Excellent Tool for Product Managers
I spend a lot of time coming up with new ideas for products. Makes sense since I’m in Product Management. In the past, I’ve used everything from paper, to a whiteboard, Visio, and lately, Omnigraffle. I’ve now found the ultimate tool for visualizing ideas that you have in your head. It’s called Balsamiq Mockups. It’s an Air application which is excellent because it works on Linux, Macs and Windows.
I’ve been using it to work through some ideas I have for a new product. The thing I like the most is that it facilitates creativity and not fit and finish. When I use Omnigraffle to work through ideas, I have a tendency to spend all my time making sure everything is laid out perfectly. Balsamiq uses stencils with crooked lines, just like you would do if you wrote it out on paper. It forces me to pay more attention to what I’m really trying to do.
You can download a trial for free at the URL above. I highly recommend it if you too are responsible for generating new web applications.
No commentsGoogle Analytics update
I’ve been hoping to try out some of the new features that Google announced at eMetrics, but I don’t seem to get any for my account. Is there a trick to enabling them?
No commentsBack in the Saddle
Great news…. I’m employed again. I’m starting next week at Pluck, a Demand Media company. I’ve been in communication with them for almost 2 years now. Initially, I interviewed with them when I left Simdesk but decided to go with a company that allowed me to work from home.
I then became a customer of theirs when I implemented their Blogburst and SiteLife product on BioSpace. It worked out well because I got a great understanding of both sides of the product. The folks there are awesome and I can’t wait to get started.
No commentsFavorite iPhone applications
I havent posted in quite a while so I thought I would do a quick review of the iPhone applications that I use the most.
The first is Byline. It’s an RSS reader application that allows you to sync with your Google Reader account. I paid for the app for that capability alone. I look forward to some improvements in the future particularly in the usability area.
Next is Tuner. It’s a radio application from Nullsoft. It has a good directory of stations but also allows you to add your own stations which I love since my favorite station, WOXY, is never included. With the 3g capabilities of the new iPhone, it’s like satelite radio in my car. Love it.
And finally, my favorite timewaster – Twittervision. It displays a map of the World and displays tweets in realtime pinpointed on the map from their origin. The cool feature is that it can translate many languages. I can sit around for a long time just watching the tweets come in from all over.
I’ll continue to post new apps when I find some that I would recommend.
1 commentiPhone SDK video is so the reason Apple will rule the world
After watching this video, I even downloaded the SDK. I can only muddle through coding in C but I had to have it.
No commentsSXSW Interactive 2008
I’ve been to the music portion of SXSW a few times, but I have yet to make it to Interactive. This year, because I am living in Houston which is so close to Austin, I decided to go. It should be geek heaven.
No commentsMobify your site
MoFuse: Create a Mobile Website, Mobile Site Builder, .mobi Compliant: “”
I setup a mobile version of our site m.biospace.com in like 30 minutes. I’m really impressed with their service and gladly paid $6.00 per month. The iPhone view is excellent.
No commentsStuff I’m listening to this weekend
Maritime – Heresy and the Hotel Choir
mewithoutyou – Brother, Sister
MGMT – Oracular Spectacular
The Bell – Make Some Quiet
Division Day – Beartrap Island
This Will Destroy You – S/T
Yahoo layoffs
Sorry to hear one thousand people RIFd today at Yahoo. I was one of the large number in 2001 to get let go from Y!. It’s tough, even with a good severance package. I think times are a bit better now than they were back then so hopefully everyone who wants to be employed can find meaningful work soon.
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