Dec 12

Google says Google+ is not a social network to compete with Facebook

While many people are under the impression that Google+ is just another social network that will compete with Facebook, apparently they are wrong. According to Nikesh Arora, Chief Business Officer at Google, Google+ wants to allow social elements to be brought into all of the products and services that are offered by Google. Google+ is aiming to integrate other services like YouTube as well as ‘direct connect’ being included in their search business.

So rather than merely trying to gather people together and keep them all on one site, Google+ is much more than that. The idea is that there will be social signals integrated across all of Google’s products. People who are surfing the web, from sites like http://www.partypoker.fr to live news feeds are likely to eventually end up on something that is related to Google. When they do, they will then be able to access a whole world of possibilities that they can use while still being connected to the same main site.

However, there are still some features of Google+ that will inevitably compete with some features of Facebook, but this seems to be unavoidable with any social networking site. According to Arora, the way that the web is developing today is heading much more towards the social side of things rather than being information-based. This means that users will have to provide more personal information to such sites if they are going to get the most out of social products.

Consumers these days are based around trust and convenience and that is basically the choice that they must make. They must decide to trust the web company to store information about themselves, because they are going to be provided with a convenient and enjoyable service.

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Oct 19

Motivation

Sunset does not mean an end!

I had a phone call the other day from the King HOPper himself, Kartik. A good friend and recent writing sensation from India whom I’ve known for years. His first question was “how are you doing”, mine the same. However, as always with Kartik I realized he’s doing something I used to – doing what he loves to do and wants to do and bringing like minded people along with him…. it really got me thinking about motivation, being motivated and re-finding the motivation. I made Kartik a deal either I kick it back in gear by the 1st of December or I come to spend 3 weeks in India with him – I almost decided to balk and lose on purpose but I’m a gambler in many senses of the word and decided with so many friends out there enjoying Bangalore right now it was time to kick things back in gear.

I may not post or even record right on Friday but I will post once a week from now on and the 24 Hr Marathon is still on – date suggestions?

The podcast is my little rant on “motivation”

Tracklist

  1. Fast Talkin   –  Kevin MacLeod   –  Scoring: Noire
  2. I Can’t Help  -  Bosco and Peck   –  The Burden Of A Healthy Mind
  3. Una Vida (One Life) – Lawrence Blatt  -  Fibonacci Dream
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Oct 14

Ein Ami Comes to Lippstadt – eBook!?!?!

Jacksonville, Florida, USA - Hometown

I just received a mail this morning from Lulu.com the self publishing service I used so long ago when I wrote my book about the first 5 years of experiences here in Germany. They’ve gone ePub and now my book is available in the iBookstore and the Nook Bookstore, not to mention Amazon as well. The original purchase location being Lulu themselves.

iTunes iBookStore

Nook

Amazon

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Sep 23

updates and all that….

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Today’s show (yes finally after so long) was about the dmexco event I just attended in my role and how different it was to the SAP TechEd events I’m so used to attending.

Tracklist

  1. Fast Talkin   –  Kevin MacLeod   –  Scoring: Noire
  2. Compagna Paura  -  Melissa Ciaramella  -  Nessuna forma ingenua
  3. Wait  -  Crowding out effect  - Tonight
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Sep 21

a new type of event

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So here I am in Cologne at an event called dmexco, full into the new job and scouting out partners, customers, competition andjust everything else I cqnabout this industry. It’s different to say the least from what I’ve been doing the past several years but lots of similarities as well.

We’ve a small stand here, but luckily armed with my phone and camera I’ve had the freedom to wander and check things out.

My first stop was Facebook, my second Adobe… Hey Adobe peeps are none of you here?

More to come…

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