Life In The Weeds

Walmart goes Vudu

As reported here, months and months ago, Walmart is changing their image.  They continue to shift from "home of the redneck" to a hip and cool way to purchase all things inexpensively.

Now, they have upgraded their hipness and coolness with the purchase of Vudu, a streaming movie rental service.

Lookout Netflix?  Not sure, but if I were Netflix, I would be nervously looking in the rear view mirror at the Walmart guerrilla charging...

mj

What's in a name?

There seems like there is always a story behind the naming of your child or children?  

Well, this story is no different.

This past Sunday, a little baby girl was born, in flight, at 24,000 feet!  She was born two weeks early as her mother was heading to La Paz on a military-run commercial airline -  Transportes Aereos Militares.   A doctor and a nurse who were passengers on the flight helped out.  The airline is commonly known as TAM, so the little girl was named Tami, while soaring through the skies.

Here is the best part - and a customer service lesson for sure - the airline will give the Tami free domestic flights until she reaches age 21. She'll also get a scholarship through high school at a Bolivian Air Force school.

Now that's a great way to earn customers!  

Can you see an American run airlines doing the same?  Not me!  Any of the big airlines would likely charge for the extra passenger and ban that mother from future flights!!  

Though, I can see Jet Blue embracing this sort of customer service...and Jet would be a pretty cool name for either a boy or a girl.

mj

2010 Grammy Awards

Last night was the 2010 Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

For some reason, I find myself drawn to "awards" shows...I like to see the latest and greatest when it comes to staging technology and performances.  And, maybe, it's a great excuse to get caught up on the latest in pop culture...movies, music and television!

In any case, the stage was impressive...multiple levels, wide, wrap around screens and a center island stage in the middle of the audience.

However, what caught my eye was a pre-Grammy technology called a Glam-Cam.  It appears that this technology has been used for the Emmy's and Golden Globes, but it's the first time I have seen it used...and, IMHO, I think it's super cool!

Check it out here.

I love how the picture is available instantly...I think it works really well with a group shot!

mj

I found Pandora!

I may be behind the times on this great, innovative idea...brought to you by a company called Pandora.

I read an article recently that highlighted their business model and discussed why Pandora is making a name for themselves . Check it out here.

So, I downloaded the App on my iPhone and tried it...and, it is terrific!

Here is out it works...type in an artist, song title, or genre and Pandora selects a song.  You then can offer a thumbs up (and the song continues) or a thumbs down (and another song is selected)...then, additional songs are selected based on your feedback.

I typed in a song by Train, so now I have a station called "Train" and all the songs that play are similar...I have not given any selections a thumbs down yet!

Oh, and by the way, it's FREE.  Still wondering why I would ever now buy song title on iTunes?

mj

CES - Day 4

Thank you Lord, for bringing CES to a close!

Sunday's final session was slow...really slow...and filled with some very unique consumers.  And when I say unique, I mean strange...and when I say strange, I mean freak-shows!

But, the team I was with endured...and we had a very successful week.

I really did not have time to walk-thru the entire Convention Hall.  I wanted to, but just could not find the time...and maybe, the energy!

Next post, I will recap my CES experience with general impressions of the week.

mj

CES - Day 3

Saturday in Vegas, means Day 3 at CES...

We had the dancers from - This Is It - perform on stage...Travis Payne, Michael Jackson's choreographer, also performed...what an incredible individual!

The highlight was Chris Janson.  Chris's performance was a HUGE hit...what a great young kid.  Very gracious and super talented.  He blends rock and country...and plays the harmonica like a rock star.  This kid will be a big name soon!!

Days seem longer after three days on the floor!

mj  

CES - Day 1

One day of CES is in the books!  

The amount of techies roaming the halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center is staggering...90% men, over 45.  Of course, this does not count the scantily clad women hired to lure buyers into their booth...very funny scene.

The Sony booth is the most impressive...and that's not just because they are my client.  We have shown never before seen footage of Jimi Hendrix, which was converted to 3D...everything here at CES is 3D...it's the talk of CES this year.

Kris Allen, the latest American Idol winner, performed.  What a great performer...very talented guy...all acoustic.

I have not had a chance to explore the entire floor, but will...

mj

Reporting from Vegas - CES

Shared a flight last night with mostly Consumer Electronics Show (CES) attendees...surprisingly, there were like 50 plus French folks scattered throughout the flight...my favorite people! [insert sarcasm here]

Long taxi line...short ride the Bally's.  Check-in line was moderate, but the wait was disastrous.  Why is checking in at a Vegas hotel different then checking in at the Marriott Courtyard in Columbus, Ohio?    It seemed to me that when the people in front of me got to the clerk they were negotiating on Obama's Stimulus package...it took me 3 minutes to get my room key!

Vegas is a weird place...6 days should prove to be a very long time!

mj

Do you Woot!

You have to check out Woot!

Woot.com is an on-line store and community that focuses on selling cool stuff cheap. Here is the catch, they only sell one item per day until it is sold out!

mj

Google X 4

If you do a lot of searching online, this little known webtool could prove helpful.

www.googlegooglegooglegoogle.com

I think it's pretty dam cool and it looks like the designers are planning more "adds" as they get further along in the process.

mj