Innovations We are Waiting for
10/17/10 20:40
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I know, I know, I didn’t expect humans would still be walking, driving, or taking public transportation to work in 2010 either. Recently I’ve been thinking a lot about innovations for user benefit. I find it interesting that people are working on an autonomous Google car, but we still don’t have the innovations listed below.
It was recently mentioned on Don Dodge’s blog and it’s something I have long believed is going to happen in the not so distant future. As the processing power of smart phones gets better, we will start to use them more and more, and eventually, rather than lugging around laptops, we will have smart phones that we can tether to monitors, keyboards, and mouses (or trackpads ;)). When this happens, coffee shops, offices, libraries, and other potential work spots will have stations with monitors and accessories to plug into.
Mobile internet at current broadband speed is another thing that people look forward to and that will change mobile web browsing. Currently users enjoy using apps on their phones mostly because the web browsing is slow. Luckily they are able to multitask, but it can be difficult to maintain focus when loading a page on a mobile browser. The increased speeds will improve the mobile experience, which will also have a major impact on mobile advertising.
I have been waiting for this ever since my parents got me the first generation iPod, which was also the first time I used iTunes. Back then I didn’t know what “Cloud” was, but I couldn’t understand why music was stored on my computer and not on the internet. Now I understand there are a number of reasons, but it is still a hassle every time a computer dies. Options have gotten better for backing up iTunes but cloud music is still gaining popularity.
I realize these are not innovations that will be created out of necessity, but that they are luxuries. Still I can’t wait but look forward to some growth in these three areas in the near future.
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I know, I know, I didn’t expect humans would still be walking, driving, or taking public transportation to work in 2010 either. Recently I’ve been thinking a lot about innovations for user benefit. I find it interesting that people are working on an autonomous Google car, but we still don’t have the innovations listed below.
Smart Phone as the Central Personal Computer
It was recently mentioned on Don Dodge’s blog and it’s something I have long believed is going to happen in the not so distant future. As the processing power of smart phones gets better, we will start to use them more and more, and eventually, rather than lugging around laptops, we will have smart phones that we can tether to monitors, keyboards, and mouses (or trackpads ;)). When this happens, coffee shops, offices, libraries, and other potential work spots will have stations with monitors and accessories to plug into.
Faster Speeds for Mobile Internet
Mobile internet at current broadband speed is another thing that people look forward to and that will change mobile web browsing. Currently users enjoy using apps on their phones mostly because the web browsing is slow. Luckily they are able to multitask, but it can be difficult to maintain focus when loading a page on a mobile browser. The increased speeds will improve the mobile experience, which will also have a major impact on mobile advertising.
Cloud iTunes
I have been waiting for this ever since my parents got me the first generation iPod, which was also the first time I used iTunes. Back then I didn’t know what “Cloud” was, but I couldn’t understand why music was stored on my computer and not on the internet. Now I understand there are a number of reasons, but it is still a hassle every time a computer dies. Options have gotten better for backing up iTunes but cloud music is still gaining popularity.
I realize these are not innovations that will be created out of necessity, but that they are luxuries. Still I can’t wait but look forward to some growth in these three areas in the near future.
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Google Cars effect on Marketing
10/12/10 19:29
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So Google is test driving a car that will eliminate the need for drivers. Sounds great from a user and marketers’ perspective. It was announced over the weekend that Google has been testing out autonomous cars. Even more surprisingly, they’ve logged 140,000 miles of testing. It’s an exciting development from a company that has shown they can push the envelope in businesses that do not traditionally make up their core. For Google, this means more time users will be on the internet searching and clicking on advertisements.
Marketers have got to be a little bit excited no matter how far off this is. If you’re excited about the potential data from LBS apps, imagine the data you will be able to get from people in their cars commuting, traveling, or making short trips. The idea of intercepting someone in their trip will immediately become possible, and companies will be able to track it.
Image someone driving in their car searching for a pizza place on Google. Immediately the user is presented with organic listings and paid listings in the area on the route of the car. The user selects a pizza place and chooses to alter route in order to swing by the pizza place. After selecting the new route the user then goes to the website and orders a pizza (with a coke and breadsticks of course). Paid search advertisers will be able to target users on a whole new level.
Other information marketers will have is the type of car (price), daily routines (probably will create privacy issues), customer loyalty, etc. The convenience for the person in the car is clear, but companies with organic listings and paid listings will be able to see conversion data. Certainly Google search is just one example of how marketers will be able to reach people based on their location and intercept and convert them. I look forward to the opportunities a (possible) autonomous car could bring.
So Google is test driving a car that will eliminate the need for drivers. Sounds great from a user and marketers’ perspective. It was announced over the weekend that Google has been testing out autonomous cars. Even more surprisingly, they’ve logged 140,000 miles of testing. It’s an exciting development from a company that has shown they can push the envelope in businesses that do not traditionally make up their core. For Google, this means more time users will be on the internet searching and clicking on advertisements.
Marketers have got to be a little bit excited no matter how far off this is. If you’re excited about the potential data from LBS apps, imagine the data you will be able to get from people in their cars commuting, traveling, or making short trips. The idea of intercepting someone in their trip will immediately become possible, and companies will be able to track it.
Image someone driving in their car searching for a pizza place on Google. Immediately the user is presented with organic listings and paid listings in the area on the route of the car. The user selects a pizza place and chooses to alter route in order to swing by the pizza place. After selecting the new route the user then goes to the website and orders a pizza (with a coke and breadsticks of course). Paid search advertisers will be able to target users on a whole new level.
Other information marketers will have is the type of car (price), daily routines (probably will create privacy issues), customer loyalty, etc. The convenience for the person in the car is clear, but companies with organic listings and paid listings will be able to see conversion data. Certainly Google search is just one example of how marketers will be able to reach people based on their location and intercept and convert them. I look forward to the opportunities a (possible) autonomous car could bring.
5 People to Follow for #FutureM Tweets
10/07/10 19:21
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In case you haven’t noticed... FutureM has been going on all week with events going on around the Boston area. While I haven’t been able to go to as many of the events as I would have liked, I am appreciative of the people who have covered the events. I put together a list of 5 people who I have found useful during the past week for their tweets and insights.
@stevenduque
@cpollara
@dharmesha
@ZachACole
@BrookeZam
These certainly were not the only people to tweet, but I was able to get some insight into the events they were at. I look forward to following them and learning more in the future. Give them a follow.
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In case you haven’t noticed... FutureM has been going on all week with events going on around the Boston area. While I haven’t been able to go to as many of the events as I would have liked, I am appreciative of the people who have covered the events. I put together a list of 5 people who I have found useful during the past week for their tweets and insights.
@stevenduque
@cpollara
@dharmesha
@ZachACole
@BrookeZam
These certainly were not the only people to tweet, but I was able to get some insight into the events they were at. I look forward to following them and learning more in the future. Give them a follow.
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What is Google TV?
10/04/10 21:25
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What is Google TV? Google TV is a new product coming about by Google, along with Sony and Logitech
who are producing hardware for it. I think Google TV will create a simpler user experience for users watching the televisions.
In my eyes TV has had issues for a long time. If you look at how computers have innovated over the years compared the TV there is no question which has seen more improvements. The product will look to improve the browse experience as well as ease of use for users. The changes coming will potentially help to eliminate hardware and increase streaming video. These will mean major changes for the TV, gaming and entertainment industries.
Search has long time been a tough part of watching TV. Everyone has had the experience where they get home late and struggle to search through the 900 channels that are now on their TVs to find their show or game before it starts. Google TV will now help users to navigate channels and websites to find what they are looking for quicker and easier.
When I turn on my computer I find it easy to find the applications that I want to use. Humans enjoy having a dashboard which is why you see it in so many of the applications that we use. Google TV will provide a home screen that will take you to your favorite channels, news, your Netflix movies, or other subscriptions that you may have. The idea that you can turn on your TV and immediately be greeted to a screen where you can select your favorite things to watch is great.
Apps on TV seem logical. We started to get apps on our phones and now apps on tablets, it only seems right that we have them on our TVs. These apps like a lot of iPad apps have been created to do, will hopefully be created to be family centric. I am looking forward to seeing the creativity and the opportunities that come from apps on the TV.
Certainly as I mentioned before, how users browse on their TV will go through a major change, but there will be other major changes as well. We will see an increase in interaction while watching TV. Users will be able to use Twitter and Facebook and it will be interesting to see what is done to integrate the Web into the viewing experience. Apps and access to movies will also cause a stir for companies producing video games and DVDs (and related products), will we finally be able to get rid of the hardware and stream video onto our TVs? It seems like it would be to Netflix’s advantage to stream video rather than paying to mail, store, and organize millions of DVDs. Hopefully we will finally get quicker access to the movies we want to see.
Currently there are not many competitors out there, although Boxee
is one of note. If anything I think Google TV will be good for Boxee which is a similar concept that has struggled to gain traction among people not in tech. Other competitors (though not direct) are Apple TV, and video game systems that allow you to browse the internet. I am looking forwards to the Logitech Revue Companion Box with Google TV coming out. I really think it will make the TV experience a much better one. I look forward to it becoming available as well as seeing how it develops.
What is Google TV? Google TV is a new product coming about by Google, along with Sony and Logitech
who are producing hardware for it. I think Google TV will create a simpler user experience for users watching the televisions.Lack of Innovation in TV
In my eyes TV has had issues for a long time. If you look at how computers have innovated over the years compared the TV there is no question which has seen more improvements. The product will look to improve the browse experience as well as ease of use for users. The changes coming will potentially help to eliminate hardware and increase streaming video. These will mean major changes for the TV, gaming and entertainment industries.
Easier Search
Search has long time been a tough part of watching TV. Everyone has had the experience where they get home late and struggle to search through the 900 channels that are now on their TVs to find their show or game before it starts. Google TV will now help users to navigate channels and websites to find what they are looking for quicker and easier.
Home Page
When I turn on my computer I find it easy to find the applications that I want to use. Humans enjoy having a dashboard which is why you see it in so many of the applications that we use. Google TV will provide a home screen that will take you to your favorite channels, news, your Netflix movies, or other subscriptions that you may have. The idea that you can turn on your TV and immediately be greeted to a screen where you can select your favorite things to watch is great.
Apps
Apps on TV seem logical. We started to get apps on our phones and now apps on tablets, it only seems right that we have them on our TVs. These apps like a lot of iPad apps have been created to do, will hopefully be created to be family centric. I am looking forward to seeing the creativity and the opportunities that come from apps on the TV.
Biggest Changes
Certainly as I mentioned before, how users browse on their TV will go through a major change, but there will be other major changes as well. We will see an increase in interaction while watching TV. Users will be able to use Twitter and Facebook and it will be interesting to see what is done to integrate the Web into the viewing experience. Apps and access to movies will also cause a stir for companies producing video games and DVDs (and related products), will we finally be able to get rid of the hardware and stream video onto our TVs? It seems like it would be to Netflix’s advantage to stream video rather than paying to mail, store, and organize millions of DVDs. Hopefully we will finally get quicker access to the movies we want to see.
Competitors
Currently there are not many competitors out there, although Boxee
is one of note. If anything I think Google TV will be good for Boxee which is a similar concept that has struggled to gain traction among people not in tech. Other competitors (though not direct) are Apple TV, and video game systems that allow you to browse the internet. I am looking forwards to the Logitech Revue Companion Box with Google TV coming out. I really think it will make the TV experience a much better one. I look forward to it becoming available as well as seeing how it develops.Blekko, Google killer? Not Yet
07/20/10 20:27
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There has been a lot of buzz about Blekko recently from articles in Techcrunch to the recent post on SEOBook. Right now between the hundreds of millions of dollars Microsoft is spending on Bing and then billions of dollars Google is making, it seems like a search engine startup is suicide.
I remember a couple of years ago when Cuil came out, and there was the discussion that this would be a Google killer... that hasn’t happened yet. Blekko is bringing a different approach. They are bringing a much more systematic and realistic approach, rather than a full blitz. One thing that webmasters and SEO’s should be paying attention to, is the information Blekko is going to share.
Everything I have read about Blekko tells me that they will be open with the information relates to their algorithm. The number one thing that comes to everyones mind is linking data. With the Bing & Yahoo! deal, a lot of SEOs have been worried about Yahoo Site Explorer link data being discontinued.
Its exciting to hear about a potential “Google killer”. Blekko will be different from Google and Bing, and those differences will make it tougher for users to adopt, but it will separate Blekko from Google (whether users like it more or less in the end). Even Blekko admits theres no such thing as a Google Killer, they understand the difficulties of building a search engine from scratch. I like the viral strategies that they are trying to leverage in order to build traffic. It will be exciting to see a new player enter the game, it is definitely too soon to know whether Blekko will be a challenger, but it will be exciting to watch the management team try to maneuver the market.
There has been a lot of buzz about Blekko recently from articles in Techcrunch to the recent post on SEOBook. Right now between the hundreds of millions of dollars Microsoft is spending on Bing and then billions of dollars Google is making, it seems like a search engine startup is suicide.
I remember a couple of years ago when Cuil came out, and there was the discussion that this would be a Google killer... that hasn’t happened yet. Blekko is bringing a different approach. They are bringing a much more systematic and realistic approach, rather than a full blitz. One thing that webmasters and SEO’s should be paying attention to, is the information Blekko is going to share.
Everything I have read about Blekko tells me that they will be open with the information relates to their algorithm. The number one thing that comes to everyones mind is linking data. With the Bing & Yahoo! deal, a lot of SEOs have been worried about Yahoo Site Explorer link data being discontinued.
Its exciting to hear about a potential “Google killer”. Blekko will be different from Google and Bing, and those differences will make it tougher for users to adopt, but it will separate Blekko from Google (whether users like it more or less in the end). Even Blekko admits theres no such thing as a Google Killer, they understand the difficulties of building a search engine from scratch. I like the viral strategies that they are trying to leverage in order to build traffic. It will be exciting to see a new player enter the game, it is definitely too soon to know whether Blekko will be a challenger, but it will be exciting to watch the management team try to maneuver the market.
