Thank You, Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs, 1984

It takes an incredible visionary and leader to have manifested everything that Steve Jobs did in his life. His innate ability to understand the importance of the customer experience coupled with his passion for technology and product development are the cornerstone of Apple’s success. Steve said, “you have to start with the customer experience and work back to the technology. You can’t start with the technology and try to figure out where you’re going to sell it.” He valued learning from his mistakes. He said, “some mistakes will be made along the way, and that’s good, we’ll find the mistakes and we’ll fix them.” He was so passionate about his work that the term “Reality Distortion Field” was coined to describe his charisma and its effects on the developers working on the Mac project. Steve later said,  “I’m convinced that the only thing that kept me going is that I loved what I did. You’ve got to find what you love. And that is as true for work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking and don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.”  We take solace from his words and will always remember the lessons he taught – he believed it, lived it, and continues to teach and inspire us with the legacy he has left.  May you rest well and thank you, Steve Jobs.

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Geek Treats

Feel like sinking your teeth into something sweet? Check out these delicious geek treats!

Geek Squad Treat

Something Sweet for the Geek Squad! via Yodster

Geek Treats: Super Mario

Super Mario Looks Super Yummy! via hokiecsgrad

Geek Treat: PacMan

A Perfect Play is Easy with this Treat! via Sanzok

Geek Treats: Rubiks Cube

Trick or Treat? via PostCardAudi

Geek Treats: iSweet

This iPad is iSweet. via fortheloveofcake

Which is your fave?

 

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Uber Cool

UbercabLet’s face it, it sucks trying to hail a cab in New York City during various times of the day, ask any New Yorker. The same goes for San Francisco.  And if you’ve ever visited Seattle you can attest to the massive congestion that plagues the city’s transit systems. I myself would never consider paying a premium for a town car but I would pay for a service that equated to the quality of the town car experience for a slightly higher price than a cab.

Well, I just discovered that there is an app that does just that. Founded by infamous entrepreneur Travis Kalanick who is known as “The Travis” by his fleet of drivers. “Uber” is a free app available on your iPhone or Android device as well as via SMS. Registration is easy. An uber driver shows up in about 5 minutes and you can track the car’s route on the app.

Payment is done via credit card through the app so no need to worry about carrying cash. Plus you can rate the driver and vice versa. And the best part is the price. A ride that would cost about $20 in a cab only costs a bit more at $36 with Uber. Uber currently operates in New York City, San Francisco & Seattle but have plans to expand to all major U.S. cities and internationally.

We want to hear from you:

Would you try Uber?

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CowBoom Back to School Giveaway

Be the coolest kid at school! Enter the CowBoom Back to School Giveaway for a chance to win an Asus Tablet & Keyboard dock. Simply “Like” CowBoom on Facebook and the entry form will appear. Good luck CowBoomers!

CowBoom Back to School Giveaway

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Do I Need an Unlocked Phone?

Locked Smart PhoneIf you visit CowBoom frequently to check out our deal of the day amongst our many other great deals you have most likely noticed the influx of smart phones that have made their way on the site. The beauty of these phones is that you don’t have to extend your current contract to get a great deal on a new phone. For example, if you’re itching to get the new iPhone 4 but don’t want to commit to another 2 years with your current carrier buying a slightly pre-owned model at a fraction of the cost is a great solution. The phones on CowBoom are contract free meaning that you just pay for the phone itself.  If you have an existing contract with your carrier, you can simply swap the old phone with the new one. If you don’t have a contract, or your contract is up, depending on the carrier you can simply pay as you go.

Get a New Phone
One of the great things about CowBoom’s phones is that many (but not all) are already unlocked. Unlocking a phone allows you to use one carrier’s phone on another network. For example, if you want to use an AT&T phone on T-Mobile just get an unlocked AT&T phone. Since both carriers in the U.S. use the GSM network and SIM card technology, you can simply move your SIM card from one GSM phone to another.  There may be phones that are limited to 2G service on the other carrier’s network so it’s best to call the carrier just to be sure.

Although Verizon and Sprint phones use CDMA technology some can be unlocked and used on GSM networks like AT&T or Rodgers in Canada. Certain CDMA “world phones” can do this such as the BlackBerry Storm. When using an unlocked CDMA phone on a GSM network you may be limited to 2G speeds, so be careful when you’re purchasing a CDMA phone for use on a GSM network. Conversely, if you just to swap your Verizon or Sprint phone for a new one like the HTC EVO 4G just call the carrier and they’ll handle it for you.

 Traveling Abroad
If you’re traveling overseas CowBoom’s unlocked phones may be just the ticket for you. Whether you purchase an unlocked CDMA world phone or a GSM based phone, you can easily purchase a SIM card from the overseas provider and voila, you’ll have a local number in the country you’re visiting.

Keep Your Unlimited Data Plan
If you currently have an unlimited data plan with Verizon or AT&T and you’re switching data plan types to accommodate a new phone, make sure you tell them that you wish to retain your plan. For example switching from a Blackberry to an Android phone requires the carrier to change your data plan type. Since these carriers recently switched to more costly metered data plans, it is your responsibility to let them know you wish to remain on the unlimited plan.

Trade in that Old Phone!
Remember, if you’re upgrading your phone and have your old one lying around check out Best Buy’s Trade In Program. It’s a great way to get money for an unwanted mobile phone and protect the environment.

We want to hear from you:

Would you use an unlocked smart phone?

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Take our survey, get a prize!

Hey CowBoomers,

We’d like to pick your brains about some stuff and will reward you for your time. For a limited time*, when you take our simple 8 question survey you’ll receive a $5 off promo code for your next purchase of $50 or more at CowBoom.com!

*Hurry, promo code offer expires on 8-1-2011
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Money Saving Tips

Save MoneyLet’s be honest, saving money can sometimes be challenging for even the most frugal among us. But the beauty of a challenge is that we can overcome it. Whether you are saving for a new gadget or an upcoming vacation there are some simple yet effective ways to achieve your goal. So read on and be encouraged that you can save for anything your heart desires with the right tools and the right thinking.

 

  1. Set up a Plan of Attack - You won’t know where to cut back unless you truly know where your money is going. There some great inexpensive and free tools available that can help get you on the right track and move forward. A couple of my favorites are Mint and YNAB.
  2. Make a Commitment - What are you saving for? How long will it take? Get serious about your goals by putting them in writing and committing to a timeline. If you make a commitment to yourself and perhaps tell a friend or family member you’re more likely to stick to it.
  3. Luxury vs Necessity - I know, it seems simple, but oftentimes little luxuries can end up costing a lot at the end of the month. When you start paying more attention to what you are spending your money on you may recognize that there are some luxuries you are willing to sacrifice, such as that morning latte.
  4. Go Dutch - Just because you are on a budget doesn’t mean you still can’t go out and enjoy a meal with friends. Be ready when the bill comes with an app such as Tip and Split (available on iPhone & Android) for a savvy way to pay your portion (and only your portion) of the bill. And yes, the apps are free of course!
  5. Shop Smarter - With the internet at our fingertips its easier to make educated decisions about what we spend our money on. It’s no longer necessary to pummel through classifieds and meet strangers in parking lots to get a great deal on a gently used items – at least when it comes to electronics. Consider buying refurbished and pre-owned items from CowBoom. We offer a 30 day money back guarantee and can save you a great deal of money compared to what you would pay retail.

What are some of your own money saving tips?

 

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Roaming DealCow Sweepstakes Winners!

Hey there CowBoomers! We have had so much fun checking out all of your awesome DealCow photos and are sad to see the sweepstakes coming to a close. However, the good news is we are now ready to share the winners’ photos with you. There were so many fabulous photo submissions, it was very difficult to choose only three. Thanks to everyone who participated and congratulations to our Roaming DealCow Sweepstakes winners!

Sothern Most Cow!

Southern Most Cow

Lambeau Field Cow

Lambeau Field Cow

DealCow with the Herd

DealCow with the Herd

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Summer Travel Apps

Summer is upon us! Tis the season to broaden our horizons and explore the great unknown. For many of us that requires booking airfare, hotels, finding good eats, sights and more. Rest assured iPhone fanboys & gals, we’ve got free apps to do all of those things and then some. Now, all you need to do is hit the road and let the journey begin!

  1. Hipmunk - Perfect for making travel plans on the go. Hipmunk displays relevant flights in a timeline, helping you visualize the right choice. Instead of listing the cheapest flights first, the app takes into account the ‘agony’ factor including numerous stops and long layovers. Best of all, you can book the flight right from your phone, email it to someone else or finish on your home computer.
  2. HotelTonight - Find last minute deals on hotel rooms for up to 70% off in most popular U.S. cities. Plus, when you download the app, you will get a $25 coupon for your first booking.
  3. The Weather Channel Interactive - Get a one up on the weather conditions of your destination with location pinpointing at launch, full screen maps, extended forecasts, severe weather alerts and more.
  4. AroundMe – You’ve arrived! Now, where to go? Instantly find the closest bars, cafes, banks, gas stations and more with this location based app.
  5. Yelp – An oldie but a goodie. Curious about how good that restaurant is around the corner? Get the inside scoop from the locals.

What’s your favorite travel app?

 

 

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Roaming DealCows

Hey CowBoomers!

We are loving all of your DealCow photos! Below are a few more of our favorites. Remember, there’s only 10 days left to submit your own DealCow pic to enter the sweepstakes. Simply click here to upload your photo  before 6/30 to qualify!

Which is your fave?

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