La Identidad de Marca en Acción

Maximizando la Experiencia del Visitante

Diferenciación en un Mar de Competidores

January 27, 2006 – Yesterday, the Federal Trade Commission announced that it had reached a settlement agreement to fine ChoicePoint $10 million. The fine is a result of two data breaches last year that exposed personally identifiable financial data of 160,000 consumers to identity thieves. The exposure led to more than 800 cases of identity theft.

January 9, 2006 - On Friday, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich announced that he wants to ban the unauthorized sale of phone records within his state. The practice, know in the industry as “pretexting”, occurs when someone pretending to be the phone company’s customer calls the phone company and gains access to all of the call information available for the actual customer. Surprisingly, no state currently outlaws this practice. And disturbingly, this lack of regulation has seen the birth of a new cottage industry that allows nearly anyone the purchase the phone records of any person they desire.

February 14, 2006 – ACCESS has been concerned for months that the State Department’s plan to include RFID chips in passports has not been well thought out. The original plan would have placed an RFID chip in every passport which would have contained unencrypted data about the passport holder. After a storm of protest, the State Department revised the standard to include some encryption. Now, a Dutch television news program has along and broken that encryption in less than two hours. The ramifications of this to passport holders are anything but positive.

September 1, 2005 – As of today, residents of every state are eligible to receive their credit reports free of charge from the credit repositories (Experian, Equifax and Trans Union). These free credit reports were mandated by Congress with the passage of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) in late 2003. Under the law, eligibility to receive free reports was phased in nationally, from west to east.

Jeudi soir, le 7 novembre à 20 h, la rédaction de NoFrag enregistrera l’épisode #65 de NoScope. Attention au changement d’horaire, on commence une heure plus tôt pour éviter à Loulou de débuter à minuit. Au programme, comme d’habitude, on commencera par un petit tour d’horizon des news de ces dernières semaines, avec notamment le […]

La nouvelle mise à jour de Six Days in Fallujah, intitulée « Command and Control », sera disponible dès demain. Cette extension introduit une fonctionnalité très attendue : la possibilité pour les joueurs de mener des missions aux côtés de coéquipiers contrôlés par l’IA, que l’on peut désormais commander. Annoncé depuis un moment et reporté à plusieurs […]

Lundi prochain, c’est le 11 novembre, et comme la majorité d’entre vous, les bons plans NoFrag du week-end ne travaillent pas. C’est l’occasion parfaite pour ralentir le rythme et de profiter d’un peu de temps libre. Vous n’y aviez pas encore pensé, mais vous voulez absolument une machine à popcorn. Elle ira très bien à […]

C’est par le biais du compte X de KAMI que l’on a appris que Take-Two avait communiqué sur les dates de sorties prévisionnelles de ses futurs titres. Ce qui nous intéresse particulièrement ici, ce sont Borderlands 4 et Judas. Pendant la séance de questions/réponses de la conférence aux actionnaires du 6 novembre dernier, le CEO indique […]

Disponible depuis le 7 novembre, le lancement du premier épisode VR de la licence Metro n’a pas reçu les mêmes éloges que ces prédécesseurs (1, 2 et 3). Développé par le studio Vertigo Games (Arizona Sunshine Remake et 2) et en dépit d’une bande-annonce de lancement aguicheuse, Metro Awakening serait très instable provoquant ainsi des crashs […]

Il y a quelques jours, Blue Dot Games, le studio qui a repris le développement de ’83, un jeu tactique au « réalisme accessible », initialement développé par AntiMatter Games, a annoncé qu’il accueillait son premier investisseur. Celui-ci, fan de Rising Storm 2 et bêta testeur sur ce nouveau projet, a considéré que le jeu avait assez […]

Cela fait quelques années que l’on suit l’ambitieux mod Black Mesa: Blue Shift, qui entreprend de refaire le standalone Half-Life: Blue Shift, sorti en 2001, avec le moteur de Black Mesa, lui-même un remake du légendaire Half-Life, mais en travaillant aussi bien sur l’aspect esthétique que sur le gameplay et le level design. C’est pourquoi […]

On vous en parlait en septembre dernier, Project Borealis: Prologue vient de sortir sur Steam. Il s’agit d’une courte démonstration des différentes mécaniques qui seront embarquées dans Project Borealis, un jeu développé par une armée de fans, prenant comme base les ébauches de script de Marc Laidlaw pour Half-Life 2: Episode 3. Pour faire patienter […]

À l’approche des 20 ans d’Half-Life 2 (le 16 novembre), les actualités liées de près ou de loin à la licence semblent s’enchaîner : le prochain chapitre de Black Mesa: Blue Shift par-ci, Project Borealis par-là, et hier, l’annonce de Rogue Point, un nouveau jeu par Crowbar Collective, les développeurs de Black Mesa, le remake […]

When and how will the adult industry join the ride? Traditional audio blogging didn't suit them commercially. This time though they are going to explore the possibilities more successfully. Like? Well, imagine a podcast from your favorite Miss X: just enter your creditcard number, (nick)name and special 'subject' and she will podcast her private show automatically to your device. Plain (free)

Today podcasting got 'Wired' with an article called 'Podcasts: New Twist on Net Audio'. Shortly afterwards Cnet published the article 'Building a 21st century radio'. Dave Slusher was interviewed for the Wired article and has some comments. A month ago i googled 'podcasting', which gave me around 15-20 results. Now it's exactly 13.000. Interesting to see the impact of these two articles.

Why not? At the moment most audio podcasts are between 10mb and 50mb and hi-resolution movie trailers are around 20mb. Miramax listen up! and send me new movie trailers based on my profile. The moment they start listening the technology will be ready. Joshua Kinberg from Vipodder.org is already working on a Mac plug-in: expect a first public beta soon. Showtime!

Jim Kloss reacted extensively to some basic questions. Join the discussion ..

The possibilities of integrating the podcasting concept with a Global Positioning System are very interesting, both for the user and the commercial services industry. As soon as you near a certain location, the GPS triggers the download. It could be traffic information, information about the area, cities, neighborhoods or even buildings and people. Beyond that, it could trigger commercial

What about this special Podcasting Vibe? Everybody involved is buzzing with energy and ideas. Deep irritation about futile mishaps has given way to endless goodwill (ALL crucial systems halt while ipodder starts downloading!!) and most are suddenly blessed with a thick skin and flexible ego (nobody gets mad at Dave Slusher, no matter how hard he tries). Isn't Adam Curry's Daily Source Code above

The best so far: 'podience' and 'podvertising'. Tagline: 'Podcasting for complete choice of content and schedule'.

The name is fine. It's strange, it's funny and it has all the weird connotations to make it stick. Remember Walkman! Some disagree and suggestions are flying around. But .. renaming podcast producers to .. "broadcasters"? Why so puritanical? Many early adopters download podcasts manually to their pc or laptop without using (or sometimes even having) ipodder software. Does the fact that they don't

At the end of this month, Virgin Electronics will introduce its version of a mini ipod. Are they going to brush the term 'pod'(casting) aside, because it refers to Apple's ipod? Made me think of the 'narrowcasting' applications, which "allow advertising and other information to be delivered to narrow demographic groups at specific times in public venues". Many players in that market still use

Blogging and the podCasting concept will be the final nails in the coffin of traditional online marketing. Interestingly enough, the chief marketer of McDonald's is spreading the news in general terms: "In today's atomized marketing world ... mass marketing mass messages to masses of people via mass media is a mass mistake". Welcome to the podomized world.

"When studying a new phenomenon, describing what you are looking at is a great place to start." Seems some thinking minds are joining the talking heads. A few days ago, several graduate students from the School of Informatics at the University at Buffalo launched Podcast Reseach: "Podcast Research takes the form of a blog and podcast that examines the podcasting phenomena and studies it with an

A few weeks ago I mused about the possibilities of 'location based services' through podcasting and GPS. At the moment though only a tiny fraction of mobile handsets are GPS-enabled.That's why this press release from seekerwireless.com in Australia caught my eye: "Seeker Wireless have developed capabilities that use existing GSM, CDMA and 3G handsets to enable the location of a mobile subscriber

Customised Podcasting is an excellent information tool for businesses and organizations. Cerado.com started a Customised Podcast Service as a companion to their existing (Competitive Intelligence) briefing documents. More here.

Adam Curry and Dave Winer mused about the concept of a commercial Podcasting Network for some months, but their commercial partnership never materialized. So others walked the talk and the 'The Podcasting Network' opened its doors yesterday. Its run by Mick Stanic and Cameron Reilly, the duo behind G'day World Podcast. "The Podcast Network will be the best collection of podcast’s available

The popular Dawn and Drew Show podcast just signed on to the Podshow.com venture of Adam Curry. Nothing earthshaking, but it was about time that somebody made some concrete news on the commercial entertainment side of podcasting, apart from just intentions and general (dotcom) announcements (which is "so Internet 1.0" indeed).

The well orchestrated hype surrounding the 'arrival' of Odeo's podcasting suite raised many eyebrows. An all too familiar scenario from the bubble era seemed to make a chilling comeback: declaring a winner and throwing a mainstream media party before the game had even begun, what's more: before the 'player's' skills and qualities had even been closely identified and tested.Naturally, a negative

Almost 1 year after the first podcast, Rush Limbaugh, the Giant of American Talk Radio, started podcasting. Subscribers to his website can download a podcatcher and receive the show of the day in 3, 1 hour mp3's, manual downloads are available too. The files will be up within 2 hours after each show. Limbaugh announced it to his audience of 20 million(!) under the banner: "Rush 24/7: A Huge Day

The cellular industry has repeatedly attempted to port popular consumer services to the mobile environment. Despite the investment of billions of dollars in data networks, spectrum, devices, and marketing campaigns, very few services have ported successfully. Yet digital music and podcasting prove that users will go to great lengths to mobilize entertainment, including actively connecting a

Clearly, no single test can determine where podcasting is most developed. But several key variables can be examined. Indeed, this post explores the following factors: the number of podcasts created per country, the involvement of big-media, podcast commercialization (i.e. podcasts for charge & advertising), venture capital involvement, corporate podcasting, and the existence of podcast-only

Podcasting is increasing in popularity and, realizing that many are interested in providing audio content in a podcast, we have assembled a collection of tools that make creation, promotion and listening to podcasts a little easier.

Tools for Podcasting

Instant Content; Converting a Text Article to a Podcast

We are taught to recycle paper, cans, bottles and plastic but marketers rarely discuss the value of repackaging and repurposing content. Publishers and marketers alike have embraced content syndication and RSS but few have considered the value beyond the actual syndication. Consider an alternative communication channel that reaches a new or different audience.

Repurposing and repackaging content or information so that it can be consumed through a variety of mediums is not a new concept. Many businesses today sight increased communication as a common goal. Cost conscious businesses with tight budges are often interested in minimizing work loads and cost, while increasing communication. By presenting the same information in different ways and formats, businesses are able to increase the reach and communication, while remaining cost conscious.

Text to Podcast

Blogs are now a dime a dozen, and bloggers need to make their blog posts stand out. Developing a blog following is not as easy as it once was. Learn how to write blog posts that attract readers and retain their attention. Follow these guidelines to cultivate readers...

Attention Getting Blog Posts

What defines a good podcast? Make no mistake -- there is a difference between a good podcast and a not-so-good podcast. A high-caliber podcast is much more than just decent content. The sound quality, and the way a podcast is recorded, will impact the value of the podcast as well. Podcast structure and pre-planning are also important; do not skimp on the production, as it too can make or break a podcast.

Podcast production takes effort, but anything worth doing is worth doing right. Use these tips to help produce a quality podcast that will be distinguished above other related podcasts...

10 Podcast Tips to a Great Sound

26 Great Ideas for Blog Posts!
Blogs have increased in popularity because they provide a steady stream of new and unique content. The only issue presented by this quality of blogs is that it may become difficult for those who run blogs to think of interesting and novel posts. If you have jumped on the blogging bandwagon but suffer writer's block, do not panic: we have created a list of 26 ideas for blog posts.

1. Make it visual.
Include a photo or other graphic in a blog post to break up the text, attract your reader's interest, or help illustrate a point. Better yet, talk about the image you have included to further incorporate it into the post.

26 Great Ideas for Blog Posts!

Conducting a successful podcast interview can be a tricky proposition for a podcaster starting out. Once you have determined individuals that will appeal to your target audience contact potential interviewees and arrange a time to conduct the interview. Following this guide will insure that the interview goes off without a hitch.

1. Prepare Questions in Advance
Prepare a list of questions prior to the interview, contemplate possible follow-up questions based on the expected responses. Create a list of notes along with the questions that are accessible during the interview and will help you direct the conversation.

How to Conduct a Podcast Interview

The best blogs and feeds are those that contain unique, fresh, compelling, content. So where do these prolific posters get their ideas? I talked to a handful of bloggers to determine where their inspiration originated for their content.

Not surprisingly, ideas for blog posts or RSS feed items originate or are influenced by other web content. The following are venues for finding your online muse:

1.Google News
Monitor Google News for keywords related to your industry. If you find a story you disagree with or wholeheartedly agree with write about it. Add your thoughts, and editorialize the content. This does not mean you should just repost Google news summaries. The value is not only in the news aggregation, but in the commentary that you provide. Tie news items to specific events, conditions, or the impact of specific news on the industry. Adding a view point or reference to a news article adds genuine value.

Places to Get Ideas for Blog Posts

Regardless of the size of your business, or whether your company is public, private, a government agency, or a non-profit... there is little doubt that you should consider podcasting. Podcasting is a 21st century medium, and has proven that it is far more than just a passing fad.
What is podcasting?

Podcasting is a relatively new communication medium. Podcasting's increasing popularity and low cost of entry makes it a great communication and promotional channel for companies to experiment with.

Podcasting for Business

There are many, many things that separate a good podcast from all the rest. Here are a few to consider...
Recording Quality

The quality of the recording is probably the most critical component of a podcast. A good podcast is easy to understand, and should be recorded at a volume level that makes it easy for listeners to hear all that is said.

Sound Balance

Adding background music polishes a podcast, but be careful that the music does not overpower the primary content. The background music should be subtle and not distracting. Create a balance that does not compromise the quality of the recording. Also, be sure that the music is not the focal point of a podcast show, unless the topic is about the music -- the emphasis should be on the primary content, and not on the musical arrangements.

Hallmarks of a Good Podcast

Schools all over the country have flocked to podcasting as a new medium to assist the teaching profession. Professors are using podcasts to instruct students and get their messages out. Podcasting is not restricted to one educational sector, professors at prestigious colleges from Bentley to Purdue have flocked to this medium.

Podcasting Just Might Be the Tool to Revolutionize Education

1. Plan Accordingly.
When making the decision and commitment to podcast, it is important to think beyond the moment. Before starting, think about the time the podcast production will take. How will podcasting fit into a current schedule? How frequently will you podcast?


Set Your Podcast Up for Success

Before you begin podcasting develop a plan and a format for your show. Determine the focus of your podcast and what types of guests you would like to interview. Time spent planning your show will contribute to it's success.

Location, Location, Location
When you are producing a podcast on a regular basis it is important that you select an appropriate location for the recording to take place. The location should be free of external distractions and relatively quiet. It is easiest if you use the same location each time, that way the equipment can remain in place and will not require moving or setup each time you produce a show.

Podcast Audio Recording Tips