I got my Google Voice invite about a month ago. I think the service is intriguing so I was excited to see the email in my inbox.  First you have to pick a number  – this was a big deal to me since they don’t offer number portability, yet.   I decided to select an 865 (Knoxville, TN) number even though my mobile is a 513 (Cincinnati, OH) number.  After number selection I started playing around with the web app and what not but I pretty much just left it as it was.

Then I found out there was an iPhone app – not fully official but still available.  Then Google released official BlackBerry and Android apps that can take over the native dialer and sms function with the promise of an iPhone in the pipeline.  This was like a fresh roll of cotton candy to my eyes as I LOVE synergy.  If I’m going to use Google Voice, I want it be be as native as possible.  Then the whole FCC Google, AT&T, Apple fiacso got rolling and all possibility of that was shelved for a bit. Although I did download the non official Google Voice app via Cydia which the developer Sean Kovacs released amazingly for free.

Addtionaly, I did some checking and I got my Google Voice up and running on the desktop with a couple of tricks.  First from this article I installed a Firefox extension, but honestly it didn’t do what I was hoping.

So I figured Fluid would be the way to go.  For those uninitiated, Fluid is a program that creates site specific browsers, i.e. creates launchable applications out of browser based web apps.  I currently use it for CoTweet, Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Reader.  I’ve never encountered any odd systemic failures but it goes without saying that you try this at your own risk.

So here’s a bit of a tutorial of sorts to add Google Voice with Growl and Javascript icon notifications.  Props to the developer who created the script to make this Google Voice magic happen, all of this information is adapted from his original post here. If you’re already familiar with adding userscripts to Fluid apps you can get the script here – for everyone else.  Read on.

Prior to this step you’ll have needed to download and installed Fluid and then created an app for Google Voice.  Use the URL “http://google.com/voice” and the PNG for the icon here.  You’ll also need Growl running for notifications.

All photos will enlarge when clicked for details.

Step 1: Browse for userscripts from within the Fluid app you created (mine is called G Voice)

This will open a new window you’ll search in.

Step 2: Search for the phrase “google voice”

Step 3: Select the script named “Google Voice Notifications”

There are a few scripts, I’ve only used the one highlighted in this overview so I can’t comment on the effectiveness of the other scripts.

Step 4: On the script page click the GREEN Install button.

This will install the script in the Fluid app

Step 5: Confirm the install and close the window.

Step 6: Quit and restart the G Voice fluid app.  All indicators should be running like clock work.

Text a friend from your Google Voice to test and witness the awesomeness.

Step 7: Rejoice!

Confession: I’m not sure I’m the typical iPhone app downloader. I say that because while I’ve had an iPhone for almost one year, I currently have TWO game apps (one of which I added yesterday) while anecdotally there seem to be more game apps than anything else.

I’m all about simple, useful and utility.  One of the apps I downloaded yesterday that fits that criteria was PhoneBook. (iTunes link) which is what the name implies, a phonebook.   I’ve already got Contacts, but PhoneBook was too cool to pass up. At start it up it asks for your mobile password (AT&T only) and it takes that data and dynamically creates a pictorial directory of those you call most often. If you so chose it will use Facebook Connect to grab contacts pictures (not sure if it grabs anything else like, phone number, birthday, email, etc.) and sync.  My first page ended up being pretty much my favorites list (but may not be for you). 

My only complaint is that when you click a contact it pulls up the ability to email, call, text, etc. But when you pick call it then opens the iPhone OS dialog to ask if you want to call that number. So it takes FOUR “clicks” to make a call.

Found by perusing Mashable http://mashable.com/2009/07/23/facebook-iphone-apps/

Just one of the ways I collect ideas (I also am a whiteboard guy to sketch and outline plans). As much as I love technology there is something about the tactile feel of a post it note as the idea rushes from your head, gains wings and lands on the paper. Like a modern day alchemist it grows from a thought to an idea as soon as it lands on the note. For me, ideas become possible once they are written down.

What about you, what do you use?

Gavin
513 633 0573

Sent from my iPhone

Posted via email from gavinbaker’s posterous

I have this quote (picture above) by Bruce Nussbaum on my wall. I put it up about a year and a half ago and I still believe it’s true. This isn’t a post on a radical new idea, but rather recalling it as a reminder. Here’s the quote:

Social media is upending relationships between customers and corporations, brand owners and brand creators, consumers and producers, centralized authority and anarchistic periphery and-pay attention here-designers and their audiences. People want to design their own experiences, or at least have a big voice in it. With Web 2.0 technology and blogs, they get that voice. People are increasingly designing their own shoes and clothes, their own screen pages, their own interfaces, their own homes. And when they’re not, they want designers and managers to really understand what they have to say. Nike is changing the way it designs and manufactures because of social networking. So are dozens of other companies. Yes, we will always have our brilliant geniuses who intuit their audiences and create wonderful experiences for them. Ive and Jobs at Apple. Bang & Olufsen and its incredible designers and designs. But even Apple is getting hit very hard on the sustainability issue because it isn’t listening to its social networks. Brands have ideologies. They stand for things. People believe in those things. When the culture of Apples’ customers changes, as it is happening today, it has to move with it. You, as designers, can’t just do ethnology anymore. You have to join with those you’re observing to be in their culture and create with them.

The sections I’ve highlighted above and will discuss below are:

People are increasingly designing their own shoes and clothes, their own screen pages, their own interfaces, their own homes. And when they’re not, they want designers and managers to really understand what they have to say.

You have to join with those you’re observing to be in their culture and create with them

What’s great is that a lot, A LOT of companies have embraced the ethos of the quote and they are realizing that times have changed and HOW they relate to customers and HOW customers relate to them has changed. People now have the voice and aren’t afraid to communicate. I’m not talking exclusively about twitter or blogs, because those are amplifiers of communication. Culture has changed and people expect to be able to choose their own experience.

So how do we listen? First, I think we have to care. Secondly, we need to ask questions and make listening a priority. Which isn’t just a media awareness strategy, it’s not responding to those people though those are both good things. It’s making a priority to connect with your customers, and your future customers.

Then, we can bridge to the question “How do we let people choose their own experience?” I believe we should ask, and not that their answers are the 100% answer, but they’ll lead to them. Which will equal better customer engagement and support and ultimately brand loyalty.

What stops us? I think it’s fear, fear of loss of control. Fear that they might change the brand. Or on a more personal level, it’s fear that their ideas might be better then ours. Fear that we’re not the best.

But the great thing is, if their idea is better then yours, that’s ok. Because you made it happen. And if your brand changes, that’s ok too because it’s growth. Growth from real customers.

Wouldn’t you rather have growth from customers vs company stagnation?

I would.