Facebook recently turned their social network into a “platform,” allowing any outside developer to create applications that can be used within it. There has been a land rush of activity, although some reports show that it has been more hype than not. It seems that MySpace is following Facebook’s lead: “MySpace is likely to change… Continue reading The Bionic Man Meets Social Networking
Month: June 2007
1980’s Cartoons and Online Success
When I think of the challenges that media companies are experiencing in conquering the online world, the list includes these items: Mastering new media Embracing the competition Measuring effectiveness Managing the cultural shift Respecting their foundation while preparing for the future Are these really so different from the challenges that our 1980’s cartoon friends experienced?… Continue reading 1980’s Cartoons and Online Success
The Rise of the Little People
Is social media the ultimate tool that gives voice to the masses? At what point does professional journalism become a wall that prevents all but a few voices to be broadcast to the citizens of the world? A recent yard sale purchase – ahem, Transformers and Fisher Price Little People – had me thinking about… Continue reading The Rise of the Little People
Who Will Own the Internet?
A large number of articles I read online seem to involve two topics: Rupert Murdoch’s attempt to buy Dow Jones, parent of the Wall Street Journal. Google buying everything else. It is interesting that the web has empowered any individual to have their voice heard, and given opportunity to so many entrepreneurs, yet a handful… Continue reading Who Will Own the Internet?
The Lifecycle of iPhone Ownership
The week of Apple’s launch of the iPhone has finally arrived. Whether it is a hit or a flop, I have a feeling that the following illustrations will pretty much cover our relationship with the iPhone over the next 12 months:
Are Bloggers and Marketers Really Evil?
The blog world is trying to reinvent journalism, and finding that in many ways, they have to start back at the very beginning. Accusations have been flying this week over online advertorials with bloggers. It all seems to have started with this Valleywag post, and was further fueled by Jeff Jarvis, and a series of… Continue reading Are Bloggers and Marketers Really Evil?
Better Than RSS: Widget WebClips from Apple
Last week I saw a technology that perfectly illustrates how the web is disrupting media companies’ control of their content, and their business models. Apple CEO Steve Jobs previewed some new features of a forthcoming upgrade to their operating system. One feature is the ability for anyone to create their own Widgets via a tool… Continue reading Better Than RSS: Widget WebClips from Apple
Can a Single Editor Fuel a Media Brand?
Scott Karp looks at a key element in the transformation of media: that a single editor can fuel an online “magazine” brand: “That one talented writer/editor can run an entire publication is truly transformative for magazine publishing, and for all publishing.” He uses Nick Denton’s Gawker Media as a case study: “Nick Denton is smart… Continue reading Can a Single Editor Fuel a Media Brand?
Offline Customer Relationships
The New York Times reports on the slowing of online retail: “Growth in online sales has also dropped dramatically in diverse categories like health and beauty products, computer peripherals and pet supplies. Analysts say it is a turning point and growth will continue to slow through the decade.” While plenty more growth is still in… Continue reading Offline Customer Relationships
Facebook: An Open Platform Moves the Internet Forward
Marc Andreessen takes a deep look into the new Facebook platform, concluding it is a “dramatic leap forward for the Internet industry.” Here’s why: “In a nutshell, the Facebook API enables outside web developers to inject new features and content into the Facebook environment. After signing up for a developer account on Facebook, the developer… Continue reading Facebook: An Open Platform Moves the Internet Forward