Techie Talk Tuesdays: An Uber Way to Get a Lyft Around Los Angeles! (belated post)

Oh, Los Angeles... without a car, it’s hard to get around! Don’t have a car? Need a way to get around without having to take the Metro? Going to that Bar Review, and want to squeeze in some extra drinks without the worries of getting pulled over? Tired of taking a cab and having people steal it after a long night? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, check out these two awesome on-demand ride apps.

Uber and Lyft are both apps that can be downloaded to your iPhone or Android phone. No need to pull out your credit card or tipping, as your payment information is stored in your account profile for both apps. Uber has a base fare whereas Lyft uses “donations” as payments. Uber allows you to create an account, whereas Lyft makes you connect to your public Facebook or LinkedIn profile. Both apps allow you to track your driver till they pick you up, and both send text message notifications upon arriving at your location! Upon reaching your destination, you’ll receive a friendly receipt in your inbox!

Uber, the self-proclaimed app that allows everyone to have their own private driver is the quintessential symbol of status in the competitive market of on-demand rides. Want to be picked up in a Lincoln Navigator? A Lincoln Town Car? A Prius or other hybrid car (for those eco-conscious status people)? Uber lets you make the call on your phone. Traveling with your other Uber buddies in the same car? You can split the fare! While Uber may be on the more expensive of the on-demand apps, and if you request a ride during peak times (late nights on the weekends), you may be subjected to a higher fee due to limited demand. Not to worry, you can check out your fare estimate before confirming your pickup within the app! Want to help your buddy who got stranded and lost their wallet? You can request an Uber pickup to their location and save their night from further misery! For you Uber First-Timers, you’ll get $10 off your first ride upon creating an account!

Have you seen cars roaming around town with the pink mustaches?  Behold Lyft, your friendly neighborhood driver. Although you may not ride in a fancy car, you get a mandatory *fistbump* upon pickup! If you want to have a social conversation, Lyft is perfect for giving you the “homie” feeling of riding in your buddy’s car by having you sit in the passenger seat. Lyft allows almost anyone to be a driver (with a vehicle 2000 or newer) and unlike a base fare for a taxi or Uber, your payment is based on “donations” to the driver, although you will still be prompted for a recommended fare for your ride. Lyft will be cheaper than Uber and is supposed to be 20% to 30% cheaper than taking a regular taxi cab. Was your driver awesome? Donate more! Was your ride crummy? Donate less! It’s all up to you!

Skeptical about safety? No problem! California has become the first state to regulate ride-sharing services. California’s Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), created a category for companies that “provide prearranged transportation services for compensation from using an application to connect passengers with drivers using their own personal vehicles.” CPUC’s new category regulates ride-sharing companies such as Uber or Lyft by requiring them to satisfy requirements such as safety and insurance requirements, criminal background checks, complete driver training, and must have liability insurance coverage.

Techie Talk Tuesdays: Google Drive

Google Drive:

Platforms: Mac, PC, Android, iOS

Price: Free(!)

Google drive is a file synchronization, storage, and sharing system. The application can be downloaded for free on your computer, tablet, and phone. Google drive is a great cloud system where you can backup your notes, photos, and music, and access them anywhere, so you don’t need to worry about your notes if your computer is lost or if it breaks.

The Drive application creates a virtual cloud-based “drive,” similar to a folder, with a storage space of 15GB that you sign-in to, using your Google login. Unlike competitors, the “drive” automatically syncs files copied into the folder through Google’s cloud storage system so that the files can be accessed through the web by any computer or mobile device. On your mobile device you can upload files from your phone’s media player and photo gallery to the cloud, access documents you uploaded via your computer, or even create new documents and spreadsheets.  You can also make the files “available offline” which can be convenient in areas without mobile data.

And that’s not all- Google Drive is also home to Google Docs, which allows creation of documents and spreadsheets with real-time editing and collaboration with other users. One caveat – while one may be tempted to substitute a need to purchase document software like Microsoft Office or Apple’s Pages, the limited formatting capabilities make it impractical for formal writing. However, Google Docs are great for group study sessions or outlining with its real time editing ability. Individuals can add and edit a file at the same time while everyone with a link to the document can see the editing. Also, if someone accidently deletes a portion of the document, the documents can easily be restored to a previous version. Once the document is completed, the document can be downloaded as a pdf or a word document to be printed.

Best of all? It’s free.