It wasn’t too long ago that credit card purchases required a carbon imprint of your card. Today, credit cards can be scanned almost anywhere if you have an attachment for your iPhone, iPad, or Android device. Purveyors like Square provide credit card readers for common mobile devices.

Making credit card purchases is not the only way tablets have changed business. It has in some cases fundamentally influenced the way many businesses operate. Here are a few examples of companies that have come up with some innovative uses for tablets.

New York City’s West Village is home to De Santos a high-end Italian restaurant where the wait staff use iPads to take orders swipe credit cards. The owners hope this will minimize human mistakes and streamline the ordering process.

At Puma stores in Asia, Africa, and Europe, customers can use iPad stations called The Creative Factory to design their own sneakers and share them with people around the globe. They can also view designs from other creators.

At SHOPBOX, an addition to the DeKalb Market in Brooklyn, you won’t find a store or clerks. Instead, a shipping container with an iPad mounted on the side provides shoppers the ability to browse the merchandise, and then send the items they want via text message  to a number printed on the display glass. The items are then shipped to the shopper’s house.

People will continue to find innovative uses for tablets. A recent study by AMI-Partners found that tablet adoption is likely to grow in small- and medium-sized  businesses by 1,000% by 2015

An email represents a very stripped down form of communication as physical cues and voice inflection are absent. Because of this, starting and ending an email in the right tone is key. If you open an email to a possible client with “Hey Joe,” it may come off as too informal, where as if you close an email to a close friend with “In highest regards,” they may think you’re being cynical. Here are some tips to consider in order to avoid giving the wrong impression.

Starting an Email

Informal

When composing an email to a close friend or friendly acquaintance, strongly contemplating propriety is not a necessity. This person knows you, so simply opening your message with their name or a short “Hi” followed by their name should do the trick.

Formal

Composing an email to someone you don’t know well or who is above you in any social hierarchy can be more challenging. Opening the email with the classic “Dear” and then recipient’s name is always a sure shot. However, feel free to communicate subtle flair with a “Good Afternoon,” or “Good Evening,” depending on the time of day. This expresses respect without being overly ritualistic.

Respectful

When writing to an unknown institution of high importance, make sure and write in a respectful tone. Opening your letter with “To whom it may concern,” will let the audience know you hold them in high regard.

Closing an Email

Informal

As in the opening, if you are closing an email to close friend, merely signing your name or adding, “Love,” can be an acceptable ending. You can also add “Thanks,” depending on the context of the email.

Formal

In writing a closing to an individual whom you wish to pay respect, signing off with “sincerely” or “yours truly” is a fine way of demonstrating regard. While these aren’t of the highest formality, they do communicate a certain level of propriety.

Respectful

Ending an email to a more respected recipient can be challenging, as it is the last impression of your communication that they receive. Depending on the source, using “sincerely” is still acceptable. However, a more formal ending such as “with warm regards” or even just “regards” may be the more professional route to take.

Though most of these tips may appear as common knowledge, it’s crucial to determine the nature of your email, the relationship you share with the receiver and message you want to communicate when composing an email. Remembering to choose your words wisely will ensure that your boss has no fear of romantic inclinations while also confirming to your friends that you aren’t a robot.

We hear about people filing lawsuits against companies and individuals quite often and it’s usually very serious news. The tech industry is no stranger to this, but from time to time we will hear about a lawsuit that tickles the funny bone. The following list of a few of the most interesting lawsuits in the tech industry over the past decade is unbelievable.

Pentium Allergy? – In 2002, a Dutch woman filed a lawsuit against Intel because she said she got hives from her Pentium processor. However, the 486-base processor did not have the same affect on her. The case never went to court. I suppose no one was “itching” to take it.

Lead into Danger by Google? - In 2009, a woman attempted to sue Google for the poor walking directions she was given. She followed the directions onto a narrow dark highway that had no sidewalk or shoulder and was subsequently hit by a car. Google “dodged” the lawsuit and the case was dismissed.

Up With Star Wars Galaxies, Down With Sony! - In 2010, distraught fans of the Star Wars Galaxies, a once highly popular MMORPG, tried to file a class-action lawsuit against Sony for shutting down the game. The case will most likely never go to court. I guess the “force” was not strong with the litigious fans.

Failed Mafia Wars Romance Ends With a Lawsuit – A woman sued a man over for damages from their broken Mafia Wars romance. After meeting and falling in love over the Facebook game, Mafia Wars, the woman spent thousands of dollars on game credits and gifts for her new love interest. After the relationship ended, she sued him for the money spent. Both the relationship along with the case are now “sleeping with the fishes.”

If you have heard of any interesting lawsuits, let us know by commenting on this blog or on one of our other social media accounts!