Verizon at Home

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Shopaholics rejoice!  The folks at Google announced this week that they’ll make our purchasing easier than ever with a “digital wallet” service.  The wallet allows you to pay for purchases and receive coupons by simply waiving your Android smartphone in front of a special reader at the checkout counter.  Even cooler, eventually they say you can add gift cards to the wallet.  I’m one of those people who tucks my gift cards into a kitchen drawer and then immediately forgets they exist.  Google executives say “eventually you’ll be able to put everything in your wallet.”  Awesome!  I’m not too worried about this leading to me buying more stuff, but it sure will make purchases easier.  Would you use a digital wallet?

Postscript:  Ebay and PayPal have already filed suit against Google, alleging that Google’s engaged in “intellectual theft and betrayal” in developing the service.  Stayed tuned on this one!

The New York Times’ David Pogue wrote a two-column series this week and last that are a must-read for just about anyone.  The first column, “Ins and Outs of Using Gadgetry” pulls from Pogue’s long experience in covering personal technology to create a collection of simple but perhaps little-known tips that make using cell phones, cameras, smartphones word processing programs and computers a lot quicker and easier.  He followed up with a second story, “25 More Tech Tips and Tricks” that covers the waterfront of screenshots, e-mail, text editing, iPhones, other cell phones, the Web and more.  As a user of technology for decades, I must say that I did learn quite a few new tricks from these columns.  Hope you find some too.

Now, how about some technology tips to make your Memorial Day weekend more fun?  James Kendrick of ZDNet provides a list of Android applications that help out with everything from steaks, drinks, travel reservations and star-gazing.  If you’re gathering around the backyard grill this weekend, also check out this week’s Room to Learn feature for websites offering barbecue recipes and inspiration.

Whatever technology I use this weekend, my first and foremost thoughts and thanks go to the men and women in the U.S. military – past and present – who keep us safe and preserve our freedom.  Have a great weekend, everyone!

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Bobbi, thanks for the links to David Pogue's articles, some good useful info there.