Recommendations picking up stream
Another reference to recommendations today on John Cook’s Venture blog. Good article.
New Valleywag
Nick Denton has taken over Valleywag and really changed things around. I HATE the look, but I am really enjoying the new content. It’s alot more business minded and gets to issues that I would rather know than the old Valleywag. They’re looking for a new editor, and I hope that whoever lands the job keeps up Nicks good work.
The Zune is stumbling out of the gate…
Microsoft unveiled their Zune, their new iPod competitor, yesterday and released it today. After one day it seems like a disaster. I know you can’t judge items on one day, but it is not a good launching point. A few things I have seen so far today.
Engadget (the largest tech review site online), reviews installing the Zune (Installing the Zune… Sucked) on their computer, their computer freezes multiple times and then crashes. They try another computer and it works.
CrunchGear (Michael Arrington’s tech review site), gives away two Zune’s yesterday and today tries to install the Zune (Zune Headache on Launch Day) on their computer, multiple crashes.
My favorite piece comes from a CNN video online. Talking about the Zune, the tech guy has to continue to respond to questions, no, not really, umm no from the other hosts of the show. Quite a few responses of, “why would anyone want to buy that?” It’s a piece that shouldn’t have any spin for Apple, but comes across as totally ripping the Zune.
These three stories are not good at all. The Engadget story is bad enough, but to add another tech site having a hard time installing the software and hardware, and then to have a news station have a hard time answering why anyone would want to buy a Zune, not a good start for this new piece out of Redmond.
Any reason for someone to buy a Zune?
[update] Zune is also not compatible with Windows big new toy, Vista [link] OUCH!!!! How does this happen?
One company to kick off the holiday season
I think that the changing of decor at a single location tells America that it is now Christmas time. That location is Starbucks and they change their decor to red cups, ornament hanging, Christmas music playing overkill this morning. It seems that since the average Starbucks customer goes into a Starbucks over once a week, once they hear the music in the store, they are ready to start celebrating, start drinking eggnog, and start spending their holiday money. Its funny to me because Starbucks has always received flack for starting the season early, however I think every retail store loves that Starbucks starts their holiday season this early in November.
Who need to wait until Black Friday to buy things now?
Papers finally warming up to the web
Two stories coming out in the past two days about how old media is finally adapting and growing with new media. The USA Today is going to be using user created content to fill some of their pages with what should be more local, true to the street content. Also, coming out yesterday was news that 50 papers have signed on to serve Google AdWords on their pages.
First off, USA today will be going the way of digg, Reddit, Techmeme, and Tailrank and will be using user created content. The idea is to add more diverse stories and stories that would come from other sources that they do not have. There so much news out there and that is why blogs are so popular these days. Especially through the services listed above, being able to help users navigate the long tail of good content. This has proved successful in the online world, lets see how it works in a daily printed paper. I’m excited to see it, and who knows, maybe it will be a way to save the paper for another few years.
On the Advertising side of things, 50 different papers will begin testing selling their extra ad inventory to people who choose to allow Google to serve their ad’s in this print form. It’s a win win in my opinion, Newspapers sell all their inventory, Google gets more ads sold, and advertisers get a good deal on newspaper ads that they receive the day before. I like it, and I think smart online advertisers will start to allow Google to sell their ads in the local paper as their are still so many people reading their ads everyday, although I don’t know how a ad can stand out in that format. It works though.
About Otis
I live in Seattle, Washington. I am passionate about working with and interacting with others. My work experience includes marketing, account management, and sales.
I am a huge sports fan who on top of cheering for my favorite teams (Go Beavs!) also appreciates coaching strategy, as well as the marketing behind teams, players, and events.
Personally, I enjoys exploring new cities and areas (particularly small towns) and getting outside and playing.