Archive for March, 2010

« Older Entries

Mar

24

2010

3ofo Interview- Elton Brand & The Converse EB2_543

Author: www.fbikey.com 



Interview: Elton Brand & The Converse EB2
words & interview_Nick DePaulaMedia Day image courtesy NBA/ Converse Open Gym images courtesy AP Photos/Mark Stehle After a tough first season in Philly cut short by surgery to help repair a dislocated right shoulder, Elton Brand is looking forward to a year of change. Luckily, he has new team jerseys, a new head coach, and also a new pair of Converse signature shoes to be excited about. For the second year in a row, Converse will be releasing a signature Elton Brand sneaker, dubbed the Converse EB2, and it will be available exclusively at JC Penney stores for just $65. Both the Black/White/Red and White/Black colorway are currently available online on JC Penney’s website, at a few bucks off even.I recently had a chance to catch up with Elton over the phone and hear all about his latest shoe and how he’s feeling heading into the season. Ever since I first heard about the shoe and it’s distribution plan, I’ve also taken a particular interest in the connection to JC Penney, as like Elton, that’s where I got several of my shoes while growing up with a strict spending budget. The EB2 is designed as a versatile shoe with support and durability in mind, and is made with an EVA midsole, circular traction pattern outsole and soft nubuck upper with some nice signature hits tying back into Brand. Sweet shoe, and a great story from both Converse and Elton in dropping a stylish, affordable sneaker.Nick DePaula: How’d you first get involved with Converse after wearing Nike during college at Duke and during your first few years in the league?Elton Brand: Yeah I was wearing Nike during the first few years of my contract, and with Nike owning Converse as a brand, I had the opportunity to go over to Converse. It was a great fit for me, with Converse being such an iconic brand to me growing up. You had Bird, Magic, and Grandmama. [laughs] When I was in high school my AAU team actually wore Converse when I played for Riverside Church. It came up about two years ago, and I was playing with the Olympic qualifying team, and that’s when Converse approached me with the opportunity and we really spoke about having my own shoe, and I was on it.Here I have a chance to be a featured guy, and with Nike, you know, they have a lot of guys, which is great, but with Converse though, they give you the attention that you need and having your own shoe is such an honor. They really make a great shoe, and it’s not going to wear out fast and is real durable. Just the tradition here is great. For $65, you can really tie these up, buckle ‘em up with the straps and go out there and play. These days, it’s really hard to get a great sneaker and a great build for that pricepoint, and that’s something I feel really good about.Were you big into shoes when you were younger? What shoes did you grow up wearing?You know, that’s the thing, there were two things against me. First, size wise, I really couldn’t find my size. Secondly, we couldn’t really afford ‘em. That’s what makes me even happier about the pricepoint with my sneakers, cause growing up I wanted all the fly kicks, but I wore a 15 in the 8th grade and we couldn’t afford ’em. My brother had some nice Air Force 1’s once, and I’d try and wear them sometimes, but I tried to just cram my toes in them and he always knew when I stole them. [laughs] I was just a kid. [laughs]When was it decided that your shoes would be sold at JC Penney? Well that was the Converse marketing and business people that spoke with JC Penney, and it was only a matter of time because they were all aboard. We had a great launch last year, and I’m looking forward to it again, but JC Penney was great for me because that’s where my mom would shop for me for some affordable kicks when I grew up.Yeah I actually got all my shoes there too, and always had a $40 limit growing up.Yeah exactly. Sometimes it’s best for your family if you can go and get a pair of shoes for around $50, and that’s something my mom always stressed to me. Now with my shoe, I think it’s something that kids can go get and really feel good about. I had that same spending limit, and I think only one time growing up, she did splurge I think $80, but I had to wear those for as long as possible. [laughs]How involved were you during the design of the shoe?I was very involved, and I’d send them pictures of things I was into or cars that I was feeling a bit. We talked a lot about the styling of it and the designers did a great job. We really looked at everything. They asked me what my favorite car was, and I said, “Phantom!” I love that car and it’s like me. It’s fast, but it’s built and sturdy, and so we looked at that as kind of inspiring the shoe a bit too.What details did you want to make sure were included?The logo. The logo has a lot to do with me with my initials and also DB for Daisy Brand, my mom. I really like how it’s simple but there’s still certain things that they made sure to add to it that are personal to me.And was the strap something you were pretty adamant about?Yeah I definitely wanted the strap. In the forefoot I really wanted to have that added stability and that was very important to me. The shoe is clean and still has some quickness and agility to it and versatility, but the strap is something they worked in nicely that I wanted.What did you learn about the process after working on your first shoe?I really learned about the comfort they could provide me. My first shoe was very comfortable, and that was something we definitely wanted to stick with. But I also wanted to evolve from the first shoe’s strap and take it to a crossing strap on this one to add even some more protection across the midfoot, along with that comfort. There’s definitely enhanced lockdown and support from the first shoe, and so far I’m liking it a lot. I really like the way this one feels.Do you have a favorite color?I like the black/white/red the most I’d say, but the white/black is real clean and that’s more of an everyday go-to one. I really like them all.And have any of the guys on your team been asking you about your shoes or teasing you since you have your own shoe?A few of them, like Andre, have their own special shoes too, but yeah, they definitely do, and some of the guys have hit me up and want a few pairs too! [laughs] I try and let ‘em know that there’s a Converse Brand shoe out there!Last year you were hurt and it wasn’t quite the start with the Sixers you were probably hoping for. How’re you feelin’ as the season is getting closer?Man, last year was really tough for me, so I was hoping to really get back out there and return to the form that I was used to. I’d really like to help this team get out of the first round, which is where we’ve been stuck the last two years. I feel great, I healed up and I’m totally healthy and I’m looking forward to getting back out there.And are you just now getting settled in Philly for the season?Yeah I’ve been here since the beginning of September, and before that was spending my time out in LA in Cali. I really just had a lot of things to work on to get healthy and get better for the season.What kinds of things were you doing to rehab your shoulder?I had to do some disc moves and strengthening exercises and I was really working on flexibility drills and getting my strength back. At the same time I really had to work on my leg and calf strength too before I had a chance to get back into working on some basketball stuff. I’ve been in there watching film too and I know I’m gonna be getting a shot this year in the offense, and Coach Jordan is implementing a new offense and we’ve been working on that. I even picked up yoga. [laughs]When’d you first get a chance to talk with Coach Jordan and what kind of direction did he give you?I first spoke to him during the offseason, and so far in Training Camp he’s been extremely hands-on. Every workout and drill he’s there pushing us and testing us, which has been awesome.What do you think of the new jerseys for this season?I like ‘em. It kind of reminds me of that whole retro, throwback feel and it brings back memories here of the championships that we’ve had, and it’s funny because with Converse we’ve also gone back to the old Chevron Star logo on my sneakers too. [laughs] So it’s just a cool throwback feel around here, and I’m excited about it.Over the summer, Converse lost Dwyane Wade to Jordan Brand. What’d you think of that?I thought it was a good move for him and he did what he had to do there. He had a good run with Converse and had some nice years under his belt, and now he’s happy to be with Brand Jordan, which is great. I can’t speak for him, but we’re happy to be representing Converse over here!Converse EB2 in Black/White/Red:Converse EB2 in White/Black:Just last week on Saturday, October 10th, Elton also took part in Converse’s Open Gym at Girard College in Philadelphia and handed out tons of EB2 sneakers to local kids from the area. He also helped with some drills and pick-up games and shared some words of advice. Good luck with a healthy season Elton!


Posted in UGG BOOTS USA | No Comments »

Mar

24

2010

9goe Interview- Eric Miller Details The Li Ning BD

Author: www.fbikey.com 



Interview: Eric Miller Details The Li Ning BD 001
words & images_Nick DePaulaIn recent months, Li Ning has already made their presence known in the basketball footwear industry, thanks in part to the detailed sneakers they’ve created for Baron Davis and his incredibly likable Beardman logo. Awesome is about the only way to describe it, as the cartoony icon perfectly plays off of BD’s goofy and fun personality.While we’ve previously showcased Baron’s on-court signature sneaker, the BD Doom, in colorways like Black/Blue/Red, White/Black/Red and Black/White/Red, here we have an exclusive look at Baron’s off-court casual sneaker, the BD 001. We caught up with Li Ning Senior Designer and Baron’s right-hand design man Eric Miller for all of the details and design cues that have been poured into the BD 001. And yes, we’re extremely excited that once again Baron’s Beardman logo is proudly on full display atop the shoe’s tongue.NDP: Baron is of course wearing the BD Doom on the court, but what can you tell me about the lifestyle model you also created for him?Eric Miller: It’s called the BD 001. The Li-Ning 001 is the brand’s annuity product classic cupsole shoe which is flipped in a bunch of colors and materials every season, but it’s always been a low cut. For the BD 001 we decided to bump it up to a taller mid cut height, and add detailing to personalize it to BD’s past. So everything you see, except the collar pretty much, is based on the classic Li-Ning 001 pattern.And what can you tell me about the details on the shoe?The Beardman logo on the tongue obviously hooks it to the BD Doom on-court shoe. And the cropped laser pattern on the lateral + medial sides is actually Chinese characters that translate to “LI” and “NING” respectively. The outsole features a cropped map of greater LA, BD’s stomping grounds. The left and right are slightly different and have 1 red star on each indicating UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion stadium and the Clippers’ Staples Center, showing he’s firmly planted in the LA basketball world, past and present.How many colorways are you gonna drop?There’s three total colorways. A black based [shown below], a white and silver based, and a limited edition run of only 50 white based with Clipper red and blue hits. The LE has a different logo on the heel that says UCBD in the UCLA style script. That one will also be released with a special magnetic box.Sounds good — thanks Eric!Below, the Li Ning BD 001, in Black/ Red/ Yellow.


Posted in UGG BOOTS USA | No Comments »

Mar

24

2010

Lrsa Interview- Jeff Staple Talks STPL X Airwalk_6

Author: www.fbikey.com 



Interview: Jeff Staple Talks STPL X Airwalk
words & interview_Ira LaFontaineImages courtesy Airwalk & StapleIn one of the more interesting collaborations we’ve seen this year in our industry, Jeff Staple and Airwalk have teamed up for a multi-season partnership that will have Payless ShoeSource exclusively launching a full collection of sneakers ranging in price from $30 to $50. Sole Collector caught up with Jeff to hear all about his motives, his goals, and why he thinks the project is already a success.[Be sure to also check out our feature detailing The Histories of Jeff Staple & Airwalk -- HERE]Ira LaFontaine: On your website, you have a portfolio with an extensive body of work for larger companies. Do you only work with larger companies, or have you done design work that we may not have heard of with smaller businesses?Jeff Staple: Oh most definitely. I have a sweet spot for working with small startups because in essence, that’s what we still are. Or at least we have the heart of one. I think if you only work for big companies, it can really burn you out as a creative person. We did the art direction and design for Dime Magazine ever since their prototype issue! We used to have proofing sessions till 6 in the morning or later! So to see a client grow is something really special that money cannot buy.What project(s) have you previously completed that you’re proud of, and what characteristics do you look for in potential partners?Man, there are so many over the years. It’s really hard to pinpoint on a particular one. I’m actually most proud of our Staple apparel collection though. Seeing that grow from hand-silkscreened tees to beautiful cut and sewn pieces is an awesome sight. When a potential client or partner comes to us, I really don’t use a calculated formulaic process. One thing I have learned over the years is to trust my gut feeling. If the people I am working with feel right, then it’s usually all good.What led you to take on the Airwalk partnership? Was it the lure of a fresh challenge that drew you to Airwalk, or is this a sign that Staple is being cognizant of what is happening with the economy?When Airwalk approached us, I immediately had images in my mind of what the company meant: Skate, Heritage, Authenticity and Roots. So from that “brand” standpoint, doing something with Airwalk was pretty much a no-brainer. But I actually knew that doing a one shot deal…or some new color-up on an existing shoe would not help either of our brands. So we started discussing what could be done to take the project to the next level and really do something that hasn’t been done in this market before. When we got deeper into the conversation things got much more interesting. Instead of doing one shoe; it was, let’s do an entire collection. Instead of doing one collection, it was, let’s do multiple seasons together. And instead of doing 50 pairs limited edition, let’s allow the people to have access to them and actually make them affordable. So we worked with Payless ShoeSource to have exclusive distribution on this new brand, “STPL x Airwalk.”You wanna talk different? This is the thing I have been waiting to do for a while now. I’ll be honest, and the people who know, will vouch for this; I have offered up this similar deal with other much more notable footwear companies. I said let’s do a release, but instead of the usual suspects, let’s release at Walmart, or K-Mart, and sell it for $40. They laughed, but I was serious. See, the thing is, it’s easy to sell 100 pairs of shoes at $200 a pair. That’s been the model in the sneaker world and this collaboration is different from that traditional model. Can you make something that resonates with the masses? Can you create something that brings top-level design right down to sub-$50 prices? Can you create something that is desirable, without a FlightClub/Hypebeast/Ebay telling you to go buy it? That was the challenge that I was really interested in.When Airwalk and Staple first started talking, there was no talk of recession or stimulus packages. The downturn of the economy hadn’t hit yet. But now that unfortunately it has, it’s a hidden blessing for this project. It makes the concept all the more timely. I’m glad that Staple and Airwalk can come out with something dope for people to rock without gouging them…especially these days.In an interview on Murketing a couple of years back, Rob Walker asked you a question about projects that you wouldn’t do. Your response was related to public perception and the general public asking “Why the hell did those two get together?” How do you feel about the early perception around the Airwalk partnership?As with almost any project I’ve done, I knew there would be backlash and questioning and there would also be lots of praise and props. It caused a dialogue, and that’s healthy. Most definitely…there was some deliberation on my part. I had to really grill myself and test my motives to see if I was doing this project for all the right reasons? Or all the wrong reasons? You know how I answered it? I thought, “For every sneaker snob that says I sold out, there will be a kid that says ‘Thank You’. Thank you for making some cool ass kicks that me and my family can finally afford. That I don’t need to sleep outside for 5 days to get—(maybe), and that I can feel proud reppin.” It’s like Jay says, “If you don’t like the music you can press fast forward!”I’m really, from the bottom of my heart, trying to do something for the people. The quality, design and craftsmanship that went into these kicks is no less than any other shoe on the market. Payless owns their own stores. There is no middle man. And instead of 2 locations on planet Earth, they have nearly 4,000 locations in America alone. That’s why we can do what we do for the price we sell them at. It’s a win-win for everyone.Airwalk is in a very different place in the shoe world today than they were over a decade ago. Do you feel that the Airwalk partnership can potentially give Staple more credibility, or do you worry that you could possibly devalue your brand by aligning with Airwalk and Payless?A: To me, when you speak of things like credibility, or marketing, or brand valuation…these are all very unreliable gauges for success. To me, PRODUCT IS KING. “Is it dope?” “Is it worth what you paid for it?” “Then thank you, have a nice day!” That’s it! Keep it simple and keep it movin’. ’Cause on the other side of the spectrum, there’s a whole ton of “limited edition” expensive stuff that is pure rubbish. There are plenty of brands that live off of just being marketed properly. That ain’t me. That will never be me. Maybe to a fault. I do things I believe in. And after 12+ years in the game under my belt, I hope my fans will have that faith in my decisions and support me.What expectations do you have for your partnership with Airwalk and what goals will you have to reach to deem it a success?Back to the “Product Being King” concept…I hope the end consumer actually likes what we do! Hell, there definitely ain’t no promises in that. But let me put it to you this way, when I saw the first samples from Airwalk, I was in a hotel in Los Angeles. I was honestly a little nervous. I had never worked with the company before and they never worked with me…so these joints could very well come out looking like garbage and I’d still have to put my name on it! I opened those JPEGs and I swear on my grave; I got goosebumps. Goosebumps only a sneakerhead could understand, feel me?To me…at that point? It was already a success.


Posted in UGG BOOTS USA | No Comments »

Mar

24

2010

Qgoq 60-Second Expert- Afghanistan- What Are These

Author: www.fbikey.com 
60-Second Expert: Afghanistan: What Are These People Thinking?

The Obama administration consistently fails to learn the lessons of Vietnam in Afghanistan. It mischaracterizes the Taliban threat, has not deployed an adequate number of troops, and faces waning support from the public. Despite the hopelessness of the task, the administration continues its delusional policies.

Click here for the full article.



No matter how you look at it, the numbers just do not add up for this impossible task in Afghanistan.


Recommended Citation:

Conn Hallinan, “60-Second Expert: Afghanistan: What Are These People Thinking?” (Washington, DC: Foreign Policy In Focus, September 22, 2009)

U.S. officials fail to realize that, in many ways, the situation in Afghanistan is worse than Vietnam. Although Obama often characterizes Afghanistan as “a war of necessity,” the Taliban actually represents a collection of conflicting local interests and does not just have a monolithic goal of universal jihad. The administration also reverted back to the counterinsurgency doctrine of the Vietnam era as illustrated by its “surge” of troops in Afghanistan to try to win the “hearts and minds” of the locals. Yet the “surge” may prove to be ineffective because it is still far below the estimated number of troops required to adequately secure the region. The American public has grown increasingly disillusioned with the war as well. Furthermore, NATO support for operations in Afghanistan has been limited, with large domestic oppositions within each of the member states.

Posted in UGG BOOTS USA | No Comments »

Mar

24

2010

aorx 60-Second Expert- Ban Ki Moon and R2P_1223

Author: www.fbikey.com

While some countries have expressed concern that the doctrine interferes with state sovereignty, secretary general Ban Ki Moon, a forceful proponent of the measure, has argued that sovereignty comes with the responsibility of protecting one’s people. He stresses the difference between R2P and humanitarian intervention — a concept that has been historically abused in a handful of situations. Instead, R2P is grounded in an effort to encourage sovereign states to prevent crimes against their citizens, hold them accountable if they fail, and put pressure on the international community to identify and punish these crimes.

The United States, too, can play a significant role by accepting and legitimizing the International Criminal Court. The first step would be to revisit the Rome Treaty, which it unsigned in 2002. Unless the United States learns to respect the United Nations, its leaders, and its international treaties, it cannot expect the rest of the world to do the same.

You can read Williams’ full article here.

Senior Foreign Policy In Focus analyst Ian Williams is a journalist and author. Much of his work can be found on his blog,Deadline Pundit. Recommended Citation:

Ian Williams, “60-Second Expert: Ban Ki Moon and R2P” (Washington, DC: Foreign Policy In Focus, August 3, 2009)

60-Second Expert: Ban Ki Moon and R2P

Under the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) doctrine, the United Nations General Assembly addresses the international community’s failure to prevent and stop genocides, war crimes, and ethnic cleansing. Adopted at the World Summit in 2005, R2P expands the definition of such crimes against humanity to include those committed by a state within its own borders.

Despite the laudable efforts of Ban and his predecessor, Kofi Annan, the UN has been criticized for its lack of interference in certain crisis situations. This, in turn, points to a key weakness of the R2P doctrine, which places decision-making power in the hands of the Security Council and the disparate foreign policy agendas of its five permanent members (P5).

As a result, implementing R2P remains a challenge that can only be met by the energizing force of global public opinion. Only an international outcry can compel the P5 to act responsibly rather than selfishly, and Ban Ki Moon has the international clout to galvanize such a movement.




Posted in UGG BOOTS USA | No Comments »

Mar

24

2010

sonp 60-Second Expert- China Eyes Africa_299

Author: www.fbikey.com

China’s growth rate topped 10 percent last year. If Beijing’s goal of quadrupling the size of the economy by 2020 is to be met, energy consumption will climb even higher. And Africa will become an even more important economic partner.

Ultimately, however, it is up to Africa to cut a better deal with China.

For the full article, go to China in Africa: It’s (Still) the Governance, Stupid



Akwe Amosu is a senior policy analyst for Africa at the Washington Office of the Open Society Institute and a contributor to Foreign Policy In Focus (www.fpif.org). Recommended Citation:

African countries collectively can negotiate better deals that raise standards and employ more African labor. China has indicated that it prefers to deal en masse rather than with many different countries. African civil society applauds China’s willingness to invest but raises tough questions about the accountability of both Chinese companies and African leaders. Bringing civil society critics to the table can help African leaders negotiate better deals with China and also help reduce the risks of investments for Chinese companies. 

60-Second Expert: China Eyes Africa

China’s direct investment into Africa has gone from $5 million back in 1991 to over $50 billion last year. The driving force behind this investment is China’s enormous appetite for raw materials. In return for oil, minerals, or timber, China offers a package deal featuring a mix of cash, investment, cheap credit, technical expertise and training, and in-kind benefits such as new presidential palaces, stadiums, roads, dams, and railways.

Akwe Amosu, “60-Second Expert: China Eyes Africa” (Washington, DC: Foreign Policy In Focus, March 9, 2007)


Chinese companies frequently operate in business environments in Africa that other investors avoid. While African countries welcome this interest, China’s willingness to invest raises several difficult questions. China invests in and sells arms to some of the continent’s worst human rights abusing nations, such as Sudan and Zimbabwe. Chinese business practices often leave much to be desired, including a tolerance for corruption and low standards on workplace and environmental regulations. And Chinese investment is often not sustainable for it doesn’t employ or train African workers or process raw materials on African soil.

Posted in UGG BOOTS USA | No Comments »

Mar

24

2010

7ytv -Bing- player ;search – Halos Heaven_580

Author: www.fbikey.com 
"Bing" player ;search - Halos Heaven

Hey HHer’s!

As for when you googleJuan Rivera? Well, that’s not worth talking about.

Because I figured seeing the “Chone Figgins misses All-Star Game” headlines would be too depressing, I decided to search a hotter player, Juan Rivera. And guess what popped up?

This.


I like the way that this is set up. Something similar pops up when you searchfor Juan on yahoo, but I found the last three games and the season stats very interesting and cool. And although I’ll probably never use it, it’s still easy to use.



I was just checking out the new bing.comsearch engine, anddecided to search an Angel player.

P.S. This is what a pitcher’s searchlooks like.

Posted in UGG BOOTS USA | No Comments »

Mar

24

2010

Saff -5 Things to Watch For- – ;Revisited – Halos

Author: www.fbikey.com

5) The fifth starter question will be deferred for a month or so. At that point all three current candidates (Moseley, Loux, and Adenhart) could be supplanted by Lackey, Santana and Escobar.

4) Who gets traded?

As of today, the answers in order appear to be;


3) Abreu or Rivera in leftfield?

1) At this point, it appears the real Kendry will translate his minor league success to the majors. He looks and acts ready for the challenge.

"5 Things to Watch For" - ;Revisited - Halos Heaven

In this post on 2/26/09, WiHaloFan posted the 5 things to watch for in Spring Training ‘09;



4) We now know the answer to the trade question…nobody!

2) Not sure this is fully answered. Wood is currently out of the picture, but Aybar and Izzy appear to be in the same flat-footed tie as last year. Aybar has a slight edge and will probably see more starts at SS, but Scioscia will likely give a fair number of starts to Izzy.

5) Who’s the 5th starter?

Feel free to revise and/or correct with your own views.

1) Will the real Kendry Morales please stand up?

2) The opening day shortstop will be?

3) Abreu would appear to be the winner, but not by much…about the same as SS position.

Posted in UGG BOOTS USA | No Comments »

Mar

24

2010

khmi 10 Adobe AIR apps that make you more producti

Author: www.fbikey.com

1. Ora Time and Expense: Combining power and style, Ora Time and Expense is an extremely appealing app for those looking to be more productive.

Once you download the app, you’ll need to input your Google Calendar RSS feed into the app. From there, it will download all your events. When you finish a meeting, you can click on the event and start billing those you met with. The invoice can be sent in an HTML or text format.

(Credit:Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)

My top 3

File Furnace is unique–and quite useful.

(Credit:Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)

(Credit:Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)

(Credit:Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)

Ora Time and Expense is, quite simply, the best time and expense app I’ve ever used. As soon as you download it, you’ll be treated to a fantastic design that makes it extremely easy to find anything you need. From there, you can add tasks, input expenses, and track your time. You can also run reports to see how much work you’ve performed and how much money you’ve made. The app’s timer will help you determine how long you’ve spent working. Ora Time and Expense is a must-try.

Think helps you remember important thoughts.

Like the site, Remember the Task makes it quick and easy to add tasks to your to-do list. With a simple click of the mouse, you can jot down exactly what needs to be done. That said, it’s not quite as simple to use as Doomi. Its design doesn’t quite match Doomi’s, either. But if you’re looking for an alternative to Doomi that you can use anywhere, you should be happy with Remember the Task.

MiniTask MiniTask won’t blow you away with its design, and you probably won’t be incredibly impressed by its lack of features. But MiniTask is designed to be a lightweight app on your desktop that gets you back to work sooner. It wants to make tracking your day’s requirements quick and easy. And with a simple input field, it succeeds. MiniTask isn’t the best task-tracking tool in this roundup, but if you’re looking to be more productive, it should help.

Agile Agenda Agile Agenda is a project management tool that helps project managers keep their team on track.

(Credit:Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)


Ora Time and Expense As a former company auditor that spent far too much time inputting data into a time-and-expense tool, I was suspect of Ora Time and Expense. I thought it would be too simple. Oh, how wrong I was.

10 Adobe AIR apps that make you more productive

Adobe AIR apps are some of the best designed, most useful applications you can have on your desktop. Last month, I highlighted 10 applications to try out, if you’re thinking about using AIR apps. This time around, I want to take a look at 10 apps that will make you more productive. Trust me, they will help you save some time.

(Credit:Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)

Agile Agenda is quite impressive. You can add your team and input information about the tasks you need to perform. You can set priority, dependencies, when a task should be completed, and more. You can also edit milestones so you can track how the project is coming along. Most importantly, the app’s fantastic design makes it easy to use.

Doomi keeps you on track with a to-do list.

(Credit:Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)

After you download TweetDeck, you can input your Twitter username and start checking out follower updates, replies, and direct messages. You can update your stream from the app. You can also shorten URLs automatically. If you want to manage your Facebook profile, TweetDeck allows you to update your status. You can also see what your friends are up to. Why waste your time on multiple sites? TweetDeck will help you stay in one spot.

Think Think is yet another simple but highly useful app. Instead of jotting ideas down in your head or trying to remember things after a meeting, Think provides a simple, Twitter-like input box, allowing you to jot some mental notes down. Once you complete your thought, it’s added to your Think timeline for future viewing. It works well, but I had one issue: you can’t press the “Enter” key to post an update. Instead, Think requires you to enter the thought with your mouse. It’s annoying, but it didn’t detract too much from the app.

Agile Agenda makes it much easier to manage projects.

2. Doomi: If you want to see what’s left of your day, Doomi is for you.

Ora Time and Expense will help you track all your cash.

(Credit:Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)

File Furnace File Furnace is a unique app. Instead of impressing you with a nice design and several menus, the app displays a simple image of a fire. Over that, the app displays a message that reads, “Drop unwanted files here.” It also features the sound of a crackling fire. As long as you follow the directions of File Furnace, and drag and drop unwanted files or directories into the fire, it permanently removes them from your computer. It’s a slightly unusual app, but it’s much easier to delete files with File Furnace than waste time with the Recycle Bin.

Klok Klok is a simple time sheet app that lets you quickly add projects and how long it took you to complete them. The app even records how long you’ve been working on something for a client. When you stop the timer, you can modify its description and add it to your time sheet. When you’re ready, you can create reports to see how much work you’ve performed. Unlike many time sheet apps, getting used to Klok takes no time. It’s a well-designed, easy-to-use program.

Klok makes it easy to add projects to your time sheets.

Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who has written about everything from HDTVs to computers to Flowbee Haircut Systems. Don is a member of the CNET Blog Network, and posts at The Digital Home. He is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure.

Remember the Task Remember the Task is the AIR version of Remember the Milk, the popular online to-do list service.

(Credit:Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)

TweetDeck shows your Twitter stream

Google Calendar Invoice Creator If you’re looking for an easy way to transfer all your meetings from your Google Calendar to a program that will bill those with whom you met, Google Calendar Invoice Creator is for you.

Google Calendar Invoice Creator should maximize your time meeting with clients.

Agile Agenda gives you the option of trying it for 3 days or 30 days, or buying a license. If you’re buying one license, the software will set you back $70. More licenses reduce the price.

Be more productive

MiniTask is small, but capable.

3. Google Calendar Invoice Creator: By integrating Google Calendar, this app is a great way to be more productive.

Doomi Doomi is an extremely simple to-do-list app that lets you quickly add items you need to complete. That list is displayed under the input box. You can set how long it should take to complete the task and mark the box next to it when it’s complete. It’s a simple app, but it’s far more effective than writing your to-do list down.

Remember the Task has a slightly older-looking design, but it's still a nice app.

TweetDeck TweetDeck is not only one of the best apps you’ll use with Adobe AIR, it will easily make you more productive when you start interacting with social networks such as Facebook and Twitter.



(Credit:Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)

Posted in UGG BOOTS USA | No Comments »

Mar

24

2010

7qys ‘American Idol’ branding lands in Habbo_5600

Author: www.fbikey.com

American Idol, one of the only television franchises that’s truly interactive with its audience, is getting a brand extension through of a deal with the teen-focused social-network service Habbo.

“We were looking for a virtual world” for American Idol, Luner said. None of the full-motion, fluid worlds like Second Life, were right for the franchise; Luner cited safety as the primary reason. Habbo has controls designed to make it a safe environment for teens. It’s also a “two-and-a-half-D” world, meaning the graphics are blocky and the perspective never moves off the isometric. It certainly works as a framework for a social site, but it’s hard to mimic dance moves in the system.



(Credit:Habbo)

The match makes a lot of sense if you look at the demographics of the two products: teens love American Idol, and Habbo is built for them. When I spoke with senior vice president David Luner of FreemantleMedia Enterprises–which owns the American Idol franchise–it became clear that the demographic overlap was the driving factor in this deal.

Rafe Needleman writes about start-ups, new technologies, and Web 2.0 products, as editor of CNET’s Webware. E-mail Rafe.


American Idol in Habbo also lacks snarky judges and singing, two of the franchise’s biggest features. It does, however, let users engage in some “mini contests,” as well as chat about the show. Users will also be able to buy virtual branded items that have appeared in the show, and they’ll be exposed to crossover advertising. 

'American Idol' branding lands in Habbo

Not Paula Abdul.

Posted in UGG BOOTS USA | No Comments »

« Older Entries