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Month: November 2009

Ignite Portland 7: How to win at Ignite or Tips and tricks for getting the most out of your Ignite experience

Rest assured, we want your Ignite experience to be as fun and rewarding as possible. So whether this is your 23rd Ignite event or your first, here are some tips and tricks for getting the most out of Ignite Portland 7.

Rick Turoczy on November 19, 2009

Sometimes this content is so easy, it practically writes itself. Especially when I’m just repeating stuff I’ve written before. Again and again. But it bears repeating.

So you’ve reached that special time in your life. And you’re headed to Ignite Portland 7, tonight. Exciting isn’t it? You may be experiencing some funny feelings about Ignite.

That’s okay. That’s natural. We all go through it.

Rest assured, we want your Ignite experience to be as fun and rewarding as possible. So whether this is your 23rd Ignite event or your first, here are some tips and tricks for getting the most out of Ignite Portland 7. Read More

ccSync: Bringing the chatroom and IRC dynamic to SMS with group texting

With Portland-based ccSync, suddenly your text messages begin to resemble a chatroom or IRC. Every message goes to every person in the group. Voila. Group SMS.

Rick Turoczy on November 18, 2009

[Full disclosure: I have consulted with ccSync in the past before they reconfigured their product offering. I was pre-briefed on the launch of this product, but I have not been involved in the launch planning.]

For all the cool Web apps, iPhone apps, and mobile technologies, few things beat SMS for market penetration. That’s what makes it so great. Next to actually calling someone on the phone—but I mean, who does that?—texting is the easiest way to communicate with folks. Because practically anyone carrying a phone in their pocket can send and receive SMS messages—so long as their data plan I allows it.

So as far as having SMS? Great. But using SMS only works for very particular applications. Like one-to-one conversations. If you want to use that technology to communicate with three different people, you’re going to wind up sending that message three different times.

If only there were some way to talk to a group of people—in a controlled confidential way, not a public Twitter way—using this nearly ubiquitous technology. Well, now there is. Introducing ccSync. Read More

Health care geeks flock to Portland for open source CONNECT Code-a-thon

But all that changes on November 19 and 20, when Portland, OSU Open Source Labs, and PSU play host to the CONNECT Code-a-thon, a open source hacking session for health care tech types.

Rick Turoczy on November 18, 2009

With OHSU, Portland has a great deal of prominence in the world of health care. And with open source, Portland has some street cred with the techie types. But events that get the health care and open source tech types intermingling? Not so much.

But all that changes on November 19 and 20, when Portland, OSU Open Source Labs, and PSU play host to the CONNECT Code-a-thon, a open source hacking session for health care tech types. Read More

OPB Think Out Loud: Abraham Hyatt and Michelle Rafter on the rebirth of local journalism

That’s what Abraham Hyatt and Michelle Rafter of We Make The Media will be discussing, this morning, on OPB Think Out Loud: Rebirth of local journalism.

Rick Turoczy on November 17, 2009

I’ve said it once or twice, I’ll probably say it again a few more times: Portland is a pretty darn bloggy town. In fact, blogging is probably right up there with brewpubs and restaurants in the “per capita” standings.

But what happens when those blogs stop being personal pontifications and navel gazing and become something more? What happens when they move from the realm of online diary to online media outlet? When the writing becomes journalistic?

That’s what Abraham Hyatt and Michelle Rafter of the We Make The Media project will be discussing, this morning, on OPB Think Out Loud: Rebirth of local journalism. Read More

HulaHub: Social networking gets more cultured and artsy

Introducing Portland-based HulaHub, a new social networking service—that includes both a Web and iPhone presence—designed to get the art crowd more involved in the social Web.

Rick Turoczy on November 16, 2009

Most of the social media types I know are a cultured bunch. They know more about movies and music and writing and whatnot than any ten people I know offline. But for all of that brainpower, there’s still a lack of experts with deep knowledge in some areas of the arts.

Long story short, the artists aren’t as involved—or as supported by—social networking as they should be. Until now.

Introducing Portland-based HulaHub, a new social networking service—that includes both a Web and iPhone presence—designed to get the art crowd more involved in the social Web. Read More

JainRain RPX gets more social with Rich Social Publishing

Today, JanRain announced the latest feature to RPX. Now in addition to getting login functionality, RPX users also gain a social sharing feature that allows visitors to distribute content to various social media sites.

Rick Turoczy on November 13, 2009

It’s really interesting to watch the continued progression of Portland-based JanRain‘s efforts with RPX, its drop-in, single sign-on solution designed to help sites and developers quickly and easily solve the “login credential” problem. And just to think, it all began with JanRain trying to simplify the OpenID workflow. How cool is that?

Today, JanRain announced the latest feature to RPX. Now in addition to getting login functionality, RPX users also gain a social sharing feature that allows visitors to distribute content to various social media sites. Read More

Matt Haughey, our thoughts are with you [UPDATED]

Rick Turoczy on November 12, 2009

I’m convinced that we wouldn’t be here blogging and tweeting and whatnot without the magic of one site. That site is MetaFilter.

MetaFilter introduced me to the concept of blogging. Ten years ago. And continues to be a source of inspiration for what can be done with community. And best of all? It’s a product of Oregon.

But today, my story about MetaFilter is less about technology, and more about founder Matt Haughey, who is being rushed in for emergency brain surgery on Friday. [UPDATE] There is the possibility that the “brain lump” may respond to a hormone treatment, as such Matt Haughey’s surgery has been delayed. Read More

memePDX 012: Startup lessons, Microsoft layoffs, New podcasts, Google and more Google, and Bac’n

This week, Cami Kaos and Rick Turoczy discuss startup lessons from MioWorks and SplashCast, Microsoft layoffs, new podcasts from Dr. Normal and Cort & Fatboy, Google and Rupert Murdoch, Google acquiring AdMob and Gizmo5, and Google Dashboard. Oh and Cami is wearing a Bac’n shirt, this week.

Rick Turoczy on November 12, 2009

Well, well, well. It kind of snuck up on you a bit, didn’t it? I know. These things happen. But it’s Thursday and that means it’s time for another episode of memePDX, the weekly podcast about the hottest tech news in Portland… and beyond.

This week, Cami Kaos and Rick Turoczy discuss startup lessons from MioWorks and SplashCast, Microsoft layoffs, new podcasts from Dr. Normal and Cort & Fatboy, Google and Rupert Murdoch, Google acquiring AdMob and Gizmo5, and Google Dashboard. Oh and Cami is wearing a Bac’n shirt, this week. Read More

Tours: Is that the Portland Art Museum in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

What if you could tour the museum with that iPhone you’re carrying anyway? Now you can. With the Tours app from Portland-based Spotlight Mobile. Portland Art Museum.

Rick Turoczy on November 11, 2009

You’re the cultured type aren’t you? I know you are. You like to take in a concert or a show every once in awhile. Maybe swing by a museum or two.

But in so doing, you often have to go through a technological time warp. Donning a Walkman from 1983 that walks you through the exhibits and pressing buttons on archaic wall-mounted video screens. All while you’ve got perfectly good technology sitting right in your pocket. It’s not right.

What if you could tour the museum the way you wanted—with that iPhone you’re carrying anyway? Now you can. With the Tours app from Portland-based Spotlight Mobile. Read More

Instant Action open house at Ground Kontrol tomorrow or Dude. My quarter was up there. I’m next.

Well, the good news is that Instant Action has moved to Portland. The better news? They’re hosting an open house at Ground Kontrol on Wednesday night. Even better? The games are free. And the best news? They’re hiring.

Rick Turoczy on November 10, 2009

Yes, yes. I realize some of you never had to go through the pain and heartache of putting your quarter up to reserve a video game. Only to have some pushy guy cut in front of you. You’ve been spoiled by having video games at your disposal ever since you could remember. I mean, you’ve even got them on the Web with companies like Instant Action.

Well, the good news is that Instant Action has moved to Portland. The better news? They’re hosting an open house at Ground Kontrol on Wednesday night. Even better? The games are free. And the best news? They’re hiring. Read More

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