David's Blog

TekSocial Welcomes Go Daddy as a Sponsor

2010-08-23T17:09:04Z

Through much talk and patience, I am very pleased to announce that GoDaddy.com has become a sponsor of TekSocial. I have been using Go Daddy for several years now, ever since the beginning of thecreativeone.tv. Whether it's for domain registration, web hosting or the ability to install applications (WordPress, Joomla, etc.) in a matter of minutes, their service has always been very reliable. As with everything, I am one to promote services that I personally enjoy and recommend.

In reflect of this sponsorship, Go Daddy is generous enough to offer a handful of discount codes to anyone interested. These codes can be used at any time, and can be found here. Codes are entered at the end of checkout. For example: To save 10% off your entire order, you'll use the code CREATIVE1. Be sure to apply the code before completing the checkout process.

So what does this mean for my YouTube videos? In short, absolutely nothing. I am not a fan of running video ads within content. In my opinion, they're obtrusive and too distracting. Instead I will be placing a shortcut link in each of my video descriptions. Simple as that. In regards to my other social media profiles, expect similar behavior.

I am very excited to be able to offer these discount codes to everyone. Not only will this sponsorship deal help you save money in making an impact online, but it will also contribute to resources necessary to guarantee that TekSocial has a bright future ahead. As always, please contact me if you have any questions. Thank you, Go Daddy!

TekSocialVideo: A Community YouTube Channel [Updated]

2010-08-14T01:00:57Z

When I rebranded this site into TekSocial, my primary goal was to make things more focused around the community. Features here and there have been introduced since then, such as a dedicated Twitter feed and the official Facebook page. However, I want to step things up a bit. It was just over one week ago when the idea hit me. Why not create a community YouTube channel where anyone can submit a video and then possibly bring some viewers over to their primary channel? And thus TekSocialVideo was born.

TekSocialVideo is a channel where anyone is welcome to submit content. Videos can range from simple unboxings to in-depth reviews. If it's related to technology, the world wants to see it. Through the use of my current status in social media, I plan to promote this channel as if it were the next big thing. And hey, it could be. That's not possible without your content, however. If you are interested in submitting a video for approval, click here to fill out the form. All the information can be found there. Please be sure to read everything carefully.

Since I expect a large number of videos to be submitted over time, quality control is a primary concern of mine. Not to worry, though! I take quality content very seriously, so only the best uploads will make their way through. Videos will be submitted via megaupload.com and reviewed for approval. Everything is described in my introduction video below. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

I have great confidence in seeing TekSocialVideo succeed in no time. What are you waiting for? Let's see those videos!

Update: There seems to be some confusion and frustration over which videos are accepted on TekSocialVideo. To put it simply: If you're submitting a video for approval, it must be 100% original and not already exist on another YouTube channel, including your own. This is stated several times on the video submission form.

However, I'm bending the rules just a bit. As of today, users are able to submit videos to TekSocialVideo and then to their own channel afterwards. As long as TekSocialVideo sees your video first, then you're in the clear. I only apply this rule to avoid suspicion from others regarding copyright infringement. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Experimental Project: Di Franco Arcade

2010-07-28T13:38:12Z

For a while now I have been primarily focused on creating and managing technology related websites. While TekSocial and TekSetups have both been great successes, I'm ready to try something new. I have always wondered what it would be like to manage an online gaming site where users can play and download any games of their choice. With that said, I encourage you to check out my newest project, Di Franco Arcade.

As the title of this post suggests, Di Franco Arcade is an experimental project of mine. Its outcome at this point is unknown, but I am very interested in seeing where things go. The site features games, online and offline, for both Mac and Windows users. Some are free to play, while others are not. And for those wondering, everything is provided by Big Fish Games, including the web site's interface. Game selection and pricing are not determined by me.

No account is required to use the site, so go check things out and have fun! There is also a link to Di Franco Arcade in the navigation bar above. Please leave any feedback you may have in the comments.

Featuring Forum Discussions in YouTube Videos

2010-07-19T15:30:03Z

In an effort to make the TekSocial community more interactive, I have decided to begin featuring select discussions from the forum in future YouTube videos of mine. These discussions can be about anything that comes to mind. There's always the chance that yours will be selected and featured in a video, so be sure to include your name to receive proper credit. That's about it, so start a conversation and enjoy!

Note: Please do not use the forum for video requests. You can email me regarding that.

Introducing TekSocial.com

2010-07-17T21:14:11Z

For a while now I have been meaning to rebrand this website's domain to a more fitting name. Navigating to "thecreativeone.tv" no longer makes much sense, especially considering the suffix being used. This website started out as a domain focused around live broadcasts and the occasional blog update from myself. While this kind of content still exists, it's no secret that this website has evolved to become a vibrant community.

Between the heavy emphasis on the Social Blog and the amount of interaction seen on a daily basis, it's obviously time for a change. I'm very proud to announce that the new primary domain for this website is TekSocial.com. I have chosen this domain for the following reasons:

"Tek" signifies the main focus of this website, which is clearly technology
It's important that I use the name "Social" to differentiate this blog from other tech blogs
The use of "Tek" ties in with TekSetups.com, which is the other website I regularly manage

So what exactly is changing? First of all, navigating to "thecreativeone.tv" will auto redirect users to the new domain. At this time, you are not required to update bookmarks or links. Everything is being handled automatically. However, I do suggest updating them in your browser anyway just for the sake of change.

I have also taken the time to add an integrated forum to the site. While forumbytes.com isn't going anywhere, this new forum allows users to initiate conversations all within the same domain. User registration is not required at the moment, so anyone is free to post.

Other changes you may notice are mostly interface related. This means a new website logo, better organized page layouts and overall a cleaner interface. New site features will be introduced as time progresses, so definitely expect good things to come. This is just the beginning!

I have great confidence in this new domain, but as always, feel free to contact me if you have any questions, feedback or concerns. User feedback is always appreciated. Thank you and keep on blogging!

Wanted: iPhone Developer

2010-07-16T19:36:23Z

I'm going to be straight and to the point with this. Apple's App Store is hot right now and it shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. After reading this article on Mashable, you can't blame me for being motivated. I've actually been wanting to create an iPhone app for a while now. Unfortunately, I do not have the patience to learn the iPhone SDK. Believe me, I've tried.

I am writing today in hopes of finding someone capable of developing an app for the iPhone and iPod touch platforms, as well as the iPad if you so choose. What kind of app am I looking for? Obviously it would have to be something that has the potential to take off, but as of right now I have nothing particular in mind. It could be a simple flashlight app with a unique twist or something as complicated as an arcade shooter. The only requirements I ask of the developer are the following:

App is free to download
Included iAd support to help pay for costs
Revenue from iAd earnings will be shared

That last bullet point is an important one. In exchange for share of iAd revenue, your app will be strongly promoted in the form of social networks, especially Twitter and YouTube. Details can be discussed via email, so please contact me here if you are interested. Serious inquiries with existing portfolios are preferred.

Update: Please note, this is not intended to be a quick way of gaining exposure or making money. If all goes well, I am hoping for this to turn into a long-term partnership that could possibly include future projects. Also, if requested by said developer, I am willing to pay a fee upfront for the time and labor that will be put into development.

Seaside Heights 2010

2010-07-12T05:26:51Z

iPhone 4: The Obvious Solution

2010-06-28T21:58:32Z

Wanted: Bot for Ustream Chat Room

2010-06-16T20:09:49Z

For those who used to watch my live streams a couple years ago, you may remember that my chat room had a bot that could do the following:

auto kick and ban users
display relevant information (Twitter, email address, etc.)
randomly pick a chat room participant for giveaways

Between then and now, it seems my chat room bot has disappeared. This is where the community comes in. I kindly ask this: Is anyone willing to create a bot for my live streams? I would need it by next weekend in order to randomly pick winners for some giveaways I am hosting during the Week of Streams 2010 event. Also if possible, it would be nice if the bot was able to automatically display links of interest, such as my Twitter, YouTube and email address.

If you are interested, please contact me. I am willing to pay you for your hard work. We can negotiate a price via email and then go from there.

Update: The IRC room is currently hosted at #thecreativeone-live

Pre-Launch: "Show Off Your Mac"

2010-05-07T20:07:19Z