Here are my initial thoughts on the iPad. I picked mine up this morning from the Keystone store in Indianapolis. I will keep updating my thoughts with some videos and pictures of the day. Let me know what you think or if you have any questions I can answer.
Update: Here is a link to Pictures of the Pickup on Facebook. (Photos of iPad day)
For those of you that follow me on twitter, you know I have been counting down the days till I get to pick up the Apple iPad. I will admit to anyone I am a fan boy, but the more I see this device on video reviews the more I am convinced that this is a game changer when it comes to computing technology.
If you haven’t seen some of the video reviews, here are the links. I dare you to watch any of these, and then tell me you don’t want this device.
MacBreak Weekly from the TWIT Network (iPad Revealed)
Walt Mossberg from the Wall Street Journal (Laptop Killer, Pretty Close)
Apple set out to create a whole new category of device. One that is in between the smart phone and the laptop. Not only have they done that, but they have created the world’s best e-reader, the best photo browsing experience, and from what I can tell a whole new way to browse the web.
I am already salivating at having this device in my hands and browsing without a mouse. Remember when you saw “Minority Report”? Tom Cruise was moving images and documents all over the place with his fingers on a computer screen. I remember thinking how far fetched that seemed.
Now in less than 48 hours I will be living those scenes with my iPad. If all of this wasn’t enough to convince you, remember, you will have access to 100’s of thousands of your favorite apps available in the iTunes store.
Check back here on Saturday as I plan to post video of my pick up and opening of the box. In the mean time I will try and get some sleep, but it will be hard. It is kinda like Christmas eve.
I wanted to show some examples of how you can use social media to make a difference. This particular episode focuses on using streaming video and a web site to help raise awareness and money.
Here are the links that we talk about in the video.
Finally don’t forget to follow me on twitter for more updates.
To have success you have to commit. You have to do it every day. You can’t take days off, and you can’t just relax on the couch and expect to see results. Now you may think I am talking about your marathon training, but I am really talking about your social media efforts.
Social Media is just like weight loss or training for a race. You have to put effort into it. There are no easy fixes and no magic pills you can take to get the results you want. I believe this is what some people get frustrated with. Just like with exercise, if people don’t see immediate results they tend to give up.
For example, if you register for a Twitter account tomorrow and decide you are going to build a following and really get your message out there, it isn’t going to happen overnight. It won’t even happen in a month.
However, if you have a plan and you execute it each and every day, you will start to build a following. That group will continue to recommend you and your following will get bigger and bigger. Just like with weight loss you may hit a plateau and thats ok. This is not the time to stop, it is the time to press on because you will see results.
I will warn you, there are lots of scams out there as well. People will promise you thousands of followers for a small fee. While that sounds good and may actually happen for a short period, these people are not qualified followers and eventually those people will stop following you.
To get the results you want, good, hard, honest work is all it takes. Set your plan and go for it! Blog even when you don’t feel like it. Tweet those two extra informative tweets. Friend that Facebook user right before bed. Go the extra mile. Make a commitment. It’s a social media marathon, now get in the race.
I get asked all the time, “How do I know when it’s time to redo my web site?” This is a very good question, and it differs for everyone. I did, however, put together a Top Ten list of when you know for sure it is time to make some changes. If you have any more to add feel free to comment below. Enjoy.
Top Ten Ways You Know It’s Time to Redo Your Web Site
10.) Your home page has so much copy visitors’ scroll wheels break before they reach the bottom.
9.) You seem to have titled every page with the clever, search engine friendly word, “Untitled.”
8.) You currently have more than one animated .Gif on your site. Wait a minute; make that if you currently have ANY animated .Gifs on your site.
7.) You are using the new cool technology called, “Frames.”
6.) You decided it would be best to just upload all your pictures at the original 300 dpi setting.
5.) You are using comic sans, as your cool, hip font.
4.) You have a midi file of “Imma Be” by the Black Eyed Peas playing the entire time anyone is on your site.
3.) Your page background is a giant repeating image that makes visitors go into a seizure if they stare to long.
2.) When measuring your analytics, you immediately go to the hit counter on your home page.
1.) You have the “Best Viewed on Netscape 3” badge prominently displayed on your site.
