Social Business Becomes Your Reality!

napa.crushiq.com

Hi Friends!
Ok, the holidays are almost over and while we are having a good time with our loved ones and time away from the office for a few well deserved days of R&R, you and I both are ready to get 2012 started off with a bang!
While we could spend countless hours reading and trying out all kinds of social and mobile access points, with more popping up every day it seems, the truth is - some are dead ends while others do have limitless opportunities - the key is 'IF' they fit your business, will meet your objectives, attract your target connected consumers, and are budget-friendly.
To make sure we cut through the irrelevant and really hit the bullseye, we are pulling the top luminaries and social business authorities in this industry together here in Napa, California, on February 16 & 17, 2012, to answer and sculpt your business strategy once and for all, answering exactly how to grow your business and serve your financial goals, period. No-hype, no-fluff, and no hot-air!


HERE IS YOUR PERSONAL INVITATION:

EVENT DETAILS: 


AWESOME LOCATION : The Meritage Resort and Spa http://napa.crushiq.com/location-2/
KILLER AGENDA : http://napa.crushiq.com/agenda/
SWEET VIP EXTRAS : http://napa.crushiq.com/agenda/extras/
MORE FUN THAT SHOULD BE ALLOWED: http://animoto.com/play/xl9KqWdeS37Q0W862dTBSA


We still have a few more speakers coming on, and a number of sponsorships we will be announcing later in January, after the holiday's. This event will sell out!
As organizer of this event, while they last, I'm offering a holiday discount of $400 to everyone who grabs their tix before January 15: TIMCRUSHNAPA - - -  Here's the link to get your tix now: http://crushiqnapa.eventbrite.com/

See you there.
Cheers!

Has Google+ Fixed The Information Overload Problem?

Suffering From Information Overload

There is way too much noise in social media. Real time streams, tons of data, too many friends and too many updates means that this noise is everywhere you go. You can either try and keep up with it all – which results in you not doing any actual work, – having a life, or you can selectively dip into your social networks accepting that you are going to be missing most of the good stuff.
That could all have changed yesterday with the launch of a new feature on Google+ called “volume control”. It essentially lets you turn the volume up or down on your various streams to customize what you get to see. This isn’t necessarily new because filters for your streams have been around on other social networks for some time, but the user interface and the volume button are certainly new. It now feels easy to modify your stream, and if your family and friends are getting too noisy, you can just turn them down. 

While the simple volume control button makes it easy, quick and intuitive, it is by no stretch of the imagination the full solution.  But having a volume control button on a social network is something new and I think it is a great step forward. Hopefully, consumers will have the trust to use something like this and won’t worry about it filtering out the wrong information and potentially missing stuff.

At the end of the day, there is simply too much information to absorb in social media at the moment, and it can’t go on like this for much longer as our brains are forced to consume vast streams of information. This might not be the final solution and it is certainly on the wrong social network, but it is a great step in the right direction.

Ok, what do you think about this feature? Do we need more of this?  Chime in...

Want more:

• Have Google Cracked The Biggest Problem In Social Media? 

Online Access from the Womb

"Follow me on Facebook"

I found this item in the news, and as usual, would be very interested in your thoughts.

In Germany, 7 out of 10 babies already have an online presence. Parents are creating profiles and e-mail addresses for the forthcoming child so they can begin their babies digital 'life' - by filling out their profiles, posting photos, ultrasound images, and other pre-birth information.

Experts there in Germany advise caution, however, as "online photos and information like this can accompany a child for life." - Baby und Familie, Germany

Now, I love babies. Don't spin this the wrong way.

Here is my question to you: With privacy and identity issues already suspect, how in the world can this be a course of wisdom?  I wonder, are these German Mommy bloggers doing this to create a new 'niche' to earn more affiliate dollars, or, is German TV that bad? Do you see this as a growing trend or another example of social addiction spinning out of control?

Ok, that is plenty. Chime in, I'd love your thoughts....

Don't forget, share if you care, by using the links below.

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The Future of smart TV is Google

Google TV

Let me set stage by saying, I used WebTV back in the day and still think it was a great idea. Also, I am an original TiVo subscriber (lifetime), own and love Roku, AppleTV, and have begun using Google TV. So, while my review may not be the most technical, it is backed up with a solid history as a consumer and huge advocate of smart, or interactive, TV.


For the record, I have the Logitech Revue system with the web cam. It's running Honeycomb - Android 3.1, and is pretty snappy. The transmitter is about 15' from where my couch and I've seen no lag time or performance issues. It is very responsive. I bought the system with keyboard, and including the web cam, at Best Buy for 


Now, for my honest assessment as to why Google TV is leading the way (as opposed to some of the other devices that I own) and why I feel Google has the platform that will win the greatest mindshare in the very near future. Here are four reasons I feel pretty strong about this:

1. Truly YouTV: After years of TiVo and DVR experience, I was am tickled at the personal options already and it takes about 10 minutes of surfing to realize the potential this platform offers - it is very customizable! The best part, is it's only getting better. Please share any tips you have with me. Here's one I like: A few days ago, I learned that this is actually something Google TV users can do as well. Want your Google TV home screen look like Ice Cream Sandwich, complete with multiple desktops? Then simply install a different launcher. 

2. Planet of the Apps:  Android Market store is chocked full of good apps and hackers are adding more and more every day, although I primarily use the web for Google+, Facebook, Twitter and Netflix. Slingbox maker Sling Media quietly rolled out official support for Google TV just this past Wednesday night with the launch of a SlingPlayer web app optimized for the smart TV platform. Cool!

3. Multitasking: That might sound like something you don’t want on your TV — but trust me, you will and you do. I love the picture in picture and Dish Network integration (although, am going to to dump satellite once I get the NBA season pass working). Already, numerous social TV appmakers have all been trying to figure out what you are watching at any given time through apps like IntoNow that use your iPad’s microphone to listen to what you are currently watching. Google TV 2.0 ships with an app called TrackID from Gracenote, which uses audio fingerprinting to identify music much in the same way that Shazam does. What’s neat about it is that you can run TrackID while playing a movie on Netflix or watching a video on YouTube. Google has also said that it will enable every app developer to access data on which show is currently running. Combine this kind of broadcast interactivity with app multitasking, and you could come up with all kinds of interesting and unique opportunities that already makes the standalone TV look outdated.

4. What's a cable bill?: If you are like me, a) You watch a handful of shows over and over (like The Office) and like Movies, and b) are looking to save a few bucks and that cable bill is irritating you every month. The TV industry already knows this too, in fact, every one of them seems to be gravitating towards Google and WiFi standard systems. We already know that Samsung, Vizio and LG all will launch Google TV sets very early next year, and Sony is already in the Google TV camp. Google has also hinted at more partner announcements, which could mean that we’ll have five or six manufacturers supporting the platform by next year. [Google Chairman Eric Schmidt caused some raised eyebrows last week when he claimed that by next summer “the majority of the televisions you see in stores” will come with Google TV. Here's the link to that article: http://bit.ly/ttkHfd ] 

Frankly, IMHO, Google TV could soon become a de facto standard — much like Android has become in the handset market. I know, I know, yes, it's still early, but..... I'll tell you this, it didn't take me but a about 45 seconds of first hearing Gun's N Roses 'Welcome to the Jungle' to know, these guys were going to be huge. Case made.


Ok, your turn. Chime in on this subject.

Related articles

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• TiVo Losses Return As Subscribers Dwindle 

Bedtime Stories - Just Press Play

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An Internet service offers to be of help to fathers who are too busy to read bedtime stories to their children in person.

"Hi-tech software records the voice of fathers reading a bedtime story, adds music and sound effects and emails an audio file to the child," explains Sydney's Daily Telegraph.


Relationship experts, however, are skeptical. "Reading involves a whole lot of relationship building," says Dr. Richard Fletcher of a families research program at Newcastle University, Australia.  It involves fathers interacting with their children, cuddling them, and laughing with them. No e-mail can replicate the benefits of physically sitting down and reading to your child, says Fletcher.

Is Dr. Fletcher just a dinosaur and he doesn't 'get' the new ways of communicating? Or, do you see 'advancements' in technical services like this as a potential problem, not just in families, but for society as a whole?

Ok, your turn. Chime in with your thoughts....

Don't forget, share if you care.

Related articles

• Parents struggle to squeeze in bedtime read 
• New app has bedtime stories covered