Thanksgiving is right around the corner, meaning turkey, football and one of the busiest travel weekends of the year. To make sure your holiday stays focused on family, friends and food and less on airport delays, traffic jams and missed exists, we’ve rounded up seven essential tech travel tools to ease your holiday plans this year. All you have to do now is sit back, enjoy your time with loved ones and be thankful. 1. Waze Unless you want to get caught in bumper-to-bumper highway traffic this Thanksgiving, make sure you’ve downloaded Waze onto your iPhone or Android. It’s no surprise Waze is the fastest-growing traffic and navigation app, because it shares road information and updated traffic updates. Waze lets you know when you’re approaching police, accidents, traffic jams or road blocks so you’ll know to reroute before it’s too late. You’ll save time and gas money with this handy app by your side. 2. Vonage Mobile Vonage Mobile is a new calling app that lets you make free calls from your iPhone or Android smartphone. Holidays, for many of us, mean lots of time to catch up with loved ones — even the ones you can’t see in person. This app ensures you won’t go over minutes, because it lets you call for free. If your friends or family are out of the country, Vonage Mobile offers lower rates than Skype for international calling — even if they haven’t downloaded the app. Just select to call “someone who doesn’t yet have Vonage Mobile.” 3. TomTom VIA 1605 TM If you prefer to stick to a traditional GPS device rather than a smartphone app, be sure to consider TomTom’s latest, the VIA 1605 TM. If you think your smartphone is too small, you’ll surely prefer this device, which has an extra-large six-inch screen, bigger buttons and menus and a vibrant display. Planning a long road trip for the holiday? Try out different navigation voices to add some entertainment, including Homer Simpson, James Bond or Han Solo. You may also choose the most fuel-efficient routes to save gas money and minimize your damage to the planet. The TomTom VIA 1605 sells for $299.95, so it could also be a nice holiday gift for someone special on your list. 4. Connectify Don’t be stifled by a slow Wi-Fi connection on the road — use the Connectify router for Windows computers, which speeds your Internet by connecting to multiple networks at once. The software router uses your PC’s built in Wi-Fi card to create a hotspot you and nearby friends can use. Connectify is a great tool for people trying to get work done remotely, stream movies from a relative’s sub-par network or upload a big batch of holiday photos. Mobile fans can upgrade to Connectify Hotspot PRO to share their phone or tablet’s 3G or 4G connection with all other devices. The Pro option sells for $29.99 for one year or $49.99 for a lifetime package. 5. GasBuddy The holidays are enough […]
A collective gasp rang across Twilight superfandom-ville Wednesday after news broke of Kristen Stewart’s indiscretions with Snow White and the Huntsman director, Rupert Sanders. Fans stumbled into crisis mode when Stewart released a public apology, specifically to boyfriend and Twilight co-star Robert Pattinson. Amongst the hardest hit in this real life Twilight saga was the Team Edward YouTubers who uploaded their tear-filled feelings about the scandal. YouTube pseudo-celeb and frequent Twilight reaction video poster NuttyMadam shared her peeved feelings on the sitch. The video title pretty much sums it up (though you should totally still watch): “HOW COULD YOU DO THIS KRISTEN?!” Viral Photo Gallery 7 Fake Hurricane Sandy Photos You’re Sharing on Social Media Fake Hurricane Sandy photos flew around Twitter and Facebook on Monday, as users shared jaw-dropping images. Unfortunately, the race to post the most striking pics has most folks skipping the all-important fact check. We’ve gathered up five “Hurricane Sandy” photographs that have spread on the social web, but weren’t actually taken during the massive storm. Obama and Romney Are Your New Dress Up Dolls Still not sure who to vote for? Or maybe you’re dead-set on a candidate, and simply waiting for Election Day next week. Regardless of who you’re voting for on Nov. 6, both of these presidential candidates could use some change — of outfits, that is. The websites Change4Obama and Change4Romney will keep voters entertained until the election. Both sites, created by social discovery site SocialPlex, allow users to dress up Barack Obama or Mitt Romney as various characters. You can mix and match features like hair, eyes, nose and outfits. Your Favorite Logos Reimagined for the Zombie Apocalypse [PICS] There seems to be a craze for reimagining top logos and since this is Halloween, why not rethink them for a zombie apocalypse, right? Assuming that event were to come to pass, here’s what your neighborhood Starbucks and the gas station down the street might look like, as envisioned by artist Ben Fellowes. For more of these horrifying logos, check out his site. New York City Subway Needs a ‘System Restore’ [PIC] Yes, crashed Windows OS, we know the New York City subway system was unable to restart after Hurricane Sandy. And, yes, we would love to run a system restore. After Sandy ravaged the East Coast Monday evening, the subway system in New York City was left crippled. Not immune to inclement weather, the Windows-based display above the 77th Street subway stop seemed to have hit a snag as well. ‘The Walking Dead’ Gets ‘Dear Photograph’ Treatment [PICS] Dear Photograph, a popular nostalgia blog showcasing photos within photos, gave its visitors a terrifying surprise Wednesday: The Walking Dead-inspired posts. Dear Photograph creator Taylor Jones told Mashable he teamed up with FOX International Channels on the Halloween Day images, which folks at The Walking Dead created for their international ad campaign. Each of the two blog posts showcases a zombie and a post-zombie-apocalypse caption. Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/07/25/kristen-stewart-cheating-reaction-video/
The NBA‘s first game ever was played on Nov. 1, 1946 — 66 years ago today. A bunch of white guys wore short shorts, ran the ol’ three man weave and hoisted two-handed set shots from a court bereft of a three-point line. The New York Knickerbockers took down the Toronto Huskies by a score of 68-66 in front of 7,090 fans that day. If you were taller than six-foot-eight George Nostrand, you got free admission. If you weren’t, however, the max you would have had to pay was $2.50. Player salaries, meanwhile, averaged about $5,000 for a season. Thanks to YouTube, the old-school newsreel above shows us just how far the game has come since 1946. The best Knicks tickets today cost thousands of dollars, even marginal players can earn $10 million per year (we’re looking at you, Andris Biedrins) and spectators of the league’s first game certainly didn’t see plays like this: Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/11/01/first-nba-game-video/
There is life on Mars — and it’s out for revenge against some nasty pigs! Angry Birds creators Rovio announced a new chapter to Angry Birds Space will come out Thursday. The update is titled “Red Planet”, and will send players to the fields of Mars for more bird-on-pig rivalry. NASA helped Rovio create the trailer by giving them footage taken by the Mars Rover Curiosity from the planet’s surface. In addition, the additional levels will include NASA vehicles as part of the architecture. “Rovio is teaching huge new audiences about NASA’s missions to Mars thanks to this collaboration,” said David Weaver, associate administrator for communications at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “It’s a great way to introduce both kids and adults to the wonders of the planet in a fun and entertaining way.” It’s not the first partnership between the two. When Angry Birds Space debuted in March, NASA Flight Engineer Don Pettit demonstrated the physics behind Angry Birds — while in space. “We’re huge NASA fans, and we were all cheering the Mars Curiosity rover as it touched down,” said Peter Vesterbacka, chief marketing officer of Rovio Entertainment. “So, working together on the Mars update was a perfect fit.” Players can download the updates for the iOS [iTunes link] and Android [Google Play link] versions right now. Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/08/23/angry-birds-mars/
One of the most painful things to deal with in a relationship is learning that your partner cheated on you. Those feeling of adoration, trust and affection for your loved one suddenly morph into anger, betrayal, and hurt — but what happens when both parties happen to be the same person? Sounds seriously strange, right? Well, that’s the reality for Sophie Tanner, a woman who’s married to herself. Since her unique and slightly confusing ceremony back in 2015, Tanner says she’s cheated on herself. YouTube / This Morning It’s a little hard to imagine why you’d want to be your own spouse, but as Tanner explained to the hosts of the British daytime TV program, “This Morning,” it’s all about self-love rather than rejecting all other relationships. YouTube / This Morning She also admits she hasn’t been fully faithful to herself. After getting married, she cheated by dating Ruari Barrett, a polyamorous man who switched to monogamy for the course of their relationship. YouTube / This Morning <div class="llcust" data-lltype="video" id="ll_59fa7d4f09895" data-source=" Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/cheating-on-yourself/
Doctor Who fans got a surprise treat from the BBC Thursday as they wait for the 50th Anniversary Special later in November. The BBC released a special episode online that sets the stage for the special, and it brings back a star from the show’s past. Paul McGann, who starred as the Doctor in the 1996 Fox TV movie, returns to the role in a 7-minute mini episode called “The Night of the Doctor”, written by Who‘s current showrunner, Steven Moffat (the upcoming feature-length special is entitled “The Day of the Doctor”). Although McGann played the Doctor onscreen only once before, his Eighth Doctor was accepted into the show’s continuity, and he has lent his voice talents to several Doctor Who audio adventures produced by Big Finish. Earlier this year, McGann cleverly denied he was involved in the 50th Anniversary Special — which he technically still isn’t. But “The Night of the Doctor” finally gives fans some closure to his incarnation of the Doctor, and it helps that McGann has aged very well: He looks almost exactly like he did in the TV movie, shorter hair notwithstanding. 12 Most Essential Episodes of ‘Doctor Who’ Rose The episode that introduced a whole new generation to Doctor Who is amazingly well paced. Ordinary shopgirl Rose Tyler is slowly pulled into the exciting, fantastical world of the Doctor to help him battle evil mannequins controlled by something even more fearsome. “Rose” fully captures the wondrous appeal of traveling with the Doctor while serving up Who‘s best monster archetype: an ordinary object turned homicidal. Video: YouTube, VERITASERUMUK Dalek The Daleks are the undisputed champions of Doctor Who monsters, and this episode reminds us why by showing how dangerous just one of them can be. It’s the plotting human mastermind that’s keeping the Dalek prisoner who steals the show, however, inspiring some of the Doctor’s best-ever dialogue in this thrilling masterpiece. Video: YouTube, WhoniverseOnline The Christmas Invasion Regeneration? What’s that? Find out along with the Doctor’s friends what it means to have everything you thought you knew about someone suddenly change. “The Christmas Invasion” is a major turning point for the show, and not just because the Doctor has a new face — it’s the beginning of a new era in how the Earth deals with threats. As serious as all that sounds, the show’s first Christmas special is actually quite merry. Video: YouTube, vortexguyz934 The Girl in the Fireplace You could argue that other stories used time travel as a plot device better than “The Girl in the Fireplace,” but nothing has done it with more heart. A crippled starship opens a doorway through time that endangers a French girl, and the Doctor becomes an influence throughout her life in order to save her. But doorways swing both ways… Video: YouTube, WhoniverseArchive Army of Ghosts/Doomsday The Doctor’s greatest enemies are at their most formidable in this corker of a season finale. The guest cast is outstanding, and several story arcs conclude in epic fashion. […]
The Avengers: Age of Ultron marks the fourth time Chris Hemsworth will play Thor in the Avengers franchise.Image: Marvel Studios Avengers 2: Age of Ultron is currently filming at the UEA Campus Norwich in England, and we have the only video from the set. It’s a Cinema Blend exclusive. Watch as Joss Whedon films an entire scene with Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Chris Evans as Captain America, and Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, right here… It’s no secret that after the events of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Captain America: The Winter Soldier that there are a LOT of job openings for recruits in the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division. We still haven’t seen the impact events of The Avengers made on Tony Stark’s shiny new office tower. You know, the one he finished just in time to witness the Chitauri invasion? Well, if you have the same questions we do, then this video may offer a few clues. In the video, we see a bunch of what looks like recruits jogging on top of or around what could be part of the recently renovated Avengers Tower. Considering the last thing we see at the end of The Avengers is Tony Stark already drawing up plans for a newly designed headquarters, and the fact that we saw the tower’s re-branding confirmed thanks to Captain America: The Winter Soldier, we know that Avengers Tower is being used for something other than Tony Stark’s personal playground in The Avengers: Age Of Ultron. Perhaps it’s training the next generation of badasses. Image: Cinema Blend Given that Director Phil Coulson is now in charge of S.H.I.E.L.D., and he looks up to (who else) Steve Rogers/Captain America, I’d be willing to bet that these are new S.H.I.E.L.D recruits training up as the first class since the H.Y.D.R.A made their lives a living hell. Keeping this in mind, it would also be a safe assumption that the new uniforms are a stylish blue in tribute to the first Avenger himself. Also, it’s a nice change from the simple black uniforms everyone wore, and considering Tony Stark is kind of fond of blue from his arc reactor days, the decision was probably a mutual one. Let’s just hope Clark Gregg gets that phone call for an extended cameo in The Avengers: Age Of Ultron, because a reunion between Tony and Phil would be one of those moments that’d easily make any top 10 moments of summer 2015 list. Speaking of the friends of Phil, why is Thor calling down the lightning on set? Image: Cinema Blend When you consider how the events of Thor: The Dark World panned out, maybe this this time out Thor’s a reluctant warrior. After all, he’s just given up the throne of Asgard and started to settle down in England with Jane Foster. Since his favorite travel method is throwing Mjolnir into the sky and taking off for parts unknown, he’s probably been summoned to talk with Tony and Steve, […]
Think about it: How many hours do you spend researching where to go, what to do and where to eat when you’re planning a vacation? The information you need is spread across dozens of travel sites and local vendor sites, which can be hard to navigate, especially if they’re in another language. Ruzwana Bashir feels your pain. That’s why she launched Peek, what she describes as “OpenTable for the activities market,” in 2012. The site curates activities in cities around the world — London, Chicago, Napa and more — and lets you book activities, including wine tastings, hot air balloon rides and tours on the Seine. Perhaps the most fun element of the site is “Perfect Days,” which are 24-hour itineraries curated by celebrities and tastemakers with local knowledge of various cities. Jack Dorsey (a Peek investor) describes his perfect San Francisco Day, the band Neon Trees curates a day in Santa Barbara, and designer Cynthia Rowley shares her favorite Miami hotspots. Not only is Peek’s one-stop shop for activities booking a welcome addition to the $27 billion activities planning industry, but Bashir has business chops to make it a success. She’s an Oxford alum (a former president of the Oxford Union) who did private equity at the Blackstone Group and investment banking at Goldman Sachs, then went on to do business development at Gilt Groupe and helped to found Art.sy. Bashir earned her MBA at Harvard in 2010, where she was a Fulbright Scholar. So it’s no wonder she got Twitter and Square co-founder Jack Dorsey and Google CEO Eric Schmidt to be part of Peek’s $1.4 million seed round. We spent a day with Ruzwana Bashir and one of Peek’s other early investors, Todd Kimmel of Montage Ventures, to learn how Peek is scaling smarter (hint: more cities). Homepage image: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images Read more: http://mashable.com/2013/10/15/peek-scaling-smarter/
