I – Import and initialize
D – Display configuration
E – Entities
A – Action (broken into ALTER steps)

A – Assign values to key variables
L – Loop (setup main Loop)
T – Timer to set frame rate
E – Event handling
R - Refresh the display

You can look through the book at Google Book Search

Obama’s campaign has taken his use of technology to another level with launching an iPhone application.  The free application is called ‘Obama 08′ and was launched on September 28, 2008 in Apple’s App Store. 

With iPhone 3G sales potentially being 10 million, this is a good move for the Obama campaign.

The Obama 08 application features the following sections:

• Call Friends
• Get Involved
• Receive Updates
• News
• Local Events
• Media
• Issues

Call Friends – All of the contacts in your address book are listed by state, with key battleground states listed in order of priority.  The state order in my iPhone is Nevada, Michigan, Missouri, Oregon, Arizona, Arkansas, California, and Utah.  After calling a contact in your iPhone’s address book, you can select a status from the following: Have not called, Called, Call back later, Left message, Not interested, Considering Obama, Voting for Obama, and Already voted.  Another interesting feature is the ‘Call Stats’ option that allows you to view the number of call you made, nationwide calls, top caller, and total active callers.

Get Involved – this section of the application uses the iPhone’s GPS features to find information about your local campaign headquarters, including phone number, address, and map directions.  There is also the ability to email the campaign information.

Receive Updates – allows you to sign up to receive updates via SMS and/or email by entering in your email address, mobile number, and zip code.

News – read national or local news related to the Obama campaign.

Local Events – allows the user to view local events such as a debate party or neighborhood canvass.  The name of the event, date, distance, and details are listed.  Links to ‘email this info’ and map directions are also provided.

Media – this section allows the user to view videos and photos relating to the Obama campaign.

Issues – read the details on issues such as civil rights, defense, economy/taxes, education, energy, ethics, faith, foreign policy, homeland security, immigration, and many more.   

Lastly, the application displays an election countdown on the bottom of the application and a campaign donate button.

Overall, I think this is a very innovative approach for a campaign to take in order to engage more people, in particular the younger demographic.  I was really surprised at the level of thought that went into this application.

Who uses Twitter?  That is a question with a never-ending answer, but Jonathan Kash (@time2simplify) of Fluent Simplicity initially created the Twitter Brand Index to begin to answer this question.  The Twitter Brand Index has since been moved to its own website, the Social Brand Index.  The Social Brand Index organizes all of the brands under the following top-level categories:

• Business
• Education
• Entertainment
• Executives & Notable Individuals
• For Consumers
• Government & Politics
• Media
• Non-Profit Organizations
• Service Providers
• Social Properties
• Technology
• Travel

 And, as expected, each category is further delineated by sub-categories.  For example, the Technology category is further categorized into

• Business News
• Certifications
• Enterprise Organizations
• Game Developers
• Mobile Applications
• Online Service Providers
• Open Source
• Platforms
• SaaS
• Search
• Software
• Tech Support
• Telecom/VOIP

I can only imagine the amount of time and research that went into compiling all of this great information. One thing that this evolving directory conveys to me is variety and diversity of businesses that is trying new and interesting ways to engage consumers, and doing it in a public forum that can be studied and picked apart by anyone to gauge its effectiveness.

It is extremely interesting to see how companies like CNN, NPR, AT&T, Ford, NY Times, Southwest Airline, and MGM are using Twitter as a new outlet.

It never ceases to amaze me of the creative ways that Twitter is being used.  If you need some inspiration, Chris Brogan has put together a list of 50 ways to use Twitter.  Chris offers some good insight on getting you started using Twitter effectively for business.  He gives steps on getting started, ideas on what to Tweet about, useful tips and tools to use Twitter more effectively, and how to handle Twitter negatives and turn them into positives.

 Of all the companies that I have come across on Twitter, one company stands at the forefront in being the epitome of how to leverage this popular service.  That company is Zappos. The company uses Twitter to not only build customer relationships and give you a glimpse into the service-oriented culture, but also to foster relationships between employees within Zappos.

Zappos has integrated Twitter into their website and it is an integral part of company communication from the CEO, Tony Hsieh (@Zappos), on down the chain.  What is interesting is that the company also offers classes on how to use Twitter, and I think that is awesome.   

Want to find out what all 444 (as of 9/2/2008) employees using Twitter at Zappos is doing?  Just point your browser at http://twitter.zappos.com/employee_tweets to find out in real-time what is happening on their public Twitter time line.

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Twitter icon from AODdesign.com

The 2008 BlogWorld & New Media Expo will take place September 20-21 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. If you are a Blogger, Vlogger, Podcaster, Internet TV or Radio Broadcaster, Social Media expert or producer of any other form of new media content, you need to attend this one and only industry-wide tradeshow, conference, and media event dedicated to promoting the dynamic industry of blogging and new media.

Important Blogging Statistics from Blog World Expo:

• Over 12 million American adults currently maintain a blog.
• More than 147 million Americans use the Internet.
• Over 57 million Americns read blogs.
• 1.7 million American adults list making money as one of the reasons they blog.
• 89% of companies surveyed say they think blogs will be more important in the next five years.
• 9% of internet users say they have created blogs .
• 6% of the entire US adult population has created a blog .
• Technorati is currently tracking over 70 million blogs .
• over 120 thousand blogs are created every day .
• There are over 1.4 million new blog posts every day .
• 22 of the 100 most popular websites in the world are blogs .
• 120,000 new blogs are created every day .
• 37% of blog readers began reading blogs in 2005 or 2006 .
• 51% of blog readers shop online .
• Blog readers average 23 hours online each week .

Amazon.com Product Features:

• Lean to block soccer balls, swivel hips to power hoop twirls or balance to hold the perfect yoga pose. As you stand on the Wii Balance Board, included with Wii Fit, your body’s overall balance is tied to the game in a way you’ve never experienced before.
• Wii Fit also uses the Wii Balance Board for daily tests. These evaluate two key measures that a household can track via progress charts -
  Body Mass Index (BMI) – A weight evaluation based on a ratio of weight to height.
• Wii Fit Age – The Wii Fit Age is measured by factoring the user’s BMI reading, testing the user’s center of gravity and conducting quick balance tests
• Wii Fit includes more than 40 types of training activities designed to appeal to all members of a household. Training falls into four fitness categories.

I am sure the Nintendo Wii Fit availability will be similar to the Wii when it first came out, with no one could get one in a decent time period.  I am ordering my Wii Fit tomorrow so I won’t get left calling all over town trying to scrape one up.

I have worked with my different multimedia authoring tools, but Director stood out from the rest with its impressive features and ease-of-use. When I was developing multimedia applications with Director it never really felt like I was working at all. When I was working at Ingram Micro, Jerry Stead, then CEO said something that rang true at the time. He said that “Work is Play with Purpose.” And, at the time, I could totally relate to that statement because I was getting paid to do what I loved to do: Multimedia development with Director.  Check out some of my multimedia work in my portfolio section.

After the dot com bust and I was laid off from Macromedia, it seemed like the multimedia industry had dried up a bit. I could not find a job, so after three months of searching in San Francisco, I moved to Las Vegas, Nevada and soon got back into web application development. I did, however, have the opportunity to use Director on a couple of projects, but have not used it since.
Now that a new version is coming out, it has already rekindled my interest in multimedia development with Director.

Director 11 will be ready to buy at the end of March for $999. If you happen to have any of the three previous versions, it will only cost you an upgrade fee of $299. And, if you happen to be a starving student, it will only cost you the low price of $99!

I am really excited and can’t wait for new version Director to come out.

I have been using Adobe products for web and multimedia development since the mid 90s. If you are doing anything on the Internet, Adobe products are a must-have. I don’t know what I would do without my Adobe Creative Suite 3. If you would also like to have Adobe CS3 which includes Adobe InDesign® CS3, Photoshop® CS3 Extended, Illustrator® CS3, Flash® CS3 Professional, Dreamweaver® CS3, Acrobat® 8 Professional, Bridge CS3, Version Cue® CS3, and Device Central CS3, get your copy by clicking on the link below.

This stylish camera functions as well as a web video maker as a still camera. But it’s really the onboard software that makes it so attractive. Forget about going through the upload pages of various filesharing sites in order to upload. The PMB Portable software makes file uploading easy and fast, allowing you to upload directly from the camera.

Shooting video from 15 frames per second (QVGA 320×240) to 30 frames per second (VGA 640×480), the resolution is enough for most users and will outshine most of the videos seen online. If you’re looking for a camera that shoots more than video, this Sony stands alone as a 5-megapixel still camera with a built-in flash.

Features include 4X Precision Digital Zoom, creating a clearer picture and less distortion that previous digital zooms. Sony’s Steady Shot Picture Stabilization System uses motion sensors to compensate for “the shakes”, without compromising on quality. The 2.4” Swivel Screen LCD Display has been upgraded to provide increased resolution and functionality by rotating 270 degrees.

USB streaming functionality allows the user to broadcast live video and audio, as well as immediate playback. Like many new Sony products, the Sony Net Sharing Cam comes complete with various scene selection modes (Beach, Candlelight, Fireworks, Twilight, etc.) which enable easy recording even in difficult lighting situations.

On the down side, the manufacturer’s listed price of $200 is steep for what is essentially, a highly functioning webcam. Although it can be found online for less than $150, it’s still rather pricey for most amateur YouTubers. Common complaints of this product often reference the lack of an optical zoom. For a camera of this price, an optical (rather than digital) zoom is expected. Most reviewers seem to like the look and style of the camera, but its awkward controls and oddly placed flash have proven problematic.

Overall, this seems to be an attempt by Sony to make a move into the YouTube market. The streamlined downloading process is a plus, but the lack of optical zoom and high price may make it simply inappropriate for that market. If you can afford it and don’t want to shop around for a cheaper equivalent, it’s a fine looking camera.

To read more on the Sony Net Sharing Cam, click here.

Developed by the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the MIT Media Lab, Scratch is a new programming language that makes it easy for people like you and me to write fun, interactive products with little programming knowledge.

Originally launched in May, 2007, the programming language is actually aimed at young programmers, from the age of 8 and up. Yes, this means your kid could be making some pretty cool animations and games that will blow your mind. No need for coding, Scratch is based on a drag and drop system that any newbie (or pretty smart kid) could use.

If you’ve made movies on iMovie, Scratch will seem like child’s play. Scenes are replaced with Sprites – little animations that are created and modified much like paper dolls were in our grandparents’day. Scripts are already written and simply dragged onto the stage, enabling animation, action, and reaction to the user’s requests.

There is functionality for both recording and importing audio, which is then dragged onto the sprite. Everything is included in this program – from the original creation of a character and scene, to the action, the programming, the audio, and finally the ability to export to a website, an email, or any social networking site.

Honestly, if this type of technology were available when I was kid, I would have never left the computer. The ability to be a game developer or movie producer in your own home while still in elementary school is an incredible amount of power. Everything about Scratch is fun – the colors, the icons, the little orange and white walking cat that is used as Scratch’s mascot. The style of the presentation is so fun, you may be fooled into thinking that it’s not a powerful product, but it is.

Right now, there are over 63,000 Scratch projects online, with over 1.1 million Scratch scripts already contributed. It’s fair to say that all of these projects aren’t being completed by children, but certainly there is a large youth movement within the Scratch community. The projects on the Scratch website are youthful, bright, and fun – but not too youthful to scare away an old computer geek like me. I’m downloading it tonight!

The Scratch development program is funded by the National Science Foundation, Intel Foundation, and the MIT Media lab research consortia and is provided to both Mac and Windows users, free of charge. Visit http://scratch.mit.edu for more information.

If your laptop is a gift for a child, click here to download a gift card that explains that a child in the developing world will receive an XO laptop, too, as part of this program.For Terms and Conditions of the Give One Get One initiative, click here.To learn more about T-Mobile USA’s offer to provide one year of complimentary access to T-Mobile HotSpot, click here. Please note that to activate this offer, you will need to enter your Give One Get One order reference number: 0000000000

From all of us at OLPC, thank you for your participation in Give One Get One. Your gift will help give children around the globe amazing, new opportunities to grow, explore, learn and express themselves.

We hope you enjoy your XO laptop!

OLPC Foundation
P.O. Box 425087
Cambridge, MA 02142

After seeing this information, I rushed to the front door to check the porch…No package was there…I checked both sides of the house: nothing. I checked the front porches of my neighbors houses on either side of me and across the street: still nothing. I checked the doorbell and it rang just fine. It dawned on me that someone must have taken the package.

Now I have many questions to ask…

Why would a signature not be required for the delivery of this laptop? FedEx informed me that it would have only been $2.50 more for a signature. After paying over $400, a couple dollars more would not have made a difference and should have been included in the price.

Why was I notified only after the laptop was delivered? I think I should have been informed by email on December 13th. What in the world took them so long to notify me of the shipment!

Why did FedEx not RING MY DOORBELL?! We were sitting about 25 feet from the front door and had been down stairs all evening, and my wife’s car was in the driveway. This morning I talked to a FedEx rep about the situation and they told me that if a package has “Signature Service not requested”, that the driver is NOT REQUIRED to ring the bell and can just leave the package. WHAT?! It is Christmas time and people are mailing expensive gifts, and they are just going to leave the stuff sitting on the porch without at least ringing the doorbell?

They sent a message to the driver this morning and now I have wait 24 hours for the driver to contact me. They instructed me that if the driver does not get back with me, that I should contact the sender to file a claim. I can tell that this is going to be one drawn out situation and I probably won’t get anything for a few months. So, now I am without a laptop for my daughter.

I did a Google search to see if anyone else was having any problems, and they are. I quickly fond one person has the same situation as me. Another person recieved an empty box.

I hope I get all of this stuff taken care of and eventually get a laptop for my daughter.

If Santa had really been listening to me a few weeks ago, this would have been under my tree. The Dell XPS M1330 is not just a computer, it is a piece of art – or at least that’s what the marketing types at Dell would lead us to believe. And they’re right!

The M1330 is a real treat to look at, coming in Alpine White, Crimson Red, or Tuxedo Black. Stunning colors that will make heads turn while you’re typing away in the Starbucks. It’s sleek, thin, and one of the lightest notebooks in its class, weighing in at under 4 lbs.

All reviews of this machine make note of its exceptional quietness, but don’t let the silence fool you. It’s an extremely powerful notebook, with even the most inexpensive system running on an Intel Core 2 Duo T5450 processor.

Starting at just $999 for the low-end model, the M1330 tops out at only $1,399 (original retail price at launch was $2,023). This more powerful model packs a Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T7250 (2.0GHz / 800Mhz FSB, 2MB Cache), running Windows Vista Home Premium Edition. An enormous 250GB hard drive is enough to hold everything you have and more, while the 128MB NVIDIA GeForce video card is truly top-shelf.

Dell promises up to 7 hours of mobile power (enough time to watch 3 DVD’s) on a single charge. Included is a built-in 2MP camera and microphone in case you feel like creating your own movies. And, you can burn them on a built-in CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW Drive).

One of the most popular features of this model is Dell’s Biometric Fingerprint Reader. This fingerprint technology allows you to log into your system without a password and helps keep sensitive information safe.

As with all good things, there are always a few drawbacks. The colorful cover attracts fingerprints, making it a little less attractive almost immediately. The system includes only 2 USB outlets which can limit your options, especially if you are using an external mouse or drive. The carrying case appears to be a little less than functional and some people have reported the keyboard being particularly difficult to type on. Finally, of course there is an issue regarding the loading of Windows Vista. Early adopters appreciate it, but the rest of us who have a multitude of software that doesn’t play with Vista aren’t too happy about it.

Overall, the Dell XPS M1300 is an amazing machine. It’s beautifully designed, lightweight, and has features often seen on systems twice its price. Though I just purchased a tricked out Dell Inspiron E1705 exactly a year ago, the Dell XPS M1300 makes me want to max out my Dell Preferred credit card (and I just finished paying it off!).