Removing the focus from code, I think this is a wonderful definition of craft.

Essentially, code is a craft that’s about finding the finest, most beautiful way to solve a problem.

Talking about the iPad bores me. It’s a device I’ll never use.  I don’t own one, but have used one enough to know it doesn’t fit my tech setup (I have an 11″ Macbook Air and an iPhone 4).

It’s more sizzle than steak.

The device I mention to people is the Amazon’s Kindle; it’s on track to be the more popular handheld device. For what it’s worth, I don’t own a Kindle (yet), and I’m tracking AMZN quite closely — here’s why.

(1) Digital download infrastructure: Amazon has a large library of music, videos, books and apps for download.

(2) Assuming e-ink (eventually) has color and video capabilities, Amazon has a built in video store and streaming.

(3) Amazon has figured out how to handle large data downloads quickly.

Amazon is the only other company than Apple with a complete ecosystem of movies, music, apps, and web.

(4) Could the Kindle be free in November? I’m not sure it will be free, but I think it will be less than $100.

(5) One thing the iPad does better is web browsing. I do think that Kindle has a slight edge as it’s only $0.10 a minute or something if you’re out of network or abuse it. I think this is something Amazon will address and that fees will be much less than the AT&T fee charged for iPad browsing.

I noticed that it was easy to build something interesting by simply snapping together a few web apps and then building some light glue between them. I suspect it will be even easier to do that on mobile and the era of “meta apps” that deliver functionality across multiple apps is upon us. And I think that has the potential to create some new startup opportunities.

This is from Fred Wilson. I’ve been playing with some ideas, that I hope to share soon, involving cross-referencing different apps and APIs. If you’re a developer type and want to partner up, please reach out.

Content and technology are strange bed fellows. We are joined together. Sometimes we misunderstand each other. But isn’t that after all the definition of marriage?

—Howard Stringer

Great question to think about regarding applying social media to a business.

Are we focusing to much on helping clients build a conversation around their business rather than the business itself?

It’s important to remember that while conversation is good, building and supporting the business is the goal.

I couldn’t agree more with Youngna’s thoughts on taking some time away from (digital) things.

It’s been at times relaxing, but more so restoring, and I’ve found that creating distance from these devices and applications and distractions leads to a lot more doing and enjoying and experiencing and a lot less wanting, planning, spending, bookmarking, and feeling guilty for starting things I don’t get around to finishing. It was a good reminder that time off is just as important as time on

I really like this idea of method designing. As I work on a project I find myself “getting into character” to fully understand and tackle the client’s needs. 

a way of ‘getting into character’ that consciously and subconsciously informs the design process (…) writing, curating, and doing strategic work. All these activities require the ability to process vast amounts of data (often media) fairly rapidly and synthesise into some new form

If you’re creative and technical, you’re unstoppable.

—Robert Rodriguez

By leveraging many of the trends we’ve been tracking under the theme of the quantified self we see a huge opportunity in data being collected from a whole new wave of sensors such as phones, watches, shoes, video games and many that aren’t even on the market yet. (There is an) opportunity to layer social dynamics, expert advice, community and game mechanics to create value from this data and we think that’s exciting.

It’s pretty great to see the themes (social dynamics, quanitfied self, data gathering/massaging) I track discussed as business opportunities and niches to be filled.

Royal Dutch Airline KLM has the best example of putting social media to use that I have seen in a REALLY long time with the KLM Suprise Campaign.

When passengers check in at KLM’s Foursquare locations, the KLM Surprise team then uses social networks such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook to find out information about the passenger.

Some passengers have received champagne, food and books. All of this is with the intent of spreading happiness. I know who I’ll be booking my flight to Amsterdam/Germany with.