News shared from around the Internet about Innovative Technology.

LEAKED: More Juicy Microsoft Courier Details and Pics

We’ve been following the rumor mill avidly on Microsoft’s alleged “digital journal” device dubbed Courier, and today sees another spate of leaked images and details courtesy of Engadget.

The Courier is a hinged device that combines elements of a tablet, an e-reader, and a netbook (sans physical keyboard). It’s reported to be less an inch thick, slightly heavier than a pound and slightly larger than a 5×7 print when folded. Instead of running Windows 7, the Courier will run the mobile OS Windows Mobile 7 Series, with an NVIDIA Tegra 2 chip under the hood.

Other leaked features include handwriting recognition, cloud storage for all the data in the device (plus a way to integrate comments on shared items back into your journal), a built-in camera and headphone jack. Unfortunately, none of this is yet official from Microsoft itself, so everything including the loose “second half of 2010″ release date is still a bit speculative.

Nevertheless, the Courier is shaping up to be an exciting take from Microsoft on an Internet tablet meets e-book reader, particularly as both of those form factors continue to heat up. Check out more pics in the gallery over at Engadget (and if you missed it, the earlier leaked video) and let us know what you think of this device from what we “know” so far.

[img credit: Engadget]

Tags: courier, ereaders, microsoft, microsoft courier, tablets, windows mobile, windows mobile 7 series

Go to Source

Entrepreneurial Teens are Building the Platforms of the Future

Remember MySpace, that pre-Twitter, pre-Facebook social networking hub that gathered millions of teens and young adults, enabling them to share their music, videos and photos in a way the world had never seen, all while posting lifestyle updates to let their friends and loved ones know what they were doing?

That recent past may be a precursor to a new entrepreneurial future for many technologically savvy teens.MySpace was never intended for business. It was designed for teenagers and young adults to give them a place to do what they do best – socialize.

While MySpace was still in diapers, YouTube and Facebook exploded onto the scene, establishing themselves with instant popularity, both becoming household names, nearly overnight.

This new model has given today’s young entrepreneurs an excellent example to follow. The Internet is encouraging young entrepreneurs to follow their dreams like never before, and the rapid growth of technology is providing them with the tools they need to render yesterday’s impossible into tomorrow’s reality.

Many intelligent teen, sharing a similar entrepreneurial spirit, have been building their own web based communities. Skilled programmers using open source tools, are able to customize code, create their own infrastructure, then circulate that code among their peer groups.

This emerging trend is big in the US, but it’s even bigger in Europe. So many web savvy teens gathered in pursuit of higher purpose begs the question – not just whether one of these young entrepreneurs will build the next big MySpace, Facebook or Twitter, but what they are going to do with it once it gets here.

Go to Source

6 Free Android Apps That Will Make You Drop Your iPhone

The Android Market may still lag behind the iPhone App Store in terms of variety and quality, but there is something to be said for the Android operating system’s extremely tight integration with existing Google products, and the wide choice of devices and carriers.

There’s no question that the iPhone has many wonderful apps, but Android’s smart syncing with existing tools, interesting Android-only experiments coming every day from Google employees, and its open marketplace model have yielded some tools that may give the average iPhone user pause.

If you’re looking for a change, or you’re in the smartphone market and still weighing the pros and cons, consider these Android-only apps and how they might fit into your work, play, and mobile lifestyle.

1. OpenHome

---

There’s no denying that the iPhone OS is a gorgeous piece software. But when it comes to the home screen, “you get what you get, and you don’t get upset,” to quote a nursery school mantra.

Android is completely open-source, which means that apps can change the functionality and appearance of the OS, if you permit them to. This isn’t always good for safety, but it’s great for customization.

OpenHome is one of the leading customization apps available on the Market. It functions as a replacement for the default home screen, into which you can load customs skins, icon packs, and fonts — many of which are freely available in the Market and created by other users.

In addition to the look and feel of your OS, OpenHome also allows for other custom tweaks including soft keyboard improvements and widget modifications.

2. Google Voice

---

Imagine a world where you never have to listen to another voicemail again. That’s almost what you get when you set up Google Voice and utilize the Android app. Google Voice lets you keep your existing mobile number, but will forward your missed calls to a generated Google number that you can check on the web, in your e-mail, or via the app.

The service automatically generates voicemail transcription that is usually accurate enough to get the gist of what the caller is saying. Instead of getting a voicemail on your phone, you’ll receive and e-mail (or text message) with the transcription.

The app then lets you scroll through your messages visually, like an e-mail inbox, and stream the audio messages from the web as needed, all without wasting precious mobile minutes.

There are certainly other great voicemail alternatives for the iPhone (and Voice is available as a web-based service), but Google Voice’s deep integration with Gmail (you can also enable audio playback within web e-mail messages) makes it a great compliment to your hand-held arsenal of communications tools.

Google Voice is still an invite-only service at the moment. You can request an invite from Google here, or hit up your friends on social networks for one.

3. NESoid

---

Classic gamers rejoice! NESoid is a Nintendo ROM emulator for Android that actually works. The app itself is software that interprets ROM files — the format of choice for hacked console games. Assuming you’re loading a worthwhile ROM file from your SD card, the gameplay is really smooth.

The lite version of NESoid is free, but prevents you from loading a “saved-state” of a game. The full version will cost you $3.49 and unlocks this feature.

Most ROMS are not exactly kosher in terms of copyright, so we’ll leave it at your discretion whether you want to actually track down the games. This is likely why console emulators have not made it through the stringent App Store approval process, but are now appearing in Android’s more liberal Market.

4. Google Finance

---

If you’ve got an eye on your stock portfolio 24/7, Google Finance can be a useful tool for getting customized, real-time quotes.

The Android app syncs directly to your Google Finance portfolios and streams live data right into your hands by way of quote updates, charts, and financial news.

Android is currently the only mobile platform with an official Google Finance app.

5. Google Listen

---

Google Listen is a unique offering from Google Labs that functions like a search engine and subscription tool for podcasts across the web. If you’re on the train and realize you’ve forgotten to download the latest episode of NPR’s This American Life, simply fire up Google Listen, search for it, and stream it immediately, from the source.

Google Listen effectively eliminates the need to download podcasts or connect your handset to your computer. And with subscription options built in, once you find a show you like, you’ll never miss an episode while you’re on the go.

6. Gmail and Google Calendar

---

Last but not least, the utility of the fully integrated Gmail and Calendar apps that come built-in to the Android OS cannot be overstated. One of the core reasons why any Gmail or Google Apps user should go Android is that the handset will complete your suite of cloud computing productivity tools.

Because of the intrinsic link between your Android phone and your Google account, the mobile functionality of Google apps like Gmail and Calendar are seamless. Draft an e-mail on your phone and it is instantly viewable in your drafts folder on the web. Update an appointment on the web Calendar, and it’s reflected on your phone seconds later.

Android users also enjoy the built-in functionality of shared calendars, Gmail labels, threaded conversations, and “Send As” accounts if it is configured in your settings.

If you live and work out of your Gmail inbox, an Android handset is the perfect extension.

More Android resources from Mashable:

- 7 Mind-Blowing Free Android Apps
– Free Multiplayer Android Games [3 of the Best]
– 3 News Apps for Android Compared
– The Best Free Twitter Apps for Android
– 30 Android Apps to Watch
– 8 Android Apps Worth Paying For (And Some That Aren’t)

Tags: android, apps, gaming, gmail, Google, google apps, google finance, Google Listen, Google Voice, iphone, List, Lists, Mobile 2.0

Go to Source

Startup Killers: Avoid Becoming a Statistic!

We’ve all heard the bleak statistics about startup failures.  In fact, according to a recent study by the SBA, a mere 44% of new business startups can expect to still be doing business just four years later.  Even when we eliminate businesses that were closed by choice, due to retirement, the owner moving on to something else, or another planned exit strategy, then ignore non-traditional “business opportunity” type businesses, where commitment levels are notoriously low, the statistic is still daunting.  If you’re not strong of heart, these numbers alone could be enough to make you want to throw in the towel before you even begin.  Don’t give up just yet though.  While there is nothing you can do that will guarantee success, planning for likely obstacles can dramatically decrease your chances of becoming part of the grim stats.

Common Startup Pitfalls, and How You Can Overcome Them

1. Family matters. Starting a business is going to affect your family.  Whether you’re trimming your household budget to cover startup costs, taking time away from home to tend the store, or converting the extra bedroom into an office, your family will likely need to make some adjustments to accommodate your new venture.  Key to success: Get them involved.  Even if your new business isn’t the type where the kids can help in daily operations, just keeping everyone in the loop will go a long way toward mutual cooperation.  From the beginning, let your family know what you’re doing and what sacrifices you’ll be asking of them.  Listen to their concerns, and even their advice.  Remember, they aren’t likely to be as euphoric about your new venture as you are, so they might just add some needed objectivity.  Talk about the changes you’re making, and avoid family matters sinking your business dreams.

2. Isolation. Entrepreneurs, by nature, are independent people.  We love the idea of being “self-made.”  Be careful not to isolate yourself though.  Especially in the beginning stages of business, we can easily tend to get caught up in all that needs to be done and forget the importance of staying connected.  Key to success: Network, network, network.  The old saying is true: what you know isn’t as important as who you know.  Don’t try to go it alone.  In between your other activities, make time to network within your business community.  You’ll find valuable contacts to help you with everything from advice on your logo and website, to the best ways to find suppliers and clients.  Once your business is going strong, don’t give up networking.  You’ll benefit from learning new marketing strategies, staying current on business trends, and building lasting relationships that are invaluable as you grow.  To find local groups that meet regularly, check out Meetup.com.

3. Productivity destroyers. It’s a warm, sunny day.  Your friend calls you up to invite you to a 2:00 tee time.  You remember point number 2 above, and think, “Well, I don’t want to isolate myself, and heck, I’m my own boss, so why not!”  Hold on a minute.  There will be a time, if you do what it takes to make your business successful, when you can take it easy and slough off for the afternoon.  While you’re in startup mode is not that time.  Key to success: Make and stick to a schedule.  Especially when you’re first starting out in a new venture, planning and scheduling your time are critical.  Don’t let distractions pull you away from what’s important to you.  Also, you’ll want to be sure to organize your work area, use prioritized to-do lists, and implement a scheduling system to keep track of appointments and contacts.  Even if it’s just Outlook or the calendar in your Blackberry, putting your to-dos and appointments in something other than your head frees your mind to focus on your business and keeping it healthy.

4. Plate overload. A startup entrepreneur has a lot on his/her plate no matter what.  But one thing that will take the wind out of your sails and kill your startup before it ever really gets off the ground is becoming overwhelmed with all you have to do.  Even if you’ve gone through the process of proper planning and you’ve thought your startup through completely, it’s unlikely you thought of everything.  So although it looks on paper like you can handle everything as a one-person shop, it doesn’t take many unexpected fires before you begin to feel like you’re in over your head.  Key to success: Delegate the veggies. Sticking with the “plate” metaphor for a moment, let’s assume the “veggies” are those tasks you’d rather give to someone else.  They’re boring, they’re tedious, and they take you longer than anything else, because they just aren’t what motivates you.  Another way to look at it is, those tasks that are not directly contributing to building your business.  For example, accounting is completely necessary, but if accounting isn’t your business, someone else should be doing it.  If employees aren’t part of your plan, consider a virtual assistant for those tasks that are distracting you from your core responsibilities.  Whatever you do, don’t let an overflowing plate kill your business.

5. Money matters. Just as starting a business is going to affect your family, it’s also going to affect your pocketbook.  Hopefully, it’s a positive effect, but not usually for a while.  If you’re expecting to make a killing right off the bat, just know that is not typical.  That’s not to say it can’t happen, but it would be foolish to count on it.  And nothing will kill your business and your enthusiasm for it faster than the worry and strife that comes with running out of money.  Key to success: Expect the best, and prepare for the worst.  You know the statistic – The number one reason startups fail is lack of capitalization.  The key is to balance your optimism about the success of your business with the reality that there are likely to be ups and downs.  Even in best case scenarios, business is cyclical.  So simply plan for those cycles.  Make sure that you have enough reserve to get you through the lean times, and don’t spend like a drunken sailor during the good times.  Plan ahead, save, and spend wisely, and you’ll get to don that eye patch soon enough!

Tell us your startup story, in the comments below or in the forum.  What are/were your biggest obstacles?   What did you do (are you doing) to get past them and dodge the statisticians?

Go to Source

Wordpress Shopping Pages Might Blow Your Mind

A new Wordpress affiliate plugin (WP Shopping Pages) has been released today and it may be just what you need if you're in pursuit of making some extra cash (and who doesn't?). Please note – this may just blow your mind.

The $69 plugin allows WP users to create an "affiliate store" by utilizing native pages. Users can opt to…

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Go to Source

HOW TO: Create a Successful Company Blog

Mark Suster is a Partner at GRP Partners, a Venture Capital firm in Los Angeles. He blogs at Both Sides of the Table and can be found on Twitter at @msuster.

I’m often asked by entrepreneurs and business owners whether it is worth blogging, and if so, what they should blog about. On the first question, the answer is obvious to me — you must blog as an entrepreneur.

In this post I’ll cover why you need to blog, how to determine what to blog about, and finding your blog’s voice.

Why You Must Blog

---

I believe that blogging in your business is vital to creating a public personae and making your company more accessible. In an era where companies like Zappos have differentiated themselves based on service, it is important to be public and accessible.

My industry of venture capital, for example, has been shrouded in secrecy for 30 years, making the process of raising funds opaque for most entrepreneurs. When I started my first company in 1999, there were almost no public sources of venture capital fund raising information. Years later I discovered the blog of VC Brad Feld, then later VentureHacks, and Fred Wilson’s technology & VC blog, each of which clarified and demystified the venture capital process.

So when I started blogging, I mainly viewed it as “earned media,” or a chance to let entrepreneurs get to know me by sharing my thoughts online with complete transparency; a concept that is repeatable for any business.

In less than a year I’ve attracted a large monthly following of readers who come to my blog to discuss how to build startups, how to raise money, and to get my thoughts on technology markets. By publicly sharing my thoughts, I’ve been able to engage in online discussions with people all over the world, and though it was an unintended consequence, my deal flow has gone up dramatically. In other words, blogging can be a valuable networking tool and help the bottom line.

What Should You Blog About?

---

Start by defining the audience with whom you want to have a relationship. Presumably they are your customers, partners, suppliers and your broader industry as a whole. You should think about what kind of information they would find valuable. You should also try to talk about something that is differentiated from what other blogs in your field cover, even if your approach is just slightly different or new.

Make sure the topic is something that you’ll have a passion for writing about on a regular basis. If you’re not going to keep up with your blog, you shouldn’t start one in the first place. It’s a commitment, believe me. If you pick a topic that relates to your customers, but you’re not that passionate about it, then you may have a bigger problem on your hands!

The Right and Wrong Way to Blog

---

Let me give some examples of the right and wrong approach to blogging.

Right: I always liked the Mint.com blog. Even in the early days when they were relatively unknown, they blogged about personal finance. They talked about how to manage credit and balance your bank account — obvious topics for a startup focused on managing personal money. They were able to take a leadership role in talking about managing your money in a way that supported their brand and created a community around their product.

Wrong: A friend of mine has a company in the personal finance space also. His blog was all about how to run a startup and raise venture capital. He was outrageous, brash and crass in his style, and I told him so. I said, “Your goal isn’t to be the cool kid in the venture capital circles. Your job is to build a great company and you’ll be a hero in entrepreneurial circles as a result of your success. Speak to your customers — that is what a blog is for.”

Finding Your Blog’s Voice

---

So you know you need to blog, and you’re convinced you ought to write about something you’re passionate about and that speaks to your customers. How can you create something that people will want to come and read every day?

1. Be authentic

The thing that kills most blogs, in my view, is when you can tell that the writer is just going through the motions. You need to find a “voice” that is authentically yours. People will get used to your style and your style will become your signature.

2. Be transparent

The “old school” way of getting media attention was to submit press releases. These were artificially crafted documents that were filled with glowing reviews of your company. In short, they felt fake. The best way to establish your voice is to be transparent.

Be willing to talk like a human being. Be willing to show feelings and a point of view. Let your inner self come out rather than your “inner bullet point.” Don’t use too much lingo. Don’t feel like your prose has to sound like it was crafted by a university professor. Just speak!

3. Get inside your readers’ minds

I give this advice often and in many scenarios, including public speaking. When people speak to many audiences, they sometimes get into a canned routine. They give the same presentation no matter which crowd they’re addressing. The key is that each time you present, you need to think about who is in the audience and what they want to hear. The same is true for blogging.

On my blog, my audience is made of startup entrepreneurs and probably other VCs. When I write I try to be mindful of who these people are, the knowledge I assume they have, and what I believe they want to know.

4. Solicit feedback

I ask people what they want to read about. I regularly ask for feedback on what I’m writing. When people give me good suggestions, I try to cover those topics.

When community members write awesome comments, I’ll sometimes write a post about what they said to highlight them and their contributions. In my opinion, the best way to build an audience over time is to engage with them and to highlight those that really contribute positively to you.

5. Don’t be offensive or take big public risks

I sometimes read blogs that get extreme. I read a blog once that jokingly suggested “offering your angels cocaine if that would get them to invest.” It was intended to be funny. It wasn’t. And comments like this run the risk of offending people. This was a blog about personal finance, and I found the comment totally irresponsible and at odds with the brand image the blogger was trying to project.

I read a blog yesterday where the author was trying to make fun of a negative comment he got on his product. The blogger highlighted him and called him “retarded,” which I, and I’m sure many others, find offensive. There’s no upside to this type of comment, but there’s a big downside. My esteem for him went down.

Further, unless your company revolves around taking stands on controversial issues, it’s best to leave your political commentary at home. Statements like these stand to upset or anger half of your potential customers no matter what side you take.

6. Have fun

This may be obvious, but if writing a blog becomes a chore for you it will show. Try to make your writing fun and it will be easier to stick to. It will also reflect in your voice.

Happy blogging!

More blogging resources from Mashable:

---

- 14 Fantastic Free WordPress Themes
– HOW TO: Build a More Beautiful Blog
– How the Resort Industry is Using Social Media
– Why Brands are Becoming Media
– 4 Elements of a Successful Business Web Presence
– How Social Media Helps One Small Business Connect with Fans

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, johnnyscriv

[Image Credit: Kristina B]

Tags: blog, blogging, business, entrepreneurship, how to, small business, social media

Go to Source

3 Quick Ways to Test Your Website Design in FireFox

I am no web designer (I have neither time nor talent to learn web design), however for SEOs it is essential to know some basic tools and tips to test a website design when it is delivered.

Thus this post is not intended to share some advanced tips for web developers: instead it lists three quick ways to test a web design in FireFox:

1. Check how a website looks in other browsers

There are a number of FireFox addons that allow to view the current page in an alternative browser:

• Chrome View;
• IE view (or this handy IE button);
• Safari view;
• Opera view

OR: install one combined addon: Browser view plus is an experimental addon that lets the user load Firefox links, bookmarks, or pages in Internet Explorer, Google Chrome or Chrome Application Window, Safari, Opera, or any other external browser. It also allows to change context menu text, language, or selected browsers, at any time, without restarting Firefox.

2. Check how a website looks in different resolutions

Firesizer

This addon allows you to view and change the screen resolution from your browser status bar:

You can of course customize the set of available resolutions via a small handy dialog:

Yet Another Window Resizer

This is a similar to the above one but it allows to resize the browser window from the right-click context menu (so it’ just a matter of taste which one you prefer to use):

Its options also allow to customize the sets of available resolutions:

3. Check how a site works with CSS and JavaScript disabled

For this one you won’t need any extra addons: just the old good Web Developer plugin we all love:

You can disable JavaScript or CSS styles right from the toolbar options to make sure all elements of your page are easily accessed by all people and search engines.

Disable CSS:

Disable Javascript:

Check out the SEO Tools guide at Search Engine Journal.

3 Quick Ways to Test Your Website Design in FireFox

Go to Source

DIY Blog Post Graphics For The Non-Designer

Adding pictures and graphics to your blog posts is an easy way to enhance your message. Using a Creative Commons picture or stock photo is common, but creating a custom graphic is unique. Not only do custom graphics help you craft the perfect complement to your text and improve “linkability,” but you’ll never get caught in that group of “people-who-all-used-the-same-stock-photo.”

What if you don’t have the time or ability to create professional-looking custom graphics? I once spent hours on a custom graphic that ended up looking like tie-dye horse crap. I know I’m not the only one.

Fortunately, rather than give up or labor through making your own custom blog graphics, you’ve got other options. There are a lot of websites where you can easily create custom graphics for your blog posts without needing any design skills. I’d like to highlight a few of my favorites.

Charts & Graphs

GraphJam – From the people who brought you LOLcats, GraphJam typically provides some pretty hilarious graph humor, but its “Build Graph” function is awesome for custom pie charts, Venn diagrams, etc. Sure, you could do the same things in Excel and have it look nicer, but what makes GraphJam awesome is that you don’t need a data source to create the graph. Say you just want an exponentially increasing line graph to illustrate a point, just click-and-drag until it looks the way you want, label it, and you’re done.

Text-Based Graphics

A lot of generator sites allow you to create a custom graphic using your own text juxtaposed on a preexisting picture. Some of them are quite good and can really make you look awesome without doing anything. A lot of them are pretty cheesy. Ultimately, they save a lot of time for the non-designer.

SignGenerator.org has hundreds of different sign and graphic generators and half of them look pretty decent. The other half are bad enough to be funny and effective. See also SignGeneratorMaker.com.

123pimpin.com has a fair amount of quality generators organized by theme.

AddLetters.com has fewer generator resources, but some are fantastic.

VeryCoolWriting.com offers a basic text generator with options for customization. While simple, sometimes all you need is text in graphic form to do something that normal content can’t provide.

FamousDefaces is a great way to add a caption to a celebrity or historical figure. Sometimes you just need someone like Elvis to drive your point home.

There are obviously some drawbacks to using these sites to make visuals for blog posts, but there’s no easier way to create a decent blog graphic. (And this lets you to use puns to your heart’s content).

Scott Cowley is an SEO Manager at SEO.com, a search engine marketing company. He also writes about 21st century marketing at Scottergories.com.  Follow Scott on Twitter @scottcowley.

Check out the SEO Tools guide at Search Engine Journal.

DIY Blog Post Graphics For The Non-Designer

Go to Source

Something for Nothing: FREE Alternatives to Popular Software!

Your business is going strong, and now you’re ready to expand a little bit, which includes adding another PC or laptop.  Just as when buying a car you need to consider insurance, mileage, and maintenance in the price, it’s important to look at additional software costs when choosing a new computer.  Whether popular software programs are “included” on your new system or you purchase them separately, you’re paying for them one way or another, and the costs can add up fast.

A great way to save on these costs is to use freeware programs.  While you might give up a few bells and whistles, many of these programs are surprisingly full-featured and robust and can do most, if not all, of the work their high-priced counterparts were designed for.

Check out these freeware alternatives to popular software:

The Popular Choice: MS Office Standard Edition:  $399.95

The Alternatives:

Google Docs – In Google’s quest to rule the world of technology and information, they have put together an outstanding suite of office document programs.  With this free application set, you’ll not only be able to upload and edit MS Office Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents, but you can create documents from scratch and save them as Office docs.  The newest features of Google Docs allow you to upload any file, share folders and documents with anyone you choose, and even translate your documents into over 40 languages.  Want templates?  They’ve got templates!

OpenOffice – Another full-featured document app, Oracle’s OpenOffice is a great alternative to spending the big bucks.  The program allows you to open, edit, create, and save any file with an MS Office file extension and provides very similar functionality to Office.  It’s a great alternative to Google Docs when you have to work offline.  OpenOffice also has hundreds of extensions available, from an Albanian spellchecker dictionary to templates for just about anything you can think of.  And because it’s open source, new stuff is being added all the time.

The Popular Choice: Adobe Photoshop CS4:  $699.00

The Alternatives:

The GIMP – GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP) is described by CNET as, “One of the most powerful general-purpose image editors around,” and, “…eminently comparable to Photoshop.”  What else needs to be said?  While it’s missing a few of the capabilities you’ll get with Photoshop, chances are, you’d miss your 700 bucks more than you would those resources.  Users also report fewer issues with freezing and a generally more glitch-free experience with The GIMP.

Paint.NET – Top rated by PC World, CNET, and several others, Paint.NET is a powerful yet simple tool to edit and manipulate images and photos.  The program boasts being the fasted image editor available, and unique features, like unlimited history (yes, literally anything you do to an image can be undone while it’s still open) make it a great alternative if you’re looking for a well-built, easy-to-use alternative for basic graphic functions.  Again, you won’t get all the features of Photoshop with this one, but it does use layers and has much of the same functionality for zero cost.  There are some great tutorials for newbie to advanced users, so it’s worth checking it out and seeing what Paint.NET can do for you.

The Popular Choice: Norton Antivirus:  $39.99

The Alternatives:

AVG Antivirus Free Addition – AVG version 9 includes an antivirus/antimalware agent that provides plenty of virus protection, including auto-scanning of email as well as web downloads.  One cool feature is its integrated link scanner, which alerts you to third-party code exploits, prior to a link being loaded.  In other words, you mouse over a symbol next to a link in search results, and it will let you know if you’re about to visit a know malware site.  You’ll also receive rapid virus database updates for as long as you have the software, and the improved functionality is 50% faster than previous versions. Norton might only be 40 bucks, but why waste it?

Trend Micro HouseCall – If you’re looking for something a little less intrusive, HouseCall is a great alternative.  Trend Micro used to offer this product through an online interface.  Now you download it to your system and run it as needed.  The scan is quick and effective, it offers detection and removal of viruses, Trojans, worms, unwanted browser plugins, and other malware, and updates of course are free.  Because it’s not a background app like Norton or AVG, it won’t slow your system with warnings and auto scans.  On the other hand, it doesn’t offer real-time protection, so weigh your needs against its features.

The Popular Choice: Norton Utilities:  $49.99

The Alternative:

Advanced SystemCare Free – There’s a reason over 32 million people have downloaded IObit’s PC utility app.  It works.  If you’re looking to speed up your computer, eliminate registry issue, and clean up junk files – all at the click of a single button – look no further.  Download this feature-packed program, and you’ll also have access to a very useful Internet booster, disk defragmenter, registry defragmenter, and a Smart RAM utility, which optimizes your PC’s RAM usage.  CNET’s last review of this software was prior to some fantastic feature tweaks and additions, so we can’t wait to see an updated review.  It’s sure to be 5 stars.

Go to Source

21 Things That Best Converting Websites Know That You Don’t

Takeaways from Bryan Eisenberg’s talk at SES London 2010.

So what do the best converting websites have in common?

1. Communicate unique value proposition – You have 7 seconds to
   persuade (or 8-10 seconds if you have really, really good content). Establish credibility on every landing page.
2. Make persuasive & relevant offers – He suggests free shipping. From experience at Dell, free shipping made most profit and greatest
   sales. Conversion rate doubled for overstock.com However, if you listen to other advice. Free shipping might just erode existing profits. Make sure you test, test, test.
3. Reinforce the offer sitewide – Don't let them forget your offer. Message must be persuasive and appear consistently. 
4. They maintain the scent – Maintain consistent look feel of the campaign. Landing page text should reflect the original offer. The same style and call to action should flow until they have converted.
5. Make a strong first impression – Everyone knows the cliche – You only get one chance to make a first impression. I would add that you should make your first impression impossible to miss.
6. They appeal to multiple personas or segments – Talks about the four different personality types and that you need to market to each of them.
7. They don’t do slice and dice optimisation – You don’t have time to test everything. You will also turn off a lot of potential customers if you test too many awful ideas. Look at the different personality types and create a valid hypothesis and then test that. Test for impact and not variation.
8. Use the voice of the customer – Social Commerce – People are huge followers. They feel much more at ease with a purchase that others have made and had a good experience with. Just think of those telecommercials and why they do so well. People need to
   hear from people like them. Figleaves improved conversion by 35% by implementing reviews.
9. They use Social Commerce for navigation – Helps people figure out
   what product is right for them
10. They use Social Commerce for promoting – Use reviews everywhere. Not just the product page, but in email campaigns as well.
11. And for credibility! – Let others do the selling for you.
12. And for feedback and research – Cheaper than usability labs
13. Use persuasion principles like scarcity – “Low Stock!” Or add call to actions that automatically end after X number of days from today.
14. Make your forms engaging – Why make people register pre-checkout. Why not do this on the thank-you
    page? Or at the same time as checkout?
15. Provide point of action assurances – “Guaranteed response within
    2 hours!”
16. They keep customers in the process – Hold your hand and guide you through the complete process.
17. Consider email previews – Look at how your email will look with and without images.
18. Budget for experience – Keep focusing on continuous improvement
19. Utilize a system for prioritization – There is never enough time
    so work out what resources you need or just change little by little
20. Make data driven decisions! Do web analytics correctly by making
    a to-do lists regularly!
21. Know how to execute rapidly – Have contingency to act fast if
    the opportunity arise

5 Final Action Steps

1. Identify problems
2. Create the to-do list
3. Document the change hypothiseis
4. Prioritise this to-do list
5. Start testing and do the same next time.

Go to Source

Apple Looking to Bring iPhone OS to More Devices

A recent Apple Inc. job posting has revealed that the company intends to focus on bringing the iPhone OS onto new gadgets, devices and platforms.

The job posting from the Cupertino, CA, company specifically calls for an engineering manager to handle “platform bring-up.” In the job description, Apple states that it’s looking for a manager “to lead a team focused on bring-up of iPhone OS on new platforms.” It seems like Apple wants some outside talent with very strong technical experience, especially when it comes to bringing software onto multiple hardware devices. Computerworld first caught the job post.

Here are the first two paragraphs of the job posting, which explains exactly what the company is looking for:

“The Core Platform team within Apple’s Core OS organization is looking for a talented and inspired manager to lead a team focused on bring-up of iPhone OS on new platforms. The team is responsible for low level platform architecture, firmware, core drivers and bring-up of new hardware platforms. The team consists of talented engineers with experience in hardware, firmware, IOKit drivers, security and platform architecture.

This position requires a very technical and hands-on leader, experience in working closely with hardware team and a deep understanding of bare metal software. You must be a highly self-motivated individual who seeks to create a dynamic and creative team environment in which old problems are solved in new and innovative ways.”

The job requires someone with experience developing for the Unix operating system, experience with system-on-chip (SoC) level design and experience with “bring-up of mobile phones running Unix like operating systems.”

This job posting is very specific — not a lot of people are going to have this type of experience. We think it’s likely Apple is targeting product managers for Google Android, since it is built off of a modified version of the Linux kernel and it has experience porting Android onto multiple handsets.

What Is Apple’s Plan?

This job posting raises a lot of questions. Clearly Apple wants to expand the iPhone OS, but where exactly? Does it intend to create multiple phones running the iPhone OS? Could something like AppleTV or even the Mac or Macbook gain the iPhone OS interface? It’s tough to tell and probably too early to know as well.

Let’s think about each of these scenarios for a moment:

1. Apple stops just selling one iPhone, but creates multiple models to suit multiple tastes, possibly including a version with a keyboard. Apple would retain control over all of these models, but it would use them to compete with BlackBerry, Android and other smartphones even further. It could also create a less-advanced version for users that don’t want an advanced smartphone, but that would be out of character with Apple’s history.

We think there’s a chance it could create multiple models of the iPhone, but this is probably not the primary plan.

2. Apple brings the iPhone OS to AppleTV. It would certainly provide a boost and new attention to a mostly fledgling and forgotten project, but most TVs are not touchscreens. We’re not sure about this one.

3. Apple creates new computers that utilize the iPhone OS as its primary OS. We think this is actually the most likely scenario — it gives Apple full control over the user experience and gives it a chance to redefine computing for years to come. It seems like a next step from the iPad, although we’re uncertain how receptive people would be to a low-cost computer running the iPhone OS instead of the Mac OS or Windows.

Apple is clearly bullish on its OS and thinks it is the future of computing and mobile. Now it’s just a matter of what device it puts it in next.

Tags: apple, Apple Tablet, ipad, iphone, iphone os

Go to Source

Video Chat Coming to iPad and iPhone? [PICS]

Further evidence has emerged that Apple’s iPad and iPhone may support video chat in future versions.

Icons in the iPhone 3.2 Software Development Kit are labeled “Accept Video” and “Decline or End Video”, reports 9to5Mac.

Meanwhile, code in the iPad’s telephony apps also includes mentions of video chat. 9to5Mac concedes that Apple may have re-used code from its Mac software in the 3.2 SDK, but adds there would be no reason to create video chat icons for the iPad unless this was a feature.

The rumor supports previous reports that future iPhones/iPads will have a front-facing camera, and the discovery of code for “toggling a video call between full screen and a smaller screen area” in the SDK.

Video Chat Icons

Video Chat Code

Tags: ipad, iphone, video chat

Go to Source

Clueless Woman Calls Tech Show When Her Stolen Wi-Fi Disappears [VIDEO]

Yeah, everyone has stolen Wi-Fi at one point or another, but not everyone has called into a tech show in order to complain about the fact that someone put the kibosh on said stealing.

Meet Jennifer, she had been unwittingly yoinking Wi-Fi for more than a year and a half when the gravy train ran out, after which she called into Leo Laporte’s Tech Guy radio show in a state of utter confusion.

After hitting YouTube this weekend — the show aired on Saturday — the video depicting Laporte interviewing the confused woman has gone viral, racking up 122,661 views at the time of this post.

Maybe it’s Jennifer’s innocent confusion (“Yeah, well they should bring that cost down”), maybe it’s Laporte’s gentle/yet amused explanation that she was, in fact, putting her Internet privacy at risk while simultaneously breaking the law (“So you have — silly question, but I’m gonna ask it anyway — you have a wireless access point to begin with?”), but something about this vid is striking a chord with Internet denizens.

Have you ever stolen Wi-FI?

Tags: humor, trending, viral video, wi-fi

Go to Source

Denny’s Menu Misprint Leads to Twitter Mess

Denny’s dine-in menu invites customers to “Join the conversation!” and follow @Dennys on Twitter. The problem is that the account in question belongs to a Taiwanese Twitterer — Dennys Hsieh — and not the American restaurant chain, which manages two official accounts: DennysAllNightr and DennysGrandSlam.

The inaccurate menus (pictured below) have been in circulation since October 2009 at more than 1,500 locations nationwide.

One would think that such an oversight in these social media times would prompt immediate action, but such is not the case. Per a CNET report, the menu misprint is an error that the company hopes to correct not by reprinting menus but by convincing Twitter to hand over the “Dennys” Twitter account.

At the time of CNET’s story, Dennys Hsieh’s Twitter account had been inactive since July 19, 2009. The article must have inspired Hsieh to renew his interest in microblogging, as the account has since seen life in the form of new tweets posted in the past few days. Hsieh’s new tweets could foil the restaurant’s plan to take over the account, as it is no longer dormant.

It’s unclear who’s responsible for this major faux pas, but Denny’s employs the help of Filter Creative Group to manage its social media efforts. In an effort to save face, agency co-owner Alan Miller said that he believed there’s no harm in displaying the wrong Twitter name on menus. Given Hsieh’s recent Twitter activity, Miller and the Denny’s team might want to change their tune — or at least their menus.

Update: Alan Miller wrote to clarify that he doesn’t believe Denny’s brand is marred. Here’s what he told us:

“We currently have more combined twitter followers than anyone in our competitive restaurant set. That’s a huge accomplishment for a brand that just started paying attention to social media last year. So even though their was a very unfortunate typo on some of the menus people have been finding the pages and interacting with the community at a very high level.”

Credit: Daniel Terdiman/CNET

[img credit: Joits]

Tags: Denny’s, Food, MARKETING, social media, twitter

Go to Source

Stoking the Entrepreneurial Fire

It might have happened yesterday or ten years ago, but at some point, you felt it.  As an entrepreneur you have – perhaps many times – felt that spark of inspiration and the rush that goes with it.  That feeling that tells you in your gut that you’re onto something, and nothing’s going to stop you.  Still, no one ever said starting and running a business was easy.  Even first-time entrepreneurs recognize that challenges and obstacles are part of the deal when you’re in business for yourself.  Indeed, these trials are exactly what many of us thrive on.  The ability to overcome barriers and persist when others would quit is what makes entrepreneurs a special breed.  But what happens when that initial spark starts to become a fading memory as the challenges mount?  Whether you’re trying to get on track or stay the course, we can all use a little help sometimes to make the magic happen.

Use these tips to keep your fire burning strong:

1. Plan your work, and work your plan. Much of the discouragement that entrepreneurs face, especially while starting their business, or during a period of sudden growth, can come from feelings of being overwhelmed.  With some businesses, this is seemingly constant.  For example, if you have a business where strict deadlines are the norm, you might feel like there isn’t enough time in the day to get everything done.  One way to avoid, or at least greatly lessen, the pressures that might be dampening your entrepreneurial drive is to stick to a plan as much as possible.  This isn’t about your business plan – although you’d better have one of those too.  It’s about a daily action plan that will keep you focused, not only on the details of your day, but on the big picture as well.  A great way to devise such a plan is to look at your BHAGs (Big, Harry, Audacious Goals) and work backwards.  Ask yourself, what do I have to do on a daily basis to achieve my objectives?  Once you have the answer to that question, build your daily plan around those activities, and hire out or delegate as much of the other stuff as possible.

2. Embrace change. The only thing that never changes is the fact that everything changes.  No matter how well-thought-out your business plan is; no matter how sure you are you’ve thought of every contingency, the unexpected will arise.  Whether it’s a turn in the economy or a new technology that changes the face of your industry, sooner or later something will happen that you did not plan for.  Often, the difference between thriving and withering in these situations is an ability to embrace change and make it work for you.  So rather than feeling beaten when things don’t go as planned, think of how this new or different set of circumstances can work in your favor.  When you approach change this way, you’ll be surprised at what you can come up with.  It might even ignite a new spark you would never have recognized otherwise.

3. Guard against negativity – from within and from others. It is difficult, if not impossible to keep any spark alive while drowning in negativity and cynicism.  Unfortunately, it’s often our own friends, family and peers who are guilty of feeding us negative energy.  The answer is to think for yourself, stay focused on your dream, and get away if you need to.  It’s a matter of priorities.  No one is suggesting you turn your back on a life-long friend and never speak to them again; but if they’re the type of person who only focuses on the negative, you have to decide if it’s worth spending less time with that person in order to stay in the frame of mind necessary to reach your goals.  Or just keep in mind what James Cook said: “Do just once what others say you can’t do, and you will never pay attention to their limitations again.”  If it’s in your own nature to look at the world through pessimistic eyes, go to the next paragraph…

4. Fortify your mind. The self improvement movement has been in full swing in our culture for 35 years now.  Out of that has come enough material to keep you surrounded by positive words for the rest of your life.  A search for the term “self improvement” on Amazon.com yields over 60,000 books, not to mention DVDs and audio programs in MP3 and CD.  If books and audio aren’t enough, you can find countless seminars, retreats, workshops and camps, all designed to infuse your mind with positive energy and purpose.  The point is, you have an opportunity to control what goes into your mind, and if what you choose to focus on is positive, uplifting, and motivating, you’ll be able to overcome obstacles more easily, ignore the negativity of the world around you, and keep your spark alive.

5. Let history guide you. Every successful person, from the Wright brothers to Walt Disney, to Thomas Edison, Bill Gates, and even Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin have experienced setbacks, disappointments, and internal doubt.  And if any of them had given up, our world would be a very different place.  The great part?  They weren’t special.  What they had, more than anything else, was a belief in their dream, an ability to focus on their goals, and, most importantly, a sense of perseverance that pulled them through when they needed it most.  And none of those qualities are reserved for a select few.  We can all access them.  Whatever you need to do – whether it’s reading an inspirational book, staring in the mirror and giving yourself a pep talk, or sitting on a rock meditating – as often as possible, try to get back to that original feeling you had when the spark first hit.  That will keep you going through any challenge you face.  No matter what the world throws at you, you do have the power to push through.  Now, go do it!

Go to Source

Social Media Worst Practices

I bet you are one of those people thinking about implementing a social media marketing strategy for your company right? ‘Well here are some sure fire ways to end any and all efforts you are thinking about pursuing.

Stop any and all effort right now

Listen to the skeptics who are touting social media as a useless medium to gain publicity in addition to poor methods of increasing search engine visibility. Don’t bother with looking for any positive feedback to show your boss as to why utilizing these outlets are of any benefit to the organization.

“But our clients use Twitter/Facebook”

• So? Just because in October 2009, Twitter announced their user growth grew 200% between the years 2008-2009, is no reason to go running creating accounts in attempt to connect with existing customers whilst reaching new ones. And just ignore the fact that Facebook announced earlier in 2009 that their number of users world wide had reached 200 million. This data is only showing an increased number of viewers online, and since print advertising is doing so well it isn’t worth the effort of getting involved in any social outlets.

“You don’t want to hire someone to spend hours a day on the Internet”

• It may be effortless to set up an account on every social medium, but time is money and regardless of the fact that one sale from these efforts could pay for a year of social efforts, its not worth it. Even if you decide to set up multiple accounts how do you plan to manage them all? Use something like “Tweet Deck” that allows users to control multiple accounts from the desktop and smart phone? I don’t think so, bookmarking such sites for ease of availability is trivial.

“You tried it once, it didn’t really work out, so do don’t try again”

• Don’t learn from your past experience if it failed once, it will again. It doesn’t matter if every week more methods and online tools are becoming available to aid social media efforts. “Tweek Deck” and bookmarking will clutter your desktop and browser. If you are going to go about pursuing online efforts look for short cuts. If you see an ad, “Pay us $49.99 and we’ll get you 10,000 Twitter Followers” act on it! Ignore the equation, “The amount of effort exerted + time of effort = amount of success” this is pure poppycock.

Using Social Media Marketing

Alright, you’ve gone and done it and set up either a Twitter or Facebook account. But no one is following you on Twitter and the Facebook Fan page doesn’t have any activity on it. Well you tried, that’s it give up. Whatever you do don’t take some time to re-focus and think.

“You tweet and update Facebook as your company announces a new product or event.”

• Good you’ve done everything you are supposed to do with one of those accounts.
• Don’t re-tweet or create links to current articles pertaining to your industry.
• Don’t post any case studies you’ve successfully done.
• Don’t invite guest authors to write a special post.

“No one re-tweets us or interacts on your Fan Page”

• Don’t sweat it. Even though social is defined as, “Friendly companionship or relations. Seeking or enjoying the companionship of others; friendly; sociable; gregarious.” You shouldn’t have to reach out to others. After all, you are the reason people join social media outlets right? If all you are doing is updating, re-tweeting you are doing fine.
• Don’t follow others on Twitter.
• Don’t track down current customers, industry partners and trend setters
• Follow potential customers as much as possible, flood their pages and email with your company information as much as you can.
• Don’t encourage your customers to participate, stifle those voices right away so yours can be heard.
• Don’t post comments on other blogs, fan pages or re-tweet appropriate tweets. You are the reason people get online, after all since you are a big business in real life everyone will know who you are online as well.

“You update as often as time allows”

• Eh, don’t worry about sticking to a schedule. Once a month or every other quarter is fine enough.
• Don’t research your customer base to find out what time of the day their time is spent online and plan updates accordingly.
• Don’t worry about involving multiple members of the marketing team, one person is enough.
• Don’t worry about showing the diversity of your company, even if you have several departments one account is sufficient for all of them.
• More than one person does not need to know how to access the accounts and create relevant interesting updates. If that person is gone on vacation, so does the social updates. Too bad so sad.

“How will you know if what you are posting is good content?”

• Don’t listen to your audience or update according to their needs.
• Don’t poll/survey your customer base.
• As you journey along the path to having successful social media campaigns you may receive insight from customers and others who participate, do not listen to a word they say. Any interaction an individual can get from a company is a good opportunity to lose sight of things and get distracted.

Finally if you want to ruin any and all efforts in social media marketing be like the old dog and don’t learn any new tricks. When you develop a method stick with it regardless of any new methods or mediums that come out. You may hear Bruce Lee’s quote in reference to learning social media, “Be like water”, don’t. If you truly want to fail at social media marketing simply don’t do anything.

Joshua Titsworth is a Ouachita Baptist University graduate currently working as a Digital Marketing Specialist at Chemidex in Overland Park, KS. Josh got his start in digital marketing working for a non-profit in Kansas City as the Director of Development and Project Manager. Since finding his niche he left the non profit realm to purse a career in digital marketing. In addition to this job at Chemidex Josh volunteers at various non-profits in the area to aid and educate in their online endeavors.

Check out the SEO Tools guide at Search Engine Journal.

Social Media Worst Practices

Go to Source

Facts For Webmasters & Advertisers: Yahoo Out Of Search, Bing Takes Over

It is official, Yahoo and Microsoft have approval to move forward with their search deal and they are not wasting any time with that. You can read many of the stories on Techmeme to catch up, but let me quote…

Go to Source

Video Distributor (and SEO) from Treepodia

Automated online product video technology and service provider Treepodia released its Video Distributor service today. The service enables merchants to upload their catalog of online product videos to video sharing sites like YouTube.com, Metacafe, Dailymotion and others.

It's common knowledge that video provides a powerful way to shore up…

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Go to Source

How to Build Effective Websites 101

Many small companies are making a wise choice and investing in professionally designed websites that raise the company’s level of professionalism, exposure, and sales.

I have had people come to my saddle shop and they were surprised to see that we are just a a small shop because the website made us look so much better.

Online you can be as big or small as you want to be. The web gives small companies an opportunity to go toe-to-toe with big brand companies.  It even gives small companies an advantage of being more flexible and quicker to adapt compared to large companies. However, you must have these things for your website to be effective.

• Usability – Allowing people to find what they came to find, quickly. And then find it again once they come back to your site.
• Findability – If they can’t find you, they can’t buy from you. Ranking and ranking for the correct keywords are key to getting and keeping customers online.
• Legibility – Does the design of your site allow for quick scanning and easy access to critical information. Can they read your headers, text, captions, etc.
• Clean – Graphics enhance your message. Every piece of your website should motivate your customer to a specific goal.
• Consistent Branding – Reinforce your brand image, building on your logo and other marketing materials.
• Fast Loading – Slow sites lose visitors. Don’t be one of them.
• Cross-browser compatible – Make sure your site looks good across all current browsers.

Unfortunately, there are too many companies that just use an online template for their site. These are plagued with problems from being slow loading, brand destroying, unprofessional, and search engine unfriendly. Don’t settle when it comes to your website. Would you want a lousy salesman talking to all of your potential customers and ultimately turning them off to your business and products?

Go to Source

100 Top Entrepreneurs Who Succeeded without a College Degree

In an earlier post, we posed the question, “Is College Necessary for Entrepreneurs?”  While there are certainly good arguments for both sides, it’s a fact that a college degree does not guarantee success.  And there are countless determined entrepreneurs who have proven that success can be achieved despite a lack of higher education.

We have compiled a list of 100 amazing “degreeless” entrepreneurs who have risen to the top.  Some high-profile entrepreneurs you will recognize immediately, while others you may be discovering for the first time.  Many of them didn’t complete elementary school, and still more are considered high school dropouts.  Their backgrounds and industries run the gamut; however, they all have at least two things in common. Incredible success and no college degree.

My brother, Matthew, and I aren’t on this list (didn’t want to toot our own horns… well, at least not too loudly); however we count ourselves among the golden many who achieved success without attending college.  Entrepreneurs at an early age, Matthew and I had already started six (toot toot) businesses by the time we graduated high school.  We were both offered college scholarships, but turned them down – it was clear to us that college was not in our future.  Within a week of graduating high school, we bought a bar/café/billiards location, which we overhauled, re-branded and turned into a hot spot; and on the 12-month we sold it for a great profit.  Of course, we have gone on to start several more businesses, both offline and online, and we have never once looked back.

While we’ve listed our Top 100, we know there are hundreds (if not thousands) more entrepreneurs who have achieved success without a college a degree.  Are you one of them?  Let us know who we forgot by posting your comments below.

The List

Abraham Lincoln, lawyer, U.S. president. Finished one year of formal schooling, self-taught himself trigonometry, and read Blackstone on his own to become a lawyer.

Amadeo Peter Giannini, multimillionaire founder of Bank of America. Dropped out of high school.

Andrew Carnegie, industrialist and philanthropist, and one of the first mega-billionaires in the US. Elementary school dropout.

Andrew Jackson, U.S. president, general, attorney, judge, congressman. Home-schooled. Became a practicing attorney by the age of 35 – without a formal education.

Andrew Perlman, co-founder of GreatPoint. Dropped out of Washington University to start Cignal Global Communications, an Internet communications company, when he was only 19.

Anne Beiler, multimillionaire co-founder of Auntie Anne’s Pretzels. Dropped out of high school.

Ansel Adams, world-famous photographer. Dropped out of high school.

Ashley Qualls, founder of Whateverlife.com, left high school at the age of 15 to devote herself  to building her website business.  She was more than a million dollars by 17.

Barbara Lynch, chef, owner of a group of restaurants, worth over $10 million, in Boston. Dropped out of high school.

Barry Diller, billionaire, Hollywood mogul, Internet maven, founder of Fox Broadcasting Company, chairman of IAC/InterActive Corp (owner of Ask.com),

Ben Kaufman, 21-year-old serial entrepreneur, founder of Kluster. Dropped out of college in his freshman year.

Benjamin Franklin, inventor, scientist, author, entrepreneur.  Primarily home-schooled.

Billy Joe (Red) McCombs, billionaire, founder of Clear Channel media, real estate investor. Dropped out of law school to sell cars in 1950.

Bob Proctor, motivational speaker, bestselling author, and co-founder of Life Success Publishing. Attended two months of high school.

Bram Cohen, BitTorrent developer. Attended State University of New York at Buffalo for a year.

Carl Lindner, billionaire investor, founder of United Dairy Farmers. Dropped out of high school at the age of 14.

Charles Culpeper, owner and CEO of Coca Cola. Dropped out of high school.

Christopher Columbus, explorer, discoverer of new lands. Primarily home-schooled.

Coco Chanel, founder of fashion brand Chanel. A perfume bearing her name, Chanel No. 5 kept her name famous.

Colonel Harlan Sanders, founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC). Dropped out of elementary school, later earned law degree by correspondence.

Craig McCaw, billionaire founder of McCaw Cellular. Did not complete college.

Dave Thomas, billionaire founder of Wendy’s. Dropped out of high school at 15.

David Geffen, billionaire founder of Geffen Records and co-founder of DreamWorks. Dropped out of college after completing one year.

David Green, billionaire founder of Hobby Lobby. Started the Hobby Lobby chain with only $600.  High school graduate.

David Karp, founder of Tumblr. Dropped out of school at 15, then homeschooled. Did not attend college.

David Neeleman, founder of JetBlue airlines. Dropped out of college after three years.

David Ogilvy, advertising executive and copywriter . Was expelled from Oxford University at the age of 20.

David Oreck, multimillionaire founder of The Oreck Corporation. Quit college to enlist in the Army Air Corps.

Debbi Fields, founder of Mrs. Fields Chocolate Chippery. Later renamed, franchised, then sold Mrs. Field’s Cookies.

DeWitt Wallace, founder and publisher of Reader’s Digest. Dropped out of college after one year. Went back, then dropped out again after the second year.

Dov Charney, founder of American Apparel. Started the company in high school, and never attended college.

Dustin Moskovitz, multi-millionaire co-founder of Facebook. Harvard dropout.

Frank Lloyd Wright, the most influential architect of the twentieth century. Never attended high school.

Frederick “Freddy” Laker, billionaire airline entrepreneur. High school dropout.

Frederick Henry Royce, auto designer, multimillionaire co-founder of Rolls-Royce. Dropped out of elementary school.

George Eastman, multimillionaire inventor, Kodak founder. Dropped out of high school.

George Naddaff, founder of UFood Grill and Boston Chicken. Did not attend college.

Gurbaksh Chahal, multimillionaire founder of BlueLithium and Click Again. Dropped out at 16, when he founded Click Again.

H. Wayne Huizenga, founder of WMX garbage company, helped build Blockbuster video chain. Joined the Army out of high school, and later went to college only to drop out during his first year.

Henry Ford, billionaire founder of Ford Motor Company.  Did not attend college.

Henry J. Kaiser, multimillionaire & founder of Kaiser Aluminum. Dropped out of high school.

Hyman Golden, co-founder of Snapple. Dropped out of high school.

Ingvar Kamprad, founder of IKEA, one of the richest people in the world, dyslexic.

Isaac Merrit Singer, sewing machine inventor, founder of Singer. Elementary school dropout.

Jack Crawford Taylor, founder of Enterprise Rent-a-Car. Dropped out of college to become a WWII fighter pilot in the Navy.

Jake Nickell, co-founder and CEO of Threadless.com. Did not graduate from college.

James Cameron, Oscar-winning director, screenwriter, and producer. Dropped out of college.

Jay Van Andel, billionaire co-founder of Amway. Never attended college.

Jeffrey Kalmikoff, co-founder and chief creative officer of Threadless.com. Did not graduate from college.

Jerry Yang, co-founder of Yahoo! Dropped out of PhD program.

Jimmy Dean, multimillionaire founder of Jimmy Dean Foods. Dropped out of high school at 16.

John D. Rockefeller Sr., billionaire founder of Standard Oil. Dropped out of high school just two months before graduating, though later took some courses at a local business school.

John Mackey, founder of Whole Foods. Enrolled and dropped out college six times.

John Paul DeJoria, billionaire co-founder of John Paul Mitchell Systems, founder of Patron Spirits tequilla. Joined the Navy after high school.

Joyce C. Hall, founder of Hallmark. Started selling greeting cards at the age of 18. Did not attend college.

Kemmons Wilson, multimillionaire, founder of Holiday Inn. High school dropout.

Kenneth Hendricks, billionaire founder of ABC Supply.  High school dropout.

Kenny Johnson, founder of Dial-A-Waiter restaurant delivery. College dropout.

Kevin Rose, founder of Digg.com. Dropped out of college during his second year.

Kirk Kerkorian, billionaire investor, owner of Mandalay Bay and Mirage Resorts, and MGM movie studio. Dropped out eighth-grade.

Larry Ellison, billionaire co-founder of Oracle software company. Dropped out of two different colleges.

Leandro Rizzuto, billionaire founder of Conair. Dropped out of college. Started Conair with $100 and hot-air hair roller invention.

Leslie Wexner, billionaire founder of a Limited Brands. Dropped out of law school. Started the Limited with $5,000.

Marc Rich, commodities investor, billionaire.  Founder of Marc Rich & Co. Did not finish college.

Marcus Loew, multimillionaire founder of Loews theaters, co-founder of MGM movie studio. Elementary school dropout.

Mark Ecko, founder of Mark Ecko Enterprises. Dropped out of college.

Mary Kay Ash, founder of Mary Kay Inc. Did not attend college.

Michael Dell, billionaire founder of Dell Computers, which started out of his college dorm room. Dropped out of college.

Michael Rubin, founder of Global Sports. Dropped out of college in his first year.

Micky Jagtiani, billionaire retailer, Landmark International. Dropped out of accounting school.

Milton Hershey, founder of Hershey’s Milk Chocolate. 4th grade education.

Pete Cashmore, founder of Mashable.com at the age of 19.

Philip Green, Topshop billionaire retail mogul. Dropped out of high school.

Rachael Ray, Food Network cooking show star, food industry entrepreneur, with no formal culinary arts training.  Never attended college.

Ray Kroc, founder of McDonald’s. Dropped out of high school.

Richard Branson, billionaire founder of Virgin Records, Virgin Atlantic Airways, Virgin Mobile, and more. Dropped out of high school at 16.

Richard DeVos, co-founder of Amway. Served in the Army and did not attend college.

Richard Schulze, Best Buy founder. Did not attend college.

Rob Kalin, founder of Etsy. Flunked out of high school, enrolled in art school for a time, faked a student ID at MIT so he could take classes. His professors subsequently helped him get into NYU, they were so impressed.

Ron Popeil, multimillionaire founder of Ronco, inventor, producer, infomercial star. Did not finish college.

Rush Limbaugh, multi-millionaire media mogul, radio talk show host. Dropped out of college.

Russell Simmons, co-founder of Def Jam records, founder of Russell Simmons Music Group, Phat Farm fashions, bestselling author. Did not finish college.

S. Daniel Abraham, founder of Slim-Fast, billionaire. Did not attend college.

Sean John Combs, entertainer, producer, fashion designer, and entrepreneur. Never finished college.

Shawn Fanning, developer of Napster. Dropped out of college at the age of 19.

Simon Cowell, TV producer, music judge, American Idol, The X Factor, and Britain’s Got Talent.  High school dropout.

Steve Madden, shoe designer. Dropped out of college.

Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple, billionaire. Did not complete college.

Ted Murphy, founder of social media company Izea Entertainment. Dropped out of college.

Theodore Waitt, billionaire founder of Gateway Computers. Dropped out of college to start Gateway – one semester before graduating.

Thomas Edison, inventor of the lightbulb, phonograph, and more. Primarily home-schooled, then joined the railroad when he was only 12.

Tom Anderson, co-founder and “friend” of MySpace. Dropped out of high school.

Ty Warner, billionaire developer of Beanie Babies, real estate investor, and hotel owner. Dropped out of college.

Vidal Sassoon, founder of Vidal Sassoon, multimillionaire. Dropped out of high school.

W. Clement Stone, multimillionaire insurance man, author, founder of Success magazine. Dropped out of elementary school. Later attended high school, graduating. Attended but did not finish college.

W.T. Grant, founder of W.T. Grant department stores, multimillionaire. Dropped out of high school.

Wally “Famous” Amos, multimillionaire entrepreneur, author, talent agent, founder of Famous Amos cookies. Left high school at 17 to join the Air Force.

Walt Disney, founder of the Walt Disney Company. Dropped out of high school at 16.

Wolfgang Puck, chef, owner of 16 restaurants and 80 bistros. Quit school at the age of 14.

Y.C. Wang, billionaire founder of Formosa Plastics. Did not attend high school.

For more successful people who didn’t complete college, including actors, sports stars, and more, check out http://www.collegedropoutshalloffame.com.

Go to Source