Uber is Uber Cool
Uber is Uber Cool
Uber is an app (iPhone and Android) that allows you to request a black Towncar or SUV rather than a typical cab in the U.S. and Canada. When you use the app, it finds your location and allows you to order an “Uber”. You can see all of the black cars in your area on a map. You can simply pick the closest driver and the system will send you an alert on your cellphone to let you know the car is on its way. The service alert includes your driver’s name and his cell phone. You can even watch the vehicle coming toward your location on the map.
I spoke to a frequent user of Uber who told me that it normally takes about 5-10 minutes for the vehicle to arrive. The driver opens the car door for you. They usually have bottles of water, candy, gum, and other handy items. The price is a little more than a standard cab. However, she felt that the few dollar difference was well worth it.
When you reach your final destination, you do not have to worry about having cash, tipping, or even dealing with negotiations. Since your information is stored in the app, the receipt is simply sent to your email. They ask you to rate the drivers so that they can be sure they have excellent service. I was told that drivers need to maintain a 4.7 out of 5 star rating in order to continue driving for the company.
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How to Use iPhone to Connect Computer to the Internet
If you are like me, you may want to use your laptop when you travel. One way to gain access to the Internet is by using an iPhone’s Personal Hotspot feature. The cellular data connection on the phone will allow you to connect your laptop or desktop to the Internet.
To use this feature, go to the settings on the iPhone (3GS version or later) and chose general and then choose Personal Hotspot. Turn the Personal Hotspot to the “on” position. The Wi-Fi password will be listed on the iPhone under the Personal Hotspot area next to Wi-Fi password. The wireless connection should now be listed as a choice on the laptop or desktop computer. To connect to the iPhone, go to the Internet Access area on the computer and select the iPhone connection option. Then enter that password listed on the iPhone when requested.
When the personal hotspot is turned on it may incur charges so it is important to turn it off when not using it for temporary access. The Apple support website states that the Wi-Fi hotspot will turn off when no devices are detected, but I was told by a Verizon employee that there may be charges.  I was also told that the phone could not be used when in personal hotspot mode.
According to the Apple Support site, “While devices are connected to Personal Hotspot, the status bar will be blue and will indicate the number of connected users. The maximum number of supported connections may vary depending on your carrier or iPhone model.”
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Are QR Codes Successful?
I am currently reviewing a text about marketing. Schools hire me to do this on occasion. One thing that disappointed me was there was nothing in it about QR codes and some of the other newest marketing techniques. QR codes have been around for a while. If you have not noticed them, they are the little barcode-looking square that appears on newspapers billboards, flyers, and even cars.
While QR codes offer some great marketing opportunities, they have not been as successful as other techniques. In the article QR Codes are Dead! Long Live QR Codes, the author stated, “One of the most popular Tumblr blogs of 2012 is Pictures of People Scanning QR Codes. If you click through to the site you will see that it is empty. The joke here? No one scans QR codes (short for Quick Response code). It is obvious that QR codes have a bad rep and haven’t gained much traction on the consumer end of the equation.”
QR codes have been utilized well by some companies. I am currently reading the book Neuromarketology by Brian Fabiano. He is a marketing guru who was wise enough to put a QR code at the end of each of his chapters with the note, “scan to learn more!” Other examples of successful QR code use include:
For more information about how to use QR codes, check out the following articles: