On this week’s (incredibly rough) episode of The Voicemail, James and Stefan discuss:
- Activision buying King (Candy Crush) for nearly $6 billion
- Google’s response to the WSJ rumor saying it’s killing Chrome OS
- Microsoft killing its unlimited storage tier for OneDrive users
- Facebook’s upcoming news app, Notify
- Motorola opening up a physical retail store
- Google’s alleged desire to design their own smartphone chips
- Thoughts on the BlackBerry Priv
- And the “death” of PCs
The Voicemail 
a comment.
a reply, perhaps?
Thoughts on upcoming episode topics:
I’m really beginning to enjoy the personal 2-4 minute intros that quickly fill us in on how you guys have been the past week and what you’re up to in your personal lives. I know you both value your privacy, but perhaps a fun episode would consist of you two shooting the shit on personal matters. Perhaps you can talk about shared stories and adventures together, recent developments (other than what we already know career/schooling-wise), and a little background about where you both came from and how you fell into the mobile tech-journo space.
Another obvious idea for a show topic is likely a popular one, but something you both (again) may shy away from: prognosticating about the future of tech (in general, not just mobile perhaps?). I know the pitfalls and hesitation normally associated with such ramblings, but again, coming at it from a personal perspective, like what you might WANT to see, not just necessarily what you THINK we’ll see, could be quite entertaining. Waxing ideologies about the future of space travel, global commerce, or even crowd-funding could potentially be an interesting episode.
Last suggestion: Change the theme. Just turn the show into a show about something other than mobile. Ideally something your audience is likely to be interested in of course, but just starting the episode with a different name and theme would be kind of fun. “Where James and Stefan discuss the news in the space technology industry/astrophysics/you get the idea.
Cheers guys, love the show.
Bryan
I really like this idea ‘a little background about where you both came from and how you fell into the mobile tech-journo space’ – appreciate the input, thank you.
Cheers. FWIW, that’s the one I’m most interested in hearing.
The tag watch is upon us at a price of $1,500 and oddly Google reduced the price of the 1st Gen moto 360 to $99…obviously a moto will never be a tag but if I could get 15 moto’s for the price of a tag that basically does accomplish the same exact thing…. Why do you two think someone would actually be willing to pay so much money for a smart watch? Name recognition? Prestige? Sheer idiocy?
I heard you need topic ideas, so here’s a long post to read while you’re, I don’t know, procrastinating before an exam or perhaps waiting for a broken Z3 to return.
I guess they’re all on a theme of tech features vs. actual behaviour, what sticks, what bombs, and why.
— Do tech companies really understand the new product categories they are entering?
I upgrade my phone, laptop or tablet without any hesitation over sentimental value or personal attachments. They are electronic devices replacing other electronic devices.
But releasing a product that wants to replace my watch or car is a different story. These are long-lived, personal products with sentimental value, my watch especially so, but it seems like tech companies don’t see the distinction. They’re upping the specs on smartwatches without realising that specs were never the problem for potential new adopters. No one is going to inherit a cherished Moto 360 family heirloom from their grandfather.
So, what do tech companies have to do differently to convince people to give up these personal devices?
— It’s interesting to me how some fads come and go, yet some resurface with a purpose. Bluetooth was kind of niche until speakers, stereos and wearables made it indispensable. The tablet stylus was scorned a few years ago, but now it’s the new must-have.
So, what fads do you think might resurface in the future? What features do you look back on fondly and see a future for? 3D screens? 3D cameras? Kickstands? e-ink screens? Folding/double/extending screens?
– Finally, and this is sort of related, what happened to multi-touch? The touchscreen world post-iPhone was all about pinch-to-zoom, several hands on screen and multi-finger gestures (behave). But did tech companies underestimate the importance of one-handed use?
I only ever see people tapping away with a single thumb, or using the tap-and-drag zoom. The new Surface ad, with a group of improbably cool kids jamming together on a music app, seems to think it’s something people use, but what do you think? Has the promise faded or is there just a focus on real behaviour?
Keep up the good work, and don’t be so hard on yourself about rambling and diversions. Most of the time they’re more interesting than the news.
[…] Ben’s post here) and one could argue (as my podcasting colleague Stefan Constantinescu did on last week’s episode) that Ben is just trundling out the same old ‘mobile is eating the universe’ stuff as […]
Stefan,
Do you use 3D touch on your iPhone? Quite honestly I have mostly forgotten about it and when I do use it it’s the multitasking feature, not apps.
James,
Went to see Spectre this weekend. Don’t want to spoil it but Omega had a far more important scene than the any cell phone Bond -I’m assuming it was a Sony device – was using. Also some guy got poisoned with a radioactive cell phone.
What are your thoughts about Sony’s obvious inability to get it’s consumer electronics division associated with this movie franchise.
BTW, I know Sony sold off its VAIO brand but quite certain that Q wasn’t using one.
Guys, what’s your thoughts fossil buying misfit