first+memo+corrections

TO: Proximity Video Team Members FROM: SUBJECT: “I-Pad Cant Play Flash”, New York Times article DATE: January 30, 2010

For our spring focus group sessions, we were instructed to summarize an article involving video. Here is a summary of a New York Times article, “I-Pad Can’t Play Flash Video, but It May Not Matter.” and some questions we may want to ask in our focus group.

Many web designers as well as web users have been complaining about the highly publicized I-Pad’s absence of Flash technology, a program allowing users to view videos on computers and other platforms. Many customers found this to be surprising considering the Flash application is found on 98 percent of all computers worldwide and Adobe says that Flash accounts for 75 percent of all video viewed on the web. Online video companies such as You-tube run entirely on Flash.
 * Complaints on the I-Pad **

Apple has stated that this absence is based on Flash’s vulnerability to viruses. Adobe, who owns the flash technology believes its all a way to help Apple promote their new video viewing program. Apple’s new “HTML5” is a video application which allows users to view video through the web browser so they don’t have to download a program that might slow the operating system down.

· According to the article, I-Pads won’t be able to view 75 percent of all video on the internet. · “HTML5” is one of the first big competitors to Adobe’s Flash software in a virtually untapped online video market. · Many online companies such as Vimeo.com, Flickr.com, and Bliptv.com have started experimenting with new video programs based on feedback and requests from its users.
 * Important Facts in Article **


 * Questions to Ask**

· What kind of an effect will this have on the market for online video programs? · How long will it be before most video sites include alternative programs to Flash such as “HTML5”. · Will the absence of Flash effect the amount of I-Pad’s that Apple sells?


 * References**

NYTimes.com. (2010, January 30) IPod Can’t Play Flash Video, but It May Not Matter. //New York.// Retrieved on January 30, 2010 from []


 * What is myYearbook**

Facebook and Twitter have each, in their own way, peaked because people use them to do only one thing. In the case of Facebook, they use it to update friends and family, however, Twitter is used to update status and share photos. Pictures, posts, videos, and live chat are a few forms of communication on these social networking sites. Geoff Cook who is the CEO of the myYearbook argues that the future of social networking lies in differentiated, specialized streams. He stated that the “stream” for something like myYearbook is different than Facebook and Twitter. People are going there to interact with new people. Things actually happen on the site.

According to Geoff Cook, myYearbook is all about playing various games, like Owned or Battles. Match is another application, where users secretly admire each other. In playing those games, you meet new people. According to a survey to poll users of Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and myYearbook, about 70% of the users stated that they use myYearbook to meet new people, flirting, and playing games.


 * Why these social networks are important**

The social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter are the broadcast television network of stream communication. On the other hand, the “stream” for something like myYearbook is different. It differentiates its own streams, myYearbook chatter, in a number of ways. Most of all, the people posting into Chatter have a different purpose for sharing than people posting into Facebook – they want to meet new people, to flirt and to connect with people both near them and half-a-world away.

As Geoff stated, our chatter differentiated into two critical ways. First, Chatter allows users to comments on other users’ posts with photos as well as text. Second, “users view the chatter of people near them, filtered by age and gender, making Chatter, at its core, a geostream, and one well-suited to meeting new people.” Due to its bigger growth, chatter is now a geostream with 700,000 posts per day and double-dignity monthly growth rates.


 * Who is participating in online music theft?

When asked, most college students will admit to illegally downloading music online. As stated in the article, one University of Minnesota student said they "feel like most people are stealing." The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry reported that an estimated 95 percent of music that is downloaded around the world is in fact stolen. The article also points out that the majority of people engaging in online music theft typically range from 18-25 years old, the standard age range of college students today. Evidently college aged people are receiving majority of the blame for participating in online music theft. **

**What Nexus One provides**

Since the newly released Google Nexus One smartphone, it has generated hypes and interests in the smartphone market. The new smartphone is running Android 2.1. It is a thin, fast, web based phone with a 3.7-inch touch screen that allows users to perform endless possible tasks on such large display. Nexus One offers multiple home screens in one single phone, allows users to have customizable task-specified environment, such as having one home screen for Facebook, one for Twitter, one for contacts etc. It also allows users to multi-task without experiencing any delay.

Asides from its distinctive features, what Nexus One has that really shines is it’s a web-native device. As Mario Queiroz, a Google Vice President of Product Management, mentioned: “The Nexus One is where the phone meets the web”. Unlike other phones where users need to sync up the data back to the device from their computer, Google’s web based Android phone are always up to date. Email, calendar, address book, games, etc. are always syncing in real time, there is no more going back to the computer again to find your next calendar schedule.

While other phones have several similar features Nexus One has (wifi, GPS), there are a few key features that Google has stand out from the crowd, and will bring users and clients the next level of mobile technology:
 * What are the significances of the Nexus One different from its competitors (i.e. iPhone)?**
 * __ Buying experience __ – Unlike other subsidized phones by the network carriers (i.e. AT&T, Verizon etc.) where the device is strictly bounded to the carrier. An unlocked Nexus One can be purchased without any plan. Users then have the ability select from any GSM network they prefer to use this device on around the globe. It is a world phone. A CDMA version of this phone will be later introduced as well.
 * __ Always Syncing, always connected __ – As pointed out earlier, the turning point of this phone is it’s a “Web-native device”, it’s a very powerful feature that sets aside from other competitors. Most users find themselves working on their calendar schedule or downloading games or apps under the desktop environment, which later they will have to sync these data back onto the phone in order to get the latest updates. Nexus One solved that issue for many. The tasks will always be connected to the cloud, and can be accessed from anywhere users go.
 * __ Google integration __ – Google mobile ad has just gotten easier. With the ability to integrate Google Mobile Ads right on the mobile, users can reach their content networks, track clicks etc on the mobile device anywhere they go – bringing a true direct business prospects right in the palms.
 * __ Multiple Desktops __ – Unlike stacking up icons on the same desktop like the iPhone, Nexus One has multiple desktops that allow users to customize each to suit their environments, and many widgets can be installed on these desktops. For instance, the Twitter Widget allows users to update their Twitter status right from the desktop screen. Google Search is also integrated on each of the home screen. Users can find it easy to navigate and able to complete tasks just at a fingertip.
 * __ Open Source and Better Apps __ – Google currently has 16,000 active apps in the Android market, and it’s still growing rapidly. Many apps can be purchased and downloaded within one clicked, thanks to the convenient Google Checkout. Android is an open source Linux system, which means many developers will be able to share their perspectives and ideas, and aid Google on bettering the Android.

**Why is it important for Android to serve for small and mid-size businesses **  The new era of mobile devices is the business market and the people on-the-go. The mobile segmentation includes busy people that want everything at the touch of their hands, in there mobile devices. This segmentation is usually people in the business industry who don’t always have an excess to a desktop and the rise of professionals, including college students. Android have to be able to meet these people needs because consumers are looking for the newest smartphones on the market with enterprise e-mail and other services. Google already have a natural fit for small businesses because there mobile devices offer Google Apps, hosted suite of e-mail, and messaging. BlackBerry and iPhones are the main competitors when it comes to smartphones for small and mid-size businesses. The iPhone and BlackBerry has support for features of ActiveSync, which is the data synchronization program developed by Microsoft for use the Microsoft Windows operating systems. Although Android supports ActiveSync though some smartphone maker's tools, there is no support for ActivieSync polices. Therefore, Android is not better then BlackBerry or iPhone for enterprise users. Android has the capability to compete with the iphone in small businesses, but not yet for big businesses. BlackBerry is taking over the mobile operating system for enterprise-level companies. Android has a very challenging hurdle to overcome if they want to outshine BlackBerry in a larger industry of enterprise.