From the monthly archives:

February 2009

Notepaper Sized Kindle. Worst Rumor Of The Year

by Jason Wilk on February 27, 2009

Just as Hearst released there plans to release a notepaper sized e-reader today, rumors of a competing Kindle 3 have been leaked from inside Amazon says FastCompany. Even though the Kindle 2 has just been released, there are still complaints that the screen is “still relatively tiny, there’s no touch-screen function and stylistically it’s still somewhat of a mess with about 30% of its top surface dedicated not to its primary function as an e-book visualizer, but for a keyboard”
Just like the Hearst model, the Kindle 3 is also said to have a notepaper-sized screen, better for viewing magazine and newspaper-style content, plus room for advertisers. As I said in my last post, the only chance a large screen e-reader has is if it finds its way onto every-one’s coffee table and is loaded up with the latest papers from around the country when I turn it on. But will that succeed? The price point will be a major factor, as competing low-priced laptops and netbooks along with the upcoming tablet computers offer more than just reading capabilities. Example: I sleep with my laptop 5 feet away from me when I sleep. As soon as I wake up I can take care of email, blogging and of course, reading the news. It will take something special for me to want to reach over for an e-reader with limited functions as my morning replacement. Also consider the fact that a 6-inch Kindle is ultra-portable and can fit in my laptop bag. A notepaper sized product will have to find it’s own ride as I don’t have room for it, not to mention anything I can do on my e-paper, I can get done and more on my laptop. I think Bezos, Amazon’s CEO is smart enough to consider these major factors, and will steer clear of the large screen devices. Trying to find a new device for the news is just not practical. It is widely known that Amazon is working with schools to find a solution to digital text-books, which is about the only thing a large screen makes sense for.
I think a large Kindle for newspapers is a terrible rumor at best.

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You Know Print Is Dead When….

by Jason Wilk on February 27, 2009

You know print is dead when the CEO of your publishing company wants to put out an e-Reader to cannibalize business. Such is the case with Hearst Publishing’s CEO due to plummeting ad revenue for newspapers and magazines, and rising costs for paper and delivery. Hearst publishes magazines such as Cosmopolitan & Esquire as well as newspapers like the San Francisco Chronicle. According to CNN, Hearst has developed a wireless e-reader with a large-format screen fitted with reading and advertising requirements of newspapers and magazines. Distributing their paper through a wireless device will cut costs of up to 50%.
When asked about the Kindle, Hearst seemed to think that they wouldn’t be competing heavily. While the Kindle has a 6inch screen, Hearst’s eReader will be the size of a sheet of paper, offering readers a similar experience to reading the paper, and giving advertisers the space and attention they require. The device is set to release late this year. Hearst and its partners plan to sell the e-readers to publishers and to take a cut of the revenue derived from selling magazines and newspapers on these devices. Payment methods and subscription prices will be up to the publisher.
I commend Hearst for beginning the revolution to save the $300 billion global publishing industry from becoming completely destroyed as it transitions to digital, but a paper sized device does not seem feasible. Just because something doesn’t have a keyboard, and it’s light, doesn’t mean that it is all the sudden different than a laptop. 9-inch netbooks can be purchased for under $400 now. Alternatively, we will see large changes in the laptop/netbook industry offering tablets with a touch screen interface in the next two years. Both offerings will have many consumers questioning why they would ever want two different devices, one which can only deliver the newspaper and the other that can do everything. It just doesn’t make sense. The Kindle is a global distributor for books, a much needed device that replaces the need to lug around multiple books, and is a must-have travel companion. Why I would ever want to find a place to put a paper sized e-reader to fetch the paper, I have no idea. Distribute them for free, I’ll put it on my coffee table and see if I ever turn it on. Sorry guys, let me offer you some free consulting. It’s a dead idea.

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Jason Calacanis Wants To Help Your Struggling Startup

by Jason Wilk on February 27, 2009

Are you a great web startup, but struggling to raise more funds in the down economy? Tech evangelist and Mahalo.com founder, Jason Calacanis, wants to help. Last hour on Twitter, he released the following message, which may be the most important 140 characters of your life:

JC: Based on feedback I’m looking for startup with less than 6 months of cash left to try + help save.interested? email jason at mahalo.com

Getting Jason behind your company just may be the right combination to lead you to that acquisition you’ve been dreaming of. With his PR tactics, combined with his slew of celebrity investor contacts, your cash startving startup could be on it’s way to stardom. (you may even get a Tesla out of the deal).

Here is a Calacanis tip to those with 6 months of cash left that may not be in the running for his help:

If you’re down to six months of cash, you’re gonna have to cut the
bottom 1/3rd of your staff, if not half. This sucks, but there is no
choice. You’re gonna also have to cut salaries. So, here are some
suggestions on how to do this:

1. Get rid of the non-core staff. Look in places like PR, marketing,
and admin to cut. See if you can put some of these folks on part-time.

2. Look at the salaries of your current staff vs. market and look for
ways to cut the high-priced ones who you can get cheaper at the
current market. I know this sounds cutthroat, but remember, this is
advice for folks going out of business in six months. Another way to
run this test is to ask yourself “Would I hire this person for this
amount today?”

3. Go to each member of the team who is over-paid by today’s market
rate and tell them that you’re probably going to be cutting their
salary and that you’re increasing their options. Ask them how they
feel about it. Some people can take a pay cut, others can’t–you don’t
know until you ask.

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Carol Bartz Speaks

by Jason Wilk on February 26, 2009

This is Carol Bartz letter today to anyone interested in what is happening at Yahoo. This is the first time she has said a word to the public since taking the head position. Key areas to check out: New management structure, customer service changes and brand revitalization. It’s going to be a long uphill battle if she thinks Yahoo can crawl back to the top.

A month and a half in the saddle and today I have the perfect excuse to get blogging.

I’ve been on a whirlwind tour for the last six weeks, talking with everybody from executive leaders to the guys who configured my laptop. I’ve been in student mode, slowly getting smarter about what makes this place tick. And most recently, I’ve been gathering information on what it’s going to take to get Yahoo! to a great place as an organization –- and one that brings you killer products.

People here have impressed the hell out of me. They’re smart, dedicated, passionate, driven, and really nice. There’s so much great energy and frankly lots of optimism. But there’s also plenty that has bogged this company down. For starters, you’d be amazed at how complicated some things are here.

So today I’m rolling out a new management structure that I believe will make Yahoo! a lot faster on its feet. For us working at Yahoo!, it means everything gets simpler. We’ll be able to make speedier decisions, the notorious silos are gone, and we have a renewed focus on the customer. For you using Yahoo! every day, it will better enable us to deliver products that make you say, “Wow.”

I’ve noticed that a lot of us on the inside don’t spend enough time looking to the outside. That’s why I’m creating a new Customer Advocacy group. After getting a lot of angry calls at my office from frustrated customers, I realized we could do a better job of listening to and supporting you. Our Customer Care team does an incredible job with the amazing number of people who come to them, but they need better resources. So we’re investing in that. After all, you deserve the very best.

We’re also leaning on this team to make sure we’re all hearing the voice of our customers (consumers and advertisers). I’m singularly focused on providing you with awesome products. Period. The kind that get you so excited, you have to tell someone about them. Whether on your desktop, your mobile device, or even your TV.

And that takes a real understanding of what you want/need/love/hate, how you’re using our products, and what you find simple, intuitive, easy and fun. Who wants innovation for innovation’s sake if it doesn’t make your life easier, more efficient, more productive? So expect us to hear you better and take better care of you.

Finally, a note about our brand. It’s one of our biggest assets. Mention Yahoo! practically anywhere in the world, and people yodel. But in the past few years, we haven’t been as clear in showing the world what the Yahoo! brand stands for. We’re going to change that. Look for this company’s brand to kick ass again.

Big thanks to the many of you who’ve reached out with positive comments. It’s clear people want Yahoo! to succeed. I’ll try to pop by here again soon, though probably not too soon. I have a pretty long to-do list.

Carol Bartz
CEO

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Double-Edged Sword: GEoogle Energy Partnership

by David Heyerman on February 25, 2009

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Looks like a GE/Google energy partnership is all but confirmed at this point. Steve Fludder, GE’s VP of Ecomagination division, told E2T yesterday that not only are they in data related talks, they’re even discussing a commercial product.
He went on to ambiguously describe that the product could be an energy data management service they would offer to utilities or even extend to consumers in a web-based form.
Fludder also explained that at this point, all topics are simply discussions. Considering Google’s recent PowerMeter announcements and GE being one of the world’s largest smart meter producers, I think the deal might have some serious grounds.
This, however, raises a few fundamental questions regarding the consumer’s right to access energy data. Google’s always promoted the open access of information, and energy data is no different. The problem is, many of the utilities GE’s dealt with for years aren’t nearly as progressive as Google in this sense. This provides for quite a double-edged sword because what could possibly be the most promising joint effort towards the smart-grid could be dramatically hindered by stubborn utilities unwilling to adopt up-to-date open standards. What happens if the utilities won’t allow their customers to control their energy data? Will this cause direct hang-ups and delays in the overall smart grid implementation effort?
What will happen is yet to come, but we can be sure that if this team up does produce a product, it’s sure to be impressive. Stay tuned for updates.

Want to get caught up on the clean energy game? Check out these recent posts:

The Stimulus Package For Cleantech Dummies

Solar Sector 2008 Wrap Up: Isn’t It Ironic, Don’t You Think?

Cleantech Automotive: Volume 2: Pre-Geneva Motor Show

Google’s PowerMeter Promising To Up Your Energy Efficiency

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