Bluetooth phones are everywhere. Whether you’re using the latest Treo, Pocket PC, Blackberry, or Razr, the ideal, must have companion is a wireless headset or handsfree speakerphone. Up until now, most of us were trading stylish designs for poor performance. To be honest, almost everyday, I yank my Bluetooth headset from my ear and wind-up putting the phone right up to my ear. Why, you ask, when Bluetooth is so advanced we couldn’t possibly have any issues with it, right?…
For Those About to Blog, We Salute You
Blogging is an interesting phenomenon. What started as diaries, op eds, reports, and commentaries, has now sparked a whirlwind of incredible proportions that can leave one spinning in place – dizzy from trying to figure out where to go, for what information, and why. This is the first in a series of pieces that will explore blogging. Having a blog these days is almost as mandatory as having a business card and a cell phone; especially if you’re in marketing…
53,651 Readers, TechCrunch, Web 2.0, and More Tonight on Dateline, Silicon Valley
In this last week, we’ve learned that Arrington is a millionaire, been hit over the head about his troubles with his site design and the resignation of his designer, and now we have uncovered that his readers are the magnet for highly niche business models. In a very interesting series of posts, Josh Kopelman, an East Coast angel investor, fueled a fever of comments about how Web 2.0 companies are targeting the TechCrunch genre. “Too many companies are targeting an…
To View or not to Vyew
A recent post in Guy Kawasaki’s blog, Signum sine tinnitu, prompted me to post this piece. He recently discussed Web 2.0 startup, Vyew, (pronounced VIEW), based in Berkeley. I found this very interesting because here is a company that has done almost no PR and definitely zero hype generation, yet the true viral nature of the Web has enabled this company to gain momentum the organic way. Good for them! It is a tremendous feat indeed. In the 90s and…
Traditional Paper Meets Digital Notepad
Adesso Inc. has a new product that takes business productivity to a new level. Meetings are held every day, and the information passed along at these meetings is often vital. What happens to this information? It gets written down in a fast-paced scrawl, often the leaving the author themselves confused as to what they wrote not more than an hour ago. “When did I learn hieroglyphics?” I ask myself that question after every meeting. And to be honest, my thumb…
Game on! Surround Sound for Xbox and Play Station
Late at night, when the house is still, the family is sleeping, and nothing is stirring – except for me CRANKING up the volume with a pair of these bad boys! Digital optical out. Dolby Certified 5.1. Eight speakers. Subwoofer. Rumble Effect. Wow. The Audio Xtreme 360 (AX360) connects to the console optical port to deliver optimum,Dolby certified 2.1 and 5.1 digital sound separation. It features eight strategically placed speakers, four in each ear cup. The external 5.1 audio controller…
Web 2.0 is a Snail
…at least that the way this interesting post begins. While reading Nick Carr’s incredibly relevant Rough Type, I linked through to Cloud Street authored by Phil Edwards and his poignant perspective on Web 2.0 entitled, “Not a Fish at All.” Worth a read. “But Web 2.0 is not a snail. Web 2.0 is the people pointing and shouting ‘The snail! The snail!’ Web 2.0 is also the people who overhear the first group and join in, shouting ‘The whale! The…
Hospice du Rhone May 11-13
Do you love wine? Are you burnt out on Cabernet, Merlot and Chardonnay? If you’re like me, Rhône varietals have become an indulgence. Well, lucky for us, the 14th annual Hospice du Rhône (HdR) will be held May 11-13 in Paso Robles. HdR is the largest celebration of Rhône wines in the world. The event is a combination of education, fun and fellowship. HdR has been recognized for its serious and playful virtues, as well as its efforts to structure…
Web 2.0 vs. Dotcom 2.0
I have been diving head first into the emerging realm of Web 2.0, and I have to say, damn if it doesn’t feel like the 90’s all over again. I mean, the only thing missing here are the inflated marketing and PR budgets, rooftop parties, and gigantic, celebrity-studded events associated with marketing anything.com for everyone.com. The interesting thing here though, is that the Valley is so anxious for a resurgence that we’ve already leapt beyond the early adopter stage straight…
Mergers and Acquisitions: Creating the Ultimate Marketing Team from the Aftermath
Everyday businesses increase their value by fusing new capabilities and products under the corporate umbrella and by consolidating, merging, and/or acquiring competitive and complementary companies. After the agreements are signed and finalized, an incredible amount of change ensues; the department heads are left to pick up the pieces and put it all back together in the most efficient way. Other than the obvious IT, CRM, HRM and other day-to-day business infrastructure acronyms, MRM (marketing resource management) is usually under-analyzed in…
