Gloss Find: Skullcandy Roc Nation Aviator Headphones

aviator s6avcm 072 1 300x233 Gloss Find: Skullcandy Roc Nation Aviator HeadphonesI don’t wear headphones. Usually. However with kids often making a ruckus in the background while I’m trying to chat with a client on Skype or listen in on a conference call, I had to start researching options. Unfortunately, standard earbuds wouldn’t do — they don’t filter out enough noise and if you’ve met my sons, you know they’re loud.

Then I came across these stylish headphones from Skullcandy – their Aviator model isn’t only comfortable to wear, but they completely minimize background noise for crystal clear sound and they feature a microphone, so you can use them with your cell phone or on Skype or Facetime chats. I love the all-white version and they’re also available in black, bronze or “The Ting Tings” — named after and designed by the Indie pop duo.

Skullcandy Roc Nation Aviator headphones – $149.99 at Skullcandy.com 

Gloss Find: Violight UV Cell Phone Sanitizer

VIOlight UV Sanitizer 300x268 Gloss Find: Violight UV Cell Phone SanitizerI’m no germaphobe – I’ve been known to abide by the 10-second rule — but I definitely gagged a bit when I found out that cell phones carry more germy scuz on them than a toilet seat or the bottom of our shoes.

Adding to the ick factor, recent studies have found that all sorts of nasty microbes are lurking on your cell phone, including staphylococcus aureus, the bacteria known to cause everything from acne and boils (boils!) to meningitis or sepsis. One study tested 25 phones and found nearly half of them to be teeming with staph!

And once you think about how many times you handle your phone each day – it’s almost enough to make you pull a Howard Hughes. But thanks to Violight, you won’t have to sacrifice Angry Birds (or your fashionable footwear) because of your phone’s touch screen of microbial doom.

The UV Cell Phone Sanitizer uses germacidal UV bulbs (the same technology used in hospitals) that, Violight says, will safely zap 99.9% of surface bacteria, including strep, E. coli, salmonella, listeria, H1N1, and yes, staph.

How it works: Simply place your phone, mp3 player, earbuds, Bluetooth headset, or other handheld device (max. 3” L x 0.75” W x 5” H) into the cradle or removable accessories basket. Close the cover to kick start the germ massacre. (Bwahahaha!)

A blue light will pulsate to let you know it’s doing its thing. After five minutes, the UV Sanitizer shuts off automatically and your device will be left germ-free.

Sure, you could opt to use anti-bacterial cleaners instead but the chemicals and liquids might be too abrasive for your favorite gadget. That, and let’s be honest here, wiping your device down with some moist towelette isn’t nearly as satisfying as watching the blue light pulsate as your UV Cell Phone Sanitizer totally obliterates whatever plague you picked up from the subway that’s been clogging your pores, getting you sick and basically, just grossing you out.

The sleek and modern design is also a major eye catcher – within minutes of placing the UV Sanitizer test unit on my desk, half the office had already asked me about it. You may get tired of explaining what it is to every curious coworker who walks by, but chances are, they’ll want to try it… which means fewer germs for them to spread to you! And since it runs on batteries (3 AAs), it’s super easy to share and transport.

At $40 a pop, the UV Cell Phone Sanitizer isn’t cheap but with its convenient office-friendly design, “set it and forget it” ease of use, and unique added bonuses  — visual gratification as surface germs are destroyed and the evil super villain cackles it tends to induce — Violight’s latest bug-zapping gadget might be totally worth it.

Violight UV Cell Phone Sanitizer – $39.95 at violight.com.

Feng Shui For Love iPhone App: Keep the Honeymoon Alive

Newlyweds get caught up in the euphoria of their wedding, their honeymoon and the simple idea of spending forever basking in the love of one another.

fengshui 300x230 Feng Shui For Love iPhone App: Keep the Honeymoon AliveBut then real life gets in the way.

If you have hope still of bringing the passion back, check out the new Feng Shui For Love iPhone app. Bad Feng Shui can cause relationship problems, but they can be easily avoided by following some simple design guidelines in your home.

Your man will love it. You can improve your relationship without him getting off the couch.

Maybe it’s your sofa is facing the wrong way or maybe your home is too cluttered with memories from the past. Feng Shui For Love co-authors, Healthy Home and Lifestyle experts Laura Forbes Carlin and Alison Forbes , offer the following decorating mistakes that could hurt your marriage:

· Create A Romantic, Restful Bedroom: The bedroom is so important because it is the place where you both start and finish your day together, and where your bodies rest, your mind is restored and your immune systems replenish each night. It’s also a place for romance. How you decorate the bedroom, its energy and what you choose to keep in the bedroom, will all have great impact on the quality of your sex life. Ideally the bedroom should serve only two purposes: rest and romance. Make sure your bedroom is set up for two (i.e. two bedside lamps, two nightstands). Make sure you each have a nice “view” from your side of the bed – either a window with a pretty view or art work that is in alignment with rest and romance. Make a comfortable/sensual bed: be sure to include some warm colors – cool colors or too much white also cools off the romance. Leave photographs of family and friends out of the bedroom – this does not support intimacy! Objects like treadmills, televisions and computers are distractions that remind us of exercise routines that need to be started or work that needs to be completed, preventing us from fully resting our minds and placing our attention on our partners. House your exercise equipment, home office, or anything else that is not conducive to sleep and romance, elsewhere.

· Decorate Together: It is important that your home support and reflect each of you as individuals and as a couple. This is especially significant if one person is moving into the other’s space, in which case you still need to create a “new” home, otherwise it is easy for resentment to build. If you are on the same page with style, then focus on anchoring your relationship in your home by displaying objects/art and photographs that capture your shared values and hopes for your future, such as happy pictures of the two of you or special items you bought together on a trip. Also think of arranging the space to support the relationship – make sure you have a comfortable place where you can read together, eat together, work, etc.

· Create Harmony: Combining two different tastes can be a challenge. We suggest creating harmony in the home by looking for common threads in your two styles (i.e. perhaps your styles are different, but you like the same color). Also decide where you’re willing to compromise and where you’re not — perhaps you realize color is less important to you than comfort, so your partner picks the color of your sofa, but you choose the style. Or maybe how the furniture is arranged is more important to you than style, so you arrange the furniture and let your partner select the fabrics. Finally, when you simply can’t agree, choose your tie-breakers. For example, if you do all the cooking then perhaps you should have final say over the kitchen, and if your partner spends more time in your home office then perhaps you could let him have final say there. If possible, make sure you each have your own room, space, closet (or even drawer) where you can fully express yourself.

· Set Intentions: Taking the time to write down your intentions for your relationship is very powerful. When you are clear about your goals, values and expectations, the Universe responds. You may choose to keep your intentions in a special place in your home (for example, in a beautiful box with a live orchid plant next to it). Each time you walk by, you will be reminded of your shared vision and therefore energize your dreams.

Check out this app at the iTunes app store.

Major Week For Geeks: Changes Apple, Google, HP

steve jobs 300x218 Major Week For Geeks: Changes Apple, Google, HP  With major announcements from Apple, Google and Hewlett-Packard, it was a pretty crazy week in Silicon Valley. But for those who missed the week-long emotional roller coaster, here’s a quick rundown.

Early this week, Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced that he would take indefinite leave of absence to focus on his health, though he will continue to be involved in major strategic decisions, day-to-day operations will be left to the chief operating officer.

A day after Jobs announced his leave, Apple posted its highest first quarter results ever, with revenue surging 71% and earnings up 78%. Fueled by holiday shopping, a record 10 million iPod Touches, 7.3 million iPads and 16.2 million iPhones were sold in December quarter alone.

The demand for the iPhone is about to intensify, now that the Verizon iPhone is set to hit stores on February 10. Verizon is offering $200 gift cards to new customers who purchase their new iPhones at full price before Feb. 28. AT&T on the other hand, announced rate increases for their pricing plans (good grief).

Right on the heels of the Verizon iPhone announcement are rumors about the next generationthe iPhone 5 – which, according to reports, will be a “total rethink from a design point”.
Patents filed by Apple also suggest the phone will have apps for a mobile wallet and an NFC chip — the same technology the Android and Nexus S have now, as well as the Lala music streaming service and a voice-recognition software to rival Google’s voice search. Exact details are minimal but Engadget reports that sources say is on track for a summer launch, with the iPad 2 and Apple TV second generation in the works as well.

In another boardroom shake-up in Silicon Valley, Google made the surprising announcement that co-founder Larry Page will be stepping back into the role of CEO to help regain any ground the company may have lost to the competition, namely Facebook.

That same day, Hewlett-Packard named five new directors to its board, three of whom were women: Meg Whitman, former CEO of eBay, Patricia Russo, ex-CEO of Alcatel-Lucent and Dominique Senequier, CEO of Paris-based AXA Private Equity. According to analysts, the reconfigured board suggests that HP is gearing up for battle with its biggest tech rivals.

Verizon’s iPhone: What You Need to Know

I’m a Blackberry girl, through and through — and have been for a very long time.

That said, I’ve always been fascinated by the iPhone — by all the magic bells and whistles, the fun apps, the adorable accessories.

Verizon iPhone 215x300 Verizons iPhone: What You Need to KnowAnd now that it’s on Verizon, I have the option of having one very very soon. Except…I don’t think I want one.

For a brief FYI — that would be for those of you who chose not to follow my Twitter yesterday morning — the Verizon version of the iPhone 4 will be available for pre-order on February 3, and will be in your hot little hands on February 10. It’s a 3G, EVDO, CDMA device.

What does this mean? It means that it is going to work on the Verizon 3G network that already exists – the one my BlackBerry is on — with all the high Verizon rates for roaming, and going International, and everything else we all love to complain about. It ALSO means that you can’t use the data while on a call.

But, hey, you are on a Verizon phone now…if you make a call, it may actually NOT DROP. That’s, something, right?

One cool thing that makes me think maybe I may want one — this phone can act like a 5-device mobile hot spot!!! Do you know what that MEANS? It means I can have a MiFi for my WiFi! BUILT INTO MY PHONE. And that makes me wonder if maybe, just maybe….I need a BlackBerry AND an iPhone…

But that would be crazy. Right?

The 16GB model is expected to cost $200, the 32GB model is expected to cost $300 (Both require a 2-year contract), and data plans haven’t been shared yet, but rumor has it that it’s going to be a bit different than AT&T’s data plans ($15/mo for 200MB, $25/mo for 2GB and $45/mo for 2GB with tethering). Verizon will offer a $30/mo unlimited plan.

This may be good for you AT&T people though!

I wonder how long before my Blackberry has a MiFi for my WiFi….cause then my heart shall stay true!

CES Love: Lego Compatible iPhone Cases From SmallWorks

How cute is this?

smallworks brick your iphone cases 245x300 CES Love: Lego Compatible iPhone Cases From SmallWorksA company named SmallWorks makes iPhone 4 cases that turn your iPhone into a Lego baseplate.

Now, here’s the cool part — this iPhone case is compatible with Lego bricks! The cases come in three styles. You can find them on Amazon.com for $19.99 each.

Do you need this? Probably not – but you’ll look totally adorable anyway!

The Scoop: Apple’s iPhone 4 Available on Verizon Wireless

Heard there was a pretty significant announcement this morning?

verizon wireless iphone4 announcement 300x218 The Scoop: Apples iPhone 4 Available on Verizon WirelessWell, it’s nothing we didn’t all know was coming already – but it’s pretty huge nonetheless.

This morning, Verizon Wireless and Apple announced that the iPhone 4 will be available on the Verizon Wireless network beginning on Thursday, February 10. Obviously, this is a big deal — it marks the first time the iPhone has been available through a network other than AT&T.

Verizon says qualified Verizon Wireless customers will be given the exclusive opportunity to pre-order iPhone 4 online on February 3, ahead of general availability. You can find out more details here.  iPhone 4 will be available on the Verizon Wireless network beginning Thursday, February 10 for $199.99 for the 16GB model and $299.99 for the 32GB model with a new two year customer agreement.

What are your thoughts? Are you considering getting the new iPhone 4  for Verizon?

New PayPal App Lets Users Make Check Deposits With A Photo

paypalchecks New PayPal App Lets Users Make Check Deposits With A PhotoThe future is now and it is awesome thanks to an upgrade for the PayPal iPhone app that lets users deposit checks into their accounts anytime, anywhere, simply by taking a few snapshots with their phone. No trip to the bank required. Huzzah!

The new app update, which rolled out to Apple iTunes’ store yesterday, sends the photos of each check to PayPal for processing (free of charge!), with funds showing up in about three to six days. Factor in the additional two to four days it takes to transfer to your bank account, and it the process is considerably longer than your usual lunch hour dash to the nearest branch. But for those deposits that are not terribly urgent, the PayPal app is a must-have for anyone who hates schlepping to the bank just for a 30-second transaction.

The PayPal app is available for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, and free to download from the Apple iTunes store. Features include:

• Deposit a check by using your iPhone to take photos of the front and back

• Easily exchange contacts or send money with the “Bump” feature

allowing you to simply tap two phones together to send money. Split the check is another great feature, which lets you automatically calculate the total cost of a bill and then collect money directly from friends when out to dinner. We hope these new features make it even easier to get paid back on the spot the next time you’re stuck picking up the tab.

• Give back or make a donation to charity, then post it on Facebook

• View account balance and transaction history, request money, withdraw funds, and more

No word yet on if and when PayPal plans to release the updated version for other platforms, although versions of the PayPal sans check-capture are currently available for BlackBerry and Android.

In July, Chase Bank released a similar mobile banking app for their customers, while Bank of America is currently testing smartphone payments in limited markets.

Are you ready to make the switch to a digital wallet?


paypal New PayPal App Lets Users Make Check Deposits With A Photo