Jawbone's Up Wristband

As environmental and healthy living concerns are becoming bigger issues in our generation, many companies are trying to invent creative ways to help combat obesity, lack of exercise, and laziness in general.

Recently, I came across a new and rather interesting piece of technology slowly creeping its way to the market. It is a wristband called Up, made by Jawbone. Not only is it a unique piece of jewelry, but also an iPhone app that helps track the daily activity of your life and from there give advice on healthy eating, living, and exercising.

The Up wristband has several features. First of all, it does sleep and nap tracking by intelligently tracking hours slept, light vs deep sleep, and waking moments. It does overall activity tracking 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by tracking distance, calories burned, active time, and activity intensity. Food and drink tracking makes it easier to keep track of what you eat and the calories taken in. Mood tracking logs moods and discover connections that affect how you feel. Insight engine discovers hidden connections and patterns in your day-to-day activities. When you've been sitting idle at a desk or chair for too long, the wristband gives you a gentle alert as a reminder to stay active throughout the day. The smart alarm gently wakes you up in the morning at the perfect moment in your sleeping cycle and also has a power nap function that allows for the perfect catnap (precisely 26.5 minutes) . The Up wristband has a 10 day battery so you don't miss a beating step and is waterproof to make it through life's messiest or dirtiest days. What makes this piece of technology so useful is that the jack hidden in the wristband plugs into your iPhone and loads all the data made throughout the day and puts it into a meaningful form.

The app lets the user know several things. The "Me" page, or the homepage, uses bars to represent progress towards sleep, step and food goals, and daily updates on your friends, or 'teammates'. This was the aspect of this savvy new piece of technology that I really loved. You connect with your other friends, or rather teammates, that also have the Up wristband to stay updated with their progress, or in fact their lack of progress. Say, for example, you enjoyed a 1,400-calorie Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Blizzard from Dairy Queen at 11 AM on a Wednesday. The UP wristband would of course track this and would be made available to your teammates on the app. Integrating social aspects through the app serves two purposes: to motivate you through a sense of companionship and competition, and to shame you through public humiliation. So in general, seeing your calories pile up in a public forum will make you think twice about what you are putting in your body. The app also tries to make meaningful summaries from your data, like are you getting the most sleep during the week or over the weekend? Or as the weather cools are you moving about less? Knowing this information can help you make healthier decisions or maybe break unhealthy habits.

Jawbone has come out with two 'prototypes' thus far, one last year that seemed to be a flop, and one this year that has improved on the bugs and lackings of the previous model. Only time will tell us if this new piece of 'healthy living' technology will survive in an obese-ridden America. If you asked my opinion, I believe this will start a revolution. With the integration of social and great technology, younger Americans will catch on and soon it will be the latest trend for which the older, baby-boomer generation will just remain struggling to catch on to. We can only wait and see.

Here's a picture of what the Jawbone's Up wristband looks like:

Sources:

http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/07/jawbone-up-review-2012/

https://jawbone.com/up#design

10 Most Liked Posts on Facebook

I believe it's plain and simple: people like to like. Especially me. I am a HUGE 'liker', often liking on average over 100 posts per week. However, I don't give my 'likes' out to just anyone, they have to earn it. If it's a company, I feel it has to be witty and smart, and it has to make me somewhat LOL (even though when half of the world writes 'lol' they never really laugh out loud...).

So I was navigating through a new site lately, Social Media Today, and found a great article that highlighted the 10 most liked photos on Facebook in January 2013. I'm going to start from the bottom up and give my personal opinion on each. I will then say if it is worthy of my like. Refer to the link at the end for the article.

10. BMW comes in last with 125,274 likes. To me this is a manly post, but I can appreciate it because of the quality of this car. Nothing is better than a company openly revealing their new products on social media for the world to get the first look at! Still not sure if it would receive a like from me.

9. Intel comes in at 9 with 131,179 likes, even though I think this photo is ABSOLUTELY GENIUS! What a great way to artistically illustrate the characteristics of our generation; technology is truly driving us in this crazy busy life that will never stop spinning. This by far was my favorite post on the list. In fact, I'm going to start following Intel and this would definitely receive my like! Definitely relevant to today and the company. Kudos to Intel!

8. Tiffany & Co received 136,242 likes with this photo, obviously very relevant since Valentine's Day is around the corner. Although the picture is beautiful and visually appealing, it doesn't have anything that really catches me. It just seems like another beautiful piece of jewelry I could never afford... not 'like worthy' for me.

7. Oreo has been recently hitting the ball out of the park with 141,044 likes for this hilarious photo. I, personally, have always struggled with this problem and its cute how they have utilized the 'meme' phenomenon in relation to their product. In fact, this post actually made me laugh out loud in the library, so definitely deserving of a like!

6. As always Starbucks does well with 155,816 likes on this trendy hipster photo. I like this photo because it shows soul and that the company is not forgetting where they came from. I 'like' and appreciate that.

5. Not too sure why Walmart received 156,069 likes for this post, completely irrelevant! Like we talked about in class, nothing is worse than companies who push out random content that is in no way relevant to their company. Some can pull it off, but to me, Walmart is not one of them. Don't get me wrong, the photo is cute, but it would never receive a like from me.

4. We've seen these 'please give me and my cute siblings likes for (fill in the blank)' before, but it's quickly getting old! The first one was cute, but how many times are people going to do this and expect likes?? There's a certain point when this idea just isn't original any more. Sorry, not worthy of a like. I never got a dog either :(

3. Am I missing something about this post? Louis Vuitton received 163,091 likes, putting it at the number 3 position on the list. It mentions a 'Monogram Story', but the picture doesn't necessarily illustrate anything about monograms. What is the 'Louis Vuitton Friends of the House'? Maybe I'm out of the loop on this one since I'm not a fan of designer purses, but personally, this just seems like a generic ad for me. Sorry Louis, no like for you!

2. Yet another manly post, WWE comes in at number 2 with 247,415 likes for just one photo! That's pretty impressive, and I have to give it up to the Rock for accomplishing both his World Championship and his 'Likeship". However, the amount of links and CAPS LOCK is too busy of a look for me. Considering I am completely out of their demographic, I highly doubt I would give this one a like. I have respect for the Rock though!

1. Nothing is better than being reminded of your childhood glory days with Disney. This classic photo came in first with 327,817 likes. It's nice to have something like this come up on your news feed that reminds you that life shouldn't get you down. Take the 'problem-free philosophy' into account and enjoy the life that you have. I think this would get a like out of me, especially on those days that I am down in the dumps.

So there you have it, the 10 most liked posts on Facebook for January 2013. Some are great examples of Social Media Marketing and some are complete flops that make me question how they even made it on the list. For me personally, my number one would be Intel and my number two would be Oreo. Both did a great job in being relevant and not being pushy in their content. Neither one of them were trying to sell you anything and just wanted to create a post that was either humorous or inspiring, both of which I appreciate greatly. 

All pictures and rankings were made available by Social Media Today.

Citation:

Arnold, Morgan J. "10 Most Liked Posts on Facebook." Social Media Today RSS. Social Media Today    LLC, 6 Feb. 2013. Web. 07 Feb. 2013. .

Ashton Kutcher: Playing Steve Jobs 'Changed My Life'

Here I go again, another Apple post! However, this one is a little more jobs focused, as in Steve Jobs.

I recently became aware that Hollywood is doing a rendition of Steve Jobs' and Steve Wozniak's fantastic journey to the top from the California garage in which they started. Obviously, my first question was, who will play Jobs? It's an impossible feat! Once I googled the movie, I immediately found out it would be Ashton Kutcher. At first, I had mixed feelings about this. For one, I definitely think Ashton has the look down, the scraggly beard, skinny and emaciated body, bony facial structure. However, I seemed to doubt Ashton's acting capacity. I still think of Ashton as the funny Kelso from That 70's Show or the stoner from Dude, Where's My Car? Would he have the ability to pull off the deep psychological aspects that characterize Steve? Is he able to portray the intensity, the passion, the temper, the reality distortion feild??

Coming from someone who basically idolizes Steve Jobs, I am doubtful that Ashton Kutcher will be able to pull off this amazing feat, a feat that no doubt would be hard for even DeNiro or Clooney to do. The reason why is because Steve was such a dynamic person, filled with paradoxes. His dream and passion was to do the impossible by creating products for consumers that they would love. He ignored the complexities of technologies and pushed for a simplistic approach to computers. He was a simple guy himself, following Buddhist practices of fasting, eating the most purest of foods around the world (which was fruit, hence the name Apple), and had a problem with filling his house with furniture because he was such a perfectionist. So what made Steve so successful? Was it his drive? His temper? His ability to literally distort reality and convince people they could do the impossible? To me, it was a mixture of all of these. He had a knack for knowing what people want and an appreciation for quality. In terms of a marketer, he was purely genius. He was known for saying, "Consumers do not know what they want until we show them." This is obviously a backward approach, coming from a marketing student myself. We are taught so heavily in school to give the consumer what they want, when Steve takes a totally different approach. He was always pushing the envelope, doing things differently, and in laments terms, really pissing people off.

However, after looking on Mashable, I must say I am respectful of Kutcher for trying. There was an article describing Ashton's journey through making the movie and how it 'changed his life.' In order to prepare for the role, he downloaded thousands of clips of Steve's voice, studying them daily in order to get his voice down. He also took on Jobs' crazy eating habits and recently made headline news when his pancreas failed, which happens to be no surprise since pancreatic cancer was the taker of Steve. So, I must say I give him credit for putting in the amount of effort he is.

It will be interesting to see how Ashton does in the role. Hopefully, he does Steve Jobs justice!

Source:
http://mashable.com/2013/01/31/kutcher-macworld/

Hey Microsoft, Here's Why Apple Still Gets the Girl

Ok, to start off this blog, I think the reader needs to know a little background information on me.

I am Apple obsessed.

I never thought I would wind up being in love with an inanimate object, a product, or a company at that. But it's the truth and I have faced it, embraced it, and now see it as a part of me. My friends and family know this about me because I NEVER stop blabbing about them, like a little girl with a crush! I am constantly defending them, converting people to their products, and I am even on a quest to work for them by applying for the At Home Adviser position at UGA. But that's another story in itself. However, I thought the reader should get a warning before moving on: I may be blabbing about Apple a lot on here, be prepared...

Anyways, the reason for this specific blog is because I came by an interesting video on Businessweek titled "Hey Microsoft, Here's Why Apple Still Gets the Girl". This caught my attention instantly not only because of Apple but because of the title itself. So I watched the video and loved what they did with it. They compared the plight of Microsoft moving into a consumer market dominated by Apple to the movie Pretty in Pink. Apple was compared to Blane, the rich kid with cool clothes, yet a bit of a sensitive personality. Microsoft was compared to Duckie, the dork, who basically would do anything for you to like him. Both are trying to get Molly Ringwald (the consumer) in their own ways. But, we all know how this story ends, Molly ends up with Blane in her arms, and most consumers end up with Apple in their hands, out of pure chemistry.

So what makes Apple so much better than Microsoft? Or is it? Some argue it's the style. The way everything seamlessly works on Macs and iPhones. The products are a lot less bulky and to put it simply, they're like a piece of art. Microsoft's problem is that "they don't have taste," explained Steve Jobs several times and I think I would have to agree. Let's face it, Windows isn't the most visually stunning or overall appealing operating system out there. It's good for business and that's about it. However, there is an argument for Microsoft here. Apple loves to keep its operating systems as closed as a beautiful garden, away from any buggy apps or finicky programs. Windows, on the other hand, embraces the open system and allows their programs to be licensed out to anyone who wants it. So what is better? A solid operating system that will deliver anytime, but may be restricted? Or an open operating system that may crash on occasion? I'll leave it up to the reader to decide, but I think my answer is obvious...

I really like how Businessweek did this piece by utilizing the video to explain an important comparison. I like how news sources are starting to use all these new forms of media and especially social media. I think it's making information a lot easier to access and honestly is creating a smarter and more informed society. I can't wait to see how else the news world will evolve as both Apple and Microsoft continue to compete and release even more amazing products and technology.

Source:
http://www.businessweek.com/videos/2013-01-23/hey-microsoft-heres-why-apple-still-gets-the-girl

7 Ways to Be a Stress Free Workaholic

I have returned from my blogging hiatus only after some long searching and forgotten passwords to receive my AP Lit blog from high school. Although now I will not be blogging about classic novels and works, Ernest Hemmingway, or Hamlet, I have switched my attention to social media. To me, social media is kind of like our literature of today, giving us insights and connections as to what it is like living in the 21st century.

While I was on LinkedIn today, a professional social media tool, I came across an interesting article from the company Inc titled "7 Ways to Be a Stress Free Workaholic". I read into it because for a while now I have had the intuition that I'm going to be a crazy workaholic in my career. So I gave the article a try and found some great tips:

1. Work your tail off when you have to, not when you don't: this is basically saying that business comes in spurts. It's ok to work your tail off when you're busy but it's important that when you are slower, to take time for yourself and actually breathe a little.

2. Learn to give up--sort of: when you're getting frustrated and nothing is going right or the juices just aren't flowing, sometimes it's a good idea just to quit. Somethings aren't meant for everybody so it doesn't necessarily mean you will succeed at everything. That doesn't mean, however, quitting right away. Giving up something should only come when you've hit the end of the road, when you have tried everything possible to make what you want happen.

3. Strategize and plan: instead of getting caught up in the craziness of everyday life, sometimes it's a good idea to step back and gain some perspective. This could mean individually or in a team. Say your project is stuck on coming up with ideas, take your group out for dinner! Most of the time when you are relaxed and when the environment is relaxed is when the best ideas are made.

4. Mix business with pleasure: I think this has a lot to do with the person job fit. It's important that your values match the values of the company you are working for. Always aim toward your passion and you'll usually be a lot happier. And work doesn't have to be work all the time. Incorporating fun activities into your work will make the whole experience a lot more interesting.

5. Don't leave things for the last minute: everyone knows this one and yet it continues to be one of the hardest tasks people struggle with. You'll be amazed by how helpful it is to get started on an assignment early or even getting to the airport a couple hours earlier. The more time you create for yourself, the less stressed out you will be.

6. Don't take it out on others: pick an outlet that does not involve you taking your frustrations out on other people. That is the worst way to de-motivate your team and eventually end up very lonely. Instead, it is good to give constant motivation and empower people to make them want to work to the best of their abilities. Everyone will be happier that way.

7. Lots of outlets work--pick one or two: think of all the things out there to help you get through your work day- red bulls, 5 hour energy shots, coffee, even medicines. Using these occasionally can help you to get through those busy times but if you rely on them too much, you'll run yourself dry. Instead choose an outlet that is better for your body, like exercise. Personally, I like to do yoga in my free time not only because it is great on your body but also because it gives me a moment to breathe and focus on myself.

I'm really glad I came across this article because it gave me a few places to focus on when I'm feeling too stressed out. This will help me in school but hopefully down the road from now when I start my career. Hopefully this can help you too!

it's finally done

so the ap test was today, and I think I did alright. I thought it was definitely alot tuffer than the practice test and I felt a little over confident. The multiple choice was not that bad and I felt like I had just the right amount of time to think through all of them. Overall, I think I did average.

But what a reflief it is to finally know that it is done! We've worked so hard for a whole year for one test and we all completed it together. I know for a fact that each and every one of us grew as a writer, reader, and maybe even a person! I know I did! This class made me question some of the hardest questions life gives us and I really appreciate that. I can't for when I go to college and I will actually know what the professors are talking about because Mrs. Clinch basically is a college professor!

So since this is my last blog ever, (thank god), I wanted to share my favorite memories about AP Lit/Comp. The funniest memory we had was reading Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead in class aloud. Nothing was funnier than Kevin as Alfred, but the great thing was that we actually got it, and we understood that it was funny! I don't think I could have gotten that if I read it alone, so I really appreciated us reading it aloud. A more serious, favorite memory I have were our Grapes of Wrath discussions because that was my favorite book that we read this whole year. I think we really dug through the book and tore it apart. I feel like I really know it and I even used it on the AP exam. Besides that, the book just taught we a lot about life in general and it made me think a lot about the events that are happening today. I think Steinbeck's words of change and revolution will always be with me.

Well this is my last blog, but I would just like to say that I've really enjoyed this class because it was a challenge for me and I succeeded. Even if I do not pass the AP exam, I feel achieved in my mind and I know I have a grown a whole lot throughout this year. Thank you Mrs. Clinch for helping me learn and understand literature better and better each day!:)

it's getting closer and closer

to the ap exam! I don't think i'll actually believe it until i'm actually there taking it. This whole year has lead up to this one test and it's extremely overwhelming! However, I really think we're reading guys.

So I took the practice test over the weekend and I think it really went well. I felt sooo much better prepared and the timing was actually not that bad. If you divide the amount of passages you have by the amount of time you have, you'll have the time frame you'll have for each passage. I did that and it really helped! I had 20 minutes left for me to go back and check my work. And even though Mrs. Clinch doesn't admit it, her questions she gave us for practice were alot harder! I was almost surprised at how easy the questions were, but I do not want to jinx myself and get super hard questions (knock on wood...).

The part I felt most confident on were the essays. We had PLENTY of time and I even got to leave early:). But I really liked the open question, and I selected a work with ease. I even got to write a good three pages for it and it was the first 8 I ever recieved!

Over all, I think it was a great success and definitely gave me more insight into what the test will be like!