Neha Tiwari Pvt. Ltd.

In this downward spiral of a market, it seems that no one is safe. You can be the shining faces of a network, but that does not guarantee you will have a spot on next weeks lineup. You can be exceptionally talented at what you do, but still, there is no refuge.

I found out a few hours ago that many of my esteemed former colleagues were let go at Revision3. Being someone who worked closely with each and everyone of these people, I am shocked and saddened. Sarah Lane is the queen of tech programming, someone who I thought would have been the last gal standing. Heather, Moujan, Brett, and many of the other members of the popSiren crew were brilliant. Many of my former team members are not only talented, but genuinely good people who would add to any company.

I know that there are business reasons as far as why this took place, but it never is an easy thing to swallow. popSiren was a show I helped build, and to see it go is very much like knowing you will never see a good friend again. I know that many of you who read this blog discovered me on Revision3, and know that you too must be confused and upset. Please use this as a forum to sound off your feelings.

Your Nerd Bird is here for ya…

As of late, a lot of Twitter add-on sites have been popping up. Whether it’s just coincidence, or because third-party Summize was acquired by Twitter, there are suddenly many ways to spice up your Twitter life.

One such web application is Qwitter [Note: not Qwitter, the site dedicated to smokers hoping to quit]. Launched last week, the basic premise of the service is to inform when people stop following you. The particular tweet that made them “qwit” you is also cited.

I tried out Qwitter for a few days, and I have to say, it was a little depressing. The fact that Skurfiss stopped following my tweets after I nicely said good night was strange, and made me wonder why. I was just being polite and wishing him and all my Twitter friends good night, after all! Does that truly offend anyone?

Plus, I don’t really know Mr. Skurfiss in real life so I am not all that broken up about it. If it was a “real” and not “virtual” friend, I think I would be slightly offended.

The real question behind this all is, what makes a single tweet worthy enough to stop following someone? Sure, I have un-followed fellow twitterers but that decision is mostly based on the frequency of tweets and the content. It can get annoying with Woot.com is holding a Woot-off and that is all you see for pages and pages. Hence, being unfollowed by @nehalia.

Qwitter is a fun service to try and I think that it may be enjoyable for some of the more controversial or polar Twitter profiles. Some interesting features to add would be a chart monitoring your losses for the week, a scoreboard for the most un-followed person, and perhaps a public posting of the most un-followed tweet ever. I would suggest that Twitter users should try it out, but for a middle of the road user like me, it was nothing but heartbreak [kidding--it's just Twitter!]

The Apple iPhone is known for its sleekness, innovative design, and connectivity. It also has the reputation of being incredibly fragile.

When the klutziest girl I know [me] became an owner most delicate gadget on the market [iPhone 3G], a durable case was in high order. Even with my Blackberry Pearl, I employed a hard case to protect the smaller screen and retrospectively brick-like body.

Most iPhones I have seen are covered by the typical Neoprene case, which looks relatively flimsy and useless other than protection from superficial body scratches. I wanted something with more substance but not necessarily bulkier. Ergo, I looked into 5 different cases, all under $50 and appearing as tough as nails. Each has something positive, but I think it’s important to note which is the best case for the value. Here’s a rundown, in no particular order:

1. OtterBox iPhone 3G Defender Case [Black, Pink; $49.95]

OtterBox is a brand that thrives on durability. I have researched the Defender Series in the past, and this iteration is made specifically for the iPhone 3G. This case has 3 layers of protection: a clear polycarbonate case on screen; Polycarbonate hard skeleton; Silicone skin on exterior.

All of these layers do make for a tough cover, however, there seems to be some contact lost between the buttons on the phone and the cover. I also liked how there was some clearance between the case and the screen. This could be good if your drop your phone face forward.

There also is a pretty rad window on the back to rep the apple logo, which is aesthetically nice. Also, just a warning– don’t dunk your iPhone in the pool with this case; it does not protect from water like other OtterBoxes!

Also Includes: Rotating Holster

2. Speck ToughSkin Rugged Rubber Case [Black; $34.95]

This iPhone 3G case manufacturer is not afraid to experiment with ingredients.

Speck constructs cases from a number of materials including fabric, nylon, man-made leather, and polycarbonate hard plastic. The ToughSkin Rugged is made out of rubber that offers great shock absorbing properties. The ridges on the parameter of the case allow for comprehensive protection of the phone.
The trade off is the bulk and strange shape for pocket-carrying. Another feature is the bottom hinge which allows easy docking and serves as a method to hoist the iPhone when needed.

Also Includes: Rotating Holster

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