Communicating in Africa
The world has become closer through telecommunications and social interactions over the past century. Humans from one part of the globe can contact each other via Skype, email, chat, telephone, text or video. We are truly a flat planet. I especially notice it whenever I travel to Africa or developing nations. The pulse of the digital frontier is on the African continent and for many years until recently it has been looked upon as the last place to look for technology innovation. Now the tables have turned and entrepreneurs are investing millions to stimulate Africa’s digital economy.
In countries like Kenya where SMS texting is not just a communication tool but a way of life to handle business, receive news and transfer money rather than going to a local bank. Mobile technology has created a new transformation for Africa and more telecommunications are looking for ways to penetrate this growing market of users.
Here is a article that you may find interesting on this topic Kenya’s growing cell phone market gets investment
Exercise Your Mind & Body Episode 1
We have started our podcast series that will be a monthly program on the latest book reviews, author interviews, and creative ways to stay healthy. Stay tuned and follow us on Twitter @Bookido.
Personal Podcast Draft
Here is the link to download the draft of my Personal Podcast.
New iphone App Allows You To Record In The Field
Have you ever been somewhere and wanted to know what the name of a song was but could not figure out the name of it. Or maybe you wanted to record a interview or story but did not have a digital recorder. Well Audiofile Engineering has released a iPhone and iTouch application that allows you to record at any moment. I consider this phone application solution a comparison to what the Flip Camera did to the camcorder. Providing Pure Technologies a commanding 23% of the video camera market in less than two years.
This new application has many things to brag about making it the first application broadcast WAVE data, and instant downloading formats in multiple files. At $5.99 this application offers Sound Cloud integration so that users can upload audio files directly online and “share” them instantly.
If you have used the Fire application send us your personal feedbacks.
A Tapeless Podcast
Many people who are not podcast subscribers think of podcasting as a audio file only. This is why video podcasting has opened major opportunities to entertain and inform another audience of listeners. In this post I discuss a few basic tips on why a tapeless podcast is good for archiving and editing. As I review cameras and digital gadgets on this blog that are essential in producing a quality recording it is important to also explain their benefits.
Mixtapes vs. Podcast
In 1979 popular music culture was dominated by disco music, rock n roll, R& B, and funk bands that were entering the 80s with a gumbo mixture later known as hip hop. The culture of hip hop began as a subculture for young people who were not old enough to get into the late night disco clubs and could not afford the many instruments of a rock band. Instead they developed a form of art that intertwined music, fashion, art, and dance that grew from Jamaica sound systems to American Latino and black communities in the inner city.
Hip hop as a culture in the beginning was underground and often criticized by the older generation as a fad that would not last longer than a few years. This avoidance became a growing epidemic that eventually stretched to the west coast, suburbs and all across the world as a dominant youth expression. Building from the rebellious music of Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix, Funkadelic, The Rolling Stones and Led Zepplin hip hop began to express the anger of American ghettos in a form of poetry that required blunt verbal sentencing. Mixing this lyrical format with modern technology instruments like the turntable, keyboards, and drum machines the rhythm reflected a new sound that allowed boys and girls to dance in style called B-boying or B-girling. The usage of new technology became crucial in hip hop’s early stages as more producers and writers were able to make an album without the large budget spending of a six piece band.
Record companies saw this evolution as a great opportunity to make profits without big investments. The only problem was to convince the radio stations and TV networks to allow hip hop to perform in the mix of their traditional playlist. There was no “hip hop” hour for DJs to play unlike a blues show, rock show, or R & B show in regular broadcasting radio stations. Once the underground demands for this new form of music out grew the resistance, hip hop finally entered mainstream media. Commercialization became part of the marketing of the record companies and profit was the only concern which in return choked artist from expressing themselves honestly. The mainstream music became a negative reflection of the communities that vibrantly birthed hip hop providing radio programs the power to choose what people should hear.
Why Should Businesses Podcast?
As more applications are developing each year changing the way we communicate with each other one of the most relevant forms is podcasting. Since the rise of itunes grew rapidly other directories compete with the giant Apple in both audio and video formats. With podcasting the dialog is changing from media companies and corporations telling us what they “want” us to hear to the consumer “creating” their own demands. According to a UK survey over 80% of listeners will seek the products and services they hear about in a podcast.
In the beginning, podcasting was not fully understood from a business perspective instead it was very selective. Only technology influencers followed this new form of audio communication until the ipod was saturating the globe and itunes directory dominated the downloading of paid music. This new medium created a platform for podcasters to begin a new revolution while reaching larger audiences. Without the constraints of major radio broadcasting, listeners can enjoy personalized talk or news programs unlike other traditional media outlets.
Black Berry Storm phone Review
Smartphones have become an increasingly popular mobile device in the past 5 years. With the emergence of various brands manufacturing cell phones that can do more than just accept emails, and make phone calls. They are the continuous form of communication in various media outlets. Mobile telephones have swept the professional world and the 44th President of the United States by “storm”.
The BlackBerry Storm was released on November 14, 2008 revealing wireless features like CDMA with EV-DO Rev. A data and quad-band GSM with EDGE data access speed making the Storm the talk amongst tech geeks. Installing these Evolution Data only wireless transmissions, the BlackBerry Storm can pick up broadband Internet access providing the IP address up to 1.8 Mbit/s which can support any application on its network. The Storm is available in Asia, Brazil and Europe on HSDPA frequency bands and GSM wireless in North America. Since AT & T, Tmobile and Fido do not operate on the same 3G frequency bands as the rest of the world, BlackBerry Storm wireless data speed are only possible once the local GSM networks support it. As a person who travels internationally often I believe that phones should be accessible in foreign countries without locking constraints. Even with locked phones the Storm can be unlocked and used with any GSM service provider.
In the book Convergence Culture, Henry Jenkins wrote that “consumers will be more powerful….but only if they recognize and use that power as both consumers and citizens, as full participants in our culture”. This culture is the the growing combination of social networks, email accounts, video uploads, microblogging, downloadable music, and photo sharing that is becoming more and more common in modern day society. As more web 2.0 start ups are rising everyday more business models are changing as well. The increase of expectations consumers have for their products are forcing manufactures to design tangible products that will be a one stop shop for all the persons mobile needs. Developers Research in Motion (RIM) decided to enter the touchscreen mobile market with a 9500 series BlackBerry without a physical keyboard. RIM patented the technology to allow the touchscreen to react like a button using SurePress. Skillfully listening to the complaints of the Apple iPhone feedbacks and how it’s touchscreen does not stop random “clicking” while in pockets or using by fingers. Since BlackBerry makers wanted to continue the longs standing loyalty of its users the new model carried many new features that allowed the user to merge their online networks onto their mobile networks. Enabling both the PC and mobile phone to be combined into one technology accessible anywhere in the world. With small, light and at the “touch” of your fingertips smartphones like the Storm people are instantly seduced to update their Facebook status or micro blog on Twitter using various applications that give many buyers reason to purchase the phone.
Storm vs. iPhone vs. G1
According to Gizmodo gadget blog article “BlackBerry Storm is Pricier to Build Than iPhone 3G” the Storm’s CDMA network chip cost $203 dollars to build compared to the $233 that the iPhone 3G costs. The Storm marketed itself as a reliable and professional product compared to the iPhone with its futuristic design integrating ipod emotions and Apple branding. Since the creation of the iPhone revolutionized the touchscreen feature on cell phones, eager technology enthusiast where waiting for the next phone that would compete with Apple Inc. confidently.
The BlackBerry brand has even been favored by President Obama who lobbied to keep his secure BlackBerry in the White House. The iPhone was revealed by Steve Jobs on June 29, 2007 and since introduced across the world ever since. The iPhone was the result of an AT& T collaboration to spend thirty months and $150 million dollars on developing a multi touch screen camera phone. The phone became a instant top sellers with hundreds of Apple followers and technology geeks waiting in hour long lines to purchase their first iPhone and new ipod music player. The iPhone opened another door for multi tasking, multi-media users with the ability to download applications that will allow each person to share pictures, update calendars, or receive alerts. The BlackBerry has been the same tool used by business professionals who want to use various applications for leisure and productively.
In order for RIM to truly succeed with the BlackBerry Storm they must improve a few rookie mistakes that will make the next model even more productive and functional. The flat 3 inch touch sensitive screen gives the Storm a excellent grade in design but the software is a little too “soft”. Reviewers wrote that the web browser could not support complex webpages inheriting issues with sluggish performances and refusal to switch orientation. Without Verizon’s wireless network many Storm users lacked a decent amount of Wi-Fi support. Reseller News writer David Haskin noted that BlackBerry’s major business features, such as enterprise e-mail integration and Microsoft Office document editing capabilities were on par with BlackBerry’s previous offerings, noting that these features would likely make the Storm more popular with the business crowd .
Many of reviewers felt that most of the problems (lag, accelerometer accuracy, etc.) could potentially be fixed by future software updates since this is the first release by RIM. Unlike the T-Mobile G1 phone by Google the Storm does not have the Android market mobile platform. Released on October 22, 2008 the G1 phone was a introduction by the Open Handset Alliance so that various business firms could work together for open standards on mobile devices. Established on November 5, 2007 Google and 34 members including application developers, mobile carriers, and mobile handset makers formed the OHA. The alliance was rejected by Nokia, AT& T and Verizon Wireless although Verizon has indicated that it may soon join the Open Handset Alliance. The major software for the alliance is Android which is an open source license that competes directly with other mobile outlets like Apple Inc., Microsoft, Nokia, Palm and RIM.
Conclusion
With so many applications releasing everyday the smart phones of today are becoming more and more sophisticated providing the user with many different ways to organize and communicate. The BlackBerry Storm arises to the occasion and places itself within the touchscreen market only to release too soon before creating a better functionality phone rather than a reaction to the iPhone phenomenon. The most prominent feature on the BlackBerry Storm is the “haptic feedback” technology used on the touchscreen allowing the user the sense of touch by applying force, vibrations or motions to assist in virtual objects.
As society begins to converge itself with more gadgets and savvy technology experiences I believe that we have yet to reach the full capacity of what can happen in the near future. Owning a cell phone 25 yeas ago was a so huge that you had to leave the phone in the car but over the years digital components became miniature and the development of smaller, lighter batteries helped market the cell phone as a carrying device.
The Storm has many great functions and it will continue to serve the business community while gaining new customers in the near future. The “click” sound comes from holding the touchscreen for a long period of time, but clearly they will have to develop more practical improvements like a long lasting battery life in order to really form a cult following like the iPhone.
Using BlackBerry’s in places like Africa and Asia will not be an issue but how can mobile phone users in those countries join the rest of the world and have them available at affordable prices to bridge the digital gap between developing and developed nations. Only time will tell when we will see the next big tin in mobile communications and how it affects our daily lives and working environments.
References
Jenkins, Henry. (2008)Convergence Culture. New York. New York University Press
Topolsky, Joshua. (November 19, 2008) Black Berry Storm Review. www.engadget.com
Ziegler, Chris. (September 23, 2008) Verizon tells us about the BlackBerry Storm “wow factors” www.engadgetsmobile.com
