Friday, October 17, 2008
Wall Street Bailout and The Mustang Ranch
From a viral email...
Bail Out Effectiveness Questionable
In 1990, the United States Government seized the Mustang Ranch brothel in Nevada for tax evasion and, as required by law, and took over its operation. The business failed and was closed down.
Now we are expected to trust the economy of our country as well as ownership in some of its banks to a bunch of nit-wits who couldn’t make money running a whore house and selling booze?
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Ever Wonder Why The GOP Never Gets More Than 10% of African American Votes For President? The Reason Is People Like This
The official newsletter of the Republican women's group in California's Inland Empire ran this as the cover illustration.
As you can imagine, there were some who felt the imagery might perhaps possibly be construed as racist. Presumably the watermelon, ribs, and fried chicken. On a food stamp. I know, it's pretty subtle, so you can see how group head Diane Fedele might have completely missed the nuance here.
The few African American women in the group certainly did find it troubling.
All this is reported here in the Press Enterprise web site. The shocked head of the group insists the imagery was not racist.
Fedele had this to say:
"It was strictly an attempt to point out the outrageousness of his statement. I really don't want to go into it any further," Fedele said in a telephone interview Tuesday. "I absolutely apologize to anyone who was offended. That clearly wasn't my attempt."
Actually Diane, the word you were looking for is intent. Remember that the next time you accuse anyone of not speaking English to your presumably lofty standards.
Diane went on, and made it worse.
Fedele said she got the illustration in a number of chain e-mails and decided to reprint it for her members in the Trumpeter newsletter because she was offended that Obama would draw attention to his own race. She declined to say who sent her the e-mails with the illustration.
She said she doesn't think in racist terms, pointing out she once supported Republican Alan Keyes, an African-American who previously ran for president.
"I didn't see it the way that it's being taken. I never connected," she said. "It was just food to me. It didn't mean anything else."
Oh my. The article goes on:
Hector Barajas, the party's press secretary, said the party chairman likely will have a conversation with Fedele, and Barajas will attend the statewide California Federation of Republican Women conference this weekend in Los Angeles to handle any news media there to cover the controversy.
The newsletter is not the first such episode Barajas has had to respond to this week. The Sacramento Bee on Wednesday posted an image it said was captured from the Sacramento County GOP Web site that showed Obama in a turban next to Osama bin Laden.
It said: "The difference between Osama and Obama is just a little B.S." The site also encouraged members to "Waterboard Barack Obama," a reference to a torture technique. The Sacramento County party took down the material Tuesday after being criticized.
As you can imagine, there were some who felt the imagery might perhaps possibly be construed as racist. Presumably the watermelon, ribs, and fried chicken. On a food stamp. I know, it's pretty subtle, so you can see how group head Diane Fedele might have completely missed the nuance here.
The few African American women in the group certainly did find it troubling.
All this is reported here in the Press Enterprise web site. The shocked head of the group insists the imagery was not racist.
Fedele had this to say:
"It was strictly an attempt to point out the outrageousness of his statement. I really don't want to go into it any further," Fedele said in a telephone interview Tuesday. "I absolutely apologize to anyone who was offended. That clearly wasn't my attempt."
Actually Diane, the word you were looking for is intent. Remember that the next time you accuse anyone of not speaking English to your presumably lofty standards.
Diane went on, and made it worse.
Fedele said she got the illustration in a number of chain e-mails and decided to reprint it for her members in the Trumpeter newsletter because she was offended that Obama would draw attention to his own race. She declined to say who sent her the e-mails with the illustration.
She said she doesn't think in racist terms, pointing out she once supported Republican Alan Keyes, an African-American who previously ran for president.
"I didn't see it the way that it's being taken. I never connected," she said. "It was just food to me. It didn't mean anything else."
Oh my. The article goes on:
Hector Barajas, the party's press secretary, said the party chairman likely will have a conversation with Fedele, and Barajas will attend the statewide California Federation of Republican Women conference this weekend in Los Angeles to handle any news media there to cover the controversy.
The newsletter is not the first such episode Barajas has had to respond to this week. The Sacramento Bee on Wednesday posted an image it said was captured from the Sacramento County GOP Web site that showed Obama in a turban next to Osama bin Laden.
It said: "The difference between Osama and Obama is just a little B.S." The site also encouraged members to "Waterboard Barack Obama," a reference to a torture technique. The Sacramento County party took down the material Tuesday after being criticized.
The Village People Are Alive and Well...In Mississippi!?!
It's apparently not "Go West...", it's "Go South."
When all else fails for Republican Senator Roger Wicker in Mississippi, you roll out the 70s disco stars. An aside: My friends, we live in a magical age when MISSISSIPPI has a real Democratic challenger in Ronnie Musgrove doing well enough that the GOP must pull out the Village People!
I capital L LOVE the gargantuan moustache on the leather guy. Actually more Colonel Sanders than SOMA man. ;-)
And what's that I see in the back? A Playboy bunny in conjugal embrace with a butch lesbian? All stops are pulled out, people!
One point of information: are cows FOR beef processing plants?
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
When all else fails for Republican Senator Roger Wicker in Mississippi, you roll out the 70s disco stars. An aside: My friends, we live in a magical age when MISSISSIPPI has a real Democratic challenger in Ronnie Musgrove doing well enough that the GOP must pull out the Village People!
I capital L LOVE the gargantuan moustache on the leather guy. Actually more Colonel Sanders than SOMA man. ;-)
And what's that I see in the back? A Playboy bunny in conjugal embrace with a butch lesbian? All stops are pulled out, people!
One point of information: are cows FOR beef processing plants?
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
From Steve Peace: How to Sell an Unpopular President
Another great post from consumer and entertainment expert Steve Peace:
-----
On Friday, Oliver Stone’s biopic of George W. Bush will open in theatres, nationwide. The question that might be fairly posed is, “does anyone, at this point, want to spend two more hours of their life witnessing the tragedy that is George W. Bush?” It’s extraordinary that the movie has been made, given that Bush is still a sitting president. That is unprecedented. And, it’s possible only because Bush’s approval ratings are so dismally low. It could be strongly argued that Bush has done more to harm the office of the Presidency than any feature length satire could, which takes the gloves off for filmmakers like Mr. Stone.
But, given that Bush’s approval rating is so low, who is the audience for this film?
This creates a quandary for the marketers of this film. Liberals would be an obvious target to go after, but there very well might be a high degree of fatigue among Liberals for anything having to do with Bush. They’ve been reading about his global missteps for the past eight years and there is the risk that this film cuts a bit too closely to the bone. It might feel like salting what is still a very open wound to watch W. while he’s still in office.
On the other hand, although conservatives have fallen out of love with W, they don’t necessarily want to pillory the guy, especially by watching a film by a notoriously liberal filmmaker.
The response by the film’s marketing team has been interesting. In all of the trailers and posters the movie is pitched as, “Josh Brolin is....”. His performance, his ability to play this extremely public figure, his impression of Bush is the pitch. It’s a well known SNL tactic. The Tina Fey impression of Sarah Palin is a prime example of how a succinct satirizing caricature can sell. But, will an impression of Bush be enough to sustain interest in a film that lasts two hours? On Friday we’ll find out.
There might be a recently emerged behavioral dynamic that could aid the film. To me, it seems that the period of time between the occurrence of an event and the retelling of that event has become shorter and shorter in America . Technology is at least partly to blame. With a digital camera you can take a picture of your friends playing twister and immediately share with them the legitimizing shot of them ‘having fun.’ An event has greater meaning if it becomes a part of the media landscape, even if that landscape is one’s online photo album. Technology allows folks that aren’t typically targets of media coverage to experience this sensation. Is it too early to hash over the Bush years? Perhaps the attenuated cycle of event and retelling of event could be the saving grace for a film that tells a story we all know only too well as we count the days until the time it will thankfully end.
-----
On Friday, Oliver Stone’s biopic of George W. Bush will open in theatres, nationwide. The question that might be fairly posed is, “does anyone, at this point, want to spend two more hours of their life witnessing the tragedy that is George W. Bush?” It’s extraordinary that the movie has been made, given that Bush is still a sitting president. That is unprecedented. And, it’s possible only because Bush’s approval ratings are so dismally low. It could be strongly argued that Bush has done more to harm the office of the Presidency than any feature length satire could, which takes the gloves off for filmmakers like Mr. Stone.
But, given that Bush’s approval rating is so low, who is the audience for this film?
This creates a quandary for the marketers of this film. Liberals would be an obvious target to go after, but there very well might be a high degree of fatigue among Liberals for anything having to do with Bush. They’ve been reading about his global missteps for the past eight years and there is the risk that this film cuts a bit too closely to the bone. It might feel like salting what is still a very open wound to watch W. while he’s still in office.
On the other hand, although conservatives have fallen out of love with W, they don’t necessarily want to pillory the guy, especially by watching a film by a notoriously liberal filmmaker.
The response by the film’s marketing team has been interesting. In all of the trailers and posters the movie is pitched as, “Josh Brolin is....”. His performance, his ability to play this extremely public figure, his impression of Bush is the pitch. It’s a well known SNL tactic. The Tina Fey impression of Sarah Palin is a prime example of how a succinct satirizing caricature can sell. But, will an impression of Bush be enough to sustain interest in a film that lasts two hours? On Friday we’ll find out.
There might be a recently emerged behavioral dynamic that could aid the film. To me, it seems that the period of time between the occurrence of an event and the retelling of that event has become shorter and shorter in America . Technology is at least partly to blame. With a digital camera you can take a picture of your friends playing twister and immediately share with them the legitimizing shot of them ‘having fun.’ An event has greater meaning if it becomes a part of the media landscape, even if that landscape is one’s online photo album. Technology allows folks that aren’t typically targets of media coverage to experience this sensation. Is it too early to hash over the Bush years? Perhaps the attenuated cycle of event and retelling of event could be the saving grace for a film that tells a story we all know only too well as we count the days until the time it will thankfully end.
CruxLux: Now You Can SEE The Controversy!
I love new search engines, especially when they offer something truly different. And CruxLux certainly does. The focus of this search tool is to uncover and visually display discussion and controversy by mapping perspectives visually, and letting users explore the highlighted content via previews.
In this case, a picture is worth about a million words, so here you go. Here's the results page for my search on health care.
Like nodes are posted close together, while content of a different variety or perspective are shown farther away. By moving the magic window around in the inset screen at the top left, you can view all the nodes.
When you click on a node or "crux", you get a preview that looks like this:
Click again and you go to the page you previewed.
CruxLux has other cool features as well. Here's how their web site describes their whole package:
About Us
The world harbors a virtually infinite jumble of ideas and perspectives. Cruxlux helps people navigate and make sense of it all.
Products
Our mission is to support the exploration of ideas. To this end, we so far have released three main interrelated products:
(1) Perspective-based search engine that provides a map of web content arranged by viewpoint,
(2) Debate platform accessible from all across the web that is able to expose the crux of disagreements, and
(3) Unique micropayment system to support bloggers and site administrators.
While what we've built so far is useful, it's just a start. We're quickly working towards a vision where we collect and truly integrate ideas stated by anyone anywhere, ground the public discourse, and provide a financially self-sustaining platform for it.
I'll be anxious to see what else they have in store. Cuz this is truly innovative. And useful for when you want to see a variety of perspectives on a topic...quick like. People, this ain't no Google knockoff!
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Nine Reasons…Not To Panic About The Economy And Its Effect On The Ad Biz
Gloom and doom have taken over the blogosphere. Here are nine reasons not to panic.
9. The Digital Advertising CW Always Overshoots Everything
The conventional wisdom in our business is always ridiculously polarized. We don’t like things, we love them with the very fiber of our being. And then three months later we despise them like child molesters. The bipolarity of the CW is absolutely absurd in our business. People are totally overreacting.
8. Panic Doesn’t Help
To succeed in this kind of environment, you need your wits, you need to be rationale. You can’t be rational if your head is filled with metaphorical scythe blades.
7. You’re In The Right Sector
Digital advertising is going to be less negatively impacted. That’s an absolute certainty. Brands still need ways to connect, and TV/Print aren’t getting any better at that, while digital is.
6. There Will Always Be a Need For The Best And Brightest Of Our Industry
If you’re good at what you do, the industry will need you. It doesn’t mean that smooth sailing in your career is guaranteed, but if you face setbacks, you’ll get back on your feet quickly.
5. By Working Together, You and Your Team Can Win
Collaboration is the secret to success in our business. There are lots of prerequisites to success in the business, but they pale in comparison to the ability for teams to come together and create better marketing experiences together. A jittery economy makes us all need each other more. Those that take that need and put it to healthy use are going to make great things happen.
4. This Ain’t 2001
The dot bust of 2001 was much deeper for digital than any possible downturn now will be. Why? Because back in 2001 very few companies/brands with money actually understood or believed in digital. Heck, most didn’t even acknowledge the potential of digital. Now digital is recognized by all as the future of media and marketing. If the lines on the eMarketer charts only go up 12% instead of 40% a year, they’re still going up. Now, you tell me any other business that has lines going up for the foreseeable future.
3. Use This Period As An Opportunity to Reconnect
Too many people in digital (and in many other businesses) sacrifice personal lives and relationships for the work. It can be tempting, given that we’re in the most exciting and remarkably dynamic industry around. But environmental changes such as this give us an opportunity to reassess what’s important. And the people in our lives are more important than our meteoric career plans or the next social media opp.
2. A Little Media Opp Culling Isn’t Necessarily a Bad Thing
There are a lot of dumb ideas out there masquerading as media opps. 400 ad networks? I’m guessing that our industry can make it with just 300. ;-) Thousands of social media networks? I’m guessing 900 will do just fine. ;-)
1. The Digital CW Always Overshoots Everything
Did I mention this already? ;-)
Thanks for reading, and don’t forget to write.
Interview Thursdays! Q&A With Content Creator And Expert Marc Ostrick
This week our Q&A is with Marc Ostrick, the creative genius behind many pieces of video content that you have doubtless enjoyed over the years. I was fortunate enough to get to meet Marc for the first time about two months ago, and have been a daily visitor to his blog ( http://onlinevideojunkie.blogspot.com ) ever since. He is a remarkably culturally perceptive guy, and his broad range of experience in so many different kinds of content makes him a great go-to person on the topics of creativity and the future of online video.
And with that intro, here's...Marc.
1. I like to start these by having people introduce themselves. Can you tell us a little about your background?
I was born the son of a sharecropper… Wait, that’s for another article. My background has always been arts-related. I went to a high-school of performing arts in Miami where I was a theater major. At NYU, I studied film and TV as well as English Literature. After graduating in ‘95, I headed west to Los Angeles and started working in the entertainment industry.
My first gig was straight out of the film SWIMMING WITH SHARKS. I was a Development Assistant at New Line Cinema, working for the Director. Even though I was psychologically abused, it was a tremendous learning experience. I was in the belly of the beast and get a deep understanding of how Hollywood worked. After about a year at New Line, I got an opportunity to travel the world, co-writing, producing and directing PRESERVING THE LEGACY, an environmental documentary series for PBS. That’s where I got to really cut my teeth making documentaries. Once that series wrapped, it was 1999 and that’s when I jumped head-first into creating content specifically for the Internet. From there, one endeavor led to the next. I’ve made feature documentaries, the first mobile phone series for the TV show 24, worked as a new media producer with David Milch on HBO’s JOHN FROM CINCINNATI.
I find it hard to talk about my background in interviews. I feel like I just ramble on… Is it cool if people just check out my bio online at http://ostrickproductions.com? It’s fun for the whole family.
2. How has online video changed the creative process in Hollywood? Our industry talks a lot about the money aspects of the change – monetization rights and all that. But I’d love it if you focused on how Hollywood is changing creatively?
I’m not sure that online video has changed the creative process in feature films. It has definitely opened the eyes of how features can be promoted or marketed to media savvy consumers. This can be done through websites that create communities, as well as through viral videos and social networking communities. I think the BLAIR WITCH PROJECT was the first example of how online content can create significant buzz. Also, the new BATMAN movie had some really interesting online video components.
But I think where we are seeing the evolution of the creative process happening is in the television industry. This is mainly because it is inevitable that these two platforms are converging into one medium. So, I think TV show creators and development executives are now experimenting with extending the narratives of their stories online. I am more interested in organic ways that these TV shows are breaking free of their constraints and creating original video content that helps get audiences to get a deeper appreciation for their characters and themes of their shows. It’s really about how these two mediums can interact with each other to create an engrossing story. Cross-platform programming is the very unsexy term that I've recently heard thrown out there to describe this type of content.
Finally, online video is changing the creative process in television through the development process of new shows. Instead of spending tons of money on a handful of pilots, TV execs are starting to make lower-budget webisodes as a way to test the waters. It’s more of an incubator model. I think this could work if networks give these online series enough monetary and marketing support. Production is still production. It needs to be done right and with good actors. Otherwise, if the rationale is only to save money, it’s the wrong motivation and the content will suck.
3. Has online changed the concept of celebrity, and what defines a celeb? Let me bait you a little here, and ask why in 2009 instead of Grace Kellys we have Paris Hiltons?
Here’s an SAT analogy – Grace Kelly is to Scarlett Johansson as Paris Hilton is to Betty Page. I think there were always various kinds of celebrities out there. It’s just that the Betty Pages of today are getting much more attention than they did back in the days of old. The reason for that is that our culture seems to be more interested (or obsessed) in scandal, voyeurism and salacious behavior than in class, elegance and intelligence. I blame George Bush. In terms of online, I also blame the incredible success of websites like Perez Hilton and TMZ. Kids just eat this stuff up because it is so easily accessible. And unfortunately, we all love watching train-wrecks. It’s just that in today’s world, we are much less ashamed to admit it.
4. I keep hearing people talk about the need to do more storytelling in online media. I get what a story is, but what do you think people are really yearning for when they say that?
This is a great question and I think it can easily become a topic for a much deeper conversation, but here’s my take – I think attention spans have been so destroyed since the advent of MTV, people are starting to wonder about how to find “meaning” in what they watch, read and hear. Stories have become so fragmented, people are yearning for something to hold onto, something that allows for deeper thought and emotions. It’s like cooking sauce. You have to let it marinate to really appreciate the flavors. Regarding online media, I also think it is harder to create deep storylines and invest emotionally in characters when you only have three minutes. I’m not saying it can’t be done, but you have to really have a compelling story concept, characters and visual style to get the audience to connect. One of my mentors, David Milch, would say, “Form predicts content, and content tests form.” Meaning, that if you are creating a web series, you know that the form is - usually - several minutes length, the screen is smaller than television, the audio mix has to be brighter, etc., right? The form is predicting the type of content you are going to make. But then, the content you create has to test the boundaries of that form. It has to push the envelope. That’s our job as storytellers.
5. In TV advertising, it seems as if the trend is to focus more on the idea and less on production values. Would you agree with that assessment, and are you seeing the same trend in content?
The tide is turning with that as well. As larger companies start to get into producing web content, we are starting to really see a jump in production values as well as the caliber of performances. It really is starting to feel like some of these webisodes could be shown of television. Check out DR. HORRIBLE’S SING ALONG BLOG for an example of what I am talking about. It was created by Joss Whedon and stars Neil Patrick Harris. Another great site that features high-quality content is Crackle.com. The site is part of Sony Entertainment so they got bucks to make sure the content is looking up to snuff.
6. I know that you have a passion for great ideas and great video. How do you find the best from the billions of videos out there?
Various ways – reading the newspaper, trade publications like Variety, searching out cool blogs that focus on video content, and YouTube is always a good way to waste time.
7. Perhaps the most ubiquitous trend in online is the concept of democratization – the triumph of the “wisdom of crowds” over a small cadre of culture defining experts. Is “democratization” a good thing for the entertainment industry? What can experts offer the wise crowds?
Democratization is always a good thing in whatever form it comes in. Sometimes it just takes a while for the “wisdom of crowds” to get up to speed on their newfound freedoms. For creating video, the most important lesson for the masses is learning the craft. Learning a craft takes time and patience, but anyone can do it if they practice. That doesn’t mean that the stories will be any good, which is essential in making engaging, dynamic videos. But at least people can technically deliver - learn how to light a scene, shoot coverage, get good audio while shooting, ways to work with actors, etc… This will help people prepare themselves for when the right script comes along. Which is a whole other discussion – making sure you have the right script or idea when you finally decide to push the record button is crucial. Without the right concept or script, you’re dead. But thankfully, there is also a ton of material out there to help aspiring writers learn their craft as well. Practice, practice, practice. It never hurts.
8. So, one really intriguing trend in entertainment to me is that more and more entertainment ideas are going global. We’ve got Sri Lankan Idol, an American The Office, and Ciento Mexicanos Dice (Family Feud). So here’s my question: are entertainment themes global? Could a Little Britain work in the US? Does Law and Order work in Singapore? Can the origin of Desperate Housewives be found in Venezuelan novellas?
Sometimes yes and sometimes no. There are certain subjects that are unique to the particular culture, but most great ideas have universal appeal. Is it a good idea for creative content to be treated like franchise restaurants? I’m not sure…
9. As a follow up, it strikes me that American entertainment gets exported a lot, and we sometimes import themes, but we rarely import actual programs for air on TV. Why do you think that is? Are we xenophobic or provincial?
Yes, I think we are, on the most part, a xenophobic nation especially when it comes to video entertainment. We really don’t care about other cultural forms of entertainment – or even other cultures for that matter. It’s sad but true. For the record, I am a huge fan of Manu Chao - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzgjiPBCsss. I also think there is a market for sophisticated crowds who really like foreign films and world music, but it’s sad it has never really caught on with the masses.
10. So, as my second to last question, can you give us a few videos you think rock the house? Feel free to set them up with a sentence or two. Or not.
You have to check out my blog for that one.
http://onlinevideojunkie.blogspot.com
11. Finally, is there an idea you can leave us with to help us foster greater creativity online?
For aspiring video and filmmakers, I just encourage you to keep making content for YOURSELF. Make sure that you love what you are making and that you are doing it because you have no choice. Making videos to become famous or rich is not the right reason to be spending all the energy needed to create stories. It has to be out of a true desire to express yourself and ideas.
For those who are seeking great content, just keep your curiosity alive and keep your eyes open. There is great stuff out there. Sometimes it just takes time to find it.
Thanks, Marc.
And with that intro, here's...Marc.
1. I like to start these by having people introduce themselves. Can you tell us a little about your background?
I was born the son of a sharecropper… Wait, that’s for another article. My background has always been arts-related. I went to a high-school of performing arts in Miami where I was a theater major. At NYU, I studied film and TV as well as English Literature. After graduating in ‘95, I headed west to Los Angeles and started working in the entertainment industry.
My first gig was straight out of the film SWIMMING WITH SHARKS. I was a Development Assistant at New Line Cinema, working for the Director. Even though I was psychologically abused, it was a tremendous learning experience. I was in the belly of the beast and get a deep understanding of how Hollywood worked. After about a year at New Line, I got an opportunity to travel the world, co-writing, producing and directing PRESERVING THE LEGACY, an environmental documentary series for PBS. That’s where I got to really cut my teeth making documentaries. Once that series wrapped, it was 1999 and that’s when I jumped head-first into creating content specifically for the Internet. From there, one endeavor led to the next. I’ve made feature documentaries, the first mobile phone series for the TV show 24, worked as a new media producer with David Milch on HBO’s JOHN FROM CINCINNATI.
I find it hard to talk about my background in interviews. I feel like I just ramble on… Is it cool if people just check out my bio online at http://ostrickproductions.com? It’s fun for the whole family.
2. How has online video changed the creative process in Hollywood? Our industry talks a lot about the money aspects of the change – monetization rights and all that. But I’d love it if you focused on how Hollywood is changing creatively?
I’m not sure that online video has changed the creative process in feature films. It has definitely opened the eyes of how features can be promoted or marketed to media savvy consumers. This can be done through websites that create communities, as well as through viral videos and social networking communities. I think the BLAIR WITCH PROJECT was the first example of how online content can create significant buzz. Also, the new BATMAN movie had some really interesting online video components.
But I think where we are seeing the evolution of the creative process happening is in the television industry. This is mainly because it is inevitable that these two platforms are converging into one medium. So, I think TV show creators and development executives are now experimenting with extending the narratives of their stories online. I am more interested in organic ways that these TV shows are breaking free of their constraints and creating original video content that helps get audiences to get a deeper appreciation for their characters and themes of their shows. It’s really about how these two mediums can interact with each other to create an engrossing story. Cross-platform programming is the very unsexy term that I've recently heard thrown out there to describe this type of content.
Finally, online video is changing the creative process in television through the development process of new shows. Instead of spending tons of money on a handful of pilots, TV execs are starting to make lower-budget webisodes as a way to test the waters. It’s more of an incubator model. I think this could work if networks give these online series enough monetary and marketing support. Production is still production. It needs to be done right and with good actors. Otherwise, if the rationale is only to save money, it’s the wrong motivation and the content will suck.
3. Has online changed the concept of celebrity, and what defines a celeb? Let me bait you a little here, and ask why in 2009 instead of Grace Kellys we have Paris Hiltons?
Here’s an SAT analogy – Grace Kelly is to Scarlett Johansson as Paris Hilton is to Betty Page. I think there were always various kinds of celebrities out there. It’s just that the Betty Pages of today are getting much more attention than they did back in the days of old. The reason for that is that our culture seems to be more interested (or obsessed) in scandal, voyeurism and salacious behavior than in class, elegance and intelligence. I blame George Bush. In terms of online, I also blame the incredible success of websites like Perez Hilton and TMZ. Kids just eat this stuff up because it is so easily accessible. And unfortunately, we all love watching train-wrecks. It’s just that in today’s world, we are much less ashamed to admit it.
4. I keep hearing people talk about the need to do more storytelling in online media. I get what a story is, but what do you think people are really yearning for when they say that?
This is a great question and I think it can easily become a topic for a much deeper conversation, but here’s my take – I think attention spans have been so destroyed since the advent of MTV, people are starting to wonder about how to find “meaning” in what they watch, read and hear. Stories have become so fragmented, people are yearning for something to hold onto, something that allows for deeper thought and emotions. It’s like cooking sauce. You have to let it marinate to really appreciate the flavors. Regarding online media, I also think it is harder to create deep storylines and invest emotionally in characters when you only have three minutes. I’m not saying it can’t be done, but you have to really have a compelling story concept, characters and visual style to get the audience to connect. One of my mentors, David Milch, would say, “Form predicts content, and content tests form.” Meaning, that if you are creating a web series, you know that the form is - usually - several minutes length, the screen is smaller than television, the audio mix has to be brighter, etc., right? The form is predicting the type of content you are going to make. But then, the content you create has to test the boundaries of that form. It has to push the envelope. That’s our job as storytellers.
5. In TV advertising, it seems as if the trend is to focus more on the idea and less on production values. Would you agree with that assessment, and are you seeing the same trend in content?
The tide is turning with that as well. As larger companies start to get into producing web content, we are starting to really see a jump in production values as well as the caliber of performances. It really is starting to feel like some of these webisodes could be shown of television. Check out DR. HORRIBLE’S SING ALONG BLOG for an example of what I am talking about. It was created by Joss Whedon and stars Neil Patrick Harris. Another great site that features high-quality content is Crackle.com. The site is part of Sony Entertainment so they got bucks to make sure the content is looking up to snuff.
6. I know that you have a passion for great ideas and great video. How do you find the best from the billions of videos out there?
Various ways – reading the newspaper, trade publications like Variety, searching out cool blogs that focus on video content, and YouTube is always a good way to waste time.
7. Perhaps the most ubiquitous trend in online is the concept of democratization – the triumph of the “wisdom of crowds” over a small cadre of culture defining experts. Is “democratization” a good thing for the entertainment industry? What can experts offer the wise crowds?
Democratization is always a good thing in whatever form it comes in. Sometimes it just takes a while for the “wisdom of crowds” to get up to speed on their newfound freedoms. For creating video, the most important lesson for the masses is learning the craft. Learning a craft takes time and patience, but anyone can do it if they practice. That doesn’t mean that the stories will be any good, which is essential in making engaging, dynamic videos. But at least people can technically deliver - learn how to light a scene, shoot coverage, get good audio while shooting, ways to work with actors, etc… This will help people prepare themselves for when the right script comes along. Which is a whole other discussion – making sure you have the right script or idea when you finally decide to push the record button is crucial. Without the right concept or script, you’re dead. But thankfully, there is also a ton of material out there to help aspiring writers learn their craft as well. Practice, practice, practice. It never hurts.
8. So, one really intriguing trend in entertainment to me is that more and more entertainment ideas are going global. We’ve got Sri Lankan Idol, an American The Office, and Ciento Mexicanos Dice (Family Feud). So here’s my question: are entertainment themes global? Could a Little Britain work in the US? Does Law and Order work in Singapore? Can the origin of Desperate Housewives be found in Venezuelan novellas?
Sometimes yes and sometimes no. There are certain subjects that are unique to the particular culture, but most great ideas have universal appeal. Is it a good idea for creative content to be treated like franchise restaurants? I’m not sure…
9. As a follow up, it strikes me that American entertainment gets exported a lot, and we sometimes import themes, but we rarely import actual programs for air on TV. Why do you think that is? Are we xenophobic or provincial?
Yes, I think we are, on the most part, a xenophobic nation especially when it comes to video entertainment. We really don’t care about other cultural forms of entertainment – or even other cultures for that matter. It’s sad but true. For the record, I am a huge fan of Manu Chao - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzgjiPBCsss. I also think there is a market for sophisticated crowds who really like foreign films and world music, but it’s sad it has never really caught on with the masses.
10. So, as my second to last question, can you give us a few videos you think rock the house? Feel free to set them up with a sentence or two. Or not.
You have to check out my blog for that one.
http://onlinevideojunkie.blogspot.com
11. Finally, is there an idea you can leave us with to help us foster greater creativity online?
For aspiring video and filmmakers, I just encourage you to keep making content for YOURSELF. Make sure that you love what you are making and that you are doing it because you have no choice. Making videos to become famous or rich is not the right reason to be spending all the energy needed to create stories. It has to be out of a true desire to express yourself and ideas.
For those who are seeking great content, just keep your curiosity alive and keep your eyes open. There is great stuff out there. Sometimes it just takes time to find it.
Thanks, Marc.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Joe the Plumber Interview!!! Click It Or Miss It
Katie Couric gets an interview with Joe the Plumber. Who compares Obama to ... Sammy Davis. You can't make this stuff up.
Watch CBS Videos Online
Watch CBS Videos Online
A Soccer Ball Aimed Squarely At Caribou Barbie
I have only two more weeks to point you toward cheap shots at Sarah Palin. So today I direct you to this post by Chris Schwarze at Digital Two-Footed Tackles.
Maaaaaaverick!
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Maaaaaaverick!
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
New York Times Open Developer API - How Cool Is That!
Read Write Web has announced that the New York Times is launching its first API, for finance data. Close on its heels will be movie reviews.
RWW says it's a big deal and I totally agree. As we move from a world in which people seek out content and ideas in physical publications and places online to an environment where content and its presentation are shaped to the desires of the user, steps like this are a huge leap forward.
NYT is clearly recognizing that they are essentially a database of dynamic content rather than a tangible thing like a paper or a site. Ergo, their brand of content can be consumed in virtually limitless ways in the future.
I repeat, how cool is that!
The New Windows WIll Be Called...7???
"To heck with it. Just call it Product 19."
Aw jeez, just decide...or I will. I christen thee "Formula 409."
I imagine those words having been said in conference rooms at Kellogg's and Clorox respectively when the products described above were but gleams in a marketer's eye.
So, Tech Crunch had a post yesterday where they unveiled that the new edition of Windows will be called...
...drumroll please...
Windows 7.
A very logical addiiton to a family line that goes (to the best of my recollection...
Windows 1
Windows 2
Windows 3.1
Windows NT
Windows 95
Windows 98
Windows 2000
Windows XP
Windows Vista
So clearly 7 is the next logical thing.
As Grandma used to say, "You can tell a lot about a person's mind by what they put on their jelly jars.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Aw jeez, just decide...or I will. I christen thee "Formula 409."
I imagine those words having been said in conference rooms at Kellogg's and Clorox respectively when the products described above were but gleams in a marketer's eye.
So, Tech Crunch had a post yesterday where they unveiled that the new edition of Windows will be called...
...drumroll please...
Windows 7.
A very logical addiiton to a family line that goes (to the best of my recollection...
Windows 1
Windows 2
Windows 3.1
Windows NT
Windows 95
Windows 98
Windows 2000
Windows XP
Windows Vista
So clearly 7 is the next logical thing.
As Grandma used to say, "You can tell a lot about a person's mind by what they put on their jelly jars.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
From TPM: Obama Emailing and Texting 18% of Ohio
Post swiped from TPM here. By Greg Sargent
---
Buried in the new ABC/Washington Post poll of Ohio is a fascinating number that sheds some light on what the Obama camp has accomplished with new media organizing.
The poll finds that an astonishing 17% of Ohio voters say they've received a text message or email from the Obama campaign.
Ohio has 8.2 million registered voters now. So that means the Obama campaign has reached around 1.4 million voters by text or email in Ohio alone.
What makes that even more impressive is that these voters aren't merely passive recipients of texts and emails -- some of them are organizing, too.
Tim Tagaris, the former Web director for Chris Dodd and Ned Lamont, knows about online organizing, and he says this is a very big deal, which means it is a very big deal.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
---
Buried in the new ABC/Washington Post poll of Ohio is a fascinating number that sheds some light on what the Obama camp has accomplished with new media organizing.
The poll finds that an astonishing 17% of Ohio voters say they've received a text message or email from the Obama campaign.
Ohio has 8.2 million registered voters now. So that means the Obama campaign has reached around 1.4 million voters by text or email in Ohio alone.
What makes that even more impressive is that these voters aren't merely passive recipients of texts and emails -- some of them are organizing, too.
Tim Tagaris, the former Web director for Chris Dodd and Ned Lamont, knows about online organizing, and he says this is a very big deal, which means it is a very big deal.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
White Paper Wednesdays: Segmentation Made Simple
Another great white paper from Brand Amplitude, this one about Segmentation! By Carol Phillips and Judy Hopelain. Download it here!
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
White Paper Wednesdays: What Appeals to Millennials: Ten Brands That Hit The Mark
A great white paper on the brand likes of Millennials, and the whys of how some brands connect with this elusive and fickle audience, and some don't.
This paper was written by Carol Phillips, a brilliant strategist and President of Brand Amplitude, a strategy and research consulting firm based in Michigan. Carol is oft quoted in the trades, and for good reason: she's laser beam sharp. I suggest you download the paper, and then sign up for their newsletter, which is very valuable and -- imagine this -- only comes out when there's real news to tell you!
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
This paper was written by Carol Phillips, a brilliant strategist and President of Brand Amplitude, a strategy and research consulting firm based in Michigan. Carol is oft quoted in the trades, and for good reason: she's laser beam sharp. I suggest you download the paper, and then sign up for their newsletter, which is very valuable and -- imagine this -- only comes out when there's real news to tell you!
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Kidzui: What Parents Need to Keep Kids Safe Online
I have been intrigued by the world of kid’s social media since it debuted. In my view, a number of companies have done a good job of it, particularly in the virtual world’s space. I speak in particular of the Barbie site, Cartoon Doll Emporium, and Disney’s Club Penguin.
But beyond that segment, real innovators are harder to find. I liked the “ecircles” model of Jitterfingers and others, though one would have to be prepared for a somewhat slower traffic build when by design a site only lets so many people connect.
But when I saw Kidzui, I have to say that I was quite impressed. Kidzui is essentially a kid safe browser that gives kids a broad range of content and the liberty to pursue lots of types and sources of content, but without taking serious risk online.
Here’s how they describe themselves to parents on their site:
KidZui is a kid’s browser with access to over a million websites, pictures and videos reviewed by teachers and parents like you.
KidZui has all the sites and games kids love and tons more. It’s a fun, safe and engaging environment that rewards curiosity and builds independence.
KidZui does not create content. It comes from all over the Internet – over a million kid-friendly websites, videos and pictures and it’s growing every day. KidZui is built by real people who care about kids. Over 200 trained teachers and parents have reviewed and approved sites, videos and pictures using a rigorous content selection process. And our reviewers don’t just approve content, they categorize it for age-appropriateness and by topic.
As a parent, you will receive weekly e-mails that will keep you up-to-date with what your kids are searching for and looking at on KidZui.
Use the Parent Account on KidZui.com, accessed from any browser to tune in to what your kids think is cool and to plan family activities around their evolving interests.
KidZui is free for all kids to use. We do, however, offer a membership option which provides kids and parents with many additional features.
KidZui is a customizable Internet for Kids built from the ground up. We have trained teachers and parents on staff reviewing content around the clock so the Internet for Kids never stops growing. And KidZui is ad-free.
Within its prescreened world are over 1 million pieces of content – games, web pages, YouTube videos, and more.
How do they pre-screen? Well, I was very impressed by their multistep process, including both technological and human culling:
STEP 1
Content, including websites, pictures, games, and videos, is brought in for editorial review because computer algorithms have determined it is likely to be appropriate for kids. The algorithms immediately eliminate any items that include content KidZui would never allow—profanity, for example.
STEP 2
A reviewer thoroughly investigates the content to be sure no unsatisfactory elements exist, and essentially catches anything an algorithm cannot. This ensures that reviewed content is consistent with our content guidelines.
STEP 3
The content is labeled if it includes any of the topics that KidZui has identified as sensitive. The labels are used because KidZui wants to let parents choose whether or not this type of content is ok for their kids. Every topic has been defined for each age group, and parents can see what those definitions are when deciding whether the content will be available to their children.
STEP 4
The content is now assigned to the proper age range. Editors work from developmental checklists when assigning age. They always select a minimum, but they do not necessarily have to enter a maximum. For example, content might be marked as appropriate for kids 8 years and older, or it could be marked as best for children ages 5-7. The goal is to provide “just right” content that will never frustrate a child for being too hard or too "babyish".
STEP 5
The content is given a name. Key words that match the content are entered, so that a child searching for the topic of the content will see it on demand. The content is also added to a “category”, and placed with other content that is similar, thus ensuring that a child searching for something particular can see all pictures, videos, and web sites in his or her age range on that topic.
THE RESULTS
The content is now available in the KidZui browser. We know it is appropriate. We know what age child will see it. We have even categorized it so that kids can find it easily.
The topic of kid safety is a very big deal. Here’s a vid of a Today Show segment that discusses the topic and Kidzui:
Because of the many safety features of this environment, I can see some parents availing themselves of the option to “set it and forget it.” But Kidzui also offers some excellent features for involved parents to keep track of everything their kids are doing. Kidzui can see weekly emails outlining the activities in which their kids participate, and they can also access a dashboard that provides real time info on the things their kids are doing online.
A basic level of service is free, while $8 a month premium membership enables the user a broader set of features and levels of customization. Additionally, parents can add individual sites that the Kidzui site hasn’t reviewed yet – for example, the site of the local school or church.
As you can tell I really like Kidzui. It definitely meets a need without giving kids the sense that they are being shut off from the world. Check it out yourself!
Thanks for reading, and don’t forget to write.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
LeadVine: Your Connections Are Worth Money!
It's not what you know, it's who you know. That's the adage and its largely true. And a new service called LeadVine helps people get in touch with the folks they want to reach, and helps the connected make money by bringing people together.
This is how it works: You identify someone you want to know, and how much you want to pay for the connection. And someone who knows the connection gets in touch with you and gets the introduction done. The fee gets exchanged. Easy peasy.
Here's some text from their web site:
We help you find new customers
LeadVine is where you post sales leads you are searching for, list a referral fee, and have the community act as your sales force.
- Increase sales
- Outsource your sales process
- Lower marketing, advertising, and recruiting costs
- Did we mention all of this is free?
Make money by giving referrals
Do you come across information that is not valuable to you but valuable to someone else? Get paid for information that is at your finger tips.
- Earn easy money
- Leverage your existing network to help companies increase sales
- Make money for information you have at your fingertips
- Spend a minimal amount of time earning extra cash
Here's an example post:
Based upon the listings I found in the system, people appear to be using it for general connections -- not specific individuals. So, for example, the post above. It doesn't appear to be getting used to talk to John Smith EVP at Sun Microsystems or something. There are also a number of job posts that reward people for connecting companies to people with specific skill sets.
It's a cool model, and I think it shows a lot of promise.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Remorial.com: Permanent Online Memorials
So, we live in a changed world, and apparently the way of death has changed as well. A site called Remorial.com gives people the ability to make permanent memorials for people they care about.
Here's their self description from their website:
Here's their self description from their website:
A Remorial is a permanent online profile of a person who has passed that is created by a loved one or a friend. The profile is intended to tell the life story of an individual as well as allow visitors to share memories about the individual through pictures and stories. We have future plans to include audio and video content as well. Our goal at Remorial is to help you create an everlasting, high quality tribute for someone you care for to celebrate their life.
A new site, the makers of Remorial have created a few celeb Remorials to give you a sense of what you can do. Here are some screens from a Remorial for Heath Ledger:
I'm too old to think of anything digital as permanent, but this site really does offer a service to people looking for ways to recognize the outstanding people in their lives. We all matter to others.
Their model is free for the launch, but based upon site text I am guessing that there will be some sort of hosting fee in the future. Hard to imagine how an ad model would work here.
Thanks for rerading, and don't forget to write.
I'm too old to think of anything digital as permanent, but this site really does offer a service to people looking for ways to recognize the outstanding people in their lives. We all matter to others.
Their model is free for the launch, but based upon site text I am guessing that there will be some sort of hosting fee in the future. Hard to imagine how an ad model would work here.
Thanks for rerading, and don't forget to write.
PopTent Debuts: Connecting Brands and Content Makers In a Collaborative, Engaging, and Lucrative Environment
You all know I love the folks at XLNT Ads. Well, a powerful new initiative has debuted from them, and it is definitely worth your time and attention. Full disclosure: We occasionally do projects for XLNT Ads.
So what the heck is PopTent, anyway? Well, the core concept is right there in the brand name, a big tent of brands and content producers that come together to build brands and make great video in powerful, cooperative ways.
Here's their promo video, which will give you the spirit of this community:
There's a lot more to PopTent than my capsule summary text above. First, the environmnet offers producers a real honest to goodness HD player on which to showcase their productions. They can also store, organize and make their great content available in a far more attractive and user friendly environment than the ole 'Tube.
Second, the activity nucleus is around assignments from brands and organizations interested in connecting with great content producers on important projects. There is an opportunity to earn real money from these brands!
Users can keep track of activity on the site through groups on most social networks, tracking producers and brands just like friends.
PopTent has gotten some remarkable buzz since its launch, here are a few excerpts:
Mashable:
PopTent is a new social networking platform for independent and freelance filmmakers and videographers where they can collaborate on projects and earn income as well. Members (also known as Creators) create their profile as they do on other social networks and showcase their talents by sharing their videos online. Potential clients (known as Brands on the site) can hire any member after seeing their profile or work. Members can follow brands or projects just like they do on Twitter and Facebook.
Tech Cunch:
Poptent, a startup that crowdsources advertising to the public, has just launched in public beta. The site allows advertisers and brands to post requests for an ad, which are then produced and submitted by the pool of small studios and videographers that make up the site’s members. Poptent is a sister site to XLNTads (also launching today), which focuses more on the brand marketers rather than video creators.
Poptent CEO Neil Perry says that while Poptent is designed to encourage submissions from its thousands of members, it isn’t going for the “YouTube crowd”. Instead, it’s focused on catering to small but professional teams capable of producing TV-quality ads.
To participate on the site, advertisers pay Poptent a fee of around $25,000, and then post guidelines as to what they’re looking for, along with assets like company logos. Poptent members then film and submit their ads to the site. If an advertiser finds an ad they like, they can purchase it for around $5-7,500 (oftentimes they will purchase multiple ads at once).
It's about brands and content producers and unleashing creativity. And it's about time that someone figured out a great way to bring these folks together.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Thanks To iMedia For Running My "7 ways to ensure an emerging platform's success" piece
I love them loads for running my stuff! And because they are great people. Really more the second than the first, though having both is nice!
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Are There Really Obama Ads in Video Games?
This post on GigaOm provided the following screen shot (from another blog called Game Politics), and posited that it is possible that the Obama campaign is indeed advertising in video games, in this case Burnout Paradise.
If true (it could be a faked screen) it is a truly remarkable development, and I for one am proud that a teeny tiny fraction of my $4,600 to the campaign went for this. I love this as a way of reaching young men in their element.
The ESRB rating is 10+ which seems plausible - if it were a mature game I would now it was a hoax. According to Wikipedia, ESRB 10+ rating means:
E10+ — Everyone 10+: Contains content that is considered unsuitable for children under 10 years of age. Titles in this category may contain more cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language, animated blood and/or minimal suggestive themes. The ESRB introduced the E10+ rating on March 2, 2005; Donkey Kong Jungle Beat being the first game to receive this rating. Examples for E10+ games are Madagascar, Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy, Mario Strikers Charged, and The Legend of Spyro Trilogy.
In other words, less controversial content than a Law and Order episode. The title is also a more than 500,000 seller, so real time ad insertion is very likely as well.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Chunk-It Makes Easier Work of Research
As a research wonk, I have a baited breath fascination and anticipation for any web tool that promises to make it easier to find things. I pride myself on the ability to find ANYTHING, and I mean ANYTHING online. If its out there, I can get it -- legally of course.
So when I read about ChunkIt on RWW, I headed right over.
The service is a browser extension for Firefox and MSIE that essentially previews results so you can find exact matches for your needs. Their intro video uses the example of a boombox, a word with multiple meanings. Your browser screen gets split in two, with the official results of your search engine of choice on the right, and the previews in the Chunkit window on the left.
In that left window, you click on the highlighted word in context and the page appears in the right hand side with the paragraph containing the clicked word highlighted. Oh, let me show you with pictures.
1. Search (in this case in Yahoo for Android)
2. Your Yahoo search results appear on the right, and the Chunk-It content chunks on the life.
3. By clicking on a chunk in the left hand column, the page appears on the right with the content area highlighted:
The demo is rather long, but the quality of the service is quite good, so it is worth your time.
Here's what their launch release said about the need for an offering like this:
According to research by Microsoft, roughly a third of Web searches don't get answered correctly on the first search and first click. Usually searchers find the information they want eventually, but that often requires multiple searches or clicks on multiple search results. A main cause for this problem is that a
search result may look promising based on its short description, but instead it turns out to be irrelevant when the actual page is visited, resulting in wasted time. ChunkIt! saves searchers time by exposing the contents of the search results so that they can determine which results best align with their intent. In
addition, by reviewing the contents behind the search results, users may easily identify other keyword combinations to further refine their searches and gain better results. ChunkIt! helps everyone save time, whether you are a shopper, student, teacher, parent or business professional, by making almost any search task on the Web faster and easier, including:
• Online shopping – ChunkIt! shows the keywords users are looking for in item descriptions and product specifications, saving lots of time in online comparison shopping on sites like eBay and Amazon.
• Academic research – ChunkIt! seamlessly previews the valuable contents stored within the links of research sites like LexisNexis, JSTOR, ScienceDirect and Wikipedia.
• Searching news sites – ChunkIt! makes it easy to find stories about the specific topics users are
looking for on news sites with countless links like the Drudge Report, ESPN.com and Perez Hilton.
• Reading blogs – ChunkIt! makes it easy to review which blog posts contain the subject matter users are looking for without needing to read through every single post.
• Classified items and apartment hunting – ChunkIt! lets users dig deep into Craigslist to find classified items and apartments with the features they want in a snap.
• Investment analysis – ChunkIt! takes the hassle out of looking through the countless pages of SEC financial filings.
It's a very effective tool. The offering worked best for me on search sites than on content sites, which RWW found as well.
Give it a try, it's a nice way of improving the effectiveness and efficiency of your research.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
T Mobile G-1 AppleSlayer?
Invincibility is a myth. And perhaps, just perhaps iPhone 3G is no exception. What brings that thought up right now? Well, here's an excerpt from ReadWriteWeb:
Apple may want to be keep a close eye on the sales of T-Mobile's G1 device. The G1 will be the first mobile phone to hit the market running Google's Android mobile OS. This may also be the mobile phone that puts a serious dent in Apple's iPhone sales. The G1 won't officially be available until October 22. Apparently no one wants to experience the same shortage and chaos as those who anxiously waited to get their hands on the iPhone 3G. Reports are in that up to 1.5 million G1 devices have been pre-sold and you can bet that more will be coming in.
Here's why I am impressed. ATT = the number one carrier. T Mobile is number 4, and not what you would call a hip innovator brand. I've always thought of them as a good value brand, not one that attracts tech geeks from the Valley.
So 1.5 million phones pre-sold, and this a full 10 days before the release date. While I have never studied preorders carefully, I would expect the rate to reach a crescendo as we get closer to the date.
Bravo Google, TMobile, and HTC for what appears to be a remarkable future launch.
The Expense Tracker: Voice 2 Money Management
How appropriate is the timing of this post. As Rome burns in Lower Manhattan, it's perhaps time for you to learn about The Expense Tracker, a tool to help people better manage their finances.I found out about them from a post on Tech Crunch.
With a service like Quicken, you have to type in all your expenses every day. Not so with The Expense Tracker. Instead, you call in your expenses as you pay them, and the service transcribes them into your budget. Kinda cool, hunh? You are a lot likely to catch every expense when you input it orally at or near the time of payment.
The offering is from a company called PMC Worldwide, which has developed the technology to enable audio management of a variety of life tasks, like calendaring.
Here's how they describe themselves:
Everyday millions of Americans wake up to another overwhelming day and feel like they just can’t get ahead. People were working all day long and then coming home and instead of spending time with their families, kids, friends or doing things they liked….they were spending time being data entry clerks on their computers with follow-up for the day…notes, setting up calendar for next day, entering contacts, tasks/actions, writing reports, sending email, entering receipts, and more.
VOICE2insight spent the next two years writing software and creating a phone based product that would allow people to just dial an 800# and talk all their details they needed entered into the computer, i.e. Contacts, calendar, and task updates, dictate letters, notes, reports, emails, expense reports and more…
There is a cost, making this one of the few companies I have written about in the last 30 days with a rev model I understand:
$59.70 for 6 months ($9.95 per month) plus a one-time $9.95 setup fee
$14.95 per month plus a one-time $9.95 setup
The positioning is interesting - they claim that through accurate accounting you will be able to "find" money that can be better spent. I think that is absolutely true if you do the math. $3.50 per latte times 5 times 52...
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Mufin is Cooking Up Tasty and Satisfying Music Recommendations!
(Mufin is as tasty and singularly good as this baked treat!)
I am not a big music person, which is to say that I like what I like, and have a bit of difficulty discovering new things that I like. Also, in fairness to offerings like Launch, it's probably difficult to peg someone who wants to hear Erykah Badu, traditional Irish, and dreadful poppy pop all in the same sitting.
So I was rather skeptical about Mufin, a new music discovery service that uses characteristics of the songs you like to help you find other songs you may enjoy. I am going to quote a rather large chunk of their press release because it does a great job of explaining their offering -- and in actual understandable language!
Unlike current music discovery applications or Internet radio stations that are
based on popularity in the mainstream, community recommendations and
subjective editorial references, Mufin is focused squarely on a song’s musical
characteristics and construction to encourage greater diversity in music
discovery. Mufin employs sophisticated audio identification technology that was
co-developed at the Fraunhofer Institute, the creators of the MP3 format. Mufin
generates a unique ‘fingerprint’ for each song based on more than 40
characteristics such as tempo, instruments, sound density, and rhythm structure.
To uncover new music, users simply search for their favorite song or artist in
Mufin's database which has millions of songs from major and independent artists.
In a split-second, Mufin's music discovery engine presents a selection with songs
that sound similar using semantic algorithms that determine unique audio
fingerprints for each track. Users are also able to listen, purchase, or create
playlists featuring their new musical discoveries.
Additionally, Mufin’s dashboard gives people the opportunity to uncover new
songs and artists by checking out the latest tracks, fresh discoveries and top
searches within the Mufin community.
The interface is pretty sweet, with the signature Mufin telling you when the service has suggestions to offer based upon your likes. Here's a typical chunk of interface.
So, I typed 20 different performers into the system. Note I used RiverDance as a surrogate for trad Irish because frankly my love of penny whistles is rather uncommon and I felt it would be unfair to judge a service based upon my quirks.
Anyway. Every single solitary time I clicked on a Mufin muffin, I found something I liked. Actually made a shopping list for five of them.
I'm guessing the rev model is a cut of the sales they drive. And I think that will be darned lucrative!
This service if Betty Crocker, Duncan Hines, and Pillsbury Doughboy all rolled into one good! It is from scratch good! Triple chocolate good. Oh, enough of that, you get the idea.
They are in private beta, so sign up for a PW and give it a try when an invite comes through. You'll be mighty glad you did. Bake yourself happy, my frien'.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
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