iDone, e-nough

Apple has done a great job creating and marketing an entire spectrum of products and services - most of which begin with an “I”.   I am ok with that – it is part of their identity.  The “I”, usually lowercase,  as a prefix to a product name with Apple began in 1998 - with the iMac.  Apple told us then that the “I” was for, "Internet, Individual, Instruct, Inform, and Inspire". Even before that there was an annoying trend of sticking and “E” in front of every product: e-file, e-commerce, e-church, etc.

Now, more than 15 years later, there is still this STUPID trend of putting and “e” for electronic, or an “i” for internet in front of every product name.  Honestly, it’s become rather lame.  Not just because there is a “halo” effect that Apple has around any product with and “I” –that’s fine, it’s part of Apples brand.  I do believe that we are PAST having to label things as being internet  or electronic based – the novelty has worn off.  

Tipping Point

Twelve years ago, if you owned a digital camera, it was a novelty.  Big, bulky, and low res – I used one that saved to a 3.5 inch floppy.  By 2007, there was the DIGITAL CAMERA Christmas – most everyone I knew received a Digital Camera for the holidays. Quickly digital became the majority - film died.  It was incredibly annoying, “let me get my Digital camera”, or “what kind of DIGITAL camera do you have? “ Yadda yadda. Today the majority of what we use IS digital, or electronic, or based on the internet. There is NO MORE novelty.  E, or I, or Digital are no longer intriguing marketing buzzwords. In fact the novelty is now in the ANALOG.

Resolution

Look around. Listen to yourself. If you are still using terms such as eform, eink, eService – STOP.  Perhaps now would be the best time to start identifying the OUTLIERS of the analog world – and add an “A” to non –digital services. For example I read my books on and Kindle – but I still see other people reading “aBook”

Please – I would enjoy your feedback.   Are we at a tipping point where most everything is digitized – or do we STILL need to identify with “e” or “I”?

Netflix Not Dead

Netflix Not Dead: Don’t Disrupt the Disruptive Technology

Here’s the thing, when Netflix debuted in 1997, it was a disruptive technology that began derailing companies like Blockbuster.  Back then we CHEERED Netflix for being a forward thinking, “customers come first” kind of company.  Let’s face it the US Postal service never appeared to work faster than when a little red envelope was at stake.   Also in 1997, I had a dial-up internet connection, and if I wanted to record a television show it had to be done on VIDEO TAPE! Shit…remember VHS?!

Lately Netflix has taken a lot of (unnecessary) heat, for in essence, putting the disk out to pasture.  NETFLIX IS RIGHT to do that. The stockholders, who once praised Netflix for being innovative, are now crucifying Netflix for disrupting their own tech.  It is ass backwards for us to praise companies like Apple, and Lytro for bringing the future to us – then crapping on Netflix for wanting to kill off a 25 year old technology.

The reaction to subscriber loss at Netflix is completely disproportionate. This week it was reported that Netflix lost 800,000 subscribers in the past quarter – roughly a drop of 4%. Likely the drop is due to the flip flopping on subscription plans and the Quickster debacle.  Fine.  Reasonable.  What is disproportional, is the stock price – down from $300 this past summer – to less than $80 this week.  In my opinion this shows little understanding on the part of market analysts – and a complete lack of vision the part of investors.

Ding Dong… the Disk is Dead!

Much has changed over the past 15 years, most noticeably in bandwidth and digital storage.  Let’s face it many cellphones with 3G or 4G get 10 or 20 times the bandwidth any dial up connection ever got. The idea of streaming movies and music to your pocket is FANTASTIC as a consumer, but scares the shit out of distributors and content providers who have yet to grasp the new paradigm.

To get back on track Netflix has to STAY THE COURSE and phase out disks. If they can provide a CLEAN, reliable user experience – then they can GET MORE TITLES to stream.  They have larger battles ahead with Amazon and Google who never mailed out disks and are doing fine with “streaming only”.  Although the biggest battle will be with content providers – movie studios, cable networks, and telco companies that are doing everything they can keep doing business the same way they have for decades.

Companies that failed to innovate (they listen to stock holders rather than move forward) and are now dead or on life support:  Palm/HP, Borders, Kodak, RIM/Blackberry, Blockbuster, Tower Records, Kosmo, Gateway, Yahoo, MySpace, AOL, Sega,  the list goes on….

• What other companies failed to innovate?
• What do you think the next move is for Netflix?

Pay with your Phone: No Wallet Needed (NFC)

Look for this to be breaking news on Thursday May 26^th.

According to Bloomberg, Google along with Sprint Nextel Corp will be bringing a phone based payment system to New York City (woot!), San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington DC.  The new payment method is set to be revealed on May 26^th. That’s great news….if you have a phone capable of it.

In order to use the new service you will need a phone that has Near Field Communications (NFC).  This radio technology is similar to what you may already have in “tap and go” credit cards-- sometimes referred to as BLINK. Look on the back of your credit card for the Blink Logo. NFC payment systems have been used in Japan safely for many years.

Not all phones have it – not the Evo, not the iPhone, not your Jitterbug. But the new Google Nexus S has NFC – and it’s available on Sprint.  No news yet if this is a Sprint Exclusive. My guess is that Google is partnering with Sprint first –as Sprint has at least one current phone with NFC, and more to come this summer that boast this new feature. Expect this to spread to the other mobile networks by the holiday season.

Google is not the only player in NFC payment systems. AT&T, the big V, and T Mobile are working with ISIS. Let’s see who cracks the US market first.

Feedback

Would you replace your wallet with your phone? Security concerns? 

Living and Working in a Post-PC World

•  In August 2005 notebook computers began outselling desktops
•  In February 2011 smartphones began outselling PC’s

There is growing body evidence and propaganda that we, as a society, are entering the POST PC era. What does this mean? Well, loosely, it means that what we used to need a full size computer to accomplish – we can now do with a netbook, or tablet, or even a smartphone. Factors leading to the Post-PC era include:

• Giant leaps forward in processor power (Intel tri-gate transistor)
• Shrinking physical size of storage (as it increases in capacity and speed)
• Cloud Storage and Computing
• Ultra thin hi-definition displays

 Many tech-heads rejoice, as we run to our local Best Buy or J&R to get our fingerprints all over the just released gizmo's.  But what does the latest round of gadgets mean for the “regular” customer – or business?

What is a Post-PC device – who makes them?

Although they will come in many forms – generally a post PC device is ultraportable, surprisingly powerful, and connected device. As new smartphones and the second generation of tablets enter the market throughout 2011, the competition will stiffen – with some companys already falling victim to slow innovation. The big names in Post PC devices range from the familiar to obscure; Apple iPad, to the Samsung Galaxy Tab, to Kobo.

Transition

Keep in mind that 2011-2013 are likely transitional years. In my opinion the current crop of Post PC gadgets are intriguing and innovative – but are designed for primarily for consumption of information.  Tablets for example are perfect for reading newspapers and magazines, watching video (on demand), surfing the web, and listening to music. That’s great a pretty big chunk of what we already do on a full size computer.  However, at the moment, Post PC devices are not optimized for PRODUCING.  We still have some work to do before we can produce long documents, or spreadsheets, edit long form video, or photo editing on a pocket-able device.  It’s not because tablets are not powerful – they are—I just that they are not suited for certain types of work.  Keep in mind that the “workplace” is much, much slower at adapting new forms of technology that an individual.

On the Horizon

Post PC devices are here – and in strong numbers. Expect to still have a computer on your desk for the next 5-8 years. 

Feedback!
Do you have a Post PC device? Are you using it to CONSUME or PRODUCE?  What challenges do you have before you can live without a desktop or full size computer?