Nov 4, 2007 | blog
A post by Mathew Ingram got me thinking. All these social networks. All these separate services that we willingly give our personal data too. Why?
Why can’t they license this data just like they license marketing research data? Why can’t they pay me royalties for my data? Instead we all give them this valuable information.
Hmmm.
There has just got to be a way to do this opposite than the way we have been – giving free information away in a trade for a Facebook applet of questionable value. Our personal info is worth money – is your vampire chump?
Technorati Tags: social network, Mathew Ingram, marketing data, personal information
Nov 4, 2007 | blog
I’m sitting here tonight reading some interesting thoughts on all sorts of things. From wondering what the future direction of social networking is, to computer hardware to operating systems. The post over at TechCrunch about gOS has me thinking… are both us Windows and Mac OSX users snobbish over our OS?
They both have a long history and a great rivalry. Could both camps be missing the point? Could a $200 computer from Wal-Mart gain real ground running an unknown OS? Does it matter? It’s simply a Linux PC and is running some great open source software, leverages many great free ‘net services, and could be easy for newbie’s to get started.
Are OSX and Windows the snobby Lexus/Infinity or Land Rover/Hummer of the OS world? If so, what do we get for our premium outlay that makes them better than the open source world?
What do you think?
Technorati Tags: Operating Systems, gOS, OSX, Windows
Oct 29, 2007 | blog
I’ve always found it a tad weird when I have these flashes of intuition. I’d be the first to admit that it comes from being influenced by what I read and such, but lately I’ve been shying away from a lot of my traditional tech sources. Not sure why, but I really have been getting a feeling like there is a change looming. Not big, not significant, but a subtle one.
I’d spent the better part of this year exploring social media networks, techniques, blogs, people and more. It’s been a great experience and a learning one for sure. However, I’ve been getting a feeling since early September that there is something happening. While I can’t quite put a finger on it, I smell change coming.
Blame it on my bloggers block last month, and subsequent lack of regular posting for the past month and a half. Blame it on reading some of the talk about a new tech bubble. I think Steve Rubel has identified the problem with “Web 2.0” – on the tech side. There is a little too much self-pollination going on out on the left coast in regards to the current web hype.
But there is more to it. There is a definite lack of advancement in taking some social and web technologies into the enterprise. All these “great” Facebook apps have little no usefulness in a business that is trying to keep up with the changing face of their customers. In an environment that is trying to simply sell product and make money, technology barely steps up and answers the hard questions of meeting financial & oversight compliance, privacy requirements, EPA compliance, overseas competition & compliance, marketing costs, rising employee & health costs, increasing tax burdens, and shipping challenges.
How is the current crop of social network toys stepping up to answer the call? It isn’t and it can’t. Yes, these tools need to be part of the next generation of enterprise IT, but the talents that built these cool technologies and tools need to take note of the real challenges that face businesses today.
I’ll give all of you a hint. It has little to do with communication. We already communicate everything to death. That was one of the problems I watched at the old job. As the company grew, the communication increased. The need for everyone to be involved and communicated to so they could give their $.02 on a project/idea slowed the processes to a crawl. It hasn’t changed, and it won’t soon.
I guess what I’m getting at is that there is an over-emphasis on what I’m really starting to think of as “kiddie tech”. Yes I still use Facebook, and am very interested in social media, but the reality is that a lot of these “fun” technologies simply do not solve a business need. That is one problem with technology. As soon as the fun starts to evaporate and you start serious talk about monitization, the trouble starts.
By the way, I’m predicting about a 5-year boom to bubble for technology as an ongoing natural cycle. I think it’s the industry’s way to innovate and then clean out the technologies that didn’t pan out.
What’s your take? Am I out of touch with it all, or close to the target?
Photo credit: Andrea in Amsterdam
UPDATE: Steven Hodson did a *great* writeup over at WinExtra on this topic. I highly recommend stopping by and reading The Great Web 2.0 Con Job.
Technorati Tags: Technology, Business Solutions, Tech Bubble, Web 2.0, Communication
Sep 28, 2007 | blog
It’s not because it’s Apple.
I’ve been reading and thinking about the iPhone a lot lately. I’m coming up on needing to upgrade my aging, failing, but fantastic T-Mobile MDA. I’ve been fascinated by the features and simplicity of the iPhone that has, of course, been the center of mobile tech hype for months now.
The reasons are simple and have little to do with the iPhone itself. Here they are.
- Not T-Mobile This is a big deal for me, I’m not going to change my number over – all my family and friends are on T-Mobile and my calls to them are all out of the unlimited "mobile to mobile" pool that doesn’t cost me a dime extra.
- No WMA support. Yep, 18 months ago I converted our entire library of tunes to WMA. I’m not going to do it again. I had to pick and there were upcoming WMA players at the time, my Pocket PCs were my player and new Nokia’s are compatible with the Windows Media Player sync tool.
- Software I have literally hundreds of dollars of software that is designed for Windows Mobile. I’m not going to through that away just for because I got a new mobile device. I am glad that I bought only Bluetooth hardware accessories though – that move has paid off big time.
- 3G Yeah, you who know will point out that T-Mobile doesn’t even have a 3G service for their customers (it’s in deployment/testing yet), so I shouldn’t bring up the lack of 3G in the iPhone. Fine I won’t. But other devices on the market have had long experience with 3G implementation, so I won’t loose sleep over that.
- Keyboard I’ve often scoffed at the keyboard on the face of the BlackBerry for a long time, but they are very handy to craft messages. My beloved MDA had a sliding keyboard, which I would buy again, but having one on the front of the device would be nice in several ways.
- Control I must have control of the device. From the selection of the firmware to software to the network settings. Traits from being a true techno geek. I know how the devices work and I can create a better configuration for my work/usage habits than anyone else can for me.
Well I can’t think of any other things at this point, and this is not to crap on the iPhone. I really do want one, compared to my initial reaction when it was released. The device is indeed an advance in design, engineering, interface and usability. It’s just not on my list this year when I go shopping for a new device.
What will I be looking for? Probably going to be another Windows Mobile device. Will need to support 3G HSDPA, all the usual wireless support, keyboard, good camera (3MP or better), video capabilities (record and playback), sync with WMP, more memory and a faster processor…
What’s your take – should a person switch carriers just for a hyped (albeit good) device?
Technorati tags: Apple iPhone, T-Mobile MDA, Mobile Device
Sep 18, 2007 | blog
It seems to me there is an opportunity out there. I’m going to turn a twenty-two year grip into a suggestion and an idea.
Here’s my problem. In many things we have the chance to have our say and don’t choose to – that’s our fault. In some instances we don’t have a chance to voice our opinions – at all.
Let’s go back to 1985, when Coca-Cola changed the formula of it’s namesake soft drink. Welcome, New Coke. Ugh. Nobody had a chance to really change the course of history on that one – even to this day. No you didn’t. Yes, I know Coca-Cola ‘Classic’ was brought back – I drink it often, but it’s not the original.
Personally, I think it was a staged event to make the switch from cane sugar (expensive) as a sweetener to the high-fructose corn syrup (cheap) we all know and love today. Don’t believe me? Fine, I have no proof to back it up, but there is a difference in the flavor from the true original, and what a great way to make the change and cut costs than to take away the real product for half a year and then bring it back slightly altered, but most people unable to really tell the difference.
At any rate, my point is that there is an opportunity for Coca-Cola (or any beverage manufacturer who has a similar opportunity) 
here to tap into a great new product. I want my old coke back, and I want it BAD. I’ll pay extra to have that original taste back – I’ll pay for a ‘premium’ beverage that is true to the 120-year old formula. And I want it only in 12oz. returnable glass bottles. Yep, old school all the way.
Hey, what a great twist of PR. Create a new (old?) product, package it in a ‘green’ (I hate that term) reusable (and recyclable) container, reach out to their oldest and most loyal customers (an already established market), and charge extra to do it.
Am I in the wrong here? With the custom, gourmet, and premium beverage markets that abound today, how hard would it be for a company like Coca-Cola to do this?
Technorati tags: Coca-Cola, New Coke, Coca-Cola Classic, Original Coke, Original Formula
