• Reblogged from Marco.org

    Loosely organized initial thoughts on the iPad

    Marco Arment, the Lead Developer of two of my favorite products, Tumblr and Instapaper, plus an all-around nice guy, wrote a great initial response to Apple’s iPad announcement yesterday. I respect Marco’s opinion probably more than anyone on this subject given his personal and professional experience with Apple products. This is a great read from all different perspectives.

    Here are a few of my favorite points from Marco. First, on the fact that the product is not revolutionary (even though Apple’s marketing video tries to convince you that it truly is):

    Nothing about the iPad is obviously revolutionary, but it didn’t need to be: the iPhone OS and iPhone hardware are already revolutionary.

    Apple already reinvented John’s mobile computing and my input mechanics and novice usability in 2007 with the iPhone. We’ve had the truly magical and revolutionary product this entire time, but we take it for granted now, and we’ve forgotten how awesome it already is.

    I think what frustrated me over the iPad announcement was the official marketing video. I perceived the first couple minutes of the video as an effort to get potential consumers to believe the iPad was revolutionary. Marco’s point is so dead on. Apple has already revolutionized mobile computing with the iPhone.

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    via (marco)
  • Enabling Email Subscriptions for Your Blog

    We get a lot of requests to implement email subscriptions for blogs. It’s rather simple and once you do it once, it’s even easier to replicate on other websites. This article is designed to walk you through it.

    First, your blog must output a RSS feed. 99.9% of blogs do, and if your blog does not, then it is time to switch blogging platforms. Figure out what your blog’s RSS URL is and copy it. For example, most RSS URL’s are either yourdomainname.com/rss or yourdomainname.com/feed.

    Next, you need to open/have an account with Feedburner.com. Feedburner, which is owned and operated by Google, is the standard for enhancing the capabilities of your RSS feed.

    Once you have logged into your Feedburner account, you will need to paste the RSS URL of your blog. For this example, I am using my personal website. (see screenshot below).

    The next screen will then ask you to name your RSS feed, which can be anything you want, and name the last portion of your new Feedburner RSS URL (see screenshot below).

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Our Team

Todd
N. Todd Wickersty
Director of Sales & Operations
Todd has 15 years of management, marketing, information technology, and business development experience from major corporations, startups, and the public sector. Todd founded Business Bullpen in July of 2005 and is currently responsible for business development, operations, and account/project management.

Todd has spent most of his career helping sales and operations teams get the most out of technology at Accenture, America Online, and Live Nation/Musictoday. His ability to bridge the gap between business and technology has enabled him to successfully grow Business Bullpen into a web solutions firm that clients can trust and rely upon.
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Graham
H. Graham Blevins
Director of Technology
Graham has 10 years of information technology and management experience working with many public and private sector businesses. At Business Bullpen, Graham is responsible for solution architecture, development, technology strategy, and provides operational and business development support.

Prior to Business Bullpen, Graham led development projects for data management pioneers Data Blueprint. In this capacity, he was responsible for designing solutions to aid ERP implementations, data migrations, and data quality engineering efforts; and built a strong record creating solutions to complex business problems. Graham also served on Data Blueprint's Board of Directors.
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Wyndsor
Wyndsor Hug
Designer
Wyndsor Hug has over 10 years experience providing design solutions in traditional print media and over 8 years working in web and UI design.

Prior to working with Business Bullpen, Wyndsor worked with music industry startup, Musictoday, in Charlottesville, Virginia for 6 years. In 2000, she was promoted to become the company's first Art Director and 4 years later was promoted to Creative Director where she served until leaving the company. While at Musictoday, Wyndsor developed, implemented, and led the creative vision and brand of the company helping to build a base of over 500 clients in 6 years. Since leaving Musictoday, she has worked as a freelance designer and consultant. In addition to her work for Business Bullpen, Wyndsor has worked in a variety of industries for clients including Dave Matthews Band, ATO Records, AutoMax, Food Network and pro bono work for the School District of Philadelphia as well as Charlottesville, Virginia non-profits, Piedmont CASA and Community Children's Theatre.

Wyndsor comes from a traditional art and design background and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Design from the University of Texas at Austin. She has won awards for both her print and web design solutions.
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Gary
Gary Cope
SEO & Online Marketing Specialist
Gary has more than 18 years of experience in communications including broadcast and print media, corporate communications, and online marketing. At Business Bullpen, Gary conducts search engine optimization (SEO) audits and implementation; consults with clients regarding their search marketing strategies; and develops social media plans designed to help clients take full advantage of online marketing.

Prior to Business Bullpen, Gary provided Web design and online marketing services through his company, CWI Media & Marketing. He also served as an in-house SEO professional for Luna Innovations Incorporated. Gary regularly attends search marketing conferences and from 2007 to 2008, he sat on the In-House SEO Committee for SEMPO, the Search Engine Marketing Professionals Organization.
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Wendy
Wendy Wertz Schuyler
Intra-disciplinary Graphic Designer
Wendy Wertz Schuyler is an intra-disciplinary graphic designer living and working in Roanoke, VA. She started her design career in Warsaw, Poland at the McCann Erickson advertising agency, one of the world's largest and most influential, after earning a B.S. in Advertising/Communication Arts with a minor in Dance from Appalachian State University. Ms. Schuyler worked for several years in traditional publishing prior to leaping into her current project, upUPperiscope, inc; a revolutionary, intra-disciplinary design firm, created with love by she and mini think tank, Beth Deel. Their most exciting and ambitious project to date is myScoper.com, a dazzling interactive event-centric website for Roanoke and beyond.
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