Okay you claim your team uses these sites, like twitter, youtube, facebook page, etc, but for some reason I can’t seem to find them on any of these platforms. Well of course they have a Facebook Profile, who doesn’t. Facebook Profiles are only for your friends though, right? I consider myself a half decent Googler, so if I can’t find you, chances are you don’t exist. Which ultimately means you are lying. I’m not saying you can’t plan a social media strategy for a client, I’m sure anyone with a little bit of marketing skills can. What I’m more implying is that you tell me that you are, but aren’t. If you really are, LINK TO IT. I want to see @yourname. I want to see you communicating with people.

One of the biggest things I believe Traditional Marketing Companies get wrong it, Social Media is a 2-way street. You can’t just push you content at people, you have to talk to them. You are not using a mega-phone, your using a telephone.

Don’t be fake, be authentic. Oh by the way follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Youtube and Flickr.

What is everyone thoughts on Flash? I’ve disliked full Flash websites since day one, but some design companies keep making them.
The iPhone has never supported flash but because of it small screen it wasn’t really an issue, but now with the iPad and its ability to show full webpages it seems that Apple really is pushing for HTML5.
Flash is good for somethings like advertisements and online video, but do you think we should move away from it? When you think about it, it does seem odd that you have to have flash downloaded in order to make certain function work, should websites be fully compatible with a standard web browser?

That being said, I want nothing more than for it to succeed. That is why I am torn about the possible opportunity of making YkOnline a joint venture. Losing something that you built from the ground up is hard, especially something you’re passionate about. That is not to say I would loss the site completely, but going into a joint venture I would loss a certain percentage of control. I’m personally worried that once another person comes along I would fold to any idea they offer. In some areas I’m not very good at standing up for myself, which is a self-confidence issue.

Part of my reasoning for being a little paranoid about a JV is because I don’t understand what it is. I’m obviously looking for help with the site; it is hard for me to keep it up-to-date with current information on a daily base. What I was hoping for in a partnership was someone who shares the passion of the community rather than someone with a journalism background. That’s not to say that wouldn’t be great, but as someone with out any journalism background I would feel intimidated and feel as though I didn’t have the smarts or any good ideas for that matter to contribute.

Then we run into the question of money. I have put countless hours into YkOnline.ca over the last year where I have made no money, then add in the cost of running the site. There is no way I could give up 49% of the site with out getting a good deal in someway or another.  The site currently makes no money but come the end of April I will start to push getting advertisers and try to generate revenue through ads. If YkOnline.ca were to split between more than me, how would we split the revenue? Considering I would probably sell the ads, invoice, and do all the dirty work, what does that entitle me to. Many of these questions will be answered upon meeting the possible partner, but I’m just putting them out there so I have an idea.

Now you know the situation, so my question is how would you go about this if it were about your blog, or hyperlocal site? What you even consider it? What would you want out of it? What is your general opinion of Joint Venturing a site like YkOnlineca?

Overall I keep telling people that it is just as good or better than expected. As a heavy iPhone user, this is something I was longing for as I could see the potential in the device but found its size hard to use. At the same time I have heard many complain that it is to big, men break out those man purses, and to hard to carry around. I personally don’t think so, but I’m someone who often has a backpack or messenger bag with my MacBook Pro in it. I can definitely see this device allowing me to leave that MacBook at home. Carrying the device is much like carrying a 8.5×11 notebook around or even a hardcover book for that matter, as iPad is also being marketed as an e-reader.

Lets look at the usability of the iPad. With it being a steroid injected iPod touch, it works much the same way. Slide to unlock, slide sideways to change home pages, etc. I quite like that fact here’s why. Before Apple had even announced the iPad I didn’t think consumers would be able to handle yet another Apple operating system, so for the iPad to run on a built up version of the iPod OS makes it easy for users to adapt to how it works. With the screen being larger than the iPod/iPhone, it gives developers more to work with and allows them to display more features at one time. Take for example the BlogPress app, not only does a user have a section for creating a new post, they can also see all their previous posts. So far Tweetdeck is off to a head start with an excellent looking Twitter Client. The iPad is very easy to switch from portrait mode to landscape and makes using the device all that much better, especially for those wide screen movies.

The apps and the community within them is something that will make the iPad succeed. As of right now there are not many and some are still buggy. Keep in mind that developers have only been able to use computer simulated interfaces to create their apps. The one app that got me a little frustrated was the NetNewsWire app, which I paid $9.99 for and it wont even let me launch it anymore. It just crashes when I tap its icon, I’m hoping a update will fix this problem soon. I still use the NetNewsWire desktop client on my Mac and prefer to use it even though it is connected to Google Reader. One of the major reasons for buying an iPad is for a feed reader. Much of the time when I try to read blogs and feeds I get distracted by other thing that are happening on the computer at the same time. With the lack of multitasking on the iPad I hope to be able to sit down and actually read some intriguing blogs. All that being said, as more developers get the iPad there will be many, many apps available. As the more apps come out we will then see the true potential for this device and trust me there is lot of potential for this deceive, games, medical, homes, travel, consumption and so on.

So how do we connect this device? I held off on getting a 3G version of the iPad for two reasons. 1) It is not available yet and 2) I didn’t want another device with a monthly plan. Simple enough and I think a lot of consumers are thinking the same way. What I am planning to do is get a MiFi card from Bell. I know what you’re thinking, I did just say I didn’t want another device with a monthly plan, but hear me out. Bell offers a iPhone/MiFi combo plan which is what I plan to get when I get back to Canada. Although even if I didn’t have plans to get a MiFi card I would still get a WiFi iPad because the majority of places I intend to use it have WiFi. Besides connecting to networks, you’ll need to connect the iPad to a computer, this is done simply with the provided, standard, iPod(iPad) usb cable (connectors are all the same). I on the other hand also picked up a dock which has the connector for the usb cable and an audio out jack, although the iPad does not fit on the dock when the official Apple case is on the it (bad planning, guys?). Nonetheless having the dock is nice accessory to have, especially if you intend to use a external keyboard via bluetooth.

Of course being one of the, probably hundreds of, Canadians who were across the border and able to get the iPad on April 3, I’m sure you have run into the issue of not being able to use your Canadian iTunes account for the iPad. iTunes will not let me do anything on the iPad through the iTunes or Apps Store. It simply tells me, with a very prompt push notification, “Your Country is not Supported”. I have yet to think of a logical reason as to why I’m not allowed to use me own iTunes account. I can, slightly, understand why they hold off on releasing the device in other countries, but blocking my account my Canadian Account seems uneccassary. If they don’t want consumers from other countries using the iPad yet they should have us verify our residency while purchasing the device. All they real did was make me use my US Account. Yes, I do have a US iTunes account, I am a geek after all.

So there you have it, a bit of a review, a bit of an explanation, a bit of a rant and Apple’s new device, the iPad. My overall impression of the iPad is good. I see the potential and can confidently say that I will be using this device all the time wherever I am. A quick note about the no camera issue, well that is not an issue for me. I will always my iPhone will me and don’t use Video Chat enough to care for it.

Thank you for reading. I invite you to share you thoughts on the iPad and/or yell at me for being a fanboy.

Oh, by the way. This entire post was written on my iPad.

What I am thinking in my mind is somehow sending audio/video from my Video Camera to my computer. I am hoping that the computer will then see the incoming A/V from the camera as a webcam type device.

The idea is to be able to stream mobile content online without being tied to a computer with cables. I realize the range may be an issue, but I was thinking of being able to wonder around a room, while the computer would be in a stationary place.

If you have a solution or know where to find one, like a link, let me know. Or even if it is something similar.

You all know I get some new Podcasting/Audio equipment last week, well I have been trying to set it up and get it going properly. It hasn’t been working as well as I hoped. I seem to be having issues with getting the mic loud enough to record my voice with out taking in all the noise around me.

I think some of the problem is how I am recording it to the computer, I’m using a usb device that came with the mixer. I may just try a direct line in and out and see how that goes.

Anyone with any expertise out there want to offer some advice? It would be much appreciated.

Here is what we got:

• 2 x “L” shaped mounts (Shelf mounts possibly)
• 1 x  1/4″ bolt 2″ long with nut
• 1 x  1/4″ Wing Nut
• 2 x smaller bolt and nut
• 1 x 1/4 Lock washer

We attached the 2 “L” shaped mounts together with the 2 smaller bolts to make what looks like a “C” or “[” shaped mounting device. Attaching a video camera was easy once we drilled out the hole to 1/4″. We then screwed the wing nut on the 2″ bolt backward. Once we did that we then put the bolt through the “C” mount and screwed it into the tripod hole in the bottom of the video camera. When the bolt was in as far as it could go, we tightened up the wing-nut to the bottom of the mount securing the camera to the mount. To get rid of the sharp edges and to make the device a little more appealing we covered it in electrical tape. Before we covered the handle we wrapped it in cotton and then loosely covered it with tape.

What the video of the process of making the Camera Handle Mounting Device:

Hopefully I will have a video of the studio setup some time soon.

• It recorders in Standard Definition as well as 720p & 1080p HD.
• Uses a SD card to record on.
• Has a removable battery
• Has an Audio in jack – Which I will use for interview or just better audio.

The video I recorded of the new camera, from the Flip, is as followed: