Movin' Ahead

April 1, 2007 kenekaplan Media, Social Media, Socialmedia, Uncategorized

News 2.0 — My First Comment Left on HuffingtonPost

I enjoyed Ariana Huffington’s News 2.0 first-hand take on how newspapers are going away, but not so soon. Here are some of my favorite parts, and a comment I left on her blog.

Those papers that wake up in time will become a journalistic hybrid combining the best aspects of traditional print newspapers with the best of what the Web brings to the table. We’re getting a glimpse into this hybrid future in so-called Old Media places like the Washington Post and the New York Times, and from New Media players like Josh Marshall’s Talking Points Memo sites. And, of course, that’s exactly what we’re trying to do with the Huffington Post.

Another old school behemoth that is embracing the digital future is the New York Times, despite its dunderheaded decision to hide Maureen Dowd, Nicholas Kristof, Bob Herbert, and co., behind TimesSelect (more on this in a moment). Drawing over 13 million unique users a month, the venerable Gray Lady is actually on the cutting edge of digital innovation, including Times Reader, which presents stories online in a format that approximates the experience of reading the paper’s print edition (combined with the search and flexibility bells-and-whistles of the web), and MyTimes (currently in beta), which allows readers to aggregate their favorite news sources and blend them with content produced by the Times, creating a single, custom-made digital super-paper. How serious is the Times about pushing the innovation envelope? It’s hired Michael Zimbalist, a former Disney imagineer, to oversee the company’s online research and development. That’s serious.

Chomping down on a story and refusing to let go is what bloggers do best. And while the vast majority of material that ends up being blogged about still originates with a mainstream news source, more and more stories are being broken by online news sources — a trend that will only continue with the growth of sites like TPM, Politico, TMZ (hey, the Mel Gibson and Michael Richards stories were big news), and HuffPost, where we are ratcheting up our commitment to original reporting, investigative reporting, and citizen journalism, in which our readers act as adjunct reporters — additional eyes, ears, and boots, or stiletto heels, on the ground, ferreting out news and underreported stories all across the country.

So stop writing teary-eyed eulogies for newspapers. The only thing dead is the either/or nature of the musty print vs online debate. The shifting dynamic between those two forces is exactly like the relationship between Sarah Conner and the T-101 in the Terminator movies. At first, the visitor from the future (digital) seemed intent on killing Sarah (print). But as the relationship progressed and the sequels unspooled, the Terminator became Sarah and her son’s one hope for salvation. Today, you can almost hear digital media (which for some reason has a thick Austrian accent) saying to print: “Come with me if you want to live!”

The hybrid future is kicking down the door. It’s time to let it in and fully embrace it.

Blow is my first comment ever left on the Huffington Post, or see it here.

The blending of new and old. That’s like four generations all living together under one roof. While we’re all reading a lot more stuff, the old and new media are both fighting and crying over why they’re not making a lot more money. Moral of the story/sign of the times = Maybe we’re all doing more stuff and not making more money from it. Bottom line is we gotta help divided sides team up and move ahead swiftly with an open mind’s eye on efficiency, economy, magical power of people and potential for things to come.

By: kenekaplan on March 29, 2007 at 08:00pm

April 1, 2007 kenekaplan Marketing, Social Media, Socialmedia

Rohit’s Blog Karma Tips

Our Global Communications Group at Intel is fortunate to be working with Rohit Bhargava. We have much to learn and so many new steps to try, and Rohit is a great social media dance partner. In his March 26, 2007 blog post, he shares 10 Ways to Improve Your Blog Karma. Here they are in short form:

Be real. Tell the truth, be transparent about who you are and what you believe, and sharing an honest voice.
Respond to emails. This applies to personally written messages, and not to email blasts of press releases.
Offer exclusives. If you are going to write about something interesting, offer a preview to other bloggers. Share ideas as they happen and offer the chance for others to say it first.
Make connections. Be the person making connections between individuals that may not have met otherwise, and you will be remembered by both for your efforts.
Join networks. Social networks of people who are interested in the same things you are, and actively participate.
Avoid snark. Snarkiness is the enemy of good karma… it adds to the sea of needless commentary online.
Forgive mistakes. Most bloggers are not journalists and don’t have the time or necessity for checking every fact or argument before making it. Correct errors without holding a grudge…then get over it.
Post to contact. Posting (on your blog) about something they have written and linking to their blog offers an indirect route to contact, as most bloggers pay attention to who is linking to them. Communicating in this way avoids the email filter and starts the dialogue.
Comment and participate. You need to be a participant online rather than just an observer. Without participation, it is difficult to belong to a community online or build relationships with others.
Show gratitude. Showing gratitude for someone participating on your blog, linking to you, or offering some other effort on your behalf is vital. Appreciation makes someone more likely to believe that you think their efforts are significant and as a result, connect more strongly with you and your blog.

Good behavior tips for everyday life. This is how to focus on movin’ ahead quicker and more constructively.

Go here and see Rohit’s lists of Social Media tip.

April 1, 2007 kenekaplan Media, PodTech, Social Media, Socialmedia

Wall Street Journal’s Embedded Player

I first learned about this on BeetTV. The Wall Street Journal is working with online video site Brightcove to offer it’s content to people through an embedded player — see story here. This is a wonderful step in the right direction for major media companies.

I shave ubscribed to the WSJ print edition for about 10 years, but this may be my last. Maybe now I can find some of their video stories online, since my WSJ online subscription just ran out. Back to the embedded player…

YouTube is popular for many reasons, but one of its magic bullets was the early use of an embedded media player that people could copy and paste into their blog or Website. This proliferates a video story and turns blogs and other Websites into distributers…at no cost. Everytime someone clicks play — no matter where they found the video — the source hosted on YouTube’s site logs another view. This is what’s allowing people to become “we the media.”

More video sites offering this, and even companies are offering their videos through media players that can be lifted and shared. This shows a willingness to try new ways of reaching more people and possibly making more money by sharing content — or giving it away.

There’s a lot of arguing and fighting about old and new media, and what’s the best way to move forward. But what’s rising to the top these days — people and companies trying new things. Exciting to see and I’m curious if “power of the people” might actually give companies, countries even, a competitive edge. I strongly think so! Magic and possibilities are sparked when a variety of people are involved in the process, as long as clear goals and good intentions are spelled out.

I have been embedding PodTech’s elegant player ever since I started blogging here a few months ago. In fact, being able to embed a video & audio player right into my blog posts was a major reason I finally started blogging publically. It allows me to really participate more. Rather than just posting my rants and deep thoughts, I could actually show examples of what’s influencing me and others.

While checking out Brightcove today, I watched a video of musician Regina Spektor — what a great voice, what a great song! Here’s Brighcove’s embedded player:

March 31, 2007 kenekaplan Social Media, Socialmedia

The Real You Online

Some good tips about creating your own online persona — a REAL one! — in a blog post on Wednesday, March 28th 2007 (6:00am) by Anne Zelenka.

Buy your domain name. Even if you don’t do a lot with it, you should own a domain name that matches (as close as possible) your name. Your online brand is important, and guess what, despite how many employers you may ultimately have, you’ll likely keep that same name for life!
Understand your Google profile. Most potential employers are going to use Google, so you may as well focus on the search results there. What’s being said about you, what pages are indexed? Don’t just look at stuff that is about you, look at listings that are about someone with the same name, yet maybe negative. You should be prepared to explain that the person convicted for 3 counts of armed robbery, is not actually you.
Own your brand. When someone searches for your name, you should try and make sure you have as much control over what they see, as possible. Set up a Flickr account, LinkedIn profile, blog, user-group profile, etc. While you may need the talents of a search marketer to ensure these pages appear in the top 10 of a search engine, you don’t stand any chance if you don’t actually take the time to create the profile in the first place.
Destroy the evidence. Ok, so while most stuff you put online is there for eternity, that doesn’t mean you can’t try some damage control. That blog post you uploaded – the one where you went on an all night drinking binge and broke into the local Krispy Kreme – remove it! While it may still exist somewhere on the web, it is less likely to show up in the Google search results, if you’ve removed it from your own blog/social network.

http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/03/28/why-you-may-need-an-online-persona/

March 29, 2007March 29, 2007 kenekaplan Intel, PodTech, Uncategorized

Intel Unveils New 45nm Architecture-Nehalem

Intel living legend Pat Gelsinger is engaging. He sucks you in and takes you for a ride through the wonders and complexities of chip technology innovation. Pat’s vice-grip handshake and all present greeting got things started today before I got to sit down with him and PodTech’s Jason Lopez, who had visit the Penryn team at Intel’s Hillsboro, Oregon site back in January. This is a conversation about whats to come and about how we’re all movin’ ahead with every tick-tock of the clock.

[podtech content=http://media1.podtech.net/media/2007/03/PID_010728/Podtech_Intel_Pat_Gelsinger_45_nm.mp3&postURL=http://www.podtech.net/home/technology/2558/intel-unveils-new-45nm-architecture-nehalem&totalTime=770000&breadcrumb=71b2ddd6-b066-4ead-b6bb-a3d73e9e74c4]

March 29, 2007March 29, 2007 kenekaplan PR

Too Much Talk, Fat Briefing Docs Sink Ships

Spending time to write up a two or ten-page briefing document is a waste! Talking then encapsulating topics into talking points is enough! Then connect the dots when talking, rather than writing huge briefing documents that never get fully read unless they land in the wrong hands. In this case, confidential documents landed in the email box of a reporter.

Maybe this is a mistake that could encourage others to appreciate the art of not talking or writing down too much, especially when it’s related to competition or fear.

I first heard about this today in San Francisco over lunch. Here’s another story of PR mistakes and MSFT’s heavy handed/overbearing approach.

http://blog.wired.com/business/2007/03/enough_about_me.html

Maybe these thoughtless mistakes would be fewer if we were more thoughtful about how we communicate. “Anything you say” or do or write can be used against you so it helps being mindful from the get go — before saying too much, before writing down too much. Maybe this blog post will come back to bite me:).

March 28, 2007March 28, 2007 kenekaplan PodTech, Uncategorized

Talent Can Cross Species

Loren Feldman is classic and this great. You decide:

This was scripted and the dog is the star.

This is another Loren Feldman off-the-cuff creation but this time in front of a live audience.

The dog ain’t gonna be no blogger until he get’s some biscuits! Put up, or I shut up.

Maybe this pooch is smarter than the average blogger.

Loren might want to quit PodTech and follow this puppy to fame.

[podtech content=http://media1.podtech.net/media/2007/03/PID_010687/Podtech_mongo_offer.flv&postURL=http://www.podtech.net/home/technology/2531/talent-can-cross-species&totalTime=70000&breadcrumb=CRparent.1175043523.79]

March 28, 2007 kenekaplan Uncategorized

The PC Turns 20 — Andy Grove from 2001

This is another story from the Intel archives. I was there next to Andy for this interview and I remember his powerful, beaming energy that day. He enjoyed looking back on how limited the origial PCs were compared with today\’s PCs.
This also reminds me of an exhibit inside the Intel Museum that has since been changed. It showed photographs side-by-side of the first processor ever designed next to the other major processor generations over a 10 to 15 year period. WIth each new generation, the number of faces and cultures represented seemed to double. More evidence of keeping Moore\’s Law alive?

[podtech content=http://media1.podtech.net/media/2007/03/PID_010709/Podtech_PC_TURNS_20.flv&postURL=http://www.podtech.net/home/technology/2539/the-pc-turns-20&totalTime=111000&breadcrumb=CRparent.1174961080.01]