And another blog post with links back to Iowa.

Another interesting review was published on cellphonesinlearning.com. Liz Kolb, the author, includes some our of first content from the Iowa Caucuses.

I think this is a great resource for students/teachers who would like to do easy digital storybooks but do not have easy access to microphones and/or would like their students to get the audio portion of the assignment completed outside of class. Additionally students on field trips could call in their stories and then add photos later on (they could also use their mobile cameras to send pictures into their Flickr accounts). For example students who go to a historical village, could describe their experiences in the Noah Webster house, then go online and get images (via Flickr--which works with Earfl or other Creative Commons resources) and insert those images into their Earfl story. The stories can embed to websites, YouTube, and blogs too! Another great use for this site would be for students to use it as an oral diary or i-search project that spans over time. For example students could document their learning in a class by calling in once a week a story about their learning, then adding pictures associated with their learning. By the end of the school year, students have documentation of their learning and how far they have come over time.

Read the whole review at http://www.cellphonesinlearning.com

Killer Startups doesn't kill

Killer Startups coverage was a great way to start the weekend...

Earfl.com takes sharing to a whole new level. Through the site, you’ll be able to upload bits of audio for your and your friends to enjoy. The service allows you to associate your phone number to your account. This will allow you to dial the website’s number and record something for everyone to hear online. For instance, say you just had a particularly boring date: as soon as you manage to sneak out, you’ll be able to call the number and tell your friends all about it. The site’s concept could be compared to link sharing, but on a much larger scale. Sharing your thoughts orally will allow you to be a lot more specific and really say what you mean, without having to think how you are going to put it down through words. It should be more than fun to listen to your stories once time passes. This will allow you reminisce about stories and anecdotes from your past.

See the article at http://www.killerstartups.com

Recent Coverage in Mashable

Last Thursday, we got a nice write up on Mashable.

New Service Lets You Get an “earfl” of Stories and Gossip

July 31, 2008 — 01:04 PM PDT — by Kristen Nicole —

earfl is like Twitter for phone calls. Instead of sending in an SMS update, you can just dial a number and say a little something. The recording will be linked to your account on the Web, and can then be shared with family and friends. Attach an image if you’d like–this makes audio recordings (especially those from the phone) more interesting....

Read the whole article at http://mashable.com/2008/07/31/earfl/

A great review from la Repubblica

This morning, we got a good review in la Repubblica.

Earfl.com pubblica sul web storie e confessioni telefoniche degli utenti C'è chi racconta che vorrebbe uccidere il coniuge, chi sogna di fare spogliarelli... Paure, speranze, rivelazioni Il sito che raccoglie i segreti
di ANDREA BETTINI

Paure, speranze, rivelazioni Il sito che raccoglie i segreti
ROMA - "Rafaello" aveva un peso sulla coscienza. Anni fa ha spinto la sua migliore amica ad abortire senza dire nulla alla sua famiglia ed ora aveva bisogno di raccontarlo a qualcuno. "Kerstin M", che lavora in uno zoo, parla invece del più grande errore della sua vita: un giorno non ha chiuso bene alcune gabbie e solo per un colpo di fortuna alcuni animali feroci non sono riusciti a scappare. Sono solamente due delle centinaia di anonime confessioni raccolte in pochi mesi dal sito Earfl.com, uno spazio lasciato a disposizione di chi ha una storia e non ce la fa più a tenerla per sé.

Lo slogan di Earfl.com è "Storie vere di persone vere". Gli utenti si registrano, decidono quante informazioni su loro stessi rendere visibili e poi, componendo un numero di telefono statunitense, possono registrare i propri racconti, che vengono classificati in base al contenuto e immediatamente pubblicati. A quel punto tutti li possono ascoltare in streaming da ogni parte del mondo.

Il sito non indica ai visitatori che tipo di interventi effettuare, tanto che vi si possono trovare persino giudizi su ristoranti e numerose esternazioni di stampo politico. Molti però lo hanno ormai trasformato in un vero e proprio confessionale a cui affidare i loro piccoli e grandi segreti. Un modo per dire e non dire, per raccontare al mondo vicende intime della propria vita potendo però contare sull'anonimato garantito dal proprio username. Per confidare ad altri i propri sogni, i misfatti di conoscenti e amici o le proprie debolezze senza temere conseguenze.

E così al sito vengono consegnate dichiarazioni più o meno compromettenti. "Jen Green", ad esempio, dice che il suo sogno è vivere completamente nuda. Un desiderio in parte condiviso anche da "Sarah Johnson", che descrive una sua segreta aspirazione: fare la spogliarellista. "susie dung", infine, dichiara addirittura che, se avesse la certezza di non essere scoperta, ucciderebbe il marito.

Altri parlano delle proprie paure, di temi sicuramente delicati, personali. "Fallen Lady" dice che un'idea la terrorizza sin da bambina: morire per un colpo di pistola alla testa. "Spatz McGee" racconta uno dei momenti più terribili della sua infanzia, e cioè il tentativo di suicidio della madre. "Jared Brown" rivela invece che un amico, del quale ovviamente non fa il nome, ha problemi con alcool e droga...

Read the rest of the article at la Repubblica.

Earfl.com, IowaPolitics.com: Iowa caucus-goers invited to share their stories online

Earfl.com will capture Iowans’ experiences in their own voices for the world to hear

(DES MOINES, IA) — When Iowa caucus-goers go to one of the 1,781 precinct caucuses on Thursday evening, they are invited to use their cell phones to record their stories online and share their personal experiences with people all around the globe on the internet.

“For the first time ever, the voices of Iowans who attend the first-in-the-nation caucuses can be shared with others throughout the world who go to http://www.earfl.com,” said Manolo Espinosa, co-founder and CEO of the company that has created the new audio internet platform. “Caucus-goers with cell phones can call our Iowa Hotline at 1-515-322-1477,” said Espinosa. After dialing that number, callers should then enter 101# to tell their stories either during the caucus or soon after it has adjourned.

Espinosa said that hundreds of Iowans have already called the Iowa Hotline to share their views on why they’ve decided to support their candidate of choice. “Now, on caucus night, we encourage them to share their own unique caucus experience from their caucus location. We expect many members of the media to access their stories as well as people from all around the globe who are interested in knowing more about what actually happens in the caucuses,” he added.

“As a radio journalist, I love earfl.com because it hosts recordings of real Iowa voters stating the reasons why they support the candidate they do,” said Meredith MacKenzie, correspondent for The Talk Radio News Service, which has featured earfl.com on its website. “It is a little bit like the caucus, except we can all hear what they have to so. Not every recording is compelling, but they all have a very real flavor to them.”

Among the Iowans who has already shared his views about how caucus-goers arrive at their decisions is Dan Power of Des Moines, a retired Drake University law professor and a veteran political activist. “I’m delighted that earfl is making it possible for Iowans like me to share their views in a way that enables us to convey the spirit of the Iowa caucuses, which play such a unique role in helping select our next President,” said Power.

Espinosa said that the participation of Iowa caucus-goers has been so enthusiastic across all age groups and all walks of life that earfl will offer a similar opportunity to voters in New Hampshire and South Carolina leading up to the presidential primaries in those two states.

Earfl has partnered with IowaPolitics.com, the premier political website in the state, in a contest for Iowa callers. Participants are eligible to win a new iPhone and a full year’s subscription to IowaPolitics.com, a $750 value.

About earfl

Earfl extends social media and networking to over 2 billion cell phones worldwide by helping users to easily record and broadcast personal experiences, entertaining stories and firsthand accounts with listeners around the globe. Earfl is the first online platform designed specifically for capturing, storing and distributing audio narratives to anyone, anywhere.

A first time caucus attender: http://www.earfl.com/listen/461

A Biden fan shares her support in music: http://www.earfl.com/listen/330

Earfl.com, IowaPolitics.com: New Web site captures voices of Iowa caucus-goers

Earfl.com partners with IowaPolitics.com to record stories, preferences of voters


(DES MOINES, IA) — Iowa voters, presidential campaign staffers and media interested in the state’s first-in-the-nation precinct caucuses are being invited to share their stories about the upcoming caucuses and voice their candidate preferences, thanks to earfl.com, a Berkeley, Calif.-based company, it was announced today.

Earfl has unveiled a new website designed to go beyond the latest polls and capture the real voices behind Iowa’s presidential caucuses, according to Manolo Espinosa, earfl chief executive officer.

“In true democratic fashion, earfl.com offers supporters of a particular candidate a forum to channel their emotions and experiences into a story that, unlike the polished analysis of pundits, is both genuine and heartfelt,” Manolo Espinosa, chief executive officer of earfl said. He said that earfl is the first online platform designed specifically for capturing, storing and distributing audio narratives of everyday Americans.

“These unedited stories represent freedom of speech at its best” said Espinosa. He adds, “they give us a glimpse into the political process that is often lost in mainstream media coverage — the real stories of real Americans. Contributors simply call in their story, just like leaving a voice message.”

Earfl has partnered with IowaPolitics.com, the premier political website in the state, to encourage Iowans to record in real time what issues are most important to them and why they have decided to caucus for their preferred candidate. Participants are eligible to win a new iPhone and a full year’s subscription to IowaPolitics.com, which is a $750 value, according to Julie Rutz, marketing coordinator for IowaPolitics.com .

Each presidential campaign has been invited to encourage their supporters to let their voices be heard in the few days remaining before the caucuses on Jan. 3. According to Erin Medlicott, Online Communications Manager for BIDEN FOR PRESIDENT, “earfl has helped us record our supporters’ enthusiasm and thoughts and share them easily with others. Recording these voices is truly unique. These are real stories of real Iowans and they provide a new dimension to our campaign efforts.” “Campaigns can get the word out by asking their supporters to contribute while also sharing their stories with those who remain undecided,” adds Espinosa. These stories can be shared with New Hampshire voters and beyond as the campaigns continue.

“Dozens of Iowans have already recorded their feelings about important issues or their favorite candidate by calling the Iowa Hotline at 1-515-322-1477,” said Espinosa. After dialing that number, callers enter 101# if their story is about the caucus, 102# if they support a Democratic candidate and 103# if they support a Republican. They have up to three minutes to tell their stories, which will be broadcast on both earfl and IowaPolitics.com .

“Until now, there has not been a low cost, scaleable system for capturing, aggregating and distributing audio narratives from everyday users,” according to Espinosa. “It makes available an ecosystem for effortless contributions and seamless sharing, similar to videos on YouTube and photos on Flickr,” he explained.

“The oral tradition goes back a long way,” said Espinosa. “Every day, the stories behind once-in-a-lifetime events like the 2008 Iowa caucuses, how parents first met, or a child’s first time skiing are lost to eternity because there has been no easy way to capture, store and share them. We created earfl to capture and share these voices in real time and have made it very simple.”

He said that earfl is committed to recording unique audio moments that are unfolding everywhere, everyday, and in every language. Designed for the spontaneous contributor, registered users call in their stories from any phone — on the road or ski slope, at a high school or family reunion — easily capturing the audio narrative, complete with spoken nuances, intonations and mood.

The contributor can also add tags, photos, and text commentary online. Leveraging social network features and SMS messaging, earfl contributors and listeners can virally broadcast their favorite story worldwide on MySpace of Facebook, their own blog or on earfl. They can also encourage listeners to submit their own audio stories and send to more friends. Earfl.com is currently in BETA and will launch in March of 2008.

Sample Stories

Ron Paul supporter: http://www.earfl.com/listen/125

Joe Biden supporter: http://www.earfl.com/listen/323

About Earfl

Earfl extends social media and networking to over 2 billion cell phones worldwide by helping users to easily record and broadcast personal experiences, entertaining stories and firsthand accounts with listeners around the globe. Earfl is the first online platform designed specifically for capturing, storing and distributing audio narratives to anyone, anywhere.

About IowaPolitics.com

IowaPolitics.com (http://www.iowapolitics.com) is an independent, non-partisan news service operating a free website and paid subscriber services in Des Moines, Iowa.