samiq's posts

samiq's posts http://me.samiq.net Most recent posts at samiq's posts posterous.com Sun, 19 Feb 2012 19:53:00 -0800 The Management of Creative Teams http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/samiq/me/~3/Qu4xCzNLBS0/management-creative-teams http://me.samiq.net/management-creative-teams <p> <div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <blockquote class="posterous_medium_quote">You don’t build a startup with one big gigantic brain on the top, and a bunch of lesser brains obeying orders down below. You try to get everyone to have a gigantic brain in their area, and you provide a minimum amount of administrative support to keep them humming along.</blockquote> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">by Joel Spolsky on <a href="http://www.avc.com/a_vc/2012/02/the-management-team-guest-post-from-joel-spolsky.html">AVC</a></div> <p>Creative teams (dev, design and content) are a unique form of thought in its all and as that, they deserve a different way of managing.</p> <p>How do you motivate them? - which most of the times is not around money... How do you go about empowering them to create and develop the best of themselves? How do you make them shine?... these are all valid questions for both making your team succeed, as to make your endeavor succeed as well.</p> <p>It's funny how the self motivational speech of last decade doesn't apply to these subjects anymore, in the moment there is a leader, in that moment there is an inherent responsibility to facilitate and motivate, to embrace the best of everyone and provide the right spaces and tools to make up for the areas that need to be improved. Leaders should manage the skills and resources available through their team to make the most of their mix towards a common goal.</p> <p>Managing rocks stars shouldn't be that different... they are the ones that excel at making the boat roll, the ones who mentor the ones starting and most importantly, they are ones who keep bringing back their bag of tricks for you to manage. Your goal?... to nurture these tricks and help them create more: with respect, honesty and clear paths to build the road together, as a team effort.</p> <p>The post above excels on this call: Managers should focus on building and managing great teams of contributors; and the rest... will follow... now go <a href="http://www.avc.com/a_vc/2012/02/the-management-team-guest-post-from-joel-spolsky.html" title="The Management Team - Guest Post From Joel Spolsky" target="_blank">read it</a>.</p> </div> </p> <p><a href="http://me.samiq.net/management-creative-teams">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://me.samiq.net/management-creative-teams#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/samiq/me/~4/Qu4xCzNLBS0" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/275453/samiq.jpg http://posterous.com/users/36ztkqcIXgRz Gilbert Corrales samiq Gilbert Corrales http://me.samiq.net/management-creative-teams Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:58:00 -0800 Windows Phone: No need for Jedi training http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/samiq/me/~3/AkH3aR7w7OQ/windows-phone-no-need-for-jedi-training http://me.samiq.net/windows-phone-no-need-for-jedi-training <p> <div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6obEMR_aRkA?wmode=transparent" frameborder="0" height="320" width="500"></iframe> <p>Granted... this is not a Windows Phone ad, it's all about Vodafone Red Box service, but something that did caught my eye and the main reason why I want a Windows Phone, is that it just works... everything is there at you fingertip, all integrated... no need for Jedi training.</p> </div> </p> <p><a href="http://me.samiq.net/windows-phone-no-need-for-jedi-training">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://me.samiq.net/windows-phone-no-need-for-jedi-training#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/samiq/me/~4/AkH3aR7w7OQ" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/275453/samiq.jpg http://posterous.com/users/36ztkqcIXgRz Gilbert Corrales samiq Gilbert Corrales http://me.samiq.net/windows-phone-no-need-for-jedi-training Tue, 17 Jan 2012 22:15:00 -0800 A Dream: A Person-Oriented Society http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/samiq/me/~3/cS7UcNA7u0g/a-dream-a-person-oriented-society http://me.samiq.net/a-dream-a-person-oriented-society <p> <div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <blockquote class="posterous_medium_quote">We must rapidly begin the shift from a "thing-oriented" society to a "person-oriented" society. When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered.</blockquote> <p>by Martin Luther King, Jr.</p> <p>Thanks <a href="http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2012/01/straight-up.html" title="Straight up" target="_blank">Seth</a> for reminding us <a href="http://americancensorship.org/" title="Stop SOPA" target="_blank">how much we are forgetting</a> in these digital days.</p> </div> </p> <p><a href="http://me.samiq.net/a-dream-a-person-oriented-society">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://me.samiq.net/a-dream-a-person-oriented-society#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/samiq/me/~4/cS7UcNA7u0g" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/275453/samiq.jpg http://posterous.com/users/36ztkqcIXgRz Gilbert Corrales samiq Gilbert Corrales http://me.samiq.net/a-dream-a-person-oriented-society Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:12:00 -0800 Oh, the Places You'll Go http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/samiq/me/~3/IaZCKq2HvCI/oh-the-places-youll-go http://me.samiq.net/oh-the-places-youll-go <p> <div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ahv_1IS7SiE?wmode=transparent" frameborder="0" height="300" width="500"></iframe> <p>We are off for a brand new year and this one, like the one before, has been up for great surprises and adventures... and just like so, I found this video today and thought it might as well be the best way to start the year off... let this be a happy new year for all!</p> </div> </p> <p><a href="http://me.samiq.net/oh-the-places-youll-go">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://me.samiq.net/oh-the-places-youll-go#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/samiq/me/~4/IaZCKq2HvCI" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/275453/samiq.jpg http://posterous.com/users/36ztkqcIXgRz Gilbert Corrales samiq Gilbert Corrales http://me.samiq.net/oh-the-places-youll-go Tue, 13 Dec 2011 06:42:00 -0800 Making our users succeed... thru ego http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/samiq/me/~3/acQTHqyrZ94/making-our-users-succeed-thru-ego http://me.samiq.net/making-our-users-succeed-thru-ego <p> <div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <blockquote class="posterous_medium_quote">One reason that so many of the most popular sites online are those that permit people to express and expose their ideas is that those are the pages we care most about. We go back to see how people responded, how the traffic is, what we can do to improve the page.</blockquote> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">- <a href="http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2011/12/the-most-important-page-on-the-web-is-the-page-you-build-yourself.html">Seth Godin</a></div> <p>Social media, crowd-sourcing, build it and they will come... there are so many cliches these days about content generation leads and yet there are not that many players thinking truly in how to empower your contributors to be successful... at the end of the day it's thru their success that you will succeed.</p> <p>Wondering, what are you doing to make your tribe succeed?</p> </div> </p> <p><a href="http://me.samiq.net/making-our-users-succeed-thru-ego">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://me.samiq.net/making-our-users-succeed-thru-ego#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/samiq/me/~4/acQTHqyrZ94" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/275453/samiq.jpg http://posterous.com/users/36ztkqcIXgRz Gilbert Corrales samiq Gilbert Corrales http://me.samiq.net/making-our-users-succeed-thru-ego Tue, 29 Nov 2011 10:39:00 -0800 Inspiration to make the impossible... doable! http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/samiq/me/~3/R5zX87K3Hl0/inspiration-to-make-the-impossible-doable http://me.samiq.net/inspiration-to-make-the-impossible-doable <p> <div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0snNB1yS3IE?wmode=transparent" frameborder="0" height="300" width="500"></iframe> <p>it's not everyday that I seat infront on a video, lecture or reading that inspires me to a level of just remain speechless and immersed in the afterthoughts for a few minutes.</p> <p>this video right here is one of those... it starts with a poem... if follows with a great inspirational comment and it ends by making you rethink your now, your past and your future.</p> <p>it's just about lunch time in my country... so if you are looking for something to accompany your bites, search for it no more and just hit play.</p> <p>PS: loved it? the domino project just released <a href="http://www.thedominoproject.com/2011/11/why-publish-poetry.html" title="B by Sarah Kay" target="_blank">this great book</a> from the poem. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1612182798/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=samiqbits-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=1612182798&adid=14288YP2Y6GRA7AJ03FC&" title="B by Sarah Kay" target="_blank">get it</a>.</p> </div> </p> <p><a href="http://me.samiq.net/inspiration-to-make-the-impossible-doable">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://me.samiq.net/inspiration-to-make-the-impossible-doable#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/samiq/me/~4/R5zX87K3Hl0" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/275453/samiq.jpg http://posterous.com/users/36ztkqcIXgRz Gilbert Corrales samiq Gilbert Corrales http://me.samiq.net/inspiration-to-make-the-impossible-doable Mon, 21 Nov 2011 18:19:00 -0800 Entrepreneurs can change the world... just like a kid http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/samiq/me/~3/K4s9ABewc8U/entrepreneurs-can-change-the-world-just-like http://me.samiq.net/entrepreneurs-can-change-the-world-just-like <p> <div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/T6MhAwQ64c0?wmode=transparent" frameborder="0" height="417" width="500"></iframe></div> <p>I've been reading a few books lately on entrepreneurship and a recurrent topic on them is how important it is to plant the seed of exploration in our kids and nurture that feeling as they get older.</p> <p>Now more than ever this exploration is needed to move the world forward and even though there is a lot of artificial buzz been created around the myth of becoming a millionaire from one day to the other, the truth is that if we want to advance as a society we need to do so in the collective of great ideas... owned by many.</p> <p>This little video here represents that and I am thankful to this <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/cameron_herold_let_s_raise_kids_to_be_entrepreneurs.html" title="Cameron Herold: Let's raise kids to be entrepreneurs" target="_blank">TED talk from Cameron Harold</a> on how to teach kids to be entrepreneurs. This is not only a call to action for today's parents or soon to be ones, this is a call for the humanity.</p> </p> <p><a href="http://me.samiq.net/entrepreneurs-can-change-the-world-just-like">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://me.samiq.net/entrepreneurs-can-change-the-world-just-like#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/samiq/me/~4/K4s9ABewc8U" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/275453/samiq.jpg http://posterous.com/users/36ztkqcIXgRz Gilbert Corrales samiq Gilbert Corrales http://me.samiq.net/entrepreneurs-can-change-the-world-just-like Sun, 20 Nov 2011 08:10:00 -0800 Experiencing Natural History the NatGeo way http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/samiq/me/~3/6mJ8L3SP9lM/experiencing-natural-history-the-natgeo-way http://me.samiq.net/experiencing-natural-history-the-natgeo-way <p> <div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/31479392?portrait=0" frameborder="0" height="283" width="500"></iframe> <p>A few days back, I shared with you a new <a href="http://me.samiq.net/lego-life-of-george-a-playful-use-of-ar" title="LEGO Life of George - A playful use of AR" target="_blank">AR assisted experience</a> LEGO put out for kids and grownups to play along this holidays season, today I want you to explore a more of a group-oriented, public interactive experience.</p> <p>Recently, National Geographic peered up with London studio <a href="http://www.appshaker.co.uk/" title="Appshaker" target="_blank">Appshaker</a> to create a new way for people to interact and discover content from the network's collection of amazing footage.</p> <p>In order to do so, <a href="http://appshaker.co.uk/casestudies/national.html" title="NatGeo case study" target="_blank">appshaker came out with a public AR experience</a> that let thousands of people to interact with everything from a T-Rex to Dolphins swiming around you to even a playfull cheetah.</p> <p>Take a look yourself in the video above. Look at how, both the people that step up to the markers and the people around the mall experience the display. It is in showcases like this that not only brands get something to show for but the society gets the chance to start seeing what the future is going to look like. It prepare themselves for what's around the corner and gives creatives new grounds to explore.</p> <p>Immagine what would happen if you add a kinect camera into the mix, if you have smart enough movements into the characters that could let people interact with the animals like if they were there, imagine what if you could dress the people with new clothes and take them into a new journey.</p> <p>Academics: get the ball going, take your research outside, it's time to take all of those experiences out of the lab and into the world!!</p> </div> </p> <p><a href="http://me.samiq.net/experiencing-natural-history-the-natgeo-way">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://me.samiq.net/experiencing-natural-history-the-natgeo-way#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/samiq/me/~4/6mJ8L3SP9lM" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/275453/samiq.jpg http://posterous.com/users/36ztkqcIXgRz Gilbert Corrales samiq Gilbert Corrales http://me.samiq.net/experiencing-natural-history-the-natgeo-way Fri, 18 Nov 2011 09:52:00 -0800 LEGO Life of George - A playful use of AR http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/samiq/me/~3/IBbodKnJyII/lego-life-of-george-a-playful-use-of-ar http://me.samiq.net/lego-life-of-george-a-playful-use-of-ar <p> <div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1DHZwSOVKBY?wmode=transparent" frameborder="0" height="310" width="500"></iframe> <p>This morning <a href="http://twitter.com/helguita" title="Helga Alvarez" target="_blank">Helguita</a> sent me a link to the new <a href="http://george.lego.com/" title="Lego Life of George" target="_blank">Lego Life of George</a> experience and got to say it made me smile and more than that it put me mind to fly.</p> <p>This hybrid game combines the physical task of assembling legos with that of a virtual-checking using an <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/life-of-george/id463288121?ls=1&mt=8" title="Lego Life of George app" target="_blank">Augmented Reality app for the iPhone</a>.</p> <p>Wit this app you can go against the clock with the models the app suggests, while you can also start building your own stages as well, saving them, sharing them and exploring new ones.</p> <p>Now imagine if we could take this experience and apply it to more complex tasks, verification processes in real time and with the tools with have at hand today.</p> <p>I think we are living in exciting times of innovation and as <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/101150731495266836199/posts/8qjb2EKHwZ8" target="_blank">I noted yesterday on my Google Profile</a>, it is in the exploration of this new experiences, the key eye to forward thinking and the inherent value for the aesthetics in today's toys that we are setting foundations for a creative society that will move the needle forward in very revolutionary ways in just a few years.</p> </div> </p> <p><a href="http://me.samiq.net/lego-life-of-george-a-playful-use-of-ar">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://me.samiq.net/lego-life-of-george-a-playful-use-of-ar#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/samiq/me/~4/IBbodKnJyII" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/275453/samiq.jpg http://posterous.com/users/36ztkqcIXgRz Gilbert Corrales samiq Gilbert Corrales http://me.samiq.net/lego-life-of-george-a-playful-use-of-ar Thu, 17 Nov 2011 13:35:00 -0800 Winter is coming - let's build an iglu http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/samiq/me/~3/TICIlP4i5Dg/winter-is-coming-lets-build-an-iglu http://me.samiq.net/winter-is-coming-lets-build-an-iglu <p> <div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/30434583?portrait=0" frameborder="0" height="283" width="500"></iframe> <p /> <p>Been from a caribbean country I always wondered as a kid how did the iglus were made and if they really were used at all - or if maybe it was just something cartoons had invented... years later I came a long with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/entity/Sue-Harrison/B001IXQ8QI?ie=UTF8&ref_=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1&ie=UTF8&tag=samiqbits-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957" title="Sue Harrison's Books at Amazon" target="_blank">Sue Harrison's Pre-historic Trilogy</a> which took place in Alaska - and from where I borrowed the nick Samiq - and the intrigue grew more, as it reminded me of me childhood.</p> <p>Now move the years forward to today and thankfully to the power of the interwebs and HD cam's I have to wonder no more... here is how you get to build one.</p> <p>Enjoy!</p> <p>PS. I know I could have find this way before but sometimes I just forget about my intrigues and then the answers alone find their way back to me thru me rss feed. that's good!</p> </div> </p> <p><a href="http://me.samiq.net/winter-is-coming-lets-build-an-iglu">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://me.samiq.net/winter-is-coming-lets-build-an-iglu#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/samiq/me/~4/TICIlP4i5Dg" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/275453/samiq.jpg http://posterous.com/users/36ztkqcIXgRz Gilbert Corrales samiq Gilbert Corrales http://me.samiq.net/winter-is-coming-lets-build-an-iglu Thu, 17 Nov 2011 08:32:00 -0800 Art & Exploration = Passions http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/samiq/me/~3/Qa42aDkXljQ/art-exploration http://me.samiq.net/art-exploration <p> <div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <blockquote class="posterous_medium_quote">Art is form of exploration, of sailing off into the unknown alone, heading for those unmarked places on the map. If children are not permitted–not taught–to be adventurers and explorers as children, what will become of the world of adventure, of stories, of literature itself?</blockquote> <p>Because it's in the action of letting me mind flow that most of the great ideas have come from... it's in the disconnect from the virtual and the reconnect with the physical that you can in itself get the most of both and to strive in beauty, form and action.</p> <p>This little excerpt from <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0007150415/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=samiqbits-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=0007150415&adid=1ZDT86QHYKAZVHFRXC7W&" title="Manhood for Amateurs" target="_blank">Manhood for Amateurs</a> reminded me of me been a kid and painting, playing and running; climbing trees and just think in the hugeness of the world... now I realize how much I need that to start happening again.</p> <p>I need to kick start my passions... and you? What are your passions?</p> <p>PS. Thanks to Swiss-miss for <a href="http://www.swiss-miss.com/2011/11/art-exploration.html" title="Art & Exploration" target="_blank">finding it</a> for me ;)</p> </div> </p> <p><a href="http://me.samiq.net/art-exploration">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://me.samiq.net/art-exploration#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/samiq/me/~4/Qa42aDkXljQ" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/275453/samiq.jpg http://posterous.com/users/36ztkqcIXgRz Gilbert Corrales samiq Gilbert Corrales http://me.samiq.net/art-exploration Tue, 19 Apr 2011 13:10:00 -0700 Photosynth: The Future of Mobile Photography http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/samiq/me/~3/Momckxas2Qo/photosynth-the-future-of-mobile-photography http://me.samiq.net/photosynth-the-future-of-mobile-photography <p> <div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <object height="300" width="500"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6BbuPPOVXQo&hl=en&fs=1" /> <param name="wmode" value="window" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6BbuPPOVXQo&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="opaque" height="300" width="500"></embed> </object> <p>sometimes you have to test stuff yourself just to see how grant it is... this has happened to me in a couple of ocacions before: when I got my first iphone, when I got my first retina-enabled iPod touch and now I can add a third... and it's from Microsoft!</p> <p>The <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/photosynth/id430065256?mt=8" title="Photosynth for iOS" target="_blank">Photosynth App</a> just works as advertized, the app sports Microsoft's Metro look and feel that, to say the least, it feels fresh on a device that is all but different (is it that a good thing?!) but that's just icyng on the cake... you have to tap start and just go flashing away those pictures... it's amazing!</p> <p>Mobile photography really won't be the same after you test this app.</p> <p>Kudos to Blaise and his team of researchers... this trully is a step closer to the future!</p> <p><em><strong>PS.</strong></em> Care to know where did all this came from? then check out Blaise demoing <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/blaise_aguera_y_arcas_demos_photosynth.html" title="Blaise Aguera y Arcas demos Photosynth" target="_blank">Seadragon and Photosynth</a> and the <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/blaise_aguera.html" title="Blaise Aguera y Arcas demos augmented-reality maps " target="_blank">future of Augmented Reality Maps</a> at TED and then follow on dreaming!</p> <p><em><strong>Update:</strong></em> better yet... skip those videos and watch them later and just jump straight to <a href="http://styleisviolence.com/photosynth-app/" title="photosynth app!" target="_blank">Blaise's account of the app experience</a>.</p> <p> </p> </div> </p> <p><a href="http://me.samiq.net/photosynth-the-future-of-mobile-photography">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://me.samiq.net/photosynth-the-future-of-mobile-photography#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/samiq/me/~4/Momckxas2Qo" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/275453/samiq.jpg http://posterous.com/users/36ztkqcIXgRz Gilbert Corrales samiq Gilbert Corrales http://me.samiq.net/photosynth-the-future-of-mobile-photography Tue, 08 Mar 2011 11:17:00 -0800 Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds, and Actions http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/samiq/me/~3/0glgn7m2e64/enchantment-the-art-of-changing-hearts-minds http://me.samiq.net/enchantment-the-art-of-changing-hearts-minds <p> <p class="p1">A few years back I had the chance to collaborate reviewing the book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0020MMBA8?tag=samiqbits-20&camp=213381&creative=390973&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B0020MMBA8&adid=1D68NEHS3G630KTQFXF3&"><span class="s1">Reality Check</span></a> by Startup Legendary, <a href="http://www.guykawasaki.com/" title="Guy Kawasaki" target="_blank">Guy Kawasaki</a>. That book changed the way I looked at startup formation and made it spark the fire of entrepreneur in me... in a lot of ways this book was the reason that made me resign to my status in the industry and head across the world to Korea to restart, and as result <a href="http://www.discovr.net" title="Discovr Places">Discovr Places</a> was born.</p> <p class="p1">Now, 2 years later, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0049U4INC?tag=samiqbits-20&camp=213381&creative=390973&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B0049U4INC&adid=0S224EV998MSR22W4BP2&"><span class="s1">a new book</span></a> comes from the vault of his ideas and with Enchanted, Guy tries to show us the value of soft skills in practice. Something that, in my personal opinion, is key to succeed as a leader, regardless of your industry, in what you do or have to offer.</p> <p class="p1">I just bought the book today and from the early look at it I believe it will become a most read for <em>explorers</em>, for those early stage startup CEO's, that just as technology savvy, it's expected of them to become enchanters in their practice and as service providers.</p> <p class="p1">The info-graphic below is a guide to <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0049U4INC?tag=samiqbits-20&camp=213381&creative=390973&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B0049U4INC&adid=151GP01A8SYXSNCGZ5ZA&" title="Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds, and Actions" target="_blank">the book</a>, something you can print and hang in your wall or just around the office so you and your peers can be reminded of those little things that can make a difference in the way you can be perceived. Take a look.</p> <p class="p1"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0049U4INC?tag=samiqbits-20&camp=213381&creative=390973&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B0049U4INC&adid=0S224EV998MSR22W4BP2&"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_cRZEdQyP5GU/TXaM3wvd55I/AAAAAAAAWDA/ZUJOlDqOdxk/s0/Enchantment%20Infographic.jpeg" alt="Enchanted Infografic" width="500" /></a></p> <p class="p1">I like the way <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fgp%2Fentity%2FGuy-Kawasaki%2FB000APBIYC%3Fie%3DUTF8%26ref_%3Dntt_athr_dp_pel_1&tag=samiqbits-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957" title="Guy Kawasaki's Books" target="_blank">Guy writes</a>, it's just like having a pal over for drinks and tell you stories that work. I hope you guys find as much motiviation in his ideas as I've done, and don't worry, be happy and trust you can do a great change in the world by enchanting others.</p> <p class="p1">Cheers!</p> </p> <p><a href="http://me.samiq.net/enchantment-the-art-of-changing-hearts-minds">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://me.samiq.net/enchantment-the-art-of-changing-hearts-minds#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/samiq/me/~4/0glgn7m2e64" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/275453/samiq.jpg http://posterous.com/users/36ztkqcIXgRz Gilbert Corrales samiq Gilbert Corrales http://me.samiq.net/enchantment-the-art-of-changing-hearts-minds Tue, 01 Mar 2011 12:00:00 -0800 XAML + C++ is this Microsoft's UX.next? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/samiq/me/~3/J63CaqGv8gk/xaml-c-is-this-microsofts-uxnext http://me.samiq.net/xaml-c-is-this-microsofts-uxnext <p> <p>There has been <a href="https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/wpf-disciples/Hfg8WH6V19g" title="WPF vNext" target="_blank">a lot of discussion lately</a> about the current status of Microsoft UX strategy and where is it going. Microsoft reps keep on with the same story of "depends" and away from concrete answers, they keep adding their own weight of uncertainty into the whole equation.</p> <p>My pal, Scott Barnes, has been probably <a href="http://www.riagenic.com/archives/521" title="WPF lip service again" target="_blank">the most vocal among the outsiders</a> (even though he was an insider not long ago) and making use of his position in the community, he has been reviving the waters of an old discussion. Where is Microsoft.UX going next... what is happening with WPF and, for what is worth, <a href="http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/microsoft-our-strategy-with-silverlight-has-shifted/7834" title="Microsoft: Our strategy with Silverlight has shifted" target="_blank">where does Silverlight fits in the whole equation</a>?</p> <p>To no one is a secret that HTML5 + CSS3 + JS are poised to the be the future of the interaction technologies, not only is the true open cross platform equation, their feature set have been gaining more and more power lately, to the point that it is been brought at par with a lot of its plugin counterparts… it might not be there in full right now... but believe me, it is going to get there very quick. </p> <p>But the story doesn't end here, there is more to the interaction experience than just web. We need tools and frameworks that let us reap the benefits of the hardware beneath and that of the great user experience that (some) platforms provide, and it's for those scenarios that we wonder: what'd be Microsoft's take?</p> <p><strong>Enter XAML + C++</strong></p> <p>Among some slides posted today by Mary-Jo Foley about <a href="http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/microsoft-delivers-its-other-tablet-operating-system-windows-embedded-compact-7/8807" title="Microsoft delivers its 'other' tablet operating system: Windows Embedded Compact 7" target="_blank">the new Windows Embedded Compact</a> relase, a few interesting bits where shown… imagine you can take the power of XAML-based UX with the power and reach of native execution. No more performance issues, fat-out frameworks in the middle and as the slides put it no Garbage Collector pauses like in Managed Code.</p> <p><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_cRZEdQyP5GU/TW1QjUkhaZI/AAAAAAAAWB0/pDYGVnXHboI/s800/silverlightforembedded.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_cRZEdQyP5GU/TW1QjUkhaZI/AAAAAAAAWCE/WbZfmj8jrN0/s640/silverlightforembedded.jpg" alt="" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Now keep in mind these slides are referring to the new Windows Embedded Compact released yesterday and it's not an official announcement of bigger proportions, yet… but it might be what has been missing to bring Windows + Dev units together within Microsoft and help start fresh with a more cohesive story… parallel to HTML5… and for togheter, to build some trust and show us a clearer future.</p> <p>I know this might not be the best scenario for everyone, but it might be right scenario to move native development further… .NET is one the most ubiquitous development platforms in the Windows world and with Mono doing the dirty work no one at Microsoft have wanted to address… their footprint is pretty much everywhere. But .NET has it's limitations and Microsoft has been aware of them ever since they reset Longhorns from what-is-was-supposed-to-be to what-Vista-ended-up-being. XAML was probably the best outcome from that effort and it has prove to be a great DSL for UX development.</p> <p>Back to the future, Windows 8 is just around the corner, coming along with its ARM and x86 flavors, it's supposed to be all about tablet support, energy efficiency and for what's worth it will be the tiding bone between a true cloud driven experience across all 3 screens… if anything we will need portability and we will need increased performance… away from all the cluttered bits in the middle and that's what XAML + C++ could bring to the party.</p> <p>What do you think? Os this too crazy? or is Microsoft lost… still?</p> <p>One thing is for sure, whatever Microsoft is set to release next I wished it came with a clear proposition of unity, an homogenized strategy and best of all something we, developers and designers (don't forget about those), can really believe in, not for a season or two but for years to come.</p> </p> <p><a href="http://me.samiq.net/xaml-c-is-this-microsofts-uxnext">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://me.samiq.net/xaml-c-is-this-microsofts-uxnext#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/samiq/me/~4/J63CaqGv8gk" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/275453/samiq.jpg http://posterous.com/users/36ztkqcIXgRz Gilbert Corrales samiq Gilbert Corrales http://me.samiq.net/xaml-c-is-this-microsofts-uxnext Thu, 03 Feb 2011 19:30:00 -0800 It's all about making happy products http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/samiq/me/~3/EkKrOmPOYO0/its-all-about-making-happy-products http://me.samiq.net/its-all-about-making-happy-products <p> <div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <object height="300" width="500"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RlQEoJaLQRA&hl=en&fs=1" /> <param name="wmode" value="window" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RlQEoJaLQRA&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="opaque" height="300" width="500"></embed> </object> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlQEoJaLQRA&feature=related">youtube.com</a></div> <p>These days there are a lot of us in the business of making things... wether they are tangible or intangible products we are constantly creating. We are creators! And it's under this reality, the rapid advancement of technology and the easy access to it that now, more than ever, the creation process has been democratized world wide, from north to south, all over the place.</p> <p>But with this democratization of creation there comes a responsibility... a responsibility of making happy products. Products that don't get in our ways and more often than not, help us live a better life, at work, at home and on the streets.</p> <p>In this short video <a href="http://www.jnd.org/" target="_blank">Don Norman</a> talks us into what he belives are the 3 keys to <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0465051367?tag=samiqbits-20&camp=213381&creative=390973&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=0465051367&adid=0GGH7PTA0DFDFM86XQ4D&" target="_blank">Emotional Design</a>:</p> <ol> <li>Beautiful products</li> <li>Functional products</li> <li>Reflective products... or those that make a connection with us even after we stop using them</li> </ol> <p>We need to convey emotion into what we do, into the people who uses our products and even more with the surroundings.</p> <p>It has to feel organic to our shores... so go ahead and have fun creating!</p> <p><em><strong>PS:</strong></em> if you feel like exploring more on this subject, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0465051367?tag=samiqbits-20&camp=213381&creative=390973&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=0465051367&adid=0GGH7PTA0DFDFM86XQ4D&" target="_blank">here is Don Norman's book on the subject</a>.</p> </div> </p> <p><a href="http://me.samiq.net/its-all-about-making-happy-products">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://me.samiq.net/its-all-about-making-happy-products#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/samiq/me/~4/EkKrOmPOYO0" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/275453/samiq.jpg http://posterous.com/users/36ztkqcIXgRz Gilbert Corrales samiq Gilbert Corrales http://me.samiq.net/its-all-about-making-happy-products Thu, 03 Feb 2011 11:58:00 -0800 Let the Tablet Madness Begins http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/samiq/me/~3/1DFZoUAFlcw/let-the-tablet-madness-begins http://me.samiq.net/let-the-tablet-madness-begins <p> <div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="Media_httpstaticskatt_iyeea" height="1845" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/samiq/cIGzDqeyfminqhpyoyJdhkpjtnJeGagqzdjqbJvfHJzmxFquzBJwbmfvqEHy/media_httpstaticskatt_iyeeA.png.scaled500.png" width="500" /> </div> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://skattertech.com/2011/02/infographic-blackberry-playbook-vs-dell-streak-7-vs-apple-ipad-vs-motorola-xoom/">skattertech.com</a></div> <p>With only a couple of days into February and the diversity of slate offerings is just starting to spice up and with that the diversification of offerings, flavors and most importantly, experiences start their lineup to bloom.</p> <p>So what's in for us? Let's just take a look at the infographic above which pairs up some of the known offerings available until now; as for concerns in design and implementation the lesser common denominator for all of them comes to be <a href="http://webkit.org/" target="_blank">Webkit</a>, which means that more and more HTML5 will become the de-facto technology we will catered to if we want to target all them as one as we wait to see how they penetrate in the consumer world individually.</p> <p>These are interesting times and I'm exited to see how the slate market will evolve. Android is probably the platform with the biggest opportunity to make a dent in Apple's reign, specially given Apple's <a href="http://techcrunch.com/2011/02/01/apple-nothing-has-changed-except-for-this-one-thing/" title="Apple: Nothing Has Changed. Except For This One Thing." target="_blank">almost dictatorial behavior as of late</a> and <a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/technology/sns-rt-business-us-google-nokia-20110131,0,3986208.story" target="_blank">Google's non-stop grow</a> in mobile.</p> <p>In the mean time Google has a lot to catch up to in terms of facilitating the making money process to developers, if they expect more and more developers to make the jump, which as of now has remained below expectations.</p> <p>The show is not over and the war of slates will just get hotter as the days advance, <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/04/hp-invites-press-to-an-exciting-webos-announcement-on-february/" title="HP invites press to an 'exciting webOS announcement' on February 9th" target="_blank">next week</a> HP is set to unveil their line up of WebOS based devices, which has been creating a lot of expectation lately, same goes for the iPad 2 whose announcement is eminent and as for Microsoft, well... we'll have to see what <a href="http://live.visitmix.com/">MIX '11</a> has to offer in this arena, since their strategy is still quite vague. </p> <p>The pastures for us creators is greener than ever, imagination is at bloom and the displays are opening up... democratization for content, experiences and more is becoming reality one bit and pixel at the time... at a very fast rate.</p> <p>Exited?</p> </div> </p> <p><a href="http://me.samiq.net/let-the-tablet-madness-begins">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://me.samiq.net/let-the-tablet-madness-begins#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/samiq/me/~4/1DFZoUAFlcw" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/275453/samiq.jpg http://posterous.com/users/36ztkqcIXgRz Gilbert Corrales samiq Gilbert Corrales http://me.samiq.net/let-the-tablet-madness-begins Thu, 30 Dec 2010 05:06:00 -0800 ONTWIK: a source of lectures for web developers and designers http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/samiq/me/~3/MLVOo5cWFYo/ontwik-a-source-of-lectures-for-web-developer http://me.samiq.net/ontwik-a-source-of-lectures-for-web-developer <p> <div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="Media_httplh4ggphtcom_qfyno" height="224" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/samiq/oinpdIGqAaGddnlduGtwkloGtJhbFAdeqJykgvplbEeDmzvslxxllfIwcItz/media_httplh4ggphtcom_qFyno.png.scaled500.png" width="492" /> </div> <p>As the year comes slowly to its end, the pase of work also comes slowly into the holidays and even though this should be a time to relax and meditate, we geeks always come up with some free time and look out for something new to put in our toolbox, well look for it no more and enter <a href="http://ontwik.com/" target="_blank">ONTWIK</a>.</p> <p>Ontwik aims to provide the web community with a hight quality, latest, and best web development lectures and conferences from the best web developers and designers.</p> <p>I don't know how long has this website been up for... but for what I can see there are quite a <a href="http://ontwik.com/ui/google-io-creating-positive-user-experiences/" title="Google I/O – Creating Positive User Experiences" target="_blank">few</a> <a href="http://ontwik.com/ui/design-for-developers-making-your-frontend-suck-less/" title="Design For Developers: Making Your Frontend Suck Less" target="_blank">jewels</a> <a href="http://ontwik.com/ui/ryan-singer-designing-from-start-to-finish/" title="Ryan Singer: Designing From Start To Finish" target="_blank">hidden</a> <a href="http://ontwik.com/ui/ui-design-seminar-lecture-on-layout-composition-and-grid-systems/" title="UI Design Seminar Lecture On Layout, Composition, And Grid Systems" target="_blank">inside</a>.</p> <p>So don't waste time looking around, now you know what to do with those free hours!</p> <p>Happy holidays everyone!</p> </div> </p> <p><a href="http://me.samiq.net/ontwik-a-source-of-lectures-for-web-developer">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://me.samiq.net/ontwik-a-source-of-lectures-for-web-developer#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/samiq/me/~4/MLVOo5cWFYo" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/275453/samiq.jpg http://posterous.com/users/36ztkqcIXgRz Gilbert Corrales samiq Gilbert Corrales http://me.samiq.net/ontwik-a-source-of-lectures-for-web-developer Sun, 19 Dec 2010 07:42:00 -0800 The Noun Project : icons made beautiful http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/samiq/me/~3/G59Z4CxDrc8/the-noun-project-icons-made-beautiful http://me.samiq.net/the-noun-project-icons-made-beautiful <p> <div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/samiq/hxBpdjBoeJhEJwdlDxGsbflacnhaJleJhilmbHevBkepgBEfGzbwvAyuIryd/media_httplh6ggphtcom_klFzn.png.scaled1000.png"><img alt="Media_httplh6ggphtcom_klfzn" height="434" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/samiq/hxBpdjBoeJhEJwdlDxGsbflacnhaJleJhilmbHevBkepgBEfGzbwvAyuIryd/media_httplh6ggphtcom_klFzn.png.scaled500.png" width="500" /></a> </div> <p>I came across this project just a few days back and today it came the chance to put it to use.</p> <p>Honestly I'm amazed at the level of quality and variety of icons available, it's just amazing!</p> <p>The project’s mission is to collect, organize and make available an extensive library of free pictograms/icons for common nouns and concepts that make up the universal visual language, and best of all, all icons are guaranteed to be free.</p> <p>Wether you are working on a new project or thinking in redesigning your current project, <a href="http://www.thenounproject.com/" target="_blank">take a look</a> and if you use what it's there <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tnp/building-a-free-collection-of-our-worlds-visual-sy" target="_blank">remember to donate</a> a couple of bucks!</p> </div> </p> <p><a href="http://me.samiq.net/the-noun-project-icons-made-beautiful">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://me.samiq.net/the-noun-project-icons-made-beautiful#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/samiq/me/~4/G59Z4CxDrc8" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/275453/samiq.jpg http://posterous.com/users/36ztkqcIXgRz Gilbert Corrales samiq Gilbert Corrales http://me.samiq.net/the-noun-project-icons-made-beautiful Wed, 15 Dec 2010 19:20:00 -0800 The Most Awesome 450 Page Presentation Ever http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/samiq/me/~3/U0sfVZW0KK0/the-most-awesome-450-page-presentation-ever http://me.samiq.net/the-most-awesome-450-page-presentation-ever <p> <div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <object height="417" width="500"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bt9F7tKcZcU&hl=en&fs=1" /> <param name="wmode" value="window" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bt9F7tKcZcU&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="window" height="417" width="500"></embed> </object> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bt9F7tKcZcU">youtube.com</a></div> <p>enough said... just click play!</p> <p>liked it? then visit <a href="http://www.demoslam.com/" title="Google Demo Slam" target="_blank">Google Demo Slam</a> for more... got to say it's awesome!</p> </div> </p> <p><a href="http://me.samiq.net/the-most-awesome-450-page-presentation-ever">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://me.samiq.net/the-most-awesome-450-page-presentation-ever#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/samiq/me/~4/U0sfVZW0KK0" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/275453/samiq.jpg http://posterous.com/users/36ztkqcIXgRz Gilbert Corrales samiq Gilbert Corrales http://me.samiq.net/the-most-awesome-450-page-presentation-ever Mon, 13 Dec 2010 04:50:00 -0800 Facebook Art http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/samiq/me/~3/TQ9Tezq6lPM/facebook-art http://me.samiq.net/facebook-art <p> <div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/samiq/bfGabydCfvoGbpohelsievqBlbmuzcgDChffnrpFCvFcajrBvtBJoiHdupjo/media_httpeutechcrunc_pCyJv.png.scaled1000.png"><img alt="Media_httpeutechcrunc_pcyjv" height="431" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/samiq/bfGabydCfvoGbpohelsievqBlbmuzcgDChffnrpFCvFcajrBvtBJoiHdupjo/media_httpeutechcrunc_pCyJv.png.scaled500.png" width="500" /></a> </div> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://eu.techcrunch.com/2010/12/12/now-that-is-a-nice-profile-picture-like/">eu.techcrunch.com</a></div> <p>Even though I still haven't got to like the new redesigned Facebook profile page - I think they made more complex tasks that before was just a click and type - here it's an interesting use of it.</p> <p>A true expresion of your face :)</p> </div> </p> <p><a href="http://me.samiq.net/facebook-art">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://me.samiq.net/facebook-art#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/samiq/me/~4/TQ9Tezq6lPM" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/275453/samiq.jpg http://posterous.com/users/36ztkqcIXgRz Gilbert Corrales samiq Gilbert Corrales http://me.samiq.net/facebook-art