Softsquatch.com Video Submissions

Have you seen some of the user generated video submissions sent into Softsquatch.com recently? We invited Softsquatch fans to send us their "Softsquatch Sighting" videos. The videos range from just plain cheesy to bizarre to absolutely epic! The videos are posted on Softsquatch.com and our YouTube Channel . Some videos have been submitted by aspiring film makers and others by students.

We hope to develop Softsquatch.com around this blog and user-generated content such as these videos. In addition to the Softsquatch videos if you have an original tech related How-to / Hack video feel free to submit it. Our site and YouTube channel have developed quite a loyal following. As of today their are over 280,000 views of the channel. If you are an aspiring filmmaker, comedian or tech guru this is an easy way to get an audience for your work!

Here is my personal favorite


Think you can make something better? Would you like to be featured on our site and channel? Feel free to submit a video today! We will soon be giving away prizes for best video submissions. The site is still in beta and many new features will be added in the coming months. If your company would like to sponsor a give-away please contact us.

Blog Contributor
Matt Ryan
VP Operations/Marketing
ScholarBuys Academic Marketing

What's Happening @ScholarBuys Academic Marketing

ScholarBuys Academic Marketing continues to grow at a rapid pace. Q1 of 2010 was up 47% over Q1 2009! You may have noticed that we recently started to develop new brands underneath the ScholarBuys Academic Marketing umbrella. This was done to pinpoint market into multiple segments. We expect new websites for all three segments to launch in the next 60 days.

Our flagship brand remains ScholarBuys. As a value added reseller of computer software, hardware and peripherals; ScholarBuys is committed exclusively to the academic intuition market. ScholarBuys also has the unique focus of partnering with academic consortia throughout the country. By coordinating the acquisition power of a consortium’s constituents, ScholarBuys negotiates special agreements with technology publishers on the consortium’s behalf. These agreements allow consortium members to obtain economies of scale that they could not hope to obtain on their own. 

We are currently putting the final touches on our newest project, VarsityBuys.com. We have dipped our toes into the ecommerce market previously but never fully committed enough resources to it. With VarsityBuys.com we are diving in head first and hope to make big splash! VarsityBuys.com is heavily focused on the College Student market. We expect to have the site launched by the end of April 2010. The methodology behind the site and its features will be truly groundbreaking for our industry.

Additionally, you may have noticed our newest project, softsquatch.com. The biggest question we get is “What the heck is Softsquatch”. We initially developed Softsquatch as a mascot of sorts to promote our special offers. If you were able to find him on our website you would save an additional 10-20% with his hidden savings.

After using Softsquatch to promote our brand via social media he quickly developed a cult following. We decided to create Softsquatch.com as a way to capitalize on his cult following. The site is currently in Beta but when complete will host our Blog and user generated content. Softsquatch fans can submit their own videos and Blog write ups for a chance to win via regular prize giveaways! The site’s focus is Humor, Hacks & How-to.

That’s what’s happening!

Blog Contributor
Matt Ryan
VP Operations/Marketing
ScholarBuys Academic Marketing

Apple iPad Review

My iPad arrived early Saturday morning and I have not put it down since. The touch screen format is the next generation of computing. Believe it or not I decided to get a iPad because of my 3 year old son. He is always stealing my iPhone or my wife's. We were surprised to see how easily he navigated around the iPhone watching videos on YouTube and playing games.

He started out just by watching us use the iPhone. Then one day my wife handed it to him while in a doctor’s office waiting room. To her surprise he immediately knew all the touch screen functions. He was able to navigate YouTube, games and other applications just by mimicking what he had seen us do previously. So when I heard about the iPad I figured it could be a good fit for the whole family and preordered one.

When the iPad arrived and I took it out of the box my son Caden said, "That's a really big phone daddy!” That is the thing about kids; they are brutally honest and call it like it is. For all attempts and purposes this is exactly what the iPad is, a super sized iPhone. However, in my opinion that is a good thing. The iPhone revolutionized browsing and the Internet in general with the use of apps. So why not just expand on it and try and reach into new markets?

The iPad basically picks up where the iPhone left off. It allows for a much easier browsing experience given its screen size. As Steve Jobs proclaimed it would be, it is the best browsing experience hands down! It makes surfing the net and using applications much easier than with the iPhone or a laptop. You get the touch screen convenience of the iPhone with a practical screen size. Additionally, it makes reading books very practical and easy. Who knows, maybe this device will be what saves the print industry.

Now the bad, it is an unfinished product. It needs to be able to run the Mac OS to be taken seriously as a primary computing device. It may be an awesome browsing experience but the inability to multitask is a killer (It would be nice to chat on AIM while browsing). Also, Apple needs to support Flash and stop trying to stick it to Adobe. How about a webcam or USB ports as well?  Additionally, if you could run Office for Mac on this device it would have an immediate legit business function. And finally, your iPhone Apps will work with the iPad but most display in the original iPhone screen size. You have the ability to expand them but they lose resolution and look distorted. Some Apps have free upgrades and will work on both devices. However, others appear to be double dipping and want you to pay for an App for each device.

Maybe Apple’s intentions are not to make the iPad a primary computing device, if so they should reconsider that stance. The intuitiveness of this touch screen device makes it a perfect fit for education and novice computer users. My son was able to immediately start using it and had fun using some of the “edutainment “Apps I downloaded for him. Overall, this is a truly awesome device and has the foundation to be a game changer. If you are looking for something to replace your laptop, I would hold off. If you are looking for a device to watch movies on, read books and play games with then the iPad might be the perfect fit.

Blog Contributor
Matt Ryan
VP Operations/Marketing
ScholarBuys Academic Marketing

Windows 7 Pro Review

Windows 7 is a great upgrade from both XP and Vista.  The speed of the operating system is incredible.  Windows 7 will allow a computer to run twice as fast as the computer did with XP.  Microsoft has created a system that is user friendly, fast, and fewer glitches than Vista.  If you are looking for a modern operating system with spectacular new features, Windows 7 is the operating system for you.

Some of the improved features are the snap feature that allows you to slide one window to the right and it will self adjust for fit half of the screen, then drag a second window to the left and it will fit the other half of the screen.  This allows you to use two windows at once with both windows being in the forefront of the screen.  Just like Vista, it allows you to select widgets to add to the desktop.  Be able to see a clock, news feeds, weather, etc. without needing to open any windows.  Easily pin programs and files to the bottom toolbar for quick access.  Hover over the right side of the toolbar to show all open windows.  By associating more than one computer with your free Windows live account, you can share files between multiple computers.

You still have pop-ups asking permission to install new software.  Some software that was well used on XP is not supported by Windows 7.  Programs such as Photo Story and Steady State, which are used in education, are not supported by Windows 7. 

Overall, Windows 7 is a huge improvement over Vista and XP.  Microsoft has fixed most of the issues with Vista, and created a modern, usable operating system.  Microsoft has also created new user friendly applications to offer ways to work with multiple windows at the same time, quickly open programs and files that are frequently used.

Blog Contributor

Josh Wiechert M. Ed. Tech.

Instructional Technology Specialist

Franklin Middle School

Champaign, IL