tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898384.comments2024-03-11T07:06:28.190-07:00Mobile OpportunityMichael Macehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17966107280587843091noreply@blogger.comBlogger3780125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898384.post-16365727929542555042023-06-17T20:54:30.264-07:002023-06-17T20:54:30.264-07:00Thanks, Ben! It's nice to hear from you.
Avi,...Thanks, Ben! It's nice to hear from you.<br /><br />Avi, I'm sure that's part of it. But they just did a pretty thorough interface refresh about a year ago, and you'd think they would have caught this stuff.<br /><br />--MikeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898384.post-50688573058028366462023-06-17T19:28:07.719-07:002023-06-17T19:28:07.719-07:00It's a competition issue -- there isn't an...It's a competition issue -- there isn't any, so Amazon hasn't been forced to go back properly evaluate and refresh the Kindle UI. Amazon does go back and look at the Fire TV UX from time to time -- plenty of competition from Apple and Roku and Google there -- and there are all sorts of updates to Alexa -- to stay ahead of Google and Apple -- but the Kindle just gets new hardware that's good enough for a refresh cycle and Amazon can call it a day.Avi Greengarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14267040237664555562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898384.post-25907926052407973522023-06-17T17:55:13.736-07:002023-06-17T17:55:13.736-07:00Glad to see you posting again!Glad to see you posting again!Ben Combeehttps://www.Combee.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898384.post-67828975385627921552020-11-02T23:29:20.805-08:002020-11-02T23:29:20.805-08:00Thanks for the comments, and I'm sorry I was s...Thanks for the comments, and I'm sorry I was slow to get back to you. Flash, you asked a great question. Those two issues didn't show up prominently as standalone topics from the people we interviewed. Remember, we were focused on undecided voters. It's possible (maybe even likely) that people who have strong feelings on those two issues aren't undecided about who they're going to vote for.<br /><br />Mike<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898384.post-24651894048255039702020-10-21T03:40:00.508-07:002020-10-21T03:40:00.508-07:00It's been years since I've visited this bl...It's been years since I've visited this blog (you're not that active anymore..), but very happy to stumble upon a nice nugget of wisdom once again. Thanks.P. van Wijngaardennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898384.post-61161179692962501842020-10-16T08:44:06.223-07:002020-10-16T08:44:06.223-07:00Thank you, that is a rare piece of encouraging new...Thank you, that is a rare piece of encouraging news. I was somewhat surprised that, at least according to Safari’s new search function, neither law and order nor immigration showed up at all on the Understanding the Undecided page. Were they not mentioned, or subsumed under one of the other categories?Flash Sheridanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13677318551997068520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898384.post-36309942566668275662020-02-29T14:28:40.056-08:002020-02-29T14:28:40.056-08:00The speed at which the tech industry moves compare...The speed at which the tech industry moves compared to other industries and the the glacial movement of government is one reason for the emotive panic and hysteria. Another is that the workings of tech devices and big data is a mystery to most people and being confronted by the unknown produces fear.<br /><br />I've been reading your blog for 15yrs now and it never fails to be incisive and thought provoking.<br />Please keep on sharing your thoughts.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16318061124429333728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898384.post-43718082220711680372020-02-04T20:17:22.320-08:002020-02-04T20:17:22.320-08:00Thanks for the correction. Flash, and I like your ...Thanks for the correction. Flash, and I like your Kissinger quote.<br /><br />Peter, thanks for your comment, and you're right that Microsoft technically lost. But the conduct remedies imposed on it were minor. That actually supports my point, I think -- conduct which was much more egregious resulted in much milder sanctions than are being advocated against the current tech leaders.Michael Macehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966107280587843091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898384.post-88395863095807287812020-02-03T06:49:58.421-08:002020-02-03T06:49:58.421-08:00Good article, and good counterpoint to your previo...Good article, and good counterpoint to your previous one (which, by the way, influenced my decision to put our Silicon Valley condo up for sale). My general reaction is to echo Henry Kissinger: It’s a pity both sides can’t lose. I miss the old Silicon Valley, where we competed to sell cool stuff to our customers, rather than selling them to advertisers. I’m obviously biased—I was at Palm then too, and the old ways made software quality a lot more important to the business model.<br /><br />Some broader points: “Reinvent the Law” seems to be the <i>Times’</i> preferred alternative to the rule of law in general, and "the courts don't view tying as illegal unless you can show that it's increasing prices to consumers" is an earlier reinvention/interpretation, rather than actual legislation, IIRC. <br /><br />One minor point: In “having a monopoly isn’t legal unless,” there’s a missing “il-.”Flash Sheridanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13677318551997068520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898384.post-10743355763298369132020-02-02T14:05:50.998-08:002020-02-02T14:05:50.998-08:00It looks like it has always really been about the ...It looks like it has always really been about the competition more than the consumer. Standard Oil apparently benefited the consumer, but it was broken up after monopolizing the oil business. <br /><br />Both Intel and Microsoft were legally held to account for their attacks on their competitors, and they both lost in major cases. <br /><br />The Big US Microsoft Anti-Trust trial was about them attacking competitors, not consumers, and IIRC they lost, and were found guilty of multiple abuses their monopoly position. Pretty much all of it was aimed at locking out competitors.<br /><br />Intel was heavily fined for blocking AMD with exclusionary deals with OEMs. <br /><br />IMO this is how it was, and should continue be used. To stop anti-competitive practices. <br /><br />You have to fight to keep some kind of level playing field, because if you don't, by the time their dirty pool comes around to harming consumers, there may be no competition left.PeterScotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07638068202706360452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898384.post-63523220959119673012018-06-13T16:58:45.491-07:002018-06-13T16:58:45.491-07:00Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely...Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.<br /><br />Tech companies are becoming more and more powerful, and the power they have is frankly, terrifying.<br /><br />Look at this commentary, it has a google Account option, so google could know I read this, and the US government could demand the list of all articles I have read, when I read them and the posts I wrote for multiple years.<br /><br />TVs have microphones that could record everything I say when I am in front of them. Combine that with control of tablets and mobile phones that we could not control anymore. They do not want you controlling your software but just renting it(your data in their servers and no access to machine code, as it lives in their server too), not even the hardware of your computer is yours anymore(Intel ME).<br /><br />Software patents gives tremendous power of big corporations against small players. If I want to publish in the Apple Store I have to give my patents away to Apple because he is one of the few gatekeepers that control app distribution. But they could demand me of course with theirs.<br /><br />As those companies want to jump from the digital virtual world to the physical world (robots in your house, cars, your house actuators) they become even more dangerous.<br /><br />As they take our place in the physical world, they follow their interest instead of ours. People are not going to be happy and those companies simultaneously take from them while leaving people out of the future like Amazon does.Josenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898384.post-10317450092329132062018-06-13T04:44:16.523-07:002018-06-13T04:44:16.523-07:00I have a horrible feeling that you’re right.I have a horrible feeling that you’re right.Flash Sheridanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13677318551997068520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898384.post-59983935443937258222018-03-12T06:58:43.608-07:002018-03-12T06:58:43.608-07:00LiquidCinemaVR.com addresses many of the narrative...LiquidCinemaVR.com addresses many of the narrative issues you’ve mentioned.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06345707695977421917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898384.post-30303840438803081542018-03-07T09:24:46.753-08:002018-03-07T09:24:46.753-08:00Thanks, Matt. I agree very strongly about tourism ...Thanks, Matt. I agree very strongly about tourism and VR. And I'm glad to hear you had a similar experience at MWC. So it's not just me.<br /><br />Comics are a really interesting analogy. I need to think about that some more.<br /><br />For moving around, I think some sort of handheld puck will be adequate. I didn't love the one that came with Rift, but it was serviceable. What I don't need is an infinite treadmill so I can move using my feet. To me that's more about simulation than immersion.<br /><br />Regarding storytelling in VR, I'm starting to suspect that we'll need to revisit what we mean by "story." If a sense of presence is what's truly special about VR, then it's better suited to saying "here's what it's like to be here" rather than "let me tell you a linear story."<br /><br />Maybe photography is the right way to think about it. You can tell a story through photos, but it's more a set of feelings than a straight narrative. Poetry rather than prose...Michael Macehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966107280587843091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898384.post-47667964189459997392018-03-07T02:07:51.419-08:002018-03-07T02:07:51.419-08:00I had much the same feeling with some Samsung VR e...I had much the same feeling with some Samsung VR experiences at MWC!<br /><br />I think the technology will get there, at least for standing somewhere artificial and looking around... still not sure how walking around and exploring is going to work, though. So if you want to see somewhere you're never likely to travel to, like the deep ocean, the surface of the Moon or a Mars colony, or Petra in it's heyday, then it'll be fantastic soon.<br /><br />You hit the nail on the head, though: it's the narrative and the conventions of storytelling that need work. So much work. All of our media create immersive worlds, engaging characters and compelling stories. Irrespective of how close to "reality" they are. Letters on a page turn out to be pretty good at it, as are comic books, concept albums, computer games, TV shows and cinema. The mind is wonderful at turning content at any level of abstraction into an experience. In some ways, the more "realistic" the content is, the harder is is to create really compelling storytelling, it seems: Blade Runner 2049 was the first film I've seen that I think was better in iMax than in a regular cinema.<br /><br />And all of these media have storytelling devices and conventions that their makers use to sell the story and exploit and play with to powerful effect. Scott McLoud's "Understanding Comics" is a great read in that respect.<br /><br />What VR needs are some pioneers who can work out how storytelling works in VR. Whether they'll come from the movies or gaming industry, or somewhere else entirely, who knows? Hopefully, when they arrive it won't take too long: pretty much every trick in movie storytelling is used in "Wings," from 1927.<br /><br />best,<br />M.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898384.post-85129675351308089632017-08-07T03:51:43.205-07:002017-08-07T03:51:43.205-07:00Nice post thanks for the share :)
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Looking forward to seeing your notes posted.<br /><a href="http://www.unlockphone.com/" rel="nofollow">Unlock Phone Online</a>Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05933253257525088918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898384.post-11298057532186802872017-07-16T06:47:39.839-07:002017-07-16T06:47:39.839-07:00very nice article regarding Purchase best itemsvery nice article regarding <a href="http://www.purchasebestone.tk" rel="nofollow">Purchase best items</a>kartikhttp://www.purchasebestone.tk/top-5-best-buy-smart-phones-below-rs-30000/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898384.post-31429021095168388112017-06-25T16:00:59.689-07:002017-06-25T16:00:59.689-07:00PS to add another thing that came to mind immediat...PS to add another thing that came to mind immediately is an area in each Whole Foods dedicated to Amazon Lockers. Literally one-stop shopping.Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09158144164741797464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898384.post-34553358656319898882017-06-25T15:56:00.372-07:002017-06-25T15:56:00.372-07:00Great article Michael, happy to see this show up i...Great article Michael, happy to see this show up in my news feed :). <br /><br />The first thing that came to my mind is mini express stores within Whole Foods where people who want to grab a quick meal during a lunch break, etc can use the no-checkout technology Amazon is working on. Once they refine the user experience and technology with this real-world beta, I could foresee them integrating it into the entire store.Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09158144164741797464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898384.post-26634920217076671712017-01-12T11:12:00.928-08:002017-01-12T11:12:00.928-08:00I hadn't seen my morning Word.A.Day when posti...I hadn't seen my morning Word.A.Day when posting earlier, but I'll just add this:<br /><br /><b>A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:</b><br /><i>The people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country.</i>—Hermann Göring, Nazi military leader (12 Jan 1893-1946) WaltFrenchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03796601244294381938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898384.post-40109014812900062952017-01-12T11:06:03.043-08:002017-01-12T11:06:03.043-08:00The big concerns you ID'd — fairness & cha...The big concerns you ID'd — fairness & change, medical costs — are EXTREMELY malleable by the political process. For example, the GOP (I saw a Tom Cotton op-ed explicitly) claims that wages for the working class have been depressed by immigrants taking all the jobs. Mathematically, this is essentially impossible; the gains in pay+welfare to the lowest quartile of society are utterly dwarfed by the 600%+ gains over several decades that (we!) 1%ers have enjoyed. <br /><br />I don't doubt the sincerity of the Trump voters, but as recent Senate actions to kill Obamacare and even the CHIP kids' health provisions show, they voted in a government committed to cutting back the only gains that the working class has made. (The bottom half of Americans have made zero gains in direct income over the last few decades, but expanded Medicaid & other non-income “transfers” have kept them from sinking faster in their relative share of the American Dream.<br /><br />I.e., demagoguery is alive and well in America. Your finding of “fairness,” while literally true, may be reversed sharply unless Mr Trump can justify a sharp rollback in actuality for his voters. And regards “change,” it's worth noting that Democrats gained seats in both houses of Congress AND neither popular votes for the Presidency or Congress shows a dramatic “throw the bums out” mode. As usual, the opposite.<br /><br />Your follow-up might want to identify responses in terms of the quality & specifics of the campaigns' messages, and the exceptional news that occurred in the time frames, rather than some inherent set of beliefs by an angry minority (!) of voters.WaltFrenchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03796601244294381938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898384.post-60612014179700307952016-12-17T08:36:36.437-08:002016-12-17T08:36:36.437-08:00>>>>In the past, the costs of transpor...>>>>In the past, the costs of transportation and communication ensured a much wider geographic dispersion of people benefiting from the new. <br /><br />>>Really? I think of Detroit in automobiles, Hollywood in movies, SoCal in aerospace, Pittsburgh in steel...I think there have been industry centers for as long as there's been industry. To me, the issue is that we haven't done a good job of repurposing those centers when the industries change.<br /><br />You are thinking way too shallow, Michael. Automobiles produced in Detroit required steel produced in Youngstown, bolts produced in Portland, and fabric produced in Raleigh. And those cars made it possible for truckers in Omaha, delivery drivers in Houston and taxi drivers in NYC to all earn a living. The benefit of cars produced in Detroit had wide-ranging economic impact all across the country.Eliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17515173441876386256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898384.post-13457187367749856762016-12-15T12:18:04.749-08:002016-12-15T12:18:04.749-08:00In some ways what Tech companies perceive as "...In some ways what Tech companies perceive as "win-win" is actually a type of "win-lose".<br /><br />Take for example the press industry. They used to live from advertisement on newspapers first, then in radio, cinema and then TV. Specially radio and TV were in lots of cases offered for free with ads.<br /><br />Now if you calculate the wealth that was spent of Advertisement in the past with what is spent today you realize it is more of less the same, in real terms corrected by inflation, but guess what, to the press their income went downhill when to companies like google or facebook it went up by the same amount.<br /><br />You don't have to be a rocket scientist to understand that google and facebook are taking what the press is losing. But with an important difference: It is creating billions of profits in California but creating locally loses in every country that has not the Silicon Valley ecosystem.<br /><br />Also the average Google or Facebook worker earns more than 400.000 dollars a year because those companies are by definition huge automating machines, and they will be even worse, they are investing billions in neural networks and AI in order to automate everything than a human does. Every googler takes the salary of 10 people in the rest of the world, and they want to take 100 or 1000. Remember the Mark Zuckerberg famous phrase about not wanting to be a millionaire.<br /><br />Of course this only could get to a point until countries and politicians start realizing that they are not being beneficiaries of the system and start building walls in order to create a new one that benefit most of the people, and people will support them, because if you think you are in bad situation in the US, in the rest of the world is 10 times worse. Just a normal balance benefits-cost tells them the current system does not benefit the country as a whole.<br /><br />Real win wins in the future come from breakthroughs technologies like nuclear fusion in 5-10 years from now, but not for displaying "likes" or more beautiful emoticons. Things like tissue reparation and eternal youth(from stem cells), or going to Mars and other planets.<br /><br />In some ways some breakthroughs are only possible when another happened. For example in order to go to Mars you will need to fix the cellular harm of radiation in Space, or have plenty of cheap energy fro creating water and oxygen. If you want to go to Saturn or exploit resources far away in the Universe you will need eternal youth as the voyage could take years.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com