Derek Flanzraich

Archive for the ‘Technology’ Category

Idea: Simple Location App

Basically Foursquare 1.0, but a simple app that captures only the city you’re in (and when it change) + shows you which cities all your fbook (and/or twitter) friends are in. If free, clearly a persuasive download & very light (therefore more unobtrusive) use of GPS technology for tracking (may even be another way to do it). Can even add simple alerts when  friends you’ve approved appear in your city.

Also, seems like an obvious tie in to Google, esp. since they can easily track where you search from.

January 30, 2011 7:40 pm | 0 Comments

Build Empires, Not Businesses

You can start a business. But I’m going to build an empire.

How hard is it to turn down $1 billion dollars? Or $6 billion? In 2007, Mark Zuckerberg turned down a reported $1 billion dollar offer from Yahoo! in order to keep working on Facebook, a social networking site that then differed little from its competitors. Similarly, just a few months ago, Andrew Mason turned down a reported $6 billion from Google for Groupon, a group-buying coupon site that could basically be created in an hour’s worth of coding. That’s A LOT of money, enough moolah to open many new doors, open many new opportunities, and open many new doors to many new 85ft yacht-buying opportunities. So how could Zuckerberg and Mason turn down all of that? It’s because they’re empire builders. Because they want to do more than just help a few people and make some money, they want to profoundly change and transform the world.

Changing the world is great, sure.

But they’ve got to be crazy, right? Zuckerberg would have made millions before he turned twenty. Twenty! But what’s that you say? A million dollars isn’t cool? Well, you know what’s cool? A billion dollars. And Mason’s share from Google’s offer (thanks to his 20% ownership stake) would have been just that– a cool $1 billion all for himself, enough money to buy a sweet private island in Malaysia ($35M), an authentic Jackson Pollock ($140M), a trip to OUTER SPACE ($35M), a swanky Gulfstream private jet ($50M), and still have enough money ($740M) for one crazy weekend in Vegas (that’s roughly how much a quality one costs, right?). Or, if you’re not the self-gratification and excessive materialism type, then just imagine how much good use a donation that large could go to.

So, it’s not about the money?

For them, at least, it’s about much more than that. It’s about a need to build something epic, something different, something terrific. And the years of hard work they’ve put in has inspired a vision that fuels them, their employees, and the world in a way that’s more meaningful. Like it or not, agree with them or not, they’re changing the world– and isn’t that exactly what entrepreneurs swear is in their job description? Zuckerberg isn’t just building a social networking site. Instead, he believes Facebook is creating a social backbone for the web where there wasn’t one before, transforming the way we interact with everything on the Internet, making it more open and more social forever. And Mason isn’t just building a coupon website that offers killer deals on Brazilian waxes and assorted jams. Instead, he believes Groupon is revolutionizing the relationship between consumers and small businesses, changing the way commerce functions at a local level in an unprecedented way. At least that’s the way they envision it. And to have a grand, epic vision like that, they’ve got to be a little crazy. But it’s a good kind of crazy. Because, after all, the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do. Read the rest of the post »

January 27, 2011 6:51 pm | 9 Comments

How To Rule the Interwebz (The 81 Must-Follow Tech Blogs)

Was recently asked by multiple people how I’d recommend they delve into this magical mystery tour that is the world of blogs. This is the epic blog post that began as short email to them.

Personal confession: for a long time, I’ve been a Google Reader fiend (Google Reader, by the way, is  a way to subscribe to as many blogs as you’d like & then read them all in one place). But, honestly, I’ve recently started to sour on blogs a bit. The fact that TechCrunch (now brought to you by AOL!) is a top 10 blog property just goes to show how few real people read blogs (or have heard of those “RSS Feed” things). The undeniable rise of page view journalism (super annoying, sure, but at the same time, pretty obvious why it makes sense) basically means great blogs produce tons & tons of not-so-great posts on tired topics. There seem to be some posts that are written a bazillion different ways, but all say the exact same superficially controversial thing.

BUT, all that being said, I’m consistently blown away by how much I’ve learned from the blogs I follow. The ability to delve super deeply in an obscure topic (the coffee retail business, e.g.) by following three major blogs is an awesome power– and an awesome way to learn & grow all the time. Plus, nearly every day or so, I’m knocked off my feet by a post that’s so good, so interesting, so thought-provoking, so something, that I file it away (thanks Evernote!), hoping to come back again and again.

Blog reading’s a time commitment, sure. Just like anything worthwhile, it’s all about the trade-off. Personally, I’m currently experimenting with following the same feeds on Twitter (many of the blog are basically replicated through Twitter accounts, sometimes with welcome additional stuff & other times very much with not– in fact, I’ve offered below both options so you can pick & choose whatever works best for you) to juggle these better, so stay tuned to hear how that goes. So far, so good, though– and I’ve been able to balance learning a lot, staying deeply involved, and everything else in my life pretty well. So far.

Here’s my best of the best– all the blogs I would follow if I had the time (so your choice on what to prioritize) minus a few obscure ones that I don’t think would be helpful (but if you want to know all the NBA/Miami Heat, Harvard, Disney, Android, Fitness, & Starbucks-related blogs I follow, then just let me know and I’ll share those, too). To help, I’ve added an asterisk to the blogs I’d recommend to those just getting started in this crazy industry/world. Sign up for Google Reader (pro tip: you might have to add the feeds manually or feedburner will do it for you) or start a Twitter account, then subscribe/follow those with the * and then see what works, what doesn’t, and go deeper (or don’t).

Without further ado, here’s How To Rule the Interwebz (The 81 Must-Follow Blogs):

Technology News

- *Mashable [RSS / Twitter] – Web tech news & analysis, more social media-focused. Has basically raced up most-read blog charts thanks to some awesome, awesome writers (including Ben Parr, Jolie O’Dell, up-and-coming friend Zachary Sniderman,  and tons more) & in-depth, relevant coverage.

- ReadWriteWeb [RSS / Twitter] - Web tech news & analysis, a little more content-focused

- AllThingsD [RSS / Twitter] – Web tech news & analysis, more media & biz focused. Can also drill down & individually follow Walt Mossberg and/or Kara Swisher. Aside: site’s name is unintentionally hilarious to college bros.

- *Silicon Alley Insider [RSS / Twitter] – Basically aggregates all the quality tech analysis & blogs plus features legit articles from legit writers (ex-Forbes reporters Peter Kafka & Dan Frommer, e.g.). Backstory: founded by Henry Blodget after being barred from the securities industry. Seriously.

- *TechCrunch [RSS / Twitter] – Web tech news & analysis, more startup-focused & arguably the most famous (mostly because of experienced & controversial Mike Arrington), recently purchased by AOL. Some in the tech industry believe this site has “jumped the shark” (even before the AOL thing), but they all still read it regardless.

- The Next Web [RSS / Twitter] - Up-and-coming tech news blog, offering neat perspectives.

- Sparksheet [RSS / Twitter] – Great, thought-provoking content, media, & marketing content

- FastCompany.com [RSS / Twitter] – Best of the cutting-edge startup & entrepreneurship mag.

- Wired News [RSS / Twitter] – Same as above, but more (obviously) tech-focused. Who needs a subscription? (Don’t tell them that, though).

- Inc. Mag [RSS / Twitter] - My favorite magazine to read in the airport, it’s also great, high-quality content on startup business resources & entrepreneurship.

- NYT’s Technology News [RSS / Twitter] – Not a news-breaker, but offers excellent analysis & features on general tech-related NYT articles.

- *GigaOM [RSS / Twitter] – Tech industry news & analysis from Om Malik & team. In my opinion, some of the best analysis on the web.

- NYT’s Bits Blog [RSS / Twitter] – Similar, quality analysis & features– more tech biz-focused.

- The Google Blog [RSS / Twitter] - ’Cause you’ve just got to. Google’s got a bazillion other official blogs & twitter accounts, so you can drill down as much as you’d like.

- SEO Blogs (Search Engine Land, Search Engine Journal, & SEO Book are all great, but often similar– up to you to choose which you like).

Digital Media News

- paidContent [RSS / Twitter] – The ultimate guide to the economics/business of digital media news & trends.

- *NewTeeVee [RSS / Twitter] – THE blog to follow for digital media/video business & tech news & analytsis (part of the GigaOm network, too).

- NYT Media Decoder Blog [RSS / Twitter] – Quality coverage of the media industry business. Also, writer Brian Stelter may be among the best, forward-thinking digital media & TV reporters on the web right now.

- PBS’s MediaShift [RSS / Twitter] – Covers how digital media is changing society, culture, & education. Awesome.

- FierceIPTV [RSS / Twitter] - Jim O’Neill‘s smart (and fierce, of course) take on news & development in Internet TV.

- Broadcast Assassin [RSS / Twitter] - Jeff Koenig‘s merciless evangelism & thought-leadership of web TV is single-handedly making a difference)

Digital Media, Tech, & Culture Thinkers

- Brian Solis [RSS / Twitter] – New media thinker & speaker, smart & interesting writer.

- Joshua Blankenship [RSS / Twitter] – Designer, typography guru, writer.

- *Tim Ferriss [RSS / Twitter] – Author of 4 Hour Workweek & all-around-awesome guy who writes, every now and then on ”lifestyle design”– and it’s always really, really freakin’ good.

- *Justin Kownacki [RSS / Twitter] – “Armchair sociologist & perpetual contrarian,” he offers regularly brilliant social media strategy & reality checks.

- Scott Berkun [RSS / Twitter] – Author & public speaker on creativity & management, great storyteller.

- Jonathan Fields [RSS / Twitter] – Entrepreneur who writes convincingly on how to get the most out of life.

- Dan Zarrella [RSS / Twitter] – The “social media scientist” writes looooooong posts, but they’re worth it for the stats, figures, & insight.

- John Battelle’s Searchblog [RSS / Twitter] – Huge, high-quality thought-leader on search, media, & tech.

- *Jason L Baptiste [RSS / Twitter] – Entrepreneur consistently writing awesome, helpful, insightful stuff.

- Grant McCracken [RSS / Twitter] – Social anthropologist that writes on diverse topics from LeBron James & corporate culture.

- The Art of Non-Conformity [RSS / Twitter] – Chris Guillebeau on unconventional ways to get the most out of life & business. Great, fun advice.

- HBR Blogs – Bill Taylor [RSS / Twitter] – Bill Taylor on innovation, creativity, & leadership. Harvard Business Review has many, many other awesome blogs. Just pick & choose.

- Jason Shen [RSS / Twitter] – Friend Jason Shen writes amazing stuff on his adventures in startup-world.

- Sarcastic Mister Know It All [RSS / Twitter] – Friend Dan Lee does the same–really, really good stuff.

- Living in the Future [RSS / Twitter] - Friend Steven Duque offers his thoughts on branding, media, tech & culture w/ a mondo, killer post every few weeks.

VCs & Entrepreneurs & Angels & Other People Who Take Themselves Seriously So You Should, Too?

- blog maverick [RSS / Twitter] - THE Mark Cuban writes mostly about business, but whatever he writes on, it’s all good, controversial, & thought-provoking.

- *AVC [RSS / Twitter] - Fred Wilson‘s probably the most influential VC in the business– every single person reads (and it seems like every single person comments) on his accessible, brilliant posts.

- *Chris Dixon [RSS / Twitter] – Entrepreneur, thought-leader that loves to stir things up… and is usually not just right, but also really clever about it.

- *ben’s blog [RSS / Twitter] - Ben Horowitz, cofounder of Andreeessen Horowitz w/ Marc Andreessen, shares his advice and expertise,  seems every week better & more relevant than the one before.

- pMarca [RSS / Twitter] – Blog of Marc Andreessen, the legend. Doesn’t write that often, but when he does, everyone listens. Doesn’t tweet, either. Doesn’t matter.

- The Roach Post [RSS / Twitter] - Cameron Brain & Eric Roach offer great advice & resources for startups.

- Master of 500 Hats [RSS / Twitter] - Dave McClure‘s awesome, he’ll tell it like it is & you’ll love reading about it (whether you agree with him or not).

- Rob Go [RSS / Twitter] – Formerly of Spark Capital & eBay, now starting his own Micro VC firm & regularly sharing his expertise, thoughts, and general enthusiasm for life.

- Bijan Sabet [RSS / Twitter], Mo Koyfman [RSS / Twitter], & recently Andrew Parker [RSS / Twitter] – All Spark Capital VCs & all-around good guys, each offering a fresh & forward-thinking take on the future of digital media plus, for some reason, always sharing the music they like, too.

- VentureBlog [RSS / Twitter] - David Hornik of August Capital’s honest & insightful take on startups & the VC industry.

- Fred Destin [RSS / Twitter] – Season VC with more technical, industry thoughts– no less valuable.

- Derek Sivers [RSS / Twitter] – In addition to his great first name, he writes consistently awesome, down-to-earth advice for entrepreneurs– from legit experience.

- The Dream in Action [RSS / Twitter] - Ryan Graves is an inspirational entrepreneur w/ compelling takes on what’s happening in the startup world.

- startup adventures in nyc [RSS / Twitter] - Brad Hargreaves, EIR at Tipping Point Partners, name of the blog says it all.

- juvenis fugit [RSS / Twitter] – Brilliant friend Justin Wohlstadter‘s thoughts on startup investing & social entrepreneurship.

- Quick Sprout [RSS / Twitter] - Neil Patel‘s an entrepreneur, angel, & nice guy– distills his experience into blog posts you’ll save to re-read later again and again.

Marketing & Design Thinkers

- *Seth’s Blog [RSS / Twitter] - Seth Godin‘s written 12 books mostly centered around marketing and leadership & each one has been a bestseller, he writes daily (often more)– hit or miss sometimes for me, but perhaps the most famous marketing blogger. He’s also too cool for Twitter (who does he think he is? Malcolm Gladwell?! Sorry.)

- *Six Panels of Separation [RSS / Twitter] – The king of digital marketing & consistently brilliant, forward-thinking ideas.

- Mele’s Musings [RSS / Twitter] - Joe Mele‘s consistently insightful on digital marketing, plus he’s w/ Razorfish, which just plain rocks.

- Social Media Explorer [RSS / Twitter] - Jason Falls writes on social media marketing.

- Jason Putorti [RSS / Twitter] – Influential designer & entrepreneur on UI, UX, and more.

- Zach Klein [RSS / Twitter] – Entrepreneur (Vimeo, Busted Tees, CollegeHumor, Boxee), designer, awesome.

Gadgets , Gizmos, & Shit

- *Gizmodo [RSS / Twitter] – On gadgets (basically consumer electronics), part of Nick Denton’s Gawker Media.

- Engadget [RSS / Twitter] – On gadgets, differs from Gizmodo mostly in editorial tone, also owned by AOL.

- Fashionably Geek [RSS / Twitter] – Clothing for geeks, hilarious & interesting even if you don’t buy any of it.

- The Awesomer [RSS / Twitter] – Just really random awesome stuff (mostly for guys).

- Uncrate [RSS / Twitter] – Also really awesome random stuff (again, mostly for guys).

Ideas & Stories

- NYT’s Idea of the Day Blog [RSS / Twitter] - Always worth a read– and just one/day, which is neat.

- *PSFK [RSS / Twitter] - Trends, innovation, idea-generating stuff that’s, for some reason, the one blog that continually surprises me by how great it is.

- *GOOD [RSS / Twitter] – Live well & do good– consistently unearths amazing, relevant, and helpful news on everything.

- TED Blog [RSS / Twitter] - TED. ‘Nuff said.

- PsyBlog [RSS / Twitter] - The best of research into how the mind works, often internet-related.

Media & Entertainment

- */Film [RSS / Twitter] – Movie news & commentary, snark. Great stuff.

- Vulture [RSS / Twitter] – Entertainment news & more snark. Equally great.

- LA Times’ Show Tracker [RSS / Twitter], Company Town [RSS / Twitter], 24 Frames [RSS / Twitter], The Big Picture [RSS / Twitter] – All super high-quality coverage from The LA Times.

- TVbytheNumbers [RSS / Twitter] – TV & media consumption stats that’ll continue to impress you and make you think.

- FirstShowing.net [RSS / Twitter] – Movie blog covering news & more– there are many more of these, but this one’s my favorite at least.

Lifestyle

(The grab-bag category– for me, this is where I put my other interest-related blogs, too (NBA/Miami Heat, Harvard, Disney, Android, Fitness, & Starbucks-related blogs). For you, it could be anything & everything.)

- The Consumerist [RSS / Twitter] – News & info for consumers: “shoppers bite back.”

- Slashfood [RSS / Twitter] – Smart & entertaining food news & commentary.

- *Lifehacker [RSS / Twitter] – Tips & downloads for getting things done– super, super popular blog for good reason. Also part of Gawker Media.

- SFist [RSS / Twitter] – A great San Francisco-based blog– similar sites include Gothamist (NY), Bostonist (Boston), LAist (LA), etc…

http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/feed/

October 11, 2010 8:30 am | 6 Comments

Disconnect to Connect

Just returned from spending the day on the San Francisco Bay aboard an old decommissioned military ship watching the incredible Blue Angels executing unbelievable formations in the sky for Fleet Week. Was there with some of my closest friends. And, except for a few times where I snapped a picture with my cellphone to save for sharing with others later, disconnected and just enjoyed the historic boat, the beautiful bay, the odd 1000 or so people on board, the chilly weather, and the death-defying planes. Digital stuff is awesome and improves our lives in a million different ways. But sometimes you have to disconnect to connect.

h/t @wiscompton

October 11, 2010 2:10 am | 0 Comments

Digital Media Roundup: Tweet Edition 9/26-10/3

Last week was a big one for digital media– the set-top box battle for your TV rages on, there’s been some compelling reflectios on NBCU in the post-Zucker age, and discussion of profound changes in the way people use technology consume media. Plus… I got an iPad! Loving it so far– and only just beginning to really test it out and consider its meaning for the future (though I’ve decided already there unquestionably is one).  Anyway, here’s Week 4 of sharing my top tweets on what’s happening in the digital media world and my thoughts on it– all in bursts of 140 characters or less.

Agree? Disagree? Let me know in the comments!

A super interesting Jeff Zucker “eulogy” discusses where he went wrong. Interesting look into leadership in general: http://bit.ly/bTMOFk | Sun Sep 26 2010

Great, thought-provoking article via @cnet: Lessons for cable in Blockbuster’s demise http://t.co/lDjqCXL | Sun Sep 26 2010

Analyst: NBC Network Worth NEGATIVE $600 Million, SyFy Alone Worth $6.3 billion http://bit.ly/dpDMp4 via @THR | Mon Sep 27 2010

Wow. Beautiful stop-motion short that’s heart-breaking and just over 5 mins: http://bit.ly/d2xOQQ | Mon Sep 27 2010

Networks pulling ad inventory from Hulu to sell it solo. Smart biz move for them & yet another rough day for Hulu: http://bit.ly/cUitJV | Tue Sep 28 2010

Uh oh: 42% rise in illegal streaming video sites… from July to August. http://lat.ms/b240E6 MPAA? | Tue Sep 28 2010

RT @msuster I only ever search for Internet video content on @clicker – it is that awesome | Wed Sep 29 2010

Beware the “cord cutting bogeyman,” because the “a la carting of life” is coming. GS’s Communicopia: http://bit.ly/cGL9gW | Wed Sep 29 2010

RT @RWW The Big Switch to Internet TV & How Clicker Aims to be Your TV Guide http://rww.to/aaFhhO | Wed Sep 29 2010

RT @NewTeeVee Congress Passes Closed Captioning Bill for Online TV http://bit.ly/b3UVJM | Thu Sep 30 2010

New study: 22% of Americans have cut back or canceled cable & 22% more have considered doing the same. http://bit.ly/c4XoNa | Fri Oct 1 2010

That’s all for this week. But I’ve already been busy… ’cause there’s lots more where these came from– if you’re not already, follow me on Twitter here. Thanks!

October 8, 2010 4:45 am | 0 Comments

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