Years ago, the RIAA said that when Napster and other P2P sharing sites became popular, they were going to destroy the industry because the public would no longer be required to purchase music. Obviously this didn't happen. There are a number of reasons why. Obviously, enforcing copyright laws was a factor, but in the end if people want something bad enough, they aren't going to let a little think like legalities get in the way. The industry recognized that the status quo wasn't going to suffice and adapted. They partnered with reputable companies to offer legal methods of downloading music with the highest sound quality for a reasonable price and users flocked to it. Now Apple has become the Pied Piper of the tech world, in no small part because of iTunes and the iPod.
Recently, in a presentation to advertisers, the chairman of NBC, Ted Harbert, made a rather poignant statement about Dish Network's "ad-hop" feature to skip commercials ("Media Decoder", NYTimes.com), "This is an insult to our joint investment in programming, and I'm against it." Not exactly doomsday talk, necessarily, but "insult" is a bit dramatic. We live in a technology age. DVR usage is only going to continue to rise. Every cable and satellite provider heavily promotes their various DVR services. DVR in any room. DVR accessible over the Internet via your smart phone. Skipping commercials might not be the primary reason that people will choose to use their DVR, or to purchase a DVR if they don't already have one, but no one will deny that we all do that when we do use it. The industry will adapt, however, just like the record industry did. We're already seeing it in our programming now where the network will self promote their other shows down in the corner during programming, making it impossible to skip. It's only a matter of time before they start selling that space to advertisers. Sports broadcasters are doing creative things with digitally adding content to the playing field viewing area on television. This can also be used as marketable ad space.
His comments are typical of the old-school "stuffed shirt" mentality of many media executives. Certainly he has to speak to his audience, and being that he was talking to advertisers, I suppose he has to walk that line. But the reality is the advertisers dollars aren't going to go away, and neither are DVR users. Come on into the technology pool, Mr. Harbert...the water is warm.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Slow out of the gate...again.
As geeky as I am, I am also a sports nut and I tend to make a lot of sports analogies. This is admittedly a poor one, but stay with me…
I’ve never been a believer in momentum carrying over from one season to the next. At the end of a sports season, sometimes a team, possibly mired in losing throughout most of the year, end the season with a flurry, get a couple of empty wins, and generate a bunch of buzz going into the offseason (see: Detroit Lions). This gets fans and media all excited about the upcoming season. But in the offseason, that excitement fades, the team starts slow again the next year and then fails to deliver on the perceived momentum and all the good from the previous here is forgotten very quickly.
Microsoft is that team to me. Now, the analogy doesn’t fit exactly…historically Microsoft, the largest software provider in the world, would not really be considered to be a “losing team” overall and in the business world, there’s no real offseason. But looking specifically at Microsoft’s “winning percentage”, if you break it up into individual “franchises”, some win big (Windows, Office, Server products, etc)…some lose big (Zune, Windows Mobile/Pocket PC)...but all talk big. So you really have to separate the various products to get a good picture.
In markets other than Windows and Office, where the software giant has real competition, they are usually slow (if not the last) to the party, and generally show up rather unnoticed. I mean honestly, I know people that didn’t even know that Microsoft made phones up until now (and possibly Microsoft was better for that. Maybe it’s better to keep quiet and have people think you’re inept, than to open your mouth…and remove all doubt).
At the end of last year there was a lot of big talk coming from Microsoft about their “game plan” for the upcoming year. Windows Phone 7 was released the latter part of 2010 with a lot of marketing and industry buzz and honestly hit a much needed “home run” in that market and vaulted back into the Smartphone conversations with Android and iPhone (where have you gone Blackberry?). They promised more fluid and consistent app availability and bug fixes/updates. Umm…yeah, not so much.
The new Windows Phone is fantastic and should be a strong competitor with the iPhone and push Apple to develop smarter and include features that should have been in long ago. But it isn’t. It’s almost as if Microsoft is putting so much effort into not trying, that they’re going to ruin all the good they have with this new platform. Everyone wants what they potentially can get from the Windows Phone…but don’t get because it’s just not quite finished…yet (“yet” is a popular word with Microsoft).
There was a lot of buzz coming out of Redmond last year about a strong response to the iPad and some of that noting it would do what it did with the Netbook and “come from behind for the win” (ok, last sports crossover). There was some talk of a possible big splash coming at CES about this new generation Windows-based tablet. Instead, Ballmer failed to address most of Microsoft’s key consumer brands and didn’t even use the word “tablet” until his closing remarks…a token mention at best.
It’s still early in 2011, granted, but this year seems to be more of the same.
The strategy for mobile is still quasi-sound, but there’s no movement on it. And in the tablet world, it’s in shambles. They still seem to be holding on to the belief that the status quo is still so dominant in the business world that they’re untouchable. Clearly a historically proven strategy (see many IBM PCs anymore???). Consumers are buying iPads in droves, sure. But now even the Corporate world is coming onboard. Besides, how many people do you know that have a Windows 7 netbook?
And this isn’t even touching on the gaming world where they were late to fix major hardware issues with the Xbox and wallowed in mediocrity behind the technologically inferior Wii for years. The Kinect is a great innovation that’s really 2 years overdue.
I’m not a doomsday guy and I don’t buy into the fact that these failures spell major trouble for the “franchise player” (ok, I lied…one more) in Windows. They are still dominant in the desktop and laptop operating system markets and will be for the foreseeable future. By all accounts, Windows 8 will further many of the advances made with Windows 7 and add even more.
That said…who would have ever thought that we’d even have the conversation?
I’ve never been a believer in momentum carrying over from one season to the next. At the end of a sports season, sometimes a team, possibly mired in losing throughout most of the year, end the season with a flurry, get a couple of empty wins, and generate a bunch of buzz going into the offseason (see: Detroit Lions). This gets fans and media all excited about the upcoming season. But in the offseason, that excitement fades, the team starts slow again the next year and then fails to deliver on the perceived momentum and all the good from the previous here is forgotten very quickly.
Microsoft is that team to me. Now, the analogy doesn’t fit exactly…historically Microsoft, the largest software provider in the world, would not really be considered to be a “losing team” overall and in the business world, there’s no real offseason. But looking specifically at Microsoft’s “winning percentage”, if you break it up into individual “franchises”, some win big (Windows, Office, Server products, etc)…some lose big (Zune, Windows Mobile/Pocket PC)...but all talk big. So you really have to separate the various products to get a good picture.
In markets other than Windows and Office, where the software giant has real competition, they are usually slow (if not the last) to the party, and generally show up rather unnoticed. I mean honestly, I know people that didn’t even know that Microsoft made phones up until now (and possibly Microsoft was better for that. Maybe it’s better to keep quiet and have people think you’re inept, than to open your mouth…and remove all doubt).
At the end of last year there was a lot of big talk coming from Microsoft about their “game plan” for the upcoming year. Windows Phone 7 was released the latter part of 2010 with a lot of marketing and industry buzz and honestly hit a much needed “home run” in that market and vaulted back into the Smartphone conversations with Android and iPhone (where have you gone Blackberry?). They promised more fluid and consistent app availability and bug fixes/updates. Umm…yeah, not so much.
The new Windows Phone is fantastic and should be a strong competitor with the iPhone and push Apple to develop smarter and include features that should have been in long ago. But it isn’t. It’s almost as if Microsoft is putting so much effort into not trying, that they’re going to ruin all the good they have with this new platform. Everyone wants what they potentially can get from the Windows Phone…but don’t get because it’s just not quite finished…yet (“yet” is a popular word with Microsoft).
There was a lot of buzz coming out of Redmond last year about a strong response to the iPad and some of that noting it would do what it did with the Netbook and “come from behind for the win” (ok, last sports crossover). There was some talk of a possible big splash coming at CES about this new generation Windows-based tablet. Instead, Ballmer failed to address most of Microsoft’s key consumer brands and didn’t even use the word “tablet” until his closing remarks…a token mention at best.
It’s still early in 2011, granted, but this year seems to be more of the same.
The strategy for mobile is still quasi-sound, but there’s no movement on it. And in the tablet world, it’s in shambles. They still seem to be holding on to the belief that the status quo is still so dominant in the business world that they’re untouchable. Clearly a historically proven strategy (see many IBM PCs anymore???). Consumers are buying iPads in droves, sure. But now even the Corporate world is coming onboard. Besides, how many people do you know that have a Windows 7 netbook?
And this isn’t even touching on the gaming world where they were late to fix major hardware issues with the Xbox and wallowed in mediocrity behind the technologically inferior Wii for years. The Kinect is a great innovation that’s really 2 years overdue.
I’m not a doomsday guy and I don’t buy into the fact that these failures spell major trouble for the “franchise player” (ok, I lied…one more) in Windows. They are still dominant in the desktop and laptop operating system markets and will be for the foreseeable future. By all accounts, Windows 8 will further many of the advances made with Windows 7 and add even more.
That said…who would have ever thought that we’d even have the conversation?
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
The year that was…the year to come.
It’s that time of year again. Honestly, I’ve never quite understood the “New Years” holiday. Is anything really going to be any different Saturday than it was on Friday? I had no discipline up to this point, but tomorrow…tomorrow I will magically be able to diet, or quit smoking, or workout more…or whatever? It’s a new year after all…
I kid, of course. Logical people certainly recognize that the New Years holiday is purely symbolic. But symbolism can be a very powerful thing. In this case, it’s that time when people pause to look back at what was (even though it was just yesterday) and, in turn, what is yet to come (eh…tomorrow). So, in the interest of symbolism, I thought I’d take a look back at the year that was in the geek world and a little bit at what next year might hold:
Sleep...who needs sleep?
2010 gave us the biggest entertainment release in history, and it was a video game (Call of Duty Black Ops). Not a first, mind you. The previous record holder was also a video game (Call of Duty MW2). Way to go Activision, eh? You’ve come a long way since Pitfall!. Which was, in a word, awesome. Still my favorite game ever for the Atari 2600 and yes, my Geekyness knows no bounds. But, I digress.
Jedi mind tricks
Apple had some colossal issues with the iPhone 4 release this year (a hardware issue with the antenna. Oh yeah, and that little problem with the signal level algorithm that mistakenly said you had more "bars" than you really do) and somehow, in true Apple fashion, still ended up coming out smelling like a rose. Steve "Pied Piper" Jobs played a tune and the followers...well, followed. Don't get me wrong, the iPhone 4 is still the best phone on the market in my opinion. But it could have, and should have been better and it's up to the people that use them the most to demand it be better vs. just taking Apple's word for it that "everything's ok. Nothing to see here."
The rise of Android
2010 also saw the possibility of some real competitors to the iPhone. Android phones finally came up to speed, and depending on the fuzzy numbers you look at, actually caught up to the iPhone. Not to be outdone, at the end of the year Microsoft released its new phone OS, appropriately named Windows Phone 7 (Wanna have some fun...call it Windows Mobile, or even PocketPC. They hate that!). The Android based phones gained huge popularity very quickly thanks to their availability from multiple hardware vendors across virtually all available cell network providers, unlike the iPhone which is only available from Apple, of course, and (at least for now) only available on the much maligned AT&T network. Looking forward, availability of the iPhone on other networks (a Verizon version of the iPhone is expected in 2011) would seemingly widen the gap, but the Windows Phone is no joke and is not going anywhere. Microsoft has put too much time, effort, and piles and piles of money into it to just fade away into the night. One thing we know about the software giant, they are more than willing to dump obscene amounts of money into a pit and light it on fire just to stay relevant in a market and in some cases just to save face (i.e. XBOX360 and Zune). But that remains to be seen...for both companies actually.
4G, the new "Waldo"
Continuing in the cell world, 2010 gave us the first entry into 4G. The search is on. Find it and you get speeds you can only dream of. That's what were told right. By the way, not to get too off track again, but is T-Mobile really stooping to low with those commercials to mock the iPhone and AT&T while championing a network that isn't even theirs? Anyway, obviously the big problem with 4G is limited availability. It does seem to be growing. I was able to experience 4G briefly while waiting for a flight in Nashville a few weeks ago and it’s fast. Real fast. It’s also quite a draw on battery power and I wonder how fast it will be once it’s widely used by millions of smart phone users. 3G seemed fast not very long ago. Now, not as much.
To the Cloud!
Cloud computing made huge inroads this year as well. With Microsoft Office 365, Windows Live, improvements in Google Apps and a variety of improved or new “SaaS” (Software as a Service) offerings, the world is inexorably moving to cloud based computing. Not to mention things like Facebook, Twitter, and the blogosphere (hey, wait a minute...).
Google’s Android and Chrome (there's my token mention of Chrome so all 3 of you users can just pipe down!) systems are directly, and constantly, linked to the "cloud" at their core. Cloud computing is not new this year, of course. It’s been around a long time. iTunes, Google Apps, Web based email like Hotmail and Gmail and other services have been around for years now. It just seems like next year and especially probably 2012, we will be discussing less the “web based” versions of apps or services we use. They will just be “services that we use” and then SOME will have “localized versions”. There are a lot of benefits (immediate offsite backup, virtually unlimited mobility) and some definite concerns (privacy, control, putting the responsibility of your mission critical files in the hands of a complete stranger and trusting them to maintain them). As you can probably tell, I’m not sure how big a fan I am of this idea…but it is the way of the world. Like it or not.
And on the 8th day, the lord created...iPad (insert dramatic music here)
Last, but certainly not least, Apple unleashed the iPad and in the process revolutionized an already existing, and failing, computer market with the tablet. Instead of making a tablet form of a computer as Windows had done in the past (anyone remember WinXP Tablet Edition?), they instead expanded on their smart phone interface of the enormously successful iPhone. This provided an new instant-on, extremely aesthetically pleasing, and overall joy to use environment the world had never seen. We've all used our respective smart phones to do do things on the go that we used to do with our computers. With the iPad we now could do it without squinting. In spite of some, at least what I believe to be, glaring miscues and omissions in this format that would seemingly be easy to include, it was hugely successful and has since spawned off also rans (at least at this point) like the Samsung Galaxy Tab (based on the Google Android OS) which has some nice features (like, *gasp* a front and rear facing camera and GPS...those animals!) but some deficiencies as well due to the fact that it truly is just an Android phone blown up to a 7" screen and the Android OS not really being optimized for tablet use (although they say that is coming shortly). Some reviews have also said that it has some of the same battery shortcomings that have surrounded the Android OS and it's multi-tasking format. There have also been some mythical touch screen “tablets” based on Windows 7. I say “mythical” because although I have seen pictures and eBay listings for them, I’ve yet to see one in real life, know anyone that has seen one in real life, or heard any reputable review of one. “Rodents of Unusual Size? I don’t think they exist.”
There is some rumbling that Microsoft will show a version of a tablet, NOT based on the new Windows Phone platform but rather on a new version of the Windows desktop OS, at the upcoming 2011 CES show. It’s also rumored that said tablet will not actually be released until 2012, so it is presumably based on the upcoming Windows 8. In order to be successful, however, it has to follow the same instant on, easy to navigate format that Apple uses. PCs today look much like the Apple 2 originally. Windows looks much like the original MacOS. I expect tablets to look like the iPad going forward. Much like the PC and associated operating systems, Microsoft took the idea that Apple really originated and expanded on it and made it more accessible to everyone. The iPad has only scratched the surface of what is possible. For Microsoft to succeed in the tablet world (where it failed miserably in the digital music world) it will have to do the same thing again. It will be interesting to see if they can. Interesting indeed…
I think eventually we'll look back on 2010 as not so much groundbreaking, but rather more innovative. No new ground was really broken. No new foundations laid. This year was more of a realization of technologies and new ideas that were started already, just unrealized. That takes nothing away from the benefits of the innovation that came this year. 2011 looks, to me, to be really an extension of that. Furthering the roads that have been built this year and setting up what might be a banner year in 2012.
That's the real excitement of this time of year exciting. Sure, we look at what might have been...but even more so what could be.
Happy New Year everyone! See you on the flip side.
I kid, of course. Logical people certainly recognize that the New Years holiday is purely symbolic. But symbolism can be a very powerful thing. In this case, it’s that time when people pause to look back at what was (even though it was just yesterday) and, in turn, what is yet to come (eh…tomorrow). So, in the interest of symbolism, I thought I’d take a look back at the year that was in the geek world and a little bit at what next year might hold:
Sleep...who needs sleep?
2010 gave us the biggest entertainment release in history, and it was a video game (Call of Duty Black Ops). Not a first, mind you. The previous record holder was also a video game (Call of Duty MW2). Way to go Activision, eh? You’ve come a long way since Pitfall!. Which was, in a word, awesome. Still my favorite game ever for the Atari 2600 and yes, my Geekyness knows no bounds. But, I digress.
Jedi mind tricks
Apple had some colossal issues with the iPhone 4 release this year (a hardware issue with the antenna. Oh yeah, and that little problem with the signal level algorithm that mistakenly said you had more "bars" than you really do) and somehow, in true Apple fashion, still ended up coming out smelling like a rose. Steve "Pied Piper" Jobs played a tune and the followers...well, followed. Don't get me wrong, the iPhone 4 is still the best phone on the market in my opinion. But it could have, and should have been better and it's up to the people that use them the most to demand it be better vs. just taking Apple's word for it that "everything's ok. Nothing to see here."
The rise of Android
2010 also saw the possibility of some real competitors to the iPhone. Android phones finally came up to speed, and depending on the fuzzy numbers you look at, actually caught up to the iPhone. Not to be outdone, at the end of the year Microsoft released its new phone OS, appropriately named Windows Phone 7 (Wanna have some fun...call it Windows Mobile, or even PocketPC. They hate that!). The Android based phones gained huge popularity very quickly thanks to their availability from multiple hardware vendors across virtually all available cell network providers, unlike the iPhone which is only available from Apple, of course, and (at least for now) only available on the much maligned AT&T network. Looking forward, availability of the iPhone on other networks (a Verizon version of the iPhone is expected in 2011) would seemingly widen the gap, but the Windows Phone is no joke and is not going anywhere. Microsoft has put too much time, effort, and piles and piles of money into it to just fade away into the night. One thing we know about the software giant, they are more than willing to dump obscene amounts of money into a pit and light it on fire just to stay relevant in a market and in some cases just to save face (i.e. XBOX360 and Zune). But that remains to be seen...for both companies actually.
4G, the new "Waldo"
Continuing in the cell world, 2010 gave us the first entry into 4G. The search is on. Find it and you get speeds you can only dream of. That's what were told right. By the way, not to get too off track again, but is T-Mobile really stooping to low with those commercials to mock the iPhone and AT&T while championing a network that isn't even theirs? Anyway, obviously the big problem with 4G is limited availability. It does seem to be growing. I was able to experience 4G briefly while waiting for a flight in Nashville a few weeks ago and it’s fast. Real fast. It’s also quite a draw on battery power and I wonder how fast it will be once it’s widely used by millions of smart phone users. 3G seemed fast not very long ago. Now, not as much.
To the Cloud!
Cloud computing made huge inroads this year as well. With Microsoft Office 365, Windows Live, improvements in Google Apps and a variety of improved or new “SaaS” (Software as a Service) offerings, the world is inexorably moving to cloud based computing. Not to mention things like Facebook, Twitter, and the blogosphere (hey, wait a minute...).
Google’s Android and Chrome (there's my token mention of Chrome so all 3 of you users can just pipe down!) systems are directly, and constantly, linked to the "cloud" at their core. Cloud computing is not new this year, of course. It’s been around a long time. iTunes, Google Apps, Web based email like Hotmail and Gmail and other services have been around for years now. It just seems like next year and especially probably 2012, we will be discussing less the “web based” versions of apps or services we use. They will just be “services that we use” and then SOME will have “localized versions”. There are a lot of benefits (immediate offsite backup, virtually unlimited mobility) and some definite concerns (privacy, control, putting the responsibility of your mission critical files in the hands of a complete stranger and trusting them to maintain them). As you can probably tell, I’m not sure how big a fan I am of this idea…but it is the way of the world. Like it or not.
And on the 8th day, the lord created...iPad (insert dramatic music here)
Last, but certainly not least, Apple unleashed the iPad and in the process revolutionized an already existing, and failing, computer market with the tablet. Instead of making a tablet form of a computer as Windows had done in the past (anyone remember WinXP Tablet Edition?), they instead expanded on their smart phone interface of the enormously successful iPhone. This provided an new instant-on, extremely aesthetically pleasing, and overall joy to use environment the world had never seen. We've all used our respective smart phones to do do things on the go that we used to do with our computers. With the iPad we now could do it without squinting. In spite of some, at least what I believe to be, glaring miscues and omissions in this format that would seemingly be easy to include, it was hugely successful and has since spawned off also rans (at least at this point) like the Samsung Galaxy Tab (based on the Google Android OS) which has some nice features (like, *gasp* a front and rear facing camera and GPS...those animals!) but some deficiencies as well due to the fact that it truly is just an Android phone blown up to a 7" screen and the Android OS not really being optimized for tablet use (although they say that is coming shortly). Some reviews have also said that it has some of the same battery shortcomings that have surrounded the Android OS and it's multi-tasking format. There have also been some mythical touch screen “tablets” based on Windows 7. I say “mythical” because although I have seen pictures and eBay listings for them, I’ve yet to see one in real life, know anyone that has seen one in real life, or heard any reputable review of one. “Rodents of Unusual Size? I don’t think they exist.”
There is some rumbling that Microsoft will show a version of a tablet, NOT based on the new Windows Phone platform but rather on a new version of the Windows desktop OS, at the upcoming 2011 CES show. It’s also rumored that said tablet will not actually be released until 2012, so it is presumably based on the upcoming Windows 8. In order to be successful, however, it has to follow the same instant on, easy to navigate format that Apple uses. PCs today look much like the Apple 2 originally. Windows looks much like the original MacOS. I expect tablets to look like the iPad going forward. Much like the PC and associated operating systems, Microsoft took the idea that Apple really originated and expanded on it and made it more accessible to everyone. The iPad has only scratched the surface of what is possible. For Microsoft to succeed in the tablet world (where it failed miserably in the digital music world) it will have to do the same thing again. It will be interesting to see if they can. Interesting indeed…
I think eventually we'll look back on 2010 as not so much groundbreaking, but rather more innovative. No new ground was really broken. No new foundations laid. This year was more of a realization of technologies and new ideas that were started already, just unrealized. That takes nothing away from the benefits of the innovation that came this year. 2011 looks, to me, to be really an extension of that. Furthering the roads that have been built this year and setting up what might be a banner year in 2012.
That's the real excitement of this time of year exciting. Sure, we look at what might have been...but even more so what could be.
Happy New Year everyone! See you on the flip side.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Tablets - A solution still looking for a problem?
This past holiday weekend we spent time "relaxing" with family for the weekend (a wise man once told me, "Fish and Family stink after 3 days...") as most people did, I'm sure. In true modern, technology-age fashion, we pretty much spent the better part of two days on our respective smart phones, computers, and iPads and talked periodically in between periods of Facebook, Twitter, and games of Angry Birds (no knocking Angry Birds...if there is a game out there that has more mindless fun, let me know).
During that time though, I was able to spend copious amounts of time on my Mother-in-law and Father-in-law's iPads (yep, they each have their own). While I was on it playing "Cut the Rope" (another game chocked full of mindless fun) and checking my Fantasy Football lineup, my Father-in-law asked me an interesting question: "Do you see anyone using one of these for more than just Internet and games?"
My initial thought was, sure...I mean I do other stuff on my smart phone that's useful so why would this be any different. But then I thought...well, actually it is different. Without the phone and GPS capabilities, there are some things where my smart phone is more useful to me than an iPad. I'll admit, for right now anyway, I don't have a lot of direct experience with one or with others that use one and how they use it. It sure seems there is an inherent usefulness with the tablet format, and the iPad specifically. But, is it useful enough to warrant its...well, use? Especially when I already have a lot of the functionality on my phone (with an admittedly much smaller screen).
For most every day computing tasks the iPad is, at the least, an acceptable alternative to the PC, and, in some cases even more useful thanks to it's convenience. It's on virtually instantly and the battery lasts darn near forever, or so it seams anyway. There are some inherent limitations to the iOS's capabilities (Adobe Flash for instance) as well as some key missing features (GPS, phone capabilities, support for add-on devices like a "thumb" drive for file transfers) that could really close the gap. But it still seems, even with all of those deficiencies, the tablet format should be a very useful tool in the business world. The questions is...where? Is it really just the convenience factor? Is it so much more convenient than a Netbook to warrant paying as much as 2-3 times as much for it?
Sales numbers indicate there is, at least according to Apple, to the tune of about 3 million iPads sold through June 2010. The vast majority of those 3 million iPads sold, granted, are for consumer use. As a long time computer user, the iPad doesn't appeal to me quite as much as it does some. Its layout and workflow seem to be catered to those that don't have, and don't really want, much familiarity with using a standard computer. It is highly intuitive to use. You don't need any special instructions, no "iPad for Dummies" books necessary. Everything is pretty much where it should be. But I have always contended that if Microsoft put a relatively small amount of effort into making a version of Windows7 that was touch screen friendly and PC manufactures made a touch screen netbook, you'd get the best of both worlds. The convenience of the tablet format, with the full featured functionality of a windows PC. Unfortunately, it isn't that simple. There are other factors at play. Hardware development, battery life, the sheer girth of the windows OS and certainly not least of all timing in them market.
It seems that Microsoft is willing to let Apple (and likely soon...Android) have the tablet market to themselves. Maybe thinking the same thing I did, that as cute and cuddly as it is, in the big scheme of things it doesn't really have a lot of real life use. That may have been true at it's original release, but more and more this seems to be a flawed premise. The iPad is making inroads into many business applications and in no small part to Microsoft, ironically. For a few years now, Microsoft has been touting cloud computing, pushing much of the business world into what is being called "Software as a Service" (or SaaS). Small businesses especially have started to really embrace using SaaS for it's convenience and overall cost effectiveness. Companies like Salesforce.com and Redtail Technology provide various small business client management tools available in a Web-based format, accessible from anywhere and (most notably) from any device. Enter iPad. This is where the iPad really has its niche in the business world. It isn't going to replace the normal corporate user's desktop computer, but it's a tool that can be used along with it for when they are away from their normal computer or network. When you factor in the convenience and time savings of using some of these SaaS solutions, many businesses have been able to justify the additional cost of the iPad to take full advantage. In a small business environment where you only have a handful of employees all trying to fill multiple roles, time is definitely money and it can save a lot of time.
It certainly seems that cloud computing is the way the technology world is headed and the iPad jumped in on the ground floor and is poised to take off with it. Whatever you believe about Apple and Steve Jobs and their pompous attitude toward everyone that isn't...well...THEM, they do always seem to be at the forefront of the next "wave". Before everyone really considered the idea of carrying their entire music library with them on a mobile device, the iPod was developed and released right at the start of the MP3 craze. Now Apple isn't the first to develop a Tablet (anyone remember Windows XP Tablet Edition and the cute little stylus based tablets that Toshiba and other released about 7-8 years ago at about $1500 a pop? Yeah, didn't think so). But they are the first to do it in a full touch screen format, and the first to do it at a price point that the average user could afford. They won't be the last to to it (they aren't the only MP3 player out there). Manufacturers are already selling Android based tablets (although Google has stated that the Android OS is not "tablet ready" yet) and there have been rumors for a while now that Microsoft will make a variation of their new, and highly regarded, Windows Mobile 7 OS for the tablet format. But one thing Apple has always done is stay ahead of the curve and I would suspect that the tablet format would be no different.
At it's inception I wrote a blog about the iPad and how silly it was, and at the time, it probably really was. It was a well put together solution, that didn't yet have a problem to solve. Maybe Apple saw the writing on the wall before the rest of us did...or maybe they were so cute and cuddly that people wanted them and create problems the iPad could solve to justify owning one. I'm not entirely sure which, but they've definitely carved out a nice little niche for themselves in the business computing market. One thing I do know...that although I don't have one yet, but I likely will...served nicely with a side of crow.
I'm sure Apple has an app for that.
During that time though, I was able to spend copious amounts of time on my Mother-in-law and Father-in-law's iPads (yep, they each have their own). While I was on it playing "Cut the Rope" (another game chocked full of mindless fun) and checking my Fantasy Football lineup, my Father-in-law asked me an interesting question: "Do you see anyone using one of these for more than just Internet and games?"
My initial thought was, sure...I mean I do other stuff on my smart phone that's useful so why would this be any different. But then I thought...well, actually it is different. Without the phone and GPS capabilities, there are some things where my smart phone is more useful to me than an iPad. I'll admit, for right now anyway, I don't have a lot of direct experience with one or with others that use one and how they use it. It sure seems there is an inherent usefulness with the tablet format, and the iPad specifically. But, is it useful enough to warrant its...well, use? Especially when I already have a lot of the functionality on my phone (with an admittedly much smaller screen).
For most every day computing tasks the iPad is, at the least, an acceptable alternative to the PC, and, in some cases even more useful thanks to it's convenience. It's on virtually instantly and the battery lasts darn near forever, or so it seams anyway. There are some inherent limitations to the iOS's capabilities (Adobe Flash for instance) as well as some key missing features (GPS, phone capabilities, support for add-on devices like a "thumb" drive for file transfers) that could really close the gap. But it still seems, even with all of those deficiencies, the tablet format should be a very useful tool in the business world. The questions is...where? Is it really just the convenience factor? Is it so much more convenient than a Netbook to warrant paying as much as 2-3 times as much for it?
Sales numbers indicate there is, at least according to Apple, to the tune of about 3 million iPads sold through June 2010. The vast majority of those 3 million iPads sold, granted, are for consumer use. As a long time computer user, the iPad doesn't appeal to me quite as much as it does some. Its layout and workflow seem to be catered to those that don't have, and don't really want, much familiarity with using a standard computer. It is highly intuitive to use. You don't need any special instructions, no "iPad for Dummies" books necessary. Everything is pretty much where it should be. But I have always contended that if Microsoft put a relatively small amount of effort into making a version of Windows7 that was touch screen friendly and PC manufactures made a touch screen netbook, you'd get the best of both worlds. The convenience of the tablet format, with the full featured functionality of a windows PC. Unfortunately, it isn't that simple. There are other factors at play. Hardware development, battery life, the sheer girth of the windows OS and certainly not least of all timing in them market.
It seems that Microsoft is willing to let Apple (and likely soon...Android) have the tablet market to themselves. Maybe thinking the same thing I did, that as cute and cuddly as it is, in the big scheme of things it doesn't really have a lot of real life use. That may have been true at it's original release, but more and more this seems to be a flawed premise. The iPad is making inroads into many business applications and in no small part to Microsoft, ironically. For a few years now, Microsoft has been touting cloud computing, pushing much of the business world into what is being called "Software as a Service" (or SaaS). Small businesses especially have started to really embrace using SaaS for it's convenience and overall cost effectiveness. Companies like Salesforce.com and Redtail Technology provide various small business client management tools available in a Web-based format, accessible from anywhere and (most notably) from any device. Enter iPad. This is where the iPad really has its niche in the business world. It isn't going to replace the normal corporate user's desktop computer, but it's a tool that can be used along with it for when they are away from their normal computer or network. When you factor in the convenience and time savings of using some of these SaaS solutions, many businesses have been able to justify the additional cost of the iPad to take full advantage. In a small business environment where you only have a handful of employees all trying to fill multiple roles, time is definitely money and it can save a lot of time.
It certainly seems that cloud computing is the way the technology world is headed and the iPad jumped in on the ground floor and is poised to take off with it. Whatever you believe about Apple and Steve Jobs and their pompous attitude toward everyone that isn't...well...THEM, they do always seem to be at the forefront of the next "wave". Before everyone really considered the idea of carrying their entire music library with them on a mobile device, the iPod was developed and released right at the start of the MP3 craze. Now Apple isn't the first to develop a Tablet (anyone remember Windows XP Tablet Edition and the cute little stylus based tablets that Toshiba and other released about 7-8 years ago at about $1500 a pop? Yeah, didn't think so). But they are the first to do it in a full touch screen format, and the first to do it at a price point that the average user could afford. They won't be the last to to it (they aren't the only MP3 player out there). Manufacturers are already selling Android based tablets (although Google has stated that the Android OS is not "tablet ready" yet) and there have been rumors for a while now that Microsoft will make a variation of their new, and highly regarded, Windows Mobile 7 OS for the tablet format. But one thing Apple has always done is stay ahead of the curve and I would suspect that the tablet format would be no different.
At it's inception I wrote a blog about the iPad and how silly it was, and at the time, it probably really was. It was a well put together solution, that didn't yet have a problem to solve. Maybe Apple saw the writing on the wall before the rest of us did...or maybe they were so cute and cuddly that people wanted them and create problems the iPad could solve to justify owning one. I'm not entirely sure which, but they've definitely carved out a nice little niche for themselves in the business computing market. One thing I do know...that although I don't have one yet, but I likely will...served nicely with a side of crow.
I'm sure Apple has an app for that.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Miscellaneous Geeky Ramblings
Call of Duty: Black Ops Continues to Set Records
Activision's latest blockbuster video game, "Call of Duty: Black Ops," continues to set records. This week, the company announced that the title made over $650 million in its first five days on the market, beating out the previous record-holder, which happens to be its predecessor, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, which earned $550 million in the same time period a year ago (kinda wishing I had stock in "Activision" right now...you?). Over 10 million copies were sold in the first week.
And Black Ops is also setting Xbox LIVE records: According to Microsoft, players spent over 5.9 million multiplayer hours with Black Ops on the online service on opening day, and over 2.6 million unique gamers played Black Ops online in the first 24 hours.
How big of a deal is this? Big enough to be the biggest entertainment launch in history, regardless of format (Cinema, DVD, Music, etc...). In fact, it's not even close.
All that without my $60 contribution...yet. They can sleep easy though. They'll get it soon enough.
Apple Fixes Next iOS Before It's Even Released
Close your eyes for a moment and just imagine how this would play out if the companies and products were different.
Let's say Microsoft spends several months promoting Windows 7 last year, promising various features and making claims about how it's like getting a new PC and so on. And then the date for Windows 7's release comes and goes...with nothing released. Then Microsoft finally does release Windows 7, except that now it's called Windows 7.1 because the company found some "severe" problems right before it was supposed to release the OS.
Got that image in your head? Can you see the Mac faithful taunting and chortling about how lousy a company Microsoft is, about how broken its software development processes must be? Got it? Good.
Now realize that what I'm talking about is, in fact, iOS 4.2, the next release of the system software for Apple's iPad and iPhone, and that when it comes out, late, it will actually ship as iOS 4.2.1 because Apple did, in fact, discover "severe" problems (with VoIP functionality) right before it was going to pull the trigger on this release.
And if anything, iOS is actually even bigger than Windows 7, at least for iPad users, because it adds basic iPhone functionality like multitasking, folders, and so on. So you can be sure of one thing: Those Apple fanboys aren't laughing over this one. No, they're not laughing at all.
Wonder if they'll have one of those pretentious "I'm a Mac, I'm a PC" commercials about this one?
Activision's latest blockbuster video game, "Call of Duty: Black Ops," continues to set records. This week, the company announced that the title made over $650 million in its first five days on the market, beating out the previous record-holder, which happens to be its predecessor, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, which earned $550 million in the same time period a year ago (kinda wishing I had stock in "Activision" right now...you?). Over 10 million copies were sold in the first week.
And Black Ops is also setting Xbox LIVE records: According to Microsoft, players spent over 5.9 million multiplayer hours with Black Ops on the online service on opening day, and over 2.6 million unique gamers played Black Ops online in the first 24 hours.
How big of a deal is this? Big enough to be the biggest entertainment launch in history, regardless of format (Cinema, DVD, Music, etc...). In fact, it's not even close.
All that without my $60 contribution...yet. They can sleep easy though. They'll get it soon enough.
Apple Fixes Next iOS Before It's Even Released
Close your eyes for a moment and just imagine how this would play out if the companies and products were different.
Let's say Microsoft spends several months promoting Windows 7 last year, promising various features and making claims about how it's like getting a new PC and so on. And then the date for Windows 7's release comes and goes...with nothing released. Then Microsoft finally does release Windows 7, except that now it's called Windows 7.1 because the company found some "severe" problems right before it was supposed to release the OS.
Got that image in your head? Can you see the Mac faithful taunting and chortling about how lousy a company Microsoft is, about how broken its software development processes must be? Got it? Good.
Now realize that what I'm talking about is, in fact, iOS 4.2, the next release of the system software for Apple's iPad and iPhone, and that when it comes out, late, it will actually ship as iOS 4.2.1 because Apple did, in fact, discover "severe" problems (with VoIP functionality) right before it was going to pull the trigger on this release.
And if anything, iOS is actually even bigger than Windows 7, at least for iPad users, because it adds basic iPhone functionality like multitasking, folders, and so on. So you can be sure of one thing: Those Apple fanboys aren't laughing over this one. No, they're not laughing at all.
Wonder if they'll have one of those pretentious "I'm a Mac, I'm a PC" commercials about this one?
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Have you read your service agreements lately?
If you have a service contract, with anybody, and have a credit or debit card on file with that company, beware of some surprise charges to that account. In my case it is DirecTV, but I would imagine it's not a situation that's exclusive to them. Wireless Phone companies, Cable and Satellite companies, Internet Service, etc...basically anyone that you have a service contract with that it either billed to, or has on file in any way...even an online profile, a credit or debit card may be subject to some hidden fees that may or may not be charged to your card automatically and seemingly without your consent. I say seemingly because apparently in the fine print (and I do mean fine...) of the service contract with DirecTV, there is a bit about giving them authorization to charge your account for any unpaid fees at the time of cancellation. They can do this immediately, even before sending you a final bill.
This happened to us and this charge over drafted our account and caused 5 other pending charges to be overdrawn as well, totalling 6 (including their original charge) overdraft fees from our bank. On top of that, about half of their original charge was for something that wasn't even owed. It was for one (of 3) receivers that we returned that they said they did not receive. Magically, while on the phone with them they found it and said they would return THAT charge within 4-5 days...which has come and gone and no refund. But that story is for a different day...
There is some question (certainly in my mind at least) whether this practice is even legal, regardless of what the contract says. Two different states have pending lawsuits against DirecTV for different shady billing policies. In September of 2009, a class-action suit was filed in Los Angeles Superior court to block DirecTV from automatically billing customer's accounts for service fees. In December of last year, Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna's office filed a suit against the California based company for deceptive and unfair sales practices, stating several instances of items in the service contract that he claimed were intentionally hidden or misleading. He also reported that DirecTV has generated more consumer complaints (total of 375 in 2009 alone) to his office than any other company.
DirecTV is no stranger to legal issues. According to consumer advocacy site, ConsumerAffairs.com, DirecTV has been named in at least 300 lawsuits over the last 5 years, many of them class actions. Consumeraffairs.com also reports there are over 1400 complaints on DirecTV in their database alone.
To be completely fair, on the flip side of the "fine print" issue...sometimes there are items in there that would allow you to get out of your contract without an early termination fee. For instance, Sprint has historically had a policy in their contracts that if an item in the contract changes, for any reason, it nullifies the contract. This is with the caveat that you complain about said change within 30 days of being notified. So when you get those little notices in the mail or in your email about a "minor" change to your service agreement, it might be helpful to read those as it might give you an out. Now, that being said, given the sometimes shady business practices of some of these companies and their propensity to take money out of your account at their whim (and then in turn give it back at a much slower rate) attempt this at your own risk.
To be completely fair, on the flip side of the "fine print" issue...sometimes there are items in there that would allow you to get out of your contract without an early termination fee. For instance, Sprint has historically had a policy in their contracts that if an item in the contract changes, for any reason, it nullifies the contract. This is with the caveat that you complain about said change within 30 days of being notified. So when you get those little notices in the mail or in your email about a "minor" change to your service agreement, it might be helpful to read those as it might give you an out. Now, that being said, given the sometimes shady business practices of some of these companies and their propensity to take money out of your account at their whim (and then in turn give it back at a much slower rate) attempt this at your own risk.
Since I am having a personal battle with DirecTV, my research has admittedly been exclusive to them. I would expect that there are other companies that have similar "fine print" in their contracts, so beware of what you are signing...or maybe have already signed. May not be much you can do about the contract you're already in, other than to be informed and to keep a watchful eye on your account. But, going forward, you might want to actually read those extensive, and very small font, service agreement contracts that nobody ever really reads.
Friday, March 5, 2010
April is the new March
Maybe you should sit down...or at least hold on to something...this is going to shock you. Apple announced they are going to miss the promised March release date of the iPad. I know, I know...hard to believe. I mean that almost never happens. Well, except for Snow Leopard. Oh, and the iPhone. What's that? Oh yeah, the iPhone 3g too...right. Ok, well at least when all of those did finally arrive in customer hands they all worked perfectly...wait, they didn't? Huh...
Ok, the sarcasm is getting a bit thick even for me so I'll stop there. The reality is that virtually every time Apple announces a release date, you can pretty much count on them missing it. Apple announced that the new iPad will instead release on April 3rd and only in the US, and then only the version WITHOUT 3g connectivity. A week from today US-based customers who want to by the first incomplete, and almost assuredly buggy, iPad can pre-order and hope you can use it when it gets there.
In late April (assuming that holds...and history says otherwise) Apple will supposedly deliever the 3g models.
Now, not to mention that its just a glorified iPod touch...something you'd think they'd be very familiar with. Given the features they've announced, I don't see what there is that's so groundbreaking and different from products that Apple already sells that should cause delays.
That said, I would expect the Apple "lemmings" to head out in droves and push up the presales numbers. That maybe the only thing "magical and revolutionary" about the iPad. Sorry, I know I said that was it for the sarcasm, but I just couldn't help myself....
Ok, the sarcasm is getting a bit thick even for me so I'll stop there. The reality is that virtually every time Apple announces a release date, you can pretty much count on them missing it. Apple announced that the new iPad will instead release on April 3rd and only in the US, and then only the version WITHOUT 3g connectivity. A week from today US-based customers who want to by the first incomplete, and almost assuredly buggy, iPad can pre-order and hope you can use it when it gets there.
In late April (assuming that holds...and history says otherwise) Apple will supposedly deliever the 3g models.
Now, not to mention that its just a glorified iPod touch...something you'd think they'd be very familiar with. Given the features they've announced, I don't see what there is that's so groundbreaking and different from products that Apple already sells that should cause delays.
That said, I would expect the Apple "lemmings" to head out in droves and push up the presales numbers. That maybe the only thing "magical and revolutionary" about the iPad. Sorry, I know I said that was it for the sarcasm, but I just couldn't help myself....
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