Here’s an image to remind you of the many small sacrifices that mothers make everyday. To all the moms out there: Happy Mother’s Day!

Via nsears14

One of the things that makes a car wash great, is when they have water guns for customers to hose down their own cars. They just make the car wash fun.

After doing some research, I found the website for Hampton Games. They are one of the major companies that makes these “toy” water cannons for car washes and theme parks. If you’ve ever wanted to have you own carnival game or have a need for a water cannon, then check out the Hampton Games website. I’m already thinking about getting a water cannon for a friend’s backyard.

Now if they only made shower heads…

Related articles

• SUV Crashes into Car Wash in Dunbar (wsaz.com)
• Top 10 Office Cubicle Pranks [pics] (methodshop.com)

Victor Wooten from Béla Fleck and the Flecktones playing a Steinberger bass guitar.

As part of MethodShop‘s coverage of Guitar Month this April, we wanted to highlight some of the classic guitars that have major contributions to the music industry.

If you’re a music fan, then at one point you’ve probably seen a small funny looking guitar called a Steinberger. These minimalist “headless” electric basses and guitars were designed and originally manufactured by Ned Steinberger. Due to extremely high demand in the 1980′s, Ned Steinberger had to sell Steinberger to Gibson in 1987.

Unfortunately Gibson no longer produces Steinberger guitars as they were originally designed. If you want to get your hands on an “original” Steinberger, then you’ll have to check out your local guitar shop or eBay.

But if you want a new guitar, then you’ll have to settle for an instrument “inspired” by Ned Steinberger, not designed by him. All new instruments that include any elements of what made a Steinberger guitar a Steinberger, are now sold under the “Spirit by Steinberger” brand.

Synapse guitars and basses are the latest instruments manufactured by Gibson under the Steinberger name, and are in current production. While they appear to resemble the original Steinberger line, none of the Synapse guitars feature the original Steinberger parts or dimensions. As well as a regular guitar model, the Synapse line also includes baritone guitars with a built-in Transcale capo that can be rolled up the frets.

If you just want the Steinberger look, then you’ll have an easier time. Several companies have licensed the headless technology from Steinberger and produce all-wood clones or similar instruments. Hohner, for example, produces licensed all-wood Steinberger L-series copies. And Cort produced headless guitars with different body designs.

The image above is my personal Steinberger guitar that I was luck enough to acquire from Frank Radice about 10-years ago. Frank was personally handed this guitar right off the assembly line by Ned Steinberger himself. It is by far one of my favorite guitars of all time. Not only is it compact, but depending on what effects I use, I can make my Steinberger sound like whatever I want. If you’re an experienced guitar player, then you know how difficult that can be with most guitars.

Do you own a Steinberger too? Please tell us about it in the comments below.

Related articles

• Gibson Unveils Latest Lifestyle Innovations at 2013 International CES in Las Vegas (sys-con.com)
• Photo from U2′s New Recording Studio [pic] (methodshop.com)
• Remembering Whitney Houston: 20 Memorable Quotes from the Pop Legend (methodshop.com)

Is one of your coworkers going to be out of the office for a while? Sounds like a perfect opportinty to welcome them back with an office prank. One of the most popular office pranks is a good old fashioned cubicle redecoration. With April Fool’s Day around the corner, we thought we’d post our top 10 favorite office cubicle pranks. Quoted comments below are from the photographer/prankster. Enjoy!

10) Happy Easter!

“So our coworker was out…we purchased 40 bags of Easter grass that was on sale, some plastic eggs and the goose has been around the office for 6 years. [The plastic grass] is still sticking to parts of the cube… the stuff is terrible to clean.” (via rohenrikson)

09) The Post It Notes

“They got me!” (via mathmandan)

08) Foiled Again!

A coffee mug with individual creamers inside, each individually wrapped and entire cubicle wrapped in foil. (via jo3design and MatthewTee)

07) Hold My Calls!

“[He] was gone for a week again. He ought to know better. This took me maybe 20 minutes.” (via furryscalyman)

06) The Keyboard Garden

“For the nature-lover. Trust me, they’ll appreciate it.” (via juicystyle)

05) Jello Mouse

After work, borrow the boss’ mouse and then seal it inside a bowl of Jello overnight in the office fridge. Then come in early the next morning and return it back to his desk. (via 10twentyseven)

04) Balloons for the Boss

“The boss’ office on prank day.” Apparently he’s full of hot air. Hopefully he also has a sense of humor too. (via lynneluvah)

03) Pink Styrofoam

Wow! If someone pulled this on one of us, we wouldn’t even know where to begin. Hopefully the victim had a light morning. (via juicystyle)

02) Is Christmas Morning?

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… unfortunately it’s at work. (via robron & aussiegold)

01) Kevin’s Monument to The Jonas Brothers & Lisa Frank!

And the #1 cubicle office prank goes to… “This is what happens at my office when you’re out on vacation for a week.” While Kevin was on vacation, everyone chipped in $100 and transformed Kevin’s desk into a Monument to The Jonas Brothers and Lisa Frank. (via jables80)

It was a fun and productive SXSW for me. For others it saw some heartache and pain. Things that didn’t go right because of a small mistake or trying to game the system lead to failure. Lets take a look at some of those failed at SXSW.

UberX #sxswFAIL

Uberx #fail (Photo credit: methodshop.com)

There were a lot of ways to get around Austin for free. From Chevy’s “Catch a Chevy”Program to free Pedicabs in the evening. Uber decided to get in the game and offer free Uber car service. Only problem is they didn’t have enough drivers for the service. Even cab companies brought in extra cabbies to work the streets of Austin during this festival.

#natgeo80s Don’t ask me to RSVP and then say I can’t get in because your VIP list fills the room. LAME. #sxsw #sxswfail

— Whitney Parks (@whitparks) March 11, 2013

SideCar #sxswFAIL

If you want to start a car service you have to first go through the city for the OK. SideCar felt they didn’t have to do that because 1. It’s not a cab and 2. regular drivers work for tips only. Well that didn’t fly by Austin as they benched SideCar before they could do anything. SideCar has brought up a lawsuit because of this fail (City of Austin sent a Cease and Desist letter). Its not the first to do this - Philadelphia not only banned the service but also arrested 3 drivers for being unlicensed cabs. Personally I don’t want to pile in someones dirty, smelly car. I wouldn’t want to be a driver simply because someone could bail without even tipping. Sometimes a cab is a better option…

big #fail to all modes of #sxsw transportation. @uber, @car2go, @sidecar, taxis, etc… left mobs of people stranded in downpours.

— Greg Berry (@gregmberry) March 10, 2013

Marvel’s #sxswFAIL

Marvel announced that on Tuesday, March 12, you could download up to 700 comic books from their apps, website and more. Only problem is they didn’t expect the traffic they got. It was enough to crash the servers within the first few minutes of the promotion. ComiXology put out tweets saying they are working on the problem. The service never came back up on the 12th. It’s back up now.

Wow…thank you Apple maps for sending me everywhere and anywhere I did not need to be!:(#sxsw #fail #austin

— Alma Soto (@mommasoto) March 16, 2013

Streaming #FAIL

How is it you come to Austin and your working business model is to stream video to people – with no stable WiFi? One person put their phone on a monopod so they can hold the camera while recording. Another I met in a parking lot for a GA internet radio station. They were going to interview bands for their show – however they had no personal wifi. They are barely getting a signal from a bar 50 yards away. Personally I would never make streaming the primary video. If I cannot record the video then I am not interested. The radio station probably had better luck since it was just audio. Nonetheless, if you plan to stream – bring a LiveU pack or some super powerful Wifi signal with you.

What’s up, @sxsw and @gotomeeting — why a press lounge where we have to fight over the power outlets and can’t sit near them? #SXSW #Fail

— Kit O’Connell (@KitOConnell) March 11, 2013

Rain #FAIL

For the second year SXSW interactive saw some pretty steady rain for two days. People piled in the convention center waiting for the rain to subside. While it wasn’t as bad as 2012, it definitely slowed the attendees. What was even more interesting was nobody planned for this one either. Last year someone gave out a limited amount of ponchos. We knew the rain was going to happen, it would have been a great promotion if a company would have handed out free umbrellas or dry socks.

sxsw tip: don’t forget your badge at home. there is no reprint. #fail #sxswi #wifesavedmylife

— david vo (@davidvanvo) March 12, 2013

Construction #FAIL

There are a lot of empty storefronts around Austin. Companies rent them out for the week and put together a place for music, displaying their product and more. When done they take all their stuff and the store is back on the market. I got in on Wednesday and watched some of these companies putting together their stores. However, some didn’t get the shops done in time. The Samsung store (for example) had so much interior product, they needed another day to finish. I even heard one storefront did not finish at all.

#Privacy violation! #SXSW tracks it’s registrants EVERY move via hidden RFID tag in badge #EFF #sxswi #sxswmusic #fail twitter.com/Montero/status…

— Martin Montero (@Montero) March 14, 2012

SXSW Privacy #FAIL

Apparently the SXSW badges had an RFID chip in them. A lot of people speculated it was because they were tracking people. This is not an unusual practice for conferences. CES did it in 2008.

Mostly badges can be read up to 5 meters away – so you could walk into an official SXSW party and be tagged as such. I don’t see this much as a privacy issue – more of an idea what people attended without having someone stand in a doorway scanning badges.

Klout Party #FAIL

Klout

Klout was not the only party to fall in this trap. They put together a party outside of downtown Austin. The house party was apparently pretty kickin – for the first 30 minutes. Everyone else who spent the time to drive the 20 minutes found out they were over capacity. What was worse – they ran out of beer!! OK, I think they were lying about the beer thing because not only was the person who said that was actually holding a Dos Equis, but the limo they had to take people back held 4-5 cases of Dos Equis beer in the back.

Unofficial Party #FAIL

I heard of a couple parties that also got shut down because they didn’t not get the proper food and beverage permits. Its sad to hear people spend thousands of dollars for this event only to find out they missed a simple permit. Even bars outside the festival area were charging thousands of dollars for their venue.

Sunburn #SXSWFAIL

Sunburn #sxswfail (Photo credit: methodshop.com)

This last fail actually was my own. I got a sunburn on the top of my head Sunday. I put on aloe and carried around sunscreen. I wasn’t outside much Monday but the amount I was brought on a second sunburn. I am not sure when the blister happened but I sure felt it when I scraped my head getting out of the Chevy car on Wed night. Yeah. Sunscreen is important. Especially for someone who shaves their head.

What SXSW Did Right #unFAIL

I would like to highlight a few things that SXSW did right this year. These items helped keep us all sane during the festival and SXSW should see kudos for it.

1. Internet connection – The connection in all SXSW locations was pretty rock solid! There were a couple times I had to upload video of 150 MB or more. Their connection allowed me to do it in under 30 seconds so I could get my posts out.

2. Volunteers – If you saw the SXSW shirt you could walk up and ask them anything. There was always a shirt around – from the convention centers to the streets of Austin. Very helpful

3. Registration – In years past I heard horror stories of lines in registration. I was happy that I got in early – however I passed by the registration booths several times in the week and never saw a line longer than a 5 minute wait. Not sure if that was the same for music. They had that part nailed down.

4. Music – SXSW started SXSWfm – an internet station to listen to the festival. Further, there are several locations to listen to SXSW music – NPR has a top 100 download list

References for Top Fails of SXSW

1. Catch a Chevy - Chevy offered free rides for SXSW participants

2. Uber - Alternate to taxi service

3. SideCar - volunteer service to take people to their destination. They work for tips.

4. NPR – Top 100 downloads - Downloads of bands at SXSW

To help celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, we have a fun little game on MethodShop called Four Leaf Clovers. The goal of the game is easy: you have to find 7 four leaf clovers. But hurry. You are being timed. And pick carefully. You lose points every time you accidentally pick a 3 leaf clover guess. Have fun and may the luck of the Irish be with you!

Play Now: Four Leaf Clover Game

Related articles

• How-To: Fork Knitted Four Leaf Clovers (craftzine.com)
• Teen High on Hospital Meds Can’t Stop Laughing at His Broken Arm [video] (methodshop.com)
• Ideas for Your Wee Leprechaun (kidsincowtown.wordpress.com)

Poor NBC. They’ve fallen from Warren Littlefield‘s “Must See TV” era to Must Flee TV. Viewers have been avoiding NBC’s prime time lineup like Kryptonite. Every year NBC’s rating have gotten worse, but last month, NBC sunk to a new all time low… they were beaten by the Spanish language station, Univision.

Regular MethodShop.com contributor Frank Radice, spent 17-years at NBC’s promotion department during the “Must See TV” years. Now he’s consulting over at Univision overseeing their promotion and on-air marking efforts.

So Frank, being the consummate promo guy, co-wrote and even did the voice over for this English language version of the “Univision beats NBC” proof of performance spot. The promo has already gotten over 10,000 views on YouTube.

Congratulations Frank! Great promo! Sorry NBC, karma is a bitch!

Related articles

• Univision: We Beat NBC! (huffingtonpost.com)
• Univision Ad Boasts (In English) About Beating NBC In February Sweeps (m.deadline.com)
• NBC takes big dive – fifth place – as Univision rises (laobserved.com)
• What Features Do You Want in the Smart TV of Your Dreams? [poll] (methodshop.com)

Simple walkthrough screen capture that shows you how to save an existing EPS or AI vector file as a PDF using Adobe Illustrator.

The process is easy. You just open the EPS or AI file then select “Save As…” and chose PDF.

Do your photos not sparkle enough? Are you always forgetting to pick up your dry cleaning? Whether you need to unleash your inner Picasso or simply re-organize your life, here are 5 useful apps to give your iPad a bit more ‘je ne sais quoi’ and, simply, help you get things done.

01) Camera+

Give your “cheese” a makeover with this quintessential app for iPad cameras. The Camera+ app is packed full of everything for the Steve McCurry wannabe. Whether you’re a seasoned photographer or someone who’s barely touched a camera, Camera+ will make you love taking photos and help bring that creativity out in you.

There are a whole range of features to give your photos the WOW factor, including…

• iCloud Sync – Automatically share your Lightbox photos between all of your iOS devices. Thus you can enjoy the convenience of an iPhone for taking pictures and then edit them on your iPad after.
• Brush on & layer effects – You can add and remove effects with the mere brush of a finger and try your hand at a spot of graphic design by adding layers!
• Straighten up and pay attention – wonky photos are set to become a thing of the past thanks to Camera+’s latest update which will crop and straighten your pics.
• Touch Exposure & Focus - Set exposure separately from focus for the ultimate control of your shots… simply touch with a 2nd finger while focusing to adjust exposure until your shot is perfect.
• Stabilizer - No more blurry shots! Use the stabilizer to steady your camera and get the sharpest pics you can.

App Store Link: Camera+, $0.99 (iOS 5.0+)

02) Paper

Always much better than a rock, the Paper app by FiftyThree, Inc. is great for artists, sketchers and doodlers. A remarkably engaging interface makes the transformation from iPad into sketchpad a breeze. This app is so good that it even won the Apple Design Award for 2012.

Paper is where ideas begin. It’s the easiest and most beautiful way to create on iPad. Capture your ideas as sketches, diagrams, illustrations, notes or drawings and share them across the web. Try it free—buy additional tools from the in-App Store.

Features:

• Setting & hassle-free – Having a setting-free app is often a dream come true. All you have to do is pick up a tool and you can instantly begin to sketch, write & draw whatever springs to mind!
• Expressive ink engine – The customised ink engine synchronises perfectly with your strokes to get the best out of each tool you use. In using just this one tool you have access to a range of expressions which will enhance your handwriting, colouring and sketching.
• Retina resolution – The app takes advantage of the new iPad’s improved display so that you can enhance your masterpieces with details such as pencil texture and water colour edge bleed.

Apple Store Link: Paper, FREE (iPad iOS 5.0+)

03) AppShopper

The process of “app shopping” can be a productivity drain in itself. But here comes AppShopper to the rescue. AppShopper is the perfect shopping tool for apps. Thanks to its wish list setting, you can bookmark the apps that entice you and wait for the inevitable drop in price. In addition to informing you of changes in prices, it keeps you in the loop about updates as well. Notifications of changes can even be sent via email. The more you use this app, the more valuable you are likely to find it.

Recent updates include…

• Top 200 – What better way to know what’s hot and what’s getting hotter?
• Get a third, fourth opinion – Make sure your money and time isn’t going to waste and use the app to browse ratings and reviews from independent sites, such as TouchArcade.com.
• Sharing/showing off – You can easily brag about your awesome new app on the usual social media suspects, like Twitter and Facebook.

04) Evernote

Evernote is an easy-to-use, free app that helps you remember everything across all of the devices you use. Stay organized, save your ideas and improve productivity. Evernote lets you take notes, capture photos, create to-do lists, record voice reminders–and makes these notes completely searchable, whether you are at home, at work, or on the go.

Features:

• Sync all of your notes across the computers and devices you use
• Create and edit text notes, to-dos and task lists
• Save, sync and share files
• Record voice and audio notes
• Search for text inside images
• Organize notes by notebooks and tags
• Email notes and save tweets to your Evernote account
• Connect Evernote to other apps and products you use
• Share notes with friends and colleagues via Facebook and Twitter
• Works with Evernote Business: Capture, browse, search, and share Business Notes and Business Notebooks from your iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.
  • Premium feature: take notebooks offline to access them anytime
  • Premium feature: allow others to edit your notebooks
  • Premium feature: add a PIN lock to your Evernote app

Evernote is a free download from the Apple App Store. However, a variety of add-ons allow you to scale its capabilities to your needs.

App Store Link: Evernote, FREE (iOS Universal 5.0+)

05) Notability

Memories are fleeting, so take advantage of the Notability app and use it to get your life in order. A host of features including handwriting, PDF annotation, typing and recording (the amount of times this tool one has got me out of trouble…) give it the all-round suitability for any type of note you want to make, be it something for your shopping list or a crucial fact that would have otherwise remained as long in the memory as a winter arctic sunrise.

Features:

• Handwriting Detail – Notability’s zoom window helps you quickly and clearly draw every detail. Choose your favorite style pen and paper to create your notes.
• PDF Annotation – You can also annotate PDFs and share these annotations through email or a cloud service. Bookmark important pages and easily find annotations.
• Advanced Word-Processing – Features like styling, outlining, text boxes, and spell check are the perfect tools to get the job done quickly and accurately. Other tools like bullets, bold, italic, underline, font presets, cursor controls, and more, seamlessly integrate to help you create rich notes.
• Linked Audio Recording – Audio recordings automatically link to your notes, so go ahead and take notes with confidence. While reviewing your notes, just tap a word to hear what was said at that moment. Use the recording feature to capture your own voice for memos, presentations, or speech practice.
• Auto-sync – Notability’s auto-sync keeps your notes always backed up in the cloud. Choose your favorite cloud service: Dropbox, Google Drive, Box or WebDAV.
• Media Insertion – Enhance your notes by adding pictures from your photo library or from the iPad camera. Insert web clips, figures, and drawings to compliment your notes. Crop, resize, and draw on images to make them perfect.
• Library Organization – Your ideas and notes are incredibly important to you, so Notability makes it simple to organize, protect and share this information. Import notes, PDFs, and RTFs from the cloud or web. Also, import .doc, .ppt, and .xls files as PDFs using Google Drive.

App Store Link: Notability, $1.99 (iPad iOS 5.0+)

About The Author:

Jimmy Wentz is a budding freelance tech writer, gadget and gaming enthusiast, and social media junkie. He writes regularly about O2 and the latest news in the tech, gaming, and the social media world.

Connect with Jimmy on Google+ and Twitter.

Related articles

• HOW TO: Reset a Frozen iPad [tutorial] (methodshop.com)
• 5 Overlooked but Awesome iOS Apps [review] (methodshop.com)
• Google Maps App Now Available in Apple App Store [download] (methodshop.com)
• Why You Shouldn’t Freakout Over Instagram’s Latest Policy Change (methodshop.com)

School’s Out! Most businesses, schools and government office are off today for Washington’s Birthday. We just thought we’d share this animated GIF that captures the feeling of having a day off from elementary school. Enjoy!

Via The_Best_Goose

What better way to say “I Love You” than with a dozen bacon roses? Happy Valentine’s Day! Hopefully someone will give Amy Vernon, The Bacon Queen, a dozen of these! (husband hint).

Related articles

• Chocolate Covered Bacon For Valentine’s Day? (fox2now.com)
• How Americans Use Technology to Plan for Valentine’s Day [infographic] (methodshop.com)
• Why You Shouldn’t Freakout Over Instagram’s Latest Policy Change (methodshop.com)

Last week the guys at @CascadeGuitars posted a great photo of U2‘s recording studio. It’s a second floor view and shows how Bono, The Edge, Larry Mullen and Adam Clayton situate each other and their gear during the recording process. Starting from the drums and going clockwise: drums, piano, bass, vocals, synth, keyboards and guitar. Did we miss anything?

U2 is currently working on their 13th studio album tentatively titled 10 Reasons to Exist. The long overdue album was originally intended to be a “companion” piece to their last studio album, No Line On the Horizon, which was released in 2009. At the time, Bono predicted that the “companion” record would be out by 2010. Hopefully 2013 is a lucky year for U2′s 13th album.

U2′s recording setup twitter.com/cascadeguitars…

— Cascade Guitar Lab (@cascadeguitars) February 6, 2013

Ever gone hiking from your desk? Google released panoramic imagery on Google Maps of one of the world’s most spectacular national monuments, The Grand Canyon.

Since February 2005, Google has been pretty aggressive in their quest to map the Earth and beyond with projects like Google, Sky, Google Moon and Google Mars. The Google Grand Canyon project includes Google Street View images that cover more than 75 miles of trails and surrounding roads.

Here are just some of the things you can see and explore using Google Grand Canyon:

• Take a virtual hike down the exposed paths of the Grand Canyon
• Hike down the famous Bright Angel Trail
• Gaze out at the mighty Colorado River
• Explore scenic overlooks in full 360-degrees
• Visit the Grand Canyon’s neighbor, the Meteor Crater

If all of this virtual national monument exploration wears you down, you can always come back to reality by ogling at all of the naked people that Google’s cameras have captured over the years.

Via Google Maps

We live in a mobile world. By 2016 people are expected to have 2 mobile devices on their person almost all time; some of us do that already with a smartphone and a tablet like an iPad mini. Best part is when your phone is down to 5% and no charger (like the ZAGG Sparq we reviewed) to be found you can use the other device to do things like make calls and text messages.

Using your iPad mini as a phone isn’t as hard as you might think. There are a lot of features on the iPad mini that enable you to use it as a phone. All you need is a wireless connection and possibly a set of headphones or bluetooth headset.

Here are the apps and accessories you’ll need if you want to use your iPad mini as a phone.

Facetime on iPad

If you have an iPad 2 with iOS 6 installed you can make a Facetime call. Heck, you can even Facetime phone for iPhone. Set up Facetime by using your AppleID. When someone wants to call you, they use your email address. If you want to call them, use their phone number or email address.

iPad Mini with Skype

Skype is a great tool to have on not only your iPad but also any device. Skype can be installed on many PCs, Mac computers, iOS devices and Android devices. Download the app from the app store and install on your device. You can create an account using Microsoft or Facebook logins.

When you are ready to use, log in to Skype and set up contacts. Make a Skype to Skype call with another user or with paid options you can call a landline. You can make an audio call or video call (if wireless connection can support it).

Using a Headset with your iPad Mini

If you are in a public place then you will want to have a headset ready. You can use the iPhone headset or you can connect a Bluetooth device. Five of the top Bluetooth headphones include:

• Jawbone Era – A great headset that also has an accelerometer and application processor. With this headset you can also use for gaming, turn the headset into a pedometer and more.
• Blueant Q2 – This headset is a great voice controlled headset wtih A2DP music and GPS voice prompt streaming.
• Motorola CommandOne – This headset not only has a dual-mic for noise reduction, CommandOne also uses bone conductivity so you can hear the conversation better.
• Plantronics Backbeat Go – a great headset to own. This device also doubles as a stereo headset. With a left / right earbud you can remove the outside noise.
• Plantronics M55 – A great low-priced headset with a long battery life.

Simply pair the device to your iPad via settings. You can then make a phone call and not bother the person sitting next to you.

Google Voice on iPad Mini

With Google Voice you can register for a free phone number in your area. Download the Google Voice app and you can make calls or free texts. Add credit to your Google voice to make calls in the US only.

Phone, phone, phone

Google Hangouts on iPad Mini

Hangouts are the newest way to communicate with others. Not only can you open up the Google+ app to be part of a hangout but you can also use a phone number to call into if the video services do not work or bandwidth is short.

Questions on iPad Mini

• How much does the iPad Mini cost? This tablet will run you $329.
• Places that sell iPad Mini? You can get them at any Apple store, Target, Best Buy or Walmart. You can even get an iPad mini at an Apple Specialist store.
• Who has the best prices on iPad Mini? Most stores follow through the same price plan, although from time to time you might see the big box stores discount the iPad mini. Otherwise you might be able to buy a used iPad Mini on eBay.
• Can my iPad Mini Replace Cell Phone? There is a possibility – especially if you purchased an iPad Mini with 4G. Keep in mind it does not have cellular service – all call information would be through Voice over IP (VoIP) on your wireless plan.
• When is the iPad Mini 2 Coming? Rumors are all we hear about right now. There are too many claims of when the next iPad will be announced. I would venture a guess of October, since it makes a nice holiday gift.
• How do I Get a Free iPad Mini many different contests out there giving one away. ZAGG has been running contests on a free iPad mini. Some car dealerships are giving away an iPad mini with car purchase.

Can you make a Skype call on a plane?

Gogo in-flight wireless says you cannot make a phone or video call while you are in the air. You can use the SMS and chat features of Skype. Depending on the conditions above 10,000 feet the connection can be spotty.

Using Text Plus (Text+) on iPad

Another service I have used on my iPad is called Text Plus. The company started off as an alternative text messaging service – now they offer voice calling. You can text or call for free. For a monthly fee you get a personal phone number that doesn’t change. You can also call internationally for low rates.

With all these options you can turn iOS devices into phones. A lot of these options can also turn a laptop, Kindle Fire or other Android device into a phone as well. So next time your phone has no signal or battery is going to die – don’t worry. Pull out the tablet and keep the conversation going!

FLickr photos via Steve Garfield, katerha & methodshop

Related articles

• Report Suggests iPad Mini Will Account For 65% Of iPad Shipments In H1 (ubergizmo.com)
• HOW TO: Reset a Frozen iPad [tutorial] (methodshop.com)
• 5 Must Have Productivity Apps for iPad [review] (methodshop.com)

One year ago today, the world lost pop music legend, Whitney Houston. The American vocalist, actress, producer, and model was one of the world’s best-selling music artists, having sold over 200 million records worldwide. In 2009, Guinness World Records cited her as the most awarded female act of all time.

Houston accidentally drowned on February 11, 2002 while taking a bath in her the Beverly Hilton Hotel room. Toxicology reports showed that she had been using cocaine. It was a tragic end to such a beloved figure in American pop culture.

As a way to help remember her, we pulled together 20 memorable Whitney Houston quotes through the years. The quotes below are listed chronologically. It’s interesting to see how her life, priorities and feelings changed through the years.

1980s

01) Being Lonely (1987)

”In grammar school some of the girls had problems with me. My face was too light. My hair was too long. It was the black-consciousness period, and I felt really bad. I finally faced the fact that it isn’t a crime not having friends. Being alone means you have fewer problems. When I decided to be a singer, my mother warned me I’d be alone a lot. Basically we all are. Loneliness comes with life.”

Via Time Magazine

02) Her Strict Parents (1987)

“Cracking gum or sitting with your legs open were considered unacceptable … and I’d better not come back from the yard with scratched knees.”

Via Time Magazine

 03) Singing Solo in Church for the First Time at Age 11 (1987)

“I was scared to death… I was aware of people staring at me. No one moved. They seemed almost in a trance. I just stared at the clock in the center of the church. When I finished, everyone clapped and started crying. From then on, I knew God had blessed me.”

Via Time Magazine

04) Being Photographed (1987)

“From the beginning, the camera and I were great friends. I know the eye of the camera is on me — eye to eye. It loves me, and I love it.”

Via Time Magazine

1990s

05) Music Executive Clive Davis (1993)

“[C]ritics would say that Clive told me what to do and how to do it, because that’s all bulls**t. I don’t like it when they see me as this little person who doesn’t know what to do with herself — like I have no idea what I want, like I’m just a puppet and Clive’s got the strings. That’s bullsh*t. That’s demeaning to me, because that ain’t how it is, and it never was. And never will be. I wouldn’t be with anybody who didn’t respect my opinion. Nobody makes me do anything I don’t want to do… Clive and I work well together… We get on each other’s nerves sometimes, but we’ve been together 10 years now. Anybody can get on anybody’s nerves over that long a time.”

Via Rolling Stone

06) Her Relationship With Her Mother (1993)

“You learn, you grow up, and you become your own woman. But we’re still very close. When other people are talking s**t to my ear, I know my mother won’t blow smoke up my a**, and I know she’ll tell me the truth. She’s honest with me.”

Via Rolling Stone

 07) Lesbian Rumors (1993)

“I am so tired of this. I’m really sick of it… You mean to tell me that if I have a woman friend, I have to have a lesbian relationship with her? That’s bullsh*t. There are so many, many female artists who have women as their confidantes, and nobody questions that. So I realize that it’s like, ‘Whitney Houston — she’s popular, let’s f**k with her.’ I have denied it over and over again, and nobody’s accepted it. Or the media hasn’t.”

Via Rolling Stone

08) Her Childhood Dreams of Being a Teacher or a Veterinarian (1993)

“I wanted to be a teacher. I love children, so I wanted to deal with children. Then I wanted to be a veterinarian. But by the age of 10 or 11, when I opened my mouth and said, ‘Oh God, what’s this?’ I kind of knew teaching and being a veterinarian were going to have to wait. What’s in your soul is in your soul.”

Via Rolling Stone

09) Is/Was Bobby Brown a Womanizer? (1993)

“I don’t think that my husband womanized anybody, because I know that if he wanted them, they definitely wanted him, you know. I don’t think, you know, it was about womanizing. I think boys will be boys, and they have their fun and they play. When they really become smart and they find a good woman, they marry her. And that’s what he did.”

Via an ABC television interview with Barbara Walters

10) Her Miscarriage (1993)

“I had a miscarriage during the filming of ‘The Bodyguard.’ It was very painful, emotionally and physically… I was back on the set the next day. And it’s over. But I had Bobbi Kristina one year later, and I am blessed.”

Via an ABC television interview with Barbara Walters

11) Criticism of Marriage to Bobby Brown (1996)

“I’m like an American princess. White America wanted me to marry someone white. They don’t understand why I’d want a strong black man.”

Via Redbook Magazine

12) Her Opinion of the Media (1996)

“They’re devils to me … and they’re out to eat my flesh.”

Via Redbook Magazine

 2000s

13) Wanting to Live (2001)

“I can tell you that I am not self-destructive. I’m not a person who wants to die. I’m a person who has life, who wants to live. And I always have. And I wouldn’t mistake it for anything else other than that.”

Via an interview with Diane Sawyer on “Primetime“

14) Sex, Drugs & Rock ‘N Roll (2002)

“My business is sex, drugs, rock ‘n’ roll. You know? I mean, my friends, we have a good time. But as you get older, you get wiser. You know? You stop a lot of the kid stuff. I had no time to grow up, had no time to party. I didn’t even date in my, date in my 20s. It was rough… I think I kind of reverted back as I got older. And I said, ‘Well, I’m just gonna party, you know?’ It was kind of a rebel in me, you know?”

Via an interview with Diane Sawyer on “Primetime“

15) ‘The Biggest Devil Is Me’ (2002)

“Nobody makes me do anything I don’t want to do. It’s my decision. So the biggest devil is me. I’m either my best friend or my worst enemy. And that’s how I have to deal with it.”

Via an interview with Diane Sawyer on “Primetime“

16) Does Whitney Smoke Crack? (2002)

“Crack is cheap. I make too much money to ever smoke crack. Let’s get that straight. OK? We don’t do crack. We don’t do that. Crack is whack.”

Via an interview with Diane Sawyer on “Primetime“

17) Drug Use During Her Marriage to Bobby Brown (2009)

“There were some times we’d laugh our tails off. We had a ball. Sometimes you do have a good time. But when it gets to the point where you’re sitting in your home and you’re just trying to cover what you don’t want people to know. It’s painful. And then you want more just so that you don’t let anybody see you cry. Or anybody to see we’re not happy.”

Via an interview with Oprah Winfrey on oprah.com

18) Michael Jackson’s Death (2009)

“I have so many good memories of spending time with him. I’ve known his family for so many years. For at least 20. I thought: ‘This can’t be true. This can’t be true.’ I knew he was on painkillers at one time. I didn’t know how far and how deep it was. I just remember doing the anniversary special, the 30th anniversary, and I remember looking at Michael … and then looking at myself going: ‘No, I don’t want this to be like this. This can’t happen. Not both of us.’”

Via an interview with Oprah Winfrey on oprah.com

19) Running Away With Her Daughter (2009)

Houston said she considered, “(g)rowing organic fruit with my daughter on a little island on the beach and everything, living the simple life. You have to understand, I have been all around the world … and I’d done it all at that point in time, or I thought. However, I wasn’t remembering the gift that God had given me. I had totally put all that aside. And my daughter was growing up before my eyes, and I just wanted to grab hold of that.”

Via an interview with Oprah Winfrey on oprah.com

20) Bobby Brown’s Infidelity & The End of Her Marriage (2009)

“I just knew. I was like, ‘You don’t smell right. You don’t look right. Something’s going on.’ And then all this other stuff started coming out about him being with this one or that one or being too promiscuous. Dragging dirt into my home… We had a big, big giant portrait of me and him and my child. He cut my head off the picture. Stuff like that. And I thought, ‘This is really strange.’ So I figured, cutting my head off a picture, that was a little much for me.”

Via an interview with Oprah Winfrey on oprah.com

Whitney was always candid in the interviews she gave throughout her life. She revealed everything from her ambitions to her demons. Although Whitney is no longer with us, her music is and she will always be immortal. What are your thoughts on Whitney? Please post a comment below.

Photos via zennie62 & Wikipedia

Related articles

• Whitney Houston’s mother writes book to ‘let people know the real Whitney’ (itv.com)
• Taylor Swift & More To Honor Whitney Houston Before The Grammys (perezhilton.com)
• Whitney Houston’s mom Cissy addresses lesbian rumors in new book (thegrio.com)

Dry ice is fun. Besides making spooky fog for Halloween or rock concerts, there are tons of ways you can use dry ice in the preparation of creative drinks and deserts. The hard part is getting access to dry ice… but not anymore. Here’s how to make your own dry ice at home. All you’ll need is a CO2 fire extinguisher, a pillow case, and pair of gloves.

And if you want to watch this video offline, here’s a MethodShop.com tutorial on how to download this video from YouTube. Have fun!

Via YouTube

Yep, it’s February already and Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. Don’t feel bad if you haven’t already planned the perfect romantic evening. According to this infographic on how people use their cell phones to plan for Valentine’s Day, most people wait until the last minute.

So consider this a warning. Valentine’s Day is 11 days away. Good luck!

Via mobistealth

Related articles

• How Americans Use Technology to Plan for Valentine’s Day [infographic] (methodshop.com)
• What should I wear on Valentine’s Day? (chellywood.com)

If you were to ask the average iPhone user to name their favorite games, Angry Birds (Rio, Space, Star Wars, etc.), Draw Something or Zynga Poker are all probably on their list. But if you only play the top 10 games from the App Store’s charts, then you’re sure to miss out on some of the other great iOS apps out there.

Here’s our top 5 overlooked but awesome iOS apps for iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad. Hopefully you haven’t heard of all of these games before and discover something new… Have fun!

01) Raystorm

The second installment in the popular Ray series of arcade shooters by Taito (@TaitoCorp) is now available on the iOS. You can play in either iPhone mode or in full arcade mode complete with integrated on screen controls.

You can also choose auto or manual firing modes with auto mode allowing you to control the game with a single finger. If you love the Ray series of games, then you can’t miss Raystorm. Plus, it has a great soundtrack.

At $8.99, it’s a little pricey. But if you love arcade style shooters, then definitely checkout Raystorm.

App Store Link: Raystorm, $8.99 (iOS 3.2+)

02) Modern Combat 3: Fallen Nation

The Modern Combat series of games are among the best on the iOS. And Modern Combat 3 definitely breaks new ground for FPS games on the mobile platform. You can of course play in single player campaign mode, but the game excels in the multi-player mode that has the capability for up to 12 players in a single game.

It’s like Call of Duty, but on your iPhone. It’s also AirPlay compatible. So you can use your iOS device as a controller and watch all the action on your TV.

App Store Link: Modern Combat 3: Fallen Nation, $6.99 (Universal)

03) Pokerist Texas Poker

If you love to play Texas Hold’em Poker, then you will want to check out Pokerist. It is the latest in social media online poker but with more of a focus on quality. Graphics are very streamlined and the game is very easy to play on the small screen. One of the key differences between Pokerist and other poker games, is Pokerist allows players to access specialized poker training that will help them improve their game. You can also add your photo to the game, so you don’t have to feel like an anonymous bot when playing against other human players. In addition to help train you to be a better poker player and adding your photo, direct messaging capabilities are available for those wanting a less public conversation during the games. Pokerist is definetly our favorite poker app on iOS.

BTW – can anyone tell us if the cute dealer is former Baywatch babe, Carmen Electra? She looks exactly like her.

App Store Link: Pokerist Texas Poker, FREE (Universal)

04) The Room

If you love puzzle solving games, then The Room is right up your alley. This is similar to the puzzlers that you will see online where you have to hunt for items in order to advance a storyline. Very similar to the classic 1990′s Macintosh game Myst… if you’re old enough to remember that one. The graphics are all 3D with excellent music and it’s extremely addictive.

However, due to heavy graphics requirements, The Room is only compatible on the iPhone 4S or higher. And it’s FREE. Can’t beat that!

App Store Link: The Room, FREE (iPhone 4S+)

05) Peggle

Peggle is a pachinko-style puzzler for the iPhone that has 100 unique levels. It is very similar to other Popcap games that you have played elsewhere, but this one is well suited for the iPhone. Simple, yet addictive does seem to be the way to go for most games and this one fits the mold.

App Store Link: Peggle, FREE (iOS 3.0 devices or higher)

That’s it! So what did we miss? Please tell us about your favorite iOS games in the comments box below.

Why has watching TV turned into an Olympic sport of remote hand-offs, app juggling and extension cord jumping? By the time I figure out the correct remote, toggle to the appropriate source and figure out which device and platform I need to be on, the precious time I took to veg out has escaped. No longer is watching TV as simple as clicking power on the remote. Just finding the right remote is a challenge in itself.

My husband is the biggest tech geek I know (one of the many reasons I love him). However, a frequent “subject of discussion” — is the complexity of our home TV viewing experience. We still have the traditional cable box, which hubby begs we cancel. But there’s also an Apple TV, Roku, Boxee, PS3 and even a Mac Mini connected to our Samsung TV. Once you figure out what remote and device you want to use, then there’s the apps… Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, iTunes, Amazon — you get the idea. What’s the right combination of remote, app and device I need to watch the upcoming mid-season of The Walking Dead or the Oscar-predicted film Lincoln? Seriously, I want to know.

And with all these devices comes the cords. Each device has a power, Ethernet and video cable. It’s a mess. Our home media center is bursting at the seams and the surrounding power outlets resemble an octopus on extension cord-enhancing steroids (a good argument for the banning of steroids). Can’t developers, engineers and designers get together and make a “smart TV” that doesn’t need all this app, remote and wire clutter?

I was really hoping to see the “smart TV” of my dreams at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas… but it didn’t happen. CES 2013 was really just about bigger TVs, not smarter. So now, let’s look to CES 2014. Please fill out the MethodShop.com poll below and tell us what features you’d like to see in the “Smart TV” of your dreams. Who knows, maybe a TV manufacturer will read this and make your dreams come true next year.

Photo via paulm 

Related articles

• Smart TV: A Whole New Way to Entertain (samsung.com)
• The 7 Reasons Nothing Leaves Las Vegas [infographic] (methodshop.com)
• Apple Kicks Off 2013 with a Humiliating “Do Not Disturb” Bug in iOS6 (methodshop.com)
• The Wonder of Samsung Smart TVs (samsung.com)

One of my favorite moments at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), was hanging out with NBC‘s Salil Dalvi (@sd_so) in the second floor of the Red Touch Media booth. Salil took a few minutes out of his busy schedule to sit down and talk about the future of mobile TV, Dyle TV and what interesting technology he had seen at CES.

Special thanks to Red Touch Media for inviting me to participate in their VIP social media lounge and allowing me to conduct my interview with Salil at their booth. They were perfect hosts! Hope to see you next year.

Here’s the transcript of my interview with Salil Dalvi:

Hi I’m Annette Shade with MethodShop.com and we’re here at CES in Las Vegas. CES 2013. And joining us, we have Salil Dalvi with NBC Universal. Hi Salil. How are you?

Hi. How are you?

Good. How’s CES going for you?

It’s going very well. It’s been a busy show. I’m here for the duration. Sunday to… Friday. So… I can’t even remember the days anymore.

It’s all a big blur isn’t it?

It’s been good. There’s a lot of people here. It’s been nice.

And what are you doing here at CES?

I’m here with Dyle Mobile TV [http://dyle.tv]. Which is a joint venture between NBC Universal, FOX, and a group called Pearl. Which is a group of some of the largest TV station owners in the United States including Hearst, Gannett, COX, Media General and a bunch of others.

And what we do is offer live television to mobile devices using the over the air traditional broadcast spectrum instead of using your data plan or WiFi. So what that means to the average consumer, is that if you have a device that’s Dyle enabled then you’ll be able to watch live TV without incurring any data charges and without having to log in to a WiFi hotspot. And what that means practically, if you’re here on the floor at CES trying to login with WiFi. And if you try to stream video, you’re sharing that bandwidth with pretty much everyone else on the floor at CES. You won’t be able to watch any streaming video. Ok. You won’t have enough bandwidth to do that. But with Dyle, because it’s coming over the broadcast networks, it works perfectly well. You can see live local video. And for the first time, we’re offering live TV, basically a living room experience to the consumer. The exact same programing you have on a regular television set on your mobile device.

So it’s a full schedule of broadcast?

It is. So the content that’s available depends on the market. It depends on which stations have launched a mobile [offering] in that market. But in a market like Dallas, as an example, we have basically all of the over-the-air broadcasters – the big 4, plus Telemundo. In a market like New York, you have 4 broadcasters over-the-air. What we are really excited about is the prospect of offering live local TV to consumers wherever they are on their mobile devices.

We’re in 35 markets covering about 50% of the US population. There are about 135 five stations that have been lit up with the upgrade. What an individual station has to do to make themselves mobile. To go mobile, is to do about a $100,000 upgrade. That takes about 3 hours for them to do.

It’s very simple for them to do. Really what the stations are doing at this point is waiting to see what devices come to market. That sort of leads us here to why we’re here at CES. Which is that we’ve got a few new devices that are available and compatible with this mobile broadcast. The first is an add-on, an accessory for you iPad. It plugs into your 30-bit connector and prompts you to download the app. Once you’ve downloaded the app, plug in the connector – it’s an antenna. Turn it on. It’s got an electronic program guide. And you’re watching TV just like what you do at home.

Is it compatible with other smartphones, or is it right now….

Right now it’s iPod… it’s iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch and the 30-bit connector. In the pipeline we’ve got an Android version. We’ve got an [Apple] Lightning connector version as well. So more to come in the next few months.

How are consumers… what has been their experience so far? Have you seen any feedback?

So we literally just launched around Black Friday for these iOS products. Earlier this year in August, we launched a Samsung smartphone on the MetroPCS network. So there are very few customers who have this at this point. But we’re excited to sell these now. Especially with the most widely distributed product out there now… the iPad, iPhone. So we expect to sell a lot of them. We expect our partners to sell a lot of these devices. We’re excited.

And what’s the cost for the devices?

So the first product is called EyeTV. E-Y-E TV. It’s available on Amazon.com for $99 (Elgato EyeTV Mobile; $99). So just go to Amazon.com and type in “EyeTV” and you can determine whether you are in a market that’s served by the stations.

And are there opportunities for brands, for advertisers, with the mobile TV?

For now, we’re simply passing through the commercials that are already on existing networks. So we’re not inserting new ads at this point. As you see more and more devices come to market, you can expect there will be additional types of ad products. Whether it’s mobile insertion or other type of interactive ads. That’s all very much part of our longer term plan.

That’s great. Well Salil, are there any other gadgets you’ve seen here at CES? Any technologies that you’re found interesting? Or have you even had a chance to walk the floor?

I’ve had a little bit of a chance to walk the floor. I think so much is happening on the TV side. It’s amazing to see how big they are, how nice they look and how smart they are. It’s pretty exciting to see.

Well thank you for joining us today.

Thanks for having me!

Video production by 7dunham.com

Related articles

• Gary Shapiro’s conclusions on CES 2013 (armdevices.net)
• TPN.tv to Provide Live Coverage of the 2013 International CES (prweb.com)
• ESCORT Announces Intention to Develop Dyle™ Mobile TV Receiver for Android (virtual-strategy.com)

Pop culture entertainment tends to mirror the real world, especially when it comes to bad guys. It was hard to miss all the German, Vietnamese, Cuban, Korean, Chinese and Russian accents that Hollywood served up to us in films like Firefox, Rambo, Red Dawn and Top Gun during the Cold War. Video game villains weren’t any different. Rush’n Attack, Contra and Raid Over Moscow were some of my favorite games from the last 20-years. If America was threatened by it, then pop culture entertainment dramatized it.

But as we passed into the 21th century, America began facing new threats from both nations and terrorist organizations and our video game villains evolved… or did they? A website called Complex made an infographic that compares some of the most popular video game villains since the year 2000.

Who do you think was the most popular “video game villain”? Browse the infographic below and then scroll down to the bottom of this post for our villain tally. The results might surprise you.

So who were you expecting to be at the top the list? Iran or Iraq? Nope. The top two bad guys are still Russia and China. Apparently not that much has changed.

Video Game Villains:

• Russia: 6
• China: 6
• Afghanistan: 4
• Somalia: 2
• Korea: 2
• Germany: 1
• Ethiopia: 1
• Cuba: 1
• Indonesia: 1
• Columbia: 1
• Chad: 1
• Mexico: 1
• Iraq: 1
• Brazil: 1
• India: 1

Infographic via Complex

You know that saying, “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas”? Maybe it should be re-worded to say “What you spend in Vegas, stays in Vegas.”

This infographic from FrugalDad.com explains why Las Vegas is a black hole of money.

Something to keep in mind if you are attending CES this year. Don’t forget to double down!!!

Click on infographic to zoom in

Related articles

• 10 Ways To Get The Most Out Of Your CES Experience (methodshop.com)
• The Evolution of the iPhone [infographic] (methodshop.com)
• The Science of Sharing and the Social Consumer [infographic] (methodshop.com)

Do you frequently find yourself dreaming about tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams? Would you rather not be disturbed during this dream? It must be your lucky day! Thanks to Apple, your dreams are now a reality!

On New Year’s Day, Apple launched a new ad on their official YouTube channel featuring… the Williams sisters!  As you can see in this clip, the ad features both Venus Williams and Serena Williams in the table tennis match of your dreams. The ad promotes the iPhone‘s new “Do Not Disturb” feature in iOS6, Apple’s latest mobile operating system.

Ironically, a January 1st date bug in iOS6 prevented the ”Do Not Disturb” feature from turning off. So if you were dreaming of the Venus sisters, then this malfunction would have made certain you remained completely undisturbed.

Maybe that’s why no one called or texted to wish you a Happy New Year.  And you thought your buddies were just hungover.

2013! It’s a new year. Time to dream bigger…  Or at least dream that Apple starts releasing bug free products.

(No need to pinch me  – I prefer not to be awakened from this dream).

Related articles

• Apple Acknowledges Do Not Disturb Bug In iOS 6 But Won’t Fix It (lifehacker.com.au)
• Google Maps App Now Available in Apple App Store [download] (methodshop.com)
• TimeLapse iPhone App [review] (methodshop.com)
• HOW TO: Reset a Frozen iPad [tutorial] (methodshop.com)

Looking for a fun workout idea for the New Year? How about Hula Hooping? This video is a compilation of hula hoop lessons posted online by YouTube user 4638katie. She has, as they say, mad skills.

Related articles

• Hula-Hooping Is a Trend That’s Getting Around (nytimes.com)
• TimeLapse iPhone App [review] (methodshop.com)
• Hula-hooping is getting around (miamiherald.com)

It doesn’t happen a lot, but on occasion, your iPad will freeze. Either an app will lock up, or your iPad will stop responding and just leave you stuck on a black screen. Don’t get alarmed just yet. Chances are your iPad just needs a restart.

When your iPad freezes, here’s how to reset it:

01) Press & Hold Both the Home and Power Buttons for 10 Seconds

Press and hold both the Home button and the Power/Standby button at the same time for 10-15 seconds or until you see your iPad’s screen turn off.

02) Release Both Buttons

After you see your iPad’s screen turn off, then release both Home and Power/Standby buttons.

03) Turn Your iPad On

Turn on the iPad by pressing and holding the Power/Standby button until the gray Apple logo appears. That’s it. Your iPad should boot up normally and be as good as new.

If this procedure fails to reboot your iPad, then your iPad’s battery may be dead. Try connecting your iPad to an AC outlet or an external charging device like the ZAGGsparq to charge for 20-30 minutes. Don’t plug your iPad into your computer to charge using a USB cable. Plugging you iPad into your computer will not provide the same amount of power as an electrical wall outlet.

For directions on how to restart other Apple devices, please see this page: HOW TO: Restart Your iPhone, iPod, iPod Touch, iPod Nano or iPod Shuffle [tutorial]

Related articles

• Recharge Your Gadgets with the ZAGGsparq Portable Battery Charger [review] (methodshop.com)
• TimeLapse iPhone App [review] (methodshop.com)
• Google Maps App Now Available in Apple App Store [download] (methodshop.com)

Not expecting to have anyone to kiss tonight at midnight? If you own an iPhone, then you can always ask Siri for help. Happy New Year!

A shark tank exploded in a Shanghai shopping center injuring 15 people and killing 3 sharks. Shoppers had to run out of the way to avoid tons of water, pieces of glass and sharks after a tank suddenly burst in a Shanghai, China shopping center.

CCTV footage shows a group of people standing right next to the aquarium when the 15 centimeter thick protective acrylic glass began to crack and then exploded releasing 33-tons of water. Three lemon sharks and dozens of smaller fish and turtles housed inside the 7-meter-long, 3-meter-high aquarium, became victims of the incident.

The incident took place at the Shanghai Orient Shopping Center just before Christmas on December 19. The aquarium was only 2-years-old. Initial reports say that the shopping mall does not plan on rebuilding the aquarium.

Related articles

• Syrian Rebels Using Sony Playstation Controllers to Control Homemade Tanks [video] (methodshop.com)
• “Gangnam Style” Now Most Viewed YouTube Video Of All Time [video] (methodshop.com)
• I Got to Pet a Bat [video] (methodshop.com)

Back in 2006, Alex Albrecht made a “Cheese Pie” on his Ctrl Alt Chicken cooking podcast. It was one of Alex’s favorite dishes from his childhood and I’ve happily made Cheese Pie a new tradition for my family. Cheese + Pie… how could you go wrong?

Cheese Pie is fun to make, only has 3 ingredients and it’s guaranteed to be a huge hit at your next family gathering.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 lb cubed Pepper Jack Cheese (or the cheese of your choice)
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 1 can crescent rolls

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350F
2. Cube 1 lb. of cheese
3. Beat 3 eggs in separate container
4. Take half a can of crescent rolls and spread along bottom of a Pyrex pie pan
5. Fill pan with cheese cubes
6. Cover cheese as evenly as possible with beaten eggs
7. Take remaining crescent rolls and lay evenly on top of cheese egg mixture
8. Bake for 30 minutes or until eggs are not runny

Via Ctrl Alt Chicken

Related articles

• Cooked A Christmas Pumpkin Pie But Couldn’t Wait (backyardgardeningtips.com)
• Is the #Baconpocalypse of 2013 Just a Hoax? [infographic] (methodshop.com)

If you’re celebrating Christmas tomorrow morning, then hopefully Santa’s GPS helps him make it safely to your house. Merry Christmas and we hope Santa brings you lots of fun gadgets and games.

To all of our MethodShop readers waiting for a visit from Santa Claus tomorrow tonight… Merry Christmas! Here’s one of our favorite Christmas movie scenes of all time from a 1980′s movie called “Better Off Dead.” Enjoy!

Related articles

• 10 Christmas Movies That Don’t Suck (manolith.com)
• Recharge Your Gadgets with the ZAGGsparq Portable Battery Charger [review] (methodshop.com)