TamNerede üyeleri artık konumlarını Facebook üzerinden güncelleyebiliyorlar. SMS ile konumlarını post edebiliyorlar.
http://apps.facebook.com/tamnerede
FB Paylaşmak istediğiniz mesajınız
şeklinde yazarak 7017′ye SMS olarak yollayın. Lokasyonunuz mesajınızın sonuna otomatik olarak eklenecektir.
Örnek: FB Trafik çok sıkışık
Facebook Mesajınız: Trafik çok sıkışık @ Kanyon civarı Levent/İSTANBUL

Você abre a sua caixa de mensagens, e lá está aquela mensagem dizendo: “Emagreça 10 kilos em uma semana”, ou “Tire agora o seu nome do serasa”. Seja qual for o fornecedor do seu email, um endereço novo ou antigo, sempre vai ter um spam na sua caixa de entrada.

Com o tempo, eles foram ficando mais elaborados. Agora não são mais enviados por qualquer adolescente que tenta passar um vírus por email para um usuário desavisado. Spams agora focam no conteúdo. Coisas do seu cotidiano vem escritas nas mensagens. Mas, como eles tiveram acesso a essa informação? Quem passou meu email?

Com a quantidade de serviços disponíveis na internet, qualquer cidadão que acessa a rede passa a ser monitorado. Pare agora e veja quantas abas do seu navegador estão abertas, e quantas delas são da mesma empresa? O monopólio dessa informação pessoal é controlada por uma única empresa. Location-Based Services é o termo usado por serviços focados em localização. Poucas pessoas usam ele atualmente, mas a previsão é que em 2012 sejam mais de 1 trilhão de dispositivos conectados ao LBS.

Revolução na maneira de se locomover, encontrar lojas, amigos e serviços físicos, tudo pelo celular. E de ser encontrado também. Agora supondo que essa empresa que detêm a maior parte das suas informações pessoais, adote também esse serviço. Ela sabe onde você esta e o que você procura. Tudo isso em tempo real.

Quanto surpreendente seria se você entrasse em um pub, ao invés de receber o menu do garçom, já recebesse um chopp escuro sem colarinho, da maneira que você gosta. Muito agradável, de fato. Mas basta estender esse pensamento para notar que as informações gravadas hoje, poderão ser facilmente utilizadas a favor de terceiros. Contratos garantem que, ao apagar sua conta na maioria dessas empresas, seus dados são apagados juntos. Mas até que ponto isso é verdade? E qual será esse impacto? A única certeza é das oportunidades de negócios que se abrem com o LBS.

Location Based Services in India is still in its nascent stage. Although Mobile VAS market value is over Rs. 5000crore in India currently, location based services has limited contribution as of now. 

Scope for improvement

There is an old saying that “ where there is a will, there is a way”. Same goes for location based service providers too. India being the second largest mobile market today, has great potential in terms of LBS provided, service providers focus on improving the service as per mobile users’ needs. Here are some thoughts for enhancing the usability of Location Based Services in India:

1. Create Innovative ideas – Work on new ideas based on location such as:
— Expand the list – have a comprehensive database with more places for information seeking such as schools, party halls,shops, commuting distance, time etc if not already available.
—  Generate more relevant applications – develop killer applications based on market segments
— Make it more attractive – Send pictures (based on handset compatibility), phone number details, most popular landmark                

2. Multiple service access channels – Expand your service to be explored through various other channels such as IVRS, SMS, Web, WAP, USSD (as applicable). Example – IVRS can be used by all age group people and by any handset.                                                                 

3. Increase service offerings based on handset compatibility – tweak technology based on handset

4. Continuously update your database – with new information about road digging, road construction,road blocks and with alternate routes

5. User friendly application  – Keep the product/service easy and simple to use

6. Strengthen your sources – Get information from relevant sources such as traffic police, residents, shopkeepers in that area

7. Conduct market research – Get to know your users, what their pain points are, gather their requirements and implement it

8. Accurate and relevant data – Work on delivering exact information requested by user 

9. Expand your sales
— Broaden your boundaries – Focus on attracting more enterprise and not just individuals
— Free trials – Provide services for free to users initially until comfortable
— Enhance sales pitch – Spend awareness by trying to promote the service

9. Reduce the cost – Try to support basic phones as well (SMS based service), nominal user fee and get advertisers and sponsors to pay for the service used by mobile users

10. Personal safety – Provide disclaimer about personal information being kept confidential

There are a lot of challenges that the LBS industry in India is facing and most important of these is availability of accurate Geographic Information System(GIS). At least by working on reducing the cost of the service and providing alternative methods for mobile users for seeking location specific information, service providers are sure to attract more users. After all, with the world’s second largest mobile population, it would not only serve as an excellent information delivery system on the fly, but a potentially huge market as well.

- Kavyanidhi Narayan

I was a bit tied up. The core business on real estate information front side, appearance on TV channels, travel, socializing and facebook took most of the time! But I keep on coming back to think about GIS market!! Some investment interest, past friends and contacts keep discussing GIS and I keep on hearing about events/happening on GIS space. Few tit-bits for you:

Okay so this is my first “official” weigh in and measurements since I started this blog. However; I wanted to point out that at my heaviest I was 289lbs.  *drum roll* I currently weigh 254lbs!!! My total weight lost is 35lbs! That is for less then 6months! I think that is great. This is the lowest weight I’ve been for ATLEAST 7 years! I feel fantastic compared to how I used to. Honestly though, I can’t see much of a difference, but other people say they can.

I also did my first measurements. Now, I have measured myself in the past, but I didn’t keep track of it. Also I’ll post a diagram I made to remind myself where to measure so its constant. Oh and all measurements are in inches.

Bust: 51
Chest: 43
Waist: 47
Hips: 53
Thighs: 25 1/2
Knees: 15 1/2
Calves: 18
Upper Arm: 14 1/2
Forearms: 11

YAY!! good start!

Bring it on diet… this wednesday if I lose 2lbs, I’ve lost a stone!! A stone.. wow! In 10 weeks I’m pretty proud of myself. There have been a lot of ups and downs – too many downs for my liking. But I really have a good feeling about this week, especially with my uber work out at the gym today… I’m almost tempted to go back to the gym tomorrow to increase my chances of losing these 2lbs.

I also worked out that by October the 27th I might be able to lose 5 more stone.. and this is if I go at the rate I’m going – 1 stone every 10 weeks (1.4 lbs a week), but who knows, I might be able to do that in 8! It seems like a long time but when you can only remember being overweight losing that amount of weight within a year seems too soon to be true.

Bunny is travelling again. Yesterday, she kinda sorta lost her way.

It started out well. On Saturday, she went to California Pizza Kitchen. One half chopped salad, one slice of thin-crust pepperoni pizza, one piece of sourdough bread with butter, one glass of white wine. She wasn’t sure how to count all that, but she guessed, and she was still in control.

She was still in control when she kept her hands out of Buff’s movie popcorn. Sunday morning she had Starbuck’s Perfect Oatmeal (only 2 Weight Watchers points) with a few nuts and non-fat milk. Still in control.

A bowling party, a cocktail party, and dinner at LBS., A Burger Joint, where they serve the best burgers in America. Huge, monstrous, ridiculous burgers with every topping known to man.  She went with a single patty, no crazy toppings, and passed on the fries, but this is by no means your average hamburger.

Somewhere along the way, it happened. 

She found her hand in Buff’s bag of chips.

Once.

Twice.

Do I hear five?

Just a few. Oh, maybe a few more. Well, just…

Uh-huh.

MINDLESS EATING ALERT!!!!

Today is her weigh-in day, but, as we may have mentioned, she’s travelling, so the weigh-in will be bumped two days.

We’ll see how her teensy little oops affects her progress.

But the good news is, she got right back on track the next day!

New York Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent-In-Charge John P. Gilbride (DEA), Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan and Stamford Police Chief Brent Larrabee announced the arrests of three people in connection with a drug organization based in Stamford, Connecticut that distributed cocaine throughout New York City. Thirty seven kilograms of cocaine, 10 grams of marijuana and approximately $1,000,000 were seized during this investigation.

During the six-month investigation, agents identified Eduardo Taverez, Victor Marte and Harry Estevez as members of this drug distribution enterprise. On November 5, 2009 members of the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force DEA-Group T-21, Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor, DEA’s Bridgeport Resident Office and Stamford Police Department conducted an extensive surveillance on the defendants which led to the seizure of $1,000,000 U.S. Currency and 37 kilograms of cocaine which were found in 255 Strawberry Hill Avenue, Apt. C-4, Stamford, Connecticut.

DEA Special Agent-In-Charge John P. Gilbride stated, “Time after time we have seen drug distributing organizations operating outside of New York City to evade law enforcement, which signifies drug trafficker’s mistaken belief that if you stash drugs, or the proceeds generated from drug trafficking, outside of New York City – law enforcement will not find you. This investigation illustrates law enforcement’s commitment to investigating and ultimately identifying those responsible for delivering drugs throughout our community.”

New York City Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan said, “The results achieved last night — the seizure of more than 80 pounds of cocaine and about one million dollars — are directly linked to the outstanding efforts and keen investigative sense of all the law enforcement people involved in this investigation. Efforts like this are the best weapon against those who try to smuggle large amounts of narcotics for distribution in New York City.”

Stamford Police Chief Brent Larrabee stated, “In this investigation, cross jurisdictional cooperation was instrumental. Borders offer no protection for these criminal groups, law enforcement cooperation can and will defeat these organizations. Stamford is not a safe haven for traffickers who want to poison the lives of our citizens”

Last week… 4th October

>>> 0lbs <<<

This week… 11th October

>>> 2lbs<<<

]]> http://myesademba.com/2009/11/14/rugby-iberia-cup-esade-vs-iese-vs-lbs/ Sat, 14 Nov 2009 08:58:27 +0000 tobias http://myesademba.com/2009/11/14/rugby-iberia-cup-esade-vs-iese-vs-lbs/

The day has come and today we will find out whether all this training has paid off. It is the day of the Iberia Rugby Cup of ESADE vs. IESE vs. LBS (women touch rugby only).  Join this great event as spectator and show us your colors. We need all your support!!

Time: 16.00 to 18.00 (Warm-up starts at 15.00)
Location: Universitat de Barcelona Sportsgrounds on Avinguda Diagonal 695  (View the  map here)
Details: Guys are playing rugby 7’s (at 4pm) and girls are playing rugby touch.

Preliminary Schedule:
16.00 LBS1 v ESADE
16.30 IESE v LBS2
17.00 LBS1 v ESADE
17.00 IESE v LBS2
17.30 IESE v ESADE
17.30 LBS1 v LBS2

Dinner

Time: 21.30
Cost: 25 Euros/Person covers food and Sangria
Location: Gran Via de Corts Catalans, 692 (map)

Late Night

Cost: We have arranged for free entry before 2am.
Location: Opium Mar, Paseo Marítimo, 34. (map )

Proudly supported by the ESADE MBA Rugby Team.

Designed like an artsy roadhouse (or are all longhorn skulls just blown glass?), this eco-friendly Las Vegas burger joint serves juicy piles of dry-aged, hormone-free Hereford beef with never-frozen accoutrements: homemade pickles delivered daily, from-scratch ketchup, and farmstead cheeses (American, Cabot cheddar, Brie, goat, and you-name-it). 

Their saloon-style bar innovatively serves up Vitamin Water cocktails or, if all that heath-food c__p is not for you, take a guzzle of their booze-loaded milkshakes with straws made from a biodegradable corn-based polymer — along with the shake, the straw will go straight to your hips.  And the good thing about it all- their food has no MSG- and they have wheelchair access. Imagine that. 

But the good gets even better.  They have recently issued a gastronomic challenge of unmatched giganto proportions: Finish their four-pound Extreme Burger with fixings and the pound of fries that come with it in an hour and the burger will be renamed for you.   Think of it like streets being named for the deceased… 

Recently, competitive eater Ron Koch of Las Vegas reportedly finished the meal – lounging with a respirator now – in 27 minutes, having it promptly and aptly named the “Undertaker.”   It included six patties, weighing a half-pound each, cheese, bacon, Portobello mushrooms, lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickles, burger sauce, spicy mustard, herb mayo and ghost peppers (aka naga jolokia peppers, confirmed by Guinness World Records to be the hottest chili in the world) and served on a sweet egg bun no less. 

But all records are meant to be broken, right?   Their new challenge features 11 patties (if the math is right, that’s a little shy of eight pounds) and consume not one, but three pounds of greasy fries of the good cholesterol kind.  Down about 11 pounds of food in an hour and the burger will be renamed for you – - or perhaps you could negotiate your choice of headstone at the grave site of your choosing?

The good news is that even if you don’t finish in an hour or all of it, the bill still will total $30. 

Now, really, is this an epic feast your arteries can be denied? 

To test your eating prowess, just head down to LBS Burger restaurant located inside the Red Rock Resort, 11011 W. Charleston Blvd., in Las Vegas. Call if you dare- 702-835-9393.

What is LBS?

Location Based Services, based on GPS (Global Positioning System) technology is an informative service which provides location specific data to mobile users while commuting from one place to another. It makes use of mobile application which helps mobile users locate the destination address.

Service offering:

Location Based Services can be used in a variety of contexts, such as health, work, personal life. Some of the most popular services supported are:

1. Maps and direction – provides turn by turn navigation to any required address.
2. City Sightseeing – provides subscribers with location information of a place such as restaurants, museum, park etc.
3. Mobile Yellow Pages – allows subscribers to get location specific details of their interest such as doctors around that area, car service centers etc.
4. Locating place – malls, hospitals, movie halls, ATMs, banks etc
5. Receiving alerts – location based advertisements (about exhibitions, sale), traffic updates, road. construction, road block etc
6. Resource tracking – fleet management, courier tracking etc
7. Friend Finder – alerts subscribers when one of their friends in their buddy list is in close proximity to their location or vice versa.
8. Chatting – Location based chatting service to be in touch/meet people around that location.

There are many LBS players in India such as Yulop, Onze technologies, Map unity, Imere Technologies, MapmyIndia,Interchain solutions and many more.

- Kavyanidhi Narayan

Image Credit: Mele’s Musings

When I was writing the previous post (I know, today despite a fever and a bad cold, I’ve got verbal diarrhea to boot), one of Google’s biggest weaknesses struck me: IT’S SYNCHRONOUS. Let me explain. Basically, Google will display ads on the right hand side based on what is searched on the left hand side. Here’s an example:

Obviously, there’s a reason. I don’t want my private searches (for XXX stuff or illegal downloads and even any other searches I prefer to keep private) broadcasted all over the screen as ads. But on the other hand, I never will be informed of new offers on things I want to purchase but for which I haven’t searched in a week. Hence, Google only displays ads based on what I am searching now. I guess it also displays ads based on where I am sitting and searching from.

Secondly, I don’t search for everything on Google. A lot of things I find out from word-of-mouth. Also, let’s say for example, last weekend I went to Vashi searching for showcases. Now, one of my cousins recommended one good shop around there. We went there and then also explored other shops around that area and actually chose one from a nearby shop (not the recommended one). So this was more of a “location-location-location” aka William Dillard style. How does Google address this? Answer: In its current avatar, it can’t

So this is another place for mobiles to kick in their advantages of:

Personalization: One mobile belongs to one person. Hence, usually, a profile of one person will not be confused for another

Mobility: Take your profile wherever you want.

So the scenario I’m describing is a  mobile profiling application (product) which would act as something of a to-do list.  The idea would be to match providers of a content with the sellers of the content which is location-specific, asynchronous (you don’t have to be looking for the content when you get an intimation that the content is available at a provider). So you list out whatever you need to purchase say, the latest 50-cent CD, probably a sweater and maybe a replacement for those old specs that you’ve bought. You set up a consumer account in your application and your list would be:

1. Until I self-destruct
2. Sweater
3. Sunglasses

Now, on the other hand, a shop keeper sets up a provider account. He has his own music store where he has set up a special on 50-cent music. Maybe, he realizes that consumer tastes have shifted from hip-hop to jazz and wants to clear his unsold inventory. So if you walk past his shop, you see this big poster of these discounts and rush in to buy a copy. However, what happens if he is the second shop at the intersection and you’re passing through a parallel road. In this case, your to-do list helps you out by informing you that there is a shopkeeper one road down who sells you the album cheap. Simple!

Few other scenarios below:

1. The provider may have a status as “open” or “shut” status on the application. Hence, late at night you could use this to-do list to help you find shops which are still open delivering hot Chinese food to your doorstep. 

2. Further, you could configure your mobile to display advertisements only for specific items e.g. You ensure that you receive ads only for 50-cent CDs and not for the XX CDs that you also want and is in your to-do (not that kind of to-do).

3. In specific circumstances: You could say “Give me only information for Ray Ban sunglasses – Aviator model where the provider is offering a discount of atleast 15%.

4. Ratings for providers: On receiving a particular offer, you could be given the option view the provider;s profile. The profile would also include feedback of other consumers i.e. whether the offers he broadcasts are often false, whether he keeps casting out offers which are have been repealed quite sometime back, quality of goods, etc.

5. Limit the number of messages that can be displayed to the subscriber within a particular period of time. This can be configured by the user. Which ads to then display? It could be based on the subscriber’s preference to receive notices from ONLY one provider, a preference to one provider with an OK to receive from others as well, user feedback and ratings or completion of transaction history.

6. C2C sales: I need a ticket to the next AvB concert and in a hurry. There is another guy (not exactly a seller in the conventional sense of the word i.e. shopkeeper,etc.) who wants to sell his ticket. There is an aspect of scalping here but if the price is agreeable, it will work.

The best part of this whole thing is all you need is a mobile phone. Any one can use this, from a huge mall / supermarket to the vendors on the road selling street food.

Payments can  be made based on the number of advertisements broadcasted by the provider or based on any transaction based events that may be triggered on completion of the sale. This could also be based on giving a “teaser” by the provider and payment is triggered when the consumer asks for more info.

Update: After reading my published post, I also realize that this would not necessarily just a product but another social networking platform (Another?) where I can tie up reviews from Burp!, feedback posts from WordPress or Blogger, Google Maps to determine location, the profiler (as a seperate product), offerings on Ebay by mapping the seller’s address to the consumer’s current location and even profile of the seller / company on Orkut, Facebook or Twitter feeds.

Obviously, there are a few caveats to the whole product:

1. Password-protected and secure
2. Inability by the providers to hoard subscriber numbers – Important
3. Customers to feel secure that their profile is not being abused/ used incorrectly by the application provider.
4. Service does not become spam

5. The product should be able to integrate with online stores as well as work on PCs and Apple computers as well e.g. irrespective of whether I’m at home on my PC (on Ebay or Amazon) or on the road (passing through stores), I should be able to access special offers on products I want . Hence, the consumer profile should accomodate for both on-the-road offline offers and stay-at-home online offers while providers should be able to choose from bricks-and-mortar options as well as on-net options. The application needs to ensure adequate configuration options for the subscriber for the same.

In my opinion, this is the ultimate benefit of using advertising. Screw demographics, this advertising is based on customer-intent to consume the service.

I can also fantasize (and the correct word is “fantasize”) when billboards become extremely intelligent and broadcast advertising messages based on the most popular items among consumer profiles (what the consumers have agreed to receive offers on) in the area around the billboard

Location based services seems to be growing in popularity. Here is a mini version of LBS developed by Bangalore based start-up “Onze technologies”. This service is called Latlong (latitude- longitude) and helps commuters with accurate directions from source to destination.

How does it work?

It is based on SMS technology and mobile user needs to send an SMS to 90088 90088 with ‘current location’ and ‘destination’ as keywords. Directions are sent back to information seeker instantly.

Distinguishing Features

There are some interesting features supported by this service. Such as:

• Displays the exact distance, appropriate auto fares
• Shortest and best route to get to destination
• Landmark information available with exact turning details (right, left)
• Automatic language correction – Gives accurate address even if there is an typo in destination name
• Tag your business – Shows your business on someone’s map if you wish to
• Feedback options available

Benefits of Short Map Service

• Provides you with exact directions
• Cost effective – pay only the SMS charge
• Supports any mobile phone
• Continous update of information in database – souces: traffic police, BBMP, media and local population

Currently the services are for Bangalore and Chennai within India, it is expected to cover other cities in India sometime soon. In a developing country such as ours where commuters rely on pedestrians for directions, this service sure has a bright future. It not only eliminates the difficulties for commuters to stop and ask people around for directions, but provides mobility and is not expensive too.

What do you think about this service?

- Kavyanidhi Narayan

Hello. Helen Keegan here from the Heroes team. Some of you may be wondering what I’ve been up to of late. Well, if you have, then I can reveal to you that I’ve been working on a new conference, Heroes of the Mobile Screen, which is on next month on 7 December at the rather wonderful BFI on London’s Southbank. And I’d love for you to spread the word (like our wonderful media partners), buy tickets and join the conversation. And I’m afraid this has taken our attention for the last few weeks which means we’ve had to cancel November’s Mobile Monday London event. Hopefully, this will all make up for it.

The team behind the conference, Isabel Fox, Neil Robertson, Carlo Longino, Dominic Travers and yours truly are also involved in running Mobile Monday London, Swedish Beers Mobile Networking, Future of Mobile, Over The Air, Mobile 2.0 and Tech Media Invest events amongst other things.

The day-long event at BFI Southbank will differ from anything else around (at least that’s what we’re aiming for) and get the stakeholders of mobile involved in discussing the issues affecting them and their customers. Uniquely the event also has teenagers on stage to tell the industry what they want from their mobile, what they expect from their network operators and what’s most important to them in terms of their mobile life.

Heroes of the Mobile Screen is already attracting a number of high calibre ‘heroes’ with speakers and panellists answering the call from around the world, including Kei Shimada, JP Rangaswami and Kevin Banks, Belinda Parmar, Julia Shalet, Doug Richard and Harald Neidhardt are all confirmed. The speakers are listed here and the agenda can be found here.

Heroes of the Mobile Screen opens with a keynote from Kei Shimada sharing his experience of what’s happening in Japan and what we can learn from that here in the West. And continues with four core pillars supporting discussion throughout the day.

The money
What’s making money, who’s making money and what’s being invested in and where the money’s going to be in the future? The answers to all the questions we want to ask of successful mobile service providers and VCs.

The impact of social/location
What is the impact of social media and location technology? What do customers want, what are the business models, what are the solutions to privacy issues. Carriers are placing their bets in this area, but will they pay off?

Teenage heroes
Led by digital youth marketing expert Julia Shalet (pictured left), this is a new format where we invite four companies to pitch their product, service or device live on stage to six teenagers and they tell us what they really think.

Real customers, real applications, real marketing
A double session with the first half covering customers and what they really want on mobile with a focus on women in particular with some new research and insight into what women want from Belinda Parmar of Lady Geek. The second half will cover mobile marketing and advertising, what’s working, what’s not and what’s coming next.

I came up with idea around the event because we realised that most of the events I attend throughout the year all talk around the same subjects, with the same people and bring up the same issues, without resolution. It’s time for us to stop talking to ourselves, look out beyond our industry and make some changes for the better. I believe it’s important to engage our colleagues in marketing, web 2.0 and media as well as more of our mobile colleagues from throughout the value chain. The exciting stuff is going to happen when industries cross over – that’s where the innovation is. In putting the agenda together, we believe we have something that will appeal to a wide audience – whether you’re a director of marketing for an FMCG brand or a web developer toying with the idea of developing apps for android or iphone.  And to do that, we need to share real customer insight that we can use to make ours and others mobile lives better.

Tickets are now available online now for £99 (ex VAT and booking fee) at http://mobileheroes.net . We’ve kept the price deliberately low and it’s subsidised by sponsors who we’ll be able to announce shortly.

If you’re interested in sponsoring the event in some way, please get in touch with me via email.

If you’re interested in pitching your gadget, application or service to our teenagers, please email Dominic Travers to put your name forward.

We are keeping a waiting list for potential speakers and panellists. If you’d like to be considered, please contact me.

So get your tickets now and become a fan on Facebook or follow us on twitter http://twitter.com/hotms too.

London Business School

The 2009 FT ranking of Executive-MBA programmes (EMBAs) lists more courses taught in London in the top 10 than any other city in the world.

The Trium programme, a joint degree between the London School of Economics, HEC Paris and New York University’s Stern School of Business, has climbed one place to second best in the world.

Two programmes from London Business School are in the top 10. Its Executive MBA with Columbia Business School in New York is at number three while its stand alone EMBA is at number eight.

Joining them in the top 10 at number four is University of Chicago Booth’s EMBA which is taught on its London campus as well as in Chicago and Singapore.

The FT’s EMBA ranking measures career progression and research undertaken within each business school as well as the salary increase that graduates report three years after graduation. The fact that more top programmes are based in London demonstrates London’s continued strength as a business education centre.

Kevin – www.studylondon.ac.uk

Before there aren’t any.

That goes for running stores too!

One of the best things about fall (besides Halloween, candy corn, pumpkin everything, Honeycrisp apples, etc.) is switching up your wardrobe. If you live in a colder climate (read: hell. frozen. over) like me, each October you yank your tanks and dresses from your closet (shed a few tears) and swap ‘em out for the sweaters and boots stuffed under your bed. And then you hit the mall to add a few new fun pieces to your already warm and snuggly fall/winter wardrobe.

But what should you add? With so many trends happening right now, you don’t have the space (or, more realistically, the money) to load up on everything this season. You need the best of the best – the items that are cute and functional and will get you through until the snow melts…in June.

Perhaps we can help. This week I asked the CollegeCandy writers to share their fall/winter fashion must-haves. See what they’re lovin’ this season and stock up on a bit of it for yourself. Sure, they may not have the best taste in men, but when it comes to fashion, they know their ish.

Zahra – Northwestern University: I’m crazy about skirts right now. I’m trying to not constantly rely on jeans and there are so many adorable skirts that you can dress up or down, but more importantly, throw over leggings or tights when it starts to get cold. Cute, but still practical!

Norah – Drake University: I’m absolutely obsessed with this dress from Urban Outfitters. I love the silhouette and the green color on top is perfect for fall and winter. If only I something to wear it to…

Lauren H – The New School: I’m loving that it’s OK to indulge my Pretty Woman moments this season. All hail the over-the-knee boot! Bonus: they’re really warm for winter and these from Chinese Laundry are great for those of us with skinny legs (and wallets).

Caitlin – University of Alabama: My must-have for this fashion season is a loose cardigan like this one from Forever21. It’s a great way to add some volume to your look so you’re chic and comfy at the same time.

Leah – Ryerson University: The boyfriend blazer from Club Monaco. It’s an investment piece that would be multifunctional.  Too bad I suffer from sticker shock every time I visit it. 

Anna R – Northeastern University: My must-have is the BB Dakota Zoe Vest at Lulus.com. Faux fur is a big trend this fall, and this vest will keep me warm and look chic with jeans, a dress, anything! It instantly updates jeans and a long sleeved tee (aka: my go-to outfit for class).

Lauren – University of Michigan: I am OBSESSED with these boots from Target. They are perfect for fall with a pair of jeans. And they’re only $29.99! I tried on an identical pair at Bloomingdales for $160. Hell to the no, Bloomies.

Brithny- Duke: Steve Madden booties! They’re so much cheaper than the ones on the runway but still super cute. Especially the Seryna that I just bought.

Brianna- Fordham: I am totally loving the bib necklaces this season. They are so chic and instantly dress up a plain shirt or dress.

Charlsie – Hollins: Glimmer Tights from J Crew. Not only will they keep me warm, they will add a little sparkle to the upcoming cold winter nights. And to top it off, the shades of these tights go with just about anything!

Erica – Kent State University:  This American Apparel circle scarf. It comes in 14 different colors, an assortment of fabrics AND you can wear it as a dress?!  What will those AA people come up with next?

Kendra – University of Pittsburg: This isn’t your typical Ugg boot; it’s more like a sweater for your feet. The Classic Cardy Boot is versatile; you can adjust how you wear it with the buttons on the side. Perfect for dry fall weather!

Sarabeth – University of Texas: This season I’m all about classics with a modern twist. I just ordered this skirt in teal.

Cristina – Michigan State University: These shoes would make me feel like I’m about to pop off like a mobster boss, angel hair with the lobstah sawce.  Don’t ask me what that means, because I don’t even know…they’re that cool.

Alex – Lakehead University: My must-have this season is a fur vest! Funky and functional in the cold Canadian winter! My fav is this DIY version.

Elizabeth – UC Berkeley: The “Twister” LBD. It’s perfect for New Year’s without the usual overdose of sequins.

Sara C – Fordham: I just bought this electric blue HeatTech turtleneck from Uniqlo and I adore it! It is as lightweight as your favorite tank top but retains heat to keep you warm without layering. The HeatTech line also has scoop-neck tees and tank tops which come in so many delicious colors. For just $10-$15 each I might go back and get them all!

Carly – Grinnell: I’d have to say it’s these basic leggings from Express. I was amazed how comfortable they were when I tried them on, and they go with EVERYTHING! I love, love, love to wear skirts, but I get cold so easily, and these leggings make it possible for me to keep wearing skirts all through the fall.

Elizabeth-University of Missouri: My Marc by Marc Jacobs high-waisted skirt is basically all I’ve been wearing recently. I pair it with a Mizzou tee-shirt and flats for football games or class, and I add heels and a cute top and wear it to parties. It’s versatile, cute and comfy… what more could you ask for?

gvSIG announced the release of a mobile application this week.  gvSIG Mini is a brand-new open-source project (GNU/GPL) aimed at cellular phones. gvSIG Mini is a a free viewer of free access maps based on tile services, with WMS client, address searching, POIs, routing and more features.  gvSIG Mini is not an official gvSIG project, but it joins gvSIG family through non-official gvSIG downloads.

The main features of the application seem to be:
* Map viewer for: OpenStreetMap, Yahoo Maps, Bing Maps, …
* Satellite images and standard maps
* Free to use (GPL)
* Address search
* Low bandwidth usage
* Fast
* Maps downloader
* Offline usage
* GPS Usage
* Points Of Interest
* Route finder
* Versions for: Android phones, Standard Java mobile phones (JavaME), Blackberry
* Tileset generator. Phone Cache is a tile generator for gvSIG Mini

We think the ability to cache tiles and serve them when you are offline is great and will be especially useful if you know you are heading out to an area with little or no connectivity.  I am not sure if there is a cache management tool, but this would be a useful addition so users could ensure they have the coverage they know they are going to need in the field.  It would also be useful to see gvSIG Mini support the iPhone in the future.

Check gvSIG Mini out here: https://confluence.prodevelop.es/display/GVMN/Home

I just wanted to share a new blog that I started specifically for my weight loss journey. It has been an ongoing battle for me since the birth of my child and I am now ready to win the war. Please check it out and let me know what you think.

http://www.losingelbees.wordpress.com/