Why I Love Windows 8

WRITTEN BY BLAKE MILLER, PARTNER AT THINK BIG PARTNERS

Think Big Partners recently partnered with Microsoft on a number of fronts.  It’s been incredibly exciting to get hands support from a company so dedicated to helping entrepreneurs, especially in the Accelerator space.  One of the biggest perks of all has been the opportunity to dive into the new Windows 8 platform before (almost) anyone else in the country.  With access to the Samsung Slate loaded with Windows 8 (which I now conveniently use as my laptop and can easily plug in to my desktop screen) as well as exposure to the Windows 8-loaded new Surface, I’ve gotten a glimpse at the new Microsoft products that are starting to rock the tech world. 

I am most excited about the new Windows App Store.  The creation of any new app store provides entrepreneurs and developers with even more opportunities.  The new app store, as of now, has a low amount of noise, which gives entrepreneurs the chance to create unique apps and get them in front of users quite easily.

In addition, the Windows Store “rules” (I guess I should call them “unwritten rules”) haven’t been written yet.  This new app store is intriguing in its ability to reset the way developers price their apps.  In my opinion, every app needs to have a price tag.  It’s important for entrepreneurs, developers and app builders to get out of the trap of free apps (plus, Windows lets you host a “trial” period for your app—allowing users to try it for free!).  I think that the Windows Store could potentially create a new revenue stream and a “new normal” for the pricing of apps.

And although I am excited about the new Windows Store, I am absolutely blown away by the Microsoft hardware that Think Big Partners has received.  Yes, the new Surface is killer—but I have been using the Samsung Slate for a few weeks now and cannot get over how quick and snappy everything feels.  Not to mention, the ability to run it on a duel screen.

Currently, I have a ton of applications open on my Slate.  And they’re not small either.  I’m running Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Spotify, this Word Document, and of course, the Internet, all from one powerful, thin Slate.  And guess what?  It’s keeping up (and passing this developer’s speed expectations).

There’s no doubt about it—there are critics out there—people that don’t believe that Windows can keep up with iOS.   I’m as shocked as the next person that I converted from a laptop to using a just a slate for my primary computing needs.  But it works.  And the reviews speak for themselves (and while you’re at it, check out this other Microsoft article too).

I adapt pretty quickly when it comes to new technology—but I am aware that others don’t.  I’ll admit: Windows 8 is different.  It definitely has a learning curve that new users may struggle with.  Getting used to the Charms Bar, the corner-driven usability and the shortcuts did take me a few hours to get used to.
 
Think Big Partners is going to be hosting the Microsoft Windows 8 Kansas City Bootcamp—a one-day tech-focused bootcamp that will educate startups and developers on how to use Windows 8 (and it takes place during Global Entrepreneurship Week).  Attendees can actually play around on the Slates and Surfaces (yes, I’ll even let you use mine...I guess...) and learn the ins-and-outs of Windows 8 and the Windows Store.  Trust me, you’re going to need to know this stuff.

Interested in learning more about Windows 8?  Register today for the event or sound-off with any questions you have in the Comments Section below.

Follow me! @blakemiller32

Blogging from the Bus: Day 2 of StartupBus

Blake Miller, partner and web developer at Think Big Partners, was chosen to participate in StartupBus, a 72-hour roadtrip-meets-hackathon from Vegas to Austin.  Along the way, "Buspreneurs" create and launch a startup and present it to venture capitalists at SXSW.  This is Blake's experience:`


Here we are about 40 hours into the StartupBus adventure and we are about to launch a company!  Forty hours!!!


I’ll say that one more time…40 hours!


We have conceived and developed our idea to its maximum potential and now we're on the verge of launching a company in under two days.


What company you ask?  http://GetWished.com.


GetWished is gift giving re-imagined.  Because honestly, the way we see it, traditional registries and wishlists suck!


Imagine this: An elegant platform to create a list that displays all of your wishes, desires and wants. The platform allows you to also surf the Internet adding anything you want to that list, share your wishlist with your Facebook friends, and with a few simple clicks, provide all of your friends and family with the ability to fulfill those wishes.


Wish Granted.


GetWished allows your friends and family to purchase gifts that you actually want.  Wishing for something big? No problem. With our group buying platform, chipping in has never been easier. That Justin Bieber VIP Experience you’ve been eyeing is now a few steps closer to reality...because of GetWished.


Sounds pretty cool, huh?  We think so. But the opportunity is SO MUCH BIGGER than it sounds.


I will leave you with a few rando­m thoughts from the bus…

1. A word to the wise: Internet connection in the desert sucks!
2. The dynamic of our team is pretty inspiring.  You have six total strangers who came together in literally a matter of minutes and work together like a symphony.  I’ve done Hackathons and Startup Weekends before and it’s nothing like this.  At those events, I, at the very least, knew of the people that I was joining teams with.  This (at least in my experience), results in an initial surge of excitement because your friends usually don’t hold you that accountable.  Our team has been a game the entire time.  Pretty cool if you ask me.
3. Quote of the Day.  “I feel like I’m in a horrible movie mashup of the movie Speed and Hackers, only with no Angelina or Sandra."
4. And please remember...

We launch TODAY!

Follow us on Twitter @getwished

Like us on Facebook.com/getwished


AND MOST IMPORTANT: Signup so I can get you in to start using GetWished first.
AND TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW: The more traction we can get, the better our grading point will be for the finals.


Also look for another email tomorrow asking for your help with the StartupBus Game.


Follow me! @BlakeMiller32

Blogging from the Bus: Day 1 of StartupBus

Blake Miller, partner and web developer at Think Big Partners, was chosen to participate in StartupBus, a 72-hour roadtrip-meets-hackathon from Vegas to Austin.  Along the way, "Buspreneurs" create and launch a startup and present it to venture capitalists at SXSW.  This is Blake's experience: 

It’s 4:15pm on the first day of StartupBus and we are somewhere in the desert between Vegas and Phoenix.  

I’m not even sure where to start.  

I landed in Vegas last night and hit the ground running right away.   The Vegas tech community hosted a launch party for us “Buspreneurs” to get to know each other right off the bat.  I must say, it feels very similar to the Kansas City tech scene that I am so accustomed to.  

We started this morning at userlib, a Vegas coworking facility with a very cool vibe.  There was no time wasted in getting going.  The first to pitch?  Me.  Although my idea wasn't chosen, it did fall in line with another Buspreneur's idea, so finding the right team was easy.  

My team is made up of myself, Fred Guest, Jesse Ditson, Crystal Chang, Diana Mounter, and Isaac Lewis.  We put our heads together and decided to create a universal registry system called GetWished.  Now that we have our idea in place, we're ready to roll.  Currently, I'm hacking away with my fellow Buspreneurs somewhere in the middle of the desert (never thought I'd say that!).  

To keep track of our progress, follow GetWished on Twitter (twitter.com/getwished) and like us on Facebook (facebook.com/getwished).  More importantly go to http://getwished.com and signup to be the first ones to GetWished! 

Stay tuned...I'll keep you posted throughout the week with more blogging from the bus!

Follow Blake! @blakemiller32

Follow StartupBus! @TheStartupBus

My Top 8 Internet Trends for 2012

WRITTEN BY BLAKE MILLER, PARTNER AT THINK BIG PARTNERS 

The start of a new year means so much more than new resolutions, a fresh start and a rejuvenated mind.  In my opinion, 2012 means the birth of even more exciting Internet developments and innovations.  From the birth of Smart Cities to the death of the QR Code, I believe that the Internet will undergo an extreme (and positive) transformation this year.  How so?  Take a look at my top 8 predictions for Internet trends in 2012: 

1.      People will actually start using the Internet to communicate.  I know what you'er thinking: We already use Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. to interact with people.  True, but these social media sites are just the tip of the iceberg. In 2012, I believe voice calls over the Internet will actually become somewhat of the norm, but not in the way you think.  Look for phone apps that allow you to bypass your carrier service and connect through WiFi.  My wildcard bet? Facebook's Messenger app adds voice calling and effectively becomes the Whitepages of the Internet.

2.      The Internet will continue its transition to everything in our lives.  Yes, the Internet is already everywhere; laptops, PCS, iPads, smartphones, etc. But watch for appliances, toys, cars, and even more to have Internet connectivity.  Imagine a world where you can check items into your fridge and when you are at the grocery store, you can login in through your fridge app and see what you need.

3.      Government legislation.   We have already seen the start of this with the absolutely absurd legislation of the SOPA Act.   Unfortunately, I don’t think this will be the end of the government preventing innovation.

4.      Municipalities and cities becoming open source.  Also known as Smart Cities, we have already started to see cities open up their data sets for entrepreneurs to use.  Look for more cities to get “smart” and companies like Screampoint to take advantage of that mass amount of invaluable data.

5.      The infrastructure of the Internet will become a major focus.  Google Fiber anyone?  Since the birth of the Internet, it has been a platform for apps.  This includes everything from websites to what we consider apps today.  The app trend will continue, but I think generally it is in its “mature state.”  As we continue to create more data (I read somewhere that more data has been created in the last three years than the previous 40,000...WOW!) we will need the infrastructure to transmit that.  Enter the Google Fiber project.  What would I bet on?  That entrepreneurs will start to light whole cities with WiFi access...some of it free.

6.      Forgetting your wallet home will not be a problem.  Companies like Square and Google have already started this trend in the middle of 2011.   Just recently, Dwolla announced Instant, which allows you to borrow up to $500 with very small fees.  As Dwolla grows and merchants hop on board as a method to pay, you can make a purchase straight from an app. If your not familiar with Dwolla, you really should be.  

7.      Mobile hardware will actually catch up to the capabilities of mobile software.  Okay...so this is a pipe dream, but hopefully there will be strides made.  Can you imagine if battery life was increased just 5 times what it currently is?

8.      Death to the QR Code!  Alright, alright.  This is another pipe dream for me and I don’t think I’m alone.  Why did Americans hop on an archaic technology?! There are so many other ways to simplify! 

Follow me! @BlakeMiller32