Posts tagged "Michael Wolf"
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Episode number 25!!!
In this episode we debate whether booth babes work, why Google bought Nest, and Facebook’s mobile unbundling strategy.
Guests are:
- Spencer Chen (@spencerchen), Marketing and Growth for Frontback.
- Steve Hoffman (@captainhoff), Co-Founder of LavaMind and Co-Founder of Founders Space
Hosted by:
- Michael Wolf (@michaelwolf), the analyst, of NextMarket Insights
- David Spark (@dspark), the brand journalist, of Spark Media Solutions.
Trend/opportunity of the week:
- Out with the old, killed by the new - Nintendo is dying and is finally considering phones. Best Buy looks to be on the same trajectory as Circuit City.
- Net Neutrality argument is over. Proponents lose. Providers can discriminate against content. So they can charge Netflix, a huge hog of bandwidth, more than other content providers. - How will this affect journalism?
Disruptors of the week:
- The Internet of Things has given rise to pervasive connectivity. These devices have become victim to cyberattacks.
- Paramount is the first studio to stop distributing celluloid film. Eight percent of theaters, mostly small independent houses, aren’t equipped to handle digital. They’ll have to come up with $70K for a digital projector for each screen.
And the roundtable topics:
- Booth Babes Don’t Work - Our guest Spencer Chen wrote a piece for TechCrunch about how he discovered that booth babes don’t deliver any benefit. In fact, they’re a detriment to the success of your booth. Here’s a video David Spark shot at ad:tech of booth babes who didn’t have a clue what company they were representing.
- Google Goes Nuts - They purchased NEST and they’re now developing contact lenses.
- Facebook’s 2014 strategy is to unbundle the all-in-one app. How do other developers react to this?
Plugs for all:
- Check out Steve Hoffman’s Zapitalism, the game Spell Gems, and Founders Space Fusion
- Spencer Chen (and team’s) latest project with Frontback
- Download David Spark’s ebook, "58 Annoying Communications That Must End."
Last week, in episode 22, we discussed the year in review. This week we’re making our predictions for 2014. You may or may not want to put your money down on our predictions. Depends on how much you trust us, and how much you think we actually know. Enjoy and let us know what you predict.
Here are some of the issues we discussed on this episode:
Business trends and market opportunities for 2014
- First, read Michael’s article, 14 Companies That Will Hit the Tech Zeitgeist in 2014.
- Publishing - Evolving attitude towards micropayments
- Wearables market - Smartwatches to succeed with the general public while Google Glass and its competitors will remain toys of the tech elite.
- Investors will pull back from throwing money at over-the-top and social TV.
- Major maturity with content networks - They’ll develop radio and video channels.
- Using social networks to extend fictional stories that appear in other medium, or social may just the medium of choice.
- We’ll see lots and lots more advertising models focused on enjoyment of content and participation.
- Increase in privacy education and hopefully application because it’s sorely needed. More organizations will begin instituting two-factor authentication (most financial services use it), plus a simpler and wider use of encryption.
- Rise in project managers that have around-the-world relations and can build and manage a virtual team in an instant.
- A major sports league will make their content solely available live online. We already see this through the NBA and MLB. This will help as we watch more people dumping their cable subscription services which will cause prices to go up which will cause more people to quit.
- Like Amazon had success with people using credit cards with the Harry Potter book, there will be another watershed moment for using a digital wallet to buy a highly sought after yet low price/low risk item.
New technologies or technologies that will finally have a market viable product in 2014
- Do it yourself smart home will be significant with many consumers investing in one-off products such as Nest which just received a $150 million investment to get them started on the road to building a smart home. This combined with wearables will greatly increase their benefit and usage.
- 3D printing will see its greatest growth in design and manufacturing. Same with robotics.
- Increase in “Minority Report”-style gesture-based controllers. Plus we’ll see an increased use of voice technology by consumers.
- Will see flexible interactive screens in phones and other devices
- Consumers next notebook purchases will include SSDs.
Who will win, who will lose in 2014
- In tech media, seeing a bubble mentality around events. Too expensive and too many of them. We’ll see a pullback
- In old to new media, we will continue to see some moves. Think Re/Code will replicate (Re/Plicate could be the new name) what it did at AllThingsD such as high priced events.
- The Fremont Project could be a home run or return to earth for Kilar
- Apple will completely reshuffle its projects, and launch a moonshot or two. Don’t think we’ll see a TV, but pretty confident we’ll see multiple wearables and a smart home effort.
- Neflix and Amazon will scare the crap out of the cable providers, by landing bigger and bigger content deals.
- 4K won’t take off in 2014 because there simply won’t be any content, but we’ll see content for 2015 and later.
- Facebook will add a true Snapchat-like feature through Instagram which will hook in a lot of reticent teens who were avoiding Facebook. They will come in droves and Snapchat’s $2 billion offer will dwindle to less than $1 million.
And for your amusement, for those attending CES, please read "Pepcom: We’d Like to Invite You to a Party We Don’t Want You to Attend."
And if you’re going to CES, make sure to ping Michael at @michaelwolf.
Creative Commons photo attribution to JeepersMedia.
Here it is, our 22nd episode of the Tear Down Show, and it’s our year-end wrap up and review.
Michael and David discuss the biggest tech and media stories of 2013 the trends, and which ones were the biggest disruptors.
Here’s a quick list of the topics:
Trends/Opportunities of the Year
- Mobility matured - the rapid hunt for new platform opportunities
- Online video/connected TV become a mature industry
- Evolution of the smart home
- The increased recognition of the value of the share economy and how that plays into the future of work
- Wearable computing - First generation of usable products on the market with Google Glass and smart watches
- Evolving model of software releases gains greater acceptance/requirement
- Update of iOS7, Adobe Creative Cloud, and cloud computing applications with monthly license fees.
Media Disruptors of the Year
- Consolidation of blog networks
- Closer integration of media with ad networks and no the continued struggle to find the best solution for paid media.
- Big social media matured and the kids moved out.
- Dangerous Media Mistakes - Hysteria catching Boston Marathon bombers - NY Daily Post and Reddit - Breaking News embarrassments such as KTVU’s reading the “names” of the pilots of the Korean Asiana flight that crashed. The endless hoaxes. See a nice long list of them.
- Patreon and Kickstarter - New ways to build a business, a media company, gain investment.
- Buzzfeed and Upworthy - Gaming social media with an intense focus on click and link bait, plus constant rewriting of headlines and testing.
- Beyonce’s surprise album
Disruptive businesses and stories of the year
- Privacy - NSA and Snowden
- Lyft and Uber - Great disruptive businesses, but taking full advantage of the sharing economy.
- Bitcoin - Shutdown of black market drug site, Silk Road. Can Bitcoin become a legitimate financial marketplace?
- Snapchat rejection of a $2 billion offer from Facebook. Teenagers shunning Facebook.
- Twitter IPO - Twitter eagerly looking at revenue models.
Thanks everyone for listening to the Tear Down Show. Tune in next week for our predictions episode.
And hello 2014!
(Subscribe to Tear Down Show in iTunes or RSS)
Welcome to the 21st episode of the “Tear Down Show” where we break down markets, media and messaging from multiple perspectives and roles.
Guests are:
- Brian Zisk (@brianzisk), Founder of the SF MusicTech Summit and Future of Money and Technology Summit
- Michael Bourret (@michaelbourret), literary agent with Dystel & Goderich
Hosted by:
- Michael Wolf (@michaelwolf), the analyst, of NextMarket Insights
- David Spark (@dspark), the brand journalist, of Spark Media Solutions.
Trend/opportunity of the week:
- Wearable tech, it’s the cover of Wired this month and it will probably be the rage at CES, which brings me to the second trend which is asking people, “Are you going to CES?”
Media disruptors of the week:
- Tom Merritt, previous guest on Tear Down Show and former Editorial Director at TWiT.tv is taking to Patreon to fund his next media venture.
- Bittorrent’s serverless chat
Today’s topics:
Plugs for all:
- Follow our guests on Twitter and visit their business sites.
- Watch David’s video from Dreamforce, "The Best Time to Start Swearing at Your Customers"
- If you’re going to CES and want to connect with Michael Wolf, reach out to him on Twitter @michaelwolf
(Please subscribe to the Tear Down Show in iTunes!)
Welcome to the nineteenth episode of the “Tear Down Show” where we break down markets, media and messaging from multiple perspectives and roles.
Guests are:
- C.C. Chapman (@cc_chapman), author of "Amazing Things Will Happen" and "Content Rules" and Chief Marketing Officer of YSN
- Jason Miller (@JasonMillerCA), Senior Manager of Content and Social at LinkedIn and rock ‘n roll photographer at Rock and Roll Cocktail.
Hosted by:
- Michael Wolf (@michaelwolf), the analyst, of NextMarket Insights and the NextMarket Podcast.
- David Spark (@dspark), the brand journalist, of Spark Media Solutions.
Entrepreneur pro tip of the week:
- Take advantage of future of work services such as fiverr, oDesk, and Elance.
- Go paperless this year. Advice on How to Create a Paperless Office.
Media disruptors of the week:
- 3D printing a record
- Twitter based Internet hoax caught the country's attention, including David's. Is it just obnoxious or a new form of storytelling?
Today’s topics:
- Another tech news site that will cost $400 per year. While most are skeptical of Jessica Lessin’s ability to make it work, Business Insider is actually bullish.
- The rise and fall of Demand Media
- Jeff Bezos’ true intention releasing the Amazon Drone story.
Plugs for all:
- C.C. Chapman - Subway Global Challenge game
- Jason Miller - Frolic in the Snow with Those in the Know - free ebook from LinkedIn.
- Michael Wolf - Speaking at the Wearable Tech Con - December 10-11, 2013
- David Spark - Why Most Holiday Cards Suck and How Yours Can Stand Out
(Please subscribe to the Tear Down Show in iTunes)
Welcome to the eighteenth episode of the “Tear Down Show” where we break down markets, media and messaging from multiple perspectives and roles.
Guests are:
- Aaron Cohen (@AaronCohen), an adjust professor of Internet and media culture at NYU, a serial entrepreneur and cofounder of GovLab. Check out Aaron’s NetSoFar project, an archive of Internet history with an emphasis on stories.
- Hamish McKenzie (@HamishMcKenzie), a reporter for PandoDaily in Baltimore.
Hosted by:
- Michael Wolf (@michaelwolf), the analyst, of NextMarket Insights and the NextMarket Podcast
- David Spark (@dspark), the brand journalist, of Spark Media Solutions.
Entrepreneur pro tip of the week:
- Having an annual plan - Look at your business and adjust, tweak, or blow up.
- Personalizing video holiday cards and sending personalized holiday gifts. For more, read, "I just sent 555 personalized video holiday greeting cards - How I did it," "I just sent 325 personal video holiday greetings-How I did it," "I just sent 325 personal video holiday greetings-The Response."
Media disruptors of the week:
- Ron Burgundy shows up to co-host North Dakota local newscast
- De Correspondent: Amazing $1.7 million kickstarter investment for a brand new media outlet.
Today’s topics:
- The bubble returneth? Are startups discounting risk?
- Fight for your right to parody - GoldieBlox parodies a Beastie Boys song, but uses that parody to sell a product which is not cool with the Beastie Boys.
- NSFW closes doors, joins Pando Daily
And finally, a big thank you to today’s show sponsor, American Express!
Subscribe in iTunes or download this episode.
Welcome to the seventeenth episode of the “Tear Down Show” where we break down markets, media and messaging from multiple perspectives and roles.
Guests are:
- Laurel Touby (@LaurelTouby), founder of Mediabistro
- Jon Fine (@jonfine), author, investor and media advisor
Hosted by:
- Michael Wolf (@michaelwolf), the analyst, of NextMarket Insights
- David Spark (@dspark), the brand journalist, of Spark Media Solutions.
Entrepreneur pro tip of the week:
- Michael’s tip: Travel less, but when you do, make it hugely productive
- David’s tip: Never ask if there’s available work and always be working even if you’ve got nothing.
Media disruptors of the week:
- Katie Couric - Job-hopper and now Internet news anchor
- Demise of TV, especially cable/phone service TV subscriptions
Today’s topics:
- Twitter launches a new media hub - media.twitter.com
- Future of publishing - one person will create your local edition
- Can you make money from digital music? - Turntable.fm shuts down, Spotify gets huge investment, we’re no longer owners of media, we’re renters.
Plugs for all:
- Jon will have a book coming out in 2015. Stay tuned for that.
Subscribe to the Tear Down Show in iTunes.
Welcome to the sixteenth episode of the “Tear Down Show” where we break down markets, media and messaging from multiple perspectives and roles.
Guests are:
- Ty Hildenbrandt (@tyhildenbrandt), sports broadcaster and host of the Solid Verbal podcast.
- Caleb Bacon (@CalebEatsBacon), Host of the Man School Show podcast and writer for Sullivan and Son on TBS.
Hosted by:
- Michael Wolf (@michaelwolf), the analyst, of NextMarket Insights
- David Spark (@dspark), the brand journalist, of Spark Media Solutions.
Entrepreneur pro tip of the week:
- Don’t crowdfund just because everyone else is crowdfunding. A poorly planned and executed crowdfunding effort can do major damage to your online brand.
- Build influencer relations through content - For more, read Increase Visibility By Pulling a PR 180
Media disruptors of the week:
We both agreed it’s Batkid. How could it not be Batkid? It could possibly be the media disruptor of the year.
Today’s topics:
- Jeter’s Readers - Derek Jeter is opening a publishing company
- What do you mean $3 billion in cash isn’t enough? - Snapchat turns down a $3 billion cash offer from Facebook.
- Does podcast discovery need a redo? - Mashable offers some solutions, and we offer some recommendations.
Plugs for all:
Creative Commons photo attribution to Rubenstein.
Welcome to the fourteenth episode of the “Tear Down Show” where we break down markets, media and messaging from multiple perspectives and roles.
You can find the Tear Down Show at iTunes or on the Podcast One podcast network.
This Week’s Guest is:
- Marsha Lederman (@marshalederman) Western Arts Correspondent for The Globe and Mail
Hosted by:
- Michael Wolf (@michaelwolf), the analyst, of NextMarket Insights
- David Spark (@dspark), the brand journalist, of Spark Media Solutions.
- Michael - Trying to determine the best business model for an analyst: generating products or consulting?
- David - Trying to unsubscribe from Hilton Hotels’ email marketing program - Read "Hilton Offers Beautiful Hotels and Endless Emails."
Media disruptors of the week:
Today’s topics:
- Traditional news says, “Let’s put on a show” - Big media companies reaping big profits from events and branded content.Story on NYTimes and Marketing Dive.
- In today’s software-driven world, should big media have a “Siskel & Ebert” of software? Dave Winer argues that mainstream media doesn’t provide critical artistic reviews of software.
- Arts Trend: Democratization of distribution and production - Article about the Arts Hackathon. How to Crowdsource the Production of a Feature Film.
Plugs for all:
- Marsha - Read all the news on Toronto Mayor Rob Ford and his alleged crack cocaine use. Not written by Marsha. To read her work, go here.
- David - Watch "What Would Happen if You Left Your Mobile Phone at Home for the Entire Day?"
- Michael - Douglas Rushkoff talks to Mike over at the NextMarket Podcast.
Creative Commons photo attribution to David Boldery.
Please subscribe in iTunes or check us out at Podcast One.
Welcome to the thirteenth episode of the “Tear Down Show” where we break down markets, media and messaging from multiple perspectives and roles.
Guests are:
- Tom Merritt (@acedtect), Co-Host of "Tech News Today" on TWiT.tv
- Paul Farkas (@AllSocialTV), CEO of Shoe Week and board member of the Second Screen Society
Hosted by:
- Michael Wolf (@michaelwolf), the analyst, of NextMarket Insights
- David Spark (@dspark), the brand journalist, of Spark Media Solutions.
Business frustrations of the week:
- Michael - Reading recommendations: Tom Kreider’s Slaves of the Internet, Unite! and Douglas Rushkoff, Present Shock.
- David - Fighting declining numbers (open rate and clickthrough) on newsletters - Is it the influx of email, or is it Google’s new tabbed feature that separates email marketing from personal email?
- PRX Remix - App and site that acts as a mix tape for great spoken word content.
- Samsung fined $340K for posting bogus comments
Today’s topics:
Plugs for all:
- The great traditional news exodus: Flurry of stories of editorial and managerial leaving traditional news for online news and tech companies. Rick Berke leaves NYTimes to go to Politico, Vivial Schiller leaves NBC News for Twitter. David Pogue leaves NYTimes for Yahoo.
- Amazon can’t hack the NYC publishing scene
- Apple’s announcement that they’re giving away their OS and iWork for free if you buy their hardware. Piece on TIME and TechCrunch
Plugs for all:
- Tom - Tom Merritt’s Tech History series coming out once a month as Kindle singles
- Paul - Accessory agency ULN launching “Accessory Week” where they’ll be sponsoring the wearable lounge
- David - Silly video: The Most Obnoxious Things People Do on a Mobile Phone
- Mike - Interview with his son about his purchase of the Pebble.
Creative Commons photo credit to sellamelie.
