Archive for category General

Making the switch – PC to Mac – #1 Initial frustrations

My first computer was one of those lovely old grey square Apple Classics, but since then it’s been Windows all the way from 3.1 right through to Windows 7. Recently I’ve decided to make the switch to Mac again, partly because the Powerbook is a great looking machine and I was curious to see what the fuss is about. I know Windows very well and consider myself a pretty advanced user, getting under the hood a fair bit to make it sing and dance how I like.

Read more on Making the switch – PC to Mac – #1 Initial frustrations…

iPad(elaide) – First in the queue!

A lot of blog and column inches have been dedicated to the iPad, but in pure self indulgent blogger style I’m having my 2 cents ($629RRP).

After some initial doubts I’ve been really looking forward to the the release of the iPad. It’s not exciting from a purely technical standpoint as tablet devices have been around for some time and it’s specs are modest. What Apple have done is package it well and make this a really elegant and desirable device. I can see iPad esque devices permeating our lives over the next couple of years with one sitting on most coffee tables or kitchen benches around the home. I’m sure my incredibly un-techno savvy dad would enjoy reading the English newspaper on one, and mum could cart her internet sourced recipes into the kitchen with new found ease.

Read more on iPad(elaide) – First in the queue!…

Throw away the sofa and embrace a pop-up life!

Format Festival Mural

We live in an era where things are becoming increasingly transient and impermanent. No longer is a sofa a long term purchase, with the trusty Klippan from Ikea coming in at circa $300 why can’t you change your seating with your mood? In a recent online video blog, Adelaide research agency Square Holes called this phenomenon “serendipity”, and while I love the word I’m going to use the term “pop-up” to simplify what I’m on about!

Read more on Throw away the sofa and embrace a pop-up life!…

Sell yourself: A real life personal marketing campaign!

The Monkey Connection

Let’s face it we are constantly engaged in our own personal marketing campaign, be it choosing your clothes, the car you drive, the food you eat all these things are creating a message about you. We market ourselves every day to make friends, influence people and further our interests and Natascha Dowsett has gone even further, running a campaign to get a job at Adelaide Advertising (sorry erm “Brand Engagement Agency”) FNUKY.

Read more on Sell yourself: A real life personal marketing campaign!…

Tags: , , , , ,

Social Networking – It’s horses for courses!

There’s no single formula for a successful social media strategy or seasonal social networking campaign – but if you’re producing content regularly, or lots of it over a defined period of time, then you have a great advantage in the social networking space.

Tags: , , , , ,

How Green IT strategies can help your tech make friends with the environment!

With Australia running out of water and the recent media buzz on the Emissions Trading Scheme, it’s impossible to ignore the increasing impact changes in the environment will affect our lives and the way we do business. Increased public awareness has a positive benefit as businesses are expected to operate in a corporate and environmentally responsible manner. All the major energy providers offer ‘green power’ plans which source energy from wind farms, hydro-electric and solar panels. Even the humble beer is getting a green marketing makeover with Australia’s first 100% carbon offset beer Cascade Green (actually not a bad brew) and as the icing on the cake it comes served on a recycled cardboard coaster embedded with seeds. Check back here in a few months to see if it actually grows anything!

Read more on How Green IT strategies can help your tech make friends with the environment!…

Empower the users of your site to increase engagement

Spam, Spam, Spam

I was recently having a conversation over an English ale with a journalist friend  about people posting comments to online newspaper articles. He was initially of the mind that only certain stories should be opened up to public comment, though I brought him round by convincing him that empowering users is the way to generate quality interactions. There are a great swath of psychological studies indicating that if you give people choice more likely to respond in a positive way.

Read more on Empower the users of your site to increase engagement…

Tags: , , , ,

A non-Anglo view of social networking

With so much technology available, it

I’m in Hong Kong this week on route back to Australia from the UK, and am really enjoying observing the cultural differences this place has to offer. No bacon sandwiches for breakfast here, but I can’t complain with my steamed pork buns and sweet Chinese style pastries.

Read more on A non-Anglo view of social networking…

Tags: , , ,

Scroll or not to scroll? – A journey beyond the fold!

Jacob Nielson - Web Usability Yoda

Cue science fiction music!

In an Internet long long ago, legend has it that designers would attempt to design webpages to display all their content on one screen. A great change swept the internet and users are increasingly happy to scroll beyond the first page (fold) of text to find what they need. We now take you on a journey, Beyond The Fold!

Read more on Scroll or not to scroll? – A journey beyond the fold!…

Tags: , ,

Using social networking to humanise your business

A lot of press is given to the power of social networking, but what are the actual benefits? I’ll look to explore one main benefit that everyone can understand, using social networking to engage with your audience and humanise your business.

Read more on Using social networking to humanise your business…

Tags: , , , ,