2015
Google may offer free international roaming
[caption id="" align=“alignnone” width=“2500”]Image by Moyan Brenn used under Creative Commons License [/caption] We have been hearing rumors that Google will be launching its own MVNO ( mobile virtual network operator) in the US. Now The Telegraph (link) is reporting that one of the goal's of this new (unannounced) MVNO will be free international roaming. The report claims that Google is talking to Hong Kong based Hutchison Whampoa (a diversified holding company). Hutchison Telecom Hong Kong Holdings' customers already roam in many countries roaming-charge free (with the appropriate data plan).
Technology Zen with the Google ChromeOS Chromebook
When I write a blog article or am working on a long form document, I try to enter a writing zone where I remove all distractions and concentrate on my work. We have seen many writer apps that create these minimalist writer interfaces. “MINDFULNESS: a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique.” — Google Mindfulness is the state writers are looking for with these tools and minimalist interfaces.
Eau de Whopper
[caption id="" align=“alignnone” width=“685”]BurgerKing Japan [/caption] BurgerKing Japan will be releasing (on April 1) a special Whopper eau de toilette. It may be an April 1 prank so stay tuned. The current promise is that for that day (April 1), the purveyor of Whopper will sell the perfume for 5,000 Yen (about $US42) with a whopper. So I don't know if this is real, we'll just have to wait and see.
Infinite USB cables promise to add USB connectivity to your devices
Regardless of how many USB ports your devices seem to have, you are always short a couple of ports. Now the creators of the Infinite USB cable believe they have solved the problem once and for all. The promise is that you can keep connecting their nesting USB cables (plugging one cable into another cable over and over). The idea sounds incredible at first but... Remember that most USB ports have limited power which means you will quickly make become unable to power the USB devices you are plugging into them.
McDonald's FrenchFry Gloves as a marketing campaign
[caption id="" align=“alignnone” width=“1160”]Images courtesy of AOTW [/caption] Feast your eyes on a marketing idea(link) dreamed up by Moroch (Dallas based marketing company) for McDonald's. We don't know the who, what, when, where and why but it's an interesting idea. Give people McDonald's gloves and they'll market the fries for you while staying "toasty" warm. Are you crazy those warm, salty, crispy McDonald's french fries yet?
Watch a 325ft roller coaster POV video
It's Tuesday morning and you need that fresh cup of piping hot joe to wake you up. Instead of coffee, why not watch this Point of Vue video of the Fury 325 at the Carowinds amusement park. What's so special you ask? It is a 95 MPH roller coaster with a 325 foot drop. Enjoy and welcome to Tuesday
3 secrets to success at work and in life
[caption id="" align=“alignnone” width=“2500”]Image by Chris Potte r used under Creative Commons License [/caption] Success means different things to different people but what would you say if I said the roadmap to success is always the same. “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” — Winston Churchill Some people are entrepreneurs, some people are intrapreneurs and some people are perfectly happy in a corporate position. So how can the roadmap to success be the same for all 3?
Quote about curiosity
Look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see, and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious. Stephen Hawking
Quote about happiness
Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life. Omar Khayyam #quote #success #life #selfimprovement #meditation #today #todayistheday
Is Google's Chromebook the ultimate in secure travel computing?
When I first heard about the Google Chromebook, I couldn't understand why anybody would buy a computer that only "ran a browser". Sure you could buy one for $300-500 but then again, you can pickup a "cheap" windows based laptop for about the same price. Notes from my day job My day job is being the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) of a large multinational manufacturer. When our employees travel to high risk locations, they are equipped with a special laptop with a hardened image and they are instructed to only load the bare minimum amount of information needed during this trip.
How to find how many Twitter fake followers you have
[caption id="" align=“alignnone” width=“2000”]Image by Patrik Nygren used under Creative Commons License [/caption] When web placement was paid per click or per view, Twitter importance was measured by the number of followers you had. Those days are long gone because modern tech savvy social media users understand that engagement is the ultimate measure. In some cases, people bought Twitter followers to make themselves look better but there are times when those fake followers are added by bots. Why? Because many people automatically follow back all of their followers and these SPAM accounts get a decent following quickly.
Nokia Here Maps finally available for IOS
It has been a good week for IOS device owners. First we were gifted an official Google Calendar app and now Nokia has released its Nokia Here Maps for IOS. This is one of the Nokia units that was not acquired by Microsoft and it seems they take mapping very seriously. In addition to offering turn by turn navigation, voice guidance, real time traffic alerts and public transit routing, it offers users the ability to download maps locally for over 100 countries.
Google Calendar app finally available on iPhone
[caption id="" align=“alignnone” width=“2500”]Image by Dafne Cholet used under Creative Commons License [/caption] Google finally released a calendar app for iPhone today. Even Google's own blog post title says "[...] It's about time". I couldn't agree more. My early tests show it is based on the (released in November) updated Android app which simplified calendar management (transforming GMAIL events into calendar entries automatically). Like Fantastical, it also has an Assist feature which helps you fill our the various pieces of a calendar entry.
When unlimited Microsoft OneDrive storage isn't really unlimited
[caption id="" align=“alignnone” width=“2144”]Image by Thomas8047 under creative commons license [/caption] The sky cleared and trumpets sounded when Microsoft bamboozled the entire cloud storage market by offering unlimited OneDrive storage with certain Office 365 subscriptions. In addition to bumping up your storage quote to unlimited, they switched the maximum single-file size limit to 10GB (from 2GB). Just when you think you hit the jackpot, you hit an undocumented artificial limit that prevents you from using the all you can eat buffet in the sky.
Credit Card breach at Mandarin Oriental
[caption id="" align=“alignnone” width=“2500”]Image by Sean MacEntee used under Creative Commons License [/caption] We have seen claims that the luxury hotel chain has suffered a credit card breach (some outlets are now confirming it). The last confirmation I received was that the chain is working with its banking partners to investigate the claims. We don't know yet if the breach impact some or all of its global properties. Unnamed sources say the breach goes back to just before christmas 2014.
Google release preview of upgraded Contacts web app
About 70% of my readers are also Google users so most of you will be ecstatic that Google is trying to fix the broken Contacts web app. “[...] that makes it easier to keep track of the people you know and get the info you need, fast” — Google Blog Post Who can argue with a more usable experience? The new UI gives you a faster way of merging duplicates, automatically updating contacts and seeing recent emails right in the Contacts app.
3 secrets to using LinkedIn to advance your career
[caption id="" align=“alignnone” width=“411”]Image by Adriano Gasparri used under Creative Commons License [/caption] LinkedIn has created a unique niche for itself amongst professionals looking to bolster their career. Read my article about The You Brand , and you may start to see opportunities to use LinkedIn as your personal self promotion platform. Related Articles: The "YOU" Brand Why working from home may harm your career Here are some of the elements you could use to improve your overall LinkedIn visibility and credibility.
10 cent apps in the Google Play Store
Google Play's birthday is fast approaching which may be why we started seeing a handful of apps already priced at $0.10. Right now there is only a handful but more should be added shortly. RunTastic Running Pro (link) Runtastic Sit-Ups PRO Trainer (link) Facetune (link) If you were thinking about these apps, now is a good time to jump on them. If you see other apps, please post a commend below
The secrets to acing that next interview
[caption id="" align=“alignnone” width=“2500”]Image by Ed Dunens used under Creative Commons License [/caption] Believe it or not, getting an interview is becoming harder and harder. The last thing you want to do is waste a good opportunity, so here is what you need to know to ace the next interview. It's an interview not a discussion Regardless of how casual you think the interview will be, remember that it is not a conversation. Typically it is the roadblock to getting that better job with better pay, more benefits, increased flexibility or a better location.