The key to a connected media TV experience will be in layering content
When it comes to a connected media experience on our TVs, full screen apps will have their place, but the benefit will really be in layering over other content -A customizable sidebar would be a key feature in a connected media experience on your TV.
I’d love to have the ability to have an open bar on the side of the screen that would show when my friends are on Skype, emails in, plus a section that is adaptable to the content on the screen: Like when a movie trailer is playing on the screen that a button slide onto the sidebar that would allow me to a) Check local availability via Flixter b) Add to Netflix. When watching a sporting event then I can add a player stats bar, or a Twitter feed with a #hashtag of inline conversations (like the World Cup Tracking Page).
Square Groups - An idea about how this could be done:
In my last post, I talked about an opportunity for Square to expand their current offering allowing us to switch our profiles and take money for charity, a high school fundraiser, etc. Above is only an option (mock-up above) on how I think they could do it:
It would be an option under “Accounts” that allows you to add a group/charity to take payments on behalf of. This would be by an “Add a Group” field which would prompt you to either search for a group, or to type in a a group/charity’s PIN ID. Type in the PIN and this would pair the device the that particular account/org.
Once the pairing is complete you have the option to switch between profiles to allow you to be able to switch over to your Group/Charity account to start taking donations at a Meetup, or anywhere.
Re-Birth of Study Hall
Since my mobile application, The Smart Alarm, released, I have found myself in more coffee and happy hour meetings with some very smart, and interesting people. Most of these people had ideas, mind blowing ideas that needed some legs. I found that there was about 3 pieces to getting these things going. They all represented 1, or 2, of the below, but not all 3 in order to complete a vision:
1. There is the person with the concept, or idea
2. The Designer (UI, UX and/or Graphic Designer)
3. And the Software Programmer
I’ve been speaking to enough groups, and key people, in Milwaukee now that I feel this is more than doable - its sought after. Coming soon I am looking to re-introduce people to the Study Hall (@StdyHll) - for adults. A technical study hall that would allow people to get together to cross pollinate fresh ideas and to promote creativity, allowing all the pieces to get together to actually make things. A creative incubator.
I am current going down the process of creating this environment to get these groups together in one place, to cultivate these ideas into something that they can turn around and actually make. This would be a location where people can meet, on a regular basis, to share ideas of what they are working on, or offer their services to others projects that they can get behind. We’ll be adding a website and some directories for getting in touch with the right people to help you make something for yourself.
In the mean time, feel free to reach out to me with ideas or ways that you wish to help get this off the ground, at: mike [at] michaelmassie [dot] com
I look forward to your feedback. Thank you very much!
- Mike
WISHLIST
A programmable RFID chip/API for smart phones - so I can swipe my phone for my credit card, gas FOB, car lock, Square payment, security gate, etc.
AT&T upgrade in the Alley & Valley, 7.2, and FaceTime over 3G
Conversation with AT&T insider yields some interesting insight:
- $2 Billion in upgrading infrastructure
- On day 30 of 100 to completion
- Focus on major overhaul of Valley (SF) and the Alley (NYC)
- iPhone 4’s FaceTime testing on 3G was not up-to-par for a full release
- End of year rollout to deliver 7.2Mbps Nationwide (twice as fast as current release)
- We can probably except iPhone 4’s FaceTime on Cellular sometime next year
WISHLIST
Charging stations should be as common in Bars and Cafe’s as public bathrooms.
Alpha Testing foursquare on Windows Mobile
I was fortunate enough to be given access to pilot test the new Alpha code of foursquare for Windows Mobile. I have to say, it is a fairly nice build, although not as pretty as its other OS siblings. There are obviously a few more bugs to work out (see above), but all in all I think that on a dying OS, its a nice addition.
Demo Video Shooting
You think that you’d be better at just explaining an App that you have been working on for over a year. But when it gets down to it…. stutter, trip, what the hell is a “Demostrination”? Who knows, but it’s new - use it! ;) After trying to shoot this video on this table, the kitchen table, I found a great App called SkinnyFinger that allow me to just record video off the Mac and an iPhone simulator. That still didn’t help the fumbling thru the voice over. Oh Well.
After a few attempts I stumbled upon what ended up rendering the above solution obsolete: Thanks to SlimFinger from
AteBits
Clear winner here definitely comes down to the Mac Mini with Boxee managing all the streams. We get a lot of content from Hulu, Netflix and Podcasts and Boxee wraps it up perfectly. Although we had a bluetooth mouse and keyboard for surfing, Boxee also has a iPod/iPhone app that has built in trackpad and keyboard options, but also works with the Apple Remote… it’s perfect.
So there you have it, everything under one roof… sans the $120 DirectTV bill.
First Look @ Nokia & Maemo
I am not one to typically get excited about a particular mobile phone, but I do have to say that I am very fond of the new Nokia N900. I got the 76th of 80 seats to be at the Chicago meet-up with the new Nokia and upgraded Maemo OS. Like the Palm Pre, I am more excited about the OS cause it will continue to be released on further form factors… and I like what I see. I still don’t understand why Nokia’s higher end devices are not picked up by US carriers. I will probably end up getting one of these, but at ~$600, I wouldn’t mind having a 2 year contract absorb some of that cost.
@refrig - you need milk
For a while I was tying to find a real concrete use for Twitter v a FaceBook-like status updater, I think I found a move towards a very valid use. It appears there is a big movement by device manufacturers to place twitter capabilities into its products to inform you of changes. My Ey-Fi card, that I purchased, Twitters me when it has found Wi-Fi internet and offloaded all my photos to my Flickr account, thus letting me know that all my pics are safe and that my SD card is empty. The newest product that I found out at UNPLGGD.com is twittering home energy use, very smart and very useful.
Hurry up and open a twitter account so that your plant can tweet you that it’s thirsty. Here
Product shots for the Smart Alarm
As programming continues I was able to get a head start on making some product shots of the app. I figure these can all be added to the iTunes store when our page is ready to be built. The anticipation is killing me.
Remember Me?
Cleaning up the old Mac’s of personal info gave me a bit of nostalgia.
Massie Design Studio, LLC
In order to have a presence for the Smart Alarm and URL’s for the iTunes Store. I locked down and in the middle of working on my businesses website.
Best iPhone/iPod stand… Ever?
So after some rave reviews and some convincing I gave in and decided to share my little cheap stand to everyone else… It worked very well for me, hope you agree.
Click Here for the Instructions
