Prior to setting out on this adventure I founded and continue to run C4 Universe, where I do everything from managing social media campaigns and consulting to web design and of course, writing (which will now cease and move entirely to this Digital Deconstruction) all while working full-time at a major financial institution.

If you’re reading this right now, thank you. And keep reading, sharing, and providing feedback on what you like, don’t like and everything in between.

I’ll be posting several times a day, so add Digital Deconstruction to your RSS reader, Twitter feed, like us on Facebook and circle us on Google+.

Please email me at digitaldeconstruction@gmail.com if you have any questions or suggestions. I’ll respond as soon as humanly possible.

See you at Digital Deconstruction!

Now they report the back plate on the device will be roughly 1mm thicker to support a larger battery, something we’ve covered previously.

In addition, they’ve determined the screw alignments fit a Sharp display as does the 30-pin dock connector with the back plate suggesting a new, higher megapixel camera may be included on the iPad 3 when released.

Full story.

Author : Jeff Cormier –  http://about.me/jffcrmr

Shop at Amazon.com and support C4 Universe

The ad focuses on a new Dad overjoyed by the photo saving capabilities of Google+.

According to the commercial’s description:

“With Google+ Instant Upload, every picture you take on your phone is instantly backed up to a private Google+ album. It’s a simple way to make sure you never lose another memory.”

Google’s Bradley Horowitz posted this statement on his Google+ page:

“Instant Upload has already saved my own precious photos numerous times.. This commercial is really moving. Especially since it’s based on a true story from one of our team mates.”

We think it’s rather powerful.  What do you think? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

Author : Jeff Cormier –  http://about.me/jffcrmr

Shop at Amazon.com and support C4 Universe

Restore to factory settings

Assuming you’ve been using your iPad, it no doubt contains data.  Getting rid of the data is easy.  Follow these steps:

1. On your iPad home screen, tap the Settings icon.
2. Tap General in the menu to the left of the screen, then tap Reset.
3. Here, you will have two options: “Reset All Settings” and “Erase All Content and Settings.” The former will restore all of your app settings to their original status. The latter will reset all app settings and erase all of your data (photos, apps, bookmarks, music, etc.). Choose “Erase All Content and Settings.”

That is all you have to do, seriously.  After selecting one of the two options above, your iPad will reboot. Given you’ve elected to “Erase All Content and Settings,” the iPad must be re-connected to iTunes to be activated.

Places to sell

You’ve got a few options here. I prefer Gazelle.com, but Ebay also has a dedicated iPad sales page at ipad.ebay.com. One can also use Craigslist, or sell it to a friend if you so desire.

Get your iPad ready to ship

If you’re hand-delivering the iPad, there’s no reason to deal with packaging and shipping. If you’re mailing it away, you’ve got a few additional steps to follow. First, place it back in its original box (provided you’ve saved it) with the standard equipment: charger, cable, brief pamphlet and the Apple stickers if you’re feeling generous. Put the whole thing in a padded envelope and send it off.

If not, you’ll want to protect it. Some good bubble wrap and packing peanuts will serve you well.

After these few steps, you’re ready to sell your current iPad in preparation for receiving that shiny new one.

For those planning to sell, best of luck and we hope you enjoy your new iPad!

Author : Jeff Cormier –  http://about.me/jffcrmr

Shop at Amazon.com and support C4 Universe

In 2010, Amazon took on the iPad with a Kindle ad touting its E Ink capabilities that provide superior viewing in direct sunlight. Amazon has now revived the original concept addressing readability in bright sunlight but augmenting it by promoting the Kindle’s significantly lower pricing. The ad notes that customers can buy three Kindles for less than the price of an iPad, allowing everyone in the family to have their own device.

From the commercial below:

Man: Hey, excuse me. That’s the new Kindle, isn’t it? $79.

Woman: Best way to read, even in sunlight.

Man: Yeah, but I mean if you want to watch movies, or surf the Web…

Woman: I’ve got a Kindle Fire for that.

Man: Three Kindles. That’s got to be expensive.

Woman: Not really. Together they’re still less than that. (nods at man’s iPad)

With the Kindle Fire priced at $199 and the basic ad-supported Kindle priced at $79, two Kindle Fires and a Kindle would cost a total of $477, below the iPad’s $499 entry-level price. Apple has been rumored to be planning to continue offering the iPad 2 as a lower-cost option once the company introduces the iPad 3 early next month, but Apple almost certainly will not match or come close to the Kindle Fire’s pricing given the significant differences between the two devices.

What do you think of the commercial?  Effective or ridiculous given that for $79 one gets a Kindle that does nothing but allow one to read books?

Author : Jeff Cormier –  http://about.me/jffcrmr

Shop at Amazon.com and support C4 Universe

The stories below are those we find interesting from sites we follow, but we aren’t so vain as to believe our selections are always the best.

If you have suggestions for stories to be included, submit them to us by email, or using the “Tip Us” section at the top of the site.  We’ll give you full credit for your submission!

10 Must-Read Tech Stories of the Day:

Foursquare Adds NFC Support To Its Android App [TechCrunch]

• I enjoy the Foursquare, but prefer AFC football teams over those of the NFC.

For the first time, Apple’s iOS generates more web traffic than Mac OS X [VentureBeat]

• The divide should only deepen.

Google bar redesigned, brings back old look [The Verge]

• Despite trying to avoid it, once you go black bar you never go back.

White MacBook, It Was Good Living With You [AllThingsD]

• Loved the white MacBook and still live with one.

Happy birthday, Flickr! [GigaOM]

• I continue to use Flickr. Do any of you?

Evernote takes health to new heights with its 30-Day Fitness Challenge [The Next Web]

• Evernote is fantastic and count me in on the 30-Day Fitness Challenge.

Make your iPhone photography more striking with the “rule of thirds” [iMore]

• Some superb tips for great iPhone photography.

When Facebook Defriending Ends in Murder [ReadWriteWeb]

• Frightening.

Improve Your Writing by Avoiding These Twenty Common Grammar Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes [Lifehacker]

• Read, re-read and then read again.

Why Google Is Getting Into Entertainment: Your Data [Fast Company]

• Some fancy Google’s entertainment options. I’m not one of them.

Let us know what you think on any of today’s stories in the comments section below!

Have a great weekend.  Check back Monday for 10 more super stories you can’t have but not be reading with your eyes and tell a friend to do the same.

Author : Jeff Cormier –  http://about.me/jffcrmr

Shop at Amazon.com and support C4 Universe

Related articles

• 10 Must-Read Tech Stories of the Day – February 9, 2012 (c4universe.com)
• 10 Must-Read Tech Stories of the Day – February 7, 2012 (c4universe.com)
• 10 Must-Read Tech Stories of the Day – February 6, 2012 (c4universe.com)

An Apple fanboy is typically a promoter of all things Apple, often carrying with it a negative connotation by those who don’t particularly care for any thing the company produces.

Two individuals from Chongqing, China have demonstrated their love of Apple to new heights.  As evidenced below,  one is dressed as Steve Jobs and the other outfitted in a full robot-like costume constructed in part by vintage Mac parts complete with an Apple-inspired codpiece.

A fetching duo if there ever was one, don’t you agree?

[via MIC Gadget]

Author : Jeff Cormier –  http://about.me/jffcrmr

Shop at Amazon.com and support C4 Universe

To the class of individuals falling into the latter category, I consider it sad that one feels the need to label themselves something they clearly are not.  Why?  Typically those that do are ex-jocks, wannabes, or something similar who believe a geek/nerd is something “cool” and forget when they themselves made fun of both groups of individuals prior to pulling a 180 and re-classifying who they are.

Does one actually want to be defined as a geek or nerd?  If those claiming to be one or the other actually read the definition of both from Merriam Webster, I’d argue that they would not.

• Nerd: “an unstylish, unattractive, or socially inept person; especially : one slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuit.”
• Geek: “a person often of an intellectual bent who is disliked.”

Neither term appears particularly attractive, nevertheless these geek/nerd posers will stop at nothing to let all who will listen know that they are indeed one or the other.

Geeks vs. Nerds from MastersInIT.org tries to define what makes one a geek or nerd once and for all:

“In the ongoing battle between geek and nerd, one must take sides, but how can this be done without a solid argument for both personas? We here at Masters In IT (a mix of nerds and geeks) decided that it’s time to lay all the cards on the table to determine which is better and answer the question some fear to know: Are you a geek, or a nerd?”

That said, if you want to resolve your identity crisis and better define who you are, below is a handy tip sheet for you.

Are you more of a nerd or geek?  What are your thoughts on nerds, geeks, and those who consider themselves one or the other? Share your opinions with us in the comments!

Author : Jeff Cormier –  http://about.me/jffcrmr

Shop at Amazon.com and support C4 Universe

The event will be held in San Francisco, likely at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, a location that Apple has utilized for previous announcements, according to sources close to the situation.

All Things D did not provide a release date for the next iPad but if Apple follows previous iPad announcements we could expect to see the new iPad in stores sometime in mid-March.

Hardware-wise, the iPad 3 is said to be pretty much what I’ve covered previously:

“A device similar in form factor to the iPad 2, but running a much faster chip, sporting an improved graphics processing unit, and featuring a 2048×1536 Retina Display — or something close to it.”

Other rumors have suggested a slightly thicker tablet to make room for a larger battery and 4G LTE capability, but I have my doubts on this one. Is it really Apple’s style to make a thicker (and perhaps less attractive) product?

Are you ready for the release of the next iPad? Will you purchase one?

The stories below are those we find interesting from sites we follow, but we aren’t so vain as to believe our selections are always the best.

If you have suggestions for stories to be included, submit them to us by email, or using the “Tip Us” section at the top of the site.  We’ll give you full credit for your submission!

10 Must-Read Tech Stories of the Day:

Instagram Founder’s Girlfriend Learns How To Code For V-Day, Builds Lovestagram [Tech Crunch]

• A Valentines Day gift of the highest order. Makes me smile.

Google building “home entertainment system” for wireless music streaming [Ars Technica]

• Yawn.

Why Being Sleepy and Drunk Is Great for Creativity [Wired]

• Not advocating drinking, or sleep deprivation, simply passing along results of a super study.

Bankrupt Kodak will stop producing cameras in 2012 [Venture Beat]

• It keeps getting worse for an American icon.

Google+ adds enhanced spam blocking feature [The Verge]

• As a heavy Google+ user, this please me.

Boost Your Working Memory to Make Time Fly [Lifehacker]

• Memory boost and speeding up time? Win-win.

FBI File Shocker: Steve Jobs Was a Willful, Mercurial Ex-Hippie and Computer Genius [AllThingsD]

• Interesting, but nothing exciting.

Waze adds hands-free option for traffic reporting, navigation [GigaOM]

• Love Waze and adding hands-free is tremendous.

5 Ways To Put The “Pro” In Profile Pics [Fast Company]

• Interesting ideas on profile pictures, a topic that fascinates me.

Path Makes Things Right [Daring Fireball]

• I love Path and their response to the overblown firestorm is first-class.

Let us know what you think on any of today’s stories in the comments section below!

Have a great evening.  Check back tomorrow for 10 more super stories you can’t have but not be reading with your eyes and tell a friend to do the same.

Author : Jeff Cormier –  http://about.me/jffcrmr

Shop at Amazon.com and support C4 Universe

Related articles

•  10 Must-Read Tech Stories of the Day – February 6, 2012 (c4universe.com)
•  10 Must-Read Tech Stories of the Day – February 6, 2012 (c4universe.com)