Sunny Ahn’s WebLog

Congrats again to my company, Context Connect, for receiving another patent, this time in China.   For more information, visit the company site at www.contextconnect.com

Those looking to submit a press release should look at the following list.  Some sites are free, but generally the “paying” sites offer better coverage with news sites:

PRWeb – http://www.prweb.com
PR Urgent – http://www.prurgent.com
PRLeap – http://www.prleap.com
PR Newswire – http://www.prnewswire.com
PRWeb Direct – http://www.prwebdirect.com
The Open Press – http://www.theopenpress.com
Free Press Release – http://www.free-press-release.com
Pressbox.co.uk – http://www.pressbox.co.uk
I-Newswire – http://www.i-newswire.com
PR Free – http://www.prfree.com
OpenPress – http://www.openpress.com
Press Release Network – http://www.pressreleasenetwork.com
Soft Press Release – http://www.softpressrelease.com
Market Wire – http://www.marketwire.com
URL Wire – http://www.urlwire.com
Web Wire – http://www.webwire.com
EMediaWire – http://www.emediawire.com
BusinessWire – http://www.businesswire.com
Canada Newswire – http://www.newswire.ca
Press Release Network – http://www.pressreleasenetwork.com

While I generally do not like advocating the services of a company (particularly in a public forum), there is a good website that provides a simple and inexpensive way to create marketing materials, such as business cards, brochures and other materials.  Vista Print provides simple-to-use templates that individuals to use to create their own look and feel, particularly those small to medium business folks looking to create simple products – they often have free samples just to test them out – www.vistaprint.com/vip

I was recently introduced to a website, www.farecast.com, that provides individuals with information on whether to buy for flights now or wait, based on their airfare prediction technology.  While it only provides information for key domestic cities (no international cities yet), the site is full of interesting information such as booking fees and bonus miles by airlines. 

We purchased a slingbox the other day and I must say that I’m hooked.  What a great product for those that want to connect to their local TV channels while traveling on the road.  Through the great use of the Internet, you can connect your computer, via a broadband connection, to your cable box at home – enabling access to TV watching.

While the quality of the picture could improve, the product is impressive:

1) simple out of the box experience.  The setup of the hardware is down right simple.  Even if you don’t have your Internet router next to your cable box (or cable outlet), you can purchase their SlingLink product which connects them through your electrical wiring - it a snap to use.  The software is simple as well – just follow the basic directions

2) elegent design.  The product’s look and feel is small and unique, not cluncky like a VCR or DVD player.

3) multiple computer access.  While only one computer can view the cable stations at a time, you can load the software on multiple computers. 

4) no subscription fee.  There is no subscription fee to use the service.  Just pay for the hardware and you’re all set.

Living in a tourist town like Newburyport certainly has its pros and cons.  While I enjoy the natural beauty of the town, the number of people that visit here each year has grown so significantly (in my eyes) that it has seriously effected the behavior and activity of many residents.  While I guess its a tribute to the town’s efforts to make it an attractive destination, it is unfortunate that many folks/residents I know actually spend less time in town, particularly during the summer, then years before. 

That being said, one of the big events of the town is a 9 day annual festival called Yankee Homecoming. While I’m not typically a fan for festivals, it certainly highlights all the activities the town and even the state have put into restoring and preserving Newburyport. In fact there was a nice tribute for Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy last night. 

The festival has become so popular that the town must actual triple in population, particularly during some of the free evening concerts on the waterfront each night.