It’s not often that you can sit out on the porch in South Dakota during January, but that’s where this installment of Cloud Control comes from. We’ll never reveal our cold-blooded secrets.

Nerd Front
Apple Tablet Rumors - At this point, even Steve Jobs has started to talk about the Apple Tablet and it is expected to be officially announced this Wednesday, January 27th. A tablet is a mobile computer-like device that is based on all touch-screen technology. Imagine an iPhone crossed with a laptop. The possibilities are pretty incredible.

Google Threatens to Pull Out of China After Cyber Attack - Between censorship in China and a recent serious attack on private data, Google has threatened to remove their services from China.

Local Front
Silicon Prairie News 2.0 - With this incarnation of SPN, the website looks sexier than ever and the news is organized by location and/or category. (update: the deadline for the Creative Capitol Pitch Session has expired)

Prairie Home Companion – This is an original Upper Midwest radio show that you can check out. You can also give a listen to Rock Garden Tour from some local South Dakota minds.

What’s On Your Mind?
When disaster strikes, everybody feels it. The recent earthquake in Haiti has brought out some really inspiring technological communication. People have been sending messages via social media to connect with family and friends.

Raising funds has also played a major part in the Haiti relief effort. You can still donate to Red Cross and Haiti Relief by texting “Haiti” to 90999 and a $10 donation will be added to your phone bill.

Halo 3 has made donating fun as well.

If you’re a blogger and use the WordPress platform, @TommyVallier creates WordPress edits, tweaks, and installations that you pay for by the minute. Under 20 min is $15 and every minute after is $1 per minute. He’ll take 10% off any work if you give him the promo code “JMEYER”

QOTD: What’s the best new way you have seen social media being used for communication? (Leave an answer in the comments to start the conversation or hit us up on Twitter @9Clouds.)

Thanks for listening this week and we hope to talk to you all in the near future.