Apple Fails to Innovate on their “Hobby”
September 2, 2010 by admin · View Comments
There’s a new box for your HDTV that sells for well under $100, streams premium content over the Internet from Netflix, Amazon, and Major League Baseball, and even supports “apps” like Pandora. Think it’s from Apple? Think again.
The Roku HD
Two years ago upstart Roku started selling a set top box that did nothing but stream Netflix to televisions. Early this year the company rolled out an update that added significantly more new content to the device, with 50 app-like “channels” already out and many more on the way. Roku is just one of many startups selling devices that bring Internet content to televisions.
Everyone expected Apple to throw the gauntlet down this week on the fledgling IPTV industry’s scrappy startups with a long awaited update to the AppleTV.
The online rumor mill buzzed with anticipation as yesterday’s announcement drew near, with many “in the know” claiming the next version would be a revolutionary departure from the current product, running the same software that powers the iPhone and iPad. Geeks throughout the world were already dreaming up the television-based apps and using phrases like “[this] will change everything.”
That turned out not to be the case.
The new AppleTV
Apple CEO Jobs instead introduced a less expensive and scaled down product that removed the internal hard drive found in the original and switched to a rental only model for purchasing content that alienated most television networks. The only new feature added was Netflix streaming capability. Yawn.
The new device will sell at $99, half the price of the old one. And while that’s a great deal for an Apple product, it’s more expensive than the innovative Roku.
Is the AppleTV a total dud? Definitely not. It’s almost a no brainer for those with large content libraries purchased through iTunes. It will stream previously purchased content off of Macs, PCs, and even iPads and iPhones to an HDTV.
But for those without much purchased content, the $69 Roku HD is worth serious consideration. The Amazon streaming service works wonderfully on the device and is priced competitively with Apple’s iTunes.
And there’s more competition on the way. The makers of Boxee, a free software based TV product for computers, will offer the aptly named the “Boxee Box” later this fall, and Google will have an IPTV product available from a number of manufacturers later this year and next.
For once Apple is finding itself behind the rest of the market. While the industry stakes are high, these sub-$100 devices take out much of the risk for consumers. This will be a fun battle to watch.
The Roku HD is available now for $79 through Amazon (affiliate link). The new $99 AppleTV will be released later this month and is available for pre-order at Apple’s website.
2010-08-29 Weekly Twitter Update
August 29, 2010 by admin · View Comments
- Recording This Week in Media, great topics this week! #
- Windows 95 was released 15 years ago today. Not sure why I remembered that but I did
. # - . @fortyseven Pretty amazing how we were born in a time when we only knew about 8 er.. 9 planets. Now we know of hundreds. in reply to fortyseven #
- Microsoft to spend over $500m to catch up to iPhone, Android http://bit.ly/9wGtl5 #
- What a beautiful day here in Ct http://yfrog.com/3d96ajj #
- ipad + bluetooth keyboard = killer app. Total netbook killer. #fb #
- I just became the mayor of Pip on @foursquare! http://4sq.com/bYBvlS #
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2010-08-22 Weekly Twitter Update
August 22, 2010 by admin · View Comments
- RT @TechCrunch: comScore: Facebook Now The Third Largest Video Site In The U.S. – http://tcrn.ch/cBD0Is by @leenarao #
- So macro it's micro! RT @ProPhotoRental: This is some of the most amazing "photography" we've ever seen http://bit.ly/b1KXr5 #
- Astounded by how many people are using the Facebook "like" button we set up on LocalOnlineNews.TV. #
- I just became the mayor of Region 4 Schools Central administration office on @foursquare! http://4sq.com/9hzqP0 #
- . @davemooney The wifi is the only thing Delta does right. Hopefully @southwestair will get the wifi going soon. in reply to davemooney #
- Here's Steve Jobs' way of saying sorry: http://yfrog.com/7d82vxj #
- If the Apple II has a special place in your heart, pick up this great new piece of hardware when it's ready: http://bit.ly/9xk0zg #
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2010-08-15 Weekly Twitter Update
August 15, 2010 by admin · View Comments
- HP aims to measure Twitter influence | Beyond Binary – CNET News http://j.mp/bwiGeQ #
- CT Politics Fans: I'll be on CT-N's coverage of primary results tomorrow night starting around 7ish. http://ct-n.com/ #
- How you know you're relevant: Apple's ousting of iPhone division manager getting more press than HP CEO's sex scandal. #
- TSA confiscating an average of two guns per day at security checkpoints: http://bit.ly/ajCA8I #
- Voter turnout is low for today's primary according to reports. Make your voice heard and choose our choices for November! #
- RT @badbanana: I thought that JetBlue flight attendant story was really cool until I found out the plane was on the ground. #
- My ride is here: http://bit.ly/byxRPU Hat Tip to @ctcapitolreport #
- RT @NASAWatch: Sean O'Keefe and His Son Survived the Crash http://nasawatch.com/archives/2010/08/sean-okeefe-and.html #
- I'll be on CT-N tonight talking about #ctprimary all night, tune in! #
- Tune in live to @localonlinenews and @ctnewsjunkie for a live audio stream of primary results! Http://localonlinenews.tv #
- Congrats to @danmalloyCt ! #
- About to go back live on ctn, tune in! #fb http://yfrog.com/13ufsej #
- Terrible news.. RT @Middletownpress: Valuable artifacts may be lost in CT River Museum fire http://tinyurl.com/2evo2ls #
- I haven't tweeted all day today. #
- RT @JimMacMillan: SLASHDOT: Can Twitter and Facebook Deal With Their Dead? http://bit.ly/cbC0BM #
- Went the entire day before I realized it was Friday the 13th. Hiding in my basement the rest of the night, see you in the morning. #
- Google this week went from being one of us to one of them. #
- Star Trek designers imagined the iPad first: http://bit.ly/9gshU7 #
- Finally, the force comes to Blu Ray: http://nyti.ms/cITgpf h/t to @jasonhackett #
- A million geeks cry out,soon to be silenced by a DMCA takedown notice. Lost footage from Return of the Jedi: http://bit.ly/au850D #
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2010-08-08 Weekly Twitter Update
August 8, 2010 by admin · View Comments
- . @ckirby21 I had something similar (though not as fancy) at my wedding, people are still talking about them . in reply to ckirby21 #
- Canadian friends: Recommendations for prepaid sim cards? I'm visiting this week. #
- I just became the mayor of Breadalbene Inn on @foursquare! http://4sq.com/aha8Rq #
- Google selling out? So much for not being evil… http://j.mp/944fAq #
- Google's silence on this morning's NYTimes story is very disappointing. Expected more transparency from them. #
- Odd that all Google can respond with is a Tweet. They should be all over this, clearly something is up: http://tcrn.ch/dpWC6j #
- RT @jayrosen_nyu: Senators want WikiLeaks excluded from the shield law; can't say I blame them. Stateless means stateless. http://jr.ly/4kwg #
- RT @stevelettieri: Ep 195 of This Week in Media is out w/ @DaisyWhitney @1timstreet @alexlindsay & me! Listen here: http://ow.ly/2lXzQ #
- It's time for Constant Contact to support webkit browsers.. #
- Haven't turned on my television in a month, iPad commands my attention now. How about you? #
- RT @TechCrunch: AT&T Says Loss Of iPhone Exclusivity Will Not Materially Impact Earnings, Cue Laugh Track – http://tcrn.ch/aw9m4i #
- We're doing an experiment with the @smcmancave guys, broadcasting live! Tune in. http://bit.ly/coOq3i #
- Tune in live to an audio test we're doing for CTNewsJunkie/SMC: http://bit.ly/coOq3i #
- Join us live for a test of a live audio broadcast: http://bit.ly/coOq3i #
- RT @doughardy: Join us for Sunday Morning Coffee – LIVE Podcast – 8 a.m. http://lnk.ms/CLw1T #
- The @smcmancave guys are broadcasting live right now on CTNewsJunkie.com : http://bit.ly/90i4Ev #
- Arguing the virtues of the Volt in the #sundaymorningcoffee chat room: http://bit.ly/90i4Ev #
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2010-08-01 Weekly Twitter Update
August 1, 2010 by admin · View Comments
- . @CTLightandPower is doing a poor job informing Essex and Westbrook customers as to when our 18 hour outage will end. #
- . @jen_mcfadden Legal maybe, but it doesn't look like it restricts Apple from trying to restrict circumvention. in reply to jen_mcfadden #
- CS5's content aware fill is magical. #
- . @KillerMinnowVFX It's certainly not perfect but it just saved my butt on a really tight deadline . 20+minutes of work became seconds. in reply to KillerMinnowVFX #
- The legalization of "jailbreaking" iPhones/iPads is a big deal. But it is also legal for Apple to continue blocking jailbreak hacks #
- RT @ebertchicago: Fortune says 3D future is shaky, consumers hate higher prices,turning back to 2D when given the choice. http://j.mp/cct50R #
- RT @TechCrunch: The Chevy Volt Is Now Officially On Sale For $41K MSRP Minus Up To A $7,500 Tax Credit – http://tcrn.ch/cY0Ohg #
- . @DeltaBlog The Shangri La is on Oahu, not the Big Island. in reply to DeltaBlog #
- Last Vegas startup buys the rights to newspaper content in order to sue infringers: http://bit.ly/9Yjeul #
- RT @jayrosen_nyu: is the rise of Wikileaks as "stateless news organization" a good or a bad thing? http://jr.ly/4k5x #
- . @mpppg What's interesting about the iPad is that its utility is realized post-purchase
. I use it more than my laptop at home now. in reply to mpppg # - Two out of the three YouTube videos of mine with > 10,000 views feature my dog. Maybe I'm in the wrong line of work. #
- . @mpppg Here's my favs: Evernote, Reeder (rss), GoodReader (PDFs), Air Video, Pages, Numbers, and looking forward to Omnifocus! in reply to mpppg #
- Putting a deposit down for a Chevy Volt tomorrow! #
- Going to lease the Volt. Range on subsequent models will most surely increase over time. #
- RT @MikeBloxham: iPad and other related chat with @1timstreet, @lonseidman, @shwood and myself on This Week in Media http://ow.ly/2jhnY #
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The Ineptitude of Delta Airline’s Twitterers
July 27, 2010 by admin · View Comments
Delta Airlines receives regular and mostly deserved thrashings on Twitter. So much so that it looks like the company is taking action by putting a customer service agent to work monitoring the Twittersphere (but only between the hours of 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. EST M-F).
Earlier this afternoon the Delta Blog twitter account announced that they posted a Hawaiian travel guide. Given that I’ve been there a few times and very fond of the place, I decided to check it out.
It was then that I discovered that they mixed up the location of the Shangri La in their post, attributing its location to the Big Island when in fact it’s on Oahu.
The Shangri La house is on Oahu, not the Big Island
So being the good samaritan that I am, I sent a reply tweet to the Delta Blog account to point out the error. To my surprise I received this back shortly thereafter:
It’s almost like a robot replied it happened so quick with such a generic response. After checking back and the blog post didn’t change, I thought perhaps I should let the Delta folks know I wasn’t just making conversation. Here was their response:
A Brick Wall...
Think it made a difference? Nope. As of 9:30 p.m. the site still has the incorrect information.
This is petty, I know. But like my prior experience with Best Buy, it shows that executing a corporate Twitter presence poorly is just as bad as not having one at all.
2010-07-25 Weekly Twitter Update
July 25, 2010 by admin · View Comments
- Lightening strikes twice today outside our building : @wtnh http://yfrog.com/ncgr1j http://yfrog.com/ncaicbj #
- My Comcast Internet is down and my Verizon mifi keeps dropping its connection. Ironically my iPhone 4 on AT&T is rock solid. #
- Happy Giant Leap Day!! http://bit.ly/RXFuy #
- Getting ready to record This Week in Media with @daisywhitney , @1timstreet, and @davidbloom . #
- Internet is down at my home office so I'm recording This Week in Media from a utility closet in a warehouse. Very spartan. #
- I'm generally don't care about full site ad takeovers but CNN's homepage looks horrific today. #
- Once again a tweet to Comcast saves the day, Internet is back. They remain the most effective twitterers on the web. #
- Apple says what recession? Posts a $3.25 billion quarterly profit. http://tcrn.ch/bee1Ji #fb #
- Wow @Scobleizer is really amped up over a new iPad app due to hit tonight. #
- RT @Scobleizer: The world is about to change. iPad owners you will want to stay up late tonight. #
- One thing that @flipboard needs is a 'local' section. Automated curation of hyperlocal content would make this a killer app. #
- . @Scobleizer FlipBoard makes Twitter lists relevent in reply to Scobleizer #
- Fun to watch Nimoy and Shatner correspond over Twitter: RT @TheRealNimoy: @williamshatner Very quiet on your end…..busy ?? #
- The place I call home! RT @thetrough @matt_pc: This a.m. I was in Essex, most Conn. town ever… #
- Thank you! RT @stevelettieri: Enjoyed a fun lunch with @lonseidman today talking digital media, sci-fi, and lots of other stuff! Thanks Lon. #
- At least Kindle is on multiple platforms:RT @TechCrunch: Amazon Strikes Sweet Exclusive Deal – Good For Them, Bad For..http://tcrn.ch/d4tJ7t #
- . @JimMacMillan Odd that a device that has a built in homing device is getting stolen so frequently isn't it? in reply to JimMacMillan #
- RT @alexlindsay: This Week in Photo has an App in the App Store. it's nifty iOS4 goodness (streams in Background, etc). http://bit.ly/bgUVRS #
- Less televisions, more ipads for LG : http://www.macrumors.com/2010/07/23/lg-struggling-to-keep-up-with-ipad-display-demand/ #
- Apple Takes on Droid X With Latest Smartphone Antenna Video http://j.mp/cXifNW #
- . @SteveSpott Almost as bad as the Cisco Routers with hacked firmware that was 'phoning home' in reply to SteveSpott #
- But he's not giving it back.. RT @ABC: City Manager Making $800K Quits http://bit.ly/b8aduj #
- Google responds to the FTC on the future of journalism. Great summary from @jeffjarvis – http://bit.ly/bECgvh #
- RT @1timstreet: Chatroulette Threatens Perverts With Police http://bit.ly/b5bzTC via @NewTeeVee's @jank0 #
- . @Rosenblumtv you'll need an adapter, but it should work. Check this out: http://bit.ly/cIuU2W in reply to Rosenblumtv #
- . @Rosenblumtv Here's another promising iPhone rig – http://bit.ly/3OwGsN in reply to Rosenblumtv #
- I'd document my life today for the YouTube filming day, but I'm really not doing anything particularly interesting today. #
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2010-07-18 Weekly Twitter Update
July 18, 2010 by admin · View Comments
- Wow that's one serious looking killer robot: http://bit.ly/cAhIKC #
- Looking forward to meeting everyone tomorrow at #swct ! I'll be on the 1:30 p.m. panel talking about @localonlinenews #
- RT @newmediajim: the future of TV journalism http://is.gd/dpvSC #snark #
- Award winning soccer theatrics: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ioyt2zzm530 #
- How many worlds will be born here? http://j.mp/cxv9Ue #
- . @SGgrc your review of @lastpass was great, learned about many features I didn't know about. Paid my $12 today to thank them. #
- I just ousted @ebjones_203 as the mayor of Citizens Bank on @foursquare! http://4sq.com/acm1dI #
- Great #swct panel discussion with @ElmCityParent: @rickhancock @seeclickfix @newhavenindy and Olwen Logan today. #
- Great logic. RIAA Paid $16M+ In Legal Fees To Collect $391K http://bit.ly/dvznZC #
- . @SGpad another great @lastpass feature, their iPad browser allows for changing the user agent to avoid getting mobilized sites. #
- Brilliant earned new media strategy by the @oldspice folks: http://bit.ly/b9Ajuq #
- My iPhone presser prediction: Apple to give away bumpers to those who ask, include them in box on all new phones. @scobleizer #
- Apple's made enough margin on the bumpers already to absorb any real cost for giving them away. #
- . @GeorgeColli your thoughts on the Sonic burger? I'm a fan of Five Guys and of course In and Out. How does this compare? in reply to GeorgeColli #
- Storm Troopers and @darthvader apprehend the princess on a subway. Thankfully they left their blasters at home: http://bit.ly/dB5IDK #
- . @RickWolff the funniest part is that the acronym was completely unintentional! in reply to RickWolff #
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2010-07-11 Weekly Twitter Update
July 11, 2010 by admin · View Comments
- Here's some fireworks video I shot and edited on my iPhone 4: http://bit.ly/cshLcS #
- I uploaded a YouTube video — July 4th Fireworks Shot and Edited on an iPhone 4 http://youtu.be/DTqOuacP6xE?a #
- Wow – RT @ebertchicago: Filmed footage from the H-bomb exploded in space in 1962. (Thanks, Marie Haws). http://j.mp/bPBPcz #
- An interesting approach to paid content: http://bit.ly/8Z8lnF #
- An interesting Woot inspired discussion on copyright and the Net: http://bit.ly/dcGtrl #
- . @ctnewsjunkie captured some great images of a Red Tailed Hawk at the CT Capitol today: http://bit.ly/bYqpsJ #
- Check out a special edition of This Week in Media – @daisywhitney interviews me about LocalOnlineNews.TV: http://bit.ly/dgmaAH #
- Looking forward to being a part of #swct on Tuesday! http://bit.ly/aW4ZoP #
- What a great idea! One click web app installs: http://tcrn.ch/9QPbRv #
- And here I thought this Lebron event in Greenwich was about the Whalers. #
- Only the most hardcore geeks will appreciate this photo of my modernized Apple IIgs. It even has an SSD! http://twitpic.com/23vyzj #
- Just added the Transwarp to the IIgs tonight to bring it close to 10mhz. I've got ethernet in there, and a "huge" 48 meg solid state drive. #
- . @thetrough I met an unfortunate demise due to dysentery in reply to thetrough #
- . @robdolin you'll appreciate the startup sequence the accelerator adds to the IIgs bootup : http://yfrog.us/cbws6z in reply to robdolin #
- I just ousted @bohopoetgirl as the mayor of Zhangs on @foursquare! http://4sq.com/9bPdzy #
- Crazy, this video of my dog has been viewed 25,000 times! http://bit.ly/6FRj3J #
- I uploaded a YouTube video — Siberian Husky Breakfast Begging – Shot on Nikon D300s http://youtu.be/0vAH5m2m-uY?a #
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Stuff I find interesting- Does the iPhone 4 hate the AT&T MicroCell? August 8, 2010
- FCC calls off net neutrality negotiations August 5, 2010
- The Nightmare Scenario August 4, 2010
- Long lived new windows June 10, 2010
- Vintage Apple II Sites June 10, 2010
