Archive for the 'New York City' Category

25
May
11

where to next?

While it’s certainly getting easier to predict the weather in New York — rain, rain, and more rain — it’s proving more and more difficult to guess what will happen next with legendary dive bar Max Fish. Back in December, a rent dispute between owner and landlord threatened to close the establishment’s doors forever. But then in May, it seemed police allegations of underage drinking and operating after hours were a greater cause for concern. And now, there is word that Max Fish may survive in its current space even longer than the one year eventually agreed upon. So who’s to know what the future will bring?

In January, I shared with you some of the things I looked forward  to witnessing unfold in 2011. And now, almost six months later, I have a few more questions to add to the list:

- How will the cloud music war play out between Apple, Amazon (Cloud Drive), and Google (Music Beta)? And will consumers agree to pay for this storage/streaming service?

- Will Microsoft’s takeover of Skype really mean the end of free voice and video calls — that the only way to use Skype will be via Office, Windows Phone, and Xbox?

- How will AT&T’s acquisition of T-Mobile — if approved — affect AT&T and T-Mobile customers and the wireless industry as a whole? Higher fees? Better or worse service? Trouble for Google’s Android?

- Will the biggest news about Yahoo this year be its sale of social bookmarking web service Delicious, or will the company be able to debut a groundbreaking product or two before December rolls around?

- Will technological advancements in TV such as Sharp and NHK’s new Super Hi-Vision screen help to keep enough people interested in consuming media via television rather than via computer or tablet?

- And lastly, for the umpteenth time, when will it actually be the Year of Mobile?

What are your thoughts on these topics? Come on, share your insights.

Photo credit: Andy Roberts

11
May
11

bumps and jumps on the information highway

While the New York subway is a great way for millions of people to get around the city each day, it’s also a great place to have your patience tried to the utmost. People from all walks of life crowded together in a small space for what can sometimes feel like hours, passing time and entertaining themselves in a variety of ways. Singing and dancing to loud music. Falling asleep and drooling on people’s shoulders. Picking a fight just because (yes, I’m talking about you, Bloody Loco). Eating smelly, messy food. Clipping their nails

Oh, what a city!

It’s not always smooth sailing on the information highway either. And sometimes it can feel like people are deliberately trying to turn you away from their Web site. Here are just some things that can make online surfing frustratingly annoying:

- Sites that hijack your back button, so there’s no easy way for you to leave

- Links that don’t function the way they’re supposed to — when you click “here” nothing happens or you’re taken to the wrong page

- Online forms that refuse to be submitted unless you enter all information exactly as requested — good luck if you live at 5 1/2 First Street

- Sites that automatically subscribe you to their e-newsletters even when you have specifically deselected the sign-up box

Care to add? List your own pet peeves in the comments section below. And let’s all remember to check our own Web sites regularly to ensure we’re not committing any such faux pas ourselves!

Photo credit: Zach Klein

13
Apr
11

chameleon businesses — friends today, foes tomorrow

New York is home to a sizable number of slash kids… and adults. (We’re talking people who work a number of odd jobs while pursuing their dreams here, not folks walking around waving knives and other sharp objects.) We have the dancer/(slash) messenger/stand-up comic; the writer/yoga instructor/tutor; the musician/dog walker/waitress. Trust me, I could go on all day.

It’s so fascinating to see how these individuals are able to transform themselves effortlessly from one situation to the next. In the morning, they’re smiling as they ask how you take your latte. And then at night, they’re scowling as they scrutinize your outfit and I.D. card with a penlight at the door.

We’ve got a lot of notable slash kids in the business world, too. Amazon began as an online bookstore but now sells everything under the sun — car parts, jewelry, and even food. Apple, originally Apple Computer, is now also world-renowned for its iPod, iPhone, and iPad devices. And SXSW (South by Southwest), which started off as a 700-attendee music festival, has grown twenty-fold into a go-to event for anyone with ties to the music, film, or interactive industries. So as marketers we need to be constantly aware of how businesses are changing — evolving. A brand that may have started in an area far removed from where we are focused can — in the blink of an eye — become a very strong competitor. I mean, who would have thought back in 2004 that Google and Facebook would grow to become such serious rivals?

Photo credit: Art G




Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.