Tag Archives: services

Reviews

A review of BackupMyBlog

Michael Arrington from TechCrunch posted a review of BackupMyBlog, a new service that backs up blogs on a daily basis. He said something that really piqued my interest at the end of his review. He suggested FeedBurner ought to be offering this sort of service. Now that’s an idea!

Incidentally, I posted the latest podcasting figures from FeedBurner yesterday, and in that post, I compared the feed security one gets from using their service with locking up important documents in a thick safe. Now I realize I was thinking pretty much the same thing, except I couldn’t put my finger on it. Yes, I couldn’t agree more. That would be a true value-added service from FeedBurner. It’d be a one-stop shop for one’s feed needs. It makes sense. The only question that remains is whether or not FeedBurner should offer a podcasting backup service as well.

➡ Updated 2/17/08: I ended up not using BackupMyBlog, and FeedBurner never introduced a backup service. The thing is, backing up websites and blogs is pretty easy once you know how to do it. The people who want to back them up have a vested interest in doing so and already have ways to do it. The ones that aren’t already backing them up are the ones using free services to host their sites, and those people aren’t very likely to pay for a backup service. That makes the whole incentive to develop such a service diminish to zero.

Standard
Reviews

Service remotely encrypts or deletes data

A new service called Everdream allows you to encrypt or delete computer data if it’s stolen. The computer will contact the Everdream site the first chance it gets, and it will get its directives from there. It’ll also store the internet connection information for law enforcement purposes. Cool! Unfortunately, if the hard drive is reformatted before it’s connected to the Internet, Everdream is useless. See, this is why flash memory storage should be standard on motherboards, in addition to the hard drive. The OS should be loaded onto the flash memory, and data stored on the drive. There should be permanent storage sections on the flash memory where programs like Everdream could be installed, for just such occasions. Here is the link.

Standard
Reviews

clearTXT: text messaging for online learning systems

clearTXT is a really cool product that works in conjunction with online learning systems like Blackboard, or by itself, and allows for permission-based text messaging to those who want to get up to date information right away on their cellphones. I’ve used it in conjunction with Blackboard, and it’s a great product! The sign-up is easy: students pick their mobile provider, enter their number, choose what level of messages they want to receive (announcements, course-level alerts/news, special vendor offers/coupons) and they’re done!

For Schools: clearTXT delivers important school and class information such as announcements, schedule changes, emergency alerts, campus news, and grades directly to student and instructor cell phones and email addresses. Plus, schools can generate revenue from messages by striking ad deals with local vendors.

For Marketers: when working together with schools, can send marketing information, coupons, and discounts to college students interested in their products and services for just pennies per message.

For Government Agencies: allows people to select the types of information they want from a particular agency and have it delivered right to their mobile phones.

They’ve even got a completely free product called alphaTXT, that enables schools to deliver time-sensitive notifications, emergency alerts, and other important information directly to the mobile phones of teachers and students.

Cool stuff!

Standard
Reviews

Let's buy some music

TechCrunch has a review of music services currently available, and their side-by-side comparison is pretty good, but they forgot to include eMusic.

My wife and I use eMusic, and we think it’s pretty darn good! I wish they’d included it in their list of reviewed services.

They mentioned AllofMP3 among the services they reviewed, but it is a quasi-legal site – I can’t imagine the artists are getting properly paid for their music at $0.09/song, and I don’t know if they even signed deals with the site. While the price may be tempting, I have a feeling that site will get turned off or made to charge more at some point in the future.

eMusic at least has deals with each of the artists on the site, and they’re completely legitimate. The downloads are fast, the selection is growing, and the music is not hamstrung by silly DRM schemes. Along with the iTunes service, it is what Ligia and I use regularly.

Standard