Does what you wear on the mountain make a difference in your ability – especially if your just a once or twice a year skier in general? What’s come out in the last two years that’s blowing everyone away? We find out, in a Tech Now coming up.

Posted in Connected Kids, Digital Parenting, Girlfriend's Guide, Great Gadgets, In The Press, TechNow, TechStyled, Tips & Tricks, Top tech news, What The Tech

Posted in In The Press, TechNow, Tips & Tricks

From USA Today’s Tech Now with Jennifer Jolly (click here to watch the video):

You already know how to make yourself look good in the real world — or at least try: a bit of hair product, an outfit that compliments your eyes, and your favorite shoes are a good start. But shining up your digital self can be a bit trickier. Your Facebook profile is almost always your most visible virtual self, so here are a few insider tricks to keep in mind whether you hope to be loved by all or simply want to keep your friends and family from pretending they don’t know you.

PUT YOUR BEST FACE FORWARD

Your Facebook account is like a living person, and its face is your profile picture. It’s the first thing other people see about you and it can instantly make either a good impression or a bad one.

Keep your profile picture free of anything offensive. For example, downing a giant mug of beer or wearing an obnoxiously skimpy Halloween costume might not bode too well with a future boss, significant other, or even some of your own relatives. But don’t be afraid to add some personality. A charming photo from a recent vacation, getaway, or otherwise happy times are your best bet for giving your digital face a good vibe.

Don’t forget to give your cover photo a similar treatment. Any scenic photos you happen to have will do fine, but you get huge bonus points if it matches your profile photo. Just get back from the beach? How about a smiling profile photo of you with the ocean at your back and a cover photo of the beach? That’s a perfect combination that will not only get smiles from your friends, and let visitors know you put some thought into your social presence.

When something changes in your appearance — like a drastically new hair style or a shiny new pair of glasses — make sure you update your digital “face” as well. Your profile photo should be as close to a current representation of you as possible. One of my most liked photos of all time? Nope, not a photo of me and someone famous. Not a photo of the Grand Canyon. It was a photo of a new haircut, me showing the world my new bangs.

VIRTUAL VOICE LESSONS

If your profile photo is your face, then your posts are most definitely your voice. That means you don’t want them to be annoying, obnoxious, or over-the-top.

Your Facebook posts should be timely and relevant. If you’re just catching up on a TV show from the ’80s, that’s probably not the kind of thing your digital comrades are going to care too much about, so keep it fresh. Tell your friends about a new book you just read or an album you discovered that they might not have heard about. Share funny moments in your daily life, and make sure your digital self has a good sense of humor.

Every time you post a comment, remember everyone who may see it. Posting risqué details about a recent party or disparaging comments about your boss will probably end up being read by people who shouldn’t be seeing it. Keeping your voice positive and professional at all times is your best bet.

YOUR ONLINE GOODIE BAG

Your Facebook profile is more than just your online eyes and ears; It’s also a collection of everything that is important to you. Pages you’ve “Liked” in the past never leave your profile unless you make them. If you’ve been on the social network for more than a couple of years, your tastes have likely changed, and so should your likes!

Browse through any old Music, Movies, TV, and other media pages you’ve liked in the past and make sure it represents present-day you. This is also a great time to add some new pages you may have forgotten about. If someone visits your profile page and sees that the newest show you’ve liked is half a decade old, it’s a dead giveaway that you’ve been phoning in your virtual personality.

DON’T DISAPPEAR!

The single greatest mistake many social network users make is devoting themselves to their digital lives in fits and starts. Don’t post 10 times today and disappear for the next two weeks or you’re going to become an instant candidate for de-friending.

Keep a consistent presence, and don’t overdo it. If you feel like you have a lot to say today, maybe you should save half of it for tomorrow. If you overwhelm your friends and then vanish mysteriously, there’s a good chance they’ll eventually grow tired of it.

But whatever you do, have fun with your digital self! Facebook turn you into whoever you want to be, so make that person someone worth knowing.

Posted in TechNow, Tips & Tricks, Top tech news

From USA Today’s Tech Now with Jennifer Jolly (click here to watch the video):

Did you know that your cherished iPhone hides secrets from you? That’s right, a simple nod of the noggin could shift the way you use this precious gadget.

Apple’s iPhone is a revolutionary gizmo that has changed the mobile landscape forever, but even if you’ve had one for years, there are still a few things you probably don’t know about it. Each major update that Apple rolls out — and there have been many — brings new features and changes. Here are just a few of the things you’ve likely missed along the way.

1. CONTROL YOUR PHONE WITH YOUR HEAD

The iPhone is a “smartphone,” but it might be even smarter than you ever thought. There is a special control option built into it that lets you use tilts of your head to perform various functions. It’s part of a feature called Switch Control, and you can enable it in the Accessibility menu of the iPhone settings.

IPAD TIPS: 5 things you had no idea your iPad could do

You can set up a Switch Control command to notice when you tilt your head to the left or to the right, and use that movement as input for things like pressing the home button or checking the notification center. It’s built into the phone to assist those with certain disabilities, but it can also be convenient for controlling your device when your hands are busy with other tasks — like when you’re wrist-deep in dinner preparation, and don’t want to get goo on your gadgets.

2. UNDO TYPOS WITH A QUICK SHAKE

Tapping quickly on a tiny screen with our big ole’ clumsy thumbs means typos are an annoying and inevitable part of life. So rather than send texts laden with errors, just give your iPhone a little shake, as I show you in the accompanying Tech Now video. That motion brings up a prompt to undo the typing or cancel and continue. It also works if you accidentally select, copy or paste text you didn’t want to. Seems so simple, yet can be so satisfying, when it comes to dealing with this daily digital dilemma.

3. A BURST OF CREATIVITY

Taking an important photo only to have it turn out poorly is one of the most frustrating things in the world, but you can greatly increase the chances of capturing the moment perfectly by using your iPhone’s burst photo feature.

Normally when you take a photo you simply tap the on-screen capture button, which produces just a single photo, but if you hold down the button you’ll automatically activate burst mode. Using burst mode, your phone will capture a ton of photos in rapid succession, and save them in a small gallery. Taking photos this way ensures that between the inevitable blinks and giggles, you’ll snag a perfect photo.

4. LOCATION-BASED REMINDERS

Have you ever gotten home and realized that you forgot to pick something up from the store? How about arriving at a relative’s house and remembering that you have something for them back at home? Believe it or not, your iPhone can help with this common occurrence using its Reminders app, one of the most underutilized iPhone functions.

All you need to do is set up a Reminder as you normally would — and if you’ve never set up a reminder before, it takes just a few seconds — and then tap on the information icon that pops up. From this menu you can activate the location feature, which will use the iPhone’s GPS to notify you of the reminder whenever you enter or leave a specific location. It’s like having a personal assistant with you at all times!

5. BLOCK PESKY CALLERS AND MESSENGERS

Is there a telemarketer who just doesn’t get the hint to leave you alone? What about a texting service that you accidentally gave your number to, that buzzes you at all hours of the day and night? You can easily block those annoying communications using your iPhone!

Head into the Phone menu of your iPhone settings and add any offending numbers to the Blocked list. That’s it! Now, if the bothersome calls and texts continue, you’ll never hear a peep. Peace of mind at last.

What are some of the magic tricks you use on your iPhone? Be sure to let us know.

Posted in Great Gadgets, TechNow, Tips & Tricks, Top tech news

Every day is a Super Bowl for new gadgets at USA Today.com. Be sure to let us know about your game day best.
From USA Today’s Tech Now with Jennifer Jolly:
Click here to watch video:
Game Winning Gadgets

With temperatures so cold “cops yell ‘thaw!’ when chasing bad guys,” and “you’re thankful for hot flashes,” the best place to get your game on this Sunday Bowl Sunday might just be right in your own home. But before you cuddle up with a basket of chicken wings (did you know that Americans will eat some 1.25 BILLION this weekend?!), here are the top game-winning gadgets to keep you basking in glory all year long:Photo courtesy: Logitech

1.Logitech Harmony Remote
Juggling a hand full of remotes every time you want to change the channel or turn up the volume is like fumbling the kickoff. The Logitech Harmony Ultimate ($349) universal remote is that opening play you need, akin to scoring touchdown on the opening drive. The backlit touchscreen is easy to use to control every aspect of your home entertainment center, including pairing with Philips Hue light bulbs to set the ultimate mood. It’s also completely customizable, and lets anyone in the house turn their smartphone into personal universal remote, including 50 favorite channel icons and one-touch activity control.
2. Jawbone Big Jambox
When it comes to sound, why not go big or go home? The Jawbone Big Jambox ($299) has 15 hours of battery life and also manages to be a lot louder than its modest footprint would suggest, making it perfect for listening to the big game. You can connect Big Jambox to your tablet, smartphone, or computer via Bluetooth to listen to music or live game commentary, or even plug it into your portable television with a 3.5mm jack to even more sound.Funflicks large screen for parties.
3. New HDTV — Sales All Around
Hopefully you already have a superb set to catch all of the action, but if you don’t you can rent a giant movie screen from funflicks.com.

This is also a great week to score a great deal on a new TV. Amazon has Sony and Samsung HDTV’s for a $1,000 off — while Target and Best Buy have a 60-inch Vizio E-series running about $800. Costco is offering a deal on a high-end Samsung 75-inch LED TV. At $2,500, it’s not cheap by any means, but it’s about $200 less than anywhere else.
4. Coleman RoadTrip Grill LXE
Now, for the fun stuff. Food and drinks. You can’t have a proper tailgate-esque party without burgers and barbecue, so you’ll need a grill that’s easy to roll out or carry along to your Super Bowl celebration, no matter where it is. The Coleman RoadTrip LXE ($179) is powered by propane and folds up for easy transport, all while providing enough cooking space — 285 square inches — for all of your grilling needs.
5. Crock-Pot Smart Slow Cooker by WeMo
Okay, this is just a tease, because Belkin’s WeMo Crock-Pot Slow Cooker (available Spring of 2014 for $99.99) isn’t on the market quite yet. Still, start planning for next year’s party now with this Crock-Pot that lets you change the cooking time, set a reminder, and check on your dish — all from your smartphone. Foodini 3D Printer
6. Foodini 3D Food Printer
If you can’t be bothered to cook — at all — there’s a new 3D food printer that will soon be on the market as well. Just load the Foodini (available mid-2014 for around $1400) with capsules filled with fresh ingredients and out comes printed cheeseburgers, raviolis, chicken nuggets – even a sort of gourmet version of nacho’s. This printer doesn’t actually cook the food for you, so you will have to that yourself. Still, a gadget that preps your food for you? Score!Beer Cooling Rods
7. Chillsner Beer Cooling Rods
No one likes warm beer — unless that’s going to be some weird new trend that takes hold in the sub-zero weather expected at this year’s uber-frigid Super Bowl venue — but you’ll be super hot if you show up to a party with these Chillsner beer cooling rods ($29.95). Just freeze the rods and then drop them into a bottle of beer — they fit most 12 ounce bottles — for an icy cold brew. Seriously cool. Photo: Roddy Blelloch
8. Remote Controlled Rolling Beverage Cooler
Have a serious case of FOMO (fear of missing out)? Then don’t get up to get a cold one, rely on this remote controlled rolling beverage cooler from Hammacher Schlemmer ($59.95) to save the day. This little beer-bot carries a six pack with style, rolling across a patio, rug, or kitchen floor to deliver a well-timed beverage to parched party guests. The radio remote’s simple controls send the cooler forward, backward, and left or right.
9. Grillbot
Once the Super Bowl is over, you’re left with the unfortunate task of cleanup. But why not turn to some high-tech help? The Grillbot ($119) is, as its name implies, a robot that scrubs down your grill — so you can save your energy for next football season.
10. Moneual Rydis Robot Vacuum+Mop
Even better than the halftime show, and maybe even some of the commercials, is this new Moneual Rydis H67 Hybrid Robot Vacuum Cleaner ($399). I took this little baby for a test drive in my own home recently, and it swept the competition when it came to pet hair, crushed tortilla chips, and even avoiding my rambunctious cat who likes to play aggrssive games of chicken.
####

Posted in Girlfriend's Guide, Great Gadgets, In The Press, TechNow, Tips & Tricks, Top tech news

For the first time ever, Apple has announced not one, but two new smartphones, the iPhone 5C and the iPhone 5S. The 5C is cute, colorful and cheap. The new 5S is speedy, sophisticated, and super secure. Here’s everything you need to know:
Candy-coated colors:
The new iPhone 5C It has the same guts as the current iPhone 5, but comes wrapped in a polycarbonate (fancy name for plastic) shell instead of Apple’s standard aluminum. It also comes rainbow of bright colors, including green, blue, yellow, pink, and white. Apple is also pulling a Samsung and launching a handful of new super colorful leather cases to go launch with it.
While the spec’s are solid, the price tag on the new 5C is especially appealing, starting at just $99 (16GB) or $199 (32GB) with a contract. This candy-colored gadget will definitely appeal to kids and teens — and the lower price tag makes the iPhone 5C a juicy option for budget shoppers who want the best of Apple for an Android price. The 5C goes on pre-sale Friday, September 13th and is available in stores on September 20th.

Bringing the bling:
The new iPhone 5S is Apple’s newest flagship phone — equipped with “Touch ID,” a new fingerprint sensor that’s built-in to the home button — so you can just touch it to unlock your phone or authenticate an App Store purchase. (Phew, no more taking a half second to type those passwords.) Made of high-grade aluminum the new 5S sparkles in silver, gold, and a new color Apple calls “space gray.”
Under the hood, the 5S has a new A7 chip that includes 64-bit capabilities, which makes it faster than anything we’ve seen before in a phone, and boosts graphics performance as well. (Though gamers will likely want a bigger screen.) The newest phone also has a feature Apple calls the M7 — a “motion co-processor” that tracks steps and motion, so that the phone will now work like a fitness band. There’s also a beefed up 8MP iSight camera, with a new burst feature, so that you can take rapid fire snapshots with no lag time in between. This high-tech smartphone is priced the same as the iPhone 5, running $199 (16GB), $299 (32GB), or $399 (64GB) with a new 2-year contract.
The real star of today’s show – iOS 7:
Both the 5C and the 5S phones will ship with with iOS 7, which is the most dramatic makeover to Apple’s operating system to date. Redesigned from the ground up, iOS 7 is packed with a bevy of thoughtful new features — including Control Center, iTunes Radio, and Siri will be able to search Twitter! Even if you aren’t planning on snagging a new phone, iOS 7 will be available — for free — to current owners of the iPhone 4+, iPad 2+, iPad mini, and 5th-gen iPod touch.
C for Copycat?
If you’re thinking that some of these new Apple features sound a lot like Samsung Galaxy S4 – it’s because they do. It’s weird to see Apple playing a bit of catch-up on a field they once dominated; Nokia already has cheap and colorful phones, the Samsung Galaxy S4 already has the snazzy new camera features, and the new iTunes radio sounds an awful lot like Pandora. Seeing Apple play catch-up with the competition today left some people saying that it’s more proof Apple’s has lost the upper hand when it comes to innovation. No surprise, Apple fans disagree, and say the iPhones are Apple’s way of giving critics the finger.

What do you think? Be sure to let us know in the comments section below.

Posted in Digital Parenting, Girlfriend's Guide, Great Gadgets, Health & Fitness, In The Press, TechNow, TechStyled, Tips & Tricks, Top tech news, What The Tech

I had so much fun with Natasha Curry and the crew at CNN/HLN this past weekend. It was 95-degrees in the TV studio and breaking news pushed this segment back nearly two hours. Natasha was SO kind, helpful, and positive – one of the nicest hosts I’ve ever met. Thanks again to all involved! You can watch more here: http://www.hlntv.com/video/2013/08/31/high-tech-essentials-your-student

It’s time to kick off a new school year for many students. With so many newfangled gadgets, school supply shopping is no longer for the faint of heart. Long gone are the days of kids only using folders, pencils and pens.

Tech expert Jennifer Jolly shares her favorite back to school gadgets. Among her picks– an air-cushioned back pack, a versatile cooking station and a new way to jam to your favorite tunes.

Posted in Connected Kids, Digital Parenting, Girlfriend's Guide, Great Gadgets, In The Press, TechNow, TechStyled, Tips & Tricks, Top tech news, What The Tech

There are a few things you can count on in early September. Kids go back to school. Some people will keep wearing white long after Labor Day. Apple will unveil a new iPhone. Thanks to Apple’s much studied “silence,” iPhone rumors are spreading faster than VMA tweets about twerking.

Here’s my take on fact versus fiction – and whether you should wait or just upgrade now:

Fact:
September 10th – two new iPhones – a faster 5S with a better camera, more storage and a fingerprint scanner for cool security features. And – bringing the bling – and phone could come in silver and gold – along with traditional black and white.
Fact:
I also buy the rumor that we’ll see a less expensive new iphone – the 5C – aimed at people choosing lower-cost Android smartphones. Those phones will likely come in a rainbow of ipod-esque colors too.

Fiction:
No iPhone 6 – designs will be evolutionary – not revolutionary. No bendable iPhone. No new iGlasses – and no iWatch to be unveiled at the September event. No giant screen iPhablet. No see-through device. And no – a new iPhone will not have a Siri who can actually do your real work – like your job – for you.

I expect the new iPhones to ship out around September 20th – if history repeats itself as it so often does in iPhone land. Another fact – the trade-in market is hot – so if you’re thinking about getting the new – new iPhone – lock in your trade-in value now through a site like gazelle. Those values typically drop the closer we get to launch.
You can read a whole lot more at www.usatoday.com/tech.

Posted in Girlfriend's Guide, Great Gadgets, In The Press, TechNow, TechStyled, Tips & Tricks, Top tech news, What The Tech

Smart Kids Apps to Prevent Summer Brain Drain & Get Kids Ready to Go Back To School:
Want to prevent summer slide – make sure kids go back to school with their brains brimming with bright ideas? Or maybe you just want to make their screen time is quality time? Here are 10 apps that can be great for young minds:

1. Touch ‘N Sing – Touch and Sing Along Picture Book
This is great example of a healthy first foray into the online world for kids as young two. It features 12 classic children’s songs, each with a different goal; learn letters, body parts, music, interactive play, reading, numbers, elements of science, and life skills to help prepare for the real world. Another stand out feature? It grows along with your child – as they progress through the various levels – the learning possibilities become limitless. The developer’s name, SumahoMAMA, means “cell phones Moms,” in Japanese, where it was created by moms looking for the very best ways to create healthy, safe, and manageable digital introductions to young kids. In additional to the apps content, no advertising is used in this product. That’s a bonus, for sure.
For ages: 2+, Available on iTunes, Free

2. WWF Together:
The World Wildlife Federation App lets kids experience the world’s most amazing and endangered animals through in-depth, interactive stories of giant pandas, tigers, and polar bears.

Ages 4+ Available on iTunes, Free

3. The Fantastic Flying Books of Morris Lessmore
This is a stunning picture book app that counts on clever interaction to move the story forward. Kids are encouraged to make sounds, tap, tilt, and play.
Ages 6+
Available on iTunes, $4.99

4. Stack the states:
Stack the States is a big favorite for our daily commute in the car. My daughter reads out the questions and we race each other to see who can answer them first. Helps teach state capitals, shapes, geographic locations, flags and more.
Ages 6+ Available on iTunes, Google Play, Free

5. TinyTap
Tiny Tap gets parents more involved with child’s digital play by letting you create your own games with your kids using photos, music, colors, and words. You can make your own game, or pick from one of the many already created.
Ages 4+, Available on iTunes, Free

6. BuzzMath Middle School
If you want to prevent summer slide and make sure kids go back to school with their brains brimming, take a look at this comprehensive math skills and practice tool that offers thousands of quirky and fun exercises. It’s best for grades six through eight. And I highly recommend it for parents as a way to brush-up too!
Ages 10+, Available on iTunes, Google Play, Free

7. Storia
This reading app from Scholastic is a must-have. It’s filled with an entire library of teacher recommended books, plus dozens of fun and engaging games that help build comprehension and reading retention at every age and reading level. It’s so much fun, children will have NO idea how good it is for them as they work on word puzzles, tap their way through image games, and explore the world of their own imagination through great stories.
For ages 6+, Available on Google Play, iTunes, Windows, and Amazon, Free

8. Todo Elementary Math Series
This is a series of 7 multi-level games that are aligned to the Common Core State Standards for Pre-K through 2nd grade. The games help kids with learning differences, which might be struggling with concepts like telling time. It lets kids learn independently and progress at their own pace. The name, “Todo” translates to ,“all” in Spanish, and stands for the fact that this app helps include all children, no matter what their learning style or speed, understand basic counting and calculations, telling time, measuring, and dealing with money.
Ages 5+, Available on iTunes, Free

9. Watt Pad
This app lets young writers post short stories, novels and poems for others to read and critique. The critique is positive, creative, and aimed at helping kids hone their craft – no bullying allowed. The works are often revealed chapter by chapter, so readers are anticipating new developments and often lobbying the writer for plot shifts or new characters. Famous authors also get involved, for a digital writers-group that’s out of this world.
Ages 12+, Available on iTunes, Google Play

10. BrainPOP
BrainPOP features a new animated movie each day (I love the one about the Beatles)that kids watch – then get quizzed on – in a fun and interactive way. Topics cover math, social studies, English, tech, music, health , and more. The videos aren’t sophisticated, but the information is solid and they are captioned so you can read along. This is a great one on a road trip, so everyone in the car can play along.
Ages 8+, Available on iTunes, Google Play

One last note, most apps have in-app upgrades and new games that you can buy. Be sure to turn off in-app purchases, and set up a passcode that your kids can’t guess. Also, be sure to check-in on what they’re playing. For ideas about how much screen time is okay, without creating zoned out zombies, read the latest guidelines and recommendations.

We know there are hundreds more, and new ones being added everyday. What are some of your favorites? Be sure to let us know in the comments section below.
###

Posted in Connected Kids, Cyber Safety, Digital Parenting, Girlfriend's Guide, In The Press, TechStyled, Tips & Tricks, Top tech news, Uncategorized, What The Tech

As seen in Jennifer Jolly’s, USA Today TECH Now Report:
Making money online sounds like a dream come true — which is probably why so many spam e-mails and scam websites litter the Internet and our inboxes with promises of easy money. But earning extra cash on the Internet isn’t just a pipe dream. If you use a bit of common sense to dodge the scams, there are lots of legitimate opportunities to make a little extra pocket money, or even fund a dream vacation. Here are some of the bestlegalnew ways to use the Internet to line your wallet.

Crowdfund your way to success
When you hear the word “crowdfunding,” chances are you automatically think about Kickstarter, which lets designers, developers and writers pitch product ideas that anyone can contribute to. But with GoFundMe, you can use the power of crowdfunding to help pay for your next vacation, cover unexpected bills, go to graduate school or just about anything else. Whatever goal you’re trying to reach, write it up on the site and then ask your friends, family and anyone else to chip in to help — you’ll be surprised at how a few dollars from all of your friends can add up!

Answer questions and share your expertise
Who knew that answering questions could earn you cash? Sites like JustAnswer will pay you (as long as you’re qualified) to answer questions submitted by people who need advice they can trust. For instance, if you’re a tech genius, someone might ask you to help them set up their new smartphone. You have a law degree? Maybe someone needs a simple legal question answered. Auto mechanic? Please, tell me how to reset the car’s computer after I change the oil (but first, walk me through how to change the oil). This is a great way to take what you know and turn it into a nice little side business for yourself.

Another service I have put to the test recently is Rewarder. You sign up and see if you can help anyone who has posted a “reward.” Today, someone is offering $100 if you can help them find their poodle. Another person is offering $50 for a travel itinerary to Sydney, Australia. My personal favorite, someone will pay $20 for proposal ideas for his girlfriend. Easy, fun and the “rewards” add up.

Sell your time or services
If you have free time, there are a lot of services that can turn that time into money earned. Fiverr is an online marketplace where you can post anything you’re willing to do: your creativity (and what people are willing to pay for) is all that limits you. Payments, as the name implies, start at $5 but can go higher. I also like online storefront Zaarly — which is kind of a personal concierge service. Using the site requires you to submit an application, but once you’re approved, what you sell is up to you: dog-walking services? Pilates lessons? Homemade birthday cakes? Closet organization? Describe and price your services as you see fit and wait for orders to come in. One bummer, though, is that it’s not available everywhere yet — check the site to see if it’s offered in your area.

The (small) downside to both of these services is that they require you to have some personal marketing skills: To succeed, you need to convince people on Fiverr and Zaarly that your services are worth paying for.
Ibotta lets users get cash rewards for purchases.

Buy things (and save)
Clipping coupons can be a pain, but a new wave of couponing apps is here to help us save money and even get cash rewards — just for doing the shipping! Ibotta works lets you buy products listed in the app, take a photo of your receipt with your smartphone and get cash rewards deposited into your PayPal account. Ibotta also asks you to watch ads, answer poll questions, or do other small tasks to earn your savings. SavingStar is a similar rewards program, but it ties into your grocery or pharmacy’s rewards card to track your purchases, so you don’t have the hassle of scanning receipts — but on the downside, it works only with a select range of stores. Both of these apps are easier than clipping coupons, and the small savings ($0.25 to $1.00 seems the most common) will add up over time.
Antengo connects you with others in your area who want to buy or sell products.

Have a yard sale … from your smartphone
Yard sales are a great way to earn some extra cash, but they can be a hassle to set up and run. So instead, why not take a picture of what you want to sell on your smartphone and offer it up on the online classified service Antengo? It connects you with others in your area who are want to buy your stuff — Antengo will automatically post the photo and your description of the item to users of its app and to sites like Craigslist and Facebook, so your ad gets the widest reach possible. I’m a little addicted to this service. A garage sale has never been so easy.

There are other services, but these are a few newer ones that most people I know aren’t aware of. What others do you know about? Be sure to let us know in the comments section below.

Posted in Digital Parenting, Girlfriend's Guide, Great Gadgets, In The Press, TechNow, TechStyled, Tips & Tricks, Top tech news