digisqueaks

amazing: popular science archives – free, online

// March 4th, 2010 // No Comments » // design, gadgets, media, miscellaneous, mobile, online, photography, technology, what?!

I had to pass this on. Popular Science just finished posting 137 years worth of their magazines online. Not only are they online – the archives are free and can easily be viewed via browser or mobile.

The gadget geek in me is jumping up and down, but so is the designer side of me. It’s very cool to read about and look at photos of past technology, crazy inventions, and (what were) futuristic ideas. At the same time, it is amazing to compare the designs from various dates such as 1874, 1940, 1972, and 2010. Design and the technology printing those designs was constantly changing as well. People were creating new ways to share ideas and information. Layouts changed from plain, standard column text to full page ads and articles with lots of photos and flexible regions of text.

Something that everyone should check out: Popular Science Archives

slidescreen for android

// January 21st, 2010 // No Comments » // android, applications, cellphones, mobile

If you have a phone that runs Android as the OS, I suggest you try SlideScreen. It’s probably not an app that I would have found, had it not been for a recent Gizmodo post, SlideScreen Android App Replaces Homescreen With Beautiful Information.

SlideScreen can either run as a home screen replacement, or as an app that you just call up when you want to use it. There are three main sections on SlideScreen’s “home screen.” The upper section features updates to your email, phone, text messaging, and calendar. The middle section slides up and down and features local weather, time, date, battery power, and a few other icons that would normally be found in Android’s default status bar. The bottom section features stocks, Twitter, and Google Reader updates. At any time you can move the middle bar up to make the bottom section fully accessible via a cycling menu. You can also move the middle bar all the way down to cycle through your top section of personal updates.

The home button can be set to go to your default Android home, or made to go to the SlideScreen home. The menu button, with one touch, brings up your app library with a small area at the top to set 8 shortcuts. With a second touch of your menu button, SlideScreen brings up a choice of Phone or SlideScreen settings.

While it is very slick and a beautiful app, it still leaves a lot to be desired. If we’re adding Twitter support, where’s Facebook or instant messaging support? And where, I ask, is support for the regular Email application. I use Gmail which is nice on SlideScreen, but I also use Email to sync with my nonGmail addresses. Those addresses also happen house my business email. I’d also like some control over how much space each line item takes up, what color they are, and the order in which they appear. Hopefully the developers continue to add features and customization options.

All in all, this app is beautiful. I tested this app via the free version and used it for all of 5 minutes before purchasing the Pro version for $6.99 from the Android Market (SlideScreen). Take a look at the YouTube walkthrough (below) that Larva Labs has posted.

mobile web apps vs. native

// December 16th, 2009 // No Comments » // OS, applications, cellphones, mobile, software, technology

This morning I came across an article on ReadWriteWeb that briefly explored the concept of having mobile web apps versus mobile apps that need to go through an acceptance process. The apps may or may not end up in one of the mobile app stores. I’m a big fan of mobile apps in general.

I have an iPod Touch and have used many free and paid apps which I have purchased through the App Store. I also unlocked my iPod Touch for a time and took the chance to use some apps through Cydia. Recently, I bought the DROID and have been using apps which I purchased from the Android Market. On occasion, I also use mobile web apps.

In a location where phone service is not always available, I use many an app that does not rely on having service. Mainly these apps are for passing time (playing games) or catching up on a little reading with apps like Kindle for iPhone. A good majority of the apps I use on my phone or my iPod do require an internet connection whether it is wireless or 3G. For those apps, I wouldn’t really mind if the apps were replaced by web counterparts. A few web services that I use now (Xpenser, Meebo, Facebook) either only have a web app, or are inferior apps on either iPhone or Android OS and I would rather use the web interface. Some apps lack a user friendly, attractive UI and I would much rather just see development go into a web interface. If it’s something I use frequently, it’s quite simple to bookmark a web site on my phone’s desktop to return quickly.

A clear upside that I can see to a movement towards mobile web apps is that HTML5, CSS etc. is much more accessible than the development tools necessary to create apps for certain app stores. It would most certainly bring an increase in development and the web apps would most likely be accessible from all phone OSs. It would be nice to see apps that were just as good on Android as they are on the iPhone.

Of course, there are many downsides as well. First, it would be hard to charge for web apps, although I suppose there could be subscription type fees applied. Second, like the current stores, there would be an overwhelming amount of shovelware out there and would most likely open the phones to web delivered virus attacks. You would also need a signal in order to access the apps and at first, page transfers will be slower than moving around in native apps.

Native apps are preferred for now, but I’m guessing there will be a big increase in web app development next year, especially as the divide between phone OSs continues to grow. If developers could make a web app that could compete with similar apps across the various app stores and find a way to make a profit, it could start a wave of innovative new web apps that everyone could benefit from.

pay for tweets? sounds messy.

// December 1st, 2009 // No Comments » // mobile, online, social media, what?!

In the past week, there have been several articles on both ReadWriteWeb and TechCrunch suggesting that Twitter Japan might start charging for access to tweets. TechCrunch posted a piece, 6 Reasons Why Twitter Japan’s Subscription Model Might Work. The post cited that Japanese mobile users are already used to having to pay for several services similar to Twitter. They also stated that Japanese users are sometimes more interested in the personal lives of celebrities and growth on Twitter Japan is accelerating compared to Twitter usage elsewhere that is beginning to flat line.

I’m very skeptical of having to pay for tweets. The first concern that came to mind was that I doubt many people would want to have to pay for tweets to begin with. Yes, there are some obsessive fans out there, but what if they are fans of 50 celebrities who all start charging for access to their tweets? I’m guessing each update would be a few cents, but that could certainly add up quickly. Next, what is to stop certain people from aggregating tweets of several people and releasing them under their own account? They could follow a few celebrities themselves, retweet the tweets and then charge a lump sum so that their own followers would then get the updates of a number of celebrities. I’d rather follow and pay for one stream instead of pay for 50 individually.

I can certainly see charging corporations a small subscription fee for tweeting. Many companies are benefiting greatly through both sales and customer relations as a result of their social media interactions, including Twitter. If Twitter wants to make money, it seems like it would be much easier to charge people a subscription fee instead of charging to view individual streams. Of course, as soon as they start charging subscription fees, I’m guessing many will decide to go with other microblogging services to get their link, news, and status publishing fix.

Twitter Japan To Introduce Paid Premium Accounts Next January

6 Reasons Why Twitter Japan’s Subscription Model Might Work (In Japan)

“Misunderstanding”: Twitter Japan Now Says There Won’t Be A Subscription Model (Update 3)

why have a facebook fan page?

// June 26th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // design, media, mobile, online, social media, technology

Lately, I’ve been talking to more and more small businesses that express that they aren’t getting out to enough people. They are starting to realize that more and more people are turning away from phonebooks or newspaper ads and to the internet for their business searches. Recently, I was at a local conservation commission meeting and they had expressed that they did not receive the crowd that they had wanted for a trail opening. My boyfriend asked, “Did you advertise?” They said they had posted it on various billboards, in newspapers, and in mailings. We both admitted that neither of us had seen a single ad that they had distributed. I added, “I probably would’ve noticed if I had seen it on the computer.” Slowly, more local businesses are realizing that people are turning to the internet for nearly every need: news updates, television shows, conversing, finding sales, etc. Having a website always sounds like a good idea, but some small businesses are hesitant. They think that they don’t have the funds, the time or knowledge to make updates, or doubt the importance of such a thing. But it is important. More than ever. I think, for those that are hesitant, a very good step that small businesses can take is to either set up a Facebook Fan Page, or pay a small amount to have one set up. Why? You ask. I’ll show you.

A Few Statistics For You To Consider

• There are more than 200 million active users, with 100 million of them logging on at least once a day. More than 66% of Facebook users are outside of college and the fastest growing demographic of users is those 35 years old and older.
• The average user has at least 120 friends. (This is especially useful when you consider the term, ‘viral marketing’. When a person becomes a fan, everyone of his/her friends sees that they are a fan. Each “John Doe became a fan of Suchandsuch” has a link, “Click to become a fan.”)
• More than 1 billion pieces of content (web links, news stories, blog posts, notes, photos, videos, etc.) are shared each week.
• Facebook is currently translated into over 50 languages with 40 more in development.
• Every month, more than 70% of Facebook users engage with Platform applications.
• More than 10,000 websites have implemented Facebook Connect sites since its general availability in December 2008.
• More than 30 million active users currently access Facebook through their mobile devices.
• There are more than 150 mobile operators in 50 countries working to deploy and promote Facebook mobile products.
• Internet users do not need a Facebook account to see Facebook Fan Pages.

(Stats from public Facebook Factsheet.)

What Can You Post? How Customizable is it?

Facebook Pages are almost entirely customizable. The only parts that you cannot change are items that you wouldn’t want to change because users are very used to seeing the standard elements (profile photos, “the wall”, different boxes, etc.). At the start you have the standard tabs: Wall, Info, Photos, Discussions. You also have Reviews and Events. Of all of the tabs and boxes, the only ones that must remain are Wall (where interactions take place) and Info (website, hours, phone, etc.). You can add as many as you’d like and customize anything as you’d like. For example, on my Facebook Fan Page I have the Wall, Info, Extended Info (services, payments, etc.), Photos, Hello! (welcome page) and Boxes (with blog info, Zazzle store, etc.).

More and more applications are being built that can simply be added to pages. For example, do you sell your crafts through Etsy? You can display items from your store right through an Etsy app. Do you sell shirts, mugs, or bumper stickers on Zazzle? Display them with the Merch Store app. Want to accept donations right on your Facebook Page? There are apps for that as well.

There are also apps (Extended Info and FBML) that allow users to insert HTML, Markdown, or Textile code to included photos, galleries, Flash, videos, etc.

Administrators and users (if allowed) can easily post photos, videos, and comments. Administrators can also send updates which go out to all of their fans.

Have an event coming up? A sale or customer appreciation barbeque? Simply create an Event with time, place, photos, description and allow users to RSVP right through Facebook. Users can also ask questions on the Event page and comment with suggestions. Any users that are sent the Event will receive a reminder of the Event several days before it happens and will continue to see it until the day of the Event.

Several Ways To Get The Word Out

• After June 28, 2009 small businesses will also be allowed to get a vanity URL. For those that don’t know what this is, it’s a custom link to their page, for example facebook.com/companyname.
• Don’t like the facebook.com in there? Make a subdomain with your own hosting and send people that way. List it on your business cards, newsletters, or newspaper advertisements. For example, I use facebookpage.mepriestley.com for my Facebook Fan Page.
• When you publish your FB Page you have the option to “Suggest to Friends.” They will automatically get a link to become a fan. Once they become a fan, all their friends will see that they are fans. If you have a group of people that are friends (say classmates of Oxbow Highschool) will see your company in their sidebar and it will say “5 of your friends became fans of YourCompany. Become a Fan.”
• Use other social media or internet means. Link your FB Page to your Twitter account. What about your LinkedIn account? No idea what I’m talking about? You could also send out an email newsletter and include the link.
• Finally, Facebook gives you the option to “Promote Your Page with an Ad.” This works much like Google Adwords. Facebook ads are Pay-Per-Click. For each click you get, you pay a small fee.

Finally – Why not? It’s free! Another good point that I’ve read in the articles below is that, your competitors are joining. Whether you like it or not, there are companies that are joining and users are listening and interacting with them. Where are you?

Not convinced yet? Just do a few searches for Facebook on Google, or turn on the news to see what an impact it is having. Here’s a few articles for you to consider if you are so inclined:
1. Is a Facebook Page a Complete Social Media Strategy? by Adam Ostrow – Mashable
2. HOW TO: Build Your Personal Brand on Facebook by Dan Schawbel – Mashable
3. 5 Tips for Optimizing Your Brand’s Facebook Presence by Steve Coulson – Mashable
4. Is Social Media Making Corporate Website Irrelevant? by Adam Ostrow – Mashable
5. Facebook Profiles Will Appear in Google Results Next Month by Pete Cashmore – Mashable
6. What Are the Top Performing Brands on Facebook? by Adam Ostrow – Mashable
7. How Charities Are #FindingTheGood With Facebook Pages by Alison Driscoll – Mashable

(Why are all my links from Mashable? It’s the “Social Media Guide.”)

Clay Shirky – on how media is changing history

// June 17th, 2009 // No Comments » // applications, miscellaneous, mobile, online, plugins

Clay Shirky, author of Here Comes Everybody, speaks on TED about changing media. I’ve posted his talk above: How cellphones, Twitter, Facebook can change history.

The talk itself is very interesting. I was a little surprised at how much time was spent on how media affected a few isolated events. The talk repeated the same message that I’ve been reading in articles all over the internet lately. That’s the idea that media has gone from a one-to-one relationship to a one-to-many and finally to the many-to-many relationship that we have today. At one time people could talk to one another. Then TV networks, radio show hosts, or columnists could reach out and deliver a message to a broader audience. Today millions of people can literally communicate with millions of other people with all sorts of different messages. Not only can a person talk to a person, but an organized (or unorganized) group can interact with another group thousands of miles away if they’d like to. Shirky states that we have had the “largest increase in expressive capability in human history.”

Shirky mostly touched on Twitter and a tiny bit on text messaging. I didn’t actually catch any mention of Facebook. I think it’s just assumed that it’s included as one of the biggest networks that people can communicate through. I thought one specific quote was especially interesting.

These tools don’t get socially interesting until they get technologically boring. It isn’t when the shiny new tools show up that their uses start permeating society, it’s when everybody is able to take them for granted.

It seems that this is entirely the case. Most people are still acting like Facebook is a brand new network, when really it’s been around since the beginning months of 2004. It just seems new and exciting because everyone and his brother is now a member. Or Twitter. Twitter is already three years old. It wasn’t until the end of 2008 or early 2009 that Twitter really started being dropped in conversations. In either case, both networks are now mentioned daily, if not hourly on news stations and throughout personal conversations.

As Shirky says,

The question we all face now is how can we make best use of this media even though it means changing the way we’ve always done it?

As I had touched on in a previous post, Social Media -- Where Is It Headed?, more and more people feel the literal need to get involved. This of course leads to what Shirky touched upon -- more and more of the “producers” of content are amateurs. Every second, people are connecting to new networks and adding content to those to which they already belong. Are we going to hit a breaking point? How are we supposed to filter this media, or are we?

social media – where is it headed?

// June 5th, 2009 // No Comments » // applications, mobile, online, tech

Social media seems to be transforming not only the internet, but the world, bit by bit. Within the last few months it seems that you cannot turn on the morning news without hearing the words tweet or Facebook. In everyday conversations I find myself referring to these technologies without even meaning to. Many times I am speaking to people who have absolutely no interaction with the internet whatsoever. As I describe my internet explorations, many people are amazed at how connected everything is and how easy it is to accomplish things with various programs. Others could care less and think that it is crazy that people would want to share as much as they do. Both my explanations of these technologies and the articles I have read lately make me wonder if we will take it too far. Most likely, I think we will.

Every time I sit down to update my networks, I am surprised at how long it actually takes. Between posting photos, posting videos, publishing blog posts, updating statuses…not too mention actually generating the photos, videos, and posts. As always, the more work something takes, the harder people try to figure out a way to make it quicker. Such is the case with the our new social media commitments.

Brian Solis, principal of an award-winning Public Relations and New Media agency writes a number of excellent articles on social media. One in particular, The Social Media Manifesto: Integrating Social Media Into Marketing Communications, is especially valid for this post. Surprisingly, even though it was written two years ago, it seems to precisely describe our current relations on the internet.

Monologue has given way to dialog…Content is the new democracy and we the people, are ensuring that our voices are heard…Those who participate will succeed – everyone else will either have to catch up or miss the game altogether. Engage or die.

Of course that is in regards to marketing. Companies will most certainly go under if they don’t grasp this new technology. But even in a broader scope, I think everyone is starting to feel this pressure, little by little. The more they have pressure, the more they will want to interact or feel left out. More and more I’ll find myself say, “Have you heard from John Doe? I saw his pictures posted on Facebook, seems like he’s having a good time.” If they aren’t already on Facebook, the reply has gone from “What’s Facebook?” to “Man, I really need to join that soon.”

But what if people don’t have the time? It takes too much effort…or it’s too confusing to them. What happens then? It seems that companies are taking care of that. (more…)

my take on video games

// May 11th, 2009 // No Comments » // applications, design, gadgets, gaming, mobile, online, tech

I’m in a habit of sharing articles on Delicious, Twitter, and every now and then, on Facebook. The design specific ones I always share with the design group at LSC. From time to time I come across articles that I think friends would like, so I post them on their walls. Sometimes I come across something that I just think anyone who’s interested would love to see, but I don’t necessarily have anyone specific in mind.

The other day, I watched the trailer for the new game, Red Dead Redemption. It’s a Rockstar game that is set to be released some time this fall. From what I’ve read, it is basically Grand Theft Auto, but set in the West during the late 1800s. Usually I’m not into stuff set in the “old West,” but the graphics caught my eye right away. If the graphics are already that good in the trailer and it’s supposedly a huge, open world game from Rockstar, I couldn’t help but be excited. I posted it on Facebook and hours later I get the comment, “You spend so much time in worlds that don’t exist.” Of course it was a joke, not a jab or anything, but I started thinking about why I instantly felt like I had to defend myself.

I’m surprised that given what a digital world we live in, video games still receive such harsh stigma. I’ve loved video games since the first time I played the text game, Zork on our first computer, a tiny Apple II when I was 5. From there I went through several gaming systems including the Turbo Grafx 16, several Game Boy models, several Nintendo models, a Sega Genesis and every one of the Playstation models (PSX, PSOne, PS2, PSP, PS3).

I think the reason that I love video games so much is the challenge. I think another big part of the appeal is that it is the perfect blend of art and technology. Two things I’m very interested in. As time goes on, the challenges get harder and the graphics only get better. The art is no good if the programming isn’t smooth, but even that is making huge leaps. Last year produced some of the best video games I’ve ever seen (Little Big Planet, Bioshock, Metal Gear Solid 4, Grand Theft Auto 4, Fallout 3, SKATE, Burnout Paradise, Uncharted, etc.). This year is supposed to be even better. When you think about how much time and work goes into creating a game, I don’t see how anyone couldn’t appreciate it. (more…)

a few great non-app mobile services

// March 18th, 2009 // No Comments » // applications, cellphones, mobile

For anyone who hasn’t opted for an iPhone, or other mobile that features downloadable apps, there’s quite a few services out there that you can use simply by calling or texting keywords. I have an iPod Touch for using Apple apps, but I haven’t yet upgraded to a smartphone (mostly because AT&T service in VT is horrible where I am, making the iPhone pretty useless). I currently use many of the following services to get information or make updates from my basic Samsung Alias.

Update Blogs/Social Networks:

1. Facebook Mobile – Update your status, send photos, poke, send messages, and get phone numbers via email/SMS
2. LiveJournal – Update your blog via email/SMS
3. Twitter – Send tweets, see tweets, send replies and direct messages via SMS
4. Posterous – Update your Posterous blog via email/SMS/MMS
5. TwitPic – Share photos on Twitter
6. Twittermail – Email updates and photos to Twitter.
7. Twitxr – Update Facebook, Flickr, Picasa, Twitter, etc.

Get Weather, Sports Scores, etc.:

1. 4INFO – Get weather, stock quotes, sports scores, news, diet tips, etc.

Voice-Automated Services:

1. Dial2Do (Fav. of Mine) – Amazing service. You simply call your given number, say a command, and follow it with what you need to do. Examples of available services include writing emails, listening to your emails being read to you; updating Twitter, Facebook, FriendFeed, etc.; keep notes or send notes to Evernote or Remember the Milk; have news read to you from TechCruch to LifeHacker, etc.; post to your LiveJournal, Blogger, WordPress blog, etc.; Get weather, update xpenser (see below), etc. The list literally goes on and on.
2. Reqall (Fav. of Mine) – Similar to Remember the Milk or Jott. Let’s you call and send in notes, to-do’s, dates to remember, etc.
3. Jott – Voice to text notes and to-do’s. Email and text message reminders.
4. GOOG 411 (Fav. of Mine) – Free 411 service. Call for “pizza” in a city and it returns all listings. Or call with a business name in a city and get back the number with options to text it, send it, or connect to them for free.
5. Tell Me – Especially works well with Blackberry. Get movies, stocks, weather, etc.

Keep Checkbook, Schedule Tivo, Add to Netflix Queue, Manage To-Do’s:

1. Remember the Milk – Get email, SMS, or IM reminders, manage tasks, share tasks, etc.
2. XPenser – Manage a check register. Text in withdrawals/deposits or set up voice activation with Dial2Do (mentioned above). Check your entries/enter entries online and export data for use in spreadsheet applications.
3. Google Mobile – Offers everything from SMS, Blogger, Calendar, Docs, Reader, Notebook, Photos, News, iGoogle, Sync, YouTube, Gmail, Maps and Search.
4. Kwiry – Update Netflix and Tivo, search Amazon, check email, update Facebook and Twitter, get Yelp results, etc.
5. Quicken Beam – Check balances via SMS

Voicemail Services:

1. Message Sling – Get messages, see missed calls (even when your phone’s off), use custom greetings, listen to your messages online, etc.
2. YouMail (Fav. of Mine) – Get messages, see missed calls (even when your phone’s off), use custom greetings, listen to your messages online, etc.

Miscellaneous:

1. Text Marks – Choose what message you want to display when people text a term to 41411. For example, when someone texts ‘mepriestley’ to 41411, they get a text message sent to their phone with all of my contact information.