Buying Developers

There are news reports that Microsoft is paying developers to port their apps to their platform. I found this to be interesting news because we tried a similar thing with our platform.

Platform owners have to solve the issue of critical mass. Developers like to see an audience or a user need before developing apps. The conventional wisdom is that users like to see apps before choosing a new platform. In the end, this is the chicken-or-the-egg problem that all new platforms face.

One way to solve this problem is to seed the platform will all the popular services (apps). Handing out cash to developers is a way to get these seed apps. Another is to build the apps yourself. Over a year and a half into Windows 7 Mobile, this revelation is a clear sign that Microsoft is struggling to get meaningful market share.

Photos for Nook Tablet and Kindle Fire

It’s been a really busy holiday season at litl.

Several weeks ago, the ideas we had about photos coalesced around a vision. Hundreds of thousands of people (or maybe millions) would wake up on on a cold morning in December with a brand new Android tablet. None of those people would have a good way to get their photos on their tablet. The Amazon Kindle Fire doesn’t even ship with a cable!

So, the litl team sat down and cranked out two apps, one for the Kindle Fire and one for the Nook Tablet. It was a miracle that we were even able to get them into the stores in such short notice, but that is a different tale with many heroes. If you’re gifted one of these devices, here‘s a present for you from the litl team! You can get more information about the free app on the Woven website (http://woventheapp.com/).

This is a free app from the small team at litl. It would be helpful and appreciated if you could spread the word (and joy; and cheer; and happiness; and tidings of good fortune) to all new owners of these tablets. Happy Holidays!

Industrial Design Fakeout

One of my coworkers, Peter Teichman, pointed out this interesting industrial design choice. He was disassembling a Zigbee-based home control unit when he noticed something odd.

Zigbee devices have tranceivers so that they can be (mesh) networked. This unit has an antenna on it, but it is smaller than a postage stamp and inside the unit. The plastic antenna is empty and serves no function.

Either there was a component change after the plastics were ordered or they added it to look more radio-like. Either way, this is pretty funny!

Downtime

I was going to post before the weekend, when I had some downtime at work, but I discovered that I had forgotten to pay my hosting dues. The hosting company had disconnected service, so I ended up spending some time making sure my service was restored. Somewhat ironic, because the subject of my original post was going to be about downtime.

As a consultant, you spend a lot of time “on the bench.” That time is valuable, since it means that you can work from home or better yet, catch up with friends and family. You can use that time to do laundry and run errands, things that are difficult when you are hundreds of miles away from home.

I’m finding out that there is little downtime when you’re a Product Manager. I seem to be a constant level of busy. However, it robs me of my web surfing, news reading and competitive analysis that I am so good at. Facebook is getting less and less of my time.

I’ve come to realize that one of the most important attributes of an employee is the way that they use downtime. It’s easy to piddle it all away and hard to make constructive use of it. Consider it a victory when you come out downtime feeling like you accomplished something.

CR-48 First Look

One of the developers at litl, Tristan, brought in a CR-48 to work. I have applied for a device, but I haven’t received one.

• The matte black with the matte screen is really beautiful. Visually it is the “opposite” of the shiny, too-shiny MacBook on my desk.
• They try to keep it fun. Intel wasn’t allowed to put a sticker on it, so the accompanying card is humorous. The minimalist paperwork accompanying the notebook has some quirky bits. The product managers and the product marketing managers did a great job with the physical product and the packaging.
• After a user screen, it goes directly to the Chrome Browser. The notebook seems very responsive and the startup, hibernate and sleep functions are wicked fast.
• The notebook had some issues maintaining connectivity with our corporate wireless network. It seems unusual to me because I feel that wireless is one thing that Linux has excelled at in recent years.
• It seems unusual to have a VGA out on the machine, since it is non-functional. Perhaps it will be for projectors?

There are a ton of reviews out there on the device, so I won’t post an in-depth review. Here are two pictures of the device though!

New Toys

Annie, my coworker, is modeling the new toy we have for our library (testing lab) at litl.

Sal’s litl Desk

I have been feeling productive because I finally have a desk again! You do not realize how important a desk is until you do not have one again. After spending the majority of the naughts without a desk, I finally have one again.

I purchased the Toshiba T235d last week, and I just received it. I brought it to work so I can make an Ubuntu Live USB disk and get that on there along side of Windows. I’ll post some more high-res pictures of the Toshiba. Also on my desk is a humungous monitor, a MacBook, and of course my litl webbook. The litl webbook makes a perfect companion device during the day.

Remote Control

Here are a few of the remotes that we have in our “living room” at litl. Someone has to do the hard work of testing out devices!

Vintage Handheld Games

I have kept a reproduction of Classic Football 2 at my desk for years. (I can’t believe that the “Buy it now” price on Amazon for this item is $75.)

So I was really ecstatic to see that we have a ton of these handheld games, and their original boxes, in our living room (a.k.a. library) at litl.

I have always been fascinated at the ingenuity of these handheld games. They use very basic controls and a dozen or two LEDs to make an enjoyable representation of the real game. Of course it isn’t anything like the playing Madden 2011, but it was a feat of engineering in its time and was good gameplay.

litl Channels Wins Adobe Max Award

litl channels won the multiscreen category at the Adobe Max 2010 awards. The award was presented by William Shatner.

adobe max 2010 multiscreen awards from kathryn rotondo on Vimeo.