The mobile fashionista gets app-y

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Fashion bloggers and everyday fashionistas are using mobile apps such as ShopStyle: Mobile and Instagram to shop and to connect with the world through shared photos of their sartorial hits and misses.

Follow the links below to learn more about the hottest fashion apps:

Top 10 Must-Have Fashion Apps

10 Celeb-Endorsed Fashion Apps That We Can Actually Get Behind

Strike a Pose: Rachel Zoe Invests in Fashion App

Fashion App, Kaleidoscope, Unveils New Web Experience

Devil’s in the details for fashion apps

How shopping and fashion apps are taking over Facebook

SECURITY: More on data theft / breaches

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A few weeks ago, we gave you tips on how to protect your company's data from theft.  To learn more about the cost of data theft and other types of data breaches, read CNet's review of the 2010 Annual Study: U.S. Cost of a Data Breach which revealed that negligence is the cause of most data breaches. 

In December, we also blogged about smartphones being susceptible to viruses and malware.  With the increasing use of smartphones for business, poor mobile security is a key threat to the security of a company's valuable data.  A study conducted by research firm Canalys' study found that many businesses were not doing enough to protect their mobile phones, read more about the study here. 

Are you a business owner?  If so, is your company taking the appropriate measures to secure data?

Tech tips for a productive start to 2011

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As many of us resolve to make changes for the better in the new year, consider adding better productivity to the list!  Here are some great tips to help us maximize productivity at home and at work:

• Use a Daily Log to Keep Yourself Focused on Productivity
• Productivity All Around: Be sure to sync your tools!
• 10 Ways to Get the Most Out of Technology
• The 10 Best Productivity Apps For Business Professionals
• Create a productive home office:
  • How Much Storage Space Do You Need in Your Computer?
  • How Can I Speed Up My Aging Laptop?
  • Set up wireless internet access in your home
  • How To Expand a Wireless Network
  • How Can I Find Out If My ISP Is Limiting My Download Speed?
  • Office Design Tips to Increase Productivity
  • How to Find Your Ideal Desk Height
  • Manage Cables with an Old Coiled Phone Cord
  • Something to think about - Where Are You Most Productive When Working at Home? 
• For those who need to be productive while on the go:
  • Check out the best in mobile/portable devices - Laptop Magazine's Best of CES 2011,
  • Five Mobile Productivity Apps for iPhone, Android and BlackBerry
  • Productivity On the Go with Office Web Apps
•  See also:
  • Assign Email a 15-Minute Minimum to Avoid Unnecessary Checking
  • 15 tips to customize Gmail to increase productivity and organization at work

Make the most of your smartphone with shopping apps

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Smartphones are making our lives easier - even helping us to do our holiday shopping and save money in the process!  Depending on your cell phone model and service provider, there are a variety of downloadable applications (apps) available to help you make purchases, compare prices by scanning product barcodes, access coupon codes that can be used for in-store or online shopping, navigate shopping malls and even receive discounts based on your location using geo-location applications like Shopkick.  And of course, you can check out online product reviews on your cell phone while you are shopping in-store.  Watch CBS News' report on using apps for holiday shopping below:

See also: 

• Holiday shopping goes mobile, social
• Smartphones To Ring Up 28% Of Holiday Shopping
• Consumer Reports Holiday Poll: Shopping with mobile devices
• Seven Free Mobile Apps for Awesome Holiday Shopping

Social Media: Do your customers geo-location tools to "check-in" when they visit your business?

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According to a study conducted by the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project, 81% of cell phone owners use their phones to report where they are or to check someone else’s location.  The same number of survey respondents indicated that they use their cell phones to coordinate where they are to meet someone. 

If you own a store, restaurant, professional offices or any business where customers can visit your establishment, tapping into this trend may be a profitable way to market your business.   Using a geo-location or "check-in" services and mobile applications such as Foursquare, Gowalla, Brightkite, Loopt, Shopkick, Facebook Places and even Twitter may help new customers discover your business.  In addition, your loyal customers can leave invaluable positive feedback (yes, you do open yourself up for some negative feedback as well!) and you can further engage with them by offering discounts and other benefits.  Many of these services are "geo-social," combining social networking with their "check-in" service like the fast-growing Foursquare which give "mayorships" to the person checking in most often to their business and even offering freebies - with competition for "mayorships" and rewards to be had,  no wonder Foursquare is so popular.

Check out these articles to learn more about how you can use geo-location tools to market your business:

• Geolocation 101: How it works, the Apps, and Your Privacy
• Ways Small Businesses Can Offer Location Based Deals
• Cellphone in New Role: Loyalty Card
• How to Leverage Foursquare for Business
• How Powerful is Foursquare for Local Businesses?
• Use Facebook Places to Boost Business and Life Sales
• The Video Guide to Facebook Places for Business
• 3 Reasons Why Twitter's Geolocation Feature is Cool