Makeover Weekend for Reddit

So, I was doing my average computer stuff (like every super-exciting weekend of my life) and simultaneously browsing Facebook and Reddit while g-chatting all my friends in the world, and guess what I stumbled upon. (I know that made it seem like I was Facebooking, Redditing, and StumbleUponing, but no. I just casually, virtually stumbled upon something.)

It’s a Google Chrome extension. Called Shiny Reddit. (Downloadable here: http://www.shinyreddit.com/) I know, I know. How can Reddit possibly get any shinier?! It’s already so beautiful! (Actually, I believe it’s just beautiful enough to suck in thousands of souls every day and waste millions of hours across the world.) However, this extension’s main claim to fame is to be “sexy and functional!” What a combination! In the Internet world, usually things are one or the other. I guess this can be an exception.

After that enticing advertising, I just had to download it. Especially since I wasn’t doing anything better with my Saturday night. I’ll admit, when I first saw it, it was definitely sexy (I would prefer the term beautiful instead though. I don’t want to objectify the extension…), and so far, pretty functional too.

I know that they advertised fluidity as one of their main selling points, but I feel like it almost gives me motion sickness if I click around too much. I do like the infinite loading, very reminiscent of RES. That’s a good thing, though. The RES crew knew what they were doing. Andddd, then there’s the Fullscreen functionality. It’s always good to know that you can block away other things that might distract you from your distraction…And the social button! That’s great; now people can conveniently close the gap between Reddit and Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, and Tumblr. I guess we won’t be exclusive for long 😦 Although, I’ll be honest, Reddit has been broadening its horizons and expanding its audiences recently.

As for the extension, Shiny Reddit? You’ve done well. It looks gorgeous. It works. And now you’ve made me love Reddit just a little more for the extension.

So, congrats to the creators!

You’ve turned Reddit into Pinterest.

Now it’ll suck in even more people.

Thanks.

P.S. – Did I make my love-hate relationship with Reddit a little too obvious in this post?

Get it Fast: Chromecast

Apparently some people were getting sassy with me about writing about Apple. Sigh, I guess some of my friends just don’t realize who the real me is. For those who don’t know, I used to be a HUGE fan of Google. And by used to be, I mean, I still am. Obsessions don’t really die, they just fade a little… even the word fan was an understatement. I had ambitions, hopes, and dreams attached to Google. I bugged my dad for years for a Motorola Droid before it had even come out. Back in high school, I baked a cake for Google’s birthday and took it into my class to celebrate the grand occasion. I had this infatuation with always needing the newest Google product and using it before other people had even heard about it. (Ever heard of Google Health? Yeah. I know. I have; I used it.) Slowly over the years though, I learned to mask my passion for Google. I got a MacBook (wanted a Chromebook), and a few years later, I got an iPhone (sorry, Droid 2. Your battery just didn’t make the cut.).

That, however, did not stop me from buying Google Chromecast when I first heard about this year. First things first, the cost. Chromecast is only $35. That’s a perfectly appropriate amount to pay for watching TV shows actually on my TV screen. (Keep in mind, I just graduated from college. I didn’t have the luxury of a TV there. I totally would just Netflix and Hulu all my shows and watch them from the comfort of my twin-sized dorm bed.) However, as of August, I am a working woman, and I needed to up my standard of living. So now I watch my Netflix and Hulu shows from my futon on my TV from my Chromecast.

I’m pretty sure the next best thing about Chromecast is how amazingly simple it is to set it up. Three steps: (1) plug it in, (2) download the extension/app on your laptop or phone, (3) time to watch! As long as your device (laptop, phone, etc.) and the Chromecast fob are both connected to the same WiFi network, you’re good! I was going to watch one episode of Parks and Rec after setting up Chromecast, but it got set up so quickly, I had time to watch two episodes! That’s double the love for Ron Swanson and Leslie Knope!

Even though you need individual subscriptions to different services to watch using Chromecast, the good thing I’ve discovered is that I can also just click-and-drag any movie or video file into my Google Chrome tab, and next thing you know, it’s being beautifully broadcasted on my TV. It is LITERALLY. The best thing ever. (Bonus points if you recognize that reference.) You also don’t need to worry about whether or not Chromecast supports that service. Yeah, there are the popular options like Netflix and Hulu, but pretty much anything you can see on your laptop screen in a Chrome browser, you can cast it over to your TV. Seriously though, I very rarely spend 100% of my attention to what I’m watching on the TV. I usually have my phone and laptop out anyways. I may as well use my phone or laptop as my remote control and control my TV that way.

The only downside I’ve discovered (which is not really applicable to me) is that you don’t get to watch shows live. Or, for people who are big sports watchers, watch sports live. So, that’s a definite downside. (Unless you stream the game from your Chrome browser and watch it on your TV?) However, in that sense, it’s not really meant to be a replacement for cable TV, more so just an alternative to something like Apple TV ($99) or Roku ($49)…..not that I’m trying to prove something by giving the prices…coughChromecast is coolercough.

At the end of the day though, Chromecast seems to be the cheaper, convenient, and super cool option. I definitely enjoy it, and with $35 and this link, you could too 😉