Happy 5th Anniversary eBay Mobile! (Spon)

Apple iPhone 3GS, Motorola Milestone and LG GW60 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Technology.  Multitasking.  Multitasking with Technology.  

Love it.  Hate it.  They're both here to stay.    Consumers typically shop, read, or search through multiple devices and platforms – whether PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone, starting the task on one device and continuing on another or use multiple devices at once to manage multiple tasks, shopping while watching TV, reading while listening to music, etc.  The list can go on.  I have seen many using their laptops with their smartphones (checking texts periodically) next to them as they are watching TV, while sitting with others in the same room doing the same things.  Is this our culture today?  It seems so.

Multitasking with technology has its pros and cons.  

Some Pros: I have been known to find great deals on eBay on  my Smartphone or laptop. (Did you know there is eBay Mobile?)  Oftentimes, you can save money or be one of the firsts to experience something before others.  

Some Cons: I have been known to walk in the mall, reading texts, checking emails or the latest shopping experience while walking with my hubby and son.  When I realized that, I tried to set limits for myself.  I thought of the Golden Rule: Treat others the way, you would like to be treated.  So when others are not multi-tasking with their pieces of technology, that is an example of myself doing the same.  I want to create memories not make time pass by with a blur.  I am not perfect oftentimes  I will be using my smartphone or my laptop (like I am doing now) in the presence of others.  Are you a multi-device user or do you usually stick to just one at a time?

So in honor of eBay Mobile's Anniversary, there is a Twitter Party:

Date: Wednesday, July 10
Time: 12-1pm PST
Party URL: www.ebay.com/mobile5 (Party URL will be live on the day of the event. Please note: you must participate from the URL to be elegible to win) 

Hashtag: #eBayMobile 
Prizes: $25 eBay gift cards given away every 5 minutes to a Tweeter who has RSVPd below and is actively participating in the party from the above URL.

RSVP URL: http://splashcreativemedia.com/2013/07/celebrate-the-ebay-mobile-5th-anniversary-twitter-party/ 

*FTC disclosure: This is a sponsored post written on behalf of Splash Creative Media for eBay Mobile. 

Must-Have Mobile Apps For Your Summer Road Trip

Summer is the perfect time for planning weekend getaways with the family, but instead of flying, many choose to hit the road! When getting ready for an adventurous road trip, you always want to be prepared and organized, especially when you're traveling with your loved ones. With the help of Smartphones, you can beat the stress of having to search for the next gas station or rest stop, and actually enjoy traveling on the road to your vacation spot.

GetPacked: packing list

When looking to hit the road this summer, it’s important to make sure no one leaves any essentials behind (all while making sure not to over-pack the car!) The GetPacked: packing list mobile app helps make packing for the whole family quick and easy.  With a checklist at the palm of your hand, you can choose from over 600 items to put on your list, with the ability to even add your own items.

Roadside America

Make the most of your trip by visiting unique regional monuments and museums along the way. A perfect way to break up the monotony of a long drive, the Roadside America mobile app helps you explore one-of-a-kind attractions nearby. The app even provides directions and detailed information so you won't get lost on your detour.

CheapOair

If you haven't booked a hotel—or have to make last minute changes to your travel plans—rest assure you can find a reputable respite with the CheapOair mobile app. Much like its popular website, the app provides user reviews, pricing information and the best deals of nearby hotels. The app’s 24/7 Live Chat option offers a CheapOair travel specialists is also available to assist in answering any questions or concerns you may have.

Gas Buddy

With the Gas Buddy mobile app, you never have to face the fear of running out of gas again. With this mobile app, users can get the best price per gallon around by using Gas Buddy, an app that displays nearby gas station prices, allowing users to choose the most affordable option in the area. You can also earn points by reporting updated gas prices for a chance to win a $250 gas card.

LocalEats

Driving for hours on end is sure to build up an appetite. While making your way through an unfamiliar city and looking for a restaurant the whole family will enjoy, the LocalEats app allows you to search through recommended restaurants that have been reviewed by local food critics. With so many restaurants to choose from across the country, the app filter restaurants by Top 100, cuisine, neighborhood, feature, savings, price range, hours, bar information, patio seating, vegetarian friendly, and more!

Expense Tracker

For road trippers on a budget, this is the best way to organize your expenses in a spreadsheet format. The Expense Tracker mobile app allows you to easily store your trip costs in several categories: client, expense type, and date. You can even export the data in CSV format, which can be used in a number of other applications.

License Plate Game

This fun app won’t track your journey with GPS or show you where to go, but it will make some of those long stretches of open road more fun. The License Plate Game mobile app takes the age-old license plate game to a whole new level, allowing for passengers (even the kids!) to avoid becoming restless on this memorable vacation and enjoy a classic game that can involve the whole family.

Top 5 Mobile Apps For Labor Day Weekend

The number of smart phone applications on the market is an incomprehensible number to download. Family reunions and quick getaways have become a Labor Day tradition for most people, but which apps work best for taking holiday trips? Grip’d.com, the company that develops Web and iPhone applications nationwide, spent several months testing various apps on each platform to see which ones make Gripd.com’s top five travel apps.

If you have an iPhone, Blackberry or Android phone, here’s a quick rundown of the best 5 travel apps:

• Weatherbug – The simplicity of Apple’s Weather app, but with a few extras for your phone. It’s the largest network of professional weather stations in the US and is the only source for truly live, local weather (as taken from their site).
• BePut - enables users to share their whereabouts with people they want to find them. Users simply use the application to locate their exact position and with a touch of a button, have the opportunity to send an email or text message to the desired recipient with their exact location. The recipient gets a special FindMe Key which is secure. The only guaranteed way to not get lost.
• Car Care & Roadside Emergencies - I don’t know about you, but I absolutely hate it when things don’t go according to the plan. You have this important presentation, and you end up with a flat tire in an express way. Or maybe you are trying to get home from a concert, and your car doesn’t start up. These situations happen all the time, and they usually tend to happen when you expect them the least. Now some of us have a knack for breaking and fixing things as far as cars are concerned.
• Waze - Waze is a social mobile application that enables drivers to build and use real-time road intelligence. The service includes constantly-updated road maps, alerts on traffic and accidents, and data providing users with the fastest route to get to wherever they need to go. Map and traffic updates are automatically collected and generated as users drive with Waze activated, but drivers can also actively report and update other users with what's happening on the road.
• Shazam – In the car for hours and can’t figure out the song playing on the radio? When you hear a song and wonder what it is, Shazam is there with the answer. Hold your iPhone to the music and within seconds Shazam will tell you the artist and track name. You can even download the song through iTunes on your iPhone.