Monthly Archives: February 2008

Any Mobile Masterminds?

Several years ago, we registered MobileMasterMind.com, intending to make a general info/help kind of site for mobile device info. Like too very many of our good intentions, we never got around to doing anything about it, and our ownership of the domain is expiring this week.

I was going to let it expire, but Marc suggested that someone who reads this blog might want it, so if anyone does, post a reply here saying so by Wednesday of this week. I’ll renew it for a year and transfer it to anyone interested. If more than one person is interested, I’ll let Julie pick who gets it using her secret random winner picking method.

And don’t forget that part 3 of Eten Blog dot Com’s Developer Interview series is now online. It was originally designed to be a 3-part article, but there’s going to be at least one set of followup questions as well.

I Love this Article

pcmag.gifSascha Segan, of PC Magazine, wrote a great column called Pay Now or Pay Later. He points out the real costs of buying low-cost electronics, including

“hidden charges, shoddy products, lousy tech support, a poisoned environment, lost U.S. jobs, and starving workers … the loss of things like customer service, reliability, durability, and flexibility”

and says that

“the relentless cost-cutting brought on by a culture where low prices are the ultimate goal has led to the complete demise of tech support, the most labor-intensive part of the tech process and one that’s invisible in advertisements and on shelves.”

Please read it – it’s well worth the time.

“Smart” Systems

smartcomp.jpgPeople are always talking about “smart” systems. These are automated systems that are meant to make a company more efficient, drive sales, and provide a great customer experience. Often, and unfortunately, the implementation of these systems goes hand in hand with cutting back on the role of real people in the process. Time and again, these “smart” systems prove incredibly stupid.

This whole issue is particularly important to us right now, because we’re working on some “smart” systems of our own. Where are they a good thing and where are they a pain? How do you use them in a way that really does make life better rather than more complicated? Read on for my thoughts and a chance to voice your own opinion!

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Aplogies to Our Loyal Readers

If you subscribe to the comments feed on this blog, or read them online, and have been seeing a lot of spam among them recently, we apologize! Somehow, our filter plug-in got disabled. We’ve fixed it now, and are in the process of upgrading our WordPress installation to get the very latest in security. Thanks to everyone who wrote us about the problem, and I hope it won’t happen again.

The Second First of the Year

winner.jpgIs anyone else surprised that it’s already February, or is it just me? Either way, you should all be happy to know that, since it’s February 1st, I’m ready to announce the latest contest winner!

We had a lot of great comments in January, and the lucky winner this time around is: Gary, for his comment on Dusting Off the Crystal Ball. Congratulations! I just sent you an email explaining how to get your prize. If you don’t receive it, reply to this post and let me know.

To everyone else, be sure to stick around and keep the comments and opinions coming – and maybe next month you’ll be the winner!