Handing Out Business Cards – You Mean There’s a Guide for That, too?

Handing out business cards is one of the most annoying things that you can do to another person. Neil attended a lunch-n-learn session on Networking in his building last year. As some people entered the room they made a performance of putting their business card in front of each of the other attendees in the room and the empty seats in the room. Neil’s eyes scanned left then right to see what other people were doing with the cards as he wondered, “Should I be distributing my business cards?” Of the 12 people at the session, 6 had piled their cards in front of him. What is he going to do with those? What would you do with them?

Neil was doing the best thing by seeing that he connected with someone before exchanging cards with them.

Putting your business card in someone’s hand before you have a good reason is:

• Confusing. Why are you giving a total stranger your card?
• Useless. Without some sort of credibility there is no reason for the recipient to keep your card.
• Wasteful. Is there is a possible return on the investment of even this little inexpensive card?
• Risky. You might just be offering your contact information to someone who wants to recruit your for their multi-level marketing project and now you’re on their recruiting list.
• Good for firestarting. Most people could start a blaze with the box of ‘dead’ business cards they have around their office. But is that why you gave them your card? People just don’t throw out the cards of people who handed it to them but they don’t do anything with them either.
• Misguided. Someone along your career path said, “Get your card into as many hands as possible, you never know what will come of it.” Come on people, nothing will come of it. That’s the ‘throw it on the wall and see what sticks’ technique. You appear desperate doing this.

The key to good form when handing out your business card is the mindset of exchanging cards. You’re offering your card as a second step to connecting with another person. The first step is talking so you find that you have something in common, a follow-up action to take, or other connector. Similarly, you’re asking for someone’s business card because you have something he values to give to him. That something could be business, information, a referral, or other useful thing. Using this approach you might walk away with only one or two cards from a business gathering. However, they represent the start of real relationships not just passing of paper.

When you’ve determined that you have a reason to exchange cards with someone you could do the following:

• Initiate the exchange by saying, “May I have one of your cards? I’d like to get an article to you and this will ensure that I do.”
• If you’ve only had conversations on the phone with someone
  (the initial connection) and are seeing them face-to-face for the first
  time it is appropriate to offer your card as you’re shaking hands. This
  verifies you are who they expected and is a touch of credibility.
• State: “It sounds like I could help you by introducing you
  to my accountant. Why don’t you give me your card and I’ll write an
  email making the connection.”
• Suggest you’ll call to follow-up on your conversation so,
  “Let me give you my card and I’d like one of yours. When I have my
  calendar in front of me we’ll find a day in the next two weeks to have
  breakfast.”

Finally, it is possible that you should just skip exchanging cards. If someone interests you be thorough in getting their name and employer. Then, do a Google search, locate him, and write a thoughtful email as follow-up. Business cards are a method of communicating and exchanging information you must follow-up with cards you receive or they are valueless. But that’s the topic of a different article.

by ProductivityCafe.com

Nemorelax targets personal tranquility amid airport mayhem

Finding a quiet space to de-stress, phone home, check emails or catch a quick, comfortable nap in the middle of a busy airport is a challenge that’s nigh-on impossible at the best of times. While airport lounges offer some comfort to the weary traveler, the Nemorelaxer aims to take this to a whole new level by providing a fully-connected personal oasis where users can watch films, access wi-fi Internet, make calls, listen to music or just recline for a well earned nap without fear of interruption.

Built around Stressless reclining chairs manufactured by Ekornes ASA of Norway, the pods include a built-in touchscreen monitor and fold-away worktable. The staffed service also incorporates wake–up calls, a luggage lock-up facility and the free loan of a laptop. A second layer of protection from the outside world is also available in the form of an encircling cocoon.

Access to the Nemorelaxer units is to be sold in 30 minute time slots and the company is currently in discussion with International Airport and Transit Authorities. While details of pricing and potential locations are not yet confirmed, the Nemorelax website reports that the first example of its product is set to open in Europe in the near future.

Via Luxist.

by Gizmag.com

Loc8tor ‘Lite’ makes losing your keys a thing of the past

Loc8tor Ltd has released a new addition to its personal homing device range. Significantly smaller and lighter than previous models, the credit card sized Loc8tor Lite helps to find any lost or mislaid possessions and fits easily into a wallet or purse. Dubbed the Loc8tor Lite, the 6mm thick device, uses active RFID technology to guide users to within an inch of any tagged item using audio and visual cues to point users in the right direction. The unit can help locate lost possessions that are within 400ft (122 meters).

The Loc8tor Lite is supplied with 2 mini homing tags that are similar in height to a paper clip. The tags can be attached to almost anything from keys to pets using the key ring loop or the adhesive strips provided. These tags also give off an audio beep and flashing LED to further help in locating an item. An option to register two additional tags means that the Loc8tor Lite can locate up to 4 different items.

by Gizmo

iWave Cube, the personal portable microwave

There comes the time in every young person’s life where they decide to graduate from the microwave to the stove. And fail miserably. Now instead of retreating dejectedly back to the kitchen microwave, where the rest of the appliances can point and make fun, you can hide your shame with the iWave Cube. The little microwave measures one cubic foot (about the size of a Kleenex box), and weighs just 12 pounds. Unfortunately, you’ll still need to plug it in, so there’s a limit to how far you can run. The iWave Cube comes in black, red or silver, and retails for $130.

by Paul Miller – Engadget

Simple Secrets to Saving Money in Australia

When you get on top of your spending habits by using the tips at Simple Savings anything is possible.

Could you use an extra $50 EVERY WEEK? It is easy to attain – much easier than you have ever imagined. The tricks are simple. The techniques are basic – things that thousands of Simple Savings members use every day.

Simple Savings can show you how to save money on groceries, gifts, holidays, cars and phone bills. You name a product/service you want to buy and the odds are that Simple Savings friendly community of clever, frugal shoppers will have listed a way to get it cheaper than you can

You are probably throwing away thousands of dollars each year and never ever realised it. Well, that is about to change. You could buy yourself anything. A car, a holiday, a house, your son’s shoes… everyone’s goals are different. As you start to reduce the amount you spend, you will suddenly find all this extra money.

Most people think that saving money is:

1. Complicated
2. Stressful
3. A waste of time
4. Generally not worth it

Those people are totally wrong. Try being smart with your money for six months and you’ll find that you’ll have more time for the things you love …. and the ability to buy extra things

Think of it this way… for an average worker $500 saved = 5 days pay after tax

* If you take 5 minutes to save $15 at the supermarket that is one hour you don’t have to work. Stop… Think about it. If you reduce your grocery bill by $1,200 this year – which is surprisingly easy to do – you could skip two whole weeks of work. You can have two weeks extra holiday.
* If you lower your annual phone bill by $300 – easy to achieve – that’s half a week off work.
* If you save $1000 buying a car – basic beginners stuff – that’s another two weeks off work.
* Saving $100 on accommodation means you can stay on holidays for an extra day.

Working at an office 5 days a week to make money for someone else is hard

Saving money with Simple Savings is super easy

by Neerav Bhatt – Rambling Thoughts Blog

N-Gage First Access hacked for N95 8GB, others

That didn’t take long. A mere day after the release of Nokia’s N-Gage First Access gaming preview exclusively to N81 users, the app has been cracked open to work with any N-series device with enough horsepower. The hack was performed by Nokia regular P@sco, and comes in a convenient downloadable form, or an only slightly involved guide to hacking the app yourself. No rocket science here, and while we’re sure Nokia could easily fight back, what we’ve really got to ask ourselves is why didn’t Nokia just open it to everyone in the first place?

[Thanks, Michael J.]
by Paul Miller – Engadget
P@sco homesite - http://homesite.mobile9.com/p@sco/

Presidential candidates all addicted to Crack(Berries) – BlackBerry the handset of choice for presidential hopefuls

What’s this? Another scandalous drug addiction among our political elite? Well, sorta.

Presidential candidates from both sides of the aisle are apparently addicted to their crack…Crackberrys, that is. Former President Bill Clinton stated in an interview that, “Hillary always checks her BlackBerry round the clock. On her way to campaign rally in a car, she sends and receives e-mail with Chelsea to discuss dinner menu for guests during the weekends.”

Barack Obama reportedly checks his BlackBerry handset as soon as he steps off his charter plane. And, Mitt Romney was spotted exchanging emails with New England Patriots’ Tom Brady before the Super Bowl.

So, did you vote for a BlackBerry user on this Super Tuesday? You did vote, didn’t you?

[Via: The Raw Feed]

Posted by Will – INTOMOBILE.COM

Sony’s tiny XDV-D500 and XDV-G200 Bravia TVs

Let’s break it down TV junkie. Sony’s new ¥38,000 (about $355) XDV-D500 features a 3-inch, 432 x 240 pixel resolution display with 160-degree viewing angle, 500:1 contrast, and a battery capable of about 8-hours of TV reception. It can even record up to 10 hours of scheduled programming to 2GB of internal memory. The itty bittier XDV-G200 brings a 2-inch LCD to the show, AM/FM radio too, then ditches the EPG and recording function. This is Japan mind you, so these sets receive digital 1Seg TV — in other words you can kiss your import fantasies goodbye.

[Via Impress]
by Thomas Ricker – Engadget

Actiontec Introduces zControl Line of Home Automation Controllers

Actiontec Electronics today announced its new zControl™ series of home automation gateways, designed to centrally manage household electronics such as lights, security cameras, thermostats, motion detectors, garage door openers, motorized shades and automatic sprinklers through the home network. zControl will allow users to control all devices through a common interface at home as well as remotely by PC, mobile phone or Internet-enabled TV, making it possible to turn lights on and off or water your lawn even from hundreds of miles away.

Actiontec’s zControl was named a CES Innovations 2008 Awards Honoree as one of the most innovative products in the home networking category. The CES program has become recognized as the hallmark event for showcasing best-of-breed product design and engineering.

The first generation of the zControl product, scheduled to ship next month, will be a standalone unit that connects to the home router and can be accessed by PC or cellphone. Additional versions available later in Q1 will be integrated into Actiontec’s wireless routers and DSL gateways for sale through service providers. A companion set-top box to be released mid-year will add a media center with a TV interface, offering new conveniences such as the ability to display digital photo albums and view home security camera images on your TV screen. The TV interface will offer other innovations and be the first of its kind in the industry.

“zControl will change the way people manage their household electronics. The home network will no longer be limited to computers, printers and gaming consoles but instead encompass smart home products of all kinds,” said Brian Henrichs, Actiontec VP of Business Development. “Integrating this functionality into the home’s broadband connectivity equipment will also eliminate an extra box and supply broadband providers with a costeffective means of delivering new value-added services to subscribers.”

Control At Home or Away

zControl supports virtually any number of devices equipped with Z-Wave™ technology, the wireless home control standard developed to unify home electronics into an integrated wireless network for easy management. Z-Wave is now available as a built-in component or add-on to hundreds of household products ranging from lighting and appliances to heating/air conditioning, home security and home entertainment systems.

With zControl, consumers can define settings for light, heat and other household electronics that can be automatically triggered or manually activated by PC or mobile phone at specific times or for various scenarios. One setting might turn on the hallway light, heat and lawn sprinklers after work. Others might raise the shades in the morning, light the house to set the scene for a romantic dinner, switch lights on and off during the day while you’re on vacation, or let you turn on specific house lights from your phone when you’re sitting in the driveway late at night.

zControl also makes it possible to check on your teenagers, turn on a light in the family room and close the garage door with a few clicks even when you’re out of town; capture and store any activity recorded by your digital security cameras for a certain period of time; turn devices on and off with a remote control as well as by PC or phone; receive email, IM or smartphone alerts when security alarms are triggered or in other situations; and much more.

The interface can be accessed from any Internet-enabled PC anywhere in the world or from most mobile phones with a special service package available from Actiontec. The on-screen display automatically adjusts to fit disparate use cases. For example, a user accessing the system from a PC at work will see a dashboard of all home resources, while a user sitting in front of the TV with the zControl remote control may see a completely different view.

Press-a-Button Setup

zControl setup is automated with a unique discovery button on the front of the unit. Simply press that button and the corresponding button on the Z-Wave device, and the device is automatically added to the home network. The zControl editions that will be integrated with Actiontec routers and gateways will also offer this same buttonbased setup for WiFi and HomePlug devices, overcoming the barriers that continue to plague consumers who attempt to add products such as wireless-enabled printers to their home networks. zControl is the only product in its class with this automated discovery capability, eliminating the need to perform a two-step discovery process using a remote control or enter router IP addresses, SSIDs or other identifiers. It is also the only home automation controller that can use both PCs and Macs for scene setup and other functions.

Smart Home Management for Service Providers

The zControl-enabled Actiontec wireless gateways and routers will help generate new revenue streams for service providers by enabling them to offer home automation control as a value-added service. Carriers can create new service packages allowing them to get involved in smart home management for the first time, opening new opportunities for attracting and retaining subscribers as well as redefining their business model to help address the challenge of eroding profits.

The integration of zControl functionality into consumer premises equipment will simplify deployment of the new services, while built-in TR-069 remote management capabilities will streamline troubleshooting.

Pricing and Availability
The standalone Actiontec zControl Starter Kit will be available at www.actiontec.com next month at an MSRP of $399 including the zControl unit, one indoor camera with motion detector, one lighting control module, and a remote control. zControl-enabled wireless gateways and routers will be released in March.

About Actiontec Electronics, Inc.
Actiontec Electronics develops products and services enabling consumers to leverage broadband Internet connectivity to simplify and enrich their lives. Actiontec’s products include the market’s broadest selection of IPTV-capable broadband gateways as well as broadband modems, routers, wireless networking devices, VoIP adapters, and digital entertainment devices, sold through retail channels and broadband service providers. Founded in 1993, Actiontec is headquartered in Sunnyvale, CA, and maintains branch offices in Austin, TX; Colorado Springs, CO; Denver, CO; Basingstoke, United Kingdom; Shanghai, China; and Taipei, Taiwan. For more information, call 408-752-7700 or visit www.actiontec.com.

From ehomeupgrade

Sony’s Bravia B4000: the portable flatscreen

Shiny black 46in tellies look silly on a kitchen worktop, while humping one into the bedroom requires a small crane and a team of haulage experts. Sounds like you need a portable flatscreen – not one of those 14in CRT monstrosities found in caravans and kids’ bedrooms, but the Bravia B4000 series.

Now in less eye-squinting 20, 23 and 26in guises, they’re the perfect size for a second telly – or a main one, if you can touch all four walls of the living room from your couch. With a built-in handle, they’re also worthy of the name ‘portable’.

White and ‘mocha’ flavours help them blend in around the house, and there’s been no skimping on the features. HD-readiness, virtual surround sound and Sony’s visually pleasing Bravia Engine are all on board, plus Freeview to banish the need for a set-top box.

There are also two HDMI slots for your movie and console needs, and you can even give your green halo an extra buff: they draw a miniscule 0.7W in standby. If only Max and Paddy had found one before they nicked that plasma.

From Stuff.tv