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This archive is a compilation of articles published in our eMagazine since inception. The articles are organized by "Subject". Many thanks to those who have contributed to this archive and continue to help it grow by submitting their thoughts and expertise to the magazine.

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Columns and Series - THE Insider

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Article Title Author Company eMag Issue Article Synopsis
The End of an Era, The End of New Devices THE Insider

Apr 2013

 With devices getting smaller, more powerful, more personal, it is obvious that the next giant leap forward will be for someone to introduce a Star Trek Borg implant that lets us access all of the data in the Cloud without having to constantly waste time searching for our mobile device.
Our Content is Overwhelming Us, Needs to Be Controlled THE Insider

Apr 2013

 f we can’t get one simple point of entry to the content to find what we want quickly/easily (either ad-supported or paid), we’re going to agree with Lieutenant Dave, “I think you should send us the biggest transport plane you have, and take this thing to the Arctic or somewhere and drop it where it will never thaw.”
NAB Wrap: It’s 4K All The Way, Drawing Line in The Sand, Storing Stuff THE Insider

Apr 2013

 Thunder – Like a bunch of buff guys, Blackmagic Design hit NAB this year and had people talkin’ and gawkin’. The Aussie Thunder Down Under crew showed they were seriously into the mainstream of content shooting/production.
NAB Revisited: Struggling for Ways to Monitize, Find New Opportunities THE Insider

Apr 2013

 Heyday it Ain’t – Families no longer huddle around the TV set to watch their content. There are too many options available and it’s a challenge to networks, service providers and people wanting to sell/rent their content. Hundreds of channels are being replaced by the Channel of You.
Digital Signage – They Tell, Sell, See, Will Do More THE Insider

Feb 2013

 The screen is the thing you see and they’re coming in an amazing array of sizes and applications such as small ones for badges, in gas station pumps, kiosks, stand-alone digital signs, retail windows/showcases, bar/restaurant/bathroom networks and more.
Content Insider #273 – Game On THE Insider

Feb 2013

 In Technology Leadership, the Big Dogs Play for Keeps
Content Insider # 257 - Odd Choices THE Insider

Dec 2012

 If we want to catch up on work or catch up on the last segments of Cybergeddon, our options are at hand and we agree with Felix that it “Doesn't make any difference.”
Today’s Boomers – Contributing, Savvy, Buying Andy Marken Marken Communications

Aug 2012

 Your grandparents probably retired at a respectable age, maybe your parents did as well. But while today's boomers may be looking at retirement it's in the long, distant future. There are a lot of reasons including feeling more youthful and a retirement fund that is upside-down. In addition, companies are anxious to hang onto their most valuable resource - the accumulated experience and expertise. Today's boomers not only focus on staying mentally, physically fit they also focus on staying abreast of and mastering our increasingly diverse, complex personal, home technologies. Seems like they won't go quietly or gently...
Content Insider # 217 - Protect Your Own THE Insider

Apr 2012

 While it’s impossible to avoid the cloud with all the web services that are out there, it’s not a place we want to store anything we feel is important or private. Our new home cloud is a 16TB RAID that we hope will be enough storage and backup for a year or so.
Virtual World Calls for Virtual Money THE Insider

Aug 2011

Money - or lack of it - causes the most stress for individuals and family problems.

But since we're now dealing in a near virtual world let's simply go to mobile device money and do away with the billfold that's either half full or half empty.

Ironically, people in third-world countries have been faster to convert to mobile money than those in industrial countries. The challenges? Infrastructure and security. Someone always wants to spoil the party but the transition is underway.
The Real World Value of the Virtual World THE Insider

Aug 2011

If it looks like a duck...walks like a duck...quacks like a duck do you think that maybe...

Lots of folks are saying the valuations of today's virtual businesses are real, not like the last bunch that went up in glory and down in flames.  Others aren't so sure.  Most of us find it interesting but don't have any skin in the game.

Take a look at the analysis, the comparisons and judge for yourself.  Whatever your conclusion we know one thing we're in for a helluva ride.

just don't wake up with a tattoo and a monkey.
Tellywood Works to Reach You Any, Every Way They Can THE Insider THE Insider

Jun 2011

 NAB is still sorta about TV and movies...but with a difference.

The difference is huge.   They're trying to figure out how to hook you up with their content, stuff, rather than letting the other guy suck you in.  So they're playing all the angles smartphone, tablet, notebook.  Heck even the TV and theater.

Seems as though you've given up work, exercise, just about everything to watch content anytime, anywhere, anyhow.

They haven't figured out exactly how to make money on it all yet but they do like what Netflix has done over the past year.  Maybe they'll try their own channels of distribution shortly...maybe.

“You see, this is my life! It always will be! Nothing else! Just us, the cameras, and those wonderful people out there in the dark!... All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up.” – Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson), Sunset Blvd., Paramount (1950)
People, Work, Play and Content Are On the Move The Insider

Jun 2011

Increasingly, people are bringing in their own devices – notebooks, smartphones, and tablets to work. 

As more business apps are available, the tablet will be used for even more “office activities” … yeah, right!

The challenge for IT people will be ensuring that they have adequate security in place, which is still  an issue with the iPhone your boss told them to support. 

IT managers are quoting Count De Monet, “It is said that the people are revolting.”

When the pain level drops, IT will add business/enterprise applications for the tablets.  Don’t worry, you’ll still leave the office with your notebook, smartphone, tablet…knowledge warriors have to be prepared for anything.
Hot Selling Devices Spell Great Insecurity Opportunities THE Insider THE Insider

Jun 2011

 OMG your iPhone tracks your movements.  Well yes your Android does to and the wireless companies and Homeland Security and Facebook and Google and  Mom, Dad and .....

How do you think you get those neat coupons when you walk by the store?  How do you think your phone service knows how to deliver a call or your email server to deliver your spam.

You probably can't remember the last time you were alone...really alone.

Sure you thought so but you silly boy/girl !

Getting off the grid is getting even more difficult.  Sometimes it's a bad thing but overall well just don't get paranoid...you're really boring to follow.

 “No matter how incompetent the assassins, no matter how much they miss their target, there's always one person who always gets hit.” – Frank Farmer (Kevin Kostner), “The Bodyguard,” Warner Bros (1992)
Content Insider #171 -- The Game Is On THE Insider

Apr 2011

 We may have worked with Atari for over six years back in the real gaming system days but we never really had a long attention span -- long enough to play the games.  We knew people who slept under their desks and lived on Coke/Twinkies when it was crash n burn to get games out.  Folks still do but now they're talking serious money.  So serious we people buy virtual goods/stuff with real money.  Times have changed but the attraction of games hasn't.  The games are more realistic, more immersive and more valuable.  Serious men, women, boys, girls play them...serious men, women develop them...seriously there's a new breed of casual games !!!!
Content Insider #170 – Usage Trends THE Insider

Apr 2011

 If you were one of the fortunate few who got his/her iPad 2 lord it over the other folks who are waiting for ...something else.  Of course they and you also carry around your smartphone, notebook, other mobile devices.  They're too important not to be without...and the information they hold.  Good thing is all that data, content you're creating doesn't make the things weigh any more except when you have to get a few external hard drives to carry it all.  Who knew you just had to have 8-10 four drawer filing cabinets of stuff with you but...you do.  Could put all the content at home but that's getting pretty full.  Could put it in the cloud but that's a little scarey.  All storage people can say is thank you for creating, storing, sharing.
Content Insider # 172 -- Marketing You Don’t Manage The Insider

Apr 2011

 If you went to/read about SXSW (check Wikipedia) you saw that folks were doing everything for word of mouth (WOM) buzz.  They'll do it all the time, every time.  Big secret though?   Those folks don't
have one iota of control over WOM! Nope that belongs to the people we're feeding the messages to.  You know "them."   Problem is they can turn on you in a heartbeat and gawd it ain't pretty.  When that happens it's damage control and you try to save the vital parts...that's when you call the PR folks to blame...not us, them! It can be "managed if you know how to prepare, what to do, when to do it...and you have blind faith!!!!
Artists, Music, Audiences Change - Labels Find it Tough THE Insider

Apr 2011

 Seems like half the shows on TV are about rising musicians/singers.  But ask the MPAA (music folks) and their industry is breathing its last chest rattling breath.
Content Insider #163 - The 3D Evolution The Insider

Feb 2011

We swore 3D TV would be here after last year's CES ...BIG!!!

Even after 30 years of working in the PC/CE/communications space we were blinded by the light.  We knew better but it just felt so right.  Why isn't it here yet?  The infrastructure isn't in place.  Education, comprehension, appreciation, love takes time.  But we're getting closer.  2011 will deliver significant improvements, gains for home, mobile viewing. .

When will the 3D stars be in alignment so it will be an accepted fact?   Soon...very soon. 

“… Politicians from around the world will see it. Of course, they'll want to use it as a weapon. As a scientist - no, as a human being - I can't allow that to happen!” – Dr. Seizawa, Godzilla (1954), Toho Films

Content Insider #162 – Tablets The Insider

Feb 2011

With all the tablets and apps being shown at CES it was tough to believe that Apple wasn't at the show.  Oh they were at the show they just weren't at the show!

Hard to believe that a year plus ago there wasn't a tablet product category and at CES there were 80+ devices being shown.  So will they take over the world as some forecast?

If so who will be the winners, survivors, hangers on?

With our cold, steely logic and raw guts/perception we'll give you our outlook right here...

“We must get beyond passions, like a great work of art. In such miraculous harmony. We should love each other outside of time... detached.” – Steiner, La Dolce Vita (1960), Riama Films
Content Insider #160 - Augmented Reality The Insider

Feb 2011

Augmented Reality is simply the real world we live in only more.  It's there naturally when you watch a sporting event.  You call it up when you use your smartphone to get a recommendation or learn more about the place you're going to visit.  True it's not real real but it is a lot more helpful, more useful than existing in a virtual world.  Every day more AR work is being done to help you make the right decisions.  It's reality but with a little...augmentation.

“I can't afford to have an independent programmer monitoring me. Do you have any idea how many outside systems I've gone into?” – Master Control Program, Tron (1982), Walt Disney

Content Insider #159 – Trends vs. Fads THE Insider

Feb 2011

Trying to figure out what tech trend (necessity) to buy is one of the biggest challenges people face today.

Holidays are nerve wracking for you, us, everyone.  You want to buy just the right...thing.  You don't want to spend too much or too little.  You want it to be something the recipient will want, will use, will keep, won't go out of style tomorrow.  With the  speed of change in the industry that's a tough order.

Even worse when you're buying something for your business or yourself.   Admit it...look in your store room.  Peek in the garage.  Yesterday's great solutions, great answers are lying around and you wonder how you could have missed the signs.  Our recommendations aren't bulletproof but maybe some of the information will help you think twice and avoid investing in another deadend revolutionary product/solution.  But 20+ years in the industry working with industry leaders will give us a huge edge.
Content Insider # 164 – A World of Plenty The Insider

Feb 2011

 What can be better than equal net access for all and a network privacy police force patrolling, monitoring the pipes to protect you?  Sure equal network access isn't in your country's constitution...but it should be!  And just because you're not sure how to act or what to do on the iNet that's not your fault...it's the government's!!
Equal access should be available to anyone/everyone who wants it but that doesn't mean everyone "deserves" a pipd big enough for him/her to watch TV, download Web videos or do video on demand with your "device."  Some cultures remember government police actions and somehow they went astray and the powers were abused.  There are rules, there is commonsense and there is a strong degree of group policing on the Net that is done by the group and the common good.

As someone said be careful for what you wish for because you just might get it.

“Can't push him too hard; he might break. You gotta’ remember who you're dealing with.” – Steve McCroskey, Airplane (1980), Paramount
Content Insider #158 - The New Consumer THE Insider

Dec 2010

New Consumer, New Tools Equals New Normal

You should really be excited.

The government – no matter what country you live in – recently reported that the last few unsteady years are behind us and things are better and getting better.

That’s government speak.

Actually, the downturn lasted so long it changed the consumer landscape, so the next few years deserve their own name..the new normal.

Jason explained, “Then do something about it. Everything you need is in there.”

We’re frugal in areas we never thought twice about before.

“This is Jason Bourne. You are nine hours behind the toughest target you have ever tracked. Now I want everyone to sit down, strap in, and turn on all you've got. That would mean now.” – Pamela Landy (Joan Allen), The Bourn Ultimatum (2007), United Pictures
Content Insider #157 – The Portable World THE Insider

Dec 2010

Think about it…Dennis Hopper, Peter Fonda, you hittin’ the road on rad bikes. 

How freakin cool!  How free!!

How far to the next electrical outlet because your notebook, tablet, smartphone, iPod batteries are in the red zone?

Some say it was Jobs that put you on the road to adventure. 

First, the iPhone that did everything but make a call. 

Then, the iPad that does even more of everything, still doesn’t make a call. 

“Oh, yeah, they're gonna talk to you, and talk to you, and talk to you about individual freedom. But they see a free individual, it's gonna scare 'em.” – George Hanson (Jack Nicholson) – Easy Rider (1969), Columbia Pictures
Content Insider #156 – Business Must Constantly Look to, Plan for Tomorrow THE Insider

Dec 2010

Even though a few companies have sold 10M +/- tablets and phones in the US and are slowly, painfully rolling them out in other wealthy consumer markets (Japan, North America, Europe), that’s only a drop in the proverbial consumer population bucket.
 
There’s are 300 million potential consumers in the US and a whopping six billion plus around the globe.
 
Today, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in the wealthy countries is modest (at best), and the outlook for the next 10 years isn’t overly aggressive.
                       
The “buy low, sell high” approach – buying components, manufacturing “somewhere” at the lowest possible price and selling them for optimum profit to folks in the wealthy areas is becoming more challenging.
 
That’s why businesses are becoming more serious about reaching, influencing emerging economy consumers.

“There must be alternatives. You must have some technology that could solve our problem.” – Professor Barnhardt, The Day the Earth Stood Still, 2008
2011…New Consumers, New Markets, New Economy Take Hold THE Insider

Dec 2010

 Let’s start by saying 2011 is going to be the year we wanted three years ago when the financial institutions “borrowed” our global wellbeing! 

It was the first time we entered unfamiliar territory because the financial meltdown didn’t affect just one country but all of us.
Insider #152 – The Family NAS THE Insider

Oct 2010

 Housewide Storage -- Better Safe than Sorry But…
Insider #151 - Social Media – Great Place for Business, Friends, Bad Guys THE Insider

Oct 2010

 Gawd…glad the Web and social nets weren’t around during our college frat years. 
Content Insider #153 – Entertainment Everywhere THE Insider

Oct 2010

We’re not certain what the preoccupation is with TV, but firms beyond the old-fashioned content developers, producers, “shippers” have gone out of their way to say they have the solution you need/want!
Insider #145 – Content Overload The Insider

Aug 2010

EMC and IDC recently validated what we all already knew. 

We’ve streaked right past Moore’s chip law and entered the brave new world of always on…always in touch…always creating…always accessing…always sharing.
Content Insider #148 – The iGen Gen X, Gen Y … Creating Havoc for Marketers Andy Marken Marken Communications Inc

Aug 2010

<>We’re part of the Baby Boomer Generation--(there are two parts -- 1946 – 1964).
 
Then, there are the Gen Xers (‘65 – ‘78).
 
Then Gen Y (‘79 – ‘89).
 
Now, it’s the  iGen (1990 – 2009).

Content Insider #147 – Security The Insider

Aug 2010

If you pay a lot of attention to your online security, you’re probably not reading this.

If you pay no attention, you’re probably ****ed!

If you have a normal concern…how bad can it be?

Take a minute and go to your favorite sites and search on the subject of online/onphone security.
Content Insider #146 – Games Get Real The Insider

Aug 2010

Historically, two “fringe” markets drove technology advances. 

One was – and still is – video gaming…if you can’t figure out the second, tough!

But video gaming isn’t video gaming anymore.  Not like it used to be, dominated by hardcore pasty skinned dudes who had more luck with their keyboards than with gals.
Content Insider #143 - Clash of the Titans II The Insider

Jun 2010

Maybe people like Jobs and Schmidt aren’t omnipotent gods, but don’t tick them off.

Adobe insulted Steve back in ’96 when they helped Gates first and wouldn’t do a special version of software for the lowly Mac.

Now Jobs looked down to the apps developers and said, “They need to be reminded of the order of things…”

BAM!!!  he eliminated Flash from their iPhone connection and wouldn’t let it on his tablet.
Content Insider #142 – Whither Broadcast Storage The Insider

Jun 2010

This year’s NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) show had written/unwritten themes:

  • bigger, faster, cheaper.
  • close enough is good enough.
  • what happens when the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) “steals” the broadcasters’ spectrum
Content Insider #143 – Business, Skills Training Is a Never Ending Process THE Insider

Apr 2010

 As we move forward in the 21st century, traditional technical workers will have to expand their business skills while general business employees have to become more proficient in their understanding and use of technology. People across the board will need to not only know how the devices and applications work, where the information is located and what the data means.
Content Insider #141 – Skirt Length THE Insider

Apr 2010

 Technology is So Passé … It’s All About Fashion
Content Insider #140 – Boomers Plus THE Insider

Apr 2010

 Our son can’t imagine how people survived in the “Dark Ages” without email, texting, cell phones, social sites, MP3, Tweets. He also can’t believe that some of the rock stars of that era are still going strong.
Content Insider #139 - The Smarter Smartphone THE Insider

Apr 2010

 With 300+ million in the U.S. and six billion plus globally, mobile phone/device penetration is rapidly approaching 90+ percent. Young/old, rich/poor, male/female are constantly available if not using their device to communicate with others, find information/entertainment.
Content Insider #138 – Interactive TV THE Insider

Apr 2010

 According to The Nielson Co., 106.5 million people watched Super Bowl XLIV. Our kids grabbed most of their favorite Winter Olympics events on their smartphones or notebooks. With less than 100 days to futbol’s World Cup, we’re all looking forward to the South African event.
Content Insider #142 - Internet TV Cable vs. Internet – The Battle for Eyeballs Gets Serious The Insider

Feb 2010

 Kids don't watch much TV with us anymore. They use their Roku units. They log onto their favorite shows. They YouTube oldies but goodies. They watch shows from Spain, France and Mexico (one is studying French, the other Spanish). They're watching how-to YouTube segments. They watch the stuff on their smartphones and their notebooks...not the TV. That's got Tellywood worried because they don't control that much anymore. True ...the only person you hate worse than the phone person is the cable guy! How will our content life change?
Content Insider #137 – Innovation Innovation, Mainstream on Different Time Schedules The Insider

Feb 2010

 The words innovation, efficiency and multitasking may not have been invented in Silicon Valley and the other technology enclaves, but they were refined, honed, perfected in these areas. When the economy stagnated, financial analysts and economists were quick to say the PC/CE/communications industry centers of hyperactivity had lost their edge. In the U.S., they were simply no longer capable of changing the way we live/work. They couldn’t be counted on to and move the economy forward. In fact, other countries were becoming the technology hotspots, generating the ideas and the products.
Content Insider #136 – Social Media Spying Everyone Follows Social Media … Everyone! The Insider

Feb 2010

 Our kids do nearly everything on their smartphones or netbooks. Because we’re slightly retarded, they use email for us. For everyone else -- friends, schoolmates, relationships -- they max out all of the capabilities, features and benefits of today’s Web 2.0 social media. They simply look at us and repeat Graves’s words, “I have to live my dreams.” They aren’t alone! “One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter.” – Raul, Die Another Day (MGM – 2002)
Content Insider #127– Too Much Advice THE Insider

Aug 2009

 Product/Service Recommendations, Support… More Than You Want to Know
Content Insider #126– The Real Power THE Insider

Aug 2009

 According to a Pew Research study 43 percent of the women in the U.S. call the shots.
Content Insider #125 – Our Next Leader THE Insider

Aug 2009

 What the industry needs is to dip into the talent pool to find some new crusaders, some new standard bearers.
Content Insider #124 -- Free Stuff !!!! THE Insider

Aug 2009

 Some think it is cool to set a movie, a song, a book, a game, an article free on the web. Some feel they should be paid for their creative efforts.
Content Insider #123 - App Stores Following the Leader Who Follows the Leaders The Insider

May 2009

 It started out -- as most things do in the PC/CE/communications industry -- as a "little" idea...an application store on a corner of the virtual cloud world. Apple's iPhone app store got a lot of attention, a lot of traction, heck a lot of sales. More than one company said, "hey we want/need one of those thingies! Make it so." Suddenly you can't make your way around the web without bumping into another one. No one at Apple will say but people speculate the company has racked up $45 million with their virtual store front. The shelves are stocked -- more than 30,000 "products." People bustle in and out the door -- the billionth download occurred a couple of months ago. Now new smartphones are coming out, every app store offers something, the new Palm is going to try to beat the beast and news will soon emerge from WWDC (Apple's worldwide developer's conference). Is this a beautiful, fun, exciting, occasionally profitable industry or not? It is!!! 1Open for Business – Apple wasn’t the first to build a smartphone or the first to offer apps. They were just the first to make them real, real fun/interesting. Offer the right merchandise, the right mood and most people will take the bait. Source – Screen Gems Guess when you have $56 billion and change in the vault in today’s economic environment you must be doing something right. “I knew it would come to this.” – Beth Charles, Obsession (2009) Just wish our kids would quit contributing to the stash Apple is using to buy GPU (graphics processor unit) technology and game designer talent. A few years ago Apple decided all smartphones sucked (they’re not too hot on netbooks either). So they announced the step up from the iPod (they didn’t like those other MP3 players!)…the iPhone.
Content Insider #122 – Twitter World Trust Us…You Ain’t That Interesting The Insider

May 2009

 Ah the power of 140 characters. It is proving dynamite for well just everyone. Even us. We've got Twitter sending us notes saying people are following our Tweets and we have yet to send one out. But we aren't really that interested in someone following our every mumble on the Internet. Some people think it's a great solution. We think its stalking. Lots of people sign up but their fall off rate is worse than the churn on some of the mobile service people. Oh it will last. Everything lasts on the Internet. 7Command Performances – Everyone it would seem loves to perform and be in the spotlight. That is certainly true with the noise that surrounds the “gotta be on” approach people have taken regarding Twitter. Problem is even though thousands join each month, only about 40 percent of them stick around after a few days. The thrill of talking to yourself in a crowd seems to get old real fast according to most studies. “Son derriere noir... c'est formidable!” – Hilary van Doren, Fame 1980, MGM Photo Source - MGM In today’s budget stricken climate, it’s important to recognize the prominent role that the Internet can play in a cost-effective marketing strategy. Not only is Web marketing very affordable, but it also offers you an effective vehicle for public exposure.
Content Insider #121 – Content Contention Entertainment Flexibility…Big Iron Doesn’t Matter The Insider

May 2009

 NAB -- National Association of Broadcasters -- how the industry has changed over the years (even with attendance that was down dramatically). We've gone from huge cameras that took two men and a boy to move around the floor. A room full of sliding levers and people everywhere. Slowly, almost without seeing it the shift began and schools, health care facilities, houses of worship and even businesses could afford the lighter, more automated capabilities. Then we moved to really light stuff -- an HD camcorder, notebook and some kid doing his/her show on the fly. This year the show had obviously made the shift. Mobile and personal video took center stage...all in highdef. Gawd that's gotta really tick off the big iron folks because they've gotta sell a lot of $10,000 "facilities" to make up for lost ground. Get a life folks because our kids are directing, producing, posting their own shows...and they're good !!!! “Why do you have to paint everything so black? Suppose you got hit by a truck. Suppose the stock market crashes. Suppose Mary Pickford divorces Douglas Fairbanks. Suppose the Dodgers leave Brooklyn!” -- Joe (Tony Curtis), Some Like It Hot (United Artists —1959) Television production used to be pretty straight forward. You had HUGE, HEAVY cameras three people pushed around. In the control room you had sliders And BAM!! magically the signal went over the air. At home you turned on the set. Had dinner (families ate together then) and a half-hour later the tube was lit and you watched the Sid Caesar or Lone Ranger show. It was so cool.
Content Insider #119 - New Markets Social Media…The Hunted Can Become the Hunter The Insider

May 2009

 Today's Web 2.0 social media environment offers a tremendous opportunities for companies to closely engage with customers, prospects and market segments in a positive, mutually beneficial manner. The problem arises when marketing and communications people view these new 1:1 outlets as a great marketing/sales and PR pitching opportunities. They forget that the individuals if not treated properly and with professional respect can turn and instead of being the ones who are being hunted can become the hunters. People -- regular folks -- can be mean and brutal if they are abused. Marketeers need to know the pros/cons, challenges/opportunities. Consumers need to know that they have a powerful platform to strike back and cause real damage. It requires a mutual understanding on both sides and a meaningful two way relationship otherwise...duck. “Nothing in those files makes their sacrifice worthwhile. You have to let go. We're professionals, when an operation goes bad, we tie it off. “ – Ward Abbott (Brian Cox) – The Bourne Supremacy (2004)
Content Insider # 120 – Cloud Work Netbooks…The Easy Way to Sell More Service The Insider

May 2009

 It sounds almost too good to be true -- a cheap computer you can use/carry everywhere, never have to upgrade the operating system or your apps, with a battery that lasts for ... well a long, long time. Sounds great except we end up leaving all of our work in the beautiful white clouds. The clouds move. We forget which cloud has our stuff and how we get in. Worse, there's a **** storm in the cloud just as we want to get in. Yeah...who knew what grandpa taught our little Miss Sunshine while we were out of the room?? Guess we may end up with yet another device to take along... convenience sure is getting heavy!!! “No one gets left behind! No one gets left behind! Outstanding soldier!” Frank (Steve Carell) – Little Miss Sunshine (20th Century Fox – 2006)
Content Insider #118 – Game Entrapment Hard Core Gamers Taking a Back Seat THE Insider

Mar 2009

 “Believe me, I was prepared for everything – except you.” – Mac (Sean Connery), Entrapment (1999), 20th Century-Fox It came as a rude shock to our son…he was no longer one of the most sought after people on the planet – the hardcore gamer. It dawned on him after watching his sister and Mom play their Wii musical instruments, exercise with the system and do a little Dancing With the Stars. While he and his comrades were busy shootin ‘em up, bustin ‘em up; the gaming industry had discovered there was a brave new market existed beyond teens…beyond boys! Figure 1 - Surprise – Hard core gamers have lost their “most sought after” position for video game system and software producers. Without a lot of fanfare the developers/manufacturers have found that there is a huge general and casual gamer market out there…young/old, male/female.
Content Insider #117 – Mobile Contact Options THE Insider

Mar 2009

 “Victory? Victory you say? Master Obi-Wan, not victory. The shroud of the dark side has fallen.” – Yoda, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) You can forgive the news reporter who mistook President Obama’s Shaka wave for a sign to call him during the inauguration. The connected candidate -- who took communications to a whole new level -- would have expected a text message or email…not a call. Doubt if his new phone number is in the phone book anyway!
Visions for 2009 THE Insider

Jan 2009

 Despite what a lot of "financial experts" say (weren't they the ones who got us into this position?) things aren't real bad -- yeah they're not real great either. But people in the business/consumer computer/entertainment/communications industry have never been short on optomism or ideas. Looking up from what is near the bottom of the valley it is fairly obvious that it will be a long, hard trek back up to the top of the hill. Some firms won't survive by this time next year. Those that focus on developing a strong consumer centric strategy and lead/listen to the marketplace will be light years ahead of the competition when we enter 2010. What's it going to take? What will the the leaders do? We've got a pretty good idea...hope you agree. We know most have what it takes to survive and prosper!
CES Wrap-Up THE Insider

Jan 2009

 We don't agree that this year's CES attendance was an indicator of an industry decline. The lower numbers were good for a lot of reasons. Unfortunately when the economic tide turns the hordes will probably be back. 3D movies/TV, mininotebooks and the constant din that we need our entertainment everywhere were the major news points for the show. Beyond that there were incremental enhancements/improvements. Paradigm shifts were not to be seen. But as CEA's Shapiro said it may be tough for a few quarters but the industry is going to innovate itself out of the global economic downturn. Flying to the seat of national government for handouts is not in the companies' DNA. Surviving and thriving in the PC/CE/content industry isn't always easy, sometimes not much fun but it is always interesting. This is one of those really, really interesting periods.
Moving Forward It’s Time for Content, Communication and Course Correction THE Insider

Nov 2008

 The financial industry got caught with its pants down. The automotive industry got caught with its arrogance up. The PC, CE, communications industry simply got caught between the two. We feel the angst but the business is still fundamentally sound. With the right course adjustments the industry will be in a better position to deliver solutions and satisfaction to global business and local consumers. More importantly, there are tens of thousands of Silicon Valley minds around the globe who know how to turn fantastic ideas into meaningful products/services.
Content Insider #112 – The Entertainment Choice TV Viewing Without The TV Set THE Insider

Nov 2008

 Our son has it tougher than we did growing up. Oh sure he’s got his content wherever, whenever he wants. But we had power. We had juice!
Content Insider #111 – Cloud Computing Netbooks, Cloud Computing – Work, Play Without Boundaries THE Insider

Nov 2008

 Hammer Repair – Netbooks and cloud computing are great for certain times, certain activities and they will be used by lots of people – young and old – who just want to stay in touch. But when it comes to working with important information/material nothing beats a higher performance, higher capacity, heavier notebook.
Content Insider #109 – We’re All Still Talking, Viewing THE Insider

Sep 2008

 Flood of Content – The 2008 Olympics sent a flood of video content to the US and around the globe threatening to drown everything in its path. But the Internet infrastructure was able to support the huge online viewing audience easily.
Content Insider #108 – The Perfect Storm The Insider

Sep 2008

 Look At That Stuff – Storage folks made it through last year – just barely – delivering enough capacity that just met everyone’s/everything’s needs. But man if you look out on the horizon – and beyond – it looks hairy. Even having people working round the clock the content tsunami will just keep boring down on us.
Content Insider #107 – GPU vs CPU There’s a World Between eMail, Games The Insider

Sep 2008

 Work or Play – Everyone expects their monitor to instantly refresh. They demand that the graphics to be lightning fast as well as ultra-realistic. Of course that also needs to be wrapped in a low-cost, environmentally kindly system. When all of this doesn’t come together we’re a little concerned.
Content Insider # 110 – Shrinking Computing The Insider

Sep 2008

 Bright Idea – Just so no one missed the fact that Intel’s Craig Barrett was talking about another bright idea that the company’s engineering teams had developed the events folks put him in front of a light bulb. It didn’t work because we could barely see the itty-bitty device he held in his hand at the opening of IDF this year. Source -- Intel
Content Insider #106 – Cloud Computing THE Insider

Aug 2008

 The concept is great ... everything is handled for you in the cloud...you can focus on work and not updating, rebooting your system (yeah like Macs don't have that problem too). You can grab/store anything/everything and never have to worry about buying a new HD or losing your storage. It's all done in the cloud.
Content Insider #105 – Devices Aren’t Enough THE Insider

Aug 2008

 It's almost impossible to go out and buy a plain old mobile phone anymore. We threw tons of features/capabilities on them. We changed them from utilitarian to dress accessories ... statements of who we are and our importance.
Content Insider #104 – OS Battles THE Insider

Aug 2008

 We often wonder why Macophiles and Linux people portrayed Bill as the dark force in the universe. Guy was just trying to earn a buck…and put a computer on every desktop.
Content Insider #103 – Game Power THE Insider

Jun 2008

 Online games are more popular than watching videos online or cruising social networking sites. As they say, online no one knows if you’re a dog (or a boomer+ player).
Content Insider #102 – Looking to HDTV THE Insider

Jun 2008

 Sales people love to show consumers how much better their TV shows will be with a big, beautiful, expensive HDTV screen. Turns out though that as many as 50% get SD content on their HD set…but they’re happy.
Content Insider #101 – Content Your Way! THE Insider

Jun 2008

 According to The Conference Board, 16% of US households watch TV broadcasts online. comScore says these viewers will grow as more and more content is delivered over the iNet.
Content Insider #99 -- The Best Storage Solution THE Insider

Apr 2008

 The search is on for the one great, the one indispensible storage solution...the Holy Grail for content users everywhere!
Content Insider #98 - HD DVD THE Insider

Apr 2008

 Now the BD folks won't be able to blame Toshiba for holding back the success of high def disc sales. Now they have to really get their hands dirty and work.
Content Insider #96 – Online Video…But Different THE Insider

Apr 2008

 People around the globe and across the age groups are finding they have more news, information, entertainment options -- professional, semi-professional and sloppy amateur. They like the new diversity and options. The big question is will Tellywood ever regain its "ownership" of the consumers' eyeballs and viewing habits again?
Content Insider #95 – Pretty Women THE Insider

Apr 2008

 We all know half (or about half) of the world's population is female. Do We Ignore Half the PC/CE Market?
Content Insider #100 – Content Prison THE Insider

Apr 2008

 What are people all happy about regarding their video content? It's all on BD? Big Deal! Oh sure you can copy your music...your audio books...your stuff. Copy their movie? You out of your gourd??
Content Insider #94 – Creating, Storing Information, Memories Is Easy…Finding It? Dam! THE Insider

Feb 2008

 Who's worried about the writers' guild strike? There's more out there than you can shake a stick at...darned stuff is everywhere ! Music...there! Video...there! Movies...there!!! School/market research...there! We know you grab it all. Big problem? Finding the D*** stuff after you've got it -- even your own stuff !!! We need software that keeps track of it all. Then we'll quit making copies...duplicates...copies of copies...
Content Insider #93 - Mobile Technology -- Everything You Want But a Reliable 3-Min Call THE Insider

Feb 2008

 Like your cell service? Want to try a new one? Not much choice right now as you jump from one walled garden to the next. But there are signs on the horizon that things will be improve and we can do what the ROW does...pick & choose your phone based on features YOU like...pick & choose your service provider based on features like...performance/price. Gee what a revolutionary concept.
Insider #92 – Influencers, WOM THE Insider

Dec 2007

 The really smart innovator grabs everything he/she can get his/her hands on that is new, special, unique. Then…they find someone who’ll lug their stuff around for them while they stay out of the rain.
Content Insider #91 – Capturing Moments THE Insider

Dec 2007

 Camphones are for Impulses, Cameras are for Memories
Content Insider #90 – Internet TV THE Insider

Dec 2007

 Does Art Imitate Life or Life Imitate Art?
Content Insider #89 - Next Generation DVD – Change at the Speed of Slow THE Insider

Oct 2007

 "You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you're going, because you might not get there." – Yogi Berra, Baseball Hall of Fame Player/Coach
Content Insider #88 - The Home Network/Entertainment Connection Is…Easy THE Insider

Oct 2007

 “Hey Bill, look, do me a favor, give him a chance. He came in here with a little piece of information. I know you worked with him before and had a little trouble, but don't get off on the wrong foot, if you have problems, come to me with them, I'll handle it.” – Walt Simonson, The French Connection, 1971
Content Insider #87 - DRM…Pirates Helped in Ways They Didn’t Plan THE Insider

Aug 2007

 “I like pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals.” -- Winston Churchill
Content Insider #86 - Pre-Millennials…The Market Underfoot THE Insider

Aug 2007

 “You could be happy here, I could take care of you. I wouldn’t let anybody hurt you. We could grow up together, E.T.” – Elliot, E.T. the Extra Terrestrial (1982)
Content Insider #85 - Want Data Privacy… Get Off the Computer THE Insider

Aug 2007

 "The ultimate "computer," our own brain, uses only ten watts of power -- one-tenth the energy consumed by a hundred-watt bulb." – Paul Valery
Content Insider #84 - Saving Our Past for the Future THE Insider

Aug 2007

 What about all that talk about screwing up future events, the space-time continuum?" -- Michael J. Fox (Marty McFly) – Back to the Future (1985)
Content Insider #83 - Teachings of the Wii Generation THE Insider

Aug 2007

 “I want you all to consider what I am about to suggest to you. You people seem to want what we've got. Well, we have room for you. We have room for you and about 30 of your friends. You would be students of course, but you'd also be teachers. ” – Walter (Brian Dennehy) – Cocoon (1985)
Content Insider #80 - Death By Phone THE Insider

Jun 2007

 Somehow we don’t believe the perfect everything for everyone mobile phone is possible, practical, in demand. But it may be the perfect way to murder entertainment as we know it.
Content Insider #81 - The New Matrix THE Insider

Jun 2007

 Virtual worlds like There.com and SecondLife aren’t being used by these firms as online retail outlets but rather business locations that can lead to real world sales or to quickly solve real world problems.
Content Insider - #78 Blue is Here to Stay…That’s Not Pulp Fiction! THE Insider

Apr 2007

 “Jules, did you ever hear the philosophy that once a man admits he's wrong, then he's automatically forgiven of that wrongdoing?” – Vincent (John Travolta), Pulp Fiction, 1994
Content Insider #79 - The Undersea Internet World THE Insider

Apr 2007

 “The natives over there are cannibals. They eat liars with the same enthusiasm as they eat honest men.” – Captain Nemo (James Mason) – 20000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954)
Content Insider #76 - – DRM – Keeping the Treasure Hidden or Opening the Mountain THE Insider

Apr 2007

 “Conscience. What a thing. If you believe you got a conscience it’ll pester you to death. But if you don’t believe you got one, what could it do t’ya? Makes me sick, all this talking and fussing about nonsense.” -- Dobbs (Humphrey Bogart) – The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
Content Insider - #75 - Everything, Everywhere Home Network THE Insider

Feb 2007

 People are suddenly going to change over and join the video on demand (VoD) and pay-for-view society. What is even better for the PC/CE industry is the fact that they will build out their home networks so they can watch their content anywhere in the house.
Content Insider #76 - Clash of the Titans THE Insider

Feb 2007

 This year in three overstuffed, stress filled days the Titans of the industry held court on stage in two different cities – Las Vegas, San Francisco.
Content Insider #74 - In the DRM, CA Equation, Someone Has to Protect the Consumer THE Insider

Feb 2007

 For thousands of years people looked the other way as folks made copies of other people’s work – by hand, by printing press, by copier, by disc.
Content Insider #73 - The Swiss Army Phone…Is Good Enough for Everything Good Enough? THE Insider

Feb 2007

 Sometimes our kids - and the community at large - make us feel like Tom Hanks in the 2004 The Terminal. We simply go from gate to gate trying to get on the next technology plane to fly to our destination…optimum personal and business productivity.
The Digital Home – Something’s Gotta Give THE Insider

Dec 2006

 “Can I email it to ya when I figure it out?” Harry Sanborn (Jack Nicholson), Something’s Gotta Give (2003)
Insider #72 - Video Gaming THE Insider

Dec 2006

 Short Game, Long Game, No Game…Gone in 60 Sec.
Insider #71 - Content Battles…Galadriel Holds Middle Earth THE Insider

Dec 2006

 “So I imagine this is just a …ceremonial possession? I mean they don’t actually expect me to do any fighting…Do they?” – Pippin, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
Insider #69 - Shrinking Storage…Keeping Data Safe, Close At Hand THE Insider

Dec 2006

 “Distrust and caution are the parents of security,” – Benjamin Franklin
Insider #68 - Web 2.0 – Thunder…Lightning…Rain THE Insider

Dec 2006

 Ok, there’s a lot of Web 2.0 noise – thunder and lightning. But which locations – photo/video sites, music sites, social sites, podcasts, blogs – will be blessed with an abundance of rain (user and advertiser payments)?
THE Insider #67 - IPTV – Who Will Make Money Off The Matrix THE Insider

Oct 2006

 “A déj vu is usually a glitch in the Matrix. It happens when they change something,” – Trinity in the 1999 movie The Matrix
THE Insider #66 - Mobile Entertainment – Bring It On THE Insider

Oct 2006

 All the people who really know how to put entertainment content to work for them are back in school with all of the essentials…notebook computers, smartphones, video MP3/iPods, PSPs.
THE Insider #65 - Deep Blue, Sea of Change THE Insider

Oct 2006

 This is my boat. I got it the way I like it. You take up space and you slow me down.” – Mariner, Waterworld
THE Insider #64 - THE Insider #64 THE Insider

Oct 2006

 “Me? I’m dishonest, and a dishonest man you can always trust to be dishonest. Honestly. It’s the honest ones you want to watch out for, because you can never predict when they’re going to do something incredibly…stupid.” – Jack Sparrow, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
THE Insider #63 - The Search for The Perfect TV Set THE Insider

Oct 2006

 I can’t seem to get that through to you. I’m not just talking about one person. I’m talking about everybody. I’m talking about form. I’m talking about content. I’m talking bout interrelationships. I’m talking about God, the devil, Heaven, Hell. Do you understand… -- Jack Nicholson, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
DVD Insider #60 - The Hollow Man Cometh THE Insider

Aug 2006

 - How come when you say “Yes, Sir” it kinda sounds like… - If we’re gonna move forward, this is the next logical step - I don’t want to cut her up for another few weeks
DVD Insider # 62 - The Million Dollar Baby THE Insider

Aug 2006

 It’s the magic of risking everything for a dream that nobody sees but you.
DVD Insider # 61 - Mobile TV…Jerry Maguire’s Next Big Player THE Insider

Aug 2006

 - It’s not “show friends.” It’s show “business” - And we work in a business of tough competitors - I was inspired and I’m an accountant
DVD Insider #59 - E3 & The DaVinci Code THE Insider

Jun 2006

 * You asked what would be worth killing for * We are in the middle of a war * I’m into something here that I cannot understand
DVD Insider #58 - Chicken Little at NAB THE Insider

Jun 2006

 * “Oh my goodness! The sky is falling! I must go tell the king.” * “Oh no don’t go! The sky is falling!” * “I know a shortcut to the palace. Come and follow me.”
DVD Insider #57 - The Sixth Sense THE Insider

Jun 2006

 * You ever feel the prickly things on the back of your neck? * This whole building was full of, uh, lawyers. * Is someone out there?
DVD Insider #56 - 2001: A Space Odyssey THE Insider

Jun 2006

 * This mission is too important for me to allow you to jeopardize it * It can only be attributable to human error * Dave, my mind is going. I can feel it
DVD Insider #55 - Cool Hand Luke THE Insider

Jun 2006

 # What we have here is a failure of communications # He’s a natural born world-shaker # You gonna get used to wearin’ them chains after a while # Wish you’d stop bein’ so good to me, cap’n
DVD Insider #54 - Bell, Sarnoff Together at Last THE Insider

Apr 2006

 If they had spent more time together and merged their respective laboratories in Murray Hill and Princeton we wouldn't have two content transport systems fighting over who is going to service our home today.
DVD Insider #53 - The War of the Roses THE Insider

Apr 2006

 Next generation DVD was going to be a beautiful marriage that produced some beautiful, brilliant kids. It has also turned out to be a dysfunctional relationship.
DVD Insider #52 - Alice In Wonderland THE Insider

Apr 2006

 Well the cat happens to be in the storage business and he knows there is a content explosion and hardware of all types need to be fed content. Then once the hardware gets the content it needs to be stored…somewhere, somehow.
TechWatch 2006 THE Insider

Feb 2006

 2006 – New Versions of Kong’s Script: * He’s always been king of his world, but we’ll teach him fear. * Don’t be alarmed, ladies and gentlemen. Those chains are made of chrome steel. * Oh no, it wasn’t the airplanes. It was beauty that killed the beast. In the 2006 remake of King Kong there are a number of different endings. Some of the people at the foot of the Empire State Building will be rooting for Kong…some for the toy airplanes…some for Fay. But most folks? They’ll go home saying, “yeah it was a pretty good movie…and it was cheap! Heck in New York we’ve got lots of big gorillas.”
TechWatch 2005 THE Insider

Feb 2006

 Wired and wireless networks are slowly coming home sparked by sharing everything! Suddenly people are latching onto the idea of having a centralized storage solution that handles the whole families needs.
DVD Insider #51 THE Insider

Feb 2006

 Revisiting Star Wars * A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away… * The Force can have a strong influence on the weak-minded * Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi; you’re my only hope * The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers
DVD Insider #50 THE Insider

Feb 2006

 # Fiddle-dee-dee. War, war, war; this war talk’s spoiling all the fun at every party this spring # You go into the arena alone. The lions are hungry for you # No, I don’t think I will kiss you, although you need kissing, badly # As God is my witness, I’ll never be hungry again
DVD Insider #49 THE Insider

Feb 2006

 # A Little Security Goes a Long Way # Good People Sometimes Do Bad Things # Tomorrow Will Be Better
DVD Insider 47 and 48 THE Insider

Dec 2005

 DVD Insider #47 - IPTV - The New Content Opportunity - Citizen Videographers - Home-Wide Entertainment - Getting Closer Personalizing Entertainment DVD Insider #48 - The War of the Worlds - Declining View of High Def - Remember the Alamo - The Book of Five Rings, The Art of War
DVD Insider 45 and 46 THE Insider

Dec 2005

 DVD Insider #45 - HD is Everywhere - Screen Options Becoming Aggressive - Delivery Battle Could Be Brutal DVD Insider #46 - Phones, Snapshots, Music - Mobile Video - A Little Bit of Storage

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