Can't Stop Geeking

As we wind down 2009 and prepare to celebrate new beginnings with 2010,  I want to wish everyone good fortune and health for this upcoming year.  If you plan to celebrate with friends tonight, please be careful.  Be safe, and be smart so you can be here to usher in next year.

This year for the holidays, my wife and I decided to get ourselves a combined large present instead of a bunch of little presents.  We got ourselves a Dynex 22″ flatscreen TV with a built in DVD player for our bedroom.  We find it easier to fall asleep when there’s a DVD playing in the background.  I mounted it on the wall facing our bed, and we’ve used it every night since.

So, what was the coolest gift you received?  Does it top a mounted TV?

While this is usually a tech and gadget blog, I just had to pass this along to everyone as a word of caution.  I was coming home after taking my niece to the baby sitter when I noticed a car in the ditch along side the road.  I pulled over, hit my hazards, and went to investigate.  An older lady had lost control of her car and had gotten the front end stuck in the ditch.  She had a cell phone that she had used to call someone in her family, but that person had not shown up yet or called to back to acknowledge the call.  I thought local law enforcement needed to be there since we didn’t know how long it would take for this ladies relative to arrive.  Unfortunately, I did not know nor did I have the non-emergency phone number for the local police department in my phone.  I actually had to call my wife, who was out of town at the time, and have her send me the number via text message.  The story does have a happy ending.  The local police sent someone out and just as I got off the phone, the older lady’s relative arrived and got her out of the ditch.

So, what’s the moral of the story?  Find your local police department’s non-emergency number and store it in your cell phone as a new contact.  You just never know when you might need it.

Even though it’s a little late, I do hope everyone had a happy holiday weekend.  I hope you got a chance to visit loved ones and spend sometime making new memories.  I have to say that my wife and I spent the day with her parents and aunt.  My mother-in-law and aunt gave each other charging stations for their iPhones.  The funny thing was that neither obviously knew the other was getting it for them.  We laughed about that for a good 5 minutes.

Well, I hope everyone has a Happy New Year, but please be safe when celebrating.

I love technology and any new gadgets fascinate me, but I worry about younger children. They are being brought up on technology so much that many don’t seem to know how to go outside and play. So, when I hear about stuff like this flexible tablet computer for children, I worry just a tiny bit. Kids are already getting computer education in school and most have traditional family computers in their home. Does this same child need a computer that goes in their backpack?

Imagine you have a website you like to visit.  Whether it is because of the content, the look or layout of the site, or if they offer mercahndise online, this is the first site you visit when you get on the internet.  Now, imagine you’re blind, or you have a muscle disease that hinders fine motor coordination.  How easy is it to visit your favorite site now?

Some companies are starting to optimize their sites to accomodate those with impairments, and the World Wide Consortium, which establishes internet standards, has developed guidelines for creating accessible sites. Having a cousin who lives with Cerebral Palsy, I know how hard it is to live with a disability. So, bravo to those companies who are already taking this step, and if you know of someone who works in web design, whether it’s a local orange county web design or a national company, let them know the good they can do for those with disabilities.

As we set to close 2009, many people are starting to look back at the previous decade for the great events.  We should technically be waiting one more year for the decade to be truly over, but I nitpick.  Anyway, I want to know from you is what was the greatest new gadget introduced? Is it the iPod, the iPhone, the Blackberry, DVR, Youtube?  Let me know what you think.

I saw this looking through cnet.com and immediately put it on my Christmas list for this year and next.

Not only can you load up to 32 GB of song files, it has a built in receiver for FM radio signals. Now, say what you will about including all your favorite songs, but sometimes listening to the radio is a pleasant diversion. It also supports Wi-Fi connectivity, so it can support live video streaming services from any number of sites. This truly could be the ultimate portable entertainment unit.

The date is getting closer.  Christmas is coming and if you’re looking to ship a gift long distance, now is the time to do it.  Some retail shops are offering free shipping, other online stores are folliwing suit. So, if you have a store with a web site design in orange county, don’t forget to offer that free shipping for customers.

I’ve been to numerous websites looking for gift ideas for my family, and each member has something unique that interests them. Needless to say, I’ve looked at a lot of websites this month trying to find the perfect gift. As I’ve searched, I’ve noticed that some web sites are easier to navigate than others. It got me to thinking, how do some web design companies decide to assemble a site. Does the site’s owner make all the decisions, do they collaborate with their design company, or does the design company make all the decisions?

I decided to ask around where I live, and I talked to some friends from an orange county web design company and he said that it’s a variety. Some clients like to manage every detail, while others are open to collaboration. There are a few who know only that they want a website. I also asked which type of client is the most favorable, and he said they all have their challenges. So, the next time you want a website done, you may want to let your company know how much you plan to participate.