Category: Companies

  • New iPhone pricing proves consumers are idiots

    There’s lots of fascinating research about just how truly horrible consumers and investors we all are most of the time. The field of behavioral economics has produced much scholarship along these lines. Princeton professor Danny Kahneman won the Nobel Prize for economics in 2002 for his research showing in essence that people make radically different…

  • Kensington’s long-named battery extender saved my flight

    Did you know that it takes a bit longer to fly back from Europe than it takes to fly there? I went to London for a couple of days, tagging along on the better half’s business trip, and my journey aboard two very fine British Airways Boeing 777’s took 6 hours and 15 minutes on…

  • Ah Europe, land of cell phone greatness

    The phone is ringing, it’s 4 a.m. Who do you want answering that (mobile) phone? Me, of course. I’m in London, however, so your 4 a.m. is what we like to call 9 a.m. here in England. I’m on a sort of mini-holiday over here enjoying the many beautiful sights, unusually fine weather and amazing…

  • Tivo already connects your TV to the web content you want

    We’ve been happy Tivo subscribers for almost two years now. We started with a Toshiba RS-TX20 model that also has an integrated DVD player/recorder. That was an awesome combination (just one remote!) but its been discontinued. Not just the model — the whole concept. So when we added a high-definition television set and Verizon’s FIOS…

  • Kindle or no, we still need great book stores

    (UPDATE: In October, 2008, new ownership promised to maintain the store’s essential character – phew!) Woke up and received a slight slap in the face as I read the morning paper today. Seems that Frank Kramer, owner of the very fine Harvard Book Store in Cambridge, Ma., is planning to sell his establishment. Make no…

  • Cheaper noise cancelling head phones work pretty great

    Last year I bought my wife a pair of pretty high-end Sony MDR-NC50 noise canceling headphones to take on airplane (business) trips. They are amazing — pristine sound quality for your music (or anything else on your iPod) while tuning down, down, down environmental sounds like jet engines, train whooshing or even construction equipment working…

  • Apple forgets to ask Civ creator about Missing Mac version

    I have to admit that even though I occasionally play computer games on my computers, almost always Sid Meier’s Civilization IV, I had no idea that Apple had started a dedicated web site about gaming on the Mac until I caught this link over at Inside Mac Games. Three cheers for Apple for encouraging and…

  • Apple’s big new Back Bay store

    As part of the day job, got to attend the press preview of Apple’s new store in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood. It’s on Boylston Street across from the Prudential Center Mall. It’s also Apple’s biggest. First floor is all Macs, second floor is for iPods and iPhones while the Genuis Bar and room for training…

  • John Markoff needs a new job or at least a new beat

    Ever know someone who got laid off or otherwise had an involuntary job change mid to late in their career and ended up feeling re-energized and renewed at their next job? Happened to my dad, thanks to Newt Gingrich becoming Speaker of the House, but that’s another story. It’s that time for New York Times…

  • Trying out Disqus for comments

    Web 2.0 guru and venture capitalist Fred Wilson posted today about the blog comment service his firm has funded. It’s called Disqus (Get it? Sounds like discuss!). It allows commenters to maintain a single “identity” that can be followed around when they respond to posts on disparate participating blogs. It also lets you know about…