Facebook IPO: Are You Social Enough?

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Ha ha! An opportunity to use an Initial Public Offering to rant! 


Do you want to be part of the largest tech IPO in history? The buzz is all about a slice of Zuckerberg at $38 a share. 


Is it a deal?


Think about it. Does Facebook ever get any GOOD publicity? Yes, I mentioned them in a positive light in a recent blog, because I read that they will defend your privacy. And guess what? A lawsuit was just filed by users of Facebook on this issue of….privacy! Okay, maybe they’re not so good at security issues then.  


Speaking of the not-so-good publicity...


For starters, there’s this whole Timeline thing. Wasn’t counting, but I can easily say I’ve seen over 100 friends groaning about it. People don’t like change, but they’ll get used to, just like anything else.


On the business side of things, General Motors decided not to run Facebook ads anymore. That’s no big deal. Facebook ads work for some and not others. It’s not one size fits all.


But here’s the thing I find really annoying about Facebook. Control. Whose show is it anyway, Facebook? Why do YOU get to pick and choose which posts, both personal and business page ones, get to show up in somebody’s newsfeed? 


As far as what you see in your newsfeed, you can grab that control back by using lists. Make lists that include those people and pages that you want to see. You can also select how many posts you want to see from an individual: Just hover over “friends” on their page and select all updates, most updates, or mostly important. You can also select what kind of posts you want to see from that person; if you’re not a gamer for example, then games-be-gone!


If you have a page, there’s nothing you can do about posts not showing and yes, that is frustrating. Worse yet, sometimes it happens in “batches” when three or four posts just aren’t seen. The good news is if you’ve done a good job of engaging your fans some of them will check in directly on your page. I’ve also received messages many times from people asking where the posts are with my Groovy Reflections page. Nice to know that people miss it when they don’t see it!


There are lots of other things we don’t like about Facebook too, yet they continue to grow. Can 900 million plus people be wrong? Yes, admit it, you've met some great people there!


And now you’re wondering; am I buying? The answer is no. I tend to look for up and coming companies that will increase my portfolio long term. To buy Facebook today would be more of a folly; if I were one that practiced buying an IPO and selling a few days later to make a quick buck, then sure there’s potential there. The question is: How quickly will the stock stabilize?


Would love to hear your thoughts on this topic! And if you are truly bored and need a little excitement now and then, find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+. Would love to chat with you and I won't wear a hoodie.

Electric Vehicles Have Current! Part 1

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Had the pleasure to attend Consumer Day at EVS-26 this past weekend. It’s all about electric; vehicles, that is. While the main thrust of this event is actually a conference that’s several days in duration and aimed for those directly involved in the industry currently, time is set aside to gain consumer interest in the industry by allowing a peek at what’s in store for the future. 


Current products were in attendance and many vehicles were available for test driving as well.


From a consumer point of view, if you’re not a car enthusiast to begin with, the show may not hold a high level of interest. Being jazzed about technology and how things work is a plus too if you plan to attend an event such as this one. The razzle-dazzle of the bigger automotive shows, such as the ones in New York and Los Angeles, is lacking here.


Some highlights to share with you:


General Motors was on board with the Chevrolet Volt. Okay, that’s old news. But they also had a concept called the EN-V (electric networked vehicle). It’s a “bubbly” two-seater transportation vehicle. And surprise! Segway is involved with the development. 


The concept was originally introduced in Shanghai at the 2010 World Expo. Of course, this vehicle is equipped with futuristic features such as collision control (yes, in today’s world there is collision warning but the crash is still in your hands) as well as available programming that would enable the vehicle to find a parking space for you. Consumers dig time savers, convenience, and safety assuring that the passiveness of the future shines brightly with this concept.


The EN-V display included a large screen and plenty of cushy seating. I sunk into a couch and comfortably enjoyed the animated video, introducing you to a futuristic city where the EN-V demonstrated smooth capabilities as it drove along high in the sky roadways. Perhaps the most practical use was when an EN-V “train” silently cruised by. GM, do put this video on your website soon and spread the news further.

Photo: www.codaautomotive.com

And here’s a vehicle that’s just launching now, starting in California (and online too). The brand is CODA. 


There have been quiet rumblings from them; they were at the last major automotive show I attended (late last year) with a colorful display of teal and yellow and two vehicles, tucked away in a corner of the show. Their display at EVS-26 was more compact, with just one vehicle. There were several employees on hand to answer questions and test drives were available on-site as well.


The vehicle is much larger than the EN-V, comfortably seating five passengers and sporting a full trunk. This is due in part to locating the batteries under the seats, allowing for a more even weight distribution. Pricing was attractive; even more so with incentives, and “real world” driving range is 90 to 120 miles. This outpaces the Nissan Leaf at 70 to 100 miles. And for peace-of-mind, CODA offers a limited warranty of 3 years/36,000 miles and a limited battery warranty of 8 years/100,000 miles. 


If I've whet your appetite for what the electric vehicle future holds, stay tuned for part two; there’s lots more to talk about!


In the 80's, The Polecats charged us with a song about circuits:

For more electrifying info, visit me on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.