Due to venture capitalists like Andreessen Horowitz, Jack Dorsey and Chris Dixon, this paper drawing app has raised approximately $15 million dollars. With this money, Fifty Three hopes to expand, build new apps and get new hardware. Fifty Three has been used as a powerful business tool. Since it’s beginning, the app has been responsible for over 80 million projects. It’s already won Apple App of the Year award. It’s also expected this funding will help social collaboration to create new projects and better existing ones. Also, this funding will help hire more engineers in their headquarters in New York and Seattle.

I’ve used the Fifty Three app for fun and self-improvement purposes, but it’s becoming a powerful tool in the business world. They said they don’t even need this money, and it sounds like they don’t. So I like this innovation, and I’m glad this money is being used to make a good thing better. But shouldn’t they be spending that money on apps that need more help to survive? Or am I being crazy?

But experts and reporters are skeptical. This event has been so guarded from leaking it the date could be a rouge. Last month, a story broke saying this Vine style video technology was in testing phase. Instagram has over 100 million users. The Vine app allows users to take six second videos with their Apple or Droid device and share it on their network. Since early May, Vine’s links and popularity has almost doubled.

So I say to Facebook and Instagram: it’s about time you take this next step. Plus, videos through Instagram are expected to be 10 seconds long, which would be another plus. While links to Vine are skyrocketing, likes to ‘gram are steady at best if not stagnant. In October 2012, Facebook bought Instagram for over $700 million dollars. So now they’re just doing something with it? I know it takes time to test certain things, but for it to take this long raises questions. Yes, FB usage has increased since last October, but what’s there to show for it? I hope Instagram can make this happen. Will you be using them to make and share your 10 second video?

They’re calling for banks to prepare and arm themselves against future cyber attacks. No bank big or small is immune. In the last several years, J.P. Morgan, Bank of America, and Capitol One have all been hit. In 2011, the SEC required banks to tell investors when their computers were hacked. There’s a ‘war game’ being played with banks and Homeland Security, a ‘what if” factor, and what’s to be done in worse case scenario. The U.S. Treasury Department are collaborating with the banking industry  for better government responses in case of an emergency.

These are all great steps, but what about prevention? Not too many people have an answer to prevent this stuff before it happen. These aren’t just people who take money, but we’re talking about people who can and will destroy whole countries. There was an episode of Iranian hackers who weren’t just interested in getting money, but in total destruction. It’s scary of how destructive a push of a button can be today. Shouldn’t prevention be the key topic here?

Facebook and Microsoft become the first two companies to tell the public just how many people they were to get data on, due to orders from the National Security Advisor. Facebook’s count was 18,000. Microsoft’s count was 31,000. Keep in mind this less than one tenth of a percent of Americans that use these online services regularly. They did this to put consumer minds at ease and put to rest PRISM rumors and conspiracy theories. While Google CEO Larry Page blatantly denies spying.

I think Facebook and Microsoft did the right thing. First off, they came out and admitted their role in the NSA info gathering. Then they gave concrete numbers and other hard facts. Instead of denial, they went into great detail. While these numbers look big, keep the context in mind: billions use Facebook and Microsoft. I applaud Facebook and Microsoft for this move. I just hope they’re telling the truth. Has this confession put your trust back in online corporations?

10. Life On Mars: Though it only lasted one season, this was pretty compelling. A cop gets run over in 2007, wakes up in 1973, and we don’t know how he got there. Then we find out it was a tech/scientific experiment gone haywire, and they’re really in 2035 Mars.

9. Futurama: This cartoon features a young geek falling in a cryogenic pod and ends up in the 31st century. And there’s the hot one-eyed captain. But nothing speaks tech like a drunk, obnoxious robot.

8. Chuck: Chuck is a computer geek and slacker who becomes a spy who fights terrorists and other adventures. During Chuck’s five year run, his life as a spy and computer repair man gets more and more intertwined.

7. Stargate SG1: A military squad is sent outer space to fight alien threats to the US. Not exactly a revolutionary plot, but it’s one of the longest running sci-fi TV shows of all time. Plus, I feel totally safe with Richard ‘MacGyver’ Anderson as the captain!

6. Lost: I can’t believe I’m putting this one in here, but it sucked America in. Even the time travel and flashbacks were great. But in the last couple of seasons, it just got confusing, and don’t even get me started on that 2010 finale!

5. House MD: This is a very technology based show. Dr. House and his colleagues turn to scanners, iMacs, you name it to treat diseases rarely even heard of. And at least they do it without those mushy plot lines you see on other medical shows.

4.  Dark Angel: It only lasted a couple of seasons. But Jessica Alba portrays a genetic superhuman who tries to live a normal life in a post-apocalyptic world. Only thing is, the people who built her won’t let that happen, so she’s always on the run. This show should have lasted a lot longer than it did.

3. Big Bang Theory: This show proves geeks come with diversity. Yes, there’s the stereotypical anti-social Sheldon, but you have Raj, Johnny, and Simon, who sometimes gets razzed for not having a Ph.D.  Then we have Penny, who helps keep them all grounded. These are the ingredients of the greatest comedy around today.

2. Twenty-Four: Who doesn’t love to see Jack Bauer fight terrorism, corruption and other bad guys one hour an episode, one day a season. But if were not for the CTU division having Bauer’s back, he would’ve been done in the first hour.

1. CSI: This crime show demonstrates the tech chops needed to solve 21st century crimes, from DNA analysis, device tracking, even facial recognition. It sure makes me think before breaking the law. It’s been on for all 13 years for the century, spun several spin-offs, and has almost always stayed on top of the ratings.

But that’s just my humble opinion. What’s yours?

Apple is looking at 4.7 and 5.7 inch screens for next year’s new iPhones. There is a movement within Apple walls to make ‘phablets’, bigger smartphones in sizes, but they still aren’t tablets. They want to move away from the standard 3.5 inch screen used in every Apple phone since 2007. Keep in mind the very successful Samsung Galaxy S4 is Galaxy Note 2 screens are 5 and 5 1/2 inches. But wait, there’s more. They’re  planning to launch iPhone 5S next year, which is rumored to used fingerprints to identify the user. There are plans to give cheaper versions different colors, while keeping the more expensive ones black and/or white. These cheaper version if iPhone 5S is rumored to go as low as $99. I’ll believe it when I see it.

So what do you think? You know Apple is trying to get back to it’s heyday of being number one in the technology game. Remember when their stocks were nearly $700 a share? Remember when they thought they were unstoppable? Now Samsumg is taking over that role, especially in rising markets like China, which now has the world’s largest smartphone market. It’s obvious to me the bigger screens are a way for Apple to compete and take the #1 spot, especially in China. Do you think it will work?

I’m getting great battery life. Test say the battery can last up to 9 1/2 hours. Keep in mind some 13 inch notebooks don’t even last six hours. The screen has great contrast and color and makes you feel like you’re there. I can give a great report about the auto. I played a Nirvana (sorry if I’m dating myself) song, and the song made it feel I was at an MTV Unplugged taping. Another plus is the Air 13 comes with Mountain Lion OS, software great for app support and sharing content. This fall, Apple will ship OS X Maverick, which will help create tags for files. But I do have two strikes against it. The design is plain. When are they going to add some colors to their designs? Also, I’ve noticed while playing Combat Wings, the fan got a little loud. Just an observation.

Overall, I would get this Mac Book. It’s a rarity the updated version of something cost less than the original, and proves to be better than the original. I don’t use the webcam that much, but that’s pretty good, too. Say what you want, but Apple does it again. Have I tempted you to get an Apple MacBook Air 13 yet?

Snowden, who was also a CIA agent, claimed to have leaked the report to the Washington Post and U.K.’s Guardian.  Now, the NSA is panicking, wondering how Snowden got that kind of access to these secret documents and aired this info out to the world. He got a highly classified document from FISA. Authorities are working to build a case against him. They’re even looking into Snowden’s personal life. The media hounded his parents so much that his mom had to put something of a ‘Go Away’ sign on the door. It’s believed that more info will be released about the NSA and their cell phone and Internet listening activities.

One thing that isn’t going away is this case. Even Wiki Leaks founder Julian Assange called him a hero, and urged him to go to Latin America. The Feds are building a case against Snowden, but he’s in Hong Kong. Will he be extradited from HK or will he seek asylum there, or in a country like Iceland? And how do the American people feel about this? I read one poll where 56% of Americans feel phone and online tracking is an acceptable way to fight terrorism. Where do you stand? Do you think Snowden is a hero or villain?

As much as $1.3 billion dollars are expected to change hands because of this buy out. Some fear Google will significantly alter or cancel the app altogether. Apparently, they have nothing to worry about. Waze is expected to run as it always has. Though Waze has 47 million users, less than a third are active. This app is known for it’s pristine accuracy. It’s being constantly updated as users are driving. Ironically, Apple made a bid for Waze.

Keeping Waze independent is the best thing Google can do. This app has tens of millions of users around the world, and it praised for running smoothly. Why ruin a good thing? Plus, with Google’s backing, instead of changing Waze, it can expand it. This is a great opportunity to increase active users and users in general. If they can do that, then both companies will get stronger. I can’t believe Apple made a bid for them. I kind of wish they had. It would have saved Apple from one of the most embarrassing blunders, Apple maps, in tech history. But how long will Waze remain independent?

They’re telling us what is not: some data mining system. They don’t go around yanking data from servers. They say PRISM is a computer system that ‘facilitates’ foreign intelligence collected from services providers. They insist it’s only done under court supervision. In fact, the US Director of National Intelligence James Clapper is so tired of the news reports he felt compelled to release an official statement . What they’re basically saying is that PRISM does exist, but it’s being blown out of the proportion. Major computer companies, like Google denied their part in any government data gathering program and deny any privacy infringement.

I’m glad someone in government is talking. I don’t think is because he wants too. The media and the people demand answers. The demand has been so great now they have no choice but to talk. Whether Mr. Clapper’s statement is accurate, that remains to be seen. But it’s a start. What more would you like to hear about PRISM?