I’m proud to introduce you to “Context Matters,” a new podcast hosted by my good friend Chris Saad and yours truly. This is a long time in the making and we finally committed to this series as a long-term program. Context Matters explores discussions at the intersection of business, technology and culture. My co-host, Chris Saad (@ChrisSaad) is a geek at heart and a long-time player in the startup community. Saad the co-founder of The Echo Experience Studio and spends…
Your invitation to events in Paris and London
These last few months have certainly been a wonderful whirlwind. With the debut of What’s the Future of Business (WTF), a research report co-produced with Altimeter Group colleague Charlene Li (The Evolution of Social Business: Six Stages of Social Media Transformation), and the roll out of the all new Conversation Prism (v 4.0), I’ve been inspired by all of your support each step of the way. Thank you. It is with great privilege that I announce a special book tour…
The Hunt for Social Business Value
Guest post by Ashley Furness of Software Advice When Microsoft announced plans to buy enterprise social network Yammer recently I was a little stunned. The reported $1.2-billion acquisition price tag seemed like a lot for simply replicating social networking functions in the business environment. Would companies really achieve ROI? Or would it be more of a “distraction,” as one user told me? Still, Chatter Product Marketing Director Dave King told me in a recent conversation that “social is more than…
Mark Drapeau’s New Job: Corporate Public Diplomacy via Innovative Social Engagement
Guest post by Mark Drapeau For a good part of my career, I was a scientist researching how animal behavior is controlled by genes and neurons. Desiring something more, I got a terrific fellowship from the scientific society AAAS in 2006 and was able to conduct science and technology policy research at the Department of Defense for a few years. That experience opened my eyes to everything from the inner workings of the military, to how the government purchases goods…
Crisis Communications 2.0 – Apple and the iPhone Price Bomb
One week following the aftermath, it’s worth another look to dissect and analyze what went right and what went horribly wrong in order for PR people to understand how to prevent crises and also know how to react when they inevitably arise. Gasp. Is it true? Can apple actually “do” wrong? Yes indeed, but before you can call em on it, Steve Jobs swoops in and saves the day, again. Yes, we all know by now that Apple reduced the…
iPhone for Dummies, 48 Hours with an iPhone
The iPhone is considered to be one of the most successful product launches in history. Although I’ve heard some incredibly, almost unbelievably gushing praise of the iPhone, I opted not to buy one while documenting the mania of iLines at the Palo Alto and San Francisco stores. But then a series of interesting events unfolded, as if I almost subconsciously set them in motion in order to justify the purchase of an iPhone. Last week, while loading the car, I…
Social Media is Not Dead
Rather than address the blogosphere with brilliant rhetoric and clarity regarding the Ferrari Incident, instead, Steve Rubel has declared Social Media Dead. Perhaps he’s merely tapping into the power of social media to spark controversy to displace the conversation on Techmeme, or, just maybe, he really does believe that “social” or any other category preceding the word “media” is dead. Jeremy Pepper calls it “Crisis Blogging to Defeat a Meme.” Open the Dialogue captures it with, “What strikes me most…
Microsoft PR Sparks a Blogstorm of Support and Outrage
Image Credit: istartedsomething.com I just read over on Techmeme that Microsoft PR may be digging itself deeper into another potential PR fiasco. There is a blogstorm out there with dozens of bloggers, myself included, casting opinions. Many of which I don’t necessarily agree with. I had to find out for myself, so I contacted several of the privileged bloggers who already have the notebook as well as other PR leaders to discuss the topic. Welcome to Crisis Communications 2.0. Microsoft’s…
This week: The Art of Start and Launch: Silicon Valley
My friend Zoli Erdos let me know about two important events coming up this week. On November 8, 2006, make plans to attend The Art of Start and Launch Silicon Valley produced by SVASE and Garage.com. The Art of the Start is a conference dedicated to helping entrepreneurs succeed. It runs from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Start-up authority and popular business author Guy Kawasaki and experts from Garage, along with Silicon Valley leaders and mavericks, venture capitalists, and successful…
Game on! Surround Sound for Xbox and Play Station
Late at night, when the house is still, the family is sleeping, and nothing is stirring – except for me CRANKING up the volume with a pair of these bad boys! Digital optical out. Dolby Certified 5.1. Eight speakers. Subwoofer. Rumble Effect. Wow. The Audio Xtreme 360 (AX360) connects to the console optical port to deliver optimum,Dolby certified 2.1 and 5.1 digital sound separation. It features eight strategically placed speakers, four in each ear cup. The external 5.1 audio controller…
