Thinking out loud 6 (for now) reasons twitter could charge corporates (and perhaps others too)

I’m not a social media expert but with all the people going “no way corporates will pay for what they are currently getting for free”, I had to jump in with my contrary opinion. I think they would pay for the right package, and here’s why

1) Identity issues
the whole issue of identity management is important, and it *has* a cost and value - I suspect it can fly. After all, people pay for co-validated SSL certificates, they might pay for a corporate set of twitter accounts which required verification (and cost something) and would a)give people trust it is really the company it says it is b)make sure other people cannot pretend

2) Multi-user accounts
Allowing for 1 twitter stream shared by multiple people contributing, in an orderly manner, or to link multiple twitter accounts in some form of “twitter net”. And perhaps company private messages as well as public ones. Or groups.
Yes, some of those can be achieved with third party tools but corporates aren’t going to mess with that - they want a complete integrated solution.

3) Serious management tools
to archive and delete tweets, but more importantly to search and filter them. Yes, there are third party utilities, but most aim at a totally different public, the hobbyist or blogger, not the corporates who might have 30 minutes a day max for twitter itself at times.

4) better tracking.
I don’t mean the kind of keyword tracking that means you can detect and join conversations about you (that’s #7) , but ticket-style tracking, to make sure no incoming tweet gets missed (which is ok if you are a person but a PR nightmare if you are a corporation).

5) better integration
tools to integrate twitter with other company communication solutions, from their own websites and blogs to email and mobiles. Easily. With corporate languages and tools.

6) agents
i.e. ways to program twitter actions that trigger specific outside-of-twitter actions. Easily. With corporate languages and tools. Could be contests, polls, voting, orders, event booking, or meeting scheduling. Some of these can be done via third party improvised solutions, but again a corporation will want the whole package from one partner, with SLA and accountability. I think twitter sees this one

7) marketing support
- audience analysis
- audience segmentation

8) full business intelligence analysis
audience and message analysis
- user profiling
- provenance
- types of messages, independent, incoming, replies, retweets
etc.

9) filtering

I think 7) and 8) are likely to be outsourced to third parties for a while

Meme Time: 7 things you probably don’t know about me

1) I’m a 5 minute cat detector, due to an extremely strong allergy (although it has gotten better).

2) When I was 4 years old my parents asked me if I would prefer a little brother or a little sister. I replied I’d rather have a dog. It somehow took the wind out of their sails, since I never got either sibling or dog and had to wait 30+ years before I finally go a dog.

3) In spite of the story in 2), I was a fertility expert at 4 - we had friends of the family visiting, married 2 years previously, and somehow the conversation went to their yet unsuccessful attempts to have a child. I embarrassed my mother by explaining in sufficient detail how these things worked. It was worth it though, as a few months later they were expecting. I don’t remember this at all, but supposedly I was very proud that my advice had worked.

4) I have my mobile phone ringtone set really low, so I don’t hear it if I am concentrated on work or a conversation. Most people I have worked with really cannot understand this, but it makes sense to me. If I am working well, or in a conversation with someone, I don’t want the phone to interrupt!

5) I find it hard to remember numbers, and often also mathematical formulae. The number thing goes for phone numbers, but also for a lot of the physics and mathematical constants which we always use - quite crippling. It took me years to remember the basic trigonometry rules, I used to have to rederive them on a side piece of paper. That pattern went on - I can go through the reasoning again, but can’t remember the exact final result without going through it. I suspect it made my studies harder than necessary!

6) On the other hand I can remember almost every fiction book I have read, what I though about it, and where I got it - which library or store etc.

7) I’m better at starting things than finishing them, will put the 7th entry later

Gameswatch: a Space Rangers 2 review

Game: Space Rangers 2: Rise of the Dominators

From: http://computergames.ro/en/games/viewitem/id/3582/name/space-rangers-2-reboot/section/review.html

An interesting type of missions are the planetary battles, at which point the game makes a right turn down RTS lane. Basically, you have an army of faithful robots you need to use in order to capture enemy bases. The enemies are in fact the Dominators, and when all three types meet on the same map, you can be sure they will not be afraid to battle each other.

A mech-warrior-like lab can be used to configure your robots, choosing armor, propulsion and weapon systems (and there’s plenty of those). The way the robots are built is vital, and alongside the terrain, it can decide the outcome of the battle, resulting in a dynamic and furious strategic gameplay. No thanks to the AI, mind you, which is a bit silly, but more likely to the intelligent design of the maps.

Furthermore, we have an interesting (although not completely original) feature: the ability to manually control any robot under your command, at which point the game becomes a true FPS. In it, you can take the enemy head-on, testing your design and adjusting as necessary, in an action-packed sequence that rivals the old Starcraft in terms of strategy and reaction speed.

But perhaps the most exciting type of mission is the so-called adventure. These are nothing but text puzzles which can be solved by selecting the presented course of action. Variety is again the key-word here, and you will need to use logic, mathematics, memory and imagination in order to solve them.

If for example winning a rock competition, with only a few hundred rockadollars to your disposal, or winning a motorcycle race may be somewhat normal, the slightly disturbed imagination of the producers can be observed in other such adventures. Such as the test for a sex-change, where you need to let yourself be transformed into a six-eyed raccoon, and battle your peers. Or cooking a gross-pizza for a hungry Maloq.

Or getting a form stamped (who would have thought the secretary was hiding in the toilet). In a word, each adventure is original and full of funny moments, if you have the patience to fully go through the text. The humor is everywhere and of high-quality, and I wasn’t embarrassed to laugh on my own when I saluted a Maloq prince is a full-force jab, or read a silly question in a press conference (during some presidential elections).

More about Space Rangers 2: Rise of the Dominators

Use-what-you-have-challenge: I need a plan

This refers to Challenge: use what you have but the summary was that:
Each week I will do the following
1) read a book I have owned for more than 1 year. I will alternate fiction (easier) and non fiction
2) play an old game I havent played in 1 year, or ever
3) watch one of my old DVDs
4) spend some time on one of the million web2.0/community sites that I registered for and never did anything, and decide whether to dump it or not

I’m not doing too bad on books and DVDs, but games are tough - I am not playing my existing games and still tempted to buy some of the great games coming out… maybe making this public will make me stick to the challenge…

Games I could revisit:

Descent 2 and Descent 3
Sacrifice
Freespace
Red Faction
Evil Islands (under way)
Might and Magic 6 (under way)
Disciples 2
Sacred
Neverwinter Nights
Arcanum
SWAT 4
Myth
Chaser
Fable
Silverfall
Max Payne
No One Lives Forever 2
Prey
Iwar 2
H&D 2
Armies of Exigo
Europa 1400 & The Guild 2
Hostile Waters
Tortuga Two Treasures
Battle Mages

That’s just a random grab from my list  - I’d welcome suggestions/votes as to which one anyone is interested in my revisiting and writing about

The embarrassing games list (or “why i shouldnt buy any more games”)

This year I have decided to revisit old games, and as a part of this I tried to check how many games I actually have around…
The embarassing things is that there are quite a few I can’t remember playing.
Here’s the list (missing some of the Steam and Impulse games + some casual ones):

Read More...

Iphi’s cheapskate list

Things I learned back in 2002 when I had to make 3 months’ salary last over a year while starting a business.
Note: If there is interest I will to update this with links for the UK and some new things that have appeared since (online mostly)

Some general points:
* Get over the idea that what you own somehow is connected to who you are and what you are worth, and the fact that some people will see it that way (these people are not worth it!). You are a fascinating and cool human being even if you don’t own design furniture or the latest iphone.
* Question why you buy. I used to buy a significant amount of stuff because I liked to think that I would be the kind of person who would read/learn/use them. I still have at least 50 books on very academic discussion of very arcane subjects - I was interested in the topics but fooled myself into thinking I might read about them at that level. I know people who barely can ski but have the top kit. Catching yourself before doing this is smart
* Use a buying queue. When you want something, write it down, and wait 3 or more months. If you still want it, then buy. I waited a year to buy my K10D camera, and I’m not sure even that long was enough. I have used it and I love it, but I haven’t used it as much as I was telling myself I would.
* When it comes to entertainment, focus on what is 2+ years old. There a tons of older films, older games, older books that are absolutely delightful, and you save loads because they are available used, sometimes even free, they are easy to get in rentals (at the lowest price) and in libraries etc.

COSTS:
- read up on taxes, insurance, utilities etc. I know the sites for the UK but not for other countries, but there usually are places to find out about options you have to save money
- ring your current suppliers for everything from utilities to telephone to cable, and ask if there is a way to get your bill cut. There might special deals or new options since you joined. Especially worth doing with your mobile phone company even if still on a contract. I got quite a lot of savings both with O2 or Virgin just by ringing regularly. It works especially if you are calling to complain about the service quality or a billing error, but has even worked when just calling to ask.
- drive less, car pool with friends or acquaintances (or even via a service), get a scooter for short trips etc.
- look at where your money goes, and scrutinise especially anything based on a monthly or recurring fee - subscriptions, memberships, weird insurances
- buy things second hand, via the charityshop/salvation army or on ebay (never fall for buy-it-now!).
- If you know your measurements and what suits you, great clothes can be found on ebay, as well sports items. Benefit from other people’s hoarding. Although a lot of basics like socks or underwear can be found cheaper in bulk in real stores.
- Reuse - you probably own a lot of things up in the attic or the garage that you dont use anymore. Buy maybe these books can be reread, this hobby revived? If not, sell or give away
- Join something like freecycle and offer what you dont need anymore, and then go there first anytime you need something. It’s very hit and miss but I know people for whom it has worked very well. There are often a lot of kid or pet items, as well as furniture and appliances, but also storage items, hobby items etc.
- try buying from the manufacturers, not the brands. Nowadays almost everything is manufactured by third parties for the brands. And very often these people also sell direct or under their own name. A bit of research is necessary to figure out which are worth it and which aren’t. We do this for the dog’s dry food, for example (called mad dog)

TECHNOLOGY:
- what people used in 2002 is still pretty darn good for most use. That goes for home cinema and computers and even mp3 players
- go open source or freeware. (do donate to those a little to make sure they continue to exist)
- look for commercial independent alternatives as well
- for things you only use occassionally, say a good scanner or photoshop, figure out whether there is perhaps a business centre where you can use them, or even your library or local community college
- if you have to have a particular (expensive) software, buy an older version (from legit sources), as sometimes you can still find them

FOOD
- drop the things you do out of habit, like drinking soft drinks, eating chocolate bars, or stopping for a cappucino. Turn those into occasional treats.
- Learn to cook from scratch. There are tons of recipes which allow for great meals quickly made and cheap. If you’re not experienced, start simple, with something forgiving like a fried rice, soup or a stew. Borrow a book called “the essential cook” from the library, or one of those “learn to cook” tv programs
- there are mountains of recipes online so no need to buy a cookbook! From rec.food.cooking to the major portals and new web2.0 social sites…
- Buy cheap meat. I read above about going vegetarian, but I dont think it is necessary. Eating meat less often *will* save money, you certainly dont need it every meal or every day. But buying a whole leg of lamb, stew meat, or a whole chicken, or ground beef, especially when they are on promotion, is a very thrifty thing. You can get about 6 meals for 2 out of 1 large chicken. We do a lot of stews, which again allow you to make many meals out of one cookery session, and which go a long way. Now I didnt start doing those because I am thrifty, but because I like that kind of slow cooking, but it also is thrifty.
- Eat “pulses” - beans, lentils etc. With or without meat. There are a lot of great dishes that can be done with lentils, for example. If you think you dont like them, give them a try again as a curry or a soup or a stew. Chick peas
- use canned fish - Some of our absolute favorite meals here start with a can of crab or tuna. Now these are not “thrifty” dishes, these are the kind of dishes we ate in a restaurant, like southwestern corn and crab soup, pasta with caramelised tuna, crab stir fry etc.
- eggs - (unless you have cholesterol ofc) buy really good eggs from a farmers market and make an omelette - great way to use many kinds of leftovers. I love omelettes , but also scrambled eggs (perhaps with chives and dried mushrooms), or poached eggs on toast. On a similar note crepes/pancakes are a bit of work but a great way to make a cheap supper feel like a feast
- go “exotic” - a lot of the traditional recipes from out there are thrifty- they were the basic foods of people who weren’t very rich. Whether mexican or italian or german or swiss or vietnamese or anything, there will be some cost effective recipes that use common carbohydrates and vegetables and yet feel like a truly great meal.
I could go on, rave about pasta and potatoes and quiches and cabbage and root vegetables and pies etc etc but you get the picture.

ENTERTAINMENT:
- join the library - nowadays they have not only books but DVDs and music CDs too
- join a swapping group, whether bookmooch or bookcrossing or local groups
- join a reading group (at the library perhaps?)
- join a cine club, many places have them. Watch old films
- reduce your TV plan to the minimum or cancel it altogether
- pick up a hobby that allows you to make gifts and doesnt need expensive materials, examples: knitting, crochet, drawing, wood carving, baking, basketry, clay sculpture
- learn to sew is a good idea but sewing machines are expensive if you don’t have one.
- look at your local community college or adult education for interesting course or conference series (most places have subsidised offerings to learn everything from pottery to foreign languages)
- (re)start playing cards or board games (there are also groups for that pretty much everywhere)
- look around for free film preview schemes or special meal clubs - again I know of a few within the uk but not elsewhere

HEALTH
- stop the gym, it is expensive
- start an exercise program at home. There is plenty you can do without any machines, or with a simple ball or weights
- take up hiking, running or cycling
- join a group for the above
- in the summer, get a season’s pass at a swimming pool, they are often cheap

Now a lot of these I have always kind of done, always liked board games and hiking and libraries and cine clubs… but perhaps it gives people ideas :D

That’s all I can think up for now,

Iphi’s cheapskate link of the day: buy supermarket brands

(uk centric)
http://www.supermarketownbrandguide.co.uk/intro.php

Test all the supermarket licensed products to see which ones are really good. Save money where it’s worth it

Another good resource is the forum thread http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=23002

Explorations: how a site can finance itself: blipfoto

First, as I have said here and elsewhere before, I love blipfoto.

It is a very simple but beautifully done photoblog, or photo diary. You can only post 1 image a day (but no pressure to do it every day). The community is friendly, encouraging, and creative. If you are looking for a way to encourage yourself to take more pictures more regularly, you really owe it to yourself to check blip out. It certainly did that for me, to incredible degrees at times. I lost it over December but fully expecting to go back.

The site has been free for 2 years. But like every site out there, they have costs, and need to start covering those costs.

They are not adding ads, they are adding premium memberships, with improved features and additional bonuses (I suspect these will be special discounts, perhaps also ways to show/export your blog but probably a lot of premium information, courses etc. But I am just guessing). But they are doing something else that is very much in the spirit of the community created around the site: they are creating special supporting founder memberships:

(from the blog
you’re going to have a never-to-be-repeated opportunity to show your appreciation for everything Blipfoto has done so far, give us a kick-start for 2009 and stake your place in history with an exclusive Blipfoto Founding Membership.

For £40, you’ll receive:

- 18 months full membership, starting when we introduce our membership option
- an exclusive founding member’s icon, which will stay with you forever
- a specially produced founding member’s enamel badge
- 10% discount on all future Blipfoto purchases, including membership fees

As if that wasn’t enough, when you take out your Founding Membership, you’ll have an opportunity to pay a little extra and lay your hands on a set of 200 personalised Founding Member Blipcards. Again, this is an exclusive, one-off print run which will never be available again.

Why do I think this is so clever? Note that apart from a few token trinkets, you have no idea what the membership features will be. They are not selling the premium features, they will have plenty of time to do this later. No, they are appealing to their core users, the ones who love the service and would pay for it as it is (even though the service as it is will always remain free). They are saying “if you like us, trust us, and fund the time we are spending creating the next level”. I think this is an extremely open and modern way to fund an application, and a very courageous approach.

It works for me.

Even though I have no income at the moment I will become a founding member of blipfoto, because I have received real value from the site and want to support its team to do more of the same. I am not doing it for the badge or pin, I am doing it to support the site. I want to see what it can become, and am willing to chip in to make sure it gets the chance to get there (note that this is the same reason I paid for lwa, 72photos, aviary and others, and I would do the same for a site like bookmooch or friendfeed).