social media news: août 2013

samedi 31 août 2013

BlinkDrink App Will Turn Heads at the Bar

Looking for a new way to attract some attention at the bar? A new app called BlinkDrink can probably help — but it comes with some built-in risk

The iOS-only app lends some color to your nightlife by lighting your drink from below in neon hues, while blinking rhythmically. As the above video shows, it looks pretty sweet. There is, however, one obvious potential drawback: You, while possibly buzzed, are required to place a glass full of liquid on top of your dear old iPhone to get the desired effect

The app costs $0.99 in the App Store. Watch the video for more info, then let us know what you think in the comments Read more...

More about Apps, App, Drinks, Bar, and Alcohol

via Mashable http://mashable.com/2013/08/31/blinkdrink/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=rss

3 Essential Tips for Using the Cloud

Jessica asks,

I've decided to trust the cloud for my business, but I'm still concerned about reliability. What can I do to make sure I can still access my data and applications if the cloud fails?

Great question, Jessica! In the grand scheme of things, the cloud is usually quite reliable. Still, downtime and outages do happen. Just last week, Instagram experienced downtime right before the VMAs because Amazon — which powers much of its cloud infrastructure — was having problems.

There are steps you can take to make the chances of cloud-based disaster much less likely. Read more...

More about Features, Cloud, Tech, Apps Software, and Tech Office Hours

via Mashable http://mashable.com/2013/08/31/cloud-backups/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=rss

Pebble Smart Watch Delivers on Kickstarter Promise and More

As companies such as Samsung prepare to enter the smart-watch space, it's time to take a look at the "original" smart watch: the Pebble.

The Pebble smart watch is the most successful Kickstarter project of all time, raising more than $10 million from 85,000 backers. Last month, the company announced that it had over 190,000 pre-orders on its website, meaning that more than 275,000 orders were placed since last April.

Pebble is also available in Best Buy stores, and the company is working to make its gadget — in the words of CEO and co-founder Eric Migicovsky — "the best wearable platform." Read more...

More about Reviews, Wearables, Tech, Gadgets, and Mobile

via Mashable http://mashable.com/2013/08/31/pebble-smart-watch-review/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=rss

'Choose Your Own Adventure' Series Hopes to Relaunch for iPad

As a kid, you may have spent hours selecting the fate of characters in the Choose Your Own Adventure book series. Today, the creators want to bring that same decision-making fun to kids in the digital age.

The Choose Your Own Adventures cartoon app, called "Choose 'Toons" features interactive animations based on the original titles

In the first episode, users can build their own robot named "Gus" out of discarded parts. It has 20 story branches with 11 possible endings, providing more than 30 minutes of story-time animation. The iPad app is targeted towards younger readers, from ages 5 to 7 Read more...

More about Books, Videos, Ipad, Kickstarter, and Apps Software

via Mashable http://mashable.com/2013/08/31/choose-your-own-adventure-kickstarter/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=rss

11 Magnifying Uses of Small Spaces

In a McMansion world, there is something delightfully adorable and refreshing about well-designed small abodes and converted spaces.

Like puppies and babies and petite desserts, tiny things are fundamentally cute. Who knows why? It's an unsolved mystery, but almost universally true.

Of course, you might be living in a small space and not feel so charmed. For inspiration, check out these tiny habitats. Read more...

More about Pics, Lists, Home Design, Interior Design, and Watercooler

via Mashable http://mashable.com/2013/08/31/small-spaces/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=rss

McDonald's Turns Tables Into NFC Racetracks for Kids

Fast-food chain McDonald's is giving kids a reason to get excited beyond the ball pit. The restaurant has started rolling out NFC-enabled "Happy Tables" that transform tables into virtual racetracks.

By placing a smartphone with wireless NFC capabilities onto the Happy Tables, kids are able to activate games. The "magic" happens with the help of NFC stickers or "smart tags," which are placed on the underside of the tables

McDonald's McParty Run app turns the smartphone into a car, and users can select one of the chain's classic mascots to be their driver. There are several different games to choose from, all of which have themes based the restaurant's popular menu Read more...

More about Apps, Mcdonalds, Nfc, Advertising, and Tech

via Mashable http://mashable.com/2013/08/31/mcdonalds-nfc-racetracks/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=rss

Obama on Syria: 'We Are Prepared to Strike Whenever We Choose'

A day after Barack Obama indicated the United States has an obligation as a world leader to respond to the suspected Aug. 21 chemical weapons attack on Damascus, the president on Saturday delivered a statement from the White House Rose Garden about the Syria crisis.

Obama, who is contemplating a "limited" military strike with no U.S. troops on the ground, said he authorized military action against Syria but will not act until Congress approves. Congress returns Sept. 9, but it could decide to reconvene earlier.

"In a world with many dangers, this menace must be confronted," Obama said a shortly before 2 p.m. ET on Saturday with Vice President Joe Biden by his side Read more...

More about Us, World, Barack Obama, Congress, and Syria

via Mashable http://mashable.com/2013/08/31/barack-obama-syria-statement/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=rss

Slow-Mo Wedding Photobooth Captures Long-Lasting Love

Photo booth sessions are a hot commodity for weddings, but this slow-mo version might have prolonged the trend.

For their wedding reception, newlyweds Quang and Ellie had a special photo booth installed that captures slow motion videos.

Thanks to video production company Super Frog Saves Tokyo and RED Epic Camera, the video shows the couple and their wedding guests getting their kiss, dance and smile on in the booth, all while in spectacular slow-mo. Fittingly, Robin Thicke's summer anthem "Blurred Lines" is playing in the background.

What do you think of the photo booth? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below. Read more...

More about Videos, Watercooler, Slow Motion Videos, and Newlyweds

via Mashable http://mashable.com/2013/08/31/slow-motion-photo-booth/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=rss

Job Seeking Out of Your Industry: 5 Steps to Take

Here’s a shocking statistic: 59 percent of Americans would choose a different career if given the chance to do it all over again. Although these professionals may be able to move horizontally in their current organization, oftentimes a complete industry switch is necessary.

When you find yourself in the position of job seeking in an industry you’re not familiar with, it’s important to take some alternative routes. Here are some valuable steps to keep in mind.

1. Figure Out The Skills You Need

Your new industry may require certain skills you don’t have. For instance, a design position may involve understanding various applications or programs. So, although your extensive marketing background is impressive, it may not be enough to land you a job. Read more...

More about Careers, Job Search Series, Business, and Jobs

via Mashable http://mashable.com/2013/08/31/job-seeking/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=rss

6 Apps You Don't Want To Miss

It can be tough to keep up with all the new apps released every week. But you're in luck — Mashable takes care of that for you, creating a roundup each weekend of our favorite new and updated apps.

This week, Twitter made waves with updates to its Android and iOS apps, an iPhone app helps you speed up your reading and an app from Apple lets you tune in to its 2013 iTunes Festival, which kicks off in London on Sunday

SEE ALSO: Top 25 Free iPhone Apps of All Time

Check out the gallery, above, for a peek at this week's highlights.

Still looking for more? Check out last week's Apps You Don't Want to Miss for more great apps worth downloading Read more...

More about Iphone, Android, App, Ios, and Tech

via Mashable http://mashable.com/2013/08/31/apps-you-dont-want-to-miss-8/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=rss

Spiders Hate You More Than You Hate Them

FormalSweatpants_spider_comic

It may be deathly, painfully terrifying when you spot one of those eight-legged monsters crawling up your wall, but there's one thing to remember before you start screaming like a four-year-old girl — they are more scared of you than you are of them. (We think, anyway.)

We Can't Stop Talking About the VMAs and Other Top Comments

The MTV Video Music Awards metaphorically vomited on TV screens and laptop live-streams Sunday night, yet we can't stop talking about the spectacle, and of course, laughing at the ensuing memes

Miley Cyrus' outrageous performance with Robin Thicke launched much discussion over what the pop industry is trying to do, and how it's changed over the years. One reader reminded us that the VMAs have consistently been controversial, while another said MTV's lack of actual music programming pointed to the shift in the network's priorities.

More about Facebook, Community, Miley Cyrus, Vmas, and Music

via Mashable http://mashable.com/2013/08/31/vmas-action-park-gifs-top-comments/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=rss

When Stalking Steve Wozniak Pays Off

Waseef Akhtar was 14 years old when he got his hands on his first iPod — "an iPod Nano, third generation," he says with a tinge of pride

The Riyadh, Saudi Arabia native, 20, has since been hooked on Apple products. He has collected a MacBook and several iPhones, and spent three months working as a sales associate at a local Apple Store. As his admiration for the company grew throughout the years, so did his fascination with the team behind it.

In February, in a whimsical 24-hour turn of events, Akhtar met Apple co-founder Steve "Woz" Wozniak while the computer mogul passed through Riyadh. The meetup, and spontaneous hang-out sesh that followed, inspired Akhtar to write a memoir about their day together Read more...

More about Social Media, Apple, Features, Steve Wozniak, and E Books

via Mashable http://mashable.com/2013/08/31/day-with-woz/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=rss

High-Tech Blocks Help Battle Brainstorming Slumps

If sticky notes, whiteboards and yellow legal pads just aren't inspiring your team brainstorming sessions anymore, it's time to break out some toys.

The folks at Smart Design's Smart Interaction Lab designed toy-like TOTEM blocks that can help teams improve idea-generating sessions, as explained in the video above. The creators presented these brainstorming tools at Barcelona's first Maker Faire.

TotemBaton

The three unique blocks — Batón, Echo and Alterego — all have different functions ina team meeting

The "Batón" is passed around like a talking stick, so whoever is holding it is allowed to speak. The gadget will vibrate when it's time to pass it to the next person. This should help those colleagues who are too shy to speak up and sets a time limit for those who are more chatty. Read more...

More about Team, Brainstorm, Maker Faire, Design Concepts, and Design Concept

via Mashable http://mashable.com/2013/08/31/totem-blocks-brainstorming-tools/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=rss

Do You Need an App to Raise Your Kids?

PCW_kidsapp_comic

These days, there are apps for virtually everything. You barely have to lift a finger (simply swiping left to right is enough) to survive. And the abundance of apps just makes it that much harder to unplug and rejoin the real world — you know, the place with families, and children and wives.

6 Tech Relics Still Sold in Stores

In the switch to wireless, a massive amount of tech, gadgets and electronic gear became all but useless to consumers. What once required four or five separate devices — all needing AA batteries — can now be done on your smartphone alone.

Oddly enough, some major retailers throughout the world still haven't gotten the memo.

We've grabbed a few examples of bizarrely outdated tech that you can still purchase through large, reputable stores such as Walmart, Best Buy and Office Depot — and they will blow you away. Read more...

1. 500 Minutes of America Online

More about Gadgets, Old Technology, Features, Tech, and Nostalgia

via Mashable http://mashable.com/2013/08/31/tech-relics/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=rss