Tech Talking Points

by Christina Yeager

Information online flies by faster than you can hit "refresh." Keeping up-to-speed on everything new and trendy can be challenging, even if it's your job.
 
To help you out, we've compiled some tech talking points--things you should know, but may have missed. 

If you get a cushy promotion, you're welcome. If not... Well, it's not our fault!

FACEBOOK FORCES USERS

It seems Facebook may be pushing us into mobile conformity. Instead of allowing users to use the already-embedded version of messenger within the platform, it will be prompting us to download the Messenger app for further use of the service. Buh-bye, choice!

FACEBOOK FORCES USERS WORLDWIDE TO DOWNLOAD MESSENGER FOR MOBILE CHAT

EVEN “STUPID” CAN SUCCEED

Is the future of Yo! bright? It very well may be. Silly apps could just be a trend or a fad, but Yo! just might have the potential to be much more. This ridiculous platform can be used for purposes other than social integration.


WHY A STUPID APP LIKE YO MAY HAVE BILLION-DOLLAR PLATFORM POTENTIAL
 

HOW CAN HASHTAGS BE ANY EASIER TO USE?

Organization of hashtags could be the answer! Twitter is testing a feature to do just that by exposing labels while tweeting. But is this really going to keep users from continuing to create feed-cluttering hashtags? 


TWITTER TESTING EASIER-TO-USE HASHTAGS

AMAZON GRABS YET ANOTHER SLICE OF WEB PIE

Amazon is offering domain registration to rival the likes of GoDaddy and others -- with competitive prices and interesting add-ons, even! This news comes just a bit over a month after Google announced the same services. Who would you go with? Amazon or Google?

AMAZON JUMPS INTO DOMAIN REGISTRATION BUSINESS

CONFIRMING WHAT SHOULD ALREADY BE OURS – OUR PHONES

How frustrating is it that we pay 1 – 2 year contracts with wireless service providers and when the contract ends…we STILL have no control over the device we’ve paid for faithfully? Hopefully, that has come to an end with President Obama signing a phone unlocking bill.
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OBAMA SIGNS PHONE UNLOCKING BILL; YOU NOW (REALLY) OWN YOUR PHONE

NO GOOD CAN COME OF THESE PLATFORM-ONLY DATA PLANS

If you’re only using Facebook (and more recently Facebook Messenger) then a data plan for just THAT may be beneficial. Why pay for more than you use? But, if you're like most people, you also use Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, etc. Which makes a plan like this a bad idea. Will other providers follow suit?


SPRINT'S NEW FACEBOOK-ONLY DATA PLAN IS A SAD INTERNET FUTURE

ECOMMERCE STRATEGY PINTEREST STATS -- INFOGRAPHIC

Pinterest inspires millions of users, but it can also inspire retailers and consumers alike. Facebook and Twitter can’t hold a candle to the talent Pinterest has for turning users into consumers.
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IN YOUR BRAND'S BEST PINTEREST 

IS GOOGLE+ GOING TO SEPARATE OUT THEIR PHOTO SERVICE?

One of the Google+ pluses is their integrated photo feature, so why mess with it? Will they have as much success with a stand-alone service or will they shoot themselves in the foot by taking away a fantastic feature?

REPORT: GOOGLE MAY BE SUBTRACTING ITS PHOTO SERVICE FROM GOOGLE+ AND OFFERING AS A STANDALONE PRODUCT

CHATS THAT KEEP YOU CURRENT

There’s nothing more useful than real-time news as it happens -- who doesn't want the latest and greatest right at their fingertips? Have you considered scheduled chats as a source? Here's a list to take for a test drive!



6 REAL TIME DISCUSSIONS ON THE LATEST SOCIAL MEDIA NEWS TO JOIN NOW 

CHANCE IS FOR GAMBLERS – CHANGE PASSWORDS FAITHFULLY

Online security should not be ignored, but it's easy to be lazy or to fall into thinking, "There’s really no need,” or “What could really happen?” The answer is "A lot!" Don't gamle with your important info. Change those passwords!


DO YOU REALLY NEED TO CHANGE YOUR PASSWORDS EVERY THREE MONTHS?

And now for a bit of fun...

Who Doesn’t Need To Waste More Time?

A different GIF every time you open a new tab? I can see this wasting precious work time across the globe. Who thought this was a good idea? Obviously, it was someone that doesn’t have a schedule and has lots of moments to throw away. Could it be fun? Sure!

This Extension Gives You A New GIF Every Single Time You Open A Tab