VOXUS Blog

Rumble

info@voxuspr.com — 2010-07-02T14:14:58-07:00

Adding to our body of new client work is a company that you most likely heard about unless you were living under a rock lately: Rumblefish (www.rumblefish.com). With VOXUS driving the PR ship, Rumblefish launched a new music service for YouTube (www.youtube.com) called Friendly Music (www.friendlymusic.com). The Friendly Music service is the first ever to offer non-commercial music licenses that last a lifetime to edit songs into YouTube videos. Think of it as iTunes for digital video. Not too bad of results if I do say so myself with 24 briefings and hundreds of articles resulting. Here's some of the more high profile stories: - Associated Press (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20100623/us-youtube-rumblefish/) - New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/28/business/media/28rumblefish.html) - ABC (http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/AheadoftheCurve/techbytes-tunes-youtube/story? id=11030951) - NPR (http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2010/06/23/128060136/get-music-rights-for-1-99) - Mashable (http://mashable.com/2010/06/28/rumblefish-friendly-music/) - TechCrunch (http://techcrunch.com/2010/06/29/rumblefish-friendly-music/) - Gizmodo (http://gizmodo.com/5575507/friendlymusic-lets-you-buy-legal-licensed-tunes-for-your-youtube-videos-for-2) - Billboard Magazine (http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3i14a7e72d3d44c14d9c4c11d4da9c480a) - CNET (http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-20009289-2.html) - PC Magazine (http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2365573,00.asp) - FOX Business (http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2010/06/30/hulus-premium-service-plus-lawsuit-free-soundtracks/) -posted by Andrew

Blog's been silent, but we're busy!

info@voxuspr.com — 2010-07-01T13:55:18-07:00

Have you heard the old adage that the cobbler's children have no shoes? It shames us a bit to say that, for a social media agency, we've been a bit, uh, remiss in keeping our blogs up to date. ...In short, it's been a crazy couple of months around here as you'll know if you've been following our Facebook and Twitter feeds. We'll have more to share shortly, but in the meantime... clients! It's been an exciting time with multiple launches, rebranding, new campaigns and more. ...IID (www.internetidentity.com) (Internet Identity), which has delivered solutions that help keep the Internet safe and trusted since 1996, recently re-launched its brand which VOXUS helped drive from a PR and design perspective. IID also launched IID ActiveTrust, the first security solution of its kind for the domain name system or DNS (essentially the address book for the Internet). Coverage of the company within a couple weeks of the product launch and company re-brand were in, but not limited to, outlets like: - Q13 (Fox Seattle affiliate) (http://www.q13fox.com/videobeta/c922a221-66e3-4328-8592-0475e1bc58d3/News/Preventing-Cyber-Crimes) - Network World (http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/051710-one-source-for-most-phishing.html? ...- eWeek (http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Security/Avalanche-Cyber-Gang-Dominated-Phishing-Attacks-636570/) - Dark Reading (http://www.darkreading.com/securityservices/security/perimeter/showArticle.jhtml? ...- SC Magazine (http://www.scmagazineus.com/avalanche-phishing-slowing-but-was-all-the-2009-rage/article/170052/) Now to the new guys on the block. doxo (www.doxo.com) - backed by Bezos Expeditions and Mohr Davidow Ventures, and founded by three former Qpass execs - came out stealth mode to announce it is pioneering the way for people and providers to connect and go paperless with all of their transactional mail (i.e. bills, statements, notifications, policy updates, and other critical documents). Coverage again was overwhelming. doxo's launch was picked up by, but again not limited to, some pretty top tier outlets like: - TechCrunch (http://techcrunch.com/2010/05/10/doxo-bezos-mohr-davidow/) ...News & World Report (http://www.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/articles/2010/05/19/smart-tools-for-a-paperless-home.html) - ZDNet (http://www.zdnet.com/blog/green/amazons-book-billionaire-bezos-bets-big-on-paperless-transactions/11640) - Xconomy (http://www.xconomy.com/seattle/2010/05/10/doxo-backed-by-bezos-and-mohr-davidow-comes-out-of-stealth-wants-to-help-businesses-go-paperless/) ...Let's just say we had a little help from our friends...

Seattle top time-saving city

info@voxuspr.com — 2010-03-15T16:38:15-07:00

According to RealSimple magazine, Seattle is the nations "top time-saving city"... With extensive public transit, one of the country's most on-time airports, and 50 miles of new bike lanes in the last two years, our winning city, Seattle, is an icon of urban efficiency. It has more Wi-Fi hot spots and more coffee shops (no shocker there) than any other U.S. city and impressively short waits for a doctor's appointment. It says we're "an icon of urban efficiency" so it must be true. But thanks to Daylight Savings, I'm not feeling particularly efficient at the moment... perhaps I need to avail myself of one of the plethora of coffee shops. Be sure to check out the other 19 cities on the list. -posted by Paul

Tacoma techies come together

info@voxuspr.com — 2010-03-15T16:35:38-07:00

Who said technology in the Puget Sound is just limited to Seattle and the Eastside? Recently, I attended the first annual SHIFT awards celebration, which honored South Sound companies that have shown technology innovation. Now it wasn't just a couple start-ups that were up for the award, Intel and MorphoTrak, both billion dollar companies with local offices were nominees. VOXUS client Internet Identity, an Internet security company that's been around since 1996, ended up taking home some hardware along with biometric ID company MorphoTrak, hotel Hotel Murano and building engineers BCRA. From my guesstimate, I'd say about 120 plus people attended the ceremony at Tacoma's Theater on the Square. All four companies who won a SHIFT award (which let's call a SHIFTy) got a chance to tell their company's innovation stories at the event. Pretty interesting stuff, but of course I'm partial to Internet Identity's story (see BAD cell phone picture of company CEO Lars Harvey below). The hometown company has grown by 800-percent since 2001 to secure and defend some of the biggest companies in the world. Not bad for little T-Town. Here's to more Tacoma techies in the years ahead! -posted by Andrew

Feeling lonely, redux

info@voxuspr.com — 2010-02-23T14:56:57-08:00

Last month, my colleague wrote a blog post on PostCrossing and was not feeling the love about its services. It's basically an upgrade of the pen pal concept: you sign up for the free service, are randomly assigned a name and address of another user anywhere in the world so that you can zip off a postcard to that person. The service tracks the postcards you send (similar to Facebook on a personal wall) and ensures that you receive a postcard in return for every one that you mail. So I tried it out, and the verdict is in: PostCrossing actually rocks. Maybe you need to be of a certain age to appreciate this site and service -- when I was young, everyone wanted a pen pal who lived overseas. And I have to say, after multiple trips abroad, this is still the case in countries such as Germany and Australia, where local residents randomly met in bars ask if they can keep in touch. That's why PostCrossing has hundreds of thousands of users, and now I'm one of them. So far, I've received thank you emails through the site from my postcard recipients in Finland and Germany, and I've received my first postcard from a woman in Taiwan. Yes, it's true that it's not an immediate gratification kind of a thing...the postcard from Taiwan took 17 days from the time my name/address was generated by PostCrossing until it was received. And the postcards I've mailed to China and Thailand have yet to arrive, although they were sent three weeks ago. But if you're patient, it's kind of a cool activity for a rainy afternoon. And we have a lot of those in the Seattle area. -posted by Rachel

I'd like to call Facebook to the stand

info@voxuspr.com — 2010-02-16T15:06:25-08:00

With Valentine's Day but a sweet memory this week, I thought we'd take a look at the other side of love, divorce, and the dubious role Facebook can play in the ensuing battles. PC World has published a great article "Marriage On The Rocks? Better Stay Off Facebook" that cites some frightening facts for all the Facebook fanatics out there. According to a survey by the American Academy of Matrimonial Layers (AAMl), 81 percent of its members have, in the past five years, seen an increase in the number of divorce cases using social networking evidence. Facebook leads the pack with 66 percent of survey respondents citing it as the primary source. MySpace and Twitter made a splash as well, with 14 percent and five percent, respectively. So, as we are always warned, watch what you do on social networking sites! Not only could bad behavior cost you your job, your friends, or your relationship, it could lead to nasty divorce court problems and "evidence" you probably don't want anyone to see. -posted by Stephanie

The digital dilemma: vampires vs zombies

info@voxuspr.com — 2010-02-09T16:46:33-08:00

It's a digital dilemma that has an outspoken tech entrepreneur comparing content aggregators and search engines to vampires, and newspapers to zombies. Keynoting the recent OnMedia conference in New York, chairman of HDNet and Owner of the Dallas Mavericks, Mark Cuban, made a bold statement. According to AdWeek, Cuban essentially said content aggregators and search engines are vampires, and newspapers are the chesty blondes who fall victim to their charms -- and ultimately get bitten. Cuban particularly called out Google as a Web giant that continues to reap benefits off of the valuable content that traditional media companies produce either through search or Google News . “At some point, you would think that the vampires run out of victims—people to suck. ... But that never happens in the vampire story. What happens is, someone drives a stake through their heart. That’s the only way to stop a vampire,” said Cuban. Which brings us to the next point Cuban addressed: the proverbial silver bullet. Here's what Cuban had to say about that; ...The iPad is, the Kindle isn’t. The Kindle just reprints what you already do. The iPad represents a new way to present information and, most importantly, sell ads against your content. The Kindle looks nice, it’s portable, but ultimately, it looks like a first generation product that has no future. The iPad will allow content companies to present their work in a new way, and most importantly, sell ads against it.” However, Cuban's bold vampire/zombie comparison isn't the first time something like this has been uttered. According to Crain's New York Business, in a keynote address to the PricewaterhouseCoopers Entertainment and Media Outlook last year, Dow Jones CEO Les Hinton compared Google to a vampire, sucking the blood out of the newspaper industry. How did I come up with all of this information you may ask? I did a Google search:) We've got our newest version of Twilight brewing on the Web and I for one am interested in if and/or how the Zombies will come back from dead.

Free Your Endorphins

info@voxuspr.com — 2010-02-02T15:20:28-08:00

Are you a hardcore runner, walker, cyclist or kayaker? If so, you'll definitely think this latest start up is cool. The company is called Endomondo, and they offer free GPS tracking and social networking tools for athletes. Functionality basically boils down to several key areas: workouts, stats, friends, challenges, maps and routes (all rolled into a nice GUI). Here's how it works. You sign up online (for free) and can then download the software (for free) onto your phone (Nokia, HTC, iPhone, Android, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, LG, HP, Garmin, you get the picture). The phone's GPS capabilities map and track your progress, route, speed, etc. This allows you to keep a running (no pun intended) diary online and communicate progress and goals with friends, track routes you love and compete in community challenges -- all in the name of killing calories. As far as niche products go, this might be right on target. Whatcha think? Successful Launch, or Mission Scrub for this start-up?

iPad, Kindle killer?

info@voxuspr.com — 2010-02-02T15:16:53-08:00

Unless you were living under a rock recently, you may have heard about a little announcement from Apple about the launching of the iPad. Fortunately, I work at VOXUS, which means there was no way I would not hear about this (we are a tech PR firm after all and full of Apple Fanboys). Of course, the immediate reaction from many people was to compare the iPad to Amazon's Kindle e-Reader. While I haven't used the Kindle extensively (read know people who do), I was interested in comparing the two and found a couple recent blog posts addressing whether the iPad is a Kindle Killer. Here's one from online tech news site TechFlash and here's one from Ben Elowitz, CEO of Wetpaint. Not sure I want to weigh in on this one since all I have to go on is the hype and not much experience. The iPad... is it an iKindle killer? -posted by Andrew

There's an app in my future?

info@voxuspr.com — 2010-02-02T15:15:05-08:00

I've often wondered what I'd do if/when I leave VOXUS. It never occurred to me, however, that the infinite possibilities might include developing an iPhone app. Hillary Davis, a 16-year veteran of owning her own PR agency, was laid off last year from her then-position of VP of corporate communications at Triad Health. Instead of spending all of her time finding a new job, she ended up creating MyTown Contacts, a 99 cent iPhone application that compiles a list of important phone numbers in case of emergency. She got the idea for the application when she had a family emergency, but not being a software developer, she had to be creative in learning how to move forward with the concept. She posted the job online and actually worked with a developer in China. Check it out on iTunes -- I'm pretty impressed. But the bar has now been set for the rest of us. You can learn more about it here. -posted by Rachel

Bill Gates gets social

info@voxuspr.com — 2010-02-02T14:52:32-08:00

In a move to get more personal, Bill Gates, the now Co-chair and Trustee of The Gates Foundation, has emerged with a new Twitter page and a web site dubbed "The Gates Notes." The software-mogul-turned-philanthropist's Gates Notes site appears to be a repository for his thoughts on the range of topics from education to energy. The site is separated into sections like "What I'm Thinking About," "What I'm Learning" and "My Travels." On the site's home page, there is a brief explanation of it saying; "Every January, Bill writes an Annual Letter, which includes his thoughts on the work of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and progress it is making toward achieving its goals. Interest in the 2009 Annual Letter was one reason Bill decided to create the Gates Notes website." That annual letter came out January 25 this year. Bills Gates' Twitter page @BillGates went live on the microblogging site on Tuesday, January 19 with this tweet: "'Hello World.' Hard at work on my foundation letter — publishing on 1/25." Gates was welcomed to Twitter almost immediately with a tweet from actor Ashton Kutcher, the unofficial ambassador of the microblogging site. At last check on Wednesday, January 20, just one day after joining Twitter, Gates had more than 240,000 followers. And since I love cyber-snooping, I wanted to take a look at who Gates was following. It was an interesting mix of organizations like relief organization UNICEF, celebrities like actor Ashton Kutcher and techno-geeks like CNET's Ina Fried. With only 40 people Gates was following as of late January, must be quite an honor to have the world's richest person following you! While I'm certain Gates isn't developing any of the content for The Gates Notes or @BillGates, I'm relatively sure Gates has a decent amount of input (i.e. final say) into what is being published. Not sure what the driving impetus was for the new Internet push, but it certainly couldn't hurt The Gates Foundation's efforts. In this day and age, it appears nothing's off limits and everything needs to be open for the public. -posted by Andrew

Google in China, censorship vs cash

info@voxuspr.com — 2010-01-19T15:23:58-08:00

In a surprising turn of events last week, Google said it's willing to stop doing business in China unless the world's most populous country makes concessions over censorship and computer-security concerns. The move followed Chinese hackers reportedly recently prying into the gmail accounts of human rights activists. Former Seattle P.I. reporter, current freelance journalist, Chinese American and longtime China watcher Brad Wong has an interesting take on the situation. In a TechFlash blog post, Wong notes that due to its "5,000 years of history to draw upon for strategies to gain and keep power," the Chinese government probably won't cave to Google. Google's threat to pull out of China over censorship is a rare display where foreign companies have more often than not accepted certain levels of intrusiveness to gain access to a huge and growing market. With 338 million Internet users at the end of last June, China has more people online than the entire population of the United States, according to figures from the China Internet Network Information Center. A quote by Richard D'Aveni, professor of strategic management at Dartmouth University's Tuck business school, in a Christian Science Monitor article, is particularly thought-provoking. He says, "This is a no-win situation for an American [company's] entrance. I think China is going to want control over the Internet, and I think the fate of any search engine or Internet-based company in China is one that they are either going to have to cooperate with the government by allowing espionage or they are going to have to get out if they want to live by American values." This Google versus China battle appears to be turning into more of an America versus China ideological battle that has wide-reaching ramifications for companies around the world. It's a classic case of censorship versus cash and it'll be interesting to see how this plays out. -posted by Andrew

Feeling lonely?

info@voxuspr.com — 2010-01-19T15:21:59-08:00

Think there's a service or idea for everything? ...It's a project that allows anyone to receive postcards (real ones, not electronic) from random places in the world. ...Don't feel bad, I was wonder too...and, thankfully for us, the website answers that question (they must get it a lot). ... Because, like the author, there are lots of people who like to receive real mail. The element of surprise of receiving postcards from different places in the world (many of which you probably have never heard of) can turn your mailbox into a box of surprises - and who wouldn't like that?" ...A box of surprises... Soooo, if you are really starving for a random postcard from across the globe, here are the simple steps you must take: ...- Request an address and a Postcard ID through the website - Check your email and get the address ...- Mail the postcard to the address the website gave you ...- Receive a postcard from another postcrosser sometime in the future - Register the Postcard ID you have received - View your map of postcards (just for fun) - Go to the second point and repeat ...To quote Britney Spears, "Have fun ya'll." I think it takes as many steps to create nuclear fusion. In the meantime, I think I'll cure cancer. ...Successful Launch, or Mission Scrub for this start-up? [BTW, they claim to have 153k members that send more than 359 postcards an hour. So add that to your box of surprises.]

Wondering about 3D TV?

info@voxuspr.com — 2010-01-19T15:19:54-08:00

There's been a lot of talk recently about 3D TV, especially during and following the big CES show in Las Vegas a few weeks back. With so many announcements about the future of 3D TV and products - the idea has entered the minds of many folks outside of the technology community. For example, a friend of mine recently explained to me that he would have 3D TV soon, as he had heard ESPN was going to start broadcasting in 3D. I started to ask him about the new TV he would need to invest in, how he would like wearing glasses whenever he watched, etc. Not to my surprise, he didn't know about any of the pieces that go into making the 3D TV experience (not only the channel or movie, but the TV, the glasses, the new players...), he though it would be as simple as flipping to the channel. I suspect this is true for many people - people have heard fleeting mentions of "3D TV: Coming Soon," but what does it really entail? CNET's Crave blog has put together a fantastic FAQ on all things 3D TV. From what TVs will be needed to the particular glasses that your family will need to wear - it's all there. Some interesting tidbits: - Viewer comfort is a big concern for 3D content producers - as 3D can sometimes cause disorientation or headaches after extended periods (for some people) - The 3D glasses you will need to watch 3D TV are not the same as the ones you use to watch regular 3D movies in the theater - Between 5 and 10 percent of Americans cannot see 3D due to stereo blindness. - Glasses alone could cost upwards of $100 a pair (although no maker has specified exact cost) Check out the Crave article to see the rest of the FAQ and learn more about 3D TV technology. -posted by Stephanie

Sing with me

info@voxuspr.com — 2010-01-19T15:11:37-08:00

Time for a new blog segment I like to call, "Start Ups That May Suck, or Not... ...Since new companies are popping up all the time – some with lame ideas and some with friggin great ideas – I thought I'd try to share some of these, err, umm, experiments. For better or worse, but just for plan old-fashion fun! We'll kick it off with Karaoke Play. Honestly who doesn't like a little karaoke. You go out for dinner, have some beers, next thing you know it's 10 pm, your feeling saucy, the karaoke machine gets set up and the grand master announces karaoke night. You review the song book, put in your selection, wait 40 minutes, drink more beer, then proceed to make a fool out of yourself on stage, all the while playing out some teen fantasy of becoming a rock star. In the morning your head hurts and you wonder if the crowd really liked your male-version of Celine Dion's "I'm your lady." ...Well, if embarrassing yourself in a room of 50 people isn't enough, you can now visit KaraokePlay.com. Just log on, record a track and let the entire world (or community) critique your performance(s). It's like your own personal American Idol show. Let the punishment begin. And if audio wasn't enough, that's right, you can integrate video!!! So, you can share all the funny faces you make while singing, to those watching your post. This is a site I want to hate... BUT, I kind of found myself liking it. It's a lot of fun, in a "I'm-a-tool-who-thinks-in-another-life-I-could-have-been-a-rock-star" kind of way. So, before you judge, give this one a go. ...Successful Launch, or Mission Scrub? -posted by Justin

Holy Facebook, Batman...

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-12-16T11:06:34-08:00

Think you know what website usage dominates today's business users and which one takes up the most bandwidth? Well, think again. While Google and Yahoo sit close to the top on both fronts, it's that gosh-darn Facebook ruling supreme for site visits and YouTube stealing first for bandwidth consumption. Ann Bednarz summarizes nicely in a new article: "In recent research from Network Box, the company analyzed traffic to 19 billion URLs through its global security operations centers over a five month period. It ranked the top five Web sites visited from business addresses by volume of traffic. By its measurements, 5.8 percent of all Web traffic from business networks is to Facebook – which is higher than to any other Web site. Google ranked second at 4.1 percent, followed by Yahoo’s Yimg image server (3.1 percent), Yahoo (2.7 percent) and Doubleclick (1.7 percent). Network Box also ranked Web sites by the bandwidth they use. In that tally, YouTube topped the list, consuming 7.8% of corporate bandwidth to download videos. That’s followed by Facebook (4.4%), Windows Update (3.8%), Yahoo’s Yimg image server (2.8%) and Google (2.7%)." Does this demonstrate a total failure of usage policies in business today? Or, does is simply shed light on the fact that most businesses consider certain social media outlets acceptable destinations during business hours? Don't lie, you're a member of Adam West's Fan Page... and how could you not be. He's super! -posted by Justin

Best free phone apps

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-12-02T09:14:18-08:00

Confused by the world of phone applications? Are you constantly checking to see the latest free apps for your phone? Well, this new list from Sascha Segan, mobile editor for PCMag.com, sheds some light on the top 100 free applications for a variety of phones. Do you agree with his assessment? Seems a little boring and safe to me! "The popularity of Apple's App Store vaulted mobile apps to prominence, but techies know that mobile phones have been tiny PCs for years now. The difference today is the buzz and visibility around apps. The idea that you can add to your phone's powers has gone mainstream. With 100,000 apps, the iPhone certainly has the most apps available, but there's no lack of choice on other platforms. Google's Android phones have more than 10,000. There are thousands for BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, and Symbian phones, and a couple of hundred for the Palm Pre and Pixi. Even simple phones like the Motorola RAZR can get into the app game..." To summarize... ...AP Mobile 3.1 ...Chess With Friends ...5. eBay Mobile ...AP Mobile News ...Bloomberg Mobile ...AP Mobile ...-posted by Justin

Storage rewind

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-12-01T16:48:47-08:00

I came across this great chart that summarizes the evolution of storage. Pretty fun to look at . How many have you worked with? (Image courtesy of our friend in wireless, Keith Parsons.) -posted by Justin

Auto show or car graveyard?

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-12-01T16:40:02-08:00

Recently, I made it out to the Seattle Auto Show, which featured hundreds of new 2010 cars in addition to some nifty concept vehicles and more. While there were a handful of some really groundbreaking cars like the Karma by Fisker and Tesla along with hybrids like the Ford Taurus, Toyota Prius and Honda Insight hybrids, for the most part I couldn't help but feel like I was walking through a soon-to-be graveyard of autos. Sure, people will be buying some gas guzzlers in the coming years, but I can't help but think... no HOPE... that in the not so distant future people will be turning to more environmentally-sensitive and less resource-draining vehicles. Unlike today where many of these cars take a good amount of cash, the next few years should bring a full lineup of new-age cars for both the haves and the have-nots. Sure, President Obama's new mileage standards may help fuel this drive for more efficient vehicles, but as an industry, I'm hoping the automakers realize it's not only the economical, but also the RIGHT thing to do. Auto show or car graveyard? Karma by Fisker Tesla Battery -posted by Andrew

Visual evidence of the challenge for Win Mo

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-11-20T09:05:08-08:00

The online news site Windows Phone Thoughts just posted a piece on the Mobius 2009 invite-only event, where Microsoft shows developers and others what it’s doing in the mobile space. It’s a critical annual platform for the company to lay out its plans, and as such a good gauge of where things are headed. Thing is, check out the photo below from the article (pay close attention to the computers). (via DF) -posted by Paul

High tech house

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-11-16T14:24:02-08:00

I love technology and I love looking at homes. So I couldn't resist posting this video of Ron Rosberg, who the media deem a technology icon to many in the Bay Area, building his tech-smart home in Clear Lake, California. Enjoy! -posted by Andrew

Family Guy "not a fit" with Windows brand?

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-10-28T09:37:45-07:00

Now I'm no expert of FOX's Family Guy show, but I do know enough to say the program definitely pushes the limits of prime time TV. So that's why I was so shocked initially to see Microsoft was going to exclusively sponsor a special Family Guy episode. The special was supposed to be commercial free with Windows 7 and Microsoft marketing messages built into it. Here's a short preview clip of what the show was SUPPOSED to look like from YouTube: But have no fear, Microsoft finally saw the light, pulling out of the show about two weeks before its scheduled November 8 airing. According to Variety's Mike Schneider, who broke the story, everything was humming along just fine until the folks at Microsoft went to the taping of the special last week and were shocked, SHOCKED to find racy humor and tasteless jokes about deaf people, the Holocaust, feminine hygiene and incest. Here's what Microsoft had to say about pulling the 180: "We initially chose to participate in the Seth and Alex variety show based on the audience composition and creative humor of “Family Guy,” but after reviewing an early version of the variety show it became clear that the content was not a fit with the Windows brand. We continue to have a good partnership with FOX, Seth MacFarlane and Alex Borstein and are working with them in other areas. We continue to believe in the value of brand integrations and partnerships between brands, media companies and talent." Fear not, FOX says the show must go on and they're hoping to line up some new sponsors. Question... didn't Microsoft know what kind of show it was associating with in the beginning? Maybe the Microsoft marketing/advertising folks should have thought long and hard about agreeing to sponsor the show in the first place. The backlash from this flip-flop might be worse than if Microsoft had followed through with the sponsorship after all. Windows 7 motto is "life without walls"... ironic... don't you think? -posted by Andrew

Disco balls, shag carpet and barcodes

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-10-28T09:35:11-07:00

I'm not one to blog about client news, but this one was just too out of the norm to pass up. Recently, VOXUS client Ryzex announced the oldest operational barcode device as part of its Big Upgrade contest (www.bigupgrade.com). But what's even more interesting is that after combing through numerous entries, Ryzex found what it believed to be the oldest operational barcode device on the same day the Google logo was replaced by the ubiquitous black-and-white barcode design. This was done to celebrate the 57th anniversary of the first barcode patent. The oldest device, the MSI 2100 from the early 1970s, was found to be the oldest operational barcode device out of two months of submissions. The portable data collection terminal is battery powered and even includes a cassette tape for data memory... and get this IT STILL WORKED! So I admit this isn't as catchy as finding the first mobile phone, but for someone who lives and breathes AIDC (Automatic Identification and Data Capture) devices, this is pretty cool. -posted by Andrew

Big Brother, or just an advertising evolution?

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-10-06T16:01:45-07:00

You knew this was right around the corner with e911 services and GPS for mobile phones. Read an article recently in Digiday: Daily about what the developer claims to be the first hyperlocal restaurant mobile campaign. According to the article, users that download a mobile application are able to see where friends are located and what they are doing via detailed, interactive maps on their mobile phones. As part of the agreement, people will see B.R. Guest restaurant locations, with 13 locations in Manhattan, and if a friend is located near that restaurant. From there, the restaurant holding company is hoping social mapping will take hold and encourage two people in a similar location to meet up at one of their restaurants (with a little nudge from a free desert offer at all B.R. Guest locations). Seems to me, this could be either a very successful endeavor or not, based on how people feel about sharing their exact location with others. Big brother or not, you make the call. -posted by Andrew

Facebook, the hot new wedding coordinator

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-09-24T14:10:29-07:00

Interesting and slightly amusing article posted on MediaPost's Online Spin - and in honor of our colleague Justin's recent nuptials, I will blog about it. The author of the article, Joe Marchese, is getting married this Saturday, and he describes the important role social media played in the planning of the wedding. Faccebook allowed him to reach out to almost every friend or family member he wanted to invite (to get addresses, share info and pester for RSVPs), Pandora and iTunes helped him find music they would like for their playlist and a Twitter vote helped them choose a song for the procession. Additionally, Joe used Twitter and Facebook to find recommendations for his honeymoon and plans to use iPhone apps for advice while they are traveling. Joe ends his article with the question "How did people do all of this before social media?" As someone who planned their wedding pre-Twitter-mania (2007, aghast!), I can answer that. Hardly any of my family members were on Facebook, so I had to use the phone and my mother to get addresses, call for RSVPs, share information, etc. I looked through pages and pages of lists of "popular wedding songs," added most of them to my "do not play list" and found the rest of my music via movies a love (namely Father of the Bride, My Best Friend's Wedding, etc. etc.)... which didn't even end up mattering because my DJ only played two songs from the list and instead filled the rest of my reception with such favorites as "Baby Got Back." Anyway, my point is, it sounds like social media really is taking out some of the blood, sweat and tears of planning weddings, or really any event, as people and resources are more accessible on a wider scale. But I guess we'll have to see what Justin's take on this is when he returns from his honeymoon... hopefully recovered from the trials and tribulations of planning the big day. And good luck to Joe over at Online Spin - may his big day be a success! -posted by Stephanie

Cobain Debut On Guitar Hero Strikes A Sour Note With Love

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-09-11T15:12:25-07:00

Courtney Love, the widow of now deceased Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, is tweeting (warning, these tweets are profanity laden) at the top of her lungs about the appearance of Cobain's likeness in the video game Guitar Hero 5. According to her tweets, Love is considering legal action against Guitar Hero video game developer and publisher Activision for the use of her late husband in Guitar Hero. The Guardian newspaper reports that Love is especially upset where Cobain is lip syncing songs from other artists like Bon Jovi. Love Tweets, "(I) never signed off on the avatar, let alone this ****ing feature!" she wrote. "There's been four breaches of a very strict contract." Love is also upset at a profanity laden diatribe by Guardian blogger Everett True where True accuses Love and former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl of selling out. In the blog, True posted a YouTube video of Cobain singing various pop hits with the subject line "Someone gives love a bad name: Hint Courtney)". Activision tells the Guardian that Love was very involved in the process of incorporating Cobain's likeness into the game, even picking out virtual wardrobes and hairstyles. But Love (as shown in the tweet above) says she signed off on nothing. Seems we'll be hearing a lot more about this video game battle and Twitter will give us an inside look at it every profanity laden step of the way. -posted by Andrew

Display Ad Evolution: Where Are You?

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-08-21T09:44:06-07:00

Brian Massey at ClickZ published a great article this week on how businesses have evolved from their first display ad – a static Web site – to rich display ads than can be spread across the Web and targeted to specific customers. Read his article and find out if you're a Homo Webilisite ("Web site Man") or a more advanced Keyanderthal Displayis ("Contextual Display Man"). The Geico Caveman resent this analogy. -posted by Lindsay

Top 10 tech blunders

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-08-21T08:36:29-07:00

PC World just came out with an interesting list of its top 10 tech blunders. In order to stay as neutral as possible, here's the list without any comments coming from me. What do you think? 1. Yahoo Loses Facebook 2. Real Networks Punts on the iPod 3. Sony and Toshiba Agree to Disagree Over HD 4. Digital Research: The Other Microsoft ...Xerox Goes in an Alto Direction ...Recording Industry Plays the Same Old Tune ...Compuserve Blows Its Chance to Dominate the Net ...Newspapers Fail to Read the Writing on the Wall--Craigslist 9. The Google Before Google 10. Microsoft Saves a Rotting Apple -posted by Andrew

How doth thee annoy me? Let me count the ways...

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-08-21T08:34:01-07:00

CNN has posted a HILARIOUS article called "The 12 most annoying types of Facebookers." To the uninitiated Facebooker, this article may not make much sense, but I assure you, it is dead on. The article lists 12 Facebook "types," all annoying of course, any by golly I have at least one friend who falls into every category. From "The Let-Me-Tell-You-Every-Detail-of-My-Day Bore" to "The Bad Grammarian," I've seen it all. Other annoying Facebooker types include (humorous and detailed descriptions are found in the article): The Self-Promoter The Friend-Padder The Town Crier The TMIer The Sympathy-baiter The Lurker The Crank The Paparazzo The Maddening Obscurest The Chronic Inviter I'm sure everyone has fallen into one of these categories at least one time or another. So, which one are you? -posted by Stephanie

$300 Million Solar Plant Comes to Cle Elum, WA

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-08-21T08:32:33-07:00

There is a lot of nothing...er beautiful wilderness in the logging city of Cle Elum, Washington. Apparently the city's abundance of open space and unusually high volume of sun has made it the perfect spot for a 75 megawatt, $300 million photovoltaic solar plant. According to a story in TechFlash, developers are one step closer to building this massive plant, which will be one of the world's largest -- spanning 400 acres! The plant will bring power to nearly 50,000 households, create dozens of jobs and give the quaint, Leave it to Beaver-type city a modern technology tourist attraction. It's too early to tell if this site will detract from the number of visitors that head to the world's largest frying pan located in Long Beach, WA. -posted by Lindsay

230 MPG... really?

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-08-21T08:26:41-07:00

Recently, the honchos at General Motors reported the hybrid plug-in car the Chevy Volt will get 230 miles per gallon when it's available to the public in the next year. While the news created an initial buzz, there was almost immediately some cynicism and even backlash regarding that number. That's because the Environmental Protection Agency has no way formal methodology to come up with HIGHWAY MPG for plug-in hybrids and it turns out GM came up with its own methodology. Also adding to the confusion is that the Volt fully charged runs for 40 miles before turning over to gas. To arrive at its controversial number, Tony Posawatz, vehicle line director for the Volt, said GM used a combination of the E.P.A.'s proposed methodology for measuring plug-in hybrid vehicles in city driving and the company’s own data on real-world driving. Bottom line, though, if you have a place to plug in your Volt at least every 40 miles, you conceivably would never have to buy gas. Seems to me and plenty of others there needs to be new calculations for the value you're getting out of your car like cost per mile (electricity is 10 cents a kilowatt hour). Of course that calculation doesn't give you a read on the Volt's environmental impact. 230 MPG... really? -posted by Andrew

Amazon as Big Brother?

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-08-06T14:29:28-07:00

Hot on the heels of Amazon recently pulling George Orwell's "1984" off its virtual bookshelves for the Kindle and the company applying for a patent to post advertisements smack dab in the middle of e-books on the Kindle, the Seattle Times Danny Westneat has a critical article of the online retailer. I tend to agree with Westneat that having an ad pop up as you're trying to escape from reality by reading your favorite book can be annoying. However, having to support a business with new revenue streams is also the sad but true reality of the world we live in... cash is king and nothing's for free. Westneat, out of all people, should appreciate that because as we all know, the newspaper industry has seen better times. (Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos) -posted by Andrew

Move aside iPhone apps. Hello Twitter tools!

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-07-31T14:49:23-07:00

You've probably all heard about the iPhone app gold-rush, but what about the Twitter tool windfall? You may be asking yourself, what's a Twitter tool? Simply put, it's an added on service to the social micro-blogging site Twitter that's recently taken off. Companies are flooding the Web with thousands of tools—many of them free of charge—that simplify a number of common tasks on Twitter. For instance, some services let you automatically search for Twitter posts (tweets) that mention a company or person. Other programs let you easily organize the tweets that you follow, or manage how multiple employees use a single Twitter account. But forget outside sites, Twitter is also trying to cash in with these tools and says by year’s end, it will launch several new features of its own for commercial use, such as a directory of business users. The Wall Street Journal Journal has a good rundown of some of these Twitter Tools. No word yet on how companies plan on making money on these tools if they're free of charge, but profit and Twitter (and most social media sites for that matter) has always been a touchy subject. So my Twitter friends, keep toolin' along and come tweet us @voxuspr! -posted by Andrew

Geek by day, rockstar by night

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-07-31T14:48:02-07:00

WTIA broke the networking event monotony with a text-voted music competition at Seattle's Pyramid Brewery last night. The event featured five tech bands from a mix of genres. The Linkin Park-like Lions Ambition ruled the jungle with Audience Choice and Most Innovative Awards. These guys from Boeing did a great job of entertaining the crowd. Lions Ambition -posted by Lindsay

Two thumbs down for the WSJ

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-07-31T14:46:20-07:00

I found this recent WSJ article very puzzling. It talks about the effects of social media on learning... well kind of. That's what the title implies, but then the extremely high level research basically just states the obvious: if you interact with content socially, you have a better chance of learning and retaining that content. Well, duh. Thank you Captain Obvious. We often point out good articles and interesting information. I had to take this opportunity to give the WSJ two thumbs down... or maybe I just wasn't able to interact with the information enough. -posted by Justin

3D TV channel on its way

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-07-31T14:45:09-07:00

BSkyB (also known as British Sky Broadcasting) will launch Europe's first 3D television channel in the UK next year - offering movies, sports and entertainment programming. According to an article in the UK's Guardian, BSkyB, a satellite broadcaster that thinks 3D TV may be reality within the next few years, is planning to get moving on an all-3D channel, after getting a major boost in subscribers to its Sky+ HD set-top box, which is also capable of broadcasting in 3D. Once the channel is available, customers can use their current Sky+ HD box, but will need to get a special televisions set, and will need to get their own 3D glasses. With this on the horizon, I think it's time UK designers start work on lines of fashionable 3D glasses - right? If people are going to be able to watch 3D TV at home all the time, disposable paper glasses just won't do... If this works out well, it might not be long until we, here in America, are crowding around our own TVs to catch a baseball game in 3D. -posted by Stephanie

Ping Pong, PR, beer and technology

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-07-24T16:59:23-07:00

So if the title didn't capture your attention, check out this video taken from last night's TechFlash Summer Event attended by yours truly (check me out at :48 in). The summer schmoozer was held at Seattle's Georgetown Ballroom and included a four hour ping pong tournament, bar consisting of beer and wine, some great catered barbeque, and hundreds of people from the Seattle tech community. Great event held by TechFlash. Look forward to the next one! -posted by Andrew

Amazon and Zappos

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-07-24T16:56:56-07:00

In relatively big consumer technology news, online retailer Amazon has agreed to buy online shoe retailer Zappos for $850 million. Amazon said the Zappos management team in Las Vegas will remain intact and Zappos will continue to operate as its own brand. Following find a video of Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos telling Zappos employees of his company's purchase. Bezos make a point of saying how similar the two companies are in this surprisingly low-tech, informal message. -posted by Andrew

Stack the memory

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-07-22T15:51:07-07:00

One of the best geeky rap spoofs I've seen in a long time. "My G4 had more ports than a wine store." -posted by Justin

AdReady CEO Named to PSBJ's "40 Under 40"

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-07-22T15:48:37-07:00

We have some great news to share: CEO Aaron Finn has been named to the prestigious Puget Sound Business Journal's "40 Under 40" listing. Selected from more than 200 nominations, Finn was recognized for his entrepreneurial and civic accomplishments, which include co-founding AdReady, and supporting his local community. Aaron will accept his award at the Honoree Bash being held at the Seattle Repertory Theatre on September 15. Way to go, Aaron! Earlier this year, the Washington Technology Industry Association named AdReady "Service Provider of the Year" in their 14th annual Industry Achievement Awards. -posted by Lindsay

Being social at work?

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-07-22T15:47:11-07:00

At VOXUS, I'm thankful accessing a Facebook account during work hours is not only OK, but encouraged to a certain degree to support our client efforts. This is in stark contrast to many of my peers that are locked out of social networking sites, or cautioned not to use them while clocked in. According to a survey from WorkPlace Media covered by MediaPost's Online Media Daily, 55 percent of workers that have access to the Web at work maintain a social networking site. Only 43 percent of workers access it at work and usually for less than half an hour a day. A whopping 89 percent of the social networking survey respondents held Facebook accounts. But what this survey didn't find out is who has borrowed their co-worker's Swingline stapler and not returned it. Now that's a real office crime. -posted by Lindsay

How Would Media Cover Moon Landing in 2009?

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-07-20T14:56:43-07:00

Slate V (the online video magazine from editors of Slate, one of five online properties produced by Washingtonpost. Newsweek Interactive) has a fun video up today, in honor of the Apollo 11 moon landing anniversary, that takes a look at how today's media might cover the news if it happened in 2009. Many of the clips, including those of celebrities saying how amazing the news is, were actually taken from media coverage of the 2008 presidential election and are in reference to President Obama. Watch the video here. -posted by Stephanie

PR Manager Unemployment at 0.1 Percent According to Report

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-07-20T14:49:56-07:00

In a silver lining to otherwise horrific unemployment figures (currently the U.S. unemployment rate was 9.5 percent in June); it appears public relations professionals among others are bucking the downward spiral. According to an article in the Baltimore Business Journal, professional staffing firm Robert Half International Inc. claims only 0.1 percent of public-relations managers (like me) claim unemployment. Now this could be due to many PR professionals being independent consultants and also the fact that in general public relations has low overhead… but WOW. Some other impressive fields with low unemployment according to the firm include budget analysts at 1.1 percent, lawyers at 2.3 percent and financial compliance officers at 2.3 percent. Now I’m not about to do the happy dance, but this is some encouraging news for many colleagues in the PR field. One could take it as further recognition that even during this downturn, good public relations support is a valuable commodity that one cannot do without. -posted by Andrew

EATR – ugh.

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-07-15T13:40:21-07:00

Yum, lunch time. Robotic Technology Inc. is creating a robot that is sure to garner public support - NOT. EATR, or the Energetically Autonomous Tactical Robot project, is designed to develop and demonstrate an autonomous robotic platform able to perform long-range, long-endurance missions without the need for manual or conventional re-fueling, which would otherwise preclude the ability of the robot to perform such missions. The system obtains its energy by foraging – engaging in biologically-inspired, organism-like, energy-harvesting behavior which is the equivalent of eating. In other words, eating dead soldiers or casualties of war? WOW. They do go on to say it can ingest plants, animal matter, etc. Hopefully they'll integrate audio -- nothing like a bunch of organic matter ingesting robots roaming the planet saying "I'll be back." For more creepy information (and a complete overview), visit the website. I'm picturing this: -posted by Justin

My robot girlfriend, la la lala lal la

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-07-15T13:38:03-07:00

Oh, Robot Girlfriend... need I say more. -posted by Justin

Walkman vs iPod

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-06-30T09:09:41-07:00

The BBC invites 13 year old Scott Campbell to swap his iPod for a Walkman for a week. It took me three days to figure out that there was another side to the tape. That was not the only naive mistake that I made; I mistook the metal/normal switch on the Walkman for a genre-specific equaliser, but later I discovered that it was in fact used to switch between two different types of cassette. (via Daring Fireball) -posted by Paul

iPorn

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-06-30T09:08:54-07:00

We look at the good, the bad, the ugly... and the naked? That's right. Apple just allowed its first iPhone application that focus on pornography into the App Store. The application, called Hottest Girls, costs $2 and includes “2200+ images of topless, sexy babes and nude models," according to Wired. What's really hilarious here is Wired's analysis of the application. Maybe someone should check old Charlie's hard drive at work -- the dude seems to know a lot about how porn should be presented! According to Wired's Charlie Sorrel: "The application itself is terrible. Four photos are shown on screen at once and tapping one will pull a full sized version from the server. From here you can look at it or save it to your photo-roll. There is no slideshow to display a progressive striptease of the same model, so you are limited to one picture at a time before you have to navigate back to the main screen, which shows a lack of understanding as to how a porn app should work. You could of course just use the application for downloading and view the pictures later in the Photos application." Read the entire short article here. -posted by Justin

Twitterature? Ugh.

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-06-30T09:08:01-07:00

Twitterature, coming soon from Penguin Books. According to Mashable, Twitterature, the brain child of some University of Chicago freshmen, takes the classics and cuts them down into twenty Twitter-length tweets. So the great works of Shakespeare, for example, would be reduced to twenty tweets, 140 characters or less of course. According to the creators, these "hipster's Cliff Notes" are the "birthday, Christmas, Hanukah and 4th of July for ever hip young person between the ages of 18 and 35 in this country"... quite a bold statement I'd say. Another example of Twitter infiltrating everything from television shows to classic literature! -posted by Stephanie

Video Interview: Ortiva Wireless at CONNECTIONS

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-06-16T16:13:52-07:00

Last week, Craig Lee at Ortiva Wireless participated in the "Multimedia on Mobile Devices" panel at the CONNECTIONS conference in Santa Clara, CA. Craig also chatted with Parks Associates about Ortiva's latest developments and mobile video market trends. Check out the video interview here. -posted by Lindsay

VOXUS on Seattle 2.0 List of Top Twitter Accounts

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-06-12T13:06:25-07:00

Seattle 2.0 has compiled a list of the top tech startup twitter accounts in Seattle. Here's the top five: 1. @seattle20 (Seattle 2.0) 2. @johncook 3. @calbucci (Marcelo Calbucci) 4. @daveschappell 5. @npost (Nathan Kaiser) In the #114 spot is VOXUS (@voxuspr.com). Follow us! -posted by Lindsay

Mr. Press Release: A Review

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-06-12T13:04:39-07:00

When a $9.99 service from Mr. Press Release came across my desk, I could no longer resist. A colleague had recently explored the ins and outs of no cost wire services (get the free white paper here) and I wondered how a cheap service could compete. ... Here's a run down of the positives and the inconvenient: ...- You can add a logo or other image easily and at no additional cost. - Visually, the release looked good, nice font and layout at the OfficialWire site (check it out here). ...- You can easily delete or edit a filed release. Although, once "payment is received" it gets posted immediately. - We received two postings and a tweet (Mr. Press Release tweets all of their press releases on Twitter). ...- You have to have a gmail account and use Google Checkout. - The "channels" for distribution are a bit unclear -- we selected "America" (does that mean U.S. or North America?). ...- You cannot designate a day or time for your posting (your release gets posted as soon as the payment is received). - You must plan for a lag that happens from when you submit payment and when the payment is officially received by Mr. ...IMHO, this service is comparable to some of the free posting sites I've used. The Google News indexing is probably the key differentiator, and for many companies, worth the $9.99 all by itself. ... Press Release also offers unlimited press release distribution for $59 a month. This monthly service is a nice option for companies that can't afford traditional wiring fees but that want to keep a relatively active Web presence during the recession. However, you must be willing to sacrifice the benefits that come with a big name wire service like BusinessWire. Just this month, BusinessWire helped VOXUS get more than 30 release postings and three articles – a stark contrast to the two postings and a tweet we got with Mr.

Yes, it really can be this complex

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-06-12T13:00:56-07:00

Social Media is really this complex. This image, courtesy of Brian Solis, does a good job of showing just how insane this universe is. Now spend the next year figuring out what this means! Good luck. -posted by Justin

Charge... I mean Harvest!

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-06-12T12:56:22-07:00

According to an article in the Guardian: Nokia is developing a phone that recharges itself without mains electricity. A new prototype charging system from the company is able to power itself on nothing more than ambient radiowaves – the weak TV, radio and mobile phone signals that permanently surround us. The power harvested is small but it is almost enough to power a mobile in standby mode indefinitely without ever needing to plug it into the mains, according to Markku Rouvala, one of the researchers who developed the device at the Nokia Research Centre in Cambridge, UK. -posted by Justin

What kind of tech user are you?

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-06-12T12:54:23-07:00

The Pew Internet and American Life Project has released a report, "The Mobile Difference," which places American adults into 10 different Internet user types, depending on how they feel about information technology, what kind of information technology they have in their lives and how they use it in their lives. CNN has published an interview with the project's associate director of research, in which they explore some of the details of the user types quiz and results. Below is a sampling of some of the 10 user types and the percentage of respondents that identified with each type. -Digital Collaborators - use information gadgets to collaborate with others and share their creativity with the world - 8% -Ambivalent Networkers - heavily use mobile devices to connect with others and entertain themselves, but don't always like it when the cell phone rings - 7% -Desktop Veterans - dedicated to wireline access to digital information and like how it opens up the pipeline to information - 13% -The Tech Indifferent - unenthusiastic about the Internet and cell phones - 10% -Off the Network - neither cell phone nor Internet users - 14% Take the quiz here and see what type of user you are, Digital Collaborator? Ambivalent Networker? -posted by Stephanie

I've been Binged

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-06-05T10:54:16-07:00

Granted, I do live five minutes from downtown Seattle, but it's a rarity that I see any of the bright lights from the big city. Well, that changed this week when I saw a stream of light going right over my rooftop deck. And guess what? It wasn't Batman sending his bat signal into the night's sky, it was Seattle area super hero Microsoft trying to market its newly-launched Internet search engine Bing. Following are some pictures TechFlash took of the spectacle. Although I can't see a direct correlation to a light show and Bing, I do have to admit that it had people talking and most people I know are already aware of Bing. Which... could mean mission accomplished in the buzz department. As for having any substance once all of the marketing hype dies down, that remains to be seen. But for now, Kudos to Microsoft's marketing team for a launch that sure made me and a lot of other people "see the light." Now is there steak with that sizzle? -posted by Andrew

Nielsen: Comedy Content on Top

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-06-04T10:41:50-07:00

Just got a peek at the latest mobile video report from Nielsen. After surveying 3,000 mobile video subscribers, they found out that comedy reigns supreme on mobiles. Next is weather, sports, music and news/finance. Does "weather" stick out to anyone else? People are really dialing up video to get a weather report? Hmmm. Last month, Nielsen reported that U.S. mobile video viewers grew to 13.4 million in Q1. And Pyramid Research projected it to be a whopping $16 billion market by 2014. It's quite clear that this crappy economy is no match for subscriber demand for mobile video. -posted by Lindsay

Domo arigato, Mr. Phonboto

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-05-28T09:29:01-07:00

I sure am glad I'm done with college. A Japanese university is giving away Apple Inc's trendy iPhone to students for free, but with a catch: the device will be used to check their attendance. Dohhhp. -posted by Justin

Trade cable for PlayOn?

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-05-22T13:50:36-07:00

Darren Gladstone, PC World, posted an interesting article about PlayOn from MediaMall Technologies. PlayOn allows users to use a game console or networked television to access shows from places like YouTube, Hulu, etc., to watch on their TV. The software pulls in the media streams and sends them directly over your home network to you device, even converting the format on the fly to make sure devices can play them. This sounds pretty fantastic, as someone who has a furious love/hate relationship with Comcast (I love TV, but hate everything about my cable bill, service and did I mention the huge bill?). So how does it measure up? According to Darren the quality is no 1080p, but looks good enough considering the money savings. No fancy interface, just simple folder navigation. Consistent software updates to fix quarks from MediaMall. Not the smoothest performance overall. But Darren seems hopeful that with some work, PlayOn can evolve into a great experience for people looking for an alternate way to view television programming. -posted by Stephanie

I had NO idea

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-05-22T13:48:49-07:00

Thanks to an MSNBC story, my mind is upside down. I had no idea the state of robotics. Yes, I've read Wired stories about the advance with things like ASIMO, but had no idea these crazy models had been made. Not only are they freaky, but given the upcoming release of Terminator Salvation, I'm afraid to go in the woods or in the water now. -posted by Justin

Texting On the Rise

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-05-21T09:38:19-07:00

We've all seen it by now: text messages from unlikely senders like Dad, Grandma and maybe even Great Grandpa. This growth of texting among late-adopters has driven up the number of U.S. subscribers using text to nearly 60%. This research, covered by FierceMobileContent, indicates that the greatest growth has occurred in older age groups. Of course the tween and teenage segment continue to lead the pack, sending on average more than 500 texts per month. Earlier this month, a California teen apparently sent a record 300,000 texts in a single month from her iPhone. Now that's just plain crazy. -posted by Lindsay

Take that phone and throw it

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-05-18T15:51:49-07:00

Frustrated with your cell phone? Then maybe you need a vacation. The New York Times travel section recently suggested you consider a visit to Punkaharju, Finland, which on August 22 will host the ninth annual Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships. You can compete in the over-the-shoulder throw (where contestants are judged on distance) or the freestyle throw (where points are given for choreography and aesthetics). According to the New York Times, the contest was created in 2000 to provide mobile phone users with a cathartic way to express their frustrations with dropped calls and dead batteries. Note, you are not allowed to use your phones, one is provided by the competition's governing body. The all-time record long throw at the contest according to the event's web site was 94.97 meters or approximately 312 feet. First prize is what else but a new cellphone (no word on what kind). For those of who aren't satisfied with just a picture and some links, you can check out a video of the 2005 competition here. -posted by Andrew

Gapminder blows our minds

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-05-18T15:49:44-07:00

Keith Parson, our friend and wireless expert, turned me on to a website that provides huge amounts of data on most issues and shows how it effects the world. The tool from GAPMINDER is amazing. You can look at data about economies, health, birth rate, technology, environment... the list goes on and on. You can cross reference, look at different years, basically manipulate the data however you'd like, play timelines and more. For example, I was interested in finding out what regions in the world apply for and are granted the most patents. The tool provides a range of 1984 - 2002 for data in this area. You can evaluate each year or play a timeline. The timeline reveals that while the US leads in accepted patents throughout history (in 2002 they had almost 170,000), in 1995 China pulled ahead for two years (hitting almost 220,000 accepted patents), until the US again overtook in 1997. The information you can generate is very cool. Did you know: Slovenia has historically had the highest rating for literacy in adult females over the past 15 years! While African nations have plummeted. If you're looking to generate some data, you may want to see what Gapminder can offer. -posted by Justin

When the wheels come off, rebuild

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-05-18T15:48:03-07:00

Oh how the mighty are falling....continue to fall... or are on there way to falling hard. You get my point. Mainstream media outlets continue to believe in a failed business model that doesn't address the realities of online information. For the past several years, we've watched as other new-media groups are able to maintain a more effective silo of news content (by trolling and pirating content), and more often than not, when they repackage it, it's just as compelling as some of the premier outlets (ie, major city news outlets, etc.). Sooo, it's nice to see a major high-end magazine change it's model before all the wheels come flying off (even if it's a year or two too late). Newsweek announced that they are completely changing their business model and strategy. They will still deliver a print version (although it will undergo a massive redesign), but will also broaden the online content and cut certain elements, such as entertainment. Its new site just launched on the 15th. Check it out... it's a step in the right direction. -posted by Justin

Me so holy – but Apple thinks not

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-05-18T15:45:26-07:00

Apple has rejected an iPhone app that enables users to fashion their faces into portraits resembling the holy one, J.C. himself. The app, called Me So Holy (cue the 2 Live Crew song), has users take a picture with their iPhone, and then scale and crop that picture to replace Jesus' face. Take a look at a vide of the process below:

Me So Holy iPhone App from Benjamin Margolis on Vimeo.

According to Me So Holy developer Benjamin Kahle, Apple rejected the app saying, "it contains objectionable material." The move comes after recently Apple did a 360 following outrage of its approval of an iPhone app called Baby Shaker, a game whose objective was to shake a baby to death. Apple removed the app after a good deal of parental push-back saying Baby Shaker's approval was a mistake. Other than being criticized for approving questionable apps such as Baby Shaker, Wired Magazine reports some developers have slammed Apple for being unclear about its App Store approval process. For example, FreedomVoice Systems in March told Wired.com that Apple hadn’t said a word about its iPhone voice app Newber for six months, potentially costing the company $600,000 in wasted investments. But for every app disappointment, there's a success story like Ethan Nicholas, an independent developer whose iPhone game iShoot earned him $600,000 in a single month. No back to Me So Holy, the iPhone SDK agreement reads, “Applications must not contain any obscene, pornographic, offensive or defamatory content or materials of any kind (text, graphics, images, photographs, etc.), or other content or materials that in Apple’s reasonable judgement may be found objectionable by iPhone or iPod touch users.” Does Me So Holy break the rules? Looks like its a matter of subjectivity. What do you think? -posted by Andrew

I Want My BTV (Bathroom TV)

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-05-18T15:42:37-07:00

I recently spent a few days in Las Vegas for an annual vacation. We try to stay in a different hotel each time. This year it was MGM Grand's turn. Very quickly I decided this would be MGM's only turn. There were a couple of reasons, but one of them was the fact that there was no TV in the bathroom. How could there be no TV in the bathroom? You're rated four stars, get with it MGM! And while you're at it, please get a luggage software tracking solution that helps vacationers who temporarily misplace their claim ticket to more easily find their bags. Walking your Costco-sized warehouse of checked luggage is exhausting! On a recent trip to Santa Monica, I was pleased to find my must-have flat screen TV in a single room at the Loews Hotel. The provider? You guessed it -- VOXUS client Totevision. Thank you Totevision for making my dream of having a TV In every hotel bathroom a reality. -posted by Lindsay

He boldly goes where no man has gone before

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-05-08T14:36:35-07:00

In my... weekly ode... to... Star Trek.. I must... focus on... an injustice. Okay, I'll stop. What is this injustice? It appears our own Captain, Paul Forecki, is getting to attend a sneak peak of the the new Star Trek film. While Paul and I both battle for ultimate geek supremacy here at VOXUS, he has been invited to this private show... and I'm left feeling like Tuvok in Voyager's episode 13 of season five (oh yes I did). But alas I must let this go and focus on some real news. According to Wired: With J.J. Abrams’ flashy new Star Trek landing in theaters this week, Apple’s iTunes Store is brimming with Trek-themed apps for iPhones and next-generation touchscreen iPods. Here are a few of the coolest Star Trek iPhone apps, which draw from the sci-fi series four-decade run on TV and movie screens. Star Trek Phaser: Originating at Paramount Digital Entertainment, the free Phaser app turns your phone or MP3 player into the handy weapon that the youthful Enterprise crew use in Abrams’ flick. Both a game and a simulator, the app comes packed with images and trailers for the movie’s May 7 release. Star Trek Wisdom Quotations: A less flashy, but more inspiring, entry comes from CHS Systems. The $1 Star Trek Wisdom app offers insightful quotes from Spock and the gang (or the folks writing scripts for them, anyway). Star Trek: Alien Spotlight: Quickly brush up on the Star Trek universe’s alien races with the Star TrekAlien Spotlight series. Released by iVerse Media, these $1 graphic novel-style apps present the background data on various Trek aliens, including the Gorn, the Andorians and those pointy-eared bastards the Vulcans. Star Trek: Countdown: Also from iVerse comes the $1 app version of Countdown, the official comic book lead-up to the new movie. The movie prequel is only one title in an ever-growing collection of Trek comic apps. -posted by Justin

Best gifts for Mom under $10

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-05-06T15:34:10-07:00

With Mother's Day right around the corner, I have been searching high and low for a personal (yet, affordable) gift idea. I came across a couple cute options that I thought I'd share incase you might find yourself in a similar struggle during this time: 1. Mom's Personal Coffee Blend: A company called Dean's Beans allows you to make your mom her own custom blend coffee out of certified organic, fair trade and kosher whole beans. Each 1 pound bag can be packaged and labeled with a custom name. Price: $8.99 per pound of coffee. ...Mom's Signature Wines: On a bottle of mom's favorite red, white or rose wine comes with a custom label designed just for her. Signature Wines & Beverages enables you to load pictures and create your own personalized label. Wines come from all over the country, as well as non-alcoholic sparkling wines. Price: $8.00 and up per bottle. 3. Mom's Spruce: A tree is a gift that will last long into the future and provide for generations to come - just like mom. The Arbor Day organization "Give the Gift of Trees" lets you choose either a redwood, pine or spruce for your mom, along with a custom label with a quote, saying or personal message. Price: $3.00 per tree. 4. Mom's Memory Book: Make the perfect brag book gift for mom with photos from past vacations, holidays and cherished moments through Blurb/Tiny Prints. As an added bonus, the company also offers up a line of premium recycled paper as a printing option for the eco-friendly mom. Price: $4.95 and up per book. Here's to a truly happy Mother's Day! -posted by Shawnna

Microsoft switches agencies for Windows Mobile

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-05-06T15:31:22-07:00

This PR movement has particular interest to me since I used to work on Microsoft's Windows Mobile PR account at Weber Shandwick. Recently, AdAge reported Microsoft's main PR agency, Waggener Edstrom, won the Windows Mobile PR account, which has been held for the last five years by Weber Shandwick. This is the first time since Weber won the Windows Mobile account that Microsoft has held a review for the business. AdAge has a good article on the move. Windows Mobile was arguably a much stronger brand a few years back before the launch of the iPhone. The change comes as Microsoft gears up for the release of Windows Mobile 6.5. Now the question is, will the change in business change the public perception of Windows Mobile? -posted by Andrew

Cats and LOL

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-05-06T15:27:04-07:00

Finally getting around to posting pics from last week’s TechFlash Live, TechFlash's quarterly meet-up, at Seattle's Palace Ballroom. It was a great evening of drinks, food and networking. The highlight of the night was an on-stage interview between TechFlash's John Cook and Ben Huh of I Can Haz Cheezburger. Who knew someone could grow a company based on cats and LOL speak? According to Technorati, I Can Haz Cheezburger is the 10th most popular blog on the Internet with over 10 million page views a week. For those of you are not in the "know", I Can Haz Cheezburger is a repository for LOLcat images. Ben says he just wants to spread some smiles. While humor is one of the motivators, the money can't be a bad thing with I Can Haz Cheezburger being profitable from day one according to Huh through mainly advertising money. Besides all of the LOLcat talk, the night was a great chance to meet up with old industry friends and make new acquaintances. Here are some pictures I took at the event. Keep on LOL'ing. Ben Huh wants you to. -posted by Andrew

Zillow's iPhone app demoed by a 4 year old

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-05-01T16:42:14-07:00

Not much substance but it is quite cute. Check out this video from Zillow.com COO Spencer Rascoff video taping his 4-year-old daughter looking up homes via his real estate website's new iPhone app. -posted by Andrew

VOXUS Interview with Kelly Smith, Curious Office

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-04-27T12:26:06-07:00

Kelly Smith is a founding partner in Curious Office, a company that is both a seed stage investment firm and a software development company. The Seattle-based company currently has equity holdings in: Inkd, CafePress (which acquired ImageKind in 2009), SEOmoz, Shelfari (acquired by Amazon.com), Fanzter (a company that created the popular www.coolspotters.com), Wishpot and FeedDigest (sold and rebranded to Feed Informer by Informer Technologies). ...What was unique about it was that we were the first company to license the Mosaic source code from the University of Illinois where a young Marc Andreessen was still a student and hadn't yet co-founded Netscape. ... I remember that our big tradeshow demo was showing live radio station feeds from a Stockholm radio station streaming over the web to our tradeshow floor! ...2) Do any difficulties arise when you're in the business of both investing in companies and helping to develop them through incubation? For example, is keeping your eye on revenue growth (for a return to investors) ever at odds with a more management-oriented decision? ...We start companies ourselves like Imagekind and our latest venture called Inkd: The largest marketplace to download newsletter templates, flyer templates, brochures, business cards and other types of print creative. However, we also invest in companies such as SEOmoz where we don't have day to day responsibilities. But we still feel it is important to be as supportive as we can so we need to back away from our computers and sometimes go to meetings and try to help tackle tough questions that our portfolio companies have for their own businesses. As you can imagine, when we start our own companies we hold a larger stake but I still feel it is just as important to try to be as helpful as possible for our portfolio companies. When I think about the challenges that Curious Office has, the answer is always the same - not enough time in the day. 3) When it comes to seed-stage investments, who is the biggest gambler -- you or your partner, Adrian Hanauer? ...He is one of my oldest friends and I respect him so much because he thinks for rationally and calmly in every situation...even when very large amounts of money are at stake. ...In my experience, fundraising seems to be just as much about relationships as it does about your idea and your technology. If you are contemplating fundraising then get involved in the events and venues where investors and other successful entrepreneurs go. Sometimes its easier to get close to other successful entrepreneurs than it is to get close to investors but that's a great way to start. ...What type of Web 2.0 or social media company do you think will be "the next big thing?" ...I'm interested in working with people who deeply understand the subtle nuances of driving lots of traffic through all available channels. ... I don't know what the next big thing is but the best bet is to bet on smart people. ... They understand how to come up with concepts that have a viral hook and they understand how to drive and build traffic to their destinations.

Suds allowed at Microsoft

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-04-20T10:15:53-07:00

Following up on a VOXUS blog post from last week, Microsoft has reversed a decision to not allow a bar to to open on Microsoft's Redmond, Washington Campus. Read the TechFlash article here. Under the compromise plan, the Spitfire pub will serve beer and wine in the afternoons and evenings, after 3 p.m., but it will be open during those hours only for scheduled gatherings and catered events. I have a feeling, this beer battle is not over yet. -posted by Andrew

10 bargains in a bad economy

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-04-20T09:59:26-07:00

Time.com has compiled a list of the top ten things to buy right now - if you have the cash - for great deals. While some of the items are likely out of reach for most of us (houses, country club memberships, and even new cars), some of these are downright good ideas to get now well prices are low. If you're looking for computer memory, upgrading to four gigabytes is only $50, whereas two years ago it would've put you out 200 bucks. Or if you yearn for a new digital camera, many retailers and manufacturers are offering markdowns between 30 and 50 percent. Personally, I think I will take advantage of the killer deals on lobster, ball gowns and home decor and throw myself a sweet dinner party. Here is the full list of bargains: Fancy Threads Computer Memory Cameras Stuff for Your House (from bedding to HDTVs) Lobster New Cars Travel Country Club Membership Housing Stocks -posted by Stephanie

Video Interview at CTIA: Ortiva Wireless

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-04-20T09:56:49-07:00

Craig Lee of Ortiva Wireless discussed the latest mobile video trends with Greg Galitzine of TMCNet at CTIA earlier this month. Check out the video interview here. -posted by Lindsay

UW hosts PocketMedia Film Festival

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-04-20T09:51:48-07:00

The Master of Communication in Digital Media program at the University of Washington is sponsoring the first PocketMedia Film Festival, open to all UW faculty, staff, students and alumni. The program is currently accepting video submissions based around the theme "What do you do at the UW?" as long as the video is recorded on a pocket-sized device, like a mobile phone. Submissions are due by May 13, 2009. -posted by Shawnna

Does the T in T-Mobile stand for Troublemaker?

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-04-20T09:49:49-07:00

Got a poor credit history? Then T-Mobile has the right cell plan for you. According to a FierceWireless story number four carrier T-Mobile is being accused of lowering its credit standards to boost subscribership. While subscribers with bad or little credit may be a riskier target market – it's a market nonetheless. In fact, I would guess it's growing pretty rapidly during the downturn. -posted by Lindsay

Want to land a speaking gig? Read on.

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-04-20T09:47:34-07:00

Almost all VOXUS clients want to speak at important industry trade shows. Our success (or failure) in delivering results is dependent on our ability to offer fresh perspectives, interesting (and not always self-serving) topics and high-level executives. Communicating these needs to our clients, though, isn't always easy. So here's what you need to know about crafting better abstracts for speaking engagements at industry trade shows, straight from someone who is in the best position to know. Kenton Williston is a freelance technology editor, writer and analyst based in New York. He's currently reviewing the speaking abstracts submitted for consideration for the Embedded Systems Conference Boston 2009, being held in late September. He gave us an exclusive, inside look at the decision process -- he says: "Have a clear problem statement. Too often I see “solutions looking for a problem.” You need to tell me why I should care, and that means telling me how you’ll solve my problem. Tell me what you’re going to say—and be specific. Too often I see abstracts that say “topic x is important” without explaining what the author plans to say about that topic. This is related to the need for a problem statement. You need to clearly identify the problem you are solving, and then clearly state the solutions you will cover. Tie the abstract to a hot topic. The importance of the topic might be obvious to you, but editors have to keep track of a lot of topics. We can’t always connect your idea to a big-picture trend. If you can do that for us, we’re more likely to pay attention." For more on Kenton, visit his profile at http://www.linkedin.com/in/kentonwilliston. -posted by Rachel

Beer backlash at Microsoft

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-04-14T09:39:21-07:00

Who knew beer could raise such a ruckus? Microsoft just did a 180 on a proposed campus pub and that's caused a beer backlash which has seeped into the company's overall image arguably just as much if not more than some of the company's storied and not so storied products. According to TechFlash, Microsoft put the kibosh on the Spitfire Grill opening a pub at Microsoft's new West Campus Commons area just three days before the bar was supposed to open. Spitfire is owned by Jonathan Sposata, a former Microsoft employee and owner of Seattle area startup Picnik. He tells TechFlash he was stunned by the decision and that he was given no explanation for the stoppage. Microsoft spokesperson Lou Gellos is quoted as saying, "The goal was always to create a cool gathering place for employees, but to do so in a manner that’s consistent with a business environment. We took a second look at that, and we were sensitive to the business environment. We decided we should do something more appropriate, and that meant not having a pub." The original TechFlash article has garnered some of the most comments I've ever seen on a TechFlash comment board and now a follow-up by TechFlash is documenting the backlash which includes a Facebook group called "Bring Spitfire Back To Microsoft" which already has hundreds of members. Senior Xbox manager, Matt Patriot Gradwohl, formed the group and says on the page, "I am embarrassed to work at Microsoft sometimes." Who knows what's next with Microsoft's brew ha-ha? One things for certain, this beer battle is far from over. -posted by Andrew

Almost 1 billion served

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-04-14T09:31:07-07:00

Apple is about to hit one billion app downloads - one billion! To celebrate, anyone who downloads an app will be automatically entered to win a $10,000 iTunes gift card, an iPod Touch, a Time Capsule and a MacBook Pro. I'm not sure how you could ever begin to spend $10,000 on iTunes, but I'm sure there are plenty of Apple fans out there willing to give it a try. TechCrunch has also announced that they will be offering a TechCrunch t-shirt to whoever can guess (or get closest to) the date and time that Apple will cross the one billion mark. Apple has a counter up on their homepage - and it's moving at an insanely rapid pace. In the 10 seconds it took me to type that sentence, almost 3,000 apps were downloaded. Wow! You can keep track of the count at http://www.apple.com/itunes/billion-app-countdown/. -posted by Stephanie

Comcast digital switch

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-04-14T09:28:56-07:00

Despite the recent push from the U.S. House of Representatives to delay televisions switch to digital until June 12, Comcast has already begun the transition in parts of Washington, Western Oregon and the San Francisco area. According to Comcast, expanded basic customers are eligible for one free basic set top box and two smaller "DTA" converter devices which will enable customers to view all previously available channels. The downside, these free boxes will no longer receive high definition signals and require an additional $6.95 per month to upgrade to an HD service that was once free... Ah, capitalism at its best. Here's the most recent schedule for the Puget Sound region and a list of affected channels. -posted by Shawnna

Peapod vs PUMA

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-04-14T09:26:24-07:00

Despite all of the turmoil with the car industry, two industry titans seem intent on trying to innovate, or at least appearing to. Last week, we got a sneak peak at Chrysler's Peapod and GM's P.U.M.A. Take a read of Engadget's articles which I've linked above. The two vehicles both operate on electricity and are meant for local travel, but that's where the similarities apparently end. vs -posted by Andrew

Marketing via Tweet

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-04-07T14:56:39-07:00

It’s no secret that we run Macs around here, and one of the popular (and controversial) retail programs is something called MacHeist – basically a collection of multiple software titles sold for one rock bottom price. I’ve avoided participating in this (as a customer) in past years due in no small part to that controversy, which circled around the question of whether the group that puts on MacHeist screws the participating vendors. I’m an ardent proponent of independent software vendors, and I like to support the creation of good software, which I define as both useful and elegant. As such, I thought it best to steer clear of MacHeist on general principles. On the other hand, it’s unarguably one hell of a deal. And with this latest go-round, it appears that they’ve largely addressed the equitability in regard to the participating vendors, at least according to a number of those vendors themselves. Moreover, MacHeist donates a percentage of proceeds to charity, which is of course a plus. So, I jumped in with both feet. Now the interesting thing about how MacHeist works is that there is an initial group of applications, and if they sell enough bundles, then additional apps are “unlocked” for everyone that has purchased. Which obviously generates not only the mob mentality that fuels any auction, but also adds to the word-of-mouth marketing of the whole bundle. And here’s where things get interesting, and either brilliant or diabolical, depending on your point of view. After making the initial purchase, I receive periodic status updates on how they are progressing toward unlocking additional applications. Then I receive a “special Twitter offer” for two bonus applications that have been thrown into the mix, “all you have to do is click this link.” Said link takes you to a MacHeist page where you have to verify that you have a Twitter account (so now they have my user name and account) and then takes you to MacHeist’s Twitter page, where you must follow them. Of course you can always un-follow at a later date, but my guess is that many customers won’t do that. Thus far, MacHeist has gathered additional customer data for later marketing purposes, and gotten customers to follow the Twitter version of the company’s promotional newsletter. ...After you follow MacHeist on Twitter, but before you receive the additional software, you have to post a promotional tweet to your account: ...12 Top Mac apps worth $900+ for just $39 AND I just got Delicious Library 2 FREE! Once you’ve gone this far in the process, it’s extremely likely that you’ll follow through regardless of whether you find this distasteful or not. ... And I have to admit to being torn: is this a brilliant social marketing program, or an abuse of social media?

Ridgeline

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-04-07T14:54:55-07:00

A Computer for Your Wrist Was just cruising through engadget and came across the Glacier Computer Ridgeline W200 – a PC for your wrist. I like the small and portable part, but wouldn't your arm get cramped from holding it just so? What's not clear is why someone would select this over one of those cute netbooks (cause it's definitely NOT a fashion statement). Maybe they're targeting the skydiving CEO? -posted by Lindsay

Broadway meets mob culture

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-04-07T14:53:48-07:00

You never know what you're going to find on YouTube...but one of the latest viral videos is sure to bring a smile to your face. A Dutch TV talent show looking for the next person to play "Maria" in "The Sound of Music" staged a unique promo in the Antwerp, Belgium train station. It starts out with bemused and confused travelers...but keep watching, it gets better. This is one of the reasons why I love YouTube. This and the fact that, when I fall asleep watching American Idol, I can usually catch some of the performances before they are knocked off the site for copyright violations. -posted by Rachel

Yahtzee, I used Yapta!

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-04-02T11:56:33-07:00

Attention: you are about to enter the product plug zone... Recently, I booked a plane flight for a long weekend vacation in Las Vegas. In fact, I've booked numerous flights as of late for what seems like a never-ending Spring/Summer of traveling (mostly for weddings). That's when a friend mentioned that I check out a site called Yapta (Your Amazing Personal Travel Assistant) to ensure the price I paid on flights didn't go lower... and if it did I'd receive an airline credit. Now, I have to admit, I came across Seattle-based Yapta after recently reading an article in TechFlash, but the sites true uniqueness didn't quite hit me then. When my friend recommended the site to me, I thought "what they hey." Here's how it works, you provide your confirmation number for a flight and Yapta does the rest by constantly checking the flight for lower fares. If one pops up, Yapta emails you right away. From there, you can either call the airline yourself (Yapta includes step-by-step directions) or Yapta can collect the credit for you for a $15 fee. What do you know, about a day after registering my Vegas flight, I got an email alerting me to a $75 fare drop and instantly called the airline and received a $75 credit. When I woke up today, about 12 hours after receiving the first credit, I found another email on my phone from Yapta. You guessed it... I got another credit for the Vegas flight... this time for $25. Total money saved (or you could say earned) with Yapta, 100 bucks. What an amazing service and to my knowledge I haven't gotten an influx of spam which is a bonus. Oh... and Yapta recently launched a similar service for hotels. Yahtzee... I got Yapta'd twice! -posted by Andrew

Snuggie-fever strikes moms

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-04-02T11:48:13-07:00

I'm not going to lie, I love the Snuggie. I don't actually have one, but I love the idea of the Snuggie and every time I see one - now that they have invaded the shelves of my local Target, Walgreens and Bed Bath and Beyond - I am tempted to throw down $15 and give in. And now, if I ever have children, there is yet another fleece blanket with extremely convenient holes to tempt me - I give you, the Peekaru. Gizmodo has introduced me to this wonderous creation. It better be higher quality fleece than the Snuggie for $80, however, it is already light years ahead of its predecessor, as I see it has a zipper and actual seams [and more than a passing resemblance to the creature from Alien - Ed.]. -posted by Stephanie

HP Grabbing Google's R2D2?

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-04-02T11:44:31-07:00

Hewlett-Packard told InformationWeek that it is studying whether or not it should replace Microsoft Windows with Google's Android operating system on some of its mini-laptops, often referred to as netbooks. While I don't think Microsoft is shaking in its boots about this – yet – we found the announcement interesting because a VOXUS client, D2 Technologies is using a netbook to demonstrate its Android-compatible communications user interface at CTIA this week. If HP was to select Android for its netbook line, that would give a huge boost to the open source OS that is now being used in a number of smartphones... and that increased market for Android-compatible products would trickle down to developers like D2. And that's good news in the present day economy, because industry analyst Gartner Group is predicting the market for netbooks to grow by 80 percent this year. -posted by Rachel

@VoxusPR at Top 50 Elite

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-04-02T11:41:29-07:00

@VoxusPR is currently one of the top 50 elite profiles in Tacoma, Wash., according to TwitterGrader.com, with an overall rank of 100,543 out of nearly 2 million Twitter profiles. TwitterGrader allows Twitter users to enter in their screen names (and the names of others) into its algorithmic generator and find out how each user ranks on the Twitter scale. According to Mike Volpe, vice president of marketing for HubSpot (TwitterGrader's parent company), the grades are generated by taking the following into account: 1. Number of followers 2. Number of followers that your followers have (the power of your network) 3. Quantity and pace of updates 4. Additional proprietary analysis Find out how you rank! -posted by Shawnna

Dell's shelling out refunds

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-04-02T11:39:18-07:00

According to a recent article in the Tacoma News Tribune, Dell reached a deal in January with attorneys general from 34 states that, without admitting fault, they would pay up to $1.5 million in restitution to customers who experienced a repeated pattern of communication breakdowns. Dell owners who’ve had issues with financing, technical support, warranty repairs or cashing in a rebate must contact the attorney general’s office before April 13 to be reimbursed for money they can prove was lost. Consumers who have filed so far have received an average of $250 per claim, totaling $10,680 in Washington. -posted by Shawnna

Another one bites the dust

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-03-31T11:14:23-07:00

According to CNN, the company that owns the Chicago Sun-Times and 58 other newspapers and online sites said Tuesday it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The Sun-Times Media Group, Inc. said it would continue to operate its newspapers and Web sites as usual while it improves its cost structure and stabilizes operations. Tuesday’s announcement comes amid a raft of newspaper closings and cuts that has seen the end of The Rocky Mountain News in Denver, Colorado; The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, and The Christian Science Monitor. Cue music. Dum, dum, dum, another one bites the dust. -posted by Justin

The Cuban Tweet

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-03-31T11:12:04-07:00

No, not the country, the man! According to S.I., the NBA slapped Mavericks owner Mark Cuban with a $25,000 fine Sunday for publicly criticizing the officials after Denver's 103-101 win over Dallas. Cuban used Twitter to complain after Friday's game that Denver's J.R. Smith was not called for coming off the bench to taunt Antoine Wright after he missed a shot near the Nuggets bench. Cuban said in another posting Sunday that he "can't say no one makes money from twitter now. the nba does." -posted by Justin

Earth Hour – can you survive one hour?

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-03-27T14:26:06-07:00

The 2009 Earth Hour will take place this Saturday, March 28th, at 8:30 pm (local time). During this event, people from all over the world are asked to turn off electronics - smartphones, computers, lights, etc. - for one full hour. This year's event organizers, the World Wildlife Fund, are hoping for 1 billion participants and have turned the 2009 event into a sort of election between Earth and global warming, saying that switching your lights off is a vote for Earth, while leaving them on is a vote for global warming. The WWF plan to present the results of the "election" to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference later this year. Earth Hour first began in Sydney, Australia in 2007, when 2.2 million businesses and residents turned off their lights. During the following year, 2008, such world landmarks as the Golden Gate Bridge, the Colosseum, the Sydney Opera House and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square all jumped on board and went dark for the hour. This year, the Empire State Building, the Acropolis and the Eiffel Tower all plan to participate, and many electronics manufactures have joined the cause as well. According to an eWeek article, the following companies have taken action for Earth Hour: -Research in Motion has launched a special website for their Blackberry users supporting Earth Hour. -Belkin International released a statement reminding people of the importance of Earth hour and that they should remember to make sure to unplug devices from standby power to save the most electricity. -HSBC will have all employees switch of all non-essential electronics, such as light, TVs and computers for the hour. -Vodacom, South Africa's largest cellular network, will turn off its electronic billboards and shut off lights at 15 offices throughout the country. -Suntech Power Holdings will turn off lights at its solar headquarters in China and hold an event themed "What do we do if the Earth has no electricity?" -Con Edison will turn off the lights at the company's Manhattan headquarters and have teamed up with WWF to ask NYC resides to join the cause. The concept is simple enough and an hour is such a short amount of time, but will you participate? Can you shut off your iPhone or TV for one hour in the name of the Earth? -posted by Stephanie

The sinister plan of the hamster

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-03-27T14:15:50-07:00

Soon, very soon, hamsters will rule the world (and Richard Gere will say "I told you so."). This video: Phase One! -posted by Justin

Zwitschern Sie menschliche Beziehungskarte

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-03-27T14:09:33-07:00

Can you explain what this is? Couple hints. It has to do with Twitter and is in German. Viel Glück -posted by Justin

Holy Shacow, cow, that's a lot of dough

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-03-27T14:06:22-07:00

According to Xconomy, Pathway Medical has scored $40 million as part of a venture funding round that the Kirkland medical device maker hopes to finalize at $55 million. It follows a $24.5 million round that closed last April with participation from HLM Venture Partners, Oxford Bioscience Partners, Forbion Capital Partners, Giza Venture Capital and others. This is the state's largest VC deal of 2009. Earlier this week, the company received FDA clearance to begin marketing its Jetstream G2 technology for the specific use of breaking apart and removing blood clots in peripheral arteries in the arms and legs. -posted by Justin

Sheet + Meat = Shmeat

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-03-27T14:04:32-07:00

Sometimes (although rarely), I like to be healthy. In those rare, fleeting moments, I often pick up a copy of Seattle's Conscious Choice magazine to learn about the latest health fads. This month's issue had a particularly interested (and disgusting) topic: Shmeat. What on earth is shmeat? Well, its also known as virto meat, cultured meat, victimless meat, vat-grown meat and various other terms to describe meat that was basically grown in a test tube. Shmeat is grown from cell culture (harvested cells from an animal) and placed in a nutrient-rich medium (like blood). Once the cells multiple, they are attached to a spongy scaffold (or sheet) that has been socked with nutrients and stretched to increase cell size and protein content. Sheet + Meat = Shmeat. While this type of meat obviously has its pros and cons, according to Jason Matheny, director of New Harvest, a nonprofit working to develop meat substitutes, “a single cell could theoretically produce the world’s annual meat supply.” That's one pro that's hard to overlook in a world still stricken with starving third world countries. Read on to learn more. -posted by Shawnna

Twouble with Twitter

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-03-26T14:41:17-07:00

This pretty much sums up the satire associated with Twitter. Enjoy. -posted by Justin

WTIA winners

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-03-26T14:39:32-07:00

Drumroll, please. And the WTIA Industry Achievement Award Goes to... Some of Seattle's hottest tech companies took home top honors at the WTIA Industry Achievement Awards last night. Our friends at AdReady (www.adready.com), a company that helps advertisers and publishers of all sizes launch and manage display advertising campaigns, took home Service Provider of they Year. Congrats! Click here for a list of all the lucky winners: John Cook at TechFlash again offered up his predictions before the night commenced. This year he hit 50 percent correct (a big improvement over last year!). -posted by Lindsay

Thirsty plants? Twitter to the rescue

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-03-26T14:37:40-07:00

Just when you might be writing it off as purely just a marketing tool or way to communicate with friends/colleagues, a piece of technology is invented that could change the entire way you look at social networking micro-blogging service Twitter. Researchers at New York University's interactive telecommunications program have come up with a device that allows plants to tell owners when they need water or if they've had too much via Twitter. Read more. -posted by Andrew

Seattle's Pet Holdings' success

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-03-24T15:55:17-07:00

Seattle's Pet Holdings is skyrocketing! According to a recent TechFlash article, the company's comedy sites currently get more than five million page views a day. The company's multiple sites include I Can Has Cheezburger, I Has A Hotdog and Engrish to name a few, and aims to exceed two billion page views this year. Quite a success if you ask me! -posted by Shawnna

Twitter terminated

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-03-24T15:51:10-07:00

Everyone has heard of the term "Facebook Fired", a "verb" used to explain being fired for something you post on Facebook. Now, it’s Twitter's turn... In a recent article on MSNBC, it was uncovered that a recent tweet cost a would-be Cisco employee his potential job after posting: "Cisco just offered me a job! Now I have to weigh the utility of a fatty paycheck against the daily commute to San Jose and hating the work.” Tim Levad, a channel partner advocate for Cisco Alert, tweeted (responded) back: "Who is the hiring manager. I’m sure they would love to know that you will hate the work. We here at Cisco are versed in the web." Though the would-be "Cisco Fatty" immediately set his Twitter account to private and deleted everything from his page -- it was too late and the job offer was withdrawn. Ouch! -posted by Shawnna

March Madness. There, I said it.

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-03-24T15:46:49-07:00

In 1999, CBS took a huge gamble that some would argue is paying off. They payed $6 billion for the exclusive rights to the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament for 11 years. As my old news director used to like to point out (by point out, I mean write numerous memos) these exclusive rights also prohibited anyone excluding CBS, its affiliates and its partners from even mentioning the term "March Madness." Well... that hasn't necessarily been that enforceable, but what has stuck is millions of people tuning in to watch the tournament either on TV or the Internet. Internet viewing has skyrocketed since CBS launched MMOD (March Madness On Demand) back in 2006. In fact, Last year 4.8 million unique visitors used the service, a 164 percent increase over 2007. Advertising revenue reached $30 million this year, a 30 percent increase over last year. However, those numbers pale in comparison to the ad revenue generated by the TV games at $643 million from advertisements last year, and expecting a similar take this year. Now the New York Times is speculating that the growth of online video may actually be problematic for CBS. True, it owns the Internet rights to the tournament and if the company can make extra money from online video while keeping its TV revenue steady, its not-very-lucrative rights contract could still turn into a moneymaker. But online revenue could come at the expense of eroding tournament revenue for the company’s cash cow, its television business. Last year, the tournament averaged 10 percent fewer viewers than in 2004, according to Nielsen. That drop in viewership could ultimately hurt its TV ad sales. And you thought the action was just on the court. March Madness... -posted by Andrew

Apple now selling HD movies

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-03-24T15:44:39-07:00

Apple has announced that as of March 19th high-def movies are available for purchase via the iTunes store, beginning with box office hits "Quantum of Solace" and, of course, "Twilight." Until now, Apple has only offered HD movies as rentals, however HD television shows have been available. As Engadget points out, each HD movie purchased will come with an HD file and an iPod or iPhone-ready SD file and will cost $19.99. -posted by Stephanie

Twitter grows and grows and grows

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-03-19T13:08:47-07:00

CNET just posted some impressive Twitter growth numbers. Apparently, Twitter has grown more than 1,000 percent over the past year(!). That is incredible. Noticing the growing number of businesses using Twitter, VOXUS just published a white paper on the topic. You can get your paws on the paper by clicking here. Also, find VOXUS on Twitter (@VoxusPR). -posted by Lindsay

Stinky PR?

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-03-19T13:06:23-07:00

Blogger Matt Asay thinks he knows why your PR stinks. He's got one thing right – if you don't pack the "why the hell should I care about this story" punch into every size and type of PR story, you fail. Seems simple, but you'd be surprised how many press releases go without tackling this basic question in the first para – or at all. Oh and according to Fortune readers and staff, being a Communications Manager is the number one best bulls**t job. Click here for 19 more "satisfying, lucrative and least useful" jobs. -posted by Lindsay

UPS students trump pro bloggers

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-03-19T13:02:12-07:00

Listen up all. This just in from the most wired city, our city, Tacoma!!! From TechFlash: If you missed the Wired report on Sunday, two English majors from UPS (University of Puget Sound) in Tacoma won the top blog awards at the South By Southwest conference happening this week in Austin. Seniors Nick Martens, 21, and Kevin Nguyen, 22, beat pro bloggers to win the best blog category with "The Bygone Bureau: A Journal of Modern Thought." They're the two in the big photo on Wired's blog from Sunday's award ceremony. Bygone Bureau was started in 2007 as "a journal of modern thought, specializing in travel writing and cultural criticism." It would have been a good name for the online version of the P-I. Pretty sure I've seen these two throwing back pints at E-9, talking about modern thingy stuff....like, "what if beer made world peace possible?" -posted by Justin

What should I read next?

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-03-19T12:59:24-07:00

"What should I read next?" is a question the often stumps me going in to the local library. Luckily, this very question became the answer thanks to WhatShouldIReadNext.com. The site produces book recommendations based purely on collective taste - you enter the title and author of a book that you've enjoyed reading in the past, and the site pulls together a list of 10 recommended books that are considered similar based on mass opinion. I only spent a few minutes on the site, and already have a decent list of 'to read' books for my next library excursion. -posted by Shawnna

Journalism

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-03-17T09:24:59-07:00

In honor of the final edition of the Seattle Post Intelligencer...
Watch Journalism (1940) in How to Videos | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com -posted by Paul

What to do for kindling? Oh yeah, the Times.

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-03-17T08:44:13-07:00

The Seattle Post-Intellingencer says it will print its last edition today, Tuesday, March 17, ending a 146-year run. The paper's owner, the Hearst Corporation, said the P-I will become the nation's largest daily newspaper to shift entirely online. Hearst's decision to abandon the print product in favor of a Web-only version is the first for a large American newspaper, raising questions about whether the company can make money in a medium where others have come up short. Seattle follows Denver in becoming the second major city this year to lose a daily newspaper. The Rocky Mountain News closed after its owner, E.W. Scripps Co., couldn't find a buyer. In Arizona, Gannett Co.'s Tucson Citizen is set to close Saturday, leaving one newspaper in that city. Sad. -posted by Justin

Keyboard cleaning without lifting a finger

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-03-17T08:40:20-07:00

Ever ate lunch at your desk, hunched over your keyboard thinking, "this keyboard is probably absolutely disgusting." Like the commercial goes, "I've been there." Now Seattle area startup Vioguard LLC is touting a way to clean keyboards without any manual labor. After use the Vioguard keyboard automatically retracts into an enclosed monitor stand to be bathed in germicidal ultraviolet light that supposedly gives the keyboard a good germ scrub-down. From the pictures I've seen, the keyboard resembles a very "old school" type flat keyboard with a large encasing, but this isn't an aesthetic play, but very practical since it needs to be designed to roll into the hardware casing that bathes the hardware in the ultraviolet light. Vioguard hasn’t finalized pricing, but it’s anticipating an initial range between $499 and $599 per keyboard and plans on targeting the healthcare industry at first. However, the company expects the price to decline and that its will target more vertical markets over time. Want to read more on how ultraviolet light kills germs and see a video demo? Check out TechFlash's blog entry. -posted by Andrew

Cell-only households growing in popularity

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-03-17T08:35:50-07:00

A new research report from the Centers for Disease Control shows that an increasing number of people have ditched the old land-line in favor of a mobile-exclusive lifestyle. Somewhat surprising to me was the fact that Oklahoma has the highest percentage of cell-only households and adults, with 26.2 percent of households and 25.1 percent of adults having no land-line phone. Other high-ranking states include Utah, Nebraska, Arkansas, Iowa, Idaho and Kentucky - while states like New York and California rank in the bottom half, with only 11.4 percent and 9.0 percent, respectively. As far as our home state, Washington, we are in a three-way tie with Michigan and North Carolina, with 16.3 of households adopting the cell-only rule. While this is great news for wireless companies, this is posing a bit of a problem for data collectors and census takers as cell phone numbers are generally left out of data gathering pools - so an increasingly larger number of people aren't being reached for things such as election polls. It also doesn't help that the large majority of those that have adopted the cell-only lifestyle are part of the same demographic (younger) and therefore are underrepresented in said polls. Perhaps in the future polls will be conducted via text messages... -posted by Stephanie

Women 2.0 pitch now open

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-03-17T08:34:16-07:00

ATTENTION ALL WOMEN! Have an innovative business idea in the consumer technology, wireless, Internet or biotech industry? Entries are now being accepted to the third-annual Women 2.0 Pitch 2009: Startup Competition. The competition is open to early-stage ventures around the world, from high growth business ventures in web 2.0 to mobile and biotech, consumer clean tech to consumer hardware. Applying companies must be in beta-stage and have not received significant funding. Teams with at least ONE FEMALE in the founding team are invited to compete for a chance to win! Entries are due by April 10, 2009. -posted by Shawnna

Tune up your iTunes Library

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-03-11T15:01:49-07:00

If your iTunes library is a mess like mine -- missing album art, song titles, etc. -- you may want to check out a company named TuneUp Media. It claims to do a thorough scrub on your library, fixing song titles, artist names and genre. It also fills in missing cover art. How awesome is that?! The download takes a minute. I can't wait to try this at home! Buh-bye annoying music note placeholder image: -posted by Lindsay

Apple pioneer Wozniak in DWS Spotlight

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-03-11T15:00:23-07:00

I couldn't believe my eyes last night -- Apple Co-founder Steve Wozniak is a contestant on the latest season of Dancing with the Stars. Paired with the gorgeous Karina Smirnoff, "Woz" gave the Cha Cha Cha his all -- yet was still likened to a "... TeleTubby going mad..." Check it out for yourself. (Yes, that's him in the pink boa...). -posted by Lindsay

Exclusive Idol content for iPhone, dog

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-03-11T14:58:34-07:00

Everybody loves American Idol, right? OK, maybe not. I don't really start to enjoy it until the contestants are whittled down to what America thinks are the best six or so (right now there are 13). Die hard fans that want more than what the twice a week show can deliver, can now go to their iPhones to get exclusive content. According to a recent FierceMobileContent story, FreemantleMedia and Seattle-based Zumobi have unveiled a $1.99 app that allows fans to track contestant progress, predict results show voting and watch unseen videos. In case you're wondering, Anoop is my early favorite... Stril out. -posted by Lindsay

Cursebird – Gd Dmn Motherf*cking Twitter

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-03-11T14:55:15-07:00

A real-time feed of people swearing on Twitter? Radical! Finally a Twitter application I can support. Called Cursebird it relays profane Twitter posts and even ranks the top used curse words. It's hilarious. Currently f*ck is the most used curse word on Twitter, followed by sh*t, b*tch, bast*rd and the dark horse of the bunch, tw*t. Here are some of my favorite tweets: -@getyourgeekon: your a sh*t on the sh*tter (what does that even mean?) -@jackfacts24: Jack Bauer doesn't watch breaking news. He breaks the f*cking news -@theomachist: sometimes everything you need is NOT withinreach, like printerpaper, f*ck this sh*t I need somd godd*mn paper I know what you're going to say: "what a profane blog post." Well, kiss my *ss you c*ck sucking motherf*ckers!! -posted by Justin

Giving up technology for Lent

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-03-11T14:53:57-07:00

Roman Catholic bishops across Italy are urging people to go on a high-tech fast for Lent this year. Separate Dioceses and Catholic groups across the country are appealing to their faithful to abstain from everything from driving to using their iPods, text messaging or surfing the Web. For example -- Dioceses and Catholic groups in Modena, southern Bari and other cities have called for a ban on text messaging every Friday in Lent, which began last week. The Modena diocese claims giving up texts is a small way to remember the importance of concrete and not virtual relationships. Separately the Turin diocese has created a "new lifestyles" calendar with proposals for each week of lent which includes not watching TV, leaving cars at home and enjoying the silence of a week with the Internet or iPods. However, this technology "abstinence" doesn't sit well with everyone. Rev. Giancarlo Angelo Andreis, a priest at a Roma basilica says. "What does giving up mean? If the use is capricious, then abstinence is welcome, but if technology is needed for work it makes no sense." My take (despite me not being a Catholic), do it if you can and if you feel like it really is a sacrifice. It will make you look at the world an entirely new way. -posted by Andrew

No Doubt this is a good deal

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-03-11T14:52:38-07:00

90's pop sensation and Gwen Stefani-catapult No Doubt is reuniting for a tour this summer and have introduced an interesting promotion for their ticket sales. According to a recent PC World article, fans who join No Doubt's Tour Club for $15 are offered the chance to purchase up to 4 "prime tickets" to their summer tour. For each prime ticket the club member purchases they receive a free download of the band's entire digital catalog - which adds up to something like six full albums in addition to greatest hits-type records and additional singles. Good deal! The No Doubt website mentions some restrictions - such as you probably won't get the download code until 30 days after the ticket purchase and it expires 30 days after the concert... however, when you join the Tour Club, you also get a No Doubt bumper sticker and iron-on patch, which will be perfect to go on my Jansport backpack that I use to carry my Lip Smackers, Lisa Frank folders and slap bracelets (that was an ode to other 90's kids). -posted by Stephanie

News Tribune Gives Ride, Gets Story

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-03-11T14:47:42-07:00

A man accused of threatening the life of a Tacoma judge showed up at the Tacoma News Tribune yesterday. In exchange for his story, he requested a ride to the courthouse. Check out the video interview shot in a car by TNT staffers: http://www.thenewstribune.com/topstories/story/646146.html Now that's new-age reporting. -posted by Lindsay

MySpace credit card?

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-03-11T14:46:34-07:00

MySpace and Citi are partnering up to offer a Citi Forward/MySpace credit card! The credit card is marketed towards a younger generation (MySpace's target audience) and rewards responsible card holders by lowering the purchase interest rate by a quarter of a percent if used wisely. Card holders also receive "MySpace points" that can be redeemed for music downloads, contests, concerts, shows and other events. And card holders can accumulate additional points by participating in socially responsible acts such as using energy efficient light bulbs or volunteering. Who'd have thought one day you'd be using MySpace to get your next credit card! -posted by Shawnna

Speed Interviewing, What’s Next…

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-03-11T14:00:51-07:00

VOXUS’ star intern, Julie Olds, wrote this blog. Julie is currently finishing up her undergraduate education at Tacoma's Pacific Lutheran University and is exploring a field in communications. Below is her experience for a job interview in the public sector. Quite a whirlwind process our Julie had! You may have heard of speed dating, but have you experienced speed interviewing? In my most recent job interview, I tried out this new and exciting approach to interviewing. The speed interview had a similar format to speed dating, requiring me to jump from seat to seat to interview. ...Going into the interview process, I knew it would be competitive. There were nearly 600 applicants bidding for just one position, but the last thing I was expecting was to interview alongside three other people. The completion was on, but instead of finding my soul mate in a five-minute session, I was trying to sell myself to four different faces as I moved around the room at the sound of each bell. I couldn’t help but think of how it reminded me of musical chairs from elementary school. ...I can understand the benefits of this new technique for the hiring staff. They are searching for just the right person and are hesitant to make such severe cuts to a large number of applicants (the initial number of applicants for this job started at about 500). Speed interviewing allowed them to interview what they deemed 40 viable candidates and narrow down their search to a qualified few. In the sea of faces the hiring staff saw today, I can’t help but wonder how memorable my face or my responses were in our brief encounter. ...At the very least, this interview opened my eyes to an emerging technique in interviewing. Not to mention that I had fun during the process. So the next time I practice for job interviews, I’ll be preparing myself for some speedy encounters. -posted by Andrew (and Julie)

Where's the love for Lard Butt?

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-03-06T14:56:36-08:00

This definitely appealed to my wacky sense of humor: a new startup, Lard Butt LLC debuted in Seattle this week. Touted as "athletic apparel for the rest of us," Lard Butt is offering a line of clothing that celebrates folks who just can't seem to get off of the couch. And it keeps getting better -- the company's tagline is "Get Cracking!" So who's the genius behind this new venture? Turns out one of the founders is Mark Peterson, formerly an exec at Marchex and now a fellow PR agency owner. -posted by Rachel

Startup turns real world show

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-03-06T14:53:47-08:00

For better or for worse, Bellingham, Washington Tatango has launched a new website that chronicles in real time via four video cameras every facet of the startups day 24/7. Here's what Derek Johnson, Tatango's 20-something year-old CEO says about the startup turned real world show; "So why broadcast everything 24/7 and let the whole world watch us? Why the hell not! If people want to watch us, let them watch us. I think we have a pretty cool story to tell with our startup, and what better way to tell that story then to watch it play out in real time, live over the internet." TechFlash recently wrote about Tatango TV and says the vice president of marketing Andrew Dumont told them the idea is not so much about live content as it is about embracing transparency for people like investors. This whole idea seems earily reminiscent of Seattle startup, Earth Class Mail's reality TV show Start-Up Junkies on Mojo TV. Oh... and for background Tatango is a mobile messaging startup although I did notice ads in all of their streaming video which I'm assuming they're utilizing to subsidize the cost for creating and maintaining the video site. When I logged on at about 1pm Pacific, I found a team of hungry startup employees munching on a bunch of greasy pizza. Not judging, just reporting. My thought, expand on the 24/7 idea with separate daily "video confessionals" from various employees on what occurs at the company on a daily basis. Would love to hear what you think. -posted by Andrew

Daily twitter

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-03-06T14:52:35-08:00

The Daily Show tries to tackle Twitter: http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml? videoId=219519&title=twitter-frenzy Hilarious! -posted by Shawnna

Only as Smart as your iTunes Library?

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-03-06T14:50:51-08:00

I've always thought that you could find out a lot about someone's personality by looking at their music collection. A new study suggests you can also determine a person's intellience (or lack of) with the same data Virgil Griffith, a college student who gained fame for outing anonymous corporate and government editors to Wikipedia pages, has compiled a chart that links music choice to SAT score. Here's what it boils down to: Beethoven = smart, Lil Wayne = dumb. Check out Virgil's findings here: Musicthatmakesyoudumb.virgil.gr Be warned that the above site keeps crashing. -posted by Lindsay

Koobface worm hits Facebook

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-03-06T14:49:31-08:00

The popular social-networking site has been hit by what's believed to be the fourth rogue app in a week or so and is investigating the spread of a new variant of the Koobface worm, according to security firm Trend Micro. The Koobface worm spreads via a message from a Facebook friend that includes a link to what looks like a video. Read more here: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10185517-83.html -posted by Justin

Walking with Dinosaurs coming to Seattle

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-03-06T14:48:04-08:00

Recently, I saw an awe-inspiring commercial for the arena spectacular "Walking with Dinosaurs," advertising tickets for the show's visit to Seattle in late April. The show is based on the award-winning BBC TV series of the same name and promises to be an experience like none other. "Walking with Dinosaurs" includes 15 life-size creatures that walk, roar, and fight each other. Ten separate dinosaur species are represented in the show, including Plateosaurus, Stegosaurus, Allosaurus and, the biggest of all, Tyrannosaurus Rex, which is a whooping 23 feet tall and 42 feet long!! Yikes! Each dinosaur requires 7 kilowatts of power from 12 truck batteries, holds 1,094 yards of cabling, and requires 24 microprocessors to control movement along with 15 hydraulic rams and 6 hydraulic motors each. While my personal dinosaur knowledge doesn't extend much farther than a prehistoric diorama I made in the 4th grade - I am definitely going to check out this extravaganza while it's in town. I mean, the producer says "It is the closest you'll ever get to experiencing what it was like when they walked and ruled the earth." How could I miss that? -posted by Stephanie

Oregon Trail Alive, But Maybe Not So Well

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-02-26T14:06:49-08:00

Oregon Trail was a hit in my day. I have fond memories playing that game for hours in school. There was so much action: hunting, infectious diseases, floods and thieves. I have to say though, I don't know if I ever finished a game (the class bell always came too soon). I'll go ahead and assume that if you were alive at the end, you won. As one of my favorites growing up, I was excited to hear they are releasing Oregon Trail for the iPhone. According to LA Times, the new Gameloft version doesn't exactly live up to the riveting original green on black game we all loved. However, I was happy to learn the next-gen game allows you to save your progress every five minutes. With that capability, I'm tempted to jump in a wagon and finish (barring a Typhoid outreak). -posted by Lindsay

God this story never ends!

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-02-26T14:05:04-08:00

I could show this image to express my feelings about the hype of the new Kindle 2. Or I could simply say: "God, the never ending stream of stories exploring every aspect of the technological and social implications of the Kindle 2 are driving me nuts. Move on already!!!" -posted by Justin

Our writing does not suck

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-02-26T14:01:54-08:00

At VOXUS, we love many things. Beer at the Swiss, AP style, Macs, blue birds, Platinum Reign recording artists, midget pickles, and yes, TechFlash. So, when the opportunity presented itself to write a caption for a cartoon on TechFlash (spoofing the Milt Priggee mosquito Bill Gates TED incident cartoon), we had to dive right in. For God's sake, the winner got a Tech Flash t-shirt, do you need more motivation. Well, my colleague Andrew and I put our awesome minds together and come up with winning caption. After voting was through, we slaughtered the competition (we secured 78 votes, to other entries 11 and 7 votes) and we received the much anticipated congratulatory email from editor, Todd Bishop. But we must give credit where credit is due. Thanks to Twitter and Facebook, many colleagues and friends cast a vote (hopefully for us). These tools allowed us to rally the troops and instantly garner votes. Once again, social media shines!! Enjoy: -posted by Justin

Down economy drives down traffic

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-02-26T13:59:23-08:00

It's a thought that's crossed my mind once or twice during my daily commute from Seattle to Tacoma, but now I have some actual proof that the down economy is contributing to driving down traffic in the Seattle Metro Area. Kirkland, Washington-based Inrix claims the Seattle area saw a 28 percent drop in traffic congestion over the last year ranking 9th in the country overall. The report also says the United States as a whole saw a traffic decrease in 2008 from 2007 and blames two factors -- fuel price volatility and rising unemployment. On average, Inrix found Americans spent 13 fewer hours struck in traffic last year. And get this, Inrix claims Detroit say a whopping nearly 47 percent drop in traffic congestion last year alone! Inrix made the findings based on GPS-enabled vehicles, road sensors and other methods to gather traffic information on the nation's roadways. The company spun out of Microsoft Research and claims to be the "leading innovator of real-time, historical and predictive traffic information, offering the broadest coverage, exceptional accuracy and innovative technologies to ensure the success of our customers’ navigation and traffic-enabled solutions." Before we all jump up and collectively do the no traffic dance, a point to consider as pointed out by Inrix's CEO Bryan Mistele, "While less traffic is generally good news, the causes of it aren't necessarily something to celebrate. Traffic congestion is an excellent indicator of trends, telling us whether businesses are shipping products, whether people are going to work, and whether shoppers are going to the mall." Downer or not, I'm enjoying smooth sailing for the time being. -posted by Andrew

How Facebook can cost you a job

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-02-26T13:57:24-08:00

Yet another reason why Facebook users should be cautious. After this photo appeared on his Facebook page, Kevin Colvin was fired from his job. Why? Because he'd told his boss he needed to be out of the office to attend to a family emergency. He may be unemployed, but now he's famous...in makeup. And a tutu. -posted by Rachel

Hearst strikes again?

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-02-24T16:38:27-08:00

While the Seattle PI might is on the chopping block thanks to the Hearst Corporation, it is apparently only the first of a series. The New York Times reports today that the SF Chronicle is next, with more or less the same rationale -- lack of profitability -- that Hearst gave for the PI. Hearst said in its statement that The Chronicle, which it bought in 2000, lost $50 million last year and has lost money every year since 2001. Among the changes the company said it wants to see is “a significant reduction” in its union and nonunion employees. So the paper’s basically never made any money since being bought, and now Hearst must suddenly either get out of its union contracts or shut it down. Interesting. -posted by Paul

The evolution of payment for blogging

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-02-24T16:36:43-08:00

Earlier this year, Avalara, a Bainbridge Island software company that offers sales tax automation products, announced that it was funding SalesTaxBuzz. The announcement goes on to say that, while its author is an employee and the blog is sponsored by Avalara, it is "independent." The writer, Althea Azeff, even posted in a February 19, 2009 entry that "I've refrained from even the slightest hint of pushing Avalara thinking..." This is all very interesting, and I'm wondering whether or not we're witnessing the birth of a new type of payment for blogging. We've come to accept banner or click-through ads, but this is the first time in our area of the world that a blogging tooth fairy of sorts has been publicly identified as the one leaving the change beneath the pillow. While I'm willing to believe that the company has given the writer carte blanche on topics, my guess is that discretion will dictate future blog entries. She is, after all, the person handling Avalara's investor and media relations, and it would not be in her best interests to write something damaging to her employer. Which brings us full circle: how independent can SalesTaxBuzz afford to be? Word up to Paul: I'd kind of like to start TechPRBuzz. How'd you feel about underwriting me if I promise NOT to write about your dog, your wardrobe or your social life? -posted by Rachel

Graphs gone wild... or not

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-02-24T16:32:01-08:00

According to Parks Associates, casual gaming revenues will top $1 billion by 2013. The new report cites social networking and community features as enabling gaming companies to expand. To help show this growth, Parks' sent out this wickedly complex graph with their report summary. I know, I know, too complex. Let me help. This graph shows... wait for it... one more second... oh, hell, I'm just gonna say it, "this graph sucks." I give it my gold star for worst visual representation of data --- EVER!! Do you really need this graph to demonstrate a simple fact (i.e., by 2013 gamers will more than double). You can purchase (or see the summary) the entire report titled "Networked Gaming: Driving the Future II" at http://parksassociates.ecnext.com/coms2/summary_0256-11124_ITM -posted by Justin

Is YouNoodle using its noodle?

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-02-19T17:36:57-08:00

YouNoodle just released its list of the "healthiest startups" for the whole world to see -- otherwise known as YouNoodle Scores. Itself a startup, YouNoodle created the scoring system that rates startups on their "impact and importance", based in part on the number of news stories, blog posts and comments about a company that are posted on the Web at any given time. The score is on a scale of 0 to 100 with 100 being the highest and is continually updated and driven by data garnered from partners including CrunchBase and AngelSoft -- along with data from YouNoodle's own community. You may remember YouNoodle from last year when it launched its Startup Predictor. The predictor uses an algorithm that crunches startup data to determine the potential success or failure of a company. Back to YouNoodle Scores, Tech Crunch's John Cook recently took it for a test drive and found Seattle companies apparently aren't much to take notice of. Here's a sampling of how some other "top" startups are faring: * Facebook: 98 * LinkedIn: 96 * Hulu: 96 * Etsy: 92 * Twitter: 91 * Yelp: 88 * OpenDNS: 87 * Mahalo: 83 * Kayak: 80 * Blip.tv: 79 Interesting concept but not sure how the numbers really stack up. Is YouNoodle using its noodle? -posted by Andrew

The Presidents try something new

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-02-19T17:34:25-08:00

The Presidents of the United States of America have made an interesting move, foregoing the Apple iTunes Store and offering their entire discography for $2.99 through the App Store instead. The app, called "The Presidents' Music - PUSA" offers users access to all four of the band's full albums, including early "lost" recordings, as well as extras like direct access to the band's blog. According to an article from Ars Technica, by doing this, The Presidents are able to escape the "bureaucratic red tape of the record labels and iTunes Store" and get their music in the hands of people they might otherwise not reach if it was lost in the shuffle of iTunes. The article also details the way the app works (the music is streamed to the app from a server, so the device must be connected to a network) and notes that while this enables the band to continually update the app's content, it also allows them to pull content at any time. While The Presidents aren't the first band to try out this model (Snow Patrol released an interactive album last year this way), they are turning a big corner by offering up their entire catalog of music for one very low fee. Wonder if other artists will follow suit? -posted by Stephanie

DEMO remodeling

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-02-19T17:32:15-08:00

After 13 years at the helm, Chris Shipley is stepping down as the head of DEMO, one of the best-known launchpads for new technology products and companies. After DEMO's fall conference, Chris is passing the torch to Matt Marshall, the founder of VentureBeat. During her tenure, Chris helped propel about 1,500 products to market -- and that's what she'll now fully concentrate on. Her company, Guidewire Group, is an industry analyst consortium focused on working with technology companies during the critical transition points in their businesses to identify opportunity, define strategy, and accelerate the path to success. We've had a number of clients participate in DEMO in the past...we'll miss Chris and wish her much success going forward. -posted by Rachel

Top green cars in '09

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-02-19T08:48:02-08:00

Here's another 'green' blog for you -- the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means of protecting the environment and strengthening the economy, recently released its list of America's top 12 greenest cars of 2009. According to a recent ACEEE release: Despite the beating taken by the industry in 2008 and more tough times ahead, this continues to be an exciting time for green vehicle technology. Manufacturers are fine-tuning their engines and transmissions, improving materials, and adding emissions control technologies to complete the phase-in of Tier 2 tailpipe standards and get a head start on meeting tightened federal fuel economy standards. Worries over the economy and future gas prices are driving interest in high fuel economy vehicles as well. “The economic downturn may put the brakes on technology investment in some sectors,” noted ACEEE Transportation Director Therese Langer. “But unstable fuel prices and a domestic auto industry in danger of being left in the dust by its foreign competitors make fuel efficiency technologies an essential investment in this business.” -posted by Shawnna

Nextrials demonstrates Electronic Health Record integration

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-02-19T08:45:15-08:00

At the Connectathon conference (2/23-27, Chicago), Nextrials will participate in an integration demonstration between clinical trials’ electronic data capture (EDC) technology and electronic health records (EHR) used within healthcare systems. The integration of EDC and EHR is currently one of the hottest topics in both pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. By integrating EDC products with EHR platforms, researchers will obtain a more efficient, more readily available solution for identifying and enrolling patients in new trials. For example, case report forms can be pre-populated with data coming directly from existing electronic health records at diverse sites. This increases performance and efficiency of data capture while also minimizing the potential for bad data related to re-entry into multiple systems. This type of environment also enables sponsors to test hypothetical enrollment trends and spot recruitment problems even before the study protocol is finalized -- saving time and money. Nextrials’ award-winning Prism® melds sophisticated clinical trial management functionality with EDC in a single, integrated package. By receiving a constant flow of data, Prism enables sponsors and sites to fully utilize real-time integration of disparate information and data sources, such as a hospital’s EHR or patient records, to better provide a continuum of care for patients enrolled in clinical trials. Connectathon, being sponsored by IHE, is a major milestone in the industry's progress towards integration and will redefine patient recruiting efforts and costs for clinical trials in the future. Those interested in learning more about the Connectathon or in attending the event can visit http://www.ihe.net/Connectathon/index.cfm. -posted by Shawnna

Nextrials moves on Electronic Health Records

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-02-19T08:42:45-08:00

On Friday (2/13), Nextrials pledged support for the American National Standards Institute’s (www.ansi.org) latest initiative to facilitate the use of electronic health information within global clinical research activities. One of the industry’s leading proponents for the integration of electronic data capture technology and electronic health records platforms, ANSI began the initiative last year at the request of the U. S. Department of Health and Human services; Nextrials joined the effort to provide support and to help develop the emerging standard. ANSI is now seeking funding to continue its work to promote the development and adoption of a standard that advances the continuum of patient care through the use of electronic health records to further future research and clinical decisions. In addition to Nextrials, organizations participating in the effort so far include Abbott Laboratories, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Digital Infuzion, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Johnson & Johnson Research and Development, Partners HealthCare, PharmaNet, Inc. and Quintiles. -posted by Shawnna

Video your Valentine

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-02-13T14:36:53-08:00

Having trouble picking the right V-day card for your sweetheart? You might not have to. According to a FierceMobileContent story, mobile messaging firm Mogreet Inc. is offering a digital alternative -- a Valentine's eCard designed for play on your loved one's phone. Senders can personalize the card by adding text. For the holiday, users can select from a catalog of videos, including a series of eCards based on the movie Twilight. eCards are delivered by MMS or as an attachment to an SMS. The best part: you can wait 'till the very last minute since they'll never be out of stock. This is great news for the procrastinating shopper (you know who you are!) that's used to rifling through the leftover cards and sad carnation bouquets. -posted by Lindsay

People power Twestival

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-02-13T11:54:27-08:00

Ever wonder whether online friends get to make a connection in the real world? Well, Twitter users did last night in cities around the world. The event's called Twestival and I attended the Seattle Twestival in they city's Belltown neighborhood. Some background, Twestival gets its name from Twitter, the social networking site which enables people to connect and communicate with others through micro-blogging (140 characters or less). Twestival was the brainchild of a group of London "Twitters" who met up in September for drinks and to raise money for a local soup kitchen. The turnout was huge, so they decided to organize another version on a larger scale. In January, they released their idea into the Twitter-verse and within a week, they claimed to have people willing to organize events in more than 100 cities. According to Twestival's organizing body, about 185 cities worldwide planned to Celebrate Twitter last night and raise funds for Charity:water, a non-profit dedicated to ensuring people in developing countries have access to clean water. All proceeds from the events worldwide were supposed to go to Charity:water and the goal was to raise $1 million (no word yet if that was accomplished). Words couldn't quite grasp the worldliness of the events, so Seattle 2.0 streamed live video from Seattle and Live Earth helped stream video from Twestivals across the world. Twestival was a great way to get face-to-face with people you might not ordinarily meet up with. Not only was it a great social event, but these gatherings are extra special because they're meant to generate interest/money for great causes. Get ready for more Twestivals, Facebook Meetups, etc... The times they are a changing, but no matter what face-to-face gatherings are still here to stay. -posted by Andrew

Send iPhone kisses to your valentine

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-02-13T11:51:25-08:00

"Blow a Kiss" is a free iPhone App, created by Walmart and Hershey's, that allows you to blow kisses to your loved ones this Valentine's Day... be they near or far. Once you have downloaded "Blow a Kiss" from the Apple App Store and launched it, you simply type in your name, the recipient's name and email address and whatever message you'd like to include. Then, you romantically blow a kiss into the phone's screen - including smooching noises - and an email is sent to your honey that is bursting with pink hearts and warm fuzzy feelings. A CNET writer did a write-up of the app after trying it out. It seems to work well, but, like he says, can't guarantee you'll get a kiss back. (Image courtesy: http://www.blushpublishing.co.uk/images/card_lo016_2.jpg) -posted by Stephanie

Reporter gets twitterpated

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-02-13T11:48:25-08:00

Think it's not a small world? Think again. A National Post reporter is probably on the hot seat with his employers today because he forgot one of the cardinal rules of the Internet: what you say will be recorded (and discussed) for some time to come. David George-Cosh, a tech writer for one of Canada's biggest publications, used Twitter to take on April Dunford, a marketing consultant in Toronto. He wasn't happy with her lack of response to his phone call, and her annoyed posting to Twitter. The exchange via Twitter (a free microblogging site), is fascinating to read. Everyone makes mistakes -- but hopefully, they aren't all as public as this one, which will probably end up in any number of text books on social networking and marketing. By the way, if you use Twitter and want to follow us, we're @voxuspr. -posted by Rachel

Sony's new stupid piece of shit that doesn't fucking work

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-02-10T09:41:48-08:00

This hits uncomfortably close to home on a number of levels. (via Daring Fireball) -posted by Paul

What does blogging have in common with shining shoes?

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-02-10T09:37:36-08:00

Uber blogger Jason Kottke, commenting on a post by Dan Lyons (of Fake Steve Jobs fame), makes an interesting analogy about the ability to monetize blogging: As businesses go, blogging is a lot like shining shoes. There are going to be very few folks who own chains of shoe shining places which make a lot of money and a bunch of other people who can (maybe) make a living at it if they bust their ass 24/7/365. But for many, shining shoes is something that will be done at home for themselves because it feels good to walk around with a shiny pair of shoes. Everyone else will switch to sandals (i.e. Twitter) or sneakers (i.e. Facebook) and not worry about shining at all. -posted by Paul

Internet as 6th sense... Really? Maybe not quite yet. Internet as sixth sense... really? Maybe not quite yet.

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-02-10T09:35:04-08:00

I came across a very cool Wired post about some students from MIT that have created a wearable computing system that turns objects into interactive display screens. The article also has a video that shows exactly how this works. The entire setup cost less than $350 and was debuted at the TED Conference. I'd go into more detail, but you really just need to read and watch the article. http://blog.wired.com/business/2009/02/ted-digital-six.html -posted by Justin

IT jobs in the US

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-02-10T09:32:47-08:00

In 2009 and 2010, it is estimated that 140,000 U.S.-based jobs will be moved offshore, and more than 50% of those jobs will be in IT, according to the Hackett Group, a global strategic advisory firm. Fortunately, President Barack Obama has made keeping jobs in the U.S. one of his top priorities, and has already proposed tax breaks and initiatives geared towards creating jobs through spending. According to a recent article in Business Week, the proposed stimulus package would direct $20 billion at health information technology and the building of an infrastructure to promote the electronic exchange of health records. That investment will create or retain 86,820 jobs for one year in high-paying industries such as computer hardware manufacturing, software, and IT services. Additionally, the package also includes another $6 billion to improve broadband Internet access in the U.S. That amount would create or retain 29,892 direct telecom jobs for a year and 8,304 capital equipment jobs. If the package passes through Congress, it would definitely be a significant step towards keeping IT jobs here at home. -posted by Shawnna

After all, you're my wonderwall

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-02-10T09:30:18-08:00

As a celebrity news connoisseur, I'm always keen to check out the latest gossip sites or magazines, especially if they offer funny commentary or up-to-the-minute pictures. In an effort to stay current, MSN (www.msn.com) has introduced a new kid to the block (pun intended). Microsoft's online service, is launching Wonderwall, in conjunction with Hollywood television producers Lloyd Braun and Gail Berman, and designed by a founding editor of VH1's Best Week Ever blog. Wonderwall looks like a wall with of tons of photos, graphics and features, and is meant to resemble the image-filled pages of a glossy magazine. BusinessWeek profiled the new site this week and the article includes some interesting statistics about online gossip sites, including the facts that 84% of people on the Internet (men and women!) visit an entertainment site every month, meaning the entertainment category is more popular than social networks, retail and other traditional news outlets. No specific date has been given for the official unveiling of Wonderwall, but a beta version is now up at www.wonderwall.com. -posted by Stephanie

House Throws More Ants Into Qualcomm's Pants

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-02-05T13:30:56-08:00

Who uses rabbit ears in this day and age? Apparently, more people than you would think. The House just announced broadcasters have four more months to make the switch to digital service. According to a FierceMobileContent story, American consumers are still lacking the information and assistance they need to make the switch to digital in their homes (me on the other hand, I've seen 200+ commercials on the subject). Meanwhile, Qualcomm has to wait to utilize the more than $500 million worth of 700 MHz spectrum they purchased to significantly expand their mobile TV service. I think we should treat the digital transition like taxes. How many people wait until the last second to file? Once a rabbit-ear viewer is forced to miss his or her favorite shows, they'll figure out how to get on board. -posted by Lindsay

Live long and prosper, now with opera

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-02-05T13:29:41-08:00

Sometimes in life, we come across random things that are priceless and not at all applicable to medium in which we work (so far, far from tech blogging). But alas, we want to share them with others simply because the level of awesomeness eclipses the utter uselessness of the content you're about to view (should you decide to follow this link). I assure you this is work safe, VOXUS would never intentionally make you, the reader, the target of workplace misconduct. Now, without further ado.... I present to you Robot Chicken's "Le Wrath di Khan." http://www.adultswim.com/video/? episodeID=8a2505951f130c9f011f139adc170019 -posted by Justin

X marks the spot - where you get your money

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-02-05T13:27:23-08:00

The X Prize Foundation announced the winner of its "What's Your Crazy Green Idea?" competition on Thursday. The first-place winners, which received $25,000, were University of California at Irvine students Kyle Good and Bryan Le on the Capacitor Challenge team (code for really smart team), for their idea that someone should develop a more efficient energy storage device to replace batteries, for everything from iPods to cars. Winners were determined by YouTube voting. While not a revolutionary idea, this is a very challenging problem! So, go forth and create. Just make sure you stick to their guidelines: Use only self-contained capacitors. Exceed the energy density of average lead acid batteries. Fully recharge in less than a minute and up to 500,000 cycles. Be completely recyclable and incorporate nontoxic materials. Cost less than twice the price of average lead acid batteries. -posted by Justin

Free beer!

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-02-05T13:24:23-08:00

Studies have shown that free beer is a great incentive...so nPost is right in line with this thinking for its next networking event. Seattle area tech startups are invited to attend a gathering on Tuesday, March 31 at 6 p.m. at the Columbia City Theater. The first 100 attendees get beer tickets. So far, looks like a good lineup of folks from area startups such as iLike, TuneyFish, Whrrl and Yodio. -posted by Rachel

Hit NBC shows drive mobile video usage

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-02-05T13:22:41-08:00

NBC has reported rising mobile video viewership numbers, thanks in part to its Emmy award-winning Thursday night comedy lineup. According to a TV Week article, the network is reporting that its mobile video viewers in late 2008 doubled from the previous year. With a growing number of viewers watching "30 Rock," "The Office" (two of my favs) and others, NBC has earned its #2 position for mobile video usage behind Viacom. These numbers indicate that big laughs = big mobile video viewership. Now if it were just a little easier to deliver a hit comedy show... -posted by Lindsay

Bringing the Super Bowl to the REALLY small screen

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-02-05T13:17:22-08:00

What to do? You've got a flight the evening of Super Bowl Sunday. As luck would have it, I was that person boarding my flight during the 4th quarter of last Sunday's epic Super Bowl XLIII battle between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals. With all of the back and forth, one can only call friends and family so many times for updates. So, what did I do you ask? I turned to my Windows Mobile Phone and ESPN's mobile web sports page. The live scoreboard for the Super Bowl refreshes every 15 seconds which means you're getting almost instantaneous updates. My colleague Lindsay Stril blogged about Sprint recently offering a similar service along with past Super Bowl video highlights. However, exactly what was transpiring was up to my imagination. That's because as far as I can tell, there's no service that actually offered up live video of Super Bowl XLIII. How 1999 is that? With advertisers shelling out nearly $3 million for a 30-second TV ad, you've got to think there's some financial incentive to offer up live video of one of, if not the biggest sporting event in the world. Are you ready for some football on your mobile phone? I am. -posted by Andrew

Annonymous tip giver

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-02-05T13:15:00-08:00

CareerBuilder is offering a new spin on the anonymous tipoff. Ever wanted to tell a coworker they "smell like the inside of an old cabin" or wanted to encourage someone to pop in a mint after lunch? Using CareerBuilder's Anonymous Tip Giver you can, with a friendly message delivered by one of four characters. These characters include a mustached businessman with strategically torn holes in his shirt, a barefoot businessman laying across a baby grand, a zombie business woman hovering over her desk and, of course, an alligator (or perhaps crocodile) in a shirt and tie. After choosing which character you'd like to deliver your helpful tip, you can choose a pre-written message (some of the best are below), choose a delightful voice to deliver the message (you may also choose to record your tip by phone, which might make it less than anonymous), preview and then send to the poor soul in need of a heads-up. There aren't many "premade" tips - I suppose if you are using a tool like this, you already know exactly what you want to say - but the ones they do have are pretty funny. Here are my favorites: "One out of 10 people think your barking dog ringtone is funny. That one person is you" "Next time you're like, giving a presentation, like to the boss, you should like say "like" less." "You smell like the inside of an old cabin. I thought you should know." Be aware, a small disclaimer along the bottom of the page warns that "emails created are not private messages and can be viewed and played by others on the internet." Tipsters beware. -posted by Stephanie

Super Bowl MVP Could be Sprint

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-01-30T16:15:32-08:00

Super Bowl Sunday is a day of worship in my house. I can't imagine not viewing the entire game from my or a good friend's couch. But I'm sure there are plenty of people that have to work...or will be in transit that day. Thankfully, Sprint has got them covered. The carrier has teamed with the NFL to offer the NFL Mobile Live service, connecting fans with the game wherever they are. According to ProFootballTalk.com, a Sprint partner, the carrier has pulled out all the stops to make sure your Super Bowl XLIII experience is a great one -- including putting temporary towers in high traffic locations. Wherever I end up watching the game, I hope Warner will lead the Cardinals to a sweet victory. -posted by Lindsay

Puget Sound Tech Map – connect the dots

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-01-28T11:23:54-08:00

Oh-ver-whelm'd! That's what come to mind when looking at the new Puget Sound Tech Universe Map create by the WTIA. But, dig a little deeper and it's a treasure chest of information and history. Heck, I located Action Engine, which lead me to current client Perlego System, all under the Microsoft cluster. Where do you fit in? Check out the entire map in detail here: https://www.washingtontechnology.org/pages/resources/resources_publications_techposter.asp -posted by Justin

Oprah Behind the Wheel of the New Kindle?

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-01-28T11:16:43-08:00

Amazon is holding a party in New York City on February 9. The occasion? Well, we can only speculate at this point. According to Forbes, the company will likely introduce a sleeker and more powerful Kindle electronic reader. Rumors are swirling around faster performance, a touchscreen and better access to content. Oprah named it her "favorite new gadget" in 2008, which I'm assuming sent their sales soaring. As a thank you, maybe she had some input on the new features. Can you imagine GPS (Gayle Positioning System) or SMS (Stedman Messaging Service) added? -posted by Lindsay

Microsoft blames Canada

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-01-28T11:14:02-08:00

This story reminds me of the late great John Candy's last movie, Canadian Bacon. After my colleague, Stephanie Martin, blogged about President Obama's refusal to give up his Blackberry, I found a little nugget to follow up on that story. This week, The Wall Street Journal reports that Microsoft's Randy Siegel, who oversees the company's mobility strategy and relationship with the U.S. Federal Government, questions President O'Bama's use of a Blackberry. Keep in mind that the company behind the Blackberry device and network, Research in Motion or RIM, is based in Canada. Siegel is quoted as saying “You would be sending your data outside the country. We wouldn’t want the casual musings or official communications of the most important person in the world being intercepted by others.” Siegel argues that a better alternative would be a National Security Agency-approved device, such as the Sectéra Edge. Made by defense contractor General Dynamics and powered by Microsoft’s Windows CE software, the Edge is 12 ounces and costs about $3,350. Whether it's good or bad publicity, Microsoft has certainly brought some attention to the company surrounding President Obama's first day in office. To Blackberry or not... you make the call. -posted by Andrew

RPI Hits Three Million Milestone for Printed Photo Books

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-01-28T11:12:55-08:00

"Photo books is the most lucrative product category in photo merchandise, both in terms of revenue and growth opportunity, and is already generating more revenue than photo cards in both the U.S. and Western Europe,” said David Haueter, associate director of InfoTrends’ Photo Printing Trends Service. On Wednesday (1/21), RPI announced that it set an industry record through the production of more than 1.3 million photo books in 2008. This brings RPI's overall production tally to three million photo books since the product’s launch, representing a 60 percent year-over-year growth. With its recent expansion of corporate and manufacturing space, RPI is positioned as the largest digital printer on the West Coast and is capable of scaling to meet the increasing manufacturing and fulfillment demands of the rapidly growing photo products market. Congratulations, RPI! -posted by Shawnna

RPI Prints Uniquely Personal Valentines Day Gifts for Under $10

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-01-28T11:09:58-08:00

Looking for a token of love for your sweetheart this Valentine's Day that wont leave you feeling more robbed than romantic? VOXUS' client, RPI, which handles the manufacturing and fulfillment for consumer print-on-demand products for many of the leading ecommerce photo product websites, provides tips on how to create personalized gifts that are quick to create, fun to give and receive, and affordable for even the most frugal of us. “Cupid might have to cut costs, but that doesn’t mean sweethearts should be showered with less meaningful gifts,” says John Perez, CEO of RPI. “This year, photo and memory books are extremely popular, and can be created for under $5. What could be more affordable than that?” Perez points to four fabulous gift finds for under $10: • Personalized Stationery Packs: Choose coordinating designs for notebooks, notepads and note cards to create a personalized stationery gift pack. Spiral bound notebooks come with a personalized cover and page options including designs for a wedding planner, baby book and a day planner. Snapfish by HP offers notebooks and notepads for $7.99-9.99, and note cards for as little as $1.08 apiece. ... • Photo books: Make the perfect memory book for your partner by pulling together photos from exciting escapades and romantic rendezvous that have taken place during your relationship. Create a mini photo book with 12 double-sided full-photo pages at Walgreens for $5.99 per book. ... • Memory books: Make a softbound memory book with your everlasting love letters or poetry at Wal-Mart for only $3.88. ... • Calendars: Mark the dates for birthdays, anniversaries or other significant events with photos from throughout the year. Not only will personalized calendars help recipients remember special occasions, but will also remind them that you’re thinking of them 365 days a year. Calendars are available at Costco for $9.99 each. ... • Stickers & Seals: With personalized photos and/or text, adhesive stickers add a personal touch to love letters as envelope seals or to decorate gift packages. Buy one sheet of 20 stickers from Costco for only $2.99. -posted by Shawnna

President Obama to keep crackberry?

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-01-22T17:18:26-08:00

Will President Obama get to keep his beloved Blackberry? Well, sort of. During the 2008 election, President Obama was not shy when discussing his love for his BlackBerry, even responding to an interviewer asking about his worst habit with, "Checking my BlackBerry." However, when he secured his spot in the White House, the future of his trusted gadget was unclear. But alas! The President has already won this one, and has been given the okay to use a special, security-enhanced BlackBerry on a day-to-day basis, to keep in touch with both his senior staff and close friends and family (only a select few will be given his email address). According to an article by the Associated Press, Obama will be the first sitting president to use e-mail, as some previous presidents have chosen not to correspond via email, as all messages can be subpoenaed by Congress, courts, and may be subject to public records laws. A cool article from Network World breaks down the security features the special BlackBerry might need. President Obama seems to be pretty in-tune with technology... maybe an ObamaBlog is on the horizon....? (Image courtesy Computer Weekly) -posted by Stephanie

Happy 25th, Mac

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-01-22T17:16:11-08:00

On this day, January 22 1984, Apple launched the Macintosh personal computer with it's now infamous 1984 Super Bowl advertisement. According to Nielsen Media Research, the ad reached a whopping 46.9 percent of all American households although it did air during the 3rd quarter of a blowout between the Washington Redskins and then Los Angeles Raiders (read between the lines, some people might be concentrating on the dip or taking a siesta at this point). Some more interesting facts, Ridley Scott directed the commercial and then little known ad agency Chiat/Day produced it at a then unheard of enormous budget of $900k. Microsoft's board originally didn't want to air the ad, but eventually gave in. As a refresher, the ad is a take on George Orwell's book "1984" in which Big Brother takes over and is shown on a huge television screen. In the ad, a heroine comes to the rescue and throws a sledgehammer through the TV screen meant to show how Apple will shatter conformity in support of individualism. The commercial concludes with text which reads: "On January 24th, Apple Computer will introduce Macintosh. And you'll see why 1984 won't be like 1984." 25 years later, do you think Apple has followed through on their original promise? -posted by Andrew

Whatever I want, apparently FriendlyFavor can deliver...

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-01-22T17:14:09-08:00

Seattle-based FriendlyFavor launched its beta site this week, and the company is attempting to deliver just what its name implies. If you're so tied to the Internet that you'd use it to find a last minute babysitter, get recommendations for a hotel in another city, or find a new home for grandma's old feather bed, FriendlyFavor might be just the site for you. As a member of this social network, you can ask for something, offer something or just start racking up favors to your account. According to its founders (Scott Larson and John Patton), FriendlyFavor is intended to be more efficient than email for reaching out to a trusted network, known as your "peeps." So now I can use Twitter to tweet and FF to send out cheeps to my peeps. -posted by Rachel

Think you're a Google pro? Think again...

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-01-22T17:12:40-08:00

Boost eLearning recently announced results of a new survey that indicate employees are not leveraging Google’s basic search functionality for business research. The online survey reports that most employees are unfamiliar with such basic search techniques as synonym finder, site search, or even how to limit by timeframe or file type. As a result, Google business research queries either fail to provide the desired results or waste valuable employee time by burying key information. This research follows the company's earlier finding that 39 percent of all Google searches fail, leading to more than 40 hours of lost productivity per user per year(!). Google is an extremely powerful business research tool, but employees that lack basic instruction on its use are both losing time and missing opportunities, which could far exceed the value of the lost hours. To get employees up to speed (and fast...) Boost eLearning has released a new course, Boost eLearning Google Search Training Quick Lessons, that focuses on key business research techniques, saving companies valuable employee time and materially improving search results. -posted by Lindsay

Ortiva Wireless Helps Tier One Operator Deliver Mobile Video

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-01-22T17:10:23-08:00

Mobile video consumption is on the rise, leading experts to estimate the market will exceed $15 billion in worldwide revenue by 2012. Driving this market forward is VOXUS' own Ortiva Wireless, developer of the mobile Video Optimization Gateway (mVOG). On Tuesday (1/20), the company announced a commercial deployment with Vodafone Portugal, a tier one European carrier with more than five million subscribers. mVOG is helping Vodafone Portugal dramatically increase the efficiency and quality of mobile video across its network, ensuring a superior viewing experience for its growing Vodafone live! customer base. “To build strong subscribership in mobile video, we must deliver amazing video quality from the start,” said Jorge Bento, IN and Service Development Director at Vodafone Portugal. “Anything less falls short of our commitment to providing the high-quality, mobile video services our subscribers demand. Ortiva met this requirement in testing, even during noisy network conditions. mVOG will be an essential component to our ability to improve subscriber interest in mobile video services.” Ortiva's unique combination of operator and subscriber benefits is helping carriers worldwide quickly accelerate mobile video revenue using existing networks. Check them out on their site or in Barcelona, Spain at Mobile World Congress (Booth #1H33, Hall 1-0). -posted by Lindsay

Obama lays the macdown

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-01-22T17:09:08-08:00

Being a Mac user, I love this story from TechFlash, way of the Washington Post: "Thursday's Washington Post has a fascinating story about the technological challenges faced by the Obama administration as it moved into the White House following the inauguration. Mac-loving Obama staffers were flummoxed by all the out-of-date Microsoft software left over from the Bush administration -- to the point that they couldn't complete the most basic of online tasks." Why does this not surprise me!! -posted by Justin

Inauguration from space

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-01-21T16:01:15-08:00

With all the excitement slowly fading away now that inauguration day has passed, I came across some cool images from Popular Science (http://www.popsci.com) that show the crowds in DC from space! That's right, some crystal clear space images of millions of heads. http://www.popsci.com/military-aviation-amp-space/article/2009-01/inauguration-day-space -posted by Justin

Zoolander would be proud

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-01-21T15:58:36-08:00

In my constant hunt for the latest tiny high-tech devices, I just came across one that was on display at CES recently. It's Nokia's BH-804 bluetooth headset and it fits in the palm of your hand at an estimated 1.6-1.7 inches long. The Street has a pretty good video demo of the device. Nokia says it's available broadly in the U.S. in Q1 of '09 for $99-$119. Ben Stiller's character from Zoolander (yes, I'm referencing one of my favorite movies AGAIN) would be proud! -posted by Andrew

Free coffee (well, kind of)

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-01-21T15:56:29-08:00

Think there's no such thing as a free coffee? Starbucks says it will give away free tall brewed coffee between January 21-25. The catch: you have to sign a card pledging to donate five or more hours of community service. You can learn more here. -posted by Rachel

Jott down this text for me, please...

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-01-21T15:53:27-08:00

I recently upgraded to a new cell phone (okay, it's an iPhone -ed) , and one of my favorite features is that it is a touchscreen. It makes the phone so sleek and stylish looking, and really makes it much easier to maneuver around on the Web. However, I absolutely distain the tiny touchscreen keyboard -- whoever created it must have had tiny hands or used only their pinky fingers to type -- its nearly impossible to properly type out a message on that thing! Luckily, a local Seattle-based company, Jott Networks, has come to the rescue with a service that allows you to capture notes, set reminders and calendar appointments, text message contacts and even transcribe your voicemail messages... all with your voice! I really wish I had this feature on my new phone... Hands-free Email & Text Messaging: -posted by Shawnna

Think thin

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-01-15T16:14:04-08:00

I couldn't resist posting this short blog entry, but boy is this cool. I'm a self proclaimed neat freak and there were some neat TVs unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Neat in the fact that 1) They're really cool and 2) They don't take up much space. Panasonic showed off a prototype set that was 8.8 millimeters thick and Samsung gave a glimpse at a TV that measured in at 6.5 millimeters. Forget about what I write though, take a look for yourself at a Washington Post article and Seattle Times blog from our friend Brier Dudley. Thin is in! -posted by Andrew

It's good to be the king

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-01-15T15:41:43-08:00

I love it, I love it, I love it. Sacrifice in the name of beef. That's right, Burger King offers a Facebook application that allows you to sacrifice (or delete) 10 of your friends. In doing so, you get a free Whopper. BRILLIANT!!! No group to join, no fan page, just get the application at http://whoppersacrifice.com/ As I look now, so far 232k people have been axed in Facebook in the name of beef. This is marketing at its best...and integration with social media makes this advertising campaign a super hit. A++ Now, let's see....c'est la vie Paul, Rachel, Lindsay, Andrew, Stephanie, Shawnna, Nancy, Marcel, Kirsten.....and Brie. -posted by Justin

I'm a little eggsprout, short and stout...

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-01-15T15:37:22-08:00

For those of you looking for a tech-related job in Seattle, there's a new resource on the scene. Eggsprout debuted earlier this month with the mission of helping everyone land a job that they love (pretty ambitious!). But what's most impressive is the fact that the founding team members, while ex-Zillowites, are barely out of college -- Brian Ma, Hsu Han Ooi, Ian Ma, Austin Carol and Hsu Ken Ooi all look like they could be in a boy band. Currently, the site features jobs at Grapevyn, Tableau Software, Google and Microsoft. -posted by Rachel

The "best job in the world" (other than here, of course)

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-01-15T15:33:42-08:00

Australia's Queensland tourism department is now accepting applications for the "best job in the world." And they aren't kidding. According to an article in BusinessWeek, the tourism department is seeking one person to live on Hamilton Island, along the Great Barrier Reef, for six months, during which the new-hire will be required to walk along the sandy beaches, snorkel, swim... basically live the hard life. Oh, but there's a catch! The employee will be required to blog about their experiences weekly, including photos and videos of things they do around the island. So, blog-aphobics need not apply... unless you can be swayed by the $100,000 (150,000 Australian dollars) paycheck that comes along with the six month "job." This doesn't sound too shabby... Applications are being accepted until February 22nd, and the job will begin on July 1st. If you think you could handle blogging from paradise for $100k, apply at www.islandreefjob.com -posted by Stephanie

Ready for iPhone Nano?

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-01-15T15:32:15-08:00

I love my iPhone, but would love a cuter, smaller version even more. Recently, Engadget helped spread the Apple iPhone Nano rumors a little further. Covering a story in DIGITIMES, the Engadget article reports that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is poised to secure chip orders for a mini-sized iPhone Nano. Rumored to be a low-cost, entry-level version of the original, whispers of a Summer launch have got me on high alert. Update: President of VOXUS and Apple enthusiast Paul Forecki has just crushed my dreams for the iPhone Nano. He says if the iPhone Nano is ever launched, it certainly won't be this Summer. Apple: let's prove him wrong. Paul: confident enough to bet me one iPhone Nano? -posted by Lindsay

Your mobile hotspot

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-01-15T15:30:47-08:00

Looks like there's finally a cost-effective option for turning your car, truck or van into a mobile hotspot – Autonet Mobile. Autonet Mobile is the first wireless Internet Service Provider designed for your car. The Autonet Mobile router will turn your car into a WiFi hotspot, allowing multiple passengers to connect their own WiFi enabled gadgets to the Internet at the same time. Very cool and cheap. Only $29 a month!! The router’s sleek form factor was designed to be easily installed in the trunk of your car or the cargo area of your SUV. -posted by Justin

Phones Are Just for Calling, Says Report

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-01-09T08:33:18-08:00

According to a new Wireless Week article, most of us are phone dummies. That is, many users are not taking advantage of all the extra features phones deliver, like cameras and calendars, etc. NPD reports a whopping 45% of U.S. mobile phone users "just make telephone calls." This definitely isn't the crowd I hang around with...but I could see that being the case for older generations. Calculators, text, GPS and other apps would improve the life of so many. Perhaps users just need an in-depth how-to lesson (the quick demo at the store doesn't count) and some pocket size cheat sheets to get on board. -posted by Lindsay

Buzz over Ballmer at CES – nostalgic already

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-01-06T10:15:53-08:00

As the minutes tick down for the baton to be passed at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, I can’t help but let my mind wander to a time when Gates was king. This year, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer will keynote CES after years of Microsoft’s Chairman Bill Gates assuming those responsibilities. Gates was known for his list of celebrity guests which included Slash of Guns N’ Roses, Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien, The Rock and more. TechFlash has a great retrospective on these star-studded events. Having been privy to take part in one such keynote at CES 2007 when doing PR work for Microsoft, I learned first-hand how Gates’ keynotes resembled more of a rock concert than a meeting of some of the world’s greatest minds. It’s that buzz that led to Gates’ selection year after year and now to Ballmer’s succession. This year, Ballmer takes the stage. While he seems to garner a lot of attention himself through antics like his now infamous monkey boy video, something tells me he’s not going to steal the limelight quite like Gates. -posted by Andrew

End of year means percentage numbers for browser wars

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-01-06T10:13:30-08:00

According to our favorite third-party tech blog, TechFlash, Internet Explorer continues to lose market share to other Web browsers, including Firefox and Safari. Not a big surprise here... we use both Firefox and Safari in an attempt to stay away from that horrible mess called IE (can you say vulnerability). While IE still has 68% of the market, that's down 11% over the previous year. Losing more than 10% market share in a year is HUGE (at least in my book), especially when you consider that back in the early days, IE held more than 90% of the share. Also worth noting, Google Chrome has 1%, which sounds like nothing, but as the TechFlash folks point out, it was introduced in September (not bad for three months work). -posted by Justin

Looking for a job?

info@voxuspr.com — 2009-01-06T10:11:36-08:00

The Northwest Entrepreneur Network is looking for a new executive director. The current leader, Peter Quinn, is leaving at the end of January to join the Northwest Maritime Institute in Port Townsend. So if you've got skills in strategic planning, community relations and volunteer coordination, you might want to take a look here. The deadline for applications is January 12. -posted by Rachel

Security blog changes focus

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-12-23T15:03:28-08:00

Got a note from USA TODAY reporter Byron Acohido last week -- he and his colleague, Jon Swartz, are relaunching the Zero Day Threat book blog but with a different focus. They now plan to blog more directly to the tech security community by making their publication a venue for sharing useful security information. -posted by Rachel

It's a Mash: Open Web Awardees Announced

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-12-23T15:00:58-08:00

Mashable's Open Web Awards were determined by more than 90,000 votes in the final round. Although no local companies were deemed winners, there are some interesting sites such as Zoosk and Coolspotters mixed in with the more traditional Google as people's choices. -posted by Rachel

Say it ain't so: no more home newspaper deliveries?

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-12-23T14:59:50-08:00

For all of us kids who had paper routes as our first jobs, take note: the Detroit Free Press and the Detroit News are stopping home deliveries except for Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. At least, that's the plan that's expected to be announced as Gannett Co. continues to struggle with profitability in key markets. It's a move that we all knew newspapers would eventually be forced to make...and yet, none of us probably thought it the end would come this quickly. -posted by Rachel

Acer Aspire One

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-12-23T14:58:44-08:00

$100 Netbook Now At RadioShack Not sure what to get your workaholic loved one for the holidays? Check out the pint-sized 3G netbook now available at RadioShack for $100. This ultra portable Aspire One netbook from Acer weighs less than two and a half pounds and offers WiFi connectivity. The catch? You have to sign up with AT&T Mobility's DataConnect mobile broadband service for two years at $60 per month. This little guy (covered by RCR http://tinyurl.com/66jfmb) is the equivalent of a puppy in the canine world. So cute and sure to draw "ohhs" and "ahhs" from passers by. -posted by Lindsay

Jobs to GM

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-12-23T14:56:43-08:00

I Want an iCar With all of the talk surrounding the big 3 automaker bailout, some media outlets like ZDNet, CNET, TechNewsWorld and the New York Times are suggesting Steve Jobs take the helm at GM or be appointed the feds new “car czar”. Some of the reasoning for the GM top spot, Jobs would cut out the corporate fat, speed up innovation (and actually innovate at that) and market products correctly. I love some of the comments from readers on possible Jobs GM cars: · Acceleration and braking would be handled with a single pedal · It would drive slower in Redmond than it would in Cupertino · You’d have a choice of: brushed aluminum · Steering would be done via touch screen. · You could only use Apple brand gasoline from Apple brand gas stations. Who’s ready for an iCar? I am! -posted by Andrew

Shop Mobile: You're Less Likely to Die

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-12-03T16:37:03-08:00

First it's Black Friday...then it's CyberMonday...now its Mobile Tuesday? According to a recent NewsFactor story, mobile marketing firm Mobigosee is launching Mobile Tuesday -- a new mobile shopping campaign aimed to increase sales the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. Unlike Black Friday, Mobile Tuesday isn't restricted to store hours and doesn't call for driving, parking, searching aisles or standing in lines. Shopping via mobile is a great option for people like me who favor quick and low stress shopping – any time of year. -posted by Lindsay

I'll bite - what's Podcurry?

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-12-03T16:34:22-08:00

Six finalists from across the Pacific Northwest will showcase their startups at the annual MIT Venture Lab Startup DEMO on Thursday, December 4. Competitors include Array Health, Alerts.com, DisplayWare, e*swing golf, Fuel Vapor Technologies and Podcurry. Curious about Podcurry? Turns out, it's an online service that lets you create custom news shows so that you only listen to the news you truly care about. It's the brainchild of former Microsoftie Nikhil George, You can learn more about Startup DEMO here. -posted by Rachel

Vote local tech!

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-12-03T16:31:28-08:00

Mashable's 2nd Annual Open Web Awards is the only multilingual international online voting competition covering major innovations in web technology. The Seattle startup community is well represented -- with just a quick look, I picked out Wetpaint and Avvo – there may be others. So go to the site before December 15 and vote local! -posted by Rachel

Get social recognition

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-11-07T09:03:16-08:00

The 2nd Annual Open Web Awards, sponsored by Mashable, has issued a call for nominations. Through November 16, you can nominate a company for recognition in any of the 26 categories that range from photo sharing and dating to online games and travel. -posted by Rachel

Panicware goes M.I.A.

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-11-07T09:02:07-08:00

One of the companies that I've followed for years, Panicware, is now missing in action. The company, which offered a really nifty pop-up stopper for your Internet browser, no longer has a website and searchers are directed to a blog. It actually looks like founder Matina Fresenius is heading into uncharted waters with a line of Panicware kids clothing. You can check it out at www.panicware.com. -posted by Rachel

Divvy-doo-dah

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-11-07T08:57:26-08:00

New Seattle-based startup Divvy went live with a site that helps members rent whatever they'd like to whomever they'd like through the creation of private websites linked to calendars and PayPal. Founders Aaron Freed and Brandon DeCuir have created an online portal where you can "divvy" up a condo or where a church might rent out its facilities for weddings -- all through personal webpages. Regardless, it's the latest entry into the very active startup market here...this despite a slowing economy. -posted by Rachel

Your Spyfu is strong

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-10-20T15:39:12-07:00

A client (thanks Leah) turned me to a great keyword/adword resource called SpyFu. It allows you to search competitor keywords, adwords, organic words, advertisements, click spend and total keyword budgets, among other things. Most of this is free. The site is fantastic and can really provide some valuable information for emerging companies looking to evaluate competitive marketings and carve out a niche. You can get super-detailed reporting and information if you're willing to spring for the service, but the initial information is pretty darn useful by itself. Do yourself a favor, check out the site and get some market intel!! Then you can drop some sweet facts at your next dinner party, like: "Hey Charlie, did you know Google has a daily ad budget between $354 and $390? Pass the salt." "Hey Rachel, did you hear, Sprint's monthly online keyword budget is $19k. Doesn't that blow your mind?" -posted by Justin

Pike Market, Peter Shankman And Public Relations

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-10-15T15:32:35-07:00

Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to meet with one of the really “out-of-the-box” thinkers in the PR industry, Peter Shankman. He held a happy hour at the Pike Pub and Brewery, located just above Seattle’s Pike Place Market, schmoozing with Seattle PR types. For those of you who don’t know Peter, he is probably best known for publishing the HARO (Help A Reporter Out) Newsletter three times a day, Monday through Friday. HARO includes dozens of leads for PR/media opportunities from travel to technology, business/finance to health/fitness. With all of the modern day “smoke and mirrors”-type PR, Peter’s approach is quite simple and refreshing… connect reporters and public relations professionals in order to come up with the most compelling stories. I think of the HARO Newsletter somewhat like CraigsList early on -- no adds, just a way to connect people in the most basic way possible. Now to our happy hour meeting, Peter struck me as extremely humble and RESTED even though his speaking engagements typically take him back and forth across the country at least a few times each week. Despite having a number of people trying to schmooze with him, Peter took the time to briefly discuss his personal and professional life with me and gave me one of his unique business cards that front as a gambling chip (blog to be updated with picture soon). Little known fact, Peter continued to run marathons for years despite having a foot that was broken in numerous spots (unbenounced to him). Pike Market, Peter Shankman and Public Relations… what an enlightening happy hour. -posted by Andrew

Forget voting for the Democrats or Republicans...vote for us!

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-10-15T15:29:18-07:00

We're in the home stretch of the Mobile Village Mobile Star Awards(tm) competition...but there's still time for you to cast a ballot. VOXUS is a nominee in the Best Wireless & Mobile Technology PR Firm category; VOXUS clients Nextrials, CipherLab, Perlego and AirMagnet are also nominees in various categories. So exercise your right to vote -- for us! Go here to read more. Voting closes October 20. -posted by Rachel

Goodbye, Action Engine -- Hello, MobUI

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-10-15T15:22:20-07:00

I was sorry to read that one of my former clients, after an almost meltdown in August, is now officially R.I.P. Action Engine was sold to MobUI, a Redmond-based startup that coincidentally was founded by two ex-Action Engineers, John Burry and Brandon Albers (ably assisted by former marketing director Anne Baker, who formed her own firm post-AE). I'd think that no one would know the value of Action Engine's technology better than former teammates. Best wishes. -posted by Rachel

Seattle Startups Index grows up

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-10-15T15:20:53-07:00

Congrats to Marcelo Calbucci of Sampa -- he's been compiling an index of Seattle startups for more than a year that ranked them according to search engine statistics. Beginning this week, he's moved the project to www.seattle20.com and added aggregator feeds from other startup blogs in the Seattle area. He has also added original content from contributors such as Alyssa Royse, Matt Hulett, Rebecca Lovell, Danielle Morrill and Keven Leneway, creating a new digital resource for Northwest-based entrepreneurs. -posted by Rachel

Google Goggles

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-10-15T15:18:41-07:00

The announcement of Google Mail Goggles is cracking me up. If you haven't already heard, the Goggles (hopefully) prevent you from sending email you may later regret, be they the product of inebriation or whatever else you might do on Saturday night. When enabled, the Goggles check to make sure you really want to send that email to your ex-boyfriend at 2 am on Friday night with, what else, but a few math problems. I guess the idea is that if you are cognizant enough to solve some math problem, you can be trusted to make the right decision on your own. However, if you cannot answer what 196 x 7 is, maybe you should wait until the morning to profess your love or tell someone off. I like this idea... although I think for some people it might be more useful on cell phones... -posted by Stephanie

iPhone killer?

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-10-03T16:17:08-07:00

Nokia, the world’s number one mobile phone maker, recently announced it would begin selling a touch-screen phone that offers free music downloads. The phone comes with Nokia’s new ‘Comes with Music’ bundle which has signed up all the major record labels (Universal, Sony, Warner Music Group, and EMI) and even many of the independent labels and is said to offer about five million tracks. Nokia’s music will differ from others on the market since you’ll be able to download tracks for free (data and airtime not included… so this could add up). The phone is called the Nokia 5800 xpressMusic handset. The phone’s 8 GB internal memory can be beefed up with another 16 GB on a micro SD type memory card - which means you can store over 18,000 songs. The company claims it’s able to offer the tracks at no cost because it bundles the cost into what you pay for the phone (an estimated $395). The first such phone offered will be available in the UK, the world’s third-largest music market, on October 16. No word yet if/when the phone will be offered in the U.S. However, the launch has created a media buzz both favorable and unfavorable. Gizmodo's also got a hold of Nokia's canned video for the 5800. Is this going to be the iPhone killer? You make the call. -posted by Andrew

Lilipip changes business model

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-10-03T16:15:28-07:00

One of my favorite Seattle-based startups, Lilipip, is proactively restructuring its business model as a result of slower-than-expected growth. Instead of producing YouTube-like animated shorts for kids to view on mobile devices, the company has changed its name to Lilipip Studios and is now producing animated stories for companies and their products. Too bad, in a way -- I loved the concept of short films that toddlers could watch on mom's cell phone when the going got tough. Lilipip's first customer under its new business model is another Seattle-based startup, Others Online. You can see the short flim clip on the company's landing page. -posted by Rachel

No more Google anonymity

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-10-03T16:14:02-07:00

Who'd have thought that I'd look back and sigh about the Google good old days? Like when I could search for Old Boyfriend in complete anonymity and then laugh hysterically when I found out that he crashed and burned during the dot-com bust and is now wanted in 30 of the 50 states. Yes, folks, you can kiss your stalking abilities goodbye, now that Ziggs has launched. Although the site is really meant to help you control your personal brand, it has the odd side ability to notify you of anyone who has Googled your name...and to tell you who that person is. Yikes. I just hope Old Boyfriend isn't a member yet. -posted by Rachel

Bailing bloggers = failing publication?

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-10-03T16:11:19-07:00

It was bad enough that John Cook and Todd Bishop, two of our favorite reporters and bloggers at the Seattle P-I, left the publication earlier this month to join a new initiative at the Puget Sound Business Journal. And kudos to them, it sounds like an exciting venture! But recently, I got word that Cherie Black, the P-I's health reporter and blogger, has also left for greener pastures. AACK. Earlier this year, the P-I started offering itself as a home for citizen bloggers with columns ranging from Jason McBride's "Eating Weird" to Carolyn Chambers Clark's "Relationship Repair." Maybe this is how it plans to continue to develop new media without replacing departing staff members. -posted by Rachel

Upcoming piglets

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-09-11T10:41:34-07:00

Did you know that the pig in Seattle's Pike Place is named Rachel? Just a weird coincidence, I'm sure...anyway, there's a new blog in town for those of us interested in the Seattle tech scene. Meet at the Pig is a really fun compendium of events that will appeal to your inner geek. And, if you're interested, the site is looking for new writers; drop Justin Martenstein a line via the online contact form. Upcoming piglets (events) include the Seattle Blogger Meetup on September 24 and Seattle Startup Drinks on September 26. -posted by Rachel

Survey Says: Nearly 40 Percent of All Google Searches Fail

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-09-11T10:37:52-07:00

Boost eLearning just announced results of a new survey indicating 39 percent of all Google searches fail, leading to more than 40 hours – or one week – of lost productivity per user per year. These stats can add up fast for a large organization which is why the company has designed an online training course that helps employees quickly and easily learn all of the powerful built-in search features of Google. For more information visit www.boostelearning.com -posted by Lindsay

VOXUS: Star of Their Own News Story (for once!)

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-09-11T10:36:26-07:00

Rodika Tollefson of the Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal recently sat down with our Founder and fearless leader Paul Forecki to learn the secret to VOXUS' success. Check out the story here. -posted by Lindsay

Shake it, Shake it, Shake it

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-08-27T16:29:52-07:00

On Monday, M2E Power announced the development of an external mobile device charger. Big news in the gadget world and green verticals. To support this news, VOXUS has been busy working with press. Our efforts have paid off big time! Props to the entire team! To cap it off, today the news ran on Business Week. Check it out. Here's a little picture: In addition, articles also ran in more than 100 other outlets including these feature articles: ...-Daily Green ...-Gadget Insight ...-Gadget Crunch/Tech Crunch ...-Tom's Guide ...-Idaho Business Review -Gadget Guru -Good Clean Tech ...-Wireless Week ...-Headline News ...-and more, and more and more!!!! -posted by Justin

Silly Spammers, Hijacking is for Airplanes

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-08-27T16:28:45-07:00

Seems like I'm experiencing a rise in spam lately. While I have a folder these junk emails usually drop into, it's annoying to have to view and delete them later. While I don't look inside any of these emails, I do occasionally read the subject lines (spammer marketing speak can be quite entertaining). I got one last night that was both humorous and disturbing. The subject line read "We have hijacked your baby." Can you hijack a baby? I don't think so. In any case, I don't have a baby, but If I did, I probably would have checked to make sure he or she wasn't snatched from the house. It's a shame spammers are getting more aggressive and all we can do is sit back and take it. -posted by Lindsay

WANTED: An Extraordinary PR Professional

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-08-27T16:26:32-07:00

VOXUS is now hiring a Program Director/Senior Account Executive to work from its swanky new downtown Tacoma office. Think you got the right stuff? Click here or view our ad on Craig's list. -posted by Lindsay

Microsoft Plans Big Mac Attack

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-08-27T16:23:48-07:00

What do you do when your competitor has slowly been pecking away at your reputation for years? Sit quiet? Speak up? Microsoft, which apparently has been TiVoing through the highly entertaining and brand-trashing "Mac vs. PC" commercials, finally appears to be gearing up for a major counter-attack. According to the News Tribune, in September, Microsoft will launch a $300 million ad campaign to help improve its image. Microsoft has hired some major star power for the campaign -- Jerry Seinfeld, Will Ferrell and Chris Rock. I can't wait to see these comedic giants in action, but don't think for a minute that I'll consider giving up my Macbook, iPod or iPhone. -posted by Lindsay

Motion to energy

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-08-27T15:59:23-07:00

As our client M2E announces a new external charger for mobile device on 8/25, we thought we'd post this little video that explains the innovation behind the technology. This video podcast was created for the R&D 100 awards. M2E video -posted by Justin

Good blogs

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-08-20T15:32:19-07:00

Merlin Mann over at 43folders had a very interesting post on what makes a good blog. Good blogs are the product of “Attention times Interest.” A blog shows me where someone’s attention tends to go. Then, on some level, they encourage me to follow the evolution of their interest through a day or a year. There’s a story here. Ethical “via” links make it easy for me to follow their specific trail of attention, then join them for a walk made out of words. There's a lot of interesting information in the full article, all of which is useful in understanding not "how do I get my blog noticed" (which is what most of these types of articles focus on) but more "how do I have a blog that doesn't suck." Good reading. -posted by Paul

One Minute to Spare for a Google Survey?

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-08-20T15:30:54-07:00

Our client Boost eLearning, the pioneer in Google search training for large organizations, is interested in hearing about your experiences with Google. If you have a minute to spare, please fill out a survey. Look for the orange starburst at the bottom left of the screen. Survey-takers are automatically entered to win a free Boost eLearning Google Search Training license. Thanks for your help. -posted by Lindsay

Go Go Google Searches

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-08-20T15:29:41-07:00

Google Search is a critical business tool for the full spectrum of roles in an organization. From sales to HR and IT, employees depend on Google multiple times a day to find the information they need to do their job. Yet this tool is highly underutilized since most workers only know a couple of Google's powerful search capabilities. This gap has created a significant market opportunity for training businesses to help workers demystify the Web and turn free data into actionable information. Seattle-based Boost eLearning is hoping to do just that. Leveraging the fundamentals of adult-learning theory, Boost eLearning Google Search Training instills in workers the repertory of search skills required to extract and harness targeted information in the fastest manner possible. By easily excluding ads, pinpointing geographic areas, extracting certain file types and many other powerful search practices, Boost eLearning's training eliminates the time and frustration of failed searches. If you're not convinced, check out their free online demo at: www.boostelearning.com -posted by Lindsay

Three out of Three Comedians Joke About Social Networking

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-08-20T15:28:21-07:00

I headed up to Giggles on Saturday night to see one of my favorite comedians Jeff Dye (third place winner of this year's Last Comic Standing). It seems that social networking has become a bottomless pit of comedic material. Jeff and the two opening acts couldn't resist poking fun at the social networking phenomenon that consumes all of us. One of my favorite comments was from a comedian who admitted to changing his activities/interests to "showing up to work on time, filing, sweeping, etc." when he had his resume out. All of this is a good reminder not to take ourselves or our social networking too seriously. -posted by Lindsay

Technology chicks unite!

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-08-20T15:27:02-07:00

Seattle Webgrrls is resurrecting -- the next meeting is Thursday, September 4 at 6:30 p.m. This is an interesting organization dedicated to empowering women through the use of technology in personal and professional lives. Visit the site for further details and RSVP information. -posted by Rachel

"I Am Rich" in Retrospect

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-08-11T16:16:37-07:00

I've been trying to resist blogging about the "I Am Rich" application for the iPhone since it first started making news last week, but I can't hold back any more. After a respectable 8 purchases, the $999.00 app has been pulled from the App Store... but it still has some "fans." Gizmodo has posted a guided tour of the "I Am Rich" app, and it is truly a work of art - I mean, how can you not get ahead with the inspiring mantra and beautiful gem that glows in the background, reminding you that "you could afford it." Watch this video, its delightful... and if they ever let "I Am Rich" back in the App Store, consider getting it, you "deserv" it! -posted by Stephanie

Get to Know Your Favorite Olympics Athlete

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-08-11T16:11:47-07:00

Our client Boost eLearning has announced a free training lesson that helps fans across the globe track their favorite 2008 Summer Olympics athletes. The 3 minute lesson available at www.boostelearning.com teaches fans how to find all the latest coverage pertaining to the Olympics regardless of geographic and lingual boundaries. Want to read more about your favorite Romanian gymnast in his or her hometown paper? No problem...and Boost will even help you translate it into English. -posted by Lindsay

Writing made easier with Writeboard

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-08-11T16:10:12-07:00

Work with Word documents a lot? Ever get frustrated with Track Changes (or lack there of)? Ever wish there was an easier way to collaborate with your colleagues and/or clients on documents? Check out Writeboard, created by 37signals a developer of web-based applications for businesses. Writeboard is free, and allows you to invite multiple people to make edits and revisions to an online version of your document. Writeboard makes it really easy to view track changes, as well as compare past and present versions of your document. Thanks go out to Mark Uehling, editor at ClinPage, for bringing this great site to my attention! -posted by Shawnna

New (and improved!) prank calling ability!

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-08-11T16:08:24-07:00

Technology is always more fun when you can use it to make mischief! VoIP is now taking prank phone calling to a new (and improved!) level. The new Disney’s Hannah Montana Wake-Up Call allows users to enter a phone number and the delightful Miley Cyrus’s voice will wake them up or send them a reminder: “Dear [name], don’t forget that today you have [activity].” There is no authentication of the user, which allows the user to enter any source phone number they want -- enabling the user to make the calls look like they are coming from someone else. Naughty, but fun! Read more about this new service in Alistair Croll's blog entry in GigaOM. -posted by Shawnna

Bad Pitch Blog: someplace I'd rather not be

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-08-05T10:08:19-07:00

It's always interesting to see what our competition is up to -- and here's a very unique twist to the standard blog I see on many agency websites. Kevin Dugan, the director of marketing for FRCH Design, and Richard Laermer, CEO of RLM PR, created the Bad Pitch Blog to immortalize all of those missteps PR people make with editors and analysts. I have to say, it's worth a look -- PR Week picked it as a competitor in the "best blog" category of its latest competition. -posted by Rachel

But do you have to be bald?

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-08-05T10:04:44-07:00

Cliff Edwards' Tech & You column this week profiles a new product from Emotiv Systems, a San Fran-based start-up backed by Technology Venture Partners (out of Australia) and Epicure Capital Partners. Emotiv has developed a mind-reading headset (yes, that's right) slated to ship this year for just $299. The device translates your thoughts into computer instructions using EEG technology (similar to what hospitals use). Emotive says it is initially targeting the entertainment and gaming markets. Sign me up, as long as I get to keep my hair that is. -posted by Adrienne

Microsoft Unveils Windows Vista AGAIN

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-08-05T10:02:35-07:00

Microsoft unveiled a controversial focus group study last week that involved its now year and a half old Windows Vista operating system. The company recently set up a blind study involving a video demonstration of what they were told was the forthcoming “Mojave” operating system. However, the subjects of the study never actually got to demo Mojave AND were actually watching a disguised demo of Windows Vista but were never told this until after the video. Microsoft says it conducted the Mojave experiment over three days in San Francisco before 120 subjects. The company says the subjects, on average, gave Vista a rating of 4.4 out of 10 prior to participating. The average rating jumped to 8.5 after the subjects watched the demo, according to the company. Some journalists claim Microsoft is trying to insinuate there is a big disconnect between the actual performance of Windows Vista and the PERCEIVED performance based on negative media coverage and ads by mainly Apple. I was part of the general launch of Windows Vista for Microsoft, so I’m glad I could get a peak into their re-launch of Windows Vista. -posted by Andrew

Bye Bye, Pure Networks

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-07-29T13:30:03-07:00

Our friends at Pure Networks have a new boss: Cisco Systems acquired the company for $120 million. It's actually a pretty good marriage -- Pure Networks has a great little product in Network Magic, a software that makes it easy for consumers to set up home networks. And the company was already a partner with Linksys, a router supplier that Cisco previously acquired. -posted by Rachel

Why ask Y? Because Y Combinator wants a startup

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-07-29T13:27:18-07:00

Y Combinator, that quirky VC firm that brought us local startups such as JamGlue and RescueTime, is now accepting applications for the winter 2009 funding cycle. Deadline is October 17 at 10:00 p.m. PST. These VCs even have a shortlist of the types of problems they'd like to see solved (talk about being proactive!). If you've got a cure for some of the following, you need to set up a company pronto: - simplified web browsing tied to social strata/interests - Internet dating - any potential competitor to Microsoft desktop software (Microsoft must be really happy about this) - online learning applications - off-the-shelf home security There are other ideas that are even grander, such as solving the declining readership problem newspapers are facing through competition from Internet-based news sources. -posted by Rachel

Dead brands

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-07-17T14:04:26-07:00

I just got around to reading a rather long, but fascinating article in the NY Times on the idea of resurrecting old "dead" brands, such as Nuprin, Brim Coffee, Underalls, Salon Selectives, etc. This is essentially the situation that River West brokered with the Nuprin brand, which was a dead line of ibuprofen painkillers (once upon a time backed by the widely known “Nupe it” ad campaign). Its trademarks were acquired by River West and sold to CVS, where it is back on the shelves as a stealth store brand. (And presumably enjoying better margins than it would if, like a traditional store brand, it competed solely on low price, not trustworthy-brand familiarity.) My read was that this is what Stone thought should happen to Brim — and that Earle had mixed feelings, believing, perhaps, that Brim could come back as something bigger. Even Stone seemed at least somewhat intrigued with the possibilities of licensing a brand that was familiar but dead. “With Stanley we have to be careful — this is a famous brand; we have to do everything right and mitigate all the risks,” he says. “But with Brim, the risks. . . .” He paused. “There really are no risks.” This brings us to Earle’s ideas about the potential upside of faulty consumer memory. Maybe, for instance, you’re among those who remember Brim. But do you also remember that it was a decaf-only brand? That’s actually why you could “fill it to the rim.” River West’s research found that many who recall the Brim brand have forgotten the decaf detail. We often play off of the idea of turning old developments into news on the theory that "if you haven't heard it, it's news to you" – but this takes it much further. Interesting stuff if you're into understanding brand recognition. -posted by Paul

iCurse, then iScream, then iCollapse, then iLove

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-07-17T12:48:51-07:00

Yes, I cursed profusely at my MacBook, then at iTunes, then at my iPhone, then at the USB cable connecting my iPhone to my MacBook, then at my dogs (just because that's how I roll)....then I collapsed in exhaustion and shed some rare tears. However, after the 6 hour ordeal ended, my iPhone was updated with the new 2.0 software and I was downloading my first application (celebrating with some interpretive dance and the running man). The whole experience was so traumatic, I couldn't blog about it until today. My phone was actually a brick for 5 hours -- how do you recover from that. What if I missed a call from Barack Obama thanking me for my $5 contribution!!! ...What was my first application? Wait for it, wait for it: Big Canvas PhotoShare of course, duh. Now why would I download that application first (before the hailed iPhone Light Saber app)? Well, to be honest, they're a client and I wanted to jump right in and start using it. And, I have to say, it's "da-bomb" (not my term, but a cultural phrase used to express mucho satisfactiono). Why is it "da-bomb" Justin (that's right, I also roll in the third person now)? Well Justin, the best way to describe this apps value, is to tell a little story. ... Last Saturday night Justin attended a 30th b-day party at Lucky Strike (a chi-chi high-end bowling alley in Bellevue where a beer costs $8 and all the waitresses are rude, two thumbs down). Some other friends couldn't attend, but wanted to get updates on how it was (couldn't attend, sure, I'm a little sick, cough, cough). ... With this app, Justin was able to take pics during the event and immediately post them to my PhotoShare website. Justin's other friends could then access for immediate real-time photo-logging (that's right, new term for photo blogging, absorb it, feel it, wrestle with it, now embrace it)....or people at the event could access them later to get some pics. ... A couple quick touches on the iPhone screen and the pics were up and posted. ... Justin can't wait to go on vacation and send back constant reminders to co-workers that he's in a tropical location and they're not. ...Net/net, you should all go get this application and join the PhotoShare community. 2,000 people are downloading that application daily and they have more than 10k users since the launch last week!!!! And, BTW, the Light Saber application – while not a productive app – is pretty much every StarWars geek's wet dream (Justin drops mic, yells "peace, I'm out" and walks away from his desk.)

Pumped Up To Locate Lower Gas Prices

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-07-17T12:46:35-07:00

I am one of those sorry saps who drives a lot. I haven’t always been this way, but since joining VOXUS, I have an almost 100 mile round-trip commute. With the recent spike in gas prices, I constantly find myself shopping around to find the lowest local gas prices on TacomaGasPrices.com. It’s a listing of supposedly the bottom of the barrel gas prices in the Tacoma, WA metro area and I’ve found it works well. The site is an arm of GasBuddy.com. The company is a network of gas price listings sites for various areas and claims it is a grass-roots community effort to lower gas prices. It works by having members post prices in their area to the site. I just signed up to be a resident reporter/member. The site claims a fringe benefit for members is they are entered into a number of raffles based on the number of points they accumulate (mainly through price postings). The site says these raffles include $250 gas cards. I’ll let everyone know if I’m pumped up about member perks soon. -posted by Andrew

Mobiles, PCs NOT Killing the TV Star

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-07-17T12:45:02-07:00

PCs and mobiles are not stealing traditional sofa TV viewers according to a recent Nielsen report covered by Red Herring. In fact, time spent watching traditional TV rose four percent from 2007. These numbers indicate that there is room for all three screens in the market. For me, any time I spend watching TV on my PC or mobile is supplemental to the hours I log in at home on the couch. While I might be a little less productive with TV at my fingertips all day, I wouldn't want it any other way. -posted by Lindsay

Public Relations Rule No. 3

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-07-16T11:21:13-07:00

The LA Times' Top of the Ticket blog has an entertaining post discussing the recent New Yorker magazine Obama cover and reminds us all what not to do when faced with an outlandish or otherwise icky allegation. For those of you needing a quick recap, the New Yorker ran a cartoon cover with Obama and his wife dressed as terrorists, burning the flag etc. Obama's campaign immediately went public with a strong denunciation of the cover, which drew massive attention to the image, an image that Obama obviously would have preferred quickly die on the newsstands. Instead it became an Internet wildfire. Days later on Larry King Live, when asked about the cover, Obama delivered a great response... "Well, I know it was the New Yorker's attempt at satire. I don't think they were entirely successful with it. But you know what? It's a cartoon, Larry, and that's why we've got the 1st Amendment. "And I think the American people are probably spending a little more time worrying about what's happening with the banking system and the housing market, and what's happening in Iraq and Afghanistan, than a cartoon. So I haven't spent a lot of time thinking about it." ...but as the LA Times points out, it was unfortunately several days too late. -posted by Adrienne

Gaming Geeks Watch Out

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-07-16T11:18:47-07:00

Seems there are a few gaming geeks roaming the halls of VOXUS. I’ve got news for you all, those of us who use gaming consoles for something other than playing video games have got some good news. Microsoft and Netflix have unveiled a partnership under which Netflix will stream movies directly to you through Microsoft's Internet-based Xbox Live service. Under the deal, customers who have an Xbox 360 console attached to their TVs and who subscribe to Microsoft's Xbox Live Gold service (cost $50/year), and who are also Netflix subscribers, can download Netflix movies at no additional cost. In addition to Netflix, NBC will be adding TV content to the Xbox Live Marketplace and Universal will be contributing movies. I’ve got a secret for you all… I rarely (if ever) use the Xbox for gaming. It’s my media hub to stream pictures and music from my desktop. Gaming geeks be gone. -posted by Andrew

Go green

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-07-16T11:17:05-07:00

Seattle has always been a 'green' city -- and now its taking it one step further. Right now, Seattle is currently considering putting into effect a bag fee and foam/plastic ban. The bag fee, if passed, would charge shoppers 20 cents for each disposable plastic or paper bag used at grocery, convenience and drugstores starting in January 2009. Stores would keep a nickel to cover the cost of administering the fee. Small stores that gross less than $1 million annually would keep the entire 20 cents. Each household would receive at least one free, reusable shopping bag. The foam/plastic ban, if passed, would require restaurants and grocery stores to switch from Styrofoam or other polystyrene containers and cups to plastic or biodegradable alternatives in January 2009. In July 2010, the ban would expand to include plastics, such as utensils and deli containers. Businesses would have to use all biodegradable containers. Personally, as much as this may take some getting use to... This is an initiative that everyone in Seattle, and perhaps all of Washington, should support for a cleaner city and for future generations. -posted by Shawnna

It's ride a bike to work week

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-07-08T18:39:08-07:00

It has been a bad few weeks for the Mercedes and Lexus drivers here at Voxus, so I thought I'd share two new sites: DriverSide and RepairPal. Still in testing, both sites rely on user supplied data to quote price ranges for various automotive repairs. More details in Stephen Wildstrom's review (he prefers RepairPal). -posted by Adrienne

Where, oh where has my .Mac gone?

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-07-08T18:38:06-07:00

Apple is launching MobileMe, Apple's replacement for . Mac, on July 9. Heads up that www.mac.com will be out of service between 6 p.m.-12:00 a.m. Pacific that day. MobileMe remotely syncs computers and devices, including the iPhone, so there is an upside for many of you . Mac fans out there. -posted by Rachel

Imagekind gets (erased) acquired

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-07-08T18:36:23-07:00

Our friends at Seattle-based Imagekind have a new boss...the online art store has been acquired by CafePress for close to $20 million. -posted by Rachel

Calling all VOXUS fans (and random stalkers)

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-07-08T18:34:53-07:00

We are now a group on FaceBook. Log in, search for "VOXUS" under groups and request to become a fan. We'd love to hear from you... -posted by Lindsay

Celebrities aren't just like us

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-07-08T18:32:26-07:00

As a follower of celebrity gossip, I buy certain weekly magazines on occasion to catch up with what my favorite stars are up to. One magazine always has a section called "Celebrities, They're Just Like Us!" which I disdain. They include pics of celebrities being "just like us" normal folks, and include such stupid things as buying groceries, wearing hats, walking, driving, etc. Wow, after seeing a picture of a Jennifer Aniston buying a gallon of milk I do suddenly feel like she is just like me! Right... Anyways, I saw this article in Forbes about celebrities who choose not to (or don't know how to) use technologies most of us use on a regular (and by regular I mean constantly, all the time) basis. For example, Vince Vaughn doesn't have a cellphone. Orlando Bloom doesn't use email or even own a computer. Paul McCartney doesn't know how to use an ATM. President Bush doesn't use email (and was famously quoted in 2006 for saying he uses "the Google" to look at maps). Simon Cowell doesn't know how to use a computer. There are many more examples and funny tidbits in the article. I think this does teach us an important lesson.... celebrities aren't just like us... which is probably a good thing. -posted by Stephanie

Chrysler: Not your Grandma's Car Anymore

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-07-08T18:31:08-07:00

Just read on Wireless Week that Chrysler is going to add WiFi to many of the new 2009 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep cars. My husband (a Chrysler shop foreman) probably already told me this, but I wasn't listening (car-talk goes in one ear...). The Uconnect Web would be a really cool feature for us freaks that can't put our laptops and iPhones down in the car. Very cool, Chrysler. Keep it up! All you need to do now is make your cars more sleek and sophisticated on the outside and I'm in. -posted by Lindsay

Seattle does the (Summer) Mash

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-07-08T18:29:25-07:00

Mashable, one of the more entertaining news sites on social networking, is kicking off its SummerMash Tour in Seattle on July 12. It looks to be one of the events of the season! The party gets started at the Showbox SoDo at 7 p.m. Tickets begin at $14, and you can find out more here. -posted by Rachel

Flood of Forecki's

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-06-25T14:16:22-07:00

Following up on the Debating Twitter post from earlier this week, this morning found me doing some research and design work for our clients that are targeting the MySpace/ Facebook crowd. Now, a little back story is in order: I have a rather unique last name. ... Most all of my relatives, those that aren't back in the old country, are based somewhere in and around Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with some having migrated to Michigan, and a little splinter group that went first to DC, where I was born, then to California. ... Suffice it to say that if someone has the last name of Forecki, we're related by blood or marriage. ...Okay, not really, but -- as the late George Carlin would say -- older. I've been around a while. ... Back in high school I was using Apple computers that weren't a Macintosh, because those hadn't been invented yet. And I've been in technology and around computers ever since. ...Specifically, I know about Google Juice, which is basically the idea of owning your name on Google rankings. Thanks to the fact that I'm in technology PR and that my name (and email address, damn you spammers!) is plastered all over the Internets, I've generally owned most of the Google searches for Forecki. (Except for a certain author who has been my nemesis on Google searches for years and who shall now remain nameless lest I help her rankings.) All of which to say that I basically pwned Forecki-wannabes on Google. ... In fact, to the point that I stopped really searching a year or two ago, because it seemed pointless (and a little vain, but that's beside the point). Unfortunately, while I wasn't looking my relatives clearly launched a sneak attack. In the form of a new generation of teenagers and twenty-somethings. Their offspring, with the same last name. ... And they are suddenly crushing me on Google. There are almost a dozen on Facebook. One has even registered forecki.com for crying out loud.

Debating twitter

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-06-23T13:24:28-07:00

We've been exploring ways to use Twitter for PR purposes on behalf of our clients, so I was quite interested to see that the McCain and Obama presidential campaigns on having an "online debate" on Twitter. It's an interesting development, if for no other reason than the fact that a 140 character response will hopefully keep the answers on-point. Hopefully. Stay tuned for our thoughts on Twitter and PR in a future post. -posted by Paul

Guns N' Roses Guitarist Advises Melodeo

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-06-19T14:53:00-07:00

As a friend of Melodeo, and someone that came of age in the 80s, today's news that Guns N' Roses guitarist Duff McKagen joined Melodeo's advisory board caught my eye. So now, besides humming Sweet Child O' Mine, I'm wondering what Melodeo has been up to - they've been kinda quiet this past year after receiving new funding. Well....it looks like they've launched a service called nuTsie that lets you move around your iTunes library from your PC to mobile, including blackberry. The cool part is that you access your tunes from your blackberry but don't actually load the files to the device. The service has received some great blog reviews and if it's really as easy as it sounds, me and my berry are going to be stoked. [Wait, we have someone that works here that doesn't have an iphone? I'll have to look into this... -paul] -posted by Adrienne

A new blog covering Seattle tech

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-06-19T14:48:52-07:00

There's a new tech blog in town, according to the Puget Sound Business Journal... Xconomy.com, a blog devoted to economic issues related to technology, said it's launched its second national site in Seattle. Launched in Boston last year, Xconomy said it's hired several journalists in the Seattle area to cover the area's technology industry. The company said it raised an undisclosed amount of funding in a Series A round of financing last year. Xconomy officials said they've received support from Alexandria Real Estate Equities of Pasadena, Calif., Polaris Venture Partners of Waltham, Mass., the Science & Technology Directorate of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Washington Biotechnology & Biomedical Association, the Washington Technology Industry Association, and the Technology Alliance. -posted by Adrienne

TrenchMice zapped; Glassdoor opens

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-06-19T14:47:40-07:00

California-based Glassdoor debuted this week with essentially the same business model as Seattle-based TrenchMice, which closed up shop the end of April. It's a career community where anyone can find and share (anonymously) insider looks at companies. Glassdoor boasts executives from companies such as Zillow, Expedia and TripAdvisor, and its "sneak peek" companies include Cisco, Google, Microsoft and Yahoo! But since TrenchMice closed because it plateaued in traffic, it'll be interesting to see how Glassdoor overcomes that problem. -posted by Rachel

PR in a recession

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-06-19T14:45:28-07:00

This week, our fearless leader, Paul, was part of a panel presentation put on by Businesswire (www.businesswire.com) about PR during times of recession. A few of us had the pleasure to attend and heard some really interesting insights from a variety of industry experts, including Jennifer Gehert (Communique PR), Amy Bohutinsky (Zillow) and of course, our very own Paul Forecki. The panel was moderated by Erik Elvejord (Holland America Line). Below are some pictures from the event, enjoy! The panel (From left: Erik Elvejord, Amy Bohutinsky, Jennifer Gehrt, and Paul Forecki) -posted by Stephanie

Get Smart(phone)

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-06-19T14:43:39-07:00

Nice review by Associated Press tech writer Peter Svensson for the new Samsung Instinct, the first real competitor to the Apple iPhone. Sprint Nextel will begin offering the phone on June 20, getting a jump on the new 8-gigabyte iPhone, launching on July 11 and backed by the AT&T network. Apparently, there are also new BlackBerry models coming out later this year for Verizon and AT&T. It's interesting to note that all of these phones are featuring cameras with at least 2 megapixels -- the first thump in the death knell for low-end stand-alone digital cameras. -posted by Rachel

When Do you Watch Mobile TV?

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-06-19T14:40:18-07:00

If you're like the majority of users, "in between activities" is the most popular time to watch mobile TV. Next favorite scenarios include "while waiting in line" and "while in transit." Of the same pool of users, 31% report watching mobile content for less than 5 minutes with only 8% watching for 31-60 minutes. Among the non-watchers, perceived expense is the most popular reason for not trying mobile TV services. To view the full study, visit Wireless Week. -posted by Lindsay

The Social Networking Dilemma: Too Many, Too Little Time

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-06-19T14:38:52-07:00

The Social Networking Dilemma: Too Many, Too Little Time Having trouble picking the right mix of social networking sites? Well, the list just keeps getting longer (see FierceWireless' Jason Ankeny break it down). These new sites will no doubt contribute to the social networking overload many professionals and students experience today. I can only hope that consolidation in the marketplace comes soon. Wouldn't it be nice to Twitter from your FaceBook? -posted by Lindsay

LoJacks for jets?

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-06-19T14:37:20-07:00

One of our clients is an avid pilot and likes to fly into Gig Harbor for meetings. I'm thinking he might be interested in this story about a Boeing 727 that's been abandoned at Hanoi's Noi Bai airport in Vietnam. It's been there since December, but no one seems to know who the aircraft belongs to nor when/if he or she plans to return for it. Boeing might want to take note of this -- perhaps there's a new partnership opportunity for installing a LoJack device on future aircraft. -posted by Rachel

Clearwire to investors: "Can you hear me now?"

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-06-19T14:35:51-07:00

Although it's a competitor's slogan, Clearwire might be wondering whether or not its investors can clearly hear it, along with the tunes its proposed suitor, Sprint Nextel, has been singing. A general investor's meeting is being held this week in New York to discuss the implications of the companies' merger. There might be a lot more news coming out of this conference, since industry rumors are swirling about a reorganization (again!) within Sprint to shore up sales. The Wall Street Journal also reported last month that Deutsche Telekom is "considering" acquiring Sprint...this as a follow-up to its purchase of VoiceStream (now T-Mobile) seven years ago. Might make sense, but this would mean the combined companies would have three different networks, handset supply chains and brand names. Stay tuned. -posted by Rachel

Actively disengaged

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-06-19T14:33:43-07:00

In today's economic climate all manner of companies are looking at ways to tighten their operations, or simply stated, do more with less. And in the industrial distribution sector where labor is a significant cost, less often means less people. And yet, Inbound Logistics reports that almost 20 percent of warehouse workers responding to a recent Gallup poll describe themselves as "actively disengaged" from their work. As many as half of those surveyed were doing just enough work to get by. PathGuide Technologies' customer Omni Services is doing more with less by automating its warehouse. As a result, it has decreased total man hours by 18.5% (and lowered costs to pick/receive a line by 7%). Read more in the current issue of Progressive Distributor.

World’s Online Security Leaders Come Together In Seattle

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-06-19T14:27:51-07:00

I was fortunate enough to recently represent the Authentication and Online Alliance (AOTA) at their annual summit. This year, Craig Newmark, the founder of Craigslist, Michael Barrett, the Chief Security Officer for PayPal, Tim Callan, Vice President of Product Marketing at VeriSign, Peter Cullen, General Manager and Chief Privacy Strategist at Microsoft, Howard Schmidt, the former White House Cyber Security Officer, Rob McKenna, the Washington State Attorney General, and Hemanshu Nigram, Chief Security Officer of MySpace, among others, all spoke at the Summit. You can take a look at the presentations by clicking here. ...(Picture of Craig Newmark, Craigslist and David Daniels, Jupiter Research, on stage at the AOTA Summit) ...The summit was a two-day event full of lively discussions on how and why we should make online experiences as safe and secure as possible. Key takeaways from the event; there’s no silver bullet to making the Internet a safer place and it takes more than just technology to ensure online safety and security… it takes people power. Seems I wasn’t the only person paying attention to the summit. With at least 25 unique media stories… you may have heard of it outside of the VOXUS blog. Check out some of the links: ...· USA Today (http://blogs.usatoday.com/technologylive/) · Seattle PI (http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/365598_cybersecurity04.html) · Seattle Times (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004458445_brier05.html) · NPR (http://publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news/content/1294129.html) · KIRO-AM (http://www.mynorthwest.com/? ...· Computerworld (http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do? command=viewArticleBasic&taxonomyName=web_site_management&articleId=9093719&taxonomyId=62&intsrc=kc_top) · Network World (http://www.networkworld.com/news/2008/060508-more-laws-collaboration-required-for.html) · eMarketing and Commerce (http://www.emarketingandcommerce.com/blog/just-when-you-thought-you-were-safe) · DMNews (http://directline.dmnewsblogs.com/2008/06/04/aota-focuses-on-trust-on-heels-of-eec-trust-breach/) ...(Poster of Craig Spiezle, AOTA Chairman and Founder)

Friends in high(er) places

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-06-19T14:24:10-07:00

My former coworker-turned-full time blogger, Deb Hamilton, has hit the big time. She was quoted in a Newsweek article this past weekend -- and I can understand why. She's now the leading expert in developing bento lunch boxes for U.S. schoolchildren. (A bento is a Japanese box lunch.) I've written about her blog site before, but you should check it out at www.lunchinabox.net. This is a shining example of how the media world has changed to enable someone to take a passion (in this case, an interest in healthy and portable lunches) and turn it into a full-time career. -posted by Rachel

Journalistic ethics on the campaign trail

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-06-10T13:00:00-07:00

The NY Times has an interesting article up about journalistic ethics on the campaign trail. You may recall a recent flap over Bill Clinton's critique of a Vanity Fair article as "sleazy" and "slimy" during an interview. Or Obama's comments about how frustrated Pennsylvanians "get bitter, they cling to guns or religion." Turns out that both of these were the result of amateur reporting by a single individual. The woman, Mayhill Fowler, who calls herself a citizen journalist, wore no credential around her neck and did not identify herself, her intentions or her affiliation as an unpaid contributor to Off the Bus, a section of The Huffington Post. While her digital audio recorder was visible in her left hand during that encounter last Monday, she says, she did not believe Mr. ... “I think we can safely say he thought I was a member of the audience,” she said in a telephone interview on Friday. This has created quite a stir in journalistic circles, with many opposed to the practice, including Newsweek columnist and reporter Jonathan Alter. ...But to Jane Hamsher, a onetime Hollywood producer who founded Firedoglake, a politics-oriented Web site that tilts left, Mr Alter’s rules of the road are in need of repaving. For starters, she said, the onus was on Mr. ... Hamsher said, the public got to experience the unplugged musings of a former president (and candidate’s spouse) in a way that might never have been captured on tape by an old boy on the bus like Mr. ... “It’s hurting America that journalists consider their first loyalty to be to their subjects, and not to the people they’re reporting for,” she said. Told, for example, that the Times ethics policy states that “staff members should disclose their identity to people they cover (whether face to face or otherwise),” Ms. ...As someone who has worked alongside the media for more years than I care to remember, I can say that there are clear ground rules. For example, we counsel our clients to be aware that everything they say in an interview may be "on the record" even if they ask that it not be. But it must, MUST, always be made clear that this is in fact an interview, because on the other side of this slippery slope is Paparazzi journalism. And that's not the type of media environment I want to live in. The press has enough credibility problems as it is, they don't need amateurs that don't know how to play by the rules. If you want to write and publish for yourself, go right ahead (it's called blogging). But if you're going to tape record someone for an interview that you are using in the article, you make it clear at the start.

Keep It Visual Stupid

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-06-10T12:56:44-07:00

It takes more than just words to tell a story and VOXUS friend Bellamy Pailthorp, at Seattle NPR affiliate KPLU, has brought a certain event to my attention. Bellamy and a number of other prominent journalists will be taking part in the annual Bellingham Visual Journalism Conference July 18-20 at Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA. If you’re up for learning about and discussing visual journalism in a beautiful setting, you should check it out. -posted by Andrew

Research is weird science, or we're just dumb

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-06-10T12:53:41-07:00

Sinrod Marketing Group's international opinion panel just completed a survey of 75,000 adults to determine first names associated with intelligence. The winners: Abigail, Alexis, Grace, Leah, Meryl and Vanessa for women, and Alexander, David, John, Kenneth, Samuel and Tim for men. The names most associated with leadership were Ruth, Alexander, Dwight and Lance. You can see the entire results of the survey in The New Baby Name Survey Book. The fact that none of us at VOXUS have these names kind of puts the validity of this research in dispute. -posted by Rachel

Neener, neener, neener...I'm in heaven (and you're not)

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-06-04T16:35:42-07:00

Remember the old song by the Manhattan Transfer called "Operator," where the singers want to get Jesus on the telephone? Now there's a web startup that's gone a step further. It enables those who are swept up to heaven in the Rapture (according to Christian tradition, this is what happens before the AntiChrist's seven-year reign of terror leading up to Armageddon) to send emails to those of us sinners left behind. For only $40 per year, YouveBeenLeftBehind.com will let you send messages to up to 62 people six days after you've departed Earth, if you're one of the raptured ones. And how does this happen when, presumably, the owners of the site have also zoomed on to their just rewards? There are five gatekeepers for the website, and if three of them don't log on for six days in a row, the emails are sent. I could point out some of the potential security hazards of this, or make any number of witty comments...but I'll just point you toward the article in Wired's blog. It's a good read. -posted by Rachel

Goodbye, Kinko's...and good night

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-06-04T16:34:24-07:00

When I first began working in the PR business, late night runs to Kinko's for last minute presentations and copies were the norm. Before Powerpoint, color copiers and whiz-bang office supplies were readily available, it was just me and "Kinky's" that stood between a client's success or failure on the road. So it is with some regret that I noted that FedEx, the new parent company of Kinko's, is dropping the name in favor of shoring up the FedEx brand. I suppose it was inevitable, as thousands of us no longer make midnight runs in our pajamas to fix one final typo in a presentation booklet. Maybe that's a good thing. -posted by Rachel

11n

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-05-29T16:18:45-07:00

VOXUS client AirMagnet is in the midst of a nationwide 802.11n workshop series, and when they hosted the event in Seattle, I had the opportunity to attend. Led by wireless expert Keith Parsons, the event is a rundown of all things 11n, and I left feeling as though I could successfully deploy a new 802.11n network all by myself (with the right AirMagnet tools, of course). So far, the workshop has been held in Atlanta, Seattle and San Jose. Upcoming dates include Washington D.C. (June 10) New York City (June 11) and Chicago (June 12). If you'd like more information about the event or would like to register to attend, go here. Below are a few pictures from the Seattle event. Wireless expert Keith Parsons prepares to share his knowledge with the group. Attendees prepare to absorb lots of 802.11n information. -posted by Stephanie

Will the Wii Fit Get Me Fit?

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-05-29T16:16:27-07:00

So, on May 21st, Wii Fit was released in the U.S. (with the exception of NYC, which got an early batch last Monday). As a proud owner of a Wii (which was played constantly for the first month or two after Christmas and has since been collecting quite a bit of dust... which I suspect has happened to many of the Wii owners such as myself who have no kids and can only swing a remote in the air like a tennis racket so many times before finding the couch and American Idol far more interesting) I am very intrigued by this whole concept. The Wii Fit is a bundle of game software and a white board that you stand on that can weigh you (boo!) and sense your movements (yay!). "Games" include yoga, hula hooping, skiing, running and many more. There have been a ton of articles written in the past week about the Wii Fit, including this one from CNN that gives a good summary of what it's like to actually experience the Wii Fit. The general consensus seems to be that it is super fun, somewhat challenging and will get people off the couch and moving around, although it may not be quite enough to replace regular work-out routines. In conclusion, yes, I will probably go out and buy this new contraption, because I do things like that - and yes, it will probably be fun and entertaining - but no, I don't think I will be canceling my gym membership... at least not yet. -posted by Stephanie

Virgin Mobile's Sugar Mama and Facebook Offer Sweet Savings

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-05-20T16:23:20-07:00

Virgin Mobile has expanded its subsidized mobile program, appropriately named "Sugar Mama," with a new Facebook feature. According to a FierceWireless story, Virgin Mobile users that download the company's Fund My Phone application to their Facebook profile can earn minutes when their friends view advertising and participate in market research. I'd like to see this same type of creative subsidization in the mobile entertainment market: allow friends to help other friends earn credits toward TV and video. -posted by Lindsay

Want To Look Like A Star? Click Here

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-05-20T16:18:43-07:00

I have some friends who are addicted to keeping tabs on stars like I’m addicted to watching the weather on the local news (yes, I’m a geek). So, it’s no surprise to me that a Web site recently launched showing what celebrities are wearing and even goes so far to show how you can get your hands on those products. For example below, you can see Paris Hilton spotted wearing Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses. The site’s called Coolspotters. You can read their launch press release here. It looks like the way they’ll make money is through click-throughs of basic advertising from the products the trendsetters are wearing on the site or related advertising. The company is an arm of Fantzer, Inc. which is funded by Seattle VC firms Second Avenue Partners and Curious Office Partners. A couple thoughts that I have with this… will the celebs now demand they get endorsements dollars for literally everything they wear and are we really that materialistic? -posted by Andrew

Against iPod, Microsoft is Number 2...or 3...or whatever

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-05-13T16:52:44-07:00

Interesting article in VentureBeat earlier this month. Microsoft is notorious for fluffing its market figures by emphasizing the positive, so it's been widely noted by analysts, editors and bloggers that the company has been curiously silent on Zune...and now we know why. Only 2 million units have been sold since it launched in late 2006; in comparison, Apple sells a little over 3.5 million iPods a month. It's hard (and maybe unfair) to compare the two figures, as Zune is only sold in the U.S. (and the iPod is global), but one can safely say that Zune is underperforming -- and I don't think its new gaming initiative is going to make up the sales gap. -posted by Rachel

Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-05-13T16:46:48-07:00

Well, Interop Las Vegas is once again a wrap. As usual, VOXUS was on hand to offer client support -- primarily for AirMagnet, although D2 and Netreo were also in attendance. AirMagnet had some big show news. The company debuted their new WLAN tools for 802.11n, an industry first. The VOXUS team arranged more than 15 meetings at the show and had three camera crews stop by the booth for filming (InformationWeek TV, TechEvents TV and CXO.TV). In addition, AirMagnet won the Best of Interop Award for mobile and wireless (the AirMagnet 11n Suite), making it a two-peat – last year the company won the award for their Vo-Fi Analyzer. Overall, attendance appeared to be down for the show, but there was no shortage of booth gimmicks and tricks (if you were there, how can you forget the screaming monkey). Here some pictures from the event, enjoy: Dave Berlind of InformationWeek interviews Wade Williamson, director of product management at AirMagnet. Chris Roeckl, VP of marketing at AirMagnet, gives an interview to CXO.TV. AirMagnet's Best of Interop Award. Yes, those are bikes being ridden around in a circle.... Trapeze Networks....oh, the value of a clown! -posted by Justin

Got a spare afternoon? Start a company!

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-05-13T16:44:12-07:00

Six Hour Startup, a Seattle-based networking and educational organization, is sponsoring a pretty interesting conference on May 31 at the Columbia City Theater. If you're interested in starting a business, this is the place to go -- you'll get all of the nuts and bolts you need to be off and running. Best of all, it's just $99 and includes lunch (a bargain). Speakers include entrepreneur Andy Sack, Dan McComb from Biznik.com and Carolyn Duncan from Fundinguniverse.com. -posted by Rachel

iPhone commercial ringtones

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-05-06T10:29:28-07:00

VOXUS has long been an all-Mac shop, so I suppose it's natural that we have a number of iPhones running around the office. As the owner of one, I've always found it interesting that the ringtone used in the Apple ads is not commercially available (didn't know THAT, did you?). Well, until now, that is. LifeClever has tracked down the fact that the tone actually is available, it's just buried in the sound effects folder with iLife '08. They've even created a downloadable version for you here. And if you like that, you might also like this similar tone from Helder Luis that gets progressively louder. [via DaringFireball] -posted by Paul

Online alcohol, condoms and...diapers

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-04-30T17:18:53-07:00

So I just got back from Key West, where life is definitely on the wacky side, only to find that the Seattle startup community might be trying to emulate that light-heartedness (or just downright craziness). Drumroll, please...in my absence, Seattle welcomed i-booze.com, the brainchild of California escapee Karim Varela. Still in beta, i-booze provides instant gratification for those of you too busy (or too lazy) to leave home to buy an amazing array of -- how shall I put this? -- disparate products that I never thought I'd see on the same shopping list. The catalog includes "Baby Stuff" (diapers, etc.), "Drinking" (including a category for chick drinks), and "Sex Utilities" (you know what I mean) alongside more mundane items such as bongs and nitrous oxide. After I stopped laughing, I wondered if maybe i-booze.com is the poster child of marketing genius, as I bet I'm not the last one to write about it. -posted by Rachel

Interop's Best

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-04-30T17:16:44-07:00

The winners of the 2008 Best of Interop Awards were just announced at the Interop Las Vegas show, where VOXUS client AirMagnet won the Best of Interop Award in the Mobile and Wireless category. This is the second year in a row that AirMagnet has won the prestigious award. You can find the full list of this year's winners at http://www.bestofinterop.com/winners/ -posted by Stephanie

Tukwila Borders Goes Digital

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-04-30T17:15:22-07:00

I was surprised to read that Borders has selected Tukwila (really?) as one of the sites for its 14 digital media concept stores. While I don't get to Tukwila often I just might have to go check this out. The new stores, according to USA Today, include digital centers for downloading music and books, burning CDs, ordering photo albums etc. Like (most) everyone, I love being around books and I love wandering through the aisles of a book store. Adding digital centers is a powerful way to monetize this advantage that physical stores have over their online competitors. Hey Borders, can you light up the Gig Harbor store next? -posted by Adrienne

A Second Chance At Sight

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-04-30T17:13:20-07:00

In what could be a major milestone for gene therapy, for the first time, researchers have used gene therapy to improve vision in blind patients. Homegrown (for VOXUS) Seattle’s Targeted Genetics conducted part of the study of six patients with an extremely rare form of blindness called Leber's Congenital Amaurosis. According to the study which appears in the New England Journal of Medicine, four of the six people who received gene therapy had some vision restored. If this test is successful on a larger scale, researchers say it could help people with more common types of blindness. Macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness for those under 20 years old in the United States, affects 1.25 million Americans; the number is expected to grow to 3 million by 2020 as the population continues to age. Gene therapy involves replacing defective genes with normal versions. The research marks a major milestone for gene therapy, a discipline many scientists find promising but so far has failed to produce a marketable product in the U.S. -posted by Andrew

Perlego helping tackle telecom expense management

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-04-30T17:11:23-07:00

Within the telecom expense management (TEM) field, the issue of mobile device management has recently begun to take center stage. In a recent report from ABI Research, mobile device management services are predicted to grow from $583 million in 2007 to a whopping $20 billion by 2013 (a statistic recently highlighted in Gadget Network’s blog entry “Mobile Device Management Services, a $20 Billion Opportunity by 2013. But Who Will Manage?”). Our friends at Perlego Systems have secured a large corner of this market by offering a hosted, over-the-air solution that enable enterprises, carriers, device manufacturers and resellers to quickly deploy and control an entire fleet of mobile devices – regardless of OS platform or carrier. -posted by Shawnna

Verdiem gets more cash

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-04-30T17:09:45-07:00

It seems like it wasn't that long ago when Seattle was getting slammed for its lack of green tech innovators, so it's nice to see Verdiem continue to make progress. According to PSBJ they've raised an additional $12M bringing total funding to $27M. Verdiem makes software that turns off computers when they are not in use, thereby lowering power consumption. At savings of $20-$60 annually per PC it's obviously a large enterprise play, and they've got some great customers to tout such as the state of Washington, Clear Channel Communications, and Turner Broadcasting. We're a small shop so we'll likely continue our power sucking ways, but we look forward to watching this company grow. -posted by Adrienne

Mobiles Dumbing Down Language?

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-04-23T15:44:26-07:00

Have you ever uttered text-speak out loud? I'm guilty of saying "OMG" in social situations and yes, I've received some interesting looks. While I thought that may be a sign of some dysfunction on my own part, the long-term impact of mobile communications on language and society never really crossed my mind. The Economist recently took a hard look at this trend. In the article, experts suggest that "Entire subcultures now define themselves primarily or exclusively through their chosen text-messaging or instant-messaging argot." This can be troubling for younger texters learning language in school and also texting shorthand, a form of communication that oftentimes lacks spelling, punctuation, syntax, and other core language rules. -posted by Lindsay

Finally, An Online Makeover You Can Trust

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-04-23T15:42:38-07:00

A new Web site was brought to my attention recently -- www.taaz.com. The site allows women to upload their photos and try on new hair and makeup styles. Having seen a few sites like this before that turn women into clowns, I was skeptical, so I decided to try it out. First, the site was extremely easy to use, no tech-savvy computer skills required. Second, the site offered a ton of hair and makeup selections. The toughest part was determining what was the best look. At the close of the session, you're provided with product recommendations -- for free -- that will allow you to achieve your look in real life. This site would be a hit at stores like Sephora and regular drug stores like Bartells and Rite Aid. For me, it would greatly slim down the amount of time I spend debating in the aisles. For cosmetic companies, I could see this "photorealistic" virtual makeover driving both sales and customer satisfaction by boosting the confidence a customer has in a product and lessening returns. Good Luck TAAZ -- women of the world need you. -posted by Lindsay

Northwest companies are red herrings

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-04-23T15:39:34-07:00

Our friends at Yapta and Strangeloop Networks made the first cut in this year's Red Herring Top Tech Startups in North America. So did Jott Networks, NanoString Technologies and Teradici Corporation. We'd say this is yet another indication that the Pacific Northwest startup community is thriving. You can see the entire list here. -posted by Rachel

A place for (grand)mom

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-04-23T15:31:36-07:00

Seattle-based A Place For Mom has made its debut. The company offers the nation's largest referral service for senior care options. Since I just went through the process of finding a place to live for my fabulous and spunky grandma, this site appealed to me (and because in addition to spunky, my grandma is fickle, hence we're still scouting other options). I did a quick search - the site is easy to navigate and packed full of info. Backed by Battery Ventures, the company's CEO John Temple was named to the Puget Sound Business Journal’s 2007 40 under 40 list. The company has also received several awards for its growth, including the Inc. 5000 and Entrepreneur Magazine Hot 500. -posted by Adrienne

The perils of the PR call

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-04-10T11:32:20-07:00

Most people have had some iteration of the dream where they show up naked for a final college exam they haven't studied for. The PR version of that dream is jumping on a conference call where you badmouth an editor, only to find out that the editor has been silently listening. If you're interested in knowing how that feels, you can ask the folks over at UK carrier O2, which did exactly that for a call with The Register. I don't even want to think about this. -posted by Paul

Fear the Flash Drive. Fear it!

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-04-10T11:29:49-07:00

With all the data loss and identity theft around these days, you'd think the term "flash drive" would make IT professionals, especially security professionals, cringe. BUT, apparently not – do these folks live in an alternate reality! A new survey conducted by SanDisk reports that companies around the world are unaware of the extent to which unsecured flash drives are used in their organization. Check out these stats from Sandisk: - 77 per cent of corporate end users use personal flash drives for work-related purposes, but, when asked to estimate what percentage of the workforce uses personal flash drives, corporate IT respondents reckoned only 35 per cent. - According to SanDisk, people use flash drives to hold customer records (25 per cent), financial information (17 per cent), business plans (15 per cent), employee records (13 per cent), marketing plans (13 per cent), intellectual property (6 per cent), and source code (6 per cent). - Approximately one in ten (12 per cent) of corporate end users reported finding a flash drive in a public place. And when asked to pick the three most likely actions they would take if they found a flash drive in a public place, 55 per cent said they would check out what was on it. - Almost half (44 per cent) of end users revealed that, to their knowledge, their organization did not have a policy forbidding the copying of corporate data on personal USB flash drives. - 41 percent of corporate IT managers report they are at least 'somewhat uncomfortable' with the level of USB flash drive usage in their organizations, revealing a significant level of potential risk. -posted by Justin

Zero Day Threat launches

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-04-10T11:27:54-07:00

Our friends Byron Acohido (who lives just up the road) and Jon Swartz, two reporters with USA Today, have launched their book, Zero Day Threat. It's got an intriguing subhead: "The Shocking Truth of How Banks and Credit Bureaus Help Cyber Crooks Steal Your Money and Identity." Wired is running an excerpt that explains how Mr. O, a Nigerian national, created the largest data security breach in history when he hacked into the confidential information of 4.3 million individuals held by ChoicePoint. Fascinating stuff. -posted by Rachel

If this is true, then I am invincible

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-04-04T08:43:37-07:00

BBC News: Daily Caffeine Protects Brain (via DaringFireball) -posted by Paul

The disagreeing web

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-03-31T09:23:18-07:00

For those that participate in the blogosphere – and by participate, I don't mean just "read" – there is a definite symmetry to the comments section. Comments typically start with a somewhat reasoned argument, and eventually devolve into comparing the author to Hitler by page 11. Paul Graham has written an interesting essay on disagreement on the web that makes compelling reading: If we're all going to be disagreeing more, we should be careful to do it well. What does it mean to disagree well? Most readers can tell the difference between mere name-calling and a carefully reasoned refutation, but I think it would help to put names on the intermediate stages. So here's an attempt at a disagreement hierarchy. (via DaringFireball) -posted by Paul

French blog aggregates say "adieu" to links

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-03-31T09:21:44-07:00

Interesting development overseas...the French courts have ruled against a blog aggregate site, Fuzz, for printing a link pointing to an article containing details of the private life of actor Olivier Martinez. In typical French hyperbole, this judgment is being called "a black day for the French web." The courts held the website editor, Eric Dupin, liable for collecting and publishing links to articles of questionable validity, even though he didn't initially write the articles. (For those of you not familiar with Fuzz, it's similar to any aggregate site, such as Digg.) One of the reasons this story is interesting: the French court is saying that blog aggregators have the same level of journalistic responsibility as writers of original content. If you can read French, you can find more details in Le Figaro. -posted by Rachel

Google The Dinosaur?

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-03-31T09:16:03-07:00

For the second time in the last month, a Google executive has jumped ship for Facebook. Ethan Beard, the former director of social media at Google, will join the privately held company as director of business development. Some speculate the move to infiltrate Google's ranks is a direct result of the social-networking company trying to provide some senior support to its 23-year-old CEO, Mark Zuckerberg. They say the momentum started to shift from Google to Facebook much like it moved from Microsoft to Google about a year ago. That's when ex-Googler and current Facebooker Justin Rosenstein wrote a public email declaring the social network (Facebook) was "the Google of yesterday, the Microsoft of long ago. That company where large numbers of stunningly brilliant people congregate and feed off each other's genius." Will people begin saying ‚ "Google is so last year"? -posted by Andrew

Modu Means Money

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-03-31T09:06:58-07:00

Red Herring recently reported that Modu, the Israeli startup that the Guinness Book Of World Records claims has developed the lightest cellphone at 1.41 ounces, has raised $100 million in venture funding. Not bad for a company that launched its phone at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona earlier this year. The company was founded just a year ago by Dov Moran the founder, chairman and ceo of M-Systems, which invented the USB Flash Drive. Modu claims its phone can be slipped into a wide variety of Modu jackets and transformed into different electronic devices, from a phone to a digital camera to a music player. Check out the picture of the phone. It may remind you of the phone from one of my all-time favorite movies Zoolander. -posted by Andrew

50 most powerful blogs

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-03-25T10:01:55-07:00

Blogs are obviously gaining in stature and influence compared to traditional media. This recent article by The Guardian offers up their list of the 50 "most powerful" (seemingly a euphemism for "most influential") blogs today. We regularly read a number of these, which makes us powerful by extension, right? Shockingly, this blog isn't on the list. Clearly an oversight. Maybe we're on the "most easily distracted" list. -posted by Paul

It Ain't Easy Being Cheesy

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-03-25T09:24:03-07:00

The other week, I had the privilege of attending the Puget Sound Chapter of The American Marketing Association's monthly luncheon featuring Tillamook Cheese. For those of you not from the Northwest, Tillamook is one of the iconic brands of the region. That's right... Microsoft, Boeing, Nordstrom and Tillamook Cheese. Tillamook's roots in the region span all the way back to 1894 and it has always operated as a farmer owned cooperative. Jay Allison, Tillamook's Marketing VP, talked about the company's iconic brand, its strategic packaging which includes its recognizable Tillamook repetition on the label and much more. To summarize... Tillamook's cheese tastes great but its iconic image and highly strategic sales plan may have more to do with its success. My favorite piece of trivia from the speech... there are more cows than people in Oregon's Tillamook County. Maybe happy cows come from Oregon and not California? -posted by Andrew

Video (and Podcasts and YouTube and Blogs) Killed The Radio Star?

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-03-25T09:07:59-07:00

It's well-documented by print journalists of the death of traditional radio stations. While radio listening by the traditional mediums of a car stereo or portable radio may be dropping, listening to original stories from those organizations by other mediums (i.e... the internet) are not. For example, my client, Dipiti, was just featured on a local Seattle AM radio station called 710 KIRO. The story (give a listen below) was part of Jason Brooks' CEO Spotlight and not only aired on the radio, but also on their website. While most people I know didn't hear the story during their morning drive, they did hear it on KIRO's website. My take on this whole death of traditional media; the way you'll get your news will change, the need for content will not. Podcast -posted by Andrew

Starbucks back to basics

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-03-25T09:05:56-07:00

Starbucks at its annual shareholder meeting has pledged it will get back to its roots - coffee. New equipment, better/more informed baristas, fresher coffee, yahda yahda. Sounds like a good branding 101 plan. Joe Pine, co-founder of Strategic Horizons LLP and an expert on marketing experiences, warns that the plan could go wrong if the company doesn't do a good job explaining the changes to baristas who will be responding to "confused customer's questions." Not sure what's confusing... Starbucks is going to give me a better latte. What I do find confusing though, is the company's plan to begin offering energy drinks and get into the health and wellness business. Pretty sure last time I checked energy drinks and caffeine weren't so great on the body. Oh well, I'm just happy about the better latte. Allison Linn's MSNBC article has more info. -posted by Adrienne

Lockdown locks up

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-03-25T09:04:32-07:00

Seattle-based Lockdown Networks has closed its doors...but the story lives on in comments to a blog posting by the Seattle P-I's John Cook. It's pretty enlightening reading about the eternal push/pull between marketing and product design. -posted by Rachel

New Tech Makes Recovering Stolen Mobile Devices Simple

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-03-25T09:03:07-07:00

These days, almost everyone has a mobile device, laptop or MP3 player. And we all know, these device aren't cheap. In the back of our minds we're always worried about them being stolen or lost. I'm willing to bet this has already happened to a large portion of users -- it's happened to me! Well, you can worry a little bit less now. There's a great new technology from our friends down in Portland, OR -- Gadget Trak. Gadget Trak has designed a new software that sits on your device and if stolen or lost, it basically reports back home. Here's how it works, in general. You lose or have your device stolen. The next person to use the device activates the software, which then reports back to an email address (specified by you). It provides a variety of information -- where the device is (IP address, network, etc.), it takes a picture using the device phone (if you have a camera), forwards new number information if it's a phone, etc.. It can even render the device useless by locking it down if you so choose. There are obviously a variety of different flavors available and each one has slightly different features. But all in all, a very cool and inexpensive solution (starts around $20). You can then take the information to the police, and BAM, order in SWAT. The company has been getting good traction. They been featured on MacWorld TV, FOX News, Dateline NBC -- and in Wired, NewsWeek, MSNBC and more. They're available on the MacStore, company web site and a variety of other places. They're even being bundled with Packard Bell computers. -posted by Justin

Questioning Wired cover stories

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-03-21T16:00:21-07:00

John Gruber over at Daring Fireball rips into Wired for the (at least in his opinion) decreasing quality of the articles Wired magazine. His current target: the cover story by Leander Kahney on Steve Jobs. For instance, Kahney writes: Everybody is familiar with Google’s famous catchphrase, “Don’t be evil.” It has become a shorthand mission statement for Silicon Valley, encompassing a variety of ideals that — proponents say — are good for business and good for the world: Embrace open platforms. Trust decisions to the wisdom of crowds. Treat your employees like gods. To which Gruber responds: What do any of these things have to do with “evil”? Who, prior to Leander Kahney here in this piece, has decided that this is what Google means by not being evil? These three things may well be apt descriptions of Google’s corporate strategies (although it’s debatable), but they’re unrelated to Google’s “Don’t be evil” mantra. Mediocre employee cafeterias are evil? I have to admit that I don't find this piece to be one of the better articles to come out of Wired... it is clear to me that Kahney started with a highly questionable theme (that Apple is judged "irredeemably evil" in light of the tech industry's thorough embrace of Google's mantra), and refused to let it go no matter how torturous the metaphor became later in the article. As a writer, I have run into this issue myself – sometimes your initial enthusiasm blinds you to thematic and structural issues down the road. Yet one would hope that Kahney's editors could work with him to improve the piece before publication. That appears not to have happened in this instance. -posted by Paul

Posts from the International Association of Time Travelers forum

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-03-21T08:36:57-07:00

11/15/2104

At 14:52:28, FreedomFighter69 wrote: Reporting my first temporal excursion since joining IATT: have just returned from 1936 Berlin, having taken the place of one of Leni Riefenstahl's cameramen and assassinated Adolf Hitler during the opening of the Olympic Games. Let a free world rejoice! At 14:57:44, SilverFox316 wrote: Back from 1936 Berlin; incapacitated FreedomFighter69 before he could pull his little stunt. Freedomfighter69, as you are a new member, please read IATT Bulletin 1147 regarding the killing of Hitler before your next excursion. Failure to do so may result in your expulsion per Bylaw 223. At 18:06:59, BigChill wrote: Take it easy on the kid, SilverFox316; everybody kills Hitler on their first trip. I did. It always gets fixed within a few minutes, what's the harm?

(via Kottke) -posted by Paul

Reporter fights with anchor on camera

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-03-20T16:14:20-07:00

This gets very, very awkward. Yes it does. -posted by Paul

Calling all women entrepreneurs in Seattle...

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-03-19T10:47:39-07:00

Ksenia Oustiougova, CEO of Lilipip has co-founded a new website that seeks to support women entrepreneurs in the Seattle area. Go take a look at PregnantWithStartup.com. -posted by Rachel

Your choice: feather or foam

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-03-19T10:46:19-07:00

So I'm fascinated by flash mobs, impromptu and seemingly random events that are often so over-the-top that they're funny enough for YouTube. A flash mob pillow fight is scheduled for Pike Place Market on Saturday, March 29 at 3:15 p.m. Details can be found here. Apparently, this is being sponsored by the Seattle Pillow Fight Club, proving that yes, indeedy, there is a hobby for everyone. -posted by Rachel

Sagem snags Florida contract with RapidID

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-03-19T10:41:56-07:00

With VOXUS client IdentiPHI in the biometrics-based security business, we thought it was pretty interesting to read how another local company is utilizing biometrics to make living in Florida a little safer for its residents. Sagem Morpho, with US headquarters in Tacoma, announced the deployment of its Rapid ID System throughout the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Mandated by the Jessica Lundsford Act (the young girl kidnapped and killed by a sexual predator), this system enables a police or parole officer on the street or in a remote location to use a small portable device to scan and send digital fingerprints through a closed network. Within seconds, the image is matched to a database of sex offenders, probationers and individuals with criminal records in Florida -- allowing safety personnel to more quickly apprehend wanted criiminals. Sounds nifty -- and maybe something we should consider in Washington. -posted by Rachel

Going Green

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-03-19T10:39:51-07:00

Used to be going green was associated with either 1) hippies 2) Kermit the Frog. Not anymore. Now awards about going green (i.e... environmentally friendly) are as mainstream as "best dressed" or "most likely to succeed." Case in point, Washington CEO Magazine, that's best known for its "Best Companies To Work For" Awards. Now the magazine is launching its first ever "Green Washington" Awards. Submissions are due by March 21st and the magazine says the awards "will recognize companies and organizations whose initiatives and actions shape, educate and provide a catalyst for environmental sustainability -- clean technology, recycling, carbon footprints, and more -- in Washington state." Apparently, it's easy (and cool) being green these days. -posted by Andrew

Macbook Air: Apple of my eye

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-03-19T10:37:29-07:00

Apple hasn't always caught my eye... making the MacBook Air a rare exception. Every time the commercial comes on, where the MacBook Air is pulled out of a manila envelope, the longing to own one intensifies. Recently, reviews for the MacBook Air have highlighted a few negative aspects. Including faults like the MacBook Air doesn't include a built-in optical drive, FireWire, Ethernet, mobile broadband, and the fact that it only has one USB port. And like with its other laptops, Apple refuses to outfit the Air with a media-card reader or an expansion card slot. There has even been controversy surrounding MacBook Air's claim to be the "world's thinnest notebook." Some say the Mitsubishi laptop from 1997 was even thinner. Still, none of these faults have stopped my wishful thinking that someday a trade will be made for my iBook G4 to a slim and sleek MacBook Air... Find more info on one of MacBook Air's latest reviews. -posted by Shawnna

Contemplating perks

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-03-11T09:09:53-07:00

I'm a huge fan of the company, regularly use their Backpack hosted application and routinely read the company's popular "Signal vs Noise" blog. ... I replied "learning about how to make VOXUS better..." or words to that effect, and I am always looking for good ideas. As such, I have some thoughts on the 37Signals experiment, which breaks down into three areas: ...We found that just about the same amount of work gets done in four days vs. five days. So if that’s the case we could either push everyone to work harder during those five days or we could just skip one of those days. ... We’re around for emergencies, and we still do customer service/support on Fridays, but other than that work is not required on Fridays. ...This abbreviated work week is not a new concept, and I agree with it in general as it applies to companies that produce products. Hell, I had friends that worked at aerospace companies that were doing this in the 80s and 90s, and I wouldn't be at all surprised to hear that it goes back further than that. But notice that 37Signals doesn't give its customer service/support business an extra day off. ... From our standpoint, even having our primary account folks work a part-time schedule is problematic, because in a service business clients expect to be able to reach you whenever they need you, and expect you to deliver work on their schedule, not yours. Certainly there is a great deal of latitude in approaching this issue, and a strong set of mobile and collaborative tools can work wonders. ...We decided that 37signals would help people pay for their passions, interests, or other curiosities. We want our people to experience new things, discover new hobbies, and generally be interesting people. Part of the deal is that if 37signals helps you pay, you have to share what you’ve learned with everyone. ...I am quite intrigued by the approach, which is a riff on the traditional "lunch and learn" that has been kicking around at companies for years. I'm not sure what we're going to do with the idea yet, but it's definitely a keeper. ...If you want a book or some software or you want to go to a conference, it’s on us. ... We’d rather trust people to make reasonable spending decisions than assume people will abuse the privilege by default. Again, not a new idea, and we already more or less do this at VOXUS. ... I have personal experience with companies that basically managed down to the lowest common denominator; if someone did something wrong, an entirely new policy or process was instituted company-wide to address the issue with one person.

Note to VOXUS boss: play follow the 37signals leader

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-03-11T09:05:02-07:00

I like to think that VOXUS has taken the lead in creating an enjoyable work atmosphere -- but my hat is off to the folks at 37signals (www.37signals.com), that nifty little company that brought Basecamp and Campfire to the market for building collaborative work environments. According to a blog post, 37signals has adopted several new workplace strategies for 2008 that I'd like my boss to take note of: four day work weeks (oh, yeah, I'm so there), stipends to pay for the development of new hobbies (I'm thinking I'd like to learn Greek...in Greece) and individual credit cards for discretionary spending (see previous reference to Greece). I used to envy the cafeterias, bus systems, massages and gyms for Microsofties and Googlers, but now those perks seem so old school. -posted by Rachel

Voxiversary?

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-03-04T09:18:08-08:00

Although we're not sure what to call it (anniversary? birthday?), VOXUS was officially TWO YEARS OLD on Saturday, March 1. To celebrate we gave everybody the day off. Woo Hoo! And for the record... over the past two years our staff and revenues have both tripled. Not a bad present at all. Special thanks go out to all of our fantastic clients... we couldn't have done it without you. Here's to Year Three! -posted by Paul UPDATE: pictures from the party on Monday...

An apple a day

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-03-04T09:16:43-08:00

Attention, ladies: according to this month's Cosmopolitan, the Number One new hot spot for meeting single men is...the Apple store nearest you. Find an outlet -- and maybe true love -- here. -posted by Rachel

Casual Gaming Not So, Err, Casual

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-03-04T09:14:48-08:00

The perception of the casual gaming space never ceases to amaze me. The phrase "casual gaming," while really applicable across any platform or game, has commonly been associated with lower-end games such as Bejeweled or Cake Mania that you can play online or through a mobile phone (cost, below $20). The developers and publishers that traditionally ruled this market (PopCap, Sandlot (our client), WildTangent, etc.), grew it from its infancy, established the general definition of what a casual game is, built a consumer model that actually worked, and started turning a nice profit. And for all that hard work, what did they get? Exactly what you would expect -- a veritable who's who of big time gaming companies that are trying to muscle in on the market (and possible redefine what a casual gamer is). If you have a minute, check out this new article on MSNBC. It talks about the great race to grab market share and the challenge to define a casual game. What's really interesting is that the writer opted to speak only with the larger companies, not the smaller developers that created this space. Whoops! Some quick facts: -currently an estimated 56 million casual gamers worldwide -in 2008 the market is estimated to gross $1 billion -casual gamers make up about 1% of the $20.5 billion game-software market -posted by Justin

Melodis Names that Tune

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-03-04T09:09:15-08:00

Just discovered a new mobile service that helps identify songs based on user voice, hum or whistle. Yes, that's right, you sing into your phone and the service will return possible matches. The service, brought to my attention by FierceMobileContent, is now available for Symbian OS S60 devices, with additional support to come. Check them out at www.melodis.com... -posted by Lindsay

Blogging, Seattle Style

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-02-28T15:26:42-08:00

Marcelo Calbucci at Sampa recently listed his picks for the most influential entrepreneur/bloggers in Seattle -- and for the most part, we'd agree with his selections (but maybe not their rankings). His list includes folks like Kevin Merritt at blist, who recently wrote about his startup's process in entering and preparing for a launch at DEMO, the "60 Minutes" man of fame Glenn Kelman at Redfin and entrepreneur/investor Kelly Smith at Curious Office. We also like the blog at Wetpaint, which didn't make the list this time. It'll be interesting to see how the rankings change, as Marcelo plans to issue another list in the future. -posted by Rachel

Seren-Dipiti

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-02-28T15:23:01-08:00

This week, my client Dipiti publicly launched its service. Dipiti is a human-filtered search service that connects consumers with the online community content (forums and message boards). What separates this company from other human-filtered search services is its emphasis on life matters (health, pets, legal and money) along with its exclusive search of forums and message boards (tracking about 29 million active conversations). I think of Dipiti as essentially the company that puts "the human" into the Internet. I really dig this service because it not only addresses my favorite segment of the population (pets), but really does personalize the Internet in a way not many sites can from its human-filtered searches, to its canvassing of forums and message boards to its life matters. It's not just me that's hot on Dipiti, check out what the Seattle Times and Seattle PI are saying. You can see what you think but I give it two paws up:) -posted by Andrew

The Power of Blogs, as Demonstrated by Perez

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-02-28T15:20:16-08:00

Blogs are becoming more and more powerful every day. It looks like super-blogger Perez Hilton, aka Mario Lavandeira, is once again parlaying his widespread influence into a new job. First it was VH1 specials and guest appearances on television shows, now, as the New York Times was first to report, Hilton is negotiating a deal that would give him clout at Warner Brothers Music. On his gossip blog, Perez often blogs about new artists, usually unknown and sometimes unsigned, and songs that he thinks his readers will enjoy. With 2.8 million visitors each month, these postings get a lot of exposure, so much so that the blog has been credited with these relatively unknown artists breaking into the top 10 on iTunes and gaining priceless exposure with club promoters and record labels. If the deal goes through, Hilton will be using his keen ear to bring these future stars to the Warner Brothers label. And to think, it all started with a blog... -posted by Stephanie

Imperium Renewables claims first biofuel flight

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-02-28T15:17:53-08:00

On Feb. 24, coconut and babassu oil biofuel from Seattle-based Imperium Renewables powered a Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747 from London Heathrow to Amsterdam, making Virgin the first airline in the world to fly on renewable fuel. According to the press release no modifications were made to either the aircraft or its engines to enable the flight to take place. And, Boeing will use the findings in another demonstration flight later this year. In case you're wondering, like me, what babassu is, it's a palm which grows in the Amazon region of South America. The oil is increasingly being used as a substitute for coconut oil. -posted by Adrienne

Mobile Social Networking On the Rise

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-02-28T15:14:16-08:00

According to researchers at Informa, the mobile social networking market is expected to reach a whopping $29 billion by 2012. As reported by FierceMobileContent, mobile social networking generated $1.5 billion in 2006 and is on a path of high growth. In a related story, CNET suggests that social networking via mobile devices hinges on the availability of location-based services, providing users with information specific to their location, like what friends are nearby, the nearest jazz club, etc.. Admit it, "mobile social networking" is a mouthful and "MSN" doesn't work either. Anyone else in favor of a shorter name? Maybe "mobisoci"..."mobisocnet." Got any other ideas? -posted by Lindsay

Trupanion raises $22M...meow!

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-02-28T15:12:14-08:00

According to the PSBJ, Lynwood-based Trupanion has raised $22M in financing from Maveron LLC. Trupanion sells pet insurance and has had a strong presence in Canada since 2000, primarily targeting veterinarians as its channel. Trupanion is now targeting "pet parents" here in the US. They must be onto something with backing from Maveron (leading consumer brand VC behind Starbucks and eBay) and Renaissance RE (a $4 billion dollar insurance company). -posted by Adrienne

I love you amazon

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-02-21T15:29:36-08:00

So it's not the first time I've screwed up a basic online book order. Yes, I did ask for it by cancelling my order, then placing another one, and then trying to combine them to get the free shipping all within the span of about 6 seconds, but nonetheless, I contacted customer service. Have you used the click to call service from eStara yet? very cool. Type in your phone number and a real human calls you, immediately. No annoying voice prompts or sitting on hold. And what was really great, when I managed to disconnect myself in the middle of the call, the service rep finished fixing my order and sent me an email to confirm. love you amazon. -posted by Adrienne

Mobile Phones Take Center Stage

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-02-21T15:24:08-08:00

Mobile Phones Take Center Stage I had the privilege last year to attend 3 GSM (now the Mobile World Congress) in Barcelona. Despite the crazy hours, I was able to soak in a show with all of the glitz and glamour of a Hollywood premiere. Only, the stars of this show are the latest and greatest cell phones and all of the cool applications that support them. This year, I didn't head out to Barcelona (even though we had a number of clients who did). So... I've been reading up on the show-stoppers there this year. Seems the hint of a global recession has put a damper on the show despite the record number of attendees. Regardless of the atmosphere, there's been a ton of hardware unveiled including Sony's first-time venture with Windows Mobile and the coming out for Google's Android, a free mobile platform. If you want to read up on this year's happenings, The Industry Standard put together a nice summary article. Missing Barcelona and the tapas... -posted by Andrew

Seattle's most whacked site: I Can Has Cheezburger

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-02-21T15:19:37-08:00

So it's well-known that VOXUS is a dog-friendly office. Maybe that's why I hadn't heard about I Can Has Cheezburger until John Cook of the Seattle P-I wrote about it in his blog. This bizarre Seattle startup gives cat lovers a place to upload their photos with captions that, frankly, make me laugh and scratch my head. What's even weirder is that John reports that the angel investor-backed company is profitable! You gotta wonder... -posted by Rachel

The Inside Advantage

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-02-21T15:17:28-08:00

This week's PSAMA event in Seattle was packed with marketing folks eager to hear from speaker Robert H. Bloom, former Chairman and CEO of Publicis Worldwide, (where he led accounts such as Loreal, T-Mobile, and BMW). He was there to schlep his book "The Inside Advantage" and spoke primarily about the need to know your core customer. While all companies have multiple customer types, to be successful a business must be able to define precisely who it is that they must own. Bloom also spoke about how product marketing must focus not only on tangible benefits but emotional benefits as well - case in point, when he held up a small and distinct robin's egg/aqua Tiffany box every woman in the room broke into a smile. -posted by Adrienne

Nevermind a Good Restaurant, Can you Recommend a Clean Toilet?

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-02-21T15:14:29-08:00

Finding good local restaurants in Seattle is an easy task thanks to a number of new dining review Web sites, like Ultraspoon and BooRah. On the other hand, sites that can direct you to the nearest, cleanest toilet, are few and far between. A new company named MizPee is hoping to change that. Brought to our attention by Paul Rasmussen at FierceWireless Europe, MizPee allows guests to rate local restrooms and access this critical data via the Web and mobile. Like traditional star ratings, the more toilet paper rolls the better... There are already 18 facilities included on MizPee in the Seattle area and many with good ratings. To find an acceptable toilet near you, visit: MizPee. -posted by Lindsay

Annoyed with eBay?

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-02-13T13:10:45-08:00

VOXUS client CozyBug, an online flea market and garage sale boutique, this week radically expanded its reach by tying into Trulia, Oodle, Vast.com, and Google Base. Now you can post a free listing once and gain much broader exposure for all that really great stuff cluttering up your garage. If you're one of the dissatisfied eBay users out there, give CozyBug a try. -posted by Adrienne

Hot date spots for Techies

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-02-13T13:06:47-08:00

If you are look for some last minutes ideas on where to take that special someone for Valentine's Day, Network World has a new slide show up that lists the 10 best places to take a techie on a date. Grabbing the coveted number one slot is San Francisco's Exploratorium, a so-called "playground for the techie in us all," NWW even mentions that if you can't make it to the real location, you and your date's avatars can visit the Second Life version... so romantic. Also making the top ten are Cambridge's MIT Museum, Universal Studios Hollywood, and Seattle's very own Experience Music Project, which comes in at #7. -posted by Stephanie

VOXUS clients dominate best mobile solution category in SIIA CODiE Awards

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-02-13T13:02:24-08:00

The SIIA just announced the finalists for the 2008 CODiE Awards. With nearly 30 entries received in the Best Mobile Solution category, two VOXUS clients top the list. After a thorough peer product review, Formotus was honored for its click-and-deploy mobile application solution and Perlego was recognized for its mobile device lifecycle management offering. See a full list of finalists here. Winners will be announced May 20, 2008 at the CODiE Awards Gala in San Francisco, CA. -posted by Lindsay

Intuit throws Seattle startup a bone

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-02-12T09:17:18-08:00

Seattle-based Inu Treats was selected as a runner up in Intuit's Just Start competition, and received a $5,000 cash prize. The startup makes healthy dog treats. -posted by Rachel

Web analytics + pool = good times

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-02-12T09:15:34-08:00

Think outside the box! If you're looking to share your web analytics experience, join your compadres at the next Web Analytics Wednesday being held at Temple Billiards in Seattle on Wednesday, February 20 at 6 p.m. It's being sponsored this month by ZeroDash1. WAW is a global social networking event hosted in cities around the world...it's got beer and billiards, so what's not to like? -posted by Rachel

Give Your Love Life a "Boost"

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-02-12T09:14:08-08:00

This one makes me laugh... Boost Mobile wants to help its "single and looking" subscribers find love this Valentine's Day. Now through February 14 users have access to a mobile social networking site called Crush or Flush for $.69/day. With the service, subscribers can find, rate and meet people within the Boost network. Seems pretty easy if you don't mind the risk of being "flushed." According to a Wireless Week article, more than 30,000 have already signed up... -posted by Lindsay

New kid on the block - Silobreaker

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-02-05T14:16:45-08:00

After watching their presentation at DEMO '08, John Cook recently wrote about a new "current affairs search engine" in his Venture Blog named Silobreaker because of the founder's desire to break the "silos" of traditional media. Nominated as the official VOXUS Guinea pig for all things Silobreaker, my initial report is very positive - with Silobreaker offering a fresh alternative to traditional search engines. Not only can you search through current news stories, videos, research reports, and pretty much anything else imaginable, you can also track trends in media coverage of companies, people and topics. Not to mention a cool feature that shows a visual web of relationships between searched items and other newsmakers. So far, very awesome tool... more to come after further investigation. -posted by Stephanie

Doing the tango can hurt

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-02-05T14:13:57-08:00

Anyone who has worked even remotely with the majors (music labels) knows how unendingly painful it can be. Nonetheless, I could still feel the collective grimace go out last week when Qtrax backtracked (as the labels refuted) its claims that it had licensing deals (as reported by Reuters). Music industry veteran Bruce Houghton speculates it may have been a negotiation tactic or stock manipulation by Qtrax. It will be interesting to see what, if anything, happens now for Qtrax. -posted by Adrienne

YouTube Mobile Goes Mainstream

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-02-05T14:11:41-08:00

Streaming-capable phone? Check. 3G network? Check. As reported in Wireless Week, YouTube has announced that tens of millions of videos will be available to an estimated 100 million+ devices. Previously limited to specific devices and operators like AT&T's Apple iPhone, YouTube is opening up access to mobile users everywhere using 3G and streaming-capable phones. The new expansion is poised to drive mobile video uptake by providing mobile users with access to a vast library of videos and allowing users to access account info and post comments via m.youtube.com and youtube.com. -posted by Lindsay

Kara wanted to meet Yahoo's Jerry Yang

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-02-05T14:08:50-08:00

So we all know that, unfortunately, it's sometimes the PR department or agency's job to keep reporters away from top company honchos. That's why I'm so impressed with the Wall Street Journal's Kara Swisher, who pens the "Boomtown" column for the WSJ's blog, All Things Digital. She wanted to meet Yahoo's chief, Jerry Yang, and was denied access through normal PR channels. She found out that Yahoo had offered a lunch with Jerry as a prize in the DonorsChoose blogger challenge. While she didn't win, it was a creative way to try to gain access to a notoriously inaccessible person. And kudos to the All Things D staff for continuing its fundraising efforts -- you can learn more here. -posted by Rachel

Ga Ga For Google

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-02-05T14:02:51-08:00

Last month, I had the pleasure of being among 500 people checking out Google’s new Seattle digs. The new Seattle office is in the Fremont neighborhood which is best known for being the “center of the universe.” It’s very fitting that the company known for its shall you say, “creative” work environment has landed itself in this very eccentric part of this very eccentric city. From charactertures to massages to free booze to gourmet cupcakes topped off with Google’s Seattle logo, I had no problem flying solo and filling my time. A big shout out goes to my neighbor Melissa for leading my tour of the office. She just so happens to work in HR at Google. So… here’s my big takeaway from my visit… while the work environment is very different from your run of the mill office… I wonder how long Google can retain its character before turning into yet another “churn and burn” large high-tech company (if you live in the Seattle area, you may know who I’m referring to). I’ll be closely monitoring the Googleites along the Fremont cut but until then, keep the cupcakes coming! -posted by Andrew

New web design

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-02-05T13:58:49-08:00

You may have noticed a little new paint and spackle around here. We haven't "officially launched" the new site, so stay tuned for more commentary and keep your eye out for a promotional mailer or two. Still, it's up. Whew. We hope you like it. -posted by Paul

A Sign of the Times? Quote Me Bro!!!

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-01-15T14:06:58-08:00

This week, Fred R. Shapiro, editor of the Yale Book of Quotations, came out with his top 10 quotes for 2007. Number 1 on the list wasn’t George Bush, Britney Spears or even a little known scholar… rather a senior at the University of Florida. His quote now heard around the world was “Don’t Tase Me Bro” while being hauled away by campus police during a speech by Senator John Kerry. Two things struck me with this quote… the first was the use of the word “bro”. No way would anyone have cared about this quote unless the student hadn’t used the word “bro”. The second… how a little known person became so famous. In this age of information where a couple words can make you instantly known around the world thanks to the web and YouTube, this student has a claim to fame that should be reserved for heads of state and such. Keep in mind… this is the most quoted person of 2007… ahead of such outspoken people like Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Makes you wonder who'll be the most quoted person of 2008… -posted by Andrew

Mac vs PC (Microsoft), Good vs Evil, Blah Blah Blah

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-01-15T14:03:46-08:00

So I just started working at Voxus and have the unenviable or enviable task (depending on how you look at it) of migrating from a PC to a Mac. Let me just preface with the fact that prior to Voxus, I worked for one of Microsoft’s PR agencies and in fact was in New York City for the launch of Windows Vista. I’ve got everyone breathing down my neck saying, “what do you think about the Mac?” From a mom in education whose worked on a Mac for years to a dad in high tech that’s lived with a PC for years. As for me… we had a Mac in our house when I was really young, but like the rest of the world migrated to a PC in the early 90’s. In absolute delight that her son is becoming a Mac user, my mom has sent me article after article explaining why a Mac is so much better than a PC. Having lived in the San Francisco Bay Area and Seattle most of my life, I’ve heard it all… “Microsoft is big brother”, “Microsoft gives you so many more options”, “Apples are for creative types”, “Windows makes it easier to do what you want, when you want”, blah blah blah. Honestly… after a few days… I can’t tell much of a difference. Sure, an apple is “cooler looking” with their super-sleekness and all. But when it comes down to it for us business types I just need a computer that turns on, allows me to use Word, Excel and Power Point, has an email application and lets me surf the net. My point is, and this is quite anti-climatic, it’s all about preference. I’ll keep you posted on how my experience is down the road, but until then… “Hello, I’m a Mac user and I’m a PC user”. -posted by Andrew

WordPress honcho hears from Mom

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-01-15T14:02:24-08:00

Matthew Mullenweg, the founder of the software WordPress that runs much of the world's blogging sites, had one of the funniest blog entries (http://photomatt.net/) of the new year so far. Matt names the top ten folks who emailed him the most in 2007 -- and his mom ranked third. I'm not sure who I got the most email from, but it might very well be the person in Nigeria needing help to launder money. I bet Matt's Mom is a lot more interesting. -posted by Rachel

USA Today reporter pens new security tome

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-01-15T13:58:57-08:00

Kingston resident and Pulitzer Prize winner Byron Acohido, who now writes for USA Today has co-authored a new book with USA Today tech writer Jon Swartz on security threats to sensitive data and financial transactions. Due to be released in April, Zero Day Threat explores how banks and credit bureaus are actually helping cyber crooks steal personal identities. Barnes & Noble will carry the book, and it's garnering rave reviews from security consultants who know the industry well. Local residents may remember Acohido in the mid 1990s as the then-Seattle Times reporter who broke the story on design flaws with Boeing's 737, causing a massive (and expensive) recall and replacement effort. -posted by Rachel

Exit CNET, Stage Left

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-01-15T13:57:30-08:00

David Berlind, formerly an editor and blogger at CNET (parent company to ZDNet) for the last 10 years, has moved on -- and his new gig is pretty impressive. He'll be joining CMP as the executive director of the Interop conference. Hope he loves Las Vegas...you can read more. -posted by Rachel

Seattle startups snag two spots in Intuit's competition

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-01-15T13:55:05-08:00

Time to vote for our home-grown startups. Two area ventures grabbed semi-finalist spots in Intuit's "Just Start" contest : Melodies About Me, based in Bremerton, creates personzlied music for children, and Seattle-based Inu Treats makes all natural dog snacks with an Asian flair. The winner gets $50,000 in startup seed money. -posted by Rachel

nPost heads north

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-01-15T13:53:33-08:00

Attention, Vancouver BC-area startups: nPost will host a networking event at Library Square sometime in early February. You can learn more about the event by monitoring the signup wiki here. And if you're fans of Jay and Silent Rob, the duo is already registered to attend. -posted by Rachel

Tech Startups Start 2008 Season

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-01-15T13:52:41-08:00

The next meeting of the Seattle Tech Startups group will be on Tuesday, January 22 at the downtown branch of the Seattle Public Library, beginning at 6 p.m. The topic: "From Startup to Steady Revenue," exploring how young companies can build a sustainable business. -posted by Rachel

Want to ogle Google?

info@voxuspr.com — 2008-01-08T16:08:58-08:00

Want to ogle Google? Google will have an open house at its new office in Fremont on Tuesday, January 15, beginning at 6 p.m. You're invited to sneak a peek and grab a bite, but you have to RSVP. -posted by Rachel

Insightful tries graphics to boost product appeal

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-12-28T16:25:56-08:00

One of our favorite industry analysts for life sciences is Chris Connor at IDC. He recently endorsed the new direction that Seattle-based Insightful is heading with its products for data analytics. The company just announced the availability of Insightful Clinical Graphics, which helps researchers present data in visual terms. The company is a tad late in jumping on the bandwagon of delivering tools that make mountains of data more relevant to diverse audiences, particularly those that are not necessarily in the pharmaceutical industry...but there is a big market out there for easy to use products that can deliver analytics through graphics and illustrations. We've always been impressed with a much smaller local company, Arkitek Studios that's been around for years – the company uses animation to help customers such as Dendreon and Sonus explain complex research data to investors and other audiences. -posted by Rachel

Who gives a w00t?

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-12-28T16:24:09-08:00

'Tis the season for weirdly fascinating stories...take the Word Of The Year Contest or WOTY. I had no idea that Merriam-Webster sponsors the contest annually. This year's winner is w00t (pronounced "whoot" and spelled with two zeros), an exclamation of joy used primarily by gamers. One of the runners up is Facebook, which the dictionary defines as a verb. Not such good news for the Facebook folks, I'd think -- looked what happened to Kimberly-Clark's Kleenex brand. Once it became a household word and stood for any type of facial tissue, it became extremely hard to protect the trademark in court. Today, the company spends mucho money defending its property rights. -posted by Rachel

Seattle Startup Demo Showcases Lights, Cameras and Action

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-12-28T16:20:30-08:00

The MIT Venture Lab once again sponsored Startup Demo on December 13. Startups featured this year included Redmond's 2Bot Corporation, Seattle-based Athleon Sport, Safari Development (Denmark) and its Talking Letters application, Seattle's TeachStreet, ex-Microsofties Shan Sinha and Alex DeNeui's DocVerse and Overcast Media. -posted by Rachel

GottaPlay snags stellar board member

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-12-28T16:12:49-08:00

Gig Harbor is just full of interesting companies. One down the street is GottaPlay Interactive, a company that is establishing itself as the "Netflix" of video game rentals. GottaPlay just anounced Stephan P. Muller as its latest board member, and the man has got some great street cred for such a small company: he's held global executive positions with Apple and Reuters. Welcome to the neighborhood! -posted by Rachel

Sampa Does the Seattle Startup Stomp

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-12-28T16:10:06-08:00

Marcelo Calbucci and the folks over at Sampa are doing a great job of creating a monthly list of startups in the Seattle area. It's always interesting to see the new companies that are added to the list, some of which have names and/or purposes that are mystifying or just downright humorous. My favorites this month: imaPodHead, Human Proxy and its product, inluu and Beyond Wine and Cheese. -posted by Rachel

Centeris says Likewise

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-12-28T16:08:34-08:00

You're probably getting tired of my posts on technology company name changes in Seattle...but here we go again. Centeris recently morphed into Likewise Software. The Bellevue company's been around for quite awhile, so given that, the name change may come as a surprise. -posted by Rachel

End of year blues

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-12-28T16:03:44-08:00

You may have noted a certain, um, sparseness to the blog postings of late. There's actually a reason for this. (Not a good one, mind you, but still...). You see, we are putting up a new web site, and the idea was to hold blog posts to roll over into the new site. But like all tech projects, this one has experienced certain unanticipated delays. So we have neither a new site nor any recent blog entries to show for all the hard work of the last several weeks. While the site redesign is still being wrestled to the ground and beaten about the head and neck, we will post these updates to ensure that we don't close out December with NOTHING to show. Enjoy. And stay tuned for updates on the new site. -posted by Paul

Lilipip makes the cover...of MIR

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-11-29T11:26:33-08:00

OK, so it's not the cover of the Rolling Stone. But Ksenia Oustiougova, the founder of the soon-to-be-launched Lilipip, is on the cover of the local Russian newsletter, MIR (available in Seattle Safeways). The boss says I'm obsessed with Lilipip, but I do believe this is a local startup that you should keep your eye on. It expects to emerge from stealth mode before the end of the year. -posted by Rachel

Pure Networks survey: ghosting on a wireless network is OK

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-11-29T11:25:04-08:00

Our friends at Pure Networks recently conducted a survey that uncovered a disturbing tech habit. Almost half of the respondents did not think it was wrong to piggyback on someone else's WiFi connection. 'Nuff said. -posted by Rachel

SARS triple play

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-11-29T11:22:41-08:00

Voxus client SARS Corp. is doing some interesting work with the oil drilling company Rowan by tracking the location of Rowan's oil rigs (offshore and land-based) as well as buoys marking sunken rigs and helicopters transporting crew. As far as we know, this is one of the few industry examples out there of a single telematics service accessing information on three different asset types (actually four if you separate land rigs and offshore rigs) and delivering it to the customer within one single view. You can also read more about SARS the company in today's Seattle Times article by Tricia Duryee. -posted by Adrienne

Santa's got a new name for SchoolSoft

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-11-29T11:21:14-08:00

Ho-ho-hold it...yet another new name for a Seattle area tech company. SchoolSoft has become DreamBox Learning. There must be something going on in town, what with new names for BlueDot (Faves), ZenZui (Zumobi), eProject (Daptiv) and God knows how many other startups that I was just getting to know. Marketing and branding companies must be doing well in the Emerald City. If it's still called that. -posted by Rachel

Black Friday = Blackberry Pearl

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-11-15T15:46:24-08:00

For all of you gadget heads who didn't rush out and buy the new iPhone, Sprint is launching its BlackBerry Pearl on Black Friday (November 23), according to Gizmodo. -posted by Rachel

Jackson Fish Market makes flower delivery a cinch...kind of

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-11-15T15:44:21-08:00

So now there's absolutely no reason for any man (or woman, for that matter) NOT to send flowers for just about any occasion. Jackson Fish Market, that wacky Seattle software development startup that advertises its products as "hand crafted" and that brought us Invitastic as an alternative to eVite, just launched They're Beautiful. You guessed it, virtual flower arrangements. I have to admit, the bouquets are visually arresting, but call me crazy for still wanting the real thing...at least until the JFM folks can add scent to the delivery package. -posted by Rachel

BlueDot revs, renamed Faves

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-11-15T15:43:03-08:00

Yet another startup in Seattle is reworking its name. This time it's BlueDot, now known as Faves. Gaining a dot com extension (as opposed to a dot us extension, which the company previously owned) is reason enough for a social networking site to make the switch. -posted by Rachel

PRSA's new media discussion

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-11-12T15:55:08-08:00

There was a great turn-out at the recent South Sound PRSA Chapter event which was a panel discussion on the topic of how to leverage user-generated media. Panelists included Nathan Kaiser of nPost, Paul Ellis of Tacoma-Piece County Chamber, Mark Briggs of newstribune.com, and Frank Shaw (one of my most favorite persons on the planet) of Waggener Edstrom. We had strong audience participation and panelists not only shared tangible advice and examples, they were also damn funny. A few basic themes (for companies interesting in better leveraging new media, or just plain getting started) included: * know your audience and your communications objective - don't just follow the latest trend * be authentic, be transparent, or in some cases, per Shaw, be "radically translucent" * go for it - get out there and experiment, take some risks For more details, check out Briggs' additional commentary http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/online/ Also check out a few examples of local and non-local companies and bloggers cited by the panelists: Blendtec Zillow Dell Hotel Morano Sonos Thanks again to PRSA, the panelists and audience members for a great event! -posted by Adrienne

iPhones are rumbling with Rumblefish

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-11-12T15:53:16-08:00

A little late, but congrats to our friends at Portland-based Rumblefish for being the first to license a song on an iPhone. You can read more about it here. -posted by Rachel

Hubspan get new CEO

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-11-12T15:51:35-08:00

Congrats to Tricia Gross, the new CEO of former client Hubspan. Great to see another woman ascend to the top office of a Seattle-based tech company. Good luck! -posted by Rachel

eProject morphs to Daptiv

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-11-12T15:50:12-08:00

What's in a name? Well, quite a lot - and companies don't undertake a name change lightly because it's like throwing money away. So I was surprised to see that eProject has quietly changed its name to Daptiv. eProject's been around for awhile and has a pretty solid collaborative business software...but maybe I'm the only one who knew about it. I'm not so sure that Daptiv is any more descriptive of the company and its product, and, in my opinion, falls dangerously close to those cute and meaningless Web 2.0 names we're seeing these days. But as a play on "adaptive," maybe it does tell the world a bit more than its previous moniker. Dunno, but I hope it works for them. -posted by Rachel

Looking for affordable office space?

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-11-12T15:48:55-08:00

OK, I know this isn't strictly technology related...but with all of the entrepreneurs out there looking for affordable office space, I wanted to at least mention My Day Office, one of the most interesting startups in town. It's coworking, or community space collaboration, at its best -- Shauna Brennan opened it in Belltown last month. So if you've been holding so many business meetings in area Starbucks that you know all of the differences in decor, you might want to consider an upward move. -posted by Rachel

mEgo tries duelling DEMO

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-10-30T10:15:47-07:00

I'm just now catching up on my reading from last month. Interesting to see that mEgo, a company that was scheduled to debut at Fall DEMO, had to be pulled from the program at the last minute. Seems the young startup got all whippersnappy and unveiled its product the week prior to Fall DEMO at TechCrunch40. That's just a big old no-no, as DEMO has built a solid reputation of giving the world its first peek at the latest and greatest technologies. Frankly, I'm surprised that mEgo chose to ignore the rules, since it had to have ponied up big bucks to play at DEMO...but then again, TechCrunch40 is free and maybe DEMO gave it a refund. Still, it created enough of a hullabaloo to make me want to see just what mEgo does, given that it's name is, well, unusual. And that may have just been the point. No, I'm not going to tell you what it does -- check out the site. -posted by Rachel

Yodio-hee-hoo! Send a free audio postcard

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-10-30T10:14:20-07:00

Just in time for holiday invites or to share a picture with Cousin Bob, Yodio is offering free audio postcards. The Bellevue-based startup has simple instructions on its website and it claims that it takes only three minutes to record your voice, upload a photo and send it on its way. Now you can literally send a shout out to practically anyone. -posted by Rachel

Doesn't get much better

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-10-30T10:10:42-07:00

As PR professionals, it doesn't get much better when we have clients who not only have great technology, but hold a lengthy roster of happy customers. Case in point, VOXUS client PathGuide Technologies, a provider of warehouse management systems for industrial distributors. While warehouse management systems might not sound all that exciting, PathGuide customer Red-L Distributors saving $85,000 a year based on one small product feature (lot tracking) certainly is. Read more in this month's issue of Inbound Logistics. -posted by Adrienne

PRSA user generated media event Nov. 8

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-10-30T10:07:57-07:00

We're pleased to have lined up the following panelists for the PRSA South Sound Chapter event on Nov. ... It should be a great discussion on the topic of user generated media. New Media: User Generated Media & Using it to Your Advantage ...Mark Briggs is editor of thenewstribune.com, the flagship web site for The News Tribune newspaper in Tacoma, Wash. He has worked in new media for newspapers since 2000 and has contributed to workshops, seminars and textbooks on the topic. He uses his blog to track the evolution of the local webosphere and other emerging trends that are important to the South Sound region. Frank Shaw, Worldwide President, Waggener Edstrom Waggener Edstrom Worldwide President Frank X. Shaw leads the Microsoft team at the agency and is responsible for all global PR efforts across the account. Frank is an avid follower of the blogosphere and tracks the impact bloggers have on corporate reputations, stock fluctuations, crisis situations and product launches. Frank began writing a daily blog for Waggener Edstrom Worldwide employees in April 2003. He covers a variety of topics on the agency's intranet relating to innovative public relations and the technology industry, and offers a witty perspective on "water cooler" subjects. ...Nathan Kaiser is CEO of nPost, an organization that promotes and facilitates tech entrepreneurship. Nathan brings a unique perspective about new media and the opportunities and challenges facing businesses operating in a web 2.0 world. Paul Ellis, Metropolitan Development Director, Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber Paul Ellis is the Director for Metropolitan Development for the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber, the South Sound's largest local business organization. Paul manages the Tacoma Technology Consortium, the Regional Access Mobility Partnership (RAMP), and divisions of the Chamber throughout the metropolitan area. He also directs the Downtown Tacoma Business Improvement Area, and 84-block assessment district that maintains and markets Tacoma's city center. Paul maintains a number of blogs. He brings real-world insight on what works and what doesn't when using blogs to inform and engage the local community.

Mobile TV: What We're Watching

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-10-30T10:05:57-07:00

Rhonda Wickham over at Wireless Week recently posted the top ten shows mobile subscribers viewed in September 2007. Reality shows Deal or No Deal, Big Brother 8, America's Next Top Model, Dancing with the Stars and The Biggest Loser took five of the top ten. NBC edged out other major networks with three of the top ten. See the full list and the top ten YouTube videos for September here. -posted by Lindsay

Effective PR in blog comments

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-10-22T09:42:22-07:00

Following up on my earlier post about David Pogue's Imponderables blog entry at the NY Times, I'd like to highlight one company's effective use of the comments section of Pogue's blog. Pogue posed the following question as an Imponderable: Wi-Fi on airplanes. What’s taking so long? A spokesperson for AirCell, a company that it trying to address that very issue, posted the answer (at least as they see it) in the blog comments. The comment was well written, not overly hype-driven, addressed the question directly and was signed by a company representative – as opposed to the ubiquitous "anonymous" signature line. Pogue in turn took the comment and elevated it to the subject for his next post. This is exactly the way these things should be done. Well played, AirCell. -posted by Paul

Quotable (PR) quotes

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-10-22T09:25:23-07:00

David Pogue poses an interesting question in a blog post on "Imponderables" ... Do P.R. people really expect anyone to believe that the standard, stilted, second-paragraph C.E.O. quote was really uttered by a human being? No. But a well-written quote isn't "stilted" – it should actually have a distinct voice that you can hear in your head when you read it. And it should provide an opportunity to present information that won't otherwise easily fit in the release text. If it is simply a rehash of what does already appear elsewhere in the release, the PR person needs to either rewrite the quote or kill it. Unfortunately the quote (and the rest of the release, for that matter) sometimes gets dumbed-down as part of the editing process. Which is of course the bane of writers everywhere. -posted by Paul

Cake Mania look-a-like

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-10-17T12:04:51-07:00

Voxus client Sandlot Games has just announced a sweet contest, the Jill Evans Look-a-Like contest. Sandlot is encouraging all the Cake Mania fans out there to send in a picture dressed as Jill, the cake-baking heroine of the mega-popular Cake Mania games. They will be accepting photo entries until November 12, the grand prize winners will receive a Nintendo DS in addition to other game prizes. You can find out more about the contest and how to enter here. -posted by Stephanie

Zynchros gets zingy with the DoD

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-10-17T12:02:48-07:00

Our friends at Zynchros just announced a major contract with the Department of Defense. The company has been awarded the formulary management and publication contract for TRICARE, the military's health care system, serving more than nine million active and retired military personnel and their families. -posted by Rachel

Vadium does the Grand Tour

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-10-17T11:52:13-07:00

Our friends at Vadium Technology, a Tacoma-based security software company, recently announced distribution agreements in South America, Asia, Europe and the UK. In support of this internationalism, it recently appointed Jose Antonio Rios, the former international president of Global Crossing, to the board of advisors. Hola! -posted by Rachel

WSJ picks two NW companies as best places to work

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-10-17T11:49:41-07:00

The Wall Street Journal recently picked the top 15 small workplaces in the U.S. -- two companies in the Pacific Northwest made the list. One is Healthwise, an information company based in Boise that empowers people to take charge of their health initiatives. But I found Seattle-based Point B Solutions Group even more interesting. Turns out that the consulting company doesn't offer vacation to its employees; it simply pays everyone by the hour for billable work plus an end of year bonus. If you want to take off for three months, it's not a problem -- you just don't get paid. For some reason, this struck me as a radical idea. And one that I hope is not adopted anytime soon at VOXUS. -posted by Rachel

Startup time: six hours

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-10-09T15:00:57-07:00

Ever wonder how long it takes to launch a new product? In a very interesting experiment last Saturday in Seattle, we learned it could be as little as six hours when a group of 12 Seattle developers spent an afternoon collaborating on a new web application, Tagmindr (the website is still in development). The brainchild of Noonhat founder Brian Dorsey, Tagmindr is an application that allows one to use a social bookmarking site like del.icio.us and a tag to send yourself a message to check the bookmark in the future. For more information on the group, which holds regular meetings, visit here. -posted by Rachel

ClayValet gets ready to rumble

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-10-03T15:52:23-07:00

Last week, the founders of ClayValet hosted a sneak peek of their company and product at Shinka Tea. Looking forward to seeing the formal launch of this company, which has something to do with an online shopping application. -posted by Rachel

Pitch the pack, get some cash

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-10-03T15:51:07-07:00

The Seattle chapter of TiE is looking for a few good entrepreneurs. Here's your chance to pitch your business or business concept to VCs and other investors in the area. Last year, the group awarded prizes worth over $5000 in cash and in-kind. The deadline for business plan submissions is October 23. The actual event will be held on Thursday, November 8 at 6:00 p.m. at the Bellevue Courtyard by Marriott. See the website for more details. -posted by Rachel

We're Number Two... Nextrials tries harder

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-10-03T15:49:11-07:00

Congratulations to VOXUS client Nextrials, selected as the runner-up in the inaugural Data Innovation Awards competition sponsored by the Society for Clinical Data Management. Nextrials was selected on the strength of a partnership it has established with Z-Tech Medical to automatically collect and transmit patient data from medical devices into a full data management system. Mark Uehling at ClinPage wrote a glowing review of Nextrials' enhancements to its clinical data management program, Prism, which you can read here. -posted by Rachel

Knouen Debuts OfficeSync

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-10-03T15:45:28-07:00

For those of you out there who spend way too much time entering data into your company's Siebel CRM system, our client Knouen has announced OfficeSync, an add-in for Outlook that provides bidirectional synchronization between Siebel CRM and Outlook. Lack of strong ROI and user adoption from CRM systems has long been a problem. Knouen founder Meetul Shah is a Microsoft veteran who worked on CRM alliances, and based on early feedback from the analyst community, his company is meeting a clear need in the marketplace. -posted by Adrienne

Jill bakes something with Apple

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-10-03T15:39:27-07:00

Our client Sandlot Games has rolled its flagship game (and the most downloaded casual video game of 2006) Cake Mania onto the Mac!!! Now Mac enthusiast can take a crack at this wonderfully addictive little game and see what 40 million other people were so obsessed about. That's right, it's not a typo, more than 40 million people have downloaded Cake Mania. Sandlot already offers a couple of its games on Mac, but after speaking with the CEO, Daniel Bernstein, it looks like they have an internal initiative to migrate most of their great selling games onto the Mac. This, could be an industry shift in casual games. The Mac community is starved for casual games right now, but the emergence of the iPhone perhaps has developers and publishers foaming at the mouth a bit. If you use a Mac -- especially if you have kids -- try the game out for free. If you like it, it costs 20 bucks! It's a great family-friendly game for the entire gang. I happen to be a pretty hardcore gamer (yes, I got my copy of Halo 3 the second it was released) and Cake Mania is still a great challenge, just a different genre. You can check it out here. What is Cake Mania? Cake Mania follows the culinary adventures of Jill Evans – a young entrepreneur. Cake Mania is a time management game where players help Jill open her own bakery, bring in customers and earn enough money to re-open her grandparents' troubled business. Gamers can upgrade and customize their shop to attract new patrons and meet daily sales goals. Jill's world is populated with interesting locales and hilarious characters that make the game engaging and visually appealing for all ages. Players keep the hungry grannies, blushing brides, and picky food critics happy with hundreds of possible cake combinations. -posted by Justin

How many geeks does it take to start Halo 3?

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-09-25T11:08:50-07:00

Some of the VOXUS crew had a chance to participate last night in a midnight promo for Amazon, Microsoft and the huge launch of Halo 3. The setup: our friend and former co-worker Kevin Pedraja of Sterling Communications was selected for hand delivery of the new third edition of the hit Halo game for Xbox 360 as part of an Amazon launch campaign. The kicker: Halo's own Master Chief made the delivery. The Associated Press covered the event (pics not posted yet). Check the video below for more. Music by Edgen. Halo Unbox -posted by Paul

Rayguns are cool

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-09-21T09:33:46-07:00

While I am still waiting for someone to invent the flying car that I was promised in the '60s, it looks like rayguns are coming every closer to delivery. Off-the-shelf combinable fibre laser amplifiers are currently limited to 200 watts each, according to DARPA: and it wants to push this up to 1kW to start with, then to 3KW in the next phase. That would mean a Raytheon/Sandia style bundle would scale up to 100kW or even 300kW, well into the proper-deathray range. The DARPA chaps, though - perhaps upset by people calling them mad scientists - try to avoid talking about blaster guns too much. I can't wait, although if we're having trouble as a society figuring out how to regulate a .22 cal pistol, I'd hate to see what happens if we ever get blasters that can vaporize a building. -posted by Paul

Entrepreneurs to discuss Web 2.0 opportunities

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-09-21T09:30:56-07:00

Entrepreneurs in the area that hail from India are planning a dynamite program for the next meeting of TIE. On Thursday, October 4 at 6:30 p.m. at the Bellevue Courtyard by Marriott, panelists will debate the huge opportunity presented by social networking, talking about what it takes to build a successful startup in the space, what VCs are most looking to fund, etc. Moderated by John Cook of the Seattle P-I, the panel includes Brian Goffman of Madrona Venture Group, SnapVine founder Joe Heitzeberg, Jordan Mitchell of OthersOnline and stealthy startup LiveMocha's founder Shirish Nadkarni. Registration for the event is required. -posted by Rachel

Dogpile.com offers Helmsley pooch a fetching proposition

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-09-21T09:24:37-07:00

WIth all the hoopla surrounding Bellevue-based InfoSpace's decision to sell its online directory business Switchboard.com for $225 Million in cash (!) to Idearc Inc., it's easy to see why its secondary announcement might have gotten overlooked. Dogpile.com, the company's meta search engine, is going to bat for The Humane Society's Rural Area Veterinary Services Program. The Dogpile.com mascot, Arfie, has invited Leona Helmsley's $12 Million dollar dog, Trouble, to match donations in a fundraising campaign. Arfie might also want to contact Oprah, since rumors are swirling that she's establishing a $30 Million trust fund for her dogs in case of her early demise. You can learn more about the fundraiser at www.supportarfie.com. -posted by Rachel

Healthnotes helps Publix get greener

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-09-18T10:05:09-07:00

Our friends at Portland-based Healthnotes announced its newest customer this week: Publix supermarkets. Growing up in the south, I have fond memories of the Piggly Wiggly and Publix, and was surprised to see that Publix is entering a new market with its GreenWise Market stores. GreenWise is a concept store that targets consumers looking for high quality and convenient foods. It looks to be a perfect match for Healthnotes, as the company delivers interactive "Fresh Ideas" kiosks that offer recipes, healthy living tips and more...in this case, right in the produce section and health-related products aisles. -posted by Rachel

UW spinouts keep going and going and going

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-09-18T10:03:40-07:00

In his blog, Seattle PI columnist John Cook talks about the increasing number of startups spinning out of technology being developed at the University of Washington. One we find interesting is ImageSpace 4D, Inc., a company that plans to develop a medical imaging software that makes 3D imaging with interaction and movement, or 4D, easy to use. One of John's commentors suggested that it might be worthwhile to see how many companies have spun out of UW over time, and how many are still in operation. We agree that it could be the basis for a good story. -posted by Rachel

In TrustedWord we trust. Word.

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-09-18T10:01:58-07:00

A new Seattle-based startup, TrustedWord is looking for a few good beta testers. Co-founder Karson Clancy sent out the call a few weeks back, so if you're interested in helping a new local services review site get its feet on the ground, send him an email at beta(at)trustedword.com. -posted by Rachel

Not your everyday bike

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-09-18T09:58:48-07:00

The Ergo Bike Premium 8i has finally arrived. Germany's Daum Electronics has started to ship to the U.S. - 20 have come so far - the most high tech and interactive stationary exercise bike ever. The Ergo Bike allows riders to virtually compete with other riders around the world, via an internet connection, webcam, VOIP-enabled headsets, and brute strength. Groups choose a time and a course and go head-to-head in hardcore competition, with some courses comparable to Ironman Triathlon segments. The onboard computer also keeps track of each riders vital statistics (speed, pulse, distance, etc.) and has tons of other built in features. This fancy workout is priced at $3,500. Article from CNET. -posted by Stephanie

Perez Hilton: Mission Accomplished

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-09-18T09:56:16-07:00

When I heard Nick Lachey (singer, reality star and Jessica Simpson's ex) was coming to Tacoma the other weekend, I couldn't resist hatching a plan to get my photos and experience posted on perezhilton.com, a celebrity gossip blog that gets more than a million hits per day. My task was fairly simple: get good photos, draft a compelling story and send to Mario Lavandeira (aka Perez Hilton) in a timely manner. With my mission laid out, I thought in advance about potential subject lines, strategized about what pictures would be most valuable and prayed that it was going to be a slow Hollywood news weekend. Despite a busy weekend of celebrity gossip and disaster, my story made it onto perezhilton.com in less than 48 hours. To date, more than 170 comments have been posted. While I somewhat expected to get my story posted via Perez, I did not know that this experience was going to go full circle. By that I mean, I did not anticipate hearing about my blog success on a local radio station twice -- once WHILE Nick Lachey was a phone guest. Below is a timeline of my incredibly exciting blogging adventure: ...8:00 PM: Charged camera batteries ...10:30 AM: Arrived at Richard Karn Celebrity Softball game at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma, WA 10:35 AM - 12:30 PM: Snapped photos of Nick Lachey and surrounding celebrities, including his girlfriend Vanessa Minnillo 12:45 PM: Met Nick Lachey, received autographed picture 11:40 PM: Sent 3 color photos of Nick Lachey and quick write-up of experience to famed gossip blogger Perez Hilton ...9:00 AM - 4:00 PM PT: Checked perezhilton.com incessantly 7:55 PM PT: Received a "thank you" note from Perez himself! ...11:28 AM PT: Perez posts my three photos and an excerpt from my email in his blog entitled, "They're On the C-List Now" 11:29 AM PT: Started bragging about my success to friends, family and co-workers ...7:32 AM PT: Seattle radio hosts Jackie and Bender of Kiss 106.1 discuss the celebrity softball game and mention photos of the event made it to the infamous perezhilton.com 8:37 AM PT: Jackie and Bender speak to Nick Lachey via telephone about the charity softball game and briefly chat about Perez' coverage of the event -posted by Lindsay

AccessLine gets bought

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-09-05T08:34:48-07:00

Best wishes to our friends and longtime client, AccessLine Communications. The Bellevue-based VoIP for business company was acquired Tuesday by San Diego-based Telanetix. Telanetix, which is traded OTB, integrates audio, video, and data from multiple locations into a single environment regardless of geographic boundaries. AccessLine will eventually be a wholly-owned subsidiary and, for now, plans to remain in Bellevue. -posted by Rachel

Sell your stuff on Facebook

info@voxuspr.com — 2007-09-05T08:32:36-07:00

One of our newest clients, CozyBug, this week joined the growing crowd of Facebook application providers. With CozyBug's new app, Facebook users can post rich classified ads and garage sale listings on their personal profiles. Read more about it on Mashable, the world’s largest blog focused exclusively on social networks. -posted by Adrienne