Making Tech Predictions Is Like Riding A Bike With No Seat

I've been reading a lot of posts lately about tech predictions for this year. I even wrote about some technologies to watch. But trying to actually predict what is going to happen is like riding a bike with no seat, one bump and you're done. Predictions are pointless. And even more pointless, are the year end wrap ups to see how well you did. Who gives a crock.

In previous posts, I thought I would be cool and make some predictions, call out some technologies, and get on the band wagon. But I was wrong. Instead of predicting what MIGHT happen, why not contribute and MAKE things happen. I'd love to see even a tenth of the people making predictions actually build something of value.

One thing I always try and do is see things through rose colored glasses. Why not? I don't think I'm being naive, no has ever been hurt by encouragement. Through all the blogging, tweeting, facbooking, youtubing and what ever else is going on, I want to see you actually do something.

Several months ago, I had the pleasure of meeting, and talking with Josh Peters. Our discussion was around sharing our knowledge with other in the form of workshops. Guess what; Josh went out and did it. He created the workshop he envisioned, and it was a success. He also wrote a book on the subject he's passionate about. He also has the coolest tattoo.

You might not know who Jason Alba is (no, he's not related to Jessica, although he might want to be), but this man has been a real mentor to me. We haven't created any formal partnerships, or coaching agreements, but he's shown me how one man, with a passion, and a red hot poker coming towards you at mach ten, can accomplish. He's always questioning me. Asking me why I am doing something, and why am not doing something else. He's made his own path, and I like that about Jason.

I kind of got off track there a little. My point in sharing what Jason and Josh have done, is point out what happens when you actually do something. The only thing I can predict about the tech world is it's ability to be unpredictable. If you're only creating words, stop it. Create something real, it's a lot more challenging and believable.

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FourSquare Finally Makes Sense

If you're on Twitter or Facebook, you've probably seen posts like these "Thom A. @ Sonic (123 Main) at 9:30PM". This interesting app let's users "check-in" at some location, and share that with their online friends. No one should feel left out because they offer an iPhone, Android and BlackBerry version.

At first I didn't get it. Fact is, until this afternoon, I still didn't get it. But then this little message popped up when I checked in at Chick-Fil-A in Sandy, Utah.

After I saw this, it hit me, the untapped value of an application like FourSquare. What a strategic opportunity for businesses or events to push an announcement to the person checking in. Here I am checking in at Chick-Fil-A and I get a note to check out Fudruckers, about 50 feet away. I could possibly have been given a code to use for a discount on a meal.

I'm going to target a few places and see what I can come up with. My first attempt will be to add information on PodCampSLC 2010. If you check in at places around Neumont University, I'm going to suggest you check out the site.

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Podcasting Is A Cinch

A few months ago I started using a great service called Cinch, from BlogTalkRadio. It's really a small footprint mobile podcasting system. But I've found many different uses for Cinch. You can visit my Cinch page here.

You can create audio casts three ways; an iPhone app, your computer, or dial in number. You have to pre-configure your phone number so Cinch recognizes who is recording, and posts right to your account.

I've used Cinch a couple of different ways. One is to record quick notes for myself (sent to a non public folder), as a backup for audio podcasts I'm recording via Skype, and as a quick way to capture podcasts on the go.

Jesse Stay has been using it to record a daily journal. I'm sure there are dozens of unique ways to use Cinch. I would love to know how you are using Cinch.

*Disclaimer: I was not compensated in any way for writing this post. U simply think Cinch is a great tool and wanted to share.

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Book Review: CrushIt!

Lot's of people have written reviews of CrushIt! by Gary Vaynerchuk. Here is mine.

This is an easy read. What I mean by that is the book is somewhat short, and Gary does a great job of explaining himself and his ideas. this book could have easily been two or three times as big.

If the first chapter was the only one in this book, it would be worth it. Passion. You gotta have it. Without it, there's little point.

If you're a Vayniak, someone who is a a Garyvee fan, you've probably heard a lot of what's in this book. But even so, now you have everything at your fingertips. I also recommend you get the Vook; a digital enhanced version of the book including videos.

I like how he talks about a few tools, but mostly, find what your passion is and talk about it, through audio, video or blogging.

Have you read it? Tell us what you thought.

*Disclaimer: I didn't receive any compensation for this review.

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KnockingLive Is A Killer iPhone App In 2009

[... I had written about two thirds of this post on my iPhone using the WordPress app, while I was sitting at the bar in a Chilis restaurant. I saved the post as a draft, but when I tried to reload the post to finish, all the content was gone. All of it. This is the second or third time the WordPress app for the iPhone has failed me. I won't make that mistake again. I'm finding something else. Is there something else? Evernote?]

The killer iPhone apps just keep getting better and better. Yesterday I introduced you to the Ustream Broadcaster iPhone application. Today it's KnockingLive. The KnockingLive's approach is a little different. It uses the same technology to capture video, the iPhones camera view, but adds the ability to share video with a specific user or users. That's right, you can stream private video to other iPhone users. And the other users even get a "knock knock" on their phone when you want to share something.

There is also an incredible sister app that allows you to share photos, or albums, and the receiving phone can choose to save the photos to their local phone. Wow. I'll about this one next.

One thing this company has done is create a website that shows you how to use the features in several scenarios via videos. Very cool.

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UStream Broadcaster Killer iPhone App In 2009

I've had the UStream Broadcaster iPhone application for one day and I am calling it the best application of 2009. Why? Because my iPhone 3G doesn't have a video camera, but UStream has managed to over come that by streaming what you see out of the camera before you take a snapshot. Basically streaming the looking glass.

Here are a few screen shots

If you notice the above image, you can send a link of the video to Twitter and Facebook, and also upload directly to YouTube.

Streaming isn't too bad. I watched a stream my brother was broadcasting, and the quality wasn't too bad.

I'm marking this app as one of the Killer Apps all iPhone owners should have. And best of all, it's free!

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Two New Features I Love In Windows 7

I’ve been using Windows 7 for a few months, and I’ve come to enjoy two features not seen in Windows XP or Windows Vista.

The first is a fast list that is shown when you click on an item in the task bar and move the mouse up just slightly, this menu below will show up. It doesn’t work for every application, but for applications like browsers, you can quickly selected a web page you’ve visited recently. Kind of cool.

The next neat feature I really like, and in fact, one that ups the coolness factor, is the built in search. When you click on the start button, the expanding menu now includes a search box. If you’re looking for an application or document, start typing the name or key word, and a list of files or applications meeting your criteria show up. This has given me an increase in productivity when it comes to finding the application and documents I want to open.

I’m still not a Windows fan boy, but Windows 7 has been a lot easier to use than previous versions.

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A Question That Haunts Me Wherever I Go

I recently attended a local social networking event (one where you meet people face to face, not through #hashtags.) I like to get to these things early for the chance to network. You never know who you are going to meet. And this time was unlike many in the past. I’ll get to the title of the post, “The Question That Haunts Me Where Ever I Go”, in just a few minutes. This is something I must work up too.

The first person I was introduced too was Alistair Cockburn (thanks @ghennipher). In the software development world, Alistair is the rock star God of the agile methodology. I’ve met him before, but he wouldn’t remember because they were quick meets. But I’ve followed his work, and I appreciate all that he has given to the development community. I was fortunate to have 10 minutes of uninterrupted conversation. At the end, he started to ask me what I did. First sign the night was going to be rocky.

Next I spent several minutes shaking hands with various guest, many who I knew, and several I didn’t. Most asked me again, what I did. I wondered where these people had been. Why don’t they remember? I Exchanged some business cards, ate some food, and found a seat for the presentation. But my mind was not into what was going on around me.

Fifteen minutes into the presentation I needed to get up and stretch my legs. I made my way to the back where another very good friend was standing. We quietly talked about a few things, and waited for the presentation to end. At some point during our conversation, he announced to the group we were standing with that I was connected to everyone. He doesn’t know this, but that kind of threw me. While I know a lot of people, and I feel I’m a pretty good networker, it feels unnatural when someone says that about me.

Now to the question. Just as we were about to head out for the night, I asked this good friend a question. I was hoping he would give me a straight answer, because I really needed some advice. The conversation went something like this:

Me: “So, it’s funny that you mentioned I’m connected to everyone. Do you really think that?”

Him: “Of course…”

Me: “So let me ask you, why do I have such a hard time getting people to remember what I do?”

Him: after a brief pause… “because no one really knows what you do! Most people think you do everything, but no one knows what you do. You’re always vague.”

Me: “So when I ask someone what you do, the immediate answer is, he’s the SEO guy.”

Him: “Right.”

Bingo. That was the candid answer I needed to hear. He went on to tell me I didn’t have an elevator pitch. He gave me his pitch. He’s worked on it for years. Me, I guess, for some selfish reason, assumed everyone already knows what I do. But I am so wrong. My friend encouraged me to spend some time putting together a better elevator pitch. It was so obvious, it’s even something I push others to do. But I haven’t taken my own advise.

There are two parts to me; the one I need to be, and the one I want to be. I read a blog post on JibberJobber yesterday about Job Envy. I guess my failure to successfully convey what I do stems from years of not wanting to be defined by my work. So I kept it vague. But as a business owner I can’t do that anymore. I need to clearly define what I do. There’s no way I can network without being able to convey what I do. It’s not the part I want to be, but it’s the part that I need to  be.

While I want to continue to discuss what I do and don’t do, I’ll save that discussion for tomorrow, and maybe a first draft of the elevator pitch. Thank you for taking a few minutes to read this.

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Creating Multiple Streams Of Income

At the beginning of 2009, Jason Alba started talking about multiple streams of income. Seeing how it's the middle of the year, it was time for an evaluation of my streams.

PressDev is my first income stream. The primary mission of PressDev is to build custom websites and software for businesses and individual. Our unique skill is converting static and stale websites into dynamic growing content management systems (usually with WordPress). We integrate social networks and digital media to make websites sticky. We also build social networking applications for platforms like Twitter and Facebook, and we also write iPhone, Android and Windows Mobile applications.

New services we are offering include SEO, Graphic and Logo Design, and Copy Writing.

Over the next several months I'll be profiling more of my income streams. I'll also be writing more on business and entrepreneurship.

Here is a breakdown of the revenue streams I’ve shared so far:

* Revenue Stream 1: PressDev
* Revenue Stream 2: (not announced yet)
* Revenue Stream 3: (not announced yet)
* Revenue Stream 4: (not announced yet)
* Revenue Stream 5: (not announced yet)
* Revenue Stream 6: (not announced yet)
* Revenue Stream 7: (not announced yet)
* Revenue Stream 8: (not announced yet)
* Revenue Stream 9: (not announced yet)
* Revenue Stream 10: (not announced yet)

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New Movie; WarGames: The Dead Code

A couple of days ago I wrote a post about WarGames turning 25 this year, and how MGM is coming out with an updated version of the movie. Today I wanted to let you know about the sequel, WarGames: The Dead Code. It's supposed to be released in theaters the same day as the 1983 version is released on DVD, July 29th, 2008.

I watched the trailer (I wish I could have legally embedded the trailer, but you can watch it here), and it seems to be a cross between 24 and The Bourne Identity. I hope I'm wrong.

The problem I think the sequel will face, is the original movie used technology that was brand new, only a few geeks even knew what a modem was, or how to interact with terminals. Today, you carry computers a hundred times more powerful as the one Matthew Broderick had in his bedroom, in your pocket. The computer shouldn't be the draw this time, but I think the story is written that way. And, the terrorist angle has been played to death. I was really hoping for something a little more original.

I'll be sure to follow up with a review of the movie.

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