Yes, I'm googling Steve Jobs and reading all the articles that come up as I listen to this morning's keynote presentation about the new iPhone. Go to apple.com to see it.
Here's Jobs' commencement speech for Stanford in June 2005.
Ok, I need to go to bed now!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Ah, Gates vs. Jobs
Back to smashing our idea of who gives money away. I like Macs and Apple and all, but this is interesting. Back to the theme that Republicans donate more to charities than Democrats.
Until recently, Bill Gates has been viewed as the villain of the tech world, while his archrival, Steve Jobs, enjoys an almost saintly reputation.
Gates is the cutthroat capitalist. A genius maybe, but one more interested in maximizing profits than perfecting technology. He's the ultimate vengeful nerd. Ostracized at school, he gets the last laugh by bleeding us all dry.
On the other hand, Jobs has never seemed much concerned with business, though he's been very successful at it of late. Instead, Jobs has been portrayed as a man of art and culture. He's an aesthete, an artist; driven to make a dent in the universe.
But these perceptions are wrong. In fact, the reality is reversed. It's Gates who's making a dent in the universe, and Jobs who's taking on the role of single-minded capitalist, seemingly oblivious to the broader needs of society.
Gates is giving away his fortune with the same gusto he spent acquiring it, throwing billions of dollars at solving global health problems. He has also spoken out on major policy issues, for example, by opposing proposals to cut back the inheritance tax.
In contrast, Jobs does not appear on any charitable contribution lists of note. And Jobs has said nary a word on behalf of important social issues, reserving his talents of persuasion for selling Apple products.
According to Forbes, Jobs was recently worth $3.3 billion which puts him among the 194th richest in the world, and makes him the 67th richest American. But the standings were shuffled on Tuesday with Disney's $7.4 billion acquisition of Pixar Animation -- a deal that makes Jobs' Pixar holdings alone worth some $3.7 billion.
But great wealth does not make a great man.
(emphasis mine) from Wired magazine, Jan 25, 2006 by Leander Kahney.
Now, the article points out that Jobs could have be donating anonymously. However, his wife gives to political campaigns so they do give in their name.
Does this change how we should see Apple and Jobs?
Until recently, Bill Gates has been viewed as the villain of the tech world, while his archrival, Steve Jobs, enjoys an almost saintly reputation.
Gates is the cutthroat capitalist. A genius maybe, but one more interested in maximizing profits than perfecting technology. He's the ultimate vengeful nerd. Ostracized at school, he gets the last laugh by bleeding us all dry.
On the other hand, Jobs has never seemed much concerned with business, though he's been very successful at it of late. Instead, Jobs has been portrayed as a man of art and culture. He's an aesthete, an artist; driven to make a dent in the universe.
But these perceptions are wrong. In fact, the reality is reversed. It's Gates who's making a dent in the universe, and Jobs who's taking on the role of single-minded capitalist, seemingly oblivious to the broader needs of society.
Gates is giving away his fortune with the same gusto he spent acquiring it, throwing billions of dollars at solving global health problems. He has also spoken out on major policy issues, for example, by opposing proposals to cut back the inheritance tax.
In contrast, Jobs does not appear on any charitable contribution lists of note. And Jobs has said nary a word on behalf of important social issues, reserving his talents of persuasion for selling Apple products.
According to Forbes, Jobs was recently worth $3.3 billion which puts him among the 194th richest in the world, and makes him the 67th richest American. But the standings were shuffled on Tuesday with Disney's $7.4 billion acquisition of Pixar Animation -- a deal that makes Jobs' Pixar holdings alone worth some $3.7 billion.
But great wealth does not make a great man.
(emphasis mine) from Wired magazine, Jan 25, 2006 by Leander Kahney.
Now, the article points out that Jobs could have be donating anonymously. However, his wife gives to political campaigns so they do give in their name.
Does this change how we should see Apple and Jobs?
Fun facts about Steve Jobs
Did you know he's adopted?
And that he and his wife are vegans?
(From wikipedia)
And that he and his wife are vegans?
(From wikipedia)
Sunday, June 8, 2008
I want an iPhone!
Come on, Steve, release the new iPhone tomorrow in SF! You know you want to ;)
IPhone in 3G! IPhone in 3G! IPhone in 3G! IPhone in 3G! IPhone in 3G!
IPhone in 3G! IPhone in 3G! IPhone in 3G! IPhone in 3G! IPhone in 3G!
Stolen identity
Yes, I shred documents and am careful to not share my passwords but c'mon, the odds of my identity being stolen or Social Security number due to my own action are small compared to due to a large security breach. Now Stanford may have up to 72,000 former and current employees' information out there because a laptop was stolen. Well, sheet.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Wow, a radical business concept - it's not for the money
How Craigslist does business differently, and the capitalists can't figure out what to do with it all. From December 2006.
Jim Buckmaster, the chief executive of Craigslist, caused lots of head-scratching Thursday as he tried to explain to a bunch of Wall Street types why his company is not interested in “monetizing” his ridiculously popular Web operation. Appearing at the UBS global media conference in New York, Mr. Buckmaster took questions from the bemused audience, which apparently could not get its collective mind around the notion that Craigslist exists to help Web users find jobs, cars, apartments and dates — and not so much to make money.
Wendy Davis of MediaPost describes the presentation as a “a culture clash of near-epic proportions.” She recounts how UBS analyst Ben Schachter wanted to know how Craigslist plans to maximize revenue. It doesn’t, Mr. Buckmaster replied (perhaps wondering how Mr. Schachter could possibly not already know this). “That definitely is not part of the equation,” he said, according to MediaPost. “It’s not part of the goal.”
“I think a lot of people are catching their breath right now,” Mr. Schachter said in response.
The Tech Trader Daily blog ponders this question: “If YouTube was worth $1.65 billion, who knows what Craigslist would be worth if Jim and [site founder] Craig Newmark ever considred becoming — what’s the word? — capitalists.”
Craigslist charges money for job listings, but only in seven of the cities it serves ($75 in San Francisco; $25 in the others). And it charges for apartment listings in New York ($10 a pop). But that is just to pay expenses.
Mr. Schachter still did not seem to understand. How about running AdSense ads from Google? Craigslist has considered that, Mr. Buckmaster said. They even crunched the numbers, which were “quite staggering.” But users haven’t expressed an interest in seeing ads, so it is not going to happen.
Following the meeting, Mr. Schachter wrote a research note, flagged by Tech Trader Daily, which suggests that he still doesn’t quite get the concept of serving customers first, and worrying about revenues later, if at all (and nevermind profits). Craigslist, the analyst wrote, “does not fully monetize its traffic or services.”
Mr. Buckmaster said the company is doubling in size every year, as measured by page views and listings.
Larry Dignan, writing on Between the Lines blog at ZDNet, called Mr. Buckmaster “delightfully communist,” and described the audience as “confused capitalists wondering how a company can exist without the urge to maximize profits.”
Jim Buckmaster, the chief executive of Craigslist, caused lots of head-scratching Thursday as he tried to explain to a bunch of Wall Street types why his company is not interested in “monetizing” his ridiculously popular Web operation. Appearing at the UBS global media conference in New York, Mr. Buckmaster took questions from the bemused audience, which apparently could not get its collective mind around the notion that Craigslist exists to help Web users find jobs, cars, apartments and dates — and not so much to make money.
Wendy Davis of MediaPost describes the presentation as a “a culture clash of near-epic proportions.” She recounts how UBS analyst Ben Schachter wanted to know how Craigslist plans to maximize revenue. It doesn’t, Mr. Buckmaster replied (perhaps wondering how Mr. Schachter could possibly not already know this). “That definitely is not part of the equation,” he said, according to MediaPost. “It’s not part of the goal.”
“I think a lot of people are catching their breath right now,” Mr. Schachter said in response.
The Tech Trader Daily blog ponders this question: “If YouTube was worth $1.65 billion, who knows what Craigslist would be worth if Jim and [site founder] Craig Newmark ever considred becoming — what’s the word? — capitalists.”
Craigslist charges money for job listings, but only in seven of the cities it serves ($75 in San Francisco; $25 in the others). And it charges for apartment listings in New York ($10 a pop). But that is just to pay expenses.
Mr. Schachter still did not seem to understand. How about running AdSense ads from Google? Craigslist has considered that, Mr. Buckmaster said. They even crunched the numbers, which were “quite staggering.” But users haven’t expressed an interest in seeing ads, so it is not going to happen.
Following the meeting, Mr. Schachter wrote a research note, flagged by Tech Trader Daily, which suggests that he still doesn’t quite get the concept of serving customers first, and worrying about revenues later, if at all (and nevermind profits). Craigslist, the analyst wrote, “does not fully monetize its traffic or services.”
Mr. Buckmaster said the company is doubling in size every year, as measured by page views and listings.
Larry Dignan, writing on Between the Lines blog at ZDNet, called Mr. Buckmaster “delightfully communist,” and described the audience as “confused capitalists wondering how a company can exist without the urge to maximize profits.”
An Engineer's Guide to Cats
This made me lol a few times including the use of cat harnesses," corporal cuddling," and cat cocaine aka tuna.
Is this guy single?? I'd date him!
Is this guy single?? I'd date him!
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Long time no blog
Ah, it's been a long time since I've been regularly blogging. Not having internet, not checking at work, and work being tiring has basically been wiping me out. A lot going on folks.
I'm on a new thing where I'm against credit cards, used even responsibly. I don't like our economy becoming so dependent on credit cards and how that increases their influence in government. And I don't like what using credit cards does to small businesses. Use cash, people! It's worked for centuries, it keeps your budget in check, and it's free (kinda)! A paper bill is a happy economy. My new motto. I'm still ok using credit cards for big purchases where you need some time to shift some money around to pay for it or where you really want the points. How about a $300 minimum unless it's an online purchase, hotel room, or travel? How would that change how we shop and what we buy?
Ok, that's the news for tonight.
I'm on a new thing where I'm against credit cards, used even responsibly. I don't like our economy becoming so dependent on credit cards and how that increases their influence in government. And I don't like what using credit cards does to small businesses. Use cash, people! It's worked for centuries, it keeps your budget in check, and it's free (kinda)! A paper bill is a happy economy. My new motto. I'm still ok using credit cards for big purchases where you need some time to shift some money around to pay for it or where you really want the points. How about a $300 minimum unless it's an online purchase, hotel room, or travel? How would that change how we shop and what we buy?
Ok, that's the news for tonight.
Friday, May 30, 2008
The internet, I've missed you!
A week without the internet at home - how did I survive?? By being pissed off at first then not minding too much and then kinda not caring anymore. Ah internet, we do have a passionate love affair.
Indiana Jones was good but the plot ending was "huh? eh."
Saw Sex and the City tonight. Really good and def fun to see on opening night. The audience cheered at everything! and sounded like they had started early on the cosmos.
I can't remember all my other random thoughts... will post when I do!
Indiana Jones was good but the plot ending was "huh? eh."
Saw Sex and the City tonight. Really good and def fun to see on opening night. The audience cheered at everything! and sounded like they had started early on the cosmos.
I can't remember all my other random thoughts... will post when I do!
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