AirPods Archives -

Amazon on hiring tear

Amazon to hire 100,000 immediately

Amazon has been overwhelmed with orders, especially for consumer staples. Given the potentially long duration of the pandemic, door-to-door delivery may become vital for many who are unable or afraid to shop at stores. The company is beefing up its delivery system, including drivers and warehouse workers, and is encouraging people displaced from the restaurant industry to apply. CNBC

dis-rup-shun: Amazon is another silver lining company, one that will prosper during the global pandemic. While the global supply chain is being disrupted and is affecting Amazon, its delivery business will continue to boom and its grocery delivery business may finally get the push it needed to become a household habit. The tech giants do appear to be going the extra mile, using their strong cash positions to assist displaced employees and contribute to the great good.

Bill Gates says good bye to Microsoft

Gates, founder of Microsoft in 1975 with Paul Allen (now deceased), has retired from Microsoft’s board of directors. He has also retired from the board of Berkshire Hathaway, in order to spend more time managing the philanthropies of the Gates Foundation. Gates stated that Microsoft has never been in better hands. CNBC

dis-rup-shun: It is a heart-warming story to see Bill, who, along with a handful of visionaries including Steve Jobs, changed the world. Some of the greatest tech companies that helped change the world, including IBM, HP, EDS, Xerox, Sun Microsystems and even Cisco have lost their way and are either gone or struggling. Gates and Steve Jobs have both moved on, but the leaders that are now at the helm have found new markets and kept the market innovation at the forefront. Now that “Neutron” Jack Welch has passed away, Gates could be the next senior statesman-management sage, showing today’s leaders how to be great.

Remember movie theaters?

The theater industry just had its worst weekend at the box office in two decades. Several major releases were postponed, but theaters remained open, which may not be the case in subsequent weekends. The damage was total revenues of $55 million, an amount that is often earned by a single film in one weekend. Wired

dis-rup-shun: Not wanting to pile on the doom and gloom, we must consider that life after the pandemic will be different. Streaming movie experiences keep keeping better, with better content, better video quality, better user interfaces, and better pricing. Theaters will always be special places to go to get away, to have the one-of-a-kind popcorn buckets, and to take a date when its not yet appropriate to invite a date to your home. But will the pandemic finish off the several week exclusive window that new theaters enjoy before new releases are streamed to home TVs? If so, it will be hard to go back, and movie theaters will lose one big differentiating advantage.

Still don’t have AirPods?

If you are one of the few people who didn’t receive AirPods for the holidays, and if you are determined not to give Apple any more of your money, check out this review of the best wireless ear pods. Sennheiser, Jabra, Sony, Samsung, Anker, and others, all have a place in the top choices. CNET

dis-rup-shun: It is impressive that the consumer electronics industry keeps inventing new must have products. There are a few of us who haven’t yet decided that ear pods are “must haves,” but eventually even the laggards are buyers.

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AirPods in the subway create danger

September 4, 2019September 3, 2019by sbsikesLeave a Comment

AirPods causing dangerous rescue conditions in NYC subway

Many people in NYC have chosen inopportune moments to adjust AirPods — just as they are stepping on or off the subway. The uptick in lost AirPods create danger or at least a hazard, both for MTA employees who have devised devices to rescue the ear buds off the tracks, as well as a few individuals who have dared their own rescues. Wired

dis-rup-shun: Technology continues to create cultural crises — and high value products like AirPods lead people to take risks. Such crises are the birthplace of innovation, as subway operators may launch new rescue services, for a fee, or insurance companies may offer ear bud insurance, or hardware stores may create an AirPod extractor tool. Innovation follows innovation, and new opportunities are born.

Samsung readies a less expensive foldable phone

Following the troubled release of the Samsung Galaxy Fold, which will be released in September after a false start, Samsung is said to be releasing a smaller, less expensive foldable phone. CNBC

dis-rup-shun: Who doesn’t think a foldable phone and being one of the first to own one, wouldn’t be cool? The new Samsung is expected to have a 6.8 inch display. Having a wider screen, optimized for videos or for viewing multiple apps at once, will be a big hit if Samsung can get the price down. Expect to have one of these on your holiday list this time next year.

The business of Satellite traffic jams and celestial rights of way

The first of many near mishaps between satellites occurred this weekend. Fortunately, these devices are able to detect oncoming objects and change their orbit. As SpaceX creates a constellation of hundreds of satellites that will provide broadband service across the Earth, the likelihood of collisions is rising. This weekend’s near miss was between SpaceX’s Starlink and a European weather research satellite. TechCrunch

dis-rup-shun: While the technology of space exploration and exploitation are fascinating, the politics and rule setting for governing space will be even more fascinating. Is all of space considered “international water?” Will a company like SpaceX that is taking up more than its fair share of outer space be paying rent to nations? Will we see an international enforcement body that will ensure that everyone plays by the rules? Expect the formation of space law degree programs at leading universities.

What you need to know about Android 10

Android 10 has been released, and like Apple’s latest mobile OS, the innovations are subtle. Aside from being the first release not named after a dessert, Android 10’s notable new features include:

The use of gestures to navigate the phone, as back and home buttons are no longer required.
Dark mode is supported — meaning the user interface and apps will have a trendy dark look.
Accessibility features enable video to be quickly transcribed to text, and people with hearing aids will have a more optimized Bluetooth connection.
Privacy features may be more easily selected through enhanced privacy settings.
Digital well-being features enable limits for time on certain apps and activities to be metered.

Wired

dis-rup-shun: That’s it. No more. While these features are useful and help differentiate a phone from last year’s model, they will not create a groundswell of excitement or cause a line to wrap around phone stores for days before release. As often mentioned, the smartphone market is mature and getting incremental users, including stealing market share from Apple, is increasingly difficult. New service revenues must come from new services, new apps, and innovative software.

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Smart appliances make purchase decisions

August 13, 2019August 12, 2019by sbsikesLeave a Comment

Smart home as shopping platforms

A new report (for purchase) from Business Insider reports that people are using their smart speakers to perform research about products, but not to actually purchase products. The report predicts the smart refrigerator will be the food control center of the home — informing grocery shopping and food delivery. The report covers the strong alliance opportunities between smart appliance makers (that will order goods) and consumer products providers (that will supply the goods ordered by connected appliances).

dis-rup-shun: Dis-intermediation of traditional supply chains is coming. Washing machines and refrigerators sold through Amazon will be delivered with, guess what, automatic links to Amazon.com, pre-configured with your Amazon.com account, to order detergent, milk, eggs and soft drinks from Amazon.com. Who should worry? Appliances makers, grocery stores, and BestBuy.

Find my iPhone works for AirPods

If your AirPods are missing and still powered and still within range of your iPhone, you can use an app to find them. CNBC

dis-rup-shun: The beauty of the connected economy is the ability to bail yourself out of dumb moves — many have found phones in backseats of moving Uber’s, golf courses, under the bed covers, and in the possession of thieves with a quick search from a friend’s device. AirPods, one of the most likely devices to be lost, can be found if they are in Bluetooth range, but unfortunately that is less than about 300 feet, so success may be limited.

Four rocket companies vying for critical Air Force contract

Submissions are due this week for bidders for 24 launches for Air Force surveillance rockets which will take place between 2022 and 2026. Two of four big bidders will win the contract in 60%/40% split. Bidders are United Launch Alliance (Boeing and Lockheed Martin), SpaceX (Elon Musk), Blue Origin (Jeff Bezos) and Northrop Grumman. The contest has very large implications about the future of the U.S. space program as well as the welfare of the competing companies. ArsTechnica

dis-rup-shun: This contest pits traditional aerospace contractors with deep government ties with tech company startups. The traditional contractors have a great deal to lose, as they are not focused on the private space business and have few other customers besides the military establishment. The tech upstarts have focused on more economical rockets and lower cost crafts, giving them a potential advantage, and meaning that they will have great influence on the future of space — both government and private funded. Expect one incumbent and one startup to win the contract, providing both low-cost innovation and trusted providers on the job — likely United Launch Alliance and SpaceX.

The Four: The Hidden DNA of Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google

Scott Galloway’s book on “the Four Horsemen” offers a candid look at the actions and power of the tech giants, not afraid of offering strong opinions, and praising the companies for their impressive accomplishments. The NYU Stern Marketing professor has long been a student of the companies. Huffpost

dis-rup-shun: To consider the unchecked power of the big four is sobering — why have these companies not been subject to more regulation? On the other hand, each of these companies has played an out sized role in making the fantastic tech-powered world we live in today. Where would we be without them. Expect a significant amount of restrictions and regulations to be placed on at least three of these companies, Facebook, Amazon and Google, over the next two years as their power has become too large to overlook.

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Connected products detect dementia

August 8, 2019August 8, 2019by sbsikesLeave a Comment

Apple and Eli Lilly partner to detect dementia

In a study involving 82 people in a control group and 31 people with some form of cognitive decline, Apple and Eli Lilly collected data from usage of an Apple watch, iPhones and Beddit bed sensors. The study collected usage data on both groups, to characterize differences in usage of those with dementia. CNBC

dis-rup-shun: With 6 million people living with dementia in the U.S., and rapid increases in the incidences of Alzheimer’s, technology is much needed to help us understand and act on cognitive decline. The key to using technology to predict disease is mountains of data, and the barrier to mountains of data is HIPPA (privacy) compliance. Tech companies and health companies should, with full disclose and consent from consumers, collect as much anonymous data as possible using connected devices in order to get ahead of massive stress on the care systems resulting from the graying of Western Europe, North America and Asia.

Google’s Live View Augmented Reality guides you as you walk

Now rolling out to Google Maps applications on both Android and iOS, Live View augmented reality simulates the view you see as you face a direction, and overlays arrows and street names. TechCrunch

dis-rup-shun: How many times have you ascended from a subway stop and not known which direction to walk? Google is fixing that. Expect to see many people staring at their phones as they stand on street corners, and expect to see many more “location aware” advertisements to take you to coffee shops, restaurants and shops right around you, wherever you are.

Sony’s version of AirPods include noise cancellation

It has become commonplace to see people everywhere wearing Apple AirPods. Sony’s answer includes noise cancellation, meaning that for travelers or those who study in a public place, they are ideal. Sony’s WF-1000xm3 headphones are more expensive at $230 (AirPods are $159) and the carrying case is bulkier. CNBC

dis-rup-shun: Sony, in the 70’s through the 90’s was ‘the Apple’ — the cool tech company that made the best gear. The company, since then, has struggled to find its niche but creating premium earphones is a good place to focus. For anyone who travels, noise cancellation is critical and ear buds take up a lot less space in a carry on that over the ear phones. But please, Sony, take a marketing cue from gadget leaders Samsung and Apple and give your products a name that people can weave into conversation. “Hey man, where’d you get those cool WF-1000xm3’s?”

Samsung has the hottest new smartphone

The Samsung Galaxy Note10 debuted in Brooklyn on Wednesday. Here’s the quick summary:

No headphone jack
Enhanced stylus
Gesture control without touching the screen
Multiple color choices
Larger screen due to very thin bezel (frame)
Four camera lenses and ability to zoom audio to get focused sounds on videos
AR Doodle feature to add creativity to photos
3D scanning of objects — capturing depth in addition to length and width
Quick charge battery and power sharing
Support for 5G networks

dis-rup-shun: Samsung maintains its lead on bells and whistles — staying a step ahead of the iPhone, but given that Android vs. iOS has long been a religious discussion, few iPhone users will be swayed by Samsung’s features. Kudos to Samsung for working hard to keep smartphones from becoming commodities — little discernible differentiation between brands — but that is getting tougher to do, especially given that new top of the line smartphones are similarly priced around $1000.