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Atlanta native, academic capitalist, technology professional, spaceflight amateur. Stephen Fleming's blog is at home at http://academicvc.blogspot.com/
December 2008
Tuesday December 23, 2008
Posted by: Stephen Fleming at 10:54AM EST on December 23, 2008
 It's Christmas Eve Eve, and things are quieting down in the Atlanta technology community. Even the Twitterstream has slowed a bit. Entrepreneurs may be willing to work 24/7, but when all your clients have disappeared for the holidays, even the most dedicated entrepreneur may look up to find some spare time. Which means it's a great time to focus on those event applications that you were always going to get around do someday. Why not today?  Startup RiotStartup Riot 2008 was a blast so we're doing it again! This is a chance for 70 startups (or startup-wannabees) to make a three-minute pitch to 300 people who might be able to help with funding, talent, customer relationships, or other connections. You need to follow the rules that Sanjay Parekh, maestro of the event, has laid out... but this was one of highest signal-to-noise ratio events of 2008. Don't get left out! The 2009 Riot will be February 18th, and Sanjay is already making decisions on applications. Apply to present here, or if you're not currently pitching a startup, apply to attend here. Hurry!  TAG Top 40The Georgia Technology Summit will attract over 700 people to the Cobb Galleria on March 3. Given that both Tom Friedman and Ron Clark will be speaking, this might sell out... sign up now! But, to me, the best part of the Summit is the "Top 40." A selection committee (I'm a member) will choose the 40 most innovative technology companies in Georgia based on specific criteria including degree of innovation, scope and financial impact of innovation, likelihood of success, and promotion of Georgia's innovative efforts nationally and internationally. Eligible companies will be Georgia based, and be viewed as "technology" focused (in other words the companies primary focus would be the development and dissemination of technology). From the Top 40, the selection committee will also choose the Top 10 Most Innovative technology companies, which will make three-minute presentations to the Summit's 700+ attendees at the event. The Top 40 companies will participate in an exhibition at the Summit, expected to draw the state's technology leaders. We'll start reviewing as many as 200 applications right after the first of the year. If you think you have what it takes, apply here before February 1.  Run it By the ProsThe MIT Enterprise Forum of Atlanta has organized their "Run it By the Pros" event for several years now; three companies will get a chance to present their business plan to a panel of experts. I've been on the panel a couple of times, and the companies seem to get a lot out of it. The next one is January 7th, so time is getting tight! Email Virginia@mitforumatlanta.org for more information. So there you have it! Three great events, all open to Georgia entrepreneurs. Put down that premature eggnog, follow the links, and make sure you apply in time! Monday December 1, 2008
Posted by: Stephen Fleming at 5:05PM EST on December 1, 2008
Okay, Mike Schinkel has been assimilated. Good work, all!
I sent him a list of "must-have" iPhone applications, he tweeted about it, and now people are asking what's on my list. I don't claim any special insight or wisdom here, but having spent more than the purchase price of my iPhone in the iTunes Apps Store over the last five months, this is what works for me.  First off, my first Home screen. (Which, in case you didn't know it, is now easily accessible from any of the nine possible Home screens... press the "Home" button once to get to the grid of applications, then press it again to go to the first screen on the grid. So this is where you should put the stuff you use most often.) Apple standardSeven of my "first Home" applications, plus two on the menu bar at the bottom of the screen, are Apple standard: Text, Photos, Maps, Camera, Phone, Clock, Settings, Email, and Safari. Enough said about those. Ten more of the standard apps didn't make the cut, and they're relegated to another screen: iPod, iTunes, App Store, Stocks, Contacts, YouTube, Notes, Weather, Calendar, and Calculator. The first four of those I use only rarely; your mileage may vary. Contacts usually gets launched from the Phone application, and YouTube usually gets launched from within Safari, so they don't get top billing. The last four have been replaced by more capable third-party apps (see below). Free Apps
Commercial Apps
eBook ReadersI have found myself reading a lot of eBooks on my iPhone. I have four readers installed:
All four have advantages and disadvantages. Stanza has the most responsive developer. eReader is the only choice for encrypted books from eReader.com and Fictionwise.com. I could probably survive with just those two. BookZ has some nicer control options, and BookshelfLT integrates best with the Baen online library. Other GoodiesOther apps that are too good to ignore, but who didn't fit into my first Home screen—in alphabetical order:
Most of these are cheap or free. So, that's my list. What's yours? |
