Archive for September, 2007

I’m working on putting together one or more entrepreneurial ventures to keep me entertained in 2008. To both evaluate & generate ideas, I’ve put together a rough framework - below - of what I consider to be successful strategies. Any idea I’ve had needs to fit into one of these; if it doesn’t, there’s no… »

One thing that I can’t help but think as I see the sudden rush to sell unprotected MP3’s is that music will become commoditized: that is to say, competition between stores can only be on price at any given quality level (given the digitally identical product offered at all).
When there’s no opportunity to differentiate a… »

No offence to all of those who busted their asses to present at TC40 (or the demo pit, or whatever), or to those who worked hard behind the scenes to pull it all together. At the end of the day, though, TC40 sounds more and more like a TC insider-club joke, mainly because the winner… »

I’m a contrarian jerk sometimes. So when I read Seth Godin’s (who I’m a long time fan of, btw) article about Sweet Spot Marketing tonite, my hackles were raised. In it, Seth opines:
“Bloggers around the world are discovering that it’s cheaper and faster and more effective to build their own media channel than it is… »

Keegy has an interesting concept: Its a website that serves up “relevant” news by correlating what other people from your same geographic region clicked. Localization is a good buzzword to be touting at the moment - Keegy’s execution seems to be confused on a number of levels.
1. Geography? Arguably, when it comes to web browsing,… »

Someone please explain the point Groovle. This questionable service gives you the (thrilling) ability to create a browser homepage with a stock photography background and a bone stock Google search box, branded “Groovle.” Searches conducted go to …. the Google search results page with a crappy Groovle frame on the top.
Check it out, Charlotte Bobcats… »

Podclass is another startup in the online course/learning space. Like video upstarts SuTree or 5min, Podclass aims to be a community oriented clearing house of online courses; unlike other options, however, Podclass goes beyond video, and wraps a paid-content model around it all:
Podclass has been designed to enable multiple users to collaborate on any topic… »

Ahhh, FireAnt - the little company that couldn’t just got bought by another company that couldn’t (ODEO, bought by Sonic Mountain) for $400k.
I first posted about FireAnt in April, where I pointed out that their branding was confusing, their traffic was petering out, and that not having either the old or the new player available… »

Jennifer Stoddard, Canada’s “Privacy Commissioner” (charged with protecting the public’s privacy) is apparently doing a “heck’uva job,” having identified Google Street View as potentially impinging on Canadian’s privacy, while in the meantime Industry Canada has convened a secret panel to overturn internet wiretapping laws:
“It is extremely disappointing to see that the departments continue to… »

Yesterday I opined that Apple “got it” - and indeed, in most ways they do.
However: Apple doesn’t acknowledge that technologically savvy early adopters can see through “Value Proposition Engineering.” Case in point: the ipod Touch, identical to the iPhone in hardware and software (phone & bluetooth excepted) cannot “add” an appointment to its calendar (despite… »