This makes all the sense in the world - just didn't see it coming is all.

Apparently employees at LEGO are handing out small LEGO people as business cards. Now I'm sure it's difficult to get them into the little slots and thin plastic covers made for traditional business cards but I wouldn't turn one down.

What a clever idea. Made me thing about all the things specialty companies could use as business cards.

How about you? Do you work somewhere that might have a more unique calling card?

I have to come up with something. I want to be unique too...

Every year I pinch myself to make sure I'm not sleeping. I get to work with an incredible team of people who do everything possible to take what they know and give it away.

Enter the wiredchurches.com workshops. This year they are coming to you four times with fresh new content.

Also, instead of being a one day event, we set aside two days so you can get two workshops under you belt in one trip.

If I were you I'd get in under the radar and check them out.

I'll be in the Less Clutter. Less Noise. and Untangling the Web sessions backing up my boss Kem Meyer. I can't wait - it's going to be fun year.

In technology, if you aren't improving your product or creating something new, you are destined to fail (or at least be passed up).

Because of this, companies are always working on version 2.0 - looking to one-up the competition with something new and innovative. They search out cutting edge technologies rather than using what exists.

So any time a company puts something out that seems to lack originality or fails to harness new technology, people notice.

Enter Windows Mobile 6.5...

Now to be honest, I've never touched this OS and haven't even seen it operate. But I trust my good friends over at Engadget. They've seen it all and have a pretty good handle on what works and what doesn't in the tech world.

So when they posted, Ten Reasons Why Windows Mobile 6.5 Misses the Mark, I took notice.

You can read the ten things if you want, but it was the tenth one that made me sad. Not because it's Microsoft. I'd feel this way if this was said of anyone for any reason:

10: It doesn't innovate in any way. More than anything else, however, the main reason I'm disappointed with the new Windows Mobile doesn't have to do with features, lack of features, or UI design. It has to do with what 6.5 shows of Microsoft. Instead of stepping up to the plate and trying to do anything daring, new, or even remotely innovative, the company has shrunk from taking chances and delivered a new phone OS that's not simply more of the same, but more of the same dressed up to look like something new.

In Summary
Don't ever let it be said that you are stagnant, boring or more of the same. Always be working on the next big thing. Always be thinking outside the box. Always innovate.

The fun started today. For those of you that love gadgets (more specifically mobile gadgets) today is the first day of the Mobile World Congress 2009. If anyone wants to be a somebody in the mobile world they'll be there sharing their new stuff.

With the Palm Pre being outed at CES 2009 this year, I wasn't expecting it to be big news at MWC. But there is plenty of other cool stuff to go around. I'm currently watching the Engadget feed like a hawk as post after post comes in about the latest stuff being unveiled.

Of course I can't say that anything has interested me as much as the Palm Pre, and I am getting more and more frustrated that it isn't going to be available for a while. But while I'm waiting it's fun to see what other companies are doing with their product lines.

There are new products (hardware) and many updates to existing products.

There are new products (software) being unveiled as well.

Here are just a few of the cool cool things I've seen so far:

1. Nokia N97 which looks like a pretty cool phone but is also connected to the new Ovi Store for Apps and other downloads.
2. HTC Touch Phones: HTC is leading the charge for the WinMo phone market. The Touch Pro2 (with video) and the new Touch Diamond2 (with video). Both look like winners.
3. Samsung OmniaHD: Amazing possibilities with 720p video (exhaustive inspection).
4. Windows Mobile 6.5: Finally an upgrade that will at least keep WinMo phones viable in today's market - though that's not saying much (walk through here). They are now thinking outside the box - but is it too little too late? I have 6.1 right now and won't even be able to upgrade...
5. Palm Pre to support Flash? Just thought I'd throw that in for free :)

That's it for now but I'm sure there will be a lot more to come...

I have to admit I'm not very good at the hardcore IT stuff. I can muddle through but would much rather just have things work through pretty little UI's and setup wizards.

I spend far too much time troubleshooting network issues at home. To summarize:

I have a desktop running Windows XP professional. I have a work laptop (Dell Latitude D830) running Windows Vista 64bit. And my wife just got a Dell Studio15 running Windows Vista 64bit. My laptop is part of the "GCC" workgroup while the desktop and Tammy's laptop are on the "WORKGROUP" workgroup. We have a HP Laserjet that doesn't like 64bit OSs. I have a Western Digital World Book II (network connected external storage device) that shows on my Network Places sometimes but not all the time. I can't connect to my home printer. I get different results between being on my wireless network and being directly plugged into my network.

Is anyone confused yet? I'll admit it. I am...

There's part of me that thinks, "If I keep trying I'll figure it all out." But there's also part of me that wants to pay an IT dude to come over for 15 minutes and make it all play nice...

Having all these "IT" issues made me ask the following question:

Is Your Website That Confusing?
Seriously! Do the people landing on our websites feel like they are being guided seamlessly through the content? Or do they feel like a peripheral with a 32bit driver trying to play on a 64bit OS? Are they getting lost the minute they arrive or is there a sweet UI and "setup wizards" to make their lives easier?

If not, lets at least start here:

1. Design: Make it simple. "Less is more" Less Clutter. Less Noise. People can't look at 50 things on a page without going cross-eyed. Flash banner ads, text links, graphic links, form items, polls, animated gif images, etc. Stop while you are ahead...
   
2. Navigation: Have you heard the acrostic: Keep it simple stupid? If not, learn it well. Navigation can be one of the most overwhelming things about a website. If you have thousands of pages - you better figure out a good way to clump them. Make fewer options on the home page and the main navigation and let other pages fall under "landing pages" or "category pages."
   
3. Content: Your visitors don't need the whole story - just give them the facts they need and they'll get the rest some other way. At the church - this means we just give people the who, what, why, when and where. If they are interested in the full story there is a contact form or a number to call.
4. Rich Media: One of the greatest things happening on the web right now. But if you're not careful you can throw video clips all over the place with no thought to cohesiveness and consistency. Develop or purchase a media player for crying out loud. Keep all video in one place with the ability to sort and filter what you are looking for.
   

These were the first four things that came to mind. Maybe sometime (when I have time to get it out on paper) I'll post a more inclusive list like, The top 50 things to think about when developing a website people will return to.

Of course I am as much in need of this information as any of you. I still have to remind myself not to break rules like these when adding new stuff to the website.

Start untangling your "network nightmare" today and keep up the good work!

I began seeing concepts like this a while back. I think one had to do with Web 2.0 and one tried to project what Web 3.0 would look like. But the Conversation Prism (built off work done by Robert Scoble and Darren Barefoot) seems to be a bit more helpful.

Obviously, in today's fast moving tech culture, it is very difficult to create something that is all-inclusive. And even harder to create something that will make sense for longer than six months...

But for the here and now - this does make sense. It is a snapshot of the way the Internet is being used right here-right now. It seeks to display graphically, what O'Reilly takes 5 pages to define. And while the Conversation Prism isn't meant to be an expose on Web 2.0, it can't escape the fact that the majority of the apps listed are Web 2.0 in that they foster communication, interactivity and the ability for the user to communicate and add value to the Internet.

Take some time to look through the categories and the listed online apps. If you are like me you'll find a bunch you've never heard of before, check them out and possibly add them to your toolbox.

For many of you out there, Less Clutter. Less Noise. is nothing more than a cool new book on how to communicate successfully in today's climate. But for us (at Granger Community Church) it isn't just a book - it is our standard operating procedure.

Less Clutter. Less Noise. is the strategy we employ regarding the majority of things we do in our department - from print pieces to web sites.

So how did it start? Well, a few years ago Kem Meyer was asked to join the team at Granger to build a website. She came in, did a quick assessment and instead of building a website, set up the communication strategy that would help guide the church into a future of bigger and better things.

As Web Director at the church I am deeply in her debt. It's like getting a job as a contractor. You drive to the work site and find the foundation already poured and the materials sitting there waiting for you. Sure there is a lot to do to finish off the house, but you are light years ahead of guy still drawing up his blue prints.

I can't tell you how great it is to work inside the framework that is Less Clutter. Less Noise. There is a freedom to do the next big thing without the baggage and entanglements a traditional church website would face.

Thanks Kem for all you do for us. May your book make it to everyone that so desperately needs to hear its message.

The Problem: Desktop and laptop computers are now being shipped with a sweet new version of Windows Vista - the 64bit version. This upgrade not only speeds up common functions and applications, but will most likely become the standard OS for all future Windows-based computers (until the next big advancement).

So you'd expect large companies to be in the know and to have 64bit versions of their applications ready and waiting for the OS to hit the marketplace.
For the most part I am impressed with the number of apps that either offer a 64bit version or that work even without a specific upgrade for 64bit.

So you can imagine my shock when I started up the speedy 64bit version of Internet Explorer (IE7) and realized that there is no 64bit version of Adobe Flash Player.

Lack of Excellence: Don't worry, I understand that the marketplace is a mine field of copyright issues, patents, sovereign partnerships and other problems that may keep a company from developing the very thing the marketplace is waiting for.

But this seems different. For some reason the Flash Player team appears slow on the uptake. Not just in this situation, but in others as well.

1. Flash support on mobile devices: Flash video streams so well over the Internet. Is there a reason why flash isn't a standard piece of mobile browser technology?
2. Flash support for 64bit IE7: Adobe undoubtedly knew the 64bit version of Windows Vista was coming out. Why wasn't the Flash Player team ready?

Again - I'm sure there are complications and I don't have a good grasp on the development process for Flash Player. But if the technology is available and it can be done I'd definitely ask, "What were they thinking?"

On February 28, 2007 a coalition was created to inform the public about the switch from analog television signals to digital on February 17, 2009.

Nearly two years of non stop public service announcements, updates to their informative website, voucher plans to get digital converter boxes into peoples homes and the incessant radio ads and still the public are asking,

What exactly is going to happen on February 17th?

Seriously! Engadget just posted that the transition deadline has been extended until June 12. I love the fact that they question if this will even be the date. After all, if they aren't ready by now...

Truth is, people don't like to be proactive. They have too much going on - too many other things to worry about. So instead they react when problems occur.

You better believe if the transition went into effect on February 17, everyone who lost service would be at the store the next day to pick up a converter box! So why postpone the date?

History Lesson
Procrastination is nothing new. History reveals that in Bible times people struggled with the same problems.

Didn't Noah warn the people of his day? Wasn't it for a lot longer than two years? People ignored that message too - and it was a matter of life and death!

Summary
I'm not saying the transition to digital television HAS to happen on February 17, 2009. What I AM saying is that there will be just as many people caught off guard in June as there would have been in February.

Am I being too pessimistic or negative?

Guido (as I call him) is a male Cardinal that likes to hang out in the trees outside my window at work.

For the past few months I've been taking the camera to work but until now most of the pictures were not worth posting. It has either been too dark outside (gloomy) or they have been too far away with numerous branches between them and me.

But this one looked good enough to put out there. A little Photoshop work to make the background black and white and we're good to go.

I learned something from Guido and his friends the other day:

You always have to be on the lookout for danger.

Now most birds are skittish around humans, but I'm talking hawks - BIG hawks. The other day one of Guido's not-so-fortunate friends became lunch for the hawk. Not a pretty picture and yet this is the sad reality about the world in which we live.

Sin...

There are really mean people in the world - and those are just the ones we run into. Throw in Satan and his minions and the hawk starts to look pretty tame.

Stay strong Guido and always be on guard!

All I've heard for the past year is, "When are you going to get the iPhone?" And can I just say it's getting obnoxious?

I've said it before - I love the iPhone and think it's a great product. I just can't help but think that at some point another company will get their #*$&$ together and create something that will give people options.

If you're a Mac person - the iPhone makes perfect sense. If iTunes is your music App of choice - the iPhone makes perfect sense.

But for me, a Zune Phone makes perfect sense. I bought a Zune the first week they were available and I love everything about it - from the UI to the subscription option with the Zune Marketplace.

Create me a phone that does all that in one and I would buy it in a heartbeat. But no such luck...yet...

My other issue is that I'm a Sprint customer (happily) and can't imagine spending almost twice as much for my service in order to switch to AT&T (for the iPhone).

So I was more than interested when Sprint announced the Palm Pre was coming. I've never been a huge fan of Palm products. In fact back in the day when Palm Pilots were such a big thing I ended up buying a Dell Axim with Windows Mobile. But Palm has been able to hold their own just like Blackberry for a good long time.

Unfortunately all I've been able to do is look and read about the Pre. Engadget has numerous articles about the phone and its revolutionary features (good one here). But I can't wait to actually hold one and see what all the fuss is about. This typically seals the deal for me. I can think something is awesome, but then pick it up and immediately change my mind if it isn't made well. My hope is that when I pick it up my preconceptions and my first impression match.

We'll see...

A recent article put out by National Geographic the other day documents some amazing research about ants.

Summary
In ant colonies there can be only one offspring producing ant - the Queen Ant in that colony. This doesn't mean other female ants can't produce. In fact they can produce offspring without the help of a male (called: parthenogenesis). When a female ant in the colony other than the queen attempts to reproduce, it puts off a chemical called a "pheromone" that is detected by the other ants. In order to maintain the hierarchy in the colony this female is attacked and restrained (killed?) by the other ants.

Researchers believe that pheromones may also be responsible for the behavior of other insects like bees and wasps.

Bringing it Full Circle
The female ants that attempt to reproduce in the article are referred to as "cheaters." And for some reason the concept of the colony with the hierarchy and the strict rules made me think of our work environments.

I'm assuming most companies have a hierarchy and fairly specific expectations that if not followed results in the employee being fired. Some companies more rigid than others. And the church is no exception.

The church has the typical "work" expectations like attendance, productivity and the like. But it also has a hierarchy like the ant colony. Not hierarchy like org chart (though we have that too) - more like a hierarchy of values that are held as important.

The ants follow the "No reproducing" rule almost as if it were their religious belief. And it is the same for the church. We work for a higher purpose - both the truths found in the Bible and the specific mission, vision and values that your church has.

For us at Granger, we have the Bible and we have, "Helping people take their next steps toward Christ, together..."

So is it possible to have "cheaters" on staff at your church - people who really aren't concerned about the two big things the church stands for?

My answer is "Of course!" Unfortunately you won't always have thoroughbreds on your team all pulling in the same direction.

The difficult task for the "colony" is to identify these employees, work with them to adjust their trajectory and if this isn't possible - to help them find another "colony" where they align better.

First service down. Heading into the second. Things running smoothly.

What a cool way to get people involved.


How does it work?

• People allowed to text questions before and during service.
• All (approved) texts displayed on screen during intro so people make the connection that the texts are being received in real time. An online flash movie is displayed on the large screen to display the questions and transition nicely between them (Text to Screen feature).
  
• Out of all entries random ones are picked and three at a time are "approved" for display on the screen. As these go by, the speaking pastor (Mark Beeson in this case) asks for the audience to pick the question they want by clapping for it. Once chosen the Spyder operator "freezes" the main screen on that question (online flash movie doesn't stop).
• The speaking pastor then answers the question while the "approved" questions are scrapped for the next three.
• This continues until there is no time left in the message portion of the service.
  

Looking into a similar application for your church or business? If so, check out Jarbyco. They are a successful startup with awesome customer service and a highly versatile product.

This weekend we're getting to put Jarbyco through its paces.

If Jarbyco sounds familiar to you it might be because we used it during Innovate08 to allow voting by text during the Film Festival.

Since then we've found a variety of ways to use the texting service. But this is probably our most visible use.

Concept
Create a weekend service where the audience can participate by texting in questions they want immediately addressed by the speaking pastor (Mark Beeson in this case). Obviously all questions won't be answered, but they will still scroll on the screen (if appropriate) so the interactivity is there. A couple random questions are chosen for the audience to pick from. Once the question is picked the speaking pastor answers the question and then the process starts over with another round of questions to choose from.

Solution
Jarbyco Text to Screen. As people enter the auditorium and as the service progresses people can text in questions that go to the big screen. A flash interface not only gives the instructions but also cycles through the questions with nice text effects.

You can also set up an auto response text so the person knows their submission went through.

Here we go...

More details on how it went on the other side...

I was just as excited about the new Blackberry Storm as the next guy. My wife currently uses the Blackberry Curve and it was nice to see Blackberry branching out - taking their brand of business communication to the next level with touch screens and a more "comfortable" and sleek user interface.

Unfortunately, the reviews I have read since the debut have been dismal at best (read this Gizmodo review for a fairly balanced look at the cool features and yet the areas where the phone falls short.)

I haven't even touched the phone yet, but here are a few of my assumption based on the stuff I've read and from talking with friends who have actually tried it out for the 30 day trial period:

• RIM realized they had to keep up with the new touch screen trend powered by the iPhone, HTC Touch phones etc.
• They tried to take their existing functionality and make it work on a touch screen.
• RIM still won't play nice with a Microsoft Exchange Server.
  
• RIM still assumes it has something that can compete with iPhone OS and WiMo (which may have been true in the past but is slowly getting away from them).

Again, just my assumptions. But after reading about the high number of people who have returned their Storm after trying it out - I must not be the only one.

Finding the Application
This whole scenario got me thinking about web strategy and the way we launch new stuff on our websites (either new elements or full on site redesigns).

When we mock things up and present ideas for this new stuff we often do so for reasons like:

• Keeping up with others.
• Keeping up with technology.
• Adding functionality that we didn't previously have or couldn't afford.
• And sometimes to be innovative - to ride the cutting edge of technology and lead by example.

Whatever our reason for adding new "stuff" to our websites, it would be to our advantage to use the Blackberry Storm as a case study. Unfortunately it seems like the Storm was designed to keep up with others and keep up with technology. They undoubtedly added some functionality. But what if they had been innovative and went above and beyond? What if they had built it to do everything the iPhone and WiMo phones could do and then some? My bet is people wouldn't be taking the phone back to the store...

Food for thought...