The Raging Tech

EPIC Halloween Contest Winner: Courtney Benefiel

Ride to Remedy’s Courtney Benefiel is the grand winner of Raging Tech’s “Blogger Costume” contest. She produced a fantastic video on YouTube highlighting one of our sponsors, blogger Drew Bennett from BenSpark.com. From the looks of it, she thought long and hard about who she wanted to represent this Halloween.

Courtney will be receiving all of the fantastic prizes from our sponsors: IZEA, PokenGirl, BenSpark.com, XShot, UPrinting.com, and of course, Raging Tech.

Also, there are two coupon codes still left: RTXSHOT for a discount on XShots, and RAGINGPOKEN for a discount on Pokens from PokenGirl.com.

Google to Add TomTom-like Turn-by-Turn Directions to Google Maps for Mobile Phones Like iPhone

From the NY Times:

“MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — In a move that is likely to be seen as an attack on yet another industry, Google on Wednesday introduced a free navigation system for mobile phones that offers turn-by-turn directions.”

The new version of Google Maps for mobile phones will be released with a new turn-by-turn directions feature that may put them in direct competition with companies like TomTom and Garmin, whose devices dominate the GPS gadget market for the time being. What will the new app cost? Absolutely nothing for the consumer, it will still be a free service like most of Google’s offerings. Is Google worried?

“After the briefing, Mr. Schmidt said he was not concerned that the new service would create new enemies for Google. ‘As long as you are on the side of consumers, you’ll be fine,’ he said.”

TomTom released an app for the iPhone recently that debuted at $100, according to the article. That’s just ridiculous – one hundred bucks for an iPhone app? That’s only going to reach a few customers – but I can see how they’d be afraid a cheap app would discourage iPhone owners from purchasing a regular TomTom device for their vehicle. Will the new Google Maps application make it to the App Store? I don’t see Apple easily letting it go by without serious scrutiny, but at the same time – my friend Nathan brought up a good point, that Apple has often released built-in software that killed off need for paid apps, so why not? Unless Apple signed a non-compete with TomTom, I can see Google Maps not only making it to the App Store but sending TomTom into obsolescence.

Would you pay $100 for a TomTom app for your iPhone? If you haven’t already, would you jailbreak your iPhone to get the new features?

Windows 7 Launch Party Tonight

Tonight I’m one of the lucky few chosen to host a Windows 7 launch party at my house. It’s not going to be a huge affair, but I’ve got a party pack that Microsoft sent me that includes some cool stuff. I noticed it came with a set of Windows 7 playing cards, and I’ve got a poker table and playing chips, so I have decided to make it a Windows 7 poker party!

Microsoft has released the latest version of the Windows Operating System, called simply “Windows 7″ – or as I like to call it “Windows Do-over.” 7 is everything that Vista was missing. I’ve been using it for a few months now, and I prefer it over Vista AND XP. The version I’ve been using is the beta of the Ultimate edition, but Microsoft sent me a copy of the finalized Windows 7 in what they call the “Signature Edition” – it has Steve Ballmer’s signature on it, not Gates.

The party is at 8pm tonight at my house – if you are in the Western North Carolina area, send me an email at rt@ragingtech.com and I’ll get you directions. It’s BYOB and bring a snack to share, also your host likes Diet Coke and Ruffles chips with ranch dip. Just FYI.

Gadget Lust: Get in the Picture with the XShot Camera Extender

No More MySpacey Self-Portraits

You’ve seen them – the Facebook / MySpace / Twitter’d self-portraits taken at arm’s length with a best-guess aiming to get you and one or two or even three other people all trying to crowd into the photo. What else are you going to do? Give your camera to a stranger? Leave your camera on a ledge with the self-timer so you can be in the photo too? Take turns? All of these options are completely ridculous.

Enter the XShot: Savior of the Hard-to-Get Photo

This video (it loops, so hit pause when you’re done) on ABC news explains exactly what the XShot is and how it works:

From XShot’s website (http://www.xshotpix.com/):

“You deserve to be in the picture too!

The XShot camera extender includes you in the pictures that you take! No more awkward photos from doing the single-arm stretch. With the XShot you can capture a full background instead of just faces. Because the XShot extends over 3 feet, you can have up to 10 people in the picture! The XShot closes to 9 inches for easy transport. Durable metal and only weighs 5 ounces!

The XShot is also great for making films and video diaries. Since the camera is pointing at you, you are always in the frame. Smile!”

Cool Ways People Use the XShot

Over on Flickr there’s an XShot photostream with albums of people using the XShot to get above-the-crowd shots at concerts and public gatherings, group portraits with themselves in the picture (and a lot of the background, too), and photos like this one below of the new XShot iPhone case (coming out soon!) attached to the XShot:

Follow @XShot on Twitter and enter my contest to win one of your very own (along with tons of other great “Blogger Costume” prizes)! Or if you can’t wait until after Midnight on Halloween, head on over to XShot’s site and use promo code RTXSHOT to save $5 off your very own XShot!

Per FTC regulations, I’m required to disclose that I already have my own XShot (and it’s FANTASTIC) that I won in another contest, but XShot was kind enough to donate an XShot camera extender to my contest to give away for promotion. All information above I am either in complete agreement with or is my own original opinion

What the Hell is a Sponzai, Anyway?

Sponsored Guest Posting Zen

You may have noticed a while back that I had a guest post from Chris Brogan about Trust Agents on my blog that said it was powered by Sponzai and said “Now just what in the hell is a Sponzai?” Don’t worry, I did too. Just a few weeks ago at IZEAFest, I was introduced to IZEA’s new property called Sponzai.

How Does It Work?

Basically, the system works a lot like other IZEA properties – you sign up, get paired with opportunities that match your blog’s topics that you set, and you approve or disapprove of any opportunities made for you. In this particular case, the sponsors who sign up with Sponzai are able to hire bloggers across the world to let them do guest posts on their blog.

Now your guest post can’t just be a huge load or a sales pitch, or bloggers will reject your offer. You have to offer some real meat, contribute to the conversation already going on. But what this does is open up for that blog’s readers to start a conversation with an advertiser or a business, and that’s where lasting relationships are made. Today, you can’t just put something in the reader’s face and expect them to buy it based on first look alone. In this economy, people need to trust the product and company they’re buying into or they’ll take their money elsewhere. Impulse buys still exist, but you can bet if you burn them they won’t be back.

Reach New Communities

Sponzai is a unique way to get your message out there in front of a community that believes in gurus and local heroes. Many top bloggers (and lesser known bloggers, too) are on Sponzai right now waiting to give you a chance to hook up with their audience. If you’re a blogger, Sponzai is a great opportunity to additionally monetize your blog. Plus, you never stop being the gatekeeper between the advertiser or sponsor and the community you influence. Nothing ever goes on your blog without your approval, and you are the one who puts up each individual guest post. It’s easy, there’s not a huge requirement to be successful – just sign up and check back often for opportunities.

Win Free Sponzai Credits

IZEA is also sponsoring my Halloween “Blogger Costume” contest by offering up $100 of Sponzai credit to the winner. If you find 20 blogs whose prices are set at $5, you can guest post across all of those audiences and drive traffic and sales to your web site or blog! If you’re a blogger, this is a great way to establish some credibility as an expert in your area. So be sure to enter the contest today – it’s pretty easy to do, and the more ways you enter the more likely you are to win!

Follow @Sponzai on Twitter and sign-up (as a blogger or sponsor, or both!) at http://www.sponzai.com/

Contest: Win a “Blogger Costume” in this EPIC Halloween Giveaway

Halloween is Upon Us

Halloween is one of the most fun and crazy holidays of the entire year! I can’t believe how much planning goes into some people’s Halloween costumes. I have several friends who from the day after Halloween start planning their costume for the next year. The creativity, the ghoulishness of it all – and the celebration of the horrifying and the terrific all make Halloween a great time in the fall.

What if… you were to dress up for Halloween as a blogger? What kinds of things would you wear? What accessories would you bring with you that would let people know: Hey, I’m blogging this. ?

Halloween is just 15 days away, folks – and to celebrate, I’ve teamed up with sponsors who are friends to bloggers everywhere to bring you my ultimate Halloween “Blogger Costume” Giveaway contest! For the next 15 days, you’ll have lots of ways to enter to win this freaking fantastic “Blogger Costume” that I’ve been putting together since IZEAFest!

The Skinny

Your “Blogger Costume” is going to include:

• $100 worth of Sponzai sponsor credit towards guest posts courtesy of IZEA
• An XShot camera extender from XShot
• Two (2) Pokens courtesy of Poken Girl
• 500 high-quality business cards courtesy of UPrinting.com
• A BenSpark.com water bottle courtesy of Drew from BenSpark.com
• 10 hours of Technology Concierge Service and a copy of Crush It! by Gary V, courtesy of Raging Tech

How to Win:

• 10 Entries: Make a YouTube / Vimeo video and tell us in at least 30 seconds but no more than 2 minutes who your favorite blogger is and why you’d want to be them for Halloween! Be sure to comment here with the link and tag your video with the following keywords:
  ragingtech, xshot, izea, blogger costume, uprinting, poken, twitter-yourusernamehere
  
• 5 Entries Each: Write a blog post (approximately 250 words or more) about one of our sponsors with a link back to the sponsor’s web site, and a link to this contest so your readers have a chance to win, too! (Make sure we can contact you, leave a comment with the link)
• 3 Entries: Sign up on SocialSpark.com (an IZEA property) to meet advertisers and other bloggers in a social networking community. Friend me, Raging Tech for your contest entry to count. Also look for opportunities by some of our sponsors (like XShot) that can earn you extra money! After you’ve signed up, be sure to join the “I’m Not a Famous Blogger” Insiders crew!
• 3 Entries: Sign up for Sponsored Tweets (another IZEA property) using this link and start making money (ethically) with your Twitter account. All sponsored tweets are disclosed with a hashtag to indicate they are sponsored.

• 2 Entries: Leave a comment below about how you would use 500 business cards from UPrinting.com.

• 1 Entry: Tweet a photo of yourself holding up a sign with the name of your favorite blog or blogger (blog her?) and be sure to mention @XShot and @ragingtech in your tweet.
• 1 Entry: Leave a comment to let us know who you’re going to give the second Poken to, and why.

More ways to win will be announced in the next 15 days. Keep checking back and follow @ragingtech on Twitter for updates.

For the Win (Fine Print and such):

The winner of this freakin’ fantastic EPIC Halloween “Blogger Costume” giveaway will be selected on October 31st, Halloween night from an Excel spreadsheet I’m going to compile of all your entries, then I will use Random.org and select a winner. The winner will be announced by midnight here on Raging Tech in the form of a blog post. Some prizes will be delivered electronically, the rest by USPS to valid deliverable mailing addresses. Winner will have 24 hours (Midnight at the end of Sunday) to respond or a new winner will be selected. I am obligated by new FTC regulations to declare that PokenGirl gave me an extra Poken to keep and review, and UPrinting.com provided me with 250 business cards to hold this giveaway but I contributed my 250 to the contest. No other sponsors provided me personally with compensation for this giveaway.

Enter to WIN your ultimate “blogger costume” from Raging Tech before Midnight, October 31st 2009!

Snow Leopard and Tivo2Go Problems – Solved!

Today, I decided to upgrade my Toast 9 Titanium software to the latest release 9.0.5. I always dread these updates as you never know if your currently functioning application will still function after you’re done. But still, I forge ahead.

After downloading the latest update and unzipping, I received a message “There may be a problem with this disk image. Do you still want to open?” I pressed on.

When I dragged the update to the application folder, I received a message that I did not have access rights to make this change. Well, I do. There are no other users of my laptop. And now Toast Titanium was missing from the applications because it deleted the old one. The main reason I bought Toast was for the TiVoToGo function to transfer recordings from my TiVo to my mac.

After several unsuccessful attempts to fix this, I had to delete the entire Toast 9 Titanium folder in my applications and start again. I got my original Toast 9 install disc, and installed it. Then I downloaded the update again. I got the same error message “There may be a problem with this disk image. Do you still want to open?” Again, I said yes. But this time, it installed correctly. However, there was no TiVoToGo in the menu anymore. There may have been a few sighs and expletives at this point.

Finally, I went to the Roxio site and did a search on “TiVoToGo” and was directed to this page where I learned that since the Snow Leopard upgrade, TiVoToGo is no longer working as a part of Toast 9. Good news is they have a stand-alone solution. I provided my CD Key and was able to download this new TiVoToGo and now we are back up and running.

It really should be easier than this!