conversion

Confusing file conversion software

Neevia Document Converter Pro allows users to convert a variety documents into different formats. Although the program works well, it isn't always easy to figure out how to use it.

At first glance, the interface doesn't make much sense; after a few minutes of clicking around, we headed for the Help file, which comes with the program as a 98-page PDF. Thorough, yes, but a bit overwhelming, especially for users just seeking the basics on how to get started. Once we determined how the program works it was fairly easy to select a folder full of documents and … Read more

Chatting and Texting

More than anything else on a phone, the messaging service is what I make the most use of, at least up to this point though the Pre's excellent web functionality has it gaining in market share of my mobile time use. For the most part, messaging works unobtrusively on the Pre, but as always, I am here to offer a few suggestions on how it could be better in my opinion.

Along with text messaging there is built in support for instant messaging platforms as well, but only AIM and GChat. My first suggestion is obvious, add more platforms. … Read more

Simple fraction calculator

Fractions n Decimals provides users with help in the complicated world of mathematics. By breaking these mathematical equations into two simple calculators, users will easily get answers.

The program's interface was delightfully intuitive, even for those who aren't masters of mathematics. With simple icons that should look familiar to anyone who has used a calculator and nothing extra to confuse, users should have no problem utilizing this program's features. In addition, a Help file is available to shed more light. Calculating fractions is as simple as inputting the numbers into the open spaces set up like a … Read more

The conversation wars

Modernista did it. Skittles did it. And now the world’s hottest advertising firm, Crispin Porter + Bogusky (CPB), has done it, too: the NY outfit has re-launched its corporate web site as a conversational social hub that curates what is being said about CPB rather than staging what CPB has to say. Some may scoff at this move and denigrate it as “sooooo six months ago,” but I agree with Paul Isakson when he heralds the influence of the new CPB site on the rest of the industry as potentially paradigm-shifting.

The demarcation line here runs between pioneer and early … Read more

Helpful PDF converter

Quick PDF Converter provides users with a program that changes PDFs into different file types. With a user-friendly interface and quick, accurate results, this is a great choice for anyone in a conversion jam.

With a professional layout, featuring well-planned white space and intuitive commands, we were able to instantly leap into action. Users will most likely not need the FAQ, but an in-depth one is available for anyone who finds a snag in the process. Converting our PDFs was a pleasant experience all around. Users select a file from a file tree and choose its destination using the same … Read more

Smooth PDF creator

Quick All to PDF helps users convert files into PDF format. Sporting a very simple format and very impressive results, users will have no problem overlooking some of the quirks that come with this program.

Users will need to look at the Getting Started Web site, which automatically appears when this program is downloaded. Beginning the conversion process is unlike similar programs we have tested and anyone ignoring these quick instructions will be confused. Beyond this, though, the program interface was highly intuitive, guiding us every step of the way. Converting a Word doc, Excel file, or other item to … Read more

Get social now!

Several blog posts this week, combined, pinpoint what are arguably the two most influential trajectories for the impact of communication technologies on business these days: from real-time web to real-time business, and from social media to social business design.

Let’s start with the former. Referring to Salesforce.com founder and CEO Marc Benioff and his presentation at the Structure 09 conference in San Francisco last week, DigitalBeat claims that the real-time web is not only shaping the future of all computing but also that of business overall: “In business it’s real-time or it’s no time.” It goes … Read more

Is advertising dead? The third way of building brand equity

There seem to be three (non-mutually exclusive) models for marketers tasked with building brand equity: marketing scarcity, marketing artificial scarcity, or marketing relevance.

Scarcity seems to be at the core of all marketing: an exclusive, unique value that can be reproduced; an original idea replicated for many. That's how markets work, how marketing works. Branding is effective when it keeps the aura of an original idea intact despite its mechanical reproduction. Apple's original idea, for instance, could be described as "technology must be fun and human," and it has not lost an inch of its integrity. … Read more

Downstream solutions. Upstream problems.

By Nick de la Mare

I saw an interesting article in the New York Times this weekend titled "Put Ad on Web. Count Clicks. Revise." The premise of the article goes something like this: because the web provides functionality to test every variation of a banner ad for effectiveness, the next big thing is tailoring advertising in the moment, and leveraging findings from click-thru rates to construct more relevant offerings for consumers. If I had to construct a tag-line for the so-called "data practice" services cited in this article it would be "downstream solutions to … Read more