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Opting Out in a Digital World | #TechMeTues

The other day a friend posted a link to a site where you can digitally "opt-out" of internet ads.

You know, like opting out of catalogs or various marketing lists back in the good ole days?

Now there is an internet version of those marketing lists.

Here's the Opting Out lowdown:

First you go here:

You then look through the list populated based on the computer you're viewing the site on

Note
the idea here is to identify the "ad spiders" that are building their little cobwebs in the background of your computer. Where they hope to catch various pieces of information about your "surfing" habits.

In other words ...

Ever wonder why the Facebook ads will show you items you've recently shopped for on Amazon?

That's why.

Creepy, I know.

Back to opting out ...

once you've selected the item(s) on the list you would like to STOP sharing your privacy with, you'll click submit.

I found, in my browser (Chrome), I was getting a "crash" error message.

I decided to let the site try to recoup itself and went to do other things {like organizing the pictures on my desktop that have needed proper filing for awhile} and then came back.

This seemed to work.

Sort of.

The browser recovered on it's own and the opt-out was complete.

Here's what my report said:

Interesting. I had checked ALL the boxes and yet 33 still remained with a message stating "opt out not completed".

Did you Notice?

Google & Microsoft were unable to be opted out of.

I definitely tried again.

Another crash error message.

Once the browser recovered 2 more had been removed.

An imperfect process, but a process just the same.

The Opting Out bonus?

My ability to remove Facebook from any ad permissions.

Since with every update release they seem to take my privacy settings and change the meanings as well as the intention, I plan to "run" the opt out again.

And again.

And from time to time after that, because I completely expect the companies to find their own ways around this new sense of control I've discovered.

The downside of Opting Out?

There are plenty of reasons sharing your habits can be a good thing.

For example:

• the creation of useful apps
• search engines giving you results that you're actually interested in
• items of relevance popping up in the "you might also like" section of shopping carts

While I was adament to remove Facebook from viewing my web surfing style, I actually don't mind Amazon seeing it.

I do almost ALL my shopping on Amazon.

If they want to recommend additional (useful) items, I'm grateful for the time saver assistance.

 

Now, keep in mind, the ability to opt-out has always placed fear in the boots of marketers. The collection of data is how they measure success for job security.

But opting out allows the consumer to maintain control of what they are exposed to and hopefully keeps the integrity of our growing technological world.

 

Let's chat over on the VolunteerSpot Facebook page:

Are you excited about opting out digitally?
Will you be running the diagnostic & removing sites from your "permissions" list?
Or do you appreciate "ads" guiding you through the digital age?

 

Graduation Gifts | #TechMeTues

This year is the year we've been invited to A TON of high school graduation parties.

How exciting?!

They've done it!

Except, now I'm faced with

what do I give them for this next stage of life?

---

These are the children who never knew life without the internet, without cell phones, without wireless solutions. As one of my friends, Rachel put it:

 

---

For one graduate I'm considering an Amazon gift card.

Yet my life experience states that it's impersonal to give a gift card, let alone email it!

Oy.

I'm getting old.

Part of evolving, for me personally, means accepting AND embracing change. Especially change created by the younger generation(s).

My logical side says "Give them a gift card!"

• its practical
• they'll be able to get what they need
• you won't be wasting your money

My emotional side says "Give them something meaningful!", something:

• they'll always remember as their graduation gift
• that will inspire them
• that they'll feel gratitude toward for years

The only thing I've been able to come up with, that fits all those requirements?

Cash.

Cold Hard CASH

Ugh.

• Too impersonal?
• How much is enough these days?
• What else could I give?

While some of the hottest grad gifts are things like tablets, bluetooth speakers, headphones and luggage I'm not sure any of those fit the bill {both for my budget and their needs}

Let's not even talk about the varying levels of relationships I have with each of them (or lack there of).

 

Graduate 1:

---

We are very close friends with the parents.

The graduate is:

1. male
2. a good kid
3. not college bound
4. unsure of next steps

This time next year:

likely living at home working

Likes/Dislikes:

I'm unsure 

GIFT:

This one is the hardest.

Knowing that he's staying home, cash seems much less an immediate necessity. Not knowing what he would like or needs, is making it even more difficult.

I think for this one I'm leaning toward a "Gas Gift Card". When I think about the one thing he'll need right after graduation it's likely fuel for his car so he can get to either interviews or his new job, right?

Graduate 2:

---

I spent a fair amount of time with this family in my Organizing Days

The graduate is:

1. female
2. college bound (prestigious university)
3. the "baby" of 5 siblings

This time next year:

finishing up freshman year at a university, packing up a dorm or apartment

Likes/Dislikes:

Again, I'm unsure

GIFT:

This one might be a little easier.

My time in her life was mostly during her elementary & middle school days, but I remember how she felt being the "last one". She always had the hand-me-downs.

Her older siblings are wonderful people and have stayed close so I'm not worried about her going without anything she'll need to get started in her college life.

I asked Mom what I could give her that she'd value, (after we were done with the pleasantries of 'don't get anything'), she mentioned a Target gift card.

Back to the impersonal gift choice(s).

Oy.

Although, it might be what I get her.

Mom made it sound like that was the standard answer she was giving people when they pushed for an answer. And let's face it, who wouldn't enjoy a small shopping spree at Target right before heading off to college?

 

Graduate 3:

---

We are very close to this one, both child & family

The graduate is:

1. male
2. community college bound
3. athletic

This time next year:

likely finishing up freshman year at a community college away from home

Likes/Dislikes:

I completely know hobbies, interests and what would appeal to this graduate

GIFT:

We've known this teen for 10 years. He calls me "OM" {Other Mom} and has been as much a part of our family as our own kids.

I would have thought his gift would be so much easier.

It's not.

He hunts, fishes, camps and does all the manly outdoors-ey things with the guys all the time. But I think he's all set on anything he'd need in those departments.

My standard graduation gift for this situation is a HUGE gift bag full of $0.20 top ramen and a 'hot pot' (kind of like a mini crock pot that heats up super fast - perfect for dorm life). That seems too impersonal this time though.

Looking to tech solutions I've considered an "Amazon Prime for Students" subscription, a Jackery back up battery for his iPhone, or even one of those charging backpacks ...

The hang-up I find myself having is if I'm going to give him something it seems it should be memorable. Like an heirloom watch or a leather wallet.

He'd look at me like I fell off my rocker if I gave him either of those though.

Right now I'm leaning toward a crisp $100 dollar bill.

Again with the cash ... {{shaking head}}

Graduate 4:

---

This one is the older sister of #Pipsqueak's girlfriend.

The graduate is:

1. female
2. community college bound
3. staying home after graduation and into college years

This time next year:

finishing up freshman year at the local community college

Likes/Dislikes:

We have gotten to know her during her senior year, not as well as Grad 3 but enough to have gift ideas swirling

GIFT:

For this young lady, we've had a lot of help from her sister.

She's an avid reader. {{and shhh, don't tell anyone, but we've helped her sister make a ladder bookshelf for her gift}}

So, it makes sense to get her a book or a gift card to her favorite book store.

Some of the tech solutions I thought of included the above mentioned "Amazon Prime for Students" subscription, a Keepsy photo book (with help from her Mom & sister), an Instagram Photo blanket or pillow (for getting cozy during her reading time) or maybe a lending library kit/app.

I should mention, she is an avid reader that prefers real books. So the obvious tech gift of a Kindle was out the door the minute I thought of it!

 

How about you?

Do you have teen grads you're buying gifts for?
What are you giving?
How did you decide?

 

Come chat with me over on the VolunteerSpot FaceBook Page & let's find solutions together!

Surviving Jack | #TechMeTues

Raise your hand if you have personal memories from the early 90’s.

You know, life before laptops - cell phones - the internet {gasp}.

Turns out all those things (and more) are being used to try and save a new sitcom that was canceled before it even had a chance to show off it’s shoulder pads.

“Surviving Jack”:

 

After discovering this little gem on Hulu, I turned my Merry Band of Fan Boys on to it & now we gather around to catch the latest episode each week

{another gasp} something we’re watching as it’s released instead of ‘binge-watching’???

I digress.

So, when #FireDude told me the other day that our newest fave didn’t get renewed for a second season, I was in shock. Surely we weren’t the only ones finding comfort & nostalgia in these weekly 30 minutes!

And of course, I was right.

In true fashion, I Googled whether or not #FireDude had just picked up on some nasty gossip or if the cancellation was a factual horror.

Unfortunately, this post confirmed it … "Why are TV shows canceled so quickly ..."

Enter a gentleman named Jake Hancock using a website called “change.org”.

Jake has taken to the internet as a way to show the TV & Film industry that our viewing habits may be changing but our desire for good entertainment still remains. I’m curious what it will take to get the entertainment industry decision makers to wake up and smell the hashtag(s). Maybe this petition? 

Fox Broadcasting Company Renew Surviving Jack

Clearly being a VolunteerSpot reader/advocate you can appreciate the value technology brings to our daily lives … even if corded phones and reference sections of the library are a not-so-distant memory of the past.

Your turn to weigh in:

Do you support #BringJackBack?
Are you willing to sign a Change.org petition to have your digital voice heard? (have you before?)
Have you created a Tech-olution?

Perfect Teen / Tween Gift Idea :: Cellairis

Look around the next time you're in the presence of a group of adolescents ... what is the one thing they have in common?

Their hormones? Their developing self esteem? Their ability to "thumb-type" 50 wpm? {{we're getting warmer}}.

Their smartphones!

So as you rack your brain for the perfect gift idea to this picky recipient consider enhancing that tiny-little-personal-computer they keep in their pocket.

One of the companies I met at CES was Cellairis. While their booth was impressive, with a WIDE variety of products, there was one thing that caught my eye.

The customized smartphone case.

#Pipsqueak has been dating his girlfriend for awhile now so the realm of gift giving has begun. Being a Mom who is dedicated to raising good husbands requires that I encourage him to give gifts both with meaning as well as longevity.

Be thoughtful. Be considerate. Be sustainable.

As I've ventured down this rabbit hole of customized gift giving over the years there are a few things I've realized:

1. Gift Cards are okay to give
• these gifts aren't about the face value, they're about the emotional value
2. A surprise only works if you've seen something like this work before
• some people aren't as in to customized items as you might be, try not to guilt them into loving a gift you should have actually given yourself.

So, when the time came to give #TheSweetHeart her customized case we went with the gift card option. My kiddos are old enough to fix my smartphone hiccups - I figured she could handle creating her own case.

It was also a bit of an experiment in "how easy would this be for the average teen to create?"

 

Cellairis was kind enough to send me a gift card for the experiment {{Thanks Guys!!!}}

 

Here's where she began:

 

She had to "select" her device:

 

 

Then she had to select the type of cover (and coverage):

I was really surprised at how affordable a gift like this is!

 

 

Next she moved onto selecting a layout:

This was where I was really glad we gave her the gift card. I definitely would have made a collage but she just wanted one image.

 

 

The process allows you to "sync" with any of your social sharing locations to grab images you'll want to use or to upload from your computer:

She tried this step on her pc laptop but said there was an issue with the site connecting with her account(s), so she came over and tried it on my Mac. We're not sure if that was a computer thing, an internet connection thing or simply a one time snafu, but it worked here.

 

 

the option to add text & colors/patterns just kept the customizations coming

 

 

the designer in me loved that she could scale the photo to fit & even rotate it if needed

 

It didn't take long for the case to arrive. She & I were both impressed with the quality of the product both from the protection it offers and the printing of the image.

The Verdict?

I would totally do this again! As a matter of fact, when #Pipsqueak upgrades his phone next year I'll sit him down to create a case while we wait for the new mini-handheld-computer to arrive.

How about you?

Have you been stumped by finding the perfect gift for a teen/tween?

Have you purchased a customized "geeky" gift before? How did it go?

Do you think you'll give something like this a try?

Let's chat!

Life Changing iPad Accessory | #TechMeTuesday

If you're not already sitting down, have a seat ~ 'cause I'm about to share a Life Changing iPad Accessory with you! 

Brace yourself, I'm also about to sound like an infomercial ... I'm really not trying to ~ but I can't get over the simplicity of this brilliant little invention.

Disclaimer:

Apologies. When I gush, I really gush. {oh, and these guys aren't paying me to say any of this. They simply asked if I'd like to receive one of their products for a potential review and I thought "meh, what have I got to lose?" So I said "sure, why not"}

 

Remember back when I attended CES?

And I told you I saw all kinds of cool things?

Yes, about that.

This simple looking dealy-ma-bob most certainly did NOT stand out in my memory as being one of the things I just had to have ... but it turns out, it is.

Which brings me to their name :: Standzout. {um, did I just make a cheesy pun? oops, didn't mean to} Maybe it's best if I just let them show you exactly what this thing is & does:

 

See, now can't you envision yourself using one of these??? If not, let me help you along ...

Life Changing iPad Accessory Use #1:

Following a recipe in the kitchen. Not that I would know anything about this {I can burn water}, but I've seen #FireDude come up with some pretty interesting "propping" solutions while the iPad sits precariously close to an open flame or the edge of a counter.

Life Changing iPad Accessory Use #2:

Bubble bath entertainment. At the end of a hard day watching "stuff" on the iPad is a little luxury I enjoy. Taking a bubble bath while doing so makes it a "Calgon" moment. Balancing an expensive tech gadget above a tub of water, um, well that takes away from it being relaxing. {especially with a curious cat stalking the edge of the tub deck}.

Life Changing iPad Accessory Use #3:

Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime ... in bed. Like I said, I'm a sucker for using the iPad as my own personal movie theatre. I also tend to fall asleep while getting caught up on my primetime shows. Only to be left waking up at 2am panicked that I still have the device balanced on my legs or in between things on my nightstand ... not anymore!!! #yippee

Life Changing iPad Accessory Use #4:

Second Screen. For those of us that spend our days surrounded by tech, the stand has finally given me a way to "position" the iPad so it can effectively be a second {or sometimes 3rd/4th} screen.

Life Changing iPad Accessory Use #5:

Learning something. So, I haven't actually done this one yet. But you better bet I'm super excited to! My Mother-In-Law is going to begin {the uphill task of} teaching me how to sew so I can make a quilt. #yay But I imagine there will be plenty of YouTube video tutorials in between her visits. I can already imagine how the set up will look!

Life Changing iPad Accessory Use #6:

Summertime. Life around my house during the summer is filled with lounging on the back deck, a beer in hand and reading my favorite magazines on the iPad {or #FireDude soaking in the latest news from the USA Today app}. I can't wait to be able to forgo the balancing act we tend to conjure up!

Life Changing iPad Accessory Use #7:

Video Chatting.

One of my dearest friends is a "Digital Nomad". Which means we grab FaceTime or Skype calls whenever she has a strong enough wifi for it. This, sometimes, means I'm multi-tasking {like folding laundry, doing dishes, getting ready for my day} when the calls come in. I usually have to stop what I'm doing to hold the iPad {or my phone} just right so we can see each other. Not anymore!!!   Which reminds me, the model Standzout sent me has a cool little adapter so I can use it with my smartphone too!

Eh-hum ... a couple of smart cookies those guys are at Standzout {grin} and in case you wanted to watch their educational video about how easy it was to set this thingy-ma-bobber up you can go to their product page for that ... Standzfree Universal Floor Stand For Movies, Music, Reading & Gaming {scroll down to mid-page}   How about you?

What Life Changing iPad Accessory do you have in your home {or office}?

Better yet, what could you see yourself using this invention for?

 

Pick A Cause & Get A Watch | #TechMeTues

I just ordered a new watch.

I didn't set out to buy a new watch today.

But I did.

Join my journey for a moment ...

Skimming my FB feed this morning I saw this:

I just landed 2 new clients in my day job ... so, I'm feeling pretty good about Paying-It-Forward. I clicked the link & headed to my friend Jennifer's site to see what this was all about ...

 

 

I loved how she talked about this product ...

 

"... I look at it, not as buying a watch, but as making a donation to help the world and getting a watch as a gift."

 

Of course my next action was to click on through to the site, where I was immediately met with this:

I love the simple communication and clean look of the site. I love the transparency of knowing exactly what my purchase goes to AND how many will benefit.

Making a decision was actually harder than I expected, but ultimately I went with "Hunger":

Upon purchase I was met with the following:

Smart.

Very smart.

Of course, I shared on Twitter & FB.

Now, I await the arrival of my new watch. I'm already contemplating which one(s) I'll buy next and who I'll be gifting them to.

Where do you stand on philanthropy these days?

Would you pick a cause & get a watch?

 

Protecting My Smartphone | #TechMeTues

I don't know about you, but I'm a bit of freak when it comes to protecting my smartphone ... I mean seriously, it's smarter than me!

The thing should really come with it's own team of secret service agents. {IMHO}

However, here in the real world, it doesn't.

So that means I'm left to my own resources to keep the thing safe.

Oy.

Enter Otterbox, the Lifeproof of Android cases.

If you would have told me before I attended CES that I'd be removing my lovely pink Otterbox and replacing it with the Soft -Tec Wallet for Samsung Galaxy S4 I would have laughed you off the face of the planet.

Truly.

But then something magical happened ... Remember this guy from last week's collection of photos?

 

Yes, this guy {and his boss} gave me this:

 

ElementCase Soft -Tec Wallet for Samsung Galaxy S4

 

I had secretly dreamed of putting a case like this on my smartphone but was worried it wasn't worthy {the case}

You know,

worthy of sustaining accidental drops

worthy of keeping all the smartness safe

worthy of protecting the exterior from my busy life

 

So I agreed to give it a try ... in my mind.

Truth be told?

I begged these guys for the case ... and they spent 20 minutes digging around their booth for it! When they finally found one and "installed" it on my phone I was so giddy I offered to kiss them both.

They politely declined, but I was ready to leave a little red lipstick kiss on each of their cheeks just the same.

Changing over to this ElementCase Wallet was a personal challenge AND a victory.

• Could I step outside my comfort zone?
• Would I be responsible enough to let the GS4 live outside of an Otterbox?

Silly questions for a 40+ year old woman to be asking herself?

Sure.

But these are the things that keep me up at night.

 

Without that one gadget, life as I know it would be quite a nightmare. {am I right?} I remember thinking as they were inserting the GS4 into the wallet-case-thingy

 

that screen has never been touched by human hands

 

Yes, that's how quickly I stuck that sucker in the good ole Otterbox. Luckily, a few aisles over I ran into the TYLT booth where they were happy to accommodate my screen-protectiveness-anxiety with this:

Installing one of these things is not nearly as scary as I imagined. I loved the plastic "guide" it came with & the tutorial of instructions {for those of us who actually read instructions}

Life after CES with my new wallet-case-thingy:

I have to admit, I've been more than pleasantly surprised.

• The guys assured me the case would stand up to protecting the phone if dropped :: it has
• The guys pointed out the "sound tunnel" the case creates while listening to music or watching a video :: it has
• The guys pointed out the "wristlet" would come in handy :: it has

What I didn't expect from this case:

To say that I'm a "simplistic" girl would likely be an understatement.

I embrace technology and all it has to offer in my gadgets {read: GS4}.

So when I put my driver's license & debit card in the two slots provided I expected it to make it easier to access them. Turns out, I now walk out of my house with JUST my phone. Yes! You read that correctly! I had 'downsized' my purse to a clutch years ago, but now I've managed to downsize to just a phone case!

I mean, seriously! Where are those guys now? I'd leave a faceful of red lipstick kisses!

I am unsure though, if I'm expected to remove the phone from the tray-clip-thingy inside the case when I get a call. But I don't.

I'm terrified of ... well all kinds of worse case scenarios.

So I'll happily look like a goofus with my license & debit card flashing everyone from the side of my head {when not using my bluetooth}.

By the way, I had originally "stopped" by the ElementCase booth because of their display case. Turns out these guys make military grade cell phone cases. As you can imagine, my Merry Band of Fan Boys could definitely benefit from those!  

 

How about you?

What kind of phone case do you use?

Have I inspired you to give a Wallet-Case-Thingy a try?

How can I answer your Tech Me Tuesday questions in the future?

  .

Tech Me Tuesday Starts Today with a CES roundup

Welcome to our newest column, Tech Me Tuesday! A dedicated column to all things tech for busy Parents.

Written by April Welch, {and sometimes subsidized by #FireDude and/or #Pipsqueak, a.k.a. :: her merry band of fan-boys}.

 

Have a tech question?

 

Ask April!

She doesn't claim to know everything, but she does claim to know how to find the answer to anything you can throw at her!

 

You might recognize April's name from her years here writing the Tidy Thursday Column.

She's "retired" from organizing since then and now spends her days training entrepreneurs on social media best practices, so when she asked if she could write about tech "stuff" we were excited to see what she had up that sleeve of hers!

Because, really ... could she ever just retire from being and organizing expert? I guess we'll find out!

 

Consumer Electronics Show {CES}:

Hey all, it's so exciting to be back here on VolunteerSpot! I'm really looking forward to answering questions regarding all things tech so don't hesitate to leave comments below!

Now, let's get to it:

Back in January I attended the Consumer Electronics Show - CES. I thought to get us started on this column I would try to give you a bit of a recap.

Known for being the biggest electronics show, it takes place in Vegas every year and attracks a worldwide audience. The insanity of this convention cannot even be articulated into words y'all - here are just a few pics I tried to take to show my merry band of fan boys ...

 

 

Crazy, right???

 

 

And the highlights of the trip were amazing! Partly due to the show itself, but also because this was my first trip to Vegas.

Ever.

I thought this exchange was a bit comical:

I had a lady look at me when I told her it was my first time in Vegas & she exclaimed

 

how can you be 40 and never have been to Vegas?

 

I wasn't sure how to answer that question other than

 

I was busy having babies at a young age?? So now it's time to start this part of my life ...

 

I mean, what do you say? {grin}

As a first timer in Vegas I found the following observations quite entertaining ...

 

 

The gambling meets you as soon as you get off the plane

  

 

 

Every departing terminal has "Re-charging" stations

 

 

Smart ideas?

They get your money coming in & make sure your devices can juice up on the way out!

 

Now, onto the subject at hand ... what's coming in the tech world that will help a busy Parent's life be easier - more efficient - or just plain cool?

#MommyTech at CES

"Wearables" & the "Smart Home" were a big deal this year.

Wearables:

What exactly does that mean?

Well, it's the technology you'll wear to sync up your busy life. Anything from smart watches to a camera that takes pictures for you all day long.

I spent my first official night in Vegas with a group who won a $25k check to fund their concept for keeping groups of kids safe.

The idea ::

there would be a gadget per child {think lanyard} when on group activities such as field trips or girl/boy scout outings.

Each child's gadget is tracked on an iPad the chaperone is monitoring, if a child goes outside the pre-designated "geo-fence" on the map an alert is immediately sounded and the adults can begin following the signal on the child.

Yes, this stirs up many questions. Thus the "concept" element here. I'm sure they'll get it all figured out as they move forward though.

Smart Home:

Just as the description sounds, this tech will connect with the electronics in your home to make it smarter.

The best concept I saw of this was the ability to use your phone to turn off the iron, the lights and outlets you know have things plugged into them.

Who doesn't need that????

Have you seen the AT&T commercial where the Dad is able to shut everything down from the vacation cabin? Yup, that reality is getting closer & closer to a home near you regardless of your cell phone carrier.

Speakers & The Products:

When I went to search for videos of the sessions I sat in on, I was {way too} excited to come across a Facebook Page for MommyTech that has an entire library of YouTube videos from the day! I thought all the panels were interesting and worth the 15 to 30 minutes to hear what they had to say, if you're so inclined & can squeeze it in.

Curious who had a booth at the show? You can head on over to the Exhibitors list on the CES site to check them out too.

In the coming weeks {remember I'll be here every Tuesday} I'll be sharing more about the things that stood out for me & the products who were interested in sharing more with you about what they can bring to streamlining your busy day. Here's a laundry list of the line-up so far:

• Element Case {these guys made my day!}
• StandzOut {oh man! Prepare to have your iPad experience revolutionized!}
• Kid's Email {email for the tween set, when would it be appropriate?}
• Western Digital {how they are revolutionizing your "cloud" experience}
• Turtle Beach {video game player in your home? Then you'll want to tune in for this one}

Did you follow the news feed(s) for CES? I'd love to hear your thoughts! Or do you have a topic idea for Tech Me Tuesday? Just let me know!