The newest BLOGGER

Enlarge Image

I have been a WordPress user on my personal website, TheDavidBell.com, for about two years now.

I use my site to re-post my column and share other content I create. I get a few hundred hits a week and receive decent rankings on Google. I am not a web developer or graphic designer by any means. My company, iBX Agency, has people who do that, but I did not want to waste their time with my personal site. I also wanted to feel the gratification of developing and creating my own site.

I used a premium theme and spent a few hours configuring my website, but I was never really happy with the overall speed and design. There were also little bugs that got in my way as well. After writing about Google+ last week, I thought about looking into Google's blogging platform, called Blogger. I fooled around with the service and was very pleased with it. I designed my new Blogger site, re-posted my content and had it up and running within an hour. I will continue to fiddle and tweak design when I see fit, but the structure of my website is in place. The things I really like about Blogger is it is fast, AdSense works seamlessly, and the integration of Google+ within the service is exceptional.

Another bonus is since Google makes it, you rank really well on Google searches. The only thing I do not like about it is I cannot figure out how to have the site appear as TheDavidBell.com. The workaround I am using right now is that if you type in that URL, it redirects you to TheDavidBell.blogspot.com. I find having the Blogspot may come off as a little unprofessional. I guess if you look at it in a different light, it can be seen as funky.

If you guys are looking to create a blog for yourself, or you are unhappy with the service you are currently using, I'd recommend looking into Blogger. The service is free, has great features, and the bottom line is that it is quite easy to use. You can check out my website and explore to see what Blogger is all about.

BlackBerry 10 at CES

THIS past week, the Consumer Electronics Show took over Las Vegas. CES is an annual tech conference where companies showcase their new products and futuristic technologies. Tech bloggers and media personnel from around the world were in Vegas doing some insane coverage! Blogs I have been following include TheVerge.com and TechnoBuffalo.com. A month or so ago I was writing about switching to a new smartphone. I chose the Android Galaxy S3, and am enjoying it for the most part. I'm missing a few things from my iPhone, but that's to be expected. BlackBerry got a lot of press at the CES. Tech reviewers have been using the new hardware and software package RIM is calling BlackBerry 10 -- expected to be announced at the end of this month. RIM will be coming out with a few new devices. The first device, the flagship model, will be a touchscreen (iPhone-looking) smartphone. It won't feature the infamous keyboard. It will be 100 per cent touchscreen. RIM will also release a keyboard model. These new devices will feature BlackBerry 10, which RIM has been working on for several years (too long, if you ask me). The reason I am very intrigued with the new BlackBerry devices is I think they are going to make a comeback. I realize that may sound crazy, but a few years ago, before the iPhone 4 came out, the majority of my friends and colleagues were on BlackBerrys and they loved them. The reason people switched to Apple is because BB didn't make technological advancements and did not keep relevant.

I believe if BB 10 is all that its cracked up to be, you might see a BlackBerry Revolution, if you will. If the new BB 10 physical keyboard model is good, I will definitely purchase it. The tech reviewers online have also said they quite enjoy using the new product.

What do you guys think about BlackBerry 10? Is it making a comeback? Or is it dead in the water?

Send me an email: db@thedavidbell or tweet me @thedavidbell.

David Bell is a young entrepreneur in Winnipeg. He specializes in emerging technology and online aspects of business, including web and social media consulting. Access his company online at iBXMediaGroup.ca. He is an active member of the YouTube community with more than two million views and 5,000 subscribers. He was also a Dragons' Den contestant.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 13, 2013 A15