Smartphones Boost Use of Social Networking Sites

Posted on March 7, 2010 by Phil Velez

A recent report by comScore, an internet marketing research company, found that mobile access to social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter saw a triple digit increase in utilization since January 2009.

According to the new research, some 25.1 million people accessed Facebook via a mobile Web browser, a growth of 112 percent from January 2009. Twitter use via a mobile browser grew 347 percent to 4.7 million users. MySpace saw an increase of 11.4 million users.

In total, some 30.8 percent of smartphone users accessed Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking sites via their mobile browser in January 2010. That number is an 8.3 point jump from the 22.5 percent figure comScore tallied one year ago.

“Social networking remains one of the most popular and fastest-growing behaviors on both the PC-based Internet and the mobile Web,” said Mark Donovan, comScore senior vice president of mobile, in the company’s press release.

Another research company, research2gudiance, estimates the fast-growing number of smartphone users will increase from about 100 million last year to nearly 1 billion by 2013.

In 2009 I finally upgraded to a smartphone and find myself accessing Twitter and Facebook regularly, especially when out and about. Do you have a smartphone yet? If so, how often do you use your phone to access social networking sites?

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Same blog, new site

Posted on February 27, 2010 by Phil Velez

After a great deal of research, time, and effort, I have moved Velez’s View to this self-hosting WordPress site. I have been using a free WordPress blog at Velez Communication for almost a year and had been thinking about moving my personal blog to a self-hosting site for some time. I delayed the move because I thought it would be too difficult and time consuming. Initially, it was indeed. Frustrating at times, to be honest. First I had to find a hosting site and then download the WordPress blogging program, then figure out how to make it all work. After a great deal of patience and energy, it all finally came together. If you have been thinking of making the switch please feel free to contact me for detailed information on my latest blogging-related journey.

Also, I’d like to give a shout out to the members of the NY Bloggers Meet-Up group, in particular Ms. Kitty Bradshaw. Kitty has an incredible blog. She’s also the one that finally made me take the big step to self-hosting. Thanks for the nudge and support, Kitty.

There’s still so much to learn, in regards to WordPress plug-ins and coding, but I hope to increase my knowledge and expertise over time. I’d like to also thank the people who follow this blog for their continued support.

Please take some time to view the excellent bloggers listed in my blog roll. Most have been great supporters for a while now. If you would like to exchange a blog roll listing please feel free to contact me directly.

Happy blogging.

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Google Buzz

Posted on February 21, 2010 by Phil Velez

Earlier this month Google announced its entrance into the social media landscape: Google Buzz. Some social media pundits say the networking platform and messaging tool is Google’s attempt to compete with Facebook and Twitter. However, Google executives say otherwise. Bradley Horowitz, Google’s VP of product management, says Google Buzz is not just about status-updating or checking in, but a new category of communication that will evolve over time. I agree. Google Buzz is more of a communication platform where you can integrate other online networks like Twitter and YouTube. I’m an avid user of most Google products and see Google Buzz as the social network specifically attached to my Gmail account. Google Buzz is a simple interface and a great way to keep in touch and interact with Gmail contacts. With Google’s incredible reputation and reach, I’m sure it’s just a matter of time before Google Buzz carves out its own niche in the enormous social media world.

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Immigration to Puerto Rico

Posted on February 8, 2010 by Phil Velez

Puerto Rico’s history of immigration may make Boricuas the most ethnically diverse people of the Caribbean. Puerto Ricans know about the three main ethnic backgrounds that make-up the Puerto Rican people: the indigenous Taíno Indians, Spaniards, and Africans. However other ethnicities have and continue to contribute to the Puerto Rican culture.

By the early 19th century Spain had lost most of its possessions in the New World except for Puerto Rico and Cuba. In hopes of securing these areas, Spain announced the Royal Decree of Graces in 1815, which granted the Caribbean territories the right to have commercial ties with countries that were in good standing with Spain.

Hundreds of French (especially Corsican,) German, and Irish families soon immigrated to Puerto Rico. They were later followed by smaller waves of Dutch, Greek, Italian, Maltese, and Portuguese immigrants who adopted the language and customs of the island and were completely integrated into the society.

An increase of immigration to Puerto Rico occurred when the U.S. acquired the territory from the Spaniards after winning the Spanish-American War of 1898. Immigrants from China, Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic soon became part of the Puerto Rican community.

Dominicans have lived on the island of Puerto Rico since colonial time with immigration coinciding with political upheavals. Today about 200,000 Dominicans live in Puerto Rico.

The large number of undocumented residents in Puerto Rico has become a hot political issue. The U.S. has yet to begin a serious conversation about immigration reform, however it will be interesting to see how new regulations will affect immigration in Puerto Rico. The recent devastating earthquake in Haiti is sure to affect further immigration of both Haitians and Dominicans to Puerto Rico.

In any event, U.S. and Puerto Rican officials should keep in mind that we have always been a nation of immigrants. Current U.S. citizens and political leaders should find ways to fairly welcome those seeking a better life and those who have already contributed greatly to the U.S. and Puerto Rican cultures.

For more on the history of immigration to Puerto Rico you can read the February political column at ElBoricua.com.

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Posted in latino, politics, puerto rico | 1 Comment

My Favorite Latino Blogs for 2010

Posted on January 30, 2010 by Phil Velez

Last year I posted an entry of My Favorite Latino Blogs and thought I would revisit the topic for 2010. The blogs mentioned in the 2009 post are still great ones so I recommend checking them out if you have not done so already. There are so many incredible Latino blogs out there, but I decided to limit this 2010 post to my top ten favorites.

  • The Blog of Louis Pagan – Louis Pagan’s blog, Latino Rebranded: Social Media and Latinos, keeps up with the latest in industry news and trends.
  • Efrain’s Corner – Efrain Ortiz Jr. shares thoughts, culture,  information, and history related to Latinos and the Puerto Rican diaspora.
  • Being Latino – a communication platform designed to educate, entertain and connect all peoples across the global Latino spectrum.
  • Solpersona – Frankie De Soto’s blog studies modern Hispanic marketing and Latino culture.
  • The Adventures of a NYCity Mama – Carol Cain catalogues her personal experiences as she travels, tastes, and discovers all the family-friendly things to do with her three kids in tow.
  • My Feet Only Walk Forward – Brandon Lacy Campos, a gay poet, playwright, journalist, and amateur chef, chronicles his life’s journey with raw rants, raves, musings, and poetry.
  • hisPANIC 2050 – Eric Navaja Cortes, a Colombiano and member of a Latino fraternity, blogs about “us” in the Estados Unidos with a touch of personality.
  • The Jose Vilson – Vilson, an educator, writer, poet, web designer, and activist, blogs about education, politics, and everything in between.
  • Inside My Head… – Latinegro openly and honestly evaluates everything in his life on the road to self redemption.
  • The Sol Within – The thoughts and inspiration of Anna Rodriguez, a wife and mother who finally takes the leap into the writing life she’s always dreamed of.

I admire all of the Latino bloggers above. Each has something wonderful to share with the world and I’m sure you will connect with a few if not all. Please also check out the blogs/sites in my link exchange and blog list sections.

Feel free to leave a comment below on any of the Latino blogs listed or add one you think would be of interest to me and/or the readers of this blog. Thank you for supporting Latino bloggers.

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Posted in blogs, latino | 9 Comments