iOS 4.hell ??

Ok, is it just me, or has the iOS 4 train taken us down a bad path?  I have an iPhone 4, and within the 4.x updates it really seems like Apple has taken us back to DOS.  I have to reboot my iPhone 4 about once a day...just like a good old Windows box.  Now don't get me wrong, I may not be a typical user?  To me the iPhone is a computer.  I run apps.  Lots of them, probably 10-15 a day.  But it seems like I should be able to do that...right?  Anyone else having problems?

NEVADA GMIS/INFRAGARD "Cloud Computing" Conference

I am honored to have been selected to speak at the upcoming NEVADA GMIS/INFRAGARD "Cloud Computing" Conference on Thursday, October 21st, 2010 in Carson City, NV.  

Link to the Conference  http://g.jkbc.info/csNvmm 

I opted to speak to the Administration track.  It's an interesting decision which track a speaker is drawn to.  Assuming we are using the term Administration the same way; CIOs, CSOs, CEO, CFO and business leaders, as opposed to SysAdmin.  Given that assumption, the planning in your presentation is critical.  What message is of most value for the audience?  What slice of this massive blob know was 'The Cloud', will cause the majority of the audience to walk away with their minds buzzing with ideas they can put into action immediately.  

My preso is far from ready, but I will pass on two hints;

1) “Are You Ready for the Cloud? Is your technology team? (Why) Should you care?” (The title of the presentation).

2) For techs, the message is open your comfort zone and stretch, you can't fight the tide.  For the 'Business/Admin' type, It's October 4th, 2010 - if you don't have a plan to benefit from the cloud, you better, cus it's happening if there is a plan or not.

So if you don't live up north, it's a great time a year to see our capital and "The biggest little city in the world!" Reno.  The event will be worth the trip, lots of talented folks will be there and if you enjoy my style of witty, interactive presentations, come on by.

Anyway, talke a look at the conference agenda:  http://g.jkbc.info/agfaUq

Now run over and register:  http://g.jkbc.info/adHTUg

Looking forward to seeing you there.

Interesting data

Source:  Google Fusion Table - Candidate counts aggregated by party

It's an interesting example of what Google Fusion Tables are all about.  Ever wonder about Business Intelligence (BI)?  Have a data set you could mine and learn more about your business?  Give it a look. 

The chart is interactive, click on the bars to reveal  the counts.

Google Fusion Tables

Game Changer

Ok, I know I am in the middle of a series on iPhone apps...and we will continue that series...but for just a moment let's talk about the other real player in this market.  Android, notably the Motorola Droid.  Yes as much as we all hoped RIM would make the Storm (btw, if you have experience with the Storm2, post a comment and tell us what you think) into something - no go.  Then we all wanted the little guy, well the first guy to market - Palm...the Pre looked so promising, small, keyboard and touch screen, run multiple applications at once: failure...simply because as they copied and improved the form factor...Apple changed the game...."its about the apps stupid."

But don't fear, soon there will be an app store everywhere.  Ugh, can't wait to see how Apple will zig.

Google released Google Googles (GG) {on Android ONLY for now, not that I can blame them}.  Hopefully by now you have read some of the great reviews.   If not, do so, it's worth it.

So my take is unscientific, just a guy who is really interested in this space.  Here we go:

The Google Goggles core concept:  Visual Search - Just like we can search for information by typing in text or as in the Google iPhone App [Free] you can search with your voice by speaking into your phone.  Now you can search for what you see, via the camera, as a still picture, or even via live video.  Google Goggles does an image match and within seconds, you get the info about that object.  Think of some of the possibilities.  Business card scanning - now you truly connect, digitally.  Art and landmark information?  Awesome, you can connect the virtual summation of the world (also known as Google) and attach it to your reality.  That's the definition of cool!  

So you maybe thinking, why does Google care?  It's very simple if Google knows what you want, they can sell that information to advertisers.  They know you have an immediate need.  Is that bad? Heck no, it saves you time and gives your relavent information.  Remember what we did in the past when we needed to make a purchase?  What did we do in the past?  Drive by?  Use the Yellow Pages (Rest In Peace).  The concept is brilliant and it helps us.  (Now we all need to be adults and make our own decisions - it's just advertising, don't let it be brain washing.)

Local (as in: right in front of you) business information.  See what they have...see what others have to say (is the rumor true, did Google buy Yelp?)...hmmmm perfect match.  It's all very open and clear.  I believe it's a win-win...now if that changes (i.e.. if Google becomes evil), we make a change - vote with our businesses.  

The bottom line:  This is software/hardware to the next level.  We have some amazing minds among us, seems smart to leverage this new technology to improve your business.

What are your thoughts?  How will this effect your business?  Post a comment.

iPhone...really? con't (Part 5)

  Hearts - (sorry I couldn't find the link)

Ok, it's human nature to have a guilty pleasure....Hearts is one of mine!  Whenever I get a few minutes....Hearts...fast, into the action, decent AI.  Need an Internet version. 

Facebook -  Download from iTunes

Love or hate it, Facebook is a big deal.  If you buy in, grab this free app and stay connected.  

Tweetie -  Download from iTunes (latest version)

To Tweet or not to Tweet, that is the question.  An interesting tech meme that made it mainstream...a nice 15 minutes.  It's almost back to normal so us tech friendly folks can have it back.  Really don't need this app, IM+ works just as well, but I am still fond of it, it's very well put together, in fact the latest version (2) looks even better...I may drop the few bucks just to show my vote for great UI.

  FuelGauge - Download from iTunes

Not sure why, but with my current car I seem obsessed with gas mileage (getting 16-17 reallyMPG and I drive it like it should be driven).  Give you something to do while the gas is pumping. 

YouTube - 

An interesting thing I learned from those (much) younger than I am.  YouTube is a great resource...Google has made it just like Google.  As I have seen with the young kids, you can go search YouTube first...find what you are looking for and find the answer...in Video.  Very cool (really no one else is new to this?). 

LogMeIn -  Download from iTunes

Let's be clear - this is one of the most expensive apps I have ($29.99).  Is it worth it...heck yes.  With this app you can remote into another computer...from your phone.  You get full control of that machine.   Here is is my recent real life experience

I was recently in South Carolina in route to my youngest sister's wedding.  I was about two beers down, out in the middle of a lake after a few great water ski runs (ok, they weren't that great, but I did get up!).  I received a text from a monitoring service I have that a services on a client's server was failing.  I was able to pull up this app, log in securely restart that service and prevent any customer facing outage.  Is it worth $30?  I think so.

iTunes - 

OK this one is funny.  Obviously all iPhones come with (in fact you can't remove it) iTunes.  It's kinda how this whole "i" world economy was created...Music.  I have to admin, music is not the most frequently used function of my iPhone...but everyone once in a while, I hear something I think I want it...boom.  It's done.  Works very well.

MileBug -  Download from iTunes

Hmmm, ok a bit of a quandary here.  Logging your miles sucks.  I am sure I am losing thousands of dollars by not logging miles.  So is this the iPhone App to the rescue?  Nah, I don't think so.  Maybe it's the overwhelming dislike for logging miles that's leaking into this app for me, but since I know I don't like it, I want an app that helps me do it, without the pain.  This app doesn't measure up there.  If you know of a good one please post it in the comments.

Voice Memos -  Download from iTunes

Cool...I guess.  Well at least that was my first reaction.  I mean, EverNote is awesome a voice memos...with all the EverNote goodness.  Then I was in a meeting recently, with a professional of mine and I wanted to make sure I truly understood each word.  At the start of the meeting I asked his permission to record and away it went.  That night I was able to listen to the words as I reviewed my notes.  Very powerful.

IM+ -  Download from iTunes

Maybe IM is getting long in the tooth, but wow is it handy.  I love having an app that plugs into all my IM accounts (personal and business).  Sometimes voice is too much, quick question via IM is key.  Now I do realize that a lot of traffic that as on IM is now in SMS.

GV Mobile - 

This one is just for sentimental value.  I don't use it and I know you can't get it.  I don't understand the issues around the iPhone and Google Voice.  I can tell you this, Google Voice is outstanding.  I would highly recommend getting a Google number! (I might have an invite left).

StayInTouch -  Download from iTunes

Ok, let me just say, everyone is in sales.  Like it or not, we need to interact with others and we all benefit greatly from those interactions. But if you are like many computer geeks, you don't always think about the 'staying in touch' humans need.  So the idea behind Staying In Touch is perfect.  It's what we all need, a schedule on when you 'randomly' stay in touch.  It's a great way to improve relationships.  Unfortunately the implementation is not very good.  If anyone has something meets this need, please post in the comments. 

TripCase -  Download from iTunes

Wether  you travel all the time, once in a while or just have to pick someone up at the airport...Trip Case is for you.  It's no wonder it hits the mark, it's from Sabre...you know the travel company...good stuff.

SalesForce -  Download from iTunes

This one is a no brainer.  If you use SaleForce, get this app.  Dashboards, Opportunities and Contacts.  Good stuff.

Receipt -  Download from iTunes

This one is very similar to MileBug....I don't like the process of expense reports...so when I add an application I want it to make that process much easier.  This app does that, but just not much more than I can do with my scanning process at home.  On the right path, but we need to add a little more magic.

Continued

Wow, that was a big post.  The feedback I was getting was to do a page at a time so today was a full page.  Please use the comments help us make it better.

 

If you didn't get here from page 4 head on back.  Or start at the beginning.