Black Friday Predictions
Each year I predict the lowest pricing we’ll see for a variety of tech products during Black Friday. Last year I predicted we’d see notebook computers selling for as low $299. In fact Walmart sold a notebook for $198 on Black Friday. This year I’m predicting the lowest prices we’ll see for notebook computers will be $250 – actually higher than […]
on Amazon’s Digital Book Lending Service
Amazon is now a library – sorta. Last week, Amazon launched the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library which gives Kindle users who own an actual Kindle device (and not just use the Kindle app on other devices) AND are Amazon Prime subscribers access to 5,000+ books they can “borrow.” A few things worth noting: 1) this is probably the first example of a subscription service for digital books. […]
eReaders Taking Over B&M Stores
The WSJ reported Barnes and Nobles is upping the ante on the Nook – giving it 2,000+ square feet of showroom in 40+ stores. That represents nearly 10% of the average store size.
An early view of CES
Early this month I spoke at CEA’s CEO Summit. I outlined a few trends to expect at the 2012 CES. Here is a recap of what I said. More to follow….
the next mainstream phone sensor
One of the next sensors to become mainsteam on the phone will be a photoplethysmographic sensor.
Apple’s Next Launch
By now you’ve all seen the rumors of Apple’s October 4th media event. Historically Apple’s newest gizmos would be available 3-4 weeks after the media launch. However, the iPad2 began shipping about two weeks after the media launch and it was my belief that Apple is shortening the window between announcement and availability. Today, AppleInsider is reporting Apple is denying […]
Kindle’s move into Public Libraries
Last week Kindle announced their move into the libraries. You can read more here: (press release, NYTimes article, Kindle site on how it works). There has been much talk in the past how Kindle, and eReaders generally, will play an influence role in education. This move into libraries will serve as an important catalyst. It will be years before eReaders […]
An Apple Effect Worth Watching
Most technology companies are cognizant of how network effects influence adoption, but fail to adequately stimulate these network effects. However, a few recent service launches by Apple recognize the influence network effects can have on the uptake of Apple devices. AirPlay and AirPrint both illustrate Apple’s understanding that the greater the sphere of influence iOS devices can have, the stronger the network effects and therefore the […]
Tablets Don’t Need to be $99 to Sell
A little over a week ago, HP decided to exit the WebOS tablet market and began to liquidate the HP Touchpad at the firesale price of $99. It should come as no surprise, these disappeared quickly. As I recently wrote, increasingly the future of tablets (and like devices) will be Web apps so good browser-enabled […]
Why the Future of Tablets Isn’t in Apps
Pudits like to point to apps (and importantly the availability of apps) as the deciding factor in the success (and failure) of tablets and other app-oriented devices. Most developers have the bandwidth to support at most two (and sometimes three) development platforms. The largest app developers – the Pandoras and Kindles of the world – will allocate resources for […]
