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Hollywood 2009 By The Numbers

Jason Bergman — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:28:17 +0000

The Future of Print Publishing

Jason Bergman — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:20:22 +0000

Last week at TED Wired and Adobe unveiled the first glimpse of the Wired Reader on its debut platform, the iPad. Wired’s editor-in-Chief, Chris Anderson, breaks down the presentation:

“What Jeremy [Clark from Adobe] and I showed was not a CGI demo or concept — it was running live code with real copy. The content was created in Adobe InDesign, as is the case for the print magazine, with the same designers adding interactive elements, from photo galleries and video to animations, along with adapting the designs so it looks great in both portrait and landscape orientation. This is a departure from the usual web model, where a different team repurposes magazine content into HTML, unavoidably losing much of the visual context in the process. Wired.com is not a re-purposed version of the magazine, but rather an separately-produced news service.
Although the Wired Reader starts as an AIR app, Adobe has created tools that allow us to easily convert it for major tablet and mobile platforms. In Barcelona this week, Adobe announced that AIR would run on Android, and Adobe has already announced its Packager for iPhone tool that will allow Flash apps (including AIR) to run on Apple mobile platforms. And AIR already runs natively on Mac, Windows and Linux operating systems.”

There are a number of aspects to this app that provides us with a glimpse of what the future of Wired, as well as the rest of print media, has in store to revive the declining publication industry. Initially, what seems to be most exciting is the applications ability to support 360s (a popular flash viewing method enabling the user to turn a product around and look at all sides of it), navigation via natural hand gestures, a dual axis navigation system, a scrubber to browse through the issue, article clippings, a favorite bin and Twitter/Facebook integration. In a move that should help attract advertisers, Wired is also treating advertising in much the same way as its editorial content… producing an enticing ad experience.

While the Wired Reader (launching this summer) has a good chance of redefining print publishing, it will also be leading the way in creating a new arm of the publishing industry… touchscreen publications.

via Wired

For another take on producing touchscreen publications, check the video below.

Google Liquid Galaxy

Jason Bergman — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 22:42:47 +0000

Google’s Liquid Galaxy is engineer Jason Holt’s 20% time project, a wraparound view of 8 LCD screens providing a truly immersive experience of Google Earth and Street View.

From Mashable:

We wrote about Google’s Liquid Galaxy project back in December, one of the more interesting 20% projects in which a series of eight LCD panels surround the viewer in a wraparound view of Google Earth or Street View.
We had a chance to get a live demo of the system from its creator, software engineer Jason Holt, who used an off-the-shelf controller device to virtually fly us around the world (and under the sea!).

State of the Internet: 2009

Jason Bergman — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:23:51 +0000

via focus.com

Apple’s New Baby: The iPad

Jason Bergman — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 23:11:31 +0000

The big day has finally arrived and… Apple’s Tablet does exist! The iPad has officially been born.

According to Steve Jobs, the device will be far better than an iPhone or netbook for browsing the web and at this morning’s announcement claimed “it’s the best browsing experience you’ve ever had.” The iPad will also feature most of the standard apps we have become used to on the iPhone platform, including maps, contacts and a calendar. Apple also announced a new e-book store and a version of iWork for the iPad.

Price and Availability

The base level iPad with 16GB of storage will retail for $499. The 32GB will cost $599 and the 64GB version will sell for $699. (All WiFi enabled.)

The higher-end versions including 3G connectivity will cost $130 more.

The Wi-Fi versions of the iPad will go on sale in 60 days, and the 3G models will go on sale in about 90 days.

3G Connectivity

Some versions of the iPad in the U.S. will come with 3G connectivity over AT&T’s network.

One plan, which will come with 250 MB of data will cost $14.99 per month; the unlimited plan will cost $29.99 per month. These plans will come without contracts and can be activated right from the device.

For the rest of the world, Apple is still working on making deals. The iPad, however, will come unlocked and users will be able to just put in their own SIM cards.

Hardware

The iPad weighs 1.5 pounds and features a 9.7-inch IPS display (the same size as a Kindle). The device features all the latest wireless networking features like 802.11n, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR.

The iPad is powered by a 1 GHz Apple A4 chip and is offered in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB configurations of flash storage.

Other hardware features include an accelerometer, compass, a speaker, microphone and a 30-pin connector.

The battery, according to Apple, will last for about 10 hours and the device will be able to remain in standby mode for one month.

Software

All the standard apps like the calendar and email apps have been redesigned for the larger screen. The new interface, from what we have seen so far, looks extremely crisp and has been greatly simplified to accommodate the multi-touch interface.

iBooks App and iBooks Store

As rumored, Apple also launched its own e-book reader today. This new application, named iBook,includes a built-in iTunes-like e-book store. Apple already has deals with five publishers, including HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster and Penguin.

Books can include images and video. Apple hasn’t announced any standard prices for these books yet, though some of the ones that appeared on screen were priced around $14.99. E-books will come in the ePub format, which could mean that the app could theoretically be able to read files from the Sony and B&N e-book stores, too.

iWork: Office Apps for the iPad

Besides the new e-book store, Apple is also launching a version of iWork for the iPad, which features a new version of KeyNote, Numbers and Pages. All the apps have been redesigned for the smaller screen and the multi-touch interface. Slides, for example, can now be rearranged with just a few simple gestures, and images can be rotated by simply using the same gestures users are already familiar with from the iPhone.

The iWork apps will sell for $9.99 each.

Accessories

Initial accessories include a keyboard dock, a standalone dock, and a case.

New Software Development Kit

Also announced, and released, today is the new iPhone SDK Beta 3.2.

Start developing the next generation of innovative applications for iPad with iPhone SDK 3.2 beta. iPhone Developer Program members can download iPhone SDK 3.2 beta today.

Is it what you expected? Less? More? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

via Apple & ReadWriteWeb

UPDATE: Link to watch the Steve Jobs iPad Keynote & a hands-on video demo of the iPad from Engadget

‘New Creation’ Launch + Earnings = Big Week For Apple

Jason Bergman — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:27:30 +0000

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Few events can steal the thunder from an Apple quarterly earnings day. Maybe only an Apple product launch.

The company releases quarterly results on Monday, but Wall Street is waiting for Wednesday, when Apple could unveil a new tablet computer that investors hope will be as huge a phenomenon as its iconic iPod and iPhone. The invitation to press merely says they will unveil their “latest creation.”

The week could provide a pair of long-term catalysts for Apple’s stock. But the company’s shares often sell off right after major launches after months of rumor fuel big expectations.

Nothing is known about the anticipated device, despite a rabid fan following speculating on everything from the component makers to its shape and form. Industry watchers are bullish. They say Apple’s obsession to detail gives the so-called “iSlate” a big edge in a computer category that had been deemed a failure.

“If Apple is going to design a product, then it’s going to be the best design in the marketplace,” said Broadpoint Amtech analyst Brian Marshall. “To bet that it’s going to be a flop is a bad bet.”

Most analysts have not factored the tablet into estimates for fiscal 2010, but sell-siders have been busy lifting price targets on Apple’s stock in the past month.

To be sure, Apple is setting itself quite a task, one that has frustrated previous attempts: to sell consumers on the value of a device that sits somewhere between a full-sized laptop and a pocket cellphone.

The device is hyped as a do-everything, go-everywhere touchscreen media gadget that bridges the gap between smartphones, laptops and electronic readers. Magazine, book and newspaper publishers are reportedly talking with Apple about providing material.

“There’s a huge potential long-term story there for Apple,” said Atlantic Equities analyst James Cordwell. “Whether they get it right the first time, we’ll have to wait and see, but they have a pretty good track record.”

IF THE PRICE IS RIGHT

Wall Street will pay particular attention to the tablet’s price tag. If it is closer to $1,000 than $600, analysts say it will be tougher to convince consumers to buy.

Apple could offer it under carrier-subsidized plans — Verizon Wireless is frequently mentioned — which might help take the bite out of the purchase price.

Analysts believe Apple will sell 2 million to 5 million tablets in the first year.

The device could add $1 per share to Apple’s non-GAAP earnings in the year, and generate $2.8 billion to $3.5 billion of revenue, with a $700 average selling price, said Cross research analyst Shannon Cross.

Its Monday earnings run-down will serve as a warm-up for the tablet launch. Strong iPhone sales and continued momentum from its Mac computers should fuel the results.

Given Apple’s recent tradition of shredding Wall Street’s estimates, investors will expect nothing less than a strong beat when it reports fiscal first-quarter results. The company is trading at around 27 times forward earnings.

Apple has bested Wall Street EPS targets by at least 15 percent in the past four quarters, and analyst sentiment on the company is trending upward, according to data compiled by Thomson Reuters StarMine.

According to StarMine’s SmartEstimate, which places more weight on recent forecasts by top-rated analysts, Apple should post EPS of $2.11 a share on revenue of $12.16 billion

“It really boils down to one point, is their beat big enough?” said Jessup & Lamont analyst Kevin Dede. “If you’re long, just ride this one out, but if you’re a hedge fund, maybe you want to think twice.”

Apple’s shares have risen around 9 percent since mid-December when hype about the tablet quickened, and are trading a few dollars shy of an all-time high. It is now the fourth largest stock on the S&P500 index, outranking the likes of IBM and JPMorgan Chase.

Some investors will be reluctant to sell shares ahead of the tablet unveiling two days later, Dede said.

Apple is expected to report earnings of $2.06 a share on revenue of $12.05 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S, with a gross margin of 35.7 percent.

Marshall, whose estimates are well above consensus, expects Apple to deliver a strong upside surprise.

“The beat is going to be significant enough that we’ll have a material earnings revisions for calendar year 2010,” Marshall said.

The iPhone should provide a boost for Apple in the holiday quarter, particularly internationally, he said. Marshal predicted that iPhone units sold will surpass the 9 million average estimate.

Analysts target Mac shipments of around 3 million for the quarter. Mac shipments in the United States jumped 31 percent in the quarter, according to research group IDC.

(Reporting by Gabriel Madway. Editing by Edwin Chan and Robert MacMillan)

via ‘New Creation’ Launch + Earnings = Big Week For Apple | Epicenter | Wired.com.

Social Technographic Profiles

Jason Bergman — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:12:52 +0000

by 360i

Nearly three years ago, Forrester Research released a study of Social Media where they grouped Internet users into six segments of social media usage, dubbed Social Technographic Profiles. These six profiles – Creators, Critics, Collectors, Joiners, Spectators, and Inactives, became widely used in the industry to describe the behaviors of consumers in social media, and to help inform corporate social media strategies.

This week, Forrester announced a new segment to be added to the Social Technographics Profiles – the Conversationalists. Conversationalists are social media users who update their status on Twitter or a social networking site (e.g. Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.) at least once a week. They are less involved than Creators, who write blogs, create content, or publish websites. But they are more expressive than Critics who simply post reviews, comment on others’ blogs, or contribute to forums.

The newly updated Forrester Social Technographics Ladder (Note: Segments are not mutually exclusive, therefore the percentages do not add up to 100%).

There were two other important insights in the Social Technographics update from Forrester:

The new Conversationalists group is 56% female, exceeding the concentration of females in any of the other groups. This finding correlates with other studies that show more women are actively using Twitter than men. In fact, Quantcast estimates 53% of Twitter visitors are female.

Three years ago, Inactives (online consumers who did not participate in any social media activities) made up 52% of total internet users. Today, that number has shrunk to 17%, while all other segments of behavior have increased. From this, we can assume that social media usage is becoming ubiquitous.

Comparison between Social Technographics Profiles in 2006 and 2009

What do these insights mean for marketers?

Forrester’s Social Technographics is just one of many tools to help marketers understand how consumers are behaving in the social media sphere. In developing social media strategy, it’s crucial to first examine and listen to the target audience before moving forward.

Knowing that Conversationalists have a higher composition of women than the other Technographic segments can help inform the strategies of the multitude of brands that target women. Campaigns surrounding Twitter updates and Facebook posts should be placed into consideration.

The addition of Conversationalists to Social Technographics, more than anything, is an indication of how social media behavior continues to change and showcases the growth of social as more people move from being Inactives into other parts of the ladder. In 2006, it wasn’t necessary to create a segment to describe people who simply post updates on their lives, especially in microblogging environments like Twitter. Now it has become a common activity where 1 in 3 online adults update their connections with bite-size pieces of information or content at least once a week. The lesson to be learned is to never rely heavily on a single platform or technology for social media, but to always be aware of the changing trends and behaviors of consumers.

If you’re interested in taking a look at the Social Technographics data of few different audience bases, try the Forrester Social Technographics tool here: (Note – the addition of Conversationalists has not been added to this free widget)

-Christine Hsu, Social Marketing Strategist at 360i

via Forrester Unveils New Segment of Social Technographics – The Conversationalists | Digital Connections – Blog of 360i, Digital Marketing Agency | 360i « Digital Connections – Blog of 360i, Digital Marketing Agency.

The Apple App Store Economy

Jason Bergman — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:17:16 +0000

Graphic from Column Five Media via GigaOM

The Future Internet: Service Web 3.0

Jason Bergman — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 22:22:49 +0000

From STI International:

With over a billion users, today’s Internet is arguably the most successful human artifact ever created. The Future Internet, an initiative driven by the European Union, has become a prime research focus of STI International and the Service Web 3.0 project. In order to explain, promote, and attract new contributors, we created a video to be viewed by stakeholders, who may be non-experts, in a new generation Internet. The video outlines the basic themes of the European Union’s Future Internet initiative. These include: an Internet of Services, where services are ubiquitous; an Internet of Things where in principle every physical object becomes an online addressable resource; a Mobile Internet where 24/7 seamless connectivity over multiple devices is the norm; and the need for semantics in order to meet the challenges presented by the dramatic increase in the scale of content and users.

Let us know your opinion - Fill in the Service Web 3.0 survey.

Supported by STI International.

Project Natal - The Innovation Journey

Jason Bergman — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 01:05:03 +0000

It’s official… the announcement came down this week at CES. This Holiday Natal will be at your fingertips. For more info, and videos, visit the site.

You Are the Controller.
Introducing Project Natal, a revolutionary new way to play: no controller required. See a ball? Kick it, hit it, trap it or catch it. If you know how to move your hands, shake your hips or speak you and your friends can jump into the fun — the only experience needed is life experience.

Source: Xbox.com | Project Natal