Life Made Simple: 3 Food Delivery Apps!

Planning a party? Celebrating the Warriors NBA championship this weekend? ABCey encourages you to stress less and celebrate more! Get your favorite foods delivered with apps like Postmates, Caviar, and Crunchbutton for your next hosted event!

But wait… What is a food delivery app?

A delivery app allows you to choose your favorite eating spot (from participating restaurants), place an order via smart device, and get it delivered right to your door! It’s as easy as one, two, three… Less worry about hiring a caterer and more time to enjoy your party!

1. Postmates: This app is versatile and easy to use. Looking to order lunch or even make a grocery run? Postmates has got you covered! In under an hour you’ll have what you need to make for a great meal for one or ten!

2. Caviar: This service delivers from a wide range of restaurants, commonly used from all corners of the city! Lunch and dinner breaks are made simple. Use it for quick take-out or catering your next event/ business meeting!

3. Crunchbutton: They let you know what restaurants deliver around to your area and simplify your hunt for food. Nobody likes meal-time rush hour. Let someone else do the hard work for you and get your favorite foods delivered to your doorstep with the push of a “Crunchbutton”.

In this day and age, we aren’t limited to just pizza deliveries. Take advantage of these apps for your lunch, dinner, or hosted party events! Which app do you like the best? Let us know in the comments below or message us on Facebook and Twitter! Or, call ABCey Events and let us do the work for you!

Tech it Up a Notch! 5 DIY Decor Ideas for Your Technology

Tired of your same old smart device accessories? Don’t have the time or money to buy new ones? Have no fear… ABCey has gathered a few ways to tech it up a notch! Spend less time worrying about your devices and more on your events. Here are 5 life hacks to spunk up your technology and save you some cash!

1 . CRAFTY PHONE CASE:

Phones are essential in the events world and keeping them protected is a must! On the go, or in the office, this DIY phone case is sure to make life a little easier. Buy one clear back phone case and let your imagination fly! Simply cut or tape in a design and WAH-LA!

2. WASHI TAPE LAPTOP DECAL:

Planning an event? Staring at your laptop all day? Say goodbye to your dull old keyboard! Pick a few of your favorite washi tape designs at your local supply store and create a cute laptop display. Cut up the different patterns and simply stick them on!

3. TOILET PAPER CORD CASE:

Staying organized for an event is important. Grab a used toilet paper roll, some pretty patterned tape or ribbon, and you have yourself a cord case! No one likes dealing with a bunch of tangles. Decorate a roll and label it as you please. Store away your chargers and cords with style!

4. CHARGING BOX STATION:

This charging station box is perfect for the audio visual techy! With this DIY your cords will never be an unorganized mess. Grab a box fit for your multi-outlet, cut a few holes, label them according to your charger, and store them easy for your next event.

5. FELT SMART DEVICE CASE:

Who would’ve thought that felt would make for a great phone, tablet, or laptop case? Pick your favorite color and create an envelope effect with buttons and string. Make it your own with additional decor. With all the hussle and bussle in a day, you won’t have to worry about the safety of your device!

Bring out your inner craftsman with these 5 easy DIY’s for your smart devices! Which one of these ideas to do like the best? Let us know in the comments below or message us on Twitter or Facebook!

Apple’s September iPhone 6 and iWatch Event Launches Exciting New Tech

Big news! Yesterday, Apple hosted its September 2014 iPhone 6 and iWatch Event! We can’t wait to try out all of the new tech products below! Especially the new app Apple Pay which could come in handy on small purchases at big events!

iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus

When we look at the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, the first thing that we notice is the significantly larger screen size with iPhone 6’s 4.7 inch screen and the iPhone 6 Plus’s 5.5 inch screen with rounded edges and a camera lens which protrudes the phones body. We can also note the phone’s thinner and lightweight body!

New Camera Specs: include an 8MP iSight camera with 1.5 micron pixels and a f/2.2 aperture. The new camera has the capacity to shoot 1080p videos at 30-60fp using continuing auto focus, perfect for covering live events on social media! The front-facing camera feature offers users a burst mode and single shot HDR and HDR videos.

Both phones will come with iOS 8, with the iPhone 6 starting at $199 for 16GB and the 6 Plus starting at $299. Both phones will be available to ship on September 19th, pre-orders starting on September 12th.

Apple Pay

iPhone and iWatch Event, Apple Pay Apple has introduced a new payment process called Apple Pay! Apple Pay uses NFC and Touch ID to confirm purchases, with users using their Passbook App to browse through their credit cards after verifying the card with their bank. Apple Pay creates a one-time device-only number which protects the user’s credit card number in the event of theft and allows the user to suspend payments without the hassle of canceling their credit cards. This tap-and-go style payment is similar to the R.F.I.D. style of payments used for a number of large events!

Introducing the iWatch!

The most exciting announcement at the Apple Event was the unveiling of the long awaited iWatch! The iWatch will act, not only as a watch (accurate within plus or minus of 50 milliseconds), but also serve as a competitor of popular fitness devices like Jawbone or Fitbit, with its equipped heart monitor, gyroscope and accelerometer. The iWatch will also include Siri and a navigation system known as digital crown. Apple will also open the WatchKit SDK allowing third-party developers to create additional functionalities on the Apple Watch.

Style: The iWatch will come with various customizable options including six types of strap and two metal frame colors, in three different collections: the original Watch, Watch Sports, and a 18k gold Apple Watch Edition.

The iWatch will be available early 2015 with prices starting at $349.

and since we love events!

Tim Cook wrapped up the unveiling declaring his profound love and involvement in music, before welcoming U2 to perform on stage as well as giving out the bands latest album “Songs of Innocence” free on iTunes (offer lasts until mid-October 14th).

Which products are you most excited about?! Our personal fave is the Apple Pay! Let us know on the links below or on Facebook and Twitter!

Tips to take your FIFA World Cup Viewing Party to the next level!

Calling all sports fans! In light of the recent start of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, here are some tips to help make your next sports viewing party a win! Here at ABCey, we love these ideas and hope you can use them for your next viewing party!

1. Fans unite, online! Download the Official 2014 FIFA World Cup App on your smartphone and stay updated! This app provides live coverage of all 64 games, wherever you go! Unite with the players, coaches and fans worldwide. With this free app, you can now take the game with you everywhere you go, literally.

2. Seating! Bring the indoors outside and get creative with seating! Take the couches and blankets to instantly give your viewing party a different vibe! This is where you will be spending the most time, so make sure it’s comfortable. To make your party outdoors and affordable, just rent a projector if you don’t have one!

3. Make food, fun! Create an interactive, personalized snack bar so friends can customize and eat without having to wait for the snack bowl to make it’s rounds.

4. Photos! Take photos of your friends and all the fun you are having! Redefine the selfie and use the Muku Shuttr remote to capture all the guests at your party, including yourself! Check out the Muku Lab Shuttr!

5. Theme! Let your party show which team you’re rooting for! Don’t be afraid to create your food and wall decor using soccer balls and team flags as inspiration! Let your next event scream team spirit! We think an overarching Brazil theme is great too. Don’t know where to start? Try this brazilian pineapple and coconut batilda; it’s bound to be a hit at your next party!

Are you planning to throw a FIFA World Cup viewing party? Let us know if you would use any of these ideas! Leave us a comment below or on Facebook & Twitter.

Tech Tuesday: 5 Event Startups to Engage your Audience

The world of technology is constantly changing and is adding value to the event industry! Here at ABCey, we love to keep up on current startups and trends that can enhance the event experience for attendees. We did some digging to find 5 event startups that will engage your audience and make them active participants throughout your event.

1. Postano: Put your attendees in the spotlight and make them feel like social media rockstars through this unique platform! Bring your conversation to life at your next event by showcasing your attendees’ social content, tweets and Instagrams on social media displays. Attendees can actively participate rather than simply listen and this will enrich their experience and create visibility for your event.

2. Catchbox: The world’s first throwable microphone was created for audience engagement. It is a great way to get participants talking! Catchbox lowers the barrier for people to comment and present questions. The box comes in different bright colors and is easy to throw or pass from one audience member to the next, making participation easy and fun!

3. PowerVote: Maximize the value of your event by engaging your audience, encouraging your participants, and encouraging their feedback. If you want your to gather information about your audience’s opinion, PowerVote can instantly display voting results in an graphical format. Presentations can be directly streamed to the audience’s mobile devices and people can vote or provide feedback in the moment.

4. Sopreso: Through this unique platform, your audience can ask, comment, and like your presentation live. Once you develop a presentation and run Sopreso on your laptop, the audience can connect to the presentation with their smart devices. Additionally, this platform extends the lifetime of your presentation! You can easily follow up on your leads, answer all questions, and keep the community alive.

5. TweetWall Pro: A TweetWall offers a great opportunity to interact with audiences. Rather than asking a few audience members questions, inspire all attendees to share their thoughts. People can ask questions on Twitter and get live responses. Interesting topics can quietly be discussed, and interaction is highly encouraged. Onlookers of TweetWalls find it difficult not to participate, inspiring engagement from all viewers. Post event reports allow you to follow up with attendees directly!

With so many advances in technology, passive audience participation is coming to an end. We love each of these startups, and Postano really stands out to us because you can see what people are saying about your event and what popular topics of interest are, as well as create visibility for your event! Which of these unique event startups would you use to engage your audience members? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!

Startup Monday: Postcard

At ABCey, we are often juggling multiple social media accounts of our own as well as our clients for event marketing efforts. As many of you may know, managing multiple social media accounts can be absolutely insane. These days, social media is the way many people market themselves, products, or services. So, how do you manage posting to so many different sites?

This is where the app by WordPress blogger Kyle Newsome comes in handy. Postcard was designed to be the platform linking all social media accounts. You can set any one social media site, even your personal website, as your content host and post from there. Your multiple twitter accounts will re-tweet, etc. It is a pro-tool for those looking for an easy, all inclusive way to manage their many personal and business based social media accounts.

Postcard gives you that post-by-post control of where and how your message should be shared. This even includes WordPress, which gives Postcard the upper hand many other similar apps don’t have. We love the ease of use it offers as well as the ability to manage our personal website running on WordPress!

The app comes with support for 3 networks, with additional network support available via in app purchase. Do you manage multiple social media accounts? Would Postcard be useful to you? Let us know in the comments below, or on Facebook & Twitter!

Startup Monday: Education

Silicon Valley’s biggest event of the year is finally here! Tonight, we find out which companies will win Tech Crunchies Awards. Here at ABCey, we decided to dive into those nominated for Best Education Startup. We think each company in this category has made valuable contributions to changing the face of education. Let’s take a look at the nominees!

1. Code.org: This non-profit organization is committed to growing computer programming education. This startup believes every student in every school should have the opportunity to learn computer science, and the subject should be included in the core curriculum of U.S. education. Code.org’s mission is to spread the word that there is a worldwide shortage of computer programmers, and that it is much easier to learn to program than you think. Online courses, brick + mortar schools, and summer camps can provide students with computer programming education!

2. CreativeLIVE: The world’s leading live, online classroom is designed for creative entrepreneurs. This startup is transforming the $100 billion continuing education market by offering complete access to the brightest teachers in the world via a social and interactive video platform. Anyone in the world can watch the live-streamed classes for free. Copies of the courses are available to purchase at any time. Since the company was founded in 2010, more than one million students from over 200 countries have utilized the platform, and popular classes have attracted more than 150,000 students!

3. Duolingo: This free language learning service is fun and user-friendly! While you are learning a new language, the users help translate the web, completing sentences, and rating other users’ translations. This startup offers courses in Spanish, French, Italian, German, and Portuguese! An independent study was conducted that proves Duolingo trumps university-level language learning. The app is also available for iPhones and Androids so you can be productive on the go!

4. Khan Academy: A free world-class education is available for anyone anywhere. This educational non-profit produces a collection of free online micro lectures on various subjects such as mathematics, finance, physics, computer science, history, astronomy, economics, chemistry, and biology. Game mechanics are also incorporated to reward students with badges for reaching certain skill levels. Khan Academy’s resources and materials are available to anyone and it is free of charge. Stats are available to track what you’ve been learning and whether or not you are hitting your goals.

5. Treehouse: Affordable technology education is available for people everywhere! In order to help subscribers learn web design, development, and iOS development, Treehouse uses short videos, quizzes, and badges. The service comes at a cost of $29 to $49 dollars per month. You are guided each step of the way. To start, just hop onto a track. Tracks offer guided pathways through the content. Content is structured in a way that makes it quite simple for you to learn skills within a specific role.

Technology is truly changing the dynamic of education and educational resources are readily available for professors and students with access to the web. Each of these startups are helping people achieve their dreams. Which one do you think should win an award? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!

Friday Five: Event Startups We Love!

The dynamic event industry enables ABCey to keep an eye on unique event startups that will help create an unforgettable experience! Here are five of our favorites that can inspire you to start planning your next occasion.

1. EventWith: When planning an event, it can be overwhelming to determine who handles each task. With collaborative planning on the rise, this user-friendly service assists you in deciding when the event will take place, who brings what, and the budgeting needs. Specific features include the division of group lists and tasks in a timely fashion! Check out how it works by watching the video: EventWith – What is it all about?

2. Boomset: Guest list check-in becomes a lot simpler with this innovative service! Forget long lines, now you can check guests in within seconds. Additional services offered include badge printing, and an opportunity to make a donation right then and there through Stripe or Paypal. Pricing is quite affordable for the services you will be provided with!

3. TableCrowd: If you are new to a city, industry, or hobby, it can be tough to find others that are alike. Find those with common interests by meeting and eating! It is simple to start a table, and all you have to do is a pick a restaurant and theme. The service will tell members all about it, and you can also invite friends! Options to join a table that already has a set location and theme is another easy option.

4. Seats.io: Developing the seating chart for an event can be a daunting task. Make your seating chart in a fun and simple way! This service provides an online seating chart drawing tool that can create rows and automatic seat numbering. With the click of the mouse, guests can choose their own seating. The seating charts are also available on any smartphone device for your guests to have full access to!

5. SlideKlowd: Presentations can serve as important elements at events. In order to keep your audience engaged, share your slides to any device! Real-time audience responses can be captured, allowing you to follow up with your participants and create an interactive environment. Guests can ask questions and submit comments for you to respond to. Presenters also have the ability to monitor attention levels and receive direct feedback from their audience!

These 5 event startups can bring innovation to your next event and make it stand out amongst others! Which would you use to leave a lasting impression?! Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook & Twitter!

Startup Monday: Mosey

Startup Monday is ABCey’s weekly post that features some of the best and brightest companies in the Bay Area. They are often companies that we have our eye on or have worked with in the past & would like to share with friends and followers of ABCey Events.

When traveling to a new city, it can be difficult to decide what activities to do and where to explore. Do you ever feel like there is not enough time in a trip to experience everything? While some research unfamiliar destinations beforehand, others wait until they reach their destination to finalize. Mosey is a great new app that may be able with your trip itinerary.

The free app is a quick way to put together a schedule for your trip! Fellow travelers post photos, recommendations, and tips for you to see.

Mosey was developed by a small team that is driven to deliver opportunities and adventure to travelers alike. Popular categories that can be searched through the app include Scenic, Foodie, Shopping, Nightlife, and more!

Along with the chance to take a look at insights from the social network made up of a variety of travelers, you can take a look at the visions and perceptions from the Mosey team! The user-friendly app makes it simple to create a ‘Mosey’, in which you can share your experiences and knowledge with others.

Learn about the hotspots, events, and local attractions for your next visit to a new place, such as the unique city of San Francisco! Whether you’re looking to plan a Saturday night with friends or a relaxing Sunday afternoon on your own, Mosey is the go-to app. Find out how to enjoy any location from the insights from others, or become inspired to create a path of your own. Your adventure awaits, so give the app a try!

The Mosey team recently ventured on a trip entitled The Great Southern Mosey, where they were in search of America’s Best 4 Hours. Check out their adventure here!

Would you try Mosey to help plan your next trip? Leave us a a comment below or on Facebook & Twitter!

Tech Tuesday: Chirp

Tech Tuesday highlights the best and brightest ideas in the tech world. ABCey would like to recognize these up and coming companies for their innovative ideas and ability to think outside the box!

There are tons of ways for people to share information via their phones. People can use Dropbox, “Bump” their phones together, or even use a good old text message. Well what about singing? Thankfully, you won’t have to belt out any tunes because now your phone can do it for you. Introducing Chirp, the newest iPhone app to use song to transmit information. When the song is heard by another phone, it triggers an automatic download of that file. Could you imagine sending event info, or recaps, to your customers using sound? This would revolutionize the way you transmit information to your clients.

The CEO of Chirp, Patrick Bergel said he turned to nature for inspiration. He also said other means of transfers, such as Wifi or Bluetooth, are alien like — invisible and inscrutable. The advantage of this app is that it can be used without needing an internet connection or being paired to another device. If a user is offline, the app will remember the “chirp” and download the file when internet connection is resumed. Another advantage of this app is how it can be used across different technologies. An example would be if a speaker system, such as a radio or TV, emits the chirp, the file can also be downloaded that way.

Chirp is a unique app that can eventually be developed to transmit information to tons of users at the same time. Not only will users be able to send pictures, but even tickets, coupons, and videos etc.

Do you think you would ever use Chirp for your events? Let us know in the comments below or on Twitter and Facebook!