Consumerization

Profile after profile the accidental architect of...

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 19:23:35 -0700

Profile after profile the accidental architect of consumerization, Steve Jobs.

Mobilize 2011 video livestream #mobilizeconf

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 08:43:13 -0700

Watch live streaming video from mobilize2011 at livestream.com

This week (Monday + Tuesday) is Mobilize 2011, a conference dedicated to the emerging consumer and enterprise changes coming at us in mobile. We’re particularly interested in the sessions relating to consumerization.

We’ve plucked out the most relevant sessions and times for consumerization of IT topics from the full Mobilize schedule website, which you should check out. :

Monday

9:20 AM TABLETS AND SMARTPHONES BY THE NUMBERS

The growing popularity of smartphones and tablets has opened up new opportunities for mobile content and apps – and raises critical questions, as well. Do different platforms and devices require different monetization strategies or does it depend on which demographic group you are trying to reach? How do different kinds of consumers respond to mobile ads? How much are consumers willing to pay for various types of content? How effective are mobile ads? These questions and more are revealed by audience research giant, The Nielsen Company. Speakers: Jonathan Carson - GM, Digital, Nielsen

Tuesday

9:05 AM THE $20 BILLION UPSET

There’s a new force to be reckoned with in the enterprise: the consumerization of IT. The rise of mobile products such as the iPhone, iPad and Android platforms — along with the easy accessibility of cloud computing services — is radically disrupting conventional IT infrastructures. Resistance is futile. The network and content security industry is estimated to be worth more than $20 billion by 2015, and as advances in technology turn this industry upside down, smart and agile enterprises stand to realize considerable competitive advantages by recognizing the new shape of IT architecture and the value of a seamless user experience. This talk between Cisco Security’s VP/GM Tom Gillis and the New York Times’ Quentin Hardy will delve deeper into the infinite number of possible responses demanded of IT departments. Moderated by: Quentin Hardy - Deputy Tech Editor, The New York Times Speakers: Tom Gillis - VP and GM Security Technology Business Unit, Cisco

9:45 AM WILL ENTERPRISE BE THE GAME CHANGER FOR HTML 5 AND TABLET APPS?

For companies that have embraced device diversity, the decision to go with native or web-based mobile apps can cause analysis paralysis. While native apps provide richer functionality, in-house app developers have already standardized on HTML as the platform of choice for building B2B apps. Will enterprise lead the way in using cross-platform mobile development tools and mobile middleware platforms to get the job done? There is much anticipation and hype about the entry of tablet devices into the enterprise. Yet we are seeing very little innovation of applications that actually take advantage of the tablet’s benefits. Is the future of the tablet simply replacing existing game consoles and e-readers, or will productivity be the app that really makes use of the tablet form factor? Moderated by: Nathan Clevenger - Chief Software Architect, ITR Mobility Speakers: Santiago Becerra - Co-Founder and CEO, MeLLmo Adam Blum - CEO, Rhomobile Chris Kemmerer - Director, Mobility Solutions, Verizon Sean Whiteley - SVP, salesforce.com

10:25 AM 3 KEY PILLARS OF ENTERPRISE MOBILITY: APPLICATIONS, DATA AND PEOPLE

Virtualization and high-powered smartphones are a match made in heaven for the enterprise. Most of the arguments involving security and data integrity disappear. We talk with the visionary CTO and thought leader at technology giant VMware about what he sees as the real outcomes of virtualization on the handset and where VMware will lead the industry next. Moderated by: Stacey Higginbotham - Senior Writer, GigaOM Speakers: Stephen Herrod - CTO, VMware

4:05 PM MOBILIZING YOUR BUSINESS: CHALLENGE OR OPPORTUNITY?

Though mobility is a hot topic in the tech world, organizations are still grappling with some of the most basic issues around mobility in the workplace. In fact, enterprise IT is reaching the end of the first chapter of this mobile transformation. Organizations are beginning to realize they need to look beyond mobile device management to a broader, more strategic opportunity to manage the mobile enterprise. This panel covers mobile device management, mobile application management, tablets, mobile cloud computing, security and more. Moderated by: Philippe Winthrop - Managing Director, The Enterprise Mobility Foundation Speakers: Chuck Goldman - Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Apperian John Herrema - SVP of Corporate Strategy, Good Technology Julie Palen - SVP, Strategic Business Development and Mobile Device Management, Tangoe Bob Tinker - CEO, MobileIron

Recent bump aside, Blackberry keeps getting cheaper

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 21:23:35 -0700

Despite moving away from its enterprise IT image and adopting a consumer-friendly brand as early 2005, RIM can’t seem to slow down Blackberry’s descent.

mattrichman:

RIM just reported earnings for its second fiscal quarter of 2012. 73% of its $4.2 billion in revenue came from the sale of hardware, which includes Blackberrys and Playbooks. That means RIM brought in $3.066 billion from hardware sales.

RIM shipped 10.6 million Blackberrys and 200,000 Playbooks. Assuming the average selling price of a Playbook is $554 (what I used last quarter), then RIM brought in $2.9552 billion in revenue from the sale of 10.6 million Blackberrys.

That means the average selling price of a Blackberry this quarter was $278.79. It rose 3.80% over last quarter’s $268.56, but it’s still down 7.76% over the last six months.

The following chart shows the average selling price of a Blackberry since 2009:

A 27.41% drop in less than three years.

rankandfile: A generation of 1099 independents, as opposed to...

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 09:42:33 -0700

rankandfile:

A generation of 1099 independents, as opposed to W2 permanents, by definition is a Bring Your Own Computer (BYOC) workforce.

These workers are buying computers individually, not negotiating 10000 seat contracts with Microsoft and Dell.

theatlantic:

The Freelance Surge Is the Industrial Revolution of Our Time

It’s been called the Gig Economy, Freelance Nation, the Rise of the Creative Class, and the e-conomy, with the “e” standing for electronic, entrepreneurial, or perhaps eclectic. Everywhere we look, we can see the U.S.workforce undergoing a massive change. No longer do we work at the same company for 25 years, waiting for the gold watch, expecting the benefits and security that come with full-time employment. We’re no longer simply lawyers, or photographers, or writers. Instead, we’re part-time lawyers-cum- amateur photographers who write on the side.

Today, careers consist of piecing together various types of work, juggling multiple clients, learning to be marketing and accounting experts, and creating offices in bedrooms/coffee shops/coworking spaces. Independent workers abound. We call them freelancers, contractors, sole proprietors, consultants, temps, and the self-employed.

And, perhaps most surprisingly, many of them love it.

Read more at The Atlantic

"During VMworld this week, talk of consumerization — or the rise of consumer applications and devices..."

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 21:04:00 -0700

“

During VMworld this week, talk of consumerization — or the rise of consumer applications and devices in corporate settings — was everywhere, stemming from VMware CEO Paul Maritz’s and CTO Steve Herrod’s mobile- and application-centric keynotes.

Included in Herrod’s presentation was talk of a new Dropbox-like application called Project Octopus that will let users safely store, access and share corporate documents. It all so sounded so promising, and then someone asked me whether it will actually get used. If employees already use Dropbox, she asked, why would they want to use a different service to do essentially the same thing while at work?

The truth is that I don’t know. I can see why employers would want them to use a separate service, but will employees stand for it? I tend to agree with my colleague Stacey Higginbotham, who noted while reporting on VMware’s mobile play, “While enterprises will love the ability to control who can access their data, employees may not want to give up the ability to use their own tools and choose who they share their files with.” Of course, it’s not so much a question about Dropbox or Project Octopus as much as it is about the role of consumer applications in corporate settings in general.

”

- How far can consumerization go for enterprise apps? — Cloud Computing News

Smartphones make up 40% of all mobile phones in the U.S.

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 20:59:14 -0700

That’s a lot of consumers with ubiquitous Internet access.

shortformblog:

poweredbytech:

According to data from Nielsen, 40% of mobile users over 18 in the United States now carry a smartphone. Android carries a 40% share of those smartphone owners, follwed by Apple at 28% and RIM falling to 19%. Windows Mobile users still far exceed Windows Phone 7 users at a 7:1 ratio.

Read More

Under the fold is perhaps the more interesting bit: Amongst those who plan on getting a smartphone in the future, more intend to purchase Android phones than iPhones.

CNNMoney Tech Tumblr: $5 comics now with Photoshop-like serial numbers

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 09:14:31 -0700

CNNMoney Tech Tumblr: $5 comics now with Photoshop-like serial numbers:

We suppose this is the opposite of consumerization. A hyper-formalized ritual to conduct a tiny transaction mostly reserved for children.

cnnmoneytech:

Photo by CNNMoney

This is the inside back cover of DC Comics’ Justice League #1, released yesterday. The publisher expects people to input 32 characters to download the digital version.

That’s a total of 1.53249554 × 10⁵⁴ different combinations (thanks Google!). The number is so large…

Consumerization at VMworld 2011 for Monday

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 11:02:00 -0700

If you’re not at VMworld today, and following along at home, there are a few topics you’ll want to check out in the area of consumerization:

11:00 AM Pacific SocialCast CEO will be interviewed (Socialcast is a Twitter-like tool for use behind-the-firewall in large enterprises)
12:45 PM Pacific VDI panel Keith Norbie & Jerrid Cunnif, Nexus; Stu Miniman, Wikibon
3:30 PM Pacific VMware CEO Paul Maritz’s keynote is will be live-streamed this afternoon. He often talks about consumerization, and his talk is called The New It. Registration required, but it is free.

Update: For some reason, the VMworld Live Community site has changed its video embed to point to recorded shorts, not the live “theCube” interviews anymore. So we’ve updated the link to point to SiliconANGLE. which always has whatever they’re managing live (this week, VMworld).

What Steve Jobs does on his first day off?

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 09:48:18 -0700

What does one of the world’s most creative business geniuses do now that he’s not perfecting our consumer devices?

cnnmoneytech:

Screenshot by CNNMoney

The Joy of Tech has what they say is Steve Jobs’ calendar now that he is no longer CEO of Apple. I kind of wish “Emperor Mode” was a real thing on Face Time… - Matt

The Steve Jobs patents for consumer electronics. I’m sure...

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 20:14:55 -0700

The Steve Jobs patents for consumer electronics. I’m sure many of us can go over this list and say, “I have that, got that, bought that, gave that as a present, got it, got it. Almost bought it…”

neuropsy:

Steve Jobs patents

Steve Jobs stepped down as CEO of Apple yesterday, and one of the reasons we actually care is because he had a hand in so many major products that we use every day. Shan Carter and Alan McLean, for The New York Times, provide a breakdown of all 313 Apple patents that include Jobs in the group of inventors.

New Apple CEO knows just what consumers want. Printers. (And...

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 19:52:50 -0700

New Apple CEO knows just what consumers want. Printers. (And faxes.) :D

laughingsquid:

New Apple CEO Tim Cook: ‘I’m Thinking Printers’

Still a work in progress: Google+ and business

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 14:13:15 -0700

Mostly speculative presentation on Google+ and business. But never too late to start planning.

simonsanett:

Google+ for brands_ogilvy View more presentations from John Bell

More on The End of The PC

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 14:27:58 -0700

There will be some PC’s is not denying there won’t be fewer PC’s. Microsoft’s “But you can’t count on a phone” argument only applies if people only have access to one device.

parislemon:

Microsoft PR Head Thinks Microsoft Is Great

Shocking.

I mean, the only way such a post would be even remotely surprising is if Frank Shaw didn’t have these feelings. Of course, he also wouldn’t work for Microsoft if that were the case, because who works for a company they think has no future? (Actually, plenty of people do — but Shaw is in a position where he certainly wouldn’t have to.)

While Shaw’s post may be obvious, also probably obvious is that I disagree with a lot of it. I don’t disagree with his main point — that the PC won’t be killed anytime soon — but I disagree with the notion of framing his entire argument this way.

When most people bring up “Post-PC”, they cite Steve Jobs’ use of the term. Again, no surprise there, he’s the man ushering in the devices of this era. Of course, he also ushered in the PC era itself, but that’s another matter. The key thing Shaw leaves out (he never mentions Jobs or Apple at all — which, again, could not be any less surprising) is that Jobs himself has said that in the Post-PC world, the PC doesn’t die, it just fades into the background of computing. It becomes the “truck,” as Jobs called it.

By saying that smartphones, tablets, etc, aren’t going to kill PCs, Shaw is distracting everyone from the real argument. He never bothers to mention that these devices could very well shove the PC out of the limelight as a consumer device. In fact, many numbers suggest this is already happening.

Yes, PCs remain better tools for creation at this point, in my view. But thinking that tablets and smartphones won’t continue to improve and attack that space as well is foolish. Shaw is making an argument for why the PC is better at content creation now. What about two years from now? What about five years from now?

The PC will evolve as well, but the fact of the matter is that it’s a mature product. The basics haven’t changed much in the past 20 years. The specs increase, and the bodies slightly morph (though, again, you could credit Apple with that more than anyone else), but the real action and innovation is happening outside the walls of the PC.

Oh, but Windows 8 will change that! We’ll see. Software is great, but it can only do so much. I’d have more faith in Microsoft transforming the PC for the future if they made PCs as well. Instead, HP does.

Oh. Wait.

No matter what you think of HP’s big moves this past week, their step away from the PC world speaks volumes. They’re not doing it because they’re batshit crazy. They’re doing it because sales are declining and the margins suck. They’re doing it because they can’t beat Apple.

It’s not a good sign for an industry when the leader of that industry quits and walks away. No amount of spin can change that.

Intel’s take on consumerization of IT.

Sun, 21 Aug 2011 14:07:05 -0700

Intel’s take on consumerization of IT.

Will HP TouchPad sales rush...touch enterprise IT?

Sun, 21 Aug 2011 09:08:54 -0700

One wonders if this will be a blip on the enterprise IT radar. We can see the help desk ticket now. “Can you install VPN on my HP touchpad?”

shortformblog:

If you were looking to get an HP TouchPad, it appears Best Buy changed their minds and started selling them at fire sale prices. They appear sold out now, however. Might want to watch it, though.

From the Best Buy sale page:

HP TOUCHPAD CLEARANCE AND RETURN POLICY

Due to HP’s decision to discontinue its TouchPad product, Best Buy® will now provide clearance pricing for all TouchPad 16GB and 32GB models (SKUs 2842056, 2842092) regardless of previously advertised prices or promotions.

Best Buy will not accept customer returns or exchanges on clearance-priced TouchPads bought through any Best Buy channel.

Customers purchasing a TouchPad at clearance pricing will have a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty, fulfilled directly through HP, not Best Buy.

Customers who purchased the 16GB or 32GB TouchPad after June 19 may come into the store to get either a full refund or a refund of the difference between the price they paid and the clearance price.

Quantities are strictly limited. Limit 1 per customer. Best Buy cannot guarantee availability of inventory at this pricing at any particular Best Buy location or channel.

This is a change from yesterday, where we couldn’t even buy one.

A second reason for the PC sales slow down, beyond iPads

Sat, 20 Aug 2011 21:07:09 -0700

So PCs are losing marketshare to Ipads. This is documented. But this CNN commenter makes a good point about a secondary disincentive to PC buying.

cnnmoneytech:

GoAwayObama: The problem with PC sales is there hasnt been any real speed increases in CPU’s in years. I just got a brand new top of the line core i7. It has 8 cores, but its really not any faster than the 5 yr old computer it replaced.

VoteObama012: Nice post GoAwayObama! I completely agree with you. The pc is now a commodity like a tv, toaster, or microwave.

Non-Apple consumer tablets enjoy few of the advantages non-Apple...

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 13:17:51 -0700

Non-Apple consumer tablets enjoy few of the advantages non-Apple desktop computers get. (Not that desktop computers aren’t experiencing a radically disruptive transition and fragmentation of their own.)

But unlike a new HP laptop model, a new HP tablet doesn’t carry with it a known (and internalized) operating system, set of apps, and cultural commitment of relative device compatibility.

In consumer device land, HP tablets are risky, new curiosities, no matter the heritage of the company making them.

cnnmoneytech:

Screenshot: CNNMoney

Live fast, die young, leave a trail of very very expensive TV commercials?

With HP’s announcement that it’s killing the TouchPad less than two months after it went on sale — and essentially leaving WebOS for dead — looks like Gartner is gonna have to revise its forecast that HP will grab a sliver of the tablet market. Or, hell, that anyone other than Apple is gonna get any piece of it in the foreseeable future. -Stacy

Using Google+ while logged in to Google Apps (multiple accounts issue)

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 15:48:13 -0700

google-apps-training-nerd:

It’s no secret that one of the frustrations of Google Apps is not being able to access many of Google’s services with your Google Apps account.

What makes it even more challenging is that Google doesn’t make it easy to be concurrently logged in to a personal account and a Google Apps account (though it is possible).

Right now Google recommends you use a personal account to access Google+ (you can be logged in to two Google accounts at once via Settings, or simply keep your secondary Google session active in another browser.).

If your personal account is the same email address as one in your Google Apps domain, Google calls this is a “conflicting account.” (This is not the same thing as your Google Apps account being your only Google account.)

People with conflicting accounts will later be asked to rename their personal account, according to this Google support article.

Setting up Science Hack Days, San Francisco trip scholarships

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 10:40:00 -0700

Two things of note here:

1) The group is looking to help guide you to set up a Science Hack Day in your own city. Please take them up on this.

2) There are some scholarships available for you to go to San Francisco, attend their Science Hack Day, and see how it’s done.

arielwaldman:

Apply for free trip to San Francisco’s Science Hack Day – Boing Boing

Want to set up a Science Hack Day in your city? Would you like to be flown to San Francisco’s Science Hack Day on November 12-13 to get inspired? As I posted last month, Institute for the Future (IFTF) and my colleague Ariel “Spacehack” Waldman received a grant for Science Hack Day enabling ten people from around the world to be flown to the San Francisco event. Deadline to apply is 8/31. Ariel says:

From building a lamp that lights up every timean asteroid or International Space Station flies by the Earth to mashing up accelerator lab data with sounds to hear what particle collisions in super colliders might sound like, web geeks and science geeks around the world are getting excited and making unexpected things with science – and you can, too!

Science Hack Day is a 48-hour-all-night event that brings together designers, developers, scientists and other geeks in the same physical space for a brief but intense period of collaboration, hacking, and building ‘cool stuff’. They’re already beginning to pop up across the world in the coming months, from Dublin to Cape Town and a dozen cities in between.

Science Hack Day

More grassroots science: Citizen Science Alliance

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 13:15:06 -0700

Related to earlier-established theme of access…

“ The CSA is a collaboration of scientists, software developers and educators who collectively develop, manage and utilise internet-based citizen science projects in order to further science itself, and the public understanding of both science and of the scientific process. These projects use the time, abilities and energies of a distributed community of citizen scientists who are our collaborators ”

And yes, they even have space projects.