How Twitter is Changing the World

6 years ago if something happened in the news you would turn on the tv or read on numerous websites about the situation from multiple sources. Nowadays if anything happens you can type in the relative keyword to twitter and all the information will be there, in one feed, at the same time for you to read. Twitter has changed the way we receive information every day. We can now follow anyone we want and hear what they have to say. We can follow celebrities, politicians, musicians writers, comedians, and follow their updates as they tweet news, shows, jokes, thoughts, and anything else. I personally dont use twitter for tweeting but I use it as a news source because I know what I will be given all the information, all sides of the story from multiple sources on one feed. It is instant information to your computer or phone and it is incredible. Never in history where we able to receive information this fast from as many sources. We share news, photos, music, jokes, and general thoughts on twitter for the world to hear and to respond back with their comments and thoughts. It doesn't matter who you are, or where you work, or how much money you make, or where you live, your voice will always be heard on Twitter. Twitter is one of the most revolutionary creations in recent history and it will only get better from here.

How Twitter Changed the Way We Live


- Asaf

Apple's Got Some Catching Up to Do

Since Apple came out with their first iPod I have always been an avid Apple fan, buying their iMac, iPad, and iPhones. My family and I owns 10 Apple products so I am surrounded with their innovative technological products everyday. I use my iPhone, iPad, and iMac everyday for multiple purposes and I am very satisfy with how amazing, fast, sleek, useful these products are. There are millions of people like me who use and appreciate Apple products everyday but the competition is growing and Apple may have some catching up to do. Google, one of their biggest competitors  is giving their customers the choice to have a phone that has a 5 inch screen, customizable homepage page, revolutionary hardware, Android OS, and many other options. No matter how long someone has been with Apple they are sick of that stale homepage with all the apps on it, and some are considering moving on and switching to Android. Consumers want choice, and they aren't experiencing that with every iPhone, iPad and iMac very similar to the previous model. Apple has amazing products and they always delivered on their promise to create a beautiful user experience but they are very strict on customization. They don't allow a lot of customer customization because they believe what they made already is perfect for everyone. Google is announcing its new flagship phone, Samsung Galaxy S4, on March 14th and the hype over that phone is so big, it is being predicted to sell more than the iPhone 5. Last year Apple came out with an iPhone, an iMac, 2 iPads, and a new Macbook Pro with Retina. All of these products have surpassed sales records and are still selling at incredible rates. However as 2013 rolls around Apple has a lot of pressure from fans, shareholders, and the general public as they have to reveal something complete revolutionary to keep up with Google. They will be announcing the new iPhone, Macbook Air, and iPad 5 this year and it has to be something fans have never seen before in order to keep Apple alive. Google is doing amazing things with their products because customization is a big key of their user experience, some Apple is hiding from us. Apple is the second most valuable company in the world, but how long will they stay that way?

Article about the rumored Apple Watch

El Clásico

Throughout the history of soccer there have been many rivalries between clubs that spilt a nation apart;  but there has never been a stronger rivalry than FC Barcelona and Real Madrid as they fight for the right to be named the best soccer team in Spain. These teams have played each other 254 times throughout 111 years and each match has been grimy and competitive as the last. Barca and Madrid have always had honor representing their respected cities in Spain so every time they clash they represent their fans more than anything, a driving force in the rivalry. Recently the past few years this rivalry has been heating up lately with such world class players as Leo Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Pepe, and Iker Casillas playing against each other. Every match between these clubs is a race to the top, to see who is the best in Spain, and to see which team can play in melody and soccer the most goals. Both of these teams are starr studded, but what's more important is how the players play with each other and how strong the team chemistry is. Through their recent matches, players have gotten violent with each other and as the tensions raise all they worry about is winning the game. The two teams are meeting each other for the Copa del Rey playoffs on 2.27.13 and for a La Liga match on 3.3.13. These games are promised to evenly matched, close duels where a team would win by only a goal or two. There will be violence, anger, emotions, and even blood when the teams play because there is nothing more important to them than this rivalry  When each player goes out to represent his club he is representing himself, his city, and his fans and will do anything to make sure his club wins. These games are always classics and when Real Madrid plays Barcelona it will always be referred to by the fans as "El Clásico".

Source- El Clasico

Benefits of Blogging

One of the questions we were discussing in class was the benefits of blogging for companies. Companies who blog are able to communicate with their customers directly though the internet. Blogging is an amazing marketing tool that allows companies to post about their products, updates, and any news about the company that they would like to share with the general public. If they release a product page they can see how many people viewed it and based on that help forecast sales figures on the item. Companies utilize blogging to get their word out quickly to their fans and followers and it is quite effective.

An example of a great businessman getting his word out via blogging.

Mark Cuban's Blog

Blogging is also beneficial for individual bloggers. Anyone online can start a blog and blog about anything they want and if their content is good enough and wanted they will be able to reach a large audience and monetize with the use of advertising of their page. Bloggers may want to review products, movies, music, post short stories, poems, or anything they want. If a college students blogs and his colleagues read the posts the blog may become widespread and his ideas will be shared throughout the internet.

The beauty of blogging is that regardless if you are a company, or an individual  a blog allows you to get your ideas out and communicate with others online.

One of my favorite tech blogs- TechCrunch

-Asaf

Shopping for Glasses

Yesterday I was at the optics getting a new pair of glasses for the semester because I broke my previous pair. I needed them badly to see but also I wanted to buy a fashionable pair. However all the frames that I found attractive were name brand and was about $400 dollars in total with lenses, frames, and prescription. $400 dollars for a pair of glasses was ridiculous so I bought a non brand company for less and when I got home I did some investigative research to see why eye glasses are so expensive. It happens that the eyeglasses industry is controlled by a monopoly, an Italian company Luxottica. This company owns Ray- Bans, Oakley, Vogue, and makes frames for Brooks Brothers, Chanel, Coach, DKNY, Versace, Prada, Tiffany & Co, Prada, Ralph Lauren and many more brands. In addition to producing these glasses outside America for about 30 dollars a frame (and marketing them up to $500), they own Sunglasses Hut, Lenscrafters, Sears' Optics, Target Optics, and Pearle Vision. Because they produce most of the name brand eyeglasses and control the outlet stores that sell these glasses Luxoticca basically is a price maker in the market and can charge ridiculous amounts of money for glasses. Cconsumers have no choice but to pay if they want to wear name brand glasses. This is a perfect example of how a monopoly forces customers to pay so much more money than they have to.

A few entrepreneurs were fed up of Luxottica and their tyranny so they created a new, online shop for glasses in 2011 called Warby Parker. Warby Parker is a glasses outlet that sells amazing, high quality frames ranging from $95-$135 dollars. These glasses are hand produced in NYC and the consumer has an array of frames to choose from. In addition for every pair of glasses someone buys they donate a pair to someone in need. They ship you 5 free pairs to try on at home, as well as a virtual try on option to see how the frames will fit your face before you buy. When you are ready to buy you can scan and upload your script online to their site and they will send you a pair of glasses for $95 dollars. That is it. 95 dollars for frames, lenses, taxes, shipping, and script. In addition they have brick and morter stores in NYC and are opening more and more around the country for the true in store glasses experience. I am extremely impressed by this company and I am so happy someone is fighting back Luxoticca in the this industry. My next pair of glasses will defiantly be from Warby Parker.

I decided to blog about this because honestly most people don't know that Luxoticca is a monopoly that controls the eye glasses market. Most people just figure that they are paying ridiculous amounts of money because its a designer pair not knowing all designer pairs were made by one company. This issue needs to be bought to more people's attention so they can realize there is a solution to a problem like this, such as Warby Parker. You shouldn't spend $400 dollars to see clearly.

Check out their official site at Warby Parker Online Shop!


-Asaf

CIS 3810 Post 1

Game of Thrones!

For my first blog post I wanted to talk about one of my favorite book series A Song of Ice and Fire by George RR Martin. This 5 book series chronicles certain characters as they fight for the crown of the iron throne of Westeros, a fictional city set in medieval history. These books have violence, fantasy  love, action, drama, adventure, and leaves the audience wanting more every chapter. George RR Martin has an amazing tendency to develop characters over time to make them intriguing and lovable to the readers. While 2 more books on the way, this story has every character doing whatever they have to make sure they become king of westeros. I usually don't read fantasy books but I cannot praise this book series anymore. Martin is a genius in his words and makes sure that the audience understands the struggle every character is going through to achieve what they have to to claim the right to the throne. The characters back stories are so interesting, and it is amazing how every relates back to a central back theme and storyline that makes the reader truly understand the complexity of the story and timeline of the books.

HBO adapted this book series into a tv show called Game of Thrones which became extremely popular in its first two seasons. The production team for this show shoots in Dublin, England, Iceland, and makes the settings as authentic as possible building every stage from the ground up to make sure it matches the descriptions from the book. The computers animation team put in amazing effort to make all the effects look as real as possible, and the end result on tv is simply a piece of work. The acting of the show is simply outstanding as each individual actor bleeds to make sure the audience understands the struggle of their character. As HBO gears to premiere season 3 of Game of Thrones on 3.31.13, more and more people anticipate what will happen to these characters.

Even though I greatly enjoy the tv show I recommend everybody to read the book series because it goes more in depth in the character's life and history and exemplifies the history of Westeros which helps the audience understand and predict what will happen in the future. Instead of waiting for what will happen next episode on the tv show, just read the books.

Game of Thrones Encyclopedia

-Asaf