DIME PR: Six Degrees

What is Watson?

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 10:38:26 -0700

Could this be the real future of “semantic search” ?

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Oh My - Yahoo CEO Tells Arrington to F*ck Off (VIDEO)

Mon, 24 May 2010 12:08:25 -0700

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Space Chair Commercial - From 98,268 Feet

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 05:43:53 -0800

Sweet commercial by Toshiba. Head over to Huffington Post for another video of how the commercial was made.

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PR 101: Get to Know a Reporter using Google Bylines

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 06:34:48 -0800

Doing your own PR? One of the first things you’ve probably been told is to “know the reporter you’re pitching,” – and if so, you’re listening to the right people. Of course, this goes a lot further than simply knowing someone’s “beat” as defined in some database. You’ll want to actually read what they’ve written lately. But what do you do if you’re not already familiar with a writer or the media landscape you’re working in; or need to research a writer who writes for a number of different outlets? If you’re a do-it-yourselfer, you likely don’t have the budget to pay for expensive research tools that we use in an agency environment. But the truth is, there are plenty of low, or no-cost ways to do some basic research on the writer(s) you’re after. In the end, taking the time to know writers and what they’re writing about *right now* (and armed with this information, pitching a story angle that works for them) will mean the difference between getting clips for your company or being ignored (or worse) by the media.

Use Google “Byline” search to find a chronological, up-to-the-minute index of articles written by an author.

On either Google News or Google Blog Search , search for:

Author:”Author Name Here”

Inserting the reporter’s name in the quotes, as you can see below.

As usual with Google search results, there are some toggles on the left you can apply – Sorted by Relevance, Sorted by Date, and some options for recency. Now it is just up to you to go read, and get to know, the writer you plan on pitching. And after doing so, ask yourself, “would this reporter really be interested in our story?”. If the answer is no, figure out a way to craft the story in a different way that seems more appropriate for the writer in question. Having trouble? Drop me a line at timothy.williams@dimepr.com with your pitch and the name of the writer. If I’m not too busy, I’ll try to help. If I am too busy, I’ll let you know. Either way I won’t ask you for a penny. Why, you ask? Because bad, poorly-planned pitches are bad for all of us, and for the industry as a whole.

Don’t Know Who to Pitch?

Check out PR MatchPoint, a relatively new service which matches your pitch to journalists based on relevance to stories they’ve recently written. This is a far better method of finding unfamiliar writers to pitch your story to than simply creating lists based on “beats” from the big database suppliers. It is also extremely affordable even for do-it-yourselfers – the service costs just $75/month on a credit card, and there is no contract involved.

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Google Goggle Barcodes Making TV Debut

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:03:44 -0800

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iPad Makes its Grammys Debut

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 07:26:49 -0800

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Installing gooseGrade on Posterous

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:23:00 -0800

As many of you who may use Posterous are probably aware, Posterous does not currently allow the use of Javascript within its themes. This has been preventing me from installing one of my favorite blog widgets, gooseGrade, since I started using Posterous late last year.

Luckily, the good folks at gooseGrade (soon to be rebranded as Editz.com) now have a solution for those who want to use their widget on Posterous blogs – or any other platform that doesn’t allow Javascript – and it is incredibly easy to use. Simply place the following in your template where you would like gooseGrade’s “Copy Edit” button to appear, and you’re all set:

Look Ma, No JavaScript!

(Insert your gooseGrade site ID where indicated in the source above)

As you’ll notice, there is zero Javascript here, meaning it will work just fine on Posterous or anywhere else (at least I suspect) that Javascript is off-limits.

I’m not sure how they accomplish (ok, yes I do, but that’s not the point) all of this Web 2.0-beautifulness without having to use Javascript (or any scripting language) embedded in my site, but its super slick – try it out yourself by clicking my new “Copy Edit” button which should appear to the right of this post!

So, hats off to the guys at gooseGrade for finally bringing crowdsourced copy editing to Posterous – a place it is surely needed as so many posts here are made while on the go. From now on, should you find any typos, errors, or other various embarrassments in any of my posts here – please click that handy Copy Edit button and let me know about them. Thanks in advance.

PS – For those who would like to “play” with that Copy Edit button, consider this a sandbox post (I’ll ignore any edits sent to this page). Enjoy!

Disclosure: gooseGrade.com / Editz.com is a current client of DIME PR.

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Useful Tools: Reverse Image Search by TinEye

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 08:24:00 -0800

TinEye is a reverse image search engine. You can submit an image to TinEye to find out where it came from, how it is being used, if modified versions of the image exist, or to find higher resolution versions. According to TinEye, it is the first image search engine on the web to use image identification technology rather than keywords, metadata or watermarks. TinEye says they are currently indexing only a small percentage of the images on the web right now – about 500 million – but has plans to expand their index soon. I don’t think I have to tell you that TinEye’s service could be very useful.

The technology behind TinEye is not unlike that employed by Anvato which allows IP owners to reverse search the web for their own videos. Like TinEye, Anvato “views” videos the way the human eye does, without relying on keywords, watermarks, or metadata embedded in videos.

Disclosure: Anvato is a client of DIME PR.

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McGraw-Hill CEO Confirms Apple Tablet, iPhone OS Based, Going to Be "Terrific"

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 07:41:13 -0800

via macrumors.com

I've got a feeling today will be a historic day in tech. Apple's Tablet will be more than just a new formfactor and UI, but I think it is going to play an important role for content creators, publishers, periodicals, and news organizations. And while filling out Apple's product lineup, may be just enough to finally get PC users such as myself to "Appleize" their digital lives. The idea of a Macbook Pro, a Tablet, and an iPhone all working together seamlessly as my virtual "go-anywhere" office platform is beginning to sound very appealing - even as I have always been adverse to Apple's closed hardware and software.

I sure hope Apple offers a direct-to-consumer version of the Tablet with its 3G unlocked, and then does the same with the iPhone soon after.

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The Social Media Guru (NSFW)

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 09:35:20 -0800

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Monday Workhack: Mindmeister

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 04:46:00 -0800

Online mind-mapping service Mindmeister might be just what you’re looking for to plan your next project. We may give Mindmeister a try this week while planning a couple of PR campaigns. If we do, I’ll let you know how we feel about it this weekend. In the meantime, you can give the service a try yourself and if you get the chance, tell me if you like Mindmeister in the comments below. Have another mind-mapping tool you use? Please do share.

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Motorola's BackFlip at CES 2010

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 07:25:19 -0800

So apparently not too far away from the Nexus One booth at CES, Motorola is showing off its latest Android phone, the BackFlip.

Not sure how I feel about the hardware design here. Unlike a slider, the BackFlip folds open and shut, but not in the way you would expect – it leaves the QWERTY keyboard constantly exposed as essentially the “back” of the unit.

I can’t imagine who thought this was a good idea. Who’s going to want to set this phone down anywhere with it sitting on its keyboard exposed to dirt, moisture, etc.? Motorola also includes a laptop-like trackpad on the back of the display, which it calls the ‘backtrack’, which just like the phone itself leaves you asking, “why?” On a touchscreen phone, wouldn’t swiping and tapping at the screen accomplish the same functions as you would use the trackpad for?

The few things this phone has going for it (none of which makes it even worth considering, but putting them here just to be nice):

It will support all major 3G bands used worldwide, including the 850mhz 3G band used here in Costa Rica. Though who cares since the phone will probably be carrier locked.

A 1400 Mah battery which Motorola says will power the device for 6 hours.

5 MP camera with flash

Dual Microphone Noise Cancelation

3.5mm jack J

Motorola says it will be available in the second quarter but isn’t saying when. I think I’ll call a major #fail for the BackFlip.

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Nielsen's 2010 Media Industry Fact Sheet

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 08:49:18 -0800

Download now or preview on posterous

nielsen-fact-sheet-2010.pdf (914 KB)

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Sweet -- God Mode on Windows Vista, Windows 7

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 07:14:00 -0800

Ok, so this is pretty cool. A hidden feature was just revealed in Windows Vista and in Windows 7.

If you are running either one of these operating systems, create a new folder (anywhere should work) and name it exactly as follows:

GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

Once you’ve renamed it, you’ll see its icon change. Double click it and welcome to ‘GodMode’.

If it works for you, let me know in the comments below. I’ll add a screenshot shortly.

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Google Opt Out Feature Lets Users Protect Privacy By Moving To Remote Village

Sun, 03 Jan 2010 07:58:29 -0800

via theonion.com

Sunday Humor...

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Video: The Google Nexus One?

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 08:21:40 -0800

This video is purportedly of the Google Nexus One smartphone. It appears to be configured in French which is interesting.

Google Nexus One
Cargado por JournalduGeek. - Explorar más videos de ciencia.

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Tom Fishburne: The Six Types of Twitter Users Cartoon

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 05:41:02 -0800

via tomfishburne.com

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Seventeen Random Tech Predictions for 2010

Sun, 27 Dec 2009 07:42:00 -0800

1. Editable Web technology finds its groove. And it will have a new name.

2. Internet video makes serious inroads into cable/satellite, (already is) - cable networks start offering subscriptions at low cost on a per channel basis allowing you to 'build your own' cable network. "IP TVs" - internet-connected TV's with built in IP "tuners" start filling store shelves. Google looks to take over this space as well by offering up the "tuner" infrastructure (video / network search and streaming). Google will want to make sure that when these TV sets are looking for programming, they're doing it through them. Perhaps offers the subscription infrastructure for networks / content producers as well. Cable companies begin the mental shift into thinking of themselves as IP pipe suppliers and nothing more.

3. DIME PR sees revenue growth of at least 60% :)

4. Twitter growth amongst "regular" people remains fairly flat but survivability is ensured by Google Realtime search. Becomes more of an RSS-style feed and spam engine than it already is. Twitter fights back by adding Facebook-like 'comments' to tweets to try to make Twitter more 'conversational'. Google acquisition late in the year or in 2011.

5. Google barcodes start showing up everywhere from restaurant menus to packaged goods in the grocery store. Related: Google Goggles starts to read standard UPC barcodes. Bad news for retailers as consumers begin to use retail outlets just to get a "hands on" look at the product, then use Goggles to find best price and place order online - from inside the store.

On a side note, I seem to remember a company several years back that let consumers 'scan' UPC barcodes with their home scanners and/or webcams and would connect them relevant content online. Anyone remember who this was?

6. Posterous sees some serious growth.

7. Location based services / advertising comes to prominence.

8. Apple begins online direct-to-consumer sales of unlocked iPhones at full cost but continues marriage to AT&T for retail (subsidized) sales in the US.

9. Google Chrome netbooks with integrated 3/3.5/4G GSM data introduced. All-day / always-on battery life and low price are their selling points. Google licenses Leaf Networks (disclaimer: shameless plug for a past client) technology allowing users to store data on their home Googleboxes (next) for the security conscious.

10. Google starts selling a consumer hardware device called the Googlebox. It does really cool shit. *Least* of which includes replacing your cable box, DVR, NAS, and media center and bringing IP TV to the masses. Expect it on big box store shelves late in 2010 for around $240.

11. Google abandons Wave, realizing it makes things more complicated, not simpler, and it isn't simply a UI issue. Goes back to the drawing board to figure out how to create "Email 2.0". E-mail as we know it remains unchanged in 2010.

12. Robert Scoble finally abandons FriendFeed. Twitter Comments and #17 below might be the tipping point :)

13. Google Phone disappoints, is not the 'iPhone killer'. Subsequent upgrades to the OS connecting it to your Googlebox, however, give it a second wind late in 2010.

14. Michael Arrington decides it is okay to shake hands when he meets and interviews President Obama.

15. Government regulators begin hearings in late 2010 about breaking up Google, once they realize Google controls everything we hear, see, and read. Doesn't happen until late 2011.

16. Huge datacenter outage or successful hacking has huge one-day economic impact on the scale of a natural disaster, leaving people wondering if mass migration of data to the cloud was really such a great idea. Might be the tipping point for #15.

17. Twitter lifts 140 character limit, realizing that no one is using SMS to send or receive tweets anymore. Limit becomes “50 words” (a short one or two sentence paragraph) instead of characters.

18. Apple iSlates begin appearing on coffee tables and in backpacks nationwide and people love them. Becomes must have gadget of 2010 if the price is right (about $400-$450 $800 feels ‘right’ to me).

Disclaimer: All of the above predictions are complete and utter mental ramblings on my behalf and I have absolutely zero 'inside' information into Google, Apple or any other company, so please don't go around starting rumors about Googleboxes or anything else contained herein. They only exist in my imagination - for now.

So, you’ve read mine – leave your 2010 tech predictions below!

--Timothy Williams

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HP Computers - Racist?

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:47:00 -0800

HP Crisis Comm team has already responded on their blog, apparently. As InformationWeek pointed out, apart from the obvious problems this may cause with African American purchasers, HP is trying to gain market share in India, where I imagine this same problem might manifest itself. Ever wondered what ‘crisis communication’ is in PR? Check out the video below to see the racist HP computer in action.

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Hemingway on Writing

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 18:26:42 -0800

In going where you have to go, and doing what you have to do, and seeing what you have to see, you dull and blunt the instrument you write with. But I would rather have it bent and dull and know I had to put it on the grindstone again and hammer it into shape and put a whetstone to it, and know that I had something to write about, than to have it bright and shining and nothing to say, or smooth and well-oiled in the closet, but unused.

-Ernest Hemingway, from the preface of The Short Stories.

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