Update on some previous blogs

So remember how I said that Myspace's only chance was music? Well looks like they had the same idea as well. According to Hypebot though its not enough. Do you remember that idea that I wasn't a fan of with starbucks and they prepaid program through your smartphone? Well google decided "hey we can do that but we'll use it for everybody not just cofee." This website talks a little bit about it. I'm still not a fan though of making payments with your phone, you need to take your wallet with you anyways might as well take out your credit card. Finally Facebook is trying to come out with a new search engine. It bases your searches based on your friends interests. The first thing that comes to mind was that I felt sorry for people with really dumb friends on their Facebook. Not sure that this is the right step for Facebook and that they are spending money of something that is leading them in the wrong direction in innovation.

Don't die yet Myspace

So there's been talk on how Myspace is dwindling down into non-existense. So the question now is how can we save Myspace? I totally agree with Matt Rosoff from cnet in his ideas on saving the once uber awesome social network. Save Myspace First of all one of the big things that myspace did was be big on music. You could listen to it , post it, practically launch your music career. (I know you're thinking about the Beiber right now) Myspace made a huge mistake in seperating into two seperate sites. www.myspace.com and http://www.myspace.com/music . Another thing is where is the innovation??????? Myspace was kind of a first of its kind or at least first succesfully done of its time. Is it bad leadership? Where are the new mind blowing ideas. Where is the new tech? Don't talk about the apps because everyone else has that too. Myspace its time to start brainstorming.

Starbucks and smartphones

Those of you including myself, who own smartphones have probably ordered pizza or some other delivery food with their smartphones. Now Starbucks has decided to put a little twist on the online ordering by having the customer pay up front for their orders through their phone and have the cashier scan the upc on their screen. Really? Now don't get me wrong but it sounds a little bit silly to me. Let me explain why. First, when I go to starbucks half the time I have to ask whats in certain drinks in order to figure out what to get. Now I grew up in Miami but have been living in north Broward county for the last 5 years. I walk into a Starbucks and ask for a cafe con leche and they look at me funny. Then when I explain to them how to make it they say "oh thats a Caffe Misto." Oh and by the way, yes I had to look up that name on their website http://www.starbucks.com/ because I still can't remember it. See? I already forgot. I'm sure that I am not the only one though that can't rely on just a plain menu to order specialty cofee. So the point is that I don't see this catching on unless they are very careful. For one not everyone who actually has a smartphone is going to want to spend money on the data required to order the cofee unless theres an incentive involved. I know that the fun of using your phone to pay and that half a minute that you shave off your visit. I think though that this will probably only be used by the regulars that don't differ in their orders very often. Any ways if you're interested in learning more about this heres a link to a helpful news clip. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXCPDeMyAL4

Sources:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXCPDeMyAL4

http://www.starbucks.com/

New innovations from the federal government

So I open up my business week magazine and I read a interesting article. Talking about how the government is basically trying to make password protection a bit easier and more secure. How do they plan to do this? Take away the need for passwords! So far the idea is that there is going to be some other way that is directly linked to yourself in order to access your accounts or even get into your cellphone! Some ideas that they have for doing this is one by fingerprint, or even possibly by smartchip. Seems to look good on paper but then comes the question of what if I want someone to have access. Lets say I need to get logged into my account but dont have any internet access so I call my trusted friend or family member to log into my account so I can get the info? Obviously they wouldn't have my fingerprint. So in my opinion its a great idea but is gonna be more of a pain than its worth.

Selling/Buying gift card websites

So I was watching the news during the holiday and they were talking about some websites that will buy gift cards and sell them too. I checked out this website www.cardpool.com and while the prices aren't like spectatular you still get a deal. Of course the drawback is that any place you would actually want to go to has more demand therefore less savings. I think its cool that you can sell your unwanted giftcards and buy ones you want a bit cheaper. What do you guys think? I know some people wouldn't trust buying giftcards online but after all the website was validated on the news.(cause everything they say is true and never put out of context) So would you guys buy these gift cards? Would you sell them? If any of you have I'd love to find out how it worked out.

Introduction to me

So I'm hitting the big 3 0 this year and am finally getting my life kinda sort of sorted. I'm due to start Law School next year and should be graduating college this year. I basically started this blog to talk about my opinions on the emerging field of e- commerce, how it affects my life, and my opinions on people are doing out there. Why am I qualified to talk about this? Simple I'm a consumer I like the things that other people like, and I hate getting the short end of the stick by companies. I'm also getting a minor in marketing not that it makes me an expert but it gives me a bit to think on. So I hope you guys enjoy my ramblings and will even post some comments.