Tag Archives: Innovation

Where to smartphone manufacturer?

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At the moment the battle is mainly driven by Apple and Samsung. Just watch this new TVC from Samsung USA. It seems to be that the top five are just observing each other and nobody of them wants to make the “first move” before Apple has released the new iPhone 5. I believe this “strategy” is quite dangerous as Cupertino has no hurry, as last weeks New York City “Educational Event” has shown that they have enough trending topics to keep their pacemaker status. Let´s watch out!

(c) Samsung Mobile USA

Facebook Timeline – another perspective!

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First of all: Facebook Timeline is a great new functionality which I didn´t expected it to be. Thank you, Mark Zuckerberg! When it was announced a few weeks ago I first thought it is just about to show my whole life in one piece and I honestly dislike that approach in case of (data) privacy.

After playing around with the new options I have to reconsider my opinion. The new profile option “Timeline” gives you a more advanced toolbox of managing your status update, posted links, user generated content. Especially when you lost the overview of your posts after a membership of 3-4 years, it could be necessary to review your own history. In the old version without “timeline” it´s so tough to manage your profile and archive because you honestly never go back than more of 15-20 older posts.

Right now you can make up your Facebook profile “room” to have it nice and tidy. You can easily ”clean-up” your profile and keep it really updated.

I am positively surprised and appreciate the new Facebook.

iMessage: “What is next?”

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iPad 3 and iPhone 5 rumors are already out there. I guess Foxconn and Pegatron are already preparing themselves for the official launch, even after Apple has increased its order for X-Mas/Q4 sales – especially on iPhone 4s largely. Despite the fact that some market players have corrected their sales forecast with less sold units due to the economic downstream in some regions. Some experts have said that Apple could not continue their smartphone success story, as Android´s market position is getting stronger and stronger. Honestly: it seems to be that Apple is probably not the world´s best smartphone, but it´s beloved user-friendly eco-systems still drives the highest profit margins to Cupertino. Which was a 40,3% in this Q4 in Apple´s fiscal year 2011.

One is enough, two is too much, three is dangerous!

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Facebook, Twitter, Google+? Is three at least one too much?

Who is next? Who would die? Where is it going the social network eco-system?

1st = as long as there was only one, the world was easy to handle for all of us users. Everybody was happy just to increase fans & followers and to post user generated content or links, vids and stuff

2nd = after a little education, getting common and increased functionality knowledge consumers intent to have multiple accounts for different activities in their life (e.g. private, business, fake, junk and testing/more)

3rd = with more (cross)-related-Apps running on those social media plattforms for extended services such as foursquare, yipit, instagram, rating functions and more the complexity of handling your posts, status and contents starts to driving you nuts. Every single one of them! And that is only your part of the story and your perspective. How to handle this on different accounts simultaneously?

Beside all that you will never find all your contacts on one of these platforms. Maybe nearly all on Facebook, but you still have people who are reluctant and unconvinced to join this garden party. So at the end you still need your Phonebook/Outlook/Mac contacts database to ensure interaction with all your social contacts via Phone and Mail. And this shows as long as potential competitor Google+ will not have critical mass of users combined with permanent/regular user interaction Facebook will still be the No.1 and the major place to be! Even if you dislike the forthcoming Timeline-Feature, as I do. But just for a single moment, just a twinkle in the eye: what is next? Intelligent Search with recommendations that are cross-checked and combined with your Friends ratings and tailor made for you? The timeline function – everything compressed in a story of your life? Your individual One-click online Store of your favourite brands? TV, Books and Games online based on your likes? Woo-hoo.

And: will the giant Microsoft get the job done? Sync/Cloud, mobile OS and Social Media? Imagine: from about 95% of every online connections that have been operated with Microsoft Windows OS a few years ago to nearly under 50% this year. Every second internet connection to the internet is without Windows OS. Forecast: still decreasing. Thank you, smartphones and tablets.

All you Innovators, Early Adopters, Early Majority, Late Majority and Laggards – where do you follow in the future?

Time for disruption.

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“Year of the tablet” you can hear at every corner. But I believe it is far more than a product category highlighting years 2011/2012. The whole development goes far beyond what has happened the last years in technology. Looking at Healthcare with VitaDock App and devices to check your essential body data. Patagonia to promote used clothes on eBay and aiming to be eco-friendly that way. And what about the gaming console? When are they ready for 3D? How many devices do I need in the future in my living room? Homeserver, Hybrid TV… But hopefully all connected with DNLA. Product lifecycles are shortening every year so that it becomes even more important what you have in your product portfolio, and what you can deliver. Woo-hoo!

Alea iacta est?

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Deutsche Telekom launches Pageplace, MediaSaturn launches MYJUKE.COM, Toshiba launches PLACES. Looks like the industry don´t want to lead these markets any longer by Apple. Books & Newspapers/Magazines, Music, Smart Metering – whatever you suggest, the whole industry is playing hard nowadays. Competition everywhere. 3D TV, Tablets, Ultrabooks – greatest hardware to come for christmas sales. Lucky consumers we all are and a great race where the industry is in!

(c) Screenshot by MediaSaturn