About

Technology is what makes the world go round. Without it we wouldn’t have computers, phones, watches, tires, plastic, refrigerators, television, video, radio, the Internet, just to name a significant few. Without it we wouldn’t have reached the moon, wouldn’t have instant replay in Football, and we wouldn’t have airplanes. Even something as simple as the written word has been affected by technology. This world of technology moves fast, in fact it moves faster and faster everyday. Our goal here at T3kd is to cover the most important parts of this technology. Our mission is to report the facts, but also to add in our own opinion and analysis of the facts. Technology news is available all over the Web. Here at T3kd we strive to tell you what it all means and how it affects your daily life. In addition to the news and opinion pieces, we give you weekly how-tos, reviews, and podcasts. T3kd was founded in January 2010 as Vulcan Tech Online. In May 2010, we rebranded to T3kd. In October 2011, we reached our 1,000 post published, and in November 2011 we reached our 100,000 unique visitor. While we continue to grow, our coverage remains as focused as ever. With a growing staff, we are able to cover more and more news, offer more reviews and tutorials. If you would like to find out how to join our team, go to our jobs page. You can follow T3kd on Twitter or on Facebook, you can also +1 us on Google+.

T3kd is just a small part of the Blogs Media Network family. Blogs Media Network, formerly Bl0gs.co Media Network, was founded in June 2011. It currently consists of T3kd, Blogfiles.net, and Democratify.com. We will soon be expanding with a App review site, a Book review site, and a gaming site. Make sure to check out the site for more details. You can find us on Facebook here, and on Google+ here.

We would like to take this space to tell you a bit about the people who make T3kd what it is. Without these fine people T3kd would not be. You will not find a better group of people on the planet then those who dedicate parts of their busy lives to make T3kd grow. They come from all over the planet. From the US to Canada to Ireland and Romania. These men and women make up a group of people who all have unique and special backgrounds. It is their unique perspectives that make the culture of T3kd.com.

Editor-in-Chief Matthew A. Weber East Lansing, Michigan USA

I was born in Portland Michigan, which is located outside the capital of Lansing. I graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in history, so you can imagine the job opportunities were plentiful upon my completion. In early 2010 I decided I wanted to try blogging, so I started a blog with the great URL of vulcantechonline.com. While of course I wanted to make money blogging (who doesn’t?), my main goal was then, and still is today, to have fun covering technology, spreading knowledge about technology, and to write. My biggest passion in the world (besides my fiancé) is technology. I started my quest towards technology dominance with an original Macintosh in elementary school, where my fondest memories include Oregon Trail. The first real computer I owned didn’t come until the year 2000 when my parents finally broke down and bought me a Gateway computer that cost over $3000. Since then I have had even more a obsession with technology. From hacking to linux, I have conquered it. I used Windows up until 2008 when I finally had enough of my own money to get a MacBook. I have never owned a Windows machine since.

Besides blogging a lot, I work two jobs. I work at Kroger, the worlds largest traditional supermarket chain, as a night stockman. I also work for a government contractor as an IT administrator. I have had articles published on SiteSketch101 and ProBlogger. I participate in NaNoWriMo every year, though my novel is hardly ever finished. I was recently engaged to the most wonderful woman in the world. I am such a lucky man when it comes to everything in the world. I love two out of my three jobs (blogging and the IT job, sorry Kroger), I am in love with this most amazing person, and I have some of the best friends in the world. Let me introduce you to just a few of them:

Senior Editor Ricky Williams Toronto, Ontario  Canada 

I am Jamaican although my family came to Canada when I was very young. The first computer I used was a very old one probably a 486 with a 5.25 floppy drive when I took programming in high school. I learned Turbo Pascal and it was my first taste of computers ever, I wanted to be a lawyer back in those young and naive days. I then took a 3D modeling class where we learned the basics and slowly progressed using 3D Max. I was hooked and now I work as an network admin for an architecture firm. I have owned so many computers since then I’ve lost count and there are more to come.

I am a techie at heart, I have loved videogames since the first time I played tank battle on the Atari 2600 to the first system I got, my Nintendo Entertainment System. I’ve owned every system since from TurboGraffix to the Nintendo64 and every model of Playstation. I’ve played every Need for Speed and Call of Duty game on the PC as well as many other titles. My first Apple experience was the MacBook Pro I bought from Mr. Vincent Hui my good friend and fellow T3kd editor. My first smartphone was a Motorola Ming which was touchscreen, had a stylus, played music, videos and was just Epic at the time. I then moved on to the iPhone in 2007 having had it smuggled across the border since Canada never got the iPhone until the following year. This is when I got my first taste of Jailbreak since I had to both Jailbreak and unlock the phone in order for it to work on Canadian networks.I have owned the iPhone 3G and iPhone 4 since, skipping the s model upgrades. I have remained Jailbroken in 4 years and don’t see that changing anytime soon. I’m looking forward to buying the next iPhone in 2012 whatever it is called and whatever specs it brings to the table. I have been so tempted by the Siri experience to pickup an iPhone 4s but the force is strong and I can wait a couple more months. I love helping people with electronics whether it be setting up a home network, wiring up a home surround sound system or Jailbreaking an iPhone. I also like to test other platforms, I’ve breifly experimented with the Android experience before putting it away and leaving it behind with a bad taste in my mouth. I have yet to try Blackberry or Windows Phone but I really want to, perhaps in time I will find myself with a Playbook who knows. I also am a big car enthusiast, which is on the flip side of technology. I drive a highly modified VW Passat and it’s just at the beginning stages of being modified. So stay tuned the best is yet to come as we both take this tech journey, let’s see where it takes us.

Senior Editor Corrina Johnson Central California USA

Born and raised in California, my brain is wired for technology and I consume as much information on the subject as I can get. My obsession has always been cell phones. I’ve owned about 30 of them in the last few years, most of them purchased unlocked and before they were available in the U.S. I’ve also been an avid phone modifier, having modded Motorolas, Nokias, BlackBerrys and have jailbroken my iPhones. I also used to be a theme developer for iPhone 3G/3G[S].

I have a squishy spot for computers (currently rocking an HP Notebook but aiming for a MacBook Pro), software and gadgets. I love learning new things, figuring things out and trying out new products and services. Since I own an iPhone 4S, and had the first gen and second gen iPhones, I’m a bit of an app hoarder- both App Store approved and created for jailbreak- my favorites being of the photography variety.

Outside of tech stuff I love being out and about with friends, Guinness Draught, listening to music, playing with my 2 crazy, adopted kitties, video games and enjoying life with my boyfriend, with whom I share a home and a love for UFC. I’m also an advocate for gay rights and equality for everyone.

Editor Vincent Hui Toronto, Ontario Canada

Editor Andy Allison Chicago, Illinois USA

Editor Wayne Williams Florida USA

Senior European Editor David Brennan Drogheda, Ireland

My Name is David Brennan and I’m a nerdgeek! I eat, sleep and breathe technology. I’ve been interested in computers and technology since I was about 8 years of age. I’ve been through a few computers since then – A Comodore 64 I got for my 8th Birthday in 1990, an old Goldstar (I think it was Goldstar?) 80286, a Cyrix 686 chip in a custom machine, and then I started building my own PCs and have had quite a few since then…. I’ve no (formal) qualifications but I completed the COMPTIA A+ and Network+ a few years back and ever since I’ve been working in I.T. support (by day) – where I work we look after Windows Administration in terms of Active Directory, VMWare, Citrix, Lotus Notes, SAP and a couple of dozen smaller software packages. I also run my own software design business with a focus primarily on database technologies, building custom web and mobile apps, and am well versed in PHP and Javascript (among other languages). I’ve been a windows user since Windows 3.1 and maybe even DOS 5.33, and I’ve been a reluctant Apple fan for a short while now. I’ve completed a course in Game Analysis and Design and if I had the time I’d like to take that further, but I’m just far too busy at the moment with other things.

I’ve always been interested in gaming – I started with the C64 and over the years have had the SuperNintendo, N64 and XBOX360 (although I have played every other console I could get close to). My favourite game series is definitely the Elder Scrolls and I’m addicted to Skyrim at the moment. If I get any “downtime” at all I would most definitely be playing that. I am currently hatching big plans for an app idea that I have (who doesn’t), so who knows, I could be famous in a few years? Well, one can dream…. I’m @thedavil on twitter – follow me for geeky tech rants!

European Editor Steven Dale United Kingdom

I am aged 54, been playing around with computers since the days of the ZX81, Spectrum and C64. My first computer (that I actually owned) was an Amiga 500. I have worked with PCs and Macs since the days of DOS and System 6. I prefer Macs but use  a PC everyday at work as well as my faithful MacBook Pro.

Although I did a course on ALGOL programming at school (using terminals connected to a mainframe at Manchester University via a very slow modem) to calculate volume of cones etc. I have never considered myself a coder. I did play around with BASIC on the BBC Micro and AMIGA but was more interested in graphics to be honest.

I have used ACCESS and FileMaker Pro to create two databases, one a fundraising database for a charity I worked for (still in use I believe after almost a decade and created in ACCESS) and the other for my current employer, a housing charity (created in FileMaker Pro to record residents’ details and log important events).

I understand the basics of HTML, Javascript and CSS though much prefer to focus on usability, graphics and layout, which is why I love WordPress. Over the years I have tried various CMS, such as Mambo/Joomla, Drupal and Concrete5. Of thee my favourite was Mambo/Joomla though I exclusively use WP for all my sites and my clients’ (bar one that is still created in RapidWeaver).

As a freelance photographer in the past (still very keen) I am familiar with photo-editing software (Photoshop and Pixelmator are my two favs). I also run a online community on http://www.redbubble.com/groups/britain-coastline) as well as blogs on various topics Macs, Digital Media and have my own online business, selling IT products and services.

I am currently testing online gaming using OnLive. Generally I am more of a Civilisation man or Medieval Total War, though my teenage son as had me playing on the XBox with him over the years on games such as GoW and TimeSplitters.

I am about to explore the delights of 100MB Broadband, courtesy of Virgin Media and should soon be upgrading to the iPhone 4S.

My twitter handle is celtxian. I enjoy photography, playing the guitar, watching French films and spending time with family and friends. I am involved in youth work, run our church website and am currently helping a social enterprise (working with young people not in training, employment or education – so-called NEETS) as  voluntary fundraising consultant and with their website (WP), including social media. Over the years I have been a nurse (psychiatry, general medicine and surgery, cardiology and intensive care), a project manager of two major social care projects, a fundraiser for major charity and various voluntary sector organisations, a freelance photographer for a publishing group and am currently managing a housing charity part-time.

Contributing Editor Joe Johnson Alto Michigan USA

I am a big gamer. Maybe that is a bit of an understatement. I play more games than you. I spend almost all of my spare time with my PS3, XBOX 360, and various handheld systems. My favorite game is Call of Duty, and I love playing it online, but hate the damn noobs who snipe. I remember the my first GameBoy system, I think it was the color, but I remember playing Pokemon when it was still cool to do so.

I recently graduated from high school, and have started my employment at a local factory. I played football and wrestled until I messed up my knee. I don’t get into a lot of the technological stuff my fellow T3kd editors get into, but I am working on it. A smartphone is in my near future, seeing as I have a crap phone now. I have a desktop HP computer that I used mainly for school work, but also some games.

I love sports, all sports really, though my favorite has to be football. I am a HUGE Detroit Lions fan and Michigan Wolverines fan. I enjoy baseball with the Tigers, hockey with the RedWings, and basketball with the Pistons. I also like playing basketball from time to time.

Frequent Guest Posters

David Ritchie

Alfred Smith