Stephen Crooks Experience Economy Blog » iPad http://www.stephencrooks.com/blog Building Better Brand Experiences Fri, 15 Oct 2010 05:11:20 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 The Google Shark circles Microsoft Office http://www.stephencrooks.com/blog/2010/09/20/the-google-shark-circles-microsoft-office/ http://www.stephencrooks.com/blog/2010/09/20/the-google-shark-circles-microsoft-office/#comments Tue, 21 Sep 2010 00:21:01 +0000 Stephen Crooks http://www.stephencrooks.com/blog/?p=271 Google has announced that it will be porting it’s Google Doc’s platform to the iPad.   Google has yet to go head to head with the Microsoft Office suite – but it’s begun to nibble at it’s target.

Microsoft is at great risk of being taken out by the next generation of users if it doesn’t [...]]]>

Image representing iPad as depicted in CrunchBase
Image via CrunchBase

Google has announced that it will be porting it’s Google Doc’s platform to the iPad.   Google has yet to go head to head with the Microsoft Office suite – but it’s begun to nibble at it’s target.

Microsoft is at great risk of being taken out by the next generation of users if it doesn’t learn to adapt to the new competitive field quickly.   Apple has wisely learned that a $ 9.99 price point for it’s version of Word (Pages) is what customers are willing to pay.

The risk to Microsoft is that Google will take over the University/Student/Low tech audience.  If Microsoft hopes to remain relevant in the portable market it needs to get a free version of Word (or next to free) version out into the market ASAP.

Google is following the brilliant approach of Apple – don’t compete with Microsoft head-on.  Attack the fringe.

Related articles by Zemanta
Enhanced by Zemanta
]]> http://www.stephencrooks.com/blog/2010/09/20/the-google-shark-circles-microsoft-office/feed/ 0 Why Apple should buy Nintendo http://www.stephencrooks.com/blog/2010/03/18/why-apple-should-buy-nintendo/ http://www.stephencrooks.com/blog/2010/03/18/why-apple-should-buy-nintendo/#comments Fri, 19 Mar 2010 03:42:41 +0000 Stephen Crooks http://www.stephencrooks.com/blog/?p=207 It’s no secret that Apple is cash rich, currently sitting on 40 billion in reserves and in the past few months they’ve been publicly stating that they have some desire to begin spending it.  Well I have an idea: buy Nintendo (or a large stake in the company).  Why?  Well read [...]]]>
Image representing Apple TV as depicted in Cru...
Image via CrunchBase

It’s no secret that Apple is cash rich, currently sitting on 40 billion in reserves and in the past few months they’ve been publicly stating that they have some desire to begin spending it.  Well I have an idea: buy Nintendo (or a large stake in the company).  Why?  Well read on. 

The race to control your TV has been going on for years, all the major players of the computer industry have some product or service designed to web enable your television.  In many ways he who controls the tv set will become the next cable provider.  Clearly a lot of money is at stake, what’s been lacking is a simple mainstream system that your grandma would understand and be able to use.  A web enabled TV would allow distributors to sell movies or other content straight off the internet to be watch somewhere other than behind your desk. 

This brings me to Apple.  A few years ago Apple released their foray into the living room with AppleTV.  A small little box that connects the web to your TV.  As with all things Apple the interface is simple, easy to use.  Users connect with iTunes and are able to rent or buy digital versions of top shows and movies.  The more units in the marketplace, the more content Apple could make money with.  But the problem?  Well they don’t sell.   People cannot be convinced to pay several hundred dollars for a device that really from a layman’s point of view an expensive indulgence that on it’s own provides little value.  Are you going to convince someone with a home computer to pay good money so they can watch YouTube on their TV?  Nope.  Apple’s little box is also limited in what content they can play.  Due to patent restrictions, desire for format control, etc. Apple really only plays Apple format material preventing you from watching your video collection that may be encoded in other file types.

The Sollution. Buy Nintendo, and package AppleTV as part of the Wii console.  The value is in the gaming device – popular with women, families and the less geeky crowd.  The AppleTV becomes an additional feature as opposed to the reason for purchase.  Or alternatively those who are seeking out an AppleTV will have an additional reason to purchase the device.

Wii ownership would allow Apple to exploit it’s built in audience base.  The new device would be backwards compatible allowing for easy upgrade.   You suddenly take a device that in the eyes of the mainstream consumer is complex, unwanted and expensive into a must have device.  Existing iPhone/iPod device users will also welcome the device and it’s easy integration with their existing products.

In addition to the Wii, Nintendo has many patents and hand held gaming devices that could further expand with reach.  Porting games over to the iPad and iPhone platform. 

Could be a smart move for Apple.  

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]
]]> http://www.stephencrooks.com/blog/2010/03/18/why-apple-should-buy-nintendo/feed/ 0 Apple iPad will help create Digital Transparency (Part I) http://www.stephencrooks.com/blog/2010/01/29/apple-ipad-will-help-create-digital-transparency/ http://www.stephencrooks.com/blog/2010/01/29/apple-ipad-will-help-create-digital-transparency/#comments Fri, 29 Jan 2010 05:15:02 +0000 Stephen Crooks http://www.stephencrooks.com/blog/?p=171 So everyone is bitching today that the iPad is a bit of a disappointment, that they expected something ‘ground breaking’ or ‘revolutionary’.   Well, you have.  What the iPad will accomplish in it’s first year is it will start to make digital data ambiguous.

Sure smart phones have started the march down the path of always [...]]]>

Image representing iPhone as depicted in Crunc...
Image via CrunchBase

So everyone is bitching today that the iPad is a bit of a disappointment, that they expected something ‘ground breaking’ or ‘revolutionary’.   Well, you have.  What the iPad will accomplish in it’s first year is it will start to make digital data ambiguous.

Sure smart phones have started the march down the path of always on, always available data.  But iPad will push it to a whole new standard – to the point where it’s culture changing.

See smart phones are singular – an entity for one, a laptop is designed for one and a desktop PC is designed only to be used by  one.  But the iPad goes somewhere else: it’s a collective device.  It’s not easy to share onscreen information on any of these devices with others unless your under ideal conditions.  The iPad changes this, you can hold it up to show people the screen, slide it across a boardroom table, flip it around, pass it back and forth, put it down, pick it up.  The interface is fluid – quick, easy and efficient – therefore your not interfering with the flow of the conversation, the exchange of ideas – in and out data – no waiting for the laptop to boot, connecting to a network, getting the mouse to work, navigating a complex (attention required) interface – clicks and concentration required – and ultimately that’s the difference.

iPhones and all other computer devices to date are singular – iPads are collaborative and that makes it a culture changer.

Part II will look at how always on digital will change our society.

Related articles by Zemanta
Reblog this post [with Zemanta]
]]> http://www.stephencrooks.com/blog/2010/01/29/apple-ipad-will-help-create-digital-transparency/feed/ 0