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Month: January 2011

Haven’t seen any good design lately? Grab your iPad and check DesignScene

Meet DesignScene, a new “real-time inspiration” app that’s designed to provide iPad users with a bevy of interesting imagery. All delivered by a pre-selected group of design sites.

With Portland’s growing mobile development scene, I get a lot of chances to write up iPhone apps that work equally well on an iPad. But it’s not often that I get to talk about a pure iPad app.

Meet DesignScene, a new “real-time inspiration” app that’s designed to provide iPad users with a bevy of interesting imagery. All delivered by a pre-selected group of design sites. Read More

Need a new gig in the new year? AboutUs, Emerge, Emma, EdZapp, Janrain, and OSU OSL are hiring

It’s a new year. New decade. Time to shake things up a bit. Maybe even look for a new job.

What kind of job, you ask? Well, maybe like an interesting gig at one of these fine Portland establishments.

So dust off that resume. Ready your cover letter writing skills. And take a gander at these available offerings. Read More

Keeping the baggage handlers on the tarmac: TSAzr gives you all the TSA info you need for security checkpoints at every airport

anyone with an iPhone or iPad can record their experience with the TSA, good or bad, and we’ll all benefit from the shared reviews. Meet TSAzr.

If there’s one government entity that people love to hate, it’s the IRS. Wait. I mean, if there’s another government entity that people love to hate, it’s the Transportation Security Administration—affectionately known as the TSA. From travel delays to inappropriate searches to just general ineffectiveness, it seems that everyone has a gripe or two about the people in charge of keeping our airports secure.

Well now—thanks to Vancouver’s Elguji Software—anyone with an iPhone or iPad can record their experience with the TSA, good or bad, and we’ll all benefit from the shared reviews. Meet TSAzr. Read More

Pitch Club: People are always asking me if I know venture capitalists

Well get ready to be happy. That’s the idea behind Pitch Club, a new Portland gathering open only to folks who are ready to pitch.

So you’re in the midst of founding a startup. Or you’ve got the idea for a startup. Or you’re working for a startup. Whatever the case, you’ve got to be able to pitch your story. To investors. To potential customers. To people on the street. And while practicing the pitch in the mirror is fun and all, you could use some critical feedback. From your peers. Other folks who are pitching too.

Well get ready to be happy. That’s the idea behind Pitch Club, a new Portland gathering open only to folks who are ready to pitch. Read More

Got some questions about your pics? Monday might be a good day to Learn Photography Tips

What if you want to get better at your photography, but you just need a little guidance? Thanks to Learn Photography Tips, a new site from local tech and photo geek, Aaron Hockley.

It’s no secret that the world of tech geekery and the world of photo geekery are inextricably intertwined. From small simple apps like Instagram to full-fledged DSLR rigs, the tech set likes its photos. But that doesn’t mean we’re experts by any means.

What if you want to get better at your photography, but you just need a little guidance? What if you could get expert answers to some of those questions that have been bugging you? Well, now you can. Thanks to Learn Photography Tips, a new site from local tech and photo geek, Aaron Hockley. Read More

There’s a whole bunch of Portland magic in that little Amazon Gold Box on your iPhone

That’s right. Bringing the magic of the Amazon Gold Box to the iPhone was none other than Portland iPhone agency Small Society.

Yesterday, you might have heard that that little bookstore to the north of us released an iPhone app for Amazon Deals. What you may not know is that—de facto hub of mobile development that it is—Portland played a role in bringing that iPhone app to fruition.

That’s right. Bringing the magic of the Amazon Gold Box to the iPhone was none other than Portland iPhone agency Small Society. Read More

Clicky talks about their business, startups, venture capital, and differences between Portland and the Valley

Clicky, a four-year old Web analytics startup here in Portland—that also provides the analytics right here on Silicon Florist—sat down to chat with Startup Weekly recently. During the interview, they cover everything from building a startup to comparing Portland and the Valley to venture capital.

While it’s great to read about startups in Portland, sometimes—actually often—you’d like to hear the story directly from the people who are building the startups. That’s what’s happening with Startup Weekly, a new show that talks to Portland area entrepreneurs.

The guys who built Clicky, a four-year old Web analytics startup here in Portland—that also provides the analytics right here on Silicon Florist—sat down to chat with Startup Weekly recently. During the interview, they cover everything from building a startup to comparing Portland and the Valley to venture capital. Read More

Portland funding gets cloudy and foggy: Madrona leads $1.8 million investment in PHP Fog

Portland-based PHP Fog—a new startup that provides cloud-based hosting and dynamic scaling for PHP-based projects—has announced $1.8 million in funding, led by Seattle’s Madrona Venture Group.

Yes, yes. I know I’m supposed to be all jazzed about the iPhone being available on the Verizon network now. And I am. That’s great news. But you know what has me more wound up? Funding. For a Portland company.

That’s right. Portland-based PHP Fog—a new startup that provides cloud-based hosting and dynamic scaling for PHP-based projects—has announced $1.8 million in funding, led by Seattle’s Madrona Venture Group. Read More

Want to stay informed about your flight in midair without wifi? Your iPhone is your WindowSeat

Get ready to take your WindowSeat. An interesting new iPhone app from Portland-based AppOven designed to keep you informed about your flight and what you’re passing over—whether you have an Internet connection or not.

Every once in a while, an app comes across my desk that I have to wait a while to try. Because it requires me to be somewhere in particular to really get a feel for what it does. This latest one, required me to be about 35,000 ft up in the air.

Get ready to take your WindowSeat. An interesting new iPhone app from Portland-based AppOven designed to keep you informed about your flight and what you’re passing over—whether you have an Internet connection or not. Read More

SXSW curious? Practice your SXSW 2011 Interactive party skills in Portland on January 11

[HTML4]First, we borrowed that whole “Keep Portland Weird” thing from Austin. Now we’re borrowing SXSW. Well, at least for one night.

That’s right. This coming Tuesday, the folks from SXSW will be in town to host a get together for current and potential SXSW attendees. And that means you’re invited. Read More