Rick Cooper, The PDA Pro

4 Hour Workweek vs. GTD

One of my favorite books in recent years is the 4 Hour Workweek, by Timothy Ferriss. Tim challenges readers to work less and play more, what he calls lifestyle design. Without getting into the details of the book here, I wanted to share a post from his blog.

Responding to a post on Entrepreneur Magazine's blog, Tim writes:

"Despite the disproportionate attention paid to them, personal outsourcing and selective ignorance are just two chapters out of 16 in 4HWW. There is a lot more to information management and intake control in 4HWW (interruption prevention, internal policies, scripts with superiors, etc.) than “batching” e-mail."

This was in response to a comment in the article:

“Timothy Ferriss is focused on outsourcing and not checking e-mail so often. The last time I checked, the amount of e-mail you get is not a function of how often you check e-mail,” [Mark] Hurst says. “David Allen’s approach is a bit of a throwback to a pre-internet age when having complex flowcharts, filing papers and creating tickler items was relevant…”

Eliminate Before You Optimize!

I thought his post was interesting and gives some insight into different methodologies to stay productive.

Amazon Launches a New Wireless Reading Device

Amazon has launched an intriguing new device called the Kindle. It's an ebook reader with wireless access. It not only allows you to read books though. You can also read newspapers and blogs. Given the huge trend toward going green, I think a device like this could catch on.

Free Wireless Access on a Mobile Device!

I'm curious to hear from anyone who has tried the device. What's amazing is that the wireless access seems to be free. They appear to be covering their costs through book sales. It will be interesting to see if this thing takes off. Could a device like this have the same kind of appeal as the iPod when it first came out? I suppose only time will tell!

How Do You Feel About Technology Right Now?

I'm just curious, how do you feel about using technology right now? Are you really connected with the technology you're using? Or are you so over it???

I constantly have a love/hate relationship with technology. I have way too many technology tools to support me in my personal life and in my business. Most of the time, things are humming along. But occasionally, I just feel out of sync with the technology tools I'm using. Do you ever feel like that?

Do you love technology or do you hate it?

Please post a comment and let me know what you love about the technology tools you're using, and what you hate!

Thanks.

Rick Cooper, The PDA Pro
http://www.ThePDApro.com

Leverage Technology Tools

2008 is finally here. What are you going to do this year that’s different from last year? How are you going to increase your productivity? If you are resisting or avoiding learning new technologies, it’s time to create momentum and get over the hump. The younger generation is nipping at your heels. They are internet savvy, social media conscious and are comfortable using mobile tools (PDAs and smartphones) on the go. So, what can you do to catch up with them before they eat your lunch?

The younger generation is nipping at your heels...
what can you do to catch up?

Learning a new technology takes time. Most people don’t give themselves enough credit for their efforts to learn new tools. Here are some tips that can help you move forward.

Tip #1: One Tool at a Time

Don’t resolve to learn five new tools at once. It won’t work. You have plenty of time. Depending on how busy you are, make it a priority to learn one new technology every quarter. If you have a little more time on your hands, you can try monthly. But, you want to build in time to evaluate your options and select a new tool. This will help you maximize the free trial period available for many software tools.

Tip #2: Create a Checklist with your Wishlist

You don’t need to learn every feature on a hardware device, software program or online service. Create a top ten checklist of what you want to learn and rank them one to ten. When you have a spare moment, pick the most important feature to learn.

Tip #3: Join an Online Group

There are millions of online groups out there. They can be a great source of information on how to learn and leverage a technology tool. The trick is to find the right one for you. Be sure to learn the rules of the group. Look for ways to help and keep promotion at a minimum. You get tips, tricks and insights on how to leverage a new tech tool.

That’s it. Just look for ways to make incremental, baby steps. You can do anything you set your mind to. Good luck!

Holiday Tips for Buying Technology

The holidays are here. And that means people are going to go hogwild on buying technology. For those of you who held off all year and saved your money, it's time to splurge. So what can you do to keep from overspending and regretting your purchases?

First, brainstorm a list of your needs. When considering what to buy, it's always important to think about what you need. Tech tools often overlap. For example, printers can scan, fax and copy in addition to printing. Think about what tools you already have and how much longer they may last.

Next, make a list of tech tools you want and need. This step involves some research because it's actually time to determine what's available in the marketplace.

At some point, you're going to have to start prioritizing. Most people can't afford everything they want. And it usually doesn't make sense to buy everything you want at the same time anyway. Technology tools become obsolete the minute you buy them.

One of the best strategies is to create a Technology Plan that includes all of the tools you want in the next year.

Now, it's finally time for the fun part. It's time to go shopping. This is where you actually get to touch and play with the various tech tools you are considering. Most people don't take time to try out the different options. But, it’s worth the extra effort.

It's usually a good idea to consider at least three alternatives. You should easily be able to weed out options that don't make sense for you. When you narrow down to three options, you can now begin to evaluate the pros and cons of each tool. You will appreciate the time you invested in this simple, but effective approach.

Now, there are a few other things to consider before making your final decision. First, shop for sales. Because technology does become obsolete so quickly, you will always be able to find a great deal on clearance merchandise.

Next, consider when new models are going to be released. Many new consumer electronics are released in January during the big Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Sites like Engadget.com will keep you informed on what's going to be released soon. As new models are introduced, prices on older models will drop.

One final strategy to consider is to buy one tool and then implement it. Then, go through the process with another tool. You will save money by stretching out your dollars. It takes time to learn how to use a new technology. If you buy too many tools at once, you will end up leaving them on the shelf. Keep it simple and buy one at a time. Then, take time to learn to use it effectively. Also, be sure to find out the return policy, which is often only 30 days. Make sure the product is right for you and return it if not.

Taking these simple and easy steps will allow you to leverage your time and increase your productivity. Happy Holidays!

Go Mobile with SCOTTEVEST

I saw a great new product last night while watching The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch. The witty and irreverent host was interviewing Scott Jordan from SCOTTEVEST. Scott, an attorney turned entrepreneur,  created a vest to hold all of your mobile devices including PDAs and smartphones. What a great idea!

Scott has a great story. Here's a quick excerpt from his website.

"I’m Scott Jordan, and I created the SeV to solve a very basic problem: I needed an easy way to carry AND use all my gadgets and gear. All too often, juggling my gear was a losing battle. I wanted to carry all of my favorite gadgets, but had to leave most at home, or convince my wife to carry some for me. My favorite gear consists of: iPod®, PocketPC/Palm Pilot, a cell phone, the car/remote keys, a digital camera, water bottle, and a magazine.

Clothes simply weren’t designed to hold this much stuff. Before long, I needed a bag just to carry my gadgets, and that defeats the purpose of being mobile and the perfect “man-purse” just doesn’t exist. Believe me, I tried to find something on the market that addressed my needs, but there wasn’t anything available that was fashionable, functional and affordable. So, in 2001, I decided to solve the problem myself, and the idea of designing clothing as a Gear Management Solution™ came to me. I then quit my day job- practicing law at a mega-law firm, and SCOTTEVEST/SeV® and the Technology Enabled Clothing-TEC® system were born."

Wow! What a great story. It just goes to show what can happen when someone makes a decision to become an entrepreneur. And what a great product too!

Scott Jordan, Founder and CEO of SCOTTEVEST, Inc., is pictured here wearing the vest. Mobile devices are actually stored in the liner of the vest and not visible to onlookers. Very cool! And handy too!

Personal Development List

I have to give a big kudos to Life Coach Priscilla Palmer for starting her Personal Development List and a thanks for recognizing The PDA Pro Blog. I have decided to publish the list on my site as well for my readers to see and have added my own recommendations to the list (and will update this periodically). I think this a great example of organic social networking in the spirit of sharing resources.

Priscilla says that personal development is a large topic that includes but is not limited to (law of attraction, goals, time management, physical fitness, education, motivation, inspiration, and social skills). Some of my additions to the list feature technology bloggers who have a strong commitment toward personal development and cover at least one topic among the ones listed above.

If I have sent a trackback to your site, just know I'll be back to post a relevant comment at some point to add value to the discussions on your site. Feel free to do the same here. (Thank you.)

Personal Development List:

Aaron Potts at Today is That Day

Adam Kayce at Monk at Work

Alan Torres at Made to Be Great

Albert Foong at urbanmonk.net

Andrea J Lee at Money, Meaning and Beyond (Added by Rick Cooper)

Andy Wibbels at AndyWibbels.com (Added by Rick Cooper)

Ask Lucid at Ask Lucid Spiritual Development

Anita Pathik at Law at Power of four Way

Belle Wong at Abundance Journal

Brian Clark at Copyblogger

Brian Kim at briankim.net

Bob at everyeveryminute

Christine Kane at ChristineKane.com

Craig Harper at Motivational Speaker

Curt Rosengren at Occupational Adventure

Dave Schoof at Engaging the Disquiet

David Rogers at How to Have Great Self Confidence

Dawud Miracle at dmiracle.com

Dean Lacono at Law of Attraction for Beginners

Debbie Call at Spirit In Gear

Des Walsh at Thinking Home Business (Added by Rick Cooper)

Dick Richards at Come Gather Round

Donald Latumahina at Life Optimizer

Donna Karlin at Perspectives (Added by Rick Cooper)

Dr. Hal at Northstar Mental fitness blog

Edward Mills at Evolving Times

Frank Kanu at Frank Uncovers Excellence in Leadership (Added by Rick Cooper)

Guy Kawasaki at How to Change the World

Gleb Reys at Personal Development Ideas

Gretchen Rubin at Happiness Project

Gustav at Success-is-in-you.com

Henrik Edberg at The Positivity Blog

Itzy Sabo at Email Overloaded (Added by Rick Cooper)

Jacklyn Ker at Inspiring and Empowing Lives

Jason Ivers at A Miracle a Day

Jay White at dumb little man tips for life

Jean Browman at Transforming Stress Into Power and Cheerful Monk

Jeffrey Phillips at Think Faster

Jennifer at Goodness Graciousness

Jeremiah Owyang at Web Strategy by Jeremiah (Added by Rick Cooper)

Jerry Hart at Blueprint to eMarketing  (Added by Rick Cooper)

Jerry Lopper at Personal Growth

Joanna Young at Coaching Wizardry

John Place at John Place Online

John Wesley at Pick The Brain

Josh Bickford at Reach For Magnificence and Reach for Magnificence

Julia Rogers Hamrick at Julia’s Blog: Journal of the Journey Home to Eden

Kammie Kobyleski at Passion Meets Purpose

Karen at Journey with Water Learner

Karen Lynch at Live The Power

Kim George at Doing What You Can Do

Kirsten Harrell at Ipopin

K.L. Masina at Be Conscious Now

Leah Maclean at Working Solo (Added by Rick Cooper)

Lee Nutter at bmindful

Leo Baruta at Zen Habits

Life Reflection at Universe in a Single Atom

Lisa Gates at Design Your Writing Life

Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

Lola Fayemi at Real World Spiritual and Personal Development

Lorraine Cohen at Powerfull Living

Lyman Reed at Creating a Better Life

Maria Palma at The Good Life

Mark at The Naked Soul

Mark Forster at Get Everything Done

Mark McManus at Build Your Life To Order

Mark W. Shead at Productivity 501 (Added by Rick Cooper)

Martin Avis at Kickstart Daily

Matthew Cornell at Matt’s Idea Blog

Merlin Mann at 43 Folders

Michelle Moore at Happiness Blog

Michael Port at The Think Big Revolution (Added by Rick Cooper)

My Everyday Planner at My Everyday Planner

Nancy Tierney at Unconditional Confidence

Neil Patel at Quick Sprout

Nneka at Balanced Life Center

Organize-It at Organize-It

Pamm Larry at My Spiritual Dance

Patricia Singleton at Spiritual Journey of a Lightworker

Paul at Paul’s Tips

Peter at I Will Change Your Life

Peter Aldin at Great Circle

Phil Gerbyshak at Make It Great

Priscilla Palmer at Personal Development Demands Success

Raymond Salas at Zenchill Powertools

Reg Adkins at ElementalTruths

Rick Cockrum at Shards of Consciousness

Rick Cooper at The PDA Pro

Robert at Compassionate Council

S.J. Yee at Personal Development for the Book Smart

Sam at Aquire Wisdom and Live with Passion

Scott Adams at The Dilbert Blog

Scott Bernadot at Keeping The Secret

Scott Ginsberg at Hello, My Name is Blog (Added by Rick Cooper)

Scott H Young at Scott H Young

Self Pursuit at Self Pursuit

Shauna Arthurs at Breathing Prosperity and Follow Your Path

Sleeping Dude at How to Wake Up Early

Steve Olson at Steve-Olson.com

Steve Pavlina at stevepavlina.com

Susan Sabo at Productivity Cafe

Ted Demopoulos at Blogging For Business

Thom Quinn at Qlog

Tim Ferris at 4-Hour Workweek and Lifestyle Design Blog

Tony D Clark at Success From The Nest

Torlink at You Create Reality

Trevor Gay at Simplicity is the Key

Troy Worman at Orbit Now!

Vickie at Contemplate This

WildBill at PassionateBlogger

and these collaborated sites:

Life Coaches Blog Strategies for a Greater Life

Last Updated by Rick Cooper, The PDA Pro on: 8-24-07

Top Ten Computer Flops

Miguel Carrasco's Real World lists the top ten computer flops of all time. If you're a techie, you might find this interesting. There's also a lesson here about perseverance.

Thanks to Andy Gray, CTO of Conselleo, for passing this along.

Browsing the Mobile Web

The internet is great, right? So, that means accessing the internet on the go is a fantastic idea, right? Not quite!

The mobile internet is still not ready for prime time.  You still have to be very selective about what sites you access from a PDA or other mobile device.

Keep in mind though that phone carriers are moving rapidly to make audio and video content available. One example is Vcast offered by Verizon. These are simply attempts to turn your mobile device into an entertainment platform. For the most part, it doesn't do much to increase your productivity.

Here are some great examples of sites that are worth browsing on your mobile device.

ABC News:
http://wireless.go.com/wireless/abcnews/xhtml/index

Yahoo Weather:
http://wap.oa.yahoo.com/raw?dp=weather&ct=&st=&addr=&zip=

Google Local:
http://www.google.com/xhtml?site=local

Fox Sports:
http://fs.sorrent.com/fs/fe

Fandango:
http://mobile.fandango.com/

Orbitz:
http://mobile.orbitz.com/

Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/access

Want a shortcut? Just bookmark: http://mobile.palm.com

Each of these shortcuts will work on a Palm PDA and should also work on other mobile devices. The key is that these sites have developed mobile content, void of the extraneous information that clogs their main site.

You can still browse full websites. But most are not easy to read and a lot of the functionality may not work. If you find yourself frustrated with a site, skip it. If you find a site you like, bookmark it. That will boost your PDA Productivity.

Don't Get Stuck in Email Jail

Donna Karlin, an outstanding Executive Shadow Coach, recently asked her readers, "Are you in Email Hell?" I think it's a great question and she offers some great suggestions for increasing your email productivity.

Donna Karlin's Email Tips:

• Use email rules and filters
• Read messages once and then act on them
• Flag messages when you need more time to respond
• Schedule time for email and adhere to it
• Ask people to take you off their joke list
• Don't use your inbox to park messages
• Allow one day after vacation to catch up on email
• Reduce email tag by giving a thorough response

Read Donna's post for more information. You can also check out my post on Mobile Email Lessons Learned if your challenge is too much email in your PDA inbox.

Everything About Web 2.0

Bob Stumpel maintains a comprehensive of sites and applications that feature Web 2.0 technologies at Everything 2.0. For more information, check out Wikipedia for Web 2.0.

Thanks to Matthew Hollingsworth in his blog Nontrivial Exercises for the information and link.

Five Simple Strategies to Muffle Online Pollution

As the debate over free speech and global conversations rages on, I'd like to share several suggestions to help people reduce online pollution in their lives and improve their Internet experience. Imagine entering a room full of radios, each playing a different station. One might be playing Christian music, another country and others rap or rock . While the sound of one radio might be pleasant and even melodic, the sound of a dozen radios would be a cacophony. The din of noise pollution would fill the room.

A trip to the Internet these days offers much the same experience. The explosion of online content from websites, blogs and other online resources is making it more challenging to find what you're looking for. A car reduces air pollution by using a muffler. In much the same way, you can muffle online pollution and improve your online experience.

So, here are five simple strategies to muffle online pollution:

1. Bookmark your favorite sites
2. Filter your online searches
3. Use online tools to guide you to quality content
4. Use email rules to manage discussion lists
5. Create a blog to serve as a personal launching pad

Online pollution isn't necessarily a bad thing. It just means there is more content on the web than ever before. You can be proactive in improving your own online experience. I'll be exploring this topic further in the coming weeks and providing more information about these strategies.

Free Speech is Overrated

Free speech is truly overrated. Just because people have the right to speak and share ideas doesn't necessarily mean that people will say anything meaningful. In fact, as more people have the capability to share their ideas globally, it will pollute the collective consciousness of society.

In his blog, Web Strategy by Jeremiah, Jeremiah Owyang says,

"Enablement software is for the global community, and can empower individuals to enter the global conversation at no cost –just add internet. "

It reminds me of my favorite quote from Jurassic Park, from Dr. Ian Malcom played by Jeff Goldblum,

"I'll tell you the problem with the scientific power that you're using here: it didn't require any discipline to attain it. You read what others had done and you took the next step. You didn't earn the knowledge for yourselves, so you don't take any responsibility for it. You stood on the shoulders of geniuses to accomplish something as fast as you could and before you even knew what you had you patented it and packaged it and slapped it on a plastic lunchbox, and now you're selling it, you want to sell it! "

Now granted Jeremiah is advocating free tools to extend this global conversation, but nothing is truly free. Someone's making a buck somewhere along the way.

You might be asking yourself what this has to do with PDAs. In fact, it has a lot to do with PDAs, because mobility will create more opportunities to broadcast, share and report on life as it happens. It's already happening. And, that will have some drastic consequences. We've already seen the Iranian government harrassing bloggers in that country. My fear is that ever increasing free speech will ultimately result in governments curtailing our rights. Even Singapore has indicated it's going to ban podcasts during the next election.

I guess I'm arguing for measured growth so we can avoid total anarchy. Learn more about Smart Mobs to see how anarchist groups are utilizing technology to swarm public places. Mobile technologies are expected to be used increasingly in upcoming elections. Do you think this behavior might be disruptive? I think so. This trend will only continue. And, what are we to do when terrorists begin using these tools?

Think about it.  Take responsibility for the technology you create and exercise caution. If that doesn't concern you, consider how long it will be before artificial intelligence truly emerges and machines really begin thinking for themselves. But that's a topic for another day.

Bottom line, I'm playing devil's advocate to a certain extent. I don't want to dishonor the U.S. troops who have died in defense of our civil liberties and freedoms. I believe in free speech but we have to exercise caution or else we stand to lose those rights. But, I do think technology advances faster than societies change. See my recent post about the kosher phone for an example of society rejecting technology, or at least constraining the freedoms it offers.

So, be careful of what you create. Let's remember the parable of Frankenstein. Just because you have the technology to create something doesn't necessarily mean it's a good thing! Thank you for your indulgence.

[Member, LinkedIn Bloggers]

Updates:

4-08-06 Jeremiah Owyang posts Global Conversations are Polluting the Collective Consciousness? I Disagree.

4-08-06 Rick Cooper posts Global Conversations Cloud Creative Content

4-08-06 Rick Cooper posts Five Simple Strategies to Muffle Online Pollution

4-08-06 Mike Sansone posts Whistle Stops - 04/08/06

4-09-06 Mike Sansone posts Have Your Say - It's Important to Somebody

4-09-06 Jeremiah Owyang posts Mike the conductor whistles in

Riya Takes Photos to a New Level

In the realm of "that's pretty cool stuff," the online service Riya offers some outstanding capabilities with digital photos. Josh Bancroft, on his blog TinyScreenfuls.com, comments on his recent experience with Riya. He states:

"But of the hundreds of faces it’s already isolated, I’ve been playing around with the identification training, telling Riya who the faces are, and I have to say, this is some pretty freaking cool stuff."

Through the service's amazing facial recogntion technology, you can search on a person's name and the service will locate photos of  anyone with that person's name. The flip side is you can see photos of yourself that other people have uploaded.

I wonder how long before this technology is optimized for mobile use. Watch out Osama!

Million Names Project

Another resourceful entrepreneur, Paul Nichol, has come up with a way to generate a million dollars for himself. That's through the Million Names Project. He is seeking people to buy a space on his website for their name and website url for the price of $1.00 each (through PayPal). Not bad for a little advertising.

I added my name when the count was at 36 names. It will be interesting to see how quickly he will make it to his target. Just another example of how the internet has created an entirely new frontier for entrepreneurship with few barriers for entry.

For more information on Paul Nichol, see his press release.

Websites that Make you Wonder

Web Strategy Consultant Philippa Gamse recently noted a web experience that left her wondering. She makes the point that companies often forget why people are visiting their website and do not make it easy for visitors to find what they're seeking. Figure out why people are visiting your website and help them take action.

It's true that too many websites are filled with way too much information. This is true for blogs as well. Companies often forget that less is more.

In the Big Red Fez, Seth Godin makes an analogy of a monkey looking for a banana. Each web page should have a clear purpose and offer a banana that encourages the visitor to take action. Beyond providing information, most companies hope their websites will actually generate sales. So why create barriers? Use the KISS principle and keep it simple. There should ideally be only one banana on each web page and it should attract attention through shape and color. Look to Amazon to see the way they use a box and text to "Add to Shopping Cart" on every web page. They make it simple to buy. You won't have to scroll for days to find a link to buy a book or other product.

Websites are another form of marketing collateral and good design principles apply just as they do for print media and direct mail.

PC World Ranks Top 50 Gadgets

PC World lists the top 50 gadgets of the past 50 years based on an informal poll of their editors.  The list is limited to items covered in their magazine and exludes large items. The top two items are music players with #1 going to the Sony Walkman and the #2 spot going to the Apple iPod.

Palm devices hold two of the top spots. Palm holds the #4 spot with the Palm Pilot 1000 from 1996 and the #20 spot with the Palm Treo 600 from 2003. #14 went to the Blackberry 850 Wireless Handheld from 1998. The precursor to the Palm, the Apple Newton MessagePad from 1994 ranked at #28 on the list. #33 is the Franklin Rolodex Electronics REX PC Companion from 1997. While it's technically not a PDA, it stores information similar to a PDA. And finally, #48 was the Sharp Wizard OZ-7000 from 1989.

The biggest surprise was there was no mention of any Windows CE, Pocket PC, or Windows Mobile device from Microsoft. In addition to PDA's, the list features cameras, videocameras, gameplayers, early portable computers and music players. All in all, I think PDAs were well represented on the list.

Thanks to my friend and associate Andy Gray from Power Marketing for passing this along.

the::unwired is now wireless

Congratulations to Arne Hess of the::unwired for developing a mobile/wireless version of their website. This site provides news on Pocket PCs and other Windows Mobile devices. Too few websites are optimized for mobile devices. Hopefully, more sites will follow this trend. Web surfing is still a pian in most cases. You have to be very selective about what sites to access.

PalmOne's LifeDrive

What do you get when you cross an iPod with a Palm PDA? A LifeDrive! Well, it's not really an iPod, but nearly. It's a media centric PDA. With a 4GB hard drive, you can store a lot of files.

Engadget offers more information on the new device.

It falls into a new category of mobile devices called the "Mobile Manager." According to an article in CNET,

PalmOne may be heading a new trend in the handheld industry with LifeDrive; Dell plans to release a hard-drive-based device in November, according to a source and enthusiast site Brighthand.

It will be interesting to see where this new trend leads us. From my perspective, much of this media will lead to a reduction in productivity, with more options to distract you. So, consider that when purchasing a PDA. If you do get one, be selective in what media to listen to or view. Look for something educational or motivational to help keep you focused, rather than distracted.

Pictures for your PDA

Can pictures make you more productive? Absolutely. There are business reasons for using pictures on a PDA. For one, you can carry images of your products. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. A real estate agent can take a quick picture of a property. A home inspector can take a picture of a leaky water heater. There are many reasons you may want to carry and show photos.

Most PDAs and smartphones offer the option to view photos. Many smartphones now come with cameras built in. This offers you the capability to take a picture, view it, and even send it.

You also have the option to copy photos from your computer to your PDA. This is easier on some PDAs than others. It may often require you to save a photo onto an expansion card rather than on the device itself.

Another alternative is to email a photo to your PDA. Simply, open your computer's email application, attach a photo as a file and then mail it to an email address you can access on your PDA. Then, retrieve your email. You may need to select the file for download. Then, the photo should be saved onto your PDA.

Be sure to compress photos before copying to your PDA. Some jpg files can be 1.5MB or more. The compression ratio will depend on how much space is available and the quality of the PDA's resolution. The better the quality resolution on your PDA, the larger size file you should use. Otherwise, the photo will degrade and look grainy. However, if the resolution is not that good, then compress to a smaller size. Compress to between 50kb and 250kb on average.

Moblogging is becoming more popular for personal use, but has not really found a following among the business community. As image quality improves, businesses will begin using moblogging for event promotion. This will probably begin with the media trying to promote events and increase participation. Imagine viewing a stream of photos from a popular nightclub before deciding whether to go there.

There's nothing wrong with carrying photos of family and friends. That may be just what you need when you're having a challenging day and want to remember why you're working so hard.

Just the Beginning of the Internet!

If you thought the Internet was big now, just wait! Seth Godin gives ten reasons why Internet companies and other businesses will flourish. Here is #6,

"Multimedia. The web is still stuck in ASCII world, but not for long. Add a few million video cameras, fifty million cell phone cameras, every song ever recorded, every TV show and movie ever made and the contents of most any scholarly book and it gets interesting fast. Sure, the lunkheads at the RIAA and MPAA will make up lies to try to stop it, but the cosmic jukebox meets the realtime surveillance camera is going to happen."

I think Seth has understated the importance of mobile technologies in driving the development and growth of the web. The proliferation of connected PDAs and smartphones means that people can access the Internet 24/7. They don't need to wait until they return home or get to the office. The nature of the Internet will change as it seeps into all sorts of mobile devices. There is no reason your car radio won't be able to stream audio updates of news, traffic, weather or even your favorite blogs. We're talking about on demand content anytime, anywhere. The Internet will be ubiquitous in a way that we will no longer even recognize that it is the Internet.

I'm not going to make any recommendations about what companies to invest in, but I strongly believe tech companies will make a strong comeback in the coming years. But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong!

Increase Productivity through Filtering

One of the advantages of technology is the ability to access information. However, technology also brings the burden of information overload. It seems that every new technology brings both challenges as well as benefits.

Edward Vielmetti recommends an effective strategy for reducing the overload and increasing your productivity. He offers several suggestions on how to filter information. Most software applications offer the capability to highlight information you have determined is important.

Your PDA may offer additional filters as well. Edward mentions the desire to "see" who is calling. In fact, the PalmOne Treo allows you to assign a photo to a contact. So when the phone rings, you can actually see who is calling. There are additional filters to help locate tasks and other information. In many cases, you can use categories to filter information. Assign categories to contacts, memos and tasks and then select a category to narrow your focus. Out of sight, out of mind.