But here’s my problem: they all use remarkably different operating systems. At work, I tend to use Word Press in Google Chrome on Windows 7. When I’m out and about, I’m scanning the Android marketplace on my Android smartphone. When I’m on laying on the couch downstairs, I’ll browse news articles in iOS  on my iPad. And, finally, when I’m working at home, I’ll use Word on my OSX laptop.

If you were paying attention to what I just told you, you might have noticed that none of the items I listed use the same operating system. OSX and iOS are similar, but that’s the closest that they get. Beyond that, I also typically use my different devices for widely different functions.

But what happens when they collide? What happens when I want to bring up the same exact web page, in the same exact spot, on a different device. Or, start writing an e-mail on one, and finish it on another? I can’t. And for the most part, it sucks.

That’s an important issue for me. On all of these different operating systems, I also use entirely different mail applications. On my laptop I use Thunderbird, on my iPad I use Mail, on my work computer I use Microsoft Outlook and on my smart phone I use GMail. Browsers are different, too. Safari, Atomic, Google Chrome and Dolphin, respectively.

My real problem is a lack of consistency. Being able to close a web page and bring it up on the exact same page utilizing entirely different apps is just not possible. There’s no central place to save their location to for each individual, and have another device automatically bring that up. There are “clouds” sure, but there isn’t one, single Cloud that can save the state of a variety of different applications, and allow users to bring that on their various devices, regardless of whether or not they are running a similar operating system.

Apps like Evernote have already begun to do so, automatically saving files to their cloud servers and granting users consistent access across all of their varying devices.

And even operating systems as a whole are beginning to mesh with their mobile counterparts, creating more consistent ecosystems across a wide variety of devices. OSX Lion and now Windows 8 are already beginning to take features from their mobile platforms, iOS and Windows Phone 7, respectively, and applying that their current and future operating systems. Lion has begun to take a similar approach towards switching between apps, whereas Windows 8 seems to be adopting a tile-based user interface that has been heavily influenced by Windows 7.

But it’s just inevitable that, as the question of just how long, exactly, people will be continue to use desktop PCs persists, companies are finding way to make that whole transition much smoother.

Now, the next step is in creating a consistent ecosystem for every application and across every device. I want to be able to save a Word document on my laptop, and bring up the exact same document on my work computer, my iPad and even my smart phone. Web browsing, too, should be a similar experience. I should have the ability to save my tabs and places on each page, and bring that information up on another entirely different device.

Those features being inherent among all of our everyday technological devices are only a few years away, at the most. The technological world thrives off of innovations in consistency and simplicity. Cloud computing has made this trend more and more common.

But for now, I’ll continue to sulk about the fact that I’m currently slightly inconvenienced that I have to e-mail myself or save to a thumbdrive a Word document that I want to continue editing on a different computer. It’s a problem, but it’s one that can be fixed. Now, for the sake of my sanity, get on it Apple and Microsoft (and anyone else). 

Source: MSM DesignZ, Inc. is a Westchester NY web design firm specializing in SEO, social media, web and graphic design and much more.

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But those examples are just some of the many frequent issues that occur on Twitter and other social media sites. Other blunders include instances in which individuals inadvertently confused their personal Twitter accounts with their corporate accounts, and not so hilarious results ensued. One example, posted by a Chrysler Autos Twitter account, read that “I find it ironic that Detroit is known as the #motorcity and yet no one here knows how to ****ing drive.” The employee that was managing the account was later fired, and soon after that incident Chrysler also fired New Media Strategies, the company that was responsible for handling their account.

Even the American Red Cross has fallen victim to rogue tweeters posting on corporate accounts. In a particularly damning example, one tweet suggested that the American Red Cross was planning on having an especially wild Tuesday night and “#gettngslizzerd.” The American Red Cross later followed up the incident and suggested that the company in fact had absolutely no intentions of “#gettngzlizzerd” later that night, contrary to what a recent tweet may have suggested.

It goes without saying that social media can often be a double-edged sword in marketing any business. There’s certainly nothing wrong with posting content that is relevant to current events. Still, those events must be commented on and addressed in a way that is both tasteful and inoffensive. Negative press doesn’t just hurt the individual that, more often than not, gets fired. It can be severely detrimental to the company’s image as well. In as quickly as a tweet can be sent, it can also cause significant damage to a company’s image. Regardless of how well a Twitter campaign was going, it can halt substantial progress in a company’s marketing campaigns.

That’s why it has become extremely important for companies and individuals to not only consider the wording of particular tweets, but also context. How would our audience respond to this? Could anyone anticipate this as offensive? And finally, am I posting this on the correct account?

As with most things on the Internet, the convenience and ease of broadcasting to millions of potential customers have allowed for huge brands and companies to penetrate social media in a meaningful way. Unfortunately, that convenience has also resulted in slip ups that have had significant negative impact on the images of particular brands.

Still, the ultimate purpose of social media is to foster a connection between brands and its customers. That’s undeniable. But it’s also important that those connections be as positive and genuine as possible. No company aims to be the guy at the wedding making inappropriate speeches about the groom. The rule of thumb in these cases? Think very, very hard before you Tweet.

Source: MSM DesignZ, Inc. is a Westchester NY Social Media company specializing in advertising, web and graphic design, and SEO.

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Now, the company that is credited with creating the first 3g cellphone, and was once the king of the cell phone market, must quickly find a way to get back into favor with their consumers. Especially those consumers in America, who have been all but entirely disconnected from the Swedish communication giant.

Now, having just recently entered into a partnership with Microsoft in a deal that’s intended to bring Windows Phone 7, Microsoft’s mobile operating system, to Nokia phones, they hope to reconnect with that American audience and the world as a whole. At the time, that deal was met with some skepticism. And still, Nokia doesn’t have plans to launch their first phone with the Windows Phone 7 interface for at least a few more months.

But regardless of what the naysayers are suggesting, I don’t think that Nokia is doomed.

Certainly, Nokia is in a difficult spot. Probably the most trying period for the company since it was founded in 1865. But, in a world where large companies fold and consumers typically don’t bat an eye, Nokia still has plenty of opportunity to turn their business around. With that in mind, here are a few suggestions for how they can turn around their currently unfortunate circumstances:

1. Don’t Abandon Windows

Having recently abandoned their own operating system, Symbian, for Microsoft’s tile-based user interface in Windows Phone 7, Nokia knows, first hand, how difficult and damaging it can be to jettison an entire operating system and years of research and development. But for Nokia, it’s become even more important than ever that they continue to foster a working relationship with Microsoft and make their operating system work across their entire line of handsets. Microsoft has seen lukewarm success with Windows Phone 7 thus far, but Nokia’s hardware might be the secret ingredient towards truly penetrating the American audience for both companies in crowded smart phone marketplace.

Additionally, they have to market the hell out of it. Make it known, but also convince people to want it by making the user interface intuitive, and fun. Make it something that people need.

2. Support The Developers

If Apple’s success with the app store and, in turn, the iPhone are any indication, it’s that people like apps. Not only that, they need apps. Nokia has had decent success with their Ovi App store claiming 5 million downloads per day as of April, but the developer involvement and the level of polish found within those apps, simply put, haven’t even been close to the same level as other apps in the respective iOS and Android marketplaces.

Nokia, with the help of Microsoft, needs to make developer support a top priority. The success of smart phones, more or less, seem to be contingent upon the success of their respective app markets. Blackberry’s failed efforts in creating a successful app store (in conjunction with their tired phone designs) have resulted in other companies quickly taking large chunks out of its market share. Now, Nokia sits at just 24.7% of the market. That’s a lot of regression since it once claimed over a third of the world’s mobile phone market.

3. Rediscover Its Roots in America

Michael Schrage, a Harvard Business Review blogger, summarizes Nokia’s relationship with the American market quite well. “Nokia ignored America. The company simply refused to compete energetically, ingeniously and respectfully in the U.S. America was treated as an innovation afterthought. Nokia tried to get away with preserving its market dominance in Europe and growing its leadership in Asia.” Unfortunately, what that has resulted in is Nokia becoming largely a forgotten relic of a once innovative and extremely influential company. Even worse, it has brought them to the brink of extinction.

That’s why it’s important for Nokia to reconnect with their American audience. Partnering with an American company in Microsoft that has learned, time and time again, how to connect with their American and global audiences is certainly the first step. But it’s also important that the company as a whole makes a concerted effort to penetrate the US market. Connect with carriers, with retailers and most importantly, connect with customers. Nokia makes technically magnificent products. It’s just a shame that most people in America never have an opportunity to experience them.

From here on out, most likely nothing will be easy for Nokia. With Apple and Google (and, to a lesser extent, RIMM) currently dominating the smart phone market, Nokia’s challenges are far from over. In fact, I expect them to continue losing substantial money and marketshare until they can finally gain establish some firm ground in the American market. But that’s okay. Not all is lost.

Often, it’s humbling for companies that were once the king of their respective industry to be brought to their knees. But for a company like Nokia, it’s something that they have needed. Something that showed that their company wasn’t immortal. That success doesn’t come easily and, if it did, chances are it wouldn’t last long.

But Nokia is still alive. Nokia is still kicking. Now, what they do from here on out, during these next crucial months, decides whether their company goes out with a snivel or a triumphant roar in annals of time.

Source: MSM DesignZ, Inc. is a Westchester based NY web design firm specializing in SEO, social media, web and graphic design and much more.

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And it’s certainly not innovative. Whereas previous functions, namely the ‘like’ button, have created new ways for us to interact with Facebook and the web, the combination of Skype and Facebook simply makes it more convenient for us to communicate with friends over Facebook.

Should we care about partnerships? Yes. Their aim is to make our lives less frustrating. That’s what Facebook and Skype (and in turn, Microsoft) are aiming to do.

But ultimately, it doesn’t change anything. Am I excited that I’ll be able to easily Skype with my friends through Facebook, and vice-versa? Sure, it’s a fun little novelty. But beyond that? It adds little convenience to my life. The people I already want to speak with over Skype I’m already friends with within the Skype application.

Companies should be trying to find new ways to attract consumers that don’t already exist. Partnerships are cool, definitely, but things like the Facebook like-button, Skype video chat — new ways to engage people that are already consumers of their products — are what keep technology and true innovation alive. 

Facebook uniting with Skype doesn’t present a new way to look at something. It’s simply a boring approach towards pseudo-innovation. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg hopes that the partnership will result in the combination of the “best technology that’s out there for doing video chat with the best social infrastructure that’s out there, in order to create some really cool new scenarios.”

But even Zuckerberg is probably having trouble figuring out just what, exactly, those ‘cool new scenarios’ are going to be.

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