Technology is breaking down barriers throughout the world. Conversely, a form of technological nationalism has taken hold, limiting tech’s rise. Expect such nationalist fervor to become more widespread, more virulent, probably more unfair. Technology is the new oil. It’s vital to our lives, our economy, our personal wealth, our national interests. As such, governments believe it is right … Continue reading Technological Patriotism
Schadenfreude |ˈSHädənˌfroidə | noun | pleasure derived by someone from another person’s misfortune. ORIGIN German Schadenfreude, from Schaden ‘harm’ + Freude ‘joy.’ Samsung has reported a 60% fall in quarterly profits. Just three years ago, Samsung rose from seemingly nowhere to dominate the global smartphone market. Today, Samsung is being pressured from above and below … Continue reading Samsung Schadenfreude And The Fall Of The Church Of Market Share
I have the ability to record and broadcast presentations I give through my primary presentation tool Perspective. So I thought it would be interesting to try something different and create a quick analysis of some of my data and add make some points around a particular focused topic. To start, I thought I would focus … Continue reading Video Analysis: Xiaomi in Focus
There was a thought I alluded to in last week’s Tech.pinions podcast I want to expand. It’s the idea we’re now surrounded by many different computers in a variety of form factors and that one of the biggest questions for our industry is just how many of these computers each individual needs for their personal and … Continue reading How many computers do we need?
Yesterday, Samsung issued a Q3 2014 guidance update stating they will miss expectations. The report says profit is down nearly 60%. For many of us, this was entirely expected. If this estimate holds up, Samsung’s operating profit chart looks like this: For me, the only surprise is so many people are surprised at Samsung’s troubles. … Continue reading Samsung’s Cautionary Tale
The tablet market is easily the most fascinatingly diverse consumer electronics category I have ever studied. If you have read my commentary on tablets, it is the unique form and function of the product that allows it to be so nuanced. Both the smartphone and the tablet are relatively small pieces of glass. Both are … Continue reading First Half 2014 Tablet Report
Hewlett-Packard’s decision to split the company into two businesses, one selling PCs and printers, the other offering services and high end business network equipment, marks the end of their run in the 35-year computer industry. In a sense, it’s an overdue shift of the business to companies designed to function as low margin and mostly … Continue reading The Death of the PC Business
This week Tim Bajarin, Jan Dawson, and Ben Bajarin discuss the recent news around Windows 10 and what it means for Microsoft’s future. They also discuss some overall PC trends and how they may impact Microsoft’s strategy with Windows as well. Click here to subscribe in iTunes. If you happen to use a podcast aggregator … Continue reading Tech.pinions Podcast: Windows 10 and Microsoft’s Strategy
I was fascinated to read a recent article about Steve Ballmer and how, in his role as owner of the L.A. Clippers, he has told his entire staff to get rid of their iPads. From now on they will be a Microsoft only facility. I was especially interested in this part of the article: “Most of … Continue reading In New Job Steve Ballmer Forces Windows on the L.A. Clippers
Back in February, I wrote a post called “The Windows 8 Mistake“, which outlined my perception of the reasons why Microsoft did what it did with Windows 8, why it was wrong to do so, and why Windows 8 was so poorly received. I also gave some thought to how Microsoft might go about fixing … Continue reading Windows 10: Fixing the Windows 8 Mistake
As of late, I have been speaking with management of many different companies. Oftentimes I’m asked for my recommendations in these engagements and I have noticed a certain theme that remains constant in my answer. That theme is to focus on profitable niches. Way too many companies, in their internal strategic planning, make the mistake … Continue reading Profitable Niches
As the markets for tablets and smartphones continue to mature and saturate, I believe we’re heading towards some important changes. Specifically, I think the time for mass market smartphones and tablets is rapidly nearing an end. It’s not that we won’t have any big products, but post-iPhone 6, I think it’s going to be much … Continue reading Tablet and Smartphone Futures: Specialization
Question: What can a country with over a billion people and a per capita GDP of $4,000 do with the cash it costs to make a middling Hollywood blockbuster? Answer: Send a spacecraft to Mars! On their first try! We do not seem to be talking enough about this, so I will repeat: India sent a spacecraft to Mars! … Continue reading Mars Needs Indians. Earth Needs Women. The Internet Needs Balloons.
Welcome to this week’s Tech.pinions podcast. This week Tim Bajarin, Bob O’Donnell, Jan Dawson and Ben Bajarin discuss the release of BlackBerry’s Passport phone and analyze the impact of the Apple controversies around the bending of iPhone 6’s and glitches in iOS 8.0.1. Click here to subscribe in iTunes. If you happen to use a … Continue reading Tech.pinions Podcast: BlackBerry Passport, iPhone 6 “Bendgate”
Physical retail and the world of technology have yet to combine in any meaningful way. I believe that is all about to change. Having spent more time speaking with retailers recently, it is clear they are about to make a technological leap. All of them have a deep fear of Amazon. Showrooming is a trend … Continue reading The Future of Retail
There’s an Aesop’s Fable about a man, a boy and a donkey. In short form, the story goes like this: A man, his son, and their donkey set off for the market. At first, all three are walking but soon, someone criticizes the man for having a donkey but not riding on it. So he … Continue reading The man, the boy, the donkey and the iPhone
It is not hard to look back at technology innovation cycles and see how technology has advanced and impacted how we communicate. From the pencil, to the printing press, to computers, to the internet, and more recently our smartphones, all have evolved communication in some way. Each innovation has brought with it the ability to … Continue reading The Communication Possibilities of Digital Touch
The focus on mobility and mobile platforms as the growth engines for the tech industry’s future is now so engrained into most people’s heads that it seems nearly blasphemous to suggest there could be faults in that thinking. But there’s a question that keeps popping into my mind—is the mobile app ecosystem really sustainable at … Continue reading Is the App Ecosystem Sustainable?
Microsoft and Google appear to be moving in different directions when it comes to their platforms and first party hardware, as I’ve written about before. However, in some respects they’re fighting the very same battle when it comes to platforms — they’re struggling to set apart their services on platforms increasingly controlled by others. Microsoft: … Continue reading Microsoft and Google’s platform problems
Much of the battleground of computing throughout tech history has been for our desks, our laps, and our pockets. In 2015, the battleground for our body will begin. It can be argued that battle had already begun but my firm belief is a true market for wearable computing has not yet emerged. Companies were playing … Continue reading 2015: The Battle For Our Body Begins
Two of the hottest topics in technology these days are smart wearable devices and digital identities. The former, thanks in part to last week’s unveiling of the Apple Watch, has captured the attention of nearly everyone recently, while the latter has gained more notoriety recently than anything else, but is poised to be a key … Continue reading The Wearable-Identity Connection
Does the iPhone hate dogs? I know, that’s not a fair question. Still, I can’t help but wonder if the iPhone, if all smartphones, will fundamentally alter our relationship with our most trusted, faithful, ready-to-die-for-us-but-until-then-let’s-go-for-a-walk companions. The arrival of the iPhone has, for better and for worse, diverted significant chunks of our attention away from … Continue reading Are Dogs Even Necessary In An iPhone World?
By all accounts, it appears Microsoft is about to purchase the maker of Minecraft – Mojang. This seems like a head scratcher of a deal, and, without knowing the details of the strategy, parts of it are. However, what this deal signifies in my mind is a broader trend for the 800 lb gorillas in … Continue reading What Minecraft Means to Microsoft
Since Apple introduced the iPhone in 2007, the size of the screen on each version was the same. For the first five years, the screen on the iPhone was 3.5 inches. Then they moved to a 4 inch screen with the next generation of iPhones. But this year, Apple is offering an iPhone 6 with a … Continue reading The iPhone 6 Size Conundrum
With the new iPhone lineup, Apple has addressed every major screen size base for smartphones. What they have not addressed is every price point — unnecessary given Apple’s strategy. My read is the impact of Apple addressing premium (phones over $400) Android smartphones primary differentiating factor, larger screen sizes, this will in turn dramatically impact … Continue reading Global Implications of the iPhone Lineup on the Smartphone Market
