Warpjam

Almost any web product these days needs a good dashboard to be of any value to its users. I’m becoming more and more adamant that any product that I work with gives me a succinct view of my interactions and activities in a smart and innovative way. This trend will become more prevalent as social networking sites like Facebook and such provide you with a very tight view of your sphere of interest. The same holds true for any vertical that you might focus your attention on. Google analytics did a very good job of sexing up their analytics dashboard but even I’m still getting used to it.

Dashboards should leave a user felling fulfilled and informed at a quick glance. That’s the design and product question that should be asked and answered when building such a beast.

I really like this piece by Uncle Dave. His thoughts on why twitter is elegant and powerful are bang on IMO. [update: so are Scoble’s] Its not because its got a better UI or more social networking whizbang or P2P elements added to it. Its because it’s created a greenspace with a structured API that allows the users to make up their own uses for it either as users or developers, that powerful.

Pownce should not be knocked however for trying to build a better mousetrap. We tend to shit on folks who have nothing but the best intention and ultimately want to try new things and iterate on other peoples ideas. That’s a good thing IMO.

And a public thanks to Gabriel Mansour for the pownce invite which allows me to have a more informed opinion on the whole matter Ping me in the comments if you’d like an invite to the Beta so that I can pay it forward.

All the hype surrounding the iPhone is a bit much. As an Apple zealot even I have to admit that. The marketer in me however is fascinated by the means in which Apple has chosen to release details surrounding this so called revolutionary product.

To me the real revolution is the free advertising that Apple is getting and the brilliant marketing plan that’s being executed. Microsoft would have instead announced a $500mm marketing campaign!! (Oh wait…they did that!).

Hence the bolded line below from TUAWs post. I wish we could get someone from Apple to CaseCamp and dissect it for us (the marketing strategy that is

The Unofficial Apple Weblog TUAW

There is no denying that the hype surrounding the iPhone is… well, a bit much. We here at TUAW are as guilty as anyone for contributing to it, but I would point out that it is our job to obsesses over Apple and we do it so well. All the blame for the hype shouldnt be placed squarely on the tech media though, it is clear Apple is egging us on by slowly releasing information about the iPhone as we get closer and closer to launch in contrast, Microsoft would have had all this information about the iPhone available the first day it was announced… and no one would have cared.

Two former Barn Mates from Tucows, Frank Michlick and Peter Ejtel have launched SharedReviews.com a site that allows its users to write reviews and get paid for doing so (among other things)

At first glance it looks like a better version of epinions.com (which basically is languishing IMO). Upon closer review its very similar in process to Helium.com (whom I am working with at my day job) community filtered, quality review etc. I also like the Profile angle its light on details but seems to be going for an Technorati like authority aspect.

I hope that Peter and Frank are looking at ways to plug this into social web apps (Think Facebook platform!!)

I also hope to see Frank and Peter join in the Torcamp fun and build some fans and momentum through our very dynamic and vibrant community of Tech startups. DemoCamp Frank?

Its great to see former colleagues make a play of their own, I have great respect for both Peter and Frank and I think with a lot of focus and a few tweaks this will build into a very solid business with a vibrant community of Reviewers.

Cash aside I would hope that brand/product managers keep their eyes peeled on this site to see what consumers are saying about them. I’d pay to be given automatic digests from reviews on my brands (Hint, Hint!)

I love Gmail! I’ve been using it exclusively now for almost a year. No Mail.app, No entourage. I am forced to deal with Outlook at work but I endure.

I’m also a big fan of keyboard shortcuts and like most other geeks who love Gmail. I love its “Pine” like use of keyboard shortcuts. But one thing that I cannot understand is why in all that is good and green on this earth can I not “label” or “tag” a message from my inbox by pressing the T or L key?! Why Google.. why? It can be done in the most excellent Google Reader so why not in Gmail?

An for you Life Hacker wonks, please don’t tell me there is a  GreaseMonkey script. I’m not a fan I want native functionality that does not require me to make a weekend Maker fair project out of it.

PS. I’m Baaaaaaaaaack

One of my favorite people in the Domain Name Industry; Frank Schilling, gets interviewed by another favorite of mine; Ron Sheridan of Domain Sponsor.

This is a great video in which Frank shares some of his history on how he became of of the biggest and in my opinion the best Domainers out there. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Frank while at Tucows and I’ve also met him several times at various Domain conferences. He’s a man that is down to earth and more than willing to share his advise and experience. He proves that in this video. Thanks Frank!

Oh and recently Frank has also started blogging, for more daily insight to what domaining is all about check it out here.

Speaking of Domains. I’m back in the game baby! I just signed an offer letter from a very big and very cool player in the space and I can’t wait to talk about it! But that’ll have to wait until next week when I get a sense of this company’s blogging policy.

Speaking of Franks, props to Frank Michlick of Domain Editorial for the Link

Confused about Blu-Ray vs. HD DVD? Don’t know which one to buy? Well being the resident geek in most settings (TorCamp Largely EXcluded I get asked all sorts of interesting “what should I buy” questions.

Thanks to blogs and  YouTube I often  send them to a link or pull out the old Macbook and take em for a spin on how I appear so smart about this stuff.

Today, while trying to show someone the differences between Blu-Ray & HD DVD,  I came accross this great video (which really needs an embeded player BTW) that is obviously slanted against the squeeze job that Sony is apparently trying to pull with its Blu-Ray format. Regardless its a short and informative video. Check it out here.

If you’ve been calling my cell phone and have been having a hard time reaching me please note my new contact number:

+1(416) 848 7324

BTW 3 months to iPhone!! (in the US anyway)

Rageboy, thats what I would call it. I noticed that more and more I was getting angry at silly and insignificant situations instead of going into my more useful problem solving mode. This is a good story from the Vancouver Sun that attempts to answer the question…

Why is everyone so darn angry?

[Via the Vancouver Sun]

I think through a lot of reading and a little introspection  I’ve really quelled the anger that I saw in myself and I’ve instead started focusing on what really matters to me and to see all those things in the most positive light possible. “What we focus on expands!”

Newly re-minted Torontonian and TorCamper Will Pate announced that he will be joining the ranks of CommandN to co-host with Amber Mac…Rock! I’ve been a big fan of the show since the beginning and Will brings something to the table that will really improve the show a lot.

I first met Amber at one of the first Toronto Podcasters meetup in 2005 and she was just getting started with Leo at CFH, its been amazing to watch her creativity and career rocket while still being totally approachable and down to earth. They raise em right in PEI!
Speaking of down to earth and approachable. Will Pate of Flock fame I met online on the TorCamp “swarm” (more about that later) and then subsequently at various Torcamp events.

Toronto’s been going through a real renaissance in terms of building a rock solid and supportive community of peers and collaborators and having folks like Amber and Will within it and hopefully reporting about it just makes us stronger and more connected.