The SmallBizWindows LG Optimus G Review

I have been using the LG Optimus G for the past couple of months.

Yes, I, John Obeto II, have been using an Android device!

How did it go?

Read on.

The LG Optimus G is a latest-generation Android smartphone utilizing a quad-core Snapdragon CPU paired with a 4.7” screen. It also has dual cameras, video, and built-in apps. Equipped with Sprint 4G LTE, this phone is a screamer.

Unboxing
The Optimus G came in a somewhat nondescript brown box which screamed of being ‘green’.

It contained the phone, user guides in English and Spanish, a nylon recycle envelope – irony, right?, power cables, an NFC pair, and Sprint TOS verbiage paperwork.

Since the Optimus G uses a microUSB charging slot, I took just the phone out of the case, and put the shipping case away.

I proceeded to charge the phone for 4 hours, my customary new device charging interval.

Setup
This is a beautiful device

In fact, I didn’t give it enough props for being so until I held it against the Nokia Lumia 920*. Against that exceptional device, the Optimus G still looks good. That’s impressive!

The screen is large, lovely, and doesn’t have the feel that you’re holding a device Gigantor would feel comfortable with. It seems sized for humans, and the case material is comfortable to the grip.

This system came to me prepaid and all that. However, I must confess to being impressed with the OTA (over-the-air) activation once connected to the sprint network. That is mungo cool!

Snap! And it was activated.

Using the LG Optimus G

The rest of this review will attempt to separate the Optimus G from the mobile network, Sprint, and the OS, Android, if possible.

As stated earlier, the LG Optimus G is a fine smartphone.

Phone quality is quite good, and when connected to Sprint’s LTE network, the device is a keeper.

What I’ve liked a lot about the Optimus G is the camera and video subsystem.

So far, I’ve heard of the impressively-spec’d cameras in the Nokia Lumia devices. However, I haven’t had the opportunity to try them.

What I can tell you, is that the cameras in the Nokia Lumia 920 had better beat the cameras in the Optimus G!

This device has a 13 MP rear-facing camera with the following specs: the ability to record 1080p HD video, advanced optics and near-zero shutter lag, a 1.3 MP front-facing camera, 32GB of internal memory, and get this, a free 50GB Box.com account!

Moreover, the camera features in the Optimus G come w/ even more apps.

Under the moniker “cross-tasking”, Optimus G allows users to

• Send a text – called QSlide – while watching a video,
• Simultaneously see two screens in order to do that,
• Send video output to a second screen, aka TV,
• Adjust the transparency of the Optimus G’s screen to accomplish these tasks.

Other functions I have used include the QuickMemo functions, which allowed me to compose memos, capturing screens, inking on them and then sending those off.

Without a doubt, this is a good phone.

Sprint Service
I have Sprint’s mobile telco service.

I use it personally, and for MedikLabs. For which we have a total of 11 phones, all running Windows Phone 7.5, v7.10.7720.62. In January of 2013! On the incredibly fugly HTC Arrive phones.

Service is crappy in my little piece of rural Northern Colorado, and the Sprint service, while with unlimited data, is ONLY useful when I connect it to WiFi.

No change with the 4G LTE service, which is only available in Denver and environs.

So, basically useless.

Android
The Optimus G came with Android 4.0

In order to buy apps, I reactivated my old Blogspot account, and found I had several thousand emails awaiting my triaging.

Incredibly, the emails included several hundred Google+-related emails.

For which I’ll say “wow”, and apologize to the numerous friends that made them actionable.

I shall get to them someday.

Conclusions
The LG Optimus G is a very good phone.

It is fast, very fluid, and I find quite appealing and impressive the way all menus and icons snap to attention. The use of the quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU is genius, and brings to life what the LG Optimus can do. Moreover, the included apps definitely enhance the user experience.

I am impressed with it, and I like it.

I would recommend it without reservation for anyone vested in the Android ecosystem, or conversely, someone not vested in the Microsoft World, and has no intention of doing so.

Next up for this device is the beating of a lifetime, as I will allow my computer science college freshman nephew to do what he wants with it and return feedback.

Stay tuned.

* I’ll have a little blurb about the Nokia Lumia 920 this week.

** I hope to have another, possibly exit review of this device in a couple of months.

*** Once a Nokia Lumia 920-class device makes it to Verizon Wireless, the only national mobile telco with excellent coverage here, I’m changing all personal & MedikLabs phones to VZW in a New York second!

**** At Logikworx, we use AT&T. Thankfully.

© 2003 – 2013, John Obeto II for Blackground Media Unlimited

Andy Marken’s Content Insider #262 – The New Consumer

The Economy, Online World and Mobile Devices Changed it All

“Then, they took everything about me and put it into a computer where they created this model of my mind. Yes! Using that model they managed to generate every thought I could possibly have in the next, say, 10 years.” – Jeffrey Goines, “Twelve Monkeys,” Universal Pictures, 1995

Depending on where you live on the planet things are good and getting better or bad and getting worse. Let me check my Facebook and Twitter accounts and get back to you on that.

If you want, you can check with the government and the bank but then…

It has been more than four years since the global economy took a downturn.

In the industrialized countries, that’s long enough to let people train themselves into a new way of considering and buying things.

While the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) economies are growing rapidly, there’s a new middle-class economy in emerging nations.

The two billion plus emerging nation consumers will spend about $7T and it is estimated that this will rise to $20T annually over the next decade.

New Middle Class
If you live in the industrial countries we wouldn’t suggest you pack your bags and move where the action is because you have to keep in mind that their middle class is different from that in developed countries and even the BRIC nations.

The Emerging Middle Class in Developing Countries

Developing countries are Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Thailand. Turkey, Ukraine, Venezuela, Vietnam.

New Middle-Class – While you might not consider them to be middle-class by your country’s standards, there is a new middle income population in the developing countries and they aspire to the most luxurious but focus on a combination of practical and status. Source – McKinsey

For example, in China and India about 40 percent of their income is spent on food and transportation, compared to 25 percent in the Americas.

It’s better but still…

While these people are finding a new level of spending freedom, they also share many of the “learned” traits that developed country consumers have learned over the past five years.

Economists and analysts like to categorize the changed habits as a “new frugality;” and with the global advent of mobile devices and online search/research tools available to nearly everyone, the learned habit will probably persist.

As Jeffrey said, “There's no right, there's no wrong, there's only popular opinion.”

And, it is reshaping consumption patterns globally.

New Strategy – Strategies that companies use to influence/persuade consumers in industrial countries can’t be replicated in developing markets and do not achieve results. A solid understanding of the issues, wants and needs is essential--not just in the country, but also in specific regions within each country. Source – Booz & Company

With online couponing and showrooming, there has emerged an odd value consciousness that enables people to make justifiable trade-offs in price, brand and convenience sprinkled with periodic (and justified) indulgences.

New Habits – Even in countries where the economy is robust or simply showing signs of improvement, consumers have “learned” to search for and find the best value, including price, for the products they purchase. And with social media, they share that information more readily. Source – Forrester

The prolonged downturn and slow return to “normal” has had an impact on what we buy, how we buy and how we justify what we buy.

To get things moving Jeffrey hollered out, “Colonics for everyone!”

Brain Ways
Ran Kivetz, marketing professor at Columbia Business School, explained the new normal by noting that there’s no separation in the brain between spending and saving so it’s easy for people to do all the right things and still move effortlessly between the two zones.

That’s how folks can sneak into the discount store for generic toothpaste, shampoo, etc. and then march into the Apple store for a new iPad or, better yet, a MacBook Pro with retina display.

They buy the MBP with its anemic SSD (solid-state drive) knowing that as soon as their momentary guilt wanes, they can go to macsales.com and pick up a huge SSD that’s far cheaper than the one from the factory.

It’s the line our wife uses all the time, “see how much I saved you!”

Of course, this is a difficult hurdle for the mass merchants and brands because it is difficult to convince you of the psychological value of commodity and household goods.

At this point, Jeffrey would comment, “Your information train is jammed, man!”

This is also why today’s consumers are spending more time online and connected to others with their mobile devices.

Variety of Devices – Every mobile device has a slightly different keyboard to enable people to communicate with each other; but whether individuals prefer their notebook, ultrabook, tablet or smartphone, they continue to pass news, information, offers, special deals and good/bad brands among one other. Source – The New York Times

People have found new status in private-label products.

They have a whole new level of shopping freedom that lets them research online and buy in the store – bravely asking for and expecting price matching.

There’s a new trend of intense price competition and raised consumer expectations across all sales channels that will be hard to reverse.

Six Frugal Consumer Segments

Global Frugality – Whether people live in high growth, flat or slow growth countries, the past five years have taught them to be cautious about what they purchase. In addition, the ability to quickly find and exchange information about companies, brands, products and prices puts added pressure on manufacturers and retailers. Source – Booz & Company

Buying Approaches
The new consumers – even the new developing country middle-class – have traits in common:

• Shoppers 2.0: this technologically advanced group tends to buy online across all categories and use coupons but have little brand loyalty.
• Deal Hunters: highly price- sensitive, they have low brand loyalty. They do their research online but “negotiate” to get the best in-store deal.
• Online Window-Shoppers: this group carries out a high level of online research but is less likely to purchase online. They exhibit modest price sensitivity and brand loyalty.
• Channel Surfers: hunt for their brands and are likely to switch retailers for a favorable price; they tend to trade convenience for the brand deal.
• Loyalists: least likely to change brands or retailers for price alone; they often research and buy online but stick with their preferred brands
• Laggards: least interested in changing behavior, they do little online research, make purchases with low coupon usage.

Consumers not only expect real value -- the best combination of price, brand and convenience – they now have the tools, means and willingness to share that information with others (even if you don’t want to listen).

What Consumers Trust

Building Trust – The day when manufacturers could control the conversation disappeared the moment virtually everyone was able to get online. Now, consumers expect complete, honest information and answers because it is too easy to check with others on the web and validate the information. But it isn’t the volume of people attracted to the social media site, it’s more important for consumers to understand who is giving/exchanging the information and his/her credibility. Source – Forrester

This has produced a mad rush by manufacturers, brands, retailers to social media.

Of course, once everyone got there, they found that:

• Most decisions are shaped by word-of-mouth
• Success is built on trust, transparency, real two-way conversations (you know, listening, talking)
• The volume of followers does less to inspire trust than open dialogue
• Popularity doesn’t equal influence

Today’s emboldened, frugal consumer wants to make the right choices, so they can feel good about themselves and their purchases.

The key to a product’s or services success is helping consumers make the environmentally friendly choices that are earth friendly, save the consumer money or provide a well-founded long- term investment.

It also means treating people--employees, suppliers, customers, local communities well; and admitting mistakes, accepting responsibility when things go wrong.

Brands today aren’t just peripheral to our lives; they’re part of our culture, community (local, national, international).

If brand managers understand and embrace this, today’s new consumer will return the favor.

If they don’t, they’ll understand what Jeffrey Goines meant when he said, “Look, hey - all of these nuts could just make phone calls, they could spread insanity, oozing through telephone cables, oozing into the ears of all these poor sane people, infecting them. Wackos everywhere, plague of madness.”

G. Andy Marken is President & founder of Marken Communications

Follow @johnobeto

Regarding Google, the FTC did WHAT??

It took several years of investigating….for this?

No one expected the FTC to come up with the same nonsense Joel Klein did when he ran President Clinton’s antitrust division at the DOJ.

Moreover, I’m sure nobody expected the incredibly imbecilic performance of Thomas Penfield Jackson in re The United States v. Microsoft.

However, we expected the FTC to do more than tell Google to “Just play nice, kids”.

I mean, seriously, are you freakin’ kiddin’ me?

Google’s transgressions have been laid bare, and deeply analyzed for months by Precursor Group’s Scott Cleland in his Precursor Blog series, called the Google Unaccountability Series, in version 15 as of today.

Scott’s blog series is a useful primer on the atrocities Google has been perpetrating on not just the people of America, but on the world!

Why didn’t the FTC take a least a read of the Precursor blog?

Even then, this is what they could do?

This….is….sh’t!

UPDATE 6/1/2013: The airwaves are abuzz with Google fresh off the New Year’s Day mulligan delivered to them by the FTC already!

Google is abusing their monopoly power by blocking access to Google Maps by users of Windows Phone’s IE, where Windows Phone is a competing mobile platform to Google’s Android.

When asked about this yesterday, January 5, 2013, Google’s reply was:

"The mobile web version of Google Maps is optimized for WebKit browsers such as Chrome and Safari. However, since Internet Explorer is not a WebKit browser, Windows Phone devices are not able to access Google Maps for the mobile web,"

On an abstract level, it seems sensible, until you realize the IE in Windows can get to Google Maps, and that this issue just started last week!

But, that was yesterday.

Today, Google is singing a new tune:

"We periodically test Google Maps compatibility with mobile browsers to make sure we deliver the best experience for those users.

In our last test, IE mobile still did not offer a good maps experience with no ability to pan or zoom and perform basic map functionality. As a result, we chose to continue to redirect IE mobile users to Google.com where they could at least make local searches.

The Firefox mobile browser did offer a somewhat better user experience and that's why there is no redirect for those users. Recent improvements to IE mobile and Google Maps now deliver a better experience and we are currently working to remove the redirect.

We will continue to test Google Maps compatibility with other mobile browsers to ensure the best possible experience for users."

Are you freakin’ kiddin’ me?

IE mobile in Windows Phone does perform panning, zooming, and all that!

Now, Google says it doesn’t?

“Don’t Be Evil”, right?

Follow @johnobeto

© 2003 – 2013, John Obeto II for Blackground Media Unlimited

The 2013 SmallBizWindows Printer of the Year: Epson WorkForce Pro WP-4540

Epson WorkForce WP-4540

For the second year in a row, the Epson Workforce Pro WP-4540 is the SmallBizWindows Printer of the Year.

The reasons for this selection are numerous: performance, durability, speed. In addition to the expected copying, scanning, and faxing functionality, the Epson WorkForce Pro WP-4540 also auto-duplexes, has wireless and Apple AirPrint capabilities. It is relatively compact, and just does the job.

This is a very good printer.

Very recommended.

The 2011 Announcement is here.

However, since re-engaging with HP Printing and seeing some of the exciting technologies and products that they (HP) are about to bring to the market, I fear this might be it for Epson for a very long while.

My thoughts on one of those HP technologies is here.

Honorable Mention
HP LaserJet Pro M275

“The TopShot is a fantastic brand extender, in that it is the first color laser and wireless MFC from HP. It is also a 3D scanner, a first for products in this price range.

As expected from an HP printing device, it is quite fast, and very easy to use. The 3D scanning features are an added benefit, and I am looking forward to talking to a PM for the product in the next few weeks on this feature alone.

Right now, the device is being relocated to MedikLabs for further testing review.”

© 2003-2013, John Obeto II for Blackground Media Unlimited

Follow @johnobeto

The 2013 SmallBizWindows Virtualization Product of the Year: Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2012

Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2012

This is the next stage in the ongoing battle for primacy in virtualization hypervisors.

This time though, this round goes to Microsoft for Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2012 which uses the brand new Hyper-v 3.0.

Folks, parity in hypervisors has been achieved by Hyper-V Server 2012!

Moreover, Microsoft has brought several new HA features into Hyper-v including the following:

• Hyper-V Replica – The Game Changer http://www.thomasmaurer.ch/2012/07/hyper-v-replica-the-game-changer/
• Hyper-V Shared Nothing Live Migration In Windows Server 2012– VM Mobility Rules http://workinghardinit.wordpress.com/2012/06/29/hyper-v-shared-nothing-live-migration-in-windows-server-2012-vm-mobility-rules/

This battle is ongoing, as VMware’s eponymous product is still being improved and should give Microsoft a run for their money with its next release.

© 2003 – 2013, John Obeto II for Blackground Media Unlimited

Follow @johnobeto

The 2013 SmallBizWindows Storage Product of the Year: HP X5000 NAS

HP x5000 Network Storage System

The x5000 Network Attached Storage System is a series of affordable, Microsoft Windows Storage Server 2008 R2-based NAS devices from HP.

Without meaning to bore you to death, these rackmountable devices are powerful, using the innards of the Proliant servers, and if so configured, have the bandwidth to server thousands of users from a single system.

Simple deployment and management
• All standard hardware and software pre-installed in the system

• Power-on to file serving time—less than an hour

• 100 percent compatible with Windows IT infrastructure—Active Directory, Distributed File System, and Microsoft System Center

• Can be remotely managed for lights-out data center or remote office locations

Scalable and affordable

• Capable of supporting over 10,000 users on a single system—user numbers based on system configuration
• Provides up to 32 TB of capacity inside the system, expands to over 100 TB externally with HP D2000 Disk Enclosures
• File deduplication feature can recover up to 40 percent of disk space
• File Classification Infrastructure feature provides insight into your data to help you manage it more effectively, reduce costs, and mitigate risks based on the data’s business value
• Eliminates the need to buy additional hardware for antivirus screening—any antivirus software that is compatible with Windows Server 2008 R2 runs right on the system

Built on Windows Server 2008 R2 file services

• Enables administrators to provide fast access to files while lowering the effort required to manage distributed data—offering users access to information that can be managed more easily by IT professionals
• Provides better control over data, using familiar management tools
• Helps centralize data management, which reduces administrative overhead while providing insightful information on file infrastructures

We are taken in with them.

Honorable Mentions
HP 3PAR StoreServ

HP’s Next Era of Storage

© 2003 – 2013, John Obeto II for Blackground Media Unlimited

Follow @johnobeto

Netflix, Amazon Web Services & Outages

My sister – one of them – turned me on to Downton Abbey, and over the Christmas break, I decided to take the plunge and watch the series opener.

As everyone on this planet knows, Christmas Eve is fraught with many challenges, and I kept on having to take breaks.

Finally, when my kids went to bed – early, so as not to be passed over by Santa Claus – I decided to restart my viewing on Netflix.

I couldn’t log into Netflix.

Initially, I thought my login credentials had been incorrectly entered. They were not.

I later found out that there was a problem with Netflix caused by a disturbance on Amazon Web Services, known as AWS.

Again?

This was the third time this year, if I remember correctly, that there has been a Netflix outage cause by a breakdown of AWS.

Why is this happening?

Yesterday, I tweeted:

After which I got a couple of replies re the robustness of the Netflix architecture.

Technological Fail
Maybe I’m naïve, or not as well versed in this, but 3 major outages in a year means that what ever your failover strategy is, it is NOT working!

It doesn’t matter how robust you architect your service, if the underlying platform keeps failing, ergo, you have failed as well.

Fruit of the poisoned tree, and all that.

Business Fail
The Netflix media repository is built on Amazon Web Services.

That it is so in December 2012 with no [announced] change in sight is incredulous.

For that alone, Netflix’s board of directors should be sacked for shirking their fiduciary duties to their stakeholders!

Why?

Think about this: what company, more than anyone else out there – no matter what delusions RedBox harbors – is ready, willing, and able, to take on, AND supplant Netflix?

Hard to imagine, but the Netflix lifeblood is dependent on a company well positioned to decimate them.

This same ‘partner’ has not only signaled that intent, but is executing a masterful pincer movement designed to cut off Netflix’s air supply!

Moreover, Amazon is better funded, is better regarded on customer service, and is supremely nimble!

Yet, Netflix still relies on AWS.

One day, I’d understand why.

Not today.

© 2012, John Obeto II for Blackground Media Unlimited

Follow @johnobeto

A Hostway Tech Influencer Survey on the SMB Cloud

Hostway, a global managed hosting provider, has a survey on Survey Monkey that aims to glean insights into SMB challenges and opportunities in cloud hosting.

Most importantly, they are trying to determine where the pain points are on the onramp into the cloud for that target market.

As I understand it, this will be the first in a series of surveys.

For your participation, Hostway will be giving away a $250 gift card to a random participant.

The survey is here.

Go win the card!

© 2012, John Obeto II for Blackground Media Unlimited.

Andy Marken’s Content Insider # 257 - Odd Choices

Take Your Choice – Screens, Pipes, Content

Our office system was recently used to watch three segments of Yahoo’s mini-series Cybergeddon

(the nine segments total 95 minutes).

Except for the less than subtle product placement it was as good as lots of movies and better than most TV fare.

Then, as a family, we used our large-screen, interconnected TV to watch the presidential debates. O.K., not as “a family,” but we were in the same room.

The wife watched the big screen and another analysis on her ultrabook.

Our son streamed it from YouTube on his iPad.

Our daughter watched and Tweeted on her smartphone.

I watched a little of everyone’s on everything and was reminded of Oscar’s comments, “I don't care. I agreed. I did my part.”

The Only Screen that Matters
It reminded me of recent comments by Mitch Joel, president of Twist Image, “The only screen that matters is the screen that is in front of you.”

It really doesn’t matter which one you’re using for your news, information, entertainment.

If you’re pushing TVs you say that nothing is better or more versatile than an interconnected TV--especially one that’s 3D and after CES (Consumer Electronics Show) will have a 4K screen (super, super HD).

There’s no 4K content on the horizon, but what the heck!

If you’re looking to move a lot of iPads, you say there’s nothing more versatile for enjoying anywhere than a new iPad – better yet, a new iPad + iPad Mini. Of course, when/if iTV arrives, you’ll modify your pitch.

If you’re Motorola or Nokia, you say your smartphone is clearly the best.

If you sell all of the options, it just doesn’t matter … just buy ‘em!

Since what seems like the beginning of time, there was always a TV set in the home. Everyone gathered around it, ate their microwave dinners and watched whatever was on.

It isn’t really a profitable business for the manufacturers, but there’s great volume and is becoming a flickering bright light for the CEA (Consumer Electronics Association) that runs CES.

Pushing Screens
To keep the factories humming, the “brands” made a convincing case for more screens – family room, bedroom, media room, out by the pool, kitchen – the more, the merrier.

Then, suddenly people began streaming, downloading video, rather than watching whatever the networks, stations, cable folks decided they should watch.

Folks could leave the TV and watch stuff anywhere, everywhere with their phone, tablet, laptop.

The television -- the very foundation of the home -- is becoming just another screen.

Oscar looked concerned and said, “Maybe he's just bluffing.”

To keep up, set makers are pushing Web-connected televisions loaded with apps (Netflix, Vudu, Hulu, etc).

The industry tried (and is still trying) 3D, but that hasn’t been very successful because you’re still tied to “their” content; and OMG, there’s so much more available!

According to NPD and Nielsen, even with all of the viewing options, the TV set is still the family video viewing solution of choice.

NPD said that 45 percent of the web video watched is on the TV set, taking over the #1 spot from the PC. Not that the TV set is necessarily connected to the iNet like the manufacturers envisioned, but there are more options:

• 43 percent connected TVs
• 47 percent VG consoles (Wii, Xbox 360, PS3)
• 62 percent streaming media players (Roku, Boxee, Apple TV)
• 38 percent computers with direct wired connection to TV
• 21 percent of BD players

Pushing Content
The switch to web TV has physical cable and networks a little concerned because it means people like Yahoo!, Google, Amazon, Apple and others around the globe could have greater entertainment/news impact and influence.

And how difficult could it be for them to have their supply chain knock out a few gazillion very large screen monitors?

Oscar was right on when he said, “Tell me when it hurts.”

After all, it’s just another screen.

And while you “know” the reason you have your computer, iPad, iPhone is for all of the important social networking stuff you have to do, Pew found that watching video clearly outranks everything else you do online.

Video Watching Outranks Other Online Activities

© Pew Internet & American Life Project Survey

We recognize that there are a lot of very smart people out there saying we’re seeing the end of the PC world, but we disagree … emphatically.

We do work – real work – on our computers (desktop and laptop). We occasionally watch some video; but mostly, we use it for work.

Our iPad is for email, conference notes, entertainment.

© eMarketer

A tablet makes it easy to sit 10-12 inches from the screen and channel surf without irritating the other person watching her favorite show.

People can, and do, watch them everywhere – living room, bedroom, porch, kitchen, dining room and yes, even in the bathroom.

Great Personal Viewing
We don’t say the tablet beats the overall quality or immersive value of the big screen set; but when you have something special you want to watch or want to watch your own stuff on a cross-country, cross-pond flight, its ideal.

Of course, the rather quietly introduced YouTube.com/TV is a “network” that will really help change the landscape because it looks/feels like TV.

© Mashable

Once you’re set up and ready to go, it does away with the old-fashioned menus and boxes you expect to see with any Web/iNet TV.

Oscar watched the video on all of the screens and said, “This is the biggest deja vu anybody has ever had.”

With offerings like this and Yahoo! TV, our son recently proclaimed that entertainment has finally released to the anywhere, anytime, any device stuff the industry has been touting for years.

Even though it has only been available for a little while, he – and others who sorta’ count – say that 21^st Century entertainment is really here.

Content Pipes
And that has to concern the content control pipe owners.

Screens are increasingly becoming more connected. Not just to the Internet, but to one another.

As Twist’s Joel noted, the screens are becoming smart pieces of glass and plastic that connect us to our content, and people are increasingly going to watch their screen their way.

Unlike Joel, however, we don’t see the PC disappearing from the landscape.

There are reasons we have the array of devices we own and use:

• Smartphone? Check
• iPad? Yep
• ultrabook? Uh Huh
• personal/portable cloud? Oh Yeah

When I travel, go through airport security I expect the TSA folks to earn their money!

If we want to catch up on work or catch up on the last segments of Cybergeddon, our options are at hand and we agree with Felix that it “Doesn't make any difference.”

Andy Marken is founder & president of Marken Communications

Answer just 1 HP Storage question to win this week’s HP Envy 14 Ultrabook Giveaway

As announced a couple of weeks ago, I will be selecting entrants to win an HP Envy 14 laptop complete with an RDX backup unit courtesy of HP Storage.

All you have to do is watch the posted video, follow the blog posts, and answer four questions about your opinions on storage.

For that, you get a brand spankin’ new HP Envy 14 Ultrabook complete with an RDX disc-based backup system.

Simple!

Week 2 Question
What would you do if you win this HP Envy 14 Ultrabook from HP, and how would you thank HP Storage for it?

Would you make a video? Sing an aria? Hum a mantra? Write a haiku? Podcast? Webcast? What?

Tell us! 
If you’d like, we can completely anonymize your response.

The more inventive and fascinating your response, the more likely you would win!

Please send your answer to hpstorageenvy14@absolutevista.com

Thank you

Prizes sponsored by HP Storage

© 2012, John Obeto II for Blackground Media Unlimited

Week 1 HP Envy 14 Ultrabook Giveaway Question 4 of 4

As announced a couple of days ago, I will be selecting entrants to win an HP Envy 14 laptop complete with an RDX backup unit courtesy of HP Storage.

All you have to do is watch the posted video, follow the blog posts, and answer four questions about your opinions on storage.

For that, you get a brand spankin’ new HP Envy 14 Ultrabook complete with an RDX disc-based backup system.

Simple!

Question 4
How would you bring about improvements to you current enterprise storage infrastructure and practices?
If you’d like, we can completely anonymize your response.

Please send your answer to hpstorageenvy14@absolutevista.com

Thank you

Prizes sponsored by HP Storage

© 2012, John Obeto II for Blackground Media Unlimited

Week 1 HP Envy 14 Giveaway Question 3 of 4

As announced a couple of days ago, I will be selecting entrants to win an HP Envy 14 laptop complete with an RDX backup unit courtesy of HP Storage.

All you have to do is watch the posted video, follow the blog posts, and answer four questions about your opinions on storage.

For that, you get a brand spankin’ new HP Envy 14 Ultrabook complete with an RDX disc-based backup system.

Simple!

Question 3
What do you know, and think, about HP Storage
If you’d like, we can completely anonymize your response.

Please send your answer to hpstorageenvy14@absolutevista.com

Thank you

Prizes sponsored by HP Storage

© 2012, John Obeto II for Blackground Media Unlimited

Week 1 HP Envy 14 Giveaway Question 2 of 4

As announced a couple of days ago, I will be selecting entrants to win an HP Envy 14 laptop complete with an RDX backup unit courtesy of HP Storage.

All you have to do is watch the posted video, follow the blog posts, and answer four questions about your opinions on storage.

For that, you get a brand spankin’ new HP Envy 14 Ultrabook complete with an RDX disc-based backup system.

Simple!

Question 2
Where or what is the #1 bottleneck you have in your current enterprise storage solution(s)?
Is it the hardware, the infrastructure, the vendor, the management or storage software, your backup/disaster recovery suite? What? We would like to know.
If you’d like, we can completely anonymize your response.

Please send your answer to hpstorageenvy14@absolutevista.com

Thank you

Prizes sponsored by HP Storage

© 2012, John Obeto II for Blackground Media Unlimited

HP Printing Tech Day > Innovation in Printing 2: HP Officejet Pro X

70 pages per minute.

With an inkjet printer.

Trip that for a moment.

At the last HP Printing Tech Day, I was introduced to HP OfficeJet Pro X.

Looking like the updated HP LaserJets, I wasn’t impressed until our presenter fired it up!

70 pages per minute.

Seriously, if I hear any of you mention that that speed is only available in draft mode, I will horsewhip you!

How many printers  - inkjet or laser - have you seen, or heard of for that matter, that can deliver 60 pages per minute in ANY mode?

Exactly!

Utilizing HP’s new pagewide technology, the HP Officejet Pro X551dw printer is able to not only deliver 70ppm in simplex mode, but is able to deliver up to 33ppm in general office duplex mode, and up to 22ppm in the ISO professional mode.

I’ll wait while you applause.

I did too!

This is nothing to sneeze at.

HP PageWide is nothing short of a game-changer.

In fact, I consider it as much of a game-changer as the original HP LaserJet.

For one, the Officejet Pro X printhead contains 42,240 nozzles for precise printing, and span the entire width of the page!

That allows for faster, LaserJet-like speeds, and for greater precision in the deposition of inks for the printed page.

I see these printers replacing laser printers from lesser manufacturers quite quickly.

Once we lay our mitts on a unit, we will bring you details.

© 2012, John Obeto II for Blackground Media Unlimited

Week 1 HP Envy 14 giveaway Question 1 of 4

As announced a couple of days ago, I will be selecting entrants to win an HP Envy 14 laptop complete with an RDX backup unit courtesy of HP Storage.

All you have to do is watch the posted video, follow the blog posts, and answer four questions about your opinions on storage.

For that, you get a brand spankin’ new HP Envy 14 Ultrabook complete with an RDX disc-based backup system.

Simple!

Question 1
What are the primary issues you have with your current enterprise storage solution(s)?

Please send your answer to hpstorageenvy14@absolutevista.com

Thank you

Prizes sponsored by HP Storage

© 2012, John Obeto II for Blackground Media Unlimited

HP Printing Tech Day > Innovation in Printing 1: HP Flow CM

At the last HP Printing Tech Day in Boise Idaho, HP surprised us with several innovations in printing.

The most important, in my opinion, was HP Flow CM.

I must confess I was cynical when told about the Print Tech Day.

Why?

Well, apart from evolutionary increments in speed, I hadn’t seen much innovation in printing the past couple of years.

However, I was told I would be impressed. I was.

HP Flow CM
With HP Flow CM, HP has taken something as mundane as printing and imaging, and applied the fruits of it’s much maligned, and possibly fraudulent Autonomy acquisition.

While the financial details of Autonomy may be in question, the technology isn’t.

Now, HP is leveraging that same tech – thanks, Fringe! – in order to advance the state of enterprise printing.

To wit: HP Flow CM.

What is HP Flow CM?

According to HP, Flow CM – in HP Flow CM Professional guise – is a cloud-based document management solution that gives growing organizations a complete set of proven tools for document capture, storage, search, retrieval, sharing and more, so businesses can manage information more efficiently.

In other words, Flow CM takes utilizes the power of HP’s Autonomy cloud to deliver a workflow engine that allows for document capture, storage, search and more.

This is big. Especially for larger enterprises.

It allows enterprises to streamline workflows, enabling convenient and productive collaboration across their infrastructure, safeguarding company data while enabling mobile and everywhere access.

What does this help HP customers do?

•  
  • Rely on the same security that supports leading banks, legal firms and stock exchanges – including enterprise-level encryption, authentication and security management – allowing them to confidently send, store and retrieve valuable information and meet certain regulatory requirements.
  • Enhance employee productivity by providing access to files and documents while at home, in the office or on the go via a web browser or by using the solution’s mobile device app.
  • Access content from a convenient online destination featuring a user-friendly interface and powerful search features, all from desktops, laptops, mobile devices or HP LaserJet flow multifunction printer (MFP) control panels.
  • Get first-rate cloud storage and the scalability without costly commitments, allowing them to manage their content without needing to purchase additional software, hardware or IT infrastructure.
  • Share files and folders across devices using the HP Flow Sync tool, which is integrated with HP Flow CM Professional to share new or updated content almost immediately.
  • HP Flow CM Professional supports a multitude of multi-vendor MFPs and scanners, but provides a better together solution with HP LaserJet Flow MFPs which can be configured to fully integrate with HP Flow CM Professional. Businesses can access the solution from the front panel of the HP LaserJet Flow MFP with the touch of a button.

Using the Scan to HP Flow CM Professional button, SMBs can capture single or multiple documents even easier and faster.

The sister product, HP Flow CM Enterprise is a comprehensive set of intelligent enterprise content management (ECM) solutions built by Autonomy, an HP company, designed to help enterprises access, organize and leverage the information in documents, audio, video, email, web pages and more.

The five ECM solutions – used individually, as a suite or in combination – can be combined with HP LaserJet Enterprise flow multifunction printers (MFPs) to make the most of an organization’s information. The printers offer document processing and sharing, as well as fast and reliable scanning, which enables organizations with easy, accurate data entry. HP Flow CM Enterprise then gives instant access to information assets and help to integrate, simplify and automate information processes to improve employee productivity, reduce operating costs and assist with compliance efforts.

•  
  • Autonomy TeleForm: eliminates time-consuming manual document sorting and data entry by automatically capturing, indexing and classifying information from paper and electronic documents using powerful recognition technologies to create accurate process-ready content in real-time. 
  • Autonomy Process Automation (APA): minimizes the risk of fines, reduces human errors and automates every day, manual tasks by speeding paper and electronic forms management for consistent, compliant and auditable processes. 
  • Autonomy WorkSite: reduces risk with version control, improves communication efficiencies, and makes documents and email accessible from virtually anywhere by allowing employees to seamlessly collaborate across any geography within the enterprise using any network- or web-connected device. 
  • Autonomy Intelligent Universal Search (IUS): delivers comprehensive, precise search results ordered by relevance that reaches across all databases of an enterprise as well as online, including documents, images, voice, video and other rich-media files. 
  • Autonomy Records Manager (ARM): reduces risk of noncompliance and increases security, data integrity, productivity and accountability for enterprise customers, providing a comprehensive records management solution.

When you look at all this, you can see what HP is trying to do: bring intelligence to printing and imaging.

All of a sudden, documents don’t have to be static and dead.

They can be living, dynamic, searchable, instantly retrievable, and bring more value to the enterprise.

Personally, I am looking forward to this product!

© 2012, John Obeto II for Blackground Media Unlimited

Come talk HP Storage with me for a chance to win two HP Envy 14 laptops

Over the next couple of weeks and until the forthcoming HP Storage announcement on the future of storage and their new and expectedly-groundbreaking products in a couple of weeks, I will be talking with all of you about storage.

On AbsolutelyWindows, Twitter, and Facebook, I will try to initiate conversations with friends, followers, and acquaintances on storage and where you’d like it to go.

A little birdie also told me that the HP Storage announcement will be centered around how future storage has to be designed to change how storage is perceived and used across all enterprises.

Whatever the case, I would like all of you to chime in with your thoughts and projections on the following:

• Primary storage
• Information retention & analysis
• Information protection & security

How to join in & win
What I would like to do is create a feedback loop whereby HP will be coming back to you in order to assist in the future development of their storage products.

In order to proceed, I would like you to proceed with the following:

1. Watch this video webcast
    
2. Read these blog post here.
3. Join in the discussion here, on Facebook, or on Twitter.
4. Join this LinkedIn group
5. Asnwer questions I pose to all y’all.
6. Tell me what you’d like to know and see from HP in storage.

All the great questions would be publicly displayed on HP.com, with the correct attributions, of course! ;)

WIIFM, you ask
Well, how does a brand spankin’ new HP Envy Spectre 14 Ultrabook coupled with an HP Storage RDX Removable disk backup system?

One winner per week for the next two weeks, too!

So come on, view the video, read the blog, join the fray, and win a laptop!

© 2012, John Obeto II for Blackground Media Unlimited

HP Printing Tech Day 2012

When I got the initial invite to HP Printing Tech Day, jaded me wondered why.

While printing is a task we all perform, we hardly ever think about it.

Well, until we have to purchase consumables for our print devices.

Moreover, unless at the very high end, with the industry-leading HP CM6040f and HP CP6015 multifunction devices, I hadn’t seen much innovation at the SMB/midmarket levels.

However, after being informed that I would be surprised, I went along.

I was surprised.

The products we saw in Boise showed that HP was continuing to devote resources into leading in inkjets and LaserJets, expand cloud print offerings, and create a new space in document workflow technologies by leveraging the fruits of their Autonomy acquisition.

Over the next three posts, I will bring you my thoughts on the new/forthcoming standard-bearers we saw in inkjet printing, laser printers, and workflow.

© 2012, John Obeto II for Blackground Media Unlimited

HP Storage Webcast replay

Last week, HP Storage GM David Scott participated in a webcast with blogger Chris Evans.

Moderated by “HP Storage Guy” Calvin Zito, the webcast was well attended, and is a very good lead-in to the groundbreaking storage announcements slated to drop at HP Discover Europe in Frankfurt next month.

The webcast can be replayed above, and Calvin has more information of the series here.

Please read about the HP Storage and the forthcoming HP Converged Storage here.

© 2012, John Obeto II for Blackground Media Unlimited

Andy Marken’s Content Insider #254 – Paperless Kits

Trade Show PR Mining … It’s Not Just the Fastest, Biggest Gun

Shows like the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), challenge your stamina.

They push everyone to the limits of creativity and performance. Companies spend hundreds of thousands to attend them annually just to reach, educate, inform, persuade other companies and the media. But CES is the big daddy/the Broadway of shows. There are hundreds, thousands of shows that take place every day around the globe that test you, prepare you for each bigger, better event.

Companies large and small attend to get visibility, attention, coverage; and if they’re really, really lucky, they get excellent leads and sales. Media (press folks), in greater or lesser numbers, attend them all. Naturally, the publicists are there pushing to get coverage for their companies’ better ideas, better products.Over the years, most of the events have taken up the banner of “green” press rooms.

Move Becomes Trend
The forward-thinking Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) was (we believe) the first to eliminate paper in the pressroom several years ago, recommending an online press service VPO (Virtual Press Office).

The majority of PR people don’t have the luxury of a “gotta’ visit” company web site. They have to work really hard to get attention for their companies. That means they have two choices – take advantage of a virtual press shopping mall or have their own news store and hope for traffic. Some companies still have a few paper kits in the booth for diehards who have strong backs. They still hold press events and give out tchotchkes. They still have press meetings. They still get coverage. Most events are following suit with green pressrooms.

Some stick with the past out of habit. Some waffle. Walter Huston/Howard looks at them and says, “I know what gold does to men's souls.”  For company management the gold is the coverage they unearth.

For a lot of publicists, its how much material they cram into the press kit and carry with them. Of course, coverage should have started weeks, months before the show but that seldom happens because:

• things really aren’t ready – products and/or press materials
• someone wants to keep the “news” a big surprise so they scoop the competition

Early announcement/coverage is a tough sell to engineering/management…get over it!

That’s just one of the reasons publicity at the event puts a lot of pressure on the publicist. Or as Huston/Howard explained it, “Hey you fellas, how 'bout some beans? You want some beans? Goin' through some mighty rough country tomorrow, you'd better have some beans.”

Management expects magnificent coverage despite the fact that the company’s announcements are competing with everyone else for mindshare. For some stacks recycled, rehashed releases are proof they did their job. After that…it’s all media’s fault!!!

Paper or Plastic?
Always hate it when the grocery clerk asks us that. It sounds like we have to make a choice between chopping down trees and helping release plastic molecules that had been trapped in the ground (credit to George Carlin).

Electronic kits seem easier because:

• There are always last-minute release changes or added releases so they can be posted; and no one will ever know it wasn’t “already in the plan.”
• The company is easier to identify than going to the press kit room and seeing packages of stuff from firms in the pigeon holes and hoping – you’re on an equal footing with the big guy.
• Publicists don’t have to lug boxes to the show, onsite media people don’t have to throw away barrels of paper as they dig out the gems they want, will use.
• Online provides detailed metrics as to who accessed, which announcement(s) they viewed, which subjects were of most importance to the media.
• Onsite media folks can sit in the press room and flip through all the kits while having refreshments and can cut/paste their news or files for later reference.
• Not every media person who wants to cover the show’s news can afford the time/expense to attend but with a few well placed mouse clicks…they’re digging for gold every day.

Some folks cling to bridge solutions – CD or flash drive.

Most media folks just never have the time to organize all of the stuff they got at the show because they have deadlines, commitments. The generally poorly labeled discs sit in piles for a few months and are discarded. But not the flash drives. They’re given to friends, associates, the kids to use for storing their stuff so the kit’s “folder” enjoys a second life.

The online show kit means:

• no begging for release approvals a week before the show so kits can be produced
• no rushing to print, stuff, overnight ship kits to the tradeshow floor
• no late night visits to the event city’s local quickprint place to redo a couple of releases and restuff the kit on your hotel room bed
• media folks actually believe that the company (and PR people) are super-professional, super-organized
• The real key is that event publicity starts with news materials for a reason. You know:
• new products, new services, and new applications
• thorough background, including presentations/white papers when necessary

It is not about copies of releases from the past three months, data sheets/sales literature.

Wordsmanship
Of course, release writing is work.

Good news release writing – is even harder work and should be drilled into the publicist before he/she sends his/her first text message…first IM…first tweet. Releases aren’t short stories or the great American novel. They’re just good news items … live with it!

News writing has to:

• get past the company approval committee
• convince the media it should be of interest to them
• convince the media it should be of interest to their audience

That’s about the time Bogart/Dobbs says, “Nobody puts one over on Fred C. Dobbs.” A virtual press service at shows isn’t a revolutionary, bleeding-edge or a dangerous idea. It’s the way things are going for PR people who don’t weigh their value/their worth in cut lumber and pounds. Imagine something that is green, faster, easier to use, delivers better media reach and actually costs less.

This web thing just may be real !!!

G.A. “Andy” Marken is President of Marken Communications