The hype, rave, excitement and novelty around social media sites and all they can do has worn thin. The Novelty has given way to Normal.

Are they less capable of doing what it once did (technically)? No. But without the attached hype, excitement and novelty I think social sites / services like Facebook and Twitter have moved into the realm of Normal.

I remember one of my first Nokia mobile phones in the 1990′s. Big, yellow, 5110. This baby even had a snake game on it. It held like 100 phone numbers. I hung that sucker off my belt loud and proud.  Then they become normal. Smart phones emerged about a decade later – ‘Ahh, 3G, colour and touchscreen!” Now, as wonderful as smartphones like the iPhone are, they are pretty ubiquitous too.

I’m wondering what’s next?  What will ride off the back of Normal to be the next Novelty?

What’s an Android phone?  Android is an operating system that Google created that is installed into smart phones.  Unlike Apple’s iPhone operating system, Android is an open source  system which means ANY developer can go in, pull it apart, add stuff, create stuff and change things.  This means flexibility, speed of advancement and I believe it fires creativity – which is always tremendous.

So what phone companies like HTC are doing is building phones that will make the most of the operating system and it’s features.  I grabbed the HTC Desire and I have to say that I’m very impressed.  I’ll explain why.

I had the iPhone before the days of ‘copy and paste’ so I did what a lot of people did and Jailbroke it (hacked it) – opening it’s possibilities e.g. video, copy and paste, backgrounds etc.  Having the Android feels very much like a Jailbroken iPhone, but super fast and built to be personalised.  I’m a massive Google fan (gmail, calendars etc) so I love the interactivity and super fast online search.

Do I hate the iPhone? No way, in fact I often grab Nat’s because it has some apps which I miss like the Amazon Kindle App (which is coming to Android soon).  I’m looking forward to seeing what the new iPhone will do to.

I must also give credit where credit is due and add that the staff at the Telstra shop in Kawana Shopping World were so incredibly helpful and nice to deal with.  I was about to take my business elsewhere and they won me over. Finally, great phone reception, decent data packages and local customer service.

It looks quite amazing and should price at under $1000AUD

If you  can’t see the video click here

There is a heap more info on it here

(Guess it’s a good time to start building apps – all the iPhone apps will work on it too!)

I get the feeling that the Sunshine Coast economy is picking up and businesses are making the most of the “New Beginnings” that a fresh calendar year brings. A lot of my clients are bringing fresh ideas and concepts to me. It’s great!

As my web design and graphics business “Brainspace” comes into the new year, we have already started branching out into some new areas.  What I am most excited about is creating iPhone Apps.

I’ve just completed one for Pastor Steve Penny who is using the iPhone App to allow people a ‘single click’ into his life and ministry as he travels the globe speaking to churches and leaders.

From his App you can:
Read his Blog
Read his Twitter
Listen to sermons
Watch video sermons
View his Bio, Photos, Links and more

The App has been so popular that it overloaded the server that hosted the media files yesterday! (All good now)

Feel free to check it out via the link below or search for ‘Steve Penny’ on your iphone App store. Let us know if YOU or someone you know would like an App or website built as well!

If you don’t mind, I’m naming next year 2010sen.

I’ll be working across the break excluding the public holidays so please don’t hesitate in contacting me with any requests.

This is posted from my iPhone using the great WordPress 2 app. The smile is courtesy of my daughter.

Dave Tensen

The term “don’t worry be crappy” comes to mind when clients pitch me an exciting idea, opportunity or dream they have to market something online. I say, let’s get SOMETHING going. As Seth Godin, author of “Tribes” wrote this week, ‘Make a decision – It doesn’t have to be a wise decision or a perfect one. Just make one.’

And once the decision is made and the site is launched, THEN we can start to measure and tweak and perfect the design.

You may know that you can now see how people found your website via your traffic counter and tools like Google Analytics. You can see which pages they visited, their points of entry and exit and even the length of time they stayed on your site. Unlike any other form of marketing, a website gives you LIVE, HONEST and TRANSPARENT stats that you can bank on and work from.  Contrast this against your advert on page 1423 of the yellow pages or the advert you run on TV or Radio.  Sure, sales people can give you stats of viewership or listeners but the accuracy of this doesn’t come close to what a website can give you.

Back to speed.

Can a website be launched and built overnight? Yes.
Can it play an integral part of a campaign, cause or product launch? Yes.
Would the general public be happy with an average looking website as long as they can find and interact with what they are looking for? Absolutely

Still don’t agree?
Did the owner of the first car care much about design or was he just grateful he was able to use this contraption?
Or the first mobile phone?
Or the first injection of penicillin?
Or the first phone call overseas?

Now, I’ll just add that if design doesn’t take the product or website further, then you definitely fail and the world misses out.  I’m grateful for my iPhone, Car that goes faster than 10km/h and modern medicine – but I’m grateful that the first mobile phone came out when it did because then design could step in and enhance things.

It’s been said that around 25% of searches done on Google everyday are new searches.  People looking for things that have only just come out, or they’ve only just heard of, or they’ve realised there could be a website for.

So maybe you have an idea, a concept, a campaign or idea you want to test and launch and measure interaction with.  A website might be a good part of the plan – my advice is to be faster to market. Then measure, tweak, change, cut, copy and design around response, traffic and feedback… but don’t wait forever.

A few extra links this week – last week ran away from me.

At the bottom of this page are details of how you can assist those effected by the Victorian Bush Fires through a local Sunshine Coast effort.

New media goes UP. Old media goes DOWN. Stats prove that a ‘simple website’ or TV ad is not good enough in todays market. e.g. – Blogs are now used by 24% of Internet users, up from 13% in 2006

iPhone Fans - you’ll love these 50 money apps

Looking for a new e-mail client?

What products should I focus on? Sunshine Coast Business Consultant Aaron Parkes answers your questions.

AVON calls during the Superbowl. Proof that this economic climate is lending itself to many NEW home based businesses.

Top 10 online social networks with a Gen-Y focus. Interesting stuff

How Twitter DOUBLED a cafe’s coffee sales.

Branding where you least expect it. Amazingly – these guys have some large clients.  I guesss they have a large market appeal.

Really LOCAL newspaper. I’m seriously thinking this might work on the Sunshine Coast – I honestly can’t say that I’ve ever hear people say “I love the Sunshine Coast Daily” (besides their sales reps)

Miami’s homeless and their squatting options. This little story is quite amazing and a sobering look at the effects of the downturn on America’s middle class.

Help Needed – Donate Goods for the Victorian Fire Victims:

Kings Christian Church in Buderim have a partnered with local business and organised a large shipping container to be filled and shipped to Victoria.  If you can supply any of the following GOOD QUALITY items, please bring them to the Kings Champion Centre on the Cnr of Crosby Hill Road and Tanawha Tourist Drive or contact their office on 07 5453 9000

The following good quality items are needed:
· Linen & bedding
· Blankets
· Sporting goods
· Children’s books & toys
· Crockery & cutlery
· Cooking utensils
· New unopened personal care items such as toothbrushes, toiletries, brushes, combs, personal hygiene, nappies etc.