Today’s Top Tech Toy: The iPad

The iPad hit Canadian stores on May 28, 2010 as promissed by Apple. I was one of the eager shoppers lined up at a Future Shop to get the iPad – the third person in line no less! :) There were approximately 20 people in line (all men except me), a lot less people than I had anticipated when I got up at 5:30.

Well, as luck would have it, my purchase was not without incident. One of the store clerks took the names of the first 3 people in line and the configurations that we wanted. He then went to the store’s stockroom to put aside 3 iPad boxes. Little did I know that he put aside the wrong product for me. When came my turn to pay, I found out that my requested model was sold-out. I can still hear his voice in my mind – “I’m sorry Louise, we’re sold out of the 64GB WiFi” Arggghhh!… Needless to say, I was not a happy Geek! What happened after that is a bit of a blur. lol I ended up purchasing their last unit, a 32GB, Wi-Fi + 3G model and getting a $30 gift certificate from the store manager. I also purchased the 3G data plan (5GB @$35/month) from Telus which was was fairly easy to configure.

I was late getting to my next appointment but thrilled to show off this new tech toy. It is indeed, as some have claimed, an iPhone on steroids so I was familiar with it in little time. I gave a brief demo of the iPad features to my client. When you’re a Geek it’s hard to understand how people can be less than totally impressed with tech toys as awesome as the iPad!..

What I like most about the iPad is its speedy access to the internet, its crisp high-resolution screen and exceptional audio and video. Oh and let’s not forget the exceptional battery life of approximately 9 hours for the 3G model (10 hours for the WiFi)! There are hardly any laptops on the planet with this much stamina… The large repertoire of apps available for the iPad make it totally useful for all kinds of business purposes.

What I like least about the iPad? There are a few things that I’m confident will be improved in upcoming versions of the iPad. Being used to multi-tasking on PCs, I found it a little annoying not to be able to open more than one application or screens at once on the iPad. My pet peeve though, was the lack of support for Flash. I understand Steve Job’s reasons for not supporting Flash but the exclusion of Flash takes away from the web experience since some of the web’s best stuff is currently created in Flash. I agree that HTML5 is a good way to go. I just wish that web developers had been aware of Apple’s decision to drop Flash long before the product was launched. HTML5 could have been further developed to readily offer video and animation. Another iPad drawback is definitely the lack of USB port. Transfering data via air waves is not as easy as it could be. The lack of camera on the iPad is frustrating to some people but no big deal for me since I use other devices whose main function are imagery and videography.

Contenta is currently working on a Content Publishing application which was scheduled to be launched in May 2010. We opted to switch course during the development phase since our initial document conversions were processed using mainly Flash technology. This will result in a later launch date for this Content Publishing app. We want to ensure that the bulk of the content posted to our site will be mobile compatible. We are currently awaiting Apple’s approval of our Developer Program Enrollment and are diligently pursuing app development.

Overall, I love the iPad. It will change my life no doubt about it – just as my initial Mac PowerBook did 15 years ago. For the last 12 years, I have been working mainly with PCs. It is great to revert to Apple for fun. :)

I commend Apple for the great product that they delivered and for raising the bar on mobile devices!

Cheers!

Content Monetization – Are We There Yet?

Content Monetization? Just hip new lingo or a real trend occuring on the internet?

Content Monetization is the “art” of making money by selling online content such as books, magazines, newspapers, music, training material, apps, etc. – in short, anything that can be delivered digitally over the web.

There are several ways to generate revenue from the sale of online content; the most popular being advertising, subscriptions and content sales to name a few.

Content publishers have come to grips with the fact that it costs significantly less to create and deliver content via online channels. With the advent of new tech tools such as the iPad, Netbooks, Smart Phones, content is becoming more easily accessed by people of all demographic groups and this, worldwide. Also accelerating the digitization of content trend are “green initiatives” – saving thousands if not millions of trees destroyed in traditional printing.

So, all good! We agree that the Internet is the perfect venue for making money from digitized content. A fair amount of people are indeed generating revenue from content monetization however, there seems to be important barriers since it appears as though large content publishing companies have yet to implement effective content monetization models. They are merely begining to offer their content on a pay-per-view basis. Why is it taken so long? After all, the internet is now close to 20 years old!

Well, you can have the best content in the world and offer it at a great price, but if you do not have an audience that wants your content, you will end up with low sales results. The solution seems to be to beef-up Social Media and SEO efforts to gather an appropriately targeted audience for the specific content offered. Not an easy task! It means acheiving a perfect balance between creating top-notch content and gathering the mandatory audience to generate much needed sales. :-)

Cheers!

Book Review: The Art of Racing in the Rain

This book is captivating to say the least! Unlike anything I’ve read, the book is presented through the eyes – and nose – of a dog. Kudos to the author Garth Stein, for creating such a great New York Times bestseller. If you ever owned a dog, you’ll find this book funny and uplifting. If you’re into car racing, bonus. The thrill of competitive racing is well crafted into the story.

My name is Enzo. This is my story. “Gestures are all that I have; sometimes they must be grand in nature. And while I occasionally step over the line and into the world of the melodramatic, it is what I must do in order to communicate clearly and effectively.”
And so it reads…

Enzo is a smart dog, almost with a human soul. In fact, he believes he will be reincarnated as a human. No disappointment there… :)

Funny parts:
Enzo’s obsession with opposable thumbs, demon zebras, TV, …

Heart-wrenching parts:
Love, sickness, tragedy, betrayal, humility, hope in the face of utmost despair.

Life lessons (there are lots):
“That which we manifest is before us, we are the creators of our own destiny.” “The car goes where the eyes go…”

This book drew me in from start to finish. I found it super well written. Critics are correct in saying that it offers a captivating look at the wonders and absurdities of human life… as only a dog could tell it.

You go Enzo!

Here’s a link to a YouTube Video Trailer of the Book The Art of Racing in the Rain.

Today’s Top Tech Toy: the Nüvi Garmin GPS

What a useful toy the Global Positioning System (GPS) is! I didn’t think I would use it much because most of the time, I think I know where I’m going (Thanks to Google maps :). Well guess what, I really use it a lot. I got the Garmin Nüvi GPS last year (merci R) and my drive home has never been the same. lol – Well, it’s the same most of the time, but when I need to find an alternate route, the GPS comes in quite handy. It has re-directed me through roads I never knew existed, and this often. I find it reassuring and safer to have a GPS in my vehicle. If you’re an Ottawa Valley Country girl, don’t drive without one!

My GPS came with pre-loaded North American street maps and millions of points of interest (POI) such as hotels, restaurants, fuel stations, ATMs, hospitals, and more. (I need to load updated maps – will let you know how that goes). I’m looking into adding a client’s restaurant as a GPS POI. (will also let you know how that goes :)

The touch screen makes it easy to enter a destination, Nüvi displays 2D or 3D color maps and gives turn-by-turn voice directions. It also announces the name of exits and streets. I’ve gotten quite used to the female voice telling me where to go! Most of the time, it says … re-calculating, re-calculating, … – the term that it uses when I didn’t follow her instructions (ha!). She always gets me home using the “shortest route” (that being what I set in my preferences).

The other setting that I’ve set is “less traffic” (as an alternate to my usual routes). My husband borrowed my GPS for a trip to Quebec city. He didn’t know about the “shortest route & less traffic” settings that I had set. He thought my GPS was pretty “screwed up” cause it kept telling him to exit and follow weird roads. I lmao! Hubby borrowed my GPS because someone smashed his car window (with a huge rock) and stole his GPS. Arrgg… It’s best to always keep your GPS hidden when your car is parked in public space. :)

GPS are now quite affordable. They range in price from approximately $150 for a base model to $500 for a GPS with a lot of features such as Bluetooth, Traffic Alerts, and oh yes, the “Where Am I” feature! … lol

Cheers!

iPad availability delayed in Canada

Well it looks like the April 24th availability date for the iPad in Canada has been scratched folks. Poof – just like that! How disheartening! Oh well, good things come to those who wait… And that would be us Canadians, along with friends from the U.K., France, Germany, Australia, Italy, Japan, Spain and Switzerland!

So why the delayed release of the iPad? Because sales in the US have significantly exceeded Apple’s projections. Good on you Apple, for delivering such a great product! We have to wonder if this is part of a “create hype” strategy. In any case, it’s working!

We hear that the end of May is the next targeted availability date for Canadians and international markets. The international market is huge, Apple! Sharpen your sales projection tool… Is it realistic to expect availability at the end of May for all? Lots of people are “holding their breaths” on this one… :)

Maybe when the iPad does become available in Canada, it will be a new version of the toy, one with a USB port, SD Card slot, a built-in camera, and much needed support for Flash? More wishful thinking!

Well I’m keepin’ on dreamin’ on for an iPad – although my Birthday wish has been busted like a balloon *sigh*. Oh well, end of May it is. Are there 30 or 31 days in May?… lol

Cheers!

Today’s Top Tech Toy: the iPad

Let’s talk about the iPad, the most awaited tech toy in the industry! What’s the most useful, fun, cool thing you’ve done with your iPad tablet lately? That’s what I’d like to know! You see, the iPad is not available in Canada just yet so I didn’t try it out. Late April for us Canadians! Not that we’re second rate or anything like that, it’s just that if you live in Canada, you normally have to wait for toys… And when you do get them, they often come with little disclaimers like “You appear to be outside the United States or its territories. Due to international rights agreements, we only offer this feature to viewers located within the United States and its territories,” Such is life for us Canucks. :-)
So late April it is… Hey, that’s less that 10 days from my Birthday! (hint, hint). Well, in reality I think I’m dreaming in technicolour cause I seldom get gifts that expensive for Birthdays! But I’m keepin’ on dreamin’ on!… Price wise, well again, we can expect that although our CDN dollar is at par or close with US currency, the price of an iPad will be more expensive in Canada than in the US. Why? Well the main reason we hear is Shipping… Like we’re living in Timbuktu or somewhere remote like that – Not! Wouldn’t it be great if all goods that Canadians purchase; cars, books, electronics were appropriately priced?
Last time I was dreamin’ for a specific birthday toy with this much excitment was a long time ago folks! I was dreamin’ of a Mustang bike with the Banana seat and Monkey bars! And wouldn’t you know it, I got it. The exact blue one I had pick out in the window at Michaud Levesque. So I’m keeping my hopes up on this one! Will let you know how it goes – and how it works… ha!

Good Q1-2010 Results Posted for Contenta!

March 31st, 2010 marked the end of another good business quarter for Contenta Web Services! We reached our targets in terms of Web Design projects. We launched a few new sites including: GEM Health Care Services, http://www.jjcommunications.com. We added special features in existing websites, for example a Flash animated news box in this french Alphabétisation website, a password protected environment for parents of children in a Montessori School, new database elements in an Online Order Entry Application. We developed Social Media Strategies and trained clients on how to use the new Social Media Tools at their disposal. We created a few new Logos and Marketing Content Layouts. We even updated our Corporate Portfolio, something long-overdue!

We are currently working on more interesting projects; a new website for a French Adult Training Facility, a customized Online Registration application, Zend database updates for a Real-Estate company, a cool Flash animation that includes a Train theme for a Splash page, etc…

One positive change that we made in Q1 was letting go of the charity work that we did for numerous clients for numerous years. We realized that the more Free work we did, the more Free work was expected of us. Letting go was a difficult business decision due to the great relationships that we developped with “clients” over time. It was the right thing to do for Contenta since it freed up a considerable amount of time to work on paid-for projects and on our own initiatives. We also put a minimum price on the projects that we work on so that our skills and specialized knowledge are appropriately rewarded.

A signifcant accomplishment in Q1 was the preliminary development of our Online Content Publishing Community. Our initial plan was to launch this in May 2010 but in light of our other web development projects, we will likely have to either launch only the Beta version in May or move the Live version launch date to the summer months. This is an exciting project for Contenta, the first one which we are developing for ourselves! We are very optimistic of results and enjoy working on this initiative. :) Technical development is coming along really well. We are currently working on strategy, graphical interface designs and features functionality. The real challenge will be in marketing this Online Content Publishing Community! Stay tuned…

Contenta Inc. will be split into two Divisions namely, Contenta Web Media – the Content Publishing Community, and Contenta Web Services – a continuation of the services that we have been successfuly providing for the last 15 years.

I extend a sincere “Thank You” to all Team members who have contributed to Contenta’s sucess in Q1. Keep up the Great Work!

Webzie

Today’s Top Tech Toy: Nintendo Wii

Folks, if you’re looking at getting in shape while having fun, the Wii (by Nintendo) is for you! I received the Wii Console as a Christmas present over a year ago and unlike other fitness toys, I didn’t get bored with this one.

The Wii Console normally comes with Wii Sports, a CD which includes Tennis, Golf, Baseball, Boxing and Bowling games. The simulations are surprisingly accurate! A nice feature; you can add up to 4 players for most of these games so you can set-up little tournaments with avatars representing your guests or family members. The games will prompt for the next player and keeps scores accurately. It makes for easy entertainment and lots of fun for everyone!

Oh, let’s not forget the Wii fit or Wii fit Plus, a must for people looking at getting in shape. Again, wow! So much fun, kudos to Nintendo! Normally, I start with the Body test which measures my center of balance, weight, BMI, and fitness level using a balance board. Wii calculates my Wii Fit Age. It keeps all historical data and displays daily progress graphically. This test takes about 5 minutes. This is not the fun part, more so – the gotta be done stuff…

The Wii re-groups its exercises in 4 categories: Yoga, Strength training, Aerobics, and my favorite; Balance games – I must have spent hundreds of hours playing balance games!

Listed in my preference order.. :-)

Balance games – which include:
Soccer, Ski Jump, Ski Slalom, Table Tilt, Balance Bubbles, Penguin Slide, Tightrope Walk, Snowboard Slalom, and the odd ball, Lotus Focus (where we simply must remain motionless while looking at a flame). These balance games are addictive folks! Wii fit keeps your 10 best scores so the challenge to beat your scores keeps you coming back. New in the Wii fit Plus and offering more great fun are: Island Cycling, Rhythm Kung-Fu, Driving Range (it analyses your golf swing – great for training), Segway Circuit, Bird’s-Eye Bulls-Eye, Snowball Fight, Obstacle Course, Tilt City, Rhythm Parade, Big Top Juggling and Skateboard Arena. I received the Wii fit plus approximately 3 months ago (Thank you Lise!) and am really enjoying the new features and games! Well worth it. :-)

Aerobics exercises inlcude:
Hula Hoop, Super Hula Hoop, Rhythm boxing, Basic Step, Advanced Step, Free Step, Basic Run, 2 Person Run, Free Run. These exercises will give you a great fun workout! The scenic views during the runs are awesome.

Yoga includes these exercises:
Deep Breathing, Half-Moon, Dance, Cobra, Bridge, Spinal Twist, Shoulder Stand, Warrior, Sun Salutation, Tree, Downward Facing Dog, Standing Knee, Palm Tree, Chair, Triangle. These exercises are ok, not my favorite but I occasionly drop in here and follow my trainer- he has a nice voice and great body!

Strength training includes these exercises:
Single Leg Extension, Sideways Leg Lift, Arm and Leg Lift, Single-Arm Stand, Torso Twists, Rowing Squat, Single Leg Twist, Lunge Push-Up and Side Plank, Jackknife, Plank, Tricep Extension, Push-Up Challenge, Plank Challenge, Jackknife Challenge. This is a bit challenging for me, work, work… So you’re less likely to find me here. :)

Did you know that I’m a champion at a few games! lol Yep, I’ver earned the following medals in Wii Play!
Gold Metal – Shooting range (aim and shoot the varied targets)
Gold medal – Fishing (get a nibble, raise the fish, pick the right ones)
Silver Medal – Find Mii (pick the right avatars from the crowd)
Silver Medal – Pose Mii (change my Mii to match the silhouette)
Silver Medal – Laser Hockey (shoot, score in openents’ net)
Silver Medal – Charge (my favorite Wii Play game! – Ride the cow and head for the goal as you run over scarecrows).
Bronze Medal – Ping-Pong

Well this post is getting excessively long so I will cut the details on these other great games that I play: Virtua Tennis (2009), WiiMusic and NHL 2K9. If you’re interested in finding out more, let me know and I will expand in another post. I’m looking at getting into Guitar Hero stuff so if you have tips on that, please share.

I connected my Wii to the internet. I was able to get news and information. I am looking into connecting with other players online. Here’s a link with steps to do that:
Step by Step Guide to Getting Online With the Nintendo Wii

I’m looking for online Tennis players. Any takers? How about it Nadal? lol

Cheerios!

University of Ottawa Heart Institute’s 19th Telethon!

The University of Ottawa Heart Institute’s 19th Telethon raised another 5.7 million for its worthy cause! We are so grateful to have this world-renowned health-care Institution here in Ottawa, Canada’s Capital.

As I watch the University of Ottawa Heart Institute’s 19th Telethon, I can’t help but think of family members, friends who are living better lives as a result of the excellent services provided by the UOHI. No words can express the full gratitude that we feel for allowing special people to still be in our lives.

I also think of the wonderful experience it was to volunteer for this great organization. We worked with great people, met awesome professionals like Dr. Wilbert Keon, a founder of the University of Ottawa’s Heart Institute. Every year, I watch the Telethon with much interest and appreciation.

Here’s a link to a document entitled “The Heart Healthy Living Guide” . Definitely worth a look!

Thank you to the Heart Institute! I support your cause from the bottom of my heart! :-)

Content is King! So How Can It Be Forever Worthless?

In this online world where everything seems to be available free of charge, I’m wondering if there’s a market for paid content. Generally, we seem to associate product/service value with price. The more we pay for something, the more perceived value it has. What would make people pay a premium for content? You tell me! Here are some thoughts for a start:

. Content that is created by an expert on a topic
. Content that is up-to-date, real time stuff
. Content that is unique, not available everywhere else (personalized stuff)
. Content that is innovative, highlights new ideas & concepts
. Content that is informative, educational
. Content that is entertaining
. Content that is well written, displays good presentation
. Content that is reliable, consistently delivered
. Quality content (as opposed to quantity, mass production articles)
. ???

So what’s the premium that people would be willing to dish-out for quality Content? Micro vs. macro payments, what about subscriptions?

Are we at a stage where there is so much available on the web that people need to find quick ways of accessing top-notch content by means other than a typical search? Could payable content find its niche market anytime soon?

If you put effort in creating something that you feel is worthwhile sharing, would you rather sell it online or simply share it for goodness sake. :) I’m just amazed at how many people are choosing the latter.

What prompts people to share stuff for free? Could it be that “everyone” does it so we’re all embarking on the same bandwagon hoping it will take us somewhere? Any thoughts on where the wagon is going?

My feeling is that Content creators are eagerly awaiting the day when payable Content makes a remarkable entry but content consumers are not so keen of the pay per view Content model. Why can’t the Internet just remain as the free-for-all portal it has become?

More questions than answers on this one! Comments welcomed to fill in the blanks. :)

Cheers!