New Media and Tech – Page 6 – Shelly's Web of Wonder

August 22, 2008

veepPhone

Posted in New Media and Tech, and Politics and Public Affairs

The collective press, and even my Twitter stream has been infected by veepstakes fever, mostly on the Obama side. It’s become a little annoying at this point, I’ll admit. And by the way, I haven’t given my cell number to the Obama campaign for this purpose, though I’ve been on his text message list in the past. What I realized this morning, as I read the Mashable story about fake iPhone lines in Poland, is how similar this week’s veep frenzy has been to the run-up to an Apple launch. Of course, the iPhone lines are not Apple’s doing, but…

August 20, 2008

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New Media Expo’s Middle Year

Posted in New Media and Tech, and Podcasting

Last week’s New Media Expo was, to a large degree, what I expected it to be. Frankly, I had hoped that my original expectations would be proven wrong, because I like attending this event, and I think its focus on the podcasting aspect of new media (despite the more inclusive name) is a valuable concentration for those who are more interested in making and producing audio and video than they are in finding new ways to market themselves in 140 characters. Despite assurances to the contrary, it has seemed to me since the announcement that NME would move from the…

July 10, 2008

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Female Bloggers are a Diverse Bunch

Posted in New Media and Tech

I was excited to find a link to a list of the 50 most influential female bloggers. Of course, such lists are both totally subjective, and super fun to read. I was very proud to see that the Top 20 includes Blogger & Podcaster Magazine interview subjects Arianna Huffington, and BlogHer founders Lisa Stone, Elisa Camahort Page, and Jory Des Jardins, and one of my very favorite contributors to the magazine, the irrepressible Lorelle VanFossen. I’m choosing to ignore the presence of viper Michelle Malkin. To each her own, I guess. Aside from gilding my own lily, I bring up…

July 8, 2008

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No Twittering in Congress: Censorship or Good Government?

Posted in New Media and Tech, and Politics and Public Affairs

When I learned that Texas Congressman John Culberson is a Twitter user, I began following him right away. I suspect that the Congressman and I, a conservative Republican from my own state, would agree on very little. But his Twitter persona, is open and “human”. The posts are neither boring advertisements for his own accomplishments, or spin-filled obfuscations. And he respond to a lot of other Twitterers. That’s more than I can say for the bots that represent other Twitterfied polticians. So what if we don’t agree on policy. He knows how to Twitter effectively, and he gives me a…

May 19, 2008

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FriendFeed and Me

Posted in New Media and Tech, and Random Personal Nonsense

God help me, I signed up for FriendFeed, just to see what it’s all about. Mostly, I’m upset that the username Shelly was already taken. It’s mine, I tell you, mine! http://friendfeed.com/podcastpundit

May 14, 2008

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Twitter Beats the Media? Hah!

Posted in New Media and Tech

This post is mostly a pointer to an excellent piece I just saw on ReadWriteWeb, called “Did Twitter Really ‘Outshine’ the Mainstream Media?”. I continue to love this site and its thoughtful commentary. The long and the short of it? Twitter can tell you about the earthquake first, or even help survivors communicate with the outside world and get help. But it can’t tell you the details, the scope of the disaster, or the long-term impact. I’m getting really tired of triumphalists claiming that tools like Twitter are effective replacements for the real, on-the-spot news coverage that requires more than…

May 1, 2008

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Free for iPhone Users Only

Posted in New Media and Tech

I essentially admitted to a bit of iPhone envy yesterday. But this isn’t about that. Seems that AT*&T has opened up free wi-fi access for iPhone users at its hot spots (read, Starbucks). I find that disturbing. It seems to set up a class system of Internet access, based on the device you carry. I have no objection to AAT&T or Starbucks or anyone charging for wi-fi access. It is a service for which many people are willing to pay, and no one has an implicit right to free Internet. But opening the free wi-fi dour only wide enough for…

April 28, 2008

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Thought Leaders Can be so Slow

Posted in New Media and Tech

Kara Swisher writes today that a lot of people she surveyed while attending a wedding had not heard of Twitter. I’ll pause while you retrieve the beverage you just dropped on the floor in disbelief. Even more astonishing than the lack of Twit-hipness among Swisher’s acquaintances is that bloggers have been writing about this as if this news were revelatory in some way. It’s one thing for bloggers and new media types to live in geographical (Silicon Valley) or virtual bubbles, but it’s quite another when they don’t even realize they do. Come on, people! Are all of your friends…

April 24, 2008

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Pod is a Dirty Word, Again

Posted in New Media and Tech, and Podcasting

PodShow, the “media company” founded by Adam Curry, and the recipient of millions in venture funding, has changed its name to Mevio. Has the ring of one of those wacky Web 2.0 startup names, doesn’t it? Just vague enough to allow for a completely flexible business model. Podcasting News linked to a video featuring PodShow co-founder Ron Bloom. In it, he described PodShow as a network of 15,000 shows. This, of course, includes the many externally-prdouced podcasts within the directory maintained by PodShow, along with the company’s own “entertainment properties”. Bloom went on to say, when asked about the name…

April 22, 2008

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New Media Spring Cleaning

Posted in New Media and Tech, and Podcasting

Spring cleaning, as many people do it, is about throwing things away that you no longer need, and polishing those you want to keep, but which no longer look their best. Aside from the season, leaving a job is a pretty good reason to engage in some seasonal dusting and straightening. Ad editor of a magazine for bloggers and podcasters, I was conscious of a need to speak to the industry we were covering. As much grief as folks like me get for perceived pandering to advertisers, I’ve always been a notorious advocate of readers. Not a bad thing, of…

Category: New Media and Tech