Google TV

So, the long expected convergence between TV and the web is getting closer to reality. Google announced Google TV with an ecosystem of partners--including Sony, Intel, Adobe, Logitech and others. 
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It is another example of launching products not as a single-firm but as part of an ecosystem. 

Google TV Lauch Ecosystem

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I know that there have been many attempts to make this convergence happen. Microsoft, Apple and Sony have made inroads before but those efforts were either ill-timed or did not get the requisite traction in the broader media ecosystems.  Now, the timing seems to favor Google but many technological issues remain, including the video format. In the short term, Adobe seems to be joining hands with Google (and continuing its fight against Apple over its Flash platform).  
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What happened to Microsoft and its vision of "three screens and the cloud"? Will Microsoft let Google dominate the TV OS space with Chrome without a fight? What happened to Apple TV--will we see the company focus on TV now that iPad is launched? What about Apple OS for TV--as a logical extension of iTunes and App Store?  Where's Amazon with its digital strategy? 

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I think Google TV announcement is just the starting point. An exiting point in time for consumers who love this convergence but hated the crude and complex ways the different pieces function together.  It is a complicated point in time for myriad of companies across different industries and segments as they jockey to defend their value propositions and evolve their portfolio of capabilities to win in the reshaping media network. 
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Mobile Internet: Your Prediction

Online Surveys & Market Research

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Here's a test poll..

Smithsonian Online and copyright tactic

I was doing some research on seatbelts and safety via Google and found an article on the Smithsonian's website that I wanted to send to a friend. I copied some text and pasted it into an email and the website automatically copied the link location and included that as well!

This is what I pasted:

No one can tally exactly how many lives Bohlin's three-point seat belt has spared, but the consensus among safety experts is at least a million. Millions more have been spared life-altering injuries.

Read more: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/Presence-of-Mind-Buckle-Up-And-Behave.html#ixzz0nuiRDmUi

Notice how Smithsonian pasted the link automatically, pretty cool. Simple way to drive readership to the site and an attempt to get credit for their content.  Give it a try!

Thinking About Social Networks

As you get ready to graduate this week, take a look at this video that provides a compelling overview of social networks.


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Enjoy...
Good Luck..

StickyBits and Object Check Ins

We do it with foursquare and microblogging and facebook status updates allow us to easily share with the world our exact location and what we're doing. Now, we can share with all of our followers how much we love (or hate) any product with a bar code.

StickyBits has come up with an application that allows users to upload comments, videos, pictures, etc and attach them to a bar code. Companies can track what is uploaded and associated to their products. Similar to foursquare and twitter, there can be an incentive for those who post frequently.

Meanwhile, now my internet of things, which for now is just my cell phone and computer, will eventually be connected to my TV, my coffee pot, apartment lights, and - it seems - my can of soda

Google Tablet with 3-D?

Google acquired BumpTop. This looks like another move by Google to acquire the functionality to take on Apple.



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This not only intensifies competition between Apple and Google.  I think it also pushes the frontier in terms of natural interfaces for engagement with content and applications.
Where is Microsoft? What will we see from Redmond?

Adam: will it give iPad a strong competition?

This device is still to hit the market however it has generated a lot of interest with comparisons drawn with iPad. It remains to be seen how much the founders live up to the promise when it actually hits the tablet market place.

Some interesting points about this device:

1. Unlike Apple iPad, it will use Flash. In fact the latest news is that, it will not be released till Flash is tested on this device.

2. It uses Android.

3. It updates NVIDIA Tegra chipset and Pixel Qi’s innovative low-power display, with the Notion Ink informing on a 16 hrs batter life. Tegra is capable of outputting 1080p HD video whereas the iPad maxes out at 576p/480p

4. Last but not the least, the Co-founder of Notion Ink (manufacturer of Adam) promises on a price lower than iPad

This new company will face severe competition considering the marketing power of Apple. However the video on Adam look promising.