Stuff I've been missing, and a fun video

Lots of things running through my mind these past few weeks. While exciting, I have a really important project going on at work that is consuming most of my idle thoughts. People camping out on Wall Street in protest of crimes committed by some of the biggest banks and, this weekend, at places all across the nation including here in Kansas City at Liberty Memorial. Facebook is changing the way we think about social networking.  The change is so radical and fresh that I now take a real interest in curating my online identity, which, while annoying at times, is a really good thing to do. Republicans are busy bloviating while President Obama is making promises again. Government shutdown scares. Typhoon in my family's home country, the Philippines. Premiere week on television and the end of summer.

Wow, plenty going on. Taking some time this weekend to get away for a bit. Should give me time to write about my thoughts on some of the things that have happened lately. Until then, here is a video favorite of mine. Enjoy!




3 Minutes from Ross Ching on Vimeo.

Don Draper invented FB Timeline

In case you missed it before the original was removed, Don Draper Presents Facebook Timeline. A hilarious mash-up of one of Draper's best scenes and FB Timeline. Check it out before it slips away again!

Google + API trickles out

Developers can now get public posts and profiles out of Google Plus. Not enough to really get things going, but at least it is a start.
Read more: Mashable

It is about darn time...REAL cloud storage is here (soon)

I've been annoyed by cloud services up until now. They require some kind of triggered sync, a special page or app, or a special folder. Then these must be replicated on all of your devices. The problem with all of these is that they have been centered around sharing files or making a briefcase of files easily accessible. Anyone remember Microsoft Briefcase? Kudos if you do and you probably realize that most every cloud service, so far, has been a beefed up and better version of Briefcase by taking the step beyond removable media and networked PCs.

Now (soon, really) with Bitcasa we will be able to use the cloud as a real hard drive. Just got your tricked out 2TB hard-drive in your rig? Well, forget that, I can get a petabyte for just $10 a month (infinite storage, actually). Your physical storage simply becomes a cache for your files (and a home for your OS) before they get uploaded to your monster cloud drive. All files are encrypted, Bitcasa has no knowledge of the content of the data you upload and, most importantly, third-parties like the RIAA can't go snooping in your files. Also, you can create URL links to each of your files so sharing with others or providing yourself with quick access is a breeze.

This application showed up and became a finalist during TechCrunch Disrupt and this is sure to disrupt a lot of business out there, big and small. I look forward to seeing what all can be done with this product.

Read more: TC-With Bitcasa, The Entire Cloud Is Your Hard Drive For Only $10 Per Month

FOOTBALL!!

I think football season has started

The Quantum World

Get your science on...auto-tune style. Go ahead, nerd out.

Google+ API still an interminable wait away...

ARGH...it is so frustrating waiting for it to come out! I understand that 6 months isn't a terrible turn around for an API but Google is up against Facebook's neck-breaking velocity and bone-crushing inertia. It seems as though the non-techies are forgetting about Google+ fairly quickly (for me, that's fine) and by the time that API rolls around, the fresh G+ additions to apps like TweetDeck and HootSuite won't generate, in my opinion, the buzz and usage needed to make G+ relevant comparative to Facebook. I hope I am wrong. I really like Google+ as a real replacement to Facebook (for me, not everybody).


Check it out: TC - Google+ API Launch Still Months Away

Own a shop? Keep up on your online presence or be closed!

Apparently, there is a new tactic being used by some very shrewd and seedy business owners. In the hopes of stealing customers from a successful competitor, some shop owners have been going on to Google Places and flagging their competition as "Closed." It seems that Google has almost no vetting process for these flags (which just makes them switches). Because of that, some shops have been packed one day and empty the next as some guy at the place across the street decided that his biggest competition is now closed. So, until Google figures out how to begin managing this, it would behoove anyone with a presence on Google Places to keep up on their business profiles.

Just another example of why you should always remain aware of what is going on with your entire online presence. You never what might have gone wrong whether by some technical error or malicious intent.

Check it out: NYT - Closed, Says Google, but Shops’ Signs Say Open