Thicksole Ships :: February 2010 Update

Instead of pimping every project we ship around here, an end of the month wrap up is the direction I’m leaning.  So, here are the projects that shipped out of the Thicksole doors in February 2010:

• Stamford Review Update
  http://stamfordreview.com
  .
• Wiley Geodiscoveries Blog Site
  http://wileygeodiscoveriesupdates.com/
  .
• Techshelf Interview with Dave Mark and Jeff LaMarche
  http://techshelf.com
  http://techshelf.com/2010/02/15/iphone-developers-dave-mark-jeff-lamarche-interview/
  .
• Access Anesthesiology Blog Site for McGraw-Hill
  http://www.mhprofessional.com/blogs/accessanesthesiology/
  .
• The MBWPicks Finder
  http://mbwpicks.com/finder

When a site takes on a life of its own

I had the pleasure of interviewing iPhone Developer and author, Dave Mark, a few days ago and one of the interesting things that came up was the website he put together to support the readers of his book.  What started out as a way for him to field a few questions here and there turned into a full-blown hang out spot for iPhone developers – both new and experienced.  With close 14,000 registered users, the forum he created has taken on a life of it’s own.

During the interview he even mentions how it’s just not another thing on his todo list, but it lives without him because folks with more experience swoop in and help newcomers.  All for free and all because they came together through a central idea: Dave’s book.

I pulled the clip and you can listen below.  If you want to hear the whole interview (with co-author, Jeff LaMarche), just head on over to Techshelf where you can download it or listen on the site.

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Download & listen (MP3)

Skill Shift 2010 :: Introduction

In a lot of companies a line exists between what the tech guys do and what the marketers, publicists, and managers do with their computers.  Same computers.  Same horse power.  Same permissions.  But when it comes to updating a website, creating online content, changing images, creating a video, producing a podcast, or launching a website, that’s somehow off limits.  And if not totally off limits, there are many meetings to sit through before proper procedures & protocols are created.  Unfortunately, many ideas die by the time this is all knocked out.

Well, I’m here to help you get your tech skills up to par so you can do interesting things online both on your own and affordably.  The goal is not to create a bunch of rogue seudo-techs that kinda know what they’re doing.  Rather I want to show you the stuff that is already available and how to get in there and use it.  From setting up a new domain and installing a blog, to hand editing some code and setting up a quick database.

It’s Independence Day!

I entered the white collar workforce when people were making the transition from typewriters to personal computers, and from hand distributed memos to email.  It’s happening again.  If you think using MS Word and Excel are enough, you’ll find yourself stuck and reliant upon people that have the knowledge and experience with HTML, blogs, CMSs, databases, and websites that keep you connected.  With outdated skills, you’ll end up being a commodity instead of someone that can freely create, produce, and ship.  Nobody wants that.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll cover things like setting up a domain, launching a blog, the ins and outs of Wordpress, some handy database tricks, essential HTML tags, and more.  Sometimes in text, sometimes in video, and sometimes both, I’ll work to get the ideas over to you so you can take control and unleash those brilliant ideas without getting stuck in a marsh of technobabble.

Will Books Become Apps?

I don’t know.  Nobody really does.  But what we all know is that the way we get books, how we read them, and the depth we’re involved with them is changing and nobody’s going to stop it (no matter how bad some folks want to).  Currently the digital delivery and consumption of text is taking off with hardware like Amazon’s Kindle, and will only increase if Apple’s iPad proves successful (which I think it will be).  But, what if that’s just phase one?

Could phase two be the elimination of copy protection on the content?  Nobody thought it would happen with legitimate online music  stores, but Amazon led the way with selling unprotected MP3s, and iTunes quickly followed.  The world didn’t end.  In fact, I personally buy more music online than ever (my ‘click to buy’ finger has become quite loose as the great Merlin Mann might say).  Text will likely head in the same direction.  Really, it’s just natural.

But after that (or maybe before) what happens?  Could you have a study group or book club built right into your book?  What about a discussion area?  Or related videos or ‘click for more information’ links?  An electronic flashcard pack for review?  Study questions?   Presentation materials for instructors?  Of course.  Some publishers do this already but it’s clunky and can be tough to figure out.  But now what if it’s all smoothly delivered and accessed from one central location – the book?  Could be great, no?

With all the change and potential, there’s one thing that holds true and that’s the relationship the writer will have with the reader.  I think the guys that are work-for-hire, write to the spec, take your check for $4k and hit the road will fade further and further away.  But the guys and gals that have the blog that’s religiously updated for the 30, 3,000, or 30,000 (or  3mm) readers will win.  Win because of the relationship, trust and reputation they built over time.  Did you start building that yet?