Since my last blog, the iPad has hit the market… no I haven’t gotten one yet, but as soon as I have the extra $520 I will absolutely be an owner. But that’s not what I’m going to blog about today.

If you’re a geo-tagger, all the rage is FourSquare and GoWalla. But if you’re like me you probably are on both… just like we were on both MySpace and Facebook. We’ll, now that MySpace is dead, it’s a good think I went with Facebook. That same thing could happen here. FourSquare is the preferred app, however out of nowhere GoWalla could take over!

How do you prepare for this? Easy. http://check.in – it’s a mobile browser app (so you don’t have to buy it) that will use your existing accounts to check you in all-in-one! How awesome is that. It’s like Ping.fm for geo-tagging.

Right now it’s only available through invitation only – and via invitations that I have no control over. But I suggest jumping on this one ASAP, it will clearly save you time.

FINALLY!  That’s all I have to say.  As an iPhone AND Google enthusiast, I have to say it’s about time I can have them together.  Ever since I heard about Google Voice, I jumped onto the bandwagon.  In fact I have 2 phone lines – one for my business, Adams Innovative, and one for my non-profit, Cancer Fighting Princess.

If you haven’t explored Google Voice, it’s a free service by Google that gives you a phone number that kind of acts like a “hub” for all your other phone numbers.  When someone calls your Google number, it can ring all your phones or a pre-programmed selection.  It’s great if you want to separate business and personal life, but still use the cell phone you have in your pocket.  As an added bonus, it allows you to screen your calls, use visual voicemail, access your voicemails online, through dial in, or via email and it transcribes your messages to text messages.

For me, it works well with my AT&T A-List too, all my incoming calls use my Google Voice number for caller id.  Having put my Google Voice number on my A-List, all my incoming calls are free.  I’m pretty sure I have more roll-over minutes than anyone else.

Now, there was a problem.  AT&T and Apple (I blame AT&T, the whiny self-centered communists) blacklisted any Google Voice apps.  This forced some true innovation and the use of a brand new authoring system: HTML5, the latest installment of the backbone of the internet, the HyperText Markup Language.  Google has it’s own direct app using HTML5, you simply navigate to a website and the entire Google Voice App is run directly through the Safari browser.  But the newest thing, at least it’s new to me, is the Voice Central Black Swan app from Riverturn.  This app actually installs to your iPhone directly through the browser, it’s clean and slick.

The Black Swan app is exactly what any Google Voice user could have ever imagined.  It’s interface not only looks just like the iPhone’s but it also interacts directly with the iPhone’s contact list.  You can make all of your phone calls directly from within the app and never miss a beat.  Save money and take control of your contacts today with Google Voice.

If you have more information about how the Black Swan app installs on your iPhone, please share.

Remember, if you’re business is looking to boost your online presence, visit www.adamsinnovative.com and schedule a free review of what we can do for you.  We also offer custom graphic design and video production at the most affordable professional rates in Pittsburgh (maybe even the entire US).

Anyhow, one of their graphic designers mentioned that “as soon as things slow down here I would love to look into that”. “Slow down” what ever was he talking about??? As I flip through today’s updates on Mashable, I find myself not so surprised to see an article about their new look that is coming to the iPhone. It all makes sense now.

The new look is pretty exciting as this company is growing and growing. I’m very much interested to see how things continue – especially now that they seemed to really be interested in what I’m doing with them here in Pittsburgh.

You can check out that article with many pictures here:

http://mashable.com/2010/03/05/foursquare-1-6-iphone/

If you are familiar with a way to make this work, please let me know!

Oh, while I’m here, the reason that I was curious about this was because of all the Palm Pre commercials talking about syncing your phone with Google Calendar, Facebook, and other calendars all into one. Oh well. Perhaps I’ll be able to do this soon… only time will tell.

Back in June 2009, Nielsen estimated that the average U.S. user spent four hours and 39 minutes on Facebook per month. That’s about 9.3 minutes per day in a 30-day month. In August, that number rose to five hours and 46 minutes, or 11.5 minutes per day.In January 2010, though, the amount of time the average person spent on Facebook jumped to more than seven hours. Each American Facebook user spent an average of 421 minutes on Facebook per month, which amounts to more than 14 minutes per day. Even if you lump together the time spent on Google (1:23), Yahoo (2:09), YouTube (1:02), Microsoft/Bing (1:35) Wikipedia (0:15), and Amazon (0:22), it still doesn’t beat Facebook.

Truth is, I’m typing this, but I’m on Facebook too.  I’m on it all day long.  Granted, the study shows that only about 14 minutes a day is normal, but I’m sure people like me are skewing that number.  I have 3 computers in front of me at almost all times, so it’s very easy for me to have one computer dedicated to my Pandora, iChat and Facebook, while I work on the other one.  And with the “tab” feature in modern web browsers, you can have your Facebook open in the background and continue to chat with friends all day long.

It’s quite clear that we live in a more and more connected society than we ever have before – and for those of us that have embraced it (at running speeds) we probably couldn’t imagine it any other way.  Really… what did I do with my time 5 years ago?  I can’t remember, I know I wasn’t on anything like MySpace or Facebook, and I surely wasn’t blogging… hmmm.  Oh yeah, I went to a lot of movies.

So, tell me, readers, how many hours a day would you say you’re on Facebook?  Please leave a comment and let’s compare…

Remember, if you’re business is looking to boost your online presence, visit www.adamsinnovative.com and schedule a free review of what we can do for you.  We also offer custom graphic design and video production at the most affordable professional rates in Pittsburgh (maybe even the entire US).

View the MIRROR of this post at Faded Industry’s Blog, here.

Southwest, you need to get your policies straight. I’m all for charging double, selling 2 seats or whatever if you weigh over a certain weight.  I mean, if I’m 250 lbs, and have to pay extra for my 2 5o lb bags, don’t you think someone weighing 350 lbs. should be paying that extra fee?  It only makes sense.  But you gotta have it thought out. You can’t just go and pull people off airplanes for being fat – and not such a smart idea to choose to do it to a famous film director with a nationwide following.

That’s just sloppy Southwest… you don’t charge extra for bags, I know, but as a company you guys are starting to suck – hit up Expedia or Travelocity, and note that Southwest is no longer coming up the cheapest flights.  What happened???

Kevin, we love you in Pittsburgh, you looked great when you lost all that weight… we don’t want you to die man, get your head on straight and you won’t be kicked off any more flights!

Remember, if you’re business is looking to boost your online presence, visit www.adamsinnovative.com and schedule a free review of what we can do for you.  We also offer custom graphic design and video production at the most affordable professional rates in Pittsburgh (maybe even the entire US).

View the MIRROR of this post at Faded Industry’s Blog, here.

Some predict that as more and more businesses start taking advantage of social media, we’ll be seeing benefits for getting involved.  One thing I read was that bars or restaurants would have a special deal for Mayors, free appetizer, private drink special… it can be as creative as you want, the sky is the limit.  So, get in now! (and add me as a friend – adamsinnovative, you can find me as a visitor at Carson City Saloon in the Southside)

Remember, if you’re business is looking to boost your online presence, visit www.adamsinnovative.com and schedule a free review of what we can do for you.  We also offer custom graphic design and video production at the most affordable professional rates in Pittsburgh (maybe even the entire US).

View the MIRROR of this post at Faded Industry’s Blog, here.

So, today’s social media news leads us to a couple things that I have found interesting, first of all, Windows 8 talk and secondly, a new product from my favorite company, Google – Google Buzz.

It doesn’t seem like Windows 7 – the twin sister to the retarded Windows Vista – has even been around for all that long and already talk of Windows 8… that seems a bit shady.  Quite honestly, I’ve been hoping that Windows would just throw in the towel already, they could shut down all operations and start selling slap bracelets.  But, I guess that’s why I’m not on their board. The news spreading is that they’ve a whole new look, vision and feel… well, I should hope so.  Considering the only good operating systems they’ve ever created were Windows 3.1, Windows 98 and Windows XP (and saying that might be a stretch), it’s definitely time to start putting users in mind and stop worrying about the safety padding the operating system for all the computer illiterate.  Cause let’s be honest, it’s not Windows’ fault that people are stupid and fall for these ridiculous phishing scams!  We need to move on.  I do have 2 Windows machines in my home office of 13 computers, don’t force me to install yet another Hackintosh system and get rid of Microsoft completely.

On to the brighter news… Google’s buzz of launching a new product to integrate more social media and several of it’s services has just launched across the web, and quite heavily on Mashable.com, ironically called Google Buzz.  I’ve still got to play with this new product, but it seems that it’s an expansion to it’s RSS Reader service that will allow people to actively follow information around the web – not exactly revolutionary, but now with the Google logo we’re all so used to seeing. More on this in future blogs, I’m sure.

Now, lastly, my rant about President Obama.  No, this isn’t against him, but for him.  I can’t believe that people have the audacity, “and that means nerve”, to blame Obama for the current decline in jobs across the US.  Seriously??? I’m quite certain the this started before he was President.  I mean, not that I’m politically in tune, but let’s be honest here… that’s like, if your car was rolling down a hill cause you left it in neutral and you yelled to the guy 2o ft away, “Hey can you help me stop my car from rolling down the hill and crashing into that wall?!” and as he uses all his strength to push it back up the hill, the force was too great and it inevitably continues on it’s path to destruction… then you blame that guy for not being strong enough.  TYPICAL AMERICAN ATTITUDE

Look there are only going to be a few things that can bring our economy back…

1) realize that we were living in fantasy land, families that make $60,000/yr cannot afford a $3000/mo mortgage, 2 $500/mo car payments, top-shelf cable TV, unlimited cell phone family plans and the ability to eat out 2-3 times a week at the Outback… it just doesn’t add up.  You can’t afford it, it’s time to start living within your means.

2) spend money – no, don’t buy an expensive car only to drive it to work and back because you don’t have enough money to go out and enjoy life – get an economy car, then go to the movies, get dinners at family restaurants, buy DVDs, get a new computer, buy music, take a dancing class, go to the gym… do things that lead to an active lifestyle and support others working.

3) don’t be bummed about losing your job and blame the world, blame yourself for not being indispensable. If you think you have a talent, start your own business, there are many advantages to working for yourself (like tax breaks and write-offs).  Suck it up and take that job a McDonalds… if nothing else you gain character and maybe it will lead to something else.  America/Americans are facing tough times, many of our jobs are being outsourced across the globe to places that all they need is a telephone or a computer and the ability to speak English (as poorly as it may seem at times), bottom line is, we are living in the land of opportunity in the middle of the information age, we have to start using our brains, being more innovative and creative.  Remember, you could always be living in Baja Mexico in a box on a hill-side, granted you might have a great view of the ocean, but you won’t have any food to eat.  Suck it up, even at the worst of times, you can get a Junior Bacon Cheeseburger for a $1.

We’ll that’s it for now.  Hefty post, I know… they won’t all be like this.

Remember, if you’re business is looking to boost your online presence, visit www.adamsinnovative.com and schedule a free review of what we can do for you.  We also offer custom graphic design and video production at the most affordable professional rates in Pittsburgh (maybe even the entire US).

View the MIRROR of this post at Faded Industry’s Blog, here.