Avatar photoSteven Savage

Is Everything an App?

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iPhone Apps.  Android Apps.  Google TV will have Apps.  It seems everything is becoming an App.

Now I'm all for some interesting slang, but I think what we're seeing is something deeper here.

An "App" of course is short for Application, such as a Word Processor, only it seems the term is broadening.  You can turn your book into an App, you can make an App that's a game, you can make an App that interfaces with Social Media services.  It seems that the "App" really is a term for "something specific you do on a piece of technology."

I think this is great because it actually brings out an important truth about our media and our technologies – they're about doing things and getting information.  It's all Apps.

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Geeky Resumes and More: Know Your Audience

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Video resumes.  Retaggr cards.  Portfolios on lovely-labeled DVDs.  LinkedIn.com profiles.  Personal web pages.

What counts as a "resume" today seems to be a collection of items and supplements, all swirling around the actual print (or electronic resume).  Today's resume is an amorphous, complex thing, that's frankly confusing – because there's just so many amazing and cool things we can do.  Let's call them "Resume Materials"

Some of us remember when all you needed was a cover letter and a resume and maybe a portfolio because that was all you could do.  Making a videotape or a Flash presentation and the like just wasn't something people did in their job searched.  Of course what people do now has been empowered by all the technology that . . . well people like us are using.

There's a lot of options for the progeeks out there to go beyond a simple resume and into a crazy world of amazing resume materials..  However, there's an important question to ask before you burn the DVDs, make the video interview, and soforth.

That question is . . . does it actually do any good?

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News of the Day 5/25/2010

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Legal efforts against Apple, Atari seems to be on its way back, and LinkedIn and Twitter seal their relationship! It's Geek News Time!

Geek law:
Department of Justice investigating Apple over music? Sounds interesting . . .

Comics:
It appears Marvel is leaving behind the $2.99 comic.

Publishing:
How to monetize news. A good read since you could apply this to other media.

Social Media:
LinkedIn is pretty much a full Twitter client. Makes sense of course. Good for Twitter, but even more for LinkedIn, which has been doing a good job of expanding what it does – a good model to analyze. And I hope you have a LinkedIn account . . .

Technology:
30% of people thinking of a Netbook got an iPad? Apparently so. Sounds like the iPad made a dent inits intended marketplace.


Video Games:
Games industry growing, but growing slowly. An analysis of just what's going on. Quite a good read – and pointing out that there are more gamers – but the amount being made per gamer is less.

Atari's fortunes slightly improved. Not out of the woods yet, but at least a sign of hope.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Will other social networks follow in LinkedIn's Footsteps?

– Steven Savage