Dan Tudor

by Sean Devlin, Front Rush

Have you been checking your Other inbox?

Have you missed any important messages sent to you?

Well, its definitely possible due to the rules around Facebook’s “Social Inbox”.

Here’s the story, Coach:  Over a year ago, Facebook made some changes to their messaging system that put rules into place for receiving messages from other people on Facebook. The logic was very simple: If a person is your friend, or friend of a friend, then messages that they send you on Facebook will show up in your messages section. If a person is not in the group above, then their message will go into your “Other” folder. The problem is that nobody seems to check their “Other” folder and you are not notified the same way as your primary inbox. So as a result, many messages sent to you go unread.

If you are a division that allows for messaging to and from recruits, then it is very possible that you have some pending messages from recruits that are weeks, or even months, old. If you are in Division III, where Facebook messaging is not currently permitted, its still worth checking out because their certainly could be some personal messages that you wish you would have seen.

The reverse is true as well. Again, NCAA permitting, messages that you send recruits (on Facebook) will go into their “Other” folder if you are not currently their friend or friend of a friend. Its kinda like the whole spam thing. So it is a good idea to ask recruits to check out that folder as well.

Here’s how to check out your “Other” folder:

• Go to your messages section in Facebook by clicking the icon at the top of the page.
• Then in the navigation on the left, there will be an option for “Other”.
• Click on that, and see if you have messages that you’ve been missing!

Coach, we’re here to help with this or any other technology need you may have.  You can always email me personally at sdevlin@frontrush.com with any questions.  And, if you’re ready to take a look at what our cutting-edge recruiting management message tool does better than anyone else, I’d be happy to tell you about that, too!

Did you know that Front Rush is consistently the lowest cost, full service web-based recruiting management program?  It’s true!  Contact Brad Downs at bdowns@frontrush.com and let him explain what some of your competition already knows – that Front Rush has revolutionized the way they are able to manage their recruiting lists!

by Sean Devlin, Front Rush

We recently purchased a Kindle Fire, which is Amazon’s contribution to the tablet market. We wanted to know if it was capable of doing what no other tablet has done yet, and that is to be a viable alternative to the iPad.

What we found out is that its intent was not really to be an iPad “replacement” but really to be an Amazon stand alone product.  But even then, it was difficult not to compare the two.

So let’s get the big things out of the way: The price point is $199, which is a very aggressive starting point. But at 199 bucks you don’t get a camera, mp internal microphone and it has a much smaller screen. To stick with the iPad comparison, the first iPad did not have a camera, and the smaller screen actually has a few advantages. The smaller screen makes it more portable as it can fit into smaller places (like your pocket). It also allows for single hand operation which is really nice as you can hold the device with one hand during the times that you are just reading. Note that you still have to use two hands to navigate the device.

The Kindle Fire is fully integrated with Amazon services so if you are a coach doing a lot of travel and are reading a lot of books then this device makes it easy to get to them. The navigation is intuitive and the flow of the device is smooth so you don’t get the sensation that you are carrying around a cheap knock-off.

At this point the negatives start to come in:

• At $199, you also don’t get 3G connectivity so if you don’t have wifi, you don’t have internet access. You also have less apps to choose from relative to your iPad counterparts.
• The device itself is awkwardly heavy. Often times a heavy device feels like a sturdy device, but the Kindle Fire just feels heavy.
• The smaller screen’s advantages also have disadvantages and that is purely real estate. It is much easier than reading compared to a phone but again the comparison to the iPad comes in, and reading compared to an iPad is more difficult.

So would we recommend this to coaches?

Well…at $199 it is interesting from a budget perspective. Its smaller screen has some potential for portability as it would be easier to carry onto the field. The problem is the lack of camera and the fewer amount of apps as well as the intent of the device.

The goal of the Kindle Fire is for Amazon to sell more books and services through its own stores. They actually are losing money on each device sold with the idea that they will make up for the difference by selling more books and other Amazon products. So it will be interesting to see what future models of the Kindles look like which is where our recommendation lives:  We would recommend holding off on the Kindle Fire and saving up for the iPad.

Potentially, in the future, the Kindle Fire will start to show up on courts and fields nationwide. But for now, its just not there.

Something not up for debate?  Front Rush, and the invaluable recruiting service they offer to college coaches.  If getting your recruiting organized and communicating more effectively with your prospects is something that sounds smart to you, we highly recommend Front Rush.  Let them explain what they have done for hundreds of college programs – and what they can do for you.  Click here to get more information.

by Sean Devlin, Front Rush

Over the past week, our staff here at Front Rush has been using the new iPhone 4S and just wanted to share our thoughts and the possibilities for recruiting.

The overall impression with the device is that it is the best iPhone yet (as advertised by Apple). Its a bit wippier than previous generations, and provides a few interesting functionalities. It definitely surpasses any Blackberry and very much sets the bar for future Android devices.

So let’s talk about some of the functionalities that are cool for recruiting:

• The most prominent addition to the iPhone is the introduction of Siri. Siri is a voice activated assistant that allows you to send emails, search google, set alarms and a bunch of other cool stuff simply by asking. So for example, prior to going to bed, I will ask Siri “please wake me up at 7:30 am” and Siri will go ahead and do that for you.
• Another interesting application in recruiting is note taking. When taking notes on a recruit, you can simply speak your notes instead of having to try to type them out on the small keypad. Its a bit awkward talking to a phone and because you have to speak out loud, so hopefully you are in a location where others can’t hear you. But if you can get beyond these two points, then the time saving is remarkable. Notes are taken exactly at the pace of your voice and the accuracy is close enough that you can figure them out later, if necessary . It also gives you the ability to not have to look at your phone while taking notes.
• However, sending emails via Siri is not yet the best option. Siri is accurate but not 100% and so if you choose to dictate an email for Siri to compose, then you will have to double check the message prior to sending. We have found that there are usually enough mistakes that it would have been nearly as fast to type them out ourselves.
• Another interesting addition is iMessage. iMessage has the look and feel of a text message except it does not actually rack up your bill. Its the equivalent of Blackberries BBM for iPhone users. What’s interesting about this is that when two iPhone users communicate, they are not charged for individual text-messages. As a result, one of the reasons for the ban of text-messaging in recruiting (expensive text-messages for recruits) seems to hold a bit less water.  The NCAA will need to rule on whether or not the same rules apply to this new technology as text messaging.
• The camera on the device has been improved dramatically (at least by spec). It is now an 8MP camera that can shoot 1080p HD Video. The quality is good enough that the idea of carrying a second camera is becoming more and more obsolete. We were however a bit surprised that we could not easily tell a side by side comparison of a photo taken with the 4S vs the 4 but admittedly it was not in an environment that would have been a great testing ground.
• The last big item to point out is the iCloud service which allows for wireless sync. What’s nice is if you use Siri to remind you of an event on a certain date, this will show up on the calendar (on your device) and then wirelessly sync to the calendar you have on your mac. It takes the hassle out of connecting devices to sync them.

Overall, we really like the iPhone 4S. We generally don’t recommend doing the upgrade if you currently have an iPhone 4 and want to save your contract extension discount for a future release.  But if you or your department do the upgrade, you will be perfectly happy.

Sean Devlin is the technical guru behind the wildly popular Front Rush web-based contact management recruiting system used by thousands of coaches across the country.  You can email him with your technology questions at sdevlin@frontrush.com, and visit their website for a complete view of why they’re the nation’s go-to leaders in recruiting technology.

by Sean Devlin, Front Rush

Overwhelmed with all of the new technologies coming out?

You’re not alone.  A lot of coaches are talking to us and telling us that they’re a little overwhelmed.  Just as the NCAA has trouble keeping up with all the technology and how it’s used in recruiting, coaches seem to have trouble keeping-up with the seemingly daily onslaught of new stuff.

New apps, new devices, and new sites that all can help you save time, save money, better recruit, communicate more effectively, better manage, and…well…just be ‘better’ top to bottom. 

However, all this new technology can seem like a full-time job when it comes to keeping up with new premiers, and it can seem like two full time jobs trying to learn them all.

There is one fundamental model that is often forgotten:

Technology is unique to the end-user, so what works for one coach doesn’t always work for all. If there is a system or process that works for you today, and works well, you don’t have to find a technology to replace it until that technology is overwhelmingly going to improve your current system.

So, an example from my own world is that I used a magic marker for years to take notes. I always carried a sharpie pen with me and whenever I had an idea or needed to write something down, I would write it on my hand. At then end of the day, I would look down on my hand and react accordingly. It was a great system because if I was on the road and away from my computer, I could just take notes on the fly.

Throughout this time, many apps came out that supposedly improved “note taking” but I always fell back to the marker model because it worked for me. I stuck with the marker until an app called Evernote came out that dramatically improved on my marker system.

And that is the point: I stuck with what worked until I found something else that dramatically improved upon my marker technique. If it hadn’t, I would still be walking around with magic marker scribbles up and down my arm.

So, how do you know if a technology is going to work? There may not be an easy answer for this because it is unique to you, but the trick I found is consciously being willing to drop the technology quickly if it doesn’t work for what you need. When I am testing an app or new device, if I don’t see a huge upside or a large amount of potential in the first day, I move on. The technology should improve my process, not require me to totally change it. Sometimes I miss out on some great new stuff this way, but it’s all about finding technology that makes your coaching life earlier.

We are obviously huge advocates of trying new technologies, and highly recommend doing so.  However, we are also huge advocates of using technology that actually improves your day to day perations as opposed to using technology for the sake of using it.

Just because it’s new doesn’t mean it’s right for you.

Little known fact:  Did you know Sarah Palin stole Sean Devlin’s “marker on the hand” idea?  It’s true.

A widely known fact:  Front Rush is one of those technologies coaches can’t do without.  It’s the #1 choice for college coaches around the country when it comes to recruiting management.  Don’t get left behind on this technology…it’s a must have!  Click here for all the details.

by Sean Devlin, Front Rush

Last week, Apple released their latest version of their operating system, titled “Lion”.

We have been playing with it since release day and wanted to give you our thoughts.

The net-net is ‘no bueno’.  I’ve been an Apple user for awhile now, ranging from the iPhone to iPad to Macbook Pro to Apple TV, and even my loyalty can’t skew my initial impression of Lion.

The Good
The upgrade to Lion is amazing.

You go onto the app world from your laptop, search Lion, pay 29 bucks, and 20 minutes later your laptop is running the king of the jungle.

After the download I only had one application on my laptop break and it was easily fixed by re-downloading it. In fact, from other people I have spoken with, this “break” was more of an anomaly than anything else. The upgrade is very different than years past where you had an external disc and had to go through 30 prompts and then cross your fingers. With that said, please make sure you first back-up your Mac to an external drive or in the cloud before you upgrade as a just in case.

The air-drop is also pretty cool. This allows you to find another user on your network and literally drag and drop files to them. This eliminates having to either email them the large files (which if their big enough won’t work) or having to use some third party to upload the files to and they download them. Instead, its a quick drag over and you’re set to go.

That’s pretty much where the compliments stop for me.

The Bad
Apple tried to connect the mobile experience with the desktop and found ways that may not be appropriate. Their are lot’s of new hand gestures that you have to memorize and my experience has been that they are inconsistent. For example, if you put three fingers on the track pad and swipe right to left, it will take you to the next screen. However, 1 out of 10, this gesture is moving all windows to the forefront.

In addition, Apple changed the direction of the scrolling. So historically, if you wanted to move down the page and view more content, you would swipe your fingers downward on the track-pad. If you want to go back to the top, you would swipe your fingers upward. Well this is now completely reversed so it works more like the iPad or iPhone, which is the intent, however this takes days of getting used to.

The interface itself is a bit clunky. It doesn’t have the smoothness that has been consistent with previous Apple products. It seems the intent was to push the envelope (as per usual Apple) but this time without as much success.

Prior to Lion I was a very happy Snow Leopard user. Since the upgrade is done I am pushing through it and trying to get more comfortable but I am hoping that Apple will push some upgrades soon.

Are you a loyal Apple user who needs help with this upgrade or other technical issues?  The pros at Front Rush are the people that the rest of the college coaching world turns to for answers (and for the best recruiting contact management database on the planet).  Seriously, these guys are the experts you want in your corner. 

If you have questions that you want answered, visit Front Rush or email technical guru Sean Devlin directly at sdevlin@frontrush.com with your questions.  You’ll see why so many coaches from around the country trust Front Rush for their recruiting technology needs!