Legacy Issues.

Posted on February 5, 2012 by John

In sum: if Nokia / Microsoft have any real chance of making an impact whereas this alliance is anything more than an ‘also-ran’ within the Smartphone space than adding NFC (as rumored / reported) to their handset(s) is a possible step in the right direction (for that matter: just getting a sense of what this partnership’s value-proposition actually is to begin with would go a long way towards differentiating them from their primary competition…) Granted, they’re not ‘open’ and ‘closed’ they’re Windows-based – which has been Microsoft’s (handset) Achilles’ since they were the early (by default) leader within what become known as the ‘Smartphone’ segment… Therefore, that’ll also be the bane of their alliance moving forward (which Nokia has now taken on since they decided to essentially scrap their OS)… not any easy legacy to get around / redefine that’s for certain…

(Source) The Guardian: http://goo.gl/TyEJf

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The Requisite Jumpstart?

Posted on February 4, 2012 by John

Clearly, only time will tell whether or not Facebook’s IPO will jumpstart and otherwise lackluster / quiet period for this space. Nevertheless, what is true: is building a ‘real’ business is not a harbinger for whether or not the (general) public will purchase any given firms stock (for the long-term this is a certainty) past the initial (‘euphoria’ of an) IPO.

(Source) The Boston Globe: http://goo.gl/WMIFo

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I Wanna Rock & Roll…

Posted on February 3, 2012 by John

All Night; and, play Angry Birds every day!?

(Source) Slash Gear: http://goo.gl/6EWje

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Be(ing) (B)Old?!

Posted on February 2, 2012 by John

In light of RIM’s ‘Be Bold’ ad campaign one could easily argue that consistent up-time / no extended network outages (such as the one that hit late last year) would be a requisite step towards ‘still being sold’ on this grandfather of a handset as opposed to ditching it all-together (which is happening with growing frequency).

No offense but this firm is increasingly becoming an ‘also-ran’ within the Smartphone space as Apple and Google’s OS garner the vast majority of application development; updated handsets and industry attention, etc.

(Source) Engadget: http://goo.gl/RmeDR

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Let’s Bet; What Goes Up…

Posted on February 1, 2012 by John

As Facebook’s pending IPO makes the headlines it’s worth reflecting on just how far the firm has come. Moreover, for those that have toiled (e.g., earned ‘sweat equity’) and focused on the long-held goal of an IPO they’ll be a handful of people who’ll become very wealthy (on paper initially) when their stock is offered publicly. However, the downside of all of this (yes; that’s also a variable to factor) is that what goes up inevitably comes down. And, if anyone needs a point of reference see LinkedIn for proof positive of some of the potential pitfalls of an IPO. In sum; yes, it is possible that Facebook could be the exception and not the norm (although it is highly unlikely).

(Source) LA Times: http://goo.gl/DLjfG

(Source) The Washington Post: http://goo.gl/vDi2u

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Ethical Smartphones.

Posted on January 31, 2012 by John

An on-line petition ‘demanding’ that Apple build ethical smartphones is making the rounds (which in all probability is a good thing indeed). Nevertheless, the paradox of this entire matter is that the same people who are interested in the rights of workers in the Developing World are in all probability the same consumers who eat meat; drive cars and conduct themselves in a wide-variety of ways whereas their respective ‘ethics‘ could also be largely called into question…

(Source) MSNBC: http://goo.gl/6sLH6

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No Comment.

Posted on January 30, 2012 by John

While it’s essentially inappropriate; if an apology is in order for when a website gets hacked / hijacked (said website in this instance) let the record show that it is being offered.

Nevertheless, what is paradoxical about this entire exercise is that the predominant theme / thread of this site is an on-going missive about technology and the application of this medium on the world at-large (from one of countless perspectives that can / could be offered globally)… so whilst frustrating and maddening getting ‘hacked / hijacked’ by some extremist(s) who are espousing ‘tolerance’ and doing so in the name of one of the world’s (clearly) most-maligned and co-opted ‘religions’ perhaps it is just best to chalk it up to a ‘cocktail-story’ to be shared at some (as of yet) undetermined point in the future…

Now, back to our ir-regularly scheduled programming! 😉

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For Convenience’s Sake…

Posted on January 29, 2012 by John

In the name of ‘convenience’ Google will begin more closely tracking your online activities (in order to further tailor their ads to any given end-user).

In theory; that sounds like perhaps a fairly benevolent development. Yet, in reality it also seems like – yet another – step that the firm is taking in both consolidating as well as expanding their respective power (particularly in light of the fact that you are unable to opt-out of said move). Note the disclaimer on their homepage…

(Source) Columbus Dispatch: http://goo.gl/qiCQ5

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And, It Is?

Posted on January 28, 2012 by John

With the claim that he’ll take the firm ‘to the next phase’ RIM’s new CEO has clearly left himself some wiggly-room due to just how ambiguous a statement that is!

So what you’re essentially saying is that if you’re able to turn it around and/or watch it continue to crash in a flat-spin that all the requisite bases are covered… The cynic in most observers in all probability feels that a sizable golden parachute is in order…

(Source) The Washington Post: http://goo.gl/4b8tb

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1999 Revisited: Sustainable?

Posted on January 27, 2012 by John

With Facebook (supposedly) set to file for their IPO as early as next week; the question isn’t whether or not the firm has gained traction (it obviously has) as much as if / whether or not they’ll be able to sustain any post-IPO-offering momentum (look to LinkedIn as perhaps the best benchmark / example up until this point in time).

In other words, is this just the Bubble 2.0 and/or is Social Networking ‘really / truly’ the next big thing (as was Pets.com / Web Van and a host of others who went the way of the Dodo?) Building a sustainable business model via mining the data that end-users willingly post (perhaps not as willingly if any given prospecting / offer becomes too intrusive…) is a challenging prospect that’s still (as of yet) unproven…

(Source) WSJ: http://goo.gl/atTWL

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