MYBLOG by Ouriel

10 ideas to make an iPod Killer

I love the iPod and will probably switch to an iPod/iPhone. Everybody is trying to run after Apple but no one really made it. From my modest user experience there are a few things that combined together would be the killer product (meaning a much better compelling user experience and usage value) i would buy instead of an iPod for the same price

• Wireless Sync with rules. I hate to sync my ipod by having to connect it to my PC i want to tell my iPod to sync according to rules i set. Make it Bluetooth and Wifi for the same price 
• Player sold with a cradle. I can't believe Apple does not sell the iPod with a cradle make it stand nicely on your desk 
• No need for special soft. i Hate iTunes (specially the fact you need to create a library to import your tunes). already said it. I want to be able to manage my files just like i do on a regular explorer 
• Open to all main sounds formats: not just AAC and Mp3 but all of them (Ogg, Wav,...) no more need to encode. 
• Does not require video encoding: reads all main formats natively including Divx and automatically encodes to fit the screen 
• A back stick.When i travel i need to hold my iPod to see what's on it. I want a small back stick to make it hold right on the go 
• Display the number of songs by album/artist. This is a stupid details but i never remember the music i have in my iPod and even less how many songs are added per artist/album. this would be helpful to know if i want to hear this artist/album without having to click in the file 
• Exploration mode within shuffle: I most of the time use the shuffle mode. but sometimes i like a song/artist and i want to access more of this artist or album. I want to do that VERY often. 
• Regular USB connector. I want to have one connector for everything. Of course apple does not use any standard connector. 
• A smart protective skin with control access for moving/traveling. The first thing your iPod will suffer from are scratches. this is inevitable, from day 1. Specially the screen. This is not a gadget but a must have: something that protects my screen (that is sold lots of money separately). or even better a anti scratch screen. 
• bonus: the iPod headset is really crap. no noise reduction and no remote control. 
• bonus 2: a simple embedded fm tuner and microphone.

I am assuming here this new device would have the same killer features the iPod already have including battery life, user interface and great design. Since we all know we pay a premium on the iPod because this is an apple product, i am sure that you can make most of those for the same price. Most of those do not need special R&D or imagination. This is just repackaging of existing and even cheap stuff

Someone listening?

update: someone took that story to DIGG and it looks like at this speed it will end up soon close to the homepage. i must have touched a sensitve subject :)

Technorati Tags: ipod, mp3

What email sound alert do you prefer?

I was tired of this sound.

Boring Alert that everyone has

So i found a new cool one

Cool Alert less stressful

i found it there and it is really cool

Technorati Tags: sound, email, alert, cool, free, outlook

The WOW effect of Imagini

Sometimes i get this WOW effect. Last time was for ENSO. Today is for the new imagini service called Christmas Gift Finder which suggests you gift ideas based on a short visual test. The user interface is just stunning (maybe a bit heavy on top right).

I also suggest you take their personality test which is really well done and will draw your visual DNA in a few seconds. You can also compare with millions of other users which is fun.

The user experience registration process and simplicity of the service deserves a full 10/10

 

Read my VisualDNA™     Get your own VisualDNA™

 

Technorati tags: imagini, friends, discovery, christmas

Try Enso Urgently. Your computer experience will improve dramatically

It happens to me really rarely. but today i had A WOW effect

This is the kind of tools that make you think "how could i do without before".

Enso is a new interface tool that helps you generate commands on your computer (launch a site, file, application, spellcheck, calculation) in by simply writing what you want to do instead of opening the windows menu. Until now i was using Launchy a great tool to launch application without using the windows menu and by just using a few keys from the keyboard. With Enso you can do so much more and even teach him how to launch a specific file or go to a specific web page. the user experience is stunning. I only have one regret, this is a 30 day free trial software

Why is that great? because on small tasks repeated everyday it saves you clicks and time. it is just more comfortable to use the computer. All you have to do is press the "Caps Lock" key and write your command.

I won't spend hours explaining. just watch the video to understand

This is the brainchild of a 23 year old kid (son of one of Apple's founders) 

Mac users have quicksilver that does that already. But Enso brings it to the PC

Technorati Tags: enso, humanized

10 tips to optimize your presence at a Conference

I have attended a few conferences lately. And i have learnt some good points i’d like to share

1. Register if possible the day before. You’ll save the lineup
2. Don’t bring your laptop. 1 wifi never works, 2 it will capture your attention during panels 3. you’ll be more light
3. Bring good shoes. If it was up to me i would go in snickers. I just ruined my feet by bringing the wrong shoes. This was the last time
4. Don’t plan meetings too much in advance what to do. Try to improvise and feel where the action/interest is.
5. Choose panels by the moderator not the subject of the panelist. If the moderator is good, the panel is good. If not it is a failure, even if panelists are good and subject if interesting
6. Drink. Water (of course!). A lot. I always dry myself up and need 3 days to recover
7. Business Cards. Bring a lot. Put yours in one pocket. those you collect in another. Soon you’ll avoid the mess i always make.
8. Avoid heavy lunch. even if tempting. Actually if you can, don’t eat at lunch and get a huge breakfast
9. When a panel is about to finish, rush to the bathroom to avoid the unbearable line up. You’ll save time and pain
10. Spot a good meeting point out of the conference center for “special meetings”

Tags: conference, tips, preparation

Linkedin widgetized

Instead of just putting a link to my linkedin page, i have decided to add a cool widget that retrieved all my linkedin info on my blog. It’s been developped by LinkedinaBox and you can see it on the side bar on the right.

It is dead simple to make it. Just log in their website site with your linkedin account. Choose the fields you want to display and plug the embedded code in your page (just javascript though, they should think of a flash version too)

I think it has a couple of things missing: more customization, possibility to see your network by name and not categories and MOSTLY a direct link to your linked in page out of that its a cool product (i like the navigation).

It has a viral component: by logging in you can find out how we are connected (just number of steps though). I bet it will get viral. This is the kind of things LinkedIN should have developped in the first place, long ago…

By their blog i guess this has been developped by a couple of israeli guys. I am not sure they will make this a business but that s a nice peace of work.

Two new super smart services to discover

Just discovered those 2 new services. I think those are great ideas

Tailored music: a service that enables you to get tailored tunes  by professionals for your loved ones. Not sure this is BIG money but this is BIG idea. UI is great, user experience is smart. Well done. If they could add a catalog of licensed popular songs (think Michelle…) that would be powerful

OfferTrax: a service for merchants that enables you to broadcast via RSS the updates on a specific product or category of product.  this could be BIG. specially if get a good deal with BIG merchants. This could help RSS becoming really popular without having to explain what is RSS…

Selling through my blog is working

Remember i put on sale my itrip for half price?

In one day i got someone interested, more efficient than any listing service i know. This is good news and i am planning to use my blog more like that.

Blog Shopping could be something to look after.

By the way i just launched a TechCrunchShop for the french audience (supported by Zlio.com).

As i said, make a blog not a resume

Well done to Jeremy who is joining Microsoft and has been spoted through is blog. I am sure he ll do a great job over there.

I said it in the past. A blog is a better ambassador than any resume. I think a mashup can be too if you are talented

Free adsense network for bloggers

Smart idea. Adgridwork helps you promoting smartly your blog by joining and adsense like adnetwork. Kind of P2P advertising. Here is how it works

1. Register (takes about 30 seconds).
2. Add your site to the 'Network.'
3. We'll provide 'Ad Code' that you insert into your website markup.
4. Once it's established that you are serving ads, we will start serving yours to other related sites on our Network.
5. You can track each of your Campaigns using our detailed metrics and modify your ads as appropriate.