Best Android Apps of 2017

Hi All,

So the year is almost ended and all the 'best of' articles are starting to come out in print and on the web.  One of the better ones - written in March 2017 no less - is this article titled '100 Best Android Apps of 2017', written by PC Mag.

The article subtitle states that these are 'The essential Android apps you need, whether you're outfitting the latest Pixel phone or plugging along with a much older device.'

The article has lots of subheadings....including the following Browsers, Health/Fitness, Personal Productivity, Reading/News, Shopping, Travel, Video, Food, Music/Podcasts, Photos, Security, Social Media/Communication, Utilities and Workplace Productivity.

Apps are that 'make the PCMag 'cut' are generally less thank $5 - with the majority of the apps on the list being free to download via Google Play. 

About 5 or so of the 'best' apps are listed in each category with a paragraph length description of the apps features and why it is included in the list of the 100 Best Android Apps of 2017.

Links to each app are on the site as is a rating - 5 solid red dots indicates the 'best' app. 

In the article PCMag suggests using the link for '10 Must Have Android Apps For 2017' if the 100 apps in the prior article are too many to go through.

So...what criteria did PCMag look for when reviewing apps for the article?  They looked for uniqueness, elegance, timeliness, design, price, security and popularity in an app for the list!

Enjoy the apps and the links and your phones' new found capabilities!

Regards,
Stu

Black Friday Deals and Cyber Monday

Hi All,

Thanksgiving has come and gone...and now the holiday season is upon for real!  Which, of course, means that holiday shopping has started!

So...here's a list of some Black Friday deals.
 The Verge - 24 Best Deals
Engadget - Best Black Friday Deals 2017
ABC News - Year's Can't Miss Black Friday Deals 
Walmart -  Best Black Friday.com 2017 Advertisement
BGR - Black Friday Deals 2017

Cnet - Cyber Monday Deals  
Fox News - Cyber Monday's Biggest Deals and Savings
CBS News MoneyWatch - 10 Stores Will Have the Best Cyber Monday Deals in 2017

Here's the Wikipedia entry for Black Friday - interesting read!  And, here's the Wikipedia entry for Cyber Monday - another interesting read!

Enjoy the shopping!

Regards,
Stu

All Things Stew Leonards

Hi All,

It looks like Stew Leonard's is opening a new store in Farmingdale.  The new store will be in Airport Plaza where the old Dave and Buster's used to be. 

Click on this link from Newsday for more about the grand opening on January 20th!

Also, click on this link which goes directly to the Stew Leonard's website. You'll find lots of links to Weekly Specials, Recipes, Gift Baskets, StewTube Videos, About Stew Leonard's and more.

Enjoy the site - it should be a unique food shopping experience.

Regards,
Stu

Holiday Stress Management Relief

Hi All,

Do the holidays have you running everywhere after work and preparing for holiday meals late at night? Are you wrapping gifts for family and friends at 1am or buying presents on Amazon.com during work hours?  Well, you are not alone.  Lots of people are doing it evidently - just check out this article from Yahoo! Finance (title of article is 'Is Holiday Shopping Online OK At Work/ Survey Shows Are 'Buying It').

Okay...so the holidays can be a stressful time...and this entry is going to try to help you over the hump and get you to have a less stressful time - at least until January 2nd...

From the Mayo Clinic comes this article titled, 'Stress, Depression and the Holidays'. WebMD's holiday stress tips include this link, 'Tips for Reducing Holiday Stress'. Not to be outdone, the Cleveland Clinic also has an entry titled 'Managing Holiday Stress'.  A site called MedicineNet.com (self styled as being a site that 'Brings Doctors' Knowledge to You') has an article called 'Holiday Depression, Anxiety, and Stress'.  This is an extended article of 6 pages and can be found by clicking on this link.

And, finally, click on this link for an article from Time Magazine Online from October 2012 - titled '6 Breathing Exercises to Relax in 10 Minutes or Less'.

So...definitely buy those gifts, wraps those presents and have fun during the holidays - and if you need a place to figure out how to de-stress...click on any of the above links...

Regards,
Stu

Hi All,

Guess what today is? It is CyberMonday.  What the heck is that you ask? Great question, and here is the answer...

From Wikipedia.com - Cyber Monday is a marketing term for the Monday after the Thanksgiving holiday in the US.  It was created by marketing companies to persuade people to shop online.  The term made its debut on 11/28/2005 in a Shop.org press release titled, 'Cyber Monday Quickly Becoming One of the Biggest Online Shopping Days of the Year'. 

So...go out - okay, get on your computer - and shop, shop, shop....

Click here for a few interesting (and probably useful) links about Cyber Monday.

1.  Click on this link for an article titled, 'Cyber Monday Gears Up to Get Online Shoppers Hyped'.
2. We've got 'em: The Best Cyber Monday Deals - USA Today.
3. Cyber Monday Cheat Sheet: What's On Deck For Online Shoppers.
4.  Cyber Monday 2014 Deals: 235 Sales and Counting!
5.  Best Cyber Monday 2014 Deals - Tech stuff mostly
6.  2014 Cyber Monday Deals: Walmart, Amazon Can't Stop, Won't Stop With Online Sales

Enjoy the links!  And remember....next post is post number 500...

Regards,
Stu

Getting Ready For the Holidays

Hi All,

It is that time of year again...we are between Thanksgiving and the Christmas/New Year's Holidays - and that means parties, holiday gift giving, shopping, invitations to mail out, wrapping, cards to send and much, much more...

How is a person supposed to make head or tail from all the anxiety that this season begets?  Easy, click on the following links and you'll be well on your way to holiday season bliss.

Click on this link that will relieve you of the stress any time you have guests coming over during the holiday season.    For another perspective on simplifying the holidays, you can click on this link so that you can be organized this holiday season - and celebrate the season to boot!

From Styleathome.com comes this article entitled, '99 Ways To Get Ready For the Holidays'.  Yes, this is a long article, and yes it is an actual list - from 1-99 - on how to prepare for the holidays.  Cool stuff!  Especially number 12, 46 (who would have thought!) and 85.

Well, if you are having guests over, you will probably have to vacuum, or at least get rid of some of the clutter.  Click here to learn just how to do that....one room at at time.

Finally, click on this link - from MyWell-Being.com - which will, like the other links above, help you get ready for the holidays. 

Enjoy the holidays - hopefully they'll be stress-free, relaxing and filled with classic family get-togethers.

Regards,
Stu

Anti-Black Friday Shopping

Hi All,

As you probably know, the day after Thanksgiving is known as 'Black Friday'. It is a huge, absolutely huge shopping day for US retailers. It is also the traditional start of the holiday shopping season.

Because of all the hype and advertising and publicity that Black Friday is receiving, there is now a sort of grass-roots organization that is 'anti black friday' shopping. Click here for the link to a newspaper article from a newspaper in Minnesota that talks about this.

From a site called the Geeko System comes this link discussing buying nothing today.

Click on this link for an article from the New York Times discussing whether or not shoppers are actually spending money when they are in the malls and stores this year.

From Hubspot comes these fascinating Black Friday tidbits. These are marketing/advertising type nuggets that are great to mention at cocktail parties!

Click on this link for the homepage of the National Retail Federation - the world's largest retail trade association and the voice of retailing worldwide. It represents retailers of all types and sizes from the US and from 45 countries abroad!

Click here for some news regarding Black Friday 2011. Makes you think a bit!
1. Big Biz, some black eyes on Black Friday.
2. Black Friday shopper pepper sprays rivals.

Enjoy the shopping and I hope the lines aren't too long for you today.

Regards,
Stu

I is For....

Hi All,

Just another blog post in the series of 'A is for...B is for...' that I started a few months ago...

I is For...

IBM - internationally known computer and computer consulting/services firm

Ipod - Apple's great music invention from mid-1990's! The gadget that spawned a revolution.

Ipad - one of the great digital devices - sexy and practical and usable!

Ikea - Swedish furniture that can be bought online or in showrooms. There is a store on Route 107 in Hicksville - and the Swedish meatballs are really, really good. Trust me.
IMDB - Internet Movie Database - great site for info on past and current movies (actors and actresses, movie plots and more)

Iphone 4s - Apple says it is the best Iphone yet - go and check it out for yourself!

I Heart Radio.com - listen to radio online for free!

IJJI - free online gaming site

Enjoy the site and the games!
Stu