The iPhone 4 for Business?

You may have heard or read something about the new Apple iPhone 4. Well, let's be real... Yes, I'm sure that you have. Apple had a very large launch of their newest phone, with 1.4M sold in the first weekend (3 million in the first 3 weeks), and, as often happens in the work of the press that is supported by viewers and page views: They jump on the success of a quality company.

On Friday, Apple addressed the negative press that they have received in the first 22 days of the iPhone 4's availability. Even though they have sold an average of a million units every week, the press has capitalized on reports of signal interference and loss that have been reported and posted to the Internet.

What do I think about the iPhone 4?

Simply put, if you are in the market for a smartphone and are OK with AT&T as your provider, there is no better alternative for a business person. Here's why:

1. The iPhone 4 offers the most comprehensive set of business and productivity apps available
2. The iPhone 4 screen makes it much easier to read and process information... especially for aging eyes!
3. The iPhone 4 offers the full Internet, with all the important business sites making their video available on it without requiring Flash. Frankly, if a site won't allow you to see their videos on your iPhone, they don't deserve your business!
4. The iPhone 4 camera is an outstanding communication system for business, from whiteboards to product photos and video demos.
5. Email, calendar sharing, contact synchronization, and full support for multiple Exchange accounts work seamlessly.
6. The iPhone 4 remains a device you can use without training and without a manual.

In short, for a piece of technology that you can take out of the box and begin to use to experience productivity, you cannot beat the iPhone 4. It makes it even better that you can take it to a nearby Apple Store at any time with questions, issues, or training, should you want it.

Buy one and move on to your next challenge.

Steve Jobs is Right (Again)

Yesterday, Steve Jobs directly addressed the YouTube videos, press reports, and bloggers who have been reporting on signal strength loss with the new iPhone 4 (I'll address the iPhone 4 in a focused post early next week). He was 100% right in what he said, and I'm appalled by the response from both the mainstream media and the tech bloggers--both of whom I expect to know better and behave with better integrity. So, what is he right about?

He's right that:

1. The press and many others can't stand it when a person or company performs well and consistently. They tear others down in an effort to look good. What do you call people who behave that way towards others?
2. Every wireless device is effected by being close to a bag of salt water like a human body.
3. Apple made it's biggest mistake by having the spot that's most effected by the touch of a hand be marked by the black line between the two antennas.

You know from reading this blog that I think success is to be celebrated, not destroyed, so you can imagine how I feel about the ridiculous attacks on Apple and Jobs by the press and bloggers. But, that's how they sell ads, I guess. What it means for you is the same as it does for most so-called news outlets: take it with a gigantic grain of salt!

What you may not know about me is that my engineering background is in analog electrical engineering. When everyone else in my class in the MSU Engineering College was focused on digital systems, I was working on antennas, transmission lines, and cellular radio technologies. Recently I have returned to work in that area of engineering (primarily with 4G networks), and I can claim far more expertise than the riffraff who have been writing about "Antennagate." As a result, starting with the announcement of the iPhone 4 (in fact, from the photos and dubious article published by Gizmodo of the iPhone 4 before the announcement) I expected that the less-knowledgable would grab onto the external antenna as a bad idea.

But, it was a good idea. And Jobs is right: every wireless device is impacted by proximity to a human. Unfortunately, the FCC creates tests that don't do a reliable job of representing real-world use scenarios. And to add to that, the manufacturers have to comply with the FCC requirement often to the detriment of performance.

Lastly, completely unintentionally, Apple happened to mark the weak spot with the black band at the bottom of the iPhone 4. With the design of the antenna and that obvious black line, curious amateur engineers would bridge the two antennas with their hands to see what happened. What they found was that the device's signal was negatively impacted.

Of course, it's not for the reason that they think. It's not the bridging of the two antennas. If it was, turning off the signals to the second antenna (which is Bluetooth, GPS reception, and WiFi) would eliminate the issue. But, that's not what happens, because that's not the real issue.

I'll post my specific thoughts about the iPhone 4 for business use early in the week next week. In the meantime it is vitally important to understand that most of the people writing about this situation have absolutely no idea what they are talking about, are more concerned with controversy and page views than truth, and do not look at devices as tools but rather as collections of features.

None of which is helpful to you as a person looking for a tool for your business. More about the iPhone and business next week. In the meantime, post your thoughts in the comments...

Here are a few posts from other places on the iPhone 4, so-called "Antennagate," and more rational commentary:

Inside Apple’s Actual Distortion Field: Giant Chambers, Fake Heads, And Black Cloaks

Radio engineer: Consumer Reports iPhone 4 testing flawed (u)

FaceTime and Why Apple’s Massive Integration Advantage is Just Beginning

Total Recall Or Total Bull? Some Perspective On The iPhone 4 Antenna Frenzy

The Anandtech iPhone 4 Antenna Review

iPhone, Android, or Blackberry?

I wrote the following a couple of weeks ago, shortly after buying my iPhone 4. I decided to wait based on some of the initial reports of issues with the iPhone 4. Following the Apple Press Conference today, I've realized that I let the press's typical bad-news advertising-driven reporting skew my thinking. The following remains the truth, and if you are a business person trying to read through the hype, here's what you need to know:

Which Phone for You?

With everyone interested in the battle of the smartphones, Nielsen released their smartphone analysis. The analysis shows steady growth of smartphones when compared to the overall mobile phone market, with 23% of users carrying smartphones in 1Q10, a 2% increase from 4Q09.

Perhaps more interesting, both RIM's Blackberry market share and Microsoft's various Windows Mobile systems lost 2% market share, and Apple's iPhone and the variety of Google's Android phones picked up 2% each (to 28% and 9%, respectively).

As interesting as numbers geeks might find this, what is the real implication for those trying to make a decision about a smartphone?

Here's the easy version:

1. An iPhone is the choice if you are looking for a full-featured handset.
2. If you do not like Apple, or since the iPhone is saddled with AT&T in the US and you will not (or can not) use their network, choose an Android phone.
3. If you only want to use your smartphone for phone calls and email, a Blackberry may be your best choice. I'd still choose an iPhone for you, though.

...and that's really your answer in a nutshell.

It's hard for most people to remember what phones were like in the first half of 2007 when most of the analysts were talking about how Apple was finally going to make a poor choice and fail as they entered the overcrowded smartphone market. Instead, the iPhone completely changed the face of mobile phones--and the mobile Internet--forever.

As Apple introduces the iPhone 4, they are once again creating a challenge for their competitors. The quality and precision of the device itself sets a new standard for how your phone should feel in your hand. Doing so will make every other phone feel cheap in comparison.

This is simply brilliantly competitive.

In continuing to push for their "intersection of technology and liberal arts" as CEO Steve Jobs has mentioned in two separate keynotes, they are developing technology that is far more natural than its competitors. The fact that Microsoft's CEO Steve Ballmer said during this year's D8 conference that the iPad is "just another PC" shows just how limited the vision of most technology companies is.

So, unless you hate AT&T--or Apple--the iPhone is your best smartphone choice today.

An Apple Fanboy?

Last week, someone suggested on my Facebook page that my middle name should be "Mac" since everyone just expects that I'll have the new Apple products as they come out. I've been thinking about that a lot, and checking in on myself to see whether I have simply become an "Apple fanboy." I don't think so.

About a year ago I wrote about an experience on an airplane talking about my MacBook Pro (MBP) and my thoughts about the almost religious fervor surrounding much of technology. As the iPad emerged, that fervor has been renewed, it seems, and Apple is reaping the financial benefit of a constituency fed up with the technology status quo.

What does that mean for what I write?

Well, right now, I think that Apple products in general represent the most effective human-centric products available today. As a result, other technology companies are making efforts to improve their products to better address the needs of typical people instead of for the technically-astute minority. In fact, systems and applications have become so complex that many of the technorati are having difficulty keeping up and working with them.

I saw the sea change begin a few years ago when I began to notice that many of those I know in the technology industry were moving from IBM Thinkpads to Apple MacBook Pros. Many of them were not using Microsoft Windows on their Thinkpad computers, either, but were running some form of Linux or Unix. When the shift occurred, they all began to work less on their computers, and more simply using them as tools. That was a big shift in productivity!

Ultimately, that's my focus: your productivity. When I recommend products, it's because I think they will make you more effective. Remember what Peter Drucker taught: Efficiency is doing things right... Effectiveness is doing the right things efficiently. Be effective!

So no, I'm not an Apple fanboy. I am instead committed to what works best for you. You'll read about those products here as I review more... Coming up soon...

Google Voice Follow-Up

If you are using Google Voice, check out the Top 10 Clever Google Voice Tricks for some insights into new ways you can use it.

How Safe are You?

It was the late '70s in a suburban Michigan neighborhood when I first felt it. I had bought my ten-speed bike--a beautiful brown Schwinn Varsity with tape-wrapped drop handlebars--back when no one had ever seen one. People would stop and ask, "Why do your handlebars go down?" That bike was special to me. I used it on my paper routes for years and rode it everywhere. But it was gone.

Someone had come into our garage and left with it.

I felt violated. If my garage wasn't safe, what was? It churned my emotions for a while, and I still remember those feelings.

Today, thieves don't have to break in to your garage. They can break into your computer. If they did, what would they find? Do you know?

I do, and now you can, too.

Identity Finder, created by the company of the same name, scans your PC, Mac, or enterprise systems for telltale content like credit card numbers, passwords, social security numbers, and more. I'm willing to bet that it will find content that you forgot. For example, remember that time you emailed your social security number? What about that friend who sent you their VISA card number for your trip?

Identity Finder will find them and remind you.

These scans show you the files where the content is found. The application also shows you a browse view of the file with the content highlighted. It let's you decide what to do with the information it finds, including allowing you to encrypt and archive the report.

In my case, between the first and second times I ran Identity Finder on my Mac, I had packaged information for my bookkeeper, including my credit card statements. Those files had my credit card numbers in them. I had been careful when getting them to her, but I had left them on my system unencrypted! And I had forgotten. Identity Finder reminded me.

There are, of course, a few imperfections. The application displayed some of the file previews with the entire file highlighted so it was difficult to determine what it had found. It took me a little bit of time to figure out what to do with files where multiple triggers had fired. But, these are small limitations, and I can still unequivocally recommend Identity Finder as protection against leaving your personal identity information just sitting on your computer storage.

What have you left laying around that a black hat could steal?

Identity Finder is an excellent way to find out.

Evernote: Notes Anywhere and Everywhere

With the emergence of real mobility as demonstrated by the Apple iPhone, Google Nexus One, Microsoft Windows Phone, Windows netbooks, and now the Apple iPad, we have a new problem: keeping track of our data and making sure that it's available everywhere we might want it. Last week, I wrote about using Dropbox to keep track of all of our files, and it is a key component to the overall system of keeping track of your stuff. Another key is to be able to capture notes, photos, web pages, and even screen shots and have them organized and available wherever you are and whichever of your devices is at hand.

Enter Evernote, the ubiquitous capture tool.

Like Dropbox, Evernote is a system designed from the cloud out, and it uses the cloud for some very interesting functions that I'll discuss more in a bit. First, though, let's look at the basic functions.

Capturing Where You Are

One of the keys to your personal organization is being able to capture your ideas, notes from meetings, white boards, web sites, and your computer screen in the moment wherever you are. Evernote is the tool I use to do that.

Two weeks ago, a prospective client invited me into their headquarters to meet with the CEO, President, two Vice-Presidents, and a member of their board who had introduced them to me. As we sat in the executive suite, I pulled out my iPad to take notes and opened Evernote. I typed into Evernote during the meeting, capturing their concerns, the key outcomes they wanted, the people involved, and the next steps. Then, before I left, I sync'd the note to the cloud. When I arrived back to my office, the notes were already there. They were on my iPhone, too. In other words, I could go to work on the project using my other computers without skipping a beat.

That's how I want to work! Do it once, use it everywhere. Perfect.

iPad App

The Evernote iPad app has even more interesting capabilities that make the overall system more powerful. For example, you can view all of your notebooks and see the number of notes in each:

You can also see everywhere that you created notes, provided the device you were using allowed Evernote to figure that out:

And you can look at all of your notes by tags that you create and assign to your notes:

Cloud Functions

In addition to the synchronization functions, and browser-based access to your notes, the Evernote servers also process your image notes and perform character recognition (OCR) on them so you can search their content. This is especially useful when you've taken a photo of a whiteboard and loaded it into your Evernote notebook.

The servers also organize your files using metadata plus information you enter yourself such as tags and the notebook into which you store it.

Together this creates a powerful storage and recovery environment for text, images, audio, PDFs, digital ink, and attached files (the latter with the premium service only).

Try it and let me know how it works for you.

Files, Files Everywhere!

As I have expanded my usage of multiple systems, from the iPhone to a Mac Pro, my first focus was making sure that whenever I needed files, I could find them. Fortunately, there are a number of solutions for this challenge, and, as usual, I've picked the simplest, most elegant solution, Dropbox. I did try other systems like Apple's iDisk and SugarSync's namesake system, but problems in using either of them in terms of performance and reliability have me avoiding them. Since I decided not to use them, I'll not spend time on describing them, but in outlining my use of Dropbox, you'll see why I like the simplicity better.

Dropbox is free to use as you get started, with a starting Dropbox storage of 2GB. First, you download the Dropbox installer to your Mac or PC. After you install it, you will see a new Dropbox folder in your home directory (on a Mac) or a My Dropbox folder inside your My Documents folder (in Windows). To begin to manage a file or folder using Dropbox, simply drag it and drop it onto Dropbox.

...and that's when the magic begins!

When you drop the file or folder there, Dropbox syncs it with the cloud version of your Dropbox folder. Then, if you've installed Dropbox on other devices, those devices sync with the cloud. This means that everything in your Dropbox shows up exactly the same on all of your systems. This is true whether your systems are Mac, Linux, Windows, an iPhone/iPad, or even a mobile device with a web browser, since the cloud Dropbox is available from any browser anywhere.

As a result, I have migrated all of my active files into Dropbox. The only files that are not in Dropbox are those that are in an archive somewhere. This means that all of my systems always have the latest copy of my files available wherever I am. I even use Dropbox to sync settings between computers so that, for example, my 1password and TextExpander shortcuts are the same everywhere.

I'll mention one additional function of Dropbox in this entry: You can use it to share files and folders with others. This has come in very handy when I am working on projects with others or just want to give them access to a big file. It's easier than using a file sharing service or trying to get it to them by email: I drag the file into a shared folder or into my Public folder in Dropbox and simply right click, copy the link to the clipboard, and email that link off to them.

Check out Dropbox to make it easier to manage your files and keep your life in order between your multiple devices and let me know how it goes.

Managing Multiple Systems

Right now, I'm using a number of systems to do my daily work and manage my life:

• iPhone for the ultimate in portable communications
• iPad as a new experience in reading and interaction
• MacBook Pro for portable computing (the one I've had the longest!)
• Mac Pro for audio/video editing and high-performance processing
• iMac (the family computer) on rare occations

So, and obvious question is how I keep my information sync'd across all of these platforms. Since I've gotten the question often enough, the next few reviews will address this fundamental need we all have as our lives become more tied to our electronics.

Be sure to let me know any of the questions you are mulling in terms of  your productivity so I can include them in a future review.

Kindle for iPad Review

One of the first things I did once I had my new iPad sync'd was to download the Amazon Kindle app to see how it would work for me and compare to the experience with my Kindle 2. My first view was a "Wow!" when I saw the splash screen and then my Kindle library displayed on the big iPad screen.

The experience got even better when I opened a book. I could choose the appearance and font, and choose the comfortable and somewhat old-fashioned sepia background.

Furthermore, I could highlight easily, add notes, and bookmark as I read multiple books during my trip. If you haven't used a Kindle or Kindle application on your iPhone, you may not know that they sync. In my case, the reading locations between my iPhone, my Kindle 2, and my iPad sync transparently, allowing me to use whichever I want which is near by.

I'm glad Apple approved the Kindle app for the iPhone and iPad. The reading experience is great, and now my existing Kindle books are available on my iPad, too.

Oh... By the way, the app is free!

The iPad in Use

Now that I have been actively using the iPad for a bit more than a week, including on a round-trip to Las Vegas for the NABshow, I have a much better sense of how it works for many areas of my daily usage... And also some areas where it doesn't work as well or where it could use some additional capabilities. Overall, though, the experience is revelatory. For reading a book using any of the reading applications such as Amazon's Kindle for iPad, Apple's iBooks, or specialty applications like Logos for Bible study and reading, the experience is unique, stunning, and so personal and intimate that it is difficult to describe in words.

Using the iPad to read email is very effective, as well, allowing me to move through my high volume of email at a very effective pace. Using iPhone applications on the iPad, while lacking in the graphic power of Guardian Eyewitness or the Wall Street Journal iPad application, allow me to continue to work with the applications that I have come to rely upon in my everyday life.

I will begin to review some of my favorite iPhone and iPad applications over the next few weeks to give you a picture of how I'm using the devices, but in the meantime, what about the things that are lacking?

First and foremost, what about typing? You may find it interesting that I am touch-typing this post into the WordPress iPad application. A combination of the keyboard size, layout, and the auto-correction capabilities actually makes this experience much better than I had imagined it could be. While, as with most things, it isn't perfect, it is a pretty satisfying experience, and my speed of composition may rival typing on the iPhone or even, possibly, typing on a keyboard. For comparison, it may be important for you to know that my typical typing speed is 70-90 words per minute, so we're not talking slow typing here! In one online test, my typing was 60 wpm on the iPad. Note: I find it much easier to touch-type with the iPad oriented in landscape.

One challenge to touch-typing on the device is the keyboard itself: it is not standard! This is most noticeable with punctuation and other characters that are on the secondary and tertiary keyboards in the iPhone OS. I would really like to see Apple offer an option for a full real layout, perhaps with an optional Dvorak layout. It's a soft keyboard, after all, so why not?

With the iPad 3G version (which also includes GPS functions) emerging on April 30th, I would recommend you begin to consider if you fit the demographic for whom the iPad is an effective productivity system:

• Wireless and/or strong AT&T 3G signal in your home
• Mobile user who doesn't mind the larger form-factor of the iPad over a phone
• Consumer of written, video, or audio information available in a format usable on the iPad
• Someone who doesn't mind being tied to the Apple ecosystem

I would suggest visiting an Apple store, using it to read both the web and a book. Try typing on it, especially in landscape. Then, try other things that you would do: watch a video, listen to audio, or play a game.

Then, if you decide that it's right for you, decide if you want to be able to use the Internet while you're away from a WiFi network like in a taxi or on a picnic. Or if you want the device to have GPS accuracy for maps. If so, you'll want the 3G version. If not, the less-expensive WiFi-only version will work for you.

I'd love to hear from you about your experience, as well.

The iPad Emerges

It has been only a few days since the emergence of the iPad, but already a large constituency of computer users are trying out the device and having very positive experiences. I am now among them, having picked up an iPad for use in testing the iPhone/iPhone apps that I have designed for a couple of clients. In fact, I'm typing this post on it. I found it interesting that about 20% of the first class cabin on my flight yesterday had one. They were the talk of the cabin, too.

However, it's early. Even though 450,000 were sold over the weekend -- and I observed many people at the Apple Store looking at the iPads while I was there, and the 32GB models were sold out -- it is clear that the adoption rate is going to be influenced by the early adopter response and the way that they communicate about it to their friends and confidantes.

What about you? Have you bought one? Tried one? Post your thoughts in the comments...

iPad is Another Apple Game Changer

After the January 2007 announcement of the Apple iPhone, I wrote that it would be a game-changer, creating a new experience of always-available Internet that would change the way people interact with their world. Unlike so many pundits who didn't give Apple a chance in the highly-competitive call phone marketplace, it was clear to me that what they were doing was different. And Apple are doing it again.

Yesterday, in a typically Apple way, Steve Jobs and crew introduced the Apple iPad, a new computing device that is a cross between an iPhone and a netbook. While the majority of journalists and bloggers focussed in on the various features of the new device, they missed the point. Once again, Apple has introduced a device that will re-define the way that people interact with their technology tools, and in doing so, they are providing us with an environment that will once again improve our productivity and our experience.

It's a game changer because it is not a "Kindle killer." It's a game changer because it's a completely new way to interact with the 'net and your information. Hang on! It's going to be a ride!

Windows 7: Should You or Shouldn't You?

Microsoft's newest operating system is officially available today. Windows 7 has long been available for those willing to use beta software, and so many people have already experienced what is likely to be Microsoft's most successful operating system release ever. Since I have been using it for a while both on test machines and on all of the Windows virtual machines on my Macs, I will have a number of blog entries reviewing specifics about Windows 7 new features and altered approach to the user experience. Right now, though, you may want to know the simple answer to the question, "Should I or shouldn't I?"

I'll give you those short answers: If you are using Windows Vista on your computer today, upgrade. Windows 7 is what Windows Vista should have been but wasn't. It is faster, has fewer annoyances like the intrusive security dialogs, and provides a significantly better overall experience. Besides all that, the upgrade path to Windows 7 is very clean from Vista, so you should have a seamless experience.

If you are upgrading from Windows XP, however, the answer isn't as simple and the path is not as seamless.

First, depending on the computer you're using to run Windows XP, it may not be capable of running Windows 7 with all of its features. Microsoft lists the minimum requirements for running Windows 7 as these:

1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor 1 gigabyte (GB) RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit) 16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit) DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver

In addition, for some features, Microsoft says that the system requires:

• Internet access (fees may apply)
• Depending on resolution, video playback may require additional memory and advanced graphics hardware
• For some Windows Media Center functionality a TV tuner and additional hardware may be required
• Windows Touch and Tablet PCs require specific hardware
• HomeGroup requires a network and PCs running Windows 7
• DVD/CD authoring requires a compatible optical drive
• BitLocker requires Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 1.2
• BitLocker To Go requires a USB flash drive
• Windows XP Mode requires an additional 1 GB of RAM, an additional 15 GB of available hard disk space, and a processor capable of hardware virtualization with Intel VT or AMD-V turned on
• Music and sound require audio output

In addition to all of these, Microsoft also says, "Product functionality and graphics may vary based on your system configuration. Some features may require advanced or additional hardware." All of this information is on the Windows 7 System Requirements page. To see if Microsoft thinks your system is suitable to run Windows 7, you can run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor.

The point of all of this is that you want to understand beforehand what limitations you are likely to experience, and whether or not it makes sense to upgrade your existing computer. A better approach may be to purchase a new PC with the appropriate hardware capabilities to best run Windows 7.

The upgrade path feeds into this, since there isn't an official upgrade path to Windows 7 from XP. In fact, while you could upgrade from Windows XP to Windows Vista and then upgrade Windows Vista to Windows 7, such a path is foolish. Don't attempt it. You're two options are:

1. Install Windows 7 alongside Windows XP
2. Wipe your hard drive clean and install Windows 7

While wiping your hard drive clean may seem drastic, for most people who want to continue to use their old hardware, it's the best path. The better path is to bite the bullet and buy a new system, maintaining your old system long enough to make sure you've migrated completely to it.

One Number to Rule Them All...

A couple of months ago, my iPhone rang. I was in the Boulder Bunker, my basement home office, and as often happens, the call quality there was a problem. I scrambled up the stairs so I could still hear my new client, and then paced in the back yard as I talked with them so that the call quality would be good enough.

I'd rather be in the office, though, where I have everything at hand.

Today, that call would be different. I'm using Google Voice for my in-bound phone calls, and it really makes a difference. When you call my Google Voice number, my iPhone, my office phone, and even my home phone will ring, all at the same time. If I'm traveling, my temporary office phone will ring. I pick up the most convenient phone, and I can even change phones mid-call.

There are a number of other things I can suddenly do, like easily screen my calls, send them to voicemail (and when they leave a message, Google Voice will transcribe the message and send me an email), record the call, and more. Google Voice has been around for a while, but Google is opening it up so you can get an account if you want. (The Google Voice site is here: https://www.google.com/voice - as I'm typing this, they haven't gotten it opened, but they have announced that they are going to do that.)

If you are comfortable with web pages and are willing to spend a bit of time to get it set up, it's worth it. Check it out.

To YOUR success,

ssh, your Geek Whisperer

PS I've done a recent review on the new iPhone 3GS, the iPhone OS 3.0, and the Palm Pre that you can find on my blog: http://bit.ly/1alUid

A couple of months ago, my iPhone rang. I was in the Boulder Bunker, my basement home office, and as often happens, the call quality there was a problem. I scrambled up the stairs so I could still hear my new client, and then paced in the back yard as I talked with them so that the call quality would be good enough.

I'd rather be in the office, though, where I have everything at hand.

Today, that call would be different. I'm using Google Voice for my in-bound phone calls, and it really makes a difference. When you call my Google Voice number, my iPhone, my office phone, and even my home phone will ring, all at the same time. If I'm traveling, my temporary office phone will ring. I pick up the most convenient phone, and I can even change phones mid-call. That means that, for example, I can switch from my office phone to my iPhone during a call with you and then head out to a meeting without interrupting the call and without you even knowing I made the change.

There are a number of other things I can suddenly do, like easily screen my calls, send calls to voicemail (and when they leave a message, Google Voice will transcribe the message and send me an email), record the call, even listen in as someone leaves a message and pick up the call if I want to, just like you can do with a home answering machine... and more.

Google Voice has been around for a while (it was originally called Grand Central), but Google is opening it up so you can get an account if you want. (The Google Voice site is here: https://www.google.com/voice - as I'm typing this, they haven't gotten it opened, but they have announced that they are going to do that.)

If you are comfortable with web pages and are willing to spend a bit of time to get it set up, it's worth it. Check it out.

To YOUR success, ssh, your Geek Whisperer

The Secret to 21st Century Capitalism

Last week I sat reading an email from one of the mailing lists that I receive. Some Internet friends and I have shared our lives on this list for well over a decade. From life and death to kids with croup, we've laughed and cried together. Maybe I'll tell you more about the group one of these days, but for now, I'd like to let you in our conversation from last week: the changing face of business. My friend Cindy Collins-Smith, the editor of Customer Relationship Management magazine who has had the opportunity to edit thought leaders such as Don Peppers/Martha Rogers, Chip Bell and Pete Blackshaw, among others, put it very well and succinctly:

Loyalty, not individual sales, is what will sustain [businesses] over the long term. [The] idea of maximizing profit at every point of contact is 20th century capitalism, not 21st. Successful 21st century capitalists will be looking for ways to build relationships with customers (audiences) over time, not just looking for immediate, short term profits.

This is a fundamental paradigm shift, and many businesses are missing it. In fact, many people are doing their level best to pretend that nothing has changed; that we'll go back to the way things were. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Twenty years ago, very few people had heard of the Internet. Today, it is a staple of every day life from the streets of Manhattan to the mud walkways of Kigali, Rwanda. The world is smaller and more interconnected than ever before, and the process is accelerating. How will you respond to this brave new world? How you respond will determine the degree of your success.

Ten years ago, most businesses poo-pooed the Web. They didn't see the value or the importance. While they were busy holding on to the past, visionary entrepreneurs like my friend and coach Matt Furey were creating Internet empires that would generate millions of dollars in sustainable revenue.

Today, we find ourselves at another juncture very similar to those turning points. Business is once again driven by relationships as it was a century ago. Now, though, those relationships are with like-minded people anywhere in the world. And today, the most powerful technology drivers are the social media sites like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and others.

Social media really is the wild west, though. Even those of us who have been involved in various social media for many years (for me, it started over 25 years ago!) are finding it work to stay on top of the ebbs and flows. Yet this is what you as a business leader need to do to remain competitive and to catch this wave. So get on it!

If you want some help, get it from someone who focuses on business first, not the latest gadgets and "cool sites." A number of experienced business people have done just that and so I am working with them to build social media into their overall business strategy. It's your turn.

To YOUR success, ssh, your Geek Whisperer

PS Because my work with my clients is so hands-on, I can only take 3 more clients for the Social Media QuickStart program. Jump on it now!

Time is Money: iPhone 3G S, iPhone OS 3.0, and Palm Pre

In This Week's Big Announcements, I mentioned that the Palm Pre, Apple iPhone 3.0 software, Apple iPhone 3G S handset, and Apple's new MacBook Pro notebook computers were new products that were big on hype, but that you would want to consider what your business needs were before moving on any of them. In fact, I outlined a number of reasons for you to ignore the various products. Now, I'm going to give you one reason to pay very close attention to a couple of those products, and ignore one completely for now.

iPhone OS 3.0

If you already use an iPhone, you understand the value of carrying a mobile computer. It's more than a "smartphone," and the Apple App Store has proven that there is a lot you can do with so much power in your pocket. The new release of software (iPhone OS 3.0) takes an already solid system and adds some additional capabilities that some will find compelling:

• Cut, copy, and paste
• Search
• Landscape keyboard
• Find my iPhone
• Push notification for 3rd-party apps
• MMS and tethering (although not on AT&T, yet... but, see below)

These are the advertised additions, but there are some additional capabilities that business people may find more compelling, including location information for incoming calls (or perhaps I'm the only one who can't remember where every area code is), syncing of Notes between the iPhone and your computer, and wireless syncing of more information.

The iPhone 3.0 upgrade is a no-brainer for every iPhone user. Budget about half an hour to do it unless you have issues with your backup prior to the installation, in which case it can take longer. Most of those delays should be gone at this point, however.

iPhone 3G S

This was the surprise.

I downloaded the new software to my iPhone 3G as soon as it was available, so I had been able to use it for a couple of days before I picked up my iPhone 3G S on Friday morning. I had reserved a white 32 GB phone so that I could tell it apart from the 3G that I've been using for a year, since another member of my family will have that black one. While it took longer at the Apple Store than it should have due to some confusion about who was grabbing the unit from the back, I had it set-up and out the door in less than 30 minutes. If you buy a new one now, it should be even faster for you, since you're unlikely to find lines. You can also buy it on-line from Apple or at an AT&T corporate store. Note that cellular stores that license the AT&T brand do not sell iPhones.

The new iPhone 3G S has a number of new components under the covers, but here's what you need to know for business: the "S" stands for "Speed" and the speed it delivers will matter to you.

Often, speed improvements have more to do with the geeky computer specs than they do with anything that you and I care about. Not in this case. The speed boost creates a much more seamless experience with the phone. Applications launch almost instantaneously, including the ones that were very sluggish before. Web and email performance is noticeably faster, and typing on the soft keyboard is now smooth and without the too-frequent stutters of the earlier phone and software.

For business people, the email, web browsing, and typing performance make the upgrade worth it. Time is money, after all, and this new iPhone will leave you more time to do the other things in your business and not waiting for your app to load, your email to send, or that research web site to draw.

Apple has announced that they sold over 1M iPhone 3G S units during their first weekend. My guess is that more people will buy them as the reviews roll out. While subtle, the added benefits are worth the investment ($199/$299 for the 16GB/32GB versions for those who qualify for the

Palm Pre

The Palm Pre was announced and delivered from Palm and Sprint on June 6th, two days before the iPhone 3G S was announced. The timing wasn't a mistake. Palm and Sprint knew that they only way they would get buzz and momentum was to announce and deliver the device prior to Apple's Worldwide Developers' Conference (WWDC). They did, two days before.

The Pre sold about 500,000 units on its first weekend, and most who have it appear to appreciate the device. However:

1. They are early-adopters; this is a version 1.0 device and version 1.0 software
2. They have reported a number of issues, from screen corruption to data loss
3. Favorite functions like tethering are not available, yet
4. There are virtually no applications available for it
5. While AT&T isn't the favorite cellular carrier, Sprint may be worse

Given all those issues, and the fact that the iPhone 3G S is actually faster than the Palm Pre, the Palm device is not a suitable solution for business people who are not also early adopters and closet geeks.

Recommendations

If you already own an iPhone, upgrade to iPhone OS 3.0.

If you are in the market for a new mobile device, the iPhone 3G S is the market-leading best option for business people.

If you are looking for a budget alternative, the $99 price for a new 16GB iPhone 3G (which was $299 last year!) gets you into the market-leading iPhone system at a bargain price-point.

Unless you are an early-adopter and insist on using products not made by Apple, the Palm Pre is not in the running, yet.

I'd like to hear your thoughts!

To YOUR success, ssh

PS If you are looking for ongoing insights into how to get the most out of your technology and to avoid the geek talk, check out how you can get me as your Geek Whisperer. I'm also doing some special coaching on the use of social media like Facebook and Twitter for business.

This Week's Big Announcements

Even as I enjoyed some time in London this past week, both meeting with some business colleagues and enjoying time alone with my bride of 25 years, there were a number of big announcements and product released in the technology world. You may be wondering about their use in your business, so I'll cover them in the next few posts: The first was the introduction of the Palm Pre by Palm and Sprint on June 6th. TImed to preempt Apple's pending Worldwide Developers' Conference and the expected announcement of a new iPhone, the Pre owned the technology press hype for a couple of days. Sprint and Palm say that they sold their expected number of Pres over the weekend, as well.

On Monday, Apple had its big announcements, including a new iPhone (the iPhone 3G S with the "S" being for "Speed", available in 16GB and 32GB models in white or black), new MacBook Pro models and features, and availability of Apple's new Snow Leopard operating system early this fall.

The question for you first needs to be this: Do you care?

If you have a mobile device that addresses your needs, ignore the Palm Pre and iPhone talk.

If you have a computer that you are using that you do not plan to replace, ignore the MacBook Pro talk.

If you do not use a Mac, ignore the Snow Leopard talk.

Now, use the time you've recovered to get some more of your business work done.

If you ARE considering new mobile devices, a new computer, or are a Mac user, then the next few posts will give you the keys to your decisions.

To YOUR success, ssh, your Geek Whisperer

PS As a journalist, I'm getting more and more notices about social media's use in all sizes of business. If you're not using an evolving strategy for it now, you need to be. Jump over here for a quick way to get started.

More Facebook Phishing

The word "Phishing" is used for sites that steal your identity, and there are more Phishing sites stealing Facebook login information today. First thing this morning, I received a Facebook message with the subject "Hi" and the content "Look at redbuddy dot be". Going to that site gets you the same kind of site as I reported in Facebook Trojan Attack earlier this week. Once again it's obviously a phishing site, with language like, "We helps you connect and share with the people in your life." and yet people are still being sucked in!

Beware! Do not log in to any site that you don't absolutely know is the site you want. Realize that any time you use your login, it can be compromised. I'm putting together a brief video on this that I plan to have ready this weekend.

For more insights on social media, check out my social media programs.