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Movie theater attendance plunged in 2014, hitting numbers that haven't been this low since 1995. To add insult to injury, the sharpest decline occurred amongst the 14-24 age group. Cinema is dying. What can the industry do to swing back up?
It's a tough question. Personally, I've been to my local movie theater twice over the past five years and the experience was so poor that I have no intention of going back without a big change in how theaters operate.
In their current state, they provide no value to me. I find much more value in streaming services like Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Instant Video Hulu Plus vs. iTunes vs. Netflix vs. Amazon Instant Video: Which Is Best? Hulu Plus vs. iTunes vs. Netflix vs. Amazon Instant Video: Which Is Best? Hulu. iTunes. Netflix. Amazon Instant Video. The lifeblood of online cinema and television. The new wave of home media. The providers of endless entertainment in which pants are not necessarily required. They are the contenders... Read More because they're cheap, easy, and convenient. For those happy to dabble in morally gray areas, torrents are always an option This Is Exactly How to Handle a Copyright Infringement Notice This Is Exactly How to Handle a Copyright Infringement Notice Read More , too.
Ultimately, movie theaters need to stop competing on "convenience" and start focusing on "experience." They need to offer more than just a way of watching the latest movies. Here are some ideas that might work to add value to the whole experience.
"Higher Experience" Theater Designs
There are a lot of opportunities worth exploring when it comes to an elevated viewing experience in movie theaters. Some of these possibilities have already been implemented by forward-thinking establishments, and several of them are prospering because of it.
One obvious example is IMAX. Nobody's home theater is large enough or advanced enough to replicate the IMAX experience, and this is true whether we're talking about IMAX screens or IMAX domes. The massive size provides a uniquely immersive experience — especially when you combine it with a top-notch sound system.
There's a world of difference between watching a film like Avatar or Interstellar on a 48-inch TV and a movie theater screen, but the difference is even greater on IMAX, and that difference is well worth the hike in ticket prices.
But IMAX is just the beginning. What about smell-o-vision? Many people don't know that smell preceded sound in the world of film production, probably because no contemporary theater actually uses smell-o-vision of any kind.
The issue is that odors and fragrances are expensive to replicate. Unlike a screen, which can project an infinite combination of colors and images, each particular scent needs its own chemical. The resource cost is simply too high for a home theater, but if unique experiences are the way forward, this is one way that movie theaters could step up their game.
Kinetic seats are another area worth exploring. Some amusement parks, such as the Six Flags franchise, have custom-built theaters with kinetic seats that tilt, spin, and rumble according to what's happening on the screen. Usually the film is something short, like a dinosaur chase.
Now imagine an action film that employed this kind of feedback in scenes ranging from intense (e.g. car chases, helicopter fights) to mundane (e.g. slamming doors, train rides). The idea reminds me of the old Nintendo 64 Rumble Pak, which was a surprisingly awesome development in the history of video games.
Would movie theaters benefit from something similar? Possibly. If it turned out to be a successful move, they could certainly charge a large markup for the experience.
Thematic theater designs could be a worthwhile gimmick. Inspired by a photo collection of the 15 Most Beautiful Cinemas Around the World, what if movie theater seating was taken to the next level? For example, would you visit a movie theater where the "seats" were individual hot tubs?
Imagine a movie theater that didn't have any seats at all. Instead, sand covers the ground from corner to corner and the temperature is kept at a comfortable 78°F all year long. Would you visit that "beach theater"? I sure would, especially during the winter months.
Lastly in this section, movie theaters should be more than movie theaters. Some locations are evolving the original concept by including dinner with the film, essentially turning the movie theater into a glorified restaurant.
In fact, one of these theater-and-restaurant hybrids is currently under construction near me and I will certainly be checking it out when it's finished. Its name? The Movie Tavern.
The "meal with the movie" concept doesn't have to be dinner as long as it's more than popcorn and candy. What about a wide selection of craft beers New to Craft Beer? Start with the Best Beer Websites & Communities New to Craft Beer? Start with the Best Beer Websites & Communities Beer is an acquired taste. Once acquired, beer offers a certain world of taste that no other beverage can. Experience the wonders of craft beer, with these websites and communities. Read More ? Or even something as humdrum as coffee and ice cream? A small change like this could shift the traditional theater atmosphere in a new, more appealing direction.
Private Screening Rooms
Private rooms are an offshoot of the "higher experience" that we explored above. On the surface this idea seems like it could be a logistical nightmare for contemporary theaters, but that's because their business models rely on huge attendance numbers. What if we proved that assumption to be wrong?
This idea would be to stop appealing to the lowest common denominator and start offering individualized movie screening experiences. No more big open spaces with hundreds of attendees watching the same film. Instead, a person — or a group of people — could rent out a private room at a per-person-per-movie rate.
Think of it as karaoke but with films instead of songs.
In this model, the experience would be on a par with a top-tier home theater: smaller than a traditional movie theater, but certainly better than a 48-inch television set. If it's worse than a traditional theater, what's the point?
Of course, the main value comes from the private space.
Tired of strangers talking through the movie? You don't need to worry about them anymore. Sick of stiff, uncomfortable seats? Now you can spread out, lounge around, and crunch on your chips as loudly as you want without disturbing others.
Contemporary movie theaters only play the latest releases because those are the films that draw in the biggest crowds. However, in a private screening model, show times would cease to exist. Instead of switching out films to keep up with the latest releases, they could keep a massive library of on-demand titles that include the old and the new.
You could order food and drinks during your movie. You could pause the movie when you need to visit the restroom. You could even bring friends and talk to them during the movie if you wanted to do so. Best of all, you could reserve rooms to ensure there's no longer the need to get there early and find good seats.
If we take it one step further, private rooms could come in different sizes for different rates.
Strict Enforcement of Rules
Admittedly, a lot of these ideas require a complete overhaul of the movie theater model. Is there something that currently existing theaters can do to ensure their survival? Not much, in my opinion, but there is one thing that couldn't hurt: growing some balls.
If you randomly asked people why they no longer visit movie theaters, I could almost guarantee that reason #1 wouldn't be Netflix or Amazon. It wouldn't be price. It wouldn't be the massive markup on concessions. It would be disruptions.
There's nothing worse than sitting down to watch that movie you've been looking forward to seeing, the one that's been hyped up by all of your friends, only to have it ruined by an obnoxious movie-goer with no sense of common courtesy.
Well, there is one thing worse than that: movie theaters which are so frightened by their dwindling attendance rates that they refuse to kick out those who are being disruptive. That means people who talk, people who kick seats, people who refuse to turn off their smartphones, people who bring crying babies, etc.
The irony is that movie theaters are likely losing attendance numbers because of these disruptive jerks. For every nuisance that they refuse to kick out, they lose at least one innocent movie-goer who becomes fed up with said nuisances and vows never to return.
Case in point: Alamo Drafthouse. This theater has earned a reputation for being strict. If you're under 6 years old, you can't go. If you're under 18, you must be accompanied by an adult. If you talk or text, you're ejected. And they only serve patrons who are well behaved.
Is it surprising, then, that Alamo Drafthouse is generating more revenue than AMC Theatres, Regal Cinemas, and Cinemark? Not to me. It's all about the experience, after all. Make it enjoyable for your customers and they'll come back. That's all it takes.
Free to Watch, Pay for Perks
Micro-transactions are one of the biggest gaming industry trends of the past five years. Why? Because they're profitable. Free-to-play No Hidden Cost: 7 Free-To-Play Games That Are Actually Free Mobile gaming has a problem. You download a game, you start playing, but you hit a paywall. These games don't have that problem at all. Read More is important because its the easiest way to generate the numbers for word-of-mouth while micro-transactions allow people to pay for what they want.
As it turns out, the micro-transaction model tends to encourage splurging behavior. While a majority of the users never pay a cent, the passionate minority end up spending thousands of dollars, essentially subsidizing the users who never pay anything.
Could movie theaters survive on a similar "free-to-watch" model? If implemented correctly, I don't see why not. The difficulty is in determining what would be the correct model to use.
It comes down to this: the "free" aspect is all about bringing in huge crowds. If this model is to be successful, it has to capitalize on that fact. Getting people through the doors is easy; getting them to buy something once they're inside is the real challenge.
Merchandise is a big possibility. Maybe you went to watch Interstellar for free, but afterwards you realize that you absolutely LOVED the movie's soundtrack by Hans Zimmer. So, you snag it on the way out. If not the soundtrack, then posters, DVDs, swag, etc.
One other idea worth mentioning is paying for better seats. Maybe the best 50 seats in a given studio are reserved for those who want to pay $25 per seat. Or maybe there could be multiple seat designs: the cheap seats are free, while reclining seats are $10, love-seats are $20, and kinetic seats are $30, etc.
Subscription Memberships
Subscriptions are the counterpart to a "free-to-watch" model. With subscriptions, people would pay something like $50 per month for unlimited viewings. Simple but effective, isn't it?
Most people would bring up MoviePass as an example of this, but I'm thinking of something different. MoviePass is a subscription service that basically buys free movie tickets on your behalf. It isn't tied to a particular theater chain, which means it has a lot of restrictions.
Honestly, MoviePass is not worth it. I'm talking about something more along the lines of Cineworld's model.
Cineworld is a UK-based chain that offers an "Unlimited Card" subscription that grants unlimited access to its basic theaters for around $24 per month. The upgraded subscription also includes its West End theaters, which amounts to $29 per month.
Because Cineworld is its own chain offering its own subscription service, it doesn't have to impose a bunch of restrictions like MoviePass does.
The benefits of this model are two-fold. First, theaters pay the same overheads whether a screen is empty or full, so the potential for abuse of unlimited viewings is largely negligible. Second, theaters continue to generate revenue even when there aren't any good movies playing and nobody watches anything.
It's like a gym membership, or any other digital subscription Top 5 Online Subscriptions You Can Give As Gifts Top 5 Online Subscriptions You Can Give As Gifts With the ever increasing digitization of society, online subscriptions have become a valid form of gift-giving and they're often more fulfilling than a physical gift of same worth. Read More for that matter. As long as the users keep paying, it doesn't really matter if they use the facility or not.
What Would You Do?
Are you happy with the state of movie theaters today? If not, what kind of changes would convince you to give them another shot? Do you think it's too late for movie theaters to make a comeback? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
Image Credits: Old theater front Via Shutterstock, Alan / Falcon via Flickr, Aroma-scope via Wikimedia, Phil Campbell via Flickr, Empty Theater via Shutterstock, Moviegoer on Phone via Shutterstock, Clare McBride via Flickr, Film and Popcorn via Shutterstock
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I got a kick out of this article. I posted it on Facebook. I seriously doubt most of these things will ever be done. I guess just like everything else it will come down to the all mighty dollar. The AMC movie theater I usually go to is on it's third company name in about 15 years. I guess that proves the movie theaters are dying. I watch most my movies and TV series on Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon. I go to the movies only to see the latest blockbusters. The sad thing is most on those three streaming services are better than most of the movies coming out. Maybe if the people in Hollywood would get their head out their ass attendance could increase. What is needed are new ideas for movies. I am tired of a remake of remake of an original movie. Most times the original was much better. What don't they any creative left.
Too many of the gimmicks -- and that's what they are -- that you mentioned are too pricey and would only force movie theaters to drive up ticket prices that the consumer is already saying is too high. The day of the movie theater is all but over. With Netflix and Amazon now creating their own movies, shows, and other forms of entertainment that is added to what is being produced by the other motion picture and television companies when they are able to, people are willing to wait until what is playing at the teater to come to these online entertainment websites. Plus, there are so many other entertainment websites where you can see stuff for no charge whatsoever (They get their revenue from online advertising which is the way they are able to keep their websites free.). All of this plus home sound systems being better than ever, make going out and paying outrageous money for movie tickets and concession stand snacks, plus the gas used to drive to the movie theaters when a monthly subscription to Netflix is cheaper than the price of one movie ticket makes it where the movie theater companies cannot compete. The video rental stores like Blockbuster and Hollywood were the first to disappear (The gimmick of no longer charging a late fee couldn't save them) and now the movie theater companies will be next. With the online services being more profitable than movie theaters now, it's just a matter of time until movie theaters, like the video store companies, will be nothing more than an afterthought.
How they can improve? Mail us the reel!
Great! Really innovative ideas. Atleast some of them should work. Time for the Movie theaters to try something "Out of the box".
Actually most people have agreed the number one reason most people are reluctant to go to the movie theaters was the fact Hollywood is generally primarily responsible for theater attendance decline due to the fact Hollywood just keeps shelling out movie garbage and People have just really lost faith in the industry and honestly have lost any interest to restore that faith....
people don't go to the theater anymore for one somple reason...we can now watch movies on our ipads, phones, etc...AND most of them are free...
Free to watch? Movie studios keep a % of ticket sales to pay for the movie they just made. If movies are free to watch, who is going to make them?
For me, there are several reasons I haven't been to a theater in over 10 years.
1. TOO LOUD! Explosions and crashes and gunfire that is.
2. TOO QUIET! Conversations are often unintelligible. Dialog is important to me, especially if it's GOOD dialog and important to the story or character development.
3. People using their cell phones. The lights, beeps and ring tones just interfere too much with my suspension of disbelief to enjoy the movie.
4. Juveniles (of any age) who feel it is both their right and their duty to make noise, make rude comments, or otherwise disturb my quiet enjoyment of the film.
5. Expense. The tickets are too expensive to be jammed into a huge room with a bunch of other people to watch a screen (that seems to be getting smaller and smaller).
6. The snacks are ridiculously expensive as well.
7. Everything coming out now just seems to be a remake/rehash of old movies. I think all the really creative people have died or given up.
I really cannot see any reason to go to a theater any more. When it used to be the full screened, overwhelmingly awesome special effects and totally suckyouinto it plot lines, it was worth it. Now? I'd rather watch at home on my big screen tv where I can pause it so I don't miss anything when I to go pee or get a snack. Only a few movies might ...MIGHT be worth going to the theater for, if the effects are that amazing, but with all the negatives I listed above, there hasn't been one yet.
SORRY...YOU ARE TOTALLY MISSING ON ALL POINTS IN THIS DISCUSSION. I have very, very, very strong ideas on what the theater industry needs to do and what I have is definitely not what you are saying. You want to know, let me know.
I would love to know your ideas, I also found to article to be mediocre. What are you thinking?
I found this article and interesting read but not logical at all. A couple maybe. I own a small town private theater. I would love to hear your ideas. I'm always
reading ,searching, and trying anything that might help. I think outside the box and an open to all ideas or suggestions. I listen to the customers in the lobby, ticket lines, concessions etc. To hear what they say. I have found this to be very insightful. Of course I would no longer be open if I did even half of what they wanted;)
I would really like to hear from you and your thoughts.
Thank you for your time,
Deanna. If I own a movie theater and had 7 screens. Here's what each would have. 1 - Gamers only. Rearrange seating to accommodate. Charge per hour. 2 - Indie films. Once a week, open for anyone to show their films, shorts or features. Charge for the showing. 3. Marvel, DC only. 4. Date night type films for Friday and Saturday. Special prices. Show comedy, romance, and horror. 5. Story films. Cater to those 50 and older. Also, art films, like LOVING VINCENT. 6. Social media type films. Allow cellphones, laptops at the top 2 rows. Could also have some TV episodes for binge watching. 7. Most hyped film for the week. Post budget.
Give rewards for responses and reviews on the theater's website. THEN, CHANGE THE LOBBY. No more just popcorn and soda. Free WiFi. Encourage viewers to stay after the movie.
Something else. I'm tired of theaters, China/Hollywood, distributors, producers, writers, directors, and actors treating us, the viewing public, as if we are prisoners and we will eat whatever is fed to us. We want stories that we will remember, affect our lives and thinking, have great acting, and use of all new techniques available, etc. Give us a choice for what we want to pay for.
The free-to-play model wouldn't work for cinemas, speaking as a gamer. The reason is simple; increasingly, the free-to-play model in video games relies on the game being UNPLAYABLE without micro transactions. The best armour and weapons are paid, meaning you're at a severe disadvantage unless you pay. Mandatory wait times are instilled; happy to pay ten bucks for progression? No? Then you'll have to wait three IRL DAYS.
The idea that micro transactions are a gentle, kind, "you don't have to pay anything if you don't want to - but here are some extras if you want THEM" is nice, but untrue. The system works because its MAIN premise is to make the experience as uncomfortable as possible UNLESS you pay. Game developers who use this technique strip as much from the game as they possibly can, to sell back to you later. That's the main reason micro transactions have developed a seriously negative reputation. So trying to implement the same approach in other areas would make people LESS likely to go to a cinema, not more. To most people a safe, flat rate of payment is much better than the unknowns of "if I want a good seat, how much does that cost? If I want to bring water in with me, how much does THAT add" which is the reality of how that situation is likely to turn out, since most businesses don't seem to know when to stop.
And then there is the film rental which must be paid to the film distribution companies (Sony, Warner, Disney, Paramount, etc). The minimum the movie theater MUST pay for each person watching the movie at their location is generally in the $5 range (though it varies by geographic area; major metropolitan areas being far more expensive) - theaters pay a percentage of box office sales and if it is under that minimum they pay the difference. So if the theaters let you in free...they still must pay the distribution companies and each customer would have to spend far more than that minimum amount to make it worthwhile, or even feasible.
There was a time when going to the movies was an event. When you walked into the theater, the lobbies were beautiful and grand. Some theaters even had chandeliers in the lobby. You got escorted to your seat. If you wanted, you could pay extra and get private box seats. You got treated like you were somebody. But theaters today treat people like cattle and expect them to be willing to come back and pay the exhorbitant prices.
I would build a house with a dedicated movie theater room so I don't have to worry about crowds. I care for the experience when it comes to room acoustics and decent sound, not the young girl who would stomp down the stairs, dash to the front row, and stomp back up the stairs. I heard people stomping up and down the stairs a lot while trying to CONCENTRATE!!! I found myself edging so close to the screen--almost off my seat. It's when Finding Dory came out recently.
And yes, private movie rooms are an excellent idea, even if it wastes ground space. What about a 10-story building with private movie rooms of different sizes and rates?
I recently decided that I will no longer go the "the movies." Why? Well, you arrive 15-20 minutes early to get a good seat and are completely inundated with commercial after commercial. Every thing from car insurance to local dentists. And the sound is pumped up. Then come the screaming previews of coming attractions. A movie that was suppose to start at 1.40, actually started at 2.05. No thanks. I will just wait until it is released on DVD. I no longer need to see something as soon as it is released.
This generatikn needs to learm how to disconnect and live in the real world
I agree with you Karl.
The day the movies are filmed using a cellphone camera is the day watching movies on a handheld device make sense. For very old movies, fine. They have average video quality, monophonic sounds, and great story, so on a handheld device it is good enough. But today's blockbusters? They usually have mediocre story but great video resolution and superb sound. Watching them on a small screen is like eating at a fine restaurant and rinsing every dish with water before eating.
Jesus christ... This is the stupidest thing I have ever heard of
I find this article ridiculous. The problem is, social media. People don't hang out anymore. My friends and i went to the movies every weekend. Now kids sit around and keep glued to face book. they use their phones in school. the cant keep their attention for longer then 10 minutes. they are used to getting what ever they want when they want it, and without paying. the music industry is dead for the same thing. I am someone that enjoys the experience of a theater. the sound, the screen. I have issues going because of all the kids and adults talking and texting non their phones the entire time. it is sad.
this kind of is thinking of ways to make the theatre more expensive the theatres are absolutely fine we also have private rooms you can book them for partys and stuff in our local cinema but our cinema cant show 3D its not the theatres fault its the movies i think there getting worse every year!
I have not been to the movies in 2 years! I watch them on Netflix, Hulu, Youtube, Itunes, and buy them on Blu-Ray!
Just watched the 2nd Star Wars trailer; I'll go to see that. But that's about it; wait 2 months for anything else and pay $2.00 at Redbox (Blu-ray).
When theaters monopolized the medium they could get away with $10 tickets.
What I would do:
- $5.00 Movies all week
- $2.00 Classics (Great Older Movies)
- Concerts
- YouTube compilations (with a theme)
- Sporting Events Local & Pro - e.g. Away games & Championships
"TV sets, laptops, tablets, and smartphones just don't cut it."
Maybe for you, Dave. Or you just might be playing the devil's advocate here?
The trend seems to be to stream content, which includes movies, to any and every WiFi enabled device. This leads to an interesting dichotomy, people buy larger and larger TVs for their living rooms and dens but more and more people are watching movies on their laptops, tablets and smartphones. When the Internet of Things craze gets going, kitchen appliance commercials will scream "Be the first one on your block to watch your favorite movie on your favorite (kitchen appliance name here)!"
Large screen and surround sound are not a big enticement for me. I'd rather watch a movie in the comfort of my recliner with my favorite snack and beverage in hand that have to travel miles to a theater where I get to spend a week's paycheck on tickets and snacks, then be herded like cattle along with other patrons into sticky, smelly, cramped little room where I get to have my senses assaulted by too loud sound.
While the technology used to make today's movies is light years ahead of that even 10 years ago, the acting is light years behind. Today's actors are for the most part one-dimensional, even when acting in a 3D movie. As the production budgets have gone up, the quality of the stories and the acting has gone down. I'd rather watch Turner Movie Classics on my 48" TV than the latest "wallet-buster" on an IMAX screen.
Cost. If movie tickets cost less I'd go more. Also, in my opinion, there are not a lot of good movies out there. They aren't making a lot of movies I really want to see. The combination of high prices and not dying to see a movie go together. My sister and I used to go to movies all the time together, back when movie tickets were $5 but now they're $10+. If I went every weekend a month that would be $40-50 on movie tickets for one person and since we don't usually go alone that would be $80-$100.
I'm not going to spend $10 for a one time viewing of a movie that I only kind of sort of want to see.
100% right
I can only echo the comments here. I used to be a regular Cinema goer. Maybe as much as 50 times or more per year. In a big city area there always used to be somewhere you could see a film for £2 or 3. At that price even if the film turned out to be a lemon you could take a risk. Even putting up with all the unpleasant parts of cinema experience that other commentators have raised. Now prices range from £7 - 10 to even over £20. That is too much to risk. To try to keep costs down I even participated in various 2 for 1 offers. However I now find the convenience of home viewing such that I no longer want the inconveniences and the costs that come with 'going to the movies'. That saddens me because the collective experience used to be so rewarding but I have to go back a long time to recall when that last was. Maybe I might venture out to see something that needs the big screen but when I do I usually end up thinking I could have watched that at home.
Well, to start off with, I'd like the place to be clean, no sticky floors, no stained/matted seats, no smell in the air; then I would like for the volume to be turned down some, it doesn't need to break my eardrums; then there is the cost, $10 for popcorn and a Coke?: last but not least is the interruptions.
I'm actually thinking of buying some bankrupt movie theater and selling tickets for people to sit around in the dark texting on their phones while I just play free youtube LOLcat or epic fail videos on the big screen for them to ignore. Surely I'll have the most profitable movie theater in America!
Personally, I want to actually watch the MOVIE that I bought a ticket for, so obviously I wait the extra few weeks until the home release finally arrives. These days, the so called "movie" theater is just a place to eat junk food and stare at your cell phone for 2 hours. Those places don't make profit from the ticket sales anyway, so what do they care if people watch the movie or just sit around talking? Their only revenue comes from selling popcorn and soda.
Whatever they come up with, it just has to hold them over until the next innovation comes out (maybe holograms for example). That technology will be shown in a different building than the typical movie theater with a flat screen at the front, so the whole experience will completely change at that point.
I would go to your Lolcat theater. I know it wasn't the point of your comment, but it might work, especially in a college town?
There are good/great theaters out there...you just have to find them.
The one biggest problem is that movie studios milk theaters for every single penny they can - movie theaters usually don't make a cent off ticket sales, making money (very poorly) on concessions alone, which is why you're forbidden from bringing in your own snacks and drinks.
When theater chains start folding in massive numbers, studios will have to loosen the reins or lose their entire "first-run" market.
My understanding is that distributors take 50% of the gate receipts. Regardless, it's ridiculous the prices they charge for some of items at the concession stand.
I honestly don't go to the theatre on a regular basis anymore...perhaps three times per year. It's much more economical to wait for the film to come out on digital media and then watch it at home.
@Dave: Let the movie theaters make some money on the films so they can **stay in business.** I personally don't care about the food and drink - I'm there for the movie.
Most of what you say here are all things that I've been thinking about for a long time, and a few of the ideas could work well. There's just two things that I'd like to bring up.
1) Micro-transactions aren't profitable overall. They're profitable for a small percentage of apps that gain a very large following. Since it costs far less to develop a single app then it does to build a theater, and theaters have ongoing maintenance costs, I don't think it would work that well for them.
2) I don't go the cinema to watch a movie, I go because it's just something fun to do with friends. Most of the time, the £10 that I pay for the movie isn't worth it, because the movie doesn't offer me much value on top of the enjoyment I could have just watching a movie with friends at home. The suggestions you have here are good, but still I don't think any of them would add enough value for me to part with my money more regularly.
Not really. I might be biased though. I'm short-sighted, and my glasses don't work perfectly to restore my vision to 20-20, so I might be loosing some of the effect of the big screen due to the distance it is away. It all depends on resolution, too. I have no idea what resolution movie theaters play at, but I'm guessing at some point the bigger screen just means bigger pixels.


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|11 Jul 2012
Windows 7 32 bit
Best way to wipe a virus ridden netbook?
I've heard that diskpart / clean all is very thorough, but I don't know how to do this on my netbook since the main drive of the computer in use can't be the one selected for clean all. Is there another way to do this, or an alternative that would be just as thorough? Any suggestions / instructions would be much appreciated. I have Windows 7 starter (32 bit).
|My System Specs
|11 Jul 2012
Hi and welcome,
Yes, that's correct - You can perform a DISKPART/CLEAN ALL command from the command prompt when you boot from a Windows 7 installation USB (I assume you don't have a DVD drive?)
Do the following:
1. Download your exact same version of Windows in an ISO format from here:
Official Windows 7 SP1 ISO from Digital River « My Digital Life
2. Burn the ISO to a 4GB USB flash drive using this tool:
Microsoft Store Online
3. Boot from this USB (check boot order in BIOS), and at the Languages screen press CTRL+F10 to open the command window
4. At the X:> prompt type diskpart and hit enter
5. Now type:
- list disk and hit enter (you should only have 1 disk and it should be labelled disk 0)
- select disk 0 and hit enter
- clean all and hit enter
This might take some time.
Once it has completed, follow step 3 but now install as normal. Activate your installation using the COA sticker under the netbook. Job done.
Post back if you need more help.
|My System Specs
|11 Jul 2012
Ahhhh....I see you edited your post after I had posted. Windows Starter is an issue as there isn't an ISO download for that....so you cannot follow the steps I posted.
The best suggestion I can offer is this:
Windows Defender Offline
|My System Specs
|11 Jul 2012
Windows 10 Education 64 bit
If you remove the ei.cfg file from the 32 bit ISO file Starter will be in the list of available editions to install.
A 32 bit universal install disk will have starter on it.
Download any 32 bit version. Then use the tool listed above to make the bootable USB thumb drive. Then just go into the sources folder and delete the ei.cfg file. You may have to display hidden files to see it. Then when you boot from the USB thumb drive, instead of being locked into one version it will display a list of editions to install. Select "Starter" and then use the product code on your COA sticker. You may have to activate by phone, but once you explain what you did you'll be all set.
Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7
Windows 7 Universal Installation Disc - Create
USB Windows 7 Installation Key Drive - Create
|My System Specs
|11 Jul 2012
W10 Pro desktop, W10 laptop, W10 laptop, W10 Pro tablet (all 64-bit)
One suggestion, before you do the wipe, make sure you have all the drivers you'll need for the netbook for things like the video, touchpad, ethernet port, wifi, etc... They should be available on the mfrs website, download them to a usb stick so you have them available.
|My System Specs
|11 Jul 2012
Everything you need is here to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.
After Step 1 run the eicfg removal tool on the downloaded ISO to unlock Starter version, then continue with the steps to get a perfect reinstall.
|My System Specs
|11 Jul 2012
Microsoft Windows 10 Professional / Windows 7 Professional
Stop suggesting the "clean all" command, its completely unnecessary and a waste of time, running "clean" by itself twice is more than enough to get rid of partitions and leave disk ready to be reinstalled.
|My System Specs
|11 Jul 2012
It's been over a year since the debate linked below occurred and "Clean" command alone has worked fine for the many occasions where apparent boot sector corruption or conflict is blocking install, HD boot, even in several cases BIOS post. I've come to save "Clean All" only for making data unrecoverable by most means, e.g. when the PC is being sold or HD disposed.
Diskpart a concurrent second call is made before the first is complete
|My System Specs
|11 Jul 2012
Thats a matter of opinion - for a "virus ridden netbook" as decribed by the OP, I see no disadvantage to using CLEAN ALL and would keep recommending it in these cases, as has been suggested here.
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Is there a USB lead or a lead of some sort that I can link from Netbook to Netbook if what sort? I want to link two Netbooks together and to transfer things from one Netbook to the other Netbook?
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
بيئات تطوير متكاملة لبايثون
BeeWare is a collection of projects that can be used to help develop, debug and launch Python software. Each tool follows the Unix philosophy of doing one thing well. Each tool can be used in isolation, or they can be chained together to provide a rich set of programming tools.
Python native tools...
Python has proven itself as a highly capable language - approachable for newcomers, but powerful in the hands of experts. Why shouldn't you be able to use Python everywhere that you need to tell a computer to do something? And shouldn't your tools exploit all the capabilities of Python as a language, not just the bits that map nicely to a C binding?
...on mobile & desktop...
Modern computing doesn't happen in an 80x25 console window. It happens on phones, tablets, and desktop machines with rich user interfaces. Shouldn't you be able to use Python in all those locations, and exploit the unique capabilities of those platforms?
...behaving natively.
End users shouldn't have to care what language their tools are written in. And that starts with looking and behaving like completely native tools. Native appearance, native behavior, delivered in the way a native app is delivered. Why shouldn't your Python tools fit in just as well as a native tool?
This is BeeWare.
This is what BeeWare provides. Tools to help you write Python code with a rich, native user interface; and the libraries and support code necessary to get that code running on iOS, Android, macOS, Linux, Windows, tvOS, and more.
Open source
The Open Source development process has proven itself to be the most reliable way to develop robust and reliable software. That's why the entire BeeWare suite of tools are BSD licensed, and available for all to use and modify.
All contributions welcome
But it's not just about code. A successful software project requires documentation, design skills, feedback and bug reports. The BeeWare community acknowledges that all contributions are important — not just the ones that come as a pull request on GitHub.
From diversity comes strength
A diverse community is a strong community. This means accepting people of all levels of experience, from all backgrounds, of all races, creeds, orientations and expressions. The BeeWare project is committed to developing and maintaining a diverse, welcoming community. We have an open offer to mentor anyone who wants to get involved as a contributor, backed up by a Code of Conduct that is rigorously enforced.
If all this sounds interesting, why not take a look at the BeeWare projects and see how you can use them when developing Python applications? Or, if you'd like to contribute, and you've never contributed to open source before, start with our guide for first time contributors. If you feel ready to dive straight in, check out the project pages or our guide on what you can do to help.
Stay in touch!
Follow @PyBeeWare on Twitter, or join the BeeWare enthusiasts mailing list for updates, hints, tips, and announcements related to the project.
BeeWare is supported by users like you! Every little bit helps: click here to contribute.
Many thanks to
Latest News
14 Aug: 2018 Google Summer of Code - VOC Optimization
Tools to support converting a Python
project into a standalone native
Test runner GUI that finds failures
A Python native, OS native GUI
A Javascript implementation of the
Python virtual machine
A transpiler that converts Python
bytecode into Java bytecode.


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Less than five months after the suicide of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills husband Russell Armstrong, executive producer and Bravo executive Andy Cohen defended how the show handled the situation at Bravo's winter TV previews Saturday.
"I think what emerged is a story of a woman trying to extricate herself from a marriage, in which she was unhappy, in which domestic violence was playing a part," Cohen told reporters.
Russell Armstrong, husband of Real Housewives' Taylor, commits suicide
Armstrong committed suicide in August after wife Taylor Armstrong filed for divorce in July amid accusations of physical abuse. Following his suicide, Russell Armstrong's mother, John Ann Hotchkiss, said in September that she believed the reality series "brought him down" and says he told her he was very worried about how he would be portrayed in Season 2. "[He said,] 'Mom, they're just going to crucify me this season.' And he said, 'I don't know what to do. I'll never survive it.'"
"He was given the option to come back or not come back and he chose to come back [for Season 2]," Cohen said Saturday, adding that Armstrong spoke to producers about how much the show had helped his business.
The show was, however, re-edited before its September premiere. (A scene showing Taylor lingerie shopping to spice up the couple's sex life, for instance, was cut.) Subsequent episodes have shown Russell and Taylor's therapy sessions and a handful of verbal disagreements between them, as well as conflict between Russell and some of the other cast members. In the most recent episode, Taylor was heard on the phone telling her co-stars that her marriage was over.
When speaking about the expansion of Bravo's late-night series, Watch What Happens: Live, Cohen discussed interviewing Taylor on the normally light program in what was one of her first interviews since the suicide. "What I wanted to do was maintain the integrity of what we do on Watch What Happens: Live, what we do is fun," Cohen said. "This was an interview that was very serious, and she also wanted to have fun. ... But the audience hadn't really seen her that much. It wasn't necessarily a time to be fun."
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Taylor Armstrong splits from husband
The compromise? The first 10 minutes of Armstrong's sit-down was somber before the show segued into one of its signature WWHL games.
Cohen also said that the upcoming Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 2 reunion, which was shot earlier this week, will address Russell's suicide even further. "We talked about everything serious that you can imagine."
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills airs Mondays at 9/8c on Bravo.


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Kids' Club
The Kids' Club gives kids the holiday they want, which gives you the holiday you need most. Having someone take good care of your kids for a few hours each day—and knowing your kids are having a great time—helps you to relax and maybe even reignite a little romance between Mum and Dad. Children up to six years of age may join us.
Here at the Kids' Club, your children may dress up as pirates or mermaids. They can help us roll out biscuits and treats. We go on scavenger hunts. We play with paints and crafts. We have music sessions. We do yoga. There is story time, snacks, sandpit play and mini golf. At the end of each day, most kids don't want to leave so soon.
The Kids' Club comprises an indoor space with a ball pond, toys and games, a painting and arts and crafts corner, a sleep area, a changing area, and little peoples' toilets. Double doors lead out to a covered outdoor space with ball pond and soft play climbing system, ride-ons, tables for outdoor play, dolls, and pushchairs.
Childcare is available Sundays 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. and Monday to Thursday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. with an hour break for lunch. There is no booking system, so kids can be dropped off at any time. They can be looked after and fed during the lunch break, if desired.
On Fridays, the Kids' Club opens at 7 a.m. for breakfast and a PJ party. Our caring and attentive childcare staff collect your kids from your apartment, so Mum and Dad can have a luxurious lie-in.


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Prepare for Jobs and Internships!
Whether you are graduating next quarter or next year, it is never too early to start preparing your resume and collecting materials. This workshop will help build your confidence as you apply for internships and jobs.
Professional career counselors from the UW Career Center will be on hand to give real-time feedback on resumes, showcase examples of jobs in the arts, and answer your questions.
Learn how to connect what you are doing in the studio or classroom to opportunities out in the job market.


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Sentara Behavioral Health Services
Sentara provides a comprehensive approach to mental health, offering a variety of treatment options and both inpatient and outpatient care.
We put patients first. Drawing on the wealth of experts and resources throughout the Sentara network, we treat the unique and complex medical and psychological needs of patients. Patients and their families are included in the process of treatment and recovery.
Our experts help patients realize that although they may not have full control over their symptoms, they do have control over their lives.
Located at the Downtown Office Complex for Sentara Halifax Regional Hospital, our behavioral health professionals can treat medical and psychiatric issues at the same time and offer af full range of diagnostic testing.


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Guess I need to let you guys know which Sats I will be on. ... AO-51 AO-27 SO-50 Paul -- Paul D. Lenharr II (KB3NDS) VUCC #1522 - 50mhz Six Club Member #2350 Skywarn Spotter # CS-19 "Pain is temporary, Pride is forever!" Charles County Tactical Response Team NREMT-I, Firefighter, Haz-Mat Technician Department of Homeland Security Instructor (301) 399-9504 _______________________________________________ Sent via firstname.lastname@example.com. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
AMSAT Home


text: I have an app that uses another companies services, and would like to know how many new registrations my app does from my end. What would be the simplest and accurate way to keep track of this? Should I have my app call a certain private website I have set up each time a successful registration is performed, and have some sort of counter set up on that website?


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Know more about this business than we do? Cool! Please submit any corrections or missing details you may have.Help us make it right
Lake Martin Crafters is located at the address 23 Samford Ave in Opelika, Alabama 36801. They can be contacted via phone at (334) 745-2762 for pricing, hours and directions. Lake Martin Crafters specializes in Moldings, Garages, Refinishing.
Lake Martin Crafters has an annual sales volume of 0 - 500K. .For more information contact Joe Earnest, Owner
Lake Martin Crafters provides Financing...
Be the first AL.com user to add photos or videos of Lake Martin Crafters
Lake Martin Crafters was founded in 1975. The company is located in Opelika and incorporated in Alabama. Lake Martin Crafters specializes in Carpentry Work.
Lake Martin Crafters can be found at Samford Ave 23. The following is offered: Lumber & Wood Products. The entry is present with us since Sep 9, 2010 and was last updated on Nov 14, 2013. In Opelika there are 7 other Lumber & Wood Products. An overview can be found here.


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Understanding Common Complications of Neck Pain
Neck pain is a very common medical condition that arises when certain activities strain or damage the delicate soft tissue of the neck. Some of the most common causes of neck pain include slouching while working, sleeping in an unsupportive position, or being involved a car accident. Even though pain caused by these events may begin in the neck region, it can quickly radiate to other areas of the body.
Numbness in Upper Extremities
A neck sprain can create different symptoms for different individuals. Some people may feel a knot or stiffness in the neck region, while others will experience sharp pain in the injured area. If the neck injury has created pressure on one of the spinal nerve roots, it's likely that the injured individual will also experience sharp pain in his or her upper arms. Some people experience numbness, tingling, or weakness in their arms and shoulders.
One of the nerves that are responsible for sending sensations to the head is located in the neck. This means that damage to this delicate nerve can cause dull, aching pain to develop in a patient's head. In fact, facial pain and chronic headaches are very commonly associated with a pinched neck nerve. The best way to alleviate these chronic headaches is to treat the underlying cause by relieving the pressure exerted on the nerve.
Shooting Pain in Upper Body
The nerves that are located throughout the spinal cord and neck send signals all over the body. For this reason, damage to any of the spinal nerves can cause pain to spread beyond the point of injury. For some individuals, a sudden neck injury causes pain to radiate throughout the upper body region.
If you are experiencing the symptoms of neck pain, schedule an appointment with Dr. Gary Kraus of Kraus Back and Neck Institute by calling (888) 816-8954. We are a comprehensive spinal care center in Houston that offers both surgical and non-surgical treatment options. To find out more about our services, visit our informative website.
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text:
Modern Male Look
A remarkable transformation is apparent in this styling of the haircut introduced in the last photo. The curls are ironed smooth, allowing all the layers and texture in the hair to be enhanced. The side parting provides an anchor point from which the long, straight locks sweep.
This look also keeps the focus on the eyes and center of the face, but the feel is modern and exciting. It's a hairstyle you would expect to be at home on a model in a menswear magazine as well as at the local dance club on the DJ who captures the eyes of every woman in the room as he spins his discs.
Collection: Colors of Life
Artistic Director: Fabien Provost for Fabio Salsa
Hair: Fabien Provost & Alexandre Piel
Make-up: Charlotte Willer
Styling: Wil
Photography: Adel Awad
Related posts:
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Men's haircut with wispy fringing
Long men's hair with layering


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Blue Sky: How to Stand Out in Chicago's Startup Scene
Chicago Tribune - Trib Nation
Thursday, July 31, 2014 at 6:00 PM (CDT)
Blue Sky: How to Stand Out in Chicago's Startup Scene
One night, two hours, three of Chicago's top startup pros. And YOU. Public Good Software executive chairman and co-founder Dan Ratner, EventUp CEO and partner and Closet Angels founder Jayna Cooke and WeDeliver chief experience officer and member of TechStars Chicago class of 2014 Jimmy Odom know what it takes to thrive in Chicago's startup community. The Tribune's Chicago Confidential columnist Melissa Harris will moderate one-on-one interviews, panel discussion and audience Q&A to give you the inside scoop on how Ratner, Cooke and Odom excel. You can expect to learn:
Do not miss this chance to pick up new expert insights and tools – plus a networking opportunity with other Chicago-based entrepreneurs.
No refunds within 7 days of the event. DigitalPLUS member tickets subject to limited availability. You will not receive paper tickets. You will receive a confirmation email that includes a confirmation number for your ticket(s). You must PRINT and bring your ticket(s) to the event entrance, or display them on your smart phone.
For questions concerning this event, please email firstname.lastname@example.com or call 312-222-7886.
In order to purchase these tickets in installments, you'll need an Eventbrite account. Log in or sign up for a free account to continue.


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Bill Cosby's sexual-assault case in Pennsylvania inches closer to trial, according to reports, as another attempt to stall criminal proceedings there has been shut down. A Montgomery County judge on Tuesday quashed a petition that sought a Superior Court review of a previous decision to proceed to trial, calling such an appeal unwarranted. Cosby and his legal team have tried to argue that the comedian's aggravated indecent assault charges should be tossed by citing a former prosecutor there who had, more than ten years ago, promised not to follow through on allegations brought by Andrea Constand.
Earlier in the month, however, the presiding judge in question upended that strategy, and this week added that the immediate appeal to that call "would not materially advance the ultimate termination of the matter," according to the AP. The Philadelphia Inquirer points out that two petitions were filed, though: one to that judge, and another to the Superior Court itself — though the former has been denied, the latter is still pending. If accepted, the case could come to a halt for the court to assess the judge's decision to discount the previous pretrial agreement. If not, Cosby's team will prep for an evidence hearing scheduled for March 8.


text: Need to add that extra bit of awesome to your project? This ridiculously upbeat and stylish synth-pop loop is just what you need. Some key features of this track are an addicting 80s inspired drum groove, a simple but memorable melody, and a high level of production quality. This loop was made with a wide variety of different applications in mind, from video games to film.


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Blind man's buff
Rohin Venkateswaran on his debut directorial venture
ADHE Kangal is a labour of love for its director Rohin Venkatesan. It takes a little prodding to get the man talking about the story. "The film is about a blind chef's journey through newfound love, retrieved vision and a whole bunch of twists, turns and answers along the way," he says, as he grudgingly obliges to divulge details about this romantic thriller. Rohin, who holds a Masters in Film Direction from LV Prasad Film Institute, has earlier worked as an assistant to director Vishnuvardhan.
"Everything I know about direction, I learned while working with Vishnuvardhan. I worked with him on a Telugu film called Panjaa, and I was impressed with the way he planned his shooting schedule, and the way he designed the entire look of the film," he says. Speaking about the challenges of shooting Adhe Kangal, the 30-year-old points out, "We had to wrap the film up in about 35 days, and we were shooting at live locations in Chennai, Kanyakumari and Erode. Making the live locations seem realistic on screen was the challenge. But it is an engaging film till the end, and that has really worked." The film hit theatres yesterday, cashing in on the long Republic Day weekend, and Rohin is hopeful the audience will remain engaged till the very end. While his next project is still in its nascent stages, he asks us to look out for a rom-com in the coming months.
Adhe Kangal stars Kalaiyarasan, Janani Iyer, Sshivada and Bala Saravanan.
— Nandita Ravi


text: Quick view Beretta Px4 Magazine 9mm 17Rd, 200C1383438 In-Store Price: $29.99 $29.99 $23.00 incl. shipping Replacement or spare magazines for your 9 mm Px4 Storm. Available in 14, 17 and 20 round capacities. Caliber: 9mm. Finish: Black Also compatible with: CX4 with PX4 Magazine Well Insert/Magazine Release, PX4 Full Size 9MM, PX4 Compact 9MM, PX4 Sub-Compact... Compare Add to Cart


text:
There's truly never been a nicer time for you to be a writer – there has certainly never previously been such an abundance of demand for articles or blog posts and reviews as a result it was really a revelation for me to realize simply how much work there was clearly available to me. I used to be employed in an office building therefore I am completely familiar with structured article writing, by way of a wordprocessor and having targets to meet therefore it virtually all felt natural to me.
To be able to work from home, not needing to commute and also being able to spend much more time together with the kids is a genuine godsend. However ,, having started to feel the pinch out of remaining a single working mom, I realized I'd personally must make certain the standard was basically always there in my article content to make certain that my publishers would be likely to continue choosing me for their article content. Which means you can be assured, dear reader, that this piece of writing was properly researched as well as the topic adequately comprehended and not merely copied and pasted out of a site somewhere..
Halogen Light Bulbs happen to be the brightest and also most economical light bulbs available in the market at this time. These kinds of light bulbs provide a much whiter visual experience that can make getting these bulbs truly worth every dollar. Brightness is important in terms of light bulbs not to mention halogen lights provide a perfect atmosphere. The life of these kinds of bulbs is actually in the thousands of hours decreasing the requirement to swap them as frequently as you might regular bulbs amoxicillin tablets 500 mg. Halogens are generally energy saving and come in a wide range of looks. You could certainly start using these incandescent bulbs throughout several places among them kitchen illumination ( concealed or built -in may be quite effective), cabinet, dresser, table, floor, and desk lamps.
Halogen Light Bulbs designs include spotlights, capsule lights, tube shaped, and wall fastened uplights. These kinds of bulbs may turn out to be used for family homes along with businesses. From from large to very small, there are a lot of these products to choose from. From picture frames to music stands, halogen bulbs provide you with the required lighting to allow the best illumination for everyday use. Halogen bulbs reveal color in everything which they're illuminating. These kinds of light bulbs usually are sturdier compared to other kinds of light bulbs that exist right now. Cafes most definitely take pleasure in halogens because they offer directional illumination that could focus on just where owners of the business really want that illumination to bring the maximum impact.
It's a really great thing that we have the net in addition to product reviews in order to lead us all when it comes to shopping wisely regarding finding the right replacement halogen light bulbs.


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Career Center
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text:
Lumbar Spine Disorder
View Single Post
Join Date: May 2011
Location: So Cal
Posts: 1,379
Re: Lumbar Spine Disorder
The left L5 nerve (from the L5-S1 level) is being "moderately" compromised by a herniated disk as it exits the spinal canal. "Moderate" is standard radiologist-speak for "possibly problematic", but it's still one step below "severe".
At L4-L5 there's a broader disk protrusion (but apparently not a herniation) that is affecting BOTH nerve roots (left and right). The radiologist doesn't supply an adjective for the nerve root impingement at this level, so one might guess that he doesn't think it's a big deal. He does say the thecal sac compression achieves "moderate" status, but I don't think that's as great a concern in the lumbar spine as it would be in the cervical.
Just based on the MRI report, I doubt that anyone would recommend surgery right now, unless they really wanted to do the surgery themselves, for their own reasons. I would expect that a determined effort at physical therapy and self-therapy exercises would be tried first.
If you haven't already, you might want to duplicate your post on the Back Problems board, as there is more lumbar expertise over there.
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StreetScout / SEARCH: 9321 W Buckskin Trail Peoria, AZ 85383
- $129,900 price
- 5062089 listing id
- Neighborhood: Kati Kourt Estates MCR 848-07, Lot 4
- Status: Active
Beautiful views from this lot located in the City of Peoria. West Wing Mountain to the east and views of city lights to the south. One of the few view lots left in the City of Peoria. Seller will consider Seller financing. This lot will need water and sewer from the City of Peoria.
Courtesy of: J. D. Campbell Realty, Inc.
Office Phone: (623) 972-6133
Copyright Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service, Inc. All rights reserved. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Updated: 23rd October, 2018 12:46 PM.
9321 W Buckskin Trail Peoria, AZ
Streetscout Powered by Placester


text:
All posts tagged "Buy USB Cables Online"
Essential Tips That Will Make It Easier to Buy USB Cables Online!
Prominent smartphone, laptop and tablet manufacturers are incorporating the new universal serial bus charging port in their latest devices. If you use such gadgets, it can be somewhat annoying because you now have to replace all your...
- Posted December 14, 2017


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Murderers' brother Kris Malavin admits attempted murder
The brother of two killers has admitted attempting to murder a key witness who helped convict them.
Kris Malavin, 27, drove his car over 54-year-old James McGregor in Maryhill Road, Glasgow, on 17 January.
The High Court in Glasgow heard how the victim suffered internal bleeding and fractures to his pelvis, leg and hip.
In 2010 Mr McGregor gave evidence against Angus and Zac Malavin who were jailed for life for murdering his friend Andrew Curran.
Judge Lord Jones deferred sentence until October.
Street confrontation
The court heard how Malavin was driving a silver Audi A3 in which his brother Zico Malavin, 19, was a passenger.
He saw Mr McGregor standing at a bus stop and performed a u-turn before Zico Malavin got out the car and exchanged words with Mr McGregor.
The 54-year-old ran off but was struck by the Audi car, throwing him backwards. He then got up and began shouting at the car driver.
As he did this, the Audi struck him once again pinning him against a parked taxi.
The court heard that Malavin then reversed the car and Mr McGregor fell onto the road.
Malavin manoeuvred his car so it was facing Mr McGregor and drove over his legs twice before driving off at speed.
Attack witnessed
Mr McGregor was left lying in the road screaming in pain. The incident was witnessed by a number of motorists and pedestrians who were in the area.
The court heard that Mr McGregor had to have an operation to stop the bleeding and have a pin inserted in his right leg.
He was unable to walk for 16 weeks but is now able to walk short distances with a stick.
He has been left with a limp and will require a hip replacement in the future.
The court was told that the background to the murder attempt was a long-running and on-going feud between the Malavin and Curran families.


text:
CATILINE´S CONSPIRACY, THE JUGURTHINE WAR, HISTORIES (Oxford World´s Classics New Edition)
(Produkt nebyl zatím hodnocen)
|OUP References
|paperback paperback 304 stran
The Roman historian Sallust's accounts of Catiline's conspiracy, the Jugurthine War, and his fragmentary Histories together chart the decline of the late republic, and his influence extended throughout antiquity. William W. Batstone's new translation captures the energy and severity of Sallust's Latin style in an accessible English idiom. A full introduction sets Sallust and his works in their turbulent historical context, and considers their achievements as both history and literature. Shorter, individual introductions and chronologies to each of the three works chart the sequence of events. Comprehensive notes, glossary, and index. Up-to-date bibliography and three maps covering the ancient Mediterranean, Italy, and Africa. 'the glory of wealth and physical beauty is fluid and fragile; but virtue is held brilliant and eternal' The Roman historian Sallust lived through troubled times. He deplored the moral and political decline of the Republic, and in his two monographs he set out to exemplify the reasons for the years of civil strife. Catiline's Conspiracy is an account of the rebellion against the state led by the disaffected Catiline. For Sallust it was 'especially memorable because of the unprecedented nature of the crime and the danger it caused'. Rome's fight against the king of Numidia in The Jugurthine War is a graphic depiction of power struggles in Rome and brutal battles in Africa that eventually resulted in the capture of Jugurtha. Sallust's abrupt and distinctive style is the perfect vehicle for his moral urgency, bitter condemnation, and satirical cynicism. This new translation, which also includes Sallust's fragmentary Histories, captures his effects in an accessible English idiom, and provides a comprehensive introduction to his work as history and literature. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more. Readership: Readers of ancient history, Roman history and historians; students of classical studies, Roman civilization, Roman history, Roman literature.
Knihovnické kódy


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One thing is clear from the debate over whether a bankruptcy law should be enacted for states—bankruptcy as a concept and a process is misunderstood.
Importantly, Congress is digging into the issue as committees are beginning to hear testimony, which hopefully will create a greater public understanding of bankruptcy's virtues and tools.
Much education needs to be done.A New York Times editorial characterized the idea of a bankruptcy law for states as "pernicious," stating that the purpose of such a law would be to tear up union contracts and negate pension obligations.
The editorial's proposed solution for state governments? Threaten to "lay off workers" and remind both the public and union members that financial emergencies require sacrifice. This editorial - as well as others like it- demonstrates a wide-spread misconception of what a bankruptcy law for states would really mean.
The purpose of a state bankruptcy law would not be to tear up union contracts or eliminate pension obligations - although theoretically this could happen.
And the enactment of a state bankruptcy law would not roil the municipal bond market. Rather, the purpose of such a bankruptcy law would be to enable states to fix their fiscal issues through good-faith negotiations with their unions and other stakeholders, strengthen their fiscal foundation and enable them to emerge from the bankruptcy process stronger than when they went in, with the ability to attract municipal bond investors at a low cost.
Bankruptcy is not a "magic-bullet" for states, which will allow governors to simply snap their fingers to eliminate public pension and retire obligations.
Indeed, the elimination of these important obligations should not be seriously considered by anyone. What should and must be considered is how to modify these obligations so states responsibly can afford them over the long-term, while treating both taxpayers and public employees and retirees fairly.


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Content - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
Fraunhofer is Europe's largest application-oriented research organization. Its research efforts are geared entirely to people's needs: health, security, communication, energy and the environment.
At present, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft maintains roughly 80 research units, including 59 Fraunhofer Institutes, all over Germany. The Fraunhofer Institutes undertake applied research of direct utility to private and public enterprise and of wide benefit to society.Its services are solicited by customers and contractual partners in industry, the service sector and public administration.
By developing technological innovations and novel systems solutions for their customers, the Fraunhofer Institutes help to reinforce the competitive strength of the economy in their local region, and throughout Germany and Europe. Through their work, they aim to promote the economic development of industrial society, paying particular regard to social and environmental concerns.
Fraunhofer Representative Office Japan


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Our gorgeous collection of cultural and people kits is a favourite for many cross stitchers who are looking to advance to the next level of cross stitching, producing unique and elegant results.
Each of the projects within this collection make wonderful home decorations and delightful gifts. Watch your work come to life as you complete each photographic design. Featuring projects by Heritage Crafts' artists, Peter Underhill and John Clayton, the beautifully intricate designs of Maia and Dimensions, and the incredibly life-like portraits by Lanarte.
There are over 100 inspiring project to choose from within this lovely category.
£39.00 inc VAT Was: £48.00 inc VAT


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Jonny Bairstow hit a maiden half-century and paceman Steven Finn took three wickets to guide England to a comfortable 38-run win in the second Twenty20 international against Pakistan on Saturday.
Bairstow's 60 off 46 balls, studded with two sixes and five boundaries, helped England recover from a precarious 79-4 to post a challenging 150-7 before Finn claimed 3-30 to bowl Pakistan out for 112 in 18.2 overs at Dubai Stadium.
England's victory levelled the Twenty20 series and set up an intriguing third and final match in Abu Dhabi on Monday.
Pakistan were off to a disastrous start as Finn had Mohammad Hafeez (nought) caught off the second ball of the innings and then removed a threatening Umar Akmal (19 off 12).
Pakistan were dealt further crucial blows when Awais Zia (six), Asad Shafiq (one) and Shoaib Malik (12) were out, leaving half the side back in the pavilion for just 50.
Shahid Afridi (25) lifted the tempo with two boundaries and a six off Samit Patel, taking 17 off the left-arm spinner's 12th over, but England hit back by dismissing Misbah-ul Haq (13) at the other end.
Hammad Azam (21 off 15 balls) hit a four and a six off Ravi Bopara as Pakistan accumulated 11 off the 14th over and then hit two boundaries off skipper Stuart Broad to reduce the target to 54 off the last five.
But Bopara dismissed Azam to once more peg Pakistan back at 98-7 and the task of getting 39 in the last two overs proved too much. Broad and Graeme Swann took two wickets apiece.
"We talked about the comeback and I think the guys showed a lot of character," said Broad. "To set 151 I think we were well set to win and then the bowlers did a wonderful job."
Pakistan captain Misbah blamed poor batting by his teammates.
"I think 151 was a gettable target because the wicket had nothing for the bowlers," said Misbah. "But we had a very poor start and then lost wickets regularly and you don't win matches after that."
Earlier Bairstow made an unbeaten 60 off 46 balls, studded with five boundaries and two sixes, to help England recover after Broad won the toss and opted to bat.
Bairstow, who made his debut last year, improved on his unbeaten 22 he made during England's eight-run defeat in the first match on Thursday, opened up with a four off Afridi and hit a six in the leg-spinner's next to lift the scoring rate.
Bairstow added 39 for the fifth wicket with Patel (13) and then hit Umar Gul for a six before the bowler finished with 2-31.
England got off to a flying start, making 35 by the fifth over before Pakistan hit back by dismissing Kevin Pietersen (17), Bopara (one) and Eoin Morgan (nine) in the space of 14 runs.
Bairstow and opener Craig Kieswetter (31) added 30 for the fourth wicket as Pakistan bowled well in the middle overs.
Bairstow, Finn guide England to Twenty20 win
Jonny Bairstow hit a maiden half-century and paceman Steven Finn took three wickets to guide England to a comfortable 38-run win in the second Twenty20 international against Pakistan on Saturday.


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Jack hit an important toddler milestone this week: he started saying "no."
These small bursts of toddler defiance are usually shrieked or shouted – at least the ones I'm used to hearing. I've heard it yelled and fussed and whined and drawn out in one long syllable, complete with an ear-piercing mother-mortifying wail. Jack's "no," however, is without any exclamation points. It's curt and to the point, often accompanied by a quick head shake. This is the boy who, until about a month ago, had nothing to say other than "cookie!" and "uh oh!" Now he's saying everything from "mess!" to "please!" to "dance!" but "no," unfortunately, is definitely his favorite.
"Jack, do you want cereal for breakfast?"
"No." Gives his mother look that says, "I would accept a cookie for breakfast, thank you."
"Jack, should we go change your diaper?"
"No." Quick head shake. Is she kidding?
"Jack, let's go take a bath."
"No." Run!
Now that he says "no" (and sometimes "yes," although it sounds like "Ooooooh!") I feel like I should give him choices. Grilled cheese or soup? Play outside or play upstairs? Get dressed now or later? Like I should be engaging him, giving him options, starting to let him choose what happens.
I'm not entirely comfortable doing this. I am very much the Do What I Tell You To Do RIGHT THIS MINUTE kind of mom, and sometimes I hear myself asking Jack which shoes he wants to wear and I think, "Seriously, self? JUST PICK OUT THE SHOES." But it's a different experience, now that he's actually bothering to communicate. I want to engage him in our little stay-at-home world. I want him to use all of his words and learn new ones and enjoy what we do around here. And, it's true, sometimes I just want someone else to make a decision for me!
This little vocabulary explosion is fun, but something I'm also approaching with caution. It seems that my easygoing cheerful little boy has some strong opinions and is not afraid to share them. Nearly every question is met with his firm little "no," and something tells me I'm not going to be enjoying this particular communication skill for long.


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Uganda is a unique and wonderful country that is beautifully green, unusually fertile, but it has been ravaged by war for many years. Idi Amin's regime killed hundreds of thousands, followed by the atrocity-ridden war with the LRA rebels for 20 years in the North of the country in Gulu, ending only a few years ago. There is a huge vacuum for healing, for training and for love. A shocking 58% of the population are only 15 years old and under and child-headed families abound. There are literally millions of orphans, especially in the north of the country where we are focusing, where so many were abducted from their schools, to be forced to become child soldiers or sex-slaves to the officers of the rebels. A massive 82% of the population are suffering PTSD since suffering so much under Joseph Kony and his brutal war.
To address this dire need, we have bought farm land and property far from Gulu town in a very needy area where we have built a primary school. Due to the extremely high drop-out rate even from primary schools due to early teen marriage and the demands of poverty, we are building boarding facilities for the pupils, with local disadvantaged day students joining to our orphans daily. Our school meets all the requirements of the Ugandan Ministry of Education, plus emphasizes character building and early learning. Because the children are so disadvantaged, they don't pay school fees, but we simply ask for some donation from the guardians according to their ability of some beans, maize-flour or school books for their child. We feel that establishing the Family Care School project has the potential to become a model that could be adapted and copied throughout the north.
The project components are:
- The school and housing for orphans & their care-givers have been made from local bricks from the land itself.
- To move away from reliance on donor funding, we're developing a fully self-sustainable project including a farm growing vegetables, cows, bee keeping and a couple small fish farms. Establishing a mixed farm will mean that the economic base of the project is broad—so as we develop, we want to establish chickens, goats, dairy cows, fruit trees etc.
- Using student-oriented teaching methods will greatly improve the effectiveness of local teaching styles and visiting teachers are always welcome. We are already experiencing dramatically superior results in the national PLE exams because of this.
- Apart from scholastics, arts and sports, our orphans and disadvantaged children will have valuable opportunity to contribute and learn animal husbandry and farming, to broaden their skill set.
- We hope to have the project as eco-friendly as possible, and we plan to eventually introduce a bio-gas system for cooking, to save trees, utilize solar power and inexpensive wells, which can be copied by local villages, to similarly cut costs and environmental damage.


text: Hello, I have a little project I am creating, I was just wondering if anyone has any experience sending multiple email's from multiple Hotmail accounts under one ip address using smtp? Will Hotmail see that there is 50+ accounts all sending email from my one ip address? I also will not be spamming with these accounts only sending 1-2 emails each. Also if anyone has a better idea then using Hotmail accounts (i found 1000 of them for 12$ thats why I am saying hotmail) would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!


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It's a long-standing battle: the timesheet versus the employee. The suspense hangs in the air. Will the employee remember to fill the timesheet in, and if so, how accurately will they knock it out? Then, will the final timecard make it to the inbox before the payroll countdown? Only time will tell.
And that's exactly the point. Time will tell, if you let it. Time tracking will tell a business what employees are working on—even where and when—while dramatically improving efficiency and speeding up those paper trail heavy tasks, like billing and payroll. If you can only get employees to time track, right?
Here's how to stop making time tracking such a battleground. Give employees options for how to use it, and reminders when it's go time. It's easy to on board employees with time tracking solutions like TSheets, and adds up to the employer's benefit.
Easy To Use Anywhere, Anyway
With time tracking, think beyond paper and punch clocks. Secure cloud-based technology like TSheets opens up so many options. Like GPS-enabled time card app for Android and iPhone apps that stamps time tracked with worksite locations. Or clocking in and leaving notes via a text message, phone call or Twitter. From a desktop widget to a mobile website, you can take time tracking with you, no matter where your employees want or need to go.
Every employee has his or her quirks. Mark only uses Mac. Don't mess with Anna's Android. That kind of thing. Getting employees on board with time tracking means matching a solution to what they already do everyday. It means giving them options to feel ownership, plus ultimate ease of use and flexibility when it comes to how they interact and use the time tracking software.
Fully Alerted, Duly Noted
Whoops, you just went into overtime. Psssst, will you approve and submit your timesheet? Have you ever wanted to be a little bird on your employee's shoulder at key times in the work shift, the week, the month? Now, with TSheets time reporting and management, you can set up automatic alerts for a wide number of reasons that will dramatically increase overall use on the frontlines and improve back office accountability.
Also, employees can easily track time to specific job codes or clients, and even add notes, so everyone stays updated.
Get On Board
TSheets offers a free two-week trial. So sign up now—and see how time tracking can make better sense for your employees, and add up to real dollars for you. Our customer service team works in-house at TSheets HQ to go above and beyond, especially in those crucial early stages, to make set up and on boarding easy for everyone.
My whole crew LOVES this app! They know their hours are right. I don't waste my weekends running payroll. Everybody wins! Also they have the best support ever. Victoria walked me through setup and also showed me some cool tricks!Elite1, (review on appcenter.intuit.com/tsheets)
Check out Part 2: Time tracking from the employee point of view: "What's in it for me?"Back to Resource Center


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Have you ever heard the sound of fishing line? Probably not! That's why we are here. Our purpose is to present to you materials like never before. You can hear the Fishing line as it stretches due to the weight of the hanging blade. The recording was made using our Frame Project. Below is a high fidelity recording of the miraculous phenomenon of elasticity.
The fishing line was directly knotted on the hooked Piezo discs. This knotting technique perhaps facilitated the stretching of the fishing line, allowing us to hear the speaking length of the string between the hooks and the hanging blade.
More Laser Sounds with OptoNoise
Following our last meetup's indulgence with the sounds of lasers, in this meetup we continue to gaze in awe at the ceiling, as laser beams hits intricately patterned spinning discs, creating a beautiful display of sounding reflections.
Sounds from the OptoNoise project can be heard above in the Soundcloud Playlist.
Behold! A glorified button with a Screen!
More Photographs.
Thank you very much for the great attendance, and a truly energetic and inspiring meetup!


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Show that you're an ally (to everyone except assholes) with Meta-Activism.org's first piece of official merch. And – because ally is a verb, not a noun – you'll have to be an effective and mindful ally when you wear it! Prices range from $22.99 to $47.99.
Buy Here!
Permalink: teespring.com/ally-to-all


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Yesterday turned out to be a good fall day. I had the south facing doors open for a while in the afternoon. With the sunlight and lack of wind the shop stayed comfortably warm even though the outside temps were cool.
But this is what we look like today. The forecast is for a high of 25°F and tonight it is predicted to hit 9°F. The wind is blowing pretty good too.
I am definitely not ready for this.
Take me somewhere that I can leave the shop doors open and the dogs can come and go while I work on my projects. Take me back to summer.
-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://americancraftsmanworkshop.com


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Cate Blanchett: 'Blue Jasmine' UK Premiere!
Cate Blanchett arrives in style to the blue carpet at the UK premiere of Blue Jasmine held at The Odeon West End on Tuesday (September 17) in London, England.
The 44-year-old actress was joined at the premiere by her co-star Sally Hawkins.
PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Cate Blanchett
Blue Jasmine, also starring Alec Baldwin, Peter Sarsgaard, and more, is currently playing in theaters in the US, and will be released in the UK on September 27.
FYI: Cate is wearing Givenchy Haute Couture.
10+ pictures inside of Cate Blanchett walking the carpet at the UK premiere of her film Blue Jasmine…


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Thursday, March 29, 2007
Hanging the Show at the Art Museum
Because of a quick show turnaround time the St. George Art Museum, it was "all hands on deck" as we went to work hanging my one man show. Having owned a gallery for many years, Nellie and I are experienced at hanging art, so with help and guidance from Deborah Reeder, Ramona Larson, and April Cummings we launched into the project. By afternoon the show was hung and we all think it looks terrific. I have about 28 original watercolor paintings on display along with sketchbook drawings and educational displays describing the watercolor painting process. We open Friday March 30 with an artist reception from 6pm to 8pm.
Posted by Roland Lee at 8:42 AM No comments: Links to this post
Labels: Exhibits
A very early watercolor painting
I had a a surprise visit from collector, Joyce Oveson, who brought in one of my very first watercolor paintings for cataloging. She had purchased the painting from the original owner back in 1982 then moved from the area and so I had no record of where it was. It's always fun to visit with my collectors, as I try to keep track of each painting and its whereabouts. Sometimes it becomes a challenge when paintings change hands or get passed on to others after a death. Joyce still treasures her little painting of a desert scene called "Desert Shadows."
Posted by Roland Lee at 8:30 AM No comments: Links to this post
Labels: Art Collectors
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Ansel Adams Photo Exhibit
Ansel Adams, Cathedral Peak, 1938. ©2006 The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust.
Nellie and I spent the last week in Sacramento at a Public Lands conference where I was representing Zion National Park. In between conference sessions we were able to slip away and visit a wonderful exhibit of Yosemite photographs by Ansel Adams at the Crocker Art museum. In addition to photos from the permanent collection there were a series from a horseback trip he took with Georgia O'Keefe and others in 1938. As everyone knows Adams worked in black and white using the "zone system" to cover a wide range of grays and middle values. While I had seen many of his photographs, it was exciting to see photos actually printed by his own hand and signed in pencil. What a spectacular exhibit!
Posted by Roland Lee at 5:25 PM No comments: Links to this post
Labels: Exhibits, Other Artists
Friday, March 09, 2007
March 2007 Roland Lee Painting Workshop
I enjoyed having another group of fine artists at my March 2007 Watercolor Painting Workshop in St. George. Our focus was on painting the red rock landscape in watercolor. The weather was so great we ditched the classroom for awhile and slipped up on the red hill for a little sketching.
Our group came from several western states including four excellent watercolorists from Mesquite Nevada: Barbara Worley, Diane Taterka, Joanne Johansen, and Peggy Peterson. Bessann Peterson and Karen Bettilyon came down from Salt Lake City, Utah. Tyson Kartchner drove down from Boulder, Colorado while Pat Gibson travelled from Willow Creek, Montana. Lola Krummenacher and Glen Bessonette were repeat students from the St. George, Utah area.
Becky Whitney hosted the class at Passion for Painting Gallery and had stretched a Happy Birthday banner across the room for my birthday. She also gave me a birthday gift of a fantastic Anderson French Easel. I love it because you don't have to wrestle with the legs -- they slide out and snap quickly into place. I can't wait to try it out.
Tyson Kartchner from Boulder Colorado studies the value and colors of shadows on the red hills above St. George, Utah.
Glen Bessonette works on a sketchbook drawing during the Roland Lee painting workshop.
Posted by Roland Lee at 4:59 PM No comments: Links to this post
Labels: Painting Workshops
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Sandstone Towers Zion Painting
I began this painting "Sandstone Towers" as a live demonstration at the Kayenta Art Festival. During the course of the demo Leslie Layton, a previous collector, was so excited about it she wanted to buy the painting on the spot. I encouraged her to wait until the painting was completed and agreed to let her see it first before putting it on the website. She saw the finished piece today and snapped it up along with two other small original paintings.
the painting started with a small thumbnail sketch.
Partially completed, you can see the basic underglazes which create texture and warmth on the cliffs. I am preserving the white areas in the foreground for tree branches and details.
Here I am hard at work on the painting during the Kayenta Art Festival. I finished the painting later in my studio.
Posted by Roland Lee at 2:43 PM No comments: Links to this post
Labels: Art Collectors, Painting Techniques
Friday, March 02, 2007
Roland Lee Painting Auctioned for College Scholarships
Each year I donate an original painting to the Dixie State College Foundation's annual Fire and Ice banquet and auction. My painting "Rio Virgin in Zion" was purchased tonight by Ralph and Cheri Atkin, long-time collectors, for $4800.00. All of the money will help needy students with full and partial scholarships to Dixie State College. A number of previous collectors were on hand to join in the bidding, but eventually the Atkins won the auction.
I enjoyed chatting with another collector, Boyd Silver, after the event. He has three of my original watercolors. I appreciate so much all the collectors who have purchased my paintings over the years and really enjoy seeing them again.
Posted by Roland Lee at 10:49 PM No comments: Links to this post
Labels: Art Collectors, Exhibits, Painting Workshops
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The calender year is coming to a close and thus holiday shopping is in full swing. Although most don't don't immediately think of car shopping this time of year, car manufacturers are battling hard for your holiday dollar.
The car brand Acura has dubbed this the "Season of Reason" and their advertisements caution against "over-indulging" this season and call for customers to "over-save" this holiday season with a new Acura. Turns out that they left actual "reason" out of their advertisement because nothing says over-consumption like gifting a new car at Christmas time. Even if the car dealers are feeling extra jolly this season and one can save on a new Acura, they're more obvious and reasonable ways to over-save one's money.
I understand Acura is using satire, the ads represent poor execution of an even poorer strategy. For a brand with little relevance and differentiation, the ads do nothing but brand the cars with a pricetag.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Broken Ad: Acura
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Location based services (LBS) are hot. However, it is still in its early days, since it is used by just 4% of the online population. In addition, there is still a lot of room for innovation in order to provide more value than simply enticing people to check in.
Here we take a look at Top 10 cool and innovative location based services provided by either big-name companies or small startups. If you are familiar with other cool location based services, please leave a comment.
1. Foursquare
Based on pioneering idea of "turning life into a game", foursquare encourages users share their location with friends, and awards points and virtual badges to them for check in certain venues. It was launched at South by Southwest Interactive in Austin, Texas in March 2009, with about 5,000 user after the event. As of February 2011, over 6.5 millions users worldwide are using Foursquare. Some merchants and brands have already used the Foursquare platform to offer discounts, deals and rewards to users checking in certain venues. In March 2011, foursquare upgrades its mobile apps to 3.0 by adding a Explore tab to let people explore nearby places and give them suggestions about where to go.
Platform: iPhone Android Website
2. Gowalla
Similar to Foursquare, Gowalla allows users to earn virtual passport stamps as they discover new places, and share places, highlights or photos with friends. Those passport stamps have been used by big-name companies, such as Disney, as marketing tools to encourage users check in certain places by offering real-life deals to them. One of the unique features of Gowalla is the trip feature to link up to 20 related spots, which can be used by others to guide them through those spots. Another cool thing about Gowalla is that user may receive various items when check in places, and drop or swap those items at spots. Special items may be created for important events (e.g., Olympic Game) and linked to real-world prizes or deals. Gowalla won the Mobile category in the 2010 South By Southwest Interactive awards. As of March 2011, gowalla has about 1 million users. Compared to Foursquare, fewer people are using Gowalla's service and fewer companies are offering discounts and deals through this system.
Platform: iPhone Android Website
The location and check in landscape has been dramatically changed since Facebook officially launched its Facebook Place location-based service on August 18, 2010. It allows users to share their locations with friends in real-time, to connect with friends at the same place at the same time, to check in certain places to get individual discount, and to earn rewards for repeat visits. Considering Facebook's enormous user base (over 500 million active users), it would be very interesting to see if the world's most successfully social network can make it the most powerful location based service.
Platform: iPhone Android Website
4. MyTown
Played by over 3.3 million people, MyTown is one of the most popular location-based social game. By using the real world as a virtual playground (kind of like Monopoly for the real world), MyTown let users to virtually buy and own their favorite real-life places, to unlock rewards by checking in certain locations, to collect rent when other people check in to their shops, and to compete with friends with points and on a leaderboard. MyTown creates a virtual economy, where property prices fluctuate based on demand and checkins (e.g., more visitors raise the value and rent of the shops). Booyah raised $4.5 Million First Round Funding from the Kleiner Perkins.
Platform: iPhone
5. Loopt
Available on over 100 mobile devices, Loopt allows users to share location, free instant location-aware text messaging and photo to their friends, to see where their friends are (including Facebook friends who use Facebook Places to check in), to discover places their friends like to visit, and get alert when friends are nearby. In the latest version, user can add a public place or event, with an option to make the place visible to others. Loopt was founded in 2005 and has over 4 millions users now.
Platform: iPhone Android Website
SCVNGR is a location-based social game platform. SCVNGR builds a game "layer" on top of the real-world places, by rewarding discount, badges and points to players for checking in places and doing challenges. Over 1000 companies, educational institutions, and organizations have created challenges and rewards at their locations using SCVNGR, to encourage people to check in those places. On January 11, 2011 an additional $15M round was raised with Google Venture, Balderton Capital and Highland Capital Partners.
7. NearbyFeed
Nearbyfeed is trying to help people find out "what is happening around me", such as, nearby useful information, interesting places, and like-minded people. In addition to just checking in place to let your friends know where you are, what's cool with nearbyfeed is that you can broadcast your opinions to your friends and nearby people to let them know what is happening here, by sharing useful information and interesting place, commenting, rating and bookmarking any place or information shared by others. Another cool thing about nearbyfeed is that it allows users to select a certain category of information (e.g., status update, photo, news, deal) or places (e.g., restaurant, nightlife) within a radius (e.g., 100 meter, 5 miles), based on their unique interests and tastes, to explore nearby relevant information, places or people, without wasting time on those information or places they are not interested in. As users explore the nearby information, places and people within a radius, they are able to discover and keep track of most useful information, most interesting place, and like-minded people they want to meet, by selecting categories of interest, and reading the recommendations and comments from others.
Platform: iPhone Android Website
8. GetGlue
Instead of checking in real-world business and landmarks, GetGlue enables user to check in to and rate TV shows, movies, music and books while consuming entertainment, to share with friends, and to see what their friends are consuming in real-time. After checking in, users may build up their taste profile and get suggestions based on their tastes, receive points and stickers, and earn discounts from participating entertainment companies, such as, 20th Century Fox, AMC, ABC Family, Disney Theatrical.
Platform: iPhone Android Website
Integrated with Google Map, Google Latitude enables users to check in places, to share where they are with select group of family and friends, and to see where their friends are in real time. One of the cool things with latest Google Latitude is to let user automatically check in certain designated places when they visit those spots to automatically let their friends know where they are now, as well as automatically check them out when they leave so friends aren't left guessing if they are still there.
10. ShopKick
Based upon the idea of getting more people to walk into stores more often by rewarding them monetary incentives, ShopKick partners with big retailers, including Best Buy, American Eagle, Macy's, to reward users kickbucks for walking or checking into participating stores, or scanning barcodes within stores, and to suggest deals and offer discounts to users. Users can also redeem kickbucks for real-world rewards, like gift cards or Facebook Credits. As of January, 2011, ShopKick has 750,000 users. Currently, walk-in rewards are available in WIDER New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, DC, Dallas, Boston, Atlanta, Houston, Indianapolis, Miami, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Diego, Seattle, St. Louis.