June 25, 2008
10:23 am | 0 recommendations | 1 comment
On his OnlineMarketerBlog, DJ Francis put-up a post titled, "ROI of Social Media for Gen Y Audiences." I'm on the border between Gen X and Gen Y, but I relate to his concept of access. When I was a kid, and a teen, I made weekly trips to the comic book store. And you sometimes had to try another store when your local shop was sold out. Living in NYC, that wasn't much of a problem for me. But it must've been in smaller towns.
Let us consider film. In the past you were limited to see whatever the local multiplex had. If they didn't have the movie you wanted, you would have to convince your parents to take a long drive. In the years since, there are more theaters with more screens per theater. And what about wanting to see a foreign film? Back then art-house theaters were rare and getting such films on video were nearly impossible. Now that you can order DVDs and Blu-rays online, a person can get access to any foreign film of their choosing.
The Internet has done more than provide easy access to information, it has provided access to culture. People can hear about a quality indie film in an online forum and then order it online. They can hear a track from a small band, and then search online for a venue they will play at. Those of us born in the 70s and early 80s grew up with a limitation on our artistic hobbies and creative prospects -- a limit based on geography or parental culture. Those born in the late 80s and early 90s have grown up with a global culture with nearly limitless access.
It is a good thing, how wide a person's world has become.
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June 20, 2008
12:40 pm | 0 recommendations | Be the first to comment
For the last few days I have been trying out Samsung's new phone, the Instinct. With a touch screen and a similar design, the comparison with the iPhone is unavoidable. So what do I think about it? While it isn't perfect, I am glad that Samung is taking on Apple.
What did I like? The screen is sharp and colorful. I also like the widescreen ratio of it. That wide form includes the phone's shape itself and I think I prefer that to the shape of the iPhone. The phone has some good live media -- both the radio stations streaming music and the video player streaming cable channels.
But, there were things that turned me off. The interface for the phone is a bit clunky and only provided an adequate experience. Besides being somewhat clumsy, the interface was also slow to react. This shortcoming was most noticeable in the browser. I hated it -- but maybe that is just me. But for me, the browser is the most important part of a smartphone. I will not buy the Instinct and recommend you try it out before getting one yourself.
Yet, I still want to applaud Samsung for creating the phone. Apple is considered the end-all-be-all of UI and UE in smartphones. Other companies need to challenge them, try to go further than Apple will go. Did Samsung get it right this time? Not quite. Could the Instinct receive software updates and get closer? Yes. Could the Instinct II wind up being better than the iPhone? Of course. Either way, I am looking forward to the next demo.
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June 16, 2008
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The television series Secret Diary of a Call Girl debuts on Showtime tonight. The show's subject is readily apparent. The background of the show needs explanation: It's a British series that first aired there in September. It is based upon a real blog named Belle de Jour: diary of a London call girl. The author turned her blog into a series of books and those have been adapted into a television show.
This reminds me of the recent Hollywood success of stripper/blogger/writer Diablo Cody who won the Oscar for her screenplay of the film Juno. It seems the entertainment industry has found a new place to mine for ideas -- they already are pumping novels, comics, amusement park rides, board games, old television shows and even old films for material. So what is to come? A film adaptation of TechCrunch? Maybe Joystiq the miniseries? Perhaps The Guide to Business with Earthlings will find its way on to the Sci-Fi Channel.
I am glad that blogs and blogging has become a normal part of our culture. And it is great that bloggers get treated as writers and journalists. But the idea of turning a blog into filmed entertainment leaves a sour taste in my mouth. But, I guess it was inevitable that someone would license some of the more sensational content for other media. Will the intimacy of blogging come across well in a television show? We shall see.
And Producers? You can message me here on FastCompany.com with any offers.
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June 12, 2008
09:05 am | 0 recommendations | 3 comments
In his blog, "Vacation Time is a Great Time to Establish Yourself," Bud Bilanich sites the opportunity presented for a person to get noticed by taking additional duties when co-workers are on vacation. I agree with this sentiment, but the opportunities do not stop there.
There are many more instances where a person can take that step to move beyond their positions current boundaries. Besides co-workers' vacations (or even maternity or disability leave), it can happen when a colleague is overworked or overwhelmed by a new project and needs assistance with duties. Of course, these duties may appeal to you and attempts can be made to take them on permanently. It is a similar thing with the instances a colleague leaves for another company and there is a hole left in the organization.
Looking at the bigger picture, these rare events in your company should not be the only time a person takes on new duties. Every day should be an opportunity for such growth. Pitch a new idea to your manager and explain how you could implement it with only a minimal hit on your daily duties. Or volunteer to manage new work when a new project comes up. And if someone else gets the new project, you could always propose an addition to the project that you could handle.
Careers are living things and they can only grow by the amount you feed it.
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June 9, 2008
01:58 pm | 0 recommendations | Be the first to comment
At Apple's annual World Wide Developer's Conference, Steve Jobs announced the new iPhone 3G. It features 3G data speed, GPS support, a better battery, and some design improvements. I would point to the fact the 8 gb model will only cost $199 and the 16 GB for $299 as the most remarkable detail. It will launch July 11 in 22 countries, expanding to 70 countries by the end of the year.
Jobs announced a web-based application named MobileMe, which replaces .Mac. Located at Me.com, the site allows management of email, contacts, calendar, photos online. The interface on the site mimics an OS, with double-clicking and even drop-and-drag. It pushes any changes to your iPhone, MacBook, or Mac computer -- and your tech will likewise push any changes to Me.com. There is even iDisk feature so you can share files with people.
Jobs also announced a plethora of new applications for the iPhone. Standouts include an eBay application for auctioning on the go, Loopt for tracking friends via GPS, TypePad for blogging via mobile, or MLB.com for tracking baseball. There are some general iPhone software improvent -- more language, parental controls, even a scientific calculator. Most impressive were the games they displayed for the iPhone including a new Super Monkey Ball game from Sega and an impressive fantasy-action game from Digital Legends Entertainment.
Overall, iPhone users have a lot to look forward to with the apps. And jealous friends of users now have something to buy and brag about.
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June 9, 2008
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This weekend was the launch of the fourth edition of the great geek pasttime of Dungeons and Dragons. Having played a preview adventure last month, it is interesting to see how Wizards of the Coast, the Hasbro subsidiary that publishes D&D, has changed the rules to reflect the times. While many of the classic tropes are still present, Elves and Wizards and the like, the game has evolved to reflect modern video gaming. With a new emphasis on miniatures, D&D now feels closer to a strategy video game or an MMO like the incredibly successful World of Warcraft. While many fans dislike the bold changes, such a move will likely bring-in new blood ready to bring their fantasy imagination away from the computer screen.
Wizards of the Coast's re-launch of Dungeons and Dragons is more than just a new set of books, though. They have launched a complete online initiative called D&D Insider. When it launches later this month, it will feature online tools to create characters, graphical tools to make images of your hero, and even a virtual tabletop to play D&D online. These tools, coupled with their social network Gleemax, are a further attempt to modernize the role-playing experience. I am looking forward to trying these digital offerings.
While Dungeons and Dragons fourth edition and D&D Insider may be a risky evolution for the venerable gaming brand, it is great to see the game go on.
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May 28, 2008
09:27 am | 0 recommendations | 3 comments
In his blog, Tactical Transparency and Fighting Fair, John Havens wrote about "trolls" posting inflamatory messages on the Internet. While I agree it is a problem, it seems futile to complain about it. There aren't many sites that require users to prove their identity before they post. Even here at FastCompany.com, which is attempting to be more serious, members don't necessarily sign-up with their real names.
It has been joked that the Web exists to trade porn and get into flame-wars on message boards. While that bit of humor still thrives, one can't argue that the Internet has grown far beyond that -- especially in these years of social networking. It seems to me this has created two nets. The first net is the older one of news and e-commerce sites with message boards of anonymous users sometimes degenerating into insult matches. On these sites, a person's existence is little more than a clever a username. Hence, their time on the site has less importance and comes down to engaging in conversations that unerringly flirt with the use of obscenities.
But there is a second net. There are newer sites, many social networks or featuring networking functionality, where a user's membership has some importance. People may use their real name. They use the site for serious or important reasons. They trade business contacts, ideas, media, or something else of value. This could be Facebook, Flickr, or many others. A person's existence on the site is more than a witty username. It is an extension of themself. In such cases, people tend to act more like how they would act in person. They may get into arguments, but there is a greater chance of it being a serious debate than a drag out fight which proves Godwin's Law.
The web would be a better place if Web 1.0 sites became more serious about their membership and adopted Web 2.0 practices. The growth of OpenID could help with this. Until then, we all have to deal with trolls, flamers, spammers, and a variety of online jerks. Remember, user participation in a site is optional. One can always withhold one's patronage if a discussion becomes a mess.
And now I am off to argue which Indiana Jones film is the best.
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May 23, 2008
08:54 am | 0 recommendations | 1 comment
For a long time I've wondered if a four-day work week would be better for business. Would employees be more energized? How much money would they save from one less day of commuting and eating lunch out? And how would businesses perform? How much money would a company save with an office being dark one extra day a week? Or temps and freelancers working one less day per week?
We can all find out. I challenge everyone to keep track of personal expenses this coming Memorial Day week. You can then notice your savings. By working nine hours each day instead of eight, I bet there wouldn't even be much loss in productivity. You can also talk to your office manager today and ask them to track expenditures next week. And if your managers track temps and other expenses, your company could see what effect a four-day work week has on operating costs.
With gasoline hitting $4.00 per gallon and analysts saying $5 and $6 gallons are just around the corner, isn't it time to seriously consider the four-day work week?
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May 21, 2008
09:26 am | 0 recommendations | Be the first to comment
In his blog entry "'Free Money to Pay Your Bills!' Or Maybe Not (Part 1)," Donovan Wadholm wrote about Mathew Lesko. I didn't recognize the name either, but you know him. He is the loudmouth wearing a suit covered by sequined money-signs and selling books on how to get free money from the government. Wadholm's blog post is about how these tips for free money aren't really free.
I have seen the commercials of Lesko for many years and have always been annoyed by his frantic speaking, jittery movement, and his blinding bling. But as much as he bothered me, part of me would see money-signs everywhere and wonder if there were valuable secrets to be had. Maybe the government would pay me to open a business or publish one of my abandoned novels. That hope I would briefly feel would quickly be smothered by procrastination and the cynicism that this brash offer is too good to be true.
According to Mr. Wadholm, these promises of free money are too good to be true. And that makes me sad. Innovation and entrepreneurialism is about giving in to your ideas that you have pinned all your hopes on and taking chances in having them come true. I wonder how many half-hearted almost-innovators bought these books and were deflated that getting government money wasn't as easy as Lesko portrayed. One can wonder how many of these down-hearted picked themselves and kept going and how many just threw in the towel.
The cynic in me thinks many gave up. The idealist in me knows a real innovator keeps going until they succeed. The rest of us just let things peter out... kinda like this blog...
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May 8, 2008
01:32 pm | 0 recommendations | Be the first to comment
Grand Theft Auto 4 earned $500 million sales the first week it was released according to publisher Take Two. Six million copies of the gritty crime game have been sold for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Those numbers eclipsed the record-breaking sales of Halo 3 last year. Defeating this record is huge, but is not what fascinates me.
Leading up to the game's release, Hollywood execs feared that the game's following would decrease the box office revenue that weekend, including the release of Iron Man. That great film (almost as monumental as GTA4 in its own way) went on to earn $200 million worldwide that weekend. The fact that this proves Hollywood can't blame games for poor reception of poor films makes me smile, but is not what engages my attention.
What gets my blood pumping and my brain-juices flowing is that the success of Grand Theft Auto 4, and not just the financial success, but the critical reception of the game-changing franchise, displays once more that games are not juvenilia. GTA4 is a mature game with artistic merit, interactive thrills, and a robust adoption by the mainstream public.
Halo 3 and other hits before it made the public and the business world take note, but GTA4 cements this concept. Games are for everyone. The good ones are fun and captivating; they can posses the craft of any great art and appeal to the creatives of this world. Games are a mature industry that can attract the business world's attention (the focus on Nintendo and the Wii evidences that fact). And games should no longer be the scapegoat of politicians crying against violence (such games are labeled M, much like violent films are labeled R), nor the punching bag of elitists that hold up "kiddie games" as a sign of our society's demise.
Grand Theft Auto 4, Boom Blox, Metal Gear Solid 4, and the like are here to stay. And such good games will continue to push an artistic medium into its rightful place in our culture. Revel in it. Or just deal with it.
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