Meet Sharon Vaknin, the How-To expert who helps all of us get the most out of our devices. Credit: Sharon Vaknin
Good morning, it’s Monday, February 10th. Whether you’re tech-savvy or tech-phobic, there is someone you should get to know.
Welcome to a new column on TechToday where I’ll introduce you to the very best tech journalists out there. They’ve perfected their craft, keep us up to date in a lightening fast industry, and help us make sense of our devices.
Meet Sharon Vaknin. The Senior Associate Editor and How-To expert at CNET has an unparalleled flair for helping people understand how their gadgets work.
Wondering how you can stretch your smartphone’s battery life as long as possible? Or hide your embarrassing Candy Crush activity on Facebook? Sharon has you covered.
For three years, Sharon has been offering up quick fixes and inspiring tech DIY projects at CNET, where she launched the company’s CNET How To section.
Beyond her work online, you can see Sharon breaking down tech specs in layman’s terms on the TV screens in Target stores, or sharing another one of her talents – cooking – in her own segment on PBS’s America’s Heartland. She’s also the author of a bestselling e-book, Mastering the Galaxy S4.
Sharon’s latest project is CNET’s newest tech show, The Fix.
In last week’s pilot episode, Sharon transforms a regular bedside table into a smart nightstand that wirelessly charges your phone, and effortlessly controls your bedroom lights.
What’s most remarkable is how she explains the sophisticated tech behind it all so simply. In four minutes, even if you’ve never heard of NFC or wifi-light bulbs, you will feel confident enough to take on the project yourself.
Sharon’s work uniquely captivates the tech-savvy without losing the tech-adverse, so whichever you are, you owe it to yourself to get to know her. You can follow Sharon on Twitter @SharonVak.
Here’s what’s happening in tech today.
Game Over: “Flappy Bird” Pulled from App Store by Developer
- The developer of the popular app “Flappy Bird” has removed the game from the App Store, saying he could no longer handle the pressure following its instant success [Mashable].
- Flappy Bird earned a reported $50,000/day in revenue for the developer, who says he was being attacked by critics calling the game “simple and unoriginal” [Ars Technica].
- Now that the app is no longer available, phones with the game installed are selling for thousands on eBay. Seriously. [The Verge]
Also Making Headlines This Morning
- Microsoft is reportedly working on an “Xbox Reader” app for Windows 8. The rumored app would follow similar Xbox-branded apps for videos and music [The Verge].
- This is cool: An MIT-startup is making business cards relevant again, with high-tech cards that digitize contact info with a tap [Mashable].
- Motorola is bringing its photo sharing service Droid Zap to all Android devices this week. Until now, the location-based social photo app was only available for Droid device users [Engadget].
- Wikipedia finds it’s voice: The online encyclopedia announced this weekend that it will begin archiving celebrities’ voices, so users will be able to look up how they sound [NPR].
- HTC is saying it will focus on cheaper smartphones as it aims to revive its struggling business [TNW].
- Would you purchase a device that ran both Android and Windows? Dual-OS machines are cropping up, but they likely won’t be enough to save a declining PC industry [CNET].
And Finally, the Problem with TV Coverage in an Internet-First Olympics
https://twitter.com/tonymanfred/status/432702016813813761
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Thanks starting your day with TechToday, a new morning roundup of the tech stories you’ll want to know each weekday. What would you like to see here tomorrow morning? Let me know by leaving a comment, or by reaching out to me on Twitter @DrewRapp.
You can find TechToday weekdays at today.drewrapp.com.
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