Further, the benefit to the “photographer” could be extended to discounts on merchandise for uploading their photos.

Well, it look like this idea just got a HUGE kick in the ass. Introducing Qik for the iPhone 3g*

Qik is a device and Web service that allows an iPhone user to stream live video to the Qik Web site, as well as to an embedded flash player on any other Web site.

With Qik installed** a user can potentially stream live video of a music or entertainment event and have that video appear anywhere on the Web.

We at OSNAP.net think this is an amazing advance in technology and we can’t wait to see it in use, as well as see what the future holds!

*We have tested the Qik application on a first-generation (Edge/Wi-fi) device and found that over Wi-Fi the streaming is perfect.
** Qik requires a jailbroken iPhone either first-generation or 3G.

For instance, we love the idea of breaking features down into tasks, and feature grouping into releases. We hate the structure of daily huddles (when it comes to this project; others, sure, daily huddles are amazingly powerful and necessary) and the many levels of testing (unit testing a Web site? That’s a tough one when there’s no compiling).

We’ve had a few meetings in the last weeks to discuss our plan of moving forward, and getting better. We’ve decided to roll out the next version of OSNAP.net - the one everyone has been waiting for - using Agile methodologies.

That means, little by little new or improved features will be showing up on the Web site. At first, the features will be part of the “Great White” release, sent to our beta testers to enjoy. As time rolls on, and we release full versions, we’ll be posting updates to the main Web site and to our e-mail list (remember that text box on our home page?).

We’re very excited about our workflow and our ability to roll out small changes instead of a great, big year-long process.We will of course keep you informed.

Yesterday, Chad Edge came across this flyer for a show at Lower Level in Seattle, WA (found at The Whisky Bar, Belltown).

It certainly looks hand-drawn, and for a one-night-only event, that’s a lot of effort.

Well done!

What’s most important to you, when it concerns upcoming live events? Is it detailed information about the band(s), the venue, reviews from past show-goers, discounts on tickets? What means the most when you’re involved in promoting or consuming (that means “going to an event”) live events?

You see, what’s important to us might not be so paramount to you. For instance, we feel that the venue and the event date/time are the most important things we can push. A close second would be the bands/artists and how to get more information about them.

Maybe that’s not the order of importance to you, and since we’re so close to our data, we need your input to get things right.

In the next few weeks we will be pushing an update to our partner sites, as well as opening a dialog (through another round of blind betas). In the meantime, feel free to e-mail us, or add a comment to this post.

– The OSNAP.net team

Well, today we’re celebrating our 10-year anniversary and I’m happy so say that OSNAP.net is going to be around awhile longer. So, what’ s with the decision?

1. I had a good weekend talking to an early Magstand investor. He told me “Don’t think of the limited development with OSNAP.net as time wasted. You’re a busy man and anything that you’ve spent your time on has proven itself to be valuable. Think of the time away from OSNAP.net as the success in other ventures, be they Magstand, or your current career.” I have to agree 100%. I’m very happy with how my career is shaping up, how Justine and I are getting ahead, and I can’t think of that success as time wasted, now can I?

2. Magstand is coming along famously. I’ve had several meetings with our providers and partners, and am looking forward to my next meeting with a possible investor. While the investor is traditionally music-based, their interest in Magstand will help their line of business as well as lead back into the OSNAP.net pool. I can’t talk much about the people involved as nothing has been written in stone yet, but keep your eyes (and ears) open for an announcement soon.

3. You just can’t keep a good thing quiet nowadays. I used to display the spikes in traffic that OSNAP.net goes through, sometimes the hits came from Redmond, sometimes from India, and sometimes from competitors that stole some code years ago (you know who you are, New Jersey). I don’t do that anymore (maybe I’m not as bitter?), but trust me, the hits keep coming. There’s interest in OSNAP.net from the farthest reaches of the business world, and that can’t help but convince me I’ve got something worthwhile here. As I spend any time on OSNAP.net, I’m always mindful of how the rest of the world could benefit from the innovations.

4. OSNAP.net business cards are coming (finally!). It’s been a long time putting these things off, but as I mention OSNAP.net to others, it’s important to have a physical presence, not just referencing a Web site that gives little to no information.

So, is OSNAP.net here to stay? For now, yes. I’m still dedicated to turning a profit (even a single dollar) from OSNAP.net, so we’re a couple hundred dollars away from that happening this year (considering my current costs). If that happens, then OSNAP.net will live for at least another year. Who knows, a lot can change in a year, and even more can change overnight.

In Magstand news, Justine Edge has taken control of our identity, and I must say, it’s coming along famously. Justine is a fantastic designer and her ideas fit the Magstand style quite well.

Also in Magstand, we’ll have a new site dedicated to the technology preview very soon. Justine and I have been working hard on the site, and we’ve been filling it with all the juicy content people can’t wait to get their hands on. Hopefully, the demo application will be just the same - irresistible!

On October 29, 2007, OSNAP.net will celebrate its ten-year anniversary!

While we’re excited about this date, there’s a lot of weight that is carried as well and we must focus our energy on how to make the next ten years even better - or if we would even like to continue that long.

You see, OSNAP.net has been in a slow decline for the last two years, mainly due to lack of development time. While we all feel OSNAP.net is the most powerful method of promotion for any musician, artist, venue, promoter or label, we understand our limitations in delivering on that method.

Since October 29th is the birthdate of OSNAP.net, we will use that day to announce our future plans, including a detailed development map, a timeline for our tools and more. The next two weeks will be difficult for us; we’re basically looking at our baby with serious business-eyes and will have to determine what stays, what goes, and whether or not we keep the doors open.

As the creator of OSNAP.net, I’m confident that we’ll stick around - in my opinion we just need to get together and deliver on our promises. That done, we’ll be unstoppable in providing the best support and promotion to our members.

See you in two weeks!

– Chad Edge

A little update about my newest product, MagStand:

1. I just got a little money for MagStand. While it’s not much (a few hundred dollars), it still goes a long way towards getting MagStand into the hands of users.
2. I’m working out details with a worldwide publishing company (300+ magazines and journals) that will rapidly push content into the MagStand search feature, as well as provide me with valuable market (subscription) data.
3. Justine has taken on the task of shaping the MagStand identity. With her amazing design skills, I know we’ll be a good team in getting MagStand ready for display.

Everyone I’ve talked to about MagStand has responded in one of two ways:

I needed this application yesterday. This is perfect for my needs.

I can’t believe how far this application can go. Publishers are very excited about the money that can be made from very little (if any) investment in workflows.

As with OSNAP.net, MagStand has a core goal of increasing distribution and profits while reducing or minimizing load on developers and partners. With one line of code, OSNAP.net proved that distribution of information would return greater profits and exposure for the live music market, and MagStand will do the same for publishers and subscribers. I can’t wait to get version 1 in Justine’s hands so she can start her MorgueFiles*.

Stay tuned, of course.

* From Wikipedia:

The name comes from the term “morgue file“, which refers to post-production materials for use of reference, an inactive job file. The term is popular in the newspaper business to describe the file that holds past issues flats. The term has also been used by illustrators, comic book artist, designers and teachers.

1. We are hard at work on integrating OSNAP.net into Facebook.com
2. The Facebook.com integration will include iPod contests
3. We have stripped OSNAP.net back down to the core, and rewritten 100% of the architecture
4. We’re finally comfortable about blogging and information about OSNAP.net

While that may not seem like a big deal list to you, our reader, to us it marks a great date in time: We’re finally talking again! For nearly a year, OSNAP.net has been in hiding, we’ve stripped the beta testers of their access, and rebuilt OSNAP.net from the ground up. We’re also finally ready to start talking about our features, or capabilities and our partnerships on a public blog.

You may remember about a year ago, Chad Edge (our CTO) took down any information about OSNAP.net beyond the homepage sign-up. This was due to the insane amounts of traffic coming from certain networks (big red, for instance) and what could be considered a competitor (trust me, for instance). Well, we’re over that whole issue now and want people to know we’re back and ready for a big fight.

Stay tuned, boys and girls. And don’t forget to sign up for our new beta. We’ll be announcing the beta path soon to anyone that’s signed up, there might just be more in it for you beyond the exposure!