Crastinate

Google recently announced that they are offering offline access to Gmail via Google Gears. As a big fan of the offline functionality of Google Docs, I am looking forward to using similar functionality with Gmail. This announcement, as usual, has brought out the pundits on how Google is taking one step closer to taking over the Microsoft-dominated desktop. I find most of these articles to be sensationalist journalism.

Here are the reasons why Google is not close to taking over the desktop:

• Regardless of whether you use Google Docs or any other online document creation service, you MUST have a copy of Word, Excel and Powerpoint on your computer to do business.
• Browsers can freeze or just be annoyingly slow. Google uses the browser as their platform to launch these cloud-like services. Bad browser experiences will hinder acceptance of these products.
• Microsoft isn’t too many years away from developing good web/sharing functionality that would be built into MS Office.
• Big businesses seem reluctant to leave the Microsoft standard suite for online services for their core functions.

Everyone likes to talk about Google’s big play for the desktop. I think Google is still fighting for its piece of the internet. They’re not tackling the desktop just yet.

Uncategorized google, joseph shmulewitz, microsoft

I had not traveled in the past few months and on my trip to Arizona last week  I was expecting the worst when it came to airline service. I’ve heard the stories about airlines charging for checked luggage, skimping on the free drinks and snacks, and the overall degradation of service to cut costs. Well, I can happily say that I experienced none of that on JetBlue. JetBlue seems to have learned from their earlier customer service missteps from last year when they stranded passengers for hours on end.

JetBlue deserve credit for what they’re doing. While other airlines are cutting services, JetBlue is finding new ways to generate revenue. Yahoo and Blackberry had their logos printed on the side of the plane due to their partnership to bring email to laptop and blackberry toting passengers (it didn’t work on my iPhone but I’m sure they’ll get there eventually). Stewardesses gave out free samples of Arm and Hammer toothpaste, which I’m sure cost A&H some money. And even though I do miss the free pillow and blanket, I have to appreciate JetBlue’s efforts to find new ways of making money without hurting the consumer’s experience.

Better yet, due to the delay of my flight, JetBlue sent over a $50 voucher for a future purchase. I didn’t have to complain or anything. THAT is what I would call proactive customer service. Other airlines, and companies in any industry, can learn from JetBlue’s approach to customer service and consumer needs.

Uncategorized

Remember all those skeptics who said that if we bail out the auto industry then all industries that suffered in this economy will come asking for money? Well….they were right. Larry Flynt and Joe Harris, seasoned pornographers, are asking Congress for $5 billion to bail out the porn industry. This is so ridiculous, I don’t even need to go into why. But I thought it would be fun to speculate what other solution we might see proposed by industries in the coming months.

• The Halo bailout: Lost jobs = less household money = less people who can afford to go to college = less people playing Halo
• The prostitution bailout: I’m sure hooking isn’t going as well as it used to.
• The cell phone company bailout: They’re going to find some way to take our money. Let’s just give it to them and avoid the dance.
• The illegal immigrant worker bailout: When companies fold, their illegal workers get laid off. What are they supposed to do? Go back to their own country? Is that what it has come to?
• The Republican bailout: They’re going to need all the help they can get in the coming years.

Anyone have any more?

Uncategorized finance, joseph shmulewitz

One of my close friends lost his job today as a patent lawyer. His division specialized in printing presses and since being hired, my friend has become an expert in the intricacies of the printing press and its patentable components. He’s a smart guy and, with his experience, will hopefully find another job soon.

Two things came to mind after my conversation with him. My friend mentioned that, in the future, he hopes to not focus on just one client. His previous position pigeon-holed him into becoming an expert in a dying industry.

While not all of us are able to diversify our expertise amongst multiple industries, I think my friend brings up a good point. Don’t get stuck backing the wrong horse. The world is changing. Companies are having problems keeping their current customers. Companies are having problems reaching new consumers. We’re seeing a shift of power in the world of marketing from company-powered to community-powered. Where do you stand? Are you working for a dying industry? Is your company the “printing press”? I got a good piece of advice today. Back the right horse.

Uncategorized horse, joseph shmulewitz, marketing, social media

I apologize for the downtime Crastinate has experienced over the past few hours. We’ve had a few hiccups in our server move and it seems a few things still need some tweaking. Don’t worry, we’ll get back to Crastinating in no time.

Uncategorized joseph shmulewitz