Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Dr. Horrible Isn't So Horrible
Web Analytics
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Tweet Tweet
A list of various applications for use with Twitter...
GeoChirp: A Twitter and Google maps mashup that allows one to search for Twitter users with similar interests in any particular geography around the world.
Uses: Event organizers could search local twitterers with similar interests and send mass tweets. Think of it as walking the local streets and handing out flyers.
TwitPic: Enables users to share photos on Twitter. This is one of the more popular photo hosting tools on Twitter.
Uses: This tool has a wide spectrum of uses. Companies can publish photos of new products, marketing campaigns, and even local stores. People can publish photos of their vacation, their current locale, or even share pictures of their friends.
TweetFeed: Have your RSS Feeds automatically post to your Twitter account.
Uses: Users who may not have access to a computer but have their cell phone handy can still get their news and updates.
Tweetube: The video version of TwitPic. Enables users to share personal videos, YouTube videos, as well as photos.
Uses: From the obvious sharing of various moments to capturing crimes in action or recording a concert. This could also be seen as an extension to those who have a YouTube community.
TweetDeck: Unifies users MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter accounts. It also enables users to manage multiple Twitter accounts.
Uses: I for one use this personally. It allows me to update my Facebook status messages and manage my personal and professional Twitter accounts. Others may have different Twitter accounts specifically geared towards certain areas of interest.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Ways To Use Twitter
After searching for hours furiously on the interwebs, it seems everyone has find a way to utilize Twitter to their advantage; some more obvious than others. I personally follow a wide variety of tweeters and marvel at their ingenuity.
The more obvious ones are those of the retail sales outlets. Customers who like their goods follow them for product updates, sales, or even store closings. As such, companies will reward these followers with advance notice of sales or even higher discounts at the mention of the tweet.
Dana White, the frontman and voice of the UFC organization will tweet about preliminary fight outcomes, upcoming events and current contract negotiations. He even tweets his whereabouts on fight nights where followers can find him and receive free tickets to that night’s events. Everybody likes things for free and it’s a great way to generate interest about the event and its organization.
One of the most inventive ways of using Twitter is tweeting live coverage as it happens. From gallop polls during the latest election to road closings due to the flooded streets from the heavy rainfall during this past week, you no longer have to be on the computer, listening to the radio, or watching the TV to get your news anymore. You are able to get your twitter updates from your phone; you essentially have the news in the palm your hands.
Twitter 101
From Twitter 101
5 Things To Know Before You Tweet
1. Tweet anything you want, as long as it’s 140 characters or less.
People tweet about their personal experiences and daily happenings in their lives. Companies tweet about updates, new products, or even promotions. Some use it to vent to the world, others to discuss what’s currently happening in the world.
2. Public or private?
Do you want the whole world to know what you’re tweeting? If not, you can make your profile private and only your followers will able to see your tweets.
3. @replies and mentions
@replies is when someone is replying to or directing a tweet to you. Mentions are when tweets contain your user name within them.
4. Direct Message
This is a private message that is sent to you and only you can see, no matter if your profile is public or private.
5. Following & Followers
You may follow anybody you like, friends, family, companies, or even news outlets. Anybody may follow you as well, though you have more control on this end. You may block anyone who you do not want to follow you.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Opera Web Browser
Their mission is simple..."to develop a superior Internet browser for our users through state-of-the-art technology, innovation, leadership and partnerships."
What they’ve done is tackle almost every front where the internet can be accessed. Their browser supports Linux, Mac, or Widow’s based computers. They have also extended their range to the mobile market where cell-phones can run Opera mobile or Opera Mini. They even have a browser for the Nintendo Wii and DSi.
Opera offers many features for its browsers which include tabbed browsing, pop-up blockers, fraud protection, a download manager, web feed aggregator and search bar. It is not merely a web browser though; Opera has their own social network as well as an internet portal. Their social network focuses on blogging and photo sharing within the community. Their internet portal is still in beta, but it allows you to setup and customize your own home page.
One of the latest and neatest developments that is still in development is Opera Unite. By utilizing a plug-in called “Services,” you are able to add web server capabilities to the browser. This allows you to host a site, stream media, and even allow file sharing. File sharing, thats a whole other topic.
Here is a quick blurb about Opera's Unite...
http://www.webmonkey.com/blog/Opera_Unite_Puts_a_Web_Server_in_Your_Web_Browser
Sunday, September 13, 2009
I am a Wikipedia ninja!
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Reality Augmented, For Your Viewing Pleasure
Imagine having the 411 on everything that was in your line of vision. You place your iPhone in front of you as you gaze into its display. You see a neon sign appear above the restaurant, in it appears the name of the restaurant, its hours of operations, maybe even coupons to entice you to come in and spend your hard earned dollars. You tap the sign to download the coupon into the phone to use at the restaurant. Sound too futuristic, too science fiction, or too good to be true. That day is upon us.
What has been labeled as the Information Age is about to enter a new era; The Augmented Reality Information Overload Age. Ok, so I made the name up. It does have a certain cache to it doesn’t it? With the compass, GPS, and accelerometer built into the current generation iPhone, it now knows where you are, at what speed you’re traveling, and in what direction you’re facing. With this information, it can create a virtual computer-generated (augmented) reality whose elements are merged with the real world environment that is captured on the screen on the iPhone. What you see is a mash of the real world with a computer generated layer on top. Examples can be seen below.
From Blogger
From Blogger |
From Blogger |
Imagine the possiblities of the different applications that could be implemented? With facial recognition software (assuming there is a national database) you could identitfy anyone you met through your phone. Depending on what that national database held, you may be able to find out their address, phone number, maybe even blood type. The display in the Terminator's head isn't looking so Sci-Fi anymore is it? Augmented reality applications coming soon to the App Store near you.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
May The Force Be With You
I come from a relatively technical background with no business background at all. One of the most desired dreams for many Americans is to open their own business; to be their own boss, to work their own hours, to start from scratch. How many of them actually sit down and come up with a game plan? How many of them take an educated approach to deciding what the chances are of them surviving in a competitive marketplace?
Porter’s 5 Force Analysis model does just that. It takes a comprehensive approach to analyzing the current industry and building a foundation for a business strategy.
1. Threat of substitute
2. Barriers of Entry
3. Supplier Power
4. Buyer Power
5. Degree of Rivalry
From 5 Forces
Think about how unique your product is. Are there others like it? Why would someone choose your product over the competitors? What does it take to get started? How much capitol must be raised? Who are your suppliers? What kind of relationship would you have with them? Who are your buyers and distributors? And what happens when you fail? How easy is it to leave the market place? What assets do you have and how would you rid yourself of them?
It is said that nine out of ten businesses fail within the first five years. Those are staggering odds, but with due diligence, careful planning, and a solid business plan, you can build a solid foundation for your business.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
The Jesus Phone
From Whitoken |