Uncategorized JG Mason | 31 Jul 2008 07:05 pm
Gadgetell’s “Who’s on Crack” game
This is where we call out by names the actions and companies that seem odd, out of touch or just plain straight up smokin crack. Technology is an odd realm where PR speak doesn’t hold a lot of water if the 1s and 0s don’t line up. This week sees posturing, positioning and flat out insanity. Here is what caught my eye this week:
iPhone 3G stock - Apple seems to be going to the Nintendo Wii’s model of avoiding any price deterioration: keep the darn thing out of stock. Almost 3 weeks after launch and finding a phone is harder than finding Waldo. Heck, there is even still lines in most stores to pick one up. This doesn’t seem to be settling down; and it is looking like a huge customer grab for AT&T. Amazing, either demand is just huge or Apple is playing with the supply figures and screwing with everyone’s lunch hour. Either way, crack is involved.
Phone market - Yes, making a phone is very hip right now. Want proof? Check out this offering from Casio (disappointment: it is not a watch phone). Yes, we think phone computing is going to explode and be the personal computer of the future. No, we don’t think it is a good idea to drag ever single brand into the phone arena. Casio, you make hot camera’s, watches and calculators, but lets keep out of the phone bizz, kay?
Not that I am just picking on Casio, Garmin‘s stock got a taste yesterday of a phone delay and the missing revenue from Q4. I have strong reservations on how far Garmin can get into the phone world with Nuvifone. The idea is nifty, but just how many folks will commit is a figure that worries me.
Vista. Oh Microsoft. In a battle to turn around public sentiment on Vista, so far down the line, your “fight back” ads are interesting. They show us you can’t control PR, bloggers, or even the common man from spouting off in favor of anything else. Sure when you get as big as you are, it gets tougher to find allies. But you are Microsoft. Rebrand, repackage. You want to make the Vista negative experience go away? Take your marketing dollars and actually launch something called Mojave. It sounds cool, I’d buy it - you know if it didn’t have Vista’s issues… Crackheads.
GPS stand alone companies. If there is any doubt that Google wants more than a piece of the action in mapping/navigation, take a look at this. The Google Mobile team has always worked to pump up advances and transit directions is the next stop. I’ve been whining about the path I see Google on headed right to voice-prompt navigation.
Why? Easy. It is an advertising smorgasbord (funny word, smorgasbord - try saying it without doing an impersonation of the chef from Muppets). Google loves to connect advertisers to free services and this one is screaming for it. Companies like Garmin and TomTom need to start emphasizing the things Google can’t do; and those seem to be dwindling fast.
And finally, why do blogs like to pick on each other so much? Take the BGR vs Crackberry war. Fun stuff. “I’ve had the Bold for 19 months,” “oh yeah, well I’ve got a video of the Thunder, and it rocks,” “No, Thunder is half baked and everyone hates it, and your blog.” While I think it is great to have some competitiveness, there is plenty of room for most bloggers. Besides, who cares about Blackberry anyhow? Crackheads. Ok, fine, a lot of folks care. But they are crackheads too. You all need a support group.
See something that made you say, “hmmmm” (just like Arsenio Hall)? Let us know in the comments.
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