Fast thoughts in a busy world

Posts tagged Gina Trapani

Backup your online life

Oct19
2010 Leave a Comment Written by hotrao

Gina Trapani at Fast company (http://www.fastcompany.com/user/153440) writes an article on how to backup different kind of online accounts (Facebook, twitter, Linkedin, Picasa, Flickr,…) that can be found at http://www.fastcompany.com/1695794/how-to-backup-your-social-media-life

As usual Gina is effective and clear and article is really worth a read.

What is strange is the two opposing trends: we put everything online, but not relying too much on the net (or just because we feel a back up is something good) we back it up locally… ;-)

This post as a comment also at http://www.fastcompany.com/1695794/how-to-backup-your-social-media-life

Posted in Other, Tech - Tagged , , , , , , ,

Old books, new devices

Dec08
2009 Leave a Comment Written by hotrao

Gina Trapani at Smarterware writes an article on Jeff Bezos behaviour of reading in bathtub using Kindle (full article at http://smarterware.org/3919/jeff-bezos-on-reading-in-the-bathtub).

This is my comment:

I use the ziplok when I go for a run under the rain with my Iphone… not expensive and safe ;-)

I understand Jeff use, but I prefer a good paper book: maybe I don’t read it in the bathtub but has all a different experience in terms of sensations (because, yes, I really like the smell and feeling of paper under my fingers).

This post as a comment also at http://smarterware.org/3919/jeff-bezos-on-reading-in-the-bathtub/comment-page-1#comment-1342

Posted in communication, Tech - Tagged , , , , , ,

Geolocation: opportunity or paranoia?

Sep26
2009 Leave a Comment Written by hotrao

Gina Trapani at Smarterware writes an article reporting that ”Robert Scoble argues that requiring users to post their true location in geolocation apps is an “antifeature” because it freaks people out. Users want control over where they say they are and want the option to be “fuzzy” about it” (full article at http://smarterware.org/3455/geolocation-software-features-freak-people-out, original article at http://scobleizer.com/2009/09/23/antifeatures-big-mistake-that-location-app-developers-make/).

I’m quite scared about geolocation and at the same time excited. 

Fears comes mainly from the fact that in the world today, God only knows the use that can be made from geolocation (BTW: fears doesn’t come because I need to hide something, but mainly because I have no control on what others can do with this informations).

Excitement comes from possible uses (example: 911, first aid, finding missing people, testimonies,…).

The problem is not geolocation itself, that, like any other technology is an “enabler”, but as I said before, is the use being made: going digital is great, abusing of technology is quite stupid.

This post as a comment also at http://smarterware.org/3455/geolocation-software-features-freak-people-out/comment-page-1#comment-1119

Posted in behaviour, communication, Economy, Tech - Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Offline and productive!

Sep14
2009 Leave a Comment Written by hotrao

Gina Trapani, smart as usual, at Harvard Business outlines some increases in productivity that could be achieved in case of an email outage (full article at http://blogs.harvardbusiness.org/trapani/2009/09/turn-an-email-outage-into-a-pr.html).

My former boss taught me a lesson very important for me.

If you work on a computer, with everything “digital”, sometimes you “do” and you think (quite) at same time. This is not necessarily the most productive way to work.

Sometimes, especially when you need to express thoughts, concepts and ideas, is better to close PC, grab some sheets of paper and start writing down. Only after go back to PC and put everything in your favorite tool.

So I add one thing to Gina’s list: in case of email outage or (in an extended way, of no technology available), get back to your thinking and start working for a while without having the rush of making your work “digitally available” in minutes.

This post as a comment also at http://blogs.harvardbusiness.org/trapani/2009/09/turn-an-email-outage-into-a-pr.html

Posted in Tech, Thoughts, Work - Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Going Google is really that safe?

Aug21
2009 Leave a Comment Written by hotrao

Gina Trapani at Harvard Business writes a very good article on benefits and threats of hipotethically “going Google” (i.e. leaving Microsoft or Lotus suites for switching to Google; full article at http://blogs.harvardbusiness.org/trapani/2009/08/should-your-organization-go-go.html).

My personal opinion is that depends on some factors:

  1. type of business (means that if you run a small production business going Google  could be an option to consider, if you are a big company, are more the threats and legal implications than ecnomic benefits)
  2. company dimensions (same reasons as above)
  3. “sensible” data or patents

If we limit the business case of “going Google” to a preliminary view considering only economic benefits, going Google is a real deal.

But if we go a little deeper, adding a risk evaluation and possible “ad hoc” applications and infrastructure needed to run the business (i.e. you cannot remove at all the licensed products, because you may need to have some parts of your business still needing them and that are not possible to be migrated on Google), i’m quite sure the answer will be negative.

I’m not saying that Google is not an option to consider, but I see it more for consumer than for corporate business.

This comment as a post also at http://blogs.harvardbusiness.org/cgi-bin/mt/mt-comments.cgi

Posted in Economy, Tech, Work - Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Google chances to create the real IPhone alternative

Aug20
2009 Leave a Comment Written by hotrao

Gina Trapani at Smarterware reports that John Gruber at Apple gives some hints on how Android can become a real option to the Iphone (full story at http://smarterware.org/2862/one-way-android-can-become-viable).

On a technical point of view I agree on indications given, but, please, remember that is not only a problem of “techiness”.

Is mainly a problem of business approach: people in the world like the Iphone because represents something more than a phone, it’s a trend (but yes it’s good and lovely to use it).

People love IPhone at the point that they could not care less (or opt out for another phone) for a telephone without mms for more than a year. And after Iphone 3gs has been released they will continue to choose Iphone.

Seems to me that people at big G are thinking of applying the same strategy (means philosophy) that worked well for everything at Google also to mobile approach: sorry, but I think is not the way (or at least is not completely) that will drive Android to success.

Technology is an enabler, but, in this case is only a part of the game.

This comment as a post also at http://smarterware.org/2862/one-way-android-can-become-viable/comment-page-1#comment-878

Posted in behaviour, communication, Economy, Tech - Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Google reinvents business cards

Aug13
2009 Leave a Comment Written by hotrao

Gina Trapani at Harvard Business Review writes an article explaining a clever use of Google profiles as a replacements for business cards (full artcile at http://blogs.harvardbusiness.org/trapani/2009/08/forget-the-business-cardjust-g.html).

True and clever use of this tool that, I think, helps form many uses (e.g. knowing how to get updated informations on someone,…)

I’ve always hated meetings when first thing is exchanging business cards.

Is this the death of those lovely rectangular business cards? No in my opinion, because they’re really handy when you’re on “technological isolation” (due to the fact that you cannot access Google and need to get this number or that the person in front of you is a little bit aged and has no “net profle”).

This post as a comment also at http://blogs.harvardbusiness.org/trapani/2009/08/forget-the-business-cardjust-g.html

Posted in communication, Economy, Tech - Tagged , , ,

Personal finance management_ stand alone vs on line

Aug09
2009 Leave a Comment Written by hotrao

Gina Trapani at Smarterware writes an article on her decision to move personal budgeting to Mint from a “stand alone” program like Microsoft Money and Quicken (full article at http://smarterware.org/2709/why-i-stopped-being-paranoid-and-started-using-mint, Mint at http://mint.com/, Microsoft Money at www.microsoft.com).

I appreciate Gina as usual for her technology and descriptive skills: Mint service is described well and in depth.

But, as I stated many times, I’m not sure that moving everything on line is everytime a good move.  And personal finance is one of the things that in my opinion should be integrated with data available on line, but kept strictly stand alone.

On this point of view there are also a couple of points that helped to build this idea:

  1.  the fact that while I travel for work (and maybe I don’t have an internet connection available), I use to arrange my accounts and check my budget. and I can do this easily with the client version of some accounting suite.
  2. the fact that my bank use a One Time Password, making quite impossible a complete integration with on line services. :-)

This post as a comment at http://smarterware.org/2709/why-i-stopped-being-paranoid-and-started-using-mint/comment-page-1#comment-841

Posted in behaviour, Economy, Tech - Tagged , , , , , , ,

Different times perception

Jul29
2009 Leave a Comment Written by hotrao

Gina Trapani at Smarterware reports an essay by Paul Graham on different times perception between Maker’s Schedule and Manager’s Schedule, giving some suggestions on how to manage this differences (full article from Gina at http://smarterware.org/2548/why-the-managers-schedule-blows-creative-productivity and at http://lifehacker.com/5325582/why-the-managers-schedule-blows-creative-productivity and original essay at http://www.paulgraham.com/makersschedule.html).

Paul says that “One reason programmers dislike meetings so much is that they’re on a different type of schedule from other people. Meetings cost them more.”

My personal feeling is that there’s a deep truth in this words, because the perception of time management when doing things (not only) when programming is really different than when trying to manage things.

But I think that more than a problem within managers and makers is a generalized issue linked to people leak of abitude in managing due dates and deadlines.

If someone knows the meaning and importance of a due date, thinks twice before making an “immediate” meeting or asking someone to have a coffee, if he (or she) knows that the other is approaching this  deadline.

This post as a comment at http://smarterware.org/2548/why-the-managers-schedule-blows-creative-productivity and at http://lifehacker.com/5325582/why-the-managers-schedule-blows-creative-productivity

Posted in behaviour, Economy, Thoughts, Work - Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Shortening meetings

Jul22
2009 Leave a Comment Written by hotrao

Gina Trapani writes, as good as always, an article on Harvard on different tecniques to shorten meetings (full article at http://blogs.harvardbusiness.org/trapani/2009/07/extreme-techniques-to-shorten.html).

While some of them seems to me a little bit too tough (just like make everyone stand for the meeting ;-) ), I agree on most of them and I would like to add my personal ones:

  1. Prepare people before meeting in order to discuss something “pre-eaten” by everyone. This also has the great advantage to make everyone feel comfortable because of the achieved awareness on the theme
  2. Keep time within a reasonable timeframe for each point (not all deserve the same duration) and as the end of each one is approaching, try to bring people to a decision
  3. Differentiate between meetings (that must stay within a given time) and brainstorming (where all time needed should be taken)

This post also as a comment at http://blogs.harvardbusiness.org/trapani/2009/07/extreme-techniques-to-shorten.html

Posted in communication, Work - Tagged , , , ,
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