I was wondering this morning: how many enemies can Google afford? Apple There’s of course Apple, which Google poked with a stick when they brought out Android, their OS for mobile communication devices (or: smartphones). Apple is less concerned about Chromium and Google Apps (see below) … but any other operating systems and productivity...
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Archive for March, 2010
Google: how many enemies can you afford?
10 Golden Principles of Successful Web Apps
Everyone who builds or designs for the web should read Fred Wilson’s 10 Golden Principles of Successful Web Apps. Fred is a venture capitalist at Union Square Ventures in New York, and writes the not-very-creatively-named A VC blog. Check the full article for all the details … but here are the main points: Speed...
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Godfather of iPod Severs Final Ties With Apple – Bits Blog – NYTimes.com
Though Mr. Jobs gets the lion’s share of credit for innovation at Apple, Mr. Fadell played a key role in the company’s resurgence. He first envisioned a hard-drive-based digital music player in the 1990s and brought the idea to Seattle-based Real Networks, where he reportedly clashed with Real’s chief executive, Rob Glaser, and left...
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The State of the Internet Operating System
Ask yourself for a moment, what is the operating system of a Google or Bing search? What is the operating system of a mobile phone call? What is the operating system of maps and directions on your phone? What is the operating system of a tweet? On a standalone computer, operating systems like Windows,...
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9 Social Media Topics that Need To Die
5. What’s The Next Whatever We have all of the “new” we could possibly want, but we’re distinctly lacking in execution with what we have. Clamoring for the next big thing is looking for permission to be messy. It’s easier to latch on to something new and unproven, because then you’re not accountable. Instead,...
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Latest MET paper: constructivism and self-learning
I am almost finished my Masters degree in Educational Technology at UBC … just one course to go. Actually less, since I’m more than half-way through the last course. Here’s the major paper that I wrote for ETEC 530, my current course. The basic thesis? Constructivism, the current hottest paradigm in education du jour,...
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Tools, technology, and magic: technology in education
I was thinking about technology the other day at a Learning Series Alliance conference put on by Intel in Las Vegas. Teachers are at one time the biggest problem and the greatest asset for any transformation project in education. That’s simply because people are the biggest problem and greatest asset for any organizational change...
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Happiness: invest in the process, not in the outcome
I don’t agree with every single nuance in this great talk by Srikumar Rao, but there is definitely gold to be mined here: (Especially the Coach John Wooden quote!)
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Innovation & collaboration panel at VX2010: audio now available
During the Olympics here in Vancouver, the Digital Media and Wireless Association of BC (DigiBC) hosted VX2010 … the “Vancouver eXperience” … V for convergence; X for intersection.” They brought in many of the entrepreneurs and business leaders who were attending the Olympics and hosted mixers, conversations, and showcases. I was fortunately enough to...
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State of the internet 2010
Thanks, Phil, for posting this video: JESS3 / The State of The Internet from JESS3 on Vimeo. Fairly wow indeed. I’m very glad not to be a server jockey for Facebook.
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Google Stars: is the big G taking aim at social bookmarking sites?
Google’s blog just announced that they are adding a new “star” feature to web search. Essentially, when you see results you like, you star them, and they’ll appear higher in results next time you perform a similar search. From the Google blog post announcing the new feature: With stars, you can simply click the...
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Apple’s HCT lawsuit: shot across Google’s bow
So Apple is suing smartphone rival HTC for the Touch. This is not about HTC … this is about Google. Specifically, about Android. Android is the only competitive threat to Apple’s iPhone today. Windows Phone 7 may become one tomorrow, Nokia may have something else up its long sleeves, Palm may catch a miracle...
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SWAT the systems thinking: highly recommended
I’ve read more than a few books about systems thinking and business processes, including All That Matters About Quality I Learned in Joe’s Garage, a few on the Toyota Production System, and several on kaizen and lean manufacturing. But I have to say that Timothy Johnson’s latest book SWAT: Seize the Accomplishment ranks up...
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Making the Case for iPad E-Book Prices – NYTimes.com
On a typical hardcover, the publisher sets a suggested retail price. Let’s say it is $26. The bookseller will generally pay the publisher $13. Out of that gross revenue, the publisher pays about $3.25 to print, store and ship the book, including unsold copies returned to the publisher by booksellers. For cover design, typesetting...
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About this site
Welcome to Sparkplug 9, John Koetsier's blog on technology, social media, education, innovation ... and anything else that catches my fancy.