One of my earliest memories of spending time with my grandfather was watching him stand over an array of small pots in the dining room, carefully checking their growth. He explained to me that soon they would be ready to go outside in the garden, and eventually they would become vegetables. Not being super keen on some vegetables as a child, I had to squelch the desire to sabotage his budding collection waiting to be moved to the big plot outside. 

There are some families that ban iPads, phones, email, and all things tech when taking the hallowed family vacation. I'm amazed by that. Maybe we'll try it sometime. But, though I don't want to spend our vacation tied to our devices, there are moments when I find having a little tech helps everyone recharge.

Several of my coworkers are off to attend a trade show later this week, and the hot topic of the afternoon was portable battery charging options. Professionally, a drained smartphone or laptop could be the difference between updating live from the show or having to wait till the end of the day to connect and upload. Personally, it's just a bummer carrying around a lump of "good for nothing" when the battery is out...

April 22nd marks the day the world celebrates the planet: Earth Day. It's a perfect opportunity to consider changing small habits in your life, whether it be switching to energy efficient bulbs, begin biking to work, or properly recycling household waste. In honor of a day marking the importance of the planet we all share, here are several apps related to earth-friendly habits...

As my runny nose, sneezes, and red eyes can attest, spring has sprung and seasonal allergies have arrived in force (check to see whether you live in one of these top ten worst allergy cities). While there isn't yet an app that cures allergies at a touch and a swipe, there are several apps that will help you track your symptoms, check the pollen count, and provide tips for better managing your allergies...

I rank Velcro right up there with duct tape, butterfly paper clamps, and rubber bands in the hall of fame of useful household accessories. Velcro has proven useful in countless ways and a hacker-customizer's best friend since its invention in 1948. Example: a $10 box of velcro is all Jesse Rosten needed to secure and use his trusty iPad all around the house and even inside his car...

While not everyone shares a level of TV show fandom that necessitates themed cakes, there are more ways now than ever to engage and obsess over one's favorite shows. Whether you'd categorize yourself as a "superfan" who interacts online while watching or just want to make sure to remember when to DVR a show you've been waiting to air with your favorite Doctor (hello, Spies of Warsaw), here are a few tablet apps for your iPads, Android and Windows 8 tablet that are worth a look-see. 

Did you know 41% of tablet owners use their devices while watching TV? That was one of the staggering statistics I heard at a SXSW Interactive panel last month. A majority of those people are dividing their time between watching their show and interacting via Facebook or Twitter. They're tweeting, commenting, and talking live as the events unfold during broadcast, a notable change in how we're experiencing television series in the age of social networking...