OPEN TABLE

Guest post from: Natalie Walter

I booked our dinner reservations last night using our kansas city clear internet connection. Our kids came to visit and suggested that we go out to dinner. I know how difficult it is to find a reservation on Friday night at a good place if you don’t book it at least a week before. I told them that I would just cook, but they insisted that we get on this website called, opentable.com and check to see if anywhere had any availability. It turns out that one of our favorite places had an open table at eight o’clock. We quickly booked it straight from our computer. We were able to print out a paper confirmation to take with us to the restaurant. I just couldn’t believe that it was that easy! My daughter told me that a lot of places keep their open table up to date. If they have a cancellation, they make the information available on-line, so that someone else can come and they don’t loose the business. It really is a great idea!

There's something holding windows phone back...

Written by Doug Puccetti(Me) on www.techhog.com:

I’ve had my fair share of devices over the past couple of years but for some reason Windows Phone is probably the only mobile OS that is hard to commit to for over a month or so. In my honest opinion the Windows Phone 7.5 UI is my favorite (took some time using it but after a while I grew to like it). It’s not crammed with widgets and pages like Android and not too basic like iOS. The live tiles work perfectly when I want to be kept in the ‘Really, did that just happen?’ rather than the ‘Wait, when did that happen?’.

I also love how multiple OEM’s (original equipment manufacturer’s) have picked up the Windows Phone OS providing variety in screen size, shape, color, feel and most importantly, price. I also love how everything is integrated all together, in what’s called the ’People’ App. Its literally a preloaded app that links all my contacts and their news feed, twitter, pictures, etc, in one location without fetching through 3 different applications. So what’s holding me and many others from purchasing a new Windows Phone for our daily driver? One word really, Apps.

As sad, pathetic and selfish as it sounds, its the truth. Don’t get me wrong, Windows Phone 7 has some great apps and its really starting to grow. You can find applications that do the job on Windows Phone (And do them well may I add) but the sad part is, not many of the larger game developers are making their games for Windows Phone. One of the major ‘non-contributors’ is probably Zynga. Everyone has either played or has heard of Words with Friends, Hanging with Friends and even Scramble with Friends. I happen to enjoy Words with Friends very much but I am not able to play it on my Windows Phone. The best replacement I found is probably Words by Post (read my review of the app here). It’s clean design and Lifetime Score keeping makes it a great replacement, however I have only gotten a few of my friends to convert over. Scramble with Friends Can be replaced with Wordament, but again, everyone would rather play Scramble.

Another game that has become very popular over the past few weeks has been Draw Something by OMGPOP. This is another game that I love to play and have paid for but if I cant play it on the go than what’s the point? The good news is that many people have requested OMGPOP to develop this game for Windows Phone and the developers are considering it.

Those are just a few quick examples of application I would like to see. What holds most people back from buying Windows Phone, other than being a fanboy or not wanting to jump into something so new, is its low processing speeds. Android devices are starting to move towards quad-core processors where windows phones only have 1.4GHz single-core. Kinda seems like Windows Phone is behind the 8 ball. But to be honest, if you aren’t playing 3D, graphic intense games, you don’t need a dual-core or higher processer in your phone.

The newer Windows Phones are starting to be released with 4G LTE connectivity (Nokia Lumia 900), so that’s a plus. However, until I see some of the major application developers design apps for Windows Phone, it will be hard for me to switch from my Galaxy Nexus…

What’s holding you back from using a Windows Phone? Have you tried one yet?

Emergency Alerts Added to Google Maps

Written by Doug Puccetti(Me) on www.techhog.com:

 

Google is now implementing something called Public Alerts with Google Maps. Public Alerts is an emergency awareness system for events like earthquakes, blizzards and floods, in locations that you search. Google teamed up with companies like the US Geological Survey (USGS), the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the National Weather Service to help produce accurate information for local areas. Currently, when using Public Alerts, the only information given on the emergency is How likely, How soon and How severe.



The service is currently available for the US but Google plans on allowing other companies to implement their alerts as well, as long as they follow the Common Alerting Protocol. In the future, Google plans on adding more countries and alert features as well as making this service available on other Google products and services as well.

Good move Google, I think this is a great step in the correct direction.

Source: The Verge
Image: Google LatLong Blog

Official ICS Update for Original ASUS Transformer Coming Mid-February

Written by Doug Puccetti(Me) on www.techhog.com:

We heard the ICS update for the original Transformer was coming soon, we just didn’t know when. Well, according to ASUS’ Facebook page, we will be receiving the update ‘Mid-February.’




Granted Mid-February might seem like forever away but it’s only a few weeks. All of us who own the original Transformer should just be happy we will be receiving an ICS update at all. This also shows that asking a question on Facebook might result in great news!

I’m excited, hope you are too!

Source: Engadget via ASUS Facebook

Will the Droid RAZR MAXX Hit Shelves January 26?

Written by Doug Puccetti(Me) on www.techhog.com:




The Droid RAZR was released about a month before we heard news about its ‘upgrade’, the Droid RAZR MAXX. Droid life was able to get this screen shot of the Droid RAZR MAXX with a release date of January 26th. Soon after, Motorola caught wind of this and changed the date to “Coming Soon”. We saw a slip up in the past from a Verizon Ad on their website unveiling the intended release date. But this is the second slip up with the same date. Is it safe to assume that January 26th as the intended release date for the Droid RAZR MAXX? I think so.

For a phone with a 3300mAh battery and 21 hours of battery life this phone will be worth its 299.99, on contract, price. So, if you were waiting, well your wait will be over Thursday!
Source: Droid-Life

DROID RAZR MAXX - Extended Battery Life - Android Smartphone - Overview - Motorola Mobility, Inc. USA

Check out the new commercial for the Motorola Droid RAZR MAXX, should be available January 26, 2012!

DROID RAZR MAXX - Extended Battery Life - Android Smartphone - Overview - Motorola Mobility, Inc. USA

On my mind

Post contributed by Noah Schmidt

Having so much in my mind when I was moving I was really glad my dad came to the rescue. He was there on move in day to direct the movers and he’s done a lot since then to look into the water bill and do a cable tv comparison and even talk to a lawn maintenance company about coming to mow my yard every two weeks. I don’t know what I’d do without my dad – I’m 30 years old but I’m single so I guess he’s the man that’s still in charge of taking care of me and that’s important to him. I hope one day to meet a man who even holds a candle to my father but you know, at this rate I don’t know that that’s going to happen anytime soon. I love my mom, too, but dad and I have always had a special father daughterbond that I’m not sure too many fathers and daughters have. I really cherish the time I have with him.