Google Blog is official… not much there yet.
The New Blogger
Douglas Bowman at Stopdesign writes about his work in the redesign of the new Blogger.
I was playing with it last night and think that the reworking of Blogger is terrific. Blogger really feels friendly, yet is now packed with advanced features (as well as the ones that should have always been there) and killer design templates. If the other services and systems are watching as I know they are, they really need to get in on this design action! Blogger can now offer professional design for those who interested in checking it out, with minimal time invested on the user’s end. A great job!
On-Demand Games
This is a pretty interesting looking game service with a sexy box that while based on a PC, connects to your TV. Just hook it up to your broadband connection and you’ll be all set. Launches in the fall…
The Phantom Gaming Service starts with a specialized PC in the form of a set-top box attached to a broadband connection. The device taps into a library of PC video games that customers can buy or rent. Customers can get the hardware free if they sign up for a two-year subscription at $30 a month, or they can get the device for $200 without the commitment. A basic subscription will give access to relatively older games, while premium plans will provide access to the latest first-tier titles. [Wired news]
Marketing products on your blog
So an interesting thing just happened …
I was reading about PulpFiction on Erik J. Barzeski’s blog and asked a question about the demo terms in a comment. He responded and we had a brief dialog until another reply of his came with some seemingly unprovoked attitude.
Jay Allen actually responded to it before I did. He and I are essentially on the same page with the thinking that a more full demo might be helpful rather than limiting the app to 10 feeds. All the decisions are Erik’s to make as it’s his product but the feedback Jay and I were providing seemed to represent a different user based opinion. Erik was clearly against a time based demo, but is also seemingly against any discussions about options or even hearing feedback on the decision.
Since comments were open it seemed that Erik actually wanted feedback on the post he made…However, a later comment I posted confirming my view with Jay’s and questioning Erik’s attitude a bit was deleted. I’m sure my last comment will also be deleted.
What you do on your blog is your call, and what I do on mine is my call. Though in this case Erik’s blog represents not personal matters but a pending commercial product. Based on the way in which I was handled by Erik, I am infinitely less likely to try, write about and certainly not buy any products that he represents. I am also now much more likely to tell others about the bad customer experience as I am now. Freshly Squeezed Software, might be developing the best newsreader for the Mac ever, but I plan to stick my my trusty copy of NetNewsWire. A basic sense of respect and understanding is all it takes to build customer loyalty. It’s quite easy to shift that in the other direction and build up a wave of shit against your products or company.
Sony’s Connect Music Offers Little Value
The Washington Posts’ Rob Pegoraro is pretty critical of Sony’s continuing mistakes in digital music…Hard to blame him, this sounds like a painful system to use, even if the price is right on the players and media. Why bother?
But the store’s advertised selection of “more than 500,000” songs is missing a concert stage’s worth of major artists — to name a handful, Missy Elliott, Norah Jones, the Replacements, Liz Phair and Los Lobos. Even some of Sony’s own artists are largely absent: Connect’s Bruce Springsteen collection consists of a measly nine albums, not counting a few re-releases.
The tool you must use to download and manage your purchases, Sony’s Sonic Stage (Windows 98 SE or newer), is a bloated, bug-ridden beast of a program. It ploddingly searches through the store’s catalogue as if it were a card catalogue, while its space-wasting interface requires constant scrolling within its own window. It can’t copy CDs in MP3 format, and it defaults to storing music in an invisible, deeply buried sub-directory.
…
Connect permits an unlimited number of transfers to portable players — except for songs from Warner Music Group’s labels, which are restricted to three transfers. Ever.
Similar control-freak behavior ensues when you move purchased songs to the other two PCs you’re allotted at any one time: Those copies lose all their transfer and CD-burning permissions. Sony says an upcoming software update will restore transfer rights, but not disc burning, to those copies.
How the Word Gets Around
How does a meme travel through the blogosphere? The Memespread Project seeded an idea and watched it grow, learning a lot about information transmission along the way. [Wired News]
Mossberg on GMail…
I don’t agree with the thinking here…
If you run a virus checker, it scans your messages. If you use email from your employer or school, they can scan your mail (and actually read it too), but GMAil seeks only to find relavent ads to send you based on context. The search is happening in an automated sense courtesy of the Google OS. I agree it might be creepy, but from what I understand of the Gmail UI (no account yet) it’s in a place that is obviously not your message, which will certainly avoid any advertorial issues or “paid inclusion” BS.
I think the key detail in all the Gmail hubbub, is that it’s free. Financially free… anyway. If you choose to use it, you accept the terms. If you don’t want it, there are other options (yahoo, hotmail etc…) who will also conveniently scan your mail…
There’s a catch, however. Google intends to run ads down the side of the e-mail messages in Gmail, just like it does in its search results. And, just as on the search pages, the Gmail ads will be triggered by key words in the body of the text — in this case, the text of your e-mail. So if I get an e-mail that refers to, say, a kind of product, I might get an ad for a store that sells that product.
The problem here isn’t confusion between ads and editorial content. It’s that Google is scanning your private e-mail to locate the key words that generate the ads. This seems like an invasion of privacy. Google notes its scanning will be done by computers, and that these machines can’t understand the e-mails and are just looking for specific terms. And the company notes that nearly every e-mail anybody receives is already scanned by computers looking for spam or viruses.
These are logical points, but the proposed system is still a little creepy, and it has the potential for big problems if the content scanning were ever misused by Google. Google might also be forced to use such content scanning in the service of government subpoenas or court orders that might apply to years’ worth of its customers’ e-mails. [WSJ.com]
Semacode
I think the jury is still way out on this… Remember the cue cat? Not sure once you pass the gimmick phase that there is any staying power here… I’d love to be wrong, but only time will tell.
Semacode is about as cool an app as I’ve come across and a confirmation of my ongoing belief that the handset is so much more than a telephone–the underlying assumption of MobileWhack itself–and is better thought of as an interface between the online and offline worlds right in your back pocket. [MobileWhack]
Operation gadget comes to a very similar conclusion
Moxi Will Fail
Doc Searls points to an article on TV Predictions (quoted below) that says the Moxi will fail, and notes that the author, Phillip Swann thinks TiVO will succeed. Doc actually thinks TV will fail… which is not something I’m going to get into yet.
With regard to TiVO… In my opinion, TiVO is failing. They established the market for DVRs (along with Replay… though where are they now??) but have lost their lead, even though they are the established name for what a DVR is. The current growth in the marketplace is coming from cable and satellite installed boxes for a variety of reasons, but mainly based on 2 factors…
Cost and Ease of Install – There is no upfront cost to the consumer for a box from your cable company. It gets installed by the cable guy unless you’re a DIY type and can pick one up at a local office.
These boxes are also simpler than TiVO. They offer no predictive features, which I know uber-fans of TiVO think make the boxes less attractive, but to the average consumer, that would just go to waste. The marketing for these boxes is quite simple and direct. In NYC, Time Warner has done a solid job keeping the message focused on the basics (which people get) pause, ff, rw and of course time-shifting (though they never call it that). I’ve seen some nice spots on cable (of course!) and as bill inserts each month.
TiVO could be taking a similar path — though they would have to pay for the TV media and most likely would not get access to do bill inserts. That does not mean that traditional direct marketing ideas don’t apply. I’ve mentioned this quite a few times here (feel free to search). They need to educate, not entertain so people know first what it is and then that it’s not a big deal to set-up and use. Once people use TiVO (or any DVR) they love it, the trick is getting them to shell out…
Back to Moxi… Moxi is the next generation of what is happening in the set-top box world. It can serve as more than just a DVR, performing media center functions so hopefully the cable companys will go slow, or at least keep it simple. I don’t live in a Comcast market so it will be tough to see directly what they are up to… I believe Moxi can succeed. If I was them, I would lead with the advanced DVR stuff and follow-up at install and via welcome communications (mail or email linking to an educational web site as well as a special channel on TV with similar content) with the rest of the features. Home networks and media serving are not basic concepts and need to be treated with care for the mass consumer markets.
The average TV viewer does not understand new technology. Not only that, he fears it. He’s afraid that if he buys a new gadget that he will never fully understand how to use it. Afterall, he’s still confused over why his VCR clock is still blinking “12:00.”
The fear of the unknown (technology) is a major reason why the DVR has failed to reach a mass audience. Many consumers believe that it’s difficult to install and use. So, why bother when you already have a VCR to record your favorite shows? (Even though many people don’t understand how to program the VCR, they do know how to hit the “Record” button.)
For the DVR to ultimately succeed, DVR services must create the perception that the technology is simple to use — and it’s an improvement on the existing product (the VCR).
So, enter the Moxi Media Center. The receiver is stuffed with so many features that it will only create more confusion and fear in the average household. Viewers will perceive Moxi as a jumble of technologies that don’t really address a specific need or desire. By trying to be everything, Moxi becomes a whole lot of nothing.
If Moxi was marketed solely as a DVR or even a home networking device, then it would have a chance; viewers would eventually come to understand the product’s purpose. However, it will be difficult, if not impossible, for cable operators to clearly communicate what Moxi does — and why anyone should care. In fact, it’s almost laughable that anyone would think that it will succeed, under current conditions. [TV Predictions]
Comcast to offer cable modem/802.11g wireless access point
This one-ups the current offer from Verizon DSL which includes an 802.11b wireless router. I think it would be wise for them both to also offer a deal on cards or usb adapters for homes since without a card or adapter, having a wireless router does not do much more than a wired router.
Comcast says they’re going to start offering their cable Internet subscribers the Wireless-G Cable Gateway, a cable
modem from Linksys that comes with a built-in router and 802.11g wireless access point.[Engadget]
Lewis Black on Advertising
Just heard on the Daily Show… on why Churchill Downs did not previously allow advertising for the Kentucky Derby:
They did not want advertising tainting the nobility of Gambling…
Nokia cutting prices up to 25%?
A rumor for now… could certainly drive some serious demand for the 6600 amongst others… Have to see if carriers pass it along or gobble up the profits for themselves.
In a move to help offset its falling market share, analysts now predict that Nokia will cut prices on its mobile phones by an average of 10 percent to 20 percent and up to 25 percent on some low-end models. The price cuts are expected to hit some handset makers hard, especially South Korean company LG. LG is the world’s fifth-largest mobile phone maker and primarily targets the low-end and mid-level phone segments. LG and other handset rivals have gained market share in recent months thanks to Nokia’s loss in share. Nokia last month shocked investors and financial analysts by issuing first-quarter profit warnings twice within 10 days. The company’s stock price plummeted 31 percent. Nokia is fighting to regain its lost handset market share and to regain its position as the industry design and trend leader. [The Korean Herald via FierceWireless]
How John Doerr Struck Google
Good piece from the NYT on John Doerr and Kleiner Perkins…
In 1999, Mr. Doerr, on behalf of his firm, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, invested $12.5 million for a stake in Google that will probably be worth at least $3 billion – perhaps more – after Google sells stock to public investors this year. That is a gain of 240 times the original investment in five years and provides plenty of spare profit to offset the losses from other bets investors made in the same round of venture capital fund-raising.
“John Doerr throws big darts at distant targets,” said Jerry Kaplan, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur whose start-ups in the early 1990’s, Go Corporation and Onsale.com, were flops backed by Kleiner through Mr. Doerr. “Most miss, but when they hit, it’s spectacular.” [The New York Times]
Cybercafe Society
Howard Rheingold’s latest in The Feature… An interesting thought, though I think Kinkos has a long way to go to enable a more hospitable location. I could see Starbucks extending their larger locations with additional services though. It’s quite nice to sit down in the nicer ones, when there’s space to have for yourself. I guess a package dropbox would be a pretty easy addition — remember Kozmo and Urban Fetch…
Now that Fedex owns Kinko’s, I really think they ought to consider buying Starbucks to constitute the ultimate 21st century cybernomadic infrastructure: 24X7 coffee, wireless broadband, and handy global shipping for roving mobs of socio-knowledge workers.
Starbucks is trying to be a “third place” for untethered informationistas by furnishing couches, caffeine, and WiFi. Kinko’s pitches toward the independent operators who don’t have offices full of copiers, or for the traveling infoworkers who want the hardcopy ready for their meetings when they arrive. What if Starbucks starts providing printers, scanners, and copiers? Or Kinko’s starts serving good coffee and puts in a few couches? [TheFeature]
Advertisers disappointed in HD
I’ve had an HDTV for a longtime by HD standards… almost 4 years. I can’t say I watch more TV, in fact probably less (and even less now with a Baby) but not because of the programming, but rather how I choose to use my time.
I got the set for the future, so we could watch DVDs and enjoy HDTV when it eventually came to cable. We’ve watched our share of sports (Superbowl), prime-time (24) and cable (Sopranos) all which have been great. There are few if any commercials which scale or are shot in HD (probably based on cost) so when a commercial kicks in, it’s clear you are no longer in HD and the experience has been reduced. I don’t know whether a regular 30 sec. spot in HD is going to captivate me or anyone else any more than they do now…
We’ve been watching even less (like zero) HD since November which is when Hannah arrived. It’s impossible to watch anything without a pause feature and until we get an HD DVR, we’ll be keeping our viewing in standard DVR mode. Soon enough… though then we’ll be skipping the commercials when we’ve got the cache as we do now. 😉
The Washington Post has an article with some disheartening comments on HD from a broadcast business standpoint. Here are the key ones:
“”I don’t think high-definition is a panacea,” said Kenneth Schanzer, president of NBC Sports, which also plans to broadcast the first all-high definition Summer Olympics from Athens in August. “It will certainly enhance the viewing experience for the fan. But I don’t think it generates any new viewers or any new revenues anywhere. In my heart of hearts, I don’t think it will increase ratings.” Pretty strong words from a pretty important source – the President of NBC Sport. [U P R E Z]
Something cooking in the Google blog kitchen…
Conspiracy theorists start your engines! http://www.google.com/blog/. [Ben Hammersley’s Dangerous Precedent]
Q&A with Robert Scoble
Recommended reading on blogging for business from Micro Persuasion.
Robert Scoble, Technical Evangelist, Platform Evangelism at Microsoft, pens Scobleizer, one of the Web’s most influential blogs. He has thousands of readers and is frequently quoted in the tech and business press. (Recommended reading: recent articles on Scoble in the New York Post and Seattle P-I).
iTunes 4.5 a sign of what’s really in-store…
So in case you missed the news, Apple updated iTunes to version 4.5 which comes with some very cool features as well as additions to the store. The features are great and include Party Shuffle which is a nice way to handle dynamic playlists, iMix which lets you publish a playlist to the store to share with anyone. It would be nice to add an affiliate purchase scheme to kick-back some whufie to the user in the form of iTunes bucks. I also really like the addition of Apple Lossless Format:
iTunes can give you that quality with the new Apple Lossless encoder. You�ll get the full quality of uncompressed CD audio using about half the storage space. You can copy music in this format onto your iPod or iPod mini, to take perfect audio wherever you go.
The big deal to me though seems to be the addition of VIDEO! Apple bundled in their movie preview site which is the largest movie streaming site around and then added Music VIDEOS for PURCHASE! Video for purchase!! Steve had alluded to the possibility of videos for sale, and I think it’s really just a preview of what is really coming next…
Apple now has a full multi-media store that sells music, music videos and audio books. Movies and TV shows are are the logical next step. An iTunes store service with reasonable pricing (say $3.95 a TV show and $9.99 a movie) could offset a good portion of downloads if done right because it would be Apple simple. I think even a rental market would be an interesting play. The DRM might work in a similar way your VOD does now on cable… you get get XX hours or days to watch as many times as you like and then it expires. Apple could own the on-demand market for video in an instant, because they know how to deliver very high quality content in a very easy to use manner and even integrate it simply with devices to enjoy it all on.
It could only get better with the addition of a new portable device…or of course a set-top box.
AOL updates its blog service
Obvious and logical additions… Good to see it happening. I like the AOL Journal service though I am not the audience they are seeking.
New features let members add to their Web logs via instant message or text message. Diarists can also ask to receive alerts whenever readers add comments to their journals. [CNET News.com]
Customers Like Me
Good idea coming through the Verizon marketing department and noted by Slate. We’ll certainly have to wait and see how well it extends as new products and services are presented.
Assuming the Elliot family is working well with consumers, I’d like to see this extended into other marketing channels like DM and Interactive. Targeting families who would be most like the Elliots would be a great start and be an easy way to sell services by direct comparison to your own family. You could also consider the use of a DVD with the existing footage, plus interactive content in-mail to convey this richer targeted message to key customer segments… If the pieces were broken into logical bite-sized segments, you could also utilize the online channel, though it seems they are selling broadband so you would not want to be proving how well someone else’s connection works too well.
Why make a sitcom-mercial? I asked Amy Rubenstein, Verizon vice president for brand management. She says there are two main goals, and the first is simply to entertain. These ads are meant to feel fresh, with their sitcom tone and their appealing, mixed-race cast. Rubenstein says you’re less likely to “tune these ads out, or say, ‘I’ve seen this before.’ “
The second goal is more complex. Rubenstein says that the Elliot household will serve as a “consistent brand platform.” Rather than launching new products from scratch�with a battle each time to build awareness (“here’s the new calling plan FROM VERIZON”)�they’ll just slip the new product into the Elliots’ daily lives. Cheaper calling plan? Mom Elliot loves it! Better Internet features? Dad’s a big fan!
Verizon gets a brand icon (the likable Elliot family) that’s also a familiar and comfortable setting in which to introduce new products. It keeps everything under one roof (literally, though fictionally) so as a viewer, you link Verizon’s services together in your mind. Which is the crucial concept for a communications giant. They desperately want you to buy a whole suite of their products, not pick and choose your phone/mobile/Internet out of a grab-bag of providers. [Slate Magazine]