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Many of our clients who have had 1 or 2 meetings with me will mostly likely be able to tell that I'm a huge sports fan. I'll always find a way to throw in a "Where's Lebron going?" to our Eastern Clients (Chris McGovern - Emerging Marketing , Kevin Michael Reed - KMR Group)between timesheet and reporting discussions, or "Did you see what Kobe did?" after I say how was your weekend.

Labels: project management, ryan chan, time tracking

So ... you have a new iPad, or you really want to buy one ... and you are wondering ... "what can I do with it?"

Lets face it, the iPad is not really a laptop, and not really an iPhone / iPod, it is a completely new beast that was set loose into the market.

The iPad is mainly a consumer of services. It is great for watching TV (we will get to that one), watching movies (we will get to that one too), reading a newspaper, playing a casual game, reading a book or chatting with friends and family.

The iPad is NOT made for heavy programming, rendering images, finding the next prime number or planning the next mars expedition.

So lets focus on some of the things it CAN do (some of the coolest things anyways, as listing everything would be very time consuming).

• Watch live TV
• Watch movies (legally) downloaded.
• Extend your display (use your iPad as an extra monitor - Mac Only)
• Access a virtual drive (extra storage)
• Remote control your "real" computers (MAC / PC / LINUX)
• Use it as a storage device
• Do emergency development (extreme emergencies)
• Be Productive on the go using Function Point

All of the above can be done on any iPod or iPhone, but on the iPad, it can be done with style!

Watching live TV

If you own a MAC (who doesn't have one of those), and a TV tuner (after reading this blog, you will), you can purchase EyeTV from elgato (http://www.elgato.com/), and stream live TV over 3G / Wifi directly to your iPad.
Elgato also sell TV Tuners with the software (a bundle).

Once you configure your EyeTV to allow iPhone access, you have two options to connect to it:

1. Purchase the iPhone app (eyeTV $4.99 - there is no iPad version for it at this time, but it works great anyways) and connect directly to your eyeTV server. This will allow you to view all channels, schedule recordings, view scheduled programs and view recorded programs directly on your iPad.
   
   
2. Use safari to access your eyeTV server (you can actually use any mac that runs Snow Leopard to do that). At this point you can watch live TV, or view previously recorded shows (but you cannot schedule recordings or view schedules).

Watching movies (legally) downloaded

1. Buy the application "Air Video" http://www.inmethod.com/air-video/index.html (they have a free version which I never tried, the paid app costs $2.99 at the time of writing this blog post).
   
   
2. Install the server on your home computer that has the videos you would like to share (the server is free. You can install the server on multiple computers and access all of them). The server runs on Windows and Mac machines.
   
   
3. Share the folders that have the videos

Once those steps are done you will be able to access all of the videos and watch them on the iPad using WIFI. You can also open a port in your firewall to allow access from anywhere in the world (it works well over 3G as well).

Air Video allows for on the fly conversion as well, so you can watch the videos without previously converting them to the iPad format. Air Video supports lots of file formats including avi, and mkv.

Another interesting fact about Air Video, is that it supports the VGA out dongle for the iPad. Movies look awesome on a big TV as well.

My experience with it has been great, works fluently, and fast. Even for on the fly conversion, the video comes up in seconds.

Note: There are other similar programs that I have never tried as I am very happy with Air Video.



Extend your display (use your iPad as an extra monitor - Mac Only)

Your iPad is a 9.7' display with a resolution of 1024x768. Why not use it as another display? Since you cannot take your eyes off it anyways, you might as well be productive while doing so!

Using air display (http://avatron.com/apps/air-display/) you can do just that.
It turns your iPad into a secondary display (dual display setup).

I found air display to be a bit choppy and the quality of the picture is not as great as the main monitor, but it will most likely improve over time. The company that made it is the same as the company that made Air Sharing, and that product it amazing.

For now it can be used for fairly static content (don't expect to watch a movie on that display), but if for example you need another browser window opened on the side for test purposes (refresh from time to time to see results), it can be quite useful.





Access a virtual drive (extra storage)

My iPad has 32GB, which is plenty, but sometimes, it is just not enough :-)

How about having 132GB at your disposal? sounds better no?

This is what DropBox does for me.

At the time of writing this blog post, DropBox has 3 account types: Basic (2GB free), Pro 50 (50GB 9.99/month), Pro 100 (100GB 19.99/month).

Essentially downloading the DropBox app (free), allows you direct access to whatever you are paying for (in my case, 100GB of storage). Dropbox can be installed on Mac, Linux and Windows, and it is essentially allowing you to access the content of the DropBox drive from multiple computers (synched in seconds between all machines that run it with your account).

I am storing e-books, images and songs on it, and I am able to access those items on my iPad without needing to actually taking away of my precious built in 32GB storage (wifi / 3G required).

If you decide to subscribe to dropbox because of this post, please use the following link: https://www.dropbox.com/referrals/NTE1ODI5ODA5 , that will give you extra 250MB of storage for the free account (and 500MB for the paid account) - I will also get 500MB as part of that deal.

I have been using DropBox for over a year. I used to carry a portable drive with me ... but no need for that one anymore.

Remote Control your "real" computers (MAC / PC / LINUX)

Being able to remote control a computer is great, it allows you to do things on a "real" computer from a "non real" computer (iPad). The application I am using for that is called "log me in ignition". It is not cheap compared to others ($29.99), but it does do what it advertises. It is fast, easy to use, and reliable.

Essentially, you create a new log me in account (http://logmein.com/), and you either subscribe to the pro addition or you don't - you can use it for FREE).
Once you have your account, add a free or paid log me in client to computer (you can set it up on multiple computers), and you will see them in your log me in ignition, from there on, it is self explanatory.

I have been using log me in for over four years, lets just say it works.



Use it as a storage device

Using air sharing HD (for the iPad - http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/air-sharing-hd/id365541415?mt=8), you can use your iPad as an external drive. Connect to it through bonjour on your osX, or simply browse to it from a web browser. adding and removing files is a matter of dragging and dropping.
The app also has a built in reader for PDF documents (with a table of contents, search and bookmarks), word, and excel documents and other formats.


Do emergency development (extreme emergencies)

Using iSSH (http://www.zinger-soft.com/iSSH_features.html), you can connect to a linux / mac machine remotely (windows as well if you install cygwin), and edit files, restart services etc.

I found it hard to work on for more than 10 minutes, but the interface is as good as you can get when the keyboard is on screen.

I also tried this app with a Bluetooth keyboard, but the tab and arrow keys did not function - I had to tap on the screen for those (I did not try it with an apple wireless keyboard - my apple one is used up and I did not want to disconnect it just to try, I tried it with a rocketfish bluetooth keyboard, but I suspect it is the same).

They will hopefully enhance the Bluetooth capabilities in the future , that will make it a truly workable environment for Linux / Mac terminal work (it is also a VNC client, but I have not tried it yet).



Be Productive on the go using Function Point

Function Point is a web based project management solution for the creative industry (http://www.functionpoint.com/). Track time, capture project requirements, collaborate with clients online, manage resources, upload files to projects, keep notes and key financial indicators close at hand, and many other business related activities.

Using Function Point, key decision makers can know at a glance the real-time status of a project (over or under budget, invoices and actuals and pretty much every other aspect that relates to the job / project).

You can track and manage hundreds of jobs simultaneously without fear of loosing your sanity.

You can use your Safari web browser to access Function Point through your iPad. At the time of writing this blog post, there is still work to be done to make it a complete experience, but we are actively working on making that happen (Function Point is at the front of HTML 5 and CSS 3.0 technologies).

We've been using Function Point for the past 8 years to manage our internal projects (it is after all our own product). It is a mature product that keeps being updated and upgraded.

There are currently thousands of users that use Function Point on a daily basis.



Closing remarks

An iPad is not a laptop, but it can certainly be used for many productivity and fun related activities.

I hope that this blog post helps with getting more out of your (future) iPad.

Alon Sabi
VP of Technology

The long-term competitiveness of any company will depend on its ability to effectively define and deliver upon its core competencies. Core competencies should provide significant contribution to the value of the products or services offered and must be difficult for competitors to imitate.

What does this mean to you?

As an agency, it means that your time should be spent managing creative and providing (preferably billable) value to your clients, and not on administration or cumbersome project management. You don’t want to have a team of employees spending an undue amount of time on non-billable system or admin work, and shouldn’t have to think about the “behind the scenes” components of running your business. Profitability is of the utmost importance, and this is where fp comes in.

Allow us to focus on our core competency of understanding the business behind the creative industry. You will come to think of us as an extended member of your team at a very small fraction of the cost. We’re here to help ensure the information you need is available for you real-time, and that you understand which clients are profitable and which ones aren’t. We’re always here to help your team out, suggest best practice workflows, and work on options that will ensure that you’re doing what you do best.

Your focus needs to reside on your core competencies of delivering the best designs and best campaigns for your clients. fp is here to help you do this, while at the same time providing you with the ability to maximize your profitability.

Tate Lillies
VP – Business Operations.

Labels: ad agency software, core competencies, profitability, project management

A lot of Function Point clients track time against work that they have not yet gained. This can be very valuable. Tracking the time it takes to create your proposals and conduct sales meetings with prospects will give you a better view into the profitability of your work. Those large projects with large price tags can be very tempting, but they may not be worth going after if the prospecting process is overly labor intensive. Some of our clients have told us that they were committing too many resources in going after the large, glamorous projects but were not aware of how much it was costing them until they started tracking their prospecting initiatives. For some of our larger clients, this is not as big of a problem. But for our smaller agency clients, every penny counts. Tracking the time it takes to gain your work will allow you to make better decisions in the future. It's important to be specific in your timesheets as well. Once you have a better understanding of where the time is going in the proposal process, you will be able to become more efficient.

One way that some Function Point clients have cut down own their proposal and prospecting time is by creating a portfolio of estimate templates. Having a few templates for each type of work you do will significantly cut down on the time it takes to get proposals and estimates out to prospects. Furthermore, having a high, medium, and low cost template for each job type will help you to see where you can stretch your dollars with each of your clients. Copying old estimates for jobs that were profitable is also a great option, especially if you're using the actual time and expense values to create your new estimate (just one click with Function Point).

Here at Function Point, we're in the business of helping our clients to become more efficient and profitable. But we do seriously admire the awesome creative that our clients produce. We understand that while it's important to make strategic decisions when bidding for work, sometimes profitability takes a back seat to a happy client and an awesome new piece of creative to add to the portfolio (just don't tell my boss I said that).

Marc Wilson - Account Manager

Labels: job tracking, proposal, time tracking

Hi guys! Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity of working with you. I have learned many things that I believe will be very useful for my future. I have felt very comfortable working with you and the best of all is that I have felt that my job was important and can be used by the clients. Special thanks to Randy for all he has done to help me with the SQL language and how to manage the FP database. Now, I have a wonderful chance to start a new job in India that I am really looking forward to. There is no need to say that you are very welcome to pay me a visit to India or Spain in the future. I hope the best for FP and I expect that you became a more powerful company.

Besos y abrazos!!

Labels: bye, juan

This is a very exciting time for all of us at Function Point. Team and Constituents alike.

Welcome to FP800

First a little history. In late fall 2004 we embarked on a new road for the company by launching the first version of Function Point, our web based time sheet and project managment software. In 2005 we worked closely with some of our first users identifying areas we could change, improve and build upon. In 2006 we added new capabilities around multiple rates and staff bill out amounts.  2007 saw improvements to tasking, briefs and resource utilization. In 2008 we improved forecasting revenue, viewing profitability of jobs and a variety of other capabilites.

Now in the first weeks of 2010 we have come to market with yet again a major step forward for the product and the FP Brand.

So what has been done?

• Changed the future of proofing your work and obtaining client feedback including video.

• Extended the system, allowing you to invite your clients to collaborate with you online.

• Added file management tools for storing and backing up large production documents.

Rebuilt the calendar to improve the view of job, task and events.

We have also launched the first view of what our future interface and user interaction will look like.

More to come.

Tate and Ryan have been working very hard to produce documentation on the new system and you will see more of this over the next weeks. Marc, DJ and I will be active reaching out to invite you to sessions designed to improve your productivity and profitability.

Through all of this we have had one very strong and consistent theme. Your input and motivation to inform us of your thoughts. You play a very important part of the release we are offering to you this week and I want to say a big Thank You for that.

We appreciate your continued support and business. Carpe Diem.

Chris Wilson

Last week I had the great experience of visiting the windy city and attending the S.E.M. conference. I was able to catch up with an old friend "Big D" (Duncan Alney) from Firebelly Marketing and make new ones. I was able to meet some great people from various marketing and creative agencies and spread the "fp vibe."


When I left for Chicago from Vancouver it was wet and cold, typical weather for a Vancouver Christmas. I had always been a fan of the white winters. When I arrived in Chicago, I definitely took that back. It started to snow the first night of my trip. Not only did I get snow, but I also got temperatures dipping as low as -5 Fahrenheit, and combined with the wind chill factor, it went down to -30 degrees Celsius. When I walked around and admired the great architecture of downtown Chicago, the buildings acted as a funnel, concentrating the wind to those who ventured outside, even the magnificent mile of Michigan Ave could not keep me outside for very long. Unfortunately fate had other plans as my car was frozen shut for a good 10minutes!
On the flip side, Chicago deep dish pizza was well worth it.


Chicago is much larger city than Vancouver, with almost 11 million people. It's the third largest city in the United States. When I walked through the busy streets, looking around at the Christmas lights, the falling snow, and the stores filled with people busy buying presents, it made me think that when all this chaos and hard work is over, all that is left is the New Year's Resolution.
The very last TASK of the year.

The main purpose of my trip was to work with a growing Chicago-based firm called Fusion92, an Interactive Marketing Company . I spent 3 long days in the boardroom ironing out a workflow and understanding the needs of their company. I held numerous training sessions, jamming in all the info I could present in preparations for a January launch. This seemed to be a common theme in the conference and even when I got back to Vancouver. Christmas is coming up, we're frantically trying to wrap up all the year end tasks, we want to do things better next year. With January brings a new year, a new chance to do things better, more efficiently..."Can we get Function Point up and running by Jan 4th!?!?"


So as you make your New Year's Resolution, get back into shape (which I have to do after all that pizza), try new things, spend more time with family, etc, make a New Year's Resolution professionally. Think of how you can manage your time better? Will you need more staff? How can you load balance, and see how efficiently you are working? Can you take on any more projects? As you sit by the T.V. after a 3rd helping of turkey dinner, think to yourself, how can I manage my time better and work more efficiently. Like many at the S.E.M. conference, Function Point caught their attention.

Wishing everyone a safe and wonderful Christmas break.

Looking forward to talking to you in January!



Ryan Chan
support & deployment manager

Labels: Creative Agencies, Firebelly Marketing, Fusion 92, project management, ryan chan, SEM, time tracking

We all love to fly, Right??

For years the perception of flying and service has been in decline. Overbooked planes, delays, dirty planes and food that is either not available or not something you would want to eat.

On my trip this week to visit clients I have been pleasantly surprised. Flying to Winnipeg was a breeze; the people welcomed, handled my bags, and used my name on more than one occasion.

Words like “Care-antee”, and “we don’t overbook”, are used by this company.

That being said, the most important part of the trip was my opportunity to visit the offices of a number of clients and prospects. This was Function Point’s opportunity to show a Care-antee and to hear from clients, while looking people in the eye and seeing the emotion they put into there business and work.

With prospects it was further exploration off the fit between each company culture, and for people to understand our commitment to service.

On the way home, I had similar service and the plane arrived over 20 minutes early with the announcement crediting the flight crew being quite amusing.

It was really refreshing trip for me. I have much from the trip to discuss with our team. Items around over delivery, pleasant surprises and treating people with unique experiences that are memorable.

Service clients and more will come.

I enjoy my work.

Chris Wilson
Chief Client Advocate

What ended the recession?

I came across a very interesting marketing / business fable the other day (below) and it got me thinking... A few months ago, all I ever heard of was the recession. Agencies were telling me that they were struggling and that because of their financial woes, they would be cutting back significantly on spending. They were working with less projects from existing clients, gaining fewer new clients and seeing a big decrease in billable hours. Times were tough indeed. Then I looked at the paper one day and saw an interesting headline, "The Recession is Over" it read. "Ya right", I thought to myself, "like it can end just like that. Like people are going to just go out and start spending again". Well... it happened. All of the sudden I wasn't hearing about the recession as much. Actually, I stopped hearing about it at all. Instead, I started hearing great stories about winning marketing pitches and exciting new projects starting up. New work was coming in and agencies were becoming much more concerned with process, productivity and efficiency. It was as if Principals of agencies were more concerned with how to avoid a future downtown than they were about how to get out of the current one. Agencies were hiring again too. I spoke with a lot of managers that were combing the recent grad lists from design schools looking for fresh new talent. Times were picking up indeed.

But how and why? I read later articles that spoke of contraction. Experts were saying that while the worst is behind us, we're still in serious trouble. But there was one positive theme that kept popping up and continues to do so; consumer confidence. Consumers are the major shapers of overall economic activity and it makes you wonder, did we only need a little boost of confidence to get us back on track? Was being told the recession was over the actual reason for it's end?

I'm not sure, but here's an interesting fable that is sure to make you think...
There was once a hot dog vendor who sold the very best hot dogs in the city. His business was booming, people loved his hot dogs, and his business steadily increased month after month. The man loved his business and believed in the need to provide great food at a great price.
This man was so busy advertising and selling his hot dogs and making lots of money, that he didn't even have time to read the newspaper or listen to the radio. Consequently, he never heard a word about a predicted recession or the need to cut back to save for the potential economic slowdown. As long as he continued to offer his delicious hot dogs, his customers bought them. He kept advertising, and they kept coming. He kept selling, and they kept buying.
Then one day his college educated son came to visit him. His very intelligent son told him that an economic recession was surely coming. His son told him that people wouldn't have enough money to buy his hot dogs. The successful hot dog vendor had a lot of faith in his son and assumed all the money he's spent on his son's education must be good for something. So he believed his son, took his advice and cut back on his advertising. Additionally, he started ordering less supplies and product, because after all, people would be cutting back soon. He even went so far as to take down many of the billboards that lead to his roadside stand. And sure enough, people stopped coming to him. People stopped buying his hot dogs, and he eventually went broke.
Then he thought to himself. "How smart my son is in predicting this horrible economic crisis."

Labels: advertising, agency software, Contraction, Creative, Downturn, Economy, Efficiency, Productivity, Rebound, Recession

As a newly appointed Account Executive here at Function Point, I have to say: ‘To be able to be the voice that reaches out to people with services that help them increase their profit margins and cut costs a 1000 fold is definitely a privilege’.

No matter how you slice it, when everyone else is panicking and things look bad, there has always been 'opportunity'. If you are diving in or expanding what you are doing, or just managing your risk a little tighter, remember that there are plenty of goods and services that people need and want, no matter what the economy is doing.

In a time of short days and increasing numbers of pink slips, it is easy to let our concept of what is possible for us narrow down with the early twilight. But one of the few upsides of the recession is the opportunity to re-evaluate not only what you want in order to grow but also who we are.

Talk to you soon.

DJ Rana