Editor's Letter: One more Xbox

In each issue of Distro, editor-in-chief Tim Stevens publishes a wrap-up of the week in news.

Can you believe we've had the Xbox 360 since 2005? As a child of the two- or three-year console cycle, a system still going strong after eight seems inconceivable. Finally, it's being put out to pasture -- somewhat unceremoniously. The Xbox One is its successor and, with no backwards compatibility for disc-based or downloaded games, those looking to make the leap to the next generation in the fall will already want to start weaning themselves from Microsoft's current wunderconsole. It'll make it easier for both of you when it comes time to unplug it.

And you probably will want to unplug it and make the upgrade, though to be fair there's plenty to be cynical about with the Xbox One. So, I'll get that out of the way first, starting with the name. Microsoft is trying to send the message that the new Xbox is the only device you'll need to control your living room. That may be, but One? HTC, of course, called its latest flagship the One, but that was a case of a company distancing itself from previous, complicated naming schemes and going with something simpler. Here, there have been only two previous generations of the Xbox. Calling the third one the "One" is simply confusing. Still, it beats "Xbox Foo," which is what Microsoft's initial press release mentioned. Someone, it seems, got the memo on the official name a little too late.

Comments

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/05/24/editors-letter-one-more-xbox/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

Geminid meteor shower right to work Clackamas Town Center 12 12 12 Anne Hathaway Wardrobe Malfunction Adrienne Maloof Telemundo

Leeds singer Marc Almond wins Ivor Novello Award - Music and Gigs

Leeds-raised singer Marc Almond said he was ?overwhelmed to receive an Ivor Novello Award.

The star, who lived in Horsforth in his teens and later attended Leeds Polytechnic where he formed the band Soft Cell with David Ball, received the Inspiration Award at the 2013 Ivor Novello Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London today.

Afterwards the 55-year-old tweeted: ?Just been presented the prestigious Ivor Inspiration Award at The Ivor Novellos. Really touched and overwhelmed - what a great day! x?

Marc Almond?s hits include Tainted Love, Bedsitter, Say Hello, Wave Goodbye and Something?s Got a Hold of My Heart.

He is currently performing the song cycle Ten Plagues, by Mark Ravenhill and Conor Mitchell, at Wilton?s Music Hall in London.

Source: http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/what-s-on/arts-entertainment/music-and-gigs/leeds-singer-marc-almond-wins-ivor-novello-award-1-5681415

Marfa Texas leonhard euler venezuela kobe bryant adam scott Chi Cheng xbox live

Is it a PR problem or is it a business problem? | Deborah Brody ...

Yesterday, I read Gini Dietrich?s take on the state of the PR industry, The PR Industry Does Need Better PR, on her firm?s blog, Spin Sucks. Basically, Gini points out that what people think they know about PR is wrong or misleading. It?s her conclusion that what the PR industry needs is better PR.

I think what the PR industry needs is better business skills.

Have you been to a PR networking event lately? If you have, you?ve probably noticed a lot of young people, mostly women. These young people often have inflated titles?including account manager, account director and even vice president?after being in the industry for three years or so. Many of these PR ?pros? studied PR in college. Some may have even had an internship or two.

You may also have met a lot of former journalists who have decided they will have more job stability in public relations, while using their writing skills and knowledge of what is newsworthy.

What few of these PR people have is a solid understanding of business. Few, if any, have gone to business school. Few, if any, understand basic marketing ideas like push-pull. Fewer still understand finance, balance sheets or even how to read and? interpret data.

Lots of people are busy trying to figure out how to get the word out about an event, or how to have a great social media campaign, but what they are failing to see is the big picture?how public relations helps a company to achieve its business objectives.

A big part of the disconnect that currently exists between public relations agencies and the business side of the industries served has to do with the separation between communications functions and marketing and sales roles. Even though public relations is part of marketing communications, public relations does not usually have a stake in marketing and sales processes and outcomes. Businesses may hire public relations agencies to help with image, but even then, the point usually is to increase the bottom line (i.e. sales in for profit organizations, influence or donors at nonprofit organizations).

In his article?3 reasons to find a new PR/social media agency, Scott Signore states quite succinctly the following as his third reason:

Finally, despite the evolution in the category and the number of significant changes the PR business has endured over the years, it?s still about executing a communications program that helps drive business. So, look for another PR and social media agency partner if your current group is not directly supporting your business objectives.

What Scott is saying is that if PR agencies are not helping companies achieve business objectives, they should be fired. Fundamentally, they are not doing their job.

And yet, as I said before, too many PR professionals simply do not understand business. All public relations pros should be reading business books or articles or watching business-focused programs. Those who want to be high-level agency executives should consider going to business school.

What do you think? Is it a PR problem? Or is it a lack of business know-how?

Print

Source: http://deborahbrody.com/2013/05/is-it-a-pr-problem-or-is-it-a-business-problem/

matilda cab calloway melissa gilbert deadliest catch dwts sean hannity bobby petrino fired