Chrome OS

You're thinking '...more google stuff? Really?' I'm here to tell you, yeah I'm fascinated by what Google does; and this one really catches my attention.

By now you've heard of the new Chromebooks floating around your Bestbuy that are running Chrome OS. What I find interesting is that it's all done online.

When you're working with Chrome OS, your basically online; all the documents, pictures, and videos you make are stored online too. Missing an important file for a meeting? It will be online, and when your Chromebook is online, it will automatically sync between the two.

The majority of our computer usage is online: watching YouTube, listening to music, surfing, chatting, video calling. So many things we do on computers is stuff we do online; Google saw this and looked to the future and saw that Internet usage is only going to increase, therefore they made an OS that is both online and on a physical machine.

I'm on the same page as Google: more and more of my time with a computer will be spent online. I can only imagine how much data mankind can make online in the coming years. If you had told people 10 years ago that most of their photos, music, videos, and documents were going to be made online they would have laughed.

It's only recently that we have really fast Internet connections that are reasonably affordable; meaning that the Internet is only going to get bigger, and more people wanting to be online and creating content, either for personal use or public.

Chrome OS can fit those needs and evolve with the Internet; making it the OS that will stand the test of time.

Food Awareness

So. I know this is a subject on lots of peoples' minds and there are plenty of weight loss options; but the real kicker is our society. 

Think about it: we associate many events with food, even the seasons. Summertime is here, we think about BBQ-ing, cold drinks, ice cream, and watermelon. Fall is coming and we'll be looking toward Thanksgiving having turkey with all the trimmings, ambrosia,  and plenty of desserts. Same thing at Christmas time. 

As a culture we are dominated by food. The worst part is that it's everywhere; on street corners, open 24 hours a day 7 days a week.  I mean sure nobody wants to be hungry, but at the same time you've got to exert some kind of control of what we put in our mouths. 

That's what I'm learning to do: simply watch what I eat. I can say that I've lost 35 pounds from doing that and changing what I eat. Me and my girlfriend have been eating healthier, lots more veggies, very few deep fried foods, and anything whole grain. Plus there is a satisfaction that comes with creating your own meal. 

I would much rather cook my own burger and fries rather than pay for it, it makes me feel good that even though it's a simple meal, it's something I made myself. 

Google Wallet

I'm sure by now everyone has heard about google wallet; the newest idea to come from the gurus at Mountainview. The process involves using NFC chips to do the transactions. I think this is a fantastic idea: no more lugging around credit cards, it's all in your phone. There are lots of places that will be already setup with Google Wallet, if there's a Fastpay option then Wallet is already there.

There are a few companies on board with this already but I think Google will need to stretch their power a little bit farther, and into a agreement with American Express. With them on board, Wallet could be implemented into a place like Costco; there are millions to be made from the transactions from the both of them on an hourly basis.

Another place Wallet might see major success is in small business. They might not be able to afford a full fledged credit card reader and pay all the fees associated with it; with Wallet in place, all it needs is a tap terminal and a computer with an Internet connection and presto! The small business has a credit card reading system backed by some of the biggest names in the business.

There are lots of things that Wallet could do in the future: everything from holding drivers' licenses to coupons. Even everyday ordinary things like making a reservation at a restaurant; just tap the terminal and you will be booked for a table, when hour phone goes off, your table's ready. Or even Passports, drive up to the border patrol and tap your phone to the machine, then show them your picture from the phone to verify.

There are so many things that we can do with NFC that Google Wallet is literally scratching the surface of what the technology is capable of. Personally, I'm very excited to see how far NFC will progress with different ideas in all points of life.