Social Media Field Guide: Part2 - Forums, Blogs, Micro-Blogging

(Part 1 Available Here)

(Part 2 )
Forums

An Internet forum, or message board, is an online discussion site. It is the modern equivalent of a traditional bulletin board, and a technological evolution of the dialup bulletin board system. From a technology standpoint, forums or boards are web applications managing user-generated content. People participating in an Internet forum can communicate with each other and interest groups will easily form around a topic's discussion, subjects dealt with in or around sections in the forum.

Blogs /Blogging

Lets start with blogs. Blogs is short for weblog. A weblog is an online journal that is frequently updated and intended for general public consumption by individuals, corporations, and organizations. Blogs have grown in popularity tremendosly over the past 5 years. They have become a go-to source for news information, daily life journaling, and educatonal posting. The community of bloggers and their industry space is often referred to as the blogosphere.

There are many well know blog publishing systems, here are some of them that you can use and most are free.

• Blogger is a free blog publishing tool from Google for easily sharing your thoughts with the world.


• LiveJournal is a free service for all your journaling and blogging needs


• TypePad is a blogging service from company Six Apart Ltd, and the largest paid blogging service in the world.


• WordPress is an open source blog publishing application


• Technorati is an Internet search engine for searching blogs, competing with Google and Yahoo. As of June 2008, Technorati indexes 112.8 million blogs and over 250 million pieces of tagged social media. The name Technorati is a portmanteau, pointing to the technological version of literati, or intellectuals.

Industry Blog Sites

Real Estate: Real Estate Blog Publishing Networks

Active Rain - ActiveRain Real Estate Network, a free social network and marketing platform for real estate professionals.This network helps agents to create business relationships both within the industry and with the consumer.

Travel: Travel Reviews

Conde Naste Travler on Concierge.com -( http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler/articlesblogs )

The Perrin Post - Travel tips from Condé Nast Traveler magazine's Wendy Perrin

The Daily Traveler - The editors at Conde Nast Traveler answer questions and share travel secrets, tips, and dispatches from the road

Travel Blog Publishing Networks

Travelpod.com - TravelPod's free travel blog lets you chart your trips on a map, share unlimited photos and videos, and stay in touch while you travel

Micro-blogging

Micro-blogging is a form of media that involves short format communication. Users publish brief text updates as well as photos and/or audio & video clips. Micro-blogging is a concise way to deliver information instantly. Here are some well known micro-blogging sites.Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing? Jaiku is a social networking, micro-blogging and lifestreaming service purchased by Google in 2007.

(Part 3 - Click Here)

Social Media Field Guide Introduction- Part1

Social media is everywhere. It has grabbed hold of internet culture and slowly crept into demographics that span across all boundaries, with Facebook reporting its fastest growing segment to be 45-60 year olds currently. Who would have thought ? Facebook is a household name, YouTube videos have been viewed by billions, and the President is Twittering.

There are so many parts to social media that it can be a little overwhelming to understand all the different sites and how they work. We are going to provide you with a rundown on the social media giants we all know, as well as those you don't. This is your 2009 Social Media Field Guide.

According to Wikipedia, " Social media is information content created by people using highly accessible and scalable publishing technologies that are intended to facilitate communications, influence and interaction with peers and with public audiences, typically via the Internet and mobile communications networks". Social media is usely associated wth technology programs that are used to promote communication and information sharing. Social media consists of blogs, forums, podcasts, wikis, online video, music & photo sharing sites and more. Here is your field guide to the social media world.

***Industry Definitions From Wikipedia; Powered by Wikipedia

(Part 2 - Click here)

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BIz Konceptz Issue 2 Now Available : 2009 Field Guide to Social Media

Issue 2 is Now Available ...

2009: Your Field Guide To Social Media

Please check it out and let us know what you think.

You can View it here free online http://tinyurl.com/cgzkq2

Boxee VS ZillionTV

Boxee is causing a storm in the set top Internet TV market. Boxee is a social media center. With Boxee you can play videos, music and pictures from your PC or from the Internet. You can also share with your friends what albums you're listening to, what movies and TV shows you're watching, send recommendations and more. It is currently used through Xbox360 and AppleTV hacks, but the company has already put out public ''feelers'' as to the receptiveness of developing their own box, and it should be here by summer.

Zilliontv is the latest device promising iTV glory. It is backed by different major studios and launching with lots of press. Here is what they have to say about themselves.

"ZillionTV is harnessing the power of the Internet to transform the television experience. Entertainment lovers can enjoy instant, on-demand access to their favorite programs ranging from new and classic TV shows to movies, sports, music, and more — all subscription-free and delivered directly to their TV sets. ZillionTV also engages TV lovers in an exciting new way by empowering them with the choice to select personal advertising preferences and providing a unique opportunity for innovative commerce directly through the TV in partnership with Visa, a leader in global payment processing."

Don't know what Boxee or Zilliontv are?

Boxee and Zilliontv are part of the new growing family of set top iTV devices. Both boxes stream content to televisions, the difference lies as always in the design interface and the levels of access to media sources. Boxee seems to just get everything right. They ran in semi-stealth mode until recently and they are already approaching 300,000 users. We will have to see how ZillionTV does when it rolls out later in 2009 as it is un-released. Set top Internet TV boxes are going to once again change our viewing experience at home in the very near future, as the Internet and Television comes even closer to becoming one.

ETSY opens API's to Developers

ETSY is fast becoming the go-to online marketplace for handmade gifts. Here is a post from Fred Wilson's blog..

I am a big fan of web services that offer APIs to developers to build on top of and I am particularly interested in e-commerce services that leverage APIs. For those that don't know, Etsy is a marketplace for handmade goods like jewelry, ceramics, metalwork, etc. It's a very artistic community that is full of beautiful items for sale.A VC, Mar 2009

You should read the whole article.

Tesla Gets $350m Loan, To Unveil Model S in March, Go On Sale In 2011

Tesla Gets $350m Loan, To Unveil Model S in March, Go On Sale In 2011

Posted using ShareThis

BlackBerry Now Bringing TV To Your Hand With Logovision Movidity

- LogoVision Wireless(LV)/Movidity, a leading developer of basic codec and streaming technologies for mobile clients, which permit specialized mobile user interactive control of transmission, display and media content, is expanding its suite of applications for the BlackBerry® wireless solution from Research In Motion.

LV's technologies provide on-demand, globally accessible, mobile multimedia streaming services. Movy.tv uses concepts of UGC for both archived and live media. Movy.tv content is searchable through tags, titles, private Groups and corporate Portals.

Pandora and Radiotime Now on Boxee

Pandora and Radiotime will now be available on Boxee!


According to the Boxee blog..


"You can listen to your quickmix, your favorite stations and create new stations. Music in the living room has never been better.


We love broadcast radio, too. So in this release you will also find RadioTime that lets you listen to over 100,000 radio stations from around the world. Boxee will automatically bring up the local stations from your area, and you can set your own presets on radiotime.com. "

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WizzardX Expands From Podcast To Television With Intl Syndication Deal

Wizzard Media (NYSE Amex: WZE), the world's largest podcasting network, announced today that they have entered into an international syndication deal with Lightworks Program Distribution. Lightworks has acquired the worldwide distribution rights for WizzardX TV, an action sports lifestyle program.

WizzardX TV is an on-line action sports video network and social site created in-house with integrated and episodic HD video programming ( http://www.wizzardx.tv/ ). WizzardX TV was produced by Skip Fredricks, the Emmy-nominated senior VP of content creation and syndication for Wizzard Media.

"WizzardX TV was produced from the ground up, initially in one-minute blocks of stand-alone programming for mobile phones," said Fredricks. "These blocks can be combined into bigger, three minute blocks for podcasting, while those in turn will be reversioned to create twenty-six half-hour TV shows. WizzardX TV currently has a devoted Internet audience around the world and will help Lightworks further broaden its reach among traditional television and web audiences. Both TV and web distribution will be acting in tandem to expand viewership."

"We are thrilled to announce that Wizzard Media has entrusted our company with the distribution of WizzardX TV worldwide," said John Cuddihy, President and Managing Director of Lightworks Program Distribution. "As this generation is watching more and more content, it is imperative that we offer programs that can be viewed on traditional and new platforms, offering audiences optimal viewing convenience."


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Start Your Own Green Business

Tips From Business.Gov - The Official Business Link To The Government

The explosion of organic and eco-friendly products on retail store shelves is more than just a passing fad. It's big business. This means big opportunities for environmentally minded entrepreneurs.

According to the The Organic Trade Association's Manufacturer Survey, the organic industry grew by 21% to reach $17.7 billion in consumer sales in 2006. Over the last decade organic sales have increase by an average of 20%, and this rate is expected to remain steady over the next 20 years.

Find Your Niche. As the natural, organic lifestyle continues to catch on with consumers, there are many growth possibilities. Products such as food, cosmetics and cleaning supplies are growing areas within the organic trade, however, to be successful, you should look for opportunities that match your interests.

Get Certified. To differentiate your product or service as environmentally sound, consider obtaining certification from an independent, third-party. Being certified means that you can include their "ecolabel" on your product's label and other marketing materials. Ecolabeling is important for attracting "green" customers. Learn more about Green Marketing.

Practice What You Preach. The most successful green businesses don't just sell the green lifestyle. They live it. Selling green means being green, and this helps build your brand and image as a socially responsible. Before you start you business, consult the following resources:

Green Guide for New Businesses -Simple steps to adopting environmentally-friendly business practices.

Small Business Guide Energy Efficiency Tips - resources and tools that help save on energy costs.

Case Studies and Examples - Learn about successful companies that have proactive environmental policies.

Join Industry Partnerships. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sponsors a wide variety of industry partnership and product stewardship programs that aim to reduce the impact of industrial activities on the environment. Joining one of these programs helps you connect with others in your industry, grow your brand, and protect the environment and natural resources.



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Executive Tweets Lets You Follow Top Business Executives on Twitter

What is ExecTweets?

ExecTweets is a resource to help you find and follow the top business executives on Twitter. Created by Federated Media, in partnership with Microsoft, ExecTweets is a platform that aggregates the tweets of top business execs and empowers the community to surface the most insightful, business-related tweets.

Check out the site here.. http://www.exectweets.com/

A VC

I found this fascinating quote today:

I got a Kindle just over a week ago. It has changed the way I think about reading. I have a couple dozen books on it and I go back and forth between them in a way that I have never done with books. I am in the process of reading about six books in parallel and I love the way the Kindle allows me to read what I am in the mood for at that moment in time. This is what I am currently reading on my Kindle:A VC, Mar 2009

You should read the whole article.

 

 

Boxee VS HDNet: Mark Cuban and Avner Ronen Square Off Online

The debate over Broadcast vs Internet continues on in this fascinating and hilarious blog showdown between Boxee and Mark Cuban


Mark Cuban and Avner Ronen have been debating the future of content consumption and the viability of its future delivery vehicles.


This debate is part of the underlying battle between new forms of content delivery & consumption and traditional evolving forms.

Avner Ronen is CEO of Boxee, a company that is causing a lot of chatter in the new media industry and hacker community as well. Mark Cuban is the successful entrepreneur who has been involved with new media for quite some time.


If you are at all interested in the future of media consumption and the ideas about its direction, you must read this debate.



http://blog.boxee.tv/2009/03/21/a-lively-debate-with-mark-cuban/





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Just Spotted a Twitter T-Shirt

Twitter Tshirt - Just Spotted . "This is what I'm doing!"

Google Now Lets You Embed Videos In Your Email From YouTube

Enable YouTube previews, and you can watch YouTube videos from inside your Email:

Google has also been testing a feature that automatically turns direct links to YouTube videos copied into the instant messaging application Google Talk.

You can learn more at the Google Blog here..

http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2009/03/new-in-labs-youtube-picasa-flickr-and.html

MIT Development May Boost Electric Vehicles Battery Life Significantly

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed battery cells capable of taking on a charge in under a minute, which is a rate 100 times faster than standard rechargeable batteries.

Byoungwoo Kang and Gerbrand Cedar figured out how to get a common lithium compound to release and take up lithium ions in seconds. The compound is the lithium iron phosphate found in many li-ion batteries common to electric vehicles, which means that this charging system could be on the market in as little as two years.

View the full article here..

http://www.zoomilife.com/2009/03/19/battery-technology-breakthrough-could-revolutionize-electric-vehicles/

NAR says, Lets Tweet . Why Realtors should use Twitter

In the real estate business, where networking and marketing are key to survival, it’s easy to jump on the bandwagon of every new technology that promises to quickly spread the word about you and your services.

But before you spend your precious time trying to master every new online tool, you’ve got to evaluate whether it’s really worth it. And in the case of Twitter, I think the vote is still out.

If you haven’t heard about Twitter yet, here’s a quick rundown: Twitter is a free, Web-based “micro-blogging” service that allows you to send short (140-character maximum) text messages to everyone on your subscriber list (who are known in the Twitter world as your “followers”).





Read the whole article here on Realtor.com
http://www.realtor.org/rmotechnology/askmrinternet/columns/0809mrinternettwitter






Twitter For Real Estate, real estate Tweeting, Field guide for real estate and twitter

Microvision Brings The Web To Your Sunglasses : Wearable Displays

Mobile phones and wireless networks increasingly deliver visually rich content, applications and multi media services. However, the value and experience of mobile services are constrained by the small, two-inch LCD screen common to mobile devices. Microvision and its business partners are developing see-through personal Color Eyewear for mobility applications that will extend the usability of mobile devices transforming the user experience.

From Glanceable to Immersive Experiences

» Engage with the world and your personal mobile content at the same time
» Keep in constant contact with social networks,without having to pull your phone out of your pocket

» Play games and watch mobile TV on a personal big screen, in a fashionable lightweight package

With the Integrated Photonics Module (IPM), Microvision is creating a big screen experience for small personal devices. Color Eyewear combines the IPM and Microvision’s proprietary ultra-thin, lightweight optics to create a revolutionary new design for wearable displays. From text messaging to mobile TV to immersive virtual experiences, Microvision’s Color Eyewear platform delivers a new mobile experience.

http://www.microvision.com/pdfs/program_brief.pdf

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Cloud Computing Anatomy and Measurement

Niall Kennedy has two great posts about cloud computing on his blog. Check them out below.

He states, Cloud Computing is changing the way we provision hardware and software for on-demand capacity fulfillment"



The Anatomy of Cloud Computing

http://www.niallkennedy.com/blog/2009/03/cloud-computing-stack.html

Measuring Efficiency In the Cloud

http://www.niallkennedy.com/blog/2009/03/measuring-cloud-efficiency.html




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3d Projection Technology - 3d Mapping Projection- Amazing Video

3d Projection technology demonstration. Amazing video footage. 3d Mapping technology meets projection displays. Lots of potential here.


http://easyweb.fr/slideshow.html






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Twitter Is Using Text Ads To Promote Itself

Twitter looks to be dabbling or just utilizing space on profile pages for text ads. You can see here in our pics.

Twitter as we all know is going to be a cash cow in the near future. Over 7 million users, over 1,000% percent growth year over year, this site is a beast. It offers new opportunities to promote individuals and corporate units. These new text ads on Twitter may be just a testing bed for future advertisement placement. Either way, it seems non-intrusive for the most part and it is currently promoting their own widgets and search functions.








Advertising on twitter, text ads on twitter, twitter experimeting with ads

How You Can Use Twitter To Update Buyers With Video Listings

Coupling podcast feeds and new updates for listing videos on Twitter is a great way to keep your listings relevant in social media fashion by informing buyers immediately.

Read the article here ..

( Mixing Twitter With Propertycasting And Real Estate Video )

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Start-Up Tips During A Downturn

• Starting a company during a downturn means cheaper talent, less competition, and more independence.

• Research, planning, and delegation helps to maximize your business potential

• Take a creative approach towards using conventional tools, methods, and processes

• Seek to maximize productivity and cost efficiency by using technology

• You have endless resources available on the web, utilize the Internet

• Become an avid personal promoter, generate buzz through word of mouth

InGlobe and Google bring Augmented Reality To Users, Amazing!

What the heck is "Augmented Reality"? In short, it is the concept of combining reality with virtual reality.



Their new "ARplugin" for SketchUp will combine what you see through a standard computer video camera (reality) with your SketchUp model (virtual reality). With a simple click of their ARplugin tool and your model will export into the world of AR and you will be able to handle the model as if it is in you hand.


Read more at the Google Sketchup Blog here... http://tinyurl.com/cw5exj

Cloud Computing: Enabling Collaboration

This magazine was born in the "cloud", it is not bound by physical limitations but rather it is accessible anywhere. A computing cloud consists of thousands or even millions of servers and computers linked together and accessible via the Internet. Cloud computing allows you to access your documents, applications, and programs from any Internet connected location. Cloud computing is much larger than a network; it includes multiple companies, servers, applications & networks. The information served through the cloud is available to large groups of validated users.The ability to access information when and where you want it, has become much more important and in many cases a necessity. Cloud computing gives you accessibility by not limiting users to certain pieces of equipment or geographic locations.

A good starting point for explaining how cloud computing technology is used would be to provide an example of the accessibility it allows to information that you need. Think about all the programs on your personal computer or office network which require you to sit at a certain location in order to access them; document programs, financial programs, contact management systems, and much more. With cloud computing you are not relegated to a certain access point. Traditionally when a file is saved to your computer or network and you do not have a copy of it, in order to access it, you must be located at that computer or have remote access to that specific network. If you have an important piece of information that needs to be accessed, physical location should not limit your access to it. When you save information in the "cloud" it is not relegated to a certain physical space or a single stored location.

Apple has been pushing cloud computing through its newest service called MobileMe. MobileMe, began providing Internet services for Mac OS X, iPhone OS, and Windows. Members of MobileMe can access personal data from any computer connected to the Internet using the web interface at me.com or a number of supported applications, including Microsoft Outlook. Apple's MobileMe maintains a synchronized address book and calendar feature using "Push" functions. If a user makes a change to a contact or event on one device it will be automatically sync'd to the MobileMe servers and, by extension, all the user's other devices.

Google is a leader in cloud computing technology and one service they provide is Google Apps. It features several Web applications with similar functionality to traditional office suites, including: Gmail, Google Calendar, Talk, Docs and Sites. Google Docs is a free, Web-based word processor, spreadsheet, presentation, and form application offered by Google. It allows users to create and edit documents online which are accessible anywhere the Internet is. Documents, spreadsheets, and presentations can be created within the application itself, imported through the web interface, or sent via email. They can also be saved to the user's computer in a variety of formats. In addition, it allows for real time collaboration with other users. Documents can be shared, opened, and edited by multiple users at the same time. Google Talk is Google's approach to instant communications. It provides Instant messaging so you can chat with all of your Google Talk and Gmail contacts in real time. It gives you free PC-to-PC voice calls so you can talk to anyone for free who's online and has the Google Talk client. As you can imagine, real time collaboration on documents can be incredibly useful when working with people from remote locations. It allows users to operate as they would if they were in the same office space and it eliminates the time constraints on commuting to these locations. Groups can work on presentations from different locations and even present them to users who are located elsewhere.There are many benefits and uses to cloud computing. For instance, applications used in the cloud are updated and maintained for you. When a new version of the application comes out it is usually updated without notice. Cloud computing is also great for family use, especially scheduling. Family calendars can be accessed anywhere; they even provide updates to the family when notes or events are added. The cloud provides a dramatically increased amount of storage and processing power to run applications as well.

It is really just a matter of time before enterprise solutions for cloud computing are widely used. As the public starts to become aware of the many cloud based services they can use the growth potential for this area of technology is tremendous.

You can purchase copies of the magazine at http://magcloud.com/user/WhatIWant

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State of Lending: 1st Quarter 2009

by Tom Matteson
PMF Mortgages
tmatteson77@pmfmortgages.com
813-469-9762



Despite plenty of houses on the market, and interest rates at nearly 4%, buying a home has become a challenging affair in this country. With Bail-Out money still not distributed to the companies who really need it, lending restrictions are getting much tighter. However, it’s not all doom and gloom. If you pay your bills on time, have steady income, and a credit score above 600 you will have no problem finding financing. Right now banks and lenders are relying heavily on assets and credit scores. Simply put, banks want to know that you can pay them back. One way to show a lender that you are credit worthy, is by having at least three months of the projected mortgage payments in an interest bearing account, prior to securing financing.

There are still lenders out there servicing loans with credit scores of 550, but their interest rates are not the best, and their fees are much higher. Therefore, your personal credit score is more important than ever in residential home financing. If your credit is not perfect, or if it needs work, there are plenty of credit repair companies out there who can assist you. However, buyer beware… there are a lot of rip off artists out there. It is imperative to do background checks on these companies. Make sure they are in good standing with the BBB, and ask for referrals. Get phone numbers and contact the people yourself. Do not accept typed letters, or emails from some fictitious person, anyone one can do that.

The main thing with credit repair is to work with the company you have selected… do what they say. It is a team effort, it is their job to dispute the debts, it is your job to make payments on time and to add new lines of credit. This is definitely a recipe for success when it comes to repairing your credit. In closing I say to everyone out there, hold tight, things will get better, by the the final quarter of 2009 the financial system will be stabilized. We do not have any other options, but to make it so.

City Mapping in Google Earth, Virtual Earth and More..

Three-dimensional city mapping has started to appear in programs such as Google Earth, Microsoft Virtual Earth, and Everyscape. It is giving us a new perspective into our oceans, world, and galaxy. 3D mapping lets users tour locations online that appear to have dimension and scale. It is used in virtual worlds and mapping applications to allow users to build and tour environments which are modeled after real life locations. Services such as Google Earth and Microsoft Virtual Earth are allowing users to create models and place them into their maps at specific geographic locations. Researchers, students, and businesses can now tour historical locations, properties, and landmarks with open access. Virtual worlds like Second Life are allowing users to re-create their own environments where real world limitations don't apply. You can fly to places, interact with objects, and communicate with other visitors who may be in different states or even countries.In 1996, the city of Helsinki, Finland with Helsinki Telephone Company (since Elisa Group) launched what was called the first online virtual 3D depiction intended to map an entire city. Parts of the city in modern and historical context were rendered in 3D. Since then many cities have started to develop themselves in 3D.

Google has started its own initiative to push city modeling with a program called Google Cities where city planners and developers can benefit from data as well. With the Google's Cities in 3D Program, your local government, community group, or educational institution can share this 3D data with the public by adding a model of your city or community to Google Earth. According to Google, 3D building models of your city are useful to potential visitors, shoppers, developers, investors, preservationists, property owners, businesses, public officials, and many other groups. This type of information helps boost tourism, economic development, simplifies navigation and geographical analysis and promotes security. Microsoft's VE3D allows users to import models created with 3DVIA Shape. 3DVIA is the only place online to search, create, upload & share your ideas in 3D.

Everyscape is a company which lets businesses and organizations build engaging, immersive relationships with consumers through three-dimensional, photo-realistic experiences of cities and towns, streets and sidewalks, building exteriors and interiors. EveryScape's patented HyperMedia Technology Platform allows anyone with a browser to experience a first-person, eye-level walk down a scaped street, gathering and sharing information on businesses and attractions, entering a store and shopping, checking the menu and reviews of a restaurant or the upcoming performances of a theater.

3D tourism will change the boundaries of the physical world as we know it. As video screen and projection technology continue to evolve they are helping create experiences that simulate immersion into 3-D environments and virtual worlds. These immersive environments are going to change the perception of what a remote viewing experience should be. Property viewing, city planning, and resort touring will all be possible from any location in the world. City mapping is already being used by the Department of Defense to simulate training for natural disasters, terrorist threats, and traffic congestion. A few departments are also having intelligence analysts use virtual worlds to "hypothesize on future occurrences" by mirroring real world activities in virtual environments.

City mapping offers applications which benefit multiple industries, educational institutions, and medical establishments. It is our belief that practical application of the technology will start to be seen widely beginning in 2010 and proliferate by 2011-2012. Services are already available and offered by firms such as What I Want Real Estate.

You can purchase copies of the magazine at http://magcloud.com/user/WhatIWant

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Streaming Movies: Netflix vs Apple TV

Until 10 years ago the only choice we had for getting a movie was to go to a local rental or entertainment store and purchase a physical copy. In 1998 a new company opened its doors called Netflix and ever since they have been making a big dent in the video rental industry. With Netflix you can rent as many DVDs as you want for one low price. There are no late fees and no due dates, DVD shipping is free both ways, and they should arrive in your mailbox in about 1 business day via U.S. mail. With a monthly service fee that makes it much more affordable than an individual rental model, it quickly has become a very viable option for renting movies with over 10 million subscribers. Now with their new offering you can watch movies instantly on your PC and TV.

Apple Inc. was established in Cupertino, California on April 1, 1976 and incorporated January 3, 1977. It has had a cult like following for over 30 years and it has revolutionized the portable media market. iTunes has changed the way we access movies, music, TV and now podcasts. iPods have changed the way we carry and consume our media and the iPhone has changed the way we look at cellphones. Apple has a product titled Apple TV, ATV is a digital media receiver device manufactured, marketed and sold by Apple. It is a network device designed to play digital content originating from iTunes onto an enhanced-definition or high-definition wide-screen television. Apple TV can function as either a home theater-connected iPod device or a digital media receiver, depending on the needs of the user. It too can stream movies, music, TV shows and more to televsions.

Netflix has its own device which enables streaming to televisions called the Roku. According to Netflix, The Roku digital video player makes it easy to instantly watch movies and TV episodes over the Internet on your living room TV, or anywhere you have a TV and an Internet connection. Netflix has agreements with outside manufacturers and retailers such as Samsung & LG whose Blue ray players offer access to Netflix streaming services. In addition, they have agreements with Tivo and most recently Xbox360. Xbox360 users can now stream movies using the device and it is the only game console that lets members instantly watch movies & TV episodes streamed from Netflix on the TV.

Apple and Netflix have been able to create great value with their offerings and they are leading the world into a new age of digital media accessibility. Apple and Netflix have services which directly compete with each other and it's most apparent in the rental space. One large advantage AppleTV has is the access it provides to iTunes which offers a much larger collection of overall media including music, movies, TV shows and podcasts. It also allows you to purchase movies and TV shows as well as watch videos from Youtube, Netflix does not allow either. However, Netflix could easily enter the "for sale" movie and TV show market with a large catalogue of movies they could make available. Netflix also applies its "one low price" model to its streaming services which makes it much more cost efficient for avid renters than AppleTV who uses an individual rental model.

As with anything Apple does, the design and screen layout as well as the interface of AppleTV is sleek and appealing. (user note: entering text with the Apple remote can be a little slow however). The Roku's height is twice that of the AppleTV so it does take up a little more space with a "box" shaped design. Both AppleTV and the Roku offer HD streaming and AppleTV also offers HD movies for sale. If these two services could find synergy and come together it would be a dream scenario for the user with the best of both worlds.

Currently neither devices are very prominent in living rooms but both companies see increasing growth. Since the trend toward digital media turned nearly 4 years ago with the proliferation of the iPod, confidence in the adoption of digital devices for media consumption has increased dramatically. Just like the record turning to tape and the CD to MP3, the DVD and Video will become a media file. During the Q4 2008 conference call, COO Tim Cook noted that Apple TV sales in its first fiscal quarter were three times greater than the quarter a year ago. He said, " It is clear that the movie rental business has really helped Apple TV and there are more and more customers that want to try it." Netflix released numbers in 2008 saying that 100,000 Roku's had been sold to over 1% of its customers in its initial release.

If you have not used one of these services already we would highly recommmed you give them a try. Netflix is a great option for the cost concious avid movie renter and Apple is for those who like all the frills and thrills Apple products deliver. For those who love access to on-demand media either device is a must have.

Puchase Copies of Biz Konceptz Through Magcloud

You can now purchase physical copies of our new magazine Biz Konceptz at Magcloud.

We appreciate your support very much.

http://magcloud.com/browse/Issue/8536

Take Time to S.I.T. (Smart/Integrity/Technology)

by Kirk Hearin

Given the challenging economy and tenuous market conditions, the need to work hard and commit yourself is the obvious game plan. But don’t just work hard, work smart; and when it comes to your integrity, don’t be tempted to fudge a little here and there; don’t you dare! And if you’re an aging baby boomer like me, don’t be afraid of technology.

More than ever, now is the time to strive for excellence. Be or become the most dedicated, the most knowledgeable, the most personable, the most professional real estate agent you can be. You can gain years of knowledge and professionalism in a short time if you make and keep the commitment to do so. Know your buyers and be prepared to guide them in making one of their biggest lifetime decisions. Always be upfront and frank with your client; they’ll respect and appreciate you for doing so; and don’t just find them a house, but take the time to find them the right house. In doing so, you’ll be building long-term relationships that will prove beneficial. Do you value your clients and the license that allows you to do what you do? If so, and I know you do, always conduct yourself in a professional and ethical manner as if you were attempting to brand yourself as the ‘utmost person of integrity’ in the real estate world. Never allow yourself to be tempted otherwise. The world of technology is changing almost daily, and offers programs that will save you time, open communication opportunities with agents worldwide, and provides an endless array of aides allowing you to work smarter; all contributing toward your goal of being the most professional real estate agent you can be. Investigate the many opportunities and choose wisely; and when comparing the cost of purchase to that of ‘doing it yourself’, don’t forget to factor the value of your time.

So dear colleagues, let’s all take the time to S.I.T.

Do you Hulu

Alec Baldwin told us they were evil aliens preying on our brains during the Super Bowl. But do you really know who they are? Do you, Hulu ?

Hulu's mission is to help people find and enjoy the world's premium video content when, where, and how they want it. The best part is, it's completely free. Hulu is an online video service that offers TV shows, movies, and clips at Hulu.com and other destination sites. It gives you all the sharing capability you need as well as videos which can be embedded and sent via email. Hulu even has a "clipping feature" that allows you to select portions of videos that you want to share with others.

Content included on the site is from Fox, DIY Network, NBC Universal, MGM, Sony, and the WB just to name a few. Hulu also has decided to offer HD quality programming and the site's overall popularity has been increasing very quickly. From October 2007 to December 2008 the site went from a ranking over of 100,000 to the 329th most visited site on the web according to Alexa rankings. Hulu is able to offer free content through an advertising based model just like traditional television. The difference lies in the length and amount of commercials shown. Each commercial is usually between 5 and 15 seconds and the ads are shown less frequently. When ads are shown they are at the appropriate commercial breaks.

Giving users access to content online that is free on TV is a natural fit. With that said, the distribution model for delivering and monetizing the content has been highly debated and tested over the past few years. Hulu is attempting to make it much easier for users to access the shows they want to see, at the time and place they want to see them. This access to media also helps extend the life of programming from a network perspective. Traditionally when shows are not able to be watched due to scheduling constraints, a viewer might be lost. Tivo and DVR were the first such technologies that helped capture programming that users may miss. The only limitation is, if it is not scheduled to record or the show is delayed, you could miss the program. With a site like Hulu you never have to worry about setting a recorder or being at a certain place at a certain time. It is also great for shows where users may want to rewind or re-watch certain areas of programming, such as cooking shows, fitness programs, and do-it-yourself shows to name a few.

Hulu is easy to use and share, simply go to Hulu.com and click on a video to watch right away. You can customize your viewing experience online by creating your own queue. A queue is a collection of videos that you can create. Your queue will catalogue and update all the shows you want to keep up with into one easy to navigate area. You can add or delete videos to your queue at anytime. Hulu also has a search feature that will help users find any premium video online even if it is not directly available on Hulu.com. Hulu does not require a download of any software and users only need a Flash 9.0 enabled computer and an Internet connection to enjoy. Hulu also allows users to embed videos and clips they want to share onto other Web sites, blogs and social networking pages utilizing a unique promotion model similar to YouTube. However, whenever, and wherever you choose to consume Hulu's media, you will find it to be a great site for TV viewing and media lovers in general.

Digital Magazine Publishing

The publishing industry has been turned around over the past few years as newspapers and magazines are now forced to compete in a new digital age. Consuming content online has become the preferred method for many readers, giving them access to timely information when they want it, and in some cases even in real-time. With traditional publishers moving towards the web, a new age of digital publishing has begun. Well known magazines are now offering digital versions with interactive features and in some cases converting solely to digital. Starting in February 2009, PC Magazine became a 100-percent digital publication. One reason they stated was, "the reality is that the ever-growing expense of print and delivery was turning the creation of a physical product into an untenable business proposition". With companies quoting expense as the main reason behind discontinuing development of physical publications, this is the driving factor that is pushing the switch to digital.

Two companies with different solutions are looking to capitalize on this problem. Magcloud and Issuu are platforms that offer technologies which enable anyone to publish a magazine and do it for free.

MagCloud enables you to publish your own physical magazines. All you have to do is upload a PDF and they'll take care of the rest: printing, mailing, subscription management, and more. MagCloud uses HP Indigo technology, so every issue is custom-printed when it’s ordered. Printing on demand means no big print runs, which means no pre-publishing expense. The publisher sets the issue price and the cost of printing is included in every item sold.

Issuu turns your documents into beautiful online publications. It allows you to publish to an audience of millions and get your message across to anyone, anywhere. Issuu also lets you post/embed your publications anywhere online (Facebook, MySpace, Blogger, etc.) . Their service also claims to offer high rankings on Google. It offers detailed statistics about your readers and a custom viewer design that allows publishers to integrate it into websites.

These two services are taking different approaches but are using new technology to do so. Magcloud, which is an HP backed company, uses cloud computing to run its open development service. Issuu takes advantage of advances in digital publishing tools and user generated content to deliver it's unique value. Here at the What I Want companies we are using both services to deliver our magazine Biz Konceptz. You can purchase physical copies through Magcloud which will be delivered and are very affordable, or you can view our magazine online for free with Issuu's custom viewing technology. However you choose to consume this magazine you now know that is created with tools on the cutting edge of digital publishing. Magcloud and Issuu are seeking to provide viable publishing methods that enable publishers to choose how best to deliver their product.

You can purchase copies of the magazine at http://magcloud.com/user/WhatIWant

Get Updated As New Issues Are Released: http://digg.com/business_finance/Online_Mag_Publishers_Offer_Mutual_Benefits_Magcloud_Issuu

3DTV at Home is Here..No Glasses Needed

3D technology has long captured the interests of entertainment enthusiasts worldwide. However, most user experiences have required going to a specific location and wearing special glasses. Once in a while you may see a special 3D TV promotion but rarely is it a common experience in daily lives. That may change soon with a new wave of 3D technology seeking to bring it right into your living room with no glasses required.

According to Phillips, here is how 3D technology works. 3D is based on the way the human brain and eyes work. Because the pupils of a person’s eye are about 6.5 cm (about 2.5”) apart, each eye views a scene from a different angle and generates a unique image. The brain merges the images to create a single picture. The slight difference between the image from the right eye and the image from the left eye allows the brain to judge the depth. Stereoscopic vision is attained.

With the continued evolution of digital technology, 3D has become much more dynamic and appealing. It is also peaking interests of well know companies like Phillips, Disney, Dreamworks, and Mitsubishi with each company using 3D technology in different ways. Disney has experimented with 3D for quite some time using Real D technology. In 2008 Disney offered 3D movies that took advantage of new DLP technologies with releases like Hannah Montana 3D. Phillips pitches its latest 3D TV displays as the newest revolution in viewing experience where you do not have to wear special glasses anymore. Phillips says, "lenticular auto-stereoscopic 3D technology comprises the lens design, 3D signal processing, manufacturing process technologies and innovations in the 2D panel to optimize for the 3D functionality. This patented technology uses, among many other innovations, a slanted lenticular lens that balances the horizontal and vertical resolution of the display."

As interest continues to grow from creators, technology producers and end users, so does the desire for standardization. There is a large push to define the parameters of a stereoscopic 3-D mastering standard for content viewed in the home. Companies like Phillips, Disney and Dreamworks have asked the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers to help develop standardization and in August 2008 they created the 3-D Home Display Formats Task Force. Their aim is to help the 3-D home entertainment industry move forward by helping to create a standard that will enable 3-D feature films and other programming to be played on all fixed devices in the home. There are numerous groups beside the SMPTE pushing to help define standards as well. In 2008 Japan began broadcasting 3D television content four times a day on channel BS11, further signifying a shift in the viewing experience at home. Hyundai has already begun selling 46" models that can receive the broadcasts.

Just recently on February 14, 2009 the NBA All Star slam dunk championship was shown in 3D. The event was shown at Carmike Cinemas, Celebration Cinemas, Cinema West, Emagine, Galaxy Theatres, Marquee Cinemas, MJR, NCG, Rave Motion Pictures, Showcase and UltraStar Cinema locations in 35 states. The NBA has done this before, starting with special viewing parties for the 2007 All-Star event, the first such live 3D HD transmission. The BCS Championship was also shown in 3D at theatres this year. Special glasses were still required at theatres, but a growing demand for broadcast events could help to increase the push for 3D in the home. Transmission of 3D sports over broadcast networks would offer a deeper level of immersion into games, and for any fan this option would be great.

Consumer use of 3D is becoming popular as well. You can web chat with others in 3D using Minoru, meaning ‘Reality’ in Japanese, it is the World's first 3D webcam. Connect Minoru to your PC and your friends and family can now see you in 3D over your favorite messaging program like Windows Live Messenger, Skype, AOL instant messenger, OoVoo and many others (only $89). You can even create your own internet television show in 3D as the videos from Minoru can be loaded into YouTube. As the interest and demand grows for 3D content we will start to see a large number of 3D inventions, applications, and entertainment experiences starting to emerge. 3D televisions will be in select US stores by the end of 2009 and by 2010 they will start appearing in living rooms across the world.

You can purchase copies of the magazine at http://magcloud.com/user/WhatIWant

Get Updated As New Issues Are Released: http://feeds2.feedburner.com/BizKonceptz

Our First Issue: Future Trends in Business Tech

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We have released our first issue of Biz Konceptz titled "Future Trends In Business Tech"

Some of the articles included in the premier issue are:

Cloud Computing: Opening The Friendly Skies
Start-up Tips in a Downturn
3-D Television
Notes From The Ground Up: Real Estate Development
Streaming Movies
City Mapping
Do you Hulu?
Lending: State of Affairs
Magcloud / Issuu : Digital Magazine Publishing

You can purchase copies of the magazine at http://magcloud.com/user/WhatIWant

Get Updated As New Issues Are Released: http://feeds2.feedburner.com/BizKonceptz

Welcome to Biz Konceptz

Hello Readers,

Welcome to the first issue of Biz Konceptz, we hope you enjoy it.
We will cover unique business concepts and ideas that are driving innovation and helping change the landscape of business culture.