What's Cool Right Now

One Sheet is the coolest, quickest website maker for Bands. Period.

2011-09-09T10:01:00.000-07:00

www.onesheet.com is very cool. If you are a band, take one minute and setup your onesheet. Never has connecting all of your syndicated content, comings and goings, this and that been so easy. If you are not technically inclined, take 90 seconds and watch the video. You have to do this.

I have been a music lover, local band and venue supporter for years. I have a place for local bands and venues to add their upcoming events on www.livemusicbaby.com. Bands and venues can email me with the calendar they want access to and they can update.

Anyway, onesheet.com is supporting the bands. Very cool. Love love it.

Thumbtack is VERY COOL!

2011-08-10T21:05:00.000-07:00

What a great way for a small business to think about how they are selling their business and get them to get organized online. I have never used a set of forms that are so intuitive and easy. I think this will catch on with the right partnerships! Count me in Thumbtack!

Love Thumbtack! Love it!

Game Salad is Cool - Make your own mobile app with free online software!

2011-07-05T20:02:00.000-07:00

You can make IPhone, IPad, Mac and HTML5 games with GameSalad Creator. No coding it's drag and drop...aspiring or You have to have an Intel Mac / Mac OS X 10.6 but you can download the software for free from this very cool San Francisco company that has studios in Austin and LA.

I'll let you know when my game is ready to preview for www.browndog.com.

download it to your up to date Mac: http://gamesalad.com/download/latestCreator

Trading Flash for HTML5, JavaScript and CSS3 is Cool

2010-11-28T07:11:00.000-08:00

It's about the mobile device, silly.

And, Flash is not accessible on most mobile devices. I can't stand going to a website through my Blackberry (my phone of choice) and the info is not there because it it is of Flash origin.

Don't get me wrong Flash is a great tool sites that need to run complex animations or web games. It's time to learn more about HTML5, Java and CSS3. Your website is going mobile...even though you don't know it yet.
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Zamzar - Free Online File Conversion is COOL!

2010-06-04T09:21:00.000-07:00

Tired of getting files you can't read and then having to ask someone to resend to you in a different format? Now all you have to do is go to www.zamzar.com and upload your file then check the format you'd rather it be in and then input your email where the converted file should be sent. Hell yeah! It's that easy!

Make a word doc a pdf. Make a WPS a word doc.... etc. Free Online File Conversion!

www.zamzar.com

It's very cool.

Mobile Marketing / SMS Text Messaging is very cool!

2010-03-02T11:29:00.000-08:00

Interactive promotions are a part of the standard marketing that we are seeing more and more everyday. Mobile Marketing will help your clients find you!

Integrating text messaging “call-to-actions” into current advertising campaigns allows for instant consumer response. Tracking those responses allows you both to begin a conversation with the consumer and collect data to analytically interpret marketing campaigns.

You can setup a keyword on Shared Short Code or purchase a custom one (more expensive, of course). Target consumers simply text that keyword to the number/code to immediately subscribe and/or receive a coupon or any other marketing message in return. Customers can also go to your website and sign up to receive the "inside scoop" via text messages.

Bulk SMS Text Messaging includes:

· Subscription Lists– Build a targeted database of contacts, separated into as many groups as you wish.

· Instant Coupons & Auto-responder– Send discount codes, coupons and other information instantly when customers text in your keyword.

· Contests– Choose “lucky” winners at random for sweepstakes and other special offers.

· Voting & Trivia– Make your mobile marketing interactive! Find out your subscribers’ likes and dislikes, music preferences, and much more.

This is something we can help you with at Three Lakes Marketing Checkout TextBoyfriend.com
Give us a shout!
888-842-0292

Billing Credit Card Terminal iPhone Application is COOL!

2010-01-19T15:09:00.000-08:00

Billing Credit Card Terminal is the first and only iphone credit card terminal with signature capture! Love this for small biz and artists!

Direct itunes app link

Website: http://www.spartadata.com

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/spartadata

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/billingapp

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/spartadata

Video Calling is cool!

2010-01-06T08:38:00.000-08:00

Here's a great Video Calling Analysis that goes through the skinny on: Ooovoo, Sightspeed, TokBox, Sightspeed, Skype, Raktu, iChat, Yahoo Messenger, Google Talk... decide which is best for you and start hooking up yourself and your friends. My video chat of choice is Skype!

AwayFind is VERY cool

2010-01-05T09:52:00.000-08:00

Stop checking your email and start using AWAYFIND to help you filter messages and make the important ones find you!

Click on this link to see a youtube demo: http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=technotheory#p/u/1/YeMe_4Xqhfg

http://www.awayfind.com/

Twitter on your Blackberry is cool

2010-01-02T09:54:00.001-08:00

http://www.orangatame.com/products/openbeak/ Download it now!

Avatar is Cool

2009-12-29T10:27:00.000-08:00

Have you seen Avatar? If you haven't run, I say "run" to the theater and see it in 3D for a truly satisfying visual experience. I will see again.

Widgets that makes you more twitter viral is cool

2009-08-02T08:59:00.001-07:00

http://tweetgrid.com/widget/

Alltop is COOL. Just in case you forgot...here's my fave:

2009-07-30T12:45:00.001-07:00

Controlling your Privacy Settings on FACEBOOK is cool!

2009-07-28T08:44:00.001-07:00

Facebook has agreed to let 3rd party advertisers use your posted pictures without your permission. Click on "Settings" up at the top where you see the "Logout" link. Select "Privacy". Then select "News Feed and Wall". Next, select the tab that reads "Facebook Ads". In the drop down box, select "No One". Then save your changes. Do it now! Tell your friends!! (And Thanks Katie & Michelle for the heads up!)

Cage the Elephant is Cool.

2009-07-12T09:48:00.001-07:00

Cage the Elephant is Cool. I don't normally talk about bands on this blog--but they are just cool...this song is especially cool as a mantra for 2009.

Watch their video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t99bpilCKw

www.howtosayin.com is VERY COOL!

2009-05-27T12:39:00.000-07:00

Want to be quick to respond to someone in another language? You need to have this website in your phone! Want to blow someone away with your language skills? Want to send a special text to that favorite someone! You need to check out this quick translation site: http://www.howtosayin.com

Touchtable is COOL! And, it can go back in time!

2009-03-20T11:48:00.000-07:00

http://www.pbs.org/kcet/wiredscience/video/231-touchtable.html

Barcamps are Cool

2009-01-22T06:50:00.000-08:00

A BarCamp is an unconference. An unconference takes the old, stogy idea of a conference and turns it on its side. Instead of corporations paying for boring keynote speakers talking and waving their hands, you have the participants in the conference leading all discussion sessions.

One of my favorite BarCamps I attended last year was ProductCamp, they had sessions ranging from career advancement for product managers, to intellectual property discussions, to working with Agile development organizations, to working effectively with Sales and Executives, to user interface design. ProductCamp attracts a broad and diverse crowd of smart people who “get it,” so the networking is really good and the discussions are rich and rewarding.

Other Barcamps I have attended are Mobile Widget Apps Camp and IT Barcamp. There is an upcoming Product Camp in Austin that I am looking forward to attending. For more info on BarCamps in your area go to the barcamp wiki.

The Coolest People Search Tools

2009-01-08T07:52:00.001-08:00

It's been a while since I've found something cool enough to write about. I'm not sure if it is cool but I have to say www.isearch.com and www.wink.com are amazing (and kind of scary) people search tools.

isearch.com scrapes data from some social sites like myspace.com -- another reason to set your privacy settings...eek. They both have some kind of handshake with intellius.com. Wink has teamed up with www.reunion.com. You know reunion.com, those are the emails you keep getting that tell you someone of a certain age is looking for you.

Look yourself up on www.isearch.com and www.wink.com and see what you find.

Moximity -- I think it could be really cool...

2008-09-29T16:29:00.000-07:00

Moximity is all over the wires today and the Austin paper-- which is cool for them. Moximity is a social connector that connects your IPHONE to your Facebook and Twitter Updates along with Google Maps (via GPS).

I watched Bryan Jones' video demo where he gives the scenario of checking in with friends and hooking up for lunch if proximity permits. I can see using Moximity for a reunion, conference or group trip. This goes to convergence of marketing and PR. If I have a reunion/conference/trip and I set up a group on Facebook or a special twitter site then I can tell everyone to get Moximity to find the party instead of IMing eachother. I have needed something like this on the last several trips I have been on.

My question is does the application only let me update certain friends? Maybe I don't want ALL of my Facebook friends and twitter peeps (that have the Moximity app) to know where I am? I think this is an important feature to point out.

Moximity is a cool startup. Good luck.

Ummmm... www.Browsershots.org ... if you don't know about this...

2008-09-05T09:03:00.000-07:00

If you don't know about Browsershots.org... you are just not cool. This site will make you aware of browser shortcomings or rather your web design shortcomings in different browsers. How it works is you put your URL in the top and click on the browsers you are concerned about. If you click them all, it will take a while to download but it is a good way to get an understanding of how you look to the world regardless of browser type.

For example, my site, Three Lakes Marketing, doesn't look so great in MS IE 5.5, 6 and 7... it shows the navigation stacking obviously from a floating CSS style it is not recognizing.

Anyone out there have a fix for this?

Be aware of your web look, be cool with www.browsershots.org.

Vyew (sounds like P.U.) is what I have been looking for

2008-08-14T06:35:00.000-07:00

Vyew is cool! Looking to collaborate online...see EXACTLY what people are working on and make comments. Be that annoying backseat driver or micro-manager--then Vyew is for you.

BTW, did you know P.U. stems from the French term "peur" which means "to stink". I never knew that.

But Vyew definitely does not stink...it's cool.

(Thanks to my pal, Greg, for the frothy tip.)

Cool = Twiddla.com

2008-07-22T05:38:00.001-07:00

Can you say "online whiteboard"? Seriously, let's whiteboard it! I LOVE LOVE LOVE Twiddla and props to the developers who made it so easy to start using. Really go to: www.twiddla.com and then click on "GO" to start a new meeting --there is no registration! All you do is start playing with it and invite a friend via email to join you! You could have your own VIRTUAL BARCAMP! Check out Twiddla.com, I think you'll agree it's one of the more refreshing apps on the web today.

Tweet Scan is Still Cool

2008-07-16T14:35:00.000-07:00

Twitter just bought www.Summize.com but www.tweetscan.com still has it going on. Log in and check out your settings and configure your core and email agents. This code does have legs for other applications. Let's discuss.

Google Talk Badges --They are cool but it is similar to Meebo, right?

2008-06-10T20:02:00.001-07:00

So, I came across this and it seemed easy enough. It didn't work right away even though I was logged on to Google...but I think that is because I needed to logout and logon after I created the badge or it was just slow to update. Anyway, it is a great application for a small business who wants to put an IM on their website and have someone be responsible for the communication. I have small clients wanting to use services like LivePerson which are great but I think overkill for for the small business.

http://www.google.com/talk/service/badge/New

Sitepal from Oddcast is just the Coolest!

2008-06-04T11:23:00.000-07:00

This Sitepal "Scene" as they call it took me 10 minutes to setup. Just like most avatars it is totally customizable. And, I was able to upload my voice. They offer a 15 day free trial and reasonable monthly packages. Oddcast reports scripted avatars when used on the web punch up lead and consumer message retention numbers. Thank my Mom for finding this clever application! (You are cool, Mom.)

Get Meebo Me -- It's cool!

2008-04-15T10:57:00.001-07:00

Look to the right of my blog. Meebo Me is cool. It's a widget that embeds a sms to you anywhere on the web you can control (your blog, your website). Love this!

BTW, it only took 2 minutes to create that widget.

Equals Party Line on Facebook is COOL!

2008-04-07T13:38:00.000-07:00

Equals Party Line is the most valuable application on Facebook. And Equals' execution of it is superb.
Click here to get the Equals Application on Facebook

Before you click have at least 3-5 of your friends cell phone numbers handy. It's really easy to invite your FACEBOOK friends but you can also invite others that don't have a Facebook account yet.

After you (1) Select Your Friends and (2) input their cell numbers, you (3) invite them to participate. Then you will wait until they get the invite and click the link for verification. (You click a link for verification, it automagically calls your cell, you answer and then input the 5 digit verification number on the verification screen.

Once everyone is setup...anyone of the people that you selected on your party line can initiate a call from Facebook with the click of a button.

If that's not cool enough, you can have MULTIPLE party lines for different groups of friends!

Try it...an excuse to talk to friends close and far away! It's fun. Let me know how you do.... I'm "Livemusicbaby" on Facebook.

Article about Equals Party Line

NOTE: There is a business application like this Vello'
and there are also other "call me" applications from Jaduka.

That's Equals Party Line.

Kyte is Cool

2008-04-03T11:18:00.001-07:00

IF YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT KYTE, YOU NEED TO LOOK AT THIS DEMO!

I am so impressed with this platform! Live video streaming, multi-channel distribution channel with social interaction and applications.

It takes twelve minutes to watch but worth it.

Mini Opera Makes My Blackberry IPHONE - like

2008-03-08T05:19:00.000-08:00

I had been frustrated with looking at the web on my Blackberry--I didn't like the mobile version of my website, LiveMusicBaby but now with Opera Mini it's fun to search the web on my Blackberry. Mini Opera info for Blackberry Pearl

It has that google maps zoom in and zoom out feeling when I use my pearl button on my Blackberry. Love that! I have to say it took me three times to get the download right. So, definitely read the FAQs to find what version supports your phone (Opera supports these phones). The other important thing is to go into your Blackberry options page, click on advanced options and change the APN setting to WAP.VOICESTREAM.COM. Let me know how you do.

Nokia's Future Phone that Morphs

2008-02-29T05:42:00.001-08:00

Have you seen Nokia's phone of the future? You have to watch this video. Can I be on this team? Can I surround myself with nanotechnology experts and pretend I know what they are thinking about?

I guess Motorola is also planning phones of the future with this type of technology.

YOU HAVE TO WATCH THE VIDEO!

Tell me what you think...

Google Docs. How cool is that!

2008-02-23T04:42:00.000-08:00

When you first heard about Google Docs what did you think? You probably didn't have time to explore and figure out what they could do for you.

I'll give you two examples -- one work and one play. We are talking about Google Docs "Create a Form"
Form title: Email Sales Question
Form description: Email Sales Question
Question Title: Would you be interested in a demo about such and such widget?
Question TYPE: Checkboxes
Fill in: Yes, No, Send me more info, NA
SAVE
It takes you to a different page: fill in who you want to send this form to: copy your email prospects. Type a quick message. "Please answer one question."

The form goes to the recipients. They click on the link to their email. Click the box and they are done. You are sent a copy of the form and (get this) a link to a spreadsheet that gathers their answers! Quick, simple data gathering. If you ask the right question this tool is EXTREMELY VALUABLE!

That was a Google Doc "Work" example, now for a "PLAY" example.

You are the planner of your group of 5, 10, 50 people. You usually plan vacations or reunions. At some point in the planning process, you ask them for the participants data (name, address, phone, flight info, accommodations, activities, arrival dates, etc.). You would usually take their email and transcribe it to a spreadsheet and then send it out to everyone. With Google Docs, you create your form:
"Create a Form"
Form title: Reunion Planner
Form description: 2008 HS Reunion
Question Title: Name
Question TYPE: Text
(add a question, repeat)Address, (add a question) Phone, etc...
SAVE
It takes you to a different page: fill in who you want to send this form to: copy your email prospects. Type a quick message. "Make Please fill out this Reunion Planner."

The form goes to the recipients. They click on the link to their email. Click the box and they are done. You are sent a copy of the form and (get this) a link to a spreadsheet that gathers all of their information! Quick, simple data gathering. Remember, if you ask the right question this tool is EXTREMELY VALUABLE! And, saves time.

What the hell is WEB 3.0?

2008-02-17T10:31:00.000-08:00

Somebody asked me that the other day. Techies usually say, "it's semantic web." Whatever, the general public will not "get" that. My friend, Greg said it best, "It's what users want without having to say what they want."

What?

So, you are driving down the road and your cell phone beeps when you pass your favorite department store, an image appears on your phone of a leather jacket you've been admiring and a SMS says if you buy today you will save an additional 25%--better yet, it gives you the option to click a button and have it sent to you for an additional fee.

Do you have an idea worth spreading? TED, VATOR.TV

2008-02-17T09:28:00.000-08:00

I wish I had more time in my day so I could watch TED and VATOR.TV. What I like about TED is you have access to high profile speakers/ideas--most of the talks or presentations are inspiring, thought provoking. Vator.TV is different because it is a pitch machine for start-ups(usually a VP of Marketing or Founder giving the elevator pitch). What I like about Vator is that the enthusiasm of these entrepreneurs make you want to get off your ass and develop a product.

I try to read a new blog or find a new point of view everyday and with these two different websites, I can usually find 20 minutes of quality quickly.

Wiki Right Now!

2007-12-20T07:47:00.000-08:00

A few months ago a friend tells me a story, "I was in a meeting with my group and told the engineers I wanted a Wiki and they opened up their laptops and made me a wiki right there on the spot."

I had scratched my head--I knew it wasn't hard but didn't think it was that easy. Oh but it is now. I just created a wiki yesterday in less than 2 minutes on PBWIKI I might put in about a half hour thinking about how I want to organize it and then share it with my team for project management but I love it! It might not even take that long because PBWIKI lets you choose templates based on how you might be using your wiki.

YOU MUST GO CREATE A WIKI! And, if you have time check out this article from the smartie smart smarters at 1to1Media.

Be the First on Your Block to Send a You Tube Video Holiday Card

2007-12-17T00:38:00.000-08:00

You Tube Video Holiday Cards are a fun take on emailing your Christmas cards this season. You Tube Video Holiday Cards are easy to do and still a novel idea. I just love that it hasn't been overdone yet (I have yet to receive one).

1) Simply pick a YouTube video or upload your own. You are routed to a page to view the video—click on the “Send This” button to the right.

2)Pick a theme, click the “Next” button on the bottom.

3)Write your name, your message, have your emails handy in a list and separated by commas and send.

Live Broadcast - Live Video Streaming Made Easy!

2007-12-14T05:33:00.000-08:00

Have you checked out Ustream.tv? I have to say, Ustream.tv is the EASIEST web experience EVER! All you need is a WebCam. I first thought I wanted a real video recorder so I could have great quality video but you have to have a camera that converts the .mov files to mpeg files. Some cameras have software that make this easy; but the time involved to do this wasn’t for me. After talking with my friend Joel, I decided to make it easy on myself and went with the Logitech 9000. I think it was about $80. Load the software, connect the camera and then go to ustream.tv and sign up. Before you sign up, think of a clever name for your live broadcast (like mine, What’s Cool Right Now). After you sign up you click a button and are given easy choices of Go live, Start, Stop, Record. It really is amazing how ustream.tv has configured their software to know what kind of camera you have. If you do have a problem getting video it is probably just that, you may need to select your camera from the computer list and from the Ustream hardware list.

These kinds of cameras do leave out some frames so you can’t move too fast (or the video freezes and starts again) but it is still a lot of fun. I had fun with my friend in LA. I told her to go turn the computer on in her room and set it to my Ustream “channel”. Then she went back in the living room and asked her husband to help her with something. She was on the phone with me and told me he was in the room and then I just started talking to him. He really did not know what hit him. Is that weird that I think that is funny?

If you are talking to someone on the phone and showing video, you do have the option to turn the camera’s mic off and just use your phone.

If you want to try this out and have an older webcam…just use that and go live. My broadcasts are every Wednesday.

Jott to my Blog

2007-12-13T18:19:00.001-08:00

Hi. I'm calling Jott from my cellphone to see how this does updating the blog through Jott.

_____________________
Notes on my Jott to Blog experience:
So, it worked. The key is to get your Blogger ID right. I tried three times until I realized I had the wrong Blogger ID.

Web-to-Phone, Phone-to-Web

2007-12-13T15:47:00.000-08:00

Have you heard about Jott? It’s that assistant you wish you had that would take notes. It’s that thing you wish you could tell your wife or husband to go call when they give you a list of things to do. “Honey, go call Jott.”

You see, you call Jott, tell Jott who you want to Jott (leave a 30 second message for) and Jott will email that person. You can even Jott yourself. I have a great idea for the Google Android Challenge – I don’t have a pen and paper so I Jott myself and I will get an email of my genius voicemail that has been transcripted into text. (I suppose if you have a VoIP phone, you can already Jott yourself; but can you JOTT others?)

Setting up Jott is easy, you need your mobile or home phone number, your email and key friends’ emails you might like to Jott.

Jott also has integrated with web calendars and blogs (I can update this blog via Jott—I will try this right now.)

I'd love to hear more about other phone-to-web and web-to-phone applications. Especially those dealing with calendars.

Connecting Socially or with the Smartie Smart Smartsters

2007-12-13T15:32:00.000-08:00

You have social media (MySpace, Bebo, Facebook, LinkedIn) and then you have social media aggregators (Profilelinker, Spokeo, MyBlogLog). Aggregators are websites give you one place to log on and perform varying applications (send email, upload/share pictures, grab statistics and view your different identities on MySpace, Bebo, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc. (some are more comprehensive in the sites they support). Comprehensiveness will be key in the future (Web 3.0) because the web will be a database not to be messed with (yada yada yada). For those who are time-crunched, you must at least check out Facebook and Profilelinker -- so you won’t be in the dark.

The Smartie Smart Smartsters who are developing Web 3.0 applications are trying to build comprehensiveness. Take Twine, they are coming out with a kind of Wiki-Database-Social Networking tool that can be used privately and publicly. Companies, departments, groups, teams and developers currently use Wiki’s (a web page that is a clearing house for information or a project that is updated using Wiki, a collaborative website that is easily edited). Companies use databases for customer service, sales, marketing. People use databases for address books and more detailed information on topics. Social Networking websites and group organizing sites (eg. Meetups) bring people together publicly and privately to discuss information that is important to that group. From what I understand, Twine will be a place I can:

- pull a group of friends together to research, discuss what to do for our Girl’s Weekend Away,

- rally non-profit groups and subgroups to work on fundraisers

- pull my product delivery team together at work

- pull company-wide information together so as not to have any rogue websites.

Like Facebook, Twine shows the feed to the group of “friends/coworkers/your public” as to what is being done by whom. For those who are time-crunched, research social media monitoring tools, semantic web and Twine.