I’ve been on Twitter since 2008 and I really enjoy using it and interacting with others. When I realized I was using Twitter constantly throughout the day I decided to use a Twitter app.  The two I heard about at the time that were the most popular were Tweet Deck and Seesmic.  Still to this day, those are the two most popular Twitter app’s for the desktop.  Granted, there are a ton of other apps for cell phones, but these two apps in particular are the one’s with the most recognition and popularity.  It has led me to the question, which of these two Twitter apps do you prefer using?

I recently had a conversation with Loic Le Meur on Twitter who’s the founder of Seesmic about writing a post on this topic.  We both agree that trying to compare the two is like comparing apples to oranges, but I wanted to focus more on the features, interface, and usability of the two apps.  I’m going to be fair in my opinion so that if you choose one or the other, you will have a good outlook on both.  You may not even want to go with the two more popular apps and go with something completely different.  That’s fine, but I’m still going to stick with these two for this matchup.

Tweet Deck - Founder Iain Dodsworth

-Customizable interface: you can change the colors to whatever preference you choose.

-Use the app in a single column:  you can choose to have the app show multiple columns with mentions, DM’s, searches, etc. or just have it in one single column and use the scroll bar to switch to the others.

-Pull in updates from other sites: such as LinkedIn, MySpace, and Facebook.

-Easy to use utilities:  place your cursor over someone’s profile pic to have the option to retweet, reply, DM, or check out settings in regards to their tweet.

-Simple: by far the easiest Twitter app to navigate around.  All of the icons are there in front of you.  You don’t need to go searching for anything.

Seesmic - Founder Loic Le Meur

-Desktop app and Seesmic Look app for beginners:  having the ability to choose from two different types of apps gives you options.  Try them both out and use what you like.

-Window is too large:  didn’t see a way to move the app into one column like on Tweet Deck.  It causes for some clutter and takes up too much of the screen.  Hopefully in upcoming versions they can incorporate this feature.

-Seesmic Look:  it’s more aesthetically pleasing to the eye.  As compared to the desktop app which is pretty plain, Seesmic Look brings a more colorful and appealing feel to it.

-Real Time Trends: on Seesmic Look when the app first loads you see a real time view of the latest trends.  They constantly are changing which is a really neat feature to see top headlines.

Splash Icon:  When you open the app, it loads a splash icon onto the screen which is rather annoying because it takes longer for the app to load.  I’m just not a fan of it, but it may not bother other people.

Live Twitter Feed: an auto update of new Twitter posts to your feed would be nice for Seesmic Look.  It’s on the desktop app, but not on Seesmic Look.  Instead it lets you know when there are new tweets and you need to click the notification for the new tweets to show.  I believe this should be updated.

Ping.fm: having bought this company is a huge acquisition and they have it incorporated into Seesmic to update all of your social networking platforms at once. This was a brilliant move!

This is my breakdown of the two applications.  Obviously from my review, Tweet Deck is still my preferred choice.  No disrespect to Seesmic because it plays big and offers quite a lot to the user, but I think Tweet Deck brings more of what I want and is simpler.  Both apps are easy to navigate around, but I’m really into customization and usability when it comes to anything I use. What are your thoughts?  Which app do you use? Do you agree or disagree with my review?  Would you add or subtract anything from either list?

Further reading:

Which Sponsored Tweet Platform Is Best For You?

The One Social Networking Tool Essential For Your Business

What’s Your Favorite Twitter Client?

How Is Twitter Being Used?

I recently received the T-Mobile Motorola Cliq in the mail that I ordered due to my contract being expired.  I wanted to give my positive and negative thoughts on this phone in case you are with T-Mobile and are looking to upgrade from your old phone. My previous phone before the Cliq was the T-Mobile Dash.  It’s basically a Blackberry, but a little different.  I had it for two years and it served me well.  However, I knew I didn’t want my next phone to be a “Blackberry styled” phone.  I did a lot of debating and researching on potential new phones and my final decision was between the Cliq and the Nexxus One by Google.

After reading the introduction, you obviously know I chose the Cliq.  The Nexxus One didn’t have the positive feedback I was looking for in terms of units sold.  Since it is an “iPhone type” phone and considered to be the phone that could challenge the iPhone, I was interested in the beginning.  However, to see the Nexxus One not selling well was my warning flag to pass on it.  So, let’s get into my analysis of my choice of phone…the Motorola Cliq.

Positives

-First ever live stream phone with Motoblur feature.  Your MySpace, Twitter, and Facebook profiles are integrated and you are constantly up to date with what your friends are doing.  This experience takes place on the homepage and is called the “happenings” widget.

-The interface and software is clean.  It’s nice to use a phone that isn’t a cluge.  It’s easy to navigate around.

-Great security features to protect your phone.  You can set up a pass code so after a certain period of time that you choose, a user created code must be entered to use the phone.  There’s also also the ability to lock the phone to prevent ghost dialing.

-3 actual buttons.  ”Home, Back, Options.”  Having only 3 buttons on the phone in one place makes them easy to find while your interaction with the phone can be done via the keyboard or the touch screen.

-Great side controls for controlling volume, setting the phone to sound or vibrate, using the 5 megapixel camera, and power button.

-Organization of messages and contacts.  You can sort how each of these features are viewed.  For example, you can look at your messages from Facebook, Twitter, and email all from one inbox or choose to view them in separate categories.  The same goes for your contacts.

-3G Network provides a great internet connection.  I’ve yet to find myself needing to connect to a wireless connection, but that can be done if you choose to do so.

-You have the ability to type using the QWERTY slide out keyboard or you can choose the use the touch screen keyboard.  I really like having options and the ability to try multiple features out and see which one works best for me.

-Great selection of free and paid apps from Android app store.  It’s as simple as downloading apps on an iPhone and the usability of the apps that I used are quite slick.  Sometimes I feel like I am using an iPhone.

-Multiple window panes to store apps or widgets on.  There’s such a larger number of apps and widgets accessible on the Android operating system (which is impressive in it’s own right.)

-Very clear incoming and outgoing calls.  It provides such a clear sound when talking to another person.  It so crisp you feel like you are on a landline phone.

-You can charge the phone through a USB connection to your computer or attach an adapter and plug in the outlet.  Once again, giving me more options is key to my happiness!

Negatives

-The screen gets your fingerprints all over it.  They could have done a better job with the quality of the screen to keep it cleaner.

-Personal Issue - Even though all of my contacts from my last cell phone were all saved to the sim card, my phone recently decided to remove all of my contacts.  Not sure why this happened, but it’s very strange and extremely frustrating.

-Battery life is an issue.  Contrary to other reports I have heard about this phone, I’m not impressed by it’s battery life.  It needs to be charged quite a bit.  Much more frequently than my past phone, but I think it may have to do with the fact that it’s running a lot on one phone.  It’s pretty much a portable computer.

-Slide out QWERTY keyboard could have been made a little better.  The keys are pretty close together, so until you get use to its handling you will hit keys you didn’t intend to press.

Overall, I believe this phone is probably the best thing since the iPhone.  I am very happy that I chose to go with the Cliq and not the Nexxus One.  Granted it’s not on the level or popularity that the iPhone is at, but I believe it offers more than the Google Nexxus One.  I know many won’t agree with this analogy, but I think the Cliq has a lot of positives going for it.  There are negatives to the phone like any, but you are going to have that with any new piece of technology.  I would like an answer as to why my contacts were randomly removed.  Anyone else with this phone have that happen?  What do you think of this phone even if you don’t have it?  Do you think it’s a solid alternative if you can’t get an iPhone?  Would you choose the Cliq or the Nexxus One?  Let me know your thoughts and leave a comment.

Further reading:

New Technology Coming From T-Mobile

Which Cell Phone Is The Best Tech Gadget?

Will 2010 Still Produce Positive Upgrades In Technology?

Where Would We Be Had Technology Not Advanced?

The hype the past couple of weeks comes to no surprise to any of you social media enthusiasts.  Google Buzz is alive and kicking.  For a good amount of people, Google Buzz has been a new piece of social media that they can get their hands on.  However, the value offered through this service is no different than FriendFeed.  I believe FriendFeed is a much better platform and an easier to use interface.  Even though Google Buzz is just another conversational tool, I think they really screwed up with this social network.  I have many reasons for feeling this way and I will back up my opinion.

Before I break down Google Buzz, I wanted to make it known that I usually support everything Google does, but this is the first time I completely disagree with how they went about their social network.  It should be called Google Bust.  I think that name would suffice with the many issues that people have been raising about Google Buzz.

Now for my dissection of Google Buzz…

1.  As a countless number of people have already mentioned, the privacy issues were a huge problem, but Google did address this.  Their “following” process was really intrusive in the beginning.  You couldn’t decide whether or not you wanted to follow somebody.  Google was deciding for you, but luckily they addressed that issue.

2.  Their is NO VALUE with Google Buzz as I mentioned earlier.  Who wants something that has already been done before?  As I said, it’s FriendFeed, but worse to every degree!  I feel when using the platform that it offers a very messy experience. I don’t enjoy it.  There’s so much going on that I don’t want to even bother checking it.

3.  Integrating Google Buzz into Gmail wasn’t a smart choice.  Many people don’t like the interference of a social network and notifications within their email.  They need to develop a separate app for Google Buzz to eliminate that annoyance.  By just doing that, it would be a step forward.  They are taking a great thing that is GMail and slapping in a social network that pretty much is a cluge.

4.  You can’t post updates on Google Buzz that share on your other social media platforms.  For a company that has been as successful as Google and with all other social media sites offering the ability to sync accounts, I’m surprised Google didn’t implement this feature on their platform.  To me this is an opportunity missed.

5.  Nonsense email updates about posts you write.  Why do I need to be alerted of posts I have put up myself?  I think I know what I put up already.  It’s pointless and extremely annoying and there’s no way that I have found to turn that type of notification off.

These are quite significant issues I have raised in regards to Google Buzz.  Most of them I know many people have already complained about in their own blogs, but I felt it was my turn to join in on the fun.  I really do love what Google does, but they need to take this social network from BUST to BUZZ!  There’s nothing about it that you can look at it and say, “cool.”  They are missing this factor and have some serious work to do before I feel it’s a contender in social media.  The reason why it’s being used actively now is only because it’s something new.  I believe the fad will wear off and unless the team over at Google makes changes to the app, it will becoming a thing of the past. 

Overall, I can only think of two positive things with Google Buzz.  One, it has the Google name in front of it, so I do expect them to make changes and improve the platform.  Secondly, I think the fact that they let you know who is following you within the application is creative.  I think that’s much better than being emailed about a new follower.  So, what do you think of Google Buzz?  Do agree with any of the following statements I have made above?  What else would you add to the list?

Further reading:

FormSpring.me - A Gamechanger In Social Networking?

Social Networks Manager - A Future Position At Companies?

10 Important Things About Being Social

5 Tips For Using Social Media

Generation Y has been labeled as the “tech savy generation”.  I am apart of this generation as many others are and we are also labeled as the generation that is highly active on the internet.  However, has Generation Y lost the ability to communicate in a healthy manner when it comes to relationships?  Since Valentine’s Day just passed, I thought this was an appropriate post to get us thinking.  My generation tends to do a lot of communicating via text, instant messaging, and Facebook.  None of those require face to face communication.  Are we hiding behind technology as a way to run our relationships and the way we get to know someone?

My Dad who is apart of Generation X mentioned to me that my generation really doesn’t know how to communicate especially when it comes to someone that you are interested in.  He believes that we hide behind our text messaging and computers to work out problems and talk about things.  He feels we have lost the ability to talk over the phone or face to face.  I have to agree and say he is absolutely right.  We are dependent on technology to run our lives.  What would we do without our cell phones and computers?  Better yet, what if our cell phones couldn’t text and could still only make phone calls?  Would Generation Y be alright with this?  Generation X we know can handle this perfectly fine.  They know how to communicate and talk and it’s a big reason why they don’t understand our generation.  Can you blame them?

When it comes to relationships, technology shouldn’t be a means to work things out. Well, I shouldn’t put it in that harsh of terms, but we shouldn’t be so dependent on it and should try to do more of an old phenomenon called talking!  I agree with my Dad and feel my generation really has lost a step when it comes to engaging with people. We can talk fine if it involves IM, texting, and status updates.  Although, can we carry a conversation anymore?  Some can, but the maturity isn’t there for everyone to put down the devices and do things old school.

I understand we live in a technology based world.  I appreciate it and love it myself, but take a step back.  You must understand that the world wasn’t always focused on the latest and greatest in technology.  Things use to be handled the way Generation X remembers and which is why the frown upon Generation Y sometimes.  I’m not going to sit here and knock my generation because I like being apart of it, but I can’t help but consider the way we handle things.  Relationships I felt were a big cause for concern because ever since technology took control over our lives, we’ve lost the ability to talk things out properly.

How do you feel?  You may think I am completely wrong, but tell me why I am.  Why would Generation X look down upon Generation Y.  They seem to have good reasons to back it up.  Although, times (and technology) are always changing, so has the way handle relationships changed as well?

Further reading:

Web 3.0 - The Next Generation Of The Web

Where Would We Be Had Technology Not Advanced?

Is Technology Reaching All Generations?

Are Social Networks And Technology Putting An End To Verbal Communication?

Recently I stumbled across a site called FormSpring.  I don’t believe this site is that new, but when I was first made aware of it a couple of months ago, I didn’t think much of it.  However, at this point after creating an account, I’m starting to see something really valuable going on here.

There are so many social networking sites out there and all of them seem to have the same principle behind them.  Granted, you’re not going to get something out of the blue when it comes to social networking because it’s all about interacting and communication.  Although, FormSpring offers a different experience in my opinion.

The site is a Q&A network.  That’s it!  I love the simplicity behind this social network of sorts and I especially like the fact that you can ask questions and get them answered quickly!  It seems like a better alternative for asking questions here then on Twitter because this site is dedicated to asking questions and getting answers. Twitter is used for interacting, but UNFORTUNATELY too many people broadcast there.

FormSpring allows anyone to ask people questions (those who have accounts) even if you don’t have an account.  I don’t think there’s a better alternative for someone who just wants a quick answer.  It’s also faster than getting an answer via email which could take days.  I think this site is all about speed and getting answers fast instead of waiting for those answers like in email or Twitter.

Q&A is the primary means and focus behind social media and the variety of social networks out there.  People want to get information and interact with one another.  I believe FormSpring offers this in the simplest way possible and it’s free to use.  Is it a game changer?  Who’s to say.  It truly depends on how fast its popularity grows.  I for one believe that this is the first social network I’ve come across in a long time that’s in it’s own “breed of network.”  It’s an original idea and hasn’t been done before. Also, on the asking questions side, you don’t need an account!  I don’t know of another social network that allows you to access their site without an account.

If you were to ask me if I think this site is a game changer and has serious potential, I would say yes!  I think the word needs to be spread more about this site and I think they are doing a good thing with making a site containing simple Q&A capability. What do you think of this site?  Have you ever used it or checked it out?  Do you think it’s a possible game changer?

Feel free to ask me a question on my FormSpring page.

Further reading:

5 Tips For Using Social Media

Do You Give New Social Networks A Chance?

Possible Problems With Social Networks

Are Social Networks And Technology Putting An End To Verbal Communication?

I know many of you watched the Super Bowl this past Sunday and it was definitely a great game to say the least.  However, most people know that the advertisements are one of the big interests when it comes to the Super Bowl.  Companies paying millions of dollars for a 30 second time slot.  This was the first year I have heard many people on Twitter referring to this form of advertising as the Brand Bowl.  I couldn’t agree more. This was also the first time I have seen social media referenced in the Super Bowl.  I thought this commercial in particular was great for bringing attention to the variety of social media platforms to raise awareness for companies.  Although, with the many companies using “social media” to drive their campaigns; some passed with flying colors while others failed.

I’m not going to name every commercial because that would just be boring to read. Although, I want to break down a few of them in terms of their effectiveness in using social media.  The first one that sticks out is Google.  Their commercial was simple and to the point.  Granted, everyone feels they had that advertising spot because of the pressure Bing has been putting on them.  I don’t believe Google needs to be worried about Bing, who didn’t even advertise during this years Super Bowl. However, I think Google showed the simplicity of using their search engine.  The use of a screencast is a phenomenal way to show users they can search about anything like “social media.”

Two other companies I think did a great job with their campaigns are GoDaddy and E-Trade.  Now you may be wondering, how do these advertisements relate to social media?  Well, first off, all of these companies are online.  They want to capture their viewers watching on TV, convert them to sales, but be able to do this in a social capacity where they are interacting with their customers.  Many people feel GoDaddy can be a little too “sexy” with the way their ads are done, but the thing is, it does the job.  It grabs attention and at the end of their ads, they tell you how to access their website.  That’s how you engage and be social with your audience.  You need a call to action after you help them.  E-Trade does the same except with humor.  People love babies and the fact that they “talk” keeps the customers interested and at the end they have a call to action to go to their website.

The two companies I felt did poorly with their Super Bowl ads were Flo TV and The Dating Service commericial.  Both were laughable and in a social media standpoint they were viewed as a joke, especially Flo TV.  I mean, come on!  They could have thought of a better name.  Credibility went out the window with a brand name like that and in social media, credibility is everything. The Dating commercial I don’t have much to say about it because it offered no value and they pretty much poked fun at themselves.  You want to be taken seriously and by not giving viewers a brief overview of what your service looks like, gives us no reason to access you on the web.

These were the companies I felt either played their social media strengths well or utilized them poorly.  Your thoughts are going to be your own and I’d be interested to hear which advertisement during this years Super Bowl was done best.  Do you agree with any of mine?  I’d like to hear even if you disagree because that can give me a different outlook on the issue at hand.  Is social media even given a thought when companies prepare their ads for the Super Bowl.  You would think all they money they spend, they would think to do so with the way advertising is changing.

Further reading:

When Are Social Networks Least Helpful For Business?

The One Social Networking Tool Essential For Your Business

10 Reasons Businesses Should Participate On Social Networks

What Can Hiring A Social Media Virtual Assistant Do For Your Business

Even though this is going a month back…for Christmas I received the new Apple Magic Mouse. There were a few factors that led me to wanting one, but when I received it, I didn’t use it right away.  The main reason I wanted the product was because my wired Mighty Mouse had some technical problems.  To quickly summarize the problem, the mouse would randomly cause the windows of the screen to pan in and out quickly.  The only way to stop it would to be to unplug the mouse and then plug it back in.  If you have a Mac and aren’t sure what I am describing, press the F3 key.  Pressing that key is one way to make the windows pan in and out, but there was also the ability to perform the same command by pressing any of the side buttons on the mouse.  I digress.  This was a very annoying problem and would just do it randomly and I knew it was time for a new mouse.  Here are my top 5 reasons why I believe the upgrade to the Magic Mouse is absolutely necessary.

1.  You can only purchase the product as a wireless device.  I know some people like the wired version of a mouse because it’s cheaper, but this mouse is thinner and plays big!  Not having to deal with another wire around my desk makes for less clutter and easier navigation.

2.  NO MORE SCROLL WHEEL! I think this has got to be the best upgrade and feature of the entire mouse.  Everyone that has used a Mighty Mouse I am sure is familiar with the pain in the neck the scroll wheel can be.  Half the time it doesn’t work, it will only scroll one way and not the other, plus it’s so easy for debris to get caught within the wheel.  Now, it’s a touch pad!  At first I thought it would be difficult to use.  Not at all!  Let me tell you, it saves for a lot of aggravation, it’s the easiest mouse to handle, and the best mouse ever created.

3.  The mouse powers down to save battery when it’s not in use.  Most wireless devices stay on and you would have to turn them off when you are not using them.  Not this one!  I think something as simple as a “power save” built into a wireless device is such a key feature that should be an eye opening to the consumer to go purchase the product.  Look at it this way…it’s less batteries you need to buy.  Batteries aren’t the cheapest thing and having a wireless mouse that powers down when not in use is what makes this a successful piece of technology.

4.  Something that I find really neat is that this mouse reaches 33 feet away with it’s bluetooth connection.  (See here for more information).  I like the fact that I can have my computer at my desk and bring my mouse to another location if I don’t feel like sitting in front of the computer. (Once I get the new wireless keyboard, this will work perfectly.)

5.  Finally it’s a nicer and smoother design than the Mighty Mouse.  I like the fact that it’s thinner and has a sharper look to it.  Now that might not be a reason for some people to buy it, but for me and many others, it definitely is.  It is a heavier mouse, but I think more effort and thought went into creating this mouse that the hardware and parts that went into making it contributed to the weight change.

I’d like to know what you think of both of these mice.  Do you own or have used both of them? What do you think of them when comparing them side by side?  Whether you agree or disagree with my five points for upgrading, that’s your call.  However, why would you upgrade…or not?

Further reading:

Has The iPad Excessive Hype Ruined Potential Interest?

10 Reasons You Should Buy A Mac

Are All Mac Users Upgrading To Snow Leopard?

Why Are People Afraid To Use Macs Over PC’s?

I think the word has been spread around the internet to the point of nauseam about Apple’s new iPad.  I always support Apple’s new products because I am a huge fan of theirs.  However, the big mistake made with this product was the marketing.  I mean, first Apple says, “It might come out soon,” then they say, “We’re pulling the idea,” now it’s released.  Can they make up their mind?  I think they may have lost potential customers with their flip flopping decisions as to whether or not the iPad would be released.

So, there’s no secret anymore, the iPad has officially been released and we are hearing the technology world go crazy and everyone is writing about it.  I’m a huge fan of new technology and always have been, but my initial thoughts on the iPad when I first looked at it were…”this is a mix between an iPod Touch and laptop.  I couldn’t see the value in owning one for myself at this point.  Does that mean I will never get one?  No, not at all.  However, I don’t plan to go rushing out the door for one anytime soon.  It doesn’t do anything that meets my needs to a higher degree than what I already have.

I have heard some say it resembles the Kindle.  Fine, I can agree with that as well.  Although, the Kindle is another piece of technology I never wanted to own.  The only reason and I mean ONLY reason I could possibly consider the iPad as a potential piece of technology I want to own is that it was made by Apple.  Other than that, branding aside…it just doesn’t do it for me. I think the biggest issue for me with the iPad is it received too much attention before it was anything at all.  Apple was indecisive and for the first time I was questioning whether or not they new what they were doing with a product.  Technology is always going to be hit and miss with some people, but what I am seeing in the early stages of this launch is a good amount of people aren’t interested in the iPad.

Apple, you shouldn’t have let word get out about this product so quickly because there were too many issues early on.  I think your aggressive marketing may be a downfall to this new technology.  With your other products you have always marketed just right, but will this slip up lead to less demand for the iPad?  Personally, I don’t think it will.  Apple’s name is too well known and respected that consumers are always going to want the latest and greatest thing from Apple.  Hey, who’s to argue?  They do make produce great technology!

What are your thoughts about the iPad?  Do you like it and would you buy it? Or, do you view the whole situation as I do and that Apple’s hype could be its worst enemy in this situation?

Further reading:

10 Reasons You Should Buy A Mac

Would A Netbook By Apple Be Smart?

Technology Innovation Huge In 2010

The Future Of Technology

With more companies getting involved on the variety of social networks out there, it begs the question, when will this be an actual full time position?  So many of these companies that are joining the social media scene, don’t really know how to use the platforms.  You can only wonder what will be the deciding factor for a business to say, “we need a social networks manager.”  Their job would be to interact with customers on these social networks, answer their questions, and hopefully lead those questions to potential sales.  Sounds like a win-win situation.  Those that are heavily involved on social networks can apply for a job they have experience in and the company is building their brand.

Taking a step back from this…when will this actually take place?  Who’s to say?  It may be never, but I think companies are foolish not to consider this as a potential position.  If they take a step outside the box and not use the excuse, “nobody else is doing it,” then maybe they can get that competitive advantage they need over competitors.

The main problem companies encounter on social networks is they use them as a broadcasting platform to make a sale.  That’s the wrong way to go about it because they aren’t building any type of relationships.  However, some companies do know what they are doing and are very successful in the social networking scene.  More power to them, but when reality sets in, most of them don’t know what they are doing.  Gary Vaynerchuk makes a great point…they can hire an intern for free!  For example, my internship wasn’t paid and this would be a great way for companies to test the waters and then decide if they would want to bring in a “social networks manager.”  Sounds a little crazy at this point, but who knows?  It may be a possibility in the near future.

My curiosity with this idea is how would they decide qualifications to be a “social networks manager?”  I think this could be a first.  Maybe they would check out profiles of those interested in the job and see how active they are on the variety of mainstream social networks.  Companies can look into the relationships these people have built and the trust their user base has in that person.  It seems like a revolutionary idea to me and I would love to see this put into play.  What are your thoughts?  Do you believe a position of this nature will ever come to pass?  Is this a good idea or do you know of something better that could be done?  I’d like to see your stance on this, so feel free to share.

Further reading:

How Can Social Networks And Technology Find You Jobs?

What Can Hiring A Social Media Virtual Assistant Do For Your Business?

When Are Social Networks Least Helpful For Business?

The One Social Networking Tool Essential For Your Business

10 Reasons Businesses Should Participate On Social Networks

This past Saturday, I was watching a thread from Robert Scoble on Twitter in which Robert and his followers were discussing a very interesting topic.  The topic was whether or not TV was dead.

Many people disagreed with Robert in his analysis of TV being dead.  I can definitely see their point of view, but I also can understand the point he was trying to make.  I believe that saying “replaced” sounds a lot better better than “dead.”  First off, “dead” implies it no longer exists and I think that word corresponds to living things…not an inanimate object like a TV.

With technology advancing to new levels, there are many past technologies that are going to replaced in the process.  A quick example is newspapers.  Online content dominates and is the primary way people are getting their daily information.  Newspapers have a presence online and for the most part, many of these newspapers allow their content to be read for free.  So, the idea of a paper newspaper will soon be obsolete.

TV still is running well and attracts many viewers, but online video content has allowed people to catch up on TV shows they missed with full episodes available to them. It raises the question as to when television will be watched only on the internet and buying TV’s won’t be a necessity anymore.  That may raise the question, what about those who play video games?  Hook it up to your computer.  If your monitor is too small, consumers may buy larger monitors.  All-in-one solutions with technology is what customers want because they want their lives made simpler. Now will this idea come to pass in the next few years?  Probably not, but 20 years from now, we don’t know what to expect or predict.  We have to wait and see and that’s the beauty about technology…it brings new and exciting things.

Claiming that a piece of technology is dead is rather strong to say.  Things get replaced, just like when you replace food in your pantry because it’s out of date or you are out of that item. Technology can be looked at in the same way.  It’s the “I don’t need this anymore” or “there’s something better” philosophy when it comes to technology.

It all comes down to personal opinion and what your definition of the word “dead” is when it comes to technology.  I think though Robert’s question lead to a great discussion and really made people think and interact on high volumes.  However, I am curious as to how you feel.  Do you believe this is true?  Can TV or a piece of technology ever be “dead”  or is it like what I said, replaced?

Further reading:

Will 2010 Still Produce Positive Upgrades In Technology?

Web 3.0 - The Next Generation Of The Web

Where Would We Be Had Technology Not Advanced?

How To Make New Technology Work For You