BDeWees Consulting, a Management Consulting firm located in Canton, Ohio, has launched COSO Media, a Social Media Marketing, Web Development and Search Engine Optimization firm to be headquartered in Canton, Ohio. COSO Media will be operated by BDeWees Consulting’s E-Business Consultant, Matthew DeWees. “We felt there was a niche for a new type of marketing firm that focuses on Social Media first and Web Development and Search Engine Optimization second,” said BDeWees Consulting’s President, Bernie DeWees. “Presidents, CEOs and Business Owners are spending a lot of time trying to figure out Social Media when they should be spending time running their business.”

Although there are many firms that offer Social Media services, COSO Media offers a more streamlined approach to the construction, implementation and ongoing engagement to help businesses interact with their customers.

COSO Media plans to expand from Canton, Ohio and open an office in Akron, Ohio. “Our goal is to offer quality professional services at a small business price. We want to make ‘Communicating Socially’, Web Development and SEO easy and affordable,” stated COSO Media’s President, Matthew DeWees. To learn more about COSO Media visit their website at www.cosomedia.com 

“While business and financial experts flip-flop across the country trying to decide if 2011 is a turnaround year for the economy, local businesses at this year’s Jackson-Belden Chamber Business Expo feel the year is shaping up to be a better one than the last few. Area restaurants, financial services, medical, retail, IT companies, and many others were setup to propel business forward and to network at the Business Expo on Feb. 23.

The event, in its ninth year, was held at The University Center at Kent State Stark.  There were 80 companies setup and the Chamber was expecting more than 500 attendees, in part to a more positive business outlook by local companies, for now anyway.  Another reason for an increase in attendance, according to Jackie Palmer, operations manager for the Jackson-Belden Chamber of Commerce, members were able for the first time to send out an electronic guest pass through the Chamber.” (thesuburbanite.com)

Our E-Business Consultant was quoted in the article.

“So far this year is looking good. More and more companies are starting to realize the benefit of using social media as a sales tool versus just a fun thing to do,” said Matthew DeWees.

To view the full article click the link below.

bit.ly/fjrjKS

Progressive Foam Technologies New Website

I worked closely with Progressive Foam Technologies and The Karcher Group to help deliver an outstanding website that is really going to educate the target audience about the importance of energy efficiency in the home and how Insulated Siding can help.

Progressive Foam Technologies is having a drawing for anyone who fills out the Contact Us form on their website. By filling out this form you will be entered to win 1 of 10 Apple iPads!

I hope you like the website and please feel free to leave any comments about what you think!

1. AirPrint

The most disappointing feature for me was AirPrint. Initially it was announced that AirPrint would work with any networked printer. This is not the case. It only works with a select number of HP Printers. Listed below are the compatible printers.

AirPrint-enabled printers

• HP Envy e-All-in-One series (D410a)
• HP Photosmart Plus e-AiO (B210a)
• HP Photosmart Premium e-AiO (C310a)
• HP Photosmart Premium Fax e-AiO (C410a)
• HP Photosmart e-AiO (D110)
• HP Photosmart eStation (C510)
• HP LaserJet Pro M1536dnf Multifunction Printer
• HP LaserJet Pro CM1415fn Color Multifunction Printer
• HP LaserJet Pro CM1415fnw Color Multifunction Printer
• HP LaserJet Pro CP1525n Color Printer
• HP LaserJet Pro CP1525nw Color Printer

2. AirPlay

The other feature I am somewhat disappointed with is AirPlay. AirPlay allows your to take movies that you are watching on your Computer and iPad and instantly stream them to an AppleTV. This feature is cool, but limited. What would be really nice is if the functionality of the feature would allow me to do the same thing with YouTube, Vimeo and VEVO videos as well, or any other video I view on the internet with my iPad. Currently this feature does not exist.

First with the new features!

1. Multitasking

With an interactive menu, accessed by the home button, multitasking brings the ability to run apps in the background without harming performance and battery life. See the images below for an example.

Multitasking

Multitasking

2. Folders

Folders is nothing new to iPhone users running iOS 4.x.  It allows users to categorize their apps into folders on their home screen. Below is an example (The Folders are Circled In Red).

Folders

Folders Opened

3. AirPlay

Airplay gives you the ability to share your photos, music, and videos on any AppleTV, AirPort Express or AirPlay Enabled Speakers.

AirPlay 1

AirPlay Movie

Air Sharing HD

At launch, most people were skeptical of the iPad being able to be an effective productivity tool due to its inability to give the user access to the empty storage space to save files.  With the successfulness of developers like Avatron Software give users the ability to have a file storage system on the iPad. Avatron Software has developed an app that works on both the iPhone and the iPad for file store. This app is called “Air Sharing Pro” and “Air Sharing HD,” The HD version being the iPad version.

The Air Sharing Pro and HD Apps give you the availability to:

- View Documents

Air Sharing HD Files

- Mount Remote File Servers

Air Sharing HD Server Connections

- Search Files

Air Sharing HD Search

- Perform File Operations

- Share Files

- Print Documents

The app sells at two different prices. Air Sharing Pro for iPhone and iPod Touch is $6.99 and Air Sharing HD for iPad is $9.99.

I primarily use this app to any store and use any pertinent documents that I may need during meeting with my clients.  Another major benefit to this app is a security feature allowing you to require a passcode before being able to view any files that are located inside the app.

I would recommend this app to anyone looking to enhance their iPad experience by being able carry necessary information for projects without having to carry around binders and notepads.

“magical” device was all about and see how it could improve efficiency and the way that I work. The following is my review of the iPad and how it has affected the way that I work and its potential for increasing productivity.

The following is the Hardware that I had purchased:

- Apple iPad 64GB  WiFi + 3G

http://www.apple.com/ipad

The following are Accessories that I had purchased:

-  Apple iPad Case

-  Apple iPad Dock

- Apple iPad Dock Connector to VGA

- Targus Stylus for iPad

The iPad is a game “enhancer” more than a game “changer” in regards to the notebook/pc world. Instead of replacing my notebook with an iPad, I have used the iPad to replace my pen and paper and enhance my efficiency both in and out of the office. There are several productivity and business apps out there that I plan to review in full in future posts.

One productivity suite that is excellent for quick editing, note taking and document viewing is iWork. iWork is comprised of three “apps” that can be purchased separately for $9.99 a piece. These apps are; Pages, Numbers, and Keynote. Those of you are are familiar with Apple’s productivity suite, you will feel right at home. It does have limited functionality compared to the full productivity suite, however it suits perfectly for what features one would need on the go before making its back home or to the office to finish the job. For those of you not familiar with this productivity suite, it can be compared to Microsofts Office productivity suite. Pages is similar to Word, Numbers is similar to Excel, and Keynote is similar to Power Point.

There are several “handwritten” note taking apps that are very good as well. This is where I have replaced my pen and paper with Targus Stylus and iPad. The Targus Stylus is not just any stylus. It is a special stylus designed to work on capacitive touchscreen, one that the iPad has. It works very well and is very accurate depending on the handwriting app of choice. It will also interface with any application on the iPad.

The are many cases out there that the iPad can be stored in, many with good reviews. I chose to go with the Apple branded case because of personal preference with the Apple brand as well as the functionality the case has. The case doubles as both a presentation display as well as the perfect angle for typing when laying on a desk, table or lap. The only downfall to the case, that surprised me actually, is that when the iPad is in the case, it does not fit onto the Apple dock for iPad. Normally Apple products interface quite well with each other and I was surprised to find that if I wanted to “dock” my iPad I had to remove it from the case.

In regards to using the iPad as a presentation tool, the iPad presents beautiful pictures, videos and presentations. However if you plan on displaying everything from your iPad onto a screen, you may want to alter your plans. Keynote, Videos, Photos and a slew of other applications will present, but the application has to be designed to display itself onto an alternate screen for it to work.

Over all I would recommend the iPad for anyone looking to enhance their productivity. I plan on reviewing several apps over the next few months. Please check back as I will be reviewing two apps per week.

*Review based on iPad in current, non-jailbroken state running iOS 3.2.2

Talk to you soon!