This week Automattic rolled out WordPress 2.7, and in many ways, it is the largest update of the year, even eclipsing 2.5. The administration panel back end got most of the attention, and it is beautiful and functional and… quite different. Harkins Creative is already putting it through its paces on this blog, checking out plugin compatibility and the many new features. We will steadily begin deploying it across all client sites with whom we have an ongoing maintenance relationship. Our early report is incredibly positive. Some of the “under the hood” changes mean that WordPress will be certain of enjoying a prolonged life as the front runner of the blogging platform community.

Also look for new WordPress tutorials to cover the layout changes and new features soon.

I have to say that I have been for the idea of audio and video comments on blogs and social network sites since I first imagined them (and yes, it was long before Michael Arrington said he wanted them, and introduced them on his site. I’m not saying I was the first to think of them, though.). It was only a matter of time, and if my other development company hadn’t been so busy building even cooler audio and video social technologies, I might have gotten around to building it myself.

Many opinions, both FOR and AGAINST video comments, have run amok over the past few weeks. I have already said I like the idea, and despite what the SEO pundits say, I think they CAN be a good strategy for getting your site noticed.

But what interests me even more is the clear divide emerging between those that feel that the web is destined to be a multimedia playground, and those that would rather keep it text-based, at least when it comes to the “tried and true” activities of blogging, forums and wikis (as if they’ve been around long enough to be called ingrained!).

The web is supposed to do things. Commenting, by its interactive nature, fulfills the promise of new media, but to say that video commenting misses the boat is a little disingenuous, if you ask me.

I have been using a Nokia N93 phone for the past 18 months, and I have loved every minute of it. The phone is wi-fi enabled, and has a simply amazing video camera built into it (640X480 VGA video at 30fps, 3X optical zoom, Carl Zeiss optics). I have loved being able to record little moments in my son’s life, and without a thought or a care, to be able to send them from my phone to blip.tv, which transcodes it into flash and cross-posts it to our son’s blog. Done.. No editing video, no transferring it to a computer and manually uploading it somewhere. It has made videoblogging a pure joy.

My phone is starting to show it’s age, and I’m actively looking around to see if there is a suitable replacement, since they aren’t selling the N93 anymore. I cannot imagine being unable to videoblog as I have been.

Mobile video production is also an effective and convenient way to post new and engaging material for customers and clients to see. Examples would be:

• trade show coverage
• community events
• project progress reports
• interviews
• property tours

Good Question. A Web Log (or Blog for short) can be many things, from an online personal diary to a mega-brand builder.

• It’s a conversation starter.
• It’s a destination.
• It’s news,
• It’s facts,
• It’s dialog.
• But above all, a blog gets people involved.

And that means more loyalty from customers, more exposure to new audiences, and the ability to get your message out to the people who are most likely to spread it for you. You’ve no doubt heard of viral marketing (the idea that certain people are “sneezers” who spread the “ideavirus” far and wide when they really like something)…well a Web Log is the vector, the point where sneezers can first be exposed to the message you want them to spread.

Think of it! Hundreds or thousands of visitors to your company’s blog hear and read the information you want them to spread, and then they go out and spread it to the world! That’s power! That’s a huge return on a minimal investment. That’s a Web Log!

(Want an example? This is a blog, and you can sign up to find out about new items when we add them by subscribing to our email alert list in the column on the right, or by using RSS, which is explained here.)