How will this affect Facebook users? For the most part, it won’t have any effect at all on the average user. For businesses, however, it opens up lots of possibilities.

Your official brand can be given more inbound links to your Facebook Page from the photos generated by the entire Facebook population (we do agree that FB is primarily a photos sharing platform, right?). If you’re a florist, your flowers from the recent wedding can be tagged back to your page, thereby driving more traffic to you. If you’re a specialty car rental company, your customers can tag their photos to your Page which then increases your visibility.

Think about it… it’s going to be awesome for your business.

Here’s an example of how a photographer’s work (Stories by Integricity Visuals) tags their photos to the official Facebook Page.

Here’s the typical “You’re not American” error that you may encounter. It actually says, “Your account is only valid for purchases in the Malaysian (or wherever you’re from) iTunes Store. Clicking OK will take you to this store.” But I am not PURCHASING anything! The app is FREEEEE! Gaah…

The requirements to start a US based iTunes account are a US based snail mail address and a US based payment mode (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover or a US based PayPal account). If you don’t have one of the above, you can’t start up an account, unless you follow the steps given below.

Before we begin, all you need is to “borrow” a US based snail mail address (don’t ask me where to borrow it from!) and have an alternative email account. Then, you’re set to proceed. After all, in this day and age, who doesn’t have access to yet-another-email-account! Here’s the cheat sheet with detailed instructions to follow.

#1: Start up iTunes. Sign out of your existing account, if you’re currently logged in.

#2: Scroll to the bottom of the iTunes Store.

#3: Set My Store to United States.

#4: Go to the search bar at the top right hand corner of iTunes. Key the name of a free application – Skype, TweetDeck or Photoshop will work.

#5: Click on the Get App button that should appear next to the free application you just searched for.

#6: A dialog box will pop up asking you to sign in or create a new account. Click on Create a New Account.

#7: Click on Continue at the next introduction screen.

#8: In the Terms & Conditions, make sure it states, “If the billing address of your payment information is not in the United States, click here“. If it does not say that, go back to Step #3. Accept the terms and proceed.

#9: On the next screen, enter the alternative email address of yours (make sure you have not signed up for an iTunes account with this address before), a secure password, security question & answer and date of birth.

#10: The next section presents you with payment options. Click on None.
(I know I’m going to get questions on why there is no option for None, so I’d better answer it here. You MUST go through steps #4 and #5 before you get this option).

#11: You’re almost done! An email has been dispatched to the email address you provided earlier, and you need to verify you have access to that account.

#12: Check your email and click on the link that is sent to you.

#13: When you click on it, your browser will redirect you to return to iTunes again.

#14: You will be asked to sign into your iTunes account. Use the new credentials you just created to login.

#15: And you’re done! Give yourself a pat on the back as you go to the comments section to tell me about your success.

To many, public speaking is even worse than death or taxes! I however, am wired a little differently, perhaps thanks to a presentation subject I did while at university. I’ve even bought my own audio gear that travels with me when giving presentations – I’d rather not rely on the crappy mics that you sometimes are given, but be comfortable with my own Sennheiser G2 wireless pack and Countryman mic.

• It’s more difficult to process information presented both verbally & on #preso slides. Show less on slides, explain more.
• #Preso tip: If you write out yr speech, don’t read from it. Refer only when REALLY needed! Bullet points might help you.
• One reason why many a #preso is ineffective is because people do not step back & assess what really is important.
• Because most presentations are mediocre, it gives you a chance to be different & shine. Read @presentationzen – it’s good!
• #Preso tip: If your session is recorded, grab a copy, watch it and you’ll improve heaps for the next presentation.
• #Preso tip: DO NOT apologise before starting, unless you really made a mistake. Too often I hear, “Sorry, I’m nervous…”
• #Preso tip: To improve your presentation skills & slides, watch “An Inconvenient Truth” by Al Gore: he’s truly a whiz!
• #Preso tip: Listen to your audience & respond accordingly. Gauge what topics interest them and expound on them.
• #Preso tip: Photographers, the rule of thirds applies to your slides too! Place your subjects along the same grid.
• #Preso tip: Show up early to make sure the projector & sound system speak the same lingo as your notebook.
• #Preso tip: Improve your presentations by watching free presentations by preso guru, Steve Jobs – http://bit.ly/mHdJc
• #Preso tip: PLEASE sprinkle some media to break the monotony of your presentation. A simple YouTube clip can do wonders!
• #Preso tip: Just in case Murphy comes by, bring a copy of yr presentation on a USB drive. Keynote users, bring a PPT ver.
• #Preso tip: Who says your company logo must be on every slide? Less is more! Don’t clutter slides with the unnecessary.
• #Preso tip: Preparing a detailed handout keeps you from feeling compelled to cram everything into your visuals.
• #Preso tip: Well designed slides have plenty of empty space. It helps draw attention to what’s truly important.

Here are some slides from a deck that I prepared from the most recent presentation. Some information has been changed, as it’s still P&C.

I’m the type who uses the tab button to switch between text fields, radio buttons, list boxes and submit buttons. But when I got the Mac, I was flabbergasted for a good day or two as the tab button behavior drove me nuts. Normally, when I fill in a form and hit tab, I expect the cursor to jump from text box to text box to check box to radio button to list box and finally to my submit button. BUT, in this instance, it just moved between text boxes and list boxes.

It drove me sooo insane – I kept checking Firefox settings and wondered if I had a different plugin installed before, but all that was to no avail. Finally, the explanation was so simple – all I had to do was to go to System Preferences -> Keyboard & Mouse -> Keyboard Shortcuts tab and from that Full keyboard access section, toggle the “In windows and dialogs, press Tab to move the keyboard focus between:” setting to All controls instead of Text boxes and lists only! What a pain! I believe Apple should have set the defauts in reverse, as that is the common user interface behavior.