BlackCoat Sport LHR :: Save 20% with coupon code OUTER20. 

With BlackCoat Sport LHR, you never have to worry about taking another raincoat with you on a business trip.  It’s a hybrid sport-raincoat, so just bring BlackCoat Sport LHR (maybe one other sport coat) and you have have your business, casual and rainwear covered.  Inspired by the duality of London business formality and its raging nightlife, BlackCoat LHR is the perfect travel companion for people who want to keep their cargo to a minimum and look good.

 Booq Boa SlimCase :: Save 10% with coupon code 1010 

The Booq Boa SlimCase is the Slimmy bag equivalent.  Slim and sleek, this laptop case is perfect for people who live a highly digitized life, and/or have a fetish for minimalism.  It’s hard to forget where everything is in this bag, as it barely breaks the threshold of the brain’s cognitive process (Rule of 7).  If you love keeping it simple, have a ton on your mind, or simply don’t have that much to lug around, then Boa SlimCase is for you.Happy Holidays! 

Wil Shroter is a successful entrepreneur out of Columbus and the Founder of the Go Big Network.  I have used Go Big in the past and think it’s a pretty neat concept.  Yesterday I received their newsletter and took a chance to read it as it is about something important to Koyono, my life and all people at large - Social Networks (AKA Web 2.0).  Just the other day I was explaining to a client that traditional advertising needs to change and agencies are behind the times.  Like Go Big’s newsletter points out, this could not be more true namely because Web 2.0 is still in its infancy and there are few expert/schmexperts to be hired by agencies.  The only agency that I am aware of that really gets is it Undercurrent.  Well, I’m sure there are more, but they are few and far between.  So what do you do in the meantime?  Jump in, try to find the right people who get it, and learn it on your own (or hire Undercurrent).  After all, it’s free, cheap and available to the world; most importantly, once people claim they are “experts” on Social Networks, it’s time to figure out what’s next!

Check it out. This is the best BackPack Laptop Bag in the world! Boa deservingly was rated Editor’s Choice by Laptop Magazine and is the perfect companion for road warriors who are looking for a functional bag that won’t compromise style. It’s slim, yet surprisingly spacious, made for the highest quality ballistic nylon and contains 19 compartments. Best of all, it’s on sale for $149.50 (reg. $165). Please, you get a free pair of Cool Feet with your order.

Booq Boa

Cool Feet

I could have named this post “How to Find a Lost Mobile Phone,” but there is something unique about the BlackBerry Pearl that makes it extra difficult to find; the ring tone sometimes does not work after plugging in and taking out the headset. Calling your Pearl to find it will not work in this case (arrghh!). It’s one of the BlackBerry Pearl bugs that makes the $599 iPhone tempting. On the other hand, perhaps not having a phone is a good break from the daily routine, allowing for some needed space to think about other things?

I rely on my BlackBerry Pearl a lot (more than a car to be honest). Staying in the “Matrix” of my professional and personal life requires that I be able to communicate (in an instant). Anymore, I rely on e-mail just as much I do the phone to hook up with people. Running a company and managing a family of four requires a constant shuffling of priorities and being connected to people, tasks, etc. Not having my BlackBerry is not just an adjustment, it’s a hassle!

Here is a little story on how to find a BlackBerry Pearl when the ring tone bug sets in.

As I was going to bed the other night, I could not find my BlackBerry Pearl? I thought, “well, it’s got to be hear somewhere as I know I just read an e-mail from it while watching something on TiVo.” So I went to bed peacefully, anticipating that I would find it before leaving for work the next day. When I woke up, I had this sudden feeling of worry: “What was I looking for before I went to bed that was so important?” I finally realized that I was starting my day not knowing where my little BlackBerry Pearl was.

“Crap!” I thought, “Photo shoot at 10AM - what if one of my kids gets sick and I have to pick them up? Oh yeah, I told a few people to ring me in the afternoon,” blah blah, blah. It was my turn to get up with the kids and get them ready for their day, but I could only think about where the heck my BlackBerry Pearl was? After the morning routine, I did a quick scan around the family room, kitchen, etc. It was no where to be found. I tried calling it, but could not hear anything? “Double Crap!” Was I using it with the headset last night? I never put it on vibrate, so a weird sense of loss started to set in. “Maybe my kids took it to bed? Maybe I accidently threw it away? Did it fall out of my shirt pocket into the toilet when I was, err ah, in deep thought?” 5 Minutes before leaving the house, I decided to upheave to couch and side chair. Nothing! I called again thinking the phone was buried and if I turned off CNN I might hear something. Nope - nothing.

Now it was time to go and get the family going on their day. “Okay, I will have a few minutes after everyone leaves to check the upstairs.” Nothing! At this point, It was time for me to go. Wow, “How weird it is not to have my BlackBerry leaving the house.,” I thought. All of the calls I wanted to make during my commute were not going to happen. I kept feeling the urge to grab my phone and follow up, get things going, etc. Arghhh!

A whole day went by without my BlackBerry, and I must say I started to ween off of it towards the evening. That said, I was now obsessed, on a mission to find the darn thing. In my mind, I was at the point where I was just going to get a new one, but I had to find it for my conscience sake. I tried everything, what else could I possibly do? As the sun set, it finally came to me: “I can wait until it is pitch dark, turn off all the lights, and hope to see a glow when calling my BlackBerry!” Ahh, at last some calm. It was a sure thing.

As the night fell I read my RSS feeds and patiently waited until it was pitch black. Finally, at 9:30PM or so I got up, turned off all the lights and started calling my BlackBerry. The search downstairs turned up absolutamente nada. I made my trip upstairs, hit redial and sure enough began to see a pulsating LCD under a coat rack, behind a laundry basket, nestled in a corner on the upstairs landing. Long at last, I had found my BlackBerry Pearl.

One day without my BlackBerry is simply an inconvenience to say the least. It could have gone so differently, but because the BlackBerry Pearl is buggy, the one thing I thought I could rely on to find it (the ring tone) did not work. I am sure RIM knew about this bug, but let the Pearl fly anyway thinking it would be a minor inconvenience. In the grand scheme of things it was a minor inconvenience and it was nice not having to be so attached to something. So, yes, I was peeved, but finally found some humor in it all for you to enjoy. That said, I’m definitely getting an iPhone!

I am in the middle reading a few books and decided to throw another one in the mix. What the heck, it’s only another 100 pages. The Book of Five Rings is something I read 7 years ago and decided to re-read it because of the first page in the book. It reads:

The Winning Strategy

1) Do not harbor sinister designs.
2) Diligently pursue the Path of Two-Swords-as-One.
3) Cultivate a wide range of interests in the arts.
4) Be knowledgeable in a variety of occupations.
5) Be discrete regarding one’s commercial dealings.
6) Nurture the ability to see the truth in all matters.
7) Perceive that which cannot be seen with the eye.
Do not be negligent, even in trifling matters.
9) Do not engage in useless activity.

Miyamoto Musashi, the books original author, was a Samurai during the late 1500s and early 1600s. While Musashi-san is one of Japan’s most prolific Samurais, with an undefeated record, he later when on to become skilled craftsman, sculpting in wood and metal, as well as a calligrapher. He applied Zen and the same process of mastering the way of the Samurai to these other areas of his life, eventually reaching enlightenment.

It’s all about the “way.”

::New Additions and Editions
Here at KOYONO we’ve already begun to ponder 2006 and what we’ve accomplished. A quick mea culpa and a boast:

1) We’ve added so many new products that people are having a hard time picking which one is the perfect one for them.
2) Our blog seems to be as interesting to people as our products.

		We are dedicated to innovation and entrepreneurship as a culture and, as many of you have found, our blog, theblackcoat.com, is a representation of that. Aside from matters of products and commerce, we are sharing what we learn about running a virtual manufacturing company (our friends at Coghead recently taught us to refer to this format as a Bedouin company) or operating as an effective business person or citizen or GAI (genius, artist, or innovator). Thanks in part to Jay’s recent insights into how to make his Mac and his BlackBerry Pearl work magic together, our blog is seeing as much traffic as our website. Keep the comments coming. We are also looking for more KOYONO Ambassadors. If you would like to attend swanky events and spread the word about KOYONO, let us know.
The new outerwear selection chart at KOYONO.com

“I wear or carry the BlackCoat Sport all the time, it is the perfect companion for commuting on my Vespa. I really like it a lot.”
Guido Van Nispen, KOYONO Ambassador to The Netherlands

All of the coats that have been announced this year are finally in stock. It has been a learning experience for us as we moved to off-shore manufacturing (on more than one continent). We are ecstatic about the quality of the craftsmanship in these garments and relieved to finally have them in our hands. The stretch cotton jackets that have just arrived are made with Nanotex® fabric that repels water but breathes like cotton. Nanotechnology is used to transform the molecular structures of fibers and create fabrics that offer unsurpassed performance and comfort.

::Outerwear with nanotechnology featured on KOYONO.com this month:

BlackCoat Work: These new coats have just been received and are shipping to customers. Work comes in black and SandStone. ($199)

BlackCoat Surf: A brand new hybrid shirt/jacket format that makes it easier to carry gadgets when a full jacket is more than you need. Maintain that layered look even when it’s warm. Made with ultra-breathable yet water-resistant stretch cotton by Nanotex and with a slimming cut perfect for beach and boardwalk. ($169)

“Clothier Koyono walks a fine line with its iPod-controlling sports jacket. One button too many in the wrong place, one little ounce of extra heft in the wrong spot, and this piece of apparel would be relegated to the interesting-but-unwearable pile of techie togs.Thankfully, someone at Koyono knows the difference between cool and dorky.”

USA Today

Just in from a good customer in the UK. For those of you who need a little background noise to keep you focused on your work, this article from BBC news will make managers think twice about banning MP3 players and music from the office.

In an open-plan office, it’s the only way for some people to carve a space, stamp their individuality, tune out an irritating colleague, or close a mental door to allow concentration.

While you are thinking of Going Bedouin and leaving the office behind, a little music can help keep you focused to get through the day, as well as allow you to claim your space.

PS - The article features the BlackCoat Made for iPod.

Thanks Richard!

The culture of KOYONO has kept us struggling between the traditional route for clothing designers (make samples, sell to store buyers, manufacture, ship wonder if customers like the stuff, wait for payment from stores, etc.) and a route much more in keeping with our outlook on the world. Web 2.0 and it’s adherence to open standards, open data, and social networks, appeals to us deeply. We have focused the bulk of our attention to serving customers directly and acting as a conduit for other designers as well as a feedback loop for the opinions of customers through out our history. Web 2.0 is, of course, about many of these same principles. This article, The Habits of Highly Effective Web 2.0 Sites (Dion Hinchcliffe’s Web 2.0 Blog) provides a great and brief (should I say efficient) overview of Web 2.0 as a principal.

As a start-up you do not always have the luxury of hiring an assistant to, well assist you. There are several aids and alternatives out there that can really help with your workflow and productivity. The one I have been using lately is the “Speech” function built into all Macs. You can find it by going to the application in the top navigation bar and clicking “Services” and then “Speech” (e.g. Mail>Services>Speech).

Now that you know where it is, go to any application and highlight the text. Then go to “Speech” and select “Start Speaking Text.” You can choose from a variety of voices and speaking rates through System Preferences>Speech. I use Vicki at one notch above “Normal Speaking Rate.”

You can use it to read long e-mails and website content when multi-tasking, proof read a letter or just have a conversation with you when you are lonely. But seriously, I use Speech everyday and especially to proof all blog posts. With the new OS X due out in the near future, Speech is supposedly far better and much more clear. Give it a try.

Here is how this post sounds via Vicki.

BlackBerry Pearl and iPod nano size comparison. Shot of tiny IOGear MicroSD thumb drive and MicroSD.