Mark Evans

PlanetEye Wins Fast 50 Award

With the recent launch of our new design, there has been a lot of working happening behind the scenes to make PlanetEye one of the world’s leading online travel planning destinations.

So, it’s exciting and gratifying to be recognized as one of Canada’s Companies-to-Watch Award as part of the 2008 Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Awards. The award recognizes early-stage technology companies that have been in business for less than five years. and show management expertise and superior technology that set the stage for an early-stage company to enjoy continued growth.

By the way, we also got a great review on Webware earlier this week.

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How Badly Will Chrome Hurt Firefox?

If you listen to the fine folks at Google, they universally love Firefox. In fact, many of them agonized over Google’s decision to create its own browser because they didn’t want to damage the scrappy open-source rival that has given IE fits. (Wired has the inside story of Chrome’s creation.)

Nevertheless, Google decided it had no choice but to develop Chrome. Now the question is how badly will Chrome damage Firefox. Will Firefox users abandon ship because Chrome is simply shiny and new? Or will Chrome be a novelty for Firefox users who love the ability to personalize Firefox more than Chrome’s no-frills look and feel.

The other consideration is financial given referral revenue from Google accounted for more than 80% of Mozilla’s $66.8-million revenue in 2006. While the deal was recently extended to 2011, Firefox could get less revenue if a lot of Firefox users moved to Chrome.

My sense is Chrome will hurt Firefox but it will likely be more of a flesh wound than a major injury. This means you may see Firefox’s share of the browser market retreat to 15% from 20%.

Internet Explorer could be more vulnerable even though IE8 Beta 2 has been getting good reviews. Many IE users, who would never consider using Firefox, may be more enthusiastic about Chrome because, after all, it’s made from Google, the world’s leading search engine. By giving Chrome a no-frills, user-friendly interface, it may attract more attention.

For the sake of argument, let’s say Firefox retreats to 15% and Microsoft falls back to 55%. That could leave Chrome with about 20% of the browser market.

Does that seem reasonable or am I being too bullish on Chrome’s appeal?

More: There’s no lack of people who have tried Chrome, including Walter Mossberg, who liked it but not that much; and Alec Saunders, who suggests that Chrome “in the hard light of day I’d say the emperor has no clothes”.

Technorati Tags: chrome, Firefox, Google

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New Facebook: Does it Matter?

Hey look, Facebook has a new look - sort of like adding a new coat of paint after seeing what the neighbours (aka Friendster) are doing.

There’s nothing wrong with spiffing up the place but is it going to make much of a difference? I mean, Facebook is now what it is - an interesting service but no longer the compelling entity it was a year ago. This is due to a combination of strategic mistakes, new players and the novelty factor wearing off.

Then again, I tried to leave Facebook recently only to realize it’s still a relevant tool if you’re a digital creature of habit. Like many people, Facebook has its uses but it’s not something I need or use every day.

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Tags: Facebook, friendster

Who Will Police Canada’s Copyright Landscape?

The tabling of Canada’s new copyright legislation is still being scrutinized as critics and proponents get a handle on how it’s actually going to work and whether it’s a step forward or a step backward. (If you’re interested in the nitty gritty, there’s no better place than Michael Geist’s blog.)

Stepping back from the political/legislative fray, one issue that jumps out is how the copyright regime will be enforced.

Given the restrictions on what consumers could do with digital content that is copyright-protected (e.g. it will be illegal to sell an iPod to someone unless you remove all the content on it; and you won’t be able to send a MP3 file to a friend via e-mail if you’re really excited about a new song), how will “illegal” activity be policed?

Will the onus be on ISPs to monitor and report “illegal” activity on their networks? Will the federal government be compelled to create a Copyright Protection Bureau that uses employs hundreds of people and sophisticated packet-sniffing technology to monitor all Internet traffic in Canada?

Given the draconian nature of the proposed legislation, created with little external input or discussion, my sense is a lot of activity will likely go underground. Technology to unlock DRM protection, IP-blocking tools and private, members-only P2P networks will be created as consumers figure out ways to circumvent the legislation.

All of this sounds very Orwellian but if Canada’s new copyright legislation is enacted, this will be the new reality. Make no mistake, this legislation is a political animal created by a government cowering in the wake of enormous pressure from the U.S., which wants every country to embrace its approach to copyright. While the federal government is desperately trying to sell this legislation as a “Made in Canada” solution, don’t be fooled.

For more views, check out Mathew Ingram, who takes a measured look at the good and the bad about the proposed legislation, while Boing Boing’s Cory Doctorow opines that Canada’s plan is worse than the U.S.’s Digital Millennium Copyright Act. University of Ottawa law professor Jeremy de Beer also makes some has good insight.

Technorati Tags: Canada, Copyright

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Why Twitter Rocks the House

This is embarassing. I’ve gone from someone who dismissed Twitter as “inane” to becoming increasingly taken by its usefulness and potential.

Here’s what I particularly like about Twitter:

1. It’s easy to control the conversation. You decide who you want to follow and how many people you want to follow. If you want un-follow someone, it can be done quickly and quietly with no one the wiser - a nice contrast to Facebook where un-friending someone can be detected, which can be for both parties involved.

2. Twitter is a clean interface with few distractions. It’s easy to write given you’ve only got 140 characters, and it’s a breeze to see what other people are writing without spending much time doing it. As a result, it’s easy to justify regular Twitter Breaks because they can be done so quickly.

3. Twitter is a great way to discover the news, interesting blog posts, cool videos, etc. My favorite people to follow are those who regularly provide useful and interesting links as opposed to the Twitter-ati who talk about what they’re having for lunch or visiting the dentist. Once you fall into the latter category, you’re in un-follow territory.

4. Most important is that the Twitter ecosystem has huge potential to move into new and interesting areas. One example is TwitPic where you can share your photos on Twitter.

While Twitter continues to gain momentum, it is interesting to see Hugh MacLeod already climb off the bandwagon: “It’s no big deal. I liked Twitter. But I found it too easy. I think my time would be better spent drawing cartoons and writing books.” You have to respect MacLeod’s choice but it’s not a big deal given it’s totally normal to try new things before deciding they don’t work for you. It’s not like “I’m giving up Facebook” posts got a lot of attention.

For other views, check out Ted Rheingold, who suggest that Twitter is to Blogging what telegrams were to airmail, Changing Way ponders whether to get on the bandwagon, while Deep Jive Interests offers some detailed thoughts. If you want to read someone who gets and embraces Twitter, check out Corvida, who’s wrting some great stuff.

Technorati Tags: Twitter

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Picnik Goes (Almost) Completely Free

If you are looking for an excellent online photo editor, one of the best choices is Picnik.

Featuring a user-friendly interface and enough features to meet the needs of most digital photographers, Picnik has quickly gained a strong following. Of course, it’s helped that Picnik is free, although you’ve had to pay $24.95 a year for premium features. (Hat tip to Download Squad)

In a move that can only be described as surprising, Picnik has decided to eliminate the annual fee to use premium features. If, however, you still want to pay $24.95 a month, Picnik is offering a service that gives you access to new features, the ability to edit in full screen mode, and an advertising-free interface.

The decision to pretty much abandon its premium service makes you wonder about Picnik’s business plan. The company must believe that it will attract enough users to make it an attractive option for advertisers.

Of course, Picnik’s business model could also hinge of making itself nice and pretty for an acquisition. Last year, Flickr signed a partnership with Picnik that lets Flickr users access Picnik’s editing tools in a pretty seamless fashion. Picnik CEO Jonathan Sposato told Webware that Flickr has generated “double digit percentages of site growth”, as well as a healthy number of users who have migrated to the premium serfvice.

Another angle to Picnik’s decision is how its fits into the idea of freeconomics - the idea that free services are thriving on the Web because competition makes it difficult, if not impossible, for anyone to charge anything.

In the latest issue of Wired magazine, Chris Anderson has an article entitled “Free! Why $0.00 is the Future of Business” that talks about why free has become such a ubiquitous part of the online landscape. He suggests that since many online businesses can’t charge for their services, they will generate money primarily through advertising and premium services (a business model described as “freemium).

Who knows, maybe Picnik was inspired by Anderson’s thesis!

Technorati Tags: FreeconomiFreeconomics, Freemium, Photography, Picnik

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New High-Tech Skate Blade Fail to Impress

Here’s a good case study that illustrates just because technology allows you to create something new, it doesn’t mean there’s enough of a return for people to embrace it.

A few months ago, Therma Blade - with the help of hockey superstar Wayne Gretzy - unveiled a new skate blade that uses on-board electronics to heat up to five degrees celsius. The idea, in theory, is it will give you better grip on the ice. Gretzky glowingly described it as “the most significant advance in skate blade design in at least 30 years”.

It turns out the Therma Blade, which costs a whopping $400 for a set, failed to impress five NHL players who give them a whirl. Chicago Black Hawk Martin Lapointe said: “I wouldn’t buy them”.

Ouch.

Therma Blade’s biggest problem is the return on investment doesn’t seem big enough to convince hockey players it’s worth the investment. Of course, it wasn’t that long ago that people dismissed the idea of spending $200 for a composite stick only to see composite sticks force wooden sticks in near-extinction.

Maybe Therma Blade, which took inventor Tony Web five years to develop, will find commercial success but it strikes me as a technology that may not find a home with consumers - much like Bluetooth has failed to grab much of a foothold.

Technorati Tags: Skates, Hockey

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It’s Sad Not Make the Beta Cut

In some ways, betas are the crack of the Web 2.0 world.

When a new service is announced, there’s a rush to sign up for the beta. In some cases, the doors are wide open so all you need to do is provide a little information, and you’re a beta tester.

Sometimes, however, you scramble to get access only to discover they don’t want you - or they don’t want you right away. In other words, there are other beta users who are better, smart, more attractive, more popular than you.

When you get turned down, it’s like having the bouncer at a popular club tell you to wait in line with everyone else. It’s like building up the courage to ask someone out on a date, only to have them turn you down. It hurts.

I recently discovered this harsh reality, for example, when Twine turned me down. When the e-mail from Twine appeared in my inbox, I was excited because I thought, well, you know, I was in. Nope. Instead, I got a Dear John Beta letter.

It’s okay, I can take it. I mean, there are probably thousands of other people who wanted in on the beta so my turn will come. But it still hurts not be wanted.

In some cases, the hurt never really goes away so when the much-coveted beta invitation eventually materializes, you don’t care anymore. Maybe the initial excitement has disappeared or maybe you’ve found a new, nicer beta who invited you in right away with no questions asked.

Such in life when you’re fascinated with betas.

By the way, anyone can get an invite to PlanetEye’s beta. All you need to do is visit our home page.

Update: I’m hoping to get an invite to the Digsby private beta. Fingers crossed!

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mesh ‘08: The Dates and Something New

mesh ‘08 is only five months away, which means summer is just over the horizon…and we’re finally ready to unveil some initial details about the conference.

Most important, mesh will happening May 21-22 at MaRS in downtown Toronto so the mark the dates in your calendars. Information about ticket prices, keynotes, panelists, etc. will be announced soon.

As important, we’re doing something new this year: meshU on May 20. It’s a one-day event featuring small workshops about the tools, knowledge and expertise for startups, Web designers and developers - every from S3 and Ajax to UI and cloud-computing. It’s a hands-on, in-depth, news you can use kind of thing. If you have ideas for panels and speakers, let us know.

Post a comment here or send an email to stuart@meshconference.com, and let us know what you have in mind. More info will be coming soon on workshop leaders, ticket prices, etc.

For more information, check out Mathew Ingram’s post and the mesh blog.

Technorati Tags: mesh08

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Is ‘08 the Year for GPS?

You hear a lot of GPS these days.

Flickr’s pushing it; it’s a standard feature in new Blackberrys; an increasing number of digital cameras and cell phones are being equipped with it; Google has quasi-embraced it within Google Maps; and - probably most important, prices are tumbling to the point where buying a GPS system is almost a no-brainer.

The question is whether it has enough momentum to jump into the mainstream. For all the excitement, the biggest hurdle between geek technology and a mainstream tool is probably whether there’s enough that mainstream users can do with GPS. In other words, are there enough “killer apps” to make people say “You know, I really need to use GPS”.

So far, the answer seems to be not really. Sure, it’s great to know where you’re located but how many people really have that compelling of a need to actually use a GPS to do it. (Note: The lone exception may be parents who have to chauffeur their children to a non-stop number of activities. To them, a in-car GPS system is probably a godsend.)

This hasn’t stopped they hype machine from trying to trumpet the prospects for GSP. BusinessWeek recently ran a story suggesting GPS will make maps obsolete as more wireless devices come armed with built-in mapping and location services. Meanwhile, wireless device makers are counting on the sexiness of GPS to jump-start hardware sales and boost sales of GPS-related services. Nokia jumped into the GPS fray by spending $8.1-billion to acquire digital-map provider Navteq.

Perhaps the key to GPS moving into the mainstream is lower prices. At some point, consumers are going to find it difficult to ignore the lure of GPS hardware and services. Tiger Direct, for example, was swamped with demand recently when it offered the Fujitsu Siemens Pocket Loox N100 GPS for $99.99. Once you get hardware in people’s hands, all you need to do is sell them some useful services at reasonable prices to get the industry in high gear.

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