Archive for August, 2007
by Darla Mack
August 31, 2007 at 11:57 pm · Filed under Mobile messaging 2.0, SMS, Mobile Etiquette
Recently while in Helsinki I came across something interesting. Let me start by explaining how this happened.
I was paying a visit to Nokia HQ and in the parking garage I came across a pink car. Out of the excitement I can’t quite recall what model it was. I asked my host if he knew who drove the car and he laughed and said no. I later found out from Phil Schwarzmann of Finland for Thought that all I had to do was send an SMS with the license plate number to a specific short code and I would get the owner’s info back in an sms. My first thought was, “is this legal”?
Being a native New Yorker and encountering many traffic situations (none including accidents or being ticketed), I thought along the lines of how safe would this be in the US. Apparently in Finland, privacy isn’t well guarded. The truth of the matter is, that lets say you accidentally cut someone off in traffic. All they would have to do was SMS your plate number, hunt you down and get revenge. This definately wouldn’t sit well in the US.
Could there be a positive side to this? I’m left wondering just how beneficial this type of information grabbing could be.
by Debi Jones
August 30, 2007 at 9:25 pm · Filed under Mobile messaging 2.0, Events + Conferences, Mobile Applications, iPhone, Carriers, Apple, Nokia, Mobile Music, NGage, DRM, Ovi, Microsoft
Nokia needs to find someone other than their executives to put on stage for these launch events. Showmanship isn’t a Finnish strength. The devices and new direction of Nokia could have been an exciting event, and they’re talking about entertainment to the press. However, the execs struggled with the English language causing stutters and stammers, and they make Al Gore seem animated.
Ever watch someone totally uncool try to be cool? That’s the same awkward and uncomfortable experience of hearing a Nokia executive say that a phone made him think of “Funky, and ah, ah, and fresh.” These guys do a great job of running the market leading mobile device company, but when it comes to charisma, they are more Erkle than P. Diddy.
I had planned to continue live blogging through the Music and Game panels, but couldn’t hear the Music panel, because the first five minutes of the presentation contained repeated US industry bashing mostly from Rob Wells of Universal. The cliff notes version of the moderated discussion:
- Music Industry struggling
- US bad, UK/Europe good
- Digital only 10% of the market
- US bad, UK/Europe good
- Mobile is the answer
- DRM, DRM, DRM
- Not everyone wants only Britney Spears
- US bad, UK/Europe good
- iTunes no DRM solution?
- US bad, UK good
You’ll recall that Universal was the one music producer, and the world’s largest, who balked at Apple’s no DRM offering and single pricing model. Many people speculated about where Universal would go for digital distribution, and now we have that answer. The US bashing shut down my hearing and I couldn’t live blog the discussion. Sorry. Of course, there wasn’t any new territory discovered from the discussion or the Q&A, so the cliff notes version goes like this:
-
DRM, no DRM?
- Why Windows DRM?
- Stealing bad
- DRM good
- Compete with Apple
- DRM interoperability?
- DRM device independence?
Got it? That pretty much characterizes any discussion of digital music with music industry executives.
Several money quotes from the presentations.
1) From the Q&A in response to a question on the similarities of the new UI and iPhone’s UI
We don’t know what is copied, but if something is out there that is good, we will copy it with pride and if we are the inventor, then we have the inventor’s pride.
Long ago, when asked about Apple’s use of Xerox Parc’s GUI invention in the Macintosh, Steve jobs quoted Picaso: “Artists copy, but great artists steal.”
2) The goal [of Xpress Music] is stated as providing a superior service to Stop Stealing.
While I understand that the phrase “stop stealing” is music to Universal’s ear, this is a false narrative. The size of losses from digital copying of music is dwarfed by the physical CD counterfeiting losses that have plagued the music industry for years.
3) Push back from operator customers and how have operators done with their own services of this same type?
Different operators have different strategies, we are definitely trying to help operators in their strategies. Phones, devices are not enough anymore - often service is needed including ease of use. The way we have cooperated with operators in the past we will cooperate with them with the experience. This has not happened in stealth mode. This is complimentary.
Apparently, Orange doesn’t agree. Most tier one operators have their own music stores, navigation and maps applications, and even gaming catalogue. The new Nokia - the software and services company - expects operators to abandon their own deals with content providers and buy devices that are preloaded with competing services? Really? Unless I’m reading this wrong, Nokia is taking a huge risk that operators are happy to become the carriers of Nokia services.
As Apple and Microsoft continue moving into the mobile industry from a PC base and Nokia moves into the PC space from a mobile base, a comparison of the strengths of their strategies and positions makes sense as a next step.
Ewan Spence a contributor to MM2 attended the event and caught up with Rob Sears, Chief Architect, Multimedia Experiences at Nokia USA, and has an excellent podcast interview with Sears on the implications of the new Nokia.
by Debi Jones
August 29, 2007 at 6:39 am · Filed under Devices, News, Events + Conferences, iPhone, Apple, Nokia, DRM
Question: Push back from operator customers and how have operators done?
Answer: Different operators have different strategies, we are definitely trying to help operators in their strategies. Phones, devices are not enough anymore - often service is needed including ease of use. The way we have cooperated with operators in the past we will cooperate with them with the experience. This has not happened in stealth mode. This is complimentary.
Question: Will Ovi be preloaded to all devices like S60, S40 etc. Will it be available on emerging market devices where Nokia is doing better, say India, and what about developed markets where Nokia isn’t doing so well like the US?
Answer: Ovi will be deployed initially on NSeries devices.
Question: UI, and outside developer access to Ovi?
Answer: UI enhancements are stepwise. First two devices and evolution to new devices and finally down to lower end devices. Ovi community is open to but will be represented on the device as icons and the services will be built by Nokia. We don’t know where Ovi will endup. World leading consumers will determine what Ovi becomes. “We know the world leading consumers.”
Question: UI seems copied from iPhone and what about DRM?
Answer: We don’t know what is copied, but if something is out there that is good we will copy it with pride and if we are the inventor, then we have the inventor’s pride.
Missed a couple of questions about date of Music Service availability in the UK and slide loading.
Question: Nokia Music store: how much are tracks?
Answer: You will have to wait until you make your first purchase.
Question: DRM protected? When is touch screen expected and will there be patent problems?
Answer: Yes, DRM is used. Touch screen has been available for some time in the N770 and the newer N800. When the first touch screen for S60 devices will be next year.
Question: Is Nokia to become a content provider or content producer?
Answer: We are a content provider with navigation, but Nokia will not become a film producer or entertainment company.
Missed a couple of questions, but this is most of them.
by Debi Jones
August 29, 2007 at 6:20 am · Filed under Mobile messaging 2.0
Internet Services Strategy
Nokia from products to services
New Brand - Ovi, One-stop destination for communities, content, context, and more
online music, maps, navigation and city guides, NGage - capture, create and share - all contacts in one place
Ovi, linked social networks into one place, following people and behavior
Ovi means “door” in Finish, I’m hearing portal are you?
Next 12 months drive to early adopters and then expand to masses, all services offering will be integrated into Ovi.
Ovi based NGage service, first example, try before buy - sharable with friends
3 components: Mobile devices, Service, and Games
N-Gage experience: games statics are very important and connect with the community. Try, buy and share. Includes a PC client
Commitments from major publishers include Gameloft, EA, Digital Chocolate, I-play and other majors.
Multi-device strategy is critical across Nokia devices on N-Gage platform, available in November.
Ovi - Music, music industry is in huge decline and digital is only 10% of the market today. Going mobile is the solution for the music industry.
Full experience is missing - device - to - service - PC, this is very iTunes like. The Ovi Music experience then is best described by what iPhone and iTunes have already provided. Although, with Nokia OTA is equal to slide loading. And device variety is also a Nokia advantage.
Discovery
Recommendation
Wish List - tags, to give option of download options, PC, wi-fi, or OTA on cellular network
Music Store includes download and streaming
Music management, PC client for syncing
The goal is stated as providing a superior service to Stop Stealing - interesting. Service available in Europe this year and expanding “later”
Device: N95, 8GB, A-GPS, early October release, quick demo on N95 displaying Orange logo - wonder if that was on purpose.
Device 2: N81, 8GB, lead product for Ovi Service, “Jukebox in your pocket”, capable of carry Windows DRM or no DRM
supports game play in landscape mode with dedicated game keys.
Big evolution of the UI promised starting with N95, 8GB and N81 devices - includes on device search function which also provides web search.
by Debi Jones
August 29, 2007 at 5:44 am · Filed under Mobile messaging 2.0
Mobile Music, heating up while stand alone music players is matured and level.
Study with M:metrics in the US a few months ago. Expectation is that all mobile devices will provide a music listening capability. Priorities or requirements results:
- Sound quality
- Battery
- Transfering between mobile device and PC
- Price
The mobile device is the most personal device. “It was the last thing I touched last night, setting the alarm, and the first thing I touched this morning.” hmmm….the bathroom is always my first stop in the morning.
Spontaneity - videos from concerts, sharing, communication.
Music Service is called Xpress Music
Storage
Battery Life
Music cuts across demographics and so Xpress Music must appeal not only to teenagers.
Nokia 5310 Xpress Music, weighs 80 grams, .9mm thick, 18 hrs. music playback, 4GB microSD, 2 mp camera - ships before Christmas @ 255 euros
Nokia 5710 Xpress Music, “navi button center scroll for moving between phone, music screens, full 22 hrs of music playback, 4GB microSD, 3.2 mp camera, flash, 3G phone, ships for Christmas, @ 300 euros
New accessories include headphones, earbuds, speakers and docking station
by Debi Jones
August 29, 2007 at 5:28 am · Filed under Devices, Software, News, Events + Conferences, Apple, Nokia
Kari Tuutti, Nokia host for the launch event says, “The story for today is the convergence of the Internet and mobility.” The event is titled The Fourth Screen.
Three aspects to the event.
* The press conference featuring Nokia executives.
* Entertainment panel.
* Demo Area to “experience” today’s new products
Nokia CEO, OPK is the first speaker. “To bring the full experience of the Internet and mobility to people around the world. It is about single purpose devices like camera phones, music phones and bring those together with the Internet.”
Gives a history of the evolution of Nokia’s company history. “These are social devices.” What people are buying is more than hardware. They are buying the experience that connects to the information.” “We have begun to expand our business beyond devices and extended to software and services.”
More than 900 million people are using Nokia to connect…We are transforming Nokia into an Internet services experience company. A big part of the experience is the UI.” He makes mention of network communities repeated.
First up Nokia devices: interacting with media, friends and community. A concept device was presented which included a iPhone like touch screen complete with scrolling photos.
What’s The Future: “Freeing the Internet” “Freeing it from the desktop.” Gives an example of real time weather updates to continue a golf game by knowing that a storm was temporary.
Converged Devices: Nokia sold 40 million units. Expect the total market to reach 120 million units this year.
Main Messages: Simplicity, Personal, Social, Internet services: Flickr, Communities, Music, YouTube = The Fourth Screen
by Debi Jones
August 29, 2007 at 4:39 am · Filed under Devices, News, Events + Conferences, Nokia, Mobile Music, NGage
Nokia’s Launch Day is here. Expect to hear about the new music service and the new NGage service along with a selection of devices suited to these services. The launch is in London but available via webcast with the agenda presented across two events.
Connectivity permitting, I’ll also have updates via voice and/or chat with Ewan Spence who is attending today’s event.
Stayed tuned.
by Russell Shaw
August 28, 2007 at 11:30 am · Filed under Privacy + Security
Today, IM security solutions provider Akonix says that its Security Center researchers tracked 38 malicious code attacks over IM networks in August. That’s compared to 19 in July.
The total IM-routed code attacks for this year is 264 so far.
Akonix Systems, Inc., provider of the most deployed instant messaging (IM) security and compliance products in the world, today announced its IM Security Center researchers tracked 38 malicious code attacks over IM networks during the month of August, nearly double the number of attacks tracked during July. This brings the total number of threats during 2007 to 264.
“The extraordinary increase in malicious code activity we’ve seen this August is proof positive that the IM networks have become hackers’ favorite open door into corporations’ computers,” Akonix marketing veep Don Montgomery, said in a statement (which is, I guess, what happens in statements). “As corporations make IM an integral part of their unified communications plans, it becomes imperative for IT departments to manage risk with comprehensive IM security, compliance and policy management.”
I guess while the 38 IM-delivered malicious attacks (aren’t all attacks “malicious?”) is the bad news, the good news is that Akonix rates all these attacks as low-risk.
Still, it wouldn’t hurt to go down the list of malicious attacks via IM and when they were detected. If you click the prompt below this sentence, that’s exactly what we’ll learn.
Read the rest of this entry �
by Darla Mack
August 28, 2007 at 12:26 am · Filed under Usage + Usability, Mobile Etiquette
There are some things that fall under the category of ‘mobile etiquette’ that either we or others do that drive people nuts.
I’ll be the first to admit that my mobile etiquette definitely needs some work. I have the habit of just randomly texting someone and then if I don’t get a reply in a timely fashion I start calling. I guess thats due to my impatience, but the fact that is most of those times the matter has no sense of urgency what-so-ever. My apologies to my victims. 
I also have the habit of calling people and not leaving messages. I look at it this way… if I call, my number shows up therefore the person can tell that I’ve called. Bad theory?
I also have a bad habit of not checking my voice mail messages. Most of the time I’ll see who called and just call them back.
Now the funny thing is although I do these things, I can’t stand it when its done to me. Does this mean that I don’t participate in proper mobile etiquette? And is there such a thing?
We use our devices for everything. When we purchase a new phone it comes with a user manual to teach us about our device, if we don’t already know about it. Should the same thing apply for how we use our phones? Hmmm…. until further confirmation I’ll probably keep bugging people with messages and calls. Lol, they can always tell me to stop right?
by Ewan Spence
August 27, 2007 at 6:33 pm · Filed under Mobile messaging 2.0, Devices, Carriers
It’s all about power, and needing too much. And I don’t just mean the recent recall of a batch of batteries by Nokia in their mobile phones, although that is going to feature highly. But the demands for more power from our mobile devices, including the stand-by and call time sort of power, alongside more CPU cycles, better graphics and more complex applications.
It wasn’t long ago that the boast of 30 plus hours on two AA battery cells was one of the driving features behind PDA organisers, but the addition of mobile phone circuitry, demands for better applications such as full email, web browsers and java (to name three) have driven up the processor speeds, putting more load on the batteries.
At the same time, the acceptable physical size of a mobile phone has dropped considerably, and the bar is now at sub 100g for a regular phone. With memory cards, keyboards, more ram, USB sockets, headphone sockets, charging ports all fighting for the same space, the volume available for the battery has dropped. But the demands for longer battery life have grown stronger in some quarters, and the manufacturers are pushing the limits not just in mobiles, but in laptop batteries as well.
This is a ticking time bomb (no pun intended); while computer technology has improved at a high rate, battery technology has not. It’s no longer the done thing to use disposable batteries in our PDA’s and mobile computers, so complicated rechargeable batteries are being used, and
Where will it all end? That’s a good question. Either the technology of chips needs to come up with a better low power solution, or electrical storage techniques need to be used. I think the former is more likely, but the industry would prefer the later. Not because they could build monster standby times, but they could reduce the size of the battery compartment for smaller and sleeker phones.
The smartphone wielding population seems to have accepted that they can get one full day of work, and a bit of reserve, from a single charge on a smartphone (ipod / psp / other small consumer device). So that’s exactly what we’ll get. There’s a balance between the power needed to run a powerful phone, and I don’t see it changing in the next six months to a year.
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