Amazon Kindle, Apple iPad, Barnes and Noble Nook, or Kobo eReader...
Choices, choices and more choices... we are constantly bombarded by the "newer and better" in electronics. So, how do you decide?
According to an article I read in my National Association of Female Executives (NAFE) Magazine, "carrying the new bestseller in your already-too-heavy workbag is so last century. With all the reading you do to keep your competitive edge, consider investing in an e-reader."
But which one should you purchase?
David Carnoy, executive of CNET had the following suggestion to NAFE, who considers him the smartest techie they know.
E-READER: Amazon Kindle (from $139 amazon.com)
PRO: Long battery life: turn the wireless on and read for up to three weeks, turn wireless off and read for a month. 4 GB of memory means you can store 3,500 books.
CON: No expansion slot for adding more memory. Battery is sealed into the device and isn't removable. Not compatible with loaner e-books from libraries that use the EPUB format.
BEST FOR: Someone who has a long reading list, looking for user-friendly device and doesn't usually buy books on the fly.
E-READER: Apple iPad (from $499 store.apple.com)
PRO: Multiple features including Web, email, photos, video and a large screen make it an all-in-one package.
CON: The price tag.
BEST FOR: Someone who is looking to do more than just reading with the device.
E-READER: Barnes and Noble Nook ($149, new Nook Color listed at $249 barnesandnoble.com)
PRO: Large library with more than a million e-books, newspapers and magazines. Wi-Fi connectivity. 2 GB of internal memory as well as an expansion slot for additional memory.
CON: Lacks a text-to-speech feature. Color LCD appears to have a significant impact on battery life. In-store reading and loaning capabilities come with notable limits and caveats.
BEST FOR: Someone who is looking for more bells and whistles and doesn't mind the shorter battery life.
E-READER: Kobo eReader ($139, recent listed price drop at $99 borders.com)
PRO: Now available on Wi-Fi. Users can select more than 2 million e-books.
CON: Text and images are black-and-white only.
BEST FOR: The occasional reader who isn't looking to make a major investment.
Do you own one or more of the above? Which would you recommend and why? Have any other pros/cons to add to the list? Let us know by leaving a comment below!
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Tweet Your Way to Better Business
Using Facebook as a marketing tool is almost mandatory. But before you ask clients to friend you or follow you on Twitter, consider the most effective uses of social media. Here are some tips from Giovanni Gallucci, an award-winning new media producer, author and digital media strategist.
Research. Learn how to find your existing and potential customers. Search for groups and buckets of people who share a demographic on the social media sites, then join the groups and start interacting.
Expand, don’t replace. Use social media to amp up current strategies, not replace them. “Some small business owners and entrepreneurs think social media is going to come in and replace their other types of advertising and marketing,” says Gallucci. “We find best success when we use sites like Twitter to compliment other advertising and marketing tactics.”
Build slowly. Start with just one, two, maybe three sites that make sense for your industry. Try tactics like building groups for disseminating information, posting giveaways on Facebook and sharing links about new trends on Twitter.
Protect your reputation. Be mindful about how your brands and products are perceived. Be careful about what you say online and how you respond to a customer’s posted comments and concerns. Address any problems and clearly explain what went wrong.
Keep up the momentum. If you don’t find value initially, don’t give up, Gallucci advises. There’s no magical number for how long it takes to get traction. You need to give yourself enough time so you can build a following.
Source: NAFE Magazine (Smart Talk)
Research. Learn how to find your existing and potential customers. Search for groups and buckets of people who share a demographic on the social media sites, then join the groups and start interacting.
Expand, don’t replace. Use social media to amp up current strategies, not replace them. “Some small business owners and entrepreneurs think social media is going to come in and replace their other types of advertising and marketing,” says Gallucci. “We find best success when we use sites like Twitter to compliment other advertising and marketing tactics.”
Build slowly. Start with just one, two, maybe three sites that make sense for your industry. Try tactics like building groups for disseminating information, posting giveaways on Facebook and sharing links about new trends on Twitter.
Protect your reputation. Be mindful about how your brands and products are perceived. Be careful about what you say online and how you respond to a customer’s posted comments and concerns. Address any problems and clearly explain what went wrong.
Keep up the momentum. If you don’t find value initially, don’t give up, Gallucci advises. There’s no magical number for how long it takes to get traction. You need to give yourself enough time so you can build a following.
Source: NAFE Magazine (Smart Talk)
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Happy Easter, Happy Spring!
Here's hoping you had a wonderful Easter weekend and that Spring is off to a good start for all! Check out this creative Easter project featured on the Martha Stewart website... The Incredible Egg!
Click here to find out more about the project, as well as other neat, crafty finds!
Click here to find out more about the project, as well as other neat, crafty finds!
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Washington D.C.’s Top Ten New and Anticipated Venues in 2011
1. The Hay-Adams Hotel Rooftop: with a panoramic view of the White House and downtown Washington, the new space opened in January after undergoing a multimillion-dollar renovation. It features floor-to-ceiling windows, a wraparound terrace and has five additional separate rooms to for customized events for groups of 15 to 300.
2. Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel: Less than one mile from Reagan National, this space opened in March in the Arlington section of Crystal City. It features 15 meeting rooms with more than 17,000 square feet of meeting space.
3. Graffiato: A two-level restaurant seating 150 people will be Top Chef Contestant Mike Isabella’s first restaurant coming in the spring and offering an Italian-inspired menu. Groups can reserve the second level for events.
4. Lincoln: Recently opened this spring, this 210-seat space includes private dining, a main dining room and a bar area.
5. Todd Gray’s Watershed: this 6,500-square-foot restaurant space on the second floor of the Hilton garden Inn in Washington, D.C. will feature a seafood menu. Initial plans are for the dining room to sit 80 people including a 20-seat bar, a patio, and several banquet rooms to seat 165 people.
6. Fiola: Slated to open this Spring in the Penn Quarter, the 140-seat restaurant will offer what Chef Fabio Trabocchi calls "gourmet but accessible" menu that will a huge difference from what he offered at his previous restaurant, Maestro.
7. The Virtue Feed and Grain: Coming to the Town of Alexandria in the spring of 2011 will boast a two-level, 316-seat Irish-American pub with views of the Potomac River, Waterfront Park, Wales Ally, and Union Street with an additional 60 seats on the elevated deck on Wales Alley.
8. The Hirshhorn Bubble Museum: Designed by Diller Scofidio & Renfro of New York, is scheduled to open its new space on the mall sometime in 2011 but the 145-foot tall inflatable auditorium is scheduled to be inflated during the summer of 2012. Within the bubble, the courtyard will accommodate 500 to 800 seats for an array of public events.
9. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial: Designed by the Roma Design Group, the new $120 million is scheduled to open on August 28 featuring a 30-foot statue of Dr. King called the "Stone of Hope" created by sculptor Lei Yixin of China.
10. Italian Cinema/Italian Shirt Laundry: Mark Weiss, the restaurateur collaborating with ABDO Development will open two new Italian-themed restaurants in the 14th Street Corridor in late 2011, Italian Cinema and Italian Shirt Laundry. Stay tuned!
Thank you, BizBash Media.
2. Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel: Less than one mile from Reagan National, this space opened in March in the Arlington section of Crystal City. It features 15 meeting rooms with more than 17,000 square feet of meeting space.
3. Graffiato: A two-level restaurant seating 150 people will be Top Chef Contestant Mike Isabella’s first restaurant coming in the spring and offering an Italian-inspired menu. Groups can reserve the second level for events.
4. Lincoln: Recently opened this spring, this 210-seat space includes private dining, a main dining room and a bar area.
5. Todd Gray’s Watershed: this 6,500-square-foot restaurant space on the second floor of the Hilton garden Inn in Washington, D.C. will feature a seafood menu. Initial plans are for the dining room to sit 80 people including a 20-seat bar, a patio, and several banquet rooms to seat 165 people.
6. Fiola: Slated to open this Spring in the Penn Quarter, the 140-seat restaurant will offer what Chef Fabio Trabocchi calls "gourmet but accessible" menu that will a huge difference from what he offered at his previous restaurant, Maestro.
7. The Virtue Feed and Grain: Coming to the Town of Alexandria in the spring of 2011 will boast a two-level, 316-seat Irish-American pub with views of the Potomac River, Waterfront Park, Wales Ally, and Union Street with an additional 60 seats on the elevated deck on Wales Alley.
8. The Hirshhorn Bubble Museum: Designed by Diller Scofidio & Renfro of New York, is scheduled to open its new space on the mall sometime in 2011 but the 145-foot tall inflatable auditorium is scheduled to be inflated during the summer of 2012. Within the bubble, the courtyard will accommodate 500 to 800 seats for an array of public events.
9. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial: Designed by the Roma Design Group, the new $120 million is scheduled to open on August 28 featuring a 30-foot statue of Dr. King called the "Stone of Hope" created by sculptor Lei Yixin of China.
10. Italian Cinema/Italian Shirt Laundry: Mark Weiss, the restaurateur collaborating with ABDO Development will open two new Italian-themed restaurants in the 14th Street Corridor in late 2011, Italian Cinema and Italian Shirt Laundry. Stay tuned!
Thank you, BizBash Media.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
2011 ISES Northeast Regional Education Conference Recap
This was an amazing conference: the education was great, the speakers inspiring and it was wonderful to see and networking with colleagues from near and as far as Sydney, Australia.
All the services and décor were donated by ISES members who all worked very hard to make this conference a success; but again, we never expect anything less from ISES members – we work hard, party harder and put out the best events! Moreover, we cannot forget to thank all the sponsors for all the in-kind contributions.
The opening luncheon was spearheaded by David Merrell, AOO Events who was fabulous and shared the newest design trends, which were all amazing. On Monday night, we enjoyed a fabulous luau with great food and entertainment at the beautiful Harrah’s Resort poolside. The conference concluded with a lavish brunch and a phenomenal presentation by Brett Culp where he shared his award-winning filmmaking approach as an effective and profitable marketing technique. He was brilliant!
Education session topics included:
- Event Technology Trends You Can’t Ignore in 2011
- Catering Events at Hotels – the Inside Information on Negotiating the Best Deals
- The Perfect Event Redefined: Build Your Reputation One “Moment” at a Time
- CSEP Exam Preparation Tips, Techniques and Changes
- Get You “Creative” On The Art of Being Creative & Working with Creative People
- Marketing Trends and Best Practices to Generate Business Success
- But Don’t Green Events Cost More Money? Top Ten Tips for Greening Your Events AND Saving Money
- Is it Possible to Achieve a Design “WOW,” in Today’s Economy?
- Strategic Partners – Making the Connection
- Master Tricky Sales Situations
- How to Get and Stay in The Event Planning Business
- Sexy Tents: A Peek Under The Covers
- Scentertainment®! Celebrating the Senses!
- Branding – What Your Image Says About You!
- Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Fire Marshal?
- Tips to Ensure Your Event is Safe Without Compromising Creativity
- Get in the Spot Light of Social Media
- Dealing with Event Disasters, Are you the Problem or the Solution?
- WWSF…The WOW World of Special FX
- The Facts of Light: An Event Professionals Guide to Understanding Lighting
- The Newest ISES Member Benefit – Learn the “Insider Secrets” of Credit Card Processing
Sunday, March 13, 2011
What's Next in Meeting Technology
Meetings and Connections (M&C) Magazine, asked several forward-thinking tech experts to share their projections about tomorrow's hottest meeting technologies:
1. "Mobile apps for events will become true revenue generators." -Bob Vaez, President and Founder of Toronto-based 5Touch Solutions, which makes the EventMobi app.
2. "Events will be one piece of a larger communications strategy." -Minneapolis-based event technology consultant Samuel J. Smith.
3. "Contact information exchange will become more streamlined." -Bellingham, Wash.-based consultant Corbin Ball. Note: it is already possible to exchange information between an iPhone and Android using the Bump API.
4. "Virtual components will become more engaging." -Samuel Smith
For more in-depth reading, see the January 2011 issue of M&C Magazine.
1. "Mobile apps for events will become true revenue generators." -Bob Vaez, President and Founder of Toronto-based 5Touch Solutions, which makes the EventMobi app.
2. "Events will be one piece of a larger communications strategy." -Minneapolis-based event technology consultant Samuel J. Smith.
3. "Contact information exchange will become more streamlined." -Bellingham, Wash.-based consultant Corbin Ball. Note: it is already possible to exchange information between an iPhone and Android using the Bump API.
4. "Virtual components will become more engaging." -Samuel Smith
For more in-depth reading, see the January 2011 issue of M&C Magazine.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
How Meetings Benefit from Today’s Technologies
Five technologies that are changing meetings: Some tech-savvy planners are already employing to make their meetings more efficient and effective.
1. Mobile Apps: On a basic level, there are two types of mobile apps for events: a web-based program that might be accessed through an Internet-enabled phone, iPod or tablet, or downloadable software that runs natively on a specific device.
Two categories of mobile apps that are relevant to meetings:
2. Social Media for Events: Social media facilitates interaction, networking, and a dialog among participants -- goals not unlike those of many meetings.
3. Virtual/Hybrid Events: from basic (and free) streaming options through full virtual show platforms and professional video production houses.
For more, visit: M&C January 2011 issue.
1. Mobile Apps: On a basic level, there are two types of mobile apps for events: a web-based program that might be accessed through an Internet-enabled phone, iPod or tablet, or downloadable software that runs natively on a specific device.
Two categories of mobile apps that are relevant to meetings:
- Meetings management apps: Often free and provide planners the ability to tap into web-based meeting platforms from their mobile devices while on-site or in transit.
- Meeting apps for attendees: Usually free, these event-specific apps can be downloaded by attendees. May include all of the speakers, scheduling, seminars, keynote and attendee information, exhibit floor maps and/or everything from social-media platform links to attendee messaging or local restaurant listings.
2. Social Media for Events: Social media facilitates interaction, networking, and a dialog among participants -- goals not unlike those of many meetings.
3. Virtual/Hybrid Events: from basic (and free) streaming options through full virtual show platforms and professional video production houses.
For more, visit: M&C January 2011 issue.
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