Ed Baig, technology reviewer for USA Today, reflects on the year's best technological developments and products. From smartphones to mobile television, check out some of the smartest ideas that surfaced in 2007.
Ed Baig counts down the best tech gadgets for the year
USA Today
Dec. 27, 2007
Home telephone service without a monthly bill. A bookstore that delivers best sellers to an e-book reader in a jiffy. And a smartphone that all but rewrites the rules of what a cellphone should be. These were among the tech items to capture my fancy this year. It's customary for columnists to compile annual "best of" lists. A list this year has to start with Apple's (AAPL) seminal wunderkind, the iPhone....And yet even as it advances the state of the art, the iPhone - and all the products on the 2007 Baig's Best list - is something less than perfect. Perhaps more than other years, the roster includes products because they're cool or broke new ground, rather than because they can't dramatically improve. So Baig's "Pretty Good" might be a more apt descriptor for the list. I selected honorees from the pool of products I reviewed in my Personal Technology column. They were chosen because I (mostly) liked them - not because they necessarily racked up big sales....
http://yahoo.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/edwardbaig/2007-12-26-baig_N.htm?csp=1
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Milestones in Mobile Music
From cutting-edge download services that allow mobile subscribers instant access to music by their favorite artists to flashy new ringtones, 2007 has been a year of fantastic innovation when it comes to mobile music. This article features some of the newest plans and best-selling devices that cater to music-lovers.
Beyond iPhone, gadgets led year's mobile developments
By: Antony Bruno
Reuters
Dec. 14, 2007
The 2007 mobile music market could be summed up in one phrase: "It's the device, stupid." And though no mobile music service or associated innovation gained even a fraction of the attention that Apple did by unveiling the iPhone, that story certainly helped shine a spotlight on other mobile music developments, if only by means of comparison. And believe it or not, there were other milestones in mobile music throughout the year.
AT&T finally joined competitors Sprint and Verizon Wireless by launching its own full-song music download services. Its strategy is one of partnership, tapping eMusic and Napster to create mobile versions of their digital music services so users can buy individual tracks or track bundles directly from their phones. The operator also became the exclusive U.S. provider of the iPhone, which sold more than 1 million units in less than three months.
Rhapsody got into the mobile game as well. After absorbing MTV's Urge, the company struck a deal with Verizon Wireless that made Rhapsody the exclusive platform to deliver tracks purchased from the VCast Music service. Through time, Rhapsody and Napster hope to apply a wireless all-you-can-eat subscription model to their plans.....
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071214/tc_nm/mobile_dc;_ylt=Ag_E5YL5MNUaYqDmiH4pmaojtBAF
Beyond iPhone, gadgets led year's mobile developments
By: Antony Bruno
Reuters
Dec. 14, 2007
The 2007 mobile music market could be summed up in one phrase: "It's the device, stupid." And though no mobile music service or associated innovation gained even a fraction of the attention that Apple did by unveiling the iPhone, that story certainly helped shine a spotlight on other mobile music developments, if only by means of comparison. And believe it or not, there were other milestones in mobile music throughout the year.
AT&T finally joined competitors Sprint and Verizon Wireless by launching its own full-song music download services. Its strategy is one of partnership, tapping eMusic and Napster to create mobile versions of their digital music services so users can buy individual tracks or track bundles directly from their phones. The operator also became the exclusive U.S. provider of the iPhone, which sold more than 1 million units in less than three months.
Rhapsody got into the mobile game as well. After absorbing MTV's Urge, the company struck a deal with Verizon Wireless that made Rhapsody the exclusive platform to deliver tracks purchased from the VCast Music service. Through time, Rhapsody and Napster hope to apply a wireless all-you-can-eat subscription model to their plans.....
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071214/tc_nm/mobile_dc;_ylt=Ag_E5YL5MNUaYqDmiH4pmaojtBAF
Political Campaigns Go Mobile
A recent poll showed that 43% of mobile subscribers, between 18 and 24 years old, send text messages daily. With these statistics, campaign advisors are realizing how useful text messaging can be a to saavy presidential hopefuls looking to reach younger voters in the 2008 election.
msg 2 candidates: u get more votes with txt
By: Rob Lever
AFP
Dec. 16th, 2007
Text messaging is playing a growing role in the 2008 presidential race as a handful of candidates look to the technology to reach younger voters often glued to their mobile phones.The three leading Democratic candidates -- Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards -- are providing "mobile updates" to supporters who choose to receive SMS or short message service updates on their cell phones.
Political observers say that although this technology has been available for a number of years, its use as an organizing tool has been demonstrated in other countries: some say text messages helped fuel rallies that led to the ouster of Philippine president Joseph Estrada in 2001; and it may have tipped the balance in the 2004 elections in Spain as a "viral" messaging campaign got out the vote. In the United States, some say this potential has yet to be tapped for political campaigns, which already use a variety of technologies such as email, websites, blogs and online videos.....
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071216/tc_afp/usvote2008itlifestyle;_ylt=AlPc5K1ojWjtr6RsJcWwW3UjtBAF
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Older Generation Primed to Buy
Today's older generation is ready to buy new technologies like never before. Not only does this colossal demographic have experience and interest in improving technology, they also number more than 91 million(with trillions in spending power). This equates to massive opportunity for tech companies, most of which have not catered to older adults before. This article highlights some interesting facts and marketing strategies that focus on adults over 50.
Tech giants target older buyers — and their cash
By: Laura Petrecca
USA Today
Nov. 29, 2007
"Today's older generation is primed to buy and consume new technologies like no previous group of seniors," says David Kelly, president of technology research company Upside Research.
Many 50-plus consumers "have been using personal computers and Sony Walkmans since they were 20 or 25 years old," he says. "They've spent years updating their cellphones, buying MP3 players, installing GPS navigators in their cars and shopping for the latest gadgets."
Combine that tech history with this demographic's colossal size (now more than 91 million) and its trillions in spending power — and it adds up to a massive sales opportunity for tech companies, most of which have not courted older adults before.
"Any company wanting to grow their business in the next 10 years better have a strategy for marketing to those 50-plus," warns Matt Thornhill, founder of baby-boomer-focused market research company Boomer Project....
The sheer number is leading many tech companies to hit the delete key on many stereotypes about "older" consumers — that they're cemented in existing buying patterns, that they're not active, that they're put off by anything with multiple buttons or keys....
http://www.usatoday.com/money/advertising/2007-11-29-boomers-ads_N.htm?csp=34
Tech giants target older buyers — and their cash
By: Laura Petrecca
USA Today
Nov. 29, 2007
"Today's older generation is primed to buy and consume new technologies like no previous group of seniors," says David Kelly, president of technology research company Upside Research.
Many 50-plus consumers "have been using personal computers and Sony Walkmans since they were 20 or 25 years old," he says. "They've spent years updating their cellphones, buying MP3 players, installing GPS navigators in their cars and shopping for the latest gadgets."
Combine that tech history with this demographic's colossal size (now more than 91 million) and its trillions in spending power — and it adds up to a massive sales opportunity for tech companies, most of which have not courted older adults before.
"Any company wanting to grow their business in the next 10 years better have a strategy for marketing to those 50-plus," warns Matt Thornhill, founder of baby-boomer-focused market research company Boomer Project....
The sheer number is leading many tech companies to hit the delete key on many stereotypes about "older" consumers — that they're cemented in existing buying patterns, that they're not active, that they're put off by anything with multiple buttons or keys....
http://www.usatoday.com/money/advertising/2007-11-29-boomers-ads_N.htm?csp=34
Google Determied to Tap the Wireless Market
Google plans to enter the spectrum of wireless phone service. The company announced plans to bid on highly coveted airwaves. Google wants to make sure wireless networks are accessible to all kinds of handheld devices. By building a more accessible platform, Google anticipates more Internet use and a lot more money.
Google To Bid For Wireless Spectrum
By: Michael Liedtke
Associated Press
Dec. 1, 2007
Google Inc. confirmed its plans to bid for a prized piece of the airwaves in an upcoming government auction, further underscoring the Internet search leader's determination to shake up the wireless market and plumb more profits from mobile phones.
Friday's announcement wasn't a bombshell because the Mountain View-based company previously signaled it might participate in the Federal Communications Commission auction scheduled to begin Jan. 24.
In a mild surprise, Google will enter the competition without a partner more experienced in the wireless industry.
Going it alone will be expensive and potentially risky, even for a company as rich and technologically adept as Google, which ended September with about $13 billion in cash....
The airwaves up for grabs are widely coveted because the frequencies travel long distances and easily penetrate walls — advantages that will require fewer radio towers while still promising better connections than other wireless networks. The spectrum is being freed up as part of the switch to digital television in February 2009.
Whoever wins the rights to the spectrum being eyed by Google must accommodate all types of phones and mobile software. Google lobbied the FCC to adopt the "open access" condition, arguing consumers shouldn't be restrained by current market restrictions that limit the kinds of handsets that work on wireless networks.
"We believe it's important to put our money where our principles are," Google Chairman Eric Schmidt said. "Consumers deserve more competition and innovation than they have in today's wireless world."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/google_spectrum;_ylt=AtMtZdjVfiw1F1HrfvFiqelmr7sF
Google To Bid For Wireless Spectrum
By: Michael Liedtke
Associated Press
Dec. 1, 2007
Google Inc. confirmed its plans to bid for a prized piece of the airwaves in an upcoming government auction, further underscoring the Internet search leader's determination to shake up the wireless market and plumb more profits from mobile phones.
Friday's announcement wasn't a bombshell because the Mountain View-based company previously signaled it might participate in the Federal Communications Commission auction scheduled to begin Jan. 24.
In a mild surprise, Google will enter the competition without a partner more experienced in the wireless industry.
Going it alone will be expensive and potentially risky, even for a company as rich and technologically adept as Google, which ended September with about $13 billion in cash....
The airwaves up for grabs are widely coveted because the frequencies travel long distances and easily penetrate walls — advantages that will require fewer radio towers while still promising better connections than other wireless networks. The spectrum is being freed up as part of the switch to digital television in February 2009.
Whoever wins the rights to the spectrum being eyed by Google must accommodate all types of phones and mobile software. Google lobbied the FCC to adopt the "open access" condition, arguing consumers shouldn't be restrained by current market restrictions that limit the kinds of handsets that work on wireless networks.
"We believe it's important to put our money where our principles are," Google Chairman Eric Schmidt said. "Consumers deserve more competition and innovation than they have in today's wireless world."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/google_spectrum;_ylt=AtMtZdjVfiw1F1HrfvFiqelmr7sF
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