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More CyanogenMod News
29 Aug2010
People of Android, we have hit CyanogenMod 6, the best part, to my knowledge and rumors from the tweets from the man himself… cyanogen mod is on ALL android phones, not some but all. That’s the word, let me know if I am wrong in the comments. Maybe you wish to know what this all means?
What does it mean?
Well it’s a modification you can add to your android phone, it’s what’s known as a rom. A hack to change your phone. Stock android is what comes on your phone, CyanogenMod is something you can add by rooting your phone and getting rom manager from the market or if you are feeling old fashioned you can go to the cyanogenmod website and download the rom and add it to your SD card. You also have to boot a recovery which can be done from Rom Manager as well, seems easier just to get Rom Manager! It is free after all.
This is the QR code, just scan it with barcode scanner
Now that you have that, you have no excuse not to get it really. So hit that up, come back here… I am waiting.
BACK? Hoping its not like two days later. No matter. What needs to happen now is that I tell you why you want it. For one, the latest in CyanogenMod on Motorola Droid allows me to change my phone with out a themed rom, in my opinion themed roms get HOT, they make your phone run very hot, its not good to run hot! So add changes via CyanogenMod, its easy.
Another thing that really isn’t a rom thing, its just a root thing, is SetCPU, you can overclock your droid or android phone, its in Rom manager too, see how nice this thing is? It’s like a boy scout knife for your phone, it lets you do much with very little. SetCPU is a different program, but the way to get the over clocking (a kernel) is right there on Rom Manager.
I don’t want to say too much more because it will likely get confusing. If you want more knowledge thrown at you hit me up on twitter. (@mcorbett26) Maybe we don’t even have to talk about android, but it’s a preference.
PS a rom allowed me to have Adobe Flash MONTHS before everyone else, I already have Adobe Air as well. Thanks roms.
In Case you’re just discovering this New Media blog; my name is Missy Martin; and I’m a Web Consultant.
A Web consultant with a focus & genuine interest in New Media and Social Media. However, its rare that you would find me openly admitting to such; and do you know why?
Because; believe it or not; (most) people don’t take New Media and Social Media seriously. Which means they don’t take you seriously if you happen to affiliate yourself it. Now its one thing to feel shamed about what you do for a living by people in the real World; like when you find yourself cornered at a dinner party by technologically-illiterate computer fearing narcissistic zombies! Especially if what you do for a living is rule the web; the one thing they don’t understand; and therefore pretend it’s beneath them. Yes; being shamed by them is (unfortunately) expected.
If (for some insane reason) you think it is safe to seek refuge inside that very WEB you’re calling your home; your friend and dare I say your career; then I have a bit of advice for you: Don’t even entertain the thought.
In fact; if you happen to see any silly optimistic “thoughts” like that come skipping up the driveway in your mind, do yourself a favor: Turn off the lights, muzzle the dog and pretend you’re not home. I know this seems harsh, but the guilt won’t last for too long, if you’re “thoughts” are anything like mine, they will more than likely give you the benefit of the doubt anyway. They will probably just knock once or twice, turn right back around and be on their way. Foolishly assuming something hopelessly trite, like the reason you’re not home is because you’re out buying them gifts…you know, something “thoughts” would like, something like….what…? Vitamins? I dunno.
What I am trying to say my friends, is this…
The shaming of Social Media is happening right here on the Web; on our turf! Ironic much? Bloggers like…real important ones even, are making the rounds and Tweeting about their latest blog posts, that ooh, you must go check out! Blog Posts with titles like, “Why You Should Think Twice Before Trusting Social Media Marketers” then; actually having the gall to request a “Retweet” or “Dig” on their article; and to share it with everyone you know socially if you happened to find value in their content…blah blah blah.
Kids; there is a word for these types of bloggers, and it rhymes with “dyp-o-crite”.
- In: Social Media
- Tags: New Media, New Media Consultant, Web Consultant
Are you the type of person who is constantly checking your website stats?
Well if you are, then you probably feel helpless whenever you post a Craigslist ad, because you have no way to tell if people are clicking on it or not…until now!
By pasting a simple bit of HTML statistics code into the bottom of your ad, you can test certain things, very important things, about your Craigslist posts.
Things like:
- Which headlines get more clicks
- Which links people clicked on
- Maybe your headlines worked, but your ad copy sucked because you lost people after two seconds. Yes, certain stat-counter codes can tell you how long a person stayed on your ad!
- Plus much, much more!
You can easily copy and paste any basic HTML analytics code you want, I use the codes from Statcounter. The results you get from Statcounter are pretty impressive considering the program is free. However, if you wanted to upgrade your plan to one of the more premium plans they offer, I’m sure they will not refuse your money:)
Do you have any Craigslist tips to share?
- In: New Media Genius
- Tags: bdIs, Internet Tips, Useful Tips
To the site owners out there still locked into their old ways and “ten-year ago” thinking, here’s the tip of the decade: You better get current, or you’re gonna lose leads.
Listen to what just happened to me on the web, and take notes, because as an online business owner, this is your worst nightmare.
I WAS about to register to a website.
Then I was hit in the face with a twenty-four question registration form.
Uh…did I mention none of those questions were optional?
[-Yikes-]
I then picked up my jaw from off the floor, and proceeded to my blog to make an example out of your horrid, horrid mistakes. And now you’re all, “Good Lord! WHAT did I do to deserve THIS? Simply because I had a few too many questions in my sign-up form Miss New Media Genius??? REALLY??“
No, it’s because you made the grave mistake of assuming I, a potential customer, cares that much about you at this hopeful, yet very fragile stage in our relationship, that’s why.
See, its true, I may indeed be interested in what you have to sell me, but not that much, cowboy. If I have miraculously decided to follow your steps to reach this moment, which to you by the way, is the most choicest of moments imaginable, then YOU should make every step I have to take from now on, as pleasant as humanly possible. I already assume that your selling my email address and I’m still cool with you…that’s all fine, I dig. But I draw the line when it comes to potentially giving you, and who knows how many others, any more information than that.
Not to mention it shows a complete disregard for my time…but that’s another story…and oh, there is just so much wrong with your sign-up form! I can count the mistakes on both hands and all ten toes! Almost as many as your number of questions….not quite though! [-wink-]
And ooh…I was even gonna pay for the more premium, recurring subscription service you offer too…ouch;(
Fact: Today, more than ever, we Internet people are in a damn hurry. Get us in and get us out, just like that, Jack…or we’ll go on to someone who will. You feel me?
- In: The Internet
- Tags: Useful Tips
Peter Rojas: Interview With Tech Blog Genius
18 May2010
I have been inspired by Peter every since I found out that he created and helped create a lot of major sites that visit and am a daily member of. His name struck my ears once more when I found out about gdgt.com. Lately he has received some press about quitting facebook.
The man has done what most won’t think of doing, I create a blog to tell about my life, he creates a super blog that is known all over the internet. Its pretty insane. I visit gdgt.com regularly and I check gizmodo/engadget daily for news, glad I was able to get this opportunity, hope you enjoy the read, and thanks to Peter.
Q:What site was first? Engadget?
A:Gizmodo, then Engadget, then gdgt.
Q:Was there a smaller site before that?
A:I had a personal blog I started in 2001.
Q:How many sites have you created? Big and Small? And What are they?
A:Here are the bigger ones:
gdgt
RCRD LBL
Engadget
Engadget Mobile
Engadget HD
Joystiq
Gizmodo
Switched.com
hackaday
Q:You now have gdgt because of your interest in that sort of technology, what plans do you have for gdgt?
A:We have lots of stuff in the works, including a redesign of the site and a bunch of cool new features.
Q:Will we see any sort of apps for gdgt, such as android apps, iphone apps or blackberry apps?
A:You’ll definitely see an iPhone app soon, Android app to follow. Not sure whether we’ll do aBlackBerry app or not, but if there is enough interest we probably will.
Q:What phone do you use right now, heard you have a kin at one point.
A:I use the Nexus One, I was just reviewing the KIN One and Two, already sent them back.
Q:Where do you see phones going next, everyone says graphics?
A:I think we’ll see better screens, faster data speeds (4G), and faster processors.
Q:What tablet do you like most?
A:Probably the iPad, but there are a few others I have on my gdgt Want list, like the WeTab.
Q:Will tablets do better than netbooks do you think? Or will they both be needed?
A:I think both will do fine, they serve different purposes.
Q:What do you think of the apple/adobe ordeal? not a battle anymore it seems adobe sends love now
A:I think the web is outgrowing Flash and it’s hard for Adobe to accept that.
Q:Do you have plans for a site you want to make but haven’t yet?
A:I have some ideas, but I’m so focused on gdgt that I’m not really thinking about what comes next. Especially since it’ll be years before I’m able to work on something else.
Q:Your site rcrdlbl_ it seems that its not as big or heard of as the rest of your sites? Why is that? When was it created?
A:RCRD LBL is actually pretty big! It’s just that it’s a music site and doesn’t get as much attention. It’s also very focused on email, the site has a huge number of subscribers to its MP3 of the Day email newsletter. I started the site in late 2007 while I was still at Engadget.
Q:You graduated Harvard right? How was that?
A:Yeah, I graduated in 1997. I wish I’d taken better advantage of my time there, I don’t think I took enough advantage of the freedom (and free time) I had then.
Q:I watched an interview yesterday, you talked about the new york times, did you write for them as well?
A:I wrote a few articles for them when I was a freelance writer. I really liked it, but it was hard to get them to accept my pitches.
Q:What would recommend that young upstarts do to be successful?
A:Pay your dues. Success doesn’t come overnight. Even though it often looks easy it usually takes years and years of thankless work to get anywhere.
- In: Uncategorized
- Tags: Engadget, FaceBook, Gdgt, Gizmodo, Hackaday, Joystiq, Mobile, New York Times, Peter Rojas, Peter Rojas Interview
Facetime? Face palm.
8 Jun2010
Why mobile video calling never worked, and will fail again.
By Karl Smith (@sweeterskins)
“This changes everything. Again.”
Pardon my cynicism but this marketing-speak reeks of desperation, just a tiny bit. The inventor of the mobile phone called the iPhone 4 an “incremental” upgrade, and I tend to agree. Now, I want to make a couple of things clear: the iPhone 4 hardware looks genuinely fantastic (I drool a little when I see it), the screen looks simply beautiful (in spite of Apple’s strangely stoic commitment to 3.5″) and iMovie for iPhone looks like a really great piece of software. The rest of the upgrade was necessary to keep up with the current top tier of smart phones, and that’s a good thing.
What I really want to talk about is Facetime, or, as Europe and Asia-Pacific have known it for the last 8 years or so, video calling.
Video calling has failed before, it will fail again
Mobile video calling is nothing new, despite what Apple would tell you. Wikipedia tells us that as of 2007 there were 134 networks in 59 countries with video calling capabilities. In NZ I got my first phone with a front facing camera and video calling in 2003, and they’d already been out for a while at that early stage (for a few years front facing cameras were the defining feature of a 3G handset as the mobile web was still in it’s infancy). Despite widespread availability for almost a decade across the globe, mobile video calling never took off. Why?
Video calling is socially awkward
Mobile phones are ubiquitous enough that a quick Google search for “cell phone etiquette” or “mobile etiquette” returns about 700,000 results. We all hate those loud talkers on public transport, or the guy at the supermarket holding a loud and inappropriate conversation. In general it’s socially accepted that we should keep our phone conversations discreet when we’re in public, which is where mobile video calling fails. People near you become a part of your conversation simply by being there, whether they ask for it or not. Video calling is not discreet.
Added to this is the difference between how we have learned to interact on mobiles versus how we interact face to face. Mobile voice calling is clear: it’s a voice conversation – we listen and speak. Face to face communication involves voice too but also includes a huge array of essential nuances in expressions, gestures, and eye contact. Think of a face to face conversation. Do you look directly in the other persons eyes for the entire duration of your interaction? No, you glance away, you look up when thinking, you return to eye contact to make points and convey feeling. Video calling is a paradigm that feels foreign to us. It’s more than a voice call, but less than a face to face conversation. How far do nuances translate? Are our gestures lost? Do we look at the camera or the image of the other person? Do we hold the caller’s gaze or is looking away and back ok?
Video calling is no good when you’re mobile
One of the huge benefits of mobile phones, and the reason nearly everyone has one, is because we can be contacted or make contact on the go. This means walking, at a restaurant or bar, driving, at the game, waiting for a movie, cooking. The primary reason we make calls on the go is to verbally communicate. Looking in my friends eyes to “see how he’s really doing” isn’t necessary when he’s simply calling to tell me he’s running 5 minutes late for a movie. Even physically our arms use less energy holding a bent position with our hand to our ears than out in front of us aimed at our faces. Try it. In fact video calling when out and about is largely redundant in almost any usage case I can think of.
Where does video calling work? At home.
Home is the place! It’s private. Quiet. You’re not moving. It’s why the Apple promotional videos show a mother and child using Facetime on a bed. But again here, a mobile device is less than ideal. Why would I want to sit on the couch and hold out a phone aimed at my face when I can put a laptop on my lap, or sit at a table with the camera aimed at me already? The truth is that video calling has become a lot more popular over time, and we’ve all already been doing it – at home!
Hell, even Star Trek has it right. When you’re communicating with the enemy from the bridge of the Enterprise you’re talking at a big screen from your chair. When Kirk and Spock are down exploring a planet they call back to the ship with communicators – no video required.
Now, I know that iPhone4 only has Facepalm Facetime enabled on Wifi… for now. But the basic premises remain the same for all mobile based video calling. By and large it’s a gimmick that, even if it works well, is something you’ll use once or twice and never again. I’m not dismissing all video calling as useless. We all have family or friends separated by distance, and there are genuinely useful applications for video calling in the areas of medicine, charity and support work in remote or underdeveloped areas and more. But Apple are riding this gimmick a little hard.
And when you first see some wanker walk into a lamp post while Facetiming, kick him while he’s down and tell him I sent you.
Posted By Mike Corbett, written by Karl Smith
- In: Future Of Technology
- Tags: Engaging Content, Face Call, FacePalm, FaceTime, iphone, iphone 4g, New Media, video, video call
ALERT: Optimism Has NO Place In SEO
28 Jul2010
When I perform an SEO audit on a client’s website…
the number one problem attributing to their poor “on-page” assessment; is optimism. Some of the most important factors that make-up a webpage; if not the most important; are the title, description and keywords. Oddly enough; people’s optimism tends to increase as they go from title to keywords; so we will follow that pattern here; and I will offer a few quick tips to greatly improve your on-page SEO within minutes.
Titles…Be creative! But keep it relevant.
Be sure that the keywords chosen for your page title correspond with the first paragraph on your webpage or post. As a rule; your entire title should remain under 80 characters in length;)
Descriptions…
When you create a webpage description; describe the actual content you have created. Try reading it through; then; use your best judgement to summarize the content as best you can.
Keywords…
When you sit down to choose your keywords; try this: Choose what keywords and phrases people would actually type to find what you have written about in your article or webpage. DO NOT simply enter the keywords and phrases you’re hoping to show up for in search results!
Follow these tips! I know these tips may seem obvious; but trust me; MANY people still make these mistakes. (I still do…occasionally….though it’s rare.)
- In: SEO
When it comes to online conversions; and the maximizing of them; sometimes; the answers you seek are right in front of you.
For instance; I recently came across this (actual) listing on the web. The listing read:
I have a business that is free to sign up for. It takes 3 minutes for someone to sign up. I need to get 100 people as fast as possible!
I was compelled to offer this website owner some sage advice; so I wrote them a little note; which read:
Hello, my name is Missy Martin; I am an experienced Web Consultant. I came across this listing; and thought I’d offer you some words of wisdom. You say you need someone to help you get one-hundred sign-ups to your site…is it safe to assume you’ve had some trouble with this? If so; I would like to offer you some help to alleviate your problem. I can assure you that; regardless of how many people you manage to have land on your site; the chances of them actually going through the entire sign-up process; is slim to none.
Why?
No one is going to spend 3 minutes filling out an online form. Even if you have an incentive; like they MIGHT win something; even if you’re paying them…it’s hard to get people to take 3 minutes to do anything…ask any marketer on the web.
My advice? Shorten the form; by as much as you can. And…if you would like more help perfecting your form to see the most conversions..please feel free to contact me….but I’m not cheap:)
Best regards;
Missy Martin
Hopefully they’ll listen! If you are dealing with a similar problem; do tell! I’d love to discuss it with you!
- In: Web Site Content
- Tags: online conversions, Useful Tips
Create A Google Buzz Group In GMail Contacts
16 Aug2010
So maybe you have some Buzz friends that you want to email, like maybe more than one at a time? You always forget one though, its always one person and never the same, its just hard to remember emails or something? Well now you can make a Google Buzz Group and keep track of these Buzz friends and email them or call them if needed in a quick way. Here are the steps
1. Go to Gmail’s contact manager and search for http://www.google.com/profiles. Here’s the URL for the search results.
2. Select all the results, click on the “Groups” drop-down and then on the “Create new” option.
3. Create a new group called “Buzz”.
Pretty simple! Pretty easy! And its worth it, I have done it. It seems this group doesn’t auto update since its self made, but it seems pretty easy to do it yourself so get it done.
TweetDeck For Android Is Out… Well it Leaked
11 Aug2010
August 9th, TweetDeck for Android was announced, today, the 11th, TweetDeck for Android Leaked to the entire Internet. All of us. Its not an official release so I can not condone running out and getting it, but it is a pretty nice app. Also, since its not official I can’t say where I found it, can say, Google is your friend. Here are some screen shots of the app. Its pretty nice.
I’ve used it a bit here and there and it works, no real flaws to speak of so far. There should be an official public beta released via tweetdeck soon. So if you don’t want to take the plunge, just wait a day or so and we should have the legit copy coming soon
I have mentioned time after time that Adobe Flash Mobile is on Android, I guess it also now has a work around to be on the iPhone 4 as well, but its still not stable. But what sites can you see, what’t not too much of a strain on the phone? What works and what doesn’t?
Well if the site has a mobile version, thats usually a good sign for one that your video will be optimized or your game for that matter. One good site I go to is m.adobe.com and it will give you a bunch of sites that are decently optimized for mobile video, some are not but they still play pretty well, however, these sites work QUITE well. So give that a look for sure if you want a good example.
Some bad examples are like.. youtube.com, go to m.youtube.com for better flash content on mobile. If video is your thing online, even Vimeo has an online version, which is great. There are quite a few games now that have been optimized. Its a great tool and like I have said before, its weird with out flash. People claim not to miss it, but I DO! I miss having the flash content when i did not have it, I did not like seeing the blue boxes. Thats all there is to it, Flash is pretty important. I use it nearly daily.
3 Types Of Obvious And Annoying FAKE Comments
27 Jan2010
Whether you’re reading through an endless love-fest of drippy customer testimonials or trying to stomach a mile-long page of cheesy product reviews from an affiliate landing page, fake comments are everywhere. Some are harder to decipher than others, but ultimately, I think they suck and have to go. Fake comments can take on many forms, ranging from the very creative to the not-so-much, and mostly its the the latter of the two. Here are three examples of the most prevalent species of annoyingly fake comments you are likely to come across on the web.
1) The Creator Has Discovered The Magic Of “Sock Accounts”
For those who don’t know, a “sock account” in Social Media speak, is an extra user account created by registering to the same site, using a different email address. Why would someone want two or more accounts for the same site? So they can stroke themselves and comment on their own stuff of course! And this is what it usually looks like:
These are easy to spot because you’ll notice the “commenter” will tend to not comment on the content, but rather put the focus on the person that made it…a little too much. This is usually an unconscious move on their part. These types of users also tend to fail to come up with user names much different from their first ones…sad, I know…but true.
Example:
= Same person.
2) Hollywood Has Discovered The Magic of Desperate Freelance Writers for Hire
Most Hollywood producers and agents are in the business of selling people as products. Does Miley Cyrus’s video on Youtube really need 200,000 comments? If for some unholy reason her ratings start to plunge, you bet your a$$ it does. Do you realize how many people count on her for their paychecks? Here’s how to tell the difference between the “brand pushing” comments from normal “fan luv”.
These are easy to spot, just look for a large block of comments created seconds apart from each other.
3) Its all Relative(s)
Sometimes users turn their family members and closest friends into their own personal “comment army”. These fake comments can usually be spotted by their unmistakably warm tone, as well as the use of nicknames. Like if the users name is Jack, but the commenter refers to him as “J-dawg”. Sometimes however, relatives that are aware you have an account and that you make videos, will take it upon themselves to spur you on…all on their own:
Thanks Mom.
Hey Please Share This Up If You Liked it. You Can Do So Below…;)