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Latest by Mike Flacy

Meet Bartendro, a cocktail-mixing robot powered by Raspberry Pi

Definitely a high-tech way to allow guests to order drinks at your next big party, the Bartendro can automatically deliver a large variety of mixed drinks without having to lift a single bottle.
chrome browser iphone

Google rolls out improved Chrome app for Android, iOS

Now available as an update for Android and Apple smartphones, the new versions of Google Chrome for mobile devices offer a variety of useful improvements that go beyond traditional bug fixes.
Danny Kitchen 2500 bill

5-year-old boy spends over $2500 in 10 minutes on in-app purchases

Serving as a cautionary tale for parents that don't set up parental controls, a young boy in England racked up major charges while purchasing in-app items

Fujitsu walking cane can lead people to the right location using GPS

Definitely an interesting way to stay on the right path when taking a walk, Fujitsu has created a walking cane that utilizes a variety of modern technology for GPS tracking and health monitoring.
PayPal on Coinstar machines

Coinstar now offers deposits directly into a PayPal account

Ideal for turning that giant jar of change you've been collecting all year into funds for online payments, Coinstar is gradually rolling out new machines that interact with PayPal accounts.
Chris Christie

New Jersey lawmakers move to legalize online gambling

In a move that will significantly increase tax revenue from casinos within the state of New Jersey, Governor Chris Christie and other lawmakers have legalized online gambling for residents.

Outbox takes all your snail mail and converts it to a digital format

Definitely an interesting way to avoid digging through endless piles of junk mail in the mailbox, Outbox will provide digital scans of all your snail mail for a small fee each month.
Helmet of Justice

Using seven cameras, ‘Helmet of Justice’ is a black box for cyclists

Definitely useful to have when attempting to track down and arrest a hit-and-run driver, the 'Helmet of Justice' starts recording video from all angles the moment that an accident happens.

Best Smart TV platforms for cord cutters

As more television manufacturers are continuing to improve on existing Smart TV software and hardware, it's never been a better time to ditch pay TV and adopt a cord cutting lifestyle.

Nielsen TV ratings will finally start to include cord cutters

Definitely helpful to television networks when it comes to measuring the effectiveness of online advertising, Nielsen will start incorporating streaming video use into the organization's rating system.
facebook news feed

Police inform mother of son’s death over Facebook, message unseen in Other inbox

Definitely an inappropriate way to deliver serious news, police in Georgia used a fake Facebook profile to send a message about the death of a local man to immediate family members.
starbucks drive-thru video chat

Starbucks tests video chat screens at the drive-thru

Creating a more personalized experience when using a drive-thru window at Starbucks, the coffee chain is allowing customers to see the employee taking their order using video chat technology.
Best Buy

Best Buy makes price matching Internet retailers a permanent policy

In order to become more competitive against major online retailers like Amazon, Best Buy is rolling out a new change to the price matching policy that's designed to combat showrooming.
scout window sensor

Scout home security system offers simplicity, style and modern technology

As traditional home security services continue to require multi-year contracts with hefty monthly fees, the Scout security system utilizes high-tech connectivity to provide inexpensive home security.

Twitter will shut down Posterous at the end of April

Once a rising competitor to the extremely popular, visual microblogging platform known as Tumblr, Posterous is being completely shut down by Twitter's management in less than ninety days.
Epiphany onE Puck

Epiphany onE Puck can charge your smartphone using your coffee cup

Possibly a great way to slightly reduce your electric bill while significantly increasing your caffeine consumption, the Epiphany onE Puck uses heat to generate enough power to charge a smartphone.
the new york times announces two ebook publishing deals newyorktimes

New York Times finally patches a big hole in the online paywall

Taking nearly two years to get around to plugging the gaping hole in security, the New York Times has eliminated the URL-editing method of circumventing the online paywall for premium subscriptions.
domino's

Bitcoins can now be used to pay for Domino’s Pizza

As the Bitcoin currency slowly continues to gain support within the online community, a new site is offering a service that will place an order for a Domino's pizza in exchange for a payment in Bitcoins.
DropTag

DropTag tracks each time a package is dropped during shipment

Providing a detailed set of data points as a package travels from sender to recipient, the DropTag Bluetooth sensor is designed to keep your shipping company honest and eliminate doubt during the damage claims process.
PlowNYC

NYC residents can track snow plows online this weekend using PlowNYC

Definitely helpful for NYC residents that absolutely have to get around the city this weekend, the government operated PlowNYC site will provide vital updates about the progress on snow removal street by street.
usps mail truck

Overshadowed by digital communication, USPS to end Saturday delivery

As Americans continue to become more dependent on communication over email, text messages and social networks, the USPS will be cutting back on how often snail mail is delivered during the week.

Satechi LED desk lamp includes mood settings, USB charging

Combining minimal design with significant benefits of LED lighting, the new Satechi Smart LED Desk Lamp uses different color temperatures to help users study, read, relax or drift off to sleep.

Mophie’s Helium case doubles the battery capacity of the iPhone 5

Ideal for anyone that uses the iPhone 5 extensively during the workday or when traveling on vacation, the new Mophie Juice Pack Helium case will provide a sizable boost to overall battery life.
amazon box

Connecticut residents will start paying sales tax on Amazon this year

Possibly reducing the number of Connecticut consumers that use Amazon for online purchases, the retailer and Connecticut lawmakers have come to an agreement on collecting sales tax.
craigslist grid view

Craigslist launches Pinterest-style grid view for visual browsing

Definitely ideal when searching for a new place to live, the new grid layout on Craigslist allows users to pick listings by photo rather than simple text.
plant link

Plant Link sends you a text message when the plants need water

Definitely ideal for a busy household, the Plant Link offers reminders over mobile notifications to water indoor plants in addition to automating the watering process of outdoor plants.
woman birth mother facebook

Woman finds biological mother using viral Facebook photo

Utilizing the Facebook share for something more meaningful than trying to earn a new pet, a young woman was finally able to get in touch with her biological parents using the social network.

Likely pressured by Google Fiber, Time Warner ups speeds, slashes rates

As competition escalates between Google Fiber and Internet service providers in the Kansas City area, consumers will definitely benefit with faster download speeds and cheaper monthly bills.

Report: HBO GO application is headed to the Apple TV

Possibly good news to Apple fans that are paying for cable or satellite television, the HBO GO streaming video app may be headed to the Apple TV this year.
india new delhi rape

Indian government developing GPS watch to help prevent sexual violence

Designed as a technological deterrent to potential sexual assaults, government officials in India are working on a watch that relays GPS location to police.
is the iphone 5 worth upgrade for 4s users vs fl

iPhone users have highest phone bills, majority pay over $100 a month

Racking up the most expensive monthly service bills, U.S. consumers that own an iPhone are spending slightly more each month than Android smartphone owners.
microsoft reveals pricing plan for windows powered surface tablets with 8 pro

Microsoft 64GB Surface Pro ships with a mere 23GB free

Filling up the majority of the available storage on the upcoming tablet, Windows 8 needs a significant chunk of space on both versions of the Surface Pro.
rdio devices

Rdio launches free streaming music promotion in 14 new countries

Definitely an excellent promotion for music lovers around the globe, Rdio is attempting to expose more potential subscribers to the music streaming service.
app leads police to iphone thief 32 50 stoleniphone04 z

Thief loses stolen iPhone to second thief, calls police and gets arrested

As the rate of smartphone thefts has risen significantly over the past few years, it seems that even thieves are at risk of getting robbed of stolen goods.