Gary Vaynerchuk responds to Howard Sterns Social Media Rant



Gary had a great response to some things Howard Stern has to say about social media. For those of you that have been holding back from jumping into new media you should listen to this.

On a side note you all know that I have said since 2004 that the new media evolution will continue to force those in the traditional media space to change or become irrelevant.


Check out Gary’s site today.


Using Social Media in the Election



One thing you have to hand to the Obama campaign they knew how to use Social Media effectively during the campaign. The Republicans can learn some lessons from this and so can some companies.

Many of the things the Obama camp did cost them nothing but one of their staffers time to make sure they were engaged. One instance was the utilization of Ustream.tv

As many of you know I have been using Ustream for the live portion of my podcast and while I draw small crowd in the middle of the night. The Obama team would put a live Ustream Channel at ever speaking event he went to and thousands would tune in.

This is just the tip of  the iceberg, they used blog commenters and bloggers effectively to neutralize negative commentary. With a dedicated group of staffers watching blogs they would pounce on sites almost instantly when someone had a negative thing to say and used blogs to essentially blast the competition.

Very effective use of technology was key. It made the McCain campaign look weaker as they did not use the tools that many people of all ages use today to communicate. The next person to run for president is going to have to get their social media game on.

Oh and what both camps missed, political podcasters could have been running ads as well in their podcast as they could have had a new message each day.


FCC Opens “White Space”



As we had hoped, the FCC has approved opening the “white space” that was being reserved in the TV broadcast spectrum for the last fifty years. It has been a four-year process, and has finally come to the conclusion it should have all along.

This, despite protests from every broadcast entity in the country. So much for big business having all the say. Under the FCC’s plan, white space spectrum will be unlicensed and free — like Wi-Fi — to anybody who wants to use it. In some markets, there’s enough white space to fill a half dozen TV channels.

They have put in place safeguards that should allay any broadcasting fears that currently exist. “Safe zones” where the white space cannot be used, like around entertainment venues or near broadcast points for traditional television broadcasters. Other entities can ask for safe zone treatment from the FCC.

The opening of this broadcast space bodes well for innovation. Right now, devices to use the space are not available, but I expect to see rapid development in this area. Now, if we can just keep big business’ hands off the space, we might get some cost-effective and use-effective growth in the area of wi-fi communications!


They Get All the Cool Techie Stuff



I was watching the races unfold tonight, as I have done in the past elections. The thing that I found just as interesting as the race itself was all the cool tech the news sources had to cover the election. The computing power in each news room was phenomenal.

First, there was CNN. They had the big screen behind with a map of the US color coding each state. In fact the map only covered half of the “Wall”. I wonder how much that one cost.

Then there is the “Magic Wall” – a big touch screen in which John King would be able to pull up stats and charts. Four big buttons on the left to let him choose how to run the screen. A big yellow box with an “X” in it to close out any windows he had open. No minimize button or task bar though.

In NYC, Times Square had some pretty flashy tech. From the Big screens showing off the candidates, to the ticker marquee that wrapped around the overhang. It was all pretty impressive to see as the race unfolded.

I didn’t see the projection of the US on the Rockefeller ice rink that NBC was going to do. I am still always impressed what we can do with tech nowadays.

The big question I have though is – what happens to that tech after today? Is it still going to be used in day-to-day news reporting, or will it go into the basement?

I can see this change the face of news itself. We have already seen changes in what meteorologists use to display the weather maps. Gone will be the day of a hand held clicker that moves from screen to screen. Not to mention the pull down maps they used to use in the 70’s and 80’s and definitely no magnetic icons of clouds blowing or smiling suns.

Now, you can touch a couple spots on the screen and move around without being tethered to a controller. Zoom in on areas, push it all to the left or right and call up important data. No more green screens, here.

If news stations started using that for the general news, there is no need for someone in the control room to flip though the pictures. Just a touch of the screen and we see a picture or a Google map or whatever the newscaster wants.

At any rate, if CNN is going to put the Magic Wall away, I have a great place in my living room in which they can store it. I just hope it comes with a remote control so I don’t have to get up to touch the screen and change the channel. Of course, I could always train the dog to nuzzle the screen to do that…


GNC-2008-11-04 #421 Fun Event at End of Show



First off, Yes I know I got the date wrong.. Ok folks it’s very important you listen to the whole show. I have a mission for everyone at the end of the podcast. This is about New Media invading Old Media it is gonna take all of you to make this happen ok… Link and Instructions are at end of Show Notes!

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Listener Links:
Gadget Bargains
Brain Communicating with Computer
Opera Mini not Rejected
www.oovoo.com

Show Notes:
Rayed Crater on Mercury
Great American Detour
Sideways Photo of Earth Atmosphere
Typical Work Week (Fun Non Tech)
Earth to Sun Flux Transfer Event
AT&T DSL Metered Bandwidth
Amazon Going Green
Cassini and Life on Saturn Moon
Circuit City Round 1 RIP
Netflix + Roku + HD = Coming Soon
Bye Bye United Airlines
1 Year Internet Ban for File Sharing
Apple no more New Products for Christmas
Windows 7 on Macbook Pro
Apple cuts iPhone Production
Yahoo Live Dead pool
Shuttle to ISS on Nov 14th
Phoenix on Life Support
Voting Machine Vulnerabilities
Windows Home Server Price Slashed
Apple fighting Jailbreak big Time
ISS Trash crashed in Ocean
IT Worker goes to Jail
Fungus + Grass = Oil
Why does MPAA get to play Trade Enforcer
UK + Open Wifi = Canceled Service

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United Airlines Introducing Co Pays on Mileage Upgrades



I received an email from United today introducing new Mileage Plus rules starting July 1st 2009. Having flown 90,000 miles with United this year I am a very loyal customer. I will easily break a 100k miles before the year ends.

Based on the new mileage plus rules to start in July 2009, it’s time to start looking at American Airlines or Delta again. These idiots are gonna implement a Co Pay when you use your hard earned miles to upgrade a ticket. Generally from Hawaii it cost 15,000 miles to upgrade from Coach to first one way. Starting July 1st not only will it cost you 15,000 miles you will also be required to pay a co pay based upon your class of ticket.

Not only that they are not going to refund miles on segments that are not approved when you request a upgrade.

I have choice of carriers when I fly, and I can guarantee you that these co-pays are going to have me look at other carriers. What a stupid idiotic thing to do. I have used mileage upgrades quite a bit this year.. But I am not going to pay a co-pay

United has for years had the worst first class cabin of all the Airlines that fly out of Hawaii. United considers Hawaii a domestic flight and the first class cabin is more like low end business. American and Delta beats them hands down when it comes to service and more importantly seats. I am not paying additional dollars when cashing in flight miles to sit in a seat that is marginally better than economy plus in regards to leg room.

I will vote with my wallet.. This is a great way to get rid of customers. Very dumb move United..


GNC-2008-10-31 #420 24hr Podcast Planning Underway



Fun Show tonight planning is underway for the 24Hr Podcast, CES 2009, in the pre-show I talk a little about the Podcast Awards, Taxes in Hawaii and me being stuck working on accounting all week.

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Listener Links:
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X-Rays from Scotch Tape in Vacuum
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Pain Relief with Ultrasound

Show Notes:
More Mars Water Evidence
Pirate Bay Founder Speech Highlights
Fewer Heart Attacks when clocks rolled back!
8Ft Lego Man on Beach (Weird)
7 Microsoft Research Projects
Native Podcast Download Support for iPhone
Hubble takes a Peek Outside
10 Phrases From Politics 2008
Motorola All in on Android
Hadron Collider is Broke Big Time but Fixable
Need to do your own PR?
G1 Beats iPhone in UK Drag Race
More Laptop Batteries on Recall!
WD Passport wifth Firewire 800
Samsung 40-inch OLED OMG!
Netflix Live Stream + TiVo = Happy Consumer
Big Patent Ruling
Pro Accounts = Web 2.0 Survival
Hubble Repair Pushed to May
Phoenix Lander #1
Phoenix Lander #2
Chevy Volt Up and Close
Camtasia Relay
Google has 10 Million Servers
Canadian Legislature No Gaming While Driving?

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