iPad Mini & Retina Display Now Available At Apple Store

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNUTNvY232q0aazma6AobWADrRKqBDQ4UxwBE0GtOmAOSkGIHEORMsdrCJ0JmnFN0vh8NeoAo9v6z1QLFvvA5zLfZvXvaEKEsCDqpbZBzURF8qIDQAtgunzesM0N0__ITP2ZnIpq4_Z0I/s1600/PA220674.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNUTNvY232q0aazma6AobWADrRKqBDQ4UxwBE0GtOmAOSkGIHEORMsdrCJ0JmnFN0vh8NeoAo9v6z1QLFvvA5zLfZvXvaEKEsCDqpbZBzURF8qIDQAtgunzesM0N0__ITP2ZnIpq4_Z0I/s640/PA220674.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> After a short period of downtime, the Apple Store is back and it brought the gadget we were promised for November: the Retina iPad mini. <br /> There are no surprises as far as pricing goes: The <a href="http://store.apple.com/us/buy-ipad/ipad-mini-retina" target="_blank">Retina iPad mini starts at $399</a>, and for that you get 16GB of storage and Wi-Fi connectivity. You can beef it up to 128GB of storage and add 3G connectivity, which will set you back $829. Other storage options are 32GB and 64GB, and the two available colors are white and space gray. <br /> <div class="see-also"> <br /></div> With the addition of the 2048x1536 Retina screen, the iPad mini is now — more so than the previous generation — essentially a slimmed-down iPad Air. It comes with the same storage options, and it also has the 64-bit A7 processor as well as the M7 motion-tracking coprocessor.<br /> <br /> <em>Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.</em> </div>

iPad Mini & Retina Display Now Available At Apple Store

After a short period of downtime, the Apple Store is back and it brought the gadget we were promised for November: the Retina iPad mini...

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Ads Could Soon Know If You Are An Introvert On Twitter

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJoF4C1axOUI_6-cZff8T1mbPaEdWwGbP0vdyGA_2VDILPbht-Df8PhAWsuA9-aDLSRK2De46DDKoB8Eq3BZduiyxvXJ5pBWAtk46FcwiTBw_8JqBOxqoh1IEDSzQ7zrfyPVAAeOI_3o/s1600/twitter2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJoF4C1axOUI_6-cZff8T1mbPaEdWwGbP0vdyGA_2VDILPbht-Df8PhAWsuA9-aDLSRK2De46DDKoB8Eq3BZduiyxvXJ5pBWAtk46FcwiTBw_8JqBOxqoh1IEDSzQ7zrfyPVAAeOI_3o/s640/twitter2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> Trying to derive a person’s wants and needs — conscious or otherwise — from online browsing and buying habits has become crucial to companies of all kinds.<br /> Now IBM is taking the idea a step further. It is testing technology that guesses at people’s core psychological traits by analyzing what they post on Twitter, with the goal of offering personalized customer service or better-targeted promotional messages.<br /> “We need to go below behavioral analysis like Amazon does,” says Michelle Zhou, leader of the User Systems and Experience Research Group at IBM’s Almaden Research Center in California, which developed the software. “We want to use social media to derive information about an individual — what is the overall affect of this person? How resilient is this person emotionally? People with different personalities want something different.”<br /> Zhou’s software develops a personality profile based on a person’s most recent few hundred or thousand Twitter updates. That profile scores the “big five” traits commonly used in psychological research: extroversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism and openness to experience. It also scores the person on measures of “values” (for example, hedonism and conservatism) and “needs” (for example, curiosity and social harmony).<br /> Zhou says she is working with several IBM customers to test how the technology might help their businesses. She declines to identify the companies but says they might use the system, for example, to tune marketing messages sent by email or social media, or to select the promotional content displayed when a customer logs in to his or her account.<br /> A crucial part of the pilot program will test whether messages targeted with the technology’s help perform better than others. “Our hypothesis is that the conversion rates will be quite high,” says Zhou. At least, she expects them to be higher than is typical: email marketing messages ordinarily have a response rate of just 0.34%, she says, and phone marketing calls achieve about 13%.<br /> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="zhou-says-that-having"></a> <blockquote class="microcontent-wrapper pullquote"> <div class="microcontent-shares" data-description="Zhou says that having a rough idea of a person’s personality could also help in call centers or other customer service settings" data-fragment="zhou-says-that-having" data-url="http://mashable.com/2013/11/08/ads-determine-personality-through-twitter/"> </div> <span class="microcontent" data-description="Zhou says that having a rough idea of a person’s personality could also help in call centers or other customer service settings" data-fragment="zhou-says-that-having" data-micro="1" data-url="http://mashable.com/2013/11/08/ads-determine-personality-through-twitter/">Zhou says that having a rough idea of a person’s personality could also help in call centers or other customer service settings</span> </blockquote> <span class="microcontent" data-description="Zhou says that having a rough idea of a person’s personality could also help in call centers or other customer service settings" data-fragment="zhou-says-that-having" data-micro="1" data-url="http://mashable.com/2013/11/08/ads-determine-personality-through-twitter/">Zhou says that having a rough idea of a person’s personality could also help in call centers or other customer service settings</span>, such as when an airline must break the news that a flight has been canceled or delayed. “Studies show people that are extroverted want a reward and recognition, like 10,000 [frequent flyer] points,” she says. “Conscientious people want efficiency, to know their new flight right away.” In a call center scenario, a customer’s personality profile might advise a customer service agent whether to efficiently provide “just the facts” or to try to be more engaging and supportive, says Zhou.<br /> Many businesses already make use of software that analyzes social-media activity. However, it is aimed either at helping corporate representatives interact with customers or at summarizing the overall volume and tone of a discussion, not at profiling individuals.<br /> <strong></strong><br /> <div class="see-also"> <strong><br /> </strong></div> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="m!d29b"></a> <div class="microcontent-wrapper"> <div class="microcontent-shares" data-description="" data-fragment="m!d29b" data-image="http://rack.2.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzExLzA4LzM4L3BlcnNvbmFsaXR5LjMwMGFjLmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/b2efa70e/112/personality.based_.targetingx519.jpg" data-url="http://mashable.com/2013/11/08/ads-determine-personality-through-twitter/"> </div> <img alt="personality.based_.targetingx519" class="" data-fragment="m!d29b" data-image="http://rack.2.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzExLzA4LzM4L3BlcnNvbmFsaXR5LjMwMGFjLmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/b2efa70e/112/personality.based_.targetingx519.jpg" data-micro="1" data-url="http://mashable.com/2013/11/08/ads-determine-personality-through-twitter/" data-width="519" src="http://rack.2.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzExLzA4LzM4L3BlcnNvbmFsaXR5LjMwMGFjLmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/b2efa70e/112/personality.based_.targetingx519.jpg" /> </div> <br /><small> Personal profile: According to IBM’s analytic software, this author’s Twitter account reveals him to be more neurotic than extroverted.</small> IBM’s software was developed by recruiting people to answer psychological questionnaires and comparing the results with their Twitter activity. Machine learning software then looked at how different patterns of word use matched with psychological traits. Those correlations were used to derive models that can create a profile from a person’s tweets alone.<br /> In a study where 300 people had their Twitter profiles processed by the software and also took psychometric surveys, the results were “highly correlated” more than 80% of the time, says Zhou. However, she notes that when people use Twitter in a specialized way — for example, journalists discussing their beat — their tweet-derived profiles may not be so representative.<br /> Still, Zhou argues that since the methods companies currently use to target and understand their customers are relatively imprecise, IBM’s software doesn’t have to capture a person’s personality completely to be useful. She also says it should be possible to adapt the software to use other sources of data, such as call center transcripts or online customer service chats.<br /> Software like Zhou’s that relies on language use should be able to usefully capture something of a person’s personality, says Andrew Schwartz, a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania, who recently published a major study of how personality traits show up in Facebook activity. He says previous research has shown that measured personality traits can predict future actions, such as the number of sick days or doctor’s visits a person will report.<br /> <strong></strong><br /> “It seems reasonable that personality would be useful for presenting ads that resonate better with the recipient,” says Schwartz. “The ad-targeting application has been talked about for a few years now, but I think language-based measures of personality are just now becoming reliable enough to see it happen.”<br /> <em>Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.</em></div>

Ads Could Soon Know If You Are An Introvert On Twitter

Trying to derive a person’s wants and needs — conscious or otherwise — from online browsing and buying habits has become crucial to comp...

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Hunger Games : Theme Park Plans | Says Studio CEO

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiicrHX9jSj-kljK5Uj7gxLI5xTW2OlBhzK0iujd8de7bcGrBoeeQUQjceD92w9EASSIU4zMS4jGpD7ZqYnpgELc0EWClD7sNm0W89Fz4usp8_jXQUTkW-JMepzd_d8q9MKlkTYotN3xxU/s1600/Hunger+Games+Theme+Park+Plans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiicrHX9jSj-kljK5Uj7gxLI5xTW2OlBhzK0iujd8de7bcGrBoeeQUQjceD92w9EASSIU4zMS4jGpD7ZqYnpgELc0EWClD7sNm0W89Fz4usp8_jXQUTkW-JMepzd_d8q9MKlkTYotN3xxU/s640/Hunger+Games+Theme+Park+Plans.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Lionsgate, the studio behind <em>The Hunger Games</em>, revealed in a conference call Friday that it has been approached to create theme parks after the popular franchise and is considering the possibility.<br /> There isn’t a lot of information yet, but the phone conference was between Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer and industry analysts. According to <em>Variety</em>:<br /> <blockquote> Feltheimer said Lionsgate had been approached about “Hunger Games” theme parks in two territories and was considering those possibilities. He gave no further details.</blockquote> What should be considered is whether <em>Hunger Games </em> fans would be willing to pay hundreds of dollars to spend a day immersed in its setting. The difference between<em> The Hunger Games</em> and, say, <em>Harry Potter</em>, is that there’s no part of the world that most readers actually want to see come alive. Between the abject poverty, forced labor and Capitol people who joyfully rip 24 families apart every year for entertainment, it might be a hard sell.<br /> But since the books and subsequent films are widely popular, may the odds be ever in their favor.<br /> <br /> <em>Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.</em></div>

Hunger Games : Theme Park Plans | Says Studio CEO

Lionsgate, the studio behind The Hunger Games , revealed in a conference call Friday that it has been approached to create theme p...

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Israel to Build the 5th Largest Solar Power Station on the Planet -Circles Tech

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Israel plans to start construction next year on what will become the fifth largest solar power station in the world, part of a plan to build three such structures that will curb their dependency on fossil fuels.<br /><br />The $1.1 billion solar plant will be able to generate 121 megawatts of electricity by the time it's finished in 2016. That's enough juice to power 40,000 homes, and it's only part of the 250 megawatts that all three solar plants will generate. That's about 2.5% of Israel's energy consumption, according to <i>Inhabitat</i>. The project will also contribute to the nation's plan to generate 10% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020.<br /><br />The station works by setting up heliostat mirrors that bounce sun rays toward solar power towers. The towers transform those rays into steam, which then powers turbines to make electricity.<br /><a name="more"></a><br /><br />Construction of the plants will be a joint venture teaming American company Brightsource with the French firm Alstom. Brightsource already has experience in building large solar stations. Its biggest project is the Ivanpah solar facility in California's Mojave desert.<br /><br />Brightsource declined to answer questions about its Israel venture, and Alstom did not immediately respond for comment.<br /><br /><i>Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.</i></div>

Israel to Build the 5th Largest Solar Power Station on the Planet -Circles Tech

Israel plans to start construction next year on what will become the fifth largest solar power station in the world, part of a plan to build...

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Inkling's E-Books Put the Consumer in Charge - Circles Tech

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> The invention of the Kindle, we're still consuming flat text files on devices capable of so much more.<br> <br> Inkling, a digital publishing company founded by Apple alum Matt MacInnis in 2009, hopes to fulfill the early promises of e-readers by creating beautiful, interactive editions of reference titles with its software, Inkling Habitat.<br> <br> While Amazon and other competitors have taken the traditional book and converted it to a digital format, Inkling is breaking away from the standard text file to create something more usable: interactive decks of cards covered with text, photos and video. With hundreds of titles already available for purchase for Apple devices, Inkling is launching the publishing industry into the digital age.<br> <br> </div>

Inkling's E-Books Put the Consumer in Charge - Circles Tech

The invention of the Kindle, we're still consuming flat text files on devices capable of so much more. Inkling, a digital publishing ...

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10 Coffee Tips and Tricks to Perfect Your Cup o' Joe - Circles Tech

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Coffee is the morning must-have for nearly 83 percent of American adults.<br /><br />If you're one of those people who just can't get enough of a warm, comforting cup of joe, it's possible you're looking for new ways to enjoy your daily fix. Or perhaps you'd just like to spend less of your time and paycheck in coffee shops.<br /><br />Whether you're a newbie to the world of coffee or an espresso-drinking pro, these 10 tips and tricks will help take your caffeine habit to the next level.<br /><div><br /><ul><br /><li><br /><h2>1. Making iced coffee? Try cold brewing.</h2><br /><figure><img alt="Cold-brew" height="424" src="http://rack.2.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzE0L2EyL2NvbGRicmV3Ljc4NWM4LmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTg1MHg1OTA-CmUJanBn/8b55c162/262/cold-brew.jpg" width="640" /></figure><br /><div><br /><div><br /><a name="more"></a><br /><br /><br />Cold-brewed coffee is much less acidic than hot coffee, which gives your iced drinks a cleaner flavor. Plus, it's simple to make.<br /><br />Before heading to bed, mix the coffee and water together and let sit in an airtight container on the counter overnight. The next morning, all you have to do is strain and add ice. Check out Smitten Kitchen's excellent recipe for a more thorough how-to.<br /><br /></div><br /><div>Image: Flickr, Marisa | Food in Jars</div><br /></div></li><br /><li><br /><h2>2. Save money (and time) by making your own Pumpkin Spice Latte at home.</h2><br /><figure><img alt="Pumpkin-spice-latte" src="http://rack.3.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzE0LzFiL3B1bXBraW5zcGljLmRmMTcwLmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTg1MHg1OTA-CmUJanBn/e9be54c2/6c0/pumpkin-spice-latte.jpg" /></figure><br /><div><br /><div><br /><br />Just because you want to enjoy a tasty seasonal latte doesn't mean you should have to fork over four bucks or wait in long lines to get one.<br /><br />Make your own using this helpful recipe from The Kitchn. Bonus: You aren't limited to Starbucks brand coffee.<br /><br /></div><br /><div>Image: Flickr, Cascadian Farm</div><br /></div></li><br /><li><br /><h2>3. Freeze your leftover coffee into ice cubes.</h2><br /><figure><img alt="Coffee-tips" src="http://rack.2.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzE0L2ViL2NvZmZlZXRpcHMuMDk4ZDcuanBnCnAJdGh1bWIJODUweDU5MD4KZQlqcGc/a7456942/7f8/coffee-tips.jpg" /></figure><br /><div><br /><div><br /><br />Toss them in iced coffee to keep your drink cool without diluting the flavor, or use one to cool down piping hot coffee quickly.<br /><br /></div><br /><div>Image: Flickr, minipixel</div><br /></div></li><br /><li><br /><h2>4. Request the lower children's drink temperature at Starbucks to ensure that your coffee is cool enough to sip immediately.</h2><br /><figure><img alt="Kids-drinks" src="http://rack.0.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzE0LzliL2tpZHNkcmlua3MuNzk3M2QuanBnCnAJdGh1bWIJODUweDU5MD4KZQlqcGc/f0252912/0a1/kids-drinks.jpg" /></figure><br /><div><br /><div><br /><br />No reason to scald your tongue and lose the ability to taste anything for 24 hours over a quickly-needed caffeine fix.<br /><br /></div><br /><div></div><br /></div></li><br /><li><br /><h2>5. Heating a mug before adding hot coffee keeps your drink warm for a longer period of time.</h2><br /><figure><img alt="Mug-by-the-fire" src="http://rack.2.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzE0L2RhL211Z2J5dGhlZmlyLjA4ZmRkLmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTg1MHg1OTA-CmUJanBn/76ea0847/c87/mug-by-the-fire.jpg" /></figure><br /><div><br /><div><br /><br />Redditor hudony points out that you can use the hot water feature on an office watercooler to fill your mug. After it is sufficiently hot, save the water in another cup and feed to the office plants later.<br /><br /></div><br /><div>Image: Flickr, Knight725</div><br /></div></li><br /><li><br /><h2>6. If you ask nicely, Starbucks baristas will use a french press to brew you a cup of any coffee you want.</h2><br /><figure><img alt="French-press" src="http://rack.1.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzE0LzViL2ZyZW5jaHByZXNzLmE4OTQ3LmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTg1MHg1OTA-CmUJanBn/7378d2a1/21d/french-press.jpg" /></figure><br /><div><br /><div>Image: Flickr, cbaugh</div><br /></div></li><br /><li><br /><h2>7. Add spices like cinnamon to your coffee for a delicious change of pace.</h2><br /><figure><img alt="Cinnamon-grinder" src="http://rack.1.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzE0LzY5L2Npbm5hbW9uZ3JpLmE2Njc4LmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTg1MHg1OTA-CmUJanBn/a9f39147/6d3/cinnamon-grinder.jpg" /></figure><br /><div><br /><div><br /><br />Reddit user throwitaway488 recommends this spice mixture.<br /><br /></div><br /><div>Image: Flickr, trophygeek</div><br /></div></li><br /><li><br /><h2>8. Looking for something to tide you over until lunchtime? Try buttered coffee.</h2><br /><figure><img alt="Butter" src="http://rack.1.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzE0L2Q3L2J1dHRlci5hZTVlZi5qcGcKcAl0aHVtYgk4NTB4NTkwPgplCWpwZw/18b86734/c30/butter.jpg" /></figure><br /><div><br /><div><br /><br />According to The Kitchn, putting a pat of butter in your morning coffee gives you enough energy to last you through to lunch. It is a take on "bulletproof coffee," a recipe that calls for adding MCT oil to coffee.<br /><br /></div><br /><div>Image: Flickr, misterbisson</div><br /></div></li><br /><li><br /><h2>9. Periodically clean out your coffee maker using white vinegar.</h2><br /><figure><img alt="Coffee-maker" src="http://rack.1.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzE0LzA4L2NvZmZlZW1ha2VyLmE0ZjkxLmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTg1MHg1OTA-CmUJanBn/71f211be/911/coffee-maker.jpg" /></figure><br /><div><br /><div><br /><br />Run 1 part distilled white vinegar with 1 part water through your maker, stopping the cycle halfway through to allow the mixture to sit in the machine for one hour. Finish the cycle and run through multiple times with water before using again.<br /><br /></div><br /><div>Image: Flickr, the-difference</div><br /></div></li><br /><li><br /><h2>10. Coffee grounds make excellent odor removers for small spaces like cars. refridgerators and freezers.</h2><br /><figure><img alt="Coffee-grounds" src="http://rack.0.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzE0LzAwL2NvZmZlZWdyb3VuLmRhZTI2LmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTg1MHg1OTA-CmUJanBn/b5c7e8d8/db8/coffee-grounds.jpg" /></figure><br /><div><br /><div><br /><br />Dry your used coffee grounds completely and pour in a clean sock. Tie the end and place at the offending odor's source.<br /><br /></div><br /><div>Image: Flickr, Andy Lederer</div><br /></div></li></ul><br /></div></div>

10 Coffee Tips and Tricks to Perfect Your Cup o' Joe - Circles Tech

Coffee is the morning must-have for nearly 83 percent of American adults. If you're one of those people who just can't get enough of...

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Are You Losing Sleep Over Your Slow PC? - Circles Tech

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> Ever want to throw your PC out the window because it was taking too long to load a website? You’re not alone. A global survey commissioned by storage device maker SanDisk found that 14% of American respondents have taken their frustrations out on a gadget, while 27% have lost sleep due to slow computer performance. The survey also found the average American has lost 119 hours of free time to computer-related delays in the past 12 months. That’s almost five days a year of your life lost because your computer was stalling.<br> <br> The June 2013 study of more than 8,000 PC users from around the world found that the frustration caused by inefficient devices could put a quarter of American respondents in a bad mood for the rest of the day. Oddly enough, despite mobile Internet speeds still lagging behind ethernet or Wi-Fi connections at home or the office, 53% of Americans polled said the computer they use at home or work is the device that annoys them the most due to wasted time. Only 22% said their mobile phone caused the same grief.<br> <br> </div>

Are You Losing Sleep Over Your Slow PC? - Circles Tech

Ever want to throw your PC out the window because it was taking too long to load a website? You’re not alone. A global survey commissioned ...

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Google Maps Now Lets You Display Multiple Routes on One Page - CirclesTech

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> Google Maps' newest version continues to deliver impressive upgrades, and now has the ability to display multiple routes on one page when plotting a trip.<br> <br> When users search for directions by entering a starting point and destination, they can continue to add destinations to the maps without losing sight of their original route, Google announced in a blog post published Wednesday. During a test run of the feature, the number of destinations we were able to display on a single page topped out at nine.<br> <br> As each destination is added, the map view automatically shifts to accommodate viewing all destinations on a single page. What's more, the order of the destinations can be shuffled to offer different options in regards to time and mileage via foot, bike, car or public transit.<br> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a><br> </div>

Google Maps Now Lets You Display Multiple Routes on One Page - CirclesTech

Google Maps' newest version continues to deliver impressive upgrades, and now has the ability to display multiple routes on one page wh...

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Flickr iOS Update Automatically Uploads Photos From Your Camera Roll -Circles Tech

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Yahoo has just issued another major update to the official iOS app of its popular photo-sharing service, Flickr.<br /><br />Through its latest update, Flickr for iOS has gained a new Auto Upload feature. As its name suggests, Auto Upload automatically uploads new photos in your camera roll to Flickr.<br /><br />You can enable Auto Upload in the app’s More tab. After activating the feature, your 25 most recent photos will be automatically uploaded in full resolution. Thereafter, each new photo in your camera roll will be similarly treated.<br /><br />Now, you might be wondering about Auto Upload’s privacy considerations. Well, suffice it to say that auto-uploaded photos are set to private until you decide to manually share them with others.<br /><br /><a name="more"></a><br /><br />Also note that Auto Upload works over a cellular or Wi-Fi network by default. You can opt to have it work over Wi-Fi only by setting your preference in the app.<br /><br /><a href="http://mashable.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Flickr-1.jpeg"><img alt="Flickr update" src="http://rack.3.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzA5L2Q1L0ZsaWNrcjEuODIyZjIuanBnCnAJdGh1bWIJMTIwMHg5NjAwPg/2bbd95cd/493/Flickr-1.jpeg" /></a><br /><br />Aside from Auto Upload, the latest update to Flickr also introduces Auto Straighten. With this feature, you can automatically straighten your photos using the in-app editor.<br /><br />The in-app editor, by the way, uses the photo-editing technology of Ghostbird, which Yahoo acquired last June. Ghostbird effectively replaced Aviary as the provider of editing options in Flickr for iOS. Fun fact: in what appears to be a jab at Flickr, one of the App Store screenshots of Photo Editor by Aviary shows a photo of an ice cream stick, mimicking one of the App Store screenshots of Flickr that shows a photo of an ice cream cone.<br /><br />Also including bug fixes for Google sign-in issues, the new version of Flickr is available now in the App Store for free. The app is optimized for iPhone and iPod touch running iOS 6.0 or later.<br /><br />Monday, Yahoo also updated Yahoo Mail for iOS with support for threaded conversations and themes, which, like the background images of Yahoo Weather, feature photos curated from Flickr.</div>

Flickr iOS Update Automatically Uploads Photos From Your Camera Roll -Circles Tech

Yahoo has just issued another major update to the official iOS app of its popular photo-sharing service, Flickr. Through its latest update, ...

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12 Books to Cozy Up With This Fall - Circles Tech

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">As fall settles in, it's time to don your sweatshirts and sweatpants, brew a hot cup of coffee and curl up on the couch for a long weekend of reading. Autumn is the perfect opportunity to break open those books you neglected during the warm summer months, and luckily there are dozens of newly-released books to keep you entertained for the rest of the year.<br /><br />We've selected 12 of the best fall fiction releases that are the perfect companion to a warm blanket and and an afternoon of relaxation.<br /><br />Do you have a fall read already picked out? Let us know in the comments below.<br /><br /><b><br /></b><br /><img alt="bleedingedge (1)" src="http://rack.0.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzAyLzE2L2JsZWVkaW5nZWRnLmY3MTAyLmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/c9ecc1f9/596/bleedingedge-1.jpg" /><b>1. <i><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/bleeding-edge/id642922326?mt=11" target="_blank">Bleeding Edge</a></i></b><br /><b>Author:</b> Thomas Pynchon<br /><a name="more"></a><br /><blockquote>"It is 2001 in New York City, in the lull between the collapse of the dotcom boom and the terrible events of September 11th. Silicon Alley is a ghost town, Web 1.0 is having adolescent angst, Google has yet to IPO, Microsoft is still considered the Evil Empire. With occasional excursions into the Deep Web and out to Long Island, Thomas Pynchon, channelling his inner Jewish mother, brings us a historical romance of New York in the early days of the Internet, not that distant in calendar time but galactically remote from where we've journeyed to since." <small><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/bleeding-edge/id642922326?mt=11" target="_blank">iBooks Description</a></small></blockquote><br /><br /><hr /><br /><br /><img alt="baba" src="http://rack.1.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzAyLzIxL2JhYmEuMjc3MTguanBnCnAJdGh1bWIJMTIwMHg5NjAwPg/56253c68/057/baba.jpg" /><b>2. <i><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/babayaga/id598622121?mt=11" target="_blank">Babayaga</a></i></b><br /><b>Author:</b> Toby Barlow<br /><blockquote>"Will is a young American ad executive in Paris. Except his agency is a front for the CIA. Zoya is a beautiful young woman wandering <i>les boulevards</i>, sad-eyed, coming off a bad breakup. In fact, she impaled her ex on a spike. Add a few chance encounters, a chorus of some more angry witches, a strung-out jazzman or two, and a weaponized LSD program. But while Toby Barlow’s <i>Babayaga</i> may start as just a joyful romp though the City of Light, it quickly grows into a daring, moving exploration of love, mortality and responsibility." <small><a href="http://mashable.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/babayaga.jpg" target="_blank">iBooks Description</a></small></blockquote><br /><br /><hr /><br /><br /><img alt="goldfinch-large" src="http://rack.0.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzAyLzIyL2dvbGRmaW5jaGxhLmZiN2YzLmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/67393224/49d/goldfinch-large.jpg" /><b>3. <i><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-goldfinch/id599669207?mt=11" target="_blank">The Goldfinch</a></i></b><br /><b>Author:</b> Donna Tartt<br /><blockquote>"Composed with the skills of a master, <i>The Goldfinch</i> is a haunted odyssey through present day America and a drama of enthralling force and acuity. It combines unforgettably vivid characters, mesmerizing language, and breathtaking suspense, while plumbing with a philosopher's calm the deepest mysteries of love, identity, and art. It is a beautiful, stay-up-all-night and tell-all-your-friends triumph, an old-fashioned story of loss and obsession, survival and self-invention, and the ruthless machinations of fate." <small><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-goldfinch/id599669207?mt=11" target="_blank">iBooks Description</a></small></blockquote><br /><br /><hr /><br /><br /><img alt="affairs of others" src="http://rack.3.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzA3L2EwL2FmZmFpcnNvZm90LjMxMTYyLmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/b40bc1c2/395/affairs-of-others.jpg" /><b>4. <i><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-affairs-of-others/id654444292?mt=11" target="_blank">The Affairs of Others</a></i></b><br /><b>Author:</b> Amy Grace Loyd<br /><blockquote>"A mesmerizing debut novel about a young woman, haunted by loss, who rediscovers passion and possibility when she is drawn into the tangled lives of her neighbors. Five years after her young husband’s death, Celia Cassill has moved from one Brooklyn neighborhood to another, but she has not moved on. Celia believes in boundaries, solitude, that she has a right to her ghosts. Amy Grace Loyd investigates interior spaces of the body and the New York warrens in which her characters live, offering a startling emotional honesty about the traffic between men and women." <small><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-affairs-of-others/id654444292?mt=11" target="_blank">iBooks Description</a></small></blockquote><br /><br /><hr /><br /><br /><img alt="the signature of all things" src="http://rack.0.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzA3LzEzL3RoZXNpZ25hdHVyLjU5ZDlhLmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/54045f51/19b/the-signature-of-all-things2.jpg" /><b>5. <i><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-signature-of-all-things/id614761607?mt=11" target="_blank">The Signature of Things</a></i></b><br /><b>Author:</b> Elizabeth Gilbert<br /><blockquote>"A glorious, sweeping novel of desire, ambition, and the thirst for knowledge, Elizabeth Gilbert returns to fiction, inserting her inimitable voice into an enthralling story of love, adventure and discovery. Exquisitely researched and told at a galloping pace, <i>The Signature of All Things</i> soars across the globe — from London to Peru to Philadelphia to Tahiti to Amsterdam, and beyond. Along the way, the story is peopled with unforgettable characters: missionaries, abolitionists, adventurers, astronomers, sea captains, geniuses, and the quite mad." <small><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-signature-of-all-things/id614761607?mt=11" target="_blank">iBooks Description</a></small></blockquote><br /><br /><hr /><br /><br /><img alt="at night we walk in circles" src="http://rack.3.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzA3LzY1L2F0bmlnaHR3ZXdhLjcwM2I1LmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/65adbfa1/a04/at-night-we-walk-in-circles.jpg" /><b>6. <i><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/at-night-we-walk-in-circles/id630839973?mt=11" target="_blank">At Night We Walk in Circles</a></i></b><br /><b>Author:</b> Daniel Alarcón<br /><blockquote>"Nelson’s life is not turning out the way he hoped. That is, until he lands a starring role in a touring revival of The Idiot President, a legendary play by Nelson’s hero, Henry Nunez. And that’s when the real trouble begins. Nelson’s fate is slowly revealed through the investigation of the narrator, a young man obsessed with Nelson’s story — and perhaps closer to it than he lets on. In sharp, vivid, and beautiful prose, Alarcón delivers a provocative meditation on fate, identity, and the large consequences that can result from even our smallest choices. " <small><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/at-night-we-walk-in-circles/id630839973?mt=11" target="_blank">iBooks Description</a></small></blockquote><br /><br /><hr /><br /><br /><img alt="The Rosie Project (10/1/13)by Graeme Simsion" src="http://rack.3.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzA3LzkzL1RoZVJvc2llUHJvLmM2Njk3LmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/39a4b2fc/3dc/The-Rosie-Project1.jpg" /><b>7. <i><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-rosie-project/id618072008?mt=11" target="_blank">The Rosie Project</a></i></b><br /><b>Author:</b> Graeme Simsion<br /><blockquote>"Meet Don Tillman, a brilliant yet socially challenged professor of genetics, who’s decided it’s time he found a wife. And so, in the orderly, evidence-based manner with which Don approaches all things, he designs the Wife Project to find his perfect partner: a sixteen-page, scientifically valid survey to filter out the drinkers, the smokers, the late arrivers. Arrestingly endearing and entirely unconventional, Graeme Simsion’s distinctive debut will resonate with anyone who has ever tenaciously gone after life or love in the face of great challenges." <small><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-rosie-project/id618072008?mt=11" target="_blank">iBooks Description</a></small></blockquote><br /><br /><hr /><br /><br /><img alt="enon" src="http://rack.0.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzA3L2E0L2Vub24uYjlkNDQuanBnCnAJdGh1bWIJMTIwMHg5NjAwPg/60e2eb28/e83/enon.jpg" /><b>8. <i><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/enon/id642100158?mt=11" target="_blank">Enon</a></i></b><br /><b>Author:</b> Paul Harding<br /><blockquote>"In <i>Enon</i>, Harding follows a year in the life of Charlie Crosby as he tries to come to terms with a shattering personal tragedy. Grandson of George Crosby, Charlie inhabits the dynamic landscape of New England, its seasons mirroring his turbulent emotional odyssey. Along the way, Charlie’s encounters are brought to life by his wit, his insights into history, and his yearning to understand the big questions. A stunning mosaic of human experience, <i>Enon</i> affirms Paul Harding as one of the most gifted and profound writers of his generation." <small><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/enon/id642100158?mt=11" target="_blank">iBooks Description</a></small></blockquote><br /><br /><hr /><br /><br /><img alt="the circle" src="http://rack.2.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzA3LzVhL3RoZWNpcmNsZS5mZDZhNS5qcGcKcAl0aHVtYgkxMjAweDk2MDA-/9fc6950d/c71/the-circle.jpg" /><b>9. <i><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-circle/id687070686?mt=11" target="_blank">The Circle</a></i></b><br /><b>Author:</b> Dave Eggers<br /><blockquote>"When Mae Holland is hired to work for the Circle, the world’s most powerful internet company, she feels she’s been given the opportunity of a lifetime. The Circle, links users’ personal emails, social media, banking, and purchasing with their universal operating system, resulting in one online identity and a new age of civility and transparency. What begins as the story of one woman’s ambition and idealism soon becomes a novel of suspense, raising questions about memory, history, privacy, democracy, and the limits of human knowledge."<small><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-circle/id687070686?mt=11" target="_blank">iBooks Description</a></small></blockquote><br /><br /><hr /><br /><br /><img alt="the lowland" src="http://rack.3.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzA3LzBjL3RoZWxvd2xhbmQuMDJhOGIuanBnCnAJdGh1bWIJMTIwMHg5NjAwPg/fbea9fc6/f6e/the-lowland.jpg" /><b>11. <i><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-lowland/id645382850?mt=11" target="_blank">The Lowland</a></i></b><br /><b>Author:</b> Jhumpa Lahiri<br /><blockquote>"From the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of <i>The Namesake</i> comes an extraordinary new novel, set in both India and America, that expands the scope and range of one of our most dazzling storytellers: a tale of two brothers bound by tragedy, a fiercely brilliant woman haunted by her past, a country torn by revolution, and a love that lasts long past death. Masterly suspenseful, <i>The Lowland</i> is a work of great beauty and complex emotion; an engrossing family saga and a story steeped in history that spans generations and geographies with seamless authenticity." <small><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-lowland/id645382850?mt=11" target="_blank">iBooks Description</a></small></blockquote><br /><br /><hr /><br /><br /><img alt="at the bottom" src="http://rack.1.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzA3Lzg4L2F0dGhlYm90dG9tLmIzMmU0LmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/cecd1226/72b/at-the-bottom1.jpg" /><b>12. <i><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/at-the-bottom-of-everything/id623670726?mt=11" target="_blank">At The Bottom of Everything</a></i></b><br /><b>Author:</b> Ben Dolnick<br /><blockquote>"It’s been ten years since the 'incident,' and Adam has long since decided he’s better off without his former best friend, Thomas. But when he receives an email from Thomas’s mother begging for his help, he finds himself drawn back into his old friend’s world, and into the past he’s tried so desperately to forget. As Adam embarks upon a magnificently strange and unlikely journey, Ben Dolnick unspools a tale of spiritual reckoning, of search and escape, of longing and reaching for redemption — a tale of near hallucinatory power." <small><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/at-the-bottom-of-everything/id623670726?mt=11" target="_blank">iBooks Description</a></small></blockquote><br /><b>Reminder:</b><br />As part of MashableReads, we're having Twitter chats with our fiction and non-fiction authors coming up soon, so mark the date and time in your calendars!</div>

12 Books to Cozy Up With This Fall - Circles Tech

As fall settles in, it's time to don your sweatshirts and sweatpants, brew a hot cup of coffee and curl up on the couch for a long weeke...

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Doctor Who' Fans Want Empire State Building Lit Up TARDIS Blue -Circles Tech

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> The iconic Empire State Building in New York City changes the color of its lights at the top of the building to celebrate certain occasions. As far as we know, it’s never celebrated <i>Doctor Who</i> — and fans of the show want that to change.<br> <br> Someone has started a Change.org petition to get the building lit up TARDIS blue on Nov. 23.<br> <br> Fans of the show will recognize the date as the 50th anniversary of <i>Doctor Who</i>, which first premiered Nov. 23, 1963. The 50th-anniversary special for the show will air this Nov. 23 in a simultaneous broadcast in 70 countries.<br> <br> The petition is aimed at the company that owns the Empire State Building, and it already has 30,917 signatures, with a goal of 35,000. The petitioners have filed the official application with the company for the lighting, but they think a petition would be a good show of support. Couldn’t hurt.<br> </div>

Doctor Who' Fans Want Empire State Building Lit Up TARDIS Blue -Circles Tech

The iconic Empire State Building in New York City changes the color of its lights at the top of the building to celebrate certain occasions...

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10 Covert iPhone 5 Cases With Secret Compartments - Circles Tech

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <img class="alignnone" height="590" src="http://rack.2.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzAzLzk1L3N0ZWFsdGhjYXNlLmI2NTYyLmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTg1MHg1OTA-CmUJanBn/4e6f809b/dee/stealth-case_white_both_iphone-5_1.jpg" width="376"><br> <h2> 1. <a href="http://www.shophex.com/shop/cases/iphone-5-and-5s/stealth-case-for-iphone-5" target="_blank">HEX Stealth</a></h2> <br> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a><br> <br> Built into HEX's "Stealth" is storage for bank <br> </div>

10 Covert iPhone 5 Cases With Secret Compartments - Circles Tech

1. HEX Stealth Built into HEX's "Stealth" is storage for bank

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10 Startups Making Travel More Affordable - Circles Tech

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Ask any seasoned traveler about the merits of globetrotting and you’re likely to hear a litany of enthusiastic responses: personal growth, cultural exploration, catharsis.<br /><br />Ask about the obstacles, however, and one resounding theme emerges: Jetsetting can cost a pretty penny. If your bank account is holding you back from your dream vacation, or if you're planning a trip and trying to adhere to a budget, these 10 startups can help turn your travel dreams into realities.<br /><h2>1. <a href="http://www.dealscoopr.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">DealScoopr</a> — Personalized Travel for Less</h2><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="m!9747"></a><br /><div><br /><div></div><br /><img alt="Screen Shot 2013-09-24 at 11.12.32 AM" src="http://rack.0.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzA5LzI0LzA5L1NjcmVlblNob3QyLjQ2NmQ1LmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/201a79c0/e00/Screen-Shot-2013-09-24-at-11.12.32-AM-640x360.jpg" /><br /><br /></div><br /><a name="more"></a><br /><br /><i>Image: DealScoopr</i><br /><br />"Think of DealScoopr as the lovechild of Amazon and Expedia," says Nitesh Goyal, ex-Amazon.com engineer and co-founder of the travel deals discovery engine. DealScoopr promises travelers a simple way to save time and money on travel bookings. Users log in through Facebook for access to the hottest deals on flights, hotels and getaways in a variety of cities.<br /><br />What makes DealScoopr different from similar services? Goyal says it comes down to personalization. "Most travel sites offer teaser rates to rope you in or show you deals that you may not want. You need to spend a lot of time finding a good travel deal to places you want to visit," says Goyal. "DealScoopr creates a personalized travel experience by matching your social profile and travel preferences with great deals on flights and hotels."<br /><br />Though DealScoopr is primarily focused on the U.S. market, Goyal says the site has plans for expansion into Europe and Asia. The website is optimized for mobile, and a mobile app for iOS and Android is in the works.<br /><h2>2. <a href="http://www.getgoing.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">GetGoing</a> — for Flexible and Spontaneous Travelers</h2><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="m!d98a"></a><br /><div><br /><div></div><br /><img alt="Screen Shot 2013-09-24 at 11.15.32 AM" src="http://rack.0.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzA5LzI0LzA5L1NjcmVlblNob3QyLmU5Y2FjLmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/006a1aaf/f3a/Screen-Shot-2013-09-24-at-11.15.32-AM-640x360.jpg" /><br /><br /></div><br /><i>Image: GetGoing</i><br /><br />We talked about GetGoing back in March, but it’s worth mentioning again. Recently named one of the 50 best websites by <i>Time Magazine</i>, this Y Combinator-funded company focuses on helping travelers discover and book trips within their budgets. Aimed at flexible leisure travelers, GetGoing asks users to set one date and two locations for their potential trip, and then puts together flight deals and an itinerary for both options. Users then choose their preference based on whichever deal they find more appealing.<br /><h2>3. <a href="https://wehostels.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">WeHostels</a> — Book the Perfect Hostel</h2><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="m!c19d"></a><br /><div><br /><div></div><br /><img alt="Screen Shot 2013-09-24 at 11.04.03 AM" src="http://rack.0.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzA5LzI0LzA5L1NjcmVlblNob3QyLmQ5MmE0LmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/33d3a3c9/5b7/Screen-Shot-2013-09-24-at-11.04.03-AM-640x360.jpg" /><br /><br /></div><br /><i>Image: WeHostels</i><br /><br />Hostel-hopping is one of the most popular ways to save money on accommodations while traveling. With so many options available, however, narrowing down and selecting the perfect one(s) can be an overwhelming process. WeHostels, a mobile app that enables users to locate and book hostels (as well as connect with like-minded travelers) while on the go, boasts listings of more than 50,000 hostels in 800 cities around the world. To get started, the app selects the top five hostels in your city of choice and includes photos, logistical details, comments/reviews and maps. The current version of WeHostels boasts an impressive 5-star rating on iTunes (4.5 stars on Google Play) and is available in a number of languages on iOS and Android devices.<br /><h2>4. <a href="http://www.fantrotter.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Fantrotter</a> — "Stubhub meets Kayak meets TripAdvisor"</h2><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="m!ffc4"></a><br /><div><br /><div></div><br /><img alt="Screen Shot 2013-09-24 at 11.18.33 AM" src="http://rack.0.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzA5LzI0LzA5L1NjcmVlblNob3QyLjJiODE2LmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/abf7c5fc/ac7/Screen-Shot-2013-09-24-at-11.18.33-AM-640x359.jpg" /><br /><br /></div><br /><i>Image: Fantrotter</i><br /><br />Fantrotter is a great option for concertgoers, football fanatics and festival chasers alike. A "ticket + travel" search engine, Fantrotter pairs events with flights, hotels and rental car options to create custom, package deals.<br /><br />Michael Coletta, founder and CEO, believes that Fantrotter fills a void in online travel resources. "Fantrotter is unique in that no other website combines event tickets and travel in a way that makes virtually any ticketed event in the world a potential vacation. We believe that seeing an amazing concert, game or performance while traveling can be one of the most extraordinary and memorable experiences in a person's life," writes Coletta.<br /><br />In addition to the website, Fantrotter just released a Facebook app targeted at performers. Though flight data is currently only available for U.S. departure airports, Fantrotter recently established a partnership for worldwide flight data and hopes to soon launch for a global audience.<br /><h2>5. <a href="http://www.roomertravel.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Roomer</a> — Last-Minute Deals on Cancellations</h2><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="m!7c9f"></a><br /><div><br /><div></div><br /><img alt="Screen Shot 2013-09-24 at 11.22.41 AM" src="http://rack.2.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzA5LzI0LzA5L1NjcmVlblNob3QyLjlhNDZlLmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/379f89f6/04d/Screen-Shot-2013-09-24-at-11.22.41-AM-640x360.jpg" /><br /><br /></div><br /><i>Image: Roomertravel</i><br /><br />Say goodbye to pesky cancellation fees and sunk costs. A godsend for those with last minute travel conflicts, Roomer allows travelers to snag deals on cancellations. Roomer offers a marketplace for non-refundable hotel reservations: Users post their room, Roomer verifies the reservation, and other users can then browse and purchase travel deals.<br /><h2>6. <a href="http://roamerapp.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Roamer</a> — Reduce Roaming Costs</h2><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="m!82a2"></a><br /><div><br /><div></div><br /><img alt="Screen Shot 2013-09-24 at 11.25.29 AM" src="http://rack.1.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzA5LzI0LzA5L1NjcmVlblNob3QyLmU3ZDlkLmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/60e80c9b/334/Screen-Shot-2013-09-24-at-11.25.29-AM-640x359.jpg" /><br /><br /></div><br /><i>Image: Roamerapp</i><br /><br />For travelers who bring cellphones abroad, roaming charges can result in skyrocketing phone bills. Enter: Roamer. The app promises mobile users up to 97% savings on roaming costs abroad by linking cellphones with foreign SIM cards in order to circumvent expensive roaming charges. Perhaps the app's best feature is that it allows travelers to use their own cell phone numbers instead of designating temporary alternatives. Roamer uses GSM to connect calls (instead of WiFi or 3G) to ensure connectivity and call quality, regardless of Internet service, and is available for both iOS and Android.<br /><h2>7. <a href="http://www.tripobox.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tripobox</a> — Convenient and Affordable Group Travel</h2><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="m!5d1d"></a><br /><div><br /><div></div><br /><img alt="Screen Shot 2013-09-24 at 11.57.24 AM" src="http://rack.1.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzA5LzI0LzA5L1NjcmVlblNob3QyLjZlOTRlLmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/78f9c1e0/033/Screen-Shot-2013-09-24-at-11.57.24-AM-640x359.jpg" /><br /><br /></div><br /><i>Image: Tripobox</i><br /><br />Planning a trip for a group of people — although often more affordable than solo travel — is a little like being assigned group projects in high school. Inevitably, one person ends up planning and executing most of the work, purchasing supplies and — if group members are unhappy with the results — stuck with all the blame. Tripobox aims to solve this problem.<br /><br />The website offers travelers "stay, eat, do" deals in nine major cities around the globe (more coming soon), as well as a free online platform for groups to discuss, debate, plan and pay. Often, a mentality of "the more the merrier" pays off (literally) — the more people in your party, the better the deal on lodgings and activities. One of the most convenient features of the site is the ability for group members to pay individually, eliminating the need for one person to front costs for everyone.<br /><h2>8. <a href="http://www.zozi.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Zozi</a> — Deals on Adventure Packages</h2><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="m!5420"></a><br /><div><br /><div></div><br /><img alt="Screen Shot 2013-09-20 at 1.16.18 PM copy" src="http://rack.2.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzA5LzI0LzA5L1NjcmVlblNob3QyLmU1NzY5LmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/f32733d6/a4d/Screen-Shot-2013-09-20-at-1.16.18-PM-copy-640x360.jpg" /><br /><br /></div><br /><i>Image: ZOZI</i><br /><br />A great option for the adventurous traveler, Zozi offers a variety of package deals around the U.S. and the globe, as well as discounts on adventure gear such as backpacks, luggage and athletic clothing — plus advice from celebrity "Zozi Gurus". The site partners with ecommerce sites, media companies and travel brands in order to bring customers memorable experiences. A few of the deals currently available: An introductory rock-climbing course for half price in New Jersey, a two-weekend shipwreck dive certification for $799 in Burbank, and an 11-day "Holi and Elephant Festival Experience" for $999 in India (regularly priced at $2,457).<br /><h2>9. <a href="http://www.simplydeclare.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Simply Declare</a> — Keep Track of Declarable Purchases</h2><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="m!0b11"></a><br /><div><br /><div></div><br /><img alt="Screen Shot 2013-09-24 at 11.46.12 AM" src="http://rack.2.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzA5LzI0LzA5L1NjcmVlblNob3QyLjc0NjIxLmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/d4820357/be4/Screen-Shot-2013-09-24-at-11.46.12-AM-640x360.jpg" /><br /><br /></div><br /><i>Image: SimplyDeclare</i><br /><br />Never ask the question, "What do I have to declare?" again. For international travelers (slash shopaholics), Simply Declare travel app is a useful tool for keeping track of declarable purchases abroad. Users keep lists of purchases, enter item prices in foreign currency (which the app then converts to users' currency of choice) and set spending limits. Additionally, the app keeps track of credit card receipts digitally — helpful for those who want a record of spending habits. Simply Declare is currently available for $0.99 (there's also a free version) on iOS.<br /><h2>10. <a href="https://boatbound.co/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Boatbound</a> — The Fun of Boating Without the Hassle</h2><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="m!5894"></a><br /><div><br /><div></div><br /><img alt="Screen Shot 2013-09-24 at 11.48.25 AM" src="http://rack.1.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzA5LzI0LzA5L1NjcmVlblNob3QyLjljZThmLmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/f8230c50/fb7/Screen-Shot-2013-09-24-at-11.48.25-AM-640x360.jpg" /><br /><br /></div><br /><i>Image: Boatbound</i><br /><br />The famous saying about boat ownership goes, "The two best days of boat owners' lives are the day they buy the boat, and the day they sell it." Boatbound takes some of the hassle out of boat ownership (and allows owners to curb costs) by functioning as an Airbnb-esque rental service. Boat owners list and rent out their boats to interested parties with a "pier-to-pier" platform.<br /><br />Listing and searching on the site is free, and the service promises pre-screened, qualified rental applicants. Boatbound also provides owners up to $1 million in liability protection and $2 million in hull damage protection with every rental.<br /><h2>BONUS: Veterans You've Already Heard About</h2><br />We'd be remiss not to mention the big dogs –- Airbnb, Hipmunk, TripIt and HotelTonight immediately jump to mind. Veteran Couchsurfing (the site's been around for nearly a decade) is another well-known resource for travelers seeking affordable accommodations. For navigating public transportation, HopStop has emerged as a hugely popular website and mobile app, and it'll save you money on cabs.<br /><br />For travelers seeking a rewarding personal experience as well as the opportunity to travel the world, voluntourism may be an option as well. Interested parties should check out organizations such as WorkAway or WWOOF.<br /><br />Did we miss one of your favorites? Tell us in the comments.</div>

10 Startups Making Travel More Affordable - Circles Tech

Ask any seasoned traveler about the merits of globetrotting and you’re likely to hear a litany of enthusiastic responses: personal growth, c...

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7 Ways You're Killing Your Tech - Circles Tech

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The first few days with a new piece of tech are filled with wonder and trepidation. You cradle your new phone like it's a newborn, you frantically clean your laptop of fresh fingerprint smudges, you put your e-reader to bed in a fort of pillows and bubble wrap.<br /><br />Nothing bad will ever happen to this gadget, you promise yourself, kissing your iPad goodnight.<br /><br />And then one day, without warning, the honeymoon is over. You start carelessly tossing your laptop into your backpack, you whirl your headphones around like a lasso, you leave your phone on for four months at a time. At one point or another, we're all guilty of a few tech care crimes.<br /><br />For those looking to change, we've compiled this list of the most common poor choices everyone makes with their electronics. Have anything to add? Let us know in the comments.<br /><h2>1. Resting Laptops on Beds, Carpets or Bare Skin</h2><br />Without a cooling pad or a proper ventilation area, your laptop will overheat when used for too long. So when you wrap it up in your blankets and watch Netflix for an entire weekend? That's not good. Overheating can decrease your battery life and, in some cases, cause serious damage to your computer and potentially catch fire.<br /><a name="more"></a><br /><h2>2. Transporting Electronics Without a Case</h2><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="m!60d4"></a><br /><div><br /><div></div><br /><img alt="Laptop bag" height="411" src="http://rack.2.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzAxL2M0L2xhcHRvcGJhZy5hYTZmYS5qcGcKcAl0aHVtYgkxMjAweDk2MDA-/474df88a/71a/laptop-bag.jpg" width="539" /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br />If you're carrying tablets, laptops and other electronics around without a protective case, you're basically asking for busted screens and dented corners. Your electronics should be housed in a quality bag or case where they won't be jostled around throughout the day. And to all of those carrying their laptops by the screen: stop.<br /><h2>3. Improper Cord Maintenance</h2><br />Charger cords — particularly those made by a certain fruit related tech company — are extremely sensitive and fray easily. Be sure not to wrap them too tightly or yank them out of the wall. When you're transporting them, wrap them loosely like you would an extension cord.<br /><br />This rule also applies to headphones. Don't wrap them too tightly around your iPod. If you do, make sure they aren't plugged in at the time as the pressure could damage them.<br /><h2>4. Never Powering Off</h2><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="m!6d5c"></a><br /><div><br /><div></div><br /><img alt="laptop at night" height="348" src="http://rack.0.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzAxLzY4L2xhcHRvcGF0bmlnLjllM2Q0LmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/30a46f6c/af1/laptop-at-night.jpg" width="554" /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br />Be honest, when was the last time you actually let your laptop stay off for more than 30 minutes? Many of us are guilty of keeping electronics in a constant state of sleep and never turning them off.<br /><br />To improve the life of your battery, you should periodically power cycle it. To do this, run your battery all the way to zero and charge it, while off, until full again.<br /><h2>5. Using Household Cleaners on Electronics</h2><br />Using household cleaning products like Windex on your devices is a bad idea, as the chemicals eat away at the coating on your screen.<br /><h2>6. Improperly Ejecting Drives</h2><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="m!1ea7"></a><br /><div><br /><div></div><br /><img alt="U" height="375" src="http://rack.3.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzAxLzZiL1VTQmRyaXZlcy5lZmFlZC5qcGcKcAl0aHVtYgkxMjAweDk2MDA-/a7acb967/136/USB-drives.jpg" width="567" /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br />USB hard drives and thumb drives should always be ejected properly from your computer before you rip them out. Especially with hard drives, if the disk is spinning when you remove it you could experience data loss.<br /><h2>7. Never Backing Up</h2><br />We know, we know, you're getting around to it. But backing up your data isn't exactly something you can wait on, as you never know when a major problem could arise. Frequently backing up your data to a hard drive or onto the cloud will save you one enormous potential headache.</div>

7 Ways You're Killing Your Tech - Circles Tech

The first few days with a new piece of tech are filled with wonder and trepidation. You cradle your new phone like it's a newborn, you f...

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Delta Pilots Will Use Surface 2 Tablets Instead of Flight Bags -Circles Tech

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Delta Air Lines announced Monday that it would purchase up to 11,000 Microsoft Surface 2 tablets to replace pilots’ flight bags.<br /><br />Starting with Boeing 757 and Boeing 767 aircraft, pilots on 700 planes will leave behind their 35-pound flight kit in favor of the second generation of Microsoft’s tablet product. The move to tablets will help the airline save on fuel costs, as well as cut carbon emissions by 26 million pounds, according to the airline. Delta also said that all cockpits will be paper-free by the end of 2014.<br /><br /><a name="more"></a><br /><br />In Delta’s news release and corresponding video announcing the purchase, the company touted the tablet’s ability to multitask as a selling point. “Pilots will be able to open two applications side-by-side, offering, for example, the opportunity to assess weather information alongside proposed flight paths,” the company said.<br /><br />This is the first good news for the Surface in what has been an otherwise poor first year on the market. The Microsoft Surface product has been a relative failure for the Windows maker, leading it to write down $900 million in losses in the last fiscal year and slash prices in half to attract customers, which has yet to happen. Analyst estimates point to 1.5 million sales of the Surface in its first eight months, as opposed to 57 million iPad sales during the same period.<br /><br />Neither Delta nor Microsoft revealed the price of the tablets and whether it was less than the fire-sale prices being offered to consumers.</div>

Delta Pilots Will Use Surface 2 Tablets Instead of Flight Bags -Circles Tech

Delta Air Lines announced Monday that it would purchase up to 11,000 Microsoft Surface 2 tablets to replace pilots’ flight bags. Starting wi...

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10 Best Water Filtration Bottles - circles tech

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <h1> Best Water Filtration Bottles</h1> <br> <a href="http://circlestech.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/new-freshsip-389.jpg"><img alt="new-freshsip-389" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-549" height="306" src="http://circlestech.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/new-freshsip-389.jpg" width="389"></a><br> <h2> 1. <a href="http://www.wateruonline.com/pages/freshsip/76.php" target="_blank">WaterU FreshSip</a></h2></div>

10 Best Water Filtration Bottles - circles tech

Best Water Filtration Bottles 1. WaterU FreshSip

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