Tuesday, July 8, 2008
eBay Ordered to Pay LVMH for Fakes Sold
In spite of eBay's belief that it does not have a legal responsibility for what's sold on its site, a French court ordered them to pay about $61M in damages to LVMH (a French products company) for allowing fake copies of their products to be sold through eBay.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Google's New, Published Privacy Policy
It appears that Google has come out with a specific statement on their privacy policies.
article
(Thanks, Matt!)
article
(Thanks, Matt!)
iPhone Revisited - Good News or Bad News?
Last week's post on the new iPhone focused on the hardware, but other bloggers are also dissecting the cell phone plan AT&T is offering with the phone. For example, here's a solid post on eWeek analyzing the true cost of the new iPhone.
Ugh.
The phrase "pay me now or pay me later" comes to mind. It appears that the Apple/AT&T duo is trying to find some ways to work around the unpopular device cost, but may be relying on people being just plain dumb. Which is probably a bad assumption...
Ugh.
The phrase "pay me now or pay me later" comes to mind. It appears that the Apple/AT&T duo is trying to find some ways to work around the unpopular device cost, but may be relying on people being just plain dumb. Which is probably a bad assumption...
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Give Away The Game?
The Economist (June 25th, 2008) features a new article on gaming business models, featuring the new game "Battlefield Heroes." It's an interesting read - in the current world of Web 2.0 "free stuff," it seems that more gaming companies are embracing the strategy of giving the game away for free, and charging avid users for extras like special costumes, swords, etc.
It will be interesting to see whether and how this model may transition into more serious gaming applications, like learning.
It will be interesting to see whether and how this model may transition into more serious gaming applications, like learning.
New 3G iPhone Set for July 11th Release
New 3G iPhone
The demo above gives you a little more information, but in summary, Apple has addressed a couple of the big red flags on the iPhone. First and foremost, the new phone improves its speed with a 3G/quad band capability, but the phone now also supports Microsoft push technology (Exchange server), provides secure access to corporate resources, includes a standard headphone jack, and adds GPS to its maps feature.
The video doesn't provide detail on whether corporate IT managers will have access to remote device control/software upgrading, but clearly this is a huge step even without that.
On top of it all, the new, lower price of $200 puts the iPhone in a new range of price-to-features, clearly setting the stage for market penetration.
The demo above gives you a little more information, but in summary, Apple has addressed a couple of the big red flags on the iPhone. First and foremost, the new phone improves its speed with a 3G/quad band capability, but the phone now also supports Microsoft push technology (Exchange server), provides secure access to corporate resources, includes a standard headphone jack, and adds GPS to its maps feature.
The video doesn't provide detail on whether corporate IT managers will have access to remote device control/software upgrading, but clearly this is a huge step even without that.
On top of it all, the new, lower price of $200 puts the iPhone in a new range of price-to-features, clearly setting the stage for market penetration.
Friday, June 20, 2008
$39.99 for 8MB Flash...What Does It Mean?
A new iPhone for $200. Under $200 for 1T of storage. AT&T rolling out essentially free wifi at Starbucks, replacing T-Mobile's $10/day program.
All this in an inflationary, low growth environment that has many consumers cutting discretionary spending to pay for increased fuel and food costs. That trend should continue to apply pressure to mobile phone, PC, software and connectivity prices, in spite of some tie-ups.
On the face of things, this might seem to bode ill for the entire tech sector, but a second look may tell a different story.
When the interstate system was commissioned by Eisenhower in 1956, it was considered in part infrastructure for national defense, allowing troops and equipment to rapidly move around the country. But of course, most of us don't think of it in this way - we think of it as our route to work, our road to vacation, or our path to Grandma's house. The interstate, once created, focused and unleashed innovation in so many areas, we don't think about it.
The internet, and more importantly the technology infrastructure of the US, is undergoing a similar progression (forgive me the superhighway comparison). However, the much greater percentage of private enterprises managing, maintaining and developing tech infrastructure has lead to faster development and more innovation.
Now consider again our current situation with the interstate system - we've adapted our lives around cars, trucks and motorcycles, and not just for getting to Grandma's house, but to move goods, to render services, etc. And the difficulty of moving away from the system is legendary at this point - energy independence is a euphemism for somehow insulating ourselves from $5 or $6/gallon gas, and its pernicious effects on related markets like food.
The internet is evolving in a similar way, because we are growing increasingly dependent on it. The flip side of always on is that we are increasingly virtually incapacitated without it. Cell phone battery dead or laptop left at home? How do I get my colleague's phone number? How do I get my map to the airport? How do I book a flight?
There are simple answers to these questions, to be sure. But it underscores the point that our lives are increasingly being laid out around technology. And we all have to admit we don't know exactly how that dependence will affect our lives in the future...
All this in an inflationary, low growth environment that has many consumers cutting discretionary spending to pay for increased fuel and food costs. That trend should continue to apply pressure to mobile phone, PC, software and connectivity prices, in spite of some tie-ups.
On the face of things, this might seem to bode ill for the entire tech sector, but a second look may tell a different story.
When the interstate system was commissioned by Eisenhower in 1956, it was considered in part infrastructure for national defense, allowing troops and equipment to rapidly move around the country. But of course, most of us don't think of it in this way - we think of it as our route to work, our road to vacation, or our path to Grandma's house. The interstate, once created, focused and unleashed innovation in so many areas, we don't think about it.
The internet, and more importantly the technology infrastructure of the US, is undergoing a similar progression (forgive me the superhighway comparison). However, the much greater percentage of private enterprises managing, maintaining and developing tech infrastructure has lead to faster development and more innovation.
Now consider again our current situation with the interstate system - we've adapted our lives around cars, trucks and motorcycles, and not just for getting to Grandma's house, but to move goods, to render services, etc. And the difficulty of moving away from the system is legendary at this point - energy independence is a euphemism for somehow insulating ourselves from $5 or $6/gallon gas, and its pernicious effects on related markets like food.
The internet is evolving in a similar way, because we are growing increasingly dependent on it. The flip side of always on is that we are increasingly virtually incapacitated without it. Cell phone battery dead or laptop left at home? How do I get my colleague's phone number? How do I get my map to the airport? How do I book a flight?
There are simple answers to these questions, to be sure. But it underscores the point that our lives are increasingly being laid out around technology. And we all have to admit we don't know exactly how that dependence will affect our lives in the future...
Friday, May 16, 2008
CTC Meeting for May
Event Details
This next event focuses on Sales & Marketing, and will be held at the offices of Tangoe.
This next event focuses on Sales & Marketing, and will be held at the offices of Tangoe.
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