Follow the ball on Twitter

The folks that are managing the Times Square Ball Twitter account (@timessquareball) are really doing a great job humanizing this big sparkling ball.  Here is an example of a recent tweet:

I’ve got to spend the rest of the night memorizing my moves. Tomorrow is#NYE2012. See you there! — Times Square Ball (@timessquareball) December 31, 2011

Like the Ball on Facebook

Along with several resources of how to “connect” with the Times Square Ball, you can view up-to-date status updates, photos, and more on the official Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TimesSquareBall

Watch the Livestream Feed

If you are not going to be in front of a TV, but want to watch the ball drop the same way you have for so many years, you’re in luck!  The Times Square Alliance will be using Livestream to stream live video of Times Square and the ball drop.  Here is the Livestream channel: http://www.livestream.com/2012

There’s an App for That!

That’s right, the big shiny ball at the “crossroads of the world” has an app (or 2).  There are native apps for Apple iOS and Android devices, here are the links:

 http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/times-square-official-new/id408688944?mt=8 

 https://market.android.com/details?id=net.timessquareball.app

Here is a video to tell you more about the app:

The Official Website

Find all the information that you would ever want to know about the NYC New Years Ball.  You can also find photos of previous balls and the history of why the NYC ball has become so popular!  Here is a link to the official website: http://timessquareball.net/

Here is to a prosperous and uplifting 2012!  Do something different, smile more, create more, push the envelope more!  Cheers!

What is it?

Spotify is an online music service offering users the ability to stream more than 15 million tracks on demand using Spotify’s unique technology.  Spotify provides instant access to whatever music you want, whenever and wherever you want it, through a simple, clean and quick to use platform via an ad-supported, free-to-the-user service and a paid subscription service…legally.

What’s Cool?

• Over 15 Million songs at your finger tips for unlimited listening and sharing.
• Multi-platform: Listen to music on Spotify on your computer (free) or your mobile device (paid subscription)
• Playlists: Create and share with your friends.  Access them from anywhere.
• Share your favorite music via social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)

Premium Spotify

The added advantages of paying for Spotify Premium just might be great enough to drop $9.99/month for the following features:

• No Ads!
• Playing songs on my iPhone and iPad
• Downloading songs to my mobile devices for when I might be in a place that I do not have an internet connection
• Exclusive content: Being able to hear new albums before they are released
• Higher quality music, up to 320kbps

Service Plans

Here is an abbreviated rundown of the different Spotify service plans.  Click on the graphic for more information about the different plans.

 Facebook + Spotify =

Facebook and Spotify announced a collaboration recently to allow over 800 Million Facebook users to share their favorite music with their friends.  Here is a short video about this collaboration:

 Conclusion

I am an advocate for Spotify.  I think that their model is exactly what the music industry needs.  Daniel Ek, Founder of Spotify was quoted in a CNN interview saying ”What Spotify is saying is, ownership (of music) is great, but access is the future,” Ek said. “The main reason people want to pay for Spotify is really portability. People are saying, ‘I want to have my music with me.’ ”  The model of “give it to them free” has gained popularity in the past few years, so much so that I think it is almost expected.  Companies that realize their revenue should not be focused on the end user, but with the content providers or ad creators, are companies that will make a lot of money while providing an outstanding customer experience.

The MESH is a new media online network, designed to produce and deliver unique content to computers, mobile phones, iPods, iPads, and any other device connected to the Internet.  Just like a traditional television network, The MESH has a series of programs and “shows” on a variety of topics… the difference is you can watch or listen to what you want, when you want, and where you want.

On this episode of New Stuff Chad Austin of Chad Austin Marketing and Media Design (www.chadaustin.com), Terry Bledsoe, Chief Information Officer for Catawba County, North Carolina (www.catawbacountync.gov), and Alan Jackson with Jackson Group Interactive(www.jginteractive.com) joined me to talk about social media, technology, mobile devices and other gadgets!  The topics for this first episode include the current status of Google+, recent Facebook announcements, iPhone 5 rumors, and Google Wallet.+

Listen to the first episode here:

• iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/new-stuff/id467909880
• RSS Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/new-stuff
• The Mesh – New Stuff Page: http://themesh.tv/new-stuff/

Make sure to keep up with the latest developments at the event by following #socialgood on Twitter.

Twitter handles for partners and the sponsor of the event include:

@mashable
@unfoundation
@92y
@ericsson

[UPDATE] Agenda for Sessions: http://mashable.com/sgs/agenda/

Google’s clever, “invite only” way of launching many of their products has the ability to instantly create enough interest in their products that defines the very theory of supply and demand.  This time they might have a winner as opposed to the most recent product launches such as Wave and BUZZ.

A lot of people have been comparing Google+ to Facebook since it’s launch.  I have to say it is very similar, much like Facebook when it first began, but with more features.  Below is an infographic from Technobombs comparing Google+ and Facebook.

What do you think about Google+?  Will you be using using it?  Will you be replacing Facebook with Google + or do you think it is just another poor attempt at a “Facebook Killer”?

Along with the Video Calling, Facebook announced that they will be launching Group Chat as well as a new chat design.  With the new design, if your browser if large enough, you will see a “buddy list” appear in the right-hand part of your browser, making it easier to see your friend list.

[UPDATE]: Want to go ahead and get started video chatting? Get started here: https://www.facebook.com/videocalling

Video Calling screen grab from the announcement demo