Remembering Why We Are Independent

This is a post I had drafted about four years ago but forgot to publish apparently.

I just saw The Great Debaters and am reminded that freedom and independence and democracy are ratified by each of us one debate at a time. Whether the parties be North vs. South, Choice vs. Life, Red State vs. Blue State, or Mac vs. PC.

A Whiff of Microsoft's Developer Program

I heard folks for years criticize Microsoft for just waiting a bit, watching Apple, and then copying what Apple does. I've never had issue with Microsoft on that, insofar as no laws have been broken. It's like when my son asks for ice cream and his year-younger cousin, standing right next to him, exclaims, "Me too!"

So at my Windows 8 Meetup group last night, the moderator briefly showed (the app management portion of) Microsoft's equivalent of Apple's iTunes Connect. This was to give current and prospective Microsoft app developers a view into what tools are available to manage their app pre-, during, and post-development. Very much a meet too experience, but very well executed in design. Definitely not what would have been typically expected of Microsoft a few years ago.

I lost power half-way through this post. Thank God for the cloud :)

The caveat is that you do need to pay the $99 USD, for the Microsoft app developer program (same price as Apple), to get access to the tools. However you do get more in terms of basic analytics, in terms of how a published app is doing, including more detail on: who, how, and from where the traffic originates with multiple graphing layouts. An additional caveat is that these additional analytics are based on users opting-in to be tracked accordingly. The issue with that is that you're never guaranteed a complete picture of the additional details in terms of percentages, for example. Still, it's a starting point.

So, the next time someone's offering good ice cream, don't be bashful. Say, "Meet to!"
It's efficient. Plus, I think Steve Jobs would approve.

Thought for 12/12/12 12:12pm

Is it lunchtime yet?

Windows Phone 8 or Windows 8 Phone?

Yes, I'm confused myself; and I started using Windows back when they were black and white, and not in color ;). But seriously, Microsoft has a unique opportunity with Windows 8. However, they may have taken the you-never-can-be-too-rich-or-too-thin saying a bit too far.

It's important to tweak one's brand when it's clearly dated. Even I had to eventually donate my Bill Cosby sweaters. However, I believe one should never screw with aspects of one's brand to the point that they are confusing (at best) or (worse) unrecognizable. Remember "Real Coke"?

When long-time Windows users start asking, "Where's the Start button?", that's not a good sign. Hopefully, Microsoft will quickly pivot to correct this.

As for me, I'm considering a Windows Mobile Phone, or a Windows Phone 8, or a Windows 8 Phone.... I don't even know what to call it now. Hold on, I'm heading to Microsoft, I'll be right back.

[BEAT] 

Okay, I'm back. Ahem. "Widows Phone" and "Windows Phone 8" are appropriate and accepted nomenclature. 

Anyway, I'd already seen the new tiled, user interface on the previous Windows Phone (see how easy that was for me to write) example, and it got my attention. However, I was awaiting Windows 8 with its significant changes, to decide on the operating system in general. So, my plan is to get my hands on one over this weekend for a test run. Stay tuned.

A Thought For Friday

You can only eat today's daily bread.

- Dale Carnegie

MIT Startup Bootcamp 2012 - What I Learned

I got wind of the MIT Startup Bootcamp from a former colleague and young entrepreneur. He ended up not being able to make it, so I went for both of us and promised to take notes:

My takeaways from Jeff Seibert of Crashlytics:

• Balance your team
• Distribution is king
• People don't have the time to discover things
• Follow the market where you are creating the most value
• Investors fund upward curves
• Maximize first-time experiences
• Find the medium(s) for the maximum effect for your vision

From Jennifer Lum of Adelphi Mobile:

• People and relationships really matter
• Speed matters
• Mentors
• We all dream of becoming grown-ups who make a difference
• You have nothing to lose

From Brett Van Zuiden of Filepicker.io:

• Start and don't stop
• Be prepared to absolutely dedicate at least 7-10 years of your life to your startup
• Keeping going, keep going, keep making things happen
• Tell people you're doing a startup and get feedback early
• Cut your safety net
• Make long-term commitments
• Really get to know your customers, and use that empathy to help motivate you forward
• Love your team
• Start a business ONLY if you are passionate about a vision and building a company is the only way to bring that vision to life

From Lee Hower of LinkedIn:

• What you do must be interesting to the market
• Founding teams tend to have people who know and trust each other and have a common framework
• Be exceptional

From Christine Corbett of Circle of 6

• Women rock
• Diversity of founders in entrepreneurship is crucial
• Solve simple problems first, to build your entrepreneurial muscles to solve big problems
• Every startup is a vote for the future
• Master tools to help you solve your problems

We Are...

More raw sermon notes from the iPhone:

Sermon 01apr12: Love finds a way.

We are here to make a difference 
We are to preserve and season
There's constant pressure to not realize who  God ordained you to
We are the light in a darkened world