Ever heard the term…”it takes a village”…well, Mark Randall, a local entrepreneur has launched The Athlete Village.  If you haven’t heard about this site, I believe you will.

Launched on January 19^th, www.theathletevillage.com was built to create an online community of swimming coaches and swimming enthusiasts for the purpose of making you a better swimmer and building community.  Cool idea and joining the village is free.

Let’s face it…most folks are competitive and we all love to win.  What is the major difference between many successful athletes and many unsuccessful athletes?  Professional experienced coaching.

Athlete Village solves this issue by offering online technical analysis of your swimming stroke…and for only $49.   All you need to do is upload a video on the site, and you get access to some of the best coaches in swimming…they will give you feedback, advice and pointers on how to improve.  Now, the really good coaching that used to be only available to the top swimmers is now available to everyone!

The Athlete Village is really an online “village”…and provides an online meeting place for athletes and coaches to share experiences, knowledge, guidance, and just to get together with other villagers with similar interests.   Athletes love to hang out and learn/chat with others of similar interests.

“There is a large community of swimmers out there – a community that includes beginners, kids looking for better times to get college scholarships, masters swimmers, recreational swimmers, and triathletes –and they are looking for ways to improve,” said Scott Riewald, performance technologist for The US Olympic Committee and Athlete Village coach. “We don’t intend on replacing existing coaches or swim camps but rather want to provide access to other resources and a greater number of experts than is readily available to most swimmers along with a community site to host the exchange of information”

And swimming is just the beginning…many sports will fit in to this model…so stay tuned and keep checking out as Mark and his team continue to roll out new sports.  I can’t wait for golf…because I could certainly use the help!  Come on Athlete Village…what is wrong with my wedge…it IS my wedge right…and not me…right?   It has to be the club…couldn’t be me…right?

Imagine watching a Ravens game in 3D… pretty cool, huh?  How much fun would it be to see Tom Brady get sacked and feel like you are right there…well, 3D TV is right around the corner.

In case you missed it, last week was the CES or Consumer Electronics Show…this is the show where really cool stuff usually shows up before hitting the mass markets.

3D Television was one of the hot technologies on display this year.  While 3D television has been discussed by many folks over the years, the big news is that manufacturers are signing up to start delivering 3D sets this year for about the price of an HD set.   Manufacturers like Sony, Samsung, LG and Panasonic have either rolled out 3-D products or are expected to in the near future.

To make the picture complete (sorry for the pun, but couldn’t resist), several studios are also on board to provide content…which is nice, because we will actually have something to watch if we were to buy a 3D set.  Content providers like ESPN, DreamWorks, Direct TV and Discovery have said they are planning to produce 3D shows in 2010.  ESPN is clearly out in front, because…well, who buys a lot of TVs…um, men.  And who watches a lot of sports…um, that would be men too!

My research shows that some TVs currently available are 3D ready and/or can be upgraded when the 3D content is broadcast.  So, if you are in the market for a TV, be sure to check on whether or not your TV is 3D ready.   Also be sure to check on how 3D will be provided as some TVs will require glasses and some will not.

I checked with some folks in the “biz” and they tell me that this technology is likely to go through a number of early stage changes and enhancements, so if you buy early, you may be left with some obsolete technology pretty quickly.  They recommend waiting for the first few generations to come out before jumping in and slapping down your $8,000 to $10,000.

Personally, I can’t wait.  Anybody seen Avatar in 3D or Up?  3D technology has come a long way in the last couple of years and I believe will become the standard for viewing pretty quickly.

Baltimore, MD, January 4, 2010 – G.1440 today announced the completion of an agreement to be acquired by Constellation Software, Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiary Constellation HomeBuilder Systems. The talent and technology of G.1440 will remain in Baltimore, where the company will continue to operate under the same name and management team. With a portfolio of over 20,000 customers in over 30 countries, Constellation will help solidify G.1440’s position in the market and help it grow as Baltimore’s technology leader.

Founded in 1998, G.1440 provides a range of technology services, including web design, online marketing, custom application development, and IT staffing. The Baltimore company’s depth and range of services made it attractive to CSI.

“By bringing expert teams in web design, marketing, development, and tech staffing together, G.1440 offers a hybrid solution unlike any we’ve seen,” says Dexter Salna, President of Constellation HomeBuilder Systems. “With a 12 year history of growth fueled by repeat business from an impressive client list that includes many of Maryland’s premier companies, G.1440 was a natural fit for the Constellation family.”

“With Constellation we’re in an even better position to empower our clients through technology,” said Larry Fiorino, G.1440’s President and Founder. “We’re excited that CSI has recognized what our clients have experienced – the immense value that our design, development, marketing, and staffing teams bring when they work together. This acquisition is great news for Baltimore!”

Financial details of the acquisition are not being made public.

About Constellation Software, Inc.

Constellation Software Inc. is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “CSU”. Constellation is an international provider of market leading software and services to a number of industries across both the public and private sectors. The Company acquires, manages and builds vertical market software businesses that provide mission-critical software solutions to address the specific needs of its customers in those industries. Constellation Software, Inc. is in no way affiliated with Constellation Energy – a Baltimore based energy company.

About G.1440, LLC.

G.1440 is a 12 year old Baltimore based technology firm that provides End-to-End IT solutions that Get IT to Work for leading companies nationwide. With services including custom web application development, web design, online marketing and tech staffing, G.1440 stands out by offering hybrid IT solutions – the right mix of technology, the people, and price – working with clients however clients need us to. G.1440 was founded by Larry Fiorino in 1998 and was previously a subsidiary of Sinclair Broadcast Group.

Media Inquiries
Tim Kassouf
marketing@g1440.com
(410) 843-3823