Molly Wood attacks the iPad

Yeah she actually says only New York liberals are going to buy this thing, trying to pretend she's as controversial as Ann Coulter. But never mind her, because real business people know what the score is, and the AMAZON team is more than a little concerned about this iPad thing selling quite a bit more.

Now as a Kindle owner I will probably keep both. However, after seeing the video of eBook reader on the iPad, I can instantly recognize it as something I would appreciate more. It really LOOKS like a book. The Kindle reader is more like an etch-a-sketch, and the screen is all the Kindle will have going for it (even though it is only in B&W) once the iPad is released.

Furthermore, you cannot read typical PDF files on the Kindle. I tried downloading some already and was shocked to learn the "Kindle does not handle this type of software". Man, one of the reasons my wife got it for me was to read the slew of PDFs I have on my computer. Not only will the iPad be able to download and read PDFs but it will open up an entirely new market for eBook producers (us) to directly submit and sell via the iBook Store. Think about that, a mere 10 MILLION new units to market YOUR eBook to!

Add that to the (seemingly dated) square button toggle navigation, the real buttons (that wear) next-page navigation, and the convoluted home page and setting navigation you can see why Amazon is in panic mode right now about the iPad.

Keep in mind Apple will be making deals with any kind of book publisher, so there will be no limitations as to what gets sold through the iBook store. If you have shopped Amazon through the Kindle store, you know already that there are nowhere near the amount of books sold there as in the general Amazon website.

Molly Wood complains about it not having a phone or video, as if someone was going to place a tablet on their ear or point it at someone to shoot video. Apple already has products that can do that, duh??

They are not in the business of overlapping themselves, they are in the business of defining new markets, like no other company has done, at least as consistently.

I have quite another take on your Apple iPad opinion:

Leave it to Apple to:

* Create an entire new market segment.
* Make an eBook feel like a REAL book, (unlike my Kindle).
* Make eMail ACTUALLY look fun to go through
* Possibly save MANY newspaper subscription services
* Have 1,000s of programmers eager to create APPs for the iPad
* Design a product that will bring "new" seniors to the internet
* Have iPad displace several digital gadgets in the home
* Have the planet abuzz with one introduction
* Sell 10 MILLION units in year one
* Expand their client base through the iPad

It's interesting to see how many people like Molly Wood are making fun of this product, when at the very least you gotta admit these Cupertino dudes that wear jeans at work, kinda know a thing or two about running a multi billion dollar company > which is about to change the industry, yet again.

in reference to: CNET on Apple iPad: No one should buy this thing | freep.com | Detroit Free Press (view on Google Sidewiki)

Tournament Indicator Poker Software

Glad you were able to use the information I provided you for this article Steve. Clearly though with your experience with Poker Edge, did you really have to ask?

Here is some additional information for your readers - I have posted one of profiling videos using Tournament Indicator.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yretIgQXSM

And here is the full review of Tournament Indicator

in reference to: Is Tournament Indicator Software Legal? - Internet Poker Software (view on Google Sidewiki)

The iPad and Online Poker

This would have been a great tool for online poker, but only in the casual sense. Playing a game while, basically doing something else.

There are however some real limitations to this being a possibility including hardware, internet connections, the iPad OS, and of course the lack of multi-tasking.

Oh well. Just have to get that Mac-Book I have been thinking about.

in reference to: Can the iPad be used for online poker? | iPhone Poker APP Reviews (view on Google Sidewiki)

Seth Godin, Standing out in the digital age.

This video is great as Seth points out some fascinating businesses that are doing remarkable things in marketing. The fringe of the consumer population is where new companies can grab a foothold and expand business from there.

This is because there are so many options for consumers, who oddly, have less time to choose amongst them. For example, Seth Godin makes a point about there being a magazine for water now with a full 180 pages an issue.

Good speaker, and entertaining video.

in reference to: Seth Godin on standing out | Video on TED.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

Tom Hanks and Wil Ferrel will send off Conan O'Brien Friday.

Good of Tom Hanks to show up on the last day of the Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien. This was also a good joke about Conan's support staff getting treated by NBC.

Anyway, the drama appears to over soon, and I hope Conan gets a show somewhere else, but please, anywhere but FOX. How about Sirius Satellite Radio?

in reference to:

"On Wednesday night's show, speaking of a push to get a severance deal for his staff from NBC, O'Brien joked, "At first they thought I was gullible. They said the staff would be taken to a big farm, where they'd be allowed to run free forever." O'Brien's final show will be Friday, with Tom Hanks scheduled to appear as well as Will Ferrell — his first guest as "Tonight" host last June."
- NBC: Conan O'Brien reaches deal to exit 'Tonight'; deal includes severance for staff - chicagotribune.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

Will says "People hate SideWiki" but it's really just webmasters, not end-users.

If your online business is not “in” with social media, then you will simply be scrutinized even more by hiding behind the market truths, whether good or bad. Users will be more inclined to wonder why you aren’t connected, than what you have to offer them.

in reference to:

"If your online business is not “in” with social media, then you will simply be scrutinized even more by hiding behind the market truths, whether good or bad. Users will be more inclined to wonder why you aren’t connected, than what you have to offer them."
- 5 Ways to Sidewiki for Success (view on Google Sidewiki)

Get social, or get lost.

This is true. It's the webmasters who choose the blocking strategy that will lose ground in the coming growth of social marketing.

Consumers will not only have SideWiki as a powerful tool, but many other social APPs that will assist consumers in sharing REAL information about a product or service. So whether dumb-ass online marketers like it or not, it will be happening. The questions is are you as a business person ready for it?

Ready will mean getting engaged with social users, responding with and communicating to them where they like and on their terms.

in reference to:

"I agree with Jason Falls‘ assessment of Sidewiki, It will force every company in the world with a website to get hip to social media and do it now."
- Google Sidewiki: Post Comments to Even A Competitor’s Website « FUEL LINES Fueling Ad Agency New Business Through Social Media (view on Google Sidewiki)

SideWiki has lots of enemies in the Warrior forum.

A lot of Warriors are still steaming about SideWiki claiming it is immoral, illegal, supports pornographic spammers and is basically the next evil coming.

No you won't find much logic there, as such statements are backed with a despise I have rarely seen online.

But do webmasters have a point about this? When I say webmasters, it must be the huge majority because you just don't hear anyone saying anything good.

Except, you guessed the end user. They will decide how this thing gets used, and how widespread it will be.

Do a twitter search for SideWiki and guess what? The social users, ie > our customers are not dissing SideWiki, they are asking "how to install it", "did you see my SideWiki post", and "I am trying out SideWiki now"

Do not dare ignore the end users in this market, which is turning very "social".

in reference to: SideWiki nonsense in the Warrior Forum | Social Marketing (view on Google Sidewiki)

Website design.

Having been a webmaster for some years now, I started out with what I would now call "rude" looking designs. However, fast forward 15 years and there is simply no excuse for that anymore, especially from experienced marketers like Steve Wagenheim here.

Whenever I see a website that reminds me of the 1970's, I simply cannot give it the time of day, nor consider any kind of a trust exchange.

Seriously, what would compel someone to back back to this blog often as Steve so requests.

The bottom line is, you have a few short seconds to convince a reader that it's worth his time to stay on a website and look further. This example, I am afraid is one of the sites that has a costly bounce rate due to poor quality graphics and photo, outdated text and colors, and a call to action that may only get response due to a perverse curiosity.

For more tips, you can check my new online marketing blog at Turtleknife.com

in reference to: Steve Wagenheim's Writing And Marketing Site (view on Google Sidewiki)