Computer Support Blog

While the Internet has made working from a “virtual office” online fast and effective, it can have its difficulties as well.  There is a lot one can lose track of between numerous phone calls, email threads, chat sessions, and occasional face-to-face meetings.  This can be especially true of those working in the visual arts such as designers, illustrators, photographers, and the like, and Cage is an app designed specifically for these fields.   Artists must constantly be in contact with clients and now rely heavily on advanced tech devices and methods on order to do so, whether on their computers, smartphones, or other mobile devices.  Cage works to streamline the process of developing and displaying a current project on which other artists and industry professionals as well as their clients can comment, offer feedback, or approve. Read more »

There are many art dealers online and plenty of art to find in any number of online marketplaces.  Digital art is a form quickly gaining in popularity, and there are now online marketplaces dedicated strictly to this newer form.  NeonMob sets itself apart by being more than merely Internet sales for digital art, as a way for artists to create and sell their art with an unusual emphasis on trading, collecting and exchanging among buyers.  There is a community among its user base, acting as a social network of sorts for the collection and trading of limited-edition prints of a digital artist’s works. Read more »

Selling artwork or photography is not an easy profession.  Finding interested buyers, promoting one’s work and finding a viable model for distribution are all obstacles for visual artists trying to make a living off their work.  The Internet provides an opportunity for photographers to reach a wider audience and sell more pieces, but setting up the infrastructure needed to do those things is not always part of an artist’s skillset.  Cool person in technology Matt Munson has created Twenty20 in order to solve this problem.  Twenty20 is an online marketplace where graphic artists and photographers can sell their work with little to no technical expertise.  Twenty20 lets users create galleries where they offer the public either digital copies or physical prints of their work.  Munson’s company handles the printing and shipping of each physical item and splits the profit of each sale with the artists on the site.  Read more »

Online auctions became popular with eBay during the late 1990’s.  Since eBay’s explosion of popularity, most people associate online auctioning with less expensive or second hand products, which are more common on eBay.  However, cool person in technology Alexander Zacke believes that online auctions don’t have to be a slave to this stigma.  Zacke is the CEO of Auctionata, an online auction house that only puts up items such as high quality art and rare antiques for bidding.  Rather than utilize the populist style of peer-to-peer auctions that populate sites like eBay and its clones, Zacke’s company specifically tries to recreate the experience of high-class auction houses like New York City’s Christie’s.  Zacke’s company uses a patented real-time online auction system on the Auctionata website.  Users can maintain online profiles for easy access to the site when auctions occur.  With Auctionata, art and antique collectors can bid on intriguing high-value items from the comfort of their couches.  Anyone who has trouble setting up an account on Zacke’s website can always get computer support services to help with the issue. Read more »

As entertaining as large, flat-screen television sets are when people are using them to watch shows, movies and sports, they can also be an eyesore during a party or causal get-together when people aren’t using them.  Cool person in technology Sheldon Laube has found a way to give TVs a better purpose when not performing their primary function.  Laube has created Artkick, which provides a massive archive of photographs and digital artwork for users to push to their television displays wirelessly through an Android and iPhone app.  Artkick users can wirelessly control what images display on their large screen televisions using their phones.  Laube wants people to be able to repurpose their televisions easily when not using them.  With Artkick, people can instantly make their televisions into eye-catching art displays that make their home feel more welcoming to visitors.  Users simply connect their phones to their televisions through a Wi-Fi signal and select whatever image they want displayed.  Anyone who has trouble connecting their smartphones to their TVs through their wireless Internet will need to get home network support for help. Read more »

Making products into services has been a common theme among technology startups over the last few years.  Companies like Spotify have taken music, which people once sold like a product in album and single form, and allowed people to pay a monthly subscription for unlimited access to it.  Netflix, Crackle, Hulu and other video streaming companies have made film and television a subscription service for millions of people as well.  Even computer repair companies now offer subscription-based plans as opposed to one-time service.  Now, a cool person in technology wants to transform another product into a service for consumers.  TurningArt founder Jason Gracilieri wants to make professional art subscription-based for admirers.  Read more »

While many creative professionals have benefitted immensely from cloud-based services, product designers and concept artists who render their work in 3D have been stuck using the same complicated and expensive software that would require extensive tech support for any non-professional to use.  Products like Google Docs and Adobe’s Cloud Suite have allowed writers and designers, respectively, to do all their work without even needing a native program at times.  While dedicated programs like Microsoft Word and Adobe Photoshop are more robust and provide more overall options, many writers and designers take advantage of cloud alternatives every year.  Creative workers who use software that requires more computing power, such as product designers who create 3D rendering of prototypes, have had to deal without such convenient alternatives.  However, that does not appear to be the case any longer.  Cool person in technology Thiago Costa founded his company to provide photo-realistic 3D rendering in the cloud.  Finally, product designers and 3D artists can experience the same conveniences enjoyed by other creative professionals. Read more »

Being a professional artist is a struggle for many, as young and talented creators saturate the field in today’s art world, making it harder to acquire a fan base.  However, the Internet has become an incredibly valuable resource for artists to reach admirers and carve out their niche in the wider art loving populace.  Daniel Arroyo is a cool person in technology who has built a website that leverages the advantages of the Internet to help artists as they find their audience.  Artgonia acts as a platform for artists who want to share their work and build a network of fans.  Arroyo’s website utilizes social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus in order to help budding artists and photographers reach much wider audiences.  Artists can share their art through unique Artgonia profiles to try to make their work go viral on the web.  Any artist who is interested but doesn’t know how to create social network profiles that help them take full advantage of Arroyo’s site should seek out an online computer support provider. Read more »

Artsy, a cool product on the web, has made it its mission to use the Internet to make the world of high art accessible to anyone that wants to experience it.  Artsy collects art internationally by partnering with major galleries to keep an online database where anyone can search for, learn about, or view specific artwork that is for sale.  They have also formed partnerships with several museums and foundations to provide online access to public art that is not for sale, but enthusiasts may still want to view and discover online in high quality. Currently, Artsy claims to have over 50,000 pieces collected on their site for viewing.  The site offers users a multitude of ways to filter the content on the site to suit their specific interests.  The site sorts works by medium, subject material, style, price, movement, geographical origin and time period.  Artsy tries to ensure than anyone can easily find their specific tastes within the site’s ever-growing database.  If you have trouble navigating the site, call for PC support services. Read more »

Quite a few creative individuals find that the art they love and skills they develop through higher education are not immediately profitable.  As a result, the current generation of would-be playwrights, painters, and photographers have largely turned to the tech sector for income while they develop the craft they are passionate about in their spare time.  As such, they end up as bloggers, digital artists and software engineers while they work in their off-time toward their “big break.”  One such artist who is leading the dual life in the artistic and tech sectors is Michael Kaplan. Read more »