Going Vertical

It's interesting that I have been working with the Acer Tablet for a while now and have run various apps in either landscape or portrait mode, exclusively. Most have been in landscape mode so I'm trying various apps in portrait mode. Some, like Google+, give a completely different experience. It's interesting, that this happens. Some are able to be run in either mode and I switch between them as needed. So, my place doesn't change but the orientation can change making it a completely different experience. It's like being able to rearrange the furniture in your den or even the configuration of the room at the touch of a button. I might have some specific comments later but for now here goes.

Strange Juxtaposition

Food and the model who never eats it!

I'm still trying to figure out what Pinterest is, but I saw this on a page of pictures and thought it was ironic that they put the image of this model in the middle of food she probably never touches to stay so rail thin.

Pinterest -- What's the deal?

So maybe I'm just out of it, but I just don't understand the deal with Pinterest. I guess I'm just not all that into pictures, fashion, or pop culture, but I just don't get it.

Too much energy keeping users on our sites?

We spend too much energy keeping users on our sites. We should focus more on reminding them we exist.

(source) Go over and read this article, then come back -- OK, so I'm trying to keep you here. What do you think? The author contends:

I would prefer a user to visit my site on six different occasions for one minute each, than once for six minutes. That is because they will have been told about my site six times and so will be ready to take what I have to say seriously.

 and I think that, in some ways, I agree with him, especially about small sites like this blog. I have spoken about software being a place and more people are using aggregation software on their mobile devices to get their information. What you want is for the user to spot your entry and click over to your site for more information on your subject of interest because they have been there before and know that you have something important or interesting to say.

You need keep reminding your potential readers through entries in their places -- tweets, Facebook and Google+ entries . . . -- that you have something to say on the subject and that it's worth their time to drop by and read it.

Finding value in a place . . .

Are you finding value in all the places where you are? If you're selling something, I can see some value in exposure, but for most of us, I'm beginning to wonder if all these places -- Twitter, Facebook, Google+ -- are really worth it.

Do you get value from those you are following? In my case, it's a qualified "maybe". I work through my list periodically and evaluate it, eliminating those from which I'm not getting any value. Otherwise, at least for me, I can't follow all their tweets, messages, likes, etc.

Do you produce anything worth following? I really wonder in my case, because it seems that a large number of my followers are people who want me to follow them so they can sell me something.

The quest continues.

An Application as a Place

In the last blog I talked about a device as a place. Now I'd like to consider an application (app) as a place. The choice of a news aggregator, social media, or video app puts you in a place from which you view and interact with the world. From this place you view things and state YOUR views. If you have an app which anticipates your selections you are choosing what comes into your place. Sp the act of choosing the app creates a place into which you invite the world and from which you go out into the world. You use software which fits your way of interacting with the world and which makes you comfortable much as your favorite places.

A Device as a Place

Can a device be a place? A phone, tablet, or laptop can organize your life. Many people communicate with their friends more via texting than they do in person. We spend as much time in social media places as we do in physical places. So, why not?

I have used a phone for work for some time, but have just recently gotten an Android tablet. So I'm new at this device place. It will take me a while to evaluate this place. Sort of like moving into a new neighborhood. It takes some time to check out the local hot spots. I'll have more as I work in this new place.