Happy Go Techy

iPod Love

2011-09-11T15:22:00.000-07:00

http://dudelol.com?p=33385

Browser Wars

2011-08-08T11:10:00.000-07:00

StumbleUpon-ed this adorable depiction of the "the browser wars."

Pioneers of Industrial Design Stamps

2011-08-02T18:41:00.000-07:00

Went to the post office to buy stamps today and got these great nostalgic techie stamps! :D

We've come a long way since the first...

typewriters,

telephones,

& cameras!

;)

Like/Dislike Stamp Set

2011-07-29T09:55:00.000-07:00

I can see these coming in quite handy at the office... :p

Have a happy go weekend everyone!

StreamZoo Photo Booth Contest Winner

2011-07-04T00:36:00.000-07:00

Drum roll please!

We're happy to announce that the winner of the StreamZoo Photo Booth Contest is Lynne Watanabe!

Congrats Lynne! We can't wait to see the pictures you'll be taking with your new Holga camera from Urban Outfitters!

On the day of the Happy Go Techy Expo she took this picture and wrote:

"The things an entrepreneur has to do to get attn #Happygotechyexpo #StretchySuit #Seattle #StartUp"

Not only did she seize the opportunity to take a photo of the blue DealSpringer man she also talked about entrepreneurship which is one of favorite topics here at Happy Go Techy. The picture captured everything we were looking for - geekiness, fun, and community!

Do take a look at the other great photos that were taken at the event using StreamZoo here. While you're checking things out, do learn more about the DealSpringer app as well. They were showcasing their mobile app at the expo but just in case you weren't able to make it you can learn more on their website.

The app empowers you to promote special offers instantly right from your phone or computer at your terms in real-time. Deal Springer updates your Facebook Fanpage, Tweets & Emails your offer, updates your mobile store page and sends alerts to people nearby!

the Happy Go Techy Expo!

2011-07-01T11:28:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone who was a part of the very first Happy Go Techy Expo this past Saturday. The day was filled with excitement, creativity, and surprises! There were so many events going on at the same time so we really appreciate you taking the time to come out and show your support. We couldn't have done it without you.

We especially wanted to thank the following people:

Sponsors! StreamZoo, Handmade Spark, Things People Make, GeekWire, Meylah, Mission Hot Mama, Alex Lim Photography, Urban Craft Uprising, Schmancy Toys, Unanimous Craft, MindMeister, Tango Card, and Women 2.0!

Mobile Apps and Vendors! Thank you for taking the time to share your art, creativity, and entrepreneurship at the expo.

Note to attendees: Don't forget, you can still download and purchase items from our vendors online. Here is a full list of our vendors and mobile apps.

Here are a few photos from the event. Check out the entire gallery of photos here.

Staff member, Calvin Nguyen, showing off some snazzy iPhone cases by EXOvault and Jon Eicher and the ever so awesome bamboo MacBook Pro case by Silva LTD.

Free social media give aways!

Stephanie of Zaarly Seattle showing off their amazing mobile app!

Internet icon pillows by CraftSquatch & geeky tshirts by Good Joe!

Twitter Love:

We ran a lot of contests during the expo and will announce the winners next week. Stay tuned!

All That Schwag!

2011-06-22T16:33:00.000-07:00

Roddy from Startup Schwag has generously donated SIX BOXES of left over schwag from his Startup Schwag days! We're going to be selling startup t-shirts for $12 each to raise money for tech non-profit NPower Northwest at the expo. Also, drop by the Happy Go Prize Wheel for a chance to win some free schwag.

The latest addition to my schwag collection:

It's super comfy. :)

I want more web 2.0 schwag!

Swing Holder: iPad Stand

2011-06-21T19:33:00.000-07:00

Stand For Stuff will be demoing their Swing Holder for iPads at the expo. The stand is great for using your iPad while cooking, viewing things, reading, playing musical instruments, and more!

The stand is not in production yet; sign up for product updates here!

Schmancy Toys & Urban Craft Uprising 2011

2011-06-21T14:07:00.000-07:00

If you're in Seattle July 9th and 10th, be sure to drop by the Urban Craft Uprising! We love the concept of bringing together indie artisans and helping them reach the greater public.

{Artwork by Matthew Porter}

Watch this promo video by Behrens Films to see what you might find at the show.

You might find some wonderful tech accessories and art there if you happen not to make it out to the Happy Go Techy Expo this Saturday!

If you do make it out, drop by UCU's table at the expo and give them a little "hello!" Kristen Rask will also be there selling some items from her awesome store, Schmancy Toys.

{Social Media WTF Wallet from Schmancy Toys}

Happy Summer Solstice from Google & Murakami

2011-06-21T11:05:00.000-07:00

When Google first started doing creative variations of their logo, I always found myself looking forward to the next one. However, I'd have to say that as the years went by, I found myself becoming more and more disappointed with the logo integrations.

Yesterday, was a different story. To celebrate summer solstice, Google mashed up its logo with Takashi Murakami's art. I once travelled 400+ miles to see a Murakami exhibit so I was naturally enthused to find that Google did Murakami justice by doing an excellent job on the logo integration. Tech + art! What more can a girl ask for?

Jenni Hogan: Twitter Celeb & Hot Mission Mom!

2011-06-20T22:33:00.000-07:00

Tech fashionista, Jenni Hogan's bio pretty much speaks for itself:

"This Australian native is currently the most followed local TV anchor on Twitter in the nation. In 2011 she was named one of 6 finalist in the worldwide Shorty Awards, the “Oscars” of Twitter and she currently holds the title of Top Twitter Personality in the Seattle NBC affiliate’s Best Of Western Washington awards, voted on by the consumer. The Huffington Post just name her one of the top female geeks in the world and she sits in the 2nd position as the most influential top media brand in Seattle, right behind the Seattle Times. Jenni uses her online platform to empower her followers to better themselves or to help others."

We are green with envy of her tech accomplishments! She truly is an inspiration. What more can we say other than "Jenni, keep up the good work being a mentor to the many women and moms you reach through your personable online network."

If you'd like to connect with Jenni you can follow her on Twitter @jennihogan.

Recently, we teamed up with Jenni to offer her network of moms on Mission Hot Mama a Techy Fashionista Giveaway. There are prizes for mom, dad, and baby, too!

a Zune HD package, includes a device, accessories and a case
your choice of a beautiful handmade Kindle case or iPad 2 case
PLUS we can’t forget the rest of the family! You’ll also get..
an awesome leather iPad 2 case (for your hot husband)
and fun twitter pillow for the baby (this is too cute)

If you know of any moms who love tech and fashion, please tell them about this giveaway as it's right up their alley!

P.s. Even Jenni's one year old daughter tweets! She got it from her mission hot mama!

Fashion Network Seattle

2011-06-20T18:34:00.000-07:00

The Fashion Network Seattle is making great strides in the Seattle fashion community. We really love how they are embracing online mediums to do so. They do a great job on informing the public of fashion related events via their blog, Facebook, and Twitter as well as featuring local artists & models. You can tell they are really proud of the local community they serve from the fun Bragging Rights section of their site!

Aside from featuring the Seattle fashion community, they also wittingly cover global fashion as well.

Saw Givenchy's new spring line while persuing FNS today. This is what I would consider high end geek chic! Something I'd imagine we'd see in future Starwars movies. So beautiful!

Geekiest Possession Contest

2011-06-20T00:26:00.000-07:00

Follow these five easy steps to be entered into the contest!

Download the Streamzoo app on your phone
Take a picture of your geekiest possession using the app
Enter hashtags #happygotechy & #geek as well as Twitter handles @happygotechy & @streamzoo in the description area
Click on the Twitter icon on the same screen to share your picture on Twitter
Follow @happygotechy and @streamzoo on Twitter

{example}

Submissions will be judged based on "geek level" & number of likes on Streamzoo. If you drop by the expo this coming Saturday, maybe you'll find a new, fun geeky possession there you can enter into the contest!

The Fine Print

Contest Timeline
Monday, June 20, 2011 - Contest begins at 12:00am PST
Monday, June 27, 2011 - Contest ends at 11:59pm PST
Wednesday, June 29, 2011 - Winners will be notified and announced

Rules

You may only submit one entry. If you submit more than one, every title after the first submitted will not be counted.

Abide by Twitter’s and Facebook’s Rules and Terms of Service.

Derogatory, profane, crude, and inappropriate submissions as deemed by Happy Go Techy will not be accepted.

Submission of any entry acknowledges the right of Happy Go Techy to use it for exhibition, promotion and publication purposes in any medium.

Promote Your Business "Like" Contest Winner: Artistic Bend

2011-06-19T18:36:00.000-07:00

Tulika of Artistic Bend will be showcasing her jewelry at the expo! She is the winner of Meylah's Promote Your Business "Like" contest. Tulika got 101 Likes on Facebook on her celtic charm earrings which won her a table at the expo.

Meylah is doing a great job in aiding small businesses in connecting to the ever changing world of the web through their easy to use interface and free basic tutorials like this one.

Below is Tulika's testimonial on how Meylah has helped her become more tech savvy:

"Meylah has made me so savvy I would say. I WAS a person who was happy just checking emails and once in a while writing a blog. I always loved the way my friends monetized on their blogs about different things. For me there was a gap between doing it and not. Meylah helped me bridge that gap and the reluctance. Meylah made me look at myself as a person who could do it without feeling overwhelmed. I am doing pictures for my products and shipping them on a regular basis. It has helped me build my brand image. Meylah has preserved my hobby and yet helped me convert it into a business without making it like a job. I simply love it and love growing in both areas, technically as well as in my art. I was scared that once it became a job, it would not be fun anymore nut I was wrong."

Keep up the great work guys!

Mobile App: Flick+Share

2011-06-17T20:07:00.000-07:00

Flick+Share is an app developed by Cloud 8 Studios. It makes sharing photos on your Windows 7 phone a cinch - or should I say, a flick!

It's easy to use:

If you're in Seattle next weekend, drop by their booth and say hello to them at the expo!

Fashioningtech.com: Where Fashion Meets Tech

2011-06-16T08:29:00.000-07:00

Fashioningtech.com is the perfect site for the techie fashionista. It features wearable technology, fun DIY tutorials, photos, videos, and more! I love perusing spunky new designs and crazy ways technology is being integrated into the fabric of our lives - definitely fashion forward to say the least!

The brains behing Fashioningtech.com is Syuzi Pakhchyan. A little bit about Syuzi:

"Syuzi is an experience designer whose work investigates the intersection between code, cloth and culture. Her design and research interests include wearable technologies, physical and soft computing, and interactive textile design.

Her book "Fashioning Technology: A DIY Intro to Smart Crafting" explores the emerging creative practice of soft circuits and soft technologies."

Some fun things I found on the site.

{DroidDare: Mocktail Making Dress}

{Soft Circuit DIY Kits: Salt n' Peanut Tutorial}

So techie and cute!

Fashion Showcase: electricfoxy

2011-06-13T21:51:00.000-07:00

Jennifer at electricfoxy is piecing together fashion and technology one stitch at a time. She currently has two gorgeous garment designs that integrate technology with fashion: zip & ping. We're so excited she'll be showcasing her garments at the expo!

About Zip

"Zip is a garment that connects to your phone or music player and allows you to control it simply by performing natural gestures that are built into the mechanics of the garments we wear. In this case, zip up to increase the volume, zip down to decrease it, and tug on the pullstraps to retract the integrated earbuds. Enjoy your music experience without all the devices and wires hanging all over you."

ZIP from Dos Rios on Vimeo.

About Ping

"Ping is a garment that connects to your Facebook account wirelessly and from anywhere. It allows you to stay connected to your friends and groups of friends simply by performing natural gestures that are built into the mechanics of the garments we wear. Lift up a hood, tie a bow, zip, button, and simply move, bend and swing to ping your friends naturally and automatically. No phone, no laptop, no hardware. Simply go about your day, look good and stay connected."

Love the seamless integration. ;)

Expo Vendor: IL*MOSTRO

2011-06-11T21:42:00.000-07:00

We love Frances' robot banks. When we saw them on Etsy we HAD to have them at the expo. Aside from the fantastic geeky and nerdy designs she has available on her online shop, she also does custom orders. These banks make really fun, personal gifts. Perfect for grads and dads!

For the expo, Frances has graciously agreed to make a special Seattle bank as a contest prize.

Contest details to come soon!

Heart it!

Silent Auction Vendor: Hooby Groovy

2011-06-09T22:09:00.000-07:00

Thanks so much to Ee-Leng from Hooby Groovy for donating three of her ultra cute cases for the Happy Go Techy silent auction - all proceeds will go to NPower Northwest! Come to the expo to bid and go home with one of these cases while supporting a good techie cause!

{1UP iPad2 Case}

{Goomba iPad 2 Case}

{Panda iPhone Case}

Visit Ee-Leng's blog here and her store here.

Mobile App: MapBox

2011-06-08T10:05:00.000-07:00

"MapBox makes it easy to design beautiful custom maps, and fast to integrate them into websites and mobile applications. Whether you want to visualize census data in Chicago, monitor seismic activity in the aftermath of the Japan earthquake, plot drone strikes in Pakistan, or analyze election results in Afghanistan, MapBox will help you make more sense of your data."

MapBox radically lowers the barrier to entry for making custom base maps and overlays. Now data analysts can become mapmakers without GIS expertise, and GIS experts can become cartographers without first mastering design."

{How To Video}

Beautiful, functional, and fun!

We love it! Come to the expo and drop by their demo table!

NPower Northwest

2011-06-07T07:13:00.000-07:00

When we were first piecing together our initial thoughts for the expo, a lot of things were up in the air, but one thing we did know is that we wanted to be able to give back to the community somehow. It was hard choosing a nonprofit that we were truly excited to work with. We really wanted to help out a nonprofit that embraced technology in a big way and has the same attitude and passion for technology as we do. We found it! It's a match made in heaven; Happy Go Techy is pairing up with NPower Northwest to raise funds for their cause!

NPower Northwest is a nonprofit that helps other nonprofits utilize technology to its highest potential - how awesome is that?! They're "guided by the belief that technology can transform the nonprofit sector and play a pivotal role in creating greater good."

Admission for the expo is free, however, 100% of the suggested donation ticket sales will go to NPower Northwest and their mission to help other nonprofits! Register now!

Online Ticketing for Happy Go Techy Expo powered by Eventbrite

Expo Vendors & Mobile Apps!

2011-06-06T09:28:00.000-07:00

The expo is getting close. So excited!

We've published a list of vendors and mobile apps that will be showcasing the expo. Take a peek and tell your friends!

Happy day to you all!

MindMeister: Mind Mapping Software

2011-06-02T07:25:00.000-07:00

In elementary school when I first started learning how to write essays, I remember I hated the format of outlines. They were linear and boring - just didn't work for me. Eventually, in 5th or 6th grade we learned how to make mind maps (I don't remember what they were called back then) - mind maps presented information in a way that was much more easy to visualize and in which connections could be made more intuitively between all the "bubbles of thought." Problem was... there was never enough space on a small 8.5" x 11" sheet of paper. Once again, stifled creative thought due to technical limitations!

You can imagine my enthusiasm when I grew up and discovered MindMeister a few years ago! An online mind mapping tool that not only allows you to visually gather your thoughts, it also lets you do things like add icons, pictures, and links as references. And, they have a mobile app as well! We're so excited to announce that we will be showcasing their app at the expo. Not only that - Mindmeister has gifted us 100 subscriptions as expo give aways. Stay tuned to learn how you can get one!

Check out an example of a MindMeister map below:

Handmade Spark Give Away Winner: Rogue Theory

2011-05-30T21:47:00.000-07:00

{6th Generation Nano Cases}

I've been admiring Rogue Theory's cases & covers for a while now. So happy they've been chosen as the winner of the Handmade Spark & Happy Go Techy vendor package give away.

See more of their designs here.

Thanks Handmade Spark for connecting us!

Mobile App Demo: Hmmm...

2011-05-30T17:48:00.000-07:00

DreamTimeStudioZ will be demoing their new app at the expo - so excited! :)

They will demoing Hmmm..., a social version of their current app, HearMarkZ. HearMarkZ is "the ultimate memory app, (iPhone and iPod touch 2G) is an iPod enhancement app that creates an unlimited number of bookmarks AND text/audio notes for any kind of audio recording in your iPod library: audio books, podcasts, songs, seminar recordings, and more."

Come to the expo to check it out and learn more!

Happy Go Online Shopper Contest Results!

2011-05-30T10:02:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who submitted entries for the Happy Go Online Shopper Contest! For the best online shopping site we narrowed it down to two entries based on fashionability and site design:

Hautelook

and ASOS!

The fact that the two sites do not have brick & mortar stores was a plus. We decided to go with Hautelook for it's unique internet-based business model and high-end yet affordable sassy styles!

We had 3 entries for Hautelook so we threw everyone's name into the "Random Thing Picker" (love the simplicity of it) and the lucky winner of a $25 Tango Card is...

Ms. Sai Liou! Congrats, Sai! We'll be sending over your card shortly!

Happy Go online shopping or donating with your Tango Card!

A special thanks to Tango Card for sponsoring this contest!

Expo Vendor: Craftsquatch

2011-05-25T23:44:00.000-07:00

Our newest expo vendor, Craftsquatch™, makes geeky and internet themed pillows for geeks everywhere! Helping one geek at a time to sleep tight at night.

These pillows are ridiculously cute and are 100% handmade with care. Sleep tight at night knowing that your favorite internet application is right there with you. They also make great decor for your couch and bed.

Especially love this set of Google icon pillows!

If you can't make it to the Happy Go Techy Expo this year you can purchase your internet pillow by Craftsquatch here. Custom orders are also welcome!

Expo Vendor: SewZinksi

2011-05-25T16:45:00.000-07:00

Sarah is a designer of all trades; she stitches, sews, paints... you name it!

We love her eco-friendly mugs and headbands!

{CMYK Mug}

{KAPOW! Mug}

{LIGHTENING Headband}

For the expo, she is crafting up some new geeky/nerdy designs as we speak! Can't wait to see them!

Visit her site to view all her other lovely creations!

Meet, Greet, Create, Collaborate!

2011-05-25T09:27:00.000-07:00

Our friends over at Handmade Spark are stirring up some really exciting things these days! They are currently building a companion site called, “Things People Make” that will allow buyers and sellers to give feedback on products they are in the making. Think of it as a working studio, but online! Before a seller releases their product to the world they can use Things People Make to refine their product by getting feedback from other sellers and buyers. Things People Make will be a social site where people can share their items before they post them on online marketplaces like Meylah and Etsy.

Signup for email updates regarding their launch if you don’t want to miss a thing at www.thingspeoplemake.com! They are currently in hardcore development mode so stay tuned for lots of exciting things to come from Things People Make!

Help Make Streamzoo Even Better!

2011-05-24T23:39:00.000-07:00

Streamzoo is currently offering a $50 Amazon gift card to people who join their feedback program.

Here are some more details:

You will get a $50 Gift Card to Amazon.com for your time and support.
Streamzoo will communicate with you via email.
You will be asked to take an online survey.
Streamzoo would like to schedule a chat or phone call whenever it is convenient for you.
The entire process should not take more than 30 minutes – 1 hour of your time.

If you're interested in participating, please let them know by sending a tweet to @streamzoo. There are only 10 spots open so hurry!

Aside from just getting the "prize" (which is a great plus!), the value of constructive feedback is extremely important and if you don't think you'll make a difference in a new product's/startup's success, think again! Helping smaller startups out by giving them your 2-cents is extremely crucial to their growth and accelerates the rate at which great products are developed which benefits everyone!

Plus, I always get a kick out of getting the inside scoop on new features and products. I have tested a few products out for both small and big companies and it's always great fun. :)

Speaking of testing things (I know I'm diverging a bit), I couldn't help but to throw this cute test-tube-baby graphic from Woot t-shirts on here. So adorable!

Expo Vendor: Obvious Front

2011-05-24T22:17:00.000-07:00

Obvious Front makes capacitor robots! They're built with lead-free solder using electronic components salvaged from discarded TVs, VCRs, and computers. Super neat!

I love his list of favorite materials on Etsy: Televisions, Toasters, VCRs, Kibble, Computers, Lead Free Solder, Plastic, Chipmunks, Aluminum, Sculptie clay stuff

Chipmunks?! :)

Check out his store here.

Welcoming Meylah As A Happy Go Techy Expo Sponsor!

2011-05-24T00:00:00.000-07:00

We’re so happy go announce that Meylah, the ever so awesome and powerful all in one e-commerce platform and marketplace, will be joining us as a sponsor at the Happy Go Techy Expo on June 25h.

Meylah is devoted to building an online creative community for individuals to learn, share and support each other’s business growth online. They know how hard and time consuming being an entrepreneur can be so they offer the tools to help creative business entrepreneurs succeed.

Here are the things you can do on Meylah:

Meylah's Online Marketplace to Drive Sales for Their Sellers:

It’s been a great pleasure getting to know the founding team at Meylah, they are truly devoted to helping their sellers gain visibility and I especially love the story about how Meylah got started:

“Once upon a time, a group of creative individuals who, perhaps like you, hold down serious day jobs — decided it was time to create a new kind of creative community. Having found that it is hard to get your bearings in the online creative world, we imagined a place for like-minded people to share and advance creatively, while getting step-by-step directions to turn our passion into a business.”

The artists on Meylah are phenomenal. Check it out today and stop by their booth at the Happy Go Techy Expo!

Expo Vendor: Worme Woole

2011-05-23T11:05:00.000-07:00

Knits, mitts & (best of all) recycled gadget sweaters galore! We're happy to announce Sara as our newest expo vendor. She makes gadget "sweaters" out of upcycled felted wool. Dress your gadgets up in style while being green!

Visit her store here.

Expo Showcase: Silva Limited

2011-05-22T13:48:00.000-07:00

Justin started dabbling with wood at age 10; his father owned a hardwood flooring business. His finely crafted bamboo Macbook cases will be on display at the expo. They're incredibly gorgeous, sturdy, and light!

How They're Made

The cases start their life as a solid sheet of bamboo. They are then taken to a CNC machine where they are cut out to meet the specifications of the MacBook Pro’s. Once cut, the hand work begins. They are sanded, glued, felted, and finished all by hand. Then there is the leather strap, which come from a full cowhide. The hide is hand cut into strips and shaped to get a comfortable feel, then hand burnished and oiled to get a strap that not only feels great in your hand but will also last forever.

Visit Justin's site here.

Handmade Spark Connects & Promotes. You Design & Inspire.

2011-05-21T00:52:00.000-07:00

Handmade Spark is a awesome SEO and marketing service for Etsy sellers, and a creative blog for the indie and handmade community. They fuel the creative process and give members product pages, a mini-site, social marketing tools, directory listing, high traffic volumes, and google analytics/SEO insights. All this for just $6.00/month.

They are constantly promoting on social networks, blogs, and sites, generating even more visibility for the sellers!

Example of a Handmade Spark Mini-Site:

Today we launched a contest to find the most geeky of crafters on Handmade Spark to give a free virtual vendor package to the Happy Go Techy Expo! You can see complete details on the contest on Handmade Spark’s blog post.

It’s easy to qualify.

All you have to do is sign up for a paid Handmade Spark membership in the Geekery category by midnight Thursday, May 26th, and you’ll automatically be submitted to win a virtual booth in the upcoming Happy Go Techy Expo.

Everyone in the Geekery category will be considered, so if you’re already a member, then you’re golden. (Though it never hurts to spruce up your shop with geek-centric treasures.) Submissions will be reviewed based on relevance to tech & geekery, craftsmanship and uniqueness.

What are you waiting for, go to Handmade Spark and join today!

LinkedIn's IPO Is No Bubble - PCmag.com

2011-05-19T13:49:00.000-07:00

A great take on LinkedIn as a company and its IPO today.

A few lines from the article:

LinkedIn has always been like the more mature, smarter and neater brother to the plethora of other social-networking environments that sprung up over the last decade. It's not messy or confused like MySpace or overly friendly like the dearly departed Friendster. It's not about family and friends like Facebook or brief, pithy posts like Twitter. LinkedIn can plug into other software, like Microsoft Office, but unlike Twitter, it's never been cannibalized by its own third-party APIs. The LinkedIn site is a true destination.

With that said, congratulations to our good friend Michael (Phongzie) Nguyen! We're so happy for you! I'm off to polish off my Linked-In profile now...

Zaarly helps you buy and sell with people around you!

2011-05-18T07:08:00.000-07:00

Zaarly is a location-based, real-time commerce platform that helps people get what they want, when they want it from people around them.

Zaarly puts buyers at the center of transactions by allowing them to make requests for the things they need from people in their own communities. When a buyer posts a request to Zaarly — whether for food delivery, the latest tech gadget or reservations at the hottest restaurant in town — people in their community who have what they are looking for can provide it. This two-way, community-powered process provides convenience and flexibility to buyers while allowing sellers to make money fulfilling requests from the people around them.

Zaarly Introduction from Zaarly on Vimeo.

Happy Go Online Shopper Contest

2011-05-17T00:00:00.000-07:00

All you have to do is share the online shopping destination with us in less than 140 characters.

Submit your entry by:

following us on Twitter and tweeting it to @happygotechy using #happygoshopper

example: @happygotechy I love to shop on Swirl by Daily Candy http://bit.ly/3pvENB #happygoshopper

or

liking us on Facebook and posting a comment to discussion thread titled "Happy Go Online Shopper Contest" on our Facebook Page.

Submissions will be judged based on fashionability and site design.

Call to Bloggers! Post this contest on your blog and send us the link to info@happygotechyexpo.com and gain exposure for your blog by receiving a complimentary Happy Go Mini sponsorship ($150 value) for the Happy Go Techy Expo.

The Fine Print

Contest Timeline
Tuesday, May 17, 2011 - Contest begins at 12:00am PST
Friday, May 27, 2011 - Contest ends at 11:59pm PST
Monday, May 30, 2011 - Winners will be notified and announced

Rules

You may only submit one entry. If you submit more than one, every title after the first submitted will not be counted.
Abide by Twitter’s and Facebook’s Rules and Terms of Service.
Derogatory, profane, crude, and inappropriate submissions as deemed by Happy Go Techy will not be accepted.

Terms and Conditions: Submission of any entry acknowledges the right of Happy Go Techy to use it for exhibition, promotion and publication purposes in any medium.

Expo Vendor: C's Charms

2011-05-16T11:00:00.000-07:00

Cecilia makes fun, nerdy, and geeky jewelry. Her pieces range from Decepticon cufflinks to Nintendo Controller necklaces. Super cute!

We're so happy to be showcasing her pieces at the expo!

Visit her Etsy store here!

Dress Up Your Tech & Can't Live Without It! Mobile App Contests Results

2011-05-13T16:01:00.000-07:00

Thanks so much to everyone who participated in the "Dress Up Your Tech" & "Can't Live Without It! Mobile App" contests. The entries were fantastico! :)

(Drum roll, please.)
And, the winners are...

Dress Up Your Tech

Mr. Ethan Schaffer for submitting the Dodo Case for iPads - definitely unique, finely crafted, and useful!

Ethan won a Kate Spade iPhone case and a $25 gift card to Urban Outfitters. (Ethan, maybe you can gift the iPhone case to a lucky lady friend...)

Can't Live Without It! Mobile App

And, for most unique and useful day-to-day app, the winner is Grocery IQ - submitted by Ms. Helen Chang.

Helen won a $50 Amazon gift card. Can't buy groceries with it, but you can buy yourself some nice cooking/baking supplies. :)

Congrats guy & gal! We'll be sending you your prizes shortly!

Expo Vendor: Haute Under the Collar

2011-05-13T14:28:00.000-07:00

We're happy to add a fun, fashion vendor to the expo. Being that they have a background in Burlesque performance, Iva & Elaine have a knack for all things sparkly! They will be showcasing geeky ties & bow ties at the expo. I absolutely <3 the bow ties!

Check out their Etsy store here!

Don't just build a mobile app. Build a business.

2011-05-12T12:50:00.000-07:00

Our friend, Wayne Pan, speaking at the Google Developer's conference about how to leverage Mobile App Ads. Very informative!

Great job, Wayne!

Welcoming Streamzoo As A Happy Go Techy Expo Sponsor!

2011-05-11T00:00:00.000-07:00

We are super excited to announce that Streamzoo will be joining in on the Happy Go Techy Expo fun as a "Tech-A-Photo Photo Booth" sponsor. Thanks to Streamzoo, expo attendees will have tons of free, nerdy photo booth fun!

We're big fans of their app. It allows you to share and discover #streams of mobile photos & videos (yes, videos, too!). It solves the problems of consolidation of pictures amongst friends and family for social functions such as birthdays, weddings, bridals showers, parties, trips, etc. You can now see pictures immediately via streams as they are being uploaded by people at the same social function.

Not only is it a fantastic way to share photos & videos, it allows users to discover new things by seeing what others are up to via their streams and the live trending feature. Discover new cities, food, products, pets, and more by looking at consolidated streams in which a variety of people contribute to. Everybody has their own take on the world, it's a great way to see what others are noticing that you might be missing.

See how it works:

Download the app and check it out.

(Kudos to them for developing for both the iPhone and Android!)

Capture, share, and explore! ;)

Tango Card Makes You the Best Gift-Giver Ever

2011-05-10T23:29:00.000-07:00

Tango Card makes giving and managing gift cards easy. It's like a gift card on steroids.

When you give a Tango Card to someone they can use it online and in store at Amazon, Gap, Groupon, Home Depot, Nike, Pottery Barn, REI, Rixty, SpaFinder, Starbucks, Target, and Zappos. They can easily manage their balance and add other cards to manage with the Tango Card mobile app.

My favorite part of this service is that it allows you to donate your balance to a variety of charities or redeem it as cash.

Next week we'll be giving away a $25 Tango Card as a contest prize. Remember to stay tuned!

Welcoming The Daily Robot to the Happy Go Techy Expo!

2011-05-09T10:24:00.000-07:00

We'd like to welcome our new friend Miles Donovan the incredible artist behind The Daily Robot to the Happy Go Techy Expo!

Bio from The Daily Robot

(almost) Every day, Wm. Miles Donovan creates or documents a robot, and posts it on the internet. Every day Sometimes, Mo Martin writes a story or an anecdote for that day's robot. In this unblinking battle of wills, there are no winners, and no losers. There are only the metal people, and the twisted, miserable minds of the men that give them their mocking semblance of life.

Check out his etsy shop.

Some Lovely eCards for Mother from Paperless Post

2011-05-08T14:33:00.000-07:00

If you're like me and are far away from mummy this year, send her an elegant and colorful eCard from Paperless Post. Not your typical generic eCard from Hallmark.

Click here to view entire mother's day collection.

This one is my fav:

"May the fourth be with you!"

2011-05-04T11:37:00.000-07:00

We've been using MailChimp for some e-mail outreach campaigns. I went to their login page today and pleasantly found this:

Super cute! Love it. Love their clear and crisp web design and messaging as well.

But they're not all brawns and beauty, they have (non-monkey) brains, too!

They have a slew of functions that makes e-mail marketing campaigns easy and efficient. Importing contact lists can be done in a number of ways; you can import lists from Google Docs, Excel, and a variety of different CRM systems. Reports are straight forward and simple; easily track how many people have opened your e-mails and how many have clicked through to links.

I would even suggest using it for invites for social functions or for social announcements - their templates are customizable and quite sassy & stylish!

Best of all, if you have smaller campaigns, it's all free with their Forever Free Plan. What's better than free? Forever free!

Dress Up Your Tech Contest

2011-05-03T15:30:00.000-07:00

All you have to do is share your find with us by describing what it is in less than 140 characters and attaching a link of a photo to your description.

Submit your entry by:

following us on Twitter and tweeting it to @happygotechy using #duyt

example: @happygotechy Silva Bamboo Macbook Case http://bit.ly/maH6Yd #duyt

or

liking us on Facebook and posting a comment on our wall with "*duyt" at the end.
example: Wooly Bison recycled iphone pocket sleeve http://bit.ly/lOMtS6 *duyt

Submissions will be judged based on uniqueness, craftsmanship, and aesthetics.

Call to Bloggers! Post this contest on your blog and send us the link to info@happygotechyexpo.com to receive a complimentary Happy Go Mini sponsorship ($150 value) for the Happy Go Techy Expo. Download an image for your blog post here. Let us know if you would like a custom sized banner, we'll make it for you in a jiffy.

The Fine Print

Contest Timeline
Tuesday, May 3, 2011 - Contest begins at 12:00am PST
Thursday, May 12, 2011 - Contest ends at 11:59pm PST
Friday, May 13, 2011 - Winners will be notified and announced

Rules

You may only submit one entry. If you submit more than one, every title after the first submitted will not be counted.
Abide by Twitter’s and Facebook’s Rules and Terms of Service.
Derogatory, profane, crude, and inappropriate submissions as deemed by Happy Go Techy will not be accepted.

Terms and Conditions: Submission of any entry acknowledges the right of Happy Go Techy to use it for exhibition, promotion and publication purposes in any medium.

Can't Live Without It! Mobile App Contest

2011-05-03T13:58:00.000-07:00

All you have to do is share the app with us by describing what it is in less than 140 words and stating who it is developed by.

Submit your entry by:

following us on Twitter and tweeting it to @happygotechy using #happyappy

example: @happygotechy Kaka Flashcards App by Marcin Oczeretko http://bit.ly/4GsDHI #happyappy

or

liking us on Facebook and posting a comment on our wall with "*happyappy" at the end.
example: Kaka Flashcards App by Marcin Oczeretko http://bit.ly/4GsDHI *happyappy

Submissions will be judged based on uniqueness and usefulness.

Call to Bloggers! Post this contest on your blog and send us the link to info@happygotechyexpo.com and gain exposure for your blog by receiving a complimentary Happy Go Mini sponsorship ($150 value) for the Happy Go Techy Expo. Download an image for your blog post here. Let us know if you would like a custom sized banner, we'll make it for you in a jiffy.

The Fine Print

Contest Timeline
Tuesday, May 3, 2011 - Contest begins at 12:00am PST
Thursday, May 12, 2011 - Contest ends at 11:59pm PST
Friday, May 13, 2011 - Winners will be notified and announced

Rules

You may only submit one entry. If you submit more than one, every title after the first submitted will not be counted.
Abide by Twitter’s and Facebook’s Rules and Terms of Service.
Derogatory, profane, crude, and inappropriate submissions as deemed by Happy Go Techy will not be accepted.

Terms and Conditions: Submission of any entry acknowledges the right of Happy Go Techy to use it for exhibition, promotion and publication purposes in any medium.

Fail Whale the Success Tale

2011-05-01T12:52:00.000-07:00

Alright, I'm starting to think the twitter fail whale is all a big conspiracy. Twitter's symbol for their system down (a ridiculously cute whale being rescued by fluterry orange birds) has gained so much popularity that it could be likely for them to throw this image up for fun from time to time. A company with that much funding and following couldn't possibly go down as much as they do.

Tri was at Baker and Banker bakery in San Francisco and sent me this picture. The poster child for an epic fail success story.

Expo Vendor: FlashHarp

2011-05-01T12:13:00.000-07:00

Jim, the Backyard Harmonica Teacher, will be showcasing his FlashHarp at the expo! It's the perfect gift for any techy music lover.

Pesky Little Brother

2011-04-28T08:01:00.000-07:00

I love how fast technology moves and how new technology now has the ability to reach more people in a shorter period of time. Unfortunately, technology can also move in the wrong direction. It used to be that hacking technology was very expensive, but now any average Joe can be a hacker!

While driving yesterday, I heard an alarming story on Marketplace titled, Little Brother is Watching. It reports on how just about anybody can access your personal data with easy-to-use programs like Firesheep.

"Firesheep, someone can get on an open wireless network, cafe or hotel whatever, see who is on there, double-click a name, and access what that person's doing online. So someone is logged in as you on Facebook, on Twitter, any unencrypted site.

Seattle software developer Eric Butler says he created Firesheep to call attention to the inherent security problems presented by unsecured networks and by unencrypted web sites. Big name sites like Facebook or Twitter will encrypt your password as you log in, but after that a lot of that information is out there for the taking."

Sure makes me think twice about getting on an open wifi network next time I'm at a cafe. Eeks!

Android Cuteness Overload

2011-04-27T16:40:00.000-07:00

We all think Android is cute... but look how cute he is when he's squished into a ball form! My eyes are about to explode from cuteness overload.

Available on Amazon for 42 buckeroos.

Expo Vendor: MadObsession

2011-04-26T07:38:00.000-07:00

We're happy to welcome MadObsession to the Expo. Below are some of Rena's beautifully handcrafted leather iPad cases.

For the ladies...

... and the gents!

Sleep Analyzer for Just a Buck

2011-04-24T16:33:00.000-07:00

One dollar can still go a long way. Check out this app if you're having trouble sleeping.

Description of the App in the App Store (Sleep Cycle alarm clockBy Maciek Drejak Labs):
"An alarm clock that analyzes your sleep patterns and wakes you in the lightest sleep phase - a natural way to wake up where you feel rested and relaxed. We are now helping more than 100 000 people to wake up rested!"

SCVNGR: Go Places. Do Challenges. Earn Points!

2011-04-24T08:18:00.000-07:00

Social gaming... in real life!

"SCVNGR is a game. Playing is simple: Go places. Do challenges. Earn points and unlock rewards! (Think free coffee!) Individuals and enterprises build on SCVNGR by adding challenges and rewards to their favorite places."

SCVNGR | How To Play from SCVNGR on Vimeo.

How's that for some good ol' wholesome fun?! And who doesn't like free coffee?!

Happy go SCVNGRing!

Virtual Vendor: ChandlerTheRobot

2011-04-24T07:14:00.000-07:00

We're SO excited that ChandlerThe Robot will be joining us at the expo.

We absolutely LOVE Meg's polymer clay robot necklaces.

I especially <3 Melancholy Margaret!

Meg's Blog: www.chandlertherobot.blogspot.com

Travel Like a Human with Airbnb

2011-04-23T16:18:00.000-07:00

Airbnb is a fantastic site allows you to travel comfortably while giving you the most bang for your buck in terms of lodging accommodations. People from all over the world open up their homes to travelers like you and me. You'll find the most unique places on Airbnb ranging from boat homes in India to lofts in Brazil. The booking process is easy and secure just like how it would be if you booked with some chain hotel. It's much better than booking with a chain hotel because:

You get a personal flavor for the local hotspots through people's postings. The owners are friendly and want you to have a good time in their hometown. Before booking a place you can contact the owner with your questions.
You can travel like a human (damn that's a good tagline).
Way, way, way cheaper!!!

Their top 40 list features some phenomenal living spaces. Check it out.

The Boot and Breakfast:

I wanna make love in the club gangster iPhone hoodie

2011-04-23T16:17:00.000-07:00

How cute is this iPhone case? I love it. Only 16 buckeroos on etsy by user splashingKoi from Vancouver..

Dimensions:
Length: 3 in / 8.5 cm
Height: 4.5 in / 12.5 cm

Fun way to keep fitness goals

2011-04-22T16:16:00.000-07:00

We all know it's very hard to stay committed to staying fit and healthy in our busy lives. Often times we find ourselves too tired to go to the gym after or before work. It's sometimes it's a drag to go by yourself. It's not easy to keep goals in sight. However, since mental health is very closely correlated with our physical health we should all find ways to motivate ourselves and stay fit!

Skimble (beta) is a free site that can help make the process of getting fit more enjoyable for you and your friends. Track all your sports activities, compete on the leaderboards and win prizes just for being active. Skimble will automatically remember your Personal Bests and help you monitor your progress over time. Whether you run, hike, bike, rock climb, ski, snowboard, kayak, canoe, do cardio, lift weights, or practice yoga and pilates, you can join in on the fun!

"Circle Less, Live More"

2011-04-21T08:14:00.000-07:00

The City of San Francisco just got tech savvier! This past weekend, I was thoroughly impressed and relieved when I was able to use my credit card instead of scrambling for change to feed the solar-powered parking meter on 3rd Street. The City has now taken it one step further and has released a parking app that not only will show space availability in areas by street, but also adjusts for pricing based on demand of parking spaces in a certain area. Great use of technology to solve a common, urban problem. I have a Droid so I'll have to depend on feedback from all you iPhone users on how well it works. :)

More information is below:

"SFMTA established SFpark to use new technologies and policies to improve parking in San Francisco. Reducing traffic by helping drivers find parking benefits everyone. More parking availability makes streets less congested and safer. Meters that accept credit and debit cards reduce frustration and parking citations. With SFpark, we can all circle less and live more.

SFpark works by collecting and distributing real-time information about where parking is available so drivers can quickly find open spaces.

To help achieve the right level of parking availability, SFpark periodically adjusts meter pricing up and down to match demand. Demand-responsive pricing encourages drivers to park in underused areas and garages, reducing demand in overused areas.

Through SFpark, real-time data and demand-responsive pricing work together to readjust parking patterns in the City so that parking is easier to find."

SFpark Overview from SFpark on Vimeo.

Virtual Vendor

2011-04-21T07:35:00.000-07:00

We've gotten great response and feedback from our initial outreach to the Etsy crafting community. Many crafters and artists cannot make it out due to proximity so we've decided to bring the expo to them. We've created a virtual vendor sponsorship option.

Announcing the Happy Go Techy Expo

2011-04-19T00:04:00.000-07:00

The cat's out of the bag! We're taking a leap and will be hosting the first ever Happy Go Techy Expo on June 25th. An event at which more than 1000 tech enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, and fashionistas will gather to peruse unique, one-of-a-kind tech accessories, apparel, art, crafts, stationary, mobile apps and more!

We're currently looking for sponsors and vendors to help us spread the love of tech to tech-centric Seattlites!

Vendors apply here.

View sponsor packages here.

Stay tuned - we'll keep you posted on event progress! We can't wait, it's going to be loads of fun!

Dear...

2011-04-07T06:51:00.000-07:00

Witty, nerdy cards from Sapling Letterpress.

Playing Games

2011-03-31T19:36:00.001-07:00

I'd like to think some cute 2nd grader gave this to his elementary school sweetheart. Hope she said yes! It's just too adorable. Judging from how old that Gameboy is, he's probably a young man now who is very suave with the ladies. ;)

Heartsy: "Groupon" for Etsy

2011-03-29T07:41:00.000-07:00

An Etsy lover's dream come true!

Heartsy is a daily deals site which offers special discounts off of different Etsy storefronts.

There's even a section where you can vote on potential, upcoming deals!

Camera Tricks

2011-03-19T08:26:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine recently came back from the Philippines and brought me back this Nikon lens...

...cup!

Tricky tricky! It even slides in and out like a real lens. Love it!

Reminded me of some fun items I saw on the Photojojo store.

The Instant Camera iPhone Decal

Fisheye, Macro, and Wide Angle Camera Phone Lenses

Twin Lens Holga with Color Flash

Happy snapping!

Ads Worth Spreading

2011-03-16T08:20:00.000-07:00

TED recently named the winners of their Ads Worth Spreading competition in which contestants were asked to submit ads that would compel viewers to share.

TED curator Chris Anderson says of the ads: "We're seeking to reverse the trend of ads being aggressively forced on users. We want to nurture ads so good you choose to watch—and share. On TED.com, ads run after our talks, not before. As well as avoiding the annoyance of interruption, this positioning means they can run longer than the TV-standard 30-seconds. And that's the key. In 2-3 minutes, there's more time to tell a story, share an idea, make an authentic human connection. These winning ads, many of them long-form, powerfully demonstrate these strengths. We think they represent an exciting new way for companies to engage with the world in the internet age."

Nonintrusive ads would be much more compelling, targeted, and effective. We're all for the idea! We'd like to do our part in spreading these amazing ads. Below are our favorite ads from the competition.

Girl Effect: The Clock is Ticking

The World’s Smallest Stop-motion Character Animation

Enjoy and happy go spreading!

Watch all the ads here.

Angry Birds Game Coming to Facebook

2011-03-07T08:32:00.000-08:00

I predict a high drop in productivity levels next month... especially for Miss Mai.

"Rovio CEO Mikael Hed says the immensely popular Angry Birdsgame is coming to Facebook next month with “completely new aspects to it that just haven’t been experienced in any other platform.”

According to All Facebook, Hed used the word “collaborative” to describe aspects of the game, adding that “the pigs will have a more prominent role.”

Take a look at the Angry Birds page on Facebook, and you’ll see that something is up. If you “like” the page, Rovio promises to keep you posted on all the latest news about the upcoming Angry Birds migration to Facebook.

Other game developers must be envious of the meteoric rise of Angry Birds. First it starts out as an iPhone game, then it’s ported to Android, Palm and Nokia, then suddenly there are multiple versions of the game, and it’s showing up on PCs, PSP/PS3, Windows 7 Phone, there’s a movie tie-in, an animated series, and there’s even a 3D version in the works. And next month we’ll be playing it on the largest social network in the world.

Please tell us in the comments how you think Angry Birds will do on Facebook, and what you think that collaborative aspect of the game might be."

by Charlie White on Mashable

Kate Spade Keyboard Laptop Sleeve

2011-03-04T09:19:00.000-08:00

While on the Kate Spade site for the prior post, I couldn't help but take a peek at their laptop & phone cases section. Adding this to my tech wish list with the new 15" Macbook Pro to go with it, please! Hm, and an iPad 2, too!

Part & Parcel & Pink!

2011-03-04T08:22:00.000-08:00

Each month in 2011 (as part of their Behind the Curtain section on their site), Kate Spade will be commissioning a short film based on a color. January's color is red so it follows accordingly that February's is pink! Watch the stop motion short film by Part & Parcel here.

{production}

{result}

More behind the scenes Part & Parcel videos here.

Society6

2011-03-01T23:00:00.000-08:00

Society6 is a fantastic medium for artists to bring their artwork to market; they print everything from iPhone & laptop covers to t-shirts & hoodies.

"Selling your artwork as a product on Society6 is as simple as making a Post - except you make money from it. All you have to do is post your artwork to make it immediately available for sale as a variety of products. When you sell a product, we'll produce it, package it and ship it for you, so that you can focus on making more art!

SOCIETY6 RETAIL PARTNERS

Every time you Post your artwork for sale as a Society6 product, it is automatically eligible to be sold through the online stores of our Retail Partners."

They even have an iPhone wallpaper app - for free! How awesome is that?!

Found this on the Threadless/Society6 site and couldn't help but share. :)

My friend, Natalie, has recently launched her Society6 print shop and has been picked up by Urban Outfitters. Hooray! One of my favorite pieces by her:

Etch-A-Sketch iPad Case

2011-02-24T22:02:00.000-08:00

Old toy meets new toy.

Now, the Worlds Favorite Drawing Toy®, the Etch A Sketch®, and the world’s most revolutionary product, the iPad, have come together in the form of Headcase’s officially licensed Etch A Sketch® iPad case. Celebrate Etch A Sketch®’s 50th anniversary and be the coolest kid in the conference room!

But the Etch A Sketch® iPad case is more than just cool! It is specially designed to protect and enhance your iPad. Made of impact resistant plastic, the Etch A Sketch® iPad case will help protect your iPad. Rubber feet and a felt backing gently cradle your iPad inside the Etch A Sketch® case. Strategically placed windows throughout the Etch A Sketch® iPad case allow for easy use of all your iPad switches, ports, and buttons. And retractable kick stands allow you to either lay your iPad flat, or angle it for easy use of the iPad keyboard.
Yes!

Your Etch A Sketch® iPad case is incredibly functional and durable, especially when compared to other iPad cases currently available.

But who are we kidding? Buy it because it is fun. Hey, with over 150 million Etch a Sketches sold, the whole world will recognize and love this iPad case. Buy here.

Rene Magritte Macbook Decal

2011-02-23T07:16:00.000-08:00

{Rene Magritte}

Love how the apple is so perfectly integrated. :)

Dapper iPhone Pouch

2011-02-21T14:15:00.000-08:00

I just discovered the Curiosity Shoppe and am excited to go pay them a visit this weekend! Found this dapper iPhone case made by Hand Graft with room for credit cards, cash, and ID on their site - quite dapper indeed!

These limited edition iPhone pouches are beautifully hand-crafted from premium wool felt and fancy Italian leather. In addition to your phone there is also a pocket-shaped pocket (ha!) that will hold credit cards and cash as well. What more could you possibly desire?

Wool felt and aniline leather wallet, hand-crafted in Austria, measures 3.5" x 5". $75

Happy go President's Day everyone!

It's getting Haute!

2011-02-18T14:07:00.000-08:00

The emergence of flash sales sites like Hautelook and Gilt in recent years has really brought down barriers of distribution and pricing of high-end items for shoppers who would have never been in the market for high-end luxury goods. Yesterday, Nordstrom announced that it is acquiring Hautelook for a whopping $270 million. Goes to show that the mash up between fashion and tech is starting to really pay off, and not just for consumers. Brick and mortar retails giants are starting to take notice of the shift in the way consumers make purchases. Gone are the days of pushing, shoving, and hair-pulling over a dress or a bag or a pair of jeans at an in-store sample sale. We can be much more civil about our moderately priced, name brand purchases now. Thank goodness!

Swirl is a flash sales site Mai and I frequent often. We love the site design, the illustrations, the clothes, the everything about it. Give it a swirl! Happy go shopping!

Biz Stone on Fresh Air

2011-02-17T14:57:00.000-08:00

By now, everyone has heard much about the protests in Egypt and how the internet was completely shutdown to prevent communication. Living in the Bay Area, listening to the constant bombardment of news, I still felt really removed from the situation. After listening to this interview with Biz Stone, I was amazed by the extent of which Twitter and Google came together to push freedom of speech:

During the Egyptian demonstrations last month, the Egyptian government cut off access to the Internet to try to disrupt the planned protests. Twitter worked with Google to create a system to allow Egyptians to call local phone numbers in Egypt and speak into the phone, which would then be translated into tweets.

Truly a great synergy for a great cause. Definitely makes me feel a sense pride and excitement to be living in the center of the tech hub! Give the interview a listen, it really gets you thinking about all the possibilities of tech in relation to local and global communication.

How To Transform Your Hoodie Into a Computer Sleeve

2011-02-17T12:13:00.000-08:00

Source: www.thetrendygirl.net

Taking Your Platform Hosted Store To The Next Level With Shopify

2011-01-24T07:16:00.000-08:00

Sites like Cafepress, Etsy, Busted Tees, Zazzle are all great starting points for opening an online stores. If you have been highly successful on one of these sites, it might be time to expand onto your own domain name with your own shopping cart. Shopify is a perfect and very affordable route to go.

Shopify is a one stop shop for starting an online store. Everything from customized branding, hosting, security, social media integration, and robust shopping cart is provided in their solution. They even have a blogging feature that is comparable to wordpress and blogger.

Santa baby!

2010-12-03T08:31:00.000-08:00

Secret Santa just got easy with Elfster! No more hassle of writing names down on little pieces of paper, folding them up, and getting everyone in the same place to draw names only to have people pick their own name and have to redraw, etc. etc.

Elfster is an online tool that will help you do all that electronically.

Simply:

Create a gift exchange stating what, when, where, and maximum gift amount.
Invite people via e-mail to the gift exchange and wait for their RSVP.
Once everyone has RSVPed, Elfster will "draw" names and automatically e-mail everyone their Secret Santa.

Now, friends and families who are scattered geographically can have secret gift exchanges, too!

That's not all though, the tech gets even better! Elfster is pretty much the Facebook of gift exchanges. Not only can each member do neat things like create wish lists (with links) and ask their secret person anonymous questions,

members can also interact with one another via a social feed.

Hope you all get the techy gadgets your hearts desire this year.
Happy-go-techy holidays, everyone! :)

iStock Photo Pushes Fashion Photos

2010-11-29T06:00:00.000-08:00

iStock photo has really been pushing their 'high fashion' photos lately. Most of the fashion photos feature beautiful landscapes. If you're starting an independent fashion blog, this might be a good place to look for background images.

Angry Bird Toys Now Available For Pre-order!!!

2010-11-21T18:16:00.000-08:00

It's like a dream come true! Rovio has finally decided to sell plush toys of the characters in their hit game, Angry Birds.

Currently there are five different models of the plush toys - $14.99 each. I am a bit surprised they don't have a pig plush toy. The toys start shipping in December. These would make great stocking stuffers for the geeky boyfriend, young kids, or yourself too!

For those of you who aren't familar with this game, check out the video below. This game app goes for $1 on the iPhone and Droid. If you haven't played the game yet, you're missing out on a lot of simple and incredibly cute fun.

Pick me!

2010-11-18T19:10:00.000-08:00

A great example of how simple and efficient design and technology can spread & save the word. Love the way this site is designed - aesthetically pleasing and content implementation is quite clever. Adopt a word today.

Savetheword.org

In the spirit of tech, we have decided to adopt the following word:

Swirl by DailyCandy

2010-11-17T00:14:00.000-08:00

Swirl is an online sample sale site created in partnership with DailyCandy. What this means for you: clothing and accessories from the world's best designers, from up-and-coming buzzmakers to our favorite established brands, at up to 80% off.

The site is also very stylish and simple, made for an easy shopping experience. One of the best shopping sites I've seen in a while.

Saturday Smiles - Windows 7 Poking Fun At Macs

2010-11-13T11:41:00.000-08:00

Apple makes it too easy to tease them. I especially love the line, "I'm going to need a ginger ale stat."

FreshGuide.com - A Site Like Groupon But Catered For The Ladies

2010-11-13T11:28:00.000-08:00

FreshGuide.com is an online women-focused city guide that provides access to exclusive daily offers from a well-edited selection of local businesses in beauty, health and fitness, dining, travel getaways and other relevant categories.

Pretty much a Groupon for gals but deals can sometimes last longer than one day.

Five Friday Fashion Favorites

2010-11-12T10:06:00.000-08:00

Marc by Marc Jacobs - New army tote that fits your laptop and iPad ($289.00)

Michael Kors iPhone wallet and clutch - Comes in three colors ($79.95)

DODOCase iPad Case - The original book bound iPad case, hand crafted in San Francisco ($59.95)

Handmade bookbindery case for the Kindle 3 by PadandQuill from Etsy.com ($44.99)

Comfy Facebook "Dislike" Tee from BustedTees ($20.00)

Encourage More Reading On Your Blog with LinkWithin

2010-11-09T00:16:00.000-08:00

Ever wonder how to add related posts with thumbnails at the bottom of blog entires? Here is a quick how to. It takes a minute and is completely free and functional with LinkWithin. Don't let your older posts go to waste. :)

All you need to do is:

Go to LinkWithin and fill out the 4 fields on their homepage and click Get Widget!
Depending on which platform you use there will be a simple set of instructions on how to add the widget into your blog. Here are the two steps for a Blogger user:

Hit save and you're done.

99% off Hotel Deals on Off & Away!

2010-10-20T01:16:00.000-07:00

Too good to be true? Nope! 5 star hotels and resorts for the price of a dinji motel in nowhereville. Off & Away is a site that auctions luxury hotels and resorts. Off & Away is new so they don't have very many locations yet, however, they do have auctions going in the biggest cities. This is how it works:

Buy bids and compete in an auction. With each bid you cast, the auction price goes up by $0.10 and up to 20 seconds is added to the timer.
If you're the top bidder when time runs out, you win! You'll get the suite for the final auction price (separate from the cost of any bids you used).
If you don't win, you'll earn real dollars towards deals at over 100,000 hotels worldwide. Combine your credit from multiple auctions towards your dream vacation. Credits expire after 30 days.

Mango Fashion App Helps You Visualize Outfits On Yourself

2010-10-18T01:28:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of store branded apps out there. H&M, BEBE, Forever21, Nordstroms, so on and so on... they all have apps that help you shop from your mobile device. They're all pretty good but I especially like the Mango app for it's "Mix & Match" Feature.

This feature allows you to place Mango clothing on a photo of yourself so you can get a visual impression of how their clothing would look on you. It's free, do check it out.

Craigslist Updates Real Time With RSS and Google Reader

2010-10-18T01:15:00.000-07:00

We all use Craigslist, it's freaken awesome for finding great deals. The downside is that deals go too quickly! I found a video on YouTube that kind of solves this problem. Not the most ideal solution I know, but if you're use to using Google Reader then finding great deals on Craigslist can become a part of your daily reading.

The New Yorker Kindle

2010-10-11T00:45:00.000-07:00

I love The New Yorker's Kindle jacket cover! The most intellectual looking Kindle jacket on the market. Only $35 on Amazon.com. Unfortunately if you have the new Kindle this jacket won't fit. :( Let's hope The New Yorker comes out with a new set soon.

"Using a special photo sublimation process, the art appears as printed fabric on the front cover of the jacket. The Kindle jacket itself includes the Kindle 2 hinge system attachments as well as upper and lower elastic to hold the Kindle firmly in place. The slim, lightweight jacket is made from 100% genuine leather with a tan microfiber lining.

The Kindle 2 jackets feature The New Yorker covers “Sunday Afternoon in Central Park” by Bob Knox and “Bookopolis” by Eric Drooker. Two unique covers perfect for the literary-inclined Kindle owner. When you order, include a subscription to the Kindle edition of The New Yorker as well. What a great gift!

(Review from: Register E-Reader Accessories to Die For)"

My Kind of Man

2010-10-10T00:26:00.000-07:00

The other day I was at the Apple store and saw a little cutie doing his thang on an iMac. Looked like he was trading stocks while enjoying his Jamba Juice. Tech hottie in the making. :)

Imagine All The People Living For Today

2010-10-09T00:31:00.000-07:00

Happy 70th Birthday to John Lennon today! YouTube is hosting a campaign today to celebrate the musical legend. Submit your video tributes! Be creative! Yoko Ono explains how to submit a video here:

My Favorite Picture EVER of Yoko Ono and John Lennon (taken 10 hours before he was shot in Central Park)

Feel the Wood

2010-10-05T16:05:00.000-07:00

Look at these snazzy wood watches by WeWood. I love them. The company also has a very green mission statement: WeWOOD partners with American Forests to plant one tree for every WeWOOD purchased. Our Goal: Restoring Mother Nature - One Watch at a Time.

I Come to Pump You Up Mouse

2010-10-04T19:23:00.000-07:00

I was shopping for cards earlier today and saw something a bit out of place but very cute and happy go techy. A line of mice by Pat Says Now that are a bit out of the ordinary. Here are my two favs (if these two mice had sex and had a baby it would be one hot mouse):

As Fashionable As It Is Functional - Cambria Cove Fashion Travel Accessories

2010-09-28T21:30:00.000-07:00

Wallet and phone case all in one cute little package. You can add a strap to it an wear it over the shoulder for a minimal and chic look. I just discovered Cambria Cove and I love their fashion travel accessories. Just perfect for an on-the-go techy gal.

Another Favorite: Flashy Flash Drives

Free Texting For Groups

2010-09-28T21:23:00.000-07:00

Great idea and totally functional. GroupMe makes life easy for you and your groups to stay connected. It's your real-life network, in your pocket. It's available as a free iPhone app but you can use GroupMe on any phone that has texting capabilities no need for a smart phone.

Features:

Unique Number - Save your group's unique number to your contacts, so your friends are always in your pocket.
Can You Hear Me? - When texting doesn't cut it, call your group number to start an instant conference call.

High Fashion Meets High Tech and it's oh so Sexy!

2010-09-27T23:05:00.000-07:00

HP's latest digital clutch, designed by Vivienne Tam allows you to express your personal style while keeping you connected at the same time. Prices start at $579.99 - check out the specs.

On the runway:

(Red version is no longer available, this was version 1)

Dropbox Wins 10 More HOTNESS Points For New Updates to Mobile Apps

2010-09-26T10:11:00.000-07:00

It's hard to explain how awesome and useful Dropbox is, you simple must try it to understand the ease of use and convince it provides when sharing files. Dropbox makes it easy to securely share files with other people, sync them across multiple computers, access them from anywhere, and keep them safe. Available on iPhone, iPad, Android, and BlackBerry! They've recently made some tremendous leaps with their mobile features.

You can do all of this (and more) on your phone:

Browse the files in your Dropbox folder easily.
Open images and other media directly through the app.
Upload photos to all of your computers at once.
Share links to your files over email.
Search through your Dropbox instantly.
Export files to other apps.

I mostly use Dropbox to share photos with my sisters and make important work documents accessible to myself anywhere I go. Dropbox automatically backs up my files so I never have to worry about losing anything ever, I can simply restore previous versions of my file. Can't do that with Google Docs. It's really fantastic, see a full list of all the Dropbox features.

Plans start from FREE - $19.99. I've been using the free version for two years now and haven't had a single problem.