The Internet’s False Promises

Posted on August 4, 2011 by Angela

One of the first articles I read this morning during my warming up, inspiration seeking time, was a TechCrunch piece called “The Beautiful Internet.” Kind of ironic, given my current article’s title.

Don’t get me wrong, I do like the Internet. And Facebook. But as much as we love Facebook and the way it serves us with quality time wasting, its true purpose is to connect us to friends. Am I right? Facebook is supposed to be a tool to make you closer to your closest friends and keep you close to those you don’t see often. With nearly 700 million users, you’d think connecting to people would be enough. But now, every time I get on Facebook I have another five plus invites to Scrabble or Farmville (yes, some people still play it) or some other odd game. But I digress.

Back to the point. Do we put too much trust in the promise that the Internet will help connect us to our friends?

An article published on CNN’s tech blog reports that some dissatisfied users are shunning Facebook for reasons like these. The author says, “constant status updates may inadvertently discourage more meaningful and sensory interactions that can only take place offline.” These constant updates create the illusion that you are learning about someone. After you’ve read enough status updates, a conversation might lack content. We are social beings who were meant to ask questions about how your day has gone or how the family is doing. Facebook takes that task out of our hands completely.

Another common blunder committed by Facebookers are all the empty Facebook promises. I have to admit, I have made a few myself. Those promises to attempt a real life interaction with a long lost buddy or co-worker that are nothing but back-and-forth, empty Facebook comments. Here’s a great example written for CNN’s Netiquette series:

“Hey Jimmy! I haven’t seen you in weeeeeeeeks! Therefore, in between promises of coffee and drinks and backpacking trips to Iceland sent via Facebook message and Twitter DM, I’m just going to go ahead and comment on everything on your Facebook Page, wantonly ‘Liking’ every new snapshot that you take with your webcam, alone in your room, trying out each hairstyle on Twin Shadow’s ‘Haircut Tour’ poster.

And, as those aforementioned promises never come to fruition, I’ll merely become an annoyance, a possible reclusive pathological liar who has ample time to hang on Facebook but can’t manage to scrape together two hours to see “Friends With Benefits,” even though we both posted the trailer on our walls and clearly would love to see such a wholly original film starring the extremely talented Mila Kunis. Peace out.”

It’s so true, isn’t it? You have now been warned and are no longer allowed to commit such crimes.

Don’t let Facebook, Twitter, and emails turn your perfectly good, solid friendship into a digital one. Bottom line here is: get off the computer, pick up the phone, and go visit your friends in the real world.

Posted in Internet, Social Media | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Why Spotify?

Posted on August 3, 2011 by Angela

Push your angst for a Google+ invitation to the back of your mind for a minute and let’s talk about what TIME Magazine called the “celestial jukebox,” Spotify. Having only been available in the United States for about two weeks now, Spotify has received nothing but raving reviews (and that one patent lawsuit). It seems like Pandora, iTunes, and Amazon need to be worried.

Here in the office, we have one very impressed user, a few unsure but adventurous types, and the rest remain unaware. The majority wonder, why is this music streaming service any different than the others? So I thought I’d take the time to do a little research and answer that question.

Spotify offers three levels of its service. The free version is open to anyone who creates an account and provides access to millions of songs. It is like iTunes open to anyone and everyone but with full versions of the songs, not those 30 second clips. This free version is limited to only 10 hours a month though, which is a lot shorter than Pandora’s 40 hour limit. If you want to avoid the advertising, it’s only $5 per month and comes with a Pandora-like radio mode.

But, if you want the best deal, $10 per month will get you the mobile version and offline desktop version. After downloading songs, you’ll be able to listen to them on your phone or desktop regardless of your Internet access.

The selection of songs is incredible; it is reported to be 15 million songs deep. Spotify can also connect to your iTunes library to instantly sync the two. That way, you can scan your iTunes library and play your songs in the Spotify app, even those that may not be available through Spotify like a completely rare track. The social feature allows you to share tracks and playlists with other users. And by connecting through Facebook, you will see which of your friends are also using Spotify.

I have heard it called a free iTunes and a legal Napster, and in my opinion I would call Spotify a Pandora-Grooveshark super child. Free songs from a limitless selection at your request. Enjoy.

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Small Websites Have Become a Big Deal

Posted on August 2, 2011 by Angela

Website design is Keystone’s specialty. We love taking a flashing, scrolling, and blinking website and turning it into a beautiful, professional, and sleek website for any business. We get a strange pleasure out of it. Really.

A relatively new direction we are taking our websites is in the mobile web direction. OK, we’ve been doing it for a while now, but it is a huge movement in the world of websites. If your website does not have a mobile version, go ahead and wave goodbye to an exponentially growing audience. And while you may think you don’t care about smartphone users, the percentage of mobile web browsing has more than doubled in the past two years. Also, with location-based services, like Foursquare, gaining popularity, mobile browsing will continue to exponentially grow from here on out.

According to ComScore, 66% of the cell phone users in the United States are using smartphones. That is a lot of noses buried in some Angry Birds. Having a mobile version of your website allows your customers (or potential customers) to have access to your information on the go. Even the tech-blog-giant, Mashable, agrees that a mobile website is “practically essential.”

While deciding what you want in a website, you will realize how important a mobile website is. It is one small difference that will keep your website enduring longer than you expect. Like any product, the more you invest in your website now, the longer it will last and the longer you can put off a major redesign. Creating mobile websites is a craft that we have really begun to master here at Keystone. So take advantage of it already.

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Netflix Replacements Take Two

Posted on July 28, 2011 by Angela

Some of the most American pastimes I can think of include baseball, apple pie, chewing gum, and movies. Ahh yes, movies. It is an American love. Going into the theater exuding excitement and leaving with a belly full of junk food and a mind full of fairy tales. We have turned movie watching into an at-home experience with online streaming services like Netflix, until it betrayed our trust and increased its prices by 60%! And we are not ready to pay 60% more for those same fairy tales and belly aches.

Now, Internet movie streaming has become much more competitive – not that I haven’t egged it on. As a result, an alternative to Netflix is the newly sought after moneymaker.

Today, TechCrunch reported that Amazon just landed a deal with NBC for online movie streaming. With this NBC deal, Amazon will gain about a thousand more movies and TV shows in their library of titles. Such movies include “Notting Hill,” “Flipper,” “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” and “Elizabeth.” I recently pushed Amazon to the side when looking into Netflix competitors because of their lack of content. It sounds like Amazon is trying to fix that flaw.

Also recently, Fox announced it will be reining in its contents, or at least its control, by requiring a cable subscription for next-day streaming on Hulu. Up until now, the norm has been for next-day streaming to be available online at either Fox.com or on Hulu for most new shows. However, that norm is about to get a little more difficult. Fox now wants to limit next-day streaming to only paying cable subscribers. When this new requirement goes through, viewers will have to log in with a verified cable provider and all others will have to wait a eight days to see the same episodes.

New to the movie streaming scene, Wal-Mart has decided to hop into this ring of competitors with its new acquisition, Vudu. The online movie service is now available for streaming at Walmart.com. Even though many see this effort as an amateur attempt, the actual product is nothing to brush aside. Vudu offers a collection of over 20,000 titles and is available for streaming to your TV through gaming systems and other media streamers. The service is different from Netflix, however, in that it is an on demand service with rentals and not a subscription based service.

With all this talk about movies I’m starting to crave some movie theater popcorn and soda. When you’ve decided what online source you are going to turn to over Netflix, please let us know in the comments. And new discoveries are always appreciated.

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Blogs: The newspapers of the digital age

Posted on July 27, 2011 by Angela

This article, published on CNN’s opinion blog, caught my attention recently. Arguing that social media has replaced traditional forms of social activism, the author got great attention for stirring the pot. It is always articles like these that fascinate me and my thirst for rebuttal.

The author seems to believe that tweets now replace picketing and Facebook groups replace shady activist meetings in the alleyways. Ok maybe the latter is a long shot, but really it’s not that we have become lazy, it’s that the times have changed.

Social media, like Facebook, Twitter, blogs, RSS, and all, have developed into the primary avenues for written news. Blogs have already replaced newspapers and magazines almost entirely. And if a magazine or newspaper is still printed, it probably also hosts an online blog delivering the same news. Printed news is far too inferior and will never be on par with digital news again. That should not surprise anyone.

But the author frames his argument by saying we have replaced the spirit of social activism that was common in the ‘60s and ‘70s with our blogs that host complaints. He believes there is no way the buzz of social media has the same affects on politicians as a protest or sit-in might.

Sure. OK, I see what you mean, Mr. Obeidallah. But what you are missing is that the generation of bloggers is a generation of innovators. We are the ones who have developed and popularized this form of news delivery and it’s ours to maintain. Never before could you send a message directly to the President or any politically influential figure without a horse and buggy or an envelope and stamp.

Social activism isn’t disappearing or becoming watered down, it is becoming smarter; it’s evolving. We are hitting politicians at their personal accounts and outside their office with those picket signs. Sure, as a country, we aren’t as radical as we were in the ’60s, but the times are also much different. We don’t have assassination attempts (thank God) nor do we see many angry mobs (that’s in Canada) these days.

There are so many bloggers out in Internet-land giving their personal opinions on larger topics that only feed into the static noise of the blogosphere. Those who want to really make a difference in matters of social justice have to get much more creative than just tweeting about it. Pairing the direct advantage of social media with physical directness of “old-fashioned” protests might be an ideal solution to the new age of social activism.

Image by Kristina B. via Flickr

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The Transition: Facebook to Google+

Posted on July 25, 2011 by Angela

Now that you have received your invitation to Google+ and created an account, it is time to jump ship. Facebook is already looking like a ghost town and Google+ is getting pretty lively.

Here are a few things to keep in mind while making the switch.

Invite your friends.

I’m talking about anyone that deserves an invite. This isn’t Facebook so don’t be afraid to invite family members. Unlike Facebook, on Google+ you have full control over who sees what you post from the moment you post it. Your parents and family members do not have to see everything (or anything) you post.

And let’s give special attention to inviting any girl friends because Google+ is still only about 12% female and I’m starting to feel out numbered over there.

Sort logically.

Circles are way more relevant in Google+ than your lists or networks are on Facebook. Since you are just starting to organize your connections made on Google+, think carefully about the makeup of your circles. I would suggest a circle of your closest friends, one of second level friends (mine is literally titled “2nd Tier”), the rest of your acquaintances, coworkers, and then one with family members.

You can also arrange circles to replace “Groups” over in Facebookland. Any organizations or clubs that you used to communicate with through Facebook groups can now be done (seemingly) openly, by sharing with only that circle.

There are no “walls” on Google+, and the makers say there is no need for them when you can choose who sees what you share. This is, again, why circles are so important.

Bring pictures, but leave the duck faces behind.

There is a new Google Chrome extension to help with your transition. Called Start Google+, the extension lets you import Facebook pictures over to Google+. But before you start importing like a mad man, try not to ruin Google+ with all your duck face pictures.

Facebook is starting to get a little over populated with duck faces almost exactly like when MySpace was takenover by the kissy-face-peace-sign-pic (and the word “pic”). Let’s not spoil Google+ with all those drunkie pictures that are so prominent in Facebookland.

MySpace was taken over by junior high schoolers, Facebook was the college wave, and now Google+ is the new adult social networking world (in a much different way than previous attempts like Linkedin) so keep it classy people.

Schedule a Hangout.

One of Plus’s best features is the Hangout. The Hangout option lets you video chat with anyone else on Google+. But not in a Chatroulette way. When you start a Hangout, you make it available to one of your circles. Then any friend in that circle can join in the video chat. Soon you will have as many as 10 close friends chatting it up face to face.

This is a huge advantage that Google+ can hold over Facebook’s head. Try it out and you will be convinced Plus is pretty great. The Business Insider gives some other suggestions of Hangout uses you would have never thought of. Holding a meeting or press conference are two of the more relevant ideas.

Here is a quick guide book from the Google+ team to help with specific tasks on Plus, in case you need more guidance. Plus is in a league of its own right now and, once more people join, might actually be a threat to Facebook (contrary to my previous thoughts). And please, let us know your reactions to this new breed of social networking.

Posted in Social Media | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Google Warns Against Malware

Posted on July 20, 2011 by Angela

Google is ever expanding – surprise, surprise – and starting to develop in new areas like the much talked about social network, Google+.

With over 83% of search engine market share on the Internet, Google has also begun to take responsibility for detecting a possible malware infection. There is a new form of malware awry that intercepts the infected computer’s connection to Google and other sites.

Google says in its blog article, “Using data to protect people from malware,”

As we work to protect our users and their information, we sometimes discover unusual patterns of activity. Recently, we found some unusual search traffic while performing routine maintenance on one of our data centers. After collaborating with security engineers at several companies that were sending this modified traffic, we determined that the computers exhibiting this behavior were infected with a particular strain of malicious software, or “malware.” As a result of this discovery, today some people will see a prominent notification at the top of their Google web search results.

Noticing the strange pattern of data, Google has created a warning to appear in an infected computer’s search results screen. The warning says, “Your computer appears to be infected,” and then gives a link to an antivirus service.

Here is more information if you believe your computer is infected.

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Five Alternatives to Netflix

Posted on July 15, 2011 by Angela

Since the death of the video store and the news of Netflix’s price jump, renting movies has become pretty difficult. Yes folks, it is tome to discover new movie watching options. Expand those horizons. In comparing different services, we should look at the option of physical DVDs vs. online streaming, pricing, as well as convenience and selection. Onward…

Blockbuster:

Although you may have thought Blockbuster fell off the face of the planet, it still exists and they offer online renting and DVD-by-mail subscriptions. This means both physical DVDs and online streaming. The by-mail DVD service is called Total Access and costs $9.99 a month for 1 disc at a time or $14.99 for 2 discs. And online rentals are by the movie for about $3 or $4 depending on the film’s popularity.

While the selection is nothing like that of the 100,000 titles on Netflix, Blockbuster offers a wide selection of video game rentals (something that Netflix does not). Blockbuster also provides a 30-day free trial and often has new releases a month before Netflix and Redbox. Overall, Blockbuster is probably the ideal solution for a movie guru or gaming junkie.

Hulu:

Hulu offers HuluPlus for $7.99 a month for online streaming. Hulu is the best if you are looking for current TV shows. Many times the whole season, or even the entire series, is available for viewing. Plus can stream through gaming systems and mobile devices so you aren’t limited to watching on your computer screen. Movies, on the other hand, are not as current as their television shows. With about 1400 movies and documentaries available in Plus, it’s still just a fraction of the Netflix library.

The advantage of paying one fee and having unlimited access to so many shows is great for TV buffs. But if movies are what you like, I’d look elsewhere.

Zediva:

Don’t count Zediva among all the sketchy movie streaming services you’ve never heard of; Zediva is legitimate. Through Zediva, you rent a DVD and a DVD player online. Renting the DVD player allows you to access your DVD rental no matter what kind of Internet connection you have. There are no restrictions. And you also get the benefit of all the extras that come on a physical DVD. Zediva claims it has some movie titles weeks or even months before Netflix and Redbox.

The rentals are a one-by-one deal, no monthly subscriptions of any kind yet. But at only $2 a movie or $10 for 10, the rates aren’t too bad. When you rent a movie, even online, you have control of a physical copy of that film. Because of that, you only have 4 hours at a time to watch the movie within 2 weeks of the rental date. So if you pause the movie or have to stop halfway through, you can restart that 4 hour time frame by clicking the rental button again without being charged a second time (as long as you’re still within that 2 weeks).

Right now, Zediva is invitation only, but you can sign a waiting list to receive an invitation. They provide the most popular titles of each year so when you’re looking for that obscure cult film, you’ll have to go somewhere else. Zediva factors out to being a cheaper alternative to Netflix if you watch only three movies per month.

iTunes Rentals:

The iTunes rental section makes me flashback to the days of physical video stores. The prices are scaled based on how recent and good the movie is. You’re given thirty days to start watching your rental. The down side is, once you’ve started you only get 24 hours to finish it. So if you really like the movie, you can watch it over and over, back to back in that 24-hour window. But sheesh, what a headache that would be.

Amazon:

Amazon Prime Instant Video is purely for streaming purposes and exclusive to Amazon Prime members (which goes for $79 per year). After those specifications, Instant Video is a online video service that is lacking in content. Only about 2500 videos and TV shows are available. And while that might sound like a lot, the current titles are just not there. If you happen to be an Amazon Prime member, you should definitely look into this perk; but for everyone else, be hesitant.

After all these analyses, Netflix is still competitive, even after their price increase. They now offer online streaming for $7.99 a month or 1 DVD by-mail plan for $7.99 a month. For both plans you will have to pay $15.98. If I open my own rental location, I’ll let you know. Until then, try out these and see which fits your needs best.

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You Can’t Avoid this Commercial

Posted on July 13, 2011 by Angela

Have you watched old reruns of How I Met Your Mother lately? I know I have; I love that show. Well what you may not have noticed are “futuristic” advertisements in some of the scenes.

I say “futuristic” ads because the episodes originally aired at a time far before the ads were relevant. For instance, one episode of How I Met Your Mother that originally aired in 2006 now airs with advertisements of the movies Bad Teacher and Zookeeper in the background. Both are movies that weren’t even thought of in 2006.

The brains behind these futuristic ads are a company called SeamBI. SeamBI enables new advertisements to be integrated into previously aired episodes on television or film. The company’s largest clients include 20th Television with brand integration in episodes of My Name is Earl and How I Met Your Mother.

This is the first glimpse at how advertisers are trying to out-smart viewers. Commercials just aren’t cutting it anymore. You know what I mean. When you have a second station in mind that you switch to when commercials start on the first. Or maybe DVR/TiVo is your solution instead. We always strive to miss those dang commercials. It’s like 4th grade dodge ball all over again. And SeamBI’s new technology is the early-growth-spurt-mini-muscle-man on the opposite team whose aim is impeccable.

Another interesting aspect of this advertising strategy is that the ads can be changed based on demographic. For example, the Bad Teacher ads were only seen by viewers in the New York metropolitan area. Then, later showings of the same episode can, again, have a different ad.

I have a feeling this technology will be a hit with major marketing departments very soon. The commercial is like the plague and we are just trying to seek refuge. Good job, SeamBI, for discovering a way to force-feed those ads down our throats.

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Set Your Website Apart from the Rest

Posted on July 12, 2011 by Angela

How would you describe the Internet? Is it your all-knowing, all-seeing encyclopedia of life? Does it represent a marketplace of information? Tons and tons of information, that is.

I think both those descriptions are accurate. The Internet is the new host of phone books and newspapers, advertisements and sales pitches. That means a lot of products similar to your own floating around all trying to attract the same customer.

Standing apart from other businesses online is always a topic of interest for any website owners. One key to standing apart from the rest is keeping your website’s design fresh and up to date with a redesign.

Even if you like the design of your website and it has been successful for you in years past, a web design can become out of date quickly. If you are no longer getting the results you want, or your business focus has changed, or if you just want your website to be compatible with new technologies (mobile sites for example), it is time for a redesign.

At Keystone, we see a lot of… how do I say this gently… unfortunate web designs come into our hands for a makeover. Then after much collaboration and a lot of hard work, we see beautiful, professional, sharp, and creative web designs go out the door (not that I’m bias at all) just like a contestant on Extreme Makeover.

Just yesterday the technology blog TechCrunch launched with a whole new web design and logo. That should be enough evidence to win you over! TechCrunch, the king of all tech blogs, is honing in on this redesign advice. Don’t let your customers get bored with your website. Redesigning is just as important as updating ads or campaigns.

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