Custom Software Development Blog

SYDCON Blog

We provide updates on technical news and offer suggestions on how custom programming can benefit your business.

Blog Feature

How to Add E-Commerce To Your Existing Website During Covid-19

By: Jennifer Devitt
May 1st, 2020

Covid-19 is affecting over 306 million Americans, and 90% of the US population is under a stay at home order making the demand for e-commerce critical. In this blog we explain your options in adding e-commerce to your existing website.

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SYDCON, Inc. Named A Leading Chicago Developer by Clutch

By: Jennifer Devitt
March 19th, 2019

 In today’s multi-channel world, ecommerce is becoming a large area of B2B businesses.  can be reached by consumer’s fingertips on their smart devices, so for businesses to be competitive they must have strong digital channels to consumers. At SYDCON, we specialize in custom software development, iOS applications, and eCommerce development. We are so excited to announce that we were ranked on Clutch’s press release as one of the leading eCommerce developers in Chicago!

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SYDCON, Inc. Named Among Top 1000 Companies on Clutch!

By: Jennifer Devitt
November 30th, 2018

Software development is not typically viewed as a human-focused industry, but at SYDCON, Inc., we know it is personal.

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5 Mistakes Marketing Agencies Make When Outsourcing Web Development

By: Dave Devitt
August 9th, 2018

For marketing agencies, offering web development services to your clients is one of the best ways to stand out in a crowded field. If you don’t have the in-house expertise to develop websites yourself, however, then you’ll most likely be looking to outsource the bulk of the work. If you don’t have experience working with a development partner, however, it’s easy to fall prey to some common outsourcing mistakes. Below, we’ll go over 5 issues that you should avoid when partnering with a web development company.

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Is Outsourcing Web Development the Right Move for Your Agency?

By: Dave Devitt
August 7th, 2018

As a marketing agency, your job is to deliver clients the compelling and persuasive campaigns they need to attract and retain customers. As digital marketing becomes increasingly important, your clients will be looking for agencies that can provide a “one-stop shop” service: executing both the campaign and its online and mobile presence. This growing shift towards digital marketing might have you wondering whether you should outsource development work to a third party or build a team in-house. In this article, we’ll go over the four most important factors that influence a marketing agency’s decision to outsource their web development obligations.

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What is Custom-Made Software?

By: Dave Devitt
August 2nd, 2018

A growing number of organizations are discovering that custom software can be a key differentiator for their business. 87 percent of IT decision-makers agree that custom software applications are driving innovation in business technology, and a majority of them are more likely to use custom software over pre-built alternatives. If you don’t have a lot of experience with custom software development, you might be wondering: what is custom software exactly, and how can it benefit your business? This article will go over everything you need to know about building custom software applications.

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How to Add E-Commerce To Your Existing Website

By: Dave Devitt
July 31st, 2018

E-commerce continues to reach new heights. Customers in the U.S. spent more than $450 billion on retail purchases online in 2017. The increased convenience and lower overhead costs make e-commerce a winning proposition for U.S. shoppers and businesses alike. While the benefits are undeniable, e-commerce websites have a lot more going on than meets the eye. In this post, we’ll discuss the top considerations when adding e-commerce capabilities to an existing website.

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Custom Enterprise Software: Everything You Need to Know

By: Dave Devitt
July 26th, 2018

Custom software is increasingly popular among enterprises for its flexibility, scalability, and reduced cost. Whether you’ve already decided that custom software is the right path forward or you’ve just started your research, this guide will tell you everything you need to know.

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Custom Software Costs: 4 Tips for an Accurate Custom Software Estimate

By: Dave Devitt
July 24th, 2018

The potential return on investment of custom software is very high, making the costs well worth your while. Before starting the project, however, you first need to lay the groundwork so that you can have a better estimate of what the final expenses will actually be.

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Choosing an Outsourced Development Company: 7 Red Flags to Watch Out For

By: Dave Devitt
July 19th, 2018

Outsourcing your custom software development is a necessity for companies who don’t have the in-house expertise, but it’s also a majorly important decision. For every knowledgeable, experienced, and professional development partner, there’s a company that cuts corners, overpromising while underdelivering.

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10 Must-Have Features to Prioritize in Enterprise App Development

By: Dave Devitt
July 17th, 2018

Just like in real life, having priorities is important to custom software development. Trying to create a single piece of “Swiss Army knife” software that can do everything for you is a recipe for disaster. Software applications that try to do too much are often bloated, inefficient, and unappealing to use.

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Custom Enterprise Software Features You Think You Need (But Really Don’t)

By: Dave Devitt
July 11th, 2018

From flexibility and scalability to complete control over the development process, custom software has much to recommend for it. Yet the power that custom software affords can sometimes cause companies to bite off more than they can chew. According to a study of 100 custom-developed software applications, 45 percent of features were never actually used.

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Enterprise Automation: Choosing Between Packaged vs. Custom-Built Enterprise Software

By: Dave Devitt
July 11th, 2018

In an increasingly competitive and technology-driven business landscape, companies are turning to automation to become more efficient and gain the edge over their rivals. According to consulting firm McKinsey & Company, business automation technologies, such as robotic process automation (RPA), can see an ROI of 30 to 200 percent in the first year alone.

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6 Common Pitfalls of Custom Development Projects (and How to Avoid Them)

By: Dave Devitt
June 5th, 2018

Custom software development can bring advantages such as flexibility and innovation to businesses of all sizes and industries. Nevertheless, there are a number of common pitfalls that can affect the success of a custom development project. In this article, we'll discuss the six most frequent problems encountered during custom development projects, and how you can proactively take steps to avoid them.

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Project Rescue 101: How to Get Your Development Project Back on Track

By: Dave Devitt
June 1st, 2018

While there are many benefits of using custom software, it can also be risky if you don't find the right development partner or if you fall victim to an unforeseen circumstance. According to a 2016 survey, 55 percent of companies reported that at least one of their IT projects had failed in the previous 12 months.

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The Top 9 Cybersecurity Threats in 2018 to Watch Out For

By: Dave Devitt
May 29th, 2018

Effective cybersecurity is crucial in the effort to protect your sensitive customer and enterprise data. Part of what makes cybersecurity so difficult is that the threat landscape is constantly changing, so you need to refresh your knowledge at regular intervals. In this article, we'll discuss nine of the most pressing security threats in 2018 and beyond.

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5 Key Steps to Planning a Custom Software Development Project

By: Dave Devitt
May 17th, 2018

Deciding that you want to pursue a custom software development project, instead of buying out-of-the-box software, is only half the battle. You also need to engage in careful planning to make sure that the final product will live up to your expectations.

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Custom Software ROI: How to Get the Most out Your Investment

By: Dave Devitt
May 11th, 2018

No matter what kind of software product you decide is right for your needs, you want to make sure that you get the highest return on investment. In this article, we'll discuss what steps you should take before purchasing custom software in order to make it a successful and valuable project.

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7 Common Development Problems Marketing Agencies Face (& How to Fix Them)

By: Dave Devitt
May 10th, 2018

Businesses are always looking for the perfect marketing campaign for their next product launch or company facelift. This means that it's increasingly difficult for marketing agencies to stand out and win clients. One of the most in-demand skills that marketing firms can offer is web, software and mobile app development. Before you start offering development services to your clients, however, you need to make sure that you address the seven potential challenges below.

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8 Qualities to Look for in a Web Development Company

By: Jennifer Devitt
April 26th, 2018

Finding a web development partner is easy, but finding the right web development partner for your company's needs and objectives is a lot more challenging. Unlike in fields such as engineering, certifications aren't widely recognized in web development, which makes it harder to evaluate potential partners. What's more, there are thousands of web development companies, from small businesses specializing in e-commerce sites to large agencies that run digital marketing campaigns. In order to locate the web development firm that will be the best fit for your company, evaluate your potential partners using the eight qualities below.

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7 Ways Working With a Development Firm Gives Marketing Agencies a Competitive Edge

By: Jennifer Devitt
April 24th, 2018

More and more, companies are looking to partner with marketing agencies that can not only plan and run a campaign for them, but also create a website or app to accompany it. To meet this demand, marketing firms have several options: hire in-house developers, work with freelancers or partner with a development firm. Below, we'll discuss seven reasons why working with a development company is a smart choice for so many marketing agencies.

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Development Firms vs. Freelancers: How Digital Marketing Agencies Can Choose

By: Dave Devitt
April 20th, 2018

More and more, clients are asking digital marketing agencies not only to craft their marketing campaigns, but also to develop the accompanying websites and applications. Even though many marketing firms don't traditionally offer these services, being able to go the extra mile is increasingly important to winning your clients' business.

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Why Marketing Agencies Should Partner With a Web Development Firm

By: Dave Devitt
April 17th, 2018

Digital marketing is one of the hottest marketing trends right now, as companies seek more effective ways of capturing and retaining their audience's attention in a world of smartphones, search engines and social media. By fully leveraging digital technologies, you can help your clients create better marketing campaigns.

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Secure Software Development: Third-Party Code Checks

By: Dave Devitt
March 5th, 2018

One of the most commonly cited benefits of custom software development is that it has better security than out-of-the-box solutions. Since pre-built software has many more users, finding and exploiting a vulnerability has the potential to be much more profitable for hackers than doing the same with a custom-built solution. However, you should not let the idea of “security through obscurity” lull you into complacency. Secure software development practices should be a top priority in any project. In particular, custom e-commerce websites—with their stored payment card data and other personal information—represent a highly valuable target for digital thieves.

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Factors to Consider When Building Your Custom E-Commerce Website

By: Dave Devitt
February 23rd, 2018

Whether you have unique business needs or you want greater flexibility and control, you’ve already decided that a custom e-commerce website is the right choice for your business. Making this choice is only the first step, though; you still need to make sure that the site will be built according to your requirements and specifications. Your meeting with a e-commerce development company will go much more smoothly if you’ve already thought about the most important factors well in advance. Below, we’ll discuss the most important considerations for you to think over before writing a single line of code.

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How Much Does a Custom E-Commerce Website Cost?

By: Dave Devitt
February 22nd, 2018

You already have the sense that a custom e-commerce site platform is likely the right choice for your situation — now let's talk price. Usually, it's true that "you get what you pay for" when it comes to e-commerce site development. The good news is that there are custom software development partners to fit every need and budget. However, it's not always clear which partners are the best fit for your situation.

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SYDCON is among the top custom software development firms in Chicago

By: Jennifer Devitt
February 21st, 2018

For well over a decade, SYDCON has provided both top-tier technical expertise and a personal understanding of the customization software requires to be successful. With this two-fold belief in code and collaboration, we’re proud to say that our passion and hard work pays off time after time as we form long-lasting relationships with our clients. And now, thanks to Clutch, you can see these results in a new light!

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Why Your Agency Needs a Custom E-Commerce Website Development Partner

By: Dave Devitt
February 9th, 2018

Marketing agencies occupy a uniquely important position in any company's business strategy. As an agency, your job first and foremost is to communicate the value proposition of your clients, so that their customers will feel confident in their buying decisions. By making it much easier for customers to purchase goods and services, e-commerce platforms are one of the most important ways that companies have to interact with their audience. Despite the many benefits of having an e-commerce website, however, few marketing agencies have the kind of technical chops that are required to build such a website from the ground up.

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Shopify vs. a Custom E-Commerce Website

By: Dave Devitt
February 1st, 2018

Your e-commerce store is one of the most important parts of your website. Not only does adding e-commerce functionality to your site make it easier for existing customers to place an order, it also enables entirely new audiences to find and purchase your offerings, no matter what time it is or where they are in the world.

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WooCommerce vs. a Custom e-Commerce Website

By: Dave Devitt
January 19th, 2018

If your business model involves selling products over the internet, determining how best to build your e-commerce store is one of the most important decisions that you will make. For many companies, particularly those that are already using WordPress to host their website, the WooCommerce plugin for WordPress seems like an obvious choice. First released in 2011, WooCommerce is now used by thousands of e-commerce websites, from small businesses to large corporations. According to the WooCommerce website, the plugin now powers roughly 30 percent of all online stores.

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WordPress e-Commerce Websites: When Free Isn't Really Free

By: Dave Devitt
January 15th, 2018

WordPress is by far the most popular content management system for websites in the world — and for good reason. According to recent estimates, WordPress powers roughly 75 million websites and is poised to only grow even further in the future. Of course, one of the biggest selling points for using WordPress for your website is that it's "free." The WordPress code is open source and free to use for any purpose, including commercial websites. This stems from the fact that WordPress was originally developed as a community project, rather than by any single organization or individual. However, just because the WordPress platform is free to get started with doesn't mean that you can get a "free" website out of using it.

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Custom Software Development vs. Packaged Software

By: Jennifer Devitt
January 12th, 2018

The "build vs. buy" question is one that stumps many organizations, especially those on the smaller side that are looking to grow their business in the short and medium term. On the surface, out-of-the-box software sounds appealing due to the supposed convenience and cost savings it can provide. However, it's not the right solution for every organization. If you ultimately go with a packaged software solution, you have to come to terms with the fact that it almost certainly won't fit all your requirements and form a plan for how you'll address these shortcomings. Before you buy a ready-made software application, ask yourself the five questions below and compare the pros and cons of both alternatives — to make sure you find the best solution for your unique business problems.

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Packaged Software vs. Custom Software: 7 Problems With Packaged Software

By: Dave Devitt
January 10th, 2018

Out-of-the-box software is an appealing option for many companies, which are attracted to its convenience and ease of use. While these benefits are real, it's also true that packaged software comes with its own set of downsides that you may not realize before you purchase it. Before making the final decision between using a pre-built or a custom software solution, you should be aware of the seven problems discussed below.

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Using Custom Software Development to Make Your Business Idea a Reality

By: Dave Devitt
January 8th, 2018

Thomas Edison supposedly said that genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration—but what if you could pass that perspiration off to someone else? Unfortunately, many small businesses with big ideas are forced to stop in their tracks because they don't have the technical skills or ability to implement them.

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SYDCON Will Be at GEMS This January

By: Jennifer Devitt
January 5th, 2018

For SYDCON, programming isn't just what we do at the office; it's a passion that we want to share with the community. If you're a dedicated reader of this blog, you'll remember that, for the past two years, SYDCON has been at the GEMS (Girls in Engineering, Math & Science) conference: first as an expo participant, and last year as a session host. We're happy to announce that SYDCON will be back at GEMS in January for another year of this great program.

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Custom Software Development vs. Temp Agencies: Which Is Right for You?

By: Jennifer Devitt
January 3rd, 2018

Whether it's a vacancy from a recently departed employee or a sudden surge in work, every company has known a time where it was too busy for its own good. To address these problems, many organizations have two options available: streamline processes (which can be easily done using custom software) or hire temp workers. Despite the title of this article, there's never a binary choice between choosing to build custom software or hiring a temp agency. In fact, there are certain situations where it makes sense for you to use one, both or neither. The trick is learning how to use both of them together in concert, as opposed to in conflict.

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How Custom Software Development Can Revolutionize the Way You Sell: Project Example

By: Dave Devitt
December 20th, 2017

There are countless benefits of using custom software development for your organization. In addition to giving you better flexibility, security and control over your IT environment, custom software can often be a better fit for your company's style and needs. Despite these advantages, however, many companies are still unaware or uncertain of how custom software development can benefit their business processes. To help clear up some common questions and misconceptions, SYDCON is providing some examples of previous projects that it's completed so that you can get an idea of how companies are using custom software, and what custom software development can do for your business. In the following article, you'll find an overview of how SYDCON helped a medical supply e-commerce company revolutionize their business by giving them a new way to make sales.

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Business Process Automation: Project Examples

By: Dave Devitt
December 18th, 2017

From reducing errors to cutting down on wait time, business process automation can bring your organization a variety of benefits. If you're considering using business process automation for your company, the following two SYDCON projects are excellent examples of what you can accomplish.

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Business Process Automation: Is a Semi-automated Process Right for You?

By: Dave Devitt
December 11th, 2017

Automation is one of the hottest topics in digital transformation and business process management right now — but automation is only valuable for your business as long as it leads to optimization of your processes. In some cases, what makes the most sense is not fully automating everything, but leaving some steps and processes to be completed manually. Semi-automated processes are those that benefit from automation during certain steps of the process while requiring other steps to be completed by human beings. So what are the situations best suited for semi-automated processes, and how can you decide whether such a solution is the right choice for you?

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6 Reasons to Avoid Using a Temp Agency

By: Jennifer Devitt
December 6th, 2017

When you're running a business, things don't always go according to plan. People get fired, get sick, or go on maternity leave or vacation. On a more positive note, you might be experiencing rapid growth thanks to a new client asking for a big order. Any of these scenarios can leave you with a sudden, immediate need to temporarily cover a position or two.

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The ROI of Custom Software Development

By: Dave Devitt
December 4th, 2017

Even after you've verified the need for custom software and selected the right custom software development company, it can be a challenge to assess just how the new solution is going to affect your business processes. Of course, every company that spends money on a custom software application does so in the hopes that it will see net benefits from the transaction, but determining the extent of those benefits isn't always easy. There are two matters when it comes to calculating the ROI of custom software development: the mathematical balance of profits against losses, and the "return on effort," which is about the "soft" factors and intangibles that can't always be pinned down with financial figures. Below, you'll find a discussion of both questions.

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Business Process Automation: How to Start?

By: Dave Devitt
November 27th, 2017

Business process automation offers a wealth of benefits, from reduced errors to happier customers. In fact, you've already decided that automation is the right choice for some of your business processes — you just don't know what you need to get things going. As with any major initiative, business process automation requires a lot of forethought and planning if you want to pull it off successfully. If you feel like you're stuck at square one, the following article will give you a roadmap for how to begin implementing and executing your vision for automation.

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11 Benefits of Automating Manual Processes

By: Dave Devitt
November 21st, 2017

To streamline their workflows, become more productive, and cut costs, an increasing number of businesses are choosing to automate their manual processes as a result of the pain points that they've experienced. Whether it's wasted time or too many errors, every company has struggled with one or more of the problems in the list below. If you find yourself nodding along with more than one issue, automating your processes will likely be a valuable and worthwhile investment.

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Should I Use an IT Temp Agency?

By: Jennifer Devitt
November 17th, 2017

That deadline you've been dreading is just around the corner, or you've just found a security flaw that needs to get fixed right away. Your employees are already up to their ears in work, but you just need that extra bit of manpower to tackle this surprise project. Once you've installed the patches, fixed the bugs or implemented the changes, you won't have any more need to keep someone around.

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The Pros and Cons of Using a Temp Agency

By: Jennifer Devitt
November 16th, 2017

With your employees going on vacation, having babies, getting sick or leaving the company, things are beginning to pile up and you aren't finishing the jobs you need. What's more, you don't have enough staff who are cross-trained to fill in the gaps.

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How to Ensure Your Custom Software is Secure

By: Dave Devitt
November 13th, 2017

Despite news of devastating cyber attacks seemingly every other week, cybersecurity remains an afterthought for many IT professionals. In far too many cases, security falls by the wayside during the software development life cycle for custom projects, which means that these companies are setting themselves up for the legal, financial and reputational damages of a cyber attack. It's not enough to rely on your belief in "security through obscurity" by hoping that no malicious actors will take notice of your software. As soon as you've decided to develop a custom-built software application rather than use an off-the-shelf solution, you need to understand what steps you need to take to make the application secure. Whether you're doing the development in-house or using an outsourcing firm, here's an in-depth overview of what you need to know. It's time to start thinking "Secure Software Development" instead of just "Software Development."

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Using Custom Software Development to Manage Business Growth

By: Dave Devitt
November 10th, 2017

No two companies are alike, which means that it's impossible for any one piece of software to meet the needs of every organization. What's more, businesses must inevitably change, wanting different things as they grow, scale, mature, and adapt to different conditions in the market and industry. For these reasons, it's essential that you select the software that best fits your circumstances, requirements, and goals at this point in time. Many companies choose to manage their business growth by partnering with a software development firm to create a custom solution tailor-made to their specific needs.

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Onshore vs. Offshore: Benefits of U.S.-Based Custom Software Development Firms

By: Jennifer Devitt
November 1st, 2017

Choosing to outsource your development work to a custom software development firm is one thing—but are you planning on contracting an onshore team or an offshore team in another country? Although cost is often a driving factor in outsourcing, you need to make sure that your choice of team is worth the money that you'll be saving up front.

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12 Benefits of Custom Software Development

By: Dave Devitt
October 25th, 2017

Custom software development enables businesses to create a customized software solution built to solve their unique needs. Because every business is different, custom software development has grown in popularity over recent years as an alternative to boxed software solutions. Although custom software development has some upfront costs & work required to build this solution, it provides significant benefits to a business in the long run. Below you'll find 12 key benefits to using a custom software development solution in your business. 

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Business Growth Management: Scaling Your Revenue

By: Dave Devitt
October 18th, 2017

Ever since the first machines were rolled out on the factory floor, automation has promised to radically transform the way that you manage business growth and serve your customers. Using automation through custom software development can both help you grow by getting more customers and also get more revenue from your existing customers.

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Business Growth Management: Process Automation

By: Dave Devitt
October 11th, 2017

Too many businesses these days have too much to do and too little time with which to do it. Since there's not enough hours in the day to handle everything on their plate, work piles up, backlogs begin to swell, and errors become more commonplace.

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How to Select the Right Custom Software Development Company

By: Jennifer Devitt
October 4th, 2017

Many businesses know what they need in terms of a custom software development solution, but they aren't sure how to make it or how to tackle such a project. If you're struggling with how to get started finding a custom software development partner, here's an overview of the key points you need to know.

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It's SYDCON launch day. Come check out our new site.

By: Jennifer Devitt
June 25th, 2017

Happy Monday! It's an exciting day here at SYDCON. We are finally ready to launch our new website. 

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A Brief Introduction to HTML

By: Jennifer Devitt
February 27th, 2017

In January 2017 SYDCON was invited to attend the GEMS conference held at a local D155 high school, Prairie Ridge. The conference was held in order to excite and expose middle school girls to different opportunities in STEM. SYDCON was asked to teach a brief 20-minute session about software development. Naturally, we chose to focus our session around HTML and taught the young programmers the basics of how to create a simple static website. Below is the handout we created to pass out to the students.

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SYDCON in the community. A recap of GEMS 2017 and Basic HTML education.

By: Jennifer Devitt
February 6th, 2017

Computer Science Education. We’ve discussed the importance of it here on the blog before. We have also discussed the importance of attracting more girls and women to the field. As you may have read here before, SYDCON is a proud sponsor of school district 47 & 155, specifically for the GEMS (Girls in Engineering, Math & Science) program. I am honored to be a mentor within the program.

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Responsive Web Page Design and Proper Structure Using the Most Popular Bootstrap Framework

By: Jennifer Devitt
January 24th, 2017

Bootstrap CSS is a collection of predefined classes for responsive web development. You just need to use a particular class to an element on the page.

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Weight loss with AI, multi-factor biometric fusion, smart hairbrushes, pet collars, showers and telemedicine in tech news.

By: Jennifer Devitt
January 3rd, 2017

1. Weight loss app with AI? Enter the app Noom which uses AI (Artificial Intelligence) to sort thru a user's logs of calories and exercise to make personalized suggestions. 79% of users of Noom report having achieved weight loss and 25% of users reported losing more than 10% of their body weight.

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A Brief Introduction to Game Theory: The MiniMax Algorithm

By: Jennifer Devitt
December 14th, 2016

Artificial Intelligence

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Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at SYDCON! Are you ready for our Thankful Challenge?

By: Jennifer Devitt
November 22nd, 2016

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving?! How did that happen? With the mild temperatures we've had here in Chicago (well at least until this week anyway, brr) that Thanksgiving has snuck up on us. It seems that's happening more and more these last few years as stores go from Halloween to Christmas in the blink of an eye. Sure, there may not be many Thanksgiving decorations or songs but here at SYDCON, we believe in the importance of being thankful and counting your blessings. Over the last few years, here on the blog, we have participated in the Thankful Challenge which I learned about over on my friend Gini Dietrich's blog SpinSucks. Since then, we have both done variations of the challenge. If you follow the link to SpinSucks above, you can see Gini's 2016 version.  As for me, I went ahead and made my list.  I tend to get distracted during my ten-minute window dwelling on each thing I can think of so my list tends to be short for 10 minutes. This year, I came up with 30 things, I am thrilled to share some highlights with you below.

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Nintendo NES Classic, Visual Studio, Twitter abuse, Secret Code and Google PhotoScan in tech news.

By: Jennifer Devitt
November 15th, 2016

It's Wednesday so that means it's tech news day. In the near future, you will be seeing some changes here at the SYDCON blog. We will be going back to more industry specific posts and cycle in some posts from our actual developers. As many of you can imagine, it's easy to hit a phase of writer's block and veer off topic, or you get swamped with day to day business and then sometimes the blog gets lost in the shuffle. Our hope is to have a new blog cycle in effect starting around the first of the year, so stayed tuned! As we round out the end of 2016 expect to see our annual Thanksgiving, holiday tech gifts guide, and holiday posts.  In the meantime, let's see what kind of tech news I have for you this week.

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Digital transition, emojis, tech advances, shopping via Instagram, digital measuring tape, smoking robot and chat stories in tech news.

By: Jennifer Devitt
November 1st, 2016

Whose ready for some tech news Wednesday? Perhaps you need a break from the political news? But I know you don't need a break from Cubs baseball news!! What a game last night, here's hoping there is some fuel left in the bats and that Hendricks can do what he has done all year. Let's Go! Now onto tech news, yep you guessed it, I have some for you. Let's take a look.

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Kids tech, IBM Watson, HomeKit, 9 tech trends, iOS update, Kollecto and Mac's versus PC's in todays tech news.

By: Jennifer Devitt
October 25th, 2016

It's raining, it's pouring and it's dark and gloomy outside. So, what better way to distract yourself than by reading some quality tech news? Well, since it's Wednesday, your in luck because I have some quality tech news to share with you. Let's see what I dug up this week.

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Make Siri smarter, blood sugar monitor, HomeKit, robo cradle, cycling gear, smart oven and tech to-do list in tech news.

By: Jennifer Devitt
October 18th, 2016

Happy Wednesday! Wow, we are past the midpoint of October and we still have 70-degree weather in the Chicago area. I'll take it! I'm looking forward to this evening and no, not just because of the debate, Cubs game or It's a Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. Tonight I have the honor of attending a women's mentor session for area high school girls interested in STEM! Ok, I know you came here for tech news. It's actually been a busy week for it. In fact, I had to weed through what I found for the week already (and it's only Wednesday morning) so has to not post tech news overload! Let's see what I have for you today, shall we?

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Galaxy Note 7, tech jobs, smart homes, airports and President Obama in todays tech news.

By: Jennifer Devitt
October 11th, 2016

It's Wednesday, whose ready for some tech news? Yes, I found some good quality tech news buried by the political news and the Cubs news. Did you hear, the Cubs won the NLDS! Woohoo Go Cubs Go! Anyway, let's see what tech news I have in store for you today.

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Women in tech, baseball technology, Apple in healthcare, personal Google, Wall-E, smart clothing and more in tech news.

By: Jennifer Devitt
October 4th, 2016

It's Wednesday and October is here. Tech news will inevitably start shifting to holiday e-commerce news soon, and of course, there is politics. Social media is having a major influence on politics, but we won't cover that here just to be safe.  This week, I actually have a lot of tech news for you. Shall we take a look at what I have for you?

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iPhone 8, medication monitoring, car tech, Note 7 safety, IBM Watson and Apple History in tech news.

By: Jennifer Devitt
September 27th, 2016

It's Wednesday, so you know what that means, right? It's time for tech news. It seems as though politics has flooded the news after Monday's Presidential Debate. In recent years debate and election news, in general, has dominated social media news,  but no worries, I have some reading material for you.

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Business Incubator, macOS Sierra, Allo, car tech, Nike, bio computing and AP Computer Science in tech news.

By: Jennifer Devitt
September 20th, 2016

Happy Wednesday from the stormy Chicago area! As I type the sky is getting very black outside my window! Yikes, fall weather. But, it's Wednesday, so that must mean it's tech news day. I have my usual articles to share, of course, but today, I have something else too! I am excited to announce that SYDCON is partnering with School District 155 for a new class "Business Incubator". Dave and I had the honor of attending last nights Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and look forward to mentoring a group within the class as well as providing insight to the entire class on websites, app development and more! See bottom of the page for a photo of the school board and 2 students in the class cutting the ribbon! We are excited to be a part of this new district adventure! Now, onto today's tech news! Let's take a look at what I have in store for you this week, shall we?

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WatchOS 3, Google VR on iOS, iOS 10, tech for diabetes management and Samsung note 7 battery cap in tech news.

By: Jennifer Devitt
September 13th, 2016

Happy Wednesday! Did you miss me last week? As I mentioned the week prior I was on vacation. We had a fun, whirlwind trip to Walt Disney World! We were not disconnected though. Dave and our son were watching some of Apples iPhone 7 announcement at lunch! Geez, boys and their toys!  The iPhone 7 wasn't a big enough change to entice Dave & I to upgrade, but our son sure tried to convince us to front him all holiday and birthday money for the next year plus so he could get a Watch 2 Nike edition...yeah no his negotiation skills leave something to be desired. Ha! Anyway, let's see what tech news I have for you today, shall we?

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Google Street View, fitness tracker glasses, Apple Pencil, Smart Sports and tech in cannabis in this weeks tech news.

By: Jennifer Devitt
August 30th, 2016

Hey, it's Wednesday, half the week is done! Next week is a short week too! How is it Labor Day weekend already? If I see one more post about Pumpkin Spice anything or Halloween decorations! UGH, let's not rush into winter, shall we? But, back on topic. Since it's Wednesday let's take a look at what tech news I have to share, shall we?

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Apple 1 auction, coding in class, Apple Store rebrand, Warby Parker, Redbooth and tech jobs in todays tech news.

By: Jennifer Devitt
August 23rd, 2016

It's raining, it's pouring but it's the first day of school and it's also Wednesday so that means it's tech news day!!! I think a rainy day may ease the kids back into school a bit easier because they won't be staring outside at a beautiful sunny day wishing for one more day of summer! Now, let's see what kind of tech news I have for you this week, shall we?

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Googles new operating system, implanted medical devices, food label app, vintage Macs, robots and shot on iPhone in this weeks tech news.

By: Jennifer Devitt
August 16th, 2016

It's Wednesday again! This time next week local kids including our own will be back in school! Yippee!! Tech is everywhere in their schools now. Online registration, online schedules, high-end calculators, GoogleDocs, online assignments and tests, even our youngest is now getting her own Chromebook via the school! Ok, enough about Back to School let's see what kind of tech news I have for you this week, shall we?

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Learn to code, tech health sensors, wearables, library e-books, iPad Pro art, Botlr and Netflix speed test in today's tech news.

By: Jennifer Devitt
August 10th, 2016

It's Thursday so that must mean it's tech news day, right?! Wait, no, that's not right. I had a bit of a day yesterday and it got away from me, so here I am today. Sorry for any of you who look forward to it on Wednesday! But, alas, let's see what I have for you today, shall we?

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY SYDCON!

By: Jennifer Devitt
August 3rd, 2016

Happy 12th Birthday SYDCON! Dave and I are so proud to be celebrating SYDCON's 12th year! Man how time flies.

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Apple TV app, coding, IBM cancer chip detector, Baskin Robbins app, musical pillow and tech in the Olympics in this weeks tech news.

By: Jennifer Devitt
August 2nd, 2016

It's Wednesday so that means it's tech news time. Seems like I had a lot more to choose from this week for some reason. So let's take a look at what I have, shall we?

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The "eye" in iPhone, teen developers, OS3 competitions, Twitter sports and EpiWatch all in sports news.

By: Jennifer Devitt
July 26th, 2016

Whew, we made it to Wednesday! That makes the rest of the week a piece of cake, right? We'll see I guess. Things are rolling right along here in SYDCON- land. I am excited to announce we are growing again with the arrival of our newest developer next Monday! That brings us to 5 full-time software engineers!  Don't worry though, that doesn't mean I am too busy for tech news to share with you. Let's see what I've been reading this week.

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Apple history, Google Food, Snapchat, Nike, AI, Emergency SOS and ResearchKit in today's tech news.

By: Jennifer Devitt
July 19th, 2016

Hey, Wednesday! Maybe you wondered where the blog was last week. There wasn't one, all week! Well, that's because I was on vacation and unplugged the blog for the week. I'm back, recharged and refreshed. I made it past Monday so I must be on the right track! I have quite a few things for you this week, so let's get right to it!

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iOS 10 Beta 2, smart home devices, AI to help blindness, organ donation and computer journalists in this weeks tech news.

By: Jennifer Devitt
July 5th, 2016

It's a short week, so it's already Wednesday, whose ready for some tech news? Just because it is a holiday week, doesn't mean I have a shortage of news to share. Let's see what I have this week, shall we?

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Rainbow Apple Watch bands, evolution of Instagram, iPhone debut, tech in the wine industry and Black Girls Code in today's tech news.

By: Jennifer Devitt
June 28th, 2016

Hey Wednesday, you're here already? That means it's time for more tech news. Hmm, let's see what I have for you this week. One thing I can happily say I can omit this week is our open position. We are thrilled to say it's been filled! But, we are growing, so you never know when we might be looking to add on.

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Nasa on Apple TV, today in Apple history, Apple Watch, iOS 10 and we're hiring in today's tech news.

By: Jennifer Devitt
June 21st, 2016

Here we are another Wednesday so that must mean it's time for tech news. It seems it was a bit of a light week, news-wise, but I still came up with a few things to share. Let's take a look.

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Twitter's block button, Swift Playground, kill the password, Apple WWDC and We're Hiring in this weeks tech news.

By: Jennifer Devitt
June 14th, 2016

Another Wednesday, more tech news. Is it just me or are the weeks going by quicker and quicker? This week we had a bit more tech news due to Apple's WWDC 2016 on Monday. So, let's take a look at what I found to be highlights or standouts.

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Instagram changes, laundry goes tech, We're Hiring and Apple Music as explained by DJ Khaled in this weeks tech news.

By: Jennifer Devitt
June 7th, 2016

It's summertime and sometimes that means a slow down in newsworthy articles and blogs. But alas, I have come thru with some tech news for you this week! Let's take a look at what I came across, shall we?

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Facebook messenger, Mircosoft, virtual reality, The Jetsons, Google Cardboard and We're Hiring in this weeks tech news.

By: Jennifer Devitt
May 31st, 2016

It's a short week, so I feel like I am scrabbling for my usual tech news overflow. I feel like I have even less because I was off last Friday too (hence no IT Thing last week in case you were wondering). So, let's take a look and see what I came up with, shall we?

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Siri unlock my door, Levi's smart jacket, Apple Watch, alcohol monitor, Twitter and tech jobs all in todays Tech News.

By: Jennifer Devitt
May 24th, 2016

Another Wednesday is upon us. Time for another round of Tech News. Even with the nice weather finally arriving, I still find time to read up and learn about new tech initiatives. Let's see what I have for you this week.

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We're hiring, Apple house call and hashtag bans in this weeks Tech News edition.

By: Jennifer Devitt
May 17th, 2016

It has been a busy week already around here. But, that does not mean I didn't have time to dig up any good tech news to share with you. Let's see what I came up with this week, shall we?

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Instagram rebrand, kids developing apps and why are internet links blue in this weeks Tech News.

By: Jennifer Devitt
May 10th, 2016

How is Wednesday again already? That's ok closer to Friday, am I right? Who's ready for a dose of tech news? Let's see what I came up with this week.

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May the "4th" Be With You tech news edition take a journey with a missing iPad via Find My iPhone.

By: Jennifer Devitt
May 3rd, 2016

Happy Wednesday and May the "4th" Be With You! Seriously, Happy Star Wars Day! It's fitting that it's Star Wars Day and tech news day here on the blog, don't you think? Let's take a look at the tech news I drummed up this week, shall we?

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Apple CareKit opens the door for developers and healthcare companies to further medical advancement.

By: Jennifer Devitt
May 1st, 2016

The next step in development opportunities on the Apple Watch is here. Last week, Apple made its CareKit platform available to developers. The Apple Watch has already been credited with saving several lives. Since the device's release last year, many have been left wondering what the purpose of the device is and whether is something that will be a mainstream device. Currently, the device is an accessory to your iPhone. It can deliver your messages, emails, and calls via your wrist. You can use it for GPS directions, or you get notifications from Instagram and use it to track your health and fitness. So, what's the big fuss about CareKit? Well, CareKit,  HealthKit, and ResearchKit as well all carry huge potential when it comes to health care and fitness advancement within wearable technology. It has been my belief since the device debuted that health care and fitness will be what puts it on the map. With the release of CareKit to developers, it is opening up more functionality for developers and users. Some items now available are:

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Take a look at this weeks tech news edition. Join us, and sign the petition to boost tech education.

By: Jennifer Devitt
April 26th, 2016

It's Wednesday, so you know what that means. It's time for another edition of Tech News Roundup. It's been kind of a slow week in tech news, at least it seemed that way. Maybe people are still absorbing the season premiere of Game of Thrones or mourning the Blackhawks first round playoff exit. Not to worry though, I came up with a few things for you.

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My thoughts on the Apple Watch one year after it's debut.

By: Jennifer Devitt
April 24th, 2016

It has been a year since the Apple Watch debuted. A year and a day actually as the watch went on sale on April 24, 2015. When it was released a lot of people were skeptical, a lot of people were excited and a lot of people were naysayers. When the Watch first came I out, I was on the fence. Dave knew he wanted one right away, and outside of it fitting our business model and clients were inquiring about creating software for it, he really didn't know why he wanted one, just that he did. Me, it took me until August 2015 to decide to get one. As I mentioned in my early review back in August, my reasons for getting on the bandwagon were varying. I needed it to have discussions with clients. I wanted to use it for fitness, I was/is interested in SYDCON developing apps for the device. A year later the reviews are still as mixed as was the anticipation early last year. There are users who love it and wear it daily, and users who have left it to collect dust in a box. And then, there are those that believe it didn't live up to the hype. How do I feel about it a year after release? Let's take a look

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Time for some tech news. Check out the latest edition of our Wednesday Tech News segment.

By: Jennifer Devitt
April 19th, 2016

It's time for another Tech News roundup. It seems as though the tech news will stay focused on Apple and encryption for some time, so of course, I have some of that. Let's see what else I came up with shall we?

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Tech news round up Wednesday is here, check it out!

By: Jennifer Devitt
April 12th, 2016

It's Wednesday, time for a tech news roundup. Although, tech news has been kind of quiet this week.  So, let's see what I can dig up, shall we?

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It's Wednesday, here is your tech news roundup!

By: Jennifer Devitt
April 5th, 2016

It's Wednesday, so it's time for another Tech News Roundup. I read tech news that touches on any and all topics. To me, it's a big part of my job as a VP of Business Development. It shows me more things than I ever dreamed possible. As we discussed in February, I believe technology is key in business development. Keeping up to date on the latest advancements in technology can help spawn new ideas for us and our clients. So, let's see what's happening this week so far.

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April is Autism Awareness Month. Take a look at how Apple and technology is helping raise awareness and provide a voice.

By: Jennifer Devitt
April 3rd, 2016

April is "Autism Awareness Month".  It is estimated that 1 in 45 children ages 3 to 17 years of age is living with autism, roughly 2 percent of US children. Many people do not understand autism. Often times it can be misunderstood. It can be misinterpreted as a disobedient child, a child lacking intelligence, someone strange.  In fact, all of these assessments couldn't be further from the truth.  These labels often times come from lack of awareness. Hopefully many can learn more about it this month, thru Autism Awareness month. Apple has released two new videos to help raise awareness. These two videos center around a teenager named Dillan.  Let's take a look at them, shall we? Dillan's Voice. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-K4Qtnm2Fc Dillan's Path.https://youtu.be/s-K4Qtnm2Fc Imagine being Dillan's Mother or his therapist. Being a mother is challenging and rewarding. I can only imagine how heartbreaking it was for Dillan's Mom to not hear his voice. To hear her say:

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Join me for another edition of tech news Wednesday!

By: Jennifer Devitt
March 29th, 2016

Tech news, tech news and more tech news. If it seems as though lately all the news is tech related, perhaps it's because tech is infiltrating all aspects of business. On that note, I have a Wednesday tech news roundup for you. I am toying with the idea of making this a weekly installment, tune it to see if it sticks around!

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It's Women's History Month, take a minute to learn about some key women in tech.

By: Jennifer Devitt
March 27th, 2016

March is Women's History Month.  As a woman, a mom of 2 daughters and a tech executive I thought I would take a minute to reflect on women in technology. It is often overlooked in discussions of the lack of women in tech that the first "programmer" was a woman. Ada Lovelace (1815-1852) is credited with writing the first computer program. So, women in technology is not exactly a novelty. Let's take a look at some current women in tech in 2016, shall we?

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A Wednesday roundup of tech news.

By: Jennifer Devitt
March 22nd, 2016

It's Wednesday and a short week for us here at SYDCON. Our office is closed Friday, so be on the lookout for IT Thing tomorrow! We had the big Apple event on Monday, the unexpected FBI pause in the Apple encryption case and some other tech news. So, I figured today would be a good day for a tech news roundup. Who's up for that? Let's see what I got.

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It's Twitters 10th Birthday, let's have a look at how it got to where it is today.

By: Jennifer Devitt
March 20th, 2016

Happy 10th Birthday Twitter! It's amazing how ingrained you've become in our lives. You have become a daily news source, a giant mixer, a meeting place and a never ending daily networking group! Twitter boasts 320 million active users, as of December 2015. It is estimated that every second there are 6,000 tweets or 500 million PER DAY! Lately, there are talks of user decline. That may be true, I am not noticing a decline in engagement on my end. We have discussed in the past varying uses for social media. Here on our blog in February 2015 we discussed how Social Media can provide a treasure trove of content for your business or blog. Daily, I find new content to share or generate new blogs with. Let's take a look at some key aspects of Twitter.

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It's Super Tuesday in Illinois and 4 other states. I urge to exercise your right and vote.

By: Jennifer Devitt
March 14th, 2016

Today is election day in 5 states, including my state of Illinois. This year more than ever it is the time we all exercised our right to vote.  I am a firm believer that if you do not exercise your right to vote you have no room to complain about the world around you. Voting effects everything in the world around us. It affects the air we breathe, the water we drink, the education of our children, the peace and civility of our country, my right to compose this blog and more. In fact, in the near future, it can have an effect on the technology you use to read this blog or conduct your business.  So, here are some reasons to vote today if you live in Illinois, Florida, Missouri, Ohio or North Carolina:

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What do Google, Coca-Cola,Happy Meals and the New York Times have in common?

By: Jennifer Devitt
March 2nd, 2016

Google, Coca-Cola, McDonald's Happy Meals and The New York Times. Hmm, what could they all have in common? At first glance you might say a kid can get a Coke as part of their Happy Meal, but where does Google and The New York Times fit into the picture?

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Spring training is upon us, are you using technology to improve your game? I have some ideas.

By: Jennifer Devitt
February 29th, 2016

Welcome to March. Spring is coming in 19 days and the official end of "Meteorological winter" was yesterday. Woo hoo. With that comes the beginning of spring sports training. So, baseball, softball, track, tennis and more are all starting up. Runners who have been trapped inside on their treadmill (like me, because I don't like running in cold, snow or ice) are eager to get outside. Coaches are holding team tryouts and players are working hard to be game ready. Inevitably, technology has some assistance to offer coaches and athletes.  Whether you are training on your own, trying to impress a coach or you are a coach looking for tools to help improve your athletes. I have a few smart devices/apps to introduce you to and a new wearable.

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What technology means for business development.

By: Jennifer Devitt
February 23rd, 2016

Technology is having a profound effect on every industry. Technology will affect career choices and paths, industry growth, business growth and more.

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It's Monday, here is a round up of a few tech news items that caught my eye.

By: Jennifer Devitt
February 21st, 2016

It's Monday. Man sometimes those weekends just fly by. Doesn't it always feel like it's Monday again? Tech news has kind of been all over the place the last week. But a major focus has been of course on Apple vs. the FBI. Sometimes when one topic dominates the news it's hard to get around it and find new news to learn from, or discuss. For this Monday, I thought why not try something a bit different? So, for today let's take a look at few of the top tech news stories from the past few days, shall we?

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Social technology shows that tech usage doesn't mean we are all zombies.

By: Jennifer Devitt
February 16th, 2016

Yesterday, we discussed some of the most tech advanced toys showcased so a far at the 2016 Toy Fair.  As the fair continues, I am sure other promising or intriguing new toys will surface or get into the limelight. We covered four toys, 3 were made by Mattel, Inc. one by Thames & Kosmos.

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It's February but these new high tech toys will have kids dreaming of Christmas!

By: Jennifer Devitt
February 15th, 2016

 ThingMaker by Mattel, Inc. It's February, Christmas is now a fond memory. We are all thinking about spring, right? Well, not if your Santa Claus or a toy manufacturer! This week in New York is the "Toy Fair" by Toy Industry Association, Inc. Toy manufacturers like Mattel and Hasbro to name a few are exhibitors at this year fair. This is an event that caught my attention this year. Why you might ask? And why am I blogging about it here on a tech blog? Well, the answer is simple toys are going tech in a big way. Tech toys no longer just mean video games. Nope! Now there are toys to teach basic coding concepts to toddlers. I just read an interview on "Her Agenda" with Maci Peters (a first place winner of the Women Who Tech  Startup Challenge). In the interview was this brilliant quote "Tech is no longer going to be its own industry- it's going to be the foundation on which industries are built." I truly believe in this quote and find it applies to the Toy Fair as well. The toy industry will be powered by tech. So, what are a few tech toys that have caught my eye and prompted me to do this blog? Let's take a look, shall we?

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It's time Computer Science Education became a equal with reading, writing and arithmetic.

By: Jennifer Devitt
February 9th, 2016

There has been plenty of talk in the news lately about the importance of Computer Science Education. And, this push is nothing new. We have been hearing it shouted from rooftops of the tech industry for the last few years. I mean, even the Hour of Code movement began in 2013. Here we are 3 years later and the movement is thriving and there is more and more talk of the importance of computer science education.

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Post Super Bowl Sunday Brand Bowl review. Let's talk the favorites and the bizarre.

By: Jennifer Devitt
February 7th, 2016

Avocados from Mexico 2016 Super BowlHappy Monday! How is everyone this morning? Still waking up after Super Bowl Sunday? As I have stated in the past, I am not a football person, so I cook lots of tasty treats for my family and only watch for the ads. I enjoy live tweeting the brand bowl. And, besides like I heard on the Highway this morning playing nice and not complaining while hubby celebrates that "man holiday" of Super Bowl Sunday will surely gain me brownie points for the upcoming "woman holiday" Valentines Day, right? Ha! Last year I wrote our post-Super Bowl Sunday blog in my PJ's from my home office because we had been hit with 15 inches of snow! Well, not that I would mind a work from home Monday, I am thrilled we didn't get any snow. Even our youngest said this morning she was glad we didn't have any snow days because that means for the first time in years they hopefully (knock on wood) won't have days added on in the summer! So, let's talk #brandbowl shall we? I am sure if you are active on social media, you have seen the tweets and reports that "Twitter is Dying". Well, according to Spredfast via Twitter last night, in the first hour of the game, Twitter saw 1.6 million Super Bowl tweets. I for one saw lots and lots of tweets, lots of engagement and unfortunately many offensive tweets as well. So, I think it's time to stop penning all the Twitter obituaries! As far as the actual ads and halftime show. Let's discuss what I thought were the winners and losers or some that just well creeped me out, shall we?

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Encouraging girls to pursue careers in STEM, SYDCON doing their part this weekend.

By: Jennifer Devitt
January 31st, 2016

In the last few years, there has been a dramatic push to increase women in STEM jobs. SYDCON is a proud believer in this movement, and encourage it for all. This weekend we were honored to take part in a local school district event. School districts D47 and D155 worked together to host their first ever GEMS Conference. GEMS = Girls in Engineering, Math, and Science.

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Valentine's Day is approaching, why not give a tech inspired gift this year? I have some ideas!

By: Jennifer Devitt
January 26th, 2016

Monday is February 1st. That means Valentine's Day is upon us. Ah, Valentine's Day, or has the cute kiddos say "Valentime's" Day, is all about showing your love and devotion. For kid's it's a hit, because well there is candy and a classroom party. But, it can be a hit for grownups too!

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I found a new app genre I love to use to clear my head and get creative. Guess what it is?

By: Jennifer Devitt
January 25th, 2016

We have reviewed apps here in the past. They can range from fun and silly to productivity to "can you believe there is an app for that"?  Here at SYDCON, we are all about trying the latest technology, fooling around with apps for fun and finding new apps that make life easier.

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How the Hour of Code initiative is reflected in the top jobs of 2016 lists.

By: Jennifer Devitt
January 19th, 2016

Back in 2013, a non-profit called code.org was launched. It was initially geared towards women and students of color. But ultimately their goal was that everyone should have access to computer science education.

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3 things to consider about the control you have over your business online branding and information.

By: Jennifer Devitt
January 18th, 2016

Building your brand and maintaining it online is crucial to your business. A well designed and developed website with the right content is key. Creating and maintaining social media accounts for your business is also key.

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5 tech inspired fitness tools to help you with your 2016 resolutions and goals.

By: Jennifer Devitt
January 12th, 2016

We are 13 days into this new year 2016. The roll around of the new year tends to bring with it resolutions. Depending on the person, resolutions can vary from work-related, personal, health, fitness, etc. Each person is different and thus will have varying resolutions and reasons behind them.

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This week in tech news: Apple updates, CES 2016, Owlet Smart Sock, Uber for beauty and BowieNet.

By: Jennifer Devitt
January 11th, 2016

The 2016 CES (Consumer Electronics Show) has come to an end. As always, there was a slew of new tech products revealed. Some available now, some in the near future, some were affordable, some not so much. With a show the size of the CES, you can imagine that the tech news is jammed packed with CES information and product releases. I know for me it was fun to read about all the new gadgets.

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It's CES time, 5 gadgets and gizmos I find intriguing from sneak peaks of the show.

By: Jennifer Devitt
January 5th, 2016

Walt Disney's "Little Mermaid" It's January, so chances are if you know a tech or gadget enthusiasts they are going gaga because this week is the CES (Consumer Electronics Show). The CES, brought to you by the Consumer Technology Association is an annual event where new gadgets and gizmos are shown off to the ooh's and ah's for tech lovers everywhere. As Ariel sang in the Little Mermaid they've got "gadgets and gizmos aplenty".

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What is Enterprise Software and how can it benefit my business?

By: Jennifer Devitt
January 3rd, 2016

Enterprise Software or Enterprise Application Software (EAS) as is it also referred to is typically a form of software developed to assist a large business or organization with solving a problem or streamlining everyday functions.

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How custom software solutions can make your business more efficient in 2016.

By: Jennifer Devitt
December 27th, 2015

Another year is coming to an end. How did your business do in 2015? Do you have plans to take 2016 by the horns and make it great? With a new year approaching, many businesses take the time to assess their needs, envision growth, set goals and budgets. Where does tech advancement sit on your businesses list for 2016? If you are still procrastinating on using tech to streamline your business or take it to the next level, what are waiting for?

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My top 15 holiday songs to kick off Christmas week. Happy Holidays!

By: Jennifer Devitt
December 20th, 2015

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas"... well actually, in Chicago it is NOT! How can Christmas be this Friday already? I hope you are all prepared. I am pretty good on that end. At least with anything that I can do in advance.

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SYDCON's Annual Holiday blog. It's a Wonderful Life, enjoy it!

By: Jennifer Devitt
December 13th, 2015

 It's a Wonderful Life Wow, can you believe it's already time for SYDCON's annual Holiday blog? I sure can't. I have always been a big fan of holiday music and movies but with this unseasonably warm weather here in Chicago, it is necessary to make it feel like Christmas time! So, on that note, it's is time for me to invite you to take a listen to my favorite Christmas song, Jingle Bells by the Barenaked Ladies.

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SYDCON's annual tech gift guide. We offer up 12 perfect gifts for your tech lover!

By: Jennifer Devitt
December 8th, 2015

It's hump day! Man, the week's are just flying by. Only 15 more days until Christmas. Is everyone ready? Have you made your list, checked it twice? Perhaps you're one of the lucky ones and you are all done with your holiday shopping. Well, if you are not, or perhaps you are always open to more ideas to spoil that someone special then I present to you the SYDCON 2015 top tech gift blog!

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Planes, trains and automobiles. Tech, transportation and the environment in 2015.

By: Jennifer Devitt
December 6th, 2015

As we approach the end of 2015 and take a look back at all the places technology has taken people and the world as a whole, we can see vast improvements, as well as stumbling blocks along the way. Day after day, week after week and year after year we will see advancements as well as pitfalls. It's how the world works.

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It's time for SYDCON's annual 10 minute Thanksgiving challenge. Are you game?

By: Jennifer Devitt
November 21st, 2015

Well, here we are, Thanksgiving week. Can you believe it? I know my parents and in-laws always said as you get older the time just flies by and boy they were not kidding. This has been a whirlwind year. I am very grateful to say it has been another good year for us here at SYDCON. This week, on the blog we have a tradition of counting our blessings and reflecting on the things we are thankful for.

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A quick run down on our initial plus/minus of the new iPad Pro.

By: Jennifer Devitt
November 15th, 2015

Apple's latest piece of hardware finally was released last week. The much anticipated mammoth iPad Pro. When Apple unveiled the iPad Pro at the September 9th event it was met with many "Oohs and Aahs" From its jumbo size to the new flashy gadgets. But, we would all have to wait until last week to get our hands on one.

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Take a look at some of 2015's latest tech gadgets to make holiday cooking easier.

By: Jennifer Devitt
November 8th, 2015

As we head into the second week in November, we get closer to holiday celebrations. Holiday celebrations and get-togethers typically go hand in hand with cooking and a lot of it. Holiday parties and get-togethers tend to mean cooking for a large group of people.

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A midweek app review. We take whirl on fitness challenge app "Matchup".

By: Jennifer Devitt
November 3rd, 2015

Happy Hump day! For my midweek blog, today let's talk about a new app we've been trying out.

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Apple Watch now offering more fashionable choices for women consumers.

By: Jennifer Devitt
November 1st, 2015

 Apple Watch Hermes It is now coming up on eight months since Apple began preorders for the Apple Watch (April 10, 2015). Since it's debut, Watch OS2 was released bringing more functionality to the watch.  Since it's release the Watch has been dubbed a fashion, luxury wearable, due to its price tag.

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Retro video games and our recent trip down memory lane with Mario Brothers.

By: Jennifer Devitt
October 27th, 2015

Nostalgia, retro, throw-backs. Sometimes you take a trip down memory lane to share memories, tell stories or just relive important moments in your life.

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Halloween is approaching. Use one of these 5 safety devices/apps to keep your kids safe.

By: Jennifer Devitt
October 25th, 2015

Halloween is Saturday, here in the US. Even though here in the Chicago area it tends to be freezing, and more often than not raining and windy the kids will still insist on venturing out in hot pursuit of a lifetime worth of candy!

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Happy Back to the Future Day! A look at our favorite quotes from the movies!

By: Jennifer Devitt
October 20th, 2015

 Dave posing with a DeLorean October 21, 2015. It's finally here. Happy Back to the Future Day! It's a favorite around our house. In fact, the whole trilogy is among Dave's favorites of all time! I like 1 and 2, not so much a fan of 3.

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Have a project that requires developers or programmers? Consider these seven things to get started.

By: Jennifer Devitt
October 18th, 2015

You have an idea for the next great app. Or perhaps you have a need for a software solution to make an office task simpler. Maybe you are feeling frustrated by the void of specific software or an app to suit your business needs. How to ease this frustration?

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Traveling and technology. Why staying "plugged in" will make your travels easier.

By: Jennifer Devitt
October 11th, 2015

Traveling and technology. The two seem to go hand in hand these days. If you are traveling for leisure these days you may find that unplugging is different that it was a few years ago.

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Fitbit versus Apple Watch, read about our accuracy comparison.

By: Jennifer Devitt
September 29th, 2015

Fitness wearables. There are many to choose from Garmin, Polar, Jawbone, Fitbit, Apple Watch to name a few. Like smartphones, they compete with one another, but they all offer different features and ultimately target different audiences. The key selling point could be based on a number of things ranging from features to price to availability.

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"Should I Stay or Should I Go Now"? My thoughts on Apple Music.

By: Jennifer Devitt
September 27th, 2015

Many free trial users of Apple Music maybe quoting the 1982 classic by The Clash "Should I Stay or Should I Go"?. The music streaming service launched on June 30th. And, to say it launched without hiccups or growing pains would not be accurate. And now the free trail is coming to an end.

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Wearable technology is not just for fitness. How can you integrate it into your life?

By: Jennifer Devitt
September 21st, 2015

Wearable technology. You either love it or you hate it, or perhaps you just don't get it. There are certainly many options out there, depending on your needs. Some say nothing on the market interests them for many reasons. Reasons could be that the device doesn't do enough for the user, or it could be the price tag or it could just be a lack of interest.

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Will you be upgrading to iOS9 today? Here are some highlights.

By: Jennifer Devitt
September 15th, 2015

Today is a scheduled software update for Apple. Until this morning it was expected that users would be able to upgrade to iOS9 as well as Watch OS2.

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Apple's big event has come and gone. Can you guess what item I am anticipating most?

By: Jennifer Devitt
September 13th, 2015

Last week Apple had their mega event on September 9th. And it was a mega event for sure. With new devices and larger iPads for tech geeks to salivate over (I am still waiting for Dave to stop drooling over the iPad Pro!). Best as I can tell the event lived up to the hype. And I know in our house asking Siri for hints was a fun way to wait for the official event.

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5 apps that can assist with personal safety while you're on the go.

By: Jennifer Devitt
September 8th, 2015

Safety. It is a top priority for everyone. Whether you are concerned with your own personal safety or the safety of a friend or family member. I often hear from my Mother-in-law that it's a scarier time to be a parent than when her kids were young. While in lot's of ways this is true, there are also more ways to keep tabs on kids or family members today than ever before.

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First it was mobile, now it is Flash. How Google and other firms are forcing companies to move forward.

By: Jennifer Devitt
September 1st, 2015

Outdated software and websites. We all know that the web is riddled with them. Sometimes outdated technology can be annoying. Sometimes it can cause you to loose customers. And sometimes, it's a security risk.

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Anticipating Apple's September 9, 2015 event. What we can expect.

By: Jennifer Devitt
August 30th, 2015

So, the invite has been sent. Have you marked your calendar for September 9th yet? Have you asked Siri for your hints?

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SYDCON's top 5 published blogs per LinkedIn statistics.

By: Jennifer Devitt
August 25th, 2015

Blogging. Whether your company pushes out daily, weekly or monthly installments of the company blog, full-time you want to know if your posts are hitting the mark with clients or potential customers. Creating a blog can be a big part of your job or potential full-time job depending on the frequency of your blog and the size of your audience. Finding topics can sometimes be easy, and other times be frustrating when you have writer's block.

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I challenge you to move more. Check out the "Stand" app to get started.

By: Jennifer Devitt
August 23rd, 2015

In the world of 9 to 5 office jobs, today we find ourselves sitting more often than we should. It is easy to get wrapped up in your daily work activities and in some cases only get up for lunch. In our office full of developers, it is easy for them to have their headphones on and get wrapped up in their coding and not even realize that they have not moved all day.

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Tips on how to get the most accurate quote for your software development project.

By: Jennifer Devitt
August 18th, 2015

So, you're embarking on a new software development project. Or, perhaps you need to find a new vendor to pick up a project left in limbo. Finding the right service provider can prove to be a daunting experience sometimes. This should not be a task taken lightly or done too quickly.

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Back to School shopping with a tech twist. 10 tech gadgets that made our list.

By: Jennifer Devitt
August 16th, 2015

It's Back to School time. No longer does that just mean purchasing new shoes, cute outfits and stocking up on paper and pencils. Nope, today for kids from Kindergarten thru Grad School the school supplies lists have gotten much more tech savvy.

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Technology is finding new ways to help patients overcome medical disabilities.

By: Jennifer Devitt
August 11th, 2015

Software, video games, apps and computerized hardware. All of these items have fallen under the technology umbrella. Most of them work in one capacity or another with each other. Some of these are for business, some for pleasure, some for productivity or healthcare.

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Why as a VP of Business Development for a software development firm I chose to jump on the Apple Watch bandwagon.

By: Jennifer Devitt
August 9th, 2015

Apple Watch. Yep, I caved. And only a little over a month after I said here that I thought the watch was geared towards men and a bit masculine. Yes, I switched gears pretty quickly. Let's discuss why shall we?

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Learn how coding can be your tool by discovering the "Made with Code" program.

By: Jennifer Devitt
August 4th, 2015

 Today, I would like to focus the blog on a program I sadly just heard of. It is called "Made with Code". Made with Code is a program geared towards encouraging girls and women to code. Simple as that. By taking mentors in varying fields and industries this wonderful initiative offers some interesting and mind-blowing insights into what can be done with code.

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How technology is affecting school supply shopping and reducing paper.

By: Jennifer Devitt
August 2nd, 2015

Today is August 3rd. For many schools around the United States, that means school starts this month! I am sure that news is a major bummer to kids and returning teachers but a call for celebration to most parents! Face it, summers are long when you don't have a family farm to maintain in the summer. Kids get antsy, siblings bicker, all sure signs it's time to get back to school.

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What to expect when you work with a custom software development firm.

By: Jennifer Devitt
July 26th, 2015

Last week on the blog, we did an in-depth look at a few of our most common FAQ. Today, in an effort to further discuss our process, I will discuss a few more.

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An in-depth look at our 3 most common custom development "FAQ's".

By: Jennifer Devitt
July 21st, 2015

FAQ's. Every company in every industry can supply a list of frequently asked questions (FAQ's). Some of these questions might be common, no brainer questions while others might be questions that many potential clients might like the answer to. It is typical for a company to have a "FAQ" section on their website.

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Are terms like "nerd" or "geek" discouraging today's youth from careers in technology?

By: Jennifer Devitt
July 19th, 2015

Revenge of the Nerds movie (1984). If you follow tech news, something you see a lot of articles about is either encouraging kids or women to code or cyber bullying. Is it possible that the approach to encourage careers in technology or coding is spurring a rise in cyberbullying? Even if unintentional?

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4 innovative, tech gadgets to help you monitor your belongings on your next trip.

By: Jennifer Devitt
July 14th, 2015

Bluesmart trackable carry-on Here we are smack in the middle of summer. It's a high time for traveling as well as beach and pool trips. With that always comes the worry of what to take with you, how to store it and most of all how to keep it safe. In today's environment, trips to the beach do not just mean lugging sunscreen, beach towels, and food. No, today we take our cell phones and possibly tablets or e-readers. Not only is keeping our electronics dry and free of sand a concern, but we need to make sure they don't get stolen.

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10 simple suggestions to make your next IT project run smoothly.

By: Jennifer Devitt
July 8th, 2015

IT projects. Many love to hate them. Are you planning a new project? Perhaps you are knee deep in the middle of one. If so, there are ways to help make the project run as smoothly as possible and hopefully ease any urges you might have to obtain a voodoo doll in the likeness of your developer!

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How will "Amazon Prime Day" impact Black Friday and Cyber Monday?

By: Jennifer Devitt
July 6th, 2015

Blue Light Special E-commerce. It has been hot on the heels of traditional brick and mortar retail for years now. Some said it would never catch on or would never last. I had a potential client within the last year tell me that her accountant advised against taking her clothing boutique the e-commerce route because "women do not buy clothes online". Sigh, e-commerce is here to stay!

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Have some summer down time? Use it to run these 8 quick website checkups.

By: Jennifer Devitt
June 23rd, 2015

Midsummer is upon us. For some businesses, it can be the calm before the storm. You may have summers hours at your office or you may be short-handed due to vacation schedules. Most of the time I don't think it is unusual to have some slow or maybe some more quiet time. You might find yourself more productive due to a client being out of town for vacation. Take advantage of this time to do some maintenance or planning.

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Is the Apple Watch geared more towards male consumers?

By: Jennifer Devitt
June 21st, 2015

We have discussed the Apple Watch here on the blog several times. We have discussed it during the anticipation phase while waiting for launch, and we have discussed it as great gift ideas for grads and Dads. Dave did end up getting one, though he was not one of the initial orders on launch day. He wanted to go into a store and see it first hand prior to purchase.

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It's the middle of June, time to get your tech systems in order for a strong finish of 2015.

By: Jennifer Devitt
June 16th, 2015

It's June 17th, we are just about halfway through 2015, can you believe it? How is your business faring this year? Have you implemented any changes you proposed last year? Have you started preparing for the second half of the year? Or, has your to-do list gotten lost in the shuffle of everyday tasks and new crises that pop up daily?

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Ownership is a key factor to keep in mind when considering custom development or programming services.

By: Jennifer Devitt
June 14th, 2015

When it comes to programming and web development, companies have many options. Business owners can choose to do it themselves, outsource it, work with a development company or partner with a firm. Another consideration is, do you want to go custom or utilize a boxed solution. One question we get asked a lot is "why custom"? Let's talk about some of the reasons you may want to consider custom development for your projects.

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7 great tech gift ideas for your Number 1 Dad!

By: Jennifer Devitt
June 9th, 2015

#1 Dad It's June 10th, we are quickly approaching the middle of the month and not far behind that is Father's Day. Father's Day is Sunday, June 21st this year. Time to get ready for all the barbecues, golf outings, and sports.  Expect to see lots of men in "#1 Dad" t-shirts (this always makes me think of the Seinfeld episode, gotta love Morty Seinfeld), or drinking coffee out of a shiny new "Best Dad" mug! Let's be honest, while your Dad will proudly sport the shirt and use the mug if asked neither would be on their wish list.

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How technology plays a role in the 2015 Stanley Cup playoff experience.

By: Jennifer Devitt
June 2nd, 2015

 NHL.com/ It's June, the weather is getting warmer. But yet around the world hockey is in the news. Yep, ice hockey. In case you are not a sports fanatic or simply think hockey is just a violent sport you might not be aware that it is Stanley Cup Finals time. In fact, game 1 is tonight.  The stage is set in Tampa, Florida where the Tampa Bay Lightning will host the Chicago Blackhawks. A newer NHL franchise, The Lightning, founded in 1992 and an Original Six Team, The Blackhawks founded in 1926.  It's been a long road to get to the finals, with both teams just coming off a series that needed the full 7 games to finish the series. But make no mistake, this will be an exciting series with two quick teams.

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The iMessage bug bolsters the fact that we all need to better understand tech.

By: Jennifer Devitt
May 31st, 2015

Smartphones and tablets, text messages and iMessages. They have become go to devices and services. Many are depended on for business, as well as the go-to form of communication. They are all dependable, fun and must have's until someone out there finds a bug or way to trip up the system.

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Graduation season is upon us, here are 7 tech related gifts to spoil the graduate.

By: Jennifer Devitt
May 26th, 2015

It's late May, that means Graduation season is upon us. Around the United States graduations from preschool, all the way through to grueling degrees from Grad School or Medical School and beyond are taking place.

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5 ways custom software development fuels global business in 2015.

By: Jennifer Devitt
May 19th, 2015

It's no big surprise that in 2015 most software developed is focused on the web. Most business today is conducted in some part via the internet. Whether the business is e-commerce or digital publishing via newspapers and magazines.

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A fun Monday App review. It will add some fun to your day!

By: Jennifer Devitt
May 17th, 2015

Happy Monday! The last few Mondays, we have been having some fun around here with app reviews to help ease any case of the Monday's that might be floating around. I'll admit some were to combat writer's block, some were to offset a case of the Monday's!

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7 tech gadgets to make your summer safe, relaxing and enjoyable.

By: Jennifer Devitt
May 12th, 2015

It's almost summer! If you are a regular reader than you know that I am craving warm weather and summertime. Although the last few days here in the Chicago area have been hovering in the 50's, it looks as though that will start changing again with a warm up approaching.  At some point soon we should be permanently in a warmer weather pattern. With that warm up comes more time outdoors.

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Summer travel is upon us, here are 8 ways technology has made traveling simpler.

By: Jennifer Devitt
May 10th, 2015

It's May and the summer travel season is sneaking up on us. Schools throughout the US are winding down for the year and parents, kids and teachers are looking forward to summer vacations. Summer fun can involve local tourist activities, domestic travel or international travel. Whatever your plans, you can rest assured technology will have an impact on how you make your plans, where you visit and what you do.

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Happy National Small Business Week! Here are 4 tips to boost your small business in 2015.

By: Jennifer Devitt
May 5th, 2015

Happy National Small Business Week. Since 1963 the United States has focused on small business by focusing attention on them during Small Business Week. Small businesses have powered the United States for centuries.  These businesses range from so-called "Mom and Pops" to startups.

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It's 2015 and the Royal Family is using social media for updates. Is your company?

By: Jennifer Devitt
May 3rd, 2015

It's May 2015, still, think your company doesn't need social media? Still, think social media is a passing fad? It's time to think again. Social media is growing in force and customers use it in various ways.

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Looking for a fitness wearable? See my review of the Fitbit Charge HR to see if it's for you.

By: Jennifer Devitt
April 28th, 2015

I have another product review for you today. And, believe it or not, it is not an Apple device. Au contraire, it is for a Fitbit. Yes, more wearable technology. I admit it, I am a gadget lover.

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Got a case of the Mondays? Give the app "My Idol" a whirl to kick start your day.

By: Jennifer Devitt
April 26th, 2015

Hey, it's Monday again! Man, doesn't it seem like Monday always sneaks up on you when you're not looking and smacks you in the back of the head? HA! I think I may have mentioned that I am not a morning person. I think I must be allergic to them. Like Garfield says, "I don't do mornings". And Monday, mornings? Well as you can imagine those are not pretty either.

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Happy Earth Day! 8 ways technology is supporting Mother Nature and protecting the planet.

By: Jennifer Devitt
April 21st, 2015

Happy Earth Day. Earth Day is a global initiative day to bring awareness on how to protect our planet. There are many who can argue Global Warming all day long, but the fact is that there are over 7 billion people in the world today, we all need to do our part to protect and appreciate the planet we live on.

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For online reputation management, policing social media as well as review sites is key.

By: Jennifer Devitt
April 19th, 2015

Social Media. It comes in many forms and platforms these days. Of course, there is Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and more. You can use social media in many ways. You can use it for business and your personal life.

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April deadlines, taxes and mobile. Google is making a change April 21st is your site ready?

By: Jennifer Devitt
April 14th, 2015

Mobile, mobile, mobile. You may think we sound like a broken record around here. We have had multiple blogs in the last few months that are urging businesses in every industry to embrace mobile. We have had holiday statistics galore. But, yet there are still those out there that are resisting. Well, I am here to tell you that the clock is now ticking.

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How a bank, pizza chain and eyewear manufacturer are all considered tech companies.

By: Jennifer Devitt
April 12th, 2015

In 2015, what do an investment bank, a pizza chain and a fashion eyewear company have in common? The answer is simple. Technology. Goldman Sachs, Domino's and Warby Parker have all recently been dubbed "technology companies". And yet, not one of them sells a piece of hardware, software or a specific technology service. So, what gives?

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7 ways technology has changed sports for coaches, fans and athletes.

By: Jennifer Devitt
April 7th, 2015

Sports fans and athletes come in many forms. You could be a baseball fanatic, football junkie, hockey enthusiast or star athlete. Sports appeals to fans of all ages. Baseball has been called "America's pastime" due to its popularity in the 19th and 20th century.  Some things about sports haven't changed in years. But then again some have changed immensely. Many of the changes that we see in sports today is a direct result of you guessed it, technology.

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7 tricks I use to survive when Monday sneaks up on you and smacks you in the head!

By: Jennifer Devitt
April 5th, 2015

Mondays. They certainly seem to come around quickly don't they? Even Monday's after a long weekend. Sometimes those are the worst. They come around quickly and smack you in the back of the head when you're not looking, am I right?

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7 modern day advancements in healthcare made possible by technology.

By: Jennifer Devitt
March 31st, 2015

Last week we introduced a new segment on the blog, discussing how technology has changed specific industries. You don't have to look far to see change brought on by technology. It could be in the use of smartphones, computers, digital media and more. Some may feel that all change is good and embrace it 100 percent. While others will buck it at every turn.

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Give your devices a refresh by tackling our checklist of the top 6 ways to declutter your tech devices.

By: Jennifer Devitt
March 29th, 2015

Winter is finally winding its way down. In the upcoming weeks we will start seeing more buds on trees, birds returning and flowers sprouting. We will also inevitably see April showers as well as a surge in the presence of landscapers. You will also probably be venturing outside more and begin to do some outdoor yard clean up. As we all know, winter can leave a lot of dirty crud behind. You can find trash in random bushes, leaves clustered around decks and just some general disarray. Well, this winter muck doesn't just occur outside your home or business. It also occurs with technology.

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5 ways technology has infiltrated the fashion world.

By: Jennifer Devitt
March 24th, 2015

Here on the SYDCON blog, we discuss technology, A LOT! That shouldn't come as a surprise being that we are a technology company. In the past, we have discussed new technology advancements, apps, education, trends and more. We often discuss around here how technology is changing everything we do daily and the impact it will have on the future.

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6 ways to use the web, apps and social media to make travel planning easier.

By: Jennifer Devitt
March 22nd, 2015

For many schools around the US, it's Spring Break. This time of year tends to be a big travel boom. Folks around the world are weary and worn out by cold winters, massive amounts of snow and just winter in general. Spring Break tends to be the beginning of the spike in the travel season.

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Is Disney paving the way for wearable technology in the real world?

By: Jennifer Devitt
March 17th, 2015

Walt Disney. He was a dreamer, an Imagineer, and an innovator. He loved to think about what the future held. Walt Disney himself said "Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world."  In 1966 Walt Disney coined the term "EPCOT" or "Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow". EPCOT opened to the public on October 1, 1982.

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Mobile, it's not just for shopping. Video streaming is making gains.

By: Jennifer Devitt
March 15th, 2015

For the last several years, there has been a great push for mobile. Mobile websites, e-commerce on mobile-friendly sites, and Apple Pay. Mobile has taken over holiday shopping, dominating Black Friday by making every day with online and mobile shopping like Black Friday. With mobile advancements, we don't have to line up at wee hours of the morning freezing. Mobile, it is changing how we do many things. Even how we watch TV, movies, and sports.

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Will Apple Watch be the spring forward device for technology it is being hyped to be?

By: Jennifer Devitt
March 9th, 2015

The stage was set. The hype was high. Tech geeks and Apple fanatics everywhere were giddy with the anticipation of a new tech toy. March 9th was the day. Apple creatively used daylight savings time as part of their hype building. They said on the announcement "Spring Forward". A suggestion that technology would be making leaps ahead with whatever Apple had to reveal on March 9th.  Did it meet expectations? Are we making a giant spring forward? I don't know.

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March 9th, is it Apple Watch announcement day? What will it mean for new technology?

By: Jennifer Devitt
March 3rd, 2015

March 9, 2015. It's next Monday. The day after we spring forward and change our clocks and sure sign spring must be getting closer. It is also a special event day for Apple. It's pretty well assumed in the tech world that March 9th is Apple Watch day. Meaning the tech giant will announce the "official launch date" as well as give us more information on the gadget itself.

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Using technology to communicate in case of emergency in the complicated world we live in.

By: Jennifer Devitt
March 1st, 2015

I would like to apologize for the delay in launching this Monday's blog. This morning, parental concerns got in the way of business. In the world we live in 2015, we are faced with many challenges that our own parents didn't face when we were children. Today is one of those time when you are faced with the call that all area schools are on lockdown due a firearm threat.

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6 ways using social media can provide a treasure trove of content material for your business.

By: Jennifer Devitt
February 24th, 2015

Breaking news, trending topics, hashtags. All of these topics can be used via social media. Individuals and companies alike can interact via social media in a multitude of ways. They can share information, discuss products or customer service issues and news agencies can report breaking stories.

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Apple's latest ad "Make Film" further challenges us to "let the learning continue".

By: Jennifer Devitt
February 22nd, 2015

Apple is at it again. From holidays to Grammys to Oscars to life in general Apple is asking us to reevaluate how we use technology in our life, career, and education. Last night Apple debuted another new iPad ad during the Oscars.

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Spring cleaning isn't just for your home. Dust off your technology and plan for upcoming seasons.

By: Jennifer Devitt
February 17th, 2015

It's February 18th, last week that pesky, furball groundhog predicted six more weeks of winter. The official first day of spring for 2015 is Friday, March 20th. Thirty days from now. With spring time comes cleaning for most. Out with the old and in with the new. In many homes, it's time to replace pillows, sheets, and towels. In businesses, it's often the time when the current year budget spending starts. Or perhaps you are one who believes that summer bodies are created in the winter and use this time of year to workout so that you are beach ready come summer?

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How Linkedin Publishing has expanded our blog audience and connections.

By: Jennifer Devitt
February 15th, 2015

Blogging. It's a way to share your thoughts, views and brand information with your customers and potential clients. Blogging can be therapeutic for others, who use it to share their personal stories, write reviews or introduce new products. Some people blog for fun, others simply for business benefit. One thing is for certain most bloggers are always looking for a way to increase their audience and share their content with a wider audience.

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Anticipated release of Apple Watch comes with it's pros and cons as tech advances.

By: Jennifer Devitt
February 10th, 2015

Apple Watch is coming, and the rumored release date is April 2015. Apple is still saying "early 2015".  Anticipation is mixed on the release of Apple's newest toy. The price point, style, functions are being considered by Apple fanatics as well as general consumers. It is thought that on the low end the Apple Watch will retail for $349.

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Social media and the difference between followers, connections and friends.

By: Jennifer Devitt
February 8th, 2015

In 2015 there are many avenues to explore for social media. There are many venues to gather information, share information, meet new people, make new business connections and tell the world about your brand.

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Change as a direct result of technology, when does it become the norm?

By: Jennifer Devitt
February 3rd, 2015

Change. It's been said by many that "nobody likes change". Humans are by nature creatures of habit. We can be stubborn, set in our ways and find it easy to glide along on cruise-control.

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Snow day Monday, Super Bowl, Brand Bowl marketing genius and duds in review!

By: Jennifer Devitt
February 1st, 2015

Well, happy snowy Monday! Here in the Chicago area, we have another snow day! Some places saw 20+ inches of snow! Schools are closed, many businesses as well. While our physical office is closed, we are working! In our neck of the woods, we saw approximately 15 inches of snow. It's hard to say exactly because of all the blowing. Our kids were laughing saying our neighbor stole our snow because on one side of our house it all blew over to the neighbor's yard. No joke we can see grass on one side and it's waist high by the neighbors! Our short little Westie dog isn't complaining!

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Technology, social media and real time marketing enhance viewer experience during SuperBowl.

By: Jennifer Devitt
January 27th, 2015

Digital marketing and advertising, going mobile, streaming, interactive TV, live tweeting. One thing all of these venues have in common is technology. Technology is the driving force behind how we consume our media, decide on a purchase or supply us with brand information.

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Really? There's an app for that?

By: Jennifer Devitt
January 25th, 2015

There is a popular catch-phrase, "There's an app for that". Apple received a trademark for that phrase in 2010. As the App Store continues to grow, more and more this phrase is hard to dispute.

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Social media and technology and it's impact on the State of the Union and TV viewing.

By: Jennifer Devitt
January 20th, 2015

Live tweeting. This is not a new term or a new trend. By definition, Live Tweeting is the act of tweeting in real time while at an event or watching an original broadcast of a TV show, sporting event or newscast. Today, many get their news via live tweets. And the use of hashtags aides in following breaking news as well as allowing individuals to have real-time conversations with people around the world about sporting events, TV shows or political speeches.

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Graduation requirements for the class of 2019 compared to the Top 100 Jobs list.

By: Jennifer Devitt
January 18th, 2015

In the last week or so, an article/list with the 100 Best Jobs has been circulating.  I have always had an interest in these types of lists. I find it interesting to see how the world and job market has evolved. This time, we went over this list with our teenagers. In my opinion, if the economic downturn and sky-high unemployment in recent years has taught us anything, it's that students need to pursue careers that are somewhat bulletproof.  Now, of course, I know that there are no guarantees in life, but let's face it, jobs are changing and some are more dependable than others.

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Are we closer to living life like George Jetson and Marty McFly with the help of smart technology?

By: Jennifer Devitt
January 13th, 2015

This year's CES (Consumer Electronics Show) has officially come to an end. If you are a technology geek or gadget lover, you were probably glued to reports from the event. Conventions like these always make me feel as though we are one step closer to living life like the 60's cartoon family, The Jetsons.  Sometimes I wonder if some of these gadgets were created from a spark of imagination while watching Back to the Future.  Surely, many of the new gadgets make me think of Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress.  No matter which of these you can relate to, there is no denying that technology is changing the way we do things. We are seeing things that once were thought of as "futuristic" or from say, outer space is now becoming close to reality.

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The App Store shatters more records. How can mobile and app technology help you do the same?

By: Jennifer Devitt
January 11th, 2015

Apple has had yet another record-setting year it seems. Yeah, you might be asking "what else is new"? Well, maybe it's not a question so much of "what else is new" as much as it is how can we all follow in their footsteps or jump on their coattails? You see, the record-setting event I am talking about is once again the App Store.  It appears the store is once again breaking records.

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It's January and we're experiencing deja vu in Chicago. Let technology help you beat the cold!

By: Jennifer Devitt
January 6th, 2015

It's 2015, a new year, right? Well, here in the Chicago area we are experiencing a case of deja vu! How so, you may ask? Well as is the norm in the Chicago at this time of the year, it gets cold, windy and snowy. These things are not new to Illinois. In fact, if anything we got a bit of a reprieve this year with a relatively mild December.

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Will 2015 be the year of wearable technology?

By: Jennifer Devitt
January 4th, 2015

Each year there is the promise of the newest thing in technology. Early buzz for 2015 seems to be centered around wearable technology. Now, this is not to say that wearable technology is something new because we know that it is not. But the promise of advancement in the technology is creating a heightened buzz.

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5 key things for your website as we ring in 2015.

By: Jennifer Devitt
December 28th, 2014

Christmas has come and gone and we will be ringing in the new year in a few short days. As you wind down another year, it's inevitable you are looking ahead to the new year. If you are a business owner you probably have goals for next year. What levels will you bring your business to in 2015? We all have budgets and agendas, every business has their goals. One thing for certain is to get your web presence in gear.

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Need a last minute gift? Perhaps technology can help you create something inspiring.

By: Jennifer Devitt
December 21st, 2014

Holy smokes, it's Christmas week already! Man, I don't know about you, but this year flew by. Are you in good shape, all ready for Christmas?  I am pretty good. I have some baking to finish, and things to get ready at home to host our families. But, hey I have 3 recruits in training (aka child labor) in my kids who are off all week.

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7 fun apps and tech to make your holidays easier and more entertaining.

By: Jennifer Devitt
December 16th, 2014

Many Christmas traditions are passed down from generation to generation. Some can be hundreds of years old. In 2014, many traditions have evolved with the help of technology.  Heck, even Santa has a "Cookie-cocoa dispenser" (pic)  in his kicked up tech savvy sleigh in The Santa Clause, right? So, what are some fun ways tech has found its way into your holidays?

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SYDCON's Annual Holiday Blog. This year, I am sharing some traditions!

By: Jennifer Devitt
December 14th, 2014

Happy Holidays from all of us here at SYDCON. It's time for our annual holiday blog. I started this tradition on December 2, 2010, feel free to read the first-holiday installment here.  Outside of wishing you all a very Happy Holidays, there is always one constant to this annual blog. It is the sharing of my favorite Christmas song, The Barenaked Ladies version of "Jingle Bells".  I invite you all to listen as you take the time to read this year's installment.

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Computer Science Education Week. Celebrate by participating in "Hour of Code".

By: Jennifer Devitt
December 9th, 2014

This week is "Computer Science Education Week".  For the second year now, during this week there is a push for "Hour of Code". So far this week, 62,707,942 have tried Hour of Code. This initiative is supported by The White House, Code.org and tech giants such as Apple, Microsoft and more.

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My top 8 must have items for the tech lover on your holiday shopping list!

By: Jennifer Devitt
December 7th, 2014

Ugh, it's Monday! I have a total case of the Monday's too! It's raining here in the burbs of Chicago, and freezing rain none the less! But, it is the second week in December and we have 16 days until Christmas. How is your shopping going? Perhaps you are in need of some ideas for the tech lovers on your list? If so, you have come to the right place! I have a few ideas I can share, after all, I live with several tech geeks who can be hard to shop for as well!

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My app of the day is "FingerKey". A bluetooth app that works with Apple's Touch ID.

By: Jennifer Devitt
December 2nd, 2014

It feels like I haven't shared a new app I heard of recently or a new one that I am currently using that I think you would enjoy. So, let's fix that, shall we? Today, I have an app to share that is simple, and probably won't deliver the longest blog post ever, but I find it utterly delightful.

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Has Black Friday lost it's luster? Online shoppers and early sales took it's toll.

By: Jennifer Devitt
November 30th, 2014

Happy December! Are you ready for snow, cold, Christmas carols, holiday decor, baking, too much food, friends, and family? How about shopping? Are you ready to hit your holiday shopping list hard? If you are like millions of Americans, perhaps you already started, and if you are lucky or really organized you've finished!

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I challenge you to take 10 minutes to count your blessings this Thanksgiving!

By: Jennifer Devitt
November 23rd, 2014

It's Thanksgiving week. So, as usual, we do lighter, more personal holiday blogs around here. Last year, I followed my friend Gini Dietrich's lead and did the blog "Happy Thanksgiving! Let me share the 88 Things I Love!"

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Could user rules for private social media users be dangerous and aid in stalking?

By: Jennifer Devitt
November 18th, 2014

Social media usage is at all time high. Just keeping up with the latest platform can be daunting. Do you need to be on every platform? Who should you connect with on each of these networks? Do you use each network for business, personal use or both? And, there is always the question of how much to share and with whom.

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Guru, ninja or wizard. Are all tech and social media people Dumbledores?

By: Jennifer Devitt
November 16th, 2014

Profiles, help wanted ads, job titles. These day's, it seems they are all infiltrated with some kind of superhero title. Today it seems more important to be a guru or ninja than it does to have say 5 years experience or quality testimonials. It seems if you are not a Programming Ninja, but just a lowly Senior Developer you are bottom of the barrel, doesn't it?

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You wouldn't ram your car into a tree to test crash results, don't try to bend your iPhone either!

By: Jennifer Devitt
November 11th, 2014

Bendgate. First reports started surfacing in the early days following the iPhone 6 Plus release in late September.  At the time, I was waiting for my upgrade day. Dave had opted for a iPhone 6 and quiet honestly we had no intention of testing to see if his brand new phone would bend! I doubt Apple Care would cover it if you bent it in a experiment after all.

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A pizza chain is a tech company and killing it's competition. What can you learn from them?

By: Jennifer Devitt
November 9th, 2014

Technology in 2014 and beyond. How do you define a "technology company"? If asked would you name companies such as the obvious, Apple, Microsoft etc? Would you think to name Domino's Pizza or perhaps Warby Parker? Probably not, but you would be remiss in not considering them as technology companies. In fact, as 2014 comes to an end, more companies should fall under "technology" to succeed.

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Holiday cooking made simple through technology with these apps and smart cooking devices.

By: Jennifer Devitt
November 4th, 2014

It's November. That means it's officially "the holidays".  With holidays comes food and cooking. In most families that means cooking large scale meals for extended family and friends. It also can mean making things you don't normally make. Cooking for a crowd can be a pleasure for some and a burden for others. Some can do it effortlessly while also being the life of the party. Others may feel changed to their stove or kitchen.  Thankfully technology has some clever helpers to make hosting your next holiday less stressful.

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Yep, I went with a phablet. Check out my review of my new arrival the iPhone 6 Plus.

By: Jennifer Devitt
November 2nd, 2014

It's finally here. After traveling the world and getting more stamps in its passport than I have, my iPhone 6 Plus has arrived. Before arriving on Friday to a freezing Chicago on Halloween. It traveled from China to Korea to Hong Kong then onto Alaska. All before finally heading to Illinois. It had some delays along the way, my shipping wasn't exactly ideal. It had a flight delay, a "missed scheduled transfer". Let's face it this wasn't one of UPSs better experiences. I had to re-arrange my schedule three times in 24 hours to be around to sign for it! Geez! And, all of this after waiting 3 weeks for it to ship anyway (but hey it was estimated to take 4 weeks to ship, so it was early)! Some of you may say, it wasn't worth the aggravation. I say you're wrong.

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How hiding behind technology is making us fat, rude and abusive.

By: Jennifer Devitt
October 28th, 2014

We talk a lot on this blog about the pros and cons of technology. More often than not, we discuss an app or way of using technology to enhance your business or make your life easier.  Well, as we all know there are also major pitfalls when it comes to technology usage in 2014.

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World Series and America's pastime embrace technology via apps!

By: Jennifer Devitt
October 26th, 2014

October Baseball. That can only mean one thing, it's World Series time. The first World Series was in 1903, it was between the Boston Americans vs. The Pittsburgh Pirates. Baseball is a timeless American pastime. The game itself doesn't change much. Sure there are new teams, name changes, and new rivalries.  One thing that has affected baseball, just like most other things is technology.

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Kids homework making you nuts? Here are two apps to help you help them!

By: Jennifer Devitt
October 21st, 2014

Happy Hump day! Midweek, I tend to notice that midweek is prime studying or cramming for test time in our house. With two teenagers we have lots of tests. It seems the last few years the amount of test my kids have has grown substantially. So much so, that I often wonder with all these tests, when do they ever have a chance to have lessons and learn the material?

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6 examples of how technology is used in everyday jobs.

By: Jennifer Devitt
October 19th, 2014

Technology. It is not just for tech geeks, programmers or office executives. In 2014 and beyond technology has a growing presence in a variety of industries. Today, you don't learn programming or technology just to be a developer. You learn technology to survive in a tech-focused world.

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PSA. 6 guidelines for parents and kids in today's day of technology.

By: Jennifer Devitt
October 14th, 2014

Ebola, Isis, teacher strikes, threatening weather, app hacks. Life in a connected digital age. It can be a tough navigation sometimes. New things develop all the time. How we shop, get our news, etc. It's always evolving. Technology affects all generations. Kids today have phones earlier than their older siblings did just a few years ago. Today everything is connected, whether they have a smartphone or iPod on Wifi.

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6 reasons why working with a software development firm may be beneficial to your business.

By: Jennifer Devitt
October 12th, 2014

Technology in 2014 can be daunting for businesses. There are many things to keep up to date. Better, more streamlined ways to accomplish day to day tasks. New cutting edge developments that come about daily for businesses in varying industries. How is a company supposed to keep up, especially a smaller business? The answer may be in working with a development group.

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6 tips to avoid social media spoilers during the Fall TV season.

By: Jennifer Devitt
September 30th, 2014

It's October 1st. That means fall TV is in full swing. That also means that that social media can be a tricky place to navigate if you do not watch your favorite show in real time. Face it, if you have a busy schedule, or just prefer to DVR shows and watch them commercial free, Twitter and Facebook can be a dangerous place.

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Top 4 headlines that stuck with me after being on vacation!

By: Jennifer Devitt
September 28th, 2014

 If you are a regular reader here (first of all many thanks!), you probably noticed I played hooky from the blog last week. We were off visiting the Mouse in DisneyWorld with the kids. So, I opted to take the week off versus scheduling blogs in advance or blogging instead of spending time with my family. See, I can unplug. When I say unplug I mean from work (as much as possible). I assure you, my iPhone was still physically attached to me...and who am I kidding, my family all had theirs too (the pic was taken with said iPhone).

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Happy iOS8 release day! 4 key features of the new software!

By: Jennifer Devitt
September 16th, 2014

September 17, 2014. It's officially iOS8 day.  Apple likes to stagger release days to help amp up excitement levels. As you know, last week was the big announcement week for the new iPhone 6, 6 Plus as well as the Apple Watch and Apple Pay systems.  Today is the software launch, and Friday, of course, is every Apple Geeks Christmas because it is an iPhone delivery day for pre-orders!

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5 highlights of Apple's newest products announced at yesterdays event.

By: Jennifer Devitt
September 9th, 2014

So, I think some major event occurred yesterday.  Something about new tech that was released? Maybe you've heard about a company called Apple that builds hype prior to a scheduled live event. At this so called event, they announce their latest, bright and shiny new toys to the tech geek masses.  Oh come on, who am I kidding if this is news to you, you must live a bubble, right?

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5 potential reasons Apple may reject your app when submitted to the App Store.

By: Jennifer Devitt
September 7th, 2014

Apps. There are many different kinds of apps available. There are web based apps, mobile apps, native apps. Let's face it, the app world can be overwhelming. Many questions we face daily, as Apple approved app developers, is how to get your app in the App Store. Apple is picky. And, they have a right to be. After all, they are letting 3rd parties sell things in their store, that bears their name. They should get to approve the content, theme, functionality, etc of apps in their store.

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7 key things to check on your website. Take 15 minutes and run a status check.

By: Jennifer Devitt
September 2nd, 2014

It is September 3, 2014.  That leaves us with 112 days until Christmas. However, there are only 85 days until Black Friday.  Why are the days remaining important?  Well for small business or giant retailers that means the busiest shopping season of the year is near.  Last month we talked about "Christmas in August" here on the blog.  We discussed ways to upgrade your systems for the holiday rush. Well, it is getting a little late for major upgrades for this season. So today let's focus on things you still have time for.

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The invite has been sent. Here are the top 4 Apple rumors that are rampant prior to event on 9/9/14.

By: Jennifer Devitt
September 1st, 2014

9/9/2014. Is something happening on that day?? Did you happen to get an invite from Cupertino, California? Oh yeah, that's right, it's the day Apple is speculated to be announcing the new iPhone. And, rumors are rampant that Apple will be announcing much more.

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It's back to school time. Technology is now more than ever a key element in education.

By: Jennifer Devitt
August 26th, 2014

School is starting around the US. More and more options are available for introducing tech in the classrooms. Tech that can make teachers life easier as well as students. Tech that can reduce paper usage, stop back pain from carrying heavy books, reduce forgotten assignments and more. Some things are being adopted at a quick rate, while other, simpler solutions seem slow to take hold.

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8 essentials every website needs to be successful.

By: Jennifer Devitt
August 24th, 2014

A customer or potential customer is searching online for a specific item. They maybe doing a local search to find a local retailer who has an item they are looking for prior to going to the store to purchase it. Not all potential customers who search online for items are looking to purchase them online. So, while you might not offer e-commerce on your website, there are still key items you need to have available for any customer to find. Below, I will list key items that you should have on your website, even if it is just a standard brochure type site with no online shopping capabilities. 

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Christmas in August? Only 126 shopping days left till Christmas? Is your business ready?

By: Jennifer Devitt
August 19th, 2014

It's August 20th. That leaves 126 shopping days until Christmas. Or 18 Fridays as my daughter has informed me! You may ask why on earth is she counting down to Christmas when it's August and what does it have to do with the blog? Well, last year we talked on the blog about Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping. But, we talked about it in November. This year, I thought to give a push to any procrastinators we should get businesses thinking about it sooner rather than later. I mean do you really think Santa is sitting on a beach somewhere versus hard at work building toys and prepping his sleigh with only 126 days remaining? No way, and you shouldn't be either!

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A Monday app review: Check out "Sktchy" a cool art app.

By: Jennifer Devitt
August 17th, 2014

It's Monday. I am not a Monday fan. I usually need things on Monday morning to kick my creative juices into gear. Heck, let's face it, it's not just my creative juices that need a swift kick on Monday's, but we won't dwell on that. So for today's blog, I want to share a fun new app Dave turned me onto. If you need some creative inspiration, this one will provide it hand's down.

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Commuting via train in 2014. The good and the bad. Tech can make it better.

By: Jennifer Devitt
August 12th, 2014

In today's age of technology, it is not too often you run into archaic systems or procedures. When you do, often times it tends to be smaller businesses, or perhaps a small town business. Now, don't get me wrong, I know there are plenty of Fortune 500 companies that are behind the times, but most are somewhat up on technology in some way.

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Blogging and writers block. They go hand in hand. How I combat it!

By: Jennifer Devitt
August 10th, 2014

Writer's block. I would say it is safe to assume that all bloggers face it at some point or another. And, they probably face it on some sort of regular basis as well. There can be many reasons for writer's block. It could be your mind is too focused on something else. You could be busy with other work related tasks. You could have personal issues that are distracting you. The reasons are endless and will vary person to person, and possibly by industry.

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Running a company as a couple. A reflection on how we've done it for 10 years!

By: Jennifer Devitt
August 5th, 2014

As you may have read here on Monday, SYDCON is celebrating our 10 year Anniversary. To expand on that today I thought I would offer some insight on how we got to the ten-year mark. Let's face it, starting a company is never easy. Especially if you are doing that while working full-time for another firm and raising a young family in the beginning of an economic downturn.

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SYDCON is celebrating our 10 year anniversary!

By: Jennifer Devitt
August 3rd, 2014

It was 10 years ago today, SYDCON officially came to be! Wow, has it really been 10 years? Like many startups or tech startups, SYDCON was started on a folding table in our spare bedroom of our first house. It started with Dave teaching himself to program on what is today an outdated computer, all while he was working full-time for another firm and we had three very young children! Programming and computers not only was a job for Dave but also became his hobby.

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Technology enhanced summer fun! Unplugging not required.

By: Jennifer Devitt
July 29th, 2014

Summer fun. Ever notice how during summer or warmer months your habits change? You may be more active or fit during warmer months because you are out and about enjoying the sun versus sitting on the couch. If you spend time on social media, some channels notice a little less buzz, while others may see a surge as people share their adventures or disappear for a while. In days past TV watching used to slump during summer months while mainstream TV was on hiatus, but these days Netflix fills the void of summer hiatus. As is the case with many things these days technology has an impact on things in the summer months. For some that can be good, others it opens yet another whole new world.

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Web Developers. They don't just build websites, they leap small buildings in a single bound!

By: Jennifer Devitt
July 27th, 2014

Web developers. They are "faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive able to leap tall buildings in a single bound." No, wait, my bad, that's Superman! But, I bet web developers do more than most people think they do. The average person probably thinks they do what their title says, "develop websites."

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Is your web development project in limbo. Things to consider when switching developers.

By: Jennifer Devitt
July 22nd, 2014

Abandoned projects. Lack of communication causes a project melt-down. Hiring the wrong team for your needs. Disappearing developer. Didn't get what you paid for. These are just a few of the reasons we hear when a company contacts us to pick up the pieces and be their knight in shining armor. We get lots of rescue 911 calls for companies with projects in limbo. They often ask can we pick up where someone left off and finish a project? In the years since we have been in business, we have done this a lot. For varying reasons, many are like the ones listed above.

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Amazon's "Kindle Unlimited" unleashing new potential for ebooks?

By: Jennifer Devitt
July 20th, 2014

Ebooks. There is the never-ending debate on which is better ebooks or paper. Really, it is just a matter of personal opinion. For many, they can't imagine not holding a physical book, turning the crisp pages or wearing a crease into the binding of a new favorite. Some of those individuals have never even tried an e-book. Others, simply prefer the feel of a book in hand. Several years ago, I was one of those people. I kept hearing about the Kindle (pre iPads). And I thought, no way, I love turning the pages of a book, feeling the paper in my hand. I always thought I could never read on a digital device. Well, after the constant buzz and doing some research on the vast amount of "Free books" available I decided to give it a try. I thought, ok I will try a few "Free ebooks" and make the decision to keep the Kindle prior to the return date policy. Well, low and behold I was hooked and pretty quickly. I just loved having a bookstore at my fingertips, the ability to define words, highlight passages and so on. It brought a whole new world to my reading.

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Outlining SYDCON's process for working with digital agencies.

By: Jennifer Devitt
July 15th, 2014

Here at SYDCON, we work with a variety of clients in varying industries. One of our niche areas is working with Design or Marketing firms. In our experience, many of these digital agencies find themselves in need of high-end developers to partner with to assist on random client projects. They don't have the demand to warrant full-time developers, or possibly the developers they staff just don't have the skills and or programming languages required for the project. So, these types of firms look to partner with a company like ours to work with on an "as needed" basis.

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5 things to consider if your company uses social media.

By: Jennifer Devitt
July 14th, 2014

Social Media. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, and Google+. People of all ages and demographics use some form of social media. Individuals and businesses use social media. Heck, I even know of several animals who have successful social media accounts. I mean "Grumpy Cat" has 414,000 followers on Instagram. It's safe to say social media is not going away anytime soon.

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iPhone 6 rumors are ramping up. What's on your wish list for new features?

By: Jennifer Devitt
July 8th, 2014

It's summer time so that inevitably means the rumors are flying about what the next iPhone release will bring us. When is it scheduled to be released? Will it have a larger screen? Will it be faster or indestructible? There is always a multitude of pics floating around on social media and in tech news. All claiming "leaked photo of the next iPhone". Sure it's fun to read these rumors and wonder if they are true, debate if they will be useful or won't even matter to users. As we all know by now, Apple will never comment on rumors. Heck, they don't even give us teasers. But, that doesn't stop the Apple lovers from speculation and rumor mill fun!

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The evolution of technology. A comparison of 4 items from 1990 & today!

By: Jennifer Devitt
June 29th, 2014

Technology. It has had its effect on many things. In most cases, technology has reduced the physical size of an item while increasing the speed at which the said item functions. It is always fun to reminisce when you see photos of older gadgets or show them to our kids and say "Hey, this is what my first phone looked like!". Kind of like a modern day "When I was a kid I had to carry my books 10 miles to school" tales we heard from our parents or grandparents.

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Should paywall protected media be shareable on social media?

By: Jennifer Devitt
June 22nd, 2014

Digital news. It's still on the rise. Readers are getting their news via the internet, social media outlets and news sites or apps. Studies show that 50 percent of Americans prefer to get their news digitally. With the rise of mobile and tablet usage, the increase of people getting their news digitally is also on the rise. Many of these digital news sites are locked down by paywalls. Should paywall protected news be shared on social media?

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PowerGen Battery Pack for iPhone. A must have for the traveler, my review.

By: Jennifer Devitt
June 17th, 2014

With the continued increased usage of smartphones, it's not unusual to find your battery quickly depleted. I know that many cars today offer USB charging capabilities, and if you carry your cord around all you need is an outlet to charge back up. But, if you are on the go, and need a solution that doesn't require an outlet, I have a recommendation for you.

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Six travel apps that show staying plugged in is ok!

By: Jennifer Devitt
June 15th, 2014

Summer is here. That means travel season is upon us. We discussed last week a new app I stumbled called "Gymsurfing". We have also in the past discussed a few other travel related apps, and whether or not I think you need to unplug on vacations. I decided to combine these topics for a summer travel kick-off blog highlighting some the best apps for travel.

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Top 5 Father's Day gift ideas for the techie or gadget loving Dad.

By: Jennifer Devitt
June 10th, 2014

Father's Day is this Sunday. Many people find getting gifts for men to be difficult. Gone are the days that the number one gift for Dad was a new tie. In 2014, most Dad's don't wear ties to work daily, or heck ever! And, it's not like Mother's Day where you can grab a bouquet of flowers or a random piece of jewelry that says "Mom". I mean ok, yeah I guess you can give Dad flowers and I am sure there is "Dad" jewelry out there. Heck everyone knows you can easily find "Best Dad" t-shirts, coffee mugs, etc. But, do gifts like that ever make it out of the closet?

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Are you a fitness nut that travels a lot? You will love this app.

By: Jennifer Devitt
June 8th, 2014

Summer travel time is here. There are many of us who do not give up our smartphones or iPads when we travel whether we are on business or personal trips. And, I for one don't think complete unplugging is necessary. Our smartphones can assist us with many things while we are traveling. They can provide us with mapquest, restaurant and hotel guides, purchasing admission to events, videoing or photographing precious memories and more. I discussed Apple's genius of the "Your Verse" promos back in January that show just how beneficial devices can be. There are many apps out there they can assist the traveler.

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My favorite things about iOS8.

By: Jennifer Devitt
June 3rd, 2014

Well, as promised on Monday at the Apple Developer Conference (WWDC2014), Apple unveiled iOS8 and OS X Yosemite. Lucky Apple Developers are allowed to start using iOS 8 immediately. Whenever this happens we have lots of excitement around here. The developers in our office (and our junior developer in training son) love to be guinea pigs and download it as soon as it is available. Me on the other hand, I choose to wait for actual launch because I don't care to be a guinea pig and deal with the bugginess.

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5 Things to watch for at Apple's Developer Conference this week.

By: Jennifer Devitt
June 1st, 2014

Today is the kickoff day for the Apple Developer Conference. It is a day that many tech geeks pay big bucks to attend while others eagerly await the live streaming. Apple uses this week to brag about what they have been working on the past year and announce new and upcoming hardware or software that will be available in the near future. There is always plenty of speculation on what Apple has in store for its loyalists.

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5 things to consider when looking to hire a web developer.

By: Jennifer Devitt
May 27th, 2014

In continuation of what has become our "5 Things to Consider" theme here on the blog the last few weeks, this week we will discuss things to consider when hiring a web developer. As we have discussed in the last few blogs, only four out of ten small businesses have dedicated websites. We used National Small Business week to kick off our push to help small businesses find the right tools to embrace technology.

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5 things to consider for e-commerce development.

By: Jennifer Devitt
May 20th, 2014

Retail, sales, e-commerce, mobile commerce, social commerce. How many ways can a sale be made in 2014? Yes, yes I know we have talked recently about the growth of e-commerce and how important it is to your business model. In an effort to follow up with last week's National Small Business Week blog and Monday's blog on things to consider for web development, today we will delve into things to consider for e-commerce development.

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5 things to consider when developing a website.

By: Jennifer Devitt
May 18th, 2014

Websites. Common sense tells most people they are key to any business. Last week during Small Business Week we discussed some tips for small businesses to embrace. In that blog, we mentioned that only four out of ten small businesses have a website. We also discussed the importance of mobile and e-commerce. So, with all those statistics fresh in our minds, this week let's focus on 5 key things to consider when finally deciding it's time your business had a website, or if you are in the stages of re-development.

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National Small Business Week. 3 tips for small businesses to embrace.

By: Jennifer Devitt
May 13th, 2014

This week is "National Small Business Week". According to the White House, the United States has 28 million small businesses. They also state that 2 out of every 3 jobs in the country is created by small business. So, small business is vital to our economy and our countries prosperity.

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Apple's "Find My Friends" app. Why everyone should have it.

By: Jennifer Devitt
May 11th, 2014

Today's blog is another installment that focuses on app recommendations. This weekend we had a few discussions with other parents about one of the favorite apps for keeping tabs on our kids! Imagine you are a parent and your child is late, and you have not heard from them. Or maybe you have a kid that is somewhat dishonest and fibs about where they are or who they are with. Or, perhaps your phone was stolen. Fortunately, there is an app to assist you. Apple has an app called "Find My Friends". And, don't worry it's not for stalkers either!

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Apps! There are millions of them. Share your favorite one with me!

By: Jennifer Devitt
May 6th, 2014

Apps. It's no secret we develop them. Probably isn't a surprise we use them daily and lots of them. If you are a regular blog reader you know that we like to share with our reader's cool new apps we found or apps that we use regularly that we think you might enjoy. I also have a tendency to quote Apple in saying "There's an app for that!". In addition to quoting Apple, I also like to encourage individuals and/or firms to build the app if there isn't one!

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Thriving retailers merge e-commerce with in store sales to create stellar shopping experience.

By: Jennifer Devitt
May 4th, 2014

E-commerce vs. Retail. Should retailers view it as a war or competition or treat all customers equally? It's no secret that e-commerce is on the rise. In fact, in the 3rd quarter of 2013 e-commerce increased by 18.2 percent over the same quarter in 2012. That's not to say that brick and mortar retail is dead. Brick and mortar saw a 4.7 percent year over year increase. Neither number is anything to sneeze at. So, what are retailers to do? In my opinion, focus on both.

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The coolest app for parents with young athletes. GameChanger.

By: Jennifer Devitt
April 27th, 2014

It's no secret that I am a sports mom. Most of you know that I have an insanely active almost 13-year-old. We are often chasing him around to either travel hockey or travel baseball. The world of youth travel sports is insanely competitive and it's not for all kids...or parents for that matter. One thing that parents and kids alike in competitive sports follow is stats. Stats can be used by kids and parents and coaches to find a player's weaker area and focus on improvements as well as showcase what they are excelling at.

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10 ways to make sure your development project stays on track to meet your deadline.

By: Jennifer Devitt
April 22nd, 2014

Deadlines. Launch date. D-day. Scheduled delivery. All different words, phrases, yet all carry the same meaning. Let's face it very few people like to be held to a specific timeline. Deadlines make some people nervous. Deadlines make some other thrive. Some do not like to commit to deadlines if it is dependent upon others doing their part. In the business world, there can be varying reasons for deadlines. In some cases, deadlines line up with product launches, business trips, court dates, expos or conventions. In other cases, deadlines are a date the client sets for what they see as an ideal time frame. No matter what the reason for a specific deadline or launch date, there is one key item to meeting deadlines. Communication. Yep, one word, communication. Funny how one word can carry so much weight, isn't it? If one party drops the ball on one simple word it could derail the timeline of an entire project. Bad communication can send entire departments into a tailspin. Bad communication can cost firms thousands of dollars. In the world of web development, app development or programming there are always deadlines. Many times, these deadlines are simply unattainable (like say the government health care website). Many times these deadlines are unrealistic because they were predetermined by a non-technical person who has no idea the amount of programming time required. But, that's a topic for a different post. Today, let's focus on key ways to met realistic deadlines. You see, in many instances, multiple people or departments are involved in meeting deadlines or keeping a project on track. In a perfect world, below is a list of ways to work efficiently with your developer and keep your project running smoothly.

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Shopping for sunglasses is a whole lot easier with a virtual 3D app!

By: Jennifer Devitt
April 20th, 2014

Ok, so it's no secret that online shopping is booming, and has been for awhile. Heck if you read this blog even occasionally you know I like to point out the benefits of e-commerce and tablet-friendly shopping sites. I also have a habit of sharing cool new apps we discovered for you to try out. And, I also like to shop. So, when Dave showed me this app over the weekend I was intrigued.

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Social Media, spoilers and live event tweeting.

By: Jennifer Devitt
April 15th, 2014

Spoilers. Some people live for them, others avoid them like the plague. There are many of us who simply cannot wait until next week or next season to find out what will happen to our favorite character or on our favorite show (warning spoilers ahead). What about social media and live events? These days fans, reporters, and showrunners are often times "live tweeting" during events and shows. "Live Tweeting" allows fans to interact with other fans as events unfold or perhaps get more details from the show itself.

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Social media prank gone wrong. Some things just are not funny.

By: Jennifer Devitt
April 13th, 2014

Social Media. People of all ages are using it these days. Whether they be on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc. Individuals are on social media, businesses are on social media, teens and even younger children are on some sort of social network. It's not a new thing to remind individuals to think twice before you put something on social media. Always think of the perception of others, your audience, and future complications from the information you share.

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What you need to know about Heartbleed security bug.

By: Jennifer Devitt
April 8th, 2014

Another day, another bug. So it goes lately in the internet world it seems. It appears we are getting almost daily reminders to be diligent about our passwords, keeping our software up to date and monitoring our servers. Yet, there are still those individuals out there who use common passwords.

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Operation Click - support the safety of teen drivers.

By: Jennifer Devitt
April 6th, 2014

The month of April in several suburban counties throughout the Chicago area is an exciting time for many teen drivers. You see during the month of April, students who sign a contract with Operation Click through their participating schools are entered for a chance to win a car. The winners are announced at banquets held throughout the participating counties. Pretty exciting for teenagers, wouldn't you say? Operation Click was found in 1998, by local Crystal Lake police officer Sean McGrath.

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My experience and review of Beats Music

By: Jennifer Devitt
April 1st, 2014

Music streaming services. There are plenty available from freebies with ads or preset playlists you cannot bypass, to paid services. There is Pandora, Spotify, iTunes Radio, Rdio and now enter Beats Music. Beats Music debuted in January of 2014. They even had a fun Superbowl ad featuring Ellen DeGeneres.

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Examples of how technology or web development can save you money.

By: Jennifer Devitt
March 30th, 2014

Everyone is interested in saving money. Businesses in today's economy are always looking for ways to cut costs and/or become more efficient. Many companies are interested in advancements that are environmentally friendly. Technology and specifically web development or custom programming offer today's businesses many alternatives to streamline their offices and reduce costs.

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I challenge you to learn to make your own version of "Flappy Bird" for free.

By: Jennifer Devitt
March 25th, 2014

Whether you were in the group of individuals who had never heard of "Flappy Bird" before it vanished from the app store. Or you had heard of it but had not gotten around to downloading it, you are in luck! "Flappy Bird" is returning to the app store! Whew, world panic can end now!

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Zappos shows how businesses can successfully utilize Pinterest to reach customers.

By: Jennifer Devitt
March 23rd, 2014

Businesses today have many different avenues in which they can advertise their business, services or products. Many of those avenues can be done for free via social media. Yes, social media is free for anyone to use, but there are also paid ad's or paid enhanced features a business can upgrade to on varying social media networks to reach their client base.

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The 5 items technology made useless in the modern office.

By: Jennifer Devitt
March 18th, 2014

Offices in 2014 can either be vastly different from offices in say 1990 or in some industries, they can be very similar. Offices in industries that are embracing technology are often more modern in decor, but also may seem to be a lot less cluttered. Just like everyday items, there are many items in office environments that technology has made obsolete.

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How brick and mortar stores are using technology to do routine tasks.

By: Jennifer Devitt
March 16th, 2014

For the last few years, technology and e-commerce have kept brick and mortar stores on their toes trying to keep up. In the last six to twelve months many retailers are developing ways to incorporate technology, e-commerce, and apps into their daily store activity. Physical stores are trying to combat "showrooming". Stores that have well-functioning e-commerce systems are trying to utilize data from customers with profiles in their systems inside their stores. Retailers like Nordstrom are showing great gains in this arena.

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Kids do not use technology for just video games anymore.

By: Jennifer Devitt
March 11th, 2014

Technology. When I was a kid I did not have much everyday exposure to technology. I remember when we got archaic video game system like Pong. I also remember when we got the first "cable boxes" that had movie channels. But, technology to assist me with everyday tasks, Nah.

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All development firms are not created equal

By: Jennifer Devitt
March 9th, 2014

Are you in need of a developer to modify your website, create a website from scratch or develop an application to make your business run smoother? Naturally, you either rely on word of mouth from a friend or associate or you hit Google to find some who fits your needs. The results can be overwhelming!

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What will things like education and bookstores be like in 10 years?

By: Jennifer Devitt
March 4th, 2014

If you had a crystal ball, what do you think it would show the future of education would be like in say 10 years? How do you think technology will change the classroom? Will our children be telling our grandchildren tales about extinct things called bookstores? Technology is already changing the way kids today learn and get their information. How different will it be down the road?

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The power of Twitter and the popularity of selfies.

By: Jennifer Devitt
March 2nd, 2014

Social Media. You either get it or you don't. Some businesses see the importance of it. Others see it as a time waster. I tend to notice the businesses who think it's a time waster also are still paying to be in the phone book or have outdated websites. It's not just businesses who are benefiting from Twitter it's also celebrities. Celebrities are using Twitter to share news, promote products they endorse and communicate with fans. Many are doing this with the help of selfies.

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Online ordering on the rise in restaurant industry.

By: Jennifer Devitt
February 25th, 2014

It seems that restaurants are finally coming around to the digital age. Many now have modern day websites with real pages for menus versus having to download PDF's. On many, you can also find interior restaurant photo's, as well as testimonials and reviews. Now on many, you also have the ability to make reservations and even order online!

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Sometimes it's the simplest of apps that are the winners.

By: Jennifer Devitt
February 23rd, 2014

Sometimes it's the simple things that do best. Sometimes success comes out of the blue from where you least expect it. I have read (and mentioned here) that the most successful apps come from something the developer came up with out of frustration or boredom. The first app we ever developed, back in 2009 was one Dave did, just to see if he could. He is a history nerd and loves Presidential facts. So, he made a VERY basic app that generates information based on United States Presidential Facts. The app has not been updated in forever, but we left it in the app store cause it did get regular (although low amounts) of downloads.

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How will the polar vortex effect the economy?

By: Jennifer Devitt
February 18th, 2014

It was a balmy 34 degrees this morning as I made my way into the office. That is like a tropical heat wave here in the Chicago area compared to the weather we have endured this winter. As individuals, we have had items we can use to endure extreme temperatures. Some of these items would be hats, gloves, coats, furnaces, remote start, boots, hot coffee and more. But what things can businesses use to survive extreme temperatures?

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What effect does technology have on intelligence and healthcare?

By: Jennifer Devitt
February 16th, 2014

Is technology affecting our intelligence? Can it have an impact on monitoring our health? Many suggest that children or adults who play video games are experiencing negative effects on their brain, thus impacting their intelligence and behavior. However, studies actually show that to be false.

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Having a top selling app is not always a good thing?

By: Jennifer Devitt
February 9th, 2014

What is it with the bird species and the iTunes store? First, it was "Angry Birds" that was a top seller, now in 2014 it's "Flappy Bird". Admittedly I was addicted to the original "Angry Birds". My kids got me to try "Flappy Bird" on SuperBowl Sunday. I only got to a whopping 6! Now mind you that took me many, many tries! Angry Birds at least required strategy and skill. Flappy Bird, not so much. But darn it if that game didn't get me annoyed enough when I couldn't pass 1 to keep hitting restart! My kids and their friends played through even though they were totally annoyed as well.

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Programming as a 2nd language? I think it should be!

By: Jennifer Devitt
February 4th, 2014

The news is aflutter lately with the importance of teaching our children programming. In December, there was a solid push towards getting kids interested in coding with the successful "Hour of Code" campaign. Code.org reports that students wrote 500,000,000 lines of code as part of Computer Science Education Week. That's an awesome start! Two of our three kids participated, they even exceed the hour and they enjoyed it!

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Brandbowl/Adbowl and social media on Superbowl Sunday.

By: Jennifer Devitt
February 2nd, 2014

Superbowl Sunday. For some, it's all about the big game being played. For others, it's all about the food. Some just watch for the commercials and others it's a party day. Then there are those who watch because their family watches it. In our house, Dave & Connor watch the game (although not as closely has the would watch the Stanley Cup Finals or World Series). Dave, like me, enjoys Twitter on Superbowl Sunday and we both like the ads. My kids are all about the food on Superbowl Sunday! See, I am a horrible Mom who doesn't allow them to eat too much junk food. So, Superbowl Sunday to them is like a holiday when they get to eat what they want!

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Combat this winter by outfitting your home or office with a Nest.

By: Jennifer Devitt
January 26th, 2014

We are experiencing more cold weather here in the Chicago area. Let's face it saying "cold weather" is an understatement. We have been dealt a sub-zero arctic winter here in Chicago. So, it's time to stop complaining about it and time to put on our thick skin and find ways to cope with it. I have already talked about using the OnStar app to cope with the cold, and about remote access to the office if the weather inhibits us from coming (we put on our thick skin though today and are all present and accounted for here at SYDCON headquarters). Today's coping mechanism is upgrading our home with a Nest thermostat.

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Wearable technology, will it catch on?

By: Jennifer Devitt
January 21st, 2014

The next wave of technology seems to be wearable. Google Glass is already on the market and the chatter about the Apple iWatch keeps getting louder. But, will these items catch on?

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Small, local business can't afford to continue to ignore e-commerce.

By: Jennifer Devitt
January 19th, 2014

Many small businesses live and die by the "shop local" mantra. But, let's face it, the reach of e-commerce and technology is getting far too big to ignore. We don't live in the times of Mayberry or Grady anymore. For businesses to survive, especially retail, they need e-commerce.

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Modern technology and how it intertwines with everyday life.

By: Jennifer Devitt
January 14th, 2014

Modern technology. It's getting to be unavoidable for some. For others, it's a crutch in this thing we call life. Some forms of technology, like smartphones and tablets, are like an extra appendage for some. Something we can't live without or find difficulty taking a break from. For some it's a result of their business and/or job, for others it's just something they love or are addicted to. I know I am guilty of being addicted, having an extra appendage or having a crutch, as I am sure many of you are.

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Recent security breaches highlight importance of working with developers.

By: Jennifer Devitt
January 12th, 2014

So, unfortunately for many shoppers and retailers, 2013 ended rather rough and early reports for 2014 are showing that the news of data breaches isn't going away. Newscasts are filled with stories of breaches at Target and Neiman Marcus, not to mention glitches at healthcare.gov. With all of these reports swirling in the news and the start of a New Year, perhaps now is the time to review security on your own website or within your internal systems.

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The app industry shows no sign of slowing down. Don't miss the boat.

By: Jennifer Devitt
January 7th, 2014

Are you looking ahead to the fresh New Year, and planning your companies budget for 2014? Are you trying to decide what tech areas would best suit your firm? I encourage you to consider the app arena. In 2013 Apple App Store sales topped $10 Billion dollars! And, according to Apple, December 2013 was the App Store's best month ever with almost 3 billion apps downloaded! Those numbers are phenomenal. And, it's not just good for Apple. A third quarter report from App Annie showed that Google Play had 25 percent more downloads, but was behind Apple in revenue when compared to the Apple App Store.

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Can your office function in extreme weather?

By: Jennifer Devitt
January 5th, 2014

Ok so unless you live in a bubble or The Florida Keys, you have heard about this Polar Vortex that has hit a good portion of the US. Here in the Chicago area, the northwestern suburb of Crystal Lake to be exact, the actual air temperature reading is -19 degrees with wind chills plunging us into the -40-degree range. In the social media world, the hashtag #ChiBeria is being used! Newscasters and weather experts are advising citizens to stay indoors if possible. Public transportation is having major difficulties. But even in extreme weather, most companies cannot afford to completely shut down. So, what's the answer? Utilize modern technology to work remotely from the warmth and comfort of your home. Below are some ways your business can still function in the extreme temperatures or inclement weather.

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2014 is approaching. What's on your business tech agenda?

By: Jennifer Devitt
December 29th, 2013

Can you believe it, another year is winding down. How did your business do in 2013? Did you keep up with technology? Were you part of the growing e-commerce holiday shopping surge? Did you create an app or a mobile site? The options available are endless. Here are some suggestions of how to gear up for the best success in 2014.

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Last minute Christmas gift ideas for tech lovers.

By: Jennifer Devitt
December 22nd, 2013

It's December 23rd. Have you been procrastinating or have no clue what to give the technology lover on your list? If so, I have some ideas for you. I came up with the five items that the tech lovers in my house would be lost without. So, if you need an idea, check out the list below.

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Top Ten Best Holiday Movies.

By: Jennifer Devitt
December 17th, 2013

In keeping with the holiday theme on the week before Christmas when everyone is either rushing to finish work or looking for a distraction, I thought I would do a fun blog. So, for today's edition let's talk holiday movies. Below I will give you a list of my Top 10 Favorite Holiday movies and why. I would love for you to share yours or compare our lists.

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SYDCON's Annual Holiday Blog. Come see my Top 10 Fav Holiday Things!

By: Jennifer Devitt
December 15th, 2013

Jingle Bells, Batman smells, Robin laid an egg...It's that time of year again. Time for the annual SYDCON holiday blog and the sharing of my favorite Christmas Song. Jingle Bells, but not just any rendition, the Barenaked Ladies rendition. Go ahead, click the link and press play and listen along while you read!

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Support Hour of Code. The kids of America need it to succeed.

By: Jennifer Devitt
December 10th, 2013

This week is Computer Science Education Week. Leaders at major tech companies like Apple, Google, Yahoo, and Mircosoft are leading the push. Combining their efforts with groups like Code.org, Girls Who Code and President Obama to raise awareness of the importance of computer science education.

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Winter is here. Here's my fav app to help get me thru it!

By: Jennifer Devitt
December 8th, 2013

Brrr! So my dashboard in the car said it was a brisk 14 degrees out this morning. Yesterday we had snow on and off almost all day. Total accumulation approximately 5 inches. Yes, I realize it's December and I live in the Chicago area, so this isn't unusual. Considering I have lived here all my life, the winter weather is not my favorite.

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Increase in mobile shopping drives Cyber Monday sales!

By: Jennifer Devitt
December 3rd, 2013

It's December 4, 2013. Unless you live in a bubble you know that the holiday shopping rush is in full swing. You also know that e-commerce and mobile shopping was predicted to rise 13% in 2013. Experts and analysts have been expecting high volume numbers for mobile/e-commerce this holiday season, starting with Cyber Monday.

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An App for that. How about one thats a meat thermometer?

By: Jennifer Devitt
December 1st, 2013

As Apple says: "There's an App for That!" This Thanksgiving I was reminded once again of that famous phrase. While assisting my brother-in-law with Thanksgiving dinner I got to experience the iGrill.

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Happy Thanksgiving! Let me share 88 Things I Love.

By: Jennifer Devitt
November 26th, 2013

Happy Thanksgiving! How is it possible Thanksgiving is this week already? Man time is sure flying. Holiday posts are as much of a tradition around here as they are at other blogs. It's a tradition I enjoy. I like sharing some of us and learning about others by reading other holiday blog posts. I think these types of blogs help humanize the face behind the company.

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The digital age. Its keeping TV shows and classic novels alive and kicking.

By: Jennifer Devitt
November 24th, 2013

Digital media. E-readers, Kindles, iPads. Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime. Project Gutenberg, Amazon.com, iTunes. These are just some examples of where you can find digital media. Maybe you are a book worm, couch potato or a music junkie. All the above mentioned can help you get your fix...digitally. There are many nostalgic individuals who believe these mediums are detrimental. My opinion is that those who find these modern forms of media to be detrimental are simply afraid of change.

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10 Everyday items that technology made useless.

By: Jennifer Devitt
November 19th, 2013

Technology. It makes our lives simpler. It makes some everyday tasks quicker. It keeps us connected. It makes us impatient. It makes items that were once relevant irrelevant or obsolete. Today's post was inspired by something that greeted me on the floor next to my desk on Monday morning when I returned from vacation. Actually, this item also made me sigh a few days prior to vacation when it sat rudely in my front walkway at home on a rainy windy day. "What is it?", you may ask. phonebooks, YellowBooks, WhitePages, etc whatever you may call them.

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Experiencing Disney via new technology utilizing apps while traveling

By: Jennifer Devitt
November 17th, 2013

A few weeks ago, I blogged about Disney's latest technology, the Magic Band. In that blog installment, I discussed my experience thus far with the plan ahead elements of the bands and the My Disney Experience app. In this installment, I will cover my families overall experience with using the bands and the app in the parks.

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Holiday online shopping & Black Friday/ Cyber Monday sales.

By: Jennifer Devitt
November 12th, 2013

Where did the time go? It's November. Thanksgiving is just around the corner. That means Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. For the first time in 15 years, it is reported that the internet was listed as the top destination for holiday shopping.

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Twitter's IPO and how the naysayers were wrong about Social Media.

By: Jennifer Devitt
November 10th, 2013

All the chatter in the last couple of days has been about Twitter's IPO. Social Media is abuzz with wonder on how it will be different that Facebooks IPO. It appears they must be doing something right initially has reports show Twitter stock jumped 72% on the first day.

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Apps! Do you have a favorite? Wonder what mine is?

By: Jennifer Devitt
November 5th, 2013

Like Apple likes to say "there is an app for that!". There is a wide variation of apps available, and more often than not there is something for everyone no matter your tastes or interests. There are shopping apps, games, travel apps, parking apps, you name it. We all have our favorite ones, as well as having ones we have dreamed of in our head that we wish existed. In this blog I am going to spotlight one of my favorite apps...and bonus it's a free app that gives your rewards!! Shopkick!

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Why I decided to go with a iPad Air instead of a iPad Mini.

By: Jennifer Devitt
November 3rd, 2013

Being app developers, some things are necessities for our firm. iPads are one of them. We have to makes sure things we develop for our clients function on varying platforms. Being Apple-approved developers, that also means making sure the apps, as well as mobile sites we develop for our clients, function on the latest Apple products and software (iOS7).

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Pinterest: Not the glorified theft ring everyone predicted a year ago.

By: Jennifer Devitt
October 29th, 2013

In April 2012, I blogged about Pinterest. In early 2012 folks on Twitter were screaming that Pinterest was the equivalent of a theft ring. Folks were "stealing" images, committing copyright infringement, etc. There was utter outrage on how long can this can continue, when will brands/companies sue Pinterest or the users themselves? In April of 2012 I thought those naysayers were off target, and still do today.

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Realistic programming deadlines and healthcare.gov

By: Jennifer Devitt
October 27th, 2013

Glitches or bugs in new software or web based systems happen every day. The major bugs that are occurring with healthcare.gov are no surprise. Often times these glitches and bugs are a result of non-technical staff not fully understanding what they are asking programmers to do, or having unrealistic timelines.

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When I was a kid...how technology advancements changed how things are done.

By: Jennifer Devitt
October 22nd, 2013

We all know technology is a rapidly changing thing. We are always learning something new, or finding new ways technology can simplify our lives. I marvel at some of the things that my kids can utilize now that make me feel like I did when my Grandma used to say "when I was a kid we had to walk 3 miles in the snow to school" or something of that nature. With the advancements in technology also comes some things that make life more stressful.

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Web Developers Don't Just Build Websites

By: Jennifer Devitt
October 20th, 2013

Since web developers often work behind the scenes, sometimes the range of what a web developer is capable of doing gets lost. Sure, web developers have talents in website programming and website maintenance, custom shopping carts, and the list goes on. But some of the more unique work a developer does is often lost in the scope of the project's magnitude.

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Why Custom Website Development is the Best Option for Your Website

By: Jennifer Devitt
October 15th, 2013

Each business is so unique, there are options out there for most everything you need. The ideas that have generated products unlike anything seen before, the way companies describe themselves and conduct their business... So much is involved in making each business different.

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New technology at Disney allows you to customize your vacation experience.

By: Jennifer Devitt
October 13th, 2013

"To Infinity & Beyond!" "It's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" "Tomorrowland", EPCOT (Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow). All phrases coined by The Walt Disney Company, or Walt Disney himself. Walt Disney, a pioneer of technology had great visions for the future of technology, and his legacy The Walt Disney company has not let him down. Year after year Disney pushes the envelope in different areas of technology. This year their newest venture is "MagicBands" and "FastPass+". Being regular Disney guests we are often offered the opportunity to participate in "beta testing" of new systems. Last year we participated in a very limited, FastPass+ testing and this year we are excited to test MagicBands and FastPass+.

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Streamline and "Go Green" by going digital.

By: Jennifer Devitt
October 8th, 2013

A key factor for many businesses today, in the current economy, is cost cutting. Another factor for many businesses is "Going Green" or the preserving the environment. And, a key factor for clients is instant gratification or quick turn around. These days everyone wants to save time and money. There are several ways this can be accomplished through programming or by working with a web developer. Right now, we are going to focus on digital catalogs and digital training manuals.

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Innovation vs. Tradition: Digital vs. Paper Information

By: Jennifer Devitt
October 6th, 2013

Technology has improved the efficiency at which we are able to complete many of the tasks in our lives. Faster, more fuel efficient cars, better computers... there are many examples. Another such example is the ability for a company to go totally paperless with all of their forms. From client information to job applications to anything imaginable, it is all possible to be kept inside an online database and stored electronically.

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7 Benefits to Having a Limited Access/Members Only Section of Your Website

By: Jennifer Devitt
October 1st, 2013

A common question we are asked is, "Can I have a limited access/members only section of my website?" Of course you can, and it's possible that you should. There are many potential areas where your website and company can benefit from limited access/members only content.

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How Your Business Can Take Advantage of Systems Integration

By: Jennifer Devitt
September 29th, 2013

One of the more confusing elements I have had to try to understand and write about for SYDCON is Systems Integration. It is a complex idea, which is funny because the goal is simplification. But, as with most things that simplify, you have a lot of specification and trim work to do.

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What a Database Can Provide for Your Website

By: Jennifer Devitt
September 24th, 2013

Having a database is a vital part of having dynamic website content, specifically if your site's content changes frequently. All of your website's information is stored in a database and can be accessed at any time, meaning that instead of typing out an update each time something changes, you can just manipulate the content within the database using a Content Management System.

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Why Having an Online Shopping Cart is a Must for Your Business

By: Jennifer Devitt
September 22nd, 2013

"People love my products. They'll come to my store and buy them."

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Writing A Case Study: Tips and Questions

By: Jennifer Devitt
September 19th, 2013

Writing a case study can be an intimidating task. They can be scary for technical minds because they need to be relatively understandable to the layperson, and they can be equally as intimidating for a more creative mind used to blogging or other forms of writing because additions or flowery descriptions aren't entirely appropriate or necessary. Case studies are straightforward, no-nonsense articles designed to be as informative as possible while being accessible to audiences with different levels of product understanding. For example, at SYDCON we need potential clients who aren't familiar with software or web development and the technology involved to be able to make the connection in their own mind that, "this is what I need. I should contact them," while at the same time giving intense technical description of the technology and our development process for those who "speak the language," if you will. The result is a hybrid piece that (hopefully) gives all types of readers the information they need, so we are the stopping point for their decision on who to trust with their website.

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Why Having a Custom Content Management System Will Benefit Your Website

By: Jennifer Devitt
September 17th, 2013

Having a website is a wonderful thing: it affords your business infinite possibilities for marketing and sales. Too often, business' websites experience a rapid decline in quality upon creation because they remain stagnant. Nothing is being updated; no new information or products are being offered.

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The Presence of Technology in Pop Culture and How It Has Changed Everything

By: Jennifer Devitt
September 15th, 2013

So with all of the controversy surrounding Miley Cyrus and the VMA's and blah blah blah (don't worry, this isn't about that), there is something that screams at me through the smokescreen of what is physically happening in situations like these.

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Web Design vs. Web Development

By: Jennifer Devitt
September 10th, 2013

Art vs. Logic, Visual vs. Technical

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So What Now? Life after Technical Writing

By: Jennifer Devitt
September 8th, 2013

You've gotten a chance to see a bit of my personal evolution in terms of my career path. I'm finding talents at a new company while helping them expand their business. It's a rare opportunity to be able to help a small business improve its online representation, and it's pretty rewarding. Just getting information such as increased page views or blog comments (I have yet to get a comment, you could be the first) makes me feel like the impact of my personal work is being felt, something I haven't really gotten with other positions at larger corporate-driven companies.

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How I Utilize Technology in My Current Position

By: Jennifer Devitt
September 3rd, 2013

As I mentioned in my last post, I wasn't exactly fluent in technology (I like to call it techno-wizardry) when I started this position. The people working at SYDCON have been helpful in their putting up with me and answering my interviewing questions about basically everything they do. PHP, heck, scripting languages in general, databases, Content Management Systems? What? It's like learning another language. I'll admit that the stuff is still over my head on a technical front but that's the beauty of the position: I'm not programming anything. As long as I know what it does, what the programmers do with it and how to talk about it I'm golden.

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The Necessity of Technological Fluency for College Graduates

By: Jennifer Devitt
August 27th, 2013

As a recent college graduate, I was frustrated when my lack of technological knowledge figured into my problems finding a job. I graduated college without a smart phone or tablet, barely being able to use a computer for anything other than Word, and not knowing anything about twitter or related services. Sure, I have a Facebook but I only use it as a glorified email to keep in touch with geographically distant friends.

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I woke up this morning the parent of a high schooler, now what?

By: Jennifer Devitt
August 25th, 2013

Today is Monday, August 26, 2013. It marks a landmark day for me and my oldest daughter, Sydney. Today Sydney is officially a high school student. So that means today I am officially the Mom of a high schooler! I don't know where the time has gone because it hardly seems possible that this is happening! But, it is and I have to face it.

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From Chalkboards to Whiteboards to PowerPoints, What's Next?

By: Jennifer Devitt
August 20th, 2013

Last week, Mashable.com/ published an article about the new Google Play Books app for iOS as part of the iTextbooks feature for iPhone and iPad. This seems to be the path education is headed. The increasing role of technology in the classroom is hard not to notice (unless you haven't been in a classroom in some while, but even so there are lectures available on youtube or other websites, a nod to this point) with online blackboards, online classes, mobile devices, file sharing, SMART and Mimio boards present in most college institutions. With this new trend we could be seeing even more technology in the classroom, except this time brought in by the students.

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Collaboration Opens Doors

By: Jennifer Devitt
August 13th, 2013

Much like the probing questions involved on a first date, so is the process of finding a collaborative match with a design firm. Instead of "what do you do with your free time" and "what do you do for work", questions such as "are you able to program a custom shopping cart and add it to a website" or "are you able to develop a custom Content Management System specifically for this website so the user can make additions or edits once we are done" come up. A little less romantic, sure, but just as important to somebody trusting the visual appeal and working ability of their business' online representation to somebody else. As a firm that specializes in developing websites and apps, oftentimes we are contacted by marketing firms, ad agencies or design firms working on the visual aspects of a website who need somebody to program the inner content and make the website work.

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Seven Functional Differences Between a Mobile App and a Mobile Website

By: Jennifer Devitt
August 11th, 2013

This is a question we are often posed and think that defining a clear distinction between the two would be helpful. Many people come to us wondering which would be the most cost-efficient, which would best allow them to reach their customer base, etc. Below we have listed seven qualities possessed by either apps or websites and differentiate between them for you to help alleviate some of the confusion.

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Why Your Business Needs a Mobile Website

By: Jennifer Devitt
August 6th, 2013

One scene of my return trip from Venezuela that will always stick in my mind is a four-year-old sitting on the floor in the Atlanta airport using an iPad. I was in middle school while the internet was becoming accessible and the cell phone was first entering popular society.

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Improving the web, one struggling website at a time. A mission for the greater good!

By: Jennifer Devitt
April 17th, 2013

Pay it Forward. Random Act of Kindness. Volunteer. Pick your phrase. There are many ways to help our fellow citizens, colleagues, competitors, friends and strangers. Here at SYDCON, we believe helping others is every person's responsibility. If we all do our part the world will be a better place. This is a message we instill in our kids, so we aim to practice what we preach!

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Dish Hopper - Slingbox Adapter Review

By: Jennifer Devitt
April 12th, 2013

Many of our followers know that Jennifer and I are parents to 3 kids that have quite a few activities. What that means for Jennifer and I, is that we get to sit around quite a bit while our kids are at dance lessons, baseball practice, etc. So we decided that we would upgrade our dish network tv boxes so we could watch tv from our iPads while we are not running errands when our kids are at their activities.

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Breaking habits and embracing different technology, my weekend of iPad only!

By: Jennifer Devitt
March 17th, 2013

So, Dave has been nagging me to try to spend more time on my iPad and less on my Mac. He has made the change almost completely in the evenings and on the weekends. I typically only use my iPad for reading or surfing the web outside of the house. It's not that I don't like it, it's just habit to sit with my laptop on the couch. I know Zamboni likes Dave's idea of ditching the laptop, cause then he can sit in his throne (my lap) and not have a laptop for a pillow (see pic)!

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Graduation Requirements for the class of 2017.

By: Jennifer Devitt
February 4th, 2013

Class of 2017, seems scary to think about, doesn't it? Try being the parent of a child who will be in the class of 2017!! Yeah, that's me! Holy Cow, how did that happen?? Yes, my oldest will be a freshman next year. We went last night to "8th Grade/Explore Night". We basically found out how she scored on her entrance exam (outstanding, thank you very much - Honors placements) as well as pick her classes for freshman year.

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Come see our new digs!

By: Jennifer Devitt
January 7th, 2013

The new SYDCON website is live!!! We are very excited to launch our new site, with a creative new design and fresh content. We have even updated our "About Us" section to incorporate other members of our staff who have eluded our bio page long enough!! Come over and "meet" Jeff Ward & Brad Jorgensen!

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It's more than just a name...

By: Jennifer Devitt
January 3rd, 2013

2013, a new year, new possibilities, a new look and a new name? Starting in 2013, we will be completing some rebranding and altering our name somewhat. In an effort to simplify our message and define what we do, we will be shortening our name to SYDCON, dropping the "web development".

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"I made my family disappear"... Holiday Traditions SYDCON style.

By: Jennifer Devitt
December 12th, 2012

It's December, so it's that time of year, right? Time for Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Hanukka, and Kwanza. Time for family and friends, traditions, presents, Santa, cookies and maybe even The Grinch! Every year we do our annual Happy Holidays SYDCON blog and it's become a tradition to share one of my favorite Christmas songs. "Jingle Bells" - but the Bare Naked Ladies version. If you haven't yet (and how could that be, this is the third time I have shared it), go ahead and listen while you read. I promise you won't be disappointed.

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Web development, it goes far beyond your website.

By: Jennifer Devitt
November 30th, 2012

In the world of the web, everything is not relative. While names may be similar, there are distinct differences, and its important for businesses to understand these difference when looking to move their companies forward in technology. For example, when one sees "Web Design" they probably think its a firm that makes or creates standard issue websites. A web designer could be a graphic designer or a less likely a web developer. Web developers are programmers. Programmers bring a totally different facet to the web than designers. While web designers bring beauty, vision, and ease of layout to all things web, developers make them function and function dynamically.

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Happy Birthday to the "Inc." of SYDCON...Shannon!

By: Jennifer Devitt
August 26th, 2012

This is the third installment of this series. As many of you know, the name SYDCON is a combination of our two oldest children's names, Sydney & Connor. No, we didn't forget that we have three kids, our youngest, Shannon just hadn't crashed our world yet when we named the company. So, our family joke is that Shannon is the Inc., in SYDCON Web Development, Inc. This post is for our little Inc., Happy 8th Birthday Shannon!

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Is using a local small business good for your business?

By: Jennifer Devitt
August 13th, 2012

Yesterday I spent some time looking around online at our local businesses. Many local businesses in Crystal Lake are small to mid-sized businesses, and most family owned/operated. Most of these businesses stay afloat by getting business from local residents. Is that enough anymore in this economy? It may be for some, I am not sure. But it's something else I discovered in my searching that made me scratch my head.

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Twitter and the 2012 Summer Olympics

By: Jennifer Devitt
August 1st, 2012

Did NBC underestimate the power of Twitter? Is social media stealing the networks thunder? Especially on the most anticipated events that the network is showing on tape delay to air during prime time? Twitter has said that more tweets were sent in a single day than in all of the 2008 Olympics.

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Happy Birthday to the "Con" of SYDCON!

By: Jennifer Devitt
July 8th, 2012

Happy 11th Birthday to the "Con" aka Connor of SYDCON. When we formed SYDCON, we named it by combining two of our children's names, Sydney and Connor (our third child, came along later... so no we didn't forget her or leave her out. LOL!) Connor is our middle child and the lone boy stuck between two sisters! Connor was born on July 9, 2001, weighing, wait for it ... 7lbs 9 oz (yes, 7.9 on 7/9) and a whopping 22 inches!

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Stop messing around, get your mobile web in order now!

By: Jennifer Devitt
June 26th, 2012

Ok, unless you live under a rock you know that mobile usage just keeps rising, with no slow down in sight. Are you one of those procrastinators that still doesn't have a mobile site?

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Pinterest: glorified window shopping not a theft ring.

By: Jennifer Devitt
April 2nd, 2012

Pinterest, man how many times do you see that word in social media these days? I find that lately I am not only seeing it in social media but also hearing it around the girls dance studio and the hockey rink. And, you have to admit it is an addictive guilty pleasure. Window shopping and finding new brands, laughing at funny pictures and finding new recipes, whats not to like? Well, I have seen plenty of people panicking and warning others of the dangers of copyright violations. In reality, Pinterest is online window shopping to the extreme, so I am not too worried right now.

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Online sales are up, so why are Facebook stores closing?

By: Jennifer Devitt
February 28th, 2012

Facebook storefronts are shutting down as of late. Major retailers like Gap, Nordstrom, GameStop and JC Penney to name a few have shut down their Facebook stores. Shutting them down when the latest Forrester Research report is showing that Americans spent upwards of $200 Billion dollars online last year and predicts that online sales will account for 9% of sales by 2016. Reports indicate that 53% of Americans purchased something online last year. Why then are Facebook stores shutting down?

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3 Things to consider when choosing a webhost.

By: Jennifer Devitt
January 22nd, 2012

Today's post was written by the founder of SYDCON, Dave Devitt.

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Happy Holidays from SYDCON Web Development!

By: Jennifer Devitt
December 21st, 2011

All of us at SYDCON would just like to take a moment to wish you a very Happy Holidays! Just like last year, I would like to share one of my favorite Christmas Songs! Go have a listen to the Barenaked Ladies version of Jingle Bells. If you have never heard this version, boy are you in for a treat! If this doesn't put you in a grand holiday mood, surely you must be Mr. Scrooge!

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Make a difference this holiday, get a BlueKey

By: Jennifer Devitt
December 13th, 2011

Tis the season as the saying goes. This season take a minute if you will to think of others. This season, consider spending $5 to purchase a BlueKey to help 43.7 million people forcibly displaced worldwide. This season do something to make a difference. Many of you I am sure recall the song "Do They Know it's Christmas" by Band Aid. If you don't or it's been a while, go have a listen while you continue to read.

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The Importance of the Web In Public Relations

By: Jennifer Devitt
December 11th, 2011

SYDCON is thrilled to welcome Gini Dietrich CEO of Arment Dietrich & author of the amazing Spin Sucks as a guest blogger today! YEAH! If you are not familiar with the Spin Sucks blog, go there immediately after you read this, you won't be disappointed!

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Social media ridicule to get new business?

By: Jennifer Devitt
November 29th, 2011

Yes, you read my title correctly. I have seen people attempt to use social media ridicule to get new business!!! Now, I have no clue if it's working, I hope and pray that it isn't! But, when I see this occur it really makes me want to call out the bully by name and draw negative attention to the tweets, but I know that won't accomplish anything, it's just more finger pointing.

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Happy Thanksgiving!

By: Jennifer Devitt
November 20th, 2011

SYDCON would like to take a moment to wish a Happy Thanksgiving to all of our clients, friends, family & readers! We would like everyone to know just how thankful we are! It's been a wonderful year. We are so grateful for all of our clients, new & old! We are thankful for our friends and families and colleagues.

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The Kindle Fire (a review)

By: Jennifer Devitt
November 18th, 2011

I decided to upgrade my 2nd Generation Kindle to a Kindle Fire I loved my Kindle simply for what it was a well made, easy to use an e-reader. I liked the fact that if I could keep the title or genre of the book I was reading to myself if I chose (I could say, read about politics at my kid's activities without having an uncomfortable conversation pop up). I liked the fact I could read my Kindle in direct sunlight and have a vast library of free books to explore and find new authors to love.

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Happy 13th to the Syd of SYDCON!

By: Jennifer Devitt
November 9th, 2011

Today I become the mother of a teenager girl. 13 years ago today Sydney or the SYD of SYDCON came into the world. So if you bear with me, this will be more of a personal, sentimental blog.

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Today I got the monkey off my back.

By: Jennifer Devitt
November 8th, 2011

I made a liberating choice today. I decided to practice what I preach. I decided to not participate in something that I am deeply critical of. I decided to get the monkey off my back. This morning, I disabled my Klout profile. It was a freeing feeling! I then went and revoked Klout's access to my Twitter account and Facebook account, and anything else it was linked to.

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Post office solution to survival? Slam the internet!

By: Jennifer Devitt
October 11th, 2011

The USPS is near collapse and desperately trying to find a new way to spur interest in mail delivery. Today I saw their latest commercial, blasting email and the internet. You can view it here if you haven't already (go ahead it's short, I will wait).

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Do Your Homework for a Website that Rocks!

By: Jennifer Devitt
October 10th, 2011

SYDCON is delighted to welcome our very first guest poster! Erica Allison of Allison Development Group, a public relations and marketing firm that specializes in promoting people, places and projects and using research and analysis to do so successfully. Erica is a great lady, she also authored our very first blog comment! Follow her on Twitter at @ericamallison and check out her blog at Spot-On .

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Be our guest, be our guest, be our guest!

By: Jennifer Devitt
September 9th, 2011

Put your writing to the test and be our guest! SYDCON is looking for guest bloggers! Do you have a topic on digital media, web development, copy writing, marketing or technology, etc. you would like to supply a guest post on? Then the SYDCON guest blog spot is for you.

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Klout, makes you go hmmm...

By: Jennifer Devitt
September 8th, 2011

Klout. I think it's safe to say that for most of us it's a train wreck, no matter how you fight it you can't look away! It seems the longer the "Standard of Influence" is around the more and more people are questioning it. Even some like Danny Brown are trying to remove themselves (unsuccessfully) from their system. In a Klout chat (#kloutchat) on Twitter yesterday it was said that Klout is still in "beta". Oh really? It's still in beta but it is the "standard of influence"?

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The Website is Alive and Well

By: Jennifer Devitt
July 10th, 2011

This post first ran in a more condensed version over at SpinSucks when I was honored to guest post for Gini Dietrich and Lisa Gerber!

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Several ways your company can benefit from custom web application development...

By: Jennifer Devitt
June 7th, 2011

Custom web development, it's not just for creating websites! Sure, "web" is in the title/description but there are lots of "web-based" or custom application development solutions your company can deploy to become more efficient and streamlined.

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From Gas Money to Full-time Success: A Guest Post...

By: Jennifer Devitt
April 24th, 2011

The following is our guest post on "Entrepreneurs Journey". Entrepreneurs Journey is a wonderful series by our new friend Troy Claus. You can also follow Troy on Twitter @Troyclaus. Hope you enjoy our story!

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Step away from the "Reply-All" button!

By: Jennifer Devitt
March 9th, 2011

Buttons! Yes, lot's of people like buttons! Buttons on remotes, buttons on controllers, buttons on websites and in software, buttons are everywhere.  Buttons go hand-in-hand with options, some people are more attracted to options than they are to buttons. Over use of buttons and option addiction combined can annoy even the most easy going person!

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Spring is in the air...find your inner George Steinbrenner!

By: Jennifer Devitt
March 3rd, 2011

It's March, spring is in the air! After the dreadful winter here in the Chicago area that just won't die, I think we are all thinking spring!

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Who is the best person to develop a website?

By: Jennifer Devitt
January 27th, 2011

I recently read a tweet that stated websites were more "creative" than "technical", the tweet even went as far as to ask "if websites were a marketing decision why do computer guys feel they can build them"?  Think about that for a minute.  Is a website solely a creative piece, or solely a marketing decision?  Who should be responsible for it?

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You want to follow me, huh? Wait I need to "Validate" you first! New trend?

By: Jennifer Devitt
January 5th, 2011

I have noticed a disturbing new trend when I follow people, maybe you have seen it?  It goes like this...I find a new and interesting person and/or business to follow, not long after I click the "follow" button I receive a Direct Message of all things from this new person with a link to True Twit Validation . Sometimes the Direct Message contains a personal note with the request, sometimes not. Basically I consider it a spam Direct Message from someone who allows a bot to validate me, to ensure no bots are following them? ARGH!!!

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Jingle Bells, Batman Smells...

By: Jennifer Devitt
December 1st, 2010

Typically our blog focuses on all things web, mobile, and programming related. Being the holiday season, a time for sharing and reflection on the year we would like to take the time to share and be grateful. It is December 1st, and listening to the Barenaked Ladies version of Jingle Bells (if you haven't heard it, you simply MUST...but be sure to listen to the whole song!), has put me in a festive mood!

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It's November, be thankful and starting thinking about 2011...

By: Jennifer Devitt
November 8th, 2010

It's November, Happy Thanksgiving! Whether your business is flourishing, or just hanging on in this economy, we have to be thankful for the business we have! With November also comes the end of the year, moving on from 2010 and looking into 2011. What does your business have on the horizon for 2011? Lot's of new trends are emerging, in social media, as well as in mobile & web development. Below is our list of some key trends, we have also included a link to a post from @GiniDietrich at Spin Sucks for a list of social media trends. Which of these are you looking to implement?

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QR Codes & The Importance of Quality Landing Pages

By: Jennifer Devitt
October 19th, 2010

So, everyone is talking about QR Codes these days, from Mashable: "Why QR Codes Are Poised to Hit the Mainstream" & "City of New York Blankets Time Square with Giant QR Codes" as well as many other sources.

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Are there 2 SYDCON Web Development Blogs? Nah, we are moving the blog pardon the dust!

By: Jennifer Devitt
September 14th, 2010

Find 2 blogs for SYDCON Web Development floating about? We are in the process of moving from Blogger to Wordpress so thats why you might find 2 different addresses. All posts are currently on both, while we make the new one pretty! Please bear with our dust!

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Customer Service is key right? So are you always going the extra mile?

By: Jennifer Devitt
September 2nd, 2010

Lately, I have seen a few articles about small business vs. their big business competitors or David vs. Goliath. One common thread in a lot of the comments on these articles is customer service and just what the advantage is that small business has.

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Ding-dong the Web is dead! Wait, What? No....

By: Jennifer Devitt
August 22nd, 2010

So I am sure you have seen one of the slew of articles around lately saying the web is dead and Facebook is the killer. Nah, not happen', don't buy it! Here are a few reasons why I think this is like the Y2k panic...remember that?!

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How equipped are you to handle your clients changing needs?

By: Jennifer Devitt
August 15th, 2010

Let's face it, the current economy is changing the way most business' function. Many are re-assessing their plan of attack, changing how they focus their marketing and advertising campaigns. While also making sure they are positioning themselves for the now as well as setting themselves up for the business world recovery.

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The best solution is a individual solution!

By: Jennifer Devitt
August 8th, 2010

Customer satisfaction - we all strive to deliver it 100% of the time. And, as we all live and learn, we find out there are many ways to help meet the goal of "Customer Satisfaction!".

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Sometimes it does "Take A Village"....

By: Jennifer Devitt
August 1st, 2010

We have all heard the saying "It takes a Village". This saying can be applied to many things, from raising children to improving our climate and our world. But, it can also be applied to business. As we all know, running a business is a complex thing. We all strive to make our clients happy and deliver the best solutions we can. Sometimes in order to deliver the best solution, we need to call on our Village or expand our Village.

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Websites, Mobile Apps and iPhone Apps "Oh My!"

By: Jennifer Devitt
July 18th, 2010

Feeling a bit like Dorothy lost in the woods?? Websites, Mobile Apps, and iPhone/iPad Apps too? Wondering which is more important, which should you tackle first, what will get you the best results?

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A key element to consider before launching a Social Media Campaign

By: Jennifer Devitt
February 21st, 2010

Social Media is all the rage. Everyone one wants in on it, and everyone wants to see great results (us included!). We are far from social media experts, but we are web experts. As web experts, we are contacted by Social Media Experts as well as firms of various sizes and varying industries who are either just embarking on social media or knee deep in a plan that isn't producing the expected results. Perhaps, a key element needs to be considered before launch....the website that will be the back-bone of the campaign.

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How do you choose a firm? Testimonial, Locals, Better Business Bureau?

By: Jennifer Devitt
September 27th, 2009

I am curious, how do you choose what firms get your business? How do you know, especially in the current climate that the firm you choose is reputable? Do you stick only with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or maybe the local Chamber of Commerce? But, how do you know, wouldn't you be better checking references?

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Do you have web development needs outside of a new website?

By: Jennifer Devitt
August 17th, 2009

If so, SYDCON Web Development can help. Yes, we are a custom web development firm, so one is safe to assume we offer web development! What we also offer is Application Development and Maintenance Plans designed to meet the needs of firms that do not staff developers full-time, or are looking for a new alternative (Partnership) because they may not have needs that require a full-time employee.

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Is Monthly Fee Web Software Cost Effective?

By: Jennifer Devitt
August 2nd, 2009

So, more and more I am seeing monthly fee "web software" out there. Are these tools really so useful that they are worth a never-ending monthly fee to use? Do you think you can customize them for that steep monthly fee? Maybe--but doubtful. Is maybe worth a monthly fee that translates to hundreds or thousands of dollars over the course of its use? Probably not!

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Understanding the Lingo

By: Jennifer Devitt
July 21st, 2009

Custom Development, Web Developer vs. Web Designer....what's the difference? For prospective clients, there is a lot of lingo out there, and the definitions can vary based on who is selling the answer. We get asked often "what is custom development", or "what's the difference between a web developer and a web designer?". I will try to differentiate those here. Custom Development What is custom development? Well from SYDCON'S perspective, it is everything entirely from scratch, hand coded for each specific project, based on each specific clients needs. You may say "all shopping carts are the same, can't I just use the plug-in from yahoo?" Well, here at SYDCON we create our e-commerce sites based entirely on your products and target consumers, making it "custom" to your business. You may also ask, "how long will the site take to build?" Well, if you want it to work and be exactly what you asked for, then the old saying "Good things come to those who wait" is fitting. When we give a timeline, it is based on creating your site from scratch based on your detailed specification, customization, and quality testing, these things take patience. Web Developer vs. Web Designer What's the difference between a developer and a designer? We were once told that they are one in the same, but in reality that couldn't be farther from the truth! A developer is a programmer or a coder, a technical person...some may say a geek! A designer is an artsy/creative person...basically the old right brain vs. left brain theory. Essentially you will need both for website creation, however, some designers can do minimal code, enough to get by, but nothing custom or detailed. So, which do you need then? BOTH! Here at SYDCON, we have a talented staff of developers skilled in a multitude of languages to suit your needs as well as designers to bring YOUR ideas to life. Another aspect of "Custom" is that here at SYDCON our designs are products of your ideas/direction. It is YOUR website for YOUR business, why should it look the way we want it too? Deciding between firms? When you are shopping for your website needs, ask yourself if the firm that is selling you "quick turn-around" based on a system where you can "plug in" your own information and PRESTO your site is up in a few days vs a custom site, is what you want. With the "box plug in" your site is in most ways a copy of another. Your business is unique, and your website in many cases is your 1st impression, do you want it to be just a copy of another with a different cover? Here at SYDCON, we don't use any premade templates, design or programming. So, you won't see your site anywhere else (unless someone loves it so much they hire someone to copy it!). So, the bottom line is, if you want it your way, and want it right and unique give us a call. If you want a 5th edition copy of the best selling novel with redesigned cover that is done in a few days with limitations, maybe call the other guy.

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Why website statistics are important?

By: Jennifer Devitt
July 20th, 2009

Why website statistics are important?

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Welcome to the SYDCON Web Development blog!

By: Jennifer Devitt
June 21st, 2009

Welcome to the SYDCON Web Development blog! It is our hope that this blog will get some of our ideas out there, give some insight into the world of web development, and show you what sets SYDCON apart from the rest.

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