'Tis the Season for GEEK toys

It's Christmas time so that means its time to buy gifts and gadgets for your family, friends and co workers gifts. 

To help find the perfect gift for the GEEK in your life  I put together a short list of my favorite sites for Geek & Chic toys.... 

These sites also carry great "office" and "cubicable" gifts for your coworkers.  Of course, do not forget to show your appreciation for that always helpful tech guru in your IT department!!



1. Think Geek http://www.thinkgeek.com/holiday2012/






This website has everything for your favorite geek, nerd, dork or IT guy.    They have gadgets, gizmos, toys, books, games, witty T-shirts and more... There is even a line of Big Bang Theory items.


2. Kate Spade
http://www.katespade.com/designer-cell-phone-laptop-cases/laptop-phone-cases,default,sc.html

Kate Spade is the chic of the geek.  There is an entire line TECH ACCESSORIES



3. Geek Sugar
http://www.geeksugar.com/Bags-New-Retina-MacBook-Pro-21948932

Some of the most fashionable geek gear around.  my favorite laptop bags including several desginers like Kate Spade!



4. Sharper Image
http://www.sharperimage.com/si/view/category/New-Arrivals/200008?mainCatId

They always have the latest technology in the electronic world. Its like Toys R us for the geek and chic adults!!  Every turn there is some really cool gadget !!

 

 

Happy Shopping and Happy Holidays!!

Protect your Mobile Data with these Best Practices

Protect Mobile Data

  

We are living the mobile age.  We like to do everything on the go.   We have laptops, smart phones, tablets, USB flash drives, and even digital cameras can be used to store data.  However how do we protect this data?

There are two key risks you take when storing data on a mobile device.

• You could lose that data if the device is lost, stolen, or damaged. This could include contact information, important files, email messages, and more.
• The other larger risk is that any sensitive information on the device may be exposed to the public, possibly exposing your family, friends or clients to identity theft or other forms of attack. Such incidents could be covered in social media, or even the news press, becoming an embarrassing nightmare.

When using a mobile device follow these best practices:

 

1.  Always use a strong password.
2. Only place sensitive information on a mobile device if it is absolutely necessary, the device can protect it, and the device is approved for business use.
3. If you must store sensitive information on a mobile device, consider encrypting the data, which is a way of electronically locking it.
4. Backup key data stored on mobile devices regularly and store that data in a secure location.
5. Be on guard for shoulder-surfers (people to peek over your shoulder at your data) and consider a security cover that prevents screen from being read from the side.

http://fearuncertaintydoubt.wordpress.com/

6. Watch out for thieves looking to steal your mobile device.

7. Enable remote location or  device kill and data deletion allowing administrators to clear all data and settings on lost or stolen devices (where is my iPhone)

 

 

technology and the world as we know it

After my blog entry last night I've been thinking more about technology and the world as we know it.  People have been consuming technology rapidly since the early 1980s transforming how we communicate, entertain, work and learn.

Here is a list of consumer electronics since the 80s

• IMB  introduces the first Personal computer (1991)
• "hand held" camcorder (1981) 
• compact disck aka CD (1982)
• mobile phone "brick phone" (1983)  
• Apple Macintosh (1984)
• discman (1984)  
• Nintendo NES (1985)
• Nintendo Gamyboy (1989)
• laptop (1989)
• Internet (1991)
• Super Nintendo (1991)
• Sony Playstation (1995)
• HDTV (1996)
• Kodack point and shoot digital camera (1996)
• Apple iMac (1998)
• Napster (1999)
• iPod (2001)
• X box (2002)
• Nintedno DS (2004)
• Blue Ray Disc (2006)
• iPhone (2007)
• iPad (2010)

I'm sure I missed a few important ones somewhere in there.   But you can see how quickly technology reinvents its self.  As I go through this list I am starting to feel old.  My grandma use to share stories about black and white television or having to get up to turn the channel.  As a child I couldn't imaging life without color TV, a TV in every room, and my trusty remote control.   I now know that I someday will be talking to my kids about being "older" than the first playstation, iPhone or iPad.

Looking over my list of consumer electronics I cannot help but remember.....  I remember my first Walkman, and secretly listening to rap or R&B so my dad couldn't hear.  I remember computer games to learn how to spell, type and add.  I remember using my grandparents Macintosh to do homework. I remember my first PC, and using "paint" for hours just so I could be on the computer. I remember America online (AOL) and getting upset when someone picked up the phone and I lost my connection to the Internet. I remember the brick cell phones that only business people, rich people or Zack Morris's used.  I remember playing Nintendo games for hours and hours that I'd get blisters on my thumb, and when changing games if it didn't start we'd have to blow into the cartridge. I remember my first pager, and learning pager code so I could "text" with my friends. ( 22+143+637+833)  I remember my first cell phone a free Nokia from Pacbell.  I remember my first trip to an apple store.  I remember my first iPod. I remember Myspace.  I remember thinking what is this Twitter thing all about??  These are memories that I have, and I am lucky to have experienced. I am very excited to add to the list.   I'm not sure why I've always been so mesmerized with technology but I have....

What are some of your memories of technology?