English — Martin Hofmann

The ROI of putting your pants on

August 31, 2010 By Martin Leave a Comment

“The notion of saying, ‘What’s the ROI of social media?’ is, at its broadest sense the right notion. But it’s the wrong question. You may as well ask what the ROI of putting your pants on every day is. You know there’s a value to it, but it’s hard to measure. It’s about what specific objectives we’re setting out, how we measure against those objectives, and how those all lead to a better reputation for the company, increasing market share, increasing excitement about the brand.”

Scott Monty, head of social media at Ford, in an interview with Marketing Magnified eJournal, August 2010

Filed Under: Articles of Note, Ongoing

Social intranet is not just about adding social features

August 24, 2010 By Martin Leave a Comment

Oscar Berg’s article is a recommended read for anyone interested in social intranets. Read it here.

Most people will, if they’ don’t already, come to understand that a social intranet is not just about adding features such as blogs, wikis, activity feeds, social bookmarking and micro-blogging on top of a traditional intranet; it’s about rethinking the purpose of intranets with the intention of bringing the paradigm shift in how we communicate and collaborate that is taking place on the web to the very core of how enterprises are operated and managed.

From The business case for social intranets by Oscar Berg

Found via @thumbtackhead

Filed Under: Ongoing

Toronto skyline from our seats at BMO Field

August 8, 2010 By Martin Leave a Comment

Filed Under: Ongoing

Interesting new touch UI for Windows 7 devices

August 1, 2010 By Martin Leave a Comment

I like the approach UI Centric is taking here.

Filed Under: Ongoing

Preview of Windows Phone 7 by Engadget

July 19, 2010 By Martin Leave a Comment

Engadget provides a good run-through of the new Windows Phone 7 user interface in the video below. The full article and photos can be found here.

Filed Under: Ongoing

Hans Zimmer and Johnny Marr perform live

July 14, 2010 By Martin Leave a Comment

Haven’t seen the movie Inception yet but I quite like the musical cooperation by Hans Zimmer and Johnny Marr. Here is a video of the Inception premiere, which includes a live performance with orchestra.

Filed Under: Ongoing

Toshiba Libretto tablet with two screens

June 23, 2010 By Martin Leave a Comment

Interesting concept tablet computer from Toshiba running Windows 7. Reminds me a little bit of what Microsoft had planned with the Courier concept. I am not a big fan of touch keyboards in general but would love to try out this one, and see what kind of custom apps Toshiba has developed for it. According to eWeek, Toshiba will make this “two slates in one” notebook available in limited numbers “later this summer”. I will try to get my hands on one to play around with it.

Filed Under: Ongoing, Technology

Overview of Windows Phone 7

June 20, 2010 By Martin Leave a Comment

New Microsoft video provides an overview of key features in Windows Phone 7. I like the look and feel but will reserve judgement until I actually get to try it out on a real phone myself.

Filed Under: High Road, Ongoing, Technology

Jeff Bezos: In the end, we are our choices

June 19, 2010 By Martin Leave a Comment

Outstanding speech from Jeff Bezos to Princeton students: “In the end, we are our choices. Build yourself a great story.”

Here is a longer excerpt. Full speech can be found here.

Tomorrow, in a very real sense, your life — the life you author from scratch on your own — begins. How will you use your gifts? What choices will you make?

Will inertia be your guide, or will you follow your passions?

Will you follow dogma, or will you be original?

Will you choose a life of ease, or a life of service and adventure?

Will you wilt under criticism, or will you follow your convictions?

Will you bluff it out when you’re wrong, or will you apologize?

Will you guard your heart against rejection, or will you act when you fall in love?

Will you play it safe, or will you be a little bit swashbuckling?

When it’s tough, will you give up, or will you be relentless?

Will you be a cynic, or will you be a builder?

Will you be clever at the expense of others, or will you be kind?

I will hazard a prediction. When you are 80 years old, and in a quiet moment of reflection narrating for only yourself the most personal version of your life story, the telling that will be most compact and meaningful will be the series of choices you have made. In the end, we are our choices. Build yourself a great story.