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Posts by Ryan Petty

Mar 24

Onlive Logo

OnLive to go live today!

OnLive, a new company founded by Steve Perlman, will announce a new game service which makes it possible to play advanced video games on almost any PC and certain specially equipped TVs via a standard home broadband connection.  This service eliminates the game console and the need for never ending PC upgrades to support the latest games.  In fact, it appears OnLive may also jump into the console fray with a device called the OnLive MicroConsole.

OnLive will manage a datacenter of high-end servers where the games will run and the images will be compressed using OnLive’s proprietary technology and delivered to the player over a broadband connection.  Details will be available at OnLive’s website tonight at 7 PM PST.

Because I know some of the folks behind OnLive, I am really exited to test this service.

Related articles:

WSJ Online article
CNN/CNET
Endgadget

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Dec 27

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Customer service is not dead!

In the past I have ranted about examples of poor customer service, such as the iPhone 3G launch by Apple, or the exclusive selection of AT&T as the iPhone carrier by Apple.  I thought it only fair to point out an example of excellent customer service I experienced today at Les Schwab.

With all the snow we have had in the Seattle area in the past week, snow chains are almost a necessity.  In anticipation of the storms, I purchased chains for each of our cars.  Since chains were in short supply, I had to visit more than one store to find the correct sizes for each car.  I ended up at a very busy Les Schwab store in Redmond, but was greeted within a few seconds of entering the store and after just a couple of minutes had a brand new set of chains.

Well, the chains worked very well for a couple of days, but after repeatedly putting them on and taking them off, the rubber connector for the chain tightener snapped.  Undoubtedly, I was pulling too hard on the connector when it snapped.  To me it is obvious the part is under-engineered and therefore prone to breaking.  In fact, for my second car, they sold me a slightly different version with a much improved rubber connector attached to the chain tightener.   I decided to take the chains back to Les Schwab to see about a refund or replacement.

Arriving at the store, I was again surprised at how busy the store was, but in less than 15 seconds, I was being helped by en employee at the counter.  After listening to my complaint about the poort design of the chains, the Les Schwab employee  offered to immediately repair the chains.  He left the counter to go find a replacement connector.  As my son and I stood at the counter waiting, in the space of no more than 3 minutes, we were asked by 7 Schwab employees if we had been helped or if we needed anything while we were waiting. After about 3 minutes, he returned to the counter and informed me he was having trouble locating a replacement part, and so I would not have to wait any longer, he would simply swap the chains for a brand new set.  I was amazed.

It is a testament to Les Scwab (died in 2007), and the current Les Schwab management, that every employee understands the importance of the customer and ensuring a positive customer experience.

I imagine that Les Schwab will weather (pun intended) the current economic downturn better than many of their competitors because of their relentless focus on the customer.

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Dec 21

1 Comment

Mactini

From: Mactini -The Peter Serafinowicz Show Christmas Special – BBC TwoYouTube Preview Image

Nov 18

digitalblus
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Digital Copy Blu’s

Today we (my family) received a 3-disc special edition of Disney’s Wall*E, which includes two Blu-ray discs and a DVD with a digital copy of the movie in iTunes and Windows Media formats.  I was particularly excited to have the digital copy which can be transferred to a personal computer or iPhone for playback.  I popped the DVD in my MacBook Pro and was immediately greeted by a Disney application called Wall*E, which “activates” the digital copy before transferring to ITunes or Windows Media.  Oh no, DRM rears its ugly head.

In the Blu-ray case, Disney includes a leaflet with an activation code.  As I read the information contained on this leaflet, I was drawn to the fine print at the bottom.  Reading carefully, I learned the activation code expires one year from the date of release of the Blu-ray, so you must transfer your digital copy to a computer withing one year of release of the Blu-ray movie or you are out of luck. I wonder how many people will take the time to read the fine print?  I imagine there will be some very disappointed consumers who neglect to activate their digital copies in time.  What about the people that buy Wall*E after November 18, 2009?

My next thought was whether the activation code was single-use or multiple-use.  I thought, I better do some more research and understand all of the DRM rules before I transfer this movie to my laptop.  Fortunately, Disney includes links to online help which help explain the DRM rules which apply to the digital copy.  After, ignoring the Flash based demos of how to transfer the movie to my computer, I found a link with more information, including this FAQ.

Turns out, this is a one-time activation code.  This means, you can transfer the file to one and only one computer–EVER!  I don’t think my family, with multiple computers is out of the norm, so which one?   My laptop?  My wife’s? The kids iMac?  If I transfer it to my laptop, I can watch it when I travel, transfer it to my iPhone and iPod, but what about my kids?  What about their iPods?  They won’t be able to enjoy this movie without sync’ing to my iTunes library and erasing their content and playlists.  So, I could install it on the family iMac, but then I won’t have a copy when I travel.  So far, neither options seems like a good solution.

And herein lies two of the major problems with DRM.  First, confusing usage rights and second, incoveniencing the very customers who purchase legitimate copies of content.  I will include a portion of the Disney FAQ.

Can I use my code more than once?

No, you are permitted to use your unique code only once.

How many times can I transfer my DisneyFile Digital Copy?

For the Windows Media version you can only transfer your DisneyFile Digital Copy to your computer once. After you transfer the movie to your computer, you can then transfer the movie to your compatible portable device. For the iTunes version, standard iTunes usage rules apply.

What types of portable devices will my DisneyFile Digital Copy be compatible with?

For the Windows Media format, portable devices must be Windows Media PlaysForSure compatible or Certified for Windows Vista compatible. For the iTunes format, portable devices must be an iTunes video-enabled iPod, iPhone or Apple TV.

What happens if I delete my DisneyFile Digital Copy from my portable device? Is it possible to transfer it again?

For the Windows Media format: Yes, as long as you did not delete the Windows Media file from your computer.

For the iTunes format: Standard iTunes usage rules apply.

I followed the on-screen instructions and the movie did not transfer. What do I do?

Please call 1-800-723-4763 (US)/1-888-877-2843 (Canada) for technical assistance and/or customer service.

I live outside the United States and Canada. Can I transfer the DisneyFile Digital Copy?

No, at this time, the DisneyFile Digital Copy is accessible only in the United States and Canada (excluding Quebec).

Does the unique code for the DisneyFile Digital Copy expire?

Yes, the unique code expires 12 months from the initial release of the DVD or Blu-ray disc. The unique code for The Nightmare Before Christmas will expire on August 26th, 2009.

Can I give my DisneyFile Digital Copy to someone else?

No, your movie is non-transferable and is tied directly to your computer and will not play if transferred to other computers.

How much space does the DisneyFile Digital Copy use on my hard drive?

DisneyFile Digital Copies take up to approximately 2 Gigabytes of free hard drive space. This number can vary and it is best to check the minimum requirements on the packaging.

If I delete my DisneyFile Digital Copy from my computer, can I transfer it again later?

For the Windows Media format: No. When you transfer your DisneyFile Digital Copy, to your computer you use your unique code. Codes can only be used once. Therefore if you delete your movie from your computer and attempt a second transfer, the unique code will not work. Disney strongly recommends backing up files to avoid losing your DisneyFile Digital Copy.

For the iTunes format: Standard iTunes usage rules apply.

If I cannot connect to the internet, can I still transfer my DisneyFile Digital Copy to my computer?

No, in order for the DisneyFile Digital Copy code to be verified, you must be connected to the internet. However, you only need to be connected when you first transfer the movie to your computer, not each time you watch your DisneyFile Digital Copy.

Do I need the DisneyFile Digital Copy disc every time I want to watch the movie?

No, once the transfer is complete you no longer need your DisneyFile Digital Copy disc and can enjoy your movie whenever you like.

How many times can I watch my DisneyFile Digital Copy?

You may watch your movie as much as you like, there is no limit to the number of plays.

How many computers/portable devices can I transfer my movie to?

If you select Windows Media format, you can transfer your movie to one computer and one Windows Media compatible portable device as set forth in the end user license agreement (Terms & Conditions). If you select iTunes format, standard iTunes usage rules apply.

Part of this dilemma could be resolved with a home media server with lots of storage, but I still wouldn’t be able to transfer the movie to my laptop or iPhone for playback when I am on the road.  But it does not alleviate the fact that DRM is restricting the legitimate use of content I purchased.

Two simple ideas to allow fair use

Two simple ideas to alleviate the DRM restrictions and allow fair use.  First, link the activation code to an iTunes account and allow multiple uses by that account.  Second, allow families to “aggregate” iTunes accounts under a master account.

Link activation code to iTunes account

By linking the activation code to an iTunes account, content owners could be assured that the same consumer is using the activation code and it is not being passed around the Internet.  Because Apple requires a legitimate address and each iTunes user must provide a credit card, the risk of fraud is greatly reduced.  If the content owner becomes aware of fraud, they could appeal to Apple to investigate and if fraud has occurred, the iTunes account could be deactivated–rendering the content disabled.

iTunes master account

Aggregation of iTunes accounts under a master account structure (think .Mac and MobileMe Family plans), is an idea that makes sense for a number of reasons including alleviating the restrictions of DRM.  By aggregating accounts, content I purchase on iTunes could be synchronized by family members under the same account.  This includes the digital copy of Wall*E and other Blu-ray digital copies.  Account aggregation allows us to use the digital copy in the exact same way we use the physical copy (Blu-ray disc).

This post started as yet another rant against DRM. However, since most content owners haven’t seen a DRM scheme they don’t like, I don’t believe DRM is going away anytime soon.  So, what do you think?  Would my two proposals make DRM more palatable?

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Nov 16

1 Comment

Tilt-Shift Photography

Eiffel Tilt-Shift II by Hanna María & Arnar.Tilt-shift photography is a creative and unique type of photography
in which the camera is manipulated so that a life-sized location or
subject looks like a miniature-scale model. To add good miniature effect to your photographs, shoot subjects
from a high angle (especially from the air). It creates the illusion of
looking down at a miniature model. A camera equipped with a tilt-shift
lens, which simulates a shallow depth of field, is essentially all you
need to start.

For those interested in more, Smashing Magazine has a great article with 50 beautiful examples of tilt-shift photography. There is a tutorial on tilt-shift photography at Tilt-Shiftphotography.net, of all places.

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Nov 4

FiOS Speedtest

New broadband connection at work

After almost a month after first ordering service with Verizon, our FIOS Internet connection was finally installed at work this morning.

Some informal bandwidth testing tonight yielded some great results. As you can see, at a maximum we achieved a little over 38Mbps down and 11.5Mbps upstream (we ordered a 50/20 business plan from Verizon). Testing was done on a MacBookPro running OS X 10.5.5 with Firefox 3.03, directly connected (100Mbps/Full-duplex) to a Netgear FVS114 router.

While we did not achieve a full 50 Mbps, that is the maximum our account should support,  we are please with close to 40Mbps.  The weak link here might actually be the FVS114 router.  We will try some additional testing tomorrow and see if we get a significant change. Read more

Sep 15

ShamWow!

This is my second favorite commercial. I am pretty sure this guy could sell anything to anyone. Have any of you bought one? I don’t know it sells itself.

Sep 2

Your competitive advantage

Seth Godin 2009Competitive advantage is similar to a concept we Product Managers call “Distinctive Competence” and it is a fundamental building block of any business. Those who don’t define it (early), wander aimlessly in search of customers, revenue and success.

Here’s another brilliant gem from Seth Godin:

People are fickle, but we’re generally rational. When someone makes a choice (hiring, firing, choosing a vendor, buying a soda) they’re using some sort of internal logic and reasoning to support that choice.

As a marketer, you win when they choose you.

So, why choose you?

The answer to that question is your competitive advantage. What makes it likely that more than a few rational people will consider their options and choose you or your company or your organization?

Truth: It’s rarely a computerized cost/benefit analysis. Instead, it’s a human choice.

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Aug 22

Jason Calacanis On How To Get PR For Your Startup: Fire Your PR Company

Jason Calacanis is always controversial, and his PR recommendations for startups are sure to engender a reaction amongst PR professionals.  While I won’t go as far as Jason in saying you should fire your PR company, I do think his recommendations are critical for execs in companies of any size.  It’s also a very good idea to make sure your PR folks understand and follow these principles as they represent your company. Read more

Aug 20

The new way of Getting Things Done

Gudjon Mar Gudjonsson, has written an interesting post on his blog about networked productivity.

There are many great resources out there on the holy grail of productivity and time management. One popular method is the Getting Things Done (GTD) method from David Allen.

GTD is a work-life management system and book by David Allen that attempts to free us from a vast workload and instead operate an integrated system of stress-free productivity.

I like GTD but it can be improved. In this post I talk about a new layer to the GTD framework that I believe adds the strength of network collaboration as well; a kind of socialising layer.

I will call this the Open layer thus the methodology is Getting Things Done Open (GTDO).

Here is the post:  The new way of Getting Things Done

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