Cupcakes are good

Check out Wesley working on a cupcake that our super awesome neighbors brought over.

top tech blogs

I did some reaearch on tech blogs recently and ran across this line up of the top tech blogs from a compilation of compete.com and a few other top ten lists.

TechCrunch
GigaOm
Engadget
Gizmodo
VentureBeat
Silicon Valley Insider
Meritalk
ReadWriteWeb
LifeHacker
WSJ
New York Times
CNET
BusinessWeek
ZiffDavis
Wired
CIO
eWeek
NetworkWorld
InformationWeek

tweets 101

CIO.com ran an article last week on how to write better tweets.  Twitter's 140-character message format demands concise, engaging writing, and that's a skill that a lot of people just don't have. Here's practical, expert advice to help you engage your followers and avoid common tweet writing blunders.

Chat features are a big hit for online shoppers

Biz report has an interesting article to support your next chat initative.  They report, "Over three-quarters of U.S. shoppers surveyed for BoldChat's research into the effectiveness of live chat technology said the most common reason for initiating the service was when experiencing problems during check-out.  Currently, not many online shoppers are using live chat, and not many online retailers are offering it. However, it is more accepted among the younger generations who are more comfortable with communicating via SMS and online chat than voice so retailers seeking the young and technology-savvy as customers are well advised to provide live chat options."  You can download the full chat report at Bold Chat's web site. 

Can technology provide us with a sixth sense?

TED site has a video of Pattie Maes' speech in February that dabbles in the technology around providing us humans with the desired sixth sense. Pattie runs a lab at MIT, spearheaded by Pranav Mistry one of her students. It's a wearable device with a projector that paves the way for profound interaction with our environment. Imagine "Minority Report" and then some.

Web 2.0 can enhance your Innovation Strategy

CIO magazine featured a timely article today on, " Four Tips for Getting Good ROI from Web 2.0 Projects." This article features Embarq's use of the Jive platform with in their organization to enhance communication and information to boost their Innovation Strategy. Here are four lessons they've learned on how to make social networking or collaboration software work.

1. Target Your Inefficient Communications
2. Pick a Software Delivery Model
3. Executive Buy-In Is a Must
4. Measuring Your Web 2.0 Success: Time is Money

They key aspect of this type of implementation is aimed using technology to doing things faster and more efficiently. Collaboration among individuals around key projects and task is ever so important. Innovation with in the company can be fostered and embraced in a way that everyone can be heard.

Black Berry User Shortcuts

Anybody that is a crack berry user should gve this article a read. I myself have struggled a bit on utilization of shortcuts for mobile and/or pc's but, this day and age, I need to save all the time I can.

Read the full article on CIO site. "BlackBerry Browser Shortcuts: Killer Keyboard Tips & Tricks."

Netbooks

The new buzz word in the mobile and tech industry that you may be hearing alot about is the term Netbooks. Netbooks, are laptops that have gained popularity quickly in the the midst of slowing cell phone sales. Many wireless carriers see this as an extension of the wireless products to embrace, further cutting the cords. Would a net book be right for you?

Read the msnbc article on Mobile Carriers new product lines for netbooks.

Sprint TV Marketing

Sprint is working on a new marketing campaign emphasizing the Now network. We are greatful for the hipper more "Connected" message.

How about a Sprint iphone with 4G?

Apparently the news has finally come out about the terms of AT&T agreements with Apple to be the exclusive carrier. After much speculation it seems that it was only a three year deal. Of course they will try to extend it, but America needs an alternative to the Big Brother iphone package. Come on Sprint, get your boys on the horn and make some calls. I would be first in line for a Sprint iphone with a 4G hook up. Read infoweek full article.

Mobile Blogging with Google

Google recently released a less complicated way of linking up your phone with one or more of your Blogger blogs. It put the settings to post to a specific blog through your phone or e-mail next to each blog's title inside of the dashboard using small and simple icons. Posting via SMS or MMS message can be set up in about 30 seconds if you have your phone handy, and you don't even have to leave the dashboard to do it. The same goes for creating a special e-mail address to post to each blog--something which was also, previously hidden away from non-savvy users.
While sending a post to Blogger through your phone is nothing new, Google clearly wants to make the process a easier. However, there is a lack of an official, native Blogger application for mobile phones. WordPress and MovableType have had free mobile applications out for some time now. SMS and e-mail are good but a dedicated application would work better. Those with an iPhone and $3 can have it with this app called BlogPress which also posts to WordPress, TypePad, Live Journal and others.

Demo on how to post from your phone:

How Online Community Transforms Customer Experience

How about some presentations from our own Sprint community? Tristan put this together a while back.

How Online Community Transforms Customer Experience

View more presentations from buzzaboutwireless.

Product Development - Agile vs. Waterfall

The debate continues on how different these approaches are...

Product Development

View more presentations from John Gibbon.

New Product Development Strategy

This presentation seems like they have covered some of the key concepts that I have seen as of late.

New Product Development Strategy

View more presentations from Yodhia Antariksa.

Web 2.0 Product Management

I am reposting this SlideShare Presentation done last year at Web 2.0 expo by by Dan Olsen. It contains some great information on UI design tenents and role of PM with in Web Projects.

Web 2.0 Product Management by Dan Olsen

View more presentations from Dan Olsen.

Web 2.0 - Social Media Trilogy - Vital Components for an Enterprise Strategy

Check out this SlideShare presentation done at 2009 Web 2.0 expo in San Francisco:

Web 2.0 - Social Media Trilogy - Vital Components for an Enterprise Strategy

View more presentations from gerardodada.

Launching Web Enhancements - what to check for

Testing is such an important part of bringing your Web Enhancements to production. It should not be overlooked. This article "15 essential checks before launching your Web site" provides a good high level overview of concepts to think about covering during requirements as well as testing. The article also has some good Web links scattered through out. Smashing magazine is a pretty robust site concentrating on Web development news and all things geeky.

Finding the right job in a 2.0 world

Wow - the recession has consumed the news and lifes of millions around the world. Here in America things have been better...many people are receiving the front end shaft of the corporate belt tighening that is being done by all companies. I ran across this PCworld article with some good links and ideas around starting to look for new work in this 2.0 world we live in. If you have been downsized, fired, let go, laid off or simply canned; check out the links and use the tools to establish connections. If you are still employeed, you still might want to give it a read because I don't think the downslide is done yet. you never know.

Project Managers

I have been thinking alot about process, structure and methodology. So many companies have so many names for roles that serve as the basic to rolling out web development projects. The challenge of driving the business analysis, functional requirements, design prototypes, use cases, testing, rollout, and metrics for web projects is challenging. But what about the project manager role? This role takes time and effort as well. Managment of big groups takes real effort dedicated to planning, regular daily touchbase, meeting organization, documenation, status reports, timeline progress, communications, issues lists, process and connections.

So the question is, Can there be a role that effectively play the full role of business analyst and project manager for Small Enhancement projects? Maybe not effectively, but adoption of Agile techniques might help. I was searching for some Agile Project Manager role info and ran across this collection of papers at Dr. Dobbs with some good things to think about. "8 must read papers for Project Managers"