Pepsi is making a what now?

A smartphone. Yup. Pepsi, the beverage company, is making a smartphone. Why? Well, why not, right?

According to the wonderful people over at Mashable,  Pepsi is bringing out an android smartphone called the Pepsi Pi. Although not manufacturing the phone itself, the smartohone will be heavily Pepsi branded.

It will cost have a 5.5-inch 1080p display, a 1.7 GHz processor, 16GB of storage, and both a 13-megapixel camera on the back and a 5-megapixel camera on the front. It wil come in at about $205.

The smart phone is apparently being released… today! Hooray?! Well, hooray for China. The phone will be available exclusively in China.

Straight from the sauce (Via Mashable):

“We are pleased to share that Pepsi is working with a licensing partner to bring a line of mobile phones and accessories to market in China in the next few months. Available in China only, this effort is similar to recent globally licensed Pepsi products which include apparel and accessories. Pepsi has always moved at the speed of culture, and today technology is a key cultural pillar at the heart of consumer interaction. Pepsi has no plans to get into the mobile phone manufacturing business, but we are committed to engaging with consumers in innovative ways to grow our brand. We’ll share more news as it becomes available.”

Would you get a Pepsi smartphone? What other branded smartphone would you get if you could? We’re going to go with.. In-N-Out. We would definitely be PRO an In-N-Out smartphone.

Online dating tech of the Week!

So, you thought they might run out of online dating ideas soon, right? Tinder, 3inder, Grindr, Tastebuds, Hinge, Score, Tindog, Happn, Sizzl, Bumble, Align, Once, *breath*, Coffee Meets Bagel, Pure, Howaboutwe…. The list just doesn’t stop.

There’s a reason for that – people like connecting, even for a moment, potentially for a lifetime. Make it fun, interesting, make the possibilities endless, you’ve got a dating App, friends.

So what’s the new one you guys can play around with?

Well, this one’s a little more serious, and requires a little more… commitment before deciding you wanna get in this app’s sandbox.

We’re talking LoveRoom. ‘It’s like Airbnb meets OkCupid’.

Ummmm… ok? So what does that exactly mean?

Well, you search for a match based on interests and video profiles. Then, you flirt with possible matches, by sending private messages to people who’ve accepted your friend request.

Sounds familiar, right? Well get this: Then, when you’ve picked a match, you move in together for a week.

Dun Dun DUUUUN!

The aim here seems to be: Learn all about them in a really intense way, so you know if they’re worth investing time in! You can still go on dates, or you can, just, you know, Netflix and chill*…

Go see what it’s all about here. It’s free to sign up using your Facebook or email. And let us know if any of you crazy cats do it! Because, you know, science.

* Sex is not a compulsory part of this whole thing. Just so you know, creepies.

Dolphin saves the day (iPhone)!

Everyone loves dolphins, right? RIGHT! And, everyone loves a good dolphin story, so here we go on this glorious Thursday morning!

Teressa Cee, a dancer with American professional basketball team Miami Heat was recently in the Bahamas near Blue Lagoon Island, also known by its official name Salt Cay. Sweet. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE DOLPHINS?

From the sauce:

“True Story: While in the Bahamas, I had the opportunity to go swimming with dolphins on Blue Lagoon Island. We were filming on this floating platform in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. So, against a my better judgment I asked someone to hold my phone for me and he accidentally dropped my phone into water and it sank to the bottom.”

Can you guess what happens next? Let us give you a hint: It has something to do with a dolphin named Cacique!

Watch the video and smile! Happy almost weekend guys!  And Teressa; if you’re reading this? We know a place that would give you really good CASHMONEY for that water damaged phone… Just sayin’.

Help raise money for refugees on Kickstarter!

The United Nations has stated that it needs $7.42 Billion this year to help meet the needs of the those caught in the war in Syria – both those who are refugees and those who are suffering inside Syria. As of early this month, they are still $4 Billion short of that goal.

The United States has donated $4.5 Billion since the crises began four years ago, and has now specifically requested that the crowdfunding company Kickstarter creates a unique charity version of it’s winning formula to help raise more money for the Syrians.

Kickstarter CEO Yancey Strickler told BuzzFeed News:

“We were really compelled by an ask from the White House because of some sense of civic duty and wanting to step up, but also just feeling what a global situation this is and felt like this is an opportunity where our product and our community could have real value.”

SO now Kickstarter has partnered with USA for UNHCR, which is a U.S.-based non-profit which raises funds and awareness for the UN Refugee Agency to create the first Kickstarter charity fund.

Similar to the other more creative projects on Kickstarter, the charity campaign will last for one week, however all the funds they raise, even if it’s short of their goal, will go straight to USA for UNHCR, as well as the 5% cut that the good guys over at Kickstarter usually take.

Instead of rewards, donors see what kinds of things can and will be done for their money – such as $30 providing water for 50 people, or scaling up to $600 which can provide care and education for a vulnerable child.

You also don’t need to have a Kickstarter account in order to donate. The largest amount raised in Kickstarter history was $20,338,986. That was for the Pebble Time, in March this year.

As of writing, the Aid refugees Kickstarter has raised $815,643. There is 6 days and 37 minutes left.

Let’s see if we can beat that $20 million to help feed, clothe, and care for the people who desperately need it. Please, if you can, donate, or share this or other stories you see about the campaign on social media.

Here is the link to the campaign: https://www.kickstarter.com/aidrefugees

Apple remembers Steve Jobs on the 4 year anniversary of his death

Yesterday marked the passing of prolific Apple guy Steve Jobs four years ago.

To commemorate this day and to remember his friend, CEO Tim Cook sent an internal email to employees (via The Telegraph) of Apple. It’s pretty touching.

 
Here’s what he wrote:

“Team.

Today marks four years since Steve passed away. On that day, the world lost a visionary. We at Apple lost a leader, a mentor, and many of us lost a dear friend.

Steve was a brilliant person, and his priorities were very simple. He loved his family above all, he loved Apple, and he loved the people with whom he worked so closely and achieved so much.

Each year since his passing, I have reminded everyone in the Apple community that we share the privilege and responsibility of continuing the work Steve loved so much.

What is his legacy? I see it all around us: An incredible team that embodies his spirit of innovation and creativity. The greatest products on earth, beloved by customers and empowering hundreds of millions of people around the world. Soaring achievements in technology and architecture. Experiences of surprise and delight. A company that only he could have built. A company with an intense determination to change the world for the better.

And, of course, the joy he brought his loved ones.

He told me several times in his final years that he hoped to live long enough to see some of the milestones in his children’s lives. I was in his office over the summer with Laurene and their youngest daughter. Messages and drawings from his kids to their father are still there on Steve’s whiteboard.

If you never knew Steve, you probably work with someone who did or who was here when he led Apple. Please stop one of us today and ask what he was really like. Several of us have posted our personal remembrances on AppleWeb, and I encourage you to read them.
Thank you for honoring Steve by continuing the work he started, and for remembering both who he was and what he stood for.

Tim”

Remembering Steve for who he was and what he stood for. We honor him by continuing the work he loved so much. pic.twitter.com/6UiXBjYe3l

— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) October 5, 2015

Weird new iPhone trend we DONT suggest trying

New Steve Jobs Movie footage

The new Steve Jobs movie is set for release on October 9th! Is everyone excited? You betcha! Are you so excited you want to watch behind the scenes footage and cast and crew interviews RIGHT NOW?

Thanks to ScreenSlam, your wish is granted.

BAM!

New Google Service?

You might have heard rumors of a new Google fortune telling service, which is great, right? Google has ALL the answers!! Give us more answers Google!! This, however is a little different, and it’s not actually a Google service.

Click on this link, and start typing. Type a question you have about the future. You can go for a cliche, like ‘will I be the richest man in South Florida even though I live in San Francisco?’ or, a little more off the beaten track, like ‘ will I ever own a dinosaur named Tubby MacPeterson?’

Go for it.

Not what you were expecting?

Neither is war and becoming a refugee. This is a great little tool to spread around to promote understanding of the refugee crisis unfolding around the world. A reminder that we can help. If you choose to share the site, it’ll appear on Facebook and Twitter as if you found an incredible fortune-telling website, but it will lead people to the same page in the end.

Tech, helping people helping people. Nice.

Future tech of the week!

When we say shaving, what word pops into your head? We’re going to go ahead and guess that for a lot of you, that word is ‘booooooring’. For a lot of us shaving is a regular thing, and the tools we use haven’t changed for like 5000 years. AND it means that while we’re supposed to be giving the environment hugs, we’re actually giving it about 2 million plastic razors a year (from the US alone!). Sorrrrry environment.

Well, never fear, because a Kickstarter campaign is here!

More precisely, a company called Skarp (meaning “sharp” in Swedish) is here! And it has designed an aluminum razor powered by lasers that doesn’t need water to work or to be thrown out after use. Whaaaaat.

At time of writing Skarp has had over 10,000 backers pledge $1,823,077, waaaaaay over their original goal of $160, 000. Aparrently a lot of people are feeling the lack of progression in the shaving industry!

Benefits? We’ll give you benefits!

No scratches
No razor burn
No infection
No itch
No accidental cutting
No irritation
Effortless smooth stroke
No painful waxing or messy depilatory creams
Incredibly close & smooth shave
No expensive cartridges replacements
Little to no water usage
Environmentally friendly

The razor works by using wavelengths of light for an extra close, clean, shave for both dark and light hairs.

Ch-ch-ch-eck it out!

Apple Music free trial period ending + guided tours

Did you sign up for Apple Music on or shortly after June 30? If you did, your free trial is ending!!

Dun Dun Duuuun!

Personally, we’re keeping our subscription, because if you haven’t read our review of the service, we fricken’ love it. BUT! If you want to unsubscribe, There are 2 ways.

On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings. Tap on the iTunes & App Store option, and then tap on your Apple ID.  A box will come up – tap on ‘view Apple ID’. Sign if if necessary. You’ll then see an option called ‘subscriptions’ with the word ‘Manage’ underneath. Click on ‘Manage’.  On the next page you’ll see the words ‘Renewal options’, and underneath that as the 3rd option down is Automatic renewal. To unsubscribe, turn slide the slider off green.

On your computer, go into iTunes and sign in. If you’re already signed in, click on your name (left of the search bar) and click down to account information. Enter your Apple ID password. Scroll down to the Settings section, and when you get to ‘subscriptions’, look to the right and click ‘Manage’. Turn off Automatic Renewal for Apple Music to cancel a subscription.

If you wish to continue with the service, as many will, you don’t have to do anything except enjoy some sweet tunes!  If you’re unsure about continuing your subscription or if you’ve been enjoying the service but not exploring it, Apple has just introduced a bunch of guided video’s to make sure you’re not missing out on anything. They’re available on the Apple website and will presumably soon be featured on their YouTube channel.

Or, watch them right here!