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This was my first time being “behind the scenes” with Inman News at Real Estate Connect NYC.  Having worked directly with agents and brokers prior to coming to Inman, this time at Connect I listened with a new set of eyes.

I kept thinking, “If I was a Realtor, what would be my big take-away from Connect?”

At opening session, Brad Inman talked about 2 things that caught my attention:
1.    The world is changing – real time search, location, news, comments, reviews, auctions and collaboration, and of course real estate.
2.    In this age of “digital addiction” take time to “look up” and connect with people face to face.

So taking those two things into consideration, if I was a Realtor – here would be the 2 big things I would implement ASAP into my business:

1.    Mobile technology. If I was a Realtor I would make sure that I had a mobile strategy in place. In his opening message, Brad Inman, Publisher, Inman News said, “One of the biggest shifts we are seeing is the increase in real time data.” Tools like mobile applications, Twitter and Facebook, are impacting how quickly information is distributed. Inman predicts that one of the big trends in 2010 will be mobile apps that are able to filter and organize this data. Real time search, real time location, real time agent feedback, and real time real estate listing information will be major trends we will see in 2010. “Those agents that adopt technology will close more transactions because they will be more efficient,” say Inman.

nexus-pic-ap-335253213

If I were a Realtor I would make sure I looked at things like:

  • Does my brokerage have a mobile app? What about my MLS?
  • Is it worth me investing in my own mobile app?  iSites, a new service launching today, allows you to take your website’s RSS feed and data and quickly transform it into a full-fledged iPhone app. It was created by Genwi, a service that combines aspects of RSS reader, social network and news filter. For just $25, iSites will create a customized iPhone and Android app for you.
  • What type of local data can I have right at my fingertips on my mobile phone? Yelp is a great place to start. Foursquare is another great local app that is getting a ton of attention, especially after Dennis Crowley spoke at Connect – and we all had an “a-ha” moment!

Mike Mangino, Owner & President, Elevated Rails talked about some of the key apps to have on your mobile phone to help you do your business better:

  • Navigation tool
  • Access to your CRM tool
  • A simple mortgage calculator app you can use with clients
  • Social Media apps: TweetDeck, Tweetie 2 or Hootsuite, Facebook and Linked-In apps
  • I’m adding to this list – Wordpress app – a must if your blog is hosted on WP.

2.    Connect with people face to face. One of the biggest challenges Realtors face is meeting new potential clients face-to-face. Now is the time to ‘look up!’

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Scott Heiferman, co-founder and CEO of meetup.com was one of the final keynote speakers at Connect and talked about the power of connecting with people live and face to face. People are creating their own self organized groups.

There are 5.7 million Meetup.com members in nearly 59,000 local groups in more than 11,000 cities, according to the company’s site.

Agents can not only join a meetup for local real estate professionals, but they can connect with local real estate buyers groups and sponsor non-real-estate-related groups.

I love this concept – especially for an agent trying to break into a new market niche or community, or just for an agent trying to expand their sphere of influence, this is the perfect opportunity for them.

The message is: be the catalyst for community in your business – online and offline in 2010.

Stay tuned for more about Connect. Inman News will be publishing a comprehensive report next week. Also check out inman.com this week – videos are available for Inman Premium Members. Not a member? Sign up by this Friday, January 22nd and get a special rate of only $99 (reg. price $149)

Written by: Katie Lance, Marketing Manager, Inman News

Ad: Win more business! Showcase your company with a custom video ad from Turnhere. Save 50% off your first video!.

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Shares of homebuilders jumped Tuesday after a gauge of future U.S. home sales rose more than expected to the highest level in over two years but were later pulled down with the broader market on concerns about the overall economy.

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Homebuilders Rally Before Falling With Market

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[Note: To follow is an excerpt of an interview with successful bloggers from the Real Estate Investment Club or the REIClub.com -- Halle Eavelyn, Manager of Halle Homes, LLC and Cherrathee Hager, of Twin Oak Properties. To listen to the show archive or download an MP3, go to www.IncomePropertyInvestmentTalk.com/031809.]

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Bloggers Examine Social Media, Today’s Investment Opportunities

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WE LOVE YOU! Well, we love our loyal MTO readers and community members! Thanks for sharing your love with us every day via your comments, thoughts, ideas, suggestions…and most of all, support!  We’re also very thankful that you love technology as much as we do. But it’s time to get off the computer (for just a moment) and share some love (and your best moves) with those around you! So we made you this Valentine Dance Gram! Hope you enjoy and Happy Valentine’s Day from MyTechOpinion!

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If you need to create a flowcart, diagram, org chart or even a wireframe, I have a powerful and attractive resource for you! Lovely Charts is a slick Adobe Flex application that uses a simplistic drag and drop drawing engine.  You can tell Lovely Charts has placed heavy importance on their clean design and attractive chart output. Their graphics and symbols will help you clearly represent your ideas on screen…without having to dig deep through thousands of choices. But don’t take my word for it, view their Gallery here.

So what’s it going to cost me?

Lovely Charts offers both a free and paid version.  The free product allows users to print or export as many charts as needed, however you can only save one editable chart. If you need to be able to save more editable charts, try the professional version.  It supports versioning and team collaboration with commenting.

Lovely Chart Resources:
Keyboard shortcuts
Screencast

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Lovely Charts: Sophisticated Diagrams Made Simple

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Dual monitor systems are no longer just for geeks. Granted, Reggie, NikNik and I are geeks and we all use dual monitor systems. But it is time that the average real estate agent looks into adding a second monitor to their desk.

What is so special about using 2 monitors?

Besides making your friends think you are a computer genius, there are huge productivity benefits to having a second screen. Think of all of the programs that you have open during a typical business day. At any given point, you may have a browser or 2 open, Outlook, a few folders, a photo or video editing program, Twhirl or another Twitter application and maybe even iTunes for some background music. All of this can quickly clutter a computer screen.

Now, image that instead of one 22″ monitor, you have 2. Suddenly, you have twice the real estate to work with. You can move email and social networking activities to one monitor while reserving the other screen for browsing, photo editing and video creation.

No more shuffling through windows to get to what you want to work on next. Everything is already in front of you.

The economics of a dual screen system

Believe it or not, it is cheaper to buy 2 smaller monitors than 1 huge monitor.

Let’s look at an example of buying a high-end Dell 24″ monitor (UltraSharp 2408WFP) versus 2 comparable Dell 22″ monitors (UltraSharp 2208WFP). The 24″ monitor costs $690, while the 22″ monitors cost $249 each ($498 for 2). That is a $192 dollar savings.

Not only would you save money going with the two 22″ monitors, you actually get more working space than with a single 24″ monitor.

Tips for adding a second monitor

Video cards
You will need a video card with 2 ports. Upgraded video cards have included 2 ports for years, so your computer may be ready for a second monitor, already.

If your computer uses an integrated graphics system (found in entry-level computers), you will need to add an aftermarket video card. This is a simple and inexpensive upgrade. You don’t need a cutting-edge gaming card to perform real estate technology tasks, so you could get away with a card costing $100 or less.

Monitor choices
If you already have 1 monitor, try to purchase a second identical monitor. This will not only look better on your desktop, but it will mean that the colors and brightness are the same.

If you are unable to buy an identical second monitor, make sure that the new monitor has the same native resolution as your current monitor. Running 2 monitors with different resolutions complicates an otherwise simple configuration.

Buying 2 new monitors? Purchase screens whose size is in the current price-to-size sweet spot. Right now, 22″ monitors are the cheapest for the size. Prices go up considerably once you jump to the 24″ size or larger. This changes over time as larger monitor prices drop, so do your homework.

Pick up a second monitor and watch your productivity surge. It really is one of the smartest real estate technology investments you can make.

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Double Your Monitor, Double Your Fun!

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Of course we can’t go to every real estate conference taking place this year. But we can plan ahead for events that may be coming to your local area. Or better yet, plan for a vacation-learning experience. I may be a bit biased being in California, but San Francisco and San Diego make for great destinations! Here’s the lowdown on all the valuable upcoming real estate conferences….all are worth attending! Which one(s) are you planning for?

REBarCamp Seattle - One day event for passionate real estate professionals who are hungry to learn and share creative and effective marketing ideas and industry trends. When: Feb 13th, 2009 Where: Zillow Corporate Headquarters, Seattle

RETechSouth – Real conversations about the technological changes impacting the real estate industry. Some of the best minds in the industry will gather in one room to share their knowledge.  When: March 20th 2009, Where: Gwinnet Center, Atlanta

REBarCamp Los Angeles – If you missed Seattle, don’t worry REBarCampLA is a great day for agents looking to get started with social media marketing and other creative online and offline strategies for growing your business. When: April 2nd ,2009 Where: Location TBA

REBarCamp San Francisco – The 2nd annual REBarCamp SF! The first one was a hit, and this just happens to be where it all began!  Join in the conversation and collaboration. It’s also a great way to kick off the Inman Connect SF (if you’re attending that one as well).  When: August 4th, 2009 Where: Exact location TBA, San Francisco

Inman Connect SF – Brings together leaders in real estate, finance, and technology to promote change and innovation in the industry. Between the workshops, expo, and events (aka: parties)…this conference is probably one of the most attended (and valuable) RE events of the season. Be there or be square! When: Aug 5-7th, 2009 Where: Palace Hotel, San Francisco

NAR 09 – Registration opens May 5t for the 4 day expo and conference being held in San Diego.  Learn to be more productive or renew your motivation with new strategies and tools for your real estate business. When: Nov. 13-16th, 2009 Where: San Diego Convention Center

REBarCamp San Diego – More details to come. When: TBA, sometime during NAR09 Where: San Diego, exact location TBA

Be sure to check back, as I will be updating these events with more information as it becomes available. Oh, and let me know which event you will be attending so we can connect! Woohoo!

Other posts you may enjoy:

Continued here:
7 Real Estate Conferences Worth Attending in 2009

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Of course we can’t go to every real estate conference taking place this year. But we can plan ahead for events that may be coming to your local area. Or better yet, plan for a vacation-learning experience. I may be a bit biased being in California, but San Francisco and San Diego make for great destinations! Here’s the lowdown on all the valuable upcoming real estate conferences….all are worth attending! Which one(s) are you planning for?

REBarCamp Seattle - One day event for passionate real estate professionals who are hungry to learn and share creative and effective marketing ideas and industry trends. When: Feb 13th, 2009 Where: Zillow Corporate Headquarters, Seattle

RETechSouth – Real conversations about the technological changes impacting the real estate industry. Some of the best minds in the industry will gather in one room to share their knowledge.  When: March 20th 2009, Where: Gwinnet Center, Atlanta

REBarCamp Los Angeles – If you missed Seattle, don’t worry REBarCampLA is a great day for agents looking to get started with social media marketing and other creative online and offline strategies for growing your business. When: April 2nd ,2009 Where: Location TBA

REBarCamp San Francisco – The 2nd annual REBarCamp SF! The first one was a hit, and this just happens to be where it all began!  Join in the conversation and collaboration. It’s also a great way to kick off the Inman Connect SF (if you’re attending that one as well).  When: August 4th, 2009 Where: Exact location TBA, San Francisco

Inman Connect SF – Brings together leaders in real estate, finance, and technology to promote change and innovation in the industry. Between the workshops, expo, and events (aka: parties)…this conference is probably one of the most attended (and valuable) RE events of the season. Be there or be square! When: Aug 5-7th, 2009 Where: Palace Hotel, San Francisco

NAR 09 – Registration opens May 5t for the 4 day expo and conference being held in San Diego.  Learn to be more productive or renew your motivation with new strategies and tools for your real estate business. When: Nov. 13-16th, 2009 Where: San Diego Convention Center

REBarCamp San Diego – More details to come. When: TBA, sometime during NAR09 Where: San Diego, exact location TBA

Be sure to check back, as I will be updating these events with more information as it becomes available. Oh, and let me know which event you will be attending so we can connect! Woohoo!

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7 Real Estate Events Worth Attending in 2009

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Yes, I have Google Alerts delivered and even check my Twitter grade from time to time on Twittergrader. Who doesn’t? If you’re investing time in social media marketing, then you should be analyzing your efforts with a variety of analytics resources.

When it comes to helping my friends, colleagues and clients establish a Web presence I suggest creating a Facebook Profile (as one of many online strategies). Facebook, as most of us know, is the largest online network with over 150 million users. It offers abundant opportunities for building relationships (both on and offline). Real Estate Professionals can easily drill down to a local level by connecting with their local sphere, joining local groups, creating their own group or fan page (among other things). But before going crazy with applications and groups….you need to make sure your profile is COMPLETE!

One super duper easy way to find out what your profile needs is by using FacebookGrader. It’s another great offering by Hubspot. Facebook Grader will analyze the number of friends you have, the power of your network, the completeness of your profile and a few others. I tried this bad boy out expecting to receive a score of 100 (hey now…I AM an overachiever…or I like to think I am). Instead I received an 88 because I was missing a few important details in my bio and I never specified a business location. FacebookGrader caught a few areas that I didn’t realize were incomplete. Since updating, I’ve now been bumped up to a 99.1. Guess there’s always room for improvement! BTW- You can even grade your business page!

So if you’re serious about making waves online…then you need to make sure that you’re giving people what they need to learn more about you and make it easy for them to connect with you! So I dare you to give FacebookGrader a try and let me know what you think?!

PLEASE NOTE:  This service is still fairly, so it may occasionally give you an error. Just try again or check back shortly (probably a minor hiccup). Also, join the FacebookGrader Fan Page to connect with other users and the developers.

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Is My Facebook Profile Complete? FacebookGrader Has the Answer!

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Recently I had the pleasure of meeting August Giles, founder of ZingDing.com.  After reviewing his new approach to real estate email marketing, I couldn’t help but share it with the MTO audience!  When you think of ZingDing, think of a cross between your favorite virtual tour and eCard software all mixed into one…with viral share tools!

After previewing the site, I found many great ideas of how real estate agents have used ZingDing to promote their listings and rentals. Many have elected to include additional design elements like holiday themes-sure to get your sphere excited by your creativeness!

What does it take to build a ZingDing eCard?

Start by gathering all necessary photos and logos, then choose your desired music from the ZingDing library, add any desired effects (i.e. burning fireplace, snowfall, etc.), then input your properties details!

For distribution, the ZingDing eCards can be emailed out or embedded into a website/blog or even sites like Craigslist or Realtor.com.  If you choose email, ZingDing has a few ways to get your email list into their system.  To start you can upload lists from Outlook, or add one by one. Although you might also try sending yourself the eCard, and then forwarding it out to your contacts from your email client!

So what’s this going to cost me?

The ZingDing pricing is very attractive; a single eCard is only $9.95. Although if you expect to be sending these eCards throughout out the year, I would recommend subscribing to the annual package for $49.95. That includes unlimited use of all ZingDing eCards.

If you still have questions about ZingDing, try reviewing their forum.

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ZingDing: A Fresh New Spin on Real Estate Marketing

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Our very own Reggie Nicolay officially launched Cyberhomesblog.com today.  Reggie hasn’t wasted anytime jumping into his new role as Director of Social Media for Cyberhomes. Yes, I may be a bit biased since I’m married to the guy. But the Cyberhomes Blog is more than just your run of the mill industry blog. Reggie practices what he preaches here on MTO, by demonstrating how design, content and social media strategies can make for a powerful and insightful online community.

Upon first glance, you’ll notice that Reggie integrated Facebook Connect, like what we’ve done here at MTO.  FB Connect allows you to port your Facebook Profile right into the Cyberhomes Blog Community. This makes participating an optimal experience! You control your profile settings and how your comments and other resources are shared.

There’s nothing as rewarding as learning something new yourself or aiding a fellow colleague with their real estate questions. Helpful content and cutting edge multimedia resources go hand and hand on the Cyberhomes Blog. As a reader, you’ll gain insight into the latest trends and technology that real estate and mortgage professionals are finding success with. Access, share and implement a variety of resources available within the Video Library, Image Gallery, and News Room.

I’ve mentioned before and I’ll say it again, Reggie is a great Web digger! The guy scours a plethora of online goldmines to bring you a frequently updated resource stream, aka the Cyberstream. The Cyberstream is content integration of information, tools, products, resources and fun…that you might not regularly find on the Web (without a little investigative Web digging).

Last but not least, no blog can be a good blog without powerful content. The Cyberhomes Blog was created for real estate professionals with REAL interests and issues. Reggie and the other talented contributors have just one simple goal in mind…bringing ideas and insight into the hands of the people that shape and mold the industry, that’s YOU!

If you’re a fan of MyTechOpinion, I’m sure you’ll feel right at home at the Cyberhomes Blog.  Check out this tour via Reggie:

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Yes, it’s true…I thoroughly enjoy creating deliciously dorky birthday videos.  It gives me a chance to show off another facet of my personality…the REAL NikNik! And apparently, highly intelligent and obviously fun-loving people find them somewhat engaging! If you haven’t seen one of these masterpieces, check out these birthday dance grams for @Respres, @MikeMueller, and @BHGRE_Sherry.

More recently though, I’ve created “welcome videos” for my new Twitter followers. I wanted something that would stand out in a sea of simple greetings like…”Thanks for following!” So I usually send new followers a welcome message with a link to a video that lets them know what they can expect being a follower. The only downside to the video link is that it takes new Twits to a 3rd party site (like Viddler) to view my videos. Now I have a video player embedded on my blog, but to keep my “welcome video” most current I would have to create a blog page specifically for a welcome video. But, I’m looking for a bit more flexibility with my short and sweet videos.

Thanks to the BubbleGuru (aka: Kevin Sherman) and his Bubble video solutions I have some seriously great video options now! With BubbleTweet, BubbleComment, and BubbleTestimonial, I can create, send and manage all sorts of fun and informational videos and place them atop any Website or page I choose! Bubble-what? Let me break it down for you:

BubbleTweet.com is a free app that helps you easily create and share a video message with other Twits. You can create a “welcome message” for new followers like the one I have done here. You can also just communicate or send special messages to Twits containing the link to your BubbleTweet. Choose to place your video on your own Twitter profile or on top of the Twit’s profile you are sending to.

BubbleComment.com has both free and paid-plan options. I like BubbleComment because I can simply create a video message and place it on top of ANY Website of my choosing. This would work especially well for guidance on your blog or sharing helpful resources with others.

BubbleTestimonial.com is a powerful video sharing and management tool for businesses. Create both video and text testimonials to demonstrate your expertise on your Website or blog. You can even invite existing clients to record and add a testimonial at any time. You are then able to manage all the testimonials with complete control over the content and customization. BubbleTestimonial offers a free 30 day trial and 3 different plans with features.

Here are a couple of ideas for implementing the Bubble video solutions into your real estate business:

BubbleTweet:

(1)    Create a “welcome message” for your new followers.

(2)    Send special messages (RE specific or for fun) to followers.

(3)    Record a birthday or holiday message and place atop the recipient’s profile.

BubbleComment:

(4)    Create a “welcome message” for your real estate blog.

(5)    Record videos about how to use the features and functions on your real estate blog (i.e. IDX search, forum, join community callout, RSS callout, email newsletter callout, etc.).

(6)    Place a comment on top of a newly created single property Website for a listing and send to the client…showcasing your online marketing and how to interpret and share the site with others.

(7)    When sharing a Website resource (links to schools, neighborhoods, listings, community sites, businesses, etc) record a video and place atop to explain why you’re sharing or how it’s helpful.

(8)    If using Google Adwords, create a video for the landing page instructing visitors where to view the information they are looking for.

BubbleTestimonial:

(9)    Record client testimonials and share on your Website/real estate blog.

(10)  Invite clients to record their own testimonials.

(11)  Provide directions on how to use the features on your site.

(12)  Embed a bubble testimonial gallery.

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12 Ways to Use Bubble Video in Your Real Estate Business

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It has held true that none of my blog posts get as many comments as those that discuss Apple products as real estate technology solutions. The passion and devotion of the legion of Apple fans, not to mention the hordes of Windows users,  has made for some spirited debates and turned many new readers on to MyTechOpinion.

In an effort to spark a discussion to rival any that we have had on MyTechOpinion, I would like to try something a bit different. A sort of editorial piece if you will.

I will ask a question, provide a few pieces of information to fuel the discussion and then allow you to weigh in. My hope is that different opinions and points of view can be presented in a way that will shed new light on the subject, as this is a question that has bewildered me for years.

With that said, here we go:

Is the Apple computer really as superior to a Windows computer as many Mac users would have you believe?

And now for the reasoning for this question:

Market Share

Although Windows and Apple computers have been around for decades, Windows has enjoyed dominate market share. Actual numbers vary, but Apple appears to have around 10% of the U.S. market (one analyst claims a 21% market share) and less than 3% of the worldwide market. Windows market share is slipping, but it still holds nearly 90% of the market.

Apple sales are growing rapidly, with sales 6 times that of the overall growth in computer sales. Coincidentally, the largest growth in Apple computer sales has come since the switch to an Intel platform allowing Windows to run on an Apple.

If Windows is so flawed and the Apple OS so superior, why are 9 out of 10 computers running Windows?

Apple Knows How to Dominate a Market

There is no doubt that Apple knows how to produce and market a product that can slaughter the competition. Take the iPod for example. Roughly 70% of all MP3 players are iPods. Look around any gym in America and you quickly realize just how many devices Apple has sold.

When Apple entered an already saturated phone market with the iPhone, they quickly made their presence felt. In 2008, over 10 million iPhones were sold. Apple has become the third largest cell phone company in terms of revenue and shipped more phones than RIM (the maker of Blackberry smartphones) during the third quarter of last year. During that same quarter, the iPhone outsold the well-established Windows Mobile smartphones in all of their various incarnations.

Add to these remarkable successes the strong media sales through iTunes and the App Store and you really get the feeling that Apple knows how to sell a product.

With such dominance in the electronic device market, why does Windows still dominate in the computer market?

Back To Our Question

If Apple has shown that they can dominate a market on numerous occasions but still hold a very small percentage of the computer market, is the Apple computer really as superior to a Windows computer as many Mac users would have you believe?

I can’t wait to hear what everyone has to say.

By the way, I am hoping for an intelligent discussion on the subject. Since I have already had Apple enthusiasts claim that Mac users will “eat my lunch” and that I should “consider another vocation”, let’s keep me out of the discussion. I got enough harassment at family gatherings over the holidays. This is purely about which computer system is better and why.

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Apple or Windows? You Chime In.

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Although I spend much of my time inside on the computer, I managed to pry myself away and geek out at TechCrunch’s 2nd annual Crunchies Awards last Friday night. The event was held at Herbst Theatre in San Francisco and was attended by top tech-heads  Mark Zuckerberg  (CEO & founder of Facebook), Evan Williams & Biz Stone (founders of Twitter), Marissa Mayer (Product Manager for Google), Loic Le Meur (CEO of Seesmic), and yes, @McHammer!

The awards ceremony was a mish-mash of tech presenters, mini-interviews, and fairly predictable commentary. But thanks to the hilarious and highly technical musings offered by the Richter Scales new hit, the Standford Mobile Phone Orchestra (who played Stairway to Heaven on their iPhones), and the spicy Sesame Street inspired videos via Loren Feldman…..the event was worth the $65.

The Crunchies After Party was held across the street in the San Francisco City Hall Rotunda!  Drinks and food were aplenty, along with a little on and offline gaming! But I mostly enjoyed playing with my future birthday present (hint, hint @renicolay), the Microsoft Surface! Clearly the most high-tech coffee table one could ask for (like say, for her birthday). But at $15,000 a pop (plus another $5000 or so for the operating system), it will take me about 15 birthdays to earn one!  Still worth every penny in my opinion! I had a front row seat and played contently (wine in hand). Reggie (my hot date) and I also spoke with David Smith, Account Director at Microsoft, about the mainstream release of this unit (3-6 months), as well as how real estate professionals could benefit.  Check out our video below…

Personally, I think listing presentations would kick ass on the Surface. Imagine sitting around a coffee table leading your clients through a visual, hands-on presentation of your expertise, market comparables, and marketing plan. In addition, stagers and home improvement pros would be awestruck (I was) at the ability to place objects (like a tile) on the table and receive automated visual Web results for suppliers and comparisons.  Throw down a picture of your current home and view examples of what that tile would look like in your home, as well as other instant home improvements. This would be the perfect tool for showing sellers which upgrades to focus on to get the most value out of their home.  Obviously, the price is a bit steep for this market, but a progressive brokerage could definitely stand out in a crowd if placed in a comfortable front reception area. I wouldn’t let teenagers off the street play with it, but leading new buyers through a local pre-tour would be impressive to say the least.

Overall, the highlight of the evening was definitely connecting with some highly technical Twits. I briefly mentioned to Reggie that it would “make my evening” (honestly, my year) if the opportunity to meet @ev or @biz arose. And thanks to timing and Reggie’s keen eye, we spotted @ev and introduced ourselves. Evan Williams “@ev” is a blogfather and genius technical innovator who has founded both Blogger and the most popular micro-sharing platform, Twitter!!!! He was kind enough to let us give him the lowdown on Twitter for real estate and his gorgeous wife, Sarah, happily snapped a picture!

All in all, I’ll be adding The Crunchies to my “don’t miss” event list for next year as well.  But perhaps someone could hook me up with some preferred seats next time. I’d be happy to volunteer…say as the “hot chick award giver or stage babe” (i.e. Rumer Willis at the Golden Globes). I know models are usually chosen for that…but for technology awards I think a “geek girl” is much more apropos!

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OK, now that I have your attention, how do I propose you do this? Connect all of your electronic devices to your network. Printers, external hard drives, media card readers, plug them all into your network.

How does this simplify?

  • You only need one printer and one external hard drive since everyone can share them easily through the network.
  • Need to access your real estate partner’s files? Have them saved to a network connected drive and quite bugging them to email it to you.
  • Print wirelessly from your couch (I love this one).
  • All devices remain connected, so go mobile with your laptop doesn’t require disconnecting numerous USB cables.

Many printers and external drives are network-ready, but they tend to come at a premium price. Also, what if you already have USB-only devices and you don’t want the expense of replacing them? This is where the Belkin Network USB Hub comes in.

Plug the Belkin Network USB Hub into your network and virtually any of your USB devices become network devices. With 5 USB ports, this hub provides plenty of room for an all-in-one printer, laser printer, external hard drive, flash drive, card reader or any other devices that would benefit from network access.

At $100, the Belkin Network USB Hub is a lot cheaper than replacing all of your USB devices with network-capable models.

There’s nothing like breathing new life into aging technology.

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Simplify Your Real Estate Technology Needs

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