Tag Archives: technology

Ways To Wrap Your Mind Around New Technology

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Ways To Wrap Your Mind Around New Technology

Technology is at the center of everything. With new developments happening every day, it can sometimes feel as though gadgets are taking over. But when things are advancing so fast, how can we keep up? As soon as you get the hang of one new gizmo, there’s another one to get to grips with. There’s no denying that technology has made a lot of things easier, but what do you do when you can’t get the hang of it? There’s no stopping the pace of technology but you can at least take steps to help you get to grip with things a little faster.

Instructional Videos: Presumably, the computer is one thing you are comfortable with. You found this blog post, after all! It may seem crazy to use one form of technology to help with another, but it’s a good tip. A computer can help you with an abundance of things. There is a wealth of information on the internet so it would be silly not to use it. Watching videos is a fantastic way to get the hang of new technology. There are videos on just about anything. Whether you’re struggling with a phone, a camera, or a microphone, there’s sure to be a video showing you how to use it. These videos are fantastic because they’re easy to follow and you can see the steps to take. You don’t have to worry about understanding instructions when you can watch (and rewatch!) somebody show you how.

Product Reviews: If you’re struggling with knowing which product is the right match, reviews could be a great help. It’s worth checking out thesmartcave. They have some fantastic product reviews that are sure to help you navigate the technological minefield. From phones to thermostats, they’ve got you covered. Reviews are excellent at laying out in simple terms what features a product has to offer. You don’t want all the fancy lingo and sales pitches. You just want an easy to understand lowdown of what a product can do! That’s exactly what reviews offer you.

Ask The Kids: This might sound strange, but it works! Kids are growing up in this technological age where there’s a new gadget for them to play with every week. And what’s more, they’re picking them all up extremely quickly. Kids approach technology in an entirely fearless way. Even better, they are fantastic at using it. If there’s something you’re struggling with and you know some technically minded kids, then don’t be afraid to ask for their help. A kid who started using a smartphone before they started walking will be able to set up your new Sat Nav with ease.

The trick is not to let technology overwhelm you. Even if the instruction manual makes no sense, don’t let yourself get disheartened. There is always an easier way. Use old technology to help you understand new technology. Alternatively, use those who have grown up using these confusing gadgets. Either way, persevere. With a little effort, you’ll be a technological whizz in no time!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

The Tech We Simply Can’t Live Without

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The Tech We Simply Can’t Live Without

In a world where it seems like there is a new iPhone coming out every other weekend, it can be hard to keep track of all of the latest amazing technology that is available. Here are some of the top “must haves” for the tech savvy 2016-er. Take a look:

The Tech We Simply Can’t Live Without:

Do you ever watch really old movies and wonder how on earth they survived without having a smartphone? It’s really hard to imagine needing only a roof over your head and a well in your garden! Life today can seem like a world away from how things were just thirty years ago, before the internet. But it’s not just our online lives that rely on tech. Our home life is pretty dependent on it too:

Smart TV: TVs have been around for decades, but these days, they need to be able to connect to the internet. After all, how would we access all our favorite shows through services like Netflix? Then, of course, are all those cute YouTube videos of kittens chasing laser lights and puppies falling over their tails. TVs are bigger than they’ve ever been, but how we use them has changed a lot over the years.

My family actually just recently indulged in a Smart TV and, I must say, it is fantastic. The convenience of being able to connect to Netflix with the literal touch of a button and binge watch your day away is heavenly. Our Smart TV came just at the right time – when I was binging on Breaking Bad. With the Smart TV handy, I was able to complete the entire series during my two week summer break from school/work. Impressive? Kind of. A little sad? TOTALLY! 😉

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Image courtesy of Flickr

Smart Phone: A lot of tech is ‘smart’ these days, but none quite so smart as our humble mobile phone. Many of us have our entire lives on these little devices. Almost all of our communications are done on them, online and offline. You can work remotely, video call with friends on the other side of the world, and take photos for your blog. Apps like those at https://play.google.com/store/apps make it all happen. There are thousands to choose from. Being so dependent on these little babies can definitely make your stomach drop when you realize you left it at home!

Wireless Headphones: Cords and cables used to be everywhere. They were hanging out of the back of your TV. They were running riot from your modem. And they tethered you to your music player or phone. Now everything is wireless and that includes the headphones you use to listen to media and music. Websites like www.dextroaudio.com specialize in reviewing the latest models. You can get headphones, earbuds, and headsets to suit you.

GPS: Gone are the days of pulling over to the side of the road to unfold a paper map. No longer do we need to purchase a new map book publication every year. With GPS, everything is updated and accurate all the time. It knows where you are and where you’re going. It will verbally tell you all of the turns you need to take to get there, too. It’s like having the world’s best map reader with you for every journey you take. Of course, map reading skills aren’t quite what they used to be!

GPS is a Lil Red must have. I am the most directionally challenged gal on the planet. Thanks to no sense of direction, I am extremely dependent on my GPS. It is the best for helping me to get to different meet up areas with friends as well as assist me with the traveling that I do for my job. Thank goodness for it because I don’t think that I will be learning how to read a map any time soon!

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Image courtesy of Flickr

Fitness Band: Whether you have a pedometer or just a band around your wrist, you know how many steps you’ve covered. There aren’t many people that leave them behind when they go for a long walk. Each of them hooks up to an app on your smartphone to detail your progress each day. Some will buzz you to remind you to get moving while others sit passively around your wrist fitting awkwardly in with your outfit. These things are the beginning of highly functional wearable tech. Are they just a fad, or the most essential tech in your life?

With new advances being made in technology daily, who knows what the newest tech must have will be? What is one piece of tech gear that you can’t live without? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Letgo App

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Letgo App

Heyy everyone and happy Saturday! Usually I’m not big on “apps” or technology in general (ha!) but I found a handy little download for smartphones or iPods that has proven to be very beneficial in my effort to clear up some closet clutter. I decided to give the app, Letgo, a try after my semi annual closet clean out. The app is basically like an online garage sale where you can post pictures of your items, a brief description, and price, then whomever is interested in buying it can message you to make an offer.

I’m not really keen to going to resale shops like Plato’s Closet because I feel like you never get enough money for your items and they often pass on some really nice pieces. I also felt like I wanted to give making some money off of my more used items a shot because despite their wear they were still in fairly good condition. I like that this app lets you control how much you would like for each product you list and gives your not so “next to new” pieces a chance at going to another owner.

Thanks to the Letgo app, I was able to get rid of five pairs of shoes yesterday that have been sitting in my closet for months waiting to go to a new home. I had a brief meeting with my customer in Starbucks where she looked at the shoes that she was interested in from my listings, picked the ones that she wanted, and paid me the price that I determined. I made some quick cash (much more than I would ever get if I brought them to Plato’s), eliminated some clutter, and met someone who wanted to meet up again to look at more of my items. Score!

I’ve always toyed around with the idea of selling items online but I never knew how to go about doing it. Letgo makes the selling process so simple because your listings are shown to people who are within a 15 or so mile radius from you so it’s easy to find a good public meeting spot that is within a short driving distance for the seller and customer. I drove about seven minutes to meet with the darling lady and her daughter that I sold to yesterday and made enough money that the trip was worthwhile twenty fold. You can’t beat that!

I can’t recommend Letgo enough and you can download the app on their website at: http://us.letgo.com/en !

^^^ It seemed appropriate!

I hope all of you are having a great start to your weekend so far! Has anyone used the Letgo app or anything similar? What was your best purchase or sale story from a resale shop or app? I wanna hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah