Shooting Flip Video or Digital Photos? Get yourself in the shot with XShot!

Welcome Everyone

Phil Montaro has posted the following review post on his "The Anywhere Office" site.

If you want to do video (dosen't everyone?) and you are a crew of one, then this gadget is all you need to support you and you cam of choice.

Check it out...Thanks Phil!

Smiles :o)

Gary


Shooting Flip Video or Digital Photos? Get yourself in the shot with XShot!: "

Recently while using my Flip camera to shoot some video for this blog I came across a problem. I was shooting the post about “working outside your office” so I wanted to move around and decided to hold the camera so I could be mobile and not be stuck with the static shot I would get from using my tripod (like I normally do). There were two issues with this approach:

1. My arms are only so long so I couldn’t hold the camera out far enough to get much of me and the background in the shot
2. The camera shook a lot so the video jumped around a bit

As I always do when looking for the solution to a problem I searched Google and found a solution – the XShot 2.0 camera extender. This amazing device is only 9″ in length and weighs 5 ozs. when closed but folds out (like an antennae) to 37″ long and can hold a camera up to 1.25 lbs. It includes a standard tripod mount on the end that swivels up to 180 degrees so you can attach your point and shoot digital camera or your pocket camcorder (like the Flip video), simply extend it and get yourself and others in the shot! I was jonesing on trying it out so I contacted XShot and they were kind enough to send me one so I could give it a try and review it for you.

Watch this video below where I do a quick demo of how it works:

Ever since I’ve had a digital camera I’ve always done the single-arm stretch to take photos of myself and others without having to ask someone else to take the picture. These have been some of the best (and fun) photos I’ve taken – but the problem was always how close the camera was and you could only get 2 people in the shot. Not anymore thanks to the XShot! It’s solid, extremely light, and at full extension can get several people in the shot as well as the background. The swiveling camera mount on the end allows you to reach high spots in crowds and concerts, take photos from fun angles and in other places difficult to reach. I’m looking forward to trying some of these situations out and will post more photos and videos to the blog when I do.

The XShot makes it easy to take pictures and videos on the go to post on your blog or social networks and it’s great if you want to do video interviews at trade shows or other events where setting up a tripod is difficult. Best of all it fits in your pocket or camera bag so it’s a prefect tool for your Anywhere Office! It’s a great tool not only for travelers and photographers but also for bloggers, people involved in social media and entrepreneurs. It sells for $25 and along with my Joby Gorillapod and my Flip Video Camera will now be a permanent part of my mobile video setup.

For more info visit the XShot’s website. Check out their Gallery and Video pages to see some great examples of all the different creative ways people have used it – including video while skiing and paragliding!

I love a creative solution to a problem and XShot has certainly come up with one. Post a comment below and let me know what you think . . .

"

Amazon Delivers Kindle for PC — Works Great on a Netbook

Amazon Delivers Kindle for PC — Works Great on a Netbook: "
Amazon’s Kindle for PC beta application arrives this morning. The software supports Windows XP, Vista and 7 machines, while Amazon says that a Mac version is coming soon. What’s ingenious about this app — as well as the iPhone app before it — is that you can read Amazon Kindle books without buying the Kindle hardware. With a Windows version, Amazon is expanding their potential customer base to 85% or more of computer users. Reading books on a computer certainly isn’t the same experience as reading them on a light eInk device or a handheld, but I could see this swaying more money into Amazon’s bank account. Fortunately the application is NOW AVAILABLE IN CANADA as of November  17, 2009.

I downloaded and installed the beta app on the Windows 7 partition of my Toshiba NB205 netbook this morning. Once I signed in to my Amazon account, I was able to see all 44 of my archived book purchases with full color covers. Books can be sorted by Title or Author. A double-tap downloads the book and you’re off and running. Page navigation can be done by mouse, arrow keys or Page Up/Down keys. There are 10 font sizes to choose from and you can modify the page width using a “Words per line” slider. Kindle for PC does support Whispersync, so the software will pick up from the last read position if you were reading on a Kindle. Or you can read on your PC and your Kindle will synchronize to that point when you move from PC to Kindle.







Notes, highlights and bookmarks also sync to the PC, but with this version of the software, there’s no way to make notes or highlight text on the PC — you can bookmark pages, however. Amazon is also planning to add search and zoom / image rotation to Kindle for PC in a future version. Of course, you shop directly for Kindle books, but not within the application. Clicking the “Shop in Kindle store” button opens your default browser where you can then send samples to or purchase full titles. Now that my software is registered, I see a “Kevin’s Kindle for PC” delivery option for content. It’s worth noting that Windows 7 users with touch supported hardware gain one bonus now and one in the future. The current app supports touch zooming with a two-fingered pinch. In an upcoming release, Amazon will add page turning with finger swipes.

Since I have a Kindle, I’ll still rely on it for my daily reading. I generally take the Kindle everywhere, but on the off-chance I don’t bring it, I usually have my netbook with me, which will make for decent backup reading device. I’ll still likely use Kindle for iPhone as well, but that would be for a different scenario. When I have five or ten minutes of just standing around, the iPhone does the trick. If I can sit somewhere and I’ll want to read for a longer period of time, the netbook will be my tool of choice. And if I have my Kindle with me, it will likely trump both options, provided I have enough light to read the eInk display. The only exception might be a graphic novel of some type as the PC app supports reading color.

"

Social Marketing Trend: Mom Blogs

I found this interesting post about trends, advertising and mom bloggers from NewspaperGirl.

I hope you find it as informative as I did.

Enjoy,

Smiles :o)

Gary

Social Marketing Trend: Mom Blogs: "

This post on social marketing appeared in the American Express Small Business Forum where I write for Small Business Trends each month.

“Working for trade is genius, especially in this economy” Nate Bagely, OrangeSoda



I was recently part of a social media retreat that included sponsors like Sorel and Frito-Lay. We had guides take us fly fishing and horseback riding. Brands donated products for us to try. All in the hopes that we would blog about them.



When I go to these events, I can instantly tell if a company understands the impact of this group. If they do, we’re treated like royalty. Otherwise, they think of us as a group of moms who have nothing better to do than try to get something for free. The fly fishing outfitters didn’t get it and so there won’t be reviews at all, or at least not glowing reviews.



Bigger brands often see the value of engaging bloggers. But for many small businesses working with bloggers is new and unknown. Yet it can be an effective marketing tool. At OrangeSoda we’ve helped businesses navigate this by helping them identify local bloggers. If you find and treat them well, the relationship can be beneficial. You get exposure to their readers (in the form of links, search engine results, product photos and video, etc). They get free product for themselves and their readers.

For the women who blog and who have a decent following, interacting with brands has become part of blogging. Recently, it has gotten the attention of the FTC. BlogHer, one of the foremost blogging conferences for women just wrapped up last month. One of the most popular sessions at BlogHer was about endorsements and testimonials from bloggers. There was a lot of debate over the ethics of reviewing products or recommending them after being wined and dined by advertisers who hoped for good reviews.



The FTC is reviewing their guidelines for endorsements and testimonials and may pass a new version later this summer that includes policing bloggers. It’s quite ominous.



“If the plans are approved, the FTC will actively go after bloggers who fail to disclose if they’re being compensated for their words. The FTC could then order violators to stop and pay restitution to consumers, or even sic the Justice Department on them for civil penalties. While penalties for failure to disclose financial interest have existed in the past, the FTC is broadening the scope of the media it is actively reviewing to cover blogs and bloggers. It may have been watching before, but now it’s prepared to pounce.”



BlogHer released a survey of almost 3,000 women (here’s the link to the PDF) and found that women are more than twice as likely to go to blogs versus social network sites to seek information, advice and recommendations. And the BlogHer sponsored posts section is one of the most popular.



Why are bloggers so coveted by brands? Bloggers in the study were online the most, were the most active in social media, identify themselves as being leading edge, and are the most tech savvy. They are the smallest segment with the largest reach.



Some cry that blogging is dead, but it’s far from it. While women use social media, it’s more for building relationships and keeping in touch. They go to blogs to get opinions on products. From the survey: Women are 50 percent more likely to turn to social networking sites as a means of keeping in touch with friends and family (75%), and go to blogs to seek product reviews. In other words, generally speaking people trust the opinions of these bloggers.



“Of the 42 million women engaged in social media weekly, 55 percent of women participate in some form of blogging activity; 75 percent participate in social networks such as Facebook or MySpace and 20 percent use Twitter.”



Blogs and social networks are displacing other forms of media and entertainment where businesses traditionally advertise: “As a result of this increased activity, the 2009 study found that women online are now more than ever before spending less time engaging in traditional media activities like watching TV (30%), listening to the radio (31%), and reading magazines (36%) or the newspaper (39%).”



For any business, you want to be where you have the biggest influence. Blogging is an ideal fit for many. In essence it’s a trade. And “working for trade is genius, especially in this economy” Nate Bagely, SEO analyst at OrangeSoda.



You don’t need to have a blog to reach customers through blogging. You just need to engage with bloggers by finding ones who are a fit for your products or services and then approaching them about ways you could work together. More bloggers are being proactive and asking advertisers for products. Either way, it’s an inexpensive form of marketing – but if you do it, be sure to ask bloggers to disclose that the resulting posts were sponsored.

"

Thirty Day Challenge intro.

Hello Everyone

I am posting Ed's ustream video as an intro to the Thirty Day Challenge this year. (2009)

If you are interested in learning about the powerful technology tools that the internet is making available to the masses then the Thirty Day Challenge is for you.

Enjoy the video



Click Here to sign up for FREE if you are not already signed up.

This is a great way to get up to speed with the tools that will allow you to have location independent living now... You may even start your own internet business and make a sale.

Why not join us for thirty days.

Till next post,

Gary

ps In the meantime you can join my Net Friends list by signing up here.

Digital Nomad....Rural Nomad!!!

Hello Everyone

I know that it's been awhile since my last post but I was waiting for the right story to post.

And, here it is

Brightflocks story as told by Laura - Jane on the Digital Nomad site. Way to go L-J!

Here is how she started the piece.

Becoming Rural Nomads: Country Lifestyle Meets High Technology

by Laura-Jane / Mar 3

"Bruce Eric Anderson recently mentioned that he’s no longer a jet-set nomad who circumnavigates the world in first class. Bruce Eric has happily become a zip-code nomad who stays pretty close to home.

But if there are jet-setters, zip-coders, and fraggers, then what kind of nomad am I? I’m a rural nomad.

My husband and I live on a small Canadian island. We run our Web consulting company from our century-old farm-house, which is surrounded by acres of agricultural land. But we haven’t always been rural nomads who live in farm-country."

Since Laura - Jane and her husband Cam happen to be neighbours of mine I am rightly proud of the fact that their story has been featured on the Digital Nomad blog.

Click here to read the entire story.

Laura - Jane and Brightflock are both on my Net Friends list and you can become one of my Net Friends too. Just click here to sign up.

I hope that you liked Laura - Jean's story on Digital Nomad. If you would like to read more adventures of Laura -Jane and Cam then check out their regular blog. http://www.whimfield.com

Till next post,

Smiles :o)

Gary

Cardboard Laptop Stand

Hello Everyone

Here is something very cool and inexpensive too.

Get your laptop off the table and stop hunching over to see the screen with this DIY cardboard laptop stand. It’s small, light, free & green and it will help you cut down on the trips to the chiropractor. Did I mention it’s super easy to make? I originally found this idea at Thingiverse.com, where Erik Skiff whipped up a pretty cool acrylic stand. I didn’t have any acrylic and more importantly I didn’t have a lazer cutter make the cuts, so I did it on cardboard. I modified the design a little so the pattern would fit on a regular letter sized sheet of paper. Check out our tutorial…

Click Here to go to the complete site. (step by step instructions and templates)

Just add cardboard.

For more FREE nuggets Click Here to join my Net Friends.

Till next post.

Smiles :o)

Gary

Cloud Computing and You

Welcome

Do you communicate with your peers? Are you still using email? Well just maybe if you read this article by Mike Phillips in the February issue of "Website Magazine" your email account may get a bit lonely.

Here is just part of what Mike's article has to say.

"Cloud computing might be one of the more poorly-defined technologies of recent years. But one way to describe it is by looking at the battle shaping up between Microsoft and Google.

Microsoft Office provides email, word processing and spreadsheets to help businesses communicate. A user can write a document then save it on a hard drive. The file can then be attached to an email and sent to colleagues who all separately view the document, make notes and revisions, save it on their hard drive then attach it to another email for another round of views. Sound cumbersome?

Google Apps also has a complete set of business communication utilities, also including email, word processing and spreadsheets. But with Google’s software as a service (SaaS) applications a user can write a document then invite others to view and edit the document, in real-time, all within a browser and accessible from anywhere on the Web, at any time. The key differences are immediate collaboration, and no need for storage.

Working in the cloud lets users access any number of utilities and applications, collaborate instantly, store files and manage infrastructure, without a single server on site. But cloud computing does so much more."

Sound good ? Then just click here to read the entire article. Oh and while you are there you might want to sign up for the FREE quarterly issues of the magazine.

If you like the topics that I research and post on my blogs then you just might want to join my Net Friends List. It is where I share interesting and valuable nuggets that I uncover as I do research for my blogs.

If you wish to sign up then just enter your name and email address into the form in the Right margin of this blog and confirm the double opt in and you will be added to my Net Friends.

There are no fees (totally free), we never share your info, we don't spam you and you can unsubscribe a any time that you wish.

Till next post.

Smiles :o)

Gary

Virtual Asistant Information

Welcome Everyone

So you have the desire to work at home. That Location Independent Living Now lifestyle.

Have you considered work as a virtual assistant?

Hold on one ding dang minute!... Do you know what a Virtual Assistant does, or how one becomes such a person, or even what the compensation rates are?

Well "The Anywhere Office" (one of my personal favorite resource sites) has posted a blog post on the subject. Here is a snippet of what they say.

" We got a comment on one of our Podcasts from a visitor named Collette Schultz. Her question about the Virtual Assistant industry is one we get pretty frequently, so I thought I’d include my reply here as a post."

Collette Schultz on October 26th, 2008 11:21 pm

"As a new virtual assistant subcontractor I’m getting into researching the VA industry through podcasts. I listened to this one last week and am bound to hear more. What I find most frustrating is knowing where to start. Do you offer a beginners series to help getting started?

While we have never blogged or done a segment specifically on Virtual Assisting, I do not believe it differs greatly from other types of internet based businesses: that is to say that it relies mostly on abilities and training, networking, and marketing.

There are several places people can obtain training to become a virtual assistant or, as in Collette’s case, improve their existing skill base; some of them offer certification:"

Click here to read the entire post and follow the numerous links to tons of information on the topic.

You just may find that it is just the cup of tea that you have been looking for.

The economy is in a down turn. Well yes, but wouldn't you agree that the real cause is because we are in the midst of monumental change right now.

The old jobs are going away, but the new jobs that are coming with the tide of change are easier, better paying and allow the freedom of location independent living now.

So when opportunity knocks. Answer the gosh darn door!

Go ahead and click, check it out then decide if you are ready to ride the wave of change and make your life easier to boot.

If you like this topic and/or others topics that I research and write about why not join my Net Friends. We are a network of internet friends who I share useful free products and information with that I turn up in my research .

Just enter your first name and email address in the form over on the Right and click the submit buton. I look forward to seing you on my Net Friends List.

Till next post,

Smiles :o)

Gary

Lisa's Lessons to Making Goals That Work

Hello Everyone

Well here it is! New Year's Eve and we are about to embark on our journey through 2009.

Oops,"you gotta be kidding me!" you say. Where did the last eight years go? It seems like only yesterday that we were welcoming the New Millennium.

Did I set any real goals? Why am I still where I was then? I've just gotten another eight years older. My dreams are no closer now than they were then...How come? Every year I said that this is the year that I'm gonna do it, but it didn't happen, Why?

Well lets peek in on Lisa of SWBN as she makes "Goal's That Work" one of the better blog posts that I have read on the subject. She explains why setting goals is NOT the same as setting New Year's Resolutions.

K, Let's give a read to what Lisa has to say. Click Here to Read Lisa's Blog Post.

Welcome back, so now you know how to set your goals and change your life in one year.

Let's all make 2009 the year that we changed our lives for the better...Big Time!

Then keep making.....Goals That Work.

Til next post,

Smiles :o)

Gary

Finance Your Freedom...The Clay Collins Story

Hi Everyone

It turns out that Clay's dream is to enjoy Location Independent Living and he is working hard at attaining that goal.

Clay does this blog "Finance Your Freedom" and seeks out people that have been successful in getting the freedom to enjoy a Location Independent Life.

These people come from all walks of life and money is not the only determining factor in their success.

Click Here to read the rest of Clay's story and also read, watch and listen to his blog.

Also Click Here to catch Clay's other blog "The Growing Life"

Till next post,

Smiles :o)

Gary

BrightFlock Launches

Hi everyone

We have liftoff of a brand new support services business for the benefit of your planned, new or established web based business.

Why Brightflock?

Brightflock offers web-based writing, marketing, designing, and coding services.

What sets Brightflock apart? Expertise, open communication, and genuine enthusiasm for making your project soar above the rest.

Check out Brighflock's portfolio or read recent client testimonials from around the globe.

Free Consultation!!!

Try the free one-hour consultation.

No obligations. Just a friendly dialogue about your project or idea.

No matter where you are, call 902.838.3216.

Not sure what to write? Just explain who you are and what you're hoping for.

Click here to go directly to their home page. You can request more information by using the contact form there if you prefer.

Be sure to check out this great new service and Get Started.

Brightflock wants to hear from you!

Till next post,

Smiles :o)

Gary

Help...My Business is Holding Me Hostage!

Hay Everyone

Is your business holding you hostage? Do you want to know how to break free? Isn't Location Independent Living Now all about having the freedom to work from anywhere?

Here is a series of free videos by Eben Pagan that will get you on the right track. Watch the first video below then click on the link below the video to go watch the other two.



Now click here to visit the blog post that contains the other two videos.

Make sure that you watch all three videos to see the video comment, then you can follow the instructions at the end of the third video to get even more free information.

Set yourself free, start watching the videos now and if these videos were of value to you please leave a comment on this post...Thanks!
(just click on the comments link below)
Till next post,

Smiles :o)

Gary