Ralph Waldo Emerson in a Wool Shak? | What Great Marketing Looks Like

 Books, Marketing  3 Responses »
May 262011
 

Self-RelianceWhat does great marketing look like? It looks like Ralph Waldo Emerson in a wool Shak from Ibex. What it really looks like is The Domino Project promoting another great project. I know I talk about them a lot, re-tweet their stuff a lot but…it’s because their doing so much great stuff!

If you’re not familiar, The Domino Project is Seth Godin’s new publishing venture that is utilizing Amazon.com as a new way to ship great content to readers. So far Seth has given away their first three offerings. His book Poke the Box was offered as a free download if you pre-ordered it. The second book, Do The Work was given away to readers for nearly a month and just this week, they re-released Ralph Waldo Emerson’s famous essay, Self-Reliance as a free download for two days! They did this by having a great company sponsor the free download and in return that company got some great marketing.

Ibex is an outdoor clothing company specializing in organic wool products. They have some really cool stuff and they even make cycling gear (which I happen to love). To make this sponsorship better than just any old slap a brand name on a box sponsorship, Ibex let The Domino Project team giveaway $15,000 worth in gift cards! Yes, $15 G’s and all you had to do was tweet about the new release…the new FREE release.

I happened to be one of the lucky winners who got a $50 gift card to Ibexwear.com. I also downloaded the free copy of Self-Reliance and will be reading it wrapped up in my warm wool gear as soon as I order it! What a great week…Thanks Ibex and thanks to Seth, Ibex and the friendly folks at the Domino Project!

Check out more information about Seth here.
Or
Check out more information about The Domino Project here.
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You can check out all the great stuff from Ibex here.

 Posted by at 10:51 AM  Tagged with: , , ,

The Future of Laptops and Personal Computing? | Chromebooks by Google

 Technology  No Responses »
May 192011
 

After reading all the reviews about the new Chromebooks, I couldn’t help but think…why are all of these netbooks/laptops? Where are the tablets!? This reminds me too much of the launch of the “Google Phone” or G1 on T-mobile. It was great but at the same time, a big letdown. There just seemed to be too many design elements that were ignored with the hardware itself. Same thing here, no tablets just some plain looking laptops. This leaves me both longing for a much better device and anxiously waiting the next gen device that fully takes advantage of what these Chromebooks are capable of.

That seems to be Google’s MO with product launches though…quick to market under the radar, test, test, test, tweak, re-launch under the radar (Google’s thought process is explained in greater detail by CNet here. Much different from Apples, test, test, test launch with great fanfare approach. Which is better? Who cares.. Either way were in the midst of a great new product and probably as we become more and more connected through wi-fi and 3G/4G etc…the future of computing.

Cloud computing is nothing new as everyone will tell you but a computer that is simply a terminal to the web where you store EVERYTHING is new. The hard part for Google is more than likely changing the way people function. Rather than storing things on your desktop and My Documents, you’re going to have to transition to Google Docs or another cloud storage system. I know lots of people who will have a big mental block to overcome with this sort of ‘lifestyle’.

Lastly, on a bad note I hate the contract part of these machines. I don’t want another contract with a cell carrier to use my netbook/laptop/tablet. Unfortunately my caveman views on this particular issue are long gone. It would be nice to ‘own’ your laptop again and not have to pay a monthly fee…so if that’s not real, when are we going to get free tablets with a two year agreement?

To look at Google’s official page on Chrome OS and Chromebooks, click here

Here are some more articles on the new ChromeBooks from Google;
CNET
PC World
Wired

 Posted by at 3:03 PM  Tagged with: , ,

Google Music | Why they should have just merged with Amazon

 Music, Technology  No Responses »
May 122011
 

The Google I/O conference is going on this week. First off, I wish I could have been there. Not just for the free Samsung Galaxy tab (I like this headline best.) but because it’s an awesome conference (so I’ve heard), and because of all the great news coming out of it. One of the headlines that really grabbed my attention was about Google Music.

Part of what intrigues me so much is that I think it is a great idea. I thought the Amazon Cloud Player was a great idea too….basically anything taking advantage of “the cloud” and mobility is a great idea. But what I really want to know is when Google and Amazon are going to merge or at least partner to some of their ventures.

Amazon sells books online, then Google starts selling books online
Amazon launches a cloud player, then Google launches a cloud player
Amazon starts streaming movies and TV, Google owns Hulu

As far as ‘media’ goes, these two should just merge and destroy Apple and Microsoft. The Kindle has the e-reader market locked up for now and while Google books is trying to take some of that steam away from them and lend it to the Nook and Ipad, they should really be partnering to strengthen the Kindle’s capacity. Better yet, load some Android software onto the next gen Kindle and make it a force to be reckoned with! (I already read my kindle books on my Android phone!)

As for the cloud player, they are all competing with iTunes (which I boycott – full disclosure) and neither product is going to (or has) blow away users with a completely refined and fulfilling product.

In my mind, they should have, or could still, join forces and create a monster of a product(s). Think of a cloud player taking advantage of Google’s innovation and technology combined with Amazons amazing music store. Make this standard on ALL android devices (tablets and cell phones) and you automatically take a lead in the market share. Apple wouldn’t be able to compete, they would be relegated to selling strictly to hipsters and Microsoft isn’t even in the picture.

This is a win-win for both companies. Android blows up even further dominating the mobile and tablet market with a powerhouse music service and the Amazon store keeps selling with more and more outlets to push their store. Is there a downside to this for either company? Let me know what you think about either product or this dream merger.

To request an invite to use the Google music player, click here.

 Posted by at 12:51 PM  Tagged with: , , ,

2nd Quarter Goals | Update

 Random  No Responses »
May 052011
 

3 5k’s and a bike ride down and I’m on my way to a triathlon!  That’s right, I’ve adjusted my goals and I am going to compete in a triathlon this summer.  A sprint triathlon, but a triathlon none the less.

What’s spawned this? I love riding my bike and I’ve come to enjoy running in the local 5k races (I typically do not enjoy running, but the competitions give the running a little edge that’s kinda fun).  Also, growing up I always thought the triathletes were awesome.  I was that weird kid who would rather watch Dan and Dave in the pentathlon than watch the 100 yard dash finals in the Olympics.

So where does that leave me?  Participating in at least one triathlon this summer.  The sprint triathlons are manageable (500 meter swim, 10 mile bike ride, 3 mile run) as far as triathlons go.  I’m excited and nervous as I’m sure I’ll be dead tired when I cross the finish line.  So in preparation I still need to complete my ’2nd Quarter Resolution’ and compete in one or two more bike rides before the end of the year (The triathlon would be the second and/or third!).  In the meantime, I’ve also done three 5k’s and I have at least two more scheduled (Dragon Dash and the Helen Gold 5k).  I also just completed the Johnson County Bike Club (JCBC) Spring Classic!  It was a 46 mile ride and it took me a short 3 1/2 hours.  It was a good time and it marks the first of my three bike rides.

I’ll keep you posted on my results and after my triathlon.  Below are my times so far this year…and links to some great charities.

Love2Run (4 mile): 45.15

Rock the Parkway (5k): 29.40

Trolley Run (4 mile): 36.04

 Posted by at 12:55 PM  Tagged with: , , ,
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