blog.JacobBurke.com

Tweet2Win – A reason to keep using Twitter

Posted on: June 30, 2008 at 4:00 pm | Posted under: Twitter
Tags: prizes, tweet2win, Twitter, websites | Comments: View Comments

All of us that use Twitter are aware of the many issues plaguing the popular messaging network. A few weeks ago, a site was launched that has kept Twitter from going the way of friendster (read: abandoned).  Tweet2Win has become a popular site among Twitter users: with weekly prize drawings for being active on Twitter, it is giving users an incentive to keep tweeting.

The site has a very simple sign-up for users to enter the weekly contest.  Just this week, a referral system was launched for users to name the Twitter user that referred them to the site.  The prizes are great, and Tweet Tees has been a consistent sponsor giving away their popular shirts.

The site has a lot of promise, and as Twitter grows, I believe that the sponsors and contest entries will too.

Digsby – IM, Email & Social Networking

Posted on: June 23, 2008 at 5:19 am | Posted under: Technology
Tags: AIM, digsby, email, Facebook, GTalk, IM, Twitter, Yahoo | Comments: View Comments

I have been using Digsby for a little over two weeks now and love everything that this application has to offer.

For a while I was using Pidgin, but ran into a number of roadblocks where I was unable to customize the application to my needs.  I switched back to AIM, and immediately went seeking something better.

I saw that a friend was using Digsby to update his Twitter status and inquired about the application.  Once I saw the site I knew I had found exactly what I needed.

Digsby lets your information come to you.  Aside from being an awesome IM client that combines my AIM, GTalk, and Yahoo contacts together; it allows me to get email notifications and updates from my social networks.  I will admit that I do not use Digsby for Twitter, because I think that twhirl is amazing and nothing can compare to it.

Overall, Digsby is an awesome application that has let me replace three others and allows me to get updates from Facebook without having to visit the site.  The interface allows for customizations and it is an application that is portable.  You use a login to access your profile and all of the linked services are available, no matter where you have Digsby installed.

I recommend Digsby to anyone looking to replace their IM client with something more customizable and free of advertisements.

Cheers!

What Happened to May?

Posted on: June 1, 2008 at 1:58 am | Posted under: Life
Tags: friendfeed, Life, steve gillmor, Tweet Tees, Twitter, Work | Comments: View Comments

The month of May has come and gone in the blink of an eye.  I am trying to figure out where all the time has gone and what I have accomplished this month.  Most of my time has been spent working, I am happy to be getting a steady paycheck again and not living off of my savings.

The month started off with the launch of the Tweet Tees online store.  I then started work at La Tourelle Resort & Spa as the Internet Marketing Manager.  I am now happy to announce that I am working with the Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance on a part-time basis doing a variety of web & graphic work.  This past month has really been fruitful for me, and I couldn’t be happier.

In addition to work, I have made myself more visible online.  I feel that this is key to my networking strategies and future business opportunities.

I think the biggest thing of all that has happened online (for me) during the month of May was the continual downtime of Twitter.  I had a big rant all ready to record on Viddler, but I have decided to hold off for now.  Frankly, I am more pissed with Steve Gillmor thinking that he knows everything and keeps bashing FriendFeed.  The man doesn’t even know how to use a proper @ reply on Twitter.  Just my two cents!

Ok, well May has been great and it’s over now.  June brings hope and opportunity with it, maybe we will see Twitter become stabilized and Steve Gillmor finally stop bitching.

Cheers!

FOX, almost as bad as CBS

Posted on: May 22, 2008 at 11:01 am | Posted under: Television
Tags: CBS, FOX, iJustine, IPTV, schedules, spoilers, Television, Twitter | Comments: View Comments

Well, I am continuing in the post-Idol blogging here, with a rant from one of my good friends that is super-pissed at FOX.  Given that they couldn’t keep the show within the two hours last night, and he recorded it, he is mad as to how it was cut-off.  Here is his post:

Can someone please tell me…you get 2 hours for the Idol finale. Do you think you could possibly make the announcement before the start of the 3rd hour???? This is exactly what I got on my DVR ( i can’t stay up till 10..that’s just not in my sleeping schedule.) And the winner of American Idol 2008 with 12 million more votes is..
And the DVR stops recording!
Seriously! Really?? You’ve got to be kidding me!

I truly understand Brian’s frustration.  I started my recording around 9:30 and just had it on as background noise.  If it hadn’t been for @iJustine giving us the spoiler of who won, then I would have been pissed about them not keeping the show within the two hours.

Given how FOX can’t keep a show within two hours and how CBS manages to screw-up their Sunday nights during football season, are they even listening to the consumer?  No matter how many times I write and let them know my frustrations over this, they don’t seem to care.  In fact, things just keep getting worse.

I am looking forward to the day of IPTV, but with the way the ISPs have been acting lately, that will get interfered with too.

Cheers!

David Cook wins Idol!

Posted on: May 21, 2008 at 11:46 pm | Posted under: Entertainment, Television
Tags: American Idol, David Archuleta, David Cook, Summize, Twitter | Comments: View Comments

Well, in the final seconds of my TiVo recording of American Idol, Ryan Seacrest announced David Cook the winner of American Idol.  I am not surprised by this result whatsoever.  I think that America woke up and realized who the better performer was and voted that way.

The only reason I am writing this post is because I am sick of hearing people on twitter complain about how David Cook is a cookie cutter rock musician (@jeffmccord) or that the wrong David won.  The right David won this competition.  The last thing we need is a 17 year old with an overbearing father trying to handle the pressures of being an American Idol.

I was on Summize this evening watching all of the ‘AI’ related tweets come in.  A lot of people are happy with the results, some were displeased, and the west coasters were pissed over the fact that everyone here in the east was ruining it for them.  Given that the show is done live in LA, why is it not shown live on the west coast too?  I never understood that about television networks, go figure.

Well, both Davids have a lot of work ahead of them.  I see 19 going to option both of their contracts, which will result in working with great writers and producers.  The only problem is trying to package Archuleta.  He has a magical voice, but where do you stick him?  Cook will be easy to package – ROCK.

Overall, it was a great season of American Idol.  Lots of controversy, a talented group of performers, Simon’s shirts got smaller, Paula seemed more loopy than usual, and the producers found more ways to waste time on the results shows.

Do you have any thoughts on American Idol and the results?  Leave a comment below.

Cheers!