Klout Score from Klout.com - Do we need it?

It’s being stated that we all live in quite competetive atmosphere most of the time, which is, perhaps, why the way we are accepted by others turns out to be a highly essential aspect.

Here, I’m not even talikng about mundane routine, like what your spouse, or children or close friends are percepting you, and whether they appreciate your actions, or not. The importance of being treated in a good or at least tolerant way takes the whole universal scale and happens to be related to our colleagues, or bosses, or social network pals who might never meet in real life.

To say, the critical essentiality of being valued, certainly affected by our phychological strivings to be loved and cared about, doesn’t only presuppose the smiles on people’s faces, friendly hugs and numerous “thumbs up’s” in Skype from you old friend Paul, or John, or anyone else.

The thing is that this critical essentiality is also related to our initial desire to dominate and get more power, if not in the actual physical sense of the word, then in more spiritual way – that is gain a sort of influence over the others. We open our accounts in Twitter, Facebook, or a file-sharing site, like 4shared. We add friends, and sometimes even accept the friend requests from people we’ve got no idea about.

In this respect, a more or less new internet service Klout.com is what will enable you to track the amount of influence you actually possess over your web audience. The service will count you special Klout Score that defines how much your activity, opinions, or whatever on different topics has an impact on your friends, subscribers or followers. In such a way, as it’s suggested you can find the way to increase your score by vising the site more, inviting your friends, or simply posting more interesting content, which will be further shared, retweeted, liked and commented.

Having tried Klout.com myself, I was a bit disappointed, or wasn’t I? At first glance, it looked fun, but was it useful? I doubt that, and here’s why:

1) If you can increase your Klout score simply by opening the official site more, can the actual influence on others be even talked about? Just the site-visitor counter, perhaps.

2) Your Klout score checks only the social network activies, but doesn’t take other activities of your into account. That is, no matter how popular I am within themed software forums, for instance, no matter how many times my shared documents and apps are downloaded at 4shared, I still get the disappointing 12,71 Klout score.

Anyway, for those, who are into every single appearing web service or gadget, Klout.com should be more, than fun to try. Yet, its usability is far more overestimated, from my point of view. It’s definitely losing to more powerful rivals on the market. May be, because it’s much younger, than others, may be because it’s been created just to have something created.


Stay cool
Andy)

GroSocial – a Handful Tool, or a Bright Accessory?

Undoubtedly, smart marketing strategies play likewise an essential part in developing one’s business, as the quality of the offered goods or services. The software industry, in this respect, isn’t any sort of exception of a rule, no matter how functional and useful a certain software product is.

The history and users’ purchases prove that it’s highly important not only to create an innovative gadget or software, for instance, but promote and sell it more. Here, with the sales being an indispensible factor in building and developing a software business, the marketing strategies and social marketing strategies, in particular, seem to be the one and only way to succeed and win the competition on the market.

What is essential, the sales I’m referring to comprise both the actual bought software, or gadget, or device and the wholesome sales from advertisement, for example. Therefore, even if the services or goods you offer are free of charge, like 4shared Android apps and many other useful device accessories, you can’t but develop and follow your social margeting strategy to attract more target audience, and consequently earn more. It’s all very simple: the better the strategy, the more money you’ll get.

Mostly because of the above-mentioned factors, many startups with carelessly built social marketing structure and insufficient accent on the image of their goods in social networks, have failed to become successful. And that is, in fact, why the new service GroSocial.com is seemingly very useful for your social marketing and brand management in the first place.

As I don’t run my own business yet, I couldn’t have tested GroSocial to its fullest, yet I had a chance to check if it’s worthwhile, or not. So, is it worthy of trying? The answer is: Yes. At least, you will have the idea of how you web-designers creativity can change the whole attitude to the brand you introduce to the public and even more, in which direction your startup, or company should head.

Nevertheless, from my personal point of view, it’s really hard to grasp how you should, actually use the site, though it really looks very simple in the interface. Moreover, the price of the service is also biting, if to consider that you can’t check what you’ll get in advance.

Anyhow, it should be your own personal decision whether to use, or not to use GroSocial for you social marketing purposes. But me’s gonna wait for the free analogue to appear.)))


Stay cool
Andy)

Cheating and Plagiarism in Software –Thin Line Grows Dimmer

To say, I’ve never been too judgemental, well, I’ve always been trying to stay away from the radical judgemental stuff, it sounds more honest this way)).

Anyhow, sometimes, it’s hard to be absolutely neutral in your opinions, and the matter of “cheating” in software industry is one of such aspects. Occasionally, you’re too taken aback to keep silent.

One of such occasions is the recent news about Microsoft taking royalties from the companies who they’ve signed Android patent deals with, like the latest agreement with Compal Electronics (China).

As far as cheating in a whole, whereas we’ve already got more or less accustomed to cases of plagiarism between the major rivals (iPad clones, and “similar” designs of thin touch smartphones, for instance), the fact that the respectful company takes financial advantage from initially free Android platform is nothing but appaling.

Again, even if to put all the judgemental stuff aside, are such deals completely legal? And if not, then how much can it eventually cost the company, if one of the competitors will decide upon taking the case to court?

It’s hard to say, if Google, for example, will sue Microsoft, or concentrate on its own business, but I’d be furious, if I were the company’s board member.

Here, of course, Microsoft’s behavior can’t evoke positive outlook from the side of their rivals or even the average users, as me, for example. But this turns out to be most dangerous in terms of large companies becoming absolutely shameless in their desire to make more money, using all disposible methods.

I certainly acknowledge that it’s hard to create something unique now, when it seems that everything unique has already been created. And it’s also hard to yield a temptation to make more money, if there’s a possibility to.

But I wish we would be less concentrated on financial side and pay more attention to creative part of every software product. No one needs 100 almost alike smartphones, strangely reminding us of iPhones, no one needs 100 YouTube clones, no one needs 100 alike file-sharing sites, oddly similar to 4shared, and no one needs the software companies, trying to fool everyone.

At least, that’s how I see it.


Stay cool)
Andy

What is Visual.ly in Reali.ty?

How much do we use our sight? Would we enjoy the majority of our computer devices if we couldn’t see? Perhaps, not, or at least not to its fullest, that’s for sure.

.. And we wouldn’t be able to feel how useful the service Visual.ly can appear to be.

Having been created to fulfil our better perception of data in versatile infographics, which are moreover much more interesting and bright to look at, Visual.ly has received incredible popularity among users of different occupations, from financial analysts to mere students.

As for me, the site used to exist in somewhat a parallel world, as I actually heard about it only yesterday. Feeling like a real giraffe and not having actual piles of data, which I need to put into an infographic, I could only test Visual.ly on my Twitter account.

Well…. If to speak about my impressions, I can’t dare say that the service is useless, of course, it’s not. If I needed to create a colourful presentation, it’d be hard to find a simpler method, than Visual.ly. But it seems nothing more, than a fun toy for such people, as me, who don’t face the urgent necessity of making an infographic, or something.

Can anything be modified in the service? Totally. To start with:

1) I’ve found the interface rather complicated to grasp at first glance, as it’s really hard to find the desirable menu option (for those, who don’t don’t know what they need))). Why not make the sections clearer (What the hell is Labs???) like at iTunes login page, or 4shared?

2) The whole selection of infographics at the front page confuses you a little bit, as you can’t but start reading the inserted data. Here, what if I had an essential project to prepare? It’d be more, than hard to interrupt reading and start, actually, working.

3) Ok, I’ve been too fastidious, there aren’t any more flaws at the site)))

All things considered, guess that the next level of the services, like Visual.ly should become the movie-makers enabling us to combine the random docs, photos into unified video files.

And what do you think, guys?


Stay cool)
Andy)

Confidence in Prospects - a Friend or a Foe?

Within the past years the technological progress has really become if not insanely-rapid, then at least very close to it. The new devices, apps and other innovative gadgetry are almost constantly presented, making us, the users spend more and more money and at the same time converting us into the pickiest people ever. Why not? What used to seem a mere dream a few years ago is now reality.

For now, while the public hasn’t yet overcome the delight about newly-released iPhone 4S, we’ve got a chance to check the long-expected Galaxy/Nexus Prime, which has all chances to beat its iRival with the features it has got inside.

In one of my previous posts (namely, Google Nexus Samsung - Still Waiting for.....) I was considering several possible reasons why Google Samsung Android phone hadn’t been introduced on time. Well, it turns out that strategical planning is the key-factor of a decision to delay its official presentation till now; when the whole stir about iPhone 4S has decreased at least to some extent.

I can’t really opt for any other version, as new Google Ice Cream Sandwich phone on Android 4.0 is absolutely stunning by all means, being likewise stylish, convenient and multifunctional, at least that’s how it looks like at the today’s official presentation in Hong Kong.

I won’t speak of all the announced peculiarities of the phone, till I try it myself, but there’re no doubts, really that the premiere is gonna be a success. I’d rather now check if Apple is ready for such a powerful competitor and observe the company’s plans for the nearest future.

With the released past-quarter revenue results being lower, than the experts have predicted, Apple’s new Captian, namely Captian Cook (lol)))) is pretty much self-confident about the upcoming so-called Holiday quarter and has even dared to claim that it’s gonna become the record-breaking time for the company’s sales.

Here, although some fans or simply optimists tend to believe new iCEO, I remain a bit sceptical. With no Steve Jobs, and Google and Samsung having already teamed up against Apple, I wouldn’t bully so much if I were Mr. Cook. There’re good chances that he might be “eaten” in case the expectations won’t be fulfilled.

At the same time, Samsung is continuously getting stronger and has already entered the world’s Top-10 fast-growing businesses, much due to its recent release of New Galaxy Tab 10.1 with 4shared services on the board and successful collaboration with ‘Giantoogle’.

Yet, I guess that we’ll see how the situation is changing only after the promising Holiday season.

Stay cool)
Andy

Farewell to SMS Exchange…?

Who’d we be without communication? The lonely creatures living in caves, no? Fortunately, the history has prevented us from this cave-like kind of loneliness; whereas the recent technical progress has already reached such heights that it’s more likely for us to crave for not communicating with anyone at least for some time.

In particular, the development of Internet technologies has expanded our opportunities in distant communication, not only we’ve got the phones, but a lot more. Moreover, the latest news from Apple has raised the doubts about the cloudless future of one essential aspect in mobile phones’ industry – that is sending sms.

The thing is that the newly-presented iOS 5 features presuppose the users’ opportunity to exchange messages with other owners of iProducts without installing any additional apps and, what is essential, ab-so-lute-ly for FREE. Seems to be a bit unrealistic, but it is actually true. Here, will the sms's fade sooner, than we could have predicted?

Undoubtedly, they can’t but become less popular, especially if to remind of options to exchange DM’s in social networks, Skype or even your file-sharing friends (4shared, for instance, enables you to do that with other site’s users). For now, I wonder, which trick will the mobile operators use to maintain their positions?

If further talking about DM exchange, one more essential aspect, also worth mentioning is the message history. Apparently, although the number of messages sent&received via iConnection will, perhaps, depend on the amount of your iDevice’s (+memory card) memory likewise as with old-known SMS’s, and Facebook or 4shared DM history is being stored without any limits in the taken space, Twitter still has got some troubles, concerning users’ ability to access some old-written messages of theirs. It seems odd, if to consider the service’s development paste and scale. It seems disappointing. And discouraging, surely.

In a whole, the fact that the newest technologies allow us socialize with people living in various parts of the world in a simpler way is more than awesome. But do they hide any danger for our face-to-face communication? I won’t be a moralizer here, certainly, I’ll just wish you all to have a good day and go meet my best friend over a cup of hot coffee)))


C ya)
Andy

Many Files - Will Greplin Help?

I’m absolutely sure of the fact that the amount of information we’re grabbing daily is not just stunning, it seems really unimaginary sometimes. And how can it even be possible at least to remember, where exactly we’ve decided to save this or that file of ours?

File synchronization may become one of the ways out, on the one hand, and this niche has been already filled with numerous competitors, many of which really know what they’ve own their popularity for. Well, if you’ve been reading my blog, you probably know about my personal favorite 4Sync)))

Let’s now check another possible method to get all your data together and keep it at one place, I’m not talking about file-sharing sites, like RapidShare or 4shared, though the latter provides much storage space for free. I’m rather talking of specific services gathering your files from everywhere, every site you’re using, including your Google Docs, LinkedIn account, etc.

This market field is now pretty much empty, yet I now for sure about one decent representative – it’s Greplin. In case you’ve never heard of it (which is weird, but whatever))), the service gathers your files from different sites, so you can access them in a simpler way. Moreover, Greplin has already introduced the new convenient feature, which enables to find the needed file even without remembering its exact name just by entering any keyword, which will definitely occur in the file you’re looking for. Nice, ha?

Of course, Greplin is nice. But there’re as always the particular flaws you can find. First of all, the service hasn’t actually been modified to gather your files from your accounts at file-sharing sites and those documents or anything else, which you simply store on other computers can’t be accessed via Greplin. So, basically, you should combine using your syncing, file-sharing services with Greplin to be have all your data at hand. That’s a bit confusing, don’t you think?

Ugh, for now we can only dream of things becoming easier in usage, what if the file-sharing grandees introduced their own inside ‘gathering’ feature? At least one less site to use…

Let’s see who’s gonna be the smart one here? 4shared, MegaUpload, or…?


Stay cool)
Andy

Google Nexus Samsung - Still Waiting for.....

No matter what predictions we might have we should be ready to accept the fact that we can easily be wrong about what we expect.

At least this definitely concerns the special occasion, which had to present the new Google Nexus Samsung Galaxy/Prime from Google and Samsung during the large-scale conference, entitled “What’s New from Android”. We were told – October, 11, 2011. We were prepared. And yet, today on October, 11, 2011 we already know that nothing is gonna happen.

The thing is that last week the companies announced their plans to postpone the presentation of new amazing smartphone to the open public. I won’t even talk about one more defeated expentancy in this field, cuz this will, perhaps, mean repeating myself, but I can’t but talk about the probable reasons of such decision.

1. Nexus Galaxy/Prime could have become one of the huge attacks on Apple with their new iPhone 4S which is by all means inferior to the unreleased iPhone 5 that we have all been dreaming of (don’t even try to lie to yourself, you want it too))). So why delay the release? This is quite a risky step on behalf of Google and Samsung, cuz they’ve missed the opportunity to strike everyone with incredible features of their innovative design.

2. The number of sold iPone 4S’s within the first 24 hours has exceeded 1,000,000 phones. Even though the device isn’t as spectacular, as it has been predicted, the popularity of iProducts hasn’t reduced. Here, perhaps the news that Steve Jobs died could even swell people’s desire to buy the newly-offered iSmartphone (even though it main sound cynical)… In this respect, would Nexus Galaxy/Prime manage to beat the iMage-phone now that everyone’s attention is stuck to Apple? Perhaps, not. So, was the delay just a smart step?

3. What do we actually know about the new Google & Samsung smartphone? Of course, it should be multifunctional. Of course, it should be reliable, much due to its having been created on Android OS. But it is good enough?

We all remember Samsung’s recent presentation of their Galaxy Tab 10.1. Guys have been fully prepared, and it seemed that they have somehow if not beaten but have almost reached the same level with Apple and iPad2.

It’s like the imaginary conversation:

Apple (A): Look how thin our device is.
Samsung (S): Ours is thin, too.
A: We have the wider screen.
S: Ours is also wide.
A: We have lots of apps.
S: We too. And we have the special Google Mobile Services and file-sharing stuff, like 4shared, do you?
A: (Pause) You can download everything from iTunes.
S: Android Market offers likewise as many convenient apps.
A: We have Steve Jobs to present our device.
S: We have got… well, we’re working on this.

Can the declared delay, therefore, mean that Nexus Galaxy/Prime isn’t innovative enough to compete with iPhone 4S? If so, the most probable reason for the official release having been postponed can be a simple the desire to improve the device beforehand.

Well, as always, let’s wait for a little while and we’ll see.)


Stay cool)
Andy)

A Tribute to The Genius...

Steve Jobs died. No Steve Jobs anymore. R.I.P Steve Jobs, you’re the best… These are the very first messages I’ve seen all around the Web today. It’s a shock. I know we’ve all had somewhat of strange preoccupation about his health in the recent times. But now, it’s a shock.

Of course, the value of Steve Jobs in the whole global software industry is immeasurable. The scale of Apple development is still a bit unexplanatory miracle for analylists and experts and ordinary users, of course. In fact, I firmly believe that if it weren’t for Steve Jobs himself, the company wouldn’t manage to become the most expensive enterprise in the world. The number of people in different countries using iPods, iPhones, iPads and Macs is totally incredible. No, even more, than incredible. And it’s only due to his efforts that the realities are as it is.

For those who might have forgotten, Mr. Jobs also founded Pixar and managed to contribute so much to the global development of animation technologies that these had been lifted up to the highest conceivable levels.

I can now write more and more about numerous essential achievements of this genuine genius of the mankind who we’ve now lost. But I won’t.

I would rather speak of him as an inconceivably smart man, a wiseman, I dare say and the inspiration he somehow put in everyone who’d ever listen to his speeches or read his interviews.

I now recall how I’ve watched his 2005 Stanford Commencement Address; it was so honest and sincere that me, the man, who’d cry for once or twice in my life after I was 3 years old, really felt like crying.

The eternal tenets, the eternal truth of how the life should be lived, how the people should be treated, somehow Steve Jobs managed to be a true icon for the society and just an ordinary man, wearing his black skinny sweater, his plain glasses and his barely shaved face-smile, all at the same time. He had become a real role-model for millions, but for me personally, he had become a sort of a teacher, who I’d now never know in real life, but who’s gonna stay in my heart forever.

Now that he’s gone, no one seems to replace him, but the technological progress won’t, obviously, stop, and the existing companies will continue presenting us the new products and services. Here, I have only one request for Microsoft, and Google, and Samsung, and 4shared, and HP, and, of course, Apple, and others – please, (c) Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish!..

R.I.P Steve, we’r gonna miss you a lot


Andy

Apple Media Event - Defeated Expectancy or Good PR?

You remember, I used to write about Android themed event in one of my previous posts (check Google and Samsung - New Global Invasion )…Well, according to the current tendencies, it wasn’t a surprise to hear about the upcoming Apple event 2011 just a few days before the one dedicated to the rival Android OS.

Now that Apple media event has already taken place, we can resume a couple of conclusions, regarding it. To start with, let’s remind ourselves of what most of analysists and users had expected from it – yes, exactly, the presentation of brand-new iPhone 5! To be honest, it would be a total knock out for all other competitors in the industry and a great proof of the fact that the heritage of Steve Jobs has the cloudless future.

Yet, what have we received? Nothing like iPhone 5 – just the upgraded iPhone 4S. Of course, it’s very much modified in comparison to the previous iPhone 4 and includes a great number of exciting features, among which me personally has the most of delight about innovative camera solutions.

But still, guys, iPhone 4S isn’t iPhone 5. It’s not, no matter how good it is. We were all waiting for a new Apple miracle, which didn’t happen. It’s like a child is silently promised a toy railway for Christmas, but receives one more sweater. Defeated expectancy, does it mean defeated trust?

On the other hand, if to have a look at this Apple event from the side of PR, I’d say, they are somewhat the real geniuses. Here, if you check, no one has actually announced the release of iPhone 5 for now, but with a number of ambiguous rumours the company has managed to attact incredible attention to the new product. Why not?

In a whole, I realize that the fight for audience attention and the greatest possible sales ratings is absolutely normal, but what about that awkward feeling, reminding us of not-THOSE Christmas presents in childhood?

Guys, don't do like that, we will anyway purchase what you advise us, too, we will.

I now adress this message to every service I’m using, including FedEx, PayPal, Google, 4shared, and all others – don’t try to reach financial goals by all means. Don’t follow Apple in defeating your users’ expectations!


Stay cool)
Andy

iTunes Renting Apps - Any Good to Expect?

How would like the idea of renting a mobile app for your phone? At first glance, the whole concept of renting games or any other smartphone applications seems a bit ridiculous, but…

… But, this doesn’t, apparently, look weird to Apple, as the company has decided to launch app renting at its featured Apple store accounts. Of course, the intentions are decent, because fighting piracy is definitely one of the ultimate goals in the software industry, as much as any other market niche.

… But, does the idea of renting apps for iPhones/iPads have any chances to work? From my point of view, it doesn’t look more realistic, than an elephant dancing ballet))) Really, to say, neither iPhones nor iPads can be called cheap devices to buy, so it’s not the greed for money, which forces their owners to look for pirate apps. It’s rather the curiousity and the desire to feel smarter, than iTunes or even the whole Apple company.

Here, how can the app renting eliminate the piracy problem, or at least reduce it to a certain extent? My personal opinion – it can in absolutely NO way. Payment always stays payment, and it doesn’t even matter how much you, actually, pay. Moreover, app renting will also force people worry more about the expiry date of the rent, the necessity to pay once more, etc., which aren’t exactly the best thoughts to keep in mind.

Anyway, of course, any innovations, or least any actions in the war against piracy are good, but it this case with apps for rent at iTunes, it’s obviously the company’s epic fail.

Now, can you imagine, that all companies would offer the temporary renting of their services?))) That would be “fun”, undoubtedly. I’d probably order 30 seconds of YouTube+ 40 minutes of 4shared + around 10 minutes from my e-mail service +…and so on, lol, every single day)))))))))

The only question would be the payment method, but if I opted for renting 10 minutes of PayPal, may be I’d succeed)))).


Hopefully the concept of introducing rented apps into our lives wouldn’t survive for long, and for the future,please, God, save the reasonable minds in the software industry))) We, the users, deserve them!


Stay cool)
Andy