11/25/shop-safe-cyber-monday/

8 Tips for Safe Shopping on Cyber Monday

cyber monday, cyber security, e-commerce, holidays 2012, Lifestyle, travel, Travel & Leisure, Trending Big, Work & Play

76% of Colleges Struggle to Meet Bandwidth Demands

At the start of the semester, students haul more than books, clothes and furniture to campus. They bring a slew of bandwidth-sucking devices with them.

The largest bandwidth-consuming devices used by students include tablets, smartphones, iPods, gaming consoles and e-readers. On campus, about 41% of students will have three or more devices connected to the Internet at one time. That’s a problem for the 76.4% of institutions looking to reinforce their networks to support more devices.

As college-aged students rely on an expanded arsenal of web-connected gadgets, schools face an unprecedented growth of network bandwidth consumption. Will campuses be ready for incoming data-hungry residents?

This infographic created by Online Colleges outlines the current scope of coverage and bandwidth availability on campuses.

Thumbnail image courtesy of iStockphoto, franckreporter

Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/08/03/college-bandwidth/

76% of Colleges Struggle to Meet Bandwidth Demands

bandwidth, College, education, infographics, Lifestyle, Mobile, tech

Betchy Linguistics: “But That’s None Of My Business”

This week’s Betchy Linguistics is more like a Know Your Meme because we’re covering a meme that needs to be in every betch’s repertoire. It’s called “…But That’s None of my Business.”

First, some examples:

So if you couldn’t put it together yourself (it’s okay, not all betches are known for our math skills) “but that’s none of my business” is your go-to for pointing out people’s everyday hypocrisy and/or ridiculousness without looking like you really give a shit.

Even though the above examples were kind of ratchet, you can totally translate these to everyday betch life, with some imagination. Some less ratchet, more betchy (not saying you can’t be both, but…) examples include:

“You said you were too busy to go out last weekend, when we all know you finished an entire season of South Park…but that’s none of my business tho.”

“You have 3000 Instagram followers but only 12 likes…but that’s none of my business.”

“You skipped my bday dinner cause you’re on a ‘diet’ but you had 4 Long Islands last night…but that’s none of my business.”

You’re mad at Kevin for being a SAB when you give out your number like it’s candy on Halloween…but that’s none of my business tho.” (Be sure to spell it “tho” as a symbol of your nonchalance.)

But betches, this isn’t just for the internet. Making a personalized meme every time you wanted to throw shade at someone would take wayyy too much time anyway. You can do it in person, too. You just talk your shit like you normally do, add “but that’s none of my business tho” real sly, and look away and casually sip your drink. You’re aware, but aloof. You don’t take bullshit, but you don"t really care that much, either. It’s the perfect move for the casual shit-talker.

Now that you’ve added a new shit-talking method to your arsenal you can get back to bitching about your coworkers, even though you’ve just spent the past few minutes reading this post…but that’s none of my business.

Read more: http://www.betcheslovethis.com/article/betchy-linguistics-but-thats-none-of-my-business

Betchy Linguistics: “But That’s None Of My Business”

culture, guide, Lifestyle, linguistics

45% of Shoppers Buy Items Online They Wouldn"t In Person

Online shopping is discreet, easy and fast. It’s no wonder shoppers are filling up virtual carts instead of visiting brick-and-mortar shops.

Shopping online allows us to skip the lines, crowds, travel expenses and the hassle of parking. A recent survey conducted by Lab42 — a market research company — found 66% of consumers prefer web retailers. About 73% of survey participants complete nearly half of their shopping online.

Savvy shoppers are also turning to web and mobile stores for bargains. Nielson recently reported nearly 50% of U.S. smartphone owners are using shopping apps each month, frequenting eBay, Amazon, Groupon and LivingSocial’s mobile stores. About 45 million smartphone owners access shopping-and-commerce apps each month.

Lab42 produced the infographic below showcasing the findings from its online shopping survey. The company also explores the factors influencing online shoppers to make purchases.

Are you more likely to buy something online if offered free shipping? Tell us in the comments.

Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/08/25/online-shopping-trends/

45% of Shoppers Buy Items Online They Wouldn"t In Person

Apps, e-commerce, Health & Fitness, infographics, Lifestyle, Mobile, Travel & Leisure

5 Halloween Tech Tricks and Treats

Rebecca Levey is a co-founder of KidzVuz.com, a video review site by and for tweens. She writes about technology and education at Beccarama and is a White House Champion of Change for Education. Follow her at @beccasara.

Every year I go through the same Halloween ups and downs with my daughters.

First, way back in September, there’s the hand wringing and endless debates over what their Halloween costumes will be. Once that dilemma has been resolved, we turn to the decorating, signing up to volunteer at their school Harvest Festival and figuring out where and with whom to Trick or Treat. It’s almost enough to take the fun out of Halloween. And then, of course, there’s the candy — to buy and give out, and the enormous bag of loot that comes home every year.

In New York City, where one apartment building can mean 50 doors knocked on and answered with big bowls of candy, the haul is considerable. So, I’ve been trying something new –- integrating tech in cheap and sugar-free ways that can make Halloween fun and maybe entice my daughters to trade in candy for coveted screen time instead.

Here are some of my picks to add some tech into the treat bag –- metaphorically speaking, of course. Instead of loading up on tons of sugar, these tech picks are free or low-cost dentist approved treats. (And that means more Snickers for me!)

PicMonkey

Everyone’s favorite free photo collage-based app has a special Halloween feature to creepify your avatar, profile pic or any other photo of your choice. Your kids can create instant zombie or vampire photo collages and cards for family and friends. Free.

Ghost Radar App

For budding Ghostbusters, there’s nothing like sneaking up on an unsuspecting ghost, before he sneaks up on you. You’d be surprised how many poltergeists are hanging out in your living room. Available for both iOS and Android. Free.

Pumpkin Pops

Like concentration meets Tetris with Jack o’Lanterns. Keep kids busy with this app that keeps them tapping and searching through endless combinations of pumpkins. Perfect for pre-Trick or Treating impatience! Free.

Spooky Cookie HD (for iPad)

If you’ve got a kid who loves cooking apps, this Halloween-themed app lets them mix, cut and decorate their virtual Halloween cookies — a truly sugar-free Halloween treat. And the best part: no clean up for you! $4.99.

Creepy Halloween Toilet Paper Holder

WARNING: Do not use this if your child is potty training! But, if you’ve got a tween or teen, turning your bathroom into a haunted surprise can be a fun trick, especially for those late night bathroom trips.

Do you have any favorite Halloween apps or tech gadgets that make your Halloween more fun?

This post is part of a series on the dilemmas of raising digital kids. We’d like to hear some of the parenting issues technology has raised for you. Please let us know in the comments, or on our Mashable Lifestyle Facebook page. You can also follow and tweet us @mashlifestyle.

Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/10/26/5-halloween-tech-tricks-and-treats/

5 Halloween Tech Tricks and Treats

Apps, Apps and Software, Digital Dilemma Series, Family & Parenting, home, Lifestyle, Mobile

Make a Phone Call With These Bluetooth-Enabled Gloves

European company Hi-Fun developed a pair of Bluetooth-enabled gloves that can make phone calls. Perfect for chilly winter days, the new product allows you to speak into your glove and listen to the other person, instead of removing your gloves and getting cold hands.

The Hi-Call gloves have a microphone in the little finger and a speaker in the thumb, allowing the wearer to speak while making a “call me” gesture. The gloves are compatible with all phones that have Bluetooth and their capacitive technology also lets you control the touchscreen. A microUSB-to-USB charging cable is included.

The Hi-Call gloves will come in in black and grey for both men and women. They won’t be available until October, but you can pre-order them now for about $65.

This article originally published at PSFK
here

Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/09/19/hi-call-bluetooth-gloves/

Make a Phone Call With These Bluetooth-Enabled Gloves

bluetooth, Bluetooth headset, gadgets, gloves, Lifestyle, Mobile, travel, Travel & Leisure

Art.com App Turns Instagram Pics Into Printable Artwork

Looking for a simple and meaningful gift? Or perhaps one-of-a-kind artwork for your home?

A new app [iTunes link], Photos to Art, from Art.com turns Instagram shots from your iPhone into printable works of art. You can choose the picture, select the size and frame, and order it from your phone. It’s a great idea for buying holiday presents when you’re on-the-go or creating a custom piece for yourself.

Not an Instagram user? You can grab photos from your iPhone’s camera roll, too.

To use it, launch the app and you’ll have the option to upload a photo from your Instagram app or camera. No one likes a fuzzy image, so Art.com places your photo on an appropriately sized canvas to ensure sharp quality. You can view various sizes to find the perfect fit for your photo.

Unlike the website, the app has only five frames so as to not overwhelm customers; but even with a smaller selection, there’s enough variety to find a frame to match each picture. Your photos can be made into large-scale canvas, wood, photographic poster prints and other custom-framed works.

Another neat feature of the Art.com app is that you can see what the framed photo will look like on your wall. Stand back from the wall where you want your artwork to hang, and hold the iPhone like you’re taking a picture of the wall; then center the virtual picture frame on the screen to see what it will look like in that space. Not at home? You can view the print you selected in one of three virtual rooms to see how it would fit in your humble abode.

Art.com is a 17-year-old company based in Emeryville, Calif., just east of San Francisco. The company was created to make art available to everyone, said Madhav Mehra, senior vice president of product management and user experience.

Would you like to see your Instagram or iPhone photos as works of art at home? Tell us in the comments below.

Photo courtesy of iStockphoto, miljko

Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/11/15/art-app-instagram/

Art.com App Turns Instagram Pics Into Printable Artwork

Apps, Apps and Software, Art.com, home, Instagram, Lifestyle, Work & Play

Are Your Holiday Cards Bad for the Environment?

Everyone loves getting a letter during the holidays from someone they know. But you might want to consider the environmental costs before sending out holiday cards in the physical mailbox.

In 2011 the U.S. Postal Service mail carriers and truck drivers drove 1.25 billion miles and put 125,000 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, according to sources cited in the infographic. While the amount of postal mail sent appears to be slowly decreasing over the past few years, in 2011 people still went through lots of paper — approximately 168 billion pieces of mail were sent in the U.S. last year. According to the USPS, between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve last year 16.5 billion cards, letters and packages were delivered.

While sometimes sending things via paper mail is unavoidable, making a move to digital ecards cuts down on paper waste and the need for stamps.

Planning on sending ecards this holiday season? There are numerous websites where you can find free and low cost ecards. Still sending items via postal mail? USPS has posted deadlines for mailing letters and other items if you want them to arrive in time for Christmas. This infographic, provided by digital file company Doxo, Inc., shows just how much paper we consume in the U.S.

Do you send holiday cards via email or postal mail? Tell us in the comments.

Photo courtesy of iStockphoto, MiguelMalo

Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/11/27/holiday-cards-bad-environment/

Are Your Holiday Cards Bad for the Environment?

ecards, email, holiday cards, home, infographics, Lifestyle, mail

FitBit Is the Gift for Health-Conscious Data Nerds

Mashable’s Gift of the Day series highlights cool, interesting and fun products for that special someone on your holiday list.

She counts calories on her iPhone. She tracks her runs on RunKeeper (or Nike+). She has even inversely correlated her weight against the number of hours she sleeps each night.

If that sounds like someone on your holiday gifting list, you might want to take a look at Fitbit One Activity + Sleep Tracker. The device records the number of steps taken, stairs climbed, distance traveled and calories burned each day. It also measures how many hours you’ve slept and the number of times your sleep was interrupted during the night. All of that data is synced over Bluetooth to Fitbit’s website and companions apps for iOS (and soon, Android) devices. Charts and graphs help you identify patterns in the data and make better choices about healthy living.

“The One” is about the size of a USB stick and can be clipped onto your belt or bra, inserted in a wristband or tucked in your pocket. It’s waterproof and its battery lasts five to seven days before needing a recharge. You can also sync the data you record with other apps you’re using, including Endomondo, LoseIt, RunKeeper, MapMyFitness, MyFitnessPal and SparkPeople.

Or pick up Fitbit’s Wi-Fi Smart Scale for $129.99, and you’ll be able to automatically sync your weight with the other data you’re recording.

Price: $99.95 (including shipping)

Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/11/19/fitbit-the-one/

FitBit Is the Gift for Health-Conscious Data Nerds

fitbit, fitness, gadgets, Gift of the Day, Health & Fitness, holidays 2012, Lifestyle, sports

10 Funny Facebook Tees You"ll Definitely Like

10 Funny Facebook Tees

1. 
   

   
   

   
   

   1. Like a Boss
   

   
   

   
   

   Aim to do everything “like” a boss.

   
   

   Cost: $19.95

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   
   
   


2. 
   

   
   

   
   

   2. Where Everybody Knows Your Name
   

   
   

   
   

   “Sometimes you want to go…”

   
   

   Cost: $19.99

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   
   
   


3. 
   

   
   

   
   

   3. Geocities
   

   
   

   
   

   We enjoy this tee’s retro references.

   
   

   Cost: $14.99

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   
   
   


4. 
   

   
   

   
   

   4. You Like This
   

   
   

   
   

   If you’ve got enough sass, this cheeky tee could totally work for you.

   
   

   Cost: $14.99

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   
   
   


5. 
   

   
   

   
   

   5. Tagging Me
   

   
   

   
   

   We can all relate to this sentiment!

   
   

   Cost: $17.95

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   
   
   


6. 
   

   
   

   
   

   6. Shrugs This
   

   
   

   
   

   Because sometimes we would so hit the “Shrug” button.

   
   

   Cost: $19.99

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   
   
   


7. 
   

   
   

   
   

   7. Facebook Makes My Job Better
   

   
   

   
   

   Just don’t wear this to work…

   
   

   Cost: $20.90

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   
   
   


8. 
   

   
   

   
   

   8. Add as Friend
   

   
   

   
   

   This tee’s friendly message should raise a few smiles.

   
   

   Cost: $18

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   
   
   


9. 
   

   
   

   
   

   9. You Are the Product
   

   
   

   
   

   Because you are.

   
   

   Cost: $26.99

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   
   
   


10. 
    

    
    

    
    

    10. Mommy Likes This
    

    
    

    
    

    Finally, how adorable is this onesie? “Daddy Likes This” versions are also available.

    
    

    Cost: $17

    
    

    
    

    
    

    
    
    
    

Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/07/12/funny-facebook-tees/

10 Funny Facebook Tees You"ll Definitely Like

Facebook, fashion, gallery, Lifestyle, social media, Trending Big

10 Things Freshman Betches Should Know

For the betches of the Class of 2018, get ready to be the envy of every frat guy and SWUB (Senior Washed Up Betch). You’re like the new shiny toy all the frat boys want to play with. Like if college was an MTV Challenge you all are the fresh meat. Anyway enough analogies, in addition to sweaty frat makeout sessions (more on those later), your freshman year is also characterized by many, many mistakes. Take our advice and maybe you’ll avoid the Freshman 15 Minutes of Shame.

1. People can see you when you’re “dancing” with your groin attached to some frat bro’s and your lips are suctioned together. Although it seems obvious, when you’re wasted in the middle of the dance floor with the frat star of your dreams, it’s easy to forget that people are watching, and might be judging. JSYK.

2. Don’t drink the Everclear. Seriously. 10/10 times in my life I have blacked out, thrown up, and lost my ability to walk, Everclear has been the culprit. Trust me when I say nothing good will ever come from drinking Everclear.

3. Just because something is unlimited doesn’t mean you should consume it in limitless amounts – the dining hall is not your friend. Whether it’s pizza, Diet Coke, or even hummus, eating unlimited quantities of anything except air is going to make you put on 15 pounds.

4. Find out where the library is, so you know to avoid it.

5. Also find out where the gym is, and don’t avoid it. (See above)

6. Get your fake before you go to school. Otherwise, good luck rolling up at the bar with the same fake Florida ID literally half the freshman class has.

7. You can never have too many tanks. Remember that.

8. You probably don’t need a printer. You just need a friend with a printer. Sure I used one in college, but when I wasn"t spending $6 million on ink cartridges it sat collecting dust and taking up valuable space. Which it continues to do since I"ve used it exactly 0 times since graduation.

9. Every other girl will be wearing a crop top and high-waisted shorts on her first day of orientation. Don’t be that bitch. Protip: Bros love sundresses.

10. Bring some ridiculous, costumey shit (like neon spandex) with you because you never know when the next theme party will be. Actually, you do know. It’s tomorrow. You’ve been warned.

Read more: http://www.betcheslovethis.com/article/10-things-freshman-betches-should-know

10 Things Freshman Betches Should Know

College, guide, how to, Lifestyle, list