Section: Audio, Home Audio, Communications, Computers, Gadgets / Other, Features, Originals, Columns, Who's On Crack
Welcome to this weeks look back at the dumbest moves in tech I could find. The thrum of iPad talks are dying as we enter the Apple waiting game for a few months while hot phones are expect to show up in Barcelona later this month. Here are the nominees for tech moves sponsored by illegal narcotics:
- nook says customers come last
- Sony to build Walkman tablet
- Kindle stumbles
- Our Editor pays for IT
nook says owners are bottom of totem pole
This week a leaked memo revealed a firmware upgrade for the nook, version 1.2. Our Editor, Robert Nelson wrote, “Unfortunately, while the memo revealed that the in-store display units would be receiving the update, it also revealed that they would be receiving it before the customers.” The memo made no note of when existing users can upgrade, other than it won’t be first.
This is actually a good business practice, as I hold the “buyers are liars” and customer is #453. That is the model you should build on as alienating your early adapters can only bring good things. Witness the iPhone: charge them an early adopter fee, then pull the rug out and drop the price - and the iPhone went on to win us all. You can’t fault the nook folks for following such grandiose steps. Also, can’t we just stick to normal capitalization rules. Not capitalizing the nook seems disrespectful, crackheads.
Sony to build Walkman Tablet
Gadgetell writer Cheng Hung posted this about Sony, “Can Sony make one that’s on par with its rival? Oneda (Sony’s CFO ) admits that they are lagging “a little” behind Apple, but given their track record, Sony is usually a year behind Apple in terms of handheld devices. “
3 things bug me right there:
1. As a marketing rule, you don’t let the CFO intro new product directions or concepts. CFO’s follow money and while that is dandy they usually don’t buy into marketing vision or product vision. So you end up with “we’re making this freakin’ awesome tablet that is going bring in bucket loads of cash.”
2. Sony is lagging “a little” behind Apple; a year behind Apple in handheld devices. From the CFO’s POV perhaps. But from everyone else’s view, um, no. The easiest comparison for me is the XPERIA vs iPhone. Sony’s come a long way but still isn’t there. Maybe by little, he mean like how there were little dinosaurs that were as big as my house.
And 3. Facts I can tell you about Sony’s tablet: it will look pretty and be expensive. Can they build something amazing? Maybe. The new XPERIA X10 looks handy with Android and they could parlay that into a tablet form that might work. It will take a lot of work to get it to Sony standards (and by that I do not mean something that is liable to catch on fire). A Sony tablet with nothing new to offer (aka most of Sony’s products for the past 15 years) will fall short of their and probably my expectations. Don’t get me wrong Sony, I want to love you, it’s just you need to get off the rock and realize Sony doesn’t mean today what it meant in the 80s, in consumer products anyway.
Kindle stumbles
It was a good run, Amazon. The dream of all books $9.99, peace and harmony in the world. Well, that’s gone down the crapper: Our Robert Nelson writes, “Macmillan was upset because of the $9.99 pricing with Amazon, Amazon pulled their content, Amazon then later allowed them back in at the prices they wanted.”
Much has been writ in the media about Amazon blew this or Amazon won this. The truth is Amazon got beat up in the school yard with everyone watching. Now, Amazon doesn’t even both bringing in lunch money as it knows everyone is coming for a similar beating. The cocky and possibly high, cool kid just got served, to use the vernacular of kids of 5 years ago -I am phat like that.
Amazon’s big plan is in turmoil, pricing is expected to go fruity, the Kindle’s next gen device can’t get here fast enough and now the king of integrated buying (iTunes) is coming to play. Competing on price looks to have failed for Amazon, so what’s next?

Our Editor pays for IT.
I like to pick on Robert, mostly because (a) I knows he reads this and (b) because he can take it. Last week, Robert revealed what he is willing to pay for in terms of web services.
“Personally I have never been one to shy away from a paid service, that is, assuming I actually use it and find value in it. The services that I pay for vary from time to time, but there always seems to be a core group that I keep.”
In looking at his list, so many are paid for options for more storage. Photo storage, Evernote storage, MobileMe storage, SugarSync storage… Good God man, how prolific a writer/phototog/digital content creator are you? You’ve got more storage than a fleet of U-Hauls!
Not that I want you to change, heavens no. Your generous contribution to all these paid offerings mean you shoulder my weight at most of them. I take the freebie road and max out. Then I add another alias and max that out. You get a goodwill feeling for flashing the cash while I get a free smugness on how I am gaming the system. That’s a win-win - so thanks Robert. Even though I think you are on Crack for having that much storage. Maybe that will change now that you’ve fallen for a pink Pogoplug?
Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »