TheSocialNetworker » podcast

TheSocialNetworker Episode 29 – Twitter application security

Chris Miller — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:21:00 +0000

I was recently bitten by an application I previously authorized against my Twitter account sending out some tweets I did not agree with. This prompted me to review my application security setting inside of Twitter. It opened my eyes into just how trusting we are, and shouldn’t be.

Thanks to Mozy Pro Online, our new sponsor at Spiked Studio. Sponsor: MozyPro Online Backup: Simple, Automatic & Secure Backup

In the video I walk you through where to check what applications have access to your Twitter account and what access rights you have given.

TheSocialNetworker Episode 28 – So.cl from Microsoft over capacity but collecting your Facebook email address

Chris Miller — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 20:33:59 +0000

A fast buzz is building around the Microsoft opening of So.cl beyond the student population is originally started with. However, it seems they have reached capacity but do not tell you until after you provide Facebook authentication information that they collect your email address.

You can also watch the video in HD by clicking through to the Spiked Studio channel on YouTube.

Using search functions powered by Bing’s API, So.cl encourages students to search for topics and then create montages of the visually rich web content. The links are automatically shared as you search, in case there are other students looking for the same thing. You can also have “video parties,” which “let you search, and quickly assemble a list of movies to view together with friends.” (Those friends are other online So.cl users.)

There is an opt-out ability at the very end but quite sneaky. Mainly when they chose not to use their own Windows Live service as an authentication mechanism. Take a peek in the video above.

Path, Whim, your face and early adopters

Chris Miller — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 03:17:44 +0000

I know many of you want to keep up with all the social news and don’t want to wade through the tons of articles out there. That is why TheSocialGeeks run a roundtable every two weeks with some of the biggest names and analysts in social media.

Here is what you missed the last two episodes by not subscribing to the podcast.

Episode 41 – On the Path

Why did Facebook buy Gowalla?
What we think of Path and the update to 2.0
Whim launches in beta
I ask the question “Are we too early as early adopters?” and get surprising answers

Episode 40 - Cover Your Face

New facial recognition apps, privacy and usability
Personal.com launches and wants you to share more personal information than ever before
Google Plus discussions
Pepperspray memes and viral videos

Use TheSocialGeeks as your personal filter for the top social news and opinions. Why not look smarter tomorrow by listening anytime you get a chance.

You can stream live, subscribe on iTunes and even find us on numerous other devices.

TheSocialNetworker Episode 27 – Creating your Google Plus pages

Chris Miller — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 14:40:35 +0000

With the launch yesterday of Google Plus pages for business, organizations and just about everyone else on the early adoptor bandwagon, I found even I wanted to make sure I took the right steps in the creation of pages. Keeping in mind they are only allowing one manager per page, I had a few questions/ I created a screencast walkthrough of the setup with explanations of settings. Check out the Spiked Studio page and add it to your circles!

Click through for the full HD version via the Spiked Studio page on YouTube!

There will be a part 2 for this explaining how to then hook your website of blog with the new Google Plus page.

TheSocialNetworker Episode 24 – Google+ Setup

Chris Miller — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 13:44:23 +0000

I have been following along all of the blogs as they talk about how Google+ functions. Perspectives on what it offers over Facebook and comparisons to past networks like FriendFeed are deeply commented on. But no one really showed the new, average, non-social media early adopter how to set up and begin using Google+.

This screencast walks through:

The very first Welcome screen
Verifying or editing your public Google profile
Creating circles
Understanding security around the circles
Hangouts
Stream basics

From there we will publish some further tutorials and commentary as needed.

You can subscribe to the podcast series or watch below in HD quality from the Spiked Studio channel on YouTube.

Follow along on Twitter or join me on Google+

TheSocialNetworker Episode 23 – Podio launch

Chris Miller — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 19:20:31 +0000

Podio is a start-ups dream collaboration platform for having a digital workspace. Free for up to 10 users, you can built everything from project workspaces, timelines, milestones and even bug tracking. Do not think this is only for software developers. The application packs I highlight in the screencast showe you how extensible the platform in. Choose for individual or pre-made packs. Build your own applications and more.

I have been part of, and was impressed with, the Podio beta for some time now as they built out the platform. Today is their launch day and I wanted to give you a walkthrough of setting up and some of the capabilities. You can watch the review in full HD on the Spiked Studio YouTube channel

TheSocialNetworker Episode 22 – Plaxo is reborn

Chris Miller — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 19:45:14 +0000

I was shocked to run into the Plaxo team at SXSW with a new initiative. They are restructuring their focus back into address book management. This was their beginning before they strayed into trying to compete with other social networks. While they had the connectivity framework built by you holding an addres book on the site, they missed bringing in features to be a killer social network.

Luckily their CEO, Justin Miller, has made a stellar quote:

Plaxo is back and we’ve got a relentless focus on the address book

A good strategic shift with companies like Gist being bought by Research In Motion (RIM or BlackBerry as some know them). Plaxo has rebranded and added features to make a suite, with some free and some paid, which I cover in the below screencast.

Plaxo Basic: Unification of fragmented contact info, access anywhere, anytime; now includes Plaxo De-Duper (free service)
Plaxo for Mobile: Apps for iPhone, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile (free service); Android app coming soon
Plaxo eCards: Cards for 50+ occasions and birthday reminders (free/paid service)
Plaxo Platinum Sync: Two-way, real-time sync keeps your address book consistent and accessible from the essential communication tools you use (paid service)
Plaxo Personal Assistant: New intelligent productivity service which automatically maintains critical address book information (paid service)
Pricing: Platinum Sync and Personal Assistant are offered individually or at a discount when purchased together

Plaxo is also making some more changes in 2011 to add tighter integration with Microsoft Outlook, adding new platforms and updating others, and adding more data sources to complete listings in your address book.

You can also watch this on YouTube in HD format

I did not totally agree with their pricing model yet, as it seemed high for entry and to get people onboarded. They also want to sync contacts everywhere which is a conundrum for people like myself that want Facebook to be private friends, one Google account to be business and another personal.

While you can manipulate the settings to have them collect and consolidate the data, it is tricky to allow some data to overwrite, some to sync and others to build from sources without losing something unique you may have. So be cautious when you begin testing and clicking options.

In the end Plaxo has a huge wall to scale to get it’s name back as the contact management resource. The tools they are offering could help escalate them quickly, mainly if the mobile applications provide as much functionality as promised.

Related postings:

SWSX – TheSocialGeeks live in episode 33

Chris Miller — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 16:21:40 +0000

If you want some great commentary on the trend, what will succeed and what apps we are already throwing away, then listen to TheSocialGeeks Episode 33.

TheSocialGeeks Episode 33 was recorded live in the Austin Convention Center

TheSocialNetworker Episode 20 – Live Angry Birds #SXSW

Chris Miller — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 17:00:54 +0000

While at SXSW we came across the Alcatel labs. Inbetween sessions, free drinks and just meeting, they play live Angry Birds.

Yes you shoot a stuffed bird with a huge slingshot at stuffed pigs and cubes.

You can also watch this in HD and all Spiked Studio shows on YouTube

TheSocialNetworker Episode 19 – Greplin social search

Chris Miller — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 14:45:24 +0000

Greplin is a new search engine that only looks against your own private social data. Developed by a small and young founder, it looks against all of the data that Google never sees. In this screencast I walkthrough setup, adding accounts and my opinion of data security.

You can also watch this in HD and all the network videos on the Spiked Studio Productions channel on YouTube

Greplin was brought to me as a review site with the added question of data security. Using oAuth, the service pulls your data from a list of public services (see the screencast) and immediately begins to index the data found. So the initial steps do not disclose your login information, with the flexibility of oAuth. However, you are exposing personal data across as many networks you connect.

All of the site access is done via SSL, a great first step. However, once you trust your data, you must make the login into Greplin as secure in password quality and strength as you would use for your Google email, apps and even LinkedIn.

How the data is stored by Greplin is not covered in their FAQ, nor was found anywhere else on the site. I would like to see this added in to provide a better sense of comfort.

Outside of that, the service itself was very fast and responsive. New search abilities are being added. The prebuilt features did give some immediate benefit of things or associations I may have missed previously. My test search for iPad in the screencast even turned up come results I missed over time.

The goal of the site is to provide a single search source, fully indexed and finely tunable. I would hope that eventually they bring the ability to act on something found in search. For example, if I find a Twitter posting result, I could click and retweet, reply or star. The same for email, LinkedIn data and even items I bookmarked into Evernote.

This is a promising service I intend to use as service is expanded, search capability is extended and data storage privacy policies are listed. Go visit Greplin today.