E. B. White, an essayist for The New Yorker (and author of many books), once said: “A writer who waits for ideal conditions under which to work will die without putting a word on paper.” He probably was describing me — during the last week. At the start of this month, I set myself a … Continue reading Where did the words go?
Zoom
I recently saw the work of Nam June Paik, currently being exhibited at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (MoMA.) If you are unfamiliar with him, Paik has been called the “father of video art.” He was born in 1932 in what is now South Korea, lived in Japan, Germany, and the United States. He … Continue reading What does the Internet & Zoom have to do with Nam June Paik?
Apple’s new hardware is built for our visual future
Two decades into the new millennium, it is pretty apparent: hardware without software and smarts is nothing more than a gimmick. Apple’s product launch event today was a timely reminder of this new hardware reality. And I’m glad to say Apple delivered. The new iMac video cameras and the new iPad Pro’s front-facing cameras are … Continue reading Apple’s new hardware is built for our visual future
Not every brick and mortar retail chain selling goods that people can get more easily — even instantly — online gets the GameStop treatment. Some of them (most of them) just quietly fade. But that doesn’t mean they weren’t loved. Younger generations might wonder why so many old farts are moaning about Fry’s Electronics shuttering. … Continue reading The Death of a Retailer
5,000 words on why webcams suck
No seriously, this is an exhaustive piece and points out what we have known after being isolated and living on Zoom for nearly a year — our video reality needs way better cameras. Read article on Reincubate Continue reading 5,000 words on why webcams suck
David Ingram has written a thoughtful piece about technology’s role in 2020 — both the good and the bad. He asked me about Zoom and its long term impact on how we live online. I enjoyed the conversation about our collective behavioral shift towards video as the primary communication mode in the future. “We are … Continue reading Zoomification of everything
Something about Slack (+ Salesforce)
I am sure that you have heard that Salesforce is buying Slack for a whopping $28 billion by now. And if you saw Marc Benioff in conversation with Bloomberg’s Emily Chang this morning, you could tell that Christmas came early for him and his company. With (Quip CEO) Bret Taylor and (Slack CEO) Stewart Butterfield … Continue reading Something about Slack (+ Salesforce)
Why we are underestimating Zoom & it’s impact?
The cool, crisp fall weather, the smell of roasting turkey, the prospect of soft, silky pumpkin pie, and a chance to be with family are the usual harbingers of Thanksgiving in America. In pre-pandemic times, these things indicated that it was time to kick back and get into the holiday spirit. Of course, this is … Continue reading Why we are underestimating Zoom & it’s impact?
The Pain of Distance
I have made a career out of extolling the virtues of networks — how they make the very notion of time, location, and geography less relevant. The power of optics has flexed its muscles during the time of the pandemic. The wireless networks have kept us engaged, amused, and even productive during a scary time. … Continue reading The Pain of Distance
Return of the old fashioned
A lot of old tech ideas are back in fashion thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. A few weeks back, Intel announced that — thanks to the immediate need for people to work from home, and in many cases, learn from home — it saw a sudden spurt in the sales of laptops. 1 Logitech, … Continue reading Return of the old fashioned