Archive for January, 2010

Jan 31

Comparing the Usability of Google’s Chrome OS Versus Apple’s iPad

I don’t know about you, but after the apparent let-down at the introduction of the iPad yesterday, I’m more than ever eagerly awaiting the debut of the Google Chrome Operating System. Do I want an iPad? Sure I do. But do I need an iPad? Absolutely not. Am I saying I’ll never buy an iPad, ever? No. But will I be waiting in line to buy it. Nope.

Here are a few reasons why I believe that purchasing a netbook with the Chrome OS install may be a better bet for me instead of the iPad:

Google Apps

I store my life on Google Docs, Gmail, and Google Calendar. I even have Google Wave and Voice. In fact, I’m typing this blog post in Google Docs right now. With the easy mobility of Google Docs– sharing with others, working on the same document from work and home without having to use a USB drive or emailing it to myself– is definitely a perfect fit for my mobile lifestyle. I love to travel and using a mobile document and storage system just makes my life work better. With the ease of Google Docs, it makes sense that Google would want to graduate towards creating a mobile operating system. Our lives are becoming more and more independent on the internet everyday, and the Google Chrome OS simply builds on this dependency.

More Affordable

Sure, $500 for a 16gb iPad is affordable– for an Apple product. But with the Chrome OS coming to a netbook near you for around $300-$500– it seems that iPad customers are paying for the name Apple rather than its real usability.

More Options Style-Wise

For now, the iPad only comes in one color. Netbooks come in all different colors, sizes, models, and brands. And with the Chrome OS being open-source, I wouldn’t have to pay for OS updates like Apple and Microsoft force me to do.

Missing Features

Does iPad have bluetooth? Nope. How about a webcam? Nope. The ability to view Flash files? Nope. What about the ability to open and edit Microsoft Word files? Nope.

Here’s a video Google released about Chrome OS. Seems logical to me. This is probably the video that got me on the Chrome OS boat. What do you think? Comment below!

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Posted in Et cetera, Search Engines

Jan 25

Weekly Link Round-Up for Jan 25, 2010

Google Continues to Take Search Budgets from Rivals
Kids Pack in Nearly 11 Hours of Media Use Daily
More Attacks Expected on Twitter, Facebook in 2010
iPhone App Helped Man Survive Haiti Earthquake
Will the New York Times Meter Kill Traffic From Social Media?

If you like getting a regular ‘link round-up’ on here and want it in your email inbox, sign up for Google Alerts. Choose keywords you’re interested in and receive digests of news stories daily, as-it-happens, or weekly.

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Posted in Et cetera, Extra

Jan 25

Using Themeleon to Customize Your Twitter Profile

Twitter has decided to promote a customized background service right from their ‘settings’ screen on user’s profiles. Themeleon, created by COLOURLovers, allows users to go straight to their API twitter interface to create customized tiled twitter background. Using patterns that are categorized in themes like ‘retro’, ‘stripes’, and ‘simple shapes’, users can pick their favorite tiled pattern, and then customize it using colors of their choice or the suggested colors.

Themeleon is great for small businesses or individuals who don’t have time to create a customized background of their own in photoshop or another image editing tool.  Additionally, Themelon doesn’t place any logos or text anywhere on the user’s finished background image. They simply ask that the user tweets about Themeleon after they have finished creating their background.

Check out Themeleon in work on my twitter page and by previewing what your own page would look like. Go to settings, then design, and the link to start using Themeleon should be at the bottom right. You can also go directly to the interface by visiting here: http://www.colourlovers.com/themeleon/twitter

Other Websites that are Talking about Themeleon:
http://www.demogeek.com/2009/12/17/easily-customize-your-twitter-page-layout-with-themeleon/ (article image courtesy of this site)
http://techie-buzz.com/twitter/the-best-tool-ever-to-create-custom-twitter-backgrounds.html (screenshots included here)

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Posted in social media

Jan 20

The Real-Time Web is For Everyone

A misconception held by many internet users is that you must be a user of social networking to use the real time web.  That is not the case, anyone can easily take advantage and learn from the real time web without being a member of any of the sites.  Below, we will explain how.

Anyone can search the real time web.  Several search engines have launched to help you learn what people are saying right now in regards to any search term.  You can check out this search tips page which overviews several of the types of searches which can be beneficial in the real time web.

Another way to navigate the real time web is through seeing what the current trends are.  Since people write about topics all day long, websites are able to see what current trends are through seeing what is being talked about the most. What The Trend not only shows you what the current trends are but they also show you reasons behind why a particular topic has become a trend.

Lastly, links can be researched on the real time web.  Since many people post links online in the real time web, data can be compiled to see what the hottest stories are right now.  Tweet Meme shows you the hottest stories right now along with information on how many times a particular story has been shared right now.  You can also do a search at Sency.  On the results page – you’ll see the today’s most popular links tab on the top right hand side of the page.  This will allow you to see the hot links right now for any respective keyword.

All in all – its good to learn how to use the real time web as there is a lot of information out there which gets updated each minute.

This guest post is by Evan Britton, the Founder of Sency.

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Posted in Search Engines, social media

Jan 18

How Real-Time Search in Google and Bing Can Benefit Customers and Businesses Alike

New, real-time, up to the minute search has become the next big thing in both Google and Bing. While many people are concerned that this may ‘cheapen’ the quality and value of regularly indexed search results, having tweets and Facebook profiles crawled almost immediately after their conception will not be detrimental to search engine results. And here’s why:

  • People want information. This means they aren’t just looking for an encyclopedia article or an IMDB.com entry when they type in ‘Avatar’. They want to know movie times, what other people thought, and if it’s even worth their time. This is why typing in a popular movie title in Google and Bing will bring up movie times at theaters in the user’s area. Creating smart search engines with real-time results bring people the results they want.
  • People are busy. This means they don’t want to have to sift through pages and pages of search engine results before finding a good review on a book or a critical perspective on using blogging to increase web traffic. The Internet was created to bring everyone information fast, and real-time search gives users the most relevant and up-to-date information, not just a 10 year old thesis paper because it has the right keywords.
  • People care about what others have to say. This goes back to point #1. Research shows that people are using social media to feel connected to others and to see what they are doing. If someone types in ‘Avatar’ into google and receives 5 tweets that say, “I loved Avatar!”, “Going to see Avatar with the family now”, etc., they are more interested in seeing it. The same goes for products, retail stores, and restaurants. Seeing positive (or negative) tweets or Facebook posts about something will make a person more likely (or less likely) to pay attention to that business or product.
  • Businesses can use this to their advantage. Real-time search results means current opinions about a business and their product. Businesses now have a unique perspective into what some of their customers are saying about their brand. As a result, they can improve their product, reach out to unsatisfied customers, and increase brand awareness with social media and Internet marketing campaigns of their own. Besides search engine results, using websites like Social Mention and Google Alerts (setting up an ‘alert’ to be sent to your email every time your brand name is indexed in search results) can also help companies stay abreast on what is being said about them.
While the list of reasons why real-time web and search is a good idea will continue to grow, believing in the power of social media, search marketing, and instant access into what others are saying can help everyone learn more about the world around them and what to do next.

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Posted in Business, Search Engines, SEO, social media

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