In 2007, I wrote an article about the coming of digital media convergence.  Digital Media Convergence is the term used to describe the eventual union of television and the computer: more specifically, the mainstream media and the Internet.

My thought was that the Internet could provide more personalized content to you, the consumer. The content would be streamed on-demand so you could watch what you wanted, when you wanted. The TV’s advantage over the computer was always the fact that it was larger than your average monitor, so that many people could watch at the same time, and it was normally placed in a comfortable setting like a living room, which made content consumption easy. The computer was designed initially for content creation.

Now online video content is everywhere. You only need to look at Youtube, Hulu and Netflix to recognize its growing popularity. In 2008, the Olympics were viewable online for the first time in history, allowing people to watch the sporting events they were most interested in, not only what the television networks aired.

It’s not only video: consumers want on-demand music as well. Pandora, an online streaming radio service, is a great example of how the Internet can step in and help dying industries like the music industry, among others.

We’ve come a long way, but all these services are still half-baked ideas unless they can be moved into the living room, and onto your home entertainment system.

That is exactly what is happening now.

Go to any electronics store and look at the new TVs and Blu-ray players. What do they have in common? Most of them are web-enabled and have built-in applications for services such as Netflix, Amazon Video On-Demand, Pandora, Last.fm, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and Flickr. The applications do vary depending on the make and model, but the trend towards a web-enabled entertainment center is clear and undeniable.

So what will Digital Media Convergence do for you? It will let you get to the content you want more easily, instead of just settling for whatever is on TV. As a result, I believe many of the media giants will have to change their method of delivering content as well as their business models. I also think that this will inevitably lead to a more self-educated and specialized society. Of course we will have to wait and see.

Leave a comment and let us know what you think about digital media convergence, and how it will affect our future.

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July 12, 2010

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

I am enthusiastically recommending JOEY MARIANO, Director, e-Geniuses, to anybody interested in excellent, consistent, reliable, and trustworthy computer servicing.

Based on my numerous dealings with him to this date, here are my reasons:

1. He is KNOWLEDGEABLE.   Joey really seems to know what he is doing.
2. He is EFFICIENT.  Joey gets to work ASAP and keeps at it until the job is done.
3. He is HONEST.  Joey doesn’t doubletalk, cheat, or pad his work.  He does what is needed and no more.  And his prices are, in my opinion, reasonable and fair.
4. He is CLEAR.  Joey doesn’t speak in “computereze” (except sometimes to fellow technicians).  He does not talk “down” to his customers, but talks with them in language ordinary human beings can understand.
5. He is POLITE and KIND.  Joey treats his customers with respect and consideration.
6. He is PATIENT and THOROUGH.  Joey always seems to try to answer questions as many times as may be needed, and he keeps working on a problem until it is solved.
7. He is ACCOMMODATING.  Joey tries to make himself as available to his customers as personally, directly and quickly as he possibly can and to complete every job in as little time as necessary to do it right.
8. He is FRIENDLY.  Joey has an easygoing personality and believes in treating his customers as he would his own family and friends.
9. He is REALISTIC.  Joey does not have an arrogant attitude.  When rarely he does not know exactly what a solution might be, he admits it and then searches for the answer.
10. He has a SENSE OF HUMOR.  Joey does not take himself too seriously and is a pleasure to do business with.
11. He is SMART, CREATIVE, and “CUTTING-EDGE.”  Joey is always investigating and learning, always open to new ideas, always trying to stay on top of every new development in computer technology and the constantly changing cyberworld.
12. He is RESPONSIBLE and AMBITIOUS.  Joey takes his work and his customer relationships very seriously and does everything he can to satisfy his own high standards and his customers’ expectations, both in the short term and the long run.

If these aren’t enough reasons, I have others.  I wish you the success with Joey I have had with him.   I am confident he will see his satisfaction only in yours and will do everything he can to achieve that.
Sincerely,

RICHARD HEBERT

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Online Computer Services

Let us change your mind about how easy computer service can be.

Ask anyone who’s paid for traditional computer services with one of E-Geniuses’ competitors, and without fail, they’ll tell you about the nuisance—making a trip out to the shop to deliver a computer, or waiting at home for a technician who turned out to be late, incompetent, or rude.

E-Geniuses’ Monthly Maintenance Plan and Help Desk Support Plans eliminate these worries: no more driving or waiting. Our highly-skilled technicians can fix most any computer problem remotely that other technicians can only do in person—saving you the time and the headache.

It is our humble opinion that not enough of the public is aware that Online Computer Services are an option, and with its superior convenience and growing availability, we feel they should. Your computer is an essential part of your everyday life, and having them repaired shouldn’t feel like a chore.

Online Computer Services

You already know how our Online Computer Services save you time, energy, and hassle—but here’s something you may not know: it saves you money. Most computer service companies charge extra for appearing on-site. But why would you spend more for an on-site technician, when your problem could just as easily be addressed remotely?

E-Geniuses Technicians working remotely can fix multiple computers at once (e.g. removing malware on one computer while running a scan on another), while on-site technicians can only service one computer at a time, costing you more and taking up more of your day.

Though Online Computer Service is not a brand new technology, it is constantly improving. The faster the internet connection, the better our services to you: and at E-Geniuses, that’s of the utmost importance.

If you or someone you know is having problems with a laptop or computer, give us a call at 1-877-MY-GENIUS today and see if Online Computer Services are right for you!

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Apple has just released the Apple iPad, a tablet device that Steve Jobs says will fill the void between a iPhone and a laptop.

So what is it?

Others have had a hard time describing the specific niche this device fills. Here’s what the device isn’t. It is not a laptop replacement because it doesn’t have a dedicated keyboard. It isn’t a netbook because it costs about $200 more. The iPad does not have a built in camera, nor does it run your typical desktop software. It is not an iPhone because it isn’t as portable and you can’t make calls with it.

So the question still remains, what is it?

Unlike the laptop or netbook, this is not meant to be a content creation device. The iPad was designed to be a content consumption device. It it makes browsing the Internet more tactile because you can scroll and zoom in and out of a webpage by touching the screen.

You can just touch the link you want to go to. It makes the browsing experience more intuitive. Browsing through pictures or reading a book gives the user a similar experience. You can turn a page by flicking your fingers across the screen. If you know how to turn a page, you can read on the iPad and browse through your photo albums. You can also watch Netflix, YouTube and ABC on it. You can play all of your iTunes music on this too.

There are also games that work specifically for the iPad. Words with Friends is Scrabble-like game that allows you to play with others who have iPads or iPhones. Dragging the letters to the board just makes sense.

Driving games on the iPad just require you to tilt the screen the direction you want your car to go. You can’t do that on a netbook.

Many of the things you can do on the iPad can be done on an iPhone. The difference is that the screen on the iPad is 10 inches versus 3.7 for the iPhone. That makes a difference when it comes down to everyday usability.

The Good:

Still not convinced? Here are some other things to consider. The battery lasts 10 hours during normal use. You can use the iPad all day and charge it at night. Most laptops average about 2 to 3 hours max. It weighs about a pound and half and easily portable. It is made of brushed aluminum and feels like a quality product. The same can’t be said for most plastic laptops. The iPad also has a Wifi so you can connect wirelessly in your home or local coffee shop. A built-in bluetooth will allow you to connect a keyboard if you feel the need to write something up. It has a built-in mic for audio recording. The built-in speaker sounds surprisingly good. The number one reason why this device will likely be successful is the App store. There are over 100,000 apps available only for the iPhone, iPod Touch and the iPad. Did I mention that you use it by touching the screen?

The Bad:

It’s $500 plus tax. It’s still hard to justify the cost of the iPad when a full-fledged laptop is similar in cost. Although the iPad has an on-screen keyboard, it isn’t meant to be used for word processing or data entry. If you want to do that, you have to buy a stand and a bluetooth keyboard. It doesn’t have a front facing camera so you won’t be video conferencing with Skype. There will likely be a camera add-on in the future. There aren’t any usb ports on the iPad to connect your flash drive or external hard drive. The storage capacity is much lower than most laptops or netbooks.

Who it’s Not for:

The iPad is not for someone looking to do work on a portable device. If you want to edit excel sheets, edit photos and write a paper, a laptop is what you’re looking for. The iPad is not for someone looking to get the best deal on a portable device because that’s the niche that the netbook fills. It is not for someone looking to buy a smartphone because it doesn’t make calls.

Who is it for:

The iPad is for someone who wants a device for consuming content. It is not for work, it is for play. It is for reading, it is for playing games, it is for browsing the Internet. It is for someone who wants to show their pictures to others. It is for someone who wants a device that is easy to use. It’s limitations are it’s strengths. Sometimes less is more. You may not be able to write a report on the iPad but you might actually enjoy using this piece of technology.

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Cameron Moll Colosseo iPad Martian Giveaway

Here’s your chance to win an iPad.

All you have to do is optimize a webpage or blog to show up for the search term “Cameron Moll Colosseo iPad Martian Giveaway” by April 16th and you have a chance to win a 16Gb iPad. Your entry must show up in the first 20 results.

For more information, go to http://www.cameronmollcolosseo.com/cameron-moll-colosseo-ipad-martian-giveaway/

For tips on how to optimize a site for SEO ranking, go to http://www.splycemediagroup.com/social-media-marketing/seo-tutorial/

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The headline is, He’s technically a computer genius.

The article summary reads:

“For E-Geniuses founder and owner Joey Mariano, fixing a computer and returning it to a customer in tip-top shape is only half of what an experience at his new computer repair store entails.”

Very well written. We appreciate the exposure.

Here’s the link to the article about E-Geniuses Computer Repair Shop in Burbank.

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