You are here: Home / Archives for Technology

Brush Up on Your Grammar and Spelling With These Apps for Android

September 19, 2014 by

Do you find yourself struggling with spelling tricky words? Do you forget what it was like before spell check and autocorrect? If your spelling could use a bit of improving or your grammar is less than perfect, you may be surprised to find that you can improve both through a few fun, simply Android apps. Here are three great apps that will help you to brush up on your spelling and grammar knowledge.

English Grammar Book
If grammar is your trickiest subject, this app will help you to improve it either at home or on the go. The English Grammar Book app offers educational articles and tips on passive voice, adverbs, idioms, conjunctions and a variety of other confusing topics.

English Grammar Ultimate
This colorful app also helps the user to get a better grasp on grammar, and it uses both straightforward descriptions and visual charts to describe the most common causes of grammatical errors.

Spelling Bee
For those who have issues spelling those particularly tricky words, the Spelling Bee app is a great way to review. This bee-themed app will teach users how to spell over 2,300 different English words through the use of a built-in voice that reads the words aloud just like a real spelling bee.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Best Birding Websites

December 20, 2013 by

Bird watching is a calming hobby enjoyed by people of all ages, but there are many things to learn from it as well. These informative websites will surely become helpful resources for your next birding adventure.

All About Birds
Beginning bird watchers will benefit greatly from this helpful website, which is manned by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at Cornell University. Featuring birding basics, a comprehensive bird species guide, fascinating videos, scientific facts about birds, and much more, All About Birds is all you need to begin birding as a hobby.

Audubon
One of the most popular sources of information for all of your birding needs, Audubon’s website is packed full of information about bird conservation, bird watching, and furthering your education about birds. This site is updated regularly to include which birds can be found as the seasons change, and it also highlights initiatives to save endangered birds all over the world.

ABA Blog
The American Birding Association’s blog keeps readers up-to-date with the organization’s latest events and initiatives. Posts from a number of contributors discuss the latest issues in birding, and features like the photo quiz and the birder’s exchange make sharing your love of birding fun.

Public Domain/Public Domain
Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , ,

Four Steps to a Germ-Free Smartphone

December 6, 2013 by

A recent study revealed that a smartphone's touchscreen can harbor up to 20 times as many bacteria as a toilet seat. But before you trade in your phone for a carrier pigeon, take note: You can clean your smart phone without causing damage. Here's how:

1. Take out the battery before cleaning. The last thing you want is to expose your phone's life source to liquid.

2. Don't reach for household cleaners. Clean the screen and camera lens by dipping a cotton swab or a soft, lint-free cloth in distilled water. Use rubbing alcohol to clean the keypad and casing. 

3. Dry thoroughly. Apply cleaning solutions onto a cloth or cotton swab as opposed to applying directly to your phone, and quickly wick away liquids as you clean.

4. Splurge on a UV sanitizer. Break out the big guns with a UV sanitizer, like the Violife UV Cell Phone Sanitizer ($49.95), which uses ultra-violet light to obliterate any germs and bacteria lurking within your phone's nooks and crannies. 

· How smartphones now harbour thousands more germs than a TOILET SEAT [DailyMail]
· 31 Days of Spring Cleaning: Clean Your Cell Phone [Popsugar]
· How to Clean Your Smartphone [How-To Geek]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

5 Screen Protectors That’ll Keep Your Smartphone Looking Brand New

November 29, 2013 by

Ask any tech enthusiast, and they'll tell you there's nothing better than that fresh-out-of-box, shiny new smartphone. That is, until it a case of "butter fingers" leads to a pesky crack or dinged screen. If you want to prolong the newborn stage on your phone, consider purchasing a screen protector. An inexpensive investment (around $20) that can help prolong the life of your phone, screen protectors are thin pieces of film that repel fingerprints and scratches. Here are five top-rated screen protectors that you can apply yourself at home.

1. Moshi iVisor and Airfoil (for iPhones)

2. Zagg Invisible Shield

3. iSmooth Screen Protectors

4. Tech Armor Screen Protectors

5. Aduro Screen Protectors

· The 3 Best Screen Protectors for Your Smartphone or Tablet [CIO]
· Scratch Test: Does Your Phone Really Need A Screen Protector? [Yahoo News]
· Are Screen Protectors Necessary Anymore? [Lifehacker]

 

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Follow Football All Week Long with These Great Sites

November 15, 2013 by

Sure, you can watch the big games on Saturdays and Sundays. But devoted football fans also have a growing number of ways to keep up with their favorite sport online throughout the rest of the week. Here are three websites where you can read in-depth articles, watch videos, and see stats as a lead up to the next big game!

NFLNation
Hosted by the beloved television sports network, ESPN’s NFLNation is a great online source for following pro football. This site is jam packed with articles and discussions written by football experts, the latest league news, a constantly updated scoreboard and weekly player stats that you won’t find anywhere else. Fans can even search NFLNation to see stuff about their favorite team.

Football Outsiders
Written by thinking fans for thinking fans Football Outsiders is an in-depth website that takes an entirely new approach to analyzing the sport of football. The site’s statistics-centric writers provide brand new stats that attempt to make a more effective analysis of each game, as well as long-form articles that might change your perspective on the game.

Dr. Saturday
Yahoo! Sports’ Dr. Saturday is a college football blog that discusses the players, teams and coaches within the world of college football. With a laid-back, conversational voice and expert analysis, this is the ideal follow-up reading after watching your alma mater’s latest game.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Wearable Computers: Live Like James Bond

April 5, 2013 by

Do you wish you could be outfitted with cool, techy gadgets just like James Bond? Well, in this day and age, we're getting pretty darn close. There are countless wearable computers on the market today that are designed to make your life easier, connect you with the world around you, and improve your lifestyle. If you're tech-obsessed (or have a tech-obsessed friend), and are always on the lookout for the latest and greatest cool thing, check out these items that will have you feeling like 007 in no time.

Recon Instruments MOD Display — If you're a fan of winter sports, then these high-tech goggles are a must. As you descend down the slopes, on the inner lens of the goggles appears a small screen that highlights and records your speed, the temperature, and all the info you'll need to calculate your truly great descents down the slope.

SmartWatch — Love your phone, but hate fishing it out of your purse or pocket every time you want to text or check your email? Well, the SmartWatch by Sony was made just for you. This wristwatch syncs with your smartphone, and allows you to access your most used apps right from the face of the watch! What could be simpler — or cooler — than that?!

FitBit — Want to get fit in true James Bond fashion? Then, use the FitBit! This little fitness gadget is worn on your wrist, and has special sensors that tell you about your physical activity throughout the day, including steps taken, calories burned, etc. Even better, you can sync it with your smartphone for even more in-depth computing including customized diet plans that reflect the actual calories you burn on any given day.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , , ,

What To Get The Techie Who Has It All

February 21, 2013 by

If you have a techie in your life that always loves the latest and greatest tech gadgets that hit the market, we've got some great ideas for you! Check out the list below of the awesome new items that are now on available for the tech-lover in your life.

Jawbone BIG JAMBOX
This popular boombox works using Bluetooth to stream your favorite music. There's an input jack and a microphone, too, making the BIG JAMBOX both portable and versatile.

Nintendo 3DS XL
Heir to the Gameboy, Nintendo's 3DS is a portable video game system with a twist: 3-D. The extra dimension's used in pretty innovative ways in games featuring classic Nintendo characters like Mario, Link, and more.

iPad Mini
Dubbed by some "the real iPad," the iPad mini's got a smaller form factor than the full size device. That mean's it's even more portable than the original, and yet it still runs all of the same apps iPad owners have come to know and love.

Nest Thermostat
Designed by a group of former Apple employees, the Nest thermostat brings the design Apple fans know to the home. Billed as a "learning thermostat," it's far more flexible and adaptable than traditional thermostats, and can even be controlled using your iPhone.

Click and Grow Smart Flowerpot
This self-watering pot helps you tend to flowers at home, using sensors and software to ensure just the right environment.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Pin It on Pinterest