Life beyond PR: It is sunny on the Cacao Pearl.

I thought I would post some pretty pictures of my new project, the Cacao Pearl. It is the World's first non-profit luxury eco-resort, nestled in the Calamian archipelago in Palawan, Philippines. As you would expect, PR is core to our marketing strategy and we are having good media and bloggers' coverage so far ranging from mentions in the NY Times, SF Chronicle, Frommer's, Treehugger, Hollywood Reporter, A Place in the Sun, National Geographic, Hotels Magazine and many more. Completion is scheduled for early 2012. Too early to compile a mailing list but you are welcome to find out more at www.cacaoresorts.com. If you want to write about it and need more information, just ping me.

The trillion dollars question: China or America.

China. If you don't believe, go there and see for yourself.

BT limits download speed on cheapest broadband packages

"A customer who has signed up for an up to 8 megabit per second package can have their speed cut to below 1Mbps". Time to read the small print and complain all the way to the top. BBC.

OneTel Talk Talk but doesn't listen

In 10 years in the UK, I had my share of bad service but never had to resort to the Office of Fair Trading for a resolution, until I canceled my contract with OneTel. Despite written letters a month in advance that were acknowledged and three follow-up phone calls, they still send me bills for a phone line in a flat I left 2 months and a half ago. Obviously they are taking the piss. I am sending my recorded letter tomorrow for their breach of contract under the supply of goods and services act 1982. They have 10 days to sent me a written confirmation that my contract is canceled and refund me. I will update on this blog. Needless to say that I am not recommending them to anyone.

Wolfram

Touted as the new Google, Wolfram is actually not a search engine but a "computational knowledge engine". It is a bit like an expert system plugged-in an encyclopedia. Look at the online demo This is a very impressive start.

The end of free online news?

Rupert Murdoch is looking to start charging readers to access his online papers. While many will dismiss it as rearguard fighting, I will not be surprised if other publishers jump in at the chance. As their readership moves online, newspaper publishers just can't make enough money on the Internet through advertising alone to run their business. The billion dollars question is whether there would be sufficient willing payers to compensate the drop in online readership (i.e. online advertising revenues) when they start charging. It looks like we will soon find out.

CNN article (still free).

Is a Recession the Perfect Time to Start a Business?

In theory, resources would cost less but Jeff Nolan shows that it is not to be taken for granted. In a comment Edwk makes valid points: People joining you know that it will be tough so are more motivated and you have less competitors throwing money at the problem you are trying to solve.

The Best job in the World, Queensland Tourism campaign explained

"... for US$1m, it generated US$70m of global publicity." and was probably one of the best campaigns of its kind I have seen for a long time. BBC.

50 Best IPhone Apps for MBA students

On Management Courses. I thought students were broke by definition?

Gaping Void's Macleod writing book

"ignore everybody" launches June 11th, 2009. I have always been a great fan of the cartoons and iconoclastic marketing thoughts so will await anxiously.

Pirate Bay guilty verdict: Now what?

"...the site will almost certainly continue to operate and the legal battle will carry on for many months - or even years - to come...". The Register. A victory for litigation over innovation.

Cambridge researchers slam Facebook democracy

"...the revised document is effectively identical to the original version, with merely superficial changes...". Ouch! Computer Weekly.

The 10 greatest computer flops

From the Telegraph. Surprising how many Apply products are there.

Goldman Sachs hires law firm to shut down blogger's site

I'll take it that Goldman have been spared by the crisis and have plenty of time in their hands. Article on the Telegraph. The blog in question is Goldmansachs666.com

Google Street View does not breach privacy laws

"If consent were required by the law then the producers of, say, Match of the Day, would have to gain the consent of all people attending televised football matches who might be caught on camera". Enough said. Guardian.

Google About To Buy Twitter?

Apparently, valuation is north of US$250K. From ITPro Portal.

Mashing-up Youtube

Israeli artist Kutiman creates a fantastic album by cutting/mixing Youtube clips. Love it. First read on CNN.

Biting the hand that feed: Can we monetize social media?

David Rowan, editor of the new UK Wired edition takes a shot at Second Life (the national sport at the moment) and hits all other social networks/services in the same time. The best business minds have spent over a decade figuring out a profitable business model for online media or social networks and the best option so far is still selling to an even bigger online media or social network. With the crisis shrinking everyone to size and funding drying up, this brings us in a world where we accept that online networks can only be a "cost of doing business", where we continue chasing an elusive magical business model that will turn millions of users into millions of customers or where we start charging people for services they clearly value. My hunch is on the 3rd option.

Twitter switch for Guardian, after 188 years of ink

Great April's fools fun from the Guardian.

Second Life's span is virtually over as firms decide to get real

Damning article on the Telegraph. Are journos seeking closure? In two years, will we see similar articles about Twitter?