With the convenience and security of online shopping, you’d think everyone would be shopping at home this winter season. Of course, that’s not the case. Thousands of bargain hunters will be lined up waiting for the retail stores to open. And these savvy shoppers will have new bargain-hunting weapons at their disposal: cellular devices. Everyone with a smartphone or tablet will have with them specifically designed apps to help them navigate everything from where an item is in a store, to seeing if it is the best price, to being able to buy it online—in the store. Here are just a few of the ways technology is influencing our habits this holiday season.

Mobile Apps

An interesting trend this winter holiday is appearing in mobile apps for both smartphones and tablets. These apps are specifically designed to make your in-store shopping experience as easy as possible. One app specifically allows you to scan a barcode with your smartphone and it will compare that products price to other stores and online retailers. Another app even lets you take a picture of the product, and it will likewise compare prices and availability. Still another allows you to skip the directory and locate the exact aisle placement of that prized gift.

Smartphone Marketing

One major trend this season is in the techniques taken by marketers to catch us even when we’re not tied to our computers. Smartphone marketing may have a big effect on purchasing, as online retailers hope to strategically time their messages to effectively ambush customers while standing in line. One such marketer, for instance, is offering mobile-only deals at 6am, which can sway the would-be shopper from standing in the cold altogether.

Economical Technology Trends

This holiday season, we’ll have technology on our side in a number of ways. It will give us nearly unlimited access to pricing, availability, shipping costs, and more at our fingertips. And, at the same time, technology itself is in a battle for our attention. The Kindle Fire, iPad’s newest rival, is posing a real threat at over half the price. Apple’s iPhone is facing new competition every day. So for the consumer presently, it may well be the best of both worlds if they have the means.

Of course not all of us will be camped out in front of our computers making our holiday purchases this year. Many will have their smartphones and tablets at the ready to do battle against shop and shopper alike. But as technology gives us greater freedom as consumers to purchase wisely, we must also acknowledge the way the tech itself is in that constant battle for our money. And, in this economy, the machines, gadgets and gizmos that offer the most value, will be the ones to beat.

The Intel 4004 was the first CPU on a single chip as well as the first available to the commercial market. Recently it celebrated it’s 40th birthday! We wish to say thank you to the microprocessor that grandfathered the CPUs we have today. A CPU is the brain of a computer. Known as the central processing unit, every bit of information in or out of a computer goes though the CPU. Just imagine what the Intel 4004, a tiny yet powerful CPU, did for the computing world in 1971. CPUs have come a considerable ways since then, but they continue to be a huge part of our everyday lives.

Created as the processor for a calculator, the Intel 4004 quickly became the brain of numerous other devices. Though CPUs today are exceedingly more powerful than their ancestor, our world would look significantly different if it wasn’t for the Intel 4004’s influence.  Everyday devices such as traffic lights, laptops, and cellphones would not exist without a CPU. The Intel 4004 has had a significant impact on computer science leading us into the modern world. You can see the evolving role of the CPU in technology here.

We can’t say happy birthday to the Intel 4004 without talking about the engineers responsible for its development. Federico Faggin led the design and development of the Intel 4004 with Ted Hoff, and Stan Mazor. In this ever-changing world of technology we can lose sight of its humble origins. The Intel 4004 was no small player in this.

So lets take a moment to show our esteem for the little microprocessor that grandfathered the present day CPU.

Without question, there’ll be an occasion when you’ll need help from your IT service provider. Bear in mind that they are responsible for aiding a large number of people with a multitude of challenging problems.  In order to receive the best possible response to your request, make sure to include as much important information when you first ask for help. You can’t assume they’ll understand your problem if you don’t provide them with all the details. By following these few steps, you can be assured that the whole experience goes smoothly and efficiently.

Write an Informative Email Subject Line
IT technicians receive frequent requests on a variety of issues – some are extremely urgent such as “I have a virus that destroying my documents”; while others are can withstand a 1-2 hour response delay, for example: “My monitor has a pinkish tinge.”  It helps the technician if you include a subject line containing the basics of the issue, which helps them determine the priority level.  A good example of a subject line is “Installed __ got error __”, which helps them to know immediately what your problem is with the computer.  A vague subject line without a meaningful description of the problem won’t help them solve your issue.

Details, Details, Details
In the body of your support request email, you should add all details you can, such as what OS you use, what actions you’ve taken, and what was the content of any error messages you saw. Error messages might not covey much to those who are not in the IT field, but they do to those in IT! Statements such as “followed some steps I saw online” are ambiguous to the recipient of your email and they may not be able to diagnose the problem without contacting you for further information. It is essential to explain the issue in full.

Be Frank
You are a busy person and so is your IT support team.  Though it may be necessary to explain details, don’t write a novel about your annoyance.  Offer the required information in a detailed but succinct manner.  Offering too many unimportant details increases the time it takes to provide you an answer to your problem.

In the end, you are all busy people and your IT services provider wants to help you quickly and efficiently. Help them do so by following the tips above!

Have you noticed how the face of business has turned online. In the past getting your name out as a business was easy, hire an ad agency, get a billboard, simple. Now with the amount of companies competing online it’s increasingly difficult for businesses to stand out. When everything was more local, many businesses were the only option for customers to get what they need, so customers would come to them, all they had to do was be open. Now, with all the options open to people, companies have to reevaluate the way they sell. They have to give potential customers a reason to choose them from the unending choices. Having a strong online presence is a great way to do this, here are a few ways.

Becoming Mobile

Many people carry a mobile device so they have access to their email and stay on top of their business and personal life even when on the go. Business have the option of creating an independent mobile site that retains the image they achieve on their regular site while making life easier for people accessing their site on a mobile device. This not only shows the consumer that you are aware of their busy life and but that you are current and knowledgeable about the way the world functions.

Social Sites

These are an interesting phenomena, originally they were intended to be sites primarily for personal socializing. But when Facebook came out, their clean utilitarian site attracted businesses owners. Those individuals realized they could reach a wide audience by developing a social face for their business. Now nearly every business has a Facebook page. Social sites give companies a platform to share interesting and fun content that is related to their industry with consumers. Creating this on-line community is a passive way to create sales. You may have been aware of Google , they have recently unveiled their business pages. Read this walk-though to learn how to set up a Google business page. Social sites are a nonintrusive way to communicate with a large audience that I predicted the relationship between businesses and social sites a long and fruitful one.

On-line Education

You have likely noticed the rising number of businesses that have blogs, these allow companies to give educational information without trying to obviously sell the individual something. Offering educational content is a terrific way to show for prospective clients how knowledgeable your company is and develop trust. Webinars and blogs are two great ways to do this. In this way companies can stand out from their competition by showing their extensive knowledge and this can result in sales indirectly.

While the on-line business community keeps growing we can still visit local shop where the owner works behind the counter but more then likely that business has some sort of on-line presence. Business are not just street facing anymore but Web facing as well. Being conscious of the changing face of business and open to it will make you a more informed business owner and/or consumer.  Here is an additional article about why creating an on-line presence is good business practice.

During the 3-day PhotoPlus Expo in New York, several exhibitors displayed their latest advances in photography technology. There were a huge assortment of cameras, lenses, printers, clothing, gear, gizmos and gadgets on display. The Expo was heavily bent for the professional photographer and the casual weekend or hobbyist cameraman may have felt left out. However, many of the latest introductions in technology were suitable for both sections, even though some may be too highly priced.  Here are 3 outstanding innovations showcased at the PhotoPlus Expo.  A more detailed list of products displayed can be found here.

Sony DEV-3 and DEV-5 3D Binoculars

The new Sony DEV-3 and DEV-5 3D Binoculars are out of this world with their amazing photographic and video potential. Of the two the DEV-5 is more advanced, but only the DEV-3 was on display. Each of them have incredible multifunctional capabilities and can be used as 3D binoculars, a 7MP camera or a 1080i video recorder. The DEV-5’s optical zoom capacity is an astounding 20X! One of the stumbling blocks, however, is the high cost of $2,000. The DEV-3 model has 10X zoom and costs $1400.  But for people that are in the market for a top quality multimedia digital camera, these binoculars are worth looking into!

Gorillapod Micro 250 and 350

Joby is famous for selling its line of bendy camera tripods. At their booth they displayed a new take on their tripod, the Gorillapod Micro. This new mini-tripod is stiff and can fold neatly under a camera without adding significant weight or bulk. They also come in a variety of sizes. Now you will be able to catch all those wonderful shots because you will never be without a tripod.

Wacom Cintiq 24HD Pen Display

Here’s a 24-inch display great for professional photographers and designers alike. However, for the more “well-off” hobbyist who aims to generate exacting edits to pictures and designs, it may be worth the price tag. The Wacom Cintiq 24HD Display retails for right around $2,600.  Still, they’re in such high demand, that they’re fairly tough to come by.  The display is known for its impressive responsiveness and exacting detail, great for anyone working in 3D design, animation, game development, industrial design and visual effects who is no longer willing to compromise with regards to image quality.

Although the PhotoPlus Expo was created for professionals in the photography and design industry, many amateurs and enthusiasts still prefer keeping up with state-of-the-art technology. The expo showcased countless other items, such as high-tech lighting, camera accessories, and jackets. Take a look at other articles about the Expo, and discover some amazing innovations in photography.

You have probably read a lot about the world becoming more and more connected. We don’t only mean with people but within our own lives as well. Having our devices more connected makes life simpler. Device connectivity can keep you from interrupting your work, for instance, by transferring a document you are working on at home to your smartphone you can work on it during your commute using a voice transcription app. Microsoft has an interesting take on the future of connectivity, click here to see a video of their vision. This may not be very far off and it begs the question: what apps, devices, or combination of the two will help create a future such as this? Below are a few that I have discovered.

iControl

Comcast recently unveiled its home energy management and surveillance product called iControl. This robust product allows people to adjust the temperature of their homes, turn lights off and on, and watch their homes through video. iControl software plus Comcast broadband along with additional hardware and apps allow customers to have full control over their home environments.

Air Sharing

This app is available on the iPad/iPhone and allows your device to act as an external hard drive. Which means you can readily move files to your device, share and access them easily adding mobility to your work habits.

AirPlay

Wirelessly stream music, videos, and photos to Apple TV using Apple’s AirPlay. This lets you flow easily from your walk, where you were listening to a podcast or audio book, to your home without interrupting your entertainment.

Will the future be filled with gadgets, apps, and software that synchronize all aspects of your life? In this era of connectivity, we are deeply connected to our devices. Hopefully they will one day be so interconnected that they will even be a few steps ahead of us. If this requires less effort on my part, I’m for it…how about you?

In Back to the Future, Marty McFly travels back in time, from 1985 to 30 years earlier, arriving in a suped-up DeLorean to 1955. While in the past, he subsequently messes-up his parent’s first meeting, and must then change history while he tries to get them together to insure his own existence.  Likewise, in the film’s first sequel, Marty travels through time to help his children.  In the futuristic vision there are hover boards and flying cars.  Though fanciful, we can see areas where the world we live in mimics much of what’s occurring in both films – but are we truly closer to the technology found in Hill Valley in 1955, or in the film’s futuristic sequel?

First, we should ask ourselves where we thought we would be by 2011. Of course we’d have flying cars and hover boards by now, wouldn’t we? Yet here we are, still driving fossil-fuel burning cars, riding scooters and bicycles, whilst wearing fairly normal clothes. Basically, if you took a step back and checked out the way we conduct our lives, much of the technology we use today existed 70 years ago. The television had been invented. Cars already had modern features like air conditioning and radios. Movies were shown in color. The Wizard of Oz, made in 1939 has special effects that rival many independent moviemakers today.

We do, however, have technology prophesied in movies made decades ago. In Total Recall, the protagonist walks through a full-body x-ray machine to board a plane. As seen in most major airports 3D monitors and holograms are either implemented already or on the very near horizon. Virgin Atlantic has taken a page out of 2001: A Space Odyssey to make space travel practical for the common man — or at least the common man who can spend $200,000 for 5 minutes of weightlessness.

Some of the most amazing futuristic technology is used everyday:  Video phones and “Skyping” people on the opposite side of the planet for free are commonplace.  We are able today to clone sheep, cows and mice.  Are humans next?  The ethical dilemmas surrounding genetic engineering are being discussed right now.  However, if you looked out the window in the world we reside in today, does it look more like 1955?  Does your mental picture of life in 2011 match up with the reality?

In many ways, the future is now:  Video billboards, the internet following us wherever we go, mining data to learn how to relieve us of our advertising dollars.  We have 3D televisions and binoculars.  We can still go out to the movies, but it might very well cost you over $50 for a family of 4. Yet here is where the more things change, the more they do stay the same:  Chevy is still making fuel-burning convertibles, Universal is still cranking out movies, and you can still watch Back to the Future.  Only now you can watch it any time you want, anywhere you want – with your phone.