technology. science. marketing.
Exactly one week ago, I had the privilege of speaking at the 6th Annual I.T. and Web 2.0 Venture Forum at Rice University about Bubblevine. Although it was a long and busy day, I really enjoyed my time participating in the event. I met a number of great people and listened to some great company presentations and guest speakers.
my badge
A lot happened in October, but the one great thing I wanted to recap is participating in Houston’s Acessibility Internet Rally (AIR) competition. My team, Digital Canvas, won second place! As a complete newbie to the accessibility side to building websites, it was a good experience and something I would encourage anyone that’s interested in web development to give a try. Was it intense? Sure was, but sooo worth it. You learn a lot and get the chance to help out some great non-profit organizations.
Team Digital Canvas @ the AIR Banquet
Special Kids, Incorporated's New Website
The non-profit we created the site for was Special Kids Incorporated. They’re truly a great organization that gives back to children in need. Congratulations to all those who participated!
As I’m sure you all have noticed, Mac and PC are openly going head to head with each other through their branding efforts. It all started with the playful Mac commercials stereotyping PC users as being old-school and boring. However, the once playful and light-hearted commercial bits have left the building and seems to have joined forces with the dark side. In this Mac versus PC feud, it is Mac that appears to be making the direct and aggressive attacks against its opponent. What happened to the easy-going persona we all fell in awe with?
Before anyone starts to judge me for my seemingly pro PC entry, I want to put it on the table that I am neither pro PC or biased for one operating system over the other. I’ve grown up using Windows and truly opened my eyes to the experience of the Mac not too long ago. As I own both a PC and Mac, I couldn’t tell you which one I would prefer to own if I were in some hypothetical situation where I had to make a daunting decision to only own one. They each have their pros and cons, which makes it difficult to choose. This is why I own both – to get the best of both worlds. (You can have your cake and eat it too!) I’d go into more detail about which aspects of the operating systems give me butterflies in my stomach, but that would deserve an entire blog entry to itself. These are just my observations and surface-level thoughts. =)
Going back to what I was previously saying, Mac looks to be on the offense. It wasn’t until recently Microsoft decided to retaliate by defending their image by revealing that real PC users are diverse and don’t fit a stereotype or mold. And from what Mac’s most recent commercial, “Bake Sale” tells me, they don’t seem to be too pleased with it. Watch a few of their latest videos and see for yourself.
On the flip side, I think Microsoft is making a healthy effort. This video sums it up nicely.
I’m glad to see that Microsoft is finally being proactive about their brand management because they needed it. With Microsoft’s “The Real PC” campaign, you get to see a real human aspect of its users which is a very refreshing. Microsoft is also encouraging people to get involved in this effort by uploading your own PC videos, which could be selected to have aired on TV.
I find the whole Mac and PC rivalry highly entertaining and interesting. It’s something I’ll be watching closely to see how it all unravels.
If you’ve seen the awesome Linux Journal poster (seen below) and want one, here’s your chance. They’re giving away actual posters to those who submit a Mick Jagger impersonation video.
I had a ton of fun making this video and wanted to share. =)
The BarCampHouston Kick-Off Party/Startup Houston Happy Hour was an excellent way to jump start the weekend. I have to say that bumping into familiar faces, meeting new ones and enjoying great conversations can’t be beat. As I had never visited Caroline Collective prior to the Kick-Off Party, it was another reason for me to go. The place is great! I can see why so many people would want to hang out and work in an open environment like it. Collaborating in space with like-minded folks can be creatively stimulating, while making work just a little more interesting.
The following morningish-afternoon, I braced myself for a day of fun and learning. And did I? I certainly did. As expected, the sessions were insightful and thought-provoking. Listening into various topics from different angles and perspectives is one way I keep myself level and refreshed. It’s somewhat similar to a checks and balances thing for me.
Michael Cummings showed up with his photo shoot setup and it was a hit! No surprise there. The following picture is my favorite.
If you know of Geri at all (he’s the one in the center), even the smallest bit, then you can probably see why this picture is awesome.