In light of the recent Blackberry outages, which just so happened to coincide with the day before the iPhone 4S was released (conspiracy alert!), it’s come to our attention that we are obsessed with our phones. We can’t go five minutes without checking our phones to see if we have texts, emails, tweets, or Facebook messages. It’s getting ridiculous. During Blackberry-gate, my friends who couldn’t use their BBM service were going berserk. Thankfully, I have an iPhone so I wasn’t affected (it sounds like some kind of plague doesn’t it?).

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On October 4th, Apple made the huge announcement all technology geeks were waiting for — the iPhone 5…oh wait. Just as we were all anticipating the announcement of the iPhone 5, Apple laughed in our faces as they announced the iPhone 4s. As someone who loves her iPhone 4, I’m a little confused. Some of the new features the iPhone 4s supposedly offer don’t sound that exciting and — sorry to Apple — I don’t think the juice is worth the squeeze. Here are some of the features the iPhone 4s plans to offer.

1. It has an eight megapixel camera and can record videos in HD.
As a self-proclaimed party girl I love that my cellphone takes pictures, I never have to worry that I forgot my camera before homecoming, formal, an awesome toga party or any other event that I might want to take a picture at. I have at least 200 pictures on my phone at all times, I don’t know how many megapixels my camera is and I don’t care. My iPhone takes better pictures than my digital camera so whether it’s a six megapixel camera or an eight megapixel one doesn’t really matter, as long as it doesn’t crack when I drop it. Read More »

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Oh, you don't like my skirt? That makes me love you even more.

It’s a situation almost every college girl finds herself in. You’re sitting in your room, watching your news feed on the ‘Book. There’s a guy that you’re kind of interested in, but not enough to actively pursue him, when all of a sudden you see his name pop up. He’s commented on someone’s picture, so of course you click on it to read it. And the next thing you know, you’re poking around his profile, checking on his every move.

Oh! Turns out he’s going to a party on Friday that you also happen to be attending. Splendid.

You talk to him briefly at the party, both of you getting a little flirty. He’s not the smartest guy you’ve ever had witty banter with, but he’s OK. He could be worse. And then he walks away and you catch him chatting up someone else and – OMG – is she putting his hand on his back? Suddenly you’re upset.

Jealous.

You’re totally into him.

But don’t worry you’re not alone. (OK, you are alone standing there…but you’re not alone in feeling this way.) According to a new study titled, “He Loves me, He Loves Me Not… Uncertainty Can Increase Romantic Attraction,” women are more attracted to men when they can’t tell how much the men like them. Read More »

Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr have (sadly) become a drug to our generation (and to our parents, all of a sudden). While social media definitely has its perks, it also has many cons, and I’m not just talking about how easy it is for my entire family to become friends with me and comment on every one of my statuses.

Perks: It allows people to keep in touch with old (and new) acquaintances, post and view pictures, spread the word about events on campus, meet people, and express themselves.

Not-so-perks: It also allows people to share (um) personal things. Really personal things (really often) that just make people feel really uncomfortable and awkward.

So how do you know if you’re using it all right or oh so horribly wrong? Here are just a few signs that you overshare on social media:

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Another year has almost come to an end…and what a year it’s been! But instead of recapping the last twelve months by clicking through tagged photos on Facebook or scrolling through oodles of Twitter updates, let us look back at the technology that make it all possible.

Hint: I’m talking about some of the very same technology that we all freaked out about when it first came out.

Smartphone vs. Smartphone: Google entered the smartphone market when they launched their Android all the way back in January. But that didn’t scare Apple away from launching their new iPhone in June (though its reception favored left-handed talkers and called for ton of free “bumper” cases from Steve Jobs). Then came the Blackberry Torch in August and the Windows 7 phone in October. It seems that Smartphones are no longer a luxury item, but a necessity. You were cool if you had one in 2009, but if you don’t have one by 2011, you and your T9Word texting on that black-and-white screen better start saving up.

Foursquare: The schoolyard ballgame is now a new type of social media? Okay, so the “game” started back in 2009, but our favorite businesses and restaurants didn’t start playing until this year. And even though it’s pretty creepy to let complete strangers know where you are and where you’ve been and what you’re doing at any moment, it’s pretty awesome that you can “check in” for discounts. By the end of this holiday (shopping) season, I will be Mayor of my local mall…and my bank account be mayor of “broke.”

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I have a confession. A confession that disturbs me deeply and needs to be addressed.

I am a complete technology addict.

Receiving a text message gives me a blissful, momentary high.  A day without access to the internet is a sad day.  If a couple of days go by and I haven’t signed onto Facebook (like that ever happens), I get antsy and feel out of the loop. This loathsome habit isn’t exactly an insightful revelation that came from deep soul searching or a problem unique to myself. Because, let’s be honest – you, dear reader, are probably just as addicted as I am.

I mean sure, anyone who’s seen a few episodes of Intervention knows there are far worse things to be addicted to and I’m not harming other people by logging onto Facebook five times every day.  I’m not even sure I am hurting myself.

What I do know is that our addiction can interfere with the quality of interpersonal interactions, focus in class, and other activities deserving of one’s undivided attention.

This is a day in my life:
I go to class and at least half of the people in attendance are not paying attention to the lecture.  They are either a) texting, b) shopping online, or c) on Facebook.
I go on a date and my date begins randomly texting somebody while pretending to listen to me at the same time. Annoying!
Even this past Thanksgiving my fourteen-year-old cousin was playing videogames on her iPhone at the dinner table.

It’s like everyone is perpetually bored and needs to use technology to alleviate themselves from their sorry state of boredom. Read More »

The following is a guest post by our (nerdy yet totally helpful) friends at Hack College, the #1 tech site for college students. Check ‘em out.

So there was that one crazy night – you lost count of Jell-O shots, games of beer pong, and perhaps even where you were. You wake up in the morning, the grogginess sets in, and you feel your wallet, your keys, and — that’s it. Your phone is AWOL, and in the new era of technology you’re up a creek without a paddle as a college student.

Or are you? Modern technology might have wiped out our previous lifelines and made cellular telephones a necessity, but they’ve also provided for ways to survive without them.

Here are some tips for surviving without your cell phone in college.

Use Google Voice. There’s no excuse not to. Even if you don’t use it with your primary number, having a Google Voice number can save your life – link your phone calls to your roommates’ or friends’ number temporarily and use the internet to text your friends. Not to mention the online contact database.

Take advantage of phone company programs. I am a big fan of phone insurance – it’s saved my behind for cheap the past couple of times my phone has gone MIA, gotten wet, or just broke. Even better, my insurance company (through my provider) provides free GPS lookups for lost phones which could save you a ton of money and a lot of stress. Read More »

The following is a guest post by Shep McAllister, one of our (nerdy) friends at Hack College, the #1 tech site for college students

If you haven’t dated a nerd yet in college, you should really give it a spin. We’re generally intelligent, motivated to treat you like a princess, and can fix your computer to boot. That said, we do have our fair share of surprising quirks that you should be prepared for. As a happy boyfriend of one year and editor of a blog that supports digitizing textbooks and carrying around portable computer monitors, I feel uniquely qualified to offer up a few tips to break in your new favorite nerd.

1. Try to understand when he whips it out in public.

His laptop, I mean. Or smartphone, if you’re lucky. Either way, most nerds I’ve come across share the common physiological need to access the answer to any lingering question, at all times. Deciding what to get for dinner, and don’t know what bulgogi is? Before you even lift your eyes from the menu your boyfriend will probably have his internet-connected device of choice out on the table to look it up for you. While I’m inclined to say that this behavior enhances conversation by providing valuable information, I realize that many would disagree. If the gadgets coming out a little too often, don’t be afraid to lay down the law and declare an internet-free zone.

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It’s no surprise to say technology has completely changed the way we, as a society, come together.  From Twitter to Foursquare, J-Date to Match.com, gone are the days of quainter communication.  Forget about lying in bed twirling the phone cord around your finger as you trade campus gossip with your BFF, just log onto Facebook and you’ll have hundreds of networks worth of information at your fingertips.

In the spirit of revolutionary social networking, here are some of the best sites and apps to use if you want to…

Go fly a kite.
Meetup.com is perfect for anyone who’s looking to meet people with whom they share a special interest.  If you’re a Brooklynite with a love of kites, they’ve got you covered.  If you’re from San Francisco and looking for a Super Fabulicious Hiking and Outdoor Adventure Club, there’s a new group of friends already waiting for you.  Calling all Costumed Revelers in Chandler, AZ- you’ve got a scheduled meet-up next Tuesday! Read More »