Movin' Ahead

January 13, 2008January 13, 2008 kenekaplan Events, KenEKaplan, Photos, PodTech, Social Media

My CES Social Media Posse — Leap in Interest

Last year at CES 2007, I remember seeing a huge surge in the number young people with digital video cameras visiting the Intel booth. I typically work with local, national and international broadcasters, so I took every opportunity to try and meet this new crop of video bloggers.

This year at CES 2008, I saw two times more people walking around video taping our booth, learning about the latest technologies from Intel experts. I even brought my Sony HDV cam and shot several interviews and the Intel keynote — here’s an Intel blog post I shot and wrote featuring a few short clips of Smash Mouth on Stage with Intel CEO Paul Otellini. As did my “double down” pal Nick Knupfer.

What I love most every year — this was my seventh CES in Las Vegas — is getting to see so many of my media friends, coworkers and even college buddies (ran into one of my best Chico buddies at the Intel keynote). This year took things into a new stratosphere because I got to connect and work alongside fellow social media enthusiasts and see my Intel pals like Bryan Rhoads really have fun with more resources devoted to social media. Today’s (somewhat) more organized efforts spouted from organic energy a few years ago, and now I see the social media posse swelling with new talent. We’ll making new inroads, new friends and better relationships along the way. This is great, because I believe that we ought to encourage any Intel employee to participate with social media in a smart, fun way. The more people we have out there, the more connected and meaningful Intel will be to people’s lives. More relevance and more able to respond to what’s happening today and any changes we need to make in order to make a positive impact in the world. If we keep at this pace, I (and many of my coworkers) believe we can help move up into the top ten most recognized brands using social media.

Here’s some of the social media posse action from my visit to CES 2008:

Everyone’s favorite “Tell Me How It Works” guru and my Chico WildCat buddy Ralph Bond and I visited PodTech’s BlogHaus the evening after Bill Gates’ keynote. At that point, he thought my soft brown Italian jacket was the most talked about thing at CES.

We got to hang out with PodTech’s wonderful interviewer and photographer Michael Johnson:

There’s never a dull moment because even standing in long taxi lines allowed time for mindflow sessions with geniuses like Rohit Bhargava.

Hotel hopping with John Furrier — who helped me dive fast and deep into Podcasting in 2005:

And seeing Brian Giesen’s bright smile and energy at breakfast is enough to give anyone a jolt — let’s hit the show!

Intel got to sponsor this year’s killer blogger bash “It Won’t Stay in Vegas.” Intel gave away a free ride on the Zero G plane, a cool promotion to celebrate everyone reaching new heights in mobility. Even Doc Searls took the flight as did other top bloggers (Andru Edwards from GearLive) and tech industry shakers. Here is a video from Tom Foremski, whos shows the social media posse he ran with at CES 2008 (rebloged here).

In the Tom’s video above there’s has a blip from the bus ride where a guy shows off an MID — see the video I shot on MIDs from the Intel booth.

And it’s great to see the action from the PodTech BlogHaus.

I flew back to the Bay Area on the new Virgin America — what a great flight! Cool new painted planes, sweet back seat touch screen entertainment with music videos, live TV and other cool things. Got a few drink and really enjoyed the spirited, lovely people working for the new airline. As I entered the plane, I got to congratulate Robert Scoble holding his cheerful newborn baby. That’s what life’s all about!

One person I most missed this year compared with last year? Jeremiah Owyang, one of the best social media posse pioneers who has helped me make so many connections and is helping so many others nowadays playing in the big leagues at Forrester Research.

January 13, 2008January 13, 2008 kenekaplan Events, KenEKaplan, Photos, Podcast, PodTech, Tom Foremski

PodTech’s BlogHaus at CES Was The Place to Be

CES2008_LasVegas 011, originally uploaded by KenEKaplan.

For the second year in a row at CES, PodTech’s BlogHaus was the place to be whenever you weren’t on the showroom floor, eating or taking a bathroom break (notice I didn’t say sleeping). It was a great place to see friends like Tom Foremski, Michael Johnson, John Furrier, Reboot gaming guru Rio Pasino, Robert Scoble and his video shooting/editing partner in crime Rocky. I got to catch up with many of them and made new friends. The PodTech crew pumped out lots of great video, audio and blog stories from the BlogHaus, located deep inside the bellissima albergo di Bellagio.

I got to hear about the blogger bus ride from the Bay Area and see what Tom Foremski was excited about as he arrived in Las Vegas for CES 2008. Here’s a look at one thing Tom released from CES:

Video | 09:36 | Posted by Tom Foremski | January 10th, 2008 5:44 amNext week I’m launching ScobleWatcher.com – the ten minutes of Robert Scoble you need to see each day 🙂

Robert is an extraordinary and tireless media producing machine. He would run 24/7 if he could, and he sometimes does.

Here are a couple of days of Robert at CES2008 in Las Vegas and the PodTech BlogHaus, (which was a great place to hang out…)

[podtech content=http://media1.podtech.net/media/2008/01/PID_013302/Podtech_Scoblewatcher.flv&postURL=http://www.podtech.net/home/4841/scoblewatcher-all-scoble-all-the-time-but-in-less-time&totalTime=576000&breadcrumb=8df8e741728f454c8a70d470b8138d1b]

December 20, 2007December 20, 2007 kenekaplan Jeremiah Owyang, Social Media, Twitter

How to Twitter Better

Jeremiah Owyang (on Twitter)was the first to really explain how people at Intel could use Twitter for events like the Intel Developer Forum. He gave great examples and then several os us followed his advice and on-going commentary. But not many of us are — other than Josh Bancroft, that I know of — seem to be Twittering with real savvy. Here are highlights from Jeremiah’s post about how he reached the top ranks on Twitter.

“…focus on your objectives, what is it that you’re trying to accomplish, if you’re just trying to keep track of your friends or immediate contacts, this is not the strategy for you. This strategy only works if you are trying to gain a large following, it’s not recommended for everyone.”

1) Figure out why you want to use this tool. Is there a reason, an objective? For me it was to have greater reach in listening and in talking to others, and to really, really know Micromedia and how to use it. Being popular really isn’t a great objective, but being meaningful to your specific network is much more important.

2) Integrate it throughout your online experience. You’ll notice that I ask people to add me from various posts, have it listed in my side role and on my facebook account. It’s available for anyone that’s looking.

3) Add people back. I follow everyone that follows me, I’m following more people than are following me, and that’s a sign that you want to listen to what others have to say. Sadly, it’s a lot to digest so I end up scanning conversations. Go back to number 1, and figure out what your objective is first.

4) Add value when you tweet. I’ve given up on my google reader link blog, instead, I leave links to what I think is interesting during the day. Since I consume a lot of content, I’m acting like a filter. Most who know me know that my focus is on social media + marketing. Last week’s twitter storm was a rare opportunity to connect folks, keep listening to find an opportunity to help the larger group.

5) Ask questions. I didn’t realize this was going to be one of the largest attributes on tweeterboard, so I got lucky. I find Twitter a useful tool to get information back from people, so I like to ask a lot of questions. I learn a lot this way, in many ways, this is an example of social search.

December 19, 2007 kenekaplan KenEKaplan, Web 2.0

Forbes Top Web Stars of 2007

Forbes.com did a cool 25 Web celebrity list for 2007. Scoble followed up with his list of top geeks for the year. It might be a good practice to do my own list for 2007. Heck, I ought to make a list every week, listing my top choices highlighting whatever’s occupying me most. Maybe this is a New Year’s resolution? I better start making that list now!!

December 18, 2007December 19, 2007 kenekaplan Web 2.0

Jaxtr and Robtel — Web Services for Cheaper Phone Calls

A while back I signed up for RebTel after finding the free web phone call service on Facebook. I haven’t used it yet. The other day, my friend Jennifer asked me to try out Jaxtr. I believe they’re similar services, where you sign up online, invite friends, connect first online then save the local phone number you exchange with each friend. This might work great for me since I have family in different parts of Italy, and friends in different states across the U.S.

We use and love Skype (great video conferencing, chat and cool add-ons), but I love the idea of being able to make free (or cheaper) calls between mobile phones to family half way around the world.

If anyone has been using Rebtel or Jaxtr, please leave a comment here.

December 5, 2007December 17, 2007 kenekaplan Marketing, Measurement, PodTech, Social Media, Web 2.0

Conversation Targeting: Getting To The Heart Of Blogs And Social Media

Blogging from my blackberry while spending the holidays in Italy. BuzzLogic has been on my wish list for almost six months now. Their approach is something I believe could be built into a foundation for communication efforts. Jennifer Jones gets another great interview for “Marketing Voices.”

[podtech content=http://media1.podtech.net/media/2007/11/PID_013107/Podtech_MarketingVoices_BuzzLogic2007.flv&postURL=http://www.podtech.net/home/4639/conversation-targeting-getting-to-the-heart-of-blogs-and-social-media&totalTime=545000&breadcrumb=ed528631ac4b4b3ebe6aa2f712fe4635]

November 24, 2007November 24, 2007 kenekaplan Energy Efficient, Intel, video

Intel and Sunflowers?

Making creative connections to expand and extend a story, that’s what the sunflower gig is all about.

Sunflowers, with the unique ability to pull lead and other metals from the dirt, improving the soil and environment, are a metaphor to promote Intel’s innovative new lead-free processors. Intel will donate $1 in your name to the Boys & Girls Club – find out how at sunflowers.intel.com.

[podtech content=http://media1.podtech.net/media/2007/11/PID_013060/Podtech_Intel_111907_Sunflower_New_Yor.flv&postURL=http://www.podtech.net/home/4592/intel-and-sunflowers&totalTime=94000&breadcrumb=6f3e51c79cd24135bb64603691c9ff81]

November 22, 2007November 22, 2007 kenekaplan Intel, Podcast, PodTech, World Ahead

Intel World Ahead Trips through Africa

PodTech’s Jason Lopez packed his camera, audio equipments, a change or two of clothes and all of his gumption to follow Intel Chairman Craig Barrett on visits to several key spots in Africa. The maze and patchwork of buying the right flights on the right airlines on the right days. The ability to grab a cab that would take him to a place on an agenda, a place he’d never seen before. Why? He was the right guy to live, capture and tell the stories of how new ideas, education and technology can open new possibilities for developing communities.

Here is a series from that trip in late October 2007:

[podtech content=http://media1.podtech.net/media/2007/11/PID_013064/Podtech_Africa_Story_1_Intel.mp3&postURL=http://www.podtech.net/home/4593/intel-world-ahead-education-in-nigeria&totalTime=552000&breadcrumb=b7e717663fdd4d74a9bd4b2190616783]

[podtech content=http://media1.podtech.net/media/2007/11/PID_012955/Podtech_Intel_Barrett_Abuja_Nigeria.mp3&postURL=http://www.podtech.net/home/4495/basic-technologies-matter-in-sub-sahara-africa&totalTime=568000&breadcrumb=c049ebad62f5489abd64228a1fef47eb]

[podtech content=undefined&postURL=undefined&totalTime=undefined&breadcrumb=5b39a2e36bfd48d487e21abc46410245]

[podtech content=undefined&postURL=undefined&totalTime=undefined&breadcrumb=1175ef86c63f4fb589d5cdfac0f5eb4f]

November 22, 2007November 22, 2007 kenekaplan Intel, IT, open port

When IT Pros Rock

When individuals shatter stereotypes they bust down walls, rip apart limitations and force everyone to see there are always new possibilities. Josh Hilliker has been relentless and always willing to step into the pit, mosh a bit and show people can join together, try new things and learn from one another. He does this out of pure interest in the power of people he meets. At IDF in San Francisco Intel hosted a discussion “Social Media: Friend or Foe of IT?” Josh is the guy who’ll stop at nothing to get friends and foes to talk, hash things out and get movin’ ahead rather then stay stuck in the mud.

This is a cool subterranean, beat-driven cocktail lounge chat about the video competition Josh has going for IT pros. He wants to get the proest of IT pro talking…and havin’ some fun facing today’s most major enterprise computing challenges. Bust out your best!

[podtech content=http://media1.podtech.net/media/2007/11/PID_013085/Podtech_Intel_Rock_Your_World_Contest.mp3&postURL=http://www.podtech.net/home/4612/intel-rock&totalTime=377000&breadcrumb=6f1ca757062a49759b91f4555e604601]

November 19, 2007January 7, 2008 kenekaplan Culture, Italy

Calabria — Rich Mosaic of Italian Culture & Beauty

The southern Italian region of Calabria is framed by 800 km of coast line, touching two seas — the Tyrrhenian and Ionian Seas. In between, a dramatic, lush landscape is dotted with cities celebrating rich historic heritages worth preserving and exploring. So, that’s what we’re doing during my sabbatical…weather and family needs permitting.

When Latin was the mother tongue — it can still be detected in some Calabrese dialects — the region was called Brutium. From my dozen or so years of visiting Italy, there is no comparison to Calabria. It has an abundance of rich culture introduced by ancient Greece, Roman and Baroque periods. The dynamic, helpful and sometimes mysterious people are keeping alive or reclaiming family traditions of art, food, music that makes each seaside, cliff hanging, valley wide and mountain nestled city special and different from one another.

Upon first glance, each town has a familiar look and feel. The more you see, hear and eat you see that each city boasts distinct characteristics: architectural design and colors of homes; town squares or piazzas where locals meet; specialty foods like sweets, fish, cheese or cured meats; and treasured remains…some dating back centuries, even back to Greek
and Roman eras.

Here are a few:

Pizzo Calabro has tuna and Tartuffo, the gelato made with black cherry smothered in chocolate syrup wrapped in dark chocolate and hazelnut ice cream blackened with cocoa powder. Learn how the Pizzitani created Tartufo, “the king of gelati” about Bar Gelateria Ercole, the best place in Pizzo to get one.

Serra San Bruno’s mushrooms — and almost everything else you can put in your mouth
Close by the famous monastery called the Certosa of Saint Bruno of Cologne. This is where my mother-in-law is from, and where we escape Pizzo to spend time visiting family and taking in medicinal air and water.