I've always liked how IKEA has continued using Swedish names for all their products, even after blowing up into an international brand available the world over. Of course, that doesn't mean I necessarily know how to pronounce all the product names strewn throughout their stores and in their catalogs. 

"Appointment viewing", watching shows by their scheduled broadcast times, is still the most popular method of watching television. But according to Nielsen, last year the average American watched nearly 30 hours of television on the internet, and about five and a half hours on their mobile phone. With so many of us already watching entertainment via the web, it's likely more of us are going to enjoy series specifically produced for our browsers like these five...

I'm finally assembling a photo book from my wedding, which happened this time last year (the first anniversary is paper, so it's cool, my parents haven't printed their choices of photos from that day either). Working on a photo book has gotten me thinking about what it means to have a tangible compilation of important photos versus one that only lives on your computer.

You can search by words and you can search by images, but did you know you can also search by sound? The vast warehouse of audio sounds available online for reference, entertainment, and curiosity seems endless and is easily accessible using this site or app...

Since reading about the ultra-efficient, small space friendly, 7 Minute Workout, I've incorporated it as one of the very first things I do each morning. But for such a simple routine, how I actually executed it was sort of complex: I'd set an interval timer app for the 30 seconds on/10 seconds rest configuration on my phone, while using a screencap of the helpful graphic on a tablet to refer to. But now I don't have to juggle two devices while I memorize the routine to memory...

One of the highlights of the Google I/O keynote this year was the introduction of the newly refreshed Google Maps. With updated design and information features throughout, I jumped at the opportunity to sit down with Jonah Jones, Staff UX Designer and Lead Designer of Google Maps, and learn a bit more about the design inspiration behind the new Maps. 

One of the most common tasks in photo editing is cropping and clipping out images from backgrounds. Executed correctly, it's not a difficult process, but it is one that requires a deft hand with the Photoshop pen tool, the use of alpha channels, and a discerning eye for what to keep and what to leave out. Now there's a website which simplifies the process...

Considering how penetrating each and every one of Apple's devices has been in the personal tech market, it's no wonder iTunes continues to make loads of money. It wouldn't happen without the individual contribution of each of iTunes' millions of users. But just how much app, song and movie money does each person contribute to Apple's world domination each year?

YouTube is a great alternative to cable for children thanks to the short running times and endless programming available. But YouTube can also open the doors to some undesirable avenues. I'm sure we all have a horror story or two of clicking on something that didn't turn out to be what you thought it was, but there are scarier consequences when it happens to a child.

What can you learn in 6 seconds? How to make coffee? Maybe how to lay down tile? Some industrious types have worked within the 6 seconds video limitations of the Vine app to create extremely concise, yet informative short format how-to videos...