Author: Scarlett Madison

Celebrities are often called on by companies to promote their products by inserting their use into their “real” lives, demonstrating to their fans that they use this product or that one. Apple has never really had to do that. Verizon has, and they are doing so again on behalf of Apple’s Siri personal assistant product. In the videos below (which unfortunately have not been released to the Verizon YouTube channel yet), you can see the two movie stars using Siri to make their lives easier. …

Amongst the “big 4″ tech companies that get most of the attention today, Google and Apple are two of the most bitter rivals. Before dying, Steve Jobs expressed an utter contempt for Google that has pretty much boiled over lately into an all-out war. Just because the companies do not get along doesn’t mean that there can’t be a little magic between their products. In this video by Comediva, the “Gmale” and “Siri” characters see through the differences of their kings to form a relationship that would make their human masters (servants?) happy if they weren’t spending so much time making pottery. …

Everyone is talking about Pinterest for business or Pinterest for marketing but what about Pinterest for education? Can the fastest-growing social network be used to help in schools rather than distract students as many of the other social networks have been accused of doing? That’s the concept of this infographic. Whether it’s for curating content or organizing ideas, the basics that surround Pinterest do tend to be useful in a classroom setting if used properly. Click to enlarge. From: Online Universities Blog…

As Google continues to dominate search, they bring about new ways to make searching easier. The problem is that most people simply type loosely what they want and hope to get the right answers. There are better ways. This graphic takes a look at some Google hacks that can make it easier to find the solution to the various problems that Google normally solves for you. Click to enlarge. From: Used Cars Topeka Via: Automotive SEO…

There has been a push to replace books in the educational arena for some time now. This push hasn’t been in Washington or school board meeting rooms even though they are happening there as well. The big push is happening in the minds of students who are growing increasingly tablet-savvy and almost “spoiled” to the point that paper-products are old, almost archaic. Today’s children can work an iPad more adeptly than they can ride bikes. There’s a social question that rises with over-teching our children, but that’s not really a part of this discussion (yet). For now, the way that educational materials…

Connectivity and the possibility of not having access to data is a risk with cloud computing, as is speed based upon a faltering internet infrastructure, but the primary reason that people are hesitant to adopt the cloud for all of their business needs is security. The intermingling of our bits with their bits makes people nervous, but perceptions are quickly changing. This graphic by CIO examines the numbers and presents us with some facts that help explain how we got to where we are as well as giving us a glimpse of what the future of cloud computing may hold. …

Steve Mahan is just like everyone else with a car. He likes to hop in the driver’s seat on a sunny California day and hit the drive-thru for a taco on his way to the dry cleaners. Unlike most drivers, Steve Mahan has lost 95% of his vision and is legally blind, but thanks to Google he is on his way to not being restricted the way he has been for much of his life. Using a carefully pre-programmed route and with the help of a large technical team, Steve and the Google team performed the routine driving that many people take for granted. They grabbed their tacos. They picked up Steve’s dry cleaning. They did it in…

Names. If you tell someone you’re running to the store to pick up a “Touch”, a “Wildfire”, or a “Vitality”, you could be talking about either a condom or an Android phone. You see, the folks over at Intercom were able to find several words that are common to Google smartphones and condom brands and styles. Is it an odd coincidence, or is there something to the concept of trying to make the Android brand as “sexy” as the iPhone brand?  …

The latest social media phenomenon to grab our attention (and engulf the attention of some) is Pinterest. It’s getting the same type of attention that Twitter started getting in 2008 before it truly hit the mainstream and many are hoping that it will turn into the “next big thing” from a business perspective. Unlike Twitter and Facebook, Pinterest isn’t for every business. In fact, it may only be suitable for very few. When deciding whether it’s worth the time and effort from a business perspective, one must decide a few things about where they want their business to go on social media as well as understanding…

The acquisition of 750 patents from IBM by Facebook signals the venture of the social networking giant into a realm new to them: patent defense. The company has never been as involved as some of their peers when it comes to patenting with 503 filed to date and 56 or more issued, but this will expand their portfolio in light of a recent battle waged against them by Yahoo. How do purchased patents after the fact help them fight Yahoo? Leverage. There are unsubstantiated (but likely accurate) reports that some of the patents purchased were being licensed by Yahoo. If this is correct, it would justify this…