The Underlying Blog

Look Mom, I'm on the Radio (and Now in Hiding for What I Said)...

It had to happen, it really did, didn't it:

I'm a Star! (FOLKS THE EGO HAS TRULY LANDED, PLEASE STAND BACK FROM THE CRASH SITE). Tony Goodson of the Productivity Show interviewed me recently... the same show David Allen, the founder of GTD, was once featured on!

Highlights include:

• Kyle's GTD: He's a heretic yet is mostly keeping his own dogfood down
• Mindjet MindManager: Pimp-out the interface 
• The World's most offensive rap album!
• Second Life: The new warzone
• GyroQ and ResultsManager: Pimp your productivity
• Top Tips for having Meaningful Relationships and Pursuits
• Get a Life

THE REAL QUESTION: How does a mind mapping guru end up talking about 'flying penises' and 'burping'?...

Listen now to the most exceedingly delightful, productivity-tip-laced, controversial Interview the mind mapping world has ever experienced:

TPN :: The Productivity Show » Blog Archive » The Productivity Show #34 - Kyle McFarlin (Visual Strategist)

Technorati tags: The Productivity Show, Kyle McFarlin, Tony Goodson, MindManager, Mindjet, Gyronix Training, Mindjet Training, GyroQ, ResultsManager, mind mapping, The Podcast Network

" » McFarlin Strikes Back While HP Runs Silent, Runs Deep" by ROI Copywriting For Internet Marketing

For those of you following my saga, hell epic, with HP, you need to check out Walter Terry's latest post, who makes an excellent, excellent argument for why we should not let ourselves be victimized by large organizations when they do the wrong thing in the field of customer service.

I for one can't believe Walter nor I have heard from HP over his recent posts. They are simply too well-written and too dead-on for them to ignore. Take a look at Walter's latest post, and feel free to follow the links back to peel the onion on this story:

" » McFarlin Strikes Back While HP Runs Silent, Runs Deep" by ROI Copywriting For Internet Marketing

Technorati tags: Customer Failure, Customer Service, HP, Hewlett-Packard, Engelina Jaspers, HP DV 9000, Kyle McFarlin, 300, Battle of Thermopylae, Walter Terry, Visual Strategist, ROI Copywriting, copywriter, marketing

Nivio real desktop experience on web " world's first Windows-based online desktop" ~ Techlivez.com irresistible technology

Wow... I knew this was coming yet I didn't know it was this far along. You'll also notice it includes Mindjet MindManager Viewer 6.... 

Nivio real desktop experience on web " world's first Windows-based online desktop" ~ Techlivez.com irresistible technology

Technorati tags: Virtual Desktop, MindManager, Mind Mapping, Digital Media, Knowledge Mapping, Media, Productivity, Self-Rule, Web/Tech

Achilles Heel in the New Apple iPhone?

I was excited to hear about the Apple iPhone, if nothing more because I couldn't believe they hadn't done it yet (I'm talking about an exclusive Apple offering).

That said, I think the device is gorgeous, and I worry it has an achilles heel.

A while back, I bought a Philips GoGear 30GB mp3 player device, which was aesthetically beautiful and the best offering I could find at the time for a Windows Media Player device. The problem emerged in that you had to look at the totally touch-sensitive screen to do anything at all. Now, when you're on a walk this isn't so bad, but I still remember wishing it had a scrolling device of some type. That way I could've have scrolled through using touch, only looking down occasionally.  The problem really emerged though, when driving: It felt downright unsafe to have to rely on sight completely to switch musical tracks. Not too long after I purchased the device I returned it on account of technical problems, but I know I wouldn't have continued using it while driving if it had kept on working.

And now for the main point: Most people I know who don't live in one of the US' walking cities like to use their Ipod in their cars: I'm just afraid we're going to have pileups because people have to look at their device to change tracks without the aid of a scroll wheel. Even if it's yesterday's technology, that scroll wheel gives people sensory context for where they are touching their device, alleviating the need to constantly look at it when changing tracks. I could be wrong as Apple is rarely lacking in the design dept., but if someone can't scroll through music intelligently without looking at the device, Nationwide could be on a lot of people's sides too often.

The most reassuring part I see in one of the pics in the below linked article is the device ignores unintended touches: Let's hope so.

Link to The Apple iPhone - Engadget

If You Can't Pick Someone, Pick 6 Billion

I feel like this is a copout on Time's part.

Am I being elitist? Aren't we all special?

Sorry folks, I just can't get behind the logic. Sure we're all special, but I count on Time for an in-depth analysis and careful selection when picking the Person of the Year (with that in mind, I am fully open to Time creating a 'People of the Year Award'). Maybe Time picked now to declare the Web the great equalizer because social ecosystems such as MySpace and YouTube seem to be hitting critical mass, but you could create a web presence pretty easily over the last 10 years, so why now? And further, hasn't human communication and interaction always been a patchwork quilt by the masses, for the masses even if there weren't yet digital frameworks to capture the interactions? Spend a little time with Karen Stephenson or Malcolm Gladwell and you'll know what I'm talking about.

Bottom-line, I think 'You' is unfair to previous generations who would have gladly collaborated to the utmost given the technologies we currently have. And like I said before they did and always have collaborated, it just has never been captured on this level before.  My opinion therefore, is the person of the year should be someone who has facilitated such togetherness: Maybe SecondLife founder Philip Rosedale.

Time is correct in asserting that everyone can have a voice online if they choose to accept the mission. And it's true, anyone can blog, create a videocast or podcast, and do it at very little cost. Problem is, I've seen a lot of bloggers, podcasters, MySpacers and YouTubers who wonder if anyone is listening. And I encourage them wholeheartedly to continue doing so, just with realistic expectations. Check out my previous Red Pill Post for more on this. Further, just because the cost of creating and delivering media has gone down, it does not at all influence the amount of time people have to consume it.

And the numbers just aren't adding up in this mind of mine: If everyone is focused on capture, is there still time in the moment - the moment to enjoy all this newly created media? The answer of course, is no, there isn't time, and therefore, only a few of those who create content will be viewed in any mass numbers. This rocks if you're cool with fulfilling a deep niche, but may be hard on those who deem themselvers stars and are subsequently disappointed by the 3 hits their blog got last month.

Bottom Line: If everyone is constantly creating their very own media empire, who listens?

Link to TIME Magazine Cover: Person of the Year - Dec. 25, 2006 - Technology - Person of the Year

(Last thought: I think Time should do a recount and pick Borat as Person of the Year for 2006)

Illmatic - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

If your Ipod or Zune's (check out my previous rant on Microsoft's illustrious new Ipod slayer here) content is getting a bit stale lately, I want to direct your attention to one of the great albums of all time: 'Illmatic' by Queensbridge rapper Nas.

It's one of the few albums in existence of any genre where every track is strong and contributes to the overall effect the album strives to create.  If I try to describe that effect, I'd call it the trials and tribulations of a young man who grew up and triumphed over grueling urban circumstances to experience total self-expression through a mic and a beat.  Also, at 10 tracks and a total running time of about 40 minutes, 'Illmatic' is wise enough to leave you wanting more.

An incredible work of art from a man who was only 19 at the time of its release: I can't recommend it highly enough. My favorite lines from the album are from track 10, 'It Ain't Hard to Tell':

Deep like The Shinin', sparkle like a diamond
Sneak a uzi on the island in my army jacket linin
Hit the Earth like a comet, invasion
Nas is like the Afrocentric Asian, half-man, half-amazin
Cause in my physical, I can express through song
Delete stress like Motrin, then extend strong

Absolutely brilliant lyrics.

Check the link below to learn more:

Link to Illmatic - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In Defense of Tom Cruise

I just had this random wave of sympathy for Tom Cruise, a man conservatively worth $300 million.  I'm having it because he's been widely lambasted in the media and word-of-mouth over the past couple of years as being somewhat out there.

Well Tom, I'm here to defend you buddy. Personally, I haven't seen too many displays of pure joy recently (Maybe besides Howard Dean's famous 'YEAOWWWW!). The fact is that adults grow intimidated by child-like joy, and Tom has paid a heavy price for displaying it fervently and frequently. Case-in-point: his appearance on Oprah was quite the focal point (it was caffeinated, but at least he was experiencing elation).

Figures in the entertainment industry are widely criticized as having flaky, even non-existent principles. And then, here's Tom Cruise, a guy who is VERY devout about Scientology, VERY devout about Katie Holmes and VERY excited about his new child. Maybe his VERYs aren't your VERYs, but I see him in committed relationships with all of them for a very long time.

And back to the point about child-like joy.  He shows it: So what? Seriously, if you look at the personal lives of many of your favorite, composers, actors, musicians, etc., you're bound to find drugs, sex and rock'n'roll in abundance. So why is Tom getting lit-up like Vegas for being a happy guy? Maybe it's because people are jealous of pure joy as they often lost it some time ago.

Tom, you make Mission Impossible 4 and I'll go see it.

Microsoft Apologist Pays the Price for Early-Adoption

If you know and love me, you've probably noticed a bit of Microsoft-Apologist running through my veins.  I started off with Windows 3.1 and haven't bitten from any other 'Apple' since then.  With that in mind, I'll start this post by saying I've taken some serious flak from friends over the last couple of years when I started purchasing my music from MSN Music, when just about everyone else I know was buying from Itunes (stop playing your fake fiddle, serious heartbreak lies ahead).

Using Microsoft's MSN Music, the last couple of years have been a happy time for me: I could buy music and sync it directly to my Windows Mobile phone, listening with my double-ear headset.  Hek, my Windows Mobile phone even pauses the song I'm listening to for a phone call, then turns the song back on when the call ends.  I don't know anyone with an Ipod who has an experience so seamless as that.  In fact, I've been walking down city streets and seen people doing that highly bizarre shuffle/juggle where they try to switch their Ipod headphones with their cell phone headset: not me!  I was absolutely glowing about what an excellent customer experience I was having. 

Then Microsoft's Zune became a blip on my radar earlier this year.  Zune would be one music store that would only work with Microsoft's hardware devices... almost identical to the Itunes-Ipod model.  Great idea, and yet I remember the firsts fears I had that the MSN Music songs I'd purchased wouldn't make the transition with me to 'Zune'.  Microsoft wouldn't do that to their early-adopters, would they?  Of course not.

They did.  When Microsoft launched Zune last month, they released a player that MSN Music songs won't work on.  Early-adopters like me who acted as MSN Music advocates weren't even offered any sort of opportunity to move their MSN Music songs to Zune.  Redmond, I'm not feeling the love here.

And here's the other conundrum I've noticed customers can't get their arms around (ESPECIALLY non-techies): Microsoft now has 3, yes 3 music players vying for your listening attention.  Let's count: Windows Media Player, Windows Media Center, and Zune.  That's 3.  Meanwhile, a majority of mainstream users have a glossy Ipod and one store, Itunes, through which they buy their Movies, Music and TV Shows.  I can't help but feel jealous.

As pointed out in a recent blog post by Michael Gartenberg of Jupiter Research, Microsoft is at serious risk of losing MSN Music customers to the Ipod.  After all, what incentive is there to stick around for Zune if what they've already bought doesn't come with them?  Me, I figure I'm going out Scarface-style with Windows Media Player (which I love, especially version 11 which lets you see albums by artwork), and have had luck so far buying music from MTV's Urge Music Service, which works on my Windows Mobile Phone. 

Still, the oddest part of the whole equation is it seems Microsoft forgot about how helpful the early-adopters who had bought from MSN Music might have been in promoting Zune.  Wouldn't they want me blogging positively about how Microsoft made the transition a veritable joyfest for me?

Okay, now for shameless begging: Microsoft please make this right, I'm formally begging you, and here's a few tips to start with:

1) Offer MSN Music Customers the option to convert their music to Zune devices.  This gets you your goodwill.

2) Give Windows Mobile users some kind of guidance on how to handle Zune.  A Google search to this effect turns up zilch.  Just tell me what to expect, so I can start buying Zune tracks or stick with Urge.

3) Combine Windows Media Player 11 with the Zune pc player Pronto.  Mainstream consumers are seriously confused about the difference between the two, which undermines the simple Itunes-Ipod being emulated.

4) Send everyone involved a Christmas card offering 1 free download of 'I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day'.