Call Japan and US for more info

*
Japan calling
Daniel Scuka from Wireless Watch Japan compiled Japan's Mobile Year (2006) in Review.
I would like to learn more about: naked mobile news, W950i Walkman, DoCoMo and Redmond tie-up,

*
Mobile phone sales in US
Red Herring has a top ten mobile handsets in 2006. ( US cell phone sales ). US market is unusual phone market, what gets chosen in the U.S. doesn’t necessarily reflect the rest of the world.

Dial for podcasts

Call me, call me, hear the latest from me about fishing in cold water.

Podcasting and practice of amateur internet audio shows is around for some time, but as a concept it never scaled much into non-techie and elderly community.
Well, solution for the opposite is at hand and it is calling Podlinez - podcasts on every phone.
Every podcaster can link their RSS feed to dedicated number and start to grow their audience with phone calls ( it's only US right now ).
I've seen many complaints from techies that this is pretty pointeless service. Well, I think it's not.
Matthew Kaufman is the founder of Podlinez and I found his logical explanation :

I’m the founder of Podlinez and I’d agree that — as someone with a computer, an Internet connection, and an iPod — at first glance it seems pretty pointless.

But there’s two good use cases that we’re getting a lot of positive comments on… one is the person who has a cellphone, free minutes, free long distance, handsfree via bluetooth, and a few minutes to kill while sitting in traffic. They can listen to today’s stock market closing report or this weekend’s fishing report even though they didn’t sync up their iPod with the latest episode while at work.

And then there’s the computer-illiterate elderly and the infirm who couldn’t make it to church last Sunday, listening to their church’s latest sermon podcast on their home phone for the first time ever.

I have yet to meet a podcaster who doesn’t want the size of their potential audience to expand. But I agree, when I first thought of the idea my first reaction was “who’d want to do that, when there’s much better technical solutions?”

Here's comparison with similar service in US called FonPods. They are similar but different.
Phone companies ( in every country, the cost of call is important so I'm not talking about global service ) that are smart and know that their killer app is still voice, could arrange smart audio services and connect amateur produceres with audience just like some preacher Tony in US does with The Bible CallCast.
Who cares about iTunes and iPod. I certanly don't ;))
Like many ordinary phone users who do not care if people call this practice podcasting or something else.
Yes, I am aware of Melodeo but it's different pair of shoes.

Vikendi.net to locate your weekends in Croatia

Find me escape I just might need, you portal :)

Before I go on weekend, few quick infos to add about Vikendi.net
Vikendi.net is a new croatian tourism site that immediatly appealed to me.
It is a nice user-generated portal for tourism providers ( users ) and related fields, still in its infancy.
The beuaty is in short distance traveling and the site provides infos for recreation, places and tourism offers. I think the audience will come and the base will grow ( if properly executed ).
The service Vikendi.net is very simple and works fast.

I can see it's done with PHP and has great SEO structure of links which will make them high with search engines.
The catalogue of information is structured naturally, and information are vertically and horizontally alligned ( geo information, type of service, offers ).
Yes, Google Maps is mashed up as well.

Finally something creative ( solves the problem ) on croatian web and decent idea for web site.
If I'm venture capitalist, you know what my words would be... ;))
To add my two cents, if possible, make it in english as well. There's huge expat community in Croatia and looks for weekends as well.

Peer talk with Fring

Fring is in beta.
It's the 3G mobile application that allows you to make free ( peer-to-peer ) mobile calls and send instant messages (chat) to other fring users and PC based VoIP services such as Skype and Google Talk at no extra cost beyond your existing data plan.
My mobile is currently not supported but I'll keep an eye on them via their blog.

Sada Rusei ?

Who's or what's sada rusei ? Is it name or is it some act ? Someone is looking for sada rusei video . The hit came from Brazil , according to my logs.
Maybe new Ronaldo or Ronaldinho ;))

Color Makes Powerful Difference to Consumers

"Color is so amazingly powerful," according to psychologist Joerg Bose, "that it is no surprise people throughout centuries have sought to connect it with something meaningful beyond the experience, itself." Color is often the primary factor in peoples' decision to purchase one product over another. Savvy leaders build on art and science to choose colors for products, decor, packaging and attire.

A recent study, "Consumer Color Preferences," points out color factors in most for 86% of folks buying clothes, 76% of people purchasing a car or motorcycle and 72% for people choosing home appliances according to BuzzBack Market Research and Pantone. Interestingly, out of 44 colors tested, only six received 48% of all votes. And, bright white, along with shades of brown and gray failed to receive votes.

When both men and women responded to a Women's Wear Daily question, "What is your favorite color to wear?" here's what their survey revealed:
Other factors enter in. For instance, women prefer soft colors, pastels, bright pinks and purples. Men selected dark colors. Interestingly, youth (13-20) choose pinks, while more mature folks (55-64) are more likely to pick corals. Latinos opt for black more often than do other cultural groups. And, when it comes to personal care items, white's the favorite according to an article in Research Alert, "Product Colors Influence Consumer Purchase Decisions."

Overall, more than half of teens and adults or 54% "feel most confident with red, considered an attention grabber; black slimming, and blue experienced as ego gratifying according to the BuzzBack and Pantone research.

Amazingly, a 2006 DuPont national poll shows "as many as 40 percent of consumers willing to switch brands for a specific color." Keep in mind that color trends change over time as well./

Kathryn Young, in "Colours of the Mind," Montreal's The Gazzette, lists ways color connects to feelings:

Blue gives a sense of calm
Greens cool
Greys and blues help people unwind
Red stirs life and stimulates both the appetite and brain
Yellow adds warmth and happiness.
Orange makes us feel energized - hence the number of fast-food restaurants that use it in their decor.

However, Young adds that vibrant, bright yellows can be agitating in a baby's room and make it cry more. And if a yellow contains too much green, it can become nauseating - not to be used in a hospital. Any color that's perceived to be muddy, drab or dull can dampen spirits.

Research and psychology pave the way for leaders to select from a broad spectrum of color. Have you considered how the art and science of color can distinguish your products and attract customers!

Building from Questions and Curiosity

Since I determined to visit new blogs and listen more, I'm already richer. And, a great way to connect more to other bloggers is to ask two-footed questions. Here's how it works...



Start with something in the blog that intrigues or rouses your curiosity. Ask that blogger a question that requires him to speak from personal experience in relation to the topic. Ellen Weber explains more about two-footed questions.

For instance, when I checked out Sweska's blog, I found that she lives in Singapore, is 20 something, and attends college. Sweska took time to scan family photos and arrange them for her family to "squeeze in" and share. She said family members pointed out photos and recalled events. I pictured this in my mind's eye as Sweska shared the details from Old Gold Pics.

I wondered what advice an older, 60-year-old Sweska might give to young, 20-something Swezka. So I asked. And Sweska replied that she reflected much. Here's two wonderful gems from her list of five:

1. Keep working and loving what you do...there's no such thing as retirement!
2. Continue learning new things and new skills...maybe a type of dancing!

Wow. I like the focus!

Chris Cree of Success Creeations is currently taking a break by traveling North by car with his wife,Gorgeous. Chris hopes for more one-on-one time with her during the extensive trip since he would be away from distrations for a log duration. When I asked Chris how this was working out, he responded, "I'm coping ok through the withdrawal." Love the next line, "At least the twitching has moderated somewhat!" Hope you're still laughing Chris!

And there's great wisdom to glean from Elizabeth Perry's journey in art at Woolgathering. Liz says to "give ourselves permission to sit still, look around and fool around." I want to draw. Since Liz began two years ago with no prior experience, I know I can. In the do-ing, it happens. I'm buying a sketch pad today to start. According to Liz, art shapes itself.

At Servant of Chaos, Sharon Sarmiento, commented that "community is the heartbeat of the blogosphere." And Gavin Heaton, at Servant of Chaos, really shows that. When I inquired if he had tips to build great community Gavin provided a link to Mike Sansone's Converstations, http://www.converstations.com/2007/01/building_reader.html. Just goes to show that bloggers go out of their way to help each other.

OK, my working memory is overflowing... That's the portion of your mind which processes new information and it only holds a limited amount before it spills over. Somehow, my cup is overflowing with great nuggets from the blogging community. Thanks, Swezka, Liz, Chris, Mike and Gavin!