It appears that the Wii Fit could outsell GTA4 by the end of the year. That's kind of a big deal. The Grand Theft Auto franchise is the equivalent of a hot Hollywood offering. There's action, interesting character and a loyal fan base eager for sequel. Wii Fit is a family friendly exercise game. Putting the two is the same category is a bit silly. The only thing they have in common is the category. They each offer something different and owning one doesn't mean you don't own the other. They are both fun, different kinds of fun. The Wii Fit has sold nearly 13 Million units. Close to 30% of Wii users have Wii Fit. In a time of economic turmoil it's good to know there's still time for family fun and shit.
The Grand Old Party has created a parody of Facebook called BarackBook
to make certain points against Senator Obama. The Obama campaign has
taken advantage of digital media like no other political campaing in
history. They have used the internet to their advantage and done it
rather well, especially in raising funds. But, digital technolgy works
both ways. Obama has had trouble with internet rumors. Around 11% of
Americans polled, believe that he is Muslim. The opposition is using
the net to their advantage as well. They are using a Facebook-like
interface to highlight Obama’s relationships with shady “friends” like
Bill Ayers. The site has already been mentioned on 24 hour news sites,
so it will probably get some traction. It’s kind of clever, but it is
late in the game. Using digital media as a game changer requires a lot
of time and effort or something non-digital that travels well online.
It’s still anyone’s race, but the effective use of technology will
definitly be a major factor.
Less than two years ago, people began to see cars equipped with strange video equipment driving all over the U.S.
Google apparently commissioned a fleet of cars for their street view
project, which is now live. I decided to give it “test drive” to see
what the hype was all about. It turns out that street view
gives you just that. A view of the streets from a drivers perspective.
I tested it on my street and found it cool, yet creepy. I’m not
suggesting in any way that Google has voyeuristic tendencies, but they
can get pretty detailed. I was able to see my roommate’s Marilyn
Monroe poster on his window. Then I started thinking; there must be
hundreds of little surprises waiting to be discovered in the Google
street view video universe. Unfortunately, I don’t have the time or the
desire to look for them, but if you do find something, let me know.
Voyeurs are not the only who may find this tool useful. This is another great way to explore your city or town without having to put on your shoes. Street view has the potential to revolutionize the real estate industry. I remember a when virtual tours of homes were new and exciting. Now you can check out the neighborhood before you make a formal visit. The technology is still in the early stages but as it develops, I could see existing virtual stores being linked into the equation. I wrote a paper a few years ago about a concept called “Google Maps Retail.” This concept allows people find businesses on Google maps, get directions and then get efficient directions inside the store (using a 3-D planogram) based on a shopping list. This is more than possible now. Who wants to go halves with me on the venture. I’ll put in the first 20 bucks.
I finally did it. I ended my contract with Sprint. I am officially an AT&T customer. I am now an iPhone evangelist who practices what he preaches. I have been praising the iPhone since it first came out. I’ve played with one at the Apple store and cautiously admired friends who had them early. I’m not in love with Apple as my enthusiasm might suggest. I use Macs at school and at work, but I have never owned an iPod or any other modern Apple product. I have been looking for a phone/PDA that works the way I do. I finally found it.
Everything about the ownership experience has been
interesting. It was easy to set up. It’s fast and easy to use. It
allows me to multi task and get the information I need when I need it.
Did I mention the phone is a head turner.
There are countless ways to customize the iPhone. It can make you more productive if that’s what the situation calls for. It can also distract you in as many ways as it saves you time. A phone that adapts to your individual needs? There is definitely an “I” in iPhone, but it also helps me work with my team better.
The G-Phone, as it has been called around the blogsphere is creating iPhone-like buzz. Rumors have been flying around the net for months about Google's move into mobile devices.
What makes the G-phone exciting is the open Linux based platform. Open source is truely revolutionizing the digital world. The Widgetization of mobile devices is here. The end result will be truly customizable mobile applications that are in complete sync with the online experience. There is no company on earth better equipped to make the net mobile.
On Monday, November 5th, Google is expected to officially announce the G-Phone and the entourage of partnerships that will make it possible. HTC, T-Mobile and Verizon are just a few of the possible players. The new phone could be here as early as the first quarter of 2008. Google's stock is already trading over $711 per share.
Google recently made a dent in the directory assistance category with 1-800-GOOG-411, a free automated 411 service. Google has a simple focus. They make it easier to manage information. The G-Phone is in line with their core competency. I predict some growing pains, but ultimately a success. I'd buy the product for historic value alone. Who wouldn't want a first edition G-Phone?
*The G-phone is more of an open source concept than an actual product, but who knows. A Google branded phone is a possibility.
Who doesn't love a good brain storm? If you work in any collaborative field, you understand the power of brainstorming. Bubbl.us, an online mind mapping site, understands this. They have created an application that lets you create and share your brainstorms with your buddies. Bubbl.us creates the diagrams for you so you don't have to waste valuable ink. The output is good enough for use in presentations. If one of your team mates misses an important session, simply forward the visual to them. If used correctly, bubbl.us could increase your productivity by making it easier to visually document the ideation process. Did I mention that it's free?
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