Hi, I’m Andrew Kalies. Student intern @ the DeForest Times-Tribune newspaper. Contributing editor @ the Okay Geek weblog. Host and producer @ the Rapid Planet podcast. Sophomore in high school from southern Wisconsin. On the bleeding edge of technology. Aspiring journalist. I use a lot of tech (mainly my ThinkPad and (eventually) a Windows Phone), but you can see my entire gadget collection here at gdgt. Finally, you can follow me on Twitter, check out my photos on Flickr, add me on Facebook, download my resume, or shoot me an email. Thanks for visiting my site! … Tumblr (3.0; @andrewkalies)http://andrewkalies.com/<img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzlngmYo101qa2a8lo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Found this image today. It’s entirely true too, both that online news is the future and that Philip DeFranco is insanely awesome.</p>http://andrewkalies.com/post/17829775033http://andrewkalies.com/post/17829775033Sat, 18 Feb 2012 11:33:58 -0600<img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzkfkchUIS1qa2a8lo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Official logo of Windows 8. I like it!</p>http://andrewkalies.com/post/17797051054http://andrewkalies.com/post/17797051054Fri, 17 Feb 2012 19:45:48 -0600<iframe width="400" height="225" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/PK8OJdy5m7w?wmode=transparent&autohide=1&egm=0&hd=1&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&showsearch=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br/><br/><p>It’s been 6.5 months and 16 episodes since I started work on my side project “The Rapid Planet Podcast”. Since then, we’ve accomplished a lot and I’m proud to say that I’ve learned a lot about podcasting along the way. In April we’ll be moving to YouTube as a video podcast, and I’m super excited for the move. Embedded above is a little preview of what we’re currently working on in terms of the video show. Thanks for listening!</p>http://andrewkalies.com/post/17306958517http://andrewkalies.com/post/17306958517Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:18:57 -0600<img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lyn249gfmC1qa2a8lo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>The newest addition to my arsenal - the Samson Go Mic.</p>http://andrewkalies.com/post/16791780252http://andrewkalies.com/post/16791780252Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:14:33 -0600<img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxx8f79CLA1qa2a8lo1_500.png"/><br/><br/><div> <p>Okay, so this post is a <em>bit </em>late, but better late than never I suppose!</p> <p>I’m happy to announce that as of December 2011 I have joined the awesome team over at Okay Geek as a contributing editor!</p> <p>If you’re not familiar, Okay Geek (formerly T3ch H3lp) is a technology news blog that amasses an estimated monthly view count of 190,000 - 250,000 views. They like to do things a little differently over there. How? Well, they focus a lot less on that one gadget that was just announced that 100 other tech blogs are already covering extensively, and more on the other stuff such as cool videos, information, articles, and infographics (although there is some gadget news thrown in there, too). All in all it makes for a totally unique experience that you won’t find on any other site.</p> <p>This of course is going to be a change of heart for me as I’m used to writing about the latest and greatest tech announcements, but I’m really excited to have the opportunity to write for a blog that stands out a bit from the rest.</p> <p>On that topic, as I mentioned before, I’m signing on as a contributing editor. What does that mean you ask? Well, that means I’ll be finding and posting a lot of that interesting content (mainly on weekends). Pretty simple!</p> <p>I’m super excited about this new position as not only do I want to go into journalism, but more specifically technology journalism and that’s exactly what I’ll be writing about over at Okay Geek.</p> <p>Be sure to <a href="http://www.okaygeek.com/" target="_blank">check out the site</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/okaygeek" target="_blank">follow them on Twitter</a>, and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/okaygeek" target="_blank">like them on Facebook</a>. Oh, and there’s also <a href="http://www.okaygeek.com/blog/author/andrew" target="_blank">this</a> handy link for posts only by me.</p> <p>Thanks for reading!</p> <p>- Andrew</p> </div>http://andrewkalies.com/post/15986046536http://andrewkalies.com/post/15986046536Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:33:00 -0600<img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lx3vuuZbpQ1qa2a8lo1_250.png"/><br/><br/><p>Happy New Year everyone! Let’s make 2012 a good one!</p>http://andrewkalies.com/post/15116018351http://andrewkalies.com/post/15116018351Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:11:18 -0600<img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lx1fbgFUwx1qa2a8lo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Just picked up a pair of SOL Republic Tracks headphones at Best Buy for $99 with some leftover Christmas money. You can read my gdgt review <a href="http://gdgt.com/sol-republic/tracks/reviews/k1i/" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>http://andrewkalies.com/post/15046791000http://andrewkalies.com/post/15046791000Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:18:52 -0600<img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lwvwd6YpLj1qa2a8lo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Christmas gifts! This year I got a Lenovo ThinkPad E220s with mouse and sleeve, external ASUS CD/DVD drive, the Steve Jobs book, Battlefield 3 and Skyrim for my PS3, Transformers 3 on DVD, a sweatshirt and cologne from Aeropostale, a snuggie, and finally a little backpack just big enough for my camera and laptop. Not bad at all!</p>http://andrewkalies.com/post/14883174264http://andrewkalies.com/post/14883174264Tue, 27 Dec 2011 16:41:29 -0600<img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lwrp744wtm1qa2a8lo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!</p>http://andrewkalies.com/post/14768561480http://andrewkalies.com/post/14768561480Sun, 25 Dec 2011 10:16:15 -0600<iframe width="400" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZpFXxVFGm78?wmode=transparent&autohide=1&egm=0&hd=1&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&showsearch=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br/><br/><p>This is a simple 10 minute demonstration video about how to make your own podcast that I created for my 10th grade speech class. Enjoy!</p>http://andrewkalies.com/post/14530799555http://andrewkalies.com/post/14530799555Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:59:18 -0600<img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lwezi4xOpB1qa2a8lo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Went hands-on with the Galaxy Nexus at my local Verizon Wireless store yesterday. I’ve got to say, Ice Cream Sandwich is probably one of my favorite operating systems ever. MUCH better than past versions of Android. As for hardware, although I found the GN comfortable and light to hold, I thought that the back felt a little cheap. Overall, great device though.</p>http://andrewkalies.com/post/14414697497http://andrewkalies.com/post/14414697497Sun, 18 Dec 2011 13:30:03 -0600<img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lv6w29LfAW1qa2a8lo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Happy Thanksgiving!</p>http://andrewkalies.com/post/13275191200http://andrewkalies.com/post/13275191200Thu, 24 Nov 2011 18:01:21 -0600<img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lufb6eREUz1qa2a8lo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>First major snowfall of the season. Winter is definitely here!</p>http://andrewkalies.com/post/12583105405http://andrewkalies.com/post/12583105405Wed, 09 Nov 2011 20:35:01 -0600<img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lu7oag58Ht1qa2a8lo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Went to pick up an HTC Arrive on display at Best Buy and as soon as I grabbed it it disintegrated into three pieces. Now that’s quality!</p>http://andrewkalies.com/post/12391561228http://andrewkalies.com/post/12391561228Sat, 05 Nov 2011 18:37:28 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lu5n7wGae61qa2a8lo1_400.png"/><br/><br/><p>My geek cred just went up a bit this week.</p>http://andrewkalies.com/post/12338764195http://andrewkalies.com/post/12338764195Fri, 04 Nov 2011 16:19:08 -0500<img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lu3ylpcsqJ1qa2a8lo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>On the backside of this week’s issue of the Times-Tribune. Pretty cool.</p>http://andrewkalies.com/post/12302878445http://andrewkalies.com/post/12302878445Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:29:48 -0500<a href="http://gdgt.com/bose/companion/2/reviews/gwy/">My review of the Bose Companion 2 speakers.</a>http://andrewkalies.com/post/12128863945http://andrewkalies.com/post/12128863945Sun, 30 Oct 2011 15:11:21 -0500<img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ltt55nTeVS1qa2a8lo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Bought a pair of Bose Companion 2 speakers today. They sound great, don’t take up much space, and were only $99. I’ll post a full review of them on my gdgt page in about a week after I’ve had some time to test them out fully.</p>http://andrewkalies.com/post/12058926240http://andrewkalies.com/post/12058926240Fri, 28 Oct 2011 22:17:47 -0500<iframe width="400" height="225" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/a6cNdhOKwi0?wmode=transparent&autohide=1&egm=0&hd=1&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&showsearch=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br/><br/><p>Microsoft is on a roll! (See video below this) Unfortunately, most of this is probably a LONG time off, but I still wouldn’t mind having language translating glasses, paper thin phones, and whatever that crazy good looking operating system that they use throughout the video on their phones, tablets, TVs, and refrigerators is. At least we know that this kind of stuff is being thought up and put into concept, and that’s a <b>very </b>good thing. Here’s to the future.</p>http://andrewkalies.com/post/12020540100http://andrewkalies.com/post/12020540100Thu, 27 Oct 2011 22:49:30 -0500<iframe width="400" height="225" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Pz17lbjOFn8?wmode=transparent&autohide=1&egm=0&hd=1&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&showsearch=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br/><br/><p>Not sure how practical this would be in the real world, but nonetheless it looks really cool. Technology is awesome.</p>http://andrewkalies.com/post/11721697201http://andrewkalies.com/post/11721697201Thu, 20 Oct 2011 22:52:51 -0500