Koen's Media Use Blog

Blog closed

2012-01-09T04:47:00.000-08:00

Since I succefully finished the course for which I had to make this blog, I will no longer post anything on this blog. At the moment I am keeping up another blog where I keep the homefront (and other people interested of course) updated during my stay in Stellenbosch South Africa. Visit the site here! (http://koeninafrika.co.cc)

Thanks for visiting my blog!

Koen

Pc persons vs. Mac persons

2011-05-11T05:19:00.000-07:00

Since I am an Android #fanboy, I will answer neither' if someone asks me if I am a Mac or PC person. Obviously, I don't use Android as an operation system for my PC, but I would like to have laptop that does. Anyhow, check out the infographic that I came across this afternoon:

(source http://www.coolinfographics.com, click to enlarge)

Although that the survey for this infographic got many respondents (388.315 persons), the statistics aren't considered a good reflection of the real world. Since 69% of the PC users prefer to ride a Harley Davidson and 52% of the Mac'ers would choose a Vespa, I wonder where I would end up as someone that is planning to buy a BMW F650. Well, let's just say that my choice of bike doesn't decide wether if I am an Android-person or not. Therefore, a double related Spotify song today, since it's your own choice what you like the most, PC or (Fleetwood) Mac!

Fleetwood MAC - You can go your own way

Vlog: Gestures in placement events

2011-05-02T04:11:00.000-07:00

What? Vlog in blog? Yep! Here is the video that I have worked on with my Business Information Technology collegues. So, this time not a blog but I vlog (video log). Instructions: 1. Watch the movie 2.Learn about gestures in placement events 3. Tell me what you think (optional).

Oh, and since I forget to add a song last time, here is a song related to the video (get the link?:)):

Creedence Clearwater Revival - I put a spell on you.

Better trafficflow with GPS?

2011-04-18T05:07:00.000-07:00

During my daily routine of checking nu.nl for the news, I came across an article about GPS systems and the improvement of traffic flow. Since I was blogging about my GPS system I use for touring on bike last time, I thougth it may be nice to tell you something about the way how GPS systems can contribute to smoother traffic.

The idea is to let the cars communicate with special systems besides the road. These systems can communicate information to dynamic traffic signs, which on their turn can communicate traffic information or rules to the road users.

In the article it is mentioned that the software that is used for the GPS systems should be open source, in order to work well. If it isn't open source, cars of different brands can't communicate with each other. It could be a nice opportunity for Google's Android! However, this would add more stress to Google's privacy problem; if most cars rely a google product, the giant company would have even more data of their users. They will even know their location and driving habbits besides the things they already know.

As the research is still under progress, it is very reasonable to think that GPS can provide a solution for the trafficjam problem in The Netherlands. I am courious how it will develop over time. For now I am going to enjoy my own GPS system by going on a short but sunny motorcycle trip before heading to work!

Spring has arrived

2011-03-29T05:54:00.000-07:00

I haven't been blogging a lot lately, due to my busy schedule that contains working, sports, driving my bike and, if there is a timeslot left, writing my thesis and other assignments. Many events did occur since my last blog. The shit has hit the fan in Libia while the spring entered The Netherlands, the Ipad2 was released while I bought the HTC Incredible S (which is great by the way), the motoGP season started while the first Formula 1 race was canceled. Meanwhile, Japan was hit by multiple earthquakes, tsunami's and a couple of (near) nuclear disasters. It seemed like moving weeks to me!

Lets start with the spring. The condition of blue skies, calm winds, 14 degrees celcius and singing birds gave me the opportunity to go out for nice ride on my (dad's) bike. Although that I;ve driven it nearly all winter long, it is was nice to feel a temperature above 10 degrees and to smell the spring in the air. Furthermore, it was a great opportunity to test my recently bought GPS device for the bike (Garmin Nuvi 510). When you drive a motorbike, I realy recommend you to buy one yourself it's great since it discovers the greatest roads with the best corners and nice surroundings!

As I am recommending anyway: forget the Ipad2 and purchase the HTC Incredible S phone (or choose it with your new provider). Since my old HTC didn't survive carnaval 2011 edition, I had to look for a new one. The Incredable S is the first phone in the new HTC S series. Take a look at it over here, or read a review.

Well, Actually I planned to write something about the other events i mentioned at the beginning to, but unfortunately my 'blog time slot' is allready used.

So, time to say goodbye!

Here's a nice track for in your Spotify list (which I will include in all my posts from now on):

The Vaccines - Post break-up sex

Musicology

2011-03-01T04:50:00.000-08:00

Music and internet. It's like a 100 year old and a teenager, who are inseparable and have a great friendship. All thought this relationship isn't approved by everyone, especially not in the beginning, it has has become a more serious one. Less music is downloaded illegally, and more programs like iTunes and Spotify create profit for musiclabels and artists. They do this by selling songs online (iTunes) or by subscriptions of an online music database (Spotify).

Me, being a music lover (no not a musician, although I do like a good session of karaoke:-)), I subscribed for a Spotify account. So, for only €5,- a month, I can listen to millions of tracks unlimited, without any annoying commercials. I can make different lists that are stored online, so that I can log on any computer in the world to listen to my lists anytime. More than once I've supplied a party with 'my' music.

If you have spotify and you want a list because you don't have inspiration for your own, you can go to spotifylist.com and look for a list of your kind of music. If you like it, you can also share your lists with other users. I've uploaded a house list, lounge list, and my favorite random list (700+ songs).

So, if you like music, you will like Spotify. Give the free version a try! You can listen to all the music, you only get some (quite annoying) commercials and you are limited to 24 hour a week of listening. If you already have Spotify, this is fav song at the moment: This old love - Lior

Greetings,

Koenn87

Facebook and Twitter. A visual comparison.

2011-02-15T09:28:00.000-08:00

Bars, lines, circles, points, axis. All words that have to do with charts. Charts like the one in my previous post. If you take in mind that these days a 'normal' chart isn't fancy enough, you have to add a lot of concepts to list of words I mentioned earlier. Words like mindmapping, visualization and brief facts. If you want to impress today, you need to create an infographic. And many info graphics have impressed me. Since I am writing my thesis about visualizations (more specific 'What is the influence of different colours on data processing and data interpretation of the graph'), I am kind of into graphs these days. Meanwhile came across some neat info graphics (this huge one about US tax expenses, for example).

More interesting for this blog however, is a visual about the demographics of Facebook vs. Twitter. By using a 'Polar Area Chart', it is easy to see how Facebook users' demographics are different from Twitter users. Fun to see is that only 12% of Facebook users are updating their daily status, where 51% of Twitter users update it daily. However, the daily Facebook logins are higher then Twitter (41% vs 27%). Thus, Twitter can be seen as the more active social media.

That's all for now. If you feel like viewing more neat Info Graphics about an array of subjects, take a look over here.

We meet again

2011-02-11T01:18:00.000-08:00

Since my last blogpost was february 25th 2010, I think it's time for an update. Not just because there has been a lot of changes considering information technology, also because the course 'media use in orgazations' has started again (now called 'business information technology'). I'll join the course this year once more, because I didn't make it last year.

To start with, I noticed that I posted a little story about being Googless last year. These days, a (normal) life without Google is unthinkable. But as I was reading my previous posts, I wondered what people will choose nowerdays; don't use Google or don't use Twitter for a week. Maybe I'll add a poll later on. My point is, Twitter is still becoming more of an everyday information tool. Example: The number of tweets that were sent during last weeks (broadcast of) the Superbowl. As there were many viewers (more than 111 million (!)), there were many tweets: 4.064 tweets per second. Allthough it isn't a record (that was during newyears eve in Japan: 6939 tweets per second), the analysis of the tweet distribution is really cool and interesting.

During the nearly 4,5 hour during game, many tweets were sent. It is notable that the most tweets were sent during the 30 minute break, and in the end of the game. Sadly, the graph doesn't contain the hashtag that was used second most during the peeks, or how much was tweeted with hashtags #steelers or #packers. Maybe, the Packers winning even has something to do with the support on Twitter... Did the 'digital cheers' of 2 peeks of about 3800 around 16.00 result in convidence for the Packers' players? If this is so, how long will it take before teams hire their own 'Twitter coach' that shows them how much people are supporting their sport heroes.

As it's time to do some more writing on my bachelor thesis, I conclude with a nice saying I encountered last week: "If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, stun them with nonsense". Showed by means of this blogpost.

Inbox2 released

2010-02-25T06:34:00.000-08:00

Having problems keeping up with your Hyves, Twitter, Facebook and other social media at the same time? Don't fear, there are some solutions for this problem (that isn't uncommon I guess). One of them is Inbox2. This program is 'one stream for all your accounts'. Inbox2 was only available as web based version, but they have recently released the desktop version.

I have just downloaded Inbox2, and I will report my findings about it here next week.

Being Googless...

2010-02-25T05:34:00.000-08:00

In my last post I wrote about my Google syncing smartphone, and how much I like it. Actually I think I can't do without it anymore, and I spend some time thinking about a life without my phone and Google. Is it possible to life a live without using Google? How did they do it in the past? Will the suicide rate in China will rise now that Google announced it will retreat from China?

I didn't Google it, but I decided to let my thoughts go about this subject. Surprisingly, it was the newspaper I read the next day that provided me with some answers and not Google. Two NRC Next journalists are keeping up a blog about being Googless, and reporting their problems and their findings on it. Perfect for me! Now they could be my guinea-pigs to live a Googless life without being Googless myself (otherwise I couldn't write on this blog by the way).

So, what are their findings you may think. Well, today it's their third Googless day and despite that their computers automatically block websites developed by Google, they obviously had their problems. Forgotten meetings (Google Calender), mailing to your own Gmail adress by automatism, searching for important (work related) books (books.google.com), failing to locate a restaurant (Google maps) and many more obstacles.

Of course this little Googles experiment of the two journalist isn't completely a good reflection of that will happen when Google suddenly disappears. Google is far more then their programs alone, behind the internet scenes it's a brick in the wall. Despite the fact that I'm aware of that, I still like the idea behind the experiment. It's like surviving a week without sleep in world where everything else continues.

I will follow the experiment until it's over next Monday. Curious yourself? Check it out over here.

Cool stuff

2010-02-23T01:25:00.000-08:00

Where would social media be without any fancy phones, computers or other portable media devices? If you want to know what the coolest gadgets of 2009 were, check out the 2009 EnGadget Awards. It's obvious that the smartphone 'Motorola Droid' can be judged as a the nicest piece of equipment of 2009: Both in 'readers' choice and 'editors choice' it's chosen as 'the gadget of the year', and the readers also named it 'the best smartphone of the year'.

So, why is this fancy phone the one that you should purchase if you want to be a hot social media user? First of all, the Droid is (as the name tells) equipped with Android as operating system. Thanks to Android, in combination with the hardware (550mhz processor, 5MP camera, 3,7 inch display and more), this phone capable of fulfilling all your social media wishes. The (retractable) qwerty keyboard helps you with typing your email, sms and twitter messages at high speed. If you rather type on screen, you can type your messages with the on screen keyboard as well.

I am the owner of a HTC Magic smartphone (that has Android 1.6 as device driver), and I can tell that it's worth to choose an Android based phone if you are looking for a smartphone. The phone automatically Syncing with your Gmail account all day long is a feature that I for sure want to have if would buy a new phone. All my emails, appointments, Gmail talk, Tweets and Buzzes appear both on my phone and online.

These sync possibilities are the reason why Android is a perfect device driver business ends, if it's combined with Gmail business edition. Using Gtalk to have a quick chat with you'r collueges and providing your location info with google Latitude can come in handy as well.

Intrested in the Motorola Droid? Then you have to wait a little longer, because the phone hasn't been produced in The Netherlands yet. It will be officially produced in The Netherlands in March 2010. Not needles to say, the phone will be produced as the Motorola Milestone in Europe.

You can check out the EnGadget review here, or a bit shorter Dutch review on droid-info.

And the winner is...

2010-02-20T02:40:00.000-08:00

In my previous post I wrote about the Big Brother Awards that were about to be held. Now, the ceremonies have been held in Amsterdam and 'we've got ourselves a winner!' In the category 'companies' Vodafone and T-Moblie are the big losers: they won the award because they published private customer data. Another award winner is the issue about fingerprints in passports. By change, the issue has made the news recently, because a Utrecht University student denied to give his fingerprint for a new passport (it seems like all students from Utrecht all spontaniously revolt). It seems that this price is well allocated in this category.

My last post contained some tips how to design. Now it's time for some more tips, only this time even more relevant to the course Media Use: How not to use viral marketing. Since viral marketing is the central subject in the course, I have some more articles about it, which, if you are interested in viral marketing can be very useful and nice to read. Some tips, some marketing trends for 2010 and.. actually every article on this site is very interesting!

Thanks to...

2010-02-18T04:09:00.000-08:00

...Twitter, and obviously some of the people that I'm following, I already discovered a lot of interesting articles that are related to Media Use in Organizations. While I'm searching the web daily for interesting technical and scientifically developments on sites like EnGadget and Ted.com, I find that the most publications that my Twitter buddies tweet are often are very interesting. I guess that's a reason why like Twitter a lot; I choose the people I am following wisely. Moreover, most of the people I follow are fellow Communication students and they obviously the same area of interest as me.

Obviously, I am blogging right now because I need to succeed the course Media Use. This post is my first, and I now already discovered that I don't have to do any active search in order to find MUO related articles or publications. Thanks to Twitter and other new media, people send me a lot interesting stuff (whitout knowing themselves I guess).

The first publication I got yesterday is about the signatures we place in emails. The digital signature is often seen as a time saver, considering you don't have to type your name and other info every time you send an email. Apparently, there are certain do's and don’ts for email signatures. Both for private and corporate users this can be very interesting, so I recommend you to take a look at it yourself!

The second publication I read is about design. In a broad sense, I think design is a important part of MUO. Despite that I'm not an Apple user, I do like the design and lifestyle that Apple created over time. The mentioned article is about the Apple design, and why it became so popular. By discussing the most important aspects of the present-day Apple design style (both soft and hardware) the article shows why the design style is successful and it provides some nice design tips.

Obviously, these articles are not the only interesting things I came across with in the last 2 days. In my next post I will discuss the 'Big Brother Awards' that will be allocated tonight. These awards have to do with privacy in the digital world of this day and age; the nominees that cared the least about privacy of their costumers last year, will win an award. Potential winners in the category 'companies' are AlbertHeijn (considering TiP2Pay, a new way to pay with your fingerprint), T-Mobile and Vodafone (because they provided users' sms content to investigation service).

Well that's it as far for this post. I hope you like the publications I posted as much as I did.

(Digitally) signed by:

Koen Nijenhuis

06-52*844*2