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The nature of my writing and consulting work means I spend a lot of time working in a web browser window, so I am always looking to maximize my productivity browser-wise. Recently, I made the switch to the latest Google Chrome beta for Windows because I was looking to take a break from Firefox and wanted to try Google’s latest browser developments.

While Chrome can’t yet match Firefox’s massive extension ecosystem, more useful extensions are becoming available for Google’s browser every day. Here are my must-have extensions for the new Google Chrome user:

Brizzly. Since I am trying to better integrate Twitter and Facebook into my professional communications in 2010, the Brizzly extension, which is a Twitter and Facebook reading/updating tool, ranks as a must-have in my book.

Shareaholic for Google Chrome. This extension lets you share web pages through major social media sites and other services, like Gmail and Evernote.

Google Apps Shortcuts. This shortcut provides easy access to all of your Google Apps, including Google Wave and Google Voice. You can even begin creating new email, documents, spreadsheets and presentations using this extension.

Evernote Web Clipper. We’ve written about Evernote in the past, and the Evernote extension provides the same web clipping functionality you already enjoy in Mozilla Firefox and in Internet Explorer. I use the web clipper whenever I want to capture research from the web.

Xmarks Bookmarks Sync. One of the biggest draws of Firefox for me was the capability to sync bookmarks across my home office PCs. Now with the Xmarks Bookmarks Sync extension you can have the same feature using Chrome.

Aviary Screen Capture. I take a lot of screen captures, and like the fact that Aviary Screen capture lets you capture and manipulate screen captures from within Google Chrome.

Bit.ly. This extension comes in handy if you need fast access to a URL shortener. Clicking on the Bit.ly extension launches a sidebar:

html2pdf. This extension enables you to save the HTML page you are viewing to PDF. I find this extension handy when I want to save a receipt or a piece of research.

Google Reader Notifier. Google Reader is my RSS reader of choice, so the Google Reader Notifier Extension was a natural choice for me.

TooMany Tabs for Chrome. I’ve been known to keep way too many browser tabs open especially when I am in full-on research and writing mode. TooMany Tabs for Chrome helps to keep me organized and my computer’s memory usage in check.

What are your favorite Chrome extensions?

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Posted via web from Nick Kugelman

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NVIDIA Tegra 2 coming to CES in January; Smartphone rollout 2nd half 2010

Malatesta — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:46:19 +0000

Looks like we'll never get to see that sweet Tegra chipset in a smartphone anytime soon, with the Zune HD coming the closest to such a device.

That's okay, as NVIDIA is poised to launch its next version of the powerhouse chipset in January at CES (and we'll be there to cover it, of course). At CES, they will demonstrate the chipset on current and upcoming smartbooks, MIDs, netbooks and the like, then in the second half of the year a big push into the smartphone world.

We obviously don't really need to point out what is launching in late 2010, do we?

The Tegra 2 chip, at least according to Slashgear, is "...expected to have roughly twice the power and graphical capabilities of the original and be based on 40nm processes." Considering how awesome the Zune HD is, that sounds pretty sweet to us if accurate.

Now just close your eyes and imagine it is one year from now ... aaahhh ... technology bliss and why am I fatter?

[via Slashgear]

iPhone Users Urged to Take Down AT&T

Jennifer Van Grove — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 19:25:36 +0000

Apparently, AT&T CEO Ralph de la Vega’s recent remarks concerning the carrier’s plans to “incentivize” mobile data hogs to cut back on their usage rates aren’t sitting well with AT&T customers. Shocker.

Fake Steve Jobs, for one, has had enough of AT&T’s excuses. After penning a colorful post on why AT&T is taking the wrong stance, the Fake Steve Jobs, a.k.a. Dan Lyons, has taken to his widely read blog — written in the assumed voice of Apple’s head honcho — to publicly call for a customer backlash via a digital flash mob.

The mission (written as though dreamed up by Apple engineers) is dubbed Operation Chokehold, and it’s designed to encourage iPhone owners to use the most data-intensive apps for a full hour starting at 12 p.m. PST on Friday, December, 18, 2009. The ultimate goal being to bring down the network and “send the message to AT&T that we are sick of their substandard network and sick of their abusive comments.”

The false Jobs writes:

“The engineers have asked me to serve as a kind of communications director for their efforts — soliciting ideas on what apps to use (Pandora may not be the best) and how to refine the attack on the network.

If anyone has ideas, use the comment strings. Tell your friends. Get people involved. We have five days to create a movement and plan a major assault. As the Portuguese said during the Obama campaign: Si, se puede.”

We’re not too sure how many people will take this revolt seriously or follow the impostor’s lead. We do know, however, that the blog has an active following and that there are probably enough livid AT&T customers to take part and make a dent in AT&T’s service. Of course, we should not forget that bringing down a network the size of AT&T could have disastrous implications. Still, we’re curious to know what you think of the crusade and whether or not you’re going to participate.

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, albertc111.

Reviews: Pandora, iPhone, iStockphoto

Tags: att, dan lyons, fake steve jobs, iphone

UFC 107 – Nothing like going 5/5

admin — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 16:35:51 +0000

I’m not trying to gloat or anything but I did go 5/5 last night. FYI for any of you without Digital Cable and thinking about ordering the fights via UFCLIVE.com but scared to be the first person to do it…Just make sure that you have a serious internet connection…my 7mb down connection was stretched to the max for 3 hours. Overall I was impressed with the quality though.

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Kill Off Your Facebook Identity With Seppukoo

Barb Dybwad — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:48:42 +0000

Incensed at Facebook’s recent privacy changes? Had it up to here with your social networking virtual life? Kill it off with honor using the “anti-social network” Seppukoo.

The site is a rather brilliant subversion of Facebook, offering users the ritual destruction of their virtual identities complete with a customizable memorial page. There’s even a leaderboard showing off the top users, whose scores are determined by how many others in their network decide to Seppukoo.

Named after the seppuku ritual suicide practiced by ancient Japanese samurai warriors, the site draws a parallel between restoring a samurai’s honor and the “liberation of the digital body.” It stands as a playful protest of the modern-day social networking experience as controlled by huge corporations making significant profits from users’ social graphs. Seppukoo turns the concept on its head by turning the individual suicide ritual into “an exciting ’social’ experience.”

The site is operated by a group calling themselves Les Liens Invisibles, an “imaginary art group from Italy.” Media artists Clemente Pestelli and Gionatan Quintini’s other projects include Flickr parody Subvertr and Google Maps parody Google is not the map.

Seppukoo is an intense jab at corporate interest in social media, but perhaps all the more powerful for it. What do you think of the site: playful and fun, or going too far? Would you consider virtually ending it all with a Seppukoo memorial?

[via Yahoo]

Reviews: Facebook, Flickr, Google Maps, Yahoo!

Tags: facebook, humor, parody, seppukoo, social networking

The First and Only Rule of Social Media for Salesmen

conrey — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:08:00 +0000

Social Media has grown beyond its infancy now and is in full on puberty, its getting all gangly and awkward now, showing a few pimples here and there, and worst of all its trying to impress people and show off in new ways. No where is this more evident than in the recent attacks of spammers, overagressive marketers, and pyramid schemes making their way through Twitter and Facebook and their smaller cousins.

As a salesman and a professional there is only one rule to follow if you’re going to be using Social Media as any form of weapon in your arsenal:

Don’t Sell Anything on Social Media

That’s right. Don’t sell anything. Don’t start publicly bidding on things, don’t throw prices, don’t brag about your product, don’t ask for business. These things will get you labeled as a spammer, douchebag, loser or some combination of the three. To be successful all you have to do is follow the corollary rule:

Just be visible and authentic

Be in the conversation, answer questions, ask questions, be helpful. Pay attention to the conversation about markets or things that are relevant to your selling. Answer questions honestly and fairly – even if they don’t directly make your product look better. Be available when people are complaining or questioning about what you’re selling. Be a part of the online community – and use it to be a part of your local community and your business community.

I’m fortunate to see this modeled day after day in my local community and twitter list. I see Joe Johnston talking about all sorts of things but never bugging people to go to Liberty Market, or Joes Real BBQ or Joes Farm Grill. I see Justin McHood being a local expert on mortgages but never asking someone to come refinance with him. Be like these two guys and you’ll be ok.

MobileFrame takes SuperStar to a new level at the 2009 MobileVillage Mobile Star Awards!

Nick Hession — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:44:18 +0000

Thanks to all of the support from our loyal customers, partners, and the mobile community. Your voices have been heard loud and clear. This marks the 5^th year in a row that MobileFrame has demonstrated Gold Star status at the MobileVillage Mobile Star Awards.

We are very proud to say that we’ve been recognized as the SuperStar in of the following categories.

Developer and Enterprise Software – Application Development*
Enterprise Software – Asset Management
Enterprise Software – Data Collection
Enterprise Software – Field Sales & CRM
Enterprise Software – Field Service
Success Story – Field Service (Miller Pipeline)
Success Story – Delivery Service (Hunt Brothers)

Our 100% Award Winning Code free mobile computing environment eliminates the need for custom programming and allows for organizations to focus on automating multiple different electronic business processes. To learn more about our award winning mobile computing environment, please click here

*recognized as shining star