2019

Someone imagined the next generation tools.....




Wish I was there !

Followers......

See full article at WebStrategist.

Just a brief of the stats published which reveal the power of the net.

Facebook
Obama: 2,379,102 supporters
McCain: 620,359 supporters

Obama has 380% more supporters than McCain

MySpace

Obama: Friends: 833,161
McCain: Friends: 217,811

Obama has 380% more supporters than McCain

YouTube

Obama: 1792 videos uploaded since Nov 2006, Subscribers: 114,559 (uploads about 4 a day), Channel Views: 18,413,110
McCain: 329 videos uploaded since Feb 2007 (uploads about 2 a day), Subscribers: 28,419, Channel Views: 2,032,993

Obama has 403% more subscribers than McCain
Obama has 905% more viewers than McCain

Twitter

Obama: @barackobama has 112,474 followers
McCain: @JohnMcCain (is it real?) 4,603 followers

Obama has 240 times more followers in Twitter than McCain

Take your own conclusions.

The era of THE USER

I had a revealing conversation with a relative of mine who is a Doctor. We were talking about Internet, social networks and professional information. Actually, I was interested in knowing how does he use the computer every day.

The answer was very simple: I use my laptop five to ten times per day depending on the number of patients I visit. He literally said:

“In the morning, when I arrive to my office, I read two or three different online newspapers (I wish I could learn how to use RSS),. Then I open my personal and professional email (I use to receive all kinds of jokes from other doctors, lots of spam and some professional newsletters I read in less than five minutes). In this same session I see the weather forecast for the next days and that’s all.

At lunch, I revisit my email (both of them), search some medical information when I want to revise some aspects of certain pathologies, update news (don’t have time to see the news on TV) and, from time to time, visit my Linkedin account.

During the afternoon, to prepare patient’s visits, I use to access an image database created internally with the images and videos we record on every patient. That helps me to remember their clinical dossiers and to see the evolution of the treatment.

After a long day, at home, I have another laptop I use just for fun: email, search information on interesting travels I would like to do and, sometimes, search new gadgets (TV, music, cameras).”

I then asked him about his preferred search engine. And the answer was not the one I expected (Google or Yahoo). He answered he was bored of these search engines because of the big amount of unnecessary information they offer in every search.

He told me he was expecting some smart company to create a single platform where he could “place” all the services he is using: email (both), his own images and videos database, RSS, library, travel agency, newspapers and newsletters (titles would be sufficient) and other stuff that could change from time to time. He wanted this synchronized automatically in his two laptops or, also, available in some private website (so he could access it from other’s computers).

It’s not the first time I listen to this same comment, and my own experience is that I’ve also build a centralized unique website to link all my needs of information, access to networks, banks, service’s accounts, etc.

Unconsciously, what we are doing is staying away from doing more and more searches and, instead of this, building our own system of information. This personal system is generated by our previous searches of information (a lot of them), contacts with others, and of course experience.

All these outcomes drove us to be aware of the different places we need to visit in the internet (our hard drive or network) to feed our desires. So now we tend to navigate directly to these sites instead of starting googling or yahooing.

Newcomer

We've recently added a new member to our family. His name is Tor, god of different powers and fears in ancient mythologies (under the exact name of Thor). 

Let me introduce him to you....he is just 2 months old.

Sony eBook Reader PRS-505 (part I)

First impression on this ebook reader when unboxing is ....."nice gadget" but let's see what's inside. And what we find there is a very good ebook reader but nothing else: no wifi connection, no color, no interactivity and little problems with PDF reading. Design could be also better....allow Apple do this for you!

It's a very good reader because it has no other ambitions and reading ebooks in the .lrf format is a nice experience. I've been reading some articles and parts of different books for the last two weeks (in very changing light ambiences) and no problems came up with this issue.

But connection or interactivity with the reader are a must-have for the next version. Sony must also allow PDF to be correctly displayed in his screen (zoom is not enough) and,

maybe, think about producing a bigger screen with touch capabilities (and eliminate lots of

useless buttons). IRex is doing quite well with its last product Iliad 2nd Edition but at a much higher price ($599 vs $299).

E-ink technology is in his first development steps so we will have to wait till improvements are available for this readers (faster changes between pages, better transitions, ink colors).

Reader is prepared for leisure but not for professionals: no medical or biology or painting books are possible without colour and other improvements.

On eBook devices

I've been recently looking at those new eBook readers coming from different companies: Amazon, iRex, Sony, Bookeen, Hanlin and others. I was asking myself which one could feed my actual needs.

All of them are based on e-ink technology and, depending on the price (from $200 to $650) they offer more functionalities. For me, two things are the most important: 1) battery life and, 2) the chance to easily upload and storage all content formats (Word, PDF, txt, html, epub, etc.).

After reading different reviews and opinions, I decided to give a try to Sony PRS-505. I will let you know my experience with it in a few weeks.

Il Cavolo Nero - Florence

Il Cavolo Nero is one of those small and glamorous restaurants difficult to find in a tiny street in Florence, Italy. I had the chance to taste his delicious food and wines last week.

I will suggest you to visit its warm light, peaceful ambience and cordial personnel. The restaurant is placed near the Arno River just 15 minutes walking from Ponte Vecchio. It is a small but cosy place with not more than twelve tables in Via de'll Ardiglione 22.

This trattoria has an excellent menu and a complete Carta dei Vini. I've been very lucky trying those dishes: Handmade potatoes gnocchi with cherry tomato and burrata cheese (see Picture), Grilled tuna fillet with vegetables in balsamic vinegar sauce and the superb Soft bitter chocolate cake with an delicious Chianti classico.

Contact: RISTORANTE CAVOLO NERO, Via dell'Ardiglione,22 50124 FIRENZE, tel. 055-294744 - mailto:055-294744info@cavolonero.it

Out - Luggage free flights

A new service is in town: send your luggage to your destination hotel before you. and the idea goes even further.

After singning up online the Flylite service allows you to send your clothes (in labeled bags) to different facilites of the company around the United States (locations available). Before you flight to your meetings, go to you iCloset service and choose the clothes you want to receive in your hotel. You will receive your bag from the front-desk staff when you arrive to your destination.

The service offers a lot more. For instance, once your business trip is over, you can pack all your things into the labeled bags again and ask Flylite to pick it up (all items can be cleaned on demand.....and for a fee). What else do you need ? Service will be available outside the States in the very near futur.

Out - Premium brasserie in Brussel: La Quincaillerie

A spanish friend of mine, who loves eating and testing new restaurants, worked in Brussels for many years. He told me to go to La Quincaillerie if I had the opportunity to go to Brussel. That opportunity became reality last week because of a business meeting that took place in this city.

Two days before our meeting, we took a reservation with Patricia, a very nice person from the online customer service. I ensure she is a very nice and patient person cause I had to change the time of our supper two times (and two times I received a very polite answer).

The menu is typical from a Brasserie and also presents some interesting dishes: les Huitres creuses de Normandie, Espadon roti, saute de legumes et brochette de tomates cerise grillees, Steak de boeuf grille au piment d Espelette et beurre a l ail ou le Tartare de saumon et concombre, sauce soja (the one I tried and enjoyed).

The restaurant is placed ten minutes from the center by taxi (10 euros from La Grande Place). Here are the details.....and don't miss this place: Rue du Page, 45, B-1050 BRUXELLES, Tel. +32 (0)2 533 98 33

Out - Traditional cuisine in Madrid

Sometimes I have to work in Madrid, a city I like very much because of their people and life style. Every time my agenda allows me, I try to have lunch at the very traditional Taberna de los 4 Robles. This is an astonishing example of what good service must be in a restaurant: excellent waiters, excellent dishes and excellent prices.

Localized in the heart of Madrid (Plaza Celenque, 1), less than 100 metres from Plaza del Sol, it offers a wide variety of tipical tapas and extremely good quality of fresh fish and meat.

I recommend trying the Tosta de Gambas (with gaerlic), Espárragos trigueros, Sopa de Marisco, Medallones de Solomillo, Ensalada con Ventresca and Bocaditos de Bacalao. Just be careful with the size of every dish: you have to be very hungry.

Prices are very acceptable and a four people dinner could cost no more than 100-120 euros.

Out - Amazing cuisine, excellent situation

La Venta Restaurant

Every time I can, I try to go to a traditional mediterranean food restaurant in Tibidabo's mountain in the north of Barcelona. Comfortable and with excellent service. You should always make a reservation one day prior to your meeting.

After tasting its finest wines, freshest fishes and meats, you can have a drink in the nearest bars: Mirablau, Merbelle or (most recommended) Mirabe. All of them are no more than 100 m from the restaurant.

I recommend some dishes that are delicious: Ravioli de Langostino con Puerro, Bacalao con pilpil de setas, Risotto frito de azafran con sepia, Canelones de calabacin rellenos de gambas, Lomo de conejo con cigalas y picada de chocolate, Espalda de Cordero al Horno, Sorbete de Agua de Rosa.

Address: Plaza Doctor Andreu s/n - 08035 Barcelona - Tel. +34 93 212 64 55 - Open monday to saturday - www.restaurantelaventa.com