random animal

The President of the Internet?

2008-11-14T19:25:53Z

So it's pretty common knowledge that the Obama campaign was the first to take full advantage of new media, and it would seem that they have no plans on abandoning that strategy going forward. The Washington Post reports that Obama's weekly Democratic address will be videotaped and posted on YouTube.

I for one am thrilled - in setting this precedent, it's likely that all future Presidents will probably follow. It will mean that the defining technological shift of the past 50 years will finally be embraced by the man at the top.

It's refreshing to have people in charge who understand the web. Let's hope that understanding will spur some much needed infrastructure development and legislation changes that will help America to further innovate and develop the platform.

The Google phone: G1 and the Android

2008-10-01T23:28:09Z

AT&T can breath a sigh of relief. The early Android photos to hit the net weeks ago did not turn out to be decoys after all, meaning that the real-deal lacks the sex appeal to really compete with the iPhone IMO.

After much anticipation of the T-Mobile G1 Android launch, tech editors gave mixed reviews on the phone and its applications. With only one gigabyte of storage and lacking desktop sync, bloggers and their readers expressed hope for future upgrades. Outlook-dependent users like myself will have to hold our breaths for a third-party developer to fill the gap between the phone and Microsoft Exchange compatibility.

The G1 sports a "love it or hate it" pull-out QWERTY keyboard a la Sidekick. In keeping with the desktop computer experience on a mobile device, the G1 also has a touch-screen and trackball for navigation.

The Gphone carries more focus on translating the computer experience onto a mobile, rather than on aesthetics and design as notably as that other 6-letter device. Its functions are not as intuitive as that other recently-unveiled phone, but early adopters will manage unfazed. Maybe T-Mobile will want to re-enlist Catherine Zeta Jones to lend the G1 beauty.

In spite of its design (or lack of it), Google apparently is thinking long-term, launching a mobile device with a telescopic view into mobile advertising. The open operating system is a huge boon compared to the closed iPhone, and over time will likely evolve into a real iPhone competitor as Google releases updated software and third-party developers fill in for improvements.

If you are a shopping for a smartphone, the Gphone is available for purchase in October.

The 'Law of Unintended Consequences' strikes again...

2008-09-30T23:32:31Z

Communities are hard to please. Changes at Digg, Facebook, and others are pretty much guaranteed to spark debate, but usually the launch of new services doesn't have the same impact.

Unless you're MySpace.

The BBC reports that MySpace Music, the new music service launched by the site a while back, is limited to artists represented by four major music labels. That leaves the indie artists, who - perhaps rightly - consider themselves one of the major draws to MySpace, out in the cold.

Is an exodus immenent? Probably not, but its interesting to watch none the less.

Twitter Hacks The Presidential Debate. But To What End?

2008-09-30T17:22:37Z

In the continuing rush to make the micro-blogging service Twitter and 'tweeting' (the act of sending a message via Twitter) vital and relevant, the service has made several attempts to jump headlong into the presidential election. The latest happened last week with the creation of a Twitter Election 2008 page that filters relevant tweets into a single feed.

But the real potential seemed to stem from Twitter's partnership with independent cable network Current TV (founded by Al Gore), and last Friday's "Hack The Debate" event. The plan was for users to post Twitter updates during the first presidential debate, and selected tweets would be flashed on screen over a live feed of the debate -- the intended result being a kind of power-to-the-people liveblogging free-for-all.

And while the logistics of feeding comments from web to TV seemed to go off without a hitch (see an excerpt below), the question still remains: did these 140-character commentaries add any valuable perspective to the debate, beyond say, the type of banter you might overhear sitting in a crowded bar? Valleywag quoted social media consultant Shel Israel's impression as: "just a bunch of young people making shallow comments." One more issue to consider before dubbing Hack the Debate a groundbreaking success: Shouldn't voters be giving their full attention to the debate itself rather than simultaneous, off-the-cuff commentary?

The smartphone is the new laptop

2008-09-26T19:18:10Z

The other day a friend proclaimed that the laptop is the new desktop, and the smartphone is the new laptop.

Laptops, once the defining symbol of mobile computing, are now pretty much just a "computer" in most peoples' eyes. In the geek communities there's some buzz around ultra-mobile machines, but to me they're a solution to portable computing like the Segway is a solution to walking. It's too big for your pocket, and if you're going to carry around a bag anyway, there are plenty of lightweight options that don't require tiny screens, cramped keyboards, and compromises in performance and connectivity.

So what will happen when we all carry around mobile-broadband connected, high powered devices in our pocket? Media folks love to speculate on the advertising opportunities available to brands in the mobile space, but that doesn't feel like a totally viable option. Studies have shown American consumers view the phone as a very personal device, and any type of ad intrusion is unlikely to be welcomed with open arms. Nielsen reports that only 9% of people agree with the statement that advertising on their cellphones is acceptable, while 31% say it's acceptable if it lowers the bill (source).

I think the real game changer will be in how people interact with each other and in the ways they share and access information. And for brands, that means that 'being part of the conversation' will take on a whole new level of importance.

]]>
I can see a world where people are connected via social networks, but not via a web interface in their browser, but via apps that are seamlessly integrated into their phones. Social networking will evolve to be more, well, social. People will be able to instantly friend each other simply by pushing a button on their devices, or perhaps by simply touching their phones together, almost like a digital handshake. No need to take down names, search for them on Facebook the next day, and click 'add'. It will be much more human.

And with that seamless integration of social networks into real life, the opinions our contacts have of various products, services, etc. will be with us 24/7. If your brand has a bad rep, expect everyone to know about it.

I can also see a world where customers shopping at their local brick & mortar can instantly access reviews and price comparisons, and even make the purchases via their phones. This will create a whole new level of competition in terms of price and product quality which could have dramatic effects on consumer habits. Participating and managing this conversation will take on a whole new level of importance, and social media, blogosphere outreach, and word of mouth / grassroots will be leading the way.

All of this is already happening to some degree, but as mobile platforms open up and UI's evolve, it will not require cumbersome T9 typing into mobile web browsers to accomplish. It will be as second nature as simply making a call.

My phone and I look forward to meeting you in the future.

Meme Patrol: Wii Hits Viral Sweet Spots With Wario Land: Shake It, The Wrong Door

2008-09-26T00:04:02Z

This neat little viral spot for Wario Land: Shake It takes the game's simple central conceit, shaking, and runs with it -- until the youtube platform page itself completely falls apart. It's an inspired idea, nicely produced, and above all, surprising...highly recommended you take a look:

http://www.youtube.com/experiencewii

via CrunchGear

And on a completely different (though no less inspired) note, the BBC TV comedy series The Wrong Door has its very own take on the pitfalls of the Wii era:

via Gizmodo

Jim would have loved this

2008-09-25T23:54:17Z

A former UCLA film student with a penchant for experimental film, and an iconic song about lighting...well, just watch:

//via Particles - the Atomic blog