Blippy Makes Credit Social

How far can social networking go, how about into your wallet? Blippy makes credit card transactions social. I was reading a recent article about Blippy and I was floored by this next level of social networking.

The website asks, “What are your friends buying?” Register for an account, enter your credit card info (which is not kept on record) and share with the world what you are buying. Your Blippy account is updated with what you just bought. Other Blippy users can comment on your purchase. You can tell Blippy what types of transactions you don’t want to go public. It also has a connection with Facebook and Twitter.

As a by-stander, I think this website is cool. Now I can see what other people are buying and if I see something nice, I might buy the same thing. All I can say is that a recent poll stated 70% of lawyers are using social networking in case proceedings. Use this service at your own risk.

Do you think Blippy is too much information?
http://www.blippy.com

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iPhone is the Matrix

Remember that scene in the Matrix where the Trinity sits in the helicopter and doesn’t know how to fly it? She then calls back to Tenk at the control center and asks him to upload the knowledge “How to fly a helicopter” to her brain. The iPhone is much like this scene from Matrix. However now they say, “There’s an app for that.” That saying is starting to become just like the “By Mennen” slogan because it’s so cliche, however does drive home a point. If you are in a jam, just get the solution on the iPhone.

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Life Without a Quick Typo Recovery?

The other day my phone died right after I misspelled a message to a friend and I couldn’t get back to them for almost a half hour. By the time I got back to them, they had already completed the task based on the warped message I sent. The work they did was completely off because of my “fat finger” mistake.  Depending on the day, I find myself sending corrections and antidotes that move the conversation in the right direction.

For all those text or instant messenger people, what would texting or IMing be like without the quick recovery?

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KGB, Get Questions Answered by Text

Have you noticed over the last few weeks more Internet companies are advertising on TV more than ever before? KGB is not exception. I guess the Cold War is really over because the KBG has landed in America. KGB’s commercials feature a Smart Car that crashes through walls and KGB agents get out to answer questions. Their ad is reminiscent of the old Kool-Aid Man commercials, however now the gigantic red pitcher is an agent behind the wheel with bad driving record.

So what is the KGB besides the Russian equivalency to the CIA?  The KGB in America is the Knowledge Bureau and for $.99 cents you can get questions answered via your cellphone.  All you do is text your question to the number 542542 and The Knowledge Bureau will answer it.

Do you think this service will take off? Would you use the service?

http://kgb.com/

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New Limits for iPhone App, A Toilet Tracker?

iPhone apps have been exploding off the charts and now I have seen it all. Looking for a clean public restroom? Now there’s an app for that….

Charmin has created an app for the iPhone that let’s you locate, rate and document public restrooms from the palm of your hand. When you have to go, you just have to go, so now you can rest a little easier knowing you can find one at a moments notice. The app features a locator to the closest public restrooms, plus user reviews with pictures. Yes, I said pictures!

Go the iTunes app store and download Toilet Tracker and tell us what you think.

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Travelers Bookmark “411 Genie”, A Great Mobile Resource

Mobile applications are taking over phones from the iPhone to the Blackberry.  But this old school website has superb information worthy of a bookmark.  The website is built specially for mobile phones and for travelers.
This great mobile resource has great listings and contact information on all major hotels, airlines, airports, car rentals, cruise lines, credit cards & checks and couriers. With the economy being stagnant, many families are looking to plan to trip to state close by this summer. If you are one of those families, you must check out 411 Genie to browse all 50 state’s travel headquarters contact information.

A Great Mobile Travel Resource
http://411genie.com/

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Death by Text, Look Up Or Die?

The other day I almost witnessed a death by text. I waiting at a light at a crosswalk and the guy next to me was busy looking down sending a text message. The pedestrian didn’t bother to look up and just starting crossing the street. I noticed a SUV was traveling right toward the guy and the driver had a phone perched on his steering wheel and was looking down at it. I yelled out, but the pedestrian didn’t flinch and at the last second, the driver looked up and slammed on their brakes. Even though the pedestrian wasn’t looking, if the driver struck the pedestrian, they would be at fault.

Last week Cleveland City Council passed a law that makes text messaging illegal while driving a vehicle; I found it interesting since there is a current law that prohibits doing anything distracting while driving. If you look around in today’s world, everyone is looking down texting, answering a call or playing a game on their phone. I realize that everyone needs to stay connected, but aren’t there actions like crossing a street, driving a car or operating a wood chipper when you should yield from using your phone? Unless it’s an emergency, shouldn’t you make time to look up from your phone at important moments. If you don’t look up, it may cost you your life one day.

Do you think texting while driving should be illegal? Are there times when it’s OK?

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Kidzui - Browser just for kids?

Parents, do you need help monitoring what your kids are exploring on the Internet? Your kids will never see the raw Internet, they’ll only experience the world approved by Kidzui. If you remember back in 1995, AOL to many people was the Internet, so why not return to those days with Kidzui?

Kidzui is a special browser installed on your desktop in which it’s surfers can only go to approved websites on their network. With this browser, parents can view kid’s online activities for up to 30 days and even block and add pages. What your kids will love about Kidzui is that they can choose their own avtar, a character which they can change hair color, clothes, etc…

The browser is free to download and use, however for $6.95 a month you can upgrade to their membership version. The membership unlocks more features and gives you a homework helper.

http://www.kidzui.com

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Turn Website into Mobile Friendly

If you are a smart phone user (a phone that can surf the web), you’ll encounter that most websites aren’t mobile friendly. For example, on the iPhone if you surf a website that is entirely built in flash, nothing will appear because Apple has outlawed the Adobe Flash plug-in from working on their platform. Website owners is your duty to serve up a mobile version of your site these days because of the proliferation of mobile browsing. There are many free mobile detection scripts available, you just need to find one that works. If you need help, ask Leading Hands about mobile and we can point you in the right direction.

If you are a web surfer and you are tired of not getting mobile friendly content then use then point your smart phone to ITHY. Their website says, “IYHY.com allows you to surf any website from your cell phone, PDA, Blackberry, Treo, Sidekick, or other mobile device even if the page is not formatted for mobile use. Just enter the URL below and we will convert the site to text only.”

Convert any regular website into a text version.
http://www.iyhy.com/

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Life of Iphone App: One day

I was just reading some articles about a study just released. A student concludes that 95% of iPhone Apps are only used once after they’re downloaded.

Check it out. http://www.mobilemag.com/content/100/340/C16982/

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