Marcus Couch

For some time I’ve forgotten about this blog. It’s interesting to see how good intentions often follow by the wayside in the life of an online marketer. For the last year it seems like I’ve been awake, planted in front of a computer, and nothing else.

My apologies blog! I’ll not neglect you like that any more! I have a WONDERFUL new tech gadget called the Nokia N810 Internet Tablet. It is very lightweight and portable (fits in your POCKET) and will allow me to keep in touch with the world while still on the go.

Ironically I have a Nokia N810 promo code that will save 15% on the device ($72 in US!) bringing the total cost to just over $400 including shipping. Enter the N810 coupon SCENEZINE at NokiaUSA.com/n810. Other countries can get in on the action as well. Check out the N810 Promo Code site for specific country links.

More later. I just wanted to start with one post and we’ll take it one post at a time from here forward. Lots of stuff going on. Many new podcasts, a new company, new new new.

MC

New toilet is flush with fish - Yahoo! News

Well, I did need a new fish tank anyway!

Funny how fate throws things at you. One year ago, I never would have suspected that a long streak of luck would be steaming in our direction. 2006 was the best year of my life, and 2007 is already just as good! I’ve got a new day gig now, and I couldn’t be happier about the place I work and the people I work with. Working at this new place is an ironic twist. I am doing online marketing management for one of the most respected and recognizable business magazines in the world. Combine this with the fact that I have a series of successful podcasts and a Sirius Radio show, and you’ve got one happy rocking businessman! Now all we have to do is find a condo to buy so I can rebuild my studio and REALLY do some shows! Not to mention getting to sleep in a REAL bed. We’ve been on an air mattress for 4 months!! Small price to pay for a dream I suppose.

The Zoom H4 personal recorder is something that I will be investigating just after CES. It is a recorder with 2 XLRs and several other inputs and outputs. It has inline level meter (most important tool there is), fx, and SD card recording.

Looks really good so far, but that’s probably because I haven’t seen a street price on it yet.

Manufacturer product page: Samson - Zoom - H4

Product Demo Movie (Quicktime): CLICK HERE

The Digital Watermarking Alliance, launched in September of 2006 by a number of technology companies, has officially announced its support for the idea of selling music in the MP3 format, which Yahoo and others have been experimenting with recently.

Thomson, which owns the right to license the MP3 format, is a predictable member of the alliance (if the labels end up using MP3 to sell music, they would end up owing Thomson money). Other members include companies that make watermarking technology, one that specializes in monitoring broadcasts, and others that use a combination of the two to prevent copyrighted maps and films from being distributed illegally.

The digital watermarks from DWA member companies are apparently inaudible, despite being embedded directly into the audio signal. They survive digital-to-analog conversion, as well as most bit rate conversions — as long as the resulting bit rate isn’t low enough to obscure the watermark. (I assume the watermark is found in the upper frequencies, since low bit rate songs typically sound worst in the upper registers.)

Looking at the list of member companies, a blurry picture begins to emerge of what a digital music market for watermarked MP3 music might look like (in addition to what we’ve already seen from eMusic). Sites with some sort of blanket license could sell open, watermarked MP3s serially with unique identifiers. Music software already keeps a tally of how many times you play a given track in order to create smart playlists of popular songs; perhaps the software could communicate to this tally to whoever sold you the MP3, who would then use that information to figure out how much to pay each of the artists/labels in its catalog, just as BMI and ASCAP do for radio stations and restaurants.
Source: Digital Watermarking Alliance

AP reported on a new technology being developed that will allow for people to actually video conference their Sunday dinners from around the globe. Is this just a ploy to keep those unwanted relatives from showing up at the holiday dinner table? Leave it to technology!

Source: Company develops virtual meal technology

Two Days before Christmas.

All the shopping is done.

For the first time in a long time, I really REALLY feel good about how things are working out since my wife and I moved to California. On Jan 2nd, things will get elevated even more, as I become an official employee of someone in the great State of California. I love it here. The new job is in a really great field, for an INCREDIBLY cool company that I am so excited to be able to work for. As far as a brand that just OOOZES success, this company is among the best.

I will learn the skills that I have been waiting to master for YEARS. The commute isn’t too bad.. It’s about 10 miles each way.. 9 of them tollway. (CA-73 aka “The $4 Dragstrip).

Next up is finding a place to live (hopefully BUYING). Lots of reading to do about property!

Until then, it’s Christmas in California. We went to the Persian market today for some produce, brown eggs, lamb shanks, and other basic items. At the store they gave out these cute little 1 lb. bags of Basmanti rice, which I totally love.

With all that stuff going on, I am still going balls to the wall on all the podcasting stuff. Working on a few video projects now, including a new version of The Scene Zine videocast. I’m not doing animation to represent me anymore. A wise man way up on the mountain told me that a cartoon of myself will actually DIMINISH my own identity and character. I actually agree with that. It was fun to try it, but I’ve got a much better background here in Southern California to choose location shots.

I hope this blog is as fun as I anticipate. I am going to use it to experiment, communicate, and try new innovating plugins and SEO techniques.

Have a great holiday season everyone!

Marcus