just finished the frontend of the new v2 of the ipad app (in conjuction with kukuapps) to allow for people who are in a hurry to just scan the qr code (may have to replace that current one with a custom one when we finally push the final - james random is working on a custom one for me) to get a master list of everything i have done since 2005.

i'm constantly able to update that qr link content because i'm using something called multiurl which allows me to put more urls and content instead of just one link.  i'm tracking that qr code with bit.ly pro and a custom cname which gives me really granular control over that qr code via the api - got some interesting ideas forming for that actually for another project.

we are aiming to get this pushed to a brand new developer account on the apple appstore.  i'm probably gonna stick a price of 69p on it just as an experiment.  i'm working closely with kukuapps as they roll out new versions of the codebase they are working on.  ultimately i'd like micro payment options within the app for me to record content for you (ie. ordering of reviews etc) and push notifications in some way - not sure how they look right now.

it's coming together thou, just gotta work on the embeds now and stick the html code for those embeds into the cloud.  this version of the app will also allow you to get direct to the livingark project content instead of us pushing another application just for that.

let you know when it's ready!

• How to Use QR Codes for Better Conversion Rates (searchenginewatch.com)
• Embedding Flash Audio on WordPress.com with an iPad (speedofcreativity.org)
• Independent launches site redesign and new iPad app (blogs.journalism.co.uk)
• More retailers see catalog gold in iPad apps (tuaw.com)
• eBay's iPad App Now Shows Shoppers Relevant Merchandise For What They Are Watching On TV (techcrunch.com)
• 8 Ways to use QR codes (crazzycool.blogspot.com)

ha! - the vanity app!

that's what i'm calling it because i cannot think of a better name for it right now and i'm only saying what your probably thinking about it.

kukuapps (nottingham) approached me before i came out and asked if i would be a brand advocate for their ipad application which is like a super lite flipboard style information turning app.

we only had a few days before coming out so lucy pulled together something quickly that might work that we could iterate quickly and i could feedback once i got back on. it worked out pretty well.

one of the best things about doing apps building and iterating ontheground is using something like testflightapp to push apps really quickly to get version feedback from those using it in the field.

while i was in austin for instance the team managed to push a version with a video embedded into the app that i managed to install and sync all from my wifi connection without having to sync with a machine - it's a boon for developers, they just need your device udid to be able to push apps to your device.

people seemed to like the quick flicking nature of going through my four major projects and were very interested in the ark and the jackets. i need to do more work on my blog to pull that into categories when i get back.

as for the application i'm hoping that i can work with the kukuapps teams to add some much needed features into the application so i can grab someones email address, also utilizing the ipad2 camera to grab feedback about each page would be brilliant.

i'll be talking to kukuapps about a more advanced app when i get back that can have a few lightweight dynamic elements that i can charge for in the store.

the ark really needs an app just for it alone - pulling a variety of content from different services that i have tagged under my accounts.

right, i'm sitting here in austin waiting for my plane to houston unable to push this out because i gone through my thirty minutes of allocated time - time for lunch.

wanna share content between devices?

i often take photos on my ixus 200 IS camera which takes wonderful point and shoot snaps with a side order of 720p video.  the ipad i use when i'm mobile for reading news feeds and watching videos on is also fantastic at allowing me to play with photos on the move.  i use photoshop express.

using a nifty usb widget i can put my sdcard from my camera into the bottom of the ipad and copy the pictures across from my point and shoot, edit and then using photo transfer app (good seo name that) - once edited i throw them across the wifi network to my ipod touch to then blog using the posterous application.

the previous posterous application did not seem to like the ipad so we will see if the new one from posterous spaces (3.0) works any better.  also, this transferring malarky will vanish (probably) once the cloud from apple is live in the coming month(s) - of course it does depend on if you have network and bandwidth in the area you are transferring the content so it might not die as quick as i might have thought.

how do i get thousands more followers, how do i sell more stuff, how do i get more growth. what do you have as revenue streams (ok maybe the last one i'm into at the moment) but these feel like such fixed ideas, concepts that connect with a comfortable idea of how doing social media marketing can make you look bigger, create more money and blast things at people and hope they take the hook.

are you not bored of that 'spray and pray' approach to business - the idea that if you have more of what you have then your doing well - what are you going to do with those thousand new potential clients anyway. do you have the capacity to undertake engaging with them regularly and in a manner that makes it personal.

are you currently social or are you a b2c business that needs to move product. everyone around you is engaging in making videos and creating little social media buttons on your website. is that for you? - are you social in your business already or does that open a potential can of worms within your business? one of the struggles for myself of being a creative that thinks about things creative and creates and tests out iterative ideas on the go is that i live quite lightweight.

my main driver is not money - i believe that if i'm doing something good if people can identify with that they may see me as an operative for their business as an advocate or ambassador - but i don't work with just anybody - for me, i'm looking for that spark. that business, idea, concept owner that lights up at the thought of their vision and can communicate it on many levels.

i'm comfortable with turning down certain industries that don't personally excite me because i would be lying about how much i like a product. i only work with clients that have an ethic, an innovation or vision of how they can transform peoples lives with the things they do. i firmly believe that sometimes, social media is not for every business. so i urge you first before starting any social media activity with anyone ask yourself this.

are you bolting on social media as a way of 'doing what everyone is doing' - when people as you do social media are the words you say - 'yeah we have twitter and facebook' without checking in them regular or staring at the following numbers hoping that you can look like you know what your doing. it's not about numbers, it's about giving people what they came to find.

do you communicate what you do well for lots of people rather than that PR press release that you just got. what does that look like to you. what is success in your social media campaign and are you getting that from your social media advocate in your meetings? - if not, it's time to find out. monitoring your twitter stream for conversations is not enough, being informed about your industry well after 5pm is how you need to be wired. the internet is 24/7 - someone in the world may be looking into your services.

being comfortable in your digital online skin should not feel like you've become someone else and your simply doing it because everyone else is. you could damage your brand if done incorrectly. every member of your business is a potential social media advocate but they need to be on the same social mission as you - have you put that together instead of just putting social media icons on your website? you don't break into a conversation with strangers in a pub to start hanging out with them and start random conversations so why do it online? - you do not need to be attractive, well spoken and popular to have something to say with passion and belief - for me social media is about being comfortable in our skin before we take the leap of faith of presenting our digital equivalent to the world.

*addition*

this was written on the 6:53am train out of nottingham station to lincoln for lincuplive.  platform two at nottingham station is shoehorned at the end of the station like some kind of secret harry potter scene where the train only appears between a certain time.  i had my wireless keyboard and my ipad.  i've only just copied the text off and sent to my email from notes till now.  it's interesting to me that the things i wrote meant that the things i was expecting to hear from linkuplive were absolutely spot on.  for me, the talk and session of the day was the delivery from joanna jacobs.  i LOVED that she talked about the follower count for things - it's such the wrong focus for people to take.  looking forward to the next linkuplive in feb 2012.

quicklink | get one from tecknet uk

i'm testing out this 'dirt' cheap external power unit (it's a 5000mAh) external recharger for my ipod touch.  it will do ipad as well and has two usb ports - one rated higher than the usual output.  it takes about 8.5 hours to charge the unit up which is not really a problem for me because i would probably just leave them plugged in over night after a conference.  i'm gonna give this is a test out over the next couple of weeks.  if it works out ok i'll probably pick up another couple as for £20 you cannot go wrong.

i'm just hoping that usual 'crap china lack of quality control' is not present in this product.  the amount of chargers and kit i have had from china that lasted a few weeks is terrible.  they build all this stuff and then stick it all on a ship and send it in our general direction - filling us with cheap and crappy products.  sorry, but that is how i feel about the landfill quality of some of the adapters i have bought from ebay - if you can afford a branded product you should go with that.  they normally have tighter quality control of testing.

also who writes these backing cards out? - 'environmental friendliness & economic efficiency' - that means absolutely nothing and i'd rather see moves from uk importers to not just think about pricing and 'stack em high, sell em cheap' - get that stuff checked out, get the certification, put the process controls in place and that way you get a better reputation about selling these items you have bought in huge container ship loads.  i guess it is getting people to stop thinking about profit over eco, like that is going to happen eh. ..

they also have a chunky lithium polymer 61w/h (watts per hour) unit that has usb output as well - normally you would use this for laptops but it would be great for something like southby.  it's a little bit out of my price range right now at £60 but certainly looks the part.  see how good this tecknet iEP380 works out. .

so if your battery on your iphone4, ipod touch 4th generation or ipad is dying a lot.  pick one of these little external battery units up if your regularly on the move - at around £20 they are a bargain - i'll let you know how long mine lasts! :)