Mayer's Big Moves, Yahoo!

Marissa Mayer is the CEO of Yahoo.

Marissa Mayer is revitalizing the culture at Yahoo by focusing on three major areas: mobile advertising, acquiring smaller tech companies and personalizing the web for its users. Employees at Yahoo will be rewarded with more ownership and project resources if they accomplish reaching 100 million users or $100 million in revenue. Mayer has been Yahoo's 5th CEO in 5 years.

What are internet memes?

Sample meme

Memes are defined on Urban Dictionary as being "a pervasive thought or thought pattern that replicates itself via cultural means."  For our sake - this means mindless humor that is easily created and shared through social media channels.  They come in all shapes and sizes - addressing media, national events, controversial issues, and much more.

The best part about memes is that there is no "right answer" to this form of entertainment.  People simply upload their images to one of the many generators online and share away.  Successful memes are shared and earn "virality" - passing quickly among others.  For some sample memes, check out Memebase or Quickmeme.  If you want to learn about the background of the meme (including how it is commonly used), visit Know Your Meme for entertaining stories.

How does this relate to mobile technology?  Simple.  This content has become so easy to share that it has permeated into the mobile environment.  One example is a free application that is available for both Apple and Android devices.  This app is simply called "Meme Generator," and it can be used to browse the popular meme images and add your own text to the pictures.  From there, users can save the memes and share them however they want.  They are stored on your internal device storage or simply just uploaded online for other users to look at.  This application makes it simple to turn anything your phone can capture into a comic.  Give it a try!

What do you think of internet memes?  Do you think they are funny?  Offensive?  Let me know.

Budget Saving Apps II: Price Comparison Apps

Your Mobile Life featured a fantastic blog post a few months ago that was very popular.  Why?  Because it gave a list of awesome Budget Saving Apps of course. So here are a few more helpful budget saving apps that can help you search for products for cheaper and discounted prices online - while you shop in stores!

RedLaser Application

 RedLaser, available Android, Apple, and Windows phones for free, allows customers to scan the barcode of a product, search online and locally for the same product, and buy it for a discounted price.  Not only does RedLaser allow you to search for and research products, it also tells you if the product is in stock, how far away it is, and what store carries it.

Amazon Price Check Application

Amazon Price Check is available for Apple and Android smartphones for free.  It was stated by Forbes that Amazon Price Check may be evil, but it is the new competition for the traditional brick-and-mortar stores.  Amazon's new app allows customers to shop in retail stores, scan barcodes, take a picture of the product, or speak the products name, and compare prices directly to Amazon.  They can then participate in the one-click purchase option and it's done.

Google Shopper Application

Google Shopper allows customers to speak the products name, scan the barcode, or take a picture of the product.  Google Shopper functions much like RedLaser in the way that it compares prices locally and online to ensure that you are getting the best price.  Google Wallet is implemented in their Google Shopper app to make purchasing quick and easy!


Though these apps may be a sore spot for traditional stores, it gives consumers more options and ensures the best price.  What do you use for price comparison and mobile shopping?

Target & Wal-Mart extinguish the Kindle

Wal-Mart and Target are joining together to stop selling Amazon Kindles after disputes with Amazon regarding pricing. Target was the first big box retailer to act by not renewing a new order for the Kindle. A Wal-Mart representative told CNN Money in an e-mailed statement this Thursday that the Bentonville based, retail giant would not be ordering any additional Kindles from Amazon.

Cool and unique iPhone add-ons

ThisIsWhyImBroke official logo

I have been spending some time (probably too much time) browsing specialty items featured on thisiswhyimbroke.com. As a result, I found some cases and other toys for your iPhone that make for great novelty gifts.

Snapseed vs. Instagam

Snapseed, the mobile & desktop app

Google recently acquired Nik Software, the creator of Snapseed, for an undisclosed amount.  Snapseed is a photo-editing software that was designed specifically for for iOS and is available as an app or as a desktop app for Mac and Windows.

There seems to be two major players in the photo-editing app space - Instagram, owned by Facebook, and Snapseed, owned by Google.  Instagram has features that include filters, rotation and cropping tools, and is linked into their well known social media network where users can share photos with their friends.  Snapseed on the other hand is a bit more advanced in their feature offerings, but doesn't have a unique social media network to share pictures. 

Google seems to be creating an arsenal of photo-editing software between the newest addition, Snapseed, and their purchase of Picnik, a browser-based editor.  Google may be ramping up to utilize their newest addition on Google+ and combat with Facebook.  Google could also offer the Snapseed app in the Google Play Store on their Android phones.  Pairing the advanced features of Snapseed with Google+ and other social sharing sites, Google could give Facebook and their billion dollar investment in the photo-editing app, Instagram, a run for their money.

What happened to the iPod?

Apple iPods are updating features similar to the iPhone 5.

It's not easy having a new kid in the family. It's no question that the iPhone series is stealing the limelight in the marketplace, but what ever happened to the iPod? Well, no need to worry. Apple still cares about updating its other children.

In fact the iPod is experiencing a tech makeover as well. The iPod Touch resembles many of the new features included in the iPhone 5. Siri is at your beck and call as well. CNN reports that the new iPod Touch will operate on the iOS 6 system with the same processor as the iPhone 4S and users can enjoy auto-focused photos with a 5MP rear-facing camera.

The smallest Apple child, the iPod Nano, also has increased its screen size to 2.5 inches and includes an interactive touch screen. A fan favorite for exercise, the Nano comes standard with fitness features including a built-in pedometer, FM radio and support for Nike+.

Apple's traditional white earbuds are a symbol of the brand awareness it has established because everyone associates white earbuds with Apple products. On Wednesday Apple demonstrated the new and improved "EarPods" that will be available with the new Touch, Nano and iPhone and sold separately for $29.

If you are looking to buy a brand new iPod Touch, pre-orders begin this Friday. The 16GB Nano will be available in October for $149. The 32GB model iTouch will sell for $299 and the 64GB model will retail at $399.

The iTouch is an iPhone without the phone.

The youth and education markets are two customer segments that have been the most loyal users of the iPod Touch. Apple has sold over 350 million units since being launched in 2001 when Apple was said to be underperforming as a company.

What Apple product has been the best to you? Share your story on our Facebook page.

Play music wirelessly with the Auris Bluetooth music receiver

Auris is a Bluetooth-based receiver that claims to let you play music wirelessly from any Bluetooth-enabled device.  For those who skipped the video by Mashable (above), this receiver connects up to either devices (using Bluetooth version 2.1+ EDR).  
The device is as small as an iPod Shuffle and plugs into any docking station that currently is built for iPod connectivity.  It does not need to be plugged in for charging - the docking stations take care of that.  Simply plug the device in and connect to it via Bluetooth on your wireless device, and you're set to listen to any audio within 33 feet of the receiver.  
The cool thing about this is that users no longer need to be in proximity of the docking station - giving them the ability to roam and use their device however they want.  It also gives Android users the ability to connect to these docking stations through the device as well.  With the iPhone 5 changing the dock connector size, auris can keep docking stations relevant for consumers. 
While auris has not launched yet, they claim to have a fully-functioning prototype.  They are hoping to get more funding on their Kickstarter page by October 10, 2012.  So far they have almost $17,000 in funding - with 27 days to go. 
Would you use this device? Let us know! 

Microsoft says, "Bing it on!"

Microsoft has launched "Bing it on" vs. Google.

Microsoft is attracting attention to its Internet search challenge versus Google. Inspired by Pepsi's taste challenge in the the 1970s and 1980s, Microsoft has initiated a contest with Google called "Bing it on!"Microsoft is taking it to the streets and asking users to test and vote which search engine they prefer. If you were watching the MTV Video Music Awards on Thursday you may have seen Microsoft's TV ad highlighting the contest.

The Samsung Galaxy Camera

Samsung Galaxy Camera

We all know what a camera phone is...but what about a phone camera?  The new Samsung Galaxy Camera is just that - a point-and-shoot camera combined with a 4G smartphone.  Is it a cool idea? Definitely.

Mobile Checkout System for Walmart

Walmart Mobile Self-Checkout

Nordstrom experimented and implemented an iPhone-based checkout system for employees to simplify the shopping process for customers.  But now Walmart is testing a checkout system that allows customers to check themselves out and skip the cashier all together.  Technology is creeping its way into every aspect of our lives - and now it may actually have a big effect on jobs for employees.  

At Walmart, Customers will scan and bag their items as they shop and all they must do before leaving the store is swing by the self-checkout and finalize the purchase.  This will cut costs for Walmart shoppers even more than ever. But what does this mean for the employees?  Many employees were invited to participate in the testing round at a Arkansas Walmart store and some may wonder - how will they feel if they are participating in planning their own replacement?  If the iPhone checkout system takes the place of regular human cashiers, many current employees may find themselves displaced.  

Nordstrom's checkout system is iPhone-based, but it is operated by an employee that assists you during your shopping trip.  Walmart's checkout system is rumored to be customer operated and will not involve the employee customer contact during the checkout time.  This could negatively effect the overall shopping experience.  Many people don't want to use the self-checkout at the store because it poses challenges, sometimes is not super convenient and can be more work than its worth.  From personal experience, I go to the self-checkout when lines are longer than usual or when I only have a few items.  If I have a cart or I am purchasing fruit (where you don't scan it) or alcohol, I almost always go stand in a line because I would prefer someone else do the work for me.  If customers start checking themselves out, we lose the option to use the self-checkout or regular.   

Do you think that mobile checkout is a good idea for stores like Walmart?  Do you think employees are going to be upset that they could be replaced with an iPhone?