Twitter Continues To Set World Cup Records, And Now Sets Places
Twitter's World Cup Home Page
It should no revelation that we have been following the World Cup in South Africa here at MKCREATIVE. But we also have been following the ways social media have had an impact on the event – at least the sharing of news about the event – as an example of how the strategic use of social media could benefit your organization. Well, the global influence that is football (er, ‘soccer’) can now be seen in the use of Twitter as well. We reported about two weeks ago that the biggest blast of tweets came after the US vs. England match (tied 1-1), though was quickly followed and beaten by the Lakers’ 7th-game victory over the Celtics in the NBA championship. A conclusion to be drawn from these back-to-back record breakers was the intense Ameri-centric use of Twitter. But no more…
Popularity: unranked | Category Community, Marketing, Software Review, Technology, Web and Print | | View Comments
Written by: Christopher Gardner, Ph. D
Toshiba Reinvents Tablet To Tweak The Portable Market
We discussed the Apple iPad a couple of months ago as the product that could transform expectations of the tablet/portable/cloud computing world. Well, eighty days into the product launch, and 3 million iPads later, the market is soon to get another competitor: the Toshiba Libretto. Neither is/will be the first into the market, but Apple’s iPad has proven itself the game-changer many expected. What are some of the early reports on the Libretto?
Popularity: unranked | Category Hardware Review, Software Review, Technology, iDevice | | View Comments
Written by: Christopher Gardner, Ph. D
iPad Indeed Inspires Nonprofit Community
Just before Apple’s iPad first launched in early April, the MKCREATIVE blog presented a two-part discussion of how the device specifically and the advent of a truly functioning tablet market/community generally should be taken seriously by the nonprofit community. The iPad’s convenience as a communications tool, we argued, meant that nonprofits and mission-based companies could, and should, take steps to ramp up their social-media presence in an effort to reach out to early adapters. And the simplicity and robustness of Apple design (both hardware and software), we believed, guaranteed that early adapters would be able to convince even those not quite sure they were ready to make the jump to a touch-screen/in-the-purse-or-bookbag experience. Well, just 28 days and, oh, one million iPads later, folks across the aforementioned community are making use of the opportunities the technology presents.
Popularity: unranked | Category Apple, Nonprofit, Software Review, iDevice | | View Comments
Written by: Christopher Gardner, Ph. D
Folks Like Facebook And Facebook Links the Likes
Back in March we posted access to a wonderful video sendup of the Fox News/Glen Beck phenomenon – a video that can, if you allow it, tap into your Facebook information to have you stand at the center of the conspiracy working to bring Communism to the United States. After the cackles died down (and the secret handshakes of the Illuminati were shared), we at MKCREATIVE wondered about the privacy implications of such a video. One short-term point we made, and one that bears repeating, is that by enjoying the video with our own mugs and friends-as-co-conspirators we are simply drawing from information we have already chosen to make public about ourselves. But the possibility of our semi-private (pseudo-private?) information running away from our control has been further heightened by Facebook’s latest move to have us link our likes around the net – what CEO Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook calls the ‘Social Graph‘: “We’re building toward a web where the default is social. Every application and product will be redesigned from the ground up to use a person’s real identity and friends.” Who will vouch for that ‘real identity’ and what will be bought and sold with the information linked are but two questions worth asking.
Popularity: unranked | Category Education: Technology, Software Review, Technology, Web and Print | | View Comments
Written by: Christopher Gardner, Ph. D
Recent Developments in Website Design – Part I: Fonts
Expanding Available Web Fonts with CSS3
We start this week with a consideration of recent developments in website design for charities and nonprofits. This blog (along with, well, most every design blog out there) has often commented on the need for nonprofits, charities, and mission-based businesses to extend their web presence wherever possible. Much of the point of social networking applications (think: Facebook, Twitter, Buzz!, etc.) is to promote timely information in a quick and concise manner. The presentation of that information is largely dictated by the servers and software that run the various applications and sites (though some basic modification and theme installation is available). Visually, what much of the audience is looking for when plugging into these sites is pretty standardized – which is especially true for those looking at sites presented by businesses and charities, rather by 20-somethings and their friends’ bands. But when people are looking for the dedicated website of their favorite causes or projects, their expectations are higher, and organization needs to raise their presentation game accordingly.
Popularity: 1% | Category Site Administration, Software Review, Technology, Web and Print | | View Comments
Written by: Christopher Gardner, Ph. D
Low-Cost to Free Technologies for Nonprofits
Applicant Manager Overview from WizeHive on Vimeo.
In these tough economic times, we are all looking for ways to lower costs while keeping up productivity. The trick is to do so without getting into a state of confusion over cut corners or depending on sticky notes all over the wall. One great way to keep the nonprofit office organized while not shelling out too much for the privilege is with the fabulous application & grant management system by Wizehive. For as little as $75 a month your organization can keep up with 200 applications among up to 10 reviewers & writers. Land the big grant, expand the package rate, and have up to 1000 applications to share, comment upon, and store with an unlimited staff. It is a project-management system inexpensive to use and ready to expand with your organization. But wait (as a famous CEO says every year or so), there’s just one more thing.
Popularity: unranked | Category Community, Nonprofit, Reviews, Software Review, Technology | | View Comments
Written by: Christopher Gardner, Ph. D
A review of iPad reviews (Pt. 2)
Yesterday we saw some of the challenges, criticisms, and bawdy jokes tossed at the iPad. Today we turn to some of the reviews and ideas that could well make the iPad the kind of ‘game-changer’ that even Windows users expect of Apple. (more…)
Popularity: 1% | Category Apple, Community, Hardware Review, Software Review | | View Comments
Written by: Christopher Gardner, Ph. D
A review of iPad reviews (Pt. 1)
Rumors of an iTablet/iSlate/iPad from Apple, Inc. have been circulating for a few years now. Therefore, the announcement of the iPad at the end of January felt less shocking – less ‘magical’ – for many than previous releases (I can still hear the gasps as the iPhone came out of Steve’s pocket in 2007). Now that a bit of the dust has settled, MKCREATIVE wanted to offer a roundup of some of the comments on the iPad, and to suggest some points that non-profits and community groups might want to consider about the product and about what it might mean for the near future. (more…)
Popularity: 1% | Category Apple, Community, Hardware Review, Reviews, Software Review | | View Comments
Written by: Christopher Gardner, Ph. D
Matrox & Apple teach their video technology
Communication and design take on many media, of course. For those involved with video production, Matrox (makers of H.264 video encoders) and Apple Inc. (with a focus on Final Cut Pro) team up to teach ways to improve workflows. The tour list now includes 10 cities around the country, with perhaps more to be added. (more…)
Popularity: 1% | Category Apple, Hardware Review, Software Review | | View Comments
Written by: Christopher Gardner, Ph. D