iPhone, my opinion.

A lot is on the web about iPhone so I will keep this short.

Sure, every function available was formerly available either on a PDA (it reminds me of my old Sony Clie) or on a phone itself but this is a new product and as such looks impressive.

Announcing a product which is not existent has been an old strategy of Microsoft many years ago to prevent customers to invest in non-Microsoft products. Apple made the phone and shows it, so this is not Vaporware.
So what is remarkable? The fact that so much was done at the same time.

1. Apple entered a new market, apparently mobile phones.
2. They used their own Operating System to do this (instead of deciding to use Palm or Symbian).
3. They say it´s the best Ipod ever made (improved and kind of merged an existing product)
4. And the customer interface is completely new, which means that the look and feel of the telephony functions were reinvented. Something the other participants are years of experience ahead which should theoratically give them an advantage on usability issues or customer feedback (new feature here: selective voicemail playback).

As far as I have read software development is is going to be resctrictive and is expected to include some sort of certification process.
Market availability is in six months and then we´ll see how the other manufacturers and or platform providers will pimp up their products to catch up.
My opinion so far; Apple changed the mobile phone market by adding a category of it´s own; traditional smartphones and Windows Mobile devices have 6 months to improve quality and think of new features to impress customers.
Until then look at this:

Apple representant showing features of the device:
http://gracefulflavor.net/2007/01/13/best-demo-of-iphone-yet-phil-schiller-on-cbs-news/

Steve Ballmer criticising the iPhone :)
http://gracefulflavor.net/2007/01/20/ballmer-hyperventilates-mocking-the-iphone/

No comment on pink Zune.
Initially found via graceflavour.net

Whoppering IT infrastructure?

Cem Basman posted today an analisis of requirements on how to create an IT Outsourcing business for small and medium businesses.
So what could reasonably be outsourced for SMB, and how?

1) IT Infrastructure
2) Business Applications
3) Accounting
4) Advertising
5) CRM/VRM
6) Administration
7) Software development

I think mainly IT infrastructure and generic workflows for every company or industry specific workflows.
Since IT is said to be no longer a differential I think that this only is true in the sense of basic services that are just expected to be functional and where cost is really an issue.
What could specifically be provided?

-IT Infrastructure
eMail
Domain & Web Site
Filesystem
Telephony
WebConferencing
Workgroup functions(calendar, task tracking, milestones)
-Business Applications
Calculations
Documents
-Accounting
Accounting
Banking (Invoices, Payments)
-Advertising
Online advertising
Newsletter management
Community building tools
Plug In for third party service provider (Call Center & Mailings)
-CRM/VRM
Client & vendor data management.
-Administration
Workflow engine for defining business processes.
Web Applications Framework for rapidly creating Web Applications.
-Software Development
Centralised outsourcing software development where necessary.

-What is the benefit for new clients?
The startup time is drastically reduced. The cost should be low. The client is free to focus on tasks which generate or are expected to generate income.

-Why could existing companies use this?
Migration of their IT to reduce costs and enhance the service quality at the same time.

-How could an ecosystem be created on such a basis?
By franchising migration services to map existing infrastructure and processes to the available tools and services (standardisation)?
By offering a framework where highly specialised service providers could participate and provide "building blocks" (market creation)?
By offering a local service directory where physical goods and services are provided based on the defined interfaces?
By offering defined interfaces and ensuring the functionality of those interfaces?

Anything more that makes sense?

First post 2007!

So this is the first post this year after a fabulous week in London.
Sunday is always good for reading, writing and a little napping :)

Links noticed so far:
Seth Godin quotes an article form the Guardian on How to be remarkable. I prefer to post the link to the original article because what´s most important is what is said after the obligatory 10 bullets. Read yourself.

The second one is also from Seth but handles another topic. Tactic & Strategy but maybe it´s just about thinking or life planning. Mainly it says that it depends more on doing the right thing than on doing something right. What is which is as always in the eye of the beholder.
A good book on thinking and success bought this week: Tactics by Edward de Bono.

The third one:
ITU Report on digital.life.
A lot has been written on wikis, social networks, IM and other technical solutions on how to communicate or collaborate. My parents still don´t have internet access and my mother rejects to start blogging from a distance, which I consider a plausible alternative to start it, so still some miles to go.

Mass media this week: iPhone, therefore I am.

End of the year.

The year will be over in a few hours and as in past years I would like to finish it with a quote.

This years quote is a special one.

It does reflect my "modus operandi" as I also find the biography of the man, Eric Hoffer, who said this to be interesting.

Values, fears and hopes are things deeply inside a person and trying to be oneself and realizing self defined goals for none is easy. Sometimes it seems that just very different point of views collide and things meant and things perceived differ drastically.

And sometimes not wanting to compromise ones principles lead to difficulties.

I wish all those who have been part of my last year all the best.

I wish you, that you may realise your goals.

"In a time of drastic change it is the learners who inherit the future. The learned usually find themselves equipped to live in a world that no longer exists."

Eric Hoffer

Christmas impressions

Christmas impressions

Hope Christmas time was pleasent for all. It was a relaxing time for me. A good time to read some books and just walk around the beach.

And now..

..something completely different.

The morning

The morning

The morning was arriving and I although some time ago I immediately would have joined them today I preferred to watch the familiar scene from a certain distance. Nipping slowly on my drink was a good start for a Sunday morning.

@Fabric

@Fabric

The lady was taller than me. She ordered a double Gin Tonic and a shot. After drinking the shot she turned around and walked to a man. There she stand. She began to smile, danced and after a while she looked him in the eyes and gave him a short kiss. The voice of the bartender suddenly disturbed my observation of the scene. I ordered a Whiskey-Coke and a shot of Vodka for me. The lady was too young for drinking shots alone.

Man at work

Man at work

Underneath the turntables was the crowd. On the right side there were also people dancing but he did not take notice of them since the moment, he was mixing the two songs, was critical for him. He did not care whether the kids noticed the details, he did, and that was important for him and although it seems not obvious, he took his proud out of doing this good for them.

room.three

room.three

The crowd was young and enthusiastic. A little bit too enthusiastic for my taste right now. They were all looking in the same direction and the disco lights in different colors was moving above them in circles and waves. One young lady was making a picture with her camera. She was neither smiling nor looking as she were enjoing herself like the others. She took the photo to not forget the evening.

Boogy Woogy?

Boogy Woogy

I seemed to be dressed a little bit too "posh" for this location. Nevertheless the music was housy and the over the different floors people were having a good time. Maybe the advice of the lady had been a joke?

A club´s name

The phone call woke me up in the morning. A lady told me the name of a club and hang up. She didn´t even bother to tell me her name. But I knew the voice and although I usually don´t talk too much I would have asked her how she was going.

Sushi and Coke

Sushi and Coke

As a preparation I decided to take a private "Finest Sushi" for 3.49 and a Diet Coke Lime for 0,84 pence. I was happy that I could pay with some coins I always used to have with me. Maybe it was also a bit of relief, that I still could mantain the illusion that I had some notes in my pocket. The Lime Coke would be my Caipirinha substitute, and knowing that in Rio they would give me a whole bottle of the real stuff for that price didn´t make it taste much better. But I was not in Rio, I was in the city. And I had a job to do.

The Champagne

Champagner

The Champagne was great but it was still too early to even think of getting a bottle. I made a mental note and decided to come back to consider it after my local problems had been clarified.

A walk in the park

A walk in the park

The wind was cold and although it had been a very warm winter up until now in Frankfurt and London I sensed that thinks began to change. And it was happening quicker than I thought. Here no one would give me answers. But to settle away from my day time activities and focus on my tasks it was pretty good.

Folk music

Folk music

The man was playing his music and distracted me for a while. I was thinking that maybe I should have put my coat on but then maybe it was better to get accustomed to it. Maybe he had seen something but I wanted not to disturb him....more.
This approach wasn´t really working to well. It was time to get some Sushi and visit a Bar.

Afternoon, the next day

Afternoon, the next day

Too early for dinner and already too late for espresso. The cappuccino was good; the shortbread was suspicious. Eating too much makes me tired.

In the evening.

In the evening.

It was late and I was hungry. It was too late for Falafel but it tasted great. The idea of having choosen the wrong box irritated me. The day had been long and it was time to go to bed.

"Custom" order

"Custom" order

Later in the office I looked at the manual and noted a slighty changed option. Tomorrow maybe some more milk would be good. I never have been a friend of the syrups but it´s never too late to try some new tastes.

The bitter taste of espresso..

The bitter taste of espresso..

The sugar looked strange and the taste wasn´t typical either. Maybe the espresso was too strong for me today. I hope so..