My Top 10 List for 2012 - The Good and the Bad!

As the end of the year draws near, it's the perfect time to look back at the high and low points of the year.

Top 10 List for 2012

1) The Year of the Sub-$99 Tablet - or Not!
     -I expected Amazon/Google and Apple (less-likely) to give us a sub-$99 tablet. Maybe next year.
    - But I did purchase two Kindle Fires for $129 each and an iPad Mini for Christmas.
Read: http://mediamixmaster.blogspot.com/2012/09/youll-probably-get-tablet-for-christmas.html

2) Facebook IPO - I thought that this was a sure thing and I wasn't alone. The ripples from FB's poor showing hurt investors and partners alike.
  - Peter Thiel , Li Ka-Shing , Mark Pincus , Marc Andreessen
 Mark Pincus is no longer a billionaire, according to Forbes, and his gaming company Zynga, where investors lost 73% of their investment. 
Read: http://mediamixmaster.blogspot.com/2012/08/zynga-gives-out-stock-to-retain.html
& http://mediamixmaster.blogspot.com/2012/05/facebook-drops-below-30-zuckerberg.html
& http://mediamixmaster.blogspot.com/2012/08/facebooks-ventures-into-gambling.html
& http://mediamixmaster.blogspot.com/2012/06/social-media-bubble.html


3) Apple gives away a 10k iTunes gift card to a lucky winner - Was it really a win?
   - http://mediamixmaster.blogspot.com/2012/03/apple-gives-away-10k-itunes-gift-card.html
   - http://mediamixmaster.blogspot.com/2012/03/25-billionth-app-download-was-in-china.html

4) Samsung Galaxy S III - Just when you thought that no one could compete with Apple's iPhone, but the Galaxy did just that - my staff all opted for Galaxy's and so did my wife. And their Ad campaign had to be one of the most memorable of 2012.
- Just in case you missed it! http://mediamixmaster.blogspot.com/2012/09/samsung-commercial-takes-aim-at-iphone-5.html

5) The Tesla Model S - Motor Trend's Car of the Year (2013)- And I want one. It's sexy, fast and has the right amount of technology to make this geek say oh yeah! Sure, wall street is bullish on Tesla, but this company can turn out to be the Apple of the auto industry. Let's face it - the EV market is evolving and Tesla is the reason.

6) Google Project Glass - I can't wait to try these on. While it was just "hype" I got word that a friend's dad was invited to Google to test "Glass" -  a well-respected doctor, he said they were awesome. So sign me up. Take a look a this video just in case you don't know what they are supposed to do. http://youtu.be/JSnB06um5r4
& http://mediamixmaster.blogspot.com/2012/02/google-smart-goggles-to-be-launched-by.html

7) Bad Headphones - They were everywhere this year - Dr. Dre Beats - set the mark for over-priced, mediocre tech accessories. Targeted marketing made every teenager NEED them. These headphones are more about 1970's retro-fashion and status, than performance and quality. Soon other rappers had their names appearing on "Street" by 50 Cent and "Soul" by Ludacris.

8) iMac - This thing is beautiful and represents what a computer should look like.

 
 9) The Daily Shuts Down - Rupert Murdoch attempted to redefine the traditional newspaper as we know it. He spent $30 Million to launch The Daily - a true digital publishing experiment that unfortunately failed. The Daily shut down on December 15th.
Read :http://mediamixmaster.blogspot.com/2011/04/news-corp-daily-winner.html
&  http://mediamixmaster.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-daily-makes-big-changes.html

10) From the Zeitgeist - Here are the terms that shaped our lives in 2012
- Hurricane Sandy, Whitney Houston, Olympics, Donna Summer, iPad, Homeland, Gangnam Style, Jeremy Lin, Trayvon Martin, Lance Armstrong, Junior Seau, Joe Paterno, Kindle Fire, Kate Middleton, Barack Obama, Michael Clarke Duncan, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, Nexus 7, Newtown CT. Shootings, & Big Bird.

NORAD to Track Santa on Dec. 24th

Well Santa is coming to town and you may want to track his progress. NORAD, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, has launched its annual NORAD TRACKS SANTA project. Parents can use the NORAD website or download a mobile app for Android, Windows or iOS.
The Tracks Santa app has been downloaded nearly 922,000 times through Apple’s iTunes; almost 558,000 times for Android users and approximately 2,500 times for Windows Phone 8 users.

Which Tablets are Best for Kids?

This holiday season Santa is getting millions of requests for tablets. In my house, Santa got a request for an iPad from my 10yr old. Wow! $499 - Sure, I have purchased several tablets for my use, but $499 for a tablet for my kid - and if I buy one, do I need to get a second for my 7 yr old. That's over $1,000 for two gifts - This Santa isn't feeling so good - what ever happened to Tickle Me Elmo?
So, what is a parent to do? I created a list of pros and cons. My 10 yr old, is mature for his age and enjoys reading and playing games. I decide to get him an iPad Mini for $329 - both the iPad and the mini allow parents to set restrictions on which apps can be used and what type of content can be interacted with.  One down and one to go - should I spend $329 for another mini or is my 7 yr old too young. The thought of that disappointed look on Christmas day flashed in my head - Santa couldn't disappoint. I went back to my list of pros and cons -- My geek colleagues told me the Nexus 7 was the way to go --- and I must admit that the specs and price are great. But my concern was less about screen quality and processor speed --- I wanted to be able to protect my little one.
I narrowed my product choices down to the Nook and Kindle Fire. Since I purchase everything on Amazon - the Kindle Fire was the frontrunner ,  their Parental controls and Freetime Unlimited sealed the deal. Plus the $159 price was very good, and better yet I received special offers, which reduced the price by $29.99.  This deal was so good - I purchased a second Kindle Fire for my mother-in-law.
All told, I have purchased 3 tablets and I wonder if this is the national average.

Other links:
http://mediamixmaster.blogspot.com/2012/01/where-are-99-tablets.html
http://mediamixmaster.blogspot.com/2012/10/kupa-ultranote-windows-8-tablet.html
http://mediamixmaster.blogspot.com/2012/10/ipad-mini-oct-23rd.html
http://mediamixmaster.blogspot.com/2012/09/youll-probably-get-tablet-for-christmas.html

Are Mobile Apps Stalking to Your Child?

Like many parents, I worry about my iPad being dropped by my child - more than I consider the danger of someone tracking the online behaviorial of my child via an invisible stethoscope. According to the FTC, mobile app developers (iOS and Android) are collecting information via mobile apps about your child and developing profiles about their mobile habits. Most apps did not provide any information about what data was being collected through the app and forget let alone what data is being collected, why its being collected, and by whom.
 The FTC is fighting to get software developers to provide parents with accurate information about the apps they are downloading for their kids, so that they can make informed decisions about the products they interact with. 

 

From the report:

The results of the survey are disappointing. Industry appears to have made little or noprogress in improving its disclosures since the first kids’ app survey was conducted, and the new survey confirms that undisclosed sharing is occurring on a frequent basis.

Facebook's New Messenger App Android

Facebook's Free messenger app will allow both Facebook members and non-members to send/receive messages with their phone contacts. Facebook messenger users will get messages via the app - facebook members who are not logged in will receive message once they log-in to Facebook. Sure it doesn't sound revolutionary, but it signifies a growing trend by mobile users to utilize free messaging options. Companies like Facebook and Apple are providing the app alternatives. Another popular app is Kik, which is billed as "simplest, fastest, most life-like chat experience you can get on a smartphone".

Cyber Monday Equals Low Productivity

Cyber Monday, the day when the retail industry encourages your employees to surf for internet deals. Many firms are growing concerned about lost productivity and the threat of a virus'. The concern over Cyber Monday should be equal to the concern your firm has every business day. Your internet guidelines should define the scopes and limits of what employees can and can not do - making sure that employees know that a good deal isn't worth losing your job over (if that is your stance). The protections put in place by your IT department should provide the necessary safeguards on cyber Monday as they due during the fantasy draft day for Football and Baseball.
The fact is that your employees shop at work - I have even classified it (shops@work) as a data element for a customer analysis I created for a large data aggregation company. Making cyber Monday less stressful - create a clear company policy that employees can follow.

Now on to the deals, how about a Kindle Fire for $129  - that's $30 OFF!
When you get to the page you will get a pop up for a code to enter at checkout.

FaceTime Over Cellular

AT&T has announced that it is rolling out FaceTime  to cellular customers. When AT&T broke the news to the Apple faithful it had lots cavaets -  requiring specific hardware (iPhone 5 and iPad w/ LTE) and service plans. The good news is that customers of the older iPhone 4S have reported that they are able to use FaceTime over cellular, which means that AT&T has extended its coverage to include more device (heck maybe all ).
Stay tuned!

Microsoft Windows 8 - Covering a Magazine Near You

In one of my previous post, Does Microsoft Still Matter? - I suggested that consumers are not aware of Windows 8. Step in Condé Nast - who will be featuring Windows 8 Start screen  on the covers of 14 of its titles from Allure to Wired this December. A spokesperson from Conde Nast said "no advertising dollars involved," and that the company's goal is to inform customers about its new products on Window 8. Others believe that Microsoft provided a large financial incentive to take over the sacred real estate. The media business has changed and traditional publishers need to find new ways to generate revenue and create new partnerships.  Now let's see if the covers help Microsoft.

GoodFellas Style Heist for iPads

According to the NY POST, a pair of thieves committed a robbery reminiscent of the Lufthansa heist depicted in the movie GoodFellas. Interestingly enough, this heist took place in the same building as the 1978 crime.
Late Monday night, the criminals pulled up in a trailer and gained access to the cargo area. They used  an airport forklift to load two pallets of iPad mini's, before they were spotted. The total take is estimated to be $1.5 Million, which is significantly smaller than the 1978 robbery.
But the consumer demand for Apple products has caught the attention of criminals small and larger. This crime goes beyond an individual robbery (which is scary enough), but now we are seeing more large scale / organized schemes to steal Apple products.
A comprehensive plan needs to be created to help protect consumers from having their smartphones stolen and punishments for criminals must carry stiff penalties.

Losing More Than Your iPhone

During hurricane Sandy many people resorted to charging their smartphones in their car. For people without power this was the only way to charge their phones. And as you might expect criminals were ahead of the curve in anticipated this approach. A good friend of mine had her iPhone stolen from her vehicle during the storm. When she called the phone - the thief told her "it's tough times out here".
I know several people who have had their smartphones stolen and I have heard about many others who have been robbed.
That's why I was shocked when I saw this product being advertised as a great holiday gift, the

iPhone Wallet Card Case for iPhone.

Clearly a convenience item, this product is designed to allow folks to store their cash, credit cards and Driver's license. Criminals must love it when they see one of these. This should only be given as a gift to people who you do not like.

Who is Reading Newspapers and Magazines on Tablets?

As tablets make their way in to consumers hands, reading habits are being influenced toward digital products. So what does the demographic makeup of the digital readers look like? According to Comscore, the majority are Male , 25-34 and have an annual household income of $100k+. According to their findings, 1 in 10 tablet users read a digital newspaper or magazine daily, most likely on a Kindle or an iPad. For traditional print organizations this is important news, they need to know who is actively engaging with their digital products and on which platforms. Some publishers have opted to select a specific digital platform to showcase their products, but that is a mistake. In today's environment, publishers need to have the ability to distribute their content on any and all platforms where consumers are connected to the internet.

Does Microsoft Still Matter?

The technology battle for consumers is taking place on the mobile front for most companies. Mobile devices - smartphones specifically are consumers gateway to the internet and to their social network of friends and peers.
Let's face it Microsoft isn't even in the picture anymore, but they are trying to claw their way back to relevance.
Microsoft is ready to unleash the world of Microsoft Windows 8 on consumers, which will power its next generation of devices including its Windows phone 8 and the surface tablet. Microsoft is ditching Windows Messenger for Skype,  they are also releasing a FREE Office app for iOS and Android, and have even redesigned their logo. This entire effort is aimed at re-launching a technology icon, which has seen its market share get erode by the heavy influence of consumer products from Apple and others into the enterprise market. I must admit that I find it ironic that Microsoft would release FREE apps on Android and iOS - even if they are viewer only apps. It seems to run counter to their plans to try  take market share away from Google and Apple.

I have heard positive things about Windows 8, which is good since this is the most significant update for the company since 1995 –  unfortunately I expect adoption to be slow. The simple fact is that consumers aren't even aware of the product – so Santa won't be getting many requests for the Surface tablet. On another note, developers will need to be convinced that they can earn a living developing from the new platform - they won't want to spend time developing based on analyst projections.

I do expect Microsoft to make inroads at universities – where their ability to provide security controls will make it a compelling choice - plus within a few months after sales under perform  - they will start giving product and support away for free. I am a firm believer that at the right price – a product can become the right choice, at least for a short while. I can't wait for the fire sale, so I can purchase a  Surface tablet for $99 dollars - or maybe I will get one for FREE!

In many circles, Microsoft still matters, but its market share will continue to eroded and its impact on mobile will remain insignificant.

Keep Your Mobile Device Charged During a Power Outage

Hurricane Sandy taught everyone in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut that your mobile device is the most important device you can have during a disaster. The worst problem is keeping your mobile device powered up. With widespread power lose in the tri-state area many people reverted to charging their mobile devices in their cars, which was the least safe thing to do. I purchased the ReVIVE Series Solar ReStore External Battery Pack - This small device is an excellent way to charge your device even when you are out of power. The USB out will allow you to connect an device. I charge my iPads and iPhone. I used the suction cups to connect it to my front window and 6 hours later I was ready to charge my phone. 

 

Google's Chromebook

I won't beat around the bush on this one. You simply DO NOT need this thing. Its not a laptop and its not a tablet - it requires internet connectivity to be able to do anything. Don't get me wrong this device looks great - it looks like an Apple MacBook Air , but it not a PC. If you want a computer then buy one or buy a tablet, but don't get a Chromebook unless its a secondary browsing device. Yes, there are apps available for the device, but  just like your Chrome browser on your current computer they only work unless you have  internet access. I just quite understand why Google didn't drop Android on this thing. Then we would have something to discuss.

Nexus 10 – Is Bigger Really Better?

You can say that Google is narrowing the gap by the inch as it tries to close in on Apple. Its latest product, the Nexus 10 hope to go after the iPad, not only in size, but in performance and price. The Nexus 10-inch tablet sports a 2560-by-1600 pixel density 10-inch display,  Android 4.2, and is powered by a dual-core ARM Cortex A15 processor. Best of all the 32GB Nexus 10 will sell for $499  and the 16GB model will sell for $399. The iPad sells for $599 and $499 respectively. But Apple still has a leg up on the competition - its cellular service - the Nexus 10 only comes with Wi-Fi. Both devices could help consumers by adding expandable storage.

Read More: http://mediamixmaster.blogspot.com/2012/10/google-what-to-expect-on-oct-29th.html

How Local Gov't's can Communicate with Citizens During Storms

One of my biggest frustrations during a storm is when the power goes out. I sit by my battery operated radio listening to regional and national weather related news. But I never know what is happening down the road. A product named MarkerFlare is taking aim at this very issue and not soon enough. As a sidebar, the U.S. has over 325 Million mobile phones in use. Globally there are over 6 billion mobile phones in use. Think about how this solution might have helped before the Japanese tsunami of 2011, where 95% of the population had mobile phones.

"MarkerFlare is an information publishing web app for emergencies. It was designed to be a better way to share information after Hurricane Irene and the Halloween blizzard resulted in massive communication disruptions last year. Town governments, utilities, and public services groups were told they failed miserably in communicating emergency response information and left citizens wondering what to do."

"Using any device they can get their hands on, officials can build, on the fly, public-access, local-information-only hubs if there is an emergency. MarkerFlare automatically notifies every registered user in town that the hub is active by text, email, and online posting. Because it's not a data hog it works even if infrastructure becomes degraded (two shaky bars on a smartphone). The big thing though, is its automatic information routing mechanism. Administrators can force a sign-off list that guarantees every submission goes through an approval process. Nothing gets posted until all sign-offs are complete (there's an override capability). This is a crucial part of emergency information management and unheard of in social media."
"The same mechanism also makes it possible for officials to let private citizens contribute information to the data stream and allows integration of a unique language translation approach. More and better information collection and distribution to ALL citizens, not just the ones who speak English."

Brazilian Newspapers Say NO to Google News

The National Association of Newspapers (ANJ) in Brazil has decided to stop Google from displaying headline grabs of its members content on Google News. While many media organizations around the world have threatened to pull out ANJ decided that the potential loss of internet traffic was an "acceptable price [to pay] to protect" their content and brands. The over 164 newspapers represented by ANJ contend that the amount of traffic being sent to them by Google isn't enough to justify the free use of their content with receiving payment. This is the first time an entire association has banded together against the internet giant.

The argument of whether a small snippet of content has value is at the heart of the debate. The simple fact is the Twitter answered that question a long time ago.
In an interesting reversal, Google is threatening to remove all French newspapers from its search engine, if the country passes a law requiring them to pay for the using any newspapers content online. It is referred to as the "Google Law", countries including Germany, want Google to pay publishers for displaying their copyrighted content on its News portal.

Google - What to expect on Oct. 29th

So what's on deck for Google for its product event on October 29th.
The BIG rumor news, at least for size  - a new 10-inch Nexus tablet. I haven't heard much about the details on this one, but this device is expected to challenge the iPad 3 - if it actually exists. Personally, I think Google is headed in the wrong direction with a 10-inch tablet. Tablets are all about mobility, and as the size increases it becomes less desirable to carry around. Of course, this is my personal experience of having used the Kindle DX, which Amazon is quietly eliminating from its product offering.
I used the Kindle DX for two months, before I got rid of it. Simply put, it was a chore to carry around and the device did not enhance my reading experience.
Media analyst have argued that the larger size will attract newspaper and magazine readers (new consumers who do not own tablets) is unfounded and is completely speculative. There will be a record number of tablets sold this year, but they won't be of the 10-inch variety. Lastly, with a larger size comes a larger price tag - and this will create another barrier for new customers, who are not necessarily the most tech-savvy bunch.

Also expected is the release of a 32-GB Nexus 7 tablet. This isn't big news - an SD-slot (I hope that they are adding one) would have been.

 The real news for Oct 29th will be the release of the Nexus 4 - LG's much anticipated smartphone, the Optimus G. We are talking a Quad-core Snapdragon processor, 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of storage, and a 1280 x 768 display.  Verdict: Winner!

Newsweek Abandons Print

Tina Brown calls it a transition, but its an unfortunate reaction to cost savings in the world of print media. The downturn in advertising and the limitations around new product development are driving many publishers to the last stand - All Digital. This is not some kind of metamorphosis for publishers – it's a last attempt at saving a historic media brand. Unfortunately for traditional print publishers the explosion of growth in the tablet market hasn't translated into significant revenue streams. I don't know if the technologist or the productions teams are hiding the fact that creating "cool" magazine apps is expensive and time consuming. And worst, the continued growth in the tablet market will not have a direct correlation to growth for in app magazine products.

Recently, I listened to a top executive of a well-known media organization demo his organizations latest app for the iPad. He showed beautiful images, videos, swipes and grabs. Then he looked across the audience and said isn't that "cool" - nothing that he showed was "cool" or unique from the core functionality of a tablet (or the iPad in this case). His demo illustrated the fact that only two resources were needed to produce this new product that was a significant new revenue stream for the company.
So I did some math. I took the 100k downloads he mentioned and multiplied them by the $3.99 cost of buying an issue. So $400k, not bad! Then I discounted Apple's cut  (-30%), now we are down to $280k, still not bad. But during the discussion it comes out the 6 interns are working on the apps ($15 hr)  and a group of 5 full-timers are as well. Let's say he got a good deal on resources and the 5 FT's earn $50k a yr (not likely) -  let's subtract $250k. I have forgotten about the interns at this point - let's call them "free". So his new revenue stream for this highly touted product is $30k, using very forgiving calculations.

Google's $99 Tablet Maybe Here for the Holidays

I have been beating the $99 - drum for a while, but for me it represents the sound barrier for the tablet market. Sure there are lesser-known brands available for under $99 - but performance and quality have been issue. But RUMOR-has-it, that Google is following up its Nexus 7 with a $99 model just in time for the holidays. According to Digitimes,

"The US$99 Nexus tablet is equipped with an ARM-architecture single-core processor 8950 developed by China-based WonderMedia Technologies, and a HUVA TN panel made by Taiwan-based HannStar Display, the sources said. "

Taiwan-based Quanta Computer denied to comment on whether it is producing the $99 tablet.
But the real news here is that a Google branded $99 tablet could become the holiday gift of the year - and I think on a scale of Tickle Me Elmo. Analysts expect tablet sales to increase by 60% by the end of the year and a $99 Google tablet will help that number become a reality.

Other links:
http://mediamixmaster.blogspot.com/2012/01/where-are-99-tablets.html
http://mediamixmaster.blogspot.com/2012/10/kupa-ultranote-windows-8-tablet.html
http://mediamixmaster.blogspot.com/2012/10/ipad-mini-oct-23rd.html
http://mediamixmaster.blogspot.com/2012/09/youll-probably-get-tablet-for-christmas.html

iPad Mini -- Oct 23rd ?

Mark it on your calendars, at least for this week. Barring any production delays, Apple should be unveiling its iPad Mini this month. According, to the folks at MobileGeeks.de a large German retailer has entered iPad Mini pricing into its inventory system. The iPad Mini will start at 249 euros (or $322 US Dollars) for a Wi-Fi-only 8GB model, there will also be 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB units available, with the most expensive being the $650 - 64GB cellular version (it will have to be 4G). I like to idea of a smaller tablet, the form-factor is critical to use of the device and portability. Other manufacturers are going larger and entering the 10-in arena, but I think its a  mistake.

Kupa UltraNote Windows 8 tablet

The tablet market should be booming with  next generation tablets that are leaner, meaner and less expensive. Unfortunately, consumers seem to be waiting for the next big hit. But there are signs of progress. The Kupa UltraNote Windows 8 Tablet - its the "Transformer" of the tablet market. Due out at the end of October, this unknown tablet outshines its competitors in features. Sporting a 10.1-inch 1920 x 1200 IPS display, comes with digitizer pen input with 1024 levels of pressure sensitivity, comes with 4GB of RAM - expandable up to 8GB, and you can add 64GB or 128GB of SSD storage. It even has a seven-hour battery life and allows a user-swappable battery that Kupa says will be inexpensive to replace. Through in a SIM slot for good measure in case you want to use it as a phone (the addition of a phone accessory). Now pile on an HDMI-slot, NFC, RFID, Bluetooth 4.0  two USB 3.0 slots, and HDMI out (and there's more). This tablet has my attention. No pricing has been announce so I will keep my ears open.

Silencing Your Facebook Newsstream

This morning a train buddy complained to me about how he wishes that he could silence a number of his "friends" on Facebook, so I figured that I would tell him and all of you how to quickly do that.

So when a "friend" posts something you don't want to see, simply click on the drop down to the right of the post and select "Hide". This will hide that post.

Once its hidden, you can can control all of the posts made by this individual by checking off individual post types or selecting "All Updates" for total silence. And Yes, you can always "unfriend" them.

Google Play - Not Pay for Indian Developers

Indian developers looking to release paid Android apps seem to be out of luck. Google has removed India form its list of supported countries where developers can release paid apps. This means that Indian developers can only release free Android apps. With over 500 million devices registered with Google Play - this is a real blow to Indian developers. Google hasn't said why they removed India from its list of supported countries.

Google News Celebrated a Birthday

On September 22, 2002 - Google launched Google News, which was inspired by the interest for news after the attacks on September 11th.  Today, Google News serves up in 72 editions in 30 languages and has over 50,000 news sources. Google news changed the way the world consumed news. Google made the world smaller and put a time stamp on content - People now knew that the content they were consuming was the most recent thing published and they were no longer limited by news sources. I was once told by someone, " I want my time stamp to read 2 minutes ago not 2 days ago."  - and I couldn't agree more.

Samsung Commercial Takes Aim at iPhone 5

Samsung has taken off its gloves in a presidential-style attack ad, that depicts the Apple faithful as clueless when it comes to why they select a smart phone. My personal favorite moment is when the young man who is using his Galaxy S III holds a spot in line for his retired-looking parents - But the clips of people aimlessly waiting in line rattling off new features without a clue of what any of it means is funny.

You'll Probably Get a Tablet for Christmas!

I'm a geek and I love MY gadgets. But I may be one of the few people who won't be getting a tablet for Christmas – no one in my family or Santa would dare buy me a piece of electronic equipment. For the rest of the merry masses, Santa is more likely to deliver a tablet under the tree for you this year than ever before. The products have matured and prices have dropped considerably. (see my earlier post http://mediamixmaster.blogspot.com/2012/01/where-are-99-tablets.html)
Google's Nexus is a great deal with performance to match. Amazon's Kindle line-up just got really interesting - its got a great price point ($199  for the small HD, don't buy the larger one) and the ultimate store - minus the apps. But if you have prime - a Kindle HD is a must have. Microsoft's surface looks like it will compete and Apple's upcoming Mini may still put a hole in your wallet.
But I will continue to hold out hope for faster and less expensive tablets - that won't fall apart after a few days or start displaying Chinese text while you use it.
Someone mentioned the  www.freebirdtablets.com to me - I may buy one to see if it holds up. Nevertheless, I expect Holiday season to bring tablets for the entire family from Grandma & Grandpa - down to the little ones.

iPhone 5 - It's Here.

After months of rumors and speculation the iPhone 5 is finally on sale. The Apple faithful camped out for days waiting in line around the world to be the first in line to get the much awaited iPhone. Sure its much cooler to get your iPhone at the Apple store - but some of Apple's less religious followers were at Target, BestBuy and Walmart - who also are selling the phone today. Prices for the new iPhone 5 are as follows: With a 2 yr contract - 16 GB/$199, 32GB/$299, 64GB/$399. Unlocked - 16 GB/$649, 32GB/$749, 64GB/$849.
According to analyst, Apple will ship as many as 10 million of the new iPhones by the end of September. 

Samsung Said to Unveil Windows 8 Tablet

The upcoming IFA event in Berlin may serve as an unveiling event for a number of electronics giants, who are said to be launch Windows 8 tablets. Samsung has been promoting its tablet on its Facebook page. The Samsung device will have an Intel chip, running  full Windows 8, not the Windows RT version. It will also boost an 8-megapixel back camera and a front 2-megapixel camera. Battery life will be around 10 hours.
In the end consumers will will have to chose between a number of Windows 8 tablets and price will be a huge determining factor.

Microsoft's Facelift

Microsoft is in re-branding mode, and on the heels of their Surface tablet, a new OS, new Office and a slew of other products. The once giant of the digital age has a new logo, which is aimed at re-establishing itself as a dominate player. Unfortunately, their new logo doesn't do anything for me. It doesn't say forward thinking, cutting edge or trailblazer. It yells boring and stale. Judge for yourself.

Adobe Removes Flash From Google Play

News Flash! 

 “Beginning August 15th we will use the configuration settings in the Google Play Store to limit continued access to Flash Player updates to only those devices that have Flash Player already installed. Devices that do not have Flash Player already installed are increasingly likely to be incompatible with Flash Player and will no longer be able to install it from the Google Play Store after August 15th.”

And the years of speculation are over -- you don't need Flash on your mobile device. The debate over Flash and its importance for creating a complete mobile experience is dead. Flash is only one of many Adobe products which has suffered from poor performance and security issues.  Steve Jobs, never one to look in the rear-view mirror, understood that Flash was a proprietary technology that prevented true innovation for the mobile platform. And it came as no surprise that Apple elected to support HTML5 instead of Flash. Years later, the marketplace has spoken and Jobs was right, again.

Google to buy Frommer's travel guides

Last year Google purchased restaurant guide Zagat and now it has acquired travel guide Frommer's. It should not come as a surprise that Google wants a large chuck of online travel advertising dollars, but is that all - Now with two reputable travel information sources under its brand and Google/Flights - Google is developing the next major online travel platform.   It will interesting to see how Google integrates these traditional print products into a new online digital travel platform.

Zynga Gives Out Stock to Retain Employees

On Mar 2, 201, Zynga hit its 52-week high of $15.91. Today, it opened at $2.89. After an amazing IPO, Zynga was in a great position to reap the benefits of a Facebook IPO, which didn't play out. Zynga has been in a downward spiral - complaints from employees and rejections from newly acquired talent. Pincus knows that he needs to weather this storm and he won't be able to do that without development talent, so he is taking this proactive steps to avoid a brain-drain.

also see,

http://mediamixmaster.blogspot.com/2012/06/social-media-bubble.html

http://mediamixmaster.blogspot.com/2011/07/zynga-files-for-ipo-of-up-to-1-billion.html

http://mediamixmaster.blogspot.com/2011/11/zynga-quick-rise-may-bring-about-its.html

http://mediamixmaster.blogspot.com/2012/04/zynga-stock-continues-to-slide.html

Google's Self-Driving Car Logs 300,000 Miles

With so many miles of what Google claims have been error free driving, it expects to run controlled tests shuttling its own employees to the office. Give Google credit -- its out of the box ideas are the things we dreamed of as children. I suspect that the jetsons flying car or the robot Rosie are somewhere in their dev lab. While viewed as a waste by some - this project has real world applications - by assisting the elderly and the visually impaired. We are years away from seeing this type of product in use, but it looks like Google is heading down the right road.

Facebook's Ventures into Gambling

It seems that Facebook is testing the waters with it new gaming app Bingo Friendzy, a social game which allows folks to wager with real money (you'll need to 18yrs or older and have a credit card). This could end up being a very lucrative move for the social media giant in its attempt to generate new revenue streams after a disappointing IPO.
Gamesys, one of the UK's largest gaming providers partnered with Facebook to develop the app.

"The Daily" Makes Big Changes

When Rupert Murdoch launched "The Daily" in 2011, I wondered how the digital newspaper experiment would turn out. Over a year later, the digital pub is still afloat , but it has started to shed some of its crew. During their first year "The Daily" learned a few few import things. First, Digital product production can be just as expensive as print - journalist, designers &  Developers. Second, it doesn't make sense to create your own content for sections when it can be obtained from a reputable source at fraction of the cost.Third, you still need advertisers and subscribers to succeed in a digital model.
I won't announce the slow death of The Daily - the fact is after 18-months its still around and recalibrating itself and defining a digital news model. The Daily is important experiment for the media industry.

Nexus 7 is Finally in the Hands of Consumers

Well not really consumers - the geeks are finally getting their hands on the much hyped Nexus 7. And they are putting it through its paces. As a result, the first wave of bug reports are beginning to surface.
Here is the list of issues so far:

1) Device unresponsive while performing intensive operations - as reported on Venturebeat.com. Which seems to be similiar to an issue reported about screen responsiveness after play games, and as we all know games can be considered an "intensive operation".

2) Backlight bleeding which is being caused by device display not being properly screwed in, causing them to move or dislodge. Users have reported a squeaking noise around the plastic bezel.

It sounds like there may be a few rotten Apples in the first batch of Nexus 7's , which isn't uncommon for new devices. These issues may be easily resolved by a software update and a quick twist of a screw, so by no means do these reports indicate that the Nexus 7 is a failure. I am sure that by next week someone will be complaining about device temperature and battery life. You can read my complaint about the lack of expandable storage here

iPhone 5 - The Wait Continues

It looks like we won't have a release date for the iPhone 5 this month - maybe next month or the one after that. Rather than speculate let's take a look at few cool things you can get for your current iPhone.

iGills Smart Diving

1. Let's get wet or rather keep dry - iGills Smart Diving System is a polycarbonate case (comes with an app), that turns your iPhone into a recreational dive computer/logbook - down to 130 feet. It's not cheap - this kit will set you back $330 clams!
2.  Solaveil Suncare has released a suncare app, which tracks your skin, hair and eye colour, and uses GPS from your  iPhone to identify local temperatures and UV estimates in order to give you reminder alarms.
3. Do you need help dressing when the weather isn't right - well look no further than Cloth - a weather sensitive fashion app. You can add additional weather related metadata to your outfits, so if the weather isn't cooperating you can quickly scan what you have in your closet. In my case, everything I own is at the dry cleaners.

So Where is The iPad Mini?

According to the rumor mill its in Brazil. Foxconn, the well-know electronics manufacturer will be building the new 7-inch iPad at its Brazilian plant. While the first batch of mini's may come from Brazil - Foxconn is expanding it production capabilities with a new billion dollar facility in Indonesia. Where it will provide millions of jobs and  plans to pay the folks $100 a month.

Read:
http://mediamixmaster.blogspot.com/2012/07/google-nexus-7-expandable-storage.html

Youtube a Destination For News

The Pew Research Center for Excellence in Journalism has released a study examining the most popular news videos on Youtube from January 2011 to March 2012. They were able to determine that citizen posted videos were the most viewed a third of the time, as compared to tradition media organizations. The study also sited a continuous journalistic "dialogue" between citizens and media orgainzations - where video content gets married. This mix of amateur and pro video has created a real on demand news platform - that still has credibility.

Nexus 7 Tablet - SOLD OUT!

Gamestop and other retailers are sporting "Backordered" on their Nexus 7 tablet pages. As a result, consumers should expect a 1-2 week delay. But the situation may get worse, as the popularity of Nexus 7 increases and I expect that it will. Sporting a great set of features at a low price, the Nexus 7 is in a position to disrupt both Amazon and Apple. If you are considering the Nexus 7 spend the extra $50 and get the 16GB model - you'll be happier.

Google's Nexus 7 Only Costs $152 to Make

According to All Things D, research house IHS iSuppli provided the figure after they performed a tear down on a Nexus 7. The 8-GB model sells for $199, costs $151.75 to build and 
the 16GB model sells for $249, costs $159.25 to build, the only difference is the extra memory. I have to admit that I am still upset about lack of an SD slot.
As the rumor mill continues to turn, expect to start hearing more about iPad mini and the new Kindle Fire.